The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 61

The Pittsburgh Press Wednesday, June 18, 1986 Dedication set at church in Cranberry h.m.il yj 1 IH? 1 CIV Cranberry Community United Presbyterian Church, Rochester and Haine School roads, is the first new Presbyterian church built in Butler County in more than 30 years. The church will be dedicated at 10:30 a.m. Sunday during ceremonies featuring music and entertainment by Abbey Brass. A reception with refreshments will follow. The dedication will culminate a nearly five-year effort that began when the Rev.

Tom Thornton, pastor, met with four Cranberry families in his home in October 1981 to discuss their interest in a new church. pw M.t fek- if'n rte jj RELIGION Donald J. StetzerThe Pittsburgh Press Caretakers Richard and Terry Stanek and their son, Brad, moved to cemetery in Reserve in September Peace reigns at Jewish cemetery mr 1,1,11 1 tf i 10 1 1 1 By Deborah Deasy The Pittsburgh Press About 800 tombstones cloak the steep hillside, like dominoes reaching for the sky. Gravedigger Jim Gropelli, who manages several cemeteries, rates this one "the roughest" to maintain. Seventy-seven adults and 36 children attended the first worship services in November 1981 at Haine Elementary School.

A Sunday school was formed in January 1982 and the church was chartered the following September with 72 members. The parish purchased a 5-acre parcel in 1983 and broke ground for the new church in March 1985. Today, the church has 175 adult members and 125 children. The Rev. Bernard Michael Harcarik, a Forest Hills native, was installed this month as pastor of St.

Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, Hampton. He succeeds the Rev. Bernard Hrico, who resigned earlier this year because of illness. Harcarik was pastor at St. John Capistran Church, Upper St.

Clair, for the last 10 years. Ordained in 1963, he was first assigned to Resurrection Church, Brookline, and served in the parishes of St. Elizabeth in Baldwin Borough, St. Mary of Mercy, Downtown, and St. Joachim, Greenfield.

He was chaplain and instructor at the former Our Lady of Mercy Academy from 1973 to 1976. He holds these diocesan posts: executive secretary of the presbyterial council, member of the college of consultors to the bishop, and board member of Catholic Charities. Followers of The Way, a singing and performing troupe of 48 young people from Somerset Alliance Church, will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday at Mars Alliance Church, Route 228. Their program includes songs, scripture and skits.

Bible lessons, crafts, music and recreation will be included in vacation Bible school classes scheduled from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through June 27 at Elfinwild United Presbyterian Church, Shaler. Kindergart-ners through sixth-graders may attend. The week's activities will conclude with a family picnic at 6:30 p.m. June 27 in the church parking lot.

Registration will take place the first day of school, but parents may register children in advance by calling the church at 486-5400. Ministry Sunday will be celebrated at the 8:15 and 10 a.m. worship services Sunday at Mars United Methodist Church, with laity and clergy committing themselves to another year of service. The message for adults at both services will be "The Storms of Life." The children's message will be "Who? Me? A Minister?" Vacation Bible school classes for children ages 3 to 5 will meet 9:30 a.m. to noon Monday through June 27 in the education building, Arch Street.

Activities will climax with a picnic and field trip on June 27. Domestic relations attorney Anne Feeney will perform political folk songs at the 11 a.m. Sunday service at Unitarian Universalis! Church of the North Hills, Franklin Park. Ms. Feeney performed recently at the Smokey City Folk Festival.

She will present a historical retrospective of classic political folk songs, as well as some new anti-Reagan songs and songs about safety in the workplace. A softball game and other games for children and adults will highlight the annual parish picnic at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Christ Episcopal Church, Ross. A picnic dinner at 5:30 p.m. and sing-along will conclude the event.

a8 sis? 1 if IT HAS BEEN 80 YEARS since the Orthodox Jews of Congregation Mach-sikei Hadas first buried a loved one on a perilously steep, yet verdant, hillside in Reserve. Area farmers probably took little notice in 1906 when August and Elizabeth Hoffman sold 2 acres on Geyer Road for $1,330. It was a fairly useless tract for farming, and a young and abundant downtown clan of Jews wanted the land for a cemetery. If the graveyard was inconspicuous then, it's hard to miss today. About 800 tombstones cloak the hillside, like dominoes reaching for the sky.

