O’Hara public service vehicles are the stars of a Touch a Truck event
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Ezra Micheals needed a little help getting in to the driver’s seat.
His little hands barely were able to grip the steering wheel, feet dangling off the seat far from the pedals.
However, the 2-year-old boy’s smile stretched across the cab.
He and his family were among dozens who came to O’Hara Township Community Park along Fox Chapel Road for the township’s annual Touch a Truck event July 15.
Ezra and his father, Drew Micheals, spent some time getting familiar with the township’s caterpillar wheel loader.
“It’s something fun for him to do (and) be outside,” said Ezra’s mother, Kacie Micheals. “He ran right for that big truck first. This is our first Touch a Truck thing. We’ve been wanting to do something like this. He loves it.”
Public service vehicles were in display including police cars, wheel loaders, pickups. crane trucks, rollers and more.
More than 50 plastic hardhats were given to children. The township also provided snacks and drinks.
“It was pretty crowded,” O’Hara Public Service Superintendent Todd Giammatteo said. “It was great to see everybody come out for this event. A lot of people just think we cut grass and plow snow, but we actually do a lot of different things.
“We keep the streets cleaned with the street sweeper. The backhoe is used for cleaning out ditches and stuff like that. This is for the public to see what the public service department does. Police get all the notoriety. Let us soak up some of the spotlight.”
The public service fleet includes more than 20 vehicles and dozens of pieces of equipment.
“You have to have the right equipment to do the job,” township Manager Julie Jakubec said. “A lot of the equipment that we have focused on now is remote control. We pick up leaves with a joystick. You used to have to rake them all by hand. It’s better for our employees if you use modern technology.”
A few police officers also participated in the event. Officer Garrett Lynn brought his police cruiser and fielded questions from children about police equipment.
Resident Shelly Moore was with her her son, Noah, 6, and nephew Isaac Davis, 7.
“We like to visit all the different parks in the township,” Moore said. “They love having fun doing it, and they love talking to the officers.”
Noah enjoyed honking the police SUV’s horn.
“I like the truck because it can hold department stuff, and it has a computer,” he said.
Isaac said he likes police cars because they can go fast and have flashing lights.
Moore, a 2003 Fox Chapel Area High School grad, said she hopes O’Hara does more Touch a Trucks in the future.