JULY 2009 - Allegheny West Magazine

FEATURES
ABOVE: Franco Harris at Nick Jovanovich’s graduation, holding a
book presented to Nick by Milana Bizic of Moon Township. Franco
Harris knows the story of the rescue of over 500 American
airmen from behind German-occupied lines in Yugoslavia’s
Serbia, do you You’ll be able to read more about it in the
September issue of “Allegheny West Magazine.”
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Award Winning Care
Close to Home
Come and discover why Ohio Valley General
Hospital has been voted the best hospital in
the western suburbs by the readers of the
Tribune Review. With more than 300
physicians in 36 medical speciales and a full
range of advanced diagnosc tools and
treatments, it’s clear that one of the best
hospitals in the city isn’t in the city.
We’re also pleased to announce that our
outpaent facilies will be expanding to the
North Hills in the near future. Soon, along
Mt. Nebo Pointe Drive, Ohio Valley General
Hospital will be opening a new building
comprised of a first-rate Wound and
Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment program, The
Instute for Pain Diagnoscs and Care, a
Primary Care Physician office, and laboratory
services.
Also, our newly expanded medical office
building will feature laboratory services, a
pharmacy and new registraon programs,
helping to make paents’ visits convenient
and without long wait mes.It just keeps
geng beer. Visit our Web site to learn
more, or just give us a call at 412-777-6161.
We’ll be happy to help.
25 Heckel Road • Kennedy Township • Mckees Rocks, Pa
412-777-6161 • www.ohiovalleyhospital.org

Award Winning Care
Close to Home
Come and discover why Ohio Valley General
Hospital has been voted the best hospital in
the western suburbs by the readers of the
Tribune Review. With more than 300
physicians in 36 medical speciales and a full
range of advanced diagnosc tools and
treatments, it’s clear that one of the best
hospitals in the city isn’t in the city.
We’re also pleased to announce that our
outpaent facilies will be expanding to the
North Hills in the near future. Soon, along
Mt. Nebo Pointe Drive, Ohio Valley General
Hospital will be opening a new building
comprised of a first-rate Wound and
Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment program, The
Instute for Pain Diagnoscs and Care, a
Primary Care Physician office, and laboratory
services.
Also, our newly expanded medical office
building will feature laboratory services, a
pharmacy and new registraon programs,
helping to make paents’ visits convenient
and without long wait mes.It just keeps
geng beer. Visit our Web site to learn
more, or just give us a call at 412-777-6161.
We’ll be happy to help.
25 Heckel Road • Kennedy Township • Mckees Rocks, Pa
412-777-6161 • www.ohiovalleyhospital.org

,

,

,

,

TOP: Photo Caption: Row 1, District Deputy
Grand Master James Rohbeck, Bro. Raymond
Bitters (50 years), Bro. Charles Weaver (50-
years). Row 2, Bro. David Cattley (25 years), Bro. Ray Roberts (25 years), Bro. Robert
Nuttall (25 years); Row 3, Bro. Harry Jackson, Past Master, Bro. Douglas Hunt, Worshipful
Master, Bro. Rob Litterini, Senior Warden.
BOTTOM: Shaley Scott, Joseph Pickens, and Travis Gaylik with members of the
Coraopolis Lodge #674, receiving scholarships this year from the Lodge. Also receiving
renewed scholarships were Alexis Nolfi and Sophia Bender. Students are eligible for
renewable scholarships throughout their college years as long as they continue to meet
QPA requirements.
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WEEKLY SUMMER READING FOR LITTLE ONES
STUFFED ANIMAL
SLEEPOVER!
Going to Preschool
Storytime Event
Give It Your Best Shot Photo Contest

1009 Beaver Grade Road
Moon Township, PA 15108
(412) 262-2260
jpippy@pasen.gov
District includes Crescent
portion of Beaver County
Senate Box 203047
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3047
(717) 787-3076
1009 Beaver Grade Road
Moon Township, PA 15108
(412) 262-3780
www.repmustio.com
District includes Crescent
109A East Wing
PO Box 202016
Harrisburg, PA 17120-216
(717) 787-4444

BY NANCY MILLS
Moon Garden Club

Dr. Doug Knueven is a veterinarian who practices both holistic and
conventional medicine at Beaver Animal Clinic. Address your questions to “Ask
the Vet” at info@beaveranimalclinic.com or send them to 357 State Street,
Beaver, PA 15009. Select questions will be answered in this column.

