News and Community Archives: 2015

Celebrate the holiday with Bauer Steps Ahead at The Grand Estates at Hidden Acres!

On Thursday, December 3, 2015 join Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead for a memorable afternoon at one of Armstrong County’s finest homes for a Holiday luncheon and tour of The Grand Estates at Hidden Acres. Proprietors Tom and Melanie Waddell will welcome you to their beautiful 10,000 square foot Tuscany/Italian-style estate all decorated for the holidays.

This breathtaking castle-style home and grounds has many classic appointments, such as 32 crystal chandeliers, intricate wood work, a three-story grand foyer and staircase, five elite bedrooms, a pool, and a chalet guest house. The Waddells will also share some interesting history about the home and original owner.

Prior to the tour, a luncheon will be served in the home while a professional harpist plays. The menu is soup, stuffed chicken breast, twice baked potato, vegetables, breads, dessert and beverages.

The group will meet at 11 a.m. at The Grand Estate at Hidden Valley Acres, 399 Ford City Road, Freeport, PA 16229. The cost is $56 for lunch, entertainment and tour. Call Sandy at 724-545-9464 for directions and reservations. Reservations and money are due by November 16th. Make checks payable to Bauer Management and mail to PO Box 997, Kittanning, PA 16201. Guests are welcome.

Bauer Family Funeral Homes holds Holiday Remembrance Program

Bauer Family Funeral Homes holds 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 Sunday, November 15, 2015 at 2 PM at the Bauer Funeral Home, 515 North McKean Street in Kittanning.

Kelli Connolly, BS, Bereavement Coordinator and Medical Social Worker of Lutheran Senior Life 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 Funeral Home helps Kittanning Rotary Club deliver dictionaries to local third graders

For many years, Jack Bauer, owner of Bauer Funeral Homes, has been an active member of the Kittanning Rotary Club. This fall, the Rotary Club collaborated with the Armstrong School District 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 student. On Tuesday, October 13, 2015, 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. Tracey Eddy’s third grade class at Dayton Elementary School. The students were excited to have their very own dictionary to keep.

After Sandy gave them a couple of words to look up, she explained how much information could be found in the dictionary. The students learned it would not only help them with reading, pronouncing and understanding words, but also with English, math, history, science, civics and world cultures. She also told them about the Rotary Club and how they help their communities and have efforts world-wide. She found Mrs. Eddy’s class to be eager to learn and excited to participate. As Sandy was leaving, the students and teacher expressed much appreciation to the Kittanning Rotary Club for their dictionaries.

Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead see wonderful musical and dancing performance

Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead see wonderful musical and dancing performance On Wednesday, October 7, 2015, Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead traveled to The Chadwick in Wexford to see an exciting musical and dancing performance featuring Doo Wop, Disco and Motown music. The Latshaw Pops Orchestra, well-known singers including Donna Groom and Frank Czuri of the Skyliners Group, and the professional Katie Kelly Dancers put on a wonderful show, making the show, “Dancing in the Streets,” a hit. The upbeat music took the audience on a trip down memory lane as they listened to different renditions of well-known artists from those genres. The professional dancers performed familiar dances like the Jerk, Twist and Mashed Potato, and finished with a dancing tribute to Michael Jackson. Prior to the show, a delicious hot lunch was served at The Chadwick’s beautiful ballroom.

There are no Bauer Steps Ahead or Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead events for November, but an announcement will be made soon about December’s excursion. Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead offer a way to stay connected with the community and anyone interested is welcome to join. For questions, call the Bauer Funeral Home at 724-545-9464. Read about past excursions on www.bauerfuneral.com or become a fan on Facebook.

Eroh gathers with colleagues at annual meeting of Selected Independent Funeral Directors

Eroh gathers with colleagues at annual meeting of Selected Independent Funeral Directors Jennifer Bauer Eroh was among the many funeral service professionals attending the 97th Annual Meeting of Selected Independent Funeral Homes in New Orleans, LA, September 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.

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 over 50 years.”

