News and Community Archives: 2013

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home holds Remembrance Tree Ceremony

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home holds Remembrance Tree Ceremony The Tree of Remembrance lighting service was held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10 at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg. The trees held approximately 50 ornaments with the names of those who passed away in 20132, as well as the names of loved ones that were requested by people in the community.

Twenty-nine people attended the lighting ceremony, which featured a short service by Funeral Directors Deana R. Turner and Larry Bliss, Funeral Intern, Courtney Shirey. The crowd was also treated to Christmas carols performed by the Union High School Choral Ensemble. The ensemble was led by Mr. David Gibson and the students participating were Beau Rankin, Billy Vanderbilt, Casey Confer, Leah Milliron, Danara Hawk, Tanya Banks and Kassie McGarrity.

Families and friends were given the chance of honoring their loved ones by placing their ornaments on the tree. The trees will be up until Thursday, January 2, and anyone wanting to pay his or her respects is welcome to stop by.

Children in Rimersburg enjoy a morning with Santa

Children in Rimersburg enjoy a morning with Santa Despite the snow and chilly temperatures, on Saturday, December 7, the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Rimersburg partnered with the Rimersburg Chamber of Commerce and VFW Post 7132 to host a Breakfast with Santa for the children in the community. Approximately 60 kids ages 12 and under attended the event and had a wonderful morning with Santa!

During the activity, the children were able to listen to a reading of a Christmas story, take a picture with Santa, decorate a picture frame and enjoy a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage and milk.

Deana Turner, manager of the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home, Larry Bliss, funeral director, and Courtney Shirey, funeral intern, were on hand to assist with the festivities. Other volunteers from the chamber included Amanda Bliss and Niki Morganti, of Maple Grove Enterprises, Lydi Montgomery and Nancy Carmichael of Klingensmith Drugs, Pam Fox of Northwest Savings Bank, Rosalee Bliss of Bloomtown Flowers, Susan Barger, Susan Murray, Tracy Stitt, Andrea Shimmons and Calla Carmichael along with numerous family members of chamber members also helped with the event.

A special acknowledgement goes out to Rimersburg’s Santa, Jeff Kreibel for his jolly visit. Our staff and the members of the VFW Post 7132 and the Rimersburg Chamber of Commerce would like to thank everyone for their efforts with the event – it was a great success!

Photo credit: Funeral Director Larry Bliss (elf), Funeral Intern Courtney Shirey (snowman), Jeff Kriebel as Santa, Funeral Director and Manager Deana Turner, and Sydney Turner (tree).

Grace Presbyterian Church presents annual Christmas Canata

The Senior Choir of Grace Presbyterian Church will present their Christmas Cantata entitled “Bethlehem’s Child.” The Cantata will be performed on Sunday, December 15, 2013, at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church on the corner of North Jefferson and Arch Streets in Kittanning. The choir, under the direction of Alice Young, will be accompanied by an instrumental ensemble, with piano accompaniment by Jean Ferrara.

The performances are open to the public. A free-will offering will be collected at the evening performance.

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Homes to put up Trees of Remembrance in Petrolia and Rimersburg

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Homes to put up Trees of Remembrance in Petrolia and Rimersburg The Christmas season can be hard for those who have lost a loved one. To help local residents honor the memory of their family members, the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Homes in Petrolia and Rimersburg will put up Trees of Remembrance during the month of December.

The Trees of Remembrance will showcase ornaments with the names of those who passed during 2013. Anyone’s name may be added to the trees. To request an ornament for a loved one, call the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home at 724-756-2710 or 814-473-3080 by Tuesday, December 10, 2013.

To honor those lost throughout the year, services will be held at each location. These short services will give family members and friends a chance to place their loved one’s ornament on the tree and a brief message will be delivered by a local pastor. Also, light refreshments will be served following the program.

Ther service at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia will take place on Wednesday, December 11 at 7 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Harper Brady participating. The Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Rimersburg will hold its program on Tuesday, December 10, at 7 p.m. at the funeral home, with the service being led by Pastor Dan George.

“The holidays are really tough for those who have lost loved ones, and we wanted to give residents a way to memorialize them during the Christmas season,” said Deana Turner, manager and funeral director at Bauer-Hillis. “This is a wonderful way for families in the community to remember those who passed throughout the year and can be a very healing experience for some.”

An ad featuring all the names added to the Petrolia Tree of Remembrance will run in the Monday, December 16 edition of the Progress News, and an ad featuring the names on the Rimersburg Tree of Remembrance will run in the Thursday, December 19 edition of the Leader Vindicator. The tree will stay up at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Homes until Thursday, January 2, 2013; all ornaments need to be collected by that date.

Bauer-Bly Funeral Home has booth at the Dayton Elementary School Fall Festival

Bauer-Bly Funeral Home has booth at the Dayton Elementary School Fall Festival On Friday evening, November 15, 2013, Bauer-Bly Funeral Home was one of 37 exhibitors and vendors that participated in the 11th Annual Dayton Elementary School Fall Festival. The festival benefits the sixth grade Gold Pass Program, a program for the students based on character, discipline and academic performance. Community Relations Manager, Sandy Mikita, and Service Associate, Bobbi Ruth Blinn, were on hand representing the funeral home during the event and promoting the importance of bicycle safety.

Mikita had handouts and fun activities that explained safety rules to the elementary students, and the funeral home also sponsored a free raffle that gave away two youth bicycle helmets.

“We hope everyone had fun learning about bicycle safety and that the safety tips will be put into practice,” said Mikita.

The exhibit also gave visitors an insight of other community related activities and outreach programs the funeral home offers within Dayton and the surrounding communities. A PowerPoint presentation was set up that explained the Bauer Steps Ahead outreach program and Mikita also made available to festival-goers information about cemetery monuments.

“Bobbi Ruth and I had a wonderful time at the festival,” said Mikita. “We were very impressed with how helpful the sixth grade students were in helping all the vendors set up. We were glad to provide fun activities for the children and also share information about our outreach programs with local residents, all while helping with this fundraising effort for the 6th grade Gold Pass Program.”

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home thanks veterans for their service

Despite Tuesday, November 12 having the first snow of the season, 30 veterans gathered at the Knight Spot Restaurant for a breakfast sponsored by the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Rimersburg, thanking them for their service to our country.

“Our funeral home has held this breakfast for the veterans in the past, and it is one way for our organization to show our appreciation,” said Deana R. Turner, manager of the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg. “There is no way we can possibly thank them enough for their sacrifice, but we hope they enjoyed their morning.”

Turner was joined at the event by funeral director Larry Bliss, funeral intern Courtney Shirey and service associate Pastor Dan George. The veterans were also treated to a special performance by the 6th grade classes of Mrs. Rachel Kindel and Miss Allison Kepple from Rimersburg Elementary School. The students serenaded the group with “Thank You, Soldiers!” by Michael Souders and enjoyed mini muffins and hot chocolate before leaving.

