Grace Leibow was the winner of this year’s Ty Shields Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was established in 1996 in memory of Shields, a 1994 Mt. Lebanon grad who died from leukemia at age 19.

Leibow, now a freshman at  Penn State, was chosen from a field of more than 50 applicants to receive the $15,000 award. In addition to receiving the Most Improved and Most Inspirational honors during her four-year soccer career, Leibow also served as an editor for the Devil’s Advocate, captained a Relay for Life Team and was a member of National Honors Society and Cum Laude.

“I feel beyond blessed and honored to receive such a meaningful and generous award,” Leibow says, adding that, “My family and I are so grateful to everyone involved, especially his loved ones, as he is such an inspiration to those around him.”

Mt. Lebanon High School math teacher Al D’Alo, who was Shields’ neighbor growing up, says that “[Grace] reminds me of Ty because she is welcoming and is friendly with lots of people from various social groups,” D’Alo says. “She has excellent grades and is an overall super person.”

Funding for the scholarship and for other philanthropic donations comes from the Ty Shields Memorial Golf Tournament. To learn more about the tournament, visit www.tyshieldsgolftournament.org.

SHAVE AND SAVE Rid yourself of that hot, sweaty hair and raise money to end pediatric cancer, as Salon Vivace, 642 Washington Road, hosts its first cut-a-thon, called “Shave 2 Save” for St. Baldrick’s on Thursday, September 22 from 5 to 9 p.m. You can get your head shaved for a minimum donation of $10 to St. Baldrick’s. The featured event will be Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame running back Rocky Bleier shaving Vivace owner Glenn Rengers’ hair at 7 p.m.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation raises money for research to cure childhood cancers. It started in 2000 as a challenge among businessmen but has grown to nearly 1,300 events last year. It has raised more than $200 million since its inception. And of course, its main fundraiser is its signature head-shaving events, which helps to comfort kids who are undergoing treatment and have lost their hair.

The Vivace event started as stylist Jennifer Jackson’s idea, but soon, manager Julianna DeBacco and Rengers were on board. The goal is to raise at least $5,000. Vivace will have all eight stylists ready to shave. Appointments are preferred by calling 412-344-9707 but they will be able to talk walk-ins.

A raffle, food trucks and a Chinese auction will round out the evening. Spectators and those who would like to meet Bleier (preferably ones who will donate to the cause) are welcome. If you can’t make the event (or just don’t want to shave your head) but still want to donate, you can go to: www.stbaldricks.org/events/salonvivace2016.

Mt. Lebanon resident Jamie Moore was named Eat’n Park’s 2016 Volunteer of the Year. Moore is Eat’n Park Hospitality Group’s Director of Sourcing and Sustainability. He volunteered over 200 hours this year for a variety of organizations including Slow Food Pittsburgh, the Mt. Lebanon Sustainability Committee, Pittsburgh Food Policy Council, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Community Kitchen Pittsburgh and the Amity Community Garden. He was nominated by his peers and honored along with six other finalists at the Volunteer of the Year Award Ceremony. The company made a donation in his name to Community Kitchen Pittsburgh.

INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER At 7 p.m., on Saturday, October 29, The U.S. Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants will perform a free concert at Mt. Lebanon High School. The U.S. Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants are two of the six performing ensembles within The United States Air Force Band, the premier musical organization of the U.S. Air Force. This year marks the 75th anniversary of The United States Air Force Band. For three years in a row, the Concert Band and Singing Sergeants have been the featured ensemble of the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular in New York City. To learn more, visit www.usafband.af.mil/.

Friends of Family Hospice and Palliative Care, 50 Moffett Street, is seeking donations for its  Family Treasures Sale on October 8-9. Gently used household items, jewelry, scarves, purses and accessories; linens, china and glassware, collectibles, holiday decorations and floral arrangements, books, toys and furniture will be accepted. Items may be dropped off at Family Hospice weekdays from 8:30 to 4:30., or contact info@familyhospicepa.org to arrange furniture pickup. Tax receipts are available at the front desk. All proceeds benefit patients and their families.

Tom Kijowski, MacArthur Drive, has been honored as a Five Star Wealth Manager for the fourth year. The award is presented to wealth managers who satisfy 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria associated with outstanding work. Candidates are identified through firm or peer nomination, or industry standing.

Keynotes of South Hills held its annual music competition at the Fine Arts theater of Mt. Lebanon. Cash awards totaling $8,000 were awarded to three music majors. The competition is open to all music majors in Allegheny, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Instrumentalists must be under 26 years of age and vocalists under 30 years of age.

The first place winner and recipient of $5,000, was Joseph Beaver, a Duquesne University trumpet major, who played Handel’s Aria Con Variazioni, Haydn’s  Trumpet Concerto in E Sharp, Le’gende by Euesco and Sonata for Trumpet and Piano by Stevens.

Second place prize of $2,000 went to Carnegie Mellon University soprano Alexandre Aks, who performed Handel’s Let the Bright Seraphim, Mozart’s Vedrai, Zueignung by Strauss and Sure the Shining Night by Barber.

Zoe Sorrell, a CMU flute major, took third place and $1,000. She performed Partita No. 5 by Tromlitz, Kuhalu’s Grande Sonata, Opus 71, Ballade Opus 288 by Reinecke and Zoom Tube by Clarke.

Judges for this year’s competition were Dr. Robert Cameron from Duquesne University and Roger Tabler from the Pittsburgh Pops Orchestra. Next year’s competition will be on May 20, 2017. For more information, call 412-220-3080.

Bill DaBaldo is the new athletic director at Seton-La Salle High School. DaBaldo, a native of Pittsburgh, has extensive experience in high school sports. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Robert Morris University and is a certified athletic administrator with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. DaBaldo has 25 years’ experience and has served as athletic director for the Clairton and South Park school districts. Over his career, he has been affiliated with 14 WPIAL championships and 70 PIAA championships.

Robert Hart is the new principal of Jubilee Christian School, at Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church on Washington Road. Hart has more than 15 years experience in public and private Christian schools in the Erie area. He has also served as director of youth and family ministry in Methodist and Lutheran churches.