July GreeneScene 2018

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2018 • GreeneScene Magazine

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GreeneScene Magazine •

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2018

GreeneScene by Rebecca Morris

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2018 • GreeneScene Magazine

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I Love this P l ace

OAK FOREST, PA

by Colleen Nelson

Ira (Jack) and Jeanette Husk turned his service station country store near Oak Forest into an auction house in 1967. The auction house was open until 1975.

Neddie Woods bridge near Oak Forest.

The famous “Willow Inn” graced the cover of the Sunday Roto Magazine from the Pittsburgh Press on October 22, 1978. Painting by notable watercolorist Nat Youngblood.

met Bob Rogers of Oak Forest on a bus when more than 20,000 UMWA coal miners and their families converged on Washington DC in September 2016 to petition congress to save their health insurance and pension benefits. I was the embedded reporter and many of these people were, and still are, my neighbors and friends. It was a long ride, long enough for Bob to tell me something of his family’s 128 years of living in a place I only knew as a cluster of houses to drive through on the way to the Willow Inn. For nearly 30 years people came there to enjoy a night of scrumptious dining and live music in an impeccably restored old brick farmhouse run by Ralph Wilson and Pat Varner. I knew the inn was from the post Colonial era, but on that ride I was about to get my first taste of the history that still lingers along the banks of Pursley Creek in the southeastern corner of Center Township.

Bob’s home and the Willow Inn were both built in 1790 by brothers Thomas and George Hoge. “I’m the next farm up the road from the Willow Inn,” he told me. “You should see it.”

Last month, I took Bob up on his offer and set off to meet descendants of some of the first settlers who still live there.

I came to Bob’s now whitewashed, very historic farmhouse armed with some of the rich history I found preserved at the Cornerstone Genealogical Society, much of it handwritten, some even in prose.

Who used to live in Oak Forest back in the day when the first gas and oil boom was propelling pioneer life into a new era? Just ask Effie Ely(1880 – 1967), whose poem I was delighted to find in those files. It begins: “Our people have been wanting me since they

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heard of Carrie Nation To write a letter for your paper and tell their occupation.

Throckmorton and Huffman run the store While Jessie Spraggs drives a team James A. Rogers the rolling mill runs And Cole keeps up the steam Dr. J. W. Grimes heals the sick and drives away all pain He gives the proper medicine and never comes back again!”

“When I was a kid I used to pump water from Effie Ely’s pump and take it to a neighbor,” Bob told me. “Her house is still there, it sat beside the store.

The mill my family ran is gone now, it was on the other side of the store.”

The first settlers to Pursley Creek were the Provosts and the Parsleys in 1775 and others soon followed, swapping and selling their claims to the land as it was cleared for farming. By the time the Hoges built their stately plantations in 1790, log

cabins were giving way to brick, with kilns along the stream to make them. The house that would later become the Willow Inn was called South Cove and was known for its beautiful springhouse. The Hoges and a fellow farmer named Calls soon had a four-story post and beam mill set up on the creek to grind grain and cut logs and plane lumber. The settlement that grew up around the mill became known as Callstown, which changed when “Oak Forest was laid out in 1875” around that same mill.

According to the anonymous handwritten notes on file at Cornerstone, the little town now had a population of 92, with two general stores, an undertaker, two blacksmiths, a shoemaker, justice of peace and postmaster, with hat, dress and broom shops. It was surrounded by rolling hills dotted with hundreds of flocks of fine Marinos and Dorsets in a county that, after the Civil War “lead in sheep and wool production in the state.”

The James A. Rogers in Effie’s poem, along with his brother John, bought the Hoge and Call mill in 1890 when they moved to town. They converted it from water to natural gas and flour and

This is where the Marvel Milling Company grist mill once stood. The little yellow house on the right was where Effie Ely once lived.

livestock feed production boomed. John’s son C.C. Rogers and the Marvel Milling Company brand even produced chipped wheat cereal for breakfast.

The Great Depression of 1929 destroyed the fortunes of many families and C.C. Rogers sold the business and the brand to Allan Rush, who also bought the store next door. The mill continued production, running seven days a week through the World War II years and beyond. But when the government began paying farmers not to grow grain, business at the mill began winding down.

But the neighborhood still had needs. In 1951 Ira “Jack” Husk opened a service station country store near the family farm a few miles from Oak Forest and daughter Jo Husk Hoy remembers pumping gas there as a nine-year-old. “We had a little room in the back where we cooked and did just about everything because we were there every day. We sold penny candy and bread… things like that. When the bell rang we ran out.”

Jo remembers how surprised the family was when dad announced he was going to be an auctioneer. Jack graduated from Reppert Auction School in Indiana August 6, 1967, the service station was expanded and the whole family pitched in to run the new family business. “Mom baked pies and made deep fried stuffing balls that everybody loved,” Jo recalls. The building burned in the 1970s and was rebuilt. But it was Jack’s heart attack while

This brick, now covered by logs, one room school-house closed in 1959 and is now a private residence.

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doing an auction in 1975 that closed the doors of another local business in Oak Forest.

In the 1950s two Gabriel brothers moved into the store next door and “went to Pittsburgh and bought seconds and began selling door to door in a truck.” This great idea was parlayed into the chain of “Gabes” discount department stores that today draws local shoppers throughout several states.

Bob’s own family story mirrors the changing times of the 1950s. His father Fred was born in 1912 and lost his right arm in the mill at age 12. He became a highway inspector on the Pennsylvania Turnpike project and when Bob was born in 1947, Fred was on the road as the turnpike was completed across the state. The family went with him on some of his longer assignments.

When Fred returned to the area to work on Interstate 79, Bob found himself back in Oak Forest. In 1960 he began helping Frank Forshay on his farm. Frank was the grandson of Sam Hoge and his farm is the one I came to visit when Bob invited me over for some coffee and history.

Bob became a returning resident when he bought Frank’s farm and moved in to raise his own family and become a coal miner.

In the town of Oak Forest, many of the old buildings are gone and some of the houses that remain have been purchased by the coal company now known as Contura and sit vacant. The mill and the store are gone but Effie Ely’s little house is still there and across the road is the house where Violet Clancy and her watchmaker husband lived in 1995 when Violet interviewed her neighbor Fred Rogers about life in Oak Forest. The story ran in the Observer Reporter and you can read it and much more if you stop by the genealogical society’s log cabin on

Greene Street, Waynesburg.

The brick one-room school that was open until 1959 is now a private home, with a fresh exterior of logs. It sits below the rerouted road beside the bridge that was closed for months in 2001 while the changes were being made. From what I read in another newspaper article in the Oak Forest file, that closed bridge was the final blow to business at Willow Inn. Oak Forest had become a sleepy little hamlet when Ralph Wilson and Pat Varner bought South Cove in 1974 and restored it to become a worldclass restaurant that attracted corporate clients, discriminating out-of-towners and local foodies. For the next 28 years, the Willow Inn, with a sleepover at Cole’s Bed and Breakfast attracted visitors who came back for more.

Ralph died in 1998 but his legendary recipes were passed on to fellow chef Robin Jenkins who had worked beside him for years. But lavish corporate dining out with clients slowed and out of town reservations all but dried up in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Air travel was disrupted for months and getting to the Inn meant taking back roads. The restaurant closed in 2002 and the house that Sam Hoge built in 1790 sits vacant on property that is now owned by Contura.

People come and go but the beauty of the land remains, as nature reclaims its own and those who stay find new ways to thrive.

Oak Forest Road parts company with Route 18/21 two miles from Waynesburg. It is a beautiful drive that includes the historic Neddie Woods covered bridge a mile from Oak Forest. Fathers and their sons and daughters now come from states away to take that drive. Jim and Barb Butler have

This house was built by Sam Hoag in 1790, the same year his brother Thomas built the house that would someday be known as the Willow Inn. This is now the home of Bob Rogers.

created a haven for families seeking spiritual connection on Stewart’s Run Road, just before the Oak Forest bridge. Families are greeted by Scottish Highland cattle and kid-friendly spirituality when they come to camp, eat, play and pray together from Thursday through Sunday. This year’s FatherSon and Father-Daughter camp (www.fathersoncampeast.org) is July 26-29 (Father & Daughter) and October 4-7 (Father & Son) at Strath An De Farm.

I’m sure Effie Ely would be glad that kids are coming back to Oak Forest because this is how her poem ends: “We welcome all the good people who come into our town We think we have the best Epworth League (young peoples group) That has ever been found!”

Violet McClain (left) and Benji Shaner at the Butler Farm sporting their Father-Son Camp shirts.

I LOVE THIS PLACE CORRECTION In our June issue, we referred to “the late Malvine Zollars.” Malvine is still VERY MUCH ALIVE at 92 years old and is living in Stewart, Virginia, where she still enjoys reading each issue’s I Love This Place.

Mrs. Zollars helped establish the Genealogical Society in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, which under her leadership gained national and international members.

