Hands-on AI robotics program to join the intermediate school STEM curriculum
15 Summer reading programs and more at Frank Sarris Public Library
27
Canon-McMillan School Districts to introduce centralized digital hub for school communication
MEET THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES
Some of my favorite stories highlight people that move behind the scenes to make something great happen. The best events occur seemingly effortlessly for the people attending them, for example. But take it from me. We’re responsible for organizing the Greater Pittsburgh Food Truck Festival every Memorial Day weekend, wrangling over 50 food trucks and 50 vendors. It’s like a real-life logic puzzle: this truck has this power requirement, but this truck will only be there two out of the three days. If A and B is true, how do you get to C? All this to say is that I understand how complex events can be.
Bring in Stephen Rydzak. He’s been involved with the PONY League World Series since 2015. He knows how this major event runs and can be seen running around all over Washington County before and during the event. Read about him and his endeavors in our story from April Barbe.
On the cover, we’ve got entrepreneur Sarah Grandon, owner of the Smokin’ Hot Candle Co., newly opened in Canonsburg. The build your own candle bar came from her daughter’s own desire to make candles. Pick a scent, a container and mixy mix!
In this edition you can also get to know Brenda Rupert, who runs Sonya’s Hope for Felines cat rescue and Betty Hartman, the 92-year-old owner of Hartman Flower and Gift Shoppe, which has been open in the same location for 62 years. Finally, we also cover Canonsburg Cake Company’s expansion into a neighboring space to provide an event venue right in Downtown Canonsburg. All of these people and more are some of the beautiful puzzle pieces that come together and make our community the amazing place we all call home. If you know of one of these unsung commu nity members, I would love to hear about it. If you have a suggestion for a piece, please let me know. I’m always happy to hear from our readers. Please email me at tthurston@observer-reporter.com
Thank you so much for reading. Take care, stay safe and see you in the next edition.
June/July 2025
EDITOR
Trista Thurston tthurston@observer-reporter.com
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Carole DeAngelo
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Eric Tomlinson
CONTRIBUTORS
April Barbe
Amanda Startare
Dave Zuchowski
Editor
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Local go-getter fills many roles with PONY League World Series:
Marketing manager says event ‘showcases Washington County at its best’
By April Barbe
Stephen Rydzak has been involved with the PONY League World Series since 2015, but his connection to the event goes back even further.
In 1955, his great uncle, Joe Kern, played on the Washington team that won the league’s World Series. It is the only team from Washington to have taken the honor, Rydzak said.
Also, his father worked for the PONY League as an intern in the 1980s.
“Some of my best childhood memories are coming to the World Series with them as a kid and hearing their stories about the event and the organization,” Rydzak recalled.
Rydzak began volunteering with the league in 2015 after noticing a Facebook post from Washington Youth Baseball for crew members.
“I started on the grounds crew in 2015 and took on various roles throughout the years, including an internship, board position and now as a consultant. I’ve done everything from directing a mariachi band to overseeing television and livestreaming strategy,” he said.
Rydzak now works as a marketing manager for Brand Motives, and the World Series is a client of the agency. He handles key sponsorship accounts for the World Series and the fulfillment of the accounts by collecting logos for signage, program ads, commercial spots and more. He also writes the
Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency and books media to produce the marketing assets.
Rydzak said the best part of his job is the people he has met.
“I’m really lucky to have gotten to said.
Rydzak also wears hats with other organizations, including the Washington County Fair, the Bradford House and the Monongahela Aquatorium.
“For all of these organizations, I han-
All photos courtesy of Stephen Rydzak Stephen Rydzak photographing a W&J women’s soccer game last fall
thinks “the World Series showcases Washington County at its best.”
“As a community, we never look better than we do when we’re all together at Historic Lew Hays PONY Field,” Rydzak said. He encourages other young professionals to consider volun teering with the World Series. He said the skills he learned set him up for his future successes.
World Series facts:
• PONY Baseball was founded by Lew Hays in 1951 as the first organized baseball league for 13- and 14-yearold children. Starting with six original teams in Washington, the first World Series was held in 1952 on the football practice field of Washington High School.
• Today, PONY has over 500,000 players in over 50 countries, but the culmination of its 13- and 14-year-old age division is the Printscape PONY League World Series.
