Armstrong "In The Loop Podcast"

Cheryl Martin and Sheila Talarico, both of Glade Run Lutheran Services, join the show to talk about two great programs that the public can help participate & give back this holiday season.

We talk about the National Day of Giving on December 1st. Learn about what this day means for non-profits and how you can help Glade Run.
To Donate for National Day of Giving:
https://gladerun.org/donate-now/
Or visit:
https://www.givebigpittsburgh.com/organizations/glade-run-lutheran-services-c892a747-1255-4da9-a808-4d46f0b80995 

An annual tradition at Glade Run is their Christmas Angel Program. This year Glade Run needs our help more than ever as many business & community groups are not able to assist as they have in years past. Hear more about the Christmas Angel Program and what ways you can help spread Christmas joy to those in need this year! 

For more information about the Christmas Angel Program:
https://gladerun.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Christmas-Safe-Ways-to-Give-Flyer-1.pdf

Please Contact Cheryl Martin for any questions:
724-452-4453
or by email:
[email protected] 


Glade Run's Facebook Page is updated with all the latest information during the year:
https://www.facebook.com/gladerun 


We'd also like to wish Steven Green, CEO of Glade Run Lutheran Services, congratulations on being selected as a 2020 Fox Rothschild Outstanding CEO and Top Executives!  

John Cyprian, Director of Butler County Veterans Services, joins us for a special Veterans Day special of In The Loop Podcast.

Learn all about what John and his great staff do to help our local Veterans! Benefits that they're  able to assist with:

• Service Connected Disability and Compensation
• Non-Service Connected Pension/Aid & Attendance (nursing home)
• Survivor Benefits
• Butler County Veterans In Need Emergency Assistance
• PA State Temporary Assistance
• GI Bill
• Federal and County Burial Benefits
• Headstones
• Flag Holders
• Real Estate Tax Exemption
• Other PA State Program

***UPDATE VETERANS DAY PARADE HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR 2021***
John has been busy planning the annual Veterans Day Parade & a ceremony in Diamond Park in remembrance of the Armistice. The ceremony will begin at 10:30am on November 11th.

The last half of the episode we learn about how the pandemic has impacted what the Veterans Services office does and helps with in the community. John shares how important the local Veteran community is to Butler County and there isn't another county that supports our men & women like they do! 

For more information on Butler County Veterans Services: https://www.butlercountypa.gov/198/Veteran-Services

Carol Borden, Founder and Executive Director of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, joins the show this week to talk about Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. Carol and her team are celebrating 10 years of training and pairing over 300 service dogs with deserving veterans & others in need.

We learn about the history of how Guardian Angels started and what the mission is for the organization. Carol explains how 2020 has truly impacted them and the approach they're taking to cope with the situation. Learn about their caravan program they switched to during the early months to make sure veterans in need could still get paired with their service dogs!

We take a few minutes to talk about Armstrong's Healing Heroes initiative. Armstrong partnered with Guardian Angels starting in 2016 to raise money for service dogs to be paired with local veterans in the communities we serve. 7 dogs have been paired with local veterans including the newest, Jim & Jud. There are still more dogs to be paired and if you know anyone that could benefit from having a service dog, visit: https://armstrongonewire.com/HealingHeroes

Guardian Angels has been selected as a finalist for the Vettys Suicide Prevention Award. Please consider voting for them by using this link: https://missioncomplete.wufoo.com/forms/6th-vettys-suicide-prevention-public-voting/

Carol encourages everyone to help consider donating to Guardian Angels as they've lost all but 1 fundraiser in 2020. Every dollar is important to them! To donate or find out more information on Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs: https://www.medicalservicedogs.org/


Special thanks to Carol, her team and all of our Veterans! 

Chris Camp, owner of Fun Fore All, is our guest this week to talk about their upcoming Holiday Lights Mini Golf event at Fun Fore All.

Fun Fore All's Holiday Lights Mini Golf was named one of Kidsburgh’s and KDKA’s BEST holiday light displays in 2017, 2018 and 2019! Turning their two award-winning miniature golf courses into fully playable walk-through holiday light extravaganzas. Families can experience a beautiful, interactive, holiday experience unlike any other in the area. Chris mentions in the episode to stop in and don't just drive by as you'll miss most of the experience! 

One of the best parts of Holiday Lights Mini Golf is Fun Fore All partners with Highmark Caring Place to give back 10% of all tickets & sponsorships from the month & a half long event. Chris and his team have been able to present Caring Place with wonderful check donations & a one of a kind night out for their families participating in the Caring Place program.

Holiday Lights Mini Golf runs from November 20th-January 2nd. Fun Fore All is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (closes early afternoon) and Christmas Day. Holiday Lights Mini Golf starts around dusk each day and is a wonderful family event to experience during the holiday season!

For more information:
Website: https://funforeall.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/funforeall/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funforeall/?hl=en

For more information on Highmark Caring Place:
https://www.highmarkcaringplace.com/cp2/index.shtml

Vanessa Fatur joins us this week to discuss the Zelienople Historical Society Marble Hunt.

The 1st ever Marble Hunt is happening in Zelienople from October 22nd - November 8th.  Marbles can be found OUTDOORS in the Zelienople community. Clue Booklets can be purchased for $10.00  at Passavant House M-F 9am – 12pm or during Thursday Open Air Market at the Buhl House.

There are 6 handblown marbles and many Just For Fun marbles spread out in many locations. All participants will be entered to win the "GRAND PRIZE"! 


