The Weekly Recorder

11/29/2025

11/27/2025

The History of Black Friday: From Chaos to a Holiday Tradition
Every year, the day after Thanksgiving marks the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season — a day now known nationwide as Black Friday. But long before doorbusters, online sales, and overnight lines became familiar traditions, the term carried a very different meaning.
The earliest known use of “Black Friday” dates back to the 1860s, when two Wall Street financiers, Jay Gould and Jim Fisk, attempted to corner the U.S. gold market. Their scheme collapsed spectacularly on Friday, September 24, 1869, sending markets into chaos and earning the day its ominous name. This event, however, had nothing to do with shopping.
The Black Friday we recognize today began to take shape in Philadelphia in the 1950s. City police officers used the term to describe the overwhelming crowds and traffic jams that descended on downtown the day after Thanksgiving, as suburban shoppers and early holiday tourists arrived for the Army–Navy football game held that weekend. Local retailers tried to rebrand it as “Big Friday,” but the original name stuck — and eventually spread nationwide.
By the 1980s, retailers attempted to put a more positive spin on the phrase. They began promoting the idea that Black Friday was the day stores finally went “into the black,” shifting from losses to profits as holiday shopping ramped up. Whether or not this was strictly accurate, the message resonated with consumers, and the day quickly became a fixture of American retail culture.
Over time, Black Friday has transformed from a single shopping day into an entire season. Midnight openings gave way to Thanksgiving evening sales, then gradually receded as retailers shifted emphasis toward online deals. The rise of Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday, and extended “Black Friday Week” promotions has spread the frenzy across the entire holiday period.
Yet despite its evolution, the spirit of the day remains the same: a mix of excitement, tradition, and the thrill of finding a bargain. In Washington County and across the country, Black Friday continues to mark the start of the festive season — a uniquely American blend of commerce, celebration, and community.

11/24/2025

Peters Township Rallies to Win WPIAL 5A Championship, Advances to State Semifinals
Peters Township delivered one of the most dramatic victories in program history Saturday night, rallying past Pine-Richland to capture the WPIAL Class 5A Football Championship with a thrilling 20–19 win.
The undefeated Indians showed championship resolve, erasing a late deficit and making key defensive stands to secure the program’s first WPIAL title since 2023. With the win, Peters Township remains perfect on the season and continues one of the most impressive runs in Western Pennsylvania high school football.
Next up: a showdown with defending state champion Bishop McDevitt in the PIAA 5A semifinals. The two powers will meet Saturday afternoon in Altoona, where Peters Township will look to extend its historic season and earn a berth in the state championship game.
This marks Peters Township’s second trip to the state semifinals, a testament to the strength of the program and the leadership of its coaching staff and senior class.
The Indians now stand just one win away from Hershey.

11/22/2025

Pumpkins from Heaven, Red Fox Winery & Vineyards and Allegheny Crane are partnering with Pennies From Heaven supporting Children’s Hospital today noon to 5 come drop a pumpkin on a target for a great cause.

11/08/2025

WPIAL Football Quarterfinal Friday Recap — November 7, 2025
By The Weekly Recorder Sports Staff
It was a night of celebration and heartbreak across the region as three local teams — Fort Cherry, Wash High, and Peters Township — punched their tickets to next weekend’s WPIAL football semifinals. Meanwhile, Chartiers-Houston and Canon-McMillan saw their postseason runs come to an end.

1A Quarterfinals
#1 Fort Cherry 36, #9 Neshannock 9
Fort Cherry continued its dominant run, earning its 40th straight win against WPIAL opponents with a convincing victory over Neshannock.
Eli Salvini powered the Rangers’ offense, rushing for 204 yards and two second-half touchdowns, while quarterback Matt Sieg added 129 yards and two scores of his own. The win sends Fort Cherry to the semifinals for the third consecutive year, where they’ll face Laurel.
#4 Laurel 40, #12 Chartiers-Houston 21
Chartiers-Houston’s season came to a close as Laurel built an early 14-0 halftime lead and never looked back.
The Spartans’ offense was led by Kolton Carlson and Jack Miles, who each found the end zone twice. For the Buccaneers, quarterback Aaron Walsh threw three touchdown passes, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace as Laurel advanced to face top-seeded Fort Cherry next week.

