< PreviousCAround Your Town Around Your Town 10 • Allegheny West Magazine • Fall 2021 In the summer of 2020, many stages were left empty and fans of live music were forced to stay indoors due to the spread of COVID-19. As a result, musicians weren’t able to bring people together for a live concert experience. This past summer, however, local communities saw a return to concerts and coming together over a shared love of music, food and fun. With warm weather arriving and restrictions lifting across the commonwealth, boroughs and townships once again invited communities outdoors for concerts and festivals. With space to distance, the format was one that organizers found to be successful. “Outside events are what seemed to work best when planning for this season,” said Jane Tallon, activities coordinator for the Township of Robinson. “Not knowing what restrictions would be in place, we found this would be the best way to provide social distancing.” Planning has taken a dramatic turn since last summer, when many events were either cancelled, broadcast on Zoom or took on a drive-through format. “Parents had to adapt to so much, with Santa Claus drive-bys and Easter Bunny drive-bys going through the neighborhood,” said Tallon. Planning for festivals and concerts was increasingly easier for local communities due to the increased number of vaccinations in western Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, over 60% of Allegheny County has at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, one of the highest in the state. With a higher number of people able to unmask and gather, it was becoming easier to plan for concerts and similar events this summer and beyond. “People are ready to get out,” said Cara Mason, who organizes the Second Saturdays concert series in Coraopolis, in June. “We are happy to have this beautiful weather to be able to be outside. People can still socially distance themselves if they want, but we are looking forward to giving people an opportunity to get together.” With less risk of spreading the coronavirus, park organizers were also noticing that audiences were feeling more comfortable with socializing and joining the fun. “We are excited for the bigger crowds and that people are starting to feel more comfortable being outside,” said Andrew Bott, assistant director of parks and recreation for Moon Park, earlier this summer. “We have also seen a major uptake in people coming to the park, whether that be for events or just using some of our facilities around the park.” For musicians, the return to normal also marked a long awaited return to the stage. A former resident of Coraopolis, Byron Nash was able to bring his guitar playing back to the borough during Second Saturdays and give audiences a taste of the live music they were craving during the pandemic. “The best part about [playing live] is having the kids come up after you’re done playing and seeing the older people enjoy the music as much as someone younger,” said Nash. For Ashley Marina of Kennedy Township, who was featured on Season 15 of “America’s Got Talent” before the pandemic began, a recent performance she gave at Robinson’s Burkett Park provided her with a chance to bring her skills back to the stage. “It’s actually really cool because I haven’t been able to play for an open audience for awhile,” said Ashley. “This is one of the first performances I’ve been able to do since everything opened back up.” That energy is something that David Goettman, singer and guitarist for Bleach Fuzz, enjoyed capturing at a performance during the Moon Rocks Saturday Nights concert series in June. While the pandemic opened opportunities for him to do some more songwriting, the band was longing for the audience feedback again. “It’s great to be back playing in front of a live audience again,” said Goettman. “There’s nothing like the energy that comes from a live performance.” As the pandemic was raging last year, many musicians were working on their craft during their time indoors and found new ways to play and improve their styles. For many, this took the form of songwriting and solo performances. Local musicians help bring communities back together after COVID-19 STORY AND PHOTOS BY GARRET ROBERTS People gather at Burkett Park in Robinson Township to listen to a free concert by Ashley Marina on June 19. David Goettman (left), singer and guitarist for Bleach Fuzz, performs in Moon Park while Byron Nash (right) performs in downtown Coraopolis during Second Saturdays. CAround Your Town Around Your Town Fall 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 11 “Just because you can’t play at concerts doesn’t mean that the music stops,” said Nash. “It’s about an artist making sure they are versatile, that they can do anything anytime, anywhere, no matter what happens.” “I spent a lot of time trying to write songs while in the pandemic,” said Ashley. “We were all finding things that we wanted to do because there wasn’t a lot to do when we were stuck in our houses all the time. So, I spent most of that time songwriting.” In addition to practice, the pandemic also brought a bigger appreciation of the energy that venues can provide. As indoor concerts are slowly starting to open again across the nation, it’s something artists are excited to experience again. “Our hope for the future is that we’ll get back in the full swing of playing live shows regularly,” said Goettman. “We’re hoping that the establishments that hire live bands will be able to get back at it.” With the need for masks disappearing, artists are also excited to go from being virtual icons to seeing fans’ faces again. “I was emotional. It was like ‘Oh my god, these are people!’ Getting to perform for them is such an honor,” said Nash. “It definitely took some adjusting while on stage.” Whether community events or concerts, the future looks more social, with less distancing, as things continue in 2021. For upcoming local concerts, visit www.moonparks.org, townshipofrobinson.com and coraopolisfoundation.org. A mobile version of local live music listings taking place around the area is also available on the AWMag Events App at awmagazine.com. Check the live music heading in the Summer Fun Guide section. Ashley Marina performs at Burkett Park (above) while concert-goers gather to hear Bleach Fuzz in Moon Park (below). CAround Your Town Around Your Town Dennis McMahon (also pictured at right) was a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the late 1980s. PHOTOS SUBMITTED STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY Dennis McMahon of Robinson Township experienced combat four times during the 20 years that he was in the Army, after serving in both Operation Desert Shield and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His most difficult assignment, however, came well before that, when he was just 23 years old and volunteered to be a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. “Only about 20% of the guards who go there make it,” he says, referring to soldiers who volunteer for the post. “Physically, mentally, you have to be fit. You’re learning how to be out there in front of people. The discipline, the honor, it’s hard to describe. I still get chills when I go there, thinking I did that.” This year marks the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was established in 1921 to honor American soldiers lost in Europe during World War I. In honor of the anniversary, The Society of the Honor Guard, which is made up of former sentinels and their family members, are making efforts to raise awareness of the tomb. In this area, the Rome Exchange Club of Georgia displayed a replica of the tomb at the Butler Farm Show in early August. The club is touring across the U.S. with the replica at events that will be attended by society members who will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the tomb’s history. “When they go places, they try to get as many tomb guards there as possible,” says McMahon. In this area alone, he says there are over a half dozen former sentinels. “Once you’re a tomb guard, you’re always a tomb guard,” he says. “Only a few a year get awarded. It’s the second least awarded badge in the military.” He says society members also visit VFW posts, schools, American Legion posts and other organizations to talk about the memorial and their service. McMahon joined the Army after graduating from Moon Area High School in 1983 and, during the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan in 1984, was selected to serve in a prominent position during the ceremonies. He says he thinks he got picked because he was tall. He then volunteered to become a tomb sentinel in 1987 and underwent three months of training. “During those months you’re doing nothing but training,” he says. “You’re learning the routine of the sentinels, how to shine shoes, prepare your uniform and learning the background of Arlington. Once you’re efficient enough, you get to go and walk in the morning when no one’s out there. After four or five months of that, you’ll get a regular rotation.” Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is considered a sacred duty and those who perform it follow an exacting and physically demanding routine. Sentinels guard the tomb 24 hours per day and each watch consists of three sentinels who relieve each other either one hour or every half hour, depending on the season, McMahon says. While guarding, sentinels march 21 steps south along a black mat laid across the ground. They then face east toward the tomb for 21 seconds. After that, they turn, face north, change their weapon to the outside shoulder and wait 21 seconds. They march 21 steps down the mat, then turn and face east for 21 seconds. Finally, they face south, change weapons to the outside shoulder and wait another 21 seconds. Sentinels repeat this process until relieved. The number 21 is significant because it corresponds with the highest military honor awarded. Sentinels also do not wear insignias so as not to outrank the soldiers interred at the monument. Three fallen service members are currently interred at the tomb from World War I, World War II and the Korean War. A soldier who served in Vietnam was also interred there until his remains were identified through DNA testing in 1998 and he was moved to a family gravesite. McMahon says sentinels follow a three-day routine. After working one full 24-hour day, they get the following day off to recover. They then get a second day off, but that day is usually dedicated to training, he says. The following day they return to duty. Despite their stoic appearance, tomb sentinels are not just there for show. McMahon says they will confront intruders or those being disrespectful. No one is allowed inside the chains surrounding the mat, and sentinels will intercept anyone who attempts to approach the monument. It is a military guard post. McMahon, though, says that “the weird things don’t happen very often.” He can recall only one time when he witnessed a sentinel having to physically confront someone. He says he’d just been relieved when the sentinel on duty had to stop a man who wanted to touch the tomb. For some reason, the man couldn’t seem to grasp the