GreeneCounty
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MAGAZINE
WINTER 2025
Valley View’s legacy grows online
CFCG at 25: A foundation for success
Writing Flenniken’s next chapter
contents
on the cover
4 Stories of the season 8 CFCG at 25: A foundation for success 11
MAGAZINE
AN NICHE PUBLICATION
Winter 2025
Breaking ground in Greene
Courtesy of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce Santa waves to the band in a recent Annual Downtown Waynesburg Christmas Parade
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Valley View’s legacy grows online
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GreeneCounty
Greene County Chamber of Commerce presents awards
Writing Flenniken Public Library’s next chapter
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Selecting a perennial, flowering vine
from the editor
122 South Main Street Washington, PA 15301 724.222.2200 issuu.com/observer-reporter EDITOR Trista Thurston tthurston@observer-reporter.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Carole DeAngelo CONTRIBUTORS Cindy Cummings C.R. Nelson Megan Phillips Amanda Startare Sarah Varner
IN BLOOM, EVEN IN FALL This is the time of year when I am most in my element. I just love fall. I just took a short walk to the library, which shares a block with our office, to return one book in exchange for another that was waiting for me. It’s my ideal day today — about 60, breezy and gray. The sun is hiding, and the crisp leaves are rolling over the grass, shushing all the other noise. It’s time for tea, chilly mornings, dark evenings and big reads, both in size and scope. I know this time of year can be hard for others, so my thoughts are with you if the shorter days and waning sunlight make it difficult for you. In my adulthood, I have come to appreciate something about each season. To bask in the summer’s sun, soak up spring’s lushness and yes, even frolic in the winter snow, when we get some white powder worth ploughing through. But despite my ability to see the good in each quarter, this one is my favorite, and it seems to linger ever so briefly. The leaves are falling, and soon we will be blanketed in the cold. But, for a bit longer now, I will appreciate each day as it comes, as drab and gloomy as I like. This is my home. Though I am not originally from the area (just over the border in Southeastern Ohio), here is where I’ve planted. I actually got my start down in Greene County, reporting on anything I could get my hands on. I’ve been here for eight years now, closing in on a decade of working, learning, loving, befriending and being. I’ve made some fantastic connections here, forged relationships I wouldn’t trade for anything. So though I wasn’t originally rooted here, Southwestern Pennsylvania is where I’ve truly bloomed. I hope the same for you. Thank you for reading. As always, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to send me an email or give me a call to tell me your thoughts or drop me a tip.
GREENE COUNTY MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 3, 2025 | 2
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STORIES OF THE SEASON By Sarah Varner Greene County Chamber of Commerce assistant executive director Photos courtesy of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce
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Christmas parade. Despite rain which started falling in the late afternoon, Santa kept on the job until all who had not taken shelter had a chance to talk to him.”
December 3, 1938: Democrat Messenger “The first Christmas parade ever held in Waynesburg, with none other than Santa Claus himself heading the procession, will be held this afternoon, starting at 1:30 o’clock. Clarence Huffman, chairman of the parade committee, said that at least 75 cars and floats would be in the parade. Mothers and fathers from all sections of the county and from neighboring towns in West Virginia are expected to be in town to give their kiddies the opportunity of having a personal talk with Santa.”
December 10, 1940: Democrat Messenger “The number of floats or the size of the parade was not considered by the parade committee, the main object being to give the youngsters a chance to see Santa Claus.”
or the past 87 years, most residents in Greene County have been fully aware of a time-honored Christmas tradition that takes place the first Saturday in December at 2 p.m.: the Greene County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Downtown Waynesburg Christmas Parade. For anyone not attending but still traveling through Waynesburg, it is evident that something is happening. Various state and borough roads are closed and detour routes established. Throughout the 87 years this parade has taken place, many stories have been published about it. As the holiday season approaches and we prepare for this beloved event, we have pulled out the newspaper archives and wish to share excerpts from a few of them. Not just to reminisce and see how it has evolved to what it is today, but also to celebrate the magic of this event that will once again be arriving soon.
