PLUS:Longtime Findlay recreation coordinator retiresNew Miracle League field on track for fall baseballYoung philanthropist opens little free libraryAirport authority unveils new terminal design conceptMagazineWest Allegheny EditionVolume 20, Issue 119April/May 2019FREE Direct Mail Community PublicationWest AlleghenySchool DistrictOffical NewsletterInsidePage 31Serving Findlay, North Fayette, Oakdale, Sturgeon and McDonald in the West Allegheny School DistrictOne of 4 editions serving 17 airport area communitieswww.awmagazine.comAllegheny WestNow in Our20th YearProudly Serving the Airport AreaP. O. Box 220, McDonald, PA 15057Phone: 724.673.3161E-Mail: info@awmagazine.comwww.awmagazine.comPUBLISHER AND EDITORDoug HugheyWRITERSJill BordoJocelyn GreckoPat Jennette GRAPHIC DESIGNSarah KizinaWEBMASTERwww.ddswebdesign.comCONTRIBUTORSPittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce,Findlay Township, North Fayette TownshipOakdale Borough, McDonald Borough, West Allegheny School District, Western Allegheny Community Library, Erma Dodd, Barb Kleyman, Jesse ForquerFOUNDING PUBLISHERPat JennetteWE PROUDLY SPONSOR AND SUPPORT:A variety of community, school, and nonprofit organizations in our coverage areas of Cornell, Moon, Montour, and West Allegheny.We are committed to recycling our used and leftover products. We encourage our readers to be responsible and dispose of this magazine when finished enjoying it. Consider passing it along to someone else, or placing it in your neighborhood recycling bins. Thank you in advance for doing your part for our earth.Hughey Publications, LLC also publishes the Moon Edition of Allegheny West Magazine, the Montour Edition of Allegheny West Magazine, and the Cornell Edition of Allegheny West Magazine.Allegheny WestMagazineMEMBER@AlleghenyWest“GOOD NEWS ALWAYS, MAILED & DELIVERED FREE, EVERY TIME”Allegheny West Magazine - West Allegheny Edition, is an all positive, good news publication mailed free into the homes and businesses of the West Allegheny School District communities of Findlay, North Fayette, Oakdale, Sturgeon, and McDonald to connect communities, promote people, heighten awareness about the richness of the airport region, and build pride in the western suburbs of Allegheny County.Allegheny West Magazine-West Allegheny Edition is published in February, April, June, August, October, and December, six issues a year, Hughey Publications, LLC, P. O. Box 220, McDonald, PA 15057. Mailed and distributed free to residents and businesses in Findlay, North Fayette, Oakdale, Sturgeon, a portion of McDonald, and adjacent areas. Extra copies available at municipal offices, schools, libraries, stores, advertisers, hotels, and businesses. Available by mail subscription for $15 annually. Story ideas welcomed. Community events and announcements from non-profit groups must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publishing date. Announcements are limited to 30 words and must include a contact phone number. Reproduction of any artwork, photographs, or copy prepared by Allegheny West Magazine is strictly prohibited without written consent of Hughey Publications, LLC. Copyright 1999-2019 Allegheny West Magazine. All rights reserved. Views and opinions expressed by contributors and/or advertisers are the responsibility of the contributors and not those of the publisher of Allegheny West Magazine.4 • Allegheny West Magazine • April/May 2019Dear Readers, Thank you for picking up our April West Allegheny edition of Allegheny West Magazine. As we’ve done in years past in our April edition, we’re once again bringing you a special section this month on the latest West Allegheny Athletic Hall of Fame inductees. This class marks the hall of fame’s seventh and inductees will again be honored at a banquet in May. Funds raised from the banquet will benefit West Allegheny athletics. The individuals and teams selected for induction into the hall of fame have all contributed to West Allegheny athletics in their own unique ways. This month, those being inducted include a longtime football announcer, a standout volleyball player, a local philanthropist and youth sports manager, and two history-making cross-country teams. Read more, starting on page 26. In this edition as well, our publisher emeritus Pat Jennette looks back on the career of longtime Findlay Parks and Recreation coordinator Darlene (Larson) Howell. Over the past two decades, Howell managed to expand the department’s handful of offerings to numerous regular programs serving Findlay residents of all ages. Read more on page 16. If you haven’t seen the concept design for Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal, be sure to flip to page 22. As pictured in the architectural renderings that we have published with this story, the new terminal will have a number of interesting aesthetic design elements. The new terminal will also have a number of new amenities and promises to cut down on the time it takes travelers to get from curb to gate.From thePublisherParticipants in the West Allegheny basketball booster’s little dribblers in-house program pose for a picture. The program had 120 participants this year in grades K through eight. The K through second grade portion focuses on ball handling skills and learning the rules of the game. PHOTO BY BLINK OF AN EYE: SPORTS AND FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHYLongtime Findlay recreation coordinator retiresNew Miracle League field on track for fall baseballYoung philanthropist