Living in Washington County - Feb./March 2025 by SWPA Special Publications

Turning up the heat

BAKER USES WOOD-FIRED

OVEN TO MAKE AUTHENTIC BREAD, PIZZA AND MORE

Ignite Director

Max Miller named Person of the Year

Take a breath at Evolve Yoga Center

/MARCH 2025

LIVING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

10 Baker uses wood-fired oven for authentic pizza 12 Gateway Hospice named Best of the Best 14

Canon-McMillan High School to elevate student experience with refresh

Meet North Strabane Intermediate School’s new principal: Sharon Lepri

FROM THE EDITOR

Best of the Best Person of the Year: Max Miller On the cover

EDITOR

Evolve Yoga Studio and Healing Center wants clients to take a breath

CHOOSING MOMENTUM THIS YEAR

Hello, dear reader! Welcome to the first edition of Living in Washington County in 2025! I hope the year has been kind to you so far. Each new year brings chatter of resolutions. In last year’s editor’s letter, I talked about resolutions and how I usually don’t make them. Instead, I selected a word to remind me of my goals in 2024: choice. I wanted to choose to show up for my life in ways I couldn’t the previous year. I used this past year to focus on what makes life good.

This year, I tossed around many words that I wanted to theme my 2025, like joy and kindness. I eventually landed, though, on momentum. I will keep pushing forward, using the strong foundation and momentum I’ve already crafted. Any incremental movement towards what you want, no matter the size, is much better than staying the same. We only get what we want if we show up, yes, but showing up looks different depending on our circumstances. The ebb and flow of the daily grind gets us down. We fall into old habits, beat ourselves up and then give up. Kindness and curiosity lead to more lasting results than rigid resolutions with no wiggle room for life and all it throws at us, in my experience.

Despite using a different framework, I’m doing many things other people are trying to do, too. The transition from 2024 to 2025 may mean nothing to you and your sense of self. Whatever your flavor of approaching the rest of this year, I wish you well in your endeavors, whether they be resolutions or not.

Do you make resolutions or select a word for the year? I’d love to hear yours if so.

In this edition of Living in Washington County, we have some incredible local stories, including features on two winners from our Best of the Best awards: the Person of the Year and Washington County’s top business. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy curating these stories each edition.

Thank you so much for reading. Take care, stay safe and see you in the next edition.

Midtown Market poised to open this spring Editor 26

Trista Thurston tthurston@observer-reporter.com

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Carole DeAngelo

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Eric Tomlinson

CONTRIBUTORS

Michelle Gillis

Katherine Mansfield

Rick Shrum

Dave Zuchowski

Photo by Dave Zuchowski Andrew Napolitano holds a loaf of just-baked “hearth” bread.

live, work, play • mon valley Home Warehouse for Complete Remodeling Top to Bottom

Update your home from top to bottom and inside and out with Home Warehouse. We are your local home improvement center for interior and exterior remodeling. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to customize your home or a construction contractor building a new home, turn to Home Warehouse. We provide quality, namebrand products from energy efficient windows to durable roofing. We have everything you need to create your dream home:

• Windows

• Doors

• Siding

• Roofing

• Flooring

• Kitchen & Bath Cabinets

• Faucets

• Siding

• Vinyl Railing

• Decking

• Tools 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 specific material. A patio is built at ground level, on a flat surface, and typically is constructed of a permanent material such as stone pavers, brick or poured concrete. A deck floats 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 influences the look and design of your home, and it’s one of the first things people notice. On the functional side of things, siding can affect 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 different options to help dress up your home,” she said. “Those extra touches make a difference, and in the end, help to create a truly unique space.”

Roofing

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 roofing 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 staff 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 staff, 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.

We provide quality, name-brand products from energy efficient windows to durable roofing. We have everything you need to create your dream home. Sponsored content brought to you by CHARLEROI Home Warehouse Inc. located at 7 McKean Ave., Charleroi, PA For more information, call 724-483-8111.

Best of the Best Person of the Year: Max Miller

Katherine Mansfield/for the Observer-Reporter

Max Miller, a W&J professor, director of Ignite Business Incubator and the 2024 Person of the Year, is a podcast enthusiast. “I listen more now than I read. I’m way more of an audio-content person now. Marketplace Tech is one of my go-to’s,” Miller says.

By Katherine Mansfield

MaxMiller leans back comfortably in a seat at the long, wooden table inside Ignite Business Incubator’s conference room in downtown Washington and takes a sip of hot coffee. Normally, Miller tells me, he’d be sipping water from a Philadelphia Eagles cup, but alas, the Philly-bornand-raised Washington & Jefferson professor left that cup in his car this morning.

“You would know me if I drove by because I have my Eagles hat. I’m still a die-hard,” laughs Miller, who moved to Pittsburgh to attend law school in 1990.

His team loyalty remains with the midnight green and silver, but, Miller says, “I’ve been here a while … It’s home. This area has been really good to me.”

And Max Miller has been good to this area. As a thank-you for and acknowledgment of his work in Washington County, the community last year voted Max Miller the Observer-Reporter’s 2024 Best of the Best Person of the Year.

