Herald-Standard Progress 2024

Progress in Fayette County in 2023 to carry over to this year and beyond

By Mark HofMann mhofmann@heraldstandard.com

While the new Fayette County jail didn’t move inmates in until this year, the new lockup was substantially completed in 2023. Commissioners Scott Dunn, Dave Lohr and Vince Vicites said the work on the $44 million project was a major accomplishment, and one that was a longtime coming.

The new facility has the capacity to hold 333 inmates, and has the capacity to provide space for treatment and rehabilitation-focused programming, something the 132-year-old former prison lacked.

“Last year was a setup for this year,” said

Dunn. “It has set us up for more progress.”

Among the things that set up additional forward momentum in the county is the continued expansion of the Sheepskin Trail. An additional section of the trail was completed in Point Marion, and $1.6 million was allocated for the section of the trail that will go through Uniontown.

Dunn said they plan to bid out work for the Uniontown section this year.

He also noted that the county is reapplying for a $2 million grant to plan for a project that would transform the deck of the railroad bridge in Connellsville into a park area. Officials believe the park

will attract cyclists and hikers into the city from the Great Allegheny Passage.

The U.S. Department of Transportation turned down the grant request last year.

Dunn also noted an upward trend of private investment in Fayette County. Among the highlights are stores like Burlington Coat Factory, restaurants like Chipotle, and the Timber Rock Amphitheater in Farmington.

“When people privately invest, they see growth potential in Fayette County, and they’re investing in Fayette County now,” Dunn said.

Lohr said 2023 marked another year without a tax increase

as the commissioners have tried to keep spending in check.

He also praised the continued success of the county’s Infrastructure Bank, which gave out over $5 million in loans to municipalities and authorities to help fund projects.

“This is a good thing to help municipalities and authorities get money or match-money for their projects,” Lohr said.

Another notable development, said Lohr, came about from a $700,000 grant obtained by Rich Bower, the county’s former district attorney. The funds are earmarked for a shooting range meant for members of law enforcement.

Lohr said finding a place for the range was difficult, so the funds will be used for upgrades and modernization at South Connellsville Rod and Gun Club. The club will maintain ownership of the range, but it will be open to all law enforcement officials.

In other developments, Vicites said Fayette and Greene counties will conduct a study of Route 21 using $2.5 million in federal funding.

“It’s the most dangerous highway in Pennsylvania,” Vicites said, adding the goal is to make that corridor safer, and potentially turn it into a four-lane highway. “Once the study is done, we’ll

know what we need to do.”

He also noted there was a groundbreaking for Thompson’s Crossing in North Union Township, which will serve as a business park.

Vicites said work on the park will begin in a couple of months, and added the park’s features will include a town center and some residential development in the first phase. The second phase will be developed for two to three acres of commerce and commercial businesses, as well as another entrance off of Route 40 near Aldi.

“I’m excited where we’re at and where we’re going,” Dunn said.

Mark Hofmann | Herald-Standard

The new Fayette County jail was substantially completed in 2023. Inmates were transferred into the facility in early 2024.

Mark Hofmann | Herald-Standard

A portion of the Sheepskin Trail in Uniontown will extend behind the city’s maintenance garage, connecting the South Union Township section of the trail. In 2023, $1.6 million was allocated to complete that section of the popular trail.

Mark Hofmann Herald-Standard

In this 2023 file photo, Andrew French, executive director of the Fayette County Redevelopment Authority, speaks prior to the groundbreaking for Thompson’s Crossing, a business park for companies and residential housing in North Union Township.

Masontown streetscape project continued in 2023

By Mark HofMann mhofmann@heraldstandard.colm

As streetscape improvements continue in Masontown through 2023, the borough has received a new police vehicle as well as new features for those of all ages.

“We’re still working on the Main Street project,” said Masontown Mayor Toni Petrus.

The project started in 2022 after local leaders saw there were issues that needed addressing and after a steering committee was formed, they sought funding through grants.

In all the project will bring new curbs, sidewalks, ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities

Act, crosswalks, trees, benches, street lanterns, trash cans and a green space to be known as East Abington Square between Cross and Church avenues.

Masontown Borough Councilman Bruce Cochrane said the borough has put $1.8 million in the project and expects to need another $2.2 million to complete it, depending on other factors like price increases and if there are cost-saving measures that they can use.

He said the state Department of Transportation was able to take out trees and place poles along the corridor for overhead lights last year.

Once complete, the finished product will serve to enhance the

pedestrian/consumer experience within the borough’s central business district with space for events like farmers’ markets, craft fairs or music festivals.

Cochrane also said the borough’s $13.5 million sewage project, which installed 9 miles of new mainline sewage, was completed last year.

Petrus said the borough received a new police car last year, thanks to Rich Bower, the county’s former district attorney.

“Our police cars were very old,” Petrus said. “We’re seeking funding for a second car.”

A new attraction that sprung up in Masontown last year was the introduction of the Story

Walk at the German-Masontown Library.

Bev Diamond, a staff member at the library, said the Story Walk started in October, with posts along the Browns Run Trail that are enlarged to show a children’s story.

The posts were put in place by the German Township supervisors, and the first story to be told was “The Belonging Tree.”

Diamond said there are questions at each post that parents can use to quiz their children about the book as they walk along the trail.

“Everyone who has looked at it has said they enjoyed it,” Diamond said, adding they’ll be changing the post to add

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a new story in the spring.

Warren Hughes, president of the nonprofit Masontown Matters said the organization’s 6,000 square-foot incubator gained three new businesses in 2023, including a garden shop, a lab that performs blood draw services and a photography business.

The business incubator provides rent-free space for local entrepreneurs to start out, grow and eventually move into their own space.

Hughes said that was the case with Jesso Monuments, one of the original tenants of the business incubator. The business moved out last year and purchased a building in Uniontown to continue growing.

Hughes said one project Masontown Matters started last year involved replacing the signage from organizations in the borough that can be seen at the cloverleaf when entering into the borough.

“Those signs were in bad shape,” Hughes said, adding that some of the organizations that are posted on the signs no longer exist. He said that Masontown Matters is working with FastSigns to make the signs, adding they have eight so far and hoped to have those signs up by the end of March, weather permitting.

“It will look real nice when it’s finished,” Hughes said.

Creating the Perfect Backyard Retreat

Outdoor living spaces are in demand more than ever before. A beautiful and functional outdoor space isn’t just a nice place to relax. It also provides health bene t for you and your family and helps to increase your property value.

While there are small things you can do to create a relaxing space, consider tackling some larger projects to create your ideal backyard retreat.

Decks and Patios

Maybe your space is lacking a patio or deck, or maybe your current space desperately needs updated. Decks and patios are two separate entities that requires their own speci c material. A patio is built at ground level, on a at surface, and typically is constructed of a permanent material such as stone pavers, brick or poured concrete. A deck oats in the air, supported by footings, at a height of anywhere from a few inches to many feet and can be built on an existing slope.

“We’ve got everything you need to create the perfect backyard oasis,” Donna Tomasko, owner of Charleroi Home Warehouse Inc., said. “We have a great selection of decking and railings to start or complete your project.”

Siding

Upgrading your siding can be a quick and easy way to create an ideal space, add value and curb appeal to your home. In terms of aesthetics, siding in uences the look and design of your home, and it’s one of the rst things people notice. On the functional side of things, siding can a ect the structural integrity of your home. Damaged or worn siding may mean that it is not performing correctly.

Tomasko said Charleroi Home Warehouse Inc. has numerous durable siding options to choose from including vinyl and stone. “We have many di erent options to help dress up your home,” she said. “Those extra touches make a di erence, and in the end, help to create a truly unique space.”

Roo ng

Whether you’re interested in a new metal roof, long-lasting shingles or adding a roof to your deck or patio, updating or addressing your roo ng can have several impacts. Not only does it add to your home’s aesthetics, but it can lower electricity bills and make your outdoor space more useable.

Tomasko said her knowledgeable sta can help you navigate your options and put you in contact with local contractors.

“We really do have it all,” she said. “We can even order products for you and deliver them straight to your door. From quality materials at low prices to truly knowledgeable sta , we’re here to help you improve the overall look of your home and enjoy your investment.”

For ideas and products, browse Charleroi Home Warehouse Inc.’s complete exterior home remodeling options.

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Submitted photo

Dorothy Gruskowski, a volunteer with the German-Masontown Library, leads a group of children along the library’s Story Walk along the Browns Run Trail in October.

Mark Hofmann Herald-Standard

A project stated by Masontown Matters in 2023 involves replacing the signs of local organizations at the cloverleaf when entering town.

By Mark HofMann mhofmann@heraldstandard.com

Brownsville residents gathered to open a time capsule, and community members opened their hearts to a special man who made a profound mark on the borough last year.

Mayor Ross Swords was one of the officials that took part in the opening of the time capsule that was originally placed in the cornerstone of the former Brownsville General Hospital in 1914.

The time capsule was opened by Swords in August, after it was discovered during the 2021 demolition of the hospital building.

Found inside the shoebox-sized copper container was an American flag bearing 48 stars as Hawaii and Alaska were not yet states, a copy of The Morning Herald (a legacy paper of the Herald-Standard) was found along with a copy of the Brownsville Clipper-Monitor, several coins and a couple of programs from local clubs or lodges.

However, after 109 years, the remaining items inside the time capsule were nearly unrecognizable.

On Nov. 4, a massive parade was held on the streets of Brownsville for Jackie Conner, a special needs adult who was terminally ill. Swords said Conner would help at any event the borough was having.

“The parade was the largest parade in quite some time,” Swords said, adding that he declared the day Jackie Conner Day in the community.

“The emergency services from police, fire and EMS were greatly numbered from all over the valley and beyond.”

Conner passed away on Nov. 27 at the age of 57.

“It was a very special day to see these emergency services come together to make this day special for Jackie,” Swords said. “Jackie had a huge heart and cared for his community.”

On the development front, a full makeover of the Charles Street Bridge from the bridge’s

abutments to railings and paving, was nearly completed. Swords said it was expected to be done by December, but delays extended that date to this April.

Completion of that bridge project along with work on the Brownsville Avenue Bridge will lead to the beginning of the Cast Iron Bridge project.

Expected to begin this year, the Cast Iron project is a major restoration to the historical bridge that will bring it back to its original form. To do so, the bridge will be removed, and taken out west for an overhaul that will restore it to his original form. That process is expected to take about 18 months.

Once the Cast Iron Bridge project is complete, Ross said a new microbrewery is expected to open as the sidewalk in front of the proposed brewery will have a foundation extension and a pedestrian bridge separate from the original bridge.

“I believe they originally wanted to open this

year but with the bridge rehabilitation slated for 18 months of repairs it may be pushed back to 2025,” Swords said.

Swords said 2023 saw new businesses come into town including Holly’s Favorite Closet, which is a boutique clothing store on Market Street, and The Mon Valley Academy for the Arts (MVAA), which purchased the former American Legion Post 295 along Brownsville Street in the borough.

In the building the MVAA created a new arts

and cultural center, the Peter J. Daley Cultural Center, in memory of the late state representative from California Borough. Daley was instrumental in the founding of the MVAA.

The center will be used as a base for the organization’s programming and events, and will also be available for rental by individuals and groups for special events.

Swords also noted that Brownsville made a recent contribution to the world of sports.

Derrick Tarpley Jr., a 2023 graduate from Brownsville Area High School, was drafted by the Oakland Athletics, making Tarpley the second pick of the 18th round, and 526th overall in the 20-round Major League Baseball draft. Swords said other highlights from 2023 included South Brownsville Fire Company celebrating 115 years of service to the community, and Brownsville Borough Councilman Shane Ronzio restarting the farmers market.

