Upper St. Clair’s Gilfillan Farm benefits from beer bash
By Harry Funk2 min read
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Michael DiRocco entertains as part of the trio the Hookups.
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Mieko and Masa Kishida enjoy the evening at Upper St. Clair’s Gilfillan Farm.
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Rotarian John Biedrzycki and his wife, Beth, enjoy the festivities.
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Enjoying their beverages are, from left, Aaron, Peter and Sarah Leimkuehler.
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Doug Matta entertains as part of the trio the Hookups.
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Mike and Kim Bufalini hang out at the Rotary International emblem.
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According to the math derived from the T-shirt, Gilfillan Farm has been a part of Upper St. Clair for 167 years.
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Michael DiRocco, left, and Jon Fish perform as part of the trio the Hookups.
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Doug and Kristal Szokly enjoy contrasting kinds of refreshments.
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Greg and Renee Brewer enjoy the evening.
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The Hookups: from left, Doug Matta, Michael DiRocco and Jon Fish.
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A friendly hound hangs out by the farm equipment.
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Enjoying the festivities are, from left, India Moon, Rose Hall, Lauren Furyk and Amy Dagnal.
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Rotarian Jeff Stambaugh and his wife, Jonell, greet guests Carolyn Seymour and Drew Hauth.
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From left are J.R. Smith, Erica Smith, Joe Del Sole, Anthony DeLuca, Arnie Klein and Sara Klein.
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At the microphone is Michael DiRocco.
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Linda and Howard Messer wear T-shirts from one of the participating brewers, Insurrection AleWorks in Heidelberg.
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Rotarians Mark Casciola and “Ruby” work the grill.
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Having some fun with costumery are, from left, Nancy Sheppard, Ruth Gillen, Jim Starr, Andy Rockenstein and Meredith Rockenstein.
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On Gibson guitar is Jon Fish.
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From left are Sandy Boring, Susan Seery and Joanne Strugalski.
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From left are Sara Fauth, Joe Palmieri, Abby Palmieri and Jamie Minett.
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Steve Ilnicki pours beer on behalf of Bethel Park-based Spoonwood Brewing Co.
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Rose Hall and India Moon relax on the lawn.
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Tom and Kevin Higgins sample the beverages.
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Doug Matta, left, and Michael DiRocco
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Jon Fish
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Jon Fish
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Jon Fish
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Michael DiRocco and Doug Matta
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Jon Fish
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Doug Matta
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Doug Matta, Michael DiRocco and Jon Fish
Harry Funk / Staff
The word around Upper St. Clair’s Gilfillan Farm on Saturday tended toward something along these lines:
“I can’t believe this is here!”
Credulity would dictate that a prime piece of property right around the corner from South Hills Village Mall and a gridlock-inducing series of traffic lights is an inevitable candidate for development.
But the pristine confines of Gilfillan Farm will remain as is, thanks to Margaret, the last surviving member of the family. When she died in 2001 at age 100, she left the 15 acres to the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair, which has the mission of restoring, preserve and, yes, operating the farm.
Acknowledging the farm as an invaluable community asset, the Rotary Club of Upper St Clair-Bethel Park (Breakfast) has been raising money toward the property’s upkeep.
And so about 400 guests gathered at Gilfillan May 28 for the second annual Barnyard Beer Benefit, which featured craft beverages from five area brewers, plus a smorgasbord of food set up in one of the barns.
Entertaining the partygoers were musicians Doug Matta, Michael DiRocco and Jon Fish, calling themselves the Hookups and playing classic-rock crowd favorites, including a tuneful turn on harmony vocals for the Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil.”
The Rotary club also has donated toward the farm from proceeds raised through the farmer’s market it runs Thursday afternoons in the parking lot of Westminster Presbyterian Church, the stately structure right across the street from Gilfillan.
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