Local holiday happenings: page 32 Our Annual Elementary Holiday Coloring Contest page 30 SNPJ Imperial Room gets a beautiful update North Fayette PD obtains special accreditation Local 62-year-old wins first boxing championship Officials showcase passenger journey at new PIT terminal Local artists shine at West Hills Art League show Business Profile: My Laundromat Remembering Lloyd Faux Area Holiday Happenings Penned by Erma: This I Believe M agazine West Allegheny Edition December 2023/January 2024 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 31 PLUS:December 2023/January 2024 • www.awmagazine.com • 34 • Allegheny West Magazine • December 2023/January 2024 Dear Readers, Thank you for picking up our December West Allegheny issue of Allegheny West Magazine. I’d like to start this message by thanking all of the West Allegheny 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 additional submissions on page 30. In this issue as well, get an update on the new terminal project at Pittsburgh International Airport on page 9, check out the new updates to the SNPJ Lodge 106 Imperial Room on page 10 and read about an impressive new certification program the North Fayette Police Department has joined on page 11. On page 12, read an inspiring story about a 62-year-old who just won his first boxing match and, on page 14, check out our story about the West Hills Art League’s recent show and some local artists who were honored at it. On page 16, read a profile about My Laundromat and, on page 21, get caught up on the latest news at West Allegheny School District. After that, read our very special tribute to community member Lloyd Faux, who we lost this past July, and on page 32 peruse upcoming area holiday happenings. Finally, on page 36, find out what’s coming up at the Western Allegheny Community Library and, on page 38, read Erma Dodd’s column where she asks locals, “What do you believe?” Look for our next issue in February. Until then, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. Doug Hughey, Publisher/Editor From the Publisher West Allegheny Edition ~ December 2023/January 2024 { } Contents - - - - - - - - - - - - 9 10 11 12 14 16 21 28 30 32 36 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- 2023 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 Pat Jennette Sarah Kizina www.ddswebdesign.com Erma Dodd Pat Jennette Officials showcase passenger journey at new PIT terminal SNPJ Imperial Room gets a beautiful update North Fayette PD obtains special accreditation Local 62-year-old wins first boxing championship Local artists shine at West Hills Art League show Business Profile: My Laundromat WA Today Remembering Lloyd Faux Elementary Holiday Coloring Contest Area Holiday Happenings Library Programs Penned by Erma: This I Believe West Allegheny third-grader Emma Barr created this drawing for our annual elementary holiday coloring contest. Each year, we ask area elementary students to create the cover of our holiday issue. We choose one for our cover and print a handful of others in the magazine. For more of this year’s submissions, see page 30. ABOUT THE COVERDecember 2023/January 2024 • www.awmagazine.com • 56 • Allegheny West Magazine • December 2023/January2024 Heritage Valley Health System 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 MRIDecember 2023/January2024 • www.awmagazine.com • 7 Heritage Valley Health System%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced West Allegheny alumnus Nathan Dragisich became the all-time leader in matches played for the Duquesne mens soccer program with 78 this past season. The Duquesne senior has enjoyed a successful career at Duquesne. The midfielder is currently third all-time in assists with 23 and 10th all-time in points with 41. He is a two-year captain of the team, and over his career has garnered Second Team Atlantic-10 All- Conference accolades, along with All-Rookie team A-10 conference honors during his freshman season. While at West Allegheny, Dragisich was named Gatorade Pennsylvania State Player of the Year, and was a two-time WPIAL Soccer Player of the Year. Dragisich finished his West Allegheny career as the program leader in both goals and assists. During his senior year at West Allegheny, the boys soccer team won the Pennsylvania soccer state championship, the first in program history, and was ranked 10th in the nation by MaxPreps. WA alumnus wraps up college soccer career with new record The West Allegheny girls volleyball team held their 14th annual Dig Pink Event on Oct. 17. Dig Pink is an annual fundraiser held in partnership with the Side-Out Foundation, which helps to bring awareness and funding for Stage IV breast cancer. Only 2% of breast cancer research funding goes toward stage IV cancer, which makes the Side-Out Foundation’s focus so important. This year, the West Allegheny volleyball team raised $7,213 with the generous help of the community. Funds were raised through monetary donations, t-shirt sales, a 50/50 raffle and a raffle of donated items. Over the last 14 years, the West Allegheny volleyball program has been able to donate a total of $54,737.62 to help Side-Out’s mission of supporting those living with metastatic breast cancer. WA volleyball raises thousands for cancer research The West Allegheny girls volleyball team once again helped raise money for breast cancer research this past October. 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • December 2023/January 2024 Nathan Dragisich CONTENT SUBMITTED CONTENT SUBMITTED%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald became the first visitor to officially travel across the front bridge to what will be the entrance to the new Pittsburgh International Airport terminal on Oct. 16. Fitzgerald’s inaugural drive both celebrated a distinguished career of public service and marked a significant milestone for one of the Pittsburgh region’s most ambitious construction projects. “Rich has been a tireless advocate and supporter,” said Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority. “He has been really focused on what is best for this community.” ACAA and county leaders, along with staff and members of the press, joined Fitzgerald and Cassotis on a tour of the terminal construction site. The recently completed bridge connects the roadways that will one day guide passengers to and from the new PIT terminal and complementary buildings. It marks yet another key achievement on the road toward the opening of the new terminal in 2025. The Terminal Modernization Program will provide visitors with a more efficient travel experience via a larger security checkpoint and faster baggage claim while cutting long-term maintenance costs for the airlines, which are paying for the vast majority of the project. No state or local tax dollars are being used. In addition to the new landside terminal, the construction includes a multi-modal parking garage and airport roadway system, including the new bridge. Fitzgerald last visited the construction site in August. Since then, all structural steel has been completed. Workers are now installing curtainwall glass, roofing, walls and utility lines. “We now have the most dynamic airport in the country in many ways, and when [the new terminal] opens a year and one-half from now, it is something that is going to be unbelievably great for the region,” Fitzgerald said. After the drive up the terminal bridge, the tour began in earnest on what will be the departures level of the new airport terminal. The broad expanses of exposed concrete and girders seen by visitors are the bones of what will ultimately be a warm, inviting environment filled with ticket counters, concessions, tree-like columns and constellation lighting. As the tour progressed further into the construction site, visitors observed open spaces for large window arrays before moving to the connector bridge between the new terminal and the existing Airside Terminal. The connector bridge represents a significant change from the current train that runs between the terminals, which will be decommissioned. The connector bridge will guide travelers quickly to their gates while eliminating the train’s travel time and maintenance costs. Construction of the new terminal’s arrivals level is based on design studies that showed locals wanted to stay inside the terminal to wait for their friends and family. The area will offer visitors and travelers seating, concessions, considerably shorter baggage wait times and access to outdoor garden terraces adorning either side of the terminal. The new Multi-Modal Complex nearby features a parking garage with 3,300 public spaces - three times the amount of covered space currently available at PIT. The daily construction workforce, made of people from the Pittsburgh region, said they take great pride in seeing the structures begin to resemble what many have seen only in blueprints and computer-generated images. “It is an investment in the future of Pittsburgh, as we build an airport that is for Pittsburgh, by Pittsburgh,” said Fitzgerald. “The new terminal replicates what Pittsburgh is, and it is something we can all be so proud of.” Officials showcase passenger journey at new PIT terminal STORY AND PHOTO BY BLUE SKY NEWS/ PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis lead a tour through the airport’s new terminal, which is currently under construction, on Oct. 16. December 2023/January 2024 • www.awmagazine.com • 9Next >