December 5, 1938: Gettysburg Times “Santa Claus traded his reindeer for a truck in a Christmas parade in Waynesburg, Pa—to his sorrow, the truck ran out of gasoline and left Santa stranded. He arrived late at the courthouse to jot down kiddies Yuletide requests and add one of his own—for more gas next time.” December 5, 1938: Democrat Messenger “With an estimated crowd of 7,000 lining the streets to welcome Santa Claus, who took time off from his duties at the North Pole to accept an invitation of the Waynesburg Business Association, Waynesburg officially opened the holiday season Saturday afternoon with the staging of the first
Unknown date and source: “It wasn’t elaborate nor was the crowd as large, but the Christmas parade staged here in Waynesburg Saturday afternoon rivaled the one held in Pittsburgh in that several kiddies became lost. However, they were all returned unharmed to their parents, or brothers, or sisters from whom they became separated. Several persons who witnessed the Washington, (Pa) Christmas parade on Friday were here for the Waynesburg parade, said the one staged by the local merchants and businessmen was by far the best. (They would have been absolutely right in adding that Waynesburg is also just as good a place to buy). There were thirteen Greene County horsemen in the parade, but this did not prove an unlucky number as the parade went off without a hitch, being unlike the 1938 parade, which was held up when the truck on which Santa was riding ran out of gas.”
December 3, 1956: Democrat Messenger “Santa Claus kept his promise to visit Waynesburg on his worldly tour this year. The entire event was arranged as a joint effort of the Waynesburg Chamber of Commerce and the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Sharing honors with Santa in the parade was 5 Miss Merrie Christmas’ of 1956 from West Greene, Waynesburg, Mapletown, Cumberland Township, and Mt. Morris High Schools. They were decked out in Christmas robes and riding in a sleigh suitable for the festive occasion. Station WANB of Waynesburg gave spot coverage to the colorful proceedings with a member of the staff on hand to help in the ceremonies at the courthouse and also describing the activities over the air.” December 7, 1981: Democrat Messenger “Santa Claus
GREENE COUNTY MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 3, 2025 | 4
brought up the rear of the annual Waynesburg Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade Saturday. A light snowfall just prior to the event lent a festive mood to the parade, but provided a challenge to area motorists later in the evening when coupled with plummeting temperatures.” December 6, 1982: Democrat Messenger “Jolly St. Nick, a resident of the North Pole for 11 months of the year, was not prepared for the 70-degree weather that greeted him in Waynesburg Saturday as he brought up the rear of the annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade. Had he been forewarned of the unseasonable temperatures, he may have worn red Bermudas and a wide-brimmed hat.” Over the past 25 years, the highest number of parade entries was recorded in 2004, with 127 registered and 117 participants marching down High Street. Once the staff sends the entries down the street, there is no control over how long it takes for each of them to go through. To keep an accurate record of how long each parade takes, a picture of our final guest of honor is taken underneath a well-known clock downtown. The coldest temperature recorded in the past 15 years was 31 degrees in 2013, and the warmest was 60 degrees in 2011. The average time of the parade is an hour and 15 minutes.
Over the years, as the verbiage in newspaper articles has changed, one thing that has remained constant is the Greene County Chamber of Commerce’s commitment to the safety of our volunteers, participants and attendees, fostering an enjoyable experience for all. We thank all past, present and future volunteers who help make this major event possible. We could not and do not do it alone. The State Police, Greene County Sheriff, Greene County Emergency Services, County of Greene, Waynesburg Borough Police, Waynesburg Borough Street Crew and Waynesburg University Security also help make it possible and cannot thank them enough. We encourage you to attend or submit an entry application. It is always the first Saturday in December at 2 p.m. and the application deadline is always the day before Thanksgiving. Whether watching or participating, be sure to check our website or Facebook page the week after Thanksgiving each year to stay up to date on entry line-up information, possible parking arrangements or detour changes. We thank you for your time and patience on the day of this event, our largest community service project. It is an honor to present such a wonderful parade on behalf of our 350-member businesses who wish to keep the magic of the Christmas season alive.
