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Honoring Our
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MAY 2017
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
MAY 2017 26
Photo contributed by Art Williams
16 What I’ve Learned About Being a Mom In honor of Mother’s Day, Sarah Worthington shares how her life has changed and what she has learned in her time as a mother of two boys.
22 Celebrating 60 Years of Changing Lives
Community Counseling Center celebrates 60 years of providing mental health services to our region.
24 Honoring America’s Armed Forces
Every May we set aside a day to officially honor Americans serving in the military.
26 A Back Yard Full of History
Former teacher, Art Williams, preserves the history of Camp Reynolds, a former World War II Army camp located in Pymatuning Township.
32 Homegrown Heroes: A Salute To Military Men & Women
This month, Valley Voices shares the stories of some of the valley’s veterans.
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Photo by Joseph Zentis
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Photo by Sharp Image Studios
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U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Gaither/Released
Naval Air Crewman (helicopter) 2nd Class Justin Pinelli looks out of an MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to the “Spartans” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, as it takes off from flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). Chief Petty Officer Matthew Dess is deployed on USS George H.W. Bush.
DEPARTMENTS 08 Our View 10 Your Voice 12 Formidable Veteran –– Frank Zelinksy, Director of Veterans’ Services 14 Expert Advice –– Soldiers, Solidarity and Success 48 Resources –– Lend a Hand to the Hard of Hearing 50 Health –– Beyond Postpartum Depression
52 Open Book –– The Trials and Tribulations of Motherhood 54 Out & About –– All-American Eats at 1776 Bar & Grille, Meadville 58 In Good Taste –– Mother’s Day Delicacies 62 Veterans In View 66 Win This – Gift Card to The Cornerstone1908 68 Save the Date 70 Crossword Puzzle
Cover photo provided by Metro Creative
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OUR VIEW
Homegrown Heroes
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he warm weather and sunshine recently pushed my mom’s spring cleaning into high-gear. In between window washing, floor scrubbing and front porch sprucing, a box of old keepsakes resurfaced. The box was a treasure trove of black and white photos of my mom’s parents during their adventures to Germany and Hong Kong, postcards and old coins. But, the most exciting find to me was a discharge document from my grandfather’s service in the United States Army. I knew my grandpa, but never really knew him (he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease when I was young). He was an Army veteran in the 101st Cavalry-Tank Division in the European Theatre during World War II, and reading even a little about his service on those discharge papers inspired me to learn more about the many veterans in our region. This month, Valley Voices salutes our Homegrown Heroes –– those who serve or have served our country. Join us as we honor our Formidable Veteran, Frank Zelinsky, and learn
about resources available for veterans in the valley through The Guardian’s Nest, Inc. Learn about the history of our region’s own World War II tie, Camp Reynolds. Clear your calendars for this year’s Armed Forces Day celebration at Buhl Park, where the community can honor those who have served our country. Take a peek into the lives of some of the veterans in our region in “Homegrown Heroes — A Salute to Military Men & Women.” Serving in the military is no easy task, and we thank those who put their lives on the line each and every day. In honor of Mother’s Day on May 14, we also salute another type of hero — mothers. Read about a working mom’s view on how her life has changed since having children, from temper tantrums to cuddles. Pick up an inspirational read about being a parent, courtesy of the Stey-Nevant Library in Farrell, and don’t forget to try some tasty recipes from The Cornerstone1908 for brunch. This month, we invite you to celebrate the many heroes in your life. No matter the uniform they wear, they deserve a ‘thank you’.
Happy May from Taylor and the staff of Valley Voices
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YOUR VOICE
OUR STAFF
We love to hear from you! Send your comments to:
VALLEY VOICES C/O THE HERALD P.O. BOX 51 SHARON, PA 16146 * Letters may be edited for spelling, grammar and style
I enjoyed reading about Formidable Female Kyleigh Chovan, An Iconic Trio, the Beatitude House story, the story on the Easter Seals and Love Your Neighbor. I love the magazine because there are always interesting articles! -Ellie Powell, Masury, Ohio Each page I turn, I enjoy. Thank you for doing an amazing job! -Carole Ellis, Hermitage Everything in this issue was great. -Tom Johns, Volant I love reading about and supporting local businesses. Plus, I like looking at the advertisements, as some businesses are new to me! -Cathy Smith, Hermitage I liked this month’s yummy recipes! -Monica Rose, West Middlesex I enjoy the list of things to do throughout the month. I don’t want to miss anything! -Diane Kupensky, Masury, Ohio
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EDITOR Taylor Sherman – taylor@valley-voices.com ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANTS Wendy Hughes – wendy@valley-voices.com Sarah Worthington – sarah@valley-voices.com DESIGNER Tom Palko – tom@valley-voices.com CONTRIBUTOR Adrienne Scheetz COPY EDITOR Lynn Saternow – lsaternow@sharonherald.com GENERAL MANAGER Kelly Cummings – kelly@sharonherald.com VALLEY VOICES is published by 52 S. Dock St., Sharon, PA 16146, 724.981.6100 Sharon Sorg – Publisher Copyright © 2017 Newspaper Holdings Inc. All submitted materials become property of Valley Voices. Letters and articles submitted for publication may be edited for style and content at the discretion of Valley Voices to meet the standards of the publication. Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited without written permission from Valley Voices. Unsolicited manuscripts or photographs will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Contributed articles are not necessarily the viewpoint of Valley Voices. Products or services advertised in this issue are not endorsed by Valley Voices. All rights reserved.
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FORMIDABLE VETERAN
Frank Zelinsky DIRECTOR OF VETERANS’ SERVICES
F
rank Zelinsky serves as the Director of Veterans’ Services at America’s Cemetery in Hermitage. Raised in Northeastern, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Palmerton Area High School, Frank excelled as a wrestler. “In 1987, I accepted a wrestling scholarship to Edinboro University,” Frank said. “After attending Edinboro, I enlisted into the Active Army in 1992. While on active duty, I deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom two times. I served 20 years and in October 2014, I retired from Active Army as a Senior Logistics Non-Commissioned Officer. I am currently the Adjutant of Sharon American Legion Post 299 and the Jr. Vice Commander of Shenango Valley VFW Post 1338.” Frank and his wife, Genna, will celebrate their 10th-wedding anniversary in August of this year. The couple have two sons, Collin and Garett. In his spare time, Frank enjoys spending time with family and friends, golfing and riding motorcycles.
Q&A WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU HAVE FACED IN YOUR CAREER? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT? The biggest challenge I faced during my career was leading soldiers from so many diverse backgrounds, ideals and beliefs in a combat setting, some of whom had never deployed. I relied on the leadership I had been shown when coming up through the ranks and applied it to my own leadership style. This enabled me to bring all my soldiers home safely. WHAT IS YOUR BEST ACCOMPLISHMENT? My best accomplishment is retiring from the Army and earning my bachelor’s degree. 12
Photo by Heather Sams Fine Portraits
HOW HAS YOUR LIFE BEEN CHANGED BY JOINING THE SERVICE? I have lived the Army values every day for over 20 years and continue to live by those same values as a veteran. The American Legion and the VFW have helped me channel my “soldier” beliefs, values and attitudes into their organizations by continuing to lead and helping to take care of veterans in the community. Being retired and now working in the local veterans community has helped me have vision and focus in my life. In the Army, I would take care of my soldiers and today I continue that by taking care of veterans.
Frank and Genna Zelinsky at the Bravo Company 1-22 Infantry Ball in Colorado Springs, Colorado, after Frank’s last deployment.
WHERE IS YOUR DREAM VACATION? My dream vacation is sitting with my wife on the white beaches of an island in the Caribbean. IF YOU CAN SPEND A DAY WITH ANYONE (FAMOUS OR NOT), WHO WOULD YOU PICK? I would love to spend a day with my father, sitting out back on the patio, grilling and talking about my deployments and how they related to his deployment to Vietnam. I made a promise to him in 2002 to finish my degree and would show it to him. I would want him to know that I kept my promise and that I turned out okay.
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Frank and Genna attending an Army/Air Force game in the fall of 2011. Frank in front of his headquarters in Kandahar Airfield (KAF), Afghanistan, with two local nationals that were paid to do work. Master Sergeant Mansfield, Frank, and Master Sergeant Martin in front of Headquarters in Kandahar Airfield (KAF), Afghanistan holding a sign that was sent over by the owners of Our Gang’s Lounge, Sharon, showing their support of the Troops.
Photo contributed
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WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION AND WHY? My Dad, John Zelinsky. I grew up watching him work hard to provide for our family and I don’t feel he ever had the chance to enjoy life when he was older. I want to try and do that for him. I think about him daily and hope that he is seeing the kind of man he raised and would be proud of. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT OUR REGION? I like that this is a very veteran-friendly area. The veterans organizations and the local communities work together to help make this region better and better for all citizens. I’m proud to call myself a Shenango Valley resident.
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EXPERT ADVICE
With a mission to provide a comprehensive network of services to meet the physical, emotional and social needs of veterans and their families, The Guardians Nest, Inc. is the brainchild of Penn State Shenango human development and family studies graduate, Brian Flick.
Soldiers,
SOLIDARITY and Success By Brian Flick
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he Guardians Nest, Inc. is a comprehensive program that provides information, referral and social services for the nearly 11,000 United States veterans residing in Mercer County. Through the InventPennState grant, the program is temporarily located within the eCenter at LindenPointe’s Hermitage business incubator. There are many resources available to veterans, however, there is a challenge with helping veterans access them. The first goal is to provide outreach in one central location in Mercer County for information and referral services. This program hub will guide veterans and their family members in learning about what services are available to assist them with their unique set of circumstances at any given time. The second goal is to help mitigate some of the public transportation issues 14
the county faces by having a physical office in the central part of the county’s population. This will facilitate veterans coming in to apply for services such as employment, housing and disability assistance and not have to worry about how they are going to get to all of those places without proper transportation. The idea is to bring the agencies that offer services to veterans all together in one place to assist them; consider it similar to a “one-stop shop” type organization. The third goal of The Guardians Nest, Inc. is to offer, in conjunction with referral and application services, a computer lab. This will greatly increase the amount of information to which veterans are exposed to learning what is out there for them. Plus, it will help those veterans who cannot afford a personal computer and make the process of applying for services a lot easier and more time efficient.
