WINTER 2012
Spend Your Holidays with Gianna Via’s!
COMMUNITY MAGAZINE
Inside: Baldwin Borough 2013 Trash and Recycling Information
From the Publisher At this time of year, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the journey with us that was 2012. And while we’ve endured extremes of nature via the summer heat waves and Hurricane Sandy, as well as the onslaught of a presidential election that ate up any time available between our favorite shows, we still have much to be thankful for. IN Community Magazines continues to grow, and for that we thank you, our readers and our advertisers. Our readers help shape these magazines. Those of you who took the time to call, e-mail or write in with your ideas and events are the ones who set our table of contents. We pride ourselves on the fact that we listen to you and your ideas because, in the end, this is your community and you know it best. So I continue to encourage you to send in your ideas to our editor at mark@incommunitymagazines.com. I wish to thank our advertisers for your continued support of IN Community Magazines. By advertising with us, you are supporting your community by underwriting the cost of the editorial content that those who read these magazines enjoy and look forward to each issue. Because of you, our readers can be entertained and informed. In this last issue before 2013, I urge our readers to support the advertisers who support your community magazine before you make your holiday gift lists. If you like this magazine, let them know and make a point to stop in their businesses. They’re not just trying to sell you something, they’re also your neighbors and community sponsors. I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season and the best that 2013 has to offer! Wayne Dollard, Publisher
WE WANT What was the best gift you ever received? about the holiday season. While it’s always TO KNOW... It’sbettertimetotogivestartthanthinking receive, we want to know what the best gift you’ve ever received was, and we don’t necessarily mean material things. Let us know! Email your story to mark@incommunitymagazines.com or mail them to IN Community Magazines, 603 East McMurray Road, McMurray, PA 15317. Please indicate which of our magazines you receive so we know where to place your story. Photos are encouraged and should be 1MB or greater. Actual photos are accepted as well, but cannot be returned.
Spring content deadline: 2/17/13
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IN Community Magazines (ICM) is seeking nominations for its Community Awards for Service Excellence (C.A.S.E.). We know that what makes communities great are the special people who volunteer their time, talent and effort to help others. ICM would like to honor those special people, but we need your help. IN Community Magazines’ C.A.S.E. Dinner will recognize volunteers from each of ICM’s 36 magazines.
Awardees will be selected in the following categories: Volunteer of the Year; Youth Volunteer of the Year (21 years and younger); Small non-profit of the Year (staff of 10 or less); Large non-profit of the Year (staff of 11 or more). Awardees and those who nominated them will be honored at the awards dinner in Spring 2013. During the dinner an awardee from the Volunteer of the Year and Youth Volunteer of the Year categories will be selected to receive a donation for his or her chosen charity.
Name of nominee:_____________________________________________________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone:_____________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________ Category (circle one): Volunteer of the Year, Youth Volunteer of the Year (21 years and younger); Small non-profit (staff of 10 or less); Large non-profit (staff of 11 or more) Which IN Community Magazine is this nomination for?____________________________________________________________ Name of person submitting nomination:______________________________________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ____________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________ Why are you nominating this person or non-profit organization? (Please, submit a typewritten statement of no more than 600 words) Send nomination form and statement to: Monica Haynes, IN Community Magazines, 603 E. McMurray Road, McMurray, PA 15317 If you have any questions, please, contact Monica Haynes at 412.254.8704 or monicahaynes2012@gmail.com. Deadline for nominations is 1/31/2013.
INSIDE
IN Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall is a non-partisan community publication dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall area and its comprising municipalities by focusing on the talents and gifts of the people who live and work here. Our goal is to provide readers with the most informative and professional regional publication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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2012
d Your Spen s with ay Holid Via’s! Gianna
IN Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | WINTER 2012 |
Inside: Borough Baldwin h and 2013 Tras Information Recycling
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Industry Insights
Hayes Chiropractic The Role of Chiropractic for Pre-Season Snow Skiing and Conditioning .................. | 31 on the cover
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Southwestern Group, Ltd.
The staff of Gianna Via’s are ready to serve you this holiday season.
Skilled Nursing and Short Term Rehab, “Get the Facts!” .................................... | 42
UPMC TODAY
Penn State Greater Allegheny
Health and Wellness News You Can Use | Winter 2012-13
There’s Never Been a Better Time for Vets to Go Back to School at Penn State Greater Allegheny ................................... | 72
Stay Well This Winter Some people seem to sail through winter without a sniffle or a grumble. These simple steps may help you do the same: Spend some time in the fresh air, de-stress your holiday planning, wash your hands often, get plenty of sleep, and get a flu shot.
What’s Inside 2 3 4
What You Can Do to Beat the Flu Absent From Pain Butt Out: New Reasons to Quit Smoking Brittle Bones
5 6 7
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Business Spotlight
Shedding More Than Pounds Growing Up With Heart Disease Don’t Let Winter Slow You Down
© 2012 UPMC
UPMC Today_Mercy_Winter_2012_Final.indd 1
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Features
Young Firefighter Saves Comrade ............................................. | 10 Why More and More Families Will Be Dining Out for the Holidays .......................................................................... | 24 Health & Wellness - The Whole Picture .................................... | 26 Brentwood Senior Learns Life Lessons at Leadership Training Program ................................................................................ | 63 How We Met ................................................................................ | 64 51 Corridors Golf Outing 2012 .................................................... | 66 Whitehall Green Thumbers - A Garden of Love and Friendship .............................................................................................. | 68 community interests
Baldwin Borough News ............................................................. | 6 Brentwood School District News ........................................... | 12 UPMC Today | Health and Wellness News ...................................... | 33 Briefly Brentwood Borough News ......................................... | 43
Newbury ............................................... | 3
Baldwin
BOROUGH NEWS
2013 Trash and Recycling Calendar
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Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall
3344 Churchview Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15227 412.882.9600 www.baldwinborough.org
2013 Trash and Recycling Street Listing MONDAY (ODD) (EVEN) BLOSSOM DR BECKY DR CLELIA DR BLOSSOM RD CHARLOTTE DR BROAD ST CROSS ST CARMEN DR ELAINE DR CEDAR ST GARDENVILLE RD CHESTNUT ST JENNE DR CURRY RD JUDITH DR FIFTH ST HOLIDAY DR KOEFFLER DR HORNING RD LOIS DR LUCY DR LAUREL DR MCKEE DR MARTA DR NIX DR MCANNULTY RD NORMA DR MEADOWCREST RD PAGE DR MERCEDES DR PORTIA DR OAK ST ROSEWOOD DR OLYMPIC RD ROSEWOOD CT SIXTH ST VILLAHAVEN DR SUSAN DR VINE ST
THURSDAY (ODD) (EVEN) BARTHWOOD DR BENCH DR CASTLEVIEW DR BRICKLEY DR CEDARCOVE ST BROOKLAWN DR CHESTON ST CATHELL RD CHURCHVIEW AVE CREADY HILL RD CONRAD DR DONAHUE DR GALBBRAITH ST EILEEN DR HAMLET CT EMMA JOE DR HARMENING AVE EVELYN RD HAZELHURST AVE FLORA RD KORB WAY GREENGLEN DR LECHNER LN IRENE LN MANORWIEW DR KATHLEEN DR MEADOWVUE DR MARY ANN DR MELLOT RD NORINE DR MELVINA AVE PAULA DR PALACE CT PINCHTOWN RD ROLAND AVE PLEASANTVUE DR RUTHWOOD DR REVO RD VERNON AVE SCHOLAR RD VILLAGE DR TUSH DR
TUESDAY (EVEN) ADOBE DR ANGELO ST ARDELLE DR BALCONADE DR BERNADETTE DR BLISS DR BONI DR BRENTVIEW DR BROADLEA ST BROWNSVILLE RD BUNTS DR CACTUS DR CAMPBELL DR CAROLYN DR CLAIRTON BLVD COLEWOOD DR CURRY HOLLOW RD DASCHBACH DR DEBRA DR FAITH DR FIDELITY DR GALES DR
GARDENVIEW DR GERRY DR GLENBURN DR GRACE ST GROVE PL HACIENDA DR HOLDSWORTH DR HOLLOW HAVEN DR IRWIN DR JEAN DR JUNE DR KEENAN DR KEEPORT DR KNOEDLER RD LINHART LN LELAND DR LOMBARDI DR MACASSAR DR MISSIONARY DR NURNBERGER DR OLD CLAIRTON RD OVERLAND TRAIL
PHILLPPE DR RANCHVIEW DR RANGE DR REGENT ST SABBATH DR SAGEBRUSH DR SCENERY DR SCENIC DR SIESTA DR SPANGLER ST SPRINGDALE DR STREETS RUN RD SUNNY DR TRAVIS DR TOMMY DR WELSCH DR WILLARD DR WOLFE DR WOODHALL DR YOUNGRIDGE DR
WEDNESDAY (EVEN) LAWNWOOD DR BARBARA DR BERYL DR LEONA DR BLUFF ST LORRAINE DR BIRO DR LOUISA CT BONEL ST LOUISA ST BRENTWOOD RD MACEK ST BURGESS ST MALOR DR CIRCLE DR MANHASSETT RD CYNTHIA DR MARC DR DEERVUE DR MEADOW ST DOLORES DR OAKLEAF DR DOYLE RD PAMELA DR DUNLUCE DR PROSPECT RD EAST WILLOCK RD RECKER DR RIDGE AVE ELDERSLEE DR ELLEN DR ROBBINS ST ELMA DR SCHUETTE RD ELMWOOD DR SENIOR DR ELM LEAF DR SHORT ST FREDERICK CT SKYLINE DR FREDERICK ST SONGO ST FRICH DR TRETTER DR GANLET DR TYLER DR GARY DR WALLACE DR GODEC DR WILLET RD HOLLYROOD DR WILSON DR JANIE DR WREN ST JULIE DR YOUNG DR JUNIOR DR
FRIDAY (ODD) ALAN ST BALDWIN DR BICKAR CT BOUR ST BRALLIER CT BRINWOOD AVE CALVERT AVE CENTER ST CUSTER AVE GENSLER RD GLASS RUN RD GOUCHER DR JOSEPH ST KIRK AVE
(ODD Continued) LAFFERTY DR LANE WAY MARY ST MEADOWDELL DR MIDDLE ST PENN ST SHIECK ST SOULIER ST STEINER ST TROIT AVE WALTON RD WATERMAN AVE WENGER ST
(EVEN) BECKS RUN RD BECKS WAY BRAZIL ST BRENTWOOD RD. (473, 3747 TO 3767) CAMARTA DR CHURCHVIEW AVE (3857 AND UP) CLOVER CIRCLE CT CLOVERFIELD DR DEBBIE DR EMERY DR HARTL LN
(EVEN Coninuted) JOHN ST LINHART LN. 341-351 MARLANE DR MICHAEL DR NORTH ST REVO RD. 100-260 SANDA DR SOMERSET ST SUSQUHANNA ST TOWERVUE DR
Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 7
Baldwin
BOROUGH NEWS
WASTE MANAGEMENT NOW OFFERS “thebagster.com”
Bagster is more than a dumpster in a bag… it is also a collection service. BUY IT… Buy it, store it, use it when you need it. It’s compact, always on hand and ready to use when you are. Find a retailer on the website… FILL IT… Bagster is simple to set up and strong enough to hold up to 3,300 lb. of debris or waste. It’s the right size for renovations, landscaping, or home projects that don’t require a full-size dumpster. GONE… Schedule your collection online and it’s gone! Bagster is a cost-effective disposal service from Waste Management. (See website for retailers, filling FAQS and if collection services are available in your area)
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Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 9
Young Firefighter Saves Comrade T he fire was close, so close that the firemen could actually smell the smoke from the burning home, just five houses away from the station. Though they got there very quickly, when they arrived at the blaze Baldwin firefighter Alex Vogel and his fellow firemen could see five-foot-high flames shooting out the side of the house. Despite the obvious hazards, they went into the burning structure anyway. The place was all thick black smoke, making sight impossible. Vogel and his partner, firefighter Bob Wysocki, felt their way through the house, crawling on the floor and slowly advancing to the rear of the building where a kitchen and adjoining room were on fire, due to someone leaving a charcoal grill unattended. With Wysocki leading the way, the men made their way into the adjoining room. Right after they did, the floor collapsed beneath Wysocki and he fell through it, all the way to his shoulders, catching himself just in time. “He yelled out, ‘I’m through the floor,’” Vogel said. Since he was kneeling only feet away from his partner, Vogel, who is 5’ 6” tall, quickly grabbed the 6’ 1” Wysocki by the shoulders and pulled him out of the floor. Physically, the task seems quite difficult, even after the fact. And the young fireman is still a little awed that he accomplished the feat. He attributes his ability to accomplish it to the excitement of the moment, combined with the good training he’s gotten over the years.
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“I know it was adrenaline,” Vogel said of his quick action, which prevented his partner from falling to the floor below, and may have saved his life. Though he wouldn’t call the action heroic, American Red Cross officials did give it that label, and recently honored Vogel, 21, at its annual American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast. At the event, ARC officials awarded Vogel the Professional Responder Hero Award. When he first learned of the honor, Vogel was surprised. “I got a phone call from someone at the Red Cross about it and I thought, ‘That’s cool,’” Vogel said. “I’m not asking for any awards; I’m just doing my job.” It may well have been the most memorable fire the young firefighter has responded to of the 500 or so calls he’s attended in his five-year career. Starting as a junior firefighter at 17, Vogel was following in his father’s footsteps, since he also is a member of Baldwin Independent Fire Company No. 1. The younger Vogel displayed his fearless streak early, first going into burning structures when he was only 19. Like others in the 35-member Baldwin Independent Fire Company 31, Vogel sort of thrives on the risk-taking involved in fighting fires. Where other people would see peril and go the other way from a fire, he boldly moves forward, confident that his training, actions, and fellow firefighters will help him make it through the tough spots.
By Jonathan Barnes “It’s the thrill, and the adrenaline. I like the danger sometimes,” Vogel said. Soft-spoken and unassuming, Vogel is thankful for the honor he’s received, but he’s not exactly sure the distinction fits him. He isn’t entirely comfortable with the attention he’s received because of it, and he shrugs off the ‘hero’ label. “A couple people have called me that, but I tell them I’m not. I say ‘Thank you,’ but I still think I’m not a hero,” Vogel said. Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 11
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Brentwood B O R O U G H SCHOOL DISTRICT
Superintendent's Message As this issue of In Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall is being compiled, our community is on the verge of experiencing the effects of Hurricane Sandy. Weather events, generally associated with but not limited to the winter months, often necessitate school delays and cancellations. The 2011-2012 school year was a unique one with no delays or cancellations. I have an uneasy feeling that this will not be the cas e during the 2012-2013 school year. As I have done in prior Superintendent's Messages, it would be wise for me to again explain how school delay or cancellation decisions are made in order to provide parents with an understanding of the factors taken into consideration before those actions are taken. Once I become aware of impending inclement weather, weather forecasts are continually monitored for any changes in original predictions. If inclement weather is predicted for the morning, my day begins at 3:45 a.m. when I again monitor the weather forecasts. I also begin to contact other superintendents in the county, particularly those in walking school districts. In addition, the Director of School Police and Facilities contacts Brentwood Borough Public Works and Police Departments to obtain specific i nformation on conditions within the borough. Based on this information, a decision to delay or cancel school is made. Every attempt is made to make that decision by 6:15 a.m. Once the decision is made, the television and radio stations are notified and the AlertNow notification system is activated to contact the homes of our students. Every effort is made not to change the decision once it is announced . If it is possible to make a delay or cancellation decision the night before, it will be done. Regardless of whatever decision is made, I have always stressed to parents who contact me that if they believe weather conditions do not allow for safe travel of their children to school, they can keep their children at home until weather conditions improve. My goal is to have school open every day that it is scheduled on the original calendar in order for our students to attend. Unfortunately, I do not have control over the weather but only control over the decision to delay or cancel school. Hopefully, the need to make that decision will not be a frequent one this school year. Ronald W. Dufalla, Ph. D. Superintendent of Schools
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Brentwood B O R O U G H SCHOOL DISTRICT
Generosity of Chiropractor and Patients Benefits Students
For many students the start of a new school year means the excitement of reuniting with friends, the anticipation of new academic challenges, and the opportunity to participate in new activities. However, for many families, the return to school brings additional economic challenges with the cost of school supplies, school clothes, and other expenses. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Alex Pattison and his patients at City of Bridges Chiropractic, many students received school supplies at no cost. Dr. Alex approached Helen Hughes-Smith, a Brentwood High School teacher, with the idea of collecting general school supplies in August for students who may not be able to afford all the necessities. Mrs. Hughes-Smith, an active member of the Brentwood Education Association (BEA), felt this was a perfect opportunity that would benefit the students. With an overwhelming response from his patients, Dr. Alex collected several large boxes of notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, calculators, erasers, rulers, and other items just in time for the start of school. Materials were shared among each of the four schools in the district. The teachers assisted in distributing the supplies to students in need. With such a successful response, Dr. Alex and the BEA have made plans to collaborate on other activities throughout the year. The BEA and the school district extend their gratitude to Dr. Alex, his staff, and his patients for their support in the education of our students.