Enjoy some ‘Dancing in the Streets’ with Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead

On Wednesday, September 9, 2015, Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead took guided tours of three of Pittsburgh’s most unique places of worship. The tour guides, Gabe and Bernie from The Pittsburgh History and Landmark Foundation, gave an excellent guided tour of the highlights and history of Pittsburgh on the way to each church destination. At each church, a docent graciously greeted the group and shared the history of the churches and what made each one unique.

The presentation at St. Nicholas Croatian Parish in Millvale was about the bigger than life murals on the walls and ceilings by world-renowned artist Maxo Vanka that depicted the life and struggles of the Croatian people. Next, the group marveled at the cathedral-styled architecture of the Calvary United Methodist Church in the Allegheny West neighborhood, with beautiful 30-foot-high stained glass windows created by Louis Comfort Tiffany and magnificent vaulted ceilings. To wrap up the afternoon, the group toured St. Anthony’s Chapel in Troy Hill, which has the largest public collection of Catholic authorized documented relics outside the Vatican and life-size wooden statues of the Stations of the Cross.

The group was transported back to the Golden Age of Railroads when they had a lunch stop at the Grand Concourse Restaurant in Station Square. The beautiful décor was equaled by the attentiveness of the staff and delicious lunch.

On Wednesday, October 7, 2015, join Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to see the Latshaw Pops Orchestra and Singers, and Katie Kelly Dancers as they present “Dancing in the Streets” at The Chadwick in Wexford. This exciting 90-minute show features music and dancers performing your favorite music from the Fabulous 50s, the Vibrant 60s and the Disco 70s.

Prior to the show, a delicious hot lunch will be served in the formal ballroom. The menu includes tossed green salad, maple bacon glazed chicken breast, green beans, roasted red potatoes and spice cake.

Meet at 8:30 a.m. at Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home, 758 Main St., Rimersburg and at 9:15 a.m. at the Bauer Funeral Home, 515 North McKean St., Kittanning. The cost is $80 for motor coach bus transportation, lunch and show ticket. Call Sandy at 724-545-9464 for reservations. Reservations and money are due by Tuesday, September 29, 2015. Make check payable to Bauer Management and mail to PO Box 997, Kittanning, PA 16201. Guests are welcome.

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

Bauer Funeral Home to participate in the 2015 Armstrong County Senior Expo

State Senator Don White, State Representative Jeff Pyle and State Representative Donna Oberlander will again be hosting the Armstrong County Senior Expo. This year’s expo will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2015, from 10 AM - 1 PM at the Kittanning Township Volunteer Fire Department, 13126 State Route 422, Kittanning.

The Senior Expo hosts many exhibitors made up of local organizations, businesses and health associations, as well as state and federal agencies. These groups are participating in the informational day with the hope of aiding local senior citizens with various concerns and interests. There is no fee to attend the expo and it is a great opportunity for local senior citizens to learn about services available to them. The exhibitors are well prepared to answer questions and offer advice specific to their fields. Last year’s Senior Expo was attended by over 50 exhibitors and over 300 visitors.

The Bauer Funeral Homes’ professional and friendly staff will be one of the exhibitors to answer any questions or concerns you may have about pre-planning funeral arrangements, cremation options, traditional funeral options, cemetery monuments and bereavement information. Brochures and other literature will also be available to take so that attendees can have guidance when making decisions.

Throughout the day, there will be many free give-a-ways and door prizes awarded courtesy of all the exhibitors, and the hosts will provide refreshments for all. In addition to stopping by Bauer Funeral Home’s exhibit, you can enter our own door prize drawings. Bauer Family Funeral Homes will be giving away a gift certificate to a local restaurant and two fall floral arrangements donated by Darlene’s Flower and Gift Shop of Elderton and Kimberly’s Floral and Design of Kittanning.

