Clearview aids community during pandemic West Hills Meals on Wheels gets unexpected assistance Major Hollow Oak projects coming in 2021 Start raising a “racquet!” Tennis makes a comeback ALSO: The Montour teams that reached the playoffs 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 103 March/April 2021 Montour Edition4 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 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, Thank you for picking up our March Montour edition. As you have no doubt noticed, the weather has started to break a bit and pretty soon it will be time to start getting back outdoors. As such, we’re bringing you a couple of stories about outdoor recreation this month. On page 12, read about a number of exciting new projects that are planned for this year by the Hollow Oak Land Trust, which maintains systems of hiking trails across the area. We’ve also compiled a section on tennis and its resurgent popularity during the COVID-19 era. In this story, we take a look at the history of the sport in the area, tell you about some of the clinics and programs being offered, give an overview of available resources, and more. On page 10, read how volunteers and locals have pitched in to assist the West Hills Meals on Wheels, which serves people in Coraopolis and the surrounding communities. That assistance has helped it meet surging demand during COVID-19. Then, on page 8, read how Clearview Federal Credit Union has lent significant assistance to those in the area impacted by the pandemic. On page 29, get caught up on all the latest happenings at Montour School District. Read about improvements to the stadium at DEW Middle School, get a recap of the winter varsity sports season and much more. Look for our next edition in May, when hopefully we’ll be able to list some area fairs and festivals. Until then, please continue to stay safe. 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 March/April 2021 ~ Volume 17, Number 103 ABOUT THE COVER Columns { } Contents - Locally Sourced - Legislative Update - Chamberlink - Your Schools - Robinson Township Historical Society - Robinson Township Library - Firebeat 8 16 22 23 39 44 45 8 10 12 29 38 40 - - - - - - Clearview aids community during pandemic West Hills Meals on Wheels gets unexpected assistance Major Hollow Oak projects coming in 2021 Montour School District Newsletter Three Montour teams reach playoffs Start raising a “racquet!” Tennis makes a comeback Isayah Mosley grabs a rebound against Beaver in the first found of the 4A WPIAL basketball playoffs at the Montour Athletic Center on Feb. 4. Mosley is trailed by team scoring leader Vason Stevenson and Tyriq Eleam, with Luke Persinger pictured at mid-court. Montour won to move onto the quarterfinals. In addition to the boys team, the girls basketball team also reached the playoffs, as did the wrestling team. Read more about all of those teams on page 38. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 5Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health As of the end of February, Heritage Valley Health System has administered more than 19,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The health system continues to ask for patience as its scheduling team works through the more than 74,000 registrations that have been received. Heritage Valley continues to focus on the needs of community members and, as of March 1, is actively scheduling those ages 69 and over. Community vaccination efforts began Jan. 25, with the first doses administered to Phase 1A individuals. At the time of scheduling, individuals received appointments for their first and second doses, which are 21 or 28 days apart, depending on whether the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine was administered. Heritage Valley continues to plan first dose vaccination clinics in addition to second dose clinics already scheduled. It is very important to receive both doses of the vaccine to achieve the highest level of immunity. Vaccination clinics are held at the Community College of Beaver County Dome in Monaca and at the former Heritage Valley Robinson location (side entrance of the Staples building) in Robinson Township. Additional vaccination clinics will be scheduled at these locations throughout March. Individuals must be scheduled in order to obtain a vaccine. Eligible individuals on the Heritage Valley COVID-19 vaccine registration list will be notified to schedule a date, time and location to receive the vaccine as more doses become available. “We are keenly aware of the strong desire among the community to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. That is evidenced by the overwhelming response to the vaccination registration we launched in January,” said Norm Mitry, President and CEO, Heritage Valley Health System. “We chose to initially focus on the elderly and most vulnerable segment of the population in our service area, in accordance with the PA Department of Health guidelines.” “We are ordering vaccine on a regular basis to vaccinate as many patients as possible,” said Dr. Michael Cratty, Chief Medical Officer. “As vaccine is received, we will schedule additional vaccination clinics and open more scheduling slots to those who have registered with us.” To register for the COVID-19 vaccine distribution through Heritage Valley Health System, visit HeritageValley.org or call (724) 770-7555. Heritage Valley continues Phase 1A community COVID-19 vaccinations I received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Do I need to come back for the second dose? Yes! The widely-utilized COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna require two doses scheduled 21 or 28 days apart, respectively. It is very important that you receive both doses of the vaccine to achieve the highest level of immunity. Those who have received their first dose at a Heritage Valley vaccination clinic already have a second dose appointment scheduled. Are there side effects to the COVID-19 vaccine? Some individuals experience mild to moderate reactions after the COVID-19 vaccination. These side effects occur within three days of vaccination and will typically last one to three days. Common side effects include arm pain, fatigue, headache, joint and muscle aches, chills, fever, and nausea. Severe reactions have been rare. If you get a COVID-19 vaccine and you think you might be having a severe allergic reaction after leaving the vaccination site, seek immediate medical care by calling 911. Is it okay to take medication to alleviate the vaccine side effects? Medications such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Ibuprofen (Advil) and Naproxen (Aleve), may be taken after the vaccine if you experience some of the side effects listed above. However, these medications are NOT recommended before the vaccination to prevent symptoms. How do I know if my symptoms are side effects or if I have COVID-19? Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 are not the same as signs and symptoms related to the vaccine side effects. COVID-19 symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, and loss of taste and/or smell. These symptoms should not be attributed to the COVID vaccine and COVID testing may be advised. Please discuss these symptoms with a medical provider. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Heritage Valley continues to reassess and adjust the patient-family visitation policy for its three hospitals - Heritage Valley Beaver, Heritage Valley Kennedy, and Heritage Valley Sewickley. Safety remains a priority as the health system strives to ensure protection for everyone. Heritage Valley has expanded its visiting hours and rules regarding who may visit. Most notably, visitation hours on inpatient units are now 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., daily. Other visitation changes are outlined at HeritageValley.org. Waiting rooms in the hospitals remain closed to further protect family visitors. After the COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need to Know Visitation hours update 6 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 7%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced Clearview Federal Credit Union’s vision is “Helping People to Enjoy a Better Life.” In standing behind this vision, Clearview has always responded to the needs of its members and the communities they serve. In what has proven to be a year like no other, Clearview has continued and increased this support in many ways. Clearview supports the community by donating money, time, and items through its Clearview Cares initiative. At the onset of the pandemic, the Clearview Cares program provided 30,000 meals for frontline workers, including medical personnel and first responders. Clearview also made a $10,000 donation to the Pittsburgh Foundation Emergency Action Fund. As the pandemic continued, the Pittsburgh region saw a 42% increase in food insecurity. Clearview’s ongoing partnership with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and local food pantries helped provide over 200,000 meals to those in need. The credit union teamed up with the food bank again for a turkey distribution that provided 200 Thanksgiving meals to local families. As the holidays approached and proved to be a difficult time for many, it donated $18,500 to 10 local community organizations in order to help them continue their missions and spread the holiday spirit. Throughout 2020, Clearview donated over $100,000 to support local charitable organizations. Clearview employees also spent 3,400 hours volunteering in the community while adhering to all state-mandated protocols. Their dedication to helping others highlighted exactly what it means to live out Clearview’s vision. In a time of serious financial challenge for so many people, Clearview also provided a total of $7 million in reduced and deferred payments on consumer, homeowner and student loans for thousands of members. As well, the credit union participated in the Payroll Protection Program, which resulted in $8.4 million of additional aid for businesses. When the Attorney General’s Office announced the PA Care Package Initiative, Clearview joined as the first credit union. This initiative ensured consumers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic were eligible for additional economic relief. Clearview continues to help members safely and efficiently access their money in new ways. The credit union offers a variety of digital solutions that allow members to get their banking done from wherever they may be. Zelle®, a person-to-person payment solution, allows members to send and request money from others directly from the Online Banking and Mobile App. Clearview Live® video banking combines in-person service with modern convenience and is available by downloading the Clearview Live® app on a mobile device or initiating a session through the Clearview website. Clearview Live® is the newest extension of Clearview’s video banking suite, including video teller machines located in many financial centers. Clearview is the first credit union in the Pittsburgh region to offer personalized video banking solutions. With Clearview Live®, members interact face-to-face with a team member to open an account, apply for a loan or credit card, get help with finding the right account, exchange documents, and more! Clearview has also introduced online appointment scheduling for all of its financial centers, allowing members the choice and ability to come in on their time while allowing Clearview to keep financial center capacities at safe levels. “Here at Clearview, we stand behind our vision of helping people to enjoy a better life. In doing so, we are proud that we can continue to support members, communities, and employees in the most difficult of times. We are grateful for our membership, who are at the core of all that we do, our devoted staff and their selflessness during such challenging times, and to all the organizations making a difference,” said President and CEO Ron Celaschi. Clearview aids community during pandemic Clearview employees volunteer in the community while adhering to state- mandated protocols. STORY SUBMITTED 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 9Next >