Jan 26, 2018 3 min read

Here at Observer Publishing Company, we’re always on the lookout for standout neighbors. These could be people of any age or occupation, but the common denominator for this publication is that they are working to make the Mon Valley a better place, working on making a name for themselves, and upon achieving those goals, shouting loud and proud about where they come from.

The newly crowned Miss Pennsylvania USA, Olivia Suchko, is a prime example. At 21 years old, the Belle Vernon native has been elevated to a national stage, and that will get even more prominent when she competes in the Miss USA pageant in a few months, on live, national television. At any rate, when the press release came across my desk, I just knew she was the cover story for this issue. And upon speaking with her and asking her about her plans, this likely isn’t the only time Suchko will grace these pages.

Right before Christmas, we fast-tracked getting this photo shoot scheduled and coordinated. We chose Vinoski Winery in Belle Vernon not only because we were looking for a Belle Vernon locale, but because of its stunning beauty and number of options for backgrounds. And, another story for this issue was born. You can read my interview with Suchko on page 14, and you can learn more about the Vinoski property on page 18. The Vinoskis have made a number of changes to the property, with most of the work thus far aimed at turning it from a home into a commercial/retail space.

On the other side of the river and a few miles away in Charleroi, Johnna Pro has been working to make the area a better place. She has a diverse resume, and was honored recently by the Mon Valley Initiative with the 2017 Sen. John H. Heinz III Award for Community Service for helping organizations work together to foster community and economic development. Staff writer Katie Anderson sat down with her at her home to discuss the award and her work as the regional director of community affairs for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development – and some of her other endeavors over the years, including theatre.

In Charleroi, the River House Cafe is celebrating a decade in business this month. A lot has happened on McKean Avenue since Michael and Lori Coury opened the doors in 2008, and there’s no denying that their restaurant has played a part in the revitalization of the area. Once one successful business opens, more often than not, others follow. You can read their story in Kristin Emery’s piece on page 22.

Finally, don’t put this issue down without looking at the back page to see if you recognize the historic photos that we pulled from our archive – and literally know nothing about. Hopefully we can glean locations and approximate dates, and if we do, we will publish the info in the next issue.

Best,