< Previous40 • Allegheny West Magazine • April/May 2020 Much has changed with regard to modular and manufactured home construction since Dan Hall of Moon Township started developing property across North Fayette Township in the late 1960s. Back then, when Dan and his father, John, were developing the land where Virginia Hills and Walden Woods now sit, modular homes were largely limited because of the rigors they underwent during transportation. Walls were mainly comprised of plastic paneling while materials like drywall and tile were out of the question. Today, though, thanks to advancements in building techniques and materials, there isn’t much manufacturers can’t do with modular homes that they can do with traditional homes. Modular homes can have vaulted ceilings, dream kitchens, crown moulding and hardwood flooring. They come move-in ready and can even be pre-painted if buyers wish. They’re also extremely energy-efficient, making them perfect for downsizing or a second home. The single- floor homes have gained significant traction with the Baby Boomer generation in recent years and, compared to traditional construction, they’re also much more affordable. Dan Hall’s company High Tech Housing specializes in these homes and can construct them on any lot. Recently, High Tech started offering a new model called the Catena Patio Home that’s designed specifically for the 55-plus demographic. The single- level home boasts 1,493 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. For any orders placed by May 1, High Tech can bring the home in and construct it on a lot for just $188,888. For that price, homebuyers get a pier foundation with a block surround, an attached two-car garage and air conditioning. The kitchen also comes outfitted with granite countertops, a refrigerator, range, microwave and dishwasher. Delivery and construction are included, as are utility hook-ups. Another perk to the homes is that homebuyers don’t even need to come up with cash to finance. Rather, their lot can be used in lieu of a down payment. High Tech is a local, family-run company. Dan’s son, Tyler, is now helping his mom, Sandy, and his dad run the business. The company has also been named the official western Pennsylvania representative for Clayton Homes, which was acquired by Warren Buffet’s real estate company, Berkshire-Hathaway, in 2003. The Hall family has developed land where thousands of area homes now sit, including in Virginia Hills, Redwood Estates, Walden Woods, Timberglen, Settlers Place, Jeffrey Town, Pointe West and The Preserves. High Tech’s show lot is located in North Fayette at 7876 Steubenville Pike. For more information, call Dan, Tyler or Sandy Hall at (724) 695-3900 to schedule an appointment. Visit their website at www.hightechhousinginc.com or scan the QR code at right. Build on your lot Orders placed by May 1: $188,888April/May 2020 • www.awmagazine.com • 41 When it comes to custom, high-end home construction, it doesn’t get any better than Paragon Homes. Any of the company’s homes could easily grace the pages of a magazine and the company has won multiple home of the year awards from the Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh for its half-million to $1 million homes. Traditionally, Paragon has built multi-level, two- and three-story homes, but Paragon’s Steve Fink says that in recent years they’ve been getting an influx of requests for single- level, patio-style homes. He says many homes the company built in recent years at its Walkers Ridge community across from Nevillewood have had elements of single-level living, including first-floor master suites. That’s given homeowners the best of both worlds, allowing them to keep all the benefits of a single-family home but with all the modern amenities of single-level living. He says many of those homes also incorporated a second-floor loft space primarily for guests and storage. Paragon recently sold the last of its lots in that community. While Paragon can build on any private lot, the company is building in several developments located in South Fayette, Collier and Robinson townships. Parkside Meadows, its newest development in Collier Township, has many flat lots that are particularly suited to patio-style homes that blend the benefits of single-family homes with a single-level living lifestyle. It’s also located just a stone’s throw from Collier Township Community Park. A path at the rear of the development leads right into the park and the Collier Township Community Center is just a few minutes away on foot. Parkside Meadows has just 23 lots and several of those abut a forested area. All of the lots also have great backyards with tons of potential for outdoor living and offer more privacy than would typically be found in a development. As well, there isn’t an expensive monthly maintenance charge like with many patio home developments. Depending on the homeowner’s needs, however, Fink