Skype Allows Brentwood High School Student to Interact With Class A Brentwood High School student is able to interact via computer with the classroom while being homebound with a medical condition. Sophomore Sara Frey is recovering at home with a medical condition that has kept her out of school since the first day of the 2012-2013 school year. Sara has used Skype, on her iPad, in her Chemistry Honors course. Skype is a Voice-Over-InternetProtocol (VOIP) program that allows users on different computers in different locations to videoconference via an Internet connection. The free software enables both audio and audiovisual options. Skype is an uncomplicated process. A computer with a high-speed Internet connection, a microphone, and a webcam (built-in or external) are required to begin. With the help from Brentwood’s technology department, Don Aul, Chemistry Honors teacher, was able to test the connection from the laptops at the high school and Sara’s connection with her iPad. As you can imagine, a course like Chemistry Honors would be extremely difficult to do from home. By using Skype, it allows Sara to see and
hear the actual class, in real time. She can communicate with Mr. Aul and her classmates as well. The most important aspect of this is that Sara gets to see the labs that are the hands-on activities that reinforce the concepts that the students are learning in class. This should be very helpful to Sara in keeping her up to speed to make her return to school easier.
Don Aul and the Chemistry Honors Class
Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 13
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Brentwood B O R O U G H SCHOOL DISTRICT
Once again this year, the Pennsylvania Department of Health offered influenza vaccine to school districts who were interested in ensuring that their students had the opportunity to be protected from the flu. Brentwood opted to participate, and received 200 doses of vaccine (100 each of injectable and intranasal types). With the help of volunteers that included Dr. Howard Pittle, school doctor, Chanel Horst, PAC, Danielle Meyer, R.N., and five senior students from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Nancy Kaminski and Kristi Thieshen, school district nurses, vaccinated more than one hundred children during two sessions. If you missed the flu clinics but are interested in having your child receive the vaccine, please contact Mrs. Thieshen at the elementary schools or Mrs. Kaminski at the middle/high school. There are a limited number of doses still available. Pictured at right are the Sedlar sisters who all received their vaccines at the school.
Brentwood High School’s Preschool Program in conjunction with Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh wants every preschool age child to begin school with the best vision possible. On October 18, 2012, Brentwood High School conducted a Preschool Vision Screening program to screen three and four year olds for color discrimination, muscle balance, and visual acuity. Each child participated in a fun, age appropriate screening process to identify possible vision deficiencies that may require further treatment. One in every twenty children has an undetected vision problem. The early detection of a condition known as Amblyopia (lazy eye) is critical. If identified and treated by the age of three, the correction rate for Amblyopia is 95%, however, if left untreated until the age of seven, the correction rate drops to a mere 5%. If left untreated, Amblyopia can lead to lifelong vision loss. Each year Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services (BVRS) operates with 800 trained volunteers and screens 12,000 preschoolers throughout Allegheny County. If you are interested in participating as a screening volunteer or need further information pertaining to Preschool Vision Screening, please contact BVRS at 412.368.4400. Your volunteer efforts can mean a lifetime of healthy vision for a child. Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall
Bobbi receives the intranasal vaccine from nurse Danielle Meyer
ne i c c a V Fl u f or d l e H c Cl i n i ts St u d e n
Healthy Vision Key to School Success
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Adele opts for the injectable vaccine while mom Sharon looks on
Gabrielle gets ready to receive her vaccine Adele, Jorja, Bobbi, Gabrielle, and Teddi Sedlar
Interested in the Preschool Program? Do you have a three or four year old child and live in Brentwood? Your child could be eligible to enroll in Brentwood High School’s Preschool Program! Applications for the fall of 2013 are currently being accepted. Preschool meets every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning. For more information and to see if your child is eligible, visit Brentwood High School’s website and complete the preschool application. Please send a copy of the immunization records along with the application to the high school. If you have any questions, contact Esther Miller at 412.881.4940 (Extension 2123) or by email at millere@brentwoodpgh.k12.pa.us
Playground Safety and Beautification a Priority Playground safety and beautification is a priority at Elroy Elementary School. Last year the day before school started, teachers, students, and community members came together to rake mulch, fix benches and pick up around the grounds. During the first few weeks of school, the students, with guidance from art teacher Barb Girone, painted a new mural on part of the wall. On the day before school started this year, three teachers, PTA members and students, all with their families, came together to paint and clean up again. With the help of wonderful sketching by Mrs. Girone, a new mural was painted. This mural depicts the playground rules in words and pictures. With steady hands, Michelle Klein and Jen Travis traced over the sketched letters and painted in the pictures. Ron Travis and Beth Marchall-Hof fman directed Madeline Travis and Ashley Klein, through the repainting of the existing wall. Kindergarten teacher Christina Dietz along with her daughter Haley, and first grade teacher Amy Smith’s sons, Kaiden and Kolten, painted different colored circles on the ground to provide students guidance on where to line up at the end of recess. Steve Smith painted a seal over the existing mural to protect i t from weather
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Brentwood B O R O U G H SCHOOL DISTRICT
elements. Melissa Sauro, second grade teacher, painted red safety lines on the ground to help students know areas on the playground they could not go and to help keep students on the playground. Shawn and Samantha Sauro raked mulch and picked up trash. It was a great morning of working together and preparing the playground for Elroy students. A special thank you goes out to Donnelly-Bo land and Associates. The last of their $500 donation was used to fund the project.
Malawi Culture Comes to the Classroom Moni once! Students in seventh grade Social Studies and high school World Cultures classes recently learned to speak a few words of Chichewa, the native language of southern Malawi, Africa. Mary Magola from the city of Blantyre, Malawi was a houseguest of Cheryl Davies, middle school teacher, through a partnership between Pittsburgh Presbytery and the Synod of Blantyre in Malawi. Mrs. Magola came to visit Brentwood Middle/High School for a day and was very impressed that a public school had such a nice building and programs, since in Malawi many public schools meet in makeshift buildings or outside and teachers are in short supply. Prior to the visit Mrs. Davies shared video and photographs of her visits to Malawi and invited two Brentwood seventh graders who once lived in the African countries of Gambia and Sudan to share photographs as well.
Ian Shortt’s World Cultures classes, who were completing research on African countries, were invited to join in the discussion of the similarities and differences between Malawi culture and our life here in the United States. Students were surprised to find that there are many similarities in the ways we live due to more westernized style clothing and electronic devices that are available to the general population. They also were surprised by the diversity in the ways people live in this impoverished nation due to variations in education availability and opportunities. In Malawi, homes of more affluent citizens are often surrounded by walls with shards of glass or barbed wire on top to reduce intruders. When asked what most impressed her, Mrs. Magola responded, “The variety of homes and the freedom to live in a home not surrounded by walls because of security issues.” Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 15
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Brentwood B O R O U G H SCHOOL DISTRICT
Brentwood High School Hosts Hall of Fame Day
Brentwood High School was proud to host a number of their newly elected and past Hall of Fame Alumni on Friday, October 5, 2012 as part of a weekend long celebration. The Brentwood High School Hall of Fame held its biennial banquet at South Hills Country Club on Saturday, October 6, 2012 to induct its Classes of 2011 and 2012. It has become a tradition at the high school to host new and past Hall of Fame members as part of Hall of Fame Day on the Friday prior to the banquet. This year was no exception and the students benefited from an array of speakers. Speaking to the students on Hall of Fame Day representing the Hall of Fame Class of 2011 were the following: • Linda Riesmeyer Kostak, Ph.D. (Brentwood High School Class of 1977) who is a licensed psycholo gist and has served as a board member and as president of the Western Pennsylvania and statewide Lupus Foundation. In 1990 she was nominated for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Outstanding Citizen Award. Also, the National Association of Women Business Owners honored her in 2007 with their “Make the Connection Award” for her significant community service. • Timothy O’Neil (Brentwood Class of 1974) who had a t wenty-seven year military career. Tim’s assignments included that of Director of Intelligence for Special Operations Forces in Europe and Dean of the Army’s Intelligence Center and School providing intelligence support to the first military operation against Al Qaeda after September 11, 2001. He retired as a Colonel in June 2005. Mr. O’Neil currently serves as a senior civilian government employee with the Department of Defense. Those representing the Brentwood High School Hall of Fame Class of 2012 included: • Gail Kortz Fisher (Brentwood Class of 1957) who has had a successful career as an artist. She designs backdrops, posters, t-shirts, and fabric quilts and creates paintings of architectural elements, still life and figures. Gail was a featured quilt maker inducted to the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame in 2010. A lot of her creative energy is spent on work for charity. She 16
Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall
Jack Purcell
Tim O’Neil
believes that having a talent is most enjoyable when you are able to share the outcome for good causes. In 2003 she was awarded the Sierra Vista, Arizona Mayor’s Artist of the Year Award.
• David Nobbs (Brentwood Class of 1976) whose first job was as a reporter for the South Hills Record and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. David has built a successful career in sports marketing and advertising. One of his early assignments was the Director of Communications for the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle. He has directed high profile campaigns for clients such as Coca-Cola, the NFL, NHL, Sports Illustrated, the All-Star Games and Shaquille O’Neal. Mr. Nobbs is on the Board of Directors of the Giving Back Fund which assists celebrities like Ben Roe thlisberger in managing their charitable contributions. • John Sartorio, DMD (Brentwood Class of 1977) who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Sartorio established a new dental practice in 1986 and earned advanced dental certificates in order to meet his patient’s needs. His practice is still thriving today. He has provided pro bono dental treatment for the “Lost Bo ys” of the Sudan who were rescued and relocated to this area by Catholic Charities. Dr. Sartorio also sponsors Good Deed Contests which awards computers to students whose essays communicate their good works for others.
Dr. John Sartorio
Ron Frey
• Mark Masur (Brentwood Class of 1982) who, after graduation, moved to Chicago and enrolled at the University of Illinois. He later earned his Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law School, spe cializing in workers’ compensation and personal injury law. Mark has been recognized by his peers as an Illinois Super Lawyer, indicating that he is in the top five percent of lawyers in that state in his field. He has also Dr. Linda Riesmeyer Kostak, Dave Nobbs, Mark Masur, Gail Kortz Fisher
attained the highest rating for integrity. He assists a Merit Badge Counselor for Law, for the Boy Scouts of America. Those representing past Brentwood High School Hall of Fame members included: • Jack Purcell (Brentwood Class of 1936) was a freshman when the doors of Brentwood High School opened in 1932. After graduation he attended Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie Mellon and majored in music. After graduation J ack joined the Navy and was quickly enrolled in the School of Music in Washington, D.C. This assignment did not last long. Mr. Purcell was sent for amphibious training and then sent to the Pacific Theater during World War II where he participated in a number of assault landings the most significant being the invasion of Okinawa. Following his service with the Navy, Jack played with the Pittsburgh Symphony a nd his own Jack Purcell Orchestra. He had the honor of playing under Leonard Bernstein, Leopold Stokowski and Victor DiSabata, the Director of the Milan Opera Company. • Ronald Frey (Brentwood Class of 1955) who served as a celebrated teacher and coach in New Jersey. He taught general science, biology and geography. Ronald coached wrestling in Riverside, New Jersey for 38 years. He was the three time recipient of district and regional coaching awards. He was inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Riverside High School Hall of Fame. In 1987, Ronald was honored by coaches and officials with the Outstanding Contributors of the Sport of Wrestling Award. These distinguished speakers met Brentwood High School students in their classrooms and gave presentations to a variety of classes. The student s then had an opportunity for questions and answers as well as getting to know each of these individuals in a more personal manner. Sophomore William Madeja said, “It’s really cool to see people who were just like us, kids, and then they went on to be successful. We are all from Brentwood and that’s really cool.” Brentwood Hall of Fame Day is intended to highlight the successful graduates that have come from the school and to encourage and promote the value of education. The day was successful in accomplishing this goal.
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Brentwood B O R O U G H SCHOOL DISTRICT
Brentwood High School Hall of Fame Inducts New Members On October 6, 2012, the Brentwood High School Hall of Fame (HOF) welcomed eight new members at its biennial Induction Banquet. The event was held at the South Hills Country Club. In addition to the six members who did attend Hall of Fame Day at Brentwood High School, the evening’s honorees also included: • Reid W. McGibbeny, (Brentwood High School Class of 1937) who built a successful insurance business in Dormont from 1955 – 1984. During that time he organized the Dormont Business and Professional Association, which remains active. Reid served on Dormont Council from 1957 – 1965. Upon relocation to Bethel Park, he was elected to Council from 1980 – 1988, and served as President for the last four of those years. His vocal interests resul ted in the formation of the Bethelaires Quartet which performed at many North and South Hills venues and also appeared on TV. Still active at age ninety-two, Reid is known as Mr. Fix-it because he repairs wooden furniture for friends and neighbors. • Michael J. Fisher, (Brentwood High School Class of 1982) earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Allegheny College and a master’s degree in Bu siness Administration from Harvard University. He joined the U.S. Border Patrol in June, 1987. During his career he planned and executed operations throughout the United States and nine foreign countries. Michael assumed his current position as Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol on May 9, 2010. He is responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating and directing enforcement efforts designed to secure the U.S. borders. From its founding in 2000, the Brentwood High School Hall of Fame has honored ninety-two distinguished alumni. Details on the nomination procedure and HOF contact information can be found on the website, www.brentwoodhighschoolhalloffame.com. The HOF initiated a Scholarship Program in 2005 with contributions from members and alumni. Two $2,000 scholarships are awarded annually to Brentwood High School seniors who enroll in a program of study at the Community College of Allegheny County. In 2012 the HOF Trustees created the Circle of Excellence Award. This award is designed to recognize former Brentwood High School educators whose leadership and dedication have resulted in widespread esteem and longstanding appreciation among Brentwood High School graduates. At the banquet, the first award was presented to the family of Ross L. Munn, a renowned BHS music and English teacher whose tenure spanned from 1944 through 1974. Inquiries related to any of the HOF initiatives can be addressed to the email address found on the website or by phoning 412.951.1059. -Inductees Mark Masur, Dr. John Sartorio, Tim O’Neil, Gail Kortz Fisher, Dave Nobs, Reid MGibbney, Dr. Linda Riesmeyer Kostyak
Jason Olexa, BHS Principal, presents Hall of Fame Award to Tim O’Neil
Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 17
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Brentwood B O R O U G H SCHOOL DISTRICT
Visit to Fire Station
The Kindergarten class at Moore Elementary School visited the Brentwood Fire Station during Fire Prevention Week in October. The students watched a video on fire safety, sat in a fire truck, and learned about the fire fighters’ equipment. In the photo, kindergarten teacher Christie O’Neill’s class is posing with two of the Brentwood Volunteer Firemen.
Response to Intervention and Instruction (RtII) Initiative Response to Intervention (RtI) is an initiative that was first introduced in Pennsylvania in 2005 by Ed Shapiro and Joseph Kovaleski. Over the past seven years it has evolved and expanded. Now it is referred to as Response to Intervention and Instruction (RtII) and is defined as a comprehensive, multi-tiered intervention standards-aligned strategy to enable early identification and intervention f or students at academic or behavioral risk.
Elroy and Moore Elementary Schools have studied and implemented the literacy component of RtII for the past three years in grades K-2. On October 18, 2012, the third grade teams and reading specialists met to research how RtII could be implemented at the third grade level. The teachers spent the day reviewing the core principles and characteristics of RtII. T hey used the Dynamic Indicators Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) data to separate the students into three tiers. This will allow the teachers to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners. Student progress will be measured and discussed throughout the year at grade level meetings and the tiers will be adjusted as needed.
The Sky Dome Experience
Elroy students journeyed through the universe from the comfort and security of their own school! The Sky Dome was brought to Elroy Elementary School courtesy of the Elroy PTA and dazzled budding astronomers as they toured the solar system. The students entered the dome and were introduced to a “star filled” sky. Derek, the navigator, used a laser pointer to guide students through the stars of the Northern Hemisphere. Elroy students learned how to identify stars and constellations. They were introduced to Greek mythological characters to see how heroes from the past can be found in the stars.
