WHISKEYDINNERREBELLION
Friday, November, 8 • 6 PM
Celebrate Washington County’s whiskey heritage at the 2024 Whiskey Rebellion Dinner Friday, Nov. 8, at 6 PM at the Hilton Garden Inn in Southpointe. Enjoy a oneof-a-kind whiskey-themed meal complete with whiskey tasting and dessert with silent auctions, hands-on 18th century history, and more! Scan the QR code to register or visit BradfordHouse.org for more information.
LIVING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY 6 Tri-Link helps customers, veterans
FEELING FESTIVE THIS FALL
Cooler temperatures bring lots of fall activities, so I am quite thankful that we are entering the autumnal season.
Fall has always been my favorite season, so I’m looking forward to cooler days, crunchy leaves and all the other accouterments of this time of year. However, I don’t usually let the weather tell me when fall starts. Fall is a feeling. If the chain coffee stores can get away with pumpkin spice in August, I give myself permission to get out my decorative pinecones and three-wick candles scented like pie as soon as the calendar strikes September.
Fall will always hold a special place in my heart. As I write this, we’re just finishing up September, which means a lot to me: my sister and I were both born mid-month, and our county fair always fell on my birthday week. Every card stuffed with cash funded my adventures there. I was a 4-H kid but never one for livestock. The only time I showed an animal at the county fair was my pet bird, and she never even left the cage for fear she’d fly away. Fall, fundamentally, is a season of change. I hope you can do some of the cozy activities you enjoy the most this fall.
If you have a story idea, please reach out. Email me at tthurston@observer-reporter.com, or give me a call at 724-222-2200 ext. 2421. Take care, stay safe and see you in the next edition.
August/September 2023
observer-reporter.com/liwc
EDITOR
Trista Thurston
tthurston@observer-reporter.com
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Carole DeAngelo
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Megan Morris Mike Kovak CONTRIBUTORS Kristin Emery Michele Gillis Dave Zuchowski April Barbe
Courtesy of Samantha Cortese Cortese began showing her art through Arc of Washington County’s gallery in Canonsburg about a year and a half ago.
Tri-Link helps customers, veterans through The Cornerstone Residence
By Kristin Emery
When a tornado ripped off roofs of homes in Finleyville in May, Jim Sed went out to see how he could help. His business, Tri-Link Contracting in Eighty Four, does roofing and siding, so he was the right person for the job. Helping others in need is part of who Sed is, and he’ll readily admit it took trials and tribulation to become that person.
“I experienced some darkness and some damage in my life,” he explains. After serving in the US Navy as a corpsman, he entered the business world, working in mortgages and then marketing. Then came addiction. “It was a slow, very noticeable, gradual decline in my life, in my decision making, in my relationships, everything that addiction destroys, it destroyed in my life to the point where I was making some terrible decisions,” says Sed. “I was arrested for distribution of cocaine and wound up serving a 10-year prison sentence. That’s where my transformation took place. I made some life-changing decisions and took life-changing actions in a place that was very dark.” He worked hard on himself, found faith and sobriety and served his time.
Finding purpose and a partner
Once released, Sed began working for a re-entry initiative, helping men and women coming out of incarceration. “One day, I had a chance meeting with a woman (Joyce) who had worked for 25 years as a state parole officer,” he remembers. “Even after experiencing all that damage in that population over all those years, rather than coming out tainted, she wanted to do more, and so I teamed up with her, and we began working on what eventually became The Cornerstone Residence for veterans, which is the nonprofit that we have in Clairton.” TCR has been a labor of love… which may be fitting because Jim and Joyce wound up getting married. “We bought a retired Catholic church and rectory. It’s a beautiful property, and this woman, Joyce, wound up becoming my wife. She has a very soft spot in her heart for the people in that community. So, that was the start of the Cornerstone Residence.”
The Seds bought the former St. Paulinus Rectory building property back in 2018 but spent several years in a court battle over occupan-
Courtesy of Jim Sed
The building housing The Cornerstone Residence was once a Catholic church and rectory.
Courtesy of Jim Sed Jim and Joyce Sed at a recent Steelers game
cy permits. They eventually prevailed, and The Cornerstone Residence finally opened its doors last summer and just welcomed its tenth resident. The 501(c)(3) organization welcomes veterans looking for a sober home with a supportive environment where men can work toward healing and transformation, reconnect with their families and be an asset to their communities.