Mark Hofmann Herald-Standard

In this file photo, Brownsville Mayor Ross Swords Jr. (right) removes items from a copper box that was part of the cornerstone of the original Brownsville General Hospital. Joining Swords were Robert Stakeley (left), the program manager from the Heinz History Center, and Rocky Brashear (center), the president of the Brownsville Historical Society. Submitted

Jackie Conner stands before a crowd of people who showed up to honor him with a November parade in Brownsville

Submitted

Derrick Tarpley Jr., a Brownsville native, was drafted by the Oakland A’s in 2023.

Festivals, events in Uniontown helped showcase the city

The Uniontown Art Club provided displays and demonstrations during 2023’s Founding Day

By Mark HofMann mhofmann@heraldstandard.com

The city of Uniontown held a variety of events and festivals that brought in visitors and brought the city together.

Uniontown Mayor Bill Gerke said there were many ways people came to the city to gather, whether it was the two successful community cleanup days in the spring and fall or the city partnering with Nemacolin Woodlands for a Community Day held at Bailey Park.

One festival that went dormant for a few years and came back in a big way in 2023 was the Fayette County Italian Heritage Festival. It returned in the hands of the original organizers, the Uniontown Sons of Italy, which started the festival in 1980. The Sons of Italy ran it for 20 years until it was passed to different hands, but it hadn’t been held since 2019.

The festival also returned to its original location: downtown Uniontown from Gallatin Avenue to Morgantown Street.

The festival returned for a weekend in August and featured music by Italian tenor Franco Corso, local soloist Nick Polito, Brownsville resident and crooner cover artist Christian Sesek, Pittsburgh-based Italian-American band The Cavaliers, the duo of Joe Onesi and

Kristen Antollini and finally, Amici, an Italian-American band from Clarksburg, W. Va. Along with the traditional food and drink with vendors spread throughout, the Sunday portion of the festival included the outdoor Roman Catholic Mass with Diocese of Greensburg Bishop Larry Kulik as the celebrant.

Gerke said Uniontown City Council recently approved having the Uniontown Sons of Italy to again organize the festival this year.

“When we partnered with people like the Sons of Italy, it was a perfect relationship,” Gerke said.

Founding Day, another festival returning to the city, partners Uniontown with the Herald-Standard to ring in the Fourth of July, and celebrate the city’s founding.

The festival, started in 2019, supports renovation efforts at Marshall Park.

Last year, the Founding Day Festival included a popular car show and art displays, a children’s area with fun and games, a food truck food court and live

music.

“These give us a chance to showcase downtown,” Gerke said of the festivals, adding he received positive feedback from not only residents in the area, but those visiting from other counties.

“And I like having family-friendly events in Uniontown.”

Last year also brought positive change in the form of upgrades at Bailey Park.

Gerke said the city helped the Uniontown Area School District with the installation of batting cages, and a new

scoreboard and pressbox were also added to the park.

Gerke said the city also donated several vacant properties for the Beeson Town Homes Project.

When completed, the project will yield 11 single-family homes and two buildings, each with 26 apartments in Uniontown’s East End as part of a $13 million project that aims to provide safe, affordable housing.

Funded primarily by the Fayette County Community Action Agency (FCCAA) and

Pennsylvania Finance Agency, the project started last year and officials believe it wll have a positive economic and social impact on the city. The project is still ongoing.

Gerke noted this isn’t the first time the city has partnered with FCCAA to create affordable housing opportunities as it partnered with the FCCAA for the Maple Garden Apartments, a $7.2 million 36-unit building for independent older residents that opened on North Gallatin Avenue in 2011.

Beeson Town Homes in Uniontown broke ground last year. A number of dignitaries came to show their support for the new project. Pictured, from left, are Rob Sleighter, Sleighter Design; Ed Balling, Fairchance Construction; Commissioner Scott Dunn; Commissioner Vince Vicites; Uniontown Mayor Bill Gerke; Brian Redmond, PNC Bank; State Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa; Debra Rhodes, representing Commissioner David Lohr; John Frick, representing state Sen. Pat Stefano; James Stark, Fayette County Community Action CEO, and Ken Schrock, Sleighter Design.

Courtesy of Jeffrey W. Hughes Photography

Festival in Uniontown.

Courtesy of Jeffrey W. Hughes Photography

Classic cars lined the street during the 2023 Founding Day Festival in Uniontown.

Community improvements have enriched the lives of those in Wharton Township in 2023

By Mark HofMann mhofmann@heraldstandard.com

Various community-based projects and events last year helped make Wharton Township a better place to live and play.

Township Supervisor

Brian VanSickle said municipal leaders took advantage of the popularity of a growing sport and installed pickleball courts last year at Wharton Township Park.

“Pickleball is really catching on,” VanSickle said. “The courts are getting a lot of use from spring through fall. Even in the winter when the weather is warmer, people play on it.”

A project that started last fall that will see results this year is the installation of six scoreboards at the park.

“Our scoreboards haven’t worked for years,” VanSickle said.

He added that they were awarded a grant for $62,000 to install new LED scoreboards that are wirelessly remote controlled for the park’s soccer field, which he said never had a scoreboard, and replacing the scoreboards at the baseball, T-ball and softball fields. Last year, Wharton Township was the site for the annual Fayette County Firefighters Association Convention, which

was held at the Farmington VFD fairgrounds.

The convention attracts over 30 fire departments from Fayette County. Members meet for association business, and hold a number of friendly competitions for the public, including a gear scramble and forcible entry, bucket brigade and battle of the barrel.

The convention also has a parade, food and musical acts.

“It was a total success for the fire department and the township,” said VanSickle, who’s also the fire chief for Farmington VFD. “It brought a lot of visitors into the community, and that was

great. It was good all the way around for the fire department and the community.”

VanSickle said the fire department’s fairgrounds were also the site of two successful holiday events last year.

The first is the Light Up Night that started two years ago, held on Black Friday to kickoff the Christmas season.

“It really blew up,” VanSickle said, adding that, last year, over 500 people attended with temperatures in the 20s, over 200 children received a gift, people left with many giveaway items donated by sponsor Nemacolin Woodlands,

a lot of Christmas decorations were given away that were donated by local businesses in the township.

He said local churches set up booths to hand out treats, the Bruderhof Community gave away refreshments and a great time was had by all.

“The whole community got behind it, and we’re going to continue it. It wasn’t a fundraiser and everything was free,” he noted.

A similar community event that takes place a month prior to Light Up Night is the annual Halloween parade, which attracted 250 children following trick-or-treat in the township last year.

The parade is sponsored by the township supervisors.

“We’re trying to invest in the community and keep the community neighborly and make sure the kids are not left behind,” VanSickle said.

The supervisors also didn’t leave the roads behind as they continued their road preservation program last year by repairing and coat sealing 3.5 miles of roadway along McCracken School Road, Glades Road and Wirsing School Roal.

VanSickle said the project cost around $350,000.

Mark Hofmann Herald-Standard

In this archive photo, William McShane with Hopwood VFD rushes to the finish line in the gear scramble at the annual Fayette County Firefighters’ Association convention. Farmington VFD in Wharton Township hosted the event in 2023.

Mark Hofmann | Herald-Standard

In this archive photo, Jim Turner of Farmington shows a pickleball stance on the courts at the Wharton Township Recreational Park.

Laurel Highlands advances science, financial literacy programs

By Melissa GiBson For the herald-standard newsroom@heraldstandard.com

As the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) continues to implement new requirements pertaining to financial literacy at the high school level, administrators in Laurel Highlands School District said they’ve been ahead of the curve with requirements of their own over the past several years.

“We require all ninthgrade students to take a financial literacy class before graduating. It’s called Freshman Life: School, Careers, Money and More, taught by Jennifer Neill who does an amazing job,” said Randy Miller, director of curriculum and instruction.

“We offer other elective classes in financial literacy as well but all students will take the Freshman Life course.”

They’re finding unique ways to inspire students in the science field too.

The GeoDome or mobile planetarium, a classroom-sized tent-like structure, creates an immersive environment using projection technology and can be used for classroom activities, outreach programs with the community, and collaborations.

“We have spent a lot of time training key staff members to utilize the planetarium because the software is very technical,” Miller said. “Our staff has done an

outstanding job of rolling up their sleeves and diving into the learning process.”

Miller said when the GeoDome made its first appearance at a recent family literacy event, students were immediately curious and amazed.

“Our next step will be taking the show on the road and taking the GeoDome into all of the schools this spring. Our teachers are identifying key science lessons to incorporate the mobile unit,” he added.

In other unique programs, the agricultural curriculum has advanced with a classroom aquaponics unit, including mobile aquaponics units for each building.

Aquaponics is a teaching tool using the nutrient-rich water from raising fish to provide natural fertilizer to the plants. The plants then in turn help purify the water for the fish and students are able to witness the ways in which nature continues to replenish and repair itself.

The smaller-scaled version at the junior high and elementary buildings brings hands-on experience to younger students while teaching them about sustainability and food production.

“We want students to develop a deeper appreciation for the environment and the importance of sustainable practices,” Miller said.

“In addition, managing an aquaponics system requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills.”

They’re using those

problem-solving skills at the middle school through new curriculum with Project Lead the Way (PLTW).

Students are learning with project-based activities how to utilize science, technology, engineering and math to create their own app, provide coding for simple robots and more.

Toward the end of the school year, middle schoolers will offer the opportunity for parents, friends and family to see the types of technology projects students have been

working on throughout the year. On May 8, visitors can check out how PLTW has inspired app inventions, robot builds and other career ideas in the making.

“We hope by offering these unique instructional tools that we inspire curiosity for all students as lifelong learners. We play a small but very important part in their educational journey while at Laurel Highlands, and strive to prepare them for their future,” Miller said.

UASD asks students to think about career choices early on

By Melissa GiBson For

Students at Uniontown Area School District (UASD) are making plans for their future.

In 2023, the school district partnered with Penn State Fayette to offer summer camp to elementary students with themed selections including STEM, theater and others.

“I think so many kids think college is out of reach but this is a way for them to set foot on a college camps and hopefully, when we get them there at the elementary level, it will spark some interest and they’ll know

it’s not unattainable,” said Mindy Harris, curriculum coordinator.

This summer, UASD and Penn State Fayette will once again offer the week-long camps, engaging students in academic education while having fun along the way.

Furthering the interest in future plans, the state Board of Education has required schools to look at career evidence collection and in response, UASD adopted the Smart Futures curriculum. It allows for a streamlined program beginning in the second grade for students to look at various careers – first in a broad sense but as they reach middle and high

school levels, further narrowing down a career field they’re interested in.

As the years go on, students will be able to see how their interests and options have changed.

“We want students to have whatever career will make them happy and fulfilled. It should be something they are giving back to the community and we say it all the time, they can be anything they want to be,” said Dr. Kelly Swartz, coordinator of Special/ Alternative Education. “A second grader might not be thinking about careers right now, and we can always change our mind but we want to prepare them for success.”

Early literacy is another topic on the minds of many administrators. Harris said when students returned from the pandemic, it was clear those who were in kindergarten through second grade lost some important foundational skills.

“We’re targeting grades three through five because those were the students who didn’t receive in-person phonics and reading instruction. Our program is supplemental to our reading curriculum but is very skill-based and looks at specific kids and specific skills needed,” Harris said. “We plan to test second graders at the end

of the year so we can be ready at the start of this fall for whatever their needs are.”

On the other side of the spectrum, UASD launched their own Cyber School last year. It allows Uniontown students to learn remotely with teachers and curriculum they would find in the traditional classroom.