fact that he wasn’t allowed to do that and the sentinel responded by delivering a blow with the butt-end of his rifle, as the man just would not listen to requests to stop. Proper channels are available for those who would like to pay their respects by placing a wreath at the tomb. McMahon says this is often done by school groups. A sign-up is available through the Arlington National Cemetery website, though McMahon warns the list tends to be long. The president or vice president also places a wreath at the tomb on Memorial Day and Veterans Day each year. McMahon says he personally never got to guard on a Memorial Day, as his relief was off on those days. However, he says he did get to meet a U.S. president during another chance meeting. While on detail on the South Lawn of the White House in 1985, he took a break with some secret service agents. Local veteran among rarified group of Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sentinels raising awareness on centennial 12 • Allegheny West Magazine • Fall 2021 “We were out setting up for a monthly presidential dinner and it was like 105 degrees,” he recalls. “The secret service guys brought us in and gave us some water, then all of a sudden Ronald Reagan came strolling in and just sat down.” He says Reagan asked each of them about their military service and why they joined. “I couldn’t believe it,” he says. “I’m this 21-year-old kid sitting there talking with the president. He just wanted to talk.” McMahon served as a sentinel at the tomb from 1987 to 1988. He later went from the Army into intelligence and retired in 2004. He has worked for the government for the past 17 years. Last year, he and his wife, Lisa, moved from Butler to Robinson Township. McMahon suggests that teachers or anyone else interested in learning more about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier visit www.arlingtoncemetery.mil, where there is an educational toolkit available. Requests can also be made by groups for a visit from the Society of the Honor Guard to deliver an educational presentation about the tomb. For more, visit tombguard.org. 412.205.8998 | DDSWebDesign.com Websites that get results. Designed in Pittsburgh Contact us for a free website analysis. Affordable Custom Designs Responsive Sites | Content Management SEO | E-commerce | Hosting | Maintenance Imagine your website working as hard for your business as you do. Fall 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 13CAround Your Town Around Your Town Though we may not often appreciate it, many of the products that we use on a daily basis - from smart phones to cars - are comprised of many complicated parts that have gone through lengthy manufacturing processes. From the design phase all the way to manufacturing the final product, many of those parts are oftentimes shipped from multiple locations as they are molded, heat treated, tested and finally used in assembly. Further testing can lead to design tweaks and even longer manufacturing wait times. Advancements in 3D printing technology, however, are changing the way many companies think about the manufacturing process. The day may quickly be coming when some companies will prefer to simply manufacture parts in- house, and thereby cut down on the time and money that it costs to develop prototypes and final products. “When you print the part, instead of waiting three months or six months to get the part, in two days you have your part tested, [and you can say] ‘Oh, let’s make a little adjustment,’” says Philip Moslener, corporate vice president of advanced technologies for the Pittsburgh-based company Wabtec. Wabtec, which is part of the same Westinghouse company that was founded in Pittsburgh 150 years ago, takes its name from Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation. The company makes products for rail-based transportation, including freight and passenger lines. After merging with GE Transportation in 2018, the company moved its base of operations from Wilmerding to Pittsburgh’s North Shore. In June, Wabtec also became the first company to open a 3D manufacturing facility at Neighborhood 91, a new industrial park located at Pittsburgh International Airport. Moslener says the facility is the company’s fourth 3D printing operation, though it’s the first dedicated to printing parts in aluminum. In addition to Wabtec, Rusal America, which produces powdered aluminum additives for 3D printing, is also opening a facility at Neighborhood 91. Arencibia, which produces and recycles gases used in 3D manufacturing, is to take up residence at Neighborhood 91 as well. David Storer, director of business development for the Allegheny County Airport Authority, says Neighborhood 91 was built specifically to cater to additive manufacturing. He says the airport authority is pushing to attract more companies involved in the additive manufacturing ecosystem as well as industries that can benefit from it. “We’re not going to be industry specific,” he says. “We’re looking to attract anyone who can benefit from additive manufacturing - and many industries can. It’s just that process of co-locating and being able to do it faster and cheaper.” Former state Sen. Matt Smith, who is now president of the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and also serves on the Allegheny County Airport Authority board of directors, says the idea is to bring everything needed for additive manufacturing to one place. “Everything you need is going to be here on the campus,” he says. “With 3D and additive printing, it’ll be one continuous cycle that exists completely on this campus. So, you’re