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January 2021 Volume 7, Issue 1

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GOVERNOR

Tom Wolf

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PA Dept. of Military and

Veterans Affairs

Adjutant General

Major General

Anthony J. Carrelli

Deputy Adjutant

Major General (Ret)

Eric Weller

Director of State Homes

Andrew Ruscavage

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Southwestern Veterans’

Center

412-665-6706

Commandant

Richard Adams

412-665-6707

Deputy Commandant

Erin Rakow

412-665-6718

Medical Director

David Blinn, MD

412-665-6706

Director of Nursing

Ronna Stewart

412-665-6747

Admissions

Julia Myers

412-665-6782

Therapeutic Activities

Director

Christopher Veitch

412-665-6744

Volunteer Coordinator

John Ayers

412-665-6790

Director of Social

Services

Coleen Sady-Yesho

412-665-6732

Director of Dietetic

Services

Lynn Campbell

412-665-6752

Old Glory Editor

Natalie Fewell

412-665-6826

Grievance Coordinator

Coleen Sady-Yesho

412-665-6732

J. Laney

V. Schrader

C. Cotto

R. Norris

A. Brown

J. Stubenbort

J. Black

D. Smith

A. Moran

E. Brode

D. Brooks

D. Calfe

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FACT SHEET FOR RECIPIENTS AND CAREGIVERS

You are being offered the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019

(COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2. This Fact Sheet contains information to help you understand the risks

and benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, which you may receive because there is currently a

pandemic of COVID-19.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is a vaccine and may prevent you from getting COVID-19. There is no

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved vaccine to prevent COVID-19.

Read this Fact Sheet for information about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. Talk to the vaccination

provider if you have questions. It is your choice to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is administered as a 2-dose series, 3 weeks apart, into the muscle.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine may not protect everyone.

This Fact Sheet may have been updated. For the most recent Fact Sheet, please see www.cvdvaccine.com.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GET THIS VACCINE?

WHAT IS COVID-19?

COVID-19 disease is caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. This type of coronavirus has not been seen

before. You can get COVID-19 through contact with another person who has the virus. It is predominantly a

respiratory illness that can affect other organs. People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms

reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to

the virus. Symptoms may include: fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath; fatigue; muscle or body aches;

headache; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; congestion or runny nose; nausea or vomiting; diarrhea.

WHAT IS THE PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE?

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is an unapproved vaccine that may prevent COVID-19. There is no

FDA-approved vaccine to prevent COVID-19.

(This is just a small portion taken from the fact sheet)

Commandants Corner…

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On December 28th and December 29th Southwestern Veterans’ Center was one of the first long term care facilities in the state to start COVID19 Vaccination clinics in partnership with CVS Pharmacy. We received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was administered by a team of SWVC staff and 8 CVS representatives. CVS will be back onsite on January 18th and 19th to provide the second step of the vaccine.

It is NOT TOO LATE to receive your first step vaccine as part of the clinics on 1/18 and 1/19! If you are a staff member please reach out to Amanda Schwarz (aschwarz@pa.gov) to schedule an appointment.

if you are a resident or family member please reach out to Ronna Stewart, (ronnstewar@pa.gov) Director of Nursing for information on vaccine consent.

Commandants Corner…

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Dear Residents and Families,

We are in the process of preparing for our 2nd on-site COVID19 Vaccination Clinic with CVS pharmacy on January 18th and January 19th 20201. A CVS representative, along with an SWVC staff member, will go room to room to complete resident vaccinations. Staff vaccines will occur on these days as well in a separate clinic setting.

If you or your loved one received the first dose, we will be providing the second dose of the Pfizer COVID19 Vaccine to them at this time. If you or your loved one did not receive dose 1, but are choosing to opt in now, we are providing you with all information needed to do so.

• We are again providing you with the FDA EUA Fact Sheet for the Vaccine to review.

• We are also again providing the COVID19 Vaccine Consent Responsible Party form if you did not provide this to us in time for the first dose of vaccine, or if you are newly opting into the vaccine.

*NEW*: The Bureau of Veterans Homes has drafted an additional consent for the COVID19 Vaccine to be completed – that is included at the bottom of this letter. This needs to be returned to us by all interested in obtaining the Vaccine, weather you are receiving dose 1 or dose 2.