Lastly The Guardians Nest, Inc. offers a set amount of grant money on a case-bycase basis to help veterans and their family members when they have nowhere else to turn. There are already other financial grants available to assist veterans in a time of need. This grant, however, will cover a broader scope of services and open it up to the veteran’s immediate family member in case of service member deployment and to recent widows and widowers. V Information: www.guardiansnest.org or find The Guardians Nest, Inc. on Facebook
Brian Flick Brian is a U.S. Navy veteran with deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and Operation Iraq Freedom in 2003. He currently works with veterans providing housing assistance. Outside of work, he is a volunteer firefighter in his local township and a member of his township’s planning commission.
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What I’ve Learned About Being a Mom Story by Sarah Worthington • Photography by Sharp Image Studios
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It
is no secret that pregnant women are the recipients of loads of wellmeaning advice. Everyone has an opinion on how to be a mother: how to feed a baby, what to feed a baby, where the baby should sleep, if they should cry it out … the list goes on. As I was preparing to have my first son seven years ago, one particular piece of advice stuck with me: once you become a mother, your life will never be the same. Sure, I knew that I wouldn’t get to sleepin every Saturday morning and I would have to buy diapers instead of splurging on a new pair of jeans, but that piece of advice didn’t have meaning for me until I was actually in the thick of motherhood. As prepared as I was to welcome home my bundle of joy, I did not fully understand how my life would be turned upside down. I am the proud mother of two awesome and beautiful boys. They have taught me a lot about being a mom and about myself as a person. In honor of Mother’s Day, I wanted to share what I’ve learned in the short, but oh-so-long years, of being a mom.
Monday through Friday I struggle to find balance. As a working mom, I’m on the hunt daily to find the balance between my job, children, husband and my household. The minute I walk in the door at home, I take off my advertising consultant cap and put on my mom hat. If my husband hasn’t already started dinner, that must get on the table first — as long as I can keep my 2 year old, Luca, out of the cupboard before dinner is ready and get him to actually sit down at the table to eat as a family. The kid hasn’t actually ever eaten a vegetable outside of a squeeze pouch that is mixed with some kind of sweet fruit to mask the taste. He doesn’t even like those anymore. Sigh. The dinner mess then gets cleaned up while my oldest son, Cale, and I work on first-grade homework. I’m certain I didn’t know how to spell “laughter” in first grade but I am amazed at how quickly he catches on. Once we wrap up dinner and homework, it’s bath time. Luca goes to bed first then Cale finishes his snack and is off to bed. This is his time to practice reading so that he can fill out his reading log for school. When he’s done, it’s my turn to read. We’ve been on a Dr. Seuss kick lately, which I’m fine with. I lie
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with Cale in his bed until he is asleep. It’s a comfort for him and the time I get to spend with him one-on-one. This is usually the time he spills secrets from his day or blurts out random thoughts and shows me how much he has grown and how smart he is. I can get carried away thinking about all of the other things that I still need to do like walk the dog, pack lunches and switch the laundry that has been sitting in my washing machine for two days and is beginning to mildew, so I have to remind myself that these nights — these moments — are what matter most to me, and I hope to him. I’ve learned that finding a balance is key. Some days I’m really good at it and other days I fall short. I have learned that having a supportive and helpful spouse makes all the difference. My husband, Lee, couldn’t wait to be a dad and he’s really good at it, too! He picks up the slack, is patient, loves his boys more than anything and makes us laugh while doing it all. I recognize how lucky I am to have a partner that helps, wants to do all the things I can do as a mother and who cares so much for his family.
I’m also sure that all forms of social media, including Pinterest, have made motherhood exponentially harder. I have learned that I will never be that mom that makes her kid’s Halloween costumes, nor will I be the one to make a really awesome Valentine’s Day box (they should be making their own anyway, right?!). I don’t send clever birthday treat bags to school or organize crafts for the weekend’s play date, and that’s okay. I will, however, make my boys a cool birthday cake and can carve a pretty good pumpkin (with a pattern, of course). I’ll play to my strengths. The problem with social media and motherhood is that moms are under constant pressure to do what we see other moms doing. Since Facebook, Instagram and the like feature our life’s highlight reel, we are all guilty of posting only the best. Rarely do we show our messy houses, project fails or photos of our children who refuse to sit still and smile for a nice family picture. I’ve learned there is no room for the guilt that comes along with not living up to what other moms accomplish. We should all do the best we can. My biggest lesson in the seven years 18
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I’ve been a mother is how to love; to love in a way that I’ve never known how to love before. I knew growing up that my mother loved me — she told me so regularly. I did not comprehend how deep that love ran until I became a mother myself. This is the “walk to the ends of the earth for you if it means you don’t have to feel an ounce of pain” kind of love. It’s the “I’d step in front of a moving train for you” kind of love. It’s the love you feel at the very depths of your soul. It’s giving the last bite of my favorite chocolate cake love and the middle of the night comfort hugs love. I have learned that while I’m not good at everything, I am great at loving. And I love my boys. The biggest blessings of my life call me Mom. I couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you to my own mother, who taught me what it means to be a mom and how to love. Thank you to all mothers who work hard every day, for your sacrifices and for the love you show your children. Happy Mother’s Day! V
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SPOTLIGHT
CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES — Including Mine! By Fern Torok
C
ommunity Counseling Center began changing lives in 1957 after a community survey indicated that a mental health clinic was needed. The center started with only three part-time staff and now employs 150. Soon after, CCC opened outpatient locations in Greenville, Grove City, Mercer and added multiple housing services, vocational programs and partial hospitalization throughout the following decades. I remember my first exposure to mental health was when my mom described a man in Sharpsville as “shell shocked” as he hurriedly walked down the street. We now call this post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. In 1995, I was laid off from a previous organization along with two other expectant mothers. Amazingly, CCC hired me at eight months pregnant! It showed me how CCC engenders employee loyalty and demonstrates non-discrimination. CCC expanded services for children throughout the 1990s by adding family based, wraparound, specialized psychiatric medication services, respite and West Central Center for the Deaf. Coincidentally, this parallels the expansion of my own family, with sons born in 1992, 1995 and 1999 (three feminine felines balance out the gender inequity). I earned my Pennsylvania Licensed Social Worker license in 1998 and still maintain my Ohio LSW license. Once your em-
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ployment security is shattered, you keep all options open. After 2000, CCC’s programs grew to include substance abuse services, psychiatric rehabilitation, client run drop-in center expansion, adult peer support services, Fairweather Lodge housing and our transitional employment coffee café in Hermitage. My CCC career includes several different positions and has resulted in personal changes including increased self-confidence, learning how to work with varying personalities, understanding diversity in people, maintaining personal and professional boundaries, knowledge of supervision principles, operationalizing ethics and the critical interplay of physical and mental health. My learned assertiveness is illustrated by author Leo Buscaglia’s quote, “Value yourself. The only people who appreciate a doormat are people with dirty shoes.” CCC’s staff members celebrate personal and family milestones together while also helping each other during difficulties. We provide compassionate emotional support or even tangible assistance by donating vacation time when needed by a colleague. Three successful marriages blossomed among my coworkers! A former CEO said that the order of priorities for staff needs to be God, family and then CCC. I have not always kept family and CCC in the correct order, as I am
sometimes unable to remove my CCC hat. I am always willing to educate the public about the lifesaving changes that CCC can make, such as educating our community about the prevalence of mental illness (one in four persons annually) and how the stigma often prevents vulnerable individuals from obtaining treatment. Another favorite saying is, “A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties,” by former President Harry S. Truman. I challenge you to be an optimist. If you want to make personal constructive changes despite mental health/substance abuse challenges, call us! We can help you make positive changes and live a healthy and more fulfilling life. And remember that both CCC and I have been around for about six decades! V Information: 724.981.7141 Fern M. Torok, MS, LSW is the Community Outreach and Development Director at the Community Counseling Center. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Penn State. Fern has worked at the Community Counseling Center since 1995. Previous employment includes George Junior Republic and Wayne County Ohio Children’s Services Board. She resides with her husband Joe and sons Joseph, Paul and Daniel in the booming metropolis of Fredonia. Felines Callie, Chloe, Coco and Copper complete the family. Photo contributed by Fern Torok
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HERMITAGE LOCATION
1740 East State Street, Hermitage, PA 16148
724-983-8451
GREENVILLE LOCATION
419 S. Main Street, Greenville, PA, 16125
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MERCER LOCATION
315 S. Erie Street Mercer, PA 16137
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Honoring America’s
ARMED FORCES By Adrienne Scheetz
E
ach May we set aside one day to officially honor Americans serving in the five branches of our military — the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Observed on the third Saturday in May, this tradition began on May 20, 1950, following the unification of the Armed Forces to create the Department of Defense. Armed Forces Day was created in August of 1949 by Secretary of Defense, Louis Johnson, in order to reduce the need for individual days celebrating each military branch, and instead celebrate each branch together. Armed Forces Day aims to educate civilians about the Armed Forces and what each branch does and have done in the past. It is also about showing honor and acknowledging the sacrifice of military service members. Armed Forces Day is celebrated all over the country, and a local celebration is held at Buhl Park every year. Dawnle Scheetz, chairperson of the Let’s Celebrate America on Armed Forces Day committee, is one of the many people who put together “Let’s Celebrate America,” celebrating men and women of the military. When asked why she felt celebrating Armed Forces Day is important, she said, “Until we started Let’s Celebrate America Armed two years ago, Forces Day is most people did not know there was a day to honor TH members of our Armed Forces. Mercer County and surrounding counties in Pennsylvania and Ohio have many veterans from World War II to present. Most people do not understand the military and veterans and the contributions they have
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made to this country. Let’s Celebrate America on Armed Forces Day is a day for people to show the military and veterans that they are important. It is a day for people to learn about the wars that our troops have been involved in and to learn of the sacrifice of our military and veterans. It is a day for military and veterans to learn about the benefits that they have earned and for people to thank the military and veterans for what they have done. It is a day for people to understand that freedom is not free and to meet some of the people that have ensured your freedom. Veterans are extremely proud of the service they gave to the United States of America and this is a day for everyone to tell them ‘thank you’.” The local Armed Forces Day event is hosted by the Americana Association, Inc., an organization that promotes Americanism and patriotism. Although the underlying theme of the day is to celebrate and give thanks to our men and women of the military, there will be many activities and entertainment for both adults and children. The New York Times article published in 1952 says it best: “This is the day on which we have the welcome opportunity to pay our special tribute to the men and women of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Marine Corps. We are proud of them and proud to have them with us.” V
Adrienne Scheetz Adrienne is a graduate of Sharon High School and Thiel College, and is currently working on her master’s degree. She resides in Sharon and works for the Cafaro Company, Niles, Ohio.
