In brief: Bridgeville, Carnegie area news and events, week of Dec. 9, 2024 and beyond

Christmas in Bridgeville

On Dec. 22, Santa will bring a special guest through Bridgeville — the Grinch — with an escort through town by the borough firefighters. Before the annual tradition, starting at around 10 a.m., the Bridgeville Police Department and Buddy the Elf will be finding the Grinch hiding in town.

After the Grinch is caught, the community is invited to Dari Delite at 413 Bower Hill Road.

Honors band

Two Chartiers Valley students, Wesley Madge and Renee Hill, successfully auditioned and participated in PMEA District 1 Honors Band in November. They both ranked high enough to represent Chartiers Valley in District Band in January.

Wesley will also join Brady Bart in January for District Orchestra.

Christmas at the Bridgeville Library

The Bridgeville Library has a few Christmas events up its sleeve this December.

A holiday mixer is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13 with a Happy Hour by the fireplace, wine and music.

A Family Fun Day with Santa is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 14. That event has children’s activities, crafts, magic show, music and fun.

Historical society presentation

The Bridgeville Area Historical Society offers the following upcoming program at the Chartiers Room at the Bridgeville Voluntary Fire Department:

“From Mining Towns to Mergers: How Chartiers Valley Amalgamates Local Identities” by Austin Pilz, 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 26.

Illuminate Bridgeville

The Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department is selling luminary kits for its holiday fundraiser.

A $25 donation will get you a kit including bags, sand and candles to create 14 luminaries.

Purchases can be made online at bridgeville-vfd.square.site or by contacting the fire company at 412-638-1187.

Orders must be paid in full and picked up from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 21 at the fire department, 370 Commercial St.

Holiday time in Collier

A Christmas festival will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at Collier Community Center, 5 Lobaugh St.

The event includes pictures with Santa, horse and carriage rides, refreshments, crafts and more. Admission is free. Horse and carriage rides are first-come, first-served; and people interested should visit the center’s front desk at the beginning of the event to reserve a time slot.

A holiday craft show will take place the same day, from 2 to 6 p.m.

Chartiers Valley personnel moves

Chartiers Valley school directors approved several personnel moves during their meeting Nov. 26.

Hirings include Timothy Joyce, assistant high school principal; Rebecca Laverty, primary school nurse; Samantha Phillips, speech language pathologist; Aubrey Dalby, substitute playground aide at the Intermediate School; Pranali Patil, primary school playground aide; Sushree Jena, instructional aide at the primary school; and Wilson Fike, transportation mechanic.

The board accepted resignations from Assistant Superintendent Julie Franczyk; Chelsie D’Amico, human resources director; Bill Capozzoli, middle school softball coach; Michael Blatz, varsity boys soccer coach; and Allison Waldo, high school detention monitor and The Word Club sponsor. It also accepted Jonathan Barr’s resignation; Barr was hired as assistant high school principal but resigned before starting the position.

Supplemental appointments include Sherry McDowell, high school detention monitor; Christina Mulligan, special education mentor teacher; Christopher Santilli; varsity assistant swim coach; and Jessica Zoldos, The Word Club sponsor.

The board approved position transfers from Sean Biancaniello, a middle school math teacher to teach math at the high school; Matthew Talotta, a second-grade teacher to a middle school math teacher; Ken Sacks, substitute custodian to a part-time CDL driver; and William Crisanti, a substitute driver to a part-time CDL driver.

It also approved athletic coaching separations for head football coach Aaron Fitzpatrick and his staff, which includes Josh Kirby, Nick Carnicella, Bronson Pryzblinski, Orlando Bellisario, Josh O’Brien, Javon Hines, Chaz Tranter and Connor Barrett; and middle school football coaches Jamie Calabria, Sam Glover, Zane Snyder and Jonathan Kyle. Positions for middle school girls soccer coach Frank Trosky and assistant Stan Lacek also weren’t renewed.

Bridgeville snow angels

People interested in assisting Bridgeville residents during and after snowstorms can pitch in by being a “snow angel.”

The program is designed to minimize difficulties from snowstorms by matching volunteers with elderly or disabled residents to assist with snow removal.

Those interested can complete the “Bridgeville Snow Angel” form found on bridgevilleboro.com.