“This has to be a home,” Sed stresses. “We’re not there for profit. We’re there to help men reestablish themselves, live in a sober living facility, introduce them to new cultures, new activities, new things in their lives to help them expand. So, we’re holding it to ten residents.”
The house is unique as it serves only veterans and provides an environment where they can feel comfortable speaking about deployments and service time and find camaraderie. Sed recalls that the inspiration came from his own background. “We began to realize where the need was, and we wound up with a recovery home for veterans, which speaks directly to each of our experiences in life. I obviously have a special place in my heart for these men and for anyone who’s suffering like that.”
Renovating a 13,000-square-foot building isn’t cheap or easy. It took loads of work from the Sed family and their friends, plus many others who volunteered time, resources, materials and labor. Still, it takes fundraising, donations and part of the profits from Tri-Link Contracting to keep it running.
“That’s where Tri-Link was born,” says Jim. “A nice portion of all of our proceeds at Tri-Link goes directly to The Cornerstone Residence. Every month, I calculate according to our production, and I cut a check back to the Cornerstone Residence from Tri-Link. I did not get in the business for selfish reasons. For the first time in my life, my motivation was not selfish.”
Sed takes the veteran-owned and family-owned monikers very seriously and believes his mission is to help others with lessons from his own life. “If we haven’t experienced the damage in our lives with addiction, we know someone who has. Everybody does,” explains Sed. “The message is, there is hope, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to be willing to enter the tunnel and go through. It doesn’t happen overnight, and you will come out the other side.”
For more information on The Cornerstone Residence or to volunteer or donate, visit cornerstoneresidence.org. Find out more about Tri-Link at trilinkcontracting.com.
Courtesy of The Cornerstone Residence
The Cornerstone Residence is located in Clairton.
Courtesy of Jim Sed
The Cornerstone Residence focuses on rehabilitating veterans to regain sobriety.
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
All meals are made from scratch, and the hand-cut fries are popular.
A triple chocolate brownie topped with Perry’s ice cream is available
Creekwater Farms Scratch Kitchen offers homemade cooking in a family atmosphere
By Michele Gillis
Tom Teagarden says when he enters Creekwater Farms Scratch Kitchen, he feels like he is entering his mom’s kitchen.
“It’s like a home away from home or like you are going to visit family,” said Teagarden. “It’s not fast food. It’s home-style food made right in front of you.”
Teagarden said he has two main favorites from the restaurant.
“As far as favorite meals go, I am split between the Friday fish dinner and Shawn’s Italian hoagie,” said Teagarden. “Both are healthy helpings to fill a person up, and sometimes I wish I could have them every day of the week. It’s like family. It’s a small atmosphere with the best friendly ownership and employees. You can sit, relax and talk with friends and neighbors while filling up on home cooking.”
Creekwater Farms Scratch Kitchen, owned
by Megan and Levi Graham, is celebrating its first anniversary this month, and what a year it has been. Both Megan and Levi handle the cooking, but Levi does most of the baking. They have also started serving Perry’s ice cream in the restaurant.
Megan is a paramedic, and Levi is an advanced emergency medical technician. They were both working for an ambulance service when they found out the commercial building they were interested in would be empty, so they spoke to the owner. The building had been several commercial businesses before, including a restaurant.
Even though they knew they wanted the building, the Grahams hadn’t decided exactly what to do with it just yet, but some divine intervention helped them along while they were having breakfast one morning.
“My husband and I were discussing what we would do if we did get this building,”
said Megan. “And I was apprehensive as this was a big decision. What were we going to do? A group of women behind us was having a Bible study. I'm not even kidding. And when they were talking about their Bible study, they were just talking about how you can't be afraid, and you can't live life on the couch. You need to get up, and you need to do what you were meant to do. And it was like divine intervention, like a push that we were doing the right thing.”
They went to speak to the owner and then became the new owners of the building. They decided to open a restaurant focused on home cooking, where everything is made from scratch.
Even though both run the restaurant daily, they still work for the ambulance company as their schedules allow, Levi more than Megan. The couple has three small children under 8, and the restaurant is open every day.