Funeral Director Mark Thompson becomes a Certified Funeral Celebrant

Funeral Director Mark Thompson becomes a Certified Funeral Celebrant Funeral services have evolved throughout the years from using a standard format for everyone to turning the ceremony into a unique celebration of a life. However, it may be difficult to decide who will preside over the service. Traditionally a pastor or religious figure has officiated, but what if the loved one is not religious? To provide an alternative to a religious service that offers a personal touch, InSight Institute created a program that trains certified celebrants to direct services.

From June 23-25, 2015, Funeral Director Mark Thompson from Bauer Funeral Home and Cremation Services attended the InSight Institute Funeral Celebrant Training in Albany, New York. As a Certified Funeral Celebrant, Thompson now has training in the specific area of conducting funerals for families who wish to have a personalized and individualized funeral service experience. His services will be available at the Bauer Funeral Home locations in Kittanning, Elderton, Dayton, Petrolia and Rimersburg.

Through the years, society has become less tied to the church, leaving many people who are not affiliated with a religion without a clergy member to call when a death occurs. Also, many people are not comfortable with a traditional religious funeral ceremony, making the need for funeral celebrants more apparent.

“Funeral celebrants are not meant to replace the clergy,” said Thompson. “Having a celebrant gives families another way to remember their loved ones when they do not have a church home.”

The practice of using funeral celebrants began in New Zealand and Australia, and in recent years has become popular in the United States. Each celebrant adheres to a Code of Ethics that ensures confidentiality when working with a family and has a library of resources, including readings, music and recordings, to make the service special. “As a celebrant, I work to make the funeral service a personal, true representation of the deceased’s life, regardless of religious background.”

Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to take tour of historic Pittsburgh churches

On Sunday, August 2, 2015, Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead attendees enjoyed a trip to Jennerstown to visit the Green Gables Restaurant and Mountain Playhouse. On the way to their destination, the group took a scenic ride through the Laurel Highlands. Attendees marveled at the restaurant’s rustic décor that included hand-hewn massive oak beams, 400-year old tree trunks and larger-than-life statues used as supporting columns. The antique corner cupboards and valuable glassware completed the beautiful setting at the restaurant. After lunch, the guests saw the grounds and gardens as they walked to the Mountain Playhouse. The feature performance, “Nana’s Naughty Knickers” was a hit. The talented actors and lively comical performance had the audience in stitches.

On Wednesday, September 9, 2015, the groups will take a guided walking tour of three of Pittsburgh’s most unique places of worship. St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Parish in Millvale is known for its murals by world-renowned Croatian artist Maxo Vanka. Calvary United Methodist Church is over 100 years old and styled after the Cathedral of Notre Dame, with 30-foot-high stained glass windows created by Louis Comfort Tiffany. St. Anthony’s Chapel in Troy Hill has the largest public collections of Catholic authorized documented relics outside the Vatican.

Lunch will be served at The Grand Concourse Restaurant. Entrée selections are the Brown Derby Cobb Salad with chicken, bacon, tomatoes, chopped egg, bleu cheese, avocado and mixed greens OR Lemon Chicken with mushrooms, artichokes and lemon butter, mashed potatoes and a seasonal vegetable. Bread service, coffee, tea, soda and chocolate mousse for dessert are included.

Those participating will meet at 7:15 a.m. at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg and at 8 a.m. at Bauer Funeral Home in Kittanning. The cost is $86 for motor coach bus transportation, lunch and tours. Call Sandy at 724-545-9464 for reservations. Reservations and money are due by Wednesday, August 27, 2015. Make check payable to Bauer Management and mail to PO Box 997, Kittanning, PA 16201. Guests are welcome.

Bauer Funeral Homes helps with 2015 Armstrong County Senior Games

Bauer Funeral Homes helps with 2015 Armstrong County Senior Games Dark clouds and threatening rain didn’t keep participants from competing in the second day of the 29th annual Armstrong County Senior Games in Kittanning Community Park on June 23, 2015. Everyone that came out was looking forward to getting the outdoor games underway.

