By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor
ALLEGHENY CITY CENTRAL — Two crossing guards who work on intersections along North Avenue were honored for their combined 30-plus years of service on the Northside during the neighborhood’s National Night Out celebration on Aug. 5.
Carol Bujalski and Paula Barth were presented trophies by Allegheny City Central Association Secretary Larry DiCicco in recognition of their many years keeping Northsiders safe while crossing the road. Bujalski primarily works at the intersection of Federal Street and North Avenue, while Barth handles North Avenue and Arch Street.
Bujalski, who has been on the job for 17 years, said she first got her start as a crossing guard after getting burned out working in the healthcare industry for 27 years, leading her to seek a job she would find more enjoyable.
“I just love it,” she said of her current career. “I really, really love it.”
She finds interacting with kids to be her favorite part of the position, in particular getting the “bad kids” under control and seeing their behavior improve over time.
Barth, meanwhile, has been a crossing guard for 36 years, but only began working the intersection of North and Arch 18 years ago. She needed a job that was conducive to her son’s school schedule as she was raising him alone, and found the hours of a crossing guard to be a perfect fit.
In addition to her regular intersection, she also works traffic details whenever there are major events in town, such as sporting events. However, she has found something special in caring for the people of the Northside.
“Wonderful people live here,” she said. “Wonderful people. All very nice.”
Having been on the job for so long, Barth said she has had incidents where people she regularly helped cross when they were kids introduce her to their children years down the road, an experience she always finds pleasant.
In a short ceremony, Barth and Bujalski were presented with trophies in the shape of crossing guard whistles.