Photos courtesy of Creekwater Farms Scratch Kitchen
Also, Megan had a bit of a health scare earlier this year. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in June. In July, she had a major surgery to remove a large tumor and said now the prognosis is good.
“The outlook is good, but it was definitely a big shake-up in our plans,” said Megan. “I feel pretty good. I'm starting to get back into being able to be here full-time. I've still got about a month to go before I'm back to normal.”
Megan gives her husband props for handling everything while she was recovering.
“I took over for her while she was out because it’s her dream,” said Levi. “I just try to do everything in my power to make my wife's dreams a reality. It was not a huge deal. I knew how to do everything. The employees that we have really helped too.”
Megan said he truly does whatever it takes to make that possible.
Preparing the building for the opening a year ago was a bit of a challenge, but they are happy with the result.
They had to gut the building, do a total renovation and put in new flooring. The most recent change is that they painted the outside of the building bright red.
“It looks like a different place,” said Megan. “So we didn't change the layout of the building, and the dining room still looks very similar. We put new flooring down in there, but other than that, the dining room really kind of remained the same. We needed to update the equipment. We put down new flooring throughout. We have some of the same pictures hanging on the walls that were here before.”
They bounced around several names for the restaurant but landed on Creekwater Farms after the farm they live on and Scratch Kitchen because everything they cook is from scratch. They also serve eggs from their farm in the restaurant.
“There's really like nothing that comes out of a bag or anything here,” said Megan. “It is all made by us. Our roast beef is a 12 to 16hour slow roast. The pork chops are braised in a mushroom gravy and they're slow-cooked.”
Creekwater Farms Scratch Kitchen will also provide a meal to someone in need, whether for themselves or someone else.
On the back of the menu, it reads, “If you or your child are hungry and you cannot afford a meal, please order ‘The Maxine’ and you will be provided a meal at no cost.”
Megan said she started this to honor her mother.
“This is dedicated to my mother, Maxine, one of the most selfless women to have ever lived,” said Megan. “In addition, if you would like to pay it forward towards one of these meals, please order, ‘The Wayne’, in addition to your meal when ordering and 100 percent of the funds from ‘The Wayne’ will provide no-cost meals to those in need.”
Levi and Megan Graham are the owners of Creekwater Farms Scratch Kitchen.
“The food is primarily based off of my mother's cooking,” said Megan. “My mother passed away a few years ago, but she taught me everything, everything about how to cook. She was an excellent cook, and most of these are her recipes. Our killer beans (similar to cowboy beans) are 100 percent her recipe, and I said when we opened if we were going to get famous for anything, it was going to be those.”
Megan said the entire menu is all home from scratch cooking.
“For example, our meatloaf, it's called Mama Lynn's meatloaf. She was someone very near and dear to me, and our meatloaf recipe is loosely based on hers,” said Megan. “We hand cut all of our chicken, it's marinated. We make multiple small batches of mashed potatoes each day. Our salads, we sell a ton of our salads and I insist on the freshest ingredients I can get. Also, our fries are fresh-cut, and people really love that.”
They also run daily specials such as stuffed peppers, cabbage rolls and cream chicken over fresh buttermilk biscuits.
Megan said if someone comes in and needs a meal, that's how they order it.
“And we will provide it to them completely at no cost,” she said. “I also set that up so that no one ever comes in here and has to feel ashamed that they need food. The ordering process is very much like any other order.”
She said the response from the customers has been overwhelming.
“It is truly more than I could have ever imagined,” said Megan. “I feel confident in saying that I don't think we will ever have to worry about not having funds to be able to pay for someone to eat.”
The locals are happy someone came in and repurposed the building with a new restaurant.
“I think it's wonderful that someone stepped up to keep a local tradition alive,” said Kathy Croft. “It's nice to see friends and neighbors when we go there to eat. Their daily specials are a great addition to the menu. Sometimes we eat there solely for the specials. The food is incredible and my husband prefers their food to my cooking.”
Creekwater Farms Scratch Kitchen is open every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is located at 137 US Route 40 in West Alexander. Search Creekwater Scratch Farms to find them on Facebook.
Megan loves the location of the restaurant and feels that they have created a place where they provide real food at affordable prices that are great for the whole family to enjoy.