She is also an accomplished author. She began writing short histories for the Genealogical Society. Gone But Not Forgotten, a book about her family, is in the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. We’re very sorry about that, Malvine!

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G ree n e Sce n e of the Pa st Just one of the products produced by the mill.

C. C. Rogers on right.

From left, Bernice Stewart-Lewis, Mayradene and Dottie Lewis, Madolyn Andrews, Tom Tedrow, Jim Strope and son Jake or Harold and finally, mill owner Clarence Rogers with daughter Jean and son John. In the background is the Methodist Episcopal Church, built in 1898, that now sits vacant at the edge of town.

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his 1931 photograph of the Marvel Milling Co. Mill in Oak Forest shows how important grain mills once were to the business of farming in Greene County. Friends and neighbors are seen here posing beside the 1923 Olds Reo Speedwagon that delivered Marvel Mill Co. products far and wide. James and John Rogers turned the town’s old water driven grist and wood mill into a twentieth century industry in 1890 with natural gas. At the time this photo was taken, hundreds of wagonloads of grain rolled into town during the harvest months and farmers waited sometimes all day and into the night to have their wheat, corn and oats ground, bagged and loaded for market. While waiting they went next door to the general store for socializing, tobacco chewing and card playing. Some of their crop got sold, most went home for livestock feed and flour for making bread and pancakes.

Some even found its way into the pot to be cooked up as Marvel Mill Co. Sunrise Chipped Wheat cereal.

These early days were remembered first hand when Violet Clancy interviewed 82-year-old Fred Rogers for the Observer Reporter in 1995 about growing up in Oak Forest.

“When I was young, there were only mud roads. People had board walks to the road and they would lay flat stones in the road so they could get across,” Fred told her.

Granddad John Rogers worked in a gristmill and when Call’s Mill came up for sale in Oak Forest he and his brother bought it, Fred continued. “My dad was noted for the pancake flour he made. People came from all around to buy it.”

Fred also remembered how the mill ran before his fam-

by Colleen Nelson

ily put in natural gas to operate the mill. “They dug a sluice from the creek and put in a water wheel to grind feed and make flour. They also used a waterwheel for a saw mill here.”

Fred didn’t remember when the Methodist Church was built but he remembered taking buckets of water to the workmen when the basement was put under it.

Violet hit historical pay dirt when Fred told her that her house across from the mill had once been the Methodist church parsonage and that later “a Mr. Gabriel lived there.

He went everywhere in an old truck, selling clothes door to door.”

“He became pretty successful,” Violet points out to her readers. “His sons own several big stores in Southwestern Pennsylvania.”

Fred told Violet about getting spending money by selling bottles and scrap metal to the rag pickers and of blacksmith Newt Riggs. “He shoed horses. He also moved barns and houses. It was something to see him jack up a house and slide it onto a skid and move it anywhere.”

“Fred had lost his arm working in his dad’s feed mill when he was a boy. It amazed me how he could work with that one arm,” Violet wrote.

Fred summed up his thoughts on life in Oak Forest to his neighbor who thankfully, wrote them down and saved them for us to read and remember.

“We were just plain, hard working people. Just the usual feuding and fussing at times. Boys going off to war when they had to. Back when I was a kid there was the family business but now kids have to go to find work.”

If you have an interesting old photo from the area you’d like to share, just send it to: GreeneScene of the Past, 185 Wade Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370. Or email to: info@greenescene.com with GreeneScene Past in subject line. The GreeneScene Community Magazine can even scan your original in just a few minutes if you bring it to our office. We are particularly interested in photos of people and places in the Greene County area taken between 1950 and 1980, though we welcome previous dates, too.

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hen 37 settlers living near Smith Creek met at the home of Mr. Benjamin Lyon to organize their spiritual inclinations on August 2, 1830, they became the Smith Creek Church, part of the Redstone Association of American Baptists. Meetings were held in private homes up and down Smith and neighboring creeks. By 1839, most of the 107 members lived on Pursley Creek and services were often held in Caleb Ely’s brick farmhouse near Calls Mill. Services included singing, preaching, closed communion and a monthly business meeting afterwards. Members were forThe original Baptist Meeting Hall in Oak Forest. bidden to engage with other denominations and could be tried and excluded for breaking the rules but this strictness seemed to suit the nature of these first and second-generation pioneers. When the congregation finally put down roots, a wooden meetinghouse was built two miles from the mill that would one day become Oak Forest. On July 7, 1860, church records note: “An amendment to change the name of the church to Pursley was adopted.”

Jo Husk Hoy told me some of this – I got the rest from the church directory Rev. Harry Davis compiled sometime in the 1970s - as we drove through Oak Forest to see the photo of that first meetinghouse hanging on the wall of the beautiful brick sanctuary that replaced it in 1904. The new church was built on the same site and is shaded by Dee Rogers stops by to visit some of her ancestors who are buried in the Pursley Baptist Church. a tree that by anyone’s guess is a couple of centuries old. ladies doing the quilting in This is a church of many the Patterson home on Turfamily names, remembered key Hollow Road.” in stitches and in stone. Jo The quilt was sold to pointed some out as she unWilbur and Margaret Ely to folded the quilt her mother benefit the mission work.

Jeanette Miller Husk found In 1960, one last detail was unfinished when the family added to the quilt - Mike and moved to the area in 1948.

Barbara Strosnider’s wedding The friendship quilt had was embroidered on beside been started by the church two lovebirds. mission society as a fundAfter Margaret Ely raiser. People paid to have passed away in 1981, the their names embroidered on quilt was donated back to the and then the quilt would be Missionary Society and the sold to the highest bidder.

Jo Hoy shows the friendship quilt her mother ladies decided to sell it again, helped finish in 1958 to support the church Jeanette threw herself into Jo concluded. mission society. the project and the mission “Mom told me about it society ladies spent the next and I bought it. I’m happy to have the chance to ten years working to get the job done.

“Bill Shriver paid extra, that’s why his name is preserve this wonderful treasure from our past.”

The stones in the graveyard also carry familso big,” Jo told me with a grin.

Jo remembers her mom’s passion for history iar family names – Patterson, Rogers, Rush, Spragg, and for quilting and the extra squares she added Hoge, Cole, Waychoff – there to tell the story of the featuring images she drew of the meetinghouse and past that still lives in what was once the Western today’s church, traced from the old photo and a Frontier.

Time and mine subsidence have moved those commemorative church plate. stones, but they’ve been straightened and the church “After Mom passed away (in 2004) I found has received compensation, landscaping and repair. those sketches among her many embroidery patIt has a fine playground for kids and continues to terns.”

Jo’s own love of history lead to years spent serve families living on nearby heritage farms and working at the Greene County Historical Society those who still drive miles to worship at a church Museum. When the friendship quilt was put on that they, like Jo, grew up in.

Unlike the strict Baptist days of the 1830s display as part of a museum quilt show in 2005, Jo through the 1890s, the doors of Pursley Church are had its history written up for all to see.

“Once the squares were finished and sewn to- open to those who choose to stop by.

Worship Service is at 9:30 a.m. with Pastor gether, the quilting was done in the home of Hal Robert Mooney and kids Sunday School is at 10 and Lizzie Patterson. I can remember watching the a.m.

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GET READY TO BAKE!

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any families in Greene County look forward to the arrival of Jacktown and Greene County fairs for more reasons than you know. One treat is getting to be the test panel for the bakers in the family who are planning to compete in one or more of the baking contests that bring out the best cooks in the county. Here are four that offer the highest premiums and a chance to advance to state competition.

All four contests will be held at each fair, at Jacktown on July 17, and Greene County Fair on Aug 6. Entrants in each of these contests must be Pennsylvania residents, and may not have won 1st place in the same contest at any other 2018 fair.

Cash prizes will be awarded at all of the local contests and the 1st place winners in each will also advance to the state finals at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in January for a chance at $500 cash prize for the winning recipe in each contest. For more information and full contest rules, contact Melody Burns for the Jacktown Fair at 724-428-3617 or Jean Scott for the Greene County Fair at 724-627-9756.

(Please note that the Greene County Fair has an entry deadline of June 30.) Entry forms and rules may also be found online at HYPERLINK “http://www. jacktownfair.org” www.jacktownfair.org.

The INCREDIBLE Angel Food Cake Sponsored by Pennsylvania Egg Farmers and the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs.

There are two main types of cakes, butter and foam (egg-leavened). Angel food is the classic example of a foam cake. The cake is 100% fat free and, because of the eggs, is a good source of the highest quality protein, as well as a source of choline, which is essential to memory and brain development. Prizes awarded will be 1st place: $25; 2nd place: $15; and 3rd place: $10. When entering your cake, which must be made from scratch and using eggs produced in Pennsylvania, you must also submit the recipe. Cakes will be judged on the following categories and percentages: 30% Flavor (smell, taste, flavoring), 25%; Inside Characteristics (texture, lightness), 20%; Overall Appearance (surface, size, color), 15%; Creativity, 10%; Topping, Icing or Decoration.

