South Fayette Connect - Spring 2023 - Volume 8, Issue 2

2023

On the Cover

Horses at Rolling Hills Ranch stand along Hickory Grade Road in South Fayette in February. Many residents of nearby Parkes Farm Estates were attracted to the area by the beauty of the animals. Photo by Andrea Iglar

News & Features

South Fayette police Lt. John Leininger, left, and Chief John Phoennik display the department's new utility terrain vehicle, or UTV, for park patrols and off-road emergency responses. Photo by Andrea Iglar.

Manager's Message JOHN M. BARRETT

ne of my favorite parts of the job is when I have the opportunity to work directly with residents to help solve a problem in their neighborhood.

These moments are especially memorable when citizens are willing to invest their own time and energy.

This issue of South Fayette Connect highlights Parkes Farm Estates, including references to stormwater improvements recently completed in the neighborhood thanks to a partnership between the township and the homeowner association (HOA).

To me, this story is so much more than a stormwater project. This story exemplifies the power of cooperation and the true spirit of community.

Township staff first contacted members of the Parkes Farm HOA to share the unfortunate news that a stormwater detention pond in the neighborhood was not functioning and to notify them that the responsibility to repair and maintain the facility belonged to the HOA, not the township.

At first, the news may have been a bit alarming to the HOA, but as we moved through the process, we were able to form strong working relationships with the residents we met in Parkes Farm. We soon realized the township and the neighborhood were coming from the same place; that is, we both had the best interests of the community at heart.

The township and HOA cooperated to clean up the stormwater pond, inspect the mechanical components of the structure and produce a scope of work to finally have the facility function safely and effectively, as designed, to adequately protect from flooding, erosion and property damage.

When all was said and done, the residents of Parkes Farm put forth a good amount of sweat equity, and the township was able to help the neighborhood diagnose the problem and determine the proper repairs.

This scenario provided genuine benefits to Parkes Farm residents, township officials and the South Fayette community as a whole. It was great to see such community pride and spirit on display as this project progressed, and I am thankful for the experience.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Gwen A. Rodi, President

Rebecca Sray, Vice President

Keith Dernosek

Joseph Horowitz

Lisa Malosh

TOWNSHIP MANAGER

John M. Barrett

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Andrea Iglar

ART DIRECTOR

Andrea Iglar

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Andrea Iglar

Paula Willis

Kristen Bagwell

CONTRIBUTORS

Ian McNeill

Shelley Phoennik

Abbey Scheerer

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

South Fayette Connect is a free magazine published and distributed quarterly by South Fayette Township for the benefit of its citizens. The magazine is a nonprofit source of public and local government information aimed at building a strong sense of community identity and pride.

If your delivery is missed, please inform your postal carrier. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editor. © Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

ADVERTISING

South Fayette Connect offers advertisements in exchange for sponsorship of certain community events and programs. Contact the magazine editor or visit SouthFayettePA.com/ads. PRINTING

Knepper Press

CONNECT

US

magazine@sftwp.com; 412-221-8700, ext. 231 515 Millers Run Road / South Fayette, PA 15064

South Fayette SHORTS

Leaf collection set for Sat. May 6

Free food for older adults

Temporary bridge installed on Millers Run Road

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has installed a temporary one-lane bridge over Dolphin Run on Millers Run Road, near its intersection with Battle Ridge Road, in South Fayette.

Temporary traffic lights control one-lane, alternating traffic over the bridge. Speed limit is 10 MPH.

There is no weight limit, but a detour using Route 50 remains in place for trucks and buses.

A new, permanent bridge is expected to be installed by early 2025. PennDOT District 11 originally closed the bridge in December due to advanced structural deterioration.

While the temporary bridge is in place, Mohawk Road is closed at its intersection with Millers Run Road. Local traffic can access Mohawk Road from Battle Ridge Road only.

Curbside leaf collection will be held Sat. May 6 in South Fayette. The night before pickup, place leaves and other yard waste at the curb in biodegradable paper bags no heavier than 25 pounds each. Yard waste may include leaves, hedge/tree/garden trimmings, brush, lawn edging and grass clippings. The collection is being completed by Waste Management. Report missed pickups at southfayettepa.com/request.

Comprehensive Plan draft available for review

A draft of the updated South Fayette Township Comprehensive Plan is available for public review in the township office and on the township website. The 10-year plan outlines future land use and goals related to topics such as economic development, infrastructure, housing, parks and recreation, open space, preservation, transportation, connectivity and community facilities. Review the draft at southfayettepa.com/compplan.

Subscribe to ambulance service

SouthBridge EMS in South Fayette is accepting subscriptions for ambulance service. Annual membership is valid from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. Options range from $50 to $80 a year. Details: 412-221-5115 or southbridgeems.com/membership.

Chat with the Chief

In February, South Fayette Township Police Chief John Phoennik met with residents at the Sturgeon Volunteer Fire Department social hall in South Fayette for "Coffee with the Chief" (pictured).

Adults age 60 or older who meet certain income guidelines may register to receive a free box of nonperishable foods, plus cheese, once a month through the Senior Food Box Program. Distribution is held monthly at the South Fayette Township building. Details: 412-221-8700 ext. 222 or southfayettepa.com/foodbox.

