Souls of Shaler Area

**Thank you to our veteran's who were gracious enough to be interviewed during our annual veteran's breakfast.  We appreciate your service! Anthony enlisted in the Air Force because he just wanted to make his country proud and honor the United States. He was twenty years old when he started. He said, “I was scared because you are risking your life." Anthony served in the Vietnam War. He arrived in 1964 and left in 1965. He does not remember any times of having fun because "you were fighting for your life." To stay in contact with his loved ones he would write letters back and forth through the war. The food was edible to which he said: “[It was]...enough to take care of yourself.” When the war was fully over he said he was relieved and was happy to go back to his family. But now he is a 76 year old, proud veteran in Pittsburgh. Thank you, Anthony Weisser for proudly serving our country!

❤ Thank you to all the students who interviewed neighbors, friends of parents and other community members, past and present, to make this year's blog a continued point of interest for the community.  See you in the fall with more Souls of Shaler Area.  Happy Summer!  ☺

Tom Hydock, Fireman "A high point in my fire service career was meeting President Bush.  To me that was an honor."

Steve Baleno, Japanese Teacher "I wish people would understand languages other than English."

Jean Sipko, Retired "Be kind to everyone."

Lynette Simmons, Cashier "The most important thing to me is  being with people you care about and with people who care about you, having somewhere to call home that you can fill with memories with the one you love, and not needing too much, but living comfortably."

Linda Lentz, Retired “My first job was working at a dry cleaners. It was really hot working there. I met a lot of nice people that came in there for clothes."

Keisha Artemus, Nurse "I'm proud of my children because they are one-of-a-kind, very bright, beautiful and funny.  They're very special."

Joan Barbati, Retired “Live today to the fullest, because you don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring."

Mary Smith, Hospital Admissions Desk Clerk "Whenever I was younger, I lost my little sister.  I felt as if the world was falling apart, because we used to do everything together. My world has changed a lot from that day. I went on to school for nursing and I have a husband who treats me well. I also have two kids who mean the world to me. Whenever my kids and I talk, it feels like I’m talking to my sister again. So whenever you lose someone that you love, you will never forget them, but you will get over it and end up having a good life."

Glen Grady, Cub Scout Pack 157 Glenshaw Cubmaster "It feels like there's more people in Shaler, but less of a community."

John Bartkins, retired "Follow your heart in what you want to be in life."

Tracy Walzer, Cafeteria Worker "A good life is not measured in all the "stuff" you have. It's the life you lead.”

Kristen Hiserodt, Teacher "Three historical figures I look up to are Clara Barton, Susan B. Anothony, and Mother Theresa, because they are strong, female figures."

Lynda Schultis, Stay-at-Home-Mom "If I had a million dollars, I would give it to all my family members and my best friend."

Eric Debuci, Fireman "The best compliment is when someone says, thank you for your service, and for being a fireman."

  Roman Benty,  Maker Program Director/ librarian/ grant writer    "What I like most about working at the Millvale Community Library is being a part of a safe community space where people can come and share ideas together."   

Kristen Langhorst, Preschool Teacher Assistant "Advice I would give to my kids as they are growing up in this world would be: a lways follow your heart, never give up on your dream.”

Melanie Stichler, Cosmetologist "Shaler is a great community; it feels like a small town.  And when, unfortunately, tragedy happens, everyone is behind each other and it feels like a big family."

Connor Hoover, Minor League Baseball Player for Seattle Mariners “Don’t give up on your dreams even if they seem unreachable. I never thought my career would be where I am today, but here I am. Anything is possible.”

Andrea Ai, Pharmacist “I wanted to be able to help people while working in the medical field, but I get very squeamish looking at some things. My family helped me make the decision to be a pharmacist so I could still help people in the medical field while not being uncomfortable.”

Melissa Matlock, ELA teacher “I learn a lot by working with kids, because (especially middle schoolers) your destiny is not predetermined at this point. There are so many possibilities and there are so many people that you can become.”

Annette Kaniuff, Retired "One thing I remember from my childhood was JFK's assassination. I was very shocked to hear about this."

Phyllis Schatz, Shaler Area Cheerleading Coach “Never underestimate your ability to achieve the goals you set for yourself.”

