May GreeneScene 2018

MAY 2018

• GreeneScene Magazine

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GreeneScene Magazine •

MAY 2018

MAY 2018

• GreeneScene Magazine

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I Love this P l a ce

SOUTH WAYNESBURG, PA

by Colleen Nelson

Museum volunteer George “Bly” Blystone, wearing the t-shirt featuring an image the old train station which once sat on First Street across from Waynesburg Milling.

South Ward School which is now known as Waynesburg House on Lincoln Street. Once the high School, then the middle school, then the elementary school. Now converted to 34 apartments.

f there’s one thing that really stands out in Jay Hammer’s memories of growing up on the “Southside” it’s the school bell in Jean Churney’s backyard on Richhill Street.

These were the 1960s and kids played outside until suppertime and then were back out until dark. On this side of Waynesburg, that meant everything from hanging in South Ward playground for pickup games of wiffleball, football and basketball to climbing Duvall’s Hill on the other side of Ten Mile Creek.

“If something was happening and our parents wanted us home immediately, she’d go out and ring the bell and we’d come running,” Jay, who owns Rhodes and Hammers Printing on Church Street, remembered with a big grin.

Jean, a spry ninety-six, still lives in her quaint Victorian cottage, but the dinner bell is long gone. So is South Ward School on Lincoln Street, once the district high school, then a middle school, then the elementary school that Jay and other neighborhood kids walked to.

It became Waynesburg House in 1995 when the stately stone build-

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ing was converted into 34 apartments for elderly and disabled county residents. Still, the shady comfort of its front steps remind us that hundreds of kids used to make this street come alive.

Like many of the old buildings in this part of town, renovation rather than restoration is what keeps businesses and families returning.

Perhaps the longest running business is the Waynesburg Milling Company on First and Washington streets, touted in the Waynesburg Republican in 1886 as a “Feather in Greene County’s Cap and a Good Thing for the Farmer”. Operated by the Waynesburg Roller Mill Company, its “New Process” could turn 600 bushels of wheat into flour a day and brought new business to area growers.

By 1898 the mill was under new ownership and new machinery, with a capacity to grind 4500 bushels a day.

When Charles B. Blair bought the mill in 1928, it became a family affair that is still in business. The mill continued to produce flour until 1941 then transitioned to only livestock feeds, introducing its own WAYCO Feeds that are still on the market.

When a fire took out the historic mill building in 2001, the family lead by Jeanette Blair Lindsey and husband Don and sisters Janice Blair-Martin and Mary Jane Blair, rallied and rebuilt on the old site.

It’s a family-friendly, animal lover’s dream store that offers everything from livestock gear and medicines to seeds, pet supplies, toys, gifts and brand name products including Purina and WAYCO Feeds, now milled offsite since the fire.

If you love remembering what the old mill looked like, there is a painting of it by artist David Lesako hanging on the wall and reproductions are available for sale at the counter, next to Dan Moore’s locally grown honey.

First Street was long blocks of businesses that are no longer there – Harold Dulaney’s wool house beside the train station, the Farm Bureau, Grover C. Hughes Hardware Store, People’s Gas, Agway, Acklin Construction, Bishop’s Creamery, Finch Motors, Producers, Central Cab and more. Follow First Street to Lincoln Street and you’ll come to Waynesburg University’s athletic field, in the location where the Waynesburg Fair Association held its annual fair, raced horses and staged summertime festivities into the 1890s, before reincorporating and moving to its present location on Rt. 21 east of town in 1911.

Morgan Street runs past Margaret Bell Miller, now the district middle school and changes its name to Rt. 218 once it crosses the new bridge on its way to Spraggs. At the corner of Morgan and Elm streets, Donovan Waters once bought pelts from anyone with a penchant for trapping and Emerson Bell’s grocery store stood where the MBM basketball court is now. Lick your lips and grin if you remember sitting in class and smelling the bread coming out of the ovens of Moores Bakery next door!

The railroad yard on First Street is still a busy place, with Norfolk Southern coal trains rolling through town on their way East. The old train station where the Waynesburg &Washington Railroad once moved wool, Jacobs birdhouses and whatever else Greene County had to offer can still be seen on Bly Blystone’s commemorative T-Shirt.

Bly’s wife Ann is the granddaughter of J. Warren Jacobs, who built his purple martin colony birdhouses until his death in 1947 in the GreeneScene Magazine •

MAY 2018

building that was once his father’s blacksmith shop at the corner of First and Washington streets. Jacobs was born in 1868 and grew up wandering the hills around Ten Mile Creek, studying the habits of birds and observing the impact of man on their natural habitat. He was a self-taught ornithologist whose love of the natural world earned him a gold medal in 1904 for his collection of bird eggs at the St. Lewis World’s Fair. Jacobs birdhouses would put Waynesburg on the map and were purchased by the likes of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and William Rockefeller.

Another county notable, John O’Hara, lived on Richhill Street next door to Jean Churney and by all accounts took an astonishing number of photographs during his career as a journalist. He helped bring Rain Day to national media attention and his niece Mary Eagon gathered his columns into two books, Fact and Folklore and More Fact and Folklore. If you don’t have your own copies, stop by Cornerstone Geneology and settle in for a good read. This is local history told first hand by those who lived it.

Across the street from Jean Churney, the Hoys Upholstery buildings have been transformed into PA Mug Co. and Adamson Pottery, a place where pottery is made, and the community stops by for classes, workshops and private events such as birthday parties, girls night out events, baby showers and club meetings, October through May. Owner Jennifer Adamson is the driving force behind this creative place that is an open door to new ideas and new ways of learning. In May, the shop will be stocked with Mother’s Day presents and the café will be serving espresso, pastries and smoothies, then close until fall.

Richhill Street joins First Street right where the station’s railroad spur dead-ends and the wild wonder of nature begins. It’s here that a new way to enjoy the deep waters of Ten Mile Creek is about to happen.

The Isaac Walton League has worked with townships and the DCNR through the Community Partnerships Grant Program to construct three kayak, canoe and small boat launch ramps on the 23-mile waterway trail from Waynesburg to the Monongahela River. This year plans are afoot to add another launch on the south side of Waynesburg.

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Initial surveys have been done, plans are being drawn up and grants are in the works. Hopefully by next year the site will be operational, IWL member Geoff Fisher said.

“I was raised on the South Side and I love how it keeps growing,” IWL member Liz Carpenter said, spreading her arms to encompass

Jeanette Blair Lindsey showing some of the cool things to be found at Waynesburg Milling Company on the corner of First and South Washington Streets.

PA Mug Co. where she is an assistant and the sparkle of nearby Ten Mile Creek, shining through the sycamore trees. “I can’t wait to leave work and walk over there and launch my kayak. This is a beautiful part of town. There’s a lot of potential here.”

Geoff Fisher and Liz Carpenter, Izaac Walton League memebers, on the banks of Ten Mile Creek in South Waynesburg where a new kayak launch is being proposed to be built in 2019.

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G ree n e Sce n e of the Pa st

Grover Hughes in the early 1950’s had everything a family could need from bicycles to baby chicks.

dad made birdhouses in his shop behind their home and shipped them out of town from the Waynesburg and Washington train station next door.

When Grover C. moved in, he expanded his stock to include all those everything elses that the mill didn’t carry – washing machines, mowers, tools and fittings of every kind, paints, thinners, brushes and ladders, essentials like seeds, canning jars and zinc lids, even specialty products of their day like Kow Kare Dairy Conditioner.

Grover ran the store until his death on May 5, 1959. His daughter Katheryn H. Deever took over until 1999 and and son Fred kept the doors open until 2002.

After the store closed, the auction of the inventory that spanned most of the 20th century drew collectors who outbid themselves for the Americana, much still in original boxes. A fine generation of old Tonka Trucks might have been the biggest find of all, according to those who were there.

My memories of Grover Hughes are stopping by the mill for Wayco Feed, then going across the street to buy paint, brushes, nuts, bolts and whatnots just not found anywhere else. Like zinc lids. They topped my collection of translucent Atlas and Mason canning jars, filled with beans, rice, raisins and nuts. There was a stove in back and Mrs. Deever to talk to. Fred knew where everything was and it was the end of a good day of shopping for me!

What I miss most is talking to Fred and his mom.

After the store closed, the lot was bought by Greene ARC and then sold to Jacobs Petroleum and eventually the old building was razed.

But if you stand on that empty corner this spring, don’t be surprised if you hear the peeping of baby chicks. You can still buy them next door at Waynesburg Mill, still in business after all these years!

ow much is that peep in the for pipes and fittings for the industry as wells were drilled and lines window? Who doesn’t remem- were laid to carry the product to homes and markets. Teams of horses ber shopping at Grover Hughes in dragged the pipes to the well sites and then through the trees and springtime when the baby chicks arrived, not dyed pink or blue like meadows to farmhouses where gaslights and gas heaters were the latthe ones uptown at Murphy’s but ready to take home and watch grow est craze.

The boy on the pony is probably one of J. Warren Jacob’s sons up to be healthy, happy hens and roosters.

