March 2020 GreeneScene by GreeneScene Community Magazine / Direct Results

FEATURES 4

I LOVE THIS PLACE

GREENESCENE OF THE PAST

SHINING THE LIGHT

PUBLIC SERVICE PROFILE

SPORTS SHORTS

COOL AT SCHOOL

CALENDAR

GOING GREENE

GREENE ARTIFACT

MESSAGE BOARD

GOOD NEWS IN GREENE

BUSINESS SECTION

Eva K. Bowlby Library Eva K. Bowlby Library

Waynesburg Bible Chapel (courtesy of The Yellow Jacket) S.T.T.A.R.S.

A snapshot of Greene County sports West Greene is creating Pathways March 2020

A region divided and reunited Masontown Bridge blueprints Community announcements and opportunities Awards & acknowledgements within our community Featuring our BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

EXTRAS

2020 FISH FRY FRIDAYS

CALLING THE BIDS

KIDS KORNER

ARTIST GALLERY: ZAKK ZIEGLER

GREENE COUNTY SCHOLARSHIPS

TROUT STOCKING INFORMATION

ARTIST GALLERY: LESLIE FEHLING

GREENE GARDENS

MEET OUR TEAM

GET TO KNOW DIRECT RESULTS

Get a list of the places around Greene to grab some fish Greene Co. auctioneer inducted into PA hall of fame Enjoy a STEAM activity and enter our contest Meet Zakk, a local artist working with the community This year’s entries are something to brag about! Winners of the GreeneScene coloring contest

Area artist Leslie’s talent has taken around the world No green thumb? Try a succulent! Meet our advertising specialist, Michelle DR offers a full range of furniture - and Dave is just the person to help!

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MARCH 2020

GreeneScene by Alicia Henderson

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

MARCH 2020

â&#x20AC;˘ GreeneScene Community Magazine

I Love this P l a ce

BOWLBY LIBRARY

by Colleen Nelson

Community members often visit the library to take advantage of its computers and Internet connection.

our first books.” She also notes that Mrs. Bowlby, now a matronly widow, was a member of the church and would become known for her generous donations to the library cause as the years went by. In one short year the library had Megan Ealy stands in the doorway of the youth room at Bowlby outgrown the church. This time the Library. Megan is the Family Literacy Coordinator. whole community did some serious fundraising and those first 493 books rom the outside, Eva K Bowlby Library fits were moved to High Street to become the Waynesright in with all the other stately homes on burg Children’s Library. For the next 13 years the colNorth Richhill Street, each one a reminder lection continued to grow. When Mrs. Bowlby’s will that Greene County has had more than one gas and was read in 1957, Mrs. Clovis reports, the community oil boom. Wildcatters and lucky leaseholders of the was delighted to learn she had “bequeathed her home early 20th century brought their sudden riches to as a library, so long as it continued to maintain a chilWaynesburg’s north side and converted pastureland dren’s library.” Once again, intrepid volunteers moved into dream homes. One of my favorite photos from books – this time more than 9000 of them - to their that era is the huge turkey farm that covered the hill present home. behind the fancy new house that wildcatter Carhart By 1970 the library renamed itself Eva K. Bowlby Bowlby built for his family. How it became a library Library in her honor, with books and educational mais preserved in the notes May Phillips Clovis kept for terials for all ages, a youth room upstairs and a staff of the Waynesburg Women’s Club. In 1943 a new gendedicated workers and volunteers to serve everyone, eration of young families were ready to start the first but especially the children of Greene County. children’s library in town in the main Sunday school I love parking my car behind the library and, with room of the First Methodist Church. a cheery nod to the long forgotten turkey farm, headMrs. Clovis tells us “the church trustees revealed ing to the back door and down the stairs to the main to us Miss Nellie Donley had left a bequest of $100 to floor. To me it feels like going to that special place start a church library. …We were now able to order where it’s always warm and cozy, where questions are

answered, where if you sit down you’ll be there for hours satisfying your curiosity about the world. For Georgina Gifford, it’s a place to check her email too. “My computer went down so I started coming here, mostly in the evenings,” Georgina tells me. Now she’s a regular in the main room where regulars are on a first name basis and reference bookshelves stretch from floor to ceiling behind the rows of computer stations. I find Kathy Douglas manning the reference library desk and I tell her I’m here to write about what the library has to offer these days. She beams and says, “Wait right here, I’ll go get Megan Ealy.” One look at the monthly calendar Megan hands me and I see that libraries have certainly evolved to be much more than books. Tonight Megan is wearing a great fitting top that will be one of the new styles at the library’s first fashion show on April 25 at the Moose Club from 4-7 p.m.. “It’s all spring fashions from Marcella Ann and a kids’ line from Muddy Puddle and we’ll be modeling them,” she says, striking a pose and laughing. As a Waynesburg University student Megan volunteered here, and in 2018 was hired to be Family Literacy coordinator. She supervises the Teen Advisory Group (TAG) that gives teens a voice to help plan new activities that will bring more people – especially teens – into the library. Megan’s job is to make these things happen and make sure they’re safe. GreeneScene Community Magazine •

MARCH 2020

“Kids love explosions and I’ve had to nix a few projects they come up with, but we did Alka Seltzer and paint to make explosive art!” Megan admits she’s now leader of the pack – from six weeks to 18 years, from baby lap sit class to high school graduation. There is an ever expanding world of adventure going on in the children’s library downstairs where rooms spill over with books, puppets, games and activities on shelves waiting to be brought out. There are tables for projects, carpeted spots to sprawl on and plenty of books to explore. Computers along the wall behind the librarian’s desk give older students space to do their homework and monthly programs are happening for kids of all ages - Toddler and Preschool Story Classes, reading competitions, movies every Wednesday night, writing workshops, TAG meetings and SAT prep classes. Kids with a passion for LEGOs get together on Saturday mornings at 11:00 a.m. and pop up STEM days can happen on those Monday’s when school is closed. New programs include B.R.A.I.N. Campaign with a WU student facilitator and an art class taught by Central Greene freshman Alexis Rockwell, who has already won awards for her work. But adults shouldn’t feel left out. There’s Pie and Bingo night for all ages every fourth Friday 6-8 p.m. and a Brown Bag Book Club modeled after Great American Read on PBS every third Wednesday at noon. The Cook-

book Club meets the fourth Monday at 6 p.m. with a monthly theme. Members bring their favorite dishes to share and be critiqued. “It’s for people who love to cook - the theme for March is breakfast,” Kathy Douglas tells me. “The club is sponsoring our first Chili Cook Off on March 14 and it’s open to the public. For a five dollar donation you can taste them all.” Megan did her first Escape Room with help from TAG on Valentines Day and declares it a success. Couples got locked into an upstairs room with ten clues to solve to get the password that would send the key sliding under the door. All couples made it out before their hours were up, she’s happy to report. “I’m ready to do it again this summer and it will tie into our summer reading theme Imagine Your Story.” At $10 per person, the escape room was another fundraiser for the new addition, which will feature Pennsylvania history, with meeting rooms and its own outside entrance. Kathy wants the community to know that Bowlby Library is ready to help those who want to do the 2020 Census online. The count officially starts in mid-March and “we have six computers plus three laptops and free Wifi if you want to use your own laptop or mobile device. Or you can check out one of our mobile hot spots and do it anywhere if you have our library and valid ID.” No wonder I love this place!

GreeneScene by Shirley McDiffit

The turkey farm that covered the hill behind Carhart Bowlby’s home in Waynesburg.

MARCH 2020

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

G reen e Sce n e of the Pa st

Storytime at Bowlby Library in 1992. Can you recognize any of the attendees?

hen Bowlby Library director Kathy McClure and I pored over a thick stack of photos from the past – the kind of past that many of you will remember – I was transported back to the early 1990s when the Bowlby Bear held parties on the front lawn before the gazebo arrived, prior to the last addition was added to expand the library to what you see today. Two photos from inside begged to be included in this trip down memory lane. One is a freeze frame moment from story time capturing the restless energy of preschoolers, from infants to wide-eyed two and three year olds to the elder statesmen status of four and five year olds who follow the lead of the storyteller as she presses her fingers to her lips for an important segment of the tale. Shhh! It’s story time! Then there’s the Bowlby Bear, the beloved first one with the kind face and a lap to sit on. From the looks of

these small folk, they still truly believe there’s a furry storyteller living inside the old mansion on Richhill Street who is willing to come out on a sunny summer day and read to them. Actually, there have been fur persons living at the library – remember Libby? For more than 12 years she ruled the world of books and card catalogues and computers when they were finally added to the services offered here. Bowlby Library has certainly kept up with the times and continues to expand the world for those who came through the door. Nobody alive remembers going to the big turkey farm that used to stretch for acres behind the Bowlby mansion when it was first built in the early days of the 20th century. But look close. Those kids at story time and cuddling with the bear are from 1992. One of them just might be your kid - or you!

by Colleen Nelson

Bowlby Bear telling stories on the lawn of Bowlby Library in 1992.

Libby ruled the world of books and card catalogues and computers for 12 years.

If you have an interesting old photo from the area you’d like to share, just send it to: GreeneScene of the Past, 185 Wade Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370. Or email to: info@greenescene.com with GreeneScene Past in subject line. 6

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Fish Fry Fridays Bobtown & Dunkard Twp. Vol. Fire Co. Serving from 11am to 7pm on Ash Wednesday and every Friday through Good Friday. FMI call 724-839-7140. Waynesburg Knights of Columbus (St. Ann’s in Waynesburg) Lunch (11:30am 1pm) and dinner (4:30pm - 7pm) will be served. Eat in or take out. Lunch can be delivered. FMI call 724-627-7568 ext. 5 Rices Landing Vol. Fire Dept. Ash Wednesday from 4-8pm and every Friday through Good Friday from 11am to 7pm. FMI call 724-592-5765 or 412-680-0869. Jefferson Vol. Fire Co. Serving from 11am to 7pm every Friday through Good Friday. FMI call 724-883-3901. Nemacolin Vol. Fire Dept. Serving from 11am to 6pm every Friday through Good Friday. FMI call 724-966-7408. St. Marcellus (Jefferson) Lunch (12 - 3pm) and dinner (3:30 - 6:30pm) every Friday through Good Friday. FMI call 724-3772588. Richhill Township Vol. Fire Dept. Serving from 3pm to 7pm every Friday. FMI call 724-428-4242. Upper Ten Mile Church (Prosperity) Serving from 1pm to 6:30pm every Friday. FMI call 724-222-0454. Point Marion Vol. Fire Dept. Serving from 4pm to 7pm every Friday. FMI call 724-222-0454. Greensboro Vol. Fire Dept. Serving from 11am to 7pm every Friday. FMI call 724943-3800.

