Harry Funk stories, Page 8
‘Right in front of this church’: Richland group hosts historian’s talk on ‘Mrs. Soffel’ jailbreak, escape
A 1902 Pittsburgh jailbreak that inspired songs, books, stage plays and feature films took the escapees through the heart of Richland. “They’re going to go right in front of this church,” Butler historian Bill May said. “And the folks from Bakerstown are going to come out the next morning, and...
Hey Baby!: Pine ultrasound studio helps provide reassurance, enjoyment for expectant families
An old wives’ tale purports that a pregnant woman can tell what she’s going to have by tying a ring on string and dangling it over her stomach. Supposedly, a swing in a circular motion means a girl, and side-by-side, a boy. While exercises along those lines may have sufficed...
Reel deal: North Allegheny graduate qualifies for Fly Fishing World Championships
As a youngster growing up in McCandless near Pine Creek, Michael Komara had a natural inclination to go fish. “I was given a hand-me-down rod and reel, and I definitely didn’t do well for the first couple of years,” he said. “But I was out there.” His perseverance paid off...
‘Fourth 1st responder’: Police social workers wear many hats in Hampton
When someone calls 911, police cruisers, fire trucks and ambulances speed to the scene, carrying professionals and volunteers who offer assistance in their respective areas of training. As they address the priorities of dousing blazes or patching wounds, the people whose lives are adversely affected sometimes are left to stare...
No-Shave November benefits Hampton girl who has leukemia
A $2,000 donation on behalf of Kaylee Manz was a welcome sight for her mom and dad. But Kaylee may have been more excited by her gift of a stuffed bear that’s nearly as big as she is. Either way, members of the Hampton Township Police Department were glad to...
Musicians perform in Marshall to benefit Highmark Caring Place
One of the more distinctive musical instruments in the Pittsburgh area gets plenty of mileage. Jeff Schiller’s 6-foot-tall upright bass, customized with a unique multicolored design, gets regular workouts when he performs with any of his half-dozen regular bands. “I had my bass custom painted to show the family tree...
Hampton’s Talbot Thon exceeds fundraising goal by nearly $9,000
The goal of Hampton High School’s March 22 fundraiser was to generate $30,000. “Our students and the Hampton community absolutely blew us away with their efforts in this year’s Talbot Thon!” the school district’s Facebook page reported the following day. “Last night’s grand reveal was $38,929.44.” Talbot Thon’s beneficiary is...
Entrepreneur expands offerings to open Marshall boutique
They say you can’t go home again, but don’t tell that to Nicki Saini. Her places of residence after growing up in McCandless stretched as far as 10,000 miles away, to Melbourne, Australia, the hometown of her husband, Harvey. Now, they live nearby in Franklin Park, with Nicki running a...
Pine-Richland approves firms for HVAC project at 2 elementary schools
Efforts to replace the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems at Wexford and Richland elementary schools moved forward with the approval of two firms to provide professional services for the project. Pine-Richland School Board voted unanimously at its March meeting to hire Tower Engineering Inc. of Ross Township and Eckles Construction...
New field turf expands athletic opportunities for Eden Christian Academy
The roller-coaster ride of Pittsburgh-area weather took a nosedive on a momentous day for Eden Christian Academy. But jackets, gloves and caps helped spectators make it through the damp blustery afternoon of March 15 to witness the first baseball game on artificial turf at the school’s athletic field in Ohio...
Silver ball still rolls at Pinball Perfection in West View
Arcade regulars half a century ago may remember the appearance of a game featuring a few lit-up lines representing tennis-table paddles, trying to make contact with a dot zigzagging across the screen. Fans of pinball machines, the main attractions at such establishments, tended to scoff at something that simplistic. Despite...
‘Luck of the Iris’: Donnie Iris and the Cruisers still know how to rockVideo
Attending a Rolling Stones concert is somewhat akin to looking through an ultra-powerful telescope and seeing light that has been traveling this direction practically since time began. In the context of rock ’n’ roll, Mick, Keith and company started wowing audiences just a few years after the genre’s advent. For...