not going to have to make something here, send it somewhere else, have it ship back here. Everything will be vertically integrated so you can just push it out.” In remarks delivered at an event held to mark the opening of Wabtec’s facilities, Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis said that Neighborhood 91 is the first of its kind in the country. Cassotis, who developed the idea for the advanced manufacturing site, said the idea came from consulting with various community members and stakeholders involved in 3D printing and additive manufacturing. “We have these world leading universities in CMU and Pitt that are doing the kind of research into artificial intelligence and robotics - which basically is 3D printing and advanced manufacturing...production makes sense as the next part of the additive manufacturing chain,” she said. “So, we stepped forward and thought, how can we act as a strategic landlord? How do we develop this land so that we can attract all parts of the additive manufacturing industry, which is new and looking for a home in the U.S.?” Eric Gebhardt, Wabtec’s chief technology officer, said in his own remarks that the company will be printing large-scale, aluminum lightweight parts at the facility for customers. In remarks, he also emphasized the collaborative process behind Neighborhood 91. “It brings together people from academia, industry, to pull together the best capabilities to really have an incubator to drive this forward,” Gebhardt said. “And, the members of this Neighborhood 91 sets stage for revolution in manufacturing STORY AND PHOTOS BY DOUG HUGHEY ABOVE: Eric Gebhardt, Wabtec chief technology officer, cuts a ceremonial ribbon at the company’s new additive manufacturing facility at Neighborhood 91 on June 8. To his right are Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. BELOW: Philip Moslener, corporate vice president of advanced technologies for Wabtec, delivers remarks in front of a SLM 800 printer that the company will be using to print parts in aluminum. 14 • Allegheny West Magazine • Fall 2021CAround Your Town Around Your Town community, of Neighborhood 91, will be sharing ideas, testing theories, really advancing everything going forward.” Wabtec’s facility has been outfitted with a SLM 800 printer that has a number of efficiencies built into it. Moslener says that instead of releasing argon gas that’s used during printing into the atmosphere, the gas is captured and recycled. The printer also recovers upwards of 95% of its leftover aluminum powder, which can then be used for a subsequent print. Moslener says that to print a part, argon gas, which is non-reactive, is pumped into a chamber. Lasers then weld thin layers of powdered aluminum - which is usually explosive in an oxygenated environment - together. The weld plate is then dropped a matter of microns and another thin layer of aluminum spread on top. That next layer gets welded on top of the last one. The process repeats thousands of times until the part is complete. The part is then pushed onto a conveyor system and removed by a technician. Though printing one part can take a day or more, those who work for Wabtec say the process is still more efficient than traditional manufacturing. Peter Bocchini, a Wabtec site manager, says the process is also less labor intensive, particularly when it comes to milling parts. “If you were in a conventional machine shop and you were running that 24/7, you would have to run three eight-hour shifts with three different technicians running that machine,” he says. “With the printer, we only need the engineer to be at the machine during set up and breakout.” Storer says that Neighborhood 91 currently has two buildings constructed and that the airport authority is planning to break ground on more soon. ABOVE: An SLM 800 printer at Wabtec’s Neighborhood 91 facility utilizes lasers that weld together ultra-thin layers of powdered aluminum in a chamber filled with argon gas. BELOW: These aluminum parts were all printed at Wabtec’s Neighborhood 91 facility. Fall 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 15y > Learning Curves Learning Curves NOW HIRING! O ces located in Robinson Twp. & Monaca 412.494.2000 ExpressPros.com Full-time and part-time job opportunities in a variety of positions: Administrative, Professional, Industrial, Skilled Labor, Skilled Trades, and Skilled Professional. Call to schedule your interview! No Fees! A handshake, verbal agreement, signed contract and pinkie swear - promises are made in various life settings and for different reasons, but they all have one thing in common: agreeing to commit to one’s commitment. In a business environment, specifically, it is vital that employers and employees, alike, follow through on their commitments. I have over eight years in customer service and I strive to be a person of my word. My integrity is important to me and I know that it makes a difference in my performance and customer feedback. When I tell a customer that I will research the issue/question and then follow up with them via their preferred contact method, I do. Some are surprised that they get a reply, but absolutely all of them are thankful. I accepted this new position with Express Employment Professionals Robinson Township on June 30 and agreed to begin July 15. The day before I was to head into work for the first time, I was in a car accident. Thankfully, I walked away from the damage with only a burned and swollen forearm but no need for a hospital visit. Nonetheless, I pulled into the parking lot the next morning for my 8:30 a.m. start time and