In early morning and in late afternoon, the closely spaced headstones catch the sunlight and cast dramatic shadows, arousing the curiosity of passers-by. After a rain on a hot summer day, steam rises from the headstones. Occasionally, crows stop to mingle with the resident rabbits and groundhog. Troy Hill native Terry Stanek used to think it was a pet graveyard that her school bus passed on its way to Shaler Area High School. That's what classmates told her.

At 21, she knows better. Mrs. Stanek and her husband, Richard, 25, live at the cemetery with their 2-year-old son, Brad. A Roman Catholic couple, they began caring for the graves a little more than a year ago and moved to the cemetery in September. They replaced Ted and Betty Walzl, another Catholic couple.

The Walzls lived at the cemetery and cared for it for more than 30 years while raising three children. Walzl died several years ago, and his wife decided to give up the caretaker position. "All our friends were like, 'I can't believe you're living said Mrs. Stanek, a petite blonde who's come to enjoy the peace and quiet. "It's so nice down here.

Not like Troy Hill house next to house." In exchange for their labors, the Staneks live rent-free in the small, red brick house at the base of the cemetery where bodies were once prepared for burial. It's an arrangement set up by Jim Gro-pelli of Penn Hills, the professional grave-digger hired by the congregation to manage the graveyard, which averages about 10 burials a year. "It's probably the quietest and most peaceful place around," he said. "It's eerie at night," said Mrs. Stanek.

"It gets so dark down here." Gropelli digs the graves using a pick and shovel and mows the flat area of the cemetery beside Geyer Road. The Staneks plant the flowers and cut the grass on the hillside and between the graves. Even with their combined efforts, the cemetery is a challenge to maintain. Gropelli manages several cemeteries, but rates this one "the roughest." But it is one of the area's best maintained cemeteries, says Gropelli, deferring credit to the Staneks, who both hold other jobs. Mrs.

Stanek is a beautician at Mr. Lawrence Hair Fashions in Troy Hill; her husband is an installer with Weidner Heating, Millvale. "It was wild when we came here. You didn't even know those graves were up there," said Mrs. Stanek, pointing to areas atop the hill where the graves of seven accident victims and 13 babies lie separated from the majority of Jews making their last stop on their way to "Gan Eden' Hebrew for the Garden of Eden.

About four nights a week, the couple mounts the hillside with their lawn mower and heavy-duty weed trimmer to tend their duties. "I do everything with the lawn mower. He does everything with the weed trimmer," said Mrs. Stanek, who wears spiked shoes to keep from slipping while she mows. A Walkman radio helps her pass the time.

Please see Cemetery. NIO Donald J. StetzerThe Pittsburgh Press The hillside is so steep that one woman told Mrs. Stanek people used, to climb ropes to reach the graves. 19 3li A comprehensive, well-rounded curriculum designed to provide exposure to a wide range of subject matter while promoting communication skills and self-esteem.

ST0REWIDE CLEARANCE ON ALL SUMMER FASHIONS Merchandise from such designers as Castleberry, Ciao, Paula Saker, Goldworm, Vivanti, Georgio SanfAngelo, Penrose and others. Choose sportswear, dresses suits. EVERTHING always half price Now many items an extra 20 off. AND REMEMBER Everything Show Tell Science Music Art Field Trips Math and Math Concepts Physical Education Organized Team Sports Language Arts Reading Full Library Program Bible and Character Foundation Morrow's it one of the (inert jewelry store in the North Hills, step in and see us (or your jewelry appraisal work. We buy gold, diamonds, and old jewelry.

WE SPECIALIZE Apply now for Fall Admission. Call the school office at 486-1343 for details. Eden Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin. at Barbara is always first quality. IN WATCH JFWEUY I REPAIR AND REMOUNTING Of CXJOJEWEUY To Serve Our Fellow Man To Glorify God FASHION OUTLET moitn mi) vitLM unit, NORTH HILLS in the Sonie Building (rear) on Steubenville Pike (Between crafton Exit of 1-79 and Thornburg Bridge) Open 10-5 922-3888 VILLAGE MALL 1 3OO-7U00 Piuwiiiwipini vim-.