Before the veterans were served a delicious breakfast of pancakes and sausage, Pastor George said the blessing. Turner then presented Terry Custer, president of American Legion Post 454, and Larry Murray, president of VFW Post 7132, with a donation of $100 for their organizations. Each veteran in attendance was also presented with a tie tack from their respective military branch.

“Our staff often works with the local veterans and we are so thankful of all they do for not only us, but for the community,” said Turner. “I am proud to work with a group of men so dedicated to serving our country and our town.”

Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to visit the Hartwood Acres Estate

Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to visit the Hartwood Acres Estate On Wednesday, December 11, 2013, join Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead as they visit the Hartwood Acres Estate in Pittsburgh!

The 629-acre park is in Allegheny County and preserved within is one of the largest and most spectacular country estates in the region. The three-story Hartwood Mansion, built in 1929, was styled as a 16th century Tudor and is maintained to evoke the elegant lifestyle of the Lawrence family. Many rooms will be decorated with the finest seasonal trimmings. A traditional English-style High Tea of assorted tea sandwiches, scones and other delicious finger foods will be served in the Great Hall while a professional musician entertains everyone with Holiday music. After lunch, a docent will conduct a guided tour through the mansion.

The cost is $51 for bus transportation, High Tea and guided tour. Attendees will meet at the Bauer Funeral Home in Kittanning at 9 a.m., and at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg at 8:15 a.m. on December 11.

Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead offer a great way to stay connected with the community and anyone interested is welcome to join. For more information or to reserve a spot for the event, call the Bauer Funeral Home at 724-545-9464. Reservations are due by Wednesday, December 4, 2013.

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home announces “Blue Christmas” Remembrance Program

The Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Petrolia, in conjunction with Zion Church of Petroleum Valley and Clarion Forest VNA Hospice, will present “A Blue Christmas,” a service of remembrance and strength during the holiday season. The program will be held Thursday, December 5, 2013, at 7 p.m. at Zion Church, 1392 Kittanning Pike, Karns City.

The Rev. Sue Evans, RN, BA, Bereavement Coordinator, the Rev. Randy Evans, BA, Hospice Chaplain, and Debbie Lucas, MA, NCC, LPC, Bereavement Counselor, all of Clarion Forest VNA Hospice, will offer guidance on remembering loved ones and dealing with the sometimes overwhelming combination of grief and stress that can occur during the holidays. Also participating in the program will be Pastor Joe Olkowski of Zion Church and the Zion Worship Team.

The Blue Christmas program acknowledges the pain and sadness many people experience as the holidays approach, but also encourages people to move toward hope.

“It’s about facing the reality that the holidays can be the toughest time of the year for some people,” said Deana Turner, manager of Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home. “This service comes out of a need to fill a special niche during this holiday season; to help people find comfort and still share in the season, even though they may still carry a bit of sadness with them during the holidays.”

"We all grieve differently, but most find the journey through it eased by sharing the grief with others,” said Pastor Joe Olkowski. “We tend to be so private that we do ourselves harm – especially in times of loss. I tell people, 'You're among friends and people who understand, so share the load you feel.'”

Those who attend are asked to bring an ornament in memory of their loved one. The ornaments will be returned following the program.

The public is encouraged to attend this special holiday remembrance program, which will include the singing of songs, a brief inspirational message and a candle lighting ceremony. Light refreshments will be served following the program and an ornament will be reserved in memory of loved ones. Reservations are requested but not required and there is no admission fee. Please contact the staff at Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home at 724-756-2710 to advise us the number of guests who will be attending.

Bauer Funeral Home honored for 50 years of membership with Selected Independent Funeral Homes

Bauer Funeral Home honored for 50 years of membership with Selected Independent Funeral Homes Jennifer Bauer Eroh was among the many funeral service professionals attending the 95th Annual Meeting of Selected Independent Funeral Homes in Austin, TX, October 16-19. Eroh is president of Bauer Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. in Kittanning with branches in Elderton, Dayton, Petrolia and Rimersburg.

“I always value the opportunity to gain new information and insight on how to better serve my client families and community,” said Eroh. “Selected’s meeting provided valuable opportunities to gather with my fellow members of Selected Independent Funeral Homes from across North America and around the world. We participated in a variety of informative study sessions, discussed insights and shared new ideas that I’m excited to implement.”

Meeting sessions focused on important issues concerning the funeral service profession such as innovative service ideas, timely business advice and best practices.
During the annual meeting, Eroh was honored on behalf of Bauer Funeral Homes for 50 years of membership with Selected Independent Funeral Homes. Bauer Funeral Home joined the organization in 1963 under Eroh’s grandfather, Amberson C. Bauer. Eroh was presented with a plaque and a video tribute highlighting the funeral home’s history was shown at the meeting.

“50 years of membership is an important milestone and I’m honored to be recognized on behalf of our business,” said Eroh. “Three generations of my family have been committed to serving our community with compassion, dignity and respect, and I look forward to continuing our legacy of exceptional care for years to come.”

Founded in 1917 as National Selected Morticians, Selected Independent Funeral Homes is the world’s oldest and largest association of independently owned funeral home. Members of the association are expected to operate according to specific standards and best practices to provide the public with reliable, high quality funeral services and funeral-related information.

“Our members pledge to uphold the Selected Independent Funeral Homes Code of Good Practice and are committed to the important responsibility they have to the families and communities they serve,” said Robert J. Paterkiewicz, executive director of Selected Independent Funeral Homes. “It’s a tradition of trust that Bauer Funeral Home has been a part of for 50 years.”

Photo credit: Adam B. Robinson, Jr., president of Selected Independent Funeral Homes, honors Bauer Funeral Homes President, Jennifer Bauer Eroh and her husband, Jason, for 50 years of membership in the organization.

Bauer Funeral Home to host Holiday Remembrance Program

The Bauer Family Funeral Homes will host a free Holiday Remembrance Program entitled, “Holiday Grief: Surviving the Season.” This very special presentation will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 7:00 PM at the Bauer Funeral Home, 515 North McKean Street in Kittanning.

Jenna Rhodaberger, MSW, LSW, Bereavement Coordinator and Medical Social Worker of the VNA Hospice and Palliative Care, will offer guidance on remembering loved ones and dealing with the sometimes overwhelming combination of grief and stress that can occur during the holidays.

The public is encouraged to attend this special holiday remembrance and bereavement support program. Reservations are requested but not required and there is no admission fee. Light refreshments will be served following the program.

Please contact the staff at Bauer Family Funeral Homes at 724-545-9464 to advise us the number of guests who will be attending.

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg holds Holiday Remembrance Program

The Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home will host a free Holiday Remembrance Program entitled, “Holiday Grief: Surviving the Season.” This very special presentation will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 7:00 PM at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home, 758 Main Street in Rimersburg.

The Rev. Sue Evans, RN, BA, Bereavement Coordinator, the Rev. Randy Evans, Chaplain, and Debbie Lucas, MA, LPC, Bereavement Counselor, all of Clarion Forest VNA Hospice, will offer guidance on remembering loved ones and dealing with the sometimes overwhelming combination of grief and stress that can occur during the holidays.