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Protecting Students from the Hazards of the Internet The Internet is a magnificent resource for Brentwood Borough children, teachers and parents. Children can use it to research school projects, communicate with friends, and play interactive games. Kindergarten students are able to access the world by only typing in a few letters. Teachers utilize the Internet to locate resources to support lessons or communicate with families. Parents utilize the Internet to assist students with homework and communicate with teachers and family. This access can also pose hazards. For example, a child completing an online search for Lego, but with just one missed keystroke, the word “legs” is entered instead, and the student may be directed to a variety of websites with a focus on legs. Some of these sites might contain material that is unsuitable for children. The question becomes, how do we monitor what the children see and hear on the Internet, who they meet, and what they share about themselves online? The best answer is to talk to our students about our concerns, take
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advantage of the resources available to protect them, and keep a close eye on their activities. A federal law, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), was created to protect students online. It is designed to keep anyone from obtaining a child’s personal information without a parent knowing about it and agreeing to it first. Even with this law, our best protection is you! By talking to children about potential online dangers and monitoring their computer use, you will help them explore the Internet world safely. i-Safe is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and empowering you (and others) to safely, responsibly, and productively use Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The Brentwood Borough School District subscribes to i-Safe to educate our children about the Internet. i-Safe provides best classroom practices curriculum for primary and secondary students and is embedded with dynamic community outreach activities to empower students, teachers, parents, law enforcement professionals, and other community members to control their online experiences. In November teachers in the Brentwood Borough School District were introduced to the i-Safe curriculum. Throughout the year they will continue to explore and implement the curriculum in grades K-12. In addition, at least two parent and community trainings will be held to share the resources available to help keep our students safe. Listed below are other valuable resources available to parents to assist with the difficult task of talking to our children about being safe. www.isafe.org/ www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/parent-guide www.ncjrs.gov/internetsafety/ www.netsmartz.org/internetsafety
Breakfast with the Spartans Introduced this year by Casey Phillips to his 6th grade reading class, “Breakfast with the Spartans” is a program that monthly invites one or two members of a varsity athletic team to be guest readers in the class. Two breakfasts have been conducted thus far this school year. Guest readers in the class include three football players, Michael Andrews and John Schmitt, both seniors, and Justin Vickless, a junior. According to Mr. Phillips, all three athletes did an excellent job relating to and interacting with the 6th graders. The 6th graders were very excited to see some of the athletes they watch on Friday evenings up close and personal. The program, which will operate throughout the year, will invite various athletes during their respective seasons to read. The program not only makes reading fun and interesting, but also helps to build positive relationships between the students of the middle and high schools. Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 19
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Brentwood B O R O U G H SCHOOL DISTRICT
By Frank Krawiec, MSW, LCSW, Wesley Spectrum School Based Services Mental Health Therapist and Intervention Specialist
Promoting Healthy Habits for TV, Video Games, and the Internet W e cannot deny that television, interactive video games, and the Internet can be great sources of education and entertainment for kids. But how much is too much? Too much time spent engaging in any one of these activities can have unhealthy side effects. Many families monitor and limit the time their children spend playing video games, watching TV, and on the computer and the Internet. The following are some recommendations to make time spent with electronics more realistic and reasonable within your child’s life. TV Time
•
Place a time limit on hours spent watching TV. Try a weekday ban on television. The week nights are busy enough with schoolwork, sports, activities, and job responsibilities. Record weekday shows or save TV time for weekends when you can watch TV as a family. • In the room where you have your TV, make sure there are other types of activities available (books, magazines, puzzles, board games, etc.) to encourage kids to do something other than watch TV. • Encourage turning the TV off while engaging in another activity. • Keep TVs out of kids’ bedrooms. This eliminates a distraction when they are reading, doing homework, or trying to get to sleep. • Turn off the TV during meals. Have dinner at the dining room or kitchen table. I am always surprised to hear how many families eat dinner in front of the television. • Become “Unplugged.” Don’t allow the TV to be on during homework time. In fact, make it a rule that there is one hour or more of quiet time every night. Turn off the video games, computer, and cell phones. Kids can work on schoolwork, read, and draw or work on something creative. Adults can decompress, pay bills, and enjoy the quiet. • Check the TV listings and program reviews. Know what your child is watching. Look for programs your family can watch together. Watching TV together can be a great way to start conversations with your 20
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kids. Talk about what you are seeing on the screen. Take this as an opportunity to ask your child thought provoking questions such as, “Do you think it was OK when those men got into that fight? What else could they have done? What would you have done?” Or, “What do you think about how those teenagers were acting at that party? Do you think what they were doing was wrong?” If certain people or characters are mistreated or discriminated against, talk about why it’s important to treat everyone fairly despite their differences. Parents can use TV to explain confusing situations and express their own feelings about difficult topics (sex, love, drugs, alcohol, smoking, work, behavior, family life). • Plan an alternative to watching TV. Play a board game, cook something together, go for a walk, read a newspaper together and talk about current events. Video and Interactive Computer Games There is much buzz about “video game addiction” these days. Video game addiction was even being considered to become an actual disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) by the American Psychiatric Association. This resource is used by physicians in the United States as a system to classify, describe and diagnosis mental disorders. Researchers are still collecting information on whether Video Game Addiction is an actual disorder and if it should be included in a manual. Persons working in the mental health field do agree, however,
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that limiting time spent on video and computer games will help children with learning the patience, perseverance and emotional regulation needed in everyday life. There is no “reset” button at school, with friends, or family and children and teens need to develop positive coping and problem solving skills. There are definitely some positives about video games. Some games are educational, some promote physical activity, and when played with others games help children develop the skills of sharing, cooperating and compromise. Then, there is the other side. I often hear many stories from parents who say their child goes “ballistic” when they try to set limits with video games. Their child’s life seems to be dominated by video games. Grades at school have dropped. Hygiene has been neglected. Social interactions have dwindled. This has become a huge problem. This can be fixed but it may take some time and a commitment to follow a plan. While you may want to dramatically cut back your child’s access to games, or want to remove them from your home altogether, it might be more helpful to start off slowly. Offer a couple of specific examples, such as “When I tell you it’s time to turn them off, you use abusive language. And, your grades have gone from B’s and C’s to D’s and E’s since you spend so much time on the game system.” Let your child know that instead of getting rid of the games right now, you’re going to try a new rule first—and that their ability to follow that rule or not will help you determine if the games stay. You might say, “From now on the video games need to be turned off by 8 p.m. If this is working, I’ll see you turning them off by 8 without a problem, and your grades might even get better in school. If this happens, we’ll keep going. If this doesn’t work, I’ll see you putting up a fight at 8 p.m. and continuing to play later than that. If that happens, you’ll lose your game privileges for the next day”. Some quick thoughts: • Use a timer. Some video game systems are equipped with a family timer. Parents can program the system to shut itself off after the allotted gaming time has been used up for the day. • No usage on school nights. Only permit game play from Friday after school until Sunday at noon. • Begin limiting time when children are young. It is definitely more difficult to establish a routine once kids get older. • Look at the ratings. Video games have ratings to indicate when they have violence, strong language, mature sexual themes that may be inappropriate for kids. These ratings are printed right on the package.
•
Establish an “Electronics Time Bank,” Give children the opportunity to earn game time by matching it with reading (or another activity) time. • Have children earn minutes for doing chores. 30 minutes of helping out can earn 30 minutes of video game time. Time earned must be used the same day. • Setting time limits depend on the child. In the end you just have to trust your gut and go with what feels right for your family and the child. Internet Safety
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Become computer literate. Learn how to block objectionable material. • Keep the computer in a common area. Keep it where you can watch and monitor your kids. Avoid putting a computer in a child’s bedroom. • Share an email account with younger children. This way, you can monitor who is sending them messages. • Monitor social networking (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Insist on having full access to their interactions if you allow your children to use these sites. • Teach your child about Internet safety. Discuss rules for your kids to follow while they’re using the Internet, such as never reveal personal information, including address, phone number, or school name or location. • Bookmark your child’s favorite sites. You child will have easy access and be less likely to make a typo that could lead to inappropriate content. Tell children that they are only allowed on sites from your parental approved and already established list. • Find out about online protection. Children are savvy and very computer literate. Anytime I have a computer navigation question, I ask a middle school student for help. That said, they know ways around blocked sites and how to bypass security systems. This can lead to trouble. Parents, please try to stay one step ahead. • Take advantage of community seminars in Internet Safety and computer use. Many libraries and community centers offer classes. Electronics are not going away. Staying away from electronics takes some work. It takes extra time and planning to make sure kids have a wide variety of free-time activities like reading, playing with friends, and sports. Time away from electronics plays a vital part in helping children develop a health body and mind.
Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 21
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Brentwood B O R O U G H SCHOOL DISTRICT
CLASS OF 2012 BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATED 116:
Boys 56
Girls 60
Students taking the College Board examination in their junior or senior year…………………………………………………………………..71 (61.21%)
AVERAGE CRITICAL READING SCORE AVERAGE MATH SCORE AVERAGE WRITING SCORE
Brentwood
State
National
485 470 457
491 501 480
496 514 488
Students participating in post high school training…………..……..……………………….......93 Students attending four year colleges…….……………………………….………….....………48 Students attending two year colleges…………………….………….…….…………………….37 Students attending other post graduate training………….………….….……………...…………8
(80.17%) (41.38%) (31.90%) ( 6.90%)
POST HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION PENNSYLVANIA PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES………………………….14 (12.07%) Carlow University, Gannon University, Geneva College, La Roche College, Point Park University, Robert Morris University, and Westminster College PENNSYLVANIA STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION…………………………..14 (12.07%) California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro University, Slippery Rock University, and West Chester University PENNSYLVANIA STATE-RELATED UNIVERSITIES…...………………………….……..14 (12.07%) Penn State University and University of Pittsburgh OUT OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES……….………………………………….6 ( 5.17%) Bethany College (WV), Bowling Green State University (OH), Indiana State University (IN), John Carroll University (OH), and Youngstown State University (OH) TWO YEAR COLLEGES…………………………………………………………………...….37 (31.90%) Community College of Allegheny County OTHER POST HIGH SCHOOL TRAINING………………………………………………...….8 ( 6.90%) Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Bradford School, Kaplan Career Institute, Pittsburgh Technical Institute, South Hills Beauty Academy, and Steel Center MILITARY SERVICE…………………………………………………………………………..5
( 4.31%)
EMPLOYED…………………………………………………………………………………...16 (13.79%) White Collar 0 (0%) Unemployed 0 (0%) Blue Collar 6 (5.17%) Homemaker 0 (0%) Service 6 (5.17%) Undecided 4 (3.45%) 22
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Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 23
Why More and More Families Will Be
Dining Out for the Holidays
Imagine spending your holiday in this private dining room, focusing your time on your friends and family and leaving the dishes to someone else.
T
he holiday season seems almost synonymous with good food. Almost everyone has images of their family matriarch, hovering over the stove in the kitchen, creating those special dishes and desserts that signaled the advent of the holidays and defined family celebrations. But nowadays, more and more people are choosing to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with family. Many popular restaurants are now remaining open on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and News Years. Originally, these restaurants generally catered to those who were alone at the holidays or had very little family. But now, many large families are also choosing to enjoy their holiday meal at a favorite restaurant. There is no cleanup afterwards and no laboring over a hot stove. Gianna Via’s, a Caste Village fixture in the community, is one such place offering their eclectic collection of Italian dishes, along with an extensive assortment of wines leading up to the holidays, although they are closed for Christmas and New Years. Even the most experienced cooks can feel a bit pressured to present a sumptuous meal at the holidays and it usually requires the preparation of entrees that are only
24 724.942.0940 to advertise |
eaten once or twice a year, such as a juicy, golden-brown turkey or a practically perfect pumpkin pie. In addition to the actual preparation and cooking time, the holiday meal requires a massive amount of shopping as well, often making jaunts to several local stores to acquire just the right ingredients. The alternative is that many holiday hosts will simply pick up the turkey and dessert from their favorite local restaurant and whip up a few simple sides to go with the meal. Still others will have the entire affair catered, leaving them with a stressfree holiday and more free time. Everyone’s time is precious in the holiday months with travel, parties to attend and gifts to buy. The convenience of leaving the cooking to the professionals is an appealing option. Another advantage to dining out for the holidays is the ambiance of the experience. Restaurants, such as Gianna Via’s, featured on our cover, are experts in the presentation of a meal, with fine china, crystal stemware and warm candles glowing from silver candelabra. They often have staff that are very creative at dressing a table for a special occasion and are used to planning parties for hundreds.
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Dining out also gives you more leeway when it comes to documenting the occasion. If you have family coming in from out of town, you can spend more time taking photographs that will last a lifetime rather than trying to keep up with conversations while you’re stuck at the oven. And when you’re done with the camera, you can fully participate in the conversations at hand, giving you more quality time with those you hold dear. Relatives who are in from out of town, or those who drive across town to show up for the party, typically have limited time to spare. They may be heading straight to the airport afterwards, or trying to get home before it gets too dark, so a restaurant not only gives you the ability to choose a place that’s convenient to everyone, it allows you to enjoy those long goodbyes without having to worry about clearing plates and getting the dishes started. Making the most of the holiday season means making the most of your time. With a little help from the professional chefs and party planners, your holiday can be both memorable and enjoyable. Call Gianna Via’s today to help plan your holidays at 412.882.6500.
Photos by Virginia Weida
On Saturday, October 20, the Baldwin Highlander Marching Band participated in Tournament of Bands Chapter 8 Championships at Elizabeth Forward High School, performing their 2012 show “All the Lonely People.� The band finished first in their class with a score of 88.55 and also swept all captions within their group, winning High Music, High Visual, High Percussion, High Auxiliary, and High Drum Major in Group 4 Open Class. The Highlander Band also finished with the third highest score overall and the Highlander Silks received the highest Auxiliary score in the entire competition. Congratulations to the Highlander Marching Band on a great performance and a great season!
Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 25
By Matt Fascetti
Many people think of health and wellness as just diet and exercise. While those are two key components, there are many more factors that affect an individual’s overall vitality. Other areas of focus include dental and vision; specialties such as podiatry and audiology; preventative measures such as chiropractic visits and acupuncture/massage. Even feel-good procedures such as hair replacement and cosmetic surgery can boost a person’s demeanor and self-confidence. With all of these areas of wellness to consider, it can be a daunting task to pay for the treatments and procedures that enhance the quality of our lives. So how do we decide what to spend our health-care dollars on? Which procedures are the most effective and beneficial? The following is a review of what to consider when choosing a healthier lifestyle.
• Fitness • Exercise is the one thing most doctors stress when the subject of health and wellness is broached. Certainly there are other factors such as genetics, eating, smoking, drinking and medication that can play a significant role, but exercise is at the core of health and wellness. So what is the best way to stay fit? There is no perfect answer as it is different for each individual’s needs and desires. There are many ways an individual can exercise on their own such as walking, running, biking, hiking, at-home workout DVDs or weight training, just to name a few. Many Americans join gyms to help them stay fit. There are advantages to having a gym membership which include a wide array of equipment, fellow members to help motivate you, professional trainers and a monthly monetary obligation that can help you stay committed to your fitness goals. Unfortunately, gym memberships are not covered by health insurance, so it is up to the individual to not only foot the bill but to select one that best suits our needs. Most gyms have monthly payments, but some also have yearly or bi-yearly options as well. Depending on the facility and the region you live in, the average gym membership can vary from $10 a month to $100 a month. While gyms, fitness programs and personal trainers can be an excellent way to achieve cardiovascular health, just remember they are not the only way. If money is tight there are plenty of free alternatives that may work just as well for you.
• Acupuncture and Massage • If you’ve ever been treated to a massage, you probably don’t need a list of advantages to persuade you to have one on a regular basis. Massage is the manipulating of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue 26 724.942.0940 to advertise |
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using various techniques, to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. Massage involves working and acting on the body with pressure – structured, unstructured, stationary, or moving – tension, motion, or vibration, done manually or with mechanical aids. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, skin, joints or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, and feet. There are over 80 different recognized massage modalities. The most cited reasons for introducing massage as therapy have been client demand and perceived clinical effectiveness. Massage is usually only covered by insurance in very special circumstances, so be prepared to pay out of pocket for these services. According to www.mayoclinic.com, acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. A key component of Traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain. Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force known as qi or chi, (pronounced CHEE), believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance. In contrast, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. This stimulation appears to boost the activity of your body’s natural painkillers and increase blood flow. Reasons for having an acupuncture procedure include chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, fibromyalgia, headaches, labor pain, low back pain, menstrual cramps, migraines, osteoarthritis, dental pain and tennis elbow. As with massage, acupuncture is generally not covered by insurance.
• Chiropractic Care • According to www.chiropractor.com, chiropractic care is a natural method of health care that focuses on correcting the causes of physical problems from subluxations or misalignments of the bones in the body, especially the spine. The field of Chiropractic is considered holistic, improving people’s lives by optimizing the functioning of the nervous system. Every cell in the body is controlled by the nervous
system, including taste, touch, smell, hormones, digestion and cardiovascular. Chiropractic does not just treat symptoms or problems, but allows for a healthy nervous system, so the body functions better. A healthy nervous system has the ability to resist disease and ill health. Chiropractic restores the body’s nervous system, thereby increasing its resistance to illnesses. Chiropractors are able to determine and remove blocks to the nervous system by locating subluxations or misaligned vertebrae and adjusting them. There is one issue that will arise with chiropractic care… visits are sometimes not covered by insurance. Although suggested by many health care practitioners, including primary care physicians, some insurance companies still consider chiropractors luxury visits in some instances. One session with a chiropractor can cost anywhere from $35-$100 depending on the region you live in, with additional fees for more completed procedures. When it comes to chiropractic care, one must decide if the benefits outweigh the cost.
• Dental Work •
Dental care is a vital aspect of health and wellness. Many people incorrectly believe that dental care is important for aesthetic reasons only, but this is far from the case. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, there is a link between poor oral health and conditions such as endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, although researchers are not sure of the role that oral health plays in causing heart problems. Recent studies have also shown that women with periodontal disease are at three to five times greater risk for delivering a preterm infant than those who are periodontally healthy. There may also be a link between oral health and diabetes, Alzheimer’s and certain immune disorders.
Our Health & Wellness
Partners
Pittsburgh Audiology & Hearing Aid Center, Inc. specializes in hearing assessment, hearing rehabilitation and hearing aids. We are an independent private practice working with over 10 hearing aid manufacturers, providing the highest quality of care to our patients. Dr. Laura Di Pasquale-Gregory, Au.D. and Dr. Lori A. Pittsburgh Audiology & Howard, Au.D., are both Board Certified Hearing Aid Center Inc. Doctors of Audiology and offer a complete hearing healthcare plan to each patient. 412.279.2181 www.pghaudiology.com
Whether you have a cracked tooth, a cavity, braces, dental implants or are needing a simple whitening or cleaning, dental care is a priority for most people. Because the costs of dental care keep increasing, some are choosing to cut out dentist visits all together. This is not recommended. However, if carrying dental insurance is not an option, then an individual should still stick to routine check-ups. According to ehow.com, the national average cost for a regular cleaning can range anywhere from $50-130 depending on the region in which you live. Skipping these checkups and cleanings can lead to more serious issues down the road that can cost thousands of dollars. In the meantime, as is the case with most health-related issues, prevention is the key. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss after every meal and you drastically increase your odds of having great oral health.
• Vision Care • Many of us take our vision for granted. But we would certainly be completely lost without it, so it is essential we take good care of our eyes with regular exams and wearing glasses or contacts, if needed.