2A Quarterfinals
#5 Wash High 31, #4 South Allegheny 7
The Wash High Little Prexies turned defense into offense Friday night, returning two interceptions for touchdowns to upset South Allegheny.
Blaise Naraskavitch and Tristan Reed each recorded a Pick Six in the first half, staking Wash High to a 24-7 lead at intermission. The Prexies overcame the loss of Naraskavitch to a leg injury late in the game and will move on to play Seton-La Salle in next week’s semifinals.

5A Quarterfinals
#2 Peters Township 42, #7 Bethel Park 14
After a 14-14 tie at halftime, Peters Township erupted for 28 unanswered points in the second half to secure a dominant win over conference rival Bethel Park.
Star running back Cole Neupaver had a night to remember, scoring five total touchdowns — four on the ground and one through the air. The victory returns the Indians to the 5A semifinals, where they’ll square off with Upper St. Clair.

6A Semifinals
#1 Central Catholic 44, #4 Canon-McMillan 7
Canon-McMillan struck first when Matt Hirsch scooped up a fumble and raced 76 yards for a touchdown, but the celebration was short-lived. From that point forward, Central Catholic took complete control, scoring 44 unanswered points to earn its seventh straight trip to the 6A title game. The Big Macs’ offense was stifled all night, managing just 117 total yards.

Looking Ahead
Next weekend’s WPIAL semifinals will feature:

1A: Fort Cherry vs. Laurel

2A: Wash High vs. Seton-La Salle

5A: Peters Township vs. Upper St. Clair

6A: Central Catholic advances to the championship game

11/07/2025

Hollywood Casino at the Meadows names is new Director of Racing.

Hollywood Casino at The Meadows names Michael Carter director of racing

Washington, PA – Michael Carter will take the reins as director of racing at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows pending customary regulatory approvals.

https://ustrottingnews.com/hollywood-casino-at-the-meadows-names-michael-carter-director-of-racing/

11/03/2025

Republican Advantage in Washington County Grows Ahead of General Election

Washington County continues to show a steady rise in Republican voter strength, now holding a 19,645-voter advantage over Democrats. The latest registration update reflects an increase in plurality of 23 registered voters from the previous week and a remarkable growth of 16,478 Republican registrations since January 2017.
As of last week’s registration deadline, statewide voter rolls expanded by 4,659, with 174 new registrations recorded in Washington County. Locally, Republican registration increased by 50 to 72,752, while Democratic registration grew by 27. For the first time in several years, Democrats recorded a slight edge in party-switching, with a net gain of 10 voters.
Overall voter registration in the county rose by 174 this week and has grown by 776 voters since the start of the year. Meanwhile, mail-in ballot (MIB) activity continues to point toward a potentially high turnout — estimated between 48% and 49%. However, while total MIB requests are up, Republican mail-in participation appears to be declining, suggesting that more GOP voters plan to cast ballots in person.
Party leaders emphasize the importance of maintaining momentum: turnout efforts and follow-up on unreturned mail ballots remain critical as Election Day approaches.

10/30/2025

American Water & Essential Utilities Merger: What It Means for Washington County

Two major utility companies have announced a merger that could eventually touch nearly every household in Pennsylvania. American Water Works and Essential Utilities have agreed to combine in an all-stock transaction to create a new public water and wastewater utility valued at roughly $40 billion, with an enterprise value around $63 billion.
What the Deal Is
Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of Essential will receive 0.305 shares of American Water for each share they hold. After the merger closes, American Water shareholders will own about 69 percent of the combined company, while Essential shareholders will own about 31 percent.
The new company will retain the American Water name and be headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, while Essential’s Pennsylvania offices in Bryn Mawr and Pittsburgh will remain operational. The merger is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2027, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.
Key Benefits
Company officials say the merger will support greater investment in infrastructure and improved operational efficiency. They have emphasized that customer rates will not change because of the merger and that all union contracts, employee compensation, and benefits will remain in effect without material change.
What This Means for Washington County
Service Provider Continuity: For many Washington County residents, water service is handled by local systems connected to either Essential Utilities or American Water. While officials say rates won’t change as a result of the merger, any long-term operational or maintenance shifts could eventually affect customers here.
Infrastructure Investment: One of the primary goals of the merger is to strengthen capital investment. This is significant for Washington County, where aging water and wastewater systems often strain municipal budgets. The new company’s resources could help accelerate local infrastructure improvements, although these effects will take time.
Regulatory Oversight: The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and local municipal boards will continue to oversee operations and rate approvals. County officials should monitor how the combined company approaches local system upgrades, rate filings, and community engagement.
Community Impact: The merger may open opportunities for Washington County leaders and civic groups to collaborate with the new company on priorities such as water quality, pipe replacement, and service to underserved areas.
Potential Uncertainties: Large mergers can bring organizational changes that influence smaller service areas. Residents and local officials should watch for any future announcements about changes in service territories, capital-planning priorities, or customer-service processes.
Bottom Line
For Washington County, the merger won’t cause immediate changes in water bills or service. However, it could shape how water and wastewater infrastructure is maintained and improved over time. Local municipalities and authorities should engage early with the merged utility to ensure that Washington County’s needs—reliable service, affordable rates, and infrastructure investment—remain front and center as the merger moves toward completion in 2027.

