PLUS: West Allegheny community gets a new Book Bus page 14 Eagle Scout project honors memory of Sgt. Hayes Donaldson Elementary celebrates 20th anniversary FlyBy 5K reaches a milestone WA High School earns coveted National Blue Ribbon School Award One teacher’s passion for gardening grows minds Scout raises money for Imperial VFD Penned by Erma Dodd: Gratitude changes attitude North Fayette VFD celebrates 50 years M agazine West Allegheny Edition October/November 2023 FREE Direct Mail Community Publication One of 4 editions serving 17 airport area communities www.awmagazine.com West Allegheny School District Official Newsletter Inside Page 31 Allegheny WestOctober/November 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 34 • Allegheny West Magazine • October/November 2023 Dear Readers, Thank you for picking up our October West Allegheny issue of Allegheny West Magazine. This month, we’re bringing you several articles about anniversaries being commemorated in the West Allegheny community. Some are celebratory and others are bittersweet. First, on page 8, read about an Eagle Scout project that pays tribute to the memory of beloved local police Sgt. Michael Hayes. This project was dedicated recently, almost a year after Hayes passed away from advanced colon cancer. Then, on page 16, read some history about the North Fayette VFD, as recollected by some longtime members, on its 50th anniversary. On page 20, read about a special dedication to Tuskegee Airmen that was held at Pittsburgh International Airport on the anniversary of a special exhibit there and look back on the history of Donaldson Elementary School on its 20th anniversary on page 22. In this issue as well, read how another local scout raised money for the Imperial VFD on page 10, and on page 14 read our cover story about the new West Allegheny Book Bus. On page 31, get caught up on news at West Allegheny School District in the latest WA Today, including the high school being named a National Blue Ribbon School. On pages 38-42, check out upcoming area events, including community happenings, parks and recreation programming and Western Allegheny Community Library programs. Look for our next issue in December, when we’ll be bringing you our rundown of area holiday events. Until then, I hope you enjoy the fall season. Doug Hughey, Publisher/Editor From the Publisher West Allegheny Edition ~ October/November 2023 { } Contents - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 10 14 16 20 22 31 31 36 38 40 42 46 Allegheny West Magazine-West Allegheny Edition is published in February, April, June, August, October, and December, six issues a year, Hughey Publications, LLC, P. O. Box 220, McDonald, PA 15057. Mailed and distributed free to residents and businesses in Findlay, North Fayette, Oakdale, Sturgeon, a portion of McDonald, and adjacent areas. 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- 2023 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. 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 left- over 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 Montour edition of Allegheny West Magazine. MEMBER Allegheny West Magazine - West Allegheny, is an all positive, good news publication mailed free into the homes and businesses of the West Allegheny School District communities of Findlay, North Fayette, Oakdale, Sturgeon and McDonald 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 Erma Dodd Pat Jennette Eagle Scout project honors memory of Sgt. Hayes Scout raises money for Imperial VFD New Book Bus goes into service North Fayette VFD celebrates 50 years FlyBy 5K reaches a milestone Donaldson Elementary celebrates 20th anniversary WA Today WA High School earns National Blue Ribbon School Award One teacher’s passion for gardening grows minds Upcoming Events Parks and Recreation Library Programs Penned by Erma Dodd Amy McDonald, director of the Western Allegheny Community Library, is pictured with Dr. Jerri Lynn Lippert, West Allegheny School District superintendent, and Mark Schmitt, owner of Monark Student Transportation, following a ribbon cutting for the new West Allegheny Book Bus in August. They were joined by community members for a special ribbon cutting to commemorate the new bus, which is a collaborative effort between the three organizations. When the last book bus went into service in 2015, it was also featured in Allegheny West Magazine. Pages from that issue are pictured in the frame held by McDonald and Lippert. For more, see page 16. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEYOctober/November 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 56 • Allegheny West Magazine • October/November 2023 Heritage Valley Health System New Medical Neighborhood Hours For ConvenientCare, Lab & Diagnostic Services at Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood The ConvenientCare clinic, Lab and Diagnostic Imaging services located within Heritage Valley Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood now close at 7:30 p.m. on Monday-Saturday and at 3:30 p.m. on Sundays. Please note that holiday hours will vary. Heritage Valley’s Medical Neighborhoods provide access to healthcare services in one convenient location. In addition to the services listed above, our Medical Neighborhoods house a variety of other services, including physician practices (Primary Care, Pediatrics, OB/GYN and Specialists), Rehabilitation Services and BusinessCare, our Occupational Health and Worksite Wellness program. Because the Neighborhoods are part of Heritage Valley’s integrated delivery network, all services are connected through Heritage Valley’s Electronic Health Record system. For more information and a complete