2
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
WITH A TRACTOR THAT CAN DIG IT. 1023E SUB-COMPACT TRACTOR
with loader and backhoe
$16,999
1
I Love Dirt! 1023E (TRACTOR ONLY)
starting at
99/MO.
$ MiddletownTractor.com
Fairmont, WV 2050 Boyers Dr. 877.98.DEERE
2
Uniontown, PA
655 Pittsburgh Rd. 800.883.5296
Washington, PA
910 Henderson Ave. 888.892.7276
(1)Offer ends 5/31/2019. Prices and model availability may vary by dealer. Some restrictions apply; other special rates and terms may be available, so see your dealer for details and other financing options. Available at participating dealers. (2) Offer valid on new 1023E Compact Tractor purchases made between 1 February 2019 and 31 May 2019. Subject to approved installment credit with John Deere Financial. Up to a 20% down payment may be required. Example: Based on a purchase of $10,419 with $2,084 down payment, monthly payment of $99 at 0% APR for 84 months. Taxes, freight, set up and delivery charges could increase monthly payment. Available at participating U.S. dealers. Price and model availability may vary by dealer. Offer available on new equipment and in the U.S. only. Prices and savings in U.S. dollars. MTR5X80426GS-4C
MAKE YOUR MAIN FACTOR...MIDDLETOWN TRACTOR MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
3
W
I Love this P l a ce
hen is a fort not a fort? When the fighting ends, it seems. The village of Ryerson Station, with its history of frontier forts, block houses and nearby massacres is easy to find on a map but hard to see when driving through on State Route 21.It’s a scattering of houses at a crossroads that runs from Aleppo to Nebo Ridge - and watch out for those Marcellus trucks that thunder by in both directions! What’s left of the village sits at the foot of a winding hill leading to Wheeling and the Ohio River. During the unsettled and unsettling years after the American Revolution, Ohio is where raiding parties came in. A string of forts was built from Fort Pitt south to Fort Ryerson as indigenous people were pushed into the Ohio territories and settlers, mostly Revolutionary War veterans, moved west to find their promised land. Land speculators like Robert Morris, one of the financiers of the Revolution, were already purchasing neat 400-acre squares of property in this hilly corner of the state and Virginia patents were being parlayed for land grants. Morris sold a tract called Valladolid to Thomas Ryerson and there’s an historic marker bearing his name in Wind Ridge celebrating one of the three blockhouses built by Captain James Paul’s company in 1792 during the last years of the “Indian uprisings.” According to Bates History of Greene County, “the authorities of Virginia had a fort built” at the confluence of the north and south forks of Dunkard branch of Wheeling Creek “to the defense of which Captain James Seals was sent.” Thomas Lazear and a man named Teagarden arrived with him. After the battle of Fallen Timber in the Ohio territories ended the Indian Wars in 1795, those three
Marker in Wind Ridge marks one of Ryerson’s blockhouses.
4
blockhouses became dwellings and the hand-hewn timbers of Ryerson Fort were most likely repurposed by frugal frontier farmers. Today, the land surrounding the confluence flanked by Wheeling Creek and Buckland roads is a woody glen, but descendants of those first settlers and militiamen still live here in “this fine stretch of valley with lines of interminable hills sweeping up on all sides.” And yes, Mr. Bates, now that a couple of centuries of farming has come and mostly gone, those hills lay fallow once more, covered with “luxuriant foliage.” One last handsome vestige of the prosperous farming days that followed still stands where Bristoria Road intersects with Rt. 21 then drops into the valley that is Ryerson Station - a big early 19th century brick house with five chimneys and a front yard facing the road. It was once a stagecoach stop and some still refer to it as the “old Supler place.” A 1977 article in the Tampa Tribune tells us that Pittsburgh attorney Valera Grapp Blair owned it in the mid 1970s and had it open for a year as the Ryerson Station Inn, specializing in desserts. Now it is the residence of Mitch and Leslie Swisher, who, from the looks of its well-tended grounds and the new pond in the bottom, are good stewards of this fine piece of the past. While the south fork meanders into town along Aleppo Road, the north fork runs through Ryerson Station State Park along Bristoria Road before dodging the hill to Wind Ridge on its way to the Ohio River. A plaque along the bank by the park office marks the spot where members of the Davis family were attacked and murdered in 1787. Later, a covered bridge took de-
Davis Family Massacre is commemorated at Ryerson Station State park.
RYERSON STATION, PA by Colleen Nelson scendants of Thomas Lazear across the creek through rich bottomland to their stately brick home where park manager Allan Johnson now lives. Theirs was a prosperous farm that would one day be a park when the state bought it in the late 1950s, built a dam and named the captured waters Duke Lake. Joyce Baldwin Coss graduated West Greene in 1963 and lives in Waynesburg but she remembers how much fun it was to be a kid growing up on that big north fork that once powered Vannatta’s Steam and Water Mill back in the day. “After a storm they’d open the spillway on the dam at the park and the water would rise. We kids would get truck tires and float past where you say the fort was.” Her grandfather George Minton Baldwin owned the big house across the road from the old Baptist church in the village. Under its wooden clapboard siding lurked the logs of another one of Captain James Paul’s blockhouses. Joyce remembers when Ed and Sally McCracken owned the store beside the church and popsicles were a nickel. McConnell’s Map of Greene County shows J.S. McClellan had a store there in 1865. My memories of the old building come from going to meetings there twice a month when it was Aleppo Grange. One memory worth saving was Tuesday, April 3, 2001 when a truck hauling a load of 34,000 pounds of wet cement lost control on that winding hill and plowed into Jim and Theresa Carroll’s home. It sat on the lot between the church and the grange and thankfully no one was home that morning. But the grange was open for a yard sale that week and some members were inside getting ready for another day of shopping when it happened. My eyewitness report appeared in the Observer-Reporter that Friday: “Broken on its foundation, it creaked and swayed for hours until a push from a front-end loader sent it tumbling down into dry kindling. As friends, neighbors and family members gathered the next day to salvage what was left, the Carrolls found the saw, painted by Sandy Whipkey of Graysville just weeks before, spattered with concrete but otherwise unscathed, in the ruin of the living room.” Granger Lorraine Keenan made spaghetti and in-
Sketch of the old blockhouse being removed in 1990. GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
vited workers over for lunch. Television crews and insurance adjusters came and went and by Thursday the neighborhood turned out to watch Tommy Chess and the firefighters of Richhill Township hose down the walls of the grange and church, then do a controlled burn. Venison stew was on the menu and I still had time to make my deadline for the Friday paper. As the long wall panels of Bailey Mine came calling from Enon at the eastern edge of Nebo Ridge, times changed once again. Like South Wheeling Baptist Church, Aleppo Grange accepted CONSOL Energy’s offer to sell its coal rights and relocate. We packed our regalia, rounded up our assets and rechartered with Harveys Grange in Graysville to become Harveys Aleppo Grange. You can see our 21st century electronic sign as you approach Graysville from the east or pass it from the west, advertising upcoming craft classes, cinch tournaments, bingos and monthly meetings. Come on down! The old blockhouse is gone, but lives a new life in Peters Township as an historic restoration with the pedigree to prove it. Doug Grim built a fine new home on the shelf of hillside where the decommissioned fortress became an inn, providing food and lodging to travelers going to and from Wheeling before Francis Drake bought it and later sold it to the Baldwin family sometime in the 1880s. Life goes on. And so do friendships made in little country villages. Joyce’s memories of growing up in Ryerson Station when it had stores and kids to play with who became like family and neighbors up and down both forks of this branch of Wheeling Creek are warm. Her dad and his friends had Harleys, Indians, Nortons, Hondas, and BMWs and went country riding on sunny days. Homes could pay an extra two dollars
a month and have a separate phone line to Cameron, WV to save on long distance charges. She and her friends played cards at Paul and Elaine Lyons store around the bend on the way to Wind Ridge. Joyce grew up across the road from Lyons store and garage and the north fork was her back yard. Sometime in the 1970s, Lyons added a campground when Ryerson Station State Park began drawing out of town visitors but by that time Joyce was out of the nest and living and working in Waynesburg. Her favorite memory of childhood, she tells me, is getting her go-cart over to the cornfield on the other side of the creek to race with her friends on the weekends. “It’s the most exciting thing I’ve ever done!” Coming back to Ryerson Station to write this story has been a wonderful walk through time, meeting old friends and digging deep into history to see the pattern of change that allows the present to be where we build on the best the past has to offer. The folks who live here wouldn’t have it any other way. Joyce’s childhood friend Jean McClelland Guthrie and Wind Ridge postal carrier Harvey Chambers share a property line on the land around the confluence and have invited me and Matt Cumberledge, director of the Greene County Historical Museum to poke around there and see what traces of the fort might be found. Stay tuned!
This saw shows what the house looked like before the cement truck destoyed it.
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
The blockhouse found new life as an elegant historical dwelling in Peters Twp,
Ryerson Station today, at the crossroads of Aleppo and Wheeling Creek roads.
The old Supler house was once a stagecoach stop and is well-tended by its present owners X and X.
5
G reen e Sce n e of the Pa st
Revisiting the Ryerson Station blockhouse has been a real adventure for me – I had drawn it for the 1991 Greene Country Calendar, working from a photo taken by calendar partner Wendy Saul in 1990. That July, the clapboard that covered the 200-year-old building with its 8 inch by 14 inch thick logs came off and the blockhouse that once offered safety to its neighbors stood revealed once more for all the world to see. In a few days it would be dismantled by contractors, who knew how to do the job in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation for Historic Preservation Projects. But for now it waited for Wendy to take its farewell photo and for me to give it new life in pen and ink. Fellow artist David Lesako, himself a rescuer of old log cabins, did sketches and paintings too. He had helped lead the charge in the 1990s to save the original Greene County courthouse on Greene St. Waynesburg that now houses the Greene County Genealogical Society. Its logs had also been preserved under layers of exterior sidings and it survived the centuries as a private residence and later, as Davins Strip Shop. Now it was up for sale and Dave’s letters to the editors bemoaning the history that was being lost in the haste to “take paradise and put up a parking lot” brought attention to this rare artifact, built in 1795 when Greene County was carved out by legislative decree and Waynesburg was surveyed to be its county seat. Thanks to a community now hungry for preservation and willing to roll up its sleeves, the courthouse was bought, deconstructed, repaired and rebuilt by volunteers in time for the county’s 1995 bicentennial. Happily, the craze to save historic log cabins was on and contractors and history buffs alike realized the value of those old log structures. The details of who bought Ryerson’s blockhouse and what happened to it had slipped from common memory by the time I started working on this story. All anyone, including Dave and I could remember was that a couple from Washington County bought it and turned it into a fabulous home. I hit pay dirt when I stopped by New Beginnings Ryerson Baptist Church and was told that former owner Minton Baldwin had a granddaughter named Joyce who married Randy Cox. Maybe she knew something. I found Randy in the phone book and was rewarded with these photos and the clippings Joyce saved when the $12,000 sale of the blockhouse was big news. And in the process I made some new friends and got to admire a garage full of antique steamer trunks that Joyce and Randy restore for fun and profit. Win win! Thank you Pittsburgh Press for sending photographers to document the work that was done in 1990 to ready the old blockhouse for its new beginnings. And thank you Jim and Joyce Mitchell for taking this project
by Colleen Nelson
The Ryerson Station blockhouse, prior to its deconstruction in July 1990.
on.