“I was not expecting it,” Miller says. “I was humbled that enough people thought, that my own team with Christie (Johnson, Ignite’s operations manager) thought, enough to put me out, and then that there were people that agreed. These kinds of things, I don’t accept as me. I’m one part of a much larger machine here. In a lot of ways, the award validated that what we’re doing here, we’re on the right track.”

What we’re doing here is connecting Washington & Jefferson College, where Miller serves as an associate professor in the Department of Business and Director of Entrepreneurial Studies Program. In the wider community, Miller helps entrepreneurs turn their dreams into business realities at Ignite Business Incubator.

Ignite Business Incubator is a co-working space along East Chestnut Street, between W&J and the main drag of downtown Washington. It offers members private offices, dedicated desks, monthly or daily shared workspaces, a maker space and its flagship program, Ideas 2 Enterprise. This five-week course for budding or seasoned entrepreneurs provides the building blocks of business building, sparks relationships, offers invaluable resources and cultivates an uplifting community.

“We get 12 to 13 companies three times a year,” Miller says. “We have 80 on the waitlist.”

Since launching in 2021, Ignite has helped about 400 businesses conceptualize and create their companies and fiveyear plans, launch

and establish themselves in the community and beyond. The people starting businesses come from all walks of life: some go to school for entrepreneurship, while others simply have a good idea they want to run with. Some companies are full-time work for their creators; others, a fun side hustle. The types of businesses are as varied as the men and women running them: Ignite has been a starting point for chauffeur services and health and fitness companies, event brands and catering companies, stained glass makers and salsa companies.

Ignite works closely with the greater Washington community, including the Washington Business District Authority. Its advisory board is comprised of citizens representing agencies such as the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Washington and the Citywide Development Corporation.

“That’s kind of been the beauty of this place: The people that sit, certainly, on the advisory board, are all the key stakeholders in the county. We’re not going to make some decision that’s totally contrary to what the plan is for downtown or what the plan is for Washington,” Miller says. “Everybody’s kind of pushing the same direction, with the vision of, let’s see a lot of people walking on Main Street. Let’s see all the college students walking up and down the street again.”

Ignite, Miller explains, eyes glimmering as he delivers the information in a professor-esque way, is the first point along a growth curve, part of an ecosystem growing in Washington. He doesn’t say he’s proud — Miller is too humble to take pride in a venture whose success he contributes to the collective whole — but he does seem so when he tells me the incubator helps I2E graduates find the perfect location (be that a virtual space, an Ignite office or a brick-and-mortar). Moving Ignite businesses into downtown spaces helps eliminate blight, which helps the community, which helps the business, which in turn helps Ignite.

“People are feeling like it’s a welcome environment. We’ve been lucky that everybody that comes through here, nine times out of ten … everybody wants to see Washington evolve,” Miller says.

Observer-Reporter file photo

Miller’s work in the community through his leadership at Ignite is why he was voted Person of the Year. It’s evident he’s passionate about helping area entrepreneurs and the county writ large, but, during our conversation, another passion reveals itself: Miller loves teaching.

Max Miller accepts the Person of the Year award at the November Best of the Best awards gala.

“My mother was a teacher for 35 years, public school systems. My father, who was a banker by the time I was of age, started out as a music teacher. Plenty of aunts and uncles were teachers of some sort. My grandmother, my grandfather’s siblings, they taught woodwork and things like that. So just in terms of that teaching gene… somewhere in my DNA, it was there,” Miller laughs.

Before joining W&J in 2016, Miller was a lawyer. He earned his degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1993 and landed a job with Heinz. During his tenure as a lawyer, Miller was invited to teach with the Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrack program. He enjoyed it so much, he started working as an adjunct professor at the Community College of Allegheny.

“It wasn’t until Pitt Law School asked me to come and create what’s now called the Innovation Practice Institute, but when they hired me, they wanted something about law and entrepreneurship,” says Miller. “That was really when I kind of went all-in on academia. I love it.”

When he isn’t working, Miller loves … working, on Raise Your Spirits, a spirit-tasting company he dreamed up in business school and launched with two good friends in 2007.

“That business is based on a teaching model, too,” he smiles, “because the kinds of conversations we have aren’t just about the spirits. It’s about the spirits category, the economy, the changing needs and tastes of people.”

Raise Your Spirits creates a laid-back atmosphere where executives build or strengthen relationships with clients and

Katherine Mansfield/for the Observer-Reporter

Max Miller is one half of the two-person team that leads Ignite Business Incubator in downtown Washington. For his leadership there, which includes bridging Washington & Jefferson College (where he teaches and directs the entrepreneurship program) with the community and revitalizing the city of Washington, he was voted the 2024 Person of the Year.

channel partners while enjoying spirits paired with food and learning.

“It’s not just us showing up as entertainment,” Miller says. “In a lot of instances, it’s us creating an environment where they can sell whatever it is they’re selling.”

Miller never imagined Raise Your Spirits, which has taken him all over the country (his favorite city? San Diego), would be nearing its 20th anniversary. As a whiskey aficionado, work with Raise Your Spirits is endlessly interesting, but the very best job Miller has is playing chauffeur to his 15-year-old son, Lucien.