BY PAT JENNETTE
Whether it’s cable television, parks and recreation, finance, or public
safety, one thing is certain -- the leadership team that represents the
many facets that make Moon Township operate are on top of things.
Last year was a tumultuous period in the township’s current history.
Several employees either resigned or chose not to renew their contracts,
for whatever reason.
As with anything, time marches on and goals move forward. For a
community to continue to serve its residents, those involved in the
decision-making have no time to spare. And so the Moon Township
team of department heads and directors, as they often do, met for their
regular weekly meetings one summer morning at the township
municipal building to update each other on their activities, hammer
out problems and issues, and define the upcoming projects.
Dana Kasler, who resigned from his position at parks director but
subsequently returned to the job, decided to come back because there
was so much on the horizon left to do and he simply liked being in
Moon Township.
“We have a major investment in redeveloping Moon Park and have
recently awarded the bidding for Phase I,” he said.
Working with the township’s public works department, which is led
by Jim Henkemeyer, the park redevelopment project will see a
considerable amount of savings due to the partnership of the two
departments.
John Scott, the administrator for the Public Works Department, said
that his department is using its talented employees to prepare some of
the infrastructure for the first phase of the parks project.
The employees will install utility lines, excavate for road beds, and
take care of other such tasks that would have required additional funds
out of the township’s budget had Moon subcontracted those jobs out.
Planning Director Adam McGurk, who is also director of the Moon
Transportation Authority, said that enhancement of another portion of
the community -- the University Boulevard corridor and properties
adjacent to the main throughway, i.e. the now largely vacant West Hills
Shopping Center plaza and Robert Morris University -- are in the midst
of a major metamorphosis.
“There is a lot of interest in University Boulevard, especially since the
township set up an overlay district there,” he explained.
He pointed to new facilities such as Sheetz, Arby’s and Walgreen’s that
have emerged over the past two years that incorporate many of the
aesthetics and design features required by the overlay district. While the
future Wal-Mart complex on the West Hills Shopping Center property
has yet to be finalized, Wal-Mart had purchased the property and is
working out the transportation details with the Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation to bring the project to fruition. Latest estimates
are an opening date of 2011.
Robert Morris University is in the midst of its own major overhaul. A
new business school, nursing school, and Colonial Village -- a housing
complex for visiting professors -- are just some of the school’s soon-tobe
newest amenities to the rapidly growing campus.
Dave Meinert, the township’s building code official, said, “And all of
this is without impacting the township’s budget. We are seeing a
diversified tax base becoming strongly rooted here that is successfully
replacing what we once had as an airport community,” he noted.
In fact, the last time the township’s taxes were raised was five years
ago.
ABOVE, LEFT: row 1, Jim Koepfinger, Greg Seamon; row 2, Janet
Sieracki, Jeanne Creese, Charlie Belgie; row 3, Sarah Welch, Lisa
Lapaglia, Adam McGurk; row 4, Dana Kasler, Dave Meinert, John Scott.
ABOVE, RIGHT PAGE: top, Leo McCarthy; bottom: Jim Henkemeyer.