“As educators, we want to see our students in person and receive instruction from our certified teachers who we believe are content experts,” Swartz said. “The next best thing for those students at home is attending a live class with our curriculum. If

they decide to return to UASD at some point, they haven’t missed anything. This program has been very well received and successful.”

UASD was again rated the number one school district in Fayette County last year, based on overall academic performance, administrators said.

“We’re researching and staying on top of things that our students are going to need in the future. Things are changing rapidly and it’s not what you or I needed when we graduated high school. We want to keep them as prepared as possible for the world they will live in in the future,” Harris said.

Administrators at Uniontown Area School District are focused on helping students find their future careers.

Herald-Standard

Laurel Highlands School District is offering a number of unique opportunities to its students, including a mobile planetarium.

Albert Gallatin School District looks to inspire creativity and healthy mindsets

By Melissa GiBson For the herald-standard newsroom@heraldstandard.com

Every Wednesday, stu-

dents at Albert Gallatin elementary schools gather in small groups for “What I Need” (WIN) time.

It’s a new initiative to foster conversation and relationships between teachers and students and their classmates. Staff often wear colonial attire or their WIN T-shirt to set the tone for the day and students look forward to the unique discussions.

“We’ve really been focused on the mental health and wellness of our students and we’re working with a curriculum, Seven Mindsets,” said Superintendent Christopher Pegg. “Staff and students have been really receptive. I think the students enjoy that time.”

They’ve also brought in full-time licensed therapists using state funds

distributed to the schools during the pandemic, and based on the positive results, Pegg hopes the resource remains.

“This helps keep kids on the right track and allows them to see a therapist in the school versus traveling to the appointment after school,” Pegg said. “Even when the pandemic funds dry up, we hope to apply for grants or find room in the general budget to sustain that support for our students. We want to make sure we’re giving them all the help and tools they need to be successful.”

Staff at Albert Gallatin elementary schools have also ramped up the programs that focus on early literacy.

“Our scores weren’t where we want them to be but we’re recognizing the shortfalls and putting

things in place to address this literacy issue at an early age,” Pegg said.

At the middle school level, MakerSpaces have been added at both North and South Middle Schools, giving students the opportunity to experiment and try something new.

They are building bridges, trying new art mediums and learning how to operate a 3D printer.

It’s all in preparation for the high school level, where they’re taking it one step further.

“We’re offering a trial elective course on 3D computer programming funded through the Benedum Foundation. It’s been very exciting for our high school students, “Pegg said. “The goal is to build off of this program and offer new electives like an esports class and others.”

The Benedum Foundation supports school districts with career education initiatives and much more. They will fund 100% of the program for the first year, 50% in the second year, and in the third year, the district will be required to find the funds to continue.

This year, the class has created a scanned 3D image of Fort Necessity and will do the Albert Gallatin House next.

“It’s like being able to walk through the building and visit it without actually being there,” Pegg said. The ultimate goal is to create opportunities where students want to learn and grow.

“In everything we do, it ties into our district’s mission. We want to help every student, every day in every possible way and make our schools a place kids want to come and want to learn,” Pegg said.

Brownsville Area School District examining how to better handle bad behavior in students

By Melissa GiBson For the

Over the past couple of years, many school districts have been looking at the social and emotional aspects of learning, asking how they can reduce behavioral incidents while increasing the overall health of each student.

In Brownsville Area School District, administrators adopted a new program focused on restorative practices and during this school year, began witnessing positive changes.

“We did a survey among teachers and students with one of the questions being, ‘How well do you know your students?’ Around 90% of the teachers said they know their students very well, but when the question was posed to the students,

the majority said ‘no,’ they didn’t feel like teachers knew them very well,” said Superintendent Keith Hartbauer.

There’s no question the teachers care about their students; however, Hartbauer said it was more about a deeper relationship

desired by the youth and finding the disconnect.

“Do the teachers know that Johnny’s parents recently went through a divorce or that Mary’s grandmother passed away last week?” Hartbauer asked. “I’m a firm believer that the number

one most important factor that drives success is relationships – whether that’s in the classroom, on the field, in business etc.”

Professional development efforts have ramped up as teachers are combing through Nathan Maynard’s “Hacking School Discipline: 9 Ways to Create a Culture of Empathy and Responsibility using Restorative Justice.”

The book describes what restorative practices are and how to get the conversation started by asking the right questions.

“It’s like mentoring. We’ll divide the kids up in groups of 10 or 12 and have a specific time to go over these questions, prompting the kids to open up,” Hartbauer said. “It gives them a mentor or someone they feel safe

to go to every day.”

The district is in the process of implementing the next phase of group discussion, but in 2023, they began in the area of discipline.

With two Chestnut Ridge behavioral therapists, one at the high school and another at the middle school, teachers are able to continue class time while a licensed therapist takes over with discipline issues.

“We think in-school and out-of-school suspensions don’t really work because we often see repeat offenders,” Hartbauer said.

Instead, students work with a therapist.

“Through a program with Imagine Learning, students are taking a class on whatever the issue may be: fighting, truancy, using time wisely, taking

responsibility. There are over 130 different subjects,” he said. Once completed, students have the opportunity to reduce their punishment if they can show they’ve learned from the mistake and are ready to move forward.

Hartbauer said there has been some early success with the program.

At the high school, about 72 students attended, 40 of whom have not returned as repeat offenders.

“This is a team approach. It’s not going to be just one thing but a multitude of things working together. It’s a changing world and we really have to take a step back and assess how we need to move forward in order to move our students in a positive direction,” Hartbauer said.

Geibel Catholic inspires students in academics, activities

By Melissa GiBson

Geibel Catholic Ju-

nior-Senior High School in Connellsville continues to offer new opportunities and experiences to its students.

Three students recently presented their scientific research at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) regional competition.

“Mazzy Tomallo, Claire Schuerholz and Riley Zimmerman won first place awards and will go on to compete at the state competition at Penn State University in May,” said Darlene McWilliams, assistant principal. “Mazzy also received the PJAS High School Special Award in Behavioral Science.” PJAS is led by teacher Cathy Cline, who also oversees the Middle School Science Bowl, sending Eahn Stevenson, Julian Zimmerman,

Harrison Bechtold, Kade Yoders and Jacob Geyer to the competition. They were selected based on their grades, class participation and science knowledge.

While students are

working hard in the academic arena, they have a lot of fun too.

McWilliams said the art department has recently received new pottery wheels, and students are doing

something positive with their new-found skills.

“The Empty Bowl Project will help Fayette County Community Action Agency with their event this spring. The students are creating and donating bowls,” McWilliams said.

Empty Bowls is a fundraiser to support the FCCAA food bank. Attendees of the event purchase a handmade ceramic bowl from students at Geibel and other schools, a container of soup, bread and a drink, donated by local restaurants.

The school also launched an esports program this past fall. As a growing and lucrative field, esports has come to many schools. Organizers know its fun to play video games, but recognize the games can also be an educational tool.

At Geibel, they converted an area of the school into an Esport Lounge and junior high and senior high teams,

coached by Jeff Love, participate in fall and spring seasons.

“The esports program allows those students who may not feel inclined to participate in a sport of physicality to take part in a team sport while building critical thinking, strategic and communication skills,” McWilliams said. “We want to ensure that the college and university scholarships offered are accessible to Geibel Catholic students. Through esports, they are expanding career choices in gaming through the digital literacy gleaned.”

Activity period days offer other opportunities such as “Shark Tank” business clubs, campus ministry, yoga, badminton, crochet and more.

Students choose up to three activities to participate in and through their time in the course, build positive peer relationships and explore hobbies and interests in

something new. All the while, the school is watching for those students going above and beyond.

Classmates and staff vote each month to nominate a student in each grade level for the GATORS of the Month program. Winners exude generosity, respectfulness, organization and other positive qualities and receive a $5 Dairy Queen gift card. The senior winner receives a reserved parking spot for the month.

“As administrators, we work very closely with our educators to assess where curriculum needs to expand or strengthen. We’re working with local colleges and universities in which we have an Articulation Agreement for Dual Enrollment,” McWilliams said. “We are hoping to best prepare our students for the ever-growing opportunities as they become our future leaders.”

Christopher Pegg

Keith Hartbauer

Darlene McWilliams

Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus encourages student involvement in

By Melissa GiBson For

The Pennsylvania State University campus in Fayette County (Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus) is just one in 24 of the university’s campuses across the state.

It’s the only four-year post-secondary educational institution in Fayette, and the school’s reputation in the community not only speaks to academic excellence but also to community involvement.

Chancellor, Dr. Charles Patrick said those at the local campus are very proud of their academic success with thriving programs in nursing, business and engineering, to name a few.

Home to Launchbox, a partnership with Fay-Penn Economic Development Council and an entrepreneurial center offering office space with internet access for start-up business owners, the campus has seen success offering “Shark Tank”-like events throughout the year for middle and high school students.

Every summer, a select group of college students apply to receive a grant in order to research and develop their unique and promising business ideas for the future.

While Patrick is proud of the academic achievements, he’s equally proud of what some refer to as “the Fayette family.”

“Student affairs is very active at Penn State,”

said Patrick. “They just completed a snow tubing trip and they’ve done cooking studios, days of service in the community, sporting events and even a Washington, D.C., trip over spring break.”

Students have been holding a community concert on the lawn in late summer for a few years now.

In 2023, a U2 tribute band rocked the night away with more than 1,500 students and

community members. A year before that, 3,000 came out to hear Tom Petty’s greatest hits. The evening ends with fireworks over the campus and it serves as the kickoff to a new school year.

The annual Spring Gala is a benefit fundraiser in which students enjoy dinner and live music with proceeds going toward the emergency fund. Staff can use the fund to help young adults

with a car problem, getting the electric bill paid or other financial needs.

The student government consists of 30 members and they’re known for making a difference.

“Our THON team is incredibly active. It’s the largest student-run philanthropy program in the world. For many years, they’ve hosted fundraisers at University Park; a dance-a-thon for 46

hours,” Patrick said.

In February, the 2024 THON event raised a record $16.9 million for Four Diamonds at Penn State Children’s Hospital. Most recently, staff and students are looking forward to the official unveiling of a statue honoring the Rev. James Lawson Jr.

Originally from Uniontown, Lawson worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, organizing peaceful protests like lunch

sit-ins and developing strategy for the Freedom Riders in the 1960’s.

“American sculptor and artist Vinnie Bagwell is working on it right now. It features Rev. Lawson wearing a suit jacket that has the faces of others who were instrumental in the civil rights movement,” Patrick said. “We’ll host a dedication in late June and it will be displayed indoors in the library along with materials and interactive QR codes.”

Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus is the only four-year post-secondary educational institution in Fayette County.

Frazier School District prepares students for

By Melissa GiBson

Fraizer School District continues to offer highlevel and dual-credit courses for those students who want to get ahead.

Rising enrollment at Central Westmoreland Career and Technical Center (CWCTC) as well as participation in college-level courses offered at the high school show how invested soon-to-be graduates are for the next step.

“I’m incredibly proud of our students for embracing career pathways for graduation,” said

Jason Pappas, Fraizer High School principal. “It speaks volumes about their dedication and ambition. It’s inspiring to see students seizing opportunities to excel in their chosen fields.”

The higher-level expectations require higher-level teaching certifications and strategies, and Pappas said teachers at the high school are up to the task.

“Our teachers’ interest and dedication to becoming certified to teach college-level courses in high school and their commitment to learning new technology, teaching strategies and digital platforms to support

student success is truly commendable,” Pappas said. “It reflects their passion for providing the best possible education and their efforts are invaluable.”

The career and technical program as well as the college courses at the high school are perhaps most popular at Fraizer because they offer hands-on learning experiences and practical skills, though administrators aren’t stopping there.

In 2024, students will have the opportunity to enroll in several new courses.

