Movers & Shakers of the Month Six young musicians fulfilled a lifelong dream by performing at the White House on Monday, December 11. Click here for article

Spotlight On: Allegheny Archers, LLC | Spotlight on Schools

The American Association of University Women celebrated its 125th anniversary, Nov. 28. Founded in 1881 by 17 female college graduates, the AAUW has grown to more than 100,000 members, 1,300 branches and 500 college and university partners. Previous members included: Coretta Scott King, former Congresswoman Patsy Mink, Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught and Dr. Johnetta Cole.

Grace Manor at North Park held a grand opening ceremony Dec. 14. The new assisted living facility is located on Babcock Blvd. in Allison Park (across from the A.W. Beattie Career Center).

Several new physicians were recently approved for admission to the medical staff at Butler Memorial Hospital. These include: Drs. Victoria Young, Richard Filiaggi and Joshua Szabo.

Veterans were honored recently with Clean Town USA’s second annual Veteran’s Day fundraiser that benefited Operation Troop Appreciation. Clean Town, located on Rt. 8 in Hampton Township, raised nearly $700 for soldiers serving overseas.

Legend Financial Advisors, Inc.® announced that James J. Holtzman, CFP™, CPA has been selected by Medical Economics magazine in its November issue as one of the “150 Best Financial Advisors for Doctors in America.” Holtzman is one of only five advisors from Pennsylvania included in this year’s list.

St. Barnabas announces that Doreen Grada, RN, BSN, left, has been promoted to the position of Home Care Director of St. Barnabas Medical Center.

The Borough of Millvale and North Hills Community Outreach held their dedication ceremony, Dec. 10th, for the newly renovated and expanded Millvale Community Center. The facility is located at 416 Lincoln Avenue in Millvale.

More than $6,500 was raised by the Northern Area Chamber of Commerce Silent Auction at the annual Benefit Luncheon and Holiday Celebration. The funds will be donated to this year’s winner – The Alliance Against Highly Addictive Drugs.

Ralph J. Papa, president of Citizens Bank, was honored with the 2006 Fred E. Obley Award for business leadership and excellence at the Amen Corner’s annual meeting and holiday reception.

PodCamp Pittsburgh: The New Media Unconference was held Nov. 11 & 12 at Pittsburgh Filmmakers. The event attracted participants from Boston, New York, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Ontario.

St. Barnabas Health System announced its Employees of the Month for November: Katelyn Navilliat, Kerri Perenic, Rachel Schoeffel, Barbara Spithaler and Kathy Workman.

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Movers & Shakers of the Month Six young musicians fulfilled a lifelong dream by performing at the White House on Monday, December 11. Click here for article

Six Young Area Musicians Showcase Their Talents As They Perform at the White House By Paula Green Six young musicians fulfilled a lifelong dream by performing at the White House on Monday, December 11. The talented ensemble consisted of: cellists Jessica Moulton, 14, Sergei Adelman, 13, both of Sewickley; violinists Nathan Cully, 15, Cranberry Twp.; Meredith Hudock, 13, Hampton; Madeline Marco Scanlon, 13, Moon Twp.; and pianist, Karolina Lagerquist, 12, O’Hara Twp. All six teens are students at the Center for Young Musicians in Pine Twp.  The White House performance was a long time in the making.  “We submitted a CD to Washington back in May.  Last year I sent our submission back in the summer, and I was told, sorry, it’s too late,” said the Center for Young Musicians’ public relations and marketing director Kristee Adams.  The group had some added support from U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Bradford Woods.  Hart wrote a letter supporting the young area musicians. “Every year the White House conducts open houses during the holiday season for supporters of the Bush administration.  They give tours in various state rooms and they choose a select few musicians to perform.  Our students performed holiday music for a roving audience in the Book Cellar near the White House library.  It really was a pleasure to get these kids into the White House; they worked so hard for it.  I know their parents were very impressed,” Adams said. “These kids are talented.  They have performed previously with the D.T. Watson Symphony and in the lobby at Heinz Hall.  But performing at the White House was something really special for them,” said Tom Cully, father of violinist, Nathan Cully.  “Playing at the White House was an amazing experience that I will never forget.  It was incredibly decorated too.  It was almost unreal to play in the most historic building; the home of our nation’s president.  The whole trip was enjoyable. While still dressed in my tuxedo, we went across the street to a hotel for dinner.  The hotel had a piano in the lobby and after dinner some of us played our songs again in the hotel lobby, CYM teacher, Michael Miller led us on piano,” Nathan said. As for the future, the six ambitious teens will continue to perform and make beautiful music together.    Back to top

