Harry Funk stories, Page 13

When Caliente Pizza & Draft House took on sponsorship of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix’s International Car Show, the next logical step was to enter a vehicle in the nation’s largest vintage street race. “We were thinking about building one,” Hampton resident Perry Bogacz said. “And we also were looking...

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that applies to convention centers. Picture the one in Monroeville, which seems sizable enough at 100,000 square feet. Now multiply that by 18 and try to visualize the scope of Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center. Gateway High School student Prince Sadam...

Midway through her Gateway High School Commencement welcome address, Juliana Guido had to pause. “I didn’t think I was going to cry,” she said. But the subject matter merited tears. “I think it’s appropriate to take a moment to remind all of my fellow classmates on this field with me...

As a prelude to her May 27 valedictory address, Hampton resident Maryam Bou Samra provided a disclaimer for her classmates: “If you think you see me crying at any point when I give my speech, I’m definitely not. It’s probably just something in my eye.” Other members of the Class...

In 2022, longtime Oakmont-Verona Memorial Day Program master of ceremonies Russell Truby asked U.S. Army Maj. Dimitri Facaros to provide remarks. “He had the idea that I come last year, and I couldn’t make it based on a work conflict,” Facaros said while serving as featured speaker for this year’s...

People have plenty of reasons to visit Oakmont, and assistant borough manager Phyllis Anderson struck up a recent conversation with folks who stopped by in their electric vehicle. “They were from out of town,” she said. “They saw on the map that we have charging stations. “So yes, we put...

See how you do in coming up with six-letter answers for these prompts: “She played Hermione Granger in the ‘Harry Potter’ movies.” “This Anne was Henry VIII’s second wife.” “A common truck engine is named for this German inventor.” Those are examples of what a trio of then-Plum Senior High...

If you wonder what students in the 1960s possibly could have in common with today’s youngsters, a new mural at Gateway’s Ramsey Elementary School provides an answer. “Everybody loves Snoopy,” artist Hannah Gresock said. “And when I was in the hallway painting it, every kid was like, ‘Is that Snoopy...

The Bethel Park Farmers’ Market is supposed to take place rain or shine. For the 2023 season, opening day provided the precipitation. And the following Tuesday supplied the sun. “Today more than makes up for last week,” market manager Lindsey Sibert said amid ideal conditions on May 9. “We’re hoping...

What now is called the South West Regional Chamber of Commerce was somewhat nomadic in the 1980s. Civil engineer Richard Kasmer, who served as chamber president for two years and was on the board of directors for 24, recalls meeting on the upper floors of a Bridgeville bank and dental...

Coming up is a concert with a cause that transcends entertainment. Not only do performers in the 13th annual Music of the Heart Recital have the chance to display their talents, they can demonstrate how participating in the Wesley Family Services Creative Arts Program has helped them overcome social, communicative...

Amid the dazzling array of artwork on display at Bethel Park High School was a graphite drawing that was on its way to a new home in Washington, D.C. Beginning in June, senior Tatum Brown’s “Canaries in the Coal Mine” will be exhibited at the U.S. Capitol for a year...

Say you encounter an offer for a credit card that boasts a 0% introductory annual percentage rate for the first 12 months after opening an account. Oh, and the rate increases to between 18% and 29%, based on your creditworthiness, at the end of that year. Do you take the...

Students in Bethel Park High School’s first-year environmental club helped complete a municipal Shade Tree Commission project at Miners Memorial Park. They also learned some relevant lessons, including best practices for mulching, their main activity for April 21, the day before Earth Day. “If you can just keep this in...

Milwaukee’s nickname may be Brew City, but the title just as well could apply to another town. “I know Pittsburgh had more breweries,” Richard Ober said, and he’s done the research to prove it. With “200 Years of Brewing in Allegheny County,” Ober and co-author Robert Musson compiled a comprehensive...

A 0.86-mill real estate tax increase of is included in the proposed final 2023-24 budget, as approved unanimously on May 8 by Hampton Township School Board. The increase, projected to generate an extra $1.56 million for the school district, is necessary to help revenues meet an anticipated $61.51 million in...

In 1973, a group of Hampton history buffs launched an effort to preserve and re-create the past at the Pine Creek Covenanter Church, built about 1837. On May 21, the community is invited to celebrate the golden anniversary of what became the Depreciation Lands Museum, with special activities planned from...

For anyone who thinks people stopped taking pride in their work, meet Robert Hester. “You happen to have popped in on me at the same time I’m going to make my 100th package,” he told a recent visitor to his Monroeville Mall workplace, as Hester and a colleague placed a...

Plum’s latest Little Free Library comes courtesy of a former teacher with a simple mission: “I want to see people reading.” In other words, Janice Murphy would like to encourage folks to share her interest. “I just love to read,” she said. “If I don’t have a book going, I...

Even with implanting a real estate tax increase to the legal limit, Hampton Township School District faced a gap of nearly $287,000 between anticipated revenues and expenditures for 2023-24, according to information presented at an April 24 school board meeting. The district can raise the tax by up to 4.1%...

Allegheny Land Trust is marking its 30th anniversary by continuing to increase the amount of regional area dedicated to remaining green. The Sewickley-based nonprofit’s efforts include the Gateway Woods Conservation Project, which seeks to conserve 124 acres of forested land in Monroeville on a permanent basis. “It will connect with...

In the world of Riverview School District sports, Sara Kirsch claims to be the yin to Jill Catanzaro’s yang. Or maybe it’s vice versa. Whatever the case, the two women bring leadership styles that turned out to be complementary as they combined to coach almost all the female athletes at...

In Kenya’s capital city is a school named after Monroeville resident John Stanko. “The African way is they do that to honor you,” he explained. “I don’t own it. I don’t have any say in it. But I’ve said, ‘If my name can help you, use it.’” Over the past...

After unpacking their groceries, certain shoppers in Gateway School District may want to save the bags as keepsakes. Students at Dr. Cleveland Steward Jr. Elementary School spent an afternoon using their artistic abilities to decorate 500 brown paper bags with environmentally friendly images and messages. The bags will be delivered...

To put her pair of oversized scissors to use, South West Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director Mandi Pryor didn’t have to go far. In fact, an April 19 ceremonial ribbon cutting for a company’s relocated headquarters took place just outside the chamber office, where Contact One Communications is a...