BRIDGES
Pennsylvania C o n ne ct i n g O u r C o m m u ni t i e s
July 2018 Edition
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La nd of the Free
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All Rights Reserved© Pennsylvania Bridges is... Carla E. Anderton, Editor-in-Chief Fred Terling, Managing Editor Hayley Lynn Martin, Associate Editor Chuck Brutz, Staff Writer Cass Currie, Staff Writer Keren Lee Dreyer, Staff Writer Pastor Dawn Hargraves, Columnist Tasha Oskey, Columnist Reanna Roberts, Columnist Eric J. Worton, Columnist Contributors: Jennifer Benford, Lisa J. Buday, Noah Churchel, Christine Haines, Dr. Michele Pagen, Mark Pawelec, Bruce Wald, Ashley Wise, Dave Zuchowski & Daniel Zyglowicz
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N O TA B L E & Q U O TA B L E
“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” DESMOND TUTU South African Leader
2
Land of the Free
As I write this, July is fast approaching, and my Facebook feed is filled with photos of friends on vacation. Some are sunbathing on beaches, while others are dancing in the rain at music festivals. While I certainly don’t begrudge them their fun, I must admit their photos of frolicking out of doors are vivid reminders to me that I’ve been stuck indoors, working on this edition, for what’s starting to seem like an eternity. Don’t misunderstand me, I love what I do, so much so that I hardly even consider it work. But when deadlines loom and I’m forced indoors for an extended period, I get a little stir crazy, and the urge to roam is intense. I love to travel, and I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve had the opportunity to travel widely. From the banks of the Mississippi River, where I spent my formative years, to the Monongahela Valley region I now call home, I’ve made numerous stops along the way. I’ve witnessed the plunging rapids of Niagara Falls, hiked beneath the towering trees of the Redwood Forest, and swam in the Gulf of Mexico, just to name a few of the experiences I’ve had touring this marvelous land. While I’ve not traveled all 50 states, I’ve come close to visiting most of them, and as an American, my heart swells with pride to know I live in such
a beautiful and diverse country. At this time of year, as we prepare to celebrate our independence on the Fourth of July, I think it’s appropriate for all Americans to reflect on the ideals that truly make this country great. Ideals like freedom of expression spring to mind, without which I wouldn’t be penning this column or - for that matter putting out a monthly publication. Because I so cherish that freedom, I admire others who also express themselves, whether it be through the written word, song and dance, or some other medium. More often than not, the results of those expressions mirror the magnificence of America itself. This edition is inspired by these expressions, and by the people who exercise their freedom to have a voice, whether it be in their local communities or on the world stage. Until next month, Carla E. Anderton
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The Canonsburg Fourth of July Committee: Strangers who became family story by Fred Terling
It was another typical first Monday of the month meeting taking place in the upstairs of the White Eagles Club in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. These meetings begin the month after Independence Day and continue on-schedule until June of the following year, wherein the frequency increases to every week until the eventual celebration on the Fourth of July. This has gone on for the past fiftysix years since the first one was held in 1962. Now known throughout the rest of the state as the celebration where residents put out their chairs days in advance, the parade and day’s celebration has become a mainstay for citizens of this slice of Americana. Although the complexity in preparation of this holiday has increased, the heart of the organization remains the same. “When most of us first met, we were strangers,” recalls Co-Chairman Tom Shinshasky, “but we became generational friends, attend each other’s family events, graduations, weddings, there’s a great bond of love here.” Tom is one of the oldest members who has been involved since 1969. The core of the present committee includes second and even third generation family members, most of which can be traced back to the original CoChairmen, Steve Zemencik and Fred Terling (yes, my father), although I haven’t earned the committee stripes that my fellow legacy members have like Shari Zemencik. Shari started in her early teens taping numbers on cars as her first job and has moved in and out of various roles for the past forty years. Currently, she is the committee’s Treasurer. “As the Treasurer for the last many moons, my first challenge is money,” says Shari. “Are we spending too much? What we spend, do we spend it wisely? Do we have enough sponsors and/or donations to cover the current year’s expenses?” Initially, the parade was small and relied solely on donations from the community and local businesses. The expenses include paying for the parade units, fireworks, security and insurance. “The first parades I was involved in was a band and a couple of cement trucks with red, white and blue stripes on them,” recalls Co-Chair Bill Brooks, a member since 1972. “Uncle Steve (Zemencik) called me and Tom as we were the only two who could drive stick-shifts on the local convertibles the dealers lent us for the dignitaries in the parade. That’s how it all started for me.” Throughout the years the committee
The Canonsburg Fourth of July Committee. Front row seated from left to right: Anthony Colaizzo, Shari Zemencik, Bill Brooks and Tom Shinshasky. Back row standing from left to right: Ray Margiotta, Jeff Shinshasky, Joe Margiotta, Rich Gossard, Susan Hofrichter, Laurie Rigby, Becky Pihiou, Rob Macieko and Jennifer Shinshasky
has adapted to many changes. As elements were added and fireworks displays became bigger and bolder, the need for additional income became an issue for the all-volunteer committee. Things like rain insurance became a consideration if the weather would not cooperate on the morning of the parade or the evening fireworks festivities. This is where corporate sponsors came in. Returning to the meeting. Jennifer Shinshasky, Tom’s Daughter and second-generation member, informed the committee that this year she recruited a record number of 58 sponsors. Although this is great news, it also presents an additional challenge of finding banner carriers, two each for the sponsors. That is just one aspect of the preparation that goes into the celebration that tens of thousands show up for every July Fourth. In addition to securing banner carriers, organizing constables for security and how that interfaces with the annual race that also takes place that morning prior to the parade. Then there is discussion
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on how to handle elected officials who want to ride in the parade and how the
impact of upcoming elections affected who will or will not be permitted. Other discussion subjects include handling of the Grand Marshals, cutting and placing bunting around town prior to the event and setting up the grandstand. There are also after parade events. These are handled by Park Chairman, Rob Maceiko. Swimming, musical entertainment and events at the Town Park keep citizens busy during the day before the annual fireworks close the celebrations’ festivities. Additionally, this year another original legacy and former Mayor, Anthony Colaizzo, is providing space in his parking lot for bands to perform in town all afternoon in downtown Canonsburg. There is a lot of work that goes into this event from a logistical perspective. This is only a small glimpse into one meeting, on one day a month out from the parade and events. Being an all-volunteer, member driven organization, there must be more than just the legacy members, or all the tasks simply couldn’t get completed. “Membership is always a big challenge,” echoes Shari Zemencik. “I think we maybe average 10 to 15 members at the most at our planning meetings. We Story continued on page 4
EDITOR’S CHOICE “PIC”OF THE ISSUE
Summer at the State at the State Theatre for the Arts in Uniontown provides patrons with high quality theater experiences. Peter Pan runs July 13 and 14, at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on July 15 at 2 p.m., while The Music Man runs July 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on July 29 at 2 p.m. Details on page 19.
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Submit your photos for consideration for Editor’s Choice “Pic”of the Issue to carla@pabridges.com. Original photography only accepted for consideration.
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Canonsburg Fourth of July Committee, continued
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have additional people that help us just for the parade or the park or the stadium which helps get us through the day. Without those additional helpers, we would be in trouble. We are all getting older and I get concerned that we have enough man/woman power.” One of the most significant meetings will happen on the evening of July the third. This is when the parade CoChairs, Jeff Shinshasky and Beth Brooks-Ludwin, both second generation legacies, will gather the bulk of the additional people who are part of the parade committee. The night before, Jeff and Beth take their volunteers through the parade list, unit-by-unit, review the order and staging locations. With over 120 units, quite an improvement over one band and cement trucks from the sixties, organization is paramount from 7:00 am to 9:30 am the morning of the Fourth. “The single greatest challenge is keeping it all organized,” confirms Jeff
Shinshasky. “It can be organized chaos down there (staging areas). Every unit, whether a band or a car has a particular spot to be staged in and having people there that are experienced and know what they’re doing is a must.” As the meeting closes, I reflect on my youth spent with my father, one of the founders and my brother Sean, who was at one time Parade Chairman and is still one of those vital, experienced parade volunteers the morning of the Fourth. I smile as here I sit, not involved in the celebration, yet writing a feature about it. It must be in the blood as many have said when I ask why they still do this. Tom Shinshasky summed it up, “I remember all the great times and keep making new ones. This is for the love of community and giving families a reason to stay in town and be active on the Fourth.” As for Shari, “Life gives everyone so many personal challenges that this is a Story continued on page 5
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Canonsburg Fourth of July Committee, continued from pages 3 & 4 chance to make people happy. This gives all of us second and third generation legacy members a chance to carry on the tradition. They are like family to me. We all grew up not knowing anything else but this for the 4th of July. I’ve had both of my kids help at one point in time with the celebration. My son still helps. You could say he’s a third generation legacy.” As for me, this is a special tribute to all those people I haven’t mentioned by name who have been a part of my life because of this celebration. This Fourth of July as I sit in my customary chair in the backyard which yields a perfect view of the fireworks, I know I’ll hear my father’s voice echoing from the past, “We want a boomer.”
We d n e s d a y, J u l y 4 , 2 0 1 8
56TH ANNUAL CANONSBURG JULY 4TH CELEBRATION
S CHEDULE
OF
MORNING 7:30 a.m. 34th Annual Whiskey Rebellion 5K Race and Walkers 9:00 a.m. Ringing of the Church Bells 9:05 a.m. Remarks at the Reviewing Stand Canonsburg Mayor David Rhome & 4th of July Committee Chairman Bill Brooks 10:00 a.m. PARADE Emcee Bobby Shawn Sound and Music by Bob Kobert AFTERNOON Free Town Park Activities for All!
A CTIVITIES
Balloon Animals, Face Painting, Spin Art, Sand Art, Rock Climbing, Inflatables Family Swim Party Free Admission DJ, Games, Prizes All Ages Welcome 1:30 p.m. Musical Entertainment Performing at Town Park Main Pavillion and Colaizzo Parking Lot Downtown EVENING 10:00 p.m. FIREWORKS! Produced by Pyrotecnico Rain date: July 5, 2018
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Cal U appoints new dean of College of Liberal Arts
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California University of Pennsylvania has appointed Dr. Kristen Majocha as dean of the College of Liberal Arts. Majocha comes to California from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where she was the assistant to the vice president of academic affairs and an associate professor in the Communications Department. Her employment at Cal U begins July 2. A U.S. Navy veteran, Majocha holds a Ph.D. in Rhetoric, with emphases on interpersonal, intercultural and organizational communication and communications ethics, from Duquesne University. She earned an M.A. in Rhetoric and the Philosophy of Communication, also at Duquesne, and a B.A. in Communication from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. At Pitt-Johnstown, Majocha taught a variety of communication courses, cochaired the Communication Department from 2015-2016, and served as director of International Program Support and Services from 2016-2017, when she moved into her role in academic affairs. She is editor of the Eastern Communication Association’s Qualitative Research Reports in Communication and a past president of both the Religious Communication Association and the Pennsylvania Communication Association. She received the Ecroyd Teaching Excellence Award from the Eastern Communication Association in 2017, and the Caroll Arnold Distinguished Service Award from the Pennsylvania Communication Association in 2015. “Dr. Majocha is widely recognized as a scholar within her discipline, and she brings a high level of energy and enthusiasm to the role of dean,” says Dr. Bruce Barnhart, Cal U’s provost and
Rightly Noted
senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “We look forward to having her join us.” The College of Liberal Arts houses the departments of Art and Languages; Communication, Design and Culture; Criminal Justice; English; History, Politics, Society and Law; Music and Theatre; and Psychology. It is one of three undergraduate colleges at Cal U, along with the College of Education and Human Services and the Eberly College of Science and Technology. About 1,600 students were enrolled in majors within the College of Liberal Arts in fall 2017, and all Cal U students take liberal arts courses to fulfill their general education requirements. Majocha succeeds Dr. Mohamed Yamba, who retired in March after more than 29 years as a faculty member and dean at Cal U. Dr. Yugo Ikach, co-chair of the Music and Theatre Department, is currently serving as interim dean. Read more at calu.edu/news.
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“Great Gatsby Gala” fundraiser planned for Scenery Hill Civic Committee story by Christine Haines
The Century Inn in Scenery Hill built in 1794 regularly transports its visitors to another time but on July 28 that journey will take them to the Roaring 20s and the decadence of The Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby Gala is a fundraising event for the Scenery Hill Civic Committee which was formed after a fire heavily damaged the historic inn on August 15, 2015. Owner Megin Harrington realized without her business as an anchor, the specialty shops in the community were hurting. “Our first event was a heritage festival. Each year we feature a different era of history and we have craftspeople who sell homemade things of that vintage,” Harrington said. “This September will be our third year doing that and we give tours of the town.” The committee also sponsors movie nights the second Saturday of the month during the summer, showing films geared toward children and family viewing with related activities such as costume contests. The Great Gatsby Gala won’t include any film footage, but the adults attending the event are encouraged to come in costume, donning their best vintage clothing. Each attendee will also need to provide the speakeasy password to enter
the garden party, drawing them into F. Scott Fitzgerald’s private world of excess during the public time of Prohibition. “Our bartender has been doing some research,” Harrington said. “The Southside Fizz had a sprig of mint in it. He said the mint was in case the place got raided. You could chew the mint to hide the odor of the alcohol.” The menu will actually be a bit more upscale than Gatsby may have served. “There is a record of what the Stork CLub was serving, and the hors d’oeuvres weren’t that interesting -- things like aspic and stuffed celery. Ours will be much better,” Harrington said. “It’s going to be a sensory overload.” To add to the atmosphere, cigarette
girls will be passing out the hors d’oeuvres on their trays. Harrington said the Washington Jazz Orchestra will be playing Big Band music and Charleston lessons will be offered. “There will be lots of dancing and lots of food,” Harrington said. And of course, the iconic billboard featuring the all-seeing eyes from the novel and its movie versions will also be present. Tents will be set up in the garden around the gazebo, lit with Edison lights, so the event will go on rain or shine. “But it will not rain,” Harrington said. Harrington said she is preparing for 200 guests for The Great Gatsby Gala. Tickets are being handled through brownpapertickets.com.
