FREE Direct Mail Community Publication Allegheny West July/August 2023 Montour Edition M agazine PLUS: Alina’s Light Walk and Run for Love returns July 22 Rep. Deluzio helps PTC secure $3.7 million Montour teams and athletes make playoff runs Retrospective: Robinson’s victory gardens Rosedale teams with #1 Cochran on trades training Summer happenings and library programs Congratulations Montour Class of 2023 page 23 Serving Ingram, Kennedy, Pennsbury, Robinson, Thornburg and Montour School District One of 4 Editions Serving 16 Airport Area Communities www.awmagazine.comJuly/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 34 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2023 P. O. Box 220, McDonald, PA 15057 Phone: 724.673.3161 E-Mail: info@awmagazine.com www.awmagazine.com WE PROUDLY SPONSOR AND SUPPORT: A variety of community, school, and nonprofit organizations in our coverage areas of Cornell, Moon, Montour, and West Allegheny. We are committed to recycling our used and leftover products. We encourage our readers to be responsible and dispose of this magazine when finished enjoying it. Consider passing it along to someone else, or placing it in your neighborhood recycling bins. Thank you in advance for doing your part for our earth. Hughey Publications, LLC also publishes the Moon edition of Allegheny West Magazine, the Cornell edition of Allegheny West Magazine and the West Allegheny edition of Allegheny West Magazine. MEMBER Allegheny West Magazine - Montour, is an all positive, good news publication mailed free into the homes and businesses of the Montour School District communities of Robinson, Kennedy, Ingram, Pennsbury, and Thornburg to connect communities, promote people, heighten awareness about the richness of the airport region, and build pride in the western suburbs of Allegheny County. Allegheny West Magazine Doug Hughey Pat Jennette Sarah Kizina www.ddswebdesign.com Anita Kulik Joe Kulik Robinson Twp. Historical Soc. Pat Jennette Dear Readers, Thank you for picking up our July Montour edition. This month we’re kicking things off with a look at the local organization Alina’s Light, which, as many of you are likely aware, was formed following a tragedy. Out of that, though, the organization is working to help others and on July 22 will be holding its annual 5K fundraiser. Read more about this special event and Alina’s Light’s latest efforts on page 8. Then, on page 18, read how Congressman Chris Deluzio recently secured $3.7 million for Pittsburgh Technical College to help the college bolster its trades programs. On page 23, check out our tribute to the Montour Class of 2023 and, on page 26, read about what all was going on during Montour’s Summer STEAM Camp in June. Get caught up on which Montour spring sports teams made the playoffs on page 29 and on page 32 check out the latest retrospective from the Robinson Township Historical Society. This month, they take a look at World War II era victory gardens. On page 34, read about a new partnership between #1 Cochran and Rosedale Technical College that will provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to trades students every year. Then, on pages 36-37, check out upcoming summer happenings and library programs. Look for our next edition in September, when we’ll be bringing you our back-to- school calendars. Until then, I hope you have a great summer. From the Publisher Allegheny West Magazine-Montour 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 the Montour School District. Extra copies available at municipal offices, schools, libraries, stores, advertisers, hotels, and businesses. Available by mail subscription for $15 annually. Story ideas welcomed. Community events and announcements from non-profit groups must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publishing date. Announcements are limited to 30 words and must include a contact phone number. Reproduction of any artwork, photographs, or copy prepared by Allegheny West Magazine is strictly prohibited without written consent of Hughey Publications LLC. Copyright 1999-2020 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. Doug Hughey, Publisher/Editor Montour Edition July/August 2023 { } Contents - - - - - - - - - Alina’s Light Walk and Run for Love returns July 22 Rep. Deluzio helps PTC secure $3.7 million Congratulations Montour Class of 2023 Montour’s Summer STEAM Camp returns Montour athletes and teams make playoff runs Retrospective: Robinson’s victory gardens Rosedale and #1 Cochran team on trades training Upcoming summer happenings Library Programs Montour students show off artistic creations they made with pancakes in a cooking class at this year’s Summer STEAM Camp. Held the week after the final week of classes, the camp encouraged students to learn STEAM concepts through a variety of fun and creative hands-on activities. Read more on page 26. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY ABOUT THE COVER 8 18 23 26 29 32 34 36 37July/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 5NEW to Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood Conveniently located at: 2201 Park Manor Blvd., Robinson Town Centre 6 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2023 Heritage Valley Health System Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-CT scanning is now available at the Heritage Valley Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood. A PET-CT scan is an imaging test that produces multidimensional color images of your organs and tissues. These scans not only show what an organ looks like, but also how it is functioning. The test uses a small amount of a safe, injectable radioactive liquid known as a tracer. Your healthcare provider may order a PET-CT scan to check for signs of: • Cancer • Coronary artery disease, heart attack or other heart problems • Brain disorders, such as brain tumors, epilepsy, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease A Radiologist with specialized training in PET-CT scans will review your images and send a report to your healthcare provider. We are pleased to announce that Rheumatologist Dr. Baowei Tang will be seeing patients on Thursdays in the Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood, beginning in mid-July. Dr. Tang will be available on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dr. Tang is board certified in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and certified in Rheumatology Muscular Skeletal Ultrasound by the American College of Rheumatology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology. Dr. Tang completed his Rheumatology fellowship training at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2007, and his Internal Medicine residency at Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital in 2005. He received his medical degree from Southeastern University Medical School in Nanjing, China. Dr. Tang’s practice interests include complicated autoimmune diseases, inflammatory arthritis/ myositis, and general rheumatologic conditions (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, vasculitis, scleroderma, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis). He specializes in muscular skeletal ultrasound, which improves early diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases. Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-CT Scans Coming Soon: Rheumatology Care To schedule an appointment with Dr. Tang, please call (724) 773-1928. Dr. Tang’s office in the Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood is located in Suite 100. To schedule your PET-CT scan, please call (866) 251-0710.July/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 7 Heritage Valley Health SystemCAround Your Town Around Your Town 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2023 On July 22, the local organization Alina’s Light will hold its Fourth Annual Walk and Run for Love at Settlers Cabin Park. The day kicks off with a 5K race and walk at 9 a.m. Fun activities will continue throughout the day until 5 p.m. There will be a bounce house, a magician, inflatables, a petting zoo, trackless train rides, a food truck, ice cream and more. Adults can even enjoy a biergarten. “It’s lots of family fun,” says Elly Sheykhet, who founded Alina’s Light with her husband, Yan, and another couple five years ago. “There’s something for everyone.” Elly says funds raised from the event will help Alina’s Light award scholarships to promising Montour seniors with an interest in musical theater. She says funds will also help Alina’s Light continue a number of efforts it has undertaken in recent years to address domestic violence. The organization provides monitors to domestic abuse victims and delivers presentations on domestic violence at area colleges. Alina’s Light also provides presents to children at the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh around the holidays. As well, the organization has been pushing for legislation that would further protect victims of abuse. One such piece of legislation is waiting to be introduced for a vote in the Pennsylvania Legislature. “I think you could say we’ve been pretty busy,” says Elly, referring to the group’s efforts these past two years. Alina’s Light was founded in 2018 in memory of Elly and Yan’s daughter, Alina Sheykhet. A Montour alumna, accomplished performer and star of several of the school’s musicals, Alina was studying physical therapy at the University of Pittsburgh in 2017 when she was murdered. Her former boyfriend, who she’d obtained a protection from abuse order against and has pleaded guilty to her murder, is now serving a life sentence. The year after Alina’s murder, Elly and Yan established Alina’s Light with Eugene and Kristin Sciulli of North Fayette Township. The couple’s own daughter had danced with Alina, and the two have been part of the organization’s many efforts since. Elly says they founded Alina’s Light in order to benefit causes Alina cared about most. They’ve given money to Animal Friends and each year provide scholarships to graduating Montour students. This year, they awarded scholarships to three students who appeared in Montour’s production of “In the Heights.” At the same time, the couples have been taking on initiatives directed at confronting domestic violence. They deliver seminars on the subject at colleges