This old photo takes us back to the heydays of this historic hard- and the year is early 20th century. The sign on the building that would ware – and everything else - store that once sat at the corner of S. one day be a hardware store says Frick-Reid Supply Co. Oil and Gas Washington Street in what looks like the early 1950s, judging from the Field Supplies. The Jacobs home was right across the street, so this style of the latest washing machine and refrigerator on display. Those must have been where J. Warren’s dozen children played while their are every kid’s dream bikes parked outside, waiting to be taken home. Summer is coming and there are plenty of places to ride on the south side of Waynesburg.

The second photo gives some historic depth to the building that Grover C. Hughes bought in 1910 when he moved his farm supply business from the alley near where Bailey Insurance is now to South Waynesburg by the railroad tracks. It was a bustling place where farmers came to Waynesburg Mill for feed, or the wool house to drop off fleece, and then stopped by the hardware store for everything else.

At the height of the first gas and oil boom in the late 19th to early 20th Members of the Jacobs family paddling on Ten Mile The family blacksmith shop where J. Warren Jacobs once built his centuries, there was a great demand Creek at the turn of the century.

burdhouses, later became a creamery.

by Colleen Nelson

Another view of the Grover Hughes building when it sold piping equipment to oil and gas industry.

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. We are particularly interested in photos of people and places in the Greene County area taken between 1950 and 1980, though we welcome previous dates, too.

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GreeneScene Magazine •

MAY 2018

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30th Annual Hammer-In Festival

isitors got a chance to step back in time at the W.A Young and Sons Foundry & Machine Shop at the 30th Annual Hammer-In Festival along Water Street in Rices Landing on Saturday, April 21st. The Hammer-In is a free festival, open to the public, and has a day full of blacksmith demonstrations, guided tours, auctions, and more.

For 30 years, the Foundry has welcomed visitors on the third Saturday of April to stop in and take a glimpse into the history of early industry in Greene County, starting up the turn-of-the-century machines and inviting area blacksmiths to demonstrate their skills. The foundry sits as it did the day it closed, with tools scattered around and even that day’s newspapers still in their spots. It is the only surviving - and functional! - example of the industrial evolution from local blacksmith to mass production machining.

William A. Young opened the machine shop in 1900; in 1908, the foundry was added, and then electric added in 1928. All equipment located in the foundry dates from 1870 to 1920. An elaborate system of belts and pulleys spread throughout the shop runs 25 pieces of machinery, each independent of the 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 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 part of the business, a hardware store was opened on the second floor, and eventually the foundry also provided auto repair. Upstairs, the hardware store is still fully intact with its stock.

The foundry closed in 1965 and sat neglected until 1985, when it was purchased by the Greene County Historical Society. Repairs were made and it was opened to the public. In 1998, the foundry was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2009, the historical society turned over the foundry to non-profit Rivers of Steel and extensive repairs were made, including a new roof and windows. Last year, the W.A. Young and Sons Foundry & Machine Shop was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Members from the Pittsburgh Area Artists Blacksmiths Association (PAABA) and the Appalachian Blacksmiths Association (ABA) demonstrated hammer-on-anvil blacksmithing processes and amid the sounds of hammers ringing on anvils, created ornamental and functional items, some of which were offered for sale. An auction at 1pm had small items from the foundry and handcrafted artworks available for bidding. Auction proceeds benefitted the Machine Shop, PAABA and ABA. A hot new event for this year, an aluminum pour occurred in the early afternoon, courtesy of Rivers of Steel Arts. Two Rivers of Steel artists placed scrap aluminum into a crucible and the crucible was then placed into a melting furnace.

The temperature was brought to over 1,300 degrees, until the aluminum was completely melted. The crucible was carried over to molds and molten aluminum poured down into them. Excess aluminum was emptied onto sand, flowing into wild shapes and patterns. Last year, a brass pour was completed at the event.

After the event ended at 4pm, some visitors

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• GreeneScene Magazine

stopped by around 7pm for an intimate, limited ghost hunting experience led by Ghosts N’at, held at the shop and foundry. The guided ghost hunt explored the shop and foundry after dark, looking for evidence of the paranormal.

For those that missed the Hammer-In this year, you can get a taste of it every Sunday, from 11am-4pm, when the shop is open for tours with tour guide Bly Blystone. FMI or to make reservations for a Sunday tour, call 724-710-4898.

Two artists from Rivers of Steel Arts pour excess molten aluminum into sand.

A blacksmith demonstrates hammer-on-anvil techniques.

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T

he Washington Street United Methodist Church sits right behind Pecjak’s Sonoco Station on Greene Street with a fine view of the courthouse outlining the sky - not exactly the bucolic location that it once laid claim to when it was known as the “Old Cornfield Church.”

When the Methodist Protestants came to town in 1829 and began worshiping in the brick meeting house that sat on a lot just outside of Waynesburg, surrounded by cornfields, they were the breakaway congregations protesting the rule of “despotic Bishops” who had absolute control over electing – or removing - the preachers who rode the circuits and ministered to those who followed the teachings of Wesleyan Methodism. America in the late 1700s was in the process of settling the Western territories and Methodist ministers rode circuits of between two and six weeks to preach in homes before churches were built. By 1800 those who were called to minister were disputing the orders of far off bishops as to who might pastor where, and for how long.

Thanks to the research Malvine Lucille Bise Zollars did in 1993 when writing “Tribute to the Ministers of Washington St. United Methodist Church” for the church centennial, this early history has been preserved.

Discord over the rule of bishops began in 1792 when the “O’Kelleyites” left the fold.

Breakaway congregations Members gather before Washington Street UMC Sunday April 15th. were lead by the firebrands of their day, preachers who favored working as teams of an older time cutting through it to put in air conditioning!” minister and a younger one, bringing both wisdom parishioner Marilyn Kerr remembers. and the energy of youth to town to help form new The Methodist and Evangelical United Brethchurches. ren churches united in 1968, adding another chapWhen the Methodist Protestants, lead by Corter to the movement John and Charles Wesley nelius Springer came to Waynesburg in 1829, some brought to the New World in 1736 that they began members of the already established Methodist Episas students in England. copal Church broke away over the mutual rights of Today’s Washington Street congregation has the clergy and laity of the church controversy and little use of the infants’ classroom, but the older “affected a congregation.” Members began gathercrowd has an ear for music and carved out a time ing in the meeting house surrounded by Isaac Slatto enjoy it. er’s cornfields. Slater deeded the lot and building to “On Saturday night at 6 p.m. we have conthe new church in 1831 and in the ensuing decades, temporary services with music and it’s a lot of fun,” cornfields would give way to houses, schools and Marilyn said. businesses large and small as Waynesburg grew.

Sunday services begin at 9 a.m. and everyone Malvine’s history picks up the story in 1893, is welcome. I stopped by for a photo on April 15 when most of the old church was razed but one and stayed for Pastor Bill’s neighborly, humorous, four-brick -thick wall was incorporated into the but to the point sermon - complete with an Apple building you see today. It was quite modern for its laptop and a big flat screen above the altar - about time and cost a whopping $6000, with electricity, the workings of the Holy Spirit through the modern a hot air furnace, paneled oak ceilings, frescoed parable of the birds, the bees and the bat. It was a walls, a fine pipe organ and ash pews trimmed in sweet way to demonstrate our part in keeping Spirit oak. The 54x50 foot interior had an auditorium, alive in the world through our actions. lecture room and an infants’ classroom. Its beautiIf you want to meet some wonderful memful stained glass windows were funded in memory bers of the community that, like me, you probably of church members and still bathe parishioners in already know – on May 3rd and 4th stop by the heavenly light when pastor Bill Parker preaches. church’s spring Rummage Sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On dedication Sunday in 1893 “no services and Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The menu were held in any of the other churches in Waynesincludes homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, burg, all having been omitted for this occasion,” the cabbage and noodles and refreshments. Take-outs Waynesburg Republican reported. are available. FMI, call 724-627-3204.

“That old wall is so thick we had a heck of a

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GreeneScene Magazine •

MAY 2018

Greene River Trail

by Danielle Nyland

and then extensive clearing had to be completed to begin work on the trail itself. “No one’s been on this land for 60 years,” says Jake Blaker, Director of Greene County’s Department of Recreation. “There’s a lot of brush growth, slips and slides. We’ve done a lot clearing and grubbing for the extension.”

In addition to clearing brush, drainage, creating culverts and other environmental issues had to be addressed. A bonus in converting rails to trails is that the rail bed aids in the creation of the trail. The rail bed provides a well-built and stable foundation for the trail. The surface is for the most part relatively flat, though there is often deterioration in older abandoned railways that will be reconstructed.

Recently added to the existing trail, a new stone bench has been placed near the Walking Man statue. The new bench is in honor of Ralph K. Bell and will be dedicated this spring. The Walking Man statue was Hans T. Lubich’s Eagle Scout Project completed in 2007.

The former railroad that ran along the river was in service from 1901 to 1961 and carried coal along the track from four mines: Gateway, the original Dilworth mine, Crucible, and Nemacolin. It no longer carried coal the last ten years that it functioned, but instead carried supplies for the mines.

The coal mines it serviced, much like the railroad, are no longer there, though remnants of Gateway, Dilworth, and Crucible can be seen along the trail route and further down the river, two buildings still stand from what is left of the Nemacolin mine. The Crucible mine has been reclaimed, the steel recycled and the cement ground up and reused for the Ambridge Walmart near Rt. 65. Still standing as historical markers are the dynamite shack and cap shack. The new extension will The new trail extension is underway. also pass remnants of the Isabella mine’s tipple across the river.