The Peters Township Public Library will welcome guest speaker Todd DePastino for the Story of the Whiskey Rebellion on Monday, July 2 at 7 p.m. Register at ptlibrary.org to attend this free event or call 724.941.9430 #1. DePastino tells the story of the Whiskey Rebellion, a massive armed uprising and secessionist movement in the American West, which then included Pittsburgh. Sparked by Alexander Hamilton’s excise tax on whiskey in 1791, the rebellion was
the first major test of the newly constituted federal government and is misunderstood today. Come to hear about the Mingo Creek Association, the proposed independent republic of Westsylvania, “Tom the Tinker,” and General John Neville, whose mansion was burned to the ground in the “Battle of Bower Hill” in July 1794. Todd DePastino is founder and executive director of the Veterans Breakfast Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to sharing veterans’ stories with the public. Over 30,000
people have participated in the Veterans Breakfast Club’s programs and activities over the past ten years. Todd is the author of the award winning Bill Mauldin: A Life Up Front and five other books. He has a Ph.D. in American History from Yale University and teaches at Waynesburg University where in 2008 he won the Lucas-Hathaway Award for Teaching Excellence.
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DePastino tells story of the Whiskey Rebellion at Peters Township Library
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Happy Birthday to Oliver! Attorney Buday’s Office Cat Oliver is celebrating his July 27 birthday by raising money for his friends at Fayette Friends of Animals. To donate, drop by or call the office. Learn more on page 18 of this edition. 7
July news from the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum
Free Produce to People Food Distribution - Fayette County Thursday, July 12 at 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Fayette County Fair Fairgrounds, 132 Pechin Road, Connellsville - The program provides supplemental food items to families each month. Typically families receive about 60 pounds of food each month. Residents of Fayette County who receive the food are asked to bring a large box, wheeled cart or laundry basket to put their food in. In an effort to speed up the process at the distribution center, we have implemented what is known as a Passcard. In order to receive the Passcard you will need to bring with you a copy of a utility bill with your name and address on the bill. You will also need a photo ID. Registration for the distribution begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 11:30. All food is distributed based on a first come first serve basis. To ensure you receive food please arrive no later than 10 a.m. You are able to attend if you live in another county other than Fayette. FMI: freshfirechurch.net
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dOnOra FOOTBall dragOns – 1904 to 1969 – ParT One Due to the enthusiasm generated from our ongoing game film project and last year’s successful “Game Film Event” at the Donora Cro Club, we will host another football event titled “Donora Football Dragons – 1904 to 1969” to present a comprehensive history of Donora Dragons football from the opening kickoff in 1904 to the final whistle in 1968. Part One actually only includes the years 1904 to 1945. Part Two will include the remaining years of 1946 to 1969 and will be held on a future date. The event will consist of a presentation using numerous photos, newspaper articles and film footage, most of which came from the archives of the Donora Historical Society, as well as the Coach Jimmy Russell collection donated by his daughter in 2013, dovetailed with stories told by Smog Museum archivist and curator Brian Charlton, who will take you all the way back in time to 1904 when Donora was known as the Orange and Black, wore leather helmets and played by the Mon River on Gilmore Field, when organized football wasn’t so organized. Hear stories about Coach Russell and players Jake Kovalcik, Arnold Galiffa, Dan Towler, Bimbo Cecconi, Bob Rosborough, Bill Urbanik, Larry Crawford, Malcolm Lomax and many others, that made Donora the “Home of Champions,” as well as Donora’s football ties to the likes of Knute Rockne and Vince Lombardi. Because of the volume of historical information, this event will be presented in two parts. “Donora Football Dragons – 1904 to 1945 – Part One” is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening, October 20th at the Croatian Club (Cro Club) in Donora located at 329 Castner Avenue. Former coaches, players, cheerleaders, band members and fans from any era are encouraged to attend. There is no Pitt football game this day. The “Donora Football Dragons – 1946 to 1968 – Part Two” will be scheduled in the near future on a date that has yet to be determined. The event will take place in the Cro Club hall with food and drinks available for purchase from the Cro Club. The event is free but donations will be gladly accepted. Our “Donora – Forged in 1901” T-shirts will be sold, along with select football game film DVDs from
the 1960s. We encourage audience participation by sharing your stories or memorabilia. Please RSVP for the Game Film Event by contacting the Donora Historical Society by phone or email. Follow the “Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum” in this newspaper, on our website or on Facebook for future updates. OCTOBer 2018 - 1948 sMOg 70th anniversary evenTs As we approach the upcoming 70th Anniversary this October of Donora’s infamous 1948 Smog, the Donora Historical Society has a number of events on the schedule. They will be explained in more detail in future articles. On Tuesday, October 23rd at 6:30 p.m., WQED Producer and Monongahela-native David Solomon will present his mini-documentary “Our Water, Land & Air,” portions of which tell the story about the 1948 Smog. A “Question and Answer” discussion will follow with a panel of survivors and local experts. This event will take place in the downstairs Community Room at the Donora Public Library. On Saturday, October 27th at 1:00 p.m., the Donora Historical Society’s Brian Charlton will present the “The 1948 Donora Smog Disaster” at the Smog Museum. This presentation has been given countless times in Donora and around the Pittsburgh area, and was
also filmed by CSPAN. FALL CEMENT CITY HOME AND WALKING TOUR DATES SET Our fall Cement City Home and Walking Tours and your next chance to see Thomas Edison’s solution for worker housing created in 1917 is scheduled for Saturday, September 22nd and Sunday, September 23rd at 1:00 p.m. The Steelers play Monday night football on September 24th. The cost of the tours are $13/person and space is limited. It’s encouraged to call or email to get your name added to a RSVP signup list to be contacted when the tour date gets closer. If you have any questions about Cement City or one of our Home and Walking Tours, please consult our website and click the “Cement City” tab, or contact the historical society. eldOra ParK WalKing TOUr Next year’s third annual tours are already being planned for two Saturdays in either late March or early April at noon in the wooded footprint of the original park on the old Wickerham Farm to see where people once picnicked and enjoyed all the amenities of an amusement park over a century ago. The cost of the tours are $12/person and space is limited. It’s encouraged to call or email to get your name added to a RSVP signup list to be contacted when the tour date gets closer. We already have quite a few RSVPs for 2019. addiTiOnal inFO If you have additional questions about the subjects mentioned above, the historical society, museum, presentations or possibly volunteering, feel free to stop by on Saturdays or by special appointment (with at least a week’s notice), email us at DonoraHistoricalSociety@gmail.com, call us at 724-823-0364 and leave a message, visit us on the web at DonoraHistoricalSociety.org, or follow us and Like Us on Facebook at “Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum.”
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Center in the Woods July 2018 Activities
The Center in the Woods is a nonprofit, senior facility with the goal of hosting fun activities and community events for adults ages 60+. Lunch is served at 12 noon; please call one day in advance to order. neW! Weight Watchers at the Woods. Weekly meetings starting in 2018. Mininum of 15 participants needed. If interested, call Maria at 724-938-3554, ext. 103. Cost and payment options will be mailed upon request. daily activities include: Mondays: Pianlessons, Watercolor, Choir & Cards; Tuesdays: Lab services, Billiards lessons, Chair dancing, Healthy Steps, Bingo, Dart ball & Cards; Wednesdays: Bible study, Bean bag toss, Oil painting, Basket guild & Beauty shop; Thursdays: Lab services, Chair dancing, Healthy Steps, Jam Session & Bingo; Fridays: Beauty shop, Wii Bowling & Euchre Visit the beauty shop on Wednesdays, & Fridays by appointment. Bethany offers massage therapy by appointment. Call 724-678-3308. Jam sessions every Thursday at 1 p.m. feature local talented musicians. Piano lessons are offered on Mondays. Call Judy at 724-785-6959 tschedule. Birthday celebration the last Tuesday of the month at 12 noon. Bridge on Monday and Thursday, 500 Bid on Wednesday and Euchre on Friday. Games start at 1:15 p.m. Mon Valley Hospital Lab Services Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-10 p.m. Koffee Klatch presented by Edward Jones on the first Friday of the month at 10 a.m. The Adult Day Center is in need of
volunteers. If you are interested in giving some of your time to assist our participants with activities or just being a friend, please contact Mary Beth at 724938-3554, Ext. 123. Volunteers are needed to serve as drivers or runners for the daily Home Delivered Meals program throughout the California, Daisytown, Brownsville and West Brownsville areas. Volunteers report tthe Center in the Woods by 10:30 am. on assigned days and distribute meals to registered participants. Reimbursement for gas mileage is available. Volunteers are also needed in the kitchen. We also need volunteers to help with various fundraising activities and administration work. FMI, please contact Maria at 724-938-3554, Ext. 103. The Center’s hall is available for rental. Call for details. FMI on programs and other activities, call 724-938-3554 Ext. 103. CITW is located at 130 Woodland Court, Brownsville. FMi: centerinthewoods.org
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PROTECT YOUR RIDE While you’re out there riding the wind and chasing sunsets, the last thing you want to worry about is insurance. That’s why we’ve revved up our motorcycle coverage and revamped our motorcycle insurance prices, too. PROTECTING YOU AND YOUR MOTORCYCLE ERIE’s improved motorcycle coverage gives you great protection, including coverage for damage to your accessories, gear and safety riding apparel. And our new motorcycle insurance rates offer the lowest possible cost for the safest drivers on the road. Insuring your motorcycle with ERIE means: Your gear and safety riding apparel are covered (think helmet, riding boots and even protective eyewear). Your special touches are covered, too (like custom paint, chrome, saddlebags and more). Medical payments can help pay your covered injury expenses (ask your agent how to add this to your policy). Optional roadside assistance is available, should your bike ever leave you stranded (believe us; it’s worth the small add-on cost). You get a 12-month policy that protects your ride all year long. SAVINGS & CONVENIENCE If it’s been awhile since you looked at motorcycle coverage with us, you’ll want to get a quote. Our new pricing may surprise you. If you already have ERIE auto insurance, you may add your motorcycle to your existing auto policy. If you have the ERIE Rate Lock® feature on your auto policy, you could lock in your motorcycle premium as well. And you get the
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SOUTHWESTERN PINTSYLVANIA ———With Reanna Roberts———
ON TAP THIS MONTH: BLOOM BREW’S JEFF BLOOM
This month, I sat down with Jeff Bloom, the owner of Bloom Brew in West Newton, on a Friday night when the weather was being unpredictable. When I pulled up, I saw a small garage, filled with wooden kegs and casks of aging beer, as well customers, most of whom appeared to be regulars standing around enjoying their drafts. Tables were set up outside under tents with a lovely view of the Youghiogheny River, and the customers were all packed inside the garage trying to stay out of the rain. We decided to grab one of the picnic tables outside for our interview, but that was short lived because after about ten minutes, the skies opened up and it was pouring. Within minutes there was an inch of water around me and it was thundering and lightning. We continued our interview inside the taproom, only being interrupted when a keg needed to be changed. Bloom has liked beer for years, but his appreciation of what he calls ‘better’ beer began in the late 1990s to early 2000s. He credits his wife as the person that got him into brewing, thanks to a ‘Mr. Brew’ homebrew kit she purchased for him for Christmas one year. Initially, he didn’t use it, but did eventually take the dive and attempted to recreate a larger brewer’s Cherry Wheat with the kit. After this attempt, he knew that with better equipment and some research he could do a lot better and he was quickly hooked on homebrewing. He purchased the necessary equipment and after adding some steel shelving turned his dining room into his “brewery.” At this point, there were at least three areas in his home, including a loft, filled with beer and beer making paraphernalia. His 10
wife’s patience was starting to run out when she asked him what his plans were for all of the beer, but he didn’t have one yet, so he continued to take beer to parties and give it to friends and family. This led to his attending small beer vendor shows, which in turn introduced him to others in the craft beer industry. He began to notice that those that had been in the industry for a while, such as Chris Dilla, formerly of Bocktown Brewery, were drinking from his table and encouraging him to start his own brewery. At that point, he didn’t have quite as many beers as they have now. When you look at the tap list at Bloom Brew, which has 24 rotating drafts - all uniquely named - you’ll notice a few things that you won’t see at a lot of other breweries. First, they didn’t jump onto the IPA bandwagon. While they do brew IPAs due to current demand, out of 24 taps they usually only have about four or five at all times. Bloom himself said that they do not follow trends, which is why you don’t see a tap takeover of IPAs at his brewery like a lot of others. He feels that part of what makes them special is that they are experimental in that they can brew what they want, when they want, and brew in small batches to perfect what they are making. They will brew multiple versions of one beer before deciding which is perfect, asking friends, employees, regular customers, and tasters to sample them and give input. They may tweak the yeast, amount of fruit, or even the aging time repeatedly until it’s perfect. Also, all of the names are created by Bloom. He tries to use local references, even though some may not get them, while at other times an
idea just appears in his head. ou will see more sour beers at Bloom Brew compared to other breweries, which is part of the ‘brew what we want, when we want mentality.’ Sours generally take a long time to brew thanks to the need for aging, so a lot of breweries, especially smaller ones, don’t put the time and effort in. At Bloom Brew, most, if not all of their beers are aged, and the sour beers are aged a minimum of 18 months by the time they are drawn from the tap for the first customer. The only restrictions that they have are the federal restrictions on allowed ingredients. All recipes need to be reviewed and approved before sale and there is a list of pre-approved ingredients. When they started brewing, there was a list of only about ten ingredients with a lengthy approval process to get other ingredients added to it. Now, it is a multi-page list with different variations of each ingredient. Bloom believes he was one of the pioneers that got kumquat on the list as an approved ingredient. Regarding ingredients, the brewery tries to locally source as many as possible, but when it comes to grain, it’s difficult because there just aren’t many local places that can supply the breweries in the area yet. He does get a lot of the fruit from his own orchard or - for example - the peaches are Chambersburg peaches, and he also tries to use what’s in season. As a former beekeeper, he also has some of his own honey left that he uses in some of his beers. Along with his small orchard, Bloom has a small crop of hops that he’s growing, and even has a small patch of hops outside of the brewery, including chinook, centennial, magnum, and cascade. Bloom said local water doesn’t
cause any issues with their beer, but they do use a standard filtration system. The last question that I asked him was which beer or beers on the tap list, when I was there, filled him with the most pride. He actually had a hard time with this, and I imagine it would change with every tap list update. He wanted to say the Barrel Aged Peach Buzz, which is a peach sour, but it sold out right before I got there, so it wasn’t on tap when I asked the question. He’s proud of all of his beer, and says that “If it doesn’t meet our expectations, it goes down the drain.” He did say he’s a big fan of his ‘Shweat,’ which is a pineapple-habanero beer. He also just finally started to use his nitro tap, which he was excited about, thanks to the license to sell pints coming in. Bloom said that nitrogenated beers don’t work as well in growlers, which are 32 ounce or 64 ounce containers to go, so he was waiting until he could sell pints to hook that up. With the ability to now sell pints, and the weather warming up for the summer, check out Bloom Brew’s website for upcoming events. They do have limited hours, but plan on having music and food trucks throughout the summer. Bloom Brew’s hours are Wednesday & Friday, 4-10 p.m., and Saturday 12-10 p.m. FMi: bloombrew.weebly.com/ author’s note: I am working on setting up interviews with other Southwest PA breweries. Is there a brewery you’d like me to cover? Reach out to me via email PABridges.Reanna@comcast.net
Pennsylvania Bridges - We believe media should uplift and inspire. - pabridges.com
Disney’s Aladdin to take stage at the Benedum Center beginning August 23 Disney Theatrical Productions and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced that tickets for the long-awaited engagement of Disney’s ALADDIN are on sale to the public. The hit Broadway musical will begin performances in Pittsburgh at the Benedum Center, 237 7th Street, on Wednesday, August 22 for a limited engagement of three weeks through Sunday, September 9, 2018. The opening night is Thursday, August 23 at 7:30 p.m. This tour is part of the 2017-2018 PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh series, presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and Broadway Across America. In Pittsburgh, ALADDIN will play Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays: August 23 and September 6 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday, August 30 at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays: August 26 and September 2 at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, September 9 at 1 p.m. VIP Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available. On Wednesday, August 22, PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh ticket holders are invited to attend a pre-show talk, Know the Show Before You Go, at 6:30 p.m., at the Trust Arts Education Center, 805 Liberty Avenue. To register, visit TrustArts.org/KnowtheShow. ALADDIN, adapted from the Academy Award®-winning animated Disney film and centuries-old folktales including “One Thousand and One Nights,” is brought to fresh theatrical life in this bold new musical. Aladdin’s journey sweeps audiences into an exotic world of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance. This new pro-
California Riverfest will take place on Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26 from 1-9 p.m. ENTERTAINMENT duction features a full score, including the five cherished songs from the Academy Award-winning soundtrack and more written especially for the stage. The animated film ALADDIN was released by Disney in 1992 and was a critical and box office smash, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. The film won the Oscar for Best Original Score and introduced the hit song “A Whole New World,” which won the second of the film’s two Academy Awards as Best Original Song. The Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle recording of the tune soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. ALADDIN is designed by seven-time Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, six-time Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, two-time Tonywinning costume designer Gregg Barnesand sound designer Ken Travis. The production team also includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, hair
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designer Josh Marquette and makeup designer Milagros Medina-Cerdeira. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly. FMI: AladdinTheMusical.com/tour, Facebook.com/Aladdin and Twitter.com/Aladdin. Tickets for Disney’s Aladdin (starting at $35) are available at the following official Pittsburgh Cultural Trust ticket sources: online at TrustArts.org, by calling Guest Services at 412-456-4800, or in person at Theater Square Box Office, 655 Penn Avenue. For groups of 10+ call 412-471-6930, visit TrustArts.org/GroupSales or buy tickets in person at Theater Square Box Office.
