SUMMER 2015

Community Days 2015: Food, Fun, Fine Art Cranberry Township Community Chest’s preview reception in the Cranberry Community Days – three days packed Library. with entertainment, attractions, fine While many of the most popular food and good company – all designed attractions will be available throughout to celebrate and support local nonprofit the three day event, others will only and civic organizations – will officially take place on a single day. A collectors’ launch in Community Park at 4:00 on car and motorcycle cruise will be held Thursday, July 9. It will conclude with on Thursday. On Friday, the Cranberry a dazzling fireworks display starting at Sunrise Rotary will host a beanbag 9:30 Saturday evening. Community Days toss competition in cooperation with Chairman Bruce Mazzoni anticipates the March of Dimes. On Saturday, that the celebration, for which there Cranberry’s Diversity Neighborhood will is no admission fee, will attract as Many of the most popular come alive with nationality displays, many as 30,000 guests and generate information, and performances attractions will be available approximately $150,000 for CTCC’s representing cultures from around charitable projects. Voluntary $5 throughout the three day the world. Also on Saturday, the donations for parking at the event will winners of CTCC’s 2015 Treasure event, others will only take be accepted. Hunt will be recognized. place on a single day. Since 2008, Community Days, which The art of celebration began as a bicentennial event in 1976, will become enveloped in crochet work has been held the second weekend of The fine arts will be represented in a which will be left in place throughout July and been expanded to include three variety of ways. An invitational exhibit the summer. Chainsaw artist Ken Tynan days of entertainment, carnival rides, organized by the Associated Artists of will create a life-size statue depicting a inflatable attractions, informational Butler County will open in the Municipal Native American spiritual figure. booths, food carts, vendor kiosks, and Center on Wednesday evening and much, much more. But even before its remain in place throughout Community The performing arts will also be well- official start, a series of related events Days. The Cranberry Artists Network represented. Keystone State Musical will take place to set the stage for will have open air artists strategically Theatre will hold two performances of Community Days. They include a joint stationed in Community Park. The Broadway in the Park – one at 6:00 Westinghouse-Volunteer Fire Company group will also reveal plans for a new on Thursday, another on Saturday. The golf outing, the fourth annual Martinis monumental sculpture. More than 35 KardaZ band, featuring Chris and with Monet Art show, and an invitational yarn bombed trees and other objects Continued on page 2.

A Publication of Inside This Issue: Free Concerts, Movies...... 2 Calendar...... 12 It Takes A Whole Village...... 3 Seneca Valley, Where Has The Time Gone?...... 15 Miracle League Resurfacing And Playground...... 4 Ultimate Safety Challenge...... 16 Cranberry Highlands Is Out For Blood ...... 5 Cranberry’s Intelligent Transportation...... 17 Water Rates Are About To Rise ...... 6 Getting Around Is Gradually Getting Easier...... 18 Supervisor’s Commentary ...... 7 The Etiquette Of Outdoor Burning...... 20 Tech Company Profile: Joy Global, Inc...... 8 Fire Company Is On Red Alert...... 21 Please Pass The Kryptonite ...... 9 Firefighter Profile...... 22 724-776-4806 In Brief...... 10 www.cranberrytownship.org Community Days 2015: Food, Fun, Fine Art Continued from front cover Bob Kardasz together with two fellow published in a 28-page guide being On Friday, the Lions Club will sell musicians, will take the Amphitheatre mailed to every household in Cranberry hamburgers and hot dogs, operating mainstage at 8:00 on Thursday. Friday as well as on the CTCC website, out of the park’s Jaycee shelter. The evening’s concert will be a presentation www.CTCChest.org. following morning, the organization arranged by The Pickle Radio Station will hold a pancake breakfast. And Bring along your appetite. Vendors while Saturday’s will be a production of on Saturday evening, Cranberry’s two of all sorts of food – even including Froggy Radio; details of both concerts, Rotary clubs will join forces to staff a some healthy ones – will be on hand as well as other activities planned food booth at the Park’s Amphitheatre, throughout the three-day celebration. throughout the three-day event, will be just in time for the show. ˜

Free Concerts, Movies Highlight Summer Entertainment Five evening concerts, three lunchtime performances, and two movies in the park are queued up for a summer of entertainment in Cranberry – and they’re all free of charge.

Thursdays in designed to capture the essence of a live 1970s show. It the Park includes a variety of music from Elvis’ early days through Thursday evening to his performances in Las Vegas. concerts begin Movies in the Park at 7:00 on the Two free feature films will be shown at the Community lawn at the Park Amphitheatre, starting at dusk. Both films are Community rated PG. Park Rotary Amphitheater. Tuesday, June 16. Annie. This 2014 musical comedy- Bring your own drama film is a contemporary adaptation of the 1977 lawn chairs, Broadway musical, which was in turn based on the 1924 blankets, and refreshments. Food will also be available for comic strip Little Orphan Annie. purchase at the concert site from Rotary. Tuesday, August 11. Jumanji. A 1995 fantasy adventure July 16. Blackhorse. The mission of this five-piece film adapted from the 1981 children’s book of the same band is to present overlooked classics of country music name. The story centers on 12-year-old boy trapped in a originally recorded by such legends of the genre as Johnny Jumanji game in 1969 and unwittingly released 26 years Cash, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, George Jones and later. Hank Williams, Sr. Friday Lunchtime Concerts July 23. Keystone State Musical Theater. Led by theatre Three free concerts in the Rotary Gazebo on the front lawn veterans Chris and Alirose Saunders, KSMT members will of the Cranberry Township Municipal Center will begin at present a revue of songs taken from a variety of popular noon on Fridays, beginning July 31. Bring your own lunch. Broadway shows. July 31. Dixieband. The performers in this smaller July 30. Network. This quintet concentrates on familiar ensemble of members from the North Suburban songs, encouraging audiences to sing along with classics Symphonic Band, specialize in Dixieland musical classics. including Ain’t No Sunshine, Brown Eyed Girl, Beast of August 7. Henry Doktorski. Although accordionist, Burden, Fly Like an Eagle, and Some Kind of Wonderful. composer, conductor and educator Henry Doktorski August 6. NOMaD. The six members of NOMaD are sometimes plays tunes from the 1920s, his preferences known for their hard-rocking country style which has been lean toward more contemporary songs from performers on display as an opening act for national tour artists as including the Beatles, Santana, and Black Sabbath. well as on their self-titled CD. August 14. KardaZ. For more than 30 years, Chris August 13. Elvis Lives. Elvis Lives, A Tribute to the King, and Bob Kardasz, together with two fellow musicians, features Randy Galioto performing the title role in an act have performed songs from the 1960s, along with other popular music genres.

PAGE 2 Cranberrytoday It Takes A Whole Village Before there was a Walmart, before Soon, the idea grew into creating an – the last of which will be carved there was Route 19, before Mathew entire village, representing different during the upcoming Community Days Graham even planted his first field celebration. here, Cranberry had become a popular The idea grew into “But that doesn’t mean it’s done,” fishing, hunting and gathering outpost Meeder cautioned. The pine trunk for local Native Americans. The an entire village, creations first need to dry out, and evidence, found in Graham Park, is representing different then to have any cracks repaired before persuasive. aspects of life at an they can be finished and readied for Prior to the 2006 grading of Graham mounting – a process which normally Park, the Township conducted a Indian encampment takes several months. But by this fall, state-mandated archeological survey during America’s the Heritage Seneca Village should be of its grounds – a survey intended ready for display. to determine whether the property Colonial era. “Every statue has a pedestal carved included artifacts of historical or cultural into it,” Meeder said. “Each one will significance which required protection. aspects of life at an Indian encampment stand on a cement pad with a cushion What they found were dozens of during America’s Colonial era, right in of other material to keep the moisture arrowheads and other implements the heart of Graham Park. Township away.” Protecting the artwork against associated with food gathering, but Environmental Projects Coordinator traffic mishaps and vandalism are no evidence of either permanent Lorin Meeder, himself a student of the also concerns, so a fence around the Indian settlements, burial grounds, or region’s early folklore, was designated village and the use of 24/7 surveillance battlefields. as the project’s manager. cameras will help to safeguard the Today, the early history of the Cranberry statuary. “Bruce had been looking for some area is commemorated in the name of artwork to put into the roundabout on Intersecting cultures its school district – a region the Seneca Graham Park Road for quite a while,” nation once dominated. More recently, During America’s colonial period, Meeder said. “Nothing can be real tall during CTCC’s 2014 Community Days, depicted in the tableau, Native American there because of the power lines; the a gifted chainsaw sculptor, Ken Tynan, communities experienced a high level of roundabout is within power company was commissioned to carve the likeness turmoil. Shawnees, Senecas, Delawares right of way. You can’t build a big of a Seneca tribesman – in this case, and other tribes of the Iroquois structure there or plant tall trees or a peacemaker. confederacy throughout the Eastern anything like that. So this sculpture U.S. were often displaced – sometimes Wooden statues opened up new possibilities. Tynan does by colonial settlers, other times by excellent work.” The remarkable detail of Tynan’s work rival Indian tribes. For better and for impressed Community Days Chairman The not-to-scale rendering of the worse, French and English colonists Bruce Mazzoni, who then commissioned encampment shown here illustrates the also influenced Indian life, including the the artist to carve several more statues. characters Tynan created for his tableau introduction of firearms, as shown in the hands of the hunter statue. Other characters depicted in the scene include an arrow-maker, a boy with a bow, a squaw, a papoose, a mischievous dog and a spiritual figure, along with the peacemaker created last year. The Heritage Seneca Village will be a permanent display – a gift of Community Chest to Cranberry Township, donated in appreciation for hosting CTCC’s 2015 Community Days celebration. ˜

