Page 18 Steubenville Pike Auto donates ninth vehicle Senior Companion Program expands during COVID-19 Local family raises over $1,000 for food pantry Remember When? Montour Farm Our area’s women in leadership Moon Edition Serving Moon Area School District Volume 15, Number 91 January/February 2021 One of 4 editions serving 16 airport area communities www.awmagazine.com FREE Direct Mail Community Publication M agazine Allegheny WestJanuary/February 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 34 • Allegheny West Magazine • January/February 2021 Moon Edition January/February 2021 ~ Volume 15, Number 91 Columns { } Contents - Locally Sourced - Chamberlink - Around Your Town - Legislative Update - Your Schools 8 11 12 15 16 9 12 13 18 20 28 - - - - - - Steubenville Pike Auto donates ninth vehicle Senior Companion Program expands during COVID-19 Local family raises over $1,000 for food pantry Moon Area School District Newsletter Our area’s women in leadership Remember When? Montour Farm ABOUT THE COVER This photo was taken along Hollow Oak Land Trust’s Meeks Run Trail in the Montour Woods Conservation Area. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY Correction: In the November Moon edition of Allegheny West Magazine, the section referring to The Mall at Robinson’s Santa display incorrectly stated that the mall was operated by Cherry Hill. The company operates the display, not the mall. 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 1999-2020 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. “GOOD NEWS ALWAYS, MAILED & DELIVERED FREE, EVERY TIME” 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 Now in Our 21 st Year Proudly Serving the Airport Area Dear Readers, Happy New Year and thank you for picking up our first Moon edition of 2021. In 2020 we covered numerous remarkable accomplishments in our communities that had taken place amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. One way that we’re continuing to highlight those achievements is in our special section this month that we’ve dedicated to women in leadership positions in the airport corridor. We didn’t set out looking to write this section about COVID-19, but it turned out to be an important theme. How each individual we interviewed and their organization or business has adapted to the crisis says much about their leadership and the resiliency of those working under them. Read more on page 20. In this edition as well, we’re bringing you good news from Moon Area School District. On page 18, read about how the district once again raised money for breast cancer research and holiday gifts for those who could use them. Drama club students got to meet virtually with Broadway actors recently and a cross- country runner just repeated as state champion. On page 28, take a look back at Montour Farm and its connection to a prominent Moon Township family. Then, on page 12, read about how a countywide program is expanding to help seniors experiencing isolation. Look for out next edition in March. Until then, please continue to be safe so that we can all cross the COVID-19 finish line together. From the Publisher Doug Hughey, Publisher/Editor P. O. Box 220, McDonald, PA 15057 Phone: 724.673.3161 E-Mail: info@awmagazine.com www.awmagazine.com PUBLISHER AND EDITOR Doug Hughey WRITERS Jill Bordo Pat Jennette Jocelyn Grecko GRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Kizina WEBMASTER www.ddswebdesign.com CONTRIBUTORS Barb Kleyman FOUNDING PUBLISHER Pat JennetteSki. Tube. Board. Ski. Tube. Board. Only 17 miles from Downtown! Buy tickets at skiboyce.com 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. January/February 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 5Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley front-line staff received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine Dec. 18. Nurse Stephanie Kish (far left) was the first staff member at Heritage Valley to receive the vaccine, which was administered by Andra McHenry. Also receiving the vaccine was Family Medicine resident Sana Borda (giving a “thumbs up” at middle), who received the shot from Tammy Kelosky. Nurse Rozan Norris (far right) administers the vaccine to Dr. Matthew Woodske, intensivist with Heritage Valley Health System. Front-line workers were the focus at Heritage Valley Health System in late December as the first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine were administered. In December, Heritage Valley Health System received 1,950 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and 2,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Heritage Valley vaccinated approximately 2,000 employees and physicians. Vaccinations continue as several hundred more employees are scheduled to have it administered in early January. Once more doses are received, administration of the vaccine to the community will take place under the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. “Since March, our dedicated physicians, nurses, and all staff have gone above and beyond to provide the best health care to all patients during the pandemic. We’re proud of their efforts and pleased that we are able to begin administering the vaccine to those who have given so much of themselves,” said Norm Mitry, President & CEO, Heritage Valley Health System. To organize and coordinate the vaccination effort, Heritage Valley Health System developed an automated tool for individuals to schedule their first and second doses and record those dates on their electronic calendars. Two doses are required for complete administration of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. “This automated seamless process allows individuals to schedule appointments at their convenience and enables the Health System to perform all of the required reporting associated with the COVID-19 vaccine process,” said Jon Zagorski, Chief Information Officer, Heritage Valley Health System. Heritage Valley Health System front-line staff get COVID-19 vaccine Heritage Valley pharmacy and materials management staff received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 17. Pictured are Renee McRae, Russ Butwinski, Don Pettigrew and Rose Pettigrew. 