Banner Community honor renewed for sixth year

South Fayette Township has been named a 2023 Allegheny County Banner Community, thanks to an outstanding commitment to professional development, prudent fiscal management, transparency, accountability, and proactive communications to engage community stakeholders. South Fayette has earned the recognition for six consecutive years.

County providing Narcan nasal spray to police officers

The Allegheny County Health Department is providing naloxone nasal spray, known as Narcan, to the South Fayette Township Police Department at no charge. While township officers have been carrying Narcan in every police car since 2015, the new spray offers a simpler, more effective way for first responders to quickly administer the medication to opioid overdose patients.

Residents asked questions, shared concerns and chatted with the chief over refreshments.

The next event is set for Thurs. June 1 at 7 p.m. in the Hunting Ridge Meeting House, 401 Meeting House Road, South Fayette PA 15017. The program is free and open to the public.

SouthFayettePA.com South Fayette CitizenLink @SouthFayetteTownship @SouthFayetteTwp South Fayette Township @SouthFayettePA @SouthFayettePA

Photos by Andrea Iglar

Ask Abbey

How do I report missed trash or recycling?

You can report a missed pickup 24 hours, 7 days a week on the township website: SouthFayettePA.com/RequestTracker.

The best way to report missed trash or recycling pickup is through our Request Tracker located on the South Fayette Township website: southfayettepa.com/ requesttracker

You can use this online service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When you submit an issue through Request Tracker, your complaint goes directly to Waste Management and township staff. You will receive an email notification of your request, as well as any updates.

If you do not have access to our website, you can call the township office at 412-221-8700, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

It is best to report missed trash or recycling as soon as possible the day after your scheduled pickup. Waste Management drivers will come back to retrieve it at their earliest convenience.

If your bins are placed at the curb too late, Waste Management will not be able to retrieve your trash/recycling, so please remember to place bins at the curb after 6 p.m. the night before your scheduled collection day (or comfortably before 6 a.m. on the morning of pickup).

Please note that your trash/recycling may not always be collected at the same time each week.

As always, you can check the 2023 Waste Management collection schedule for your recycling days and any holiday collection delays. The schedule is published in South Fayette Connect and posted on our website.

Find the annual waste collection schedule, street list, garbage and recycling guidelines, and other information about trash and recycling at southfayettepa.com/recycle.

Abbey Scheerer is an administrative assistant with South Fayette Township.

MISSED PICKUP?

SouthFayettePA.com

/request

Recreation coordinator Ian McNeill joined the South Fayette Township Parks and Recreation Department two years ago, after working in the nonprofit sector. "I've always been drawn to public service," he says.

Hometown: Scott Township

Education: Chartiers Valley High School; bachelor's degree in political science (Wittenberg University, OH); master's in athletic administration (Point Park University)

Family: Wife, Kiersten; son, Beau, 1

Pets: Dogs Elvis and Bruce (like musicians Presley and Springsteen)

Activities: Cooking, gardening, practicing yoga and physical fitness, coaching youth basketball at St. Louise de Marillac Catholic School

First Job: Dishwasher at restaurant

First Car: 2000 Lincoln Continental

Favorite Musician: Taylor Swift

Favorite Foods: Seafood (he is a pescatarian); Indian cuisine

Best Qualities of South Fayette: "The community pride and the great participation in our recreation programs and community events."

Bucket List: Go to WrestleMania

Fun Fact: Ian collects professional wrestling memorabilia. He prizes his Hasbro WWF action figure collection, which so far includes 33 out of 99 figures produced. His favorite wrestlers are Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan.

South Fayette NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT Howdy, Neigh bor Horse ranch, country setting draw residents to Parkes Farm Estates

Neighbors band together to complete community projects

By Andrea Iglar

The beauty of horses scattered among nearby hills has attracted many residents to the scenic location of Parkes Farm Estates.

Parkes Farm Estates

Homeowner Association: Parkes Farm Homeowners Association (incorporated 2003)

Management Company: EM Malone

Built: 2003–2007

Number of Homes: 110

Home Type: Single-family

Builder: Ryan Homes

Location: Former farmland spanning both sides of Hickory Grade Road, near Rolling Hills Ranch horse farm

Streets: Hickory Grade Road, Sharalyn Drive, David Drive, Parkes Farm Drive, Christine Court, Lindsay Lane, Bella Danyelle Court

HOA Top Issues of Interest: Code Enforcement, Communications with Township, Stormwater & Ponds

Fun Fact: Ryan Homes built Parkes Farm in the "classic community" style. Homes have at least four bedrooms, side-entry garages, poured concrete pad driveways, roof gables and sidewalks.

The neighborhood is nestled a short distance from Rolling Hills Ranch, a 75-acre horseback trail-riding outfit along Hickory Grade Road in South Fayette Township.

Matt Swider, who moved from Mt. Lebanon to South Fayette in 2005, fondly remembers the first time his family visited the neighborhood to look at home lots.

