IN Fox Chapel Area by IN Community Magazines

Summer 2010

ox Chapel Area COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

FCASD Gala INSIDE

Information on the Fox Chapel Area School District 2010-2011 Proposed Final Budget New! Real Estate in Fox Chapel Area

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UPMC.com

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Features

2 5 4 UPMC COVER PAGE GOES HERE

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Interest

Fox Chapel Area School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Municipalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Places of Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

COMMITTED TO ENHANCING THE ENVIRONMENT Fox Chapel District Association

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REAL ESTATE IN FOX CHAPEL AREA

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UPMC TODAY

Industry

Insights

The Buzz on Mommy Makeovers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 by Anna Wooten, MD

Health and Wellness News You Can Use

Hail to the Artisans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

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SUMMERTIME STRATEGY FOR KIDS

Take the Stress Out of Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

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ASPINWALL NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH Investing with Emotion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

by Jane Moffet

by Gary L. Arndt

by David Jeter CFP®

on the cov er

Embrace Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Fox Chapel Area Gala featuring Jon Burnett as the celebrity emcee along with “Diana Ross.” Small photos, left to right: Joanne & Thomas Germanos, Jennifer Marotte; Nancy Polinsky Johnson, Mel Cohen, David Johnson & Nan Cohen; Fox Chapel Area School Board President Chip Burke and Carole King.

by Cathy Davin

Cover photos courtesy Town and Country Studio

Probate and Negotiations – What you should know . . . . . .62 by Gusty A.E. Sunseri

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it. Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area |

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 F O X C H A P E L D I S T R I C T A S S O C I AT I O N

he Fox Chapel District Association (FCDA) is a community-based organization that proudly supports the Boroughs of Aspinwall, Blawnox, Fox Chapel and Sharpsburg and the Townships of Harmar, Indiana, and O’Hara. The FCDA’s mission is to plan and implement projects that enhance the quality of life in our member communities. When it was originally founded in 1929, the member communities were only those that were contiguous to Fox Chapel Borough. In recent years, however, the riverfront communities of Sharpsburg and Blawnox were brought into the Association so that it now encompasses all of the communities that comprise the Fox Chapel Area School District, as well as Harmar Township - which has been part of the District Association since its earliest days. The FCDA is a non-profit organization whose primary objective is to support projects in our member communities that are not fullyfunded by local tax dollars. It is a dues-driven organization, much like public television, in which monies used for projects are raised primarily through the annual dues of member families. The $35 per year that member families contribute helps to add to the quality of life so that we all enjoy living in this area.

The list of projects that the FCDA has been instrumental in either the funding for or the actual building of can be found at our web site (www.foxchapeldistrictassociation.org). We take pride in adding to the quality of life in each of our member communities by the district-wide planting of native trees and the landscaping surrounding local government buildings. We’ve enhanced the Blawnox and Aspinwall ball fields/community parks as well as created the Eps Whorley Pavilion and Betsy Byerly Garden at Beechwood Farms. Families throughout the area have life a little easier at various sporting complexes due to the FCDA’s contributions to the snack bars at the Middle Road Soccer Complex and at the high school baseball field. We’ve been a continual supporter of the Boyd Community Center and have recently added to the Sharpsburg Branch of the Laurie Ann West Library by providing a book drop for patrons’ ease in returning books. As the summer season descends upon us, notice the amount of walkers using the Squaw Valley walking trail. The FCDA is a major partner in the community trails initiative that led to the creation of this trail system. What is exciting for our membership is that this is only Phase 1 of the trail system that will eventually connect all of the riverfront communities to

the larger Allegheny County trails system. The FCDA is a leader in securing the funds necessary to obtain the proper grants and rights of ways that will enable this trail to become a reality in the not too distant future. The FCDA is also a leading proponent of the rain garden concept that is taking hold throughout the country. Check our website for specifics on how you can create your own eco-friendly rain garden. The Fox Chapel District Association is only able to provide for projects such as these through our dues-paying members. If you haven’t already joined, please consider doing so as your contribution stays in the local area to enhance our quality of life. Every three years the FCDA hosts the ever-popular Fox Chapel Follies; the Follies serve as our major fund-raiser, so join the FCDA now so that you can be sure to be alerted to the upcoming ticket sales. Become a member of the Fox Chapel District Association and join us as we all work together to keep our area a place that we are all proud to call home!

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FROM THE PuBLISHER

ox Chapel Area Summer 2010 IN Fox Chapel Area is a non-partisan community magazine dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the Fox Chapel School District 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. P U B L I SH E R Wayne Dollard A SSI ST A N T T O T H E P U B L I SH E R Mark Berton mark@incommunitymagazines.com MA N A G I N G E D I T O R Marybeth Jeffries marybeth@incommunitymagazines.com O F F I CE MA N A G E R Leo Vighetti leo@incommunitymagazines.com

G R A P H I C D E SI G N Cassie Brkich Susie Doak Joe Milne Tamara Tylenda P H O T O G R A P H E R S Rebecca Bailey Garyyonphotography.com One Way Street Productions Some Fox Chapel Area School District photos are courtesy of Town and Country Studio A D V E R T I SI N G SA L E S Renee Bennett Nicholas Buzzell Tina Dollard Rose Estes Linda Hall Jason Huffman Krista McKinnon-Mahoney Brian McKee David Mitchell Linda Mitchell Tamara Myers Gabriel Negri Tara Reis Vincent Sabatini Michael Silvert RJ Vighetti

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ummer! I didn’t think it would ever get here. Now that I am able to get out my gardening tools and get busy “out there” it seems to me that many of you are doing the same thing. Getting out there I mean. In this edition of In Fox Chapel Area Magazine, You’ll get to read about the Aspinwall Neighbor Watch community group on page 56. This volunteer group is dedicated to keeping Aspinwall a safe and beautiful place to live! I also want to call your attention to our new real estate section. We have been working hard to get you the most up to date information on the market today and things you can do to update your home. With the nice weather upon us, hopefully you can get outside and take advantage of the wonderful surroundings! We are very blessed at In Fox Chapel Area Magazine to be able to have the opportunity to share such wonderful stories about the community with you, our readers. I hope you will keep us in mind when you run in to someone who is worthy of recognition. You can write to me at the magazine, marybeth@incommunitymagazines.com. Enjoy!

FROM THE EDITOR

W R IT E R S Jonathan Barnes Karen Ferrieri Kelli McElhinny Pamela Palongue Sandy Trozzo Chris Weber

elcome to the summer issue of IN Fox Chapel Area. I hope this magazine reaches your mailbox on a clear, warm day. Why? Because the stories we feature here highlight people doing things in your community. They didn’t need good weather to get out and do something that makes a difference. But if you’re like me, having a clear sky is a definite motivator. Being outside, hearing birds chirping, smelling that freshly cut grass and having a nice glass of lemonade gives me the fortification to go above and beyond. We should all aim to do one thing this summer – even if it’s on a rainy day – to benefit those around us or our community as a whole. Not only will you get a great sense of satisfaction for yourself, you will make a difference in someone’s life. I’d like to hear about what you did to make a difference this summer – E-mail our managing editor, Marybeth Jeffries at Marybeth@incommunitymagazines.com with the information of what you did to make a difference. Who knows? You may just end up in the pages of the next IN Fox Chapel Area magazine, and read about yourself over a nice glass of lemonade. Have a great summer IN Fox Chapel Area.

Calling all IN Fox Chapel Area Readers!

724.942.0940 sales@incommunitymagazines.com

Do you know someone in your school or neighborhood who is doing something positive to benefit our community? We’d like to know about it! Contact Marybeth Jeffries – North Editor at marybeth@incommunitymagazines.com with your suggestions!

Fall Issue Deadline: October 1, 2010 IN Fox Chapel Area, published four times a year, is carrier route mailed to all Fox Chapel households and businesses. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Copyright 2010.

www.incommunitymagazines.com Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area |

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High-End Outdoor Living Spaces Gain Popularity By Kelli McElhinny

Photographs were taken from projects designed and installed by Pittsburgh Stone and Waterscapes www.pghsw.com

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PatioSset-upsShaveSevolvedSfromSbasicSconcrete slabsSwithSuncomfortableSchairsStoSfull-scale livingSspacesSthatSfeatureSareasSforSdining, entertainingSandScooking.SWell-eq uipped outdoorSkitchens,SinSparticular,ShaveSemergedS asSaStrend. “ ISthinkStheSreasonSthey’ reSbecomingSmore popularSisSbecauseSmoreSpeopleSareSentertaining atShome,” SsaidSLauraSRigginSofSPremierSHome DesignSinSBridgeville.S ManySownersSareSalsoSchoosingStoSspruceSup theirSoutdoorSspaceSinSorderStoSincreaseSthe valueSofStheirShomes. “ ItSreallySisSanSinvestmentSinStheShome,” Ssaid KathySCvetkovichSofSPetersSTownship-based WillowbrookSDesign.S“ You’ veSjustSexpanded theShome.” InSplanningStheSinstallationSofSanSoutdoor kitchen,ShomeownersSshouldSfirstSfocusSonSits centerpieceS– StheSgrill.S“ TheSwholeSthingSstarts withSaSgrill,” SCvetkovichSsaid.S KeithSTobin,SofSDon’ sSAppliances,SwhichShas locationsSinSShadyside,SUpperSSt.SClairSand Canonsburg,SnotedSthatStheSgrillsStypically foundSinS“ bigSbox” SstoresSrarelySmatchSupStoSthe standardsSofSanSoutdoorSkitchen. “ TheSgrillsSareSmuchShigherSendSfor outdoorSkitchens,” SheSsaid.SHeSaddedSthat notSonlySisStheSsteelSsturdier,SbutSsuch

