Sep oct greenesaver 13 (web) by GreeneScene Community Magazine / Direct Results

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

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GreeneScene by Jeanine Henry

his photo, compliments of Nancy & Don Wilson of Waynesburg, shows a work crew on the job during the construction of the face, entrance and slope to Cumberland mine, on Smith Creek Road, over the hill from Kirby, PA. Don, who was a member of that work crew (see arrow), remembers the job well. “We worked for Zeni McKinney Williams, a subsidiary of Dravo. This picture was taken during a ‘smoke break,’ which doesn’t mean we stopped to smoke, it means we came out of the hole to let the smoke from the dynamiting clear,” Don explained. He believes the picture was taken sometime just prior to 1974, the date shown on the bulkhead above the slope entrance, but Don said it was too long ago to remember names of the others in the photo. Do you recognize anyone?

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

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Summer Training Camp with the Vikings By Shelly Brown

atthew Kabay, the middle child in a family of three boys where sports played a significant role in everyone’s life, was a stand-out athlete at Waynesburg Central High School. Four years as a Raider Baseball outfielder included a trip to the WPIAL Play-offs his senior year in 2010; and he was an acclaimed receiver and defensive back for the Raider football team his last three years.

An athletic trainer is actually a medical service provider to athletes. For athletes who are not hurt, an AT’s role is injury prevention - keeping that athlete unhurt. That could be as simple as keeping him or her hydrated during practice or play, or as involved as designing exercise routines and making recommendations or consulting with physicians regarding nutrition, emotional stress, physical fitness, etc. When an injury does occur during training or play, the AT is the first responder – they are the people you see on the field responding with first aid and prepping the injured athlete for further treatment if necessary. Behind the scenes, it is the AT who assists athletes in rehab, performing treatments and therapies to accelerate healing and enable them to return to play. From high school sports to collegiate and pro – ATs are right there on the line with their athletes, keeping them as safe as possible. In the NFL, that can be a challenge, as Matthew Kabay had the opportunity to discover recently. Selected twice to serve an AT internship for the mighty Minnesota Vikings, Matthew literally lived the life during summer training camp and three pre-season games. Just how does a boy from Waynesburg end up spending six weeks living with the Minnesota Vikings for summer training camp…eating, sleeping and working together 7 days a week? Not once, but twice? Matthew Kabay tells how he did it: “In June of 2011, I traveled to the NATA (National Athletic Trainers Assoc.) convention in New Orleans, where I had the privilege of meeting and having lunch with Rob Roche, an assistant athletic trainer with the Minnesota Vikings. This was netWU senior and Waynesburg resident Matthew Kabay on the field of the Minnesota Vikings working, and I made the most of vs. Buffalo Bills game during his internship as an athletic trainer with the Vikings. it. I just came out and asked him During this time, Matthew came to a decision that would give him if I could do an internship the following season. He told me to get a direction and a plan for the future. cover letter and resume together and he’d see what he could do. And “It was my junior year in high school when I decided to become that’s just what I did. No word came back until March of 2012 when I an athletic trainer. I knew then that I might be good enough to play received a phone call from Tom Hunkele, another assistant AT with sports in college if I wanted to, but not good enough to make it a the Vikings. He asked me several questions, then paused and said career. Being around the athletic training profession all my life gave ‘Congratulations, I’ll see you at training camp!’ I wasn’t quite sure me a unique perspective – I knew it would be the way that I could I’d heard him right. I filled out the paperwork, and in July I bought a stay involved with the sports I love throughout my life, even though plane ticket and went to Minnesota for training camp!” I wouldn’t be playing. It was a natural decision,” Matthew explains. Vikings training camp is held in Mankato, home of Minnesota It certainly was a natural decision for Matthew, whose mother is State University, where the AT staff, the players, coaches… everyDr. Michele Kabay, ATC and Director of the highly respected Athlet- one stays together in dormitories for a concentrated three and a half ic Training Program at Waynesburg University. “I knew it wouldn’t weeks of grueling practice, conditioning and strategizing, followed be an easy path to pursue, especially at WU, where the program is so by more weeks of the pre-season play and more practice and more good, but I knew it was right,” he adds. His senior year he also took work. At the end of his 2012 internship, Matthew was invited to general ed classes at WU, and enrolled the following year. He is now re-apply for the 2013 training camp, which he did, and was again a senior in the AT program at WU, logging 4-5 hours a day, often 7 accepted. Another six weeks this summer was spent with the Mindays a week with the athletes, in addition to carrying 15-18 hours of nesota Vikings. classes every semester. During training camp, Matthew and three other interns ATs en-

dured days beginning as early as 6am and lasting until 11pm as they worked through their various routines and responsibilities to the five member ATC staff and 90 players that began summer camp. “Outside of actual practice time, I would set up and break down the field for morning walk-throughs, work with athletes on rehab, set them up for use of various modalities such as whirlpools, ultrasounds, etc. I would provide whatever treatments were needed such as icing, massage, joint mobilization, etc. We also got things set up for field practice, getting the coolers ready, icing towels, filling the trunks with first aid supplies, making sure everything was stocked and ready to go. During practice, I’d be right there on the field. My specific assignment was the running backs – they were my men to take care of. Wherever they went, that’s where I went,” Matthew says as he describes a typical day. Evenings were filled with more rehab, meetings and restocking supplies. Still Matthew remembers some free time, rare as it was, that he enjoyed socializing with people he now considers friends. “Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart, Zach Line & Matt Asiata – they were the four running backs that I spent so much time with and their safety and well-being was my job. They were all very cool people, very real. Not arrogant in the least, they were awesome with me, I can honestly call them friends,” he says. Another person that made a significant impression on Matthew was Albert Padilla, the assistant ATC with the Vikings who supervised the interns. “He was really tough on us – for all the right reasons. He helped me become a better student and a better worker,” he says. “The Vikings are a large, professional organization that invests in what they need to return athletes to play and keep them all performing at their best. If athletes aren’t well – they don’t have a product to put on the field. I learned a great deal, practical experience that I could not have gotten any other way,” Matthew added. “I also look at the whole thing as a six-week long interview. I’m not sure where I’ll be in the long run, but If anyone ever asks those guys if they know an AT who works hard and believes in what he’s doing, I want them to say my name.” As he begins his senior year at Waynesburg, Matthew has begun to research graduate programs in athletic training. As exciting as his experience with the Minnesota Vikings was, and though he may seek such work for awhile, he says his life-long career goal is to combine his skills and experience with education. He wants to teach. “My mom is my inspiration… I seem to be following in her footsteps. If I can be an AT like her and contribute to the personal growth and future of others – then I will feel successful.”

