NOVEMBER 2020
• GreeneScene Community Magazine
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FEATURES 4
I LOVE THIS PLACE
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GREENESCENE OF THE PAST
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GREENE ARTIFACTS
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SHINING THE LIGHT
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PUBLIC SERVICE PROFILE
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COUNTY CONVERSATIONS
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COOL AT SCHOOL
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INTENTIONAL WALKS
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GOING GREENE
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GOOD NEWS IN GREENE
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MESSAGE BOARD
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MEET THE TEAM
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GET TO KNOW DR
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BUSINESS SECTION
Blacksville, PA Blacksville, PA
Civil War photographs Blacksville, PA
Tri-County Leathernecks & Toys for Tots Greene County Family Center
Creating desks for online students Greene County sports & those called for duty A story of the Civil War Awards & acknowledgements within our community Community announcements and opportunities Get to know the GreeneScene contributor, Melody Learn more about our website development services Featuring our Business Spotlights
EXTRAS
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IN MEMORY OF MAX
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CHAMPION HUNTING HILL HAWKEYES
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THE REAL MCCOY PLANE PROJECT
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WHAT IS A VETERAN?
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VETERANS HONOR ROLL
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Robert Hurd
Teri Jordan’s fundraising efforts in honor of her nephew The Hunting Hills Hawkeyes’ successful 2020 season The famous landmark gets a new smile (& more!) What makes a veteran? By guest contributor Mike Belding In honor of our local veterans
Aaron Waters, Daniel Lama, Elijah Waters Hershel Bowers Gary Lemley, Tyler Jones, Rodman Stewart Luke and John Vitolo Paul S. Keruskin, Albert Marsh
GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
Medicare Open Enrollment
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Don’t Do It Alone! · APPRISE has trained Medicare Counselors available · Compare your current plan with other options for 2021
Call the APPRISE Program for a no-cost comparison at:
724-489-8080, ext. 4438 1-888-300-2704, ext. 4438 Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging, Inc. This project was supported, in part by grant number 1801PAMISH-00 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy
NOVEMBER 2020
• GreeneScene Community Magazine
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I Love this P l a ce
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Entering Blacksville along 218. The town sits along the Mason-Dixon line.
Cross this bridge over Dunkard, follow the road and you’ll come across Blacksville’s landmark jet.
The remains of Worley’s fort near the picturesque Lake Wilma.
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oming south into Blacksville on State Route 218 is a sharp right curve into history that once had no line dividing Penn’s Woods from Lord Calvert’s Virginia Colony. That curve is where a fortified cabin once guarded the high ground above Dunkard Creek. When John Baldwin built his blockhouse in 1774, the British were hiring Indigenous tribes to join the skirmishes that would soon become the Revolutionary War. Raiding parties would send settlers fleeing to the blockhouse for the next 17 years. The original tribes that once built villages and farmed these valleys for hundreds of years were long gone - this wilderness was now the dividing line between French and English colonization and haunted by the displaced tribes of the East being driven westward. The nearby Warrior Trail that crosses Greene County made this land a strategically dangerous place to settle but those who came to settle persevered. Eugene Lemley lives almost on the spot where the blockhouse is said to have been. Heavy yellow posts guard his front porch from the traffic that sometimes makes that sharp curve into West Virginia too fast. A heritage road sign proclaims this is the Mason-Dixon Line and the date of its completion – 1782 - helps explain why frontier farms and houses tend to sprawl on either side of what would one day be a state line. The first known settlers in this area were Brice and Nathan Worley and William Minor, who made their claims in the years before the Mason-Dixon survey reached Browns Hill in 1767, then turned back because of the proxy war being waged on the western frontier. Brice Worley’s land title, granted by William Penn, met that of Alexander Clegg on the dividing ridge above Dunkard Creek. The strip of unclaimed land between them became a place for “squatters” who cleared land, built cabins and settled into hard frontier living. When John Baldwin built his blockhouse, the community that formed around it called itself Hampshire Town. When Virginia civil engineer John Black arrived in 1800, he too built a cabin, then later bought 160 acres along with the squatters’ rights in Hampshire Town and laid out lots. In 1830 Blacksville was born. Eugene’s house sits beside Blacksville United Methodist Church on the short straightaway before Route 218 – once known as Lafayette Street - takes another hard right down to State Route 7, or muddy, rutted Washington Road if you jump back a century or two. Eugene has The Blacksville Story, a book that tells all of this and more. It’s beautifully laid out, full of photos and oral histories gathered by lifelong resident Sara Isabelle Scott (1910-1995) and put in a timeline from frontier days to 2003 by West Virginia historian Norma Jean Venable. I was thrilled to find it still available for sale at Clay-Battelle Library. After the Revolutionary War, the frontier slowly turned to farmland, big game disappeared and sheep took over the cleared hillsides. Circuit riders undoubtedly passed through and John Black was known to be a Methodist. When he laid out the town he offered a free lot and $75 to the first church to open there. In 1851 the Methodists took him up on it. African slaves passing through Blacksville while it was still part of Virginia were helped along their way to Canada, by all accounts. When West Virginia became its own state in 1863, a number of families sent their sons to serve in the Union Army. Norma Jean tells us that after the Civil War, Blacksville fell in love with steam engines and built a new gristmill with
BLACKSVILLE, WV By Colleen Nelson
roller mills from Europe that produced fine flour. The first big oil strike of 1888 brought in drillers, teamsters, rig builders, tool fitters and roustabouts for the boom times, along with a love story that still survives as a truly philanthropic endowment for arts, the humanities and social improvement. The oil boom of the 1890s brought a young Mike Benedum to town to procure oil leases and the John Lantz family was taking in boarders. Mike fell in love with their only daughter Sarah and they married in 1896. When the kid from Bridgeport, WV joined forces with young engineer and geologist Joe Trees, Benedum began earning his title as “The Greatest Wildcatter.” Mike and Sarah lived in a mansion in Pittsburgh but never forgot their roots. In 1944 the couple created the Claude Worthington Benedum foundation in memory of their only son who died of influenza while serving in Europe in 1918. The foundation still has the “flexibility and funds to benefit the people of West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania in perpetuity.” Someone back at the turn of the last century had an eye for beautiful everyday things. I’m startled to see women on horses riding astride in flowing skirt-pants, grinning for the camera, to see Louverna Tennent and her family posing with their flock of sheep, to catch passenger trains pulling through Blacksville in the 1920s carrying passengers from Brave to Morgantown and back. Oil derricks pop up in backyards, trestles are built for bridges across Dunkard Creek, kids go fishing. These family photos capture the spirit of the day as time brought changes and people persevered. State Route 7 was finally paved in 1929 but the fastest way to get out of Blacksville any time of the year was by train. Thanks to that train, students could get to college in Morgantown and Fairmont and bring their learning home as educators, innovators and community leaders. With the Great Depression, help from the federal government took the form of WPA projects, including a town cannery where the community could process USDA food to feed neighbors, school kids and the elderly. When a natural clay deposit was found on Simeon Lemley’s farm in 1937, the Smith Hughes Act helped set up a pottery business to teach seniors how to start in-home businesses. Many residents learned to make pottery, both on the wheel and by coiling. Later it became part of the curriculum at Clay-Battelle High School. At one point, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was presented a “fine tea pot with a special Eleanor blue glaze” by school superintendent Floyd Cox. For as many times as I’ve come to Blacksville, either for check ups at the state funded clinic before Cornerstone Clinics were organized in Greene County, or passing through on my way to Mason-Dixon Historical Park in Core for a festival or a feast of spring ramps, this is the first time I’ve slowed down and appreciated the history tucked into every old building, some restored as a bank, a grocery store or an historic home. Thanks, Eugene Lemley for telling me the story of your family! When I stopped by Clay-Battelle Library after visiting with Eugene to buy my own copy of The Blacksville Story, librarian Sandra Throckmorton told me that the library was built in 1974. Back then, federal funds were available to upgrade communities in rural America, and those savvy enough to write the grants to get those improvements reaped the benefits. “We have extra copies,” Sandra tells me. I assure her that I’ll tell everyone I know that this book is now available for $10. All proceeds go to the library so stop by and pick one up!
GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
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NOVEMBER 2020
• GreeneScene Community Magazine
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G reen e Sce n e of the Pa st
he house was right over there,” Eugene Lemley leans out the car window, pointing to the middle of Lake Wilma. The dirt road we’re on is the conduit between the man-made lake and its backwater on the other side. “The barn was up the hill. I grew up on the farm working with my grandfather - that was home. I’ve walked every inch. Hunted every hill.” We’re in Wayne Township, Greene County, not far from the Mason-Dixon line, taking in the crisp October hills and still waters that were once Eugene’s Chalfont family farm. Eugene pulls off the road and gestures again. “It’s down there.” I get out and follow the ribbon-thin path down the embankment to the backwater side, pushing through underbrush to a flat place that seems carved
out of the hill. Peeking through the overhang I see the remains of a stone foundation. I’m here to see what’s left of Brice and Nathan Worleys’ fort. Lawrence Tennant’s photo in The Blacksville Story, page 34, shows what the old log cabin fortress, built in the early 1770s, looked like in the 1980s. Consolidation Coal Co. was preparing to flood the meadow on the left with the backwaters of Lake Wilma. The caption reads, “…despite the protests of citizens, the historic frontier building was destroyed.” Lake Wilma was dammed in the 1960s after Consolidated Coal bought the 395-acre farm. “I came home from service and found out my uncle sold it. So I moved to town and bought the place I’m in now beside the
A picture from the 1980s of the Worley Fort after the third story was removed.
church.” Eugene still remembers the old fort, remembers playing in it as a kid, remembers working the land with his grandfather and cousins. “We kept cows in it.” Another photo on the page shows the old cabin in 1900 when it was still three stories high and a private residence. The bottom two stories were usually protected by stockade when it was protecting settlers, the top floor was where riflemen fired at advancing intruders. Brice and Nathan Worley were Quakers and surveyors from Penn’s Colony. They helped Mason and Dixon survey most of western Pennsylvania before settling near Blacksville in 1764-66. As surveyors, they managed to put their land on the Penn’s Woods side of the line that had yet to be drawn. At some point during those
By Colleen Nelson
early years, Nathan Worley lost his life to an indigenous sniper as he stood in an upstairs doorway, listening to what he thought was a turkey call. The Blacksville Story tells us Brice Worley’s grandson John was born on the farm in 1823. When Solomon Chalfont bought the farm he removed the top story, redid the roof and turned it into a barn. Now all that’s left is hard packed earth and some retaining walls – and a fine view of still waters and tree covered hills. The charred wood of a campfire on the flat ground next to the bank shows that Worley’s fort is still there for those who come to relax, enjoy nature and maybe fish on the backwater side of Lake Wilma.
The original fort, built in 1770s, stood three stories.
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@greenescenemagazine.com with GreeneScene Past in subject line.
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GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
WINNERS GreeneScene Contest - Lisa Ringer knew that the Sasquatch could be found at Mystery Finds along Rt. 88 in Carmichaels. Duda’s Farm Tickets - Amanda Fife
Green e Ar ti facts By Matthew Cumberledge, GCHS Executive Director
CIVIL WAR PHOTOGRAPHY
W $CHOLARSHIPS FOR GREENE COUNTY West Virginia University is the R1 research university in your backyard — where you can earn generous out-of-state scholarships without an ACT or SAT score. In fact, you can earn as much as $12,000 a year from our Go First Scholarship alone. And with 360 majors at all levels to choose from, you will find your path here. We're just one county over. Apply now. Learn more at go.wvu.edu/greene_scholarships.
NOVEMBER 2020
• GreeneScene Community Magazine
hen you hear the phrase “Civil War photography” your thoughts might jump to the dramatic and historically important images captured during the Civil War by notable photographer Matthew Brady. Brady’s photos are often found in the pages of textbooks and histories that cover all aspects of the War Between the States. Brady was also a portrait photographer, and the portrait photographs taken of Civil War soldiers by Brady and other photography studios throughout the country are often the only glimpse of a remote ancestor who fought during the American Civil War. Photography became commonplace in the 1840s after the invention of the daguerreotype in 1839; as time progressed, other methods became available and, around the time of the Civil War, two other types of photographs – tintypes and carte de viste (CdV) – were developed that would make photography more widely available and cost effective. This made it possible for almost anyone to have a portrait created. Tintype photographs were made by exposing chemicals on an iron plate to light through a camera. The resulting image was a one of a kind that could not be reproduced; however, CdV photographs utilized a glass negative, allowing a photograph to be reproduced as many times as the subject wished.
