From commissioner to character actor: Bracken Burns’ lifelong role in Washington County
Humane Society’s pet food bank provides safety net for pets
Scrap metal business General
Alloys sold after four decades
Local guitarist well-known as teacher, entertainer
Simply You Soap and Candles Co. opens new location
COUNTY
DECEMBER 2025/JANUARY 2026
LIVING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
CONTENTS
12
From commissioner to character actor: Bracken Burns’ role in Wash Co
27
Cozy up with a good book at Frank Sarris Library
7
Scrap metal business General Alloys sold after four decades
18 Upland bird hunting part of Marianna Outdoorsmen Association
8 Local guitarist well-known as teacher, entertainer
22 Simply You Soap and Candle Co. opens new location
28 Canon-McMillan named a best high school
FROM THE EDITOR
6 Humane Society’s pet food bank provides safety net for pets On the cover
DECEMBER 2025/JANUARY
26 A boutique for the tiny tots with a twist
29 Canon-McMillan graduate gifts flag to South Central Elementary
THE HEART BEHIND THE PAGES
I’ll be honest: This letter is almost always the last thing I write for each magazine. I tend to stare at the blank page a little too long, wondering what on earth I could say that’s interesting enough to share. And I sometimes catch myself thinking, Does anyone even read these?
It turns out some of you do, and that means the world to me! To those of you who take a few minutes to read these little reflections of mine, thank you. Over the years, I’ve heard from readers who connected with pieces I wrote about grief, planting roots or my unabashed love of fall. Your notes remind me that even small stories can resonate.
Putting these magazines together is a genuine joy. Each story in these pages highlights something special about our region. This edition’s cover story does just that. We take a closer look at a familiar name in Washington County: former commissioner Bracken Burns. Since stepping away from public office, he’s poured his energy into local theater, embracing a new chapter that’s both creative and deeply community-minded. We’re also shining a light on something close to my heart. Through work with the Washington Area Humane Society, I learned that there are very few pet food banks in our area. With the rising cost of everything, it can be hard enough to put dinner on the table, let alone keep kibble in the dog bowl. Thankfully, WAHS offers a pet food bank for those who need the extra help. Read more about how you can help, or if you need assistance, how to get it.
Thank you, truly, for reading. I genuinely love hearing from you. Whether you have thoughts to share, story ideas or just want to say hello, please reach out by email or give me a call. Your voices make this work so worthwhile.
tthurston@observer-reporter.com
Photos courtesy of Bracken Burns Bracken Burns, as General Lachlan McIntosh, traveled to Butler County for a Daughters of the American Revolution-sponsored project to teach area students about Fort McIntosh
TRI-STATE
Neuro ath Centers
Peripheral Neuropathy Sufferers
Bill C. “I suffered for 8 years with horrible neuropathy pains and struggling with no sleep. After completing the program, I have
S.
suffered for close to 3 years and thought I would end up in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I am 90% better and so happy I have my life back.”
Karen
“I
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Humane Society’s pet food bank provides a safety net for pets
By Trista Thurston
TheWashington Area Humane Society is dedicated to keeping pets with their owners, and one way to do that is to get pet food into the hands of people who need it. The organization has hosted over a dozen pet food distributions so far in 2025, totaling more than 37,000 pounds of food.
To accomplish that impressive feat, the organization needed a place to store all that pet food. In February, the WAHS finished remodeling an existing building on the property, now called The CARE Building, that houses the pet food bank’s food. This building has housed over 50,000 pounds of pet food since it was com pleted.
Kelly Proudfit, WAHS executive director, added that the pet food bank also sup plies food to local food pantries at churches in Washington County. The humane society’s police officer and the local animal control officer help identify those in need and hand out food as well to residents.
“There are a lot of people struggling,” Proudfit added, and pet retention is a primary focus for the organiza tion.
Proudfit is hoping to expand partnerships like this in 2026. New this year, WAHS partnered with the City Mission’s annual Boxes of Love, distributed just before Thanksgiving, to supply families in need with a Thanksgiving dinner. Rough ly 350 bags of pet food were also distributed, and the remaining food was donated to the City Mission’s pantry for distribution at a later date, totaling over 5,000 pounds.
food, the partnership naturally grew. The event was so successful that they’re already coordinating for next year’s distribution. Some people can barely afford to feed themselves, let alone their animal companions, Wightman said. Pets can be a person’s lifeline through life’s struggles, and people, especially those facing food insecurity, deserve that unconditional love.
City Mission community outreach coordinator Anne Wightman said the City Mission’s food pantry used to serve about 75 families a week but can now see about 200. As people came in asking for pet
WAHS also contributed over 1,000 pounds of food in November and 850 pounds in May to Trinity High School’s food bank for families in need in the district. Proudfit wants to make more of these connections in the new year to get food in the hands of those who need it. She is open to creative ideas and new connec-
Funding for the pet food bank comes through grants and donations. Over $50,000 was raised to purchase and distribute pet food for pets in need in 2025.
