O'Hara resident welcomed as new Sharpsburg parks and recreation commission member

Sharpsburg officials welcomed an O’Hara woman as their latest parks and recreation commission member.

Lifelong O’Hara resident Lori Claus began working with Sharpsburg’s volunteer commission, dedicated to providing fun activities and amenities for area families, earlier this year.

Her efforts were rewarded as council voted 6-0 Sept. 28 to appoint the UPMC construction project manager to the commission.

Claus was sworn in shortly after the vote by Mayor Brittany Reno. Councilman Peter Adams was absent.

“My family’s originally from Sharpsburg (and) I have a lot of great memories (here),” Claus said about her desire to help the borough. “It’s a great town. It just needs a little bit more life breathed into it.”

Claus, a 1988 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School grad, is the sixth member of the parks and recreation commission.

Her grandfather, Frank Szyper, worked for the H. J. Heinz Co. in Sharpsburg while her other grandfather, Hank Claus, tended bar at the Sharpsburg Eagles.

Claus said she hopes to benefit the borough residents with educational programs and opportunities. She had introduced a play house project for the 16th Street Playground.

Play houses are about 8 square feet and sit atop rubber mulch and engineered wood fiber. They provide another space for children to explore.

“It gives them a little bit more of an opportunity to interact together as opposed to traditional playground equipment,” Claus said.

Parks and recreation commission secretary Donna Bishop said being a borough resident is not a requirement to join the team.

“It doesn’t matter to me, and it obviously didn’t matter to council,” Bishop said. “They are aware of it. We’re trying to improve our community, and if people want to give us a hand we’re willing to take it.”

Bishop commended Claus for her play house idea, and believes she will be a great asset to Sharpsburg.

Council also approved allocating $3,000 from the health and recreation fund to the parks and recreation commission for community events.

Any expenditures less than $500 would have to be approved by Borough Manager Christine DeRunk while purchases more than that would have to be approved by council.

In other business

• Council awarded a $108,000 demolition contract to Mars-based Wreckcrew Demolition LLC to raze structures at 915-917 Clay St. and 1833 Main St.

DeRunk said the project is being paid for through Allegheny County grant funds. Wreckcrew was the only bidder.

• Public works foreman Dominic Magnelli announced crews installed two out of three benches at the 16th Street park. A third bench location has yet to be determined.

Magnelli said his department is also considering locations in the borough for two other concrete benches.

• There are at least two vacancies on the borough’s zoning hearing board.

Council hopes to appoint residents to those positions by the end of the year. Interested parties can email resumes and letters to office@sharpsburgborough.com.

More information about vacancies on commissions, boards, committees and the like can find out more information in the “volunteer opportunities” section of the borough website, sharpsburgborough.com.