“He’s a hooper. He’s taller than me now. He’s, like, sixtwo,” Miller says, eyes wide.

Miller loves cheering “LOOSH!” along with the crowd during his son’s basketball games and spending time with his wife, Rosa, a practicing lawyer he met during his Pitt Law days.

Miller jokes he’s much nicer since moving from Philly to Pittsburgh — ”The Philly edge is a thing, really,”

he laughs — but he attributes his upbringing to his personal and business successes.

“My parents went above and beyond. Exposed us to a lot of things,” Miller says, detailing how his mom and dad came from rural Georgia (where Miller was born). “I still have a lot of family down there in the South. The biggest part of my childhood was that I got to experience a lot of different cultures. We’d go to the Deep South. It was relatively homogenous in terms of anybody I would come in contact with, looked like me, felt like me. In Philly, my neighborhood was also very homogenous, but I went to school at a pretty small, all-boys, prestigious prep school. And that was a totally different environment. I think, with my parents’ counseling, I was really able to manage those two very different cultures.”

Early exposure to people from all walks of life has benefited Miller, who, when I ask what challenges he’s faced throughout his lifetime or career, looks up, smiles and says, “A lot of things really don’t phase me as much as they might others.”

He sees everything from the current political climate to business trends and personal relationships as going through cycles one must navigate.

“You have to always be looking at where things are going because that’s what you’re preparing for,” Miller says.

As our interview comes to a close — Miller’s got to pick up his son from practice, a drive that will most likely be spent listening to a podcast — Miller imparts upon me advice he shares with his son weekly.

“Be yourself. Learn something new every day. And do good for others,” Miller says. “Doing good for others doesn’t just mean physically doing something just for them; give money to a homeless person. It’s more about thinking about the other person. In the long run, that actually works out better for the group. That’s what collaboration is about.”

file photo

Baker uses wood-fired oven to make authentic bread, pizza and more

Photos

and story by Dave Zuchowski

Since age 15, Andrew Napolitano worked for his father in the family’s home construction business. Now 37, he’s worked in that industry for so long that he’s decided to try his hand at something else.

“I thought running a pizza shop would be a good alternative,” he said.

However, Napolitano planned on opening a pizza shop and bakery with a twist. He made strides to make it one of the few completely wood-fired bakeries in the state.

“The advantage of wood-fired bread is that the taste is better and the texture is crispier and crunchier,” Napolitano said.

Things began when his wife, Lauren Marie, bought him a

small pizza oven. After experimenting for a year at home in South Strabane and perfecting his dough through trial and error, he purchased a larger oven, which he used to make pizza and bread. Around the same time, he built a small trailer he hauled around to sell pizza at area shows and events.

Growing up in the western end of the county, he was familiar with Weatherbury Farm and its organic grain milling operation, which was adjacent to his parent’s Avella area farm. In his pizza flour mix, he used grain grown on his family’s farm milled at Weatherbury and later mixed with an Italian grain product sold under the Caputo brand.

“My goal was to make all my dough self-leavened (sourdough) and as authentic as possible,” he said.

Andrew Napolitano holds a loaf of just-baked “hearth” bread.

Napolitano takes the bread out of the mold and gets it oven-ready.

In 2023, he discovered that Nigel Tudor of Weatherbury Farm had been working for several years on building a bakery on the family farm. Napolitano visited to take a look around. Tudor was looking for a baker, so he offered Napolitano the opportunity to bake his bread in the Weatherbury oven. However, the bakery project at the farm is still unfinished and not yet available for Napolitano’s use.

Wanting to expand his operation beyond serving pizza out of his trailer, Napolitano started to work in the summer of 2023 on a plan to open a pizza shop on West Chestnut Street in Washington. Unfortunately, his wife died on Dec. 2 of that same year. With his wife’s passing, his plans came to a halt, and his life “came to a standstill” for over half a year.

At the beginning of July 2024, he began building a house in Amwell Township next to his grandmother’s. He has since moved into the house with his two sons. He fired up the pizza oven once more for his oldest son Andrew’s birthday on July 30, 2024, to make his specialty wood-fired product for the event.

Soon, he caught wind that the Cattleman’s Pantry just a few miles down Route 40 near Scenery Hill was looking for a bread maker. After talking to the owner, he worked out an arrangement to supply the boutique emporium with two types of bread: focaccia and “West Virginia-style” pepperoni rolls. He bakes these in a wood-fired oven in a small building adjacent to his house in Amwell under the label Autentico.

“I credit Cattleman’s Pantry for getting me back up into the baking business full-time,” he said.

Napolitano gets his wood, a mix of predominately red oak and white birch, from the family’s nearby lumber mill operation. On a typical day, he bakes 20 to 30 items, including focaccia, pepperoni rolls, “hearth bread” (sourdough) and Japanese milk bread, which he describes as slightly sweet and yellowish due to its milk and egg ingredients.

“I came across a woman who makes milk bread and gave me the recipe,” he said. “It took me a while to get it right, but now I feel it’s incredibly good.”