WAHS accepts donations for pet food to be used in the facility or distributed to those in need.
Any food donation that cannot be used for the shelter animals is used for the pet food bank. The Washington Area Humane Society has white bins out front of the building and accepts food and supply donations at any time, though it cannot accept opened bags. WAHS also has an Amazon wishlist so that interested donors can get items directly to the organization.
The WAHS does not have any more large distributions this year, but the shelter does have supplies for anyone in need. Please call the shelter at 724-222-7387 during business hours for assistance.
Visit washingtonpashelter.org for more information.
Photos courtesy of the Washington Area Humane Society
Scrap metal business General Alloys sold after four decades
By Mike Albanese
Munir
Chavla recalled starting General Alloys over 40 years ago, saying it all began in a small building behind a truck stop and with $2,950.
Chavla said that was just enough money to buy an old pickup truck for $600, a scale, wheelbarrow and tools, leaving just enough left over to buy some scrap metal.
Now, 40 years after opening, Chavla has turned the reins over to Frank Santoro, of Santoro Metals, who purchased the business in August.
Chavla said selling the businesses is “like I lost my best friend,” saying it has been an emotional period. However, he joked, saying his wife told him that he “finally got rid of his mistress.”
Chavla started General Alloys in 1985, just a few years after finishing his MBA in 1982 and deciding to venture out on his own.
Chavla is a metallurgical engineer and moved to the Washington area after being hired by Jessop Steel in 1978. He said he worked both jobs the first few years after
starting General Alloys, admitting those first three years were rough.
However, Chavla left Jessop Steel in 1987, allowing him to devote his time and energy to his business.
Chavla said the business turned around quickly once he left Jessop Steel, as he started buying aluminum, copper, brass and stainless steel, processing it all with a small dump truck and no machinery. He called the shop and process “very primitive.”
General Alloys provided the Washington area with a clean, environmentally friendly place to recycle metals. Customers ranged from peddlers and machine shops to plumbers, automotive repair shops and other industrial customers.
However, over the 40 years of business, Chavla noted the region’s changing landscape. He said many industries have closed, and even Jessop Steel went from employing 1,000 people to around 150.
He said he was surprised by how many people came back into his shop, telling him he’d see a small child watching the machines
pick up the cans in wonder, saying, “That reminds me of me when I used to come with my dad.”
The decision to sell the business was not easy, Chavla said, noting it began three years ago. He said there were other prospects, but those deals fell through due to offer disputes or because they were unable to raise the necessary financing.
He said the deal with Santoro was right because he didn’t need any finances, and he agreed to his three stipulations.
Chavla said his first request was to keep all his employees. The second is to treat the customers fairly, and lastly, to keep the shop clean.
“So far, in two months, he’s checked all the boxes,” he said.
Now away from his business, Chavla said he is learning to play saxophone, ride horses and even joined a photography club, honing a hobby he’s had for 52 years.
Looking back, he said he was glad he didn’t have to close the business, and added, “It’s a happy ending.”
Courtesy of General Alloys Munir Chavla hands the business key to Frank Santoro of Santoro Metals, LLC. Santoro purchased General Alloys in August.
Local guitarist well-known as teacher, entertainer
Dave Zuchowski/for the Observer-Reporter
Dan playing at the President’s Pub in Washington
Dave Zuchowski/for the Observer-Reporter Daughter Nica, Dan Baker, and son Hendrix in the lesson studio
By Dave Zuchowski
Many Washington County residents are probably already familiar with guitarist Dan Baker.
For the past 24 years, the 49-year-old Washington County entertainer and teacher has performed regularly, either solo or with his trio, at area breweries, distilleries, clubs, restaurants, festivals, weddings and corporate and private events. When he plays as part of a trio, his fellow musicians include Greg Thurman on bass and Michael Li Conti on drums.
Playing what he calls “acoustic soul music” and unique instrumental guitar arrangements of songs ranging from John Coltrane to John Mayer, Baker also includes a variety of other musical genres in his repertoire.
“My music is impossible to categorize because I’ve been influenced by a combination of all the music I’ve heard over the years,” he said. Regularly, he can be heard on the first Sunday of every month at Presidents Pub in Washington and at Heist Spirits in Burgettstown. Baker’s first exposure to music was through piano lessons he took from Anne Weber, an East Washington teacher he said taught almost every piano student he could think of in the city.
“At the urging of my parents, I started taking lessons and music theory from her at age 7,” he said. “I wasn’t fond of the piano, but liked musical theory because she gave me candy when I got the answers right on the quizzes she gave me.”
When he turned 13, Baker joined the high school band as a trombonist, but he said he hated the instrument. At that time, he confessed, he was more interested in skateboarding than music.
“One day, on the way to the skate shop, I passed by Ram Music, a guitar shop,” he said. “I always liked guitar, so my parents bought me a white Gibson guitar with a black string board in the electric Stratocaster style.”
