Joseph Olszewski of Washington Township

When it comes to community involvement, Joseph Olszewski of Washington Township is an exemplary model citizen. Joe, as he likes to be called, is a busy man. He is active in four community organizations and one church organization. You wonder where he gets the time to do all this when he is raising a family of five children and has worked full time at one company for 26 years.

When Joe’s oldest daughter began playing softball in 1990, he decided to help out the next year. He joined the Washington Township Baseball Association and started coaching. He not only coached for ten years, but also served as President for ten years and still is on the volunteer board today. There are 19 teams in the League and they play on fields at Kunkle Park, Crestview and Mamont School. WTBA charters Little League Inc. baseball and softball for youth aged five and above. The player census consists of students from the township elementary schools of Washington, North Washington and Mamont, Kiski Area Intermediate School, Kiski Area Senior High School, numerous private institutions along with home-schooled children. WTBA teams are part of the District 26 of Little League Inc.

When he started there were up to 400 kids in the Association, but today the numbers have dropped by at least a third. Joe is concerned about the number of volunteers and kids participating. He says, “It is a challenge to get kids involved today”. Finding volunteers is even harder, he says.

Becoming involved in the Township Baseball Association began Joe’s interest in attending Kiski Area School District Board and Washington Township Supervisor’s meetings. These became part of his regular schedule. When a Washington Township Planning Commission board vacancy occurred in 2000 he volunteered to join the board. The Planning Commission, consisting of five appointed members, acts as an advisory committee making recommendations to the Board of Supervisors in matters of subdivision, planning and land development. Joe says they review all commercial and subdivision plans for new buildings, renovations or additions, working closely with the Building Inspector. The Code Enforcement Officer issues the permits. Joe likes to be part of the community growth and keep up with what is happening in the Township neighborhoods. He attends two meetings a month.

Joe’s wife, Judy, was a member of the former Washington Township’s Recreation Board a number of years ago. Joe use to help out with her duties when Kunkle Park Days were held. When it ended in 2000, there was still a strong interest in having a yearly celebration. The Fort Hand Festival was formed in 2001 as a result of that interest. Joe became a member of the committee. He oversees the Kickball Tournament with three-age division for K-2nd grade, 3-4th grades and 5-6th grades. Fort Hand Festival has been a growing and successful community celebration. With the addition of Western Pennsylvania’s oldest and largest citizen’s bike race, Tour de StrongLand Bike Race, the Fort Hand Festival can expect even more growth and popularity.

One would think with all these community commitments there couldn’t possibly be time for anything else, but there is. When the Lions Club was established in 2001 Joe became one of the 23 members. Lions Club members carry out many community service projects such as highway cleaning two times a year, Easter, Halloween and Christmas events, support for vision service to the blind and visually impaired, talent show, polka fest, and run a booth at the Fort Hand Festival. They meet at the Township building.

Joe, Judy and the kids are members of the Our Lady of Joy Roman Catholic Church in Holiday Park. Joe became a member of the Knights of Columbus fraternal benefit society. Although the meeting night conflicts with his other scheduled meetings, Joe tries to contribute what time he can to Knight’s activities such as the Plum Festival, fund raising and support for St. Anthony’s School and the McGuire Home.

A native of Avalon in the North Hills, he and his wife Judy moved to Washington Township in 1986 so he could be close to his company, Entenmann’s of Plum where he is a route sales person. Joe was raised as one of eight children, so big families are part of his life. His five children are Joelle, 24, now an Accountant; Janine, 22, a student nurse; Joe, 20, attending the Art Institute in Pittsburgh studying digital media; Julie, 18, graduating from Kiski Area High School this year; and, Jill, 16, a student at Kiski Area High School. He says they all have jobs and there is a small fleet of cars in their driveway! He says there is never a dull moment, life is very hectic and he is always busy.

Joe graduated from Avalon High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary education from Edinboro State College in 1976, now Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

Watch the video interview with Joe Olszewski at:

Visit the Washington Township web site at http://www.washingtontownship.com

Visit Our Lady of Joy Roman Catholic Church at http://www.parishesonline.com/Scripts/HostedSites/Org.asp?ID=11972