HEADLINING - Hempfield Township
Transcription
HEADLINING - Hempfield Township
HEADLINING Winter 2016 COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER FOR HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP AND HEMPFIELD AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT Table of Contents Hempfield Township Parks & Recreation....................................................3 Hempfield Township Athletic Complex ........................................................3 Registration ................................................................................................5 Discounted Tickets ....................................................................................5 Aquatic Programs........................................................................................6 Preschool Programs....................................................................................6 Youth & Teen Programs ..............................................................................7 Adult & Senior Programs ............................................................................8 Community Connection Programs ..............................................................9 Trips & Excursions ......................................................................................9 Fitness & Wellness Programs ..................................................................10 Hempfield Recreation Sports ..................................................................12 “Egg”-Stravaganza ..................................................................................13 Summer Day Camp ..................................................................................13 Date With Daddy Dance............................................................................13 John Silvis, Jerry Fagert, Doug Weimer, Tom Logan & Sherry Magretti Hamilton 2016 Hempfield Area School District Message From Dr. Barbara J. Marin, Superintendent ..............................24 Welcome New School Board Members ....................................................15 High School ..............................................................................................16 Middle School............................................................................................19 Elementary Schools ..................................................................................22 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Chairperson R. Douglas Weimer 724-834-7232 Ext 118 [email protected] Vice-Chairperson Sherry Magretti Hamilton 724-834-7232 Ext 115 [email protected] Messages From The Board of Supervisors ..................................................24 Tax Information ..............................................................................................27 Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library..............................................................28 Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling ....................................................29 Volunteer Fire Departments ..........................................................................30 Hempfield Emergency Management Information ..........................................31 Treasurer Tom Logan 724-834-7232 Ext 117 [email protected] Assistant Treasurer John Silvis 724-834-7232 Ext 114 [email protected] Assistant Secretary Jerry Fagert 724-834-7232 Ext 116 [email protected] Township Manager Andrew Walz 724-834-7232 Ext 141 [email protected] Assistant Township Manager Bruce Beitel 724-834-7232 Ext 127 [email protected] Director of Parks & Recreation Jason Winters 724-834-7232 Ext 124 [email protected] Director of Public Works Doug Cisco 724-834-7232 Ext 110 [email protected] Township of Hempfield Greensburg-Hempfield Business Park 1132 Woodward Drive n Greensburg, PA 15601-9310 724-834-7232 n 724-834-5510 (Fax) Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 4:30 pm Code Enforcement l Parks & Recreation Public Safety l Public Works Production by Apollo Design Group Editing/Copywriting Assistance .......................... Pam Naggy ..........................................................................Angela Gartner Design/Layout .................................................. Michael Swan 2 Hempfield Township Parks & Recreation Help Us Keep Our Parks Great For Kids Hempfield Township Athletic Complex Located at Hempfield Park 220 Forbes Trail Road, Greensburg, PA 15601 (And Adults Too!) We invite you to visit one of Hempfield Township’s premier facilities featuring a 1/10th of a mile indoor walking track, three multi-purpose athletic playing fields, concession stand, and lobby area. www.hempfield parksfund.com Check our website for project updates and to make donations to the fund. n Membership Cards: Anyone attending HTAC to use the walking track, open court, participating in Adult Pick-up Sports, or Exercise Classes MUST have a HTAC Membership Card to enter. Cards are available at the complex during business hours and are free to residents or a one-time $10.00 fee for non-residents. n Hours of Operation: Park Office - Field and Building Rentals • Monday through Friday, 7:30 am – 4:30 pm Closed: January 1, March 25 and March 27 Winter Hours (November through March): • Monday through Saturday, 8:00 am – 10:00 pm • Sunday, 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm Summer Hours (April through October): • Monday through Saturday, 8:00 am – 8:00 pm • Sunday, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm HTAC Modified Hours: January 1 (closed), and March 27 (closed) n Rental Options: • Open Court Time - $2.00 per entry --- Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm - For all other times, check our website, follow us on Twitter, or call for schedule. • Full Court Hourly Rentals: - $40.00 per hour per court Monday through Friday - $45.00 per hour per court Saturday and Sunday • Birthday Parties - $100.00 up to 20 children - Includes use of one full size court, variety of sports equipment, and lobby area for 2 hours. Catering and decorations not provided. • Full building rentals are available, please contact us for more information n Exercise Classes & Adult Pick-Up Sports • See Wellness & Fitness Programs on page 14 for more details about the programs Hempfield Township has established a fund with the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County to support our township parks. Your charitable donation will contribute to the maintenance and expansion of Hempfield and Swede Hill Parks. By donating now, your contribution will also help us expand the programs offered to the children of Hempfield Township. ere are two easy ways to donate: n is link, pittsburghfoundation.org/give_a_donation, will direct you to the Community Foundation’s online donation center. Once there fill in your information and in the “Name of Fund” section type Hempfield Parks. n Make a check payable to the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County and in the memo line write: Hempfield Parks. Mail checks to: Community Foundation of Westmoreland County 951 Old Salem Road Greensburg, PA 15601 ank you for your suo For more information or questions, please contact us at 724-219-3963. 3 Resident Registration – Monday, January 4, 2016 Non-Resident Registration – Monday, January 11, 2016 2016 Hempfield Township Pavilion & Field Rentals Hempfield Township Parks & Recreation facilities and parks rental requests for all pavilions and fields at Hempfield Park and Swede Hill Park are as follows: • Field Rentals: • Pavilion Rentals: Residents: For April – July: Monday, January 4, 2016 Monday, March 21, 2016 Non-Residents: For August – October: Monday, January 11, 2016 Monday, July 18, 2016 Hempfield Parks & Recreation Facility Rental Guide Update From Advanced Disposal Effective January 1, 2016 the following changes will take effect regarding waste hauling and recycling in Hempfield Township. ACCEPTABLE HHW WASTES Pesticides & Insect Sprays Herbicides Rust Removers Swimming Pool Chemicals Wood Preservatives Used Oil Filters Vehicle Batteries Household Fluorescent Tubes Chlorine Bleach Drain Openers Corrosive Chemicals (Non-commercial) Lye Driveway Sealer (less than 5 Gals.) Hobby Chemicals Lubricants (Motor Oil, Transmission Fluid) Paint Products (Oil, Latex, Stripper) Paint Thinners Automotive Cleaners (Waxes, Polishes) Gasoline (less than 5 Gals.) Automotive Chemicals (Antifreeze, Brake Fluid) (less than 5 Gals.) Consumer Electronics WEEKLY RECYCLING Recycling will now be collected weekly on the same day as your regular collection. LEAF COLLECTION Leaf collection dates will be expanded to twelve (12) Saturdays per year. For 2016 those dates will be: • March 19th and 26th • November 5th, 12th, and 19th • April 2nd and 9th • December 3rd and 10th • October 8th, 15th, and 29th SENIOR CITIZEN STICKER PROGRAM Senior citizen stickers will no longer be sold at the Township Building. These may now be purchased by contacting Advanced Disposal directly at 1-800-437-1759 or by visiting www.advanceddisposal.com. ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING Electronic wastes will be collected at Door from each resident who requests this service. This service is NOT available for commercial establishments. Items to be collected will include the following: • Computers • Electronic appliances • VCR’s • Stereo’s • Keyboards • Florescent light bulbs • TV’s • CD/DVD Players • Auto Batteries • Monitors To schedule a pickup of the above items please call our Customer Care Center at 1-800-437-1759. Identify yourself and inform the Representative that you are from Hempfield Township PA in Westmoreland County. Give your name, address, phone number, and electronic item that we will be collecting. You will be given a day of collection for your recyclable electronic device. Please note that this date may or may not be on your regular trash collection day, as these items are collected separately. Items must be placed at curb by 4:00am the day of collection. All electronics must be placed curbside. No electronic items will be collected in alleys. UNACCEPTABLE Biological Waste Radioactive Materials including Detectors Ammunition and Explosives Commercial Chemicals Containers over 5 Gallons Materials Improperly Packaged Unlabeled and Unknown Materials Gas Cylinders Fire Extinguishers Tires Appliances Liquid Mercury All Medications To schedule a collection of these items please call our Customer Care Center at 1-800-437-1759. Identify yourself and inform the Representative that you are from Hempfield Township PA in Westmoreland County. Give your name, address, phone number and type of Household Hazardous Waste that you will be disposing of. Advanced Disposal will send to each resident a containment bag which the wastes must be placed in. If you have different wastes that could be flammable, please inform the Customer Care Representative so more than 1 bag can be shipped to your residence. You will then be scheduled a pick up day for your waste items. Please note that Household Hazardous Waste cannot be placed at the curb, but must be within 25 feet of the curb in plain sight for the collector. No items will be collected in alleys or garage areas due to the type of vehicle and materials handled. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION Household Hazardous Waste will be collected at your door from each resident who requests this service. This service is NOT available for commercial establishments. Items to be collected will include the following: Advanced Disposal looks forward to continuing to serve the residents of Hempfield Township. As always should you have any questions or concerns please contact our Customer Care Center at 1-800-437-1759. 