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 3 CTCC’s 2016 Project of the Year: Miracle League Resurfacing And Playground One miracle can beget another, according to Cranberry Township Community Chest, which is teaming up with Miracle League to rebuild the surface of League’s special needs ballfield in Graham Park and create a new playground right next to it. Miracle League ballpark, which opened in 2009, has already lived up to its name. Over the past six years, hundreds of children and adults, including many with major disabilities, have enjoyed playing organized baseball on its specially engineered field. Every aspect of the field’s design, as well as the rules of the game themselves, has been adapted to provide a great baseball experience for all, including individuals with special needs. A number of organizations are responsible for the ballfield’s tremendous success, beginning with Township resident Mike Sherry, who led the effort to form a Southwestern The playground will feature two baseball-themed play areas Pennsylvania chapter of Miracle League outfitted with an assortment of playground furnishings and raise funds for the project. The Pirates Charities and former Pirate linked by a walkway lined with interpretive signs. second baseman Freddy Sanchez were instrumental in financing the field’s The second element involves the By more closely integrating the ballfield construction. Dick’s Sporting Goods was construction of a brand new, inclusive and playground into the other features a key player in underwriting the park playground immediately adjacent to of Graham Park, CTCC’s Miracle Park where the baseball campus is situated. the baseball field. Designed by Pashek Project is designed to make Cranberry Butler County and the Commonwealth Associates – the same firm which an even more inclusive community. General Assembly also helped, and designed Kids Castle – the playground CTCC’s efforts to raise funds for the Cranberry Township’s own Board of will feature two baseball-themed play Miracle Park project will officially kick Supervisors has been consistently areas, one next to left field and another off during Community Days, an event supportive. on its right field side. It will be outfitted which itself is expected to generate with an assortment of playground The success of their work will continue approximately $100,000 toward the furnishings to be determined by public and grow with CTCC’s 2016 Project goal. The balance of the campaign, input, including suggestions solicited of the Year. The project includes two which will get underway this fall, will be from pupils in local schools. The two key elements, each financed by a community-wide, patterned after the playground areas will be linked by a fundraising campaign with a combined highly successful 2013 campaign to walkway lined with interpretive signs. goal of $600,000. The first is to renew raise money for Community Park’s Kids and replace the resilient surface of Although the playground is designed to Castle. A parallel fundraising effort, the current ballfield which, because be fully accessible to those with special including foundations outside of its texture, is more susceptible to needs, it will be open and available to of Cranberry, will be undertaken by deterioration from exposure to weather. everyone whenever the park is open. Miracle League. ˜

PAGE 4 Cranberrytoday Cranberry Highlands Is Out For Blood Golf is not generally regarded as a Blood Bank Recruitment Director blood sport. But that may be changing. John Barnard reflected. Altogether, 78 Consider the events of April 27. Last individuals gave blood that afternoon, fall, Cranberry Highlands golf operations a turnout which immediately placed manager Craig Walker had an idea – Cranberry Highlands at the top tier of one that combined giving back to the Western Pennsylvania donation sites. community with savvy golf marketing. But it could have been even higher. for golfers will also remain in effect In essence, it was a bogo with a hitch. Exceeding projections throughout the day. “What if someone comes in and gives Central Blood Bank’s staff maintains Thirst for blood a pint of blood,” he thought, “and we a sophisticated system for projecting give them a CHGC 2-for-1 certificate. In Central Blood Bank supplies whole the turnout at different donation events other words, they give a pint and we give blood as well as plasma and platelets to – one which is usually quite accurate. them a free round.” So he approached 43 hospitals in Western Pennsylvania, This time it was off. Approximately 20 Pittsburgh’s Central Blood Bank with West Virginia, and Ohio. “We need 700 prospective donors who showed up at his idea. The organization immediately donors a day, seven days a week, just the clubhouse that April day had to be accepted and arranged a blood draw in to meet the needs of these hospitals,” turned away simply because the number Cranberry Highlands’ clubhouse. Barnard explained. “So when we have of cots and blood bank attendants a facility such as Cranberry Highlands On the designated day, 37 donors fell short of the actual need. It was that comes forth and says “we can showed up – a very respectable a situation that will not be repeated, collect 100 units,” particularly in the Barnard vows. summer when our need is that great, “We can’t pay you for A new Give-One/Get-One blood draw at it’s an incredible thing for us. We really donating blood, that’s the golf course has now been scheduled appreciate it more than you know.” for August 18 – this time with many illegal. So the Give a Pint, Despite a significant development effort more Blood Bank resources on hand. over the past 15 years, no one in the Get a Round incentive was Walk-ins are welcome. But to speed pharmaceutical industry has so far been the donation process, which can take a huge incentive.” able to produce synthetic blood. That as long as an hour from start to finish, means only human donors can meet the participating donors are encouraged showing. But Walker was convinced that need. “We can’t pay you for donating to call ahead for an appointment with greater promotion, those numbers blood,” Barnard noted. “That’s illegal. So at 866-366-6771, or to visit the could easily double. So a second day the Give a Pint, Get a Round incentive organization’s website, www. of “Give a Pint, Get a Round” was was a huge incentive.” centralbloodbank.org, where they can scheduled – this time for Monday, April complete the required FDA medical Central Blood Bank advises prospective 27. As an added incentive, the date was questionnaire – shaving about ten donors to eat well, remain hydrated, and declared a Customer Appreciation Day minutes off the donation process – and bring a form of identification along with with special rates for golfers. set a specific time for their blood draw. them. Donors must be 17 or older – 16 Walker was right. “From our perspective, Special Customer Appreciation Rates if a signed parental consent form is it was a huge, huge success,” Central provided. ˜ Residents Leave Money On The Table A program directed toward older Pennsylvanians offers eligible homeowners and tenants in the Commonwealth as much as $650 a year – but only if they apply for it, and most don’t. Officially known as the Pennsylvania Property Tax or Rent Rebate Program, or PA-1000, the Lottery-funded program is both age- and income-based. Anyone 65 or older, and widows or widowers 50 and older, as well as anyone 18 or older with disabilities, can qualify for a rebate if their annual income is under $35,000 for homeowners, or $15,000 for tenants. Tax Collector P. J. Lynd has forms available at his Municipal Center office and can help applicants complete the required form. ˜ www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 5 Water Rates Are About To Rise; Sewer Rates May Follow Cranberry’s water rates will increase meters will provide customers with Long-term strategy by 27 percent for readings taken on unprecedented control over their own Once completed, these projects will or after July 20. The biggest share water use by providing online tracking give Cranberry’s system sufficient of that increase, which is part of a of intentional use, as well as of water delivery and sewage treatment comprehensive program to secure possible leaks. capacity to meet its needs well into Cranberry’s water services for the Not far behind is another major water the future while satisfying foreseeable foreseeable future, is in response to a system development – the upgrade environmental regulations. 35 percent increase from the West View and expansion of the Township’s Brush Water Authority. Most of those funds To keep water and sewer rates Creek wastewater treatment plant. That will be used to finance the Authority’s at reasonable levels during an upgrade was prompted by the need to construction of a new water treatment era of increased operating costs, meet treatment standards stipulated plant in Beaver County, together Township employees have worked in the plant’s new Federal and State with pumping stations and pipelines hard to maintain Cranberry’s utility operating permits. It is also designed connecting that plant to Cranberry. infrastructure at a high level and to to handle the additional capacity needs operate its systems as cost effectively Last year, Cranberry signed a new which are projected to be required over as possible. As a result, Cranberry’s 25-year supply agreement with West the next 15-20 years. Final costs for the operating costs are consistently below View Water. The Township had previously plant upgrade will be determined early industry averages, including less than worked with West View engineers to next year, with construction beginning half the industry typical rate of water make sure the Authority’s new plant shortly thereafter. Sewer rates were loss – a source of tremendous cost to would enhance Cranberry’s ability to adjusted last year to pay the plant’s most other municipal water systems. serve its own customers for decades initial design and permitting costs The accompanying chart, which to come and remain in synch with along with a portion of its anticipated compares Cranberry’s new rates with Cranberry’s own infrastructure planning. financing. When its final cost is known, those of nearby communities, shows those rates are likely to be adjusted Cranberry’s Board of Supervisors that even with the increase, Township again. approved the rate increase at its rates remain competitive. May 6 meeting. On average, residential ˜ customers will see an increase of $8.85 per month. Business rates will go up in proportion to their meter-size.

On average, residential customers will see an increase of $8.85 per month.

Radio readings A smaller portion of the rate increase is designated for the replacement of outdated mechanical water meters currently installed at residential and business customer locations with new meters utilizing real-time radio read technology. Many of the meters now in place have exceeded their useful life, providing inaccurate readings and limiting the Township’s ability to manage its water system efficiently. The new

PAGE 6 Cranberrytoday SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTARY The Fine Art Of Can Kicking by Richard Hadley, Supervisor, Cranberry Township