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

GreeneScene by Jeanine Henry

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

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Lose a Cat?

WAGGIN

Sally McNeel posts this message: “Found - female grey tabby, spayed, short hair, found in Mt. Morris, Davistown Road Area. She’s been at our house since January, she needs her family. She’s friendly with other cats and dogs, If you know about her, if she’s yours, or if you’d like for her to be yours, please call 724-324-5029.”

Curious or confused about the new WAGGIN online card catalog and how to take advantage of its many benefits? The Bowlby Public Library is offering WAGGIN Informational Sessions during the month of October. These sessions will introduce you to the Polaris database and the online catalog, as well as managing your online account. There are several sessions being offered. Choose the most convenient one for your schedule: Oct. 9th at 3pm; Oct. 17th at 10am; or Oct. 24th at 5:30pm. Call 724-627-9776 to reserve your seat.

Wanted? Carol Andrews posts this photo with the message: “Met this wagon on Rt 18 - just outside of Nineveh - heading to Waynesburg! Wonder if he ever found his “woman”? LOL”

Produce to People Coordinated by Greene County Salvation Army, the food is provided by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. All income-eligible households will be qualified to receive free food which is distributed from 10am – noon at the Greene County Fairgrounds once a month. Remaining dates are: 9/26, 10/24, 11/21 & 12/19. If you are interested in learning more or to see if you would be eligible, contact Audrey.Quinn@USE.SalvationArmy.org or 724-852-1479. Families should bring boxes, bags, carts or wagons. No one will be permitted to pick up for another individual or family unless you are signed up.

Fall Story Hour Fall story hour begins at Bowlby Public Library on Tuesday, October 1. Pre-register your infant, toddler or preschooler, children 7-12, and young adults for ten weeks of story time fun at the Library. The Library is currently taking registrations for the following story hours: • Acting Up ages 7-12 - Mondays at 4pm • Preschoolers ages 3-4 - Tuesdays at 10:30am • Preschoolers ages 4-5 - Mondays 11:30am • Toddlers ages 18-35 mos. - Tuesdays 5pm & Thursdays 10:30am • Young Adults ages 13 & up - Wednesdays 4pm • Stories Under the Moon 3-6 years - Wednesdays 5pm • Baby Lapsit birth-18mos. - Mondays 1:30pm For more information, call the Children’s Department at 724-627-9776.

Fishing Frenzy Larry King recently treated his two sons-in-law, Jay Dennison and Jason Mankey, and two grandsons, Preston & Payton Raber, to a walleye fishing trip at Lake Erie. The fishermen had a successful trip with all 5 catching citation (trophy) fish. Pictured are Preston & Payton with just some of their walleye. Rhonda King, 724-852-2254.

Beautiful Butterflies Do you know the difference between the Monarch and the Viceroy butterfly? Members of the Town and Country Garden Club know the answer thanks to the pictorial presentation by member Betty Robison, “A Day in the Life of a Butterfly,” at the club’s August meeting. The presentation covered a wide range of information about butterflies including stages of development and migrating habits. The Viceroy has a black line crossing the postmedian hindwing, is slightly smaller than the Monarch, and does not migrate as does the Monarch. Monarchs travel up to 3,000 miles and their most common destination is the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico. Monarchs cannot flap their wings for the extensive flight so they ride the jet stream winds. Continuing research tries to answer the questions as to how the new Monarchs that emerge in the United States know when and where to migrate since the adults perish and only the new ones migrate. Betty is the owner of Robison’s Acres Plant Sanctuary in Scenery Hill and has been a member of the Washington County Master Gardeners for 16 years.

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

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Jackson T. Gardner

By Colleen Nelson

“M

y first gig was Rain Day.”

Jackson T. Gardner remembers standing on the courthouse steps in Waynesburg in 2008, looking down on High Street filled with friends and family who had turned out to hear him. “I’d just turned 16 on July 21, and I remember I played three or four songs of my own. Afterwards, [local musician] Frank Pazzynski came up to me and said ‘You need to keep playing more of your own songs. That’s where the money is.’” It’s also where a career is. For five years now, Gardner, who grew up in Ruff Creek, has been writing and performing his own heartfelt, country style songs from here to Florida to Nashville and back. And he has an impressive body of work to call his own, including a new album Four Fights to a Pint. You may have heard him playing at Rinky Dinks, the colorful roadhouse on State Rt. 19 near Amity. The club is known for bringing in big name regional talent while also making room for local bands and up & coming artists like Jackson. “I basically learned to play for an audience there,” Jackson said. “It’s a great place and the people are very supportive of local talent.” Jackson discovered his love of music “when I was about five or six. I played multiple instruments, trumpet, fiddle…but when I was 14 I picked up my older brother’s guitar and he said ‘you’ll never be able to play that.’ That’s all it took!” He did learn to play that guitar and soon, Jackson began writing his own songs, letting them speak for whatever he found himself going through at the time. The music he heard growing up gave him a taste for country. “My mom was into George Strait, she played him all the time. My dad liked Jimmy Buffet. I listened to it all.” Later, in high school, he discovered the intricacies of Jimmy Hendrix and subsequently, the blues. “I listened to Hendrix, his guitar was so different, it resonated with me. I worked on my notes and little by little I learned to really play the guitar. And I learned to play the piano. For me it’s better to sit down at the piano and pick out a song.” The kid from Ruff Creek has a working friendship with the band of the same name. “One of my best friends is Devon Johnson.

