< Previous30 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2021 Donaldson Elementary music teacher Meagan Bruno was elected to serve as the new Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 1 vice president. Bruno will serve as vice president from 2021 to 2023, president from 2023 to 2025, and immediate past president from 2025 to 2027. She will represent five counties: Allegheny, Washington, Greene, Fayette and Westmoreland. Bruno elected PMEA vice president Meagan Bruno takes time out from teaching to join her Donaldson students. The much-anticipated Mr. West Allegheny pageant was held in person and livestreamed on May 20 and 21 with eight seniors entertaining the crowd with their talents. This year’s contestants were Adam Crawford, Mario Marcellus, Mike McGivern, Larsen Maasikas, Luke Boni, Kevin Becker, Grant Baurle and Dylan Mersing. After several rounds, Mersing claimed the crown of Mr. West A and Baurle won the award for Mr. Congeniality. The annual fundraiser was hosted and organized by the National Honor Society, along with faculty advisors Sara Ferko and Jennifer Cook. Seniors vie for Mr. West A crown The District announced the promotion of Dr. Cheryl McHone to the position of high school principal effective July 1, 2021 following a unanimous vote by the Board of School Directors in attendance at the May 12, 2021 special legislative meeting. The District will initiate an extensive search for a new assistant high school principal to fill McHone’s former position and anticipates a June or July hire. “I am honored and grateful to serve the students, families, and staff at West Allegheny High School as the new principal,” stated McHone. “During my time at WAHS, I have had the opportunity to learn and grow with our incredible student body and staff who celebrate a history of amazing academic opportunities, arts education, athletics, and an extensive list of extra-curricular activities.” McHone joined the West Allegheny School District in July of 2018 after serving as a K-8 principal and high school assistant principal within the Washington County School District in Tennessee. There, she was recognized as a distinguished Level 5 mathematics and special education teacher. “We are very excited for Dr. McHone to lead the high school,” said West Allegheny superintendent Dr. Jerri Lynn Lippert. “She has been an extremely valuable addition to the administrative team since she was hired as the high school assistant principal. She is a fierce student advocate and believes student voice and agency is critical.” Dr. McHone named high school principal Dr. Cheryl McHone ABOVE: Grant Baurle claims Mr. Congeniality and Dylan Mersing wins the Mr. West Allegheny crown. BELOW: Contestants Adam Crawford, Mario Marcellus, Mike McGivern, Larsen Maasikas, Luke Boni, Kevin Becker, Grant Baurle and Dylan Mersing greet students before school. June/July 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 31 Art Show spans grades six through 12 The high school and middle school teamed up this year to present West Allegheny’s grade six through 12 Art Show April 28-30. Senior installations displayed a diverse compilation of works, and a panel of judges awarded ribbons for both the middle and high school pieces. Given occupancy limits, visitors to the show were asked to register for timeslots to attend while showing support for the amazing and creative talents of students. LEFT: For the first time, middle school pieces were judged. RIGHT: Senior installations are always a student and visitor favorite at the school’s annual art show. McKee students enjoyed a visit from the school’s resource officer, Drew Janectic, on May 17. Janectic visited during library classes to talk with students about home, car/bus, and gun safety, as well as stranger danger and what to do in certain emergency situations. Janectic also spoke to students about what is needed to become a police officer and the different jobs one can do within law enforcement. He wrapped up the visit by showing students the inside of his truck and even turned on the lights and sirens. McKee student resource officer visits with students Safety lessons move outdoors during school resource officer Drew Janectic’s visit to McKee Elementary. Fifth grade students at all three elementary schools were excited to bring back a favorite end-of-year tradition after Field Day was paused last year as a result of school closures. The day of friendly competition and athletic challenges was held May 27 with outdoor activities stationed across the respective campuses. Field Day returns to elementary schools LEFT: McKee students are off as they start their sprint competition. MIDDLE: Students at Wilson take a quick break before their next challenge. RIGHT: Donaldson fifth-graders enjoy their last Field Day.for weekly events , school closings , and delays . V isit W est A llegheny O nline : www . westasd . org B OArd Of s chOOl d irectOrs A dministrAtiOn Mr. Robert Ostrander, President Mrs. Tracy Pustover, Vice-President Mr. George Bartha Mr. Joel Colinear Mr. Edward Faux Mr. Kevin Hancock Mrs. Tracy Kosis Mrs. Debbie Mirich Mr. Mark Rosen Dr. Jerri Lynn Lippert, Superintendent