GREENE COUNTY MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 3, 2025 | 5
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CFCG at 25: A foundation for success
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Story and photos by C.R. Nelson
fter 25 years, the Community Foundation of Greene County has some pretty amazing stories to tell. And some of those stories got told on November 6, when board members, donors and long-time supporters stopped by after work at CFGC’s meeting room at 108 High Street Waynesburg for a cheerfully informal Meet and Greet, hosted by Brodak Enterprises. It was also a chance for Executive Director Dave Calverio to present a going-away present to outgoing administrative assistant Lisa Allison, then introduce new assistant Julia Pascuzzo. Calverio is just the latest on the short list of directors who have helped Greene County take care of its own for 25 years. And counting. What is a community foundation? “The thing I really like is we’re not just raising money, we’re building relationships,” Executive Director Bettie Banks Stammerjohn told me in 2018. The foundation had recently given $500 to support Project Linus, a national blanket-making challenge taken on by Waynesburg University students, and I was there to write about it. “The endowments we set up aren’t short — the money will be here, going out, year after year. In the 12 years I’ve been here, our assets have grown steadily. As of June, we have 5.2 million dollars in assets.” This year, Calverio is ready to make the news once more. “Now it’s over nine million!” Ministers, educators, established families and business leaders who felt the need to bridge the gap between local donors and their community’s needs helped organize CFGC in December 2000. Pharmacist Jeff McCracken chuckled when I reached him by phone. He remembers his father, Jack, putting it this way: “You know, Washington County has one, and it’s probably really important that Greene County has one too. That way Greene County money stays in Greene County!” Foundations can accept donations that might not be able to be given directly, but can be turned into endowments to help churches, schools, libraries and fellow nonprofits create some great innovative solutions to the needs they see. With seed grants from R. K. Mellon and Benedum Foundations, and one that “chose to remain anonymous,” the new foundation was ready for the new century. Leading by example, Jack McCracken volunteered as a board member and created a mission-targeted 401(k) plan that is now his legacy.
CFGC celebrated its first million-dollar benchmark in 2003 with a handsome, eight-page tabloid mailer, on file at Cornerstone Genealogical Society. It spread the news that Frederick Harris Goff formed the first community foundation in the United States in 1914, and then got down to the business of explaining the community power of foundations and endowments. The benefit of pooling assets for better interest rates and lower management fees is the key to future growth and stability. Individual donations and endowments can be targeted for specific causes or left open-ended to be used as needed. The mission to “Strengthen Greene County through charitable endowments, maximizing benefits to donors, making effective grants and provide leadership to address community needs” continues to build partnerships with already established nonprofits. CFGC has become the trusted conduit for philanthropic gifts that support health, education, civic and historic landmark projects countywide. Founding board member Dolly Throckmorton remembers when the first Executive Director, John McCall, stepped down for health reasons, and Dave Cumberledge stepped in. Joy Eggleston came later to help set up an earned income tax credit to attract corporate donors, and the search for the right grant writer ended when Bettie Stammerjohn was hired as director in 2006. “I’m proud of the way we fill voids in community services. Sometimes you don’t even know where those voids are until people apply,” Throckmorton said. Calverio became director in 2021 after Stammerjohn retired. His networking skills and insights, gained from
GREENE COUNTY MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 3, 2025 | 8
Helping kids choose produce at Corner Cupboard Summer Youth Cafe, Ryerson Station State Park
Educator Tina Virgin used a TEACH grant to purchase new chapter books for all CGSD second graders Neighbors 2 Neighbor and Growing Up Greene getting ready to give out winter gear on October 11 at Aleppo Brethren Church
years of managing the Bonner Scholars Service Learning Programs at Waynesburg University as Dean of Students and Director of Service Leadership, and later, helping moderate-income families become homeowners as Executive Director of the county Redevelopment Authority, gave him the right tools for the job. Being a Court Appointed Advocate for Growing Up Greene makes helping children and families a priority, Calverio said. “I’m most proud we were able to work with our Greene County Career and Technology Center to raise funds and purchase a food truck, which serves as a mobile classroom for the Culinary Arts Program. This classroom on wheels gives students real-life life hands-on experience operating a business and working with the public.” With two grant cycles in February and October, help is available