It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Clayton gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Penn Hills, PA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Have to say heard great thing about this company and the growth and great support”
“This job has been an amazing experience and funny and they give great vibes to”
“This agency provides amazing care to the clients, Very reliable highly recommended!!!”
“I just want to say Always Best Care has been vital to my parents end”
“My grandmother has been getting to and from her appointments with no issues and finally”
“I love working for these guys. Pretty flexible and my bosses are understanding that life”
“I am a current client of this provider We have Always Best Care of Pittsburgh. They”
“The Best Care !�”
“I work for always best care of Fox Chapel I meet the greatest people. I”
“Have to say heard great thing about this company and the growth and great support for workers and clients ????”
“This job has been an amazing experience and funny and they give great vibes to in the workplace I highly consider working for this place we are like a family !!”
“This agency provides amazing care to the clients, Very reliable highly recommended!!!”
“I just want to say Always Best Care has been vital to my parents end of life care. They make sure to consider the patient as a person and not another client. Top notch care for the two most important people in my life.”
“My grandmother has been getting to and from her appointments with no issues and finally got the right care since joining this agency! She finally has someone to help her clean and organize the way she likes it and helps her make her favorite meals! If you’re looking for someone to care for you I’d give this place a chance.”
“I love working for these guys. Pretty flexible and my bosses are understanding that life happens. They go out of their way to help their caregivers and their elderly clients. Best company to work for! Love you guys.”
“I am a current client of this provider We have Always Best Care of Pittsburgh. They help my mom with whatever she needs, like a run to the store, making food, laundry, and that sort of thing. I haven't had any trouble with the agency. We've had two to three different caregivers, they're always good and on time. They come three times a week for four hours a day.”
“The Best Care !�”
“I work for always best care of Fox Chapel I meet the greatest people. I have the best boss and I absolutely would refer anybody who has a Caring Heart to be an employee of this company. I also refer anyone who needs someone of the Caring Heart in their life to help them with their daily living needs. Always best care is there for you I'm happy to be working for this company.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Universal Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Pasqualino's Italian Restaurant or visit Neill Log House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Penn Hills, PA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Penn Hills, PA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Penn Hills, PA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
On Saturday, the 2024 WPIAL football playoff brackets were revealed to determine seedings of brackets across the WPIAL’s six classifications.While many teams across the Beaver Valley knew their fate after claiming section titles and capturing automatic bids, there were several teams across the area whose fates were in the hands of the WPIAL Football Steering Committee as it would select a total of 16 wild card teams across five classifications.Let’s take a look at the field across the five classificat...
On Saturday, the 2024 WPIAL football playoff brackets were revealed to determine seedings of brackets across the WPIAL’s six classifications.
While many teams across the Beaver Valley knew their fate after claiming section titles and capturing automatic bids, there were several teams across the area whose fates were in the hands of the WPIAL Football Steering Committee as it would select a total of 16 wild card teams across five classifications.
Let’s take a look at the field across the five classifications that Beaver Valley teams have qualified with first-round matchups taking place on Friday, Nov. 1.
Higher seeds host first-round matchups unless noted otherwise. Bold denotes Beaver Valley matchups.
More:WPIAL football steering committee hopes new playoff format will ensure best tournament
No. 1 Pine-Richland (First round bye)
No. 8 North Hills Vs. No. 9 Franklin Regional
No. 4 Woodland Hills (First round bye)
No. 5 Bethel Park Vs. No. 12 Greater Latrobe
No. 2 Upper St. Clair (First round bye)
No. 7 Penn Hills Vs. No. 10 Moon Area
No. 3 Peters Township (First round bye)
No. 6 Penn Trafford Vs. No. 11 South Fayette
Pine Richland secured the No. 1 overall seed in Class 5A after posting a record 8-1 record. The lone area team out of Class 5A is Moon Area and it was awarded one of the three wild card spots in the classification after finishing fourth in the Allegheny Six Conference posting a record of 5-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play. The Tigers will take on a Penn Hills team that finished in second in the Northeast Conference posting a record of 6-4 overall and 4-1 in conference play with its lone loss coming against top-seeded Pine Richland on Oct. 4.