“Beyond High School will provide valuable additions to prepare

students for life after graduation and Social Media Design is very relevant in today’s digital age and looks at the fundamentals of design from understanding the principles of visual communication to creating engaging and effective graphics for different platforms,” Pappas said.

Three more college-level courses also will be offered: Anatomy and Physiology I and II will help students get a head start at a fraction of the cost of a university.

In addition, a new studio media center will open at Fraizer High School later this year.

The center will offer

access to state-of-the-art equipment and software for a variety of courses such as photography, videography, graphic design and audio production.

“This resource is valuable for students to explore creative endeavors, develop multimedia projects, and hone their digital skills,” Pappas said. “We want to empower students to express themselves, and the center will serve as a dynamic hub for innovation and collaboration.”

The district is also preparing middle school students.

In 2023, Frazier Middle School was nationally recognized by Project

Lead the Way (PLTW) for their Commitment to Empower Students.

Additionally, they were named a distinguished school for STEM curriculum and career readiness, as one of 212 middle schools across the county. PLTW is a curriculum-based program created to inspire young people in the STEM fields. Participants experience hands-on projects and experiments to help further possibilities in terms of career goals and other opportunities, which leads perfectly into the high-tech courses offered at the high school.

CASD keeps district safety top priority while expanding student course offerings

By Melissa GiBson

Opportunities for high school students in the Connellsville Area School District range from traditional academic classes to the many programs offered at the district’s Career and Technical Center.

“We are very proud of the educational product we provide for the families of CASD. We have dedicated staff that continue to refine their teaching and learning, and we continue to expand the diversity of our many extracurricular offerings,” said Interim Superintendent Richard Evans.

Most recently, Connellsville Area Senior High School earned the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding the access young women have to AP Computer Science.

Like many STEM fields, educators have worked to dispel the stereotype of male and female careers, and Amy Witt, high school computer science teacher has made an effort to close the gap.

“Research shows that female students who take AP Computer Science are more likely to major in computer science in college compared to female students of similar background and academic preparation,”

said Nick Bosnic, high school principal.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Federal Programs

Traci Kuhns has been working on implementing the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).

Grades K-12 can benefit from a closer watch on academic needs and accomplishments through the system.

“It puts into place additional interventions for students to meet their needs academically, specifically targeting the area of literacy,” Kuhns said. “There is a focus on data-based decisions and an increase in monitoring student academic growth.”

The district is also spending funds on upgrades and improvements when it comes to everything from classroom technology to safety in the school buildings.

Larger interactive displays in math and English rooms are in the process of being installed and the technology team is working with the director of security to increase technology options, adding a layer of protection for students.

Camera systems have been updated district-wide and additional cameras have been added to the coverage area.

“We’ve upgraded our life saving safety by replacing and adding additional AEDs in all of our buildings as well as purchasing and installing multi-pack wall-mounted Stop the Bleed Kits in all building high traffic common areas, and individual kits in strategic classrooms,” said Director of Security Mike Parlak.

Monitored alarm systems have been replaced at several

locations and two-way radios have been purchased for all buildings, giving security direct radio communication with Fayette County 911 emergency dispatch and police.

Despite the focus on academics, safety and technology, students at CASD are also participating in a variety of clubs and special events. They are volunteering in the community and going above and beyond for causes like the Special Olympics and others.

“We feel strongly that a well-rounded student that is involved in activities will make them better prepared for the real world,” Evans said. “We do everything we can to continue to make upgrades and stay ahead of educational trends so we can continue to make the educational experience worthwhile for all of our students.”

Richard Evans

Waynesburg University celebrates anniversary; developments

By Melissa GiBson For

the herald-standard newsroom@heraldstandard.com

As Waynesburg University gears up to celebrate its175-year anniversary, leaders looked back on the school’s recent achievements and discussed its future plans.

Above all, said Vice President for Institutional Advancement and University Relations Stacey Brodack, they’re furthering the goals that have been set for decades.

“Our mission and the relationships that are forged here have set Waynesburg University apart. We’re deeply rooted in and guided by a mission of faith, learning and service, which results in a strong sense of community,” she said.

The Entrepreneurial Leadership Program continues to thrive and spans all academic programs, offering students, faculty and staff a variety of opportunities.

“We’re celebrating the grand opening of the eHIVE, a new facility located on the first floor of Stover Campus Center,” said Brodak. “It includes a state-of-the-art makerspace where prototypes for larger scale operations can be developed. Our

goal is to prepare our graduates to enter the workforce with the skills required of the modern economy.”

eHIVE was recently awarded the Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Center by the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCPC).

In addition, the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) selected Mindy Wally,

director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, as a Justin G. Longnecker Fellow, the highest recognition USASBE gives to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to development benefiting small and medium businesses.

Not only does Waynesburg foster entrepreneurship, they also have a heart for veterans and those young people serving in the armed

forces.

“We celebrated the grand opening of the Veteran and Military Affiliated Center in August. The center offers dedicated programs and services for veteran and military-affiliated students,” Brodak said. “They also serve Southwestern Pennsylvania through community outreach and service-learning opportunities to connect our students to military members and veterans.”

Overall, Brodak said, the goal is to foster the students’ specific skills and talents and to help them apply and sharpen those skills through service.

In 2024, more exciting things will happen on campus.

The university recently began construction on a new Center for Criminal and Forensic Investigation.

“Our Criminal Justice Program has a history of offering training facilities

and opportunities to local and regional first responders,” Brodak said.

“The center will enhance those opportunities while enabling students to learn alongside and network with professionals in the field.”

The $2.1 million project was funded by donors and will benefit students from a variety of disciplines. They’ll also introduce a new general education curriculum, providing more flexibility for those interested in a liberal arts education.

“Explore and Connect” is the result of several years of focused faculty discussion and consistent feedback from students who are looking for the option to customize their liberal arts experience.

“So much is built upon the relationships our faculty and staff either bring with them or build while they are here. We often hear from students when they’re graduating that they made so many relationships while here,” Brodak said. “Small, private universities provide an opportunity for students to forge those relationships not only with friends but professors and staff members and that really matters.”

PennWest California fosters supplemental instruction to ensure success

By Melissa GiBson

The first semester or year of college is a tough one. It’s overwhelming with plenty of changes, expectations and an independence many young adults aren’t prepared to handle.

Tyton Brunner, Assistant Director of Supplemental Instruction and Learning Strategies at PennWest California, knows the struggle.

He also has a particular passion for supporting foster children because he was there himself once. Now, he said, PennWest California has implemented a program that supports students from all backgrounds through the process.

“I recently presented at a conference in Pittsburgh about paving the way for our students. My program helps students, and specifically those in the foster care system, because only 3% to 4% of foster care kids graduate college, and there was nothing like this available for me back then,” Brunner said.

The Supplemental Instruction (SI) program recently gained accreditation – it’s the only one in the state of Pennsylvania – and they’ve already seen 1,000 students go through the program in the past three years. SI is geared toward learning styles.

“When I went to school, it was strictly class based, and I didn’t do too well. My style was more visual. We’ve all been in the situation where you raised your hand, you got it wrong and then you learned not to raise your hand again,” Brunner said. “We want to make learning unintimidating through this program.”

Leaders in SI have attended and excelled in a particular class, for example two who needed help with a general chemistry class. Both students passed and

are back in the class to work with those who are struggling.

“We interview the SI leaders and we’re looking for empathy. Just because you understand it, how can you break it down for someone who doesn’t? Our leaders want to help, they want to be sure their fellow students are successful, and they sit in the classroom and go along through the course so they can hold sessions outside of class time to help,” Brunner said.

Students not only have

the benefit of attending the course again and perhaps gleaning more information, but they are also gaining leadership skills to take with them in the future.

On the other hand, students benefiting from the SI program are learning that they can learn tough concepts, and there are ways to succeed, even when things seem too difficult.

Even high school students shadowing the college experience the SI program.

They often attend a

lecture, and Brunner said he’s watching as younger students embrace the idea of learning together, becoming independent critical thinkers, and doing it all as a collective

student body. “We want to build this culture and already have students coming in asking if there’s an SI program for a particular course. The word is out

there and we’ve launched two pilot SI programs at our Clarion and Edinboro campus,” Brunner said.

“I’d love to see all three sites with a robust SI program in the future.”

Paul Paterra

Andrew Heisey, chair of the department of fine art, with the laser engraver in the makerspace at Waynesburg University’s eHIVE.

Smock boy takes his passion for recycling to another level in 2023

By Mark HofMann mhofmann@heraldstandard.com

A Smock boy has embarked on a mission last year to save the planet – beginning with his county.

While many 10-year-olds take on challenges in the form of sports or video games, last November, Luke Hamaker decided to take on a recycling challenge.

last three years. He also helps his neighbors with yard work, collects trash from local streets in his wagon, volunteers at the Vanderbilt Recycling Center, and has provided his own recycling bins for Franklin Elementary School.

overcoming obstacles, such as his father’s passing in 2020 and living with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

“We’re extremely fortunate that our school districts have embraced recycling and protecting their environment, because they’re proactively preserving their future,” Dunn said.

With his classmates and community behind him, he reached his goal in about six weeks – and when he finished collected a total of 1,894 pounds of recyclables.

“We have such a great community, and we are so appreciative of each

The NexTrex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge is a competition from NexTrex, a company that manufactures wood-alternative decking and railing out of recycled material. The challenge offered anyone able to collect at least 1,000 pounds of plastic bags one year’s time the chance to win one of their composite benches Hamaker, a thirdgrade student at Franklin Elementary School, partnered with Keep Fayette County Green and Franklin Township with his sights set on winning.

and everyone,” said Melissa Hamaker, Luke’s mother. “We couldn’t have done it without you.”

Luke’s passion for recycling has been fueled by family and friends collecting scrap metal and other recyclable materials for him over the

He even spent his birthday touring the Fayette County Recycling Convenience Center and Fayette County’s hauler/processor Carry All Products/Superior Fine Grind of South Connellsville to learn the ins and outs of recycling. That prompted him to be named a Fayette County Recycling Ranger.

“I feel as if he’s showing maturity, dedication and drive to take this initiative on at such a young age,” Melissa Hamaker said. “He just amazes me daily. I’m so proud to be his mom.”

Luke’s family describes him as a very bright and kind child who’s always

“We’re extremely fortunate to have wonderful and dedicated kids, like Luke, in our communities. He genuinely cares about saving our environment and wants to make a difference,” said county Recycling Coordinator/Stormwater Manager Sheila Shea.

“Luke has been an absolute joy to work with, and we’re so grateful to call him one of our recycling rangers.”

Shea said Luke is already inspiring children from other schools to organize recycling efforts in their communities.

“He’s a great ambassador for us because he believes in keeping Fayette County clean and green,” Shea said.

Commissioner Scott Dunn said Luke is the perfect example of the county’s bright future.

“Luke’s passion for his community is evident, and we’re proud of his monumental accomplishment.”

Commissioner Dave Lohr said Luke Hamaker’s grit and determination is both impressive and speaks to his character.

“Just consider the life lesson that Luke has learned — that one person really can make a difference — and how Luke living out that lesson presents a shining example for everyone around him,” Lohr said. “For anyone who believes the youth of today don’t care about anything beyond their own interests, Luke can proudly stand up and say, ‘I care.’”

Ribbon cuttings, grand openings and a gubernatorial visit capped off 2023 in Connellsville

By Mark HofMann mhofmann@heraldstandard.com

Grand openings, ground breakings and a visit from the governor were among 2023’s highlights in Connellsville.

“The two projects that stand out to me are the brewery and the event center,” said Connellsville City Clerk Vern Ohler.

