Holiday II 2020 GreeneScene by GreeneScene Community Magazine / Direct Results

HOLIDAY II 2020

â&#x20AC;¢ GreeneScene Community Magazine

FEATURES 4

I LOVE THIS PLACE

GREENESCENE OF THE PAST

GREENE ARTIFACTS

SHINING THE LIGHT

COUNTY CONVERSATIONS

PUBLIC SERVICE PROFILE

GOING GREENE

GOOD NEWS IN GREENE

MESSAGE BOARD

MEET THE TEAM

HOMETOWN HERITAGE

GET TO KNOW DR

BUSINESS SECTION

Corner Cupboard Food Bank Waynesburg Christmas Parade

Waynesburg Republican Centennial Edition St. George’s Episcopal Church Early Intervention Program STARS Foundation

Jesse’s Christmas Story Awards & acknowledgements within our community Community announcements and opportunities Get to know GreeneScene contributor Bret Moore A snapshot of Greene County sports Personal Protective Equipment Featuring our Business Spotlights

EXTRAS

OH CHRISTMAS TREE!

2020 CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES

NUTCRACKER SWEET

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

OPEN YOUR HOME THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Lions Club Christmas tree sale continues on Annual Parade and Light Up Night results

Display of German nutcrackers at Bowlby Library Greene County honors veterans during annual event Greene County Foster Care

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

â&#x20AC;¢ GreeneScene Community Magazine

I Love this P l a ce

CORNER CUPBOARD FOOD BANK xtra! Extra! Read all about it! There’s a Virtual Food

Volunteers keep the food pantry sites around Greene Count delivering muchneeded assistance to their fellow community members.

Stacks of kids bags of healthy snacks, milk and juice boxes to keep them going with their home schooling this winter.

The Corner Cupboard Food Bank is providing food items to both children and adults in Greene County.

Drive going on right now on Facebook! It doesn’t involve canned goods – it just involves writing a check. Corner Cupboard Food Bank director Candace Webster wants you to know this virtual drive will run until December 31 to help cover the cost of hunger’s increasing needs. With winter already here, these next few months will not be easy for those who are struggling to keep food on the table. It will not be easy being out of school all winter with no guarantee of a lunch or healthy snacks, or being old and maybe alone and running low on everything. If you are wondering what Corner Cupboard Food Bank is all about, it’s about all of this and more. Corner Cupboard Food Bank - Greene County’s answer to making sure neighbors do not go hungry – started out as a great notion in October 1992 in the basement of the County Office Building on High Street, Waynesburg. In those early days it was manned by dedicated volunteers who hand loaded each order for those who came from every corner of the county. When need outgrew the basement, the county commissioners donated land near the county jail on Rolling Meadows Road and a capital campaign raised more than $300,000 to build the complex that now houses Corner Cupboard Food Bank. It is a warehouse-sized command and distribution center for a network of 11 monthly food pantry sites throughout the county. And as it has been since the beginning, pantries are volunteer driven. Food boxes are packed and served up at these sites by folks who know their neighbors and are willing to go the extra mile – or three! to make sure they get their groceries and get them safely home. Candace Webster - now in her fifth year of executive duty - was excited to be this month’s “I Love This Place” focus (who doesn’t love not being hungry!) It’s been awhile since the story’s been told how this nonprofit charitable organization does its good work and more importantly - how to access these services if you or someone you love is facing food insecurity and you don’t know what to do. Emergency Boxes is a one-time service for those who need temporary food assistance based on an urgent need. Many who go in for an emergency box end up registering to be part of their township pantry roster. Corner Cupboard’s big warehouse is where food and fixings are stored until parceled out through these programs: Monthly Food Pantries provide groceries to people who meet the income guidelines for food assistance. Senior Boxes or CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program) is a Federal Program through USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services designed to improve the health of seniors. In Greene County these boxes that are offered to income eligible people over age 60, are distributed in partnership with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. When school’s out and kids are at high risk for hunger, the Kids Bag Program is added to the monthly pantry offerings for families with school age children. With students doing school at home, Kids Bags are available now going forward.

By Colleen Nelson

Think you might be eligible? Call Corner Cupboard 724-627-9784 for an appointment. You’ll be asked for household size, monthly income before bills are paid, proof of residency – for example, a recent utility bill with your address on it and a valid photo id. Once you’ve been enrolled, you’ll be assigned to a pantry based on where you live. Now that the winter season has brought back pandemic restrictions, those who visit pantries will stay in their vehicles and let those hard working, masked up volunteers bring the food to you. For those with a hankering to help out during these uncertain times, don’t forget – you can operate your own Virtual Food Pantry until December 31 and ask your friends to donate cash to a hunger crunching cause. Or just write your own donation check to Corner Cupboard Food Bank 881 Rolling Meadows Road Waynesburg PA 15370. And don’t forget every $5 donation turns into $25 worth of commodity food that is available through a national food chain of food banks and hunger organizations. Candace’s latest note for the story spells it out. “We have seen an uptick in the number of people that we are serving, especially this time of year. Right now our pantries are serving more than 2000 people a month.”

TOWNSHIP PANTRY SITES Aleppo, Richhill, Morris, Gray Graysville Fire Hall 3rd Wed. 2-4 pm

Jefferson, Morgan Baptist Church, Jefferson 3rd Wed. 12-2pm

Center Rogersville Fire Hall 3rd Mon. 10–11 am

Monongahela, Greene Greensboro Fire Hall 3rd Mon. 11am–1pm

Cumberland Carmichaels UM Fellowship Hall 3rd Thurs. 9-11 am

Springhill, Freeport Springhill Twp. Building 2nd Wed. 1–3 pm

Dunkard Shannopin Civic Building, Bobtown 2nd Tues. 10am– 12pm

Wayne Wayne Twp. Building 3rd Fri. 11am-12pm

Franklin Greene County Fairgrounds 4th Thurs. 10:30am12pm

Whitley, Perry Old Video Store, Mt. Morris 3rd Wed. 1–3pm

Jackson Jackson Twp. Building, Holbrook 2nd Tues. 11am– 1pm

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

WHY CHOOSE?

FREE to Adults 60 and Over

EAT SMART, MOVE MORE, WEIGH LESS MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES ABOUT EATING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Get Informed, Empowered & Motivated! 15-week online program Trained and experienced instructor Real-time, interactive, weekly sessions

For more information or to register for the program: Call Robin at 724-489-8080 or 1-888-300-2704, ext. 4433 ryouger@swpa-aaa.org Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging

HOLIDAY II 2020

â&#x20AC;¢ GreeneScene Community Magazine

G reen e Sce n e of the Pa st

o matter what year it happens, when it comes to the annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade, it’s all about Santa. Thanks to Bonnie Kiger, volunteer researcher extraordinaire at Cornerstone Genealogical Society, today’s Greene County Chamber of Commerce has a binder full of tidbits about Christmas Parades past, copied from microfilm and newspaper clippings the genealogical society has on file. Fresh from this year’s first Reverse Parade at the Greene County Fairgrounds, director Melody Longstreth is happy to share the wild adventures Santa had back in 1938 and 1939 when he and the Christmas Parade first started coming to Waynesburg to meet all the good little girls and boys. The first year, 1938, made regional headlines when Santa ran out of gas. The Gettysburg Times quipped: “Santa traded his reindeer for a truck in a Christmas parade here – to his sorrow.” The crowds that lined the parade route that first year were like nothing seen today. “Seven thousand showed up!” Melody marvels. Nor was the route – the 75 plus flotilla

By Colleen Nelson

of floats, fire trucks, cars and of course Santa “in all his splendor” started at North West Street, move west on High Street to Stewarts Service Station, through Waynesburg to Morrisville, turn at the “island” back along Greene Street to Richhill Street and back to the courthouse. The Waynesburg and Richhill Township high school bands were there but by all accounts limited their performance to a concert in front of the courthouse. Somewhere in the vicinity of East Greene Street, Santa’s large open truck ran out of gas and had to stop for a quick fill up before making it back to the courthouse to read all the letters the kids had waiting for him. Santa and Mrs. Claus waved at photographer Steve Barrett when they made it safely to the Christmas Parade in Waynesburg without running out of gas. Credit: Barrett’s photo ran in the Herald-Standard in December 2012. According to the Gettysburg Times: “He arrived late at the courthouse to jot down had Santa coming down from the sky in an ies, candy and popcorn. “kiddies” Yuletide requests and Fast forward to a time better rememadd one of his own – for more gas next time.” airplane and dropping letters on all who gathered to greet him on November 27. (The bered by the rest of us. It’s 2012 and Santa is Not to be outdone, the parade of 1939 weather reportedly was as cold as late De- back and he has Mrs. Claus with him. They’re cember.) Then a parade with all the fixings, riding in style to the Courthouse, surrounded including “Mummers, Scouts, 13 Greene by floats, marching bands and everything County horsemen in the line of march” along else that has made the Chamber of Comwith high school bands playing on the court- merce Christmas Parade the place to be and house steps. The most elaborate floats spon- see since 1938. And there will be kids holdsored by local merchants reflected what was ing letters when he gets there, many of them hot in Hollywood – Snow White and the Sev- asking for the hottest toys to be had that year. en Dwarves and Good Ship Lollipop. By late Those kids are now eight years older now and afternoon Santa was enthroned at the court- I wonder how many of them remember what house and hundreds of mothers and fathers they asked Santa for that year? (Was it by any were caught in the crush to get their offspring chance a Furby? Or the Hulk?) close enough to greet St. Nick and get some of If any of you remember, please let us the goodies being given – story books, cook- know! 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.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

