His tour in support of “Restless Wind” and its already-released opening track, the original “Autumn Wind (Pixie #11),” brought Winston to the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Munhall for a concert April 5. Proceeds benefited the creative arts program of Wesley Family Services, which has several regional locations, including in South Fayette Township.
Read more about how George Winston got connected with Wesley Family Services in the South Hills Almanac.
With winter fast approaching and the holiday season upon us, Wesley Family Services’ Creative Arts program held their annual holiday-themed party on Sunday, December 16th at the agency’s Bridgeville location.
This year’s event featured characters from Disney’s highly popular Aladdin movie, a performance of the movie’s hit song “A Whole New World”, and special appearances by Creative Arts own favorite rock bands, the Junior Rock Band, Snow Phantoms, and the Flying Sock Monkeys.
Wesley’s Creative Arts program provides an innovative and fun approach to music therapy for children and teenagers with behavioral, social, psychological, communication, physical and motor/cognitive functioning issues.
Sarah Papperman, team leader for In Service of Seniors was joined by Nancy Jones, outreach manager for North Hills Community Outreach on The Confluence.
Listen in at the 12 minute mark to hear more about what each do to address needs like transportation to medical appointments and social interaction to prevent isolation, plus what the community can do to get involved.
Click here to listen to the program on WESA.
Construction on a four-story apartment and office building is expected to start in New Kensington later this year.
The 36-unit Pioneer Apartments will be built on a parking lot between 10th and 11th Streets, and between Fourth Avenue and Cherry Alley.
The project is being undertaken by Wesley Family Services, created in 2017 through the merger of Wesley Spectrum and Family Services of Western Pennsylvania. It began before the merger under Family Services and is officially still under its umbrella, said Stephen Christian-Michaels, chief strategy officer of Wesley Family Services and chief executive officer of Family Services of Western Pennsylvania.
“We hope this will be another anchor in the New Kensington redevelopment effort,” he said.
It is receiving about $10 million in tax credits and $500,000 in funding through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund.
Nonprofit Wesley Family Services has opened an outpatient autism and behavioral health care facility in Monroeville.
The facility on Old William Penn Highway is focusing on helping individuals who have an autism diagnosis.
“With the number of children on the autism spectrum continuing to rise, we want to be here to support local families who are either navigating through the diagnosis process or are trying to find treatment options,” said Kate Pompa, the organization’s director of autism services. “We are thrilled to be a part of the Monroeville community and have a facility that is conveniently located for families.”
According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one out of every 68 children is diagnosed on the autism spectrum.
At the Monroeville facility, specialized therapeutic programs like Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, WonderKids, and Creative Arts is offered to children, teenagers, and young adults who are on the autism spectrum.
When and where: Saturday night (March 10, 2018), Westin Convention Center, Downtown.
#ReachingNewHeights: This was a special inaugural gala for the new organization since Wesley Spectrum and Family Services of Western Pennsylvania merged in July 2017 to form Wesley Family Services. Clever decor brought the gala’s theme of “reaching new heights” to life such as a 25-foot replica of a hot air balloon inside of a ballroom as well as the table centerpieces, which were miniature papier-mache hot air balloons made by Wesley high school students. The 440 party-goers also bid on auction items like — naturally! — a hot air balloon ride, as well as a trip for two to New York City to attend a taping of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.”