M agazine West Allegheny Edition Volume 23, Issue 136 February/March 2022 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 WestFebruary/March 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 34 • Allegheny West Magazine • February/March 2022 Heritage tops 106,000 COVID-19 vaccine shots Remembering WA’s Mark Davis The West Hills Symphonic Band plays on Pittsburgh Technical College helps grads fast-track MBA WA Today Where the dog parks are Dear Readers, Thank you for picking up our February West Allegheny edition. This month, we’re taking a look at a number of interesting stories in the West Allegheny community and getting readers caught up on the latest first-quarter happenings at West Allegheny School District. First, as has been the case in a number of our recent editions, we are once again honoring some community members who we lost. On page 12, read about longtime West Allegheny football coach and teacher Mark Davis and the legacy he leaves behind. Then, on page 44, read some of the tributes to Ingeborg Saveikis written by a couple of the people who knew her best. Then, on page 18, we have some good news to report about members of the West Hills Symphonic Band who have been finding ways to continue performing despite COVID-19. If you have a pooch at home and are feeling a little stir crazy these days, check out page 24 for our rundown of local dog parks in the area. You may have heard about a couple of these, but probably not all. Even if you have, check out our tips from a local dog training expert on proper dog park etiquette. On page 9, read about Heritage Valley Health System’s efforts over the past year to deliver life- saving vaccines to community members. Then, on page 42, get caught up on the latest parks and recreation programming from Findlay and North Fayette townships. Look for our next edition in April. Until then, I hope you will continue to stay safe. Doug Hughey, Publisher/Editor From the Publisher ABOUT THE COVER West Allegheny Edition ~ February/March 2022 { } Contents - - - - - - 6 18 20 26 29 38 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 Garret Roberts Sarah Kizina www.ddswebdesign.com Erma Dodd Pat Jennette Columns Locally Sourced - Legislative Update - Chamber Link - Around Your Town - Your Schools - Library Programs - On the Horizon - Penned by Erma - 8 11 16 18 22 36 42 44 Ember, a Cavalier King Charles poodle mix, plays in the snow at the dog park in Donaldson Community Park. Check out our rundown of area dog parks in our special section this month, starting on page 38. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEYFebruary/March 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 5 Heritage Valley Health System administered its 106,548th COVID-19 vaccine dose in January. The health system reached that number while distributing booster shots to eligible individuals at clinics in Allegheny and Beaver counties. The milestone comes just one year after Heritage began distributing shots to the public. During that time, the health system has leaned on measures it put in place in early 2021, when demand for vaccines far outpaced doses available. As those doses did become available, Heritage utilized an innovative online registration system and mass vaccination clinics to inoculate tens of thousands of people. Those vaccines have since helped protect a significant proportion of the area’s population against severe illness and curb the overall spread of the virus. “I am extremely proud of Heritage Valley’s ability to be flexible in the administration of the 106,548 vaccines to our community,” says Norman F. Mitry, President & CEO of Heritage Valley Health System. “When the opportunity to vaccinate our community arose, the Board of Directors, Medical Staff and Employees rallied and enabled us to adhere to the Heritage Valley Mission to improve the health and well-being of all individuals in the communities that we serve.” Heritage’s vaccination efforts started in January of 2021, after the health system received some of the very first shots of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. Those shots were administered to frontline hospital personnel. Subsequent shots were prioritized for vulnerable community members, including seniors over the age of 80 and those with serious underlying health conditions. As more doses became available, Heritage was able to expand its vaccination efforts to more age groups and, by the end of January, was holding mass vaccination events. Working with Beaver County commissioners and the Community College of Beaver County, Heritage was able to arrange to use the college’s Golden Dome Gymnasium and, on Jan. 28, held its very first mass vaccination clinic. That day, approximately 1,500 people received their first shot. To efficiently register the large number of people for that and future clinics, Heritage launched an online registration system. In its first week of operation in late January, over 31,000 people used it to make requests for an appointment. At the same time, Heritage worked with senior residences to arrange bussing to clinics and Heritage staff members even administered shots to many seniors right on their buses, as many had mobility issues. Volunteers also lent a hand at the clinics, in part by using golf carts provided by the Community College of Beaver County to shuttle patients who had difficulty walking from their cars. As well, to serve patients in Allegheny County, Heritage began utilizing its Robinson location adjacent to Staples. By Feb. 12 of last year, Heritage’s efforts had resulted in 11,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine being administered. By the end of February, it had delivered 19,000 doses and, by the end of March, Heritage had administered more than 43,000 doses. By that time, 15,000 individuals had also been fully inoculated and nearly 97,000 had registered for appointments. In the months following, Heritage delivered more than 60,000 additional doses as it closed in on its total of over 106,548 shots administered to date. For many patients, including seniors, the vaccines were potentially life changing. For some, getting that first shot meant they’d soon be able to see their children and grandchildren again. Others who received the vaccine said they were excited to be able to safely travel. A predominant theme among many vaccine recipients, however, was simply a sense of relief. Currently, Heritage Valley is continuing to deliver booster shots to eligible individuals at clinics held at its Robinson location adjacent to Staples and on the Community College of Beaver County campus. First and second vaccines for