31st Annual Blue Ribbon Apple Pie Contest Sponsored by The Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs, this is among the most popular contests and sought after award. Over 100 fairs across Pennsylvania will offer cash prizes for the best pie. Jacktown Fair’s and Greene County Fair’s

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contests are preliminary competitions that lead to the selection of the final Blue Ribbon Apple Pie winner held each January at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. The first place winner at the Farm Show will be awarded a cash prize of $500.00 for their winning entry. Other cash prizes will also be available for the top five entries.

Pies do not have to be traditional two crusted pies, and can have other ingredients in the filling, though it must be 60% apples. Judging will be based on total score up to 100 points according to these categories: Flavor - 30 points; Filling consistency, doneness, moistness & flavor - 25 points; Crust color, flavor, texture, doneness - 20 points; Overall Appearance - 15 points; Creativity - 10 points.

So dig out that favorite apple pie recipe and give it a try. You could end up being the Blue Ribbon Apple Pie winner.

Homemade Chocolate Cake Sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs (PSACF). A contest participant must be an individual amateur baker, the entry must be a layered chocolate cake made from “scratch”. The entry must be frosted and the frosting must also be made from “scratch”. The cake recipe must feature chocolate or cocoa as a main ingredient.

PA Preferred Junior Baking Cookies, Brownies and Bars Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s PA Preferred program and coordinated by the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs. The goal of this PA Preferred Junior Baking Contest is to encourage young people across the Commonwealth to participate in Pennsylvania’s agricultural fairs by showcasing Pennsylvania grown and produced products in their contest entries.

A contest participant must be an individual amateur baker age 8 through and including 18 years old and a resident of PA. The cookies, brownies or bars entry must include include two PA Preferred ingredients. A comprehensive list of products is available at papreferred.com.

These two fairs’ contests are preliminary competitions that lead to the selection of the final PA Preferred Junior Baking Contest Cookies, Brownies and Bars blue ribbon winners each January at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. First place winners at the Farm Show will be awarded a cash grand prize of $500 for the winning PA Preferred cookie, brownie or bar recipe.

Here is the winning recipe from the Junior Baking Contest at the Jacktown Fair in 2017 won by Chris Hawk from East Millsboro.

Chocolate Peanut Butter S’more Brownies 4 sticks butter 8 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips plus 1/2 cup more 4 cups sugar 8 eggs 3 cups flour 4 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup chopped peanuts 4 oz chopped semi-sweet chocolate 2 cups peanut butter 1 cup heavy cream 1 jar marshmallow cream Heat oven to 350 and spray a 13 x 9 pan with non-stick baking spray.

Melt butter and 8 oz of chocolate chips in microwave until smooth.

Whisk in sugar, eggs, flour and vanilla.

Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Blend peanut butter and cream until smooth then spread on brownies.

Dollop the marshmallow cream on and scatter the peanuts and chopped chocolate over the top.

Return to oven and bake for 5-10 more minutes until the marshmallow browns slightly.

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Jacktown Fair Parade!

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he legendary Jacktown Fair, held July 17 - 21, 2018, is celebrating 153 years this year. The celebration actually begins with a worship service at 10am on Sunday, July 15 and Queen and Princess Competition at 7pm that evening at the Fairgrounds in Wind Ridge, Pa. The Jacktown Fair is sponsored by the Richhill Agricultural Society, originally named The Richhill Agricultural, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Association in its charter formed July 6, 1866. The first Jacksonville Fair (as it was initially named) occurred on October 3rd and 4th of that same year.

The 153nd Annual Jacktown Fair will kick off with the Jacktown Fair Parade on Tuesday, July 17, beginning at 6:30pm.

In addition to the Grand Marshall, Marcia Sonneborn, the parade will feature Courtney Ross, daughter Steven and Brandie Ross of Aleppo, the reigning 2017 Jacktown Fair Queen, the new 2018 Jacktown Fair Princess, and the contestants vying for this year’s Fair Queen. State and local dignitaries will make an appearance in the parade, along with various community groups and entries in the float contests.

The Jacktown Fair Parade offers prize money in two float contests. The mini float contest, with

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prizes of $40, $30, $20, & $10 features floats constructed on a child’s wagon, a wheel barrow, garden cart, small cart, etc. It can be hand pulled or pulled by a lawn size tractor. This contest was introduced last year, in addition to the regular float contest in which winning entries receive $100, $75, $50, and $25. Both float contests will utilize this year’s fair theme “Farms, Families, Fairs, Fun!”. Float entries will be judged on their attractiveness, design, workmanship, use of the theme, originality and other elements. Groups, individuals - anyone wishing to enter a float corresponding to this year’s theme is encouraged to do so.

The Jacktown Fair Board invites all interested bands, businesses, churches, fire companies, groups, organizations and individuals to participate in the parade. If you have an interesting, entertaining, showy or unusual item - your entry is welcomed. Antique and classic cars, clowns, horses, regional/ local queens and princesses…everyone’s invited to join the parade!

Contact parade chair Marcia Sonneborn as soon possible, so the parade’s line can be constructed. Your date of entry will be taken into consideration when forming the parade line. For more information or to reserve your place, call 724-4284344 or email: marciasonne@windstream.net.

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Greene: Earth and Sky It’s impossible to say goodbye properly to a special place such as Greene County

By Pete Zapadka

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tars, glorious stars, glistening overhead like sparkling diamonds riding on a sea of black velvet, are what drew me first to Greene County.

It is abundant sunshine, however, that is taking me away.

By the end of the year, my wife Amy and I will relocate to the Gulf Coast of Florida, and Greene County will seem like light-years away from the palm trees and sandy beaches.

The memories born here, though, steadfastly will live on.

During the early 1990s, an adventurous group of amateur astronomers left the glaring lights of Pittsburgh to set up their telescopes on top of a hill on a friend’s property near Mount Carmel Cemetery in Springhill Township. The dark skies were filled with countless stars, their abundance so great that it was difficult for veteran skywatchers to discern the constellations. Brilliant Jupiter sat on his celestial throne in Virgo during the summer of 1993.

My heart had been stolen by Greene County, and that theft further was enhanced that autumn when spectacular fall foliage painted the county’s rolling hillsides. The views were breathtaking and, as I recall, Melissa Ethridge’s “I’m the Only One” was blaring on the car radio. Another memory created.

It’s so clear that the Greene County scenery is unsurpassed at any time of year.

Undoubtedly, my most photographed spot is the White Covered Bridge near Garard’s Fort. No matter the season nor the time of day, this 66 1/2-foot span across bucolic Whiteley Creek provides a captivating scene. Visit the Covered Bridge Festival Sept. 15-16 this year or, for an unequaled quiet moment, stop by anytime. With luck, a coal train will be passing on the nearby trestle for another great photo opportunity.

I’ve often wondered why The Weather Channel doesn’t send their people to Rain Day, held each July 29 in Waynesburg. This singular festival, in which organizers actually hope for precipitation, is the best reason to stroll through and have fun with an umbrella along the main street of the county seat.

The Enlow Fork area in state Game Lands 302 is an outdoorsman’s dream, but it’s at its peak in the spring when wildflowers spread across the land. Don’t forget to take the annual wildflower walk the last Sunday of April. Mother Nature outdoes herself here.

Then there’s the mysterious “Chickweed Lane” of which I have written, mostly in social media. It’s the nickname I coined for a milelong road through part of state Game Lands 179 that runs through pristine woods along a fern-lined hillside and above a gurgling stream. I know of no better place to kick back and go “ahh!” Feel free to call it Moninger Road, its official name; whatever the case, a visit there might impress you with its magical nature.

As the years passed, I made a lot of friends as I explored the southwest corner of Penn’s Woods. Here are just a few to whom I’d like to give a tip of my cap: Judith and Doug Galbraith, who own and operate Separation Design Group in Franklin Township. At a time when they might be well into retirement, they’re instead running a company that “is developing technologies that will enable the more efficient use of energy and energy resources,” says the company website.

Colleen Nelson, a local artist and freelance writer. She once stood on the stage at Woodstock during that famous musical event, but since 1979, has created pen and ink drawings in her popular Greene Country Calendar. Consider this: With a cover page and 12 monthly illustrations, Colleen will have created 520 drawings by the time she completes the 2019 calendar. That and the countless T-shirt designs and other paintings she has done. No wonder I call her my favorite artist!

Dave Lesako and Miriam Rubin, a husband-and-wife team with art in their veins. Dave’s pastels and oil paintings are breathtaking, and Miriam tends an impressive garden with ingredients that end up in her kitchen, where she created wonderful signature culinary treats. She’s also written a book to go along with periodic newspaper columns.