Sean J. Hayes, D.C. Hayes Chiropractic, P.C. 412.881.7060 www.hayeschiro.net
Dr. Sean J. Hayes, a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1997, has been providing quality care to the Baldwin, Brentwood, and Whitehall communities since 2001. Dr. Hayes has been acknowledged three times as the Best Chiropractor in the South Hills by the readers of the Trib Total Media publications, and reminds everyone that “if you have a spine, you can be a patient of mine!”
According to the Vision Council of America, approximately 75% of adults need some sort of vision correction. Although drugstores sell non-prescription glasses for reading; which means anyone can buy them without seeing their eye doctor for an exam, there is no substitute for a professional vision exam by an eye doctor, with a customized prescription for glasses or corrective lenses. Approximately 30% of the American population is near-sighted and must use glasses for activities such as driving and schoolwork. About 60% of Americans are far-sighted meaning that they have trouble reading or sewing without glasses, but can focus well at a distance. The majority of young people who wear glasses are near-sighted. As people age, they are more likely to need vision correction for far-sightedness. About 25% of people who wear glasses to see distances will end up needing reading glasses or bifocals as they get older. The recommendations for the frequency of vision exams varies somewhat, but generally individuals are advised to have an eye exam, somewhere between one to four years, depending upon their age group.
• continued •
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Health & Wellness • Podiatry • Podiatry is the specialty devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the foot. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, most people log an amazing 75,000 miles on their feet by the time they reach age 50. Regular foot care can ensure that your feet are up to the task. With proper detection and intervention, most foot and ankle problems can be lessened or prevented. Many people are unaware of the many issues that can affect feet. Arthritis, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), peripheral neuropathy, common injuries (sprains, strains and fractures), Haglund’s Deformity (bony enlargement of the back of the heel bone), heel pain and tendinitis can all create mobility problems for individuals. There are various skin disorders including athlete’s foot, corns and calluses, psoriasis, skin cancer of the feet, as well as toe joint and nerve disorders such as bunions, hammer toes and neuromas to consider. Individuals may also suffer from ingrown toenails. Some basic but effective foot care tips include, washing your feet daily, making sure to rinse off all soap and water especially between the toes and trimming nails straight across and not overly short to avoid cutting or digging at corners. Over the counter medications are not recommended for removing corns or calluses. A qualified podiatrist should be consulted for treatment and removal. Wear clean socks or stockings changed daily and make sure that they are not too tight. Always wear properly fitting shoes. If you do suffer a foot ailment, there are various ways to treat them. Prescription, custom orthotics, which are specially-made devices, are designed to support and comfort your feet and may correct the problem. For more severe issues, surgery may be needed in cases when pain or deformity persists.
• Audiology •
According to the American Academy of Family Medicine (AAFP), family practice is health care for the individual and family that integrates the biological, clinical and behavioral sciences. The scope of family medicine encompasses all ages, both sexes and every organ system of the body. Common services provided in family medicine include bone density screenings, EKGs, hospital care, immunizations and flu shots, lab services, minor surgery (warts, lesions, stitches), newborn health, gynecology and obstetrics, school and sports physicals and preventative visits. Family Medicine physicians work closely with patients to prevent disease and offer them a long and healthy life. Healthy lifestyle, exercise and weight control are often points that are stressed to all members of the family. For those with a personal history of chronic disease, specific measures are taken to ensure that they are being monitored and that their disease is being managed effectively. This is usually achieved with regular health maintenance exams and by keeping up with what is going on in their lives. The main focus and advantage of family medicine is the very personal and intimate care that is normally received. The attending physician almost becomes a member of the family. Another particular benefit of family medicine is that it concentrates on education as well. Everyone in the family should understand what good healthy living is and all the ins and outs of how to achieve health goals. This is done with open discussions with your physician.
• Pediatrics • Arguably, pediatric medicine is one of the most important areas of medical practice because it deals with our children. This branch of medicine deals with the care of infants, children and adolescents. The ages treated usually range from birth to 18 years.
Audiology is the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and management of hearing loss and balance disorders in adults and children. It is an important component to health and wellness, yet it tends to be ignored unless there is a noticeable problem. Individuals should get their hearing checked yearly to ensure that everything is as it should be.
According to www.news-medical.net, pediatrics differs from adult medicine in many aspects. The obvious body size differences are paralleled by maturational changes. The smaller body of an infant or neonate is substantially different physiologically from that of an adult. Congenital defects, genetic variance and developmental issues are areas of greater concern for pediatricians.
An audiologist, commonly called an ear doctor, prescribes and fits hearing aids, assists in cochlear implant programs, performs ear or hearing related surgical monitoring, designs hearing conservation programs and provides newborn screening programs to test hearing levels. Audiologists may also provide hearing rehabilitation such as auditory training, speech reading and listening skills improvement. What many people don’t realize is that almost all types of hearing loss are treatable by an audiologist. No one should ever feel there is no hope with hearing loss. Some hearing related problems include occupational; earwax blockage; hearing loss related to aging; acoustic neuroma, a noncancerous tumor on the hearing nerve; Meniere’s disease, a serious tumor on the nerve ending; ringing in the ears; and fluid on the ear. Most hearing-related procedures and tests will be covered by most insurance companies.
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Treating a child is not like treating a miniature adult. A major difference between pediatrics and adult medicine is that children are minors and in most jurisdictions, and cannot make decisions for themselves. The issues of guardianship, privacy, legal responsibility and informed consent must always be considered in every pediatric procedure. In a sense, pediatricians often have to treat the parents and sometimes, the family, rather than just the child. Adolescents are in their own legal class, having rights to their own health care decisions in certain circumstances. Pediatrics is a fairly new practice, only becoming a specialty in the mid-19th century. Today it is one of the biggest medical specialties in the United States, mainly because individuals tend to care more for their children than they do themselves and are therefore more likely to seek regular and consistent medical care for their children.
• Geriatrics • Geriatric medicine is quite unique because it usually deals with health issues related to age such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes and more. Despite these challenges, geriatric wellness is better than it has ever been before. People are living longer and taking better care of themselves. Retirement goals for the senior citizen of today differ widely from the objectives of retirees in years past. Today’s senior has a desire to not only stay healthy and prevent disease, they are passionate about living an active lifestyle. Exercise has been shown to increase longevity and quality of life.
According to livestrong.com, the five categories of fitness include aerobic fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition and flexibility. For the geriatric exercise participant, balance also plays a huge role in the development of their wellness program. For example, working on strength and balance to prevent falls is important, but in reality, a trip, slip or fall will eventually happen. Exercises that build bone density and joint integrity along with flexibility are important to prevent fractures and other injuries. The American College of Sports Medicine exercise guidelines for men and women 65 and older includes cardiovascular exercise at a moderate pace for 30 minutes, five days a week to improve aerobic fitness. It is also recommended that older adults engage in strength training two days per week. The focus should be on large muscle group exercises that mimic activities of daily living, such as standing, reaching overhead and pulling. It is also suggested that flexibility exercises be added at least two days per week. One should also utilize balance exercises to create a well-rounded program that focuses on both performance and prevention. The bottom line is, today’s world offers better opportunities than ever before for seniors to live and be healthy for many years to come.
• continued • Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 29
Health & Wellness • Hair Restoration • It is no secret, we live in a society where looks are important to many people. So naturally, hair replacement has become more and more popular. According to www.plasticsurgery.org, hair loss is primarily caused by a combination of aging, a change in hormones, and a family history of baldness. As a rule, the earlier hair loss begins, the more severe the baldness will become. Hair loss can also be caused by burns or trauma, in which case hair replacement surgery is considered a reconstructive treatment, and may be covered by health insurance. Baldness is often blamed on poor circulation to the scalp, vitamin deficiencies, dandruff, and even excessive hat-wearing. All of these theories have been disproved. It’s also untrue that hair loss can be determined by looking at your maternal grandfather, or that 40-year-old men who haven’t lost their hair will never lose it. Hair replacement surgery can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but the results are not always what you envisioned. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. It’s important to understand that all hair replacement techniques use your existing hair. The goal of surgery is to find the most efficient uses for existing hair. Hair replacement candidates must have healthy hair growth at the back and sides of the head to serve as donor areas. Donor areas are the places on the head from which grafts and flaps are taken. Other factors, such as hair color, texture and waviness or curliness may also affect the result. Transplant techniques, such as punch grafts, mini-grafts, micro-grafts, slit grafts and strip grafts are generally performed on patients who desire a more HOUSEmodest ADS SUMMER_Layout 1 5/14/12 3:29 PM Page 1and scalp-reduction are change in hair fullness. Flaps, tissue-expansion
procedures that are usually more appropriate for patients who desire a more dramatic change. Remember, there are limits to what can be accomplished. An individual with very little hair might not be advised to undergo hair replacement surgery.
• Cosmetic Surgery • Cosmetic surgery is a very popular procedure in the United States these days. In fact, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Americans spent a staggering $10.7 billion on cosmetic surgery in 2010. According to www. cosmeticsurgery. com, the most popular cosmetic procedures include liposuction, breast augmentation, BOTOX®, eyelid surgery, thermage, facelift, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck and buttocks implants. While cosmetic surgery is generally a safe procedure, when it does go bad results can be disastrous. The key is to research your doctor thoroughly, making sure they have extensive experience and many references from satisfied patients. Insurance does not usually cover cosmetic surgery, so it is a rather expensive, completely out of pocket expense. For example, a liposuction can cost around $10,000. The only kind of cosmetic surgery that is generally covered by insurance are those that may interfere with someone’s overall health and wellness. Good health is not just a linear concept of adhering to a rigid routine for everyone. Each individual is different and their personality, lifestyle and priorities must be taken into account.
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The Role of Chiropractic for Pre-Season Snow Skiing and Conditioning C
hiropractic and sports is not a new combination. In fact, chiropractors have been helping athletes maintain their performance levels for some time. The role of chiropractic in sports performance has become increasingly complex as its spectrum of care continues to broaden. Typically, chiropractors are trained to address a wide range of problems, but it has become the trademark of these specialists to not only attend to injuries, but, more importantly, to prevent them. In other words, chiropractors have “raised the bar” by enhancing the standard of athletic performance and advanced the chiropractic profession by improving the quality of care available. Temperatures are dropping, furnaces are being turned on, and Mother Nature is whispering her annual reminder, "Get ready to ski." You'll probably get the skis waxed, right? You may have even checked airfare or hotel rates for your favorite ski destination. OK all that stuff is ready but what about the thing that makes the skis go? No it’s not gravity. It's you and your muscles, joints and psyche. Our bodies are the most important piece of ski equipment we have. Unfortunately we can't go out and buy a new one when it ceases to perform the way we'd like. We have to go bu ild the body we have into the body we want. A study was done a few years ago which reviewed emergency room cases involving skiers. From this research they concluded that skiing on consecutive days and skiing at the end of the day progressively increased the risk of injury. Specifically they said to avoid skiing after 5 p.m. on the 5th day because injury was almost a certainty. They equated the increased inj ury risk with fatigue. Another way of saying that is, the better conditioned you are, the less risk of injury you will have. If you are well prepared, you'll feel it. You'll have more fun and feel great... maybe even have the confidence you need to try a few runs you have avoided in the past. When it comes to pre season conditioning for skiing, it's good to work backwards from when we expect to begin. Give yourself 6-8 weeks to train and prepare for that first day means the
time to start is now. The forces our bodies are subjected to when we ski are so large it's silly not to be physically prepared to handle them. Besides, better preparation means better skiing and more fun. What can you do to better prepare for upcoming ski season? To begin with if you have any lingering back injuries or leg injuries get the m taken care of first by receiving chiropractic adjustments and or Active Release Techniques (ART), a highly successful hands-on treatment method to address problems in the soft tissues of the body, including the muscles, ligaments, fascia and nerves. When performing preseason conditioning, the first assumption is that you are uninjured and capable of doing the exercises without pain or abnormal compensatio n. Below are a few exercises that should help you have a great year. Pick the ones that seem to work best for you. If you want or need additional assistance come see us at Hayes Chiropractic. See you on the slopes! Balance: Even though we stand on both skis, much of the time is spent with our body weight on just one leg. Individual leg balance is the key. Try this series. First, balance standing on one leg. Don't let your legs touch. If you're steady for 30 seconds try again with one eye closed. If you're steady that way for 30 seconds try balancing with both eyes closed until you can routinely be steady for 30 seconds on either leg. Squat around the clock: Now try standing on one leg which will be the center of an imaginary clock face. As you perform a squat on that leg reach forward with the other heel out t owards the "1" then the "2", "3" and so on. The idea is that you are balancing on one leg as you squat with your body weight moving in varying directions. Go as far around the clock as you can and make the clock face as large as you can. As you work around the clock face you'll eventually touch the numbers with your toe instead of your heel. Try it on each leg. Prisoner speed squats: This is a great exercise because it requires you to have control with speed, just like skiing. With this exercise, stand with feet at shoulder width apart or slightly wider. Place your interlocked hands behind your head in the "prisoner" position. While keeping your head up and your body tall you squat down as far as comfort and control allow and come back up. Only you do this as fast as you possibly can.
Dr. Sean Hayes
Dr. Michael Martini
Dr. Matt Houston Don't worry about counting , just do this for time. If done properly it's quite intense so start with just 15 second sets and build up from there. The trick is to squat as fast as possible without taking off into a jump. Prisoner squat jumps: Now we're jumping but remember what goes up must come down and the landing is a key part of this exercise. The starting position is the same as with the prisoner squats only after you squat down , explode up with the best jump you have. Then on the return land "softly" as you transition down to the "bottom" of the squat and jump right back up again. If done properly your muscles absorb the shock of landing not your joints. Lower trunk rotations: One last exercise for the torso to assist you with your turns. Lie on your back with your hips and knees up at 90 degree angles. Your shins should be paral lel to the floor and your legs should be together as one. Slowly lower your legs down to one side towards the floor. You go as far as you can before your opposite shoulder feels like it's trying to lift up. At that point stop, change direction and rotate over to the other side and repeat. Only go so far as your body's range of motion will allow which is when the opposite shoulder starts to lift up. Go back and forth at a deliberate not too fast of pace. You should feel some work in the mid section. This is the same kind of motion your body has to do with every turn. I hope you've enjoyed the exercises. Come and see one of us if you would like further instruction or help cleaning up a nagging injury before you start. Pain free. Your goal, our Mission!
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UPMC TODAY
Health and Wellness News You Can Use | Winter 2012-13
Stay Well This Winter Some people seem to sail through winter without a sniffle or a grumble. These simple steps may help you do the same: Spend some time in the fresh air, de-stress your holiday planning, wash your hands often, get plenty of sleep, and get a flu shot.
What’s Inside 2
What You Can Do to Beat the Flu
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Absent From Pain Butt Out: New Reasons to Quit Smoking Brittle Bones
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Shedding More Than Pounds Growing Up With Heart Disease Don’t Let Winter Slow You Down
© 2012 UPMC
What You Can Do to Beat the Flu Just because you’re healthy now doesn’t mean you won’t get the flu. Take precautions to protect yourself and others.
Each year, millions of Americans get the flu. Some recover easily. Others — especially older people, young children, and those with serious health problems — are more vulnerable. “The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can cause serious complications,” says Mohamed Yassin, MD, chief of infectious diseases at UPMC Mercy. “More importantly, the flu can be deadly.”
Good behavior can help limit its spread. For example, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then trash that tissue. No tissue? Use your inner elbow instead of your hands. A flu virus can live up to several hours on hard surfaces, such as desks, doorknobs, tables, and keyboards. “Good hand hygiene is key to controlling the spread of the flu, so wash your hands often,” says Juliet Ferrelli, infection control coordinator at UPMC Mercy. Using soap and water, rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. And remember to keep your hands away from your face. “People touch their faces more than 3,000 times a day, giving flu germs plenty of chances to get into the body, ” says Ms. Ferrelli.
Mind your manners Being around others when you’re sick with the flu is just bad manners. A recent survey of 1,000 flu sufferers by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases showed that nearly twothirds admitted to going about their daily activities — going to work, taking a business trip, having dinner with family or friends, even visiting an ailing parent or grandparent — while they were sick. Here’s how you can help zap the flu bug this season:
Get a shot, not the flu “Getting a flu shot is an effective, easy, and inexpensive way to protect yourself and others,” says Kathy McElheny, employee health coordinator at UPMC Mercy. “The flu vaccine is safe, and it can’t cause the flu,” adds Dr. Yassin. “In fact, it’s one of the biggest lifesavers in terms of infectious diseases.”
What to do if you get sick If you’re in good health otherwise, get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. If your symptoms are unusually severe or you have trouble breathing, call your doctor immediately.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone over 6 months of age get a flu shot. People at higher risk of complications because of age or poor health, health care workers, and anyone who lives with or cares for older adults or young children should definitely be vaccinated.
If you’re over age 65, have chronic medical conditions, are pregnant, or have a sick child under the age of 2, see your doctor as soon as flu symptoms appear.
Since it can take up to two weeks for the vaccine to be effective, health professionals recommend getting the vaccine now.
It may be difficult to predict exactly when flu season will arrive or how severe it will be, but finding a place to get a flu shot is easy.
Keep your germs to yourself
In addition to your doctor’s office, flu shots are available at the UPMC Mercy South Side Walk-in Primary Care Clinic without an appointment. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 412-488-5705.
“Because the flu is so contagious, it can spread quickly when people are in close quarters — in the classroom, office, gym, an airplane, or the grocery store,” says Ms. McElheny.
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“There’s too much harm that can come from the flu,” says Dr. Yassin. “We all have to be responsible for controlling its spread.” So when you’re sick, just stay at home. Your family, friends, and co-workers will thank you.
