Harry Funk stories, Page 4
Pine-Richland student advocates on behalf of peers with dyslexia
Think back to the ups and downs of your early years in school. Then consider how the experience must have been for students like Brenyn Caplan. “I remember sitting in class, and I just wanted to read, but I couldn’t, at all. It was really difficult for me because everybody...
History, community combine at Bradford Woods coffee shop
Imagine “The Sound of Music” with Julie Andrews’ voice supplanted by kazoos. Sure, cacophony may come to mind. But for the folks who raggedly buzzed the melody of “Do Re Mi” during Open Mic Night, the operative word was fun. And that’s what Christi Wilcox wants people to have when...
Hampton girls excel at riding waves, even on Allegheny RiverVideo
Once everyone and everything is ready to go, a motorboat surges forward, pulling a tow rope. As the speed increases, a person holding the rope rises from the water to stand atop a specially designed board. Eventually, he or she drops the line and starts riding the waves generated by...
Bethel Park Historical Society hosts open house for Schoolhouse Arts and History Center
Eight years ago, a recently returned Bethel Park native started contacting media outlets about a project he was promoting. Bill Haberthur, a 1978 Bethel Park High School graduate who moved back after a career primarily in New York City, wanted to spread the word about plans to renovate the building...
Hampton High School music program benefits from nonprofit’s 5K
Feet on the ground meant music to the ears. Since its second year of existence, the nonprofit Hampton Alliance for Educational Excellence has organized a combination 5-kilometer race and 1-mile walk as its main fundraiser. Prior to the start of this year’s 32nd annual event, held Oct. 13, participants and...
South Hills Interfaith Movement continues mission with renovated headquarters
The building may have a new look, especially on its South Park Road side. But the mission of South Hills Interfaith Movement — in its concise form, “neighbors helping neighbors” — remains the same. “You drive past here, and you don’t know who walks in the door. It could be...
Fire company in Shaler marks 115th anniversary with renovation, new pumper
Shaler’s Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company has more reason to celebrate its 115th anniversary than merely a number. This year, the company finally received a new pumper truck that was ordered back in 2021. And thanks to a home-improvement corporation’s generosity, Undercliff’s building on Mt. Royal Boulevard is undergoing its first...
Rock Against Cancer: Night of music in West Deer benefits supportive nonprofitVideo
From George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh to four decades’ worth of Farm Aid shows, musicians have a long history of lending their talents to support worthy causes. Add Mike Fitzgerald and friends to the list. On Oct. 19, the fourth annual Fitzgerald-organized Rock Against Cancer event will take place, with...
Bradford Woods Conservancy celebrates 30th anniversary
When a commercial nursery in Bradford Woods closed in the 1980s, developers no doubt eyed up the 4½ acres as a potential site for pricey homes. Property owners Ted and Janet Eck had a different idea. “When they left, they wanted to have their property remain open space for the...
Pine survivor’s story promotes early checks for ovarian cancer
In September, she took a trip to Texas. In November, she’ll be in the Big Apple. “Last year, I went to Arizona,” Desolina Postreich said as she approached her 14th birthday. “That was my first time ever flying alone.” While she enjoys her opportunities to travel around the country at...
Ross record store meets demand for vinyl while continuing family tradition
Reports of vinyl’s death were greatly exaggerated. The mid-1980s advent of the compact disc prompted many a misguided music collector to dispense with scratch-susceptible records and replace them with the new medium. Eventually, the convenience of streaming services basically sent CDs the way of the dodo, while the products they...
In brief: Northern Allegheny area happenings, week of Oct. 7, 2024
Marshall Trunk-or-Treat Marshall Township’s Trunk-or-Treat event is scheduled for 1 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Elias Fry Barn in Knob Hill Community Park, 415 Knob Road. Registration is required. Visit secure.rec1.com/PA/marshall-township-pa/catalog. St. John’s Trunk-or-Treat A community Trunk-or-Treat is scheduled for 2 to 3 p.m. Oct. 27 at St. John’s Lutheran...