“We fell in love with the area and Parkes Farm,” Swider said. “I was just really taken aback on the drive in, on Hickory Grade with the horses there. It’s just a beautiful road. And we still enjoy that ride.”

Horses frequently graze and neigh near the intersection of Alpine and Hickory Grade roads. About a half-mile west, white wooden fencing along Hickory Grade leads to the entrance of Parkes Farm, which spans both sides of the road.

Aiden, 12, visit neighbors to play on their roller hockey court.

Michelle Brandebura, a resident for 15 years, built the court a dozen years ago at her home on Lindsay Lane for her twins, Jackson and Tyler, and she invites neighborhood kids to join the fun. The 16-year-olds are now sophomores on the South Fayette hockey team.

Neighbors hold various events throughout the year, including games, meals and Fourth of July celebrations.

But one of the biggest splashes in the neighborhood in recent years has been a stormwater basin improvement project.

WhitefencingforParkesFarm runs alongHickoryG

In cooperation with South Fayette Township, the Parkes Farm Homeowners Association (HOA) worked to clean up and improve a stormwater detention basin behind Josh Stein’s home on Christine Court.

The neighborhood sign, at the intersection of Hickory Grade Road, Sharalyn Drive and Parkes Farm Drive, is decorated with an image of horses. A kiosk over the sign is topped with a horse-themed weathervane.

Each of the 110 single-family homes in Parkes Farm generally has at least four bedrooms and a lot size ranging from about a half-acre to more than an acre.

“We liked the fact that there were large lots and space in between neighbors,” Swider said. “And we liked the fact that there was just a ton of young kids in the neighborhood. We had a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old at the time, so they made a lot of great friends over the years.”

Seven-year resident Jana Lyons said the neighborhood children are active with “lots of lemonade stands and cotton candy and sno-cones.” Her children, Ava, 14, and

Detention basins capture water from rain and snow and gradually release it back into natural waterways. The structures reduce flooding and erosion, and help keep streams clean.

The basin in Parkes Farm had not been maintained for about 14 years and was malfunctioning, causing flooding on multiple properties.

“We were under the impression that it was the township’s responsibility to maintain these; in actuality, it’s the HOA’s,” Stein said.

Stein, a homeowner association board member, said when the township notified Parkes Farm that the basin needed to be fixed, neighbors volunteered to address the issue collectively.

In 2021 and 2022, adults and teens banded together to remove overgrown foliage, brush and debris. Afterward, homeowners worked with township staff

to ensure they made the correct repairs, improvements and aesthetic enhancements.

Stein, a resident since 2009, said the team effort not only saved Parkes Farm money but also encouraged neighbors to build friendly relationships amid their busy lives.

“They decided to contribute some of their time here, and that’s a big deal," he said.

Mike Casillo, a 15-year resident, said Parkes Farm often uses community labor to keep costs low. For example, residents maintain the neighborhood sign and fencing themselves.

He said HOA fees are about $120 a year. Regulations in Parkes Farm are geared toward openness and consistency to help maintain property values, Casillo said.

The HOA board members—Casillo, Stein, Jennifer Burnett and Nicole Putignano—aim to address compliance issues in an efficient, friendly manner, Casillo said, noting neighbors generally “don’t want a heavy-handed HOA.”

“We try to do the face-to-face thing,” he said. “We knock on the door, we have a conversation, and that’s how we tend to resolve most of our issues. Generally speaking, people are pretty responsive.”

Overall, Parkes Farm enjoys a solid sense of community.

“Everybody really has that South Fayette pride,” Stein said. “It’s a great place to raise a family. It’s a great school district, a great neighborhood. It’s just a great place to be.”

▲ Jonathon Casillo, left, Noah Scheel and Tristan Bedillion dispose of debris they cleared from a stormwater basin near Christine Court. (Submitted photo)

◀ Horses from Rolling Hills Ranch gather near a fence along Hickory Grade Road in February. ▲ Michelle Brandebura, left, walks her dog, Ellie, with neighbor Jana Lyons on Parkes Farm Drive during a sunny winter day. (Photos by Andrea Iglar)

Josh Stein points out improvements to a stormwater basin behind his house in Parkes Farm Estates.

(Photo by Andrea Iglar)

▲ Mary Ellen Westfall tosses a beanbag as Ronald Proctor stands by during a July Fourth party on Sharalyn Drive. (Submitted photo)

Road work starts in spring

Milling and asphalt paving planned on 16 roads in South Fayette

By Andrea Iglar

The road paving program proposed for South Fayette Township this summer involves 16 streets, including part of the driveway through Fairview Park.

Youngblood Paving, Inc. will conduct milling and asphalt paving on about four miles of roadway in Hickory Heights, Wood Creek, Fairview Manor and other parts of the township.

Work is expected to occur from April to August.

South Fayette issued paving bids earlier than usual this year, Township Manager John M. Barrett said.

“Ideally, we’d like to get all this work done in the summer months before school is back in session,” Barrett said.

The contractor is required to notify residents in advance when work is planned on their street.

The multistep paving process takes about two weeks on each street. The first step is to mill, or grind off, about 3½ inches of the top pavement. About a week later, a 2-inch binder course is applied. Finally, the roadway is topped with a 1½-inch layer of asphalt.