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grillsSoftenShaveSadditionalSfeatures,Sincluding searSareasSandSrotisseries.SBuilt-inSgrillsSalsoScan linkSintoStheShome’ sSnaturalSgasSline,SavertingSthe potentialScatastropheSofSrunningSoutSofSfuel midwaySthroughStheSparty.SAnyoneSinstallingSan outdoorSkitchenSshouldSplanSonSspendingSat leastSX2,500SonStheSgrill,SaccordingStoSTobin, whoSalsoSemphasiz edSthatStheSeq uipmentSwill lastSforSdecades.SOtherSfeaturesSofSoutdoor kitchensSmaySincludeSprepSsinks,SwetSbars, storageScabinetsSandSampleScounterSspace. TheseSelementsScutSdownSonStheSbackand-forthSbetweenStheShouse’ s kitchenSandSalsoSallow peopleStoSspendSmore timeSwithStheir guests.S

“ IfSyouShaveSaScountertopSnextStoSyourSgrill,Sit’ sSmuchSmoreSconvenient toScooking,” SRigginSsaid.S TheSitemsSlistedSaboveSareSmerelyStheSbasics,Sthough.SOutdoor kitchensScanSbeSasSextensiveSasStheSbudgetSallows.SCvetkovichSsaidSthatSshe hasSevenSseenSpiz z aSovensSinstalledSinSsuchSspaces.SRegardlessSofSwhat otherSitemsSareSincluded,StheySallSshouldSbeSableStoSwithstandSextremeSheat andScold.S“ TheSmainSideaSisStoSmakeSsureSthatStheSkitchenSusesSmaterials thatScanStolerateStheSweather,” SRigginSsaid. BeyondStheSkitchenSitself,ShomeownersSshouldSalsoSgiveSConsideration toShowStheySmightSbestSutiliz eStheSrestSofStheirSpatioSspace.SForSexample, canStheSareaSaccommodateSseparateSdiningSandSentertainingSsections,Sor shouldStheySbeScombinedSintoSoneffSSFurnitureSisSanotherSimportantSaspect ofStheSspace.SCathySDavinSofSDavinSInteriorsSinSUpperSSt.SClairSsaid thatSoutdoorSfurnishingsShaveSimprovedSdramaticallySinSrecent years,SparticularlySwithStheSavailabilitySofShigh-end,SfaderesistantSfabrics.SDavinSalsoSnotedSthatSaSvarietySofSstylistic tastesScanSbeSpresented,SrangingSfromScontemporary metropolitanStoStraditionalSSouthernSgarden. EvenStheSsetting’ sSaestheticsSplaySaSbigSpart. “ LandscapingSintertwinesSeverythingSin,” SsaidSJeff BlunkoskySofSCecilSTownship’ sSPittsburghSStoneSand Waterscapes.S“ YouSwantStoShaveStheSrightSbalanceSof hardscape,Slandscape,SandSyardSarea.” SBlunkoskySsaidSthat hisScompanyShasSalsoSseenSanSuptickSinSoutdoor fireplacesSthatSimproveStheSsetting’ sSambiance.S ConvincedSthatSanSoutdoorSkitchenSisS probablySbeyondSyourSbudgetffSBlunkosky encouragedSpeopleStoSkeepSanSopenSmind. “ YouSdon’ tShaveStoSbeSaSmillionaire toShaveSaSniceSoutdoorSlivingSspace.SWe canSdesignSproj ectsStoSfitSeverySlifestyle andSeverySscaleSofShome,” SheSsaid.

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Dancin' in the Endzone T

he Fox Chapel Area School District PTO/PTA Council hosted the first Fox Chapel Area Community Gala fundraiser at Heinz Field East Club Lounge on Saturday, May 1. Guests enjoyed sumptuous appetizers and dinner stations, live and silent auctions, raffles, fabulous music and dancing. To kick off the evening, KDKA-TV's Jon Burnett, as the celebrity emcee, ushered in the legendary â&#x20AC;&#x153;Diana Ross.â&#x20AC;? The event was a great success! Funds raised will support the Dorseyville Middle School Technology Fund and districtwide PTO/PTA projects.

Photos from top right, moving clockwise: Fox Chapel Area School District Superintendent Anne E. Stephens, Ph.D. and event co-chairs Terri Good, Cindy Stadtlander, Elaine Mitsch, and Nan Cohen; Maureen & Avrum Levicoff; Matt Harris, Anne Brasile; Pam Eisner, Lisa Romango, Natalie Moritz & Eileen Martini; Jessica Smolar, Susan Brode & Ginny Healy; Bob & Julie Himler; Shelley & Jim Taylor; Mary Jo Montgomery, Pat Clark, Jon Nauhaus & Luann Letterle; Rosemary Loevner, Diane Waldman, Mary Jo Dunlap & Laurel Breuner

P h ot os c ourt e sy T ow n and Count ry St udio

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r e c o m e n d e d 201 0- 201 1 BUDGET: A ME SSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

he Fox Chapel Area Board of School Directors recently approved a 2010-2011 proposed final budget with expenditures of $78,948,369. This amount represents a 3.56 percent increase from the 2009-2010 budget. The proposed final budget will increase the property tax rate from 20.78 mills to 21.26 mills. This will be the fourth consecutive year that the Fox Chapel Area School District has kept the increase in the millage rate below the index established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. For 2010-2011, the index is 2.9 percent. The millage rate increase reflected in the proposed final budget is 2.3 percent. The development of the annual budget continues to be a challenge. For 2010-2011, expenditures increased by $2.7 million, compared to estimates for 2009-2010. This increase includes the advancement of staff on the salary schedule for their experience steps, increases to meet contract obligations, and other fixed costs within the budget. Cuts were made in the initial budget to help offset these increases and prior to the administration presenting the final proposed budget to the Board of School Directors, nearly a million dollars in additional adjustments were made. The administration continues to use attrition to reduce staff as our student population declines. The 2010-2011 budget reflects a reduction of five positions in various areas throughout the school district. The Board of School Directors has been very proactive in maintaining an appropriate amount in the district’s undesignated fund balance to cover unanticipated emergencies. A capital projects fund is in place to maintain our facilities and a special category within the budget has been created to help cover the anticipated “spike” in the mandated employer contribution to the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) which could be as much as a 33 percent increase when enacted. This type of planning for the future is a critical component of efficient financial management. The Fox Chapel Area School District is unique in many ways and how our revenues are generated is no exception. An extremely large part of our revenue comes from the local taxpayer. While many of our surrounding school districts continue to grow, resulting in an increased tax base, the Fox Chapel Area School District is leveling off in growth, resulting in relatively limited increases in local tax revenue. Based on the “costing out study” commissioned by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, many districts have received significant increases in state revenue, while state funding increases have been minimal in the Fox Chapel Area School District over the past few years. In addition, according to the figures released by the governor’s office, the Fox Chapel Area School District will receive a minimal increase in basic education subsidy over the next five years. We remain concerned about being able to continue all of our programs at their current level. With rather flat revenue sources and increased costs, the mission becomes more challenging each year. The Fox Chapel Area School District offers students some of the finest programs in the nation. We have worked hard to obtain Silver Medal recognition for our high school in U.S.News & World Report during the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years. This award recognizes the top high schools in the nation that are showing outstanding achievement for students at all levels. In 2010, Dorseyville Middle School was named as a national middle school to watch based on outstanding student achievement, programming, and a program that also meets the social and emotional needs of adolescent children. In addition, we continue to value our superior programs in art, music, and technology education. The Board and administration realize that our school district and the programs offered by the district have been influential in bringing people to the Fox Chapel Area. The excellence of the school district has helped to keep property values above those in other parts of Western Pennsylvania, but we also know that it is important to keep the millage rate as low as possible so that our communities remain affordable places to live. We do realize these challenges and will continue to consider them as we plan for the future. The citizens of the Fox Chapel Area School District have always placed the education of our youth as a top priority. Thank you for your continued support. Because of that support, our students are reaching maximum levels of achievement and our district is considered one of the finest in the nation. Anne E. Stephens, Ph.D. Superintendent Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area

2010-2011 PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 201 0- 201 1 PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET

he 2010-2011 Fox Chapel Area School District proposed final budget calls for budgetary expenditures of $78,948,369. The increase in expenditures from the 2009-2010 final budget is projected at $2,713,272, or 3.56 percent. The proposed final budget will increase the property tax rate from 20.78 mills to 21.26 mills. The value of a mill for the 2010-2011 school year is estimated to be $2,617,693. The School Board approved the 2010-2011 proposed final budget at its regular business meeting May 10, 2010. The public will have the opportunity to learn more about the budget and make comments at a public information session which will be held Thursday, June 10. The session was called by the district administration and is not an official meeting of the Board of School Directors. The Board is also expected to discuss the proposed final budget June 7 (at Dorseyville Middle School) and June 14 during its meetings, and the Board is expected to pass a final 2010-2011 budget at the special year-end meeting June 21. Residents are invited to attend the information session and School Board meetings and they will be held at 7 p.m. in the high school large group instruction room, unless otherwise indicated. The 2010-2011 proposed final budget reflects the following: — Salary line items are expected to increase three percent from last year’s budget. — Premium costs for medical insurance (PPOBlue) are projected to increase five percent for next year. The dental rate increase is zero percent for United Concordia Flex, and five percent for United Concordia Plus; the vision rates will increase by five percent. Employee contributions will help to offset a portion of the premium increases. — The school district’s contribution rate paid to the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) will increase from 3.565 percent to 4.11 percent. The amount of this increase is determined by the trustees of PSERS. — The proposed final budget includes a $1 million transfer into the capital projects fund. This money will be used for various capital improvements. The 2010-2011 proposed final budget is endorsed by the district’s Resource Planning Committee, a group of residents with financial and management backgrounds that provides additional expertise to the School Board on financial matters.