ARMED FORCES DAY AT BUHL PARK May 20, 2017 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Hermitage
The day’s activities will include: • musical artists • food and merchandise vendors • veteran-owned classic cars and motorcycles • children’s activities • military re-enactors and military static displays with memorabilia
Photos by Joseph Zentis
Donations collected by the Community Food Warehouse of Mercer County will benefit the MilitaryShare program, which provides food to low-income military and veteran personnel. Veterans attending the Armed Forces Day celebration will also receive assistance and information about benefits and entitlements. There will be an accredited Veterans Service officer from the Office of Pennsylvania Military Veterans Affairs office, located at Ft. Indiantown Gap and the Mercer County Veterans Affairs office. Veterans can sign up for their entitlements and benefits for disabilities, pensions with aid and attendance. There will be VA health care personnel from the VA Hospital, Butler, to sign veterans up for healthcare and answer questions about VA health and PTSD counselors available from the Erie Vet Center to provide individual and group counseling enrollment. Attendees will also meet Veterans Affairs representatives from Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Veterans or widows of said veterans will need to bring the Veteran’s DD 214 and any other military documents that will help them sign up for these benefits.
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By Taylor Sherman
the entrance to Camp Reynolds headquarters
Y
ou could call Art Williams of Greenville a history buff, but his expertise isn’t in what you’ll find in a textbook. The former fifth-grade social studies teacher is project manager of The Camp Reynolds Project, which serves to preserve the history of Camp Reynolds, a WWII Army camp that housed over 90,000 troops throughout Pymatuning Township from 1942 to 1946. Art, the son of a WWII veteran, was raised on land where the Transfer camp once stood. “My dad bought two buildings from the camp and that is what I grew up in,” Art said. “My grandfather was a foreman and helped build the camp.” Although he grew up surrounded by Camp Reynolds’ history, it was not until 1992 that his fascination with Camp Reynolds began. As owner and videographer for ACW Productions, Art was asked to produce a video of Camp Reynolds for its 50th-anniversary. “The project started my collection, and as time went on, I continued to develop the history. Over the last three or four years, I’ve put on presentations and displays,” he said. Art often presents to service clubs, students and other people of interest, but despite his audience, his goal remains the same; “to preserve and share … so that the history of Camp Reynolds lingers on long after I’m gone.” 26
“The camp was like a village — it had its own gas station, fire station, chapels, amphitheaters; about 1,000 different buildings for the troops over its 2,500 acres,” Art explained. Originally named the Shenango Personnel Replacement Depot, Camp Reynolds was renamed in 1943 in honor of Major General John Fulton Reynolds, a Civil War hero who was killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. The camp housed soldiers and units until they were called to deploy. “A soldier would go through basic training, then to specialized training and would then come to a place like Camp Reynolds. A typical stay was about 21 days, but for other soldiers, as much as a year was spent at the camp,” Art said.
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He continued, “There were a lot of things for the guys to do. They would play sports like baseball and basketball and even picked up a game against the Cleveland Indians. A lot of entertainment stopped by for the soldiers, like Judy Garland and Louis Armstrong.” In April of 1944, Camp Reynolds switched from a replacement depot to a Prisoner of War base camp, with four
POW branch camps. “The last use of the camp was the Army’s first full-time canvas and webbing repair facility. Soldiers made products like netting and tents,” he said. Camp Reynolds location, Art said, was optimal for a myriad of reasons. Transfer’s proximity to embarkation points and optimal access to railroads was an appeal. Additionally, land was cheap and could be expanded, winters were mild and terrain
clockwise from top: soldiers line up to receive their uniforms before deploying to Europe or South Pacific; soldiers stand guard; military police stop for a photo before patrolling; training session for soldiers at Camp Reynolds; soldiers enjoy entertainment at the amphitheater
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was good. “Over 16,000 people built the camp, working six 10-hour days to complete the project in half a year. Today, none of the camp remains.” For Art, the built-over property still holds its historical significance in Mercer County. “Many people today don’t know about Camp Reynolds. When people learn about our local history, they are amazed that they never knew. It’s like teaching — there is a lot of work, but it is worth the while,” he said. Individuals interested in Camp Reynolds are welcome to chat with Art and explore his collection of memorabilia, including phone directories; copies of the Camp Reynolds paper, “Shenango Victory News;” photos; maps and more. And you never know — maybe you’ll find a bit of history in your back yard … just like Art. V Photos contributed by Art Williams Information: 724.588.8900, www.campreynolds.com or email Art at art@campreynolds.com
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clockwise from top: Professional boxer, Joe Louis, makes a visit to the hospital rec hall; Judy Garland makes her entrance to a visit with soldiers with Lieutenant Bill Kerpan by her side; Lou Boudreau of the Cleveland Indians stops for a photo after a pick-up baseball game.
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Remember Mom
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Daily 10am - 7pm & Saturday 10am -5pm Great Selection of your Favorite Gift Items. BLING!!! Tons of New Jewelry, Scarves & Purses We have potted spring flowers & beautiful gift baskets designed especially for Mothers day gifting
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Unique Mother's Day Gifts Stop in to see our beautiful selection. Over 350 Eggs on display. 1370 Custer-Orangeville Rd. Brookfield, OH 44403 330.448.1573
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Homegrown Heroes A SALUTE TO MILITARY MEN & WOMEN By Taylor Sherman
MAY 2017
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ON-DUTY:
Samantha Ohl
S
amantha Ohl, a U.S. Army veteran and mother of four, has switched out her fatigues for her ‘mom’ uniform... and now she is raising her children to live life and love freely. ★★★ “Since I was 12 years old, I knew I wanted to join the military,” said the Sharpsville native. “I graduated in June of 2005 and was on a plane at the end of June to go to basic training. I was ready to go. I physically trained myself for two years and it all just made sense to me when I left. I wanted to make a difference.” At 18, Samantha started her career in the Army and served as a communications sergeant during her tenure, serving in Fort Riley, Kansas, Wheeler Army Airfield in Hawaii and Iraq. “I made sure radio communications were secure and up to date and able to communicate back to the states,” she said. “I also ran tower guard security during my first tour. My overall job was to take care of soldiers and to make sure they came home alive.” Samantha met her first husband while at her duty station and had her son, Japer, shortly after her first deployment. And as she worked to find the work-life balance as a mom and a soldier, that’s when she found the differences in each lifestyle challenging. “When Japer was just over 3 months [old], I deployed again,” she said. “My time spent with my son was very minimal. Being gone heightened my anxiety. When I got home, he really didn’t know me. It took two months to integrate with my son after I came back; he was a year old.” After she completed her first tour, Samantha spent time with her son before she felt the call to re-enlist.
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clockwise from top: Samantha poses for a patriotic photo with Aina, Maria, Keilani and Japer; Samantha in her U.S. Army uniform; Samantha and her dog, Reggie opposite page: Samantha and Maria kayak during an afternoon getaway
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“My next tour was to Hawaii. My family moved and I had my daughter, Keilani, right before I was deployed. She was 2 months old. I just loved my job so much and loved what I was doing,” she said. Samantha was deployed for 15 months before she went back to Hawaii to be with her family. Following her tours of duty, Samantha developed post-traumatic stress disorder and found difficulty in transitioning from being a mom in the military to a military mom. “It was tough to grasp — staying home and not putting on my uniform was something that was really hard. My daughter, Aina, was born after I finished up in the military and being there to raise her was an experience that I hadn’t had before,” she explained. “After her birth, my husband and I went our separate ways and I moved back home to Sharpsville. We learned through our deployments that we were different people. We were both military so he understood me, and it was better to co-parent.” Back in her hometown, Samantha focused on slowing down her day-to-day so she could enjoy the simple moments with her family. “It’s hard to be a mom and to parent with military experience -–– you need patience. I appreciate every single cry and every single moment that I’ve missed. Before I was a mom, I defined success by earning an award. I’ve learned that it’s okay to
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not always wear a uniform. Now I wear my mom uniform. I’m learning now that every mom is different; too many moms want to be the same. I am different and my family is different. We hunt, we fish and we work together as a family. It takes a village to raise children, and I have my own village that I’m so thankful for.” Samantha’s life has been impacted by her military career, but she would never give up her experience for a different life. “I hold [my military career] so highly, because it was one of the most important parts of my life. If I could go back and do it again, I would,” she said. Today, Samantha and her husband, Aaron, whom she married in 2014, are teaching their children, Japer, Keilani, Aina and Maria about what it means to love and live without limits. “Aaron has helped me raise my kids and has supported our family as we’ve worked to cope with my PTSD,” she said. “This year we are going to a family retreat to help us all cope and learn about PTSD. It affects your family and your kids and your life. It is not something to be ashamed of. I want my kids to know that everything is possible –– there are no limitations.” Photos contributed by Samantha Ohl
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DEEPER THAN THE OCEAN:
A Family’s Love
H
eather and Matthew Dess’ love spans over land and sea. The high school sweethearts have built a love on faith and family –– and pride in Matt’s career in the United States Navy. ★★★ “Matt enlisted in the military before we graduated from New Wilmington High School,” said Heather. “I knew he had planned to join the Navy; it was a decision for both of us. He left in November of 1997, right after graduation.” Matt received his first orders to San Diego, where he started A-School as a sonar technician before his first duty station in Norfolk, Virginia. “At that point, we had married in December [2000] and I moved to Virginia. It was an answer to prayer to be on the same coast. He was stationed on board his first ship, the USS Oscar Austin (DDG79) — a destroyer. The ship was still being built in Maine, so he was gone a lot to build the ship while I was in Virginia. We were separated a lot then,” Heather explained. Matt and Heather lived in Virginia for two years before a job opportunity opened for Matt as a Navy recruiter in Franklin, Pennsylvania. “We were ecstatic; excited to be back home and away from the hustle and bustle of the city,” Heather said. “But, Matt’s job was tough. He was attached to Navy recruiting in Pittsburgh, which required him to drive two hours to work everyday. He did that for three years until he was up for orders again.” Heather stayed in Franklin while Matt moved onto the USS Stout (DDG-55) in Norfolk. “During that time, we were going through fertility treatments, so I went through a lot on my own because my husband was gone. Right before Matt was to
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Photo by Joan Lamp of Blue Pencil Studios
The Dess family; Matt, Leah, Mallory, Heather and Grady
deploy on the Stout, I found out that I was pregnant. I went through my pregnancy alone, so being close to family was a huge blessing. I was due at end of August and went into labor while Matt was on his way back home. He missed Leah’s birth by just hours,” Heather said. During this time period, their faith grew stronger. “Our house finally sold after three years. It was such a blessing! For those years, we lived separately because we couldn’t afford for me to move.