Among others are the Greene County commissioners and government officials, including JoAnne Marshall of the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency. I’ve had delightful conversations with judges Farley Toothman and Lou Dayich. It’s always fun to chat with Jefferson native Susan Barnes, a veteran Hollywood actress, and Nashville songwriter/singer Dave Pahanish, born in Rices Landing and who, by the way, will be returning July 27 to the Hartley Inn in Carmichaels.

I always enjoyed interviews with Rudy Marisa when he was men’s basketball coach at Waynesburg College. And there were the conversations with one-time West Greene hoops star Rick Sonneborn and his wife Marcia.

There’s also hard-working Shelly Brown and her team at Direct Results, which publishes this informative periodical.

Oh, there are so many more who carry the positive Greene County spirit. You know who you are. I’ll miss all of you.

Since saying a proper goodbye tugs too strongly at the heart, allow me to say farewell, at least for now. Thanks for reading, thanks for the correspondence, and thanks for getting out and enjoying Greene County.

There’s no place like home.

“Chickweed Lane,” the author’s nickname for a rural road at the edge of state Game Lands 179, glides silently through the woods on a February day in 2017.

Pete Zapadka is a Greene County property owner and a retired local news editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He can be reached at pzapadka@yahoo.com.

A Civil War re-enactor seems to stand guard last September as visitors cross the scenic White Covered Bridge near Garards Fort.

Arguably one of the most peaceful roads in Greene County, Chickweed Lane in May, 2018, seemed to tunnel through the woods in state Game Lands 179.

The White Covered Bridge in a rarely seen angle from the hillside above Whiteley Creek. The bridge is the author’s most photographed spot in Greene County.

Publisher’s Note: GreeneScene Community Magazine was privileged to count the incredible writer and photographer Pete Zapadka among our contributors for these last couple years, a man whose love of our Greene County is surpassed only by his amazing ability to depict it, making its appeal undeniable. Thank you Pete! We say also, farewell…for now. We wish you well in the Citrus State, while we anticipate your return visits. An inevitable pining for Penn’s Woods will see to that. ~ Shelly Brown.

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Mather Mine Explosion 90th Anniversary

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n May 19, 1928 at 4:07pm, a gas and dust explosion shattered the calmness of Mather Mine, part of the PickandsMather and Company of Mather, PA. The explosion, one of the worst in coal mining history, originated in the northwestern corner of the mine, where an arc from an electric underground locomotive ignited an accumulation of explosive gas.

The explosion ripped through the mine, 350 feet below the surface, covering an area about a mile wide and a mile and a half long. 270 men were in the mine when it happened; 69 escaped without assistance from the unaffected area. Of the 208 men

By Danielle Nyland

left, 14 escaped safely, 2 died after being rescued, and 192 were killed as a result of the explosion.

State and mine officials worked on recovery, assisting with rescue crews and extinguishing fires.

Nearby coalmines sent rescue teams and equipment to Mather to assist in recovery work. Hundreds of rescue workers worked to learn the fate of the more than 200 men not accounted for after the explosion, while thousands watched, desperately hoping those inside would make it out.

The Mather Mine disaster ranks as the seventh worst mining disaster in U.S. history and the second worst in Pennsylvania history. The explosion, and others like Monogah, WV and Darr Mine in Van Meter, PA in 1907, brought about more regulations and worked to change coal mining as it was. Disasters like these led to improved safety precau-

tions and protocols. The Mather coal mine closed in 1964.

Mather remembered the 90th anniversary of the Mather Mine explosion with a town festival on May 26th. Rep. Pam Snyder opened the ceremony and Pastor Shawn Davis, Jr of Pillar of Faith Church in Clarksville began the memorial service with prayer. At 4:07pm, the town whistle blew just like it did on that May 19 in 1928 and for a moment, everyone in attendance thought about that devastating day and the bleak days that followed.

Dave Brichetti and John Plock, retired coal miners and Mather residents, along with Pam Snyder and Ed Yankovich, read the 194 names of the miners that died from the explosion. The memorial service was closed with a prayer led by the pastor of Mather Christian Church.

While there, people stopped to pay their respects at the Mather Miner Memorial.

The monument was unveiled 16 years ago on May 19th, 2002 74 years after the disaster. The monument, made from Pennsylvania black granite, includes the 194 names, as well as an etching of a miner drawn by Brian Fowler, whose grandfather died in the explosion.

Before and after the service, vendors, food, and music were available from 10am-9pm. An organizer from the event, Rachelle Maison Zebro, said that the town hopes to continue to do hold the event yearly.

To read more about the explosion, Tony Bupka’s The Mather Mine Disaster recounts stories from those involved and compiles articles and reports from the time.

Pam Snyder opens the 90th anniversary memorial ceremony. Photo courtesy Rachelle Maison Zebro.

The Mather Mine monument, dedicated in 2002, honors the 194 miners that died from the 1928 explosion. Image courtesy of Ten Mile Creek Country.

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The original Mather tipple and shaft frame before the concrete prep plant and blending bins were added circa 1920.

There were two shafts at Mather - one for men and supplies and one for coal - and they were both about 350 feet deep.

Image courtesy of The Coal Industry.

GreeneScene Magazine •

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2018

Congratulations to our “Spot the Differences”

WINNERS!

Donna and Wendy McCune of Carmichaels, PA

Jaimie Durdevich of New Freeport, PA

Each winner received 12 FREE ADMISSIONS for an adult and 12 FREE ADMISSIONS for a child at any Greene County Pool or Water Park.

Approximately a $200 Value!

HAVE FUN! JULY

2018 • GreeneScene Magazine

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C

hris Higbee Band will be returning to the Greene County Fair for 2018, playing Thursday, August 9th at 8:15pm.

Chris founded the Poverty Neck Hillbillies (PNH) in 2000, delivering uniquely wild and energetic concerts across the country on stages, rooftops and anything else Higbee could fathom a way to play from! PNH performed for seven years before disbanding, acquiring an international fan base, distributing two records and releasing a No. 2 nationally rated video, “Mr. Right Now.” Chris is now performing as a solo artist.

Chris Higbee grew up a farm boy with a musical curiosity and a diligent mother and father. That curiosity quickly became a passion that drove his dreams. “Fiddles Rock,” the first track on Higbee’s new album, tells that story and was inspired by his late father. It was co-written with Higbee’s producer Tommy Harden and Don Rollins (“It’s Five O’clock Somewhere”).

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Congratulations Lady Pioneers!

Hunter Fredericks, Manager

You did it, again!

#12 Hannah Toth

Emily Simms, Manager

#15 Emily Cooke

Olivia Kiger, Manager

#16 Mckenna Lampe

Katie Lampe, Manager

#17 Hannah Pettit

#1 Dakota Filby

#18 Sage Vliet

#2 Kaitlyn Rizor

#19 Rhiannon Campbell

# 3 Jersey Wise

#20 Bailey Fredericks

#4 Madison Lampe

#21 Savannah Pettit

#5 Krysten Debolt

#22 Jessica Orndoff

#6 Brianna Amos

#23 Brianna Goodwin

#7 Linzee Stover

#25 Dani Fox

#8 Lexie Mooney

#29 Kylie Simms

#9 Mackenzie Carpenter

#33 Deshaylah Bissett

#10 Jade Renner

#44 Skyler Horr

#11 Kaytlynn Walls

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Head Coach: Bill Simms Asst. Coach: Nicole Redlinger

Asst. Coach: Jeremiah Allison Asst. Coach: Jess Carpenter

Asst. Coach: Jeff Stover Trainer: Alicia Carey

#48 Madison Renner

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2018

Congratulations Carmichaels ENVIROTHON Team!

L-R: Russell Redding (PA Dept. of Agriculture Secretary), Michael Walsh (PA DCNR Deputy Secretary of Administration), Megan Patton (Coach), Team members: Stephen Zacoi, Christina Adams, Ryan Swartz, Joey Kurincak, Jacob Hair, Kevin Willis (Coach), and Patrick McDonnell (PA Dept. of Environmental Protection Secretary).

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STATE CHAMPION

Meet the Team!

CHRISTINA ADAMS

JACOB HAIR

STEPHEN ZACOI

JOEY KURINCAK

KEVIN WILLIS

MEGAN PATTON

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RYAN SWARTZ

Carmichaels Area students digging soil pits with Ohiopyle State Park educators during their spring field trip.

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ENVIROTHON TEAM CARMICHAELS ENVIROTHON TEAM WINS STATE

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t’s been an exceptional year for the Carmichaels Envirothon team. In March, teacher Kevin Willis was named Coldwater Conservationist of the Year by the Chestnut Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited. During the first week of May, Carmichaels took home first, second, and third place at the Greene County Envirothon. And then – best of all – the team took home first place at the State Envirothon for the first time in the competition’s history.

The 35th Pennsylvania Envirothon state competition was held at the Susquehanna University and Camp Mount Luther on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 22 and 23, 2018. High school students from 65 Pennsylvania counties participated in a series of field station tests that focus on five topic areas – soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and environmental issues.

