< PreviousCAround Your Town Around Your Town 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, Spriull 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 had 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 area students who competed will be heading on to a national competition in Boston. In June, the branch held another of those initiatives, its annual Freedom Fund banquet. This year’s second annual banquet took place 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 organization’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 Coroapolis 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.” 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 Spriull. Randon Willard, executive director of the Coroapolis Community Development Corporation, accepted the Service to Community Award on behalf of the organization. He is pictured with Carter Spriull, Coraopolis NAACP branch president. 10 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2023CAround Your Town Around Your Town The complete list of the evening’s award winners were 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, 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. July/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 11y > Learning CurvesLearning Curves Michele P. Conti is an estate planning and elder law attorney. She is also the owner of Conti Law, a concierge law firm. Conti attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Oxford University and Duquesne University School of Law. She received her LL.M. in taxation from Villanova University. She can be reached at (724) 784-0239 or at michele@contilawpgh.com. Time and time again, the same scenario rears its ugly head: estate planning was put off until it was too late and, upon the first spouse’s passing, the surviving spouse learns that all isn’t well in their world. Titling of your assets is imperative. Just because you’re married does not mean that you will inherit your spouse’s assets upon death, especially when it comes to real estate. One of the hardest parts of my job is being the bearer of bad news. At least twice a year I am forced to explain to a grieving spouse that, because her husband died without a will, and with the real estate in his sole name, the property not only must pass through probate but also will be distributed through Pennsylvania’s intestacy law. I am met with stunned silence, then disbelief followed by anger and outrage. “You mean to tell me that my house isn’t MINE?!” Of course, the outcome depends on the circumstances and family dynamic. Pennsylvania Intestacy law tells us who inherits our assets in the event we die without a will. Are we survived by a spouse? Children? Are the children a product of your relationship with your spouse or from a former relationship? All of these things matter, but one thing that doesn’t is whether you had a relationship with your family members before you died. No argument will be effective to disinherit Johnny even though he hasn’t been in your life for 20 years. It sounds so simple, but it’s truly important. Check the way each of your assets are Do you know what will be yours when your spouse passes? titled, such as individually owned, jointly owned and beneficiary designations (primary and contingent). Keep in mind that real estate can be owned in various ways. Don’t assume it’s properly titled or that beneficiary designations carried over by your bank are being merged with another. The designation forms must be reviewed and updated to ensure that the person you wish to receive the funds is accurately identified. Many of the change forms can be found online. Remember, when you are leaving an asset to someone who is collecting governmental benefits (Social Security, Medicaid, VA) or if the beneficiary has a trust or is a minor, the appropriate verbiage must be used when identifying them and their trusts. In an ideal world, we would all sit down with an estate planning professional to confirm all of our wishes are in writing, titling is properly done and the verbiage of our beneficiary designations are accurate. BY MICHELLE CONTI 12 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2023 Last year, Dr. Michelle L. Wertelet, optometrist, opened an eyecare practice with the goal of providing quality eyecare to patients of all ages. The practice, Focus on Eyecare, is located at 1005 Beaver Grade Road in Moon Township, right across from the township municipal building. Focus on Eyecare is currently taking new patients. Over the past 17 years, Dr. Wertelet has specialized in treating pediatric patients. Now, she is treating patients of all ages. From children struggling in school due to myopia, to seniors whose quality of life has been diminished by glaucoma, Dr. Wertelet works with patients to find the best treatments and vision assistance available. “I opened Focus on Eyecare so I can spend time with my patients and get to know their visual and ocular health needs,” she says. “Our goal is to provide care for the whole family, with a special focus on pediatric patients.” Focus on Eyecare provides diagnosis, treatment and management for a wide variety of diseases and disorders of the eye. They offer both comprehensive examinations and contact lens examinations. For those needing prescription eyewear, the practice can make glasses in-house the same day, provided the proper lenses are in stock. The practice stocks a selection of designer eyewear that provides the perfect fit, and style, for every face. To make scheduling easy and efficient, patients can book appointments online through the practice’s website or even communicate via text message. Patients can also order contact lenses directly through the practice’s website. Dr. Wertelet’s practice offers some services that are not available