The proprietor of the Comfort Inn along the Great Allegheny Passage purchased the vacant lot next to the inn, with plans to construct a $3.5 million event center and restaurant, Ohler said.

The groundbreaking for the event center was

held in September, and it should be completed by this fall, according to Ohler.

Plans to open a brewery in the city took form last year, too. Ohler said Trippy Hippy Brewing is on tap to open a location on Third Street sometime this year.

“Two different projects involving two separate developers who have been working together so that both are successful,” Ohler said. “They are also the initial projects for an area that the city hopes will turn into a tourist destination.”

Last year, Connellsvile also became something of

a health care destination with the opening of Independence Health System, a 17,000-square-foot medical center that includes services like family medicine, cardiology, orthopedics, a walk-in lab, X-ray and EKG, gastroenterology and general surgery.

Ohler said the ribbon cutting for Independence Health was held in October.

Various projects and initiatives either received funding or were completed in 2023 to help make Connellsville a better place.

They include a $500,000 U.S. Department of

Forestry Grant.

“This is a grant that will let the city conduct a tree inventory to show the city tree issues that need to be addressed and the severity,” Ohler said. “It will also pay for removal, pruning and replanting.”

Ohler said there was also a $1 million Community Development Block Grant through the Connellsville Redevelopment Authority for upgrades to the 12th Street Park, including a splash pad and restrooms.

The city was awarded a Multimodal Grant of $655,000 for repairs to the Wills Road wall, a stone wall that was built in the

1930s. The wall supports Wills Road, a main thoroughfare connecting the east end of the city to downtown.

The road is heavily traveled by vehicles, school buses and pedestrians, and Ohler said they’re currently waiting on the contract to be finalized by the state Department of Transportation.

PennDOT also completed work on the South Arch Street Bridge replacement project this summer.

“And last but not least, the governor came to town to kick off his Office of Outdoor Recreation,”

Ohler said. In August at Connellsville’s Yough River Park, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the launch of the new state office, which will coordinate efforts with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the departments of Community and Economic Development and Health, PennDOT and others, to create a cohesive strategy for the growth and expansion of the outdoor sector.

“We wanted to be in Connellsville because this is a great example of how it all comes together,” Shapiro said during the trip.

Submitted photo In 2023, Luke Hamaker spent his 10th birthday touring the Fayette

Mark Hofmann | Herald-Standard

The South Arch Street Bridge replacement project was completed in the summer of 2023.

Mark Hofmann | Herald-Standard Crews started groundwork on the proposed event center in Connellsville in 2023 following a groundbreaking in September.

Mark Hofmann Herald-Standard Independence Health System opened in Connellsville last year.

Mark Hofmann | Herald-Standard In August, Gov. Josh Shapiro made a stop in Connellsville to launch the Commonwealth’s Office of Outdoor Recreation.

Sports complex, new businesses among highlights in South Union

By Mark HofMann mhofmann@heraldstandard.com

The dedicated work on the new sports complex in South Union Township last year has yielded a successful start for this year.

In 2018, the township purchased the building owned by OC Cluss Lumber that was used to store materials for prefabricated homes along Pennsylvania Avenue with the aim to turn it into an indoor sports complex.

Officials started work on the facility in 2022 with the $4.5 million project originally set to be complete in October, but construction setbacks extended the deadline.

Although they never had an official grand opening, the renovation

work done inside of the building as well as adding an additional 6,000 square feet of space to the building led to opening itself for indoor soccer practice in the first week of January.

“We had opening weekend games in early February,” said South Union Township Supervisor Jason Scott. For the sports complex, the old movie adage was true: that if the township built it, they would come.

“There’s around 650 kids playing indoor soccer at the moment,” Scott said, adding that they averaged prior to 450 to 500 kids playing indoor soccer and the ages range from 4 to 18.

Scott expects the numbers to go even higher next year as

indoor soccer is gaining popularity.

“People are saying they can’t believe we have this in our backyard,” Scott said.

Although some parts are still under construction, the complex will also include party rooms, a concession stand and kitchen and exercise space, all of which Scott expects will be completed by the summer.

Although only the indoor soccer players are practicing at the facility five days a week with games on the weekends, Scott said there’s plans to have an elementary-age flag football league sometime in the summer.

Another new addition to the township last year was the construction of

a pavilion at Hutchinson Park that was funded by LSA money from casino revenue and constructed all in-house by township employees.

The pavilion was completed in August.

“This one stands out,” Scott said. “It’s a different design and getting a lot of hype. People are wanting to have their weddings there.”

Township Supervisor Robert Schiffbauer said businesses opening in the township last year included Sherman Williams, Burlington Coat Factory, and the Fine Wine and Good Spirits store moved into the former K-Mart building.

He said a developer also has plans to bring in more businesses to the township.

Schiffbauer said

construction started last year of businesses that opened or will open this year including Chilpoltle, the All Washed Up Auto Spa car wash, the Tropical Smoothie Cafe and the new integrated health facility.

The 27,500 square-foot, state-of-the-art center outpatient facility along Matthew Drive is expected to open this year and will provide women’s care, orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, neurology, rheumatology, endocrinology, and a few others to start.

Allegheny Health Network will be the anchor office, with the facility accommodating 12 exam rooms and a comprehensive imaging suite with X-ray, mammography and ultrasound screening.

The women’s health component will include obstetric services, preventive gynecologic care, OB and midwifery care, and the AHN Perinatal Hope program for women with substance use disorders.

The facility was a partnership between local physician Dr. Rich Cook along with his employer, Preferred Primary Care Physicians, AHN, Ohio-based commercial real estate development Equity LLC and Carehub, which specializes in integrated outpatient healthcare facilities.

“It brings a more professional high-level healthcare in the area, and that’s needed especially with our senior population,” Schiffbauer said. “It will be a good addition to the township.”

North Union progresses with new business park

By Mark HofMann mhofmann@heraldstandard.com

The groundbreaking for a new business park and the dedication of a veterans monument were two of many highlights of 2023 in North Union Township.

In October, a groundbreaking was held for Thompson’s Crossing, the business park located on 85 acres once owned by the Sisters of St. Basil at the neighboring Mount St. Macrina.

The park is named for J.V. Thompson, a titan of the coal and finance industry who was born in Fayette County.

The county purchased the land from the Sisters of St. Basil in 2020 and had been working to move toward construction.

“The first phase of Thompson’s Crossing Business Park is scheduled to start in 2024,” said North Union Township Supervisor Ron Landman.

Thompson’s Crossing will be a continuation of the Route 40 Business Park, which is across the street in South Union Township. The new business park will provide suburban, commercial and residential development in the area.

Thompson’s Crossing will include 5,000 feet of roadway, 5,000 feet of electrical and communications infrastructure, 6,300 feet of both water main and gas main and 7,100 feet of sanitary and sewer.

“This side of Route 40 has a lot of potential for growth and development

and it’s starting to move in the right direction,” said Landman, who, in 2023, took over as president for the Fayette County Association of Township Supervisors.

Landman also noted the dedication to the Veterans Monument at Eberly Park in September, honoring all who served from the township.

The dedication was attended by the Vietnam Veterans Incorporated of Fayette County, all three county commissioners, county Veteran Affairs Director Brian Benson and other state and local dignitaries.

New businesses that set up shop in North Union Township included The Rusty Spur, L.R.H. Innovations LLC, City Mission, Best Nailz and Savage Disposal LLC.

Landman said some already-established businesses have expanded with the construction of new buildings in the township including Advanced Acoustics Concepts, Brite Stripe and Ted Sova’s Body and Fender, while Faith Assembly relocated to the former Ramada Inn along Route 40.

“Life Solutions Professional Counseling Center also relocated to the newly renovated Historic Hopwood School, Greg Dahls World Renowned GMS Racing Engines and BX Logistics Group relocated to Atlas Crossing in Hopwood, filling up vacant buildings,” Landman said.

Supervisor Rob Tupta

said Fay-Penn Economic Development Council started building a portion of the Sheepskin Trail and are clearing property for future development off of Connellsville Road across from Provance Truss.

Tupta added that Columbia Gas has been replacing multiple areas with new gas lines, which will continue in 2024.

Veteranas and dignitaries took part in a dedication ceremony for the Veterans Monument at Eberly Park in North Union Township in

Mark Hofmann | Herald-Standard

The new sports complex for South Union Township is located along Pennsylvania Avenue and was formerly a building owned by the OC Cluss Lumber company.

Mark Hofmann Herald-Standard

South Union Township Supervisor Jason Scott walks along the indoor soccer field at the township’s new sports complex.

Submitted photo

At the 2023 groundbreaking ceremony for Thompson’s Crossing business park in North Union Township last year were (from left) North Union Township supervisors Rob Tupta and Curtis Matthews, Fayette County commissioner Dave Lohr, Vince Vicites and Scott Dunn, Supervisor Ron Landman and state Sen. Pat Stefano.

2023. Submitted photo

COMMUNITY | HEALTH | COMMERCE

By Melissa GiBson

For the herald-standard newsroom@heraldstandard.com

WVU Medicine

Uniontown Hospital is tackling the nationwide nursing shortage in several ways.

“Jared McMaster is our nursing director here and in charge of our nursing education department,” said Alyssa Pennington, vice president of marketing development.

“We’ve created a program that supports young nurses and focuses on the newly graduated.”

Leaders are looking at how to take what potential nurses learned in the classroom to gain real-world experience and an understanding of what nurses do every day.

“Our first cohort graduated in November of 2023 and 100% of them stayed with us here at Uniontown Hospital,” Pennington said. “We’ll have a second cohort graduate in April and we’re on our third cohort now.”

As predicted, by fostering prioritization, further communication and workforce development opportunities, Uniontown is able to train and retain nurses dedicated to the local community.

“We’re trying to bring people back to the profession. I think after the pandemic,

some young people thought they didn’t want to work in health care but we want to bridge that gap between the classroom and the hospital and so far, the response has been really positive.”

Staff have implemented other improvements aimed at not only bringing new nurses into the fold but the entire team as a whole.

Pennington said the goal is to create a culture in which teams feel empowered to speak up and share ideas and solutions. With empowered teams, comes people to lean on and depend upon when challenging situations arise.

“In 2023, we began daily safety briefings with everyone across the hospital,” Pennington said. “We have nurses, food services, housekeeping and members of every team in the hospital. We talk about the day and give people a chance to be heard. It’s a great time to mention that leak in the roof you noticed because it gets escalated to the right people right then and there.”

In addition to a focus on nursing, Uniontown has also brought in new staff members and new technology.

Dr. Pedro Aguilar and Dr. Eric Chamberlin will join the team as two new spine

surgeons.

“This addition really rounds out the musculoskeletal care we provide to patients.

If you’ve experienced back pain for a prolonged period of time, you may get to the point of intervention not working as well anymore and a spine surgeon can diagnose and provide other intervention tools we didn’t have at Uniontown previously,” Pennington said.

New technology is also assisting those who arrive at the emergency room, unsure of what their symptoms mean.

A new tool, Ceribell, allows doctors and nurses to detect seizure activity and other neurological issues right away.

In just the past few months, Pennington said 25 percent of patients received early intervention in the ER, allowing providers to react quickly and not waste valuable time.

“Working in health care can be challenging but we want to make sure our staff feels supported and engaged which creates a positive impact for our neighbors, family and friends,” Pennington said. “We have a lot of great things happening right now. I think 2024 will be a big year for us.”

Courtesy of WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital

The first cohort of graduate nurses successfully completed WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital’s new Nurse Residency Program in November 2023, with 100% of the residents remaining employed at the hospital.

Penn Highlands Healthcare continues to expand in Connellsville, Mon Valley

By Melissa GiBson For the herald-standard

Penn Highlands Healthcare is home to eight hospitals – nine when the newest, Penn Highlands State College, opens this summer – but as the health system opens new locations, officials are committed to continued growth at Connellsville and Mon Valley sites too.

