Dog-gone great day
: South Hills celebrates glorious Fourth of July
South Hills residents – the two-legged as well as the four-legged kind – celebrated the Fourth of July in grand fashion in Brentwood.
For over 100 years, the borough has attracted throngs from around the country with a parade and fireworks as well as thousands of runners participating in the Firecracker 5K. In its 42nd year, the footrace attracted a record 2,342 runners.
With her 10-month-old Cavapoo, Milo, cradled in her arms, Julie Smith of Canonsburg, watched the parade waiting for the Baldwin band to pass. She and her husband, Salvador, were hoping to spot their daughter.
“We’ve never been to the Canonsburg parade. We’ve always come here. It’s a tradition. The best part of the day is watching the kids having fun and diving for the candies.”
Elaine Rigatti from Peters Township also opted for Brentwood over the popular Canonsburg cavalcade, which attracted more than 60,000 spectators and featured former Pittsburgh Penguin Rick Kehoe and KDKA weatherman Ray Petelin as grand marshals.
“This is a family tradition,” said Rigatti, who is originally from Whitehall. “We always come every year. We love it.”
Rigatti supervised Sydney and Colbie Belardia as they watched their parents, Marissa and Michael, participate in the running race. Rigatti’s daughter, Alicia Davis, also participated.
“She just ran the marathon,” Rigatti said. “They always stay in shape. They run this like every year. At least 15,” she added. “We’ll spend the day in Brentwood and do the fireworks.”
Sarah Jones from Bethel Park attended the day’s festivities with her husband, John, her nieces, Layla and Olivia Clafshenkel, Mimi Peterson and her daughter, Heather, who is from Whitehall.
“I’m happy and proud to be an American,” Jones said.
Petersen, noting she was from Bethel Park, said she decided to tag along with the group. She was not disappointed.
“I loved the runners. We caught the tail end of the race and then the parade. The kids love the candy. So I’m happy if they are happy,” she said. “It’s a good day.”
Dave Bickle also beamed with pride as the Bethel Park resident viewed the parade with former Brentwood residents, such as the Rev. John Skirtich, pastor of the Our Lady of Hope parish, and Jeff Hahn.
“Since I was a kid back in Brentwood and I have been in Bethel Park for 40 years, so it’s been a long time,” he said since he’s been coming to the Fourth of July festivities.
“I love the people,” Bickle continued. “It’s just like patriotism just comes out and I love it. We don’t have enough of that anymore.”
Skirtich reminisced about the days when Brentwood hosted running and swimming races in the park after the parade.
“I used to run in those races as a kid,” he said with a laugh. “I walk now, but I’m not in running shape so I come out here to support my friends and all the runners as well as celebrate this great day, the Fourth. It’s a special day for Brentwood.”
Families from all over the South Hills, including Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair, came together to celebrate the Fourth of July in Brentwood.
For the Croke family of Upper St. Clair, it’s a family tradition. Kevin, the patriarch, recalls coming to the parade as a “baby,” then progressing to a participant in the footrace embroiled in epic battles with his younger brother, Peter. He completed this year’s run in 27 minutes as his wife, Jocelyn, and children, Brendan, 8, and Payton, 5, cheered him on from the sidelines.
“I just love the tradition. This day takes me back to when I was a kid. We probably will be coming here forever,” he added.
Downtown Pittsburgh was the fireworks destination for the McWilliams family. Brentwood transplants, the clan recently moved to Mt. Lebanon. Connor and Sydney and their son, Jack, 3, however, watched the parade in Brentwood in front of grandma Jane Murphy’s house on Brownsville Road.
“Since we grew up here, we enjoy seeing everybody. All the familiar faces and places,” Sydney said. “Now we love seeing our son get to enjoy all his favorite things like the fire trucks.”
Jessie Christensen from Upper St. Clair kept spectators refreshed as she manned the Wu’s Shaved Ice cart near the Brentwood Towne Square Center. Business was brisk and the lines moved quickly as Christensen served up a variety of flavored frozen treats.
Because USC holds community day in May, there are few Fourth of July activities sponsored within the municipality. Hence, Christensen says working the pop-up vending stand is “the best way to start” off her holiday. She planned to attend the fireworks display that USC and South Fayette combine financial resources and are held at Fairview Park.
“I get to see the parade when I work and then I go and do what my friends and family want but the holiday doesn’t really start for me until the night when the fireworks happen,” she said.
The fireworks drew a crowd at Brentwood park as well as the stadium bleachers, but John and Laura Mainarich of Uniontown found a quieter venue from which to view the pyrotechnics with their dog, Hopper. The 3-year-old beagle was a race and parade spectator, however.
“Four of us ran and we all finished,” Laura explained. “It’s a yearly tradition. It was great. Not too hot. We would have liked some clouds. We like the bands and the parade but we go to Elroy (Elementary School) and watch the fireworks. It’s away from the mob.”
Kelsey Pantojan from Monongahela found a shady spot from which to view the parade with her 7-month-old daughter, Revellynn. The Ringgold High School graduate said that she’d been coming to Brentwood for the Fourth of July since she was a youth. She belonged to the Y’s Indian Princess program.
“I used to be on the float, getting everybody going with the headband,” she said. “I would like to get my daughter involved but it doesn’t seem to be as big as it once was. It was definitely a good time.”
As are all Fourth of July celebrations.
“It definitely makes you proud to be an American,” Pantojan concluded.