Butler Rotary Club PM members and friends gathered to dedicate the South Hills/Christie Avenue playground. Emily Taylor, front row, left, Dale Pinkerton, Millie Pinkerton, Sam Zurzola and Ann Baglier, as well as Judy Neigh, back row, left, Leslie Osche, Lou Grenci, Tom Jindra, Joe Neigh, Dennis Baglier and Al McGrath, were among the participants at the event.

The Butler Rotary Club PM recently dedicated the South Hills/Christie Avenue playground with a Neighborhood Night. The evening celebrated the playground's renovation and included activities for children, reading of a mayoral proclamation and a dedication.

The playground and shelter were dedicated in memory of John Baglier, son of Dennis Baglier, president-elect of the Rotary club.

Rotary also contributed $1,000 to the Jr. ROTC Raiders from Butler High School to honor Sam Zurzola's instrumental contributions to the playground renovation. Dennis and Ann Baglier matched the contribution to the ROTC.

Two YMCA staff members organize play at the playground from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. Lunch is provided by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The program will continue through Aug. 25.

This is the third Butler playground renovated by the Rotary club. Last year the club raised $105,000 to renovate the Institute Hill playground and to enhance the safety of the Rotary Park playground on the island.

Other Butler Rotary Club projects include, Rotary Turkey Roundup; Lifesteps Pancake Festival; the Distinguished Service Award for Butler County, co-sponsored with the Butler Eagle; meals at the YWCA Personal Care Home; highway cleanup; dictionaries for Butler third-graders; academic scholarships; workshops for vocational-technical students; Paul Harris Fellow awards for community volunteers; and a golf outing fundraiser at Conley Resort. The golf outing will be Aug. 11.