MARCH 2020

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

By Sierra Medina

The following feature originally appeared on February 13, 2020 as part of The Yellow Jacket, Waynesburg University’s award winning, student-run newspaper. GreeneScene Community Magazine is pleased to share this and future stories from The Yellow Jacket with our readers, as we give these young journalists an opportunity to broaden their audience and share the good news of our region and campus with you. You can also follow The Yellow Jacket online at theyellowjacket.org.

he Waynesburg Bible Chapel started its journey in a living room, according to heislove.org, until growth prompted the building on 800 E. Greene St. to be bought. Years later, more expansion is necessary. Jay Buckhalter, a minister at the chapel, began to notice a steady uptick in congregants, more than the usual shifts of a church. “Attendance in any church fluctuates up or down slightly from Sunday to Sunday,” Buckhalter said. “However, we have noticed a consistent gradual increase in attendance over the past couple of years … I would say the biggest increase this year has come from college students.” Robert Redinger, congregant at the Bible Chapel, started attending the chapel his freshman year at Waynesburg University and said the growth was noticeable. “I have to come at least 10 minutes early now because it’s hard to find seats,” Redinger said. Because of this, Buckhalter said the elders and deacons have been contemplating the expansion project for a couple of years, as it also affects families of newcomers. “If a family comes in, they expect to sit together. If they have to split up and sit in different locations, it can be uncomfortable for them, particularly if they are new to the church, and it may result in them not coming back,” Buckhalter said. “We would like to avoid that situation.” Although the Bible Chapel has a board of trustees, they are not managing this project. The church, governed by elders and deacons, has designated Matthew Stewart, worship leader, to manage this project. Buckhalter said Stewart will be handling all of the day-to-day affairs, as he is capable with his experience in construction. Buckhalter is hopeful the project will be finished within a couple of months, although there is no definitive timetable. He also

said debris won’t stop worship. “We are planning to do construction during the week and make sure to clean up enough each week to be able to still hold services on Sundays,” Buckhalter said. Phase one is estimated to cost $15,000, Buckhalter said, while phase two’s cost is yet to be determined. “We feel strongly that we can come in under budget fairly easily by doing a lot of the work ourselves,” Buckhalter said. Buckhalter said unknown variables will inevitably come up, but he doesn’t anticipate any obstacles derailing the process. He said he is excited to welcome a refreshing change. “There are two things that I am looking forward to the most. The first is the potential for even more people to be able to enjoy worshipping with us. I fear some have chosen not to stay, and not for reasons of belief, but rather, for reasons of seating,” Buckhalter said. “The second is that I am looking forward to seeing both of our auditoriums getting a facelift. This will be a welcomed refresh.” In addition to the expansion project, the Bible Chapel is also expanding their parking lot. Last year, they purchased a house behind the church building and have been slowly working on getting fill-dirt to level and expand their current parking lot. “We are very excited about the possibility of having enough places to park more cars, as well as enough seats for everyone to sit down and enjoy worshipping together comfortably,” Buckhalter said.

GreeneScene by Elaine Cumberledge

Photograph by Edward Boice. GreeneScene Community Magazine •

MARCH 2020

Public Service Profile By Jessica Price

SEXUAL TRAUMA TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICES (STTARS)

outhwestern Pennsylvania Human Utilization of Technology, and Sexual VioServices (SPHS) CARE center services lence Prevention on Campus. Washington, Greene, and Butler counRecently STTARS was awarded a grant ties with the mission to provide quality, from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against recovery-based, and trauma-informed ser- Rape. This grant will enable the program to vices, such as education, intervention, treat- expand the We Can Stop Abuse Project and ment, and case management to members provide prevention education services to the of the community. The CARE center offers Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled a wide range of services including Behav- Community. This program is designed to be ioral Health and Substance Abuse, Gambling used with adolescents, and adults of varying Addiction Outpatient Services, Behavioral abilities, and aims to teach its students the Health Crisis Services, and Sexual Trauma ability to understand and express feelings, Treatment and Recovery Services (STTARS). recognize and name body parts, identify a The SPHS CARE Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sexual safe person, and the ability to communicate Trauma Treatment and Recovery Services no. Students will also learn how to identify (STTARS) has been working since 1982 personal VS. public boundaries, understand to empower recovery, advocate for justice, consent, and how to use technology safely. and educate the community to take a stand Currently the We Can Stop Abuse proagainst sexual violence. STTARS offers con- gram at the Riverside Horizons in Charleroi fidential counseling in both individual and and the Drop-In Center in Waynesburg, as group settings. The program also provides well as the Life Skills programs in the Benta volunteer-led, toll-free crisis hotline. This worth, Bethlehem Center, Charleroi Area, hotline is available 24 hours a day and can be McGuffy, and Washington school districts. reached at 1-888-480-7283. These services With funding from the grant, their goal is to are designed to empower, educate, and sup- expand into other school districts. port a survivor and their family members In addition, STARRS received two through the healing process. grants funded by the Pennsylvania CommisSTARRS provides both medical and sion on Crime and Delinquency that will allegal advocacy to survivors and support low the program to upgrade technology and during the medical forensic examination safety within the offices, improve outreach to process. The STARRS staff works with local the community, and launch a sexual violence Crime Victim Compensation Programs to awareness campaign to engage survivors assist both survivors and their families with who identify as LGBTQ+. any financial burdens that they may face as If you would like more information on a result of a crime. This can include the cost STARRS services or how you can become a of medical care, counseling services, and loss volunteer, you can contact the CARE Center of wages. STARRS program at 724-229-5007. In addition to providing counseling and both legal and medical advocacy for the survivors of sexual abuse and their families, STARRS provides prevention-based education and training services. Their goal is to prevent sexual violence in the community through education, including mandated reporting, recKristen Hohing, Team Leader; Rachel Karelli, Legal Advocate; Kayla ognizing and reporting Bleckley, Counselor/Advocate at STTARS doing outreach in the community. Human Trafficking, Safe

MARCH 2020

â&#x20AC;˘ GreeneScene Community Magazine

Calling the Bids

hen I was a little girl, there was something almost magical about going to an auction with my family. We’d arrive and stroll through the site, looking at the boxes full of treasures. My sister and I sat enamored and watched the auctioneer ignite the audience into a bidding frenzy. The auctioneer held a position of power and respect to us and watching the bidding increase was exciting, plus there was nothing like walking away the winner of a box of surprises. The boxes could be filled with books or antiques, but they had all been someone’s treasures - and now they were ours. Auctioneer James Clayton has been the very man chanting to auction crowds for decades. When asked how he became interested in the career, James shares a charming story from high school. James had taken an aptitude test and the results suggested he would make a great auctioneer. He began working as an auctioneer at the age of nineteen and is now seventy-five, and he has spent over half a century as an auctioneer, so that aptitude test must have known something. He also worked at Southwest Regional Medical Center (now WHS Greene) in Waynesburg for forty-two years as a histology technician. Recently, James was inducted into the Pennsylvania Auctioneers Hall of Fame. He is extremely humble about his induction. This great honor is the highest presented by the Pennsylvania Auctioneers Association (PAA) and James joins a limited number of inductees. James has also received the Auctioneer of the Year Award given by PAA multiple times over the years. The Pennsylvania Auctioneers Association designates that, “this award is given to an individual based on integrity, honesty, high moral character, acute fairness, and distinction, and is bestowed on an auctioneer each year, who, over the course of his or her profession has committed him or herself to fostering excellence in the auction

by Michelle Church

industry.” Around five hundred auctioneers join the events and only two or three are selected for this recognition. Clayton Auctions holds an average of twelve actions a year, usually once a month at the auction house in Dry Tavern. According to James, one of his favorite aspects of the job is that it “isn’t typical” and every day brings different challenges. A few years ago, James said antiques were the most popular type of item being auctioned but in recent years, the interest in antiques has declined and tastes have changed. As far as James feels, he most enjoys selling the useful items. The most memorable item that James ever sold was a vintage crock made in Greensboro. He remembers that it had “all the bells and whistles” on it. The eightgallon crock sold for $18,000. He’s kept an eye on the progress of that crock over the years and said the last he spotted the item, it had sold for over $100,000. To become a Pennsylvania auctioneer, potential auctioneers need to attend one of the two approved auction schools in the state, either Harrisburg Area Community College or Reading Community College. After passing the exam, the future auctioneer will begin working as an apprentice. Although not mandatory, an auctioneer should also possess knowledge of antiques, math, real estate and auction laws. James says the most valuable quality an auctioneer can possess is a clear, understandable voice. “It’s important that the auctioneer is not too fast of a talker and for the audience to follow the bidding.” A good auctioneer should also have excellent communication skills, confidence, charisma, passion, humanity and showmanship. These traits are also the traits of a great

Jim and the other inductees at the ceremony in January.

Jim received the Pennsylvania Auctioneer of the Year award multiple times in his career.

leader and an auctioneer must be a leader. He leads the sale, maintains control of the audience, keeps them updated, and makes them feel safe. If the audience can’t follow the action, they don’t feel involved in the process and they won’t be as likely to make a bid. When James Clayton was a little boy, he went to an auction with his father and grand-

Jim was inducted in the PA Auctioneers Hall of Fame in January 2020.

father. That day he was enthralled by the chant of the fast-talking auctioneers. That day and those auctioneers shaped the course of James life. And in turn, James has entertained and inspired many future generations while becoming part of Pennsylvania auctioneer history.

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MARCH 2020

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MARCH 2020

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Spo rt Sh o r t s by Zack Zeigler

West Greene Girls Continue Dynasty with Perfect Section Schedule

Over the last several seasons, the Girls’ Basketball program at West Greene has been the top dog in WPIAL Class 1A basketball. The team has won 45 straight section games, not losing since February 2nd 2016, and turned in their fourth straight undefeated season in section play. They have earned a first-round bye after claiming the Class 1A section championship. Now starts the long and winding road back to the Peterson Event center as they try to avenge their loss to Rochester in the Class 1A Championships a year ago. With the Pioneers looking strong on both sides of the ball, they look to use their balanced attack to get back to the big stage. The Pioneer’s offense has been consistent this season scoring 50 or more points in all but one game this season. They finished the regular season with their highest point total of the season when they scored 78 points in

PSU-Fayette Women’s Basketball Set for PSUAC Playoffs The Penn State Fayette women’s basketball team has been small but mighty throughout the 2019-2020 season. Despite dressing on average seven players a game, they find themselves sitting in second place in the Penn State University Athletic Conference West Division sitting at 16-6 overall and 11-4 in PSUAC play. The team has already improved by two wins from a year ago heading into their final two regular season games and is looking to end the year on a high note as they get set for a second straight playoff run. Following the PSUAC playoffs, the team will then get a chance to compete in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National tournament, which they will host in 2019-2020. After suffering a three-game losing

streak from January 17th – January 24th, PSU-Fayette has come roaring back winning seven games in a row heading into the final two regular season games. They are locked into the #2 seed in the PSUAC tournament and will host in the semifinal round on the road to State College. The Fayette offense has been led by Kaitlyn Riley who is second in the PSUAC averaging 16.9 points per game and is seventh in the conference with 183 rebounds. Taylor McCormick adds 15.0 points per game fueling the high-powered offense. After getting the first-round bye, PSUFayette will host in the PSUAC Semifinal playoffs which will be held on Friday, February 28th, at the PSU-Fayette Eberly Campus.