“It took three weeks to get the building ready for dismantling, which took about a day. Erection on the new site took three days,” the article tells us. But the finish work was another story. Heavy rains in July delayed the moving date and work on the new foundation at its new home in Peters Township. The Mitchells would not move in until February 1991. On March 17, the Press published this feature article in its Sunday magazine, describing the finished product along with photos of its Colonial charm. Workers begin dismantling the blockhouse. Dormers had been added to the attic and a wall was knocked out downstairs to make a home…One of the state’s largest long structures, it has large combination living and dining room but the au- handcrafted woodwork, forged replica hardware and thentic character of the 34 by 64 foot structure was pre- reproduction tin lighting. Original fireplaces and floorserved. The original kitchen was turned into a “keeping ing remain, but modern amenities have been added. room” a Colonial term for a gathering place, less for- $399,000.” mal than a dining room. Fireplaces, mantles, flooring I haven’t found out who the new owners might be and an old cupboard were also saved, along with pun- but I did find a puncheon board that the contractors cheon floor boards that were made from trees being cut left behind, probably because it was cracked. Dave reslengthwise, using the flat side as the floor and leaving cued it from the burn pile after the cabin was moved the underside unworked except for the ends which were and stashed it in his barn in New Freeport. This original trimmed to fit on beams and sills. piece of history has now been donated to the Greene A later, undated real estate magazine photo that County Historical Society Museum to help tell the story Joyce also saved shows the blockhouse again up for sale: of how things were made on the frontier when all the “The Mitchell/Ryerson Blockhouse – this c. 1790 log tools that a contractor had was an axe and an adz.
If you have an interesting old photo from the area you’d like to share, just send it to: GreeneScene of the Past, 185 Wade Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370. Or email to: info@greenescene.com with GreeneScene Past in subject line. The GreeneScene Community Magazine can even scan your original in just a few minutes if you bring it to our office.
6
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
GreeneScene by Ruby Kirk
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
7
N
o one remembers when the first Baptist meeting house was built in Crabapple, but church records tell us that the congregation moved to Ryerson Station and built South Wheeling Baptist Church in 1874. “South Wheeling” describes the big creek in the back yard where baptisms happened. Ulysses Grant was president and Ryerson Station had grown from a frontier fortification into a bustling farming village on the road between Wheeling and points east. The white wooden church with its two front doors – one for men, one for women, fit right in with the times and folks came on foot and in buggies to practice their old time religion of self determination through following the example that Christ offered. It would be some130 years before the congregation would realize that the ticket to a 21st century church with these same values lay right under their feet, in the bituminous coal seams of Appalachia. Times were changing, attendance was declining as families moved away and the village had all but disappeared when CONSOL Energy offered to buy the coal rights in exchange for a new church a couple of miles up the road in 2006. “Some members were a little hesitant” but finally decided it was “too good a deal to pass up,” Pastor Phil Campbell Jr. told reporter Brandon Szuminsky when “New Beginnings” at Ryerson South Wheeling Baptist Church opened its doors that September. Ryerson had been added to the original name to distinguish it from the original church, and New Beginnings was added to celebrate a hopeful future. “The church that coal built” as Brandon headed his story, sits shiny and white on the hill above Ryerson on Roy Furman Highway and Headley Hollow Road. It has a God’s eye view of the rolling hills of Greene County and big double glass doors that all pass through to enter a new world of worship – speakers, electronics, two big screens flanking the alter spelling out the Word of God and the New Testament, accompanied by a praise team willing to rock the ages with Pastor Phil on bass guitar. I stopped by one Sunday and was greeted by people I’d known for years.
8
By Colleen Nelson “How’s Elise?” West Greene teacher Lorrie Cook asked me after service. Just fine! I tell her, working for her dad in Waynesburg building oxygen sequestration units. Lorri, Sharon Creech and her daughter Renee Cranmer make the heavenly harmonies that get parishioners moving as assistant pastor Ryan Tharp on rhythm, Bryan Yukon on lead guitar and Pastor Phil add their voices to the joyful sound. Sara Allen plays beautiful piano and Steve Allison was manning the drum kit the morning I was there – it’s usually Pastor Phil’s wife Janice on drums. But she and Pastor Phil were heading home from a visit to Kentucky, so Ryan gave the sermon and lead the praise team. When church was over, an Easter parade of kids came spilling out of the Sunday school classroom and the congregation gathered on the front steps for a photograph. I talked to Pastor Phil’s mom and dad, Phil and Marlene and got some great leads for my story about Ryerson. Church elder Roger Creech of Nineveh showed me the photo album of the new church being built
by a slew of hired contractors. Pastor Phil told me later that Open Door Baptist Church of Follansbee WV came for a week seven years ago to frame the addition that is now two classrooms and an office. New Beginnings is part of a cooperative of 21 churches here, in West Virginia and Ohio that help each other and their communities whenever the need arises. Two years ago New Beginnings helped out after Cameron was flooded, last year they helped rebuild a home in Copper Basin, Tennessee. This year “We’ll be looking to do something, God willing,” Phil said. Sunday School starts at 10:30 a.m. and Church Service is at 11. Visitors, old friends and neighbors are welcome!
Today’s congregation making new beginnings at Ryerson South Wheeling Baptist Church.
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
waynesburg Farmer’s Market
Presented by Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful Wednesdays from 10 am to 2 pm. The Waynesburg Farmers’ Market provides an opportunity for area residents to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs directly from the farmers and gardeners who grow them. The market also features baked goods, locally produced meats, and eggs. The market is located in the heart of downtown Waynesburg and will operate every Wednesday from mid-May through mid-October from 10 am to 2 pm. A hot lunch will be available, so downtown employees can shop the market during their lunch hour. Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful invites the community to the weekly Farmers’ Market to support local farmers and gardeners, socialize with friends
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
and neighbors and take part in a lively downtown event! Stop by, learn something, purchase some fresh items and treat yourself to a lunch, also provided by several vendors. The “Buy Local, Buy Greene” initiative continues to encourage spending in Greene County businesses and to educate consumers on the power of buying locally. Farmers markets are a great example of the many benefits buying locally provides. Learn more by visiting www.waynesburgpa.org/buylocal.
9
I
STILL TICKING By Rochelle McCracken
t’s a masterful piece bearing witness to time since it’s purchase in 1865. The cost for this magnificent clock was $10 (plus 1 cow!) and resides on the Throckmorton family farmstead. The antique wood -plated postman-style grandfather clock was recently restored to proper function and reinstalled in the farmhouse. The Throckmorton farm is owned by Ron Throckmorton, the descendant of John Throckmorton. John arrived in the US in 1631; the family history can be traced back to the crusades. The clock was originally purchased by Ron’s great-greatgrandfather, Job Throckmorton, in 1846 and later acquired at sale by his great-grandfather in 1898 after Job’s death. Originally the house was a two-room dwelling that used a 43-footdeep hand dug well. A new 5 room house was built in 1865 and included the installation of the grandfather clock. Since then some of the original property has been bought and sold, but the original house built in 1865 still exists today. Ron has been renovating the house and had the clock serviced by Jeffrey Baun. Have you ever wondered why it’s called a grandfather clock? It’s the result of an American song written in 1875 by Henry Work. While in London, Henry had visited the George Hotel in North Yorkshire, Eng-
Before (top) and after(bottom) Jeffrey restored part of the interior of the clock.
10
land. In the lobby sat a large clock with an interesting story. The large pendulum clock had belonged to owners of the Inn that had since passed away. It was said that the clock stopped dead to the minute at the death of the last remaining owner. Henry was fascinated by the tale and the song, “My Grandfather’s Clock” was born. The lyrics depict a clock that’s “taller by half than the old man himself ” and described how it “stopped short” and was “never to go again” upon the grandfather’s death. The term “Grandfather Clock” was coined at that moment. Some grandfather clocks have pendulums that are housed in a long case. Christian Huygens developed these pendulum clocks in 1656. They were a breakthrough in time keeping and due to their precision, the clocks most often used until 1930. Ron’s pendulum clock was housed in the wall of the home during its construction in 1865. The face is hand painted on carved wood with metal hands. The restoration included cleaning the clock face to stabilize and slow its deterioration from the effects of time. A vertical crack, visible in the face of the clock, was left unrepaired. Ron decided it was best to leave this crack unrestored. His sentiments are, “An antique such as this has earned its scars.” Another hand represents the date accounting for 31 days in the month. Corrections to time and the date are made by manually moving the minute hand around the dial. The movement of the pendulum regulates the advancement of the clocks hands a fixed amount with each swing. The pendulum’s bob can be turned to adjust the speed of the swing and is used to speed-up and slow down the time kept by the clock. Its power source is two metal cylinders, filled with metal chad, that act as weights. Each cylinder is suspended on its own chain and wraps around a sprocket. The clock is wound by pulling the free end of the chain, moving the cylinders up the housing. Gravity forces the cylinders down, rotating the chain sprockets and supplying the energy needed to power the clock’s movement. The working pieces are made of brass and metal that cannot be found in today’s market. Jeffrey machined any piece that needed to be replaced and then cleaned, adjusted and oiled the fine moving parts. Jeffrey took great care to return the clock to proper function and, along with the help of his wife Barbara, reinstalled the clock into its original place in the wall of Ron’s house. It was a glimpse of time passed. As the clock struck 11:00 and chimed
Jeffrey Baun and Joe Throckmorton with the restored clock.
The clock’s movement is powered by the two metal cylinders.
I thought how very special it was to witness this beautiful grandfather clock still functioning with purpose over a century and a half after it was built. Have an antique clock
The restored and installed clock.
