< Previous For children with sensory processing disorders, movie theaters can be an overwhelming experience. While for friends and classmates the experience can be something of an adventure, for these kids, the environment can be very intense or even scary. Rather than deprive these children of the experience, area theaters are trying to make movie theaters a place that everyone can enjoy. “For typical people, we take things in through our senses all the time,” said Susan Parker, an early childhood and special education professor at Robert Morris University. “Some people have difficulty with their sensory processing system, so certain things like fluorescent lights and fans can be a big distraction for them.” While other entertainment options can be hard to control, movie theaters can more easily manipulate their environment. Unlike a loud concert or amusement park, the amount of sensory details can be subdued and mellowed in an enclosed space. This process, known as a low sensory screening, includes multiple changes to the typical theater environment. By making the process less intense, those sensitive to loud noises and changes in light can feel safe during the event. “A low sensory environment usually has the lights turned up or down, depending on the audience,” said Parker. “Sounds are made quieter or they will provide noise cancelling headphones. Those are the two big changes that they will make for movies.” The experience can also serve as a vital learning environment, allowing those with special needs to interact with employees in a safe and stress-free way. “Some parents and agencies like to use this event as a teachable moment for their person with autism or special needs,” said Carolina Thor, executive director of the Tull Family Theater. “They can gain the social experience and learn the process of paying for and purchasing tickets; selecting and ordering concessions; and personally interacting with the team members at the register.” The Tull Family Theater, located in the heart of Sewickley, started their public low sensory screenings in 2018. Observing the need to accommodate this audience, the nonprofit worked to provide an alternative viewing event that was more accommodating for those with special needs. “In some cases, the patrons are visibly excited, celebratory and laughing,” said Thor. “For others, though, it’s a more quiet pleasure, perhaps a smile and holding the hand of the parent. The mystique of seeing a movie house, with the anticipation of the film filling that giant screen, and the feeling of watching it happen, bigger than life, with others, strikes a universal chord.” For parents like Sue Ferrand, a Collier Township resident, these screenings are able to provide an easier way for her 12-year-old daughter Ivy to enjoy going to the movies. “Ivy was diagnosed with brain cancer when she was 4,” said Ferrand. “She has been diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and some other things that nobody knows how to treat at this point.” The Tull Family Theater in Sewickley is one of several area theaters that are providing special screenings for those with autism. How theaters are working to make sure everyone can go to the movies 20 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2019 CAround Your Town Around Your TownCAround Your Town Around Your Town STORY AND PHOTO BY GARRET ROBERTS Ivy is sensitive to loud noises. To combat the intensity of these sounds, she wears headphones, which make it easier for her to process sounds. Even with the headphones, though, going to a movie theater can be a challenge for the Ferrand family. “For her, going to the movies can be difficult with how loud the sound system can be,” said Ferrand. “Having things not be so dark, as she gets a little freaked out, can be a big help. Different types of materials, even in the seating, cause her to take a blanket to sit on so she can feel comfortable.” This type of sensory sensitivity is also common for people who have autism. According to the 2014 Pennsylvania Autism Census, there are over 4,800 individuals with autism in Allegheny County. Of this group, 47 percent are children between the ages of 5 and 12. Finding a way to spend time with the family can be hard for those raising children with special needs, but theaters are seeking ways to make this goal easier to achieve. Locations such as Cinemark and AMC theaters are also offering special sensory programing on certain nights, which allows families to enjoy special programing together. However, the scope of these programs is somewhat limited. While a number of theaters in Allegheny County provide these options, not every community is able to offer these special accommodations. Thus, just getting to these events isn’t always possible for