“We truly think that part of the reason that this place works is because of where it's located,” she said. “We have a tremendous support system from the local community. We have a great group of regular customers, people that are in here multiple times a week, people who come in just to sit down and have coffee with us.”
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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Photos and story by Dave Zuchowski
SMALL STORE, BIG IDEAS
My Little Barn is chock full of interesting home decor
You’ve probably heard of The Little House on the Prairie, but what about My Little Barn in the Meadow?
Elsie Sabatula of Coal Center struck on the concept when the inventory of the decoupage hobby she took up in 2017 eventually outgrew her allotted storage space.
“In the spring of 2017, I stopped working to take care of my elderly parents,” she said. “I wanted to stay busy, so I took up the art of decoupage, a technique of affixing paper decorations to a hard surface with glue. I am self-taught, and, at first, things didn’t turn out quite right. Eventually, I learned the craft, and now I make items every day.”
To house her growing inventory, she began looking online for a structure to display and sell her handmade items. In her search, she spotted an enterprise in Farmington with just what she was looking for. Ironically, it was a business she and her husband, Theodore, passed quite a few times when they took their boat up to Youghiogheny Lake.
Elsie Sabatula stands at the entrance to My Little Barn.
“We took a ride up to Farmington and ordered a customized, 12 by 16-foot, barn-shaped shed with added windows and modified loft,” she said. “It took about six weeks to deliver the wooden structure that came with a copper-colored metal roof.”
My Little Barn, as the structure is now called, arrived in spring 2022. Her husband did all the wiring for electricity, heat and air conditioning, installed the drywall and painted the interior gray. He also cut the shelves while Elsie sanded and finished them. The newly established emporium opened for business in August of this year.
While modest in size, the little barn is spacious enough to house many of her handmade decoupage and resin items displayed without overcrowding. Here and there, refurbished and handmadefrom-scratch furniture constitute additional items for sale.
The resin items, made with a liquid that turns into a hard plastic when dried, include jewelry, jars, decorative swans and even greeting signs.
“Decoupage is an inexpensive craft,” she said. “To make it, I buy my glass at thrift shops, Hobby Lobby, Walmart and yard sales. I can get Mod Podge for $3 and napkins for a dollar. My most expensive material is polyurethane, which runs $32 for a 12-ounce container, but it’s the best.”
Sabatula said she likes making decoupage pitchers, vases and plates best, but also likes to use unusual items like milking stools and watering cans to add interest to her inventory. One section of the store has country-themed items. Another has a Victorian theme, and others have seascape, wildlife and Christmas motifs.
To make her decoupage items, she uses art chalk paint, single-ply napkins and rice paper and applies the designs on glass, much like decals. The crafter puts lights in some of her bottles and gives her buyers a candle when they buy items that hold candles. Everyone gets a free keychain with even a small purchase. All sales are cash only.
“I try to keep my prices low and don’t want people to come in thinking they can’t afford to buy something,” she said. “Most pieces run between $5 and $35. Some cost $50, and the furniture is even higher.”
To get the word out about the opening, she posted announcements on Facebook.
During Pike Days in 2022, she had a booth outside Hugo’s Restaurant in Centerville, where she discovered that shows are too time-consuming.
“You have to load up, then set up at the site,” she said. “After the show is over, you have to tear everything down, pack up and unload back at the shop.”
Since she opened this August, she said she’s had quite a few sales of her home decor items at her store, located at 261 Grange Road in Coal Center. Currently, she is taking customized orders and is open from noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, text 724-809-6552. The wildlife section
Local woman turns to paint during pandemic
By April Barbe
courtesy of Samantha Cortese
While stuck at home during the COVID pandemic, a local woman found a new hobby that has since become a profitable career.
Samantha Cortese decided in the fall of 2020 that she’d attempt to paint the artwork for a room in her home that was being renovated.
“My two kids were very little still, and I found myself with extra time after they went to bed. We were also renovating our powder room, and I could envision the type of art I wanted on the wall, so I thought, why not just try to make it?” she said.
From there, Cortese said she fell in love with painting.
“I loved discovering new techniques to create texture and finding out-of-the-box tools to paint with. I started an Instagram account for my art because I was proud of my little paintings and wanted to put them out into the world. To my shock and amazement, I started getting inquiries to buy them and to make custom paintings. I jumped at the chance to create more and for people to fill their homes with my paintings.”
