< PreviousCAround Your Town Around Your Town 10 • Allegheny West Magazine • Fall 2023 When Carter Spruill moved back to the Pittsburgh area in 2018, one of the first things he did was attempt to seek out a local NAACP branch. An Ambridge native, Spruill had been living in Los Angeles for nearly 30 years and while there he’d been deeply involved with the organization. He’d even served as a branch president for two years. Near where Spruill settled in Moon Township, however, there weren’t any NAACP branches. He thought about joining one in Beaver County and even running to become its president, but then he took another route. “I figured that if I was going to do all the work of getting involved and running another branch, I might as well start my own,” he says. In February of 2021, Spruill got the Coraopolis branch of the NAACP officially chartered. He hit the ground running and hasn’t looked back since. In the past two years, he’s managed to grow it to 80 members and start a number of initiatives intended to recognize young people and leaders in the community. One of those initiatives is a youth Olympiad program the NAACP sponsors called ACT-SO. The program invites youth to show off their talents to a panel of judges in everything from poetry to culinary arts. In April, the Coraopolis NAACP hosted its second ACT-SO program at Robert Morris University. After some lackluster attendance its first year due in part to COVID-19, the event attracted 16 participants. Two Pittsburgh-area students finished as finalists and one of them, Mia Clemmons of Farrell, Now in its third year, Coraopolis NAACP branch makes strides STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY PHOTOS SUBMITTED WTAE News anchor Andrew Stockey delivers his acceptance speech after being presented with the Ed Bradley Award at the Coraopolis NAACP’s Freedom Fund banquet at Montour Heights Country Club on June 22. At his left is NAACP branch president Carter Spruill. competed at the 46th Annual NAACP ACT-SO competition, which was held during the NAACP’s 114th National Convention in Boston in July. Two private donors funder her trip. There, she won a silver medal in the category of poetry performance for her original poem “Deuteronomy 22.” Her performance can be viewed on the Coraopolis NAACP’s Facebook page. The month prior, in June, the branch held its second annual Freedom Fund banquet at Montour Heights Country Club. Last year, the organization hosted former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Tony Norman as its guest speaker. This year, the event hosted four-time Emmy Award Winner Emmai Alaquiva as its keynote speaker and Mrs. Pittsburgh USA winner Amanda Neatrour as mistress of ceremonies. The organization also awarded several high- profile individuals and local organizations with awards. Among them was WTAE News anchor Andrew Stockey, who received the NAACP’s Ed Bradley Award. Following the event, Stockey took to social media to express his gratitude, writing that it had been the first journalism award he’d been able to accept in person. The occasion also allowed him to deliver his first-ever acceptance speech, he writes in the post. Randon Willard, executive director of the Coraopolis Community Development, was on hand at the event to receive a Service to Community Award for his organization. He says of it, “The Coraoplis branch of the NAACP has been a solid partner for us and for them to recognize us for our work with the pantry and community garden was an honor.” ABOVE: Randon Willard, executive director of the Coraopolis Community Development Corporation, accepted the Service to Community Award on behalf of the organization. He is pictured with Carter Spruill, Coraopolis NAACP branch president. BELOW: Emmai Alaquiva delivers his keynote address. Mia Clemmons shows off the silver medal she won in the ACT-SO competition at the NAACP’s 114th National Convention in Boston in July.CAround Your Town Around Your Town Read and share stories from Allegheny West Magazine! Current and back issues can be read at AWMagazine.com. Copy the URL from individual spreads and share via email and on social media. Fall 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 11 The complete list of the evening’s award winners is as follows: Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew Health Care Advocacy Leadership Award Sarah Roberson, Coraopolis, NAACP Treasurer President’s Award