says his company can line up homeowners with contractors to perform regular maintenance if they prefer. As with its multi-level homes, Paragon’s patio-style homes trend toward the higher end, with nine-foot ceilings, eight-foot solid core doors, exquisite kitchens, beautiful wainscoting, vaulted ceilings, six-foot real wood windows and other amenities. Other trending popular features in their homes include spa-style showers, giant walk-in closets and more. As with the other builders featured in this section, Paragon is a local, family-run company. Paragon’s offices are located in Robinson Township at 5949 Steubenville Pike. Call them at (412) 787-8807 or visit them online at ParagonHomesCustomBuilder.com. Build on your lot or developments in Collier, Moon, South Fayette, Robinson. $450,000+ paragoncustombuilder.comOn the Horizon On the Horizon ; Community Friday Morning Bingo, May 29, June 26, doors open 9 a.m., bingo starts 10 a.m. Dog Park Event, May 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Dog Park at the Recreation and Sports Complex., see page 37. Fishing Derby, May 23, 7-11 a.m., Leopold Lake, township residents ages 15 and under, prizes awarded for biggest fish caught, adult supervision required, bring gear. Food Truck Thursdays, May 28: Gyros N’ At, La Petite Tour De France, Kona Ice; June 25: Primanti Brothers, Gyros N’ At, Hot Bunz. Cruisin’ in the Woodlands, May 29, rain date June 5, Clinton Park, 5-9 p.m., see page 37. Outdoor Flea Market, June 6 and Aug. 29, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Clinton Park, $5/space for sellers, free to attend, see page 37. Free Concerts in the Park, Amphitheater in Clinton Park, The Amanda Hertweck Band, June 9, 7 p.m., West Hills Symphonic Band, Aug. 2, 6:30 p.m., honors first responders. Fitness Yoga for Beginners and Beyond, Fridays 6:30-7:30 p.m., $5/class. Senior Yoga and Qi Gong, Mondays, 2 p.m., Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., free for seniors. Pickleball, TBA, call if interested. Arts and Education Terrarium Building Event, May 6, 6:30 p.m., $7/person, see page 37. Home Alone Safety Class, May 17, 6:30 p.m., for parents considering leaving kids home alone for summer, will touch on cyber safety, call Officer Sacco to register, 724-695-1300. Crochet for a Cause, May 28, 6:30-8 p.m., create chemo caps and preemie caps for area hospitals. American Red Cross Babysitter Training, June 10, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., ages 11-15, safety training for babysitters, certificate awarded upon completion, $105 payable to Findlay Township. Findlay Parks and Recreation Register for any of the following programs by calling Findlay Township Parks and Recreation at (724) 695-0500 x 240 or by emailing sstrain@ findlaytwp.org, unless otherwise indicated. Programs take place at the Findlay Township Community Center unless otherwise indicated. Community Events Community Days and 5K Race, Aug. 1. Community Days Car Cruise, Aug. 2. Adults and Seniors Body Weight Plus, Mondays, 6 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. Yoga, Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. PiYo, Wednesdays, 6 p.m., Fridays, 9 a.m. Total Body Strength, Thursdays, 6 p.m. Tai Chi Ch’uan, Saturdays, 9 a.m. Adult Volleyball League, Tuesdays through May 26, sfox@north-fayette.com Adult Softball League, through Aug. 9, sfox@north-fayette. com. Pickle Ball, Monday-Thursday, 8-10 a.m., Friday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 5-7 p.m.. half gym only. Senior Luncheons, second Wednesdays through May 13, noon, dhildebrand@north-fayette.com. Youth Super Kids T-Ball, ages 3-5, Mondays through May 8 and Thursdays through May 21. Instructional Volleyball, ages 9-15, through May 20. Preschool, ages 2-4, kromano@north-fayette.com. Afterschool Programming, Monday-Friday, 3:30-5:30 p.m., grades K-8, transportation provided from schools to community center when school is in session, nkreutzman@north-fayette.com. Summer Camp, grades 1-8, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m., June 1-Aug. 21, register online, nkreutzman@north-fayette.com. Kits Camp, Monday, Tuesday, Friday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., June 8-Aug. 14, ages 4-5, register online, nkreutzman@north-fayette.com. PALS, recreational activities for individuals with special needs, dhildebrand@north-fayette.com. PALS 10th Annual Golf Outing, Sept. 12, Quicksilver Golf Club, $500/foursome, sponsorships available, dhildebrand@north- fayette.com. North Fayette Parks and Recreation Programs take place at the North Fayette Community Center at Donaldson Park, unless otherwise noted. Visit www.north-fayette.com or call (724) 307- 3725 for more information or to register. Ongoing events to resume once the stay at home order ends and activities can resume. All other event dates tentative and subject to change. Please visit the websites listed for each organization to confirm the status of any event before attending. 