4 Hempfield Township Parks & Recreation 3 Easy ways to register Resident Registration begins Monday, January 4 at 7:30 am Non-resident Registration begins Monday, January 11 at 7:30 am Registration for all programs is on a first-come, first serve basis. Sorry we do not take registrations over the phone or accept cash payments. Online Log on to: www.hempfieldtwp.com/parks Click on the “Register Now” icon on left side of page. The new online registration will allow you to register for a class, check facility availability, and reserve a pavilion right from your own computer. All major credit cards are accepted. JANUARY 11, 2016 Non-residents include those who live in the surrounding communities (i.e., Greensburg, Hunker, Manor, New Stanton, Youngwood) TiCkETS • For a complete list of tickets, prices and dates tickets will be sold, please check out the department’s website at www.hempfieldtwp.com/parks. • Ticket supplies are limited. No refunds or exchanges. All sales are final. • Tickets can be purchased at both the main office and the Athletic Complex during normal business hours. In Person Register at our main office or the Athletic Complex. All major credit cards are accepted. Call 724-834-7232 or visit www.hempfieldtwp.com/parks Email: [email protected] Stay Connected Visit us on Facebook for daily updates: www.facebook.com/ hempfieldtwppr JANUARY 4, 2016 Registration begins for all Winter programs and 2016 Pavilion Rentals at 7:30 am online, at the Hempfield Township Municipal Building, or Hempfield Township Athletic Complex. Pittsburgh Zoo & Seven Springs Resort Print out registration form found on our website and mail to the main office or Athletic Complex. Checks only and payable to: Hempfield Township Mail-in registrations will be held until registration date and will be processed in order that it was received. ? NON-RESIDENT REGISTRATION BEGINS DISCOUNTED Mail-In Questions RESIDENT REGISTRATION BEGINS Follow us on Twitter: @hempfieldtwppr Scan the QR to join our mailing list MARK YOUR CALENDARS Sign up at www.hempfieldtwp.com/parks to get all the latest news, events, and announcements or text STAYCONNECTED to 22828. Withdrawal & Refund Policy: If a program is canceled due to low enrollment, or for any other reason made by the Parks & Recreation department, you will be contacted and issued a full household credit or refund for the program. A participant wishing to withdraw from a program that has not been canceled by the department must provide a written request at least one week before the scheduled start of the program. If granted, the participant may receive a 100 % credit to be used by any member of the household for future use or request a refund check minus a $5.00 administrative fee per participant per program. Within the week prior to the scheduled start of a program or after a programs starts, refunds/credits will not be given except for verified medical/hardship cases and may be prorated. If a participant misses a class or practice on their own, no refunds will be issued. There is no refund for special events and trips. If there is a different refund policy for a specific event or activity, it will be listed in the program description. For a complete list of all registration policies and procedures, please check our website at www.hempfieldtwp.com/parks 5 Resident Registration – Monday, January 4, 2016 Non-Resident Registration – Monday, January 11, 2016 Aquatic Programs Preschool Programs Family Swim Cuddle and Bounce – 1 month to 1 year Must be immediate family member and reside in the same household. Location: Hempfield High School – Swimming Pool Date: Sunday January 31– April 10 No Class: March 27 Times: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Resident Fee: $50.00 per family Non-Resident Fee: $60.00 per family Limit: 14 families Cuddle and Bounce music class supports healthy brain activity as your baby is exposed to new faces, sounds, and movements. Each class will center on a theme. We’ll learn songs and finger plays, play simple instruments, group dance, and move to rhythms. Puppets, bean bags, balls, scarves, and a parachute are some of the toys we’ll use to add even more fun to our songs! Parent/guardian participation required. Age: 1 – 12 months Instructor: Connie Madarish Location: Swede Hill Park – Activity Center Date: Wednesday January 27– March 16 Time: 9:00 am – 9:45 pm Resident Fee: $50.00 Non-Resident Fee: $60.00 Limit: 12 participants Hempfield Recreation Swimming Lessons Our swim lesson program is designed for recreational swimming as part of life long safety, fitness and/or enjoyment. Certified Water Safety Instructors will work with your child to aid in progression development. Parent and Child: Parent or Guardian must participate with child under age 4. Pediatrician permission required for babies 0 – 6 months. Fun for One Preschool: Ages 4 – 5 who do not have previous instructional experience. Come and spend social and recreational time with your child. Our program Consists of movement, tumbling, interaction and playtime. Parent/guardian participation required. Age: 1 Instructor: Connie Madarish Location: Swede Hill Park – Activity Center Ages 12 – 24 months Date: Monday January 25 – March 14 Time: 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm Or Ages 12 – 18 months Date: Friday January 29 – March 18 Time: 10:00 am – 10:45 am Or Ages 18 – 24 months Date: Friday January 29 – March 18 Time: 11:00 am – 11:45 am Resident Fee: $50.00 Non-Resident Fee: $60.00 Limit: 12 participants per class Beginners: Ages 6 & up who do not have previous instructional experience. Advanced Beginners: Ages 6 -14 who have passed the previous beginners training. Age: Location: Date: Times: 6 months to 14 years old Hempfield High School – Swimming Pool Sunday January 31 – April 10 No Class: March 27 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Beginners 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Advanced Beginners 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Preschool 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm – Parent and Child Parent and Child/Preschool: Resident Fee: $65.00 Non-Resident Fee: $75.00 Beginners /Advanced Beginners: Resident Fee: $75.00 Non-Resident Fee: $85.00 Limit: 20 participants per class Music Makers Music classes can increase your child’s vocabulary, develop math and reasoning skills, and encourage creativity. During Music Makers class, the children will copy rhythms, follow tempos, and match pitches. We’ll play simple instruments, learn songs, dance, sing, and even use items we find around the house to make music. Each class will center around a different theme. Get ready to explore all types of music from classical to country. Age: 1–3 Instructor: Connie Madarish Location: Swede Hill Park – Activity Center Date: Monday January 25 – March 14 Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am Resident Fee: $50.00 Non-Resident Fee: $60.00 Limit: 12 participants 6 Hempfield Township Parks & Recreation Play Pals Tiny Tap & Ballet Activities include fine and gross motor skills, art, music, singing, finger play, spatial awareness and story time. Parent/Guardian participation required. Age: 2–3 Instructor: Connie Madarish Location: Swede Hill Park – Activity Center Date: Thursday January 28 – March 17 Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Resident Fee: $50.00 Non-Resident Fee: $60.00 Limit: 12 participants An introduction to tap and ballet. Your child will learn positions and movement to music. Tap and ballet shoes not necessary. Must wear leotard/loose fitting clothes. Age: 4–7 Instructor: Leyna Wright, Twinkle Toes & Taps Entertainment Location: Hempfield Township Municipal Building Supervisors Meeting Room Date: Thursday February 25 – April 14 Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Resident Fee: $40.00 Non-Resident Fee: $50.00 Limit: 16 participants Pre-School Karate – Presented by Professional Karate Schools of America (PKSA) Pre-School Karate is a program that will increase your child’s confidence, strength, flexibility and overall physical fitness. Along with the basics, children will be introduced to stranger awareness issues and basic selfdefense techniques. This class will also focus on demonstrating respect for oneself and others. Age: 4–5 Instructor: PKSA Karate Location: Hempfield Township Athletic Complex Date: Tuesday February 2 – March 8 Time: 10:00 am – 10:30 am Resident Fee: $35.00 Non-Resident Fee: $45.00 Limit: 16 participants Youth & Teen Programs Intro to Dance Love to dance??? Come join the fun! In this class you will learn tap, ballet, jazz and musical theatre moves all in 8 weeks with a recital as our last class. From toe taps to time steps, passé to pirouettes and jazz hands galore, this class will definitely have you moving to the groove! Tap and ballet shoes are encouraged but not necessary. Please wear loose fitting clothing or a dance leotard. Age: 7-10 Instructor: Leyna Wright, Twinkle Toes & Taps Entertainment Location: Hempfield Township Municipal Building Supervisors Meeting Room Date: Thursday February 25 – April 14 Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Resident Fee: $45.00 Non-Resident Fee: $55.00 Limit: 16 participants Super Scientists Want to be the next Albert Einstein? Come join Professor Connie for fun scientific experiments. Each week kids will do experiments and have an introduction to different scientific concepts. Age: 4–5 Instructor: Connie Madarish Location: Swede Hill Park – Activity Center Date: Tuesday January 26 – March 15 Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Resident Fee: $50.00 Non-Resident Fee: $60.00 Limit: 12 participants Karate Kids Develop coordination and discipline while learning the art of self-defense. Age: 6 – 16 Instructor: Master Tim Copper, TC Taekwondo Academy Location: Hempfield Township Athletic Complex Date: Wednesday March 9 – April 27 Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Resident Fee: $45.00 Non-Resident Fee: $55.00 Limit: 16 participants Terrific Two’s & Three’s This toddler play group includes various activities such as games, music, crafts, movement and storytelling for fun and interaction. Parent/Guardian participation required. Age: 2–3 Instructor: Connie Madarish Location: Swede Hill Park – Activity Center Date: Monday January 25 – March 14 Or Wednesday January 27 – March 16 Time: 10:15 am – 11:15 am Resident Fee: $50.00 Non-Resident Fee: $60.00 Limit: 12 participants per class 3 Easy Ways To Register For Programs See page 5 for details 7 Resident Registration – Monday, January 4, 2016 Non-Resident Registration – Monday, January 11, 2016 Kids Day Out Volleyball Basics No need to worry about finding childcare for the few days school is closed. The same great program we offer in the summer is now available on no school days! The day will be filled with music, sports, arts, & crafts and of course, your friends. Full day campers bring a lunch or purchase a lunch in advance from our concession for $3.00. Option 1 – Pizza, fruit cup, cookie, choice of juice box or water Option 2 – Hot Dog, fruit cup, cookie, choice of juice box or water Age: Age 5 - 11 Location: Hempfield Township Athletic Complex Date: Monday, January 18 Friday, January 22 Monday, February 15 Thursday, March 24 Friday, March 25 Monday, March 28 Friday, June 3 Camp will not be held if any of the above dates are used as make-up dates for snow days. Basic Skill Introduction: Underhand and Overhead Serves, Overhead Passing, Setting, Forearm Passing, and Spiking. For girls and boys who may wish to get involved in the middle school program. Age: 8 – 14 Instructor: Sheron Watson Location: West Hempfield Middle School Gymnasium Date: Wednesday February 3 – March 23 Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Resident Fee: $45.00 Non-Resident Fee: $55.00 Limit: 20 participants Adult & Senior Programs Time: Full day: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Resident Fee: $20.00 per day Non-Resident Fee: $30.00 per day Or Time: Half Day: 8:00 am – 11:30 am or 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm Resident Fee: $15.00 per day Non-Resident Fee: $25.00 per day Additional Child/Children – ½ off regular fee Getting Paid to Talk Getting Paid to Talk is a 2 ½ hour class designed as an upbeat and realistic assessment of the voice over industry designed specifically for adults. A great class for anyone who has been told they have a good voice; those who use their voices prominently in their occupations; people with musical or theatre background; or anyone who is interested in how voice-overs work and how people get started. Age: 18 & over Location: Hempfield Township Municipal Building Supervisors Meeting Room Date: Wednesday, March 9 Time: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Resident Fee: $25.00 Non Resident Fee: $35.00 Limit: 16 participants Learn to Speak Spanish for Kids This Spanish language course for children is a fun, engaging and interacting class to build and promote second language acquisition. This course is designed for the beginner student with no minimal experience of the Spanish language. Age: 6 – 10 Instructor: Amanda Aguilera Location: Hempfield Township Municipal Building – Supervisors Meeting Room Date: Tuesday, February 16 – April 9 No Class: March 8 & April 12 Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Resident Fee: $55.00 Non-Resident Fee: $65.00 Additional $12.00 book fee payable to instructor at first class Limit: 20 participants Hempfield Community CPR & First Aid Certification Join our friends at Mutual Aid as we offer CPR & First Aid Certification courses. The certification will be a classroom style, video-based, instructor-led course that teaches adult CPR and AED use, as well as how to relieve choking on an adult. This course teaches skills with AHA’S research-proven Practice While-Watching (PWW) technique, which allows instructors to observe the students, provide feedback and guide the students’ learning of skills. Age: 18 & up Location: Hempfield Township Municipal Building Supervisors Meeting Room Instructor: Mutual Aid Ambulance Service Date: Saturday, March 5 Time: 8:30 am – 2:30 pm Resident Fee: $15.00 Non Resident Fee: $25.00 U5/U6 & U8 Indoor Soccer Clinic Winter Indoor Soccer Clinic for U5/U6 andU8’s. Sessions will be instructional in nature and will focus on small-sided games and drills to help develop proper dribbling, passing, and shooting techniques, which will lead up to game action in later sessions. Great for those who have already participated in our in-house soccer program and for those interested in playing soccer for the first time. All players should bring an appropriate size ball along with indoor soccer shoes/tennis shoes and wear shin guards. Age: 4-7 Instructor: TJ Black Location: Hempfield Township Athletic Complex Date: Thursday, January 21 – March 10 Time: U5/U6: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm U8: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Resident Fee: $35.00 Non-Resident Fee: $45.00 8 Hempfield Township Parks & Recreation Travel Lunch Bunch – Senior Program – 55+ Community Connection Programs Bring friends, meet friends, and make friends! You will never eat alone or worry about traffic with this fun senior social group! Adults 55 and up may join us each month as we travel out of town to a great restaurant. This section of programs has been established to offer Hempfield Township residents informational sessions and one-time instructional classes. Community Connection Programs are always free to Hempfield Township residents and $10.00 to Non-Residents. Pre-registration is required for all programs. March Lunch – Hoffstots Café Monaco and Oakmont Bakery Holidays are over and it’s time to get out and enjoy a lunch at this family operated restaurant. Choose from soup and salads to classic sandwiches. Signature sandwiches such as a Pittsburgh Crab Cake or a Turkey Stack. Try an Italian Entree, Pasta Pistachio or Eggplant Parmigiana. After lunch, we will stop next door at the famous Oakmont Bakery. All attendees will order off the menu and pay on their own. Price includes transportation only. Date: Wednesday, March 16 Time: 10:30 am Returns at approximately 2:30 pm Resident Fee: $15.00 Non-Resident Fee: $20.00 Limit: 20 participants Getting Started with your iPad If you are new to Apple and want to learn the basics of using your iPad, this class is perfect for you. Learn how to simply navigate through and customize your iPad applications. Please bring your Apple ID & Password. The class is intended for those with an iPad 2 and above and using the newest operating system. Wireless internet will be provided. Location: Hempfield Township Municipal Building Supervisor Meeting Room Date: Wednesday, February 17 Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Getting Started with your iPhone If you are new to Apple and want to learn the basics of using your iPhone, this class is perfect for you. Learn how to simply navigate through and customize you iPhone applications. Please bring your Apple ID & Password. Wireless internet will be provided. Location: Hempfield Township Municipal Building Supervisors Meeting Room Date: Tuesday, March 8 Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am April Lunch – Sharp Edge Emporium and Bakery Square Enjoy an American lunch with a European Flair. Belgian Burgers to Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad. Order a Fish Sandwich or try the Mussels’ from Brussels. Whatever you order, guaranteed you’re going to love it. After lunch, we will head over to Bakery Square. Once the home to the Nabisco cracker baking factory, we will explore retailers such as West Elm which offers a huge selection of modern furniture, home accessories & kitchen items, or relax with a drink from Coffee Tree Roasters. All attendees will order off the menu and pay on their own. Price includes transportation only. Date: Wednesday, April 13 Time: 10:30 am Returns at approximately 4:00 pm Resident Fee: $15.00 Non-Resident Fee: $20.00 Limit: 20 participants Understanding Medicare Turning 65 soon? Attend an educational seminar and understand your Medicare options. This seminar will help you answer the question: What is Medicare? – Know when to enroll into Medicare – Recognize the different parts of Medicare – Understand the two major Medicare healthcare coverage options: Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage Plans – Understand how prescription drug coverage interact with your Medicare plan choices. All attendees will receive a free booklet and there will be time for questions and answers. Location: Hempfield Township Municipal Building Supervisors Meeting Room Date: Wednesday, January 27, February 24, March 30, April 27, or May 25 Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm May Lunch – Spaghetti Warehouse and The Pittsburgh Public Market Hungry for pasta? The Incredible 15-Layer Lasagna or Chicken Parmigiana will take care of that! Or dine on Original Recipe of Spaghetti & Meatballs. After lunch, we will visit The Pittsburgh Public Market. This is the home for local, fresh, independent businesses. Check out the merchant schedule at www.pittsburghpublicmarket.org All attendees will order off the menu and pay on their own. Price includes transportation only. Date: Wednesday, May 18 Time: 10:30 am Returns at approximately 4:00 pm Resident Fee: $15.00 Non-Resident Fee: $20.00 Limit: 20 participants Trips & Excursions Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers See the Penguins in action at CONSOL Energy Center as they take on the New York Rangers! Sign up early as the seats are guaranteed to go quickly! Price includes game ticket and bus transportation. Age: All individuals under 18 must be accompanied by an adult Date: Wednesday, February 10 Time: Bus departs at 6:00 pm from parking lot behind Petsmart in Hempfield Square Plaza and returns immediately following the game Resident Fee: $90.00 Non-Resident Fee: $100.00 Deadline to Register: Friday, February 5 or until filled Limit: 20 participants Register early! Registration ends the Friday prior to all Wednesday luncheons. Bus departs at time indicated above from parking lot behind Petsmart in Hempfield Square. 9 Resident Registration – Monday, January 4, 2016 Non-Resident Registration – Monday, January 11, 2016 Monster Jam The 2016 touring season brings more Monster Jam excitement with these colorful, larger than life beasts. Twelve feet tall, ten thousand pound machines, will bring you to your feet, racing and ripping up a custom designed track full of obstacles to soar over and smash through. Set to invade CONSOL Energy Center, Monster Jam electrifies crowds with breathtaking stunts. As professional drivers showcase all of the best tricks that these monster trucks can do; audiences are sure to be delighted by all of the additional special effects and tricks that help bring this show to life. Price includes transportation & show ticket. Age: All individuals under 18 must be accompanied by an adult Date: Saturday, February 13 Time: Bus departs at 12:00 pm from parking lot behind Petsmart in Hempfield Square Plaza and returns immediately following show Resident Fee: $50.00 Non-Resident Fee: $60.00 Deadline to Register: Friday, February 5 or until filled Limit: 20 participants Fitness & Wellness Programs Adult Co-Ed Basketball Do you want to play basketball in a non-competitive team atmosphere? Join us for adult pick-up basketball. All you have to do is show up each week and pay $2.00 with your HTAC membership card. No extended commitments are necessary. Age: 18 & Up Location: Hempfield Township Athletic Complex Date: Thursday January 7 – May 26 Time: 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm (January 7 – March 31) 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (April 7 – May 26) Fee: $2.00 per night, pay at front desk Disney on Ice Adult Co-Ed Soccer Enter a fantastical winter wonderland beyond imagination. Be magically whisked away to wintry Arendelle by dazzling special effects and astonishing skating as you sing and dance along to inspiring songs including “Let It Go.” Join royal sisters Anna and Elsa, the hilarious snowman Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven as they journey to discover that true love is the most magical power of all! This unforgettable celebration of love and friendship will leave your family with memories to last a lifetime. Price includes bus transportation and show ticket. Age: All individuals under 18 must be accompanied by an adult Date: Saturday, March 12 Time: Bus departs at 9:00 am from parking lot behind Petsmart in Hempfield Square Plaza and returns immediately following show Resident Fee: $60.00 Non-Resident Fee: $70.00 Deadline to Register: Friday, March 4 or until filled Limit: 22 participants Do you want to play soccer in a non-competitive team atmosphere? Join us for adult pick-up soccer. All you have to do is show up each week and pay $2.00 with your HTAC membership card. No extended commitments are necessary Age: 18 & Up Location: Hempfield Township Athletic Complex Date: Tuesday January 5 – March 29 Time: 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Fee: $2.00 per night, pay at front desk Adult Co-Ed Volleyball Pick-up games for fun and exercise and are non-competitive. Age: 18 & Up Location: Fort Allen Elementary School Gymnasium Date: Thursday January 21 – May 26 Time: 6:15 pm – 9:15 pm Resident Fee: $20.00 Non-Resident Fee: $30.00 Limit: 20 participants Baltimore Inner Harbor Plan to join us for a visit to one of America’s oldest seaports and most popular tourist destinations. Spend the afternoon enjoying fresh seafood right out of the Chesapeake Bay. Explore the gallerias of unique shops, museums, national landmarks, or take a boat ride on the harbor. We will stop in Breezewood for a brief rest stop. Price includes transportation only. All individuals under 18 must be accompanied by an adult Age: Date: Saturday, May 21 Time: Bus departs at 7:30 am from parking lot behind Petsmart in Hempfield Square Plaza and returns at approximately at 11:30 pm Resident Fee: $60.00 Non-Resident Fee: $70.00 Deadline to Register: Friday, May 20 or until filled Limit: 45 participants Mobile F.I.T.T. Mobile F.I.T.T.’s group classes are conducted as a 1 hour, total body, circuit style training program that helps you boost your metabolism, burn fat and build muscle. Designed to accommodate all different fitness levels, from beginner to advanced. This is an excellent way to workout in larger groups of family, friends and/or co-workers. Age: 18 & up Instructor: Jacob Hapchuk Location: Hempfield Township Athletic Complex Date: Session 1: Monday or Wednesday March 7 – April 13 Session 2: Monday or Wednesday April 18 – May 25 Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Resident Fee: $60.00 per session Non-Resident Fee: $70.00 per session 10 Hempfield Township Parks & Recreation Pickleball at the Complex Zumba at the Athletic Complex Pickleball is a paddle sport for all ages and skill level. Players use a pickleball paddle (similar to a ping-pong paddle) to hit a pickleball (similar to a wiffleball). The game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a fast - paced and competitive game for experienced players. All you have to do is show up each week and pay $2.00 with your HTAC membership card. No extended commitments are necessary. Age: 18 & Up Location: Hempfield Township Athletic Complex Date: Tuesday January 5 – April 26 Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Or Date: Tuesday January 5 – March 29 Time: 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Fee: $2.00 per visit, pay at front desk Looking for a fun party atmosphere with a great workout? Come and try our Zumba fitness classes. Move and groove to your favorite tunes with easy to follow moves to get your heart pumping with this full body workout. Once you try our classes you won’t want to miss a single one! No contract required! No long term commitment! Pick the day and time that’s convenient for you! HTAC Membership Card required. Age: 18 & up Location: Hempfield Township Athletic Complex Date: Tuesday or Thursday Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Fee: $6.00 per class or Blocks available for $25.00 for 5 classes or $50.00 for 10 classes SEASONAL POSITIONS AVAILABLE Yoga Yoga is a completely systematized, yet simple, science of physical conditioning for more healthful living. The stretches and postures practiced in yoga are a natural way to reduce stress and tension, and gain strength and flexibility. Age: 18 & up Instructor: Penne Steiger Location: Hempfield Township Municipal Building, Supervisors Meeting Room Date: Monday February 1 – April 4 No class: February 22 & March 21 Time: 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm Resident Fee: $45.00 Non-Resident Fee: $55.00 Limit: 25 participants Throughout the year, Hempfield Township Parks & Recreation seeks individuals to fill part-time/seasonal positions. Please check the Employment page on the Hempfield Township website (www.hempfieldtwp.org) for current positions available and more details on each position. Aquatics Coordinator *10 weeks on Sunday afternoons Aquatics Instructor (Seasonal) *10 weeks on Sunday afternoons Aquatics Lifeguard (Seasonal) *10 weeks on Sunday afternoons Assistant to the Director – Community Days/Summer Intern (May – September) HTAC Facility Assistant (November – April) HTAC Facility Attendant (year-round) Park Attendant (April – October) Park Maintenance Assistants (April – October) Summer Day Camp Coordinator (June –August) Congratulations to Hempfield Township Parks & Recreation on receiving a UPS/KAB Community Tree Planting Grant *Planning hours available starting as early as January Summer Day Camp Counselors (June –August) For more information on the above positions, including application deadlines, please check out our website. Applications are available at the Main Office located at the Hempfield Township Municipal Building, the Park Office located at the Hempfield Township Park & Athletic Complex, or online. The grant was made possible through Keep America Beautiful and The UPS Foundation with the assistance of Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling. The