Dr. Eliada Griffin-El, Robert Morris Univ. Assoc. Professor Educator of the Year Award Leah Wulster, Realtor Business Leader of the Year Award Andrew Stockey, WTAE News Anchor Ed Bradley Award Bethany Hallam, Allegheny County Councilwoman Activist of the Year Award Retired Army Maj. Donald W. Smith Service to Country Award Coraopolis Community Development Corporation Service to Community Award Sewickley Community Center Service to Community Award The Coraopolis NAACP meets monthly and membership is open to anyone interested in supporting its mission. For more, including upcoming meeting times and events, visit www.coraopolisnaacp.org. ABOVE LEFT: Four-time Emmy Award winner Emmai Alaquiva served as the keynote speaker at this year’s Freedom Fund banquet. ABOVE RIGHT: Retired Army Maj. Donald W. Smith was recognized with the Service to Country Award. He is pictured with his wife, Pittsburgh Technical College President Dr. Alicia B. Harvey-Smith. FROM LEFT: Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew was presented with the Health Care Advocacy Leadership Award. Sarah Roberson (right), Coraopolis NAACP treasurer, received the President’s Award. She is pictured with Roz Lewis. Dr. Eliada Griffin-El (center), Robert Morris University associate professor, was presented with the Educator of the Year Award. She is pictured with her mother, Enefaa Wosu, and father, Sylvanus Wosu. Realtor Leah Wulster received the Business Leader of the Year Award. BELOW: Ms. Pittsburgh, Amanda Neatrour, served as master of ceremonies. BELOW RIGHT: ACT-SO finalist Mia Clemons is pictured with Catherine Cocco and Jade Davis.CAround Your Town Around Your Town 12 • Allegheny West Magazine • Fall 2023 Local teen secures national hurdling title STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY PHOTO SUBMITTED Graduating Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School senior Antonio Votour was expecting to do well this past track season. A four-year hurdler representing his school as an individual athlete, Votour capped off his outdoor season last year by winning a WPIAL title in the 110-meter event and advancing to the state meet. As he entered this year’s indoor track season, which takes place in the winter prior to the outdoor season, he knew big things could be in store. He had no idea. In February, Votour won the 60-meter event at the TSTCA indoor championships at Edinboro University after he ran a time of 8.38 seconds. He then advanced to the AA PIAA statewide indoor track meet, where he placed second overall and earned all-state honors. From there, he traveled to the New Balance Nationals in Boston, where he reached the semifinals, and then set his sites on the Adidas Indoor Track Nationals in Virginia Beach. There, he found himself going up against some of the fastest high school hurdlers in the country. “I’m used to going to small meets in Edinboro or Youngstown, and that indoor facility was massive,” he says. “Everyone was really strong. At that point, I wasn’t even focusing on placing. I just wanted to get the experience and get a better place.” In the preliminary race, though, Votour shaved almost an entire half second off his TSTCA championships time and was the only hurdler to finish in under eight seconds. At that point, Votour says he knew he had a shot at a national title but that he still needed to keep his head if he was going to win. In the finals, he ran ever so slightly slower, at 8.02, but that was still good enough to win the race and take home a national title. “Going into finals, I wasn’t even sure I’d win because everyone was so fast,” says Votour. “So, I knew I really had to push that. Crossing the finish line and knowing I’d just won nationals and was top ranked in the nation, that was one of the moments of realization when I thought, ‘Wow, this is really crazy.’” He also won a second national title in the 55-meter event with a time of 7.51. With the spring season ahead, though, Votour wasn’t finished. In May, at the end of the outdoor season, Votour defended his AA WPIAL title in the 110-meter event by running a 14.30 at the WPIAL championships. That time beat a 23-year-old WPIAL record and advanced him once again to the AA PIAA outdoor track and field meet in Shippensburg. There, he knocked about three-quarters of a second off his time from last year by running a 14.28, which set a new school record in the event and won him a state