Both types of photographs were quite common throughout the Civil War, and the Greene County Historical Society Archives have many such photos. The photos shown here are unidentified Civil War soldiers made in the tintype format and represent the most common styles of photography used by photographers when photographing a Civil War soldier. If you are a researcher and are interested in seeing if the Greene County Historical Society Archives hold photos of your Civil War ancestor, visit www.greeneconnections. com. Candice Buchanan has spent a great deal of time archiving and recording the Greene County Historical Society collection and making it available to the public via The Greene Connections Archive Project. Like/follow the GCHS Museum Facebook page to stay informed on our winter activities and the upcoming 2021 event schedule.
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By Colleen Nelson
ethodists were ready to be good disciples in colonial America – there were souls to be served as religious freedom and circuit riders followed settlers into the frontier. John Wesley (1703-1791) was an Anglican minister in Britain with a vision that suited those who had loosened the bonds of the predetermined hierarchy in that era’s Christian orthodoxy. Christianity Today notes that Wesley argued that “Christians could enjoy entire sanctification in this life: loving God and their neighbors, meekness and lowliest of heart…” Younger brother Charles would go on to write more than 6,000 hymns and Methodists became known for their joyful voices. They made it to America and found a place for themselves in the hearts and the homes on the frontier. Good neighbors, after all, are a blessing. “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can as long as ever you can,” Wesley implored his followers. Two centuries and counting later I’m here at a rigatoni dinner and bake sale in the parking lot of Blacksville United Methodist Church, ready to learn what being a good neighbor in today’s world is all about. Twelve-year-old Miley Stewart’s mask, “At school we all get white masks,” has a hand painted smile and I’m grinning behind mine as she bags my takeout - homemade nut and blueberry breads and one pumpkin gob smack. Cars are pulling in for curbside pickup of the dinners being prepared downstairs. Legend has it that a log cabin serving as a school and meeting house sat to the left of the present church before the first church was built in 1851. Sunday school records
date back to 1857 and today’s white wooden church with its classic gingerbread trim was built in 1896. “This is my fourth year on the Blacksville Charge.” Pastor John Brosby is the designated parking attendant today as friends, neighbors and members of Olive, Miracle Run and Wana churches stop by for the fundraiser then stay to catch up on how life is going under the lockdown. “’Be safe’ is our first priority,” Pastor John tells me. The church closed in the beginning but now people come if they choose. The pews are taped, people stay six feet apart and masks are worn. And there are options. “I have an FM receiver. You can sit in the parking lot and listen.” Services are recorded, uploaded to YouTube and linked to the church Facebook page: Blacksville Charge Announcement Page. “You can tell we’re really glad to see each other,” youth leader Tara Tennant from Olive Church tells me as she shops for the perfect hand made designer apple on a stick. Her last youth meeting was in March “and we decided to wait awhile before doing things together.” The youth group does more than meet every third Sunday at 6 p.m. Tara organizes the fun and games of a happy childhood – sleepovers, camp outs and doing things to help others. Today a handful of youth are delivering meals to the cars and bagging the homemade goodies the Ladies Auxiliary have cooked up. These are things the kids can’t wait to be doing again, along with volunteering face to face in the community. In school there is still a role for older youth to play as kids age out of having to go to church with the family. “Our biggest blessing is how many seniors we still have in high school for the younger ones to look up to. They’re our hands and feet.” And then there’s the Famine – a 30hour annual fast taken by senior youth that starts on a Friday after lunch and is broken with breakfast on Saturday morning. It’s an all night gathering at the church for movies, games, prayers, holding signs to get passersby to Honk for Hunger and realizing what hunger feels like and what can be done about it by those who love their neighbors. “Parents can’t believe their kids can do it and the younger ones can’t wait to do it!” Tara tells me, “We’re hoping to do it sometime this year if we can do it safely.” Blacksville services are every first Miley Stewart assists with the rigatoni dinner & bake third and fifth Sunday starting at 9:30 a.m. sale at Blacksville United Methodist Church.
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GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
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In Memory of Max
eri Jordan is a woman on a mission. And while the mission may be tough, Teri has the finest reason to stay determined and keep going. Every year, Teri organizes fundraising opportunities in honor of her nephew Max Cunningham. Max passed away on May 24, 2015 due to DIPG. DIPG, or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma is a type of tumor that starts in the brain stem. These tumors occur most often in childhood, and although rare, can occur in adults. Because of their fast growth, symptoms develop rapidly, and although forms of treatment exist, the survival rate is incredibly low and there is no cure. Due to their location, surgery is rarely an option. On the first anniversary of Max’s passing, a spaghetti dinner/Chinese auction was held, and shirts and wristbands were sold. The event allowed the group to raise the necessary $10,000 to start a fund with Children’s Hospital in Max’s name. Other events have included a carnival/fun day and Yankee Candle sales. All funds raised are given to Children’s and used strictly for DIPG research. “We have tried to spread the fundraisers out because we know that people do have their own causes to support,” she shares. “But I can truly say that each time we do have something it is amaz-
NOVEMBER 2020
ing the amount of love and support we are shown. This really is a caring community.” This year, due to the shutdown and guidelines of COVID-19, Teri was unable to organize her usual fundraising event – a spaghetti dinner to be held in April. She waited through the shutdown in hopes that she’d be able to organize the event later in the year, but current guidelines and the need for keeping people safe have made it nearly impossible to have a successful event. “I have been waiting until I could get something put together but as soon as I did, I figured we’d have another shutdown,” Teri shares. “But I still want to do something to raise money.” So, Teri brainstormed ways that she could raise money for the fund and keep everyone safe. Inspired by other events such as walk-a-thons, she came up with an unusual idea to raise money. After talking it over with Ashley Laber of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, she decided it would work – even if it meant doing something she dreaded. “I started a diet on August 30,” she reveals. “The only thing I could come up with is to do two of the things I hate most in this world to raise money for one of the kids I love most in this world.” She set up a fundraising page with the
• GreeneScene Community Magazine
until Max’s birthday on December 8 – Teri will work on losing weight. For each pound that she loses, participants in the fundraiser pledge money. She will post updates every 25 days with her current weight and how many pounds she’s lost. At the end of the event, the names of those that donated will be entered in a drawing for a prize. “If I could have thought of ANYTHING else, I would not be turning to these desperate measures,” she confides. “But this was the best I could do. I welcome any encouragement and let’s make some money so another family may be spared this devastating loss.” If you’d like to pledge money to Teri’s cause or send her some encouragement, visit www.givetochildrens.org/teammax to participate. For those without a computer Teri Jordan and her nephew Max Cunningham. Max passed but would like to donate, send a check payable Children’s Hospital away in 2015 from DIPG. of Pittsburgh to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, ATTN: help of the Children’s Hospital and AshAshley Laber, P.O. Box 535240, Pittsburgh ley and did the two things she hates most – PA. 15253-9926; include Max Jordan Cunshared a picture of herself (the first thing) and ningham DIPG Fund in the memo or include shared in a picture her starting weight (the a note with the same information. second thing). Over the next hundred days –
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Public Service Profile By Rochelle McCracken
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TRI-COUNTY LEATHERNECKS
o serve in the military is a selfless act to preserve our way of life. To continue to serve others afterwards by helping those in need in our community demonstrates commendable character. Buzz Walters, last of the Tri-County Leathernecks, embodies that character through his continuous, unwavering commitment to the Toys for Tots program. Talking with Buzz, a vibrant Korean War Marine veteran, and hearing his admiration for the marines he has worked with in the Tri-County Leathernecks and supporters of Toys for Tots resonates with any audience. His Tire Shop is an amazing time capsule; the walls are covered with pictures and memorabilia. One wall is dedicated to the Marines, another to his years as a wrestling coach, and more to what he holds dear - family and community. He’s glad to share the stories and artifacts he’s collected, including many folders of pictures, newspaper articles and stories dedicated to the Tri-County Leathernecks Toys for Tots program since 1982. To tell the story as shared by Buzz, on November 10, 1775, Marine Corps veterans began to meet at Tun’s Tavern in Philadelphia to tell “sea stories.” Eventually wanting “to do more than to meet and tell sea stories, they adopted the Toys for Tots program.” Toys for Tots was officially established in 1947 by the USMC to distribute toys to children whose parents cannot afford gifts for Christmas. In a similar twist of fate, Tri-County Leathernecks was established on November 10, 1982 at Caputo’s Tavern in Dry Tavern and began organizing the local arm of Toys for Tots for the Greene, Fayette, and Washington counties. The founding members were Ivan Modrick, Jim Caputo and Col. Jim Ryan. Membership grew to about 44 marines in attendance at Caputo’s, with an annual cake cutting ceremony held November 10 in remembrance of their beginnings. The oldest marine cut the cake for the youngest in attendance. Members also included Mae Richardson, the lone woman Marine, known for her dedication to the program holding various posts and offices. “A valuable asset,” shares Buzz. Shirley Negley works closely with Buzz to keep things “running smoothly.” Shirley organizes the event’s main fundraiser, an Elimination Dinner held at Moose Auxiliary #461. The Moose Auxiliary dinner/dance was
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“started in 1989 and continues to contribute time and money to the Tri-County Leathernecks.” Many notable members, like General William Keys, Max Devecka, Lt. Bill Deweese, Dick Morgan and Bobby Varesko, and non-members gave their time and talents to Toys for Tots. Early on, bikes and certain toys were collected in pieces; Dick was known for restoring the bikes. Max was a skilled carpenter and built sleds embossed with “USMC”. Bobby was known for his Easter baskets; his wife often recounting how their garage always smelled like candy. A highly valued non-member supporter and contributor was former Judge H. Terry Grimes, an Army veteran. While not an official member, he was invited to all meetings and events held by the Tri-County Leathernecks because of his efforts on behalf of the program. The early years were hard for the TriCounty Leathernecks. Fundraising was a struggle; help from people like Ralph Palesco, part of the Marine League in Washington, helped keep the TCL viable and gave hope for the organization’s efforts. Tom and Jennie Hollowood contributed over 600 bikes for the cause over the years. Bikes are now purchas e d new, starting after Christmas, ass emble d by Tom, and then delivered to Toys L-R: Buzz Walters, Murray Williams, and Dick Saxby were the last for Tots loof the Tri-County Leathernecks. Murray passed away in 2017 and cations. Dick moved from the area. Buzz Distribution for the Wa l t e r s , with the help of contributors, volunteers, and toys happens the first Satdonors, is preparing for this holiday season. urday before Christmas. Buzz is the last remaining member of the Tri- The original distribution County Leathernecks in Greene County and site for Toys for Tots was the continues to lead the Toys for Tots program. Greene County Fairgrounds To help Buzz and contribute to the organiza- and it continues to be held tions efforts this year donor boxes collecting there, with additional sites new unwrapped toys can be found at places throughout the area. Toys like Walmart, Community Banks, Giant for Tots sites through the Eagle, Big Lots, Dollar General and Consol Tri-County Leathernecks are Carmichaels (orgaEnergy Services (Crabapple). nized by Theresa Walters), Greensboro (organized by Toni Cline), and Clarksville (organized by Linda Pelkey).
The founding members of the Tri-County Leathernecks, Ivan Modrick, Jim Caputo, and Jim Ryan.
GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
County Conversations GREENE COUNTY FAMILY CENTER PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROGRAM
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he Greene County Family Center has Waynesburg First Christian Church, starting been an integral part of the Greene November 10, both from 10am-12pm. County service system for over 54 Every November, Greene County Famyears. The Parents as Teachers Program pro- ily Centers, Parents as Teachers celebrates vides services to families and children. “Our National PAT Day. “This year we are acmain goal is to prevent child abuse and ne- knowledging the superhero in everyone glect by providing the necessary support and by hosting two superhero-themed open encouragement for parents and caregivers, houses,” adds Lisa. The first open house will which will help their be held on Tuesday, children develop durWith our evidence-based November 3 at First ing the critical early Parents as Teachers Program, Christian Church of years of life,” says ProWaynesburg with the we strive to increase health and second open house gram Director Lisa child development, increase on November 5 at Milan. “With our evidence-based Parents the success of family units re- the Springhill Comas Teachers Program, maining intact, and promote munity Center; both we strive to increase healthy relationships between events run 4pm – 7pm. health and child de“Come and join us children and parents. velopment, increase for lots of fun games the success of family and family activities, units remaining intact, including a superand promote healthy hero book reading, relationships between a healthy snack, and children and parents.” a puppet show! This The Parents as is a free event for the Teachers Program whole family.” was honored with the FMI Family CenBlue-Ribbon status for ter at: 724-852-5276 fidelity for the centers ext: 402, 22 West High 2017 model. Families St., Waynesburg, PA Greene County Parents as Teachers, Parent educators L-R: Linda Giannopoulos, Stacey can begin the program 15370. Mason, Toni Ferencak and Brandy Schooley. prenatally and continue until their children complete kindergarOPEN HOUSE EVENTS ten, which has proven to increase literacy, social interactions/situations, and problem- Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2020, 4pm-7pm Location: First Christian Church of Waynesburg, solving skills. The center also provides playgroups N Morris and Franklin Street, Waynesburg, PA that will be restarting at the Springhill Date: Thursday, November 5, 2020, 4pm-7pm Community Center every Thursday, start- Location: Springhill Community Center, 1055 ing November 12, and every Tuesday at Deep Valley Road, New Freeport, PA
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NOVEMBER 2020
• GreeneScene Community Magazine
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irtual schooling has brought students many challenges to overcome. Students face difficulties with access to reliable internet, dependable devices, time, and a place of their own to complete their work. Waynesburg Central High School implemented a crafty solution to a desk shortage for local students in virtual school; under the direction of Mr. Justin Golsky, students are making desks in their woodshop class for those learning virtually. The high school’s woodshop budget is able to provide for the building materials for the desks; they are a well-received benefit to virtual students. When COVID-19 hit, it created an entirely new type of demand for home school and virtual school supplies. Recently, the Los Angeles Times shared that “many of the go-to retail resources are out of stock in the desk department or facing weeks and sometimes months-long wait times for delivery,” and a quick online search proves it true. The same article shares that there has been an increase in demand of “small tables, chairs, and organizational furniture by 120%... there has also been a reported 325% increase in home office demand.” Suddenly, many children and families
Co o l at Sc h oo l
need these products and they are inaccessible. Often, the only ones available are the most expensive models and out of reach for many families’ budgets. “My daughter is in second grade and my wife let me know that there was an online shortage for children’s desks, and the ones that were available were over $600,” shares Mr. Golsky. Learning online is already a daunting change for many families, and not having a workspace dedicated for their child’s school day adds to the hardship. Studies emphasize the importance of the student having a dedicated space to learn. Foreseeing the demand for desks, Mr. Golsky and his students started working on desks at the beginning of this school year. A number of students work on the desks throughout all of the daily woodshop classes. The students have been able to make three complete desks in class and Mr. Golsky shares, “We have more ready to go if there is a need.” Mr. Golsky also explains how the recipients of desks are chosen. “At the elementary school, the office has a Google Classroom Virtual Of-
fice to share information with students who have chosen to be completely virtual. We announced the availability of the desks on this platform.” In teaching his students how to build the desks, Mr. Golsky is instilling in them a pride in helping their community. Walking away from class every day and knowing that
A fourth grade WCES student, Hayden Pager, received a desk learning for remote learning.
By Michelle Church something you built, with the help of other classmates, assists a child in your community is an invaluable lesson. At a time in our lives when we are less likely to see our social circle, Waynesburg Central High School’s woodshop class and Mr. Golsky are able to bring our community a little closer.
Evan McIe and Michael Medlen delivered the finished desks to Waynesburg Elementary.
CGSD Welcomes Dr. Kevin Monaghan
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entral Greene School District recently hired Dr. Kevin M. Monaghan as their superintendent. He feels very “fortunate and blessed,” and his passion for his job and overall positive attitude is clear. The first plan Dr. Monaghan is implementing is “establishing clear and transparent communications with all members of the community.” He wants everyone to be aware of the many great things happening at the schools. “Every child, staff, parent and community member need to be valued and they need to know that they are valued. When people feel and know they are valued, they will strive to be the best possible version of themselves in this life,” he emphasizes. Dr. Monaghan’s career began at South Fayette School District; where he taught biology, AP biology, and life science; he also coached multiple sports. His leadership style was strongly influenced by Dr. Linda Hippert. He obtained a master’s of education degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He spent sixteen years at South Park, where he was the middle school principal and federal programs coordinator. During this time, he received his Superintendent Letter of Eligibility and doctorate.
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Dr. Monaghan enjoys spending time on his outside interests. He belongs to the band 412 District. They are always open to playing for benefits or causes. His family also loves to foster cats and dogs. He wants to be someone who can help children. “I want to be that person. The person who looks out for all of the children without prejudice or bias to help them realize how unique and special they are. Every child needs an advocate. I am that advocate,” says Dr. Monaghan. Welcome to the Central Greene School District and Greene County, Dr. Monaghan. We’re sure that you will be an integral part of the Central Greene family!
Dr. Kevin M. Monaghan (on right) takes the Oath of Office.
GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
NOVEMBER 2020
• GreeneScene Community Magazine
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Intentional Walks By Bret Moore
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Our Hometown Heritage
ost sports fans know about the famous athletes who served during their professional careers. Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Willie Mays would have even more impressive stats if not for their military service. Football fans know the stories of Rocky Bleier and Pat Tillman. Boxer Joe Louis even volunteered to serve in an Army that was still segregated. But how many know of those young men in Greene County that gave up the prime years of their athletic careers to serve a greater cause? Here in Greene County, Rogersville baseball legend Bert Crouse was considered the best pitcher in the county at the close of the 19th century. This was during an era when a handful of local players went on to play professionally. However, Crouse enlisted to help fight the Spanish-American War. He went on to pitch Company K to the regimental baseball championship in the Philippines in 1899 during a lull in the fighting. Many other young men in the area also answered the call to service in the Pacific, which caused Waynesburg College to pause its new athletic programs. Even more young men answered the call for World War I. Waynesburg High School’s first football teams played well against much larger schools such as Uniontown and Charleroi. Two of the best players on those teams were James Farrell and William Throckmorton. After graduation, they postponed college and enlisted to fight with Company K. Farrell became the first casualty from Greene County in the Great War, and Throckmorton was ill-fated to be one of the men of Company K killed in France on Rain Day, 1918. Farrell had been the high scorer in a spirited basketball game in which Company K defeated Washington’s Company H right before the units departed for Europe. During this time, the smaller county high schools cancelled most of their fledgling athletic programs. Waynesburg College also saw its enrollment dip dramatically in those years. On a Saturday night in 1917, a large crowd witnessed the Waynesburg College basketball team get blanked 21-0 by Waynesburg High School. Most of the college boys had joined Company K and the war effort. The Second World War involved four times the number of American soldiers as the previous war. Here at home, the high school football seasons of 1942 and 1943 were shortened to five games because of gas rationing; West Greene contributed to the war effort
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by turning the athletic fields at Golden Oaks Park into cornfields. The Waynesburg City League was one of the few baseball leagues in the region to survive the shortage of players during that time. Throughout the 1930s, the 12-team league was awash with talented players who flocked to the area to play for company sponsored teams. By 1945, there were only four teams left in the league: Army-Navy, The Waynesburg Pirates, the Little Mikes and the Old Timers. With most of the young men involved in the war effort, the players ranged in age from 15-55. The Little Mikes beat the Old Timers for the championship. Fred “Budge” Tustin pitched for Waynesburg High School from 1934-37, where he set the WPIAL career and season strikeout records. He left Waynesburg College after his freshman year to enter the Brooklyn Dodgers’ organization. He then spent three years in the minor league Pennsylvania State Association. By 1944, he had risen to Class AAA ball playing for the Albany Senators, which was a Pirate’s affiliate. He went 15-4 that year, but he entered the army after the season. While in the Pacific, he had an 18-5 record for the Fifth Air Force team. Upon his return, he was 28 years old and failed to make the final leap to the majors. On the gridiron, Jack Wiley played for Wind Ridge High School and Waynesburg College. He started for the Jackets in the first televised football game against Fordham in 1939. After graduation, he joined the army and rose to the rank of captain. When he returned after the war, he made the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster, despite his age, in an amazing display of determination. He started at tackle from 1946-50 and was one of the first football players to have his likeness on a trading card. Wiley returned to Waynesburg to coach the Jackets from 1951-54. In 1941, the Jackets started with only 19 boys left on the team after the draft. Despite the rebuilding effort, the Jackets won a “moral victory” when they lost to WVU 13-7 on a last-minute touchdown. That Mountaineer team lost to Penn State, Army, and Michigan State by a combined 10 points. That Jacket squad finished 4-4-1 and saw Nick George became the school’s first All-American. After
losing even more players to the war effort, the 1942 team finished 3-5 under coach Mark Booth. A close game against WVU was considered a moral victory because the following week they beat Penn State 24-0. The Mountaineers had also defeated South Carolina and Kentucky before fighting powerful Tennessee to a tie. Coach Booth reported to the U.S. Navy immediately after the final game, and all athletic programs were suspended for the duration of World War II. Mike “Mo” Scary also played football and basketball at Waynesburg College in that era. When the Jackets hosted the Duquesne University basketball team in 1941, the game had to be moved to the new high school gym because the Armory could not hold the crowd. Scarry was the team’s leading scorer but was drafted mid-season and reported immediately for duty. After his service, he went on to play football for the Cleveland Rams in 1944 and 1945. Scary came back to Waynesburg to coach the Jackets from 1963-65 and went on to win two Super Bowl rings as a line coach for the Miami Dolphins. In 1941, Dan Abraham of Canonsburg was the Jackets’ first wrestling recruit who had won a state championship. He was followed by Waynesburg’s state champ Bucky Murdock. The two formed a nucleus that started the transition of the program into a national power. The season ended with a 6-1 record and victories over WVU, Kent State, and Akron. Murdock finished the season undefeated and won the Tri-State Intercollegiate Championship. After that season, the program was suspended until after the war. Murdock entered the army and put his education on hold. He became one of the nation’s first helicopter
pilots and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for rescuing a downed pilot in Burma. After the war, he returned home and became the Jackets head coach from 1947-63 (except for two years when he returned to the military for the Korean War). His teams regularly defeated Pitt, West Virginia, Ohio State, and Purdue. In fact, they never lost to a Big 10 team. Four times his teams were ranked in the Top 10 in the country. Murdock’s two greatest recruits also saw their careers interrupted by the Korean Conflict. George Lewis was a three-time Pennsylvania state champion. After coming to Waynesburg College, he won the 1948 NCAA Title and became a two-time AllAmerican after finishing fourth in 1952. His education and career had been put on hold for three seasons while he served in the U.S. Army. Wash High’s Tony “Babe” Gizoni was undefeated for seven years in high school and college, winning 108 straight matches. He went on to win back-to-back NCAA Division I Championships and finished with a career 52-0 record. He was also voted Outstanding Wrestler in 1950 when, as an unseeded wrestler, he defeated a two-time defending national champion in the finals. He repeated his junior year: however, he left his competitive days on the mat behind in 1952 when he decided to serve in the army where he earned a Bronze Star for bravery in combat. In addition, Waynesburg High School’s Tom Alberts won state titles in 1949 and 1950. However, the NCAA Title he won at Pitt would have to wait until 1957 because he spent four years in the United States Navy. On the diamond, Carmichaels’ John “Tommy” Masuga debuted for the Cleveland
The 1913 Waynesburg football team, including James Farrell and William Throckmorton. GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
Indian’s Pittsfield affiliate in 1948. In his second year, he had 20-8 record, which was followed by a solid 12-7 campaign for WilkesBarre. However, after that season, his career was cut short when he was called to the Army to serve during the Korean War. Steve Korcheck, another Mike, attended George Washington University before playing parts of four seasons with the Washington Senators. Korcheck had scholarship offers from every major college, but he chose George Washington because they allowed him to play baseball and football. In 1953-54, he was named an AllAmerican in football and the Southern Conference Player of the Year in both sports. He was drafted with the 35th overall selection by the San Francisco 49ers. However, he decided to play baseball. He appeared in 58 games for the Senators from 1954-59 as a catcher. However, his career was interrupted by a two-year military stint in 1956 and 1957. In September of 1958, Jefferson High School’s Chuck Coles played five games in the outfield for the Cincinnati Reds. He was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers at a try-out camp in Carmichaels in 1950 and started his career in the Georgia- Florida League, where he was named an All-Star and Rookie of the Year after leading the league in hitting (.355). He made it to the AA Mobile Bears of the Southern Association before a two-year military stint interrupted his career. Coles’ team-
NOVEMBER 2020
mate at Jefferson High School, Dick Gray also started his career as a third baseman with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1950. He was with the Miami Sun Sox before he too was called to military service. Eventually, he became the starting third baseman for the Dodgers in their opening series in 1958 against the San Francisco Giants. He hit the first home run in Los Angeles Dodgers history in that series. Upon the team’s return to the cavernous LA Memorial Coliseum, Gray became the first person to homer in that historic venue. Finally, Fred Hughes played football at Waynesburg High School and received a scholarship to the University of Louisville as a center. His college career was cut short when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952. After his discharge, he played for both the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams in several preseason campaigns but never made the final cut. Like all these young men, I’m sure he wondered what might have been if fate and Uncle Sam had not intervened. However, I am confident all these heroes, and the thousands of other Greene County men who served, fully understood the relative importance of athletics versus service to their country. Given their commitment, it is important we remember their sacrifice and, in fact, the service of all our military veterans.