UPMC.com/Today
Time to roll up your sleeve
Absent From Pain Most of us think of anesthesiology as the medical specialty that “puts you to sleep,” but it’s really all about pain relief.
internal medicine, pharmacology, and surgery. Many also pursue subspecialty training in such areas as pain medicine, and pediatric, cardiothoracic, or obstetric anesthesia. In today’s complex surgical suites, anesthesiologists lead an entire team of skilled professionals, which can include a certified registered nurse anesthetist, resident physician, student nurse anesthetist, and anesthetist assistant. “It’s a true team effort, with each member playing a distinct role in delivering patient care,” says Dr. Williams. Anesthesia’s role in health care extends far beyond the operating room. Anesthesiologists offer pain management in a variety of settings, enhancing the daily lives of patients with chronic diseases or complex medical conditions.
Getting to know you For minor operations, you’ll typically meet your anesthesiologist at the hospital, shortly before surgery. For major surgeries, you will be asked to participate in a pre-surgery consultation. “With patients who live at a distance, we’re now using telemedicine to conduct pre-op visits,” says Dr. Williams. “It allows us to get to know you, address your questions and concerns, review options, and determine if any additional tests or consultations are needed.”
What to tell your anesthesiologist
Anesthesia makes possible some of modern medicine’s greatest miracles. Can you imagine undergoing surgery without it? The father of Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes is generally credited with bringing the term into popular use in 1846, though references to anesthesia can be traced back to 1741. The term is based on a Greek word meaning “lack of sensation.” “Anesthesiology uses medicine to eliminate your ability to feel pain or other sensations,” explains John Williams, MD, the Peter and Eva Safar Professor and chair of the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Anesthesiology. “Your anesthesiologist partners with your surgeon to manage your vital functions before, during, and after surgery. Everything from breathing, heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, body temperature, blood clotting, and fluid loss is consistently monitored.”
A team of professionals Anesthesiologists are physicians who complete four years of residency after finishing medical school. Their extensive preparation includes training in cardiology, critical care medicine,
Prior to surgery, you’ll be asked to provide information about yourself. “Be candid and comprehensive. What you share will be held in strict confidence,” advises Dr. Williams. Be sure to include the following: • Previous reactions you or other family members have had to anesthesia • Any food, medicine, or latex allergies you have • Prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal medications you take • Your use of alcohol or recreational drugs
Did You Know? There are four basic categories of anesthesia: Local: Numbs a small, specific part of your body Regional: Numbs a larger area of your body, usually below the waist Twilight: Sedates and provides pain relief General: Renders you unconscious
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Health Tips from UPMC Health Plan
Butt Out Despite dire health warnings, one out of five Americans still smokes. If you’re one of them, here are some new reasons to crush that butt. Before you light up your next cigarette, consider this: With every puff, you’re inhaling more than 7,000 chemicals. Hundreds of them are poisonous, and about 70 can cause cancer. And no organ or tissue in the body is immune to this toxic cloud. Most people know that cancer, heart disease, and lung disease are major health threats caused by smoking. But are you aware that smoking increases your risk of getting diabetes by 44 percent? That’s just one of the not-so-obvious reasons to put that butt out. Here are five more. 1. See the difference. If you smoke, your risk of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness, doubles. Smokers also have double the risk of developing cataracts.
Brittle Bones Osteoporosis is quickly becoming a national health care concern.
It’s estimated that 10 million Americans now have osteoporosis and 34 million are at risk. Whether you’re young or old, male or female, chances are good that you — or someone you love — will be affected by the disease. “In osteoporosis, your bones become thin and brittle, putting you at increased risk of a bone fracture,” says Susan Greenspan, MD, UPMC’s director of osteoporosis prevention and treatment. “In advanced stages, simple acts like lifting a baby or sneezing can lead to a fracture.” Here are four facts everyone should know about osteoporosis: 1. Osteoporosis can appear at any age. But after the age of 50, one out of every two women — and one out of every four men — may experience a fracture due to the disease. These breaks occur most often in the hip, wrist, and spine. 2. Osteoporosis is silent. It’s often diagnosed only after a fracture. Menopause, family and medical history, physical build, and your lifestyle and diet can increase your odds of the disease.
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2. Heal better. Smoking weakens the body’s ability to heal from surgery, disease, broken bones, and even minor back strains. 3. Now hear this. Smokers are more likely to develop hearing loss. Exposure to secondhand smoke also puts former smokers and nonsmokers at risk. 4. Stand tall. Smoking weakens bones and raises the risk of osteoporosis and hip fractures in men and women. 5. Keep your head. If your mind is cloudy, smoking may be the culprit. It’s been linked to memory problems and poor reasoning skills in middle-aged smokers.
You’re not just hurting yourself The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that secondhand smoke kills about 50,000 people every year and sickens many more. Children who live with a smoker are especially susceptible to lung and breathing problems, and they run an increased risk of hearing loss as adolescents. If you’re among the eight out of 10 smokers who want to quit, talk to your primary care doctor. To locate a doctor in your area, visit UPMC.com/FindADoctor or call toll-free 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).
Sources: American Academy of Ophthalmology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Journal of the American Medical Association.
3. You can take proactive steps at any age to promote bone health. These include: eating foods rich in calcium, such as milk, cottage cheese, and calcium-enriched juices; exercising (weight-bearing exercise like walking); stopping smoking; and limiting alcohol use. If needed, consider taking a calcium supplement and vitamin D daily. 4. The good news is early detection is easy. If you’re 65 years of age or older, Dr. Greenspan recommends talking to your doctor about your risks. A simple bone mineral density test can assess your bone health. To learn more about osteoporosis, talk to your primary care provider, or visit the National Osteoporosis Foundation’s website at nof.org.
Shedding More Than Pounds Bariatric surgery helps free patients from a range of life-threatening health problems.
It’s well known that bariatric surgery can produce impressive weight loss. But there’s increasing evidence that it offers other health benefits, too. For example, a recent Swedish study showed weight-loss surgery can prevent diabetes among individuals who struggle with obesity. That news came as no surprise to Anita Courcoulas, MD, professor of surgery and chief of the Section of Minimally Invasive Bariatric and General Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “It’s another study demonstrating the lasting impact of bariatric surgery on health improvement,” says Dr. Courcoulas. “The changes are real and durable.”
Is bariatric surgery right for you? Current national guidelines recommend bariatric surgery for patients who are 80 to 100 pounds overweight and with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40, or a BMI of 35 or more for those with one or more significant obesity-related health conditions. Those guidelines may change, though. For example, at UPMC — one of the most highly funded centers of bariatric research in the country — Dr. Courcoulas is heading a study examining the impact of bariatric surgery on diabetic patients with lower BMIs (30–35). She predicts more and more patients will seek out bariatric surgery for health reasons — not just weight reasons. “We’re just beginning to understand its full potential,” she says.
Bariatric Surgery Centers at UPMC Each of UPMC’s four bariatric surgery centers has been named a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Our multidisciplinary approach to weight loss through both surgery and lifestyle changes is available at: UPMC Hamot: Offers gastric bypass surgery, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery, and gastric sleeve. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Amjad Ali, MD, or Rodolfo Arreola, MD, call 814-877-6997. UPMC Horizon: Offers gastric bypass surgery, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery, gastric sleeve, and revisional surgery. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Christopher Myers, MD, call 724-588-6660.
A life-altering surgery According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, an estimated 72 million Americans are considered obese and nearly 200,000 undergo bariatric surgery annually. UPMC is a leader nationally in bariatric surgery and in the number of bariatric procedures performed annually. Dr. Courcoulas says bariatric surgery (including gastric bypass, gastric band, and gastric sleeve) can help reverse a variety of serious obesity-related health conditions, such as: • Diabetes • Heart disease
• High blood pressure • High cholesterol
• Sleep apnea
UPMC St. Margaret: Pittsburgh Bariatrics offers gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery, gastric sleeve, and revisional surgery. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Joseph Colella, MD, or LeeAnn Peluso, MD, call 412-784-5900. Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC: Offers gastric bypass surgery, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery, gastric sleeve, revisional surgery, and clinical trials. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Anita Courcoulas, MD, director, Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery; George Eid, MD; Giselle Hamad, MD; Carol McCloskey, MD; or Ramesh Ramanathan, MD, call 412-641-3632. Each center offers free monthly information sessions. To learn more about bariatric surgery, or to find out if you’re a candidate, visit UPMC.com/bariatricsurgery.
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Growing Up With Heart Disease Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC is responding to the special challenges facing adults born with congenital heart disease.
The ACHD Center — a joint program of Children’s Hospital and UPMC Presbyterian — provides specialized transition support and care for patients with congenital heart disease. “Despite surgery, patients can experience complications as adults, including arrhythmias, stroke, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Our care and follow-up enables these young people — now in their prime — to lead long, productive lives,” Dr. Cook says.
A healthy outlook Before her diagnosis, Alexis thought she was in great shape; she had lost 100 pounds, was running daily, and had completed a two-mile race. But her conditioning actually helped disguise her declining health. After undergoing surgery at Children’s last April to restore blood flow, she now realizes how much better she feels. This summer, she ran the race again.
Alexis Laney was only 14 months old when she underwent open heart surgery in Cleveland to repair a faulty valve. She had annual checkups until age 17, when her pediatric cardiologist referred her to an adult cardiologist. She scheduled sporadic checkups, but stopped going after giving birth to a son in 2005. “I felt fine,” says Alexis. Now 27, the young wife and mother finally gave in to her family’s urging last year and saw a cardiologist near her home in Youngstown, Ohio. Although her EKG and echocardiogram were normal, he urged Alexis to see a specialist at the Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Center at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, saying, “I don’t know what to look for, but they will.” Tests conducted by Stephen Cook, MD, director of the ACHD Center, found scar tissue blocking blood flow to her aorta — a serious condition putting her at risk of sudden death. “I was shocked. I could have collapsed and died,” Alexis says.
Lifelong expert care Alexis is part of a growing population of adults born with heart defects who had lifesaving heart surgery as newborns and children. Thanks to advances in medicine and improved surgical techniques, “the number of adults with congenital heart diseases has outgrown the number of pediatric congenital heart disease patients,” says Dr. Cook.
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“Last year, I was better conditioned, but I couldn’t breathe after the race. This year, I felt fantastic,” Alexis says. “I’m glad I went to Children’s. I’m more confident about exercising now. I know my heart can take it.”
ACHD Center Fast Facts A single childhood surgery is seldom a permanent cure for patients born with a heart defect. The Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center provides lifelong care and follow-up for patients with congenital heart disease who are: • Ages 18 and up with conditions ranging from simple to severe • Women of childbearing age needing pregnancy counseling or contraception • Adolescents (13 to 17) who receive guidance, support, and care during their transition to adulthood For more information, contact the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center at 412-692-5540 or email ACHD@chp.edu.
Don’t Let Winter Slow You Down Staying active during winter can be easier — and more beneficial — than you think.
When the days get shorter and temperatures plunge, many people go into “hibernation mode” — staying inside, curling up in front of the TV, and cutting back on exercise. But packing away those summer sneakers can cause you to pack on the pounds and lose stamina, strength, and flexibility. “No matter what your age, the best thing you can do to maintain your health is to keep moving during those long winter months,” says Mitchell Rothenberg, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at UPMC Mercy. “You’ll feel better and be in better shape for spring and summer sports and outdoor activities.” “Weekend warriors who winter on the couch then head to the golf course, tennis court, or playing field in the spring are at risk of injury, including sprained ankles, shin splints, tennis elbow, and foot pain,” adds Lisa Blackrick, MD, also an orthopaedic surgeon at UPMC Mercy. People who hibernate can quickly lose muscle tone, balance, and strength, which can increase their chance of falling and breaking a bone, she adds.
Shake it Use household tasks such as vacuuming or dusting as opportunities to move vigorously. Put on music and put some muscle into mopping your floors. By picking up the pace and maintaining intensity, you can clean your house and get a workout.
Dress right If you do exercise outdoors, be sure to take steps to keep your workout safe and enjoyable. Dress in layers; keep your head; hands, and feet warm; stay hydrated; wear reflective gear; and be cautious on ice or slippery surfaces.
“You have to use it, or lose it. Staying active throughout winter helps you stay in shape and avoid injury and weight gain,” says Dr. Rothenberg. Drs. Rothenberg and Blackrick agree that fitting in at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days can provide health benefits. If you have trouble finding time in your busy schedule, try breaking your exercise time into three 10-minute segments throughout the day. Here are a few more of their tips for keeping up with winter workouts:
Turn it on Fitness videos and programs on TV and online can help you improve strength and flexibility. Or try doing crunches, arm curls, or leg lifts while watching your favorite show.
Get moving
Play it safe
Although moderate physical activity is safe for most people, talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program.
Walking is the easiest and least expensive way to stay active. If you can’t fit in a brisk walk outdoors or in the mall, try adding these extra steps throughout your day:
Drs. Rothenberg and Blackrick see patients at UPMC West Mifflin, located at 1907 Lebanon Church Road (near Century Square Mall).
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator • Park a healthy walk away from your office building or grocery store • Use part of your lunch hour to walk through your building or up and down the stairs • Get out of your car instead of using the drive-thru at the bank, pharmacy, or coffee shop
Dr. Rothenberg earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland in Baltimore. He completed an internship in general surgery and residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Maryland Hospital and a fellowship in sports medicine at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Blackrick earned her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. She completed her orthopaedic surgery residency at UPMC and a fellowship in traumatology at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Rothenberg or Dr. Blackrick, call 412-687-3900.
1-800-533-UPMC
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UPMC Mercy
1400 Locust St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219
UPMC Today is published quarterly to provide you with health and wellness information and classes and events available at UPMC. This publication is for information purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice or replace a physician’s medical assessment. Always consult first with your physician about anything related to your personal health.
Follow UPMC on Facebook.
take time to take care of you Holidays are for celebrating all of the things that make life special. Don’t let a major illness, injury, or even a sore throat keep you from enjoying them. UPMC Mercy physicians’ offices are open and conveniently located near you. Our physicians are accepting new patients, and in most cases even offer same-day appointments. Just call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762) or visit UPMC.com/Patient Care and we’ll get you an appointment with one of our doctors. It doesn’t matter why you need us; it matters that we’re here if you do.
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
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The South Hills Chorale Concert
Announcements
The South Hills Chorale Concert’s ‘Tis the Season for Singing’, will be performed at Westminster Presbyterian Church on 2040 Washington Road in Upper St. Clair at 7:30 p.m. on December 14th & 15th. The concert features a performance of Rutter’s Gloria with brass and organ accompaniment as well as selected holiday songs. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 412.221.9109 or from any Chorale member.
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Skilled Nursing and Short Term Rehab,“Get the Facts!” What is Skilled Nursing?
A Skilled Nursing Facility is a post acute provider of nursing and rehabilitation services. They provide care through a wide range of healthcare professionals. These professional providers include registered nurses, physical and occupational therapists, speech pathologists and audiologists, along with licensed physicians who supervise each patient’s care. Healthcare professionals are always on the premises and care is available on site, 24 hours a day. The group of experts treats, manages, observes and evaluates your care. Skilled Nursing Facilities are regulated by the Department of Health and must meet strict criteria.
Reasons for needing Skilled Services?
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Intravenous Injection Physical Therapy/ Rehab due to fractures Joint Replacements Wound Care Acute Medical Conditions Interim Medical Care following a hospital stay (reconditioning) Respiratory Care Parkinson’s Disease Terminal Illness Care (in cooperation with hospice) Stroke Recovery General Rehab due to weakness or physical decline Diabetic Rehab Cardiac Rehab
Who pays for Skilled Care?
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Medicare: Medicare will pay some nursing home costs for beneficiaries who require nursing or rehabilitation services. To be covered you must choose a facility that is Medicare certified and have a qualifying hospital stay. • Medicaid: A state program that will pay for most nursing home costs, for individuals with limited income and assets. Medicaid will pay only if the facility is certified by the government to provide services to Medicaid recipients.
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Personal Resources: Residents pay out of their savings and resources. Once their resources are spent many stay long term and eventually become eligible for Medicaid. • Managed Care Plans: These insurance plans will help with costs if the facility has a contract with the plan. These plans have co-payments associated with them and vary in patient pay amounts. • Long Term Care Insurance: These are private policies. The benefits and costs of these plans vary.
How do I make the right choice?
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Educate yourself/ learn all you can about nursing facilities. Referrals/ Family physician or Specialist recommendation. Family and Friend recommendation. Consider your needs; facilities differ in their clinical abilities. Factor the location. Visit the facility. Consider choosing a facility where you have the ability to transition from one level of care to another. (CCRC)
If you or anyone you know is in need of Skilled Care, call us today. Our clinical abilities go far beyond what most other facilities offer. In addition we have a House physician which provides a physician or physician assistant in the nursing center five days a week; this is beneficial to the delivery of exceptional care to the patients. At Southwestern we offer three levels of senior living all at one location. Your independence is our #1 goal. This Industry Insight was written by Southwestern’s Administrator Irene Price, RN, NHA. For more information on the Southwestern Group Continuum of Care and the services provided, or to schedule your personalized tour, call us at 412.469.6955.
