West Allegheny’s Scholastic Art Award winners M agazine West Allegheny Edition Volume 22, Issue 131 April/May 2021 FREE Direct Mail Community Publication One of 4 editions serving 17 airport area communities www.awmagazine.com West Allegheny School District Official Newsletter Inside Page 33 Allegheny West Clearview aids community during pandemic Longtime Findlay secretary retires Chief Lesko retires Imperial VFD gets new firetruck West A grads pursue YouTube fame Local family embraces adoption in a big way Remembering Nevo North Fayette manager’s mission with CORE Local man’s paranormal encounters air on SyFy Tennis makes a comeback! WA is Sgt. Hayes-strong PLUS: April/May 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 34 • Allegheny West Magazine • April/May 2021 West Allegheny High School student Alyssa Vattimo created this perspective drawing, which won a silver key award through the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. She was one of seven students who had artwork recognized by the awards this year. Read more on page 35. West Allegheny Edition ~ April/May 2021 Volume 22, No. 131 { } Contents Clearview aids community during pandemic Longtime Findlay secretary retires Chief Lesko retires Imperial VFD gets new firetruck West A grads pursue YouTube fame Local family embraces adoption in a big way Remembering Nevo North Fayette manager’s mission with CORE Local man’s paranormal encounters air on SyFy WA Today West Allegheny’s Scholastic Art Award winners Tennis makes a comeback! WA is Sgt. Hayes-strong Dear Readers, Thank you for picking up our April West Allegheny edition. One would think that, with all of the ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our daily lives, that finding local news these days would be a challenge. The reality, though, could not be more different. We have a ton of great news to share with you this month and a number of the stories in this edition are about people who found new pursuits and livelihoods as a direct result of the pandemic. Other stories are about how neighbors are continuing to help those who have fallen on hard times and how the West Allegheny community shows it cares and looks out for each other. 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 special section on tennis and its resurgent popularity during the pandemic. Starting on page 40, 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. Look for out next edition in June when, in years past, we’ve brought you our annual rundown of local fairs and festivals. I don’t know if we’ll be able to bring you that this year due to the pandemic, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we will. Until then, please continue to be safe. Doug Hughey, Publisher/Editor From the Publisher Allegheny West Magazine-West Allegheny Edition is published in February, April, June, August, October, and December, six issues a year, Hughey Publications, LLC, P. O. Box 220, McDonald, PA 15057. Mailed and distributed free to residents and businesses in Findlay, North Fayette, Oakdale, Sturgeon, a portion of McDonald, and adjacent areas. 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- 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. 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 left- over 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 Montour edition of Allegheny West Magazine. MEMBER Allegheny West Magazine - West Allegheny, is an all positive, good news publication mailed free into the homes and businesses of the West Allegheny School District communities of Findlay, North Fayette, Oakdale, Sturgeon and McDonald 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 Erma Dodd Pat Jennette ABOUT THE COVER - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 12 13 14 16 18 20 22 26 33 35 40 46 April/May 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 5Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health Saturdays have been busy on the Community College of Beaver County campus as Heritage Valley Health System has been holding large COVID-19 vaccination events. On March 6 and 13 alone, Heritage Valley administered more than 3,000 vaccines to Phase 1A individuals. These large volume COVID-19 vaccination clinics represent just part of Heritage Valley’s community vaccination effort. Heritage is also hosting weekday clinics in Robinson Township at its former location next to Staples and 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 nearly 45,000 doses of vaccine. More than 16,000 individuals have received their second dose and are now 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. “From now through May 31, Heritage Valley has vaccination clinics scheduled every weekday, as well as four additional large-scale Saturday vaccine clinics at the CCBC Dome.” Upcoming dates for the large-scale first-dose vaccine clinics are April 10 and 17 and May 15 and 29 at the CCBC Dome. Individuals must be scheduled to obtain a vaccine. Maintaining this ambitious 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 95,000 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. “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. Individuals on the Heritage Valley COVID-19 vaccine registration list are notified to schedule a date, time, and location to receive the vaccine as doses become available. “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. For the latest vaccine information, individuals can subscribe to Heritage Valley’s E-Connections or visit the Health System’s website at www. heritagevalley.org. 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 • April/May 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 April/May 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 • April/May 2021 April/May 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 9Next >