The teams also prepare and deliver oral presentations to panels of judges who evaluate each team on its problem-solving capabilities, oral presentation skills and recommendations to help solve the specific environmental challenge.

Carmichaels’ 5-person team, consisting of Stephen Zacoi, Ryan Swartz, Joey Kurincak, Christina Adams, and Jacob Hair, won the competition with a score of 546 points of a possible 600, defeating last year’s state and national champion school, Penncrest High School of Delaware County. The Carmichaels team were high station winners for Forestry, Wildlife, and the Oral Presentation, and tied with Conneaut High School in the Current Issue station. Their oral presentation was a perfect example of how hard they prepared – they received a perfect score.

“One of the judges from our oral component came up to us afterwards and said, ‘I was one of your judges,’ and then she started to cry. Then she said, “I just wanted to tell you that when you walked out of the room all the judges said they’d given you 100.’ She said they went over the rubric trying to find something but couldn’t. She’d never seen that in all of her years at the competition,”

Kevin Willis shares.

The victory at the state competition takes the team to the NCF-Envirothon held at the end of July In Idaho to compete against approximately 47 states, eight Canadian provinces, one Canadian territory, and two Chinese provinces.

But the two months between competitions isn’t a chance to rest and relax. It’s a chance to keep building the skills that they’ll need to take with them to win the championship. The competition in Idaho will have the students facing unfamiliar territory – the open-range. The students will need to learn more about rangeland management, sagebrush management, and sage grouse habitats, for example.

“It’s the total opposite of Pennsylvania.

Where around here land is mostly privately owned, there it’s mostly publicly owned. Instead of fencing their cattle in like we do here, they fence their cattle off the property,” explains Willis. “There are a lot of differences between here and there. We get 41” of rain, they get 14”. Our fires are in spring, theirs are in summer. There are so many things we have to become more aware of for the site-specific habitat.”

To help with this, the students and Willis have turned to one of their best resources – other people. They’ve worked with the Conservation District, foresters, Eric Davis of the Fish & Boat commission, and many more to prepare for the local, state, and national competitions. Even those that are unable to assist in person have sent valuable resources, such as Dr. Bob White of California University. They’ve also talked to the Sislers of Hunting Hills, who have spent time hunting in Idaho.

“Monday the students went on a field trip to Hunting Hills for the full day. There were people from the conservation district there, a USGS Surface Water specialist that had

lived in Idaho that was there. We spent the day trying to learn a little of everything,“ Willis says.

“There’s a whole new set of references to prepare with for NCF.” “It’s just us enjoying our time, it doesn’t feel like work,” says Stephen Zacoi about preparing for the competition. “When we got to the [state] competition, it was more like doing business. But it was still enjoyable.”

“After we lost last year, I said ‘Before I graduate we’re gonna win.’ And we did. I think that was a lot of motivation for me,” confides Joey Kurincak about his first year at the state championship. ““It still seems crazy that we actually won. We took working hard to the next level and I think that showed. We had a really good team here.”

His teammates agree. “This is the best I’ve sever seen a team get along. We’ve really meshed,” says Ryan Swartz.

“We all just came together like a puzzle and the pieces fit together,” adds Christina Adams.

“The field trips we took during the school year really helped at the competition,” says Jacob Hair.

“The competition was just a culminating activity from the year. We spent time learning and experiencing different things. Those experi-

Kevin Willis examining a kick net sample with Carmichaels Area students as part of the Yough River Survey project.

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By Danielle Nyland

ences were super valuable. Without any of those things, there would be a gap,” states Willis. “But this year there were no weak links, no gaps.”

Our 2018 Pennsylvania Envirothon champions will represent Pennsylvania at the 30th NCFEnvirothon competition July 22 – 28 at Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho. They’ll fly out on July 20, a few days before the competition so that they can get a tour of what the habitat is like and visit some of the area landmarks.

“People have been so supportive of the team.

We’ve had super support from every level and every possible outlet,” Willis enthuses. “We’ve had a lot of support from the alumni for help with the oral component. One showed up for the field trip on Monday... They’re pretty pumped about it, it’s a part of their legacy. Everybody’s really rooting for us.”

The team is looking towards the community for support and assistance to help fund their trip to Idaho. Individuals or businesses can donate.

There will be a send-off celebration held at the Carmichaels Area High School on July 19 at 3pm to wish the team good luck. For more information about the send-off celebration or if you would like to support the team in any way, please call the school at 724-966-5045.

PA Fish and Boat Commission WCO Eric Davis showing Carmichaels Area students a Paddlefish.

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Meet the Team!

2XSTATE

Brianna Amos - Sophomore Infield / Pitcher Parents: Jimmy & Cheryl Amos

Jessica Orndoff - Junior

Brianna Goodwin - Junior

First Base Parents: David & Michelle Goodwin

Bailey Fredericks - Freshman

Dakota Filby - Freshman

Outfield Parent: Tabeth Best

Outfield Parent: Heather Householder

Lexie Mooney - Senior

Deshaylah Bissett - Sophomore Infield

Parents: Deshanda & Ricky Bissett

Outfield Parent: Tina Orndoff

Kaitlyn Rizor - Junior

Second Base Parents: Jeff & Jenny Rizor

Kylie Simms - Sophomore Catcher Parents: Bill & Amy Simms

First Base Parents: Heath & Denise Mooney

Left Field Parents: Jeff & Sheila Stover

Dani Fox - Freshman

Krysten Debolt - Freshman

McKenna Lampe - Junior

Rhiannon Campbell - Junior

Jersey Wise - Freshman

Outfield Parent: Ronnie & Lisa Fox

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CHAMPION

Outfield Parents: Richard & Amanda Debolt

Center Field Parents: John & Stephanie Lampe

Outfield Parent: Stephanie Campbell

Linzee Stover - Senior

Pitcher / Infield Parents: Cadace Reese

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LADY Hannah Toth - Freshman

Emily Cooke - Freshman

Outfield Parents: Wayne & Shawn Toth

Infield Parent: Katie Cooke

Mackenzie Carpenter - Junior

Hannah Pettit - Junior

Outfield / Catcher Parents: Mark & Christina Pettit

Madison Renner - Senior

Right Field Parents: Jason & Jess Carpenter

Third Base Parents: John & Stephanie Lampe

Pitcher / Short Stop Parents: John & Misty Renner

Savannah Pettit - Junior

Kaytlynn Walls - Freshman

Skyler Horr - Sophomore

Pitcher / Outfield Parent: Nicole Jones

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Madison Lampe - Junior

2 PIONEERS! X

2018 • GreeneScene Magazine

Outfield Parent: Jason & Sara Walls

Jade Renner - Sophomore

Pitcher Parents: John & Misty Renner

Photos courtesy of Denise Mooney and Wendy Phillips.

Infield

Parents: Mark & Nancy Horr

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Spo rt Sh or t s

by Jason Tennant

West Greene Pioneers: Back-to-Back State Champions!

T

he historic run for West Greene Softball continues to reach new heights as the Lady Pioneers won their second straight PIAA State Title by defeating Williams Valley for the second year in a row at Penn State University’s Beard Field.

It was the third straight year that West Greene and Williams Valley met in the PIAA Championship Game, and marked the first time in PIAA Softball history that the same matchup has occurred in three straight Championship Games. After splitting the first two meetings, West Greene was able to win the rubber match, 11-7 to claim their second straight gold medal.

“It’s nice and a comfort zone to know a familiarity of an opponent but when you know they’re really, really good, it makes you lose a little sleep over it to prepare for it,” said head coach Billy Simms.

State titles aren’t won simply by winning one game though and this 2018 campaign was quite a journey where familiar opponents seemed to be a theme. It’s a season that will likely be remembered most for the intense rivalry with Monessen.

In the two seasons prior, and after an 8-1 win at Monessen on April 6th of this year, the Pioneers had won six straight meetings with the Greyhounds by a combined score of 45-3. However the rivalry intensified greatly in a pitchers’ dual on April 26th at West Greene.

Monessen’s star pitcher Dana Vatakis was able to retire the first two West Greene batters in nearly every inning, limiting the Pioneers’ ability to rally.

West Greene was able to make a 2nd inning run stand up as a 1-0 lead heading into the seventh inning.

West Greene’s pitcher, Jade Renner, was throwing her best game against Monessen, limiting the Greyhounds to just one hit, and was a strike away from a 1-hit shutout win when she allowed a walk.

She was again a strike away from the shutout when Monessen’s Cara Wheeler hit a 2-run homerun to ultimately win the game for Monessen.

The rivalry was on, but nobody would’ve guessed just how intense it would become in the coming weeks.

The two would meet again in the WPIAL Championship Game at Seton Hill University on May 31st and when Monessen scored 2 runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 4-2 lead, it looked as if the defending champion Pioneers may be dethroned, but it wouldn’t be the first time the Pioneers would respond dramatically with their backs against the wall.