With the trail’s extension, visitors from throughout the region will be able to appreciate the trail’s scenic views of the Monongahela River, countryside, and coal industry remnants. Along the trail, visitors can stop at Pumpkin Run for additional hiking or use of its gazebos, launch watercraft from the improved boat ramp area, Watch barges travel up the river, and visit Rices Landing’s f you’re looking for a scenic, relaxing place to take a walk, ride your Historic district, added to the National Register of Historic Places in bike, or go for a run, look no further 1992.

The trail extension project will help preserve and enhance the than the tranquil Greene River Trail that runs along the Monongahela River from south scenic and historic resources of the area. The Rices Landing Historic of Millsboro to northeast of Crucible. Soon, you’ll be District includes a National Historic Landmark, the 110-year-old able to enjoy the trail with the addition of 2.2 miles of trail from Cru- W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop, as well as the recible to Jessop Boat Club in Carmichaels, ending only 2.75 miles from mains of Monongahela River Lock 6, a brick jail built in the 1850s., and other early 1900s structures. the Carmichaels Town Square.

Future extension plans hope to take the Greene River Trail apThe current trail is 5.1 miles long and once the 2.2-mile addition is completed will stretch for 7.3 miles following the lines of an proximately another 7 miles along the river to Nemacolin Mine and abandoned railroad bed. The trail expansion will include spaces for end near the former Hatfield’s Ferry power station. Farther in the benches and picnic areas along its path. The goal is for the trail exten- future, plans for the trail are for it to run along the shoulder of Rt. 21, sion to be competed late this fall or early next spring, so that it’s ready across the Masontown Bridge and eventually connect to the Sheepskin Trail at Point Marion - a hub on the 48-mile West Virginia Mon to go for summer 2019.

The extension project hopes to provide benefits to the local com- River Trail system and the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage.

Parking for the trail is currently available at two of the trailheads, munities. Citizens will have an even better route for walking, biking, and jogging. The extension will improve public access to new sec- Greene Cove Yacht Club and Rices Landing Borough, across from tions of the Monongahela River, as well as attract visitors as a destina- Pumpkin Run Park. Another parking area will be completed at the tion for outdoor activities. The added visitors will be a boost to local future trailhead at Jessop Boat Club.

The new extension along the Greene River Trail is just one way economy, and will hopefully create a bigger demand for eating establishments, convenience stores, bicycle shops, and possibly lodging. that things are getting better in Greene. Know of any other improveThe plans for the extension have been in the works for a long ments happening in Greene County? Let us know at info@greenestime. It took 6 years to acquire all the land needed along the route cenemagazine.com and it could be included in a future story!

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Jake Blaker and County Commissioners Blair Zimmerman, Dave Coder, and Archie Trader reviewing plans for the current extension, near its Jessop Boat Club trailhead.

The remnants of Gateway mine can be seen along the trail, near the 1.3 mile marker.

Mile marker for the railroad near the end of the new extension.

Some of the scenic beauty that can be found long the current trail route.

New bench dedicated to Ralph K. Bell, located near the Walking Man statue.

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Greene: Earth and Sky

By Pete Zapadka

Weary travelers can find new friends in Pennsylvania at welcome center on I-79

The bright and airy interior welcomes visitors inside, where there are refreshments, restrooms and travel information available.

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merica’s love affair with the open road has spanned decades, having gotten off to a roaring start after World War II. It accelerated with the development of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, more simply called the Interstate Highway System.

As the interstates took traffic from the long used U.S. federal highways and local roadways, the once-popular Roadside Rest areas began to disappear. Families no longer could park their car next to a two-lane highway and enjoy a lunch at a site replete with rustic picnic tables.

Nowadays, those diminutive Roadside Rest locations have given way to the well-known and often-expansive rest stops along interstate highways. These modern facilities are more than just a place to stop to relax and use the bathroom. Many have vending machines, pet walking areas and picnic tables.

And the rest stops at the entry of states offer even more, including a hearty hello.

In Greene County about 5½ miles north of the historic Mason-Dixon Line, the I-79 Welcome

Center welcomes weary northbound travelers from West Virginia and beyond to our county and to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The center opened on May 26, 1995, and offers travel-related services daily from staffers from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The building is open 24 hours a day.

The welcome center in Whiteley Township is made up of an 8,000-square foot building that sits on 4.2 acres. It has restroom facilities, vending machine, pet and picnic areas. Visitors also can receive weather and road condition reports, tourism information on all of the state’s attractions, a free hotel accommodation reservation service and much more.

The staff consists of three full-time workers and several part-timers, all of whom offer more than friendly assistance.

During regular business hours, travelers likely will be greeted by the full-time employees: Lenora Stanko of Clarksville, the Tourist Information Supervisor; Lori Whitlatch of Morgan Township; and Tammy Headlee, Waynesburg.

They’ve been known to treat the strangers who arrive at the center with neighbor-like kindness.

Stanko, who has been on staff for the past

six years, said her team is reaching the end of their most hectic season.

“March and the whole month of April is our busiest time,” she said. “We have snowbirds returning from Florida and the Carolinas that are heading home. We will make upwards of 25-30 hotel reservations in an evening when snowbirds are coming through.”

Because I-79 is a major north-south thoroughfare, it’s not difficult to guess the nationality of the most-frequent foreign travelers: Canadian.

“This time of year, we’re really busy with a lot of Canadians coming through,” said Headlee, on staff for 19 years. “And I start talking like them. I say, ‘eh!’ They’re very friendly and they just want a place to stay. I had one come through the other day who said ‘I saw you last year!’ And I said, ‘Yep! You did! I can help you again.’ ” Whitlatch echoed her co-worker’s observations.

“If you walk into this building, you’re going to talk to a Canadian at this time of year. There are Canadians everywhere. This is their busy time” to travel home, the 20-year employee said.

“We do see a variety of people who have come through from Australia, Europe . . . we had a busloads of travelers from Moscow . . . travelers from Tibet. So we do see a variety of folks,” Stanko said.

Tractor-trailers line the lot closest to the highway, with cars pulling in closer to the main building. Just for fun, a recent visitor took a walk near the parking area and noted a variety of license plates from afar.

The welcome center’s main building is inviting. It has an attractive interior complete with glass walls, skylights, high ceilings with banners, shelves lined with maps and other travel information and a separate tourism desk in the rear. There is a refreshment center to the left and a display area.

“The local businesses appreciate us because they use our display,” Whitlatch said. “They say how much it’s helped them” reach out to travelers.

Contact Stanko to arrange for use of the display, she said.

Upon arrival, visitors almost certainly will be drawn to the center’s remembrance of our coal mining heritage. In fact, the facility sits 460 feet above the site where on Dec. 6, 1962, 37 miners died in the Robena Mine’s Frosty Run shaft explosion. A monument dedicated to all coal miners sits

outside the main building, and murals inside also celebrate the storied past.

Still, the people are what make the welcome center so, uh, welcoming. And the parade of fascinating visitors never seems to stop.

Whitlatch loves that “she got to meet Miss Oregon. She had her sash on and her tiara. She and her mom came in and I got to meet them. We had a choir from Africa; they came in and sang for us.”

She also got a member of her mother’s church in Waynesburg to help a Texas woman and her two children whose car had broken down.

Stanko once had to draw a picture to help workers in a repair shop in Mount Morris understand a group of travelers who did not speak English and needed to get their car fixed. And Headlee befriended a man from Taiwan who asked for help finding Williamsport, Pa. He had played baseball there more than 50 years ago in the Little League World Series.

Headlee also recalls the time a young woman from Buffalo, N.Y., was left behind accidentally by her parents who likely though their daughter was asleep in the backseat.

“She came back to the desk and said, ‘My parents just left me!’ So I said we can call them,” Headlee said. “So I gave her the phone . . . her mom says, ‘What are you doing calling me from the back seat?’

And she said, ‘I’m not in the back seat! I’m at the welcome center!’

“So they came back, and when her mom came, it was like a movie scene. They were running toward each other, crying.”

It’s a happy ending that reinforces the meaning of our state’s former motto: “You’ve Got a Friend in Pennsylvania.”

Pete Zapadka is a Greene County property owner and a retired local news editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He can be reached at pzapadka@yahoo.com.

Murals celebrating the storied past of coal mining line the walls inside the welcome center. Other displays share more about coal mining as well as local history.

The 1-79 Welcome Center offers travelers a chance to take a break along 1-79.

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The Miners Monument dedicated to all coal miners sits directly above the site of the Robena Mine explosion.

L-R: Lori Whitlatch, Tammy Headlee and Lenora Stanko, the fulltime staffers at the Pennsylvania welcome center on Interstate 79 in Whiteley Township.

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Sp ort S ho rt s

Wrestling State Champ 8 & Under

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ongratulations to state champion Alek Palko for winning the Pennsylvania State Tournament 75lbs. 8 years & under. Alek competed March 23-24 at the Mohegan Sun Arena In Wilkes-Barre.

Pennsylvania has 14 wrestling areas with the top 2 wrestlers competing from each area, creating a 28 man bracket at the state tournament. Alek first qualified at the Greene County qualifying tournament; then at the Area 1 Tournament, consisting of Greene, Fayette and Somerset counties, where the top 2 wrestlers advance to state.

