February 2022 GreeneScene by GreeneScene Community Magazine / Direct Results

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

FEATURES 4

I LOVE THIS PLACE

GREENESCENE OF THE PAST

COUNTY CONVERSATIONS

SHINING THE LIGHT

PUBLIC SERVICE PROFILE

GREENE ARTIFACTS

GOING GREENE

GOOD NEWS IN GREENE

MESSAGE BOARD

HOMETOWN HERITAGE

Greene Arc, Inc

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Victim/Witness Services Program

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Greene Connections

Buying fur in the 19th century Barking Up the Wrong Tree: Jesse’s Hunting ‘Tail’ Awards & acknowledgements within our community Community announcements and opportunities Current and vintage local sports highlights

EXTRAS 20

CFGC WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR

THE DENNY HOUSE

STATE OF THE COUNTY

BRAG MAG

GREENE GARDENS

SAY NO TO LITTER

CFGC welcomes new director David Calverio Priming the pump

State of the county, as provided by our local government The best shots from around Greene County Pennsylvania’s nut trees

Stopping litter in Greene County

2022 BRAG MAG

5 Page 3

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

I Love this P l a ce

hat’s not to love about a recycling center? As pandemic lockdowns continue to relax, something like normal is returning to many overstuffed storage sheds and garages in the county, including mine. I know I was not the only recycler who did a happy dance when Greene Arc Inc. Recycling Center on Dunn Station Rd. in Prosperity announced it was cautiously back in business. The gates for recycling are now open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Workers and personnel are back on the job, busy sorting and baling when the community comes to unload cardboard, paper, plastic containers grades one and two, and metal cans into the individual bins outside. PS - Call before you come – Covid isn’t done with us yet. Recycling and document destruction are two jobs to be had at Greene Arc that offer both vocational training and the satisfaction of a paycheck for those with developmental disabilities. The center also has classrooms, workshops, a dining hall and a kitchen, which has yet to reopen. Staff and clients are masked up and well versed in social distancing as they study, work, eat bagged lunches and schmooze during breaks. Out in the community, Greene Arc manages group homes staffed 24/7. In Waynesburg, Open Arms Drop In Center and Psych Rehab Recovery Center have moved and are next door to each other on 49 S. Washington Street. Open Arms is the place to hang

out with friends for BYO lunch, no reservation necessary. Psych Rehab offers emotional and mental support for anyone over age 18 who self describes as depressed. During Covid lockdown, director Travis Duncan helped clients with Peer Support Services through Telehealth and continues to offer it now for those who are reluctant to socialize. To enroll, call for same day services. How the close-knit family of clients and service providers of Greene Arc dealt with Covid isolation was one of the questions I had when I called Director Cindy Dias and asked if she had time for a visit. As luck would have it an appointment that morning had just canceled and she had an hour to spare. For the last 18 months, “We’ve been busy on steroids!” Dias declared, eyes sparkling behind her mask when I arrived in her office. When I asked to photograph her for the story she declined vigorously. “This story isn’t about me – it’s about our direct support professionals. They’re the

Chessie Workman works on document destruction at Greene Arc.

GREENE ARC INC. By Colleen Nelson

Open Arms Drop In Center is the place to hang out with friends for a BYO lunch.

heroes! You need to get a photo of our new Community Participation Supports Program Director Minnie Boles. She has been a blessing to me.” For Dias, memories of the early days of lockdown are still vivid. “There was no model to go by, we were pioneering, trying to keep everyone safe. No one

Recycling supervisor Doug Scritchfield with worker Doug Lososky.

was laid off, we had our essential workers in all the group homes and we used all safety precautions. I’d like to give a big shout out to Cornerstone Care – they collaborated with Greene Arc to get us vaccines and boosters way ahead of the curve. And Tiffany Nutter from the Department of Health was always in constant communication. We were a team.” That pioneering spirit included nones-

Community Participation Supports Program Director Minnie Boles. GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

sential staff working remotely throughout the lockdown that began on March 17, 2020. For the 100 plus individuals of Greene Arc, no one was left behind. Essential workers continued delivering roundthe-clock care in the group homes. Except for recycling and document destruction, vocational and emotional services continued for those sheltering at home. There were big screen TVs in every group home and virtual learning continued with computers. For those without technology “Every month we sent out calendars and hard copy lessons in the mail and telephone follow ups. Our staff was there to call and ask how are you doing. Our support never stopped. We were there for our individuals.” When it was time to venture back to campus, it was done in three phases from July to September based on health complexities, Dias noted. The November surge sent clients back into quarantine then finally, back to campus, to recycling, shredding documents and working together again. After 18 months of pioneering Dias was happy to report “The ARC of Pennsylvania was awarded the initiative to work with the Department of Health to bring stakeholders together to examine the disparities in the system. We’ll be working with the county Human Services and Kelly Wright of Cornerstone care to see what we’ve learned from this pandemic.” After all is said and done and with lots more to do, Dias is still smiling behind her mask. “When push comes to shove the Greene County community came together!”

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

Is there anything she wishes she had more of? “We have 55 employees and we have vacancies. Starting pay is $15 and a benefit package. Give us a call.” Greene Arc Campus: 724-6275511 Drop In Center – 724-6273213 Psych Rehab Center 724627-7079

G reen e Sce n e of the Pa st

his undated snapshot of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church on the corner of Franklin Street and Fruit Alley shows it much later in its 99year lifetime. There’s a car parked out front, but the exterior still looks the same as it did in 1912 when the front tower, art glass windows and new pews and pulpit were completed, just in time for the historic festivities that 1913 would bring. Church records report these improvements cost $1,500, an indication that this was a large and prosperous congregation for its time. And resourceful too - the pulpit and pews were the work of cabinetmaker and longtime parishioner William T Baker. Bill Davison and Marlene Bransom’s publication, “Early African American Life in Waynesburg” is a chronicle of these times, gathered from family histories, obituaries, census data and microfilmed newspaper clippings. Their research tells us that church members then spent months making plans to send representatives to a “gigantic Philadelphia celebration of the 50th anniversary of the freeing of the slaves held on September 1913”. Bethel AME Church also celebrated its founding that September and the Washington Republican took photographs. One photograph in particular shows the styles of the time and a glimpse into the personalities of the officer trustees in charge of church business in 1912. Baker was one of the older church trustees who got the ball rolling in 1883 when he negotiated a selling price of $312 with Sarah Lindsey for this plot of land on Franklin Street

By Colleen Nelson

AME officers.

The church officially broke ground in 1884 and on August 21, 1887 was dedicated under the leadership of the Rev. Sanford H. Lacy. The congregation now had a spiritual home in the community that couldn’t be denied, along with a collective voice to speak out on the politics of the day. On June 1, 1892 the church hosted a meeting to decry “sufferings, intimidations, murders, lynchings and outrages” happening in the Jim Crow South, followed by a second meeting at the Greene County Fairgrounds that ended with a proposal to form a national organization to petition President Harrison to urge Congress to take action. On August 11, 1896 Bethel AME was granted a charter by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and on April 4, 1899 the Afro-American Republican League was organized at the church, representing 83 voters of Greene County. The next month, representatives of the League attended the state con-

vention in Philadelphia. Church membership was once numbered 100 families and in 1920 the parsonage next door was purchased from Wiley Huffman, according to Jim Moore staff writer for the Observer Reporter, who covered the church in a final tribute on March 29, 1984. None of the four remaining members could recall the year the last service was held at the church that “remained in the shadow of the Waynesburg College gym as a silent link to the past”, but Moore notes that two years ago the furnishings had been removed and William Baker’s hand carved pulpit had been put in storage. An underground stream and surface runoff from recent spring weather along with long time erosion had caused a cave-in that took out part of the church foundation and a section of Fruit Alley the week before. There would be no centennial celebration. Bethel AME Church was razed soon after this article appeared, a year short of its 100th birthday.

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FEBRUARY 2022

County Conversations HUMAN & SOCIAL SERVICES

VICTIM/WITNESS SERVICE PROGRAM

nyone can become the victim or witness of crime. These victims and witnesses can find themselves alone and helpless without resources. But in Greene County, the dedicated team at the Victim/Witness Services program is always here to help. The Victim/Witness Service Program provides advocacy, support, information, and accompaniment to all victims/witnesses throughout criminal proceedings. They act as a liaison between the police, attorneys, the court, and other agencies. Recently, a familiar member returned to the team, Sarah Penich. Sarah has experience in both the advocacy requirements and management of the grant funding required for the program as she previously served in the position in 2018. Prior to county employment, Sarah served in the United States Navy from 20002004, from there she went on to obtain a degree from Westmoreland Community College. She has worked for the County of Greene as the Veterans Affairs Director, Victim Witness Coordinator under former District Attorney Marge Fox and as Assistant Chief Clerk under the recently elected Board of Commissioners. Sarah is excited and passionate about returning to a familiar position, “As a prior military (member), I expect the unexpected,” Penich said. “I thrive in that environment because I genuinely want to help and always look for a solution. All of my experiences will positively impact my capability to serve in this capacity.” The Victim Witness program has an ethical responsibility to uphold the rights of victims. Services that include notifications of various stages of litigation, accompani-

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

ment, advocacy, referrals, restitution, preparing victims for court appearances, building rapport and creating a safe atmosphere for vulnerability. The program makes it easy for victims and witnesses to receive support. A 24/7 phone line is always available. The department assists in private criminal complaints, and provides referrals for protection orders, shelters, counseling, and more. An additional responsibility of the Victim Witness coordinator is to ensure funding is available for these programs. Three specific grants are required to maintain and fund these services. Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), is federally allocated funds subgranted through the state. Secondly, Rights and Services Act (RASA) funding, provides financial support, training and technical assistance to county-based victim service agencies to promote the rights and services under Pennsylvania’s Crime Victims Act. Lastly, Victims of Juvenile Offenders (VOJO) grants provides financial support, training, and technical assistance to countybased victim service agencies to promote the rights and services to victims in the juvenile justice system. The Victim Witness coordinator applies for these funds and must provide quarterly program and fiscal reports to Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) in order to stay in compliance and continue to receive funding. FMI about Victim/Witness Services, visit https://www.co.greene.pa.us/Department-VictimWitness-Services or phone 724-852-5210.

By Colleen Nelson t was a finger numbing 20 degrees on Greene County, citizens whose church story January 18 when people began gathering stretches back to the 1830s when having a at the corner of Franklin Street and Fruit church of their own was only a dream. They Alley in Waynesburg. Snow was cleared from persevered through those turbulent years prethe edge of the parking lot where a new pole, ceding the Civil War, many secretly manning its signage draped in black stood waiting. the “Underground Railroad” even as irate Across the street, Bill Davison of slave owners rode through Waynesburg lookWaynesburg, masked and bundled up in a red ing for escapees who might sometimes be still parka and wearing his signature POW/MIA in safe houses in town as they offered threats hat stood guard as the Waynesburg University and rewards to the free “colored” citizens they media team scurried to set up cameras and were demanding answers from. microphones and turn Franklin Street into a Later, some of them would serve in the movie set. Union Army. Promptly at noon, WU President Doug These tales would come out later, in Lee and his guests, including representatives obituaries and newspaper clippings gathered from the AME Church in Morgantown WV by Bransom and Davison. It was hard going arrived in a university shuttle cart and stu- getting a church established, but these hardy dents came streaming in. Those who were descendants of Frontier slaves and those freed Lamplighters huddled together beside the mi- by Abraham Lincoln in the heat of the Civil crophone where President Lee would give his War never gave up their quest for their readdress and they would soon sing the hymn spected, spiritual place in society that would “Good News!” Those of us who had come benefit their children and grandchildren gofrom around the community greeted each ing forward. other as old friends brought together to pay A first lot purchased for a church on East tribute to a long forgotten piece of Waynes- Street in 1870 fell to foreclosure and it wasn’t burg history. until 1878 that a modest house of worship It was a long time coming, President Lee was established on Morris Street. noted, a dream that lived in the heart of Bill Davison would discover when he began Davison that was now about to come true. tracing his own family tree thirty some years This year’s university Martin Luther ago that his great grandfather was a trustee of King Day commemoration took advantage of the first church. the open schedule students have on Tuesdays Davison and childhood friend Branto turn class time into free time. Many used som would go on to collaborate to bring this this time to attend services at Roberts Chapel history together and lobby for its recogniat 11 a.m. honoring Rev. King’s commitment tion. Now, standing beside the new marker to the Civil Rights movement of nonviolent on Franklin Street, Davison reached up and resistance to racial inequality that ultimately did the unveiling to the applause of his many cost him his life. friends, President Lee and his administrative Now they were here on Franklin Street staff and students of Waynesburg University to unveil the plaque commemorating not standing with him on a cold January day. just the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church that stood on this corner for nearly a century, but the establishment of the church itself in 1863. The words on the plaque written by retired English teacher Marlene Bransom, originally from Pitt Gas who now lives in Pittsburgh, can only hint at the everyday lives of those of African American descent who kept the faith here. These parishioners were the cultural heart of the African AmeriBill Davison and Marlene Bransom stand in front of the new marker. can community in