Briefly Brentwood Borough News A MESSAGE FROM THE DESK OF MAYOR KEN LOCKHART…
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s I write this winter article the temperature outside is in the 70s this week. It is hard to believe that another year has flown by. The old saying “The older you get the faster the time goes” is not just a saying, it is true. It makes you realize time does pass by so quickly each and every year. On March 24, 2013 my wife and I will celebrate our 40th year of marriage and it just seems like yesterday. No, my wife is not standing over my shoulder while I’m writing this. When you love your time together the time goes so fast. This October has been a busy time throughout the Borough with Congratulations extended to: The Brentwood High School Hall of Fame induction of eight (8) new members for outstanding achievements in their profession. Also, kudos to the following institutions in Brentwood celebrating anniversaries: Brentwood Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 35 years of excellent professional medical services to the Borough and surrounding communities; Brentwood Bank 90 years of service to the Borough; Brentwood VFW Post 1810 celebrating 80 years of dedication to local military and John F. Slater Funeral Home, a family owned and operated business with 75 years of service to Brentwood and area communities. Recently, I was honored to be part of the Brentwood School District “Sportsmanship, Respect and Dignity Day” at the Brentwood and Monessen football game in September. I for one had never doubted our students’ behavior and respect they show representing our great Borough. I am so very proud! Halloween would have come and gone by the time you read this article, I hope everyone had a safe and happy time. My wife and I assisted the GBU employees and volunteers with packing a new record of 1,650 care boxes for our troops overseas on November 3, 2012 at the GBU Building. Last year we helped pack 1,500 care boxes within four hours. The GBU does fundraising and various activities to raise the money to purchase and ship the care boxes. I salute their efforts for this great cause! Plans are already in full swing with our Brentwood Fourth of July Committee and 5 K Race. Anyone that can give us some time to help volunteer for any organization is welcome to join in. Many volunteers are needed to make our July 4th celebration a huge
success. Just give me a call for dates and times of our meetings. Your help is greatly appreciated. Brentwood Borough, one of a few Boroughs, is a great walking community; when you are out for a walk on Brownsville Road or in the Park please say “Hi” to whoever you see, even if you don’t know them, so they feel welcome. A lot of new construction will be happening around the Borough in the next year or so; but, I will leave that for our Borough Council President and Borough Manager to discuss in their articles. So for now, I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.
Mayor Ken Lockhart
DATES TO REMEMBER Below is a calendar of events. Please take note of several changes:
n Borough Offices Closed: Tuesday, December 25th Christmas Day Tuesday, January 1, 2013 New Year Holiday n 2013 Borough Budget: – Available for Review November 30th through December 11, 2012 n Meetings – With the Holiday Season approaching please note the following schedule changes: Agenda and Regular Council Meetings: 7:30 p.m., in Council Chambers Borough Meetings: Tuesday, November 20th Agenda meeting 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 27th Regular meeting 7:30 p.m. Important: The only Borough Council Meeting in December is scheduled on Tuesday, December 11th at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited. Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 43
Briefly Brentwood Borough News BOROUGH MANAGER’S MESSAGE "For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people's love and concern for each other.” – Millard Fuller
“BUY BRENTWOOD!”
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et’s lighten things up a bit. No talk about taxes, financing, or capital projects. We are approaching the Holiday Season and anyone who knows me, knows this is truly the “most wonderful time of the year!” I love everything about Christmas except the commercialization of this holiday. One way to help me cope with this fact is by staying in Brentwood (as much as I can) when I do my holiday shopping. It is a nice feeling to think that as I shop or go out to dinner in Brentwood, I am, in a small way, supporting my community. Not only am I supporting local business, but there are a lot of residual personal benefits as well. I save a ton of time by not having to drive all over the place. I do not have to sit through that holiday traffic (45 minutes to drive from Brentwood to South Hills Village?!). I save a lot by purchasing my items at a local business. Just compare the cost of a Steeler shirt from Dick’s or Macy’s with the same item purchased from Definitely You. Also, with all of the visiting, the shopping, and last minute decorating, who h as time to cook anymore? Stopping off at one of the “Chain Restaurants” is fine if you have 30 minutes to kill just to get seated. After a long day of decorating and trimming the tree, me and the Bird (my wife Michelle) will walk up to Dante’s for some excellent food, a cocktail, and some cool tunes and unwind and enjoy the season. I would hate for either of the two businesses to leave Brentwood, or a ny of the numerous other quaint and valuable businesses we are fortunate to have here in town. As such, I am going to ask everyone to one favor this year. As you are out and about doing your shopping, buying gifts or that roast beast, please consider doing so right here in Brentwood first. You would be surprised to discover that you may be able to complete a majority of your holiday gift shopping withou t leaving town. With the price of gasoline you may even save a few bucks as well as time. The “Buy Brentwood” campaign began last year when the Brentwood Borough Council adopted a resolution asking everyone to consider Brentwood “first” when shopping during the holiday season. The "Buy Brentwood" campaign is dedicated to increasing visibility and prosperity of Brentwood Borough’s locally owned and operated independent businesses through a grassroots campaign of education and publicity. One of Brentwood Borough’s most important, but under-utilized qualities, is its unique array of locally owned and operated, independent businesses. Supporting locally owned and operated, independent businesses is in the best interest of the Brentwood community because those businesses are part of the traditions and heritage of Brentwood Borough and are critical to
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maintaining a socially, environmentally and financially sustainable local economy. These businesses help to sustain a vibrant, compact walkable Borough that is essential to the sustainability of Brentwood by reducing sprawl, automobile use, and air and water pollution. Our business owners and operators are committed to Brentwood Borough, contribute to the l ocal economy, offer quality jobs for our citizens, engage in civic concerns and are essential to our success as a community. Did you know that for every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the local community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures? Spend that online and $0 comes home! This concept goes with Brentwood’s 3/50 project. That is where you pick 3 of your fav orite businesses in the community each month and spend $50 at each. We hope that this Resolution and Initiative will create that awareness that will make you more cognizant of stopping by “Keener Hardware” for that new garden hose or ladder rather than one of the big box stores. Or opting to pick up that box of holiday candy at “Goodeelicious” rather than going to the mall (and subsequently paying more ). The “Buy Brentwood” initiative doesn’t mean swearing off all chains or franchises. I get a “Mac Attack” every so often as well. It promotes “balance” of the money you currently spend each month and to possibly choose a local independent owned business or restaurant first. Just as there are things in a locally owned store that you can’t find in a big box, there are also things in a big box you can’t find in a locally owned store (that special customer service for one thing.) We simply need to think about where our dollars are best invested, consider the greater amount of revenue local businesses return to the community, then purchase accordingly. Otherwise, local economies suffer irreparable harm. So this Holiday Season, let’s start by first giving back to the Community in which we live by support ing those businesses that help make Brentwood such a great place to live. On behalf of my wife Michelle, may you all have a wonderful Christmas and prosperous New Year!!
George Zboyovsky, PE Borough Manager
Briefly Brentwood Borough News
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Briefly Brentwood Borough News From the desk of Police Chief Robert Butelli
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POLICE NEWS
Briefly Brentwood Borough News
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Briefly Brentwood Borough News
Board Vacancy
Did you know that PALS has served the children of Brentwood for over 35 years?
Public Notice Borough of Brentwood Civil Service Commission Board Vacancy
PALS is a playgroup that meets weekly during the school year from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in the Brentwood Civic Center. Children ages 0-5 are invited with their mom, dad, or caregiver for crafts, songs, games, snacks, field trips, and FUN!
Quit standing on the sidelines and get in the game! Brentwood Borough needs your help! The Borough of Brentwood is currently accepting letters of interest and resumes from qualified electors of Brentwood Borough to serve on the esteemed Brentwood Borough Civil Service Commission for a six-year term beginning January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018. The Civil Service Commission consists of three commissioners each appointed by the Borough Council to serve for terms of six (6) years. The Civil Service Commission Board meets on an as needed basis. Eligible candidates shall not currently, or in the future, hold an elective or appointed office under the United States Government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any political subdivision of the Commonwealth. If you think you are ready to serve your community in this capacity, please send a letter of interest and resume to Brentwood Borough Council, C/O George Zboyovsky, PE, Borough Manager, 3624 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15227. There is no compensation for this position. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Public Notice Borough of Brentwood Planning Commission Board Vacancy
Cost per year: $40 for the first child $10 for each additional sibling For more information, please call Kristin at 412.892.9568 OR e-mail: brentwoodpals@gmail.com Brentwood Residents Only! 48
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The Borough of Brentwood is seeking energetic community oriented residents who are proud of their community to serve as a member on the Brentwood Planning Commission. The Planning Commission meets on the third Thursday of the month as needed, which amounts to a couple of times per year. The position would be to fill the unexpired vacant seat on the Planning Commission which begins on January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2016. Any interested Borough resident age 18 and over can submit a letter of interest along with their resume to Brentwood Municipal Building, Attention: George Zboyovsky, 3624 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15227. Applications will be accepted until November 16, 2012 or until the position is filled. The Planning Commission is a 4-year term.
Briefly Brentwood Borough News
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Briefly Brentwood Borough News
FROM THE DESK OF
Robert Mackewich Public Works Supervisor reports:
Do you know? Do you know? Residents often ask questions pertaining to Borough Regulations or Policies. I have found that once residents are aware of procedures they usually come back with the explanation of “Oh, I didn’t know.” So, I would like to take this time to inform our residents on new and past practices.
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The Covered Device Recycling Act (Act 108) prohibits disposing of DESKTOP COMPUTERS, LAPTOP COMPUTERS, COMPUTER MONITORS, COMPUTER PERIPHERALS AND TELEVISIONS INTO OUR LANDFILLS. Allied Waste will not pick these items up starting January 1, 2013. If you buy a new item a lot of stores will pick up the old one, you can drop them off at Goodwill, hold onto them until our spring clean up event, or surf the web to find local recyclers. Residents are not allowed to sweep leaves into the street. Mulch them and spread them around in the gardens; it’s like free fertilizer. Tree branches should be trimmed to a height of seven (7) feet above sidewalks and also cut back away from the roadway to a height of 14 feet. Try and identify the tree; one problem we have are mulberry trees which grow quickly and need to be trimmed a few times a year. You may want to eliminate this type of tree. Our storm inlets are not made for trash or leaves. Our MS4 Permit requires us to eliminate these items from the watersheds. To reduce sanitary overloads and flooding consider installing a Rain Garden. Do some web surfing because there are plenty of sites to help you plan what to plant and easy installation of a Rain Garden. You may have less grass to cut. Do not shovel snow into the street. I am proud of our Public Works crew who is on call 24/7 to remove the snow from the streets. Imagine trying to drive around the streets when cars are parked in the fire lanes or cars are parked within 20 feet of an intersection (State Code: no vehicles may park 20 feet from an intersection or 30 feet from a stop sign). Again, once we plow and salt the streets we take care of the Borough walkways and Borough steps; then we will plow back the streets for future snow. The fewer vehicles on the street the better the results will be. Please use your driveways and garages. If you have a sewer back-up we will check the main to see where the problem may be, call 412.884.1500 ext. 113 during work hours 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or call 911, explain your problem and we will be contacted. Please leave a detailed message with your name, address and phone number when you contact the public works, so we may look into the situation. Recycle. Recycle. It’s the right thing to do and also required for residents and businesses.
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Reminder: Christmas Tree Removal After enjoying the Christmas Holidays and you are ready to dispose of your Christmas tree, please place it out for pickup after 5 p.m., within 5’ of the curb on the day prior to your weekly trash pickup. The Borough Public Works Department employees will NOT remove any Christmas trees. For tree removal contact Allied Waste Services at 1.877.788.9400. Thank you for your cooperation! 50
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Briefly Brentwood Borough News A Message from the Tax Collector: By Fay K. Boland, CPA Brentwood Borough Tax Collector
I have been getting a lot of calls asking what taxes will be next year based on the new assessed valuation. I do not know these answers as the assessed value is just one part of what you pay in real estate taxes. The parts that make up what you pay in real estate taxes are based upon both the assessed valuation and the millage charged by the borough and school district. The assessed value is set by Allegheny County. Everyone has a chance to dispute what the assessed value is; however, this is a time sensitive appeal and you can only do it once a year. This must be done through Allegheny County. Please visit www.alleghenycounty.us for more information on how to appeal your assessed value.
JORDAN TAX SERVICES TO COLLECT BRENTWOOD BOROUGH SEWAGE FEES BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2012
The second part that makes up what you pay is the millage. This is set by the Borough Council and the School Board. The Council sets their millage before December 31st each year, and the school district sets their millage by June 30th each year. Both the borough and the school district must have public meetings on their budgets and the setting of the millage rate. I would encourage everyone to educate themselves on the borough and school district budgets, and attend the meetings that discuss these matters. The only responsibility of the Tax Collector is to bill and collect what has been approved by the County, the borough and school district.
Pennsylvania American Water has decided to no longer collect sewage fees for any communities as part of their monthly water bills. Please note: Beginning in October, Pennsylvania American Water will no longer be including sewage on your water bill. As such, on July 24, 2012 Brentwood Borough Council passed Resolution 2012-36, contracting Jordan Tax Services Inc. to do third party sewage billing. You will receive a separate sewage bill from Jordan Tax Services, Inc. All sewage charges will be billed monthly and are due upon receipt of the invoice. Charges are as follows: ALCOSAN $4.32 per 1,000 Gallons – $3.02 per bill Brentwood $4.71 per 1,000 Gallons – $2.39 per bill Anything over 30 days past due will be considered delinquent, and will continue to be collected by the Borough. If you have questions concerning your sewage bill, please contact Jordan Tax Services Inc, at 412.835.5243 and choose option #4 from the menu before the due date. You may also contact Jordan Tax Services via e-mail at sewage@jordantax.com.
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Briefly Brentwood Borough News October 12, 2012
Pennsylvania’s waste industry advises customers to get ready for new law mandating recycling of ‘e-waste’
Dear Residential Customer:
This year marks the beginning of a new era in the rules that apply to the disposal of electronic devices in Pennsylvania. “We are taking the first steps into a new era of responsibility,” said Tim O’Donnell, president of the Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association (PWIA). Under a new state law that takes effect this year, manufacturers that sell electronics in Pennsylvania must establish e-waste recycling programs at no cost to consumers. In addition, retailers are now required to carry only brands that have registered with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The law—officially called the Covered Device Recycling Act of 2010—applies to desktop and laptop computers, computer monitors, computer peripherals, and television sets. O’Donnell said the law will fully take effect in January 2013 when the disposal of these electronic devices in landfills and incinerators will no longer be allowed. At that point, only DEP-certified recyclers will be allowed to handle the disposal of the electronic devices affected by the law. “That’s when we will see the greatest impact on consumers,” he said. “Municipal waste trucks will no longer be collecting these devices for disposal at landfills, so our customers need to get ready for this change. You won’t be able to put old computers or TV sets or computer peripherals at the curb to be taken to the landfill or the incinerator, nor will they be permitted to be mixed in with regular household recycling.” The reason for the law, according to DEP, is that “electronic equipment contains metals that, if not properly managed or contained, can become hazardous wastes,” such as cadmium, lead, and mercury. Consumers should visit the DEP website at www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/electronicsrecyclingmanagement %20program/20342/electronics%20recycling%20programs/980755 for information on where to find retailer, manufacturer, county, and other e-waste drop-off sites and collection programs. Consumers also should check with the municipality where they live to find out if there is a special collection program for electronics. “We have the rest of this year to get ready, and our member companies want to get the message out to their municipal trash-collection customers so they understand what’s coming and are aware that e-waste soon will be banned from landfills and will have to be recycled through an approved program,” O’Donnell said. O’Donnell promised that Pennsylvania’s waste industry—of which recycling is a large and important segment—is ready to do its part to work with DEP to make sure the transition goes smoothly. PWIA represents private-sector waste haulers, recyclers, and landfill operators and is the Pennsylvania state chapter of the National Solid Wastes Management Association.
Allied Waste Services/Republic Services remains dedicated to preserving the environment while providing the most costeffective programs for solid waste collection and disposal. Very few companies can equal the operational capabilities, financial stability, capital resources, broad experience, and proven skill that Allied Waste Services/Republic brings to the area municipalities and business communities.