He’s the lead singer of Ruff Creek, and he and Dave Pahanish wrote songs together. I first heard Dave when I was 17, and I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to keep up with this!’ I knew that’s what I wanted to live up to. Pahanish is very abstract and rich. I love his writing.” Pahanish, originally from Fredericktown, PA, took his talents as a troubadour and gifted tunesmith to Nashville and has made a solid career for himself. His music has been performed by such well-known artists as Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw and many, many others. After five years of honing his style, Jackson was invited to be part of Nashville’s Country Music Association Music Fest on June 6-9, 2013, as an Emerging Artist. This outstanding opportunity meant he was about rub elbows with big names like Ronnie Dunn and Kit Brooks, Chris Young, Lady Antebellum and others. Jackson was set up at the Fanfare section. “I must have signed 900 autographs,” he remembers with a grin. For three days he sold albums and merchandise to help promote his career. “As a result of the experience, I’ve had many doors open and opportunities to make significant advances in the business. It was very good,” Jackson said. The inspiration for his song lyrics comes from what Jackson says is “whatever I’m experiencing emotionally at the time, and what truths have become evident to me. Can’t Quit You is about something I was looking for – where was that girl I couldn’t quit? And I Can Lie Too is about dealing with rumors. Over time, different experiences inspire different emotions. I never thought I’d be the guy that writes love songs, but that’s where I’m at right now.” On the road is where creativity has found time to speak to Jackson, who keeps a digital recorder at his side, along with “a little notebook that if I lost it I’d just die. It’s full of half-finished songs.” Jackson has booked a lot miles, including playing the Colorado State Fair in late August. Earlier this year, Jackson performed a CD release show for Four Fights to a Pint at Rinky Dinks that not only packed the house, but also packed a big surprise for the young singer-songwriter. With Ruff Creek band members to play back up, “We were all plugged in and ready to go and I looked out, and there was Dave Pahanish, sitting at a table, waiting for the show. I almost dropped my guitar!” Very soon Jackson will be sharing the stage with his revered Dave Pahanish, who returns home now and then to perform for his fans. Jackson will be the opening act for Dave’s show at Rock Top Bar & Grill in Morgantown, October 4 and at Rinky Dinks on October 5. Shortly thereafter, it’s back on the road beginning in November when Jackson will tour for several bookings – “and whatever else we can find” – through West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and the Carolinas. He sums up his goals this way: “I want to play music for as many people as I possibly can. I write my own music, if it resonates with people and they enjoy it, that has to be the most satisfying feeling there is – the more the better. That’s what I’m working for.” Jackson’s album is available for purchase on I-Tunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, etc. You can follow his schedule and activities on Facebook as well, just search Jackson T. Gardner.

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

« Cornerstone Gets the Gold Star « C

ornerstone Care was the recent recipient of a Gold Star Award and a grant in the amount of $36,064 from UnitedHealthCare Community Plan through Pennsylvania’s Gold Star Pay for Performance program. According to Lindsay Wiefling, Outreach Supervisor CHIP & Medicaid UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, who made the check presentation, Pennsylvania’s Gold Star Pay for Performance program is the third Community & State project to earn recognition from the Medicaid Health Plans of America’s Center for Best Practices. The program rewards the Pennsylvania Community Plan’s top providers with recognition, financial incentives and administrative relief. “The criteria for Gold Star status are strenuous,” Wiefling emphasized. “First, a practice must already have a minimum of 200 Community Plan members and must have a panel that is open to new UnitedHealthcare Community Plan members.” Additional metrics include: availability, which is based on emergency room usage by members. Usage needs to drop by 10% during a practice’s measurement period. Also certain quality metrics as determined by HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set) must be met. Practitioners must have one measurement higher than 75%, and no measurement may be lower than 25%. The practice can have no more than three legitimate member complaints regarding access of care. According to Wiefling, to date, there has never been a complaint about a Gold Star doctor/business practice. Also, cost of care is gauged. For Gold Star status, the medical cost ratio must be 82% or below. According to Cornerstone Care COO Richard Rinehart, the award and financial incentive are a much appreciated recognition and reward for Cornerstone’s on-going efforts to find innovative and effective ways to make complete healthcare convenient and affordable to families in its service area in Southwestern, PA. One example of those efforts is Cornerstone Care’s Mobile Medical/Dental Unit, which was on-site at Central Greene Pediatrics in Waynesburg when the check presentation was made in mid-August. The mobile unit was stationed at Dr. Daniel Church’s office for several days, with Dr. Charles J. Connors, Dental Mobile Unit Director for Cornerstone, on board and offering dental exams and teeth cleaning to children. Cornerstone’s “Smile for Life” tooth twins Tommy & Tami were also present to help children feel comfortable and welcome. “Unfortunately, there are many children who may have never even seen a dentist. We strive to help educate parents and the public in general on the importance of oral care, and its relationship to overall health,” said Rinehart. Cornerstone’s “Smile for Life” program was instituted over four years ago with a mission to improve the oral health of children residing in Fayette, Greene, and Washington Counties. According to the Manager of Outreach and Mobile Services and Smile for Life project coordinator Donna Simpson, the greatest unmet