I trust by now costs associated with environmental fresh water delivered to customers by you’ve heard regulations and increased demand. the Township-owned distribution system. reports that our But neither of these costs come as a But West View itself faced those same water rates will surprise; they were both discussed, capacity and environmental challenges. be going up analyzed, and baked right into our So we worked with them to make sure July 20. 2009 long-range comprehensive plan. that when they needed to invest in Now, if Cranberry were like Harrisburg or The sewer can their system, they did it in collaboration Washington, I would categorically deny with Cranberry so that we would both Take the case of our sewer plant it and solemnly vow that the Township benefit. That’s what you’d expect from upgrade. The plant was last expanded would never increase the price of our Township. in 1998. But almost immediately, we anything as long as I’m in office. Instead realized that emerging regulations Plan, not can of raising rates, our Board would simply would require us to remove more defer any such decision until after my Of course I understand that in public components from the wastewater by term had ended, leaving future policy- life, nobody enjoys increasing the rates 2017, in time for our next state and making bodies to deal with what would for anything. If your career aspirations federal licenses, as well as meeting the certainly become a much bigger and needs of our growing community. So costlier problem. In politics, that’s called we began planning for that. One step In public life, nobody kicking the can down the road. involved merging our then-independent enjoys increasing the But we’re not like Washington or sewer and water authority into the Harrisburg; here in Cranberry, it’s what Township, creating a more focused and rates for anything. efficient organization on both sides. It’s doing what needs That was contrary to the normal way as an elected official are your top of governing, which is to create more priority, you simply kick the can and to be done in the bureaucracy and kick the can further postpone the day of reckoning, as so most cost efficient down the road, out of public view. many others have done. However, if you manner instead of Nowhere is this more apparent than think that kicking the can is the right with all the local governments now thing to do, just look at some of our passing problems professing shock at the billions of neighboring communities now facing along to future elected dollars needed to address long-ignored the need to pay sharply higher pension sewer, road and pension issues – all the and bridge repair and sewage treatment officials. results of kicking the can. costs as a result. The water can In Cranberry, we take a long-term we call good government – doing what approach with the goal of averting On the fresh water side, by the mid- needs to be done in the most cost crises and minimizing rate increases. ‘90s, Cranberry had evolved efficient manner instead of passing There’s a penalty for from a community that problems along to future elected not planning, and our produced and distributed officials. Maintaining our water and Board doesn’t want our most of its own water, to sewer infrastructure is a good example. residents, in another 10 one which was no longer Neglecting it is easy to do because it’s or 20 years, to be forced able to meet demand. So out of sight and therefore out of mind. into paying its price. we worked out a cost- But that’s not acceptable. ˜ effective arrangement Both the pending water rate increase with the West View and a likely sewer rate increase later Water Authority to this year are the results of mounting supply essentially all the

You can reach Richard Hadley by email at [email protected]

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 7 TECH COMPANY PROFILE The Joy Of Mining In 1895, when 12-year old Joseph very much tied to coal,” Francis Joy began following his father division President Peter and brother, digging coal from a seam Salditt pointed out, “and in western Maryland, underground the U.S. is an important mining was a dirty and dangerous form part of the global market of manual labor. But, as a bright and for coal. But China is highly motivated young man at the almost four times bigger in dawn of the industrial age, Joy became terms of coal production, convinced there was a better, safer way so we also have a very Underground rock. Peter Salditt, President of Joy Global to do the job. By his 20th birthday, Joy significant presence in Underground Products, holds a scale model of one of his company’s continuous mining machines. Coal extraction had designed a mechanized digging and China.” equipment remains the largest segment of Joy Global’s loading device – forming the genesis In fact Joy Global, as its $4 billion business. of what would eventually become Joy name suggests, maintains Global Inc., now a world leader in mining with environmentalists and stricter a significant presence essentially machinery. regulations have followed. That has everywhere minerals are mined. As a clearly affected the coal market, Salditt Today, the $4 billion company is full-line supplier of mining systems, acknowledged, but there’s more to it. headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Joy Global has employees stationed at “A significant factor includes the the home of its P&H surface mining 153 locations in 20 countries on six headwind created by the low cost division. But its $2 billion underground continents, providing direct service to of natural gas. It is very attractive equipment division is headquartered in customers in both state and privately for industry to go to natural gas for Thorn Hill Industrial Park. Joy Global’s held mining operations. “If there’s a electric energy production. That has put assortment of custom-engineered problem, they come to us – they don’t significant pressure on the price of coal. underground mining products is go a local distributor,” Salditt said. “We Another factor is that demand from the extensive, designed to extract softer are the manufacturer, the sales force, Chinese market has cooled off.” mineral deposits such as coal and salt the warehouse, the distribution, the by cutting, crushing and transporting sales, the support – everything.” But Salditt remains optimistic about material to the surface in one the future. “We are a global business, Those unusually close relationships continuous operation. Before that, the but there remain areas where we can have made Joy’s equipment known technique involved using explosives to grow our presence. And there’s an and respected throughout the mining bring down batches of material which opportunity for us to grow beyond coal industry. “Customers have loyalties,” then had to be gathered and moved to – to any kind of deposit that can be Salditt observed. “People tend to be the surface for processing. mined mechanically. We have been very familiar with certain types of equipment successful in bringing our technology Old King Coal from us, and with our people in service and know-how to industrial minerals – relationships. Wherever we operate, our During the company’s early years, coal salt, potash, gypsum and trona mining. local workforce is based at the mine – was the fuel of choice for power plants, And just this year we landed contracts that’s really how you build loyalty.” to equip several salt mines in the great “The U.S. is an important part Can you dig it? lakes region.” of the global market for coal. To create even closer bonds, the In addition, Joy Global’s 2014 company recently developed JoySmart acquisition of Canadian company Mining But China is almost four times Solutions, a business that integrates Technologies International now provides bigger so we also have a very data from digitally connected machinery it with a line of equipment for mining significant presence in China.” in the field with advanced analytics to such hard rock minerals as copper, monitor the condition of its equipment silver and gold. and optimize performance at worksites locomotives, industrial furnaces and “Coal is a tough market,” Salditt said, throughout the world. other applications; western Pennsylvania “but we still have significant growth was at the heart of America’s coal Lately, however, at least in the potential.” mining industry. “Our business is still U.S., coal has fallen out of favor ˜

Although widely known for its retail businesses, Cranberry is also becoming an important technology center. Each issue of CranberryToday features the profile of a different local technology company and offers a glimpse into the Township’s emerging economy.

PAGE 8 Cranberrytoday LIBRARY Please Pass The Kryptonite. Welcome To Comic-Tanium. Research this at your local library: material science What’s faster than a speeding bullet, professor, himself more powerful than a locomotive, and a comic book able to leap tall buildings in a single enthusiast, who uses bound? Comic book superheroes! panels featuring superhero characters Superheroes with incredible powers in his teaching have been at the heart of popular and professional imagination for generations now. But presentations, as well the amazing properties they exhibit as in outreach to kids. are not entirely fictional. Materials Mathaudhu, a TMS with astonishing strength, lightness, member, collaborated flexibility, heat resistance, thinness, Bringing the hammer down. Wielding Thor’s hammer, with the organization’s conductivity and more – extremes Cranberry Library Director Leslie Pallotta will bring it down on journal on an article which have never been achieved with Comic-tanium – a library exhibit about materials research that about comic book traditional materials – actually do exist, emulates the properties depicted in superhero comics – by its science in January and even more are currently under final day, Saturday, July 11. of 2012. Later that development. year, during a visit to Vanishing heroes It is an exciting area of science, and one Pittsburgh, Mathaudhu wandered into Comic-tanium, as the exhibit is known, whose developments are fundamental the downtown Pittsburgh ToonSeum has been on display in the library’s to progress in virtually every area of where he spoke with its founder who North Franklin Station Room since May advanced technology. But, like so asked whether he would consider 6 and will remain open for self-guided many other STEM disciplines, it is also curating an exhibit on that theme. a field which has struggled to attract tours until Saturday, July 11 – the final Mathaudhu then approached the TMS the scientific talent it deserves. So The day of 2015 Community Days. But even Foundation about sponsoring such a Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, though it’s slated to leave Cranberry display as an educational outreach soon, for library Director Leslie Pallotta, project, and the idea began to gain the exhibition couldn’t have come at a TMS is teaming up with traction. Cranberry’s Public Library is better time. The Collaborative Summer the Cranberry Public Library the exhibit’s fourth stop. Panels showing Library Program, a consortium of superheroes – many dating back to libraries including all 50 states and U.S. to tell the story of super World War II – are paired with real- territories, established “Every Hero Has materials through eye- life scientists whose current research a Story” as its 2105 theme, noting that efforts focus on creating materials with everyday heroes are all around us. catching displays featuring properties similar to the ones used by “Because Comic-tanium is here for us well-known superheroes. their fictional counterparts. this summer, our focus is largely on the They include Thor’s hammer, Captain superhero aspect of it,” Pallotta said. or TMS, whose world headquarters are America’s shield, Wonder Woman’s “We’ll be bringing other kinds of heroes in Thorn Hill Industrial Park, is teaming tiara and bracelets, Magneto’s in, but how could we not go with this? up with the Cranberry Public Library to electromagnetic controls, Wolverine’s It’s a nice tie-in and it was almost too tell the story of these super materials internal explosives, and more. Bridging easy.” through eye-catching displays featuring the gap between the comic characters Other exhibit attractions include an the well-known superheroes of fantasy and the current-day scientists are assortment of superhero props, a photo along with their exotic real-life material heroic renderings of each scientist by lighting setup, continuously running counterparts – all with the aim of cartoon artist Marcel Walker, which videos that explain the principles of engaging the imagination of kids from appear alongside the superhero material science, and autographed Kindergarten through high school age. whose properties their work emulates. artifacts from superhero films. Comic- Mathaudhu, whose own work involves Toon teachers tanium is available for patrons whenever ultra-strong nanocrystals, is among the the library is open. The display is the brainchild of Suveen featured researchers. Mathaudhu, a University of California ˜