“Connellsville has the most incredible autism center. They are affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital Center for Autism and considered one of the top schools in the country. It’s a wonderful program,” said Corinne Laboon, system communications manager.

The program currently serves 40 children from 10 different school districts throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania and specialists work with children and young adults through the age of 22.

With such a high demand and waitlist for the program, Penn Highlands Connellsville hopes to open additional classrooms in 2024.

Also at Connellsville, Laboon said the women’s health services department has experienced expansion.

“We offer a new procedure called EnPLAcE to correct pelvic organ prolapse and people travel from all over Pennsylvania for the outpatient procedure,” Laboon said. “It’s performed by Michael

Pelekanos, our urogynocologist, and patients go home the same day.”

Other women’s health services include DEXA Scans to check women’s bone density and Menopause Management with specialists working to find effective therapies and treatments for middle-aged women.

In addition, their Senior Women’s Care includes specialized nursing for seniors when recovering from recent surgery or dealing with ongoing health issues.

“Penn Highlands Connellsville has a long

history in this region,” said Peter J. Adamo, Penn Highlands Healthcare Southwest Region President. “We are continually introducing new therapies and services to provide our patients with quality healthcare close to home.”

The Connellsville location was awarded the American College of Radiology Accreditation for MRIs and Mammography in 2023.

Over in Mon Valley, Penn Highlands has recently opened the CNX Foundation Recovery Unit.

“This is a neat program

on the seventh floor of the hospital. It’s the only Level 4.0 inpatient withdrawal and treatment facility in Washington, Greene and Fayette counties,” Laboon said. “Withdrawal from substances, and particularly when there are underlying conditions, can require specialized care. This unit will provide treatment through the first stage of withdraw and then prepare patients for their next phase of care.”

The CNX Foundation Recovery Unit has 14 private inpatient rooms, seven ligature resistant rooms, two ADA rooms,

two negative pressure rooms and 24-hour access

to hospitalists, ER, Cardiac Care, Behavioral Health, Medical Imaging and Labs.

In addition, the seventh floor will include a quiet activity room, a family interaction room with video conferencing access and a dining room.

“Penn Highlands Mon Valley continually monitors the health and wellness needs of the people in this region,” Adamo said. “We are recruiting physicians, expanding specialties, introducing advanced therapies and state-of-the-art technology to provide an even higher level of care and great patient satisfaction.”

In 2023, Penn Highlands Mon Valley was awarded America’s 100 Best Pulmonary Care by Healthgrades and several recognitions by the American Heart Association. They were also recognized as a four-star Top Hospital in Pennsylvania.

Courtesy of Penn Highlands Regional Center for Autism

Students at Penn Highlands Regional Center for Autism in Connellsville enjoy some outdoor time while eating Kona Ice.

Transition and Legacy

As world importing embarks on a new era under William Piccolomini, we maintain our dedication to the Romeo families original vision. We will be there for you through each holiday season with specific ethnic baking ingredients. We are evolving, with exciting new concepts and gourmet delights, while staying true to the legacy that has delighted our customers for nearly a century

Independence celebrates successful and collaborative year

By Melissa GiBson For the herald-standard newsroom@heraldstandard.com

In 2023, Butler Health System and Excela Health merged to form Independence Health System, including five hospitals and over 100 outpatient locations throughout 10 counties.

“The merger is going really well. We’re fortunate to have two reasonably large community-based health systems with similar goals and objectives,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carol Fox. “Merging has allowed us to share resources and provide the best, high quality care at the lowest cost.”

They also welcomed a new outpatient facility in Connellsville.

The Square at Connellsville is a 17,000 square foot facility located on Vanderbilt Road in Giant Martin’s Plaza. Fox said previously, patients would travel to Mt. Pleasant for primary care services but with the new facility, most of their needs are met closer to home.

“We’ve brought lab and imaging, primary care, general surgery, cardiology and specialty care to Connellsville,” Fox said. “It was important to us to provide those services to the Connellsville area and I think it solidifies the neighborhood sense for many of our patients. You’re being cared for by people just like you, living nearby.”

Independence Health System provides local services but also acts as a regional referral center for needs such as thoracic surgery, lung tumors, cardiac robotic services and the more recent WATCHMAN procedure.

The WATCHMAN procedure is minimally invasive and similar to inserting a stent in the cardiac arteries but for some patients, it’s a life saver.

“Not many organizations are able to provide this to their patients. Some patients who are so ill are too sick to undergo surgery, yet if they don’t get the procedure done, they’re life is

threatened,” Fox said.

The risk of clots is eliminated with the new procedure, the need for blood thinners is also eliminated. The procedure takes about an hour and patients only require an overnight stay in the hospital.

Not only are they on the cutting edge of innovative health care, Independence Health is sharing the knowledge with others.

“We work closely with a number of institutions of higher education. We train medical students and have our own school of nursing of anesthesia,” Fox said. “Education is a real hallmark for us. One of the best ways to

provide staff is to train your own so we work with a variety of nursing schools in the area.”

Of course, when undergoing a major change, there are still plenty of things on the to-do list.

However, Fox calls Independence Health System “a great marriage.”

“We’re able to share best practices and we can work closely together to align plans. Ultimately, what patients will find is they are familiar with any of our facilities. They may have never walked into this particular location before but the care feels familiar to them,” Fox said. “It’s community based, people who care

about you and your family and helping you get better.” Independence Health System recently earned a three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for patient care and lung cancer resection outcomes. It’s the highest category of quality among general surgery in the United States and Canada.

They were also recognized as a High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News and World Report, the highest award a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care among many other accolades.

“Our cardiovascular

services are highly rated, we’ve received high ratings in the top 100 hospital designations but that’s just part of it,” Fox said. “Many of these programs are based on reported data and I think the hallmarks are those that score highly in many areas and not just one. We’re proud of the services we provide and we’re learning from one another. If one facility is outstanding in one area, we’re spreading that to other facilities. We’re seeing an increase in hospital admissions and I think that’s in large part because of our product and patients’ level of confidence.”

Washington Health System partners with UPMC to remain healthy

By Melissa GiBson

Amid financial pressures across the health care field nationwide, in 2023, Washington Health System’s (WHS) Board of Directors asked several regional health care providers to submit proposals to affiliate with WHS.

An existing partner, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), agreed to invest $300 million in WHS over the next 10 years, supporting capital and programming enhancements in Washington and Greene counties.

As Washington County’s largest employer, WHS supports 2,700 jobs in more than 40 locations.

“We spent the last year streamlining processes to improve patient care, communication and coordination between the hospitals, physician programs and practices to better meet the needs of the local community,” said Brook Ward, president and CEO of WHS.

The partnership between WHS and UPMC isn’t new.

In fact, the partnership has brought cutting-edge cancer expertise and treatment to the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center located at Washington Hospital, Ward said.

The UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Express Clinic is also on the WHS campus and has brought specialty

pediatric services to the community. UPMC’s Heart and Vascular Institute provides vascular surgery services in the Washington County community and much more.

“Recently, WHS employees, elected officials, members of the building trades and organizations such as the Washington Chamber of Commerce voiced overwhelming support for the affiliation at a public hearing held by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General,” said Stephanie

Wagoner, manager of marketing and community relations.

Ward said the regulatory approval process is still ongoing, but WHS is hopeful it will be completed as soon as possible. Every month that goes by without the affiliation puts WHS in further financial strain.

“This affiliation, which is supported by the hospital board of directors, medical staff, residents and our employees, not only preserves and expands jobs, it increases

access to world-class care and promises locally available health care for future generations,” Ward said at the recent hearing.

UPMC has committed to continuing the WHS services for women’s health, cardiac surgery, medicine, general surgery and others for at least the next 10 years. They will also continue the emergency care, diagnostic, ambulatory and primary care in Greene County – services local residents have come to

depend on.

In the meantime, WHS received multiple awards in 2023. They received the Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) Excellence in Patient Safety Award; recognizing Pennsylvania’s top-performing hospitals that have demonstrated low rates of health care associated infections.

WHS received the ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit

watchdog that sets standards for excellence in patient care, and the 2023 Human Experience Guardian of Excellence Award by Press Ganey.

“Our mission at WHS is great patient care, which means more than just providing you with excellent physical care but also ensuring a great experience inside any of our facilities,” Ward said. “Our devoted team of medical professionals embody our mission every day.”

Square

Independence Health System celebrated the opening of The Square at Connellsville in October 2023.

Fayette EMS offers new opportunities; benefits to employees

By Melissa GiBson For the herald-standard newsroom@heraldstandard.com

Since 1995, Fayette EMS has been serving the people of Fayette County, receiving 30,000 calls per year.

Like others in the health care industry, the Fayette EMS team has had to implement new plans and initiatives in 2023 to bring in an adequate level of staff.

“In 2023, we were paying 2,000 hours in overtime every two weeks. We have tried different methods to attract employees, but it wasn’t until our board of directors substantially raised our wages and increased benefits that we’ve gained some traction,” said Bob Topper, administrative director.

New salaries went into effect in January and free training is now offered to those interested.

“We guarantee a job with a two-year contract if they pass the training. Right now, we have two classes in session and hopefully, by early summer, we’ll graduate several,” said Rick D’Auria, chief of operations.

The need, Topper and D’Auria said, has become critical.

Of those 30,000 calls they receive each

year, 19,000 are emergencies. Others are transportation from one hospital to another location for services, and others are to assist those in need at home.

D’Auria said as more elderly people plan to stay at home longer, it has increased the number of calls related to falls and other needs. They also provide secondary coverage to surrounding EMS teams, including calls outside of the county.

While everyone

agrees those calls are just as important as the emergency services, it’s not uncommon for their fleet of 22 vehicles to be down to one or two ambulances available at any given time.

In order to make ends meet, Fayette EMS has met with municipalities they serve, asking for support.

“We’re hoping to build in 2024.” Topper said. “We started a campaign to visit with all of the municipalities we serve as a 911

provider and asked for $3 per person in their municipality,” Topper said. “We’ve received some response. We have good relationships with our elected officials and we’re trying to find ways to support the service.”

For example, the subscription service Fayette EMS offers helps fulfill some of the deficit.

“It’s like secondary insurance. If you have a deductible or co-pays through commercial insurance, you can

order our subscription service and we’re able to write the copay off,” Topper said.

“Even if you didn’t need the subscription, the money goes into general funds and helps us keep an ambulance in your area.”

Currently, Fayette EMS has 10 stations across the county and reducing those stations would be one way to cut costs, but Topper said they feel response times would be dramatically affected and they want to do all they can

to remain local.

“We’re doing good medicine for as long as we can continue to do it,” D’Auria said.

“We’re making a difference and we’ve saved a lot of lives. We have the best equipment and it’s made a dramatic difference in service. We just don’t want to see it torn down piece by piece.”

For more information on training or employment visit https:// www.fayetteeducation. org/.

Counseling service is changing the way we see mental health

By Melissa GiBson For

the herald-standard newsroom@heraldstandard.com

Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services, Inc. continues to expand in school-based therapy services, and providers are working to connect to patients in more ways than one.

“In 2023, we began offering our therapy services to additional schools. Every school in Fayette County is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services as an outpatient clinic of ours,” said Michael Quinn, chief executive officer. “When the district identifies a student in need, we’re able to schedule an appointment during his or her school day and they

can see our therapist just like they would walking into a clinic.”

In the aftermath of the pandemic, it became apparent to those in the mental health field that everyone from young people to seniors were in need of additional resources.