F und B alance

Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, the Pennsylvania General Assembly regulated the amount that school districts may maintain as an undesignated fund balance. Act 48 of 2003 stipulates that the school district may not raise property taxes unless its undesignated fund balance is less than eight percent. It is projected that the Fox Chapel Area School District’s undesignated fund balance will be $4,099,887, or 5.19 percent of anticipated expenditures, on June 30, 2010. Prior to the Act 48 legislation, the district’s goal was to attempt to maintain a managed fund balance of between five and ten percent. With the Act 48 legislation, the Pennsylvania General Assembly further erodes local control of public education in the commonwealth.

G aming F unds D istribution*

On May 1, 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education informed the Fox Chapel Area School District that its share of gaming funds available for distribution will be $1,469,354. The method of distributing these funds, as prescribed by Act 1, the Taxpayer Relief Act, will be via the implementation of the homestead exclusion. Under this provision, any property in the school district that was approved by Allegheny County as a homestead will have the lesser of its taxable value, or $8,732 of its taxable value, excluded for the purpose of calculating current school district real estate taxes for the 2010 tax year. The owners of the 7,915 properties in the district that qualified for the homestead exclusion will receive the equivalent of a $186 reduction in their property taxes. This distribution is based on the release of $616,500,000 in statewide gaming funds collected by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Property owners who currently do not have an approved homestead exclusion will have the opportunity to apply again when the district sends out letters to those homeowners in December 2010. *A lleghe ny County h as certified th at th ere are 7 , 9 1 5 properties in th e district th at qua lify for th e ho mestead ex clusion. If th at number is adj usted by th e county to include more or less properties, it could afiect the amount of th e final reduction. 1 0

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R ev enues/ U ndesignated F und B alance 6000 - Local: 79.51% - $65,771,753 7000 - State: 14.36% - $11,879,976

$65,771,753

8000 - Federal: 1.18% - $972,216 9000 - Other: 0.00% - $100 Undesignated Beginning Fund Balance: 4.96% - $4,099,887

$11,879,976

$4,099,887

$972,216 $100

E x penditures 1000 - Instruction, 2100 - Pupil Personnel, 2200 - Instructional Support Services, 2400 - Pupil Health: 66.64% - $52,606,329 2300 - Administration: 7.52% - $5,938,495 2600 - Operation & Maintenance: 9.25% - $7,304,731 2700 - Student Transportation: 4.89% - $3,860,858

$52,606,329 $5,938,495

2000 - Remaining Support Svcs.: 0.87% - $687,502 3000 - Noninstructional Svcs.: 2.47% - $1,953,749

$7,304,731

4000 - Facilities: 0.19% - $146,235 5000 - Other Financing: 8.17% - $6,450,470

$6,450,470

MILL

AGE IMP ACT ON PROPERTY OW

Market Value Assessed Value Proposed Final Budget (21.26 Mills) Annual Cost of 1 Mill Monthly Cost of 1 Mill

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; $3,860,858 $687,502 $1,953,749 $146,235

NERS

$50,000 $50,000

$100,000 $100,000

$200,000 $200,000

$300,000 $300,000

$1,063 $50 $4.17

$2,126 $100 $8.33

$4,252 $200 $16.67

$6,378 $300 $25

1.) These amounts can be reduced by two percent if paid in full during the discount period. 2.) Senior citizens may qualify for a property tax rebate program available through the state. 3.) The market value/assessed value will be reduced by $8,732 for those homeowners in the Fox Chapel Area School District with an approved homestead exclusion.

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2010-2011 PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET

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2010-2011 ................................... $33,370,759 2009-2010 ................................... $32,159,565 Increase of ..................................... $1,211,194 % of change ..........................................3.77% Cost per student .................................... $7,581 % of budget ........................................42.27%

2010-2011 ......................................$1,826,782 2009-2010 ......................................$2,020,368 Decrease of ........................................-$193,586 % of change .......................................... -9.58% Cost per student ........................................$415 % of budget ............................................2.31%

Includes: Regular instructional program salaries and fringe benefits for teachers in addition to textbooks, district program contracts, supplies, and equipment.

Includes: Vo-tech, English as a Second Language (ESL), homebound, Title I services, and Saturday classes.

Comments: 1. Includes salary and fringe benefit increases for professional staff members. 2. New textbooks and curriculum materials are being purchased for students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Comments: 1. The district is not replacing a retired literacy coach. 2. Funds are included for the school districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s portion of the payment toward the bond issue/debt service for the A.W. Beattie Career Center renovation project. 3. Costs fluctuate annually, depending upon the number of students who require services. 4. State-mandated program costs continue to rise.

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2010-2011 ................................... $11,476,103 2009-2010 ................................... $10,594,993 Increase of ......................................... $881,110 % of change ...........................................8.32% Cost per student .................................... $2,607 % of budget .........................................14.54% Includes: Salaries and fringe benefits for special education teachers, including gifted education and paraprofessionals. Services are mandated for life skills and learning, emotional, autistic, hearing, vision, orthopedic, and speech/language support, as well as gifted education. Also includes occupational and physical therapies, specialized materials, technology, purchased services, and tuition. Comments: 1. The district hired additional staff members for students with disorders on the autism spectrum. 2. There are significant increased costs for tuition for students receiving education in schools outside the district. 3. Costs fluctuate annually, depending upon the number of students who require services. 4. There are additional costs for continuing education to meet state requirements for instructional and personal care assistants and for continuing education/coaching for teachers. IN Fox Chapel Area

s i g h t

REGULAR INSTRUCTION

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM S

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PUPIL PERSONNEL 21 00

2010-2011 ...................................... $2,582,471 2009-2010 ...................................... $2,436,221 Increase of .......................................... $146,250 % of change ............................................ 6.00% Cost per student ........................................ $587 % of budget ............................................ 3.27% Includes: Salaries and fringe benefits for guidance counselors, district psychologists, a share of the administrative staff in charge of the program, and support staff. Supplies, services, and equipment to operate the program are also included. Salary and fringe benefit costs are increased for all district personnel in all budget categories.

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a p e l

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INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES 2200

2010-2011 ......................................$2,618,254 2009-2010 ......................................$2,416,760 Increase of ..........................................$201,494 % of change ............................................8.34% Cost per student ........................................$595 % of budget ............................................3.32% Includes: Salaries and fringe benefits for school librarians, technology coordinator, and support staff. Supplies, equipment, and purchased services for curriculum development, audio visual, library, educational television, and computer-assisted instructional services are also included, as well as money to support safety and security. Comments: 1. Funds are included to integrate and update the district’s emergency operation plans to conform with the Pennsylvania “All Hazards” School Safety Planning Toolkit. ADM INISTRATION 2300

2010-2011 ......................................$5,938,495 2009-2010 ......................................$5,695,962 Increase of ..........................................$242,533 % of change ........................................... 4.26% Cost per student .....................................$1,349 % of budget ........................................... 7.52% Includes: Salaries and fringe benefits for district resource staff, school principals, and clerical support staff. Monies for tax collection and legal services are also included. Comments: 1. Funding for participation in curriculumrelated studies and educational leadership initiatives is included.

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PUPIL HEALTH 2400

2010-2011 .........................................$731,960 2009-2010 .........................................$698,876 Increase of ............................................$33,084 % of change ........................................... 4.73% Cost per student ........................................$166 % of budget ........................................... 0.93% Includes: Salaries and fringe benefits for the nursing staff and a clerk. Also includes the fees for doctor and dental exams and nursing services the district must provide for private and parochial schools. Supplies and equipment to operate the program are also included. OPERATION & M AINTENANCE 260 0

2010-2011 ......................................$7,304,731 2009-2010 ......................................$7,060,664 Increase of ..........................................$244,067 % of change ............................................3.46% Cost per student .....................................$1,659 % of budget ............................................9.25% Includes: Salaries and fringe benefits for the custodial and maintenance staff plus utility costs, custodial supplies, and equipment. Services needed to maintain the district’s physical plant are included, plus salaries and fringe benefits for those responsible for the coordination of the operation and maintenance of the district’s facilities. Comments: 1. Utility costs continue to increase. Salary and fringe benefit costs are increased for all district personnel in all budget categories.

Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area

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2010-2011 PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET

BUSINESS/DATA SERVICES

NONINSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES

2500 & 2800

3000

2010-2011 ........................................ $572,502 2009-2010 ........................................ $643,053 Decrease of .........................................-$70,551 % of change ....................................... -10.97% Cost per student ....................................... $130 % of budget ...........................................0.73%

2010-2011 ......................................$1,953,749 2009-2010 ......................................$1,918,925 Increase of ............................................$34,824 % of change ........................................... 1.81% Cost per student ........................................$444 % of budget ........................................... 2.47%

Includes: Salaries and fringe benefits of business/data office staff along with supplies, expenses, and purchased services to carry out the business and data processing functions of the district. Also included are the costs for district voice, video, and data networking equipment.

Includes: Salaries and supplies for student activities and athletics, in addition to transportation and event management for these programs.

Comments: 1. The district is purchasing less network equipment and supplies. 2. The district is upgrading the wireless network in the remaining schools. STUDENT TRANSPORTATION 2700

2010-2011 ..................................... $3,860,858 2009-2010 ..................................... $3,782,819 Increase of ........................................... $78,039 % of change ...........................................2.06% Cost per student ....................................... $877 % of budget ...........................................4.89% Includes: The transportation contract with the bus contractor for all of the district’s regular transportation including private, parochial, and special needs schools. Also includes transportation for state-mandated early intervention programs for prekindergarten-age children (this transportation is also provided throughout the summer months, as well as during the school year). AIU BUDGET 2900

2010-2011 ........................................ $115,000 2009-2010 ........................................ $112,000 Increase of ............................................. $3,000 % of change ...........................................2.68% Cost per student ......................................... $26 % of budget ...........................................0.15% Includes: The district’s share of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) administrative budget. 1 4

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Comments: 1. The costs of supplemental contracts and officials’ fees are increasing. 2. The costs for uniforms, equipment, and transportation are increasing. FACILITIES 4000

2010-2011 .........................................$146,235 2009-2010 .........................................$193,490 Decrease of ......................................... -$47,255 % of change ........................................-24.42% Cost per student ..........................................$33 % of budget ........................................... 0.19% Includes: Funds for site and building improvements. OTHER FINANCING 5000

2010-2011 ......................................$6,450,470 2009-2010 ......................................$6,501,401 Decrease of ......................................... -$50,931 % of change ............................................-.78% Cost per student .....................................$1,465 % of budget ........................................... 8.17% Includes: Debt service (mortgage) payments on building renovations and monies for tax refunds from previous years. Salary and fringe benefit costs are increased for all district personnel in all budget categories.

F ox Ch apel A rea Sch ool D ist rict G rad ing Scale St ud y Background The grading scale in the Fox Chapel Area School District is more rigorous than most districts in our area. A student must have a 93 percent average or higher to receive an A grade. Of the 41 districts in Allegheny County, 36 use a 10-point scale (90, 80, 70, 60) with an A beginning at 90 percent. At least two of the 36 districts have included plus and minus as part of their 10-point scale. For them, an A would begin at 93 percent and students who score from 90 percent through 92 percent would receive an A-. Recently, several parents in the Fox Chapel Area School District have expressed their belief that keeping the present, more rigorous scale, places our students at a disadvantage for college acceptance and scholarships. When this question was raised previously, the administration and guidance department looked at many sources of information concerning our graduates and their acceptance into colleges and universities across the nation. We also surveyed admissions departments to see if our grading scale helped, hurt, or had no impact on our students when they applied for entrance into their school. Based on the information we were able to gather, it was determined that colleges and universities were aware that our grading scale was more rigorous, and that the scale was not a disadvantage for our students.

Taking a New Look The administration has again begun to look at the pros and cons of our current grading scale as a result of the most recent inquiry by parents. In addition, the administration will examine whether circumstances have changed over the past two years that would lead us to believe that

the scale is placing our students at a disadvantage for college acceptance and recognition to receive scholarships. Data on the class of 2009 includes information from a study concerning acceptance and rejection at more than 80 colleges and universities at which our students are most likely to apply for acceptance. The study showed that the class of 2009 completed 1,808 applications and had 1,311 accepted and 313 rejected. In addition, 184 were placed on a wait list. Another study indicates that approximately 40 percent of our students already achieve an A average based on the 93 percent (A) scale. We are currently taking an in-depth look at the 313 rejections to determine whether our grading scale made a significant difference in colleges or universities rejecting Fox Chapel Area students. According to the senior survey of the class of 2009, students reported receiving scholarships that, per district calculations, amount to more than $3.7 million. Even though the above statistics are quite positive, the Board of School Directors and Superintendent are not convinced that the more rigorous scale continues to be the right choice for the Fox Chapel Area School District. The following additional input will be requested during the months of May and June to assist in determining the direction that should be taken:

D iscussions concerning possib le grad ing scale ch anges w ill cont inue d uring an open pub lic m eet ing on Mond ay, J une 7 , 2 0 1 0 , at 6 p. m . in t h e D orseyville Mid d le Sch ool aud it orium . 3. Conversations will be held with college and university admissions officers. 4. Research on the topic of grading scales will continue to be reviewed. The Board of School Directors and administration continue to have an open mind concerning the grading scale in the Fox Chapel Area School District. As with any potential change in the district, we want to make certain that the impact of change will be positive for all students at all grade levels. It is the goal of the administration to have a recommendation to the Board of School Directors for the June 21, 2010, Board meeting. Anne E. Stephens, Ph.D.

1. Survey of parent opinion (this will be posted online). 2. Survey of teacher opinion. Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area

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High-Tech Fitness Equipment Enhances Physical Education Program Equipment purchased through a Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grant encourages fun, physical activity for Hartwood Elementary students ccording to guidelines recommended by the u.S. surgeon general, elementary age children should spend an hour being physically active each day. The fitness center located in the back of the gym at Hartwood Elementary School is designed to help students meet that goal by providing tools to make fitness fun. Physical education teacher Jodi Travaglia says that her students have many opportunities to use the new, high-tech equipment that is meant to provide a fun way for students to engage in exercise, build muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness, and to encourage them to begin a lifelong fitness program. The fitness equipment, purchased through a Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grant earlier this year, includes a Wii Fit system, four flatscreen televisions, four game bikes hooked up to PlayStation 2 (PS2) systems, a Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) game hooked up to a PS2 system, plus 80 pedometers and 30 heart-rate monitors. Students are really enjoying the game bikes. They sit on the bikes, choose a game, and begin pedaling to power drive a racecar, jeep, quad, or dirt bike on the screen. According to Mrs. Travaglia, “They definitely do get into their target heart rate zone. The vehicle on the screen won’t move unless they pedal fast enough.” Fifth grader Nevin Sherman particularly likes the mountain biking and street biking. “You get a lot of exercise and get to play the video games. It makes it all the better,” he exclaimed. All Hartwood students use the fitness equipment as a part of their physical education classes, scheduled twice each week for grades one through five and once a week for kindergartners. But access to the fitness center and physical education time is not limited to the regularly scheduled classes. The fitness center is also used in the intramural program

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after school and as an activity in the PTOsponsored Magnificent Mondays held after school during January and February. Additionally, students can earn bonus time for gym activities, including access to the fitness center, by completing and turning in monthly calendars that log their physical activity or for completing the Jump for Heart and Hoops for Heart programs.

As an additional way to encourage fitness habits outside of school, fourth graders have been using the new pedometers to “walk” across the united States. From the starting point in their home state, the students are tracking the miles they walk to represent the distance to the capitals of each state. As they make their journey, they learn about the states and capitals they visit. Mrs. Travaglia is pleased with the enthusiasm of the students and for the progress each of the four classes has made on their walking trip. The month of May is Physical Fitness and Sports Month, and the fourth grade class that gets the most steps will earn an extra physical education class and be entered into a drawing for Frisbees, jump ropes, T-shirts, and other fun gadgets as incentives to log as many miles possible. “The main goal is to boost students’ activity and overall physical fitness,” Mrs. Travaglia says of the fitness center and new equipment. “Students learn at a young age they are in control of their own health.” Fifth grade student Alyssa Guzzie affirms what Mrs. Travaglia has been teaching the students in physical education. “I like it because you get a lot of exercise and you get to stay healthy,” she says.

F irst G rad ers St ud y



pril 21 was a very exciting day for O’Hara Elementary School Debbie Nugara’s first graders. The bugs had arrived! Mrs. Nugara introduced the bess beetles and the pill bugs to the students and then they had the chance to study the bugs up close and personal. The lesson is part of the ASSET science curriculum, filled with hands-on, exploratory lessons. This particular unit focuses on organisms, and also includes a study on guppies and freshwater snails. The bugs will be living in the classroom for a while and the students will be getting to know them better. At the end of the unit, all of the organisms will be put “up for adoption” and will be taken home by students who want to keep them at home.