• Lew Hays PONY Field was constructed for the 1953 World Series and is still the historic site of all World Series games.
• The World Series features ten teams: four international teams (Europe, Mexico, Caribbean and Asia Pacific) and six domestic teams. PONY divides the United States into four domestic zones: north, east, south and west. Washing ton County gets an automatic bid as the host team, and the final team comes from the host-area zone, which includes leagues within a 75-mile radius of Wash ington.
• The World Series attracts over 30,000 fans annually and injects over $5.8 million into Washington County’s economy. All games are internationally livestreamed, with multiple others airing on television networks throughout the U.S. and many foreign countries.
The PONY League World Series will be held from Aug. 8-13 at Lew Hays Pony Field. For tickets and more information, visit plws.org.
and
Stephen Rydzak with Lila d’Hauteville from the Spain team. 2024 was the first year Spain ever qualified,
d’Hauteville is the second-ever girl to play in the World Series, and the first to ever record a hit.
Stephen Rydzak with Observer-Reporter advertising director Carole DeAngelo at the First Friday event
Stephen Rydzak poses with the Cricket Wireless mascot at the First Friday event in downtown Washington, highlighting the local players .
From left, Stephen Rydzak, Caylin Angel, Nick Popielarczyk and Kaci Alderson at the 2024 PONY League World Series. All three were Rydzak’s 2023 interns, but enjoyed the experience so much they returned in 2024 to volunteer.
Rescue organization giving stray cats new hope
By Dave Zuchowski
Afew years ago, when Brenda Rupert had an interest in physical exercise, she ran, bicycled and went to the gym frequently. One day, however, when she saw a small cat dead set on getting to a piece of meat lying on the ground, she said her heart was broken.
She immediately went to the store and bought cat food, then went back to look for the starving cat. She found it, and eventually found the stray feline a home in the community.
The experience broke the ice, so to speak, and she began rescuing stray cats in earnest starting in 2019. For four years, she worked to find homeless cats a permanent place to live, all the while maintaining her job as executive assistant to the superintendent of the Canon-McMillan School District.
In May 2023, she expanded her operation by founding the non-profit organization, Sonya’s Hope for Felines. With the help of a core of volunteers, she picks up stray cats on referral from people who call in or text her. She also picks some up on her own when she sees them in passing. When she or her crew “rescue” a cat, it’s often sick, starving or injured. Many are scared and some have ticks, fleas, chiggers or giardia.
“We initially keep them isolated from other cats because we don’t know if they have a deadly disease,” Rupert said. “We put them in a large dog crate set up in what I call a triage room and let them decompress for a couple of days.”
Once the cat has acclimated, it’s taken to a vet where it’s spayed or neutered, treated for possible fleas, mites, ticks and worms and has its teeth are checked. If necessary, diseased teeth are pulled.
“The cats are checked from head to toe because I believe in providing a gold standard of care for every cat,” Rupert said. “The rescue pays for the vet bills, even if it sometimes costs as much as $4,000 or $5,000, and sometimes I pay for care out of my own pocket.”
supervision of a caretaker. If necessary, the rescue provides shelter boxes to keep them from the cold of winter.
“We never release a friendly or social cat and try to find foster homes for them,” she said. “We also give feral ones a chance to see
people get back their lost cats, including one that was lost for five years.
Social cats are eventually placed in foster homes after adopters go through a strict application process. This includes obtaining references and conducting home visits, where the cat has the opportunity to meet its adoptive family.
When a cat leaves the vet, it’s kept in a crate until it recovers and is eating and drinking properly. If it remains feral, it’s released back into the area where it was trapped under the
if they can decompress and become social,” Rupert said.
With a huge following on Nextdoor, an online social media platform, as well as Facebook, Sonya’s Hope for Felines also helps
Some of the volunteers take the cat into their home temporarily to help it socialize. Andrew Bock of Canonsburg, who does most of the rescue’s media posts, has had one of Brenda’s cats, a calico named Ivy, for over a year.
“Ivy opened up to me pretty quickly, which is not true of all cats,” Bock said. “Some are very feral and need more socialization, which is all part of the journey.”
Leslie Johnson of Houston serves as Sonya’s vice president and joined the rescue three years ago because she said she loves cats and kept seeing Brenda’s posts on Facebook that said she needed help.
