Our area’s women in leadership ALSO: Steubenville Pike Auto donates ninth vehicle McKee fifth-grader illustrates children’s book Senior Companion Program revises and expands Remember When? The Dawsons M agazine West Allegheny Edition Volume 22, Issue 130 February/March 2021 FREE Direct Mail Community Publication Serving Findlay, North Fayette, Oakdale, Sturgeon and McDonald in the West Allegheny School District One of 4 editions serving 17 airport area communities www.awmagazine.com West Allegheny School District Official Newsletter Inside Page 27 Allegheny WestSAFER KINDER FASTER DONʼT DELAY EMERGENCY CARE Emergencies happen even in uncertain times. Don’t risk your health by putting off needed medical care, especially when you have access to the region’s only hospital to be awarded an ‘ A’ grade for patient safety for more than 8 consecutive years. Our emergency room utilizes the latest protocols to get you well — and keep you safe — so that the healing starts the second you arrive, all at a hospital that’s a national leader in patient satisfaction. So don’t wait. Get the care you need now. Safer, kinder, faster. 1000 BOWER HILL ROAD • MT. LEBANON, PA 15243 • 412.942.4000 • STCLAIR.ORGFebruary/March 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 34 • Allegheny West Magazine • February/March 2021 In our special section this month, we profile our area’s women in leadership, including (from top): Dr. Jerri Lynn Lippert, West Allegheny School District superintendent; Alicia Harvey-Smith, Ph.D., president of Pittsburgh Technical College; Kelly Shankle, owner of Today’s Hair; and Amy McDonald, director of Western Allegheny Community Library. Read more, starting on page 32. West Allegheny Edition ~ February/March 2021 Volume 22, No. 130 Locally Sourced Around Your Town Chamberlink Legislative Update Your Schools WACL Penned by Erma { } Contents Columns Steubenville Pike Auto donates ninth vehicle McKee fifth-grader illustrates children’s book Senior Companion Program revises and expands WA Today | February/March Our area’s women in leadership Remember When? The Dawsons Dear Readers, Thank you for picking up our February West Allegheny edition. Last year, 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 32. In our previous edition in December, we ran a spectacular drawing by McKee fifth-grader Levi Frey on our cover. We learned afterward that Levi had illustrated a children’s book. Read more about that on page 11. Then, on page 16, read about a countywide program that’s expanding to help seniors experiencing isolation during COVID-19 and, on page 27, get caught up on the latest news from West Allegheny School District. Check out news from our readers starting on page 8 and, as we celebrate African-American History Month, read our retrospective of a very special Clinton-area family on page 42. Look for out next edition in April. Until then, please continue to be safe so that we can all cross the COVID-19 finish line together. 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 “GOOD NEWS ALWAYS, MAILED & DELIVERED FREE, EVERY TIME” 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 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 Erma Dodd FOUNDING PUBLISHER Pat Jennette - - - - - - - ABOUT THE COVER - - - - - - 10 11 16 27 32 42 8 11 12 20 22 31 44February/March 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. Heritage Valley Health System opened its first 2,300 COVID-19 vaccine scheduling slots in January. The slots were opened to members of the community who had registered with the health system and who fell within the modified Phase 1A group, as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The first wave of scheduling focused on individuals 80 years of age and older who reside in the health system’s service area. Just a few days after Heritage Valley launched its COVID-19 vaccine registration website and phone number Jan. 22, nearly 20,000 individuals registered for the vaccine. Individuals who could register for the first wave were those who were age 65 and older and those between the ages of 16 and 64 with serious health conditions that put them at greater risk for complications from COVID-19. Individuals who fall within those categories are encouraged to register. To properly assess this segment of the population, Heritage Valley is consulting with each patient’s primary care physician to assist with prioritization. The first COVID-19 vaccination clinics occurred at the end of January at the Community College of Beaver County Dome in Monaca. Vaccination clinics were also held at the former Heritage Valley Robinson location next to Staples in Robinson Township. Only individuals who have scheduled an appointment can receive the vaccine on clinic dates. Walk-in appointments are not 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, go to HeritageValley.org or call (724) 770-7555. Heritage Valley initiates first wave of Phase 1A Community COVID-19 vaccinations 6 • Allegheny West Magazine • February/March 2021Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health February/March 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 7%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced West Allegheny junior Sierra Mangan has been chosen to take part in The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Students of the Year 2021 Campaign. The seven-week fundraising competition, which runs through March 26, is raising money in support of LLS. Mangan was nominated by her golf coach in October and, after she applied, she was chosen and is now leading one of 17 teams across western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Mangan has also teamed up with fellow high school students Tyler and Ethan Morgan, and Gus Psaros to form TEAM You’re Not Alone. Mangan is running the campaign in honor of Pittsburgh’s 2021 Boy and Girl of the Year, Daeshawn and Leighton. In April of 2018, at just 8 months old, Leighton was diagnosed with infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In December of 2017, at just 4 years old, Daeshawn was diagnosed with mixed lineage phenotype leukemia. Both are now in remission. Blood cancers account for more than 40% of all childhood cancers. “It is because of patients like Daeshawn and Leighton, that LLS has created the LLS Children’s Initiative with a commitment to expand their investment in research and therapies to allow young patients to not only survive their cancer but thrive in their lives after treatment,” Mangan writes in a fundraising letter she has been circulating. Anyone who would like to donate to the efforts of TEAM You’re Not Alone can scan the QR code above or visit events.lls.org/wpa/ wpasoy21/smangan. All funds directly support LLS and its longstanding mission of curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS also funds more than 60% of the blood cancer therapies being used to treat other cancers. WA junior leading regional LLS fundraising team The year 2020 presented an incredible need for many in the community due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Clearview Federal Credit Union continued and increased its community support through its Clearview Cares initiative. In 2020, the Clearview Cares program benefited thousands of people throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, including: • A total of 30,000 meals were provided to frontline workers, including medical personnel and first responders, at the onset of the pandemic • A $10,000 donation was made to the Pittsburgh Foundation Emergency Action Fund • With food insecurity on the rise, an ongoing partnership with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank delivered over 200,000 meals • A Thanksgiving turkey distribution provided a holiday meal for over 200 families • More than $100,000 was donated to support local community efforts • Scholarships totaling $15,000 were awarded to high school seniors for secondary education • Clearview’s financial literacy program benefited over 5,000 students • Donations of $18,500 were made to 10 local community organizations to spread the holiday spirit during a difficult season • Clearview staff volunteered more than 3,400 hours in the community while adhering to all state-mandated protocols In a time of crisis, Clearview provided thousands of members with a total of $7 million in reduced and deferred payments on consumer, homeowner, and student loans. Clearview also participated in the Payroll Protection Program that resulted in $8.4 million of additional aid for businesses. As the first credit union in Pennsylvania to join the PA CARE Package Initiative, Clearview was able to partner with the Office of the Attorney General to ensure consumers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic were eligible for additional economic relief. Clearview was able to continue to safely assist members by offering personal services such as take-out banking and appointment scheduling without any reduction in staff. “Here at Clearview, we stand behind our vision of ‘Helping People to Enjoy a Better Life.’ In doing so, we are proud that in the most difficult of times that we were able to continue to support members, communities, and employees. We are grateful for our membership, who are at the core of all that we do, our devoted staff and their selflessness during such a challenging year, and to all the organizations making a difference,” said President and CEO Ron Celaschi. Clearview provides increased community support during an unprecedented year CONTENT SUBMITTED 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • February/March 2021February/March 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 9Next >