at all optometry practices. For children who are struggling with reading, the practice offers a special reading acceleration program, or RAP. The program, which trains the eyes to make accurate eye movements, has been shown to help children improve reading speed, fluency and comprehension in as little as six weeks. “The eyes make small (saccadic) eye movements while reading,” says Dr. Wertelet. “If saccadic movements are inaccurate, reading fluency and comprehension can be decreased. RAP helps fix this problem.” Another service the practice provides is management of myopia (nearsightedness). Once identified, Focus on Eyecare not only tracks a child’s myopia, but also employs a number of techniques that have been shown to slow its progression. These include Orthokeratology, which involves using specialty contact lenses that temporarily reshape the cornea, and low-dose atropine drops. Focus on Eyecare also utilizes MiSight One Day lenses, which is FDA approved for myopia management. To monitor a child’s myopia, the practice keeps measures of the axial length and refraction of the eye. “Using these strategies, we can slow the change in prescription by up to 70% for some patients,” says Dr. Wertelet. In order to provide the best possible care, Focus on Eyecare also utilizes the latest technologies, including optomap retinal imaging and a digital phoropter, which allows the practice to efficiently evaluate different prescriptions. Other technologies the practice provides include corneal topography and dry eye evaluations. For those bothered by the common “puff of air” glaucoma test, the practice has other ways of testing for glaucoma. Dr. Wertelet graduated from Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2005 and completed her residency in pediatrics and binocular vision at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. As an assistant professor at UAB, she taught future eye doctors and participated in clinical research. She has been a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry since 2007 and practiced in Western Pennsylvania for 15 years. Dr. Wertelet is a diplomate of the American Board of Optometry and passed the first-ever board certification test offered to optometrists in 2011. She is also a current board member and past president of the Western Pennsylvania Optometric Society. Dr. Wertelet continues to serve on many committees through the American Board of Optometry. Dr. Wertelet lives with her husband and two young sons in Robinson Township, where she is a regular coach and volunteer at Archangel Gabriel School. Focus on Eyecare is located at 1005 Beaver Grade Road, Suite G10, in Moon Township. For more, visit www.focusoneyecare. com or call (412) 308-9111. New optometry practice for all ages opens in Moon CONTENT SUBMITTED Dr. Michelle L. Wertelet is pictured at her optometry practice, Focus on Eyecare, in Moon Township. “We offer proven strategies that have been shown to slow the change in prescription by up to 70% for some pediatric patients with myopia.” ~ Dr. Michelle L. Wertelet, Owner, Focus on Eyecare % New in Town New in Town July/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 13y > Learning CurvesLearning Curves What is your reason for not having a financial plan? SUBMITTED BY MIA A. KOVACS, CFP®, BILL FEW ASSOCIATES When it comes to financial planning, I understand why individuals procrastinate. We avoid things that cause us pain or, as is the case with financial planning, anxiety. Money makes people anxious. It means so much more than the paper it’s printed on, and the idea that somehow we already screwed it up by not saving enough, or don’t have the resources to start saving today, makes us push off financial planning until tomorrow. Then, hopefully, we can stomach looking at our financial position. Let me ease some of your fears when it comes to financial planning. I promise it does not have to be painful and can significantly improve your current and future outlook. You can start planning at any age. Earlier is better, but never is certainly worse. Have you used any of the following reasons for not contacting a financial planner? “I don’t have anything, so there is nothing to plan.” Most companies have a retirement plan available. Are you contributing? How much are you contributing? Are you contributing to the pre-tax portion or the Roth portion? How are you invested? If your company does not have a plan, have you set up your own plan such as an IRA, a Roth IRA or a solo 401(k)? Do you have a budget? It’s scary to sit down and look at where we are spending our money, but there are ways to trick ourselves into good budgeting behavior. “I have a plan, it’s through my employer. They have great benefits.” That is not a financial plan. You are assuming whatever you are due to receive in retirement will be enough. Do you know what is enough? Do you know the exact dollar amount you need annually in retirement and how much you need to save to achieve that number? Are your company plan assets invested to provide you with a rate of return that is enough to not only keep up with inflation but grow significantly beyond inflation? A financial plan can provide concrete answers to these questions. Mia A. Kovacs, CFP®, is a vice president and a financial consultant with Bill Few Associates. She can be reached at (412) 630-6041 or at mkovacs@billfew.com. “It’s too late. What I’ve saved is what I’m stuck living on and I no longer need a plan.” You do still need a plan. Do you know how much of your savings you can spend each year without running out? Are you invested correctly for this time of your life? Even in retirement, you have to achieve a certain amount of growth since this phase of life could last between 15 and 30 years. At the same time, as you take