Alek competed in 5 matches at the state tournament and pinned 4 out of the 5 kids he wrestled.

He had an 8-1 win in the quarterfinals. He pinned the kid in the finals in the first period.

Alek is a 2nd grade student at Jefferson Morgan Elementary. He trains 5 nights a week at Jefferson Morgan and One Shot Wrestling Club in Connellsville. His proud parents are Tom & Melissa Palko of Jefferson. Grandparents are Tom & Paula Palko of McClellandtown and Fred & Christine Evans of Smithfield.

BOWLBY BITS CPR/AED CERTIFICATION CLASS – Wed. May 2 @ 5pm. Cost: $45 due at the start of the class. Cash or check only.

YOGA CLASSES - Beginners Yoga class will be held 3 times a month on Sat. @ 1pm. Cost $30/3 classes. 4th Sat. is “Happy Hour Yoga” for a $5 donation.

CREATIVE CRAFTING FOR ADULTS – Thur., May 3 @ 5pm. Cost: $20. May project:Mason Jar String Art. AUTHOR BOOK TALK – Mon. May 14 @ 6pm William O’Flaherty will be sharing from his newest published book, “The Misquotable C.S. Lewis; What He Didn’t Say, What He Actually Said, and Why It Matters.”

This event is free and open to the public; light refreshments will be served. Please call the library to RSVP your seat at 724.627.9776.

LEGO BRICK MASTERS - meets Sat. May 5 at 11am, for ages 3 & older.

READING COMPETITION CLUB – Tue. May 1 @6pm. Grades 4-8.

TEEN ADVISORY GROUP - Teens 13-18 meet every Tue. @ 6pm.

CODE SQUAD - Students age 6-12. Classes every Thur. @ 5-6pm through May 10.

MOVIE NIGHTS @ THE LIBRARY – Every Wed. @ 6:00pm. FREE popcorn and beverages!

May 2 ~ Peter Rabbit May 9 ~ Tad the Lost Explorer May 16 ~ The Lego Ninjago Movie May 23 ~ Rock Dog May 30 ~ Pinocchio KNITTING CLUB - Meets 2nd & 4th Fri. each month. May 11 & 25, 10am-12pm.

BOWLBY BOOK CLUB - meets the 2nd Mon. of every month @ 6pm. Book discussion on Jodi Picoult’s “The Storyteller.”

INQUIRE WITHIN: SPLASH & BUBBLES – Sat. May 19 at 11am-12:30pm. A unique story & activity class focused on the PBS Kids show Splash & Bubbles. Inquire Within programming is sponsored by Chevron.

AFTER HOURS: FAMILY GAME NIGHT – Fri. May 18 @ 4-8pm. We’ll be playing our favorite board games! Bring your favorite board or yard games to share. Weather permitting.

BOWLBY ROCKS! - Sat., May 26 @ 12-2pm. This month: bugs! Bring two clean rocks.

Library will also be CLOSED Monday, May 28 for Memorial Day. TINY TIM TOMATO PROJECT – Tue. June 5 @ 5pm. Children ages 2-6yrs, come and learn about growing your own tomato plant.

SUMMER READING PROGRAM - Currently taking registration for ALL summer reading programs!

Summer Reading Kick Off is June 23 and Summer Reading Story Classes & Summer Reading Quest begin June 25!!

Call or stop in Eva K. Bowlby Public Library for more info or to register for any of the above events.

724-627-9776 • 311 N. West St., Waynesburg, PA 15370 • www.evakbowlby.org

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• GreeneScene Magazine

Alek Palko (1st place from Jefferson-Morgan) stands atop the podium alongside his fellow winners Ethan Aftewicz (2nd place from Pittston - right) and Aaron Sadler (3rd place from Franklin Regional - left).

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Co o l at Sc h o o l

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SEGSD Artist in Residency Artwork

hrough a continued partnership with the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, students at Bobtown Elementary School and Mapletown Jr/Sr High School had an opportunity to participate in a ten-week Artist in Residency program with artist Lindsey Huff during the 2017-18 school year. The artists, usually from Pittsburgh, come to the school and work directly with the students in the classroom. This is the third year for the program with the Southeastern Greene School District. Previous artists have taught the students how to create murals from ceramic tile and glass mosaic.

The students went through the mural creation process by planning and then sketching out the design. They learned about properties of different metals and manipulated pieces using various tools.

They also learned how to prepare the metals and about the enameling process. Lindsay then helped them assemble the finished project.

Fifth grade students at Bobtown Elementary School completed two metal mosaic art pieces with copper treeing. The bright and colorful mosaics were created using a variety of soda cans. These vibrant art pieces are displayed behind the water fountain enclosures on the main floor.

Junior high students of Mapletown Jr/Sr High School, from art and family consumer science classes, created metal maple leaves. These metal leaves now hang above the main doors entering the school’s gymnasium.

“It presents a unique opportunity for the classes to enjoy a hands-on experience with a talented professional,” says Linda Mechling, the high school’s art teacher. “It’s a priceless experience. The Artist In Residence Program affords our students a valuable lesson in how important it is to plan, prepare and create artwork. As a extra benefit, the completed works of art are now on display adding beauty and enjoyment right here in our school.“ “I enjoyed the art program very much! It allowed us students to advance our knowledge on the regular concepts we are taught in our Art Class,” says Hannah Hartley.

Funding for the elementary project was made possible in part by the Arts in Education Partnership of the Pennsylvania Council of Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Junior high participation in the Artist in Residency program was made possible by an EITC Educational Improvement Fund through the Community Foundation of Greene County with financial support from First National Bank of Pennsylvania.

Artist Residency programs are designed to have lasting benefits for all the participants. Students experience full immersion in an art form and see how it connects to life and learning. Teachers and administrators see how arts fully engage students and impact learning; teachers also get to share in the creative process.

“In his 1943 book, Liberal Education, Mark Van Doren wrote, ‘The art of teaching is the art of

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by Danielle Nyland

assisting discovery.’ Whether these discoveries are large or small, any of them can be a spark--for an occasional hobby, for a lifelong passion, for an emotional outlet, for a glimmer of self-confidence.

I hope that my residency projects can be sparks for the students in our communities,” Lindsey shares about the Artist Residency program.

Brody Evans and Levi Howard work on one of the metal maple leaves.

Students Angel Fowler, Claudia Carter, Chad Cain, Jenna Mankins, Nathan Courtwright, Amber Donley, Hannah Hartley, Nick Orndoff-Jenkins, Cody Green, Ella Menear, Blaze Bair, Ryleigh Henderson pose with a completed maple leaf.

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Bobtown Elementary’s mural constructed from soda cans and copper tubing.

Hundred Mock Disaster

t was a chilling scene at Hundred High School the second week of April. An overturned Chevy Cavalier trapped between another car and a tanker truck. A body sprawled across the hood of the maroon Subaru station wagon. Another person lay trapped beneath the upended car and unable to escape. High

school students gathered around and watched as first responders worked to save those involved.

No, this disturbing scene wasn’t the site of a fatal, 3-vehicle accident, but a mock disaster orchestrated by the Hundred Volunteer Fire Department. This year marks the 7th year that the mock disaster has been staged for the students at Hundred High School to demonstrate the outcome of distracted driving or driving under the influence.

All students in grades 9-12 watch as first responders go through the entire process of responding to an accident similar to this, from arriving on the scene to rescue to medical assistance. Before the demonstration, the students attend an assembly. Another assembly led by the school resource officer and a Wetzel County officer, follows after the event, in which students listen to speakers talk about the dangers

of distracted driving and driving while under the influence. The speakers share their first-hand experiences with similar situations.

“We want the students to hear why it’s not worth that text, not worth that drink,” Beth Sigley, Hundred High School principal, said. “Each year, we meet with the fire department and line out the events. They get in touch with the volunteers. Burt was a big part of the organization,” she added.

Burt Anderson is the Hundred VFD’s chief.

He and the rest of the fire department handle all the organization aspects and getting the volunteers to make each mock disaster as real as possible. “A lot of it is getting the schedules all together so that everyone can be there,” Burt said. This year volunteers included:Air Evac Lifeteam 78 from Wetzel County, Hundred VFD, New Freeport VFD, Wileyville VFD, Mannington VFD, Grant Town VFD, Wetzel County Emergency Ambulance unit, and Marion County Rescue squad.

Coastal Drilling also donated the use of one of their tanker trucks for the event.

This year, the Hundred VFD also helped organize an essay contest to get the students even more involved in education about distracted and drunk driving. The winning student will receive a plaque.

GreeneScene Magazine •

MAY 2018

MAY 2018

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BUCKIN’ B WINNERS Winners of Fan Packs courtesy of Buckin’ B Cattle Co.

GREENESCENE SURVEY WINNER! Lisa Hickman of Waynesburg

Mindy Washko of Sycamore

WINNER OF $50 CASH Growing In Greene Trivia winner Janet Cunningham of Carmichaels 14

Delores Fields of Clarksville is the lucky winner of $100 for her participation in our GreeneScene Community Magazine readership survey. Thank you all for participating!

GreeneScene Magazine •

MAY 2018

Photo Tips from the GreeneScene

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e want to see your photos of this great place we live in. There’s so much to take photos of: scenic beauty, abundant wildlife, festivals, farms and bridges, not to mention the county’s inhabitants and furry best friends.