The Games combine sports, entertainment, recreation and fellowship. The goal is to encourage an active lifestyle and continued participation in sports and recreation beyond the age of 55. The Area Agency on Aging, which provides programs and services primarily for the Armstrong County residents over age 55, has organized the 2015 Senior Games. There are games scheduled for almost everyone to participate in, from the very active sports events to the events for those who cannot participate in much activity.

The various events that are scheduled throughout the week will wrap up with an awards ceremony and buffet dinner. Sandy Mikita, community relations manager of Bauer Funeral Homes, was on hand – along with other volunteers – to help judge the games. Mikita was one of the judges for women’s bocce ball. “The participants were close competitors and many times we had to actually measure distances to make sure the points were fairly given to the winner,” Mikita said. “It was a lot of fun to cheer on the women and see many of the same individuals that come out every year”.

The staff at Bauer Family Funeral Homes hopes everyone had a wonderful time at the Games. Whether you are a participant or a spectator at the Senior Games, it is a wonderful time to enjoy yourself. The Bauer Family Funeral Homes is honored to be an annual contributor to the Armstrong County Senior Games.

Bauer Steps Ahead to see “Nana’s Naughty Knickers” in Jennerstown!

On Saturday, June 20, 2015, Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead took a bus trip to the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh to see the live Broadway musical, “Mary Poppins.” Everyone was delightfully entertained with the astonishing stage sets and theatrics in addition to the fabulous repertoire of music and dance choreography during the wonderful performance.

Before the featured entertainment of the afternoon, attendees first stopped for lunch at the J-Barn Restaurant in Sarver. The restaurant’s lovely country setting, perfectly set antiques and primitive decorations served as a relaxed atmosphere as the friendly staff served the delicious hot meal with the featured entre of Hawaiian ham and Hawaiian chicken.

The next trip will be to see a matinee performance of “Nana’s Naughty Knickers” at the Mountain Playhouse in Jennerstown! The 1805 gristmill built of logs was restored in 1939 and houses a 393-seat theater in the heart of the Laurel Highlands. Bridget stays with her favorite Nana in New York for the summer, only to discover she is running an illegal boutique from her apartment. You’ll be in stitches as Bridget is worried about Nana getting arrested or evicted. Before the show, lunch will be served at Green Gables Restaurant.

Entrees are roast turkey or broiled cod with lemon butter, and served with a salad, mashed potatoes, vegetables, rolls, dessert, coffee or tea. A light bag lunch will be offered on the bus trip home.

Meet at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg at 9:30 a.m. and the Bauer Funeral Home in Kittanning at 10:15 a.m. for motor coach bus transportation. The cost is $95 for transportation, show ticket, hot meal and snack. Money and reservations are due by Wednesday, July 15th. Please call Sandy at 724-545-9464 for reservations. Make checks payable to Bauer Management and mail to PO Box 997, Kittanning, PA 16201. Guests are welcome.

Bauer Funeral Home earns top honors from Graystone Associates

Jennifer Bauer Eroh, president of Bauer Family Funeral Homes, announced that the business and staff was rated among the “Graystone Greats” for 2014 by Texas-based Graystone Associates, a funeral consulting and research firm.

Bauer Funeral Homes ranked near the top of 96 elite rated funeral homes during the annual period and earned the fifth-highest Total Performance score at 91%. “We have Graystone survey every family we serve,” explained Eroh, “and then our results are ranked yearly against the 96 businesses the firm represents.”

“Many things go into the Total Performance score, including ‘Options and Prices Available,’ ‘Attention to Detail’ and ‘Support and Follow Up,’” said Eroh. “We were at the top of nearly every category in which we were surveyed, and in our group of 37 firms, we ranked second in the ‘Attention to Detail’ and ‘Support and Follow Up’ categories. I am so proud of my team members and all of their hard work.”

Individually, both Mark D. Thompson and Eroh were honored with 100% Overall Satisfaction Arranger certificates. This was only achieved by only 34 of their colleagues out of 478 with 100% Overall Satisfaction as a funeral director. Thompson and Eroh were also named number one Overall Satisfaction Arrangers for their group.