their win over Avella putting them on a 22 game winning streak and giving them 26 wins in their last 28 games. The defense has shown up big this year as well holding opponents to 20 points or less eight times in 22 games played. The Pioneers are a fairly young team with no seniors for the 2019-2020 season. However, a strong history of success gives the program as a whole a bright future this year and beyond. Last season, West Greene rolled through their Quarterfinal and semifinal match-ups defeating Sewickley Academy and Vincentian Academy to advance to the Class 1A Championship. They then took on Rochester at the Peterson Events Center and, after a hard Avella Girls Basketball looks to Avenge Quarterfinal fought game, ended up falling 62-56. West Greene is currently waiting for Loss in 2020 Class 1A Playoffs their Class 1A Quarterfinal opponent and For the second year in a row, the Avella on a high note. They are led on offense by sethen will begin their journey back to the PeHigh School Girls Basketball team is back in nior Brianna Jenkins, who scored nine points terson Event Center in 2020. the WPIAL Class 1A playoffs after finishing and ten rebounds in the team’s final regular second in Class 1A Section 2. However, it is season contest. business as usual for the Eagles as they try to In the 2019 WPIAL Class 1A playoffs, avenge last year’s Quarterfinal loss to Roches- Avella played a low scoring, defensive firstround game defeating Aquinas Academy ter that kicked them out of the tournament. Avella is looking to get back on track 38-25 before advancing to take on Rochesafter dropping their regular season finale to ter. That is when the defense faultered as the eventual section champion West Greene, but Eagles fell 70-29 and were eliminated. They comes into the first round action having won would advance to the PIAA state playoffs, five of their last six games. Their offense has but dropped their first-round game to Berlin averaged 52.7 points per game this season Brothersvalley 79-30 ending their season. This year’s team is looking to extend while allowing just 36.8 this season. The Eagles are led by a group of six se- their season to a possible WPIAL Class 1A niors who are looking to finish their careers Championship berth and beyond.

USCAA National Tournament Brings Small Colleges to Fayette County West Greene Boys Eliminated in First Round Playoff Match

The 2019-2020 season marked a return to the WPIAL Class 1A playoffs for the West Greene Pioneers. They finished the year two wins better than they did last year and finished fourth in Class 1A section two play. The Pioneers played tough throughout the regular season and scored one of their biggest wins of the season when they defeated Geibel Catholic 64-58 on December 17th giving them their first section win of the season. They were able to hang around the .500 mark for the rest of the regular season not losing more than two games in a row. They then drew Imani Christian Acade-

my as their first-round class 1A playoff opponent and made the trip up to Peters Township. The Pioneers were scheduled to play Imani Christian Academy during the regular season but the game was postponed. The Pioneers fought hard throughout the night, but it wasn’t enough as they fell 67-41 eliminating them from playoff contention. West Greene’s boys’ basketball program continues to grow and another great season continues that growth. They now head to the off-season as they continue to train to get to the level of some of the top teams in the Class 1A Section 2.

As the weather cools down outside, things will be heating up on the Penn State Fayette campus as they get set to host the 2020 United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championships March 7th – March 14th. The event brings small colleges from around the country to Fayette county to compete for the USCAA National Championship and climb to the top of the USCAA. The USCAA was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA. overseeing 86 member schools split into two divisions. The tournament features teams from Division I and Division II competing for their own National Championships. The Division I tournament features an eight-team field for both the men and the women while Division II is a ten-team field.

PSU-Fayette has been the host school for the USCAA National Championship since the 2011-2012 season inside their 1,500-seat main arena on the Eberly Campus. PSU-Fayette offers two different playing arenas helping to spread the tournament out over a week of exciting action. The tournament will begin on Saturday March 7th with the USCAA National Banquet at Seven Springs Mountain Resort where the teams who earn bids will be recognized and the 2020 USCAA All-Americans will be announced. For tickets to any of the games and more information, visit the USCAA National Championship website at basketball.theuscaa. com.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

MARCH 2020

Standing Out in the Next Level

by GreeneSports Staff Writer enna Lampe are expected to suit up and begin their respective collegiate careers after leading the Pioneers to two state titles, four berths in the PIAA Class A championship game and four WPIAL crowns. The Lampes’ teammate on the dynastic Pioneer softball squads, Kaitlyn Rizor, made her debut with West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday, Feb. 22. Moving to Carmichaels, former Mighty Mike star pitcher Jake Kinsell is in his senior year at NCAA Division II school GoldeyBeacom, located in Wilmington, Delaware. Early in his final collegiate season, Kinsell is 3-7 over 30 appearances on the mound, 12 of which have been starts. Several Waynesburg Central Raiders have traded in the red and black for Division I colors. Two of the best known of these competitors are Penn State junior track & field athlete and cross country runner Ben Bumgarner and University of North Carolina wrestler A.C. Headlee. Bumgarner has competed in a multitude of events, including the 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 meters on the track, as well as the cross country course. Headlee is enjoying his best seaRece Henneman, formerly of Jefferson-Morgan son on the mats as a red shirt senior. He has spent most of the season as a top 20-ranked 157-pounder. The former PIAA state champion will be looking to make a third-straight trip to the NCAA Division I Championships. After making headlines for his standout work on the track and for a postseason clerical error controversy during his senior season, WCHS graduate Daniel Layton has made a quick impact on the William & Mary A.C. Headlee, formerly of Waynesburg Central track & field team. As a member of the Tribe’s indoor 4x400-meter relay team, Layton qualified for the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) Championships with a time of 3:19.04 at the VMI Indoor Classic on Feb. 14 and 15. Individually, Layton has already set the school’s freshman record in the indoor 60-meter hurdles at 8.44 seconds. That time also places him fifth Daniel Layton, formerly of Waynesburg Central all-time in the W&M record books.

slew of Greene County natives have been busy improving upon their athletic skills in the college ranks. Here are how some of these local standouts have been fairing at the next level. Former Jefferson-Morgan boys basketball star Rece Henneman is wrapping up his senior season at Carlow University, an NAIA school in Pittsburgh. Henneman started 13 of the 14 games in which he appeared for the Celtics this winter, averaging 25.4 minutes per contest. He posted 8.2 points and a teamhigh 5.5 rebounds per game for the purple and gold. Speaking of Carlow, many a Greene County eye will be focused on Lind Field at Fairhaven Park in Kennedy Township, which is home to the Celtic softball team. Former West Greene superstars Madison and McK-

MARCH 2020

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GreeneScene by Bryan Higinbotham

• GreeneScene Community Magazine Anna Durbin is one of the leading scorers for West Greene.

A r ti st G al l e r y A s a child, Zakk Ziegler was always drawn to art. He spent a lot of time watching his grandmother paint Bob Ross-style with oil paints; at age 7, Zakk made the jump and created his first painting – which he still has. “Watching her paint, seeing her mix and blend paints, it made me happy,” Zakk shares. “I loved being able to take paint and produce something very cool.” Southwestern Pennsylvania has always been home for Zakk. He grew up in the area and has lived here his entire life. He attended college in California, Pa for journalism, but eventually moved back to Waynesburg as a full-time artist. Zakk, who is self-taught, works almost exclusively in oils and as a portrait painter. He creates his paintings freehand, with no sketches, and with loose brush strokes. Each painting receives about 50 hours worth of labor before it is complete. His vibrantly-colored work is a balance of impressionism and realism, veering more towards realism. “I spend a lot of time trying to bring out the details in skin because there’s so much more tones and detail in skin than people realize.” The majority of Zakk’s artistic endeavors are in the Pittsburgh area. He’s involved with Art in the Garden, a program that engages youth in urban gardens in active, structured, and supportive ways, and Redfishbowl, a grassroots artist collective. He also participates in a lot of pop-up art shows, art crawls, and local shows. A few years ago, the right connection brought an opportunity for Zakk to work with the youth of Greene County. Through Anne Bargerstock , a friend of Zakk’s for years, he reconnected with Traci Sokol at the Greene County Department of Parks & Recreation. He had previously worked with Traci when he served as a day camp counselor for the county in 2009. Working together, they produced a children’s painting class with Zakk as the teacher; the Department of Recreation supplied the location and assisted with advertising and promotion. The children’s classes (age 5 to 10) are generally an hour long and are crafted to accommodate children beginning to express an active interest in the arts. The students learn color theory, color mixing, basic techniques and concepts, and complete full paintings with acrylic paints. The older youth and adult classes (ages 11+) cover the same topics, but last two hours, and are more in depth. “The adult class is denser coursework, covering a lot of knowledge,” Zakk says. “It’s everything that I wish I had learned when I was first starting out.” The students work with a limited palette and have to mix colors to get a bigger variety. “A lot of the students are shocked when they get to class and see the palette doesn’t even have black,” Zakk laughs. “But it helps them learn more about color and allows them to match the colors in front of them. I try not to get too far into the crazier parts of color theory and focus more on composition, recognizing values, and how dimension reflects light.” Most of the compositions in the class are simple still lifes. Zakk avoids using extremely complex arrangements, like flowers, in the

ZAKK ZIEGLER

classes, although sometimes he will challenge the students with a more difficult composition to help them grow as painters and learn something new. The classes break down a large subject into smaller components so that by the end of class, students can start a painting and see it through to the finish. “It helps the students to view the compositions and the painting as a group of small individual problems to solve. It makes more sense for them.” The painting classes have been held four times and have been success. “We had a lot of repeat [child] students.” Zakk adds, “I try to encourage them to the maximum degree and these kids produce some wonderful work in the short time that they are painting. They latch on so readily, even quicker than the adults. It just clicks for them.” Zakk hopes to get enough support to create a free art program for area youth during the upcoming spring break. “I’d love to get a non-profit, free program started where kids could come and make art,” Zakk says. “I know its can be hard to get even $10 together for an art class for some people.” Sometime after the free program, Zakk will hold another session of painting classes for both children and adults. Zakk is currently working on a large-scale community project that will take him the better part of a year to complete. Using a disposable film camera, Zakk is challenging 27 people to capture an image of something meaningful to them. The people will come from a wide sample of the population – students, hairdressers, professors, business owners, children, etc. Zakk will take each of these photos and create a full multimedia experience; a painting will be created from each photo, accompanied by music. Once the project has been completed, Zakk plans to rent out one of the business fronts in downtown Waynesburg for a show. Attendees will be able to scan a QR code at each painting that will play music from the supplementary playlist. “It’s a big project that will require a lot of time management but the use of both audio and visual will convey a mood for each painting,” Zakk says about the project. He adds, “If you look deep enough, you might see something more.“ To see more of Zakk’s art, visit his instagram page @ porco.dio.art.

Zakk with some of his students from the adult classes.

by Danielle Nyland

Much of Zakk’s work focuses on figures and portraits, especially the indigineous people of foreign countries.