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

ESPORTS

efore the pandemic hit, an intriguing, cutting-edge team was suggested to Cassandra Menhart by her student Jacob Smith. Jacob came with the idea of adding an Esports team at Carmichaels Area Junior Senior High School. However, Cassandra was not that familiar with Esports at the time. Esports is a competition style with which some people are not familiar. It is a form of competition focusing on video games, offering organized, multiplayer video game competitions for individuals or teams. As with other sports, Esports can be very competitive. Colleges have started offering Esports scholarships, and according to a recent piece in the Harvard Business Review, “employers seek candidates who have other sorts of ‘soft skills,’ such as being able to work well with others… the latest research and interviews with industry professionals suggests that eSports is a perfect training ground to let students test and develop these skills.” Cassandra’s passion for the Esports team is apparent. As the library specialist at Carmichaels Junior Senior High School, Cassandra was able to raise funds at the library cafe to buy computers. Unfortunately, just as the

FEBRUARY 2022

Co o l at Sc h o o l CARMICHAELS SCHOOL DISTRICT

project started to get underway, the pandemic forced a delay. Jacob Smith, a 2021 graduate of Carmichaels who now attends college on a gaming scholarship, and Christian Mori offered to come in over the summer and help get the equipment set up for the 2021 class. Carmichaels is one of the first schools in this county to offer Esports. There is currently a Gaming Concepts class at the high school and word of the Esports team was spread among the students. Interest levels were gauged and the idea was incredibly popular. In fact, Esports garnered so much interest that it averages 18-20 members. All of the members are currently juniors and seniors. There are six gaming computers. Most teams are broken down into six players, so this works out well. The Esports team at Carmichaels High School currently plays the games Overwatch, Rainbow 6 Siege, and Call of Duty. There has been interest at the middle school in starting an Esports team with ageappropriate games such as Rocket League. Camaraderie is also a big part of Esports at the school. The school expects students’ commitment to the team, and in turn they

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

work to make a schedule that allows for the players to practice together. While Esports could be played separately, the players build communications skills and fellowship by playing their competitions in person together. Cassandra mentions what fun it is to watch the team communicating with each other. They are, “in it to win it,” she says. The

By Michelle Church better players teach the newer players; everyone works together on the Esports team. There are currently teams playing all over the country. The students at Carmichaels High School are involved in a great experience. Other school districts have visited Carmichaels Area School District to see about starting their own Esports teams, and hopefully the competition will grow in Greene County.

Members of the Carmichaels Area High School Esports team.

Public Service Profile By Morgan Marisa

GREENE CONNECTIONS

very detail of life, from the people we interact with to the daily places we visit, tells a story. Every minuscule aspect of day-to-day activities has a history that most people do not pause long enough to consider or recognize. It takes people like Candice Buchanan to appreciate the beauty of the past and the footprints that were left behind to document it. “I have a particular interest in photographs because I believe strongly that they are an under-utilized resource in local and family history research,” Candice says. “Photographs are, in fact, historic records just like deeds, censuses, or birth certificates. We need to authenticate, analyze, and weigh them as evidence. We need to know as much as possible not only about the subjects, but also about factors such as who has owned them; and when, where, and by whom they were taken.” Digging up information and captioning photographs constitutes just a fraction of the work Candice does as a volunteer archivist at Greene Connections. The project began almost twenty years ago when Buchanan discovered a photograph collection in Waynesburg University’s archives that identified graduates from the college’s first class in 1852 through her grandmother’s class in 1938. The same collection can now be found on the project’s website. Candice, alongside Donna Buchanan, Matt Cumberledge, and Glenn Toothman, runs the Greene Connections project. The group facilitates the sharing, scanning, and cataloging of collections on top of performing research that leads to the authentication or identification of photographs and the resolution of conflicts. “Greene Connections is a volunteer initiative to preserve photographs and documents related to genealogy and local history in Greene County, Pennsylvania,” Candice adds. “Our team works with individuals, families, organizations, and repositories to digitally scan and archivally document historical items for free, public access.” Candice was fourteen years old when her interest in archives and genealogy was first sparked as she stumbled upon old family tombstones in Green Mount Cemetery. The discovery inspired her to seek more information about the cemetery at the Bowlby Public Library where she was directed to the Cornerstone Genealogical Society. “I’ve been doing genealogy ever since,” she says. “Family history research requires us to delve into a variety of unique, original, old records. That love for discovering and saving such fascinating information led me to archival preservation.” Greene Connections is strictly a digital project, meaning they do not keep or take custody of original items, but instead, create high-quality scans that are then shared on their website for families to access. Through the initiative, Candice has been able to

Robert Lawrence Throckmorton Sr. while employed as a rural mail carrier delivering his son Robert Lawrence Throckmorton Jr. to his wife, Ella May (Watson) Throckmorton, with the day’s mail. Item no. TOOK_AN001_0050, Katherine Jane (Throckmorton) Toothman Collection, Greene Connections Archives Project (www.GreeneConnections.com).

Crago-Spencer Album 02, Photo 04 - William Harvey Crago [1843-1919] in Civil War uniform - son of John B. Crago and Eleanor Flenniken; item no. BAKM_ AN002_0004, Margaret Leah (Waddell) Baker Collection, Greene Connections Archives Project (www.GreeneConnections.com).

connect families to beautifully preserved photographs of long-gone loved ones and reunite collections of heirlooms. The group is planning on hosting scanning sessions at the Greene County Historical Society in 2022 to allow families to share photos. They are also improving navigation of their website by migrating their backlog of over 15,000 photographs and documents into Cataloglt archival software. This software can be accessed for free through the Archives section at GreeneConnections.com. Greene Connections additionally works with their local partners at the Cornerstone Genealogical Society, Greene County Historical Society, and Waynesburg University Paul R. Stewart Museum to improve their collections and records.

Construction of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Waynesburg. The cornerstone of the monument was laid July 4, 1898.The Union School can be seen in the background. Item no. STEW-AN002-0004-0001, Carl Headlee Collection, Greene Connections Archives Project (www.GreeneConnections.com).

Bluff baseball team from Jackson Township. (L-R): BACK- Hicey Stewart, Abraham Francis “Abe” Kughn; MIDDLE - Lindsey Henderson, Clyde Haines, John Henderson, Unidentified; FRONT - Unidentified, Gail Wood, Unidentified, Minor Porter Cole, S. Crouse; circa 1910-1920; item no. COLE-AN002-0001-0003, Pastimes Series, Terry Cole Collection, Greene Connections Archives Project (www.GreeneConnections.com).

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

G ree ne Artifacts By Matthew Cumberledge, GCHS Executive Director

BUYING FUR IN THE 1890S

uying and selling furs has been a part of the history of this region for centuries, going as far back as the 17th century before the European presence. Along the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, the Native Americans were involved in the fur trade, an enterprise that only increased as Europeans arrived in the lands west of the Allegheny Mountains. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, fur was a hot commodity. It could be used for clothing on the frontier and was traded and exported back to Europe. Even as cities and industry developed in the region, many hunted and trapped to harvest furs to supplement their income. This practice is still carried on today, though on a much smaller scale. Our featured artifact this month is a broad side sent out for 1889-1890 by J. K. Cilley & Co. Dealers and Exporters in Raw Furs and Ginseng Etc. This advertisement lists the prices they are willing to pay farmers and trappers for their pelts. In western Pe n n s y l v a n i a in 1890, a good raccoon pelt would bring ninety cents, a fox would bring eighty cents, muskrats twenty-four cents, beaver up to eight dollars and ginseng, a root many still hunted for in the woods, would bring up to three dollars a pound. All very good prices for the day, and an income that helped many a Greene County farmer through

the winters. There are various hunting clubs in Greene County today that focus on hunting fur bearing animals such as raccoon and rabbit. These clubs often host competitions between handlers and dogs to see who is best at finding their game. Though most competition hunts no longer involve the actual harvesting of fur, it is a call back to our earlier past when hunting was a form of survival. This broadside is just a small glimpse into that past, and a hint of what it may have been like to live in rural Greene County in the late 19th century. Please check out the GCHS Facebook page to stay up to date on our current projects and online activities. Upcoming presentations include Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930s and RMS Titanic. Opening day for 2022 is April 30.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

KSW Oilfield Rental, LLC Donates $15,000 to Greene County Children & Youth

hris Ramsey and KSW Oilfield Rental, LLC of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania recently donated $15,000 to Greene County’s Children and Youth Services’ “For the Kids Fun”. The fund provides support to children and families in the CYS foster care program. In addition to their donation to Children & Youth, KSW helped create the first annual Greene County Hall of Fame banquet held in early January. They were also sponsors. The banquet organizers inducted the first class of local athletes into the Greene County Hall of Fame at the event. The Hall of Fame will honor and recognize the county’s outstanding athletes. GreeneScene Community Magazine and Greene County Department of Parks & Recreation started the Greene County Hall of Fame. Also honored at the banquet were the GreeneScene’s Hometown Heritage athletes

of the month for 2020 and 2021. Those involved in the project continue working to find a permanent home for the Hall of Fame. KSW Oilfield Rental, LLC is committed to the community and sponsors many local and charitable events. The business believes in giving back to the community where they live and work. KSW believes, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” (Winston Churchill) KSW Oilfield Rental, LLC is dedicated to excellence. Every detail matters, from our equipment to our personnel, and quality defines the entire process. KSW rental provides super-vacs, transfer pumps, shaker washers and more. KSW Solids Control provides a variety of centrifuges and fluid management systems that increase the efficiency of any drilling job. With quality service, equipment, and people, KSW gets the job done.

“For the Kids” Check Presentation. L-R: Kristen Szewczyk (IU-1), Betsy McClure (Commissioner), Janette Kline (advisory board), Michelle Daff (CYS supervisor), Beth Booker (CYS caseworker manager), Chris Ramsey of KSW Oilfield Rental, LLC, Mark Starostanko (CYS Administrator), Rachel Rodriguez (foster parent& board member), Dave Calverio (director of Community Foundation of Greene County), Pam Marisa (owner of Direct Results & board member),

2021 Hometown Heritage Sports Banquet. L-R: Bret Moore (Greene County Department of Parks & Recreation), Brealynn Ramsey, Chris Ramsey of KSW Oilfield Rental, LLC, TR Mahle (Greene County Department of Parks & Recreation).