Greene Ar ti facts By Matthew Cumberledge, GCHS Executive Director

WAYNESBURG REPUBLICAN, CENTENNIAL EDITION

he year 2020 is winding down and 2021 is right on the horizon. On February 9, 2021 Greene County will begin its 226th year of existence. Over the course of the last two centuries our county has experienced a lot of interesting history and milestone years have always been a chance to celebrate! 1896 was our centennial and every local newspaper at the time created a special edition to commemorate the occasion. Throughout the year, the Women’s Centennial Paper, the Waynesburg Independent, and the Waynesburg Republican used their platforms to share the highlights of local history through Greene’s first century. This month’s artifact is an original copy of the Waynesburg Republican, Centennial Edition published by L. H. Knox, editor, for the dates of August 26 and 27, 1896. This paper is a treasure trove of historical and genealogical information and provides a wonderful snapshot of what life was like in Waynesburg and Greene County in 1896. Over the course of 24 pages, we see a wonderful presentation on the founding and early history of Greene County, profiles on the businesses of the day, banks and local institutions such as Waynesburg College (now Waynesburg University). Perhaps most fascinating and important are the profiles on prominent local residents. Biographies such as these are extremely important to historians and genealogists because they give life to someone who otherwise may be just a name with an associated series of dates and events. These articles provide personality to local historical figures and make them feel more real

HOLIDAY II 2020

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

during historical research. The Greene County Historical Society Museum archives several copies of the Waynesburg Republican Centennial Edition, as well as the centennial editions of the other local papers of the day. Combined, these newspapers provide a great historical resource. Researchers need not leave the comfort of their home to enjoy reading these articles and stories from over a century ago. The Greene Connections Archive Project has digitized the Waynesburg Republican and several others; they are available to peruse on the Greene Connections website, https:// greeneconnections.com/. The website is full of information on Greene County’s history and heritage.

ometimes the light shines a little late. I had finally tracked down a contact number for St. George’s Episcopal Church, that handsome little edifice at the corner of Bonar Avenue and Fifth Street, Waynesburg. I was eager to hear the story of when this church, with its deep roots in Anglican tradition, was built and learn the story of its founding. Deaconess Barbara McMillen’s cheery hello when I called didn’t prepare me for the answer I was about to receive. “Oh I wish I would have contacted you last year to write about St. George! We just closed in October. Our numbers were down, our congregation is elderly and when the pandemic came no one could go to church… so we decided to close. It’s so sad. There’s no other Episcopal churches in Greene County to go to now.” What sets these Anglican-based churches apart from other Protestant offshoots is the worship service, which is old school. The service goes back to King Henry VIII of England who broke from the Catholic Church over politics but kept many of the trappings of high mass – the incense, the ringing bells, the songs, the same Church of England service Queen Elizabeth still attends. I’m sorry I missed going there. My story has now become a celebration of the faith of the Elms family, told in the church records Deaconess Barbara emailed me from her winter digs in Florida. Here’s the serendipitous tale of how George Elms got to Greene County and what he and his family did to keep their old world faith alive. When George Elms married Sarah Jones at St. Paul’s Church in Birmingham, England in 1852, he and his brother Charlie decided it would be a good idea to move to the United States. Charlie left his betrothed and went first and “somehow ended up picking a spot for the family in Swarts…” a settlement a few miles north of Waynesburg. Two years later, George and Sarah and firstborn son Jack, along with Charlie’s fiancée took to the high seas in an old fashioned sailing vessel and arrived in Philadelphia six weeks later. They traveled by coach to Pittsburgh then took a boat to Rices Landing. With 25 cents left, George arranged for the family to ride in a wagon to Swarts and followed behind on foot.

By Colleen Nelson George served in the Union Army during the Civil War while Sarah worked for Iams and Harvey to feed the family; George never received a paycheck until the war was over. But his lump sum commission of $1000 bought them a house on Franklin Street and the family moved to Waynesburg. By 1886 George was determined to have his ten nowadult children baptized so he wrote to the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Bishop Whitehead came and baptized and confirmed the family. “This event started the gathering of Episcopalians in Greene County and St. George’s mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Waynesburg.” There were services and Sunday School classes at the Elms home, mostly family members, in-laws and friends. By 1904 the mission bought a lot on Porter Street and worshiped in a tent with a raised floor and an elevated alter with the American Flag and the Church flag suspended from the ceiling on either side. “An organ was provided and no service went without lively music.” It was the height of vacation time and within three weeks Waynesburg and the local press took note of the town’s new mission. By 1908 the St. George had its first permanent home in the East Waynesburg School. A mission that had disbanded gave furnishings. There would be more moves but the Elms house was always waiting and when George and Sarah died, daughter Lizzie in-

herited the house and its commitment to St. George, patron saint of England. When Lizzie died in 1956, she left the congregation her home and $8000. The membership pooled its resources, including selling the lot on Porter Street and bought a lot on Bonar Avenue from Dr. Greenlee. The cornerstone was set in 1960 and on November 5, 1961, St. George’s Episcopal Church finally had a home. A write up from 1986 shows that St. George’s knew its neighbors and knew what they needed. “We were the first to begin bus transportation for senior citizens in Waynesburg.” The church also started the first AA group and opened its doors to play groups, praise groups, vacation bible school and Overeaters Anonymous. Hospice trainings were held here and space was always available to those who had friends or family members in nearby Waynesburg Hospital and needed a place to pray, meditate or even stay over. An addendum to the write up says that in 2009 the congregation voted unanimously to join the Anglican Church of North America and continued to worship, pray for and serve the Greene County community. Deaconess Barbara adds that the remaining members of the congregation continue to pray for, love and care for each other. The building and property have reverted to the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.

SEXUAL

VIOLENCE

DOESN’T DISCRIMINATE

BY IDENTITY

Neither do we. We see you. We believe you. We are here for you.

1.888.480.7283 CARE Center STTARS Program

Paid for with Pennsylvania Tax Payer Dollars. Campaign created by Fenway Health.

BHVRP-61

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

County Conversations GREENE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM

he County of Greene government eligible for services. provides our community with a vaFollowing the development of an Indiriety of services and care. Each de- vidual Family Service Plan (IFSP), sessions partment within our government provides are provided at the convenience of the famsomething to our community that makes ily in the child’s home or day care setting. Greene County a better place to live and Parents are leaders on their team, having grow. Have you ever wondered about the the ability to choose their services and the programs they provide and how they impact provider that delivers them. The program’s you and those you care services are available about? Each month, The Service Coordination for free to all clients, we will sit down for staff ... really listen to their regardless of income a conversation with a and there is no waitfamilies and are willing to go ing list. representative from the extra mile in making the one of the county gov“Our services are ernment’s departments challenges parents experience family friendly and to keep our readers a little more manageable. Our occur in their home, informed of the many staff strives to help parents feel around their routines services available. so that practice seems more comfortable taking their natural,” shares Lauren The Early Intervention Program pro- children into the community.” Chambers, the direcvides developmental tor of the Early Interand educational servention program. “The vices to Greene CounService Coordination ty children younger staff are well-versed in than three years old our county’s resources who have developfor helping families mental delays. Any make the connections child living in Greene they need to be sucCounty under the age cessful. They really of 3 is eligible for a free listen to their families developmental screenand are willing to go ing and assessment. the extra mile in makA qualified Multidising the challenges parciplinary Evaluation ents experience a little team comes to your more manageable. home (or through a Our staff strives to virtual setting at this help parents feel more time) with your child’s assigned Service comfortable taking their children into the Coordinator and completes a full, no cost community.” multidisciplinary evaluation. A qualifying FMI on the County of Greene’s Early 25% delay in any one area makes your child Intervention program, call 724-852-5276.

“

GreeneScene by Becky MCClure

HOLIDAY II 2020

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

Public Service Profile By Jessica Price

STARS FOUNDATION

isiting places like zoos, amuse- foundation as a way to offer more activities ment parks, pumpkin patches, and and experiences for the children they sermuseums are a rite of passage for vice. They use funds from the foundation to most children. However, if a young child host events at The Pittsburgh Zoo, Idlewild has a disability or developmental delay, out- Park, The Children’s Museum, and many ings like this can be very stressful for both more engaging locations in our community. children and their families. Luckily here Through these experiences, children are in Pennsylvania, children ages birth to five able to experience a wider range of activities who have developmental delays or disabili- that will build on the foundation of their deties are eligible to receive early intervention velopment. During these outings they work services and therapies, and here in Greene on a range of physical, cognitive, and social County, the STARS foundation helps expose skills. children in early intervention to these expeThe pandemic has pushed the pause riences while providing support for both the button on a lot of things in our lives and children and their families. communities, including the opportunity The STARS Foundation is headquar- for the STARS Foundation to provide these tered in Carmichaels and was established in experiences. They were able to hold an out2017. The foundation grew from the orga- ing to a pumpkin patch in October, but for nization STARS, or Specialized Therapy and the second time this year all outings are Related Services. Kristie Pekanbaru-Rohrer currently on hold. Like almost everything and Valerie Kerr-Lapana founded STARS in 2020, the STARS foundation has gone with the mission to work alongside families virtual and is providing a variety of activito empower them with the skills necessary ties for families on their Facebook page, to optimize their child’s development. They @STARSFoundationInc. Each week they offer a wide range of early intervention ser- share books, activities, and tips through vices including behavior support, develop- videos aimed at helping families, in an effort mental therapy, occupational therapy, physi- to provide engaging activities while helping cal therapy, speech therapy, and vision and children’s development at home. As soon as nutrition services. it is safely possible, the STARS crew plans to Children in Pennsylvania ages birth to resume their in-person activities and events. five who have special needs due to developmental delays or disabilities are eligible to receive these Early Intervention services and therapies at no cost to the families. Early Intervention is a federally funded program and state supported service that enhances a family’s capacity to meet the developmental needs of their child in a setting that is personal and important to the child and family. Therapists meet with children in their own homes, in schools, or wherever they can organically work on the skills the child needs to strengthen. Kristie and Valerie The STARS Foundation team brings developmental experiences established the STARS to the children they serve.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