Zakk instructs younger students on the techniques and concepts of acrylic painting. GreeneScene Community Magazine •

MARCH 2020

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GreeneScene by Misty Stottlemire

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by Stephanie Lampe

Creating Pathways in West Greene

est Greene Junior-Senior High School has recently introduced a program called WG Pathways. This program brings WG Alumni into the school to speak with current WG students about their own career, college, military, workforce, and/or general life experiences, or the path that the WG alumni followed after graduating high school. Former West Greene student Hannah Reed brought the idea to the district. She graduated in 2017 and is currently a junior at Allegheny College majoring in neuroscience. Hannah has had a fair amount of interactions with alumni from Allegheny College. Students are encouraged to develop relationships with alumni which can lead to later opportunities. Hannah believes this kind of program would be beneficial to high school students because that’s when big decisions for the future are made. College, trade school, military, workforce? The paths are numerous and can be overwhelming. The goal of WG Pathways is to show current students the variety of opportunities that are available after graduation and can create any path they can imagine.

“I really just wanted to make something available to West Greene students that could help them make well-informed decisions about what to do after high school,” Hannah says. “Our hope is that this program provides our students with insight into the many opportunities that await them after graduation.” Hannah conducted research on her idea last summer and presented her findings to West Greene students this past December. A team was created to realize this new program; team members include Hannah Reed, school counselor Kim Cowden, former West Greene student Rachel Jones, and faculty members Eric Armstrong and Kurt Jones. Other faculty and administration will have small roles periodically once the program is implemented. The first round of speakers are scheduled for April 2020. Hannah believes this program will not only be informative, but also inspiring. “These people sat in the same seats you are sitting in, and they were able to make it to this great career that they are proud of and love you can do it to!” Kim Cowden, West Greene school

counselor, added that it is “to help students to explore their career interests and gain real world knowledge on post-secondary plans and possibilities.” Hannah has been working on developing some broad concepts for the program which include: a small group setting that emphasizes conservation and interaction, including alumni from all career paths and all ages, and encouraging alumni to share their own unique path with any bumps or surprising turns along the way, and things they wished they had known in high school. Hannah has also been developing outlines and documents for the program to use. Mrs. Cowden fills a different role in WG Pathways. She works with other team members to set up the presentations, handles the scheduling, collects the presenters’ RSVPs, helps with the database of WG Alumni, and promotes the presenters to the students and

Hannah Reed brought the initial concept of Pathways to the WG school district.

the program itself. Hannah and Mrs. Cowden are excited and encouraged with the initial response from alumni. They’ve had over 30 people express interest. Mrs. Cowden shares, “I am pretty impressed with the number of responses in the short amount of time.” Hannah appealed, “If you are a West Greene alum, please consider reaching out and being a presenter. Please also spread the word to anyone you might know that might be interested.” WG Pathways can be contacted via email: WG.pathwayday@gmail.com.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

MARCH 2020

2020 GREENE COUNTY AREA Scholarship Opportunities

CFGC ANNOUNCES 2020 SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The Community Foundation of Greene County (CFGC) has announced that they have a number of scholarship opportunities for Greene County graduating high school seniors this spring. CFGC has a new Online Scholarship Application which may be accessed via www. cfgcpa.org - look under News, Upcoming Events, as well as on our scholarship page. All college scholarship applications for graduating high school seniors must be submitted online by 11:59pm on April 1, 2020. *NEW* The American Legion and Sons of the American Legion Mt. Morris Post 992 Scholarship – For Greene County graduating senior students residing within Central Greene School District and/or Southeastern Greene School District who are children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of a U.S. Veteran and/or children of active duty military member to attend a post-secondary educational program, including technical/ business/vocational schools, two-year, or a four-year college/university. A military veteran is a person who has served and is no longer serving in armed forces. Two (2) $2,000 scholarships will be awarded– one to a senior male and one to a senior female. This scholarship is open to students attending private school or homeschool, as well as students graduating from Waynesburg Central High School and Mapletown High School. *NEW* The Michelle Anderson Memorial Scholarship – Three $1,000 scholarships for students in Greene County, Pennsylvania, with two scholarships for students graduating from West Greene High School (or its successor), and one scholarship for students graduating from any one of the public school districts in Greene County (including West Greene) to pursue a degree at an accredited four-year college or university with a STEM related major. The Victor and Anna Mae Wancheck Beghini Scholarship – For graduating seniors at Mapletown High School planning to attend a four-year college or university with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Math) major. The scholarship will be announced prior to high school graduation but will be paid at the beginning of the student’s second year of college and is renewable for two additional years (previous recipients must reapply each year.) Two $3,000 scholarships are available.

MARCH 2020

The Army Spec. Gregory A. Cox Memorial Scholarship – For a graduating Greene County senior student planning a career in public safety or other public service (see a list of types of careers/majors on the CFGC website) with preference for a student participating in ROTC. One $1,200 scholarship is available. *NEW* The Max Cunningham Memorial Scholarship – For students of the West Greene High School Class of 2020 to pursue a degree at a two- or four-year college or university. One scholarship of $10,000 will be awarded to be used for up to four years of college. Note: this scholarship has a separate application on the CFGC Online Scholarship Application page. The William H. Davis, Jr. Scholarship – For Greene County residents who are graduating seniors or have graduated from a Greene County high school and who are planning to attend Westmoreland County Community College. Five $1,000 scholarships are available. The Rocky Doman Memorial Scholarship – For graduating Greene County senior standout athletes – male and/or female – who exemplify the qualities of being a team player with a humble spirit. Two $1,000 scholarships are available. The Dove Award – A need-based, twoyear scholarship for a graduating student from Jefferson Morgan high school with preference for female students. One scholarship of $3,000 divided between the first two years of college ($1,500 per year) is available. *NEW* The Jack Dulaney Scholarship – For graduating seniors at Waynesburg Central High School to attend technical, business, vocational or 2-year or 4-year college or university. One four-year scholarship of $1,000 per year will be awarded. The Enstrom Family Scholarship – For graduating seniors at Jefferson-Morgan High School planning to attend a four-year college or university in Pennsylvania, with a preference for students planning to attend California University of PA. Applicants must have a grade point average (GPA) between 2.0 and 3.5. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded.

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

The EQT Scholarship – For graduating high school seniors residing in Greene County, Pennsylvania who plan to pursue an associates or bachelor’s degree in a field that is supportive of the fossil fuel industry, e.g. computer science/information technology, engineering (chemical, civil or petroleum), energy or land management, environmental science, geology or safety science. Five scholarships of $1,000 and One scholarship of up to $18,000 per year for up to 4 years will be awarded. The Jesse Benson Finnegan Scholarship – For students graduating from the Greene County Career & Technology Center with preference for students in the Electrical Occupations program. One $1,000 scholarship is available. Russell A. Guthrie Memorial Scholarship – For senior students graduating from Jefferson-Morgan High School to attend either a technical school or a four-year college or university. One (1) $500 scholarship is available. The William and Shirley Hanley Memorial Scholarship – For graduating seniors at Carmichaels Area High School and Mapletown

High School. Students must complete the online scholarship application. An interview is required for this scholarship which will be held on Saturday, April 25th between 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the CFGC office. Two $1,000 scholarships are available to be used for books. The Aaron Anthony Haywood Memorial Scholarship Fund – For graduating seniors at Waynesburg Central High School to attend a four-year college or university with a major in an Engineering field. One $1,000 scholarship is available. The Thelma S. Hoge Memorial Scholarship – For worthy students of West Greene School District who are pursuing a college education. Two $2,000 scholarships are available. The George L. Misher and Anne Misher Memorial Scholarship Fund – A two-year scholarship for graduating seniors of Jefferson-Morgan High School to attend post-secondary educational institution with preference for 4-year college/university. One $2,000 scholarship ($1,000 per year for two years) is available. The Renardo A. Matteucci Family Scholarship – A need-based scholarship for graduating seniors of Jefferson-Morgan High School to attend post-secondary eduContinued on page 20.

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MARCH 2020

â&#x20AC;¢ GreeneScene Community Magazine

2020 GREENE COUNTY AREA Scholarship Opportunities Cont'd

cation. Two $1,000 scholarships are available. The Greg and Mary Lou Niverth Scholarship – For a senior student graduating from Jefferson-Morgan High School to attend a four-year college or university in Pennsylvania. Scholarship will be paid at the beginning of the second year of college. Previous award recipient may re-apply. One $1,000 scholarship is available. The Darlene Phillips Memorial Scholarship – For graduating seniors of Mapletown High School to attend a four-year college or university, with a preference for students planning to major in elementary education. Students planning to major in other fields will also be considered. One $1,500 scholarship is available. The Walter Samek III Memorial Scholarship – For graduating seniors of Carmichaels Area High School to attend a 2- or 4-year college or university. One $500 scholarship is available. Robert Scott Scholarship – For Greene County graduating seniors planning to pursue a major in Chemistry, Mathematics, or Physics at an accredited non-profit four-year college/university with first preference for students planning to attend Waynesburg University. One $1,000 scholarship is available. The following scholarships are available for Non-Traditional (Adult Learner) students who have already graduated from high school, or received a GED, and have decided to further their education. These scholarships have separate Online Scholarship Applications on the CFGC website. Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 pm on April 1, June 1, August 1, or October 1. The Stealth Scholarship - For non-traditional students at least 22 years of age or older, who are living or working in Greene County who plan to pursue a post-secondary course of education (two-year or four-year degree) at

an accredited college, university, community college, or trade/technical school. Maximum scholarship is $2,500 for one-year. There is no specific deadline for the Stealth Scholarship applications. Previous recipients may re-apply. The William H. Davis, Jr. Scholarship for Adult Learners – For Greene County residents who have graduated from a Greene County high school and who are planning to attend or are currently attending Westmoreland County Community College. Previous recipients may re-apply. Scholarship awards of $1,000 each are available. Please check the CFGC website at http:// www.cfgcpa.org/post-secondary-scholarships/ for detailed eligibility and application criteria on each scholarship, and/or to access the link for the CFGC Online Scholarship Application. Scholarship information is also available at each Greene County high school guidance counselor’s office.

GREENE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Greene County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications from graduating seniors for the 30th Annual Chamber of Commerce Scholarship they will award this May in the amount of $2,000. In addition, the winner will receive a laptop compliments of PCsquared in Waynesburg and a custom embroidered backpack from the Greene County United Way. Completed applications must be submitted by 3:30pm on Monday, April 1st. The winner will be announced in early May and the Scholarship Award presented at the Chamber‘s monthly General Membership Luncheon on May 27th at Waynesburg University. FMI contact the Chamber office at 724-627-5926 or email to info@greenecham-

ber.org

RALPH K. BELL AND JUDY CHOLAK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Ralph K. Bell Bird Club of Greene County is awarding the Ralph K. Bell and Judy Cholak Memorial Scholarships to two Greene County students. One scholarship is for $1000 and the other is for $500. The memorial scholarship is open to Greene County students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applications are due on March 31. FMI, call 724852-3155 or send an e -mail to rkbbirdclub@ yahoo.com.