families. As a result, they must sometimes travel further to attend special screenings. “From conversations with parents, we’ve come to learn that the special needs and autistic communities often do not feel included,” said Thor. “Parents have shared that sensory friendly screenings are not typically offered near to them, so cinema has not been accessible. That’s why they are so eager to take advantage of these opportunities for their children.” For parents like Ferrand, finding out when these special screenings occur also isn’t easy. “It’s really hard to find some of these things unless you’re really looking because they are not advertised all that well or frequently,” said Ferrand. “Some places do, but I have only seen it maybe once or twice.” Raising a child with special needs is hard and requires a lot of careful planning. As the numbers of those diagnosed with special needs continues to rise, the best way for businesses to help is be aware of these needs and to help their communities in any way possible. From holiday photo opportunities to skating, events with accommodations for those with sensory needs can make children feel included. “It needs to be readily available for people,” said Ferrand. “For someone like me who has a lot of issues and not a lot of time, it needs to be available to me so we can go ‘OK, my kid wants to do this or this, so this is the day we can go do it.’ Just making it available is something that means a lot for parents.” July/August 2019 • www.awmagazine.com • 2122 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2019 STORY AND PHOTOS BY DOUG HUGHEY The Coraopolis Food Pantry opened its doors in a new location at the start of June. Formerly situated at 1000 5th Avenue, the pantry is now operating just a few blocks away at 1108 4th Avenue. The pantry hosted its first distribution date in its new location June 2. Volunteers worked throughout the weekend to stock shelves and refrigerators so it wouldn’t miss its normally scheduled distribution date on the first Sunday of the month. According to Dave Kasper of Moon Township, who sits on the board for the Coraopolis Community Development Foundation, about 200 people rely on the food bank’s bi-monthly distributions. He says the pantry, which operates under the CCDF, relies largely on a donation of about 4,000 pounds of food it gets twice per month from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. In addition to that large donation, the pantry relies on a combination of volunteers, monetary donations from the public and various grass-roots efforts to stock its shelves. Among the efforts currently aiding the pantry is one that was spearheaded by Kathy Paich of Crescent Township that netted the pantry $4,000 and stacks of food measuring about 12 feet square by four feet high. Paich, who grew up in Coraopolis and graduated from Cornell, says she was blown away by the show of support from others who wanted to help her effort. “I couldn’t believe the outpouring from everyone that day,” she says about the food drive, which was held at Montour Heights Country Club. Among the items that the drive netted were numerous name brand items, which can be a rarity on the pantry’s shelves. Kasper says that the pantry also benefits from regular donations and volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ in Kennedy Township, St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Moon Township, the Cornell School District and Boy Scout Troop 904. He says students from both Moon Area High School and Robert Morris University also regularly donate their time to help clients collect items and tally points allotted to each client. As well, he says that RMU students have donated about $2,000 worth of unused pre- paid food cards over the past few years. CAround Your TownAround Your Town Community efforts aid food pantry as it moves into new location Some volunteers, like Joyceann Paich-Floyd, have been helping out at the pantry for years. She says that in five years she’s never missed a Sunday distribution and that, through her volunteer work, she’s gotten to know many of the clients who visit on a regular basis. She says she even cooks for some of them. “This is what God wants me to do,” she says. Phyllis Pacella, meanwhile, says she started helping out because she thought she was helping others but, in the process, found she was really helping herself just as much. The pantry also receives items donated by Cash Market and Mancini’s. As well, it recently formed a partnership with Forever Heart Farms in Moon Township, which donates 65 dozen farm-fresh eggs twice per month. Produce grown at the Coraopolis Community Development Foundation’s community garden by a small army of volunteers also helps stock the pantry’s shelves and supports