The public is encouraged to attend this special holiday remembrance and bereavement support program. Reservations are requested but not required and there is no admission fee. Light refreshment will be served following the program.

Please contact the staff at Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home at 814-473-3080 to advise us the number of guests who will be attending.

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home gives presentation at retirement home in East Brady

On Friday, October 11, 2013, the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home’s staff gave a presentation on funeral preplanning at the Allegheny Hills Retirement Residence in East Brady. Approximately 14 residents attended the seminar.

Deana Turner, funeral director and manager, Rebecca J. Donahue-Nedd, funeral director and advance planning consultant, and Larry Bliss, funeral director, were on hand for the event. They presented, “Creating a Celebration of Life,” which offered information about many facets of the funeral industry. The main topics covered included the role of the funeral director, today’s funeral options and associated costs, how to create a meaningful celebration of life and tips on funeral preplanning.

“I was excited that we had the opportunity to speak to the residents at Allegheny Hills today,” said Turner. “Bauer-Hillis is committed to helping our neighbors learn about the funeral process and become knowledgeable of their options.”

Literature was available after the seminar for those in attendance to review at their leisure, including Thoughtful Decision Guides, a self- directed book where they can record their vital statistics and other important information for family members, and Understanding Cash Advances.

Following the presentation, Bauer-Hillis awarded three door prizes. Two gift cards to the new East Brady Subway were given to Winnie King and Grace Dunlap, and MaryAnn Appleton won a gift certificate to the Old Bank Deli and Bakery in East Brady.

Kittanning Rotary Club gives dictionaries to local third graders

Kittanning Rotary Club gives dictionaries to local third graders Jack Bauer, owner of Bauer Funeral Homes, has been an active member of the Kittanning Rotary Club for many years and the each year the club’s fundraising activities help fund events in the community. This fall, the club collaborated with the Armstrong School District this fall and helped purchase a student dictionary for each third grader in the district.

One of the highlights for the club was personally delivering the dictionaries to each third grade class. On Wednesday, October 8, 2013, many rotary club members and stand-in volunteers were on hand when the dictionaries were delivered to each classroom.

Sandy Mikita, community relations manager at Bauer Funeral Homes, was one of the stand-in volunteers. She was assigned to visit Mrs. Vickie Watters third grade class at Elderton Elementary School. The students were excited to learn how much information was included in the dictionary.

After Sandy gave them a couple of words to look up, she explained that the dictionary not only would help them in reading, pronouncing and understanding words, but also with English, math, history, science, civics and world cultures. She also told them about what the rotary club does in the community. The class was great, eager to learn and excited to participate. As Sandy was leaving, the students and teacher expressed much appreciation to the Kittanning Rotary Club.

Clark Chapel helps with the 2013 Apple Butter Festival and Don Miller Memorial Truck Show

Clark Chapel helps with the 2013 Apple Butter Festival and Don Miller Memorial Truck Show The Fourth Annual Don Miller Memorial Truck Show was held in conjunction with the Apple Butter Festival in Elderton on Saturday, October 5, 2013, and Clark Chapel of the Bauer Funeral Home enjoyed celebrating this event with the community.

This annual event honors the life of Don Miller, who was an outstanding business owner and resident of Elderton when a tragic accident on April 23, 2010 took his life. Elderton’s Main Street was filled with 22 big rig trucks, some from local towns and others from miles away. This year, the Elderton Volunteer Fire Department assisted the original organizer, Nick Clawson, stepson of Don Miller, in organizing the event.

The proceeds from the truck show registration will be awarded as a scholarship to a worthy student from the Elderton area that has served the community. This was a cause important to Don since he was very involved in a number of community-minded efforts. The fire department also gave each truck driver that was registered a dash plaque.

The show is truly a family event. Nick Clawson, along with his mom, Patty Miller, Don’s wife, and Brice Miller, the son of Don and Patty and a seventh grader at West Shamokin High School, were glad to see the great turn out. Brice and one of the other truck drivers also displayed their personal collection of model big rig trucks. Lindsey Pierce and Bernie Gaff, members of the fire department, played a big part in organizing this year’s event.

Clark Chapel Funeral Home is proud to assist the Miller family during the truck show each year. Sandy Mikita, community relations manager, was on hand to set up the registration area on the front porch of the funeral home and give away a wagon full of pumpkins. The funeral home also provided music to entertain everyone during the show.

Visit the Elk Country Visitors Center with Bauer Steps Ahead!

On Tuesday, October 15, 2013, join Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead for a fall foliage tour and to visit the Elk Country Visitors in Benezette!

A guide will introduce everyone to the interactive and state-of-the-art interpretive exhibits designed to educate visitors about the history, ecology and behavior of the elk population. The 4D Immersive Theatre features a 30-minute film filled with multimedia sights, sounds and sensory experiences, all to showcase the elk’s activities and wildlife conservation efforts. You can visit the gift shop and may also see the magnificent elk along the road or forest edge. After leaving the Visitors Center, the group will eat a lunch of assorted sandwiches, soup, dessert and coffee or tea at the Benezette Hotel.

Meet at the Bauer Funeral Home in Kittanning for bus transportation at 7:15 AM and at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home for bus transportation at 8 AM. The cost is $43 for motor coach bus transportation, guided tour, film and lunch. Call Sandy at 724-545-9464 to make your reservation; seating is limited. Money and reservations are due by Tuesday, October 8, 2013. Make check payable to Bauer Funeral Home and mail to P.O. Box 997, Kittanning, PA 16201. Guests are welcome.

Bauer Steps Ahead offers a great way to stay connected with the community and anyone interested is welcome to join. For more information about the group or the schedule and cost of October’s event, call the Bauer Funeral Home at 724-545-9464.

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home gives seminar at Rimersburg Senior Center

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home gives seminar at Rimersburg Senior Center On Wednesday, September 11, 2013, the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Rimersburg’s staff hosted a funeral preplanning seminar at the Rimersburg Senior Center. Approximately 25 seniors were at the center for the presentation.

Deana Turner, funeral director and manager of the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home, gave the presentation, “Getting Your House in Order,” which reviewed the many facets of end of life planning as our nation continues to age. “End of life planning can be difficult to talk about,” said Turner, “but there are so many things that people need to consider. Having all of your affairs in order makes the whole funeral process easier on your loved ones.”

Turner was joined by her colleagues, Funeral Directors Mark Thompson and Larry Bliss, for the seminar. Rimersburg Senior Center Administrator Kelly Fair invited the Bauer-Hillis staff to speak and they were happy to have the opportunity.

“We had a great time with the group discussing the benefits of preplanning, and providing an overview of topics such as estates, wills, financial matters and advance directives,” said Turner. “Our staff is grateful for the opportunity to educate community members on these matters.”