out income, you need to have funds in short term buckets where market fluctuations won’t have too much of an effect. You can’t know all the answers but instead of pushing planning off for another day, consider finding yourself a Certified Financial Planner, like myself, and starting the conversation. Initial consultations are free. It can’t, and won’t, hurt. 14 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 20235 Perspectives Perspectives Summer is here, and along with it baseball season and summer break from school. It’s the time of year for change, for students, families and businesses alike. Do you know a recent grad? Are you looking for a career change? Are you a helper to someone who is changing jobs? At Express, change is a constant as we help job seekers find their passion during all seasons of their work-life journey. When I think about the extremely high number of job openings in our region, I ponder how we, as individuals, can help others incorporate what they like or love into their career choices. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines passion as “a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something.” Passions are often things you would love to do constantly, like traveling, perhaps. Sometimes our passion is something we would love to do for work. What a gift that can be, and what a gift we can give others by helping them discover their passion in a first or new job. I am passionate about work, gardening and travel. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Greece with the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce travel program. Greece was wonderful. The experiences shared with my travel friends and making new friends reinforced my desire to travel more. Our expert travel guide, Nikki, exemplified working and living her passion as she shared her knowledge about Athens, Mycenae, Corinth, Olympia and more. She led us on six tours and engagingly helped us learn and understand many facts about the country and its rich history. Nikki was always “on” and could easily deliver a prepared topic and field a question at a moment’s notice. From childhood, Nikki wanted to be a travel agent. Now, she leads tours internationally. She is an active learner who loves what she does and who she does it with! On the way home, knowing the Munich airport was about to go on strike, we were a little concerned about the impact on service. Yet, their agents guided us through passport control and the security queue with professionalism, kindness and patience. On the contrary, Newark Airport personnel shouted at us as we entered a queue, “People, read the signs!” There was no personalization or care in how they interacted with us. Traveling can be tiresome and make directions a little harder to follow. The kind of assistance we receive impacts the experience. Can you find a way to share your stories and feelings about how others impacted you with their passion? I challenge you to think about how you can help a student or someone looking for a new career to uncover their passion. Ask questions that result in answers that bring out the light in their eyes and get them talking excitedly about their interests or desire to learn more about a new skill. Maybe they can find their passion in one of the many opportunities that exist today: • Skilled trades like welding, maintenance, CNC machining and carpentry. • Office services like administrative assistant, dispatcher, data entry and customer service. • Professional positions such as project coordinator, automation engineer, health and safety administrator, and more. The opportunities are endless and if not a new job, additional education or the military can help individuals find their way. Help others be like Nikki. Congratulations to the graduates and those who are experiencing change. Make a change for the right reasons and the right feelings. “To thine own self be true.” Helping others find passion in their work BY DEB GRAY, EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS PITTSBURGH WEST Deb Gray is the owner of Express Pittsburgh West, which has offices in Robinson Township and Monaca. Whether you’re a job seeker or employer, Express can help. Call them at (412) 494-2000 or visit ExpressPros.com/WPittsburghPA. July/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 15Business Profile Business Profile CONTENT SUBMITTED When Tiffany R. Battaglini decided to open her own insurance agency, she knew she had to do so in downtown Coraopolis, the town where she was born and raised. Prior to that, she’d spent a little over two decades working in the insurance industry under two different agencies, including as a manager at one in Pittsburgh. She also earned a degree from the Sawyer School for Health Information Technology and another from the University of Phoenix for finance. Battaglini took over a dilapidated storefront on Fifth Avenue that she remodeled into her office. In 2019, the Tiffany R. Battaglini Insurance Agency officially opened under Erie Insurance. Today, the local, independent insurance agency specializes in auto, home, life and commercial insurance. Battaglini runs the agency with two employees: Morgan Campbell, her customer service representative, and her son, Antonio Battaglini. In both 2019 and 2020, Tiffany received the Bronze Level Life Achievement Award for her work in the industry. In 2022, she was recognized as a Five Star Home/Auto Insurance Professional. That same year, her biography was listed in the Who’sWho in America publication. Though the agency covers many different types of insurance, the agency’s focus is on life insurance. It’s a sector of the industry that Tiffany has worked most closely in throughout her career. She says the reason she gravitated to life insurance has