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The Classics will kickoff the event Saturday at 1 p.m. followed by Refuge at 3:30 p.m.. Mon Valley Push will open the event on Sunday at 1 p.m. Shannon and The Merger will then perform at 3 p.m., followed by Knob Road at 5 p.m. Ruff Creek will close Riverfest at 7:30 p.m. KIDS AREA Kids area will be open from 18 p.m. both days. Free bounce house both days. Mascot Meet and Greet on Saturday. Free face painting on Saturday. Slash Zone on Sunday in the far parking lot by the caboose/near the public library. Animal show on Sunday starting at 4 p.m. ADDITIONAL EVENTS We will have our dunk tank again. All proceeds will go towards our playground fund. FMI: facebook.com/events/ 245664866016291/ 11
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Armstrong integrates Hulu into EXP
Armstrong announced today the availability of Hulu’s limited commercial ($7.99/month) and no commercial ($11.99/month) subscription plans into its EXP platform. Hulu is a leading premium streaming service that offers instant access to a library of hit TV series and movies including current season hit TV shows from the largest U.S. broadcast networks; and acclaimed Hulu Originals including Emmy® and Golden Globe Award-winning series The Handmaid’s Tale, The Looming Tower, Future Man, Marvel’s Runaways, The Path, 11.22.63, and Golden Globe nominated comedy Casual, as well as upcoming series Castle Rock, The First, Catch-22 and
Little Fires Everywhere. “EXP customers can now enjoy instant access to Hulu without additional equipment, changing remotes or TV inputs,” stated Jeffrey A. Ross, Armstrong president. “EXP is simply the best way to enjoy television programming all in one easy-to-use interface powered by TiVo.” Armstrong EXP is a great whole-home solution blending Armstrong's Zoom Wi-Fi and Television services with interactive access to your home entertainment in exciting new ways. For more information about viewing Hulu with EXP, check Armstrong’s blog, at FollowTheWire.com or like us on Facebook, Facebook.com/ArmstrongOneWire.
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre kicks off the 2018-2019 ballet season with its free and al fresco “Ballet Under the Stars” performance Sunday, Aug 19, at the Middle Road Concert Area in Hartwood Acres park. Pre-show family fun – and a ticketed Picnic in the Park – start at 5 p.m. The free performance follows at 7:30 p.m. The free outdoor event is part of Allegheny County’s Summer Concert Series. During the event, audience members will receive a special promo code to save 30 percent on any 2018-2019 Season production, including “Mozart in Motion” (Oct. 26-28), “The Nutcracker” (Nov. 30-Dec. 27), “The Great Gatsby” (Feb. 8-17), “Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre + Dance Theatre of Harlem” (March 1524) and “The Sleeping Beauty” (May 10-12). Free pre-show family activities from 5-7 p.m. PBT encourages guests to arrive early to stake out a prime spot and enjoy free pre-show activities, from food trucks to kids stations featuring craft and dance activities, photo opportunities with cos-
tumed dancers and more. Picnic in the Park from 5-7 p.m. Guests are invited to join PBT dancers and artistic leaders under the VIP tent for pre-show drinks and dinner by DiAnoia's Eatery. Tickets cost $60 and benefit PBT repertory, student scholarships and community education programs. Tickets are available at pbt.org/hartwood or 412-454-9127. Free Mixed repertory Performance at 7:30 p.m. As the sun sets, PBT will present a mixed repertory performance featuring classical and contemporary showpieces. Among other works, the program will feature corps de ballet dancer JoAnna Schmidt’s colorful and quirky “Lightworks” as well as principal dancer Yoshiaki Nakano’s contemporary ballet “Infusion.” Both premiered in March at the company’s “PBT: New Works” program at the August Wilson Center. For more information about “Ballet Under the Stars,” visit pbt.org/hartwood or call 412-454-9127.
PBT Presents Free Performance at Hartwood Acres
PennsylvanIa BrIdges - We believe media should uplift and inspire.-pabridges.com
Student Achievement Center groundbreaking held
Westmoreland County Community College held a groundbreaking ceremony June 7 to mark the beginning of construction on a new Student Achievement Center at the Youngwood campus. The center will be a renovation of Founders Hall, which is located at the college’s Youngwood campus. The renovation and creation of the Student Achievement Center will foster individual and collaborative learning resources. It will also be home to a comprehensive support services environment for the college community. The center will focus on helping students, faculty and staff achieve the greatest level of success in all of their endeavors. “Students are our focus. With the new center, we have aligned the design with our mission to provide student support programs that allow them to achieve their goals,” said Dr. Tuesday Stanley, president, Westmoreland County Community College. “Their success will always be our greatest achievement.” “The Student Achievement Center is an example of innovation in education,” said Chad Amond, Board of Trustees chair. “Students are working in group settings more and more. This mirrors what businesses are looking for in students they want to hire. The college needed space that was more conducive to this workforce expectation.” Westmoreland President Tuesday Stanley presided over the ceremony attended by business and community leaders and elected officials. Faculty and staff from the college also attended the groundbreaking. Speakers at the event included Westmoreland County Community
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College President Dr. Tuesday Stanley, Westmoreland County Commissioner Charles W. Anderson, Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas, Westmoreland County Community College Board of Trustees Chair Chad Amond, Westmoreland County Community College Educational Foundation Chair Phil McCalister, and Westmoreland County Community College Board Trustee Bridget Johnston. Special guests in attendance included Tim Gribbin representing State Representative Eric Nelson (57th District); Indiana County Commissioner Rodney H. Ruddock; Westmoreland County Community College Board Trustees Larry Larese, Ron H. Ott, Jess Stairs, R. Douglas Weimer and John D. Wright; Westmoreland County Community College Educational Foundation Board members Mark Cain, L. Christian DeDiana, Michael Hricik, Bonnie Lewis, William Scalise, Judith Scheeren and Joseph Trimarchi; Westmoreland - Fayette Workforce Investment Board Executive Director Bill Thompson; Kelly Folts, CannonDesign; and community members James Cherubini, Dr. Rob DePasquale and Louisea Vrable. The renovation team consists of CannonDesign, architect; Turner Construction, construction manager; and Hudson, general contractor. The center is expected to be open in time for fall 2020 classes.
PennsylvanIa BrIdges - pabridges.com
Brownsville Area Ministerial Association events
Monday, July 9 through Friday, July 13 - St. Peter’s will be hosting a VBS. Watch for more info. The St. Vincent de Paul sponsored Food Bank will be held on Wednesday, July 18, at the First United Methodist Church (215 Church St., Brownsville). Folks can pick up their food from 11:30 a.m. thru 12:30 p.m. New clients can come at this time to register. There will be a food bank at Pleasant View Presbyterian Church (533 Royal Road, Smock) on Saturday, July 21 at 10 a.m. Coffee will be served beginning at 9:30 a.m. Packing for the food bank is on Friday, July 20 at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 24 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. will be the second evening of the Brownsville Area Ministerial Association’s 2018 Social Justice Summer Series. The worship, presenta-
tion/discussion, light refreshments, and fellowship will be held at the Calvin United Presbyterian Church (307 Spring St., Brownsville). The speakers will be Kathy Haluska, FBPC Ruling Elder with Rev. Terry Sanders of Genesis House, Uniontown who will be sharing their thoughts on “Mass Incarceration and Re-entry.” The Worship Team from Genesis House will provide music. The public is invited. The next gathering will be on Tuesday, August 28 at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Brownsville. Help is needed for the Food Bank at Calvin U.P. Church (307 Spring St., Brownsville) on Friday, July 27 at 8:45 a.m. to unload and help is needed again to distribute the food on Saturday, July 28 at 9:15 a.m. The food distribution begins at 10 a.m.
LAURELVIEW 2018 SCHEDULE “Not just an event, it’s a future!” Camp is a ministry tool intended to help your child build a spiritual foundation for life. Consider it a major spiritual investment. July 8-14- Chi Rho - For those entering grades 7 & 8 July 15-21 - Junior - For those entering grades 4-6 July 22-25 - Mini Camp - For those entering grades 1-3 July 27-29 - Young Adult Retreat FMI: Visit laurelview.org
If you have prayer concerns, or would like more information on events, worship times, or youth & young adult groups, please call the church!
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United Christian Church 499 E. Malden Drive, Coal Center - (724) 938-2098 We worship every Sunday at 10 a.m. All are welcome! UCCDOC.ORG
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You can now support the ministries of the United Christian Church with online giving on our web site at uccdoc.org.
“Kaiju Big Battel: Multiple Choice Beasts” to take stage at Byham Theater in Pittsburgh The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces Kaiju Big Battel: Multiple Choice Beasts will take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 7, at the Byham Theater, 101 6th St, Pittsburgh. Kaiju Big Battel is the final installment in the 2017-18 Multiple Choice Events Series, returning after a sold-out performance in 2017 for Multiple Choice Versus. At 9 pm, the performance will be followed by a Fur Ball party at Katz Plaza. This event is open to all ages. In this live monster fighting spectacle, Planet Earth is under threat. Scattered throughout the galaxy lies a monstrous mob of maniacal villains, menacing alien beasts and giant, city-crushing monsters. The Kaiju Universe’s active roster of monsters includes a blue alienglutton named Sky Deviler, a factoryworker-turned-soup-can named Kung-Fu Chicken Noodle, a dirty hare-sage dubbed Dusto Bunny, Uchu Chu the Space Bug and a despicable mad scientist known as Dr. Cube. The Fur Ball party will feature DJ Inception spinning in Katz Plaza from 9 p.m. until midnight. Food trucks will be on site and Backstage Bar will remain
open throughout the night. The Multiple Choice Events Series is in its third year and hinges itself to community building and audience development for arts experiences within the Cultural District. Tickets ($25) are available online at TrustArts.org, by calling 412-456-6666, in person at Theater
Square Box Office, 655 Penn Avenue or night-of at the Byham Theater. Please be advised that guests are welcome to wear costumes. In accordance with our Safety and Security Policies, the wearing of masks and application of face paint teenagers or adults is prohibited in the theater. Guests are welcome to
wear costumes with masks and/or face paint at the Fur Ball party. Studio Kaiju, an independent Bostonbased performance and media group, is the creator of Kaiju Big Battel, the world’s only live monster mayhem spectacle. Producer of consistently sold-out events, Studio Kaiju is best known for its live tournament-style performances, which are a character driven, tongue-incheek hybrid of American pro-wrestling, Japanese monster-movies, and lowbrow pop-culture. Kaiju means “mysterious beast” in Japanese. Not to be confused with Kaijin, which means “mysterious human.” These multi-media events, complete with over-sized monster-movie props, a towering “Danger Cage”, and miniature cityscape, can also be enjoyed from a safe distance thanks to the Kaiju Big Battel DVD series from KochVision and the Hyperion Books release Kaiju Big Battel: A Practical Guide to Giant City-Crushing Monsters.