it financially. Kasper says the pantry reviews clients annually to make sure that they meet the pantry’s income requirements. He says, though, that they have never refused someone who shows up looking for help. “We try to make it like a mini Giant Eagle,” he says. “We try to treat everybody with a degree of dignity. You never know when somebody’s down on their luck and needs a little help.” Anyone looking to donate can visit coraopolisfoundation.org. A donation of $500 can help the pantry purchase 3,500 pounds of food. Phyllis Pacella (top) and Vincent Panteleo (bottom) help stock shelves at the Coraopolis Food Pantry’s new location. During Dr. Darby Copeland’s tenure as the director of Parkway West Career and Technology Center, the trade school has trained hundreds of students to take on their post-secondary plans, whether those include pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, or entering directly into the workforce. Yet, despite filling critical roles in the local economy, none of those students ever tend to get quite the same amount of attention as student-athletes when they decide on a college or school. That fact bothered Copeland, who, as graduation time was approaching this year, got the idea to organize a signing day for matriculating trade students. “It was just one of those, sit straight up in bed in the middle of the night moments,” he says. Copeland approached some of the other secondary trade schools in the region, along with the Energy Innovation Center in Pittsburgh, with the idea. On May 7, students from each of those schools “committed” to their post-secondary career choices at an event hosted by the Energy Innovation Center, which works with major corporations like Johnson and Johnson and Siemens to train workers. The event was even attended by Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. In remarks, Peduto described the need for “trained, skilled workers” in the Pittsburgh region as “critical.” “Today’s a special day,” Peduto told a roomful of family members, officials, trades students and educators. “It’s not that much different than the signing days that happen at high schools across this country….It’s not that much different than draft day in the NFL….today’s signing day is saying what company I am going to work for or what career path I’m going to start on.” Students, including six from Parkway West Career and Technology Center, got to announce their plans in front of backdrops of their graduating schools. Among those students from Parkway West Career and Technology Center was Allora Santucci, who is already working as an emergency medical technician and taking dual-enrollment medical courses at the Community College of Allegheny County. She intends to eventually become a flight nurse. Justin McGee announced his plans to work for Diehl Automotive as a mechanic. He said he’s also hoping to take courses at CCAC. Samantha Perrone, who has since graduated from Moon Area High School, announced her plans to attend culinary school. She says she hopes to become an educator and train other culinary students like herself. Nick Dreger plans to explore a career at Cochran Nissan. Cody Gallagher has committed to employment with Mascaro Construction, pending the completion of all of his Keystone Mountain Lakes Carpenters’ Union requirements. Finally, Adam Simkovich plans to also explore a career in carpentry with Giffin Interior, pending his completion of his Keystone Mountain Lakes Carpenters’ Union requirements as well. In addition to training workers in the region, the Energy Innovation Center has also been working with area high schools to invite schools into the center to work on design challenges. The center’s CEO, Dr. Robert A. Meeder, says they have been working with 12 high schools and invite upwards of 30 students in at a Parkway West Career and Technology Center STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY PHOTOS BY NATASHA JOHNSTON, PARKWAY WEST CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER Trade students get recognized during signing day time to work on various projects. During the project, students are sometimes paired with CEOs from major corporations. “We want this to represent the mission of this place and also the community,” said Meeder of the event. “So it came together with helping them and went right into our mission of trying to put people into careers.” ABOVE: Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto poses for a picture with Parkway West Career and Technology graduating students Nick Dreger, Allora Santucci, Cody Gallagher, Samantha Perrone and Justin McGee at a signing day ceremony at the Energy Innovation Center. Not pictured is Adam Simkovich. BELOW: Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald speaks during the event. NYour Schools Your Schools July/August 2019 • www.awmagazine.com • 23Moon Area School District NYour Schools Your Schools STORIES AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY MOON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT Moon Area High School alumnus, Saket Rajprohat (Class of 2015), recently received a Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship from the U.S. Department of State. The government-funded Fulbright program serves as a conduit to more than 140 nations. Its collective purpose is to improve cultural understanding while providing educational experience. Rajprohat, a 2019 graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, will spend a year in India to study and empower the country’s disadvantaged urban youth populations through their participation in the democratic process. Rajprohat saw that there was an increasing gap between engagement with policymakers and young voters, which made him want to explore and challenge these patterns. During his time in college as a marketing major, Rajprohat focused his interests locally with the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce to find ways to inspire businesses to engage with young voters and participate in voter education. Rajprohat believes that his work in India and his post-fellowship will help to empower his peers to use their voice to benefit Indian communities. “I hope as I grow up, my work in civic engagement helps to inspire many others to engage with their communities in their own way,” he said. Saket Rajprohat Moon Area alumna Mattie M. Follen graduated in May from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine with the Academic Excellence Award for class valedictorian in the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree program. Mattie, a 2011 Moon Area High School graduate, was recognized as an academic scholar and four-year letter winner in soccer and track. She completed her undergraduate degree at Washington & Jefferson College in 2015 and earned a bachelor of arts in biochemistry with magna cum laude academic honors while playing for the women’s soccer team as the varsity goalkeeper. Next, Follen will be working toward completing her clinical pharmacy residency at a hospital in Erie while earning a master of science in medical education from LECOM. Moon Area High School received the designation of best lighting design (budget level II) during the 29th Annual Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater on May 25. In all, the drama club’s production of “Mamma Mia” earned seven Gene Kelly Award nominations for best scenic design, best lighting design, best ensemble, best crew/technical execution, best director, best musical director and best musical. As a best musical nominee, the club also had the unique opportunity to open the awards ceremony at the sold-out Benedum Center with two numbers from the show: “Dancing Queen” and “Waterloo.” Patricia Kelly, wife of the legendary entertainer Gene Kelly and namesake of the awards, spent time with drama club members and students from other schools nominated for best musical. Patricia spoke about her husband’s legacy, passion for performing and the global impact he’s left on performers around the world. The awards, which celebrate both school theater programs and student achievement in the arts, are sponsored by the Pittsburgh CLO. Drama club earns Kelly award for best lighting design The cast and crew of “Mamma Mia” celebrates their eight Gene Kelly award nominations on the steps of the Benedum Center. Alumna receives pharmacy doctorate Mattie M. Follen 24 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2019 Alumnus receives Fulbright-Nehru FellowshipTrack finals At the Diocesan track meet finals held at Robert Morris University, St. Philip students received a variety of medals. Most notably, seventh-grader Gia Marino took first place in the varsity girls javelin, throwing 63 feet, seven inches. Sixth-grader Everett Sargent medaled in three individual events, taking first place in the JV boys 1600-meter race with a time of 5:58.17, first place in the JV boys 800-meter race with a time of 2:42.82, and second place in the JV boys 3200-meter with a time of 14:04.52. All A’s all year In addition to two eighth-graders, several St. Philip students across grade levels received the prestigious Principal’s Award for achieving a perfect 4.0 average for the 2018-2019 school year. They were: fifth-graders Levi Gladu, Caroline Hall, Jake Johnson, Katelyn Miller and Sophia Muoio; sixth- graders Rachel Boehm, Addison Hazuda, Natalie Kirsch and Everett Sargent; and seventh-graders Maslen Anselm, Charles Colantonio, Sean Kelsch, Lillianna Peterson, Keeley Sniadach, Will Stickman and Leah