much to do with an early personal experience that instilled in her the importance of it. “After losing my father at a young age, I made it my mission to make sure that more people understood the need for life insurance,” she says. “By making sure that more lives are protected by life insurance, my hopes are that less lives will be negatively impacted by improper planning.” As Battaglini’s insurance business has grown, the Cornell High School alumnus has continued to give back to good causes in her hometown. She’s an annual Grand Slam Sponsor of the Coraopolis Youth Baseball Association and the Coraopolis Summer Jam. She also assisted Cornell student Cody Maxwell when he refurbished the dugouts at Cornell’s baseball field and sponsored a lunch for Cornell teachers during teacher appreciation week, in conjunction with the Cornell PTC. Her support of the Coraopolis NAACP earned her a community service award from the organization and she serves as executive board president of Coraopolis Youth Creations, which provides recreational opportunities to children. She also supports various Cornell School District clubs and sports, including the drama club, volleyball team and baseball team. She’s a proud sponsor of the Moon Area Hockey Association as well and her office is a drop-off location for the Coraopolis Food Pantry, which is another cause she supports. After attending ministry school over the past two years, Tiffany is now an ordained minister and serves as administrative pastor at Grandview Church of God in Beechview. Tiffany R. Battaglini Insurance Agency The importance of life insurance Most people probably aren’t as passionate about the subject of life insurance as Tiffany Battaglini is, but she’s made it her life’s work to educate people about its importance. “Life insurance can be critical to a family’s financial well-being, and when shopping for insurance there are a number of key points everyone should consider,” says Battaglini. Here are some she says everyone should consider: Coverage Amount: What’s the appropriate coverage amount based on your needs and goals? Consider your financial responsibilities, such as outstanding debts, mortgage, education costs for dependents and income replacement for your family. Evaluating your family’s long-term financial obligations can help you determine the appropriate coverage level. Policy Type: Life insurance comes in different forms, such as term life insurance and permanent life insurance (e.g., whole life or universal life). Term life insurance provides coverage for a specific period, while permanent life insurance offers coverage throughout your lifetime. Understand the differences between these options and select the one that aligns with your financial objectives and finances. Premiums: Premiums can vary based on factors such as age, health, lifestyle and coverage amount. Choose a premium that is affordable for the duration of the policy. It’s also important to understand whether the premium is fixed or subject to change over time. Insurer’s Reputation: Consider the reputation and financial stability of an insurance company. Look for established companies like Erie Insurance with a strong track record in the industry. A reputable insurer ensures that your policy will be honored and that your beneficiaries will receive the intended benefits when the time comes. Tiffany R Battaglini Insurance Agency LLC offers a complete line of individual life insurance products crafted to meet a family’s specific needs, including whole life insurance, term life insurance, universal life insurance and fixed annuities. The agency works to provide clients with the coverage they want and helps them make sound, informed decisions. “Our philosophy is to fully understand objectives and then translate them into solutions that provide assurance and peace of mind,” says Battaglini. Tiffany R. Battaglini Tiffany R. Battaglini Insurance Agency is located at 1108 5th Avenue in Coraopolis. Visit www.tiffanybattagliniinsurance.com or call them at (412) 375- 7183. Tiffany Battaglini’s work in the community includes sponsoring the Coraopolis Youth Baseball League (top) and serving as executive board president of Coraopolis Youth Creations (above). 16 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2023Business Profile Business Profile Depending on the way you look at it, January of 2020 was either a very good or very bad time for Ryan Ray and Sandee Toulouse to establish their joint Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty team in Moon Township. On the one hand, COVID-19 shutting down the country, upending the economy and throwing a wrench in the way real estate transactions are completed wasn’t good. On the other hand, the pandemic kicking off the strongest housing market in decades wasn’t exactly bad. Either way, by the end of their first year in business, the Ryan Ray and Sandee Toulouse Team of Real Estate Agents had brokered $25 million in sales. The team hasn’t slowed down since. In their second year, they racked up $33 million in sales. Ask Toulouse what’s been behind that success and she’ll attribute it both to a continuing strong housing market and their team of local experts with a century of experience between them. “We’re really fortunate that we’ve had the right pieces fall into place that we have,” says Toulouse. “We now have a team with diversified knowledge about the industry, with good skills in everything from customer service, to finance and marketing. We’re also locals who genuinely care about the area and our results speak for themselves.” A 37-year veteran of the industry and lifelong area resident, Toulouse teamed up with Ray after he moved to the area from Ocean City, Maryland to be near his wife’s family. By that time, both agents had