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

G o in g G re e n e

BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE: JESSE’S HUNTING “TAIL”

t was 1919. The great war had ended, and a time of peace and prosperity enveloped the United States. It was a more innocent time, a simpler time. Jesse was a young man in his early 20s, a bit high strung in nature but over all a very eager and passionate fellow who was always up for a good time. His friends Hiram and Mathias were of similar spirits, and as such they often found themselves in many a mischievous adventure. Mathias and Hiram were brothers, Jesse a distant cousin, but in those days, family consisted of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and the whole array of relations going up and down the family tree. Hiram, Mathias, and Jesse had grown up together, got in trouble together, and had a lot of fun back in the old days, so much so that their stories live on down through the generations of their families. What an adventure it was on a nice crisp fall evening when our little trio found themselves piled into an old truck, traveling the lesser-known roads (lesser known to the “city folk” of Waynesburg, at least) to find spots to let their dogs loose and tree a raccoon. They were headed north from their homes near Pine Bank, headed generally in the direction of Waynesburg, and ultimately finding their way out on to Wisecarver Run (what we now know as Water Dam Road, at the site of the Future Wisecarver Recreation Area). Hiram knew some of the old farmers out in that country and had permission to hunt on their land. Hiram was one of those people that knew everyone, had a friend everywhere he went, and was always the one who found the group places to hunt. The boys had only one hound with them that night, a very respectable hound known as Grizzly. Grizzly, was a Treeing Walker Coonhound, belonging to an old fella the young men had befriended some years before. He was big and mean, and very loud – Grizzly that is, not his owner, though some might have made such a comparison between man and hound. Mathias especially was fond of his hound, and was known to hunt him very frequently, and they had a very good relationship with one another. Grizzly did have a reputation for being mean, and ol’ Mathias was one of the few guys around who knew how to handle the dog without getting eaten up in the process. Hiram and Jesse were just along for the ride, neither of them were brave enough to handle the hound. “Boys, it’s gonna be an interesting night,” Jesse said to the others, knowing that anything could happen on a night out in the woods with Grizzly. Mathias responded in agreement while Hiram just drove on to their destination. Hiram found a spot to pull over, and the boys all got out of the truck and stretched their legs. They carried lanterns with them to find their way around in the dark woods; Jesse prepared them while Mathias got ole Grizzly ready. Jesse lit a waiting lantern for each of the three young men, handed one to Hiram, kept hold of the other two, and told Mathias it was time to cut ol’ Grizzly loose. Grizzly ran into the woods, and Jesse, Hiram and Mathias got comfortable hanging around their truck while waiting for Grizzly to strike a track. It wasn’t long before a deep bellowing howl arose from the woods. Some distance out ahead of the men, Grizzly had

By Matthew Cumberledge

found a trail to follow. It sounded like a tough track: long periods of silence were interspersed with fast running and lots of track barks from ol’ Grizzly. The men stood around the truck, waiting for Grizzly to tree, and pondering what might be causing the odd run of the track. Jesse and his friends weren’t very familiar with these woods, and were unaware of any of the geography or obstacles that Grizzly may be confronting. “It’s an old ghost coon,” Jesse muttered, thinking it might have been a wily old coon who had been chased by more than his fair share of hounds and knew the tricks to lose a hound. Soon, however, a great roaring sound echoed through the treetops, and one might have thought it was an impending apocalypse. But it was just Grizzly barking on tree, having found the end of an old coon’s track. Hiram stayed at the truck in case Mathias and Jesse might find themselves walking further than they realized and ending up on another road. Grizzly, it seemed, was out deep in the woods and probably down in a ravine based on the echo that the boys were hearing. On they went. It was flat for a while, and eventually the ground gave way to hillside. As, Mathias and Jesse went further and further, they realized that Grizzly must be somewhere at the bottom of the hill, but as they got halfway down the hillside, Grizzly went silent. “That’s strange,” Jesse said to Mathias. “Why would he just go silent like that?” Mathias didn’t have much of an answer. They had a few hundred yards to go before they reached the bottom of the hill, and as they drew near, they could hear an odd rustling, but still no howls from Grizzly. “He’s in a hole down there on that flat!” Mathias exclaimed. Jesse considered the thought for a while and agreed. They got down to the flat at the bottom of the hill, and they could hear the rustling more clearly. It was a clearing, no trees, but several small bushes dotted the flat spot on which the two men found themselves. Jesse and Mathias searched all the bushes, expecting to find Grizzly in a hole, but their search was unsuccessful. “Where on earth is he?” Jesse said, as he stood up from a bush, stretched his arms and looked towards the sky. “Oh… Oh! Mathias, get over here now,” Jesse yelled. Mathias ran over, and Jesse directed his attention upwards.

It’s likely that one of the dogs in this photo is Grizzly.

A limb from a big tree stretched over the clearing, and there was Grizzly, standing on that limb having found himself very stuck, with a raccoon about 10 feet out ahead of him. The two animals were both scared out of their minds. The raccoon was trying to get away from Grizzly, and Grizzly, having realized the seriousness of his predicament was trying to get out of the tree. “How ever did that dog get up there?” Mathias asked. Jesse pointed towards the hillside to a tree that had fallen over and landed in the tree that Grizzly was in. Grizzly had simply walked out the fallen tree and out on a limb but couldn’t get himself turned around to get back out. Now the young men had to figure out how to safely get Grizzly down . They always kept an old blanket or two behind the seat of the truck, so Jesse had the brilliant idea of running up the hill to the truck, bringing the blanket down, and sending Hiram with the truck to a road below them, so they didn’t have to walk back up the hill after their rescue. Jesse thought that Mathias, being the dog’s designated handler, could climb up the tree and get out on the limb to shake Grizzly out, while Jesse stood below holding the blanket in his outstretched arms to catch the dog. And that is exactly what they did. Mathias got up that tree, climbed out the limb just enough so he could shake it with his body weight, and after a great amount of shaking Grizzly fell. Down below, Jesse was ready, but had misaligned himself. When Grizzly fell, he didn’t land in the blanket as Jesse had hoped but fell right on Jesse’s head. Both man and dog hit the ground like a ton of bricks, laid there for a second, and got up seeming somewhat stunned by the event. Mathias, still in the tree, laughed hysterically, knowing that both were all right. Mathias climbed his way out of the tree and met Jesse and Grizzly down below and put the dog on his ,leather lead. “That coon gets to live another day” Mathias said, as he and Jesse both looked back up into the tree and saw it still sitting on a branch, having held on for dear life while Grizzly was getting shaken out of the tree. Mathias and the still stunned pair walked down the hill and met Hiram on the road below. Another adventure had come to an end. They decided to call it a night and Hiram drove the boys on home. No doubt all three had lots of laughs on that drive, and it was a story none of them would ever forget.

Raccoon hides on the end side of the barn. GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

Greene County CYS Receives Grant Greene County Commissioners announce receipt of a Greene County Children & Youth Agency Plan of Safe Care (PoSC) grant totaling $45,000. The purpose of the grant is to address concerns related to Substance Affected Infants (SAI) and families. Each year, thousands of infants born in Pennsylvania have prenatal exposure to substances, including alcohol. These exposures have present, short-term and long-term impacts that plague the children and families, including coexposure (e.g., opioids and benzodiazepines). Commissioner Betsy McClure is pleased with receiving this federal grant opportunity and stated, “I feel that the funding will be utilized to bridge a gap in meeting the needs of substance affected infants and their families”. The application process for these federal funds required the creation of numerous documents and an individualized plan of action that Greene County would use to address the concerns, education and services providing for SAI and their families. Contained within the plan were (3) target areas to address these concerns: 1. Identify increased understanding of the community member providers/support officials regarding the expectations and roles in relationship to PoSC. 2. Facilitate PoSC meetings with parents, The scholarship will be awarded to a caregivers, family members and approWest Greene High School senior, to pursue priate community supporters and proa post-secondary education at an accredited viders. trade, technical, or business school, or a two 3. Greene County Children and Youth or four-year college/university, with preferAgency (GCCYA) will identify and assist ence given, but not limited to, an agricultural science or AG based curriculum. Scholarship guidelines for the Carl I. and Joyce Johnston Memorial Scholarship are available on the CFGC website http://www. cfgcpa.org/post-secondary-scholarships/. The Greene County Commissioners are FMI about the Carl I. and Joyce John- excited to announce receipt of a planning ston Memorial Scholarship, or how to make a grant for a Wisecarver Connector Trail. The gift to the scholarship fund in their memory, grant totaling $31,100 from the Community contact Community Foundation by phone at Conservation Partnerships Program admin724-627-2010, email at cfgcpa@gmail.com or istered by the Department of Conservation go to our website at www.cfgcpa.org. and Natural Resources (DCNR) will be used The Community Foundation of Greene to determine the feasibility of developing a County (CFGC), a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) local connector trail from Waynesburg to the organization founded in 2000, is the central phil- Wisecarver Reservoir and Recreation Area. anthropic vehicle in Greene County for donations The Wisecarver Reservoir and Recreof various types and sizes. CFGC currently manation Area project combines currently funded ages over $8 million in assets through more than softball fields, a concession stand and walk100 different endowed and restricted funds. ing trails with future developments to create a year-round destination just west of Waynesburg. Grant funding was received in 2021 for a kayak/canoe launch site which is currently under design and environmental review. The connector trail would allow safe, easy access from Waynesburg to Wisecarver for pedestrians and bicyclists. Funding for this feasibility study comes

Regional Leadership Recognition On January 10, 2022, Mapletown FBLA members attended the Regional Leadership Conference at the Double Tree Hotel in Washington. During the awards ceremony, the following students were recognized for their accomplishments: Emma Switalski placed 1st in Hospital Administration; Ella Menear placed 1st in Organizational Leadership; Regan Walick placed 2nd in Business Communications; Kayla Eggers placed 2nd in Journalism; Macee Cree Placed 3rd in Organizational Leadership; Ryleigh Henderson placed 4th in Advertising. All 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers are preparing to compete in the State Leadership Conference in Hershey in April. Congratulations to these students on their accomplishments.

Carl I. and Joyce Johnston Memorial Scholarship established at CFGC Born in 1924, and raised on a dairy farm in Center Township, Greene County, PA, Carl I. Johnston graduated from Center Township High School in 1943. Love of family and Country were paramount to Carl, as he entered the United States Army. He served in the European Theatre of Operations of World War II, as an infantryman. Upon his return to Greene County, Carl became a third-generation dairy farmer. In 1946, Carl married Joyce Moore. With courage, and their strong faith in God, together they owned and operated a 168-acre dairy farm until 1985, raising Holsteins and subsequent replacements, while developing a genetic breeding and feeding program for the improvement of their herd. Carl, a progressive farmer, was never afforded the opportunity to advance through formal education. However, he took courses through Penn State University and Ohio State University. He, as well as Joyce, knew the value of a quality education, and impressed upon their daughters the need for furtherance of education. It is with this in mind, knowing that their parents would have been excited that future students could be able to obtain the promise of a start on their post-secondary education, the family of Carl and Joyce, have established the Carl I. and Joyce Johnston Memorial Scholarship Fund.

the families in meeting the basic needs to alleviate financial stressors and remove barriers towards their participation in and fulfillment of the services necessary for the PoSC. Mark Starostanko, MSW- Administrator of GCCYA states, “As the GCCYA embarks on the use of these federally funded dollars, each expected outcome provides an opportunity for us and other providers to create a collaborative approach to meet the needs of Substance Affected Infants and their families. This collaborative approach provides linkage of services as unified building blocks and support networks for the children and families to restore a caring, nurturing approach towards assisting families. These funds will promote the ongoing collaborative efforts of the community service providers to address the epidemic within the County of Greene.” “GCCYA utilization of the (PoSC) Grant will create a fiscally responsible approach to meeting the needs of families and children within the County.” It is always the goal of the GCCYA to provide innovative solutions to resolve concerns within an intact family structure in the county, while understanding the needs of the children and families. GCCYA strives to provide education, create a support network, and assist families in meeting basic needs of children and alleviating financial stressors/ or barriers that would exclude the parents in participation of the solutions. FMI, visit the Greene County Commissioner’s Facebook page or call (724) 852-5210.

Greene County Receives Wisecarver Connector Trail Planning Grant from a variety of sources including the state Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, Environmental Stewardship Fund, ATV and Snowmobile Management Restricted Accounts, and Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program; and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and Recreational Trails Program. DCNR is committed to building community conservation partnerships with local governments and nonprofit organizations to protect critical natural areas and open space, develop greenways and trails, provide quality park, recreation and conservation opportunities, and to improve the quality of life in Pennsylvania’s communities. Greene County has been awarded the grant in recognition of outstanding recreation and conservation work. FMI, visit the Greene County Government website, Greene County Commissioner’s Facebook page or call (724) 852-5210.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

Conservation District Honors Two The Greene County Conservation Dis- farm along with additional leased acreage trict honored two recipients during its annual supports a cow-calf operation that consists awards ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 15, at Val- of mainly Simmental and Angus breeds and ley View Farm. a few horses. The farming operation has imEach year, the Conservation District plemented numerous federal, state and local honors those within the county who have programs and practices intended to improve shown an outstanding commitment to soil soil and water quality. Their years of impleand water conservation. Honorees for 2021 menting farming practices that protect our included Gene Saurborn and Bobbi Bailey of natural resources were leading factors in beBuckshot Cattle Company, recipients of the ing selected for this award. Outstanding Cooperator of the Year Award Zachary Frye, a 2021 graduate of West and Zachary Frye, recipient of the Outstand- Greene High School and November 2021 ing Conservation FFA Speaking Award. graduate of USMC Parris Island boot camp, Gene Saurborn and was recognized for his Bobbie Bailey owners outstanding speakof the Buckshot Cattle ing skills at the county Company located on speaking contest with his Big Shannon Run Road, speech entitled “Energy: were honored as the 2021 Preserve, not Replace”. Outstanding Cooperator During the 2021 speaking of the Year. This award is contest year, he advanced given to local farms that through the county and have shown substantial James A. Cowell, Jr., presented Chris and Danielle area rounds and placed Frye, parents of Zachary Frye of Holbrook, the improvements to their first in the regional Con2021 Outstanding Conservation FFA Speaking operations by commitservation Speaking conAward on behalf of Zachary. ting to the use of consertest. This qualified Zachvation practices that are ary for the State Prepared intended to improve soil Speaking Contest making and water quality. him the highest placing Mr. Saurborn and Conservation Speaker in Ms. Bailey’s farm is locatthe Greene County FFA ed in Perry and Whiteley programs. Frye is the Townships and is nestled son of Chris and Danielle within both the Dunkard James A. Cowell, Jr. presented Buckshot Cattle Co. Frye of Holbrook, and and Whiteley Creek Wa- owners Gene Saurborn and Bobbi Bailey with the enlisted in the United tersheds. The 202-acre 2021 Outstanding Cooperator of the Year Award. States Marine Corps.