title. It was an outcome Votour’s personal coach of four years, Roger Kowal, had predicted as the two started training during the preseason last summer. “I told him at the start of the season, I’m going to run you to death and you’re going to be a state champion,” says Kowal. “He laughed.” A retired police officer, Kowal has coached teams at several schools across the western suburbs, but these days only works one-on-one with student athletes at the high school and college levels. He doesn’t charge for his time, he says. Instead, he does it for the personal satisfaction, but will only take on athletes with the right work ethic and grades. He says he felt Votour fit that bill after the two met for the first time four years ago. Kowal says that in between last season and this one, Votour managed to shave an entire second off his 110-meter hurdle time. While that might not sound like a lot, it makes a world of difference in the sport. “Antonio ran a 15 flat last year at the state meet,” says Kowal. “And he went from 15 flat to 14.2, which is really good. In the 60-meter, he went from an 8.7 to 7.9. That’s almost unheard-of. If you’re running 7.9, you’re in the top of the country.” Kowal estimates he’s coached at least 15 WPIAL champions over the years. He had yet to coach an athlete to a state or national title until this season, he says. Next season, Votour will be running for the High Point University track team under an athletic scholarship. He plans to study biology and pre-dentistry. A division-one school, High Point competes in the Big South Conference. Votour says he’s already in the midst of preseason training and will begin hurdling in the fall. Votour is just the second individual OLSH athlete to win a state championship in OLSH history. Haley Hamilton won the first in 2019 in cross country. Antonio Votour (left) celebrates winning the 60- and 55-meter hurdle events at the Adidas Indoor Track Nationals in March. He’s pictured with Olympian and 2022 World Indoor hurdle champion Grant Holloway. Follow Allegheny West Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.y > Learning Curves Learning Curves Fall 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 13 Strength is the single most important physical attribute that an athlete can possess, as it is the precursor to all other forms of athleticism. Adopting a ground-based, functional strength-training program utilizing upper and lower-body compound movements is the key to athletic success. The biggest challenge with strength and power training is that all the fantastic benefits we associate with it from a scientific standpoint (i.e., increases in force production, speed of muscle contractions, inter-muscular coordination, enhanced ground- reaction time, etc.) are reversible. That means all the hard work and performance gains an athlete makes during the off- or pre- season can go away when this type of training is not maintained for prolonged periods. This often takes both parents and athletes by surprise. Surely, all that practice and hard work would go a long way toward enhancing fitness, right? The truth is that those who avoid in- season training will be weaker, slower and more prone to injury as the regular season progresses. This is because regular-season practices are oftentimes not physically intense enough to maintain big fitness or strength gains made before the season begins. During the regular season, head coaches have a tendency to focus more on tactics, plays and improving all the areas of need highlighted in the previous week’s game rather than maintaining fitness and strength gains. A basketball coach unhappy with their team’s rebounding performance might dedicate a practice to box-out drills and technique. A football coach might spend a practice walking through plays at a moderate pace to “iron out the kinks.” Go to any team practice in-season, and chances are that you are going to witness a significant amount of standing around, talking, and direction from the coach, with much less time dedicated to all- out scrimmages or drills that simulate game-day conditions, when compared to pre-season activity. Scientific evidence So, what is the outcome of this rather apparent paradox? What happens if an athlete is no longer strength and power training while simultaneously experiencing even less fitness training within a typical in-season practice? Several studies have examined just that. One