November/December 2025
south hills living
Juniper Village:
The third act
Savvy Again Consignment Boutique believes in second chances
Roots Natural Kitchen takes root in South Hills
Artists collaborative offers ways to connect through ceramics
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Savvy Again Consignment Boutique believes in second chances
6
Juniper Village: The third act
from the editor
10 Artists collaborative offers ways to connect through ceramics
In bloom, even in fall
11
Roots Natural Kitchen takes root in South Hills
This is the time of year when I am most in my element. I just love fall. I just took a short walk to the library, which shares a block with our office, to return one book in exchange for another that was waiting for me. It’s my ideal day today — about 60, breezy and gray. The sun is hiding, and the crisp leaves are rolling over the grass, shushing all the other noise. It’s time for tea, chilly mornings, dark evenings and big reads, both in size and scope. I know this time of year can be hard for others, so my thoughts are with you if the shorter days and waning sunlight make it difficult for you. In my adulthood, I have come to appreciate something about each season. To bask in the summer’s sun, soak up spring’s lushness and yes, even frolic in the winter snow, when we get some white powder worth ploughing through. But despite my ability to see the good in each quarter, this one is my favorite, and it seems to linger ever so briefly. The leaves are falling, and soon we will be blanketed in the cold. But, for a bit longer now, I will appreciate each day as it comes, as drab and gloomy as I like.
In editing and preparing this edition, I was struck by the word roots. Roots Natural Kitchen has opened its first South Hills location on Cochran Road, tucked between Dormont and Carnegie. I’ve visited the one in Morgantown, so even though I haven’t tried the PA flavor, I already know it’s good. Their fare is the type that’s oh so trendy now — grain-forward, fresh, vegetal and packed with punchy sauces, dressings and more. I recommend giving it a try if you need a quick, healthier option.
As a media professional, I have the distinct expertise to say that the eatery’s branding is excellent. The materials are clean and minimal, evoking the same feeling about the food. The name itself — roots — is begging you to picture that earthen goodness.
Roots run deep. Though I am not originally from the area (just over the border in Southeastern Ohio), here is where I’ve planted. I’ve been here for eight years now, closing in on a decade of working, learning, loving, befriending and being. I’ve made some fantastic connections here, forged relationships I wouldn’t trade for anything. So though I wasn’t originally rooted here, Southwestern Pennsylvania is where I’ve truly bloomed. I hope the same for you.
Thank you for reading. As always, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to send me an email or give me a call to tell me your thoughts or drop me a tip.
TRISTA THURSTON
tthurston@observer-reporter.com
Advertising Director Carole DeAngelo
Contributors
April Barbe
Michele Gillis
Startare
on the cover
Photo courtesy of Juniper Village
A view of the outside of Juniper Village
SAVVY AGAIN CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE BELIEVES IN SECOND CHANCES
By Michele Gillis
Photos courtesy of Savvy Again Consignment Boutique
Experts say that if you have something in your closet or home that doesn’t bring you joy, release it.
And that release could bring so much joy to another, along with a bit of cash in your pocket.
Savvy Again Consignment Boutique, an upscale consignment store in McMurray, held its grand opening on the first weekend of August this year.
The owner, Dana Marsteller, has been in the consignment business for over 20 years in several areas and shops around town. She grew up in the McMurray area and was so excited to go out on her own and open her own consignment store in an area she loved.
“It's been wonderful, really, it has,” said Marsteller. “I mean, people are so happy to see us back in the area, remember us, and it's been great. Better than I'd ever expected, quite honestly. We are almost too busy some
brands like Chico's and Talbots and things like that scale,” said Marsteller. “We have purses like Michael Kors and Coach, not just Louis Vuitton and Gucci. We have a lid for every pot. I always love to say it has a lid for every pot. People are looking to get a deal, a bargain. A great fit at a great price. That's what we're about.”
Marsteller said they constantly have rolling tag sales and even have items that are $2.