ROTARY CLUB OF WAYNESBURG

Each year the Rotary Club of Waynesburg awards scholarships to worthy high school students. The awards are selected based on academic performance, community service involvement, letters of recommendation and the student’s response the essay question, “What does the Rotary motto, ‘service above self ’, mean to you?” “Annually, the club selects two $1,000 recipients from the applications received,” shared the club’s scholarship chair, Melody Longstreth. “The committee is always very impressed by the quality of our applicants and enjoy learning about the many talented and generous students we have here in Greene County.” The scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors who reside in Greene County. Applicants must provide a brief essay, 400 words or less, on what the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self ” means to them. A list of community service experiences, including dates and a brief description of each must also be submitted. Along with a list of school organizations to which the applicant

belongs to, any offices held and any work experience if applicable. In addition two letters of recommendation from a teacher, school administrator, employer, pastor or other adult who has knowledge of the student’s qualifications. Applications may be obtained by calling 724-627-5926. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2020.

R. WALLACE AND MARGARET MAXWELL SCHOLARSHIP

The First Presbyterian Church of Waynesburg is now accepting applications for the R. Wallace and Margaret Maxwell scholarship. Applicants must reside in Greene County and have applied and been accepted to a 2 or 4 year college, a certificate of completion program, or a trade or technical school. Applications must be received at the First Presbyterian Office no later than 2pm on May 14, 2020, located at 200 N. Richhill Street in Waynesburg.

TOWN & COUNTRY GARDEN CLUB SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE

Application for the Town & Country Garden Club’s 2020 annual scholarship is available for any graduating senior at Carmichaels Area, Central Greene, Jefferson-Morgan, Southwestern Greene or West Greene high school. Graduating seniors who are pursuing an education in environmental studies, conservation, ecology, horticulture, landscape planning rural/urban, wild life or any environmental studies may apply. The $1000 scholarship is awarded in May for one academic year. Applicants should contact their respected guidance counselor for the application. The deadline to apply is April 15, 2020.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

MARCH 2020

Greene County Trout Stocking Schedules

hese schedules are provided by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Statewide opening day for trout fishing is on April 18, 2020. Statewide Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day is April 11, 2020. For additional schedules, information, or to purchase a license, please visit www. fishandboat.com.

MARCH 2020

â&#x20AC;˘ GreeneScene Community Magazine

G o in g G re e n e

he Monongahela River, a beautiful and scenic waterway that snakes its way for over 130 miles of the Trans-Allegheny Region, served as a major highway for the native inhabitants of this region going all the way back to the first human inhabitants that hunted mammoths, mastodons and other large game some ten thousand years ago. The Mon has always been, and will always be a key factor in the civilization and economics of this region. The first Europeans to cross the Allegheny Mountains were fur traders and explorers who found the Monongahela River to be a barrier in the expansion of trade with the natives. These early travelers would have crossed the Mon in methods much the same as their Native American friends - on basic flat boats and log hewn canoes. There were many military expeditions into the region in these early years especially leading up to the French and Indian War. George Washington, sent by the colonial Governor of Virginia, explored the ‘Forks of the Ohio’ where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers meet to form the Ohio by flat boat. As tensions developed between the French and English, ferries appeared, crossing the Monongahela to aid in the colonial defenses of the region. As time progressed, after the French and Indian War and into the second half of the 18th century, settlement came closer to the Monongahela River as pioneers came to the area from eastern Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland. From that the foundations were laid for the ultimate organization of Fayette, Greene and Washington counties. The eastern banks of the Mon were the first to see settlement, but as populations grew, it wasn’t long before the area that is now Greene County saw the sprouting of cabins and crops along the western frontier.

A REGION DIVIDED AND REUNITED Many early settlers on both sides of the river began establishing independently operated ferries. Eventually, nearly every community along each side of the river would have a small ferry to transport goods and people from one bank to the other. The earliest ferries were very crude, mostly consisting of canoes and flat boats. The earliest definitively-known river crossing was established in 1775 by Michael Bresap between what is now Brownsville and West Brownsville in Fayette and Washington counties respectively. Bresaps operation lasted well into the 19th century, at least as late as 1845. Though these seemingly insignificant and nearly forgotten river crossings have not survived well in the historical record, their very presence made it possible to lay the ground work for transportation and commerce throughout the entire Monongahela River valley. It wouldn’t be until well into the second half the 19th Century that the first attempts were made at crossing the mighty Mon with a bridge, thus rendering ferries as the only way possible to cross the river until then. Throughout the history of the region, there were untold numbers of ferries both small and large that connected the people on the east and west banks of the river. The earliest ferries stories can only be told through brief glimpses and hints in notes and journals and occasionally in legislative acts of the State of Pennsylvania. The industrial revolution would change that once and for all. With many industries blossoming into successful and mighty fixtures along the Mon, the need for more substantial access across the river became apparent. In some cases, the early flat boat operations expanded and became more substantial boats to meet the needs of ever increasing industrial devel-

The Nemacolin ferry was originally owned and operated by the Buckeye Coal Company in Nemacolin.

by Matthew Cumberledge

The farewell ride of the well-loved Fredericktown Ferry in August 2013.

opment. Some of these lasted well into living memory. It would take a book to properly chronicle the history of all of these ferries, but we can focus on a few that have been instrumental in linking Greene, Washington and Fayette counties together. In 1814 the first ferry to cross the river between two small settlements on the Monongahela River that would later become Crucible in Greene County and Arensburg in Fayette County was built. When first established, the ferry was little more than a simple flat boat but coal and steel would change that. The Crucible Steel Company would operate a paddleboat, much like the ones that would be seen traveling up and down the Mississippi River reminiscent of tales told by Mark Twain. By the 1950’s, a cable ferry named the Nekoda, owned and operated by the Mitchell Family, crossed the river. This would be the last ferry to service any portion of Greene

County. In 1952, Margaret Mitchell inherited the ferry, and operated it herself well into the 1970’s. A major flood in 1985 made sure the ferry stayed out of business when it was washed into the river. It sat there for many years, decaying in the river waters until sometime in the late 90s or early 2000s, when it was raised and towed away to Engle’s Holiday Harbor. There it would become two salvage/ dive barges. Ms. Mitchell lived to the age of 104 years, and for a brief eight days claimed the title of oldest living resident in Greene County Pennsylvania. 1917 was the big year for Nemacolinthe town was founded and a wooden and steam powered ferry was constructed to haul materials from the Buckeye Coal Company mine across the river to Ronco. Legend has it that the steel cable used to move the ferry back and forth across the river had to be replaced every 45 days to keep the ferry opera-

The Crucible ferry “Nekoda” was operated by the Mitchell family into the 70s. GreeneScene Community Magazine •

MARCH 2020

tional due to its heavy use. On December 20, 1924 a new ferryboat was launched to replace the former wooden structure that had sunk in the river. Another new steel ferryboat arrived on June 12th 1931; this would be the last ferry to cross the river at this location. It was built by Midland Barge Company and boasted a carrying capacity of 14 tons to facilitate the heavy vehicles that were now reliant on the ferry to transport materials back and forth from the mine. The Buckeye mine operated this ferry until January 1, 1949, then selling it into private ownership and operation. Perhaps the best remembered ferry in the region, and the one most recently in operation, was the Fredericktown Ferry, known affectionately as Fred. It was a well-used access point across the Mon for residents of Greene, Washington and Fayette counties, greatly shortening the drive time to get from Fredericktown to locations in Fayette County. The first known instance of a ferry crossing the river from Fredericktown to La Belle was in 1790. It was a pulled flat boat, a common site at many points up and down the Monongahela River. The last ferryboat however, was a steel hulled cable-driven ferry built by Hillman Barge Company weighing in at 35 tons.

Measuring 60 feet in length, the ferry could carry up to 8 vehicles and at one time was making as many as 250 trips back and forth across the river every day. Sadly, this would be the last operational ferry in the region, ceasing operations in 2013 due to heavy financial burdens and a new bridge built within a short driving distance. In 2015 the ferry was sold to a ship yard in Allegheny County and now serves as a work barge. At the time of its demise, Fred was one of only 30 operating cable-driven ferries in America. The closure of the Fredericktown ferry was the end of an era in southwestern Pennsylvania. Long gone are most of the mines, mills and other industrial sites that fueled the advancement of this system of river navigation. Many of us look back with fond memories of driving on the ferry ramp, having a pleasant chat with the operator and floating across the river, while looking at barges and just taking a quick break from the work commute. Though now gone, many of these ferries will live on in our minds as the first major development in linking all of our communities together on either side of the Monongahela River.

The Fredericktown Ferry was named Frederick and carried vehicles and passengers across the river until 2013.

MARCH 2020

â&#x20AC;˘ GreeneScene Community Magazine

A r t i st G al l e r y W

Leslie Fehling has a turned a love of art into a blooming career as an artist and instructor.

Leslie’s watercolor of High Street in downtown Waynesburg.

LESLIE FEHLING

e’re sitting in Leslie Fehling’s spacious kitchen where it morphs into a dining niche, then opens onto an enclosed porch filled with afternoon light. This is where fifteen or so practicing artists gather at varying times of the year to hug and say hello, then head downstairs to watercolor with Leslie. Then it’s back upstairs for a scrumptious lunch that Leslie’s mother Sondra helps prepare and some quality time to talk art. Some come from states away to spend a few days relaxing, painting and sketchbook journaling - most of us live close enough to pilgrimage here to learn the tricks of the watercolor trade and share the collective inspiration that comes from sharing artist time and breaking bread together. “The coolest thing is the relationship,” Leslie agrees. “I’ve made friends all over the world with my classes and we all have this common interest in relationship - getting together to do art. A few of my students are younger than 50 but they are the people who have the time for it.” Learning to make that “me time” is what taking a workshop is all about. Those of us who have been with Leslie since she started classes at Summerhill - her Victorian throwback home on the hill above Ruff Creek - have learned the joy of just doing it and the rewards that come with practice, practice, practice. “You’re doing it for yourself. It doesn’t have to be perfect,” Leslie tells her students. The freedom not to worry is where the joy of making art begins. I’ve left my watercolors at home today and brought my reporter’s notebook, ready to explore Leslie’s own background narrative, to see how she arrived at this moment of being both a teacher and a world traveler. She does workshops from Tuscany to Croatia and across the states from Maine to Alaska and California, absorbing the beauty and uniqueness of each new place and cultural experience she and her students bring home as art. “I love traveling. It makes one modest. It makes you realize what a small place you occupy in the world.” Travel comes naturally to Leslie – “ I was born in Hawaii and went to 13 different schools in 12 years. My father was in the Air Force.” She remembers quilting with her mom, learning to knit at age six, taking after school oil painting classes in San Antonio Texas in 7th grade. But it was the fifth grade teacher in Germany who had her students sit on the lawn and draw what could be seen in the circle they made with their hands that opened Leslie’s eyes to the art of reality. “I looked at all those blades of grass twisting together and it was the first time I really looked at the world instead of drawing from imagination.” Leslie majored in art at Colorado College and later married Fred Fehling, moved to Greene County and home schooled their children. Fred was an airline pilot and Leslie was a stay at home mom with a penchant for needlework and quilting. Her eye for color and detail began winning awards at the Greene County Fair and later, at regional and national competitions. When her neighbors wanted to learn to quilt she held her first classes.