42 • Allegheny West Magazine • April/May 2020SNPJ Lodge 106 Programs SNPJ Lodge 106 hopes all of its members are staying safe and the club looks forward seeing everyone once it reopens. For up-to-date information, visit snpjimperialpa.com or imperialroomsnpj.com. Bar Bingo, to resume upon reopening, first and third Thursdays, 7-9 p.m., clubroom, kitchen open for members and their guests. Flea Market, May 9, 8 a.m.-1 pm., SNPJ Lodge 106 parking lot, for more details and to book a spot call Terry: (412) 596-8885. SNPJ Car Cruise, May 17, noon, musical entertainment by Cool Change, food, drinks, 50/50, car cruise magnets to first 50 cars. Dick and Jack Tady Polka Dance, June 7, 1-5 p.m., Imperial Room, kitchen open. SNPJ Car Cruise, June 14, noon, musical entertainment by The GRID Band, food available, drinks, 50/50, bikes welcome, dash plaques for first 50 cars. Ukuholicks Summer Party, June 27, 3 p.m., beanbag toss tournament, picnic food, unique sounds of Ukuholicks performing rock and roll favorites on ukuleles. April/May 2020 • www.awmagazine.com • 4344 • Allegheny West Magazine • April/May 2020Marketplace Ads Coupons As a neighborhood-based and community focused publication, Allegheny West Magazine encourages complimentary submissions of informational school news, as well as informational (non-promotional) news from community groups, nonprofit organizations and churches. Please submit via e-mail to: info@awmagazine.com. Our Advertisers Your community businesses are the reason for the publication of Allegheny West Magazine. Please support these businesses. Their support allows us to mail this magazine, free, into the households of Findlay, North Fayette, Oakdale, Sturgeon, and portions of McDonald as a community service. Advanced Dentistry, p. 47, 412.788.6300, www.facebook.com/ advanceddentistry412 Allegheny County, p. 37, www.alleghenycounty.us Allegheny Muscle and Massage, p. 13, 724.695.5300, www.alleghenymuscle.massagetherapy.com American Renal Associates, p. 47, 412.331.2423, www.americanrenal.com Aquatemp Global/The TMJ Appliance, p. 43, 412.471.1212, www.TMJ-FIXER.com Bill Few Associates, p. 15, 412.630.6041 Business Legal, p. 9, 724.693.0588, www.businesslegal.net Carousel Kennel, p. 27, 724.683.0794, www.carouselkennel.com Clearview FCU, p. 3, 800.926.0003, clearviewfcu.org Conti Law, p . 14, 724.784.0239, contilawpgh.com Csonka Heating and Cooling, p. 3, 724.926.3125 Davey Tree, p. 47, 724.746.8852, www.davey.com DDS Web Design, p. 22, 412.965.0688, www.ddswebdesign.com DiSanti, Dr. Judy, DMD., p. 42, 412.264.6229, www.coraopolisdentist.com Express Employment Professionals, p. 28, 412.494.2000, expresspros.com Findlay Township, p. 37, 724.695.0500, www.findlay.pa.us First Steps Pediatrics, p. 27, 412.788.1999, www.fspkids.com Genesis Church, p. 5, 724.512.5562, www.genesischurchlife.com Heffren Tillotson, p. 19, 412.633.1709 Heritage Valley Medical Group, p. 6-7, bk. cover, 412.749.6934, www.heritagevalley.org Herrick Compassionate Funeral Svc., p. 5, 724.695.7332 High Tech Housing, p. 40, 724.695.3900, www.hightechhousinginc.com Imperial Tax, p. 17, 724.695.7354, www.imperialtaxandaccounting.com Janoski’s Farm & Greenhouse, p. 45, 724.899.3438, www.janoskis.com Ed Kandrack – Berkshire Hathaway, p. 45, 833.PGH.SOLD Fred E. Liechti, Attorney, p. 45, 412.787.5280 McCracken Driving School p. 43, mccrackendrivingschool.com Tom Meyers Plumbing, p. 5, 724.693.2880, www.tommeyersplumbing.com Jim Meyers & Son, Inc. Plumbing and Excavation, p. 12, 412.787.7805, 724.693.9823, www.meyersplumbingpittsburgh.com Moody Funeral Home, p. 25, 724.695.0411 My Laundromat, p. 28, 724.227.0513 Oakdale Foot and Ankle, p. 27, 412.787.8380, www.oakdalepodiatrist.com Open Minds Studios, p. 10, 412.600.1125, openmindsstudio.com Paragon Homes, p. 41, 412.787.8807, ParagonHomesCustomBuilder.com Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce, p. 18, 412.264.6270, www.paacc.com Play Academy, p. 28, 412.299.0616, www.play-academy.org Pustover Financial Services, p. 8, 724.695.8885, www.pustoverfinancial.com Robinson Township Christian School, p. 11, 412.787.5919, www.rtcs.org Robinson’s Run Cemetery, p. 21, 724.926.8511, www.RobinsonsRunCemetery.org John G. Rohm, DMD, p. 43, 724.695.2100 Scarmazzi Homes, p. 39, 724.223.1844, www.scarmazzihomes.com SNPJ Lodge 106 Club, p. 43, 724.695.1411, www.snpjimperialpa.com Self Storage North Fayette, p. 43, 724.695.8875, SelfStorageNF.com St. Clair Hospital, p. Inside Front Cover, 412.942.4000, stclair.org Thomas-Little Funeral Svc., p. 28, 724.926.2800, www.thomas-littlefuneralservice.com Today’s Hair, p. 5, 724.695.0478 West Allegheny School District, p. 29-36, 724.695.3422, www.westasd.org During this very difficult time, we are doing everything we can to make sure your visit to us is as safe as possible by sanitizing surfaces multiple times a day, using