M.A.G.I.C. Moments Newsletter

M.A.G.I.C. MOMENTS NEWSLETTER

MARCH 17, 2010

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CHANGES IN FIND OUT SERVICES:

Due to ongoing budget cuts, the Find Out Program has been forced to make changes in their service delivery. For the present time, Find Out will be focused on maintaining the website with all the pertinent updates and additions to the Resource Directory, populating the Community Calendar with the wide variety of events that are available in Greene County and compiling and distributing the MAGIC Moments Newsletter each month. While some things have changed, our dedication to providing accurate and up to date information has not and we will continue to offer the best possible service in spite of the existing constraints.

SMOKE DETECTORS:

Greene County Human Services reminds county residents that FREE smoke detectors are available at Catholic Charities in Waynesburg. The smoke detectors are made available through a collaborative effort among Greene County Human Services, the Safe Kids Coalition and the Waynesburg police. To obtain a smoke detector, please call Catholic Charities at 724-627-6410.

FREE INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE:

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program is preparing for the upcoming tax season. Waynesburg University students will work with VITA now through April 1st to assist low-income individuals and families with tax preparation. The service will be available from 5:30 PM to 9 PM every Monday and Thursday at the Community Action Southwest Office (58 E. Greene Street in Waynesburg) and the Carmichaels Activity Center (100 Nemacolin Road in Carmichaels) to those that qualify. Requirements include filing a mandatory 1040 form and having an annual income that does not exceed $38,000. This is a free tax preparation service. Call Community Action Southwest for more information 724-852-2893 or visit online at

SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM:

We’ll be feeding kids all summer!

While learning does not end when school lets out, neither does the need for good nutrition. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is good nutritious food that’s “in” when school is “out”. It was created to ensure that children in low income areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast.

This summer in Greene County, summer meals will be provided to youth, 18 years of age and younger, throughout the county. We are looking for organizations willing to host as Summer Food Service Program sites. Organizations that typically serve as SFSP sites might include churches, summer camps, vacation Bible schools, community centers, playgrounds, and school districts. But there are many more opportunities to serve as a Summer Food Service Program site.

We are looking for volunteers who would be willing to serve meals at Summer Food Service Program sites. We are also looking for individuals and organizations that might be able to provide some type of program to support a Summer Food location. Please join us in supporting the children of Greene County! Together we can make a difference. For more information, please call Mary Trauth at the Greene County Human Services Department 724-852-1943 OR 1-800-433-1943.

RECOVERY FAMILY EDUCATION PROGRAM:

March 17thmarks the beginning of the Recovery Family Education (RFE) series in the Medical Arts Building next to Southwest Regional Medical Center. The RFE is designed to help family members of individuals who suffer from mental illness. This is accomplished through a six week series, where we cover the fundamentals of mental illness. The program is designed to encourage an environment of collaboration within families, decreasing conflict that is specific to misunderstanding of what mental illness is and what it is not. The classes are free and are facilitated by Jonathan Johnson Licensed Clinical Social Worker. If you are interested or would like more information please call724 -627- 2756.

WEST GREENE CRIME WATCH:

March 17th from 7 PM to 8:30 PM at Harvey’s Grange in Graysville the West Greene Crime Watch will hold their monthly meeting. Rod Burns will give a presentation on handgun safety. State police trooper Bart Lemansky will also be attending. A class on handling guns will be scheduled for a later date. Refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend.

ZUMBA EXERCISE CLASSES:

March 17, 24, 31 and April 7th are the last four dates scheduled for the Zumba Class.. Zumba dances seamlessly flow from toning, to strengthening and to cardio as the music changes. Participants are working out while being entertained with a wide variety of rhythms. The exercises help the body to burn calories, tone all muscle groups, engage full range of motion and improve the cardiovascular system. Fun and music are the two main ingredients. Please dress in comfortable clothing (including nice shoe support) and bring water and a towel. The classes will be held at the Greene County Fairgrounds in the upper level of the 4H Building from 6 to 7 PM. Fee is $8.00 per individual class. Everyone is welcome.

DAFFODIL DAYS:

March 18th American Cancer Society (ACS) annual fundraising event has arranged that orders of any size may be picked up at the Greene County Fairgrounds (Auction Building) from 10 AM to 3 PM. Also, volunteers will be selling daffodils outside of Walmart from 10 AM until 8 PM on March 18, 19 & 20th. Orders will be taken until March 9th and most deliveries will be on March 17th unless your choice is to pick up orders at the fairgrounds . To order please call ACS at 724-222-6911. To volunteer for site sales please call Lori at 724-998-0103. Items that can be purchased include: Bunch of daffodils for $10; Mini-potted daffodils in 4 inch pot for $12; Bear and a Bunch for $25; Project Hope, which brings the daffodils to cancer patient in hospitals and cancer survivors in nursing homes for $10 a bunch; Special edition daffodils vase and a bunch for $15 and Chocolate daffodil lollipops for $1.00.

