FREE Direct Mail Community Publication Allegheny West M agazine Montour School District News Page 27 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 105 July/August 2021 Montour Edition America250PA coming to area Local musicians bring communities back together Montour teacher pens children’s book Recognizing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Neighborhood 91 sets stage for manufacturing revolution PTC honors past while looking to future Congratulations Class of 2021! And More!4 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 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 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 Doug Hughey Jill Bordo Pat Jennette Sarah Kizina www.ddswebdesign.com Pam Iovino Anita Kulik Joe Kulik Pat Jennette Dear Readers, Thank you for picking up our July Montour edition. You may recall that in our previous edition we brought you a rundown of fairs and festivals that would be taking place around the area this summer. This month, in our story on page 10, our writer Garret Roberts takes a look at how some of these events - and in particular concerts - are bringing communities back together following COVID-19. Garret’s story is a great look at how artists can impact their communities and I take these concerts as an excellent sign that things are continuing to return to normal. On page 12, read about a local veteran who held one of the most rarefied positions in the U.S. Army and learn why this year is so important to him. Then, on page 14, check out our story about a new, one-of-a-kind advanced manufacturing facility that recently started operating right here in western Allegheny County. On page 22, take a look back with us at the history of Pittsburgh Technical College, which is located nearby just outside of Oakdale, and, on page 27, get caught up on all the end-of-year news coming out of Montour School District. Enjoy some summer reading and local history with our retrospective on the area’s Nike missile program on page 42 and learn the history behind Montour Presbyterian Church’s iconic cross on page 40. Watch for our next edition in September, when we’ll be bringing you our back-to-school calendars and plenty more positive, local news. Until then, have a great summer! 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 July/August 2021 ~ Volume 17, Number 105 { }Contents 8 10 12 12 14 22 27 30 40 42 46 - - - - - - - - - - - America250PA coming to area Local musicians bring communities back together Montour teacher pens children’s book Recognizing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Neighborhood 91 sets stage for manufacturing revolution PTC honors past while looking to future Montour School District Newsletter Congratulations Montour Class of 2021! The old rugged cross Remember When? The Nike missile program Mulch and fire safety Members of the Montour High School Class of 2021 celebrate by tossing their caps in the air. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEYJuly/August 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 56 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2021 Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Beaver announced it has been recognized as a Healthgrades 2021 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient. This distinction places Heritage Valley Beaver among the top 10% of all short-term acute care hospitals reporting patient safety data as evaluated by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting patients and providers. From 2017 through 2019, there were 190,273 potentially preventable patient safety events among Medicare patients in U.S. hospitals. If all hospitals, as a group, performed similarly to hospitals performing better than expected on each of 13 Patient Safety Indicators evaluated by Healthgrades, on average, 106,052 patient safety events could have been avoided. “Enhancing and ensuring patient safety is a priority of all our physicians, nurses and other clinical staff,” said Amy McBrien, MSN, RN, Vice President and Chief Quality/ Safety Officer, Heritage Valley Health System. “The achievement of Heritage Valley Beaver reaching the top 10% in the nation for patient safety is the result of commitment and dedication by our employees to deliver the highest quality care to the communities we serve.” During the 2017 to 2019 time frame, four patient safety indicators accounted for 72% of all patient safety events (collapsed lung, hip fracture due to an in-hospital fall, pressure or bedsores and catheter-related bloodstream infections). “The importance of hospital quality is now at the forefront of consumers’ minds, especially as we continue to navigate COVID-19. We congratulate the recipients of the Healthgrades 2021 Patient Safety Excellence Award for their ongoing commitment to upholding the highest quality standards for their patients and communities,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Healthgrades. Heritage Valley Sewickley announced that it has achieved the Healthgrades 2021 Outstanding Patient Experience Award. This distinction places Heritage Valley Sewickley among the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for patient experience, according to Healthgrades, the leading marketplace that connects patients and providers. For this annual analysis, Healthgrades evaluated 3,297 hospitals that submitted at least 100 patient experience surveys to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, covering