year-round. When CFGC’s spring grant application was posted online this year, it included a new grant for Central Greene School District teachers. The Gensler Family TEACH “To Educate All Children Honestly” Grant — up to $2,000 — encourages innovative projects, programs or teaching moments that are not typically budgeted, such as field trips, books, speakers and classroom equipment. Or, in second-grade teacher Tina Virgin’s application, to replace a set of beloved 18-year-old reading books that were “literally falling apart.” “We used the grant to purchase brand new chapter books in all the different levels so that all our second-grade teaching staff can use them,” Virgin said. “A chapter book is just like an adult book, but it’s for kids. Second grade is when they transition from learning to read to reading to learn.” Chapter books tell adventure stories that appeal to young minds. “That’s how they learn to love reading.” The Campbell Family Fund awarded more than $13,000 to Bowlby and Flenniken libraries to support their 2025 summer reading programs. This year’s Color Our World theme wove STEM learning into activities and projects focusing on art. “Studies have proven that students may lose up to two months of reading proficiency and even greater loss of math skills during the summer months.” Bowlby Executive Director Kathy McClure said. Another void to fill: students lose access to regular school lunches as well as quality class time when summer comes. An anonymous, non-endowed CFGC fund provided $20,000 to put Summer Youth Cafe on the road in 2024 and keep the program rolling this year. That anonymous challenge brought in an extra $1,123 from the Daniel and Lizzie Tharp Fund, $550 from the Peters Family Fund and $550 from the Bernie and Nelson Fox Fund. These funds help cover the costs of transportation, supplies and what Corner Cupboard pays for food. “We’re a non-profit. A $5 donation buys $25 worth of food through the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank,” Director Candace Webster said. This innovative cafe for all hungry kids includes grab-andgo meals, along with fresh produce kids can choose for family meals. The program began June 10, and when I caught up with Webster at Ryerson Station State Park on August 16,
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the program was wrapping up for the year, and kids with their parents were coming in from the pool to browse the produce. Fighting hunger is a group effort, Webster pointed out. Meals prepared by West Greene School District this summer were partially reimbursed through the USDA, with Corner Cupboard picking up the remaining costs. Webster reports that approximately 5,500 meals a week were distributed between six sites countywide, along with the produce. Another Campbell Family Fund grant for $10,000 helped Stuff the Bus on September 24. United Way of Greene County gave this project to The Way Community Center this year after it merged with Washington County and lost its ability to apply for foundation grants. “We had amazing support,” Program Director Dawn Mankey said. “First Federal donated $3,000, and we got so many other donations. MaChal Forbes (former UWGC director) is on our board, so we ran like a well-oiled machine!” Mankey was all smiles a few days later as she helped a mom pack up bags of school supplies and clothes for her kindergarten-age daughter. “We have so much left over we’re giving out today and tomorrow to reach those who didn’t sign up. There’s no income guidelines; nobody will be denied. Many of the families who come are working two jobs, so if you need something, please give me a call. We’re here to help. Anytime of the year.” With winter hovering, it’s comforting to know that a $25,000 grant from EQT put Neighbor 2 Neighbor of Southwestern PA on super drive for 2025. “We got it because we go to every corner of Greene County,
and that’s where the grant money will stay,” Director Bill Burns explained. This dynamic faith-based nonprofit keeps its spiritual focus on physical needs — winter coats, backpacks, meals, even quarters for the machines when meeting neighbors where they gather in laundromats. As fall settled into October, Burns and his crew of volunteers, in partnership with Growing Up Greene, crisscrossed the county, winterizing nearly 500 children from Aleppo Brethren Church and Ryerson Station State Park to Central Greene District Campus and housing developments in Carmichaels, Waynesburg and Jefferson, adding new sites as opportunities opened up. “Greene County already has great resources, an amazing nonprofit community and a loving faith community,” Burns said. Neighbor2Neighbor and Growing Up Greene are still partnering, with expanded winter gear distribution countywide until Waynesburg Fire Department’s Christmas on High Street on November 29. Special stocking stuffer events will keep happening in December until every warm winter need is met, Growing Up Greene Director Aaron Houser said. “This is a partnership that works. We have the ability to store the inventory as it arrives, and Neighbor 2 Neighbor is great about being able to hold mobile events. It’s a win-win for everyone. More supplies are able to get to more kids.” For more information or to get involved, call Community Foundation of Greene County during business hours at 724627-2010, or go online to cfgcpa.org.