“Everyone was impacted by the pandemic. I’d say the biggest impact is in younger children who didn’t really get that kindergarten or first grade year. They didn’t get the chance to learn emotional regulation or coping skills and that group is going to need some additional help for quite a while,” Quinn said.

The school systems can see it too and are

taking steps to improve their resources.

“Some schools have a mental health resource specialist which is a position or service funded by the school district itself,” Quinn said. “They can use the specialist in a variety of ways from classroom observation to intervention to training staff.”

Stemming from additional COVID relief funds the education system has received, Quinn said their schoolbased staff increased from 10 people to 30.

The work in the schools is just one way mental health services are being normalized.

Therapists with Chestnut Ridge are setting up offices within primary care

practices. For example, Montgomery Medical currently has therapist services in-house through Chestnut Ridge and they’re looking to expand the program.

“The stigma of mental health has started to fade, which is great but we’ve found people like the anonymity of walking into a primary care office. No one knows if you have a cold, a sprained ankle or you’re going to see your therapist,” Quinn said.

More doctors and insurance companies are recognizing the correlation between mental health and physical health. The better the mental health, the lower the medical care needs.

“Statistically, those

who suffer from depression can have medical costs two to three times higher. Everyone is beginning to see how it all works together,” Quinn said.

Through their Open Access program, the counseling service is finding ways to make resources more efficient and clients more comfortable.

Not only have telehealth services grown exponentially, clients can find help quickly due to the new scheduling system.

“We have one of the largest mental health outpatient programs in the state with 6,000 to 7,000 active clients,” Quinn said. “Our Open Access program has helped dramatically.

If you decided right now you wanted to talk to someone, you could walk in here and be seen within an hour.”

Instead of waiting weeks for that first appointment, Quinn said they are seeing their ‘just-in-time’ scheduling system greatly reduce the number of canceled appointments and no-shows, which in turn, greatly increases the amount of people receiving help.

“We take our level of confidentiality very seriously. We want to reduce the stigma further and we’re hearing more and more from the community the positive results. Things are changing and that’s a good thing,” Quinn said.

Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services, Inc. has continued to expand its reach into the community, offering better ways to reach those in need of mental health services.

I don’t think I could practice anywhere else, because what drives me is the people of West Virginia and the region. Our compassionate team is engaged in the health of our patients. Together, we are saving and improving lives.”

Hannah Hazard-Jenkins, MD Executive Chair and Director (and West Virginia native)

By Mark HofMann mhofmann@heraldstandard.com

Tourism in Fayette County in 2023 has trended toward lodging options of a different nature.

“Unique lodging is a big draw in Fayette County,” said Eric Knopsnider, director of public relations and community outreach for Go Laurel Highlands.

Such unique stays can be found in the mountains like Farmington where Benner’s Meadow Run RV Campground offers yurts for rent.

“It’s like a fancy tent,” Knopsnider said.

According to Benner’s Meadow Run’s website, the yurts, which are described as a blend of rusting ambiance with modern conveniences, provide a cozy retreat for up to four people, featuring an outdoor seating area, a private fire pit, a WiFi connection and being close to the convenient bathhouses.

From rustic to fictional, Knopsnider said fans of “The Lord of the Rings” will love The Ohiopyle Hobbit House.

Opening in 2023, the Hobbit House is a luxury vacation rental inspired by the works and world of JRR Tolkien and sleeps up to 10 people.

“The Hobbit House is really cool,” Knopsnider said, adding that the house has a life-sized wizard statue by the door and is owned by the same couple who opened The Ohiopyle Luxury Tree House two years earlier.

“They’ve had a lot of influencers staying there to do social-media posts.”

Switching genres and location to Layton, Knopsnider said the Buffalo Bill House where “The Silence of the Lambs” was filmed continues to attract visitors of the home full of memorable scenes, a tour dedicated to the movie and even a full arcade.

“The Ohiopyle Luxury Treehouse, Yurts at Benner’s Meadow Run, and Buffalo Bill’s House all contribute to the diverse lodging options in Fayette County,” Knopsnider said.

He added that there are certainly places to stay to get a traditional, yet luxurious experience with the opening of The Grand Lodge at Nemacolin in Wharton Township last year.

Knopsnider said the reimagined lodge features 56 suites, ranging from junior king suites to the penthouse suite, and all with butler service.

“It’s pretty impressive to see what they’ve done with the grand lodge — some include a balcony and fireplace,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to stay and sample it, and it’s getting a great reaction from visitors from what I’ve heard; they’ve really enjoyed the whole experience.”

Knopsnider added that Nemacolin introduced a new farm-to-table restaurant last year, Fawn & Fable as well as The Circle Bar, which specializes in cocktails and mocktails.

“Nemacolin has always done an incredible job with it,” he said.

Not all the new and interesting tourism

features last year had to do with lodging as new attractions also sprung up for tourists both near and far.

Knopsnider said a collaborative exhibit between Fallingwater and the Westmoreland Museum of American Art has produced The Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania exhibit.

The exhibit provided visitors an opportunity to visit two locations to see the vision Wright had for Pittsburgh and the Laurel Highlands with interactive displays, sketches and furnishings that gave insight into what could have been.

The exhibition in the Speyer Gallery at Fallingwater will continue through Dec. 31, 2024.

Another new feature to an established establishment is Touchstone Center for Crafts beginning their Date Night experiences last year.

Anyone 21 or over can bring a friend, spouse, family member or colleague to a Friday evening mini-workshop to learn about a craft process by creating a hands-on project. Materials are included, and light appetizers and refreshments provided afterwards, featuring wine from Christian W. Klay Winery.

“Their ‘date night’ experiences have allowed individuals of all skill levels to turn an immersive experience into a craft,” Knopsnider said. “No experience necessary.”

To find more information on such lodging and attractions, visit www.golaurelhighlands. com/.

Submitted photoS

TOP PHOTO: The Ohiopyle Hobbit House opened in 2023 and offers a luxury vacation rental inspired by “The Lord of the Rings.” ABOVE LEFT: Visitors at Touchstone Center for Crafts explore what the facility has to offer during a recent open house. ABOVE RIGHT: As of last year, yurts are available to rent at the Benner’s Meadow Run RV Campground.

By Melissa GiBson

Jeff Hughes knows photography.

He grew up learning the ins and outs of photography from his father, and even while working in law enforcement for 18 years, Hughes has always enjoyed photographing the outdoors with solitude, scenery and nature surrounding him.

“I’ve always done landscapes but when I retired in 2018, I started a Facebook page with my photography and people began asking if I would sell the prints,” Hughes said. “Then they started asking about what other kind of work I could do.”

What began as a hobby, turned into a second career for Hughes.

He recently opened a gallery and studio in the Uniontown Mall. He takes portraits, senior pictures, landscapes, wildlife and anything else one can think of.

The studio is divided into three sections: a gallery of prints for sale, featuring landscape and wildlife shots, a studio to shoot professional portraits and family photos, and a classroom, where he teaches introduction to photography courses.

Teaching isn’t new to the photographer. Clients may have taken a course from him at the Uniontown Art Club or local wineries in the area but eventually, Hughes outgrew the spaces and knew he needed to find a brick-and-mortar location.

“I do three to four classes per year. We cover all the basics and even cellphone photography. You carry one of those with you everyday, so we talk about the differences between a phone shot and a professional camera,” Hughes said. “It is convenient but the biggest drawback is having the photo

printed. You can only go up to an 8 x 10 if taken on a cellphone.”

He also offers a few photography workshops and tours throughout the year that allow people to travel to the Laurel Highlands, tour the area, and snap photos of the waterfalls, covered bridges and other scenery as they learn tips from the professional.

At the studio, Hughes prints and processes all of his own photos. He provides the physical picture to his clients rather than a digital download, and wherever possible, he’s giving back to others.

He doesn’t charge active or retired military for their headshots and regularly donates toward causes like cystic fibrosis and dementia/Alzheimer’s disease research.

When not running his new location, Hughes is out and about the state.

He’s currently working on a book – a then and now of Fayette County – pulling photos of historic landmarks from the library and taking photos

of what the location looks like today.

Still, sitting in the woods might be his favorite spot.

“I love being out in nature and wildlife. I love discovering new things and new places. We have a family of eagles I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph over the lakes,”

Hughes said. “If you sit somewhere long enough, you never know what’s going to come out of the woods and you can get some great shots.”

Sign up for Hughes’ classes or workshops by visiting the gallery in person or send him a message via Jeffrey W Hughes Photography on Facebook.

Courtesy of Jeffrey Hughes

Photos like this landscape shot, taken by Jeffrey Hughes, are among his favorites to capture.

Courtesy of Jeffery Hughes

Jeffrey Hughes loves photographing the west coast and travels to places like the Grand Canyon regularly.

Transition and Legacy

As world importing embarks on a new era under William Piccolomini, we maintain our dedication to the Romeo families original vision. We will be there for you through each holiday season with specific ethnic baking ingredients. We are evolving, with exciting new concepts and gourmet delights, while staying true to the legacy that has delighted our customers for nearly a century

Fayette County Chamber of Commerce

By Mark HofMann mhofmann@heraldstandard.com

Last year, the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 98th anniversary and honored those making the county a better place.

“It’s been interesting, and it’s been so very busy,” said Muriel Nuttall, the executive director of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce at their annual dinner last year.

The chamber serves as the county’s largest and most active business advocacy, marketing and workforce development organization.

The Fayette chamber, along with its affiliate organization, the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce, together boast a membership of nearly 700 businesses, organizations and individuals.

Nuttall said the chamber saw tremendous growth by welcoming 99 new members in 2023 with the 100th new member joining on Jan. 2, 2024.

“This growth is continuing as we have already welcomed 28 new members this year,” Nuttall said, adding they celebrated 35 business

ribbon cuttings last year.

“Workforce, business marketing and assistance and county marketing and growth remain the primary action areas for the organization.”

“This year has been amazing,” said Connie Slampak, the president of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce.

“I’ve been with the chamber for a long time, but this year just topped everything we’ve ever done. I see so many new and wonderful things happening. I keep looking forward and looking up, and I see the changes in

the county. It’s wonderful to see.”

Nuttall said, at the chamber, they feel as though life and business are settling into a semblance of post-COVID normalcy, though many things are different these days.

Nuttall said that some of the traditions of the past are being revived throughout the county, but there’s a different focus now as the community is really looking at the way they spend their time and their dollars and putting our local businesses in the

forefront as they focus on their families.

At the chamber’s annual dinner, the organizers make a point to recognize those who have brought about positive changes.

The awardees include, but are not limited to Brittany Cooley, the community relations and mentoring coordinator with Big Brother Big Sisters of the Laurel Region, Fayette County, received the Herman M. Buck Award for those chamber members 45 years or younger who have exhibited

an extraordinary commitment to the community.

In December, 2022, Big Brothers Big Sisters opened their Fayette County office on the second floor of the Somerset Trust Company at 82 West Fayette St. in Uniontown.

The Non-Profit of the Year went to Terry Vassar and Jaime Bittner for One Voice One Community, an organization based in Uniontown and launched in 2023, dedicated to providing resources to help break the cycle of poverty and violence in Fayette County and to assisting those most in need.

The Chamber Impact Award was presented to Mary Over, the chief of staff for Fayette County Commissioner Vince Vicites, and Tammy Nedrow, chief of staff for Commissioner Scott Dunn.

Kelly Trott, the host of “Adventures with Kelly,” received the Community Champion award.

“Adventures with Kelly” is described by Trott as being a personal blog to showcase some of the things to do and the beauty of the area.

Trott said what the

series has done was stirred up local conversations about life in the county with positive feedback and something she felt has helped build community pride.

