Cold Snap, Community News and Pigeon Creek Watershed Association

BRRRR! What a week! And they’re saying next week is also going to be a cold one like this, except temperatures will be above freezing for three days followed by an abrupt temperature drop that will bring freezing rain and sleet again by next Friday. Anyone remember a year or two ago when it seemed like we had summer weather on some winter days and we had many four-day periods where we experienced all four seasons in that many days?

Not so with this winter and last summer’s 100 days of almost continuous 100-degree heat, last summer’s drought conditions affecting the river, and last spring’s incredible amount of rain working its way into basins that were never wet before…

Our New Watershed Association

There’s a new organization in town, the Pigeon Creek Watershed Association. Their website (https://pigeoncreekwatershed.org) holds to this motto: “We inspire people to protect, restore, enjoy, and learn about the land and waterways of the Pigeon Creek watershed.”

Dan Tregembo, the Secretary of the newly formed board (and co-founder and first president of the Monongahela Main Street Program) has asked MMSP to share a little information about the new email newsletter they have started:

“It may be hard to believe, but many people don’t use Facebook. One way for us to reach those folks is through an email newsletter. Could you help us out and tell your friends who are not on Facebook about it?

Another issue we face is that the Facebook algorithm is mysterious, and sometimes our posts won’t appear in your timeline. There is also the risk that a Facebook page could get hacked. (Even Cox’s market experienced this last year!) So, an email newsletter will allow us to keep in touch no matter what happens. We plan to publish it between 2 to 4 times per month. Here is a link to our newsletter signup page https://pigeoncreekwatershed.org/newsletter/. We hope you will check it out!”

President of the new PCWA board, Ken Yonek, has been monitoring the water quality of the water in Pigeon Creek for some time by measuring water temperature, acidity (pH), dissolved solids, particulate matter, dissolved oxygen, hardness, and suspended sediment. Ken is a Penn State Master Water Steward, a Phipps Conservatory Master Gardener, and a member of the Isaac Walton League, an environmental organization for which he has volunteered for many years.

Other board members include Nat (Natalie) Botsko and her fiancé Max Noel. They organized the “Trash Bash” litter and trash clean-ups along the stream over the last couple of years. Max is the Vice President of the board and Natalie is Treasurer. He owns his own business (M & N Heating and Cooling), as does Natalie (Airtight Duct Cleaning). Randy Winkelblech, from the Bentleyville area, is also a member of the board.

The PCWA has already had conversations with Ringgold High science teacher John Laukaitis for a project near the high school. PCWA has also been working with Dr. David Argent of PennWest University. Dr. Argent brought a group of college students this fall from the California campus to study the stream by conducting “an electrofishing survey, which led to the capture and release of 444 fish from an encouraging number of 23 different species.” Click here to see results of the study.

Time to Plan Supper

Lenzi’s (Lenzi’s Restaurant) has their delicious Roast Beef Sandwiches with French fries again as their Friday special, plus all their other great meals and entrees. 228 Gee Street, open till 7PM. (724) 258-9885.

And as always, Angelo’s (Angelo’s II Monongahela) has ravioli, gnocchi, great salads and sandwiches, and if you eat there, you can also order your favorite bar beverages. 111 Third Street, open till 9PM. (724) 292-8375.

Italian Village Pizza (Italian Village Pizza Mon City) has steak rolls, pizzas, calzone, hoagies, garlic knots and many other items, sit-down/eat-in, pick-up, or delivery. 169 West Main Street, open till 10PM. (724) 292-8170.

Fox’s Pizza Den has reopened at 1235 West Main Street. Open till 10PM. (724) 310-2080.

M&R Chocolates is now located at 202 Second Street, Monongahela. Last Friday was their first day open there. (412) 501-7342.

We had gyros today at the Dierkens Pharmacy parking lot, Main Street at Park Avenue until about 5PM, as we do every Friday. These guys are braving the bitter weather once again. But, at this point, it’s Oussama’s assistants because he has gone out of town for a couple of weeks to visit his daughter.