admissions from January 2019 to December 2019. Of those hospitals evaluated, 417 hospitals outperformed their peers - based on their patients’ responses - to achieve this award. “Heritage Valley Sewickley’s recognition by Healthgrades as among the top 10% of U.S. Hospitals for outstanding patient experience is a result of the Health System’s commitment to exceptional care,” said Linda Homyk, MSN, BSN, RN, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Heritage Valley Health System. “Heritage Valley’s Board of Directors, physicians, and employees are committed to delivering the highest quality care while providing the best possible patient experience. Our staff strive to communicate to patients and their families in a way that they feel important and valued while receiving their individual care.” Healthgrades evaluates performance by applying a scoring methodology to 10 patient experience measures, using data collected from a 29-question survey of the hospital’s own patients. The survey questions focus on patients’ perspectives of their care in the hospital. “One of the areas with nearly 100% consistent patient experience ratings is the Heritage Valley Sewickley Maternal Child Health Unit. The department continues to provide years of safe, quality mom and baby care to families in our community. The staff is dedicated to families having an exceptional experience while beginning or expanding their family. Their scores consistently rank in the 99th percentile,” added Homyk. “We are transitioning in a new OB physician group to our Sewickley Campus led by Dr. Rebecca Welch. With that change, however, the patient and family experience has not waivered and the nursing staff continues to provide an outstanding birthing experience and place our patients as a top priority.” Heritage Valley Beaver and Sewickley Hospitals recognized by Healthgrades Heritage Valley Beaver achieves Healthgrades 2021 Excellence Award Heritage Valley Sewickley recognized among top 10% of U.S. hospitals for outstanding patient experience Heritage Valley Beaver was named a recipient of the Healthgrades 2021 Excellence Award. Heritage Valley Sewickley was named a recipient of the Healthgrades 2021 Outstanding Patient Experience Award. July/August 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 7 Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health On May 6, the Heritage Valley Kennedy School of Nursing held a graduation for the Class of 2021. The hybrid ceremony was held in the Josephine Roseta Auditorium on the Heritage Valley Kennedy campus and broadcast via Zoom. Valerie Gaydosh, MSN, RN, Director of the School of Nursing, welcomed students and online guests while Norm Mitry, President and CEO, Heritage Valley Health System, delivered the keynote address. Class valedictorian Jan Craig and class officer Carlton Brown delivered heartfelt remarks to their peers. Students were presented with a pin from faculty member Rita Ciccone, MSN, RN and a diploma from Heritage Valley Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services Linda Homyk, MSN, RN. Heritage Valley Health System’s Board of Directors and Senior Leadership congratulate the graduates of the Class of 2021. Heritage Valley Kennedy School of Nursing graduates Class of 2021 This year’s Heritage Valley Kennedy School of Nursing graduates were honored May 6. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is available for individuals ages 12 and up by appointment at Heritage Valley Health System ConvenientCare locations in Center and Robinson Townships. Vaccine appointments are available between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Those interested in receiving a vaccine are asked to register online at HeritageValley.org or to call (724) 770-7555 for an appointment. Appointments are required. Walk-in times are not available. Heritage Valley ConvenientCare Robinson Township 2201 Park Manor Blvd., Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15205 Heritage Valley ConvenientCare Center Township 79 Wagner Road, Suite 200 Monaca, PA 15061 ConvenientCare offering COVID-19 vaccines in Center and Robinson Townships%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced Read and share stories from Allegheny West Magazine! Current and back issues can be read at AWMagazine.com. Copy the URL from individual pages and then share via email and on social media. 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2021 Robinson playground officially opens The Mall at Robinson celebrating Christmas in July all month long Cue the music and deck the...Mall? That’s right, The Mall at Robinson is celebrating Christmas in July all throughout the month. Drop by and enjoy all the festivities, including a life-sized nutrcracker display from the Steubenville Nutcrackers. There will also be children’s train rides Thursday through Sunday of each week, a Christmas in July Tree Land, performances by local dance studios, “elfie” photo stations, reading “between the wines” at Deer Creek Winery and more. Mrs. Claus will also be on hand for a number of children’s activities, including storytime at the Time Out Zone, cookie decorating at Chocolate Boutique, crafts at Kolor-N-Kiln, Art in the Park with the Robinson Township Library and cupcake decorating with Dairy Queen. For more, visit www.shoprobinsonmall.com/event/Christmas-In- July/2145551729. State Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik was recognized at the annual