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Hunting Hills Hawkeyes Place at National and State Championships
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embers of the Hawkeyes competed at the Nationals SCTP (Scholastic Clay Target Program) at the Cardinal Center in Marengo, OH, on July 13 and 14. The event involved youth shooters from across the United States competing two days in a 100-target shoot per day to determine National winners in six skill divisions; rookie, intermediate entry, intermediate advanced, junior varsity, varsity and college. Awards were presented to the top four teams in each division, along with individual awards. Hawkeye’s results: Brendan Cole, Sammy Riley & Kory Taylor took 1st place National Champions for the Intermediate Entry Division; Individual results: Rookie: William Boden 8th place; Intermediate Entry: Brendan Cole 4th place, Sammy Riley 6th place & Kory Taylor 7th place; Junior Varsity Division; Robbie Dillon 4th place; College Division Branden Sanders 8th place. Members of the Hawkeyes also competed in the Pennsylvania SCTP (Scholastic Clay Target Program State Sporting Clays Championship at the Lawrence County Sportsmen’s Club in Wampum, PA on August 1. The event involved youth shooters from across the state competing in 100-target shoot to determine state winners in six skill divisions. Hawkeye’s Team Results: Intermediate Entry: 1st place
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- Brendon Cole, Sammy Riley & Kory Taylor, 2nd place team – Dylan Hughes, Parker Jones & Nathan Phillips. Intermediate Advance: 1st place team – Wyatt Mooney, Hunter Bowlen & Drew Calvert. Junior Varsity: 3rd place team – Robbie Dillon, Devon Pezzino & Jacob Stroud, Varsity: 1st place team – Garrett Efaw, Tristian Cole & Brandon Barkey. Individual Results: Rookie: William Boden 1st place; Intermediate Entry: Brendan Cole 1st place, Kory Taylor 2nd place, Dylan Hughes 3rd place. Intermediate Advance: Hunter Bowlen 1st place. Junior Varsity: Robbie Dillon 3rd place. Varsity: Garrett Efaw 1st place, Tristian Cole 2nd place. College: Branden Sanders 1st place, Noah Haines 2nd place. Teaching our youths respect, responsibility, and the competitive spirit through shotgun shooting, the Hunting Hills Hawkeyes have produced 163 Top 3 PA State Medals, 108 Top 10 National Placement, 2 National Champions and 3 College Scholarships. With the help of our sponsors we continue to develop good citizens and give our youth an opportunity to achieve success. Thank you to the 2020 Sponsors of the Hawkeyes. Chapman Corporation, Alex E. Paris Contracting, KSW Oilfield Rental LLC, Gloria & Robert Bishop, LOLA Energy, Defense in Depth, Burns Drilling, Laurel Aggregates,
The Hunting Hills Hawkeyes had a successful 2020, with team members winning multiple competitions.
Committee to Elect Pam Snyder for State Representative, Filtrexx, Stewart Greer Associates, Village Lane Shoppes, Range Resources, Gateway Engineers, Hartley Inn & Wayne Lumber. Hawkeyes now accepting sponsors for the 2021 season. A Chicken Roast-Bake Sale–Chinese Auction fundraiser will be held on Saturday, October 24th from 12-5 at Tommy Boys parking lot in Waynesburg all proceeds will
benefit the Hunting Hills Hawkeyes Youth Sporting Clays Program. FMI, call 724-7108355. Registration for the 2021 Hawkeyes Sporting Clay team will be held in February. FMI regarding the Hawkeyes program, becoming a sponsor or information on registration please email: huntinghillshawkeyes@ gmail.com.
GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
GreeneScene by Mark & Gail King
NOVEMBER 2020
• GreeneScene Community Magazine
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The Real McCoy Plane Project
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raveling along State Route 7, travelers are in for a splendid surprise. As drivers crest the hill above Blacksville, a fighter jet perches, looking as though it’s coming in for an impromptu landing along the road. Underneath its lowslung belly sits the old Clay-Batelle scoreboard. Over the decades, the jet became worn and weatherbeaten as time, graffiti taggers and the elements left their marks, but still it proudly sat over its domain. One day this summer, Robin Russell Ammons had a revelation that would jump start a big project. “How neat would it be to redo the plane and dedicate the plane to the class of 2020?” Robin had been part of the plane’s 1993 clean up with Rhonda Owens. Rhonda spearheaded that project and talked Robin into helping her. With a group of volunteers including Ken Owens, Brenda Tennant, Kurt Henkins, Gary Steele, and the plane’s owner Carley McCoy, the group gathered and worked to breathe fresh life into the plane. Using ladders – and eventually Carley’s old crane for the tail – the crew got to work. They painted the entire jet with rollers and managed to complete the project in just one day. Once the plane was painted gray, they turned Robin loose and she climbed up to provide the jet with its signature toothy grin and other details. The scoreboard was added in 2012 when Clay-Batelle upgraded to a newer board, and CB board member Joe Statler brought it up to Carley’s place. Carley died in October 2018, at age 89, and his son Daniel McCoy inherited the jet, as well as the rest of Carley’s land and mementos. Once Robin thought about restoring the plane, the idea stayed with her and she reached out to some of the volunteers that had helped with the plane in ’93 to see if they’d be interested in the new project. Rhonda and Joe quickly agreed, and others followed. Robin shared the plan on Facebook in July and support for The Real McCoy Plane Project soared. Donations, words of support, and offers to help flooded in for the mission. “We’ve had lots of community support and enthusiasm,” Robin says. “It’s a close-knit community and the plane is one connection that all the residents share. Everybody’s embraced it.” She adds, “My niece was part of the Clay-Batelle Class of 2020. I wanted to do something to honor the Class of 2020 since the last part of their school year has changed so drastically.” Volunteers Joe Statler, Bob Brookover, James Thorn, Andrew Price, and Ron Lytle jumped right in and by midJuly, the plane had been cleaned, patched and was ready to begin priming. Robin contacted the AFROTC (Air Force
Surveying the scope of damage and age prior to starting the restoration process.
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Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) program at West Virginia University and Lt. Col. John M. Arellanes quickly responded. He began researching the plane, including multiple trips to locate its serial no. for more precise information. The decision was made to paint the plane to make it look as original as possible – with one special addition. “The community wanted the teeth to be included when it was repainted,” Robin shares. “Daniel had the final say since it’s his plane, so we let him decide. The teeth stay.” Over a series of weekends in September, the cadets from AFROC made multiple trips to Blacksville to paint the plane, along with Lt. Col. Arellanes. During their first trip, they painted the plane and on the second trip worked on details such as the Air Force lettering. An additional weekend was needed to complete the last details, including the flying tiger grin that has become the plane’s trademark. The McCoys’ F-84F Thunderstreak was created in 1948 and became operational in 1954. Sometime during its history, the plane was brought to Morgantown and used by West Virginia University for training purposes. Carley McCoy purchased the F-84F during a 1963 auction held at the Morgantown Airport for the price of $50. The jet was brought home to Blacksville, where Carley erected a stand and placed it at the crest of the hill. There’s some dispute about the specific date, time and how it traveled to Blacksville, but according to Daniel, Carley said that it was hauled home in two pieces before being placed on its supports. But one thing is for sure, the jet has become exactly what Carley hoped it would - a beloved, extraordinary landmark for Blacksville and the surrounding communities. The McCoy jet is one of 46 F-84s in the United States and 74 in the world on display. A Memory Medallion highlighting the plane’s history was donated to the site by Glenn Toothman. Robin is grateful to the many volunteers that helped with the project. “Thank you to Rhonda Owens, who started
Members of the AFROTC 915 begin the process of painting the McCoy jet.
By Danielle Nyland
The restored Blacksville F-84F still commands attention atop the hill along State Route 7.
it all in 1993, and to all the donors to that made this possible through your giving and trusted us to get this done. A huge thank you to Forquers Construction who loaned equipment, Sam Vinton, Air Force veteran, for his help in every area (crawling through the plane searching for data plate, raking rocks, working rings around rest of us, to just knowing what was needed); thank you to Kelli Stewart, Cassie Wilson Chisler, Bo, Mason, and Bruce Chisler. Thank you Delmar walls and Bruce Curfman for helping at a moment’s notice, Doug Owens, Ken, Ruby, and Grace Owens; thank you to Susan Rockwell (author of the tribute to Carley), to Kent Saul, Rick Kolat, Julie Tennant, and Mike Chisler. Also thanks to JDR Construction, along with Chase Ammons. It is a tough job to be my nephews.” “Special thanks to Steve Solomon, who steered me in right direction, and lastly to Daniel McCoy to allow the community to share in Carly’s vision.” If you’d like to see the plane for yourself, just travel State Route 7 to Blacksville and you can’t miss the fighter jet in all its glory. A dedication ceremony will be held on Wednesday, November 11 at 12pm. The AFROTC Color Guard from West Virginia University will be in attendance. The National Anthem will be sung by Holly Spears Simpson, Freddie Eddy and Monica Ohler will complete the invocation and closing prayer, and Joe Statler will be the speaker. Anyone attending the ceremony should bring their own lawn chair.
The AFROTC unit dedicated multiple weekends to assisting in the completion of the plane project. GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
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What is a Veteran? W hat is a veteran? The official definition is provided by Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations which defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.” This definition explains that any individual that completed a service for any branch of armed forces classifies as a veteran as long as they were not dishonorably discharged. But as we know, there is much more to it than that. All veterans begin their journey as the sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters of patriotic families. At some point in their lives they decide, for a variety of reasons, to serve their county and commit themselves to selfless service. Every veteran has raised their right hand and sworn under oath, “that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So, help me God.” And with those words, a sharp salute and hand-
shake, each veteran has committed his or her life to the protection of others. Whether in the air, on the sea, on U.S. or foreign soil, each is steadfast in the defense of our national interests and resolute in mission accomplishment. There is no doubt, military service demands a special kind of sacrifice. The places where you live and serve, the risk you face, the people you deal with every day -- all of these are usually decided by someone else. For the time they spend in uniform, the interests of the nation must always come first. And those duties are shared by family members who make many sacrifices of their own, face separation during deployments and sometimes bear extreme and permanent loss. For all veterans, regardless of their service and the era in which they have served, they have paid the price time and time again. They have defended America through both the best and worst of times and they have performed their duties tirelessly, with little recognition or fanfare. They have sought neither fortune nor fame. It was merely a simple love of America and the freedoms we all cherish so much. Solders know what it is like to stand guard in the chill of the night while oth-
By Mike Belding
ers sleep. They understand the meaning of hardship, standing watch at freedom’s frontier far from their loved ones. They have been cold, tired, gone without sleep, carried the heavy burden of the keepers of peace and the deliverers of war. They have fed the hungry, warmed the cold, reassured the scared and protected us all. It is their devotion to duty that gives us all strength. Today we have an all-volunteer force. These young men and women are just like those who have gone before them; individuals who love their country, know their duty, and honor their nation by unwavering service. They have been called to serve. Serve a purpose larger than themselves, a service to their country. From the soldiers who shivered and starved through the winter at Valley Forge to the doughboys crouched in the muddy trenches of France to the platoon who patrolled the hazy jungles of Vietnam and the young men or women who patrolled the mountains of Afghanistan or the deserts of Iraq, we remember and honor them all dur-
ing Veterans Day. The next time you see a member of our Armed Forces, say thank you. When you see a veteran wearing a ball cap declaring his service, say thank you. If you have an opportunity to send greeting cards to deployed service members, please take the time to do that. It is increasingly difficult to recruit, train and retain our active duty service members, but with a little appreciation from the rest of us, we can make them feel special and keep their spirits bright as they continue to protect us here at home, as well as abroad. All veterans begin their journey as the sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters of patriotic families. But as we know, there is much more to it than that.
Honoring and serving those who have served our country has a rich history at First Federal of Greene County, dating all the way back to World War II. Ask us about a Veterans Administration home loan available to eligible veterans. Call a loan officer in Waynesburg, Uniontown or Washington today! We would be honored to serve you.