Dr. Christopher Shattuck, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Ms. Tammy Adams, Assistant to the Superintendent for Special Education and Student Services Dr. Shana Nelson, Assistant to the Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Learning Mr. George Safin, Business Manager Dr. Frank Hernandez, High School Principal Mrs. Katharine Roche, High School Academic Principal Dr. Cheryl McHone, High School Assistant Principal Mr. David McBain, Director of Athletics/ Administrative Associate Mrs. Patricia Nolan, Middle School Principal Ms. Megan Huchko, Middle School Assistant Principal Dr. Erin Dierker, Donaldson Elementary Principal Mrs. Melissa Wagner, McKee Elementary Principal Mrs. Rachel Gray, Wilson Elementary Principal Mrs. Toni Baldanzi, Supervisor of Ancillary Programs Mr. Kenneth Fibbi, Director of Facilities and Operations Mrs. Karen Ruhl, Community Relations Coordinator W est A llegheny s chOOl d istrict All material has been prepared, written or edited by Karen Ruhl, School Community Relations Coordinator, West Allegheny School District (724) 695-5274 Godwin signs to play volleyball at collegiate level Senior Allie Godwin has joined 19 other seniors who signed to play sports at the collegiate level. She will play volleyball at Penn State-Altoona University, where she plans to study kinesiology. Allie Godwin shows off her letter from Penn State. Junior Sierra Mangan recently led a team for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s 2021 Students of the Year program that earned over $16,000 for the organization. She led one of 17 teams from Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with hers named TEAM You Are Not Alone. The campaign ended on March 26 with a Grand Finale Celebration. Junior raises funds for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society West Allegheny proudly announced that, for the third consecutive year, the high school was recognized as a U.S. News & World Report Best High School for 2021. Nationally, West Allegheny was ranked 2,665 out of nearly 18,000 schools. That moves the high school up from its previous ranking of 3,051 in 2020 and 3,775 in 2019. In Pennsylvania, West Allegheny was ranked 109 out of more than 600 high schools statewide. Rankings are based on six factors: college readiness; reading and math proficiency; reading and math performance; underserved student performance; college curriculum breadth; and graduation rates. District jumps in U.S. News and World Report rankings 32 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2021At Your Library At Your Library June/July 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 33 At the beginning of May, St. Clair Health celebrated the opening of its new Dunlap Family Outpatient Center in Mt. Lebanon. The 280,000 square-foot, seven- floor building expands on the footprint of St. Clair Hospital, which was originally constructed in 1954. The project is the health system’s largest construction project in 67 years. The opening of the center also coincides with another important milestone: the hospital’s rebranding as St. Clair Health. According to Jim Collins, CEO of St. Clair Health, the rebranding is the first in the hospital’s history and took some careful consideration. “It’s not a decision you take lightly,” says Collins. “But we were coming off a 15-year run of growth and achievement that was pretty remarkable. We currently are on a three-year run as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals, something only 32 hospitals in the country can claim. We’re in the top 2% in patient safety, having received 18 straight-A grades for patient safety. And of course we’re the region’s only affiliate of the Mayo clinic.” According to Lindsay Meucci, St. Clair Health’s vice president of marketing, communications and advocacy, the health system chose the name in order to reflect its growth and evolution from a 329-bed hospital to a health system with physicians across the area. Along with the new branding, the health system has coined the tagline, “Expert care from people who care.” “We have a very proud, long-existing relationship with our community so we didn’t want to lose sight of that patient-centric care that we provide and the compassion that we’re known for,” says Meucci. “However, we also wanted to recognize our expert physicians and the advancements and technology that we offer across our system.” Collins says that while planning the current expansion, St. Clair leadership visited numerous other hospitals across the country, including Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, the University of California Hospital in San Diego, Advocate Health Care in Chicago and the University of Miami Hospital. “We spent a great deal of time with those organizations touring, talking to them, and seeing what they were doing or planning,” says Collins. What hospital leadership came away with were numerous innovative ideas centered on efficiency and patient care, but something that was still, as Collins describes it, “uniquely St. Clair.” Typically, outpatient procedures and screenings can involve multiple different steps that require patients to visit