Literature was available after the seminar for those in attendance to review at their leisure including Thoughtful Decision Guides, a self- directed book where they can record their vital statistics and other important information for family members. The seminar closed with the awarding of two beautiful fall mum flower baskets from Bloom Town Flowers as door prizes to Evelyn Miller and Genevieve Lerch.

Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to see "A Little Family Business" at the Apple Hill Playhouse

On Sunday, September 22, 2013, join Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to see a matinee performance of “A Little Family Business” at the Apple Hill Playhouse in Delmont!

This comedy features Ben, a bigoted chauvinist who runs an inherited Massachusetts carpet cleaning factory. After he has a heart attack and goes on a rehabilitating cruise, his wife, Lilian, is left in charge of the business where she averts a strike, increases profits and thinks about going into politics. Ben returns to find his power stripped, and along the way there is much confusion resulting from their extramarital affairs. Following the show, the group will have dinner at the Lamp Lighter Restaurant in Delmont. The main entrees offered are baked scrod, roast sirloin, chicken marsala and cheese ravioli with marinara sauce. All meals are served with a baked potato, vegetables, bread, salad, dessert, coffee and tea.

Those attending will meet at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg for bus transportation at 11:15 a.m., and at the Bauer Funeral Home in Kittanning for bus transportation at 12 p.m. The cost is $50 for bus transportation, show ticket and meal. Money and reservations are due by Friday, September 13, 2013. Please call Sandy at 724-545-9464 for reservations and questions. Send money to Bauer Funeral Home, PO Box 997, Kittanning, PA 16201. Guests are welcome.

Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead offer a great way to stay connected with the community and anyone interested is welcome to join. Read more about past excursions on www.bauerfuneral.com or become a fan on Facebook.

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home offers fun for visitors during Cookie Daze Festival

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home offers fun for visitors during Cookie Daze Festival It was a fairy tale weekend; the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home staff helped provide a variety of entertainment for the Rimersburg community during the Cookie Daze Festival that was held August 9-11.

“Our staff loves being out in the community and we had a great time meeting the residents of the area,” said Deana R. Turner, manager and funeral director at Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home. “The attendees enjoyed our events and we are glad they had a great time.”

The festival kicked off during the Cookie Daze parade on Friday evening with the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home staff on a “Wizard of Oz” themed float and tossing candy to parade watchers. On Saturday morning, the funeral home’s parking lot was the site of the Power Wheels parade for the kids.

The Cookie Daze Car Cruise was on Sunday and due to the increased number of entries this year, the funeral home’s parking lot was used to showcase cars. Visitors had a great time looking at the hundreds of classic cars throughout town amidst the DJ music provided by the funeral home. That evening, the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home provided a fun family movie night which featured the movie “Oz the Great and Powerful.” Over 130 community residents turned out for the show and had a great time watching the flick in the funeral home’s parking lot on a large blow-up screen. Fresh popcorn and refreshments were sold to attendees by area community groups.

“Our staff is thrilled that we were able to provide community residents and visitors with all these fun opportunities throughout the festival,” said Turner. “We look forward to next year’s festivities and creating more ways to enrich this community.”

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Rimersburg announces Cookie Daze 2013 events

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg is delighted to participate in this year’s Cookie Daze Festival, which will take place Friday, August 9 through Sunday, August 11.

“Cookie Daze is a wonderful way for the Rimersburg community to come together and enjoy a weekend of fun,” said Deana R. Turner, manager and funeral director at Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home. “We love being a part of this community and Bauer-Hillis is excited to partner with local groups to offer these educational and enjoyable events for families.”

The Friday evening parade will kick things off, and once again, the funeral home staff and their families will dress the part. The funeral home’s float will celebrate the “Fairy Tale” theme and the Bauer-Hillis participants will treat area children to candy. The Veteran’s Museum will have a Civil War commemorative event beginning with a Civil War Ball on Friday evening and throughout the weekend the funeral home will participate by displaying a number of antique funeral collectables at Veterans Park.

On Saturday, Bauer-Hillis will sponsor the Power Wheels Races, which will begin in the funeral home’s parking lot. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home and the race starts at 9:45 a.m.

To wrap things up on Sunday, Bauer-Hillis is showing a family movie in the parking lot. Beginning at 6 p.m., a DJ will play music while people gather and enjoy refreshments sold by local groups and snacks will be available for purchase from area community organizations. The movie, Oz, the Great and Powerful, will start at dusk. Everyone attending should bring their own seating.

“Rimersburg holds a special place in the hearts of area Veterans and we are thrilled to have been asked to participate in the historical programs,” said Turner. “Community festivals such as Cookie Daze are a wonderful opportunity for the businesses to give back to the area residents and show our appreciation of their patronage.”

Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to see performance of "The Marvelous Wonderettes"

On Tuesday, July 30, join Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to see a dinner theatre performance of “The Marvelous Wonderettes” at the Riverside Inn in Cambridge Springs!

In this musical comedy we will meet the Wonderettes, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts! As we learn about their lives and loves, their story will follow from the 1958 Springfield High School Prom through their 10 year reunion. The girls will perform classic ‘50s and ‘60s songs, such as “Lollipop,” “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,” “It’s My Party” and over 20 other classic hits! Before the show, a delicious hot lunch will be served. The menu includes honey glazed fried chicken, meatloaf, fish, soup, tossed salad, potatoes, vegetables, rolls, desserts and drinks.

Participants for Bauer Steps Ahead will meet at the Bauer Funeral Home in Kittanning for motor coach transportation at 8 a.m., and participants for Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead will meet at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg at 9 a.m. for motor coach transportation. The cost is $71 for transportation, the meal and the show ticket. Money and reservations are due by Monday, July 15, 2013. Checks can be made out to Bauer Funeral Home and sent to PO Box 997, Kittanning, PA 16201. Please call Sandy at 724-545-9464 for reservations and questions. Guests are welcome.

Bauer Steps Ahead offers a great way to stay connected with the community and anyone interested is welcome to join. Read more about past excursions on www.bauerfuneral.com or become a fan on Facebook.

Bauer Funeral Homes attends Career Day at Armstrong County Schools

Bauer Funeral Homes attends Career Day at Armstrong County Schools Several staff members of the Bauer Funeral Homes were recently invited to participate in career day functions for fifth and sixth graders at West Hills Intermediate School, Elderton Elementary School and Dayton Elementary School.

On Friday, April 26, Funeral Director Joshua C. Starr visited West Hills Intermediate School and reviewed the daily role of a funeral director. On Wednesday, May 1, Funeral Director Mark Thompson led the presentation at Elderton Elementary School, and on Friday, May 17, Resident Funeral Intern Courtney Shirey talked with the students of Dayton Elementary School.

The Bauer Funeral Home had an eight-minute long exhibit that included a 3-D map that showed the normal stops that a funeral director makes when a death occurs, from the initial call to the funeral service and burial. The map started with a cut-out hearse at the hospital that was driven through the map, stopping at the funeral home, the church and finally the cemetery. Another visual aid on hand was the clothing and body protection that a funeral director is required to wear when performing an embalming procedure. The funeral directors made it clear that 70 percent of their time is spent with the surviving family of the deceased to make all the funeral service plans fall into place.