Michelle Parise, Student My special sayings or expressions are:  “Always give your 100% at something,” and  “Education is the most powerful weapon for changing the world.”-Nelson Mandela

Beth Pilarski, Retired "The best compliment I ever received was:  "Thank you for saving my life!""

Michelle Bosiljevec, Shaler Area Schools Lunch Lady "Being involved with my daughter brings me the most pleasure now.  Everything I do in my life revolves around her.”

Jen Ferri,  Physician Practice Operations "I wanted to get into the medical field like my mom, because I wanted to help others. She was a nurse. I started as a medical assistant. I am now in physician practice operations.”

Nicole Cignetti, Teacher My most cherished family tradition occurs at Christmas time. Every year on Christmas my dad gives an individual card or letter to myself and my two sisters. He highlights special things that have happened over the past year, tells how happy he is that we all spend the holiday together, talks about the grandchildren, etc….With it he gives each of us either a picture, picture book, or collage of some sort that also highlights some special event with our family from the past year. This is so important because I love to hear him reflect on the past year, share the memories and see how much my parents enjoy their time with us (as adults) and now also with my own children, their grandchildren. My dad wasn’t always this sentimental when I was growing up, so I love to see how much he cherishes our family and our time together. 

Amber Kalbaugh, Student “Follow your interests all through life, so you do what you love.”

Shelly Niggl, Business Owner "I always wanted to own a restaurant and at 21 I was given the golden opportunity to buy Casey's.  It has been my life for the past 24 years.  I like to support the community and they supported me."

Carly Schwartz, College Student “I look forward to traveling a lot in the future."

Bethany Leas, Manager "I went in as a marketing major because I liked people.  Then I realized that I wanted to help people, so I changed to a psychology major in my junior year because my true desire was to help people.  Now, I manage a foster care and adoption agency and couldn't be happier."

Stephen Porter, Small Business Owner “There’s a lot of things that are different now from how they were when I was young. People, especially, they’re more fearful, less trusting. People used to be more trusting, we used to be able to play outside until dark, until dinner time, but you can’t do that anymore, you know? Parents don’t trust other parents; they don’t trust strangers as much. I mean, you always have to be careful, but people don’t trust people like they used to.  A handshake doesn’t mean the same thing.”

Mike McIane, Auto Body Shop Manager "You never let something like cancer beat you, you beat it."

Katie Davis, Daycare Manager "My advice to children is:  be the best you can be, always have a kind heart, and know that you are loved."

Tom Sorce: Father and Coach "Probably one of the best things about about being a parent now that my kids are grown, is to be able to see your children do well in life, and accomplish goals that they set but more importantly, watch them become good, respectful people. There is no greater joy to me."

Chuck Samuels, Retired “The best part of life was raising my kids was watching them grow up and starting their lives just like I started mine a long time ago."

Jeff Fowler, Cardiologist "One hobby I try to maintain, despite a busy schedule, is regular jogging.  I love running and find it such a peaceful, stress-relieving activity."

Nina Dziki, Child Psychologist "You know how sometimes you have a calling? Well, helping people was mine.” 

Chris Sutton, Custodian "My dream is to sail around the world."

  Ann Ritter, Retired     "My most cherished (memory) is the fact that we all sat down for dinner together every night and talked over our day. Especially around the holidays it was always fun because we always had grandparents there too." 

Justin Carnprobst, Hockey Coach  “I think my best memories of school come from playing for the hockey team. It was so much fun getting to know everyone on the team and building friendships with them. I think that is something that you miss the most after graduating. You spend a lot of time at practice, in the locker room and competing with a good group of friends. It is something that you miss a ton after graduation. If I could go back and do it again it I think it is something that I wouldn’t take for granted again. I started coaching after I graduated and that was something that I made sure to let the kids know. Have fun and enjoy the time you have competing with everyone because it is something that happens so quickly it is hard to appreciate it when you are young.”

Amy Burkhart, Customer Service Manager “The best part of my life is having kids, I think it gives you the true understanding of unconditional love and what it’s like to put someone else before you.”

Donna Shores, Crossing Guard "If I could solve any one of the world's problems, I would solve the problem of racism because there needs to be more equality in our world."