Coraopolis Community Development update Local artists again shine at West Hills Art League show Local teen in need of kidney keeps hope alive for donor Area pizza kitchen returns, carrying on a tradition Cornell Winter Sports Schedules Local holiday happenings: page 29 Our Annual Elementary Holiday Coloring Contest page 5 PLUS: Serving Coraopolis and Neville Island communities of Cornell School District. One of four editions serving 17 airport area communities. Cornell Edition Winter 2023 www.awmagazine.com FREE Direct Mail Community Publication Allegheny West M agazine INSIDE! Official Newsletter Page 16Winter 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 34 • Allegheny West Magazine • Winter 2023 Allegheny West Magazine-Cornell Edition is published in Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer, four issues a year, Hughey Publications, LLC, P. O. Box 220, McDonald, PA 15057. Mailed and distributed free to residents and businesses in Coraopolis, Neville Island and Cornell School District. 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 West Allegheny Edition of Allegheny West Magazine, the Montour Edition of Allegheny West Magazine, and the Moon Edition of Alleghney West Magazine. MEMBER Allegheny West Magazine - Cornell Edition, is an all positive, good news publication mailed free into the homes and businesses of the Cornell School District communities of Coraopolis and Neville Island 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 Pat Jennette Sarah Kizina www.ddswebdesign.com Pat Jennette Cornell Edition Winter 2023 ABOUT THE COVER { } Contents Coraopolis Community Development update Local artists again shine at West Hills Art League show Local teen in need of kidney keeps hope alive Area pizza kitchen returns, carrying on a tradition Cornell School District Newsletter Cornell Winter Sports Schedules Local holiday happenings - - - - - - - 8 10 11 13 16 28 29 Cornell sixth-grader Ketlyn Dionisio created this drawing for our annual elementary holiday coloring contest. We asked Cornell elementary students in grades two through six to create the cover of our holiday issue. We chose one for our cover and have printed a handful of others on the page at right. Dear Readers, Thank you for picking up our winter Cornell issue of Allegheny West Magazine. I’d like to start this message by thanking all of the Cornell elementary students who once again participated in our annual holiday coloring contest. We asked students across grade levels to create our cover and received many great submissions, one of which we chose for our cover. We’ve printed some additional submissions at right. In this edition as well, read an update from the Coraopolis Community Development Corporation on page 8, including some news about the Coraopolis Train Station project. On page 10, read about the recent West Hills Art League show that was held in Coraopolis and, on page 11, read a very special story about a local teenager in need. On page 13, read about a historic area fundraiser that’s currently taking place in the area and, starting on page 16, read some of the latest news coming out of Cornell School District. This month, read about new grants secured by the district, teachers receiving national recognition and students doing great things in the classroom. On page 28, check out our rundown of Cornell winter sports schedules and, on page 29, peruse our listing of area holiday events. Look for our next issue in February. Until then, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. From the Publisher Doug Hughey, Publisher/EditorCornell elementary students created these drawings for our holiday coloring contest. The artists who created these are (starting at top left, in grade order, starting with grade two): Calister Barr, Daniel Bodine, Brianna Nelson, Cayden Ford, Maria Milani Diniz, Callie Johnson, Lorenzo Bush, Chris Ford, Cristofer Ambriz, De’Mya Pitts, Heaven Lee, Isabella Gent, Jaiden Strader, Jose Ortiz Patino, Kylee Coleman, Luci Dunn, Olivia Geist, Yazmine Moss and Zamira Sanchez. Our Annual Elementary Holiday Coloring Contest Winter 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 5Heritage Valley Health System 6 • Allegheny West Magazine • Winter 2023 Heritage Valley Health System wants all women to be comfortable with their healthcare. That is why our Women’s Health Centers, including our location in the Heritage Valley Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood (located next to PNC Bank and DSW Shoes), are designed specifically for women. The Centers, the hub for our comprehensive BreastCare program, provide the following services for women 18 years and older: For more information, please visit our website at heritagevalley.org/services/womens-health/ or call 724-773-4720. Heritage Valley Women’s Health Services in Robinson Township • Screening & Diagnostic Full-Field Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (also known as 3D Mammograms) • Self-Requesting Screening Mammography (No prescription needed!) • Non-Surgical Breast Biopsy (Ultrasound; Stereotactic) • Osteoporosis Heel Screening • Bone Material Density Scan (DEXA) • Routine Ultrasound Exams • Routine Diagnostic Radiology Exams • Phlebotomy (Bloodwork) • EKG • Mobile CT • Mobile MRIHeritage Valley Health System Winter 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 7CAround Your Town Around Your Town Coraopolis Train Station Update The Coraopolis Train Station is more than just a building. It’s a symbol of the Coraopolis community’s resilience and