Academically qualified students are encouraged to apply to the Karen and Tom Rutledge Institute for Early Childhood Education, a center for educational excellence based at California University of Pennsylvania. The rutledge institute provides: High-quality preschool education for children ages 3-5. The institute’s oncampus education center is staffed by teachers from The Village, a state- and nationally accredited preschool based in downtown California, Pa. Exceptional learning opportunities for selected students enrolled as Rutledge Institute Scholars in Cal U’s bachelor’s degree program in Pre-K to Grade 4 Education. Students gain valuable experience as they work with children under the direction of Cal U faculty and The Village teachers. An innovative preschool curriculum that focuses on learning experiences in science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and math (STREAM), with an emphasis on emerging literacy in an information age. Rutledge Institute Scholars are academically strong undergraduate stu-
dents, with the disposition required for success in early childhood education. They are motivated to excel, and they have a passion for teaching young children. Rutledge Scholars support one another as peer mentors and collaborate as future leaders in the profession. Just 10 highly qualified students are selected for the program each year, based on a rigorous set of academic and nonacademic qualifications. Successful applicants enter the program as first-year students and continue through graduation, with the goal of earning a Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) in Grades PreK-4 Education, plus Pennsylvania teaching certification and the Integrative STEM Education Endorsement, in four years. Each Rutledge Institute Scholar receives an annual scholarship that covers the cost of tuition, academic fees and on-campus housing, so long as he/she continues to meet program requirements. Students pay for their own meal plan, parking fee and books. Applicants must meet California University’s admissions standards, as well as the academic requirements,
nonacademic professional disposition requirements, and all entry-level requirements for Pennsylvania teaching certification. Candidates will be selected based on these criteria: High school grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. SAT or ACT scores to meet the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s qualifying score requirements. Written essay. (A specific prompt will be provided.) Letters of recommendation from three non-relatives (e.g., employer, teacher, guidance counselor, etc.) who have professional interactions with the applicant. One nonacademic professional disposition rating provided by a teacher or other professional who knows the applicant. Applicant’s interview performance. For an application or more information about the Rutledge Institute Scholars program, email Dr. Rebecca Maddas, coordinator of the Rutledge Institute for Early Childhood Education, at maddas@calu.edu, or phone 724-938-4494 or 724-938-4135.
The annual Summer Experience program is a two-week intensive program for students aged 8 to 17 focused in performance or technical theatre. MVPs study acting, dance and voice or technical work such as set and costume construction, lighting and prop design during morning classes, break for lunch, then return in the afternoon to apply what they've learned in class to the rehearsal of a fully-staged musical which is performed on the last day of the Experience. This year’s musical is “Shrek, Jr.” and will be performed on July 28 at the MainStage Theatre in Steele Hall at 4 p.m. Tickets are $4 for kids and $8 for adults. This show is intended for all ages. To purchase tickets, call 724-938-4220.
Want to study early childhood education? Become a Rutledge Institute Scholar.
Pennsylvania Bridges - Arts, Entertainment, Education & Lifestyle - pabridges.com
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New exhibition - “Identity Play” - on display at Pittsburgh’s SPACE Gallery
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces the opening of Identity Play, a new exhibition at SPACE Gallery, 812 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, June 22 through August 19. Curated by Kristen Letts Kovak, the exhibit features works by eight locally and nationally-based artists. An opening reception will be held in conjunction with the summer Gallery Crawl on July 6 from 5:30-10 p.m., and a walkthrough with the curator will be held on August 4, 2018. The exhibition brings together the works of Bibiana Suárez, Scott Andrew, Atom Atkinson, Patty Carroll, Zoë Charlton, Rick Delaney, John Peña, and Imin Yeh. These artists create games, play house, build models, and play dress-up, cleverly applying complex commentary to innocuous forms. “Identity Play explores the role of whimsy in the earnest search for self,” explains Kovak. “The artists in this exhibition use the strategies of childhood to explore the complexities of adulthood. They discover, shift, reveal, and redefine the parameters of identity, addressing the liminal space between innermost worlds and external self.” Kovak initially conceived of an exhibition about the aesthetics of childhood. Yet, as the show developed, she noticed a pattern. “Many of the artists were using playfulness as a strategy to discuss deeper issues of personal and social identity,” says Kovak. “While on the surface play may appear frivolous, these
artists demonstrate that it is an essential part of our cognitive and social development. By reframing the unprecedented as possible, we can imagine alternative circumstances without the pressures of reality.” Walking into the gallery, viewers will encounter a pseudo-suburbia complete with re-imagined gnomes, and a white picket fence. They will walk among a forest of thought bubbles and play a nearly 70-foot game of Memory. The show also includes a miniature reconstruction of Pittsburgh’s Chinatown, staged mannequins recreating literary scenes, and a burlesque setting for a queered film noir. “Identity Play is simultaneously light-hearted and weighty,” says Kovak. “These artists are making bold statements wrapped in
sparkling confection.” Kristen Letts Kovak is an artist, professor, and curator based in Pittsburgh, PA. She earned her undergraduate art degrees from Mercyhurst University before completing her MFA in Studio Art from Maryland Institute College of Art. Since 2012, Kovak has taught applied aesthetics, drawing, and painting at Carnegie Mellon University where she is also Senior Associate Dean for the College of Fine Arts. Her works have been exhibited nationally, with her most recent solo exhibitions at 707 and 709 Penn Galleries, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, St. Michael’s College, Ohio University, Penn State, Baum School of Art, and the Arts Club of Washington. Her paintings and drawings have been featured in group exhibitions at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, SPACE, Wildling Art Museum, ArizonaSonora Desert Museum, Indiana University-Purdue University Indiana, Muskegon Museum of Art, Museum of the Red River, and the Woodson Art Museum among others. SPACE is located at 812 Liberty Avenue. Gallery Hours: Wed & Thurs: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri & Sat: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The gallery is free and open to the public. FMi: SpacePittsburgh.org. Photo: “The Yellow Wallpaper” by artist Pat Carroll
Analog Scroll, a public artwork in Greensburg commissioned by The Westmoreland Museum of American Art and the City of Greensburg, was among 49 outstanding public arts projects from 2017 honored today by the Americans for the Arts through the Public Art Network Year in Review program, the only national program that specifically recognizes the most compelling public art. The Westmoreland and the City of Greensburg partnered on Bridging the Gap, a public art project designed to revitalize the North Main Street bridge, which connects The Westmoreland to
downtown Greensburg. Analog Scroll, the resultant work by Janet Zweig, reimagines the possibilities for how Greensburg residents view the bridge and collaborate with the museum. Three-dimensional powder-coated aluminum letters are placed on aluminum track along the two sides of the bridge. Every few weeks they are pushed manually along tracks on the bridge, removing one section from the front and adding one new section at the end, until an entire text is displayed gradually over a year. Every year for ten years, one writer from Western Pennsylvania will
be commissioned to write a site-specific text for the bridge, with the text advancing over the course of the year. “Main Street Bridge, Greensburg,” by Pittsburgh poet Jan Beatty, the first writer selected for the Bridging the Gap project, began appearing on Analog Scroll in March 2017 and will be completed in July 2018. The complete presentation, which includes photos and descriptions of all 49 projects, will be available for purchase through Americans for the Arts’ store.
Greensburg’s “Analog Scroll” public art honored by Americans for the Arts
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Brownsville Runner Gionna Quarzo Wins State Championship story by dave Zuchowski
Gionna Quarzo, 15, may have started off as a swimmer, but when she saw the Brownsville Area High School cross country track team jogging past her home every day, she decided she’d like to try running herself. And try she did. Before the school year ended, she’d won the cross country Fayette County Championship while in the seventh grade and repeated the feat the following year. Gionna still swims, currently as a member of the Uniontown YMCA swim team, but her main focus is now on running. This past school year, in May, she took part in the 2018 WPIAL Championship at Baldwin High School in three events. She came in sixth in the 1,600 meter run, third in the relay and, most impressively, first in the 3,200 meter run, which qualified her for the PIAA State Championship in Shippensburg at the end of May In the 3,200 at Shippensburg, she bird dogged behind the lead runner for the first seven laps. When she started the eighth lap, she picked up the pace, forged ahead and won by3 or 4 seconds. "I felt good the entire race, and wanted to stay behind the lead because I knew she was my speed," Gionna said. "I didn’t know how well she sprinted, and when I saw that I’d won, I actually cried." For her efforts she took home a gold medal, much to the delight of her mother, Marci, her father, Rick, and sister,
Jolena, 13, who all attended the State Competition. "This was the first gold medal won by a female student at Brownsville Area Senior High School since Violet Michaux won one in 1999," said Jim Barak, the school’s head track and field coach. "And it’s only the second time in the school’s history that a female student has won a gold medal at State." When asked about the secret to fast running, Gionna said "natural ability and hard work." Daily she gets her mileage run in jogging around town and uses the school track for speed. This year, Gionna started to train with the West Virginia Flyers in Morgantown two times a week under Jonathan Wright. She said the experience lets her run against faster girls and that Wright gives her harder workouts and corrects her technique when needed. With a state gold already earned in her sophomore year, Gionna’s next goal is to run in the Brooks PR, a big invitational meet with some top female run-
Over the course of eight weeks in the fall of 2018, Pittsburgh’s Cultural District will become a hub of United States, North American, and World Premieres. These works by renowned, globally-minded artists will feature a full range of arts disciplines—theater, dance, music, visual art, pieces that defy category—and take place in both traditional and unexpected spaces. From intimate experiences in galleries, to physically following a story as it unfolds in an historic church, to mind-blowing out-
door light shows, to a circus arts spectacle in the region’s largest theater, each piece will challenge, excite, entertain, question, and leave audiences seeing the world in a new way. The companies and artists hail from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Haiti; Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom; China, South Korea, Thailand; Nigeria, South Africa; India; Israel; New Zealand; Canada; and the United States. The curatorial team
ners. She also has her eye set on breaking the state female record for the 3,200. Ironically, she came pretty close to matching the current record of 10 minutes, 34 seconds when she came in at 10 minutes, 48 seconds in Shippensburg this May. "Gionna is a very nice, polite and humble girl," Barak said. "I had her in my Ancient Civilizations class and found out about her athletic ability when the middle school coach phoned me and said ‘You have a really good runner in Gionna Quarzo.’ "When I first saw her run, I was very impressed," he continued. "She’s a real hard worker, and, to my knowledge, she’s the first Brownsville student to run in the Penn Relays. I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do next track season, and we’ll do everything we can to help promote and encourage her." gionna Quarzo’s running accomplishments to date Two time County Champion MVP for Cross Country for two years in a row. Two time All County Track Team member Nov. 2017 - Nike Regional Cross Country Meet - 30th out of 600 runners Feb. 2018 - New Balance Indoor Nationals. Came in the top 20. April 26-28, 2018 - The Penn Relay Carnival (world’s biggest track meet) won 15th overall. June 2018 - New Balance Outdoor Nationals Placed 16th in the nation. 2017 - Placed 3rd female in Four on the 4th Race in Morgantown.
Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts to take stage this fall
behind the Pittsburgh International
Festival of Firsts has traveled the globe
to bring the greatest and grandest of
new works to the city of Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh International Festival of
Firsts programming highlights to date
can be found at TrustArts.org/Firsts.
Tickets can be purchased online, by
calling 412-456-6666, and at the Box Office at Theater Square at 655 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh.
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State Theatre
CENTER FOR THE ARTS
PETER PAN
July 13 & 14 at 7:30 p.m. July 15 at 2 p.m.
Tickets $15 for adults $10 for children 12 & under The High Flying Musical comes
to the State Theatre to delight and amaze you. Join us as we
travel to Neverland – and bring the whole family! THE MUSIC
MAN
July 27 & 28 at 7:30 p.m. July 29 at 2 p.m.
Tickets $15 for adults $10 for children 12 & under Meredith Wilson’s beloved musical, The Music Man, comes to the State Theatre as part of Summer at the State. Bring the whole family to enjoy this beautiful show.
Classic Film Series July 20 at 2 & 7 p.m. August 10 at 2 & 7 p.m.
July’s film is Monty Python and the Holy Grail August’s film is Million Dollar Mermaid Adults $5, Students, senior citizens & children $3
724-439-1360
STATETHEATRE.INFO
27 East Main St., Uniontown
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Oliver the Office Cat celebrates birthday by fundraising for his friends at Fayette Friends of Animals
From feral porch kitten to office therapy cat, that is the life of Oliver. The large orange tomcat was adopted as a tiny kitten in 2015 by attorney Lisa Buday and now rules her office. Oliver is visited by college students and locals who keep an eye out for him hanging out in the window of the office at 200
Third Street in California. Attorney Buday notes, “He seems to know when clients are upset and truly comforts them. I have had more than one client pet him while telling me their stories of injuries or loss. I also have seen more than one man babytalk to him. He really is the character of the office.” Oliver has always been one to try to help the animal community. At Christmas, when he hit 500 friends on his Facebook page Oliver the Office Cat, a $500 donation was made in his name to Fayette Friends
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of Animals. For his birthday, July 27, attorney Buday is accepting donations for Fayette Friends of Animals at her office throughout the month of July. You can call the office at 724-938-1355 to arrange drop offs or stop by. Bring what you can to the Office of Lisa J. Buday, 200 Third Street, California or to the Fayette Friends location. View their wish list from fayettefriendsofanimals.net. You can also donate to them online at their website. Tell them that Oliver sent you! Birthday cake and refreshments will be served at the office of Lisa Buday on July 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. Please feel free to stop and visit.