protective gloves & practicing good hygiene with extensive hand-washing before and after handling products. In an effort to minimize your need for contact during the “stay in place” order, we are now offering grocery orders by phone with a valid credit or debit card. Visit www.janoskis.com to download a phone order form. Prices subject to change. April/May 2020 • www.awmagazine.com • 45STORIES BY ERMA DODD BB wins hearts It was love at first sight. Brothers Mason, 8, and Maddox, 5, immediately loved their new pet hamster and named him Bruno Britton, or BB. This was the Bruno that had gone missing from the tech room at Wilson Elementary School. After a week of hoping he would be found, the tech teacher brought another ‘Bruno’ into the classroom. Then a staff member found Bruno #1. Not needing two Brunos, Bruno #1 found a home with the family of West Allegheny teachers Bill and Kelly Britton. A year had passed so quickly. They saw the health changes in BB. His last day was hard. Then it was time to say goodbye. In tears, the brothers took turns with the shovel burying their BB. Their mom, Kelly, could not hold back the tears, either. “He was the sweetest little thing ever,” she said The next day, Maddox said to his mom, “I’m going out to talk to BB.” Mom was surprised, and even more pleasantly surprised when Maddox walked out the door with a hamster-sized American flag. An 8-year-old’s vision in vision The third grade teacher at her Montessori school asked each student, “What project would you like to accomplish?” Moriah, who turned 8 in 1998, gave an answer that was both unexpected and unmatched. She wanted to ”dissect an eye.” “Okay,” her teacher said, not believing her ears. She gave Moriah the go ahead. Moriah went home and told her mother and father. Her parents made a call and went to a local butcher shop. They then came home with a jar holding four cow eyes. Moriah began her study with the help of her father, who showed her how to use the Internet. She found it fascinating. After practicing dissecting three of the eyes and learning what each part of the eye is for, the time came for her to bring the final eye ball to school to dissect it in front of her teacher and classmates. Though not all could stomach watching the dissection, Moriah still earned an A. That was the beginning of Moriah’s adventure to reach her goal and become an eye doctor. Dr. Moriah Zuckerman is a 2013 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. In 2017 she graduated with her doctorate of optometry. She is now the lead optometrist for Dr. Kevin Clark’s Ophthalmology Associates of Osborne in Sewickley. Twenty-two years after her first eyeball experience, she will tell you, “I absolutely love what I do.” Live, love, smile It was a family evening together for dinner and time to talk a little business. My nephew, Anthony Saveikis - yes the same one who many in this area know as the Hon. Anthony Saveikis - took charge for his aunts who are in their golden years. At a table for four, Anthony instructed, “Aunt Erma, you sit here,” he said, pointing to his left. “Aunt Toni, you sit here.” Why? “Because you two can’t hear. My dad [Richard] will sit across from me.” I asked Anthony, “Can Richard hear?” Toni replied, “No, not [here] yet, but he is on his way.” It was a fun evening together. Months later, on March 2, my brother, Richard Saveikis, was rushed to the hospital with heart failure. His lungs and kidneys had also been affected. For 12 days his condition gave us cause for hope. On the 13th day, an unstoppable brain bleed developed. He lived just minutes after life support was removed. On March 14, his address changed to Heaven. Our Saveikis family is so grateful for the loving support our friends have shown and the stories they have shared. We are also grateful for the excellent care Richard received from his doctors, nurses and staff at AGH. Seventy-five years is a good life in West Allegheny. Kelly Britton shared, “His smile always lit up the room.” We’d like to hear more of your memories of Richard. Please mail them to: Allegheny West Magazine c/o: Erma Dodd PO Box 220 McDonald, PA 15057 Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand But I know who holds tomorrow And I know Who holds my hand. ~ Excerpt from “I know who holds tomorrow” as performed by Anthony Dale Mink Written by Ira F. Stanphill / Warner Chapel Music There is always something to be thankful for.... Ingeborg Lang and Richard Saveikis are pictured on their wedding day on June 17, 1990 at Montours Lurline Saveikis Memorial Chapel. 46 • Allegheny West Magazine • April/May 2020 Mason and Maddox are pictured with their hampster BB. Dr. Moriah Zuckerman PHOTO BY JUSTIN GUERINOPRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID PITTSBURGH PA PERMIT NO. 5605 Hughey Publications, LLC P.O. Box 220 McDonald, PA 15057 Now in Our 21 st Year Proudly Serving the Airport Area Allegheny West MagazineNext >