The challenges of being a caregiver Steubenville Pike Auto donates eighth vehicle in time for Christmas Clearview names Joseph C. Cirelli Award Winner Col. Robinson assumes command of 911th Heading West with Pat Jennette ~ Part 3 FREE Direct Mail Community Publication Allegheny West M agazine Montour School District News Page 25 Serving Ingram, Kennedy, Pennsbury, Robinson, Thornburg and Montour School District One of 4 Editions Serving 16 Airport Area Communities www.awmagazine.com Volume 16, Number 96 January/February 2020 Montour EditionJanuary/February 2020 • www.awmagazine.com • 3Montour High School choral director Vicky Benson directs the school’s chorus during its holiday concert in December. With a number of seniors in the group requesting songs they had performed in the past, the chorus brought back some traditional songs such as “Underneath the Tree,” “Veni, Veni Emanuel,” “There’s Still My Joy,” “Carol of the Bells” and “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Soloists during the concert were Johanna Bella Tirone performing “Silver Bells,” Arina Dillinger performing “There’s Still My Joy” and Kerry Koll performing “Please Come Home for Christmas.” For more on recent happenings at Montour, including the band’s performances around the area, see this month’s official Montour School District newsletter, starting on page 25. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY Dear Readers, Happy New Year! Thank you for picking up our first Montour edition of 2020. In this edition, we’re once again bringing you lots of community news, including a special feature story about caregivers. With this area’s large population of seniors, many in the community are finding themselves in the position of becoming a caregiver, which is no easy task. Oftentimes, caregivers can become overwhelmed as they work to care for their aging loved ones. That’s why we’re bringing you this special story, which we hope will not only raise awareness of the needs of caregivers but also provide those who are caring for an elderly loved one with some tips and resources that are available to them. Read this special story, starting on page 38. In this edition as well, we’re bringing you the latest news out of Montour School District in this month’s official district newsletter, starting on page 25. Much was going on at Montour as the district was wrapping up its first half of the year. Students have been leading an effort to revamp a courtyard at the high school into a useable outdoor space and every building across the district hosted veterans for Veterans Day commemorations in November. The high school’s student council was also once again named a distinguished council and a robot at the elementary school has been exposing students to artificial intelligence. Over the holidays, the Montour community demonstrated incredible generosity through a number of fundraising From the Publisher Allegheny West Magazine-Montour Edition is published in January, March, May, July, September, and November, six issues a year, Hughey Publications, LLC, P. O. Box 220, McDonald PA 15057. Mailed and distributed free to residents and businesses in the Montour School District. 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 1999-2020 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 • January/February 2020 P. O. Box 220, McDonald, PA 15057 Phone: 724.673.3161 E-Mail: info@awmagazine.com www.awmagazine.com WE 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 Cornell edition of Allegheny West Magazine and the West Allegheny edition of Allegheny West Magazine. MEMBER “GOOD NEWS ALWAYS, MAILED & DELIVERED FREE, EVERY TIME” Allegheny West Magazine - Montour, is an all positive, good news publication mailed free into the homes and businesses of the Montour School District communities of Robinson, Kennedy, Ingram, Pennsbury, and Thornburg 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 Now in Our 21 st Year Proudly Serving the Airport Area @AlleghenyWest PUBLISHER AND EDITOR Doug Hughey WRITERS Jill Bordo Pat Jennette Jocelyn Grecko GRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Kizina WEBMASTER www.ddswebdesign.com CONTRIBUTORS Barb Kleyman Anita Kulik Joe Kulik FOUNDING PUBLISHER Pat JennetteMembers of the David E. Williams Middle School Teen Leadership Club travel to Robinson Town Centre to deliver toys to the 96.1 KISS Pittsburgh’s Stuff-a-Bus campaign. Their toy drive was one of number of charitable efforts undertaken by the Montour community this past holiday season. For more, see page 25. PHOTO SUBMITTED Montour Edition January/February 2020 ~ Volume 16, Number 96 ABOUT THE COVER Columns { }Contents Locally Sourced - Chamberlink - Perspectives - Your Schools - Robinson Township Library - Robinson Township Hist. Soc. - Legislative Update - Firebeat - 8 12 18 20 43 44 45 46 8 9 10 25 36 38 - - - - - - Steubenville Pike Auto donates eighth vehicle in time for Christmas Clearview names Joseph C. Cirelli Award Winner Col. Robinson assumes command of 911th Montour School District Newsletter Heading West with Pat Jennette ~ Part 3 The challenges of being a caregiver campaigns that gave students the opportunity to develop soft skills and learn good citizenship. The high school’s band even went out into the community to perform at a number of popular spots around the area. On page 36, we’re bringing you the third and final installment in our series by our publisher emeritus, Pat Jennette. In August, Pat is taking a trip out west and she’s inviting Allegheny West Magazine readers to join her. Read more about the third leg of the journey, which encompasses the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore, in this month’s column. There’s