Spotlight on Schools

Talk about one for the record books…literally. Students and teachers from Perrysville Elementary School joined 380,959 people in 1,629 locations across 50 states and 17 countries and set the Guinness World Record for the Most People Reading Aloud Simultaneously in Multiple Locations. The reading event was held at noon on Dec. 13th.

Two local La Roche students (shown photo right) majoring in real estate each received $1,500 scholarships from the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS®. The two sophomores receiving awards were: Lisa Allen of Wexford and Katelyn Navilliat of Gibsonia.

Pine Richland Middle School students collected 6,000 items of food, Nov. 8, during their “Gobble for Cans” Food Drive. More than 130 students participated in the second annual food drive, which benefits the North Hills Community Outreach Food Pantry.

Pine Richland High School’s Meghan Klingenberg and Eric Duerr have been honored with a nomination for the prestigious Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. The program, awarded in conjunction with the collegiate Heisman, celebrates the achievements of the nation’s top high school seniors both in and out of the classroom.

More than 40 students and graduates at Pine-Richland High School have earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program.

Pine Richland is pleased to announce that several students will participate in the Allegheny Valley Honors Band to be held Feb. 2 at Shaler Area High School.

After nearly 38 years in education, Dr. Robert L. Johnson, Pine-Richland School District assistant superintendent, plans to retire in June 2007. Dr. Johnson has been with PRSD for 17 years.

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Several Pine-Richland students were chosen to participate in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 1 Chorus to be held in January and February. Those selected are: Sarah Ceurvorst, Jesse Soracco, Christy Wasilewski, Julia Ferguson, Mike Searles, Jordan Banyas, Matthew Ceurvorst, Andrew Deutsch, Kristen Fajt and Emily Smith.

Pine-Richland announces the appointments of the district’s new board members: Gary Deschamps, president; Steven Hawbaker, vice president; Marilyn Reed, Dennis Sundo and Richard Herko.

Seven North Hills High School students were selected to the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District Orchestra. Representing North Hills are: Yookyung Bae, Beca Pugh, Meghan McCutcheon, Emily Cochran, Katelyn Bramkamp, Eric Miller and Luke Plizga.

North Allegheny Intermediate students have embarked on a service project to collect canned food for the North Hills Food Bank. They have entered a contest through a nationally televised program on Channel One to become the top ranked school in the nation for collecting the most cans of food for charity.

Members of the North Hills School faculty and staff are moving one step closer to their quest of achieving Middle States Accreditation. They are currently preparing for a site visit by officials from the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association. The on-site evaluation will take place in late March.

The North Allegheny School District announced that 2,923 students in grades 6 through 12 have earned a position on the Honor Roll Listing for the first nine weeks.

A team of fourth grade O’Hara Elementary School students won the Fox Chapel Area School District “Battle of the Books” tournament. The winning team entitled “The Raging Readers,” consisted of the following members: Brian Bartels, Danny Docimo, Jacob Froehlich, Ian Gillespie and Frank Lou. The runner-up team “5 Musketeers” included: Sophia Brooks, Tara McLaughlin, Allison Redfern, Sophie Roe and Mamie Slevin.

Fifteen Fox Chapel Area High School students participated in the Student Business Leaders Program. During this broadcast show, students were given the opportunity to discuss employment issues with Pittsburgh Steeler Alan Faneca as well as the sister of President George W. Bush, Doro Bush Koch.

Two Fox Chapel Area High School students have been selected to participate in the 2007 MENC All-Eastern Honors Ensembles. Those seniors chosen to perform are: clarinetist Patrick Englert and violinist Thomas Hu.

Eight Fox Chapel Area High School students won awards at the Niagara Model United Nations (UN) Conference. Natalie Stewart and Anna Jin won first place awards and Risa Trump won the “Gavel Award.” Second place honors went to Samuel Bakkila, Meade Klingensmith, and Philip McGrath. Third place awards went to Elizabeth Clark and Cassady Rosenblum.