Soon after that, he started guitar lessons with Tony Janflone, Sr., but that wasn’t the end of his musical ventures.
Later, during his senior year of high school in 1995, as a member of the Washington High Steel Drum Band directed by Marc Svaline, he had the chance to tour France and England with the band as representatives of the state of Pennsylvania at the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
“It was a very exciting experience,” he said.
After graduating from high school, Baker attended The New School in New York City and earned a BFA in music performance. While there, he studied and performed with master jazz musicians such as Chico Hamilton, Barry Harris, Jim Hall and Peter Bernstein. After graduating from the New School, he enrolled in graduate studies at New York University.
While attending classes at NYU, he worked with the Wyclef Jean Foundation, a non-profit that matches kids in Brooklyn and Staten Island with teachers and mentors. After a year and a half at NYU, he decided the Big Apple and academia were not where he wanted to be, and he returned to Washington in 2001 without earning a master’s degree.
Along with his father, notable Washington County attorney Ken Baker, he co-founded the Washington Jazz Society in 2007, an organization he participated in for 15 years.
In addition to maintaining a busy performance schedule, Baker also teaches private and group guitar lessons in a studio out of his home. He currently gives private lessons to between 15 and 20 students.
“When I first started giving lessons 20 years ago, my students were mostly kids,” said. “Now it’s about 50 percent kids, 50 percent adults who want to further their education and learn how to play guitar.”
Once a week, he also offers group guitar lessons in an after-school program at The Way, a Christian community center in Waynesburg. Baker has also been an adjunct guitar instructor and given master classes at the college and university level.
When asked, he explained that his favorite guitar influences have been Jimi Hendrix (he even named his ten-year-old son Hendrix), Pat Metheny, Chet Atkins, Wes Montgomery and B. B. King. His greatest musical hero, however, is John Coltrane.
Married to Tiffany Toole, he also has a daughter, 12-year-old Nicka (Pannonia), named after jazz enthusiast Pannonia Rothschild, a.k.a. the Baroness of Jazz. Both children play the guitar.
To a degree, music runs in the family. Both of Baker’s parents play piano, and his mother, Mary, once played organ at his grandfather’s church.
“My grandparents were also very much into music, and I even heard that my great-grandfather called square dance,” he said.
Despite his two-decade-long record of performing throughout the area, Baker said he’s still surprised when people learn he can play for private events and is available for special occasions, including weddings, private gatherings and Christmas parties.
The beat, or perhaps you should say, the strumming, goes on.
“Playing guitar is what I do,” he said. “I enjoy performing, and I keep striving to get better and better.”
For more information about Dan Baker and to book him for an event or sign up for group or individual guitar lessons, phone 724-747-5139 or follow him on Facebook at Dan Baker Guitarist.
Courtesy of Dan Baker Guitarist Dan Baker
Paula, LPN and Bill, Dining Services Coordinator
From commissioner to character actor: Bracken Burns’ lifelong role in Washington County
By Rick Shrum J. Brack-
en
Burns
was born and raised in Bellevue in the Ohio Valley, north of Pittsburgh. Life there was good, he acknowledged, but after securing a job following graduation from college, he relocated 40 miles to the south.
My first job was in Washington County, then we forgot to leave,” he said, chuckling. Burns, in reality, has never wanted to leave the region he and his family have embraced for nearly a half-century.
He has been entrenched here, as an elected official, as a member of multiple boards and, surprisingly to some, as an actor at local theaters, occasionally in military period clothing.
“The theater community is unique,” Burns said. “Some people go (to plays) all of the time, but probably 95% haven’t gone for a long time. The average person probably does not know someone who is an actor in their spare time. But 72 plays later, here I am.”
Longtime Washington Countians probably remember him as an established county commissioner, serving from 1996 to 2012. And for six years, Burns was a township supervisor in South Strabane, where
he and his wife, Kate, reside. Burns was also the county’s Emergency Services director for 22 years and was named to two state boards responsible for statewide emergency planning by former Gov. Ed Rendell.
The ex-commissioner has been plugged into politics, and has met, conversed and had photos taken with four world leaders: former U.S. presidents
Joe Biden, Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon, and Lech Walesa, expresident of Poland. He said he has spoken with Biden and Clinton more than once.
Burns was likewise a president, though not as high-profile as the aforementioned. Bracken was the student government president at Indiana University of Pennsylvania when he was invited to the White House to meet Nixon. Burns has a black-and-white photo from that get-together
He is retired and easing up — but only in a relative sense. “I’m now on 15 or 20 boards,” he said. “I was on 35 boards when I was a commissioner, with nonprofits and such. One man thought I made a lot of money then,” he said, scoffing.
Burns declined to provide his age. “When I tell people, they run and get a chair. I don’t like the reactions I get when they know how old you are.”
He was practically destined to appear on stage. “My dad, Don, was
a contractor — and an actor,” Bracken said. The first play I was in, when I was about 7, was a passion play at our church. Everyone in our extended family had a role in the play. We were all literally in the play.”
