get our list of Summer happenings and more right on your phone with our app Page 22 Moon Edition Serving Moon Area School District Volume 15, Number 93 May/June 2021 One of 4 editions serving 16 airport area communities www.awmagazine.com FREE Direct Mail Community Publication M agazine Allegheny West Coraopolis Community Development update Hope Grows offers oasis for caregivers OLSH basketball team wins state title The band plays on at Moon Area Moon Area wrestlers beat odds with fundraiser Pittsburgh Botanic Garden opens new welcome center Plus4 • Allegheny West Magazine • May/June 2021 Moon Edition May/June 2021 ~ Volume 15, Number 93 Columns { } Contents - Locally Sourced - Around Your Town - Chamberlink - Legislative Update - Your Schools 8 12 14 17 18 8 9 10 19 20 20 22 26 - - - - - - - - Coraopolis Community Development update Hope Grows offers oasis for caregivers Pittsburgh Botanic Garden opens new welcome center OLSH basketball team wins state title The band plays on at Moon Area Moon Area wrestlers beat odds with fundraiser Moon Area School District News Summer Fun Guide Allegheny West Magazine-Moon 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 Crescent, Moon and Moon Area School District. Reproduction of any artwork, photographs, or copy prepared by Allegheny West Magazine is strictly prohibited without written consent of Hughey Publications LLC. Copyright 1999-2021 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. 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. MEMBER Allegheny West Magazine - Moon Edition, is an all positive, good news publication mailed free into the homes and businesses of the Moon Area School District communities of Moon and Crescent 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 Dear Readers, Thank you for picking up our May Moon edition. In the past, we’ve made a tradition of listing summertime happenings taking place around our coverage areas in this edition. Last year, however, we couldn’t list these activities due to many events being canceled because of COVID-19. I’m happy to report, though, that this year our Summer Fun Guide is back. I take this as an excellent sign that we’re on the path to getting past this pandemic. Read more starting on page 26 and be sure to download our app, AWMag Events, at awmagazine.com to get all of these events and more right on your phone. Given how quickly things change, I realize we could have missed something so, if we did, email us at info@ awmagazine.com. Starting on page 20, we’re binging you the latest news out of Moon Area School District. Read how students, coaches and teachers are finding unique ways to work around the pandemic. Then on page 30, we take a look at the new welcome center at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. On page 8, get an update from the Coraopolis Community Development Corporation, including news on its train station project. Starting on page 18, we’re also bringing you news from more local schools, including a recap of OLSH’s state championship-winning basketball season. Look for our next edition in July. Until then, please continue to stay safe. From the Publisher Doug Hughey, Publisher/Editor P. O. Box 220, McDonald, PA 15057 Phone: 724.673.3161 E-Mail: info@awmagazine.com www.awmagazine.com Doug Hughey Jill Bordo Pat Jennette Jocelyn Grecko Sarah Kizina www.ddswebdesign.com Barb Kleyman Pat JennetteMay/June 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 5Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health System is continuing its commitment to COVID-19 vaccination efforts as it hosts regular community clinics in Monaca and Robinson Township. Several large volume vaccination clinics have been held at the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) campus, vaccinating up to 1,700 individuals in one day. Heritage Valley is also hosting weekday clinics in Robinson Township at its former location next to Staples as well as the CCBC campus Dome. Heritage Valley Health System began collaborating with CCBC at the end of January to initiate the community vaccination clinics. Through these efforts, Heritage Valley has at the time of this writing administered more than 72,000 doses of vaccine. Nearly 42,000 individuals have received both doses and are fully vaccinated. “While we’re very pleased with the progress we’ve made so far, there’s still a long way to go to ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine receives one,” said Norm Mitry, President and CEO, Heritage Valley Health System. All adults ages 16* and up are eligible to receive the vaccine at this time. Upon registration, individuals are able to schedule appointments for their first and second doses. Upcoming dates for additional first-dose vaccine clinics are listed on the Heritage Valley website. Individuals must be scheduled to obtain a vaccine. Maintaining this ambitious vaccination schedule is only possible with help. More than 200 volunteers, including Heritage Valley employees and retirees, community members, nursing students, and many others, have assisted with the community vaccination clinics. “The workforce of volunteers has been instrumental in ensuring that the vaccination clinics run seamlessly,” said Laurie Clemens, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Heritage Valley Health System. “The volunteers perform a variety of roles from greeting and checking-in individuals to administering vaccines. They have also been essential in scheduling patients who do not have access to a computer.” To date, Heritage Valley has received more than 110,000 registrations for the COVID-19 vaccine, mainly through Heritage’s automated scheduling tool available on the Heritage Valley website. In anticipation of the community’s desire for the COVID-19 vaccine, Heritage Valley’s information technology department developed an online registration tool to gather information from those interested in receiving a vaccine. The tool also provides a method to schedule both vaccine doses at that same time. The first two vaccines approved for use by the FDA, from Pfizer and Moderna, require two vaccinations administered weeks apart. Heritage Valley is now offering the Pfizer vaccine exclusively. “We knew that distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to the community