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Several Fox Chapel Area High School students won awards at the annual University of Pittsburgh Model United Nations (UN) Conference. Winners included: Samuel Bakkila, Christopher Cole, Gabe Herman, Tara Moore, Lauren DeNinno, Erin Ford, Amanda Jacobson, Natalie Stewart, Matthew Bolden, Van Bucsko, Andrew Dong, Karen Gardner, Archana Ramgopal, Risa Trump, Emily Feenstra, Emily Bell and Paul Weinstein.

Eighteen Fox Chapel Area High School students were chosen to participate in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) of Pennsylvania men’s and women’s honor choirs. Those selected are: Emily Bell, Abigail Dietly, Rachel Leslie, Ayla Schermer, Ashley Toole, Ryan Gianola, Sarah Ivins, Meghan Monahan, Archana Ramgopal, Wendy Stetten, Nicolle Zambrano, Nathaniel Bucsko, Elizabeth Conway, Emily Feenstra, Charlotte Garbisch, Lara Graham, Kelsey Hayes and Arielle Thomas.

The Fox Chapel Area Board of School Directors held its annual reorganization meeting Dec. 4. Joel R. Weinstein was re-elected president. Charles R. Burke was elected vice president. Robin F. Baum was elected assistant secretary.

Carnegie Science Center is pleased to announce the winners of the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest: first place winner Greater Latrobe Senior High School, second place Burgettstown Area Middle High School, third place Twinsburg High School. Other finalists include: Derry Area High School, Franklin Regional High School, Jeanette Senior High School, Conemaugh Township Area High School and North Allegheny Senior High School.

Three North Hills students had their artwork selected to be depicted in Mercy Hospital’s 2007 calendar: Christina Moody and Meghan Rodgers of St. Alphonsus School in Wexford and Michelle Wittmer of St. Ursula School in Allison Park.

David Mosey, chair of the Pace School board of directors, announces that executive director Dr. Linda Miller, right, will be retiring from her position effective June 29. Pace School is located on Greensburg Pike in Churchill.

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Spotlight on Allegheny Archers, LLC

By Janice Lane Palko

From the discovery of ancient arrowheads in Africa, archeologists have estimated that humans have been shooting bows and arrows since as early as 50,000 B.C.  Throughout history archery has been a means for survival for humankind—as a weapon of defense and a tool for hunting food.  Today, we no longer rely on the bow and arrow for our survival, but nonetheless, archery still remains a pursuit embraced by modern people.  

Chris White and Claude Stewart, owners of the new business, Allegheny Archers, L.L.C., both were captivated by the sport decades ago, and hope to share their passion for archery with others, especially families, in the area.  “Every time I pick up a bow and shoot it, it’s still a challenge, and archery is an excellent way for a family to get outdoors and enjoy nature,” White said. “Archery is a great way to get exercise, increase mental sharpness and just have fun.”

Located at 769 Pittsburgh Road in Butler, Allegheny Archers will cater to archers and bow hunters, offering traditional archery equipment.  “We have more than 300 items in the store, not including bows,” said Stewart, “everything an archer needs from strings, arrows, quivers to supplies to build your own materials.” 

In addition, Allegheny Archers will offer classes in shooting and arrow and bow making.  They will hold year-round shooting leagues, and children as young as four years old can begin the sport.

“There is no finer thing than to be in the woods in Pennsylvania with your bow,” said White.  For those who prefer the indoors, Allegheny Archers has indoor ranges too.  The paper target range is 20 yards, while the 3D range is up to 30 yards and consists of different animals in natural settings. 

While archery can provide exercise, it can also be a way to reduce stress.  “I enjoy the absolute solitude.  It’s a great way to relax,” said White. 

Allegheny Archers will host a grand opening on January 20 from noon until 8 p.m.  “The love I have for bows and the mystique of traditional archery is absolutely incredible,” Stewart said.  To join in on this beloved, traditional sport, visit Allegheny Archers, L.L.C. at their store or website at www.all-archers.com.  You may also contact them by phone at: 724-586-2108 or by email at:  alleghenyarchers@all.archers.com.

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