The Pittsburgh Press, which closed in 1992 following an extended strike, ran a photo of the Burns family troupe in its Sunday Roto section.
“I did a little acting in high school, then out in the community,” Burns said.
Bracken took on more acting roles as an adult, including commercials, training films, a TV movie and several roles as a movie extra. One role was especially noteworthy — a zombie in the horror film classic “Night of the Living Dead.”
He also did commercial work for Development Dimensions International, based in Bridgeville. “They’d call me time to time and give me a script. Mostly, they made training films and had me play certain roles, then used them for training.
“One guy who worked for DDI translated training films made in English into a foreign language, like Spanish. When I passed him in the hall, he acted like I was a celebrity. I’ve never seen a foreign language video of mine.”
His community theater experience includes numerous roles at Little Lake Theatre, such as playing the judge in “The Trial of David Bradford”; appearing as Jacob Marley, and other characters, in “A Christmas Carol” 13 times; and playing The Old Man three times in “A Christmas Story.”
“I really enjoy Christmas roles,” Burns said.
“I played Marley’s ghost and scared people. One young boy was crying, so I changed clothes and went out to make him feel better.”
Burns has also acted with the Old Schoolhouse Players in Hickory and the Olin Fine Arts Center at Washington & Jefferson College.
More recently, Burns commuted several times to Beaver County, dressed in period attire, to play General Lachlan McIntosh during the American Revolution in 1778. McIntosh, hired by George Washington, built Fort McIntosh on bluffs high above the Ohio River, the site of Beaver.
“Once a month, I drove to Beaver County in a wool outfit with a three-cornered hat,” Burns said. It was fun. Someone said McIntosh had just turned 300 years old, and I didn’t look like I was older than 299.”
“The Daughters of the American Revolution are teaching history to folks in Beaver County because someone decided this was the best way to reenact Gen. McIntosh. It was aimed at making schoolkids aware that there was once a fort in the park. It’s teaching kids to have love and respect for their home and county.”
Bracken and Kate Burns have two children, J. Bracken Jr. and Colleen Natili of Peters Township, and five grandchildren. Their son is a trauma surgeon in Tennessee.
That could be a future role for the former county commissioner.
Because he’s my Dad
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Abdominal Pain, Indigestion, and the Importance of EGD
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Upland bird hunting just one piece of the Marianna Outdoorsmen Association
Photos and story by
Dave Zuchowski
Ifyou drove by Wild Acres Farms near Clarksville one day at the beginning of October, you might have caught sight of a white van parked near the farm’s game bird pens.
It was delivery day from the Delps Game Bird Hatchery in Brookville, and the farm was about to get another stock of 200 pheasants, 100 chukar partridges and 100 quail.
Helping unload the birds from their cases were member Dave (Whitey) White and Dan Sedletsky, a.k.a., the bird whisperer. Seemingly happy to be released from the cases, the birds eagerly flew or ran into the spacious, net-enclosed pens.
Offering members and non-members alike the opportunity to hunt game birds on the farm’s 400-acre swatch of meadow and planted Egyptian wheat and fruit trees didn’t become an option until shortly after the Marianna Outdoorsmen Association, which operates the farm, moved from its former Marianna site to its current location at 1997 Morey Road circa 2020.
“We started upland bird hunting that same year,” said Jason White, MOA executive director. “COVID had already hit, and people were looking for ways to engage with the outdoors. We took the risk after doing our market research and began our journey.”
Interested hunters can book a private, three-hour slot for their sole use in advance from either 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. To reserve a Monday through Saturday slot and for more details, phone 724-579-0924 or email moa.jasonwhite@gmail.com.
On Oct. 23, Wild Acres Farm held its biggest hunt ever. The continental hunt, also called a European or gentlemen’s hunt,
arranged 10 to 12 hunters in a half circle at a station while the birds were released from several different perspectives.
This particular hunt drew 64 participants, including 10 Republican representatives from the state House of Representatives.
Operating the farm’s hunting component requires significant planning and expense. Feeding the birds alone requires 1,000 pounds of grain each week, and it’s very crucial to handle the predator issue. Raccoons are notorious nest raiders, and foxes, coyotes and hawks also prey on the birds.
“Predator control is the cornerstone of any upland bird hunting operation,” White said.
The MOA got its start in 2006 with a plan to stock trout in a twomile-long stretch of Ten Mile Creek near Marianna. To help fund the stocking plan, MOA began staging an annual canoe race. The first one proved successful, and the event ran for years before MOA suspended it in 2019 following an accident.
“Due to safety issues, everything we did was no longer possible at the original site,” White said.
Following the association’s move to Wild Acres Farm, the MOA now offers trout fishing in a nearby section of Ten Mile Creek and at its alternate location along Daniels Run. In addition to upland bird hunting, the association also offers a five-stand shotgun range, a 1,000-yard rifle range, a pistol range and a bait and tackle shop. On the property, the large barn is also available for weddings, parties and corporate events.