Zielinski. “Do You Wanna Dance?” St. Philip students performed their adaptation of “Do You Wanna Dance?” this past spring. They were “dancing in the streets” during this musical about the power of working together and following your dreams. “Do You Wanna Dance?” is a musical romp featuring favorite songs from the past decades combined with an uplifting and inspiring story. St. Philip Catholic School Pictured are St. Philip track medalists Grace Ravenstahl, Kara Wilson, Rachel Boehm, Gia Mariono, Katarina Komoroski, Everett Sargent, James Hanna, Dashiell Sargent, Jacob Kaltz, Mia Madden and Sal Lozano. Pictured are the Principal’s Award winners for grades five, six and seven. St. Philip students perform “Do you Want to Dance?” NYour Schools Your Schools STORIES AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY ST. PHILIP CATHOLIC SCHOOL Clearview Federal Credit Union and West-Aircomm Federal Credit Union partnered together to plan and host the 2019 Moon Area High School Financial Reality Fair on April 26. Approximately 550 students from the junior and senior social studies classes participated. At the beginning of the event, every student was assigned a career and received figures representing their salary, estimated student loan payment, and checking and savings account balances. Based on their salaries, savings and loans, students had to make selections based on varying costs for housing, transportation, entertainment, utilities and other average monthly expenses. Students then calculated and determined if their choices were suitable compared to the salaries, savings and loan amounts they had received. A total of 35 credit union volunteers from Clearview Federal Credit Union, West-Aircomm Federal Credit Union, CHROME Federal Credit Union, and A&S Federal Credit Union were present to help make the event a success. These four organizations worked together to assist with financial counseling. Moon Area High School parents and other community members also volunteered at individual booths to help students select from budget choices such as housing, transportation, food, cell phone, TV and Internet and clothing. This was the reality fair’s fourth consecutive year and, once again, it proved to be a great opportunity for Clearview Federal Credit Union and West-Aircomm Federal Credit Union to promote and provide financial literacy in the community. Clearview and West-Aircomm hold reality fair for Moon Area High School students STORY AND PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CLEARVIEW FCU Clearview employees volunteered their time to assist over 500 Moon Area High School students during a financial reality fair event. The volunteers provided students with tips for saving, paying down high interest debt and dealing with unexpected expenses. Pictured are Megan Laughlin, Kimberly Gegick, Symone Ciencin, Kelly Bowes, Terri Peterson and Maura Boggs. July/August 2019 • www.awmagazine.com • 25NYour Schools Your Schools St. Philip Catholic School ABOVE: Junior Achievement Inspire Scholarship recipient Grace Ravenstahl is pictured with St. Philip Pastor, Fr. John Gizler III. BELOW: Josie Bochicchio, Matthew McDevitt, Branden Sniadach, Grace Ravenstahl, Emily Coll and Josie Bochicchio all received awards during eighth grade graduation. Recorder concert Fifth grade students presented an evening recorder concert at the Ascension worship site. The annual event began with a grant from Duquesne University, which provided recorder training to Mrs. Bartlett along with a donation of instruments from an anonymous donor. Each year, Mrs Bartlett works with the fifth grade to teach them the instrument along with selections for the special evening to share with family members. Cooper Anselm Eighth grade graduation The American Legion Awards for Scholarship and Citizenship from Frank R. Kirk Post 145 were awarded to eighth-graders Matthew McDevitt and Josie Bochcchio. Recipients were reminded that the virtues of honor, courage, scholarship, leadership, service and Americanism - which the award recognizes - are the foundation upon which this country was founded and must be fostered for it to remain strong. Christian Leadership awards were presented to Grace Ravenstahl and Branden Sniadach. Recipients of both awards were chosen by a vote among students and St. Philip faculty. Emily Coll and Josie Bochicchio received the Principal’s Award for a perfect 4.0 average all four quarters this year. A reception for the students and their parents followed graduation. Graduates plan to attend Bishop Canevin, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School, Central Catholic high school, Canon-McMillan High School and Montour High School. Eighty-five percent of the graduates have chosen to attend a Catholic high school. Of