study on elite male rugby and football players in 2013 found that strength levels tend to decrease after three weeks when no form of strength activity is maintained. That same study showed the decay rates of strength parameters for youth athletes can show an even more marked difference, especially for those who have not yet hit their growth spurt. According to researchers, these athletes lost more strength and forgot it even quicker than their peers who had already hit their growth spurt. The good news is that there are some practical solutions that athletes can undertake to mitigate these adverse effects. A 2017 study conducted on male handball players found that, in as little as two sessions per week, athletes were able to maintain their performance gains. Another study in 1993 found that, so long as the intensity was kept high, athletes (in this case rowers) were able to maintain their performance gains in as little as one session per week. Why training for athletes shouldn’t stop once the sports season starts CONTENT SUBMITTED BY D1 TRAINING PITTSBURGH WEST One hour per week is all it takes Our experience - and the experience of athletes who train with us - is that just one hour per week is all it takes for an athlete to maintain all the performance gains they made in the off- or pre-season. This works out well for the student who is already practicing four times per week while also juggling school, extracurriculars, and a host of other responsibilities during the school year. This also helps them retain their strength improvements after the end of the season. This effectively accelerates their performance at a rate greater than their peers. For us, there is no substitute for in-season training for athletes and coaches who are serious about taking team and individual performances to the next level. The D1 Training approach At D1 Training, we believe in training the entire body as a unit in order to produce an optimal human response to performance. We don’t follow gimmicks or fads. We utilize trusted and proven training techniques to build the world’s best athletes and deliver them in age-appropriate programs under the direction of our expert coaches. Nothing at D1 is random. Every workout and every day follows a strategic eight-week training cycle that is meticulously planned and backed by sports science. With one- on-one personal training, small group training, team training, and class membership training, D1 offers a range of options to help every athlete meet their goal. Consistent training, along with proper nutrition and sleep, will keep an athlete performing at their best throughout the season. At all times, our number one goal is to provide proper training for the specific athlete in front of us. D1 Training Coach Peter Fisher,CSCS, encourages athletes to view their training not just as a means to be better at their sport but to build a physical and mental habit that will stick with them long after their competitive playing days are over. The idea of training evolves from sports performance into being physically and mentally resilient in life and building these skills at a young age leads to greater competency in movements, development in self-esteem and self- efficacy, and an interest that will stay with athletes forever. D1 Training Pittsburgh West is located at 6522 Steubenville Pike, next to Golf Galaxy, in Robinson Township. Call them at (412) 775- 3953 or visit them online at www.d1training/Pittsburgh-West.lLegislative Update Legislative Update State Rep. Anita Kulik When I first took office, I represented 13 municipalities. Some I knew well and others I got to know well. When I took office in January of this year, I was given the privilege of representing a re-drawn district of 10 municipalities. The district had changed, with the loss of four communities, but the addition of two other municipalities. Legislative districts are drawn by population, in ways that each legislator has a somewhat equal amount of residents to represent. I was very happy to welcome Bridgeville Borough and Collier Township into the 45th District in the re-draw. Growing up in Carnegie, these two towns were always part of my world, being places where I had relatives, went shopping and dined out. One of the first places I remember going to eat was the Eat’n Park on Washington Pike. Back then, they still had servers come and serve you at your car and the signature burger