Steubenville Pike Auto donates ninth vehicle Senior Companion Program expands during COVID-19 Remembering the service stations of yesteryear Our area’s women in leadership FREE Direct Mail Community Publication Allegheny West M agazine Montour School District News Page 29 Serving Ingram, Kennedy, Pennsbury, Robinson, Thornburg and Montour School District One of 4 Editions Serving 16 Airport Area Communities www.awmagazine.com Volume 17, Number 102 January/February 2021 Montour Edition ALSO INSIDE:4 • Allegheny West Magazine • January/February 2021 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 PUBLISHER AND EDITOR Doug Hughey WRITERS Jill Bordo Pat Jennette GRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Kizina WEBMASTER www.ddswebdesign.com CONTRIBUTORS Pam Iovino Anita Kulik Joe Kulik FOUNDING PUBLISHER Pat Jennette Dear Readers, Happy New Year and thank you for picking up our first Montour edition of 2021. In 2020, we covered numerous remarkable accomplishments in our communities that had taken place amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. One way that we’re continuing to highlight those achievements is in our special section this month that we’ve dedicated to women in leadership positions in the airport corridor. We didn’t set out looking to write this section about COVID-19, but it turned out to be an important theme. How each individual we interviewed and their organization or business has adapted to the crisis says much about their leadership and the resiliency of those working under them. Read more on page 38. In this edition as well we’re bringing you lots of good news from the Montour School District. Starting on page 29, read how the district once again honored veterans for Veterans Day, raised thousands of dollars for those in need and is planning to put on its upcoming spring musical. Get caught up on varsity winter sports on page 35 and, on page 32, read how two high school students received prestigious honors. On page 14, take a look back at the area’s service stations of yesteryear and, on page 13, read about a countywide program that’s expanding to help seniors experiencing isolation. Look for out next edition in March. Until then, please continue to be safe so that we can all cross the COVID-19 finish line together. 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. Doug Hughey, Publisher/Editor Montour Edition January/February 2021 ~ Volume 17, Number 102 ABOUT THE COVER Columns { }Contents - Locally Sourced - Legislative Update - Around Your Town - Robinson Township Historical Society - Legislative Update - Chamberlink - Your Schools - Robinson Township Library - Firebeat 8 12 13 14 20 22 23 44 45 10 13 14 29 38 - - - - - Steubenville Pike Auto donates ninth vehicle Senior Companion Program expands during COVID-19 Remembering the service stations of yesteryear Montour School District Newsletter Our area’s women in leadership Correction: In the November Montour edition of Allegheny West Magazine, the section referring to The Mall at Robinson’s Santa display incorrectly stated that the mall was operated by Cherry Hill. The company operates the display, not the mall. This picture was taken along Hollow Oak Land Trust’s Cave Trail in the Montour Woods Conservation Area. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEYJanuary/February 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 5Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley front-line staff received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine Dec. 18. Nurse Stephanie Kish (far left) was the first staff member at Heritage Valley to receive the vaccine, which was administered by Andra McHenry. Also receiving the vaccine was Family Medicine resident Sana Borda (giving a “thumbs up” at middle), who received the shot from Tammy Kelosky. Nurse Rozan Norris (far right) administers the vaccine to Dr. Matthew Woodske, intensivist with Heritage Valley Health System. Front-line workers were the focus at Heritage Valley Health System in late December as the first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine were administered. In December, Heritage Valley Health System received 1,950 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and 2,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Heritage Valley vaccinated approximately 2,000 employees and physicians. Vaccinations continue as several hundred more employees are scheduled to have it administered in early January. Once more doses are received, administration of the vaccine to the community will take place under the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. “Since March, our dedicated physicians, nurses, and all staff have gone above and beyond to provide the best health care to all patients during the pandemic. We’re proud of their efforts and pleased that we are able to begin administering the vaccine to those who have given so much of themselves,” said Norm Mitry, President & CEO, Heritage Valley Health System. To organize and coordinate the vaccination effort, Heritage Valley Health System developed an automated tool for individuals to schedule their first and second doses and record those dates on their electronic calendars. Two doses are required for complete administration of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. “This automated seamless process allows individuals to schedule appointments at their convenience and enables the Health System to perform all of the required reporting associated with the COVID-19 vaccine process,” said Jon Zagorski, Chief Information Officer, Heritage Valley Health System. Heritage Valley Health System front-line staff get COVID-19 vaccine Heritage Valley pharmacy and materials management staff received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 17. Pictured are Renee McRae, Russ Butwinski, Don Pettigrew and Rose Pettigrew. 6 • Allegheny West Magazine • January/February 2021Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health January/February 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 7%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced Steubenville Pike Auto donates ninth vehicle STORY SUBMITTED PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY Steubenville Pike Auto in Robinson Township donated its ninth vehicle through its SPARC (Steubenville Pike Auto Repair Charity) program in December. Just a few days before Christmas, the business surprised Montour High School senior Rebekah Taylor with a Chevy Malibu. Taylor’s mother and grandmother brought her to Steubenville Pike under the pretense of perusing the vehicle inventory. Taylor was reluctant to go because she could not afford a vehicle. She was also unaware that her mother had submitted a nomination to Steubenville Pike Auto on her behalf after seeing an article about the program in Allegheny West Magazine. SPARC’s selection committee chose Taylor after reviewing numerous deserving nominations. In Taylor’s nomination letter, her mother, Lisa, wrote about how hard working and dedicated Rebekah has been to her coursework and community. The high school senior is currently studying electrical systems technology at Parkway West Career and Technology Center. Each of the past three years, she has placed first at the district level in the SkillsUSA tele-communications-cabling competition. She is also the vice president of the student council at PWCTC and a co-founder of The Future is Mine club. After graduating, she plans to join IBEW Local #5. Rebekah needed a car to get to work after her old car, a 15-year-old Chevy Malibu, quit. Her grandmother does not drive and also recently lost her husband. She said that this car will dramatically change the entire family’s life. Steubenville Pike Auto is grateful, especially given the year that has passed, to be able to help the Taylor family. The business currently gives away two vehicles per year through its SPARC program. This vehicle was given to Steubenville Pike Auto for use in its SPARC program by an anonymous donor. Steubenville Pike Auto refurbished the vehicle with its signature 100-point inspection, new brakes and detail, and current state inspection and emissions. Heroes Supporting Heroes once again graciously paid the taxes and state transfer fees. “Our program continues to change lives one vehicle at a time!” Jason Pottle, president of Steubenville Pike Auto, commented. Steubenville Pike Auto currently gives away two vehicles per year through its SPARC program. Steubenville Pike Auto will be giving away another vehicle to a deserving individual or family in the spring of 2021. For more information, and to nominate, visit www.steubenvillepike.com and click on the SPARC icon. Steubenville Pike Auto president Jason Pottle (inside right) and his wife, Linda (to his left), surprised Rebekah Taylor (inside left) with a refurbished vehicle Dec. 22. Rebekah is pictured with her mother, Lisa, and grandmother. The Pottles are pictured with associate Oliva Noble. 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • January/February 2021January/February 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 9Next >