“I think they are unique because they have a discerning eye for the merchandise they accept and sell,” said shopper Bea Harrison. “Other shops seem to miss the mark.”
Harrison said they always have high-end, high-quality items such as purses, clothing and shoes.
“Their prices are also in line with what I'd expect to pay on consignment,” she said. “I sometimes can't believe what I walk out of there with, knowing what it would cost me full price retail.”
Consignors bring their items to the boutique and drop them off for a period of consignment. Marsteller wanted to improve the consignment experience and make it as transparent as possible for them.
There is an initial set-up fee to start the account. Consignors can view their account online and keep track of their items. Most of the time, it's a 50/50 split. Marsteller said they like to stick to current styles from the past three years, if possible. For clothing, they also have to be freshly laundered and
If the items don't sell and the consignor doesn’t want them back, Savvy Again donates them to the women’s shelter because Marsteller believes in helping wherever she
Harrison also said the variety of home goods is constantly changing.
“I know I can stop in regularly for a seasonal refresh,” said Harrison. “They are also great for bigger ticket items like bedroom or room furnishings, which are on the mark with quality and pricing for consignment.”
Harrison said the boutique is beautiful and the staff is very friendly and welcoming.
“There are
times I've been in there where I just want to hang out to chat with them and other customers and don’t want to leave because it has such a great vibe,” said Harrison.
Marsteller said she is delighted to join this community and believes in lifting each other by supporting each other’s businesses. She said her boutique will add another stop on a day of thrifting in the local area when shoppers are looking for that something special.
“I love the consignors,” said Marsteller. “I love the customers and the relationships we build with them. I have some who call me every day asking, ‘What did you get?’
‘Do you have anything I need? Send me a picture.’ I do tell them to just come in, but I’ve always done it for them. It’s just to make everyone feel special and appreciated. I just believe in treating everybody kindly.”
With the holidays quickly approaching, holiday wear, decor and cool-weather clothes would be welcomed for consignment.
Savvy Again, located at 3240 Washington Road in McMurray, consigns upscale clothes, shoes, furnishings and decorations. The store is closed on Monday. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Search for Savvy Again Consignment Boutique on Facebook or visit savvyagain.com for more information.
Upscale fashions available at Savvy Again Consignment Boutique
Dana Marsteller is the owner of Savvy Again
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JUNIPER VILLAGE: LIVING THE THIRD ACT
By Amanda Startare
Photos courtesy of Juniper Village
Community is the cornerstone of any group; it builds connections, fosters mental stimulation and encourages mobility. Juniper Communities, a senior living community that focuses on the third act of life, has opened a location in South Hills called Juniper Village.
Located at 1320 Greentree Road, Juniper Village offers independent personal care, secure memory support and everything in between. Most community members are long-term residents; however, they do offer short-term stays for rehabilitation.
Luckily, there are no age requirements when
applying to live in Juniper Village, though the oldest resident recently celebrated his 101st birthday. Each resident is given the chance to have leadership and collaborative roles within the community, as well. There are multiple clubs residents can join, like the book club, or committees where residents can serve and represent their peers, like the resident council and food committee.
“All they have to do is ask,” says Sharon Haney, the connections director, and she will do everything in her power to make those wishes and goals come to life.
As a fully stacked senior living community, Juniper Village at South
Hills is equipped with HUR machines, a new type of rehabilitation and fitness device that focuses on usability for all levels, and Haney said it has been a great help for all residents, no matter their ability.
This HUR machine is just one tool in their arsenal for rehabilitation and fitness, allowing all residents to focus on their physical health and goals — no matter what those may be.
Life at Juniper Village genuinely is life in a village; there are sprawling gardens to stroll in, a bistro to dine in and a multitude of community areas, ranging from cozy to colorful. Each apartment is configured with a bath, bedroom, kitchenette and living area decorated very tastefully. The day-to-day life at Juniper Village in
South Hills is new and exciting each week, with connections director Sharon Haney curating different activities for the residents to enjoy. However, there is always bingo on that list.
