May 3, 2015 5 min read

Salad isn’t the only praiseworthy green initiative at Bella Sera.

The ornate Italian restaurant off Morganza Road in Cecil Township has been designated a 3 Star Certified Green Restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association, a national nonprofit that assists restaurants and caterers in becoming environmentally sustainable.

Bella Sera, according to a news release, took 57 environmental steps to earn a GRA GreenPoints score of 176.91 – 76.91 percent above the minimum requirements for certification. The restaurant and catering venue – which has been designated green by GRA since 2008 – moved up from a 2 Star certification, said Michael Oshman, GRA’s founder and CEO.

Jason Capps, Bella Sera owner and chef, said in a prepared statement: “It’s important to us to be a pioneer in sustainability. We were the first Green Certified Restaurant in Western Pennsylvania, and to have upgraded . . . shows our commitment to sustainability.”

General Alloys Inc. has had its mettle on metals tested every day, and has been passing for 30 years.

“The business climate has changed considerably over the years,” Terri Chavla, general manager of the scrap metal processing firm, said via email. “Commodity price fluctuations, recessions, loss of steel mills, Chinese invasion into the scrap metals market, and environmental/government regulations come to mind as the major factors impacting the business.”

Yet her business is still in business, the one her husband, Munir, the owner, started in April 1985 with an initial investment of $2,950. General Alloys operated in Eighty Four its first two years before moving to its current location on Wylie Avenue – into, according to Terri, “an old Brockway Glass warehouse that had no utilities or even a light bulb.”

The Chavlas have invested a lot in purchasing adjacent land and equipment, and for expansions and upgrades. But business has grown over time, featuring the addition of a side business, Canton Gravel, and a certified truck scale weighing service. There are 14 employees.

Operating under the registered trademark, “We Start From Scrap,” General Alloys buys ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals, sorts, cuts and bales them, then ships to costomers in the United States and abroad,

Tanger Outlets will have a job fair from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

About 20 stores at the South Strabane Township retail center will participate, including Aeropostale, Columbia Sportswear, Dress Barn, Express, Gymboree, Janie & Jack, Michael Kors, Nine West, Skechers, Under Armour, Villa Pizza and White House Black Market.

Candidates can meet hiring managers, fill out applications and, perhaps, get interviews. Positions will be seasonal or year-round.

Old Mill continues to branch out.

Lendmark Financial Services, LLC, launched a branch office April 21 in the ever-burgeoning shopping complex off Washington Road. It’s at 12A Old Mill Blvd. in South Strabane Township.

Lendmark’s services include personal, auto and debt consolidation loans, and merchant retail sales financing services. Hours rae 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Lendmark, based in Covington, Ga., has more than 150 branches in 12 states, including Pennsylvania and West Virginia. For more information, visit www.lendmarkfinancial.com.

Ripepi Pediatrics underwent a name change Friday, and it is a much longer name.

The office at 100 Stoops Drive, Mongahela, became CCP – South Hills Pediatric Associates, Mon Valley Office. It is part of the Children’s Community Pediatrics network and third under the South Hills label, joining Brentwood and Jefferson Hills.

Jennifer Ripepi, the physician on duty, has expanded office hours to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone is 724-483-2040.

It was a sweet reopening April 7 for Emma’s Bake Shop.

Josh and Jason Stillwagon, brothers and co-owners of the year-old Carmichaels goodies store, had closed their retail operation in late January to focus on wholesale orders for restaurants, cafes and other local businesses. They said in early March they wanted to relaunch the store in about two months, then did a month later.

Their offerings, made from scratch, include bread, buns, pepperoni rolls, pies, doughnuts, cookies, cinnamon rolls and other delights.

The hours are different from earlier: 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Christopher McPherson, a McGuffey High School graduate from West Alexander, is a manager trainee at an 84 Lumber Co. store in Raleigh, N.C.

Five others have been promoted to positions at the company’s headquarters in North Strabane Township: Lauren Barranti to assistant payroll manager; Dan Oshea and Dean Wiley to field merchandisers; Luke Ransom to purchasing analyst; and Nick Iddings to coordinator in the National Sales Department.

Dan Bodnar was hired as an outside salesman at the Bridgeville location, 8400 Presto Sygan Road.