them, several received scholarships. They are (listed next to their school): Bishop Canevin - Evan Seitz, Trinty Anselm, Lenci Boehme, Ava Gaitens, Josie Bochicchio, Grace Ravenstahl (Junior Achievement Inspire Scholarship), Leyton Cypher and Emily Coll. OLSH - Katarina Komoroski (Sr. Mary Pulcheria Saukaitis Endowed Scholarship) Once again, sixth and eighth grade students attending St. James Catholic School in Sewickley participated in the annual Elks Americanism Contest chaired by Coraopolis Lodge #1090 Lodge and district chairperson, Ann Barger. The topic for this year’s essay was “What Makes You Proud of America?” and each essay written was not to exceed 300 words. Out of 37 students participating - 12 from the sixth grade and 25 from the eighth grade - three were chosen from each grade by volunteers from the lodge. Those picked from the sixth grade were Evelyn Perry, Abby Feezko and Adam Webre. The authors of essays selected from the eighth grade were Max Hamilton, Shannon McCullough and Natalie Perry. These essays then went on to the state level for judging. Though none of the St. James students won at that level, they all did a wonderful job and need to be congratulated on their participation each year. St. James Catholic School Americanism contest Invention convention Avery Sinicrope, Lienna Bassano, Sam Hall and Sal Lozano represented St. Philip at the AIU Invention Convention at Carlynton High School. Avery placed first in the first grade division while Lienna finished second in the fourth grade division. Students all received high scores for their presentations and were recognized for their hard work. Avery Sinicrope and Lienna Bassano both placed at the AIU Invention Convention. STORIES AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY ST. PHILIP CATHOLIC SCHOOL 26 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2019 The Moon Township Garden Club has teamed up with Hollow Oak Land Trust to convert the former herb garden at Robin Hill Park into a nursery for native perennials. The Civic, Environment and Horticulture Committee of the garden club has made the native plants nursery their focus project. Plants raised at the nursery are being used for restoration of local greenspaces. To capture the ever-increasing rainfall, Hollow Oak is creating elongated “bioswales” in low-lying woodland areas that become over-saturated with stormwater from surrounding developed areas. When woods and other greenspaces are replaced by pavement and rooftops, the rainwater is no longer absorbed and must go somewhere. This storm water runoff flows rapidly downhill, eroding soil along the way and depositing it in the streams below, which suffocates aquatic creatures living beneath and among the rocks and gravel. Bioswale depressions collect the stormwater runoff and specific species of plants help detain and absorb the excess water. Instead of exposed tree roots and murky streams, you get forest blooms supporting local pollinator insects and wildlife. This is where the missions of the Moon Garden Club and Hollow Oak Land Trust overlap, through the protection of native plants and wildlife. Marjorie Rode started the herb garden in 1978, which grew to more than 12 beds of culinary and medicinal herbs. The garden was more recently cared for by the Moon Garden Club, producing a mix of ornamental flowers and herbs, but its slopes became too challenging to keep up with the weeds and maintenance. Many of the plants were moved to the new Fleur de Lune Garden, which opened at the annual Moon Garden Tour in 2018. To this day, the former herb garden is bordered by a fence and privet hedge. Inside, however, the plants have changed dramatically to showcase native species of Pennsylvania’s woodlands and meadows. Towering cutleaf coneflowers (Rudbeckia lancinata) and deer-resistant wingstem (Verbesina alterniflora) bloom bright yellow in late summer, while brown-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia triloba) produce five-foot mounds of gold starting in late June. Purple flowers include the perennial favorite coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), as well as the much taller ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) and Joe Pye weed (Eupatoriadelphus maculatus). The medicinal black cohosh (Actaea racemose) is represented as well and soon will be found blooming with long, white racemes in local woodlands, such as the 300-acre Montour Woods Conservation Area. Trailheads for Montour Woods can be accessed on Hassam Road and within the Londonbury Homeowners Association. Volunteers are welcome to help with the continued conversion of the herb garden to a native nursery. If interested, email info@ hollowoak.org and be sure to bring your gardening gloves! Groundwork is a regular