For those wanting overnight accommodations, the farm operates
Jason White outside the farm’s Airbnb
an Airbnb in its charming, newly renovated, three-bedroom, two-bath farmhouse with all amenities.
At its Daniels Run location, it also maintains a campground for tents, trailers and campers. According to White, Daniels Run is the only stream in Washington County that can sustain trout 365 days a year. This is, in large part, due to a $50,000 trout habitat enhancement project.
“To my knowledge, we are the only place in the U.S. that offers all these amenities in one location,” White said.
When the MOA first organized, White said the plan was to offer memberships affordable to the average person. In contrast to other places in Pennsylvania, which can charge an annual membership fee of $1,000 to $2,000 and up for fishing alone, the MOA membership starts at $175 for veterans and first responders. A single membership costs $275, a family membership $375 and a corporate membership $900. In addition to fishing and hunting, members have access to everything on the farm except deer and turkey hunting.
Current membership is around 500, of which about 100 are hunters, who account for nearly half the MOA’s annual bird harvest.
To help subsidize its activities, the MOA stages gun bashes, golf outings, raffles, fishing tournaments and bird hunts. In the future, the association hopes to expand its stream enhancement projects, expand its campsite facilities to the farm and put in miniature cabins, build an outdoor event space for weddings, parties and clay pigeon shooting and expand its fruit orchard to help feed the wildlife.
“From the time we first conceived the MOA, although our aspirations have grown, we have never conceptually changed from our goal of enhancing, improving and promoting the great outdoors of Washington County,” White said.
For more information on the MOA, phone 724-579-0924 or visit mariannaoutdoors.com.
A wedding party decorating the barn for the big event. From left, Nate Kaminski, Shannon Kaminski, Sean Polak, Cat Studt, Josh Hunter and Laurel Hunter
Dan Sedletsky a.k.a., the bird whisperer, unloading a case of pheasants
Just-released quail in their new home in the barn
Dan Sedletsky and Jason White pour a bag of grain into a bird feeder
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CANONSBURG CORNER
Simply You Soap and Candle Co. opens new location
By Michele Gillis
Photos courtesy of Simply You Soap and Candle Co.
Sometimesyou don’t know what you want until you try.
About a year and a half ago, the Solaio Bellezza Market House was looking for a retail vendor to fill a small space in its building. They reached out to Simply You Soap & Candle Co., which had a location in Elizabeth. Although they weren’t looking to expand, they agreed to a oneyear lease and would see how it went Simply You Soap and Candle Co. sells handmade soaps, soy candles, lip balms, gift sets, insect spray, decorative soaps, shower steamers, beard oil, beard balm, body washes, dry shampoos, soap saver pads, goat milk lotion, body butters, bath bombs, dog soap, loofas and more.
“The space seemed very manageable, so we kind of just decided to go for it, and it went really well,” said Stephanie Ziacan, owner of Simply You Soap & Candle Co. “It was a great start for us to just dip our toe in the water and see what that would look like for us, having multiple locations. We just wanted to make sure we could keep up with production, and we didn’t want to bite off more than we could chew, so that was a great opportunity for us to get a feel for that.”
The renovations took about six weeks. During that time, they were cranking out new inventory while liquidating their old inventory and installing new shelving and displays.
“We wanted to completely start fresh with fresh new products,” said Ziacan. The store opened on July 3 and has been going strong since. Simply You Soap and Candle Co. is a family-owned and operated business. Ziacan, her husband Steve, and her mother-in-law, Cheryl McNulty, all make products for the store.
“My husband makes all the soaps,” said Ziacan. “He’s the artist and the creator of the soaps. He went from being a full-time carpenter to a soap maker. He has an eye for color and just the aesthetic of how something should look. So, in our Canonsburg location and our store in Elizabeth, we did all of the remodeling ourselves. He just has a good, natural eye for that.”
McNulty makes the soy candles, and Ziacan makes many of the other products, such as lotions, bath bombs and scrubs. She also handles the back-end of the business as far as ordering, payroll and such. They also have eight part-time employees.
After a year there, they realized they would prefer more visibility for the second location and began searching for a retail space downtown on Pike Street.
The location they found was being vacated by its previous tenant, ReLoved ReSale. Since they were taking over the lease, it was an easy turnkey situation, so they had a blank slate to create the look
Everything they do is handled in-house, including the bottling, labeling and shipping.
“I am obsessed with Simply You Soap and Candle Co.,” said Jen O’Brien, a customer at Simply Soap & Candle Co. “I have three adult children, and two of them have spouses. My entire family uses their products. The wonderful scents offer a variety that everyone can choose from. The soaps, with their unique, creative designs, and the
lotions have been Christmas stocking stuffers, Easter basket gifts and birthday gifts for years. And don’t even get me started on the candles and wax warmers.”