Lisa Lapaglia oversees the Finance Department. She
reiterated the tax situation, noting, “Our revenue stream
has remained consistent, and we have very few delinquencies.
We are very cognizant of the resources we have
and try to minimize expenses where possible, such as
through our public works employees,” she said.
“Our public works employees have an incredible skill
set that makes them quite an asset to the township,” Lisa
added.
Charles Belgie, township fire marshal, said that the
township’s volunteer fire department is continually
upgrading its services. The fire department turns 75
years old this year, and one thing is for certain -- the
department’s history has been one of continual preparation,
and stays pace by keeping with the times. The
department recently held a practice emergency evacuation
event, and members of the department are set to
become certified soon in Hazmat procedures.
Every member is trained in the use and operation of all
department equipment, and every opportunity available
to the department for member improvement is explored.
Jeanne Creese took over the helm as township manager
this year. She sees her role as one of coordinator, and said
that she allows each department manager to do his or
her job because that’s what they have been hired to do.
“The people here in those positions do an incredible
job, and all of the projects that were underway when I
came here have kept on rolling,” Jeanne said.
She said that when she arrived at Moon, she sensed
there was such a focus on the manager and several staff
leaving that residents were calling the township office
inquiring about the continuation of basic services.
She noted that some very valuable people left the
organization, and some very valuable people returned.
“We’ve got an incredible team here right now,” she
noted.
Likewise said Greg Seamon, captain of the Moon
Township Police Department.
As with the other departments, the police department
enhanced its services in recent times.
Last year the department installed video cameras in
Mooncrest to monitor the park and police substation
with 24-hour surveillance.
Using help from the public works employees, the
police dispatch center was completely overhauled, which
cost the taxpayers very little.
And, the department just received a grant for the
summer lunch program at Mooncrest, so that the
children there can eat a healthy lunch while school is
out of session.
He said the township will have three officers
trained to be a part of a regional CIRT team (Critical
Incident Response Team), which is more commonly
known as a SWAT team. The training is being offered
by the South Hills Area Council of Governments
(COG) and will include officers from surrounding
municipalities.
Regarding safety, Dave Meinert said that a new
statewide building code was implemented in January
that will require sprinklers in all buildings. He said
his department focuses strongly on making sure
building permits, inspections, and safety barriers
around construction projects are adhered to yearround.
“This simply makes for a safer community and a
community with neighborhoods that maintain their
beauty and value,” he noted.
Jim Koepfinger, director of MCA-TV, the
township’s community access television station, said
the township will soon receive its second cable
channel. The new channel will be accessed through
the Verizon network, providing an expanded service
that will allow meetings of the Coraopolis Borough
council and Cornell School District to be aired for
the public.
“Eventually, we can include more of Crescent and
also Neville Island,” he added.
A new video server was launched on July 1,
allowing viewers to see a significant improvement in
the quality of MCA-TV broadcasts.
And, to make sure the township’s 89 full and parttime
employees know what’s going on, as well as the
community, the township’s communications
coordinator, Sarah Welch, takes care of sending out
an employee newsletter, submitting news items and
releases to media, and coordinating information
between the township and school.
The team had so much more to share, but it was
time to get back to their respective offices. There’s a
lot to be done, and time is of the essence.
After all, they’re busy making sure Moon Township
remains a vibrant, clean, safe, and enjoyable community
for its valued residents.

Coign Asset Metrics & Technologies
Drug Free Pennsylvania
Duquesne University Career Services Center
Keystone Hope Special Needs Transition
LA Fitness Intl.
Limelite Productions
Natalie Ruschell, Attorney
Pittsburgh Chiropractic Sports Therapy
Settler’s Ridge
Shar Document Services
The Growth Coach
Timber Crest Inn, Inc.
Western PA Career Transitional Job Corps

BY DICK GLOVIER
PHOTOS BY G. PAUL DeBOR
GRAPHIC DESIGN BY SCOTT BEINING

Congratulations

STORY AND PHOTOS
BY PAT JENNETTE
sk Moon resident and local historian
Ron Potter to tell a story about his
hometown, and he can regale you with
facts, photos, and figures on just about anything
around the community.
As the school year wound to a close, Ron and
his wife, Pat, gathered up their resources and
created a local history bus tour of Moon
Township for a group of first grade students
from McCormick Elementary School.
The project started when first grade teacher,
Sharon Kuhn, joined the Moon Township
Historical Society this past year, of which Ron
is the president.
The school had started a new social science
curriculum this year that engages the students
in the circle of community from kindergarten
through fifth grade.
“I’ve become a true advocate for social
studies,” she explained, adding that the
curriculum teaches kindergarten children about
family, then first graders about their community,
second graders about Pittsburgh, and
eventually moving through the elementary
grades so that the students learn about their
Keystone state, the nation, and the world.
Ron and Sharon put their thinking caps on,
and the history bus tour was born.
And so, on a beautiful, warm June day just
before school finished for the year, this yellow
bus took off on a path that Ron and Pat Potter
carefully choreographed for the children’s
curiosity and enjoyment.
In Ron’s own words, here is how the story
began.
The tour bus started at the 160-year-old
McCormick Farm House which sits adjacent
to the elementary school.
Ron explained that it was one of the first
brick houses in the township, built of bricks
made on the property.
Next stop was the Coventry Log Cabin on
the property of Robin Hill Park. It was built
about 1790, but did not originate where it
now sits. Ron explained that the historical
society purchased it in 1975 and moved it to
Robin Hill Park, where volunteers completely
reconstructed it on the present site.
He pointed out to the children that just
across from the log house sits the Samuel
Neely house, which was actually a log house
built in 1850 and later remodeled.
He told the children of other community
homes that were originally log houses, such as
the Bonham home, and the Nathaniel Neely
farmhouse in Amherst Acres.