that needs serviced? Jeffrey Baun owns and operates Antique Clock Service; contact him at 724-435-7276. GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
GreeneScene by Jade Rittenhouse
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
11
S po rt Sh or t s
A
YELLOW JACKETS NEW SOFTBALL COACH
fter the departure of head softball coach Richele Hall following the 2018 season, Waynesburg University didn’t look far to find the next leader of its program. Brett Shimek, who has built an outstanding reputation on both the baseball and softball field brings a wealth of coaching in both the high school game and the travel ball circuit to the Yellow Jackets. Shimek was an assistant coach at nearby Waynesburg Central High School from 2015 to 2018 and also served as head coach of the Margaret Bell Miller Middle School team in 2013 and 2014. In each of his four years with the Raiders, they qualified for the WPIAL playoffs, including a trip to the quarterfinal round this past spring. Prior to his coaching work in the Central Greene School District, Shimek began his time with the local travel teams in 2010 as the president and head coach of the Waynesburg Dirt Dawgs. In 2012 he took a position as the assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Power. The following year (2013) he moved up to head coach of the Power, before becoming an assistant coach with the PA Lady Knights in 2014, a position he continues to hold today. The Lady Knights were crowned National Softball Association champions in 2015, following a runner-up performance in 2014. Since 2014, the Knights have built up an impressive 223-15 record while working predominantly with players from Washington and Greene counties. During that same stretch, Shimek and the rest of the program’s administration have grown the program from one team to five. Shimek’s softball administrative experience stretches back to the first decade of the millennium. From 2007 to 2010 he spent time as both the president and vice-president of the Waynesburg Girls Softball Association. During his two years as president (2009-2010), Shimek helped raise $20,000 for the organization, all while also serving as president of the Mason-Dixon Girls Softball Association. Waynesburg’s new head coach hopes to use his connections to that local talent to lead the Yellow Jackets to the top of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC). “I’m very excited to work with the players in and around Washington and Greene. Southwestern Pennsylvania has a lot of great softball talent and I am
12
really looking forward to trying to bring them here and working with them,” Shimek said. “There are juniors and seniors that I interact with in the travel leagues that I think they will make great student-athletes, so I think the timing is perfect.” Shimek’s playing resume is equally as impressive as his coaching/administrative background. After lettering four years on the Waynesburg Central baseball team (19891992), as well as gathering four letters on the golf team and two more on the wrestling squad, he competed for two years at Penn State Beaver (1993-1994). Both years at Beaver, he was named first-team Junior College All-American as a catcher. Shimek then moved to California University (Pa.), where he was lauded as a twotime All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) honoree. After wrapping up his collegiate playing days, the Waynesburg native graduated with a degree in Parks and Recreation Management. When he isn’t on the ball field, Shimek is employed by Baily Insurance in Waynesburg as its Director of Operations. He resides in Waynesburg with his wife Taraha and the two have a daughter, Bailee, who is the starting first baseman at WCHS and a member of the
Lady Knights. Waynesburg University Director of Athletics Larry Marshall believes Shimek is a terrific fit to lead the Yellow Jackets.”Brett takes as much pride and puts as much effort into helping his players prepare for college or the professional world, as he does in making them better athletes,” Marshall said. “That commitment to developing outstanding allaround young women makes him a perfect fit for Waynesburg University.” Shimek mirrored Marshall’s comments when it comes to his approach to his players.”I’m most looking forward to working with the student-athletes to prepare them for post-graduation life,” Shimek said. “In my job, I do a lot of talent acquisition and if I can prepare them on and off the field for that next step, that’s what I’m looking forward to the most.” Shimek is joined in his first year on the job by assistant coaches Matt Tedrow and Bill Herbert, both of whom also boast strong ties to the local softball scene.
SURVEY WINNER!
Congratulations to Lorraine Mersing of Carmichaels, PA. She is our random winner of $100 cash for completing our 2019 Reader Survey.
PUZZLE WINNER!
Brett Shimek, has built an outstanding repuation and brings a wealth of knowledge to the Yellow Jackets.
Congratulations to Laura Johnson of Carmichaels, PA. She is our random winner of Greene Cuisine tickets from last issue’s puzzle contest. GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
Carmichaels HS 7th Annual Art Show
C
elebrate the creative talent on display from Carmichaels Area High School students in their 7th annual Art Show, which will take place Thursday, May 2, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria, at 215 N Vine St. Carmichaels, PA. Admission is free and the public is cordially invited to attend. Around 300 original works will be exhibited including ceramics, sculpture, painting, drawing,
printmaking, and mixed media. “The students’ best work from throughout the school year is saved for the Art Show,” says Marlynn White, art teacher. “I’m so proud of what they accomplished and it’s exciting to put it on display for the public to view.”
Junior Remington Renner, working on her charcoal drawings
Pastel drawing by senior Anna Glad.
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
Acrylic painting by sophomore Lexi Reynolds.
Colored pencil drawing by junior Cole Newland.
Coil sculpture by sophomore, Jessica Rychtarsky
13
S
Ramping Up for Spring
ing down south as far as Georgia. They have 1 or two broad, flat leaves measuring 1 to 2 ½ inches wide by 4 to 12 inches long. Throughout the Appalachians, ramps have always been revered as a favorite. It was a certain sign of spring when ramps came into season, and eventually ramp harvesting grew into gatherings with cooking and music, eventually evolving into the festivals we know today. Appalachians love of the pungent ramp helps support many local community organizations, through fundraising festivals and dinners. Nicholas County, West Virginia even had its very own Ramp King, Bato Crites. Bato, born in 1888, became known as the “King of Ramps” in Richwood, WV and the surrounding area. He was the 16th of 19 children in a WV family. Bato supposedly could locate ramps faster that any other person and was instrumental in their harvesting. He died in 1960. Richwood is still known as the “Ramp Capital of the World” and continues to hold an annual festival. Ramps were also used a folk remedy, a spring tonic, throughout the Appalachian region, thought to have restorative qualities and cleanse the blood. Ramps are high in vitamin C, so their use after long, cold winters by early settlers helped with scurvy and other nutritional troubles. Ramps began to reach national interest in the mid-1980s and exploded in popularity in the mid-90s when the New York Magazine published a story extolling the virtues of the wild leek. Ramps continued to grow in popularity, reaching a frenzy outside of the Appalachians where they are much harder to come by. In 2011, James Chamberlain, a research scientist with the United States Forest Service announces that ramps are being overharvesting due to foragers Bato Crites of Richwood, WV was known as “King of the Ramps.” Photo courtesy Richwood Chamber of Commerce. not acting sustainably.
pring has officially sprung and that means the Greene County area is gearing up for its annual festival season. In the upcoming months, Greene County will honor its rich heritage with festivals and fairs celebrating sheep & fiber, blacksmithing, wildflowers, coal mining, history, and, of course, food! Two of spring’s earliest celebrations are feasts of an Appalachian favorite, the ramp. Ramps (Allium tricoccum) are a scarce delicacy available only for a short time each spring, around late March and early April. They are one of the earliest wild edibles to emerge each spring. Also known as a wild leek, ramps aren’t actually a leek at all. Often confused with scallions, as well, ramps are known for their unique flavor, stronger than the mild onion flavor of a leek and more garlicky than a scallion. Ramps are native to the hardwood forests in the higher elevations of eastern North America, as far north as Canada and spread-
14
But there is a light: the Cherokee offer a traditional method that allows for sustainable ramp foraging – using a sharp knife, cut the leaves from the main bulb, leaving the bulb in the ground to continue to grow. . Other sustainable foraging practices include only harvesting one leaf per plant, not harvesting all plants in a patch, and cultivating them by growing your own, from seed or bulb transplant. In Greene County, their short growing and harvesting season is celebrated with two local events, a Ramp Festival in Mason-Dixon Park and a Ramp Dinner at the Mason-Dixon Historical Park at the end of April. This year the Ramp Festival at the Mason-Dixon Park is April 27 and 28,10am – 5pm. You can enjoy some ramp delicacies, as well as music, crafts, ramp vendors and more. On the other side of the Mason-Dixon line, stop by the MasonDixon Historical Park for their annual Ramp Dinner – the finest ramp dinner the Appalachians have to offer - on April 27 from 9am to 2pm, with a guided wildflower walk at 1:15pm. There are so many delicious ways to eat ramps – what better way to try as many as you can by going to a ramp festival?
Ramp Butter Recipe
1 lb unsalted butter, softened ½ lb ramps, minced kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Cream butter until smooth. Add minced ramps and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Use right away or store the rest by transferring butter mixture to a sheet of parchment paper, wax paper, or plastic wrap, placing on edge closest to you. Fold paper over and roll into a cylinder, twisting the ends; wrap airtight in foil. Chill until solid. Butter will keep refrigerated for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 4 months. Tip: Grill the ramps for 1-2 minutes before mincing them to get a smoky flavor. Recipe and photo courtesy Bon Appetit.
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
15
Happy (semi) Retirement, Shelly!
S
urprise! On March 29, Direct Results and the GreeneScene celebrated the (semi) retirement of one of its founders, Shelly Brown. Shelly’s friends and clients stopped by throughout the afternoon to congratulate Shelly and delight in the fun atmosphere at the Direct Results office – and enjoy some of the delicious barbeque and desserts available. Matt Stewart of Soldiers and Sons provided musical entertainment at the celebration. Thank you to everyone that worked hard to make the surprise party a success and thank you to everyone that stopped by to celebrate with Shelly on her big day. The next chapter in The Tale of Shelly Brown has yet to be written but we hope that it is full of good times and good people. If you want to hear a little bit more about the previous chapters in the tale, stay tuned for a special article sharing the story of GreeneScene Magazine and Direct Results. Enjoy your (semi) retirement, Shelly! We’ll miss you!
Shelly with her welcome sign.
Surprise! The staff at Direct Results welcomes Shelly to her party.
Cookies provided by Your Cookie Rookie.
This antique chest was presented to Shelly, full of gifts from friends and clients.
Shelly and graphic designer Molly proudly hold up Molly’s gift to Shelly, a charcoal sketch of Shelly and her horse.
16
Guests enjoy barbeque and dessert while watching a slideshow of Shelly’s life.
Music provided by Matt Stewart.
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
Washington Health System continues to be your partner in healthcare by offering services and specialists right outside your front door. WHS Family Medicine Waynesburg 343 E. Roy Furman Hgwy, Waynesburg
WHS Center for Mental Health and Wellbeing 130 Greene Plaza Drive, Waynesburg
WHS Wound Care Services 220 Greene Plaza, Waynesburg
WHS OB/GYN Care 343 E. Roy Furman Hgwy, Waynesburg
WHS Foot and Ankle Specialists 220 Greene Plaza, Waynesburg
WHS Occupational Medicine 220 Greene Plaza, Waynesburg
WHS Outpatient Diagnostic and Lab Services 343 E. Roy Furman Hgwy, Waynesburg
WHS Nephrology 220 Greene Plaza, Waynesburg
WHS Cardiovascular Care 350 Bonar Ave., Waynesburg
WHS Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery 220 Greene Plaza, Waynesburg
Accepting new patients
Call the WHS Physician referral line for more information.
(724) 250-4310
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
17
2019 Miss Rain Day Accepting Applications
Rain Day Scholarship, Inc. is accepting applications for the 2019 Miss Rain Day Scholarship Pageant. The pageant, celebrating its 41st year, will be held on Sunday, July 28th at the Waynesburg Central High School Auditorium. The pageant is open to girls ages 14 to 17 as of Rain Day, July 29, 2019, who also must reside in Greene County, Pennsylvania. A Kick-Off Banquet is planned for Tuesday, May 14th at the Glass Room located in Benedum Hall on the Waynesburg University campus. Throughout the summer the contestants will take part in several activities, including a dinner/theater trip, a Wild Things Baseball game, community service project, rehearsals, photo shoots, and naturally, the Rain Day Festival. Each contestant will compete in a Personal Interview, Sportswear, Talent and Evening Gown competition. Scholarship awards will be presented in the following categories: Miss Photogenic, Miss Personality, Rain Maker Award, Kelly Smotzer Memorial Award, Remo Bertugli Memorial Award, John O’Hara Award, Top Talent, Evening Gown Winner, Sportswear Winner and Personal Interview Winner. The new Miss Rain Day 2019 and her court will serve as the guests of honor during this year’s Rain Day Celebration. Rain Day Scholarship, Inc. in the spirit of its mission will again offer the Scholastic Achievement Award introduced in 2012. This optional award recognizes a candidate for her outstanding academic achievements based on her current grade point average. The entry fee to compete is $60 payable before the deadline of May 1st. To enter
the pageant between May 2nd and May 4th, the entry fee is $70 with the final deadline of May 4th. To obtain further information or an application, please contact Rain Day Scholarship, Inc. by calling 724.747.4506 or 724.592.6032 or visiting www.missraindaypageant.org. Applications are also available at the local high schools, local dance studios and local piano and vocal teachers.