NMLS#458729
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www.firstfederalofgreene.com GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
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• GreeneScene Community Magazine
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Robert Hurd
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obert J. Hurd was born in Fairmont, WV in 1929. He attended public school in the area and graduated from Fairmont High School in 1946. He received a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish and English from Fairmont College in 1952, a master of arts degree in Spanish from West Virginia University in 1964, and a degree in Latin American studies in 1965. Bob also had an extensive 34-year military career, serving eight years of active duty in the U.S. Navy as an aviation officer, and later serving in reserve units including the Naval Reserve and West Virginia Army National Guard. His naval career included a tour of duty as an interpreter and liaison officer in South America; he survived a serious plane crash in 1954 while serving as a young pilot in the U.S. Navy. He retired in 1972 with the rank of commander in the Naval Reserve and then served eight years in the National Guard’s 19th Special Forces group. During his time with the Guard, he made national headlines when a training exercise went incredibly wrong. In November 1976, Bob arrived at the Morgantown airport to complete an airborne training exercise along with 34 other members of the 19th Special Forces Group. The group boarded the Hercules C-130 transport and Bob, then age 47, prepared to make his 111th jump, dressed in full combat equipment. The plane would make three passes over the drop zone 1200 feet below, with Robert to jump during the third pass. The plane began its third pass and Bob’s turn to jump arrived. He dove out and began
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the fall, waiting for the blow of the parachute opening. But other than the slight tug as the cord opened the shoot, the expected shock never came. He looked into the sky to where his parachute should be ballooning behind him and only saw shredded nylon. He worked furiously to get the reserve chute open; once opened it flowed past him and entangled itself with main chute. He worked furiously to disentangle the reserve from the main chute, but it was too late. He continued to plummet until he slammed into the ground feet first at approximately 85 mph. He collapsed onto his back. Sgt. Patrick Brezler found Bob and he was transported to the West Virginia Medical Center in Morgantown. There it was discovered that Hurd had a compression fracture of the fifth thoracic vertebra. Due to the way he landed, that bone had taken the force of the impact. The impact also jarred loose seven fillings in Bob’s teeth. Bob was incredibly lucky that night. He returned to teaching seven weeks after the accident. In an article for Reader’s Digest, Bob shared, “I am more aware that life is short. I am happy to be alive still – not boisterously and exuberantly merry, but quietly and peacefully happy. That comes from knowing that I have been given a little more time to get things in order and keep them that way.” Bob retired from the Guard in 1980 and was presented the Army Commendation Medal. Robert spent 22 years at Waynesburg College (now University) as an Associate Professor of Spanish and German and Registrar for six years. For several of his years at the College, he served as chairman for the Department of Foreign Languages. He also served as faculty marshal. He retired from the College in 1987 and was awarded the Resolution in Recognition of Meritorious Service during the annual commencement exercises. Robert passed away on April 25, 1989 following a long battle with cancer. Members of his family established the Robert J. Hurd Memorial Scholarship to provide financial aid to deserving students in pursuit of college careers. The Alumni Association awarded the Golden Key Award to Robert posthumously. Please join the GreeneScene and his wife Betty J. Thistlethwaite Hurd and his six children, Robert, Walter, Jonathan, Edward, Nancy (Rush) and Gretta (Rush) in gratitude and respect as we salute Robert J. Hurd. GreeneScene Community Magazine •
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Aaron Waters
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aptain Aaron Waters is currently serving as commanding officer of the leadership development center in New London, Ct. This is his 30th year. He graduated from Carmichaels Area High School and the United States Coast Guard Academy. He is the son of Terry and Patricia Waters of Carmichaels. His great-great uncles Elijah Waters and
Aaron Watters served in the Civil War. William Kelley served in the Revolutionary War and is Aaron’s 6th great grandfather. William Kelley had one son and 9 grandsons who served in the Civil War, and a 4th great grandson Earl Kelley who served in World War I. The GreeneScene joins Terry Waters in saluting Aaron for his service!
Daniel Lama
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aniel Lama of Waynesburg joined the U.S. Army shortly after 9/11. He served in the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division for four years. During his time in the Army he served in Iraq, where he was wounded in April 2005. Daniel is a Purple Heart recipient. Daniel connected with the nonprofit Veterans Sailing Association, which enables veterans, active duty personnel, and first responders to earn ASA (American Sailing Association) certifications at no charge to the veteran. To date, they have helped 150 veterans to learn to sail for free. The captain, Joe Mastrangelo, is a veteran and native of Miami, FL. Working with Joe, Daniel earned both the ASA 101 Keelboat and ASA 103 Coastal Cruising certifications. “We respect and appreciate everything those who have served in the military have done,” says Daniel’s mother Connie. “It’s humbling because of what they gave up and what was lost. It’s so important to recognize them and what they’ve done.” She adds, “It’s wonderful that others give them opportunities to just enjoy life. It’s amazing and we respect all of them.”
The GreeneScene is proud to join Daniel’s parents Connie and Dan Lama in honoring the sacrifices Daniel and others like him have made.
Elijah Watters
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lijah Watters was born in Jefferson Township in 1846. At the age of 17, he volunteered for service in the Union Army and became a member of Company F, 22nd Pennsylvania Regiment, known as the Ringgold Cavalry. He supplied his own horse and took part in engagements such as Winchester, Cedar Creek, Chancellorsville, and Bull Run. He served until the end of the War. After the war, Elijah married Sarah Horn of Beallsville. He had a prosperous farm in Carmichaels. Elijah died at age 93 at his home in Carmichaels; he was one of the last three Civil
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• GreeneScene Community Magazine
War veterans in the county and the last Civil War veteran in the eastern part of Greene County when he died. Thank you for your service, Elijah!
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Hershel Bowers Hershel Wayne “Ted” Bowers and his mother lived with her grandparents near Mount Morris, PA after his father passed away. In 1941 at age 22, Ted entered the U.S. Army and was stationed in Uvalde and San Antonio, TX where he was in flight training. The demand for gunners and radio operators led Ted to radio school in Chicago and then to Avon Park, FL, where he trained on B-17’s. Ted flew to New Hampshire where he and the crew had a temporary layover due to pilot Herbert Chouinard’s bout with appendicitis. Later they flew on to England and were assigned to the 8th Air Force in Bassingbourn, England. Ted was aboard the B-17 Flying Fortress “The Jub Jub Bird” on November 2, 1944 for his 21st mission; the crew’s target was an oil refinery near Merseburg. Only a few moments after dropping their bombs, three bursts of flak shells exploded and severely damaged the plane. The shells blew the nose of the plane off and killed the bombardier and navigator, Jim Hundley and Dan De Bonis. Co-pilot Ray Nikola and waist gunner Arnold Kramer managed to parachute out of the crippled plane; they were taken prisoner. The rest of the crew – Ted, Caroll Tallant, Luther Salter, Herb Chouinard, and Jim Foltz – went down with the plane and were killed. The plane crashed in a small village called Priester, where 16-year-old Helmut Rosche witnessed the crash and its aftermath. He shared that the bodies of Ted and most of his crew were taken away from the crash while the Priester mayor, Edwin Ruhl, determined what to do. After receiving orders to bury them from a German officer, the mayor had them wrapped in cloth awnings, and with the help of prisoners of war, had them bur-
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ied along a wall behind one of the village’s churches. Foltz’s body was recovered later and buried with the rest of the crew. Their deaths were recorded in the church register with detailed information and the mayor kept the identification cards in a local office. On June 30th, 1945, the American Army arrived in Priester and exhumed the bodies of Ted and the rest of the crew for reburial; Ted is buried in the Luxembourg American Cemetery. After more than a decade’s worth of research and dedication, Rodger Lemley was able to discover the details of Ted’s story and what happened after the crash. Through the help of German citizen, Peter Gajda, he was put in contact with Helmut Rosche; Helmut was able to give him a detailed account of what he witnessed the day of the crash. Other German citizens, such as Stephen Schilling, worked with Rodger to gather additional details, find pieces of the plane, and organize a memorial to be held at the Priester church. A service was held for the crew on November 3, 2019 at the church in Priester and a memorial plaque, dedicated to the crew of “The Jub Jub Bird” and donated by Ted’s family, was placed on a wall inside the church. Ted’s third cousin, Sydney Thorpe, from Manassas, VA, is now a First Lt. in the army and stationed at Fort Jackson, SC after being deployed overseas for 9 months. A long line of Ted’s relatives have served our great country. Ted’s family is honored that the Germans, once a formidable enemy, would honor the crew of the Jub Jub Bird with such a humanitarian gesture by placing a plaque in their church in Preister, Germany. The Greene Scene is proud to salute Ted and his selfless service to our country.
GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
Gary Lemley
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rothers Gary and Ron Lemley shared a home near Mt. Morris, PA for 13 years and were required to do chores daily and properly follow the detailed instructions from their staunch disciplinarian father. Gary graduated in 1959 and immediately entered the U.S. Navy, where he was trained as an aircraft mechanic on the A4D Skyhawk while serving on aircraft carriers. He was stationed at Jacksonville Naval Airbase and Oceana Naval Airbase in Virginia Beach, VA. One of his first assignments was on an aircraft carrier, which Ron believes was the USS Enterprise, during the blockade of Cuba. Gary shared that the pilots were very nervous and anxiously awaiting their orders to destroy the Russian missile sites; thankfully, President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev agreed to stand down. Gary continued his career serving on the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) on multiple cruises in the Mediterranean until his discharge in
1963. He visited many exotic locations during his time in the service including Lebanon, Italy, and Spain and Monaco in France. He also visited the grave site of our neighbor’s son in Rome who died in WWII. After serving his country, he worked several years in the communication industry before retiring from Bell Atlantic as a supervisor. During retirement, he spent many hours golfing with Ron’s now deceased son, Elvis Lemley, who enjoyed the quality time with his uncle Gary. Gary’s son, Gary “Bo” Lemley, served in Iraq and several other deployments with the Marines out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for 8 years, in addition to a stint with the National Guard Company C 1st Inf. in Waynesburg. Gary passed away in December 2019. He will be sadly missed by siblings Ron, Rodger, Bob, and sister Laura Morris, in addition to all members of the family. We salute you, Gary!
Rodman W. Stewart
Tyler Jones
TSGT Rodman W. Stewart was a hydraulic specialist. In this photo, he is working on an F-15 Fighter jet while stationed at Camp New Amsterdam in the Netherlands while stationed Soesterberg AFB in 1991. “The sacrifice you have made will never go in vain, all the contributions you made will pass from one generation to next generation as long as we continue to remember.” We salute you, TSGT Rodman Stewart and thank you for your service.
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yler Jones of Crucible has been a member of the national Guard since he graduated high school in 2014. During his first 6 years he served as an infantryman. During this time, in 2016, he was deployed for eight months in Jordan. While there, he worked security detail and was baptized in the Jordan River. Tyler has since signed on for an additional year with the national Guard and switched his path to be an engineer. He’s currently learning heavy equipment operations. “I’m very proud of him, he works hard at his job in the National Guard. He’s a quick learner and strong leader,” says Sarah Zolgus, his girlfriend. Join Sarah and the GreeneScene in honoring Tyler and his dedication to his country.
NOVEMBER 2020
• GreeneScene Community Magazine
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Luke & John Vitolo Since childhood, brothers Luke and John Vitolo have always been best friends. They both grew up helping on the family farm in Rogersville and looking out for each other. They wrestled together in high school and even went to Hershey State Tournament together. Their closeness made it no surprise that after graduating from West Greene – Luke in 2000 and John in 2001 –they would follow in their grandfathers’ footsteps and join the military. Both grandfathers were WWII veterans; Paul Crouse, 94, of Rogersville served in the US Navy and Paul Vitolo, 97, of Jeanette served in the Merchant Marines. Luke graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and received his commission in 2004. He earned his pilot wings in 2006 and was named a Distinguished Graduate during his C-130 initial qualification training. His career includes deployments and worldwide operations and he has held numerous positions at the squadron, group, and wing level. Luke was promoted to major in July 2014. He has more than 2,300 flying hours and 500 combat hours in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He and his wife, Charlotte, along with children Georgia Bess and Harrison, currently reside in Rabat, Morocco, where Luke serves as the Air Attaché for the U.S. Defense Attaché Office. John entered the Air Force in
2006 as a graduate of the Reserve Officers Training Corps program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. Luke swore in John during his commissioning into the Air Force. He began his flying career and earned his navigator wings at Randolph AFB, Texas and was then assigned to Offutt AFB in Nebraska. At Offutt, he served as an instructor and evaluator Mission Crew Commander and was deployed numerous times in support of ballistic-missile reconnaissance operations. He has also served as the National Air and Space Intelligence Center’s MASINT Analysis Officer, Air Force Material Command Headquarters’ Flight Safety Officer, and completed the Air Command and Staff College program. He was promoted to Major in August 2016. He currently serves as Deputy Air Domain Chief, NORAD at Peterson AFB in Colorado. John and his wife Chandra have four daughters, Dulce, Bryar, Vivian, and Amelia. The brothers recently called using FaceTime to let parents Bob & Lisa Vitolo know that they were selected to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force. Both Bob, Lisa, and their older brother Paul are proud of Luke and John’s accomplishments and their military service. The GreeneScene is proud to join them in saluting Luke and John’s dedication.