GreeneScene by Chuck Scholtisek

Oh Christmas Tree!

or over 60 years, the Waynesburg Lions Club has sold Christmas trees, and despite the rise of plastic trees, the 2008 recession and COVID-19, they’re still selling. Each year, the Lions Club sets up its fundraiser sale on the property of the Funk family, near the intersection of E. Greene Street and S. Porter Street. Tom Dorazio, member of the Waynesburg Lions Club, has been working the fundraiser for over 24 years, this year being his 25th. Tom said this sale is the club’s most extensive fundraiser each year. “We earn funds to use for our projects, like take care of [the Lions Club] park, buy eyeglasses for people, and stuff like that,” Tom says. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Mussers Farm, which resides in Indiana, Pennsylvania, drives a truck laden with Christmas trees to the Lions Club’s designated spot and has since the 1970s, Tom shares. The trees are mixture of Canaan and Fraser Firs. As the truck arrives, a myriad of Lions Club members and volunteers await to unload the trees. Vickie Funk, Waynesburg Lions Club member and current owner of the property where the club hosts its fundraiser, says her brother and late husband, Earnie Funk, bought the property together and signed a

HOLIDAY II 2020

lease with the Lions Club in the late 1980s. The owners of the property before the Funks previously leased to the Lions Club, and Vickie’s family wanted to keep the tradition. “If people want to know where I live, what the street is, or whatever, I always say, ‘do you know where the Lions Club sells the Christmas trees? That is my lot. I am the white house there,’” Vickie shares. The Lions Club is the only group selling Christmas trees directly in Waynesburg besides the Tractor Supply in the Widewater Commons shopping plaza. In the past, the Lions Club ordered 500 trees to sell. This year, however, they only ordered 400. “It’s been 500 for as long as I can remember when I’ve been ordering the trees,” Tom says. “But since we had so many left last year, we figured we’d cut back.” Unless they run out early this year, Tom says they will be sticking with the 400 trees for future fundraisers. The Lions Club sells the Christmas trees at prices ranging from $55 to $75. Despite the cutback due to lack of previous year’s sales, Tom says the club witnessed their largest sale of trees in a single day. “We sold around 50 trees in the first day, so people are getting antsy to go out and get them.

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

By Edward Boice

That’s what I’m thinking,” Tom says. Tom attributes the large sale and anxiousness of tree buyers to worries over COVID-19. Besides the record sale, Tom noted that The Lions Club Christmas tree lot is located at the intersection of the pandemic has E. Greene Street and S. Porter Street. not changed their operation significantly and does not foresee any future issues from it. The Lions Club will continue to sell their trees until either Christmas Day, or they run out of product. Until then, a volunteer or two will be manning the small RV and Christmas tree lot from 11 am to 8 pm. They will do this again next year, and probably for many years to come. Tom Dorazio would like to thank the Funk family for allowing the Lions Club to use part of their Volunteers help unload trees when they arrive for the property for their fundraiser for so seasonal sale. many years.

2020 Christmas Festivities

he holidays have arrived! And the best way to get into the Christmas spirit in Greene County is to celebrate with the annual Christmas parade, held by the Greene County Chamber of Commerce on December 5 at the Greene County Fairgrounds. The execution of the parade was underwritten by First Energy Foundation and without their support, this event would not have happened. 225 vehicles traveled along the parade route to view the 30 displays representing various schools, churches, civic organizations, and businesses from all over the county. The Grand Marshall of the parade was the 2020 Miss Rain Day, Alison Blair. A special holiday broadcast was provided by WANB and Doug Wilson, and spectators listened to a live band from Crosspoint church. FLOAT WINNERS 1st - Early Learning Resource Center “Welcome to Whoville” 2nd - Waynesburg Scout Troops #1280 & #9280 “Scouting for Santa” 3rd - R&D Watters Septic Service “Merry Christmas from R&D” Most Original – State Rep. Pam Snyder & Staff “Buddy the Elf ” Most Spirit – Lippencott Alpacas “Christmas with the Alpacas” Best Design – PA 140th Volunteers “A Civil War Christmas” The 2020 Miss Merry Christmas was Molly Mylan of Jefferson-Morgan High School. The Greene County Chamber of Commerce thanks all those businesses and individuals who helped to make this year’s parade a success. Photos and video of the reverse parade are available to view on the Greene County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page. Congratulations also to the Holiday Open House Window Decorating from Light Up Night, held the night before the parade. Window Decorating Winners: 1st – Greene

County Conservation District, 2nd – First Federal S&L of Greene County, 3rd – ManKind Gentlemen’s Cuts, 4th – The Locker Room & Kiln to Table, Community Choice – Greene County Conservation District.

Lippencott Alpacas was the “Most Spirit” winner from the Christmas Parade.

Early Learning Resource Center was the 1st Place winner from the Christmas Parade.

Greene County Conservation District won 1st & Community Choice at Light Up Night. GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

Nutcracker Sweet

inda Madlock has been collecting nutcrackers since 1982. She received her first one when she became engaged to her husband. “That Christmas we went to downtown Pittsburgh to see The Nutcracker and I fell in love with it,” says Linda. That year, Linda received her engagement ring for Christmas and her very first nutcracker. Since that Christmas in 1982, Linda has gotten a nutcracker every year. Nutcracker dolls originated in Germany in the late 17th century and thanks to their increasing popularity, spread into the rest of Europe by the 19th century. In addition to their job to crack nuts, they are considered good luck and serve as household protectors to frighten away evil spirits. As the popularity grew, their traditional toy soldier design expanded to include miners, police officers, royalty, historical figures, and pop culture icons. Originally created to be functional, by the mid-20th century many modern nutcrackers became merely ornamental and unable to crack nuts. Nutcrackers were often given as gifts and eventually became associated with Christmas. Their link to the Christmas season gained traction with the introduction of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, a ballet adaptation of E. T. A. Hoffmann’s story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The story features a toy soldier nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas. The ballet, introduced to America during the mid-20th century, quickly became a holiday favorite and forever cemented the link between nutcrackers and Christmas.

HOLIDAY II 2020

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

Linda began displaying her nutcrackers at the library during the holiday season about three years ago. “I’m friends with Kathy Douglas and we talked from time to time,” she shares. “One year I asked I mentioned my nutcracker collection and asked her if the library would be interested in displaying them. She quickly agreed and I’ve been displaying them each year since then.” Linda adds, “The library receives a lot of compliments about the collection, as do I.” Her collection encompasses an assortment of colorful, diverse German-made nutcrackers and includes a snowman, a knight, football player, and more. Linda loves each nutcracker in her collection and finds it difficult to pick a favorite when asked. “It’s so hard to choose, I love them all,” she says. “But I really like the chimney sweep and the three nutcrackers from the ballet – the Mouse King, Clara, and Uncle Drosselmeyer.” Make sure to stop by the Eva K. Bowlby Library between now and January to view the nutcracker collection. Take some time to look at each one and choose your own favorite! FMI, call Bowlby Library at 724.627.9776 or visit them at 311 N. West Street, Waynesburg, PA, 15370.

Linda Madlock, with Bowlby Library’s Kathy Douglas, displays her German nutcrackers at Bowlby Library for the holiday season.

G o in g G re e n e JESSE’S CHRISTMAS STORY

clean blanket of snow brightened the landscape around the old homestead where Jesse and his family had lived for many years; the trees were bare and the icy glistening on the tree limbs was a faint echo of the Christmas lights that would be so commonplace in years to come. It was mid-December 1884, and Jesse was just a child, a young boy naïve to the ways of the world and content in the comfort and safety that only a child knows. His mother Eliza was tending the fire in the kitchen, watching pots and keeping an eye on loaves of bread in their old wood burning stove It was hard work but provided a warm and comfortable environment on those cold winter days. Jesse’s father, also named Jesse but nicknamed Jess, but didn’t have it so lucky. Jess owned a general store inherited from his father and had a large farm and sawmill to manage as well. Such an enterprise was a lot of work for ole Jess. There was always something to be done but he was fortunate enough to have three young boys who were always there to help, whether they wanted to or not. John was the oldest and nearly a teenager, then Jesse and a younger brother George. George was three years younger than Jesse and just old enough to be useful; this was a blessing to ole Jess, who at an age considered young by today’s standards, knew the aches and pains of a lifetime of hard work. The boys were in the house, helping their mother with the daily chores - or at least that is what ole Jess thought was going on; in reality, they were taking in the beauty of the meager Christmas decorations that adorned their simple farmhouse on Tom’s Run in Gilmore Township, just outside of the little village of Pine Bank. This made Eliza incredibly happy;

An old tintype photograph of Jesse as a child.