“I currently have three cats, two of which I got from Brenda, named Lady, Fancy and Maggie,” Johnson said. “To prepare them for a foster home, I pet them, talk to them, sit with them and give them treats. I also help Brenda take the cats to the vet, provide food, kitty litter and supplies to the foster homes, and make shelter boxes for the strays in winter.
Eleven-year-old Blake Bryant of Canonsburg has two adopted cats, twins Gracie and Grayson, from another rescue. “I volunteer because I want to help more cats by socializing with them and providing companionship,” he said. “Sometimes I find that fostered cats are shy, but, after a while, they often end up sleeping in my bed.”
Sonya’s Hope for Felines also offers a senior-to-senior program which places a cat 11 years and older with a senior 72 years and older. The rescue waives the adoption fee and covers all medical expenses for the fostered cat.
The name of the rescue organization Rupert founded comes from, what else, a rescued cat. Originally the pet of a person who lived in a group home, Sonya was “stolen” by a supervisor in the home and dropped off 17 miles away by the home’s maintenance worker. The feline found its way to another related group home three and a half weeks later, and a worker there phoned Rupert. When the original supervisor found out Sonya had been found, she
Photos by Dave Zuchowski/for the Observer-Reporter
Volunteer Blake Bryant of Canonsburg holding Bentley with Scooter on the counter.
Volunteer Blake Bryant of Canonsburg holding Tulip.
stole the cat a second time and said she released it near Mingo Creek County Park.
“I set out to find the cat and spent 14 hours a day looking for Sonya,” Rupert said. “I even got permission to be in the park at night. I formed search parties, put up flyers, offered a $5,000 reward and sent out 250 postcards to people living in a 30-mile radius of the area.”
The search proved successful when Jennifer Smiddle, a schoolteacher from Eighty-Four, saw a cat running across the yard. She fed her, then scooped her up and took her into her house.
“When I saw the photo of the cat she texted me, I knew it was Sonya and wrote out a check for $5,000,” Rupert said. “A couple of days later, I got a letter back from her saying she wasn’t going to cash it.”
When Sonya arrived, Rupert said she was very emaciated, and she took her to the vet. After speaking with the original owner, the home he had lived in had adopted a no-pet policy, and the owner said he was alright with Sonya being adopted. Currently, Sonya is living in an adoptive home with adopter Linda Fetcko in Canonsburg, alive and doing well.
To help support Sonya’s Hope for Felines, the rescue group holds an annual yard sale in Houston during the town’s Community Yard Sale event. It also participates in the charity fundraiser sponsored by GBU, a life insurance company that matches the money raised dollar for dollar, as well as through the Washington County Community Foundation’s Day of Giving.
“Those interested in volunteering or fostering a cat can go on our website, sonyashope.com, check out our cats and go through our approval process,” Rupert said.
Volunteers for Sonya’s Hope for Felines. From left, Ashlee McManus, Andrew Bock, Leslie Johnson, Christopher Gregorakis, Kevin Reese, Blake Bryant, Becky Bryant, Louise Reese, Melissa Bellino, Brenda Rupert and Charlie Rupert.
Courtesy of Robin Richards Sonya with adopter Linda Fetcko and Brenda Rupert Credit:
Living with Dementia
“There
is just something about this place.
As soon as we walked in, we felt it. Like nding the perfect house, you know it right away.”
—SHIRLEY JEWELL
Shirley and Tom Jewell relocated from Wexford to Phoenix for a life of partial retirement. For nine years, Shirley continued to work at a job she loved while Tom ardently golfed, enjoying the sport nearly year-round in sunny Arizona.
Then in 2016, Tom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and possibly Lewy Body dementia. The disease, they were told, would not only affect him physically but he would also experience increasing dementia as well.
They hated to leave Phoenix, but their son and daughter wanted them close so they could help with Tom’s care. They found a patio-style house in Canonsburg with a walk-in shower and one- oor living to accommodate Tom as his mobility decreased.
Then, when Covid hit, they found themselves isolated. To mitigate the feeling of being on their own, Shirley enrolled Tom in the Woodside Place of Washington Adult Day Services.
exercises, interactive large screens, and a sensory room with stimulating lights, textures, and sounds—all made choosing Woodside Place an easy decision.