established themselves as consistent, multi-million dollar producers with numerous awards and certifications between them. They teamed up with Abby Margo of Moon Township, who had honed her skills in Berkshire Hathaway’s technology sector. Toulouse says her skills and familiarity with the complicated real estate transaction process are an asset from the time they list a property all the way to the close of the sale. Moon Area High School alumnus Brad Tumulty, meanwhile, joined the team after earning his bachelor’s in business management from Robert Morris University. Ray says Tumulty’s negotiating skills are top notch and that his 24/7 availability to clients has proven to be a valuable asset. Ray says the team was also fortunate to get Ernie Leopold to join their team. A 30-year veteran of the real estate industry and lifelong Findlay Township resident, he says Leopold is an expert on the area, and regularly lends that expertise to the community by serving on numerous boards for local government and community groups. Adam Buczko, meanwhile, joined the team after spending many years in customer service with companies such as US Airways, Dish Network and BMW. The team’s administrator, Brandi Sieracki of Moon Township, jumped on board after spending 20 years in various industries, including real estate and healthcare. Sieracki holds a BA in communications from the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown and Ray says she’s the glue that holds everything together. Despite the volume of work the team is currently handling, they’ve also found time to show their support for philanthropic efforts. The team has made it a tradition to ring the donation bell for the Salvation Army around Christmas time outside Giant Eagle Market District and to donate to the annual Wheels, Wings and Wishes car cruise. The event annually raises money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Sieracki’s brother, Bryan Benson, is an organizer of the event. The team not only sponsored this year’s car cruise but also sold cotton candy at it in an effort to raise additional funds. “If you’re serving a community you need to also be invested in it,” says Toulouse. Ray says the housing market continues to be strong, thanks to surging demand and low supply. For some of their recent luxury sales, see at right. “That’s made it a great market for sellers and all the more important that buyers have the right agent in their corner,” he says. For more about the team, visit ryanrayandsandeetoulouse.com. They can be reached at (412) 262-4630 or by calling Toulouse directly at (412) 720-9549. The Ryan Ray and Sandee Toulouse Real Estate Team ABOVE: Ryan Ray (third from right) and Sandee Toulouse (third from left) have assembled industry experts for their real estate team. They are: Ernie Leopold, Adam Buczko, Abby Margo, Brad Tumulty and Brandi Sieracki (not pictured). BELOW: The team sponsored the Wheels, Wings and Wishes car cruise in Moon Park to benefit Make-A-Wish in June and sold cotton candy to raise additional funds. July/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 17 CONTENT SUBMITTED July/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 17 1709 Beaver Grade Rd. Moon Twp - $625,000 221 Timberyoke Dr., Moon Twp - $549,900Your SchoolsYour Schools N St. James School CONTENT SUBMITTED JV co-ed soccer diocesan runners-up The JV spring soccer seven- versus-seven team finished its season as undefeated sectional champs and diocesan runners-up after a very tough championship game against Ave Maria that went to the very end. The school is proud of the sportsmanship, character, persistence and determination of the team, which was comprised of Derek D., Eli R, Kaleah R., Gabriella M.,Nico B., Alexis K., TJ M., Ian H., Jack R., Dustin D., Logan B., Faith F., Aric R. and Declan M. The team was coached by Coach Mars and Coach Ditrich. Class of 2023 graduates with record four Top Academic OLSH Scholarships The St. James Class of 2023 graduated June 5. The class of 22 students exemplified student leadership, dedicated volunteerism in their communities, and academic achievement throughout their eighth grade year. This marked the first year that St. James had a record four recipients of the St. John Neumann Merit Scholarship, the highest merit scholarship offered by OLSH. Each student will receive an annual scholarship of $7,500 and agree to follow a very rigorous academic schedule, including seven AP courses, while at OLSH. Recipients of the scholarship include: Carter W.-R., Francis I., Grant G. and Juliet P. Many awards were also presented to the Class of 2023 at commencement: The American Legion Award: Eva F. & Francis I. This award is based on honor, patriotism, courage, scholarship and leadership. Recipients are selected by their classmates. The Sr. Mary Dennis Award: Dominic K. This award is given to an individual who has shown the most progress throughout the years. The recipient is selected by the faculty. The Knights of Columbus Academic Achievement Award: Grant G. The recipient of this award has the highest grade point average in the graduating class. The St. James Women’s Guild Faith & Virtue Award: Faith W. This award is given to a student who has lived his/her Catholic faith by exemplifying a virtuous life. The Monsignor Must Award: Isaac T. This award is given to an individual who faithfully displays Christian values through an attitude of kindness and generosity toward all people. This high standard of conduct is coupled with a fine scholastic record. The recipient of this award is selected by the faculty. The Emily Jancart Scholarship Award: Francis I. This award is given to a student who exemplifies Emily’s spirit of faith and volunteering. The recipient is selected by the Jancart Family. OLSH Scholarships: Sr. Mary Denise Bernas Scholarship: Carter W.