by Colleen Nelson

When I interviewed Leslie for another publication in 2010, her children had fledged and she was conducting weekend workshops in decorative stitchery for professional sewers. Her basement was full of sewing machines and beautiful cornices, pillows and drapery popped on the walls. Now the basement is full of tables to paint on, an overhead projector for demonstrations, glass doors that lead to beautiful gardens, and a breathtaking hilltop view to sketch and paint. Leslie grins as she remembers her own journey from those perfect stitches to the joy of splashing colored water on a page and turning it into art with a mind of its own. “I’ve always sketched.” Leslie knows the power of line and color to capture the day to day moments in a busy life, especially when traveling, to preserve those sweet small details that in time get lost. It was a family trip to Maine in 2011 that turned making art for personal fulfillment into a new profession. “It was at the top of Mt. Katahdin and I saw a woman painting.” Turns out it was international artist Evelyn Dunphy, “I said ‘That’s beautiful!’ and she told me ‘I teach. I take groups to Ireland.’ That’s when I knew what I wanted to do next. Life is too short not to do the things your heart is telling you to do.” Inspired, Leslie began sketchbook journaling her own travels. In 2013 a personal trip to Ireland turned into a self published book that became both her resume and a lesson plan for future workshops. She taught classes at Wash Arts in Washington, joined Artbeat Gallery in Waynesburg, turned original watercolors into prints and notecards and began offering classes at Summerhill. Still, “my dream was always to teach in Italy.” When fellow artist Kit Paulson had to cancel plans to teach a workshop in Tuscany in 2015, she asked Leslie to go in her place. By the next year, Leslie was invited back to lead another workshop and a happy handful of her Summerhill sketchers joined her for a week of staying at a villa surrounded by vineyards and fine views. There would be quaint towns to visit, great food to eat and plenty of time to sketch, paint and find words to describe the adventure of a lifetime. The workshops Leslie is invited to teach keep growing, spread by word of mouth by those who appreciate someone who helps them find their own style and not be afraid to use it. I give Leslie a hug and wish her safe journey - she’s leaving in the morning for a workshop in Florida. Bring home some sunshine!

Leslie teaches watercolor classes at her home in Prosperity, as well as across the globe. GreeneScene Community Magazine •

MARCH 2020

Greene Ar ti facts By Matthew Cumberledge, GCHS Executive Director

THE MASONTOWN BRIDGE BLUEPRINTS

reene and Fayette counties have always been next door neighbors, each holding their claim to one side of the Monongahela River. That very river, which in many ways was the life blood of the region, also posed a barrier for traffic between the two counties. In the earliest years a system of ferries dotted the curving banks of the mighty Mon, transporting people and goods from side to side. In 1925, inter-county travel become much easier and convenient. Farris Engineering Company designed a large, multi-span truss bridge that would connect Fayette and Greene counties between the communities of Little Chicago and Paisley on the Greene County side, and Masontown on the Fayette County side. Construction of the bridge was completed in 1925 by the Independent Bridge Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was a unique bridge, in the sense that it utilized an older style of construction, mainly with the joints being pinned together in lieu of the riveted connections that were more common at the time. Adding to the unusual, a few of the connections between steel members were created with a hybrid of pins and rivets. Unfortunately the narrowness of this bridge brought its demise in 2013, when a new, wider bridge was built to replace the old steel trussed structure, leaving the

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• GreeneScene Community Magazine

Brownsville Inter-county bridge as one of the last remaining pinned truss bridges in the state. The March artifact features an interesting example of early 20th century engineering. It is a very large, 24” x 36” cloth and leather bound folio that contains the original fabrication and construction drawings for the original Masontown Bridge. This set of plans was generated from the plans specified by the engineers at Farris Engineering Company and sent to the steel fabricator to fabricate each individual steel member of the bridge. After fabrication was complete, the drawings were used at the work site to assist the iron workers building the bridge, showing them how to assemble the various individual steel members. In the industry today, a set of drawings such as these would be known as a structural steel detail drawing package. This wonderfully unique and historically important set of drawings is available for viewing at the Greene County Historical Society Museum upon request. It is currently part of our Library Collection, and within the coming season we anticipate - for the first time ever - having our library open and available for public use! Please keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates, and be sure to come out and visit us on Opening Day, April 25th, 2020!

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser There will be a Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser for Cub Scout Pack 1262 on March 15 from 11am – 4pm. at the Carmichaels First United Methodist Church Fellowship

Hall. Dinner includes spaghetti, bread, salad, drink, and dessert. Tickets are available for purchase from any Carmichaels Scout.

Event Volunteers Needed Greene County United Way is looking for individuals to join the Event Committee. Individuals who like planning events, have great ideas, want to connect with community members, or enjoy volunteering for a

Egg My Yard Fundraiser Let the STARS Foundation and volunteers be your personal Easter Bunnies this year! They’ll visit your home or a friend’s home to scatter Easter Eggs throughout the yard the night before so your family or friends can have their own Easter egg hunt in the morning. Delivery options are

good cause are welcome to assist with events such as Greene Cuisine, Stuff the Bus, and more. Contact MaChal Forbes at 724-852If you are a responsible individual age 1009 or mforbes@greenecountyunitedway. 21 years or older who likes to care for othorg to find out more. ers and wants to work from home, Southwestern Area Agency on Aging is looking for you. They need individuals or families in our area to open up their homes to consumers who are unable to live independently. ally, the first-place winners in each category Our consumers need care due to physical, will compete in a statewide competition intellectual, or age related impairments. As a Domiciliary Care provider, you held by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. To enter, a student will receive $1007.60 a month for each conmust complete a poster promoting awareness of pollinator conservation and including the theme phrase. FMI please contact the Greene County Conservation District at 724-852-5278.

Domiciliary Care Providers Needed

Conservation District Poster Contest The Greene County Conservation District is pleased to announce the 2020 Conservation Poster Contest is open to all Greene County students between the grades of Kindergarten through Eight. The theme for this year’s contest is, “Where Would We BEE Without Pollinators?” Winners will be selected in several grade-based categories and will win cash prizes of between $50 and $100. Addition-

Ralph Nicholson’s program for Town & Country Garden Club challenged members with “Green Thumbs” to try a different ested in setting up a sapce and selling their way of starting seeds. He demonstrated how to use the actual items. You can reach Susan through email, fruits and vegetables found in your refrigkatt3029@yahoo.com. or phone, 724- 366erator such as: a slice of strawberry, slice 2803. of tomato, a carrot top, an ear of corn, and a half of green pepper. Whether you are

Annual Poetry Contest Enter Bowlby Library’s annual poetry contest by submitting 5 original poems to the library from March 16 - April 4. The competition will be broken down into the following categories: K-2nd Grade, 3rd

sumer residing in your home. A Dom Care provider’s responsibilities include: preparing meals, housekeeping, laundry, medication set up, scheduling, and providing transportation to medical appointments. Domiciliary Care homes can accommodate up to 3 consumers and must be certified by the Area Agency on Aging. FMI contact: Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging Domiciliary Care Program at 1-800-411-5655.

Starting Seeds Early for Your Garden Seminar

Soup & Vendor Sale The East Franklin Grange will be holding a Soup & Vendor Sale on March 28, 2020 from 10am-4pm. They are currently looking for vendors that would be inter-

the evenings of April 3 and April 4. Serving communities within a 20-mile radius of the STARS office in Carmichaels. 25 eggs - $15, 50 eggs - $25, 100 eggs- $50, and Golden Egg - $5 each. All proceeds from this event benefit the STARS Foundation. FMI contact 724-319-2043 or stars@stars4ourkids.com.

planting in your garden or containers, the seeds from these fruits and vegetables can be started early in a nice sunny window of your home, then transplanted later. Watching the new growth and planning for the new growing season helps brighten winter days. L-R: Renee Sahady, Ann DeVito and Ralph Nicholson.

Grade-5th Grade, 6th Grade-8th Grade, 9th Grade-12th Grade, & Adults. Entry forms are available at the Circulation Desk. Winners announced on April 23, at 6pm at the Poetry Reading & Awards Ceremony.

WHS Greene Offers RN’s New Tuition Repayment Program Washington Health System Greene is offering a new Tuition Repayment Program for registered nurses. This program is designed for new hires and existing RN’s of WHS Washington Hospital and WHS Greene in exchange for a two-year full or p a r t - time service agreement at WHS Greene. To qualify, RN’s must first provide proof of out-

standing student loan debt, upon which time WHS Greene will pay up to $10,000 in return for a two-year full or part-time service agreement. Each registered nurse may qualify for a total of up to $30,000 in maximum loan repayment in return for six full years of service at WHSG. To apply, please go to whs.org/careers. Existing employees should contact Mary Hoyer at 724-2506040.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

MARCH 2020

â&#x20AC;¢ GreeneScene Community Magazine

WU ACS Chapter Honored With Award

Carmichaels Elementary Receives Donation for Comfort Closet Kristen Barrish, Treasurer of the Carmichaels First United Methodist church, presented a donation of $1100 to Carmichaels Elementary principal, Marc Berry, for the Carmichaels Elementary Comfort Closet. The Closet is a room near the Elementary library that provides a discreet and private place for the district’s elementary students to obtain, without embarrassment, clothing and

personal items needed to meet daily hygiene and clothing needs. Monetary donations and items such as slightly used clothing, Mikes clothing, backpacks, lunch boxes, socks, shoes, etc… are welcome. If interested in donating to the Comfort Closet, please contact Brenda Ferek at 724-966-5045 x1229.

The Waynesburg University American Chemical Society (ACS) Chapter recently received the Outstanding Chapter Award for its activities conducted during the 2018-2019 academic year. “Professor Baldauff ’s efforts certainly represent the best in undergraduate science education and mentoring around the country. We extend our warmest congratulations to the students and Professor Baldauff for setting such a fine example for other chapters and being exemplary chemistry ambassadors,” Dr. Bonnie Charpentier, 2019 ACS president, said in a statement to Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee. More than 380 chapter activity reports were submitted and only 59 were presented with the “Outstanding” award. All winning chapters will be honored at the ACS National Meeting March 22 through 26, 2020, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “The Waynesburg University ACS Chapter has a very dedicated group of officers who work hard to plan interesting and worthwhile

events, sharing their love of chemistry with the campus and local community,” shared Dr. Evonne Baldauff, chair of the Department of Chemistry and Forensic Science and associate professor of chemistry. Waynesburg’s chapter conducted 31 outreach events during the past academic year, including monthly homeschool labs, hosting the annual Haunted Lab, visiting local nursing homes and volunteering at the Carnegie Science Center during National Chemistry Week. The chapter was also committed to professional development opportunities for its members by hosting various scientific speakers, encouraging internship and research presentations, and attending large conferences, such as PITTCON (Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy) and the ACS National Meeting. “Anyone is welcome to join – not just chemistry majors,” added Dr. Baldauff. FMI, contact Dr. Baldauff at ebaldauf@waynesburg.edu or 724-852-7617.