If your loved one is unable to consent we ask that you complete the COVID-19 Vaccine Consent Responsible Party form as well as the Bureau of Veterans Homes consent form that is below and email it back Attention Ronna Stewart, Director of Nursing, at ronnstewar@pa.gov no later than 4 PM on Tuesday January 12, 2020.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the vaccine process, please reach out to me, Erin Rakow Deputy Commandant at 412-665-6718, or Ronna Stewart at 412-665-6747.

Sincerely,

Richard Adams, NHA

Commandants Corner…

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INVENTORY ITEMS…

When new items are obtained, please stop at our Security desk and

have a Security Officer complete an inventory form. Security will

ensure the items such as clothing & blankets get sent to laundry for

labeling. There are also other things that need inventoried such as

TV’s/radios and chairs.

Inventory is vital in case an item needs to be replaced.

**If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact a Social Worker for clarification.**

If any resident needs something notarized please

see your Social Worker.

Natalie Fewell is now the facility Notary if anything

is needed.

I am not an attorney licensed to practice law in this Commonwealth. I am not allowed to draft legal records, give advice on legal matters, including

immigration, or charge a fee for those activities.

No soy un abogado con licencia para ejercer la abogacía en esta Commonwealth. No se me permite redactar registros legales, dar asesoramiento sobre

asuntos legales, incluyendo inmigración, o cobrar una tarifa por esas actividades.

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Balloon cheer program sponsored by.

Grace Life church of Monroeville.

We continue to deliver Balloons and

Birthday signs to residents for their birthdays and

they love it.

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Grace Life Church Women’s Group of Monroeville donated their time and decorations to decorate a Holiday tree for the facility on 2S patio. Some of the residents were able to observe through the

windows and enjoyed watching the process. They also expressed their gratitude. The tree was themed with red, white, and blue decorations and stayed lit for all of the residents to observe from their windows

on the south back side of the building.

The Women’s Group also provided Christmas cards made out to the facility residents.

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This was a Christmas card from “our neighbor Kalyn Popalo.” Thank you so much Kalyn

for you generosity and the items you sent for our residents. You are appreciated.

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SWVC now has three IPADS for resident use! Our Regional Response Health Collaborative Program has provided us with three IPADS, and AARP has generously facilitated mobile hotspots through Computer Reach to be utilized with those iPads to provide internet access. We are excited to be able to enhance our residents access to technology and communication with their loved ones.

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Housekeeping Department:

If any resident family members are interested in putting your own labels on clothing prior to you bringing them in.

Please contact Natalie 412-665-6826 for more information.

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New Years Day, January 1st

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 18th

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REVENUE DEPARTMENT…

2021 Reassessment time is approaching, the Revenue Department

is requesting financial documents:

2020 December Bank Statement 2021 Social Security benefit letter for resident /spouse

2021 Railroad Retirement Benefit letter for resident/spouse 2020 Form 1099 for private pensions for Resident/Spouse

2021 VA Pension benefit award letter or VA compensation letter 2020 Form 1099 for IRA Income, annuity income, etc.

2021 Health Insurance Premium Statement 2021 Medicare Part D Premium Statement

Proof of Mortgage and/or rent covering 2021/ homeowner’s insurance 2020 Real Estate Tax Receipts for spouse

**If you have questions notify us at 412.665.6736 (Cheryl), or 412.665.6776 (Alicia),

or 412-665-6737 (Tina).**

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Happy Holidays from SWVC

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2 South tree decorating

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SWVC activities staff and traveling Christmas carols

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Bernie Zurawski from VFW Post 914 West

Mifflin, PA donated many items for monthly unit

based bingo games. The items included:

assorted chips, cookies, candy bars, pudding

cups, fruit cups and crackers. Toothpaste,

body wash and batteries were also

donated. The VFW provided Christmas cards

with a $20 bill inside surprising 10 of our

Residents for Christmas.

Marsha Miller and Daughter, Bethann

Jackson dropping off Christmas bags for the

Veterans to the activities

department. Marsha’s four great

grandchildren Kami 12, Kennah 9,

Christopher 10 and Skye 7 made up the

bags. Sweet treats and Christmas bags were

all donated by these generous elves. The

grandchildren wanted to do something

special for the Veterans this Christmas.

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SWVC’s hydration stations cart. Activities staff

turned the cart into Santa's Sleigh that includes lights

to add a little extra Christmas spirit throughout the facility. Beverages are served Monday through Friday and this includes various

flavors of eggnog.

