September 2014

Volume 1, Issue 1

News from the Nest
Happening of the CVAA
President
Wendy Konicky

Vice President
Randy Bair

Treasurers
Missi Lint
Kristie Young

Secretary
Jessica Masser
(jessicaya@pcom.edu)

Council
Joe Antal
Teri Cruse
Jennifer Reese

Written by: Jessica Masser with contributions from CVAA members

Originally created on
October 14
th
2012, by
Randy Bair, Teri
Cruse, Jennifer
Reese, with Wendy
and Jeff Konicky, in a
meeting at the
Johnstown Inn, the
CVAA has grown in
size and impact in
just two short years.
Thanks to the
dedication of these
individuals and the
addition of several
Who We Are

Golf Anyone?

For the second
consecutive year the
Tigers Woods of
Conemaugh Valley have
met at North Winds Golf
Course in Central City for
a team scramble with a
shot gun start.
This year on August 2,
2014 teams competed to
try and win first prize by
achieving the lowest score
possible.
In addition, packages
could be purchased that
includes extra shots and
other tricks to try and pull
ahead.
other new members
CVVA strives to
uphold its mission of
creating a community
of alumni paying
tribute to our school
by giving back
through support to CV
and its students.
We have no plans of
stopping anytime
soon. Enclosed in
this inaugural
communication are
the highlights of our
past year and our
hopes for the future.
We are always
looking for new
members and
volunteers at all our
activities to uphold
our strong tradition of
Blue Jay Pride!
Consider giving or
your time or support
us financially so we
can continue with all
our worthy causes.


As an adult event, alcohol
is available to purchase
during the games and we
are sure none of this
made a difference in the
outcome.
Included in the price of the
entry fee is a catered
lunch and a T-shirt. Plan
to attend next year on
August 1, 2015.
Holes may be sponsored
by an individual or a
group.
Some valuable feedback
was obtained and we
hope to improve the event
for next year.

Winners:
Scott Miller
JR Ross
Pat Ross
Greg Puchko


News from the Nest
Page 2 of 6















June 22, 2014 was a
memorable day for CVAA
with two events held back-
to-back.
The initial event was the
first ever CVAA 5K. There
were a total of 34
participants who did their
best to complete the
course that took place at
the Coy/McCombie Link of
the Staple Bend Tunnel.
It was a beautiful, warm
day and everyone enjoyed
themselves!
Getting Fit with a 5K

Part two of the June 22
nd

event was the Family Fun
Run. This years theme
was Superheroes.
Our crime fighters tallied
over 50 participants
ranging from mini-crime
fighters in strollers to
grandparents.
The event had costumed
crusaders including a
Captain America father-
son team, The Incredibles
and a Tutu-wearing crew
Superheroes Invade Franklin

Did anyone notice
anything different about
Homecoming 2013?
Could it have been the
start time, the brightness
of the field or the
overwhelming sense of
excitement? This was all
due to CVs first ever
homecoming game under
the lights. With volunteers
Lighting the Way

Fastest Males:
1
st
- Grant Cruse (14)
2
nd
- Michael Solfarsky (07)
3
rd
- Randy Neatrour
Fastest Females:
1
st
- Heather Nugent
2
nd
Alexis Hody (13)
3
rd
Jamie Cekada (13)

Thank you to CVAA
member Tabitha Studer
and her family for their
hard work and
dedication in putting this
activity together. We hope
to repeat this event next
year with even more
participation.

known as the Fearless
Fey and Friends.
The 5K walking/jogging
course included superhero
obstacles and traps to trip
up our participants
including a spider web,
water gun wielding bad
guys and helium filled
balloon foes.
Thank you again to the
Studer Family for a great
afternoon of fun and
fitness!









to haul the portable lights,
more volunteers needed
to arrange them properly
and the generous
donation of the lights by
our Blue Jays got a
taste of our own Friday
Night Lights. The energy
was palpable and gave
many seniors a memory to
last a lifetime. Several
even gave yearbook shout
outs as that night with the
lights being the best
memory from their time at
CV. This is a tradition we
plan to continue and hope
the lights will become a
permanent fixture literally
through endowments and
fundraising efforts that are
ongoing.