Mon City Restaurant (Mon City Restaurant Deli), 218 West Main Street open till 8PM (8AM-8PM every day, seven days a week). Have you tried it yet? (724) 244-2719.

Hills Restaurant (Hills Restaurant) may have just what you’re looking for. That complicated waterline problem and out-of-season sidewalk replacement project certainly threw things off, but they were still open through most of it. Why not show them support now that they’ve had to soldier through with all that? 107 Main Street, New Eagle (724) 258-5422

For others, see our regular restaurant list below.

Dierkens Pharmacy

When you’re in town today, stop at Dierken’s Pharmacy if you need to get a prescription filled or need a broom, or today’s Mon Valley Independent, or maybe some other pharmacy-type items.

Clothes for Biking

And be sure some time to stop in at Mon Valley Cycle, next to Dierkens. They not only repair motorcycles, but they sell several kinds of related clothing.

Gyros (including “chicken gyros,” …yum) and West African foods are available at MON CITY RESTAURANT DELI (the former Di’s HOMETOWN Deli at 218 West Main Street), where they have indoor booths for you to sit down and enjoy the cuisine – and they keep long enough hours, until about 8 or 9PM. Try them.

Stay Warm

We recommend you eat indoors this weekend.

Restaurant List

Don’t forget to spread your dine-in or takeout business around this week. Here’s some contact information for some of the restaurants and other establishments we have where something can be obtained for lunch or dinner:

• Sambol’s Bakery and Candy Shop (daily meal specials available till 5PM or till sold out), 230 West Main Street (724) 250-0100
• Italian Village Pizza Mon City, 169 West Main Street (724) 292-8170
• Angelo’s II Monongahela, 111 Third Street (724) 292-8375
• Sweets by Mrs. C., Ice Cream and More, 260 West Main Street (724) 292-8392
• Little City Coffee, 418 West Main Street (724) 258-6285
• Two and a Fry, 1115 West Main Street (724) 310-3182
• Lenzi’s Restaurant (Italian Restaurant), 228 Gee Street (just off East Main going east from the Pigeon Creek Bridge, before the first light) (724) 258-9885
• Sheetz (gas station, convenience store, with a sandwich counter and seating at tables), 111 East Main Street (724) 310-2935 (go to orderz.sheetz.com to place an online order, or contact doordash.com)
• Detorre’s Pizza, 915 West Main Street (724) 258-3306
• Eat’N Park, 1250 West Main Street (724) 258-4654
• Great Wall Chinese Restaurant, 201 West Main Street (724) 258-8358
• Hills Restaurant, 107 Main Street, New Eagle (724) 258-5422
• Pizza Station, 187 Chess Street, New Eagle (724) 310-3191
• Cox Market, deli counter for take-out, 711 Rt.481 (724) 258-4900
• Ponce’s Place, 715 Rt.481 (Park Avenue Extension/Pigeon Creek Road) (724) 258-6654
• Pho Valley, 1160 Country Club Road (724) 310-3948
• Fox’s Pizza Den, 1235 West Main Street (724) 310-2080
• Mon City Restaurant Deli, former Di’s Deli location, serves American and Italian recipes from Di’s Deli and a new line of West African cuisine dishes, 218 West Main, (724) 244-2719

MMSP Board of Directors

The current Board of Directors of the Monongahela Main Street Program is as follows:

• Karen Langol, President
• Walter Seal, Vice President
• Amy Leavor, Secretary
• Jared Hazen Sherlock, Treasurer
• Bonnie Brand
• Dorothea Pemberton
• Janet Roslund
• Jacob Ford
• Brad Feld
• Keith Lester
• Joseph DeChicchis

Dan Tregembo and Tobias Provan, Presidents Emeriti

Non-Voting: Terry Necciai, Exec.Dir.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL CITY!

Terry A. Necciai, RA, Exec.Dir., MMSP