was called a “Big Boy.” Getting reacquainted with these towns has been a wonderful experience, as has been working with all the municipalities in our District. The histories found in all of these municipalities are remarkable, some going back to the 1700s. The Collier and Bridgeville areas played big roles in the formation of our nation. It was in these regions that the Whiskey Rebellion gained momentum. It was also in this area that Flag Day was contemplated. The efforts of a Collier Township resident brought our national Flag Day to fruition. Historians tell us that several people may have played a role in getting Flag Day established, but the Collier area can lay claim to Mr. William T. Kerr, who founded the American Flag Day Association of Western Pennsylvania in 1888. If you get off the I-79 exit at Collier, you will see a marker commemorating the founding of Flag Day. When the American Revolution broke out, the colonists were not united under one single flag. In June of 1775, the Second Continental Congress met to create the Continental Army. On June 14, 1777, Congress passed a resolution stating that “the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white” and “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” History again tells us that Mr. Kerr was instrumental in getting President Woodrow Wilson to proclaim June 14 as the official date for Flag Day. The U.S. Congress made the date official in 1949. Pennsylvania now celebrates the day as a state holiday. With the growth of our nation, our flag has seen many revisions, now with a total of 50 stars. Our flag has stood through battles and hung in peace. Our flag has been raised in glory and burned in protest. But it always remains THE symbol of our great nation and the ideals that make the United States a true democracy. There are rich histories in all the towns of our legislative district and we are blessed to have several historical societies, each filled with volunteers working to preserve the history of our towns and people. The history of our towns reflects those of the Native Americans who lived here and the many ethnic groups that settled here. In our towns, you can find Indian Mounds, Revolutionary War graves, an incredible Civil War Veterans Post, historic buildings and so much more. In 2026, we will celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States. I am proud to have been appointed to the America250PA Infrastructure Improvements and Projects Committee for Region 2. The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial was established by the Legislature and the governor in 2018 to plan the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation and the role of Pennsylvania in the celebration. The Infrastructure Improvements and Project Committee will look for projects in different areas of our commonwealth that reflect Pennsylvania’s role in the history of our nation and provide grants for these projects. I look forward to working with interested groups in our western Pennsylvania region on the many projects that will be part of the Commission’s celebration. State Rep. Anita Kulik represents Pennsylvania’s 45th District. Her office is located at 1350 Fifth Avenue in Coraopolis. She can be reached at (412) 264-4260. Visit her online at www.pahouse. com/Kulik. The rich history of the recently redrawn 45th District 14 • Allegheny West Magazine • Fall 2023Keith-Holmes VFW 402 Events Events take place at the post located at 412 Mulberry Street in downtown Coraopolis. Call (412) 584-1689 or visit vfw402.org for more information. Bingo, Wednesdays, doors open 5 p.m., bingo at 7 p.m., Keith-Holmes VFW Post 402, kitchen open for food, benefits VFW, non-smoking, no alcohol, upstairs in hall, (412) 584-1689. Summer Concerts, tickets available at the door or at eventbrite.com, $15/person, vfw402.org, Sept. 23: The Jaggerz, $20/person, doors open 5:30 p.m. / Oct. 28: Gone South (country rock), doors open 6 p.m. VFW Meetings, second Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. American Legion Meetings, third Mondays, 7 p.m. Kennedy Township Community Days, Aug.16-17, 6-10 p.m. / Aug. 18, 6-11 p.m. / Aug. 19, 4 p.m. start, 7 p.m. fireman’s parade, fireworks at dusk, Fairhaven Park in Kennedy Township, rides, entertainment, food, more, Facebook: Kennedy Township Police Department. Findlay’s Fair in the Woodlands, Aug. 18, 7 p.m. start ; Clinton Park, live