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Below are Christmas Gift bags delivered from the American Legion Auxiliary

yesterday for each resident. The American Legion Auxiliary decided to go with

gift bags and put the items together off site being that the Santa’s Workshop was

unable to be held in the facility. Pictured are myself-Jackie Slinski and

Regina Hipple

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University of Pittsburgh Defensive Coach and Navy Veteran Randy Bates delivered

boxes and boxes of Pitt T-Shirts, Pins, Caps and other paraphernalia to bring

Christmas Cheer to our Resident Veteran Pitt Panther Fans!!

H2P for the annual support of our Veterans!!

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The Southwestern Vietnam Veterans Group and Auxiliary not only donated six

new Christmas Trees to be displayed all around the outside of the Southwestern

Veterans Center, they also came up to decorate the trees!! While they decorated,

they were entertained by Colleen Cairnes from the Activities Department playing

Christmas Carols on Bag Pipes!!

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The Girl Scout Daisy Troop #16144 of

Pittsburgh collected and donated 116

items that included hygiene products,

reading glasses, puzzle books, decks of

cards and other items as Christmas

Gifts for our Resident Veterans at the

Southwestern Veterans Center.

Pictured below are (left to right):

Nicole Cialone, her daughter Leah

Cialone, Nora Humes and

Amanda Humes.

Members of the Liberty

Presbyterian Church delivered

men’s and women socks for our

Resident Veteran to enjoy for

Christmas!! Thank You!

Pictured below (left to right):

Dorothy Wunderly and

Linda Moranelli.

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The American Legion Post #982 Unity

Township and the St. Stephen Orthodox

Church in Latrobe, PA donated

Christmas Gifts to the Resident

Veterans at the Southwestern Veterans’

Center.

Thank You So Much!!

Pictured below left to right are:

Charles F. Patchin, (Adjutant..Post

#982), Susan E. Patchin (wife of Charles)

and John R. Ayers, Volunteer

Coordinator, Southwestern Veterans’

Center.

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Thompson donated

more gifts from DAV#107 (Disabled

American Veterans)!! Last week DAV

#107 donated Christmas Bags of Goodies

to every Resident Veteran at

Southwestern!!

Thank You For The Extra Christmas

Gifts.

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Sylvia Barksdale (below left) donated

men’s clothing and books.

Donna Kaminski (right) and Robbie

Gooch (not pictured) both of whom

recently retired from Allegheny County

Port Authority, used their own money to

buy gifts for our Resident Veterans!!

Thanks to all three of you for supporting

our Nation’s Heroes!!

Carrie Nolan-Robson, Business

Community Liaison (left) and two

of her co-workers (far right) from

the Pittsburgh Job Corps Center

across the street donated this

luscious cake to the Southwestern

Veterans’ Center!!

The cake was prepared at the

famous Oakmont Bakery and we

thank the Job Corps for this

delicious donation!!

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The Resident Veterans were very happy showing off their brand new sweat pants

and sweat shirts donated by Allegheny County Camp Cadets!! The Cadets

donate every Christmas to support our Veterans and we are extremely

appreciative!!

Pictured below left to right are:

Deputy Jason Tarap, Trooper Melinda Bondarenka (Cadet Coordinator), Chief

Deputy Kevin Kraus and John R. Ayers, Volunteer Coordinator, Southwestern

Veterans Center.

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Marine Corps League Pittsburgh Chapter President Tom Banta delivered Colorful

Socks, donated by American Eagle, to cheer up our Resident Veterans!!

Pictured Below left to right are:

John R. Ayers, Volunteer Coordinator (SWVC) and Tom Banta (American Eagle).

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SUDOKU

**Sudoku is a logic-based, number-placement puzzle. The objective of Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits

so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 sub-grids contains all of the digits from 1 to 9.**

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SUDOKU

**Sudoku is a logic-based, number-placement puzzle. The objective of Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits

so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 sub-grids contains all of the digits from 1 to 9.**

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November Answers

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November Answers Cont.

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December Answers

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December Answers Cont.

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In Memory of our Comrades-In-Arms

Herbert Kahrer Richard Kajut John Sakas

Charles Bowe Thomas Williams Jr.

Eva Turner

Family Members of Residents:

If you would like a copy of the newsletter via email or regular mail,

please contact Natalie Fewell, the Social Services Secretary at

nfewell@pa.gov/412-665-6826 and provide your email or regular

mail address.