Ladies Who Network event in May. The event, which this year recognized women in politics, was held at Mt. Ararat Community Center in Pittsburgh. Kulik was recognized for her commitment to keeping her constituents informed and being engaged with the communities, organizations and people she represents. Kulik recognized with Women who Network Award Robinson Township held an official ribbon cutting for its new Clever Park playground May 12. Though the playground has been open since October, a proper opening was put off until the spring. Since last fall, a number of improvements were also made on the playground, including the pouring of concrete walkways and the installation of several benches. In addition to plenty of new play equipment, the playground is also ADA-accessible and features a rubber surface throughout. The playground was designed by Curtis Bischof, who lives in Robinson, of General Recreation. Robinson/Montour reunion picnic returns Aug. 28 The Robinson/Montour annual reunion picnic will return this year to Clever Park on Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. The reunion will take place at the park’s Rotary Shelter. This year marks the reunion’s 16th. Anyone who would like to attend should pre-register by mailing a $25 check to: Pete Caristo, 69 Cowan Road, Carnegie, PA 15106. Be sure to include your name, year of graduation and email address, if applicable. Questions can be directed to Joan Obeldobel at (412) 264-9026. The Hon. Ralph Watson presents state Rep. Anita Kulik with an award recognizing her work as a legislator. CONTENT SUBMITTED Community members, including local officials, gathered May 12 to officially open the new Clever Park playground. Pictured are Michael Pendel, Robinson Township tax collector; Mike Myers of Remington & Vernick Engineers; Robinson Township commissioners Ken Kisow and James Barefoot; Ron Shiwarski, commissioner vice chair; Frank Piccolino, Robinson Township manager; state Sen. Devlin Robinson; Patrick Catena, president of the Allegheny County Council; state Rep. Anita Kulik; and Curtis Bischof of General Recreation. CAround Your Town Around Your Town July/August 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 9 CONTENT SUBMITTED In June, Clearview Federal Credit Union presented two of its most esteemed awards - the Joseph C. Cirelli Community Service Award and the Ralph B. Canterbury Scholarship. These awards total $20,000 that Clearview invested back into the community to recognize the achievements of those it serves. Of that amount, Clearview awarded $15,000 in scholarships to college students from area schools. Ten students each received a $1,500 scholarship through the Ralph B. Canterbury Scholarship program. The scholarship is named in honor of former Clearview President/CEO Ralph B. Canterbury, who served the credit union for 34 years. This marks the 22nd year that Clearview has awarded the scholarship. Since its inception, Clearview has provided over $200,000 to students across Pennsylvania through the program. Clearview Federal Credit Union also selected this year’s recipient of the credit union’s Joseph C. Cirelli Community Service Award, which bears the name of the long-time Clearview employee and former president/CEO who recently passed away. Cirelli volunteered much of his time for charities and causes that fostered the spirit of Clearview’s vision - Helping People to Enjoy a Better Life. This year’s award recipient is Robin Redfern, who founded Bags & Blessings. Redfern epitomizes Cirelli’s legacy of service. Redfern, who is also a deputy sheriff, was inspired to start her organization after coping with her cancer diagnosis. In a moment when she felt like she might be giving up and giving in, Redfern received a gift bag. Inspired by that gesture, and after going into remission in 2010, she started Bags & Blessings in her kitchen. Her goal was to help people who were going through treatment for cancer by providing wellness and self-care items to help them heal their bodies and spirits. Going beyond giving these bags, the organization also helps with support groups, including one for children and teens who have lost a parent or close family member from cancer or have one currently in treatment. The charity has also partnered with local organizations to create a memorial garden at Brady’s Run Park in Beaver Falls. Bags & Blessings will receive a $5,000 donation in recognition of Redfern’s dedication. Clearview awards $20,000 to area students and volunteers Robin Redfern (pictured at center), a deputy sheriff and founder of Bags & Blessings, was named the winner of this year’s Joseph C. Cirelli Community Service Award. Pictured with her are Lisa Florian, Clearview SVP Digital Strategy & Marketing; Brian B. Notman Jr., Treasurer - Clearview Board of Directors; Rachel Marchionda from Bags & Blessings; Jack Manning, Beaver County Commissioner; Kylee Cipolla, Deputy, Beaver County Sheriff’s Department; Brian O’Connor, Redfern’s father; Paul Radatovich, Deputy Chief, Beaver County Sheriff’s Department; Cindy McConnell, Clearview Board of Directors; Tony Guy, Beaver County Sheriff; and Ron Celaschi, Clearview President and CEO. Imagine your website working as hard for your business as you do. 412.205.8998 | DDSWebDesign.com Websites that get results. Designed in Pittsburgh Contact us for a free website analysis. Affordable Custom Designs Responsive Sites | Content Management SEO | E-commerce | Hosting | MaintenanceNext >