By Matthew Cumberledge

the boys would often get in her way and their enjoyment from the holiday season gave her a bit of joy herself. Christmas was just a few weeks away, and undoubtedly, they were daydreaming about the gifts they would find come Christmas morning. Some new knitted socks, and maybe a new shirt; Ole Jess had a good selection of clothing in his general store and, if they were lucky, they might get a hand whittled toy - made by Santa in his workshop of course - that would entertain them in the few idle hours they had when they weren’t helping ole Jess and Eliza. Ole Jess was outside splitting wood, one of his most important tasks. Firewood was needed both to keep their home warm and to provide the fuel for cooking. Ole Jess had been at it all morning; he didn’t even notice it was cold outside and he had been working so hard he’d built up a sweat. He glanced over towards the house and noticed young Jesse coming out of the door carrying a bucket. “Mama needs me to get some water,” Jesse declared. Ole Jess watched his middle son trundle through the snow and head out back towards the well. They didn’t have a fancy hand pump, just a stone-lined well with a rope by which they’d drop the bucket down and haul up some fresh water. Jess knew it was quite a task for his young son to pull the heavy bucket up the well shaft, so, in want of a break from wood splitting, he went over to his son and told him he’d get the water, if young Jesse would take it back inside to his mother. Jesse yielded the old wooden bucket over to his father, thankful that he would not have to lug the heavy pail clear out of the well. Ole Jess tossed the bucket down into the well, then very quickly lost his footing. As fell the bucket, so did ole Jess, right into the well. Young Jesse was frightened, and he yelled as loud as he could for his mother Eliza. He yelled loud enough that his Uncle Lawrence’s family heard him at their house nearby. Eliza, James and George came running, and so did Lawrence and his boys. Jesse was nearly in tears, or so he would recollect years later; he thought he’d lost his father for doing a chore he should have done himself. Lawrence yelled for Jesse to run into his father’s store and grab a length of rope; ole Jess had gotten wedged down the well shaft about midway towards water level and was struggling to get himself free from this icy cold prison. Young Jesse watched as Lawrence tied the rope into a makeshift noose and lowered it while instructing ole Jess to try and put his feet together so he could get the rope around them and pull him up to safety. It took a few attempts, but

Jesse’s childhood home.

Lawrence finally got him, and started pulling him to safety. As they got ole Jess out of the well, young Jesse finally breathed a sigh of relief. His father had been saved. Ole Jess was in good spirits. His tumble down the well had left him uninjured other than a few bumps and scrapes and he was relived to be safe. Lawrence and Eliza took him back inside and sat him down by the fire to warm him up. Ole Jess was done for the day and the wood splitting could wait until tomorrow. Jess looked over at his middle son, who still looked sad. “Daddy,” Jesse said, “This was all my fault, I’m so sorry.” Ole Jess smiled and said, “Son, accidents happen. I wanted to help you get that bucket up from the well easily, and you got everyone here to help save me, you’re a hero!” He called Jesse over and gave him a big hug. Ole Jess wanted to reassure his son that he still loved him very much. In light of the danger that ole Jess had experienced and young Jesse’s proximity to it, father and son strengthened the already solid bond they shared. Back in those days, things like this in small little farming communities made for big news. This story was mentioned in the Waynesburg Republican paper in 1884, and Jesse would recall this event for the rest of his life. He’d often tell this story to his friends Hiram and James on many of their hunting adventures and recall it as the experience that taught him the true spirit of Christmas and the importance of family. On that day so very long ago, Jesse was dreaming about the material possessions he might receive on Christmas morning, but after his father fell down the well, he knew that having his daddy around for the holidays and the rest of his life was truly the most important gift he would ever receive.

This photo is believed to be Ole Jess and his wife Eliza. GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

â&#x20AC;¢ GreeneScene Community Magazine

Waynesburg University Introduces New Scholarship

Commissioners Planning Spring Projects The Greene County Parks and Recreation Department has seen a dramatic increase in usage of its outdoor facilities this past summer and fall. This includes the scenic and historic Greene River Trail. We welcome this commitment to safe, healthy, familyfriendly activity. In the near future, we hope to make the Trail even more attractive and engaging for both local use and as a destination for regional visitors. Moving forward, the Commissioners would like to involve the community in improving the amenities on and near the trail. There has already been work done on the trail such as clearing brush near certain water ways that can be utilized for hiking and enjoying nature. EQT and Equitrans employees have been part of the community outreach that has done some amazing work on the trail. EQT funded a beautiful mural that will be the first piece in what we hope to be many art works along the trail. Equitrans utilized their youth mentoring program to build and donate picnic tables

and benches. The company also donated a truck for trail management and sponsored new mile marker signs to aid emergency personnel. Kiewat, the company building the Hill Top Power Plant, has also generously donated manpower and equipment to place historical signs. In addition, they have provided financial support for a trail parking lot. On the agenda for the River trail this spring is the building of a blacktop parking lot near the Jessop Boat Club. This project has been estimated to cost 30k dollars. To date, the Commissioners have collected 15k toward the project. The Commissioners are asking those who would like to donate to this parking lot project to contact our office at 724852-5210. This project is for the enjoyment of the entire Greene County Community, and a sign with donors’ names will be placed at the parking lot. FMI, visit Greene County Government website, Greene County Commissioner’s Facebook page or by calling (724) 852-5210.

First Federal Donates Funds First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greene County recently donated $5,000 to the New Freeport Volunteer Fire Department. The donation will go toward the fire department’s purchase of a 2020 Kenworth 3,000-gallon tanker truck. The new truck will replace the department’s 1976 Ford tanker. Pictured, from l. to r., are First Federal Executive Vice President Chad M. Moore, New Freeport VFD President JoAnn Shipman and First Federal President/CEO Charles W. Trump, Jr.

Waynesburg University has established the Waynesburg Christian Life Scholarship, a new $1,000 scholarship awarded annually to four incoming freshmen starting in the 202122 academic year. “I am very excited about the Waynesburg Christian Life Scholarship. Being at a Christian University, I am filled with great joy as I witness students growing in Christ during their time at Waynesburg University,” said Josh Sumpter, University Chaplain. “This scholarship program will provide a variety of opportunities for students to grow in their Christian faith so that they will impact our community and the world.” The Waynesburg Christian Life Scholarship recognizes students that have a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and are involved in the life of a local church. Eligible students must be an accepted first-year student at Waynesburg University and have a GPA of at least 3.25. In addition to the scholarship application, eligible students are also required to include one letter of recommendation from a pastor or staff member from within their

church. “Waynesburg University is grateful for the donations that have made these scholarships possible and the opportunities each will create for our students to grow in faith and live lives of purpose,” said Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee. Students that receive the Waynesburg Christian Life Scholarship will be provided a number of opportunities to grow in their Christian faith on campus. Upon acceptance, students will be paired with a Christian mentor from their anticipated field, discipline or major; and will be provided with activities, conversations and mentorship through the office of the University Chaplain and the Center for Campus Ministry. The scholarship will be renewed annually as students continue to grow in their Christian faith, develop leadership roles on campus and live out Waynesburg University’s mission of faith, learning and service. For more information, visit waynesburg. edu/scholarships.

GCHS Museum Receives Grant The Greene County Historical Society was awarded a $4,000 grant as part of the state’s efforts to support museums and historical societies during the current pandemic, state Rep. Pam Snyder announced. Snyder, D-Greene/Fayette/Washington, said the society was among 155 eligible entities that were awarded general operating support grants under the Cultural and Historical Support Grant Program administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. “We know our museums and historical societies play a vital role in preserving and sharing our rich history and culture to residents and visitors alike, and the current pandemic has certainly had a severe impact on their operations,” said Snyder. “Thanks to the dedication and continued support of the historical society by its volunteers and board of directors, they’ve been able to keep the doors open, and this grant will certainly help their

efforts in continuing to educate and connect people to our county’s heritage.” Snyder added the program’s goal is to strengthen the commonwealth’s museum community by supporting the operations of eligible museums and county historical societies that are not supported by other state agency funding programs. An eligible museum must have an annual operating budget exceeding $100,000 (excluding capital and in-kind services) and at least one full-time professional staff person (or approved equivalent).

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

â&#x20AC;¢ GreeneScene Community Magazine

GreeneScene Community Magazine â&#x20AC;¢

HOLIDAY II 2020

â&#x20AC;¢ GreeneScene Community Magazine

Toys for Tots Correction Toys for Tots pickup for Cumberland Township will be held at the Carmichaels Fire Hall, not the Carmichaels American Legion. FMI, please call Buzz Walters (724-499-5332) or Theresa Walters (724-966-2009).

HOSTING A VIRTUAL FOOD DRIVE Covid-19 has unfortunately put many activities and life events on hold, but HUNGER cannot be paused.

Instructions to register as a host are below.

STEP ONE SIGN UP TO BE A HOST www.cornercupboard.org

STEP THREE VIRTUAL DRIVE CAMPAIGN CREATION Your Virtual Food Drive will automatically be connected to our online donation portal so your network will be giving directly to Corner Cupboard through your efforts.