Making bathtime fun is another goal of the company by adding fun characters to its cold-processed soaps for children to enjoy. Currently, you can find characters like Rudolph, Elf and the Abominable Snowman soaps in fun scents for kids.
A few scents that the cold-pressed soaps come in include black raspberry, gingerbread, oatmeal, milk and honey, hot buttered rum, cranberry crush, pumpkin praline, chocolate strawberry and so many more. A few medicinal soap types they offer include charcoal, turmeric and a poison ivy bar.
“The poison ivy bar has jewel weed in it that can heal poison ivy and also repels the poison ivy toxins,” said Ziacan. “So, if you wash with it before you go out, it works as a barrier to prevent poison oak or ivy toxins from getting in your skin. We have a lot of different products that help naturally heal things.”
Ziacan explained that some commercially made soaps can feel like there is residue left behind, making you feel not fully clean. Also, commercial soaps can irritate skin conditions, but soaps made with all-natural ingredients lather well, rinse clean and leave no residue.
“I don’t use any other soap but theirs,” said O’Brien. “It is gentle on skin, and the heavenly fragrances are like a vacation in your shower. Gals and guys alike use the soap for a smooth shave as well as for cleanliness. I also keep their lotions in various areas of my house to use throughout the day.”
O’Brien said her daughter is expecting and uses the body butter on her stomach to keep her skin soft and smooth as the baby grows.
“I was so happy when they sprouted another location in Canonsburg, because now it is only about eight minutes from my house. Steve and Stephanie are awesome, cheery people with a gift for hospitality. They embrace the true nature of going the extra mile for customer service, like the good old days when small shops were everything to small towns. The shop is a cozy little haven with comfy chairs you can sink into, surrounding you with an aromatic experience you’ll love.”
A neat aspect of the company is that you don’t just get what you get. Customers can request custom orders, and with the holidays approaching, that is invaluable.
They specialize in fully customized soap, bath bombs, soy candles and body scrubs, in the perfect gifting size. They also offer personalized colors, fragrances and labels so your gifts are picture-perfect and on theme with your decor.
Simply You Soap and Candle Co. soap products are made with as many natural ingredients as possible.
“With our soap, typically, they are made with plant-based oils and butters,” said Ziacan. “So, it’s just a combination of different oils and butters, all plant-based, that have different healing and moisturizing benefits for the skin.”
They have done extensive research because many different ingredients can be used, and there are multiple ways to make soap.
“What we specifically like about the oils and butters that we use is that they’re considered dry oils,” said Ziacan. “Dry oils actually absorb into the skin so they don’t leave any residue, film or oil on top.”
Another fun product is customized party favors, such as miniature soaps that can be personalized for birthdays, weddings or baby showers.
A special event they are planning is a Simply Social event, a community gathering in late November and two in December, from 6-8 p.m. They will provide cookies and cocoa, while a featured local vendor sells their products, along with a limited-edition candle at the event. They will ask guests to bring non-perishable items or make a
monetary donation, which will be donated to a local non-profit such as Farmhouse Ministries after the event.
Customer Larissa Leuenberger enjoys everything about Simply You Soap and Candle Co.
“I love that all of the products are small batch, handmade, all natural and that there is a huge variety of products to choose from,” said Leuenberger. “There is something for everyone. My favorite products are bar soap, lip balm and candles. You can never have too much of a good thing.”
Leuenberger is so excited about the new location. She said it is the perfect spot for them because they are so great at small-town community involvement: Sip and Shops, holiday events, community events and parades.
“They are masters at their craft and love to share it with others,” said Leuenberger. “Being located on the main street allows them to be front and center for all to enjoy.”
Simply You Soap & Candle Co. is located at 34 West Pike St. in Cannonsburg. The company’s products ship nationwide. Visit simplyyouscc.com for more information. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on Sundays.
Soaps in many scents are available at Simply You Soap and Candle Co.
• Farm fresh signature dishes!
• Delicious “made from scratch” family recipes!
• Customized to your food needs and décor preferences! We would LOVE to talk!!
1531 Route 136 in Eighty Four • 724-228-3339
Hours: Mon - Sat 9am - 7 pm • Sun 12 - 7pm www.springhousemarket.com
A boutique for the tiny tots with a unique twist
Story and photos by Amanda Startare
Anewboutique has recently opened on Pike St. in Canonsburg, but this one is for the little ones. Tiny Tots Boutique, located at 47 West Pike St., is a one-stop shop for personalized gifts and toys for children, and owner Jodi Meobus recently opened her doors to the public. This business is womanowned and operated, and the idea for it was sparked in 2019 as a comfort gift for her daughter, who was missing her Air Force brother terribly. Meobus made a plush soldier, embroidered with his name, and the idea for Tiny Tots Boutique was born.
Now, Tiny Tots Boutique offers an array of specialized plush dolls for any occasion and any child. Meobus has even expanded her business, now offering custom denim jackets, unique and personalized kindergarten graduation gifts, weighted blankets and so much more.