“They would run me out of town if we had no bingo,” jokes Haney. Bingo is the perfect constant that balances fun and familiarity in the South Hills Juniper Village. Outside of bingo, Haney organizes many on-site and off-site activities, but there is always one signature event per month. In the past, residents have gone to see the Washington Wild Things play baseball or to visit Clinton Community Park to see the Christmas lights. This year, they are hosting a trick-ortreat for the residents' grandchildren in the village, giving each family a chance to spend the holiday together and mingle with others. They also have the opportunity to go on smaller adventures, like lunch and church outings. How ever, if staying in is more comfortable that day, there is always a non-denominational church and mass offered at Juniper Village.
Haney is always coming up with unique events for the residents to participate in. “On National Apple Day, we had an apple tasting for the residents. It was a really fun event, and everyone seemed to en-
joy it,” says Haney. And each day, they offer a daily refresh, like chair yoga, to get the day going and focus on mental and physical stimulation. Juniper Village also utilizes therapy dogs, which have a proven ability to reduce loneliness and foster connection. Therapy dogs are known to bring a calming presence to people with dementia, making them a perfect fit for the memory support residents. They also have a self-regulating grow tower, which is an ideal way for residents to test their green thumb. There are always volunteer opportunities at Juniper Village in South Hills, too. If you’d like to volunteer to simply help out, or if you're part of a group that would like to organize a craft or event for the Village, the community would love to hear from you.
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BUILDING A CLAY COMMUNITY: ARTISTS COLLABORATIVE OFFERS WAYS TO CONNECT THROUGH CERAMICS
By April Barbe
Photos
courtesy of the South Hills Artists Collaborative
For Clint and Malia Bennett, the South Hills Artists Collaborative is a “labor of love.”
The artists’ collaborative was recently reformed as a nonprofit arts education center to help folks learn about ceramics in a community setting.
“We hope you come to the studio to learn and to meet others who enjoy clay,” Clint said. “We think that this separates us from art studios that focus more on the end product. Sure, we want it to be fun, but in a world where it is so easy to be disconnected from actual people, the real mission is community,” Clint said.
Malia said she wanted a community studio space that she didn’t have to travel far to, but all the larger studios were in Shadyside, the North Side or the South Side.
The perfect place
In 2024, they found the building at 127 Camp Lane.
“It was empty, down to the studs, with no electricity or water. But I walked in, took one look at those windows, and knew this would be a space full of light. I was sold right away! Our landlord did a fantastic job of getting the space ready, and now it’s even more beautiful than I first imagined it,” Malia said.
Malia is the only instructor and teaches at the studio in addition to teaching ceramics and painting at Trinity High School in Washington. Clint is the technical guru and handles all the carpentry, electrical work and plumbing.
She said she has been teaching and creating with clay for almost 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in art education and a Master of Arts degree in ceramics from Carlow University.
“There is so much to discover and explore when it comes to ceramics. I honestly have a hard time settling down. My current obses-
sion is with coloring the clay body itself with multiple colors and then creating work from that,” she said.
Before that, Malia was on a “glaze chemistry adventure,” enjoying creating and testing glazes.
“I think what I really love teaching about clay is exactly what keeps me coming back, that it’s an almost inexhaustible medium where there is always more to learn and explore. I think that once people understand how the process works and why it works the way it does, it opens up so many creative doors,” Malia added.
Classes
The South Hills Artists Collaborative offers a variety of classes designed to teach the art and science of ceramics.
They currently offer a five-week all-levels ceramics class starting in November that takes each student from where they are to a deeper understanding and skill level with clay. Students may choose to focus on the potter's wheel, hand building or both. Students also learn how to finish and glaze their own pieces. The class is $210.
“We are also conceiving of a shorter length, more focused class to really get into one aspect of creat ing with clay. Ideas include
Forms,’ ‘Slab Built Boxes’ and ‘Throwing, Trimming and Glazing.’ More information on these classes soon,” Clint said.