Domestic violence was an epidemic before COVID-19, but the added isolation and stress have made the problem even worse. If you are facing an abusive situation at home, Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA can help. They offer safe housing, counseling, legal advocacy, and other programs for anyone who does not feel safe at home. All services are free and confidential. To learn more, visit www.peacefromdv.org, or call our 24-hour hotline at 800-791-4000.

Congratulations, Rodney Blair! Congratulations to Rodney A. Blair. Rodney, a Waynesburg native and WCHS Class of 79 graduate, created a custom shoe design for Steeler safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick. Using Fitzpatrick’s own passion, his charity Unchained - which helps children and families in need - Rodney came up with this pictured design and won the contest. His design was custom painted on the shoes and was visible during a recent Steeler game.

STEP TWO UTILIZE THE PROVIDED TEMPLATES Customize your introduction message and set your donation goals.

Be the lifeline patients need. Give blood.

STEP FOUR SHARE You can share the link to your Virtual Food Drive with your network and begin raising funds to help in the fight against food insecurity!

Carmichaels High School Blood Drive Carmichaels Fire Hall

Greene Arc Recycling Center Holiday Schedule

Community Room 420 West George Street Carmichaels 15320

Please be advised Greene Arc’s Recycling Center located in Ruff Creek, will have the following holiday schedule: 12/24-25,28-31, 1/1 - closed. The Recycling Center will re-open and resume all operations on 1/4/21.

Save the Date!

Monday, December 21 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: Carmichaels to schedule an appointment.

The Red Kettle Run 5K event, typically held on the 1st Saturday of December, has been rescheduled to April 17, 2021. Follow us on Facebook for more details. It will be a hybrid event at the EQT Rec Center in Waynesburg.

Come to give Dec. 18-Jan. 4 for a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last! Scan to be directed to RapidPass®

Scan to schedule an appointment.

Give Something that Means Something® | RedCrossBlood.org | 1-800-RED CROSS

[ 48 ] • Order ID: 1145167 • Item ID: 4839038 • Qty: 1 of 1 • 027992817 • 2020-APL-01229 • ARCA • 213279

Corner Cupboard Food Bank is responsible for providing regular monthly food boxes to individuals throughout Greene County, PA who face food insecurity.

You can now safely help to make a difference in Greene County by hosting a Virtual Food Drive with Corner Cupboard. For every $5 donated, we are able to purchase approximately $25 worth of food to support our Emergency Boxes, Senior Boxes, Kid’s Bags and Food Pantry programs.

Services Available for Domestic Violence Survivors

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

GreeneScene by Lori Barnhart

Volunteers Needed

he Salvation Army Greene County Service Center needs volunteers who want to help Rescue Christmas in 2020, as this year’s Red Kettle Campaign officially kicks off Thanksgiving week. The Salvation Army is stationing its iconic red kettles at local retailers through the end of December, where people can donate in the spirit of the season. In addition, physical kettle locations will offer Google and Apple Pay, providing a contactless, safe, and easy way for people to give and Rescue Christmas for those in need. “The need now is greater than ever, and our dedicated volunteers have a direct impact in helping our neighbors who are struggling, as there is no quarantine from hunger, from homelessness, or from poverty,” said Carla Hughes, Director of The Salvation Army Greene County Service Center. “We are prioritizing safety for all as we continue to navigate life during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we know that it is now more important than ever to raise funds for people in need.” This year, The Salvation Army is implementing protocols to ensure the health

HOLIDAY II 2020

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

and safety of Bell Ringers and for all of our generous donors, including: • Bell Ringers must wear a mask during their entire shift. • All kettle equipment will be sanitized at the beginning and end of each day. • As an individual approaches the kettle, Bell Ringers will be trained to step aside to allow six feet of separation for safe social distancing. • Bell Ringers will not have any physical contact with any donations or individuals. Those interested in volunteering this year should contact Carla Hughes directly by calling 724-852-1479.

Wreaths Across America

By Zack Zeigler

very year on December 19th, thousands of cemeteries across the country participate in Wreaths Across America. It is a special day to remember and honor veterans across the country who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Wreath laying ceremonies happen in over 2,100 locations across 50 states, with the biggest of those events happening in Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C. One of those wreathThe Carmichaels Women’s Civic Club has been placing wreaths during the annual ceremony at Laurel Point Cemetery for the past ten years. laying events happens right we came together and sponhere in Greene County at Laufought for our freedom. rel Point Cemetery in Carmichaels; this year marks its 10th sored 10 wreaths and had a small ceremony at Laurel Point The speaker for the 10th anniversary of the Women’s anniversary. The Carmichaels Women’s Civic Club has been Cemetery. We ended up laying the wreaths on the oldest parts Civic Club tree laying will be Bryan Benson from the Veterans placing wreaths in Laurel Point Cemetery for the past ten of the cemetery honoring the veterans who lay there for their Office. He will be joined by the American Legion band under years, honoring veterans dating as far back as the Revolution- service.” the direction of Frank Ricco and the Honor Guard. Since then, the event has grown more and more every ary War. “Each year, the speaker tries to incorporate the theme of “Anyone that serves qualifies for respect and honor,” says year, and this year there will be a total of 346 wreaths laid at the year into their speeches,” Andrea says. “We are excited to Andrea Semenoff, Club President of the Women’s Civic Club. Laurel Point Cemetery. They will once again be able to place a have Bryan Benson with us and we expect the event to go on “Veterans always need to be remembered no matter where or wreath on every grave and it is thanks in large part to the help no matter the weather. We have had snow, rain, ice, and sleet when they served. In eight out of the last 10 years, we have laid of the community. Without their help sponsoring wreaths, but we have pushed through.” a wreath on every grave, and our oldest veterans are from the none of this would be possible. This year’s event will take place on December 19th, NaAnyone who wants to sponsor a wreath can visit wreathWar of 1812 and the Revolutionary War.” tional Wreaths Across America Day. The ceremony has been However, it hasn’t always been as big of a ceremony as it sacrossamerica.org and click on sponsor a wreath. Thanks to cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, but the 346 wreaths is today. When the Women’s Civic Club first got involved in the continual help from the community these wreaths are able will still be placed. Those that sponsored a wreath for a loved Wreaths Across America, it wasn’t a big ceremony at all. They to be laid every year and the Women’s Civic Club takes pride one may attend to place the wreath. The club will be following heard about the event through a newspaper article and it was in honoring these sponsorships. all safety guidelines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. “The community does it to help others out,” says Andrea. brought to the attention of the board of directors. Everyone “We are keeping in touch with Wreaths Across America was on board with the idea, but it was too late to get assistance “Most of our wreath sponsorships are from local people as and following the state guidelines,” states Andrea. “So far, the well as small communities that want to honor our veterans. from sponsors. event is scheduled to go on like always, but we will continue to So, the ladies banded together and did what they could We also have people who were born in the area and have since check with the cemetery board. Masks and social distancing to make sure that the Women’s Civic Club and Laurel Point moved away. We have one from Maine who sponsors a wreath will be recommended for the ceremony to make people feel Cemetery were able to participate in the event. It may have every single year for the event.” more comfortable.” This year’s theme Is “Be an American Worth Fighting been a small ceremony, but the organizers at the time had no We would like to thank all those who served for their For” and will be a staple of every wreath-laying ceremony idea how big their event would become. service to our country and Wreaths Across America is just one “During our first year, we found out about the event and across the country. This theme will be incorporated in the of the many ways to honor their sacrifice and keep their legacy it was already too late to set any sponsors,” says Andrea. “So, speeches and events taking place throughout the day as alive year after year. wreaths are laid and prayers are said to remember those who

GreeneScene by Maura Lindstrom

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

Meet our Tea m

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. Each month, 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, Bret Moore. Bret joined the GreeneScene staff as a sports col-

HOLIDAY II 2020

umnist in August this year. He is currently the Director of Recreation for Greene County. Previously, he served five years as the Director of Community Service for the 13th Judicial District. Both careers followed his retirement as an English teacher and coach at McGuffey High School. He is an alum of Waynesburg Central and Waynesburg College. His postgraduate worked included master’s degrees in business and communications from Waynesburg and California University of PA, respectively. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Washington/Greene Job Training Agency and Mission for Miracles. He has previously served on the boards of the Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Greene County Historical Society, Waynesburg College Alumni, and the Waynesburg Special Events Committee. He is also a member of the Waynesburg Lions Club and the Cornerstone Genealogical Society. His previous print experience includes being a columnist for the Greene County Messenger and serving as the Sports Information Director at Waynesburg College.

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

JUST FOR FUN Favorite Music: Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, George Strait, Garth Brooks Favorite Movie: A River Runs Through It Favorite TV Show: The Sopranos Currently Reading: American Demagogue (The Great Awakening and the Rise and Fall of Populism) by J.D. Dickey Favorite Hidden PA Gem: Town of New Hope Favorite Vacation Spot: Scotland Favorite Season: Fall Movie I Can Quote: The Godfather & Caddyshack If you could live in any period of history when would it be? The present - maybe pre-2020 What’s your dream car? 1968 Ford Mustang Convertible (blue)

Spreading Christmas cheer all through the year

Despite the difficulties of 2020, First Federal of Greene County and our employees contributed more than $75,000 to our valued communities this year. May the New Year bring you peace and good health, and we look forward to continuing to serve you. We’re here. For you. For generations. ALS Association•American Cancer Society•American Heart Association•Carmichaels Women’s Civic Club•CASA of Greene County•City Mission•City Mission-Living Stones, Inc.•Colby’s Stars Foundation, Inc.•Community Foundation of Fayette County•Community Foundation of Greene County•Corner Cupboard Food Bank•Cumberland Township Food Pantry•Domestic Violence Services of SWPA•Fayette Chamber of Commerce•Fayette County Community Action Agency, Inc.•Greater Washington County Food Bank•Greene County Chamber of Commerce•Greene County Humane Society•Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation•Greene County Salute to Veterans•Greene County Salvation Army•Greene County United Way•Kiwanis Club of Uniontown•March of Dimes•Mon Valley Habitat for Humanity•Morgan Yoney•Rosenbaum Family House•Salvation Army Greene County•Salvation Army Uniontown•Social Service League•Toys for Tots•United Way of SWPA•Washington Area Humane Society•Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful•Waynesburg University•WHS Foundation•WVU Medicine Children’s•...And the list goes on!