Months after Leah was born, my mom passed away suddenly. I realized that I had those years to spend time with my mom that I otherwise wouldn’t have. It was a big turning point in my faith.” Heather and Leah moved to be with Matt in Virginia, but sea duty orders to the USS Mahan (DDG-72) required him to deploy. “While Matt was on that ship, I started walking every day, joined a moms’ group and got involved. I joined the Family Readiness Group (FRG). We hosted
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While on that comfundraisers, events for mand, Matt made families, halfway parchief. “It was a really ties and a homecoming big deal and one of my party on the pier,” proudest days of him Heather said. “FRG in the Navy.” families are there to Matt and Heather support throughout also welcomed their the entire deployson, Grady, last year ment.” while Matt was in San After he got back Diego. “I Skyped him from the Stout, Matt as soon as my son was got his first shore duty born and had that priassignment to Naval vate moment to tell Air Station Oceana Heather and daughter, Leah, pin anchors him, ‘you have a son.’ Dam Neck Annex, onto Matt’s uniform during his Chief pinning That was huge.” working for the Comceremony. Currently, Matt is mander of Under Sea deployed on the USS Surveillance in VirginGeorge H.W. Bush; an ia Beach. “At that time, aircraft carrier ship deployed in support of we had our daughter, Mallory. That was Operation Inherent Resolve, where he is new for him — experiencing a newborn the leading Chief Petty Officer of OM Diand how fragile I was,” Heather said.
vision in the operations department. “He is the Air Defense Weapons Coordinator on board the ship,” Heather explained. Living as a Navy family isn’t always easy, Heather said, and support from loved ones is crucial. “You have to choose joy, because otherwise you can make yourself miserable. I am so proud of my sailor and I’m going to complete my mission to take care of my family and to love my sailor,” Heather said. Matt agreed, “It isn’t fun being away from home, but we have to put our feelings aside while deployed to get the mission done. When the day ends, whether early in the morning or late at night, it’s satisfying to know we are helping so many people who can’t otherwise help themselves. I am very proud to be American and I’m proud of the work we do overseas.” Photos contributed by Heather Dess
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THEO MCCRACKEN:
A Veteran of Valor
B
ravery, courage, valor. Such words describe Theo McCracken of New Castle. Theo, 90, is a veteran of the United States Army, having served in both World War II and the Korean War, where he received numerous honors for his service. ★★★
“I was a corporal in the U.S. Army Infantry. During World War II, I was in the 78th Infantry Division in Europe. That was the first American division into Berlin,” Theo said. The veteran, who enlisted at 17 years old, was a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) man. “I was what you would call a combat infantryman. I became an expert in infantry, not just rifles,” he said. Theo was one of six soldiers with the title of BAR man. “A BAR is 21-pounds and the average life span of a BAR man is very short. It was a tough job,” he explained. After his first tour, Theo made it home to his high-school sweetheart, Laura. “When I got back from WWII, I was 20 and Laura was 19. I was eager to get married, but still had two years of high school to complete. Back then, if you went into the service before you graduated, you qualified for a diploma. So, I went back to the 10th-grade and my teachers helped accelerate my education,” Theo said. The couple married in New York in 1947 and Theo attended Temple University, Philadelphia, shortly after to study to become a doctor. “I worked at night to pay for my room and board. While I was in college, I realized that I didn’t have the money or resources to go to medical school. I became a funeral director and mortician, working a two-year apprenticeship in Hughesville,” he said. 38
clockwise from top: Laura and Theo smile for a photo during his 90th birthday party; Theo and Laura early in their marriage; Theoʼs portrait from his service in the U.S. Army
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Theo and Laura thought that the military life was in the past and started a family. They had their first daughter, Sharon, in 1949 and soon after received a letter calling Theo to duty. “I can still see it -[my family] took me to Williamsport to catch the bus to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. I got a seat next to a window and watched as my wife and daughter stood. I was sick. I thought I’d never return,” he said. Theo entered the Korean War once again as a BAR man with a fatalist attitude.”I was strong and I was healthy. I liked my job. And then I had what I call my last battle. That is the one that is imprinted on my brain and never goes away. I have PTSD; it is there forever and can’t be shaken loose.” Perched on the top of a hill, surrounded by rice paddies in the middle of a below-zero night, Theo and another BAR man set for battle. “We were asked to cov-
er a cut in the road and keep it open for tanks to come through in the morning. At this point in time, we had been fighting for several hours in weather 23 degrees below zero. I got shot up that night,” he said. Wounded, Theo and his comrade stumbled down the rice paddies in search for help. “We limped across a foot path to find help. I looked up and had a gun to my nose –– it was an American captain. He put us in a cave with other wounded soldiers and told us that we were on the second line. I didn’t realize how badly wounded I really was.” After the battle, Theo was taken to a battalion aid station for medical care. “All of the wounded men were laid out on this field. The captain was a doctor. He walked past each soldier and decided what his disposition was. There was a guy with the captain, Dave Smith. I knew Dave when I first went to Korea, but we were separated
McLusky’s
and I didn’t know where he went. Dave saw my dog tag and noticed that it was me. He took me over to his tent and cleaned me up and got me something to eat. It was a tearful reunion for me and Dave,” Theo said. Afterwards, Theo returned home. “I came back from war to a wife and a baby who was 2 years old. We moved around Pennsylvania and I found mortuary work. I had to mature fast in the Army and after the war, I went back to life with my family. We had five more children -- Theo, Tressy, Donna, Laurie and David,” Theo said. Today, Theo and Laura enjoy their life together, surrounded by family. “Looking back, we had so many challenges in our life,” said Laura. “It wasn’t easy, but we’re thankful for what we’ve gone through.” Photos contributed by Laura McCracken
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MORE THAN A MISSION:
Finding Love Overseas
J
ennifer Hamilla of New Wilmington met Steve Onuska of Ohioville, located in Butler County, through the United States Army Reserves. Working alongside one another thousands of miles from home, Jen and Steve learned that their tour was more than a mission — it led them on a path to find each other. ★★★ “My husband and I served together as Army reservists. We were combat military police,” Jen Hamilla-Onuska said. “For eight years, Steve and I served side by side. Before we deployed to Bosnia in 2001, we really got to know one another. We started dating, but didn’t make much mention of it to any of our comrades. We’d go to a local coffee shop and drink hot chocolate together.” After their tour in Bosnia, the couple decided to get married. “We planned the wedding for 2003 because I was still in the service. 2003 loomed the Iraq War and there were rumors that I would go. I found out on a Wednesday that I was going to be deployed, so we cancelled our wedding and two days later, married in Clarion. The next morning I left. I was supposed to deploy into Turkey, but was rerouted into Kuwait and then pushed into Baghdad.” It was challenging because her husband Steve was not deployed. “He understood what I was going through, but he also wasn’t there. When we would communicate, he already knew what I was going to say before I would say it. While I was in Iraq we lost two of our comrades. He understood without saying a thing. I really don’t know if I could have done it without him,” Jen said. Fifteen months later, Jen returned to 40
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opposite page from top: Jen and Steve in a C-hut in Tuzla, Bosnia; The Onuska family, Steve, Kendra, Adalyn and Jen, in Laurel Caverns right: Steve and Jen at a market in Tuzla, Bosnia
Lawrence County to be with Steve. “It was bittersweet. I was happy to be home and to be safe. Through time, the nightmares, the shakes and the attacks took over. I found it difficult to reincorporate into life upon return. I needed so much from my friends and comrades, but they were married with families. For the first time, I started feeling like I was a little different. Finally, it was through my birth with my daughter, Adalyn, in 2007 that I started treatment for PTSD after I couldn’t sort with whether I was experiencing PTSD or postpartum depression,” she said. In 2009, Steve and Jen gave birth to their second daughter, Kendra. “Really, since the girls have been small, our focus has been on settling into life. This has been the most settled I have ever been in my life. We are reaping the benefits now.” Although the Onuskas have embraced a slower-paced lifestyle since their military service ended, their experiences help them to raise their daughters daily. “Coming from military background, I feel as if we raise our daughters to know that there is no gender bias on what you can do physically and mentally. If they were to go to the military, we would support that 100 percent. My daughters have a deep connection with the military. That’s our mission as parents — to show them the parts of the world that you love,” Jen said. Photos contributed by Jennifer Hamilla-Onuska
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FOR LOVE OF THE CORPS:
Semper Fidelis
K
yle Fiedler, an E-4 Corporal for the United States Marine Corps, learned a lot during his time in the military, and wouldn’t trade his experience for the world. ★★★
“I was 22 when I joined the Marine Corps in 2006,” said Kyle, a native of Transfer. “I went to basic training in Paris Island, South Carolina and it was definitely the hardest thing I have done in my entire life. I was one of the oldest guys there with a lot of high school graduates. At that age, it was like there was a lifetime between us. Boot camp was 13-weeks long … no cell phones, no phone calls. When the 13 weeks were up, it was nice to see my family and my now wife, Kailen. I came home for a week before heading to another camp.” Kyle’s first deployment was to Iraq in February, 2007, where he served as a military police officer. “We went to TQ (Al Taqaddum Airbase) and did convoy security and some highway clearing,” he said. “Some days we’d drive to a base and some days stand guard. When we were in TQ, regular patrols started at 4 p.m. and wouldn’t end until 3 a.m. If we were on a convoy, we’d head out at 5 a.m. and leave at 5 p.m. To get to Fallujah we’d leave at 9 and get back right around breakfast. I was always on the road or on patrol. You would think it would be monotonous, but we had fun. I deployed with my unit so it was all of my friends from MP (military police) school,” he said. After seven months in Iraq, Kyle’s first tour ended and he came back home to Mercer County. “I got back in September of 2007 and my wife and I got married the following month. Coming home and get42
above: Kyleʼs Marine Corps portrait; left: Kyle and a comrade stop for a picture during their duties on tour opposite page: Kyle and his family; Peggy and Jeff, and his sister, Stephanie, after Kyleʼs graduation from boot camp