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“Summer at the State” brings high quality theater experience to the region Story by Keren lee dreyer
Summer theatre programs have been just the fix theatre lovers need in the lull between the usual fall - spring touring show season. And with Peter Pan opening in mid July, and The Music Man opening soon afterwards at the State Theatre Center for the Arts at 37 E Main Street in Uniontown, PA, summer theatre goers are in store for high quality family entertainment that won’t break the bank. Starting in 2014, the State Theatre has been hosting summer shows featuring local talent and top-notch music, lighting, and stage production, though it wasn’t always this way. Founding producer of “Summer at the Theatre” and production stage manager, Kristen Tunney, explains “Before we started, the State Theatre Center for the Arts had previously self-produced a few summer musicals, but there had been several years when the theatre was ‘dark’ all summer. We wanted to change that and get the local theatrical community back on stage.” Since the success of “Hairspray” in the summer of 2014, Summer at the State has grown to two shows, fostered in large part by director/choreographer, John Wagner III, Kristen Tunney, board member and production manager Toby Maykuth, and “amazing support from Executive Director, Erica Miller and the State Theatre staff,” said Tunney. Additionally, all summer shows feature live music performed by the best local musicians, with music director Lisa Harrier keeping everything in tune and in time. Toby Maykuth, Production manager for the Summer at the State shows, has also been involved since the beginning, both as performer and as a board member of the Greater Uniontown Heritage Consortium, which owns and operates the State Theatre. Maykuth functions as the liaison between the Board and the productions. “For me, the opportunity to provide quality community theater experiences to local performers has been the greatest aspect of working with the Summer at the State program. Uniontown was once
a very culturally rich community with several theaters and many performing arts organizations, so to see some of that glory return to the area, especially at the State Theatre which is personally special, has been a great joy.” “It’s a great way to do a musical,” said State Theatre Executive Director, Erica Miller. “We produce these pretty highly, and bring in a lot of high tech lighting equipment and professional lighting and scenic designers. The shows are very well done and it’s great to give people a chance to see how talented our local performers are. But, it’s also a chance to see a great show at a low cost.” At only $15 per adult and $10 for children 12 and under, it’s a great way for families to enjoy a quality show - or two. Cast members hail from localities ranging across Pittsburgh to Morgantown, and all around the local area, Tunney said, continuing, “Work with the casts is going really well… (and) we rehearse both shows simultaneously, starting in May.” A total of 72 cast members round out the shows, with about 16 of them performing in both productions. Greensburg actress and dance instructor, Breanna Deutsch, landed her dream role as Peter Pan for this year’s production, and should fit the bill perfectly. “As an actor, she approaches every moment of the show with such a fierce joy and enthusiasm - exactly what you want for Peter Pan...we’re so excited by
what she’s brought to the role already. Peter Pan’s protagonist, Wendy Darling, will be played by recent Cal-U theatre graduate, Kayla Grimm. Other members of the Peter Pan cast, as outlined by Tunney, include: Adam Drabish, a rising junior at Albert Gallatin High School as John Darling; Ian Grodz, entering the second grade, as Michael Darling; Tiger Lily will be played by Delaney Harvey, a rising junior at Brownsville Area High School (Delaney was in the 2015 production of Mary Poppins); and Toby Maykuth, taking on the role of Captain Hook. Filling in the cast for The Music Man, “we have Brian Eisiminger playing Harold Hill. Brian works in the musical theatre department at CALU and lives in Pittsburgh, PA. Emily Hamilla, a Seton Hill grad with a degree in musical theatre, plays Marian Paroo, and Rachael Szabo will be playing her mother. The quartet includes Bill Dreucci, Will Dixon, Rylan Jenkins-Snaith and Jim Champlin. Brennen Malia plays Tommy Djilas, and Mairead Roddy, a current student at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, plays Zaneeta,” Tunney said. While some cast members regularly perform throughout the area, others from children to adults - are performing for the first time at Summer at the State, Tunney said. “This range of experiences and our rehearsal process bonds our casts as they all work together to tell the story of the show.” What this means for audiences is firstrate production quality in shows the entire family can enjoy. “People would be surprised at the high quality of the shows we produce every summer,” Miller said. “They’re incredibly well done and I encourage everybody to come and see them.” Peter Pan runs July 13 and 14, at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on July 15 at 2 p.m., while The Music Man runs July 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on July 29 at 2 p.m. Visit statetheatre.info to buy your tickets now. Find them on Facebook at facebook.com/StateTheatreUniontown Photo by Kelly Tunney
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How to Plan a Wake
The wake traditionally involved a period of time when friends and relatives literally stayed awake with the body of the deceased until it was taken to the church for the funeral or to the cemetery for burial. These days, a wake is usually held in the funeral home. Inform friends and family that a loved one has passed away, and let them know the date, time and place of the wake (more often called “visitation”). This can also be done by placing an obituary in the local newspaper with the same information. Let the funeral home know when you wish to have the wake. The home will prepare the body for viewing, and will see that any flowers sent will be displayed during the visitation. Display a guest book for people to sign as they come in. This is often provided by the funeral home, or you can purchase your own. Bring some pictures of the deceased to put on a table in the room, if desired. People will appreciate seeing the person as he or she appeared in life. Plan to be present during the visitation to greet friends and neighbors who come to pay their respects to the deceased and to the family. Plan an old-fashioned wake for the deceased away from the funeral home, if that is your preference. You can reserve a pub or restaurant, or hold the wake in your home. Provide beverages, food, disposable cups, place settings, napkins and plates if the wake is held in your home. Alcoholic beverages are usually considered appropriate. Greet guests, lay out the food and drink, and spend the time toasting or otherwise remembering the deceased. The body is usually displayed in an open casket during visitation in a funeral home. The body is usually not present if the wake is held in a home or other location, but sometimes this can be arranged. Visitors usually bring food to a wake if it is held in a home. The food is eaten by guests, and any remaining food is left with the family of the deceased. Oldfashioned Irish wakes consisted of drinking, game playing, wrestling, dancing and singing. Use your best judgment as to what is appropriate in your case.
Mariscotti Funeral Home 323 Fourth Street California, PA (724) 938-2210 (724) 322-0500 - Cell Anthony Mariscotti, Supervisor
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Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The second book in the Della and Lila series, Della and Lila and the Treasure Adventure, is now available to purchase online at Amazon or at our official site.
Voted “Best of the ‘Burgh” by Pittsburgh Magazine and “Best of the Best” by the Observer-Reporter. Author Brianne Bayer Mitchell was the proud recipient of the Inspiring Lives Magazine Empowering Women in Philanthropy Award for 2017. Local Readers, get your copy of Della and Lila and the Treasure Adventure or Della and Lila Meet the Monongahela Mermaid (or both!) at Flowers by Regina in California, PA. Learn more at dellaandlila.com or facebook.com/dellaandlila
Summer Gallery Crawl to take place on July 6
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is pleased to present the complete programming and schedule for the upcoming summer 2018 Gallery Crawl. The event takes place on Friday, July 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Cultural District, downtown Pittsburgh. The Gallery Crawl occurs quarterly and boasts a combination of visual art, multimedia artists, music, live theatre, and dance events that are free and open to the public. The Cultural Trust’s Gallery Crawl allows the community to participate in an immersive artistic experience throughout the 14-block Cultural District. The Crawl serves to showcase the exhibition openings of the Trust’s visual art galleries (SPACE, Wood Street and 707 Gallery). Each Crawl, the Trust partners with local businesses, artists and nonprofits to create a dynamic collaboration to engage artists and the greater Pittsburgh community. To generate a reflection of the community, each business partner selects the artistic content to feature in their space during the Crawl. These collaborative events focus on creating an inclusive environment, as well as a diverse experience, for all. On one night, local, national, and international artists and their works share the downtown spotlight. This summer’s Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District boasts an eclectic variety of 25 locations that include activities for children, live music, exhibitions, and per-
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formances. One of the evening’s featured events is the Trust-presented art exhibition, Identity Play, in SPACE gallery. This exhibition, curated by Kristen Letts Kovak, utilizes sculptures, paintings, projections, photographs, installations, and poetry in the earnest search for self through the use of childhood strategies to explore and understand the complexities of adulthood. Katz Plaza will feature the musical genres of South America with performances by local Latin 10-piece band, Azucar, complete with a dance floor, and Global Beats by local world music specialist and DJ, Carla Leininger. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership are co-presenting a party in the alley of Garrison Way with singer-songwriter, folk band, Buffalo Rose followed by a DJ under the new light exhibition, Garrison Canal by Andrea Polli. DJs Big Phill, Blakk Steel and DJ Bamboo will close out the night with the Crawl After Dark UNION Edition from 10 p.m. – midnight in the Trust Arts Education Center’s Peirce Studio; doors open at 9:30 p.m. The Crawl offers something for everyone. All locations are wheelchair accessible unless otherwise noted. FMi: TrustArts.org/Crawl or call 412456-6666.
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Mental Health Spotlight: Spotlight on Suicide Prevention Wednesday night was a pretty special night for me. After decades of fandom, I finally saw Peter Frampton. Frampton Comes Alive was one of the first albums that I ever owned, and I listened to it to the point of chiseling grooves into the old 33 RPM. For those younger readers, before digital everything, record players kept our teen years occupied. Music has always been a safe place for me with my illness in addition to one of my passions. I’ve never given up my love for playing acoustic guitar, albeit rather poorly. Midway through the concert, an amazing thing happened. Mr. Frampton spoke briefly about his instrumental Grammy winning album, “Fingerprints,” more specifically one track, Black Hole Sun. Any fans of Chris Cornell, Audioslave and/or Soundgarden know who he is, his body of work and untimely suicide. Although when it comes to suicide, is there any such thing as a timely one? It seems more and more entertainment figures have succumbed to this terrible fate from whatever mental health diseases they endure. It’s difficult imaging why those who are incredibly successful choose this end. They seem to be on top of the world, no financial worries, apparent storybook lives. Perhaps that is the best way to understand this disease called “mental illness.” One in five have it and when it comes to suicide, there is no rhyme or reason, it is the final action. The decision center of the mind is broken. It’s not more complicated than that. These people we look up to, admire and emulate may have the perfect lives to the casual onlooker, which we all are, but inside they are fighting a very difficult struggle. The frequency of this issue has become so severe, a national light has been cast on it. By the time this article goes to print, the time will have passed on a Town Hall Meeting, moderated by Anderson Cooper on suicide on CNN. I am sure that the broadcast can be streamed by the time you read this, and/or a transcript will be available. I will update you in the next issue with any applicable links related to this important program. I’ve never been enough of a fanboy to
place anyone in the public eye on any higher pedestal than anyone else. Sure, I enjoyed the Frampton concert, but if I were to meet him, I’d prefer discussing normal stuff but I don’t know him at all so where would I begin? Conversely, we are surrounded by heroes every day who never get their credit, pay or live that same illusory storybook life. Odds are you know one, have them in your family or talk to them on a consistent basis. If the same fate were to befall them, would it have the same impact as a celebrity you’ve never met? The reason I ask this is that we all have the opportunity to connect with those who struggle in our friend circle, families and community. Our companionship can make all of the difference when those afflicted hit the wall where that decision-making process is no longer functional. For those who are the
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one in five who deal with a mental illness, identify a friend or family member who accepts you through the stigma. It may even be a person you know from group therapy. Explain to that person how it feels when you are slipping, the signs that you are having a bad day and may require a little help. Ensure they have emergency numbers like the one below this article in the event you may require help. We are our own advocates and must proactively take care of ourselves, but some days we need a little help from our friends, as the Beatles remind us. It’s not a backslide, nor are you a failure if help becomes necessary. This is the nature of the illnesses we all suffer. Think about it, if you are a diabetic, have you asked a friend or family member to help with insulin injections or medications in the case of emergency? I would even go so far as creating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) with realistic expectations and review with that one or two people you have chosen as a wellness partner. Also, prep a mental health first aid kit with things that are uplifting. They might include photographs, memories, or - in my case - music, anything that makes you feel better and grounds you in the here and now. Remember, you are more important than anyone you may look up to in the entertainment field. You are unique, loved and irreplaceable. Treat yourself this way. NEED HELP? IN THE U.S., CALL 1800-273-8255 FOR THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE.*Mental Health Spotlight is an opinion based column. Any resources mentioned are provided for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the specialized training and professional judgment of a health care or mental health care professional.
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O PEN YOUR H EART & H OME
The Southwestern Area Agency on Aging, Inc. is looking for individuals in your area to open their homes and offer a caring, safe, and nurturing family environment for eligible adults who cannot live independently due to physical, intellectual or age related impairments. Domiciliary Care Providers are typically individuals who open their homes and are willing to provide residents with housing, support, care and encouragement in a familylike setting. They are everyday people making a difference in their communities and in the lives of others. When you share your home and provide services, you receive $979.00 a month for each individual residing in your home. Services include meals, housekeeping, laundry, medication set up, scheduling and providing transportation to medical appointments. Domiciliary Care homes can accommodate 1-3 residents and are certified to meet the required fire, health and local zoning standards. If you are interested in becoming a certified Domiciliary Care provider and providing quality living alternative for a person who meets the criteria, or want to refer someone who will benefit from the programs services contact: Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging Domiciliary Care Program at 1-800-411-5655.
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COMMUNITY BABY SHOWER FOR NEW MOMS & BABIES Cal U SEEK summer session: “Out of this World” Westmoreland Community Action Early Head Start is hosting a Community Baby Shower for new mothers and newborns in Westmoreland County on July 14 at 11:30 a.m. at the Christ United Methodist Church in Youngwood. Shower donations are being accepted at the Campus Children’s Center at Westmoreland County Community College until July 9.
News from Greater Monessen Historical Society
In honor of Monessen’s 120th anniversary year, the Greater Monessen Historical Society will welcome George Orlando Morgan IV, the great grandson of Monessen Founder, George O. Morgan for an invited visit in July. At the time of Monessen’s founding, Morgan was president of the East Side Land Company, which created Monessen in the late 1890’s. He was also the land agent for the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. As part of the visit, the Historical Society is partnering with Monessen Public Library & Cultural Center to host a public reception on July 3, at 7 p.m. to greet the Morgan Family. Mark your calendars for the annual historic dinner to be held on Saturday, October 20, at the St. Vincent DePaul Society building on Grand Blvd. The theme will be the one hundredth anniversary of the ending of the First World War and the establishment of the countries of Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Yugoslavia. Start planning your costume! The Greater Monessen Historical Society is partnering with the Louis L. Manderino Library and California University of PA, who will host the Heinz History Center Traveling World
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War II Exhibit during the months of August and September. Anyone willing to loan or donate World War II memorabilia and photos are asked to bring them to the Heritage Museum during regular business hours. Local historical societies will showcase their own World War II items at Manderino Library to accompany the Heinz Exhibit that highlights the War Front, Home Front and Industry of the Second World War. Founders Day will be on Saturday, August 18, at Monessen City Park and feature Civil War re-enactors, music and food booths. The Monessen Heritage Museum is currently featuring an exhibit that focuses on local bridges and river transportation. The exhibit will be open until the end of July. It can be viewed during regular business hours. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The address is 505 Donner Avenue, Monessen, PA, 15062. The phone number is 724-684-8460. Admission is always free.
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Cal U plans an “Out of This World” experience for children this summer. That’s the theme for SEEK, the University’s annual Summer Educational Enrichment for Kids program for children entering grades 1-8. Classes will be held July 9-13 and July 2327. Sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. daily. Cost is $135 per child for a full-week, full-day program, or $90 per child for a full-week, half-day (morning or afternoon) program. Participants are escorted between classes and supervised at lunchtime.