NMLS#458729

www.firstfederalofgreene.com 24

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

Sponsored by

www.firstfederalofgreene.com

Intentional Walks By Bret Moore

Gone But Not Forgotten, Part 1

n the first half of the 20th century, nine different high schools fielded athletic teams in Greene County. Before West Greene became a unified district in 1954, Rogersville, Richhill, Aleppo and Nineveh each had its own high school; Mt. Morris did not merge with Waynesburg until 1962. Unfortunately, each of these schools had a proud sports history that has been subsumed by consolidations. Mt. Morris became an official school in 1922 when they met the state requirement to graduate at least 12 students. In the 1920s, basketball was the only sport at the school. The games were played in Eugene Fitzgerald’s barn, which the school rented for $20 month. One of the players was future coach Dale Kennedy. The girls started playing basketball during the 1927-28 season. The members of the team were Martha, Dorothy and Irma Fox, Katherine Lewellen, Cecil Renner, Esther Pyle, and Clara Bell. The program faded when football became a sport. The school first sent a track team to the county meet in 1926. The following two years, John Kennedy won the county pole vault with jumps of 10 feet. The Blackhawks continued to dominate the local vault events. In 1931, John Mossburg won the county meet with a height of 11 feet. The meet’s top point winner was Dale Kennedy, who won the mile race with a time of 5:16. Both boys were awarded scholarships to Waynesburg College after the meet. The school also won the county meet in ’32 and ’39. Mt. Morris played their first football game in 1931 after obtaining old equipment and uniforms from Waynesburg College. They played their games at Downey Fox’s field and wore the orange and black of the Jackets. Although they did not win a game that year, they tied three. In 1932, the games were moved to the old fairgrounds, where they won their first game against Nineveh.

HOLIDAY II 2020

In 1937, the team bought new equipment and changed their colors to black and white. Coach Dale Kennedy also arrived that year and by the final season of the decade had the Blackhawks finishing 7-2. Although the school emphasized track in the spring, pitcher Claude Haines and catcher Tony Farace had success on the diamond for the Blackhawks in the mid-1930s. By 1940, Dale Kennedy had turned the school into a local football power. They won a share of the county championship after finishing 8-0-1. The tie was a 6-6 battle with perennial power Cumberland Township. This was also the team’s first year as an official member of the WPIAL. After another successful season in 1941 (4-2-2), Kennedy joined the war effort. He returned in 1946 and led the team to another undefeated season (5-0-1). In 1940, John Lewellen set the county pole vault record by jumping 11’ 4”. The following year Lewellen and Joe Donley qualified for the WPIAL Indoor Track Meet at the Pitt Field House. At the meet, Lewellen set a WPIAL record in the pole vault at 11’ 9”; this bettered the old indoor record by 9 inches. He also finished third in the high jump. They continued to be one of the better programs in the county throughout the decade. The Blackhawks won the county meet in 1956. In 1957, Jack Diehl set county records for the discus (126’ 8’’) and shotput (46’ 5’’). Despite being the second smallest school in the WPIAL, the Hawks’ football team finished 2-6-2 in 1961. Interestingly, one of the victories ended Valley High School’s 18 game winning streak. Wayne Kiger continued the school’s track success when he lettered in track at WVU during the springs of 1963 and 1964. Nineveh or Morris Township High School was a baseball powerhouse in the 1920s and was the first local scholastic team to wear real uniforms. Jim Johnson was their star pitcher, who would often win both games

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

The 1957 Mt. Morris track team. Front to back, L-R: Jack Diehl, Donald Brook, David Morris, Gary Lemley, Gary Cain, Carl Collins, Loren Stump, Melvin Furman, Willard Bolyard, Fred Morris, and Arthur Collins.

of a doubleheader. Jake Porter was the team’s best player. Since competition could be hard to find, the team would schedule independent and college teams. The sport faded as the school’s population dwindled by the dawn of the following decade. Nineveh had its first basketball team in 1924. They developed rivalries with Beallsville and Mt. Morris because they were of a similar size and faced similar obstacles. The

boys played in Throckmorton’s garage across the road from the general store. The girls would occasionally practice or play when a floor was available. In 1928, the community built a school with an indoor court. By 1929, they had successful boys’ and girls’ teams. That season, the girls in the line-up were Clutter, Hopkins, Lightner, McCullough, and Huffman. They beat Mt. Morris for the regular season county championship.

ATHLETES OF THE MONTH Hunter Voithofer is the son of Jason and Pam Voithofer of Carmichaels and Heather and Tim Lucas of Washington, PA. He is a senior member of the National Honor Society with a 4.2 GPA. He was also a member of the football team and was a four- year starter. He has been All-County, All–Conference, and Defensive Captain the past three years as well. He is a member of the National Honor Society, and the Esports team. Hunter has earned the following academic awards: Highest Honors, 2017 Invention Land Winner, 2019 First Federal of Greene County Academic Excellence Winner and 2019 Century Academic All -Conference. He also received the Lions Club December Boy of the Month for Carmichaels High School. Hunter was awarded Washington and Jefferson College’s most prestigious merit- award, the $34,000 annual Thrive Scholarship. Hunter’s goal is to pursue

a career in biomedical engineering. He is also a member of St. Hugh Roman Catholic Church and enjoys hunting, fishing, lifting weights and spending time with his family.

Remi Lohr is the daughter of Jason and Tricia Lohr of Carmichaels. As a member of the Mike’s two-time WPIAL finalist and three-time section champion golf team, Remi made history herself. As a sophomore and junior, she qualified for the

state finals for both the girls and the boys. In 2019, she was the Silver Medalist in the Western Pennsylvania Boy’s Regional. She was the first girl to compete in the event. She was named to the All-County Golf Team four straight years. Remi is also a member of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Junior Golf and Callaway Junior Tours. Off the course, she studies at For the Love of Dance, captains the Mike’s cheerleading squad and plays the trombone in the band. In addition, she performs in the musicals with the drama club. Her academic and volunteer activities include student council, National Honor Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and food bank volunteer. Moreover, she is the Senior Class President and the 2020 Carmichaels Homecoming Queen. She plans to attend either West Virginia Wesleyan College or West Liberty University on a golf/academic scholarship to pursue a degree in management with a minor in Marketing

CARMICHAELS CHRONICLES

uture Pittsburgh Steeler runningback, Larry Krutko made his debut for the Mikes in 1951. He entered his first varsity game during the season’s fourth contest against Rostraver. He scored three touchdowns in the Mike’s 38-13 win. The team finished 4-4-1 on the season. The following year, the Mikes went undefeated (11-0) and won the Class B WPIAL Championship by defeating Zelienople 40-14 in the first round and Wilmerding 12-6 in the title game. During the regular season, they had run roughshod over their opponents: North and South Union; East Bethlehem, Masontown, Mapletown, Jefferson, Waynesburg, Brownsville and Glassport. In Krutko’s first complete season, he scored 99 regular season points and 28 more in the playoffs. He was also named to the AllWPIAL First Team along with Jerry Uda and

Franklin Ward. Ken Nopwasky, Tom Colbert, Jim Haught, Joe Cielensky and John Jazwa all received Honorable Mention on that WPIAL team. Uda also received Honorable Mention on the All-State Team. The 1953 team also finished undefeated (9-0). However, they were unable to gain the needed Gardner points because nobody wanted to schedule them. Dale Kennedy’s Mt. Morris team had just moved up from Class C and offered to play the Mikes the last game of the season to help them gain enough Gardner points. However, the Mikes still finished third. (At the time, only two schools made the playoffs) However, Krutko was also named to the National High School Football Team and went on to star at WVU before being drafted by the Steelers.

sports@directresults.us 26

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

ATHLETES OF THE MONTH Gabriel McConville is the son of Lauran and Mile Gregory and Todd McConville. He is a four-time letterman in cross country and was the team’s captain the past two years. In addition, he was All-County the past three years and was the team MVP all four seasons. He was named the McCracken Pharmacy Athlete of the week in October. This season he was undefeated in the section, placed 5th at the Bald Eagle Invitational, 8th at the Mingo Classic, and 15th overall at the WPIAL Cross Country Championships. Gabriel is also a 3-time letterman for the track and field team, where he was named All-County and team MVP the past two years. During the 2019, season he was a member of the Section Championship team and member of the first place 4x400 Relay Team. At the 2019 WPIAL Individual Championships, he placed 10th overall in the mile and 6th in the 4 x 400 Relay. Gabriel is also a two-year letterman in soccer and basketball. He maintains a 3.6 GPA and is a member of

the National Honor Society, Varsity Club, Ski Club, and Spanish Club. After graduation, Gabriel plans on attending college and majoring in Educational Psychology.

