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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.

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Home Care In Millvale, PA

Home Care Millvale, PA

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 Rivers of Steel Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark 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 Millvale, PA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Millvale, PA

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 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.

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TESTIMONIALS

“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 !!”

Quentin J.
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“Have to say heard great thing about this company and the growth and great support for workers and clients ????”

Celestra L.
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“This agency provides amazing care to the clients, Very reliable highly recommended!!!”

Jimmy V.
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“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.”

melissa S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“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.”

Sierra S.
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“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.”

Melissa A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“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.”

Steve
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“The Best Care !�”

Erin P.
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TESTIMONIALS

“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.”

Izzy S.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Millvale, PA?

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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.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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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.

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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.

 Senior Care Millvale, PA

Types of Elderly Care in Millvale, PA

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal 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:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
 Respite Care Millvale, PA
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

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:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers  Millvale, PA
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

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 Millvale Riverfront Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Millvale, PA
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

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 Altius or visit Schenley Farms Historic District, 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.

 In-Home Care Millvale, PA

Benefits of Home Care in Millvale, PA

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:

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.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

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.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

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 Millvale, 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.

 Elderly Care Millvale, PA

Affordable 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:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your PA's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Millvale, PA

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

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 Millvale, 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.

Assisted Living Referral Services

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.

 Respite Care Millvale, PA

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:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers  Millvale, PA

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:

  • Evergreen Assisted Living Inc
  • Graceful Care Living North
  • The Haven at North Hills Senior Residence
  • The Community at Holy Family Manor
  • Northland Heights Assisted Living Memory Care in North Hills
  • Vincentian Schenley Gardens
Home Care Millvale, PA

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.

 In-Home Care Millvale, PA

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

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

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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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 Millvale, 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.

 Elderly Care Millvale, PA

Latest News in Millvale, PA

Millvale Hardee's location closes permanently after more than 50 years in business

It's the end of an era for the Hardee's location in Millvale as the restaurant has closed its doors after more than 50 years in business.Former Millvale Mayor Jim Burn posted news on social media about the closing of the restaurant, calling Hardee's a cornerstone of the community and saying that many people who live in Millvale and Shaler have worked there over the years."The memories it has gifted this community are countless based on the value it has held as much more than a restaurant," Burn said.Burn said t...

It's the end of an era for the Hardee's location in Millvale as the restaurant has closed its doors after more than 50 years in business.

Former Millvale Mayor Jim Burn posted news on social media about the closing of the restaurant, calling Hardee's a cornerstone of the community and saying that many people who live in Millvale and Shaler have worked there over the years.

"The memories it has gifted this community are countless based on the value it has held as much more than a restaurant," Burn said.

Burn said the restaurant sadly and suddenly closed its doors permanently on Monday after 52 years of business.

"The doors were locked. They were doing drive-thru only, which was out and down the block," said Burn.

He said employees had only hours' notice before shutting the doors for good yesterday.

"I feel bad for the workers. I really hope that everything works out for them. It's very sad that they're in the situation," said Burn.

Regulars like Bill Dreyer came daily since the first day the Hardee's location opened.

"I enjoyed it. Now I have to find another place to loaf. I'm 83 years old," he said, calling the closing "terrible."

"Fifty-two years I've been sitting at that one table, and they (Hardee's managers) said that if they have to remodel the building again, they were going to put my name on the table," said Dreyer.

This particular Hardee's is located by the Millvale business district, at a confluence of three busy roads.

"There is no way, in my opinion, that this facility is not a geographic gold mine," Burn said.

Now it's an empty gold mine that Burn and hundreds on Facebook and in person couldn't help but wish a final farewell to.

"We will always remember it and we do hope whatever comes in here next will create the same type of memories that Hardee's created for so many of us," said Burn.

KDKA-TV spoke to the owner's son, who said it was tough to close this place, but they appreciate how much it meant to the community.

Meanwhile, Burn said he hopes another food business moves in, but he has no idea what that'll be yet.

"One of life's only certainties is change," Burn wrote on social media. "We do not always appreciate something until it is gone. This change marks the end of an era."

With the closing of the Hardee's location in Millvale, the only other remaining location in the Pittsburgh area is located in Waynesburg.

There are also several locations in West Virginia, including in Morgantown and two locations in eastern Ohio.

