Oct 21, 2017 7 min read

Two weeks ago, a bridge connecting Franklin Farms Road with Washington Crown Center’s South Ring Road reopened at the North Franklin Township shopping mall.

The timing of the bridge reopening, which provides a crucial second entrance/exit in addition to the main one from West Chestnut Street, couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time, according to Washington Crown Center Manager Civil Knox.

She confirmed last week that the mall has signed Rural King Supply, which bills itself as “America’s Farm and Home Department Store.”

Rural King, which takes possession early next month of the space formerly occupied by Gander Mountain, is expected to open in March, Knox said.

Rural King planted its roots in Mattoon, Ill., in 1960. Since that time, the chain has added more than 100 stores in a 12-state area (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia).

According to the company’s website, its locations have an extensive product mix with items such as livestock feed, farm equipment, agricultural parts, lawn mowers, workwear, fashion clothing, housewares and toys.

The other recent signing at Washington Crown Center is local candy retailer favorite Toffee House, which Knox said is taking the space formerly occupied by Payless ShoeSource, adjacent to JoAnn Fabrics, with an opening expected in the next couple of weeks.

The two recent signings are a bright spot for the shopping complex, which has lost Macy’s, Payless and Gander Mountain in the past year in a rapidly changing retail landscape.

”We have a 90 percent occupancy,” Knox said, adding, “for a mall today, that’s almost unheard of.”

And there could be more tenants in the months to come.

”We have nationals (retail chains) calling us all of the time” inquiring about space availability, Knox said.

She said the only main obstacle to placement is that Macy’s owns the space it vacated. Despite that situation, she said she continues to submit the inquiries to the department store chain for follow-ups.

The mall is also preparing to add some seasonal retailers for the upcoming holiday shopping season.

Ph.D., has joined the orthopedic group at Monongahela Valley Hospital.

Cuneo received his medical degree as well as his doctorate degree in cellular and molecular physiology from the Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He completed an internship in internal medicine at St. Vincent’s Charity Medical Center in Cleveland and residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Temple University. During his final year at Moss Rehabilitation in Philadelphia, he served as chief resident and was named the Resident Educator of the Year.

Cuneo completed an advanced-care interventional spine and sports medicine fellowship program at OSS Health. He has a special interest in interventional spine care, musculoskeletal medicine, musculoskeletal ultrasound, electrodiagnostics and sports medicine.

Eric Nabors, M.D., a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, has joined the orthopedic group at Monongahela Valley Hospital.

Nabors received his undergraduate degree in biology at Haverford College and his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Tufts University in Boston, and received his fellowship training in spinal surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. A native of Indiana, Pa., he has been practicing in the greater Pittsburgh area for more than 20 years. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.

Nabors received the Mortimer Cohen Award for top score in pathology from UPMC and is a member of the American Medical Association, Pennsylvania Medical Society, North American Spine Society, the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society and has multiple published works.

Peter V. Marcoline III of Washington has been recognized by the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys as one of Pennsylvania’s top 10 criminal law attorneys for client satisfaction.

The AIOCLA is a third-party attorney rating organization that publishes an annual list in each state. Attorneys who are selected to the “10 Best” list must pass AIOCLA’s rigorous selection process, which is based on client and/or peer nominations, thorough research and AIOCLA’s independent evaluation. AIOCLA’s annual list was created to be used as a resource for clients during the attorney selection process. One of the most significant aspects of the selection process involves attorneys’ relationships and reputation among his or her clients. As clients should be an attorney’s top priority, AIOCLA places the utmost emphasis on selecting lawyers who have achieved significant success in the field of criminal law without sacrificing the service and support they provide. Selection criteria therefore focus on attorneys who demonstrate the highest standards of client satisfaction.

Oak Hill Angus Farm, Avella, has been ranked as the fourth largest in registering the most Angus beef cattle in Pennsylvania with the American Angus Association during fiscal year 2017, which ended Sept. 30, according to Allen Moczygemba, chief executive officer. Angus breeders across the nation in 2017 registered 332,421 head of Angus cattle. The association also reported that James R. Lowry of Washington ranked as the tenth largest in registering the most Angus beef cattle in Pennsylvania.

“Our growth this fiscal year continues to demonstrate strong demand for Angus genetics and solidifies our long-held position as a leader in the beef cattle industry,” Moczygemba said.

The American Angus Association is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving nearly 25,000 members across the United States, Canada and several other countries.

The 111th West Alexander Fair results are in the books and it was a success. According to the fair association, attendance for the six-day fair running Sept. 4 to 9 saw an increase of 3.2 percent from the prior year. The agricultural industry and community participation included 459 exhibitors, 2,597 entries and 124 market livestock exhibitors.

The livestock exhibitors that showed 154 hogs, lambs and steers, which were sold at the 58th Annual Market Livestock Sale. Receipts from the sale totaled $248,195 paid to 4-H and FFA exhibitors, scholarship funds and multiple charities. The fair’s market livestock sale is the oldest in Pennsylvania except for the Pa. Farm Show.

“We are encouraged by this year’s fair results and appreciate the support of the farming industry and those who come to experience the West Alexander Fair and our local agricultural industry,” said John Hunter, president of the West Alexander Fair Association.