different suites throughout a hospital. The Dunlap center, however, was designed to have multiple procedural areas on one floor or even in one suite, effectively bringing care to the patient rather than the other way around. “If you were coming to the hospital for a knee replacement, you can now have all of your pre-admission testing done in one location,” says Michael Flanagan, St. Clair Health senior vice president and COO. “You can have a chest x-ray, EKG, physical exam, all of that located in one center. Instead of going to multiple buildings and having an uncoordinated service, this coordinates clinical care.” Dr. John Sullivan, St. Clair’s chief medical officer, says that the design was largely influenced by a Mayo Clinic model that evolved as doctors needed to efficiently treat patients visiting from far away. “It’s a little bit different than a lot of concepts that are more developed around the system rather than the patient,” says Sullivan. “But it really adds to the patient experience, this sense that you have a place from the time you get there until the time you’re leaving.” When patients do walk through the door at Dunlap, what they find is something much different than what they might expect at a hospital. With comfortable lounge seating throughout, the common areas feel more like a hotel than the cold, uncomfortable waiting rooms most people are used to encountering in a hospital. The center even has a café in the lobby area for added convenience. Also located in the lobby is something else most people wouldn’t normally see in a hospital: a Walgreens. Collins says that St. Clair rebrands as health system opens new outpatient center St. Clair Health opened its new Dunlap Family Outpatient Center in May. The center’s lobby, pictured below, was designed to feel more like a hotel than a hospital. Throughout, much thought went into patient comfort, convenience and care. PHOTOS BY RICH WATERS 34 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2021partnership came about after visiting Advocate Health Care and seeing an in-house Walgreens there. Like Advocate, Walgreens is also based out of Chicago. At Dunlap, that partnership is facilitating a “meds to beds” program, where the pharmacy fills prescriptions that are sent to patients’ rooms. Doing so ensures that patients get the medications their doctors want them to take rather than requiring the patient to fill a prescription after leaving the hospital on their own. Collins says that fills a gap in care that has the potential to cause patients to delay taking their medications, which can land them back in the hospital. “Certainly that’s convenience but it’s also quality patient care,” he says. Across the new center, many different related procedure areas have been consolidated. In the cardiac testing center on the seventh floor, for instance, patients will be able to see a cardiologist and, should their doctor think additional tests are warranted, they can have them done right there. Patients can have an EKG, cardiac nuclear imaging study, stress eco- cardiogram and a cardiac nuclear imaging study, all in one suite. The sixth floor, meanwhile, features 10 operating rooms, six endoscopy suites, two procedure rooms and 54 pre- and post-anesthesia care rooms that are just steps away from where procedures are performed. “Generally what happens today is a patient is prepped in an area that is only separated by curtains,” says Flanagan. “At Dunlap, a patient will be assigned a private room where they can leave their things and their family members can wait for them. This greatly improves privacy.” The opening of the new center comes as the country is entering what is hoped to be the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Collins says it’s a time that made the hospital realize just how important it is to the community. To date, the hospital has administered over 27,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. While doing so, Meucci says that hospital personnel visited 15 senior congregate facilities and utilized St. Clair’s fleet of shuttles to transport additional seniors so they could get shots. St. Clair also held off-site clinics at the Carnegie Boys & Girls Clubhouse, the Attawheed Islamic Center in Carnegie, 84 Lumber Corporate Headquarters, Bishop Canevin High School and Upper St. Clair High School. Collins says he’s received numerous letters of thanks from seniors who were finally able to get vaccinated and are now looking forward to seeing their family members again. “It’s a reminder of how important we are to this community,” Collins says about the effect COVID-19 had on the hospital. “We’ve always taken our role in this community very seriously. We’re one of the most important civic assets for 34 communities. The public places a great deal of trust in us and we want to earn that trust.” ABOVE: Located in the Dunlap Family Outpatient Center’s lobby is a cafe (top) and a Walgreens (bottom), which will be filling prescriptions for patients before they leave. BELOW: The outpatient center also has new, state-of-the-art operating rooms (left), a cardiac nuclear imaging scanner (below) and CT scanner (bottom). June/July 