No. 1 Thomas Jefferson Vs. No. 8 West Allegheny
No. 4 Aliquippa Vs. No. 5 Trinity
No. 2 Montour Vs. No. 7 Mars
No. 3 McKeesport Vs. No. 6 Belle Vernon
After a major shake-up in the Parkway Conference Friday night after West Allegheny upset unbeaten Montour to force a three-way tie for the top spot in the conference, West Allegheny will take on the top-seeded team in Class 4A in Thomas Jefferson. The Jaguars went unbeaten throughout the regular season going 10-0 and 5-0 in the Big Six Conference. West Allegheny had two games canceled against Chartiers Valley and McGuffey early in the season but went 4-1 in the Parkway with its lone loss coming to Aliquippa.
The Quips take home the Parkway Conference Championship for the fifth year in a row due to the tiebreaker. They will face a Trinity team that finished in second place in the Big Six Conference after posting a 5-5 overall record and a 4-1 record in conference play with its lone loss coming in a 27-7 loss to Thomas Jefferson on Oct. 4.
No. 1 Imani Christian (First round bye)
No. 8 Southmoreland Vs. No. 9 Highlands
No. 4 Beaver Area (First round bye)
No. 5 Avonworth Vs. No. 12 Greensburg Salem
No. 2 Central Valley (First round bye)
No. 7 Freeport Vs. No. 10 Mt. Pleasant
No. 3 Elizabeth Forward (First round bye)
No. 6 Deer Lakes Vs. No. 11 North Catholic
Two Beaver County teams from the Western Hills Conference qualified for the Class 3A playoffs with each receiving a first-round bye after Beaver Area upset Avonworth Friday night.
Beaver Area comes into the playoffs red hot after winning its final four games of the regular season after falling to Central Valley back on Sept. 20. The Bobcats will face either No. 5 Avonworth or No. 12 Greensburg Salem on Nov. 8.
Central Valley finished their 2024 season with a 5-5 overall record and 5-1 record in conference play. The Warriors played a daunting non-conference schedule facing three Class 4A opponents in No. 2 Montour, No. 1 Thomas Jefferson and No. 6 Belle Vernon and one Class 5A opponent No. 8 North Hills. Central Valley rolled through its conference schedule posting a record of 5-1 with its lone loss coming to No. 5 Avonworth back on Sept. 27. The Warriors will face either No. 7 Freeport or No. 10 Mt. Pleasant at Sarge Alberts Stadium in the quarterfinals.
WPIAL Class 3A Football:Central Valley's Ambrose impresses in first career start at quarterback
No. 1 Seton LaSalle (First round bye)
No. 8 OLSH Vs. No. 9 Riverside (Location TBD)
No. 4 Steel Valley Vs. No. 13 Washington
No. 5 Western Beaver Vs. No. 12 Carlynton (Sat. Nov. 2 at. 1 p.m.)
No. 2 South Park (First round bye)
No. 7 Mohawk Vs. No. 10 Keystone Oaks
No. 3 Ellwood City (First round bye)
No. 6 South Allegheny Vs. No. 11 Waynesburg Central
With its 52-0 win over Beaver Falls on Friday, the Wolverines capped off its first unbeaten season since World War II finishing with a 9-0 record overall and 7-0 record in Midwestern Conference play claiming its first MAC title since 1997. The Wolverines will host the winner of the South Allegheny Waynesburg Central first-round matchup which will mark Ellwood City’s first home playoff game at Helling Stadium since 2000.
'Putting the community back on the map':Ellwood City seniors reflect on historic season
Western Beaver heads into the playoffs winning their last three matchups of the regular season against Mohawk, New Brighton and Freedom Area to finish second in the MAC. The Golden Beavers suffered just two losses on the year falling to Class 4A Ambridge and No. 3 Ellwood City back on Oct. 5 at home. Western Beaver will host Carlynton in a Saturday afternoon matinee matchup at Western Beaver High School. The Cougars are one of the the three wild card teams coming out of the Century conference where they finished with a record of 6-4 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
OLSH and Riverside feature the lone first-round matchups between two Beaver Valley programs. The Chargers finished play in the Allegheny conference with a 3-3 record and knocked off No. 10 Keystone Oaks who finished third in the Century Conference. As for Riverside, Rob Magnifico guides the Panthers to the postseason in his first year at the helm turning around the program after a one-win season in 2023.
No. 1 Fort Cherry Vs. No. 16 Brentwood
No. 8 Leechburg Vs. No. 9 Cornell
No. 4 Neshannock Vs. No. 13 Jeannette
No. 5 Greensburg Central Catholic Vs. No. 12 Monessen
No. 2 Clairton Vs. No. 15 Rochester
No. 7 Laurel Vs. No. 10 California
No. 3 Bishop Canevin Vs. No. 14 Bentworth (Dormont Memorial Stadium)
No. 6 Jefferson-Morgan Vs. No. 11 South Side Beaver
Cornell is the Beaver Valley’s highest-seeded team in the Class 1A playoffs after posting a third-place finish in the Black Hills Conference with its lone two losses coming to No. 1 seeded Fort Cherry and No. 3 Bishop Canevin. The Raiders will face a Leechburg team that finished third in the Eastern Conference posting an 8-2 record overall and a 5-2 record in conference play.
Rochester comes into the playoffs as a wild card team after finishing fourth in the Big 7 Conference after falling to South Side 14-12 Friday night at Rochester Stadium. The Rams will face a Clairton team that rolled through its schedule with a perfect record of 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the Eastern Conference. The Bears outscored their opponents 540-21 in those games.
South Side finished in third place in the Big 7 Conference which gave them an automatic bid to the postseason. The Rams will face a tough test in the first round taking on a Jefferson-Morgan program who posted a perfect record of 10-0 overall and 7-0 in Tri-County South play.
Please support us by turning off your adblocker.
Get unlimited digital access, along with subscriber-exclusive content, and more.
Lindsae Heidenreich spends her days crawling under plow trucks and skid steer loaders in a Penn Township turnpike maintenance shed, chipping away at the rust nestled in every nook and cranny.Heidenreich, 37, of Penn Hills has rust removal down to a science.Scrub down the vehicle with a degreaser, pressure wash, remove the rust with a needle scaler, spray on a coat of rust arrestor, apply primer and paint and wait a day before spraying on a rubberized undercoating.Just three years ago, Heidenreich knew nothing about vehic...
Lindsae Heidenreich spends her days crawling under plow trucks and skid steer loaders in a Penn Township turnpike maintenance shed, chipping away at the rust nestled in every nook and cranny.
Heidenreich, 37, of Penn Hills has rust removal down to a science.
Scrub down the vehicle with a degreaser, pressure wash, remove the rust with a needle scaler, spray on a coat of rust arrestor, apply primer and paint and wait a day before spraying on a rubberized undercoating.
Just three years ago, Heidenreich knew nothing about vehicle maintenance — and very little about tools in general.
“I knew how to use a wrench and stuff, but to be honest, I didn’t know what it was called, so it was very embarrassing when I first started here,” Heidenreich said. “I kind of knew how to use a drill, but I didn’t know how to adjust it or change the torque or how to change the drill bit.”
Toll collector to maintenance worker
Heidenreich worked seven years as a toll collector, spending the latter five years working overnight shifts at the Allegheny Valley interchange in Harmar.
When the turnpike laid off 500 employees in June 2020 as it began switching to a cashless toll collecting system, Heidenreich had a decision to make — find another job in the turnpike commission or move on.
The turnpike commission offered to pay for the laid-off toll collectors to obtain their commercial driver’s license and pursue a maintenance position with the statewide highway system. With seven years of labor invested in her pension, Heidenreich was inclined to stay.
But applying for a maintenance position was still not a given for Heidenreich.
“I didn’t know much of what maintenance did besides plowing snow,” she said. “I really needed to think about it and knowing I didn’t really know a lot about tools — just how much I was going to have to admit ‘Look, I know everybody here has years of experience working with tools and I don’t, and I’m going to be probably a hindrance to everybody when I first start.’
“Mentally preparing yourself to be in a situation like that all the time at a job is going to be stressful, embarrassing, everything like that, so I was nervous about that.”
Heidenreich spent about six months working at a DMV office while she obtained her commercial driver’s license. That’s when she learned about a job opening at the Penn Township turnpike maintenance shed — between the toll highway and Sandy Hill Road, not far from the township’s ambulance station.
The job? Spray trucks with rustproofer and a protective rubberized undercoating to prepare them for the harsh winter conditions.
“I was like ‘That actually sounds kind of fun to me,’ and I volunteered, and I realized that nobody else in the room did it,” Heidenreich said with a laugh. “I guess a lot of people don’t really like it, but I love it.”
Problem solving on the job
Heidenreich quickly made the job her own, pitching ideas to improve the vehicles she treated.
She noticed sheets of rust falling off vehicles as she sprayed them with rust arrestor and asked if she could use a needle scaler to remove the corrosion before treating it with chemicals.
Chris Rutherford, foreman at the Penn Township maintenance shed, didn’t doubt Heidenreich’s ideas for a second.
“I wish everybody had someone in their shed to do something like that,” Rutherford said of Heidenreich’s work.
With support from her boss, Heidenreich leaned into her creative side — testing out new methods and identifying which ones yielded the best results.
“I like to problem solve, and this job gives me a lot of opportunities to do that,” she said.
Heidenreich’s art school education has even come in hand on the job — mixing paint colors to match the orange hue that has become standard among the turnpike’s fleet.
“I would say my art background helped with that,” she said, “because I got surprisingly close.”
Heidenreich’s work quickly caught the eye of Von McGee — who oversees maintenance of turnpike vehicles across the state.
Heidenreich made a 10-year-old truck good as new, McGee said.
“The frame and the axle — everything that she had touched pretty much looked brand new,” he said. “It was really amazing.”
Heidenreich is the only turnpike maintenance employee doing this type of work in Southwestern Pennsylvania, said spokesperson Crispin Havener.
Her work saves the turnpike significant time and money in the long run, McGee said.
The road salt, snow, ice and rain the vehicles are exposed to every year take a toll.
“Some of the things that we see is we end up having to replace parts of the truck if they’re not properly protected from the elements,” McGee said. “We can see costly bodily repairs, rust coming through parts of the truck.”
Trucks are typically replaced every 12 years, McGee said. With Heidenreich’s thorough work, the turnpike could sell its old vehicles at a higher rate than if they were overridden with rust holes.
McGee may even rely on Heidenreich’s newfound expertise to test out new maintenance products or train future employees.
“She’s doing a very good job for the turnpike and she loves to do it,” he said.
Heidenreich never foresaw herself doing a job like this. But now, she is eager to come to work everyday.
She already has identified a list of vehicles she wants to work on in between shifts plowing snow and patrolling the toll highway in the winter — a role she volunteered for after her first year on the job.
“It wasn’t really a smooth transition,” Heidenreich said, “but I’m glad I went through it and ended up where I did.”
Quincey Reese is a TribLive reporter covering the Greensburg and Hempfield areas. She also does reporting for the Penn-Trafford Star. A Penn Township native, she joined the Trib in 2023 after working as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the company for two summers. She can be reached at [email protected].
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.
Stay up-to-date on important news from TribLIVESign Up for Notifications
Categories: Local | Penn Hills Progress | Penn-Trafford Star | Top Stories | Westmoreland
In the first quarter, Penn Hills started with the ball and finished the drive with a thirty-four-yard field goal by kicker Angelo Baleno to give Penn Hills the early 3-0 lead with 7:58 left to go of the first quarter. Penn Hills gets the scoring started with a 34 yard field goal by Angelo Baleno! @phqbclub 3...