True to the West Virginia style, Autentico’s pepperoni rolls are shaped more like a bun than the typical log. In addition to their pepperoni filling, Napolitano also includes pepperjack cheese in his rolls.

Currently, patrons can order Autentico’s breads, focaccia and pepperoni rolls on the business website, autenticobakes.com, for pick up at the Cattleman’s Pantry, located at 1634 E. National Pike in Scenery Hill. Upon entering the building, patrons can give their name to the salesperson, who will have their order ready for pick up.

Napolitano is working on having a couple of retailers in Washington market his product. He also has plans for a possible subscription service, in which his bread would be delivered straight to the consumer regularly.

“I’m also hoping to have my pizza operation up and running sometime this coming spring,” he added.

MORTGAGE & CONSTRUCTION LOANS

(0) Zero point loans

Entire month to make the mortgage payment No late fees

Mortgages not sold (1) One closing (9) Month construction term

locked at the time of application

Gateway Hospice named ‘Best of the Best’

By Michele Gillis

Whena family is caring for their end-of-life loved one, navigating daily life can become overwhelming and challenging, but given the chance, Gateway Hospice’s services can help.

Gateway Hospice’s tagline is “Embrace Life,” and it does that by embracing the family as a whole. That philosophy earned the company the title of the best business in Washington County at the Observer-Reporter’s Best of the Best gala in November. The award honors organizations throughout Washington County, Greene County, Mon Valley and the South Hills.

“We are embracing the families, we are embracing the patients and everybody who has gratefully never had to use hospice is always like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to bring them in yet,’” said Bethany Addis, Gateway Hospice community liaison. “But many times, once they come to terms with it, they say, ‘Oh, I wish we would have done it sooner. I wish we would have known really what hospice was and how much it was going to change everything for the better.’”

So, what is hospice?

Hospice services encompass more than just a nurse who is available for several visits throughout the week. Whether the patient is in a hospital or nursing home or even if someone is caring for an end-of-life loved one at home, the family is still trying to run the house. Caregivers are still trying to make sure there is dinner, and there isn’t adequate time to focus on the patient. That is what hospice can do.

“When we walk into the room, we are focused on that person as a whole,” said Addis. “We’re talking directly to the family. In a nursing home, we’re able to be the liaison between everyone and say, this is what we’re seeing. You have access to me. The nursing home nurse has 24 people that she’s looking after. We have you right now, as well as a hospice aide and a nurse. We also provide a chaplain and a social worker.”

Gateway Hospice also has volunteers who can come in to sit with a patient or pet visit.

“Some of our volunteers have dogs,” said Addis. “They bring

them in for visits for patients.”

They have an on-call team available when the nurse is unavailable if the patient or family members need them. If caretakers need a visit from the nurse, they can get a visit to help the patient every step of the way.

Gateway Hospice also has pre-bereavement services and bereavement services for 13 months after the end of life.

“People are more at risk for deep sadness over the loss of their loved one,” said Addis. “We can try to come in early and help mitigate some of the shock, how terrible it’s going to feel when that loved one’s gone. We have a lot of these services.”

Addis said when people think of hospice, they don’t think of all of that.

“Our nurses are absolutely phenomenal,” said Addis. “If it was important to you, it’s important to us. There are a couple of our patients who are like, ‘I want to go out of this life with my red lipstick and my eyelashes on.’ Our nurses made sure she had red lipstick and her eyelashes on. If it was important to them, we make it happen.”

Making the family and the patient feel special and taken care of is very important to Gateway Hospice.

“From the first consultation in the hospital to the final care she received the day she passed, we experienced compassionate and comforting care,” said a family member of a recent recipient of Gateway Hospice care. “From the visits to phone calls just checking on us, we felt the love.”

Gateway Hospice is paid for as part of the Medicare benefit, so over the age of 60, as long as the patient qualifies for Medicare, hospice is a part of those benefits. Patients also must also have a qualifying end-of-life diagnosis.

When a family is considering hospice, Gateway Hospice evaluates the situation, talks with the family and helps them decide if it is the right choice at that time.

“People live longer on hospice than they do without it,” said Addis. “We look at everybody through benefit periods and they requalify as they are declining. Some people decline fast at first

and then slowly later. Some people are fast overall. Some people are slow overall. We don’t force the body to do anything. We support it and what it’s doing. The body is allowed to do what the body wants to do. We’re going to support the body on the journey. I know a lot of people worry about, like, ‘oh, we’re going to go on hospice, and we’re going to get rid of all of our medication, and we’re going to have these hospice meds, and mom’s not going to be here next week.’ That’s not the case.”

Addis said stopping the end-of-life medications can be uncomfortable for the patient, so they keep the patients on the meds that will keep them comfortable.

“I think that is some of the misconception that you just stop everything, and you just kind of linger,” said Addis. “That’s not it. We want you to be comfortable. We’re going to do everything we can to keep you comfortable. You know, your medications that are regulating your body systems, we’re going to keep up with that. You can also have antibiotics on hospice. A UTI is certainly uncomfortable. Pneumonia is certainly uncomfortable, so you can have antibiotics.”