Throughout 2021, Cortese started a website and began showing her work at Pittsburgh-area galleries. The following year, she said she was exhibiting more and did her first solo show.
“I was releasing entire collections and even starting to work with local interior designers to create original art for their clients,” she said.
Cortese began showing her art through Arc of Washington County’s gallery in Canonsburg about a year and a half ago. Arc Human Services organizations help support people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities through job placement and programs.
There, she met Darrilyn McCrerey, Arc’s advocacy director and the one who organizes the art and artists, as well as some of the other staff and learned about their mission.
“I love what they do for the community. They promote human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and I am so impressed with how they’ve found a way to support local artists as well,” Cortese said.
When artists sell a piece through the gallery, a portion of the commission goes towards supporting Arc’s work, she added.
“They’ve created this incredible intertwined community of support, and I’m so proud to be a part of that.”
Cortese said this past spring, McCrerey reached out to her about painting a mural on the entry wall to the gallery area. It would be their “Inspiration Wall,” which features companies, organizations or even individuals who sponsor Arc and help improve the community.
She said McCrerey and other Arc folks felt that having a mural would be a great way to draw attention to the display while also representing how art is intertwined with their advocacy.
“They thought my abstract style would be a good fit, so Darrilyn and I collaborated on the design to bring her vision to life. It took me about three weeks to paint in all. The design is abstract and is high contrast with gold leaf accents,” Cortese said.
One key component they wanted to incorporate was inspirational quotes within the mural, and Cortese said that was her favorite part to create. She collaged various quotes within the underlayer of the mural so they peak through the final design.
Cortese said murals are different than her standard painting style, but she jumped at the chance to try something new with the mural.
Photos
“I am primarily an abstract expressionist painting with acrylic on canvas. But when Arc asked if I had an interest, I jumped at the chance because, as with most of my art career, the best things tend to happen when I take a big leap and say ‘yes’ to something new,” she said. She has also painted another mural for a residence since the one for the Arc. She said the client had a rustic appearance inside, and they wanted to soften the open-concept dining area a little with a “soft and subtle abstract mural.”
A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Cortese said she never dreamed of being an artist.
“I have to say if you would have told me as a kid that I would become an artist, I would have laughed and wouldn’t believe it for a second,” she said.
Admitting she was “not great in art class,” Cortese said her art is more intuitive than simply drawing things like fruit bowls in a class.
“As valuable as those skills are to most artists, I think I create in a different way. I see art as telling a story through the colors and shapes that come from the expression of creation. I consider myself an abstract expressionist, meaning my art is created through an intuitive process. When I create, it always comes from a place of joy. The magic for me comes from the process. And it’s that emotion that I’m trying to share through my art with my collectors,” she said.
Cortese added that her painting influences are not any one artist but simply from a beautiful sky.
“I’m always drawn to the vastness and wanderlust that those big open skies inspire. In the spring and summer, I find myself painting bright abstract florals. In the winter, when it’s gloomy and gray, I shift towards more muted color palettes. I think there is so much inspiration all around us each day. The key is being open to see it, feel it and then finding a way to express it,” she exclaimed.
For more information and to view Cortese’s paintings, visit samanthacorteseart.com. Arc Human Services and The Arc of Washington Headquarters is located at 111 W. Pike St., Canonsburg.
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CANONSBURG CORNER
Fall into reading at Frank Sarris Public Library
Parking: The entrances are open at Murdock Street and North Jefferson Avenue. The parking lot is behind the library and accessible from Murdock Street.
Please remember:
Regular operating hours are:
Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5: p.m.
The drop box for returned items is on Murdock Street, and there is also one inside the parking lot.
Patrons can browse the adult, children's and young adult collections on the first floor and can also use computers to copy, fax and scan documents. Please visit the website for prices for services like printing and faxing.
Computers and study rooms are first come, first served. Computers are limited to one hour per patron.
Check the website, franksarrislibrary.org, or Facebook page for updates about changes in service or hours.
Save the date
Halloween Spooktacular: Come haunt the library on Oct. 26! This walkthrough event encourages families to dress in their best costumes and come for spooks, frights and candy. Admission is free, and registration is not required.