“We strive to serve families how we would like our own families to be treated. Mark and all of our employees are committed to delivering a memorable and meaningful service to all of our client-families. We pay close attention to the details which are important to our families, care about their experience and focus on exceeding their expectations,” said Eroh. “Delivering excellent service is truly a team effort. All of our staff works together to make a real difference.”

“The feedback we receive from the families is very important to us and we use these surveys to learn from their experiences,” explained Eroh. “This year nearly 64% of the families we served returned the survey to Graystone, which was the highest-percentage out of all 96 funerals homes. We are thankful so many surveys were returned, as each family’s input pinpoints areas we are doing well in, along with areas we can improve upon. We truly appreciate the honest feedback from our client-families and are always looking for way that we can better serve them in the future.”

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home staff helps Rimersburg Senior Center celebrate Older American’s Month

Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home staff helps Rimersburg Senior Center celebrate Older American’s Month On Wednesday, May 6, 2015, the staff of the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home helped the Rimersburg Senior Center celebrate Older American’s Month by serving lunch to the center’s attendees. Jennifer Bauer Eroh, president, and Larry K. Bliss, funeral director, both had a wonderful time participating in the fun party that was planned by Kelly Fair, manager of the center.

Approximately 40 seniors attended the luncheon and were treated to a delicious meal of stuffed chicken or pork, noodles, coleslaw, mashed potatoes and an assortment of pies. All of the food was provided by the Korner Restaurant of Rimersburg. Following the meal, a local music group led a sing-a-long. A $30 gift certificate for the Korner Restaurant was donated by the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home as a door prize, and Eroh and Bliss also assisted with the Chinese auction.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to work with the Senior Center during Older American’s Month and on other occasions throughout the year,” said Eroh. “Our staff recognizes and respects the past contributions and continued accomplishments that all ‘Older Americans’ have given to their country, communities, families and friends.”

Bauer-Bly Funeral Home participates in Adopt-a-Highway in Dayton

Bauer-Bly Funeral Home participates in Adopt-a-Highway in Dayton On Friday, May 8, 2015, staff members from the Bauer-Bly Funeral Home in Dayton picked up 14 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 402 bags of trash from the side of the highway. After the staff finished the cleanup, they enjoyed lunch at Mitzi’s Place in Dayton. Our staff is pleased to take part in this beautification effort and looks forward to volunteering each spring and fall. The seven employees who volunteered were:

Jack Bauer – Funeral Director
Joshua C. Starr – Funeral Director
Larry K. Bliss – Funeral Director
John W. Bauer, Jr. – Funeral Intern
Sandy Mikita – Community Relations Manager and Cemetery Monument Sales
Ralph Funkhouser – Grounds and Maintenance
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 of 2015!

Clark Chapel Funeral Home visits Elderton Elementary School for Career Day

Clark Chapel Funeral Home visits Elderton Elementary School for Career Day On Wednesday, May 6, 2015, the staff of the Clark Chapel of the Bauer Funeral Home, Inc., was invited to be one of 18 different participants in Career Day for fifth and sixth graders at Elderton Elementary School. “Career Day was a great opportunity for elementary students to be exposed to professional fields and help them develop career interests at an early age,” said John W. Bauer, Jr., funeral intern.

When meeting with the children, Bauer reviewed the daily role of a funeral director. His exhibit included a poster with pictures showing a funeral director working with a family and walking them through the each step of the process, from planning a funeral to the cemetery services. He made it clear that 70-percent of a funeral director’s time is spent with the surviving family of the deceased to make sure all the funeral service plans fall into place.

Bauer also thought it important to let the students know about the educational requirements to become a funeral director and to point out that more than half of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science’s graduating class is now females. He told the students that being a funeral director is an honorable and rewarding career, especially because of helping a family during a very difficult time in their lives.

Sandy Mikita, community relations manager, also attended the presentation. She explained the process of designing cemetery monuments and the types of materials used. Mikita 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. The students were excited to participate and make a rubbing of a miniature monument during the presentation.