We get to see so many wonderful pictures thanks to reader submissions. Lots of times we get great pictures that we’d love to print but can’t because they won’t work in the publication. So we thought that we’d share some pointers to help you get your photos published in the GreeneScene.

• Make sure your photos are in focus on the subject and that it isn’t blurry.

• Don’t frame the image too closely. Leave space around the object so that it can be cropped to fit a variety of sizes (especially that almost-square cover!)

• Submit a high quality file – 300 dpi – for best results.

• Keep photos at their original size when sending – don’t let the email or phone downsize them!

• Have a focal point. Is the image too busy? Are there distracting elements in the picture that you can avoid? If so, try a different angle on the subject.

• Don’t forget about your flash! Even outdoors, flash can help eliminate pesky shadows that you don’t want.

• When shooting outdoors, watch the sun. It can cause glare or harsh shadows on your subject.

So start shooting those great pictures and send them in to info@greeenescenemgazine.com – just in time for summer and… be the first featured on our new monthly calendar!

If you want to learn more about getting great photos, Greene County has its very own photography club. They meet every 4th Tuesday, 7pm, at the Waynesburg Bible Chapel located at 800 E. Greene St, Waynesburg, PA 15370.

Read Across America Family Movie Night

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ednesday, March 7th was Read Across America Family Movie Night for Waynesburg Central Elementary School Students. Thanks to the Read Across America Committee, PLUS Committee and WCES PTA this event was a huge success. From 5:00-5:30 p.m. attendees received free Kona Ice. 208 free Kona Ice treats were distributed courtesy of the WCES PTA. 100 students attended this event, and there were a total of 260 students and family members present.

WCES Staff donated 13 baskets to be raffled off to students. Students received tickets to use for the raffle based on their attendance. Students with

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perfect attendance received 15 tickets. Students who missed 0.5-3.0 days received 10 tickets, and those who missed 3.5-6 days received 5 tickets for the raffle.

Prior to the movie the committee members present at the event were introduced. Mr. Headlee spoke briefly about the importance of attendance.

Students and their families watched the Disney movie “Moana”. During intermission the basket winners were announced. Also, 36 names were randomly drawn to receive $15 worth of free books from Scholastic. Students were given Scholastic book orders and were able to select $15 worth of books from the order form.

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Welcome, SSG Anderson!

SG Shea Anderson didn’t always have plans to join the military. During high school in Uniontown, he veered a little off-track and his grades slipped. After graduating in 2004, he was working at the Dairy Queen with few options for jobs or college. Then one day his father joked with him about joining the military and the wheels started turning. After a week, Anderson made a decision and took the first step in his career – he went to talk to a recruiter. His 14-year military career has brought him to Greene County as part of the PA Army National Guard, where he serves as the recruiter for this area – the first recruiter based out of this area in a long time.

Anderson decided that he wanted to be an infantryman and receive his airborne wings. He was sent to Fort Benning in Georgia for basic and airborne training. Afterwards, he was stationed in Fort Richardson, Alaska, where he spent 6 years and completed a total of 27 months of combat in Irag and Afghanistan. He retired from active duty and moved back to Uniontown with his family.

Having spent the last 6 years as active military, Anderson found life without the military lacking that something special. So, in 2011 joined the PA Army National Guard as an E-5.

Since joining the National Guard, he has completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Physiology and a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology – a 6-year education that he owes to the Army and the Guard.

“It’s been a huge boost, a leg up for myself and my family. It’s provided support, guidance and employment. It’s always felt like family,” Anderson shares.

This year, he decided to give something back and volunteered to recruit. SSG Anderson’s position will have him reaching out to the community and establishing a presence in local schools and colleges, with lunchroom interviews and classrooms presentations, as well as job fairs and county fairs. But that isn’t the extent of Anderson’s plans for getting out into the community. “I want to think outside of the usual ways to reach out to the kids in the community,” Anderson says. “It’s hard to catch kids at school. I want to reach them through events that they’ll enjoy.”

Anderson firmly believes that the Guard offers a lot of opportunities for Greene County youth. “It gives you a sense of pride and honor. You are able to help out your community. The doors are open to anyone,” Anderson elaborates. “There are over 150 positions that can transfer into a civilian career and schools that you can go to tuition-free. There are even more incentives and they start as soon as you enlist.”

SSG Anderson has been introducing himself to the community through events held at the Readiness Center –the most rented out armory in the state. He has received a warm welcome and lots of support from the county, especially from three of Greene County’s previous recruiters, Joe Ayersman, Buzz Walters, and Albie Rinehart. Between the three of them, they have almost 80 years of service with the National Guard.

Joe spent 36 years with the unit, with many of them being dedicated to recruitment and retention. During his time with the National Guard, he also worked as a teacher and wrestling coach for Waynesburg High School. “Teaching and coach-

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ing helped a lot with recruitment,” Joe says. Joe and Buzz went to college together, taught and coached together, and after Joe recruited Buzz, served in the Guard together.

Buzz spent 22 years as a Guardsman after serving in the Marine Corps. He also assisted with recruitment and retention, as well as working as a teacher in West Greene and coaching wrestling.

“Coming out of the Marine Corps with different training, I thought of it as a ‘boy scout’ outfit. But I came to know the finest people in the world in the guard,” Buzz says. “It was one of the best experiences in my life, talking to the young people to get them to join and get a start in life.”

Albie completed 21 years in the Guard and spent many of them recruiting others. He worked as a teacher in West Greene. “I viewed it as an opportunity to better my life and contribute to the community. I’ve been blessed to have that opportunity. I value the experiences with my fellow soldiers and the positive outcomes from them,” Albie shares. “I want to encourage people from Greene County to take advantage, to look at the opportunity they have and see the value. It could better their lives.”

SFC Martin Cowden says that Anderson has been a welcome addition to the unit. “His relentless dedication to this unit and the soldiers assigned here has had a tremendous impact on our retention. SSG Anderson brings motivation and professional guidance to our young soldiers, and we are fortunate to have him working with us.”

SSG Shea Anderson, in front of the Waynesburg Armory’s trophy case.

Behind him, you can see one of two eagle trophies the unit has won at the Army Ten-Miler.

L-R: SFC Martin Cowden, Albie Rinehart, Joe Ayersman, Buzz Walters, and SSG Anderson.

COMMUNITY EVENT AT THE ARMORY The National Guard Armory host- and operated by monitor and joystick ed a career opportunities event on April from inside the vehicle. You also got to 19th that welcomed the entire commu- check out the TOW system mounted on nity to come out and learn more about the roof of another Humvee. the National Guard – and have a little fun while doing it.

The focus of the event was to provide information about the role of the Army National Guard. Live displays and interactive presentations gave those interested a chance to participate in different aspects of the Guard. The presentations also allowed Guard members to demonstrate the many unique positions offered. Information about benefits and incentives was available for all attendees.

Attendees of all ages were able to gear up with helmet, vest, and a full backpack to see what it was like to carry a full load of gear. You could test out infrared devices on helmets and scopes. A Raven drone was presented to examine along with a flight simulator. Various military weapons were set up on display. Military medics were available to explain their position and the equipment they use – you could even check out the inside of a military ambulance. An interactive radio system was set up. And the coolest things there: you could sit in a Humvee and interact with the CROW system, a remote operated weapons Attendees were able to try on military gear, like this helmet with attached night vision setup. system mounted to the vehicle’s roof GreeneScene Magazine •

MAY 2018

Vietnam Veteran’s Day in Greene County

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elebrated every March 29th, Vietnam Veterans Day is a day to honor those that served in the Vietnam War. Vietnam Veterans Day is a relatively new national day, officially designated in 2017 by President Donald Trump. March 29, 1973 marks the day that the last American troops were withdrawn from Vietnam. Celebrations and ceremonies are held across the United States and Greene County was no exception.

In Carmichaels, the Ladies Auxiliary was bustling around the Carmichaels American Legion Post 400’s kitchen, preparing the free breakfast for veterans and their families. State Representative Pam

Snyder hosted the breakfast and spent the morning welcoming and talking to all the veteran’s and their families. In consideration of the day, Rep. Snyder passed out pins to all those that served in Vietnam.

“We feel that this is a way to show appreciation to all of those who’ve defended our nation, and the families that have supported them,” Snyder said. “But since our breakfast is being held on Vietnam War Veterans Day, we want to make an extra effort to include as many of them as possible.”

Snyder and her staff were available throughout the lunch, as were representatives from the Greene County Veterans Affairs Office and the Fayette County Office of Veterans Affairs, Greene County Commissioners Blair Zimmerman, Dave Coder, and Archie Trader, Mrs. Fayette County Lori Rodeheaver and newly-elected U.S. Representative Conor Lamb.

Later that evening, Waynesburg VFW Post #4793 invited veter-

ans, military members, their families and the public to attend a special program. The program opened with the Master of Ceremonies, J.W Lang, followed by the singing of the National Anthem and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Greene County’s fallen were honored with a moment of silence and the playing of Taps. A speech by Donnie Martin acknowledged the day and its affect on so many people, especially veterans, and the called for Vietnam veterans to “overcome our hurt to help the next veterans.” Vietnam veterans of Greene County (and surrounding areas) were recognized and spoke a few moments about their experiences.