Loren Schroyer, Miss Rain Day 2018 mails 2019 Miss Rain Day Pageant Applications. Loren, Miss Rain Day will oversee the activities leading up to the 2019 Scholarship Pageant, “This year has shaped me into what I want to become and what I stand for.” Photo Credit: Jeanine Henry
4-H Members Attend Livestock Field Day & Rabbit School Members of the Greene County 4-H Clubs attended the Northwest Region Livestock Field Day in Brookville, PA on March 2. Members participated in informational classes about different kinds of livestock,
18
as well as, trailer safety and manure management. Members also participated in a skillathon where prizes were given. Members attending were Cody Harris, Jesse Cooke, Allison Pecjak and Leader Brenda Kramer. Members of the Greene County 4-H Rabbit Club also attended the annual Westmoreland County Rabbit School at St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe, PA. Members participated in several different rabbit classes of their choosing and participated in a skillathon competition. Members attending were Brielle Whipkey, Allison Pecjak, Deakin Whipkey, Jack Keener, Isaiah Keener, Samuel McClain and leader Katrina Whipkey. GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
G ree ne Art ifacts By Matthew Cumberledge, GCHS Executive Director
THE 140TH REGIMENT & CAPTAIN JOHN F. MCCULLOUGH
W
hat is it about an artifact? Is it the object itself, or is it the story it wants to tell? For us out here at the Greene County Historical Society it’s all about the tale to be told. History, after all it’s what we do! This month’s articles are both from the Civil War. They relate to Captain John F. McCullough, Commanding Officer of Company A, 140th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. On the left is an incredible Carte de Visite (CDV) photo of Captain McCullough, done by Purvlance, formerly on the corner of Fifth and Wood Streets in Pittsburgh. We’ve also got a receipt; issued by Lieutenant John M. Rosly of the 14th NY Independent Battery to Captain McCullough, where he turned in equipment, including several “Springfield” Rifled Muskets. These two small pieces of history remind of us a time not so very long ago when peace in the United States was turned upside down. A time when brother literally fought brother. Greene County, because it is located in the extreme southwestern portion of the state, saw instances where families were split apart dues to differing loyalties during the Civil War. In August of 1862, Captain McCullough, along with J.J. Purman and David Taylor met in the old Hamilton House Hotel in Waynesburg, organized and began what ultimately became Company A of the 140th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. All three of these men had “abandoned all business” and dedicated themselves to the birth of this new company. Of all the anecdotes of the history of Company A of the 140th Infantry Regiment, one stands out as being an especially fun story. This
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
is as related by J.J. Purman: “We had not been but a few days on the road, until we were called upon to try our mettle as guards. Our custom was to place a corporal and three or more men at each bridge we were guarding. One very dark night the corporal at the bridge about one mile south of our barracks came breathlessly rushing in saying that he believed a party of men were going to set fire to the bridge. He saw them in the woods with torches and acting very suspiciously. The Captain [McCullough] immediately ordered the First Lieutenant to take a Sergeant and twenty men, and double quick down to that bridge, and disperse those bridge burners. Guns were loaded and the officer buckled on his revolver, and we were at that bridge in a few minutes. Sure enough there was a party in the woods near the bridge with torches, who were hailed in a very peremptory manner, as to their business with torches that time of night. After careful examination they were able to give a satisfactory account of themselves. They were good and loyal citizens on a Fox Hunt! This was our first meeting with the supposed enemy and the boys were quite excited!” History is full of unique personal and human stories, not just facts and dates. Here at the Greene County Historical Society, we aim to make history come to life!
19
SUNDAY
MONDAY x
TUESDAY
Senior Monday x
WEDNESDAY
Flea Market, 1 Movie Night, 2 Senior Cornhole, Makerspace Club, Flenniken Book Club STEAMing Through Coal Country
MAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
4
Play & Learn Science, Designer Bag Bingo
Children’s Mental Health 10 Awareness Picnic, Crafternoon
Raising Children in 2019, 11 After Hours for Families
Dock to Lock 5K, Basic First Aid, Spring Vendor Fair, Touch A Truck, Lego Brick Masters, Play & Learn Science, Ladies Night Out
Remake Learning Days, 16 Movie Night
Warrior Trail Meeting 17
18
SWPA HauntedCon, Sheep & Fiber Festival, Ladies Luncheon, Cruisin’ for Music, Remake Learning Days, Play & Learn Science
Pie & Bingo 25
Lego Brick Masters, Watercolor & Wine, Concert Series #1
Becky Sharrat of Dilliner, PA took this photograph of her chickens all in a row.
Crafternoon 3
Want your photo featured on our calendar? Send them in at GreeneSceneMagazine.com!
5
Cash Bash 6
Senior Monday, 7 Zumbathon
Flea Market, 8 TAG, Adult Book Club, Movie Night, PowerPoint Training
Robotics Club, 14 Flea Market, 15 Bowlby Book Club PowerPoint Training, Cornerstone Genealogical Society Meeting
Brown bag Book Club, 9 Movie Night, Makerspace Club, Salt Rising Bread Workshop
12
Mother’s Day Buffet 13
19
Sheep & Fiber Festival 20
21
Flea Market, 22 TAG, Adult Coloring Group
Brown Bag Book Club, 23 Movie Night
Drop of History 24
26
27
Memorial Day Service 28
Flea Market , 29 Cookbook Club, Greene Co. Photo Club Meeting
Movie Night 30
31
Korean Traveling Wall
Want more events? Visit greenescenemagazine.com’s online event calendar!
1
Movie Night 6pm @ Bowlby Library. Every Wednesday. Free popcorn and beverage. Visit evakbowlby.org/events for film titles. FMI: call 724-627-9776.
Book Club 6 - 7pm @ Flenniken Library.. 1st Tuesday of each month. FMI: flenniken. org or 724-966-5263
Makerspace Club 5/1, 5/8 – 6-7pm. Children grades 3-8, engineering and design challenges.
Movie Night 6-8pm @ Flenniken Library. Watch The Kid Who Would Be King.
STEAMing Through Coal Country 6-8pm @ Carmichaels HS. Code, robotics, 3d printing, and more.
PowerPoint Training 5/7, 5/14 – 6-8pm @ EQT REC Center. Register at eqtreccenter.org.
2
Crafternoon 5/2, 5/9 – 3:30 – 5pm. @ Flenniken Library. Open to school-aged children. FMI: flenniken.org or 724-966-5263.
4
Play & Learn Science 5/4, 5/11, 5/18 – 11am – 1pm @ Flenniken Library. Register by 5/1 at 724966-5263.
8
Salt Rising Bread Workshop 6-8pm @ Mason-Dixon Historical Park. $35. Reserve your spot – call 723317-9947. 9
5
Cash Bash 1:30 – 7pm @ Greene Co. Fairgrounds Bldg. 9. $20/ticket at door or at Waynesburg FOE #598, 724-627-7565.
10 Raising Children in 2019
6
Senior Monday 10:30am – 12pm@ Bowlby Library. Spring craft, and light lunch. RSVP at 724-627-9776.
7
Flea Market 7am – 2pm @ Greene Co. Fairgrounds. Every Tuesday. Teen Advisory Group(TAG) 5/7, 5/21 - 5pm @ Bowlby Library. Teens ages 13-18 are invited to come to the library and hang out! Bring a friend! FMI: call 724-627-9776.
Lego Brick Masters 5/11, 5/25 - 11am @ Bowlby Library. FMI: call 724-627-9776. Ladies Night Out 5 – 9pm @ Thistlethwaite Vineyards. Relaxation, pampering, and wine! Must be 21 to attend.
Brown Bag Book Club 12 Mother’s Day Buffet 5/8, 5/22 – 12pm @ Bowlby Library. Bring your lunch! 1st meeting will pick a 12 – 2pm @ Thistlethwaite Vineyards. $35/adult, children 3-10 $10. Wine, book and 2nd meeting will host book discussion. music, and food! Reservations at: 724-883-3372.
Designer Bag Bingo 7 – 10pm @ Clarksville VFD. Doors open at 6pm. FMI 724-377-1460.
Zumbathon 5:30 – 6:30pm @ EQT REC Center. Benefits Corner Cupboard Food Bank. Register at eqtreccenter.org.
Touch a Truck 11am – 2pm @ Fredericktown Riverfront Parking Lot.
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Picnic 3 – 6pm @ Lions Club Park. Free admission, free food, and raffles.
13 Robotics Club
5:30 – 6:45 @ Flenniken Library. Last meeting. FMI: flenniken.org or 724966-5263. Bowlby Book Club 6 - 7pm @ Bowlby Library. 2nd Monday. New members are always welcome! To see book selection for the month, visit www.evakbowlby.org.
9am – 1pm @ Greene Co. Fairgrounds 4h Bldg. Grandparents or caregivers 14 Cornerstone Genealogy Society Meeting raising children. Pre-registration required – call 724-852-1510. 7 - 8pm at the Cornerstone Genealogy Society Library. Open to the public. Contact CGS library at 724-627-5653 FMI. After Hours for Families 4-8pm @Bowlby Library. Theme: Bugging into summer! Register at 72415 Remake Learning Days 627-9776. 5/15, 5/18 – 11am-12pm @ Bowlby Library. Special music entertainer 5/18 12-1pm. 11 Dock to Lock 5K 7:15 – 11am @ Greene River Trail (Rices Landing). $20. Register at 72416 Warrior Trail Assoc. Meeting 852-5323. 6:30 - 7:30pm @ the Warrior Trail Headquarters in Fordyce. Meetings are 3rd Thursday of the month. FMI: 304-534-2213 Basic First Aid 9am – 4pm @ Waynesburg VFW 4793. Community invited, lunch provided. 18 SWPA Haunted Con RSVP vallman@gmail.com or captshaw@squadron606.us. 10am – 4pm @ EQT REC Center. Tickets $20. Speakers, vendors, and more. After hours event, also. See Message Board. Spring Vendor Fair 9am – 2pm @ EQT REC Center. Vendors, register at eqtreccenter.org. CALENDAR EVENTS CONTINUED ON BACK OF PAGE...
CALENDAR EVENTS CONTINUED... 18
Sheep & Fiber 10am - 5pm @ Greene Co. Fairgrounds. See page 12 for more details. Ladies Luncheon 10:30am - 1pm @ Cornerstone Ministry Center, Silent Auction, lunch, and prizes. Cost $10. 724-966-9157 to sign up.or register online: cbmswpa.org Cruisin’ for Music 11am – 4pm @ Waynesburg Water Park. Great music, great vendors, great cars and great cars. Vehicles $15. FMI 724-998-5729.
21
Adult Coloring Group 5:30pm @ Flenniken Library. 3rd Tuesday each month. FMI: flenniken.org or 724-966-5263.
23
Drop of History 7pm @Greene County Historical Society Museum. Lecture by Rea Redd.
24
Pie & Bingo 6-9pm @Bowlby Library. Play bingo, win prizes and enjoy some pie!
25
Watercolor & Wine 2-4pm @ Thistlethwaite Vineyards. Watercolor workshop and wine. $40/person, supplies provided. Reserve your spot: 724-883-3372. Concert Series #1 6-8:30 pm @ Mason-Dixon Hsitorical Park. Band: Soup Camel Music. Tickets $5, kids under 12 free.
27
Memorial Day Service 11am – 2pm @ Waynesburg VFW.