listing of our Medical Neighborhoods, including the services that each one offers, please visit www.heritagevalley.org/services/medical-neighborhoods/.October/November 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 7 Heritage Valley Health System Schedule your MRI or PET-CT close to home Schedule your MRI or PET-CT scan at one of these convenient locations: Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood 2201 Park Manor Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15205 Heritage Valley Kennedy 25 Heckel Road McKees Rocks, PA 15136 You can schedule your MRI or PET-CT at a convenient community site! Heritage Valley offers traditional closed MRI at its Heritage Valley Kennedy hospital, and open-bore MRI at its Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood. While certain areas of the body require that a traditional closed MRI be used, the open-bore machine may accommodate patients who are claustrophobic or have a larger body type. Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-CT scans are available at the Robinson Township Medical Neighborhood. Heritage Valley accepts all major insurances. To schedule your MRI, call 866-901-IMAG (4624). To schedule your PET-CT scan, call 866-251-0710.CAround Your Town Around Your Town North Fayette Township Supervisors recognized members of Scout Troop 301 during their regular meeting in August for installing a bench outside the township’s police station entrance in memory of late township police Sgt. Michael Hayes. The bench was the product of an Eagle Scout project undertaken by troop member Jacob Schubert, who graduated earlier this year with the West Allegheny High School Class of 2023. Prior to the recognition, Rep. Valerie Gaydos also presented Hayes’ widow, Jennifer Hayes, with an official proclamation recognizing her husband’s service to the community. For 26 years, Sgt. Hayes served as a police officer with North Fayette and in 2016 succeeded Sgt. John Bates as the school resource officer at West Allegheny. There, he oversaw emergency preparedness operations and led a number of clubs dedicated to helping young people make good decisions. He also served for a time as vice president of the Pennsylvania Association of School Resource Officers. Sgt. Hayes passed away nearly one year prior to the dedication, in September of 2022, following a battle with advanced colon Eagle project honors memory of Sgt. Hayes STORY AND PHOTOS BY DOUG HUGHEY cancer. The bench dedicated to him is engraved with the words “Everything is going to be okay,” which was a frequent refrain of his, the Hayes family says. “Even at the end he was more worried always about comforting us and making sure we were going to be ok,” recalls Sgt. Hayes’ daughter, Courtney Hayes. “It was just his way all through life, the anxieties, worries. He’d say, ‘Everything is going to be okay.’ Hopefully, as officers come in each morning and walk past the bench, they’ll feel a little bit of that as well.” Schubert says he arranged to install the bench for his Eagle Scout project and worked with North Fayette Building and Grounds Superintendent Shaun Leslie on the idea. Schubert says he knew Sgt. Hayes well and first met the officer when Sgt. Hayes was introduced to his class at Donaldson Elementary School in 2016. Over the years, as Schubert advanced through grade levels, he continued to encounter Sgt. Hayes. Much more than just a uniformed presence on campus, Sgt. Hayes was involved in many clubs that put him in direct contact with students. He led a Survival 101 course for students earning their driver’s license, drug awareness classes, the Students in Action club, the SADD club and others. Sgt. Hayes also organized the school’s annual mock car crash. Held around prom time, the event serves as a training exercise for first responders and a warning to students considering getting behind the wheel while impaired. As with many people who came in contact with Sgt. Hayes, Schubert says it was the officer’s even temperament and good- natured attitude that stood out most to him. “I was introverted so I started talking to him and opening up to him,” Schubert recalls about when he first met Sgt. Hayes. “He was a really nice guy. Once you talked to him and walked away from a conversation, you felt a lot better about yourself. It was just really nice to talk to this type of guy. He gave positive energy.” After meeting with Leslie, Schubert says he approached Jennifer Hayes with the idea for the bench and that she suggested the phrase that was engraved on it. Schubert presented his project to township supervisors for approval prior to beginning work. After the township arranged for the ordering and engraving of the bench, Schubert says he and his fellow troop members installed it. Sgt. Hayes’ mother, Judy Hayes, described it as a fitting tribute. “It’s a beautiful dedication to my son,” she says. ABOVE: Members of Scout Troop 301 assisted Jacob Schubert (at center) with the installation of this bench outside the North Fayette Police Department in memory of police Sgt. Michael Hayes. They are pictured with Hayes’ widow, Jennifer Hayes (left); daughter, Courtney Hayes (center); and mother, Judy Hayes (right). BELOW: State Rep. Valerie Gaydos presents Jennifer Hayes with a proclamation shortly before the above photo was taken. Sgt. Michael Hayes poses for a photo with elementary students at West Allegheny, where he served as SRO. PHOTO SUBMITTED 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • October/November 2023 Follow Allegheny West Magazine on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for updates and more.October/November 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 9Next >