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 9 IN BRIEF

Discover Your project in Ancestors. Graham Park What do you really that urges users know about your to respect the forebears? For a fragile nature growing number of Americans, the of the area’s answer is: not enough. To help remedy sweet and savory specialties to hungry streams and that, Cranberry Public Library has added friends and patrons of the library. refrain from a special Library Edition of the Ancestry. Participants were encouraged to disposing of waste in the park’s catch com website to its expanding collection bring picnic blankets and chairs so basins. In addition to using stencils of local genealogy resources. The online as to dine al fresco on the front lawn. bearing water quality messages, database includes millions of records, Vendors participating in the Roundup the girls were encouraged to create some dating back as far as the 1400s, included Fat Boys House of BBQ, The designs of their own for use as graphic with extensive public files from sources Steer and Wheel, Reids Fresh Express, companions to the message texts. To in the United States, United Kingdom Berlin Street Foods, Rolling Cones, help raise the project’s visibility even and Ireland. Use of the service – which and PGH Halal Truck. A portion of each more, Township traffic engineer Kelly is only available on the Library’s own food truck’s proceeds was donated to Maurer brought along a digital sign computers – is free of charge during support the library. reading “Slow down; girls working normal Library hours. Check the ahead.” Throughout the term, Township Library’s website, www.cranberrylibrary. pretreatment administrator Rhonda org, for details. Zellhart and SVSD middle school science teacher Julie Smith invited Read-a-Thon guest speakers to introduce program Fires Up. participants to the variety of STEM- An 8-hour related careers currently being pursued summer Read- by women working in Cranberry a-Thon at the Township. Cranberry library, Somber Ritual. New members of PD Adds Two Patrolmen. designed for Delta Kappa Gamma – an honorary Cranberry’s Police Department is now students in grades 4 through 12, will society of women in teaching founded up to strength. Two new officers sworn be held starting at 11:00 on Monday, 85 years ago – were formally inducted in at the June 4 Board of Supervisors July 13. Participants pay $5 – more if into the organization’s ranks on the meeting fill several longstanding they want – to spend the entire day, or evening of May 7 during a solemn vacancies on the force. Glenshaw even as little as 15 minutes, reading observance featuring candles, resident Scott Carney, a Westminster in the library. All of the funds raised haberdashery, and the intonement College graduate and three-year are donated to an organization chosen of ceremonial oaths. The ritual was baseball letterman who had previously by the Library’s Teen Advisory Board. held in the Sample Schoolhouse – the held positions as a uniformed patrolman This year the funds will be contributed 1874 one-room school building which at the University of Pittsburgh and in to the Cranberry Township Volunteer had been relocated to the front of the Shaler Township, joined Cranberry’s Fire Company. Those participating are Municipal Center in 1999 and then department in May. Cranberry resident awarded volunteer credit for each hour lovingly restored by members of the Edward Steinmetz, a graduate of they spend in the Read-a-Thon. Cranberry Township Historical Society. Mercyhurst College whose previous work Following their rite, the Society’s new also included an assignment on Pitt’s Food Truck Roundup. On Saturday, initiates joined their fellow members in police force working as a plain clothes June 6 – the same day Cranberry’s celebration at a local restaurant. detective, joined at the same time. Both Public Library launched its 2015 received their certifications from the Down The Drain. summer reading program – supporters Stormwater Allegheny County Police Academy. of the library were invited to fill their drains in Graham Park now have a stomachs as well as their minds. For new look. Members of Seneca Valley four hours that day, a band of food Middle School’s STEM-FEMS program trucks gathered in the Municipal concluded their year-long program on Center’s front parking lot to dispense watershed protection with a stenciling

PAGE 10 Cranberrytoday IN BRIEF

Cranberry’s EMS Is including friends, neighbors and guests grass roots grown using the company’s All Heart. This past – can attend the program’s training products. Until two years ago, Auchter’s April, the American portion at the same time. To schedule a team had trouble getting playing field Heart Association Safe Landing visit, contact EMS Deputy grass roots to grow any deeper than two honored Cranberry’s Director Ted Fessides at 724-776-4480, or three inches – a significant problem Emergency Medical ext. 1902. for fields as heavily used as Cranberry’s. Service with its Mission But, after two years of applying the Lifeline EMS Performance company’s products, which use natural Achievement Award. The award microorganisms instead of chemicals, recognizes the critical difference that the roots measured more than five effective EMS intervention can make inches in depth. The resulting field Cranberry for patients suffering heart attacks. It care program allowed her crew to cut Hoists The Banner, Again. is based on criteria that include rapid In April, back on the volume of nitrogen used, identification of heart attack symptoms, the Allegheny League of Municipalities reducing both maintenance cost and quick access to high-performance and its Chairman, Allegheny County environmental impact. A $500 prize was diagnostic devices, and amount of time Executive Rich Fitzgerald, designated used to buy emergency AED units for before the patient arrives for treatment. Cranberry as one of 42 Banner installation in Graham Park. The Cranberry organization is one of Communities for 2015. It is the third Share 447 EMS agencies nationwide to have consecutive year that Cranberry And Share been awarded that recognition. Township – the only honoree outside of Allegheny County – has been Alike. Highly recognized in the program. Banner specialized tools Communities are municipalities honored used to maintain for implementing best practices in public property their operations and for governing in are great to an inclusive, collaborative manner. have. But unless Fitzgerald characterized the designated a unit of government is big enough to communities as ‘the best of the best.’ use them essentially all the time, their “These 42 communities have set a expense can be hard to justify. However standard for how government should if a group of municipal governments function,” he said. share in their cost and use, it becomes EMS Safe Landing Takes Off. An a lot more practical. That was the innovative bundling of EMS safety Township Turf Team Triumphs. conclusion which a handful of North and educational services for new and When it comes to putting down roots, Hills communities recently reached expectant parents introduced in 2013 Cranberry’s turfgrass team, under the when it came to acquiring several has begun to gain traction, thanks in leadership of Grounds Maintenance advanced devices. One is a power tool large part to Highmark health insurance Manager Rebecca Auchter, takes the using compressed air to turn jammed taking it on as a year-long pilot program. prize. Literally. In a recent “Roots water valves. It has the potential for The $150 community health initiative for You!” competition organized by sharply reducing both the manpower is called Safe Landing, and it is fully Holganix – an eastern Pennsylvania- requirements and injury rate associated reimbursable for Highmark customers. based producer of plant nutrients with manually turning sticky valves. EMS technicians visit the family’s home, – Cranberry’s entry was chosen as Another, a laser attachment to the teach infant CPR and first aid, do a car the winning submission. The criteria groundskeeping tractors used to grade seat check and installation, do a home involved the depth and density of the skinned areas of a baseball infield, safety check, and talk about proper gives operators a series of audio signals ways of putting babies back to sleep. An to guide their operations, keeping the initial grant from the Alcoa Foundation ground contours at precise angles. helped launch the program two years Cranberry and its neighbors pitched in ago, but initial interest was low. That to buy the tools which are now rotating has now changed with more people in use between the Township and its signing up and other EMS agencies, as participating partner communities. well as other health insurers, expressing interest. As many as 12 people –

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 11 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Registration may be required for some programs. For more information, call: × Cranberry Library 724-776-9100 µ Cranberry EMS 724-776-4480 * Cranberry Customer Service 724-776-4806 ü ECS&R 1-866-815-0016 JULY † Parks and Recreation 724-779-4FUN ‡ Cranberry Highlands 727-776-7372 WED Comictanium THURS Adult Discussion FRI Twp Offices, Municipal Ctr SAT INDEPENDENCE SUN Library, July 1-11 Group Library, & Library Closed DAY 10am Farmers’ Market Municipal Ctr & 1 Baby Storytime × 2 3 4 5 Library, 10:30am Secret Agent Municipal Ctr, 3:30–6pm Library Closed Clue Hunt Tween Superhero Trivia Library, 1–3pm Farmers’ Market Library, 6:30pm Board of Supervisors Mtg Rt. 19 Fire Station, Council Chambers, 6:30pm 10am–1pm Cranberry Highlands Open, Stuffed Animal CTCC MON Tri-State PGA Tournament TUES WED Baby Storytime × THURS Dance Party Community Teen Creative Writing Club Library, 10:30am Library, 11am Days: Cruisin’ 6 Library, 2pm 7 8 CTCC Community Days 9 Night Swim Pre-Opening Events Cranberry, Planning Advisory Commission Booths, Rides, Carnival, Regular Mtg Waterpark, CTVFC Golf Classic Cranberry Highlands, 9am Council Chambers, 6pm Concert by Kardaz Rt. 19 9–11pm Martinis with Monet After Tri-State PGA Tournament ‡ Municipal Ctr, 7–9pm Community Park, 4pm First Editions Book Group Library, 7pm CTCC Community Days: Crafty Friday Family Community Chase 5K, Lions Tween/Teen FRI Library, 11am–1pm SAT SUN MON TUES Playtime Pancake Brkfst, Booths, Rides, Read-a-Thon CTCC Community Days: Library, 11am Carnival, Concerts Rt. 19 Library, 10 Booths, Rides, Carnival, 11 12 13 11am–7pm 14 Community Park, 4pm Night Swim Concerts Rt. 19 Community Park, 4pm Computer Class: Word I × Library, 9am Waterpark, Farmers’ Market 9–11pm Farmers’ Market Rt. 19 Fire Station, Municpal Ctr, 3:30–6pm 10am–1pm Books & Bagels Thursday Crafty Friday Computer Class: Word II × Library, 9am Concert – Library, 11am–1pm WED Book Club THURS FRI SAT Bike Safety Rodeo Community Park, 10am–2pm Library, 10am Blackhorse Farmers’ Market Concert Promotor and Author, 15 16 (Country) 17 Municpal Ctr, 18 Baby Storytime × Pat DiCesare Library, 1pm Community 3:30–6pm Library, 10:30am Farmers’ Market Rt. 19 Fire Station, 10am–1pm Park, 7pm Night Swim & Movie † Tween Unplugged Game Household Hazardous Waste Collection Superhero Bingo How To Train Your Dragon ü Night Library, 6:30pm Library, 1pm 2, PG Waterpark, 9–11pm by Appt., ECS&R Teen Creative Real Life Superhero Tween 4th Thursday Book Club SUN MON TUES WED THURS Library, 10am Writing Club Storytime Library, 11am Creative Library, 2pm Special Needs Family Game Writing Teen Dodgeball 19 20 21 22 23 Tournament × 4pm Zoning Hearing Night † Municipal Ctr, 6–8pm Club Library, Thursday Concert – Keystone Musical Board Mtg (as Night Swim Waterpark, 6:30pm Theater (Disney’s High School needed) Council 9–11pm Chambers, 7:30pm Musical, Jr) Community Park, 7pm Cranberry Highlands Four Ball Planning Advisory Crafty Friday Night FRI Tournament ‡ SUN MON Commission Work TUES Library, 11am–1pm SAT Swim Superhero Cartoons Session Council Farmers’ Market Library, 9am Waterpark, Chambers, 6pm 24 Municipal Ctr, 25 Computer Class: Excel I × Library, 9am 26 27 28 9–11pm 20 & 30 Somethings 3:30–6pm Farmers’ Market Rt. 19 Fire Station, 10am–1pm Book Discussion Teen Movie Night Let’s Dance: Foxtrot, lesson & dance † Library, 7pm Library, 7pm Gym, 7–10:30pm Cranberry Highlands Crafty Friday WED THURS Junior Tournament ‡ FRI Library, 11am–1pm Open Gym Basketball every Monday, Tuesday (18+) 8–10pm, and Thursday (30+) 8–10pm Family Movie Lunchtime Concert 29 30 Library, 1pm 31 – Dixieband Open Gym Pickleball every Tuesday and Thursday 9am–12pm Board of Supervisors Mtg Gazebo, 12pm Free Child Seat Inspections every Tuesday and Thursday µ Council Chambers, 6:30pm Farmers’ Market Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm Thursday Concert – Network Municipal Ctr, Open Gym Volleyball every Wednesday (18+) 7–10pm Community Park, 7pm 3:30–6pm