Carmichaels Stock Challenge Winner

Mentors & Mentees Teach at Carmichaels Elementary Employees from Equitrans Midstream and the students they mentor from the Pittsburgh area taught Junior Achievement lessons at Carmichaels Elementary Center. The pre-K through 5th grade students learned about being a good citizen in the community, budgeting, getting and keeping a job, high growth careers, entrepreneurship, free market economy, the global economy and taxes. Pictured are mentees and their mentors teaching classes and the Equitans Midstream employees with their mentees.

Carmichaels Area Middle School 7th grade student, Olyvia Anderson, placed 1st in her school competition, 2nd in the statewide middle school competition, and 9th place in all divisions (Elementary, MS and HS) statewide. The PennCFL Fall Stock Market Challenge teaches students how the invest in stocks, make stock market trades, analyze markets, and build stock market portfolios while competing with other students. The Fall competition ended on December 13th.

STTARS Recognized by Commissioners The Greene County Commissioners recently proclaimed January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month while recognizing the SPHS CARE Center STTARS Program for their efforts to bring awareness of trafficking to the community. Pictured are Greene County Commissioners Betsy Rohanna-

McClure and Mike Belding; Joanna Dragan, STTARS Program Supervisor; Kristen Hohing, STTARS Program Team Lead; Joshua Parnell, STTARS Program Counselor/Advocate; and County Commissioner Blair Zimmerman.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

MARCH 2020

Greene Gardens

By Cheryl Brendel, Coordinator, Greene County Master Gardeners

No Green Thumb? Try a Succulent!

ow many times have you heard someone say, “I can’t grow anything!” or, “Every plant I try to grow dies?” If this is you - and it’s okay to admit it - consider a plant that requires little care. Succulents are easy to take care of and require minimal attention. A succulent is a plant with fleshy stems or leaves. When we think of succulents, we often think of a cactus but there are other non-cacti succulents. Before you purchase a succulent, decide where you will put it and what you want from it. All plants need light, but not all succulents need a lot of direct sunlight, in contrast to the thought of cacti in the dessert! I have three hoya hanging baskets, one in a northern window, one in a western window and one in a sunroom. The northern and western plants do well, however the one in the sunroom will, if in direct sunlight, produce flowers. With less light, the plants grow slower, whuich can be beneficial if you do not have a lot of space. These plants also propagate easily; my three were started from a cutting I received over 20 years ago. Another common succulent - the aloe plant - is actually a member of the lily family! Aloe plants can be useful in many ways including lotions, creams and shampoos. Other plants to consider are Crown of Thorns, Jade, Kalanchoe, Sansevieria (mother-in-law’s tongue), and Burro’s tale. When caring for these plants remember that they require less watering; this can be an advantage if you are frequently away from home. Watering them frequently will kill them, so watering them every few

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• GreeneScene Community Magazine

weeks in the summer and every couple months in the winter works well. Before purchasing a plant, read the information tag with it. It will tell you the growing conditions and the amount of sunlight the plant needs. Also take a close look at it for pests. You certainly do not want to bring a plant into your home that will introduce issues to any existing plants! If you would like more advice on plants for your home, you can call the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners. We are also planning a “Cabin Fever Escape” garden seminar for the public on March 21st. FMI, call 724-627-3745.

The Hungarian Smokehouse

hether you’re looking for the best beef jerky around or a delicious sandwich made with high-quality meats, you’ll find what you need at The Hungarian Smokehouse. According to Joel Pekar, son of owner Melissa Adams, the Hungarian Smokehouse started with his grandfather. His grandfather began deer processing which he saw as a “profitable hobby” and turned it into a business. Joel’s parents brought the Hungarian Smokehouse to Carmichaels from Bobtown and, in addition to meat processing, it soon began offering take-out and catering options. The Hungarian Smokehouse maintains a lot of regular customers and Joel shares that his family likes to “give back to the familiar faces.” During Senior Tuesdays, customers age 55 and older receive 10% off all store and take-out items. The Smokehouse also offers a 10% discount to military and first responders. One of the best-selling foods at the Hungarian Smokehouse is their popular homemade beef jerky. Fans of the beef jerky will soon be rewarded; a Jerky Club loyalty card will be rolled out soon. With the card, once you buy 8 pounds of beef jerky, you will get the 9th pound for free.

The pulled pork sandwich is another best seller, but there are many other delicious choices on the menu and weekly specials. For catering events, several different menus are offered to meet a variety of needs. The Hungarian Smokehouse is located in Carmichaels, PA. The winter hours are 9:00 A.M to 6:00 P.M Monday through Friday and 9:00 A.M to 4:00 P.M on Saturday; they are closed on Sundays. During hunting season, The Hungarian Smokehouse is open 7 days a week.

The beef jerky is one of the Smokehouse’s most popular items.

Business Section • GreeneScene Community Magazine •

MARCH 2020

HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness

ealthWorks Rehab & Fitness is proud to have opened our newest and eighth outpatient physical therapy clinic in Waynesburg. For over 40 years, HealthWorks has provided physical therapy for the Morgantown area and over the years we have expanded to meet the needs in the surrounding areas. We work closely with physician groups affiliated with both WVU Medicine and Mon Health systems. Our clinic director is, Sara (Stepp) Ryan. She is a native to the Greene County area and proud Jefferson Morgan graduate. Sara graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from The University of St Augustine for Health Sciences and with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from West Virginia University. Her background in these areas has given her the expertise and experience to treat a wide range of conditions in this outpatient physical therapy clinic including both orthopedic and neuromuscular conditions with an emphasis in the treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Sara is very passionate about neuromuscular rehabilitation and has been using the clinically proven LSVT Big technique in the treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease for over two years. Sara also has experience working

with Division I athletics at both West Virginia University and Coastal Carolina University. Please stop by and check out our new clinic and meet Sara and our staff. Whether you are wanting to return to competition or you want to just improve your quality in everyday life, Sara can provide an individualized treatment plan to help you achieve your goals.

Sara Ryan, clinic director

M e e t our Te am

very month, our enthusiastic team of editors, writers, graphic designers, and advertising specialists work behind the scenes to create each issue of GreeneScene Community Magazine. This passionate team is dedicated to creating a fascinating, optimistic, and relevant magazine that our readers love. Over the next year, we’ll be introducing you to our team, member by member, so that you can get to know the devoted crew that

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• GreeneScene Community Magazine • Business Section

brings you the GreeneScene. This month, we’d like to introduce you to our advertising specialist, Michelle Frye. Michelle is a Greene County native, residing in Carmichaels. Michelle graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Waynesburg University, majoring in advertising and public relations with minors in marketing and theatre. During her time at Waynesburg University, she worked at Markowitz Communications in Pittsburgh, providing marketing communication services for notable clients such as Cirque du Soleil, Simon Malls, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and Urban Pathways. Michelle joined the GreeneScene in January 2019 and has been making connections within the community during that time. In addition to her work on the GreeneScene, she’s also assisted a local event with public relations and is involved in community events in the area. “Being a Greene County resident has helped me make an impact on the magazine because I know the area and its businesses,” Michelle says. “I love the community in Greene Coun-

ty and supporting the endeavors people are making to create an even better place to live.” Michelle loves the theater and continues to work with Waynesburg University’s theater department with their productions. She believes that her extensive theater background makes it easier to work with the public and build strong working relationships.

JUST FOR FUN Favorite Music: Fall Out Boy Favorite Movie: Maleficent Favorite TV Show: Gotham & Lucifer Favorite Book: Ender’s Game series Favorite Hidden PA Gem: Greene River Trail in Rices Landing Favorite Vacation Spot: Walt Disney World Favorite Holiday: Halloween What’s a movie you can practically quote from start to finish? The Nightmare Before Christmas If you could live in any period of history when would it be? I love the aesthetics of Victorian England, but I’m happy in our current age. Women are equal to men, and we have the entire world at our fingertips. What’s your dream car? Pearl White Cadillac Escalade

First Federal Savings & Loan of Greene County

First Federal of Greene County Announces Corporate Title Changes, Record Year-End Assets

uring its annual meeting of members Jan. 22, First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greene County announced title changes for several corporate officers and the addition of a new corporate officer. The Association’s Board of Directors approved the following corporate officer title changes: Chad M. Moore, Executive Vice President; Kathleen M. Toth, Vice President/Secretary; and Terry L. Clutter, Vice President/Treasurer. The Board also named Sarah A. Westfall Assistant Secretary. Westfall joined First Federal of Greene County in 2009 as a customer service representative after previous years of experience in internal audit at another financial institution. She became a new accounts representative in 2010, internal auditor in 2012 and risk management/internal audit coordinator in 2016. In her position, Westfall works closely with Association management, external auditors and federal regulators to ensure proper policies and procedures are followed. A graduate of Waynesburg University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Westfall has been an active volunteer with McGuffey School District athletics and children’s programs for many years. She and her husband, Robert, reside in Washington and have three children, Cassandra, Jessica and Gregory. Also during the Association’s annual meeting, the following Association officers were re-elected: Judi Goodwin Tanner, President; Charles W. Trump, Jr., CEO; Barbara L. Galica, Vice President; Cynthia A. Crouse, Vice President; Jeffrey B. Widdup, Vice President; Courtney A. Schroyer, Vice President/Chief Financial Officer; and Danielle R. Tobusto, Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer. Directors John E. Mariner and Stephen M. Neubauer were re-elected to three-year terms on the Board. Other directors include Jay S. Hammers, Murray W. Hoy, Gregory A. Parsons, Tanner and Trump. Henry T. Cochran and Scott S. O’Neil serve as Directors Emeritus. At the close of 2019, First Federal’s assets increased to $938 million, a year-end high for the Association and a 2.3 percent increase over 2018. Interest paid on deposit accounts increased $2 million in 2019, mostly due to an additional $23 million invested

in higher-yielding time deposits or certificate of deposit accounts, Tanner noted in her President’s Report. Deposits increased by 1.9 percent, to $793 million. In 2019, the Association closed $81 million in loans. The number of refinancing and recast loans increased, while the number of purchase, construction, second and home equity loans decreased. The number and balance of delinquent loans was also down compared to 2018. Due to its enduring stability, First Federal of Greene County was once again awarded the prestigious Bauer Financial “5-Star Rating.” This superior rating has been awarded to the Association for the past 126 quarters, or more than 31 years. The rating is based on the Association’s capital level, asset quality, historical trends and loan delinquencies, among other factors. “Our customers are increasingly utilizing our electronic methods of banking,” Tanner reported. “ATM and debit cards are a popular choice in completing daily business, while Internet and Mobile Banking are used more for checking transactions, payment of bills, receiving bank statements electronically and depositing checks. A convenient tool that is offered by First Federal is the CardValet app, which makes it easy to track debit card activity from ATM withdrawals to a purchase made at your local store, and it is useful for combating fraud.” Tanner highlighted several projects completed last year, including security updates, an upgraded ATM on Washington Street in Waynesburg and improvements to servers, communication lines and computer hardware. On a sadder note, Tanner remarked on the recent death of James L. Brewer, former Association President/CEO, Board Chairman and Director Emeritus, who passed away Nov. 19. “Mr. Brewer played a very important role in making First Federal the Association it is today,” Tanner wrote, adding that Brewer made keen observations about First Federal’s future back in 1983 – the year after Tanner began her employment – that still ring true today. Addressing her tenure with First Federal of Greene County, Tanner – who will retire in April – closed her final President’s Report by extending “a very personal note of appreciation to all

Chad M. Moore

Kathleen M. Toth

Terry L. Clutter

Sarah A. Westfall

that I have worked with and to all the customers over the years that I have had the pleasure to serve.” “I feel blessed to have been a part of the First Federal family for over 37 years,” she continued. “Over the last year, the Board of Directors and Association Management have been preparing for my upcoming retirement as President on April 3, 2020, and I am confident that the Association will continue to thrive under the leadership of Charles W. Trump, Jr., and his team. Thank you all.”