Emma Robinson is our Lady Raider of the Month. She is the daughter of Jen-

nifer Stephenson and Lee Robinson. During her volleyball career, she was named second team all-section her sophomore and first- team all-section the following two seasons. Her senior year, she earned her fourth varsity letter, her third GCADA all-star designation, and was named to the All-WPIAL First Team. In addition, she was named McCracken Pharmacy Athlete of the Week and was twice named the WPIAL AA Athlete of the Week. She also played for the Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Club for three years. Emma’s Clubs and organizations include: Alpha Beta, Varsity Club, Spanish Club, Art Club, the Tribe Club, and the National Honor Society. She was also Waynesburg Central’s 2020 Homecoming Queen. Emma plans to attend Duquesne University to major in nursing.

HOLIDAY II 2020

RAIDER RECALL

n 1958, the Waynesburg football team finished 9-0, won the County Championship, the Southwestern Conference and made the playoffs. However, they faced the famous Chuck Klausing Braddock team that won six straight WPIAL titles (1954-59) without losing a game. They played well but lost a tough 20-0 game. Interestingly, Braddock almost didn’t get into the game. They were fourth in Gardner points going into the last week of the season. However, top ranked Crafton had been using an ineligible player and had to forfeit all their games, and third ranked Scott Township was upset by Carnegie on the last week of the season. Therefore, the Raiders had made it to the play-offs via

the old Gardner Points System ranked number one. A large part of that was thanks to a victory over rival Carmichaels, who had defeated five “A” teams. Tackle Jerry Phillips was named to the All-State and Big 33 Team. Running backs Jim Husk and Al Marks were also named to the All-WPIAL Team. Phillips played well in the Big 33 game, an 18-0 victory against a USA All-Star team. The 1959 team finished the year 8-1 and again won the conference title. The lone loss was a 12-7 game at Masontown. However, they once again ran into Braddock in the playoffs and fell 25-7. Gary Rush and Dick Baker were named to the All-WPIAL Team that year.

Masontown, PA

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

724-583-2680 724-583-2685 amedisys.com

GREENE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION NEWS

lthough 2020 put a damper on many of our plans, the Department of Recreation hopes to continue providing exciting recreational opportunities. This year, the inaugural Greene County Cup pitted all three local golf courses against each other in a team format. The successful tournament will expand next summer with additional twists. In September, youngsters reeled in huge trout and fell in love with a great family activity during the Fall Fishing Frenzy at the water park. These outdoor individual activities were perfect for the constraints of social distancing. The department’s goal is to expand into organized leagues and tournaments for young people and adults, and to bring back community-based activities such as county

all-star games and food fairs. Future plans include tournaments for volleyball, horseshoes, basketball and softball; a community theater group is also on the agenda. These activities bring the cherished past into the present and share those same cultural values with our children and grandchildren. To establish these goals, your input is needed. We will also need volunteers and coaches to mentor and guide these programs. If you have ideas or suggestions for such activities, please call our office at 724852-5323 to share your ideas.

ATHLETES OF THE MONTH Kyle Clayton is a twotime WPIAL golf qualifier and reached the PIAA tournament this past season. The Jefferson-Morgan senior completed the year as the section medalist and was named team captain and all-county for the third straight year. He also captained the Rockets’ baseball team last spring. His other achievements include being a member of the National Honor Society and the school’s academic team. His is the son of Jason and Julie Clayton of Jefferson.

Madison Clayton of Jefferson recently scored the first goal of her collegiate career at the University of Pittsburgh. Madison, who played for Waynesburg Central, scored from the 18thyard box against ACC Champion Florida State. The goal came with 45 seconds left in the first half and was the first allowed by FSU on the season. The score earned the freshman a starting spot for the remainder of the season.

Abby Ankrom is the daughter of Bill and Amy Ankrom of Rices Landing. She is a 4-year letter winner and captain of the volleyball team. She is also a member of the softball team, president of the Student Council, vice-president of the National Honor Society, treasurer of the Spanish Club. Her other activities include Drama Club, Peer Jury, and SADD. Outside of school, she is also a member of Hewitt Presbyterian Church and their youth group. After graduation, she plans to attend Waynesburg University to major in nursing and continue her volleyball career.

RETRO ROCKETS

he Jeffs opened the 1950s with a 7-1 football campaign with the only loss coming to a much larger AA Connellsville team. They easily won the County Championship. Lineman Tom Elby was the County’s Most Valuable Player and was named to the WPIAL and PIAA All-State First Team. Ed Cipcic was also First Team All-WPIAL and All-State Honorable Mention. George Lynn, Ollie Hewitt and Lee Kline received Honorable Mention on the WPIAL Team. In 1951, the team finally earned enough Gardner points to qualify for the WPIAL Class B Championship game. The regular season

included wins over Ellsworth, Rankin, East Beth, Chartiers, Carmichaels, Centerville, Masontown and Waynesburg. They faced a powerful, heavily favored Wilmerding team in the championship. Andy Cipcic ran for a 78-yard touchdown on the Jeffs’ first play, and the teams traded touchdowns until the score was 20-20. However, the game ended with Jefferson on their opponent’s 12- yard line, and they settled for a WPIAL Co-Championship. Guard John Yourchick was named to the AllWPIAL Team and received All-State honors.

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

ATHLETES OF THE MONTH Pioneer of the Month, Brayden Mooney is the son of Heath and Denise Mooney of Sycamore. He is a two-year letterman in football and currently a three-year letterman in wrestling and baseball. Brayden was chosen for the WPIAL Sportsmanship Summit in 2019 and received the Challenge Program Award from First Federal of Greene County for achievements in STEM education. He was also named one of West Greene’s Top 10 Student Athletes of the year. Brayden has also been involved in the Greene County 4H market steer and lamb clubs since 2010. He plans to become an electrician after graduation.

Jersey Wise is our Lady Pioneer of the Month. She is the daughter of Candace and Brandon Wise of Rogersville. Wise is a three-year letter winner in volleyball, and a four-year letter winner in both basketball and softball. She was an integral part of the Pioneers’ run to WPIAL and PIAA success in both sports. An honor roll student, Jersey plans to major in physical therapy and exercise science in college.

Members were Gary Anderson, Garrett Shreve, Bryson Barrett, Evan Shiflett, Colt Frye, Jayden Burns, Joel Rizor, Jacob Rizor, Bret Scott, Josie Mason, Mac Sproat, Braden Moore, Jed Mason, Ty Crouse, Garrett Barnes, Brady Carpenter, Corbin Rice, Lane Stephenson, Chase Howard, Kyle Cunningham. The team’s coaches were: Shane Frye, Jeff Rizor, Chad Carpenter, Mike Howard, Eric Shiflett, Ryan Crouse.

Running back Joel Rizor breaks free against Morgantown’s defense in the title game.

PIONEER PAST

n both 1957 and 1958, West Greene completed undefeated regular seasons on the gridiron. Coach Dale Kennedy’s men were led by future West Virginia University All-American Jerry Yost at quarterback. The ’57 team ran through a tough schedule that included: Point Marion (26-7), East Washington (40-0), Ellsworth (12-0), South Side Beaver (14-0), Mt. Morris (53-19), Claysville (33-0), West Beth (26-0) and Cameron (450). However, the team did not collect enough Gardner points to make the playoffs. The same thing happened the following year. The Pioneers only played a seven-game schedule that year, and two of the teams on their

HOLIDAY II 2020

2020 MOUNTAIN STATE YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPS

schedule only won one game, which was a fatal flaw when obtaining Gardner points. The team finished third in the standings behind Montour and Edgewood. One of the exciting games that year was a 18-13 win over Southside Beaver. The Pioneers trail with one minute to play, but a 55-yard halfback option pass from star Marvin Watson to Price Cheek saved the undefeated season. Although they failed to make the WPIAL post-season, a game was arranged with Avella to be played under the lights at Waynesburg for the Class B Washington-Greene Championship.

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

MAPLE MEMORIES

n 1968, the Maples went undefeated, yet did not make the playoffs. They had defeated Jefferson (26-0), Bentworth (27-7), Carmichaels (33-6), St. Francis, WV, (40-7), Fairchance- Georges (26-6), Frazier (39-13), West Greene (49-6) and German Township (26-0). However, they were denied the postseason invitation because they lacked points in the old Gardner Point System. Unfortu-

nately, they were eliminated on the last Friday of the season when Chartiers-Houston beat Carmichaels 37-0 to receive the final berth. Oakmont High School went on to win the Class B Title that year. Running back Jay Caldwell won the county scoring title that season with 71 points and 11 touchdowns.

Bald Eagles Spotted in Greene These two eagles were spotted in Center Township near Rogersville on November 4th. Photo was taken by Ron of the Ralph K. Bell Bird Club and submitted by Marjorie Howard, president of the Ralph K. Bell Bird Club.