In addition to providing what they need medicinally, Gateway Hospice also brings in hospital beds or any other equipment or home health needs the patient might have.

Addis said the Gateway Hospice staff is amazing to their patients not only because it is their job but because they are built that way.

Letters pour in daily, thanking them for helping them through such a difficult time and how they have become like family to them.

“We are so grateful for people like you who are the best at what they do,” said a family member of a Gateway Hospice patient.

Community service is another way the Gateway Hospice staff show their love. Addis said her employees have become resources in the community, and people often reach out to them for help.

Courtesy of Gateway Hospice Bethany Addis, Gateway Hospice community liaison, dressed as the Grinch to entertain patients. She often dresses in character to delight the patients in various facilities.

Some social workers lead support groups, and chaplains perform worship services in the nursing and personal care homes they visit. Their liaisons organize activities for the residents and sometimes hold educational meetings for families to introduce them to hospice before they actually need it.

They also have an educator who will provide training to facilities, teaching the staff how to handle patients with dementia and how best to educate families about dementia.

“We go out into the community mostly as individuals to educate, sponsor tables, attend health fares and other events and just allow people to come and ask us questions,” said Addis.

Gateway Hospice makes sure they have teams in each area to service the patients they take on.

“We have teams in the South Hills, West End, city of Pittsburgh, East Hills, North Hills, Butler County, Monroeville, Greensburg, West (Beaver County) and Washington County into Fayette County,” said Addis. “Wherever they call home is where we go.”

Addis said it used to be that people would call hospice if it were a matter of hours or days, but now they can come in up to six months before end-of-life.

“Some people didn’t know that it was a benefit through Medicare,” said Addis. “Many people focus on getting them better, but sometimes better doesn’t happen. So, we are trying to educate doctors on when it’s time to call us and letting them know if it’s not time, we will give them right back to them.”

But if it is time, no matter how close it is, hospice covers all of the people’s care, such as the nurse, the chaplain, the social worker and bereavement.

“And it covers their medications,” said Addis. “It covers the equipment. It covers briefs and incontinence supplies. It covers all of those things.”

Choosing hospice care for yourself or a loved one is never easy. Gateway Hospice’s goal is to make a difficult time just a bit easier by providing physical and emotional support. With locations in Pittsburgh and Canonsburg, they provide services wherever you call home throughout the surrounding areas. For more information, visit gatewayhospice.com.

Canon-McMillan High School to elevate student experience with $5 million refresh

Courtesy of the Canon-McMillan School district

Canon-McMillan High School is set to undergo a significant transformation with a $5 million refresh already underway.

The refresh will focus on a wide variety of essential upgrades, including a state-of-the-art auditorium sound system, aesthetic upgrades, gym bleachers, flooring and bathroom restorations, upgrades to conference rooms, updated signage, flexible seating additions to the cafeteria, atrium and library, a new esports room, athletic equipment replacements, band instrument storage, a painting revitalization, paneling of the auxiliary gym and more.

The project began when the Canon-McMillan Board of Education and administration toured the facility and sought feedback from the high school administration and teachers. The school underwent its last significant update approximately twenty years ago, but since then, the latest high school project added classrooms and expanded the band room in 2019.

The district has grown in every aspect, from population to academic performance. Over the last several years, the District has achieved overall math and reading test scores well above the state averages, with 66.5% of students achieving at or above proficient math levels and 72.5% of students achieving at or above reading levels (compared to the state’s average of 40.2% in math and 53.9% in reading being at or above proficiency.) K-12 enrollment has increased by 893 students, from 4,456 students in 2004-2005 to 5,349 in 2023-2024. The refreshed high school will reflect the exciting metamorphosis the district has experienced in recent years.

“This project is well overdue, and we want our high school to look and feel like a 6A high school to match the strong academic programming in the classrooms,” shared Superintendent Dr. Greg Taranto.

CANONSBURG CORNER

The new restorations will provide students with a comfortable and elevated learning environment. The students voted on new design choices, such as the logos for the new bleachers. Many of the latest developments will allow students to build on their academic and extracurricular interests right at school. A student’s ability to explore these interests is paramount to the district’s mission to educate the whole child.

As of early 2025, the school has swiftly begun implementing the changes, starting with the auditorium’s sound system that will elevate the performance of the spring musical. This project is just the beginning of an exciting journey toward a refreshed and modernized high school.

“As a school, we are always striving to provide the best possible environment for our students to excel,” said Brittany Taylor, principal at Canon-McMillan High School. “These upgrades represent an investment in their future and the success of our community as a whole. We’re proud to see how these changes will enhance opportunities and experiences for everyone who walks through our doors.”

Serving the Mon Valley since 2005, Spartan Health Surgicenter is a free-standing, Medicare certified, Joint Commission accredited, ambulatory surgery center located off of Coyle Curtain Road in Carroll Township.

Spartan strengthens the convenience of health care in the Mon Valley Community by providing greater comfort, more privacy and a relaxed environment for outpatient surgery center patients.