still time to sign up for the trip at gateway. gocollette.com/link/985315. Email us with questions at travel@ awmagazine.com. Be sure to look for our next edition in March. In the meantime, I hope you have a great start to 2020. Doug Hughey, Publisher/Editor January/February 2020 • www.awmagazine.com • 5Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health Bradley Heiple, D.O. and Melissa Rau, M.D. have relocated from the HVMG Family Practice – Robinson practice to their new practice, HVMG Primary Care West. It is located at 6521 Steubenville Pike, Robinson Township, next to Staples. The practice opened Jan. 2, 2020. Dr. Heiple completed his residency in family medicine at the Heritage Valley Family Medicine Residency Program. He received his doctor of osteopathic Medicine degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Rau attended Walsh University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. Dr. Rau received her medical degree from the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Heiple, Dr. Rau and their staff look forward to providing patients with the same level of quality care and compassion to which they are accustomed. To make an appointment, call (724) 773-5890. Dr. Denise Wegrzynowicz and Dr. Melissa Kashlan remain with the HVMG Family Practice – Robinson located in the Heritage Valley Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood in Robinson Town Centre. To reach this practice, call (412) 749-6920. Heritage Valley Multispecialty Group opens Primary Care West Practice Heritage Valley Sewickley is one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery, according to a national study by Healthgrades, the leading Online resource for information about physicians and hospitals. The achievement is part of findings released in the “Healthgrades 2020 Report to the Nation.” The new report demonstrates the importance of hospital quality to both hospital leaders and consumers. Additionally, from 2016 through 2018, patients treated at hospitals receiving the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery Award have, on average, a 41.7 percent lower risk of experiencing a complication while in the hospital than if they were treated in hospitals that did not receive the award.* “Heritage Valley Health System is proud to have Heritage Valley Sewickley hospital recognized as one of the nation’s 100 best in spine surgery,” said Norm Mitry, President and CEO, Heritage Valley Health System. “The surgeons, physicians and clinical staff at Sewickley are dedicated to providing the highest level of care. It is their expertise and commitment to excellence that led to this distinction.” Every year, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 32 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions using Medicare data, and outcomes in appendectomy and bariatric surgery using all-payer data provided by 15 states. “As consumers navigate their health, it is important to consider a number of factors, including hospital quality, before deciding where to access care,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Healthgrades. “Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery recognizes those hospitals that have proven their dedication to quality care and exceptional outcomes over time and we applaud their efforts and achievement.” Heritage Valley Sewickley was also recognized for the following clinical achievements: • Five-Star Distinction in Total Knee Replacement for 10 years in a row (2011-2020) • Five-Star Distinction in Spinal Fusion Surgery in 2020 • Five-Star Distinction for Treatment of Stroke in 2020 • Five-Star Distinction for Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism in 2020 Healthgrades recognizes a hospital’s quality achievements for cohort-specific performance, specialty area performance and overall clinical quality. Individual procedure or condition cohorts are designated as 5-star (statistically significantly better than expected), 3-star (not statistically different from expected) and 1-star (statistically significantly worse than expected) categories. The complete Healthgrades 2020 Report to the Nation and detailed study methodology can be found at partners.healthgrades. com/healthgrades-quality-solutions/healthgrades-quality-awards/. * Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2016 through 2018 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. Heritage Valley Sewickley named America’s 100 Best for Spine Surgery New report identifies Heritage Valley Sewickley among the top hospitals nationally for excellence in Spine Surgery Bradley Heiple, D.O. and Melissa Rau, M.D. recently relocated to their new practice, HVMG Primary Care West, in Robinson Township next to Staples. 6 • Allegheny West Magazine • January/February 2020Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health As part of Heritage Valley Health System, Ohio Valley Hospital School of Nursing provides students with education and training that will change their lives as well as those they will care for in the future. In less than 2 years, students earn a diploma, are qualified to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and are able to work as a Registered Nurse! We are approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Committee for Education in Nursing. · 20-month Curriculum · Affordable Tuition · 100% Job Placement after Graduation · 100% NCLEX Pass Rate (2018 and 2019) · Community location & clinical experiences · Opportunity to complete BSN program in an additional 12 months 25 Heckel Road, Kennedy Township, PA 15136 heritagevalley.org/pages/school-of-nursing A NURSING CAREER CHANGES LIVES PROSPECTIVE STUDENT OPEN