In the first quarter, Penn Hills started with the ball and finished the drive with a thirty-four-yard field goal by kicker Angelo Baleno to give Penn Hills the early 3-0 lead with 7:58 left to go of the first quarter.
Penn Hills gets the scoring started with a 34 yard field goal by Angelo Baleno! @phqbclub 3@UpperStClairFB 0
7:58 left to go of the 1st quarter! @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/zHpEH47YB3
— Tyler Aaron (@tyleraaron65) November 9, 2024
Upper St. Clair struggled to get the offense going in the first quarter, only having a chance for a forty-nine-yard field goal that was blocked by Penn Hills. Upper St. Clair got that scoring chance from an interception by junior Charlie Bywalski on Penn Hill’s second drive of the game.
In the second quarter, both teams traded possessions until Upper St. Clair got themselves on the board with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Dante Coury to give Upper St. Clair their first lead with 1:28 left to go of the second quarter. The time quickly ran out for Penn Hills, sending it to halftime with Upper St. Clair winning 7-3.
Upper St. Clair started with the ball in the third quarter and finished the drive up eleven on Penn Hills thanks to a twenty-six-yard touchdown run by Julien Dahlem to give Upper St. Clair the 14-3 over Penn Hills with 7:33 remaining of the third quarter. Penn Hill’s offense struggled into the third quarter with a quick punt and a scoop and score by Upper St. Clair’s John Banbury to make it a 21-3 game with fifty-five seconds left to go of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, both teams traded possessions, with both teams having turnover on downs around midfield. Upper St. Clair got the only fourth-quarter score, adding a field goal by Jacobo Echeverria from twenty-two yards to give Upper St. Clair a 24-3 lead with 2:27 left to go.
Jacobo Echeverria with his second field goal of the game! This one from 22 yards! @phqbclub 3@UpperStClairFB 24
2:27 left to go! @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/p6BzDA2zuj
— Tyler Aaron (@tyleraaron65) November 9, 2024
Unfortunately for Penn Hills, the clock slowly ran down to all zeros, ending this game with a 24-3 win for Upper St. Clair and a ticket punched to the WPIAL 5A Semifinals against Peters Township. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. on Nov. 15. Location is still TBD.
Here is our postgame interview with Dante Coury! @sclegg04 @UpperStClairFB @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/sk0cimLlET
— Tyler Aaron (@tyleraaron65) November 9, 2024
A new wave of players in Penn Hills civic life are going after vacant land and blighted properties in historically neglected neighborhoods in hopes of attracting new residents and, in turn, amenities.And while some of that work is happening through Elevate Penn Hills, an initiative of the Penn Hills Community Development Corporation, several of its organizers are seeking spots on the municipality’s nine-member economic development committee to further those objectives.It’s been about four years since the committee u...
A new wave of players in Penn Hills civic life are going after vacant land and blighted properties in historically neglected neighborhoods in hopes of attracting new residents and, in turn, amenities.
And while some of that work is happening through Elevate Penn Hills, an initiative of the Penn Hills Community Development Corporation, several of its organizers are seeking spots on the municipality’s nine-member economic development committee to further those objectives.
It’s been about four years since the committee unofficially dissolved.
Some council members asked Oct. 21: What’s one more month?
Councilman Shawn Kerestus introduced a motion to table the appointments of Devon Goetze, David McGowan and Tariq Williams, not for lack of support, but because they wouldn’t be able to reach a quorom without at least two additional members.
“I say, let’s find two members at least. Honestly, let’s find six members,” Kerestus argued. “Let’s fill this committee up and give them the ability to actually meet and function as a body of this municipality.”
Kerestus, along with council members Alan Waldron and Joanne Fascio, put the motion through in a 3-1 vote. Mayor Pauline Calabrese dissented. Deputy Mayor Catherine Sapp was not in attendance.