Each child should bring a bag lunch; refrigeration is not available. Since it was founded in 2000, the award-winning summer program has provided children with learning experiences that are academically challenging and entertaining. Curriculum options are tailored to specific age groups and encourage all participants to reach their maximum learning potential. For information and to register, visit calu.edu/community/outreach/seek or email seek@calu.edu
TGIS (Thank Goodness It’s Summer), Westmoreland Cultural Trust's annual free concert series, returns this summer with 14 weeks of free music in the S&T Bank Courtyard at The Palace Theatre. The event will feature returning favorites from past TGIS performances, plus three new acts including an American Idol contestant and a national touring rock band turned Nashville recording duo. This free community event runs every Thursday evening 6 – 9:30 PM through August 30. From country to reggae and rock to swing, bands from all over the region will play outdoors in the courtyard while guests enjoy light bites from neighboring restaurant Caffe Barista and refreshing cocktails. The season will end Friday, September 7 with a grand finale on The Palace Theatre stage fea-
turing the top four bands of the summer and local artisans at the pop-up artist’s market. For more information, visit westmorelandculturaltrust.org Scheduled to Appear (Thursdays): JULY 5 – The Bricks 12 – Bad Boy Blues Band 19- Gary Pratt & Dawn Noelle 26 – East Coast Turnaround AUGUST 2 - Kaelber 9– The Abilene Band 16 – Sky Pilot 23 – Jeff Perigo & Friends 30 – Neon Swing X-perience SEPTEMBER 7- TGIS Finale
An explosive musical concert event that fuses the most iconic 20th-century rock with world-renowned classical masterpieces, ROCKTOPIA features the works of musical innovators across centuries—including Journey, Mozart, Queen, Beethoven, Aerosmith, Handel, Led Zeppelin, Tchaikovsky, U2, Heart, Puccini, The Who and more—performed by an elite lineup of vocalists, a five-piece rock band, a thirty-person choir, and a twenty-piece orchestra on
October 24 at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. ROCKTOPIA delivers one-of-a-kind, spine-tingling musical arrangements with insanely talented lead vocalists, a 5-piece rock band, a choir of 30, and an orchestra of 20. The groundbreaking live concert will be performed by a celebrated, diverse array of rock, Broadway, and opera vocalists. FMi: palacetheatre.org
TGIS free concert series returns with 14 acts
“Rocktopia” to take stage at The Palace Theatre
PennSylvAniA BridgeS - We believe media should uplift and inspire. - pabridges.com
The Entertainment Chuckwagon: I don’t wanna grow up! I was a Toys R Us Kid! story by Chuck Brutz
Back in my day, we didn’t have Amazon.com. We had these places called toy stores. You know, stores that sold toys. Just toys, not weed whackers, kitty litter, or hygiene products - just toys. And, we liked it! There was Children’s Palace, Toyco, Circus World, Kay Bee, and more. But, now, those stores are gone. Toys R Us was truly the last of the stores that was solely toy focused, where a kid might come, look at this, look at that, get excited, and later throw a temper tantrum in the middle of the store until their parents bought them the toy they desired. Come on, you know you know someone who did this.. For me, it was a world of He-Man, The Real Ghostbusters, Go-Bots - that’s right, I said Go-Bots, not Transformers. I didn’t wanna grow up, I was a Toys R Us Kid. So, when it was s announced this past March that Toys R Us would be closing their doors for good, for this old fart, it signaled the end of an era for this middle aged guy. With the closing of Toys R Us, it so went the final piece of my childhood. First Children’s Place and Kay Bee Toys, now Toys R Us, now forever shuttered. That’s a real bummer, and it prompted me to learn more about
the origins of the store. But where did it all begin for the Toys R Us saga? According to toysrus.com, the store was the brainchild of 25 year old Charles Lazarus, who first opened a baby furniture store called Children’s Bargain Town in 1948 in Washington, D.C. In 1950, Lazarus decided to try selling toys as well, soon discovering that when toys broke or fell out of fashion, parents would bring their children back to buy more. In order to ensure the success of his venture, Lazarus offered a wide assortment of toys for Joe and Jane Consumer to purchase for their children. Then came 1957. Americans liked Ike, as he was sworn in for his second term as 34th President of the United States, Great Balls of Fire! was a huge hit for Jerry Lee Lewis, and Doris Day was playing The Pajama Game to the delight of packed movie houses across the
country. It was also the year the very first Toys R Us Store was opened in Rockville, Maryland. The “R” in the store logo appeared backwards to give the impression it was written by a child. With a catchy name in place, now Toys R Us needed just the right mascot. Choosing the right mascot is essential for a brand. Lucky Charms has Lucky the Leprechaun. The Pittsburgh Pirates have The Pirate Parrot. Pennsylvania Bridges has Chuck Brutz. And Toys R Us has Geoffrey Giraffe, a character who soon became as beloved as Toys R Us itself. Geoffrey Giraffe made his commercial
debut in 1973 as a live action guy dancing in a giraffe suit, then appeared in animated form as well. Geoffrey soon found a wife, Gigi. Soon, Junior and Baby Gee joined the family. In 1983, the company branched out into selling children’s clothes as well, with the addition of Kids R Us, followed by Babies R Us in 1996 in 1996. In 1990, Lazarus was inducted in the Toy Industry Association Hall of Fame. Sadly, Lazarus passed away on March 22 of this year from respiratory failure. Only two months earlier, in January, Toys R Us had announced that like Macy’s, Sears, and K-Mart, they would be closing a limited number of stores. However, two months later, it was announced that all Toys R Us Stores would be closing their doors for good. Some in the Pittsburgh area closed by April, while the remaining locations closed this past June 27. In an age of Amazon.com and WalMart, specialty retail stores are a dying breed. Some may call that progress, but shopping online lacks of the excitement of a visit to an actual toy store. Goodbye, Toys R Us, you may be gone, but never forgotten in our hearts. We’ll always be Toys R Us Kids.
grantees must meet the following requirements to be considered – only one building per application, proof of liability insurance, signed permission to paint from the building owner and two before photos of the intended project. Selected grantees must also agree to select a color from the Behr paint line and provide a final report with during and after photos. Applications must be received by July 31, 2018 and grants will be awarded early-August. For more information or to download the application click here http://www.keeppabeautiful.org/grantsawards/fresh-paint-days/. Questions can be answered by Michelle Dunn, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Program
Coordinator, at 877-772-3673 ext. 113 or mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org. The Fresh Paint Days Pennsylvania grant is available to any tax-exempt group within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Private property owners or individual applicants cannot apply. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s mission is empowering Pennsylvanians to make our communities clean and beautiful. Since 1990, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and its volunteers have removed over 133 million pounds of litter from Pennsylvania’s roadways, greenways, parks, forests, and waterways. To learn more about Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, visit keeppabeautiful.org.
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Calls for Fresh Paint Days Pennsylvania Applications
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is accepting applications for their 2018 Fresh Paint Days Pennsylvania, a program designed to provide community groups with paint and painting supplies enabling them to renew a community structure in need into something beautiful through the application of fresh paint. This event is held in partnership with support from BEHR paint and The Home Depot. Eight grants of up to 20 gallons of exterior paint and a gift card for painting supplies will be awarded to tax-exempt groups within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Groups will have 30 days to complete their projects, September 1 through 30. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will
select the eight winning projects from
among applications submitted. Selected
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2018 Author Series guest set for July The Monessen Public Library 2018 Author Series will continue in July with a visit from Stephanie Keyes on Saturday, July 7th at 12:00 PM. Keyes is the author of the YA Fantasy series, The Star Child [InkspellPublishing], which includes The Star Child, After Faerie, The Fallen Stars, The Star Catcher, The Last Protector, and A Faerie Wedding. In The Star Child, the world is about to be cloaked in darkness. Only one can stop the night. Kellen St. James has spent his entire life being overlooked as an unwanted, ordinary, slightly geeky kid. That is until a beautiful girl, one who has haunted his dreams for the past eleven years of his life, shows up spinning tales of a prophecy. Not just any old prophecy either, but one in which Kellen plays a key role. Suddenly, Kellen finds himself on the run through a Celtic underworld of faeries and demons, angels and gods, not to mention a really ticked off pack of hellhounds, all in order to save the world from darkness. But will they make it in time? A lifelong Pittsburgh resident, Keyes received her undergraduate degree in Computer Information Systems from Robert Morris University [2000] and her M.Ed. with a focus on Instructional
Technology from Duquesne University [2006]. In addition, she completed her teaching practicum at NASA, in the Center For Space Education. Stephanie is a seasoned educator and presenter, who’s appeared throughout the US and in the UK. “Steph” writes young adult novels because she’s a hopeless romantic who lives to believe that Magick truly does exist. She is hard at work on a new YA novel and currently co-writing a New Adult series. Both events are free and open to the public.
BIRTH CERTIFICATES
REQUIRED FOR ALL PLAYERS registration fees:
In-House players $50, Uniforms $40
Travel players $80, Uniforms $50 Preferred method of payment:
California area soCCer assoCiation
fall youth soccer registration
Sunday, July 8 from 2-4 p.m. at Spuds on Wood Street in California. In-House players born between 1/1/2009-12/31/2014 Travel players born between 1/1/2000-12/31/2008
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Checks or money orders made payable to CASA
Payment is due at the time of registration. Absolutely no registrations after July 8. NO EXCEPTIONS! any questions?
Call or text Amy Oldland at 724-880-4464 or Melissa
Whiteskunk at 570-975-7705 email: casasec@yahoo.com
Pastor Hargraves: On Beginning a Dialogue
I attended our Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in June and like most years am often surprised by the legislative item that stands out with controversy. This year in my naiveté, I again found myself again caught by surprise. That surprise came when we debated a piece of legislation written to encourage our local United Methodist churches to begin to have conversations about gun violence. Gun violence conversation is the topic, nothing more. Yet even now, as you read this, you may have already shifted to one side or the other hearing gun rights or gun restrictions. The fact is that the legislation (W.PA United Methodist Church only) is about gun violence and not at all about gun rights or gun restriction. More so, the legislation is about conversations about gun violence. Conversation, which we at Annual Conference didn’t really do well because the debate was heated from my perspective. I want us to say/read this word slowly C O NVE R SATI O N We, United Methodists, that were at our Annual Conference pretty much looked a lot like the rest of the country when it comes to having a conversation about gun violence. We dug in, planted our heels, staked our claim, pitched out tents on the side we represent and generally speaking did not want to hear one word from those other people (said with an air of disdain). We skipped over "conversation" and went right for the debate and argument. The murmuring happened. The social media happens. The positioning happens. The conversation does NOT happen. Yes, I intentionally changed the tense there. The conversation did not happen and does not happen. Fortunately, the voice of authority, our Bishop, told us what we are voting about, period. In three of the gospel accounts, this authority tells us "it is said a house torn apart by division will collapse." (Matt. Mk. Luke) In my house, the understand-
Ready to talk? I’m ready to listen!
ing is, "if momma ain't happy, no one is happy." This doesn’t mean I get my way. This means we work together to build up, work together, maintain so there is no collapse. This requires we converse and not just those that think like us, rather we converse with others, those that do not have the same thoughts and perspective as us. That we have diverse points of view in the conversation. This means that self-awareness of our position on any sensitive and hot topic be desensitized so that the emotions that drive us to a fight or flight mode do not come in to play. Then a conversation can occur. Why is this a good way? Well, I don't know about you but I'm not always right, so clearly, I should be in conversation with someone else other than one who thinks just like me. And conversations don't have to hurt where gun violence always hurts or worse. Isn't it better to converse than to fight and be divided? Even the winner of a fight walks away with busted knuckles. Talk need not be cheap.
Do you have a story idea? Are you having a special event? Do you like to write?
We Want to hear from you! Get in touch! Send an email to carla@pabridges.com or call 724-769-0123.
Pennsylvania Bridges - We believe media should uplift and inspire. - pabridges.com
The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers bring “Appalachian Bluegrass” to their new CD, Poison River story by Keren lee dreyer
During the 1600s, Irish, Scottish, and English settlers in Jamestown, Virginia, brought with them musical influences from their respective countries, typically played with passion and skill on stringed instruments. As the New World began to grow and these settlers expanded their borders, stories about their travels, or their rural farming way of life, peppered their lyrics, painting verbal pictures of life in a pre-United States landscape. And with the advent of high technology in the 1900s, viz, records and radio, “mountain music,” as bluegrass was formerly known, could finally debut to a national audience. However, it wasn’t until 1948 when Kentucky native, Bill Monroe, assembled his Blue Grass Boys that this musical style solidified as a genre. Named after Kentucky’s state motto, the Bluegrass State, Monroe’s bluegrass band formulation of acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and upright bass, would set the standard for generations to come. Though the mid-1940s saw the Dobro introduced into the genre - thanks to The Foggy Mountain Boys, formed by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs - Monroe’s instrumental assemblage most commonly forms the instrumental basis of today’s bluegrass music. Those seeking traditional “country” inspired music will not be disappointed by the powerful sound and lyrical purity of today’s bluegrass artists. Still, there is one band, The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers, who are redefining just what bluegrass music is by combining both the tradition of writing about their own experiences on the road, and in life, but with more intricate and hard-edged twists on the typical bluegrass playing style. Gary Antol, 2014 co-founder of The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers, along with Libby Eddy, describes the band’s sound as “Appalachian Bluegrass.” According to Antol, an audience member once said, “You guys sound great, but do you have to be so aggressive?” “Have you ever been to Appalachia?” Antol asked, “You’ll find the people there are pretty aggressive and pretty hard. Guys walked out of coal mines and wrote fiddle tunes, and they were pretty hard guys.” While two prior releases from the band reflect life and times on the road - Lane Change, 2014, and White Lightning
Road, 2016 - it is their new release, Poison River, where the Appalachian Bluegrass sound rings most clear. Lyrical inspiration for Poison River developed through the band’s extensive cross-country touring schedule, meaning they are in disparate geographic, and cultural, locations on an almost day-today basis. Poison River is “just the experience of playing all the time and fitting in on a
cultural level with different people,” Antol said. “Being in Pennsylvania one day, North Carolina another, people are completely different with different views and outlooks on things. It’s made me listen more, and so it’s been a learning experience.” With Poison River, The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers lyrically echo a more global view of life. Antol describes the CD’s overall timber as reflecting a “sadness
Pennsylvania Bridges - Arts, Entertainment, Education & Lifestyle - pabridges.com
about the way the world is going. I wrote four (songs), Libby and I cowrote, our mandolin player co-wrote, and three songs were written by friends we’re covering.” “It’s a dark but pretty album. On this one, we went for a little more intricacy on the arrangements,” Antol said of the production process. “This one was different and neat because it really was a collaborative effort in how it was arranged. That’s because we had the time this time. I think we got it, actually, and I’m really happy about it.” Though The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers only formed in 2014, Antol has realized his long-time goal of seeing the Stragglers perform at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Bluegrass Ramble showcase, coming up in Raleigh North Carolina, September 25 - 29, 2018. “It’s good for a career move, and I only had one goal for the year, and that was to get into that,” Antol enthused, adding “I wanted to make a new record (Poison River) that would get us into that.” However, Antol notes that ego wasn’t part of his motivation; instead, his desire to “reflect all aspects of Americana with original sounding material” was the underlying goal. The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers are: Gary Antol, guitar and vocals; Libby Eddy, fiddle and vocals; Evan Bell, upright bass; Ray Bruckman, mandolin, fiddle, and vocals; and part-time member Jody Mosser, Dobro. Step into the world of Appalachian Bluegrass by visiting The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers at jakobsferry.com; facebook.com/Jakobsferrystragglers/; twitter.com/jakobsferry15; and instagram.com/thejakobsferrystragglers/. Find Poison River, tour information, videos, & more at jakobsferry.com/store Photo: (from left) Evan Bell, bass; Libby Eddy, fiddle & vocals; Gary Antol, guitar & vocals; Ray Bruckman, mandolin, fiddle, & vocals, & Jody Mosser, Dobro (part-time member) Photo of the Jakob’s ferry stragglers by ed dewitt. Cover design for Poison River by Chelsea elliot.