Longtime Director Retires from First Federal of Greene County’s Board

enry T. Cochran, longtime member of the Board of Directors of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greene County, recently announced his retirement from the Board. During its Jan. 13 regular meeting, the Board recognized the service of Cochran, who became a Director in February 1972 and officially retired last June. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve First Federal for 47-plus years,” Cochran said. “Being part of First Federal’s phenomenal growth, prosperity and service to the community has been an extremely rewarding journey. Even more rewarding, however, is the chance I have had to associate with so many wonderful people along the way. I consider everyone at First Federal to be part of my very own family, and I cherish every memory.” Originally a well-known cattle farmer from Fayette County, Cochran was named to the Board Feb. 28, 1972, at the age of 33. During Cochran’s nearly 50-year tenure, the Association grew from two offices in Waynesburg and Uniontown to a total of nine offices in Greene, Fayette and Washington counties in Pennsylvania and Monongalia County in West Virginia. At the time of Cochran’s appointment, First Federal of Greene County’s assets were approximately $75 million; today, the Association’s assets

stand at $938 million. “Henry’s dedication to First Federal and its Board of Directors for over 47 years is a testament to his character that is also displayed in his dedication to his hometown of Dawson and his family,” said John E. Mariner, Board Chairman and former Association President/CEO. “His example became a model for each of us to follow. We are proud that Henry was a part of the First Federal family and a part of our history for so many years.” Cochran and his wife, Dorothy, reside in Dawson and still maintain the 500-acre family farm. The couple has two children, Hank Cochran of Sewickley and Laura Wolford of Virginia, and two grandsons, Benjamin and Ryan Cochran. The Board of Directors officially accepted Cochran’s retirement in May 2019 and named him Director Emeritus, a position also held by former Association Presidents and Board Chairmen Scott S. O’Neil and the late James L. Brewer. Also during its Jan. 13, 2020, regular meeting, the Board appointed Association CEO/Secretary Charles W. Trump, Jr., to fill the rest of Cochran’s term. Trump joins the Board of Directors after being named CEO last January and serving seven years as a vice president, overseeing the areas of deposit operations, market-

Henry T. Cochran

Charles W. Trump, Jr.

ing and security. Trump and his wife, Shelly, reside in Fairchance and have two daughters, Elizabeth and Kimberly, and a son-inlaw, Luke. “First Federal has been blessed to have Henry Cochran serve on our Board for the past 47 years,” said Judi Goodwin Tanner, Association President and member of the Board of Directors. “We want to thank Henry, a true gentleman, for his service, and we wish to welcome Charles Trump to the Board.”

Business Section • GreeneScene Community Magazine •

MARCH 2020

• GreeneScene Community Magazine • Business Section

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

CLASSIFIEDS House for Rent/Sale. 3BR, 2+ acres, 3 car garage, 2 carports, country setting in Alicia. $700/,month rent or $75K purchase. Owner financing available. 724-3249152. House FSBO - 488 N. Eighty Eight Rd Carmichaels. 3bd/1.5ba -- built 1951, 2.687 acres, 2 car attached garage, 2 car detached garage, greenhouse, 2 sheds, fruiting orchard, taxes only $2115. Remodeled kitchen & baths, sunroom. Furnace and heat pump installed 2015. $265K Call 614-256-3209 Complete household furnishing. Fridges, couches, dishes, gym set. Call for details. 724-324-9152. 1. Interarms Mark 5 Mauser 30-06 with Redfield 5 Star 4x12x40 AO scope, test fired only, No Trades, $550 Cash Only plus Transfer a must, no exceptions. Point Marion, PA 724-725-5331 10a – 8p Leave Mess. 2. Shilen stainless steel varmint Barrel, select match .224, 1 in 14 Twist, blank 28 in., $250 Firm, Cash Only. Point Marion, PA 724-725-5331 10a – 8p Leave Mess. 3. 1 case, 5000 rounds (50 100 packs) CCI .22 Target Shorts, $375 Cash Only. Point Marion, PA 724-725-5331 10a – 8p Leave Mess. 014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport RHD 4x4 4dr. Well maintained, 80K mi, $24,500. Includes 4 extra wheels/ tires. 304-639-0899/304-845-3294. Looking for chih + mix with Pomeranian or Yorkie. Must be a small brown with big puppy eyes, female, and with black muzzle. 724-833-8495. HAY FOR SALE - 6 x 5 round bales ,1st cutting, good quality hay $45, pick up at farm Masontown, Pa call 724-366-4721 Mathews DXT Bow, QAD Ultra Rest HDX, Mathews Quiver (5), 4 pin Copper John sights, 7 Carbon Express Maxima arrows, stabilizer limbsavers, $600. 724-8833630.

Paid for by Bill Comer.

hat has four legs, a back, sometimes has arms but no hands, and can be sat on but has no pulse? It can also be versatile, flexible, and inspire creativity and productivity. Give up? An office chair! If new clients seem underwhelmed with the atmosphere of your business or your employees seem unproductive or listless, then maybe it’s time to upgrade your office furniture! Office aesthetics play an important part in your employees’ productivity. It’s just a part of human nature – our mood is influenced by our surroundings. Drab, boring furniture can lead to lower productivity and creativity, whereas vibrant and cool colors assist in lifting a person’s mood. Furniture and office accessories that let your employees stay organized and keep needed supplies handy make it easier for them to get work done. Being comfortable, clutter-free, and with minimal distractions allows employees to remain mentally engaged and work productively. The right furniture also improves the well-being of your employees. Standing desks allow them to be more active at work and help them lead a healthier lifestyle. Comfortable ergonomic seating lets your employees stay flexible with their movements and encourages good posture. Having the right furniture isn’t just for your

employees. It’s for everyone that enters your business. The right furniture in your office space presents a clean, welcoming space for both clients and employees. Your furniture can also be used to send visual cues about your brand. Take it one step further and brand your furniture through custom panels and accessories. Choosing the right mix of office furniture can be difficult. The workspace should work for you, giving you the tools and innovative features you need to perform your best. Creating that productive and comfortable workspace requires some extra forethought, effort, and attention to detail. That’s where Direct Results’ resident office furniture expert, Dave Stoneking, comes in. With more than twenty five years of experience, Dave can help you choose the right furniture that meets your employees’ needs and makes the most of your space. Dave meets with each client individually to find out their furniture needs. He measures the space, discusses the setup that they are looking for, and then begins the search for their perfect furniture. “Meeting with the clients in person at the location helps me find the furniture that will be the best fit for them,” Dave says. “Whether it is a new construction or you need to match existing furniture, I am

here to help.” During this stage, Dave will often create a visual planner drawing that details the layout of the new furniture. After the client approves the furniture and it is ordered, Dave works closely with our expert team to ensure quick delivery and installation. “I enjoy the entire furniture project process from start to completion.” Dave is a Waynesburg native, graduating from Waynesburg Central and then Waynesburg University. He enjoys coaching youth sports, exercising, and golfing in his free time. Dave is married with two children and two dogs. Every piece of furniture in the workplace plays a part in the way clients view your business, as well as your team’s productivity. Whether you need to freshen up a dated workspace or furnish a new area, investing in new office furniture shows your clients that you have confidence in your business and appreciation for your team. Call Direct Results today for a free quote to start on your new furniture journey!

Dave Stoneking meets with his clients to discuss their furniture needs.

Business Section • GreeneScene Community Magazine •

MARCH 2020

Betty Mae’s Bakery & Cafe

he inspiration for Betty Mae’s Bakery & create quality desserts and meals for the peoCafé has turned 80 years old. On Feb- ple of her hometown. Alongside Aubele is her ruary 9, 2020, Betty Mae Boord cel- aunt, Denise Pratt, who has over 25 years of ebrated her 80th birthday, a milestone owner experience in the baking industry. She also Michelle Aubele was blessed to celebrate after credits her dedicated team members Thelma Hagner, Kayla Shaffer, John David, Britany her grandmother’s stroke 10 years ago. Aubele grew up in the small town of Ma- Landman, Denise Serratta, and Krystle Jones sontown, PA watching her grandmother bake on helping her and the business succeed. and cook. “She loved making homemade Betty Mae’s Bakery will be celebrating its bread and sweets for the family,” says Aubele. 6th anniversary on April 14, 2020, and Aubele “My fondest childhood memory is spending invites the entire Greene and Fayette commumy weekends with my grandmother. I would nities to join her in celebration. get up in the morning and assemble all of the ingredients for her homemade pancakes. Then, I would wake her up to make them.” This close family background is what inspired her to create Betty Mae’s Bakery in dedication to her grandmother’s homemade cooking and playful spirit. Today, Betty Mae’s Bakery is a staple of the Masontown community, offering an assortment of hot foods and baked goods. Aubele is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute and of the Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts in Pittsburgh, Michelle Aubele and her grandma, Betty Mae Boord. and uses her impressive resume to

Appraising Greene Real Estate Celebrating 25 Years of Real Estate in Greene County, PA

ppraising Greene Real Estate Services opened on August 1, 2018 by Gwen R. Nicholson, Broker / Pennsylvania Certified Residential Appraiser. Ms. Nicholson started her real estate career in 1995 with J.K. Willison Real Estate, Inc. in Waynesburg, PA. While there Gwen completed an apprenticeship for residential appraising with the late J. Kenneth Willison, Jr. and became a Pennsylvania Certified Residential Appraiser in March of 2011. Ms. Nicholson offers real estate appraisal services for residential properties; vacant land; farms; and small (1-4 unit) residential income producing properties. Gwen is happy to assist private individuals; Estates; Attorneys; Lenders; and others with a variety of appraisal needs. Appraising Greene Real Estate Services is also a full-service real estate office based in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. The company services all of Greene County, PA and portions of Fayette and Washington Counties. We offer services in real estate

MARCH 2020

• GreeneScene Community Magazine • Business Section

sales, listings, rental management, as well as appraising. We are members of the National Association of REALTORS, the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS and the Washington-Greene Association of REALTORS. Appraising Greene Real Estate Services is also a member of the West Penn Multi-List Service, and are able to assist Buyers with purchasing homes, even if they are not listed for sale with our company. Whatever your real estate needs, Appraising Greene Real Estate Services would be happy to assist you. Please call or email our office to chat about your real estate needs.

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GreeneScene Community Magazine â&#x20AC;¢

MARCH 2020