get our list of Summer happenings and more right on your phone with our app M agazine West Allegheny Edition Volume 22, Issue 132 June/July 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 29 Allegheny West North Fayette VFD moves into new station America250PA coming to area scott Orndoff’s path from NFL to Findlay PD PBG opens new welcome center Memorial planned to honor Dan Hanczar Plus:stclair.org/dunlap Expert care from people who care. This is the outpatient center we built foryou. Dunlap Family Outpati ent Center is the state-of-the-art facility our community deserves. It’s 280,000 sq. ft . of medical advancements and experti se that cements our commitment to you. This facility integrates virtually every aspect of your care. It’s built to be the one place for all your tests, labs, therapies, outpati ent procedures and more. And it’s all about you. :Learn more at clearviewfcu.org/live Introducing Clearview Live Bank here, there, anywhere. ® June/July 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 34 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2021 Dear Readers, Thank you for picking up our June West Allegheny edition. I’m very happy that, once again, we’re able to bring you our Summer Fun Guide this month. Last year we couldn’t bring you this guide as we’d done in years past due to many events being cancelled because of COVID-19. The fact that we can bring you our rundown of summer events this year, however, is an encouraging sign that we’re on the path to getting past this pandemic. Read more, starting on page 36. As we look forward to moving past COVID-19, we also can’t forget the people who lost so much as a result of it. That includes those who lost their lives to the virus. Dan Hanczar of Oakdale was among those causalities. After his family was unable to host a traditional funeral due to COVID-19 restrictions in November, they are planning a fitting memorial July 17. Read more on page 11. Starting on page 29, get caught up on the latest end-of-year happenings at West Allegheny School District. We’re also bringing you the latest from Heritage Valley Health System on page 4. On page 14, read about how former University of Pittsburgh tight end Scott Orndoff made his way from the NFL to a local police department and, on page 12, read about the North Fayette VFD’s new station. Look for our next edition in August, when we’ll be getting ready to go back to school. In the meantime, I hope you have a great summer. 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 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 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 JennetteJune/July 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 5 West Allegheny Edition ~ June/July 2021 Volume 22, No. 132 { } Contents Memorial planned to honor Dan Hanczar North Fayette VFD moves into new station Scott Orndoff’s path from NFL to Findlay PD Pittsburgh Botanic Garden opens new welcome center America250PA coming to area WA Today Summer Fun Guide - - - - - - - 11 12 14 16 18 29 36 BELOW: Marine Corps veteran, retired state legislator and former Oakdale Borough Council president Huck Gamble, 88, stands and salutes during the West Allegheny brass ensemble’s playing of The Marines’ Hymn during Oakdale’s annual Memorial Day commemoration. The service was held following a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19. BOTTOM: The service also included a placing of the wreath by George Shaw and Jill Grover (top) and a speech by state Sen. Devlin Robinson (bottom), who is also a Marine Corps veteran. VFW Post 7070 and American Legion Post 171 assisted in the ceremonies. Remarks were also given by VFW Post 7070 commander Keith Colledge and American Legion Post 171 commander Lyle Grover. Former Oakdale mayor and Army veteran Bill Gamble served as master of ceremonies. This was his 39th year of doing so. PHOTOS BY DOUG HUGHEY Locally Sourced Around Your Town Chamberlink Legislative Update Your Schools Penned by Erma Parks and Rec. - - - - - - - 8 11 23 24 26 46 46Heritage 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. 6 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2021Heritage 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. Senior Living with a Caring Tradition Independent Living, Personal Care and Memory Care View a Virtual Tour at HeritageValley.org! 412.331.6139 Learn more at WillowsSeniorLiving.com 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 June/July 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 7%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced Budget-conscious travelers and families will have a variety of new options to improve their experience at Pittsburgh International Airport this summer, including new nonstop flights to popular leisure destinations, new parking and payment options, and resumption of airline curbside check-in. Passenger traffic has been steadily climbing - up more than 1,200% in April - and a total of 18 new or returning nonstop flights will take off through August. Airlines are responding to strong demand to vacation destinations such as Myrtle Beach and Charleston, South Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; Phoenix, Arizona; and Orlando and Key West in Florida. Passengers departing from Pittsburgh International Airport will also have a new parking option for the first time in almost 30 years. The Economy Lot is now only $7 per day and less than a 10-minute walk to the moving walkway. Additionally, travelers will find four new parking pay stations located inside the Landside Terminal to speed up their exit from the airport. The stations in baggage claim and along the moving walkway take cash or credit cards. Pay stations at the lot exits will remain. For a faster, more convenient departure, passengers who are being dropped off at the departures curb will see airline curbside check-in services reopening, with Southwest planning to start June 1 and American on June 29. “After a very tough year, people want to get away from home and spend time with loved ones wherever they may be,” said Christina Cassotis, CEO of Allegheny County Airport Authority, which operates Pittsburgh International Airport. “Our goals are to make our passengers feel safe and improve the airport experience, and we will continue to embrace innovative technology and ideas that support this surging interest in travel.” Both low-cost and legacy airlines have continued to add service from the airport. In May, Breeze Airways announced Pittsburgh as one of its debut cities and added four new cities from Pittsburgh. United Airlines also recently added Pensacola, Florida; Portland, Maine; and both Hilton Head Island and Charleston in South Carolina to Pittsburgh International’s nonstop route map. Those flights - along with new and resumed routes from Allegiant, American, Southwest and Spirit - join a growing list of cities served nonstop from PIT with inaugural departures through August. See a complete list at flypittsburgh.com/new-and-resumed-flights/. What isn’t new is PIT’s ongoing commitment to public health and safety. The airport rolled out its Safe Travels program more than a year ago, with innovations including robotic UV floor scrubbers, a touchless handwashing station and touchless elevator controls. Travelers are reminded that while mask requirements have eased in many parts of the country, masks are still mandated in airports and on airplanes by the federal government. PIT also continues to work closely with concession operations partner Fraport to reopen restaurants and shops. The latest openings and operating hours can be found at flypittsburgh.com/ pittsburgh-international-airport/open/. Helping Hands Childcare & Learning Center in Imperial partnered with Pittsburgh Scrap Away to collect donations for the WA food pantry during the month of April. Families of Helping Hands donated over 250 food items, cleaning supplies and toiletries. Melissa Merritt, owner of Helping Hands, also held a raffle at her annual scrapbooking event in March of 2020 at the Doubletree Hilton in Moon Township. The raffle raised $600 that was also donated to the West Allegheny Food Pantry. West Allegheny alumnus Logan Scheider was named the PAC Hitter of the week in May after averaging a .833 batting average with nine runs scored, five RBIs and three doubles. Scheider, who graduated from West Allegheny High School in 2019, plays for the Washington and Jefferson Presidents baseball team. Attention West Allegheny Class of 1971 graduates! Efforts are now underway to organize the class’ 50th year class reunion. In order to be sufficiently free of COVID restrictions, an event date in 2022 is being considered and, as a first step, a small group of classmates are collecting contact information for as many fellow graduates as can be found. If you are a member of the West Allegheny Class of 1971 and have not yet provided your contact information, please forward your email address and/or phone number to Greg Daniels. He can be reached at (615) 390- 7742 or at greg.l.daniels@hotmail.com. Those who respond will be kept apprised as plans develop. Helping Hands raises donations for food pantry Students at Helping Hands show off food donations they raised for the West Allegheny Food Pantry. WA Class of 1971 reunion planning underway WA grad named PAC hitter of the week PIT adds new nonstop flights, economy parking for travelers 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2021 CONTENT SUBMITTED June/July 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 9Next >