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ting away from the flag pole [being on base], it is easy to get complacent. I enjoyed life and the smaller things, but after about a month or so, I was ready to go back. It’s a lifestyle that is hard to get away from. It’s kind of an adrenaline rush,” Kyle said. His second deployment to Iraq followed a year later on September 11, 2008. “I got back in April 2009 from my second tour and stayed home for awhile. My first son, Gavin, was born in March [2010] and I went to my next deployment to Afghanistan in September of the same year. It was a short deployment, only 90 days, so it was nice. My wife moved home when I was gone so I knew that I could get home to her. I got back in December and we bought a house in Reynolds. In 2011, I started school at Thiel College, where I earned my bachelor’s degree. There was a lot going on. I was a non-traditional student, working, had a son and a wife and then my other son, Gunner, was born in 2014,” Kyle said. Now, Kyle co-owns a business in Transfer and focuses on being dad to his boys. “Being with my kids is a good time. Keeping them happy is the hardest thing after working long days, but it is a good life to live,” he said. And when asked how his time in the
Marine Corps changed his life? “If I could go back, I’d go in a heartbeat. That was so much fun. A lot of people don’t realize that even though it is dangerous, it is worth it,” he said. Photos contributed by Peggy Fiedler and Kyle Fiedler
On the Battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind. - Dan Lipinski In memory and honor of all those who have sacrificed and are willing to sacrifice their lives for me and my family. You are not forgotten and your service is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your service. SPECIAL INTERESTS IN: • General Obstetrics • High-Risk Obstetrics • Mona Lisa • Laparoscopic Hysterectomy • Incontinence Surgery • Menopause • Osteoporosis • Integrative Medicine
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Honoring Heroes, Healing Hearts
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picture is worth a thousand words, and a good story leaves a lasting impression. Katie Costello of Hubbard knows just how one story can change a life. After years of knowing little about her father’s time in the Army during the Vietnam War, she got a piece of her dad’s story that she never knew. And now that he has passed, she hopes to share his story in his memory. ★★★ “Most of my life we didn’t talk about his experience in Vietnam,” Katie said. “It wasn’t until Memorial Day weekend of 2014 that I learned more about him. I was in a car accident and totaled my car. We found a car in New York and my dad and I road-tripped to pick it up. On the way, he started telling me all about the war.” That day, Katie felt a stronger connection to her dad, Tony Matola, and was inspired to learn more about him. A few months after their trip, Tony was diagnosed with lung cancer — an effect of Agent Orange. ”The doctor found something in his lung and called for further testing. He was diagnosed with stage-4 small cell carcinoma,” Katie said. Tony had one year of therapy through the VA in Wade Park and died on July 8, 2015 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. “After my dad died, it was really hard. Heading home from the hospital that day, I saw a landed huey from Vietnam in Hubbard. I looked over to the helicopter and that’s when I realized that I needed to go to Vietnam,” she said. The Army helicopter was the exact sign Katie needed to further honor her father, and in April, 2017, she and her husband, Dave, took a trip to Pleiku — the same region where Tony was assigned 44
above: Tony Matola left: Dave, Katie and Anastiya Costello opposite page: Hoa Nguyenʼs dad, Mr. Nguyen
Photos contributed by Katie Costello
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during the war. “I kept thinking about how our trip needed to have something to do with Agent Orange. I picked up a book about Vietnam after the war and also read about Friendship Village, which was started by a veteran,” she said. “My efforts to link to my dad also introduced me to Hoa Nguyen, a woman who writes for a newspaper in Vietnam. Hoa’s dad, a Vietnamese war veteran, died 7-months prior to my dad. It was interesting because he was my dad’s enemy and a generation later, I have a friendship with his daughter.” She also acknowledged that her time in Vietnam gave her a new focus in life. “There was a healing component to this trip –– it is what I felt most strongly to do. My goal is to help families in Vietnam affected by Agent Orange, but I also feel like a piece of my dad was left in Pleiku and I am going to claim him back.” Not only has Katie taken a trip overseas to
support veterans and families, her interest in the needs of veterans and their families has pushed her to help the community, and her experience with animals at The Canine Campus, 757 North Main Street, Hubbard, Ohio, was a great place to continue the honor. She co-founded The Together Journey, a nonprofit organization that provides service dogs to veterans and individuals with disabilities. “One project that we’ve started is that each year we will provide a veteran with a service dog –– a ‘Tony,’ named after my dad,” she said with a smile. ★★★ Jean Dammann is one of the volunteers who spends time training dogs for The Together Journey. She works with Diesel, a pit bull rescue dog who services a woman in Ohio named Maddy.
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Honoring Heroes, Healing Hearts Jean started volunteering at The Canine Campus after she and her husband, Mark, moved to Vienna, Ohio, from New Jersey in June. “I was looking for mountains and woods to heal me,” she said.
Photo contributed by Jean Dammann
Jean’s son, Brian Connelly, was a combat engineer in the United States Army when he was killed in Adawar, Iraq in 2009. “It was such a traumatic loss. It is difficult to be in social situations sometimes. Working with Diesel, I get to help him, but he also helps me. A big part of this program is to help veterans, but I didn’t realize how much it would do for my life.” She also believes her volunteer work is something her son would appreciate. “Brian was a big animal lover and I think he would be really proud of what I’m doing -it gives me a purpose,” Jean said. “The program is a win all around. Diesel is out of the shelter, Maddy is getting the help she needs and Diesel helps me. It keeps my mind busy.” Katie and Jean continue their journeys to honor their loved ones — together. “Whatever it takes to heal, we do just that,” Jean said. “Animals are not judgmental and they always listen. Animals help us all.” V 46
Photo by Taylor Sherman
left: Brian Connelly above: Katie, Mark and Jean stand with Diesel, a service dog trained at The Canine Campus
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NOW OPEN IN HERMITAGE!
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RESOURCES
Lend a Hand to the
HARD of HEARING By Meg Mirizio
F
ollowing the motto ‘we share’, the mission of Quota International of Hermitage is to be of service to women, children, the deaf and hard of hearing in our community. Countless efforts by a small group of women include giving a yearly scholarship to a student majoring in audiology or speech and language pathology, donating holiday meals and volunteering, but one project that is near and dear to me as co-chair of the hearing and speech committee is the recycled hearing aid program. My youngest son, Ryan, has had significant hearing loss in both ears since birth and has worn hearing aids since he was a baby. My experience has impacted my passion for helping those with similar stories. Approximately one May is out of 10 newborns who fail hearing screenings are diagnosed with hearing loss. This loss can be identified within one to two days of birth. Hearing aids are an investment because they are costly and of-
BETTER HEARING MONTH
ten not covered by insurance. For families in need, Quota accepts used hearing aids and related equipment. Donated aids are either refurbished and given to those in need or they are used for parts and for students to study and practice with. An application process is required for those in need that may be interested in the program. Cost is minimal or possibly free of charge. Quota works with a local audiologist to turn over collected aids and applications. A hearing test given by an audiologist is necessary to determine the individual’s particular type of hearing loss and what kind of aid would be the best fit. Unlike glasses that can restore normal vision, hearing aids do not restore normal hearing. People who wear hearing aids will still have difficulty understanding speech clearly when spoken too quickly, in noisy settings or from a distance. Sometimes, even when someone has the best hearing aids for their particular loss, they may not have enough hearing to understand all speech at a conversational level in either ear. Such scenarios may mean that the individual is a candidate for a co-
chlear implant, which is an electronic device inside the ear that functions as the damaged cochlea. May is Better Hearing Month, so lend a hand to those who are hard of hearing in our community! V
examples of the types of hearing aids that the Quota Club offers
Information: To learn more about the refurbished hearing aid application process or to donate hearing aids, call 724.981.8850 Meg Mirizio is co-chair of the Hearing & Speech Committee of Quota International of Hermitage.
701 North Hermitage Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148
“Dr. Rich” Ribarevski & Dr. Doug Smith Convenient Hours • Most Insurances Accepted and In-house Financing Available The AAO recommends that your child should get an orthodontic checkup no later than age 7! 48
724-981-8421 www.svortho.com Like “Shenango Valley Orthodontics” on Facebook.
WE OFFER BRACES FOR ALL AGES!
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The Gift of Relaxation & Beauty for Mother’s Day Massage
Neck, Back, Shoulders Deep Tissue Hot Stone Swedish Prenatal Couples Massages
Facial Skin Care
Basic Facial Anti-Aging Facial Hot Stone Facial Deep Cleanse Detox Facial Vitamin C Facial Deluxe Facial
Waxing
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724-981-8445
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MAY 2017
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HEALTH
beyond
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION By Laura McElhinny
SCENARIO 1: I am a mom to an 11-month-old. I meet my psychotherapist once a week. In our sessions, I work through overwhelming anxiety and daily panic attacks. I also struggle with guilt that my baby’s first few months were rocked by a traumatic birth experience, followed by nursing challenges and the inability to get my baby to sleep more than 2 hours at a time. I now have a phobia of leaving the house, as scary scenarios play out in my head all day about the baby. If anyone mentions to me that I should be “cherishing these moments,” the guilt, anxiety, fear and panic feel like they are going to consume me.
SCENARIO 2: I am a mom to a 3-year-old and a 2-month-old. Every morning I Facetime my mom in Georgia, look at my sister’s Facebook status to see how her vacation in Ireland is going and email invoices for my online LuLaRoe business to women three states over. I juggle all that while on-demand breastfeeding the baby and making sure my toddler has their homework packed for preschool and a nutritious breakfast in their belly. My husband kisses me goodbye, heads off to work and I begin to count the hours until he is home so he can help with the bedtime routine. I make a mental list of 100 things I need to accomplish in the next 12 hours. I down my third cup of coffee and race out of the door at 7:45 a.m., tired, overwhelmed and using every fiber of my being to keep my act together.
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Scenario one is clearly a woman struggling with postpartum distress. But what about scenario two? Is she struggling? Yes! But, this generation of mothers learns to keep struggles to themselves to achieve the super-mom label and we judge, criticize and shame ourselves and one another when we fall short. The super-mom label is a falsehood created by social media and marketing schemes. If we were all more selfcompassionate, it would not just be the mom who is not functioning well that reaches out for help. We would all be reaching out and in turn encouraging, supporting, understanding and enjoying ourselves more. Here are some helpful tips to increase support and develop self-compassion.