bands, inflatables, vendors, kids’ activities, more, Aug. 19, parade on Route 30 at 10:30 a.m., fair starts after, www.findlaytownshipfair. org. Moon Park Movies, movies start at dusk at the Moon Park Amphitheater, www.moonparks.org, Aug. 18: “Lightyear,” Sept. 9: “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” Oct. 6: “The Mummy (1999).” Moon Township VFD Car Cruise, Aug. 27, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Moon Park, DJs, raffles, benefits fire department, moontwpfire.com/car-cruise. Kids’ Moon Park Amphitheater Event, Sept. 6, 6 p.m., Moon Park Amphitheater, Rock and Roll Pet Store, free event, www.moonparks.org. Carnegie Crawl, Sept. 8, Oct. 13, 5-9 p.m., live Music on Main Street, retailers open late, family-friendly event, www.visitcarnegie.com/events. Sewickley Harvest Festival, Sept. 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., downtown Sewickley, sewickleyborough.org. Moon Wizarding Festival, Sept. 9, 2-7:30 p.m., Moon Park, free event featuring 30+ artists and craft vendors, showing of “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” to follow, www.moonparks.org. Capt. Sean M. Ruane Foundation Cornhole Tournament, Sept. 9, Greater Pittsburgh Aquatic Club, basket raffle, DJ, games, duck race, craft beer bar, food, sponsorships available, www.seanruane.org/cornhole-tournament. HOLT Race to the Moon, Sept. 10, 8 a.m., mountain bike race following trails in Hollow Oak Land Trust’s 10-mile trail system, hollowoak.org/hollow-oak-events/. Robinson Township Autumn Festival, Sept. 16, 12-9 p.m., Burkett Park, rides, games, food vendors, live music by Dancing Queen, www.townshipofrobinson.com/special-events. Crescent Township Community Days, Sept. 16, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. / Sept. 17, 12-8 p.m. , Shouse Park in Crescent Township, live music, magician, ax throwing, balloon twisting, face painting, crafters, vendors, more, all ages, fireworks sponsored by USA Pan on Sunday night, crescenttownship.com. Findlay’s Rhythm and Ribs BBQ, Sept. 17, 3-9 p.m., Clinton Park, live music and BBQ, featuring music by Alt Rocks and two other bands, www.findlaytwp.org/184/Parks-Recreation. Janoskis Pumpkinland, weekends in October, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Janoski’s Farm in Clinton, pumpkin patch, hayrides, corn maze, haunted barn, children’s pony rides, petting zoo, pedal bikes, food vendors, or bring a lunch, janoskis.com/upcoming/. Robinson Township Lions Club Corn Hole Tournament and Steelers Watch Party, Oct. 1, 12 p.m. check-in, 1 p.m. start, Clever Park Rotary Shelter, includes hot dogs, sides, draft beer, $50/team, $10 non-players, $5/child, robinsonlions.org. Robinson Township Car Cruise, Oct. 7, 12-4 p.m., Robinson Town Centre, Oldies Music with DJ Dan, www.townshipofrobinson.com/special-events. Hickory Apple Festival, Oct 7-8, Hickory, live entertainment, unique crafters, brick oven bread, apple crisp, apple butter, candied apples, apple dumplings, petting zoo, pet shows, chainsaw sculpting, blacksmithing, pancake breakfasts, check www.hickoryapplefest.com for times and schedules. Coraopolis Fall Festival, Oct. 14, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Downtown Coraopolis, craft vendors, food trucks, pumpkin painting, more, coraopolisfoundation.org. Robinson’s Halloween in the Park, Oct. 28, 12-1 p.m., Clever Park, kids Halloween parade led by Forest Grove VFD and Montour Marching Band, meet in upper parking lot 15 minutes prior to participate in parade, townshipofrobinson.com/special-events/. CCDC Chilli Cook-Off, Nov. 5, 2-5 p.m., Cobblehaus Brewery, enter a prize chili or come to enjoy, details TBA, coraopolisfoundation.org. Fall Festivals and Area Late Summer HappeningsAll events subject to change. Reference the contact information listed for the latest details.SAT Test Dates Oct. 7 Nov. 4 Dec. 2 March 9 May 4June 1 Register by Sept. 7 Register by Oct. 5 Register by Nov. 2 Register by Feb. 23 Register by April 19 Register by May 17 Visit satsuite.collegeboard.org for late registration and digital test deadlines. varsity Football Aug. 25 - vs. Seton LaSalle - 7 PMSept. 1 - vs. Monessen - Midget Football Night - 7 PMSept. 8 - @ Union - 7 PMSept. 15 - vs. Avella - 7 PMSept. 22 - @ Carlynton - 7 PMSept. 29 - vs. Burgettstown - 7 PMOct. 6 - vs. Canevin - 7 PMOct. 13 - @ Ft. Cherry - 7 PMOct. 20 - @ Chartiers-Houston - 7 PMOct. 