Sandy Mikita, community relations manager, of Bauer Funeral Homes also attended all three career day presentations. Mikita explained the process of designing cemetery monuments and the types of materials used. She also showed the students that if she needs an exact match of a monument, she takes a rubbing, which is when special paper is used to capture the visible surface of a monument.

“We all thought the visual aids would help this age group gain a better understanding of the role of a funeral director and cemetery monument designer,” said Starr. “I’m excited that I was able to share about my profession and hopefully I communicated just how rewarding it is.”

Shirey thought it important to point out that 80 percent of her mortuary school graduating class was females.

Mikita, Thompson and Shirey all commented how interested the kids were and enjoyed answering many of their questions. The Bauer Funeral Homes are always glad to participate in sharing knowledge about funeral related careers.

Bauer Steps Ahead to see live performance of "Viva Las Vegas"

On Wednesday, June 12, 2013, join Bauer Steps Ahead to see a Las Vegas-style show come to life! “Viva Las Vegas” will be performed at The Chadwick in Wexford, featuring the Pops Orchestra singers and dancers of Latshaw Productions.

This exciting 90-minute performance pays homage to and celebrates the time when the brightest stars of Hollywood, comedy and music entertained the Vegas Strip! Prior to the show at 11:30 a.m., a delicious hot lunch will be served in the formal ballroom. The menu includes tossed salad, mango pineapple glazed chicken with rice, green beans with water chestnuts, dessert, coffee, tea and iced tea.

Meet at the Bauer Funeral Home in Kittanning for bus transportation at 9:15 a.m. The cost is $65 for bus transportation, the meal and show ticket. Money and reservations are due by June 3, 2013. Please call Sandy at 724-545-9464 for reservations and questions. Guests are welcome.

Bauer Steps Ahead offers a great way to stay connected with the community and anyone interested is welcome to join. Read more about past excursions on www.bauerfuneral.com or become a fan on Facebook.

Bauer-Hillis helps Bruin Senior Center celebrate Older American’s Month

Bauer-Hillis helps Bruin Senior Center celebrate Older American’s Month On Thursday, May 9, 2013, Funeral Directors Deana Turner and Larry Bliss, and Resident Intern Courtney Shirey from the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia, helped the Bruin Senior Center celebrate Older American’s Month by serving lunch to the center’s participants.

Marilyn Slagle, director of the center, helped organize the event to go with this year’s theme, “Unleash the Power of Age,” and was thrilled to have the afternoon off to sit and converse with the attendees. The six seniors in attendance were served beef tips over noodles and brussel sprouts, and everyone had a wonderful time spending the afternoon together.

Two hanging baskets were donated by Bauer-Hillis as door prizes, and the winners of the baskets were Betty Campbell and Ralph Bump.

“Our staff had a wonderful afternoon with the people of the Bruin Senior Center, and we are happy to have had the opportunity to help them celebrate Older American’s Month,” said Turner.

The staff of the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Homes recognizes and respects the past contributions and continued accomplishments that all “Older Americans” have given to their country, communities, families and friends. These remarkable achievements demonstrate the strength and character of older Americans and underscore the debt of gratitude we owe to the generations that have given our society so much.

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia announces winner of Atlantic City trip giveaway

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia announces winner of Atlantic City trip giveaway The Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia is happy to announce that Leslie Larimore, of Petrolia, is the winner of the trip to Atlantic City that the funeral home gave away during our open house from April 21-26. Leslie is the head of the Petrolia Ambulance Service, and she and her husband, Jeff, are looking forward to their time away. Funeral Director Deana Turner delivered the good news to Leslie and Jeff on Monday, April 29. Congratulations Leslie and we hope you both have a great time!

Joshua Starr chosen as 2013 Spring Management Summit scholarship recipient

Joshua Starr chosen as 2013 Spring Management Summit scholarship recipient Selected Independent Funeral Homes Educational Trust announced that it has chosen Joshua C. Starr of Kittanning, Pa., as this year’s recipient of the Spring Management Summit Scholarship. The scholarship provides full registration to the Spring Management Summit, a unique educational program designed to inspire and engage future leaders while honing and increasing their skills in funeral home management. The two-day event is geared toward mid-level staff who wish to learn about various management issues including human resources, finance and operations. The 2013 Spring Management Summit takes place May 1-3 in Columbus, Ohio.

Starr serves as a Funeral Director at Bauer Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Kittanning, where he has been employed in that capacity since fulfilling his residency requirements at the firm in 2009. He has worked in funeral service, at least part-time, since the age of 15 and received full licensing in 2010. Starr received his Bachelor of Science degree in Funeral Service and Psychology from Point Park College and completed his mortuary training at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

“I certainly appreciate scholarships such as this being offered to individuals who do not have an ownership interest in the businesses that employ them,” said Starr upon learning he was chosen.

He also shared his plans for utilizing the knowledge gained at the Summit adding, “I plan to take the valuable information I receive at this year’s Management Summit and share it with the other members of our management staff, working collaboratively to implement what I’ve learned.”

Starr was unanimously chosen by the Educational Trust’s Board of Trustees. Trustee Richard Bissler said of his selection, “I am glad Josh applied, as he is truly the kind of individual we want to contribute in the program.”

To be eligible, applicants must be currently employed at a firm maintaining full membership in Selected Independent Funeral Homes who is not a majority owner of the firm. Information about the program, including application deadlines as well as the application can be accessed on the official website at www.selectedtrust.org/sms-scholarship.html. The Spring Management Summit Scholarship is one of several programs of the Selected Educational Trust which was founded by Selected Independent Funeral Homes, a worldwide professional association of independent, locally-owned funeral homes founded in 1917.

Bauer Steps Ahead enjoys local murder mystery production

Bauer Steps Ahead enjoys local murder mystery production On Sunday, April 28, 2013, Bauer Steps Ahead traveled to Worthington to see “Death by Dessert,” a dinner theater production put on by the Armstrong County Community Theater.

The group met at the Bauer Funeral Home Community Room that was decorated to look like an Italian restaurant, following the theme of the theater production that they were about to see. A variety of specialty cheeses and fruit were served before boarding the bus.

Everyone enjoyed the murder mystery theater. As the plot unfolded, the audience was delighted with its fast-paced and entertaining story about two families that had been feuding for a generation while operating two competing Italian restaurants that shared a common wall. When their building’s landlord was found dead, everyone was a suspect – from the old-world Italian grandmother to the bumbling wait staff. Between acts a delicious Italian meal was served with lasagna, chicken parmesan, garden salad and dessert. During the meal, each table had time to decide who they thought was the murder suspect and then cast their vote on who-dun-it.

Bauer Steps Ahead offers a way to stay connected with the community and anyone interested is welcome to join. For information about future events, please call the Bauer Funeral Home at 724-545-9464. See pictures from this trip and past excursions on our Facebook page!