10/25/2025

Friday Night Lights: Washington County Teams Shine as Playoffs Take Shape
As the regular season wraps up, Washington County football programs are making their mark across every classification — from 6A to 1A — with championships, playoff clinches, and title hopes alive heading into November.
Canon-McMillan Clinches 6A Playoff Berth
Despite a 45-10 loss to powerhouse Central Catholic, Canon-McMillan secured a playoff spot thanks to Norwin’s upset win over Mt. Lebanon. The Big Macs finished in a three-way tie with Seneca Valley and Mt. Lebanon but owned head-to-head wins over both, earning a trip to the semifinals in two weeks — a rematch with Central Catholic.
Peters Township Perfect in 5A
Peters Township capped an undefeated regular season with a 35-0 shutout of Bethel Park to claim the Allegheny Six Conference title outright. The Indians enter the postseason as one of the favorites for the 5A crown and will enjoy a first-round bye.
Trinity Takes the 4A Big Six
Trinity’s 34-21 win over Belle Vernon sealed its first conference championship in nearly 40 years. The Hillers closed out the season on a five-game win streak, earning top seeding in the 4A bracket. Chartiers Valley also ended on a high note, blanking Ringgold 38-0.
2A & 3A Highlights
Wash High fell 27-14 to Seton-La Salle in the Century Conference title game, missing out on a first-round bye but still bound for the postseason. Waynesburg’s dominant 43-6 victory over Sto-Rox has the Raiders back to .500 and in the 2A wild-card hunt. In 3A play, McGuffey was shut out by Quaker Valley, 21-0.
1A Dominance Continues
Fort Cherry rolled to a 49-8 win over Serra Catholic, claiming the Black Hills Conference championship and finishing an unbeaten regular season. The Rangers — two-time defending 1A champions — are likely headed for the top playoff seed. Chartiers-Houston tuned up for its first postseason appearance in four years with a 56-20 non-conference win over Northgate.
In the Tri-County South, California rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat Jeff-Morgan 36-14, securing the conference crown. Bentworth’s 35-0 victory over Avella clinched second place, while the Eagles — now 6-4 — remain in the thick of the wild-card race along with Monessen and Frazier.
Week 9 Scores
6A Quad County
Central Catholic 45, Canon-McMillan 10
5A Allegheny Six
Peters Township 35, Bethel Park 0
4A Big Six
Trinity 34, Belle Vernon 21
Chartiers Valley 38, Ringgold 0
3A Western Hills
Quaker Valley 21, McGuffey 0
2A Century
Seton-La Salle 27, Wash High 14
Waynesburg 43, Sto-Rox 6
Charleroi 30, Carlynton 6
1A Black Hills
Fort Cherry 49, Serra Catholic 8
Burgettstown vs. Bishop Canevin — Saturday 7 PM (at Dormont)
1A Tri-County South
Bentworth 35, Avella 0
California 36, Jeff-Morgan 14
Beth-Center 26, West Greene 21
Carmichaels 54, Mapletown 0
Non-Conference
Chartiers-Houston 56, Northgate 20

10/25/2025

October 25 Edition

Washington County Community News

10/24/2025

More Blight coming down in Washington County. Built in 1910 the Brownson House plans to build a new facility across the street and use this lot for parking.