could present some logistical challenges; therefore, we developed the automated tool early to provide an organized method of registering and scheduling those in the Phase 1A group,” said Jon Zagorski, Chief Information Officer, Heritage Valley Health System. “As a community health system, Heritage Valley’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of all people in the communities we serve. Providing this crucial service of administering the COVID-19 vaccine to our friends, family and neighbors is what Heritage Valley is meant to do,” added Mitry. To register for the COVID-19 vaccine, go to www. heritagevalley.org or call (724) 770-7555. *Unemancipated minors who are 16 or 17 years old may only receive the COVID vaccine with the consent of a parent or guardian. However, parental consent may be waived if the minor can provide proof 1) of high school graduation, OR 2) of a prior or current marriage, OR 3) that the minor has been or is pregnant. Thousands receive COVID-19 vaccine as Heritage Valley continues community vaccination efforts 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. After the COVID-19 vaccine: what you need to know 6 • Allegheny West Magazine • May/June 2021Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health System has announced its 2020 Cameos of Caring Awardees. The Cameo of Caring Program & Awards was established in 1999 in keeping with the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing’s commitment to the advancement and promotion of the nursing profession. The Cameos of Caring Award honors exceptional bedside nurses who work in acute care hospitals. Recipients must demonstrate a commitment to consistent, evidence-based clinical decision-making and excellence in nursing care; serve as an effective advocate for patients and their families; encourage and motivate others, and be recognized as a role model for the profession of nursing; practice nursing involving direct patient care; be a licensed RN and be a direct employee of the hospital. This year’s Cameos of Caring Awardees are as follows: Heritage Valley announces Cameos of Caring awardees Darby Hupp, RN works on the cardiopulmonary unit at Heritage Valley Beaver hospital. Darby finds that the most satisfying part of her career is having a role in improving a person’s life. She has learned to take time at the beginning of a shift for each patient - to get to know them, assess their condition, pass medications and talk with them about their goals for the day and plan of care. Darby has been part of the COVID-19 Unit during the pandemic. “As the pandemic unfolded and the idea of the nurse as a hero emerged, it initially made me very uncomfortable,” said Darby. “Truly though, this year every nurse on the front lines deserves to be recognized for the sacrifices they made and the risks they took to their own health.” Rich Pongratz, RN, is a nurse in the emergency department at Heritage Valley Kennedy hospital. Energetic, compassionate and dedicated, Rich proactively provides a high level of care to all of his patients. He is a preceptor to nursing students and a nurse that his peers rely on for guidance and support. Rich is motivated to deliver high quality care and to treat all patients as he would want his family to be treated. “As a nurse you get to be hands-on, frontline, especially in the emergency department,” said Rich. “It’s rewarding to see people feeling better than when they first arrived.” Sara Manfredi, RN, is a nurse in the progressive care unit at Heritage Valley Sewickley hospital. For nearly 10 years, Sara has practiced the highest level of clinical judgment and critical thinking to ensure quality care is provided to patients. Her telemetry and stroke knowledge is invaluable to her department and peers. As a preceptor, Sara mentors graduate nurses and is a consistent source of knowledge, kindness, patience and encouragement. “The most satisfying part of being a nurse is watching a patient’s recovery and knowing that I aided in that,” said Sara. “It’s such a fulfilling feeling to know that you are helping someone get better.” 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. Visitation hours update “Heritage Valley is fortunate to have highly skilled and dedicated nurses at all of our locations,” said Linda Homyk, MSN, BSN, RN, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Patient Care Services at Heritage Valley Health System. “Darby, Rich and Sara are excellent nurses who are committed to patient care and promoting the nursing profession. We’re proud to have them as Cameos of Caring awardees.” Darby, Rich and Sara were honored at a virtual celebration March 6, 2021. Congratulations to these healthcare heroes who deliver the highest quality care to their communities each and every day! Healthcare scholarships available Residents in the Heritage Valley Beaver and Heritage Valley Sewickley service areas who are pursuing an education in a health care career field are invited to apply for scholarships of various amounts funded and awarded by the medical staffs of each hospital campus. Applicants may be in their senior year of high school, high school graduates, or current post-secondary students (ex. nursing school, undergraduate university, etc.). Students must provide proof of matriculation or current enrollment in order to receive any scholarship monies. The application deadline is May 31, 2021 and scholarships will be awarded by June 30, 2021. To download a scholarship application, visit www.heritagevalley.org/pages/ heritage-valley-medical-staffs- scholarship. May/June 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 7%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced CONTENT SUBMITTED Coraopolis Community Development Update Coraopolis Train Station roof completed Renovations to the Coraopolis Train Station are continuing to move forward with the goal of transforming the historic downtown building into a mixed-use community space. Recently, the station got a new roof, thanks to Miller Thomas Gyekis. The project will be entering its next phase of work, which involves installing the first phase of permanent utilities, including water, sewer, gas and electric lines. Work for this phase is being funded by a Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund grant. Bidding