Podiatry: Khoi Vo, DPM

Colon/Rectal: Steven Esser, MD

Orthopaedic Surgery: Vincent Ripepi, DO

Patrick McCullough, MD

Justin Zenner, DO

• Easily accessible from Toll Hwy 43, I-70 & Route 88

• Accept Medicare and most insurances

• Experienced physicians, nurses and anesthesiology staff

• State-of-the-art equipment and procedures

• Joint Commission Accredited

• FREE and convenient parking

• Comfortable waiting area for families

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE:

• Ophthalmology (Cataract, Glaucoma, Corneal)

• Pain Management

• Gastroenterology

• Orthopaedics

• General Surgery

• Podiatry

MEDICAL STAFF

Ophthalmology:

Aaron Wang, MD

Thomas Findlan, DO

Angela Gauthier, MD

Nisha Dhawlikar Gosai, MD

Charles Kent, MD

Anagha Medsinge, MD

Julia Polat, MD

Patrick Garman, M.H.A. Executive Administrator

Patricia Monaghan, R.N. Director of Nursing

Vincent Ripepi, D.O. Medical Director

General Surgery: Prakorb Isariyawongse, MD

Pain Management: Anthony Cuneo, MD

Gastroenterology: Nicholas Bellicini, DO

Mark Cedar, MD

Jungmin Lee, MD

Lisa Oliva, DO

Theresa Schuerle, DO

Bridger Clarke, MD

Xuong Lu, MD

DIGESTIVE HEALTH

Jungmin L. Lee, M.D.

If you’ve been experiencing any of these symptoms, EGD could be the key to uncovering the cause and ﬁnding relief.

Jungmin L. Lee, M.D. Gastroenterologist, Pittsburgh Gastroenterology Associates

Imagine you’ve been struggling with heartburn or discomfort in the stomach, and despite trying different remedies, the symptoms just won’t go away. This is where Upper Endoscopy (EGD) can help. EGD is a medical procedure that lets doctors examine your upper digestive system— the esophagus, stomach, and the beginning of the small intestine. With the help of a thin, ﬂexible tube with a camera, inserted gently through your mouth while you’re under sedation, doctors can get a close look to ﬁnd out what might be causing your symptoms.

Acid Reﬂux and the Role of EGD

For many people, the story starts with acid reflux—when stomach acid escapes into the esophagus, leading to heartburn. Some may also experience symptoms like a cough, a feeling of a lump in the throat, or even hoarseness. While acid reflux is common, untreated, it can lead to serious conditions like esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus, a precursor to esophageal cancer. If acid reflux persists or new symptoms arise, your doctor may recommend an EGD to determine if these more severe conditions are present and ensure you get the right treatment.

Swallowing Difﬁculty and EGD for Diagnosis

Imagine sitting down to a meal and suddenly feeling like food won’t go down smoothly. This is a common experience for those with difﬁculty swallowing, a symptom that may be caused by esophageal narrowing, motility (peristalsis) issues, or something more serious like cancer. EGD allows doctors to directly see what’s happening inside the esophagus, identifying blockages, inﬂammation, or growths early, which is crucial for proper treatment and avoiding serious complications.

Abdominal Pain, Indigestion, and the Importance of EGD

Now consider a different scenario: you’ve been dealing with indigestion—nausea, bloating, or stomach pain that seems to linger. While indigestion often stems from benign causes like diet or stress, sometimes it’s a sign of more serious conditions like gastritis, ulcers, or even stomach cancer. EGD helps doctors rule out these more severe issues, ensuring that any potential problems are caught early and treated effectively.

If you’ve been experiencing any of these symptoms, EGD could be the key to uncovering the cause and ﬁnding relief. Talk to your doctor, call 412-232-8104, or visit https://www.pghgastro.com/ to schedule an appointment at Spartan Health Surgicenter with the specialists from Pittsburgh Gastroenterology Associates

Pittsburgh Gastroenterology Associates: 2589 Boyce Plaza Road, Suite 5 Pittsburgh PA 15241 • 412-232-8104 ofﬁce

Spartan Health Building 100 Stoops Drive, Suite 280 Monongahela PA 15063 • 412-232-8104 ofﬁce

Because he’s my Husband

“After 45 years, it broke my heart that I couldn’t provide all the help he needed. But now, because of the terri c care he’s getting, I can focus full time on the promise I made to love, honor and cherish.”

TO LEARN MORE, ARRANGE A VISIT.

Meet North Strabane Intermediate School’s new principal: Sharon Lepri

Courtesy of the Canon-McMillan School District

Sharon Lepri, the new principal at North Strabane Intermediate School, values open communication, strong relationships and genuine authenticity. Her commitment to keeping everyone informed and involved is a cornerstone of her leadership style.

“I would describe my personal leadership style as very authentic,” she said. “My job is to support and encourage — not just the students but our staff as well — and make sure everyone is taken care of and that they have the resources and tools they need to be the best they can be.”

Lepri, originally from Long Island, N.Y., has a rich 30-year history in education. She is a lifelong learner, pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership and administration at Point Park University. Lepri earned her bachelor’s in elementary education and teaching as well as a master’s in special education and teaching at Duquesne University. She also received her elementary and middle school administration/principalship certification and educational, instructional and curriculum supervision certification at the University of Pittsburgh.