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NOW
PLAYING!
Friday, July 13 at 7:30PM, Saturday, July 14 at 7:30PM & Sunday, July 15 at 2 PM - Kelly Simon Event Management & Stage Right! present THE WIZARD OF OZ $25, $35, $45; Students $15, $20, $25 This production of THE WIZARD OF OZ is a spectacular celebration of that classic 1939 MGM film. Audiences young and old, seeing it for the first time or the fifth, will be dazzled by the brightly colored sets, charmed by its timeless score and enthralled with its breathtaking special effects. It truly is a wonderful show for the whole family. And whether it creates new memories or conjures them up from the past, everyone deserves to experience or relive the wonderful, whimsical and enduring story, THE WIZARD OF OZ. Tuesday, July 17 at 7:30 PM Drusky Entertainment and Kirschner Concerts present KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND AND BETH HART BAND - $44.75, $54.75, $75 ($5/$5.25 additional day of show) Louisiana born axeman and songsmith Kenny Wayne Shepherd has sold millions of albums while throwing singles into the Top 10, shining a light on the rich blues of the past and forging ahead with his own modern twist on a classic sound he has embodied since his teens. Grammy‐nominated singer/songwriter Beth Hart is riding a creative tidal wave, firing out acclaimed albums, hooking up with the biggest names in music and rocking the house each night with that celebrated burnt-honey voice. Saturday, August 4 at 7:30pm Westmoreland Cultural Trust presents THE CRYSTAL BLUE BAND with guests Johnny Angel & The Halos and vocalist Terry Brock - $29, $39, $44 Greensburg, PA natives Mike Vale, Ron Rosman and Eddie Gray, as part of another major, nationally acclaimed classic rock
group, wrote, recorded and released 19 consecutive chart singles. Their rock anthems, which include Crystal Blue Persuasion, Crimson and Clover, Mony Mony, I Think We’re Alone Now, Hanky Panky, Sweet Cherry Wine, Mirage and others, will take you back to the 60s to relive one of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest periods. Saturday, August 11 at 7:30 PM Latshaw Productions presents SMOKEY ROBINSON - $88, $98, $128, $148, $168, $200 After founding The Miracles, Smokey Robinson went on to pen their hits “Shop Around”, “You Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Ooo Baby Baby,” “The Tracks of My Tears,” “More Love,” “Tears of a Clown” (co-written with Stevie Wonder), and “I Second That Emotion.” He later turned to a solo career where he continued his tradition of hitmaking with “Just to See Her,” “Quiet Storm,” “Cruisin’,” and “Being with You,” among others. Robinson has accumulated more than 4,000 songs to his credit (including hits for other Motown greats) and continues to thrill sold-out audiences around the world with his high tenor voice, impeccable timing, and profound sense of lyric. Friday, August 17 at 8 PM - Elko Concerts presents SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY AND THE ASBURY JUKES - $45 ($5 additional at the door) Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes first achieved prominence in the mid1970s, emerging from the same New Jersey Shore music scene as his now legendary contemporary and friend Bruce Springsteen. Southside’s first three albums, “I Don’t Want To Go Home,” “This Time It’s for Real,” and “Hearts of Stone”, were produced by band co-founder Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band, The Sopranos), and largely featured songs written by Van Zandt and/or Springsteen. With their classic blend of hard-core R&B and street-level rock, molten grooves, soulful guitar licks and blistering horn section, Johnny and his Jukes continue to put their unique stamp on the Jersey Shore sound, while recalling the glory years of Otis Redding and similar Stax Records titans.
T H E PA L A C E T H E AT R E
34 West Otterman Street, Greensburg
Box Office: 724-836-8000
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thepalacetheatre.org
Derek Hough set to perform at Benedum Center DEREK HOUGH: LIVE! THE TOUR will perform on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at the Benedum Center, 237 7th Street. From the EMMY® award winning mind of Derek Hough, the live dance show is the first-ever solo tour for the dynamo. The show features brandnew stage production, astounding versatility and, as always, Derek’s magnetic stage presence. Fans will journey through a true fusion of dance and music, as Derek explores styles ranging from ballroom and tap to salsa and hophop and everything in between. Emmy Award winning and New York Times Best-Selling author Derek Hough, the only six time champion in franchise history of the hit ABC show Dancing with the Stars, started dancing in his hometown of Salt Lake City, UT, at age 11. Just one year later, he moved to London to live and train with the top dance coaches in the world and attend the prestigious Italia Conti performing arts school where he studied theatre, music and dance. A multi-talented entertainer, two-time Emmy Award winner and none-time nominee for Best Choreography, Hough has also appeared in film, television and stage projects as an actor. In May of 2017, Hough joined Jennifer Lopez and Ne-Yo at the judges table for the NBC series World of Dance. World of Dance, which launched as the highest rated summer show in over ten years, is an unparalleled dance competition that featured solo artists competing against duos and crews in all genres of dance, including hip hop, tap, ballet, break dancing, ballroom, and more competing for a million dollar prize. Hough can also add best-selling author
to his list of credits. His memoir Taking the Lead; Lessons from a Life in Motion hit stands in August of 2014 and rapidly was named to the prestigious New York Times Best-Seller list during two nonconsecutive time periods. With celebrity partners on Dancing with the Stars, Hough is best known for his innovation and daring choreography on the show. Hough is the winningest professional dancer with six Mirror Ball Trophies. His work has brought him Emmy nominations and inquiries from the film and music world. Tickets for this event at the Benedum Center start at $59.50 and are available online at TrustArts.org, by calling Guest Services at 412-456-6666, or in person at Theater Square Box Office, located at 655 Penn Avenue.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced the 2018-19 TRUST Cabaret Series features five captivating season shows, EVA NOBLEZADA, JANE LYNCH, THE COOPER FAMILY, ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY & AMANDA MCBROOM and ADAM PASCAL & ANTHONY RAPP. The season also includes one special, JIM CARUSO’S CAST PARTY, back by popular demand. Subscription packages are on sale now. Single tickets will go on sale Friday, August 17. TRUST Cabaret Series performances begin at 7 and 9:30
p.m. Series subscriptions include all five season performances. For the 7 p.m. show: tables and hi-top seating subscriptions are $300, theater seating subscriptions are $250. For the 9:30 p.m. show: tables and hi-top seating subscriptions are $250, theater seating subscriptions are $200. Single tickets range in price from $45-$65, with tickets to the season special starting at $25. All performances take place at the Cabaret at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue. FMI: 412-456-6666, visit TrustArts.org/CabaretSeries, or in person at Theater Square Box Office.
2018-19 TRUST Cabaret Season Announced
Pennsylvania Bridges - We believe media should uplift and inspire. - pabridges.com
Freshness is always in season at Triple B Farms in Monongahela Story by Keren Lee Dreyer
Sticker shock. Though it happens when looking at new cars, there is a more common arena in life where it’s more prevalent - the grocery store. Small containers of berries, usually trucked in from out of state, can command prices ranging from $4 or $5 and up. Apples, peaches, corn, and more also cause one to swallow hard when deciding to pay the price. Freshness is compromised by shipping, and many a consumer has been dismayed to discover mold on their pricey produce the next day after purchase. And taking the whole family to the grocery store for a shopping trip? Oy, what a headache. The good news is, there is place to avoid sub-par produce while having a grand time with the entire family, and Triple B Farms, at 823 Berry Lane in Monongahela, is pleased to be that place. Triple B’s berries, apples, peaches, corn, and much more are produced on location, as is fresh honey from their own hives. It’s easy to walk in and pick up something fresh and delicious, such as seasonal fruits, pies, jams, jellies, homemade fudge, and other delectables, but it’s during picking season where family fun on the farm comes into play. Pop’s FarmYard, open on weekends during all picking seasons, provides plenty of fun - such as tube slides, jumping pillows, and rope maze, to name a few activities - along with Education Acres, where everyone can learn about agriculture in an entertaining, handson atmosphere. “We do special (pancake) breakfasts and have a farmyard activity area where
everybody plays together, and for adults and children to enjoy together,” said Suzanne Beinlich, who helps manage the market. The operation is owned and run by the Beinlich family, who have made it the family friendly location it is today. “If it’s a nice day, people enjoy getting out together as a family, and healthy, fresh food is a good thing now, and people enjoy doing that,” Beinlich said. Triple B Farms provides agriculturally themed children’s books and toys to go along with education, Beinlich said. “One of the things we provide during the spring field trip is we teach (kids) to plant in a plastic glove, and once it sprouts they can remove the seeds and plant it and watch it grow.” Picking seasons vary with crops, with berries in full swing now, and peaches, apples, and pumpkins available in the not too distant future. Head right in to Triple B and turn left to get started picking your own. In addition to having the
N OW AVAILABLE . S UBSCRIBE
TO
freshest fruit picked by your own hand, saving money in the process is another plus. “Generally speaking, when you’re doing the labor, you’re saving some
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL July 9-13 from 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. R AGING R IVER R AMPAGE ! Come find out what happens at the river. C ALIFORNIA U NITED M ETHODIST C HURCH 227 Third Street California, PA 724-938-2270 california.umchurch@ gmail.com Call or email to register
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Get every exciting edition delivered right to your USPS mailbox, hot off the press, 12 times a year. Y EARLONG SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE ONLY $36 Send your address & check or money order to: Pennsylvania Bridges, 114 4th Street, California, PA 15419 C ONTACT US FOR SECURE ONLINE PAYMENTS .
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amount (over store bought) and that’s the idea behind pick your own crop,” Beinlich said, adding “and it’s a family activity everybody likes to do together. And you learn where your food comes from and how it grows” Picking hours are limited generally from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., because, as Beinlich notes, “ripe fruit should be picked in the morning hours, because later when it gets warm, it’s getting soft, and by the time you get it home it has made its own jelly. We want you to have fresh fruit you can enjoy in the next 24 48 hours.” Triple B Farms offers seasonal tours which focus on various growing season stages. In the spring it’s planting and growing, while in the fall it’s harvesting and storing crops. It’s the summer season, however, when visitors not only learn how bees pollinate crops and fruit, but they can view bees hard at work at a real hive built with Plexiglass. No southwest Pennsylvania cookout would be complete without fresh corn, and Triple B Farms is known to have the sweetest around. Starting in July and through September is the best time to get corn on the cob, and Beinlich offers an important cooking tip: “Don’t overcook your corn. 2 - 3 minutes in boiling water is all you need because it’s already so sweet that, if you cook it longer, you’re cooking the tenderness and sweetness right out of it.” Beinlich advises checking the web site ahead of time for updated crop picking availability. “I realize we’re a destination, so it makes sense to call ahead so you’re not disappointed when you get here.” However, Triple B Farms is always stocked with fresh food even when picking season isn’t in full swing. Visit Triple B Farms at triplebfarms.com/ to learn more about upcoming events and festivals, growing season, picking seasons, and much more. Or, call ahead to check picking availability at 724-258-3557.
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BENTLEYVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY 931 Main St. in Bentleyville washlibs.org/bentleyville
There is great news for the citizens of the Bentworth area! The Phase I portion of the Bentworth Community Center Building Project has been completed and the library is open. The Senior Citizens Center will reopen at the Bentworth Community Center at an anticipated date later in June which will be announced. The capital campaign committee will continue to seek funds/donations for the ongoing Phase II portion of the project which includes the installation of the chairlift, landscaping and the completion of a tribute patio, and the paving and improved lighting of the parking areas. The staff of the library, the capital campaign committee, and the Bentleyville Library Board of Trustees enthusiastically encourage you to visit the renovated building to see the results of your efforts and donations. A formal dedication is scheduled for December 8, 2018 to celebrate the completion of Phase I and II of the Bentworth Community Center Building Project.
Upcoming Events
TOPS (weight loss group) meets every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Coffee and Crayons meets every Friday at 10:30 a.m.
FMI: Call us at 724-239-5122.
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CALIFORNIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 100 Wood St. , California calpublib.org Every Monday at 10 a.m. is STORY TIME with Ellen, a retired elementary librarian. Ellen presents a fresh Story Time every Monday at 10 a.m. and Story Time with Kristen and Friends is presented on select Saturdays at 10 a.m. Each Story Time includes a snack & craft. Story Time is open to any child with a desire to learn and play. Reservations are recommended. The California Recreation Authority sponsors Saturday Story Time. FMI: Call 724-938-2907.
CHARTIERS-HOUSTON LIBRARY 730 West Grant St. , Houston washlibs. org/chartiers-houston
TAG: Teen Advisory Group meets First Saturday of every month at 12 noon. Are you in grades 6-12? Want to earn volunteer hours in the company of your friends? Join our Teen Advisory Group and meet once a month to brainstorm ideas about programs you’d like to see in the library, books you’d want to recommend, or projects you and other volunteers could help the library complete. “Brainfood”, aka, snacks, will be provided and the library Wii video games, and board games will be made available at each meeting. Looking for crafting buddies to inspire your creative projects? Come to our monthly crafterdays. Here we welcome crafters of all kinds to sit and knit, crochet, or even paper mache in the company of other creative crafters. Each crafterday will also include printed instructions and a live demo on how to make a simple craft. Event held 3rd Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. Join our Lego club on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. The program is open to all ages, although it is recommended for ages 5 and up. The library is also accepting donations of new or gently used Lego sets. Wednesdays at 6 p.m. “Shut Up & Write” This is a venue for writers to work in the company of other writers on a regular basis. First Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. Join our Mystery Book Club for a riveting read and book discussion. Register at the library or call us at 724-745-4300.