Greene County Youth Qualifies for Junior American Patriot Chloe Brennen, age 16, qualified for The Junior American Patriot in Fort Worth, TX in barrels and poles with her horse, Fivestar Tiny Bobby. She will compete against the best youth athletes across the world during the first week in March in Texas. Chloe gave herself a big goal in 2021 and she achieved it, with several big qualifiers, some big checks, a belt buckle, a coat and more. • They double qualified for Junior American Patriot Pole (Columbiana, Ohio); barrels (Gifford, Illinois). • They also double qualified for the Best of the Best in youth (19 & under) and open (all ages) in • Columbiana, Ohio and Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Chloe and her family also traveled to Perry, Georgia last summer for the World’s Youth National Barrel Horse Association finals. Chloe has been riding horses since she

FEBRUARY 2022

was four years old and has been racing for almost six years. She has two horses and rides three to four times a week to keep them in shape. They race all year round. At the end of February, Chloe will head to Fort Worth, TX for their finals in the Junior American Patriot. This big event will start the first week of March and will be aired live on RFD-TV.

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

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Chili Cookoff! A chili cookoff is happening on February 5, 2022. Awards will be given for the best hot chili, best mild chili, and people’s choice. General admission fee is $5, and a taste of each pot and vote for people’s choice is included with admission. The cookoff will be held at the Rices Landing Legion, at 133 Carmichaels Street in Rices Landing. Set up is from 12-2pm, tasting from 2-5pm, and judging at 5pm. Deadline for entries is January 29. Sponsored by Rices Landing Sons of American Legion Post 816 and Riders. Stop by the post for registration forms.

WU’s Graduate Criminal Investigation Program Receives Top Honors Again

Waynesburg University’s Master of Arts in Criminal Investigation (MACI) Program was recently ranked as the No. 1 online program in the nation by Intelligent. For the third consecutive year, Waynesburg’s MACI Program was No. 1 in the “Best Master’s in Crime Scene Investigation” ranking and earned the distinction as the “Intelligent Pick.” “This number one ranking is a significant accomplishment for our program, Local singer and songwriter Trenton begins at 9am, and music starts at 12pm. as it makes three years in a row that we’ve Antill will be performing February 12 at FMI: https://www.facebook.com/Trenton- been able to achieve this,” said James Tanda, director of the MACI Program, director of the Morgantown Art Bar. Stop by to enjoy AntillMusic/. security operations and emergency manbrunch and some great local music! Brunch agement, and instructor of criminal justice. “We’re honored by Intelligent’s rating, and we continue to work hard to maintain it.” During the month of December, there were three new businesses in Greene County Intelligent compared 443 education celebrating their ribbon cuttings with the Greene County Chamber of Commerce. programs from 159 universities and colleges across the nation. All schools had to be regionally accredited to be considered,

Trevor Antill @ Morgantown Art Bar

Greene County Ribbon Cuttings

as well as offer any of the following degree types fully or primarily online: Master of Arts, Master of Science or Master of Criminal Justice. According to their website, Intelligent utilizes a two-step methodology. The first considers three initial criteria: nonprofit, accredited and flexibility. Then, after the list is narrowed, Intelligent evaluates these five factors: program strength, student readiness, return on investment, cost and student engagement. Waynesburg’s MACI degree can be completed in one year (full time) or 18 months (part time) and is fully online. Instructors are real-life practitioners who bring real-world experiences from their respective work with local, state and federal agencies. FMI, contact graduateprograms@waynesburg.edu or visit waynesburg.edu/graduate-admissions.

Christmas Vibes at WCES! Essentially Kind Ribbon Cutting

(ABOVE) A joint ribbon cutting was held on December 1, 2021 for Essentially Kind (30 North Washington Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370) and Southern Comfy Boutique (30 North Washington Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370). (RIGHT)A ribbon cutting was held on December 14, 2021 for Salon Diem (199 Wahula Road, Carmichaels, PA 15320).

Southern Comfy Boutique Ribbon Cutting

Salon Diem Ribbon Cutting

All Things Christmas Festival Raises Funds for Food Pantry The All Things Christmas Festival, held in early December, raised $4,407.50 for the Cumberland food pantry. . This year, “The Grinch Gives Back” tree donated by the St. Paul’s Lutheran Mission Circle was our top tree. The top 5 trees were: 1. The Grinch Gives Back - St. Paul’s Lutheran Mission Circle; 2. Snow Much Fun - Carmichaels Women’s Civic Club; 3. Santa is Coming with Goodies on His Sleigh - The Donaldson Family; 4. Old St. Nicholas Debbie Everly; and 5. Coffee & Donuts Dustin Hastings

Boys and girls coats were donated by Thanks to the generous faculty and staff members, as well as thoughtful dona- KSW Oil Field Rental Services. Games were donated by KSW Oil Field tions from surrounding community members, WCES had their largest and most suc- Rental Services and Milliken & Throckmorton Funeral Home. cessful Threads of Joy program. Toy Drive by 7 Points provided games They were able to provide Christmas gifts, toys and clothing for over 50 students and toys and sleds and crafts for the famiand their families. The students and families lies. Social Service League provided food were overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity. Forty students were on the Threads of and Christmas for five families. Bikers Helping Others provided gifts Joy (Angel Tree) this year. They also had an anonymous donor who provided Christ- and dinners for five families. mas for a whole family. Other donations included: Christmas bags were made by Lagonda Homemakers. Treat bags provided by EQT, Lagonda Homemakers, and Tammie Johnson. School Supplies provided by EQT. Hand-knitted hats and homemade scarves by Lagonda Chris Ramsey and KSW Oilfield Rental Services kindly donated 86 individual Homemakers. presents to WCES students in need.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

Community Foundation of Greene County Welcomes a New Director

he Community Foundation of Greene County, formed by citizens in 2000, has welcomed David Calvario as its new director following the retirement of Bettie Stammerjohn. Calvario has been a resident of Greene County for 26 years, previously working as the Dean of Students at Waynesburg University, as well as on behalf of the county through the Redevelopment Authority. Calvario’s life experience has afforded him ample connections and the ability to develop skills helpful to this position, such as grant writing. “I felt that this was a position where I could use my skills to assist with trying to improve things here,” Calvario says. “We have a lot of challenges, and I want to try to make our community a better place for youth, adults and everyone else in between.” According to their website, the CFGC’s mission and vision includes, “empowering individuals of all backgrounds to support charitable causes for generations to come and provide leadership to address community needs.” Calvario has been in this position for eight weeks. Through that time, he has focused on addressing some key issues within Greene County. One of his chief concerns is that of our shrinking population, which is

down from approximately 39,000 in 2011 to about 36,800 in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “So, I want to help create attractive jobs and work with our youth to address these problems,” he explains. “I believe that is where our future is, trying to get youth who graduate from our five local school districts and technical schools to come back here to call this place home. We got to work together to fix the population drain occurring here.” Creating these initiatives necessitates funds which come in through fundraising, grants and emergency relief. “Money comes in through fundraising, like people who want to set up scholarships in memory of someone and is given out through scholarships to students interested in going to postsecondary school,” Calvario says. Calvario’s additional points of interest lay in wealth management and spreading awareness of the foundation. “Right now, our assets are between 8 and 9 million dollars and a goal of mine is to grow that to 20 million dollars in due time,” he says. As far as increasing awareness, Calvario has been meeting with various professionals to make them aware of the foundation including attorneys, CPAs (Certified Public

Accountants), and wealth management experts with the goal of tapping into their intellectual resources to address county issues. Calvario hopes to lead by example in investing in Greene County for the betterment of its future. “It is important that as life goes on, and as we enter the next stages of life, for us to leave our fingerprints and legacy behind,” he says. “While you may be retired, you probably can still help community foundations by volunteering and providing time-talent and leaving your treasure and trust in the community to keep making improvements in the place you call home.”

By Sierra Medina

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

Priming the Pump By Colleen Nelson

h e pump in the Denny House side yard is still there – a celebrated throwback, not only to another age but to how Eleazer Luse Denny (1856-1910) made his fortune in the transformative days of the 19th century. Times were a-changing and Denny was bringing that change to Greene County, one wily investment at a time. It takes a moment to imagine life back then, before Waynesburg had the infrastructure for water or sewage in a town that would be growing by leaps and bounds after the Civil War as coal and gas extraction brought wealth and expansion to these frontier streets. A town well was in front of the courthouse and many first generation houses still had wells in the yard, open to the elements, operated with pulleys, ropes and buckets. E. L. Denny to the rescue. Another historical tidbit captured in family lore and probably on record in some dusty file at Waynesburg University, is that young Eleazer went to Waynesburg College but not for long. He was summarily dismissed for leading a cow to the top floor of Hannah Hall and as any farmer knows a cow will follow you anywhere except downstairs. It’s also documented somewhere that he then enrolled in a business school in Pittsburgh and learned his chops. A better documented fact is that he had his knee destroyed by an angry pig at age 13 and had to have reconstructive surgery that he chose to have done. His leg was permanently bowed, giving him a limp but leaving him better able to ride a horse when he sold his new products to farmers across the county. By the time 21-year-old E.L. Denny opened a hardware store on High Street in 1887, his business smarts were already well honed. Family lore tells us he got his start when he talked to the builder of wildcatter C. H. Bowlby’s fancy new home on Richhill Street. The builder was complaining he couldn’t find enough nails to finish the job. Denny promptly borrowed enough money from his mother to purchase a train car load of nails, which he then sold to every builder in town. Another smart move – cornering the market on hand pumps that safely closed those open wells and made life that much easier- and healthier. He

FEBRUARY 2022

then proceeded to sell this newfangled improvement to everyone, including farmers. Wily businessman that he was, as he rode door to door in the western reaches of the county selling those pumps he got to know the farmers who would be selling extraction leases when the gas and oil market really opened up. By 1902 the Denny fortune was made and workmen – with no shortage of nails or water to wash up with in the back yard! - were busy adding the three story facade with its Flemish design to the now finely appointed Denny family home on High Street. Its parapets were studded with terra cotta, the vestibule was tiled in mosaics. No expense was spared –stairways, balusters and wainscoting were quarter-sawn tiger oak, parlor walls were wrapped in hand painted canvas and motifs decorated the ceilings. Lucky for us, all this post-Victorian finery and elaborate good taste has been well preserved by present owners Pam and Kent Marisa. The Denny House feels like the family who loved the arts still lives there. That’s Minerva, goddess of music watching over things from her stained glass window as you go upstairs. The house is now a place to experience “old world elegance without a passport.” For sleepovers there are four period piece bedrooms and a full kitchen. There are also porches to enjoy the view of nearby Waynesburg University or step off of to stroll the grounds and say hello to Eleazer’s pump. The rustic but chic carriage house can entertain 100 and is equipped with tables, chairs and all the dinnerware and buffet fixings needed is there for a reception to remember under antique chandeliers. Just in time for lovers, the Denny House is having a Valentine Day Dinner for couples on February 11 and February 12 that offers the choice of two entrees, chocolate strawberries for dessert and live piano music. Seating is limited. “We have a lot of plans for Denny House, including a wine bar, guest chefs, Sunday brunches and galas and we’re currently booking for any events, including wedding showers rehearsal dinners, birthday parties or anything special you want to celebrate, ” Pam Marisa said. “Give us a call – 724-998-0243.” One last bit of history to explore: There was a longtime grape arbor in the Denny yard keeping company with the pump.