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

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need of children residing in these counties is oral health. “Smile for Life provides a school-based oral health education program in all of the Greene County’s elementary schools and all Head Start programs in Fayette, Greene, and Washington counties. Smile for Life Kid’s Club is an incentive program for children who complete dentist’s recommended treatment plans. We are succeeding in increasing awareness and good practices in oral healthcare. It’s working,” Simpson said. Cornerstone Care recently sent packets home to children’s parents about the mobile dental program. This year, mobile dental services are available to every school district in Greene County. Parents are encouraged to complete the mobile dental forms and return them to the school as soon as possible. “Children’s oral health is so important. It impacts their ability to concentrate and do well in school, their speech and their self-esteem. Every parent should be taking their child’s oral health as seriously as their physical health. They go hand in hand.” The Smile for Life program and mobile medical/dental unit are just two examples of Cornerstone Care’s successful efforts to bring health care and education to the communities it serves, and earning the Gold Star status and associated rewards. “We are pleased to recognize Cornerstone Care as a superior provider and contribute to its on-going success,” said Wiefling. Pennsylvania’s Gold Star Pay for Performance program is available to all primary (l to r) Richard T. Rinehart, COO of Cornerstone Care, Dr. Charles J. care practitioners, including pediaConnors, Dental Mobile Unit Director of Cornerstone Care, and Lindsay tricians, family care providers and Wiefling, Outreach Supervisor CHIP & Medicaid UnitedHealthcare Cominternists who meet the strenuous munity Plan. Smile for Life mascots Tommy & Tami, the tooth twins, are criteria. also pictured on far left and right, respectively.

In Memory T

he GreeneSaver joins a multitude of people in our area who mourn the loss of one of our most endearing friends and a true community servant, John Paul McCracken, who passed on to his eternal reward on August 23, 2013. Surely among the sweetest souls to grace this earth, we will miss you very much, Johnny. With a ready smile for those who often needed it most, John McCracken’s life was characterized by great generosity, compassion and consideration for the many lives he touched - and enriched – everyday. In his work as the “Delivery Man” for McCracken Pharmacy, in his extensive civic service, and in his personal life, John’s passion for helping people was openly and continuously evident. Much the same might be said about his love and concern for animals. John was an advocate of the Humane Society of Greene County, which will be the beneficiary of a special “Tribute To Johnny” dinner being planned for Nov. 9, 2013. Hosted by The Lodge at Rohanna’s, the event will include dinner and live entertainment. Those who would like to pay tribute to John P. McCracken in this meaningful way should save the date. Additional information will soon be available, check Facebook’s Growing up in Greene page for updates.

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

Greene Gardening - Naturalizing Daffodils

by Robin Leonard, Penn State Master Gardener of Greene County

s summer fades, the cool weather of fall is the perfect time to plant bulbs. Cheerful harbingers of spring, daffodils make a great choice for “naturalizing,” which means planting bulbs in such a way that they blend naturally into the landscape as though Mother Nature had placed them there herself. The following tips will help: Quality - purchase only quality bulbs that are plump and firm. Avoid bulbs that are soft and mushy or have mold growing on them. Also look for bigger bulbs. The bigger they are, the more they generally bloom. Place - Even healthy bulbs will fail if they are planted in the wrong spot. Most bulbs do best in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sun a day) and well-drained soil. Timing - Spring-blooming bulbs, such as daffodils and tulips, should be planted in September or October, when the soil temperatures have cooled. Depth - The most common question we get about planting bulbs is “How deep?” Generally, dig a hole two to three times deeper than the bulb is tall. If you have a 3” bulb, dig a hole 6-9” deep. There are exceptions, check the directions that come with your bulbs. Direction - The next most common question is “How do I know which side is up?” If the bulb has a pointed end, that’s usually the end that faces up. Look for the where the roots come out - that end goes down. Water - Bulbs appreciate a good drink after you plant them; encouraging them to send out roots and become established more quickly. Groups – For naturalizing, bulbs look best when planted in big, irregular groupings instead of straight rows (the more bulbs, the bigger the impact).Try tossing them on the ground and plant where they fall. If some end up a little close to each other, that’s ok - it just adds to the natural look. Protect - Critters like squirrels love digging up freshly planted bulbs. Spread a layer of mulch to hide your bulb holes. If that doesn’t help, weigh down a piece of mesh or chicken wire over the soil to keep critters from digging. Remove once bulbs start to sprout. You can also layer your bulbs. Try a double decker approach. Plant small bulbs in a layer right on top of larger bulbs. A great combination is yellow daffodils and purple crocuses or Grape Hyacinths. In the end, what you do with bulbs is limited only by your imagination. A few hours one brisk autumn afternoon and you will be delighted by the color and blooms that appear next spring.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

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Clipper

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

“Keep On Clipping!”