The resulting pavement may last up to 15 years, depending on the road’s traffic

companies that vied for the contract. The bid includes the estimated road paving costs, plus a contingency budget for unforeseen conditions and repairs.

About $149,000 earmarked for Recreation Road—the Fairview Park driveway—will be drawn from the capital fund for park improvements.

The portion of Recreation Road from Greenwood Drive to the gate near Field B will be paved. This is the only major stretch of the park driveway that has not been resurfaced in recent years.

To help ensure quality work, the paving program will be overseen by inspectors from Gibson-Thomas Engineering Co., Inc.

Prior to paving, the engineering firm will take photos and videos to document existing conditions.

The 2023 road list was based on several factors, including data gathered last year using RoadBotics, which uses artificial intelligence to assess video footage of roads and detect conditions such as potholes, cracks and potential road base failures.

Based on this information, RoadBotics rated the roads from 1 (best) to 5 (worst) to help prioritize paving. The scores are valid for several years. Overall, the entire road

Roads on paving list

Hickory Heights

Augusta Drive

Bayhill Drive

Cypress Court

Hickory Heights Drive

Muirfield Court

Oakmont Court

Pine Valley Drive

Wood Creek

Birch Court

Maple Court

Woodcreek Drive

Fairview Manor

Firwood Drive

(section between Woodhaven Lane and 166 Firwood Drive)

Old Oak Drive

(section between Washington Pike

Public Works Road Maintenance

In addition to the annual contracted paving program, the South Fayette Township Public Works Department conducts road maintenance. Work this year includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Trimming overgrown trees and vegetation along roads and rightsof-way

Inspecting, cleaning, repairing and improving stormwater systems

Replacing guardrails

Installing road signs

Patching potholes

Sealing pavement cracks

Painting lines

Sweeping streets

◀ Jamie Campbell points out how water will be collected by a newly installed storm inlet and then flow through pipes away from Marshall Road.

In the Trenches

Prior to the start of the 2023 road paving program, the South Fayette Township Public Works Department repaired and improved the stormwater management system on Marshall Road.

In February and March, crews installed stormwater pipes, inlets and drains on Marshall Road, between Scotch Hill Road and Union Avenue. The system captures rainwater, snowmelt and underground spring water and conveys it away from the road so the water can seep back into the ground.

The improvements will decrease pavement erosion and cracking, reduce icy patches in winter and protect the planned investment in paving.

At 4,495 feet, Marshall Road is the longest single stretch of street in this year's paving program.

—Photos & text by Andrea Iglar

▼ Jamie Campbell and truck driver Alan Desmet spread clean stone on top of a pipe in the drain trench. The stone provides both a bed and a covering for the pipe.

▶ Campbell and Alan Desmet place perforated plastic drain pipe into the trench.

▼ Jamie Campbell excavates a trench along Marshall Road for installation of a curb drain, or French drain, to collect and divert water away from the road.

DUMPING & LITTERING

Spring clean the right way

Township code prohibits illegal dumping and littering

By Andrea Iglar

As spring cleaning fever kicks in and we start thinning junk from our closets and garages, let's remember that everyone is responsible for proper waste disposal. Unfortunately, some people intentionally litter roads, hillsides and waterways with household trash, construction debris, tires, furniture, appliances, mattresses, TVs and other waste. This improper, criminal practice is called illegal dumping.

South Fayette Township code prohibits anyone from throwing any kind of debris into public roads, streets, thoroughfares, ditches, sewers, streams, and private or public property.

Illegal dumping can be enforced by officers of the South Fayette Township Police Department or the Building and Code Department.

To issue a citation, an officer normally would need to observe someone in the act of dumping or obtain physical, photo or video evidence of the violation taking place.

The township can cite anyone caught dumping and require them to remove the debris within 24 hours.

"They have to either clean it up or they get cited," Police Chief John Phoennik said. Alternatively, the township may have the debris cleaned up and then collect the

removal cost from the violator.

If someone is cited, a guilty verdict in magisterial court could result in a fine of between $25 and $1,000, plus court costs, for each offense. Each day that a violation occurs, or continues to occur, can be counted as a separate offense.

Police officers also may cite people for littering from their vehicles under the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (Title 75).

The public can report illegal dumping using the township's online Request Tracker: southfayettepa.com/request. If you see illegal dumping in progress, please call 911 immediately to report it.

The Right Approach

Most everyday trash can be disposed of during weekly curbside collection.

South Fayette Township has a contract with Waste Management for curbside collection of garbage and recycling at single-family homes and multi-family residences with four or fewer units.

The services are paid through township taxes, with no fee charged to residents. The service includes curbside disposal of a limited number of bulk items such as furniture.