Meet CFGC Director Dave Calverio and his admin assistant, Julia Pascuzzo
GREENE COUNTY MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 3, 2025 | 10
Breaking ground in Greene Courtesy of Megan Phillips A view of the new kayak launch at Wisecarver Park and Reservoir
By Megan Phillips
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reene County has entered an unmistakable “building” phase. From reimagining the fairgrounds to activating new outdoor assets and launching a small-business incubator, Greene County Commissioners are focusing on projects that create jobs, attract visitors and make daily life a little better for families here at home. Here are three plots to keep an eye on. Turning the fairgrounds into a regional hub The Greene County Fairgrounds have long been a gathering place, but the county’s current push is about turning potential into year-round performance. Improvements underway pair physical upgrades with a hiring focus that emphasizes event production and customer service, enabling the site to host an increasingly diverse range of activities. Think agricultural expos, trade and equipment shows and seasonal markets. The strategy is simple: leverage the fairgrounds as an agribusiness and expo center.. That means better utilities and layout for exhibitors, easier load-in/load-out and amenities that make it attractive for organizers across Southwestern Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia. A stronger event calendar doesn’t just boost gate receipts; it fills hotel rooms, brings customers to local restaurants and shops and gives local producers a showcase close to home. Wisecarver: Launching the next phase of outdoor access Greene County’s landscape is one of its greatest assets. The next phase at Wisecarver aims to put that beauty front and center with a nature-forward program built for families, school groups and casual users. As residents know, regional recreation has had ups and downs over the years; the new effort at Wisecarver is designed to be a steady, welcoming option — a place to walk, paddle on the lake, learn and simply enjoy being outside. Plans call for accessible trails and programming that can scale with the seasons: bird walks, intro-to-fishing days, outdoor skills workshops and partner-led activities that highlight local ecology. The goal is not only to give residents another high-quality option for free time but also to market Greene County’s natural appeal to visitors. When outdoor assets are easy to find and enjoy, they become entry points to the rest of the county’s economy.
A business incubator to help startups take root Growth isn’t just about places; it’s about people launching ideas. That’s the idea behind a new business incubator designed to help already developed small businesses and new startups move faster from plan to profit. Built with input from local economic-development partners and in partnership with Waynesburg University, the incubator will offer flexible workspace, mentorship and practical services that first-time business owners often struggle to assemble. University teams are currently surveying community needs to shape programming, including evening workshops and office hours with subject-matter experts. The goal is to open doors and be fully occupied by the beginning of the year, providing entrepreneurs with a place to land, learn and grow without leaving the county. When a new shopfront opens in one of our communities or a local maker lands a wholesale account, the impact ripples through to jobs, the tax base and neighborhood vitality. Why these pieces matter together Individually, each project solves a problem: the fairgrounds convert underused space into steady economic activity; Wisecarver gives families a reliable, close-to-home outdoor option; and the incubator shortens the distance between a good idea and a real business. Together, they form a coherent growth playbook with three main goals: • Attract: Events and outdoor amenities bring new visitors. • Retain: Quality-of-life improvements make it easier for families to stay. • Build: An incubator helps residents start and scale local enterprises. Most importantly, the work is designed to make a direct impact on the community. These are practical moves that meet people where they are, no matter if it’s on the midway, on the trail or at the workbench, all while building the tax base and momentum that longer-term goals require. Greene County is growing the way healthy communities grow: one well-chosen improvement at a time, focused on what our residents value and what our economy needs. Keep an eye on the calendar, soon you’ll have more reasons than ever to spend your weekends right here at home.