history. It has been a gathering place for generations, and the CCDC wants to ensure that it continues to be for generations to come. After a lull in construction, work has begun on a few smaller projects to prepare the station for the winter. The initial goal was to have most of the exterior station completed by the end of 2023. Even though that goal wasn’t met, there has been great progress made this year, including installing utilities, finishing the basement, pouring footers for the canopy, and preparing the ground for future sidewalks and fencing. The project has been on hold longer than expected due to the need to conduct an environmental review for a grant received by the Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. It is anticipated that the review will be completed any day, which will unlock federal grant money for the next phase of the project. The HUD grant will restore and repoint the masonry, install the sidewalks and pavers, and apply needed exterior finishes and trim. Hopes are that the station’s outward appearance will be dramatically restored in 2024 and will be one step closer to completion so that generations to come will be able to enjoy it. To follow the progress of the station, like the Coraopolis Station Project on Facebook. BY RANDON WILLARD, CCDC DIRECTOR Chili Cook-Off rescheduled Some of you may have been missing the CCDC’s annual Chili Cook-Off, but don’t worry, it will return soon! The event has been rescheduled to Sunday, Feb. 4 from 2-5 p.m. at Cobblehaus Brewing Company in Coraopolis. Ten chefs will be showing off their skills in a competition to be crowned the ultimate chili cook. Proceeds from the Chili Cook-Off will benefit the Coraopolis Food Pantry. Stay tuned to corycdc.org and the CCDC’s newsletter for more info on the event. Cory Bright Cory Bright is back! In honor of the annual shop local campaign, business owners will deck out their store windows, doors and signage in colorful and festive holiday decor. CCDC holds a friendly competition among the storefronts and tallies votes received from customers and fans between Dec. 1 and Dec. 15, while encouraging people to get out to the Coraopolis Business District, check out the window displays and SUPPORT LOCAL. Join in the fun by heading out to the Coraopolis Business District, shopping small and local, and voting for your favorite by emailing Christmas@corycdc.org. The Coraopolis Station Project aims to convert the borough’s historic train station into a multi-use community center. An environmental review for a grant has delayed the project, but construction will be moving again soon. PHOTO BY CHRIS ROLINSON 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • Winter 2023 Coraopolis Community Development update e CONTENT SUBMITTED BY CORAOPOLIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP.CAround Your Town Around Your Town CCDC hosts Heinz visit for Age-Friendly Neighborhoods How has Western Pennsylvania’s rich history shaped who we are and how we live? On Nov. 8, more than 50 residents of three Age-Friendly Neighborhoods - Clairton, Coraopolis and the Hill District - found answers during an intergenerational trip to the Heinz History Center. Residents were inspired to remember the region’s past and reimagine its future as a good place to grow up and grow old. Clairton, Coraopolis and the Hill District joined Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh’s inaugural cohort of Age- Friendly Neighborhoods in 2022 with support from Mon Valley Initiative, Coraopolis Community Development Corporation, Macedonia Family, Community Enrichment Center, Lively Pittsburgh and other community partners. Want to learn more? Visit agefriendlypgh.org. CCDC hosted a trip to the Heinz History Center for residents of Age-Friendly Neighborhoods, including Coraopolis. The Coraopolis Community Development Corporation seeks to raise the profile of the Coraopolis community by supporting community projects and initiatives. For more, visit corycdc.org. Winter 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 9 Coraopolis Riverfront Park is continuing to undergo development, with new amenities being completed in the area of First Avenue between Mulberry Street and Broadway Street. An amphitheater, paved parking lot, large group pavilion and restrooms were all completed this fall. Future developments are in progress for spring of 2024 to manage rentals, events and programming. These amenities are part of Phase 1 for Riverfront Park. Additional planning is in the works for future phases, including small-scale covered pavilions, walking paths and a playground. Park hours are from dawn to dusk. Development and beautification are also in the planning stages for Coraopolis Town Square, located in the 5th Avenue municipal parking lot between Cobblehaus Brewery and Zuko’s Pizza. In collaboration with borough council, TreeVitalize Pittsburgh and other community members, designs have been developed to include modernized and accessible tables and seating areas along with green space tailored for an urban setting. Renovation work has begun and is expected to be completed in the late spring. Coraopolis Borough Update: Progress continues at Coraopolis Riverfront Park and town square STORY SUBMITTED BY CORAOPOLIS BOROUGH The new amphitheater at Riverfront Park has been completed. PHOTO BY TOM SALVIE In addition to the amphitheater, a new pavilion (top left) and bathrooms (above) were also completed this fall. The parking lot (above) has been paved as well. PHOTOS BY TOM SALVIENext >