grant will be used as a community tree planting project at Hempfield Park Prep Course for Newly Revised SAT - 2016 Hempfield Area High School Library Winter: Jan. 25, 26, 28, Feb. 1 & 2 3:00 PM5:30 PM Spring: April 18, 19, 21, 25 & 26 Instructed by Martin Grbach (Reading) and James Nescot (Math) Over 35 years each in education with SAT/ACT Prep Experience $239 for 12 hours of instruction (Open to students from any school) To register call 724.219.7363 or email [email protected] 11 Resident Registration – Monday, January 4, 2016 Non-Resident Registration – Monday, January 11, 2016 Hempfield Recreation Sports Brought to you by Dick’s Sporting Goods Soccer Stars for Special Needs Participants Recreation Spring Soccer for Boys and Girls ages 4 to 9 Outreach program for physically or mentally disabled participants. Learn basic skill and team concepts. Participants are placed on different teams each week for small sided games. Location: Hempfield Park Soccer Fields Date: Friday, April 8 – Friday, May 27 Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Resident Fee: $20.00 Non-Resident Fee: $30.00 The Hempfield Recreation Soccer league is intended for those boys and girls ages 4 – 9. It provides the children the opportunity to learn soccer and play at a recreation level. Under 5 (Age 4) Under 6 (Kindergarten) Under 8 (Grades 1 & 2) Under 10 (Grades 3 & 4) Residents: $35.00 Residents: $35.00 Residents: $55.00 Residents: $55.00 Non-Residents: $45.00 Non-Residents: $45.00 Non-Residents: $65.00 Non-Residents: $65.00 VOLUNTEER COACHES NEEDED We are looking for energetic and enthusiastic volunteer coaches who are interested in teaching youth sports. Our program goal is to create a positive environment that promotes self-confidence and self-esteem through the experiences we provide. The program is dedicated to providing all youth with the highest quality of recreation and educational experiences. Uniforms are included and will be given to all participants. All games and practices will be played at Hempfield Park. Registration deadline – Friday, March 18, 2016. Games will be every Saturday morning from April 9, 2016 to May 28, 2016. Additional practices will only be scheduled for U8 & U10 and will be on Wednesday evenings starting Wednesday, March 30, 2016. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, please complete a volunteer application at www.hempfieldtwp.com/parks. All volunteers must obtain all clearances in accordance with Act 153. For more information on needed clearances and how to obtain them, please check out the Ways to Get Involved section of our website. For a complete list of specific dates, times and an overview of the schedule, please check out the website: www.hempfieldtwp.com/parks. If adult coaches are not obtained in a specific age group, teams will be combined or possibly eliminated. Westmoreland County Parks & Recreation Alliance Women’s Softball League Hempfield Indoor Soccer The Hempfield Indoor Soccer League sponsored by Hempfield Recreation Sports is open to any and all teams that would like to participate in a fun and competitive atmosphere. The Indoor League will use Futsal balls and will be played on an indoor surface. Each team will play a 6 game schedule with the top four teams making a single elimination playoff. With all the players on the top two teams receiving a Championship or Runner-up t-shirt. All games will be played at the Hempfield Township Athletic Complex. Ages: U-10 (co-ed), U-12, U-14, High School, and Adult Divisions: Boys and Girls: Min: 4 teams Max: 8 teams Teams: Min: 5 players Max: 12 players Fee: $200.00 per team. Each team will be responsible for paying one certified referee per regular season game. The referees will be assigned by the league. Interested in playing adult women’s slow pitch softball? The Westmoreland County Parks & Recreation Alliance is sponsoring a women’s league that is opened to residents of Westmoreland County. Registration is done by player and a team can be requested. Practices will begin in May and a 15 game season will be played in June & July on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 6:45 pm. Fee includes: uniform shirt, field usage, ASA umpires and game balls. The season will end with a tournament. Deadline to register – Friday, April 29. Ages: 18 & up Location: Hempfield Park & Swede Hill Park Date: Monday & Wednesday Practices – middle to late May Games – June & July Time: 6:45 pm Fee: $50.00 per player The second session begins the weekend of January 8, 2016. Registration is currently opened and will be open until Friday, January 1, 2016 or until filled. For a complete list of specific dates, times and an overview of the schedule, please check out the website: www.hempfieldtwp.com/parks. 12 Hempfield Township Parks & Recreation THANK YOU TO OUR FALL 2015 RECREATION SOCCER SPONSORS: n Avolio Law Group n Commissioner Ted Kopas n First Commonwealth Bank n Hefren-Tillotson, Inc. – Matthew Snider, Financial Advisor Hempfield Township Parks & Recreation n Law Office of Debra L. Henry n Med Express Urgent Care n S&T Bank n Timeless Event Photography INTERESTED IN BEING A TEAM SPONSOR – Hempfield Recreation Sports are always looking for those businesses, organizations, or individuals that want to sponsor a youth sports team. Each sponsorship includes your name on the back of a team’s uniform along with recognition in Headlining Hempfield and signage at the park. Each sponsor also receives a team shirt and plaque with team picture. For more information on sponsoring a team, please go to our Recreation Sports section of our website at www.hempfieldtwp.com/parks. For Kids Ages 5 – 12 Hempfield Park – June 13 to August 19 Full Program Registration - $850.00 or Weekly Registration for $100.00 per week Early Drop-off or Late Pick-up also available New this year: All campers will receive a t-shirt, weekly field trips, and new partial week registration More detailed information will be available in the Summer Headlining Hempfield, including prices, specific themes, and field trip location 12th Annual Saturday, March 19 9:00 am - 11:00 am Egg Hunt at 10:00 am l Hempfield Park – Pavilion D l Games, Egg Hunt, Prizes, and Appearance by the Easter Bunny l Free to all Township residents. Registration required Date With Daddy Dance All will dine in elegance while enjoying a sit down dinner, then dancing with fabulous music by DJ Rockin John. Time passes too quickly, so prepare to wear your fanciest outfits and brightest smiles. If inclement weather, event will be held in Athletic Complex Sign-up early as space is limited. Dress is semi-formal and a photographer will be on hand to take pictures. Ages: Location: 4 – 10 Lakeview Route 30 Date: Friday, April 8, 2016 Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Resident Fee: Adult: $40.00 and Child: $35.00 Non-Resident Fee: Adult: $50.00 and Child: $45.00 13 Hempfield Area School District Message from Dr. Barbara J. Marin, Superintendent Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Members, When waiting at the bus stop in winter weather, please remind your child to stay back as far as possible from the road, especially if there are slippery conditions caused by ice or a recent snowfall. This is also a reminder that the children should be waiting at their bus stop approximately five minutes prior to their assigned pick-up time. Bus drivers have reported that as they are pulling away, they have seen children running after the bus. This creates a safety concern for the students and delays the route, since the driver needs to pull over to wait for the late students to board the bus. Your child’s safety is of utmost importance to us, and we appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that your children arrive at the bus stop on time and board the bus in a safe manner. We hope you enjoy the winter edition of Headlining Hempfield. It spotlights a wide range of activities that have occurred throughout the first four months of the 2015-2016 school year. The cover of this issue is dedicated to the men and women who bravely served our country. All elementary and secondary schools honored local veterans for their service and sacrifice on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2015. Students performed vocal, instrumental, and literary tributes and select veterans served as guest speakers, recalling memories of their military experiences. Each branch of the military was honored and the veterans stood proudly as the songs for the Airforce, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy were spotlighted. The programs concluded with the playing of Taps. Some of the schools held breakfasts, luncheons, and receptions attended by the veterans and their families. In the elementary schools, the veterans accompanied their children and grandchildren into their classrooms, where the students could ask them questions about their service to the United States. Hundreds of veterans were present throughout the district to commemorate this special day. Staff and Students Across the District Focus on Safety Hempfield Area School District has continued a rigorous emphasis on safety with both the staff and students. The faculty and administration of all schools participate in monthly “table top simulations” in which they discuss a variety of complex, real-world scenarios that could possibly happen and work together to brainstorm solutions on how to deal with these situations. These discussions prepare staff to handle possible safety or security issues that may arise. Additionally, each school conducts monthly drills that include challenging staff and students to think and respond to variables that could alter their regular evacuation procedures. During the course of the year, they practice fire drills, lock down drills, sheltering in place drills, and severe weather scenarios. We strongly believe in being proactive to better prepare our staff and students if the need arises to respond to an emergency. Welcome New School Board Members I would like to extend heartfelt thanks to outgoing board members Michael Kusma (4 years), Douglas Lawson (4 years), and Randy Stoner (8 years) for their dedication and commitment on the board. These three individuals did not seek re-election. There is no greater contribution than the decision to serve as a member of the governing body that makes the important decisions that have a profound impact upon the programs and opportunities provided to the students of our district. We thank you for your service and dedication to Hempfield. A core team of staff including our School Police Officer, Leonard Lander, John Schwartz, retired State Police, and Chris Brasco, Assistant High School Principal, attended a two day seminar in October, conducted by the ALICE Training Institute. ALICE is an acronym which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. This team participated in a “train the trainer” workshop. Plans are underway to train the rest of our staff on this proactive technique. Congratulations to our three new School Board members, Dr. Paul Adams, Tommy Bishop, and Paul Ward, along with recently re-elected members Michele Fischer and Dr. Jeanne Smith, Vice-President. All of these individuals took the oath of office, administered by the Honorable Mark Mansour, on Wednesday, December 2, 2015. They join incumbents Sonya Bradjic, President, Diane Ciabattoni, Joseph Lutz, and Robert McDonald. Our District Safety & Security Committee has continued to meet throughout the year. We are also in the process of updating all of our School Crisis Plans which will be made accessible electronically to Hempfield Emergency Management, the Department of Public Safety, and the Pennsylvania State Police. As we all prepare to celebrate this holiday season, I hope all of you enjoy quality time with your family and friends and take the time to enjoy all of the excitement and wonder of this beautiful time of year. School Delays, Closings, and School Bus Safety With the winter weather upon us, please be aware that all school closings and delays will be communicated as early in advance as possible via Skylerts and posted on WTAE, KDKA, and WPXI, as well as the district website at www.hasdpa.net . Please be sure that you update your contact information in Skyward if you have had any changes to your email or phone number, so that you do not miss important messages. Sincerely, Barbara J. Marin, Ed. D. The decision on whether to close or delay school is made by the superintendent after consultation with the Hempfield Township Department of Public Works, First Student Transportation, and the Hempfield Area School District Department of Building and Grounds. We try to announce delays or closings as far in advance as possible, however, the timing of the inclement weather is often a determining factor on how early the decision is made. Hempfield Area School District Superintendent of Schools TITLE IX/SECTION 504 STATEMENT The Hempfield Area School District is an equal opportunity educational institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or handicap/disability in its activities, educational programs or employment practices as required by Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504. Publication of this statement is in accordance with state and federal laws including Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures or inquiries regarding compliance with Title IX or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 may be directed to the Director of Pupil Services, Title IX Coordinator at Hempfield Area School District, 4347 Route 136, Greensburg, PA 15601 (724-850-2229). 