PLUS: Now in third year, Coraopolis NAACP makes strides Rep. Deluzio helps PTC secure $3.7 million Area summer happenings Rosedale teams with #1 Cochran to support trades training Beloved local car cruise reaches a milestone page 8 Moon Edition Serving Moon Area School District July/August 2023 One of 4 editions serving 16 airport area communities www.awmagazine.com FREE Direct Mail Community Publication M agazine Allegheny West Page 22July/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 34 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2023 Doug Hughey, Publisher/Editor Allegheny West Magazine-Moon Edition is published in January, March, May, July, September, and November, six issues a year, Hughey Publications, LLC, P. O. Box 220, McDonald PA 15057. Mailed and distributed free to residents and businesses in Crescent, Moon and Moon Area School District. Reproduction of any artwork, photographs, or copy prepared by Allegheny West Magazine is strictly prohibited without written consent of Hughey Publications LLC. Copyright 1999-2022 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. 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. MEMBER Allegheny West Magazine - Moon Edition, is an all positive, good news publication mailed free into the homes and businesses of the Moon Area School District communities of Moon and Crescent 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 P. O. Box 220, McDonald, PA 15057 Phone: 724.673.3161 E-Mail: info@awmagazine.com www.awmagazine.com Doug Hughey Pat Jennette Sarah Kizina www.ddswebdesign.com Pat Jennette { } Contents Beloved local car cruise reaches a milestone Coraopolis NAACP makes strides in third yeaar Rep. Deluzio helps PTC secure $3.7 million Moon Area School District News Rosedale and #1 Cochran team on trades training Area summer happenings Parks and Recreation programs Moon Edition July/August 2023 - - - - - - - 8 10 20 22 24 26 28 From the Publisher Dear Readers, Thank you for picking up our July Moon edition. As I’ve mentioned in my note in past editions, it’s been great to see so many of the traditions and other things that we used to do before COVID-19 once again returning. Such was the case recently at the Wheels, Wings and Wishes car cruise in Moon Park, where a very special tradition of giving “wish kids” a ride around the park in a special vehicle returned. Read more about what this meant to one “wish kid” and an important milestone the cruise reached on page 8. Then, on page 10, read about the latest efforts by the Coraopolis chapter of the NAACP. When the chapter was first chartered, COVID-19 disrupted some of its efforts, but the organization is now hitting its stride. Read about a very special awards ceremony that the chapter recently held in this month’s story. On page 18, read about a new partnership between Pittsburgh’s largest car dealership and Rosedale Technical College that’s helping the area overcome the skills gap. As older workers retire, younger workers are needed to fill these important roles, and the economy is adjusting. Then, on page 22, read how Congressman Chris Deluzio recently secured $3.7 million for Pittsburgh Technical College. On page 24, get caught up on some of the latest happenings coming out of Moon Area School District. Then, on page 26, check out a rundown of summer happenings taking place around the area. Look for our next edition in September. Until then, I hope you have a great summer. ABOUT THE COVER Bryan Benson is pictured with Stephanie Pugliese, director of development for Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia, at the Wheels, Wings and Wishes car cruise June 11. The event, which annually raises money for Make-A-Wish, set a new record for dollars raised while resuming a beloved tradition. Read more on page 8. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEYJuly/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 5Heritage Valley Health System NEW to Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood Conveniently located at: 2201 Park Manor Blvd., Robinson Town Centre Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-CT scanning is now available at the Heritage Valley Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood. A PET-CT scan is an imaging test that produces multidimensional color images of your organs and tissues. These scans not only show what an organ looks like, but also how it is functioning. The test uses a small amount of a safe, injectable radioactive liquid known as a tracer. Your healthcare provider may order a PET-CT scan to check for signs of: • Cancer • Coronary artery disease, heart attack or other heart problems • Brain disorders, such as brain tumors, epilepsy, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease A Radiologist with specialized training in PET-CT scans will review your images and send a report to your healthcare provider. We are pleased to announce that Rheumatologist Dr. Baowei Tang will be seeing patients on Thursdays in the Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood, beginning in mid-July. Dr. Tang will be available on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dr. Tang is board certified in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and certified in Rheumatology Muscular Skeletal Ultrasound by the American College of Rheumatology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology. Dr. Tang completed his Rheumatology fellowship training at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2007, and his Internal Medicine residency at Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital in 2005. He received his medical degree from Southeastern University Medical School in Nanjing, China. Dr. Tang’s practice interests include complicated autoimmune diseases, inflammatory arthritis/ myositis, and general rheumatologic conditions (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, vasculitis, scleroderma, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis). He specializes in muscular skeletal ultrasound, which improves early diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases. Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-CT Scans Coming Soon: Rheumatology Care To schedule an appointment with Dr. Tang, please call (724) 773-1928. Dr. Tang’s office in the Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood is located in Suite 100. To schedule your PET-CT scan, please call (866) 251-0710. 