27 - vs. OLSH - Senior Night - 7 PM varsity Girls Volleyball JV Games at 6 PM Aug. 28 - vs. Freedom - 7:30 PMAug. 30 - vs. Propel Montour - 7:30 PMSept. 5 - @ St. Joseph - 7:30 PMSept. 7 - @ Chartiers Houston - 7:30 PMSept. 11 - @ Aquinas - 7:30 PMSept. 12 - vs. Carlynton - 7:30 PMSept. 14 - @ Canevin - 7:30 PM Sept. 16 - MAC Championships - Lincoln Park/Western Beaver - 8 AMSept. 19 - vs. Northgate - 7:30 PMSept. 21 - @ Hill Crest Academy - 7:30 PMSept. 26 - vs. Eden - 7:30 PMSept. 27 - @ Aliquippa - 7:30 PMOct. 2 - @ Southside Beaver - 7:30 PMOct. 3 - vs. Chartiers-Houston - 7:30 PMOct. 5 - @ Carlynton - 7:30 PMOct. 10 - vs. Canevin - 7:30 PMOct 12 - @ Northgate - 7:30 PMOct. 17 - vs. Hill Crest Academy - 7:30 PMOct. 19 - @ Eden 7:30 PM Football Sept. 6 - @ Southside Beaver - 4 PMSept. 13 - vs. Beaver Falls - 4 PMSept. 27 - vs. Western Beaver - 4 PMOct. 4 - @ Sto-Rox - 4 PMOct. 11 - vs. Northgate - 4 PMOct. 18 - @ Rochester - 4 PM Girls Basketball Oct. 17 - vs. Carlynton - 3:30 PMOct. 19 - @ Keystone Oaks - 3:30 PMOct. 24 - @ Sto-Rox - 4 PMOct. 26 - @ Sewickley Academy - 3:30 PMOct. 31 - vs. Northgate - 3:30 P M Nov. 2 - @ Ambridge - 3:30 PMNov. 7 - vs. Southside Beaver - 3:30 PMNov. 9 - @ Freedom - 3:30 PMNov. 14 - vs. Central Valley - 3:30 PMNov. 16 - @ Carlynton - 3:30 PMNov. 20 - vs. Sto-Rox - 3:30 PMNov. 21 - vs. Keystone Oaks - 3:30 PMNov 28 - vs. Sewickley Academy - 3:30 PM Nov. 30 - @ Northgate - 4 PMAug. 24-25Aug. 28Aug. 29Sept. 4Sept. 28Sept. 29Oct. 5Oct. 6 Oct. 9Oct. 27Nov. 2Nov. 10Nov. 22Nov. 23-27Dec. 8Dec. 22Dec. 25-Jan. 2 In-Service Days – No School for StudentsClerical Day – No School for StudentsFirst Day of School for Students (Grades K-12)Labor Day – School ClosedOpen House – SecondaryFirst Report Period Progress Reports, Secondary (Grades 7-12)Open House – ElementaryEarly Dismissal (Secondary 12 PM / Elementary 1:10 PM) In-Service Day – No School for StudentsParent Teacher Conferences – No School for StudentsFirst Report Period Ends, Elementary & SecondaryEarly Dismissal (Secondary 12 PM / Elementary 1:10 PM)Early Dismissal (Secondary 12 PM / Elementary 1:10 PM)Fall Break – School ClosedSecond Report Period Progress Reports, Secondary (Grades 7-12)Early Dismissal (Secondary 10:45 AM / Elementary 11:15 AM)Winter Break – School Closed Jan. 15Jan. 18Jan. 19Feb. 5Feb. 16Feb. 19Feb. 23Feb. 29March 15March 26 March 28-April 1April 26May 1May 3May 27May 31June 4June 4June 5June 10June 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – School ClosedFirst Semester EndsClerical Day – No School for Students100th Day of SchoolAct 80 Day – No School for StudentsPresident’s Day – School Closed ird Report Period Progress Reports, Secondary (Grades 7-12)Leap Year Extra DayEarly Dismissal (Secondary 12 PM / Elementary 1:10 PM) ird Report Period Ends, Elementary & Secondary Spring Break – School ClosedAct 80 Day – No School for StudentsFourth Report Period Progress Reports, Secondary (Grades 7-12)Early Dismissal (Secondary 12 PM / Elementary 1:10 PM)Memorial Day – School ClosedClass of 2024 Commencement (Graduation)Fourth Report Period Ends, Elementary & Secondary (Grades 7-11)Last Day of School for Students (Grades K-11)Dismissal (Secondary 10:45 AM / Elementary 11:15 AM)Clerical DaySchool Picnic (Kennywood Park) – TENTATIVE DATEJuneteenth – School Closed est e - 7 PMFarmers’ Markets Robinson Farmers’ Market, Mondays through Sept. 25, 3-7 p.m., upper parking lot at Archangel Gabriel Catholic Parish, live music, locally grown and produced food, vendors, Facebook: Robinson Farmers Market at Holy Trinity. Moon Market and Music, second and fourth Wednesdays through September, 5-9 p.m., Moon Park, produce market, food trucks, craft beers and wine, kid-friendly activities, live music (see above schedule), www.moonparks.org. Sewickley Farmers’ Market, Saturdays until Thanksgiving, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., St. James Catholic Church in Sewickley, 200 Walnut Street, vegetables, organic farm products, meats, honey, pierogies, pasta, more, Facebook: Sewickley Farmers’ Market. Carnegie Farmers Market, Sundays through Sept. 24, 12-3 p.m., East Main Street, produce, baked goods, prepared foods, snacks, crafters, artisans, activities, local retailers, www .visitcarnegie.com/ events. Gilberti Fine Art Studio Classes Gilberti Fine Art Studio and Gallery is located at 1030 Fifth Avenue in Coraopolis. Visit gilbertifineart.com or call (412) 303-4590 to register, unless otherwise