Pine-Richland students win regional art awards
Pine-Richland School District students will be honored during the ceremony for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards’ Pittsburgh region, scheduled for March 23 at Carnegie Mellon University. Artwork by Gold and Silver Key winners is on display in the CMU College of Fine Arts, in the Great Hall and in...
Pine-Richland considers planetarium upgrade
Pine-Richland High School students apparently don’t mind being left in the dark. Each year, about 200 of them request taking astronomy courses in the school planetarium, according to Michael Pasquinelli, assistant superintendent of secondary education and curriculum. The planetarium dates back to the building’s 1993 construction, he said during the...
Melting Pot Ministries in South Park celebrates Black History Month
Mention “Buffalo Soldier,” and the first thought may be of the Bob Marley song by that name. A dive into America’s past, though, reveals accounts of the actual Buffalo Soldiers: members of all-Black Army regiments who helped rebuild the nation after the Civil War by building telegraph lines, repairing and...
District judge honors outstanding citizens in Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair
When family members, friends and neighbors needed help, Gloria Levine was willing to talk them through some tough times. Her preteen son noticed and asked, “Mom, why are you doing all that?” “What, Allen, being nice?’” she replied. “You don’t know the problems that people have. So just be nice.”...
Park named after longtime council president in Bethel Park
In 1995, a Bethel Park resident in his early 30s attended a public hearing to address the possible placement of lights at a municipal park near his home. Called Village Green Park at the time, the recreational area at the end of Alicia Drive has a new name: Moury Park....
‘To get the hottest pepper’: Bethel Park grower featured on Hulu’s ‘Superhot’ series
It may not have been a triple-dog dare, but friends of a teenager convinced him to trespass into a Bethel Park yard. “Hey, jump the fence,” the conversation approximately went. “I know he’s growing peppers over there.” The kid complied. “He picks one and starts eating it,” the property owner,...
Hues and Harmony celebrates Hampton art, music
Guests at opening night for Hues and Harmony who were born, say, during the Kennedy administration couldn’t help but think: They didn’t do this when I was a kid! In hallway after hallway, room after room, Hampton High School served as a gallery for artwork by district students in kindergarten...
‘Mamma Mia!’ set to take Pine-Richland High School stage
Perhaps Volvo owners and IKEA shoppers would disagree, but America’s favorite Swedish import appears to be ABBA. The pop quartet’s album sales in the United States are somewhere between 12 million and 20 million, but a better gauge of the group’s popularity may be on movie screens and theater stages,...
Girls flag football considered for Hampton High School
Football season could be right around the corner at Hampton High School. Pending school board approval on March 11, the Talbots are on the way toward fielding a girls flag football club in the spring. Athletic director Michael Gavlik gave a presentation at the board’s March 4 work session about...
‘Freaky Heart’: Pine author’s new book continues her promotion of acceptance
In her latest book, Pine resident Lori M. Jones writes about a teenager who bears a scar from a series of surgeries. “Cracked wide open, actually,” the main character, Annalise, muses. “Like a clamshell.” And so begins “Freaky Heart,” a journey through the mind of a young woman who was...
‘Good environment to be productive’: Coffee shops can serve as prime study hubs
When the school day’s final bell rang, teenagers of yesteryear may have headed for a malt shop or the arcade at the mall, with dimes for milkshakes or quarters for pinball. Here in the 21st century, students are equipped with payment apps on their cellphones, ready to spend several dollars...
Artist-in-residence guides creation of Hampton Middle School mural
Art projects for preteens rarely involve prospects for permanence. Hampton Middle School is making an exception. In the fall, students completed a mural that went on display in the school cafeteria, and another sizable painting is in the works to brighten the courtyard for years to come. “If it’s around...
Band, orchestra shine in Music of Pink Floyd show at Heinz HallVideo
Half a century after its release, audiophiles continue to demonstrate their latest gear by playing Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon.” The landmark LP by the British band not only pushed the boundaries of recorded clarity and depth, but its popularity is practically unparalleled, with 45 million copies...