“We all thought the visual aids would engage this age group and help them gain a better understanding of the role of a funeral director and cemetery monument designer,” said Mikita. “We were happy to give these students a career connection to the funeral industry and explain how rewarding it is.”

Royce Young, service associate, was happy to also be a part of Career Day, especially since his granddaughter was one of the 5th grade students participating in learning about the various careers presented. Young explained how his miscellaneous duties play a very important role in providing a good experience for the families served.

Bauer, Mikita and Young were impressed with how fascinated the future professionals were. “The students saw many presentations but were motivated to seek more knowledge and skills as it related to their interests,” said Mikita. “The Bauer Funeral Homes are always glad to participate in sharing knowledge about funeral related careers and hope the children had a great time learning about what careers they may be interested in pursuing.”

Karns City students learn about dangers of drinking and driving on prom night

Karns City students learn about dangers of drinking and driving on prom night For most students, prom is a highlight of their high school years. However, it is also a dangerous night, as each year approximately 375 students across the country lose their life due to driving under the influence. To help students realize the dangers of drinking and driving, the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home of Petrolia presented a talk at Karns City Area High School.

On Monday, May 4, 2015, Trooper Herbert Rieger from the Pennsylvania State Police, Butler Barracks and Joshua C. Starr, funeral director at Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home, addressed the10th through 12th graders and spoke of the realities of being irresponsible behind the wheel on prom night.

To begin, Starr told the students about how part of his job is meeting with the families of those who have lost loved ones, and that not everyone who passes is older. “Meeting with the family members of young people is always the hardest,” he said. “I want the students to realize that one evening that seems like fun is not worth a lifetime of consequences.”

Rieger has been a trooper for 12 years and is an investigator for the state police. He walked the students through how he normally handles a fatal motor vehicle accident, including notifying the family, the arraignment and court proceedings. Informing the family is the worst part of the job for him.

Other topics Rieger discussed were drinking and driving, and how you can get a DUI charge even if you are on drugs or other controlled substances. He cited examples of pill bottles and how many say, “Do not operate a vehicle or heavy machinery.” Rieger also told students that you can get in trouble even if you are not the one under the influence. Some of those situations include being able to receive a DUI when you allow someone who is drinking to drive your car and possibly receiving charges if you are with people who are drinking and taking drugs.

To stress the importance of the topic, Rieger referenced recent deaths of Karns City High School students who were killed in incidents involving the use of alcohol.

“It may sound like a graphic discussion, but we hope it will deter the students from making bad decisions that will not only affect their futures, but also the lives of their family and friends,” said Starr.

Following the talk, students were invited to ask Rieger questions about his job and the presentation. “The teenagers were attentive to his speaking and asked some great follow-up questions,” said Starr. “I am thankful that Trooper Riegel spoke to the students today and that they all heard something that will make them think before making rash decisions. Prom is a great time for high school students, and we want to help them make informed decisions that won’t have a negative impact on their future.”

Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to have a spoonful of sugar!

On Saturday, June 20, 2015, join Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to see a live Broadway production of “Mary Poppins” at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh! Don’t miss your chance to see this amazing show full of fabulous songs and dance numbers, astonishing stage sets and special effects, and a spoonful of wholehearted entertainment.

Before the show, the group will enjoy lunch at the J-Barn Country Inn in Sarver. Lunch choices are Hawaiian Ham or Hawaiian Chicken with baby carrots, homemade banana bread and apple butter, dessert, coffee, tea or ice tea.

Meet at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg at 8:45 a.m. and the Bauer Funeral Home in Kittanning at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $110 for motor coach bus transportation, lunch and the show. Call Sandy at 724-545-9464, 724-756-2710 or 814-473-3080 for reservations as soon as possible. Money and reservations are due by Thursday, April 30, 2015. Make checks payable to Bauer Management and mail to PO Box 997, Kittanning, PA 16201. Guests are welcome.