spent the day with my new coworkers. My promise was made and kept. People appreciate the follow-through that comes with excellent service and commitment. It is a reminder that the person offering to help you sees you, understands the situation, and is committed to finding a solution. As I am joining and integrating into the Express PittWest team, my objective is to continue demonstrating my dedication to my assignments, goals and team members. I will also strive to encourage onboarding associates to show commitment to their new jobs. I will encourage them to abide by declared rules, honor safety regulations, demonstrate above-average attendance, and follow their assigned duties. I want them to see their opportunities as more than just a job. I want them to see it as a reflection of their character and who they are and can be. I desire to see our associates succeed in their follow-through, because, after all, actions speak louder than words. The Robinson and Monaca team are here to keep their commitments to you, reach out to us as you navigate your job search or search for a new team member. Commitment to one’s commitments BY VICTORIA SHEPHERD, EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS Victoria Shepherd is the sourcing manager for Express Pittsburgh West office of the global staffing franchise Express Employment Professionals. Express Pittsburgh West has offices in Robinson Township and Monaca. The office has put 6,800+ job seekers to work in a variety of fields, including administrative, professional, engineering, skilled trades, and skilled labor. In addition to providing recruitment service and workforce solutions for job seekers and businesses throughout the Pittsburgh Airport Corridor and Beaver County, Express also provides the ExpressJobs app and online tools and resources such as JobGenius, ExpressLearn, eskills, and America Employed. To learn more, visit expresspros. com/wpittsburghpa/ or call (412) 494-2000. 18 • Allegheny West Magazine • Fall 2021% New in Town New in Town West Allegheny graduates JT Bayly and Josh Rosen learned quite a bit from their mutual experiences in the Army. Among other things, they learned about planning operations, resource management, being mission focused and adhering to their core values. It turns out those same lessons apply to running a business, as they’ve both found over this past 12 months. Last year, the pair took over a residential junk removal business called Toss that Junk. The business offers a service that entails clearing junk and debris from residential and commercial lots. That eventually led to them owning and renting out dumpsters and working with local contractors and other business owners. Then, earlier this year, a former Army General and college president of Rosen’s alma mater at Valley Forge Military College connected them to a fellow alumnus who was in the same business. Rosen and Bayly teamed up with him and have since become the local owners of a dumpster rental franchise called GIHAUL, which is entirely owned and operated by former and current military members. “One thing about GIHAUL is they don’t sell franchises to non- military members,” says Bayly. “A lot of other similar businesses that claim to be veteran-owned aren’t really.” Rosen and Bayly’s path to becoming business partners started at West Allegheny High School, where both were members of the JROTC. While Rosen went on to commission in the National Guard and study business at Valley Forge Military College, Bayly attended West Virginia University. He also enlisted in the National Guard and volunteered to serve with an artillery unit before serving time overseas. At the same time, Rosen went to work for a company in a veteran’s advocacy role that at times took him to Capitol Hill. When the pandemic hit, however, he was laid off. Right about that same time, Bayly was coming off his service and looking to make his next move. Rosen reached out, and the rest is history. Whereas most people might look at a dumpster and see a rusty metal container that belongs on a construction site, Rosen sees it a bit differently. “I think a lot of people don’t think of a dumpster this way, but it’s a solution to a problem, and ordering one is as easy as ordering a pizza,” he says. “It makes a project that seems daunting, like cleaning out a garage or remodeling a bathroom, feasible.” He says one of their more popular specials is a weekend deal where they drop the dumpster off on a Friday and pick it up that following Monday. “We call it ‘Conquering the Weekend,’” he says. GIHAUL Dumpster Rentals also offers seven-day rentals, along with delivery and pickup within a 30-mile radius. For those who don’t have the time or capability to clear a residential yard or structure of unwanted debris, the two are continuing to offer their junk removal service. The service is perfect for someone who is flipping a home, preparing an estate for sale or just wants to reclaim their yard from years of clutter. In just a day or so, the business can clear a lot of old appliances, scrap metal, car parts and even small structures. For more information, visit www.gihauldumpsters.com or call (833) 336-3867. After serving in the Army, these two WA alums are teaming up to run their own business STORY AND PHOTO SUBMITTED West Allegheny High School alumni and Army veterans JT Bayly and Josh Rosen have teamed up to operate GIHAUL, a junk removal and dumpster rental business. GIHAUL is a national company that only allows former and current military members to operate its franchises. Fall 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 19Next >