Food and refreshments followed the ceremony, giving everyone attending a chance to mingle and talk. Many of the guests from the earlier breakfast attended the ceremony and social, like Pam Snyder and Blair Zimmerman.

GreeneScene by Mike Belding

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Waynesburg Sheep & Fiber Festival

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he third weekend of May will once again bring fiber fanatics flocking to Greene County as Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful stages its 15th 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 19th & 20th, 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

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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, deepfried 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 full schedule of events and information at www.sheepandfiber.com, or by calling Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful at 724627-8119.

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MAY 2018

Greene County Animal Response Team

The CART team at the Save-A-Horse event at the Greene County Fairgrounds.

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hen a disaster strikes, the Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team (PASART) is there to help.

Founded as a response to Hurricane Floyd (1999) and modeled after a similar effort in North Carolina, the non-profit PASART assists government officials in responding to or handling companion animal and domestic livestock needs in emergency situations.

It’s broken down into local teams on a county level, called CARTs. These CARTs are a critical part of PASART – they can respond faster to local emergency situations and make sure help gets there when it needs to. In the case of specialized or large scale emergencies, other county CARTs can be called to assist.

Greene County has its own CART, dedicated to helping animals in need. Derek Forman, ‘the animal guy of Greene County,’ has been Greene County’s CART coordinator since the fall of 2009.

Derek spent ten years as a volunteer humane officer with the county, as well as being a board member for the Humane Society of Greene County before becoming CART coordinator. His 5-person team includes Lucy Defrank, Frank Couch, Joe Stevens, Cindy Coll, and himself.

CART was originally organized to respond to highway incidents involving domestic animals and livestock, animals stuck in precarious situations, fires, and dealing with loose livestock.

CART is activated by a call to 911. Once 911 get a call, they call Derek and he gathers volunteers.

Most calls are for assisting law enforcement with the transport of injured animals. This involves picking the animal up at the scene and taking it to the nearest available animal hospital.

Sometimes, it even means having to spend your own money for an animal to receive care. “I once responded to a situation with an injured dog. The owner didn’t have transport, so I took the dog to Cheat Lake. They wanted $1500 to help the dog and for me to sign up front to cover the costs. I couldn’t do that, but I did manage to get them to start pain medication and paid for it myself, so he

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wouldn’t be in pain,” Derek shares. “I did eventually receive restitution for that time but that isn’t always the case.”

Not only do they rescue animals and remove them from danger, they also shelter them. CART has an agreement with the fairgrounds for use of some stalls to shelter animals in need. They also have a supply of cages. The CART team is usually able to feed sheltered animals through community donations.

While they don’t usually handle wildlife calls, sometimes they are called in to assist with wildlife situations. Derek remembers an instance where “a deer had gotten out on the ice at Rohanna’s. It couldn’t get itself off the ice and was exhausted.

We couldn’t go out on the ice because it was too dangerous. Fredericktown Fire Department came out with their boat and we were able to get the deer off the ice safely.”

Derek adds, “Usually when there is a situation, there are spontaneous volunteers that are willing to help. We once had a kitten stuck in the storm drains along Rt. 21 that couldn’t find its way out. A girl from Pittsburgh happened to be on scene and she went down into the drainage system and ran the cat out to where I was on the other end.” He smiles and says, “We let her take the kitten home. She earned it.”

CART teams are made up entirely of volunteers. After signing up, volunteers receive instruction in the Incident Command System (ICS) as part of their training requirement. The mandatory training can be taken online from the Emergency Management Institute of FEMA. The state also provides various training throughout the year that volunteers can attend to expand their knowledge.

“The extra trainings are very beneficial but not required. We try to ensure continuous training so that team is able to provide better care,” Derek adds. “Right now, we have 3 people on the team that can give oxygen to animals.”

“We also want to help educate people, also.

Help them create backup plans and be prepared for emergencies,” Derek says. “ We try to take part in events when we can.” One example is CART’s part in the Save-A-Horse events held at the fairgrounds in past years, where they demonstrated how to use a Becker sling to help a horse stand.

CART is always looking more volunteers and donations to help fund equipment. Volunteers don’t just have to be those helping to rescue the animals – they can help with inventory, public relations, fundraising and more. If you are interest in volunteering, visit the PASART website, pasart. us for more information. If you would like to talk to CART in person, they have a meeting every 3rd Thursday of the month at 6pm at CareerLink in Waynesburg.

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MEALS ON WHEELS COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS

t’s a cold and rainy morning in Waynesburg, but Paul Carlson arrives at the Waynesburg Senior Center at about 9:45am prepared for the weather. Paul is a Meals on Wheels delivery driver that distributes meals to the area’s senior clients during the weekdays. Today isn’t an ordinary delivery day for Paul; today is Meals on Wheels Community Champions event - a part of the 2018 March for Meals Community Champions Week.

During March for Meals week, Meals on Wheels/Home Delivered Meal programs invite imJoe Cook (left) and Pam Snyder. portant community figures, such as elected officials and local celebrities, to help deliver meals and raise awareness for seniors. The annual March for Meals event was established in 2002 and commemorates President Nixon establishing a national nutritional program for seniors 60 years and older and adding an amendment to the Older Americans Act of 1965.

The annual awareness campaign celebrates the successful public-private partnership and gathers support for the program.

Paul has been delivering meals since about 2012/2013. “I retired from my job at Windstream John Bruno (left with cap) and Brian Tennant in 2012. I had a few part-time jobs here and there. delivering meals.

I decided that if I was going to keep doing something, I’d do something meaningful,” Paul says.

Blueprints served over 1300 clients through their Paul usually delivers on Mondays, but he helps aging services and 321 of those clients received out on other days as needed, like today. He gets to Home Delivered Meals. Over 51,000 home delivthe center somewhere around 9:45am and starts ered meals were provided to Greene County’s older delivering meals at about 10am. His route usually population in 2017 – delivered solely by volunteer takes him about an hour and a half to two hours to drivers. complete. He usually has a friend, Kristi Scott, to “This program is really important for our setravel the route with him – she drives and he deliv- nior clients. Sometimes they only see our drivers ers. Kristi began assisting Paul after her retirement and the mailman,” says Bridget Dennison, Senior because she “wanted to volunteer and it was a good Center Manager. “It’s helpful in making sure that way to put that in place. It’s worked out really well everything is okay with our senior clients. If someand I feel like I’m contributing to something im- one has fallen, it could be the difference between portant.” life and death. There have been multiple instances “I enjoy it,” Paul adds. “I’m doing something where our drivers were able to help someone that that is helping people and you can’t do anything had a problem.” better than that.”

This project is funded, in part, under a contract Today, however, Paul’s delivery assistant is Liz with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency Menhart, Marketing Coordinator for First Federal. on Aging through a grant from the PA DepartLiz found the experience delivering with Paul to be ment of Aging. It also receives funding through the eye opening, “It humbles you and reminds you to Greene County United Way and the Corporation be grateful for something as simple as the ability to of National and Community Service to support the purchase and prepare your own food. We should volunteer programs. For more information about never take that for granted.” the Meals on Wheels program or volunteering, visit Liz adds, “The dedication of these volunteers myblueprints.org, call 724-852-2893 x543, or email is unmatched, and they are so valuable to this pro- info@myblueprints.org. gram. Meals on Wheels simply wouldn’t run without their spirit and selflessness.

You can see how appreciative the recipients are, and how some of them have developed a bit of a relationship with their delivery driver, just in those few minutes they spend with them.”

Other prominent local figures participating in the Meals on Wheels Community Champions at the Waynesburg Senior Center are Pam Snyder, State Representative, delivering with Joe Cook, and Brian Tennant, Greene County Sheriff, delivering with John Bruno.

Paul, Joe, and John are part of the Liz Menhart and Paul Liz Menhart with a grateful 289 volunteers involved in the BlueCarlson delivering meals to client. prints agency programs. Last year, welcoming seniors.

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Country Rhodes

By Jenny Bradmon

s the well-known adage goes, “Find a job that you love and you will never work a day in your life,” and for Harry Rhodes this is certainly true. He started his career in the printing business and for the last five years his passion has been woodworking.

Harry started in printing with Burn Printing in Elkins, WV. After three weeks of working there, he became the manager. He then took a job with the newspaper in Elkins before moving to Greene County in 1964.

Once in Greene County, he became the print manager for the Democrat Messenger newspaper.

After leaving the paper, Harry worked at Sutton Printing in Waynesburg. When he opened Rhodes and Hammers Printing, also in Waynesburg, he stated it was not work because he loved what he was doing.

Harry was born with an eye condition causing him to see with only one eye at a time. However, through the years, his vision changed, and the issue left him unable to continue to work. “The long hours were taking a toll. I was working 12-hour days, 6 days a week. I knew it was time to retire,” he says. “But when you retire, it doesn’t mean you don’t do anything.”

After he retired, he started collecting antique tools. His collection grew into over 10,000 tools including 3,000 antique hand planers. However, the collection had grown so large that it became too difficult to keep all the tools maintained properly.

Harry sold most of the tools in an auction several years ago.

His passion then turned to woodworking to occupy his day. While his vision has limited what he can do throughout the day, it hasn’t limited how he can transform a piece of wood. “I have an idea what I want to do, but when I am working with the wood, I’m not really sure what it is going to turn into in the end.”