Shirley’s goal is to keep Tom with her for as long as possible. For now, it all works, and though she knows it’s not always going to be that way, she’s grateful for today and for Tom, the love of her life. WOODSIDE
Adult Day has provided Tom with socialization that has helped him cognitively and emotionally. When he comes home in the evening, he shares news from Adult Day with Shirley via a calendar the staff prepares that outlines everything he did during the day.
“The kindness, compassion, and caring of (team members) Tara, Tina, and Linda made Woodside a beautiful place,” Shirley said. “Adult Day has been very good for Tom.”
And for her, too. Now she doesn’t feel guilty or hesitate to take a day to just read her book, have lunch with somebody, or visit with her new granddaughter.
The warmth of the team members, the clean, new, and bright space, and the programming—movement
• Physical tness, interactive electronic technology, and creative arts programs.
To learn more, contact Tara Gleason at 724.250.4981 or tgleason@SrCare.org
“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 TODAY.
alk about sticktoitiveness! Betty Hartman of Burgettstown has it in bunches. Flowers, that is. At one point in her life, the mother of two daughters grew tired of her daily housewifely routine and yearned to do something else, something different.
Letting her husband, Michael, know of her feelings, he thought a moment, then said the town could use another flower shop.
Acting on his cue, Hartman liked the idea but thought it might be good to have a bit of training before jumping into the venture. That’s when she phoned Frank Curto, horticulturist and foreman at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, for advice about area floral schools.
The one she chose, Hixson’s Floral School in Lakewood, Ohio, proved most convenient because it was close to her parents’ summer home in Geneva-on-the-Lake, close enough to drop off her two daughters to leave them under their care while she attended class.
“School was hard for me,” Hartman said. “I had been a housewife, and it was difficult for me to be on my feet for ten hours a day at school. During the three-week period, I studied vase arrangement and funeral and bridal work. It turned out that Hixson’s proved to be one of the top floral schools in the country.”
With her newly gained knowledge, she opened her flower shop in an empty room in a Burgettstown building, now over 100 years old, on July 26, 1963. In what was once a fruit emporium, she “started from scratch” and installed a cabinet from a pharmacy, shelving and counters from Sax’s Used Furniture in Pittsburgh and had a carpenter, Mike Matijevich, build tables for her to create her design work.
Born and raised in Burgettstown, she placed a weekly ad in the Burgettstown Enterprise, introducing her new Hartman Flower and Gift Shoppe. Each week, she was careful to capitalize on her father’s name recognition (he was the owner of the town’s Delfrate meat packing business) by listing her name in the ad as Betty Delfrate Hartman, owner.
Now in business for 62 years at the same location, Hartman, 92, works a six-day week. Co-worker Sybil Bundy, also of Burgettstown, has been at the store for 45 years. Together, they’ve put in a whopping 107 years in the store. With such impressive entrepreneurial longevity, she said she’s seen many changes in the floral industry over time.
“In our arrangements, we used to use a lot of brass, crystal and milk glass vases,” she said. “Now, they’ve gone by the wayside.”
“Today, everyone’s a florist,” she continued. “You can buy flowers at Walmart, Target and from the man-on-the-street. Also, a lot of people like to order off the internet, although
Betty Hartman
there are those who still prefer face-to-face contact. In ten years from now, I wonder if there will still be flower shops because everyone seems to be in the business.”
Over the years, the town has experienced a decline in its population. In 1960, for instance, the borough had a total of 2,383 residents. According to the 2020 census, the latest population count is 1,424.
At one time, Hartman had two delivery trucks on the road. Gradually, business slacked off, and she’s currently down to a single truck.
“Running a flower shop is not a money-making business,” she said. “Most of my sales are in the $40 to $50 range, and how much of that is profit? I do this because I love it, not to make money.”
Reminiscing about the past, she remembers when the American Legion gave her a bunch of red paper poppies she would use to make a wreath. For Memorial Day weekend, the legion would then put the wreath on display outside their post.
On Mother’s Day, a local custom also involved people wearing a red carnation on their lapel or dress if their mother was still alive, or a white one
Hartman in the shop’s refrigerator/cooler
if she had passed away. Unfortunately, the custom has since gone by the wayside.
Hartman prides herself on her good reputation, saying her customers trust her to tell them what’s in stock is good and what’s popular.
“A lot of my customers are those I’ve worked with for over 30 years, and now, I’m working with their kids,” she said.