Special collections of TVs, electronics, household glass bottles and jars, and

slam dunk the junk

Code: South Fayette Township General Legislation, Chapter 148: Dumping and Littering

Purpose: Prohibits illegal dumping of debris into roads, sewers, streams, ditches, and public or private property

Enforcement: South Fayette Township Police Department or Building and Code Department

Code Violation: $25 to $1,000, plus court costs, per offense

View Code: southfayettepa.com/dumping

hazardous household chemicals are held periodically by government agencies, environmental nonprofits and other organizations. South Fayette advertises these options on the township website: southfayettepa.com/recycle

Residents may rent dumpsters during home remodeling, moving, spring cleaning or other projects that generate more waste than usual. Waste Management offers rental options at wm.com

Owners of apartment buildings, businesses and other organizations pay for commercial dumpsters.

South Fayette police Lt. John Leininger warned that throwing trash into a dumpster that you don't pay for could result in being cited for theft of services—the practice of using a paid service without paying for it.

"It's illegal to throw garbage into someone else's dumpster," he said.

◀ Public Works employee Alan Desmet tosses a trash bag into a dumpster last spring. (Photos by Andrea Iglar)

Each April, South Fayette Township employees help remove litter from roadsides. ▼ In 2022, from left, Dan Dernosek, Jamie Campbell, Ian McNeill, Abbey Scheerer and Dana Korbe clean up along Boyce Road.

Fish Fridays

Fish sandwich season is big at Hunner's

Sturgeon restaurant serves more than 1,200 cod meals during Lent

By Andrea Iglar

Hunner’s Pizza & Restaurant sold a whopping 1,230 fish sandwiches and dinners during Lent last year.

And the family-owned restaurant in South Fayette Township was off to a good start this season.

“We’re so busy right now,” owner Shelly Freshwater said in early March. “All of the employees know not to take Friday off.”

Hunner’s holds fish fries every Friday year-round, but sales spike during the observance of Lent, when many people traditionally refrain from eating red meat and poultry on Fridays between Ash Wednesday and Easter.

Hunner’s normally sells about 45 pieces of cod each Friday. On the first Friday of Lent this year, fish sales quadrupled to 187 pieces. Plus, Friday coleslaw sales doubled from 20 pounds to 40 pounds.

Freshwater has served fish every Friday for 15 years, since she took ownership of the small restaurant, located along the Panhandle Trail in the Sturgeon neighborhood.

On Friday mornings during Lent, Freshwater and an assistant spend 2 ½ hours battering and then breading up to 200 pieces of fish. The two-step method helps prevent the coating from falling off the fish.

Hunner’s offers fried fish or baked fish, with the option of Cellone’s Italian bread or kaiser roll. Side dishes are French fries,

pierogies, or macaroni and cheese. Homemade coleslaw and homemade tartar or cocktail sauce are included. Dine-in and takeout are available.

In 2021, listeners of the Bubba Show on Star 100.7-FM voted Hunner’s the best fish sandwich, and the restaurant sold 296 dishes in five hours. That’s a fish a minute.

Hunner's cooks high-quality cod that weighs about 12 to 14 ounces per piece, Freshwater said.

“I really like our fish, and it’s a big-size fish, so two people usually can split a sandwich, or you have leftovers,” she said.

Fish Fridays are tons of work for a little establishment. High demand during a short period requires Freshwater to staff a half-dozen more employees than usual.

But Fish Fridays are rewarding, too.

“During Lent, with all the profit I make, I usually remodel something in my restaurant or buy a piece of equipment,” Freshwater said.

And after Easter, she closes the restaurant and gives employees a vacation.

Best of all, the end of Fish Fridays, she said, means summer is coming.

Hunner's Pizza & Restaurant, 811 Station Street, South Fayette: 724-926-9636; facebook.com/hunnerspizza

places to eat in south fayette

More than 30 places to eat are located in South Fayette Township. Many local restaurants serve fish sandwiches and dinners on Fridays, particularly during the Lenten season. Other eateries offer alternative seafood, vegetarian and vegan options.

For example, Friday lunch specials at Portman's Farm Market, on Washington Pike, are fish sandwiches, lobster bisque, and macaroni and

cheese. Steve and Benny's Chicken Shack, inside Recon Brewing at Hastings, offers a Lenten menu of fish sandwiches, fish fingers and grilled shrimp salad. Empanada Company serves tuna, vegan sweet corn, and vegan potato-pea empanadas.

Check out a list of South Fayette restaurants at southfayettepa.com/eat.

Angie Hans, a cook and server at Hunner's Restaurant in the Sturgeon neighborhood of South Fayette, serves a fish sandwich with macaroni and cheese and coleslaw to customer Mark DeMeno on March 3. (Photo by Andrea Iglar)

Businesses open doors at The Piazza and Newbury

After getting settled in for a few months, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill celebrated the opening of its restaurant and bar in The Piazza at South Fayette. The event included appetizers, networking and a ribbon cutting, in partnership with the South Fayette Township Board of Commissioners.

Pictured, from left, are commissioners Joe Horowitz and Beckie Sray, Firebirds general manager Brian Fischer, commissioners Keith Dernosek and Gwen Rodi, and Jim Scalo, president and CEO of Burns Scalo Real Estate, the developer of The Piazza.

Other recent openings in The Piazza include European Wax Center (see ad on page 27), The Milkshake Factory, GNC Live Well and Primanti Bros. Restaurant & Bar.

