FREE! JANUARY 2022 Vol. 18 Issue 7
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Elks Lodge 2213 in Bethel Park Delivers Gifts to Veterans Page 7
Tri-State Surgery Center Earns Distinction Page 16
Catholic Parish In South Hills Brings Families Together Page 20
Ringgold High School Graduate Authors Children’s Book, Launches STEM Scholarship Annual Authentic Coach/Michael Kors/Cash & Gift Card Bash in New Eagle Monongahela Area Chamber of Commerce will host the Annual Authentic Coach/Michael Kors/ Cash & Gift Card Bash on Saturday, March 12, 2022. The Chamber fundraiser will be held at the New Eagle V.F.D. Social hall. Doors open at 5:00PM and drawings start at 6:00PM. There will be 7 Cash Drawings, 9 Handbag drawings and 3 gift card drawings. Drawings will be held every 10 minutes. Donation is $25 for two numbers and dinner is included in ticket price. To purchase tickets, visit www.monongahelaareachamber.org or call 724-258-5919 for more information.
they’re feeling down. Diversity is Chantelle Bellavance, a Mon displayed throughout the book, so Valley resident and graduate of children of all backgrounds and Ringgold High School, is abilities can identify with the charachieving success in her chosen acters. The mother of two young field—and beyond. children said the book has sparked After graduating from the some good conversations with her Community College of 5-year-old, and her 3-year-old loves Allegheny County in 2017 with the rhymes. Among her fans are an Associate of Science degree elementary school teachers who in Mathematics & Sciences, she have incorporated the book into returned to earn a Certificate in their curriculum as well as a theraComputer Aided Drafting & pist who is using it with special Design, and then she earned a needs children. Bachelor of Science in Energy The author is also the founder of and Sustainability at Penn State the Bellavance STEM Scholarship University. She is currently that provides non-healthcare working as a technical analyst in STEM scholarships to CCAC stunetwork operations at a large Chantelle Bellavance dents—the first scholarship will be telecommunications company. Bellavance has also found recent success as a children’s awarded this fall. While attending CCAC, she saw a need book author. “Little, Love Yourself from the Inside Out” to provide networking opportunities for STEM students, was published in September and is getting rave reviews. so she started a STEM Club at South Campus. Since The book is designed to help children learn to build self- graduation, she has been invited back several times to confidence and acceptance of themselves and others while speak about her experiences at the college. “Small class sizes, personable relationships with faculty showing them how to work through difficult feelings. “Many times, as a child, our feelings can be overwhelm- and professors, affordable tuition and the ability to maning and confusing. Open dialogue on mental health at an age school while working made CCAC an obvious early age can make a world of difference,” said Bellavance. choice,” she said. “CCAC helped to shape my career and “It was my goal for every child to have the ability to see provided me with opportunities that I didn’t receive while at a large university. I hold my time at CCAC close to my themselves within the pages of the book.” Bellavance, who has suffered from anxiety and depres- heart and am grateful for the education and relationships I sion in the past, loves the fact that mental health is no received.” “Little, Love Yourself from the Inside Out” is longer a taboo subject. She believes it is very important to published through Ingram Spark and is currently available speak “words of life affirmation” to kids, and to let them online at Target, Amazon and Barnes & Noble as well as know it’s OK to reach out and talk to somebody when in local Barnes & Noble stores throughout the region.