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

Glenn Toothman, a neighbor and friend of the Denny family since childhood remembers something about the wine produced from those grapes winning a prize sometime in the 1980s when Miss Josephine Denny, then in her 90s was in charge of her father’s estate and recruiting local talent to help with the upkeep of what would someday become Denny House. Who was the wine maker? Glenn remembers his name was George Yurt and that he was a pilot but from there the trail grows cold. If anyone still remembers the prize that the Denny house grapes took, let Pam know. The old arbor is gone but new grapes have been planted. Who

knows? Maybe someday there will be a The Denny House wine to be had at the wine bar when you stop by.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

Greene County: 2021 State of the County As the calendar year closes, we thought it appropriate to provide an update of county government progress and initiatives. Throughout the past year, your county commissioners and staff have remained focused on making Greene County a better place to live, learn, work and play. Significant progress has been made in several areas within county government and we plan to keep that momentum going in 2022. Most will recall that 2020 was a teambuilding year for us, marked by the departure of a significant number of staff members following the 2019 election and the majority of the year was ravaged by COVID-19. We adapted, adjusted and continued to serve Greene County residents and visitors during those uneasy times. Following the height of the COVID impacts, we have been able to return to normal county operations. Local Business Support The economic impact of COVID has yet to be fully recognized, but small businesses, restaurants and hospitality industry participants were significantly impacted. The Greene County Department of Planning & Community Development has presented significant opportunities toward financial stability and recovery to businesses affected by COVID. Two financial support programs have been offered through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the County Block Grant - Hospitality Industry Recovery Program within the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). A CDBG CARES grant of $1,277,083.00 funded the Forgivable Advance for Small Business Assistance (FASBA) program and the COVID-19 Hospitality Recovery Program (CHIRP) Grant Program distributed $600,000 to qualified Greene County businesses. In all, 39 local businesses were supported with COVID related grants totaling more than $1.8 million. Our staff worked tirelessly to find, apply for and secure these funds. These are competitive grant programs, not Greene County tax dollars. Residential Support Just as businesses were affected, families also experienced stressed finances. Greene County Department of Planning & Community Development administered a $500,000 HOME Investment Partnership Program to qualified applicants and has applied for a $1,054,199 grant from the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund. Both programs provide no interest, deferred payment loans to assist with roof issues, safety and health issues, updates to major systems such as furnaces, outdated electric or plumbing systems, and other repairs to preserve, improve and stabilize the current housing stock in Greene County. Assuming compliance of the homeowner, this loan is forgivable after five years. This is for owner occupied homes only. Additional support to Greene County residents is available through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). ERAP is administered with the goal of providing families and individuals financial assistance for rent including: rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy

costs, utility and home energy costs arrears, and other expenses related to housing incurred due, directly or indirectly, to COVID-19 and housing stability services to eligible households. Greene County’s allocation of $2,383,055.41 has supported 263 families/individuals thus far and Greene County Human Services continues to accept and process applications on a daily basis. Broadband Initiatives Greene County leads the commonwealth in rural broadband deployment with more than $8 million in completed or awarded investments and additional grant requests pending approval. Building on the successes we experienced with a more than $3 million investment in broadband infrastructure during 2020, Greene County was awarded an Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative in September 2021. This highly competitive grant provides $2.5 million for broadband investment and Kinetic by Windstream is the industry partner contributing an additional $2.7 million in capital investment to the project bringing the total project value to over $5 million. This project will provide gigabit speed broadband access to nearly 1,000 currently under served or unserved houses in the Graysville, New Freeport and Spraggs exchanges. These exchanges cover geographic areas larger than traditionally considered in the defined area of these towns and include all or portions of six townships: Aleppo, Freeport, Gilmore, Perry, Springhill and Wayne. Approximately 105 miles of fiber-optic cable will be installed as well as the hardware and other technical requirements offering “fiber-to-theprem” service. Engineering design and environmental reviews are currently being completed and installation should begin in early 2022. Additional grant funding has been requested through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), United States Department of Commerce. Should the application be successful, the approximately $8 million grant will be paired with a Windstream investment of over $6 million to bring gigabit service to an additional 2,000 homes in Greene County. These are competitive grant programs, not Greene County tax dollars. Funding is allocated for broadband or other infrastructure improvements and will be spent elsewhere if not in Greene County. Wisecarver The Wisecarver Reservoir and Recreation Area project combines currently funded softball fields, a kayak launch and walking trails with future developments to create a year-round destination. Department of Environmental Protection permits were finally obtained in 2020 and the first phase started in 2021. The first phase consists of a softball field, parking lot, concession stand, walking trail and a kayak/canoe launch site. Grant funding was received in 2021 for the kayak/canoe launch site which is currently under design and environmental review. The influx of federal money available has potential to greatly speed up the anticipated com-

pletion of this project. Greene County is applying for a $3 million grant through Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant process. The project will assist Greene in diversifying activities available to draw visitors and improve the quality of life for the region. Increased Recreation Opportunities In addition to working on the Wisecarver project, the Recreation Department is doing a great job increasing the opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy new entertainment venues in Greene County. Our staple events like the swimming pools, festivals and fairs please residents and attract visitors, so by adding new events like the Country Fest, Balloon Glow, and Fishing Frenzy we’re enticing new visitors. Studies show 1.1 million people live within an hour’s drive of Waynesburg and these new events attract visitors into the county producing new customers for our restaurants, retail shops and lodging facilities. Veteran’s Services This past year, the Greene County Veterans Affairs office has added two programs supporting Veterans in our community: Together with Veterans (TWV) and Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations (ATLAS). Together With Veterans (TWV) is a community-based suicide prevention program for rural Veterans. The TWV program follows a comprehensive public health approach and is aligned with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide. The program is fully funded by the Veterans Administration Office of Rural Health and administered through a local steering committee and facilitators. Currently in its final planning, organizational and functional review, the TWV program will be available to Veterans in early 2022. Likewise, a new Veteran’s tele-medicine program, Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations (ATLAS), will be available in early 2022. Physically located in the Greene County VA Office, the ATLAS sites provide Veterans with a private appointment room to meet with the VA provider, and connects with that VA provider through secure, real-time video. An on-site attendant is available at the ATLAS site to guide the Veteran through the process of connecting to the VA provider and services include; Primary Care, Mental Health counseling, Clinical Pharmacy, Nutrition services, Social Work and more as services are coordinated within the VA medical system. Increased Transparency and Communications Along with livestreaming public meetings, Facebook postings, and frequent press releases, the Commissioners started a series of Podcasts this fall. Podcasts are an additional social platform targeting a younger audience and increasing the opportunity for all to become better informed of current events, news and county issues. The podcast titled, County Conversations, is available to listeners on Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and YouTube. Residents can also find access to the podcast by visiting the Greene County Commissioners’ Facebook page.

Town hall meetings are still available throughout Greene County. We would like to continue these in order to stay connected to county residents, gather their concerns and work toward solutions – no matter the issue. If you would like to host a town hall meeting, call the Commissioner’s office at (724) 852-5210. Challenges The recent closing of Blacksville No. 2 Mine and Mylan’s Morgantown plant have highlighted regional economic relationships, especially with our neighbors to the south. Our interests are very well aligned with Monongalia County and Morgantown and we continue to work closely with the Monongalia County Commissioners to leverage regional initiatives and advance our common interests. Although several industry partners have announced positive initiatives for increased employee requirements and diversified industrial business opportunities, financial issues will continue to plague Greene County until we increase revenue through new developments for residential housing, businesses, and industry. We continue to seek opportunities to diversify the economy towards new industries, technology, increased tourism and other potential economic drivers. From 2014 through 2020, revenue of the Greene County budget has been increasingly padded with non-traditional, particularly ACT 13 funding. The current expense to revenue ratio is unsustainable. We have cut more than $2 million in annual expenses in the county budget, but there has been no increase in traditional revenue. The next two years, 2022 and 2023, will be salvaged by the influx of federal funding like the American Rescue Plan; but going forward we need substantial increases in the tax base with increased businesses, industry and residential housing activities. Looking ahead There have been positive developments in diversifying workforce requirements and industrial business opportunities, a significant investment in broadband deployment and increased community involvement in defining, analyzing and working toward solutions in cooperative efforts to mitigate some community concerns. These are positive trends where there have not been in decades. We have momentum in the right direction; however, we must remain focused toward smartly investing our precious resources, growing opportunities to increase tax revenue for future budget cycles and continue fiscally responsible decision making. It is imperative that we continue to work with other government entities, school districts, and develop public/private partnerships in order to bring businesses, diversified industry and increased residential housing activity into Greene County. Every day, your county commissioners and staff remain focused on making Greene County a better place to live, learn, work and play. Additional information can be obtained on the Greene County Commissioner’s Facebook page or by calling (724) 852-5210.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

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Intentional Walks By Bret Moore

A Column Out of Left Field

e use metaphorical sports allusions and phrases in our everyday lives without a thought of their origins. Often, these etymologies are fascinating snapshots of bygone eras. When Bob Prince used to say Bobby Clemente settled under a big can of corn, I just assumed that phrase was part of baseball lore without a second thought to its origin. In fact, it was an allusion to the days when grocery stores would place canned goods on the top shelf, which had to be retrieved with a stick. The falling product would be easily caught, thus the phrase caught on in baseball. In the first half of the 20th century, the three most popular sports in America were baseball, boxing and horse racing. As a result, the contemporary lexicon was flooded with allusions to those pastimes. One of the most interesting baseball allusions was the phrase out of left field to refer to something odd or unusual. A c c o r d -

ing to a 1961 column by William Safire, Chicago’s West Side Grounds, the original home of the Cubs, had a mental institution just beyond the left field wall. The loud utterances of the patients led to the phrase. Another familiar term traces its roots back to baseball’s cousin, cricket. Today, we use the term hat trick mostly as a hockey reference when a player scores three goals in a game. However, the phrase dates to 1858 when Heathcliff Stephenson took three consecutive wickets on successive bowls in Sheffield, England. His club took up a collection to buy the game’s hero a new hat. The term stuck and by the 1890s evolved to a jockey winning three races. By 1902, newspaper accounts used the term in reporting soccer goals. Boxing references are ubiquitous including having someone in your corner, throwing in the towel (originally, chucking up the sponge), and throwing one’s hat in the ring.

CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE: Various barely used baby items, crib, bouncy chair, bathtub, stroller. FMI contact julie.ann.mascara@gmail.com. FOR SALE: Fluff Butt pickled eggs, $1/egg. Pickled beet eggs, hot & spicy, sweet & spicy. 502-297-2118. In the early, shady days of boxing, spectators would literally throw their hat into the ring to signal they were up for a fight. As for horse racing, phrases such as down to the wire and across the board became part of our normal conversations. Even the phrase hands down derives from the track. It was an allusion to the jockey relaxing his hands on the reigns when the race was won. More recently, the phrase alley-oop is associated with basketball. It comes from the French word allez-oop, which acrobats say before they jump. The term was originally used in the late 1950s to describe San Francisco 49ers wide receiver R.C. Owens’ leaping catches. Somehow, the term migrated to basketball in the following decade. Finally, many people over 60 remember the “original” Hail Mary pass from Dallas Cowboy Roger

FOR SALE: Troy-Built Storm 2840 28” snowblower, used 1 time. Electric start, 7 forward speeds, 2 reverse, heated handle grips, lights - commercial unit w/manual, $700. 724-627-5994. Staubach to Drew Pearson in 1975. Staubach told reporters he closed his eyes and said a Hail Mary before throwing the pass. However, the phrase actually dates back to 1922 when Notre Dame’s Four Horsemen defeated Georgia Tech 13-3. Horsemen Elmer Layden and Jim Crowley said their rosary before both touchdowns. The “Hail Mary” plays became a tradition at the Catholic institution for the next 40 years before Staubach broadly popularized the term. Correction from previous column: A reader pointed out that Craig Weaver surpassed Dave Goodwin in 2017 as the school’s all-time rebounding leader at West Greene. He had 1,023 rebounds and 1,133 points. Hometown Heritage correction: The photo used for the Waynesburg College 1966 championship team is actually 1966 Waynesburg High School conference championship team.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