For general information about the new law, go to the DEP website at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/electronicsrecycling management program/20342. For more information about PWIA visit the PWIA website at www.pawasteindustries.org. 52
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RE: Electronic Waste Recycling Program
The State of Pennsylvania recently passed new laws and regulations that heighten the State’s and Landfill industry’s enthusiasm to protecting the environment. This new legislation has come about in several phases-in periods over the past two years. In January 2013 the final segment will come into Law – banning Electronic Waste (E-Waste) for being disposed of in municipal landfills. As a result Allied/Republic will no longer be collecting the banned materials from your residents effective January 1, 2013. The state of Pennsylvania has developed many excellent programs throughout the state to gather and process the banned E-Waste. The State has spent a significant amount of time developing the Web-Site and related materials. I would encourage you to review the attached documents and visit the Web-Site available and if necessary contact the PA DEP for additional information if necessary. I am available to answer any questions you may have. Please contact me by e-mail at jmcgoran@republicservices.com or by phone at 724.695.4414. Sincerely, John McGoran – Municipal Marketing Manager
Briefly Brentwood Borough News Please follow the Republic Waste Services Holiday Schedule below: New Year's Day 2013 We are closed Tuesday, January 1, 2013. If your collection is Tuesday or later, residential trash and recycling collection will resume on Wednesday and we will operate on a one day delay for the remainder of the week. Memorial Day 2013 We are closed on Monday, May 27, 2013. All residential trash and recycling collection will resume on Tuesday and we will operate on a one day delay for the remainder of the week. Independence Day 2013 We are closed on Thursday, July 4, 2013. If your collection is Thursday or later, residential trash and recycling collection will resume on Friday and we will operate on a one day delay for the remainder of the week. Labor Day 2013 We are closed on Monday September 2, 2013. All residential trash and recycling collection will resume on Tuesday and we will operate on a one day delay for the remainder of the week. Thanksgiving Day 2013 We will be closed on Thursday, November 28, 2013. If your collection is Thursday, it will be on Friday and if your collection is on Friday, it will be on Saturday. Christmas Day 2013 We are closed on Wednesday, December 25, 2013. If your collection is Wednesday or later, residential trash and recycling collection will resume on Thursday and we will operate on a one day delay for the remainder of the week. SERVICE DELAYS ARE FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEK ONLY. REGULAR SERVlCE STARTS THE FOLLOWING WEEK. Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 53
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Briefly Brentwood Borough News Brentwood Emergency Medical Service
“Serving Brentwood Borough for 35 Years”
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Briefly Brentwood Borough News
From the Desk of John Balkovec, Operations Supervisor The 2013 subscription drive is on for the Brentwood EMS. Your subscription helps us supply the best quality patient care for the residents of Brentwood Borough. Please subscribe today! If you have any questions or did not receive a subscription packet call our office at 412.884.8740. Your Brentwood Emergency Medical Service has been celebrating our 35th year of service to the community of Brentwood. What started with seven volunteer firemen in 1977 is now staffed with 40 active members who are both Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians that are available at a moment’s notice in your time of need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Help us continue to be there for you as we have for the past 35 years. Brentwood EMS also does a monthly fundraiser with strip tickets on the PA Daily Lottery Number; the drawing is on the last day of the month. The cost per ticket is $2 each and the winner receives $200. If interested call our office at 412.884.8740 to purchase your ticket and help support the Brentwood EMS. Brentwood EMS is seeking members interested in participating in our annual “100 Club” fundraiser. The 100 Club runs for sixty weeks and is based on the evening PA Daily Lottery. You can win $50 a week. The cost to a member is $3 a week for a total cost of $180. At the end of the 60 weeks there is a dinner dance for all members and you can invite one guest. Sound like something you might be interested in? If so call our office at 412.884.8740 for more information.
In case of an emergency Dial 911
Economic Development South As we move toward the end of another great year here at EDS, we wanted to take some time to reflect on our accomplishments in 2012. As most of you know, Economic Development South (EDS) is a local non-profit community and economic development corporation focused on the redevelopment of the major commercial corridors in our neighborhoods. Our member communities include the Boroughs of Brentwood, Baldwin, and Whitehall; and the City of Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Carrick and Overbrook. The EDS communities total over 57,000 residents and nearly 550 businesses; this is approximately 5 percent of the total residents and businesses in Allegheny County. Last year our organization spent a lot of time raising regional awareness of our organization, and the issues that our communities face, issues such as: blighted commercial corridors, inaccessible transit options, inconsistent marketing of the many amenities in our region, and a lack of coordination across municipal and city-county lines. EDS is committed to facilitating investment and reinvestment, creating jobs, and enhancing the competitiveness of the area. EDS engages in activities and initiatives that seek to reinforce and revitalize local commercial districts, while encouraging long-term, sustainable, investment in our neighborhoods. This year, the region began to take notice. In 2012, Economic Development South successfully raised nearly $500,000 for projects and initiatives in our communities. We received every grant that we applied for, and have received several award grants in recognition of our approach and our successes oversuch a short period. But, this was only possible because of the incredible cooperation and collaboration of our member communities. Our member neighborhoods have contributed to EDS both financially (through annual contributions to support our operations) and through countless hours of service to our board and committees. We are most pleased to provide a return on that investment. In fact, for every dollar contributed to EDS, we raised almost $10 in grant funds this year. We expect 2013 to be even better. Notable EDS 2012 Activity
• EDS is working with the City of Pittsburgh and the
neighborhoods to develop a concept plan for a multi-modal transit center at the Rt. 51 and Rt. 88 interchange. Initial concept plans include creating infrastructure to access the light rail line and the South busway, as well as park and ride concepts. EDS continues to work with development partners on project related opportunities. • EDS is working with a development team to redevelop the Overbrook Middle School site along Rt. 51. The proposal is for a transit-accessible, senior living campus that includes both new construction housing and an adjacent assisted-living care facility. In total, this project could result in almost $25 million in new investment in the Route 51 Corridor. • EDS is working on developing a comprehensive, multimunicipal implementation plan for the Brownsville Road
corridor. The plan will identify action plans for each of the key commercial nodes, as well as specific streetscape improvements, public safety improvements, and long-term programs and initiatives that will help retain existing businesses and attract new ones to this key commercial corridor in Brentwood and Carrick. ED5 continues to secure additional funding to develop a more focused Main Street plan for the entire corridor. • EDS is working with two private developers along the Brownsville Road corridor to rehab several key gateway anchor buildings in the Sankey Avenue Business District. • EDS is working with all five communities to market the strengths of the neighborhoods collectively as the Corridor Communities. The first phase of the branding campaign will include a comprehensive marketing website aimed to serve as a collection point and marketing tool for the area. Additional branding projects will include wayfinding systems, banners, and gateway projects. • EDS is working with the owners of the Colteryahn Dairy to redevelop the commercial cluster adjacent to their recently renovated factory on Brownsville Road. EDS, in partnership with the Carrick Community Council will continue to leverage interests to redevelop some of the more blighted properties in that cluster. • EDS was instrumental in establishing the first multimunicipal Shade Tree Commission in the state. The Baldwin-Brentwood-Baldwin Shade Tree Commission will work on developing a shade tree inventory and greening and beautification projects. They also will be planting 30 free trees in the Brentwood Park in November. Additional plantings in Whitehall and Baldwin Boroughs will be scheduled in 2013. • EDS is currently working with the Brentwood and Whitehall municipalities on developing a Zoning Overlay District along the Rt. 51 corridor. • EDS is working with the Penn State Center on developing a demonstration bioswale to demonstrate how different vegetation can help mitigate stormwater. Over the past two years, I've worked to build capacity within the organization so that we might grow and further our mission. In May of 2012, Helen Sharrer joined Economic Development South as a part-time Administrative Assistant. Helen assists and supports the Executive Director and the Manager ofProjects & Initiatives including managing day-to-day office activities. Helen and her husband have been residents of Brentwood for over 40 years. Additionally, I secured a significant Heinz Endowments grant to fund a position for a multi-year manager of projects and initiatives position. In August 2012, Stephanie Miller joined Economic Development South as the Manager of Projects & Initiatives. Stephaniewill work with the executive director on projects and initiatives related to the revitalization of the communities. And, finally, we'd like to take an opportunity to thank everyone in our member communities for all of their hard work and support over the last two years. From all of us at EDS, we wish you a happy holiday season. Greg Jones, Executive Director, EDS
Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 59
Briefly Brentwood Borough News !
D A E R E S PLEA
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MAYOR KEN LOCKHART First of all, let me start out by saying I am very proud of the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Company and its men and women who volunteer their time, away from their families, to ensure our families are safe 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I want to assure the Brentwood residents that no matter what you have read in the newspapers in past few weeks or any rumors you may have heard about fire calls in Brentwood, our men and women volunteers would never leave our Borough uncovered from fire protection to our homes and residents. All volunteer fire departments have what is called “Mutual Aid” with their surrounding departments to make sure there is always enough coverage to protect the residents of those communities. The Brentwood Volunteer Fire Company throughout the years has been first responders to fire calls outside our borders. It has always – and always will be – if a surrounding community is in need, Brentwood will be there. That is one thing that has always stuck in my heart about our community and why I chose to live here and volunteer my time to different organizations to help others. This I am telling you with firsthand knowledge; I am a life-time member of the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Company, who has fought many fires in the past… and I’m damn proud of it. I can understand some communities’ concerns with going outside their borders and I don’t condemn them for their reasons. I just wanted to inform Brentwood residents they do not need to fear not having proper coverage in case of a fire; the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Company will respond immediately; if they are attending a fire in another area, the communities that we share with “Mutual Aid” will respond. A LIFE IS PRICELESS! Once again, I am asking those of you who can PLEASE HELP AND VOLUNTEER for any organization you feel may interest you. Volunteers are always welcome!
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A MESSAGE FROM THE BRENTWOOD VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY,
Now that the fall holidays are quickly approaching, please remember to check your smoke detector and carbon monoxide batteries. It is also a good idea to replace each device every five years. Good placement of smoke detectors is to have one on each living space, one near your bedrooms, and one near your kitchen. Carbon monoxide detectors are best placed one in the basement, away from the garage, but in the vicinity of your furnace and hot water tank if gas operated. Another good location is near your kitchen. Practice Home Safety Fire Drill Remember to at least once a year, practice your “home safety fire drill” with you family. Set up your evacuation route from your house, an alternate evacuation route if possible, and also designate a specific location for all family members to meet once you evacuate. To help keep your family safe, remember to change your furnace filter often; do not store items near your furnace or hot water tank. Keep gas cans for lawn mowers, snow blowers or other gaspowered devices in a safe place. It is good to check these storage cans often for signs of wear and tear. Check for cracks and make sure they are capped securely in the event they are knocked over. Now that the winter season is approaching, if you have a fireplace it is also good practice to have it professionally cleaned and checked regularly. 2012 Fund Drive Campaign The Brentwood Volunteer Fire Company was organized in 1915; we are preparing to celebrate our 100th Anniversary. Every year we have a subscription campaign, and recently we completed our 2012 Fund Drive Campaign. Many many thanks to all who donated this year and in the past. If you have not donated yet, donations of any amount are accepted all year. You can mail your donation to Brentwood VFC, 3433 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15227, or Brentwood VFC, P.O. Box 97794, Pittsburgh, PA 15227. Again, thank you for your continued support. Hall Rental We also offer hall rentals for parties of approximately 60 people. Our room is available for retirement parties, birthdays, class reunions, family events, etc. Please call 412.884.1433 and leave a message in the voice mail for information on the hall rental. Please leave a tentative date if interested along with your name and phone number. It may take a day or two to get back to you. Training Brentwood Volunteer Fire Company training continues all year long. We currently will be
working on “inside” training as the weather may not permit outdoor work. We continue to provide our members with updates to hazardous materials, pre-planning of calls to our commercial structures, and continue with the newest updates in vehicle rescue and structural training both through video updates, and actual hands-on site work as weather permits. On Thursday nights the Brentwood VFC trains from 7:30 – 10 p.m. If you are interested in becoming a member, or just want to stop by and see “what’s happening” at your fire company, please drop by. Usually some of us start to gather around 7 p.m. before the regular training session. Vehicle Purchase Recently, the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Company Relief Association purchased a used 1999 Peirce Rescue Pumper from the Midway Fire Company of Colonie New York. We are still working on outfitting this rescue pumper with equipment to help us serve you and your neighbors with the best quality equipment we can provide. Once training of our members is complete
and necessary equipment purchased, we hope to have this truck in service by December of 2012. With the donations we receive from our residents and businesses, the fire company is purchasing equipment to best suit our needs. Why used? The Brentwood VFC looked into purchasing a new rescue pumper. With cost of a new truck running at close to $350,000, our Relief Association and members decided to look into purchasing a used, but in great condition vehicle, which meets our basic specifications. Our Relief Association did just that. We expect to have this truck servicing the needs of the Borough for the next 10+ years. Holiday Safety As we all get ready for the upcoming holidays, please also check your holiday lights for signs of wear and tear in the cords, bulbs, and plugs. If lights show signs of wear and tear, please purchase new lights. Do not overload your outlets with too many extension cords. If you have a live Christmas tree, please remember to check water levels frequently. The members of the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Company wish you a Happy Holiday Season! Paul Bidzilya
Briefly Brentwood Borough News
`Tis the season... It's the most wonderful time of the year. It's also the most dangerous. With the cold weather fast approaching it is extremely important to prepare your home for the winter months. Protecting your family and your home can be as easy as following these simple safety practices brought to you by the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Company. Carbon Monoxide Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, tasteless, toxic gas. It causes about 300 accidental fatalities in homes each year. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning exposure include: headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and confused thinking (victims do not think clearly enough to get assistance). Without treatment, the victim will lose consciousness and possibly their life. The only safe way to know if carbon monoxide is present is to install carbon monoxide detectors (alarms) on every level of your home and in sleeping areas. Test the units regularly. Common carbon monoxide causes include: • Faulty gas or oil furnaces and water heaters. • Using a generator inside or too close to windows. • Cracked chimney flues. • Indoor use of charcoal grills. • Use of a gas oven or range to warm a room. • Running a car in an enclosed area. • Closing the fireplace damper before the fire is completely out. Carbon monoxide accidents are preventable. Actions you should take to protect your family include: • Have a qualified technician inspect your gas furnace and appliances. • Never allow your car to run in an enclosed area, especially if it is attached to your house. • Make sure your fireplace is in good repair and do not close the damper before the fire is out. • Install CO alarms to give your family a warning if CO is building up in your house.
Furnace Check-up A furnace check-up consists of the following steps: • Inspect the thermostat for proper operation. • Inspect filter and change or clean as needed. • Check all electrical components and controls. • Oil motors as needed. • Inspect heat exchanger for possible cracks. A crack in the heat exchanger will introduce carbon monoxide into the living space. • Check air flow. If diminished, it may be necessary to clean the evaporator coil. • Check air fuel mixture, where appropriate. Furnace Maintenance While having your furnace tuned and checked each year before the cold weather is wise practice, there are also a few things you can do to assure that your furnace is operating properly, safely, and to its fullest capacity. • The very first thing to check before turning on your unit is to make sure nothing flammable has been stored next to the furnace over the summer. Many, many people have set their weed-eaters, lawnmowers, and gas cans against their furnace in the garage. This is just asking for a fire or an explosion. • Run your heater for a few minutes before you actually need it. Waiting until the first cold morning to discover it isn't working will land you at the bottom of a waiting list before a heating and air specialist can come to fix it. • Change the filters regularly. Dirty filters restrict air flow, reducing efficiency, and worst case, can cause the heat exchanger to overheat. Disposable fiberglass filters should be replaced. • Electrostatic or electronic filters need to be washed regularly. • Be sure all access panels are secure, with all the screws in place. • Be sure the thermostat is set in the heating mode. Just setting the dial above room temperature will not activate the heat if still set in the air conditioning mode.
Seasonal/Holiday Decorations:
Decorating homes and businesses is a long-standing tradition around the holiday season. Unfortunately, these same decorations may increase your chances of fire. If your household includes a natural tree in its festivities, take to heart the sales person's suggestion — "Keep the tree watered." Christmas trees account for hundreds of fires annually. Typically, shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters or matches start tree fires. Well-watered trees are not a problem. A dry and neglected tree can be. Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long and, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard. Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times. Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Ensure that trees and other holiday decorations do not block an exit way. In the event of a fire, time is of the essence. A blocked entry/exit way puts you and your family at risk. Wishing you a Joyous Holiday Season and a New Year of Happiness. The Brentwood Volunteer Fire is always a call away. You can reach us for all of your non-emergency needs at 412.884.1433. Dial 911 for emergencies.
Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 61
i s l t … n e ” t p o Briefly Brentwood t ur Borougho News d n “A
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#10…IMPROPERLY PARKED TRAILERS
#5…UNTRIMMED WEEDS AND HEDGES
Weeds are an unsightly problem in our Borough; not only do these plants look unattractive, but they can also increase allergy symptoms and emit noxious odors. Residents are responsible to clear all weeds from their yards and are REQUIRED TO REMOVE WEEDS FROM THEIR DRIVEWAYS AND SIDEWALKS. Hedges must also be properly trimmed. Violation letters will be sent to all home and business owners who fail to prevent hedges from encroaching upon sidewalks, enveloping traffic signs, or becoming a sight hazard to motorists and pedestrians.
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Boat trailers, campers, RVs, utility trailers, and similar vehicles may only be parked in a garage or in a driveway that is behind the building setback line. These vehicles may NOT be parked in a front driveway or parking pad. Vehicles over 20 feet in length are not permitted to be parked at a residence AT ANY TIME. Trailers that are parked on the street are subject to ticketing and/or towing by the police.
THE TOP TEN MOST COMMON CODE VIOLATIONS IN BRENTWOOD
#9…DAMAGED ACCESSORY STRUCTURES
Accessory structures, including porches, sheds, detached garages, decks, gazebos, and retaining walls, must be kept in good repair. Even unused outbuildings must receive proper maintenance to prevent them from becoming hazards to neighbors or passersby. Please remember that A BUILDING PERMIT IS REQUIRED for major repairs to accessory structures or for new construction (except for retaining walls that are less than four (4) feet in height).
#8…ANIMALS NUISANCES
Residents are required to maintain control over their animals at all times. Owners must prevent animals from excessively barking/howling, running loose through the neighborhood, and damaging neighboring property. Additionally, animal feces must be PROMPTLY CLEANED to prevent disease and rodent infestations. Citations WILL be issued for failure to remove animal waste. RESIDENTS CAN BE FINED UP TO $1,000.
#7…SIGN ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS
Professional signage increases the aesthetic appeal of the Borough. Except for limited exceptions (such as political signs and “for sale” banners), temporary signs ARE NOT PERMITTED in a residential or commercial district without the acquisition of a permit. Additionally, signage is not permitted to be placed on telephone poles and lampposts. Our code enforcement officer will be removing these banners as they are sighted. Please do not place any materials on these structures without authorization.
