ABOUT US

The Verona Community Group was established in 2018 as an organization of Verona residents with a mission to connect and engage all community members of Verona to collaborate for a better borough. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization spearheaded by four officers, consisting of a chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer as well as multiple member-at-large positions.

We welcome all community members to join us for meetings, happy hours, and special events! Our community is full of talented, diverse individuals and families just like you. As a united group, we can work to build an even better Verona.

The Future of VCG:

Help Save Verona Community Group

Hello Neighbors!
Many of you have supported and participated in activities organized by the Verona Community Group over the years. In 2019, a group of volunteers from Verona gathered together to build the framework of the organization, which became a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2021.
Since that time we’ve brought the community together fo:

Community Days
Happy Hours
Litter clean ups
Public safety meetings
Community yard sales
Recycling 2000 pounds of plastic to acquire 3 recycled TREX benches for the community
Celebrating 150 years of Verona by organizing a big public party in Railroad Park
Hosting 4 annual free community picnics.

We have worked on improving communications within the borough by building a website, built an email list of over 280 subscribers, published voter guides for school board & local borough officials, and shared information on social media platforms.

For much of this time, the same small group of volunteers has been working behind the scenes to keep this little operation humming - fundraising when needed, attending countless meetings, and even bribing our family & friends to help us out. But the time has come for this group of volunteers to move on! We know the Community Group can accomplish SO MUCH MORE with a fresh set of eyes and energy that we can’t give it due to our current personal lives & other commitments. It is not fair to hold back on the potential of this group without the energy it needs to move forward.

What Now? We are seeking volunteers within Verona to step up and take over management of the Verona Community Group. We know it’s a big ask, and will be available to help guide this transition toward a successful outcome. If we don’t find a few folks to take the lead, we’ll either pursue dissolution, or put the organization on hold until someone else can take it over in the future. We are excited for this year’s Community Picnic on September 28th, 2024 but it will be the last that the current VCG board organizes. Anyone with interest can reach out to us at: neighbors@veronacommunity.org or by calling 412-818-5946

Thank you for reading our plea, and for your support of the Verona Community Group over these last few years!

Jessica Varone
VCG Board Chair

2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JESSICA VARONE

Chair

Day Job: Project Manager for the Department of Veterans Affairs national office.

Why Verona? I moved to Verona with my husband in 2017 because we loved the small town feel and walkability of the community, along with its close proximity to the city.

Fun Fact: I’ve been told I make the best margarita you’ve ever tasted!

BRIDGET SEERY

Vice Chair
(Member of the Financial Committee)

Day Job: Union Organizer for United Steelworkers

Why Verona? After looking for a commercial building for 2 years Robert Geiselhart and I found a great building on Allegheny River Blvd. which was affordable and of good size for his sports performance facility. It also happened to be 5 minutes from his parents at the time which was a bonus. Proximity to downtown was also something we liked about the location.

Fun Fact: I am an avid scrapbooked and run a small business selling Creative Memories.

295549852_992904001378243_625382221666827883_n_edited.jpg

Luke Mattocks

Secretary

Day Job: Purchasing Agent at Bunting Graphics in Verona

Why Verona? I built my first boat at the age of fifteen and have always been drawn to water. Prior to buying my house in Verona, I lived directly across the river on the water in Blawnox.

Fun Fact: I’ve done a lot of water skiing in my time including a season that began in April and ended in November (wet suit)! I have also triple barefoot skied with a friend and brother on Rice Lake in Canada.

RHEA HOMA

Treasurer
(Member of the Financial Committee)

Day Job: Project Coordinator for ReImagine Food Systems of the Turtle Creek Watershed and Environmental Activist.

Why Verona? Kismet. My partner and I were drawn to a lovely house in Verona in 2018. Once moved in, I fell in love with the welcoming nature of fellow Veronians, walkability, variety of fun events, and opportunities to get involved within the community.

Fun Fact: I live with 5 ferrets who are named after different places that I have traveled. I also loved talking about all things eco and lead Verona’s SEE Green Sustainability group.

ERICA MURRAY

Member at Large

I moved to Verona in 2013 from Bloomfield where I had lived most of my adult life in Pittsburgh. I grew up in Monroeville and have a BA in Writing from Pitt. After college I moved to San Francisco where I lived for 10 years before returning to Bloomfield momentarily before then moving to Seattle. In 2010 I returned to Bloomfield and began nursing school at Shadyside SON. I began to fall in love with Verona while seeing patients as a hospice RN and was lucky to be able to buy a house on Penn St, which I adore. I enjoy my garden and being able to easily kayak and I am excited to finally become involved with the Verona community!

DONATIONS

Your donations to VCG are tax-deductible!

If you’d like to contribute to the Verona Community Group, you can do so in several ways:

Check: Made payable to Verona Community Group, 722 Brunot Street, Verona, PA 15147
Venmo: @veronacommunitygroup