on the work will occur within the next two months. The work will involve digging trenches, installing pipe, installing electric panels, storm water piping, and power infrastructure. Estimated time to complete this work is three months from when construction starts. Miller Thomas Gyekis recently installed the train station’s new roof. Community Garden The CCDC has filled all of its plots at its community garden for the 2021 growing season and gardening is starting to get underway. Volunteers, including a number of area businesses, will help man the garden’s various plots throughout the summer. Vegetables raised will go to the Coraopolis Food Pantry or, if there’s a surplus, sold at a pop-up farmers’ market. Proceeds from any sales also benefit the pantry. To get the garden ready, the Allegheny Land Trust once again lent a hand with tilling. This year’s volunteer gardeners are AIBDT, Coraopolis NAACP, Coraopolis United Methodist Church, Feather Your Nest, Hannah Lapiska, Jessica D., Jill K., Leah Wulster, Merakey School, Phil D., Presbyterian Church of Coraopolis, Rhonda and Leigha, Sharon L., Stewart Family and Cathy Prevendoski. Coraopolis Food Pantry In light of the pandemic, the Coroapolis Food Pantry had to switch its operations to drive-up and delivery only for the safety of its guests and volunteers. Since March of 2020, when the pandemic began, the Coraopolis Food Pantry has served 11,109 people. On average, the pantry has seen a 100% increase per service over its typical numbers. That, however, is down from a 300% increase that the pantry witnessed between the months of April and May of 2020. It has been a long and physically demanding year of service. The pantry, however, is grateful to all of the volunteers who have helped it not only survive, but thrive in what has been a difficult time for so many. In March and April, the pantry served 1,757 people and 585 families. It had 112 volunteers. Its Weekend Snack Pack Program served 117 children each week, distributed 1,003 bags and had 36 volunteers. Anyone in need of assistance can email info@corycdc.org or call (412) 329-8247. Donations can be made by visiting the CCDC’s website at www.corycdc.org or its Facebook page @CCDC24. Donations can also be mailed to PO Box 40, Coraopolis, PA 15108. Second Saturdays have returned! See page 24 for details. NOW HIRING! O ces located in Robinson Twp. & Monaca 412.494.2000 ExpressPros.com Full-time and part-time job opportunities in a variety of positions: Administrative, Professional, Industrial, Skilled Labor, Skilled Trades, and Skilled Professional. Call to schedule your interview! No Fees! 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • May/June 2021%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced Nestled around a seemingly ordinary house at 183 Shafer Road in Moon Township are an array of nature-centric sensory treats. There are seven delightful gardens, a peaceful trail through the woods, bee houses, water features and, of course, wildlife enjoying the welcoming environment. This isn’t just any ordinary residential property, however. It’s the home of Hope Grows, a nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire hope through nature while empowering caregivers to seek wellness of mind, body and spirit. It’s also an oasis for caregivers, a place where they can find emotional and mental health support and respite in garden walks and other programs in person or virtually. Soon, Hope Grows will provide a new level of support for the caregiver community. In 2022, it will become the Iris Respite House, a bed and breakfast that offers a uniquely therapeutic and inspiring overnight break specifically for caregivers. Unlike professional caretakers, caregivers (aka family caregivers) are typically not trained or paid to provide care to their dependent loved ones. All too often, as they try to balance caregiving with work, parenting and other life responsibilities, their personal needs and self-care fall by the wayside. Though the caregiving journey has its joys, it often results in chronic stress, compromising caregivers’ physical and mental health; and can present career and financial hardship. Hope Grows incorporates nature therapy and connection to the natural world as key elements of its programming, not only because of nature’s relaxing and restorative value, but also for its representation and illustration of life’s beauty, challenges, and cycles - all of which are very relatable to caregiving. The natural setting at Hope Grows provides opportunities to experience inner peace and gratitude, gain or reestablish perspective, and regain balance and a sense of well-being. It can also spark curiosity, adventure, and creativity as it awakens the senses. It offers a constant reminder of resilience. These are all things that can easily get lost as caregivers spend much of their time and energy on day-to-day caregiving duties. Through three core areas of service - counseling and support, therapeutic respite, and education - Hope Grows helps caregivers direct some of their focus on self-care. This promotes health and well-being, helping to prevent burnout and other negative physical or mental health manifestations that can arise from unchecked caregiver stress. Specific services include: individual counseling, support groups, monthly check-in phone calls, weekly caregiver tips, short breaks, healing and restorative gardens, day of rest and relaxation, free turkey meals at Thanksgiving, and, coming soon, caregiver overnight breaks at the Iris Respite House. Hope Grows programs and services are available at little to no cost to caregivers. The need for caregiver support is growing. Typically, Hope Grows serves 300 to 400 caregivers each year. In 2020, they served 712 caregivers. If you or someone you know is a caregiver in need of support, you are not alone. Hope Grows is here for you. Visit HopeGrows. net or call (412) 369-4673. If you are interested in supporting the valuable work of Hope Grows or sponsoring the renovations needed to open the Iris Respite House doors in 2022, visit HopeGrows.net or call (412) 369-4673. Hope Grows offers an oasis for caregivers CONTENT SUBMITTED Gardens are part of the therapy at Hope Grows. May/June 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 9Next >