opens little free libraryAirport authority unveils new terminal design conceptWest Allegheny Athletic Hall of Fame 2019 InducteesWA TodayWest Allegheny Edition ~ April/May 2019Volume 20, No. 119ABOUT THE COVERLocally Sourced -Around Your Town -Chamber Link -Your Schools -On the Horizon -Library Programs -81623244244{ }ContentsDoug Hughey,Publisher and Editor------161820222631ColumnsApril/May 2019 • www.awmagazine.com • 5The 2019 inductees into the West Allegheny Athletic Hall of Fame are (from left) Bill Gamble, the 1995 girls cross-country team, George Kehm, the 1998 and 1999 girls cross-country teams, and Amy Palko (PHOTO COURTESY DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY). Read more on page 26. DESIGN BY SARAH KIZINA Then, on page 18, read about the two locals - including one West Allegheny alumna - who have managed to bring a new Miracle League field to the area to serve the western suburbs. With a number of fields already operating in the Pittsburgh region, this is the first to open in our area to serve athletes with special needs. Read about the West Allegheny sixth grade basketball team that recently won a state championship, a recent donation by the Parkway West Rotary to the Western Allegheny Community Library and the West Allegheny Food Pantry’s new location in this month’s Locally Sourced section, starting on page 8. Be sure also to read the latest from West Allegheny School District in this month’s official newsletter, WA Today, starting on page 31. Then get caught up on local upcoming events on page 42 in our On the Horizon section. Look for our next edition in June, when we’ll be bringing you our annual Summer Fun Guide. I know we’re looking forward to it. I hope you are as well. Heritage Valley HealthHeritage Valley HealthCONTENT SUBMITTED BY HERITAGE VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM Four years ago, Joyce set a goal to get off of her blood pressure medication. After a doctor’s visit last year, she learned that she may have to go on yet another medication and decided enough was enough. She asked her doctor to give her a chance to work it out through diet changes. “I was in the right mindset that I was determined that I was going to do something about my weight issue,” she said. That’s where Heritage Valley’s LifeSmart program came in. LifeSmart is a diabetes prevention program that is offered through a partnership between Heritage Valley Health System and UPMC Health Plan. It provides healthy lifestyle programs for adults within the Heritage Valley Health System community who have been identified as having risk factors for prediabetes or metabolic syndrome. Joyce asked her doctor for a referral to the six-month program and started in March of 2018. Though she was enthusiastic and committed, she still had reservations. “I was just so afraid I would come out on the other side and not have accomplished anything. Because you try so many times and you just don’t get anywhere, it’s hard to believe that something’s going to work,” she explained. As part of the LifeSmart program, nurse educators and dietitians share information and suggestions on implementing simple changes in diet and increased physical activity to make long-term, healthy lifestyle changes. With these tools and a positive attitude, Joyce learned that she could in fact succeed. At the beginning of the LifeSmart program, the recommended goal is to lose seven percent of your body weight. Joyce found this particularly helpful and not overwhelming. “It just makes it easier and then you feel like you’re actually succeeding,” she said. In addition to the realistic goals that the program sets, Joyce found that the support system was another huge motivator. “You know you’re not alone. People being in it together make a lot of difference,” she said. As the weeks went on, Joyce continued to have success with the tools and support that LifeSmart provided. Toward the end of the program, she remembers the moment that stood out most. Not only did she lose seven percent of her body weight, she lost an additional seven percent as well! Much to her surprise, her blood pressure was also much lower. “The LifeSmart program was developed from national research, the Diabetes Prevention Project,” said Erika Sheffield, nurse educator and dietitian, Heritage Valley Health System. LifeSmart is modeled after the federally funded Diabetes Prevention Program, a landmark study that demonstrated lifestyle change is a winning strategy when it comes to diabetes prevention. “The research showed that people who are high risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the disease by embracing a more active lifestyle and losing a modest amount of weight through sensible dietary changes,” added Sheffield. In addition to the LifeSmart program, Joyce swims at her local YMCA and enjoys walking when the weather is nice. She has continued to lose weight after the program ended and she completed her first 5K last year. “It was cool to walk it and know I was going to succeed!” she said. Joyce highly recommends the program to anyone who asks about her weight loss. “It’s like anything in life. You just try it. If you absolutely hate it, you never have to do it again. There are a lot of different programs out there and this one worked for me. It may not work for everybody, but you don’t know until you try it!” she says. “Heritage Valley has offered LifeSmart for nearly 10 years,” added Sheffield. “Joyce is one of many, wonderful success stories. The program