Bauer Steps Ahead to offer free estate planning workshop

As people get older, a main struggle they face is how to best handle their finances in retirement. To help educate the community on what steps families can take to make sure their assets are protected, Bauer Funeral Home is offering the “Estate Planning Essentials” seminar. This free informational workshop will help attendees make smart decisions that will positively affect their financial freedom in the future.

The event will be presented by Heritage Elder Law and Estate Planning, LLC, of Butler, and gives an overview of many estate planning topics. These subjects include protecting your home from estate recovery, learning myths about Medicaid qualification, and protecting and preserving your life savings.

“Estate planning can be a difficult task and hard to understand, and I am thrilled to be partnering with Heritage Elder Law to offer this workshop to the community,” said Jennifer Bauer Eroh, president of Bauer Funeral Homes. “Their office works solely in the elder law field and the staff knows the best way for you to keep your hard-earned money.”

Unfortunately, Eroh has seen many families struggle with estate planning throughout her years as a funeral director. “It is heartbreaking to watch families deal with trying to keep enough of their assets to afford just the necessities as they get older,” said Eroh. “If only they would have started planning and had correct information, so much stress could have been avoided.”

“Estate Planning Essentials” is for anyone beginning the process of managing their own assets or helping a loved one. “There will be helpful information for people at all stages of the process and will even be beneficial for those whose family member is in a nursing home,” said Eroh. “This is a great free resource and we hope it will answer many people’s questions.”

“Estate Planning Essentials” will take place Tuesday, May 19, 2015 from 11 AM – 1 PM at Grace Presbyterian Church, 115 N. Jefferson St., Kittanning. A complimentary lunch will be provided for all attendees. Reservations are needed by Thursday, May 14, 2015 and can be made by calling 724-545-9464.

Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to visit Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh

Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead to visit Soldiers and Sailors Memorial  Hall in Pittsburgh On Sunday, March 15, 2015, the Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead groups met at Bauer Funeral Home in Kittanning and traveled with over 100 guests to have a fun afternoon in Indiana. Before the featured entertainment of the afternoon, attendees stopped for lunch at the Rustic Lodge Restaurant. Everyone loved the friendly staff, efficient service and delicious hot meal. After lunch, groups made their way to the Kovalchick Center to see the 10th Anniversary Tour of Celtic Woman. Everyone appreciated the talent and diversity that was showcased through the contemporary and traditional Irish music and dancing. A brilliant female violinist, Irish male dancers, a bagpiper and, of course, the three angelic female vocalists, all accompanied by a full band, had the audience feeling a real connection to Ireland.

On Tuesday, April 21, 2015, join Bauer Steps Ahead and Bauer-Hillis Steps Ahead for a personal guided tour of one of Pittsburgh’s oldest and best-known landmarks! Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum is the nation’s only military memorial dedicated to honoring the men and women of all branches of service. The building’s unique architecture was inspired by the ancient Mausoleum at Halicarnassus in Asia Minor and completed in 1910. The visit will begin in the Grand Ball Room where one of the best box lunches in Pittsburgh will be served and “The Brass Roots,” an all-brass quintet, will provide musical entertainment. After lunch, a brief documentary film that showcases the history of the museum will be shown in the auditorium, followed by a docent-led tour throughout the East, West and Front Halls, Gettysburg Room and Hall of Valor, that house 39 historical exhibits that cover all of the American conflicts.

Choices for the lunch are Bavarian ham and swiss on wheat, roast beef and cheddar on a soft kaiser roll or roasted turkey and provolone on a croissant. Every lunch includes a beverage, potato salad, seasonal fruit, a pickle, snack bag, fresh baked cookie and treats.

Meet at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg at 9 a.m. and the Bauer Funeral Home in Kittanning at 9:30 a.m. for bus transportation. The cost is $62 for motor coach bus transportation, lunch, entertainment and the tour. Call Sandy at 724-545-9464 for reservations as soon as possible. Money is due by Tuesday, March 31st. Make checks payable to Bauer Funeral Home and mail to PO Box 997, Kittanning, PA 16201. Guests are welcome.