Guess who is ‘Going to Bat’ for the West Hills Gazette?

Exposure? Yes, please.

The news we’re about to share strikes me as crazy wonderful. A few months back, one of my West Hills Gazette partners asked for our thoughts on applying for what is ultimately $100,000 in marketing value and some cash from the Pittsburgh Pirates and PNC.

– WANDERING THROUGH LIFE –

As I’ve learned over the years, if it’s your idea, then you should lead the charge. And that’s why we have this picture of Frank Garland sealing the deal with the Pirate Parrot mascot. Garland, a sports nut, wrote the grant ask, I edited and our third and most secretive of partners looked it over for typos and possible leaks to their cover. I then promptly forgot about it. That is until we received an invite to visit PNC Park during the offseason.

Garland was told he needed to come in and answer a few questions related to the grant application. Yet I suspected all along we were going to be one of the six small businesses chosen for this year’s Going to Bat for Small Business awards presented by PNC. I’m already thinking about the design for a T-shirt commemorating West Hills Gazette as July’s featured small business at PNC Park. My partners, our families and some of our first-string advertisers will wear them while celebrating community journalism at the July 26, 2025 game. It’s a Saturday night game where we get to share a premium suite, box seats, ballpark fare and a matchup where the Pirates host the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Sonja Reis’ son Silas with his cousins during a birthday outing.

The event will be bookended by a Wigle Whiskey pregame block party on Federal Street and a postgame Zambelli Drone Light Show. Sounds like a great evening at PNC Park even for someone like me, who isn’t into baseball but enjoys the socialization that occurs during a game. I am hopeful that my nieces and nephew from New Jersey will be able to attend with us. The youngest, Sammy, is a baseball fanatic. His favorite team is naturally the New York Mets but because his uncle, my husband Ezra, is a die-hard Pirates fan, he also has quite the soft spot for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

My nephew Sammy with a game ball during a 2023 game at PNC Park and as diehard Mets fan, modeling his new purple costume to wear during the upcoming season. Those of you who love baseball know this is not the McDonald’s Mascot Grimace, per se, but rather the New York Mets’ good luck charm known for the viral “Grimace Effect.”

“The Pirates are excited to partner with PNC in support of local small businesses in the Pittsburgh region. Going to Bat for Small Business Presented by PNC represents the sixth straight season that the Pirates and PNC teamed up to pledge their support for local small businesses in order to help create a stronger Pittsburgh community,” according to a Pittsburgh Pirates press release sent out Tuesday.

“Each month, the program will highlight one of six small businesses that have helped make a positive impact on their communities. The Pirates and PNC will award the six small businesses a marketing package valued up to $100,000 and a $5,000 grant.”

The six small businesses being recognized for their veritable influence on their communities are:

Atlas Dreams Languages
Aunt Cheryl’s Baking & Catering
Community Equip’d
Lincoln Avenue Brewery
The Art Supply Co.
West Hills Gazette

We’re hopeful that in addition to this honor helping us to get the word out about West Hills Gazette, we’ll also get to make connections with the other business owners this grant program is supporting. I can definitely see a future partners meeting being held over a few pints at Bellevue’s Lincoln Avenue Brewery.

Thank you to the Pirates and PNC organizations for making this possible.