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

Community Bank Offers iHELP Private Student Loans

ommunity Bank recently announced that it now offers Private Student Loans to its customers by participating in the iHELP Private Student Loan program. iHELP administers a simple and transparent lending program with competitive rates through community banks, providing all loan origination and servicing support. Working together, Community Bank and iHELP Private Student Loans will help students fill the gap between the cost of a college degree and federal loans and scholarships. Working through a trusted community bank as part of the iHELP program gives students and families a compelling option during what can otherwise be a confusing and stressful process. Community Bank’s iHELP Private Student Loans is the exclusive Preferred Service Provider of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). Pat McCune, President and CEO said, “We want to support our customers’ college education goals. Participating in the iHELP Private Student Loan Program is a great way to make sure our community has access to outstanding customer service throughout the application and loan servicing process. We are confident that through this program, we can provide a better lending experience for our customers than an unknown financial institution.” Ralph Burchianti, Sr. Vice President, stated, “We believe that where students borrow from matters, with iHELP Private Student Loans they share Community Bank’s commitment to providing outstanding customer service, and work with students to make sure they understand their financing options. They provide free resources on U.S. college costs; average salary by career and location, as well as access to scholarship links so that students can make an informed decision and reduce their net cost of college.” Obtaining a college degree is the most important decision a young adult makes in determining their financial success. College graduates earn about $1.5 million more over a lifetime than those with a high school degree. Since the recession in 2008, about 2 million jobs have been created for college graduates, while those with a high school degree have experienced a decline in jobs of about 200,000 (Source: Georgetown University and the Lumina Foundation). However, paying for college can be difficult. In Pennsylvania, the average annual cost of a 4-year public university is $10,452 while the average annual cost for a 4-year private college is $31,294 (Source: Chronicle of Higher Education). With federal student loans averaging $5500 per year, many families turn to Private Student Loans, rather than take out equity lines of credit or borrow from retirement accounts. For more information regarding iHELP Private Student Loans please visit our website at www.communitybank.tv and click on the iHELP banner. Community Bank is a locally-owned full service bank now celebrating 112 years. Community Bank operates 11 offices in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Its stock is listed under the symbol CBFV. Please call 888-223-8099 or visit www.communitybank.tv for more information. About iHELP Private Student Loans The iHELP Private Student Loan Program is provided through more than 5,000 community minded member banks of the Independent Community Bankers Association (ICBA). iHELP and its lending partners are committed to helping students and their families make informed decisions about their plans for higher education, providing current resources on school costs, estimated salaries for various careers , and providing free access to more than 17,000 available scholarships. The Student Loan Finance Corporation administers iHELP for its banks and has more than 30 years of experience in the student loan business. iHELP was named the #2 resource for Private Student Loans by YesCollege. com. For more information about the iHELP private student loan program, contact Kevin Moehn Program Manager at: kmoehn@ihelploan.com (571) 313-1307

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

Linda Hopkins Memorial Ride I

n January of 2007, Linda Hopkins of Waynesburg unexpectedly passed away at 56 years young. Her daughter Janet Hopkins-Bowman, and Janet’s husband John wanted to do something special to honor Linda. They got together with the other members of Linda’s family and organized the Linda Hopkins Memorial Ride, with the proceeds being donated to Make-A-Wish in Linda’s name. This year, the 7th annual ride held on Sep 7th had 51 motorcycles and a total of 81 people participating. The 101 mile long ride began at the Waynesburg Moose then to Jimmie’s Place near Dilliner, from there they rode up to the summit where family friends Jeff and Brenda Martin had prepared food and drinks for all who attended. Riders continued from there to Friendship Lounge in Richeyville, then on to the final stop at the Jefferson Hotel, where another ample supply of food was prepared and donated by the owner of Jefferson Hotel. Over $3,000 was raised for a donation to Make-A-Wish in Linda’s name. The Hopkins family thanks all participants and encourages all riders to save the date of Sep. 6th for the 2014 event.

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GreeneScene by Tonya Black

Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA

omestic Violence-- Make it your business! In most instances, women and children living with domestic violence desperately need somewhere to go and someone to help them find a better life. That is exactly why Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA (DVSSP), exists in the tri-county area of Washington, Greene and Fayette. DVSSP is a non-profit agency and all services are free and confidential. In addition to connecting women and children with temporary safe shelter and other basic necessities, the agency also offers counseling and support groups, Protection From Abuse (PFA) assistance, information and referrals, and community and school education and training programs. Most people might find it surprising that DVSSP’s satellite office in Greene County at 43 N. Morgan St. accomplishes all of these things and much more with only one full-time and one part-time employee. According to Satellite Office Coordinator Cheryl McCready, that’s why volunteers are so vital to DVSSP. Actually, the agency needs new volunteers right now. To become a volunteer for Domestic Violence Services of SWPA, one must complete a 45-hour training program, the next of which will begin in October. While completing the course, prospective volunteers will gain basic knowledge in several areas, including the history of the agency and background information on domestic violence. The course also touches on key elements of criminal and civil law, and helps trainees to develop and hone active listening skills. Volunteers should never worry that they will need to perform duties that make them uncomfortable. Whether they want to work directly with clients or strictly in the office, at booths at community events like Rain Day, there’s really something everyone can do. For those who cannot or do not wish to participate in the training, there are still many ways to help victims of abuse. Donations from individuals or groups are always needed. These donations can include financial, paper products, toiletries, food staples, new socks and underwear, and many other items or services (such as helping to prepare for our children’s prevention education programs) that can help victims. Volunteers are also needed right now to participate with the agency in October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) Campaign. DVAM is a time to remember the victims of abuse and to promote awareness in our community. According to McCready, the agency wants domestic violence to come out from behind closed doors and to be “talkaboutable”—to let victims know that abuse is not okay and that there is a safe place to go. Individuals and groups can help in October by placing DVAM signs and by tying purple ribbons or bows on bushes or trees at their homes, churches, or businesses. Materials are available. Look for many DVAM signs and displays such as the one at First Federal Savings & Loan in Waynesburg . The Greene County Courthouse and the local libraries will offer Empty Place at the Table displays. DVSSP would like to see all of Greene, Washington, and Fayette Counties turn PURPLE in October! Speakers are also available to meet with any agency, group, club, church, etc. to present a program about domestic violence, our services, volunteering or about DVAM. In addition, the agency will hold his annual “Peace Begins at Home” benefit dinner on October 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Meadowlands Double Tree Hotel. For more information or questions, please call 724-852-2373, e-mail cm@peacefromdv.org, or visit the website www.peacefromdv.org. DVSSP is also on Facebook and Twitter. The hotline number is 724-852-2463.