Upcoming programs
Adult programming
FSPL Book Club: The book club reads fiction and nonfiction selections, including “New York Times” bestsellers. October's book is “West with Giraffes” by Lynda Rutledge. November’s book is “The Book of Charlie: Wisdom from the Remarkable American Life of a 109-Year-Old Man” by David Von Drehle. The book club occurs every second Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m.
Let’s Draw: Have you ever wanted to practice drawing but had too many distractions? Have you tried sketching but don’t know where to start? Join us at the library for an evening of still-life drawing. The library will provide paper and drawing tools, but you can bring your own. This program is for ages 16 and up. All skill levels are welcome, but seats are limited. Register at the circulation desk. This program will meet every fourth Wednesday from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.
Children's programming
Toddlers and preschoolers
Monday
Jr. Engineers: At this storytime, children will explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) through stories and hands-on projects. Ages 3-6. 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.
Tuesday
Little Picassos: Inspire your child’s imagination and self-expression with hands-on art activities. Every week, there is a new make-and-take creation. Ages 3-6. 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.
Wednesday
Wiggles & Giggles: This program focuses on movement while introducing new vocabulary. Children develop their gross motor, listening and social skills during each session. Ages 2-5. 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Toddler Tales: Exploring diverse themes, toddlers will engage in songs, stories and activities in a fun, educational environment. Ages 2-4. 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.
Thursday
School Story/Play: Your child will enjoy songs, stories and games as they develop essential skills such as listening during stories, early literacy skills and following directions. Ages 4-6. 1 to 1:30 p.m.
School-age children
After-School Games: Do you like games? Come and play different types of board games at Frank Sarris Public Library. This event will run every third Wednesday from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. It is for children ages 8 to 13.
Lego Club: Are you a fan of Legos? Do you want to show off your building skills? Come to the library and join other builders. The library will provide all the supplies needed for the Lego Club. Join us on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. Ages 4 to 13.
Read to a Therapy Dog: Do you have a reluctant reader? Do you have a child with a penchant for puppies? Come to the library for the opportunity to read to a therapy dog. This program is an excellent motivator for reluctant readers and a treat for those who love dogs. Join us on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and the second Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. Ages 5+.
Canon-McMillan expands science curriculum
Courtesy of Canon-McMillan School District
This school year, Canon-McMillan School District set a goal to implement new science initiatives for elementary and intermediate school students — and the hands-on work has provided great results.
Two new programs will help guide students in the science curriculum: Amplify Science and OpenSciEd.
Pennsylvania adopted new science standards, and the district adopted Amplify Science for first to fifth grades and OpenSciEd for sixth grade to align with the science standards. Fifteen pilot teachers helped the district identify and test the programs. Their input and work were integral in the programs’ implementation this school year.
"We replaced a much-outdated science program that dated over 20 years old,” Greg Taranto, superintendent of Canon-McMillan School District, said. “These programs are phenomena-based science programs with evidence-based approaches to teaching science. It also brings science instruction back on a regular basis to our elementary schools.”
Amplify Science provides a science curriculum that “blends hands-on investigations, literacy-rich activities and interactive digital tools to empower students to think, read, write and argue like real scientists,” according to the program’s website.
In one Amplify Lesson, students built a simple electrical system using four parts, and they had to discover how to create a functioning system. Their goal was to get the fan to spin and understand how all the parts connected to make the system work.
Once they got the fan to spin, they tested methods to get it to spin in the opposite direction and how to vary the fan’s speed.
“It was really enjoyable listening to each group work together and problem-solve in a variety of ways,” Danielle Rayman, fourthgrade teacher at Wylandville Elementary, said. “My favorite was when they realized they could just use their hand or tilt the solar panel away from the sun to change the speed.”
One of the most exciting science programs already in place in the district is the Zoo in the Classroom, where second-grade students visit the high school zoology classroom and interact with live animals, taught by the high schoolers. To expand this program and excite elementary students about science, Zoo in the Classroom will now also include first-grade students. The first-graders will experience, observe and explore the types of animals and plants that they learn about in their science and reading curriculum.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Mrs. Geist and her high school classes for Zoo in the Classroom,” Christa Schutt, a firstgrade teacher at Borland Manor Elementary School, said. “This collaboration also gives our students the opportunity to make real-world connections with their learning through their interactions with the high school students while also getting to experience Mrs. Geist's passion for sharing zoology and environmental science education within our district.”
Not far from home CMSD alumni teaching next generations of Big Macs
Courtesy of Canon-McMillan School District
For many Big Macs, Canon-McMillan School District is their home not only as a student but also as a teacher. With many administrators, teachers and staff being Canon-McMillan alumni, Big Macs know that home is where the heart is — and Canon Mac means home.
Alexa Baum
Alexa Baum, special education teacher at Canon-McMillan High School, was a student herself not too long ago. Baum, a 2019 CMHS graduate, has always set her sights on teaching special education in the district.
“This is the only place I wanted to go,” she said. “I only wanted to be in Canon-Mac.”
At PennWest California — formerly California University of Pennsylvania — Baum studied pre-K and elementary education with a dual degree in K-8 special education. However, when Canon-McMillan High School needed support, Baum took the initiative to extend her certification by taking an extra exam.
One of the most valuable aspects of Baum’s path to becoming a teacher was her personal experience with the special education department through her brother’s involvement.
Growing up, Baum was heavily involved in supporting her brother in his education while helping other students and families.
As a counselor for Camp L.I.F.T. and a peer mentor at Camp Laugh-A-Lot, Baum established a special bond with the community’s special education students and families. Her engagement in and out of her home has given her meaningful experiences to relate to her students and their families through the good and bad times.
“I make it my priority to know what the kid wants as well as their family,” Baum said. “That’s the most important thing: for the family and their child to feel supported and feel they can communicate with me, the IEP team and the school to know what is best for them.”
See Big Macs, Page 26
Courtesy of Canon-McMillan School District From left, Zach Loutsion and Shana Porter
Big Macs
Continued from Page 26
Baum already has established relationships with many students, teachers and families in the special education department, but she emphasizes that her personal teaching style involves getting to know the students personally and keeping in contact with their families.
“I want to make a difference for these kids and these families.
I want them to know that I’m here for them,” she said. “I don’t want anyone to feel like there’s no one there to help them.”
“Everything about Canon-Mac, I love.” she continued. “I’m very proud to be here.”
Shana Porter and Zach Loutsion
Students returning to Canon-Mac as teachers means that alumni can become friends with and even teach alongside their former teachers.
Zach Loutsion, eighth-grade
social studies teacher at Canon-McMillan Middle School, sat in Shana Porter’s English class in eighth grade, and now they are both teaching on the Supernova team together. Porter, who graduated from CMHS in 2000, attended Bethany College and studied English and education.
She returned to work in the district in 2005 as a seventh-grade English teacher on the Spartan team.
The following year, she moved to eighth-grade English, and this was the first year the district started teaming in eighth grade. Porter joined the Supernova team, where she and Loutsion teach now.
Loutsion graduated from CMHS in 2016 and went to PennWest Clarion — formerly Clarion University of Pennsylvania — where he graduated in 2020 and began teaching at the unconventional time of the pandemic.
He began as a long-term substitute and made his way to a full-
time position.
“It’s really interesting and cool to work with people who were once my teachers and now my colleagues,” Loutsion said. “Everyone here is so supportive. For as big as a district as we are, it still feels like a big family.”
Loutsion and Portner are both multi-generational Big Macs, with parents and grandparents who graduated from Canon-Mac, too.
Their moms even worked in the district at the same time, too.
“Once you grow up here, you realize how important the school is to the community,” Porter said. “With every event and activity, there’s so much pride in what is going on in the district.”
Big Macs are lifelong learners. Superintendent Greg Taranto was once Loutsion’s middle school principal, and now, Loutsion said he is excited to have Taranto as superintendent.
See Big Macs, Page 28
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Big Macs
Continued from Page 26
“To see where the district has continued to grow and progress in a positive direction, I’m so excited to see where it’s going to go now under the leadership of Dr. Taranto,” Loutsion said. “I’ve learned so much on another level (from him) as a professional about what it means to
Visit the O-R’s Instagram page for cool photos and links to stories. instagram.com/ observer-reporter
be a teacher and focus on the whole student.”
Loutsion and Porter co-teach a career research unit together and hope their students may also return to the district as teachers one day.
“It makes me so proud that a former student chose to be a teacher and chose to come back here,” Porter said. “Now, we have a genuine friendship, and that means so much to me.”
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