14 Hempfield Area School District Hempfield Area School Board Members Seated left to right: Sonya L. Brajdic, President; Diane S. Ciabattoni, Board Member; Pamela A. Naggy, Secretary; Dr. Barbara J. Marin, Superintendent; Dr. Tammy S. Wolicki, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education; Dr. Jeanne S. Smith, Vice-President; Michele V. Fischer, Board Member Standing left to right: Dr. Mark A. Gross, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education; Paul J. Ward, Board Member; Robert A. McDonald, Board Member; Tommy M. Bishop, Board Member; Dr. Paul S. Adams, Board Member; Joseph M. Lutz, Board Member; Robert Reger, Director of Human Resources; Wayne J. Wismar, Business Manager; Dennis Slyman, Solicitor New Suicide Policy and Training In June 2014, Act 71 (Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Act) was signed into law in Pennsylvania. This law specifically requires public schools to: (1) adopt a youth suicide awareness and prevention policy; and (2) provide ongoing professional development in youth suicide awareness and prevention for professional educators in all buildings serving students in grades six through twelve. In July of 2015, the Hempfield Area School District Board of Directors approved Policy #819: Suicide Awareness, Prevention, and Response. In August, all Hempfield Area School District professional staff in the three middle schools and high school participated in training with Dr. Paula McCommons , Director of the Student at Risk (STAR) Center at Western Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC). Dr. McCommons presented an overview of the law as well as a comprehensive examination of factors and circumstances youth face leading to this unfortunate decision choice. She also discussed best practices for responses to student verbalization/ behavior and follow-up referrals to outside agencies for professional support. Administrative regulations and procedures have also been developed by a committee of personnel and are being shared with staff at building-level faculty meetings. 15 Hempfield Area School District High School Homecoming Despite the cold, rainy weather, the homecoming parade led the way for fans to file into the football stadium to enjoy the game. The students showed their enthusiasm as everyone waited with anticipation to see the crowning of the queen. At halftime, the 2015 Homecoming Queen, Bailey White, was crowned. Bailey said, “I was so honored and excited. It really caught me off guard because it could have been any one of us. We had such a great Homecoming Court. Thank you to everyone!” The following night, more than 500 students arrived at the high school dressed in sparkling gowns and good-looking suits for the homecoming dance. Half way through the evening, Joel Trentin was crowned the 2015 Homecoming King as the crowd cheered. Trentin stated, “It was definitely a surprise to hear my name called. It’s a great honor to be named king, because I know that my fellow classmates were the ones who chose me. The court was awesome as well. We all had so much fun at the dance together!” Homecoming King Court pictured left to right: Kevin Rabbits, Luke Bodner, Dylan Sikora, Joel Trentin (King), Danny Arndt, George Panagis, Jordan Higgs The 2015 Homecoming Court pictured left to right are: Fiona Rose, Queen Bailey White, Aubree Halusic, Molly Sternick, Jordan Sterling, Nicole Savage, Sydney Miller A Warm Welcome Outstanding Performance by HEP Students at the Creative Convention Competition At the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year, a new autistic support classroom was started at the high school. Being new to a school can be difficult for any student, especially someone with autism; however, the high school has given the new classroom a warm welcome. Students from Mrs. Kline’s health classes and eight “buddies” have been volunteering their time with the autistic students either through Interact Club, United Spartans, or of their own volition. They assist with art projects, class work, social skills, and just by being a friend. The students and teachers in the autistic support classroom want to thank all of these individuals for their time and friendship! Convergent and divergent thinking skills were put to the test as the Hempfield Area High School HEP students participated in a Creative Convention Competition held at Springdale High School. The theme, Shakespeare, required students to participate as teams to solve creative word problems, write a sonnet, design costumes and perform a skit. Congratulations to the Macbeth team for their overall first place finish and the Julius Caesar team for winning best costume. Julius Caesar Team National Merit Scholarship National Merit Scholarship recipients are recognized for exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the PSAT test given in their eleventh grade year. The class of 2015 students were recognized in the fall edition of Headlining Hempfield, and one student was inadvertently omitted from the list. Kevin Weldon, currently in his first year at Pitt (main campus) and majoring in Engineering and German, should have been on the list of “Commended Students.” We apologize for the oversight and congratulate Kevin on his outstanding academic performance. Macbeth Team 16 Hempfield Area School District High School Hempfield Hosts ESSPA Calcusolve Competition Hempfield students hosted the Eastern Suburbs Special Program Association (ESSPA) Calcusolve Competition in November. Seventeen teams of five students from surrounding school districts gathered to work individually on eight problems and as a team on two more complex problems. Congratulations to Molly Sternick for placing third individually, and our team of Molly Sternick, Alex Hervol, Ethan Toth, Josh Marks, and Adam Gamber for placing second overall. STEM Seminar Launches Successfully The first group of thirty high school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) students attended the first of four junior seminar sessions on October 15, 2015. Partnered with Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s representative Valerie Mercado, STEM coordinators Ashley Contristano, Lisa Blahovec, Craig Siniawski, and Doug Cook facilitated the day’s events. Students participated in problem-solving scenarios, chose STEM related careers to research, learned about social media communication, created an online profile, and connected with corporations for job shadowing. Students also participated in challenges throughout the day, and they worked effectively in small groups to collaborate and pose multiple solutions. As this first pilot group approaches their senior year, these seminar sessions will allow students to grow in their ability to approach divergent thinking and deductive reasoning skills. Overall, it was an extremely successful launch! Westmoreland County Food Bank Empty Bowl The Eighth Annual Westmoreland County “Empty Bowl” will be held at Hempfield Area High School on Sunday, March 13, 2016, from 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM in the cafeteria. Area high schools make bowls in their pottery classes to donate to the program, along with local pottery shops where you can stop by and paint a bowl that will be sold at the event. Soup is prepared by over thirty restaurants, along with bread and water, to create a meager meal. The public is invited to attend to enjoy a delicious bowl of soup, coffee, and cookies, all for only $15.00. You can also purchase tickets for the Chinese Auction and enjoy entertainment. When you leave you may take your empty bowl home as a reminder that there are people with empty bowls right here in Westmoreland County. High School Library Hosts Writing Workshops in Honor of National Novel Writing Month Throughout November, twenty high school students participated in writing workshops in honor of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Guest authors from the community participated by speaking to student writers and answering questions. Students and guest writers spent time at each session working toward a writing goal. 17 Hempfield Area School District High School Hempfield Area Project 18 Program Receives Award The Man Who Came to Dinner Hempfield Area's Project 18 Program was awarded the Ruth Stas Award for Sustainability in Civic Education by the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies (PCSS) on October 15 in Harrisburg PA. The three teachers who have taught the program since it was founded in 1974 were present, current students, and former students who went on to hold an elected office. The Hempfield Area Theatre Company, under the direction of Jim Steeley, presented The Man Who Came to Dinner in November. This entertaining play, set in the late 1930s, featured Sheridan Whiteside, played by Rylan JenkinsSnaith, who slips on the front steps of the Stanley home and finds himself confined to a wheelchair during the Christmas holidays. He and his entourage take over the house indefinitely and the result is a very funny comedy as friends of Whiteside invade the house. Cast members performed the play on the auditorium stage, which was transformed so that the members of the audience sat on chairs placed on risers that faced the actors. Attendees were up close and personal and just a few feet away from the cast throughout the performance. The award recognized the unique nature of Project 18 and its longevity. Class accomplishments such as staging candidate forums, registering voters, working on campaigns, and performing community service projects were all highlighted. Also commended was the fashion in which the class is taught by utilizing a hands-on approach with no textbook and frequent guest speakers who teach students about community and government from the school district to the state level. The success of the class is evident when you check out the local government where former students have served at all levels, including State Congressional members. Currently there are Project 18 alumni serving as County Row officers, Township Supervisors, and School Board members. The concept for the Project 18 class was instituted by the State Board of Education after the 26th Amendment granted eighteen year olds the right to vote, and it was begun in many schools across the state. Hempfield Area High School is the only school in the state where it has survived and thrived for over five decades. US Navy Band Performs at Hempfield Area High School The United States Navy Band, the Navy’s premier musical organization, will perform at Hempfield Area High School on Friday, February 26, 2016, at 7:30 PM. Recognized as "The World’s Finest," the band features some of the nation’s top musicians and performs a variety of music from classical orchestral works to original arrangements of current popular favorites, as well as traditional marches and patriotic fare. Tickets are free to the public, but you must have a ticket to attend. Individuals may place an order for up to four tickets (all seating is general admission) by returning the coupon below, along with a selfaddressed stamped envelope. For more information, contact Brian Tychinski, Hempfield Area High School Band Director, at (724) 850-2071. Pictured from left: David Trevaskis President of PCSS; Chris Walters, PCSS; Joel Trentin, Current Project 18 Vice President; Rich Redmerski, Project 18 Founder; Janie Wilcox, Project 18 President 2014-2015; Aimee Hogg, Former Project 18 Student & Teacher; Jacob Makarsky, Current Project 18 Student; Ken Stough Current Project 18 Teacher; and Amy Cheresnowsky, PCSS Student Delegate Program The Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) Student Delegate Program is a unique statewide, hands-on, civics-based educational conference that two Hempfield Area Student Council members attend annually in October. Students learn about local governance and experience the democratic process involved in operating a school board meeting. They spend time debating “hot topics” with other students from across the state. This year’s topics included School Safety, Grading, Drug & Alcohol, and Social Media. Hempfield Area attendees, Salvatore Gummo and Tate Yawitz, stated, “We thought the program created an environment where students could debate and discuss issues and topics involved with schools with students from all over the state in a respectful, yet open way. All in all, it was a great conference with great people.” Tate Yawitz (left) and Sal Gummo (center) work with students from other districts at the PSBA Conference in Harrisburg. 