Self-Defense Ammunition

took a training course and was able to shoot several different weapons. I purchased a weapon, and I am confident in handling, loading, firing, and fixing malfunctions with my pistol. I can hit the target at reasonable distances, consistently. I have a comfortable holster that retains my weapon. I have worn it for a while, and I am confident with it. I’m ready to begin carrying my weapon for self-defense… or am I? Next question: What ammunition am I carrying in my weapon? Is the ammunition that is loaded into my side arm designed to deliver the needed stopping power when called upon? Am I carrying target ammo when I should be carrying something else? What should I be carrying? I’d like to share a bit of information about different types of ammunition that are appropriate for one application or another but may not be the best choice for concealed carry ammunition. Ball ammo or in some circles, target ammo is designed to be accurate, reliable, and cheap, thus, one can practice without going broke. It is not designed to stop a threat. It usually comes with a round nose profile of some sort and tends to cycle in modern weapons, fairly reliably. Commonly, these bullets are made of lead and jacketed or plated with brass or other alloys. These bullets are not designed for expansion; they do not make for ideal carry ammunition. Ball ammunition is quite capable of passing through an individual and continuing down range, possibly injuring additional human beings in proximity to the target. Military ammunition is mostly ball round because it cycles so dependably. The military tends to be more concerned with functionality and cost rather than bullet performance. While ball ammunition may not be perfect for concealed carry needs, it is lethal. On the other hand, self-defense ammunition is specifically designed to cause tissue damage and deliver shock or stopping power. Controlled expansion, or how much a bullet enlarges as it penetrates is the key to quality carry ammunition. Expansion is largely controlled by means of a lead hollow point bullet, often jacketed or semi-jacketed which causes the bullet to mushroom or expand when it meets resistance but still retaining its mass. This expansion creates a wound cavity or channel which delivers the blow. I am not a ballistician, but I have read about and experimented with enough

FEBRUARY 2022

rounds to know that achieving the perfect balance of expansion and penetration in a round is quite scientific and largely a matter of conjecture in shooting circles. How much expansion is necessary? How much penetration is ideal? What is the subject wearing? How is the person you are encountering built? Are they thin, muscular, large boned, obese, wearing a jean or leather jacket? Best of luck figuring your way through these most complicated equations. The good news is that you don’t have to agonize over the details. Find a reputable ammo maker and locate their self-defense ammunition. Most of the major manufacturers will have at least one self-defense rounds in their line. Buy a box or two (be prepared for sticker shock.) Run 50-100 rounds through your carry weapon to make sure that they cycle in your weapon reliably. At this point, you should be good to go. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that they will function in your weapon. They may not. Different bullet weights, types and configurations as well varying powder charges can affect performance. Some quality ammunition sources for self-defense rounds include Federal Hydra Shok, Winchester Silvertip, Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection, and Remington Golden Saber. Below are a few terms that may prove helpful if you are just getting into the world of concealed carry. It is not exhaustive but may help to make heads or tails out of all the information on hand. • FMJ : Full Metal Jacket - another way of stating, “ball round” lead bullet fully encased in a harder metal jacket • JHP: Jacketed Hollow Point - designed for expansion, (mushroom) to stop over penetration • LRN: Lead Round Nose; not jacketed • WC-SWC: Wadcutter or Semi-Wadcutter flat bullet for target work • +P: Ammunition loaded to higher pressures While this article only scratches the surface of considerations for self-defense ammo, it is only a start. Don’t forget to rotate your ammo every year or two. Buy new ammo and shoot the old during training. If you have questions or would like to learn more, contact me and I’ll start you down the path as best I can. Remember to train like you will fight! That means training with self-defense ammo from time to time.

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

GREENE COUNTY BASKETBALL BASKETBALL STAT STAT RACES RACES Not all teams reported or posted on Maxprep

CARMICHAELS CHRONICLES

he 2008 season was the high point of the Mikes’ baseball program. A 23-2 record capped by the team’s 17th conference title, a third WPIAL championship in six years, and a trip to the state championship highlighted the season. The Mikes began the schedule with big preseason wins against powerhouses Connellsville, Brownsville and Waynesburg. A single loss to Belle-Vernon would be the only blemish on the Mikes’ record until the PIAA finals. The team made a clean sweep of Section 1A games and won their sixth conference title of the 2000s (seventeenth overall). In the WPIAL tournament, the Mikes began with a first-round bye, then

defeated a tough Vincentian team, 5-4, in the quarterfinals. They defeated Serra Catholic 7-3 in the semis before beating Rochester 4-3 in the finals at Consol Energy Field in Washington. The PIAA playoffs began with a 10-0 rout of Keystone High School in round one. Next, the Mikes defeated Homer Center 7-0 in the quarterfinal round. In the semifinals, Carmichaels defeated Serra Catholic for a second time in the postseason 6-2. However, they lost ace pitcher Joby Lapkowicz to a broken ankle after a collision at home plate. Lapkowicz would be forced to watch the state finals game on crutches from the dugout. Chuck Gasti pitched well in the finals; however, the team lost a tough 2-0 decision to Camp Hill. Lapkowicz was

BOY OF THE MONTH

Christopher Barrish is the son of Andy and Kristen Barrish. He is the captain of the boys’ basketball team and last season was chosen as the Greene County Player of the Year and also named to the 1st Team All-WPIAL. Christopher also plays baseball for the Mikes. In school, he is involved with the Big Brother/Big Sister program and is a member of the National Honor Society. He is also involved in the broadcasting program and hosts a sports podcast. In the community, he enjoys working as a day camp counselor with the Greene County Parks and Recreation program and volunteering for the food bank. Christopher plans to attend college to major in education and continue his basketball career. He also plans to share his love of basketball with others by coaching.

Sophia Zalar is the daughter of Robert and Marla Zalar of Carmichaels. She plays basketball, softball and volleyball.The junior’s activities include; Envirothon 1st team, debate team, Junior Standing Committee, and National Honor Society. She maintains a 4.625 GPA. Outside school, Sofia is a member of the Carmichaels United Methodist Church, Sir Issak Walton League, and a Conservation Ambassador for the Wildlife Academy. Her ambition is to become a veterinarian.

GIRL OF THE MONTH Tyler Richmond of Carmichaels goes up for a shot against McGuffey.

GIRLS

Masontown, PA 724-583-2680 724-583-2685 amedisys.com

Scoring (At least 10 PPG) Taylor Dusenberry(M) Anna Durbin (WG) Kaley Rohanna (WC) Clara Paige Miller (WC) Brooke Barner (WG) Krista Wilson (M)

22.7 17.4 16.1 12.6 12.3 11.7

Rebounds (At least 5 RPG) Brooke Barner (WG) Clara Paige Miller (WC) Kasie Meek (WG) Anna Durbin(WG) Kiley Meek(WG)

10.7 7.3 6.2 6.2 5.0

Assists (At Least 3 APG) Anna Durbin (WG) Kaley Rohanna (WC)

12.9 3.0

Steals (At least 2 SPG) Katie Lampe (WG) Clara Paige Miller (WC) Anna Durbin (WG) Brooke Barner (WG) Taylor Dusenberry (M)

3.3 3.1 2.8 2.0 2.0

BOYS

Scoring (At least 10 PPG) Chris Barrish (Carm) Mike Stewart (Carm) Chase Henkins (WC) Drake Long (Carm) Jacob Mason (WC) Dawson Fowler (WC) Ian Van Dyne (WG)

22.0 19.1 14.1 13.4 13.0 10.1 10.0

Rebounds (At least 5 RPG) Jacob Mason (WC) Hudson Pincavich (WG) Cory Wise (WG) Casey Miller (WG) Ian VanDyne (WG) D. Gustafson (WC)

9.1 6.5 6.5 6.3 6.0 5.0

Assists (At least 3 APG) Trenton Zupper (WC) Chase Henkins (WC)

4.3 3.0

Steals (At least 2 APG) Dawson Fowler (WC)

2.0

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

THE POWER OF xpertise

YOU WANT THE VERY BEST CARE FOR YOUR EYES. Fortunately, one of the country’s premier centers for eye care is right here in Waynesburg. With a large group of excellent specialists, the WVU Eye Institute has the expertise that is needed for every eye problem, whether common or rare, in children or adults.

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THE POWER OF

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

Learn more at WVUMedicine.org/Waynesburg

Appointments: Call 855-WVU-CARE

The Power of WVU Medicine is a campaign to highlight what truly drives the WVU Medicine brand: Expert healthcare providers, dedicated support staff, and inspiring patients.

RAIDER RECALL

fter incredible football and baseball careers at Waynesburg Central, Lee Fritz went on to play the outfield at West Virginia University. Although he hadn’t played baseball in two years because of surgery on his shoulder after a football injury, he walked on and made the 2001- 02 Mountaineer team. That first year, he batted .330 and earned a scholarship. He went on to lead the Mountaineers in batting for three consecutive years. His sophomore year, he led the en-

tire Big East in hitting with a .407 average and set a WVU record for hits in a season (88). He was named to the All-Big East Second Team that year. Fritz followed that with First-Team Big East accolades in both his junior and senior years. He was also a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American due to his 3.8 GPA. His senior year, he struck out only four times in 80 at bats. That season, he finished in the top 10 in the Big East in nine hitting categories and did not commit an error in the field. His .378 career batting average ranks eighth on WVU’s all-time list.

BOY OF THE MONTH

Colton Stoneking is the son of Phil and Lynn Stoneking of Waynesburg. The senior is already a two-time PIAA place winner. He recently reached a tremendous milestone when he won his 100th match. What made the event extra special is that he became part of the first father-son duo to achieve that feat in Raider history. In 1992, his father was only the fourth member of the program to reach that level. Colton also grew up playing baseball and soccer. In school, he is a member of the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America Club. In his free time, he likes to hang out with his friends, workout, and check stock prices as soon as the Market opens.

Clara Paige Miller is the daughter of Bryan and Kim Miller of Waynesburg. She is a four-year letterman in basketball and was named team Captain this year. Clara Paige was named to the All-Section and All-District teams, as well as recently scoring her 1,000th career point. She is also a member of the track and field team, where she has lettered for three years. In school, she maintains a 4.0 GPA, serves as secretary of her senior class, and was voted the 2021 Homecoming Queen. Her activities include Alpha Beta, Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, and Aquaponics Club. Clara Paige enjoys spending time with friends and family and watching sports in her spare time. Her future plans include continuing her studies and athletic career in college next year.

GIRL OF THE MONTH RAIDER ALUMNI TRACK UPDATE Taylor Shriver recently won the Akron University Indoor Quad Meet against Eastern Michigan, Youngstown State and the University of Buffalo. Taylor is a freshman at Akron and set a new personal best at the meet with a jump of 13’6”. In December, William and Mary sophomore Daniel Layton finished third in the 60 M Hurdles at the Navy Invitational with a time of 8.32 Scott Benco, a Redshirt sophomore at Kent State, will try to capture his second Mid-American Conference Javelin title when his outdoor season starts this spring.

Newest Member of the Lady Raider 1,000 Point Club Waynesburg Central’s Claire Page Miller became just the fifth Raider girl to score 1,000 career points. The senior reached the milestone when she poured in 19 points against Wash High this month. She joined Sally Walker, Tammy (McIntire) Mandich, Lori Trader, and Megan Summersgill in the elite club. GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

RETRO ROCKET

he Rockets saw a great deal of success on the track in the 2000s. Shana Yourchik was a four-time PIAA qualifier in the high jump from 2000-20003. In 2002, she tied for sixth place with a 5’2” jump. The following year, she placed fourth at the PIAA Meet. In 2007, J.R. Phillips placed 6th at the WPIAL Meet in the 1600 Meters. He also finished eighth

in 2008. Hans Lubich qualified for the PIAA Meet in 2008 after finishing second in the WPIAL in the High Jump. In 2009, he won the WPIAL High Jump after clearing 6’4” and went on to place sixth at the PIAA Meet (6’4”). Other WPIAL qualifiers that year included Robbie DeHass, Louie Pellegrini, Amanda Hobe and Christopher Shaw. The 4 X 100 Relay team and Amanda Hobes (Long Jump) both placed ninth at the WPIAL Meet.

BOY OF THE MONTH

Colt Fowler is the son of Tom and Sue Fowler of Jefferson Pa. He has played on the Rockets’ football and basketball teams the past four years. Colt was named All- Tri-County South and AllGreene County in both his junior and senior years. He is a member of First Christian Church of New Salem.

Savanah Clark is the daughter of Scott and Janie Clark of Rices Landing PA. She has received All-County recognition for golf and basketball for three consecutive years. The senior maintains a 4.12 GPA. Her school activities include: SADD, Envirothon, Science Olympiad, and the debate club.

GIRL OF THE MONTH The JeffersonMorgan boys basketball team is 7-1 on the season and tied for the section lead. They are coached by Brandon Lawless and his assistants Brent Baker and Ryan Jefferies.