Lepri started her career at Frazier School District, then worked at South Fayette Township School District for five years before teaching overseas at an international school in Slovakia for two years. After returning to Pennsylvania, she worked at Upper St. Clair and West Allegheny before entering the world of education administration as assistant principal at Albert Gallatin

Middle School and later becoming principal. She later worked at George J. Plava Elementary School for a few years and said she was eager to apply when she heard about an opening at North Strabane Intermediate School.

“Looking at the growth of this district and all of the exciting things happening here, applying was a no-brainer,” Lepri shared.

“To become principal here has been an amazing experience so far. It’s exciting to be a part of such an innovative district.”

In her first year as principal, her top priorities have been getting to know the students, families and community and building on the work of the previous principal, Dr. Mark Abbondanza, who has moved into his new role as assistant to the superintendent of K-6 curriculum and instruction.

Lepri celebrates putting students, families and staff first by constantly communicating, whether through informal check-ins to establish trust and camaraderie or formal conversations to build relationships. She believes it’s essential that teachers and students feel comfortable coming to her for support.

“My goal is to provide a community that supports academic excellence and strong student relationships that create a safe and supportive environment that parents want for their kids,” she said. “I believe that a strong partnership between school and home is important.”

Lepri lives in McMurray with her two sons and husband. They love traveling, learning and attending Pittsburgh Steelers or Penguins games together.

Midtown Market poised

By Rick Shrum

ACanonsburg native with a staunch allegiance to his hometown is striving to deliver and nurture a marketplace that could further enhance the revitalization of the borough’s business district.

house the market, which is being developed by Andronas’ AJA Co. and serviced by Cuccaro Plumbing of Pittsburgh. Andronas owns the building, which has 20,000 square feet of space.

“This town is thriving and changing every day,” Andrew Andronas said, beaming. “There will be a beehive of activity here again.”

The buzz is already pronounced in a town that has been successfully remaking itself in recent years. Andronas, who grew up there, is spearheading the development of Midtown Market at 48 W. Pike St. The empty building sits next to Fresh Start Cafe, a spiffy coffee shop and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is involved in the community.

Renovations are underway in the two-story structure that will

He said plans call for a mix of retail shopping and dining locations, along with an events center on the top floor that, he says, would accommodate 300 people. “We’re hoping to have a grand opening by the end of May or early June,” Andronas said. “We want to rock and roll by midsummer.”

One tenant has been secured: MP Coney Island, a New Castlebased hot dog chain that has been in business for 100 years. Frankly speaking, Andronas said this is the company’s first shop south of Pittsburgh.

That diner will be on the first floor, with seating for 20 to 30, and feature a walkup window to accommodate customers on the move. The owner plans to have five or six tenants on that first level. “A couple of other businesses have made commitments” to

to open in the spring

locate in the market, Andronas said.

MP Coney Island and the borough familiarized themselves with each other last summer when the company co-sponsored Canonsburg’s hot dog eating contest, which opened the annual Fourth of July festival.

Midtown Market will occupy an older structure with 16-foot ceilings on the first floor. For decades, this was the home of McCrory’s Five and Dime, part of a large national business chain during its halcyon days. Its Canonsburg store opened in 1939.

“McCrory’s was the Macy’s of its time,” said Andronas of his building’s former life.

He purchased it from a Canonsburg couple, Pete and Evelyn Pihiou, who operate a business from their home — Evelyn’s Elegant Edibles. That space was most recently occupied by Hidden Treasures thrift and consignment store.

Andronas got a financial boost last year when he was awarded

a Washington County Local Share Account grant. He also said he has worked with Washington County Redevelopment on this project.

This is a man with an omnipresent smile despite essentially working two jobs, sharing oversight of two young children and volunteering in the community. Besides devoting blood, sweat and tears to his market initiative, Andronas heads Bluestar USA Inc., a natural gas pipeline construction business in South Fayette. He is also co-chair of the Canonsburg Old-Fashioned Christmas celebration and is involved in efforts to preserve the Robert Stone House.

Andronas no longer lives in Canonsburg but in neighboring North Strabane with his wife, Dolly, daughter Christiana, 9, and son Frankie, 7. Their offspring are students at Canon-McMillan, the school district from which their parents graduated in 2005.

Andrew’s family also has roots halfway across the globe. His FEBRUARY 28, 2025 | LIVING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY | 23

father and grandfather relocated to Canonsburg from Greece decades ago.

Rich Russo, borough council president, is pleased with plans for the market and what has been transpiring around town. “This started five years ago when we put an economic development team together,” he said.

“We had many buildings that had to be renovated to be occupied. This market is another step in our progression to revitalize our business district.”

Russo said officials have prioritized revitalizing buildings

rather than tearing them down and starting from scratch.

“It is important to use what we have,” he explained. “We have solid brick buildings and should reuse them whenever possible. “

He added that two other Canonsburg buildings will be revitalized: the Citizens Bank building and the Tri-State Antiques building. Russo said, “both are empty but may see tenants this year.”