PAGE 12 Cranberrytoday COMMUNITY CALENDAR Registration may be required for some programs. For more information, call: × Cranberry Library 724-776-9100 µ Cranberry EMS 724-776-4480 * Cranberry Customer Service 724-776-4806 ü ECS&R 1-866-815-0016 AUG † Parks and Recreation 724-779-4FUN ‡ Cranberry Highlands 727-776-7372 Computer Class: Planning Advisory Open Gym Pickleball 9am–12pm Open Gym Commission Regular Mtg SAT Excel II × SUN MON TUES Free Child Seat Inspectionsµ WED Volleyball Library, 9am Council Chambers, 6pm Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm (18+) 1 2 3 First Editions Book Group 4 5 Farmers’ Market Open Gym Basketball 7–10pm Rt 19 Fire Library, 7pm (18+) 8–10pm Open Gym Basketball Station, Night Swim Waterpark, 9–11pm 10am–1pm (18+) 8–10pm Cranberry CUP Softball Open Gym Pickleball 9am–12pm Cranberry CUP Golf Outing & Tournament THURS Free Child Seat Inspectionsµ FRI Kickoff Event Cranberry Highlands SAT Computer Class: Powerpoint Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm Lunchtime Concert – Henry Doktorski × 6 7 8 Library, 9am Board of Supervisors Mtg Municipal Ctr, Gazebo, 12pm Council Chambers, 6:30pm Sheriff’s Office: Gun Licensing Thursday Concert – NOMaD (Country Rock) Farmers’ Market Municpal Ctr, Municipal Ctr, 9am–2pm Community Park, 7pm 3:30–6pm Farmers’ Market Rt 19 Fire Station, Open Gym Basketball Noodle Night Waterpark, 6–8pm (30+) 8–10pm 10am–1pm Open Gym Pickleball Open Gym Pickleball Cranberry Open Gym Young Adult 9am–12pm (at Heart) 9am–12pm SUN CUP MON Basketball TUES WED THURS Free Child Seat Book Club Free Child Seat Softball (18+) Inspectionsµ Inspectionsµ 9 Tournament 10 8–10pm 11 12 Library, 7pm 13 Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm Open Gym Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm Open Gym Basketball (18+) 8–10pm Volleyball Thursday Concert – Elvis Lives Free Movie in the Park – Jumanji, PG (18+) Community Park, 7pm Community Park, Dusk 7–10pm Open Gym Basketball (30+) 8–10pm Lunchtime Concert Computer Class: Working Zoning Open Gym Pickleball FRI – Kardaz Bros SAT From Home × Library, 9am SUN MON Hearing Board TUES 9am–12pm Municipal Ctr, Farmers’ Market (as needed) Free Child Seat 14 Gazebo, 12pm 15 Rt 19 Fire Station, 10am–1pm 16 17 Council 18 Inspectionsµ Farmers’ Market Learn CPR µ Council Chambers, 8:30am; Chambers, Cranberry EMS, by Appt, Municpal Ctr, 3:30–6pm Learn First Aid µ Council Chambers, 12pm 7:30pm 10am–5pm Noodle Night Household Hazardous Waste Collection ü Open Gym Basketball Open Gym Basketball Waterpark, 6–8pm by Appt., ECS&R (18+) 8–10pm (18+) 8–10pm Books & Bagels Open Gym Pickleball Farmers’ Computer Class: WED THURS FRI SAT Troubleshooting SUN Book Club 9am–12pm Market × Library, 10am Free Child Seat Municpal Ctr, Library, 9am 19 Family Fishing Fun † 20 Inspectionsµ 21 3:30–6pm 22 Farmers’ Market Rt 19 23 Graham Park, 1–5pm Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm Noodle Night Fire Station, 10am–1pm Open Gym Volleyball Open Gym Basketball Waterpark, 6–8pm Let’s Dance: East Coast Swing, (18+) 7–10pm (30+) 8–10pm lesson & dance † Gym, 7–10:30pm Cranberry Slow Down Campaign Open Gym Pickleball 9am–12pm MON Open Gym TUES WED Open Gym THURS Basketball 8/25 – 9/7 Volleyball 4th Thursday Book Club Library, 10am (18+) Open Gym Pickleball 9am–12pm (18+) Free Child Seat Inspectionsµ 24 8–10pm 25 Free Child Seat Inspectionsµ 26 7–10pm 27 Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm Board of Supervisors Mtg Open Gym Basketball Council Chambers, 6:30pm (18+) 8–10pm Open Gym Basketball (30+) 8–10pm FRI Farmers’ Market SAT Cranberry Highlands SUN Last day to swim MON Planning Advisory Commission Municpal Ctr, Patriot Day Tournament ‡ at Waterpark Work Session Council Chambers, 6pm 28 3:30–6pm 29 Farmers’ Market Rt 19 30 11:30am–8pm 31 Noodle Night Fire Station, 10am–1pm 20 & 30 Somethings Book Waterpark, 6–8pm Discussion Library, 7pm Open Gym Basketball (18+) 8–10pm

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 13 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Registration may be required for some programs. For more information, call: × Cranberry Library 724-776-9100 µ Cranberry EMS 724-776-4480 * Cranberry Customer Service 724-776-4806 ü ECS&R 1-866-815-0016 SEPT † Parks and Recreation 724-779-4FUN ‡ Cranberry Highlands 727-776-7372 Open Gym Pickleball 9am–12pm Open Gym Pickleball 9am–12pm Open Gym Farmers’ TUES WED THURS Adult Discussion Group FRI Free Child Seat Inspectionsµ Volleyball Library, 10am Market Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm (18+) Free Child Seat Inspectionsµ Municpal Ctr, 1 2 7–10pm 3 Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm 4 Tween Art Club Library, 4pm 3:30–6pm Board of Supervisors Mtg Open Gym Basketball Council Chambers, 6:30pm (18+) 8–10pm Open Gym Basketball (30+) 8–10pm Waste Collection 1-day delay thru 9-11 Farmers’ LABOR DAY SAT SUN MON TUES Open Gym Pickleball 9am–12pm Market Twp Offices Rt 19 Fire & Library closed; Free Child Seat Inspectionsµ Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm 5 Station, 6 7 no waste collection 8 Teen Art Club Library, 4pm 10am–1pm Open Gym Meet Author: Tom McMillan Library, 6pm Basketball Planning Advisory Commission Regular Mtg Council Chambers, 6pm (18+) 8–10pm Open Gym Basketball (18+) 8–10pm Young Adult Open Gym Pickleball 9am–12pm PATRIOT DAY Farmers’ Market WED (at Heart) THURS Free Child Seat Inspections FRI SAT SUN µ Farmers’ Market Rt 19 Fire Station, Book Club Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm Municpal Ctr, 10am–1pm 9 Library, 7pm 10 11 12 13 Homeschool Crafternoon 3:30–6pm Free Electronic Open Gym Library, 1pm Recycling Volleyball Open Gym Basketball Public Works, (18+) 7–10pm (30+) 8–10pm 10am–2pm Open Gym Pickleball 9am–12pm Open Gym Pickleball Baby Storytime × Books & 9am–12pm MON Library, 10:30am TUES Storytime (18 mo. & up) × WED Bagels THURS Free Child Seat Teen Magazine Library, 10 & 11am Book Club Inspectionsµ Cranberry 14 Library, 4pm 15 Free Child Seat Inspectionsµ 16 Library, 10am 17 EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm Open Gym Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm Open Gym Budding Builders (1st–3rd Grade Basketball Tween LEGO Club Library, 4pm Volleyball LEGO) Library, 4pm (18+) 8–10pm Open Gym Basketball (18+) 8–10pm (18+) 7–10pm Open Gym Basketball (30+) 8–10pm Baby Storytime Farmers’ Farmers’ Market × Open Gym Pickleball 9am–12pm FRI SAT SUN MON Library, 10:30am TUES Market Rt 19 Fire Station, Storytime (18 mo. & up) × 18 Municpal Ctr, 19 10am–1pm 20 21 Zoning Hearing Board 22 Library, 10 & 11am 3:30–6pm Household (as needed) Council Free Child Seat Inspectionsµ Hazardous Waste Chambers, 7:30pm Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm Collection ü Open Gym Basketball Open Gym Basketball by Appt, ECS&R (18+) 8–10pm (18+) 8–10pm Open Gym Pickleball 9am–12pm WED Open Gym THURS FRI Farmers’ SAT Cranberry Highlands 2 Person Volleyball 4th Thursday Book Club Library, 10am Market Best Ball Tournament ‡ 23 (18+) 24 Free Child Seat Inspectionsµ 25 Municpal Ctr, 26 Farmers’ Market Rt 19 Fire 7–10pm Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm 3:30–6pm Station, 10am–1pm Board of Supervisors Mtg Let’s Dance: Salsa, lesson & Council Chambers, 6:30pm dance † Gym, 7–10:30pm Open Gym Basketball (30+) 8–10pm Open Gym Pickleball 9am–12pm Baby Storytime × Library, 10:30am School Taxes – SUN MON TUES Storytime (18 mo. & up) × WED Planning Advisory Commission Work Last Day of Discount Library, 10 & 11am Session Council Chambers, 6pm Open Gym Volleyball 27 28 29 Free Child Seat Inspectionsµ 30 20 & 30 Somethings Book (18+) 7–10pm Cranberry EMS, by Appt, 10am–5pm Discussion Library, 7pm Cranberry Plan Public Forum Municipal Ctr, 6pm Open Gym Basketball (18+) 8–10pm Open Gym Basketball (18+) 8–10pm