2010 CAREER & COLLEGE FAIR:

March 19th from 9 AM to 2 PM Penn Commercial Business/Technical School will be hosting a free career and college fair. Over 500 vendors have been invited to attend this event. There will be raffles and prizes. Location is Penn Commercial 242 Oak Spring Road in Washington. For more information please contact Ida William at 724-222-5330 Ext. 240 or email

INDOOR YARD SALE:

March 20th the auxiliary of Center Township Volunteer Fire Department will hold an indoor yard sale at the Rogersville Fire Hall. Table space is available for $10. To reserve a table please contact Judy at 724-499-5181 or Terry at 724-499-5385.

NURSE AIDE TRAINING PROGRAM:

March 22nd to April 16th the Greene County Education Center of Westmoreland County Community College will offer a special session on Nurse Aide Training. The classes will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Cost is $425 plus $10 material fee. Students will be eligible to take the PA Nurse Aide Certification Exam. PA Criminal Record Report and a physical exam are required prior to enrollment. Call the Greene County Education Center at 724-627-3464 for more information.

KINSHIP CAREGIVER PROGRAM:

This new service is the first program to be implemented under the Integrated Children’s Service Plan (ICSP) and is categorized under the key strategy for “School Success.” The purpose of the Kinship Caregiver Program is to provide education, training, information and support to relative caregivers. The program will work with the kinship caregivers, schools and community providers to promote school success for the children. The goals include: improving communication about the many services in our community that could help support the kinship caregivers & their family; offer written materials, monthly newsletters, program resources and fact sheets on a wide variety of issues that face the kinship caregiver in order to build the strength of the family; provide a forum for kinship caregivers and children to help identify and plan needed services and supports; train kinship caregivers about agency policies and help them prepare to be caregivers; help kinship caregivers to be actively involved in the children's education and become stronger advocates. For more information please contact Mary Trauth (Greene County Human Services Ft. Jackson Building 3rd Floor 19 S. Washington St., Waynesburg) 724-852-5276 Ext. 536 or 1-888-317-7106 Ext. 536.

GRANDPARENTS AND RELATIVES AS PARENTS SUPPORT GROUP MEETING:

March 22nd from 5:30 PM to 7 PM will be the second meeting for this recently formed support group. Meetings will be held at the CARE Center located at 35 S. West Street in Waynesburg. This support group welcomes grandparents or relatives age 45 and over who are raising grandchildren or another relative’s children. The group will continue to meet on the 4th Monday of each month offering an opportunity for grandparents and relative care givers to come together and provide mutual support and advocacy for each other. The support group meetings will be presenting eight consecutive monthly workshops entitled “Parenting the Second Time Around.” These workshops are designed specifically to meet the needs of grandparents, relatives and other non-parental caregivers who are parenting related & non-related children. Topics include child and adolescent development, discipline and guidance, acknowledgement of ambivalent feelings, rebuilding a family, living with teens, legal issues and advocacy. The workshops are entitled as follows: Workshop #2—“Getting to Know You”; Workshop #3—“Rebuilding a Family”; Workshop #4—“Discipline is Not a Dirty Word, But It May Look Different Today”; Workshop #5—“Legal Concerns of Relatives Raising Children”; Workshop #6—“Standing up for Grandparents/Grandchildren’s Rights”; Workshop #7—Grandparents and Teens Living Together”; Workshop #8—“Living with Teens Can Be Challenging”. Children are also invited and child care along with activities will be provided. There will also be refreshments and a door prize. For more information or to register please call: Southwestern PA Area Agency on Aging, Inc Grandparent Program 1-888-300-2704 Ext. 4646.

NURSE AIDE TRAINING PROGRAM:

PAVING THE PATH TO KINDERGARTEN:

March 22nd from 10 AM to 11:30 PM the Greene County Early Care and School Success Community Engagement Team and the Greene County Family Center will continue their sessions for a special program called “Paving the Path to Kindergarten.” Free books, materials and a meal will be provided. Additional dates for the program are: April 26th from 5:30 PM to 7 PM, May 24th from 10AM to 11:30 AM and June 28th from 11 AM to 1 PM. The sessions will include introductions to the days of the week, months of the year, name recognition, school bus orientation and the Pledge of Allegiance. These sessions will be held at the Waynesburg Family Center located at 1505 Morris Street in Waynesburg (724-627-3226).

GREENE COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB:

March 23rd from 7 PM to 8:30 PM at the Waynesburg Bible Chapel (800 East Greene Street) the Greene County Photography Club will hold their monthly meeting. The club competition this month is "green" or "St. Patrick's Day". The program "How to Use MovieMaker" will be presented by Kathy Douglas. New members are always welcome. Please check out our website for more information at

FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP & SOCIAL SKILL/PLAY GROUP:

March 23rd from 6 PM to 7:30 PM families that are affected by autism and related disorders are invited to a program offering support for the entire family. Social skills/play group will be offered during the Family Support Group session. Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and their siblings are welcome. This will be an opportunity for all children to develop their socialization, play skills and coping with each other’s uniqueness and differences. All ages are welcome. In order to ensure a proper staff-child ratio, a RSVP is required (no later than March. 19th by calling 724-438-4960). This program is sponsored by Family Behavioral Resources and any general questions can be answered by calling 1-866-4-FBR-ASD. Up to the minute support group updates are available on the website This group will continue to meet on the 4th Tuesday of each month at the Family Behavioral Resources office (253 South Mount Vernon Avenue in Uniontown).