News from the Nest Page 3 of 6















One of CVAAs core
principles is to provide
support to our students not
only today but for their
future. With this in mind
we were delighted to
present our first ever
CVAA Scholarship to one
male and one female
graduating senior.
The interested students
were required to complete
an application. The form
included two parts. First
was a declaration of
school and community
involvement. The second
component was an essay
where the students were
asked to describe What it
1
st
Annual Scholarships Awarded

CVAA has a strong
passion for supporting our
students through all
phases of their time as a
Blue Jay. With this
thought in mind our
Inaugural Senior
Breakfast was held the
week of graduation.
Our Sons Family
Restaurant catered the
event that provided eggs,
bacon, sausage, home
fries, toast and juice to all
the seniors one morning
during graduation
practice.
Missi Lint, Teri Cruse and
Breakfast Farewell for the Class of 2013


meant to them to be a
Blue Jay.
The results were
impressive to say the
least. It was a pleasure for
the committee members to
read our students
responses.
In total we had 16 seniors
apply and finally, with
some difficulty, our
winners were determined
through a rubric scoring
process.
At the senior banquet
representatives from the
CVAA presented Abi
Paonessa and Anthony
Diesel Verno each with a
$250.00 scholarship to be
used toward their future
education.
CVAA already has plans to
continue the scholarship
program in the future. Our
goal is to provide more
financial assistance per
recipient and possibly to
help more than two
students per year.
Through the Foundation
for the Alleghenies
endowments are being
created for additional
scholarships by interested
individuals and this tax
deductible option is open
to all the CV community
past and present.

Jenn Reese proudly
represented CVAA during
the breakfast and gave
each senior a flash drive
with CV logo and colors
as a gift. In addition,
every senior received a
one-year membership into
CVAA.
Two drawings were held.
The first drawing was the
gift of a lifetime
membership to CVAA.
Those eligible were the
CVAA scholarship
recipients and those voted
by their peers as having
the Most School Spirit.
Anthony Verno was the
lucky winner whose name
was drawn at random.
Our final gift was an iPad
donated by the Masser
family. Every senior who
attended the basket
received a ticket for a
chance at winning. Mary
Angus had the luck of the
draw winning the iPad.
This is a tradition we were
very proud of and cannot
wait to provide every year
to our newest CVAA
members.


CVAA would like to wish
Abi and Diesel the best of
luck in their future
endeavors and remind
them they are always
welcome home!


News from the Nest
Page 4 of 6
























Alumni Football 2013

After a disappointing loss
to the Portage Mustangs
for the Alumni Football
Game, 300 of us headed
to the East Taylor Fire
Hall to drown our sorrows
in music, fun and
memories.
The Alumni After Party
was a great time where a
Has anyone driving around
the school district noticed a
wild flock of blue and white
flamingos? Dont panic the
person has just been flocked!
For as little as $10 CVAA
with proudly place flamingos
and a sign onto anyones
yard you may choose. You
can flock your friends for any
reason including birthdays,
celebrations or just for
revenge.
This year alone we got
Coach Marshall for the first
homecoming game under the
Partying the Night Away

See Any Good Flocking Lately?

The 2013 fighting Blue
Jays squad boasted 38
brave men who played
under the lights at CV for
the first time ever.
Graduation years ranged
from 1980 to 2013.
All in all the night was a
success with a great
crowd to support the team
on the home field, a
blaring band including
many alumni, an alumni
cheer squad and some
wonderful alumni athletes
playing their hearts out
one more time.
Though it was a tough
loss to Portage with a final
score of 8-6 we are proud
of our Blue Jays either
way.
This years game will
again be at home on
October 11, 2014. Come
on out and enjoy some
hard hitting football.
sold out crowd rocked the
night away to Wyld Syde
(featuring CV alumni Dean
Thomas class of 84 and
Jeff Thomas class of 87)
The over 21 event brought
many alumni from a wide
variety of decades to party
together.
A cash bar and food to
purchase was provided by
the volunteer firemen.
Between the music and
the laughing the noise
level probably approached
levels requiring police
back-up but the night
ended with nothing but
cheers.
Get your tickets now for
this years party.
lights; Coaches Jacoby and
Castiglione for the Alumni
Football Game; Coach
Grecek for the AYFL 5
th
-6
th

grade championship; Coach
Cruse for her 200
th
win with
the Lady Jays basketball
team; Christa Statler from
the CV Band for her

photography skills; Principal
Castiglione for her first day
as CVES principal and Grant
Cruse and Bryanna Yahnert
for their graduation.
Contact any CVAA member
for details about your own
flock.