PAGE 14 Cranberrytoday Where has the time gone? SV, to celebrate 50 years of growth, excellence

By Linda Andreassi, Seneca Valley School District Communications Director

On July 1, 2015, Seneca Valley officially turns 50. Just as our Haine Elementary and Middle School communities have grown, so has our district. Original construction of what is now Haine Elementary School So, how did we get here? What follows is a brief look at our was completed in the summer of 1968. Renovations were history: made in 1975 and 1985. In 1996, the fifth and sixth grade middle school wing was completed with three floors. In 1957, a decision was made to unify a number of Rowan Elementary School independent schools, covering nine municipalities, into what eventually would become - on July 1, 1965 - the Southwest Rowan School was originally built in 1952, replacing four, Butler County School District. one-room school houses. Additional renovations were made in 1955, 1959 and 1990. In order to prepare and help unify secondary students who Seneca Valley Middle School were said to be very competitive sports rivals, officials in spring of 1961 brought together approximately 35-40 In the summer of 1971, construction of the Seneca Valley students from Evans City (the Rams) and Zelienople (the Junior High school was well underway. Once completed, it Bears) High Schools. The groups met to determine a name housed students in grades 7-9. In the fall of 1994, building and logo to represent the merger of the two high schools. makeup is shifted to house students in grades seven and The group, deciding to honor the rich Native American Indian eight. In the fall of 1997, change comes again, but this time history, suggested names as either Oneida or Seneca Valley. in the form of a new name – Seneca Valley Middle School. The color choices considered by the group were, besides The teaching concept was changed to incorporate the middle blue and black, either green and black, taupe and gold, or school curriculum that was taking shape at the lower grade crimson and white. The final high school name decision: level. Seneca Valley - Home of the Raiders (blue and black colors). Seneca Valley Intermediate High School The high school was completed in time for the doors to open The intermediate high school was originally built in 1964 to the first class in 1964-65, even if the official paperwork as the first official campus building. The former high school wasn’t completed until the end of that year. housed students in grades 10-12 until 1994. The building now houses freshmen and sophomores. Here’s a quick glimpse at how all of our individual schools Seneca Valley Senior High School came to be: The senior high school is the newest building in district Connoquenessing Valley Elementary School history after opening its doors to juniors and seniors in the On May 14, 1956, a ground was broken for construction fall of 1994 with an addition/renovation completed in 2008. of CVE-a joint decision of the school districts of Lancaster Township and Zelienople and Harmony Boroughs. Of course, this history lesson wouldn’t be complete without Approximately 16 months later, the doors opened to students mentioning that on July 1, 1987, the Southwest Butler County for the first time. School District was renamed the Seneca Valley School District to complement the already existing senior high and Evans City Elementary and Middle School middle schools of the same name. Housing more than 1,200 students in grades K-6, the existing Evans City School consists of three separate We are excited to celebrate 50 years of progression and wings built over a 50-year period. The original excellence, and can’t wait to see where the next building was dedicated as the Evans City 50 years take us! High School on March 11, 1938.

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 15 PUBLIC WORKS Ultimate Safety Challenge Tests Workers’ Safety Savvy Anyone can get hurt on the job. But hastily assembled into teams and given use the tractor’s fork lift to pick up a some jobs, like those in Cranberry’s safety scenarios which they then have basketball and drop it into a nearby sewer and water system, offer more to execute in the shortest period of trash can – a sensitive and difficult opportunities than others. time. Judges at the site of each scenario operation. make note of the items the teams did “If you made a basket, you actually right, as well as those they failed to People think they’re going to got to deduct two minutes off your execute. Their scores would then be score – which is significant when it’s a respond because they were compiled to determine the winners. timed event,” Sedon pointed out. “But “We’ve learned from history that people trained at some point. But if it turned out that most guys realized think they’re going to respond to a that the basket probably wasn’t worth it, you don’t practice, those situation because they were trained at so they just went as fast as they could some point. But actually, if you don’t skills deplete really quickly. through the rest of the course. practice, those skills deplete really quickly, and you’re not able to rise to the “We did have one basket maker, so that For example, you could become trapped occasion,” Sedon observed. guy has bragging rights,” he observed. in a manhole filled with a toxic gas. You “Afterwards, a couple other guys also could get burned bumping into high- On April 8, the Ultimate Safety Challenge wanted to try it – just to make sure that voltage electrical equipment. You could involved four teams, each going through they could do it, too.” fall from a ladder leading to the top of a series of four separate exercises: first ˜ a storage tank. You could get hit by a aid-CPR; Bobcat rodeo, confined space service vehicle. Or you could have a rescue, and a self-contained breathing medical emergency, like a heart attack, apparatus relay. at pretty much any time. “A lot of the scenarios were designed Those risks and others are all familiar to catch them off guard, to make them to the Township’s sewer and water think outside the box,” Sedon said. personnel. But preparing them for “Putting them on the clock is enough to such a wide range of possibilities on throw them off their A-game. Those are a moment’s notice and keeping that the things we tried to accomplish. And I training fresh in their minds, is a huge think they actually happened.” challenge, particularly when those skills Taming the Bobcats are seldom needed. Small, highly maneuverable Bobcat Mike Sedon, the manager of Cranberry’s Up to the Challenge. Public Works sewer tractors are in daily use, both by Brush Creek wastewater treatment and water division personnel compete in Township plant and field personnel. In plant, is well aware of that dilemma. various events during an April 8 Ultimate the Ultimate Safety Challenge, each Safety Challenge designed to keep their And he has been honing his approach operator had to run the tractor through life-saving skills razor sharp. to safety training for some time now. An a slalom course of safety cones without April 8 safety smackdown at the plant knocking over the pails stacked in its provided the most recent example. bucket, then change attachments and “When we were the old Sewer & Water Authority, we had a safety committee and I was the chairman,” Sedon explained. “I was trying to find ways to make safety interesting and challenging for the plant staff. So I came up with the idea of the Ultimate Safety Challenge. Timed teams Participants in the Challenge, which were drawn from all parts of the Public Works sewer and water operation, are

PAGE 16 Cranberrytoday PUBLIC WORKS Cranberry’s Intelligent Transportation Test Kitchen “Intelligent Transportation” is an Traffic Operations Center, umbrella term covering all the ways of a handful of conference using information to improve safety, attendees were treated to reduce travel times, and lower costs test rides in the project’s associated with getting from Point A highly modified Cadillac SRX to Point B. It applies to every mode of on Rt. 19. Along its route, surface transportation. It also applies to in partnership with CMU, a growing assortment of technologies, Cranberry had installed several of which were recently on special radio transmitters in display in Cranberry, just in time for a traffic signal control boxes Pittsburgh conference of ITS America, to alert the driverless car to Driver? What driver? Followers of advanced the nation’s largest organization for upcoming red lights. transportation technology got a close-up look at advancing Intelligent Transportation the autonomous car built by the CMU Traffic21 Although the car looks like Institute on the platform of a 2011 Cadillac SRX. The Systems. a stock version of GM’s demonstration ride started from Cranberry’s Public At least for now, there is no shared deluxe crossover, it is actually Works Operations Center and was part of the 2015 vision of what a fully developed outfitted with an assortment Intelligent Transportation System conference held at and integrated system of intelligent of sophisticated sensors that the David Lawrence Convention Center in June. transportation should actually look like. detect other vehicles around it, that typically deal with roadway So instead, hundreds of projects, each as well as road markings, GPS mishaps, including Cranberry’s first with a narrower and more specific focus, locations and traffic lights. All responders, offered their own take on are being pursued independently by a of that data is processed by an array what had happened and what they variety of players, each marching toward of computers hidden in the back of needed to carry their work out safely what they believe will be the future of the vehicle – and then used to and effectively. Among the issues they ground transportation, even if they’re operate its steering, braking, and faced: who else should be included not sure exactly what that will turn out acceleration systems. in that protocol? And what if their to be. Emergency response responsibilities conflict? Sometimes What’s cooking? Separately, the conference caught a they clash. Some of those projects have low glimpse of Western Pennsylvania’s For example, the top priority of profiles, including one where Traffic Incident Management system, ambulance operators is to extract intersection traffic data from Cranberry or TIM, which has been refined in the anyone injured in a wreck and get them is sent to Purdue University for use Cranberry area over the past several to the hospital as quickly as possible. in refining signal times. Another is a years. Although it’s far from the sort But for law enforcement, documenting prototype pole-mounted pan-tilt-zoom of high-tech innovation represented and preserving evidence that would video camera on Freedom Road which by CMU’s autonomous car, the TIM allow police to reconstruct the incident can detect vehicles in every lane – all system provides a protocol for sharing and determine where the responsibility at the same time. But the most visible information and coordinating the work falls, is also a high priority; disturbing is an Autonomous Car being developed of different stakeholders when a wreck evidence while attending to the injured by Carnegie-Mellon University’s Traffic21 or other unexpected event disrupts makes their work much more difficult. Institute. On the morning of June 3, traffic along key arterial roads. So it’s a balancing act. following a briefing in the Township’s At the conference, participants But for emergency professionals, simulated a meeting recognizing the needs, responsibilities Following a briefing in the Township’s Traffic of a regional TIM and resources of other agencies, and in which they building solid working relationships Operations Center, a handful of high officials discussed their between them, pays off Big Time of the U.S. Department of Transportation, agencies’ response when incidents actually do arise. And to a video showing Cranberry’s leading edge effort to share were treated to test rides in the highly a mockup wreck. that information effectively is helping modified Cadillac SRX on Rt. 19. Members of the America pave the way to more intelligent emergency services transportation safety. ˜ www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 17 ENGINEERING