TRACTOR DRIVING SAFETY CLASSES:

March 24, 31, April 6 & 10 In order to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act, youth 14 and 15 years of age must be certified to operate farm tractors and certain machinery off the family farm. To complete the certification process, participants must complete a series of task sheets and pass their written skills and driving examination. Participants must attend ALL four classes to receive their certificate. Fee is $15. And registration by March 17th is required. Classroom Training will take place on March 24, 31 and April 6th from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Greene County Extension Office (26 W. High Street, Waynesburg) and the Knowledge Test & Skills & Driving Test will take place on Saturday, April 10th from 9 AM to noon at the Greene County Fairgrounds. Please call the Greene County Extension Office at 724-627-3745 to register.

SPRING MUSICAL:

March 24 – 27 at 7:30 PM Waynesburg University Players will present the story of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” at the Goodwin Performing Arts Center. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend. For more information please call 724-852-3226.

PRODUCE TO PEOPLE:

March 25th from 10 AM to noon at the Greene County Fairground (this distribution usually falls on the 4th Thursday of the month). Free food distributions are available to all eligible persons. All participants are requested to please bring their own bags or boxes for packing their items. No proof of income or residency is required at this distribution, however everyone must sign a self-declaration of need form at the distribution site. No one may pick up food for another person unless pre-authorized at the Salvation Army. If you have any questions, please call Sister Audrey Quinn at 724-852-1479. (Mark your calendar for future distribution dates: 4/22/2010, 5/27/2010, 6/17/2010, 7/22/2010, 8/26/2010 and 9/23/2010).

ESSAY & POETRY CONTEST:

March 26th is the deadline date to enter this contest sponsored by the Pittsburgh Pirates. This special contest is open to all students grades 3 to 8. Contest winners will be honored during an on-field ceremony before the Pirates-Reds game on Friday, April 16th as the Pirates celebrate Jackie Robinson Day at PNC Park. Entries may be mailed to: Pittsburgh Pirates/ Attn: Chaz Kellem 115 Federal Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Link to for more details on how to participate or go to

EASTER EGG HUNT:

March 27th the Social Services League will hold their annual Easter Egg Hunt for all children age 12 and under (the area will be divided into 5 age groups for the event). Children should bring a basket or bag for gathering their eggs and be expecting a visit from the Easter Bunny. In case of bad weather, the event will be re-scheduled for the following Saturday (April 3rd) and this would be announced on WANB. The hunt begins promptly at 10 AM, so don't be late! The egg hunt takes place in West Park (the last park situated nearest the Bowlby Public Library) on West Street in Waynesburg.

MASTER GARDENERS SPRING SEMINAR:

March 27th from 8:30 AM to noon Penn State Cooperative Extension Services are sponsoring the Master Gardeners Spring Seminar to be held at the Greene County Fairgrounds. Please call by March 20th to register for this workshop---724-627-3745 or visit their website at

PERFORMING ARTS SERIES:

March 30th Waynesburg University will present bassoonist Alexander Popov at the Goodwin Performing Arts Center at 7:30 PM. Mr. Popov is from Russia and a top winner in international woodwind competitions. Admission is free for Waynesburg students and $5.00 for the general public.

ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS CAMP:

April 1st Application Deadline: Department of Conservation and Natural Resources acting Secretary John H. Quigley is inviting young men and women across the state to apply for its summer residential camp for high-school students interested in pursuing environmental careers.

The ultimate camp goal is to introduce 20 to 25 students to conservation and environmental careers, and encourage their pursuit. From sampling streams for fish and aquatic life, to developing forestry skills, daily activities are planned to get students out in the field to meet and observe environmental professionals.

Participants are exposed to a wide range of career experiences, including water quality assessments, geology field studies, and overnight camping experiences. There will be opportunities to meet conservation professionals to learn about career opportunities.

Specialists and officials of DCNR's bureaus of state parks, forestry and topographic and geologic survey will offer the instruction and daily activities without charge. Selected students in grades 10-12 will receive a hands-on, team-building learning experience in an outdoor setting. After the camps, attendees will have a chance to seek internships, mentoring and job-shadowing positions, and return as future camp leaders.

Applications must be submitted by April 1. For enrollment applications and information, visit email ; call (724) 865-7857 or write to ECO Camp Coordinator, Bureau of State parks, Environmental Education and Information Division, P.O. Box 8551,
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8551.

SKATE & DANCE:

April 2nd and May 7th the Mon View Roller Rink in Greensboro will be hosting Friday night “Skate and Dance” events. The skating portion will take place from 6 PM to 9 PM (fee of $5.00) and the dancing will be from 9 PM to 11 PM (fee of $4.00). Fee will only be $8.00 to attend both skating and dancing. These events are sponsored by the Greene County Commissioners and the Dept. of Recreation. Contacts: Mon View Roller Rink: (724-943-3440) or Dept. of Recreation (724-852-5323).

BEHM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT AUCTION: