Children flock to ‘Touch-A-Truck’ in South Fayette
Eli Diday, 2, gets to ride a big green tractor during the “Touch-A-Truck” event in South Fayette July 23.
South Fayette Township Manager Ryan Eggleston and commissioners Gwen Rodi, Jessica Cardillo and Joseph Horowitz unveiled a new road sign July 23 in memory of Todd Miller, a commissioner who passed away about two years ago after a battle with brain cancer. Miller’s wife and two children also helped reveal the sign renaming Municipal Drive, the road that once led to Star City Cinema, Todd A Miller Drive.
writer@thealmanac.net
A chorus of sirens, honks and beeps flooded the site of the former Star City movie theater July 23 when kids got the chance to climb behind the wheels of fire trucks, police cars, construction vehicles and even tractors during South Fayette’s second-annual Touch-A-Truck event.
More than 20 vehicles lined the perimeter, encouraging kids to explore, learn and, of course, honk the horn.
“I hope that they get a knowledge of the trucks and kind of how to act around them,” said Sami Kurchena, an intern in South Fayette’s parks department. “I don’t want them to be scared of fire trucks if a fire truck comes out. If they have to see police, I want them to be excited to see police. Not scared.”
Kurchena, with the supervision of recreation Director Paula Simmons, planned the event, which included a DJ, face painting and lots of food. There was a small Thomas the Tank Engine train for little ones to catch a ride on, a bounce house and handmade go-carts from the Boy Scouts of Troop 843.
And, of course, lots of trucks. Cement mixers, Port Authority buses, mail trucks, ATVs, tractors, police cars and fire vehicles from all four township fire departments were there for kids to investigate. The construction vehicles hold a special significance for Kurchena, a 2016 South Fayette graduate.
“With all of the new homes going up around here, I don’t want (the kids) to just go up and try to get on one immediately. I want them to know how to get to them, learn some safety and get so see them up close.”
During the event, South Fayette Township Manager Ryan Eggleston, alongside Commissioners Gwen Rodi, Jessica Cardillo and Joseph Horowitz, unveiled a new road sign in memory of Todd Miller, a commissioner who passed away about two years ago after a battle with brain cancer. Miller’s wife and two children helped reveal the sign, renaming Municipal Drive, the road that once led to Star City Cinema, Todd A. Miller Drive.
“Todd is the reason I am a commissioner today,” Horowitz said.
Next year’s Touch-A-Truck venue is up in the air, since the Star City site has been sold. But Simmons is determined to keep the event going.
“We don’t know where we’re going to put it next year,” she said. “It’s a great spot.”
Kurchena said that Touch a Truck serves as an opportunity to bring the community together, providing an opportunity for families to explore the trucks and take advantage of the free event. Coordinating with all of the different companies to get the trucks together was a challenge, but well worth it, she said.
“When I was younger, there weren’t these kinds of programs.”