18 Hempfield Area School District Middle School Text-Mapping at Harrold Artin’ Spartans Raise Money for Breast Cancer Students in Mrs. Mash and Mrs. McCaffrey’s seventh grade reading classes at Harrold Middle School recently did a text-mapping project. Text-mapping is a graphic organizer technique that requires students to turn an entire text into a scroll in order to improve comprehension. This allowed students to focus on non-fiction text features as they viewed the entire text and answered questions about the article. Harrold Middle School’s Artin’ Spartans were busy in October with a breast cancer gift basket raffle and a pumpkin decorating contest which raised $221.00 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Members of the Artin’ Spartans are pictured here proudly displaying their baskets CPR: How to Save a Life! In November, all of the seventh grade students at Harrold Middle School had classes on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using an automated external defibrillator (AED), and they also learned how to help a choking victim. With the help of Mutual Aid Ambulance Service of Greensburg, one hundred fortyfive students were certified in the Heartsaver CPR Course. Excela Health also did a special presentation on the importance of getting proper care quickly to victims of heart attacks and strokes. You’ve Got a Friend Day The students in Miss Purkiss' classroom at Harrold Middle School drew pictures and wrote thank you cards to their buddies at the high school. Members of the high school's Interact Club were their “buddies” at the "You've Got A Friend Day" at Twin Lakes Park where they enjoyed walking around and engaging in all of the activities. Pictured above are Isabella Gillis and Liberty Nelson practicing with an automated external defibrillator during their CRP class Code Enforcement Associates Proudly providing Hempfield Township with building inspection services for the Uniform Construction Code. 1633 Route 51 Jefferson Hills, PA 15025 Toll Free: 1 (866) 410-4592 Local: (412) 405-8231 19 Hempfield Area School District Middle School The Herd Mentality Twenty members of the Harrold Middle School Outdoor Club spent Friday, October 2, 2015, hiking and bushwhacking through the habitat of the largest elk herd east of the Mississippi. This habitat surrounds the small town of Benezette in the aptly-named Elk County. Hunted to extinction in the late 1800s, Pennsylvania’s eastern elk were replaced by their western cousins from Montana and Wyoming in 1913. Descendants of those western animals, which now make up Pennsylvania’s growing herd, were spied by club members throughout the day. Staying Connected Not only did the students spot elk—and hear some impressive bulls bugling, they also investigated the area’s award-winning minereclamation project, examined evidence of several species of native wildlife, and even unearthed the skeletal remains of a wapiti (the Native American word for “elk”). To meet the needs of the students, the Student Assistance Program (SAP) team at West Hempfield Middle School recently held a Mental Health Awareness Week. The goal was to help students understand the importance of forming positive connections to people, activities, and agencies that will help them through the trials and tribulations that they may face in life. Mrs. Quinn Matz and Mr. Gary Gubanich, Health and Physical Education teachers, hosted guest speakers from the following groups: • Never Fear Being Different (NFBD) who expressed the importance of staying positive about being different. • National Alliance on Mental Health(NAMH) who educated the students on the importance of mental health. • Hempfield Area School Psychologist Ryan Lenz partnered with Home School Visitor Kathleen Harrison to discuss various mental health topics • Susan Harrington spoke to our students regarding positivity To end the week on a fun note, Mrs. Jennifer Busato, Art Teacher, filmed the students debuting their very first lip dub to the motivational song “Shake it Off.” Visit West Hempfield’s webpage at http://www.hasdpa.net/Domain/515, and click “Shake It Off – Lipdub” under the Quick Links to view the video. The day’s activities, coordinated by faculty sponsors Mr. Jeremiah Dulaney and Mr. Edward Yoschak, were both enjoyable and educational, inviting discussion of such concepts as biomes, ecosystems, extirpation, sustainability, predatorprey relationships, and succession species. Taking the Opportunity to Help the Community Well Wishers, Harrold Middle School’s newest club dedicated to bringing cheer to their school and local community, has wasted no time making an impact by completing several projects. Students found a way to give back to veterans by partnering with a local treatment center for a pen pal program and clothing drive. In October, the Well Wishers held a bingo night at Newhaven Court Assisted Living Facility giving students an opportunity to visit and talk with the seniors. In November, the group teamed up with various other local groups to distribute fresh food to local families in need through the Operation Fresh Express project. The Well Wishers Club is sponsored by teachers Mrs. Danielle Ali, Mrs. Jennifer Simon, and Mrs. Lauren Blatney. 20 Hempfield Area School District Middle School Wendover Holds Elections FCCLA Members Attend Leadership Meeting How do students become Student Council officers at Wendover? Student Council representatives complete an application stating a change they would like to see at Wendover and devise a plan to implement this change. The applications are read anonymously to student council homeroom representatives and the representatives vote on the best responses. The two candidates in each office with the most votes earn the right to participate in campaign week by hanging posters and talking to students. At the conclusion of campaign week, candidates make speeches in a school-wide assembly to their peers. Students vote during homeroom period and the top vote getters are elected to represent their school. The 2015-2016 officers are: Ben Graham, President; Mackenzie Kramer, Vice-President; Elaina Bancroft, Secretary; and Jared Rivard, Treasurer. This year the Family Career Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapters at West Hempfield and Harrold Middle Schools attended the Western Pennsylvania Regional Leadership Meeting at Norwin High School. The members participated in workshops and activities, learned new project ideas, met fellow FCCLA members, and networked with chapters and members from our region. The meeting was aimed at leadership development, state-wide programs and an exciting start to the FCCLA year! West Hempfield Middle School Visits Hannas Town History came alive at Hannas Town as eighth grade students from West Hempfield Middle School participated in numerous activities from the mid-1700s. Eighth grade is currently studying this time-period, and this field trip allowed them to interact with historians and participate in numerous hands-on activities. They witnessed a gunsmith, played colonial games, wore period clothing, and even performed colonial dances! Weather even allowed for the making of mountain pies and s’mores. The day proved to be a fun, educational experience for the students. Red Ribbon Week at Wendover Wendover Middle School celebrated Red Ribbon Week this year using the theme, Self-Help. Students were encouraged to wear wristbands all week with the saying, “Respect Yourself…Be Drug Free.” Red bookmarks with local agencies and resources students could call for help regarding drugs and alcohol were distributed. Daily themes used were: • “Too Bright for Drugs,” in which students wore sunglasses • “Put a Lid on Drugs,” in which students wore their favorite hat • “Join a Drug Free Team,” in which students wore their favorite sports shirt A variety of speakers came to the school including Sages Army, Tara Williams who is a counselor from Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, and retired State Trooper, Gregg Norton. They all spread the message to be drugfree. On Thursday evening, many sixth grade students participated in the Reality Tour at the Greensburg Courthouse. Wendover Middle School encourages parents to spread the message to their children to be drug-free. Honesty. Respect. Professionalism. Courtesy. It’s how I treat all my customers. And you can be sure I’ll always do my best to meet your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® CALL ME TODAY. Kris Feliciani, State Farm Agent 724.925.1700 office 724.925.1307 fax 410 Burton Ave., Suite A Youngwood, PA 15697 [email protected] 21 State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company State Farm Indemnity Company, State Farm Fire and Casualty Company State Farm General Insurance Company Bloomington, IL Hempfield Area School District Elementary School Reading Recovery The Hempfield Area School District is pleased to announce plans for the expansion of Reading Recovery as an intervention for first grade students who are having difficulty in learning to read and write. A pilot began during the 20142015 school year at Fort Allen Elementary School as Mrs. Jody Schmitt received specialized training to become a teacher of Reading Recovery. Developed in New Zealand over thirty years ago, Reading Recovery is utilized in most states in the United States and many other countries around the world. This program is a highly effective short-term intervention for identified students who receive a half hour of individual daily instruction by a specially trained teacher of Reading Recovery for twelve to twenty weeks. The goal is to bring children up to the level of their peers and give them the assistance they need to develop independent reading and writing strategies. support teachers in all Hempfield Area elementary schools will receive Reading Recovery training in 2016-2017 as we expand this program to all of the elementary schools. Ongoing professional development for teachers of Reading Recovery is key to the success of the children. Training involves a teacher instructing a child in a lesson as other Reading Recovery teachers observe and learn. A one-way window is utilized for this purpose to minimize distractions for the student. The Hempfield Area School District received a federal grant of $6,000 for the installation of a one-way window at Fort Allen Elementary. This window is utilized to promote continued learning for teachers. Reading Recovery has a strong tradition of success with low-achieving children. The Hempfield Area School District recognizes the need to address reading difficulty early and effectively so that children learn to read, and most importantly, enjoy reading to learn. During the 2015-2016 school year, Mrs. Schmitt is receiving advanced specialized training to become a Reading Recovery Teacher Leader, which prepares her to train other reading teachers in the use of this intervention. Reading Red Ribbon Week at Fort Allen Elementary School Red Ribbon Week is a public campaign with the objective of uniting communities into action and awareness of alcohol and other illegal drug usage. This year’s campaign occurred October 26-30, 2015, with the theme, “Respect Yourself… Be Drug Free.” Each Fort Allen student and staff member was given a red ribbon to wear and participated in school spirit activities each day. Themes included: • “I’m too Bright for Drugs” in which students wore bright neon colors • “Don’t Let Drugs Make You Crazy from Head to Toe,” in which the students wore crazy outfits and crazy hair • “We Have the Power to Say No to Drugs,” in which the students wore superhero clothing • “Scare Away Drugs,” in which the students wore orange and black clothing The students at Fort Allen had a GREAT week celebrating being drug free! Maxwell Elementary has a NEW Playground Maxwell Students Volunteer at “Westmoreland Walks” Fourth grade students at Maxwell Elementary School packed bags filled with pens, hand sanitizers, ear buds, sunglasses, magnets, and pamphlets to hand out to the walkers at the fourteenth annual Westmoreland Walks event, held at Twin Lakes Park in October. A portion of the money raised from the walk goes to benefit Westmoreland County breast cancer survivors where they are treated to spa services, education, lunch, and more, at no cost to them. A portion of the proceeds is also donated to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. The students really enjoyed packing the bags and supporting the survivors of breast cancer. Maxwell Elementary students have been enjoying a new playground thanks to an $11,115 grant from Park and Play Structures and a donation of $20,000 from the Maxwell Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO). The oldest portion of the playground was cracked and the wooden structure was rotting beneath the surface level, which was the incentive for the PTO to start raising funds. A ceremony took place on October 29, 2015, to dedicate the new playground. Each homeroom teacher selected three or four students who had demonstrated excellent behavior to have their picture taken on the new equipment. Thank you to Park and Play Structures and the Maxwell PTO for making the new playground possible. 