*See redemption form for complete offer details. Offer expires 10/27/2020. Void where prohibited. Copyright © 2020 MNA, Inc. All rights reserved.
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GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
Paul S. Keruskin Sgt. Paul S. Keruskin proudly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps 1962-1966 and was attached to Marine Air Group 16 in Vietnam. During his service, he received numerous medals/ribbons in combat including: Good Conduct, Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense, Vietnamese Combat Action Ribbon, & Vietnamese Service Medal. Join his proud daughter Margaret Keruskin and the GreeneScene in thanking and honoring Paul for his dedicated service to his country.
VFW Car Show Supports Veteran Programs
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n Saturday, July 18, 2020, the Waynesburg VFW Post 4793 Auxiliary held its third annual Freedom Car Show. Each year, the VFW Auxiliary has been able to make a donation to programs that support veterans and their families. In the past donations were made to Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors and Battle 4 Warriorz programs. This year the auxiliary members chose two local programs. Generous sponsors, donations, and participation made it possible to make donations to Pittsburgh Fisher House and Pittsburgh Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. The Pittsburgh Fisher House was established in 2012 and provides a home away from home for the families of veterans and active duty military who are hospitalized. Pittsburgh Fisher House is located on the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System’s Oakland campus. Plans are underway for another Fisher House to be located near the H.J. Heinz Campus in Aspinwall. The Pittsburgh Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs Inc. is dedicated to rescuing, raising, training, and donating
Masontown, PA 724-583-2680 724-583-2685 amedisys.com
medical conditions including post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, mobility assistance, diabetic alert, seizure alert and other medical needs. Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs Inc. recently purchased 102 acres near the Montour Trail near McDonald, Pa. Pictured, l to r: Verona Allman (Waynesburg VFW 4793 Auxiliary President), Charles Johnston (Friends of Pittsburgh Fisher House), Shelvajean Baysinger (Waynesburg VFW 4793 Auxiliary Treasurer), Renee Jones (Waynesburg VFW 4793 Sr. Vice President), and Jack Wagner (Pittsburgh Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs).
Albert Marsh SP4 E4 Albert Marsh is a Korean veteran. He was in the 530th Quarter Master Supply Depot. He delivered SP supplies to the soldiers at the Korean Demilitarized Zone Line.
NOVEMBER 2020
• GreeneScene Community Magazine
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G o in g G re e n e
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A STORY OF THE CIVIL WAR
he Army of Northern Virginia had been marching north for several days towards the battle that changed the tide of the war. General Robert E. Lee had carefully laid out the campaign plans and intended to win this war once and for all. Crossing the Pennsylvania border, the Confederate troops found themselves in a small town in southcentral Pennsylvania where ten major roads met. Gettysburg, a small unknown town, not too far distant from the Pennsylvania capital of Harrisburg, would be the site of the largest battle ever fought on American soil. On the morning of July 1, 1863 fighting began on Chambersburg Pike. Confederate units from Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina fought their way towards Seminary Ridge; units from Pennsylvania and New York held the Confederates back. The Federal troops were hard hit: Union units from Michigan took significant losses and the entire Federal line was pushed back across Seminary Ridge. Union forces refused to flee, broken lines were reformed but they couldn’t overtake the Confederate troops led by General Robert E. Lee. The Union Army was pushed farther back to Cemetery Ridge and fighting continued through the next day. On July 2, the 140th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry arrived on the battlefield just a short distance south of Gettysburg. Thousands of men on each side had already perished; the smoke from the previous day’s battle lingered in the air and the smell of blood and death was all around. The fighting on July 2 would be some of the most intense of the war. More reinforcements continuously arrived, and as men and companies fell, replacements quickly found themselves on the line filling gaps to keep the Confederates from advancing. John W. Eddy, a tall skinny lad, was just 24 years old when he marched into what many call the fiercest battle of the American Civil War. He had enlisted with his brother Michael and another brother just ten months earlier and had mustered in with Company A of the 140th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. John had seen little of the world outside of his family farm in Wayne Township, Greene County, Penna., and as a single man his parents and his family were the most important parts of his life. He was surely comforted by his brothers at his side as he walked into that scene of torment and bloodshed on July 2, 1863. On July 3, when the 140th found themselves in the midst of the battle, the fighting was focused on Cemetery Hill. The Confederates hammered both flanks of the Union Army. Between 1 and 2 PM the battle was raged. The 140th fought valiantly while taking many casualties. John W. Eddy was shot by attacking Confederate troops. His wound would not take him, but the retreating Confederate troops would. John was captured and taken prisoner on Cemetery Hill on July 3, 1863. The Union Army would go on to win the Battle of Gettysburg and it would be remembered as one of the bloodiest battles in our history. It would be some weeks before his father, also called John, would hear the news of his son’s capture. His father wrote frantically to his other sons, seeking any information on what happened to the beloved son who bore his name. No answer ever came. John’s brother Michael somehow collected John’s kit after he fell, and they would be passed down through the Eddy
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By Matthew Cumberledge
family for generations before being lost in the mid-20th century; many Eddy descendants would recollect seeing these items and hearing the story of their distant Uncle John who was taken away with so many other men by the retreating Confederate Army. John was never forgotten and eventually his family learned that he was taken to the Confederate prison of Belle Isle, just outside of Richmond Virginia, where he died in January of 1864. His poor family would have no grave where they could gather to mourn their loss, John was buried in a mass grave at Belle Isle with little ceremony and A reproduced tintype photo of John W. Eddy. Below: The Pennsylvania monument at no eulogy. the Gettysburg Battlefield bears John W. Eddy’s name. All that remains of this brave lad is a copy of a photograph taken of him before the war that would be printed in a Memorial Day There is absolutely Pamphlet in 1915, a few scraps of paper, some family stories nothing about the and a couple brief entries in the Eddy family history. photo of John that As I write this I can look up from my desk and see a would indicate that framed copy of that photograph of John W. Eddy sitting on he was in the Amerithe fireplace mantle in my office at the museum. That photo can Civil War, and would bring me closer to John W. Eddy than I could ever realmerely being a copy ize. of a copy that lacked In the summer of 2019, working with paranormal reclarity it would even searcher and author Kevin Paul, I encountered two people be quite difficult to who would end up becoming very good friends, Joey and date the photo based Tonya Madia. Joey and Tonya also are researchers with an insolely on the image itterest in the paranormal; Kevin and I had invited them to the self, but Tonya someGreene County Historical Society Museum to do an investigahow managed to caption. During a break in the investigation, we had retreated to ture a small glimpse the museum office to relax for a few minutes before continuof John’s life just by ing our task. looking at that photo. I had gone into my office to check my email when Tonya That short conversation left a great impact on me and opened came in and we began chatting. Tonya noticed the photo of my mind to a view of reality that I had never contemplated. I John W. Eddy which was, and still is, located in a very promihad gone into the meeting with Tonya with an open mind, but nent spot on my fireplace mantle. The photo was taken about not really expecting much, and I was certainly proven wrong. 1859, when John was a very young man, wearing a nice shirt Joey, Tonya, Kevin and I finished a very exciting investiand jacket, and a wide brim hat – his Sunday best. gation of the Greene County Historical Society Museum and Tonya picked up on John immediately, “This man was planted the seeds of a wonderful friendship. I have been priviin the Civil War, wasn’t he?” Being the skeptic, I responded leged to get to meet with Joey and Tonya a few times since that only with, “Well, he was alive during that time period.” I was day last summer and have gained an entirely new respect for very interested in what Tonya would have to say, so I continserious paranormal investigators. ued, “What can you tell me about this man?” She studied his John will live forever in the memories of those he left photo for a few moments and told me, “He misses his brother behind and their descendants. John’s sister Rachel was my 3rd very much, and he’s frightened. I can see him on a wagon, and great grandmother, and I have been honored over my many he’s very frightened, and I think he’s been wounded.” Trying years of research to have been able to speak to many Eddy to keep a stoic look on my face, I asked her to continue. “Yes, descendants who keep his memory alive and honor this man he was in the war, and he was taken away.” She asked if he had who could have easily been forgotten to history. To borrow been shot, and I confirmed that he had. “He was a good man, from the Battle Hymn of the Republic, “As He died to make he loved his family, and they loved him, he knows they never men holy, let us die to make men free,” and that is exactly what forgot him.” John did. I was amazed; to be honest, I was fighting back tears. GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
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NOVEMBER 2020
• GreeneScene Community Magazine
028493WaynesburgGreenSceneAd95x975oct.indd 1
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Greene County Secures $200K Grant for Wisecarver Development Cornerstone Care Community Health Centers Recognized Cornerstone Care, Inc. recently received the National Quality Leaders Silver Award from the Health Resources Services and Administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The award recognizes the top 20 percent of federally qualified community health centers nationwide for best overall clinical performance. Cornerstone Care is one of only nine community health centers in Pennsylvania to be so recognized. Cornerstone Care is a member of a national safety network of 1,385 independent Federally Qualified Community Health Center organizations, 43 of which are in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Community Health Centers serve over 880,000 patients, or 1 in 14 state residents, annually. Cornerstone Care serves over 21,000 patients annually. Cornerstone Care also received the Advancing Health Information Technology Quality Award, a recognition of health centers that optimize Health Information Technology for advancing telehealth, patient engagement, interoperability, and collection of social determinants of health to increase access to care and advance quality of care. In addition, Cornerstone Care’s Community Health Center of Burgettstown achieved the national Patient Centered Medical Home Certification, which requires meeting a rigorous set of standards and protocols.
“Our health care teams are simply the best in all thirteen of our offices and our mobile services unit,” said Richard Rinehart, Chief Executive Officer. “They work with such amazing care and competency; sometimes in these times under very trying circumstances. By keeping patients healthier, we also save the health care system, including public insurance programs, a lot money. I am so proud of the work we do”, Rinehart added. “Cornerstone Care focuses every day on maintaining the highest quality and safety measures for our patients. I am delighted that our entire team across all of Cornerstone Care has been recognized by the National Quality Leaders Award”, said Cathie Stope, Chief Quality Officer. As a non-profit organization, Cornerstone Care is governed by a volunteer board of directors, the majority of whose members are patients. Cornerstone Care’s mission is to improve the health of its patients and the residents of its communities, with special concern for the underserved. Services include family medical practice, pediatrics, dental services, psychiatry and counseling, vision services including lenses, chiropractic, podiatry, outreach, and insurance enrollment assistance. Visit CornerstoneCare.com to learn more or call 855-469-6322.
Renovated Roller Rink Reopens The Greene County Recreation Department has announced the Mon View Roller Rink in Greensboro will open for the season on Nov. 6. Skating hours and procedures will be modified for the rest of this year. The mandated capacity for the rink is 55 people. There will be two sessions on Fridays - 6:30-8:30pm and 9-11pm. The rink will be disinfected between sessions. On Saturdays, the public session will run from 7–10pm. Private parties can be booked on Saturdays and Sundays from 1– 3pm and 4– 6pm. Individuals will be required to wear masks and have their temperature taken at the door. They will also be advised to follow social distancing guidelines. The concession stand will be limited to soda, water and prepackaged snacks. Tickets can be purchased in advance over the phone at 724-852-5323.
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Those tickets can be picked up at the Recreation Office or left at will-call at the roller rink gate. In addition, tickets will also be sold at the door; however, admittance will be subject to capacity limits. Mon View recently received a $50,000 renovation to repair water damage and install drainage. The county is also in the process of installing air-conditioning, so the rink can be utilized year-round for multiple events. The skating rink has also invested in new rental skates. The Mon View Roller Rink is located at 377 Stoney Hill Road in Greensboro. Additional information can be obtained on the Greene County Website, the Greene County Commissioner’s Facebook page or by calling the Department of Recreation at (724) 852-5323.