Bauer-Bly Funeral Home staff participates in Adopt-A-Highway

Bauer-Bly Funeral Home staff participates in Adopt-A-Highway On Friday morning, April 26, 2013, staff members of the Bauer-Bly Funeral Home picked up 20 bags of litter along a 2.4 mile stretch of State Route 839 as part of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program. We joined the program in 2001 to give back to the Dayton community and have since collected 360 bags of trash from the side of the highway. Our staff is pleased to take part in this beautification effort and looks forward to volunteering each spring and fall. The six employees who volunteered for the Spring of 2013 were:

Jack Bauer – Owner, Bauer Family Funeral Homes
Sandy Mikita – Community Relations Manager
Ralph Funkhouser – Grounds and Maintenance
Royce Young – Service Associate
Frank Soloski – Service Associate
Jack Griffin – Service Associate

We enjoyed doing our part to help the Dayton community and will be ready to continue our efforts in the fall!

Bauer Funeral Home celebrates Administrative Professionals Day

The 2013 Administrative Professional Day marks its 61th anniversary with this year’s theme, “Administrative Professionals: the Pulse of the Office.” This week-long observance highlights the important role that administrative professionals play in all sectors of the world-wide modern economy.

The Bauer Family Funeral Homes take this opportunity to recognize our Office Manager, Tammy Carson, and Administrative Assistant, Kayla Price. While carrying out the everyday administrative functions, Tammy and Kayla play a vital role in caring for families. We all value their professional knowledge, organizational talents and accounting skills, and appreciate all the sacrifices they make to make sure that our funeral directors and families receive all the support they need.

Also, we express our grateful appreciation to the office staff of various churches and professional offices that the Bauer Family Funeral Homes often call upon.

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia announces week-long open house

The Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia is a happy to announce that after weeks of construction, the updates to the facility are complete!

In early February, owner Jack Bauer began the process of making many changes to the funeral home. “We basically ripped out most of the walls and started from scratch,” said Bauer. “The building is still in great shape, but we saw how the interior could be improved to provide a more spacious and comfortable facility for the families we serve and those visiting.”

The list of improvements made to the funeral home is extensive, but highlights include a much larger and open viewing room, the addition of a new bathroom and a family room that can be used as a second viewing room. An updated foyer, new doors, featured stained-glass windows and new furnishings are other changes that families will notice.

Funeral Director Deana Turner is thrilled with the renovations. “I know that our families and the community will be very pleased with the changes we’ve made,” she said. “We listened to what people wanted, and we know they will be happy with this open, brighter and more functional design.”

Bauer and Turner are happy that they can now show the community the product of nearly three months of hard work. To give everyone the chance to see the funeral home, Bauer-Hillis will host a week-long celebration.

“Our first event is on Sunday, April 21, and we will be open for the community to visit from 12 – 4 p.m.,” said Turner. “During this time guests may tour the facility, meet our staff and speak with myself, our new resident intern, Courtney Shirey, and the Bauer family. Jenna Rhodaberger, MSW, LSW, Bereavement Coordinator and Medical Social Worker of the VNA Hospice of Western Pennsylvania, will also be on hand to answer questions and provide families with information regarding their services in times of need.”

From Monday, April 22 through Friday, April 26, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia will be open for tours to anyone wanting to see the new facility. On Tuesday, April 23, as a gift to the residents of the Petroleum Valley, Turner is inviting community members to stop in and have a family portrait taken between 4 and 8 p.m. Each family who sits for a photo will be gifted with a free picture. On Wednesday, April 24, community residents are invited to stop by from 1 to 4 p.m. for a free blood pressure screening provided by the Chicora Medical Center.

Anyone who visits the Bauer Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia during the week-long Open House event has the opportunity to enter to a win a trip to Atlantic City, NJ. The three-day, two-night trip offers lodging at the Atlantic City Palace courtesy of the Bauer Hilis Funeral Home.

“We can’t wait for everyone to see all the changes we’ve made to the funeral home” said Courtney Shirey, resident intern. “Our families and the entire community have been a tremendous support to us throughout the years, and we are happy to continue the legacy of care started by Dick and Lucy Hillis over 40 years ago. Deana and I are looking forward to continuing to serve the residents of the Petroleum Valley now and for the years to come.”

Schedule of Events for the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia Week-Long Open House

The Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia has just finished a major renovation of our facilities! We invite you to tour our funeral home during our week-long open house celebration.

Events from Sunday, April 21 to Friday, April 26


• Sunday from 12-4 p.m.: Family Day
Visit for a facility tour and meet Deana Turner, Courtney Shirey and the Bauer Family. VNA Hospice will be present to answer questions.

• Visit Monday - Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Take a facility tour and register to win a free trip.

• Tuesday from 4-8 p.m.: Family Portrait Night
Bring your family in for a family picture as our gift to you.

• Wednesday from 1-4 p.m.: Free Blood Pressure Screenings provided by Petroleum Valley Medical Center


Thank you for your support throughout the renovation process. We hope to see you at the events throughout the week. For more information, call 724-756-2710.

Bauer Steps Ahead to see performance of "Death by Dessert"

On Sunday, April 28, join Bauer Steps Ahead to see “Death by Dessert,” a dinner theater production put on by the Armstrong County Community Theater.

This murder mystery will be a delight to the audience with its fast-paced and entertaining story. The plot unfolds in New York's Little Italy, where the Donnaducce and Duccedonni families have been feuding for a generation while operating two competing Italian restaurants that share a common wall. But when the building’s landlord is found dead, everyone is a suspect – from the old-world Italian grandmother to the bumbling wait staff. However, you won’t just sit back and watch – each table must vote on whodunit! The meal will include chicken parmesan, lasagna, garden salad, rolls, dessert, coffee and tea.

The cost is $28 and includes bus transportation, the meal and tickets. Meet at 11:45 a.m. at the Bauer Funeral in Kittanning for a snack before leaving. For reservations, please call Sandy at 724-545-9464 and send money in by Friday, April 19 (seating is limited). Guests are welcome.

Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to visit Pittsburgh National Aviary

Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead group had an early taste of spring when they visited Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh on March 19. Upon arrival, lunch was served at the Café Phipps, and a guided tour of the nation’s oldest and largest Victorian greenhouse followed.

Phipps featured the Spring Flower Show, designed and inspired by the beloved children’s classic story, “The Secret Garden.” The well-informed docents were full of historical facts about the Aviary and its founder, Henry Phipps. The group learned about a variety of plant descriptions and where they were indigenous to, and was then escorted through various rooms that were named after the plants inside, such as Palm Court, Fern Room, Desert Room, Serpentine Room, Topiary Room and Orchid Room. Some highlights included displays of whimsical topiary animals, a formal Victorian garden with dipping pool and jet fountains, and thousands of colorful blooms.