#6…SNOW AND ICE ON SIDEWALKS
Although we hope for a warm and pleasant fall, Pittsburgh weather can be unpredictable! If snowy days arrive early, please remember that sidewalks must be shoveled on the day of the cessation of snowfall or within the first four hours of daylight on the following day. Snow and ice ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE DEPOSITED ON THE ROADWAY. 62
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#4…GARBAGE AT THE CURB BEFORE THE DESIGNATED TIME
Trash bags may not be placed at the curb before 5 p.m. on the day preceding collection. All garbage must be properly bagged, and weeds and brush must be securely bundled. In order to prevent foul odors and animal intrusions, garbage that is placed at the roadside excessively early will be subject to removal by public works staff. Residents WILL BE CHARGED for these actions.
#3…ACCUMULATION OF DEBRIS
Debris MAY NOT be stored on any premises. Auto parts, building materials, discarded furniture, household materials, tree/plant debris, and other rubbish must be properly stored or removed from the property. Exterior storage of items (such as a firewood pile) is only permitted if the materials are neatly stacked and sorted.
#2…STORAGE OF INOPERATIVE VEHICLES
Vehicles that do not display valid state stickers, and automobiles that are not in working order, may not be stored on any property, unless they are housed in an enclosed garage. The Borough is actively enforcing this regulation, and A CITATION WILL BE FILED against any resident who refuses to remove an auto after receiving a notice of violation. Junk vehicles that are parked on the street are subject to ticketing and/or towing by the police.
AND THE #1 VIOLATION IS BRENTWOOD IS…UNTRIMMED GRASS
While the days may be growing shorter and colder, the Borough’s number one violation will continue to be a problem until the end of the growing season. Please help us to combat this enduring concern by keeping your grass below eight (8) inches in height at all times. Keep in mind that the public works crew is actively trimming the unkept yards of vacant properties. Landowners WILL BE BILLED FOR THIS ACTION.
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ebster’s Dictionary defines a leader as a person that guides or conducts another individual or group of individuals. They say leaders are born, not made. That may be true to a certain extent, but if the right person experiences the proper education and training they can blossom into a leader. This past summer’s Leadership Training Program sponsored by the Pleasant Hills Rotary Club has done just that for one local student. Linda Capozzoli, Guidance Counselor at Brentwood High School, is also in charge of the schools’ Interact Club. The Interact Club is a wonderful group of student volunteers in grades 9-12 that does work with 100 Acre Manor, the schools’ health career clubs, blood drives, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Adopt a Family through the Hill House and more. One of the sponsors of the Interact Club is the Pleasant Hills Rotary Club. Because the two groups have a very close relationship, the Rotary Club approached Capozzoli and offered to sponsor students who wanted to attend a Leadership Training Program held through the RYLA (Rotary Youth Leader Awards) program of the Rotary Club. Capozzoli then approached Brentwood Senior Taylor Salak about attending the program. “I was interested in the program when she told me about it, “said Salak. “I was able to talk to a few girls that had attended in the past and they loved it, so I decided to go.” The program took place in the last week of June at LA Roche College. It operated similar to a summer camp, with the students staying on campus in a dorm room with an assigned roommate.
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The attendees followed a regimented schedule each day. The morning session involved viewing an inspirational video, as well as a guest speaker. Most of the rest of the time was spent with student interaction leadership building activities. “As excited as I was to participate in the Leadership Training Program, it was even better than I ever expected it to be,” Salak stated. “Not only did I learn so much about leadership, but I learned so much about myself. I also made great friends, friends that will be friends for life.” The program is focused on volunteering and advocates that individuals make a sincere effort to make a change in the world, or even one individual’s life. No good deed is too small. They refer to this as “making a dent in the universe.” Salak says her life will never be the same for having attended the program. “This was a totally life-changing experience for me,” she said. “Definitely the most powerful experience of my life so far. It really makes you look at the person that you are and the person you want to be. One of the things they asked us to do was to write a mission statement for our life. We all did this and turned it in at the end of the week and they were all displayed on a wall together. It was very eyeopening.” After graduating from high school in June of next year, Salak plans to attend college. She will take the Leadership Training program with her to college and beyond. “It changes the way you think. The program changes you mentally from being a follower to being a leader,” she added. “I am interested in helping organizations that are involved with teenagers. I would like to work with teenagers with disabilities as well as teenagers who have suffered various forms of abuse.” Dr. Eugene Habecker, renowned author and current president of Taylor University once said, “The true leader serves. Serves people. Serves their best interests, and in doing so will not always be popular, may not always impress. But because true leaders are motivated by loving concern rather than a desire for personal glory, they are willing to pay the price.” This quote is a great example of what leadership can and should be about. The students that have attended the RYLA Leadership Training Program are on their way to becoming these types of leaders. Hopefully many students across the country will begin attending similar programs as well. If so, the world will be a better place.
Brentwood Senior Learns Life Lessons at Leadership Training Program By Matthew J. Fascetti
Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 63
Jai me and Matt Horvat My husband, Matt, and I met at our church’s young adult group. I was the extroverted greeter and he was around the corner in a cage running media/sound for the weekly event. We called those guys “Cage Boys,” because they were pretty introverted, but cool, and always working on something computer-oriented in that cage! We also were both high school youth leaders together. I had a group of girls on Sunday mornings and he was on the other side of the room teaching a group of guys. Nobody ever would have pictured the loud hairstylist and the shy computer guy growing a friendship over three years and falling in love as best friends! We shared the same core values though, and a heart for struggling teenagers. Our differences are what made us intriguing to one another. We still learn new things every day. We got engaged in the same place we met and wed five months later. On our one year anniversary we went to St. Thomas, and by our two year anniversary we were at the hospital! We had two babies two days after our two year anniversary! Twin girls, Faith and Phoebe, rocked our world! Our three year anniversary rolls around and we get pregnant with number three shortly after. Stella Joy was born July 23, 2012. Next month we will be celebrating our four year anniversary on October 25th, with our three girls under two by our side! So much has happened in our short four years of marriage and our friendship keeps growing deeper with each new challenge!
How We Met... 64 724.942.0940 to advertise |
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Brenda and Don Gri mm I met my spouse in 1978 in U.S. History class in 11th grade. I sat in the front row of the class and he was in the back. He was the cutest kid and was always so funny. We went to Driver’s Ed class that summer and became kind of close. I wasn’t sure if we were dating or just friends. Don never asked me out, but we had dates. I was operated on and he didn’t have a car so I was extremely upset he didn’t visit me in the hospital. I yelled at him and we kind of just said hi to each other in the halls our senior year. I wanted to ask him out at a school dance and it took my girlfriend over an hour to give me the courage to go in the gym and talk to him. When I was about to open the door, two girls stepped out and the one said she had just kissed Don Grimm. I was stunned. I was just going to talk to him. Why did I take so long to go in? Do I go talk to him now? I walked in the gym and walked back out the other side devastated. He ended up marrying her. I still really liked him but started dating someone else. For some unknown reason on my 18th birthday there was a school dance and my boyfriend wasn’t there yet and Don’s girlfriend wasn’t there yet. My favorite song “Babe” came on and my girlfriend asked him to dance with me. We danced and right when it was over my boyfriend came in and Don walked away from me. We graduated in 1980 and both got married to other people when we were 21. I saw him a few times through the years at a mall or restaurant. We actually lived six blocks away from each other when we got married and didn’t know it. He grew up on a main street and I passed his parents’ house weekly and always wondered where he was and what he was doing. I decided to get a 29th reunion together and I called and left a message on his phone. It was one that was a generic recording so I didn’t know if it was him or someone else because i found it in the phone book. I got a call back four days later saying it was him and he was returning my call. I didn’t recognize his voice and thought it was someone playing tricks on me and I left it on another guy’s answering machine. We talked about where and when the reunion was and when he said, “Do you remember drivers ed?” I couldn’t help, but to blurt out, “I had the biggest crush on you in high school.” We were both at work when he called and we talked for over an hour. I fell in love with him the minute I knew it was him and he said he felt the same way. I was on cloud nine. The only problem was he was divorced for 17 years and I was in an unhappy marriage. Big problem! I ended up getting divorced and 34 years later, the year we both turn 50 we ran away to Vegas on April 6, 2012 and got married. We had a wedding planned for Aug. 11, 2012, and kept the reception then. I knew from when I first met him in 11th grade that I was in love. They say if it’s meant to be it will happen. I never believed all those elderly people who always say that, but I found my true love and I’m extremely happy. We have danced to “Babe” so many times now and of course we danced to it on our wedding day! I will tell you my heart has been on hold since that day in the gym when that girl said she kissed him and I always wondered what it would have been like if I just gotten to him a little sooner. I no longer have to wonder; it’s the most amazing feeling to love the man you know your heart has always yearned for.
Thanks for letting me tell my story, Mrs. Brenda Grimm
Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 65
51 Corridors Golf Outing 2012 The 10th annual 51 Corridor Communities was held on September 17, 2012 at South Hills Country Club. This year’s event was the most successful to date due to the many volunteers from Economic Development South, The Brentwood Baldwin Whitehall Chamber of Commerce and The Brentwood Business Owners Association that help coordinate the outing. The success is also attributed to all the businesses and individuals that participated. A BIG THANK YOU to all those involved. This event is the major fund raiser for these organizations who utilize the funds to help promote the business community and the areas redevelopment efforts. We had 80 golfers and 112 for dinner and our program, which For more pictures from generated $37,095.00 gross proceeds and netted this event, $22,197.63 after expenses. As a result, each organization go to our Facebook page: received $7,399.21 to utilize towards their respective www.facebook.com/ICMags missions. Historically, over the past ten years this event has generated $298,283.00 in gross proceeds and $137,778.00 in net proceeds that has been given to the groups for their business and redevelopment efforts. Please consider participating next year in some fashion. All had a great time and it’s a great feeling knowing the monies raised stay here locally to help our communities where we live, work and play. Thanks again, Bob McKown, Co-Chair
GENERAL MEETING LUNCHEONS The Brentwood Baldwin Whitehall Chamber of Commerce meets the first Thursday of each month, noon at various area locations. Lunch for Chamber members with a reservation is $15, non-members and members without a reservation will be charged $18. Please make reservations with Mary Dilla, Chamber secretary, at secretary.bbwchamber.com.
THE WOMEN’S NETWORKING GROUP
WOMEN’S NETWORKING MEETING DATES
The Women’s Networking Group of the South Hills Country Club Brentwood Baldwin Whitehall Chamber All luncheons begin at noon of Commerce meets the second Friday of each month at 12 noon for lunch at December 14, 2012 South Hills Country Club. We welcome January 11, 2013 members and non-members. Tables are available for ladies who would like to February 8, 2013 display products or merchandise. Lunch March 8, 2013 for Chamber members is $15, nonmembers, $18 and a display table is $10. April 12, 2013
GENERAL MEETING DATES Please make reservations with
May 10, 2013 All luncheons begin at noon Mary Dilla, Chamber secretary, June 14, 2013 December 6, 2012 ~ The Georgetown at secretary.bbwchamber.com. July 12, 2013 Centre ~ Speaker: Steve Blass, formerly of the Pgh Pirates – Dottie Coll, Chairman August 9, 2013 January 3, 2013 ~ Thee Olde Place Inn February 7, 2013 ~ Calabria’s All locations are subject to change; please check the web site. March 7, 2013 ~ Salvatores RSVPs should go to Secretary@bbwchamber.com. April 4, 2013 ~ Blvd. Café location TBA All luncheons open to members and non-members. May 2, 2013 ~ Legacy Lanes June 6, 2013 ~ South Hills Country Club Web site is www.bbwchamber.com for more information and updates. 66 724.942.0940 to advertise |
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Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 67
Whitehall Green Thumbers
A Garden of Love and Friendship By W. B. Fresa
Famed author Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “One of the most attractive things about the flowers is their beautiful reserve.” Whitehall’s women’s garden club could not agree more. For more than 35 years, the Whitehall Green Thumbers have been digging, planting, educating and supporting their community, and the communities around them, out of respect and love for gardening and flowers. Dorothy Lions, a local librarian, organized the Whitehall Green Thumbers in 1975 with some friends who also had a fondness for gardening and gardening practices. With each passing year, the organization grew and at times reached more than 100 members. Today, they rank as the largest ladies garden
club in the township whose membership ranges from 35 to 80 years of age. “Garden clubs are going by the way side,” said Jeanne Stefanac, a member since 1982. “For us to still have so much involvement is wonderful.” With that level of participation, the Whitehall Green Thumbers make it their goal to be involved in the community and the towns around them. They have worked in conjunction with the Whitehall Borough to improve several local landscapes, including the intersection of Caste and Baptist Roads. “We worked with a landscape designer and the borough to improve upon the highly-travelled crossroads and it turned out great,” said Sandy Fleming, a charter member of the Green Thumbers. “We also donate and plant flowers around the Whitehall Borough building. It makes a nicer environment for everyone.” But the garden club’s reach goes beyond their local neighborhoods and they hold several fundraisers each year to ensure they can provide support where it’s needed. To do so, the Green Thumbers have a spring fashion show at the South Hills Country Club and a fall fashion show at the Whitehall Borough Building. They include a 50/50 raffle, a money tree, and tables with donated items from local businesses valued up to $500. As well, each committee member gives $1 toward the proceeds from these events, which are then donated to various organizations and educational programs, like Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Bidwell’s Horticulture Technology Program. 68 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall
The Green Thumbers also participate in Phipps May Market, where they display and sell plants and flowers to the community at large. Proceeds from those sales, and the fall fashion show and luncheon, go to the development of the Pittsburgh Botanical Garden at Settler’s Ridge in Robinson Township. The garden club also donates money, flowers and gardening accessories to local Boy and Girl Scouts troops, Whitehall Elementary School and St. Gabriel’s Parish. “We all enjoy gardening so much and are encouraged when children want to get involved. We hope to pass our love of it on to them if we can,” said Jeanne Stefanac. The Whitehall Green Thumbers meet on a monthly basis from September through June – taking off the month of February due to the usual inclement weather that hits the Pittsburgh region and makes travel difficult. It’s the only break in their schedule when they are not meeting about gardening or planning something for the month and year ahead. But as is usual with organizations like these – the ones that span decades – the hobby brings everyone together, but the friendships keep it going.
Sherry Evans, a member for 15 years, is a second generation Whitehall Green Thumber. “My mother was a member and one-time president of the club,” said Sherry, at the June meeting at the Whitehall Borough Building. “It’s nice to carry on a legacy, foster my friendships and learn about gardening at the same time.” Sandy Fleming seconded that notion. “We talk all the time. We know about each other’s families, send cards to each other we’re friends.” Seems Mr. Thoreau had it right... a beautiful reserve, indeed. For more information about the Whitehall Green Thumbers, or to learn how to become a member, contact Sherry Evans at 412.736.8764 or Jeanne Stefanac 412.884.5607.
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Baldwin Library News INTERGENERATIONAL BOOK DISCUSSION & LUNCHEON Wednesday November 28 from 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Join Baldwin High School students for lunch and a discussion of the book The Life of Pi by Yan Martel, here in the Baldwin Borough Public Library’s Program Room. Anyone who has read this book is invited. Register by November 26. Call 412.885.2255 or email us at baldwin@einetwork.net. BUILD A GINGERBREAD HOUSE Saturday, December 1 at 11 a.m. Join us for a Baldwin Library tradition. Children, of all ages, and their families are invited to build a gingerbread house with all the trimmings! FREE – Register by Monday 11/26/12 as space will be limited. THE WINNER’S WORKSHOP/ Peak Performance Strategies for Athletes Tuesday, December 4 from 7 - 9 p.m. Cost: $20 Why do some people continuously succeed and others don’t? What do Olympic athletes, astronauts and CEOs have in common? The answer is simple; they’ve all achieved “The Zone.” Dave Loshelder will explain the tools and strategies needed to overcome barriers that have been stopping you from reaching your goals. You will learn a simple seven-step goal setting process that will clearly define the road map to your success. Register by November 30. Call 412.885.2255 or email us at baldwin@einetwork.net.
TEEN NIGHT AT YOUR LIBRARY Wednesday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m. Join us for an evening of good company, games, prizes, and snacks. Bring a friend! Register by November 28; call 412.885.2255. HOLIDAY PARTY Wednesday, December 19 at 6:30 p.m. We will share stories and songs as we await a visit from Santa Claus. Don’t forget to bring a camera! FREE - Register by Wednesday 12/12/12; call 412.885.2255. NEW BOARD MEMBER SOUGHT – Applications are now being taken to fill a recently vacated Board Position. The Board provides library policies and raises funds for the library. If helping to make your community a better place appeals to you, consider joining the Board. For more information, call 412.885.2255, email us at baldwin@einetwork. net or download an application at www. baldwinborolibrary.org. TRAVEL IN 2013 – Book early and save! DISCOVER PANAMA: The Land Between the Seas / April 10 - 18, 2013 or CALIFORNIA NEW YEAR’S GETAWAY featuring the Tournament of Roses Parade / December 29, 2013 - January 2, 2014
For complete details on these trips, visit our website at www. baldwinborolibrary.org. REMEMBERING WORLD WAR II Saturday, November 17 from 1 - 3:30 p.m. Location: Baldwin Municipal Building, 3344 Churchview Avenue, 15227 The Baldwin Borough Public Library Presents: Remembering World War II • Speak to Veterans • Watch a Testament to Freedom • Examine Memorabilia Join us for the afternoon. FREE – For additional information, call 412.885.2255. TEEN HOLIDAY PREPARATION PARTY Tuesday, November 20 at 6:30 p.m. Spread your holiday cheer by coming out for music, snacks and decorating fun. Register by Wednesday 11/13/12 -- call 412.885.2255 or email us at baldwin@einetwork.net. NATIVE AMERICAN TALKING CIRCLE Monday, November 26 at 6:30 p.m. Families can share in an evening of Native American artifacts, stories, and songs. FREE – Register by Monday 11/19/12.
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