BOOST SUPPORT: – Make a list of family and friends who can help. Let these people know they will be your go-to supports so that they are ready. – The Buhl Community Recreation Center hosts a Moms2Moms group twice a month on Tuesday nights. – Moms Matter Shenango Valley offers programs at the Buhl Community Recreation Center and puts on regular events that include a children’s program so that you do not need a babysitter. – The Community Library of the Shenango Valley hosts a fun workshop for families with babies and toddlers.
MAKE YOURSELF A PRIORITY: – Start with your baby shower. Instead of gifts, have friends purchase meal packages for you from places like Blue Apron or Hello Fresh to be available in the first few months of your baby’s life, or a two month cleaning service. Fresh meals and a clean home are much more appreciated than any toy. – Talk to your OB/GYN about proper nutrition required during and after pregnancy. If making healthy meals is challenging, discuss how to supplement with
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DR. RONI SUE ROSATI FAMILY DENTAL PRACTICE
recommended vitamins and minerals. – Drink water! It is so easy to forget or forgo, but such an important part of our mental health. – Try to get at least five hours of uninterrupted sleep as often as possible. Continuous bouts of four hours or less of sleep has been shown to increase risk of postpartum distress. – Enjoy the sunshine! Sit outside at least 20 minutes a day and let your body soak in vital vitamin D. – Take a brisk walk 20 minutes a day to boost your mood. – While you are feeding your baby, rest your eyes and do a quiet breathing meditation where you tell yourself simple statements such as “I am strong” and “I am calm.” You may not believe it, but you can trick your body into feeling better by providing some self-compassion. If boosted supports and increased self-care are not enough, talk to your OB/GYN about how you are feeling or look to the Postpartum Support International website for a referral list of qualified therapists in your community. If you visit the Postpartum Support International website, you will see on their opening page, “You are not alone.” More and more moms are finding their voice and speaking out to normalize the struggle of pregnancy and motherhood and the great demands our culture puts on us. Speak up, let your voice be heard, find support and know that you are not alone! Therapy is also available at Primary Health Network’s Dayton Way Health Center in Sharon. Therapy is offered for both families and on an individual basis. V Information: www.primary-health.net or 1.866.276.7018.
Laura McElhinny
Services Include: • Cosmetic Dentistry • Implants • Dentures • Crowns & Bridge Work
We are here to help your smile Preventive Care Restorative Dentistry
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! 3110 Highland Rd. Suite 202, Hermitage, PA 16148
724-981-0521
www.rosatidental.com
Tour stops: Artisans’ Corner Gallery, The Barn Treasures, Between Two Rivers, Buckeye Chocolate Café (Chardon), The Carriage Trade Boutique, Countryside Gazebos, Crystal’s Custom Cupcakes, D & S Farm and Garden, DS Cakes & Sweets, Elite Auction Gallery, End of the Commons General Store, Fig Leaf Coffee Company, Geauga Park District’s Observatory Park, Great Lakes Outdoor Supply (Middlefield), Hastings Dairy & Rowdy Cow Creamery, His Daughter, Honey Hill Peddler General Store, John’s Country Nursery, Karl’s Jewelry, Keller Williams-Geauga Realty Group, Richards Maple Products, Scheid’s Gifts for all Seasons, Special Hands Shoppe, Valentine Antiques, Weaver Bedding List of Stops & Tour Map available at DestinationGeauga.com, by calling 440-632-1538, and also available at each tour stop.
Laura is a Psychotherapist, EMDR Certified Therapist, Perinatal and Postpartum Therapist, and Certified Mindful Motherhood Group Facilitator for the Primary Health Network, located at 1 Dayton Way, Sharon. MAY 2017
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Motherhood OPEN BOOK
The Trials and Tribulations of
By Merriel Brown
Motherhood is hard! Just when we think we have it figured out, we find out just how wrong we are, and have to start again. But have no fear — you’re not alone, even when it feels like you are! One minute, our kids are making us scream and the next, we are crying because we love them so much. For all of the feelings that come with being a mom, from the funny to the heartwarming and the sad, check out Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirit of Mothers by Jack Canfield et al. To the mother who chose adoption, read Firstborn by Robin Lee Hatcher, a gripping novel about a mother who reconnects with the daughter she gave up so many years ago. Will she choose the daughter that she hasn’t seen in over 20 years or will she choose her husband, who is struggling to come to terms with the news of a child that was kept a secret for so long? For all the single mothers pulling double duty, read The Complete Single Mother: Reassuring Answers to Your Most Challenging Concerns by Andrea Engber and Leah Klungness, Ph. D. for tips and guidance 52
on all the things that life will throw at you; from how to handle child support to dating again and everything in between. For the mom of teens, there’s no hope. Just kidding! Check out Get Out of My Life, But First Could You Drive me and Cheryl to the Mall?: A Parent’s Guide to the New Teenager by Anthony E. Wolf, Ph. D. But seriously … good luck! For the girl who parents her siblings, Mommy’s Angel by Miasha is a must-read. At 15, Angel is struggling to make ends meet for her and her siblings, so she turns to stripping for the money they need. But, will this make her into the very mother that abandoned them in the first place? And finally, to the daughter who is mourning the loss of her mother on Mother’s Day, check out Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss by Hope Edelman to help come to terms with what it means to survive life after mom. The death of a mother is life-altering and Edelman delves
into how shaken the world becomes when the one person you have always turned to is no longer there. Hundreds of women were interviewed for this book to grasp exactly what it means to be a motherless daughter. You are not alone in your grief and Mother’s Day does not have to be a sad day for you. Let the memory of your mother shine bright. V Come check these great books and many more, but first, take a day and relax, mom. You deserve it! The Stey-Nevant Library is located at 1000 Roemer Boulevard, Farrell. Information: 724.983.2714 or www.steynevantlibrary.com
Merriel Brown Merriel is the branch manager at the Stey-Nevant Library, the mother to two wonderful boys, William and Max, and the product of a wonderful mother, Rhonda.
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Find fun events happening this Spring and Summer Request a FREE Mercer County Spring/Summer Calendar Events mcpa@VisitMercerCountyPA.com or
call 724-346-3771
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OUT & ABOUT
Life ★ Liberty ★ Libations ALL-AMERICAN EATS AT
1776 Bar & Grille Story and Photography by Taylor Sherman In the thick of the Revolutionary War, commander in chief, George Washington, led tough battles against the British. On July 4, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence, marking the beginning of our country’s nationhood. 1776 was a big year for the United States as the Founding Fathers structured the democratic government that our nation follows today.
T
stuffed portobello wellington 54
oday, the history of the American Revolution takes on a whole new meaning for John Geving of Greenville and Josh Egal of Pittsburgh. The men are credited as the founding fathers and co-owners of 1776 Bar & Grille, located at 994 Market Street in Meadville. “1776 means different things to different people. For us, the name reflects just what this country is about — freedom,” John explained during a recent trip to the restaurant. A true farm-to-table experience with meat home-grown by John at Cherry Hill Farm in Mercer and Crawford counties, guests can expect to indulge in the freshest cuts of meat during their dining experience at the scratch-kitchen restaurant. Advertising consultant, Sarah, and I were excited to enjoy the home-grown flavors of 1776 and found ourselves having a
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iamond Annivers ary th D CCC 0 6
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Community Counseling Center
2201 East State Street, Hermitage, PA
WORLD CLASS DENTAL CARE All of your family’s dental needs in one place • Exams • Cleanings • Fillings • Professional Custom Whitening • Cosmetic Veneers
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Domenic G. Lombardi, D.M.D.
We Accept Most Insurance Plans & Offer Interest-Free Financing
Are you uncertain about your financial future? Call me at 7243086273 for a consultation.
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Diane Gardner CFP®, CDFA®
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724-308-6273
www.wrightgardner-lplfinancial.com Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC
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✓ Separation & Divorce
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Helping Individuals And Families Lead Healthy And Fulfilling Lives Since 1957 Proud Member of the United Way of Mercer County and the Grove City Area United Way Limited English Proficiency Access Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
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hard time selecting our entrees, as everything sounded delicious. The menu selection was vast, including salads, flat breads, burgers, sandwiches, meat sundaes and macaroni and cheeses. We started our meal with a house specialty appetizer, 1776 shoestring fries. These crispy spuds were fried and seasoned with parsley, garlic and other seasonings that made them tasty on their own
salisbury steak but even better when dipped into a creamy beer cheese made with neighboring Voodoo Brewery’s Wynona’s Big Brown ale. Sarah particularly liked the garlic kick that the fries provided and the perfectly dip-able consistency of the beer cheese. Other appetizer options included deep fried pickle chips, “Meadball” meatballs with garlic bread and house-marinated buffalo shrimp. Next, it was time for dinner. After perusing the selection of hearty meals with a gourmet flair, Sarah decided to take on an at-home favorite, salisbury steak. The beef patty was blanketed in a beef and mushroom gravy and provided a warm and peppery flavor. Paired with garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables, Sarah thought the flavors were bold and reminiscent of a family favorite. I toggled between a few options before deciding on the stuffed portobello welling56
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ton and it was a worthy decision. The ginormous portobello mushroom cap was stuffed with creamy feta cheese and spinach before it was baked in perfectly crispy puff pastry and topped with balsamic glaze and red pepper coulis. All of the ingredients were fresh and complementary to one another, especially paired with garlic mashed potatoes and a medley of sautÊed zucchini, squash, red peppers and onions. The dish was hearty, but did not leave me feeling guilty as I finished my last bite. And like any good meal, dessert was a must. Sarah and I dove into a slice of house-made red velvet cheesecake with a crunchy Oreo crust and topped with fresh whipped cream. The cake followed its name — it was rich and velvety and a perfect ending to our meal. Aside from its broad selection of farm-to-table entrees and a dining room window that allows guests to peek into the scratch kitchen, 1776 also offers a slew of signature cocktails, 12 craft beers from local breweries and a cigar lounge separate from the dining room. Over the course of its three years in business, 1776 1776 has shoestring fries welcomed diners 18 and older to sit back, get close to their food and enjoy a night with good company. Whether sipping on a cocktail during trivia night or catching up with co-workers over a farm-fresh meal, 1776 welcomes you to enjoy life the simple way. V
Grand Opening May 13th @ 12:00 SCENTRAL PARK ON THE HUBBARD PET RESORT PROPERTY Admission $1.00
Show Proof of Rabies, Distemper & Bordetella Vaccinations Annual Memberships and Day passes will be available for purchase
1776 is open from 3 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Information: 814.807.0600 or find 1776 Bar and Grille on Facebook
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MAY 2017
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IN GOOD TASTE
y a s ’ r D e h t o M s e i c a c i l e D
This Mother’s Day, treat your mom to a meal that is sure to please! Chef Adam Hale of The Cornerstone1908 has a selection of dishes that will leave everyone at the table asking for seconds.