Along with her show that highlights Fayette County and surrounding areas, Trott was among those who recently restarted a Parks and Recreation board in Uniontown, which Trott said will be taking over the Uniontown farmers market this year.

“The Community Champion award meant a great deal to me,” Trott said, adding she had fears and hesitations about starting a blog as she wasn’t sure how she would be perceived. “So to be recognized in this way tells me I have made a difference in some capacity and that is very rewarding.”

All of the honorees share Nuttall’s pride in Fayette County and determination to foster and focus on the positive things happening, something she said is more important than ever.

“Look at things in a way that says, ‘I love where I live.’ And then tell people about it,” she said. “Help them see your point of view.”

Muriel Nuttall, the executive director of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, addresses the crowd at the chamber’s annual dinner in 2023.

BeLocal program unites local businesses for success

By Melissa GiBson For the

Last summer, a new program was launched to promote and educate residents about locally owned, independent businesses in the Southwest Pennsylvania region and excitement is growing.

The BeLocal Network membership highlights small businesses and offers benefits beyond the typical advertising. The program was created to support entrepreneurs and encourage residents to shop local by simply shining a spotlight on the variety of options close to home.

“With a membership, businesses have their name, logo and location on our website. They receive advertising in all of our publications: Observer-Reporter, The Almanac, Herald-Standard and Greene County Messenger,” said Kendra Scalzi, BeLocal Manager. “Every week, we run a full-page ad of a different business and we run another in a banner ad every day. A new business is also featured on WMBS’ ‘Locally Yours’ program every Friday.”

The exposure alone is worth more than the cost of the membership and includes an

incentive for consumers too.

As a part of membership, participating businesses offer a discount of their choice, printed on a discount card. The public can purchase the card for $20 and it’s a win-win for everyone. Currently, more than 50 local businesses participate and include something in nearly every category. Customers can enjoy discounts at local boutiques, pet grooming salons, automotive companies, furniture stores, floral shops and coffee shops to name a few.

“It’s always growing

and people can check the website for the most up-to-date information. One of the perks for our business members is if they want, they can change the discount each month so that might change for the customer too,” Scalzi said.

The network continues to expand and staff is sharing the benefits through seminars and workshops at the local chambers, receiving support and positive feedback for the impact the program is making on the community.

Even corporate sponsors have become involved with the program.

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“Our six corporate sponsors give us money to help this network grow and we’re giving it back in customized marketing programs,” Scalzi said. “We also have an option to be a supporting member if a business wants to support BeLocal but they don’t offer a discount.”

Scalzi represents the program at various events in the area and loves the stories and sense of community she feels while talking to customers and businesses alike.

After all, focusing on small businesses keeps the community vibrant

and growing.

“On the radio show, we bring in a guest and talk about how they got started and what they do. When you hear the name, you don’t always know all the services or where they are located so we always learn something,” Scalzi said. “I’ve seen so much support and you can feel the buzz surrounding the program. There’s just a fellowship of businesses working together instead of competing with one another.”

For more information, visit https://belocal.net/ or follow their Facebook page.

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PennDOT District 12 focused on safety and charity in 2023

By Mark HofMann mhofmann@heraldstandard.com

In 2023, the state Department of Transportation took its safety initiatives on the road.

Rachel D. Duda, district executive for PennDOT District 12

noted the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) pilot program, which started as a five-year pilot program.

AWZSE uses portable systems that are mounted on a vehicle or other apparatus to detect and record vehicles exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 mph or more using electronic speed timing devices.

The initiative is supported by PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania State Police.

According to PennDOT, AWZSE work zones are selected by a data-driven process to maximize the effectiveness of the systems with data sources

including speed data, crash data, work-zone vulnerability and work activities.

Cameras can be placed in any active work zone on the turnpike, as well as any other active work zone.

Duda said the efforts led to a 38% reduction in speeding, which is 1 mph or more over the speed limit; a 47% reduction in excessive speeding, which is 11 mph or more over the speed limit, and a 15% to 50% decrease in work zone crashes when AWZSE enforcement is present.

“AWZE complements existing speed enforcement by the Pennsylvania State Police in helping to save workers’ and travelers’ lives,” Duda said.

Efforts were also made by PennDOT to not just save lives on the roadways, but to make lives better off the roadways with their charitable outreach.

One is District 12’s Charity Golf Outing, which is an event

organized by District 12 employees every summer with the employees using personal leave to participate in the golf outing. District 12 serves Fayette and surrounding counties.

“The Golfers for Charity Association was founded in 2005 and provides an enjoyable and meaningful fundraising event for our employees, business partners and especially those in need,” said Dominec A. Caruso P.E., assistant construction engineer with PennDOT District 12.

Laina Aquiline, Press Officer for PennDOT District 12, said while the golf outing supported PA Wounded Warrior in 2019, it historically supports American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life with $4,800 raised in 2023, $4,600 raised in 2022 and $92,665 raised in total since 2005.

Another outlet for giving is the State Employee Combined Appeal (SECA).

“This is a once-a-year charitable fundraising campaign for state employees,”

ABOVE: The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) pilot program supported by the state Department of Transportation, the Turnpike Commission and state police, uses portable systems to detect and record vehicles exceeding posted work zone speed limits using electronic speed timing devices. AT RIGHT: Derek Johnson, a construction cost manager with PennDOT District 12, holds a plush bat prize during a recent State Employee Combined Appeal (SECA) where employees placed their names on a donation tree.

said Cristy Kasovich, administrative assistant with PennDOT District 12. “Employees take part in this program by donating to participating charities through payroll deductions or one-time check or money order.”

Kasovich said that District 12 had nearly 200 employees participate in the program last year, raising over $33,000 for the employees’ favorite charities.

Aquiline said the SECA

is an eight-week commonwealth-wide fundraiser where employees are strongly urged to participate.

Locally, employees collected over 10 full boxes of nonperishable items in fall 2023 that were donated to Fayette County Food Bank. Employees also supported Connellsville Ministries’ Angel Tree, making Christmas

brighter for local children by purchasing their wish list items.

“District 12’s employees are very generous,” said Stephanie Whitlatch, municipal services supervisor for PennDOT District 12.

In addition to Fayette County, the district also serves Washington, Westmoreland and Greene counties.

2023 marks the highest demand for Local Share Account funding in Fayette County

The Fayette County Redevelopment Authority’s Neighborhood

with Local Share Account money.

By Mark HofMann mhofmann@heraldstandard.com

Applications for projects supported by Fayette County’s Local Share Account (LSA) program were at their highest in 2023.

“We definitely had the highest volume of applications since we started the program,” said Andrew French, the executive director of the Fayette County Redevelopment Authority, which distributes the funds.

In 2022, for example, French said they had 52 applications requesting a total of $3.3 million in funding, which is a typical amount they see on an annual basis.

“In 2023, there were 108 applications requesting $10.2 million,” French said.

The Fayette County LSA was established in 2015, ensuring that 2% of the gross terminal revenues from Lady Luck Casino in Wharton Township are earmarked for economic development and community projects.

“I think clearly with the demand we saw last year and every year — whether it’s $3 million or $10 million — there’s a high demand for funding to support these unique, local projects that municipalities work on to make communities better,” French said.

French added that another attractive feature of the LSA program is the flexibility it offers.

He said other funding sources that a redevelopment authority like Fayette County’s offers through the state or federal government are both pretty complicated and cumbersome.

He added that since the funds are used for local projects, the funds will go toward local contractors, so the money ripples in the community.

Out of the 108 projects submitted, the redevelopment authority will recommend a number of projects to the Fayette County commissioners, who then approved them

in November.

A total of 19 projects were submitted, and French said they are still pending until the redevelopment authority receives its LSA contract from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Those contracts are anticipated in the next couple of months, which will allow projects to begin later this year.

While those projects include everything from an improvement project with the Connellsville Little League to parking improvements to the VFW Post 747 in Point Marion, one constant

program every year is the redevelopment authority’s Neighborhood Stabilization Initiative.

This year, the redevelopment authority is requesting $40,496 in LSA funding for the initiative.

French said the initiative has been used for feasibility studies, environmental studies, blight abatement and more.

Last year, French said the initiative has been used for projects involving the vacant Oak Hill Estates in Uniontown, the Union Station Building in Brownsville, the future site of the new brewery in Connellsville, helping various areas of demolition projects and more.

As French said with the other LSA-funded projects, LSA funding for the Neighborhood Stabilization Initiative offers a more flexible option as there are funds that can be used from the state like Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, but they are more restrictive.

“(We can) use it more for partnering with these private developers investing their money in different places,” French said. “We can come in with LSA and help them promote their development, and it also helps the community overall to get rid of blighted structures.”

Submitted photo

The Fayette County Redevelopment Authority’s Neighborhood Stabilization Initiative worked with the nonprofit Team Humanity in Brownsville to raze a blighted property.

Submitted photo

Siblings share healthy pet education, products

By Melissa GiBson For the

herald-standard newsroom@heraldstandard.com

Elizabeth Kegg and John Costabile just launched their company, Pawsitive Treats, LLC in early December – and their message is one pet lovers can appreciate.

Pawsitive Treats is available online, and offers healthy, homemade dog and cat treats, but the brother and sister duo have so much more planned.

“I’ve always made my own dog food and treats. I love doing it and I love how healthy they are. I did countless hours of research on my German shepherd and learned most dog foods are terrible for your dog,” Kegg said. “I got my brother introduced to healthier food and treat options for his dog and we decided to start a business, sharing this with others.”

Costabile is dad to two blue heelers, Harley and Hayzel, and Kegg is mom to Dozer and Denali, German shepherds and Ryan, an Australian shepherd.

Though they’ve started with homemade treats, the two are currently working with a manufacturer to produce dog food. They also offer bully sticks, cow ears, goat milk and other healthy treats – all in an effort to take better care of their pets and prolong their lives.

Kegg said it’s all about the ingredients.

“You know if it’s bad for your pet by the ingredients on the label. All of our products have no additives or chemicals. There are no artificial preservatives and really, it’s human grade food. We’re using strawberries and blueberries; it just doesn’t have added sugar,” Kegg said. It hasn’t always been this way. Both Kegg and Costabile, like most pet parents, have experienced heartbreak.

Kegg recalls the pain of losing her first German shepherd.

“She was my best friend and she had hip dysplasia and she was blind,” Kegg said.

“Putting her down was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, so I want to encourage other pet parents to educate themselves. Our pets are like family and there’s always more we can learn.”

Costabile became frustrated when his dog began showing signs of allergies.

“My first dog suffered from allergies and had some reactions to medication. The vet said some medications can do that to our pets, so Elizabeth began sharing what she knew,” Costabile said. “At the end of the day, we chose to do this because it’s what we love doing.”

In fact, Kegg was able to create her own medication with healthier

ingredients that helps keep bones and muscles healthy, and mobility issues at bay.

“The healthier options are always a little pricier, but for me, I’d rather see my dog healthy and living as long as possible,” Kegg

said. For now, items on the website can be shipped, locally delivered or picked up. Customers will find a sample of Pawsitive Treats displayed around Uniontown but the next step for

the pair is a brick-andmortar location, with an anticipated opening date this spring. They hope to eventually offer educational classes and even “cooking” classes, teaching others how to

make homemade treats. Stay tuned for more information as they continue to grow Pawsitive Treats and create the spot pet lovers want to go for the healthiest options.

Visit https://www.pawsitivetreatsllc.com/

Submitted

Siblings Elizabeth Kegg and John Costabile are co-owners of a new local business, Pawsitive Treats, LLC.

ABOVE: Ryan is a 7-year-old Australian shepherd and enjoys the healthy treats and food provided by her “mom.” AT RIGHT: Items from Pawsitive Treats can be found online or around town at various displays like this one at Uniontown Detailing. Submitted photos