those ages 12 and up are available at Heritage Valley ConvenientCare in Center Township on Tuesdays by appointment. Pfizer vaccines are also available by appointment for children ages 5-11 at several locations. More information may be found at www.heritagevalley.org. The CDC is recommending that adults who received a second Pfizer vaccination at least five months ago or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago receive a booster. Teens 16-17 years old who received Pfizer vaccines can get a Pfizer booster. Adults who received the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson more than two months ago are also eligible for boosters. The boosters, like the initial vaccine doses, have been shown to be effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalization. For more guidance on who should receive a booster, and when, visit www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html. If you have not yet received a first COVID-19 shot and would like receive one, visit www.vaccines.gov to register. A year after COVID-19 vaccinations began, Heritage tops 106,000 shots FROM TOP: Thomas Rogozewicz, 81, displays his COVID vaccine card. Rogozewicz was the first community member to receive a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Heritage’s vaccine clinic held at the Community College of Beaver County back in February of last year. At the time, he was looking forward to seeing his great-grandson. Mary and Richard Mauk display their vaccine cards after receiving their second dose of the vaccine in March of last year. They were looking forward to visiting their children. Tom and Donna Byers, pictured with volunteer vaccinator Judy Brunner, both celebrated their birthdays and their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine last March at the Robinson vaccination site. Volunteers outside the Community College of Beaver County dome use golf carts and wheelchairs to help transport individuals from the parking lot to Heritage’s vaccination clinic inside. 6 • Allegheny West Magazine • February/March 2022 Heritage Valley Health System February/March 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 7 Heritage Valley Health System%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced West Allegheny alumnus Adam Miskow has launched an inspirational t-shirt campaign in hopes of inspiring others who are in need of a little uplifting. Miskow started making the t-shirts last year as a way to raise funds to help offset his costs of living while undergoing cancer treatments. With the help his girlfriend, Jill Ford, Miskow has created over 20 t-shirt designs with positive messages to remind others to “Keep Going,” “Be Brave,” and that “The best views come after the hardest climb.” He also designed a few Pittsburgh-themed shirts in honor of his hometown roots and the strength of the community. “The Pittsburgh area not only has the best hospitals and medical teams, but it has the best people in general,” says Miskow. “Pittsburghers tend to come together as a community during hard times. They are like a big family, and truly show the warrior spirit.” Miskow was diagnosed in August of 2021 with a stage 3 cancerous brain tumor and underwent emergency brain surgery. Extensive rehabilitation and radiation treatments followed. In early December, he began chemotherapy treatments that will last over eight months. He will then undergo one last surgery. During this time, he is not medically cleared to return to work. Through Team Adam, he is raising funds to help lighten his financial burden so he can focus on the lifesaving treatments that he needs. Since his cancer battle began, Miskow has received encouragement, love and support from family, friends and even complete strangers. He claims that this support is what helped him get through the darkest times of this past year. One thing that Adam wants to remind others is printed on one of the shirts that he designed, which says “The brightest rainbows come after the storm.” This is a message that he hand wrote on cards that he gave to each of his doctors, nurses, and physical therapists after he was released from the hospital and rehab center late last year. Miskow is grateful for all of the good things, and people, that came from this very hard time. He wants to remind others that no matter how difficult a challenge may seem - whether it be a health crisis, family issue or money problem - there is always hope that something good can be found in even the most challenging of situations. He hopes his t-shirts will deliver that message to others. “Sometimes you just need a little reminder,” says Miskow. Miskow’s t-shirts of encouragement and support are available at: www.bonfire.com/ store/team-adam. Proceeds benefit Adam as he continues cancer treatments. WA alum launches t-shirt campaign to assist during cancer treatments ABOVE: Adam Miskow, with his girlfriend, Jill Ford, by his side, rings the bell to mark the end of his initial radiation treatments. He is currently undergoing a second round of treatments that will conclude in September. RIGHT: These are just some of the t-shirt designs Miskow has created and is selling to help support him while he is undergoing treatments. CONTENT SUBMITTED 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • February/March 2022Allegheny West Magazine welcomes submissions of positive, local news for its Locally Sourced section. To submit a story for Locally Sourced, contact us at (724) 673-3161 or at info@awmagazine.com. West Allegheny High School alumnus Nathan Dragisich continues to shine in Division 1 Men’s Soccer at Duquesne University. He recently completed his junior season at Duquesne and received Atlantic-10, 2nd team All-Conference accolades. This past season, the Dukes men’s soccer team reached the A-10 finals for the first time since 2002. Dragisich started all 19 games, contributing five goals and five assists. The team finished 10-7-2 for the season. Dragisich was also selected as a member of the A-10 soccer all-tournament team during the Atlantic-10 Championships, which were held at St. Louis University. Dragisich has started 43 games during his Duquesne career after finishing his West A career as the all-time leading goal scorer in program history. He was also named the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year his senior season. In 2018, Dragisich led West Allegheny to its first state championship. In addition to playing soccer, he is majoring in finance. WA grad contributes big on college soccer team Nathan Dragisich CONTENT SUBMITTED February/March 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 9Next >