One item she claims to have created in-house is what she calls the money flower: a gift item made up of $1 to $5 bills, and totals between $21 and $100. It’s become so popular that it’s sold as far away as Cleveland.
Besides flowers and arrangements, Hartman has a varied assortment of gift items — everything from cutting boards and lanterns to place mats, wind chimes and beautiful angel figures that light up in sparkling color.
“I love this business,” Hartman said. “That’s why I’m still here.” Hartman Flower and Gift Shoppe is at 1529 Main Street in Burgettstown. Phone 724-947-5407. No credit cards accepted, but Hartman does provide her own in-store credit.
Betty Hartman outside her flower and gift shop
Betty Hartman stands with one of her Memorial Day designs
A plaque citing Hartman’s 60year membership in the FTD
Summer reading programs and more at Frank Sarris Public 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 summer operating hours will begin on June 21 and continue until August 23. The summer operating hours are as follows:
• Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The drop box for returned items is located on Murdock Street, and an additional one is available within the parking lot.
Patrons can explore the adult, children’s, and young adult collections on the first floor and also utilize computers, as well as 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, firstserved basis, with each patron limited to one hour of computer use.
Check the website, franksarrislibrary.org, or the Facebook page for updates on service changes or hours.
Save the date
Summer Reading Challenge: Mark your calendars for the kickoff of the annual Summer Reading Challenge on June 21. Participants with a valid WAGGIN library account can register for this program at the circulation desk. Any physical item checked out from Frank Sarris Public Li-
brary (including books, DVDs, video games, Launchpads and Playaways) will allow participants a chance to win fantastic prizes. The Summer Reading Challenge will conclude on August 23.
Holiday Closure: The library will be closed July 4 and 5 for Independence Day weekend.
Upcoming
programs
Adult programming
FSPL Book Club: The book club selects a variety of fiction and nonfiction titles, including “New York Times” bestsellers. The book for July is “The Measure” by Nikki Erlick, and August’s selection is “Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions” by John Grisham. Meetings are on the second Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m.
Author lecture: Author Tina Calabro will discuss how to create and self-publish a memorable family history book in her talk entitled How to Create a Memorable Family History Book. Calabro is a family historian and the voluntary project manager of the Italian Heritage Collection at the Citizens Library in Washington, as well as the Washington County Historical Society. She self-published her family history, “My Italian American Family,” in 2023. This event is free to the public. June 28, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Children’s programming
Toddlers and preschoolers
As the staff prepares for our summer children’s programs, including Summer Reading
Camp, the weekly programs for toddlers and preschoolers will take a temporary break. Programs such as Jr. Engineers, Little Picassos, Wiggles & Giggles, Toddler Tales and School Story/Play will resume in early September 2025.
After-school
Tuesday
Lego Club: Calling all Master Builders! Showcase your building skills at our Lego Club for ages 4-12, from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.
Thursday
Afterschool Games: Join us at the library if you enjoy board games or want to try the Nintendo Switch. All games are suitable for ages 6 and up. 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.
Friday
The Friday Afternoon Movie: Relax after a long week with an enjoyable, family-friendly film. Suitable for ages 6+. 4:30 – 5:45 p.m.
Special schedule
Read to a Therapy Dog: Do you have a reluctant reader? A child who loves puppies? Visit the library for a unique opportunity to read to a therapy dog. This program is an excellent motivator for hesitant readers and a delight for dog lovers. The therapy dog eagerly looks forward to all the stories patrons will share. The dogs are between 4 and 13 years old. This program takes place every second and fourth Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
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.
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
Stomach Ulcer Normal Stomach
Stomach Cancer
Jungmin L. Lee, M.D. Gastroenterologist, Pittsburgh Gastroenterology Associates
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.
• 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
Penny, LPN and Lenny, Dining Production Supervisor
•
Smokin’ Hot Candle Co. comes to Canonsburg Smokin’ Hot Candle Co. comes to Canonsburg
participants. The candle bar is big, and can
The town of Canonsburg is getting a renaissance. Not only is there more and more to do around town, but new and interesting businesses have been setting roots on the main drag: Pike Street. Located at 61 West Pike Street in Canonsburg, Smokin’ Hot Candle Co. is the first of its kind in town, giving the folks of Canonsburg a safe, educational and fun space to learn candle making. Sarah Grandon, the founder of Smokin’ Hot Candle Co. and an entrepreneur at heart, found her love for candle making and decided to make her dream a reality.