Above: A student holds a bess beetle up to his ear as he listens to the squeaking sound it makes. Above: Students studied the natural habitats of the bugs and had built homes for them.

Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area

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staff news

New Business Manager Brings Unique Perspective

Photo Courtesy Town and Country Studio

oug McCausland has something many school district business managers don’t have. Before becoming a business manager, he was a high school business education teacher. “It has really helped me,” says Mr. McCausland, who began his job as the Fox Chapel Area School District administrative assistant for business affairs in April. “I know about curriculum, instruction, and assessment. It’s somewhat unique and not many business officials have that background.” Mr. McCausland knows that any new job has a learning curve and he looks forward to learning about the unique culture of the school district, its policies, and procedures. He says he is excited to be a part of the district. “What’s not to like about Fox Chapel Area? It’s a great community with a school district that has a great reputation for delivering outstanding programs,” he says. With ever-changing economic challenges facing school districts, Mr. McCausland expresses, “I want to find ways to make the school

district be more efficient and cost effective, without damaging the programs and curriculum that are already in place.” Mr. McCausland is careful to base every decision on what is in the best interests of the students. This philosophy has served him well in the districts he has worked in the past. Most recently, Mr. McCausland was the director of finance and operations for the Pine-Richland School District, where he oversaw and managed all financial and operational areas of the district. Prior to that, he served as the director of fiscal & management services and board secretary for the Burrell School District. Mr. McCausland is a resident of West Deer Township, where he lives with Diane, his wife of 24 years. They have two school-age sons. He is very involved with organizations in which his children are active, including both soccer and band booster groups. He also enjoys yoga and is active in his church. Mr. McCausland has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Penn State. He has an instructional certificate from Indiana university of Pennsylvania, where he has also completed 24 credits toward his master’s degree.

Photo Courtesy Town and Country Studio

Resident Leads Special Education Program

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hen Lonnie Carey, Ed.D., discovered that the Fox Chapel Area School District was searching for a coordinator of special education and pupil services, she did not hesitate to apply. She’s not only a district resident, but also has four daughters who are graduates of Fox Chapel Area High School. She cites the district’s reputation for excellence and the high quality of the services offered to children as two of the reasons she wanted to work here. “I really believe in what happens at Fox Chapel Area for children — especially children with disabilities and gifted students,” Dr. Carey says. Dr. Carey, who began working in the district in March, has nothing but praise for the current staff. “The quality of the staff here and their commitment to children is just very impressive,” she says. She goes on to describe the leadership of the district as “collaborative and open” and she wants to support teachers in the work they do to help children. Dr. Carey plans to continue to implement research-based practices and has found it helpful to keep up on recent research and

IN Fox Chapel Area

trends in special education. She wants to focus on high achievement for students, both those with disabilities and those who are gifted, and is also looking forward to building strong relationships with parents. Dr. Carey received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the university of Denver. She received her graduate degrees from Duquesne university in school psychology and administration. Her doctorate degree in educational leadership is also from Duquesne. She has maintained close ties with Duquesne university, where she still serves as an adjunct faculty member. Members of the Duquesne special education department often provide Dr. Carey with technical expertise when needed and she has taught graduate classes there. Dr. Carey began her educational career as a school psychologist at Holy Family Institute. This background, she says, gives her “a better understanding of disabilities, of behavior, and human interactions.” She also served as a school psychologist for the Penn Hills School District, as well as a coordinator of special education/supervisor of special education with the McKeesport Area School District. Most recently, she was the coordinator of special education for the Riverview School District. Dr. Carey and her husband Paul have been residents of Fox Chapel Borough for 18 years.

O n li n e L earn i n g P rov i d es N ew O pport u n i t i es at t he H i g h S c hool by Scott Hand Fox Chapel Area High School Media Teacher

Fox Chapel Area High School is increasing academic opportunities and advancing differentiated instruction for students by providing online options for some classes

he high school will be offering select elective courses online as virtual experiences to juniors and seniors for the 2010-2011 school year. Designed with the same academic rigor as a traditional Fox Chapel Area course, the virtual courses will extend the potential for academic growth, prepare students for higher education, assist our emerging learners, and provide flexible learning schedules. These virtual courses will allow students with diverse needs and goals to exercise new options in their learning as well as individualize instruction.

Online and On Campus Educating the whole child is an important part of our mission and Fox Chapel Area is devoted to maintaining both the academic and social opportunities school provides. The virtual learning experiences for the upcoming school year will use a hybrid model of online learning where students engage the material both electronically, as well as face-to-face with peers and instructors. Research from Carnegie Mellon university, through their Open Learning Initiative, has shown the benefits of the hybrid (or blended) model of online instruction. It allows students to master the basic concepts and skills and spend more time on more complex tasks

Fox Chapel Area High School students participate in a pilot independent study course entitled Film Studies. The students in the course meet with instructor Scott Hand four times a month — two times for a movie screening and discussion, once as a whole group, and once with Mr. Hand individually. Students from the high school movie club also often join in on the discussion.

and thinking skills in a hands-on collaborative effort within the classroom. For instance, some courses might deliver the lesson content and information online, while laboratory work, discussions, and culminating presentations bring all learners together in a class.

Flexible Learning The online experiences will allow our students to explore other pathways — extending their learning possibilities beyond the constraints traditional scheduling allows. Fox Chapel Area students have many passions and interests they desire to explore and often find themselves torn by having to choose course offerings simply because they “fit” into their schedules. One benefit the online courses will provide is allowing students to extend their school day and take those courses they want to explore more deeply. These online courses also allow the district to further support the continued learning of students who may benefit from early interventions and remediation. Online learning can provide each student with customized and engaging experiences that support and build his or her maximum potential. Additionally, the school is

A P ilot E x perience As an extension to their school day, some Fox Chapel Area High School students are currently participating in a pilot virtual learning experience in Film Studies. Students are studying the material and participating in online discussions in the virtual environment and meeting together collectively in the evenings three times a month, as well as meeting with the instructor individually throughout the month. These students are not only satisfying their academic curiosities through engaging course material, they are also providing valuable insight into online learning and the Fox Chapel Area student. exploring how online learning can support summer school programs.

District at Forefront of 21st Century Education The potential for virtual learning is limitless and ever expanding. We are excited about the potential online learning holds and are ready to explore new opportunities for our students, teachers, and district to grow. Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area

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

t’s a sunny April afternoon and some friends at O’Hara Elementary School are taking a break to play a few games and enjoy time with one another. By watching the interaction, it’s like they have known each other for years. What is the difference about these friends? Oh, about 85 years! The friends are O’Hara Elementary School third grade students from Terry Solomon’s classroom and residents of uPMC Senior Living Seneca Hills Village. The monthly visits between third graders and the residents of the Verona retirement village have been ongoing for three years. Today’s agenda includes game day, with board games and Wii Bowling, and in the past has included academic activities with “granbuddies” playing “Are You Smarter than a Third Grader?” or participating in a spelling bee. The students and seniors have even put on talent shows. “We try to incorporate the curriculum into the visits. Our entire social studies curriculum is built around community,” says coordinating teacher Mrs. Solomon. “It’s just nice to see this intergenerational partnership.” Mrs. Solomon reports that there is a genuine love between the students and the granbuddies. Seneca Hills Village resident Dorothy York’s buddies are third graders Charlie Straut and Victoria Crittenden. Mrs. York reports that she loves the children and knows that they are growing up in a complicated world. “These children are so brilliant!” she says. Mrs. York then proudly 2 0

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announces that she is 94. Having no grandchildren of her own (but she does have great-great nieces and a great-great nephew) makes participation in this program even more special for her. Third grader Zack Yonas reports warm feelings about his granbuddy, Vi (Scaringi). “We have a lot of fun together! We’re kind of like family,” he says. Another senior participating in the afternoon’s event is Madelyn Giddens. She is a 93-year-old former teacher and principal. Of her two buddies (Alana Herceg and Jeewoo Sohn) she reports, “You couldn’t have given me better! They are so bright!” Jeewoo really looks forward to Mrs. Giddens’ visits, saying “I like how she hugs us. She is always so nice.” Perhaps 95-year-old Al Delmontagne sums up the whole experience best when he says coming here, “Sort of gives you a young feeling. You feel so good. You feel different. It’s like a big picnic.” Seneca Hills Village Activities Coordinator Deanne Thomas reports that some of the friendships have continued on even after the students leave the third grade. One student from the first year is still visiting his granbuddy. Observing today’s interaction and the reaction of her senior citizens, Mrs. Thomas exclaims, “Look at them! This is great! They look forward to this so much.”