The Greene County Department of Planning and Community Development and Department of Recreation submitted a grant application and in late September the County was awarded a $200,000, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Grant for the Wisecarver Recreation Area. On April 23, 2020 our team began work
on the construction of an access drive, parking area, pedestrian walkways, softball fields and stormwater management measures. The project will also include the installation of bleachers, ADA access, landscaping and other related site improvements when it is fully funded. FMI, visit the Commissioner’s Facebook page or call (724) 852-5210.
Crisis Grants Awarded to Volunteer Fire & Emergency Service Organizations Approximately $598,924 in crisis grants have been awarded to several volunteer fire and emergency services organizations in Greene, Fayette and Washington counties. Rep. Pam Snyder said the grant program, which originated from a measure she introduced earlier this year and was included in the final bill that passed both chambers, created a one-time program to provide auto-
matic crisis grants to the companies. “We know that these fire and EMS companies have been hurting across our state because they haven’t been able to do their normal fundraising activities,” Snyder said. “This truly was a bipartisan, bicameral effort that has resulted in these organizations getting the valuable funding they need to continue to answer the call in our communities.”
A Sweet Treat
Vaughn Mankey, 1993 NHS president, coordinated with Tom Ricco to provide each of the current Carmichaels NHS members a Dairy Queen lunch and treat. “In these times of great uncertainty and significant challenges, we all do better when we support and lift up one another. We can do this by sharing acts of kindness, spreading goodwill, giving to and serving others, continuing to work hard, and encouraging resilience,” shares Vaughn. “I wanted to share this small act of kindness with the current NHS students who continue to serve the community and work hard academically - despite current circumstances. I encourage them to press on and to pay it forward. I am also glad to have the chance to support my friend’s local business while doing so.”
Students Katelynn Nutt and Kyleigh Koze enjoy a DQ treat. Pictured with teacher Kevin Willis.
Bridge Dedication Ceremony Held in Honor of Former Greene County Sheriff A former Greene County sheriff was honored posthumously at a special bridge dedication ceremony in Waynesburg. State Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Greene/Fayette/Washington, said the ceremony included an official unveiling of the bridge’s new name in honor of Brian Tennant, who served as sheriff for two terms and saved several lives from a house fire 10 years ago. Tennant died last year at 35. “Brian exemplified what it means to be a hero and to go above and beyond the call of duty,” Snyder said. “He served his community with honor and dedication, and this is just one way we can pay tribute to him and honor his memory.” Snyder joined several family, friends and local officials at the bridge dedication ceremony, which took place near the in-
tersection of South Porter and East Lincoln streets in Waynesburg near the newly dedicated bridge. A representative from state Senator Camera Bartolotta’s office also took part in the ceremony. Pastor Cristy Wise provided the invocation and the benediction was offered by the Rev. Dr. Lawrence Stratton from Waynesburg University. Photo courtesy Pam Snyder.
GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
NOVEMBER 2020
• GreeneScene Community Magazine
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Veteran’s Day Poster Contest The Waynesburg VFW Post 4793 and Auxiliary is inviting all Greene County students to create a patriotically themed poster honoring veterans for an upcoming contest. Groups are divided into the following: PreK - 2nd grade, 3rd grade - 5th grade, 6th grade - 9th grade, and 10th grade - 12th grade. All posters need to be no larger than 18in x 24in and materials can include paint, marker, crayon or cut and glue. The back of
the poster must include your name, grade, school or group name, and phone number. Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place from each group. Posters must be received by October 31, 2020. Winning posters will be displayed to the public. Posters need to be turned in at the Waynesburg VFW: 445 East Lincoln St. Waynesburg. FMI, call Verona @ 304-279-2035.
Bradford House Poster Contests The Bradford House Historical Association annually sponsors two poster contests, open to all middle and high school students (public, parochial, cyber and home-schooled) in Washington, Greene, Allegheny, Fayette and Westmoreland Counties. New this year: online seminars addressing project research and development techniques will be offered this fall. Cash prizes are awarded to the top 5 entries in each division: middle school (grades 5-8) and high school (grades 9-12).
Students are required to construct a presentation on a topic of western Pennsylvania history, 1750 – 1850, created on a standard size trifold display board; students will need to register online during Jan. and Feb., and deliver the project to the Bradford House, 175 South Main Street, Washington, Pa., by March 1, 2021. For rules, hints, and possible topics, go to bradfordhouse.org and look under the education tab. Email bradfordhouseshop@hotmail.com FMI.
Virtual Turkey Trot 5K The Turkey Trot returns virtually! The 4th annual Bowlby Library Turkey Trot will be a Virtual 5K Run/Walk and 1K Children’s Fun Run. The event will be held on Saturday, November 21 anytime between 12am-11:59pm. Run, walk, or jog on the road, trail, or treadmill. $20 cost includes a T-shirt and posting of your time on our Eva K. Bowlby Facebook page. This event will raise money to ful-
Holiday Craft Blast Canceled The annual Holiday Craft Blast, held at the Greene County Fairgrounds, has been canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The beloved event hopes to return next year.
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fill Eva K. Bowlby’s mission, “to provide through the use of traditional and emerging technologies, materials and services for community residents of all ages for Literacy, Information, Fun & Enrichment.” Follow the event on Facebook and check out the website(evakbowlby.org) for additional virtual activities for the entire family! Sign up at https://runsignup.com/.
Lippencott Alpacas Welcome Scouts Lippencott Alpacas recently toured local Scout through their farm to meet the alpacas.
Emergency Response Fund Makes Grants Totaling $121,500 It takes a community to help a community, and the Greene County Emergency Response Fund has been a mighty help to many nonprofits since the pandemic began in March. Held by the Community Foundation of Greene County, the Greene County Emergency Response Fund, has made 29 grants totaling $121,500 in partnership with the Greene County United Way. The Emergency Response Fund was established with donations from many businesses and individuals, many of whom have been contributing throughout the summer to be able to help the organizations working with Greene County citizens who are impacted by the pandemic. The Emergency Response Fund was established with donations from businesses and individuals, many of whom have been contributing throughout the summer to help organizations working with Greene County citizens impacted by the pandemic. Grants made to health and human service organizations will help ensure that basic needs are met, including food, housing, and healthcare, along with other nonprofits who work with the community. “We had a total of just over $130,000 at the peak of the fund. However, with grants made by the committee this week, we now only have about $8,000 remaining in the fund,” said Bettie Stammerjohn, CFGC’s Executive Director. “We hope more businesses and others will keep the Fund going. We still see the needs as this pandemic continues.” Many of the grants were made to help organizations secure the safety and sanitizing supplies needed to continue seeing clients. However, some grants were needed so the organization could find other ways to
work with their clients in a world that went virtual almost overnight. “Most nonprofits weren’t ready for this,” said Stammerjohn. “Figuring out how to keep staff safely working, or working from home, often meant new equipment, or software. One nonprofit was struggling to stay open so meals could be provided from their site, but now the fundraising opportunities to help pay that rent were drying up. A grant from the Emergency Response Fund helped to alleviate that worry and meals continued to flow.” Even though businesses are opening back up, there is still a need for grants to help make changes in how they provide services. None of these issues were in anyone’s budget, and many nonprofits have had to cancel fundraising events which help raise the dollars to operate normally. Applications are reviewed on a regular basis by a committee of representatives from the CFGC Board of Directors, the GCUW Board of Directors, The County, and other funders of Greene County needs. Individuals and businesses may make gifts to support the Greene County Emergency Response Fund. Contributions to the fund may be made online using the Donate button on the CFGC website (www.cfgcpa. org) or by checks made out to the “Community Foundation of Greene County” and noting Greene County Emergency Response Fund” on the memo line. Checks should be mailed to CFGC, PO Box 768, Waynesburg, PA 15370. Applications for grants from the Fund can be made at http://www.cfgcpa.org/ emergency-response-grants/ FMI, contact CFGC by phone at 724627-2010 or email cfgcpa@gmail.com.
Crafters & Vendors Wanted The Waynesburg VFW 4793 Auxiliary will be holding a craft and vendor show on November 14, from 9am - 2pm at the Greene County Fairgrounds. This craft/vendor show will take place in building 9 and the lower level of building 10. Spaces will be 8ftx8ft and cost $10. Limited electricity is available for an additional $5. One 8ft
table will be provided. You may bring your own tables and displays. All participants are asked to donate an item for the Chinese auction with a minimum value $10. For more information, contact Leanna at 724-710-4444.
GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
NOVEMBER 2020
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M e e t our Te am
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CLASSIFIEDS Boxer Dog found. Male, approx. 1 year old. Found near the corner of Browns Road and Happy Valley Road (Lippincott Road) in Jefferson Boro/Morgan Twp. If unclaimed he will have to go to a shelter, so adoption is a possibility if you will leave contact info in the event the original family claims him later. Dog is healthy, very well mannered and brindle with a white chest. Contact Jason at (412)256-8456.
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very month, our enthusiastic team of editors, writers, 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. We’ll be introducing you to our team, member by member, so that you can get to know the devoted crew that brings you the GreeneScene. This month, we’d like to introduce you to one of our contributors, Melody Eller. Melody was born and raised in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. She and her husband, Matt, currently reside in Southpointe with their three young, rambunctious boys and one furry girl, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, named Savannah. “My days are anything but ordinary,” says Melody. “Baseball, soccer, swim lessons, home-school and adding my work into the mix, is just a touch of what our weekly routine entails. Even with all of the craziness that comes with being a mom, my boys fill my heart with life and it’s the best feeling in the world.” Melody has been contributing to the GreeneScene Community Magazine as a writer since October 2019. She is also the editor, lead
writer and event coordinator for a separate community magazine based out of Southpointe. With a degree in visual communications and a background in print media, marketing and advertising, Melody says that she has found the perfect fit all around. “I love the opportunity I have been blessed with that allows me to utilize my creativity each day,” she adds. “I truly love what I do and have met so many wonderful people along the way.”
JUST FOR FUN Favorite Music: Texas country and 80s rock Favorite Movie: Steel Magnolias Favorite TV Show: Yellowstone Currently Reading: Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand) Favorite Hidden PA Gem: Bean Curd in McMurray for their amazing sushi Favorite Vacation Spot: Riviera Maya, Mexico Favorite Season: Autumn Movie I Can Quote: Waiting to Exhale If you could live in any period of history when would it be? The roaring 20s What’s your dream car? Bentley Continental GT
GreeneScene Community Magazine •
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ou created your website more than a decade ago, loaded it up with information and called it day. You had – and still have – an online presence. What could be wrong? Everything. Times have changed and so has the internet, your company, your audience and their preferences. And as it turns out, that out-ofdate website is making you and your business look out-of-date, also. Your website is often people’s first impression of your business. When people visit an outdated website – especially an unattractive and neglected site – they’re quick to make assumptions about the company behind the website and, odds are, they’re assumptions aren’t positive. They may think that you don’t care, that you don’t invest in your company, question your company’s competence, or worst of all, that you aren’t even open for business anymore. Your website has created uncertainty and unease about you and your company, and those leads go cold before they even had a chance. We understand your frustration – as a business owner, you’re wearing many hats and it’s a lot of work. You just don’t have the time to dedicate to revitalizing a dated website or setting up an entirely new site. That’s where we can serve you. Direct Results is ready and available to do what they do best and take your online presence to the next level –
NOVEMBER 2020
By adhering to fundamental design principles and maintaining exact web standards, he consistently produces work that looks incredible and communicates clearly and functionally. Direct Results and our incredible team of designers is ready to take that behind-the-times website and create something that showcases your business in a way your audience will love. Current and relevant content, mobile device compatibility, and an excellent user experience will turn those leads into customers. It’s time to take the leap and improve your online footprint. Call Direct Results at 724-627-2040 to get started now!
that way you can focus on what you do best. Our talented web development team, led by our awardwinning website developer and graphic designer Pete Brunetto, is ready to work with you to create the online presence you’ve needed. During Pete’s 8 years with Direct Results, he has created diverse and attention-getting designs for a variety of clients. He has a diversified design background across all aspects of print design, proficiencies in web development and handles a wide variety of projects. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in graphic design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and continuously advances Website developer and graphic designer Pete Brunetto is ready to his education in create the perfect online presence for you and your business. both industries.