“It’s such a cute and wholesome concept,” says Lizanne Marshall, who did some work for the website.
Each section of the store has hidden gems to discover, like little stocking stuffers, slime and themed items. The boutique currently has a selection of cute Christmas plush dolls, books and more. Towards the back of the store is a reading section, so kiddos can shop around to find their favorite toy or sit down and browse Meobus’s book collection. She has a designated faith-based section and an organic section, ensuring that all of her customers’ needs and interests are available in-store, where her selection is much larger than what is offered on the website. All items at the store can be purchased as is without personalization, but that personal touch is what makes Tiny Tots Boutique extra special.
Meobus’s journey with embroidery, vinyl and personalization unofficially started in 2011, when her daughter and her friends needed tutu outfits. Meobus searched, but “I could never find cute enough outfits, so I made them myself,” she said. She took to sewing, all self-taught, and found a passion for it. This passion, which began as an Etsy store, has now turned into what we see from Tiny Tots today: a boutique filled with personalized gifts, all handmade and a product of labor and of love.
Tiny Tots Boutique is a one-woman show, but Meobus’ family has always been a part of her business.
“My daughters were my little helpers”, says Meobus, recalling the many hours they spent helping her personalize gifts after their school day had ended. And now, Meobus’ husband, Jonathan, is opening up a twin concept right next door. Focusing more on engraving than embroidery, this new store will offer personalization for adults and engrave cups, jeans, ornaments and more. The name is still in the works, “It’s the no-name store right now,” jokes Meobus, but the concept is ready to launch.
If you need any personalized gifts or simply want to go shopping for a little one in the family, make sure Canonsburg is your stop and visit Tiny Tots boutique for a unique and affordable option, a perfect gift for this upcoming holiday season.
Cozy up with a good book at Frank Sarris Library
Parking: The entrances on Murdock Street and North Jefferson Avenue are open. The free parking lot is located behind the library building and can be accessed from Murdock Street.
Please remember:
• The regular operating hours are as follows: Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The drop box for returned items is located on Murdock Street, and there is also one within the parking lot.
• Patrons can explore the adult, children and young adult collections on the first floor. They can also use the computers to copy, fax and scan documents. For pricing on services such as printing and faxing, please visit the website.
• Computers and study rooms operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with each patron limited to one hour of computer use.
Check the website, franksarrislibrary.org, or Facebook page for updates on service changes or hours.
Upcoming programs
Adult programming
FSPL Book Club: The group chooses a mix of fiction and nonfiction books, including New York Times bestsellers. There will be no book club meeting in January 2026. The February selection is “Be Ready When the Luck Happens” by Ina Garten. Copies will be available at the circulation desk on Jan. 14. With the exception of January 2026, the book club meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m.
FSPL Silent Book Club: There’s no assigned reading at the Frank Sarris Public Library’s Silent Book Club! Just bring a book, e-reader, audiobook or graphic novel and enjoy an hour of quiet, shared reading in a cozy space. Meetings will start with a brief social chat and then move into a discussion of a book of choice (optional). Silent Book Club, a relaxing and judgment-free reading experience, meets every third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
Children’s programming
Toddlers and preschoolers
Note: All children’s programs will be on hiatus after Dec. 17, 2025. Scheduled programming will resume on Jan. 13, 2026.
Tuesday
Toddler Storytime: Toddler Time taps into a toddler’s boundless energy to get children excited about books and reading. This storytime includes short stories, finger plays, action rhymes and songs. If you think your child might not sit still during a storytime, we don’t expect them to! Come ready to dance, wiggle and play as we learn together! This 30-minute program is designed for toddlers aged 1 to 3. 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.
Preschool Storytime: Encourage your children to develop a lifelong love of reading by taking them to storytime at your local library. Enjoy books, songs, activities and more as preschoolers build early literacy skills. Suitable for children ages 3-5. 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.
Wednesday
Wiggles & Giggles: Join us for some wiggling and giggling fun! Enjoy this lively movement class with your little one, where we’ll explore music, rhymes, fine-motor fingerplays and large-motor movements. For children ages 1-4 and their caregivers. Because of the nature of this program, we ask everyone to actively participate with their children by dancing and trying out the motions. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes that allow for movement! 10 to 10:30 a.m.
Little Picasso: Do you have a budding artist at home? Little Picasso is an interactive art program that lets preschoolers explore with various art supplies and encourages them to express and develop their imagination. 10:45 to 11:30 a.m.
School Readiness: School Readiness is an afternoon class for children ages 4 to 6. Kids will sing songs, read stories and play games while building essential skills like active listening and following directions. 11:30 a.m. to noon.
Junior Engineer: This program aims to teach preschool children fundamental engineering concepts through exploring picture books. There will be plenty of hands-on activities, story sharing, and active listening. 12:00 – 12:30 pm
Thursday
Family Storytime: Family Storytime is a fun and meaningful way to encourage children’s love of books. It also helps spark their passion as future readers! Join us as we share stories, rhymes, songs and more together. This program is developmentally suitable for ages 2-4. To help all children get the most out of their experience, we encourage you to listen, sing and wiggle along with your little ones. 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.