By The Cornerstone1908
CREPES INGREDIENTS: 2 large eggs ¾ cup milk ½ cup water 1 cup flour 3 tablespoons melted butter Butter (to coat the pan) DIRECTIONS: In a blender, combine all of the ingredients and pulse for 10 seconds. Chill crepe batter in the refrigerator for one hour. This allows the bubbles to subside so the crepes will be less likely to tear during cooking. The batter will keep for up to 48 hours. Heat a small non-stick pan. Add butter to coat. Pour one ounce of batter into the center of the pan and swirl to spread evenly. Cook for 30 seconds and flip. Cook for another 10 seconds and move to cutting board. Lay crepes out flat so they can cool. Continue until all batter is used. Fold in your favorite fruit or fruit filling for a sweet crepe or make a savory variation such as fresh herbs with spinach and tomato.
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ASPARAGUS CASSEROLE INGREDIENTS: 4 tablespoons butter 2 ½ pounds asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 1 (8-ounce) package white mushrooms, sliced ½ medium sweet onion, chopped ¼ cup all-purpose flour 1 ¼ cups milk ½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup sour cream ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese ½ cup shredded swiss cheese ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon lemon pepper ¼ teaspoon paprika 1 (6-ounce) can French-fried onions DIRECTIONS: Grease a casserole dish and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add asparagus, mushrooms and onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about six minutes. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and cook, stirring continuously, for one to two minutes. Gradually stir in milk. Cook until thickened. Reduce heat to low and mix in mayonnaise, sour cream, both cheeses, salt, lemon pepper and paprika. Remove from heat. Crush about 1/3 of the can of French-fried onions and mix into the asparagus mixture. Transfer mixture to prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining French-fried onions on top. Bake for 30 minutes.
Family Run Business Since 1957
Beautiful Mother’s Day Hanging Baskets “We grow what we sell!” - Trish & Joe Barovich More than 57 varieties of vegetables! 2265 River Road (south end of Rt. 846) Hermitage, PA • 724-962-5511 Open Monday thru Saturday 9-8, Sunday 1-8
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IN GOOD TASTE
VEGETABLE QUICHE INGREDIENTS: ½ cup diced onion 1 green bell pepper, diced 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded 2 tablespoons flour 4 large mushrooms 4 eggs 1 ½ cups milk ½ teaspoon salt 1 dash cayenne DIRECTIONS: Sauté onions, peppers and mushrooms in one teaspoon of butter over medium heat for 10 minutes. While vegetables are cooking, toss cheese and flour together. Combine eggs, milk and seasoning and mix together. Add cheese and vegetables to egg mixture and mix well. Pour into pie crust and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE INGREDIENTS: 1 (9-inch) pie crust, baked 3 egg yolks, beaten 1 ½ cups white sugar 3 tablespoons cornstarch ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder ½ teaspoon salt 3 cups milk 1 tablespoon butter 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup whipped topping or meringue DIRECTIONS: In a large mixing bowl, cream together egg yolks and sugar. Mix in cornstarch, cocoa powder and salt. Add milk and stir gently. Pour mixture into a large saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling. Remove from heat. Stir in butter or margarine and vanilla extract. Cool slightly, then pour mixture into pastry shell. Chill before serving. Garnish with whipped topping or meringue. FOR MERINGUE: Whip egg whites in electric mixer with ¼ teaspoon of cream of tartar until frothy. Add ¾ cup sugar and whip until stiff peaks form. Spread over pie and return to oven for 5 minutes to brown meringue.
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The Cornerstone1908 was established in Greenville in 2014 and is located in the historic Keifer Building on the St. Paul’s campus. A casual dining experience for lunch and dinner is offered with a menu full of gourmet flair. Customers enjoy sandwiches, salads, entrees and much more prepared with fresh, local ingredients and homemade desserts. Chef Adam Hale mingles with guests in the dining room on a regular basis. A full-service restaurant that is open to public, patrons may also contact The Cornerstone1908 to schedule private parties or to cater special events. V Information:724.589.4500 Photos contributed by The Cornerstone1908
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For a tour of Juniper Village – A Personal Care Community for Seniors please call
724.347-4000 www.junipercommunities.com 1330 Kimberly Road, Sharon, PA 16146 724-347-4000 • 724-347-4035
3299
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Signature: Please make checks payable to: The Herald Send payment to: The Herald, P.O. Box 51, Sharon, PA 16146 For more information call Views & Voices at 724-981-6100 MAY 2017
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COMMUNITY VIEWS
Veterans In View To submit your photos from a recent event, please contact Taylor Sherman at taylor@valley-voices.com.
In Memory‌ Mary Lois Miller served as a seaman in the United States Navy during World War II. She was stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. Mary Lois and her husband, Kenneth Miller, an Aviation Machinist’s Mate in the U.S. Navy during World War II, lived in Wheatland.
Photo contributed by Pam Miller
Kenneth A. Miller served four years, including one tour of duty in Vietnam, as a Sergeant E4 in the United States Air Force. Kenneth was honorably discharged in 1969 and lived in Brookfield, Ohio, with his wife, Paula. Kenneth passed away on May 5, 2004.
Photo contributed by Paula Miller Thomas P. McComb served as an Army Co. A, 548th Engineer Specialist, 4th Class E4 during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1969 and lived in Hermitage with his wife, Pat. Thomas passed away on July 26, 2014.
John Moneypenny served as a Coxswain in the United States Navy during World War II. He served from 1943 to 1946, before moving to Conneaut, Ohio, where he married his wife, Mary Lou.
Photo contributed by Pam Miller
Photo contributed by Pat McComb
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In Honor… Mark Zgela retired in 2007 after serving in the U.S. Navy for 30 years. He retired as an E-9 rank/Command Master Chief and was last stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, but traveled all over the country — much of his time spent under oceans in submarines!
Photo contributed by Lisa DiMuccio-Zgela
Thomas L. Rankin served as an E4 in the U.S. Army from 1974 to 1978. During his service, Thomas was awarded a National Defense service medal, Good Conduct medal and a parachute badge. Thomas’s service followed his father’s footsteps, Wilson H. Rankin, who was an M1 Rifleman expert in World War II, and Barry Rankin, who toured in Europe through the U.S. Navy.
Photo contributed by Crystal White
H. Daniel Tulip served 21 years in the U.S. Army on active duty as a military policeman. He had 3 tours in Iraq and was awarded two Bronze Star Medals. The photo shows him at initial enlistment in 1988 and at retirement in 2009. Dan resides in Hermitage with his wife Marcie. Together they have 6 sons, a daughter-in-law and two granddaughters.
Photos contributed by Marcie Tulip
This month, Valley Voices honors all who serve or have served in the United States military. For your dedication and sacrifice to protect our freedom, we thank you. We will never forget that freedom comes at a price and are grateful for your service.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group Children’s Aide Society of Mercer County 350 W. Market St., Mercer, Pa 16137
Meetings held 3rd Wednesday of every month at 6pm
About us: Our meetings are open to all those affected by Autism; family
June 4-9 Deluxe Ocean City, MD, Oceanfront ................$599 June 28-29/Sept. 12-13 Creation Museum, Ark Encounter ................................................................$279 July 8-13 Ottawa,Montreal,Quebec City ........................$899 Contact us for additional details and information! 2103 Wilmington Rd., New Castle, PA 16105
724-658- 9200 or 800-374-9825 www.breakawaytours.biz
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members, friends, healthcare providers, etc. We provide support, education, and resources in a casual relaxed setting. Call for more information 724-992-2527 like our facebook page for updates www.facebook.com/asdsgroup
Children’s Aid Society
Improving the Quality of Life for Children and Families…
350 West Market St. • PO Box 167 • Mercer, PA 16137 • 724-662-4730 Fax: 724-662-4295 CASMC@zoominternet.net Day/Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday (office) 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
CARING FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SINCE 1899
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Let Your Inner Beauty Shine Connections to Hope provides you with the tools to help you find your Identity, build your Self Esteem and regain your Empowerment. For more information please call
724.346.0667 or visit our website www.connectionstohope.org All consultations are strictly confidential
Come and enjoy over 5 acres of our display gardens, open April 15 until our closing in October during regular business hours. Private tours are available during and after business hours. Our Pavilion is available by reservation for garden clubs and other group events.
GIFT CARDS Av
ailable!
Call for details.
1004 East Lake Rd.,Transfer, PA 724-962-1230
djsgreenhouse.com
We are open April 15 - mid October Visit our website for our hours of operation
2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS May 16 Gardening to Attract Hummingbirds 6:30pm Guest Speaker: Paula Shacklock May 23 Gardening to Attract Butterflies 6:30pm Guest Speaker: Donnajean Enyeart May 30 Vegetable Gardening Class 6:30 pm Is it time yet? Planting a Veggie Pot Demo!
Celebrating over 30 years in business
A Real Estate Career Offers... • Unlimited • Flexibility Income Potential • Excitement Howard Hanna Provides... • Pre-Licensing Classes • Free Training • Non-Competing Managers Call me for more info!
Julie Dolan Cylenica Associate Broker
724-962-8701, Ext.11 64
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WIN THIS
Enter to win a Gift Card to
THE CORNERSTONE1908 RESTAURANT Greenville | $25 Value
HERMITAGE
GREENVILLE
NEW CASTLE
490 N. Kerrwood Dr. Suite 202
41 Hadley Rd
1714 Wilmington Rd
724-588-1810
724-658-6645
724-981-9771
Find us on Facebook
Winner will be announced in next month’s issue.