Ed Matthews of Denver, PA, drove his 1940 Ford pick-up 260 miles to attend the 12th Annual 50s Fest in downtown Waynesburg. Ed won the Furthest Traveled Award, though he was closely followed by his brother, Dave Matthews, who came 259 miles in his ’38 Ford Coupe from Stevens, PA. Ed and Dave joined a third brother, Challen Matthews, who drove his 1950 Mercury 1 mile from his home in Waynesburg. Challen’s vehicle and likeness were featured on this year’s collectible t-shirt. “This is the first time we’ve all three been together at the same show at the same time,” Challen noted. There were 218 cars registered at the 2013 event, and crowds of spectators came out to enjoy the cruise and gorgeous weather. The 2013 “Blown Hemi” sponsor for the 12th Annual 50s Fest & Car Cruise event was Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency. Look for pictures on Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful’s Facebook page, the organization responsible for presenting the popular event.

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RETIREES PLAN CHRISTMAS TRIP

hey just got back from a fantastic trip to Ashville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg. Now the Greene County Association of School Retirees is planning an inspirational Christmas Season trip to see the Millennium Theater production Miracle of Christmas. The two-day trip to Lancaster on December 4 and 5 will include a visit to the National Christmas Family Attraction and Museum in the Heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing wonderful memories of Christmas past and present, near and far. Travelers will enjoy a lavish buffet and a live Holiday performance at The Dutch Apple Dinner Theater to wind up Wednesday. After breakfast at their hotel Thursday morning, the travelers will have time to visit the Kitchen Kettle Village and shop for unique items and delicious local treats. Then the trip will reach its high point when travelers go to the Millennium Theater to watch The Miracle of Christmas. The performance recreates the village of Bethlehem with villagers, donkeys, horses and camels throughout the theater and angels above. After The Savior is Born, the group will enjoy a traditional family-style Amish dinner at the Hershey Farm Restaurant and begin their journey home. There are still a few seats available for this great seasonal trip. The cost is $295 per person double occupancy and includes deluxe roundtrip motor coach transportation, hotel accommodations, one breakfast, two dinners including The Dutch Apple Theatre, the per- “GCASR travelers began their recent Smoky Mountain trip with a visit to the historic Biltmore Estate.” formance of The Miracle of Christmas at the Sight & Sound’s Millennium Theatre, baggage handling, taxes and gratuities. If you’d like to join this fabulous trip, you do not need to be a member of GCASR – anyone is welcome to travel with the group. Just call Linda at 724-627-8379 and make your reservation before October 15.

Standards in Measuring

atural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) is a national organization dedicated to the development of a growing, profitable, and sustainable market for vehicles powered by natural gas or biomethane. Representing more than 150 companies, environmental groups, and government organizations, most NGVAmerica members are companies that produce, distribute, and market natural gas and biomethane across the country; manufacture and service natural gas vehicles, engines, and equipment; and operate fleets powered by clean-burning gaseous fuels. One effort NGVAmerica has undertaken is to promote equality in both the taxing and the measuring of compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuels used in transportation. Earlier this month, NGVAmerica sent a letter to all 52 state weights and measures delegates asking them to support the adoption of a national standard allowing CNG and LNG to be dispensed in diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) units. This would complement the gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) standard already in place for retail sales of CNG. The GGE standard, which has been in place since 1994, states that 5.66 pounds of CNG is equal to 1 GGE. There is no national weights and measure standard for dispensing LNG. Under a proposal put forward by the Clean Vehicle Education Foundation, retailers of LNG would be able to sell LNG in DGE. Retailers of CNG, however, would have a choice. They could continue to sell CNG in GGE units or alternatively would be able to sell CNG in DGE units. Don’t let all the abbreviations get in the way. What this means is that the industry producing and using domestic fuel from natural gas for transportation wants to be able to measure that fuel in units that can be fairly compared to diesel fuel, which largely comes from foreign markets. Price comparisons, performance ratings, taxation…these are all things that need to be equitably and easily gauged in order to increase the utilization of natural gas in transportation, and therefore help stabilize the market and continue to decrease dependence on foreign oil. The DGE standard is intended to provide clarity for truckers, medium and heavy duty vehicle purchasers, and any other potential consumers who are accustomed to purchasing diesel fuel. In applications where CNG and LNG compete with and are used in place of diesel fuel, selling and pricing natural gas in DGE units makes the most sense. In applications where CNG mostly competes with and is used in place of gasoline, continuing to sell CNG in GGE will make the most sense. The proposal to put a DGE in effect needs to become a “voting issue” in the summer of 2014 when the National Conference of Weights and Measures holds its annual meeting. NGVAmerica’s letter asked state delegates who are attending regional meetings this fall to nominate the issue for consideration as a voting issue at next year’s convention.