Carnegie celebrates the season

Santa comes to the Carnegie Library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.

People can enjoy crafts, cookies, free caricatures and other fun activities at the library, 300 Beechwood Ave. Santa will be in the library in front of the fireplace for pictures.

All children receive a free gift and treat bag from Santa. The free event is sponsored by the borough, the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, and the Carol Covi Children’s Event Committee.

For more information, email Jack Kobistek at kobistek@juno.com.  

Scott’s Breakfast with Santa

Santa will stop by Scott Township’s Community Room for breakfast on Dec. 15.

Attendees must register online at the township’s website, scott-twp.com/breakfast-with-santa. Tickets are $8. There will be two sessions, 10 and 11:30 a.m.

The event includes breakfast with pancakes, sausage, a danish, milk, orange juice and coffee. Each child will get a special treat from Santa. There will also be photo opportunities, a raffle and more.

CV Board meetings

Chartiers Valley set dates for its board meetings next year.

They are: Jan. 14 and 28, Feb. 11 and 25, March 11 and 25, April 8 and 22, May 13 and 27, June 10 and 24, July 8 and 22, Aug. 12 and 26, Sept. 9 and 23, Oct. 14 and 28 and Nov. 11 and 25. The reorganization meeting is scheduled Dec. 2. A regular board meeting, if needed, is scheduled Dec. 16.

Meetings start at 6:30 p.m. at the Intermediate School auditorium, 2030 Swallow Hill Road, Scott.

Carlynton superintendent forums

Carlynton Superintendent John Kreider is hosting a series of parent and community forums this school year.

The remaining forums are scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at Crafton Elementary; 6 p.m. Jan. 29 at Carnegie Elementary; 9 a.m. Feb. 3 Jr.-Sr. high school’s Cougar Collaboration Center; 6 p.m. March 3 at Crafton Elementary; and 6 p.m. April 24 at Carnegie Elementary.

Register online at the district’s website.

AP Honor Roll

Chartiers Valley High School was recognized with a silver honor on the AP School Honor Roll.

The recognition is for schools whose AP programs meet criteria for how many students take and score well on AP exams.

Only 1,511 schools, or 10% of eligible schools, earned the silver level recognition.

National Signing Day

Thirteen Chartiers Valley student-athletes committed to participating in college athletics.

They are: Gianna Baker, lacrosse at Penn West-Edinboro; Kaylie Baumgart, volleyball at Duquesne; Juliana Betts, lacrosse at American; Logan Connolly, wrestling at St. Vincent; Jake Federouch, baseball at Penn State Behrend; Annabelle Helt, softball at Pitt-Johnstown; Kaitlyn Kuczinski, lacrosse at Mt. Union; Mallorie LaGamba, lacrosse at IUP; Delaney O’Connor, softball at Robert Morris; Michael Switala, baseball at California University of Pennsylvania; Addison Varnish, volleyball at Slippery Rock; Taylor Walsh, softball at Wheeling; and Ava Warzinski, lacrosse at Youngstown State.

Athletic director recognized

Chartiers Valley’s athletic director, Zack Hayward, was inducted into the Geneva College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Hayward was Geneva’s quarterback from 2010-2013, and holds the single-season record for passing yards (3,219) and completion percentage (63.9%) from his 2013 season.

Trips approved

Chartiers Valley School Board authorized a few trips for students.

CV’s Dance Troupe will travel to Philadelphia and Orlando; varsity girls basketball will attend “All About the Girls Holiday Hoops” tournament in Baltimore from Dec. 26 to 28; and eighth grade students will take a field trip to Washington, D.C., on May 23.

Marc Hubert, cyber academy principal, will travel to West Virginia from Dec. 5 to 6 to attend the kickoff event for Empowerment Collaborative Grant.

STEM and Computer Science Curriculum

Chartiers Valley will tap the services of Jason McKenna for a review and analysis of the district’s existing STEM and Computer Science curriculum.

McKenna is anticipated to present his findings and proposed implementation during a January board meeting.

He will be paid $20,000.

Act 1 index

Chartiers Valley approved the 2025-26 Act 1 resolution at its meeting Nov. 26.

The move certifies that the district will not raise taxes at a rate higher than the Act 1 index — which is calculated at 4% by the state — for the upcoming year.