Before her no vote, Calabrese explained her opposition in winding fashion.
She brought up efforts to beautify community entryways, bring in young residents and attract investments she believes too often skip over the region’s eastern suburbs. Then, she looped back to the appointments.
“You don’t start to execute on day one. This committee could start to meet, make their plan and then you move to execution,” she said. “Why are we delaying?”
Her comments led Waldron to change his mind about the motion, he said in a text message, adding the mayor has had “years to build that committee and now all of the sudden it can’t wait any longer.”
Applicants interested in joing the Penn Hills’ various boards, commissons and committees are asked to contact the mayor with a letter of interest.
Empty lots
For all the council drama, the prospective appointees told TribLive they are unbothered by the delay and have been meeting anyway to discuss Elevate Penn Hills, an effort to bring single-family housing development to disinvested neighborhoods.
“We don’t feel slighted or anything,” said McGowan, 32, as he stood on East Lemington Avenue in Lincoln Park. “It shouldn’t have gotten to this point — we do feel that.”
Lincoln Park, the historically Black western section of Penn Hills that borders several parts of Pittsburgh, is the group’s first target. McGowan has seen the area wither firsthand.
His childhood home, where he lived from 2003 to 2010, was torn down shortly after he left for college. Without the money or credit to fix the leaky roof and other structural issues, his mother, like so many in the area, left the property behind.
These days, only one home remains on the block, a well-kept three-story dwelling surrounded by vacant, overgrown lots. Another 10 townhomes are slated for demolition on an adjacent street.
“We have a list of properties that have been torn down in Penn Hills in general, and most of those properties seem to be in that area,” said McGowan, treasurer of the Community Development Corporation. “We want to bring life back to the neighborhood.”
All that available space is the community’s greatest asset, according to Goetze, who also serves on the Penn Hills School Board. She said the Community Development Corporation is pursuing state and foundation grants to build and rehabilitate housing geared toward a mix of incomes.
Local service organization Jamar’s Place of Peace recently secured a state grant of its own: $200,000 to build five tiny homes and two sheds to be used as a community food bank and storage area.
Ideally, any new properties will go to families looking to settle in the municipality, not flippers or transients, Williams said.
Once those homes are filled, the group’s theory goes that more businesses, public transit access, infrastructure improvements and recreation spaces will follow.
Reviving the committee
If the appointments go through, Elevate Penn Hills will remain under Community Development Corporation control, though Goetze noted it could become a separate nonprofit some day.
The Community Development Corporation, founded in 2009, operates separately from the municipality.
Prospective members made clear they view the committee as a bridge between the municipality and community stakeholders — not a substitute for the Community Development Corporation.
In the past, the committee has worked to lure and retain business, while also holding them to the terms of their site plans and subdivisions. The body ultimately is advisory.
Work stopped in January 2020, when council booted committee chairman Tyler Tomasino for allegedly creating and disseminating satire of then-Rep. Tony DeLuca, then-Mayor-elect Pauline Calabrese and other current and soon-to-be officials on social media.
The cartoon borrowed from “The Goonies” movie poster and gave each person a disparaging nickname.
Committee members stopped meeting at that point, which roughly coincided with the start of widespread covid-19 transmission.
The economic development committee isn’t the only municipal body that has wanted for members in recent years.
Howard Davidson, the former planning director for Penn Hills, was appointed as the fourth member of the library board Oct. 21. The board reached its full complement of seven members in March but quickly lost four of them. Larry Choby, Lori Theofilis and Karen Murray remained and are now joined by Davidson.
According to Waldron, the mayor is sitting on 12 other potential appointees recommended by the library after a monthslong process.
In response, Calabrese said, “to this day, I still have not received all of the letters (or interest) for the individuals. I’ve asked them.”
Stay up-to-date on important news from TribLIVESign Up for Notifications
Categories: Local | Penn Hills Progress
412-639-8339