A McKenna Lampe single and a walk to Madison Renner set the stage for Jade Renner to double in two runs to tie the game. Jade’s courtesy runner Brianna Goodwin would advance to third on a passed ball and then score the winning run when Kaitlyn Rizor grounded to third baseman Shasha Kenney whose throw to first base got away.

“As soon as (Kenney) pulled back to throw it, I just knew I needed to get home and score that run,”

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said Goodwin after the game.

The Pioneers had won their third straight WPIAL title and the moment for Monessen was not lost on Simms after the game.

“I’m just tickled to death for my team, but that’s a tough way for them to lose too,” said Simms.

“You know you get almost a bond with the other team in a lot of ways.”

The Greyhounds would get one more shot at West Greene as while the Pioneers were cruising with a 12-2 win over Glendale and a 10-0 win over McConnellsburg, Monessen was collecting wins over Cambridge Springs (3-2) and Union (5-0).

The two would meet again in the PIAA Semifinals on June 12th.

In that game, West Greene took the early lead but a 3-run blast by none other than Wheeler again, gave Monessen a 3-2 lead after four innings. The Pioneers would have to come from behind again and they did just that with 4 runs in the fifth inning.

Rizor tied the game with a nifty slide around a tag at the plate and Lexie Mooney gave the Pioneers the lead when she scored on a Linzee Stover sacrifice bunt. After Mackenzie Carpenter reached on an error, freshman Jersey Wise blasted a 2-run homerun to give the Pioneers a 6-3 lead.

West Greene would go on to win 7-4 and earn that third straight trip to State College and on June 14th would once again meet up with District 11 Champion Williams Valley.

In that game, the Pioneers gave up an unearned run in the first inning to fall behind, but answered immediately with a Madison Lampe double and a Jade Renner RBI single. West Greene took a 3-1 lead with a 2-run homerun by McKenna Lampe in the second inning and after scoring 3 more runs in the fourth and adding two more in the fifth, West Greene had an 8-3 lead heading into the sixth inning.

Williams Valley rallied for four runs in the sixth to cut the lead to one, but West Greene answered with a 3-spot in the seventh highlighted by a McKenna Lampe triple that put the game away.

McKenna Lampe went 4-for-5, hitting for the cycle with 4 RBI and 3 runs scored. Her twin sister Madison wasn’t far behind, also going 4-for-5 with a double, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored.

The Pioneers racked up 18 hits against Williams Valley and Jade Renner was once again a state championship winning pitcher, striking out 6 Vikings in the game.

The now 2-time defending state champions will certainly miss Madison Renner, Mooney, and Stover, who have now all graduated, but still have a strong core to keep this historical run rolling.

Over the past 3 remarkable seasons, West Greene has played 22 postseason games and have won 21 of them! As 3-time WPIAL Champions and 2-time PIAA State Champions, their success over a 3-year period is unmatched by any other team in the history of Greene County high school sports.

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Mt. Morris Sportsmen’s Association Kids Day

Correction Last month, we wrote that the winning adult entry in the Bowlby Poetry contest was Harriet Villers. The correct name is Harriet Sellers. We’re sorry about that, Harriet!

Cub Scout Pack 1262 Flag Retirement Ceremony

Mt. Morris Sportsmen’s Association held its annual Kids Fishing Day on May 19th. As usual, everyone there had a blast and enjoyed all the activities and prizes. They would like to thank the sponsors of Kids Fishing Day: D&H Custom Meat (Blackville, WV), Field & Stream (Wash-

Thursday, June 14th at the Carmichaels American Legion, Post #400, members of the Legion and cub scouts from Pack 1262 held a flag retirement ceremony at the Legion. As per the United States Flag Code, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” The ceremony ington, PA), Walmart (Waynesburg, PA), Rep. was started by folding a large flag in Pam Snyder, Sportsman’s Warehouse (Morgan- preparation for retirement, followed by town, WV), Sam Coen & Sons (Washington, PA), a prayer, and the playing of Taps. The Ozie Sport Shop (Dry Tavern, PA), Daniel White scouts helped with the process, folding (Brownsville, PA), William Craig & family (Bob- and placing flags in the container to be town, PA), John Kuis & family (Bobtown, PA). burned.

First Baptist Church Turns 175!

Waynesburg’s First Baptist Church turns 175 years old this year and to commemorate, they are having a celebration on July 14th & 15th.

No invitation necessary, the event is open to the

Flags for Heroes

public. Look for our article in next month’s is125 American flags will be on display at the sue of the GreeneScene to learn more about First Greene County Fairgrounds the week of July 4th.

Baptist Church’s history and see photos from the The flags will be flown in memory or in honor of celebration! heroes of the sponsor’s choice. The ten-foot tall, 3 by 5 foot flags will provide a great sense of independence as you drive by the display.

Proceeds from the project will benefit local heroes, organizations and individuals who are Open Door Christian School, located at Faith working to make our communities a better place Baptist Church, 793 Lippencott Road, had their 28th to live and to improve the lives of those who call Kindergarten Graduation in May. As usual, it was an Greene County home. Names of all who are honevent that amazed all the guests. ored will be published and will be read aloud at After the kindergarteners led in the pledges to a ceremony during the Waynesburg Lions Club the Christian flag, the Bible, and the American flag, July 4th Celebration in front of the grandstands one led the guests in prayer. Mrs. Raelene Koller, their teacher, quizzed the children on their Bible knowledge. Then, to the delight of the audience, the little graduates named all fifty states, recited the names of all the US Presidents in order, and gave the names Greene County United Way is hosting its of the continents. When given the names of various 16th Annual Stuff the Bus program, sponsored by countries, they told on which continent that country is First Federal Savings and Loan of Greene County. located. They read and spelled words such as “world,” Stuff the Bus is a way for our community to help “smooth,” and “church.” They counted to 100 by 5’s friends and neighbors, so their children can and and 10’s, and gave the value of coins. The children also will be ready for the upcoming school year. displayed their knowledge of science, the seasons, the If you are interested in being a part of Stuff weather, and poetry.The children then dressed in red, the Bus, you can help by collecting new school white, and blue spangled hats and showed the audi- supplies, including: backpacks, lunchboxes, pens, ence how to fold the American flag. With each fold, a child announced the meaning of the fold.

At the end of the graduation ceremony, Mrs. Koller described the accomplishments of each child, including the fact that 7 out of the 12 children scored Take a chance to win $1850 in gift cards to 2nd grade in reading on the Stanford Achievement 35+ businesses! If you would like to purchase a Test. It truly was a kindergarten class of which to be $10 ticket or sell a book of ten tickets, please convery proud!

Open Door Kindergarten Graduation

at 6:30pm.

The Rotary Club is extending the opportunity for members of the community to recognize their personal heroes by dedicating a flag in their name through a one-time sponsorship of $50 per flag. The heroes can be anyone; first responders, military, veterans, mentors, teachers, family or any positive influence in your life. Corporate Sponsorships are also available at $100, $250 and $500 levels. To sponsor a flag, please visit www. rotaryclubofwaynesburg.org. Sponsor requests can also be mailed to PO Box 290, Waynesburg, Pa 15370. FMI, contact Barb Wise at 724-2555975.

The 16th Annual Stuff the Bus Event pencils, crayons, markers, book covers, notebooks, binders, folders, and more. Monetary donations are also very appreciated. FMI, visit www.greenecountyunitedway.org.

The Annual Stuff the Bus event will be held on Wednesday, August 15 from 11am – 2pm.

Lunch will provided to the children, free of charge, as part of the Summer Food Service Program through Central Greene School District.

Back-to-School Raffle Tickets

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tact the Greene County Chamber of Commerce office at 724-627-5296. Tickets will go off on August 3.

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Governor’s Trophy Awarded to Town & Country Garden Club

Greene County to Receive Grant for Emergency Food & Shelter Program Greene County has been selected to receive an award under Phase 35 of the Emergency Food and Shelter Programs (EFSP) in the amount of $22,861.

The selection was made by the national board governed by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that consisted of representatives from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA and the United Way World Wide, which will provide the administrative staff and function as fiscal agent.

The board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the county.

A local board made up of representatives from Greene County United Way, Catholic Charities, Blueprints, Corner Cupboard Food Bank, Greene

County Human Services, Salvation Army and Waynesburg Ministerial Association will determine how the funds will be awarded and distributed to Greene County emergency food and shelter programs, run by local services organizations in the area.

Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local organizations chosen to receive funds must be private voluntary nonprofits or units of government; have an accounting system, practice nondiscrimination; have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs; and if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying applicants are urged to apply.

Greene County has previously distributed emergency food and shelter funds to Catholic Charities, Corner Cupboard Food Bank and the Salvation Army.