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2013 GreeneScene Road Rally

ore! A Few Changes in St

Saturday October 5 is the date for the 2013 GreeneScene Road Rally! This annual event is held every October in memory of BJ Quallich to benefit local charitable causes in Greene County. This year we’re once again raising funds for the Greene County Historical Society, and while you’re in store for as much fun and prizes as ever before, there are some changes – read on! In response to your requests, we are speeding up the awarding of door prizes and winners after the rally. A delicious meal will still be served, but no live entertainment or delays in awarding the prizes! We promise to keep the pace up and announce winners quickly! A chance at $300 in cash and several hundreds more in free merchandise makes for a fairly enticing experience. Whether you’ve been doing it for years, or this is your first time, you will have a blast. Check-in will begin at 2pm at the Greene County Fairgrounds, and the rally will begin no later than 3pm. If you’re not quite sure what the GreeneScene Road Rally is, you’ll find complete details on our website at greenesaver.com. It all starts with the strategic plotting of a course in advance. The “Course Master” chooses a scenic route with several interesting sites along the way and then prescribes exact driving directions complete with progressive tripometer readings. Our Course Master this year is actually a team, Bob & Mary Ann Dispenza, GreeneScene Road Rally veterans and volunteers who have laid out two beautifully scenic courses for you. It will be the most fun road trip you’ll take on the scenic byways of Greene County and, chances are, win a few prizes along the way! It’s not a race, and it doesn’t require a fancy car. You will need at least one passenger or “navigator” to read the directions and keep you on course with clues relating to signs and sites you’ll see along the way. The road rally course is timed in advance with several trial runs at safe and legal speed limits, then averaged to determine the “target time” it should take to drive the course. Scores are based on how close you come to the target time, along with bonus points for finding the answers to site-specific questions from clues provided. First prize is $300. Second and third place get prizes packages valued at over $100, and EVERY participant gets their own “Goody Bag” loaded with neat little doodads donated by local businesses. Plus, there are hundreds of dollars in door prizes passed out during the dinner afterwards, which will be at the PA National Guard Armory at EverGreene Technology Park in Waynesburg. Everything’s included in your registration fee, which is $30, plus $10 per passenger. You’ll find a pre-registration form in this issue of the GreeneSaver, or you can download one at www.greenesaver.com.

GreeneScene by Carol Andrews 24

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NFL LEGEND BILL GEORGE

s the NFL football season takes us to the gridiron every Sunday, we would like to look back at one of Waynesburg’s finest sons. Our very own Bill George not only played in the NFL, but is also considered by the experts as one of the finest to ever play the game. His six foot, two hundred and thirty-pound frame easily dominated opponents on the field at the high school level. This led Bill to play college ball at Wake Forest University. Scouts flocked to see his talents, and after several successful years at college, he was drafted by the hard hitting Chicago Bears in 1951. His career began to flourish the following year as he soon made a name for himself in the NFL. George’s reputation for knocking heads on the field in the 1950s was second to none. What made George so different was his development of the middle linebacker position. He not only is credited with the creation of the position, but also for having inadvertently created the notorious 4-3 defense. (This is where there are four linemen and three linebackers.) George, being one of the linebackers, would drop back to the middle of the play, instead of rushing the quarterback. This allowed him a better chance at intercepting passes and breaking up plays. The technique was groundbreaking in the 1950s. George was elected to eight straight Pro Bowls, an amazing feat in itself, and at last led his team to the championship in 1963. His ferocious on-the-field presence topped the New York Giants that year by a slim margin. They won the game 14-10, and it was George’s leadership that put the Bears over the top to win that tight game. Years later, when asked how he thought up the idea of the middle linebacker position, George responded, “Hell, I could break up the quarterback’s passes if I didn’t have to hit his offensive center first.” George is forever enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame, and the Bears permanently retired his jersey along with his number 61. George’s fifteen years in the NFL will never be forgotten. Many sports writers over the years have consistently ranked him on the one hundred greatest football players of all time. Sports Illustrated called him, “the meanest Bear of all time!” That is saying quite a lot, given the Bears past history of some of the toughest defensive players to ever be part of the game. Not bad for a Greene County boy! We lost George to a car accident in Wisconsin, at the young age of fiftytwo. However, we will never forget his great accomplishment, and the legendRanked #8 on ESPN’s roll of the top 50 Greatest Bears, Bill George ary status that he achieved. The people played from 1952-65 and was all-NFL for eight seasons, played in of Greene County salute you, NFL great, eight straight Pro Bowls. He had 18 career interceptions and recovBill George. ered 19 fumbles. AP Photo.

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WITNESS IN GREENE NOW ON BySALE Shelly Brown J

ohn Rich Dorean, pastor for thirty-one years of the Jefferson Baptist Church, has recently released Witness in Greene, the second in his trilogy of Greene County mysteries. Building on the success of his first novel, Murder in Greene, John has crafted another story filled with images and places familiar to the local citizenry. Once again, Pastor Mark Stewart finds himself involved in coping with personal tragedy even as he joins forces with others in resolving a local murder. With a story line that seems like it could have been ripped from today’s newspaper headlines, the reader is swept up in a fast paced thriller. “I actually finished the story in January of this year. The opening scene includes an escape from the Greene County jail, and when that actually happened this summer, it felt like it was almost foretelling. The book also has settings and references relating to the Marcellus Shale activity, and the more I read the papers today, the more I realize how predictive it seems,” John explains . Though his readers only met him through the pages of his first book a little over a year ago, John actually began his endeavor in writing over 15 years ago. “I’ve always liked to write and, of course, I write sermons every week, but the motivation to write an actual novel came out of a bit of frustration. I like to read, too. And I like to read things that are exciting and suspenseful, but not necessarily filled with excessive violence and sex. I would pick out books to read from the “Christian” genre – mysteries, romance, historical…and too often I would think they were not really very well done, lacking something, and if they hadn’t been tagged with the word “Christian”, they probably wouldn’t even have sold or been read. I thought to myself, ‘I could do better than this.’ Not to sound arrogant – I was actually feeling more challenged than anything else. So I did it. I wrote Murder in Greene.” John first submitted his manuscript to some Christian publishers, who were a little uncomfortable with what he considered simply realistic dialogue, and they rejected it. That’s where it stopped. “I knew that my ego just wouldn’t take the possible 50 rejections I would have to face if I continued to submit, as all new authors have to do. So I put it on the shelf in the closet and left it there,” he remembers. Fifteen years later, it mysteriously came back off the shelf. For Christmas 2011, my wife decided to surprise me, and without my knowledge she paid to have 20 copies printed. We used them as gifts for friends and family. The positive response was so encouraging, we decided to give self-publishing a try. We had another 500 copies printed and offered them for sale through local stores. They sold so quickly, I began right away to work on this second book. Actually, John didn’t have a choice about writing a second book. When his wife, Merry, and daughter, Carrie were sneaking around to get the first 20 copies printed, they designed the book jacket with cover and John’s picture on the back with a blurb that included in the description of the book, “…the first in a trilogy on Pastor Mark Stewart.” Now that’s confidence in your man. John accepted the challenge. His fans are already scrambling after number two, Witness in Greene, now available for sale exclusively in Greene County. Copies are available at both Giant Eagles, The Lil’ Store, Jefferson Market, Specialty Herbal Products, Art Beat, Rush Grocery and Video, Novak Chiropractic and other local businesses. Number three - Justice in Greene – up next.