Grandon found her inspiration for candle making when her daughter expressed interest in learning, and that inspiration led to the creation of the first DIY candle bar in Canonsburg. Grandon is sure to source 100% natural soy wax too, to keep homes smelling and burning clean.
Smokin’ Hot Candle Co. is not only a candle bar but an event space. It is by appointment Monday through Thursday and open from 1 to 7 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Patrons can absolutely walk in and make a candle alone on the weekends, but the space itself allows for bigger parties, with a minimum of 20
sit 28 candle makers at once. When not making a candle though, patrons can explore the rest of the space: a lovely sitting room and spectacular selfie room.
Any event at Smokin’ Hot Candle Co. is BYOB — so bring snacks and drinks. Grandon actually hosted a walk-in mimosa bar in her candle shop during the most recent Thursday Night Market, and it was a hit.
Grandon is hoping to bring good vibes and everlasting memories to her customers through her candle bar: “When you have the experience of pouring a one-of-a-kind signature scent into a vessel you love, you’ll have made a memory that will last long after you’ve finished burning your candle.” Grandon also hopes to create a line of her own candles for those who might want to indulge in buying instead of making.
Chandling is the art of making candles, which makes Grandon the town’s resident chandler, and she hopes to give the community a creative outlet at her candle bar. Patrons are in charge of the candles they make, from the scent, the vessel selected and the mixing it requires. Grandon has a wall of scent choices, allowing makers to choose any scent from her library, or to create their own.
Next, choose a vessel. A vessel is simply the jar that houses the candle, and Smokin’
Photos and story by
Photos and story by Amanda Startare
Hot Candle Co. has unique and aesthetic op-
Smokin’ Hot Candle Co. owner Sarah Grandon
tions available. Once candle makers finalize the candle’s scent and appearance, Grandon will guide them through the process of making it, using 100% natural, clean-burning and U.S.-grown soy wax. When finished mixing the one-of-a-kind candle and waiting for it to cool, “feel free to shop around and explore town”, says Grandon. The cooling time for Smokin’ Hot Candle Co.’s candles is 90 minutes, allowing for time to shop the other boutique stores around town. However, candles can be picked up at a later date if there’s no time to wait for them to cool.
Smokin’ Hot Candle Co. is a combination of mixology, aromatherapy and decor that allows one’s creative brain to flourish while making something that smells amazing and looks lovely in the space. “Whether the candles are on a birthday cake, at a five-star restaurant, or in your personal bathtub, self-care candles really help set a mood”, says Grandon. And that is exactly what Smokin Hot Candle Co. provides for the Canonsburg community — the opportunity to indulge in self-care through candle making
Canonsburg Cake Company: Bigger and better than ever
Story
Cand photos by
Amanda Startare
anonsburg Cake Company, a staple of sweets and cakes located at One West Pike Street, has been baking up confections for the Canonsburg community since 2022. Owner and founder, Lindsey Parks first started baking in 2013 for friends and family, but her cakes were so loved that she decided to pursue an entrepreneurial opportunity. Parks runs the bakery with her father, Brian Longstreth and her best friend, Mandi Fordyce.
Now, three years after opening, Parks is expanding her bakery — right next door. The unit next to her bakery recently became vacant, so Parks jumped at the idea of having more space.
“We joked, if our neighbor ever moved to a bigger space, we would break open the wall.”
This space has allowed Canonsburg Cake Company to double the size of its kitchen and bring a new event space to the area: The Sweet Spot.
“What can we do up front?” Parks had asked. She wanted to add an event space to the Canonsburg area that was kid- and family-friendly. Now, she is offering up her space to grad parties, birthdays, baby showers and any other event she can accommodate. Not only is the space available to rent out, but it will be a new and larger room for Parks to host her decorating classes.
These decorating classes are a great way to learn a new skill and spend time with friends, family and children, as long as everyone is 12 years and older. Parks is sure to theme each class, making it accessible for repeat students to learn new ways and techniques to decorate six different cupcakes each time.. Parks is also tossing around the idea of adding classes for the younger kids, since she now has more room for them to get fully creative and messy and clean up after the class. Those hoping to book a private decorating class with Parks, The Sweet Spot
is the perfect place to hang out with a large group of friends for a wholesome and fun activity.