In Newbury Market, Tesla is open for auto sales and service.

Now

Learning is a passionate and personal pursuit. For each child, it carries its own momentum, power and rhythm. Confidence and creativity grow in and out of the classroom, and at Kiddie Academy®, we recognize that it's never too early to nurture every learning opportunity.

Diamond Sponsor ◆ Bunny Hop Trail ◆ Thank you!

Diamond Sponsor ◆ Movies in the Park ◆ Thank you!

—Andrea Iglar

Photo courtesy of Burns Scalo Real Estate

South Fayette police Lt. John Leininger displays the department's new utility terrain vehicle, or UTV, near Morgan Park in March.

Police add utility terrain vehicle to fleet

UTV provides off-road capability for park patrols and off-road responses

By Andrea Iglar

The South Fayette Township Police Department has expanded its fleet with a UTV—short for utility terrain, or task, vehicle.

The Polaris Ranger Crew SP 570 is designed to be used in natural areas where it is impractical to drive full-size vehicles.

"If we need to go where a car can't go, the UTV gives us that option," Police Chief John Phoennik said.

While All-Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs, generally are used for recreation, UTVs are built for work.

The police UTV, also called a side-

by-side, has four seats, off-road tires, red and blue police lights, a spotlight, storage space, a winch and a 1,500-pound towing capacity.

Officers may use the UTV to patrol parks and respond to off-road emergency incidents.

"The UTV is going to be used during Community Day, the Memorial Day parade, the Evelsizer 5K and other events," Phoennik said. “We can use it for medical and rescue calls too.”

The cost of the UTV, fully equipped, was $20,000. The vehicle was included in this year's police budget.

All officers are being trained to safely and effectively operate the vehicle, and the department has established a policy for its use.

The policy states that the UTV can provide "a police presence and enforcement in areas otherwise inaccessible" and may be used to "conduct searches, surveillance or investigations where travel to and from the location is impractical by other means of transportation."

"This extends the capabilities of the police department," Phoennik said.

(Photo by Andrea Iglar)

Watch UTV demonstration

Gold Sponsor ◆ Joy-Thru Fairview ◆ Thank you!

Gold Sponsor ◆ Concert in the Park ◆ Thank you!

PFC Tristan Cribben Army

PFC William J. Mitchell Army

a candle fire that was extinguished in their basement.

Newbury home saved from candle fire

ADT Security Services honors employees and volunteer firefighters for response

By Andrea Iglar

Anne Beck was sipping coffee on a Sunday morning in January when she received a phone call from ADT Security Services.

Dispatcher Nachon Benn said the smoke alarm system had been activated in her family’s South Fayette home and asked, “Are you safe and are you OK?”

“Oh my god, I do smell something,” Beck replied. “Hold on; my husband is checking. I do smell fire.”

“I’ll go ahead and notify the fire department,” Benn replied.

While Benn called 911, Phil Beck rushed to the finished basement and woke his 17-yearold son, Conrad, and two friends who were having a sleepover. He used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames, caused by a candle that hadn't been blown out the night before.

Soon, the Oak Ridge Volunteer Fire Department arrived, checking the scene and removing the candle.

“Everything worked like it was supposed to,” Fire Chief Bill Supan said. “Smoke detectors went off, ADT notified 911 [and that] in turn got us rolling here. And the quick thinking of Mr. Beck to take a fire extinguisher and put out the fire."

Fortunately, no one was injured, and the fire caused only a few burn spots on a bar top.

In March, in the front yard of the Beck home in the Newbury neighborhood, ADT recognized company employees for their efforts and presented a $5,000 donation to the fire department.

“ADT cannot do what we do to help save lives without our first responders,” ADT senior vice president John Owens said.

Benn—the ADT monitoring agent who contacted the Becks and called Allegheny County 911— received the company’s highest honor, the ADT Life Saver Award. The company flew in Benn from

Phil Beck, foreground, and his family gather in front of their Newbury home with firefighters and ADT employees to discuss

South Fayette resident Anne Beck displays a batteryoperated, flameless candle, which she now uses as an alternative to traditional, open-flame candles.

Texas to meet the Becks in person.

Phil Beck expressed his appreciation to ADT and local firefighters for their help during “a really scary situation.”

“It was shocking, I would say, as somebody who’s never been in a fire, to go downstairs and have the entire basement lit up with smoke and to see a fire happening in the corner,” he said.

“I am very grateful to the fire department for making sure it was all completely out and to ADT for getting us the alerts.”

The Becks purchased their ADT security system just a few months before the incident.

The Boca Raton, Florida-based company also presented awards to sales advisor Dan Myrick and installation technician Mike Koval, who are employees of the local office at Bursca Business Park in South Fayette Township.

According to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Agency, about 7,400 home fires a year are due to unattended lit candles. On average, these fires cause 90 deaths, 670 injuries and nearly $300 million in property damage annually.

Chief Supan said if you burn candles, blow out the flames before leaving the room; don't light candles in bedrooms; and keep lit candles one foot from anything that can burn.

He recommended battery-operated candles instead—advice the Becks already have taken to heart.

