WHAT’S NEWS IN CHARTIERS VALLEY
Finale on Dec. 17. Chinese Auction and a
book sale will be on display the entire time.
Votes can be purchased for $1 each. Votes
will be tallied and winners will be announced
at the finale. Special events will take place
and will be announced at a later time. For
information on how to enter a tree (which is
free) or if you should have any questions you
can call the library at 412.221.3737 or visit
friendsofbpl.org for further details.
BRIDGEVILLE NATIVE
KEEPS THE NAVY’S
NEWEST, MOST
ADVANCED HELICOPTERS
FLYING
South Fayette High School graduate and
Bridgeville native is serving with a U.S. Navy
helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s
newest and most technologically advanced
helicopter.
Petty Officer 1st Class Marlene Ciesielski
is a Navy Counselor with the “Vipers” of
Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM)
48, a Mayport, Florida-based squadron that
operates the Navy’s next generation submarine
hunter and Anti-Surface Warfare helicopter,
the MH-60R Seahawk. Each helicopter is
nearly 65 feet long, may weigh up to 23,500
lbs. (max gross) and can travel over 120 miles
per hour for nearly 320 miles on a tank of gas.
As a Navy Counselor, Ciesielski is
responsible for providing advice and helping
sailors in their personal and professional
decision-making process.
According to Navy officials, the MH-60R
is the most capable multi-mission helicopter
available in the world today. It is used for a
variety of missions, including hunting and
tracking enemy submarines, attacking enemy
ships, search and rescue, drug interdiction,
delivering supplies and supporting the Navy’s
special operations forces.
FRIENDS OF THE
BRIDGEVILLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY
The Friends of the Bridgeville Library will
host the annual Christmas Tree Festival at the
library this season. Trees will be on display
throughout so the public can stop in at any
time during library hours, Monday – Thursday
from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be a light-
up celebration on Dec. 8, as well as a Festival
8 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Chartiers Valley
teens assisted by the Ward Home graduated
from high school.
In partnership with the Allegheny County
Department of Human Services, Ward Home
is piloting a supplemental program, titled My
Best Self, specifically designed for foster youth
ages 12 to 21 living in Allegheny County.
Through this program, local foster children
will have access to a supportive environment
that teaches self-care and social skills,
empowering them to look good, feel better and
be their best self.
WARD HOME APPOINTS
MEMBERS TO INAUGURAL
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Ward Home, Inc. announced the
appointment of seven inaugural members
to an Advisory Council that will provide
guidance and support to the 112-year-old
human service agency, including its Board of
Directors and executive staff.
“As Ward Home’s executive director, it is a
privilege to announce the appointees to our
newly formed Advisory Council,” said Bill
Wolfe. “These individuals already support
Ward Home through service and engagement,
and they will help us continue to build upon
Ward Home’s legacy.”
2017 Ward Home Advisory Council:
Bob Fragasso
Janine Fragasso
Shawn Gatto
Mark Haak
Sarah Keisel
Jennifer Landon
Jonathan Landon
Ward Home provides supervised
independent living services for at-risk foster
teens and young adults ages 16 to 21 in
Allegheny County. Each year, through its
Supervised Independent Living Program,
Ward Home provides critical life skills to
more than 60 foster teens, including education
support, employment preparation, safety and
well-being management, and future planning.
Over the last three years, 100 percent of the
CHABAD OF THE SOUTH
HILLS 5TH ANNUAL
SOUTH HILLS LIGHTS
COMMUNITY CHANUKAH
CELEBRATION
Chabad of the South Hills presents the
5th Annual South Hills Lights Community
Chanukah Celebration at the Galleria Mt.
Lebanon, upper level, on Wednesday, Dec.
13, at 6 p.m. There will be live entertainment,
lighting of a 12-foot Menorah, Klezmer music,
food, raffle prizes and more. The event is free
and open to the public.
Preregistration for the event, although not
required, is greatly appreciated. To register, call
412.344.2424, email [email protected]
or register at chabadsh.com.
GIFT DONATION DROP-
OFF LOCATIONS FOR 2017
DHS HOLIDAY PROJECT
The Department of Human Services
Holiday Project is collecting new, unwrapped
gifts for children and youth who receive
services through the Department of Human
Services Office of Children, Youth and
Families.
“The DHS Holiday Project benefits from
the generosity of the region’s business and
nonprofit communities each year, but we
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