6 • Allegheny West Magazine • January/February 2021Heritage Valley Health Heritage Valley Health January/February 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 7%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced Jessica Sales is on her way to Australia to study water sustainability. Sales, an industrial science major at Robert Morris University, was awarded a full study grant by the Rotary International’s Global Grant program. The Rotary awards grants to students who are studying content for one of the Rotary’s causes, which in this case is the availability of clean water. The Moon Township Rotary assisted Sales with obtaining the grant. During her studies at RMU, Sales was part of a team of students who won first place in the Wicked Hackathon competition, which examined water sanitation in order to resolve the lead crises in Pittsburgh. Her team presented their solution to Pittsburgh city officials. She has also pursued other sustainability projects, including a summer project in Costa Rica and a campus project on water sustainability. Sales has chosen the University of New South Wales in Sydney for her master’s program. She will study water, wastewater and waste management. She has plans to work with the Australian Water Association, The Australian Land and Groundwater Association and the Banksia Foundation, an organization that focuses on sustainability and protecting water and natural resources. One of the unique features of the program is that it focuses on training students who have experience with water sustainability engineering. Her coursework includes a research project and two field study classes. In a world where one out of every three people do not have access to clean drinking water, her skills and talents will be welcome. Sales is scheduled to start her studies in February. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and current travel restrictions for U.S. citizens, she however may have to start her master’s program virtually until she can travel safely. Sales applied for the grant after hearing about the Rotary Global Grant Program and contacting then-president of the Moon Township Rotary, Kilee Bomgardner. She spoke at a club meeting about her future studies and then obtained, completed and submitted her application to Rotary International in Evanston, Illinois. Additional follow up was conducted by the Rotary chapter’s current president, Alex Gompers. Sales was awarded a total of $125,000, which should cover almost the entirety of her cost. The Moon Township Rotary wishes Sales well and looks forward to hearing of her many future successes. Rotary International is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem solvers who envision a world where people can take action to create lasting change. The focuses of the Rotary are to: promote peace; fight disease; provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene; save mothers and children; support education; and grow local economies. For more information about the Moon Township Rotary Club, call club president Alex Gompers at Limitless Chiropractic at (412) 440-7534. For more about the Rotary Foundation, contact Jeff Klink, District 7305 Rotary Foundation chairman, at jldklink59@ gmail.com. Local student to study abroad thanks to Rotary grant STORY AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED Jessica Sales (pictured above and below) will be studying water purification in Australia under a Rotary grant. 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • January/February 2021%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced Steubenville Pike Auto donates ninth vehicle STORY SUBMITTED PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY Steubenville Pike Auto in Robinson Township donated its ninth vehicle through its SPARC (Steubenville Pike Auto Repair Charity) program in December. Just a few days before Christmas, the business surprised Montour High School senior Rebekah Taylor with a Chevy Malibu. Taylor’s mother and grandmother brought her to Steubenville Pike under the pretense of perusing the vehicle inventory. Taylor was reluctant to go because she could not afford a vehicle. She was also unaware that her mother had submitted a nomination to Steubenville Pike Auto on her behalf after seeing an article about the program in Allegheny West Magazine. SPARC’s selection committee chose Taylor after reviewing numerous deserving nominations. In Taylor’s nomination letter, her mother, Lisa, wrote about how hard working and dedicated Rebekah has been to her coursework and community. The high school senior is currently studying electrical systems technology at Parkway West Career and Technology Center. Each of the past three years, she has placed first at the district level in the SkillsUSA tele-communications-cabling competition. She is also the vice president of the student council at PWCTC and a co-founder of The Future is Mine club. After graduating, she plans to join IBEW Local #5. Rebekah needed a car to get to work after her old car, a 15-year-old Chevy Malibu, quit. Her grandmother does not drive and also recently lost her husband. She said that this car will dramatically change the entire family’s life. Steubenville Pike Auto is grateful, especially given the year that has passed, to be able to help the Taylor family. The business currently gives away two vehicles per year through its SPARC program. This vehicle was given to Steubenville Pike Auto for use in its SPARC program by an anonymous donor. Steubenville Pike Auto refurbished the vehicle with its signature 100-point inspection, new brakes and detail, and current state inspection and emissions. Heroes Supporting Heroes once again graciously paid the taxes and state transfer fees. “Our program continues to change lives one vehicle at a time!” Jason Pottle, president of Steubenville Pike Auto, commented. Steubenville Pike Auto currently gives away two vehicles per year through its SPARC program. Steubenville Pike Auto will be giving away another vehicle to a deserving individual or family in the spring of 2021. For more information, and to nominate, visit www.steubenvillepike.com and click on the SPARC icon. Steubenville Pike Auto president Jason Pottle (inside right) and his wife, Linda (to his left), surprised Rebekah Taylor (inside left) with a refurbished vehicle Dec. 22. Rebekah is pictured with her mother, Lisa, and grandmother. The Pottles are pictured with associate Oliva Noble. January/February 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 9Next >