column submitted by the Moon Township Garden Club. The club is one of the leading civic groups in the airport area, donating proceeds from its annual Greens and Things Sale and garden tour to local nonprofit organizations. It also supports scholarships for local students studying biology and environmental science. Sean Brady is the executive director of Hollow Oak Land Trust and chair of the garden club’s civic, horticulture and environment committee. Native plants nursery blooming at Robin Hill Park STORY AND PHOTOS BY SEAN BRADY { Groundwork Groundwork Among the plants now being grown at Robin Hill by the Moon Township Garden Club are (starting at left) Echinacea purpurea (seen here with a tiger swallowtail butterfly); brown-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia triloba); cut-leaf coneflower (Rudbeckia lancinata); and black cohosh (Actaea racemose). July/August 2019 • www.awmagazine.com • 27;On the Horizon On the Horizon West Allegheny Class of 1958 Meetings, second Thursdays, 9 a.m., Eat’n Park Robinson Township, (724) 747-1773. Sounds of Pittsburgh Chorus Rehearsals, Monday evenings, 7-9:30 p.m., Sharon Community Presbyterian Church in Moon Township, open rehearsals, for women who sing, www.soundsofpgh.org, (412) 945-SING. Greater Pittsburgh Football Officials Association, seeking new officials for youth, scholastic, college and semi-pro levels, Mike Conlon, (412) 398-6545. TGIF, social group for high functioning adults on the autism spectrum, ages 18-40s, Fridays, 7-9 p.m., Youth Community Center at Sharon Presbyterian Church, food fun and fellowship, free, Terry Doughty, (724) 457-1088, TGIF.ASGroup@gmail.com. Singers Wanted for Sounds of Pittsburgh Chorus, rehearses Mondays, 7-9:30 p.m., Coraopolis United Methodist Church in Coraopolis, premiere women’s a cappella chorus, www.soundsofpgh.org, (412) 945-SING. ICTUS (Ingram, Crafton, Thornburg United In Song) singers wanted, adult community choir looking for new members, men and women 18 years and up in Pittsburgh area, rehearses Mondays, September through May, 7-9 p.m., Crafton UP Church, (412) 716-1113, Ride_ICTUS@yahoo.com. Western PA Kidney Support Group, second Sundays, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Eat’n Park Robinson, (724) 796-1603, RSVP. Bereavement/Caregiver Identity Loss Peer Support Group, second Thursdays, 1-2:30 p.m., Hope Respite House, for caregivers who have lost their loved one and are struggling with identity loss, free, registration required, (412) 369-4673, info@hopegrows.net, www.hopegrows.net/events. Art Therapy, Thursdays, 6 p.m., Restoration Church of Christ, help paint rocks that are then taken out to the community to bring joy to others, all ages, (412) 788-8818. American Legion West Hills Post 924, looking for veterans interested in making a difference, www.westhillspost924.com VFW Post 402, looking for new members, www.VFW402.org. Ikea’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, July 19-21, 80’s dance party 6-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, workshops, kids’ crafts, giveaways, weekend-only specials, DJ, food specials, giveaways: gift cards, furniture, more, (888) 888-4532. Janoski’s Wine Festival, July 20, 3-8 p.m., 1714 Lincoln Hwy, Clinton, sample wines from local wineries, souvenir wine glass, unlimited tastings, home-cooked food buffet, chance to win a basket donated by the winerie, $39 pre-purchase, $49 at gate, info@janoskis.com, Eventbrite.com, Facebook: Janoski’s Wine Festival. Montours Presbyterian Church Flea Market, July 27, Aug. 3, 8 a.m.-noon, 3151 Montour Church Rd., (412) 787-1050, www.montourschurch.org. Merakey AVS Recruiting, July 31, Aug. 24, 9 a.m.- 1:30 p.m., AVS West Kennedy Program Center, 1806 Pine Hollow Road, McKees Rocks, seeking candidates for Direct Support Professional, LPN, RN, respiratory therapist positions, www.merakey.org. Holy Trinity Festival, Aug 1-3, 6-11 p.m., rides, games, bingo, casino, food trucks, benefits Archangel Gabriel School, (412) 787-2656. Moon Township Rotary Corn Roast, Aug. 13, 5-8 p.m., Moon Park, live music, beer, cookout fare, $20 at door, (724) 695-1134. Carnegie Performing Arts Center Registration, Aug. 19-21, 5-9 p.m., 150 East Main Street, Carnegie, ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, pre dance, children’s drama, musical theater, piano lessons, performance opportunities, (412) 279-8887, carnegieperformingartscenter.com. Harvest of Health Wellness Expo, Oct. 19, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., Pittsburgh Airport Marriott, see page 7. Local Networking Groups Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce, see page 12. Greater Pittsburgh Business Connection, Wednesdays, 7:15 a.m., Eat’n Park on Rt. 60, find new leads and make more sales, (412) 