22 Hempfield Area School District Elementary School Stanwood Elementary Color Run West Hempfield Elementary Students Learn about Colleges on Alumni Fridays In October the Stanwood Community joined in “The Color Run” as their Fall Fundraiser. The Color Run is a unique paint race that celebrates healthiness, happiness, and individuality. Students at West Hempfield Elementary School are learning about postsecondary opportunities in a fun way! Staff members have placed signs outside of their classrooms with their post-secondary schools listed, and each Friday a different college is showcased on the morning announcements. Students learn about the school’s history, enrollment numbers, distance from West Hempfield Elementary, school mascot, school colors, and a fun fact. Staff members are asked to wear their alumni gear on the Friday their school is showcased, and students are to locate the staff members who are alumni of that particular school. The school information is then posted outside of the counseling office under the school pennant. Lainey Springer, Sarah Podkul, and Lauren Harry were covered in powdered pigment after the race was over! Mrs. Erin Castillo (Saint Vincent College), Mrs. Tracey Testa (Seton Hill University), and Dr. Lisa Maloney (Penn State University & Duquesne University) pose under the school pennants wearing their school logo t-shirts! Fort Allen Elementary Focuses on Nutrition and Family Fitness Grandparent Portraits What does a cow and a parrot have to do with fitness? Well, the students at Fort Allen Elementary School could probably tell you what they learned from their special visitors. During an assembly held on October 26, 2015, students were asked to participate in warm-up exercises led by Pirates ballpark host Joe Klimchak, the Chick-fil-A cow, and the Pirate Parrot. Following the exercises, students teamed up with the Chick-fil-A cow and the Pirate Parrot to play a game of Family Feud which consisted of answering questions dealing with how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Contestants were awarded prizes for participation, and all students received a free kids meal coupon from Chick-fil-A and a free ticket to a 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates home game. Stanwood students in second grade recently studied artwork by the artist Vincent Van Gogh. They drew grandparent portraits in his style and displayed them for our annual Grandparent Breakfast Days. Jaidin Blanish poses with her grandma in front of her portrait West Point Girls on the Run Raise Money for Relay for Life West Point Elementary Girls on the Run team raised $1,249.63 for their community service project this year. Under the direction of coaches Miss Helen Knopf, Miss Julianne Smelko, Mrs. Stacy Giles, Mrs. Terry Provenzano, and Miss Stephanie Kimball, the team conducted a “penny war” between each grade level with the proceeds going towards West Point’s Relay for Life team. 23 News from Hempfield Township John Silvis, Jerry Fagert, Doug Weimer, Tom Logan & Sherry Magretti Hamilton e Hempfield Township Board of Supervisors and Staff want to wish everyone a joyful holiday season. ese early winter months are a great time to spend time with family over the holidays and for the Township to plan for the upcoming 2016 budget year. e Supervisors will balance their time between time with family and preparing for the next work season in the Township. Finally, the brave men and women of our volunteer fire service responded to more than 3,200 calls while putting nearly 41,950 hours towards fundraising and training. We truly cannot express our gratitude enough to these volunteers for the time and dedication they put forth in serving this community. We also recognize the value these volunteers provide to Hempfield as estimates for a paid fire service for a community our size averages nearly $9,000,000 per year. As we begin the new year, we are proud to report our Public Works Department was very busy berming 50 miles of roadway, performing maintenance on 275 storm water catch basins, updating more than 770 street signs and repairing 4,500 feet of storm water pipe. In addition to these activities, 12 miles of our roadways were resurfaced. We are very proud the Township has been able to meet our challenges head on and excited about our many accomplishments. We are constantly committed to best serving you, the residents of Hempfield, in 2016. Happy Holidays, e Township’s Parks and Recreation Department was voted the best by readers of the Tribune Review. ey also successfully served more than 2,500 via the 115 programs offered. Parks and Recreation also hosted very successful events with our Daddy-Daughter dance, Mother-Son dance, Easter Egg Hunt, Fall Family Night and Breakfast with Santa. Doug Weimer Tom Logan John Silvis Shelley and I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year! Looking forward into 2016, the Township will have a balanced budget for the 27th year in a row. If you would like to volunteer for a committee, please send a note into the board. During this festive time, along with the onset of frigid weather rapidly approaching, please check on your neighbors, especially older residents, to make sure they are safe this winter season. ank you. It is a privilege to serve you. Please “thank” the men and women of our fire department who sacrifice their time to keep all of our families safe. Jerry Fagert Dear Friends: As many of you already know, I was successful in my bid for Westmoreland County Register of Wills. As such, I must resign as Hempfield Township Supervisor prior to taking office at the county level. It has been a true pleasure to serve my home township and all of you. One of the most rewarding things about being a supervisor is helping people. While this is not without complications, there is nothing better than seeing a concern addressed or a problem rectified. At times I felt your frustration and disappointment when the solution was outside of the township’s control. My intention has always been to be your voice and to do what is in the best interest of our community. Upon taking office in January 2012, I was appointed by the Board to act as the liaison to the recreation department. At that time, we had a vacancy in the position of Director of that department. One of my primary tasks was to coordinate the annual “Community Days” event. It was quite an undertaking. Since then, our current Director of Parks and Recreation has taken the reins of planning this event. I am proud that this event continues to grow each year and that I may have had a little part in contributing to that growth. As a Hempfield resident, I am excited to see what the future holds for Hempfield’s beautiful park. ank you all for allowing me the privilege to serve you as Supervisor and to continue to serve you as the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphan’s Court. I hope to make you proud to call me neighbor. Yours truly, Sherry Magretti Hamilton If you’re interested in joining any township boards, please send letters of interest to the Township Secretary at Township of Hempfield Greensburg-Hempfield Business Park 1132 Woodward Drive, Suite A Greensburg, PA 15601-9310 Hempfield Municipal Building Closed Friday, January 1 (New Year’s) 24 Friday, March 25 (Good Friday) News from Hempfield Township Contact the Township Manager Township Mailbox replacement policy: You may reach the Hempfield Township Manager, Andrew L. Walz by dialing (724) 834-7232, extension 141, or by e-mail at [email protected]. Office Hours Starting during the first snow of the season, the township will no longer reimburse or replace mailboxes damaged during the course of routine snow removal. The hours of operation at the offices of the Hempfield Township Supervisors’, their staff, Code Enforcement and Parks & Recreation Departments are 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Upcoming Supervisors’ Meetings Township Forms Available On-Line You are cordially invited to attend the public meetings of the Hempfield Township Supervisors at the Hempfield Township Municipal Building. Early in the meeting citizens are recognized and welcome to voice any concerns or comments. Reorganization Meeting at 7 P.M. Public Work Sessions Wednesdays at 7 P.M. Regular Meetings Mondays at 7 P.M. January 4 January 20 January 25 February 17 February 22 March 23 March 28 April 20 April 25 All necessary permit applications and forms are available at the Township’s website at www.hempfieldtwp.com, click on “Government”, “Download Forms & Permits”. (Note: Meeting Dates are Subject to Change) Dollar Bank Opens New Loan Center in Hempfield Township New CEO and president of Dollar Bank cuts the ribbon at an official ribbon cutting for the new loan center at the bank’s Westmoreland Office, which is located adjacent to Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield Township. Also on hand for the event in September was Louis Lazzaro, county director for U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (standing beside Mr. McQuade), along with Bob Birdseye, senior loan representative at Dollar Bank; Chad Amond, president of the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce; and Hempfield Township Supervisor Doug Weimer. Digital Doc Makes House Call in Hempfield Chad Amond, president of the Westmoreland County Chamber, stands with Robert & Jennifer Mitchell, owners of Digital Doc, along with daughter Alexa and Hempfield Township Supervisor Doug Weimer at the store’s official ribbon cutting and grand opening in September. In addition, Chamber members and special guests helped the Mitchells celebrate the opening. Digital Doc is located along Route 30 in Hempfield Township. Want To Reach 24,000 homes and businesses in Hempfield Township? Send contact information to [email protected] or call (724) 532-3930 25 News from Hempfield Township State and County Roads in Hempfield Maintained by PennDot and Westmoreland County Contact the Public Works Department about Township Maintained Roads for the following: n Snow Removal n Potholes n Road Damages n Storm Damage n Street Closing n Storm Drain Concerns The following roadways are not owned or maintained by Hempfield Township: n Water Runoff Concerns n Street Signs, Stop Signs, Speed Limit Signs, Etc. COUNTY ROADS Maintained by Westmoreland County Department of Parks & Roads: Phone 724-830-3955 Doug Cisco Public Works Director Extension 109 or e-mail [email protected] John Storey Jr. Assistant Public Works Director Greensburg/Mt. Pleasant Road Lowry Avenue STATE ROADS Maintained by PennDot: Phone 724-832-5387 Agnew Road Penn-High Park Road Arona Road Penn-Manor Road Baughman Road Radebaugh Road Bennetts Dairy Road Roseytown Road Brinkerton Road Route 30 Brown Avenue Route 66 Carbon Road Route 70 Donohoe Road Route 119 Edna Road Route 130 Evanstown-Herminie Road Route 136 Georges Station Route 819 Hahntown-Wendel Road Route 993 Hannastown Road Seanor Church Road When Do I Need A Building Permit Lewis Avenue Skidmore Road The Hempfield Township Code Enforcement Department is responsible for the issuance of building permits for any type of construction. Whatever your plans may be for construction, please take the time to contact the Code Enforcement Department. Locust Valley Road Slate Run Road Luxor-Bovard Road South Greengate Road Madison-Herminie Road Stone Church Road Middletown Road Swede Hill Road Millersdale Road Thomas School Road North Greengate Road Twin Lakes Park Road Oakford Park Road Waltz Mill Road Old Route 119 (Hunker) Wendel-Herminie Road Pellis Road Willow Crossing Road Penn-Adamsburg Road Yukon Road Township Leaf Collection Dates For 2016 March 19 March 26 April 2 April 9 October 8 October 15 October 29 November 5 November 12 November 19 December 3 December 10 Although you may be a Hempfield Township resident, you may reside on a roadway maintained by the state or Westmoreland County. Therefore, Hempfield Township does not have any authority on these roads. Should you have concerns regarding state roads, you may also wish to contact your state senators or representatives. The Westmoreland County Commissioners may also be contacted for concerns on county roads. Hempfield Township Supervisor Doug Weimer presents proclamations to Troop 480 Eagle Scounts; Aaron Gilbert, Nick Cerilli and Trevin Anderson. 