shows how small changes can have great impact on a person’s overall health.” The LifeSmart program is offered by Heritage Valley Health System in conjunction with UPMC Health Plan. The program is free to eligible participants. For more information, contact Heritage Valley Community Health Services at 1 (866) 328-8389.The LifeSmart program helped her get off blood pressure meds and lose weight On April 1, Ohio Valley Hospital Business Fit became BusinessCare - Robinson and opened a new location within the Heritage Valley Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood. Heritage Valley BusinessCare works with employers that want to encourage and protect employee health. The Robinson location features a new, modern space with on-site laboratory and diagnostic imaging services and access to occupational medical services. BusinessCare - Robinson is located at 2201 Park Manor Boulevard, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15205. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Walk-in services are available. For more information, contact BusinessCare - Robinson at (412) 777-6369.BusinessCare opens new location in Robinson Township6 • Allegheny West Magazine • April/May 2019Heritage Valley HealthHeritage Valley HealthHeritage Valley Health System & Western Allegheny Library presentHeritage Valley offers Walk With A Doc Program Heritage Valley Health System is partnering with the national Walk With A Doc organization to help you take a step in the right direction for your health! Throughout 2019, Heritage Valley will host dozens of walks around Allegheny County and Beaver County. Walk with a Doc is a walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. Each hour-long Walk with a Doc event begins with a 10-minute health talk by a Heritage Valley Physician, followed by a healthy walk at an indoor, climate-controlled location. While you walk at your own pace, you’ll have the opportunity to have questions answered by local physicians. Participants are invited to stay as little or as long as they like. Venues for the walks include the Sewickley Valley YMCA, Beaver County YMCA, The Mall at Robinson and Beaver Valley Mall. Heritage Valley’s Walk with a Doc events are free and all are welcome to participate. To see a list of future walks, visit www.heritagevalley.org/pages/walk-with-a-doc.Register to run or walk today:http://ohiovalleyhospital.org/patients-visitors/programs-and-events/5k-2/38th Annual Run/Walk* Dog and Stroller Friendly Course!*Let’s Talk About StrokeSigns, Symptoms and Risk FactorsMay 21, 6-7 p.m.Western Allegheny Community Library181 Bateman Road, Oakdale, 15071FREE COMMUNITY EVENT! Come for an educational presentation. Learn the signs and symptoms of a stroke, how to identify if someone is having a stroke and what you can do to reduce your risk factors for a stroke. Presentation concludes with an “Ask the Expert” session.Presentation by Kristen Ronosky, MSN, RN, Stroke Coordinator, Heritage Valley Health SystemRegistration required to attend. Please call (724) 773-2045 to register. Space is limited: first-come, first-serve basis.April/May 2019 • www.awmagazine.com • 7%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced The sixth grade West Allegheny youth basketball team topped off an undefeated season by securing a state championship in March. The team went 32-0 on the season and also won three tournaments - Best of the West, Mars and Peters Township - along the way. In the finals, the team defeated four teams at State College on their way to winning the gold division. The Indians upset Spring Ford in the finals to win, 50-48. This was the inaugural year for the Pennsylvania Middle School Basketball Championship and the first time ever that a West Allegheny youth basketball team won a state championship. “It took our entire team to pull off the state championship tournament win,” says team coach Khristian Tisdale. “Through foul trouble and other limiting issues we had to have players play in situations that they were not used to and the boys certainly stepped up. It was awesome and something the coaches and I are very proud of.” The team was also coached by Dan Marshall and Khristian’s father, Charles, who has been coaching at various levels at West Allegheny for over 32 years. Charles initially started out coaching at West Allegheny when Khristian was playing in sixth grade in the early 1990s. He has also, at times, been an assistant coach with the varsity team, including the WPIAL-winning 2007 team. This past season, the two coached Khristian’s son, Sidney. Dan’s son, Luke, also plays on the team. Khristian says the coaches have been working with this particular group of basketball players since the players were in fourth grade. “We, the parents of the players and the WA boosters led by booster president Mr. Maltony are hopeful that we can build on the recent success to make the WA youth basketball program a place where kids can learn meaningful life lessons,” says Kristian. “Such as, how to be a great teammate, how to serve others, how to compete as a team, and most importantly, how to have fun while doing it.” Pictured are coach Khristian Tisdale, Anthony Lanni #45, Tegan Ricketts #24, Noah Pfeffer #21, Ty Blatz #4, Luke Marshall #12, Roman Police #10, Conor Main #0, Jonah Buglak #30, Sidney Tisdale #13, coach Charles Tisdale, Brock Cornell #2 and coach Dan Marshall. Youth WA basketball team wins state titleSTORY AND PHOTO SUBMITTED8 • Allegheny West Magazine • April/May 2019Next >