His love of working with wood started at a very young age. “Mom always said she would catch me working with wood,” Harry explains, “She said I whittled my first piece at 4 years old or so.”

When it comes to woodworking, Harry has many ideas of what to create, but he states he couldn’t do any of it without his wife, Pam. She is an important part of the team that makes it all come together. He will cut the pieces and she will

This live edge coffee table was once a stump.

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put them together. “If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this,” Harry says with a huge smile.

Much of the wood they use is from their farm located in New Freeport, although they have traded neighbors and others to get different types of wood.

They will cut the wood into large blocks and it may take years before it is ever used in a project.

Harry will take some of the wood, dig a trench in the ground and bury it for a year. While it is buried, the vines that naturally grow under the ground on his property will work itself into the wood. The vine creates a worm wood effect in the wood. After a year, the wood is retrieved and cleaned. He states it will then take a year for it to dry enough to use it.

Other wood is stored in their outbuildings.

Most woodworkers measure in inches and feet. However, Harry does things a little differently. He has brought his printing background and knowledge into the shop and he measures his work in picas. “Picas can give me more precise measurements,” he explains.

He has spent the last 5 years building a wood shop to craft his one-of-a-kind pieces. If there is a tool or a jig he needs, he will create one. Most of the machines have some modifications to allow him to cut or plane pieces. He even modified an old printing table saw into one that will let him cut wood.

The little shop he built is getting a bit crowded and he is hoping to build an addition soon. The addition will give them more room for the finishing process.

While he enjoys the work he does in the shop, he doesn’t really think of it as work. “I am the luckiest guy in the world,” says Harry. “I really starting doing this to keep busy and it wasn’t about making money.”

Some of the many pieces he crafts are trinket boxes, blanket boxes, bowls and cutting boards. He also uses live edge wood to create tables, stools and benches. Every piece is unique in color and wood used.

Harry and Pam take their items to various craft shows to sell. The next event they will be at will be at Washington Crown Center in Washington, PA from April 26 -29.

Harry whittled these wooden tools by hand. They are functional with moving parts.

Harry working in his shop with a piece of stump wood.

Harry working with one of his modified tools in his shop.

These piles of wood will eventually be crafted into small boxes. Before being cut down and planed, these pieces of wood were buried in the ground for a year to create the marks and holes and then dried for another year.

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: EMPTY BOWLS

by Mitchell Kendra

The following feature originally appeared in the April 12, 2018 issue of The Yellow Jacket, Waynesburg University’s award winning, student-run newspaper. GreeneScene Community Magazine is pleased to share this and future stories from The Yellow Jacket with our readers, as we give these young journalists an opportunity to broaden their audience and share the good news of our region and campus with you. You can also follow The Yellow Jacket online at https://issuu.com/wuyellowjacket.

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ungriness is a problem in Greene County.

According to Greene County Food Security Partnership’s website, in 2010, “the poverty rate for children in Greene County is 20.4 percent (or 1,588 individuals under the age of 18), with 2,090 children able to be identified as food insecure (25.9 percent of population under 18).” While this problem is not solvable overnight, there are efforts being made to help those who do not know where their next meal is coming from.

Empty Bowls Greene County is an event where the community comes together to benefit the Greene County Weekend Food Program. The fifth annual Empty Bowls event occurred this weekend at the National Guard Readiness Center April 8.

Waynesburg University senior Kenny Knouse, who was a coordinator for the event, said he is glad to make a difference in the community, even though he does not directly interact with those he is helping.

“It’s good to know that something good is happening in the community,” Knouse said.

Doors opened at 11 a.m. Soup was served and the auctions opened right away. Sweet potato, black bean, wedding, loaded baked potato, French onion, beef vegetable and broccoli cheddar soup were available to those in attendance.

Gift baskets from local businesses and ceramics from Winegar Pottery, and Waynesburg University students and Andrew Heisey, chairperson for the Fine Arts Department at Waynesburg University, filled the auction table.

The Waynesburg University Bonner Scholars

hosted the event, which was coordinated by Knouse and his classmates Amanda Groft and Sydney Green.

Knouse, who has been involved with the Empty Bowls program since his senior year of high school at Southern Columbia High School in Catawissa, Pennsylvania, is involved in different organizations and programs in the community. The history major spends several hours a week at the Greene County Historical Society and understands the importance of a close community.

“It’s the number one thing [to me],” Knouse said on the importance of community. “Especially being in college, it’s important to grow a big network and to be actively involved in not only your schoolwork but also the community as well, that way you can create a really good, long-lasting relationship, and a memorable one at that.”

Upon arriving at Waynesburg University as a freshman in 2014, Knouse got involved with Empty Bowls Greene County, as the Bonner Program requires students to serve with issue based programs.

Knouse, Groft and Green have been busy coordinating the event since the beginning of the 2017-2018 academic school year, when they started planning and making ceramic bowls.

Waynesburg University students collectively made about 100 bowls for the event, and had bowls from the last several years donated to this year’s event as well.

Heisey was throwing pottery during the event, showing members of the community how the students made the bowls for the event.

PA State Rep. Dr. Rick Saccone, representing the 39th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, was in attendance of the event and even practiced throwing pottery, under Heisey’s instructions.

“That was great, that was so much fun,” Saccone said after finishing turning his once ball of clay into a well-molded bowl.

Saccone said he enjoyed his first Empty Bowls event.

“I am really impressed,” Saccone said. “I’m impressed with all the community, all the students who are involved – I love that – how it contributes to hunger in the area. It was very inspiring for me to come to this. And I have to say, the soups are dynamite. I’m not saying that just because I am here, but that is the best wedding soup I have ever had.”

Saccone said he enjoys taking part in events around the area and hopes to return to Greene County for more events soon.

“It’s good to be out in the community and to get to meet a lot of great people here in Greene County,” Saccone said.

He continued to say the engagement of everyone from the community was crucial.

“It’s always good to get community engagement to help solve a problem,” Saccone said. “Hunger is a problem and we want to get everybody involved that we can: it’s students, it’s community leaders, it’s citizens.”

Betty Stammerjohn, executive director Community Foundation of Greene County, said the key to

this event is that the problem is brought to people’s attention, as the event creates awareness of the ongoing problem of hunger in the county.

The Community Foundation works as the fiscal sponsor for Empty Bowls, however, Stammerjohn said her input was not needed because the university students went above and beyond when planning the event.

“If the students didn’t do this fundraiser, it wouldn’t happen,” Stammerjohn said. “Because for them to be able to do this, I don’t have the resources at the Community Foundation to do this, so to have these students do this where it can benefit five different school districts…otherwise you would have five different school districts competing with one-another to try to raise that money. It’s invaluable, it really is.”

GreeneScene by Heather Horner

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GreeneScene Magazine •

MAY 2018

Local Scout Aims to Make Sick Children Smile

County Commissioners Approve Recreation Grants The Greene County Commissioners approved eight recreation grant requests for a total of $21,450 during their public meeting on Thursday, March 22.

The recreation grants are for Greene County municipalities and organizations to construct ad-

ditional recreational facilities or enhance current recreational facilities. The grants are funded 50-50 and help to provide a start-up fund for projects to gain motivation.

Waynesburg Farmers’ Market Opens It’s that time of the year again – time to enjoy fresh and delicious foods from the Waynesburg Farmer’s Market. Conveniently located in Downtown Waynesburg near the courthouse. The Waynesburg Farmer’s Market opens Wednesday May 16th and will operate every Wednesday until October 31 from 10 am to 2pm. A hot lunch will

be available, so make sure to stop by and shop on your lunch hour!

It’s a great opportunity to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs directly from the farmers and gardeners that grow them. There are also baked goods and locally produced meats, eggs, and wine.

Community Foundation Accepting Community Grants Applications The Community Foundation of Greene County (CFGC) is accepting applications for the CFGC Community Grant Summer cycle until June 1 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.

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.

Eligible applicants for the Community Grants must be nonprofit, charitable, tax-exempt organizations (recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), including schools, religious organizations, and government agencies whose purposes and programs benefit Greene

County residents.

CFGC seeks to fund organizations and ideas that will have a significant and lasting impact on Greene County, its residents, infrastructure and future.

Grant applications must be received in the CFGC Office no later than 4:00 PM on June 1st.

Applications may be received by postal mail, handdelivery, e-mail, or fax. Please note that e-mail or fax submissions must also mail a copy of the application form with original signature within 48 hours of the deadline.

Please 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.

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Randy Shaffer, a local Greene County youth resident and Boy Scout, was very sick as a child.

He was hospitalized for extended periods of time after birth. Randy was a prematurely born twin, to mother Karen Shaffer and he was the weaker of the two. Some of Randy’s chronic health conditions still affect him to this day.

Randy has been in scouts since he was in third grade. He is currently working towards his Eagle Scout honor, which is the highest rank that a boy scout can achieve prior to his 18th Birthday. This rank is also based on leadership, planning, and carrying out a large scale event or project. The process to earn Eagle Scout also required Randy to earn 12 specific merit badges and 11 others of his choice.