Mike Darnay

Mike Darnay is a digital producer and photojournalist at CBS Pittsburgh. Mike has also written and produced content for Vox Media and the Mon Valley Independent. He often covers overnight breaking news, the Pittsburgh Steelers and high school sports.

Concert Review: The Baseball Project in Millvale, PA

On Saturday evening, the Baseball Project once again enraptured a Pittsburgh-area audience with a wildly entertaining concert. They were the headline act on their “Doubleheader Tour 2025” with the Minus 5 at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania.Concert Review: The Baseball Project Wows ‘Em in MillvaleThe Baseball Project is a “supergroup” comprised of members of the Dream Syndicate, R.E.M., The Miracle 3, Filthy Friends, and the Minus 5 (more on them in due time). They are Peter Buck on s...

On Saturday evening, the Baseball Project once again enraptured a Pittsburgh-area audience with a wildly entertaining concert. They were the headline act on their “Doubleheader Tour 2025” with the Minus 5 at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania.

Concert Review: The Baseball Project Wows ‘Em in Millvale

The Baseball Project is a “supergroup” comprised of members of the Dream Syndicate, R.E.M., The Miracle 3, Filthy Friends, and the Minus 5 (more on them in due time). They are Peter Buck on six- and 12-string guitars, bassist Mike Mills, guitarists Scott McCaughey and Steve Wynn, and drummer Linda Pitmon. All but Buck sing. Wynn and Pitmon are husband and wife.

Mr. Smalls is a converted church that houses three venues: the theatre for big concerts, the upstairs Fun House, which functions as a small club, and a café for acoustic shows and “open mic” nights. Millvale is a small, unassuming borough across the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh. Among the tiny houses is a mini pop culture center. Besides Mr. Smalls, one finds the Attic Record Store and the Poetry Lounge, an up-and-coming bar with nightly band shows, DJs, and poetry readings.

The Baseball Project gears its nightly sets to include songs of geographical interest. Two such selections played at Mr. Smalls illustrate that, as well as how their topics range from the famous to the obscure.

Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey. (Photo Credit: Joe Landolina)

“Harvey Haddix” concerns the greatest game ever pitched. On May 26, 1959, Haddix of the Pirates had pitched nine perfect innings in Milwaukee against the Braves. But the Pirates hadn’t scored, and Haddix went out and pitched another perfect inning. Then another. Then another. Finally, he lost the game in the 13th inning. Milwaukee’s Felix Mantilla led off and reached on an error. Following a sacrifice bunt, the left-handed Haddix intentionally walked the next batter, Henry Aaron. Joe Adcock followed by knocking Haddix’s pitch over the fence in right-center. However, Adcock passed Aaron on the base path and was called out. The hit was ruled a double, but in any event, Haddix lost the game, 1-0. “Joe hit a high slider,” a despondent Haddix told Jack Hernon of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“Harvey Haddix” gives a shoutout to every pitcher who ever pitched a perfect game, with each chorus concluding with the refrain, “Why don’t we add old Harvey to that list?” Each time another perfect game is tossed, the song is rewritten. “Paul Skenes will be on the list soon as well,” said Wynn, introducing the song.

At the other end of the spectrum is “The Day Dock Went Hunting Heads.” It was an ordinary Wednesday night game at Three Rivers between the Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds on May 1, 1974. Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis felt that the Reds disrespected the Pirates for too long. In his own way, he was going to do something about it. Ellis began the game by throwing at Pete Rose’s head before hitting him in the ribs. Next, he hit Joe Morgan in the kidney. The next batter, Dan Driessen, took one in the back. Tony Pérez eluded four attempts to hit him, including one thrown behind him, and walked to force in a run. After two pitches missed Johnny Bench, “manager Danny Murtaugh came out to the mound, stared at Ellis in silent surmise, and beckoned for a new pitcher,” wrote author Roger Angell in Five Seasons. Describing the incident in song, McCaughey sang, “Down went Rose, down went Morgan, down went Driessen. . .”

Unlike any other sport, baseball is a team game with elements of individualism. Within a game, there are many individual confrontations: pitcher vs. batter, fielder vs. runner. The players’ heads aren’t covered with helmets and face masks. We feel as if we know them. Unlike, say, basketball, where a team can keep feeding the ball to its big scorer, in baseball, Mario Mendoza gets the same turn at bat as Willie Stargell. Thus, we know the obscure players as well as we know the great ones.