American Legion Post 416 Scholarships Five West Greene High School Seniors were awarded scholarships from the Graysville American Legion Post 416. Ms. Mooney received a $1000 scholarship, while the other four received $500 each.

Town & Country Garden Club members are shown displaying the “Governor’s Trophy” which was awarded to the club at the recent Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania Convention in Washington, PA. An engraved silver bowl and tray, and a certificate recognized the club as the most outstanding small garden club with less than 29

members. The award was accepted by President, Terri Laird and the Town & Country GC Members attending the convention. This award is given to a Federated Garden club that has distinguished itself by providing a year of well-balanced club programs, exceptional civic activity, club projects in all areas of conservation, and activity in State projects.

Historic Rices Landing Site Benefits from $65,000 State Grant The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has awarded $65,000 to the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corp. for a project in Greene County involving the W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop.

The Keystone Historic Preservation Grant will be used toward Phase 3 of the historic restoration of W.A. Young and Sons Foundry and Machine Shop, located in Rices Landing.

“All of the structure’s windows and frames, and some of the clapboard siding, have deteriorated to a critical stage,” State Rep. Pam Snyder said. “Also, many glass panes are missing or broken, creating several ports of entry for wildlife and the weather

to disturb the national treasures housed inside the machine shop.”

Snyder said the work fits well within the intended scope of PHMC grants, which are used to support projects that identify, preserve, promote, and protect historic and archaeological resources in Pennsylvania for both the benefit of the public and the revitalization of communities.

The money comes from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, which is supported annually from a portion of the state realty transfer tax revenue, and requires a 50/50 cash match.

New Book Features Greene County’s Haunted History

Pictured L-R: (Front) Linzee Strover, Bailey Machesky, Rachel Jones, Lexie Mooney, and Peyton Blake. (Back) Post Commander Bill Pulkownik, Legion members Ray Rutan, Rodney Scherich, Bob Deist, and Charles Whitlatch.

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Kevin Paul, a native of Greene County, and paranormal researcher Rosemary Ellen Guiley of Connecticut, have collaborated on a new book about Greene County’s weird hauntings. Haunted Hills and Hollows: What Lurks in Greene County Pennsylvania takes the reader deep into dark and unexplored corners of Greene and features stories of ghosts and spirits, aliens, Bigfoot, dogmen, Lizard Man, black “blobs,” and other creatures. Photographs and drawings accompany stories.

Guiley was amazed to find so much strange activity in Greene County. “When Kevin Paul invited me to come and do some paranormal investigations, I had no idea I was going to plunge into the heart of the unexplained,” she said. “After several years of research and interviewing, we’ve documented quite a range of creepy phenomena – and there’s probably more to be discovered.”

“Working with Rosemary has been a great experience,” Paul said. “We’re grateful people were willing to share their experiences. For a county where supposedly nothing ever happens there’s a tremendous amount of activity, much of which was

ignored until now.”

Haunted Hills and Hollows is available as a paperback and an ebook. The book will be available online and in select bookstores; it will also be available at Fencerow Farmers Market in Waynesburg.

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2018

Co ol at S cho o l

by Brittany Phillips

Carmichaels Students Win Gold at Inventionland

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n May 11th, 2018, the eighth-grade Inventionland team competed against other schools for the prestigious prize of “Top Inventor” at the regional Inventionland competition. Throughout the school (L-R) Nick Sholtis, Jesse Jones, Michael Stewart, Beau Batis, and Brityear, students in Mrs. Brittany Philtany Phillips lips’s rotation classes have been working on original ideas by inventing new items or tweaking existing inventions as part of the to compete against other schools in the Pittsburgh Inventionland curriculum. Students go through a area. As the first team presenting, they made sure 9-step process including researching, prototyping, to set the bar really high for the other competition. marketing, packaging, modeling, confidentiality “My middle school team won the competition last agreements, sketching, etc. The students then pitch year, so it was important to bring home a repeat their inventions to a group of judges, much like gold medal to Carmichaels. This year the pressure “Shark Tank.” The winning group from each nine- was on, but the boys definitely did not disappoint. week rotation then competes in a school-wide com- They brought it,” said Phillips. “I was so nervous petition for the ability to represent the school at the watching them present their “Glu-O-Duo” pitch to regional competition. the three judges. You see their project throughout Beau Batis, Jesse Jones, Nick Sholtis, and Mi- its fruition, so it’s a proud and nerve-wracking mochael Stewart were chosen to represent the middle ment all at the same time.” school on the regional level with their invention, “Inventionland is one of the coolest places in “The Glu-O-Duo.” The “Glu-O-Duo” is a double- Pittsburgh that you can visit. It’s composed of ‘ofsided glue stick where there is a liquid compart- fices’ that are a mix between Willy Wonka and Story ment, and then a solid stick of glue that can be Book Forest at Idlewild, so you can only imagine pulled out from the bottom. An ingenious idea, what their award’s ceremony would be like! Last sure to be a hit in with classrooms and crafters. year, they had knights in shining armor present the With the competition weeks away, the boys awards.” were driven to make their product even better, in Finally, time for the awards ceremony arrived hopes of bringing back the coveted “Top Inventor” and the boys were ready and anxious to see how award. They went to Mrs. Phillips’ room during they had did. After much anticipation, the group’s homeroom each day to repackage their product name was called for the … Gold Medal! First place! with more eye-catching and appealing labels, work The middle school team took home the prize of on the presentation script, design t-shirts, and re- “Top Inventor.” hearse the pitch. “They put in a lot of hard work in “It was such a cool moment for the boys to get addition to their normal class schedule and sports. the validation that they deserved. They did such a My role was basically of a facilitator. They had the great job and handled the question and answer sesideas and designs. I just tried finding the resources sion from the judges like champs. I was happy to for whatever they needed and made sure that ev- see Carmichaels bring home a back-to-back win,” erything looked polished and well-put together... Phillips shared. competition worthy,” said Phillips.

Great job Beau, Jesse, Nick, and Michael and Competition day arrived and Carmichaels had way to bring home the gold!

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Greene Gardens: Master Gardeners Help Pollinators

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ithout bees, the world’s food supply would be cut drastically, threatening the survival of many plants, animals and humans,” said Connie Schmotzer, a Penn State Extension coordinator and horticulture educator.

“Life, as we know it, would be much different — and not for the better.”

The prognosis for bees is a great concern, with noticeable declines in population across North America. Master Gardeners across the state, including Greene County, are helping to remedy this through their Pollinator Preferences and Pollinator-Friendly Garden Certification programs.

You can join their efforts by providing food and habitats that are pollinator friendly. Pollinators will, in turn, provide the pollination needed to protect our plant diversity and food sources. Planting trees, shrubs, and flowers from the list of pollinator friendly plants native to PA is a great way to start.

You can even certify your property as “Pollinator Friendly.” This will help support a healthy ecosystem for our community and our future.

If you aren’t sure where to start, the Pollinator Preference Program guides homeowners and gardeners on the best flower varieties to attract and support pollinators. To decide what plants should be recommended, a series of trials are being conducted across the state.

The first series of trials ran from 2012-2015 and Master Gardeners across Pennsylvania monitored three plants – anise hyssop, Helen’s flower,

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By Danielle Nyland

and obedient plant – and their cultivars weekly for pollination visitation. The success of the first trail led to a second trial, now in its final year. The second trial monitored varieties of bee balm and threadleaf tickseed. The Greene County Master Gardeners have participated in both 3-year studies.

“We were looking for a new place for our garden and the raised beds in front of the draft horse barn at the fairgrounds were available. They were falling apart, but we fixed them up,” says Cheryl Brendel, Greene County’s Master Gardener Coordinator for the past five years. Both 8x12’ beds are cared for by the Master Gardeners, although only one is used for the study. The other is planted with a variety of flowers donated by the Master Gardeners.

The plants in the study are monitored for 4 different bee species – honey bee, bumble bee, green metallic bee, and carpenter bee – for a fiveminute period. Data collected during monitoring is compiled monthly and turned in. To keep the data consistent, all plants used in the study are from the same seed and come from the same provider.

“The Master Gardeners are about researchbased education,” Cheryl adds. “We also go out and do things for the community.”

During the course of the year, our Master Gardeners help teach poison prevention in area schools, hold seminars, volunteer at community events, answer gardening phone calls, and more.

Their Spring Gardening seminar is usually held around March or April and helps raise funds for the

program, as well as provide a community service.

They are also instrumental in the Tiny Tim Tomato Project held yearly at Bowlby, Flenniken, and Fredericktown libraries.

There are currently 15 Master Gardeners in Greene County. Each of the master Gardeners has their own specialty or interest; some have orchards, others are interested in flowers or vegetables. Master Gardener trainees are required to participate in a minimum of forty hours of basic training, score 80% on the final exam, and fulfill 50 hours of vol-

unteer service.