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

PIONEER PAST

the All-District Team.Catholic. The Maples90s, runner-up Mon Valley n he the early Theled1992 17- 6 and wonGreene theirbas- team was by ateam triofinished of excellent West scoredChris over Dugan 100 points in up foursixgames. first experienced and pitchers. picked ketball They the playoffs but lost only sectionperiod baseball title wins on qualified the seasonforwhile compiling an extended of success. to Our of Sacred Heart in the first in 1981. The finished team finished ERA.Lady Jim Dugan recorded four The 1991 team 19-7. The a 1.84 round. The following year, Pioneers their schedule 15-10 included (9-1). The and finished in the top 10the in the school-record win count early wins recorded straight winning only section loss against was a 5-4 setback WPIAL withtheir 81 fourth strikeouts. Junior season contests highly-ranked season. highlight of thegames season was at Fairchance-Georges. In theThat playClitesThe pitched only three Father Geibel and Frazier. team Dave a thrilling double-overtime victory offs, they ranthe into eventual of injury problems, but he over also notched Pioneer’s firstWPIAL basketball because playoff victory, an 81-67 game against traditional power Monessen in front of a Avella. However, they fell to traditional sellout crowd. They also defeated county power Monessen in the second round. rival Waynesburg Central that season. The Pioneers also won the Coal Bowl Dave Goodwin graduated that year as Tournament that season. Mike Cipoletti the Pioneers’ all-time scoring (1,753) was the MVP of that tournament and and rebounding (986) leader. He was finished his career with 1,230 points. He also named to the All-State Team and was also named the Uniontown Herald- was a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fab Five Standard Player of the Year. Chris Cook selection. and Dave Goodwin joined Cipoletti on

BOY OF THE MONTH

Ian VanDyne is the son of Luke and Angie Van Dyne of Wind Ridge. He is captain of the Pioneers’ playoff bound basketball team and also plays baseball. Ian also participates on the Elite Youth travel league basketball team during the summer. The junior is also a member of the Science Club, Ski Club, and Aquaponics Club.

Alexandria “Ally” Campbell is the daughter of Noble and Stephanie Campbell of Graysville. She has been part of the varsity girls’ basketball runs to the WPIAL finals the past two seasons. She is involved in summer basketball and attending camps. The junior is also a member of the Science Club and loves the beach.

GIRL OF THE MONTH GIRLS BASKETBALL BOX SCORES Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament WEST GREENE 50 / YOUGH 48 West Greene double figure scoring: Anna Durbin 19, Brooke Barner 11, Kasie Meek 10; 3 Pointers: Anna Durbin 3; West Greene (1-0),Yough (0-1). WG 44 / SOUTHMORELAND 60 West Greene double figure scoring: Anna Durbin 20, Brooke Barner 14; 3 Pointers: Anna Durbin (WG) 6; West Greene (1-1), Southmoreland (2-0). WG 64 / PENDLETON CO., WV 31

West Greene double figure scoring: Anna Durbin 16, Brooke Barner 15, Katie Lampe 11; 3 Pointers: WG --- Katie Lampe 3, Lexi Six 3, ; West Greene (2-1), Pendleton County, WV (2-3).

Barner 14; West Greene (4-1), California (4-2).

Anna Durbin 10; 3 Pointers: Katie Lampe 3.

California University Holiday Hoop Festival

WG 61 / ELLIS SCHOOL 16 West Greene double figure scoring: Brooke Barner 20 (career high), Anna Durbin 16; West Greene (3-1), Ellis School (0-2).

BUCKHANNON-UPSHUR 51 / WG 27 West Greene double figure scoring: Anna Durbin 14; Buckhannon- Upshur 5-0 (plays in West Virginia’s largest classification - AAA).

WG 71 / MONESSEN 44 West Greene double figure scoring: Sophomore: Kasie Meek 19 (career high), Anna Durbin 15, Brooke Barner 13.

WG 62 / CALIFORNIA 29 West Greene double figure scoring: Anna Durbin 24 (career high), Brooke

THOMAS JEFFERSON 56, / WG 40 West Greene double figure scoring: Brooke Barner 14, Katie Lampe 11,

WG 52 / WAYNESBURG 41 Waynesburg double figure scoring: Kaley Rohanna 19, C.P. Miller 14 West Greene double figure scoring: Anna Durbin 20, Katie Lampe 11; 3 Pointers: Katie Lampe 3, Anna Durbin 3; West Greene 6-3, Waynesburg 6-3.

WG 60 / GEIBEL 13 West Greene double figure scoring: Anna Durbin 21, Brooke Barner 17, Katie Lampe 10; West Greene 8-3 (3-0), Geibel 2-10 (0-3). WG 61 / JEFFERSON MORGAN 18 West Greene double figure scoring: Anna Durbin 22, Brooke Barner 11 Jefferson Morgan double figure scoring: Savannah Clark 10; West Greene 9-3 (4-0), Jefferson Morgan 1-9 (1-3).

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

2021 Coloring Contest Winners

Congratulations to the 9 very talented winners of our 2021 Coloring Contest! Thank you to everyone who entered!

Ages 4 & 5 ~ 1st Place

Ages 4 & 5 ~ 2nd Place

Ages 4 & 5 ~ 3rd Place

Clarksville

Waynesburg

BRIELLA

CHARLOTTE

REESE

Ages 6 & 7 ~ 1st Place

Ages 6 & 7 ~ 2nd Place

Ages 6 & 7 ~ 3rd Place

Point Marion

Rices Landing

Mather

OLIVIA

FAITH

RYLEE

Ages 8 & 9 ~ 1st Place

Ages 8 & 9 ~ 2nd Place

Ages 8 & 9 ~ 3rd Place

Crabapple

Clarksville

BECKETT

PAYTON

GREGORY

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FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

MAPLE MEMORIES

he Maples brought back their wrestling program in 1980-81. The team beat Albert Gallatin 33-30 for their only win that season. The following year, sophomore Chris Homistek brought life to the program when he finished 30-5-1 on the season. He went on to claim the 185-pound WPIAL title in both his junior and senior years. He was the Maples’ first champion

since Ben Cree in 1955. His senior year, he pinned his first opponent at the PIAA Championships. He then lost a close 4-3 match but rebounded by recording another fall in the consolation brackets. The following match, he fell in three overtimes but again bounced back to claim the fifth-place match to conclude the best individual finish in Mapletown history. In 1986, Tom Pekar was also a PIAA qualifier.

BOY OF THE MONTH

Roger Gradek lettered at wide receiver and defensive back for the Maples this year. He also plays basketball and is planning to play baseball this year. Outside of athletics, the sophomore is an honor roll student, a member of the yearbook staff and attends the First Baptist Church of Carmichaels. After high school, he would like to attend WVU, but is undecided on a career. Roger is the son of Danielle Gradek of Greensboro.

Sydney Byrne is the daughter of Rick and Chris Byrne of Dilliner. She is a ninth grader who plays varsity basketball and volleyball. She has played on several travel basketball teams over the past three years and plans on playing softball in the spring. Sydney has a 4.154 GPA and enjoys writing, art, and spending time with family and friends.

GIRL OF THE MONTH

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

We are pleased to share pictures of a few of our Greene County area hunters who have earned the right to

BRAG!

Adam Skertich

8 Point Buck

Adam Skertich of West Union bagged this 8-point buck in West Union. Way to go, Adam! Deakin Whipkey

First Buck

Deakin Whipkey, age 13, of Waynesburg harvested this 8-point buck on November 3 in Franklin Twp. with his Excalibur crossbow. The buck has an 18 3/4 inch spread. Deakin broke his foot the day before and was put into a boot the same day he harvested his buck. Deakin is alone in the one pic the second picture has 3 generations in it. His father Adrian submitted this photo, and “I just want to say congratulations to my father and son for an awesome archery season.” Nice job, Deakin!

Ronald Whipley Ashley Hughes

Morgan Jeffries

First Buck

Ashley Hughes of Rogersville got her first buck, a 9 point with a 16” inside spread and weighing 196 pounds while hunting in Aleppo. She also won the Hughes Big Buck Championship Belt. Way to go, Ashley!

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

7 Point Buck

Morgan Jeffries shot this 7 point buck in Rices Landing with a .308. Nice work, Morgan!

8 Point Buck

Veteran Ronald Whipkey, age 72, of Holbrook harvested this 8-point buck on November 6 in Franklin Twp. with his Excalibur crossbow. The buck has a 17 1/2-inch spread. Adrian Whipkey, also pictured, submitted this photo. Awesome work, Ronald!

Venison Jerky

his year, make your venison last longer by turning it into venison jerky. Venison jerky is a nutritional and convenient snack with a long shelf life that everyone loves all year around. Wild venison is much healthier and full of vitamins, proteins, and minerals. Compared to beef, it has about 50 percent less total fat and about 40 percent less saturated fat. It also has about 40 percent fewer calories. Venison contains lots of vitamins and minerals: B6, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, and zinc. And unlike conventionally raised cattle, wild venison does not include any synthetic hormones or antibiotics. It’s even an excellent alternative for chicken. Venison has about 10 percent fewer calories than chicken breast. The vitamin, protein, and mineral content in venison provide various health benefits. Because of its low calorie and high protein content, it can be helpful for those looking to implement a high protein diet. Protein is helpful for people wanting to lose weight. Thanks to its role in repairing muscle tissue, it is also useful for those that want to gain muscle mass. Venison is plentiful in zinc. Zinc is an essential mineral and helps keep the body’s

immune system healthy. Other vitamins and minerals in venison may help with brain functions, such as focus and memory, and even boost your mood. You can prepare deer jerky using a smoker, dehydrator, or even your oven. Regardless of method, make sure that the temperature is in the 165 to 175 degrees so that your venison jerky is safe. Dehydrators dry meat quickly without cooking or over-drying. Depending on the size of the meat, making jerky in the dehydrator can take anywhere from 5 to 15 hours. Smokers add additional flavor to jerky. Make the jerky by either placing the meat on racks (if you have them) or skewering and smoking by hanging. Smoked jerky can take about 4 to 8 hours to make. (continued on page 38)

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

Mike Vuono

9 Point Buck

Mike Vuono of Waynesburg brought down this 9-point with a crossbow on November 8 in Waynesburg. Nice work, Mike!

Jaelyne Roupe

9 Point Buck

Jaelyne Roupe of Chartiers Houston shot this buck on the second day of the season at her grandparents farm in Ruff Creek. Her grandparents, Harry & Penny Good, submitted this photo. Congratulations, Jaelyne!

Larry Frye

6 Point Buck

Larry Frye of Millsboro harvested this piebald whitetail with 6 points, and a unique single antler on one side. Congratulations, Larry!

Kipton Myers

8 Point Buck

Kipton Myers, age 5, of Waynesburg shot this 8-point on opening day of archery season. This was his first buck, and he was hunting with his mom and

Patrick Frye George Bailey

11 Point Buck

George M. Bailey of Jefferson shot this buck while hunting in Khedive in November. Nice work, George!

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

32 Point Buck

Patrick Frye of Millsboro harvested this 32 point buck with a crossbow in Fredericktown. Awesome job, Patrick!

Urijah Teasdale

9 Point Buck

Austin Grandel, age 11, of Jefferson was hunting with his dad Ryan during the first week of Ohio archery season when he harvested his largest buck yet. He was a 154”, 9 point that field dressed at 199 pounds. Nice job, Austin!

Austin Grandel

First Buck

Urijah Teasdale, age 12, of Waynesburg bagged this deer on his first-time hunting, in New Athens, OH. His mother, Kristin Haywood, submitted this photo. Great work, Urijah! Richard Kaufman Ava Wood

Jackie Patterson

8 Point Buck

Jackie Patterson bagged this buck with a crossbow while hunting on the family farm in Perry Township. Congratulations, Jackie!

9 Point Buck

10 Point Buck

Richard Kaufman of Waynesburg brought down this buck while hunting in Princeton, IL on the last day of bow season. Awesome work, Richard!

Ava Wood, age 14, shot a 10 point on the Bedilion Farm in Waynesburg. Her dad Jimmy was hunting with her. Congratulations, Ava!

Garrett Clark Jim Grassi

Family Time

8 Point Buck

Garrett Clark of Graysville shot his first buck with a .243 while hunting in Graysville. His proud dad, Josh Clark, submitted this photo. Nice job, Garrett!

Jim Grassi of Masontown harvested this deer in Ryerson. Congratulations, Jim!

Emma Kindervater

9 Point Buck

Emma Kindervater, age 16, of Waynesburg harvested this 8-point buck while hunting on a friend’s property in Waynesburg. Emma shot the buck just before dark while hunting with her father. She started hunting last year and has bagged a buck each year. Pictured with her is her father, Eric. Way to go, Emma!