“Carnot was a country crossroads
which had almost all of Moon
Township’s stores in the early days,”
Ron told the students as the bus
slowly wound through that part of
town where Brodhead and Beaver
Grade Road intersect with University
Boulevard. He said that Moon’s
first church was Sharon Church,
built in 1828 and replaced in 1868.
Moon’s first school was at Carnot,
too.
Ron said that the old Carnot
School was replaced by a four-room
brick building in 1914, which
subsequently burned down in 1948.
The bus went on down the hill to
the valley called Stoops Ferry along
the Ohio River, where the children
saw the stone house built by Andrew
Boggs in 1841.
“Captain William Stoops of
Sewickley bought the house and
moved there in 1869, operating the
ferry back and forth across the river
until he died in 1879. The Stoops
Ferry Railroad Station was built
there in 1879,” he said. When the
highway was constructed along the
river near Stoops Ferry, both
buildings were taken down.
Next stop was the Roselea estate.
Built by Attorney George Shaw in
1907, it was sold several times before
being purchased by Russell and
Nancy Spring Patton, real estate
developers, in 1950. Nancy’s
daughter, Nancy Mills, and her
husband, Richard, continue the
legacy of Roselea. They took the
children to the pasture where they saw and fed the
goats.
As the bus headed out of Roselea, Ron pointed
out the J.R. McCune Mansion across the street,
which was built in 1935, burned down, and was
replaced in 1938. The home is now part of the
Montour Heights Country Club, which opened in
1987.
At the historic Boggs school on the other end of
the township, the children ate lunch and learned
about school in a one-room schoolhouse. They
saw authentic school books from the 1800s that
recreation volunteer Amy D’Ottavio showed
them. Each student also took their turn at placing
their handprint on a large flag that will hang in
the school once the renovation is complete.
Interspersed into the tour was a stop at the Giant
Eagle store, where Jody Januck, store tour guide,
took the children around to each department to
show them how things are different today from
what they were many, many years ago. The children
each received goodies and a bag of treats and
information, and learned about the many departments
that are needed for today’s stores to operate.
It was soon time to disembark from the bus, and
the school day was ending.
McCormick Elementary first graders’ school year
experience ended on a great chapter -- learning more
about this place they call home, taught by one who
can share so much about the children’s hometown --
local historian Ron Potter.
“I hope maybe not now but later the children will
understand and appreciate this,” Ron said.
PICTURED, STARTING TOP LEFT: Ron Potter shows photos of
some of Moon’s old buildings, Amy D’Ottavio of the parks and
recreation board shows the children an original reader book that
children used in the 1800s during their visit to the historic Boggs
school house; teacher Sharon Kuhn listens intently as Ron Potter
tells a story; Pat Potter explains to the students how families once
cooked, slept, and lived in the Coventry Log Cabin; Nancy Mills
helps the children feed the goats at Roselea; the children watch as
cupcakes are decorated by the bakers at Giant Eagle.
TOP: Students, teachers, parents, gather for a photo in front of the
historic Boggs school house, along with Ron and Pat Potter.
To learn more about the Moon Township Historical
Society, call Ron Potter at (412) 264-8096.

“Carnot was a country crossroads
which had almost all of Moon
Township’s stores in the early days,”
Ron told the students as the bus
slowly wound through that part of
town where Brodhead and Beaver
Grade Road intersect with University
Boulevard. He said that Moon’s
first church was Sharon Church,
built in 1828 and replaced in 1868.
Moon’s first school was at Carnot,
too.
Ron said that the old Carnot
School was replaced by a four-room
brick building in 1914, which
subsequently burned down in 1948.
The bus went on down the hill to
the valley called Stoops Ferry along
the Ohio River, where the children
saw the stone house built by Andrew
Boggs in 1841.
“Captain William Stoops of
Sewickley bought the house and
moved there in 1869, operating the
ferry back and forth across the river
until he died in 1879. The Stoops
Ferry Railroad Station was built
there in 1879,” he said. When the
highway was constructed along the
river near Stoops Ferry, both
buildings were taken down.
Next stop was the Roselea estate.
Built by Attorney George Shaw in
1907, it was sold several times before
being purchased by Russell and
Nancy Spring Patton, real estate
developers, in 1950. Nancy’s
daughter, Nancy Mills, and her
husband, Richard, continue the
legacy of Roselea. They took the
children to the pasture where they saw and fed the
goats.
As the bus headed out of Roselea, Ron pointed
out the J.R. McCune Mansion across the street,
which was built in 1935, burned down, and was
replaced in 1938. The home is now part of the
Montour Heights Country Club, which opened in
1987.
At the historic Boggs school on the other end of
the township, the children ate lunch and learned
about school in a one-room schoolhouse. They
saw authentic school books from the 1800s that
recreation volunteer Amy D’Ottavio showed
them. Each student also took their turn at placing
their handprint on a large flag that will hang in
the school once the renovation is complete.
Interspersed into the tour was a stop at the Giant
Eagle store, where Jody Januck, store tour guide,
took the children around to each department to
show them how things are different today from
what they were many, many years ago. The children
each received goodies and a bag of treats and
information, and learned about the many departments
that are needed for today’s stores to operate.
It was soon time to disembark from the bus, and
the school day was ending.
McCormick Elementary first graders’ school year
experience ended on a great chapter -- learning more
about this place they call home, taught by one who
can share so much about the children’s hometown --
local historian Ron Potter.
“I hope maybe not now but later the children will
understand and appreciate this,” Ron said.
PICTURED, STARTING TOP LEFT: Ron Potter shows photos of
some of Moon’s old buildings, Amy D’Ottavio of the parks and
recreation board shows the children an original reader book that
children used in the 1800s during their visit to the historic Boggs
school house; teacher Sharon Kuhn listens intently as Ron Potter
tells a story; Pat Potter explains to the students how families once
cooked, slept, and lived in the Coventry Log Cabin; Nancy Mills
helps the children feed the goats at Roselea; the children watch as
cupcakes are decorated by the bakers at Giant Eagle.
TOP: Students, teachers, parents, gather for a photo in front of the
historic Boggs school house, along with Ron and Pat Potter.
To learn more about the Moon Township Historical
Society, call Ron Potter at (412) 264-8096.