▼ Fire Chief Bill Supan, left, and members of the Oak Ridge Volunteer Fire Department hoist a ceremonial check to celebrate a $5,000 donation from ADT Security Services.

▼ ▼ Anne Beck and ADT dispatcher Nachon Benn share a friendly embrace upon meeting in person in March. Benn received an ADT Life Saver Award for his role in saving the Beck home from a candle fire. Photos by Andrea Iglar.

Candle

Safety Tips

The Farmer and the Brewer should be friends

Oh, the farmer and the brewer should be friends, Oh, the farmer and the brewer should be friends, One man likes to brew the beer, The other likes to feed the steer, But that’s no reason why they can’t be friends.

—Sung to the tune of “The Farmer and the Cowman" by Rodgers and Hammerstein

Grains brew beer and feed steer

Helicon Brewing and Cardillo Farm partner to provide cow chow

Story & photos

by Andrea Iglar

The musical “Oklahoma!” lyricizes the line, “The farmer and the cowman should be friends.”

Around here, the farmer and the brewer are friends.

South Fayette

Township resident Chris Brunetti—owner of Helicon Brewing in Oakdale Borough—produces more than 50 tons a year of malted barley as a byproduct of the beer brewing process. Rather than simply dispose of the spent grain, he gives it to Fred Cardillo to feed 35 cows on Cardillo Farm, a 43-acre

hobby farm in South Fayette.

At this point, you might be picturing cows stumbling around a field feeling a bit tipsy. But Brunetti promises: “There’s no alcohol in it."

The all-natural malt, already having been used to make beer, contains a bit of starch, a touch of sugar and about 12% protein, the equivalent of mid-grade commercial animal feed. There are no chemicals.

“It’s healthy,” Brunetti said.

Cardillo has taken every malt batch since Helicon opened in late 2016.

The arrangement between the beer brewer and the family farmer benefits both parties.

“This has been a symbiotic relationship with Chris, and

▲ Fred Cardillo, left, and Chris Brunetti feed malted barley to the cows on Cardillo Farm in South Fayette. ▶ The spent grains were used to brew oatmeal stout at Helicon Brewing, a mile away in Oakdale.

Helicon brewer Sean Eckert (top left) shovels malted barley from a tank into a portable container that farmer Fred Cardillo uses to transport the grain to his farm and feed his cattle (middle right). About 35 cows eat the nutritious, non-alcoholic grain (top right).

it’s been great,” said Cardillo, whose family farm has operated since 1914.

“This grain saves us in so many different ways,” Cardillo said. “We don’t have to plant so much corn, we don’t have to do all the plowing and tilling and fertilizing, and we don’t have to grind the corn, and that gives us more time to do other things.”

Brunetti, meanwhile, saves money on disposal fees, while preventing organic material from entering the waste stream.

Helicon brewer Sean Eckert said most breweries and distilleries partner with a farm or a composting company to dispose of malted grain, but few are as close by as Cardillo Farm—less than a mile uphill from the brewery on Union Avenue.

Each year, Helicon buys, grinds and brews 17 tons (or 34,000 pounds) of dry grain, sourced from commercial wholesalers in the U.S. and Europe. Once the grain becomes wet, the weight increases threefold, so Cardillo hauls

away 51 tons (or 102,000 pounds) of spent grain annually.

“I’m not charging the farmer for the grain,” Brunetti said. “Fred is actually doing me a huge favor.”

On a sunny afternoon in February, Helicon worked to produce a 500-gallon, or 30-keg, batch of oatmeal stout, which the brewery describes as a “dark and fullbodied, roasty, malty ale with notes of chocolate and coffee.”

The stout is made with English barley malt, chocolate malt (which is a type of barley malt, not actually chocolate), crystal malts for flavor and color, dark-roasted malts, flaked oats and a bittering hops.

The beer would be ready for human consumption in 3 to 4 weeks, but the malted grain would be ready for the local cows to lap up immediately.

Eckert, having rinsed the barley and extracted the liquid, proceeded to remove the malt from the grain tank— one of a series of large silver vessels used during the brewing process.

About 3,000 pounds of steaming, pleasantly scented, densely packed grain poured from the tank into a bin attached to a trailer. Once the bin was full, Eckert and Cardillo hitched the trailer to the farmer's pickup truck.

After a quick drive to the farm, Cardillo unhitched the trailer, scooped up bucketfuls of the malted barley and spread the grain around the perimeter of a feeding corral while calling, “Come on!” to the cows, heifers and steer.

Quickly catching on to the special delivery, the Black Angus, Red Angus and Charolais cattle mooed and meandered to the enclosure, where they poked their heads through the posts to feed on the still-warm grain.

Over the course of a week, Cardillo

▲ Helicon brewer Sean Eckert, left, brewery owner Chris Brunetti and farmer Fred Cardillo sample oatmeal stout at the brewery in February.

"This has been a symbiotic relationship."

—Fred Cardillo, farmer

would use the grain to supplement the cattle’s diet of hay and corn.

While Cardillo does not rely on the farm for income, he enjoys beef cattle farming and takes pride in continuing his family’s 109-year-old agricultural tradition.