HOLIDAY I WINNERS Christmas Giveaway Basket: Rose Whipkey GreeneScene Contest: Bonnie Martin (Answer: Jollytown Rd, New Freeport) Dog Grooming Certificate: Tony Simpson Haunted Hills Happy Horror Days Tickets: Felicia Crawford, Gregory Betchy, Nicole Rafitz, Jesse Breakiron

GreeneScene GreeneScene Community Community Magazine Magazine â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘

HOLIDAY FEBRUARYII 2020

Wishing you a safe and healthy Holiday Season. HOLIDAY II 2020

â&#x20AC;¢ GreeneScene Community Magazine

whs.org/greene

he COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes to our community, not just to our residents, but also to our businesses, schools, and healthcare system. Direct Results is dedicated to providing the best protective measures for your business. We offer a variety of items to keep your team safe, including masks, hand sanitizer and wipes, plexiglass separators, furniture and cubicle separators, safety and awareness signage, disinfectant, no-hand-contact door openers, antibacterial pens, COVID-19 kits, and temperature strips. Direct Results has been in the personal protection equipment market for 18 years, and we can provide all of these items and more. We can even customize most items with your company’s logo. Direct Results has 2 oz., 8 oz. and 30 count hand sanitizers in stock and ready to be customized with your logo. The customized hand sanitizing wipes comes in a small canister that is perfect for drivers on the road or office person-

nel…great for sporting events and school kids, too…really anyone! The key chain lets you hook to belt loop, purse, backpack and more or just keep handy in your vehicle. The little canister contains 30 wipes – so it lasts awhile, too. Really easy to use. They make for a great, low cost promo item for events, or supporting community groups, or at meetings and such. We have helped many organizations manage their operations safely and/or prepare for reopening. We would love to share our strategies with you and help you prepare for a safer reopening. We hope to be able to serve you and your business as you continue to conduct your business operations. Let Direct Results help you solve your PPE challenges and plan for the future. We would be happy to provide personal and customized consultations. Call us at 724-627-2040 to discuss your COVID-19 safety needs. Stay safe!

GreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

Chuck Carnahan State Farm

huck Carnahan has always had a passion for helping people - that’s why he became a State Farm Agent in 2011. Chuck, a U.S. Army Veteran who served in the 25th Infantry Division, graduated California Univ. of Pa. with a B.S. in Finance and is a member of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce. Being a small business owner himself, Chuck understands the importance of working with small businesses in the community for their insurance and planning needs. His agency excels at helping families prepare for the unexpected and ensures their customers realize the importance of having a financial plan, and achieving financial success. Some of his office awards and recognitions include Chairman’s Circle Qualifier (Top 3% of over 19,000 Agents in the Country), Senior Vice Presidents Club Qualifier, Ambassador Travel Qualifier, and State Farm Bronze Honor Club Qualifier. “One of the key factors in our agency’s success is our dedicated and highly experienced team. I couldn’t do it without them.” In addition to Chuck, the team at the Waynesburg office includes Christy Alltop, Amanda Hull, Kaylee Duke and Lisa Smitley; all are fully licensed in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Our team

enjoys helping customers choose the right coverage and strive to ensure their customers understand the importance of life insurance. Chuck also contributes the agency’s success to the community. “We are very grateful for the community here in Waynesburg and Greene County and all of the support they have given us. We have developed really close and good-working relationships with our customers and the community,” he says. Chuck Carnahan State Farm Insurance is committed to helping our local community. With 100+ different products and solutions available to its customers, Chuck Carnahan State Farm Agency can provide protection for all of your insurance needs. From auto, home, life and health, business, commercial and farm policies, to investments and banking options, his agency has something to offer to each of its customers. “Our products and coverage’s are designed help families protect the people and things they value most. Our job is to help our

customers know and understand their options and to help them make wise decisions,” Chuck says. “Call, text or email us for quote, we’re ready to help you, too.”

Nanny’s Waste Not Want Not

his past October, Nanny’s celebrated three years of giving previously-owned goods a new home and helping the community. Nanny’s originated thanks to owner Nancy McClarren’s main need at the time – to empty her house. “My number one goal was to clean out my house and get rid of all the things that I had accumulated,” Nancy shares. Instead of hauling her items to flea markets or dealing with the weather at a yard sale, Nancy opened up her shop in the Carmichaels Plaza and began selling her items, allowing her the freedom

HOLIDAY II 2020

to sell at the times she wanted. All the items at Nanny’s are donated, many of them by her customers. “I’ve had many very nice donations made,” Nancy says. “Plus anyone that donates, I allow them to choose an item in the store to take home.” Ten percent of all proceeds benefit Servant Song Ministries in Waynesburg and “that includes the customers that say keep the change.” Nanny’s reasonable prices are made even better by the daily, weekly, and monthly sales. Stop by and take a look at the variety of goods Nanny’s has to offer – you won’t be disappointed!

• GreeneScene Community Magazine

Open Your Home this Holiday Season By Melody Eller

or many children, Christmas is the most magical time of the year. Many of us fondly recall our childhood being filled with hope and wonder at what the Christmas season was sure to bring; the sights, sounds and smells can never be forgotten. Who remembers the excitement of tiptoeing through the house to sneak a peek at the tree early Christmas morning to see if Santa had come? Did Santa know you had tried your hardest to be good all year? Would he bring that shiny red bicycle you had been wishing for? Or a new doll? Now imagine you’re six years old and when you open your eyes Christmas morning it takes just a minute for you to remember you aren’t at home. Your mom and dad aren’t right down the hallway. In fact, you’re not sure when you’ll see your parents again. You’re not even sure where you’ll live next month. This year you aren’t wishing for a doll or a bicycle. Your only wish is to be with your family again. “Being a foster child at Christmas time is extremely difficult, especially for those children old enough to have memories of Christmas with their families,” shares Beth Booker, Foster Care Supervisor at Greene County Children and Youth Services. “For some kids it is hard because they may not get to see their parents for Christmas. On the other hand, some kids may have the chance to experience a Christmas like they never have before.” Greene County Foster Care has the support of many wonderful businesses and people in the county who go above and beyond to provide foster children with presents through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. The program provides Christmas assistance to families in need; each child in foster care is allowed three wishes. These wishes are displayed on wish cards, along with the child’s code name. These wish cards are distributed to various businesses throughout the count, where they are displayed. Patrons and employees of these business choose a child and fulfill the wishes listed on the

work Supervisor. In May, she transitioned to supervising the foster care unit. “Having worked as a caseworker and experiencing first-hand what it is like to remove kids from their home and place them in a foster home, I have witnessed what a traumatic experience it is for the children. These children are removed from their home for a variety of reasons; enduring deplorable housing, parental drug use, physical abuse, sexual abuse, medical neglect, the list goes on,” says Beth. “Due to a foster home shortage, sometimes we are required to drive the children out of Greene County, occasionally over an hour away to the nearest foster family. This process only heightens the child’s anxiety. When they are able to stay in a foster home within their community, it helps them handle the transition better since they then have the opportunity to stay in the same school and keep some of those hometown connections.” Currently, the Greene County Foster system has nine certified foster homes, six of them being in Greene County, with approximately 65 children in care with ages ranging from newborn to 17 years old. Greene County Children and Youth Service’s goal is to try and safely return the children back to the care of their parents or an appropriate family member. The agency works two goals concurrently, with reunification being the primary goal and adoption being the subsequent goal. Once a child has been in foster care for 15 months and there has not been any progress towards reunification, the agency will start looking at terminating parental rights. Approximately 25% of the kids who come into care move on to the adoption process. There are far too many children within the foster care system without the hope of reunification with their birth parents, adoption, or a future filled with stability. Please consider, not only during the Christmas season but all year, how you can get involved in making a difference in the life of a foster child. Monetary donations are always welcome. These donations can be used to purchase diapers, wipes, formula or can be used to allow foster children to participate in extracurricular activities. If you would like more information on becoming a foster parent or would like to provide assistance for the Angel Tree Program contact Greene County Foster Care at 724-852-5217 or visit GCFosterCare.com.

card. The foster care agency then ensures the purchased gifts are distributed to the foster homes before Christmas morning. Along with their wishes, the agency also provides the child’s clothing and shoe size. If it is possible for the children to have a visit with their parents on Christmas, the agency does its best to make that happen. “We do have some amazing foster parents who help set these visits up,” says Beth. “If it isn’t possible for them to see their families in person on Christmas, then they Facetime or have phone calls.” This year the foster care Christmas party will be held on Sunday, December 13. Due to COVID restrictions, the format of the party has been modified. Ron Lewis Automotive in Waynesburg has graciously offered for the agency to use their drive-thru bay at their dealership. The foster families will have the opportunity to drive through and see Santa, grab some food to go, and pick up some extra treats - all from the safety of their car! Greene County Foster Care also works closely with Loved Again Charities to ensure foster kids in Greene County don’t go without any necessities during the year. Loved Again Charities provides ‘duffle bags of love,’ filling duffle bags with personal care items, toys, books, and clothes for children in the foster care system. Donations can be made directly to the Greene County Foster Care agency or Loved Again Charities. Items accepted include clothing, shoes, coats, toiletries, diapers, baby food, formula, and monetary donations. Loved Again Charities is located at 79 South Morgan Street in Waynesburg or on Facebook @lovedagaincharities. Margaret Keruskin (caseworker), Beth Booker (foster care supervisor), and Beth Booker has worked for Greene County Sierra Sells (caseworker) work with the Salvation Army to make sure that Children and Youth Service for three and a half years, Greene County’s foster care children have a happy holiday . starting as a caseworker and then promoting to CaseGreeneScene Community Magazine •

HOLIDAY II 2020

â&#x20AC;¢ GreeneScene Community Magazine

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Pittsburgh, PA Permit No. 1219

GreeneScene Community Magazine â&#x20AC;¢

HOLIDAY II 2020