There wasnt an
empty dance floor at
any time during the
night. The music was
great, the attendees
were having a blast
and it was nice seeing
the CV community
together like that
Teri Crust


News from the Nest Page 5 of 6






Proud of Our Alumni

In 2013, the CV
Distinguished Alumni
Award was established to
recognize alumni who
through their professional
and civic life, have brought
honor to themselves and
our school. The awards
were presented during the
halftime program of the
Alumni Football Game
where the honorees
received a plaque
commemorating the
occasion. The 2013
inductees were William C.
Polacek 79 and Peter
Dennis Vuckovich 70.
William C. Polacek 79,
Chief Executive Officer of JWF
Industries and JWF Defense in
Johnstown. He also owns JWF
Machining, A.I.M. of Baltimore,
Johnstown Structural of
Pittsburgh, Environmental
Tank & Container (ETC), and
CFM Air compressors. He
started JWF Industries in 1987
but currently boasts employees
in 3 cities with combined sales
of $150 million.
These companies were founded
on a commitment to family
values and continue to flourish
in Johnstown through the
support of its employees and
community.
Mr. Polacek is the recipient of
many awards including:
Western PA Entrepreneur of the
Year (96), PBS documentary,
Cambria/Somerset
Entrepreneur of the Year,
Johnstown Man of the Year,
named one of PA Business
Centrals Top 100 People of
2011 and Junior Achievements
National Bronze Leadership
Award.

Peter Dennis Vuckovich 70 is
among the top sport starts to
come out of Johnstown.
In four years as a high school
pitcher he lost 1 game. He was
a star in the Johnstown Junior
league, AAABA tournament, and
at Clarion University. At Clarion
he was all-conference 3 years,
team MVP twice and NAIA All-
American in 1974.
He was drafted by the Chicago
White Sox in 1974 and spent 11
seasons in the big leagues
winning the AL Cy Young Award
in 1982 while leading the
Brewers to the World Series.
Pete is credited with 93 MLB
wins while with the White Sox,
Blue Jays, Cardinals and
Brewers.
He has received many Sports
Hall of Fame inductions
including Clarion University,
AAABA, Cambria County and
PA. The Pete Vuckovich
Award is given yearly to the top
AAABA pitcher.
After retirement, Pete became a
broadcaster and appeared in the
film Major League. He was with
the Pirates over 20 years in
many roles before going to the
Mariners in his current position
as Special Assistant to the
General Manager.






News from the Nest
Page 6 of 6














Felt like old times for many
of our alumni on February
8
th
2014. There were a
few minor difference
including a nice charter
bus in place of the yellow
submarine and hot toddy
for after the crisp slopes in
place of hot cocoa.
Nearly 60 individuals
headed out by bus or
private vehicle for some
good times at Seven
Springs Mountain Resort.
Iced Slopes, Warm Drinks and Cool Company

Though Blue Jays are not
known for floating on the
water, CVAA took some
tubes for a drift on July
13
th
for our inaugural Coal
Tubin event.
People were encouraged
to come early and enjoy a
picnic at Greenhouse Park
and finish the day on a
bright, orange tube lazily
gliding down the
Stonycreek River.

Though many Blue Jays
could be found skiing,
many more were found
warming themselves by
the bar, I mean fire.
With hopes of making this
an annual event, whether
you could ski or not did
not keep everyone from
having a wonderful time.


Coal Tubin is a locally
owned business located
on Central Avenue across
from Johnstown High
School.
Though the river can be
slow and peaceful, when
the water level is high
there are some level 3
rapids to be had.
Next year we hope the
weather cooperates better
allowing a larger crowd
and better coordination for
the event.


Looking to the Future


Rollin on the River

October 3
rd
2014 Homecoming
Night Game 7 pm
October 11
th
2014 Alumni Football
Game 6 pm
October 11
th
2014 Alumni Football
Game After Party -9 pm
Ski Trip early February 2015

Coal Tubin
May/June 2015 Senior Banquet
Scholarship Presentation
May/June 2015 Senior Breakfast
Summer 2015 - 5 K and Family Fun
Run
Keeping warm on the ski trip 2014!