As long as the cake or cupcakes come from Canonsburg Cake Company, any event booked at the Sweet Spot is off-site catering and potluck friendly (outside of an offered basic drink package).
There is a spacious countertop in the back of the room with a plethora of plugs for crockpots and a deep sink for washing. And if you need any last-minute supplies to decorate for your party, Special Occasions is right next door and ready to supply for all your decorating needs.
The bakery itself offers many fun flavors of cupcakes to try any day of the week, but the special order cakes need to be ordered three weeks in advance, to ensure Parks, Fordcye and Longstreth have the appropriate time to create exactly the cake needed. Aside from the famous cakes and cupcakes, Canonsburg Cake Company also offers cakes in a cup, pup cakes, nut breads and gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions, ensuring a dessert for every party attendee.
The expansion of Canonsburg Cake Company is a great addition to the growth of Canonsburg, giving Parks the space she needs to make more yummy treats, and the community the space needed to celebrate with each other at The Sweet Spot — and with a delicious cake, of course.
Kaylee Rowe, owner of Ellegante Lash Co., applies lash extensions to a client
Kaylee Rowe, owner of Ellegante Lash Co., takes after photos of her client’s lash extensions
Hands-on AI robotics program to join the intermediate school STEM curriculum
Photos and story courtesy of CanonMcMillan School District
This past school year, intermediate school students in the Canon-McMillan School District piloted a hands-on artificial intelligence robotics program that will be a part of the fifth and sixth-grade curriculum this coming school year.
Mark Abbondanza, assistant to the superintendent for K-6 curriculum and instruction, sought input from STEM teachers to keep the district’s STEM curriculum innovative in the face of an ever-changing technological landscape. One solution: uKits from UBTECH Education, an exciting robotics program centered around students building and coding their own robots with AI. Two STEM teachers, Brittany Higham at Cecil Intermediate School and Brook Sharpnack at North Strabane Intermediate School, piloted the program this past school year.
“It’s important for students to understand AI’s capabilities and ensure they use it correctly in an educational setting,” Higham shared. “We want them to see and incorporate its capabilities into their academic lives.”
Students receive essential background knowledge on how AI works, learn about its pros and cons and learn how to use AI productively. Sharpnack lays the groundwork for the lessons by asking students to consider the AI tools they currently use, demonstrating how integrated AI is in their lives and underscoring the importance of understanding AI.
Through various lessons, students learn about force, motion, building, design and engineering processes. The building process is extraordinarily detail-oriented from start to finish. Students carefully tinker with the pieces, referencing the digital 3D models and building instructions. They are fully engaged and working collaboratively, raising their hands to ask questions and taking turns with their partner to add pieces to their robot. While pieces may break off or students may face challenges during the building, they keep moving forward resiliently and discuss how to overcome their building obstacles. As the students build the robot, they connect it to a battery pack, and then the robot runs based on code that they create.
“They’re using teamwork and problem-solving from the moment they start building through to when they’re taking it
apart,” Sharpnack said.
Students program automatic speech recognition and natural language processing to interact with the robot. They write the code and perform the functions necessary to get the robot to work. For example, in one sixth-grade lesson, they built a robotic arm to pick up an item, move it in different directions and place it down. In a fifth-grade lesson, they built a golf club that could hit a golf ball toward a hole on a putting green.
“They love that it is a hands-on activity,” Higham said. “They’re building, problem-solving, thinking outside the box, working as a team and learning communication skills. They love the hands-on component and want to be building.”
The uKits will be part of the STEM curriculum for all fifth and sixth-grade students this coming academic year.
“By exposing them to these AI lessons, they’re gaining real-world experiences and seeing how AI can be beneficial and used safely,” Higham said. “In the hands-on activities, they are fully engaged. All of the students actively participate and want to complete the assignment. Their excitement has increased, and I think this is a great program for us to incorporate into fifth and sixth grade.”
Canon-McMillan School District to introduce centralized digital hub for school communication
Photos and story courtesy of Canon-McMillan School District
This coming school year, Canon-McMillan School District will introduce MyPowerHub, a convenient onestop shop for communications from Canon-McMillan schools. The incorporation of MyPowerHub will relieve families and teachers from the hassle of navigating multiple systems for grades, assignments, announcements and other academic information.