364-6446 x 302, www.gpbc-pgh.org. Moon Toastmasters, Thursdays, 5:15-6:15 p.m., Aetna Corporation, 2222 Ewing Road, arrive by 5:10 p.m. with a valid driver’s license to check-in at the lobby, www.moon.toastmastersclubs.org. Women’s Business Network, meets first and third Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m., Panera Bread meeting room in North Fayette. MONTOURS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 3151 Montour Church Rd., Oakdale 412-787-1050 www.montourschurch.org FLEA MARKET SAT., JULY 27 & AUGUST 3 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon 28 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2019;On the Horizon On the Horizon Moon Parks and Recreation Register by visiting MoonParks.org or calling (412) 262-1703. Programs take place at Robin Hill Center unless otherwise indicated. Register by visiting MoonParks.org or calling (412) 262-1703. Programs take place at Robin Hill Center unless otherwise indicated. Health and Fitness Cardio Tennis, ages 16+, Wednesdays, July 24- Sept. 4, 10-11 a.m., Moon Park Tennis Courts, music, ladders, easy-to-hit balls, lots of running, burn 1,000 calories in an hour, $20/session, $120/seven sessions. Free Beginner Tennis Clinic, ages 16+, Aug. 3, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Moon Park Tennis Courts, registration required. Pilates, ages 15+, Wednesdays, through Oct. 2, 8:30-9:30 a.m., unique system of stretching/ strengthening exercises that work the entire body, $45 residents/$50 non-residents for six-week session, drop- in $10. Entertainment Robin Hill Lunchtime Concert Series, third Wednesdays through September, noon-1 p.m., Robin Hill Park Gazebo, July 17 - Doo Wop All-Stars, Aug. 21 - Gypsy Stringz, Sept. 18 - Hermie Granati Duo Unplugged. Friday Fun Nights, 7:30 p.m. start for pre-show and concerts, movies start at dusk at Moon Park Amphitheatre, July 19 - Windjammer Circus Band, July 26 - “The Lego Movie II,” Aug. 2 - “Wonder Movie” with Josh & Gabby pre-show, Aug. 9 - “Coco” with Jim Kanfosuch pre-show, Aug. 16 - “Mary Poppins Returns” with Hip Hop Dancers pre-show, Aug. 23 - “Teen Titans go to the Movies” with Whipper Snappers pre-show. Moon Rocks Saturday Nights, 7:30 p.m., Moon Park Amphitheatre, July 27 - Pink Noise, Aug. 17 - Moonstock 2019. Youth Bicycle Riding Training, ages 4-8, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, April 2-Aug. 3, 12-6 p.m., Moon Park Amphitheater Parking Lot, learn biking fundamentals and build confidence, $80/ three one-hour sessions. Moon Rec on the Go, ages 5-12, through Aug. 16, Amherst (Monday), Broad Hill Courts (Tuesday), Bon Meade (Wednesday), Mooncrest (Thursday), 9 a.m.-noon, free program, mobile trailer visits local neighborhood area providing free recreation opportunities. Summer Tennis Lessons, ages 5-11, Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, Aug. 5-24, (three weeks) , $108 or $45 per week. Moon Park Tennis Courts, times based on age groups. Youth Flag Football, ages 4-14, Sept. 15-Nov. 3, training sessions precede season, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Hyde Elementary, $45 (t-shirt included), co-ed. Mad Science Camp: Little Green Thumbs, ages 3-5, Monday- Friday, July 22-26, 9 a.m.-noon, investigate the science of gardening, $125/ residents, $140/non-residents. Mad Science Camp: Grossology, ages 6-11, Monday-Friday, Aug. 19-23, 9 a.m.-noon, science of the body, $125/ residents, $140/non- residents. Zumbini Mini-Session, ages 0-4 with care giver, Aug. 3-31,10-10:45 a.m., $70 per child, $40 each additional child, five weeks, combines dance and educational tools for 45 minutes of fun, Moon Township Municipal Building Bitty Ballet Summer Camp , ages 3.5-6, July 29-Aug 1, Monday- Thursday, 10-11:30 a.m., introduces preschool-age children to dance, $80/ residents, $85/non-residents. Wizarding Festival, Sept. 7, Moon Park, details TBA. Senior Connection Socials, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Carriage House at Robin Hill Park. Line Dancing with Marilyn, Tuesdays, 10:30- 11:30 a.m., Carriage House at Robin Hill Park, $5/ drop-in. Wild World of Animals Intergenerational Family Event, July 30, 1:30-4 p.m., games, prizes, lunch, ice cream, beverages, balloon animals, wild animal show, open to younger relatives, $3/person, register by July 23. Casino and Hello Dolly Bus Trip, Aug. 8, 2 p.m. departure, 9:30 p.m. return, starts at the Rivers Casino and ends at Benedum for “Hello Dolly,” $70/person, register by July 25. Hartville Ohio Shopping Bus Trip, Aug. 26, 9 a.m. departure, 7 p.m. return, stops at Hartville Marketplace and outdoor flea market, Hartville Kitchen, bakery, collectibles shop, hardware, $32/person, register by Aug. 12. Seniors July/August 2019 • www.awmagazine.com • 29Next >