“Today” Show Nutritionist Urges Fairview Students to be Portion control, physical activity, and smart decisions play role in healthy lifestyles

“T

Mindful Eaters

here are no bad foods, just bad portions,” says nutrition expert for NBC’s “Today” show and former Fairview parent Madelyn Fernstrom, Ph.D., CNS. The author of the recently published “The Real You Diet,” told fourth graders at Fairview Elementary School how pleased she was to be back at the school where she often visited when her now grown children (Aaron and Lauren) were students there. Her presentation was an in-school field trip for the fourth Dr. Fernstrom talks with Fairview Elementary School fourth graders about healthy habits. graders sponsored by the Fairview Boosters. chosen, could contain enough calories for a Dr. Fernstrom, also founder and director whole day. of the weight management center of uPMC, Dr. Fernstrom says to be especially careful asked students to identify “What makes a with sugary soft drinks which not only add healthy person?” The students eagerly called calories, but also can cause tooth decay. A out answers: “exercise daily” and “eat right.” generation ago, when parents of these fourth She wrote down their ideas on a large flipchart and continued to describe additional graders were children themselves, it took a month for a typical nine- or ten-year-old to healthy habits. drink a gallon of soda. “Do you know how She encouraged the students to read labels for portion size. “It’s OK to eat at a fast long it takes for a student to drink a gallon of soda now?” asked Dr. Fernstrom. A young food restaurant sometimes,” she said, “But person drinks, on average, a gallon of soda in you have to look at how many calories you a week. She went on to encourage the eat in a day.” Several of the students knew students to avoid soft drinks and to consume that fast food has a high calorie count and, more water and milk. depending on the sandwich, fries, and drink “Your body doesn’t recognize the calories in liquids,” she explained. She also encouraged the students to eat fruits rather than drink fruit juices, which can be high in sugar. Dr. Fernstrom also talked about the importance of physical activity. Young people should be involved in physical activity about an hour each day. “Play outside, ride a bike, dance, roller blade, or jump on a trampoline. Do anything you like to do that gets your arms and legs moving,” she encouraged. Next, she asked, “Who likes snacks?” It is a good idea to have a snack after school, she suggests. “You may be too hungry between lunch and dinner if you wait. You have to listen to what your body is telling you.” She asked the students to tell her what might be some healthy snacks. A good afterschool snack could be apples and peanut

butter, or maybe a fruit smoothie. One student said that she has some fruit and a treat. Dr. Fernstrom was quick to reply, “We do need some treats.” In addition to including small, healthy portions of treats, Dr. Fernstrom urged the students to be adventurous eaters and try new foods. At each of their tables was a variety of potential snack foods including whole wheat pita bread, Craisins, raisins, coconut, spreadable fruits, almond butter, peanut butter, and — chocolate chips. “Let everyone use their imaginations and creativity to make a snack,” she said. Some of the children seemed hesitant to mix together the ingredients on their pita breads. A few tasted the less traditional almond butter, which Dr. Fernstrom said could be an alternative to peanut butter. A few also tasted the spreadable fruit, which has no added sugar. The almond butter, in particular, seemed an unlikely choice to a few. Several had to be encouraged by others in their group to try the new tastes and textures. Student Joslyn Filo says she usually doesn’t like to mix foods. A swimmer, soccer and tennis player, Josyln says she usually has a small cup of Goldfish crackers and water for her after-school snack. However, she tried mixing the different foods on a pita wrap. After sampling her snack that included bananas, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and coconut, she described it as “awesome.” Following the presentation, Alan Shtrahman said his snack was “good” and, “I’ll try new foods if my mom buys them.”

Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area

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Student Chosen for Study Trip to Germany Anthony Verardi discusses his upcoming trip to Germany with teacher Andrew Richards.

ox Chapel Area High School junior Anthony Verardi has been named one of the national winners of a study trip to Germany by the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG)–Padagogischer Austauschdienst (PAD). Anthony will travel to Germany on an all-expenses-paid trip June 27 July 21. He was chosen as the recipient of the trip based on his score on the Level 4 National German Exam. Anthony also had to write a letter in German to a hypothetical host family and was interviewed by a German professor as a part of the process. Only 39 students from across the united States were chosen by a national committee

to receive this award. According to Fox Chapel Area High School German teacher Andrew Richards, this is the most prestigious award given to high school students studying German. “Anthony is very deserving of this prize due to his love of the German language and culture and his contributions to German at the high school. He involves himself with German outside of school as well,” Mr. Richards states. “He is the first student from Fox Chapel Area High School to win this award.” While in Germany, Anthony will be immersed in German culture. He will stay with a host family, attend a “Gymnasium” (a college-prep high school), and see the country. The trip is sponsored by PAD, an educational exchange service in Germany. Each year, only one high school sophomore or junior is selected from the western Pennsylvania area to have a chance to win the study trip.

High School Team to be Featured on KDKA’s Hometown High-Q

KDKA-TV’s Ken Rice, Pavan Rajgopal, Rachel Williams, and Connor Weis

ox Chapel Area High School seniors Connor Weis and Rachel Williams and junior Pavan Rajgopal will be featured for the third time on KDKA’s Hometown High-Q program on June 12 at 11 a.m. The Fox Chapel Area students competed against students from Gateway High School and Beaver Area High School in the semifinal round that will air on June 12. The team was recognized for its performance, along with other winning teams, at a ceremony on April 20. The Fox Chapel Area team also received a $2,000 educational grant for the high school. Hometown High-Q is a high school quiz show sponsored by Westfield Insurance. The show airs on KDKA-TV on Saturdays at 11 a.m.

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Student’s Artwork Featured in Book Geared to Early Learners

young girl’s artwork in her father’s office led to a book contract for Katie Fustich. Ken Leistico of the university of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development liked Katie’s drawings and asked her father, Roger, if he thought she might be interested in illustrating a book geared to helping young children get ready for school. Katie, now a Fox Chapel Area High School sophomore, created the sketches by hand using markers when she was a seventh grader. Her illustrations were published in a book, “Ready Freddy Goes to School,” written by Mr. Leistico. It was published by the university of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development in 2010 and is being distributed this year to every family that registers a child for kindergarten in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. It is also being used in five counties in Pennsylvania by community groups that focus on early childhood development programs. Katie, who recently revised her illustrations to include signs in Spanish, is already thinking about a book geared toward older children as her next project. She likes to do her drawings by hand and is hoping to pursue a career in art. In preparation for her plans to study art history and a possible career as a museum curator, she will take an art portfolio class next year at Fox Chapel Area High School.

Student Named Winner in

National Essay Contest ox Chapel Area High School sophomore Sarah Ogren was named a winner in The National Society of Colonial Dames of America Essay Contest. She is one of only three winners from Pennsylvania and one of only 69 winners from across the united States. The essay topic was “Discuss a major Supreme Court decision you believe to be pivotal in our nation’s history.” Sarah chose Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the landmark decision declaring separate public schools for blacks and whites and denying black children equal educational opportunities unconstitutional. The essays were judged locally, regionally, and nationally. As a national winner, Sarah is receiving a full scholarship to attend the 2010 Congressional Seminar in Washington, D.C., which will be held June 19-25. Presented by the

Washington Workshops Foundation — a nonprofit educational organization located in Washington, D.C. — the Congressional Seminar engages qualified high school students in active legislative simulation during a weeklong model Congress. Playing the roles of freshman representatives, speakers, lobbyists, and caucus leaders, participants work to draft, revise, and hopefully pass a bill through a vote of their seminar peers. Additionally, seminar participants enjoy lectures, site visits, and personal interactions with Washington, D.C.-based policy makers, professionals, and representatives. The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America actively promotes national heritage through historic preservation, patriotic service, and educational projects. The society headquarters is located in Washington, D.C.

Sarah Ogren was honored at a small gathering April 29 at Fox Chapel Area High School. Alice Jane Jenkins, a member of The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, presented her with a certificate and a $100 cash award.

H IGH S CHOOL J uNIOR W INS

National Gold Medal Art Award ox Chapel Area High School junior Matthew Kolbrener was recently named a national Gold Medal winner in The National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2010 for a photograph he submitted in the competition. Approximately 10,000 submissions were reviewed on the national level. Prior to this, Matthew won a regional Gold Medal for his photograph. In March, professionals in the visual and literary arts then reviewed the regional Gold Key winners, awarding National Gold Medals and National Silver Medals to the most talented students in the nation.

To celebrate his accomplishment, Matthew has been invited to the National Celebration to be held in New York City on June 9 and 10. The celebration will include an awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall and the opening reception of The National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Exhibition at the World Financial Center’s Courtyard Gallery. Matthew’s teacher Maureen Kelly will also be honored on stage at Carnegie Hall and will receive a teacher Gold Medal to recognize her role as an instructor and mentor. Above: Matthew Kolbrener’s winning photo.

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F ox Ch apel A rea Sch ool D ist rict DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION

FOx CHAPEL AREA SCHOOLS

611 Field Club Road Pittsburgh, PA 15238 412/963-9600 www.fcasd.edu Superintendent: Anne E. Stephens, Ph.D. Assistant Superintendent: David P. McCommons, Ed.D. Administrative Assistant for Business Affairs: L. Douglas McCausland

FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 738 Dorseyville Road Pittsburgh, PA 15238 412/963-9315 Principal: Sari E. McNamara, Ed.D.