For more information:
https://www.zeliehistory.org/
https://www.facebook.com/ZelienopleHistoricalSociety/

Lisa Johnson and her brother Daniel join the show to talk about their upcoming Fearless Female Expo on November 14th.

Hear all about this wonderful program that Lisa & Daniel have put together. They want to help empower women and children throughout our communities. Their mission and passion for Fearless Females is very contagious and they're helping to provide information that could help save someone in a scary situation. 

Fearless Female 1st ever Women & Children Safety Empowerment Expo will be held November 14th at the Cranberry Township Municipal Building. The event is from 1pm-4pm and is free for everyone! Featuring Celina Pompeani of KDKA, First Responder presentations, self defense for moms & kids, raffles/food/vendors and much more. 

For More Information: http://www.fearless-female.net/home.html

Mark Sotomayor, Executive Officer of Treecup Tea, joins us to talk about his company Treecup Tea. Mark and his mother have been building this business for the past 3 years. Hear all about the amazing journey Mark has been on to make Treecup Tea into what it is today.

Mark shares with us his background story and how a random cup of iced tea sparked his passion for creating a business. We hear about why he chose planting trees in Haiti as part of his mission and desire to help give back! 

Treecup tea currently has a Kickstarter going on: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marksotomayor/treecup-tea-buy-a-tea-plant-a-tree-0/description

Visit the Treecup website for more information: https://treecuptea.com/

Current Locations Selling Treecup Tea:

Pittsburgh Whole Foods Market

5880 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

South Hills Whole Foods Market

111 Siena Drive, Upper St. Claire, PA 15241

Wexford Whole Foods Market

10576 Perry Highway, Wexford, PA 15090

Tin Man Sweets

100 Perry Hwy, Harmony, PA 16037

Sports & Spirits

223 E Main St, Evans City, PA 16033

Grove City College GeDunk

100 Campus Drive, Grove City, PA 16127

Soergel Orchards

2573 Brandt School Rd, Wexford, PA 15090

Harvest Valley Farms

6003 Cunningham Rd, Gibsonia, PA 15044

Cummings Candy & Coffee South

454 Pittsburgh Rd, Butler, PA 16002

Batch

230 W Main St, Saxonburg, PA 16056

Anchor & Anvil Coffee Bar

7221 Church Ave, Ben Avon, PA 15202

Prestogeorge Coffee & Tea​​

1719 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Wholey Fish Market​​

1711 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

My Goodness

1104 S Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

V & V Scratch Kitchen

6108 Brownsville Rd Ext #203, Finleyville, PA 15332

Black Cat Market

5171 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

We have a VERY special episode for all of you as Dominic Pace, Gekko in The Mandalorian, joins us during a recent Meet & Greet at Curio in Zelienople, PA. 

Dominic is a very accomplished actor and can be seen across many big name television shows & movies. He talks about his newest movie set to come out in October during our interview!

Dominic had the opportunity to be GEKKO in Star Wars "The Mandalorian" on Disney+. This hit show has broken streaming records and merchandise is all over store shelves as we speak! You can see GEKKO in the 1st and 3rd episodes of The Mandalorian! Hear all about Dominic's experience on the set, what his character has in the future of the Star Wars universe and when we can see GEKKO merch in the near future! 

We would like to thank Dominic Pace for this opportunity!



Special thanks to Jason Shorr for allowing us to have a few minutes with Dominic! 

We can't forget to say special thanks to the 501st Legion for their assistance with this special event! 

Siggy Pehel, President of the Glade Run Lake Conservancy, joins the show to talk about Glade Run Lake and everything his organization is doing to preserve the area.

Hear all about the start of the Glade Run Lake Conservancy, the projects that have been completed and the future projects they have planned!

They're hosting a Community Conservation Night on October 1st:
The GRLC will be hosting a food truck fundraiser (3pm to dusk) and an informational sunset paddle around the lake with board members (5:30pm to 7pm). Please bring your own kayak/canoe, PFD, and paddle if you'd like to participate in the paddling event.

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Grab a bite to eat from Hoshi, Fox's Pizza, Kona Ice, and Popped Envy, and enjoy a picnic at he lake, or order to-go and take your goodies home. Make sure to stop by the Glade Run Lake Conservancy table for a chance to win a gift basket with Glade Run Lake Conservancy swag and chocolates from Speckled Hen Chocolate Company!

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Tables and chairs will be available to sit and eat at, but please practice safe social distancing measures.

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Whether you are an avid user of Glade Run Lake or are curious about what the lake has to offer, come out and enjoy delicious food and great company!

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All proceeds from the food truck rally fundraiser will go towards the GRLC's conservation efforts and improvements at Glade Run Lake.

For More Information: gladerunlakeconservancy.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Glade-Run-Lake-Conservancy-166986573363947

Reaghan Wilkerson, Senior at Seneca Valley High School, joins the show to talk about her Senior Class Project. Reaghan has partnered with Armstrong for the Avenge Hunger Virtual 5K. Learn more about why Reaghan picked this as her project, what her goal is and how people can get involved!

To participate or donate to the Virtual 5K:
https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/AvengeHungerVirtual5K

Use code: REAGHAN10 to save 10% off registration

All proceeds will go to the following local food banks:
Gleaners Food Bank
Southwest Butler Food Cupboard
The Lighthouse Foundation
Victory Family Church Feeding Program
Holy Redeemer Social Services, Ellwood City