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Specialty Herbal
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pecialty Herbal Products’ motto is “getting back to the roots of healing.” And they’ve been doing just that in Greene County for 25 years. Owner Brian King, a registered, practicing pharmacist, started the business in his home 25 years ago, before eventually moving uptown to High Street, and then eventually to its current location at 1470 East High Street, across from Pizza Hut. Specialty Herbal Products is Greene County’s only health food store and carries a large assortment of vitamins, herbs, essential oils, organic foods, weight loss, gluten-free, and other specialty and natural products. They also sell locally grown/ made products: honey, eggs, maple syrup, candles and soaps, and offer discount cards, an everyday 15% NOW products discount, and a weekly senior discount day (Wednesday). Providing quality products is the promise that Specialty Herbal makes to all of their customers. Quality products begin with superior raw ingredients and a robust quality control protocol at every phase of the manufacturing process, including sophisticated testing procedures and certificates of analysis. If manufacturers bypass any of these protocols, you get an inferior product. Vitamins and herbs found at big box stores are usually commodity grade and don’t provide enough of the active ingredients to your system. “I have seen products on store shelves that were selling for such a low price that I knew they were misbranded and disingenuous. Natural ingredients like ginseng, chondroitin, gold seal, and CoQ10 are expensive, so if you see these products selling for 1/3rd or ½ the price of similar products, you know they are misbranded. Several “big box” stores have even had to stop the sale of certain herbal products because of mislabeling. Testing was done that showed the contents on the label did not agree with what was actually in the bottle, and that unlabeled fillers and contamination with other materials were also evident. “Herbs are so delicate. The health promoting effects of herbs are determined by the soil they are grown in, when they were harvested, and how they are dried and stored. It’s not something that
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can be mass marketed,” Brian states. “Our motivation is to get people that have tried inferior products that didn’t work to try our products. If you use a quality product and the right dose, you will be more likely to see results.” Specialty Herbal’s newest addition, CBD Hemp Oil, was brought in only after thorough research as to its effectiveness, as well as what manufacturers were the best to purchase from. Because the Hemp Oil industry is unregulated, many companies offer cheap products that contain little to no CBD, or their CBD is tainted or synthetic. But the CBD Hemp Oil at Specialty Herbal has been carefully tested for potency and purity. The CBD Oils from Bluebird Botanicals, GreenRoads, Can-Tek Labs, and Lazarus Naturals are quality extracts that not only contains CBD, but also CBG, CBC, CBN, Terpenes, and over 80 other cannabinoids. This full-spectrum “entourage effect” makes these oils much stronger and more effective than single-ingredient CBD isolates in hemp seed oil. Brian feels they have four of the best CBD companies in the industry and he is really excited about their newest CBD product, Ruby Red, which is modestly priced yet contains a greater variety of cannabinoids than any product he has seen on the market. CBD Hemp Oil is used to treat a wide range of conditions, including arthritis, diabetes, alcoholism, MS, chronic pain, schizophrenia, PTSD, depression, antibiotic-resistant infections, epilepsy and other neurological disorders. “As a pharmacist for 40 years and a health food store owner for 25 years, I have never seen an OTC or prescription product have such a positive effect on so many people,” Brian says. “The customers know that they’ll get a quality product here, as well as friendly, helpful people,” Brian says. “The staff is very knowledgeable about the supplements and can provide information and point you in the right direction.” Specialty Herbal Products’ experienced, dedicated, caring, and welltrained staff of Tamara Cerra, Roberta King, Barbara Dickey, Beth Frye, and Brian’s wife, LeeAnn King, along with their products, are their “Specialties.”
GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
Rolling Meadows Nursing & Rehabilitation
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very year on Veterans Day, Americans across the nation wrap themselves in the flag, listen to patriotic music and pay their respects to those who have served. This is a very special time for Rolling Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation, as we honor our own brave veterans. We are extremely proud to have 11 veterans at our facility who have served in many different branches of the service including; Army, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Navy and even a Navy Seal. The
stories and memories that these proud men will happily share are mesmerizing. Veterans are special to us because they put our country’s needs before their own. As we celebrate Veterans Day this year, we will be honoring our veterans by putting together a personalized ceremony for each veteran to recognize their service. During the ceremony, we will present our veterans with an honorary certificate that displays how much Rolling Meadows appreciates their commit-
ment and sacrifices to our country. How can you honor a veteran this year and let them know how much they mean to you? Place a flag in your yard, visit a local memorial or ask a veteran about their military service and really listen to their story. To send a cards to one of our veterans, address it Attn: Activities Department at Rolling Meadows, 107 Curry Road, Waynesburg, PA 15370. To all veterans, living and deceased, we are proudly grateful for and respect all
you have done for us and our nation. Thank you and Happy Veterans Day from the staff at Rolling Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation. To learn more about our services, visit our website or Facebook page.
Concordia Hospice of Washington
Concordia Hospice
of Washington’s Cardinal Project is a way to share our
faith with others and provide life, hope, and restoration to our senior friends living in long-term care facilities by gifting them bird feeders. The Concordia Hospice of Washington team will collect all donations, supply the feeders
Would you please help?
with seed and deliver to local long-term care facilities. Each donation will include a gift tag noting that the gift is from a special friend – you can choose to include your name or donate anonymously.
Please join us in helping our senior friends by considering a donation of a bird feeder of $25 and under.
How to Donate:
t
Visit www.ConcordiaCardinalProject.org to learn more about the project and pick the donation method that works best for you OR call our Marketing Liaison, Shilynn Renner, at 724-250-4500 Ext. 2118 for more information! 10 Leet Street • Washington, PA 15301
Local: 724-250-4500 www.concordiahw.org
Greene Scene Cardinal Project Ad.indd 1 NOVEMBER 2020 • GreeneScene Community Magazine
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Concordia Hospice of Washington is excited to announce a new project! Concordia Hospice of Washington’s Cardinal Project was established as a way to share our faith with others and provide life, hope, and restoration to our senior friends living in long-term care facilities by gifting them bird feeders. Many of people who are living in local long-term care facilities have not been able to see their families for quite some time due to the pandemic, which has taken a toll on their emotional health and well-being. It has long been said that bird watching can positively impact an individual’s physical, mental and emotional health, and the sport is also a great cognitive stimulant. Please join Concordia Hospice of Washington in helping our senior friends enjoy the beautiful sights and sweet melodies of bird watching by considering a donation of a bird feeder of $25 and under. The Concordia Hospice of Washington team will col-
lect all donations, supply the feeders with seed and deliver to local long-term care facilities. Each donation will include a gift tag noting that the gift is from a special friend – you can choose to include your name or donate anonymously. Visit www.ConcordiaCardinalProject. org to learn more about the project and pick the donation method that works best for you OR call our Marketing Liaison, Shilynn Renner, at 724-250-4500 Ext. 2118 for more information!
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Angelo’s
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ngelo and Giacomina Passalacqua first opened the doors to their little tavern at 955 West Chestnut Street in March of 1939. Today, more than 81 years later and in a newer, bigger location, the third generation of the Passalacqua family operates the restaurant in North Franklin Township. Angelo’s has always held a tight rein on traditional Italian food with many recipes for things like sauce, lasagna and meatballs dating back to our owner Michael Passalacqua’s grandmother Jennie (Giacomina). Of course these days, there are many modern and classic dishes on the menu as well, offering guests a wide variety of soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, chicken, veal, beef and seafood choices, as well as daily features and homemade pasta options. Angelo’s also makes, displays and sells
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house-made gelato (Italian ice cream) with a case that features 18 flavors at all times. All other desserts are house made as well including tiramisu and walnut farina torte, a recipe made famous locally in the eighties by Michael’s mother, with help from a great family friend, who introduced the idea to her. Angelo’s has a full bar, a great and unpretentious wine list, fabulous cocktails. a heated patio, private dining for up to 60 guests, off premise catering, party trays to go and much more. Angelo’s always treats their guests as if invited to an Italian family’s home with warmth, care and sincerity. Visit them online at www.angelosrestaurant.com and or in person at 2109 North Franklin Drive, Washington, Pa. FMI, call 724-222-7120.
GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
City Mission A NEW LEASE ON LIFE
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im lost everything and his life was slowly unraveling. “There wasn’t a single activity in my life that didn’t involve a drink,” he said. “Even taking a shower.” In July 2018, he tripped over a pine root in the dark and broke his hip. “I haven’t had a drink since that night,” he explained. “That just woke me up. I firmly believe God laid His hand on me.” That freak accident eventually led him to City Mission, where, after hip surgery and eight weeks in physical therapy, he began the work of healing his mind, body, and spirit. After graduating high school, Tim joined the Air Force. In 1991, several years after leaving the military, he began working as a custodian for a local school district, where he worked for nearly twenty years. “It was the best job I ever had,” he said. “It wasn’t a high-paying job, but I really liked the people I worked with.” His drinking started to become more and more of a problem, and in 2010, he finally went to rehab. But he couldn’t complete the outpatient part of the program, be-
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cause his mother, who had been ill, passed veterans like Tim. With your help, City Misaway. Completing the program was a require- sion’s Crabtree-Kovacicek Veterans House ment for returning to work, so he also lost his provides struggling vets an opportunity to job. transform their lives and restore their hope, Devastated and with nowhere else to go, dignity, and independence. Support local vethe lived in a hotel behind a bar until the fate- erans at citymission.org. And please consider ful night he fell and broke his hip. In October shopping at our City Mission Thrift Stores. 2018, he moved into the Crabtree Kovacicek We have a Veterans Day 50% Off Sale on Veterans House at City Mission. Wednesday, November 11. You can get a great “At the Crabtree House, we have deal, and 100% of store proceeds support our confidence and self-respect,” he said. “We’re life-changing programs. all brother veterans, all working together for the betterment of all. I’m grateful to be able to have a sense of pride in something, and we take pride in that house.” Tim often tells the staff at City Mission, “Thanks for saving my life, for giving me a new lease on life.” You can Tim credits the staff at City Mission for saving his life and giving make a difference in him a new lease on life. the lives of homeless
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WVU Medicine
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High quality care for the whole family close to home
VU Medicine’s Waynesburg clinic provides patients of all ages access to a range of medical specialists and some of the most advanced medical technology available in the region. WVU Medicine broke ground on the clinic in May 2018. “We believe in and understand the importance of providing the right care to the right patient at the right time and place, and we believe that now is the time to create an easier connection between our providers and the people of Greene County,” Judie Charlton, M.D., WVU Medicine chief medical officer, said at the time. “Nobody should have to travel a great distance to receive high quality primary and specialty care, and that’s why we’re bringing our providers to Waynesburg.” The 15,000-square-foot clinic, which includes 30 exam rooms and six procedure rooms, opened last September and is conveniently located on Murtha Drive off exit 14 of I-79. “We built outpatient centers like this one right off of I-79 in Morgantown and Fairmont in West Virginia, and they have been a win-win for us and our patients. They helped us alleviate some of the congestion on our main campus in Morgantown, and they provided our patients with convenient access to our primary care and specialty providers,” Darin Rogers, vice president and chief ambulatory operations officer of WVU Medicine-WVU Hospitals, said. “This outpatient center in Waynesburg provides residents of Greene County and the surrounding area with the same convenient access to our providers.” Experts in Dermatology, General Surgery, Heart and Vascular, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopaedics, Pain Management, Pediatrics, Podiatry, Primary Care, Urology, and Wound Care see patients at the clinic. Earlier this year, WVU Medicine Children’s added a General Pediatrics Clinic at the center. “We already have a number of families from Waynesburg and Greene County who bring their children to Morgantown for appointments with our pediatricians, and the demand for those services has been steadily increasing,” Amy Bush-Marone, R.N., B.S.N., M.B.A., C.N.O.R., chief operating officer at WVU Medicine Children’s, said. “This clinic will allow those children to receive the care they need close to home, and we are happy to provide this service to them.” In addition, a variety of diagnostic and imaging services for adults and children, including echocardiograms, EKGs, lab testing, stress testing, and X-ray are all available on site,
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making it a convenient one-stop shop for all of your family’s needs. To schedule an appointment, call 855-WVU-CARE. For more information about WVU Medicine, visit WVUMedi-
cine.org. For more information about WVU Medicine Children’s, visit WVUKids.org. For more information about the WVU Medicine outpatient center in Waynesburg, visit WVUMedicine.org/Waynesburg.
GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020
Care for the entire family...
close to home.
Primary Care
OB/GYN
Heart and Vascular
Podiatry
Orthopaedics
Imaging
Laboratory Testing
Wound
Urology
Pain
General Surgery
Pediatrics
CLINIC HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 am - 5 pm LAB HOURS: Monday - Friday: 7:30 am - 5 pm LOCATION:
Conveniently located off I-79 Exit 14 451 Murtha Drive • Waynesburg, PA
Dermatology
TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, CALL
855-WVU-CARE WVUMedicine.org/Waynesburg
NOVEMBER 2020
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Pittsburgh, PA Permit No. 1219
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GreeneScene Community Magazine •
NOVEMBER 2020