DISTRICT RESOuRCE STAFF Coordinator of Elementary Education and Instruction: Ronald Korenich, Ed.D. Coordinator of Instruction, Staff Development and Secondary Curriculum: Shelley Beck, Ph.D. Coordinator of Special Education and Pupil Services: Lonnie Carey, Ed.D. Coordinator of Educational Technology: Norton Gusky Coordinator of Ancillary Services: Sam Miceli Director of Athletics & Activities: Michael O’Brien Coordinator of Communications: Bonnie Berzonski

HARTWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 3730 Saxonburg Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15238 412/767-5396 Principal: Jacquelyn M. Gregory-Rauzan, Ed.D. KERR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 341 Kittanning Pike Pittsburgh, PA 15215 412/781-4105 Principal: Paul S. Noro, Ed.D. O’HARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 115 Cabin Lane Pittsburgh, PA 15238 412/963-0333 Principal: Michael R. Rowe Assistant Principal: James Phillip Prager, Jr.

FOx CHAPEL AREA SCHOOL BOARD

DORSEYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL 3732 Saxonburg Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15238 412/767-5343 Principal: Matthew J. Harris Assistant Principal: Patricia A. Clark Assistant Principal: Jonathan T. Nauhaus FOx CHAPEL AREA HIGH SCHOOL 611 Field Club Road Pittsburgh, PA 15238 412/967-2430 Senior/Lead Principal: Michael H. Hower Program Principal: Daniel E. Lentz Assistant Principal – Senior Program: John J. McGee Assistant Principal – Intermediate Program: Susan K. Gentile For the latest school district information, call the Fox Chapel Area School District 24-Hour Information Line at 412/967-2500 or visit the Web site at www.fcasd.edu.

Revised 2009-2010 School Calendar The 2009-2010 Fox Chapel Area School District calendar has been revised to include make-up days as follows: • Seniors’ Last Day – Friday, June 4, 2010. Graduation is still scheduled for Sunday, June 6, 2010. • Kindergarten-Grade 11 Last Day – Tuesday, June 8, 2010 (1/2 day). • The last day for teachers will be Friday, June 18, 2010.

Photo Courtesy Town and Country Studio

This schedule may change if, for any reason, additional make-up days are required.

Front Row (l to r): Karen A. Mitesser, Treasurer (Region I); Charles R. Burke, President (Region III); Robin F. Baum, Vice President (Region I); and Joanne C. Gaus (Region II). Row 2 (l to r): David P. McCommons, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent; Sherman M. Snyder (Region I); Robert Mauro (Region II); Sandra M. Garbisch, Assistant Secretary (Region II); and Anne E. Stephens, Ph.D., Superintendent. Row 3 (l to r): Frederick C. Leech (Region III); Martin W. Sheerer, Esq., Solicitor; and Joel R. Weinstein (Region III). 2 4

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Region I covers all of Sharpsburg Borough and Wards 2, 3, and 4 of O’Hara Township; Region II covers Districts 2, 4, and 5 of Fox Chapel Borough and all of Indiana Township; and Region III covers all of Aspinwall Borough, Blawnox Borough, Wards 1 and 5 of O’Hara Township, and Districts 1 and 3 of Fox Chapel Borough. School Board regular business meetings are usually scheduled for the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. and are held at the high school. The public is invited to attend.

REAL ESTATE

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ox Chapel Area magazines proudly announces IN Fox Chapel Area Real Estate– a comprehensive look at the Fox Chapel Area market. In this section, you'll find interesting information about creating beautiful spaces to live in, choosing a real estate professional to help you buy or sell a home as well as other interesting facts about your community.

o you’re ready to make the leap from your starter home or apartment to the house of your dreams. Who do you trust to help you make the largest investment of your life? Buying a home is a huge step in life – read headache – that requires someone who is knowledgeable with the law regarding buying and selling real estate. It also requires someone who knows reputable home inspectors, appraisers and financiers, in addition to having a firm grasp on the state of the real estate market. It’s a tall order, but licensed Realtors specialize in making the hurdle of home-buying a lot simpler to clear. “I definitely think they should look for a realtor who’s knowledgeable in the area you want to get into,” said Jan Schoeneberger, manager and associate broker with Prudential Fox Chapel. “It’s critical that they know the pricing and gauge where the appraiser is going to put the value of the home, so they’re not overpaying or underpaying. I’ve seen deals where a buyer goes in paying more than the appraised value and the mortgage falls apart when it’s not appraised at that price. Your agent needs to have the courage and strength to say to a seller, “This is a good offer.” Schoeneberger said that Prudential actually has an outside, third party agency conduct evaluations on its agents and lists that feedback publicly online. “Those numbers are published good bad or indifferent,” she said. “That gives the consumer a good indicator whether this is someone who they want to work with or not. The agents that come to work for my

How to Choose the Right Realtor

interview at least two agents, not just one in their neighborhood who drops a flyer off at their door. If they do go with that agent, at least they know they did their homework beforehand and they’ve made an informed decision.” Shoeneberger said having a Realtor with a good plan to sell the home is important as well. “I really believe the technical marketing plan is a huge part of the equation. Research has shown that 89 percent of the people who are looking for a home are online 3 to 4 weeks before they even approach a Realtor,” she said. “People should demand that their Realtor communicate rapidly with them. You want to get houses to the buyers immediately so they can make an offer immediately and get your home out to as many buyers as possible. Is the Realtor regularly putting the home on Craigslist or other social networking sites? Technological advances were slow to come to the industry, but it’s come on board and tech-savvy buyers today see the importance in that in marketing their home.” Yates agreed, adding that while the online component is critical to selling homes these days, he still likes to bring his clients into the office for regular consultations. “While 70 to 80 percent are calling from the listings you have on the website, I like to bring them into the office and go over from A to Z what goes on in this transaction,” he said. “Once they’re preapproved, they come in and go over the forms, take them home and study them so they understand all the paperwork. The process should be easy, not complicated.”

company know that they will be put under that scrutiny for every transaction. Those are accessed online and we encourage people to look at those.” Joe Yates, Sr., manager and associate broker with RE/MAx Realty Monroeville, said people should also look at how long an agent’s been in the business. “The first thing I’d look for is the time they’ve put into the business, and credentials such as broker’s license, BRS, ABR designations. They need to work with someone who they trust and who is honest with them,” Yates said. “There are a lot of really good agents out there with all different companies, but people need to spend the time upfront in making sure they have the right agent, then enter into the buyer agency contract or the listing contract. They should Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area |

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

 by Jonathan Barnes

Water or Stone?

pring and summer are a gardener’s time of year, when pruning, cleaning, planting and maintenance of a landscape are most labor-intensive. For green-thumbed folks the work is a loving labor, though feeling alone won’t bring success when the task is enhancing a landscape in a smart way. Figuring out how to make a home’s frontage “pop” can be a task best left to professionals, but for the savvy homeowner, a few good tips can make a noticeable difference. Whether it is a front yard’s harder features, its plants or its overall design, adding curb appeal often comes down to bringing something of interest to the space to make it stand apart from the others around it. To achieve outstanding curb appeal, homeowners should take a second look at how their front yards are functioning, experts throughout Pittsburgh’s suburbs recommend. Are the yard’s design elements working harmoniously together, so aspects of the home’s construction and particulars of its landscape are given correct exposure? If not, things probably should change, but how? Asking and answering such questions can help a homeowner to enhance their property’s frontage, but it also can open them to the possibility of other notions for improving their yard. Such ideas can go far in helping to make a home the property that neighbors stop and tarry in front of, admiring its contours and colors. “Curb appeal is really important,” said Jan Schoeneberger, manager and associate broker with Prudential Fox Chapel. “When you see people who have the visual part of their home tidy and in good order, the assumption goes that the things that are hidden are as well. You’re either caretakers or you’re not. It’s reassuring as opposed to something that is unkempt. It’s a sense of security. It invites you to want to take a peak further. It’s a buyer’s market and you want to give yourself every advantage you can.”

Making a space less linear is one place to start when redesigning a front yard, said Jeff Blunkosky, chief operations officer of McDonald-based Pittsburgh Stone and Waterscapes. For example, a straight concrete walkway leading to the home could be replaced with a curved walkway composed of paving stones. “Adding an earth tone hardscape can bring everything together,” Blunkosky said, noting that some manufactured pavers are stronger than many driveways. Because of this, some homeowners are choosing to replace their driveways with pavers, he noted. While concrete contractors will give up to a one-year warranty on their work, manufactured pavers can last decades, Blunkosky said. When planning a major change to a front yard’s hardscape such as a new walkway, choosing the right color is essential. A new walkway should be comprised of a material with a color that is complementary to the house. “A red brick house doesn’t need a red brick walkway. You want to use a brown paver,” Blunkosky said. “You always want to use a secondary color, not the main color… using the main color for a hardscape can be overwhelming [to the eye].” Adding stones to incorporate a feeling of the natural landscape in the front yard also can add spice to the space. Incorporating some sort of rocks into the yard’s flowerbeds, be it a grouping of boulders at the front of the lot or an edging of colored rocks in the flowerbeds, also helps to add interest. “We incorporate a little rock work with the flowerbeds, to complement the plants and the colors in the house and hardscape,” Blunkosky said. Avoiding straight lines in other hardscape features, such as retaining walls, can be a smart idea, too. Replacing a tired straight retaining wall with a new colorful wall with a curved edge can make the yard more interesting.