HOUSE Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 1:00pm WE WANT TO MEET YOU! Register for the Open House by contacting 412-777-6204 or sgyory@hvhs.org MARCH 21, 2020 • 10AM - 2PM For more information or interest in exhibiting, please visit www.heritagevalley.org/expo. Questions: please call 724-773-2045 or email rcatley@hvhs.org WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE? HEALTHY FOODS & WELLNESS EXPO Join us to learn more about healthy eating and living at this FREE Community Event! Community College of Beaver County Athletic & Events Center (Dome) • FREE Food & Product Samples • FREE Health Screenings • Fitness / Cooking Demonstrations • Local Vendors & Farmers • Ask A Doctor / Ask A Chef / Ask A Dietitian • Door Prizes January/February 2020 • www.awmagazine.com • 7%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced Express knows jobs. Get to know Express. Oces in Robinson & Monaca 412.494.2000 ExpressPros.com Full-time and part-time opportunities in a variety of positions: Administrative, Professional, Industrial, Skilled Labor, Skilled Trades, and Skilled Professional No Fees! Steubenville Pike Auto donates eighth vehicle in time for Christmas STORY SUBMITTED Steubenville Pike Auto in Robinson Township once again donated a refurbished vehicle to an individual in need this past December. The donation, which took place less than a week before Christmas, marked the eighth car that Steubenville Pike Auto has donated through its nonprofit, Steubenville Pike Auto Repair Charity. The not-for-profit organization Heroes Supporting Heroes once again covered the transfer and registration fees for the car donation. On Dec. 19, Steubenville Pike Auto owners Jason and Linda Pottle handed Tammy Ciarletta the keys to a maroon Oldsmobile Alero. Steubenville Pike Auto Repair Charity’s selection committee chose Tammy after receiving a nomination from her daughter Autumn, who wrote about Tammy’s commitment to others. Tammy is a caretaker for intellectually challenged adults who reside at a live-in care facility. This past October, Tammy was on her way home from work when her vehicle was struck by an under-insured driver. The accident not only totaled Tammy’s vehicle but it also put her in the hospital, forcing her to miss work for a number of weeks. Additionally, Tammy’s husband was recently informed that his place of employment is closing, even as the Ciarletta family has been faced with mounting medical expenses and accident-related bills. Steubenville Pike Auto Repair Charity chose the Ciarletta family for the donation in hopes that it will turn their recent string of hardships around by providing the family with a much- needed vehicle. “Our program continues to change lives one vehicle at a time!” said Jason Pottle. Steubenville Pike Auto will be giving away another vehicle to a deserving individual or family in 2020. To nominate, visit www. steubenvillepike.com and click on the SPARC icon. Steubenville Pike Auto is a five-acre, full-service auto business located at 6112 Steubenville Pike in Robinson Township. It has been honored as the 7th Fastest Growing Business in Pittsburgh by the Pittsburgh Business Times and has also appeared on INC Magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest growing companies in the U.S. Heroes Supporting Heroes is a not-for-profit organization that supports stable and safe housing for military members and their families as well as veterans and senior citizens. Heroes Supporting Heroes also provides a variety of support services for service members’ families during times of deployment. For more, visit www.heroessupportingheroes.org. Steubenville Pike Auto president Jason Pottle (third from right) and his wife, Linda (far right), present Tammy Ciarletta (at center) and her family with a refurbished vehicle through the company’s Steubenville Pike Auto Repair Charity program in December. They are pictured with Steubenville Pike Auto team members who helped refurbish the vehicle. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • January/February 2020%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced STORY SUBMITTED Clearview names Natalie Shoop 2019 Joseph C. Cirelli Award Winner Clearview Federal Credit Union awarded Natalie Shoop with its 12th Annual Joseph C. Cirelli Community Service Award on Nov. 26 at its Moon Township location. Shoop was nominated by Judy Neugent for her volunteer work with Helping Hands of Centerpoint in Monaca. Shoop has been a volunteer at the organization, which assists homeless and food-insecure members of the community, for over 25 years. As part of the award, Clearview has donated $2,500 to Helping Hands of Centerpoint on Shoop’s behalf. Shoop serves as a facilitator for the organization and volunteers her time to fundraise, keep inventory, organize, and pack and distribute supplies to those in need. She is also an advocate for community involvement, promoting the value and worth of all community members. Helping Hands of Centerpoint’s goal is to help meet the basic needs of homeless and needy men, women and children in the community. Going beyond providing one-time handouts, they work with homeless shelters and school districts for long-term programming and resources. The $2,500 award from Clearview will assist Helping Hands of Centerpoint with broadening their reach and scope in helping homeless men, women and children across the region. Former Clearview President and CEO Joseph C. Cirelli and current Clearview President and CEO Ron Celaschi present Natalie Shoop with the 12th Annual Joseph C. Cirelli Community Service Award on Nov. 26. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY January/February 2020 • www.awmagazine.com • 9Next >