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 35Coraopolis Second Saturdays, July 10, Aug. 14, 12-4 p.m. Head to downtown Coraopolis for some live music and food trucks along Mill Street. While you’re there, check out the local shops. Social distancing and face masks are encouraged. Visit coraopolisfoundation.org for more. Moon Township Garden Club Tour, June 25-26 The Moon Township Garden Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and, in honor of that, they’re hosting a two-day garden tour on June 25 and 26. The event will feature a number of gardens in the area, each of which will celebrate a decade of the past 100 years. Each will also have accompanying music, enhancing the hundreds of colorful blooms and greenery. On June 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., three unique gardens will be showcased and a wine tasting with hors d’oeuvres will accompany. Gardens will be themed with the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. The tour picks back up on Saturday, June 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature five gardens themed in the decades from the 1950s through the 1990s. Themes that day will be “All Shook Up,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “Tapestry,” “Born in the USA” and “One Sweet Day.” Many handcrafted items will also be on sale at each garden, including hand-painted garden stakes, stepping stones, garden aprons and more. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.com. Friday-only tickets are $35, Saturday-only tickets are $20 and tickets for Friday and Saturday are $50. Proceeds benefit the club’s philanthropic, educational and community projects. For more information, contact emnorthy@ comcast.net or visit moontownshipgardenclub.com. McSummerfest Fair-Food Takeout, June 26-July 2 (closed June 27), 4-9 p.m. The McDonald VFD won’t be hosting its big McSummerfest festival in Heritage Park this year, but they will be hosting a special fair-food takeout event in June. Swing by the fire hall at 150 North McDonald Street between 4-9 p.m. nightly and pick up some of your fair food favorites that would normally be offered at the firemen’s tent. The menu includes funnel cakes, fries, sausage, stromboli, fried Oreos, hot dogs and more. You can either take your food to go or enjoy it right there. The department will have picnic tables set up and is planning to host live bands. The cookout kicks off June 26 with a parade at 5 p.m. and wraps up July 2 with a fireworks show at Heritage Park around 10 p.m. The cookout will be closed June 27. See page 39 for a complete schedule. Findlay’s July 4 Celebration, July 3, 7:30 p.m. The fun kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at the Recreation and Sports Complex. Fireworks go off at 9:45 p.m. Count on food trucks, a DJ, balloon artists, airbrush tattoos and more. See page 37 for more. Moon Township’s 4th of July Celebration, July 4, 4-10:30 p.m. Moon Township’s 4th of July Celebration will return to Moon Park this summer. Festivities are planned throughout the day, with food vendors and family-fun activities kicking off at 4 p.m. There will be DJ entertainment until 6:30 p.m., when Tuned Up takes the stage to perform. At 8 p.m. there will be a flag ceremony and performance of the National Anthem, followed by a concert by No Bad Juju. Everyone’s favorite part, the fireworks, will take place at 10 p.m. Visit www. moonparks.org for more. Janoski’s Farm Wine Festival, July 10, 3-8 p.m. Janoski’s Farm Wine Festival in Clinton will return this year after a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19. This premier event will once again feature numerous local wineries in an open- air setting out on the farm. They will feature around 100 wine types ranging from Riesling-style chocolate sweet wines, to crisp, un-oaked chardonnays, to robust merlots. A limited number of private tents are available for rent. Please contact info@janoskis.com for pricing and details. This year, Janoski’s is encouraging attendees to bring a canned good donation to benefit the West Allegheny Food Pantry. Additionally, a portion of the festival proceeds will benefit the West Allegheny Food Pantry. Janoski’s also serves an unlimited dinner of fresh food for the event, much of it grown on the farm. Attendees get a souvenir wine glass for tastings, unlimited wine tastings and a chance to win a basket donated by the wineries. Once you find a wine you like, buy a bottle and grab a spot on the deck by the pond. Live music and vendors round out a memorable day. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Janoski’s Farm and on Eventbrite.com by searching Janoski’s Farm Wine Festival The lowdown on fun summer happenings in and around the area. Summer Fun Guide All events listed are subject to change or cancellation. Please observe recommended COVID-19 guidance when attending any event. For more, visit cdc.gov, alleghenycounty.us and www.health. pa.gov. Visit the websites listed for more information. Download our app, AWMag Events, at awmagazine.com to view these events and others on your phone or to submit an event. Janoski’s sets up tables by the water and hosts live music for its annual wine festival in Clinton. Get a mobile version of this guide with maps, add-to-calendar buttons, one-click websites and more by downloading our free app, AWMag Events, at awmagazine.com. 36 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2021Fireworks, rides and more are tentatively being planned for this year Township Community Days. hangel Gabriel atholic school Archangel Gabriel catholic school archangelgabrielpgh.org | 5720 Steubenville Pike | McKees Rocks, PA 15136 | 412.787.2656 August 5-7, 2021 6 PM - 10 PM Fun for all ages! •Food Trucks • Raffle Baskets • • Games and More! • Festival SAVE THE DATE Archangel Gabriel catholic school June/July 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 372021. This adult-only event takes place rain or shine. Please note: due to COVID-19, the staff will serve the meal. Masks are required upon entry and the farm requests all attendees to please continue social distancing upon arrival. Carry-in food/ alcohol or pets are not permitted. Visit the Facebook page Janoski’s Farm Wine Festival for updates. Archangel Gabriel Catholic School Festival, Aug 5-7, 6-10 p.m. Head to Holy Trinity Catholic Church and enjoy some family fun at the Holy Trinity Festival from 6-10 p.m. nightly. There will be games, food trucks, raffle baskets and more. For questions, call (412) 787-2656. The festival benefits the new Archangel Gabriel School. North Fayette Township Community Days, Aug. 7, 2-11 p.m. This fair takes place in picturesque Donaldson Park and kicks off with a 5K in the morning at 9 a.m. Plans are still in the works, but in the past this festival has featured live music throughout the day, plenty of fair food, vendors, a beer tent, inflatables, pony rides, a petting zoo, dunk tank, clowns, games and a Zambelli fireworks show to close out the day. The fun runs from 2-11 p.m. and a car cruise takes place the following day on Aug. 8 from 12-4 p.m. (see cruises for details). Organizations wishing to participate should contact the North Fayette Parks and Recreation Department at (412) 788-4888. Kennedy Township Community Days, Aug. 11-14, TBA Rides, live music, fair food, inflatables, games and fireworks are tentatively scheduled to return to Fairhaven Park this year for Kennedy Township Community Days. Details are still in the works but, in years past, the fair has taken place each evening with fireworks capping off the fun that Saturday. There may even be live music. As with all the events on this list, however, plans are subject to change. Stay tuned to www.kennedytwp.com. Oakdale Hose Company Street Carnival, second week of August At the time of this writing, the Oakdale Hose Company’s annual street carnival is planned to take place the second week of August. Details are still in the works, but festivities will likely run over the course of several days. In the past, this festival has included carnival games, live music, great food and more. Stay up to date at www.oakdaleborough.com. Findlay’s Fair in the Woodlands, Aug. 20-21 Findlay Township’s annual township fair returns this year and will kick off the fun Friday night at 6 p.m. with live music and a 5K starting at 7 p.m. Things pick back up the next morning at 10:30 a.m. and The Totally 80’s Band will close things out after taking the stage at 8:30 p.m. Count on lots of kid-friendly activities. See page 37 for more. Oakdale Youth League Summer Fun Festival and Vendor Show, Aug. 21, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Head to Oakdale Borough Park for this first-ever food festival in support of the Oakdale Youth League. The event will feature a day of food, vendors and fun for the entire community. The best part is, all funds benefit the Oakdale Youth League’s baseball and softball operations. Findlay’s Rhythm, Ribs and BBQ, Sept. 11 , 4-8 p.m. Check out a sensational line up of local live music and enjoy some great food by Smokin’ Jack’s Barbeque and Speedies Pizza. The Imperial VFD will be on hand selling beer and other beverages. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. See page 40 for music lineup. The show takes place at the amphitheater in Clinton Park from 4-8 p.m. North Fayette Food & Brew Fest, Sept. 18, 12-6 p.m. This year’s Food & Brew Fest will take place at Donaldson Park and feature several area food trucks and breweries. Musical entertainment starts at noon and the fun goes until 6 p.m. Come out and enjoy great food, cold suds and hot music. Robinson’s 19th Annual Autumn Festival, Sept. 18, 12-9 p.m. Close out the festival season with Robinson Township’s Autumn Festival at the Burkett Sports and Recreation Complex in Robinson Township. Festivities kick off at noon and go until 9 p.m. There will be live bands throughout the day, youth performances, amusements, arcade games, a rock climbing wall, a bungee trampoline and more. It also wouldn’t be a festival without the food vendors and a fireworks show to wrap up the celebration. Check townshipofrobinson.com/special-events/ for more. Fireworks, rides and more are tentatively being planned for this year’s Kennedy Township Community Days. 38 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2021Next >