26 News from Hempfield Township Keystone Collections Hempfield Township Property Tax Keystone Collections Group is Hempfield’s tax collector for business privilege and local services taxes. Jim Regola, Hempfield Township Tax Collector for property taxes, reminds all Township Residents that the penalty period to pay your 2015 County, Township, and School property tax ends December 31, 2015. Keystone mailed out Hempfield’s 2015 Per Capita Tax Notice. Consider taking advantage of Keystone’s INTERNET tax filing system for Hempfield individuals. Keystone’s e-File system offers a secure, user-friendly interface to fill and pay your taxes on-line. Mr. Regola's office is 938 St. Clair Way, Suite 1, located at: Greensburg, PA 15601 Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Thursdays 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Open Saturdays in March, April, August & September 9:00 am to 12:00 noon Keystone’s website, www.keystonecollects.com, provides various downloadable tax forms and an easy link to e-File. This system completely walks the taxpayer through the process, including creating a personal and secure log-in. Also, please be reminded that if you have not received tax invoices, it is your responsibility to notify Keystone Collections. Unfortunately, delinquent fees will not be waived for lack of receipt of an invoice. Important Change As always, taxpayers remain welcome to pay their taxes by mail or in person at Keystone’s corporate headquarters in Hempfield, located at 546 Wendel Road, Irwin, PA 15642. Of course, residents can always contact customer service at 1-866-539-1100, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Earned Income Tax Collector for Hempfield Township Effective January 1st, 2015 all County, Township, and School tax statements will be mailed directly to the homeowner. If you have a mortgage company, you will need to forward the tax statement to your mortgage company. This change in office procedue is due to recent legislation signed by Governor Tom Corbett on October 22, 2014 (H1590). If you do not receive your 2016 County and Township tax statement the first week of March, please call our office at 724-837-8437. If you had a 911 address change and you had an escrow set up with your mortgage company and you have not recently given the Westmoreland County Tax Mapping your current address, you need to contact them at 724-830-3415 so that the Court House has your most current mamiling address listed on your tax statements. TOLL FREE 866-701-7206 As you already know, state law mandated in Act 32 that one earned income tax collector per county shall be established. Westmoreland County’s earned income tax collector is Berkheimer Tax Administrator. There are several important points to note: • This is for earned income tax only • Keystone Collections will continue to be the collector for Business Privilege, Per Capita, and Local Services Taxes (LST) • Jim Regola will continue to collect property taxes You should have already received information from Berkheimer Tax Administrator. Their website is www.hab-inc.com. 27 Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library 237 South Pennsylvania Avenue Greensburg, PA 15601 Phone: 724-837-5620 www.ghal.org Library Director: Linda Matey Library Hours Monday - Thursday 10:00 am - 7:50 pm Saturday 10:00 am - 4:50 pm Friday and Sunday Closed Note: All programs are free of charge (except where noted) and open to the public. Pre-registration is recommended. For more information, call the Library or visit its website. JoIn US FoR ADULT PRogRAmS AnD BooK DISCUSSIonS 5 Artist’s Exhibitions Join us for Children's Programs which will include story times plus much more. We also have many programs at our Youngwood branch. beginning in February There will be 4 Used Books Sales during 2016. Watch our website for details We have a brand new children's area that features puppets,creative shapes and sizes of child friendly blocks and storybooks for the children to use at their leisure plus a tunnel for the children to enjoy. eBooks and Downloadable Audiobooks For Free At The Library The Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library is pleased to make available eBooks and downloadable audiobooks to the residents of Hempfield Township. This service is being provided by the Library and a consortium of public libraries in Westmoreland County. All residents of Hempfield Township are eligible for a free library card and this card is honored at all 20 plus public libraries in our County. Our Library is providing eBooks and downloadable audiobooks for free to its cardholders in good standing. Hempfield patrons can download these materials from a link at the website of the Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library at www.ghal.org. EBooks and audiobooks can be downloaded to numerous devices including a PC, a Mac, an iPAD, a Nook, a Kindle and other devices. For some devices, users will need to install free software. For some device users will need to install free software. For more details, please contact the Library at 724-837-5620. Check out website www.ghal.org and watch for our winter & spring brochures. 28 Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling 128 Innovative Lane, Suite 2000 • Latrobe PA 15650 www.westmorelandcleanways.org • [email protected] If you have questions please email [email protected] or call 724-879-4020 Christmas Tree-cycling Christmas tree recycling will continue to be convenient for township residents thanks to Hempfield Township’s Public Works crews. The Public Works Department will chip the trees for mulch to enhance the beauty of Hempfield Park. Tree-cycling is truly giving a gift back to the community. Undecorated Christmas trees can be dropped off at: n Hempfield Park, just off Route 66 north of Greensburg (look for signs to the drop-off site). n December 28 through January 15, 2016. n Do not leave the tree in bags or wrappings and be sure that all lights and ornaments have been removed from the tree. Other convenient drop-off locations are also available throughout Westmoreland County. Give us a call or check out our website at www.westmorelandcleanways.org for a complete list of locations and dates. Westmoreland Cleanways Recycling Center Visit the Westmoreland Cleanways Recycling Center (approximately 4.5 miles past Westmoreland Mall) to drop off items such as Electronics, Cardboard/Paper, Tires and Freon Appliances. The Center is open 3 days a week and 1 Saturday a month. Beginning January 2016, Hempfield residents will have curbside collection of electronics and household hazardous waste through Advanced Disposal. In addition to this new service, keep in mind our Recycling Center remains available to serves you. 29 MedReturn Drug Take-Back Program Volunteer Fire Departments Addresses the environmental and public health concerns of medication disposal and safety concerns of drug abuse. There are 22 public drop-off boxes throughout Westmoreland County, including the following at Westmoreland County Police Departments: City of Greensburg PD..............................724-838-4324 Irwin PD ....................................................724-864-3103 City of Latrobe PD ....................................724-537-5526 Mt. Pleasant Borough PD .........................724-547-7210 Penn Township PD ...................................724-863-1119 Wmd. County Park Police.........................724-830-3469 For a complete list of sites, visit pa.gov and follow links to the Healthy PA Drug Take Back Program, or visit www.westmorelandcleanways.org. Adamsburg Volunteer Fire Company 495 Edna Road, PO Box 92 • Adamsburg, Pennsylvania 15611 EMERGENCIES – Dial 911 Main Fire Station Phone: 724-527-6250 www.adamsburgpafire.org Bovard Volunteer Fire Department 2 Washington Street • Bovard, Pennsylvania 15619 EMERGENCIES – Dial 911 Main Fire Station Phone: 724-837-8408 Carbon Volunteer Fire Department 421 Juniper Street • Greensburg, PA 15601 EMERGENCIES – Dial 911 Main Fire Station Phone: 724-836-2145 www.carbonfire.org Preparing items for disposal at a Take-Back Box location n All pharmaceutical drugs that are being disposed of need to be in a sealed container such as the original bottle or a zip-lock bag. They may not be disposed of loosely. n Liquid pharmaceuticals should remain in the original container. n Personal information should be removed or blotted out with a permanent marker. Fort Allen Volunteer Fire Department PO Box 477 • Greensburg, PA 15601 EMERGENCIES – Dial 911 Main Fire Station Phone: 724-836-2029 Grapeville Volunteer Fire Company Items Accepted Hempfield Township Fire CO # 1 2528 Newark Street • PO Box 162 • Grapeville, PA 15634 Main Fire Station Phone: 724-523-5308 Prescription and over-the-counter solid medications, tablets and capsules, liquid medications, inhalers, creams, ointments, nasal sprays, and pet medicines* Hannastown Volunteer Fire Department PO Box 171, 100 Front Street • Hannastown, PA 15635 EMERGENCIES – Dial 911 Main Fire Station Phone: 724-834-1575 Items NOT Accepted Intravenous solutions, injectables and needles* * The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency awarded grants to District Attorney’s in 29 Pennsylvania counties for permanent drug take-back boxes. For additional MedReturn drug take-back locations, please visit ww.medreturn.com. Hempfield #2 Volunteer Fire Department Thornton Avenue • Greensburg, PA 15601 EMERGENCIES – Dial 911 Main Fire Station Phone: 724-837-7344 FAX: 724-837-7344 www.hempfield2fire.org The Great American Cleanup of PA – March 1 through May 31, 2016 High Park Volunteer Fire Department As the temperature drops and the snow hides all the litter along the roadways, it may seem like an unusual time to consider a litter cleanup or beautification project; but in fact it is the perfect time. While you are stuck inside this winter, start planning how your organized group, neighbors, or a group of one, can make an impact on our communities. Registration for the Great American Cleanup of PA, sponsored by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, begins mid-January. Visit www.gacofpa.org to find out more information or to register your cleanup event or another project such as tree plantings, educational program, or other beautification project. When it's time for your cleanup, pick up your cleanup supplies (gloves, trash bags, safety signs) from Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling. Let's help Keep Westmoreland County Beautiful! 400 Baughman Avenue • Jeannette, PA 15644 EMERGENCIES – Dial 911 Main Fire Station Phone: 724-527-3560 www.highparkvfd.org Luxor Volunteer Fire Department 455 Bovard Luxor Road • Luxor, Pennsylvania 15662 EMERGENCIES – Dial 911 Main Fire Station Phone: 724-836-7281 Midway/St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department 1966 Broadway Avenue • Greensburg, Pennsylvania 15601 EMERGENCIES – Dial 911 Main Fire Station Phone: 724-834-3560 North Hempfield Volunteer Fire Department 1284 Business Route 66 Greensburg, Pennsylvania 15601 EMERGENCIES – Dial 911 Main Fire Station Phone: 724-832-6722 West Point Volunteer Fire Department 100 Volunteer Drive Greensburg, Pennsylvania 15601 EMERGENCIES – Dial 911 Main Fire Station Phone: 724-834-6886 www.westpointfiredept.com 30 Some of the activities the membership of HEMA perform are planning, professional communications, outreach, analysis, supply acquisition, maintenance, and HAM radio operations. In a disaster, government and other agencies may not be able to meet your needs. It is important for all residents to make individual plans for their care and safety during an emergency. Everyone is encouraged to prepare themselves, and their families for disaster. A good rule of thumb is that you should be able to survive in your home for 72 hours with no outside assistance. There is no-cost for training and most of the classes are self-paced and available online. If you are interested in more information, please e-mail: [email protected] or feel free to stop by one of our upcoming staff meetings. They start at 7:00 pm at the Township Emergency Management Building and will be held: December 17th, February 25th, and April 28th. For more information to prepare your home and business in the even of a disaster: http://www.readypa.org/ http://www.ready.gov/ EMERGENCY INFROMATION ON YOUR CELLPHONE Receive Hempfield Township emergency alerts and advisories on your cellphone by sending the message HEMAALERT to 888777 or go to: http://HempfieldEMA.com/contact-us and fill out the online form WINTER STORMS AND EXTREME COLD While the danger from winter weather varies across the country, nearly all Americans, regardless of where they live, are likely to face some type of severe winter weather at some point in their lives. Winter storms can range from a moderate snow over a few hours to a blizzard with blinding, wind-driven snow that lasts for several days. Many winter storms are accompanied by dangerously low temperatures and sometimes by strong winds, icing, sleet and freezing rain. HEMPFIELD EMA IS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS The Hempfield Township Emergency Management Agency (HEMA) is seeking new volunteers to complement its staff to better serve the community. No emergency service experience in necessary, no matter what your background may be, we have a position for you. HEMA only requests around 20 hours of your free time a year. One of the primary concerns is the winter weather's ability to knock out heat, power and communications services to your home or office, sometimes for days at a time. Heavy snowfall and extreme cold can immobilize an entire region. The volunteers of HEMA come from all backgrounds and areas of expertise. While we all work together as a cohesive unit of Emergency Management, during our regular lives we are artists, electricians, sales-persons, stylists, D.J.’s, utility workers, and a multitude of other professions. The National Weather Service refers to winter storms as the “Deceptive Killers” because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. Instead, people die in traffic accidents on icy roads and of hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold. It is important to be prepared for winter weather before it strikes. What is Emergency Management? Emergency Management is the generic name of an interdisciplinary field dealing with the strategic organizational management processes used to protect critical assets of an organization from hazard risks that can cause disasters or catastrophes, and to ensure their continuance within their planned lifetime. For more information to keep you safe during any emergency or disaster, please go to: ReadyHempfield.org 31 HEMPFIELD AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 4347 Route 136 Greensburg, PA 15601 NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #88 GREENSBURG, PA