indicated. Upcoming Coraopolis Food Pantry Distribution Dates, Aug. 20, Sept. 3, 17, 12-2 p.m., future dates TBA, 1108 4th Avenue in Coraopolis, drive-by only, volunteer opportunities available, see page 8, (412) 329-8247, info@corycdc.org. Oil Painting with Wendy Mackin, Monday mornings, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. beginning Sept. 18, four weeks/$100, learn to create original compositions from your own photographs and sketches, students work at their own pace, easels provided, students bring their own materials, all skill levels. Expressive Watercolor with Cindy Gilberti, Tuesday mornings, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. beginning Sept. 12, four weeks/$100, create unique and expressive compositions using watercolors to communicate emotion and excite the senses, materials list provided at registration, all skill levels. Realistic Watercolor With Doug Brown, Thursday mornings, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. beginning Sept. 14, four weeks/$100, learn to improve your realistic watercolor skills, students provide their own reference materials. Life Drawing Sessions, second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., $20/ session, join amateur and seasoned artists to develop your drawing skills by drawing a model, voluntary group critique follows, easels provided, bring your preferred medium, space limited. Loriann Signori Pastel Four-Day Workshop, “From the Marvelous to the Mundane,” taught by internationally recognized pastel artist Loriann Signori, space limited, register at: www.ppal-artists.com/the Pittsburgh Pastel Artist League.Fall 2023 Fall 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 19 When Cornell students are asked “How was your summer?” or “What fun things did you get to do this summer?” by their teachers when they return this fall, Summer PRIDE will likely be atop their lists. The Cornell PRIDE Program is an afterschool and summer program funded through a federal grant called the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant. The afterschool program runs through the entire school year, and the summer program is a six- week program that runs through the month of July. This summer, students hopped off the buses in the morning with eager eyes and asked with enthusiasm what the daily activities were going to be. As the days continued from week to week, students’ enthusiasm grew. For the duration of this program, students started their day with some of their usual breakfast favorites, with a few surprises. Funnel cakes, anyone? After breakfast, students and teachers immediately broke into their grade-level clusters and started their three-activity rotations, each of which were 45 minutes long. Each day, students shifted through physical activity, sports stations, arts and crafts, fun with foods, and literacy-themed events. Students constructed and painted bird houses, made scented bars of hand soap, concocted delicious homemade ice cream, mixed edible cookie dough, fixed famous “dirt” pudding, and even crafted pizza. In a mini -volleyball clinic, they learned how to bump, set and serve. They played keepers of the castle, enjoyed a very fun and competitive day of mat ball that left teachers sore for days, and took a few nature walks. Students also made wearable art and personalized totes, explored with some ever-popular scavenger hunts, and played a variety of classic family board games. After hopping from station to station, students were tired and eager for a delicious lunch. Again, the usual favorites were provided. Fried chicken, anyone? This fall, when teachers are asked by a colleague, “How was your summer?” Summer PRIDE will likely be atop their lists as well. They have reported how much fun it was to watch students participate in groups positively, challenge themselves, and maintain positive relationships and attitudes with their peers. The “low-key” vibe encouraged a safe and fun environment for students to explore new activities. Their confidence soared and their smiles were contagious. Summer PRIDE was a summer vacation for the Cornell family. The district is proud to offer such an awesome opportunity for students and is looking forward to 2024. Cornell Summer PRIDE is a success once again! Students at this year’s PRIDE program enjoyed (from top) lunch and breakfast daily, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, and games.Next >