The farm is part of an agricultural conservation easement that ensures the property will be farmland forever. In addition, the farm is adjacent to the 217-acre Boys Home farmland preserve that South Fayette Township leases to Cardillo for growing corn and making hay.

When other farmers ask Helicon if they can have the brewery's malted barley, Brunetti says he already has a committed grain guy.

For six and a half years, Cardillo has picked up every batch of grain within 24 hours of the brew.

"There's a nice synergy," Brunetti said.

Cardillo agreed: "Yeah, we became good friends."

▼ Farmer Fred Cardillo, left, and brewer Chris Brunetti chat next to the feeding corral where cows chow down on spent brewery grains.

▲ Cows at Cardillo Farm in South Fayette eat nutritious malted barley, a byproduct of beer production at Helicon Brewing in Oakdale.

local banking for the community we all call home

S I N C E 1 8 9 9

Since our founding in 1899, we have seen our community grow and thrive generation after generation. Our devotion to the people we serve has remained at the heart of everything we do. From sponsoring local events, to volunteering to clean up our neighborhoods, to funding scholarships for high school students, Washington Financial Bank remains completely focused on making an impact - not just for our customers but for the areas we serve. When you walk into our bank, expect to be greeted by name and treated like family. Because we believe that when you choose to bank with a local bank, it should feel like home.

LITTLE MEDICAL SCHOOL:

SOCCER SHOTS WEEKLY CLASSES

Mike Faix of the National Aviary in Pittsburgh shows a Eurasian kestrel—a type of small falcon—named Austin to children during an Aviary After School program in January. South Fayette Township Parks and Recreation offers a variety of programs each season for children and adults. Details: southfayettepa.com/recreation

Photo by Ian McNeill

Fun Fitness with Friends

PRC TRAVELING GLASS RECYCLING BIN

PRESENTED BY SPONSORS

SAT. MAY 13 - THURS. MAY 18, 2023

7 AM - 8 PM

SOUTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP

Municipal Building, Back Parking Lot

515 Millers Run Road, South Fayette PA 15064

SELF-SERVE DROPOFF

Owens-Illinois, Inc.

CAP Glass

NOT ACCEPTED

cut glass

glass bakeware

mirrors porcelain and ceramics

stemware

light bulbs

TVs window glass other materials including recyclables

Support PRC programs TODAY

prc.org/donate

Location under video surveillance

All colors of glass bottles, jars and jugs ONLY

Caps, lids and labels are acceptable

Empty all containers

For a complete schedule of PRC's Traveling Glass Bin locations, visit prc.org/glass

South Fayette Township

TRASH & RECYCLING

Garbage is collected weekly and recycling every 2 weeks. Place at the curb by 6 AM on pickup day. If a major holiday falls on a weekday before pickup day, collection is delayed one day. Do not bag recyclables. No glass in recycling bins.

Waste Management wm.com ◆ 1-800-866-4460

April

Thurs. April 6

May

Thurs. May 4

May 5 Trash Collection Recycling

Thurs. May 11

Thurs. June 8

June 9

515 Millers Run Road, South Fayette PA 15064

412-221-8700

SouthFayettePA.com

Staff Directory

John M. Barrett, Township Manager

Administration

Peggy Patterson, Executive Assistant

Shannen McKahan, Finance Officer

Patrick J. Catena, Assistant Manager

Communications & Community Development

Andrea Iglar, Director

Planning, Building & Code

Gary Hartz, Planning/Zoning Director

Joe Niedermeyer, Building Code Official

John Kanaskie, Engineering/Code

Abbey Scheerer, Administrative Assistant

Thurs. June 15

Thurs. June 22

June 23

Trash Collection Thurs. June 29

June 30

Parks & Recreation

Paula Willis, Director

Ian McNeill, Recreation Coordinator

Police

John R. Phoennik, Chief of Police

Dana Korbe, Administrative Assistant Police Business Office: 412-221-2170

Emergency & Dispatch: 9-1-1

Public Works

Vitali Alexandrov, Director Dan Dernosek, Superintendent

Community Resources

South Fayette Township Library 412-257-8660, SouthFayetteLibrary.org

South Fayette Area Senior Citizens Association 412-221-3730, SouthFayettePA.com/seniors

South Fayette School District 412-221-4542, SouthFayette.org

Historical Society of South Fayette Township sfhistory3@aol.com, SouthFayettePA.com/history

Tax Collectors

Real Estate Tax, Kevin Biber: 412-221-9250, SouthFayettePA.com/tax

Earned Income Tax, Jordan Tax Service: 412-835-5243, JordanTax.com

Municipal Authority (Dye Tests & Sanitary Sewers) 412-257-5100, MATSF.net

Chambers of Commerce

South West: 412-221-4100, SouthWestRegionalChamber.org

Pittsburgh Airport Area: 412-264-6270, PAACC.com

Volunteer Fire Departments in South Fayette

Cuddy, Fairview, Oak Ridge, Sturgeon: SouthFayettePA.com/fire

Police, Fire, Ambulance: 9-1-1