28
Cookbook Club 6pm @ Bowlby Library. Try new recipes and meet new friends! FMI: call 724-627-9776. Greene Co. Photo Club 7 - 8pm @ Waynesburg Bible Chapel. Meets every 4th Tuesday. Meetings features a photo challenge and presentation. FMI, visit www.greenecountyphotoclub.org.
31
Korean Traveling Wall 5/31, 6/1, 6/2 @ Greene Co. Fairgrounds. FMI, see page 37.
GreeneScene by Brandee Kovich
22
Community Foundation Accepting Applications for Summer Community Grants and Cindy’s Wind Fund The Community Foundation of Greene County (CFGC) is accepting applications for the CFGC Summer Grant cycle including the Community Grant and Cindy’s Wind Fund for Women and Girls. Applications for the grants will be accepted until June 1, 2019 (by 4:30pm) for project activities beginning after August 1. Successful grant awards will be announced in late July. The Foundation expects to award five to seven grants of up to $2,000 per grant project under the Summer Community Grants program. The Cindy’s Wind Fund for Women and Girls will award one $500 grant. Proposed Community Grants projects may include (but are not limited to) the following broad priorities: Arts, Culture & Humanities; Children, Youth & Families; Community and Economic Development; Education; Environment; Health & Fitness; Human Services and Public Good. The Cindy’s Wind Fund for Women and Girls will provide one mini-grant of $500 to projects which help women and girls fulfill their potential. Projects may include, but are not limited to, activities such as information programs, direct service programs, special activities, educational program, service projects, etc. as well as professional development
and training opportunities for women who want to expand their skills and roles in helping other women and girls succeed in life. Project for Cindy’s Wind Fund must be to the benefit of women and/or girls in the Greene County community. Eligible applicants for grants through the Community Grants and Cindy’s Wind Fund for Women and Girls must be nonprofit, charitable, tax-exempt organizations (recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), as well as educational institutions or schools, religious organizations, and government agencies/organizations, whose purposes and programs benefit Greene County residents. Potential grant applicants should review the Community Grants guidelines, application procedures and application form, which are available on the Foundation website at http://www.cfgcpa.org, for more specific information. For additional information or questions regarding the application process, projects etc., contact the Foundation office at 724-627-2010, or e-mail cfgcpa@gmail.com. Since 2002, CFGC has distributed more than three million dollars in grants and scholarships to benefit Greene County residents. GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
23
E
31st annual Hammer In Festival
very year, visitors get a chance to take tually the foundry also provided auto repair. a step back into history at the W.A Upstairs, the hardware store is still fully inYoung and Sons Foundry & Machine tact with its stock. Shop’s Annual Hammer-In Festival along The foundry closed in 1965 and sat neWater Street in Rices Landing. This year glected until 1985, when it was purchased marked the 31st year for the event, held on by the Greene County Historical Society. April 20. The Hammer-In is a free festival, Repairs were made and it was opened to the open to the public, and is a day full of black- public. In 1998, the foundry was placed on smith demonstrations, guided tours, auc- the National Register of Historic Places. In tions, and more. 2009, the historical society turned over the For more than 30 years, the Foundry foundry to non-profit Rivers of Steel and exhas welcomed visitors on the third Satur- tensive repairs were made, including a new day of April to stop in and take a glimpse roof and windows. Last year, the W.A. Young into Greene County’s early industrial his- and Sons Foundry & Machine Shop was destory, starting up the turn-of-the-century ma- ignated a National Historic Landmark. chines and inviting area blacksmiths to hold Members from the Pittsburgh Area demonstrations. The foundry sits as it did the Artists Blacksmiths Association (PAABA) day it closed, with tools scattered around and and the Appalachian Blacksmiths Associaeven that day’s newspapers still in their spots. tion (ABA) demonstrated hammer-on-anIt is the only surviving - and functional! - ex- vil blacksmithing processes and amid the ample of the industrial evolution from local sounds of hammers ringing on anvils, creblacksmith to mass production machining. ated ornamental and functional items, some William A. Young opened the machine of which were offered for sale. Demonstrashop in 1900; in 1908, the foundry was tors included Wayne Kelley, Ed Appleby, Rex added, and then electric added in 1928. All Baughman, Tim Schiffbauer, Gary Shriver, equipment located in the foundry dates from Barry Hixson, and John Elder. An auction at 1870 to 1920. An elaborate system of belts 1pm had various blacksmithing items, phoand pulleys spread throughout the shop runs tographs and handcrafted artworks available 25 pieces of machinery, each independent of for bidding; the proceeds benefitted the Mathe other and fully operational, originally operated by steam and now gasoline. During guided tours with Bly Blystone, visitors could watch the machinery run with the belts and pulleys operating throughout the machine shop. Young created many of the patterns used in the foundry, and a special type of wood was used to withstand the humidity changes with no warping. Sketches The shop’s small hardware store sits mostly intact upstairs. for parts can still be seen hanging on the machine shop’s walls, along with tools, parts, gears, and completed products. In the foundry, the original coke oven still sits, with unused coke piled beside it. Rices Landing was once a hub for commercial distribution, and the shop’s initial commerce came from steamboat repairs. Nearby coalmines were also a key Outside, blacksmiths and other vendors have specialized part of the business, a harditems for purchase. ware store was opened on the second floor, and even-
24
chine Shop, PAABA and ABA. A Capital Development & Improvement grant was presented to Rivers of Steel and the Foundry by the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency. If you missed the Hammer In this year, you can get a taste of it every Sunday, from 11am4pm, when the shop is open for tours with caretaker Bly Blystone. FMI or to make reservations for a Sunday tour, call 724-710-4898.
Attendees mingle on the first floor of the W.A. Young and Sons Foundry & Machine Shop during the 31st Annual Hammer In.
Blacksmith Gary Shriver educates an audience while Wayne Kelley, another blacksmith, demonstrates hammer on anvil techniques behind him.
GreeneScene
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
Co o l at Sc h o o l
By Michelle Church
Chemistry with Carlow University
An exciting opportunity is being offered to a group of students at Carmichaels Area High School. For many high school students, a peek at a college’s brochure might be the most information they get about a school before visiting campus. Students at Carmichaels Area High School are able to experience their very first college level courses within the comfortable and familiar environment of their high school. Chemistry teacher, and adjunct college professor, Kevin Willis, brings his love of the subject to his students. He supports and guides them through an authentic Carlow University Chemistry course. Dr. Monique Hockman, professor at Carlow, “shared resources, materials, laboratory activities, and even the general chemistry textbook that she authored,” says Mr. Willis. Chemistry Department Chair Dr. David Gallaher and program co-ordinator Jo Danhires were also instrumental in the introduction of the course. In addition to easing the transition from high school to college, the savings can be exceptional. Students are offered the chance to purchase college credits for their course for
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
around $75 per credit. The same credits if taken at the college itself would cost around $800 per credit. The course offered in college level chemistry is 4 credits, potentially saving students up to $2,900. There are currently twenty-five students, a mix of juniors and seniors, enrolled in the chemistry course. Teacher Kevin Willis advised the students of the opportunity during their sophomore level chemistry course. Students are learning many unique experiments. So far they’ve learned how to create aromatic esters in scents such as banana and apple. They were able to produce camphor, which is the active ingredient in Vick’s VapoRub. One student mentioned that her favorite experiment was studying oxidation and redox reactions. “One unique opportunity that our students have is that they get to experience real college chemistry laboratory activities led by Carlow Chemistry Department,” states Mr. Willis. The students taking the course spent time at Carlow University in late March participating in three College Chemistry lab activities, including one using a chromatog-
raphy column to separate Kool-Aid into its separate dyes. Along with chemistry high school to college, courses are offered in Calculus for 4 credits. 3 credit classes offered are Pre-Calculus, Psychology and Sociology. Carmichaels is looking into adding Anatomy Joey Kurincak and Finn Dobish waft aromatic esters to determine the fragrance produced by Dr. Monique Hockman. 1 and Anatomy 2 as well as Physics. after taking CUHS course at Carmichaels. Former student Madison Pratt says, “It will lighten your load Several students have told me that they found in college,” if you take the courses starting Carlow as a direct result of taking the high in high school. Madison is currently in her school to college course. Albert Einstein once said, “It is the susecond semester at Carlow and credit-wise is equal to a college sophomore. Katelyn Con- preme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creley, another former student, states, “You will ative expression and knowledge”. After conversing with former students of this course, be ahead of everyone!” Three students, including Madison Pratt it is clear to see how Kevin Willis and Carlow and Katelyn Conley, are enrolled at Carlow University have inspired a love of learning.
25
Animal Emergency Workshop O n Sunday, April 7th a workshop was hosted by the Greene County Animal Response Team at the Carmichaels & Cumberland Township Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall. The event was cosponsored by the Carmichaels & Cumberland Township Volunteer Fire Department and Teddy Bear Care, Corp after a recent house fire in Carmichaels brought forward the topic of rescue breathing and CPR in animals after several pets succumb from smoke inhalation. Susan Levy, the coordinator of Somerset CART, taught the first two-hour class on Missing Animal Response During Disasters and Emergencies. Susan taught many useful techniques to capture frightened cats and dogs after natural disasters, vehicle accidents, fires and other emergency incidents. The afternoon session was lead by Karen Sable, the Assistant Chief for Westmorland/ Fayette/Allegheny CART and coordinator for the CART Pet Oxygen Mask Program. She is a pet technician certified in Pet First Aid & a CPR instructor since 2011. Karen also serves as a responder with The American Humane Society and Red Rover. Karen instructed the participants - a mix of fire fighters, EMTs, volunteers with local rescues, members of Squadron 606 of the Civil Air Patrol and
26
many animal lovers/protectors. She brought with her a Resusci-Rover, a CPR mannequin that can be used to practice animal CPR and rescue breathing. Susan demonstrated the use of oxygen masks in pets including proper fitting. Participants were very interested in the instruction on bleeding, choking, hypothermia, heatstroke, poisoning, etc. Several Pet Oxygen Mask sets were provided to local fire companies and Greene CART by the Pet Oxygen Mask Program Additional information, like how your fire company can apply for a free Pet Oxygen Mask Set through InParticipants of the workshop learned techniques on rescuing and assisting animals in an emergency. visible Fence can be obtained by visiting https://www.invisiblefence.com/ why-invisible-fence/project-breathe or contacting Greene CART by emailing greenecart@gmail.com or 724-966-8687. Many unique pieces of information were presented through out both classes regarding pet safety and treatment of injuries. Handouts were provided and phone apps were recommended for future reference. The individuals attending the class received certificates for completion and have the skills to use in an emergency that could save a furry friend’s life. The CART Response Trailer was available for participants to look Karen Sable demonstrates chest compressions through.
on a dog mannequin.