Roadway Roundup Getting Around Is Gradually Getting Easier, Quicker, Safer Good news for congestion sufferers: the software components that enable combination, will eventually bring the Cranberry engineers are hard at work individual areas of the system to work. original vision into reality. easing Township traffic headaches. Stay tuned. But while relief is on its way, it’s not Rt. 228 necessarily fast-acting. For example: expansion. Adaptive traffic For years now, signals. There’s Cranberry has progress here. had a vision for Freedom Road. Two projects along Adaptive traffic Rt. 228: it was Freedom Road, at different stages, lights, a long- to widen and will eventually allow significant range goal of improve the improvements to traffic flow. One is Cranberry’s busy two-lane at its intersection with Valley Forge, traffic road to handle where drivers wanting to turn left management the additional from Freedom are obliged to wait until system, will volume of oncoming traffic opens up, forcing adjust signal traffic that was certain to materialize. vehicles behind them to wait. It is the timing to meet PennDOT supported that vision and last intersection along Freedom Road changing road was actively working with the Township in Cranberry where that’s the case, conditions, and do so in real time. to realize it. But in 2007, a major but it won’t be for long. New left turn It’s done using detectors at major highway bridge in Minnesota collapsed. lanes are now being added to that intersections – typically pole-mounted Pennsylvania’s policy-makers quickly intersection, allowing dedicated through video cameras – to sense the volume declared bridge safety as PennDOT’s lanes to operate continuously between and direction of traffic. primary concern, and the agency’s the Beaver County line and Rt. 19. resources were redirected toward bridge Normally, the Township’s signal Even so, it remains an interim project. maintenance and repair. New capacity sequences are governed by more than Freedom Road, like 228, is congested projects, like 228, fell off the priority a dozen preset time-of-day schedules and will ultimately require significant list. But Cranberry and PennDOT District based on established traffic patterns. new capacity changes. 10, which includes Butler County, never But when sensors using adaptive lost sight of their original vision, and last The other project involves replacing technology detect that something year the funding situation eased a bit. the road’s three-lane bridge over the unusual is happening – say, for As a result, new capacity projects are Turnpike. PennDOT currently has a example, an event letting out at the new coming back. replacement under design and is UPMC-Pens facility – the system can collaborating with the Township on a automatically switch from the model One element of that vision, propelled by regular basis, attempting to understand it would normally use at that time to a the crunch of late afternoon commuters local stakeholders’ needs in detail. different one that better matches the here, is a new eastbound traffic lane emerging conditions. Those changes in Cranberry, running about a mile would then cascade through the corridor from Cranberry Woods Drive to Franklin under control of the central system until Road. The money to build it remains to conditions changed back again. be secured, but funds for the design and engineering are now in hand. The But in order to become adaptive, you goal: by then end of 2016 to have need specialized hardware and software Unionville Road. There’s a curve just all the necessary clearances so that in place. Last year, PennDOT awarded below the intersection of Graham School the expansion will be shelf-ready as the Township several rounds of funding Road with Unionville Road which has soon as construction funding can be assistance under its Green Light Go been identified as an accident hotspot. attached to the project. The addition of grant program. This spring, those funds Township officials determined that the a new eastbound lane would be one of bought equipment now being installed a series of recent projects along 228 along a portion of Freedom Road, along Continued on page 19. between Cranberry and Rt. 8 which, in with the centralized system brain –

PAGE 18 Cranberrytoday intersection would lend itself to an Two years ago, when Butler County engineering fix. So this summer, replaced the bridge over Brush Creek following several months of work on Powell Road, Cranberry worked with with a contract designer to create an the County to make sure it included improved road configuration, that pedestrian amenities. The Township curve will be rebuilt. built connecting sidewalks linking the communities on Powell Road, west of the Turnpike, to that area. As a result, and North Boundary Park with a view Woodbine and Greenfields both have to creating access from the park’s pedestrian access to the point where southern end, at Goehring. Since that the new trail touches Powell Road. time, a lot of residential development has taken place along that road. So Beyond that, the recently built the Township is working to create roundabout at Freshcorn, Powell and pedestrian connectivity from there Glen Eden also includes pedestrian into the park and its trail system. To facilities. When the Powell Road Graham Park Trail. The permits and help achieve that, Cranberry recently Turnpike bridge is eventually replaced, approvals required to build a half-mile widened the berm of Goehring Road for pedestrian facilities will be added walking trial linking Powell Road to pedestrians and is working on a trail there as well. Once that happens, the the football campus of Graham Park leading from that widened berm to a pedestrian network will extend all the and beyond, are now in hand. Internal sidewalk at Franklin Crossings. From way from Cranberry Heights, Woodbine, park trails around the fishing pond and there, pedestrians can follow a trail that Greenfields, and Avery Fields, back to along Brush Creek through the park’s will be built through to North Boundary Graham Park. It will then continue on baseball campus are also in the works Park. The berm was paved this spring; to Rochester Road and Haine School this summer. A $90,000 matching grant Cranberry’s Public Works crew is by way of the park. for trail development has already been currently grading the trail. Work is also secured. That trail is a key component North Boundary Trail. Several underway to link the park to residential of the Township’s developing pedestrian years ago, Cranberry bought a piece developments at Franklin Crossings and network. of property between Goehring Road Franklin Ridge. ˜

Now Here’s The Plan... Seeking Advice Cranberry’s 2009 long-range Two important elements of Cranberry’s future could comprehensive plan is due for an benefit from your help: an update of the 1998 strategic update. That plan guides Cranberry plan for fire protection services, and guidance in Township’s policies, priorities and creating a robust bicycle-pedestrian infrastructure. legislative agenda through 2030. The Input from local residents and from members of update, scheduled to begin this summer Cranberry’s business community is welcome. To secure and conclude by year’s end, will examine that input, Cranberry’s Board of Supervisors authorized the progress made toward meeting the the formation of two separate committees, each of goals identified in that plan. Residents and members of the which will meet periodically to advise Township staff. Township’s business community who would like to get involved If you are interested in serving on either committee, will have a number of in-person and online opportunities to email planning@ do so, including a series of short surveys which will be posted cranberrytownship. online at www.CranberryTownship.org/CranPlanUpdate, a org expressing your Community Days “listening post” in Community Park, and a interest, your contact Town Hall Meeting on September 29 to review the results of the information, and a little update process. Other comments are also welcome; send your about your background. thoughts to: [email protected]. ˜ ˜ www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 19 PUBLIC SAFETY Invite A Thief Home Wipers And Lights; It’s really quite simple, according to It’s A Package Deal Cranberry Township police. Start out by leaving a purse and other valuables It’s hard to see when it rains. That’s why in your parked car, preferably on the cars have windshield wipers. But it’s also passenger seat where they can be easily removed with just hard to be seen. That’ why Pennsylvania, a quick window break, as recently happened to someone several years ago, enacted a law that in Community Park. Make sure to leave your house key in requires drivers to turn on their headlights there. Better still, leave your car unlocked so that thieves whenever their windshield wipers are on. It doesn’t can rummage through its contents without all the fuss and matter if it’s daytime and you don’t need the lights to see bother of actually having to break in. For many drivers, the road. You need the lights so that other drivers can see those contents will include a garage door opener, which you. Even cars with full-time running lights don’t satisfy provides the thief with easy access to your home. For the law; a car’s regular headlights and taillights both added convenience, leave your car unlocked when it’s need to be turned on. Although some newer cars come parked on your driveway and when you park during short factory-equipped with rain sensors that automatically errands. That way, if a thief is in a hurry, he can go about turn on both the wipers and headlights, most don’t. So his work without wasting a lot of time just hanging around. Cranberry police encourage drivers to bundle their lights with their wipers whenever they travel in the rain. ˜ The Etiquette Of Outdoor Burning In Cranberry Some outdoor fires are permitted in no outdoor fires can be burned during character by restricting the creation Cranberry Township; others are not. periods of high wind or extreme drought. of smoke, the emission of odors, and But what separates an allowable Adequate means for extinguishing fires the stockpiling of trash for fuel – all recreational fire from a nuisance fire must be within reasonable distance of which are likely to disturb nearby or a menacing fire? of any fire for as long as it burns. community residents. Different methods Recreational fires – which burn clean for disposing of trash, including leaves, The answer, which is outlined in wood or charcoal and are used for construction material, and household Cranberry’s Code of Ordinances, is purposes of companionship, cooking, waste, are available in the Township, somewhat nuanced – influenced by religion, ceremony, or warmth – must be and outdoor fires are not considered the fact that fires are used for different contained in a pit or an above-ground an acceptable alternative to the use purposes and that they can change structure no more than three feet in of those methods. character quickly. In essence, though, diameter and two feet or less in height. it’s that fires are allowed in Cranberry Under special circumstances, such as On top of that, all recreational fires have if they’re small, controlled, and used emergencies in which the fire chief to be completely extinguished before the for pleasure, not when they’re big, determines that open burning is in last adult is allowed to leave the scene. unattended, or used for trash disposal. the public interest, or after extensive Acceptable fires Bonfires – ceremonial fires which are storm damage where the Township has typically larger than recreational fires announced procedures to allow for such Cranberry’s ordinance has several goals. – require their leaders to secure, in burning, fires may be used, but here One, of course, is fire safety. What advance, a fire prevention permit from too, only with appropriate safeguards. begins as a well-managed recreational the Township’s Codes department. Otherwise, a schedule of citations, fines Permits are only issued to recognized and worse awaits convicted violators. A well-managed recreational organizations, and then only when appropriate safeguards are in place. 8 ˜ fire can morph into an out-of- Unwelcome fires control brush or structure fire In addition to preventing dangerous fire in a matter of seconds. situations, the ordinance 4 fire can, under the wrong conditions, attempts morph into an out-of-control brush or to preserve Guess which fire is okay in structure fire in a matter of seconds. So Cranberry’s Cranberry.