GREENE COUNTY MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 3, 2025 | 11
Valley View’s V legacy grows online
By Amanda Startare Photos courtesy of Caitlin Morton
alley View Farms, located at 102 Orndorff Road in Waynesburg, is a family-run and multigenerational farm that offers a beautiful venue space. But first and foremost, Valley View is a farm, and Caitlin Morton is documenting the farm life that she and her family share through social media. Valley View Farms 1905, Morton’s Instagram and YouTube handle, is where you’ll find a fun mix of all the daily tasks the Valley View family completes on the farm. The farm was founded in 1905 by Morton’s great-great-grandfather, and the family has lived there ever since. Currently, the farm is home to a few generations. Morton is joined by her husband, Marlin Morton and their family, as well as her parents Corbly and Christy Orndorff. Together, they keep the farm alive and live the homesteading life. Caitlin Morton started her socials as a sort of journal for her family and for the generations to follow. “It started as a legacy project. I had always wanted to learn to make bread from my grandma, so now my descendants can learn to make bread from me,” says Morton on her inspiration for Valley View Farms Instagram and YouTube pages. The accounts have evolved from simple recipes and canning to include day-in-thelife videos, sewing tutorials, sustainability, gardening and much more. Morton recently posted a video on YouTube sharing her recipes for homemade and whole food snacks, like sourdough Cheez-Its. Valley View Farms 1905 has become a one-stop shop for all homesteading content. Not only do they live their own life as sustainable homesteaders, but they also make their living on their farm. Corbly Orndorff, the patriarch of the family, breeds Belgian draft horses and sells them all over the country. Together, they take care of their dairy and beef cattle and their chickens. They even have an egg stand on the farm, where locals can go and grab some fresh eggs. They also have whole and half cows for sale. Morton brings the meat to the butcher, who then prepares it for purchase. Those with a large family or wanting to share the meat with friends, Valley View Farms would be a perfect place to check out. The Orndorffs and the Mortons make their own hay too, and everyday life is “like what people see on the show ‘Yellowstone,’ only on a smaller scale,” says Morton. Aside from their farm life, the family also runs a beautiful venue on the farm that is ready to rent for your special occasions. Visitors might even meet their famous dairy cow, Clarabell. Morton’s hope for her YouTube and Instagram page is an effort to preserve her legacy for her future generations, but also to share her way of living with others who are interested in a slower, more sustainable life, and hopefully give someone the tools and confidence to make those changes and incorporate homesteading into their life.
GREENE COUNTY MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 3, 2025 | 12
Greene County Chamber of Commerce presents awards The Greene County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 37th annual membership banquet and presentation of the Distinguished Service Awards on Oct. 23 at Valley View Farm in Waynesburg. The Distinguished Service Awards are bestowed upon individuals who have made lasting contributions to community welfare, actively participated in civic organizations, demonstrated leadership ability, achieved success in their vocation, shown personal and/or business progress and cooperated with other individuals and organizations. The 2025 Distinguished Service Awards were presented this year to individuals Wayne Hart, Albie Rinehart, Andrew Corfont, Pam Snyder and Renee Jones. Kristy Borovichka, owner of New Way Excavating and President of the Chamber board of directors, presented the awards.
Wayne Hart and wife Connie
Renee Jones and son Randy
The McCracken Legacy Award is awarded to a business or organization, having an operating presence in Greene County, which has demonstrated ambition, profitability, growth, sound business planning, customer satisfaction and management of people; a commitment to social responsibility and exemplary community involvement; demonstration of a positive social and/or economic impact on the community and exemplary civic community leadership. Receiving the 2025 McCracken Legacy Award was 4 Seasons Law and Garden. For more information on the award recipients, how to nominate an individual for consideration, or the benefits of chamber membership, please visit the website at greenechamber.org.
From left, John Fitzgerald, Courtney HoyHersey, Jeff McCracken and Debbie Hoy
Andrew Corfont and wife Linda
Pam Snyder and husband Jack
GREENE COUNTY MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 3, 2025 | 13
Albie Rinehart and wife Donna
Writing Flenniken Public Library’s next chapter
By Megan Phillips
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century-old home in Carmichaels that has subtly influenced generations of Greene County readers may be found on East George Street. On May 1, 1961, the Flenniken Public Library opened in the former Werner Lund residence, thanks to years of volunteerism and a donation from local businessman Earl T. Flenniken. The seeds were sown even earlier: even before the library had a permanent location, the Carmichaels Cumberland Women's Civic Club established a community library in the basement of the First National Bank (now Community Bank) in 1946. Today, Flenniken remains a community anchor, offering equal access to information, programs and technology from its location at 102 E. George Street. Patrons can check out books and media, use public computers and tap into the countywide WAGGIN network of more than 800,000 items — plus 24/7 digital resources and online classes — extending the library’s reach well beyond its walls. The mission of Flenniken is centered on children. Toddlers and preschoolers can attend weekly early literacy sessions. Grade schoolers can participate in the Greene County Reading Competition. Teenagers can access STEM workshops and assistance for their college and career. More than 250 individual children participated in library programs during one recent summer, and attendance approached 1,500 over six weeks — a testament to how enthusiastically local families welcome a space created for developing readers. That demand is exactly why the library is writing its next chapter. Flenniken has launched Pages in the Park, a capital campaign to construct a modern, 15,000-square-foot library and community center at Wana B Park, about a mile south of the current site. The new facility — nearly four times the size of today’s 4,000-square-foot building — will include flexible learning spaces, a multi-purpose room and a community kitchen, creating room to serve more children and families, host bigger events and collaborate with local partners. The project has momentum: a $5 million USDA award (requiring a local match) was approved in the 2024 appropriations, positioning Flenniken to break ground as early as 2026 once remaining funds are secured.