CITIZENS LIBRARY JULY 2018 ACTIVITIES Teen Time Tuesdays from 4:30 p.m. 6 p.m. Come hang out, play games, use our Maker Space, & more. New activities every week. For grades 6 and up. Middle Grade Book Club - Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Discuss books, make a craft, and eat some pizza. For grades 6-8. Every Friday in the Children's department there are crafts to make or activities to do. Stop by any time for these drop in activities, no sign ups required. Monthly Chess Club Meets the first Saturday of the month from 10-11:30 a.m. , and is open to all ages and all levels of play. Instructors will be available. Chess Club is free, and is open to all ages, including adults. LEGO Club will meet on the 2nd and 4th Mons, from 5-6 p.m. The program is open to all ages, and there are sets of larger building blocks for children who are too young for regular sized Lego
bricks. The Children’s Dept. is also accepting donations of new or gently used LEGO sets. CitiBooks, a used books bookstore in the lower level of the library, is open from 10 a.m. -7 p.m. Tues & Wed; 10 a. m to 6 p.m. Thurs; & 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat. CitiBooks is staffed by volunteers & all proceeds benefit the library. On July 4, the library is closed all day for the holiday. Visit their web site for a complete Summer Reading program schedule. To volunteer, email friendsofcitizenslibrary@gmail.com. Citizen’s Library is located at 55 South College Street, Washington, PA 15301. Phone # is 724-222-2400 FMI: washlibs.org/citizens
FREDERICKTOWN AREA LIBRARY 38 Water St. , Fredericktown Website: washlibs.org/fredericktown - Phone: 724-377-0017
Book Buddies Book Club will meet Tuesday, July 3 at 6:30 p.m.. What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman will be discussed. Mikki Chesney will be the hostess. Reading Records begins June 4 and runs through August 16. Stop in the library to find out about this program. Library Board of Trustees will meet July 18 at 6:30 p.m. SIT N KNIT/CROCHET will meet the second and fourth Thursday of the month. Beginner through expert is welcome. Rep. Pam Snyder’s Community Outreach staff is at the library every third Tuesday of each month from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Just stop in…no appointment needed. Would you like to be a powerful
advocate for the Fredericktown Area Public Library? We are looking for a few good men and women who would like to serve as library trustees. If interested just stop in the library. The library will be closed Wednesday, July 4 and Saturday July 7. The library board of trustees would like to thank everyone who helped make our Outdoor Wine Tasting a Success! Our underwriters for July are: BCR Lions Club for underwriting the cost of
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Is your local library having a special event or fundraiser? Are you having a guest speaker or author reading/signing? Do you offer story hours, tech help and/or classes? Are you having a used book sale? Send us your news. There is NEVER A FEE to list library activities in our pages. Send your library news to carla@pabridges. com or call 724-769-0123.
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ROSTRAVER PUBLIC LIBRARY 700 Plaza Drive, Belle Vernon rostraverlibrary.org
PETERS TOWNSHIP LIBRARY February Activities ptlibrary. org
MONESSEN PUBLIC LIBRARY 326 Donner Ave. , Monessen monessenlibrary.org
DONORA PUBLIC LIBRARY 510 Meldon Avenue in Donora washlibs.org/donora
Free Monday Movie Matinee. Stop by
Craft days for kids. A new craft will be available the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. FMI about the John K. Tener Library in Charleroi, call 724-483-8282.
Tiny Tunes Music Mondays at 11 a.m. Ages: 2½ 5 with an adult. Tiny Tunes Music is a fun, casual program of playing with and learning about music. Book Babies Tues at 10 a.m. Birth-12 months with an adult. Mother Goose Storytime Tues at 11 a.m. Ages: 12 24 months with an adult. They're just learning to talk -give them something to talk about. Toddler Tales Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Ages: 2 3½ with an adult. Wii Sports for Adults Every Wednesday Stay active in the comfort of your library. No registration required. Kindergarten Storytime Thursdays at 10 a.m. & 1:15 p.m. Ages: Kindergartners and 5-year-olds. This full-hour program goes the next step in learning and loving reading. Register at the Youth Services Desk. Coloring, Coffee & Classics 9:15 a.m. For ages 18 and up. Every Wednesday in Café Lee. Enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee. Drop In Chess Tues at 11 a.m. -2 p.m. Every Tues in Café Lee. Drop in with a partner and challenge yourselves to a game or two of chess. FMI, call 724-941-9430.
The library will be closed on Wednesday, July 4. The library will have limited Summer Hours from June 4 August 11: Monday 12:30-8 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., & Saturday 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Children's Summer Quest Program will take place June 11 -August 4, and registration begins June 4. For children 14 and under. Check online or at the library for a program of events, including Maker Mondays, Technology Tuesdays, and Field Day Fridays. Children's Summer Story Hour will take place on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. through August 1. Join us for snacks,
crafts, and stories. Our Adulting 101 program for teens and young adults will be held on Mondays at 6 p.m. from May 7 - July 9. Learn all of the "real world" skills that you need to succeed! Call the library for more details. One-on-one computer and technology classes are ongoing - call to make your appointment today. You can get your library card free of charge if you live within Fayette, Washington, or Greene County!
Monessen Public Library & Cultural Center is hosting a FREE Summer Breakfast and Lunch Program through August 10. It operates Monday through Friday for children up to the age of 18 and features hot and cold meals. Breakfast is served during the hours of 9-10 AM. Lunch is served from 12-1 PM. Entrance is through the back side door next to the alley. The program is funded by the USDA and the Westmoreland County Food Bank. Miss Marsha will present her Summer Reading programs each morning between breakfast and lunch in the Children’s Room. There are no evening or Saturday sessions of Summer Reading. Registration is open for the Summer Reading and Learning Adventures Program, “Libraries Rock!” The program will run through August 4, 2018 and focus on learning STEM activities and keeping children interested in reading. Children must register for the program. Children can earn up to 8 weekly participation prizes. If they reach 6-8 goals, they can attend a “Build a Bear Workshop”. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, fines will not be charged to anyone under the age of 18. Have fines on your account? Register for Summer Reading and have them waived! The Mon Valley Genealogy Forum will meet on Monday, July 16, 2 at 5:30 PM. New members are welcome. The Monessen Library Knitting/Crochet Club will meet on Wednesday, July 11 and 25, at 6 PM. All are welcome. Bring your projects! Monessen Public Library & Cultural Center wants to remind friends and patrons of the library’s memorial and remembrance program. A book can provide a lasting tribute to the memory of a loved one or provide a unique way to honor special events such as birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, or other special occasions. Your tax deductible gift to the library will be a lasting memorial. The Library also does pet memorial books for the loss of a furry family member. The Library can also receive cash donations that can be used in a manner that will best serve the operation of the Library and its service to patrons. For additional information about this program or legacy giving, contact the Library.
Storytime with Miss Angie (Preschool ages) Friday's at 10 a.m. Please join us at the Donora Public Library for Storytime with Miss Angie, geared for preschool ages. Ladies’ Bridge Club meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday's of each month from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Knit and Crochet Club meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Book Club (Adults) meets the 3rd Thursday of the month from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lion's Club Meeting is the 3rd Monday each month at 6 p.m. Monongahela Valley Community Band meets every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The Donora Public Library will partner with the Southwestern Goodwill to host a donation drive. We are once again asking anyone and everyone in the community to bring in household items and books you no longer need or want.
the library on the first Monday of each month at 1pm for the viewing of a newly released film to DVD. Popcorn and water are provided. Friends of the Library Monthly meetings are held at 6:30pm on the 4th Monday of each month. Knitting at the Library meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. & the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. Contact: Judy Yoskosky Afternoon Book Club meets the 2nd Wednesday of each Month at 1 p.m. Contact: Judy Wasko Every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Tiny Tykes Program For kids ages 18 months-3 years old. Please call 724-379-5511 to register.
JOHN K. TENER LIBRARY 638 Fallowfield Ave. Charleroi washlibs.org/john-k-tener
BROWNSVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY 100 Seneca St. , Brownsville Website: bfpl.org/ - Phone: 724-785-7272
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P R OF ES SIO N AL S EA MSTRE SS
Doris Wadsworth, Seamstress
All work professionally done to your satisfaction. Over 40+ years experience!
Sewing aLterationS *Alter/hem gowns, prom dress, pants, skirts *Add zipper to pull-over hoodie, replace zipper *Add lacey collar or beads to a plain dress/top *Change an “old” t-shirt into a “new” one *Take in or out side seams and waistbands *Patch/mend holes, add belt loops, etc. Sewing ShoP *Get a pattern and fabric - Pay only labor *Will help design your own dress/suit pattern *Sell hand-made, unique, one-of-akind gifts *If cut 7” from hem, will make a tie! Sewing LeSSonS *Learn to Sew! Individually or in groups *Learn to read & understand patterns *Learn to sew for a Scout badge (girl or boy) Project SPotLight Altering many bridal gowns, flower
girl dresses, and wedding gowns! If the gown needs hemmed and cut off about
7”, I can make the men’s neck tie from the same material to match the gown.
I can also make a shawl when cutting off the train from the gown!
Will sew/design a basic
Wedding Dress starting at $200 + three fittings
Ca ll for App ointm ent 412-997-0874 Located in California, PA
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JULY EVENTS AT THE FRANK SARRIS PUBLIC LIBRARY Upcoming Events Summer Quest - Join us as we explore the Quest for knowledge on subjects such as the Science of the Human Body, Kitchen Science and Music, its science too! We will read stories, do experiments, crafts and play games all week during Summer Quest. Registration is open and can be done at the children’s desk. Payment is due at registration. Cost is $5 fee per week. Summer Quest weeks are structured by age level as follows: Kindergarten to 3rd grade (students must have finished Kindergarten): Tuesday July 10 - Friday July 13, Tuesday July 31 - Friday Aug 3; 4th Grade to 7th Grade: Tuesday July 17 - Friday to July 20 Movie Magic: Filmography 101 - Ever have the ambition to make a film, but not sure where to start? This program will offer lessons and tips on the fundamentals of filming a movie. This will be a four week program offered on the following Wednesdays: 7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1. 6-7p.m. The program is intended for teens and young adults and space is limited. Register by July 6 at the Adult Circulation Desk or by calling 724-7451308. Contact Benson at bgardner@franksarrislibrary.org with any questions. Summer Story Time – Beach Theme. This program is for children 9 months to 5 years. Monday 7/2. 11:30 a.m. Madcap Mondays: Summer Edition – It Rocks! Painting Rocks. This program is for Grades 3-6. Registration is required. Monday 7/2. 1-2 p.m. Teen Advisory Board, comprised of students in grades 7-12, meet to plan, organize and lead activities that will engage and benefit members of the community. New members welcome. Monday 7/9. 6-7 p.m. Young Explorer Kit Open House – Come check out one of our Young Explorer kits – we will be highlighting our Circuits and Coding kits. Come explore the flow of electricity through wires, chips and robotics with kits designed for grades 3 and up. Saturday 7/7. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Summer Story Time – It’s Magic Theme. This program is for children 9 months to 5 years. Monday 7/9. 11:30
a.m. Madcap Mondays: Summer Edition – Tissue Paper Art. This program is for Grades 3-6. Registration is required. Monday 7/9. 1-2 p.m. Summer Story Time – Bugs Theme. This program is for children 9 months to 5 years. No registration required. Monday 7/16. 11:30 a.m. Madcap Mondays: Summer Edition – Puppets. This program is for Grades 36. Registration is required. Monday 7/16. 1-2p.m. The Frick Pittsburgh will bring an armchair tour of Clayton to the Frank Sarris Public Library. Clayton was the home of industrialist Henry Clay Frick. This program is free. However, registration is required. The deadline for registrations is July 26. Call the library main circulation desk at 724-745-1308 to sign up for this event. Thursday, 7/27 at 6 pm Young Explorer Kit Open House – Come check out one of our Young Explorer kits – we will be highlighting our Construction kits. Come build and create with kits designed for toddlers through elementary school. Saturday 7/28. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Summer Story Time – Birds Theme. This program is for children 9 months to 5 years. No registration required. Monday 7/30. 11:30 a.m. Madcap Mondays: Summer Edition – Stress balls and bath bombs! This program is for Grades 3-6. Registration is required. Monday 7/30. 1-2 p.m. Athena Sarris Art Gallery – The photography of Albert Hall is on display until June 30. On-going Events Knitting/Crocheting Group – drop in and work on your projects, get new ideas, make friends and have fun! Wednesdays 6-8 p.m. Lego Club – Children in grades K-4 grade collaborate with other Master Builders on their own designs or special building challenges. Wednesdays 56p.m. Of Dice and Men - Roleplaying Games take place Saturdays at 1 p.m. Call or email Benson Gardner at bgardner@franksarrislibrary.org for
more information and availability. The Literacy Council of Southwestern PA is offering free Adult English as a Second Language Classes on Saturdays 1-4 p.m. FMI on how to enroll, call the Literacy Council at 724-228-6188. For a complete listing of upcoming events and online programs, visit our website at franksarrislibrary.org, or call 724-745-1308 for more information. More from Your Library Canon-McMillan students can earn Accelerated Reading points at the library. We have a computer reserved in the Children's Department exclusively for testing. Ancestry Resources - Come to the library to take advantage of our subscription to Ancestry. com! Visit the second floor of the library regularly to enjoy the exhibits provided by talented local artists and photographers. Visit our website to see what is currently on display. If you're an artist interested in displaying your work in this venue, please visit our website or stop in to get an application. Through the library's website, Frank Sarris Public Library cardholders can access 1000s of digital graphic novels and comics. Check out 500+ continuing education courses available at no cost through our website. Digital Magazines from Zinio - The Frank Sarris Public Library is the only location in the area to provide this resource. Our used book sale is ongoing and new titles are being added all the time. You can replenish your bookshelves for just $5 per bag or buy individual books for $0. 25, $0. 50 or $1. Playaway Launchpad is a pre-loaded tablet designed for a circulation environment. We have Launchpads for children, teens and adults. OverDrive - Borrow eBooks, audiobooks and Read-Along eBooks anytime, anywhere - all you need is your library card. Young Explorer Kits - These themed kits are filled with age-appropriate educational toys and other materials, and they are available to borrow. FMI, visit franksarrislibrary.org, or call 724-745-1308.
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PARTING SHOTS Send original photography for consideration for use in “Parting Shots” to carla@pabridges.com. Photos selected will be determined according to space and subject matter.
The upcoming summer 2018 Gallery Crawl will take place on Friday, July 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Cultural District, downtown Pittsburgh. This painting by Ben Matthews is on display at love_Pittsburgh. Details on page 20 of this edition.
It’s a whole new world of theater when Disney’s ALADDIN takes the stage! Tickets for the long-awaited engagement of Disney’s ALADDIN are now on sale to the public. Details about this hit Broadway musical and performance dates are on page 11 of this edition.
Kaiju Big Battel: Multiple Choice Beasts will take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 7, at the Byham Theater, 101 6th St, Pittsburgh. In this live monster fighting spectacle, Planet Earth is under threat. Details on page 15 of this edition.
“Some Funky Some Plain” is on display at part of the summer 2018 Gallery Crawl, scheduled to take place Friday, July 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Cultural District, downtown Pittsburgh. Details about the Gallery Crawl are on page 20 of this edition.
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