Superintendent Greg Taranto shared that the implementation of the system is a result of stakeholder feedback. In a 2024 survey, over 94% of parents and more than 98% of teachers and staff responded “yes” or “maybe” when asked if they would like a single platform to receive school communications.
MyPowerHub offers parents, students, teachers and administrators the one-stop solution they sought. This platform will include secure newsfeed sharing for photos and announcements, calendars, form submissions, absences, parent-teacher
two-way communication, grades, assignments, class schedules and more. It is also adapted to work across various devices, including computers, phones and tablets, with a mobile version compatible with both Android and iOS systems.
“By bringing school forms, important updates and communication tools into one simple platform, parents no longer have to chase down information or navigate multiple systems,” Justin Heckman, director of technology at Canon-McMillan School District, said. “It saves time, reduces confusion and helps parents feel more connected to what’s happening at school — all while providing district staff a single en-
try point in providing the necessary information to all those involved in supporting our student success.”
Parents can view their child’s upcoming, missing and completed assignments. Another unique aspect of the platform is its ability to facilitate quick two-way communication. Teachers and parents can message each other directly on the platform, and the same messaging system will later include coaches of athletic teams.
MyPowerHub will streamline school communication. Guides will be available for those who have questions about using the platform, and the district’s dedicated technology team will be on hand to assist with any issues that may arise.
“MyPowerHub is a transformative extension to PowerSchool, designed to centralize communication, automate workflows and provide real-time data access for everyone in our school community,” Heckman said. “It’s a tool designed to make the parent experience easier and more connected, helping them stay informed and involved in their child’s education.”
New Back Pain treatment makes it way to the South Hills
Certain back conditions just do not go away on their own. They can become chronic issues that are very painful in the back, leg or arms. About 80% of people will get back pain at some point of their lives and roughly 50% of those issues will be caused by any of the following: disc herniation, disc bulge, spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease. With surgical outcomes being around a 50% success rate, and injections only helping for a short amount of time or not at all, there had to be a better solution. That is what Dr. Brian Meenan, a chiropractor in Mt. Lebanon and McMurray sought out to find. After being a chiropractor for several years, he found there was a subset of the population with these issues that would linger and there was nowhere for them to go. After a lot of research and planning, he decided to add the FDA Cleared, Accu-Spina Spinal Decompression Table with patented IDD Therapy to his practice. “I am always very cautious of new tools to add to my practice because a lot of companies promise their device helps, but their outcomes are not always the best. There are several studies out using this technology and the success rate is better than I would have imagined at 90% success.” Dr. Meenan says.
When Dr. Meenan was looking into all of this, he realized that no one on this side of Pittsburgh had this table and technology. He had talked to other people who were driving over an hour to get this type of treatment. That is why he decided to add it to his new McMurray practice.
Understanding Non-Invasive Spinal Decompression with Accu-Spina
The Accu-Spina is a cutting-edge technology that combines modern science with research backed principles. It works by gently stretching the spine, creating negative pressure within the affected discs. This negative pressure helps rehydrate the discs, relieving pressure on nerves and surrounding structures. Dr. Meenan says “It is a very comfortable treatment that is only about 25 minutes long. Most people find it relaxing because it is giving your spine what it needs, rehydration.”
The
Accu-Spina
Treatment Process
When you visit Premier Chiropractic Clinic for noninvasive spinal decompression with the Accu-Spina Table, the skilled chiropractors will conduct a thorough assessment of your spinal condition and medical history. This will include a neurological evaluation, orthopaedic evaluation and review of any MRIs or X-rays that the patient may already have. “If the patient is a good candidate and we think they will benefit from the treatment, we can start the treatment as soon as the patient wants to.” says Dr. Meenan. “This is a good time where we can also just educate the patient on their condition. We are finding that not many people know much about their condition and why it is causing some much pain and discomfort.”
Depending on the severity of your condition, the doctors will recommend a personalized treatment plan, usually consisting of sessions over several weeks. Throughout the process, they will closely monitor your progress and make necessary adjustments to ensure the best possible outcome.
If you are interested in getting back or neck relief and you want to find out if you’d be a good candidate, schedule your consultation by visiting www.premierchiroclinic.com/spinal-decompression or just call 724-364-4143. Consultations are currently free for the time being but that may change in the future.
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