If you are interested in being a Master Gardener, there will be a training course beginning in October. Interviews for the class will start this summer. The cost is $200 (includes manual) and classes will be held at the Extension office at 26 W. High Street in Waynesburg. To sign up, contact Cheryl Brendel at 724-627-3745. For more information about the Master Gardeners or the Pollination programs, visit extension.psu.edu.

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n 2016 the National Center for Educational Statistics reported every 1 in 5 students have been bullied. And according to a recent Yale University study, bully victims are “between two to nine times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims.” Diverse Gaming Coalition, born out of founder Abbey Sager’s experience with bullying, hopes to change that.

Sager, who lived in Waynesburg and now resides in Canonsburg, started the Coalition in 2016 as an effort to reach students on a level that is more relatable to them.

She had left high school after being severely bullied both at school and online. Despite leaving school, she was able to complete her education through NewBridge and earn her GED. She found a place playing video games online, but bullying was still prevalent even there. She decided to create the Diverse Gaming Coalition in 2016 to help others who are being bullied, as well as talk about social issues.

“Bullying is always changing.” Sager stated.

“We take things and topics that are of interest and make them relatable.”

Sager teamed up with illustrator Jack Smith and the coalition created the comic book, “Life on the Outside”. The comic book follows high school student Asher Phoenix, who is “struggling with bullying, mental health, friendships, and their identity. Along the way, they meet new people, conquers new emotions, and learn more about themselves.” The comic book can be found on Diverse Gaming Coalition’s website in a print for digital download format. DGC also a free comic strip available online.

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Sager is working to help others to see the effects of bullying. She uses the comic strips to show students examples of bullying and how to better handle situations.

“Being online should be a safe place and free from bullying.” Sager stated. The coalition has partnered with 8-Bit hearts and Fresh Water Gaming to help provide more online communities safe from bullying. They also have a blog and “Streaming for Good”, a network of streamers that reinforce the idea of positivity online.

The coalition is currently working to get people to understand the effects of bullying. They encourage students and others to sign the pledge that in part states that they “will promote kindness, compassion and unity” within their community by using their voices to help others.

They also attend local events and ComicCons, like Wizard World, FlameCon, 3 Rivers ComiCon, etc… to spread their message to more people. Diverse Gaming has competed nationally and has won several of the competitions. These competitions have given the coalition a platform to bring the anti-bullying message to others.

Sager has been supported by the local Center for Coalfield Justice, Allstate and even the musical group Fall Out Boy. The coalition is also meeting with corporations, such as Google, with hopes that they will help the coalition in their work.

Locally, the coalition has worked with the Upward Bound program at California University of Pennsylvania and the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh.

Sager stated she hopes to be able to work with the local districts within Greene County to reach students who are dealing with bullying in school and online. She would like to be able to present the program to all the schools in Greene County.

“My goal would be to have a world free of bullying and the world to be more compassionate,” Sager said.

For more information regarding the Diverse Gaming Coalition, you can visit their website at diversegaming.co. If you are interested in having Sager and the coalition speak to your organization or school she can be reached at contact@ diversegaming.co.

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Kayak Greene

By Danielle Nyland

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t’s a great way to spend a sunny day this summer, peacefully floating down one of our local waterways. It’s a chance to spend some time in nature, checking out the sights, spying wildlife, and sharing an adventure with friends. Kayaking is gathering momentum in Greene County, partially thanks to the support of Facebook group, Kayak Greene County PA. The Kayak Greene County PA group got its start earlier this year, when Ben McMillen and Nathan Pierce began looking into hiking and mountain biking in Greene County. While looking into possibilities for biking trails, Nathan discovered that there were kayak/canoe launch points around the county.

“Nathan called me and said, “Did you know about these?’” Ben says. “ I grew up on the Mon, so I’ve been canoeing and kayaking my whole life.

I was surprised to find out that we had these right in our back yard.”

Ben began researching the launch points, as well as other information that would pertain to kayaking the local waters. He compiled the information and built a website, KayakGreeneCounty. com. The website lists launch points for Dunkard Creek, Ten Mile Creek, and the Monongahela River, as well as water conditions, trip ideas, information, tips, and a blog of Ben’s kayak adventures. It’s a great resource for those that are new to kayaking or just haven’t kayaked in the area.

“There was no one place that had kayak info for Greene County. Other areas have sites that list all of that information but there was no one place

All photos courtesy of Ben McMillen.

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you could get the info for our county,” Ben adds.

“I saw the need and reached out. Everyone’s been pretty supportive and willing to help out.”

The Facebook site offers a chance for those in the area that share an interest and passion for kayaking to discuss it, share knowledge, and coordinate group events. When Ben started it in April of this year, it was just he and a few others. In just two months, the membership has grown to over 750, including both experienced kayakers and those new to the activity. “Our last trip out we had 19 people show up and I only expected 4. I was pretty impressed by that,” Ben admits. “I never thought that it would grow like this.”

Ben’s site lists 19 local launch areas with more sites to be listed soon. Two of his personal favorite routes are 188 Soccer Fields to Beagle Club Road along Ten Mile and Pigeon Hole to the ball fields on Bobtown Hill Road along Dunkard Creek. “I wouldn’t say I have a favorite out of the two creeks, they’re both equally a lot of fun. But I really do enjoy Dunkard,” Ben shares. “The creeks are a view of Greene County that you don’t normally get to see.”

Eric Davis, a water conservation officer from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, has been very instrumental in helping with the group.

“He’s really stuck his neck out to help us,” Ben says.

“He’s been a huge asset.”

A project that Ben and the members of Kayak Greene County hope to get the ball rolling on is the development of Wisecarver Resevoir for fishing and kayaking. Wisecarver, a little known 380-acre property in Franklin Township that includes an 18acre lake, remains mostly unused because of accessibility, but holds a lot of potential. Its dam was restored in 2011 and plans were made to build a park that included ball fields, a play area, camping areas, boat launches, pavilions, trails and more. The plans failed to come to fruition and the lake and property are mostly undeveloped.

“It’s a huge unused property,” Ben says. “It has a lot of potential to be a perfect waterway for kayaking or fishing, but it has terrible access. The parking is too far away and you have to go through woods and down over the hill. If developed, it could be a huge benefit to the area.”

A lot of others feel the same way on the Kayak Greene County PA group. Reading through the comments, you’ll see a lot of discussion and suggestions on how the property could be improved,

at least for kayakers. Ryerson Station State Park recently held a kayaking event there at the beginning of June that brought many kayakers.

Ben does have some tips for those that are just getting into it. “Go with someone that has experience. Be prepared for any hazards you might encounter, like low head dams and strainers, and know how to avoid them. You’ll need a personal flotation device and a whistle; those are required by the state. Also, make sure to bring water and snacks, it’s easy to get dehydrated out there.”

“People always complain and say there’s noth-

ing to do in Greene County. There is, you just have to look for it.”

For more information about kayaking, visit www.kayakgreenecounty.com, the Greene County Department of Parks & Recreation’s site www. co.greene.pa.us, and the PA Fish & Boat Commission at www.fishandboat.com. And don’t forget to stop by and join the Facebook group!

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2018 Little Miss Firecracker Pageant

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ADRIANA MORRIS

CASEY BURFORD

n Wednesday, July 4th at 6:00PM, the Little Miss Firecracker Pageant, sponsored by the Waynesburg Lions Club , will be held at the Greene County Fairgrounds during the club’s annual Fourth of July Celebration.

The pageant will take place on the main stage in front of the grandstand, with rehearsal the night before also on the main stage at 6:00 PM It is a noncompetitive pageant for girls ages 5 to 8 ( as of July 4,2018). The participants will appear in patriotic attire and each will be interviewed on stage. Little Miss Firecracker is determined by each contestant drawing a wrapped flower from a basket, with the off-colored flower determining the new queen for 2018. The winner will receive a crown, sash, trophy and bouquet. Each contestant receives a participation medal.

The reigning 2017 Little Miss Firecracker, Alaya Keys, daughter of Laura Keys, will crown the new queen.

The contestants for 2018 are: Casey Taylor Burford, daughter of Tara Taylor of Waynesburg Gloria Ann Evans, daughter of Sally Lemley and John W. Evans of Waynesburg Bridgette Garber, daughter of Shelby King and Jason Garber of Carmichaels Genevieve Michelle Harvey, daughter of Michelle Harvey of Jefferson Skylar King, daughter of Lauren Keys of Carmichaels Adriana Lyn Morris , daughter of Bethany Morris of Waynesburg and Blaine Gallagher of Perryopolis Haylee Grace Rishell, daughter of Keith and Lisa Rishell of Jefferson Patience Aiyannah Nell Webster, daughter of Jason Webster and Candace Tustin of Graysville For more information , please contact Eleanor Chapman at (724) 627-5284.

GENEVIEVE HARVEY

GLORIA EVANS

HAYLEE RISHELL

PATIENCE WEBSTER

SKYLAR KING

BRIDGETTE GARBER

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