for youth programming and lifelong learning. The plan relocates the community garden and preserves most park amenities, replacing only the ballfield closest to the road. The mission remains the same even while the building changes. From collection development and class scheduling to the architecture of the new children's area, Flenniken's promise remains and informs each choice: equal access to information and programming that encourages intellectual, economic and social growth. The benefactors who thought a tiny town should have a wonderful library, and the volunteers in a bank basement in the 1940s were inspired by the same attitude. How to help Community support will determine how quickly the doors open on the new Carmichaels library. Grants, sponsorships and individual gifts (including “bricks and benches” contributions) are being pursued to complete the match and outfit the space for readers of all ages. Families, civic groups and local businesses can also amplify the effort by attending programs, sharing the campaign with neighbors and volunteering. From a basement shelf to a countywide hub and soon, a purpose-built home in Wana B Park, Flenniken Public Library keeps proving what a small-town library can do: level the playing field for kids, fuel curiosity for adults and stitch a community together one story at a time. Flenniken Public Library is located at 102 East George Street in Carmichaels, PA 15320. For more information, call 724-966-5263 or visit flenniken.org.
Library leaders selected the park intentionally. As Carmichaels has grown and shifted, the current house no longer sits in the center of community life, and space constraints limit what the library can offer. By moving into Wana B Park, already a gathering place, the new Flenniken will meet people where they are and expand access in a rural area that has long needed more public space
GREENE COUNTY MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 3, 2025 | 14
Selecting a perennial, flowering vine By Cindy Cummings, Greene County Master Gardener
isteria is one of the most stunning and fragrant W vines. It is a fast-growing, woody legume that fixes nitrate in the soil. The vine grows between 15 and
30 feet and requires substantial support. It may take 5 to 10 years for the plant to produce flowers. Wisteria requires little to no fertilizer, as excessive fertilization can hinder flowering. All parts are poisonous. There are 10 different varieties from Asia, Iran, southern Canada and the United States. Chinese wisteria, Wisteria sinensis, and Japanese wisteria, Wisteria floribunda, are the two most commonly sold. Chinese wisteria twines clockwise, while the other species of wisteria grow counterclockwise. Asian vines develop flowers on old wood, before they develop leaves, and the vines are completely covered with fragrant, long clusters of violet-blue, pink or white flowers. Although Chinese wisteria prefers full
sun, it will still bloom in partial shade, whereas Japanese wisteria will not. Chinese wisteria blooms more fully, but is not as fragrant. Silky wisteria, Wisteria brachybotrys, is another variety that originated from Japan, and the foliage is covered with silky hairs. Wisteria vines set off underground runners as extensions of the original plant, so these need to be kept in check. All three Asian vines can be considered potentially invasive. There are two native wisteria vines: American wisteria, Wisteria frutescens, and Kentucky wisteria, Wisteria macrostachya. Their flowers are shorter and broader, and the vines don't grow as big. Their flowers grow on new wood after leafing out. Native varieties have the advantage of being more cold-hardy and non-invasive. An American wisteria, 'A methyst Falls' and a Kentucky species, 'Blue Moon', are commercially available. Both may re-bloom.
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GREENE COUNTY MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 3, 2025 | 15
UPMC Washington provided a level of care I hadn’t received anywhere else. It was simply phenomenal Michelle A. Adena, OH Loving Mom of Five
When her previous provider couldn’t find a heartbeat, Michelle was devastated. And when they stopped answering her questions, she trusted her gut and transferred to UPMC Washington. There, she discovered a full range of maternity services and a compassionate care team, including expert obstetricians dedicated to supporting both mom and baby at every stage.
Learn more about Michelle’s story at upmc.com/Washington