PAGE 20 Cranberrytoday PUBLIC SAFETY Cranberry’s Fire Company Is On Red Alert Smart phones have become ubiquitous. effectively. As a result, learning the touch interface. Anybody sitting in the Smart cars are starting to come on specifics of an incident as quickly truck would be able to see specific strong. And smart firefighting may be as possible is a huge priority for first information about the call. All of next. But first, a lot of work needs to responders. So, for the past three years, Cranberry’s GIS maps that pertain to be done. Cranberry’s fire company has been the fire company have been imported working at collecting and delivering that into the system. So it can handle all the When Butler County 9-1-1 issues a fire sort of detailed pre-planning information things a fire company does.” call, it typically comes across as a bare to firefighters electronically – before bones announcement: the location of Work remaining they ever arrive at the scene. the emergency, a code for its general But before that goal can be fully nature, whether victims are suspected Managing records realized, a huge amount of data to be involved, and which companies Their approach involves the use of a remains to be collected and then are being summoned to respond. records management system called entered into the system. Mark Nanna, But many critical details about the Red Alert made by Alpine Software. It a veteran firefighter who is also the incident are either unknown or not not only holds a wealth of information Township’s fire company Administrative immediately available – information about each structure in a community Assistant, is tasked with making which can only be determined when and then transmits it, on demand, to that happen – a chore that requires responders arrive at the scene. For firefighters’ cell phones and to tablets uploading site information collected by example, what is the building made mounted in the fire engines’ cabs, it can the Fire Company’s Pre-plan Committee of? How tall is it? How is its interior also track and manage a huge volume along with administrative data taken arranged? What sort of fire suppression of data related to the administrative from thousands of paper documents, equipment is on site? Where are the aspects of a fire company’s operations one page at a time. But he’s steadily nearest hydrants? What potentially – personnel, equipment, training, chipping away at it. hazardous materials are being stored certifications, hours, maintenance and “With the old system, you needed an there? Where are its utility shutoffs much, much more. That makes filing advanced degree to figure out how to located? state-required post-incident reports a make it work,” Nanna recalled. I worked whole lot faster and easier than ever with that system for about eight years before. Learning the specifics of and it was very, very difficult. This one an incident as quickly as Township IT Administrator Jeff Gooch is very user-friendly. It’s hooked up to – himself a firefighter in Cranberry the Butler 9-1-1 system and when a call possible is a huge priority volunteer fire company’s brigade – has comes in, it automatically starts to fill in for first responders. led the technology initiative, which certain blocks of information. began three years ago when Red Alert “It decreases the administrative burden was selected to replace an earlier, for me because I don’t have to sit here The answers can help determine what hard-to-use software package. and put a lot of stuff into the system strategies, what kinds of firefighting “It’s a complete records management that’s already generated from Butler equipment and which types of solution that ties into a mobile dispatch 9-1-1,” he said. “But it’s a work in specialized personnel will be needed functionality for the fire company,” progress. It’s going to take time. There to combat the fire most safely and Gooch explained, using the vernacular is just so much information out there. of his We’re not going to get full value from profession. the system until the pre-plan part of “It’s a full- it is done. Right now, 25 percent of the fledged pre-planning still needs to be completed. software But once that’s done, we’ll have 100 program percent of the system available to do with a whatever we want it to do.” ˜ Where’s the fire? Using the Red Alert system, touch-screen tablets mounted on each fire truck’s dashboard can display a variety of mission-critical information to firefighters responding to a 9-1-1 call.

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 21 FIRE COMPANY

Firefighter Profile: She’s Always Battled Stereotypes And Expectations. Now She’s Fighting Fires, Too. There is nothing that Gisica Abdallah – – still hates it. He doesn’t want to hear known to her American friends as Jess about it. It really bothers them that I’m – likes more than proving other people’s doing these things.” preconceived ideas about her are wrong. The volunteer culture As a woman, an Arab, a dual U.S.- Jordanian citizen, and a Christian born Those reasons involve a combination of into a traditional Palestinian household, culture, tradition and economics. “First there is no shortage of stereotypes that of all, Arabs don’t really have the time she feels compelled to disprove. to volunteer; that’s one of the things I found with my family,” she recalled. “At But, as a newly credentialed Township first, when I started volunteering as an firefighter, a math tutor, an engineering EMT in New Jersey, they would ask: why student, a fitness buff, a certified would you do it? I would say: because nutritionist and a former EMT you’re helping people. But that’s a volunteer, as well as a single woman, concept they don’t understand. the stereotypes and expectations she encounters are not just those of her “I think it’s a western thing. It comes American friends; in many cases they with the wealth of the country. Back home, you don’t have people with time Her own family has struggled to donate for free. You do what you do seriously. I don’t want to go somewhere to survive. They want to see whatever and not be able to help.” to accept her unconventional you’re doing as benefitting you. If The mother tongue choices. there isn’t a benefit, then why are you doing it? I see it differently; it’s that Although she speaks without a trace I’m helping somebody. That’s a of an accent, Jess never uttered a begin right at home, with her own family, benefit for me. word of English until she was ten years which has struggled to accept her old, when her family moved from their “For example, I went on a fire call a few unconventional choices. home in Jordan to Montgomery County, days ago. We didn’t really do anything Maryland. “I grew up in a very traditional Arab big, but the guy was so thankful we were house,” she explained. “The woman is there helping him that he came out and “Arabic was my first language,” she a woman, and the guy is the man of shook our hands. That was good enough explained. “I also speak Spanish and the house. I grew up in an environment for me. It was just a little thing. But I get I’m trying to learn French. Why not? The where I’d have to do certain things as rewarded by just being here – honestly.” more people you can communicate with, a woman. I hated that. So my entire the better. A couple years ago I went There’s also the feeling of community life I’ve been trying to prove everybody to France, and they weren’t very nice connection. “You don’t know the wrong.” to me. So I told myself the next time I sense of belonging to a community or come, I’m going to know your language. Today, at least in their Cranberry home, belonging to an organization until you which Jess has shared with her parents actually do it,” she said. “It’s a different “Learning languages comes easily to and siblings since the family moved experience than for people who don’t me,” she reflected. “I enjoy it. But when here six years ago, things have gradually volunteer. Here, I’ve been welcomed. I went to Fire School, it was a whole improved. “My family’s gotten really laid They tease me all the time; I’m just part new vocabulary set for me. It’s ridiculous back about it,” she conceded. “But my of the family. It’s great. But I also work how many new words I learned. It’s extended family – my uncle in Maryland out a lot because I need to be taken really cool.” ˜ Cranberry welcomes new Fire Company volunteers throughout the year. To learn more, call 724-776-1196.

PAGE 22 Cranberrytoday FIRE COMPANY

A Gentle Nudge Fire Truck Bookcase Drives Into On May 12, Members of Cranberry’s Volunteer Fire Cranberry Library Company, in a symbolic act dating back to the days Cranberry’s volunteer firefighters of horse-drawn fire wagons, gently pushed their newly would rather prevent fires from arrived aerial ladder truck into its Haine Station bay for happening than to fight them once the first time. The well-equipped truck, which was built they’ve spread, so fire prevention by Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton, Wisconsin, carries has become a key part of the fire an on-board water supply, room for six fully-outfitted company’s mission. On March 27, firefighters, and an innovative compressed air foam as part of that initiative, members system that injects a chemical surfactant into the water of the Fire Company delivered a rack of fire safety-related line along with pressurized air – helping the water to books for young readers to the Cranberry Public Library. saturate and smother burning material. Features to The books are displayed in a handmade red and white enhance firefighter safety include air bags, seatbelt bookcase shaped like a fire engine and equipped with monitors, and a wireless intercom – a necessity for several child-size seats, as well as tiny ladders, pike hooks, communicating in the high-decibel confines of a fire and other classic implements of firefighting. Originally truck’s passenger compartment. Hydraulic outriggers housed in a Robinson Township school library, the newly that extend remodeled fire truck bookcase will remain a permanent four feet fixture in the Cranberry Library’s Children’s Room. from either side help to ˜ stabilize the vehicle at the scene of www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 23 a fire. ˜ PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Permit #25 Cranberry Twp., PA

724-776-4806 www.cranberrytownship.org 2525 Rochester Rd, Ste. 400, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066

Board of Supervisors Bruce Mazzoni, Chairman Mike Manipole, Vice Chairman Richard Hadley / Bruce Hezlep / John Skorupan POSTAL PATRON Jerry Andree, TOWNSHIP MANAGER CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA 16066

Paul Staudenmaier Contributing Photographer Shelley Notaro Layout and Design Peter Longini Editor

Bike Rodeo Seeks To Corral Young Cyclists After a seven-year hiatus, Cranberry’s Bike Safety Rodeo is coming back to town. From 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 18, Cranberry Township Police will host the event in the main parking lot of Community Park. The event, which includes helmet checks, bike safety checks, and rider performance skill checks, is being offered in collaboration with Cranberry Elks, AAA, and Trek of Pittsburgh. No advance registration is necessary, and the event is free of charge. Riders with defective helmets as well as those without helmets, will be issued new ones. Another important goal of the Rodeo is to educate young riders about their obligation to observe traffic laws whenever they’re on public roads – a lesson which is frequently overlooked. In the event of rain, the Rodeo will held July 25.