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
UN-CLASSIFIEDS
Patio furniture 68” x 40” Table with 6 chairs. Excellent condition. $225. 724-966-7694 2012 Nissan Altima 2.5 S. 106K miles. Black, good condition except for minor scrape on pass. side. New tires and struts on front. Current PA inspection. Car properly maintained. $ 5000.00 firm. Call Belinda. 878-379-4475. 3.5 Bricks (1750 rounds) RWS R-50 Competition .22 Ammo, All same lot $400 Cash ($630 value). Leupold scope, model 4 X.R.F., special gloss finish, Ex. Cond., $125 Cash. Redfield scope, model 2x7 T.V., low profile, gloss finish, Like new, $150 Cash. Leupold .22 Rimfire 4x Compact Scope, gloss finish, Ex. Cond., $125 Cash. 724-725-5331 9am -9pm. Interarms Mark 5 Mauser 30-06 with Redfield 5 Star 4x12x40 AO scope, test fired only, $575. Sako Fin Bear Deluxe 7mm Mag with Nikon 4x12x50 S.F. scope, ex. cond., $1200 Cash plus Transfer a must. No Trades, 724-725-5331 9am – 9pm.
face coating. w/ Knee & Elbow pads. $20. Like new. (412)582-2544 Premium 6ply New Rear Tires for Lawn Tractor. 20 in. D 10 in. H X 8 in. W NHS by BKT. 2, new in box $100. Replaces OEM Tire Size 20 by 8 by 8. (412)582-2544. Noritake fine China Collection. Noritake Post-WWII (1948-1954) Pattern #48. 8 settings, serving bowls & turines, gravy boats, plates, dessert plates, salad/soup bowls, & serving platters. Nearly complete set, approx. 70 pcs & most marked as ‘Made in Occupied Japan’. 1 matching cup/saucer, remaining cup/ saucers from later Noritake #48 edition. $500 or best offer (412)582-2544 Beautiful Wood Stove - Webster Stove Company, model Wild Oak. $800 or reasonable offer. Pick up in Wgb 15370. Call/Text: 724657-7966 for photos. Please leave voicemail. Hard back books, $1 each. Famous author, all mysteries. 724-287-5782, leave message.
Boys 13” bicycle with training wheels and helmet, $20. Boys 16” bicycle and helmet, $30. Boys 20” 10 speed bicycle, $50. Skateboard, red laminated wood, dimensions 30” X 9” with Ball Bearing Wheels and Shur-Grip sur-
GreeneScene by Shera Hoy
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
27
G o in g G re e n e
A
A WALK ON WHEELING
soft breeze is coming down the valley, the sounds of the modern world are distant and nearly imperceptible to your ears. The trickling water and chirping birds are your guide as you wander through an untouched wilderness. If these are the sights and sounds you are experiencing, chances are you have found yourself walking the old road that winds its way along Enlow Fork of Wheeling Creek. Enlow Fork weaves its way through a large portion of State Game Lands #302, at the very bottom of Raymer Road in Richhill Township, just south of the Greene – Washington County line. In the spring, a stunning array of wildflowers carpet the valley, adding bright spots of color to an already amazing landscape. The area has a feeling of enchantment, captivating myself and many others over the years. Its beauty and interest, however, last far longer than the explosion of wildflowers in the springing of the year. The majestic trees show their greatest beauty in the fall, with a fiery pallet illuminated by the lateday sun. Winter brings with it the silent stillness and snow, showing tracks of deer, coyote, bobcat, raccoon and other critters that call this valley home. It’s been this way for centuries, with human traffic coming and going. Over ten thousand years ago, people from the Clovis Culture (one of the earliest groups of Native Americans to call North America home) would have hunted and fished in this very stream and camped under the numerous rock ledges and shelters that are nestled safely into the steep slopes of the surrounding hills. The Adena People left their mark in the region, just before the collapse of the Roman Empire halfway around the world, with a few scattered mounds just over the ridge. Just a little less than a thousand years ago, around 1100 AD, the Native Americans were still calling this valley home. A large circular Monongahela culture village once dominated a slight rise of land on the flood plain central in a wide meander of the stream. The valley was explored in the 1750s by Christopher Gist, a colonial British explorer, surveyor and frontiersman and one of the earliest European explorers of the Ohio Country. The Natives were still here when he explored; Gist recorded in his journals that Wheeling Creek got its name from a native word, Wheal-en that roughly translated to scalp creek. He
mentioned that the trails in the vicinity were accessed with a rather grisly warning - many of the trees along the paths had scalps hanging from them to warn trespassers there that the inhabitants were prepared to defend their rights by all means necessary. Within a hundred years, European pioneers had settled permanently in that very valley. One of Enlow Fork’s most amazing, and unknown gems, is a large sycamore, just across the iron bridge that crosses the creek on the old road. A tree that’s stood guard over an ancient water crossing for at least four or five centuries. This tree is something special, not just because of its great age, or prominent position along the crystal clear waters. Look closely and you will see that it has an extremely unusual shape. A great trunk, nearly seven feet in diameter anchors it to the ground, and a long limb cantilevers out several meters pointing rather proudly to the old iron bridge. This configuration is no mere coincidence or random act of nature; this tree marks a water crossing. An age-old trail beginning in Wheeling, West Virginia traveled by generations of Native Americans going east followed this waterway. After European settlement, this trail was cut further and expanded, eventually becoming a road. Several centuries ago, when this tree was but a young sapling, Native Americans, most likely of the Monongahela culture that lived in Western Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas, took what was then just a sprout fighting for light in a forest of giants, anchored part of it to the ground, and bent it so that as it grew it would keep that shape and serve as a road sign to guide fellow travelers on their way across the creek and onwards to distant destinations. Just up the hill from this sycamore, is a younger oak tree, a mere few centuries old that marks the trail and points you to the crossing, leading you further west. Who could resist such a wonderful place, so rich with history and scenery? Several years ago we nearly lost this remarkable location. Progress, though necessary in her benefits to civilization and culture can often wear heavy on our greatest resources. In the late 1970’s, Enlow Valley was nearly at the bottom of a lake. A proposed series of dams were to be constructed to shelter watersheds downstream from flooding, and Enlow Fork was one of the streams that was determined to be
This centuries-old sycamore marks a water crossing along Wheeling Creek.
28
by Matthew Cumberledge
modified. The entire valley and areas nearby would have been flooded, including the area around Crow’s Rock. Crow’s Rock is a historic landmark, not too far distant from Enlow Fork, and is the site of the massacre of the Crow sisters by Indians in May of 1791. Thankfully, a group of concerned citizens and township officials petitioned to have the valley saved and won the battle. How lucky we are for those dedicated citizens and officials for the salvation of the Enlow Fork area! Every year, folks have an opportunity to be thankful for those people again. The end of April brings the annual Enlow Fork Wildflower Walk, sponsored by the Wheeling Creek Watershed. Masses of people turn out for the guided tours of the “Flowers of the Valley” and to experience nature at its best. Even outside of the walk, Enlow Fork is a common destination for hikers, explorers, and those who just wish to get away from hustle and bustle of the modern world and retire, even if just for a while, to a place of simple and supremely wonderful natural beauty. Greene County is truly a special place. Enlow Fork is just one example of the natural resources and beauty she has to offer. We are very lucky here in Greene to still have areas of wilderness and recreation that we celebrate and hold dear.
Enlow Fork of Wheeling Creek
The old iron bridge crosses Wheeling Creek along the old road.
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
GreeneScene by Alicia Henderson
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
29
Waynesburg Sheep & Fiber Fest
T
he third weekend of May will once again bring fiber fanatics flocking to Greene County as Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful stages its 16th Annual Waynesburg Sheep & Fiber Festival at the Greene County Fairgrounds. A great chance to get your fingers into some fleece and fiber – this family event offers many interactive activities for all ages, and best of all – it’s FREE. Saturday & Sunday, May 18th and 19th, from 10am- 5pm each day, the fairgrounds will be filled with fiber fun, sheep, alpacas and other fiber producing critters, in addition to live music, demos & entertainment and plenty of food. A juried crafts and fiber supply vendors show will offer real fiber enthusiasts a chance to buy everything from raw fleeces to hundreds of sheep & alpaca yarns and fibers, plus all the tools, supplies and equipment for artists and beautiful finished goods for the rest. And for those who want to learn, this festival is your destination! The Fleece to Shawl Event is a real “Show Stopper” with 3-4 teams of skilled artisans competing with each other and the clock to transform a fleece fresh from the animal into a finished, ready to wear shawl. The
competitive groups start at 10am with bags of raw fiber (wool &/or alpaca) and then begin cleaning, carding spinning, weaving & designing. By 2:30pm, they are showing off the finished goods as they sell at auction to the highest bidder. Anyone can buy! The fleece to shawl happens only on Saturday; don’t miss the auction at 2:30pm. The Breed Pavilion is always popular as local and regional breeders show off up to a dozen different varieties of sheep raised for fiber and or meat production. You can touch & feel as you learn about the variety and differences between breeds. Get an up close look as professional shearers participate in Sheep Shearing Demos all weekend. You’ll be inspired to pick up your hooks, needles or spindles when you see the Fiber Arts Competition featuring all handmade items from natural fibers. There is also a hand-spun skein competition. All fiber artists are welcome to enter both contests, complete rules and information is available on the festival website www.sheepandfiber.com. Or just come look and be inspired to see what you can do! Many vendors at the festival will sell unique natural and dyed fiber, roving, yarns and fiber arts tools. The Maker’s Space is
back, where everyone who enjoys working in the fiber arts is invited to gather in a shady tent each afternoon to spin, knit, crochet, whatever your passion. This is an excellent place for newbies to observe and learn as well. Fiber Arts Classes also will be offered at this year’s festival. These classes include making decorative Japanese Tamari balls, using wool roving to make ‘Shepherd’s Rugs’, and intermediate spinning. Spinners, weavers, and knitters will be demonstrating techniques and skill in the Fiber Arts Demos. The Dog Shepherding Demonstration remains among the most popular spectator events, along with the Shepherd’s Lead Line contest. And everyone loves the Tri-State Area Chefs’ American Lamb Cooking Demos and Tasting events. Samples are free! Enjoy live music, too, including folk and acoustic and the popular Fuzzy Randolph Kiltie Band. In addition to the chefs’ samples, various food vendors are on site with goodies like lamb pitas, pulled lamb sandwiches, hot sausage hoagies, hot dogs, funnel cakes, cabbage and noodles, deep-fried Oreos and homemade desserts, too. There are plenty of fiber related children’s activities, and pictures with lambs. Mark your
calendars now to enjoy one or both days of the Waynesburg Sheep & Fiber Festival – celebrating our area’s heritage by learning, seeing, touching and doing! Remember - the third weekend of May each year at the Greene County Fairgrounds, with free parking & free admission. Find schedule and info at sheepandfiber.com, or call Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful at 724-627-8119.