Hampton junior cheerleaders shine in 1st competitionVideo
There’s a first time for everything, and Hampton Junior Football Association cheerleaders made the most of theirs. During CheerFest, held in September at Deer Lakes High School, the Hampton girls scored numerous first-, second- and third-place finishes as determined by a panel of judges. “They had been working so hard,...
Dragon Boat Festival in North Park supports breast cancer survivorsVideo
While watercraft are common on the lake at North Park, ones with the heads of mythical creatures up front appear just once a year. The occasion is the annual Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival, during which participants engage in friendly racing competitions while celebrating and supporting the region’s breast cancer survivors....
North Hills celebration helps cultivate culture of peace
Sorry, they were told. The property no longer is for sale. Practitioners of Islam in the North Hills were seeking a location for a mosque and thought they’d found an ideal place, the home of a congregation that was embarking on building a bigger house of worship. Then came the...
Pine resident’s research at Carnegie Mellon earns him science association honor
Start a conversation with Pine resident Philip LeDuc, and you’re likely to discuss something like the Steelers’ quarterback situation. Then ask him about his work. As a professor in Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, LeDuc joins his students and colleagues in conducting research that has the potential to...
Confidence boost: Black belt pays it forward with Tang Soo Do school in Ross
If the story sounds painfully familiar, a mother and her child both lived it. “Growing up, I was poor. We didn’t know it. We just made do,” Christina Mrkonja recalled. “And I was very quiet, so I got made fun of. I was bullied.” Fast-forward a generation to a comparable...
Hampton honors heroes: Late police sergeant receives special recognition at Appreciation Night
Even though a tough football opponent was coming to town, Hampton as a whole had Sept. 13 circled on the calendar for a special pregame ceremony. “This evening, we celebrate and honor the everyday heroes in our community, from the military, law enforcement and first responders,” Michael Gavlik, school district...
Collaborative approach: Social services program boosts ability of Ross police to provide help
Last summer, Ross police responded to a call involving a 41-year-old male with a history of substance abuse who was suicidal after the death of his significant other. Accompanying the officers was a staff member who had joined the department just 11 days earlier. “I believe we were in there...
‘Hey, let’s work through this’: North Hills graduate hosts program to help youngsters navigate emotionsVideo
Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, babysitter — or practically anyone, for that matter — you’ve seen and heard it countless times. A child doesn’t get his or her way. Tears flow. Screaming erupts. Small fists and feet flail away at the adult who said no. You’re likely to blame the...
Valley student wins 2nd national boxing championship
Traveling from New Kensington to Downtown Pittsburgh hardly would seem like a picnic, especially by bus. “I usually come every day, weekdays and weekends,” Valley High School sophomore Gea Fultz said as she wrapped up running a warmup mile on a treadmill at the 3rd Ave. Gym, the training site...
‘The places we will go’: Team Friends celebrates growth as new chapters emerge in Armstrong, Indiana counties
Fans of Dr. Seuss may hold a special place in their hearts for his final book published during author Theodor Seuss Geisel’s lifetime, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Count the founder of a flourishing regional nonprofit among them. “What a fitting title for tonight, as Team Friends celebrates the places...
Trust Me Mom: McCandless mother provides parents with expert-supported resource
Skepticism, meet reality. McCandless resident Ekaterina Konovalova once was dubious of a certain piece of conventional wisdom. “When I heard things like, ‘Oh, parenting is the hardest job in the world,’ I’m like, yeah, yeah. How did we do it for generations for thousands of years?” she questioned. Then she...
Updated restrooms planned for Hampton High School
The second phase of renovations to Hampton High School includes an aspect that could benefit the community at large. Part of the project involves updating two sets of restrooms, near the auditorium and cafeteria, with the intent of better accommodating public events by increasing the number of fixtures while veering...
Marshall weighs zoning option along Route 910
When it comes to municipal zoning, terms like “overlay district” may seem to be more than a bit esoteric. In general, the phrase refers to superimposing an additional set of regulations over an existing zoning district, so as not to change the overall character. As part of Marshall’s efforts to...