When selecting a project, he knew he had to do something that would make a difference and maybe put a smile on someone’s face. Considering his health history Randy decided to make care packages for local kids that are hospitalized his

Eagle Scout project. He wrote to local businesses in Greene County and put out donation boxes seeking a variety of items to stuff in his care packages.

Randy packaged the following into the care bags: blanket, chap stick, hand sanitizer, coloring book, crayons, reading book, play-doh, toy cars, puzzles, and variety of other things. Collecting these items has taken him approximately 5 months to complete. Also, with some help from friends, family and the local troop, it took over 250 hours for everyone involved to complete the care packages. He showed great leadership throughout the process.

Randy donated the bags on Friday, April 13, 2018 to the WHS Greene facility. Terry Wiltrout, President of WHS Greene, accepted the bags on behalf of the hospital and explained to Randy how important his donation was to the kids in their community. “I can’t wait to see the smiles on the faces of our pediatric patients when they receive a care package,” said Terry.

WHS Greene Receives LOVING Donation

WHS Greene was honored to receive a CuddleCot from the nonprofit organization Loving Daniel. This organization donates CuddleCots to small hospitals for grieving patients and families to use as they are going through the loss of an injustice system must use positive reinforcement in fant. The CuddleCot allows the parents to keep addition to sanctions to push our youth to become their baby in the room and spend more time with successful students and productive citizens. Please them before they part. The CuddleCot package also contact Bret Moore at (412) 874-5246 if you have includes a book on child loss for the family to read. questions or wish to provide an incentive for the “Having this option for our community allows card. parents and family members that extra time with

Community Service Rewards Cards The Greene County Community Service Office is creating a Rewards Card for disadvantaged youth to incentivize academic achievement and school attendance. These Greene Cards would include services or deals that would appeal to middle and high school age students. We feel the juvenile

Front Row, l-r: Melissa Adams, Shirley Hiser (Randy’s Grandma), Karen Shaffer. Back Row, l-r : Benton Shaffer, Randy’s Twin Brother and Also Eagle Scout candidate, Paul Adams, Randy Shaffer, Terry Wiltrout, Mary Brosovich, Carrie Cozart, Heather Shriver

their baby, which is truly important to us here at WHS Greene. We are here to provide comfort and support to our community,” said Justine Welsh, Unit Care Coordinator of WHS Greene Emergency Department. “We are extremely grateful to the Loving Daniel organization for this donation. ” The cost of a cot is around $3000. This donation was given to the hospital from the Dice family in honor of their son, Daniel. They also donated one to WHS Washington Hospital in May of 2017.

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Free Healthcare Summer Camp The Greene County Career and Technology Center will be hosting a free Healthcare Summer Camp for current 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students in Greene County from Tuesday June

12th – Thursday June 14th from 9:00am – 1:00pm. FMI, contact the guidance office at the CTC (724-627-3106 ext. 206) or pick up an application in your student’s guidance office.

WU Cyber & Financial Crime Conference

Pennsylvania Annual Migration Count Held on the second Saturday in May, the Pennsylvania Annual Migration Count (PAMC) was established in 1992 to gather annual data on migratory bird populations. The data gathered

Photo by Missy Zi

helps answer questions regarding bird distribution throughout Pennsylvania.

Take part in the event by spending time in the field – which can be your backyard, along the river, the local park, Ryerson State Park, or anywhere else in Greene County. Your observations count, wherever you are. The count lasts the entire 24-hour period, but you can decide how much time you want to contribute to the count. Spend time in a certain area, counting all the birds and keep track of time spent counting and miles traveled. Count every bird you see!

Afterwards, pass the information you collected to your county compilers – and they’ll pass it onto the state compiler. FMI, visit https:// pabirds.org/index.php/projects/pa-annual-migration-count for report forms, spreadsheets, previous reports and more. Data can be submitted via email or post to the Greene County compiler, the Ralph K. Bell Bird Club.

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 shine201027@ yahoo.com or call 724-943-4462.

Sports Announcing & Journalism Camp Waynesburg University will offer its annual Sports Announcing & Sports Journalism Camp, hosted by Lanny Frattare, June 18-22. Students who are current high school sophomores, juniors or seniors are eligible to attend.

The cost is $500 and includes all meals, housing and camp materials. A non-refundable $100 deposit is due at the time of registration.

Space is limited, and students are encouraged to enroll prior to April 27. To register, visit waynes-

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burg.edu/sportsannouncingcamp.

Camp sessions will cover the topics of effective communication, principles of journalism and sports announcing, interviewing techniques, play-by-play and sports writing game coverage. The week culminates with a trip to a Washington Wild Things game, where students will be able to practice either baseball play-byplay or writing for baseball. FMI, call 724-8527725.

Waynesburg University will offer a Cyber and Financial Crime Conference Tuesday, May 8. The conference will have three tracks, including CPA & Forensic Accounting, Law Enforcement and Cyber Security. Professionals in each of the three areas are invited to attend the conference. The cost is $35. To register, visit www. waynesburg.edu/cyber.

The conference will address timely topics in the fields of cyber security and financial crimes. Presentations will be made on the following topics: Internet Crime, Digital Currencies, The Dark Net, Digital Evidence Recovery, Cyber Security Breaches, Email and Computer Disruptions and Compromises, Money Laundering and Employment Tax.

Greene County’s Reinvestment in Agriculture: Cost-share Enhancement (GRACE) Program The Greene County Conservation District Board of Directors are accepting applications until Aug. 31, 2018 for Greene County’s Reinvestment in Agriculture: Cost-share Enhancement (GRACE) Program, a successful conservation-based program designed to enhance soil health within the agriculture community.

The GRACE program, first introduced in 2017, provides guidance to farmers and forest landowners through technical assistance and cost share to help promote soil and water conservation practices. Farmers may apply for livestock conservation fencing, lime, water development projects and fertilizer. The program

expanded in 2018 to include forest landowners practicing forestry conservation and stewardship for invasive species management, forest stand improvement, tree establishment and riparian forest buffers.

Funds for the program are a direct result of PA Act 13 Oil and Gas Impact Fee that the district receives annually to foster conservation efforts within Greene County. FMI or to apply, call the District at 724-852-5278, e-mail gccd@ co.greene.pa.us, or visit during office hours (M-F 8:30am-4:30pm) at 22 West High Street, Waynesburg.

Correction Correction: In our March/April issue, our “I Love This Place” column included a picture of volunteers planting DCNR funded trees (p.4).

Not all of the trees were funded by DCNR, some

were purchased by private parties. Bill Davison purchased the weeping willow planted in memory of The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

GreeneScene Magazine •

MAY 2018

Carmichaels HS 6th Annual Art Show

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elebrating the creative talent of Carmichaels Area High School students, their 6th annual Art Show took place Friday, April 27 6-8pm on the Carmichaels HS cafeteria. Every year, admission is free and the public is cordially invited to attend.

Over 200 original works were exhibited including ceram-

Freshman, Jessica Rychtarsky, working on her acrylic painting.

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“Role Diffusion” mixed media created by senior, Charlotte Nyland.

ics, sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, and mixed media. “The students’ best work from throughout the school year is saved for the Art Show! I’m continually impressed with what they can accomplish and it is exciting to put it on display for the public to view,” says Marlynn White, art teacher.

“Self Portrait” charcoal drawing created by sophomore, Remington Renner.

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Regional Academic Competition Champs

From l-r: Katelyn Sinn, Coach John Hess, captain Adam Donaldson, Joe Kurincak, Stephen Zacoi, Ryan Swartz. Not pictured: Pilar Randolph, Maddie Pratt.

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he Carmichaels’ Varsity Academic Team won the Intermediate Unit 1 Regional Playoff Competition held at Waynesburg University on April 5th. They will represent IU 1 at the 27th Annual Academic Competition held in the House of Representatives and Senate Chambers in Harrisburg, PA on April 27th.

The team defeated Chartiers-Houston High School and Connellsville Area High School twice to win the double elimination tournament. Bethlehem Center High School also participated in the competition. Team Captain Adam Donaldson compiled a total of 40 points throughout the 3 matches.

This is the first time in the 24-year history of

the regional competition that Carmichaels’ Academic Team – or any Greene County school – has advanced to the state playoffs. The Pennsylvania Academic Competition began in 1992 with 12 school districts representing 11 different Intermediate Units. Now with 29 Intermediate Units, each IU is permitted to send one high school academic team to participate in the competition. The championship team will receive a $2,000 scholarship for their high school. Finalists will each receive $500 for their school.This year’s Pennsylvania State Academic Competition is hosted by the Honorable John Lawrence and sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

GreeneScene by Pat Rosinski

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SITE MANAGER WANTED Waynesburg Farmers’ Market

Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful Inc. is now accepting applications for Site Manager of its Downtown Waynesburg Farmer's Market.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE JOB: To coordinate weekly operations of the Market from mid-May to mid-October (Wednesdays, 9:30am - 2:30pm), be the Market "point person," and serve as a representative in good faith of Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful. Must be on-site during weekly Market hours and must be able to devote regular non-market time to marketing and administrative duties as needed. Must be available by cell phone during Market hours and have access to e-mail and/or the Internet.

Part-time seasonal, no benefits. Full description of duties and qualifications/ requirements available online at www.waynesburpa.org.

Interested candidates should send resume to Larry Marshall, WP&B Manager at MSM@waynesburgpa.org

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MAY 2018