Community Year in Review
Observer-Reporter
Larry Bowman’s dog Mollie visits with Joey Burns at Transitions Healthcare in Washington. Joey, a quadriplegic, has been in nursing care since he was injured playing football at age 16.
Photo courtesy Randi Marodi
Bernie is part of the family at Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home Inc. in Bentleyville.
Photo courtesy Sgt. William Cramer
Arie is all smiles after receiving a new bicycle from East Bethlehem Police Department and Bikers Helping Others.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Nina Thompson of Scenery Hill has made dozens of pillows for peace for children who enter the Women’s Shelter so they have something of their own.
Scott Beveridge/Observer-Reporter
Tom Novili manages the duckpin bowling lanes at the American Croation Citizens Club in Donora.
Observer-Reporter
Jadon Cole of Canonsburg concentrates as he attaches another Lego to his tower during a meeting of the Lego Club at Chartiers-Houston Community Library.
Observer-Reporter
A mosaic of Zentangle tiles created by Lynne Martinelli of Upper St. Clair
Every day, ordinary people – and animals – do extraordinary things.
We regularly receive information from readers who want to share what altruistic deeds their neighbors and friends are committing.
In 2017, a 12-year-old girl assembling comfort items for shelter residents, a man bringing his dogs to lift the spirits at a personal care home, and a police officer providing bikes for kids in his neighborhood were just three of the many acts of kindness displayed in Washington and Greene counties and the Mon Valley.
Other stories that stuck with us include Legos, duckpins and Zentangle.
The comfort of pets
Bernie, a goldendoodle puppy, became a part of the Marodi family in March.
A therapy dog in training, Bernie makes mourners feels better at the Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home in Bentleyville.
Studies show animals can reduce tension, improve mood and reduce tension, and Bernie has been doing just that.
“It helps people forget they are in a funeral home for a few minutes,” owner Randi Marodi told the Observer-Reporter. “Our main goal is to make it a little more comfortable for people and less stressful.”
Bernie graduated from the Garrow Canine Basic Obedience Class in Charleroi in November.
Other dogs who provided comfort this year were Jasper and Molly, who made regular visits to Transitions Healthcare, Washington, with their owner, Larry Bowman.
The retired electrician started bringing the dogs to visit his mother, Ellen, when she was a resident. He continued after her death because the residents enjoyed the visits so much.
“There are lots of smiles when (residents) see the dogs,” said activities director Maria Guarascio.
Bikes to the rescue
East Bethlehem Township police officer Sgt. William Cramer with Bikers Helping Others provided 12 bicycles to children in the neighborhood in the spring.
One warm day, residents of Frederick Terrace stopped the officer to see if any donated or abandoned bikes were available. Instead of trying to find used bikes, he got in touch with Bikers Helping others, a community-outreach group based in Fredericktown.
Members collected $2,000 to purchase the bikes, which were distributed to residents.
“The kids were thrilled,” said Cramer. “They couldn’t believe you were giving them something and not asking for something in return.”
Pillows for Peace
Nina Thompson, 12, of Scenery Hill, and her grandmother, Mary Thompson, spent hours filling homemade pillowcases with toiletries, toys and towels for children staying with their mothers in Washington Women’s Shelter.
“It was so special coming from a child for another child,” said Kelly Young of Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania. “It’s nice to provide children at the shelter with items of their own. Often, they come here with nothing but the clothes on their back.”
The Thompsons received strong support from the community. Members of Davidson United Methodist Church donated supplies and two women who are members of Grace United Methodist Church made the pillowcases. Dentist Duane Snee of Washington has donated toothbrushes and toothpaste.
“We wanted to use pillows because they’re comforting and the kids there should have something of their own,” said Nina.
Duckpins in Donora
Duckpin bowling is a time capsule from the 1950s found at the American Croatian Citizens Club in Donora. The social club opened lanes to the public in April.
Six duckpin lanes nearly fill the first floor of the club, where there are two rows of benches for players and an Art Deco-style desk used by the person who manages the action.
The game, which uses duckpins that are 6 1/2 inches shorter than traditional pins, is supposed to be more difficult to play than regular bowling and draws enthusiasts.
“It is difficult to score a perfect game,” said Mundo Amicucci of Donora. “I just love duckpin bowling.
Library play
While libraries continue to provide reading materials, other past-times can be found among the shelves.
Lego clubs, where children create alongside other master builders, have popped up in many libraries, including Chartiers-Houston Community Library.
The popularity of Legos, invented in the 1940s, have waxed and waned over the years. But, in 2014, the resurgence of the building blocks came full-circle with the release of “The Lego Movie.”
Today, Legos are as popular as ever. Children and adults liven up the library weekly when they create whatever they can imagine.
Another trend libraries have adopted is offering art and craft classes.
Zentangle, a method of drawing using structured, repetitive patterns, was taught, starting in January, at Frank Sarris Public Library in Canonsburg.
Zentangle creations appear intricate and complicated, but the process is meditative and relaxing. And there are no mistakes.
“It’s a tool, and it’s not an expensive tool,” said instructor Lynne Martinelli of Upper St. Clair. “All you need is a pencil and paper.”