Perhaps that’s why baseball, more than any other sport, lends itself to great writing by authors and poets. Baseball books by Roger Kahn and Ring Lardner qualify as great literature. One can even say that about a column by Red Smith. Somehow, however, such splendid prose generally hasn’t carried over to music. Most baseball songs are forgettable novelty songs. There are exceptions, of course: Sonny Rollins’ “Newk’s Fadeaway,” although that’s an instrumental, Ry Cooder’s “3rd Base, Dodger Stadium,” and Billy Bragg and Wilco’s “Joe DiMaggio Done It Again,” from posthumously discovered lyrics by Woody Guthrie.

Enter the Baseball Project. Their songs rock and are musically interesting, without detracting from the stories they tell. Indeed, one doesn’t have to be a baseball fan to enjoy their music, and many in the crowd at Mr. Smalls weren’t. Live, their sound is even heavier than it is on their recordings, as if one is at a Dream Syndicate concert. Each of the three guitarists performed searing solos at different moments in the show. I was standing in the third row at the lip of the stage. My ears were ringing after their one-hour-and-fifteen-minute set. My wife moved to the rear, where there were a few metal chairs, and reported at the end of the evening that it was loud back there, too.

Linda Pitmon bathed in blue light. (Photo Credit: Joe Landolina)

Of the songs that didn’t deal with the Pirates, there were many highlights from the Baseball Project. “Disco Demolition,” punctuated with Pitmon’s “disco whistle” blows, told of Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park on July 12, 1979. Between games of a doubleheader between the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers, a crate of disco records was blown up on the field. After the explosion, anti-disco rock and roll fans stormed the field and rioted. The damage caused by the explosion and the rioters was so severe that the White Sox had to forfeit the second game.

There was the poignant set opener, “1976,” Wynn’s lament about discovering Mark Fidrych had passed away. Mills didn’t contribute as many songs as Wynn and McCaughey, but his were highlights: “Stuff,” about cheating pitchers, and “To the Veterans Committee,” in which he passionately advocates for the induction of Dale Murphy into the Hall of Fame. He almost had me convinced. For his 18-year career, Murphy hit .265/.346/.469, 398 HR, and 1,266 RBI. Baseball Reference computes a 162-game average of 30 HR and 94 RBI. Not bad. From 1982-85, he was arguably the best player in baseball, when he hit .293/.383/.533, 145 HR, and 441 RBI while winning two National League Most Valuable Player Awards and four Gold Glove Awards for his work in center field. But for me, there are too many mediocre seasons. From 1988-93, he hit .234/.307/.396, 88 HR, and 339 RBI. I’d be a tough voter. Sorry, Mike.

Steve Wynn and Mike Mills belt out some backing vocals. (Photo Credit: Joe Landolina)

McCaughey introduced “From Nails to Thumbtacks,” about the rise and fall of Lenny Dykstra, to a chorus of boos. (OK, so it was only me booing. I was booing the subject, reportedly a despicable human being, not the song.) “Ted Fucking Williams” was undoubtedly derived from Jim Bouton’s description of Williams’ pregame batting practice psyche-up routine in Ball Four. It was part of a rousing encore. According to setlist.fm, it’s the Baseball Project’s most-played song.

Odes to more recent players like Shohei Ohtani (“New Oh in Town”) and Ichiro Suzuki (“Ichiro Goes to the Moon”), the latter also part of the encore, were paeans to their talent rather than stories. As McCaughey explained to Mike Palm of TribLive in a telephone interview promoting the show, “[I]t’s not as much fun to write about current players because they’re kind of boring compared to the old timers. . . There’s just not going to be a bunch of guys who go out barnstorming in the offseason and are hanging out in bars and just getting in trouble and stuff like that.” Makes sense. It’s why we need the Baseball Project to keep those old stories alive.