They also offer a “Try It” class for people who have never used the potter's wheel or have not used it in a long time and want to get back into it. The class is two hours long, and students may keep three pieces that will be finished and glazed for them. The cost is $20.
In addition, the collaborative offers an open studio session for people who need studio space to create the work they love. Open studio classes are $30 and include 10 pounds of clay, glaze and firing. Most of all, it gives folks a chance to get their art out of the basement, the couple said.
And there is a five-week young potters session that introduces students ages 10 to 16 to all things ceramic. The young potters session is $210 and taught by an instructor who holds Pennsylvania and national child-safety clearances.
“We do a variety of hand-building and wheel projects to give our young potters a fun and comprehensive early ceramics education,” Clint said.
He added that the collaborative will “never turn away a student for an inability to pay, because we believe that creative outlets aren’t a ‘luxury’ but are essential for a fulfilling life.”
Goals and more
“Our goals are pretty simple: Get the word out and keep building community. We’re outfitting the studio slowly and figuring out what offerings and times work for folks. We’re hoping to add more wheels, sinks and another hand-building table soon,” Malia said.
She said eventually, they would like to incorporate space for other mediums such as blacksmithing, woodworking, glass and fiber arts.
Malia said the best way to get involved is to do the “Try It” class and progress from there. For more information, visit shacstudio. com or find them on Facebook at South Hills
ROOTS NATURAL KITCHEN TAKES ROOT IN SOUTH HILLS
By Amanda Startare
Photos courtesy of Roots Natural Kitchen
Roots Natural Kitchen, a company founded in 2015 in Charlottesville, Va., started with an idea and a group of recent college grads: they wanted to make food that tasted good and fueled the body, all while staying true to the roots — actual ones, that is. The idea is simple: it's all about going back to nature and eating the best foods possible. Thankfully, Roots has arrived in the neighborhood. Located at 1644 Cochran Road, Roots Natural Kitchen's newest location is bringing some tasty food to the community.
The inspiration for Roots came from a market gap. “The founders built the restaurant they wished they had at the University of Virginia, ” says Larissa Caballero, the director of advertising and marketing at
Roots. So naturally, the very second store opened on a college campus — the University of Delaware. From there, they’ve been expanding throughout the East Coast but are truly focusing on the Pittsburgh area, with two more locations opening in South Fayette and Robinson come January.
“Pittsburgh is a huge growth opportunity for us", says Caballero. Make sure you keep an eye out for the next two grand openings in
Pittsburgh, as all food will be 40 percent off with free swag.
Roots is a fast-casual dining experience that focuses on bowls filled with different variations of grains, vegetables, sauces and proteins, packed with flavor. Those looking for a balanced meal with unique yet complementary ingredients can choose from any of the 10 specialty bowls Roots offers. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can make your own. Simply follow the guide to create your own flavorful bowl. What makes Roots Natural Kitchen so special, aside from their focus on natural food, is the commitment to radical accessibility. Not only does Roots offer fast casual dining and takeout, but it also provides catering and delivery through its own app, with its own drivers. The app's delivery feature has a 10-mile radius, and since it’s Roots’ app, it is a much cheaper and more accessible delivery option.
Roots Natural Kitchen in South
Hills is actually the first store to open with a drive-through attached too, making this fast casual dining just as accessible as other choices.
“If you only have time to go through a drive-through, we have a better, healthier option,” says Caballero. And with accessibility being at the forefront of their mission, Roots offers free meals to all children 12 and under. Simply bring a child to the store or the drive-through, and they eat for free with a purchase of any adult bowl.
The Roots community is collaborative and corporate-owned too, with the founders still taking part in the business. The CEO, however, is Henry Borgerson, an old roommate of the original founders and “the first ever customer,” says Caballero, which is a testament to not just Roots’ health benefits, but the care and flavor they curate, as well. And in the Pittsburgh area, Katie Kisow and Dana Corso are holding down the fort and giving Roots their own personal touches, showing customers just how alive and thriving the passion behind Roots Natural Kitchen is, especially in the South Hills.
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