Cheers and Jeers
Courtesy of United Veterans Billeting of Fayette County
Cheers: Thanks to the efforts of a local nonprofit, homeless female veterans now have a place to go in Uniontown. The United Veterans Billeting of Fayette County opened The Rendu House, a three story, 12-room home on Gallatin Avenue that is intended to accommodate women and their children while they look for work and apply for veterans benefits. The house was donated to the organization by the United Federal Credit Union and is the second homeless shelter opened by the nonprofit in the city, the first one being a men’s facility on Lincoln Street. “We try to lift them up where they can survive on their own,” said Ron Metros, founder of the nonprofit. We want them to get to a place where they can survive on their own. It’s not a handout, it’s a hand-up.” Veterans who would like more information may call 724-322-6570.
Cheers: We extend a warm welcome to two new local college presidents, both of whom face challenges unique to their schools. Washington & Jefferson College’s Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls has the privilege of welcoming the largest incoming freshman class in the school’s history. “I’m really inheriting a great circumstance,” she said this week. At the same time, she acknowledged the private liberal arts school is “facing the enrollment clip just like everybody else,” and looks to bring a more diverse student population to campus. Meanwhile, Dr. Jon Anderson, her counterpart at Pennsylvania Western University, is tasked with addressing a substantial drop in enrollment at the three campuses of the state-owned school he oversees in California, Clarion and Edinboro. “Enrollment across the country is a real challenge right now,” Anderson said. “We have to get the story of PennWest out there … We have to continue to deliver an experience to students that they’ll want to tell their friends about. If we do that, enrollment will take care of itself.” We wish both success in their new leadership roles.
Cheers: Kudos to Upper St. Clair’s own Josh Matheny, who made his hometown proud this week at the Summer Olympics in Paris, where Matheny competed in the 200-meter breaststroke event. While he placed seventh in the final, Matheny turned in an impressive 2:09.52, which was better than his Tuesday semi-final time of 2:09.70. Matheny, a 2021 graduate of Upper St. Clair High School, is no stranger to the local newspaper sports pages. As a USC senior, he won a fourth WPIAL title in the 100-meter breaststroke and led USC to the team championship. That year, he also was named The Almanac/Observer-Reporter male Athlete of the Year. We anticipate seeing this Olympian again in 2028 in Los Angeles.