STEM Stories: At STEM Stories, children ages 3-6 participate in traditional storytime while also engaging in hands-on activities. STEM Stories is a creative program that teaches preschoolers the importance and fun of learning about science, technology, engineering and math through stories. 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.
STEAM and Stories: Designed for preschoolers and early elementary kids, join us as we explore various concepts centered on STEAM principles: science, technology, engineering, art, and math – with a related story included! 4 to 4:30 p.m.
Children’s programming
Afternoon
(All children’s programs begin at 4 pm and end at 5:30 pm)
Tuesday
Lego Club: Calling all Master Builders! Show off your building skills at Lego Club. For ages 4-12. 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Afternoon Games: Join us at the library if you enjoy board games or would like to try our Nintendo Switch. All games are suitable for ages 6 and up. 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Thursday
Action Lab: Foster your child’s passion for science, math and creativity with this new STEAM program. Ages 6-10. 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Canon-McMillan named a best high school
Courtesy of the Canon-McMillan School District
U.S. News & World Report released its 2025–2026 Best High School rankings, and Canon-McMillan High School placed in the top 40% nationwide, also ranking well among metroarea schools and in the state.
The Best High Schools rankings evaluate nearly 18,000 schools nationwide and are produced by U.S. News in partnership with Research Triangle Institute International, using data from the College Board, International Baccalaureate, state education departments and the U.S. Department of Education. Schools are evaluated based on state-required test performance, graduation rates and college readiness, including participation in and success with Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs.
This award places Canon-McMillan among a select group of schools nationwide
that are celebrated for academic achievement, college readiness and student growth. District leaders say this honor reflects years of progress toward their vision of becoming a flagship district in Western Pennsylvania.
“Being recognized as ‘Best High School’ is a testament to the hard work of our students, staff and community,” said Brittany Taylor, principal of Canon-McMillan High School. “This honor motivates us to continue striving for excellence and preparing every student for success.”
Canon-McMillan High School serves as the centerpiece of its academic programs and provides students with access to Advanced Placement coursework and exams. 42% of students participated in at least one AP exam, with 26% passing at least one test, highlighting the district’s commitment to expanding opportunities for advanced learning.
The high school’s overall outcomes paint a
picture of academic strength and resilience, ensuring every day counts. Canon-McMillan continues to excel academically, serving a diverse student body with 15% minority enrollment and 30% of students classified as economically disadvantaged.
Canon-McMillan has a 97% graduation rate, well above the national average. This demonstrates high proficiency in core subjects, including 81% in reading, 74% in science and 57% in mathematics. These high test scores are a strong testament to students’ achievements, particularly in literacy and science.
This Best High School ranking marks a significant milestone and presents an opportunity for continued growth throughout the district. Canon-McMillan’s graduation rate and high subject test scores show its commitment to becoming a top educational institution in Western Pennsylvania.
Canon-McMillan graduate gifts flag to South Central Elementary
Courtesy of the Canon-McMillan School District
OnSeptember 17, South Central Elementary received a special gift from one of its own community members.
First Lieutenant Zachary Keyes, a proud 2018 graduate of Canon-McMillan High School, donated an American flag to the school as a lasting symbol of his service, sacrifice and gratitude.
This particular flag carries deep significance. It was proudly flown on a U.S. military vehicle during patrol operations in Eastern Syria from November 2024 through July 2025. The flag accompanied Keyes and his fellow service members through months of deployment.
Keyes said that the flag became a symbol of encouragement for him during his deployment, representing a sense of home.
“We are deeply honored that 1st Lt. Keyes chose to share this piece of his journey with us,” said Robert Miele, South Central Elementary principal. “His gift shows our students that the whole community stands behind them. The flag honors Zachary’s service and symbolizes the way our schools, neighbors and community support one another.”
Miele added that the gift also offers students an opportunity to learn about service and gratitude beyond the school environment.
“When our students see this flag, I hope they understand that every symbol has a story,” Miele said. “This one represents courage and the importance of giving back to the places that shaped you.”
He said that gestures like Keyes’ remind students that they are part of a connected and caring community.
“We often tell our students that once you’re part of South Central, you’ll always be part of South Central,” Miele continued. “Keyes truly embodied that message by bringing a piece of his experience back home to share with the next generation.”
The flag will be carefully framed and preserved to honor 1st Lt. Keyes’ donation. It will be displayed in the school’s student lobby, serving as a daily reminder of courage for all who serve.
After my knee replacement at UPMC Washington, I was home in a matter of hours
When it became harder for Rob to keep up with his granddaughter, he knew he needed a second opinion for his knee pain. So he went to UPMC Washington, where he found advanced joint care for everything from sports injuries to chronic pain. He also had access to the latest treatments, including same-day joint replacement and innovative recovery techniques—all without traveling far from home.
