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Beer for Books benefits South Fayette Township Library

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 4 min read
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Add food and music to Beer for Books, and you have one heck of a fundraiser coming up for South Fayette Township Library.

Held in 2018 and ’19 at Helicon Brewing in Oakdale, Beer for Books is returning Sept. 30 to the same venue after a year’s hiatus.

“It’s a fun way to support the library, and it brings people together,” said Leslie Riker, the library’s fundraising and development coordinator. “We feel really good about being able to have an event that’s mostly outside.”

Oakdale Borough is allowing use of its stage for a performance by the Dave Iglar Band, featuring one of the region’s premier guitarists and songwriters. Plus Dave’s daughter, Andrea, is an integral part of the band beyond her day job as director of communications and community development for South Fayette Township.

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Guitarist Dave Iglar switches to violin during Beer for Books 2019.

Helicon has plenty of space outdoors, and Washington Financial Bank, one of the event sponsors, has donated a 20-by-30-foot tent for the occasion.

And for those who want a bite to eat, two food trucks, both from South Fayette, will be present: La Casa Del Tacos and Bridge City Brinery. A portion of the sales will be donated to the library.

Riker noted an increase in the number of sponsors for 2021, including real estate professionals Jen Crouse of Compass and Jason Cannon of CBRE, JLL, another real estate company, also is a sponsor, as are Colussy Chevrolet, John Kosky Contracting Inc., Northwest Bank, Dollar Bank, Annette and Bob Milacci, and Drs. Michaela and Rahim Remtulla.

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Inc., another sponsor, is serving as consultant for South Fayette Township in developing its next comprehensive land-use plan.

“They’re going to have a tent at the event,” Riker said. “People are going to be able to weigh in on the plan in person, which we thought would be nice.”

And of course, Helicon owner Chris Brunetti and his wife, Cherie, South Fayette residents who continue to extend their generosity on behalf of the library.

“We couldn’t do it without Chris. He’s amazing,” Riker said. “They use the library a lot, and so they wanted to give back to the library. He’s always been like that, ‘Whatever you need.'”

As for the library, in-person programming is being reintroduced, including two sessions of conversation Sept. 21 and 22 for readers of “The Midnight Library,” a novel by Matt Haig. Riker said the title was selected because of its relationship to circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This book deals a lot with personal choices, life not going in the different paths you might have taken, and mental health issues,” she said. “We thought it would be a good way for people to kind of process what happened and bring the community together.”

For children, in-person storytime has resumed at Morgan Park, and other programs continue to be offered virtually.

“We’re being a little cautious with capacity of programs, so we’re kind of still taking it slow,” library director Ben Hornfeck said. “But it’s encouraging to see people wanting to come back.”

Beer for Books wraps up Love Your Library Month, an Allegheny County initiative to raise awareness of and promote giving to libraries. Thanks to the generosity of the Jack Buncher Foundation, all funds raised throughout September are eligible for a percentage match.

Hornfeck said that strong community support for South Fayette Township Library has continued during the pandemic.

“Our local resources are our most valuable, both in terms of the township and our individual donors. They have the most potential to expand, and they see the benefits and experience the benefits of those donations,” he said. “So we’re always looking for ways to better engage with our donors and our patrons.”

Beer for Books tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased at www.southfayettelibrary.org/beer-for-books. The library’s telephone number is 412-257-8660.

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Ben Hornfeck and Leslie Riker attend Beer for Books 2019.

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