6 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2023Heritage Valley Health System July/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 7CAround Your Town Around Your Town On June 11, Alyssa Kautzman got a rare opportunity. She got to take a spin in five different cars that most people could only dream of owning. She rode in a pink 1964 Mustang, a Lamborghini sporting a V12 engine, a Dodge Charger SRT 392, a Corvette and a Porsche Cayman GT4R. During each ride, Kautzman, who has cerebral palsy, got to leave the wheelchair that she uses behind and take a spin around Moon Park. Afterwards, she got to take her pick of the next car she wanted to ride in as more high-end sports cars and vintage rides paraded in front of her. It wasn’t the first time Kautzman, 21, of Kennedy Township, had gotten the opportunity. About seven years ago, she started coming to the Wheels, Wings and Wishes car cruise, which was at that time held at The Hangar sports bar. Since then, it’s moved over to Moon Park. Kautzman has been one of about a dozen or so young people with life- threatening medical conditions who have come to the show each year and gotten to take a spin in their dream car. This year, though, proved particularly special for Kautzman and other young people, as for the past two years organizers had to cancel the ride-alongs due to COVID-19. Prior to that, in 2020, they were forced to hold the event virtually. This year was thus the first time in three years that the ride-alongs resumed. “It means a lot,” Kautzman remarked after taking her last ride of the day. At the same time, the event reached a milestone in terms of dollars raised for Make-A-Wish. Stephanie Pugliese, director of development for the Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia chapter, says that each year the event has raised about $20,000 to $35,000 for the organization. With each wish now costing the organization about $5,000, she says that’s enough to grant about five to six wishes each year. This year, though, the cruise beat those numbers and raised $40,000, its largest single-year amount to date. That brings its total amount raised to $218,000 over nine years. Organizer Bryan Benson says 47 wishes have or will be granted thanks to the cruise. So, how does a car cruise evolve into providing such a special opportunity? According to members of Benson’s family who have been showing up each year to assist with the effort, it started with a group of “car guys,” Benson included, arguing over who made the best hot wings. That led to those car owners holding a get together at Settlers Cabin Park and organizing a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish. As the event grew, it moved to The Hangar and organizers decided not just to fundraise for “wish kids,” but to grant kids, teens and young adults battling life-threatening conditions with a wish they could supply on their own: a ride in a dream car. Since moving to Moon Park, the event has continued to raise significant dollars, and provide kids with spins in high-end vehicles. “All of that from them just trying to figure out whose wings are the best,” says Kathy Wittman, Benson’s aunt. Benson, who works for Moon Township, doesn’t dispute that account. He says it got its start after he bought a 1980 Corvette and he and a friend of his decided to hold a “wing-off.” They invited another friend with a 1968 Camaro and things progressed from there. One of those friends, Bernie Augier, passed away in 2019. Today, Benson continues to organize the event with his girlfriend, Amy Egan, and a handful of friends. They are Mike and Dawn Hluben, Chuck and Edyta Hull, Sara Majetic, Chris Nelson, and Mike Jackson. Chuck Hull is a member of the local rock band Tuned Up, which performed at this year’s show. Benson says the funds they raise come from numerous sponsorships, donations, food vendors donating money back, and other sources. For their part, members of the Benson family have pitched in each year, serving up funnel cakes and other concessions. At least one family member comes from several states away to help. Brandi Sieracki, Benson’s sister, lives locally and works for the Ryan Ray and Sandy Toulouse Real Estate Team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty. The real estate team has sponsored the event these past two years and even shows up to serve cotton candy to raise additional funds. “It’s a wonderful event,” says Ray. “We love coming out to support it and are honored to be a part of it.” Ride-alongs resume at beloved car cruise while dollars raised for “wish kids” set new records STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY ABOVE: Alyssa Kautzman gets ready to take a spin in a Lamborghini at the Wheels, Wings and Wishes car cruise. BELOW: Matt Simmons, who brought out his Tesla Model 3 Performance for the cruise, accepts a Kids’ Choice Award from Baylee Galbreath. The two are pictured with event organizer Bryan Benson. PHOTOS BY AJ’S PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES Cars line up to take kids on a spin around Moon Park during the Wheels, Wings and Wishes car cruise. PHOTO BY AJ’S PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2023 Many car owners who have attended the event since the beginning continue to come out each year as well, to the point that some have since switched cars. Matt Simmons, for instance, who brought along his 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance this year, used to drive a bright yellow 2014 Corvette that proved popular with the kids. He still managed to secure a Kids’ Choice Award this year, however. “The guys who organize it are all good friends,” says Simmons. “So once they told us what they were doing, my wife and I were like, ‘We’re in.’” Another perennial attendee who came back this year was Michael Byers, who spent 13 years modifying a 1983 Trans-Am into a faithful representation of the Kit car from the 1980s show “Knight Rider.” Though he says he goes to a lot of shows, Wheels, Wings and Wishes holds a special place for him. He says many of the younger attendees, including some he took on rides, weren’t even born when “Knight Rider” aired. Still, he says they enjoy it, right down to the custom dash and steering wheel. In addition to many cars and concessions, the day also featured several bands, Star Wars cosplayers, raffles, games and more. For more about Wheels, Wings and Wishes, visit wheelswingswishes.com or find them on Facebook. For more about Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia, visit wish.org/greaterpawv. Michael Byers once again brought out his “Knight Rider” car to this year’s event. Built on a 1963 Trans-Am, he’s made a faithful representation, right down to the custom dash and steering wheel. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY July/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 9Next >