The next outing is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, 2013, when Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead will visit the Pittsburgh National Aviary. The Aviary houses the most diverse bird collection in North America, with more than 600 rare and beautiful birds viewed in an intimate setting. An Aviary expert will introduce many species of birds while you observe their unique behaviors in their natural habitats. “Lunch on a Fly” will be served in the Care Classroom while you experience a close encounter with some of the most popular birds. Lunch includes assorted sandwiches, pasta salad, fresh fruit and beverages.

The cost is $46 for bus transportation, lunch, Aviary presentations and the tour. Meet at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg at 9:30 a.m. for a snack before boarding the bus. Lunch will be served upon arrival to the Aviary. For reservations, please call Sandy at 814-473-3080 or 724-756-2710 and send money before April 22. Guests are welcome.

Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead offers a great way to stay connected with the community and anyone interested is welcome to join. Visit our Facebook page to see pictures from previous trips.

Chicora-East Brady Rotary Club announces Rotary Youth Leadership Award Recipients

Chicora-East Brady Rotary Club announces Rotary Youth Leadership Award Recipients The Chicora-East Brady Rotary Club announced today that it has awarded scholarships to two Karns City Area Area High School juniors, who were selected by the high school educators and the Chicora-East Brady Rotary Club, to attend this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Conference being held at Westminster College June 9-14, 2013.

Awards were given to Tyler Kepple and Mike Olkowski. Tyler is the son of Joseph and Melinda Kepple of Chicora and Mike is the son of Joe and Trish Olkowski of East Brady.

Dennis Kelly and Deana Turner, Rotarians and RYLA Committee members, said the chosen students will be among the more than 100 area high school students who will attend this year’s RYLA Conference. Aimed at developing the leadership potential of young men and women, the conference will feature many thought-provoking events, including interactive leadership labs, exciting guest speakers, and challenging mental and physical activities that will provide the participants with a chance to excel amongst and with their peers. Topics will include decision-making, critical thinking, communicating effectively, ethics, and public service.

To be chosen, the candidates needed to qualify by exhibiting notable efforts in class curriculum, sports, student government, clubs, outside organizations and the community. The object is to award students who have demonstrated potential for quality leadership development and to encourage growth of these leadership qualities through the RYLA Conference. Additionally, each applicant was given an individual interview by the RYLA Committee and the opportunity to provide a personal narrative of their accomplishments.

Anyone interested in obtaining further information on future conferences and programs should visit www.rotarydistrict7280.org or contact the Chicora-East Brady Rotary RYLA Chair or any other member of the Chicora-East Brady Rotary Club.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. The main objective of Rotary is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. The Chicora-East Brady Rotary Club No. 5132 was first chartered in January, 1946 and meets each Tuesday morning at 7:30AM at Miller’s Restaurant in Karns City.

For more information, visit www.rotarydistrict7280.org.

Local high school student job shadows at Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home

Local high school student job shadows at Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home On Thursday, March 14, 2013, the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Rimersburg hosted an area high school student for a job shadowing opportunity.

Paige Mennor , a sophomore at Karns City Area Senior High School, requested to spend the day at our Rimersburg facility shadowing the funeral home’s manager, Deana Turner. During her experience, Paige assisted with greeting visitors, flower arrangement placement, setting chairs for a funeral service, and even rode in the funeral home’s hearse to the cemetery.

“I am a strong proponent of job shadowing for high school students, as it allows the student to see if he or she has made a good choice and to ask any questions about the work firsthand.”, says Deana Turner, manager and funeral director. “When a student does job shadowing as part of the training process, he or she can immediately learn from real-life situations rather than simulated ones in a classroom, which generally is faster and more effective.”

When contacted by Ms. Mennor, Turner was more than willing to permit her the opportunity to get a glimpse into the profession of funeral service. “Paige was able to see firsthand what we do, rather than just reading on the Internet or hearing from others. Hopefully, this will help her make an informed decision about whether she wishes to pursue a career in funeral service.”

Paige is the daughter of Eric and Stephanie Mennor and resides in Chicora with her family.

Bauer Steps Ahead enjoys seeing the Tamburitzans at Concordia Lutheran Ministries

Bauer Steps Ahead enjoys seeing the Tamburitzans at Concordia Lutheran Ministries On Saturday, March 16, 2013, Bauer Steps Ahead traveled to Concordia Lutheran Ministry in Cabot to see a special performance of America’s longest-running multicultural song and dance company, the Duquesne University Tamburitzans.

The group was appreciative of the special invitation to see this exclusive performance, and upon arrival the group was graciously greeted by the staff of Concordia and escorted to the grand dining hall to see the show.

As the show started, the Tamburitzans spokesperson explained how dedicated these talented young folk artists are to performing the music, songs and dances that have been preserved from Eastern and neighboring Southeastern European folk cultures, and also shared each country’s customs and way of life. The performers represented the different regions by wearing beautiful original and authentically-reproduced costumes, singing songs in many languages and articulating the cultural footwork. An ensemble complimented the performers by playing lively traditional European music on unique musical instruments.

Before the group boarded the bus to travel back to Kittanning, anyone that was interested was invited on a brief tour of one of the model apartments and heard what Concordia has to offer to its residents.

The announcement for the Bauer Steps Ahead April outing is forthcoming.

Rimersburg Chamber of Commerce hosts Bunny Egg-Stravaganza for Area Children

Rimersburg Chamber of Commerce hosts Bunny Egg-Stravaganza for Area Children What has four ears, four pink eyes and is covered in white fur? How about the two bunnies that participated in the Bunny Egg-Stravaganza event held Saturday, March 16, 2013 at the Rimersburg Community Center for the area children and their families!

The Rimersburg Area Chamber of Commerce businesses invited area children ages 0 to 12 to partake in the festivities this past weekend. Despite the chilly weather outside, there were many warm smiles and giggles inside as more than fifty participants enjoyed pictures with the Easter Bunny, a live bunny display, story time circle, cookie decorating and craft creation.

“The joy on the children’s faces said it all,” said Brenda Haws, chamber president. “What a wonderful opportunity for the area businesses to give back to the community.”

Participating Chamber business members included Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home, Bloomtown Flowers, Clarion County Community Bank, Haws Ricker Insurance Services, Klingensmith’s Drugstore, Maple Grove Enterprises and Northwest Savings Bank, as well as numerous community volunteers.

“In a small community such as Rimersburg, it is vital that the merchants and businesses in the areas foster community spirit and provide low cost entertainment for the area residents.” said Haws. “We hope everyone enjoyed the festivities and has a wonderful spring season.”

To find out about upcoming Chamber events, visit www.facebook.com\RimersburgAreaChamberOfCommerce.

Deana Turner attends training for her role as president-elect of Chicora East Brady Rotary Club

Deana Turner attends training for her role as president-elect of Chicora East Brady Rotary Club On Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9, 2013 Deana Turner, Bauer-Hillis Funeral Homes manager and funeral director, attended the Incoming Club President Elect Training Seminar for Rotary International District 7280 at the Four Points Sheraton Pittsburgh North, Warrendale, PA.