Canonsburg is continuing to take care of the business of businesses.

Rick Shrum/for the Observer-Reporter Andrew Andronas stands next to a banner announcing the opening of the Midtown Market in Canonsburg.

Evolve Yoga Studio and Healing Center wants clients to take a breath

By Michele Gillis

Photos courtesy of Evolve Yoga and Healing Center

Breath slows the mind, thoughts and emotions. When Jamie Stiles, owner of Evolve Yoga Studio and Healing Center, decided to change career paths at the age of 60, she knew she wanted to do something she loved and something where she could educate people.

“Yoga helps not only tone and strengthen the body, but the meditation and breathwork actually calm the mind,” said Stiles, who opened the studio last October. “It helps with anxiety. Breathwork helps oxygenate the body. The body follows the mind. The mind follows the breath.”

Stiles recommends those who have anxiety, trauma or other stressors in life to go back to breathwork and concentrate on the breath. Learning those things at some point in life is essential.

“If we taught meditation and breathwork to children, nobody would have any trauma,” said Stiles. “Children would grow up understanding how to deal with things that happen in their life, and they wouldn’t have any anger issues. There probably wouldn’t be any crime on the planet, honestly.”

When she was suffering from headaches and body aches, client Krystal searched for relief. Yoga is where she found it.

“Immediately upon walking into Evolve, I felt at peace,” Krystal said. “It was exactly the place I needed to be. Jamie has been beyond welcoming and encouraging throughout my full body healing.”

Krystal’s headaches and body aches have decreased dramatically through practicing Kundalini and other forms of yoga.

“I highly recommend trying a class or two, and you will feel the energy and clarity you’ve been searching for,” she

Stiles had been practicing Kundalini yoga for 26 years. When she turned 60 last year, she decided to change her life.

“I’ve been in the same business since I was 17,” said Stiles. “I owned five beauty salons, and I just came to the realization that it was time for me to do something else with my life. And this is what I really love. So I decided, even though I didn’t need a certification, that I would go to India. I just made that decision last year.”

Stiles stayed in Rishikesh, India, for a month in February 2024 to earn her Kundalini teacher certification.

of teachers and classes available for all levels of students. Classes include Kundalini, Vinyasa, Hatha, Ashtanga and Raja yoga, animal reiki, massage therapy, sound baths and more.

“I suffer from neck arthritis and have limited mobility,” said Nancy. “Since taking chair yoga classes for several months now and attending sound therapy classes, I have noticed more mobility and less pain. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. I highly recommend.”

Stiles said she came up with the name because any type of health, healing, wellness or spiritual path involves evolving ourselves.

“So I came up with ‘Evolve’ because I thought that was pretty fitting to where we want to go with ourselves as teachers and practitioners,” she said. “And what we can do to help the community.”

The building she purchased needed major renovations and it isn’t complete yet.

Relocating the bathroom, installing a kitchenette and creating a dressing area upstairs have taken about four months.

“The reason we only opened the upstairs was that the studio upstairs is massive,” said Stiles. “It’s 54 feet long, and there’s a really nice lobby and a nice treatment room, so we can do all of the treatments up there.”

The inside of the studio welcomes visitors with a calm, organically decorative feel. Stiles wanted it to be spacious, using materials like bamboo, light-colored woods, plants and adornments that bring a yogic vibe.

Currently, visitors to the yoga studio enter the building by the rear entrance because the downstairs is gutted and is ready to start more renovations.

Customers say the atmosphere at Evolve is warm, welcoming, and calming from the moment they walk in the rear door.

“I love everything about Evolve Yoga Studio and Healing

Jamie Stiles is the owner of Evolve Yoga and Healing Center

Evolve Yoga and Healing Center offers a plethora of yoga and meditation classes, including kids yoga.

Center,” said Kathy D. “The studio is very clean and beautifully decorated.

Every time I have attended a class or a service, I not only enjoyed it, but I walked away feeling great, as well as learning something new. All of the instructors/teachers are friendly, knowledgeable and genuinely helpful. Jamie really listens to her clients and does a great job trying to accommodate them with the services she offers as well as the days and times she offers them. Jamie’s expertise in this business is obvious from the first time you chat with her. She is very passionate about her work at the studio and wants nothing more than for everyone that visits there to become the best healthy version of themselves.”

Visitors are greeted by a large mural of Buddha’s face on

entrance.

“We’ve got a beautiful little entryway with a little altar wall that’s made of stone,” said Stiles. “It is backlit, and it has a little waterfall and plants.

We just wanted a really calm, peaceful and clean space.”

Evolve offers special pricing for seniors, the military, new customers and referrals.

“What I love about the studio is the sense of community it creates,” said Alissa B. “Its convenient location makes it easy for wellness enthusiasts from all parts of the region to practice under the same roof. Each class type is unique as a testament to the variety of incredible teachers. Whether it’s strength or serenity, Evolve has something to offer to everyone.”

Evolve is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the weekends. The studio is located at 18 W. Pike Street in Canonsburg. Visit Evolve Yoga Studio and Healing Center for more information.