that educate people about the red flags indicating signs of it and the resources available to victims. Eugene admits it isn’t a topic most people want to discuss. “Every nine minutes someone in this country is a victim of domestic violence,” he says. “Until it affects you personally, though, it’s out of sight, out of mind.” They’ve delivered presentations at the University of Pittsburgh and Point Park University. Last year, Alina’s Light exhibited a display they call “Alina’s Dolls” at the Art Against Violence exhibit at the August Wilson Center. The display is comprised of pictures of girls who, like Alina, were murdered by their partners. For each, they had dolls created that represent the girls and have placed them next to the girls’ pictures. Alina’s Light uses the striking visual aid when delivering presentations. “We take ‘Alina’s Dolls’ to our presentations at colleges,” Elly says. “They don’t just hear our story but see those victims with their eyes.” Alina’s Light Walk and Run for Love to return July 22 Event helps fund efforts of local organization taking on domestic violence STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY PHOTOS SUBMITTED LEFT: State Rep. Anita Kulik is pictured with Eugene Sciulli at last year’s Walk and Run for Love. Kulik has introduced legislation that could help judges better protect victims of domestic violence. MIDDLE: Elly Sheykhet speaks at a conference hosted by UPMC about domestic violence. RIGHT: Yan and Elly Sheykhet visit the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh with Eugene and Kristin Sciulli. Yan and Elly Sheykhet (above) release doves at last year’s Alina’s Light Walk and Run for Love. The event features (below) a 5K run, fun walk, petting zoo and plenty more.CAround Your Town Around Your Town July/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 9 Prompted by Alina’s murder and Alina’s Light’s efforts, state Rep. Anita Kulik has introduced legislation that would give judges additional authority to protect victims of domestic abuse. Elly says she’s convinced such a law would have saved her daughter’s life. The legislation, however, has yet to make it out of the Judiciary Committee, much to the consternation of Kulik and Alina’s Light. Kulik, though, says the legislation has been getting some renewed interest as of late and that the committee is actively exploring it. “The Judiciary Committee has an interest and hopefully they will be exploring it more,” says Kulik. Recently, Elly and Yan also met with U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey to share their story and push for more legislation that would better protect abuse victims. Two years ago, Fetterman and his family made an appearance at the Alina’s Light Walk and Run for Love. Eugene says that, the way they see it, protection from abuse orders are ineffective and he points to Alina’s case as a prime example. The organization thus provides personal monitors to victims of abuse as an additional layer of protection. “I like to call them life-saving devices,” he says. “We’ll never display them but they’re very unassuming. They look like a piece of jewelry and it allows them to instantly alert fire, police and up to five contacts.” He says Alina’s Light pays for both the monitors and the service to keep them active. In May, Alina’s Light was awarded the Sherley and Ted Craig Humanitarian Award at a gala held by the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. This holiday season, the couples will once again head to the shelter to deliver presents. Eugene, who dresses as Santa for the visits, says it’s an effort to bring the children there as normal of a Christmas as possible. “Unfortunately, those children, they have to hide during the holidays,” says Elly. “Seeing their smiles and how happy they are by participating in the activities we bring, it means a lot. We have a lot of heavy moments but watching them warms our hearts.” The Alina’s Light Walk and Run for Love thus marks somewhat of an upbeat effort for the organization, one where community members can enjoy a day of family fun. This past Christmas, Alina’s Light also hosted a breakfast with Santa at Montour High School that attracted a few hundred people and helped raise funds for their efforts. They’re planning another breakfast event this year, with details to be announced in the future. Funds raised through these events help Alina’s Light continue its efforts. “Every penny we make goes to education, fighting the law and offsetting the cost of those life-saving devices,” says Eugene. “Every penny.” Tickets for this year’s Alina’s Light Walk and Run for Love on July 22 can be purchased the day of the event or ahead of time by visiting alinaslight.com. A link to the schedule of events is also available on the website. Yan and Elly Sheykhet are pictured with the three graduating Montour seniors who were awarded scholarships through Alina’s Light this year. They are Mia Magliocco, Paige Bernotas and Natalie Rodriguez. Elly Sheykhet talks with visitors at the Art Against Violence exhibit at the August Wilson Center last year. The portrait painting at her left is of her daughter, Alina Sheykhet.Next >