(continued from page 38) If you don’t have access to a smoker or dehydrator, the simplest method is to make jerky using your oven. Making oven jerky is like making it in the smoker. However, you may need to prop the oven door open slightly and aim a fan at the gap to create air flow, unless your oven has a convection feature. Oven times are like dehydrator and smoker times, depending on temps. Jerky can be stored in food containers, glass jars, or vacuum sealed packs. It will last several weeks if stored in the refrigerator. For the longest storage life, freeze the jerky and

only take out what you need when you need it. Prepare the jerky by slicing the meat into thin strips and marinating prior to drying. Each person has their own special recipe for making jerky marinade. A simple recipe to start you off is a mix of soy sauce, liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic. You can expand on this and add honey, brown sugar, lime or lemon juice, salt, onion, teriyaki seasoning, Cajun spices, or even adobo seasoning. The limit is your imagination!

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

Pierce Guyton

8 Point Buck

Bronsyn Pratt

Shed Hunting

Hunter, age 4, went shed hunting with his family for the first time and found his first one in January. Great work, Hunter!

Pierce Guyton, age 15, of Waynesburg got his first buck this season. On December 3, family friends George & Jackie Taylor invited Pierce to hunt on their farm in Greene County after hearing that he hadn’t gotten a deer yet. He was looking at some does through his cell phone camera when an 8-point walked into view. One shot, about 150 yards, and it went down immediately. Pierce usually hunts with his father and was hoping to shoot his first buck while with him. Congratulations, Pierce!

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Justin Toth

10 Point Buck

Justin Toth, age 11, of Sycamore, harvested this 10-point buck in Sycamore with a crossbow during archery season.

Kory Taylor

• • • • • • • •

7 Point Buck

Kory Taylor, age 14, of Waynesburg, got this 7 point buck on November 12 during archery season at his family farm in Washington Township. Kory has been hunting since he was eight years old and has gotten a buck every year. This was his first deer with a compound bow. He also did very well in rifle season - shooting a doe at 450 yards with an STW. His parents, George and Jackie Taylor say, “We’re proud of you Kory!” Congratulations, Kory!

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

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Mason Switalski

12 Point Buck

Mason Switalksi, age 16, of Waynesburg bagged this buck via archery. Congratulations, Mason!

Taylor Scott Wyatt Switalski

First Buck

7 Point Buck

Wyatt Switalski, age 9, of Waynesburg shot this buck on youth day. Great work, Wyatt!

Taylor Scott of West Union shot his first buck, a 4-point buck, in West Union while hunting with his stepfather Adam Skertich. Way to go, Tyler!

Alex Moore

5 Point Buck

Alex Moore, of Chambersburg shot this 5-point buck on his Grandpap Zeifel’s Graysville farm just minutes after daybreak on November 27, while hunting with his dad, Kevin. This is Alex’s third year hunting and he has gotten one every year. His proud grandparents, Lee and Cristy Wise submitted this photo. Way to go, Alex!

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

Greene Gardens

By Deborah Sands of the Greene County Master Gardeners

Pennsylvania Tree Nuts

Oak tree with acorns.

drive along a country road, a walk through a cemetery, or a closer look at farm property in southwestern Pennsylvania will reveal several nut trees, some of them native to our area and others introduced. Pennsylvania does not have a state tree nut. The Pennsylvania state tree is the eastern hemlock, which produces inchlong, egg-shaped cones rather than nuts. Oak trees are plentiful in our area and include white oak, northern red oak, pin oak and black oak. Oak trees produce acorns, which are the most abundant nut crop in North America. Even in an off-year, oaks produce more nuts than all other nut trees, both wild and cultivated, and were an important food source for eastern woodlands natives and European colonists. Evidence of acorn consumption has been traced back to the Paleolithic era. Black walnut trees are native and abundant in our area. Easy to identify, these trees stand tall and can reach 80 feet. The bark is deeply furrowed and there is an absence of lower branches. Clusters of green nut husks form in the summer and are easy to see as this tree loses its leaves early in the fall. Black walnut

FEBRUARY 2022

trees can also be tapped for making syrup as you would a sugar maple. Nuts are harvested in late September and early October while the husks are still green. Another native member of the walnut family is the butternut, also known as the oil nut or white walnut. These two nuts are stored and consumed by squirrels and gathered by humans for their distinctive taste for eating. However, black walnuts and butternuts may not be good companions in the yard or near a vegetable garden. They produce a substance called juglone. This chemical, which is released through the roots into the soil, acts to eliminate surrounding plants which might compete for light, water, and nutrients. Juglone can be toxic to several plants including tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and potatoes as well ornamental shrubs peony, lilac, rhododendron, and azalea. Juglone is most toxic under the drip line of the tree but can extend 50 to 80 feet from the trunk. Two other well-known trees in western Pennsylvania are shellbark and shagbark hickories. The shagbark is distinctive by the appearance of its bark which appears to be peeling up and down the length of the trunk. It often grows in drier upland soils. The shellbark has smoother bark and produces larger husks and nuts. It prefers moist fertile bottomland. Hickory nuts have a milder taste than black walnuts and are prized for cakes and cookies. I was in a doctor’s office some forty years ago and listened to a man tell an amazing story about his father, a lumberman, and the disappearance of trees up and down the east coast that were as big as the California redwoods. He was talking about the American chestnut. Numbering around four billion, these giants grew to be 100 feet tall and nine feet in diameter and were the most

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

common tree in Pennsylvania until about 1904. A blight introduced in Japanese nursery stock was first detected at the Bronx Zoo. By 1940, most American chestnuts had been wiped out. The tree is considered technically extinct. The fungus that killed them still exists in the wild with trees only reaching the size of shrubs. The large chestnuts that we see today in their spiky husks are Chinese chestnuts. Research is currently being done at The American Chestnut Foundation in Louisville, Kentucky and Penn State University, among others, to restore this species. Did you know you can grow pecans in Pennsylvania? Or that English walnuts came from Persia? Nut species that were once thought impossible for our area have been achieved by creating cultivars through grafting. Grafting is accomplished by taking rootstock from one species and grafting a section (called a scion) of another species onto it. This is called a cultivar and produces a tree with the best characteristics of each tree. Cultivars are hardier but more expensive to purchase. One example is the hican. Hicans are grown in Pennsylvania and are created by grafting a pecan to a hickory root stock. Nuts produced by native trees tend to be smaller and harder to crack than those produced by grafting. Ease of shelling, size, taste, and blight resistance are goals when creating cultivars. Nut trees are planted with an eye for the long view. Most nut trees take about ten years to produce. In our state, filberts, or hazelnuts are the exception and produce a crop in about five years. As with every living plant, hardiness zone, soil composition and plant location are basic considerations. Trees need full sun and a deep, acidic, well-drained soil. Water is crucial especially in the first two years and weeds should be kept back at least four feet from the trunk, to hinder disease. Trees are wind pollinated so that two

Shagbark hickory tree.

Black walnut tree.

trees of each variety should be planted. Chestnuts and walnuts require a genetically different chestnut or walnut to pollinate. The Northern Nut Growers Association [https:// nutgrowing.org/] representing North America, and the Pennsylvania Nut Growers Association [http://pnga.net/] are good resources; the Pennsylvania Nut Growers offer grafting classes. Soil testing kits and help from Penn State Master Gardeners can be obtained by contacting your local Penn State Extension office.

SAY NO TO LITTER! G reene County, Pennsylvania, is renowned for its natural beauty. Between our waterways, unique geological structures, trails, and forests, the county overflows with environmental gems. However, these wonders are in danger of being lost because of littering. Anti-littering campaigns have been around since 1956 with Keep America Beautiful’s first television broadcast public service announcement. However, littering is still an enormous problem across America, especially in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection estimates that there are over five hundred thousand items of trash along the thousands of roads across the state. Several of those roads are within Greene County. But why does it matter if someone throws a McDonald’s cup from their car window, tosses a flyer on the sidewalk, or leaves tires

along I-79? Because littering creates various forms of pollution, adds unnecessary costs on taxpayers, and can be dangerous. Not only is trash on the streets and walkways unsightly, litter items like Styrofoam cups, plastic containers, and aluminum cans are dangerous to the environment. They can If you’d like to get even more involved with this cause water pollution, kill native plants and campaign, here are some additional tips on what animals, and destroy you can do to keep Greene County green: both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. • Keep a garbage bag in your car to properly The PDEP states dispose of traveling waste. that PennDOT • Make sure your home’s garbage cans/ spends about $13 mildumpster is secure to prevent unintentionlion every year on roadal littering. side cleanups. Most of • Make use of local recycling services in your that funding comes from residents’ taxes. Howevcommunity, including community droper, the worst perpetrator off boxes and local waste disposal busiof littering in the entire nesses’ services. country comes from a • Clean up any messes you encounter in pubspecific demographic— lic spaces, even if you didn’t create the mess smokers. yourself. Keep America • Dispose of cigarettes in appropriate conBeautiful reports that the tainers. Better yet, quit smoking to help most littered item in the both with waste prevention and cleaner air. United States is the cigarette butt. These butts are • Dispose of specialty waste (like televisions, usually not biodegradink cartridges, used tires, scrap metal, etc) able. They never decomto the appropriate organizations/disposal pose and, when eaten, sites. cause wildlife to become • Educate your friends and family on the imill or die. They also inportance of litter prevention. crease the risk of forest fires if not extinguished. While Pennsylvania is not a major wildfire risk litter is that there aren’t enough waste baskets region like California, it is still a major available,” Marisa says. “My team and I want concern for both forestry officials and to change that and give our county’s citizens citizens. multiple different locations to throw away To combat the dangers and negative their garbage to help everyone clean up the aesthetics of littering, Greene County of- roads and keep their families healthy.” ficials and businesses are establishing a A Direct Results’ specialty is vinyl plan to clean up the community. graphics and wraps, and their recent projLocal business owner Pamela ect is wrapping garbage cans with logos and Marisa of Waynesburg’s Direct Results phrases that promote anti-littering. They’ve and GreeneScene Community Magazine teamed up with Parks and Rec to place these has teamed up with Greene County Parks cans in public areas like the Greene County and Recreation to help with one element Fairgrounds and the Greene River Trail. You of the anti-littering equation. can also find these cans at Direct Results’ sis“One of the biggest reasons people ter businesses, The Perfect Arrangement and

The Denny House. Marisa and her company are asking local businesses and organizations to get involved in this anti-littering project and are offering a special deal for potential project partners. Businesses and organizations can purchase one of these trash bins for only $200, and Direct Results will wrap the can with a fun campaign design for free. Businesses can take part in the county-wide cleanup and promote their commitment to preserving the local environment. This branded trash bin campaign is a great fit for businesses and nonprofits trying to make a difference in the crusade against littering. How can Greene County citizens do to clean up their community? The county’s citizens can get involved with our anti-littering campaign by entering the GreeneScene’s poster and slogan contest. The contests allow our creative citizens to send in their ideas on ways to keep Greene clean. FMI, check out the contest promo in this issue! If you are a business interested in participating in Direct Results’ community clean up initiative or if you have any questions in regards to the slogan and poster contests, call their Waynesburg office main number at 724-627-2040.

WINNER

GreeneScene Contest - Alyssa Lind knew that the festive holiday scene could be found along Front Street in Fredericktown. Brag Mag Contest - Pierce Guyton. Check out the Brag Mag to see Pierce’s buck!

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

FEBRUARY 2022

Celebrate Galentine’s Day!

ebruary is the month of love, and Galentine’s Day on February 13 fits right in. We’re quick to shower our significant others with gifts and treats on February 14, but the day prior was designed to celebrate other equally important relationships in our lives: our girlfriends! Galentine’s Day is a time to bring together the ladies in your life you love most. The female friendships we rely on are celebrated annually on Galentine’s Day. Originating from the popular TV show Parks and Recreation, the holiday is all about declaring love and affection to the girls who make up our support system. Go girl power! G a l e n t i n e ’s Day was the creation of the beloved fictional deputy director of Parks and Recreation in Pawnee,

FEBRUARY 2022

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

Indiana, Leslie Knope. The show’s writers centered the 16th episode of the second season of Parks and Recreation around Leslie’s favorite February tradition, Galentine’s Day. Over a brunch of waffles and excessive gift-giving, Leslie celebrates the joy of female friendship with close friends and coworkers. At The Perfect Arrangement & Lily Bees we offer many amazing gifts for both Galentine’s Day and Valentine’s Day. Chocolate covered strawberries, fragrant candles, fresh flowers, silk arrangements, lanterns, body lotions, bath balms, self-care packages, signs, home décor, the world’s most amazing caramels, gourmet treats. We specialize in designing custom gift baskets that will put a smile on anyone’s face. For the men in your life we carry Duke Canon products. Call or stop in today 724-627-3191. We’re open Monday February 14 - and we have free local delivery!

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FEBRUARY 2022