The opener, the Minus 5, delivered 45 minutes of turbocharged psyche-and-roll. McCaughey, Buck, and Pitmon are members. Wynn is a former member. Conveniently, the same five individuals who comprised the Baseball Project took the stage as the Minus 5, with Buck on keyboards and McCaughey handling all the lead vocals. I wondered whether they’d take an intermission. Would they end the Minus 5 set and say, “OK, now we’re the Baseball Project?” There was a short intermission, during which Buck’s keyboard was taken offstage and all except Wynn changed their clothes. The Minus 5’s set deserves more space than one paragraph, but alas, this is a baseball website. Most of the set included songs from their new album, Oar On, Penelope! Wynn, in an unusual secondary role for him, provided some scorching lead guitar. The set included a spirited cover of the Modern Lovers’ “She Cracked,” faithful to the original.

Main Photo Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images

The post Concert Review: The Baseball Project in Millvale, PA appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.

Landmark Pittsburgh Eatery Abruptly Closes After Half-Century

The last Pittsburgh location of this fast-food restaurant chain is being mourned after its sudden closure.PITTSBURGH, PA — The last Hardee's in Western Pennsylvania has abruptly closed.The restaurant shut down on Tuesday. The nearest Hardee's located to the city now are in Carlisle and Waynesboro, both about three hours from Pittsburgh.Former Millvale mayor Jim Burn, who also is past chairman of the Allegheny County Democratic Party and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, posted a poignant tribute to the restauran...

The last Pittsburgh location of this fast-food restaurant chain is being mourned after its sudden closure.

PITTSBURGH, PA — The last Hardee's in Western Pennsylvania has abruptly closed.

The restaurant shut down on Tuesday. The nearest Hardee's located to the city now are in Carlisle and Waynesboro, both about three hours from Pittsburgh.

Former Millvale mayor Jim Burn, who also is past chairman of the Allegheny County Democratic Party and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, posted a poignant tribute to the restaurant on social media.

"Hardees in Millvale has been a cornerstone of this community. Many of us s in Millvale and the Shaler area have worked there, practically all of us have been there. The memories it has gifted this community are countless based on the value it has held as much more than a restaurant.

"We launched our Millvale Days parades, when we had them, from the Hardee's parking lot. Car cruises have continued to be a tradition, with one being held there as recently as last week.

"Many thousands of customers and employees have been through those doors.

"Hardee's was the traditional "meet up" location for us. We would start our Friday and Saturday night adventures from the lobby with our Hardee's uniforms in the back seats of our cars so that we could get to work in time to open the store at 5am .

"Sadly and suddenly, Hardee's in Millvale closed its doors permanently after 52 years.

"One of life's only certainties is change. We do not always appreciate something until it is gone. This change marks the end of an era.

"Many thanks to Hardee's for being a vital part of our community for over half a century. We will always appreciate how important you have been to Millvale and the surrounding area.

"You will certainly be missed."

'End of an era:" Former Millvale mayor issues statement after Hardee's location closure

MILLVALE, Pa. —The former mayor of Millvale shared a post on social media Monday, saying that the community's Hardee's location has closed after over five decades.Former Millvale Mayor Jim Burn said in a post that the establishment located 1201 North Avenue closed "suddenly," and the change marks the end of an era for the community."We launched our Millvale Days parades, when we had them, from the Hardee's parking lot. Car cruises have continued to be a tradition, with one being held...

MILLVALE, Pa. —

The former mayor of Millvale shared a post on social media Monday, saying that the community's Hardee's location has closed after over five decades.

Former Millvale Mayor Jim Burn said in a post that the establishment located 1201 North Avenue closed "suddenly," and the change marks the end of an era for the community.

"We launched our Millvale Days parades, when we had them, from the Hardee's parking lot. Car cruises have continued to be a tradition, with one being held there as recently as last week," Burn said. "Many thousands of customers and employees have been through those doors."

The post continued, saying, "Hardee's was the traditional 'meet up' location for us," Burn said in the post. "We would start our Friday and Saturday night adventures from the lobby with our Hardee's uniforms in the back seats of our cars so that we could get to work in time to open the store at 5 a.m."

Burn said in the post that the establishment closed its doors permanently after 52 years in the community. He said the memories there will not be forgotten.

"One of life's only certainties is change. We do not always appreciate something until it is gone. This change marks the end of an era," the post said. "Many thanks to Hardee's for being a vital part of our community for over half a century. We will always appreciate how important you have been to Millvale and the surrounding area."

A reason for the closure was not immediately listed.

Pittsburgh's Action News 4 is working to learn more about the closure and will provide updates as more information is made available.

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