GreeneScene by Natalie Crouse
30
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
Public Service Profile By Lauren Bertovich
T
THE COMPASS PROGRAM
he journey made between becoming much it grows overtime. It is amazing to an adult can take many paths, full be able to build relationships with the kids of obstacles and challenges. Some of and see what a little bit of motivation and life’s most defining moments happen during encouragement can do. There are big things this time and when a lack of guidance leads coming from Compass and I believe it is, to poor decision-making, an individual’s slowly, but surely, shaping the lives of these future is at stake. It is vital that legal prob- students.” lems or behavioral issues including truancy, The students participate in individual criminal behavior, and/or addiction to drugs and group counseling to address any menor alcohol be addressed early. Just like the tal health issues they may have, including magnetic, wayfinding device, the Compass anxiety and/or depression. The Waynesburg program is the ultimate source of guidance University volunteers go above and beyond for students grades 6-12 that have struggled to make sure these students receive the eduto find the right path in life. cational requirements they are lacking; they The program began last September un- also help them develop short and long term der the supervision of Community Service goals for the future with workshops like Director, Bret Moore, and is part of the Tru- “Dream Thinking.” According to Moore, the ancy Elimination Plan. The program com- university students have been exceptional in bines the efforts of Waynesburg University their diligence, maturity and compassion. Students, retired teaching faculty, Interme- “They serve as positive, peer role models. diate Unit 1 and many Greene County re- Something many of these kids are missing.” ligious congregations. The students are reSome of the high school students are ferred to the program by the court, schools, receiving their certificates in OSHEA or Safe Children and Youth Services, or private Serve, available from CareerLink. Increased counselors because they have experienced knowledge means increased opportunities troubles that have negatively impacted and the Compass Program hopes to help the their education. “We feel it is far less expen- individuals involved break out of their insive to educate people than to incarcerate volvement with the criminal justice system them,” says Bret. “This is especially true of while they are still young. young people. We are trying to give them The community has come together in the tools necessary to lead a productive life great fashion to help with this program. Stuand stay out of the criminal justice system. dents and faculty volunteer their time and By requiring them to receive academic and energy and many of the churches in Greene counseling support, as well as job and soft- County donate dinners every night of the skill training, we hope to reduce recidivism program and help with transportation. The among our clients.” Compass Program received a $75K grant The students are brought from their from PACTT, Pennsylvania Academic and schools to CareerLink in Waynesburg, every Career Technical Training Alliance, and Thursday from 3:30pm to 6pm. They re- with those funds they have purchased supceive tutoring from Waynesburg University plies, helped with transportation and staffed students, some of them Bonner Scholars, in part-time employees. The program hopes to various subjects including math, English, expand to more than one night a week in science, and reading and participate in en- the near future. FMI, contact Bret Moore, richment sessions. These sessions offer the at 412-874-5246. students more exposure to art, photography, poetry and even pottery. “Working with the Compass program the last few months has changed my perspective in more ways than I could have imagined,” says Brianna Armenia, Bonner Scholar. “The program is doing amazing work and Bret Moore (Director), Dean Patrone, Alex Nemic, Trey Carl, Kyer I truly cannot wait to see how Hurt, Alexis Phillips, Paul Berg and Mark Ziler (Community Service Foreman and Assistant).
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
31
Meals on Wheels Community Champions
Greene County Teachers Honored by Chevron & Pittsburgh Pirates
Representatives from Chevron, the if not thousands, of heroes in classrooms all Grable Foundation, Pittsburgh Pirates, and across our region.” Pirates Charities recognized two Greene John Kopp, the Fab Lab teacher at InCounty teachers for their exceptional class- termediate Unit 1 Educational Campus at room efforts during surprise school events. Waynesburg for more than 15 years. Mr. Carmichaels Area Senior High School’s Kevin Kopp’s continual pursuit of professional deWillis and IU1 Waynesburg’s John Kopp, are velopment to further enhance his teaching part of the third set of teachers honored as skills and provide more learning opportunithis season’s “All Star Teachers”. ties for his students fosters better student en“The Pirates are proud to call attention gagement and higher-level thinking. to and honor our region’s terrific educators,” Kevin Willis, Science teacher at Carsaid Frank Coonelly, Pirates President. “Our michaels Area High School for 23 years, was teachers go above and beyond by dedicating recognized for the contributions he makes to their lives to helping generations of children students both inside his classroom and disreach their potential and making a positive trict wide. Mr. Willis’ passion for teaching and impact in our community. For that, they mentoring students has been demonstrated should be honored, and we are proud to part- through his work with the award-winning ner with Chevron and the Grable Foundation Envirothon Team. to provide such recognition.” Chevron, the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates Charities and The Grable Foundation teamed up with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Intermediate Unit One, and Kidsburgh to form the “All Star Teachers” Program, which recognizes exceptional Pre-K to 12th grade educators in southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. “This region has incredible teachers who do amazing things in and outside the classroom that so often go unnoticed,” remarked Stacy Olson, president of Chevron Appalachia. “As a company Teacher John Kopp of Intermediate Unit 1 Educational Camcommitted to expanding innovative pus in Waynesburg. receives his award. learning approaches in the classroom, Chevron is proud to partner to recognize and encourage those truly outstanding teachers who are making a difference in the lives of students.” A total of eighteen winning teachers have been selected winners for making a significant difference in the lives of their students. Each will receive a $1,000 classroom grant, a personalized Pirates jersey, and on-field recognition during a Pirates game at PNC Park this season. “Teachers are amazing at their craft. They’re caring, creative, flexible, thoughtful, and always thinking about ways to support their students,” said Gregg Behr, executive director of the Grable Foundation. “These eighteen Teacher Kevin Willis of Carmichaels Area High School All Star Teachers represent the hundreds, receives his award.
32
On March 21st, community members got together to support our local Meals on Wheels program Community Champions Day. Members of the Greene County Rotary Club joined with Meals on Wheels delivery drivers to take meals to homebound seniors throughout the area. Rotarians that assisted with deliveries were Barb Wise (delivering with drivers Mark Carlson and Stephen King), Sheila Stewart (delivering with driver Joe Cook), and Jay Hammers (delivering with drivers Mike Shimek and Dave Johnson). Also in attendance were Greene County Commissioners Blair Zimmerman, Archie Trader, and Dave Coder. Meals on Wheels is operated by Blueprints, a change agency that shapes futures by equipping and educating people to improve their lives. Blueprints operates 35+ programs that now serves nearly 19,000 low-income clients each year. As a subcontractor for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging, Blueprints has been delivering agingrelated programming to the older adults of Greene County. Their aging component has been enhancing the quality of life for older adults residing in rural Greene County via a wide range of services including Care Management, Home Delivered Meals, Ombudsman, RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) and Senior Centers. THe goal of Blueprints; aging programs is to enable seniors to maintain as much independence as possible in their own community and avoid out of home placement late in their lives. The Home Delivered Meal program provided nearly 57,000 meals per year. THe program offers more than just a meal - it provides early identification and outreach to older adults who may be in need of additional ser-
Barb Wise (Rotarian) delivers meals with volunteer Stephen King to Marsha Milliken.
Jay Hammers (Rotarian) delivers meals with Dave Johnson & Mike Shimek, delivering to Peggy Ewing.
Joe Cook, long time volunteer, with Rotarian Sheila Stewart prepare to deliver meals.
vices. This safety program places a volunteer in the elderly person’s home on a daily basis Monday through Friday, where they have the opportunity to assess “changes in condition” and report concerns to trained staff, who then provide linkages to needed services. Last year, 295 volunteers provided 19,592 service hours preparing and delivering meals and working within Blueprints’ aging programs.
JM Youth State Wrestling Winners
Jefferson-Morgan Youth wrestlers se- seph Heath and Lisa Heath-Rishell and Keith cured a 3rd, 5th, and 7th place at the Pennsyl- Rishell (step-dad) of Jefferson, placed 5th in vania Junior Wrestling State Tournament held the 10 and under #150 weight class. 10 yr. old March 16 & 17 at the Peterson Events Center Levi Heath, twin brother of Landon, placed In Pittsburgh. The boys first qualified for the 7th in the 10 u #120 weight class. State Tournament at the Area 1 Tournament, Fayette, Greene and Somerset counties, where the top two wrestlers get sent to the State Tournament. 9 yr. old Alek Palko, son of Tom and Melissa Palko of Jefferson, took 3rd Place in the 10 and under #80 weight class. He’s a member of Team Pennsylvania Wrestling and trains with One Shot Wrestling Club and Felix Wrestling Academy Wrestling Club. 10 yr. old Landon Heath, son of Jo- L-R: Coach Troy Barnhart, Landon Heath, Levi Heath, Alek Palko and Coach Tom Palko.
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
33
First Aid Class
Waynesburg VFW Post 4793 Auxiliary and Greene County Composite Squadron 606 are hosting a day of Basic First Aid at the Waynesburg VFW Post 4793 445 E Lincoln St, Waynesburg, on Saturday, May 11 from 10AM to 4PM. Everyone in the Community is wel-
come to attend. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP for a lunch count. RSVP to Verona Allman at vallman19@gmail.com or Dave Shaw at captshaw@squadron606.us. Police Officers that attend and complete the Stat MedEvac / UPMC Stop the Bleed class will get a FREE Tourniquet.
Salvation Army Hiring New Director The Salvation Army is seeking a Director for its Greene County facility. The Director will meet with clients and asses their needs, recruit advisory board members, supervise staff, recruit and screen volunteers, coordinate fundraising efforts, promote programs and additional duties. Applicants should have the ability to embrace the Salvation Army Mission, have the ability to work independently, manage and lead others, the ability to develop and monitor budgets, as well as a background in social services, marketing, sales, or Christian ministry. Interested candidates should visit the following website for more information and to apply: https://wpa.salvationarmy.org/WesternPennsylvania/employment-opportunities
Cornerstone Ministry Center Work Week Come help the Cornerstone Ministry Center prepare for thier camp for the summer. They’re looking for volunteers to help
out from May 13 to 17. Call 724-966-9157 to come out for the week or just a few days to help.
2019 Relay for Life The 2019 Relay For Life of Greene County is scheduled for Saturday May 11th from 8:00A.M. to Midnight at the Waynesburg High School Football Stadium with a theme of Decades! Opening & Cancer Survivor Ceremony at 10:00A.M. with a luncheon following, vendor/craft show from 10:00A.M. to 2:00P.M. and additional
activities all day long ending with the Luminaria Ceremony at 9:00A.M. To join us in the fight against cancer this year with the American Cancer Society contact ACS Staff Dillon Spencer at dillon.spencer@cancer. org or 724.834.5116 or visitwww.relayforlife.org/greenecountypa
Rock-a-Thon The seniors at Rolling Meadows are rocking for a cure. They’re raising money for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Greene County. The event will kick off at 9:30 am onMay 3 with a survivor wheel chair walk followed by a ceremony
honoring our cancer survivors. The rocking begins with entertainment in the dining area. Lunch and baked goods will be available for purchase as well as a Chinese Auction.
Electronics Recycling The first 2019 collection for electronics recycling will be held at the Greene County Fairgrounds Rabbit Barn on May 1, from 2-6pm. Electronic equipment accepted no charge, 1
34
TV per carload per event will be accepted (torn apart CRT TV’s have a $50 fee), Freon appliances are $20/piece (Freon removal), Fluorescent tubes & CFL’s are $2 per bulb. FMI, call Mimi Ritenour at 724-852-5300.