Check out our new Northwood.com website Choose Your Agent....agent name.northwood.com
Cathy Jean Smith of Hermitage was our April winner. Just fill out our survey and return it to the Valley Voices office (located on 2nd floor of The Herald building) or mail to Valley Voices c/o The Herald, P.O. Box 51, Sharon, PA 16146
www.northwood.com
Responses may be used in a future publication of Valley Voices.
WIN THIS – MAY –
Sherri M - Senior Director and Independent Demonstrator
VALLEY VOICES Name Age
Phone
Address
E-mail What would you like to see more of?
What did you enjoy most in this issue?
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VALLEY VOICES
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Visit
GROVE CITY and Olde Town Grove City Eat local. Shop local. Enjoy local. Come dine with Nonni today! 251 South Broad Street Olde Town Grove City
111 Breckenridge Street Grove City, PA 16127
724.264.4337
Phone: (724)458-9830 grovecityagway.com
nonniscorner.com
Business Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Sat 8:00 am - 6:00 pm • Sun Closed
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Authentic Italian Dining
Day Tea ✴ SMother’s , M 13 11 -2
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presents
ATURDAY
our annual recital
Viva Rock Vegas
♥
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Saturday, May 20, 2017 • 5:30 pm Sharon High School
✴
♦
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1129 East State Street Sharon, PA 16146
Advance Tickets now on sale $15
Tickets at the door $20
TRAIN WITH THE BEST THIS SUMMER JUNE 12-29 SUMMER INTENSIVE JULY 29 FREE DANCE DAY JULY 30 COMPANY AUDITIONS AUG. 7-24 SUMMER INTENSIVE II SEPTEMBER 4 LABOR DAY PARADE SEPTEMBER 5 FALL CLASSES BEGIN
330-307-8381
TH FROM
AM
Join us as we honor all women who are helping to make this world a better place. Pamper mom with a delicious brunch menu and featured teas from Special-Teas, Etc. Call 724.630.4785 for reservations.
@pa_dance_co
724-901-7059
www.thejacquelinehouse.com
MAY 2017
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PM
3213 Pennsylvania 956, New Castle, Pennsylvania
115 East State Street, Sharon, PA thepennsylvaniadanceco@gmail.com www.thepennsylvaniadanceco.com
AY
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SAVE THE DATE
Upcoming EVENTS
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE DATES TO REMEMBER May 2017 SUMMER AT BUHL PARK
Buhl Farm Park, 715 Hazen Road, Hermitage, welcomes you to enjoy all of this season’s offerings during Summer at Buhl Park. Oldies and Funk Dance on May 4, Julia’s Spring Tea on May 7 and the opening of the outdoor pool on May 27 are some of the park’s upcoming happenings. Information: 724.981.5522 or www.buhlfarmpark.com
May 2, 2017 SPRING TOUR OF HOMES
The Colony at St. Paul’s invites you to meet with Colony ambassadors at The Keifer Building for the Colony Tour of Homes on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, from 2 to 5 p.m. Located at 339 East Jamestown Road, Greenville, guests are encouraged to contact the St. Paul’s marketing department with questions. Information: 724.588.7610 or www.lifeatstpauls. org
May 9-14, 2017 SPRING IN THE WOODS
Andrea’s Lifestyle and Gifts, 2310 Valley View Road, Hermitage, presents Spring in the Woods & Mother’s Day Open House May 9 through May 14, 2017. Open daily beginning at 10 a.m., guests can expect a selection of gift items, jewelry, scarves, purses, potted spring flowers, gift baskets and more. Information: 724.962.2292 or visit Andrea’s Lifestyle and Gifts on Facebook
May 10-13, 2017 MOTHER’S DAY SALES EVENT
Cornman’s Sweeperland, 3593 East State Street, Hermitage, is set to host a Mother’s Day sale May 10 through May 13, 2017. Enter for a chance to win a Sirena LED air purifier, valued at $50. Information: 724.347.4408
May 13, 2017 MOTHER’S DAY TEA
The Jacqueline House, 3213 PA-956, New Castle, will host a Mother’s Day Tea on Saturday, May 13, 2017, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pamper mom with a delicious brunch menu and featured teas from Special-Teas, Etc. Information: call Loralei, event coordinator, at 724.630.4785 to make reservations
May 13, 2017 SPRING ORCHESTRAL EXTRAVAGANZA
Greenville Symphony Orchestra presents the Spring Orchestral Extravaganza on Saturday, May 13, 2017, at the Thiel College Passavant Center. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the concert will feature musicians from the orchestra in solo performances. Tickets are $20 for adult general admission, $15 for senior citizens and free for children and students. Information: 724.588.6164 or www.thegreenvillesymphony.org
May 13, 2017 SPRING DRIVE-IT-YOURSELF TOUR
Destination Geauga will host its 15th annual Spring Drive-It-Yourself Tour on Saturday, May 13, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy 10 or more stops and enjoy tours, samples and discounts. Information: www.DestinationGeauga.com
May 14, 2017 MOTHER’S DAY BUFFET
The Cornerstone1908, 341 East Jamestown Road, Greenville, will host a Mother’s Day buffet on Sunday, May 14, 2017. Seating times are at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and the buffet includes carved prime rib, baked white fish marsala, chicken kiev, zucchini and potato bake, mixed greens salad, coleslaw and more. Information: make reservations by calling 724.589.4500
May 18, 2017 60TH “DIAMOND” ANNIVERSARY GALA AND DIAMOND AUCTION
Community Counseling Center’s 60th “Diamond” Anniversary Gala and Diamond Auction will take place on Thursday, May 18, 2017, at the Avalon Golf and Country Club in Hermitage. Information: 724.981.7141 ext. 194
May 20, 2017 VIVA ROCK VEGAS
The Pennsylvania Dance Co. presents its annual recital, Viva Rock Vegas, on Saturday, May 20, 2017, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Sharon High School auditorium, 1129 East State Street, Sharon. Advance tickets are $15 or $20 at the door. Information: 330.307.8381 or www.thepennsylvaniadanceco.com
May 20, 2017 SPRING OPEN HOUSE
Courthouse Square, 142 South Diamond Street, Mercer, will host its Spring Open House on Saturday, May 20, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food and beverages, outdoor recycled furniture, food tasting products and more will be available during the event. Information: 724.662.2204 or courthousesquaredrygoodsco@gmail.com
Show Mom How Much You Care This Mother’s Day
Kidd’s Jewelry 745 Greenville Road - Mercer, PA 16137 - (724)662-5400 Award Winning Skilled Nursing Care Independent Living at Avalon Springs 68
6 Greenville Plaza, Hadley Road Greenville, PA
724.588.7765
Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 10am-2pm www.kiddsjewelry.com Diamonds • Bridal • Gold Jewelry • Sterling Silver • Stone Rings • Necklaces • Earrings • Bracelets • Fashion Jewelry Pieces • Watches
Full Service Jewelry Repair
VALLEY VOICES
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Where Locals Dance Dine and Unwind
Saturday Night Entertainment Schedule May 6th Redline May 13th 80s Proof May 20th Radio Pulse May 27th No Band (Happy Memorial Day) Bands Take the Stage at 9pm
DJ Entertainment on Friday Nights
SPRING OPEN HOUSE May 20 10 am - 5pm TH
Food & Beverages • New Displays New Outdoor Recycled Furniture • Food Tasting Products SO MUCH TO SEE…DON’T MISS IT!
COME CELEBRATE SPRING WITH US!
142 S Diamond St, Mercer, Pennsylvania 16137 724-662-2204 courthousesquaredrygoodsco@gmail.com
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Full service bar and restaurant
located in
3377 New Castle Rd. West Middlesex, PA 16159
(724) 528-2501
MAY 2017
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CROSSWORD PUZZLE
CLUES ACROSS
Lin’s Tresses & Treasures Women's clothing, accessories and gift items Salon also located at 196 Main St., Greenville • 724-588-8872
The
1. Hot meal 5. Razor clams 10. Blood-sucking African fly 12. Chauvinists 14. Windy City football player 16. An alternative 18. Federal Housing Administration 19. Styles hair 20. Arabic female name 22. Paddle 23. Area once separated from Germany 25. Marketplace 26. Gode Airport 27. Upset 28. Where wrestlers sweat 30. Garland 31. Robert __, poet 33. An iPad is one 35. Fruit of the oak tree 37. Della __, singer 38. Women’s clothing retailer 40. Mailed 41. Largest English dictionary (abbr.) 42. Pouch 44. Radioactivity unit 45. Month 48. Nanosecond 50. Domestic 52. What a boy becomes 53. Breezes (anc. Greek) 55. Jogged 56. At the stern 57. Lawrencium 58. Destructive to both sides 63. Arterias 65. Removes 66. Pretentious people 67. Tropical Asian plant
CHILDREN’S CENTER of Mercer County
CLUES DOWN
1. Type of whale 2. Type of medication 3. Land of the free 4. Formed an opinion of 5. Logo 6. No (Scottish) 7. Leaves tissue 8. Sacred state to Muslims 9. Thus 10. African nation 11. Someone who has a stake in 13. Parties 15. Subsystem producers 17. Large, flightless birds 18. Compromises visibility 21. A ballet enthusiast 23. More (Spanish) 24. Skeletal muscle 27. Hands (Span.) 29. Weighed 32. Businessman 34. Famous clock Big __ 35. Unkeyed 36. Break between words 39. Ink (slang) 40. Disappointed 43. Stroke 44. Curdled milk 46. Restaurants 47. Explosive 49. Type of terrier 51. Disfigure 54. Innermost cell layers 59. Bar bill 60. Distinct period of history 61. Mode of transportation 62. Equal (prefix) 64. Operating system
Take advantage of a terrific opportunity by advertising in
meeting the challenge A B C
FALL 2017 ENROLLMENT STARTS NOW! Early Intervention Preschool Learning Center Childcare Before & After School Care Pre-kindergarten
1 +2 3
Call one of our Sales Consultants to hear all that we have to offer Wendy Hughes: 724.981.6100 ext. 226 Sarah Worthington: 724.981.6100 ext. 228
Answers:
900 North Hermitage Road, Hermitage, PA 16148 Beth Santimauro, Executive Director Stephanie Vellente, Administrative Assistant 724.342.3738 • FAX: 724.342.1748 www.ccmcweb.com Find us on Facebook 70
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ÂŽ
Mausoleums
Veterans and families interred among the Flags
Cremation Niches
Burial of pets with their pet parents in a new garden
U.S. Army Retired Frank Zelinsky Counselor x
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