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Jefferson Pirates are Champs Congratulations to the Jefferson Pirates, winners of the 25+ Adult Baseball League championship in the Washington-Greene Adult Baseball League for 2013. The Pirates finished the season with a record of 16-2. The championship series was a best of three games. The Pirates lost game one 8-0, but battled back to win game two 2-1. The third and final game the Pirates prevailed 9-6 in 9 innings. The Pirates trailed until the top The Community Foundation of Greene County (CFGC) announces they are accepting applications of the ninth, but scored 3 runs, and shut the for the fall discretionary grant round. Grant applications will be accepted until October 1, 2013 for the fall Orioles down in the bottom of the ninth to round of grants. The Foundation expects to award three to five grants between $1,000 and $2,000 per grant win their second championship in as many years. in each round. Successful first round grant awards will be announced in late November.

Grant Opportunities

Eligible applicants include nonprofit, charitable, tax-exempt organizations (recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), as well as educational institutions, schools, and government organizations whose purposes and programs benefit Greene County residents. CFGC seeks to fund organizations and projects that will have a significant and lasting impact on Greene County, its residents, infrastructure and future. Proposed projects may include any one or more of the following broad priorities: Arts, Culture & Humanities; Children, Youth & Families; Community and Economic Development; Education; Environment; Health & Fitness; and Human Services. Applicants do not need to identify the specific grant priority. The grant guidelines, application procedures and application form are available on the Foundation website at http://www.cfgcpa.org for more specific information. Grant applications must be received in the CFGC Office no later than 4:00 PM on October 1st. Applications may be received by postal mail, hand-delivery, e-mail, or fax. Please note that e-mail or fax submissions must also mail a copy of the application form with original signature within 48 hours of the deadline. For additional information, contact the Foundation office at 724-627-2010, or e-mail cfgcpa@ gmail.com.

Hunting Hills Hawkeyes Go National Nine Shooters from Greene County participated in the national two hundred clay target shoot in Sparta, Illinois earlier this summer. The shooters are members of the scholastic clay target program at Hunting Hills, founded by Roy and Sally Sisler of Dilliner, PA. Arran Hinerman and Tristan Cole of Waynesburg, and Tucker Hughes of Rogersville placed second as a rookie team. Tristan also placed fifth overall in the rookie division. As a team, Nathan Hinerman of Waynesburg, Patrick Hughes of Rogersville, Cameron Cernuska of Jefferson placed tenth in the intermediate advanced team division. Kaitlin Orahood of Waynesburg placed fifth overall in the intermediate entry lady’s division. Hunter Orahood and Dylan Miller of Waynesburg also shot individual scores in the competition.

The Hunting Hills Hawkeyes represented Greene County well on the national level. Pictured (l to r) kneeling: Arran Hinerman, Tucker Hughes, Tristan Cole. 2nd row: Hunter Orahood, Cameron Cernuska, Kaitlin Orahood, Patrick Hughes, Nathan Hinerman, Dylan Miller. Back row: Assistant Head Coach Randy Coss, Coaches Doug Hinerman, Dave Cole, Dan Orahood and Head Coach Chuck Mallory.

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Most Popular DJ Greene County United Way recently celebrated its 24th annual “Radio Day” on the sidewalk in front of the United Way office in Waynesburg. The event, hosted by WANB Radio, serves as the official kick off to the Greene County United Way Annual Campaign. DJs from United Way local partner agencies showed their support of United Way as they competed for the desirable “Most Popular DJ” title. When all votes were counted at the end of the day, Sister Audrey from the Salvation Army Center of Greene County claimed the title. A close second was DJ Stacy Stroman and Jessica Hayjek-Bates from Community Action Southwest. Other participating agencies included Bowlby Library, Cornerstone Care, Boy Scouts of America, Domestic Violence Services, Catholic Charities and Flenniken Library. Pictured (l to r): Pat Bristor, Salvation Army Board of Directors, Sister Audrey Quinn and Crazy Doug Wilson of WANB.

New Playground The Greene County Commissioners recently presented a $3,000 Recreation Development grant to Children’s Bible Ministries of Southwestern Pennsylvania for new playground equipment at the Cornerstone Ministry Center in Jefferson. The equipment was installed earlier this summer and utilized by CBM summer campers. Pictured (l to r) are Commissioner Blair Zimmerman, Judy Virgili, executive director of Cornerstone Ministry Center, Commissioner Chuck Morris and Commissioner Archie Trader.

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