“Carnot was a country crossroads
which had almost all of Moon
Township’s stores in the early days,”
Ron told the students as the bus
slowly wound through that part of
town where Brodhead and Beaver
Grade Road intersect with University
Boulevard. He said that Moon’s
first church was Sharon Church,
built in 1828 and replaced in 1868.
Moon’s first school was at Carnot,
too.
Ron said that the old Carnot
School was replaced by a four-room
brick building in 1914, which
subsequently burned down in 1948.
The bus went on down the hill to
the valley called Stoops Ferry along
the Ohio River, where the children
saw the stone house built by Andrew
Boggs in 1841.
“Captain William Stoops of
Sewickley bought the house and
moved there in 1869, operating the
ferry back and forth across the river
until he died in 1879. The Stoops
Ferry Railroad Station was built
there in 1879,” he said. When the
highway was constructed along the
river near Stoops Ferry, both
buildings were taken down.
Next stop was the Roselea estate.
Built by Attorney George Shaw in
1907, it was sold several times before
being purchased by Russell and
Nancy Spring Patton, real estate
developers, in 1950. Nancy’s
daughter, Nancy Mills, and her
husband, Richard, continue the
legacy of Roselea. They took the
children to the pasture where they saw and fed the
goats.
As the bus headed out of Roselea, Ron pointed
out the J.R. McCune Mansion across the street,
which was built in 1935, burned down, and was
replaced in 1938. The home is now part of the
Montour Heights Country Club, which opened in
1987.
At the historic Boggs school on the other end of
the township, the children ate lunch and learned
about school in a one-room schoolhouse. They
saw authentic school books from the 1800s that
recreation volunteer Amy D’Ottavio showed
them. Each student also took their turn at placing
their handprint on a large flag that will hang in
the school once the renovation is complete.
Interspersed into the tour was a stop at the Giant
Eagle store, where Jody Januck, store tour guide,
took the children around to each department to
show them how things are different today from
what they were many, many years ago. The children
each received goodies and a bag of treats and
information, and learned about the many departments
that are needed for today’s stores to operate.
It was soon time to disembark from the bus, and
the school day was ending.
McCormick Elementary first graders’ school year
experience ended on a great chapter -- learning more
about this place they call home, taught by one who
can share so much about the children’s hometown --
local historian Ron Potter.
“I hope maybe not now but later the children will
understand and appreciate this,” Ron said.
PICTURED, STARTING TOP LEFT: Ron Potter shows photos of
some of Moon’s old buildings, Amy D’Ottavio of the parks and
recreation board shows the children an original reader book that
children used in the 1800s during their visit to the historic Boggs
school house; teacher Sharon Kuhn listens intently as Ron Potter
tells a story; Pat Potter explains to the students how families once
cooked, slept, and lived in the Coventry Log Cabin; Nancy Mills
helps the children feed the goats at Roselea; the children watch as
cupcakes are decorated by the bakers at Giant Eagle.
TOP: Students, teachers, parents, gather for a photo in front of the
historic Boggs school house, along with Ron and Pat Potter.
To learn more about the Moon Township Historical
Society, call Ron Potter at (412) 264-8096.

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