All incoming club presidents must attend a presidents-elect training seminar (PETS) before taking office. During this seminar, incoming presidents learn about Rotary, as well as their role and responsibilities. At the seminar, incoming club presidents specifically learn goal setting, club administration, and member recruitment, education, and retention. The meeting is an opportunity for incoming club presidents to build strong working relationships with their district governor-elect and incoming assistant governors.

This year’s local training in Warrendale consisted of well-known exceptional speakers, informative workshops, detailed district training sessions and fellowship and networking. Sessions were conducted on membership growth and retention, district specific club projects and fundraisers, future vision grant models, and public image and social media. The keynote speaker was KDKA TV News Anchor and Polio Survivor Stacy Smith, who gave a touching and heartfelt account of his personal battle with polio and how it has shaped his life.

The intense, two-day seminar was well attended by more than 100 local Rotarians within District 7280. Incoming District Governor Elect Patty Meehan closed the session with the following sentiment, “The basic purpose of our PETS is to have the best prepared and most enthusiastic club leaders in the Rotary world. To this end, we have succeeded quite well!” Turner will assume her role as President of the Chicora East Brady Rotary Club in July of 2013.

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Homes is proud to announce new Funeral Intern, Courtney Shirey

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Homes is proud to announce new Funeral Intern, Courtney Shirey The Bauer-Hillis Funeral Homes are proud to announce the addition of a Funeral Intern to its staff. Courtney Shirey, of Petrolia, started working for the funeral homes in February after completing her mortuary training at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science (PIMS).

“We are thrilled to have Courtney as a member of our staff,” said Deana R. Turner, funeral director at Bauer-Hillis Funeral Homes. “She will be included in all aspects of our business, and we know she will do a wonderful job.”

A 2004 graduate of Karns City Jr./Sr. High School, Courtney pursued her Funeral Director’s License at PIMS, receiving an Associate’s in Specialized Technologies degree in Funeral Service Arts and Sciences. During her time at PIMS, she served as a class representative on the student government. Courtney is currently licensed with the state of Pennsylvania as a Funeral Intern.

“I am excited to begin my tenure at Bauer-Hillis,” said Courtney, “and look forward to using what I learned in mortuary school to help families cope during a time of loss and create the perfect memorial for their loved one.”

Courtney is especially happy to be working in the area in which she grew up. “My parents are Robert and Barbara Shirey, of Petrolia, and my grandparents are Betty McCall and the late Dick McCall, of Petrolia, and the late Harold and Mary Shirey, of Parker,” she said. “I’m honored to be serving the community that has not only been my home, but home to my parents, grandparents and other family members.”

In her free time, Courtney enjoys activities with her family and friends, golfing with her dad and leading the youth group at the Petrolia Presbyterian Church.

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home helps Rimersburg children celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home helps Rimersburg children celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday On Saturday, March 2, 2013, the staff of the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Rimersburg celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday by throwing a party in his honor at Eccles-Lesher Memorial Library in Rimersburg.

Deana Turner, funeral director and manager of the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home, worked with Librarian Lisa Byers to coordinate the event. “Last year, during our “Twelve Months of Giving Back” campaign, we held a similar celebration for the students at Sligo Elementary,” said Turner. “It was a huge success, and I thought that partnering with Eccles-Lesher would be a great way for more local children and their families to enjoy these books.”

Turner read “The Foot Book” to the 20 children in attendance while Funeral Director Larry Bliss, dressed in the same “Cat in the Hat” outfit that he wore at Sligo Elementary, acted out the story. In addition to the story, Byers set up three activity stations – tic tac toe games, word searches and puzzle mazes – for the kids to enjoy. The funeral home’s resident intern, Courtney Shirey, manned the word search station and assisted with other activities.

And of course, a birthday party isn’t complete without some birthday cake! Bauer-Hillis donated a cake and refreshments for the children to enjoy. “The kids gathered around and sang “Happy Birthday” to the Cat in the Hat, and then they just dug in!” said Turner.

Turner said everyone had a wonderful time interacting with the kids and their families. “We really love getting out in the community and providing fun, engaging activities,” she said. “I look forward to announcing future events we have planned in the area.”

Photo credit: Funeral Director Deana Turner reads “The Foot Book” to the children at Eccles-Lesher Memorial Library in Rimersburg. Funeral Director Larry Bliss dressed as The Cat in the Hat and acted out the story.

Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to see the Spring Flower Show at Phipps Conservatory

Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to see the Spring Flower Show at Phipps Conservatory On Tuesday, March 19, 2013, join Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead for a guided tour of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh.

The nation’s oldest and largest Victorian greenhouse is now presenting its Spring Flower Show, inspired by the beloved children’s classic story, “The Secret Garden.” Highlights include whimsical topiary animals, a formal Victorian garden with dipping pool and jet fountains, and thousands of colorful blooms. A gourmet lunch will be served at the Phipps Café and shopping will be available at the Phipps Gift Shop.

The cost is $43 for bus transportation, lunch (choices are forthcoming) and tour. Meet at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg for bus transportation at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be served upon arrival to the Phipps Café at 11 a.m., with shopping and the guided tour to follow.

Please call Sandy at 814-473-3080 or 724-756-2710 before March 5 to make your reservations. The cost of this event is due in advance. Guests are welcome.

Bauer Steps Ahead kicks off 2013 with a performance by the Tamburitzans

On Saturday, March 16, 2013, join Bauer Steps Ahead to see a special performance by Duquesne University’s Tamburitzans at Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot, PA.

This unique ensemble of talented young folk artists is dedicated to the performance and preservation of the music, songs and dances of Eastern and neighboring South Eastern European folk cultures. During the course of this one hour performance, performers will articulate their cultural footwork while wearing a kaleidoscope of original and authentically reproduced costumes. Songs in many languages and dialects, accompanied by an ensemble of unique musical instruments, will be showcased.

The cost is $32 and includes bus transportation and tickets. The group will meet at 1:15 PM at the Bauer Funeral Home in Kittanning for some delicious cookies before boarding the bus. Please call Sandy at 724-545-9464 before March 1 for reservations (seating is limited). The cost of the tickets is due in advance. Guests are welcome.

Bauer Steps Ahead offers a great way to stay connected with the community and anyone interested is welcome to join. Read more about past excursions on www.bauerfuneral.com or become a fan on Facebook.

Renovations to begin on the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia

Renovations to begin on the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia We are proud to announce that we will soon be starting major renovations on the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia. Construction will start within the next few weeks and the inside of the building will be given a major facelift and will have a much more open layout. The highlights of the renovations include a new main visitation area that will be much larger and have an ADA compliant restroom. On the other side of the funeral home will be a family room, which can also be used as a second viewing room, and feature a hospitality center for families to enjoy refreshments.

Other updates to the funeral home will be made and we hope you are excited about the changes taking place. While the facility is under construction, we would like to assure the community that we will remain fully operational. We are committed to serving our community and excited for the improvements in store.

Updates will be made available throughout the process, so be sure to check back to see what’s happening!