-R. Perfect Attendance Award K-8: Henry G. The JV spring soccer team celebrates winning its section. Pictured is the St. James graduating class of 2023. 18 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2023N Your Schools Your Schools New charter school opens to serve children with dyslexia Provident Charter School In February, Provident Charter School’s Board of Trustees announced that it had been approved by the Ambridge Area School District to establish Provident West. The public charter school is designed to help students in Ambridge and the surrounding communities, including Moon Area, who are struggling with dyslexia and other language-based differences. The school will help these students achieve success in the classroom. Provident West will be located at the former home of Quigley High School, at 200 Quigley Drive in Baden. The school is currently enrolling students in grades one through four for the 2023-2024 school year. Students and families interested in applying should contact Julie Ewing at: jewing@ providentcharterschool.org. “All of us at Provident are honored and proud to be working together with the Ambridge Area School District,” said Maria Paluselli, CEO, Provident Charter School. “Children with dyslexia often struggle in silence, but our curriculum addresses their needs, enabling many children to thrive in a supportive, specialized environment. Ultimately, after we work with students, our intent is to return them to their home school districts with effective reading skills, so they are prepared for high school and beyond.” According to Paluselli, the new location is the second for Provident. Its first location in the Troy Hill section of Pittsburgh, which opened in 2016, serves approximately 330 students in grades two through eight every year. Until Provident West was approved by the Ambridge Area School District, it was the only public school designed for students living with dyslexia or other language-based learning differences in the Commonwealth. Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder impacting word decoding, spelling tasks and reading fluency. Individuals with dyslexia may also present problems with processing and manipulating sounds, expressing themselves clearly or have difficulties understanding others when they speak. PCS West will enroll students who have a diagnosis of dyslexia, apraxia, specific language impairment or central auditory processing. If students do not have a diagnosis, testing that reveals reading scores in the 10th percentile or lower will be considered for enrollment. The school is publicly funded and provided free of charge to families. It features small group instruction with specialized lessons provided by educators who are specially trained in multi- sensory teaching. Provident School educators utilize the Wilson Reading System, which is based on Orton-Gillingham principles of instruction and accredited by the International Dyslexia Association. Visit www.providentcharterschool.org or call (412) 709-5160 for more information. St. James Theater delighted audiences with three performances of this year’s spring musical, “Into the Woods, Jr.” Set in the woods of a fairy-tale kingdom, “Into the Woods, Jr.” focuses on a baker and his wife who wish to have a child but must work together to reverse a witch’s curse to do so. Many other characters from Brothers Grimm tales are woven into this comedic and heartfelt musical, which featured a 17-member cast. PreK through eighth grade students enjoyed a special school performance, and public audiences were welcomed Friday and Saturday nights to the show. The finale performance was the crew’s best as they humored audiences and wowed them with their singing and acting talents. At the final performance, the cast and crew received a very well- deserved standing ovation. Britany Leddy served as director and music director. Pam Rogers was the production coordinator. Uriah Leddy was set design and technical director. Becky Belczyk was the assistant music director. Alisa Mosca was the scenic artist and Casey Corwin was the props mistress. Each dedicated countless hours from December through May to help students bring this production to life. Students perform “Into the Woods Jr.” St. James students performed “Into the Woods, Jr.” for their spring musical. Track: Under the lights at the track at North Allegheny Intermediate School, St. James track and field athletes earned individual medals, as well as team trophies, for both the varsity girls and varsity boys teams. The girls team placed third in A Division and seventh out of 17 teams in A and AA. The boys finished third in both A and AA with only four athletes. St. James’ youngest track athletes competed in the 2023 Diocesan Track Championships at Robert Morris University and had great success. Ian finished with five first-place medals while Dominic received a medal, securing the pair the first place team trophy in Division A. They also won second place overall in both divisions with just two members. Second grade girls Juliana, Grace, Giada and Alexis also medaled. PJAS Competition: After receiving a first place rating on their projects at the PJAS Region 7 competition, three St. James students - Ashley, Grant and Mira - advanced to participate in the PJAS state competition. Students presented their projects on the Penn State University campus to panels of judges. Grant and Ashley received first place awards for their projects while Mira received a second place award. Region 7 was well represented at the state competition, with three out of 10 special awards as well as six perfect scores. More St. James School News... July/August 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 19Next >