Vendors, Crafters, & Artists Wanted for Art Blast Nathanael Greene CDC is planning for the 13th annual Art Blast on the Mon to be held on September 1st at the Ice Plant Pavilion in Greensboro. Vendors, crafters and
interactive artists are needed to make this event a special art and music festival. FMI, contact Mary Shine at 724-9434462 or shine201027@yahoo.com
GRACE Program The Greene County Conservation District Board of Directors are currently accepting applications for a newly expanded program that they are directly funding. Greene County’s Reinvestment in Agriculture: Cost-share Enhancement (GRACE) Program is a conservation-based program designed to enhance soil health within the agriculture community. The GRACE program provides guidance and financial assistance to farmers and forest landowners. Technical assistance and cost share is designed to promote soil and water conservation practices that will improve soil health in pastures and woodlands. In 2017 and 2018, farmers were introduced to this new cost-share program and could apply for livestock conservation fencing, lime, water development projects and fertilizer and recently expanded to include forestry conservation and stewardship practices, such as Invasive species management, forest stand improvement, tree establishment and riparian forest buffers. The program has been very successful in putting conservation practices on the ground during its first few years. This year the program has Applications for all practices must be submitted by August 31 to be considered for funding. Landowners and farmers are encouraged to call the district as soon as possible for applications there is some preparation time is
needed for a successful application. Anyone wishing to apply for GRACE must become a cooperator with the Conservation District. Also, if a landowner is interested in assistance with lime or fertilizer, they must obtain a soil test kit from Penn State Extension that Conservation District staff can administer during a farm visit. The final requirement is for returning applicants, appropriate conservation-based planning must be in place. For farms this includes manure management plans and conservation plans at a minimum. The Conservation District will work with first-time applicants to develop these plans so that they may continue in the program in the future. For forestry conservation practices, the landowner must have a forest management stewardship plan, American tree farm plan or CAP 106 plan in place at the time of application, no exceptions. Funds for this program are a direct result of PA Act 13 Oil and Gas Impact Fee; these annual funds are used to foster conservation efforts within Greene County. FMI, call 724-852-5278, e-mail gccd@ co.greene.pa.us, or visit during office hours at 22 West High Street, Waynesburg. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. An application to download is available on the county website at www. co.greene.pa.us/gccd/agricultural.htm
Greene’s 1st Paranormal Convention This May, Greene County will host the Southwestern Pennsylvania HauntedCon, Greene County’s first paranormal convention. Held at the EQT REC Center on May 18th from 9:30am to 4pm, HauntedCon will have speakers Rosemary Ellen Guiley, Stan Gordon, Dave Spinks, Joey & Tonya Madia, and Steve Hummel. The event will also have vendors; if you are interested in being a vendor, table spaces are $30 each, and include two free admissions per table.
Following the event at the REC Center, an evening event, “Paranormal Pastries”, will be held at the Hartley Inn in Carmichaels. “Paranormal Pastries” is an interactive after-hours paranormal workshop with Joey & Tonya Madia and includes a dessert bar! Tickets for the Convention are available on EventBrite through their Facebook page, @SWPAHauntedCon, and are $20. Tickets for “Paranormal Pastries” are $25.
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
35
Greene Gardens
By Cheryl Brendel, Coordinator, Greene County Master Gardeners
A
Starting Seeds for Your Garden
s spring approaches and we are overloaded with seed catalogues we begin to think about our gardens. What worked last year, what didn’t do well, did we plant too much? Should we try another type of tomato, pepper, lettuce etc.? A common gardening mistake is to start seed indoors too early. By starting seeds indoors, you gain 4 to 6 weeks of planting time, compared to starting in the ground. If seeds are stared in the ground too early, they will rot in the cool damp garden. Read the back of your seed packet carefully to see when suggested indoor growing season starts. Keep a journal from year to year to remind yourself of what seeds you felt were successful in your garden. Starting seeds indoors requires light once the seeds germinate. Without enough light, the seedlings will become weak and stringy and will not have a stronger stem, as they do with proper lighting. If you do not have natural light from a southern window, you will need supplemental lighting. Temperature also affects the number of seeds that germinate; generally 65 to 75 degrees F is best for germinating most plants. In Pennsylvania, warm season crops such as eggplant, tomatoes, peppers and melons have a better chance to reach their prime harvest season if started indoors and transplanted outdoors after the last chance of frost, usually after Memorial Day when the garden soil is warmer. It gives the plants more time to develop. You can purchase many of the items to start your seeds, but you don’t need to go out and spend a lot of money on peat pellets and special trays. One gardener once told me she bought cookies in plastic trays, enjoyed them, and then used the trays as terrariums to start seed. Other items you can use are empty plastic containers, such as yogurt or sour cream. Some gardeners make pots from newspaper, which can them be planted directly into the garden. Make sure to add drain holes in whatever you choose to use to avoid overwatering your seeds. Place something under these containers to prevent water damage underneath.
36
You’ve got your containers and seed, but what should you plant it in? The best start for seedlings is a fine, well-draining medium like seed starting mix. The soil from the garden may contain disease-causing organisms that can harm baby seedlings. It is will also be more compact, preventing good drainage. After you decide on the container, fill it full with seed-starting mixture and sow the seed, according to the specified depth, and water the mix. If the mixture is dry, moisten it slightly before placing it in the container. If your home is dry, it may help to cover the containers with plastic wrap to keep the soil moist, as they are sensitive to drying out. Do not over water your seedlings; this may lead to damping off, a disease caused by fungus and deadly to seedlings. Another option is to use peat pellets or cubes. These are soaked until wet, then seeds are planted into the holes provided. When ready to go into the garden, the whole pellet or cube is planted without disturbing the roots. When planting the seed, always refer to the instructions on the packet – it has the proper information to ensure the best planting. You will also need to harden off those plants you start indoors before putting them in the garden. To harden off your plants, gradually introduce them to the outdoors by placing them outside during a por- t i o n of the day, gradually increasing their time and exposure to cold. If you are interested in gardening and volunteering in our community, the Penn State Extension in Waynesburg will offer Master Gardener Classes this fall. FMI, call 724627-3745.
Offering outpatient physical and occupational therapy programs in orthopedics, sports medicine and hand therapy.
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
Korean Traveling Memorial Coming to Greene County
T
he Korean Travleing Memorial will be coming to Waynesburg on May 31 through June 2, 2019. The memorial consists of 19 soldiers walking through a Korean rice paddy, with three soldiers off to the side setting up a campfire. The memorial includes four statistical signs, one 4’x8’ “The Forgotten War” sign, and a sign requesting silence to show respect. Admission to the memorial is free and everyone is welcome! The Greene County Veterans Council is proud to present this memorial to the citizens of Greene County. Donations are appreciated during the event and will benefit the Greene County Salute to Veterans Memorial Wall.
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
The memorial is part of Freedom’s Never Free and is supported through donations. FNF also has a Traveling WWII Memorial and a Small Wars & Conflicts Memorial (these will not be in Waynesburg). FMI about the traveling memorials, contact FNF@FreedomsNeverFree.com.
Korean War Veterans Wanted! Do you know a Korean War veteran? The Greene County Veterans Council is hosting the Traveling Korean War Memorial and would like your help to recognize Greene County’s many Korean War veterans. Please send basic information such as veteran’s name, branch of service, rank at end of time of service, years of service, if the veteran was POW or MIA, if the veteran is living or deceased, and anything additional you would like to share about the veteran. Please include your contact information when submitting. Mail information to Rick Black, Waynesburg VFW Post 4793, Waynesburg, PA 15370. Please mail the information by May 18, 2019 to be included.
37
AGRITOURISM IN GREENE BRINGS VISITORS By Danielle Nyland
R
unning a farm is a hard job; keeping a small farm self-sustaining is even more difficult. As many people turn to large businesses to get their goods, like produce, meats, and dairy, many small, independent farms suffer. Farmers are increasingly turning to another method to help keep their farms self-sustaining – the business of bringing in tourists. Agritourism is bringing visitors to agricultural based businesses around the country and Greene County is no different. An area rich in agricultural history and scenic, bucolic beauty, Greene County is the perfect place to get away from city life and take a vacation – even if just for a few hours of a day. The growing interest in fresh and local food products provides the perfect audience. “People in the city are willing to come down and spend the day or weekend working on a farm, cleaning manure, and milking cows, just to get a break from the city,” shares JoAnne Marshall, Tourism Director, with a smile. “It’s a trending way for people to get away right now.” Farms dot the pastoral beauty of Greene County’s rolling hills and many of them welcome visitors for tours and more. Cole’s Greene Acres in Holbrook offers short-term rentals perfect for a country getaway and is a working family farm. Visitors can choose to spend their getaway relaxing in the cabin, enjoy fishing in the stocked pounds, hike the 700 acres, or get a taste of the farm life with a tour the farm and some animal encounters. They also have a venue for weddings.“We’re a country getaway, completely unplugged” says Shane Cole. “We mostly cater to pople from Pittsburgh, but we’ve had visitors from farther away, like Baltimore. I’m retired from the military and it’s been a great way to spend my time.” In Waynesburg, Frosty Springs Farms offers visitors a chance to visit a working farm. They are especially energetic about welcom-
ing students to the farm for educational experiences and work with many area schools. Lippencott Alpacas, located a short drive from I-79 brings day-trippers in to spend time with the alpacas, getting to get up close to touch and lead them. They also run a farm store, where they manufacture items from alpaca fiber. “Agirourism has helped immensley,” says Lena Galing, owner of Lippencott Alpacas with her husband, Phil. “The whole focus is on animals, and people. To get people involved is the same for us as with any farmers, to get more involved in the community and make it sustainable.” She adds, “The tourism office, especially, really helps to promote us and others. It’s a community effort. I feel its very strong here in Pennsylvania and in Waynesburg.” Save-A-Horse Stables in Rogersville is a horse sanctuary that welcomes visitors to the farm, where they can see horses roam in a healthy, natural environment. In addition, to the horse sanctuary, they also have a working farm, but when the visitors come, it’s mostly to see the horses. Save-A-Horse sees mostly local visitors now, but previously used to see more out-of-town traffice when they had riding lessons at the stables. Both Save-A-Horse and Lippencott Alpacas hold an annual Open House, bringing large numbers of tourists to the area. Greene County is also home to quite a few annual festivals – and a lot of them celebrate the agriculture that is so important. The Sheep & Fiber Festival, held annually each May, celebrates the how fiber has played a large part in our rich heritage. Demonstrations throughout the day in sheep herding, shearing, and fiber arts take place amid the many vendors selling their homemade goods. Later in the summer, Greene’s two annual agricultural fairs – the Jacktown Fair and the Greene County Fair – take place in July and August, respectively. You can’t die happy until you’ve visited the Legendary Jacktown
Fair, which has been running consecutively since 1866 – an amazing feat! The Greene County Fair is everything you want in a fair showcasing the area’s agriculture – rides, animal barns to visit, fair food, and plenty of homemade and homegrown displays. Ag r itou r is m isn’t just limited to Visitors gather around Lena Galing of Lippencott Alpacas during their open farms and festivals house event. – there’s a third F that draws people in: food. Downtown Waynesburg is home to Greene County’s only farmer’s market from mid-May to mid-October. The farmer’s market offers local farmers, bakers, and others the chance to bring Cole’s Greene Acres, a working family farm, offers the perfect getaway. their goods to the customer without round, with a gift shop, events and tours. the overhead of a permanent storefront. The benefit from agritourism is the outDuring the fall, Farm to Fork offers an- side dollars that come into Greene County other opportunity to bring in travelers from to support local agriculture but one of the across the area, for a night of music, food best parts of supporting and increasing agriand wine. “Farm to Fork truly demonstrates tourism in Greene is the boost that gives all the draw from the city to the country,” says Greene County businesses. Those that come JoAnne. “People come to taste food that’s in for a day on the farm or for a tour of the came straight from area farms, prepared right winery will often stop at other local boutiques there, all while enjoying local wines.” The or to grab a bite to eat. Agritourism is benefilocal wine comes from Thistlethwaite Vine- cial for the economy, educates non-farm citiyards in Jefferson, where the event is held. zens, and protects the farms that are so dear Thistlethwaite also caters to visitors year- to rural Greene County.
GreeneScene by Emily Smith
38
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
MAY 2019
• GreeneScene Magazine
39
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Pittsburgh, PA Permit No. 1219
40
GreeneScene Magazine •
MAY
2019