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The cost of such improvements isn’t always small. Paver walkways can run from $16 to $22 per square foot (depend upon the type of paver, placement of the walkway and the size of the walkway), while concrete walkways made of exposed aggregate or made of stamped concrete run about the same price. Blunkosky isn’t a big fan of stamped concrete. “Why do they stamp concrete? To make it look like a superior product,” he said.

Creating Focal Points People who aren’t trained in landscaping or who didn’t grow up gardening can become overwhelmed when trying to decide what to do with a worn-out looking landscape. Sometimes, less is more—that is, adding just one more design element could make a noticeable difference. Some homeowners are using topiaries more often these days to add such interest, said Randy Soergel, who along with his wife Beth co-owns Soergel’s Orchards Garden Center in Franklin Park. “You don’t put [the topiary] in and forget about it,” Soergel said, adding that two rules apply to landscaping. “Don’t plant vegetation where there won’t be good drainage. And if a plant dries out just once, it’s done.” until a plant’s roots can find their own water, regularly watering is essential. Some plants take up to two years to establish their roots, Soergel said. Most homeowners are rejuvenating their yards at this time of year, rather than planting new landscapes altogether. An older-looking landscape can be spruced up by pruning some plants such as overgrown bushes near the home, and by removing other plants that are too large and out of proportion with the space. Incorporating one focal point for the yard, with a topiary, a Japanese maple tree, a sitting area, a small pond or even a particular stone or groundcover, can give the space more energy. Since the front yard is the first part of a home, creating interest is important to making the space inviting. Caring for the plants also is important in creating a beautiful landscape, but some homeowners are afraid to prune plants because they fear they’ll kill the plant, Soergel said.

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New vs.Existing Homes It’s All a Matter of Preference uying a house creates a lot of decisions that need to be made. First and foremost is whether or not you are going to opt for a new home or buy an existing home. While that decision may be made by your budget, it can also be made by your quality of life needs. The good news is that, according to those in the industry, Western Pennsylvania has no shortage of homes to choose from. One of the benefits to a new home is the fact that the demand for emptynesters has driven their design, making them ideal for those who are looking to scale down or prepare for their golden years. Many newly constructed homes are single level, offer amenities for a graying population such as included maintenance, and are built in convenient locations that are close to shopping, services and entertainment venues. Jan Schoeneberger, manager and associate broker with Prudential Fox Chapel, said new homes tend to be a little bit more expensive, but the North Hills still leads the region in terms of new construction. “New home construction at the moment tends to be a little more pricey square footage wise, although homebuyers aren’t looking at that when it comes to the home price,” she said. “We find in the Fox Chapel and Hampton offices that you have the buyers who love the charm of an older home and, unless you’re willing to pay for a new home with all the high-end details, you’re not going to find that charm that automatically comes with an older home.” Schoeneberger also said that banks have “pulled the reigns in” when it comes to lending to builders of new construction, which has slowed the market down, albeit only marginally. Chris Murphy, owner with RE/MAx North Hills, said that while new homes may be appealing, they may be out of the reach of all homebuyers. “The new construction price range in the marketplace is about $350,000 and up. If you’re looking for under that, you’re not going to find any or they’ll be really small at best. Price is going to yield a lot,” Murphy said. “Where as, if you’re looking for an existing home, there are some great buys out there. We didn’t have the parties and we don’t have the hangover, like the other pockets of the country. They’re feeling the pain of the price adjustment. In our market, our homes are worth more today than they were yesterday. Plus, we had the perfect storm for homebuyers - low interest rates, the tax credit and pent-up demand of homes. People are saying, ‘The economy is what it is, things in my life are changing and I’m ready to buy a home or move up.’” When it comes down to it, Schoeneberger said choosing a new home over an existing home is a case of personal preference. “With our clients, we have a mixed bag and it’s across all generations,” she said. “Aspinwall’s a great area to see that. We have a lot of younger people looking at the older construction, and they like the appeal of the sidewalks and business district. It’s such a hot market right now. It’s the personal preference of the young professionals and is similar to what Shadyside went through about 30 years ago.”

“We try to teach people how to maintain the landscaping they have, including when and how to prune,” Soergel said. The garden center offers free classes to people interested in learning more about how to maintain their yards. At 7 p.m. every Tuesday night in April and May, Soergel’s Orchards Garden Center hosts a do it yourself class teaching about landscaping and yard care. Those interested in attending a class are asked to register by calling the garden center at 724.935.2090, or emailing randysoergel@gmail.com.

Curve Appeal One of the most prominent trends in re-imagining front yards with existing landscapes is changing the yard’s contours. Many homeowners are replacing their straight concrete paver and wood-tie walls with colored concrete block walls that are laid down without mortar and are pretty easy to install, said Tony Verrico, owner of Verrico Landscape Supply in Penn Hills. The local supply yard carries 10 hues of the Versa-Lok wall material, as well as different types of pavers to enhance a yard. The walls can last up to 40 years, Verrico said. “We’re seeing a lot of concrete driveways being removed and replaced with pavers,” he said. Straight retaining walls are being replaced with curved walls, which sometimes have a planter incorporated into them at the front of the yard, Verrico said, adding that he is seeing more straight steps replaced by new curved steps as a way to make the yard more interesting. Making simple improvements to a yard, such as adding a tree, can make a big impact, Verrico said. Trees such as dogwoods and other flowering ornamentals, are good choices to consider as accent plantings. Planting hardy bushes such as boxwoods also can bring more definition to a front yard space, he said.

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North Hills is still growing

n the North Hills, part of the residential construction and sales most avidly sought by buyers is what some would think of as atypical—multi-family housing. Bob Brennan, president of Evans City-based Brennan Builders Inc., said multi-family homes are selling well in the North Hills because many empty-nesters and retirees are downsizing to such homes. In a region that has one of the highest concentrations of elderly in the nation, that means sales. “The multi-family home lifestyle is becoming increasingly popular with the aging population of Allegheny County,” Brennan said. The developer said its neighborhood, The Village at Treesdale, which includes multiple clusters of multi-family homes grouped two, three and four homes together,

is selling well. With 53 units total, the neighborhood already has 12 units occupied and another four units under contract. “That’s a very hot product for us these days,” Brennan said. There’s also good news on the horizon for housing in the North suburbs of Pittsburgh, said Brennan, who runs his 52-year-old family business with his relatives. The Westinghouse headquarters campus being built along Route 228 in Cranberry Township will bring with it 4,000 to 5,000 workers new to the area. Of that number, about half or more will buy homes, Brennan said. That influx of employees, many of whom will live in the area, will mean a steady completion of new homes in various price ranges being built for years to come, Brennan said. Eventually, the area will have a

CanIQualify foraMortgage? By Karen Ferrieri

eople are talking these days about whether or not banks are actually lending money. The housing market in Pittsburgh is still a fairly strong one and people are trying to take advantage of programs out there to give first home buyers tax credits of up to 10% of the total selling price of the house, up to $8,000. Or, if you currently own a home but want to buy another home that would now be your primary residence, you could also receive a tax credit of up to $6,500. And, of course, people are scrambling to take advantage of the high foreclosure market right now. So, with that in mind, they are wondering, “Can I qualify for a mortgage?” Sally Minnock, Home Mortgage Consultant for First Commonwealth Home Mortgage, a Joint Venture with Wells Fargo Bank and First Commonwealth Bank, stated that, “Yes, banks are lending, however, the process has become a lot stricter in that there is a lot more documentation and paperwork necessary to verify everything before the loan application is completed and reviewed. The days of obtaining ‘limited documented loans’ are over. They don’t exist anymore. Now, everything has to be documented for proof. We are now underwriting the way it was done thirty years ago.”

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new look because of the construction. It’s not all good news in Pittsburgh’s North suburbs, with the economic situation and new government regulations on banking impinging upon sales somewhat. For developers, finding the financing necessary to develop new land is becoming increasingly difficult, Brennan said. Even so, more buyers are asking for options in their new homes that will cost more in the short-run but save money down the line. Many buyers are asking that green building techniques be used in their home’s construction, while others are asking for green appliances that are Energy Star approved, Brennan said. “In the homebuilding industry, these things are becoming more standard,” he said.

According to Ms. Minnock, interest rates are still determined based on credit scoring. You can get a great interest rate with a credit score of 740. However, if your credit score is below 740 your rate will likely increase with a conventional loan. However, if you are applying for a FHA loan, having a credit score in the 620s will enable you to still qualify for a loan, although 3.5% of the selling price of the house is still needed on a FHA loan as a down payment. When you talk to your mortgage consultant for the first time, they will most likely punch in to an automated system your name, address, social security number and credit score to determine what interest rate you’d be eligible for. For first time home buyers, this entire process can be confusing. However, Ms. Minnock suggests working with your real estate agent and a mortgage consultant to help guide you through the process. They can look at whether or not you are ready to buy a house based on many factors, including your income, current financial situation, and your credit score. They will need a lot of personal information to be able to guide you effectively, but it is worth doing a lot of the work upfront before you start searching for a house. Finding all of the necessary paperwork that you will need during the final application process where the documentation is absolutely necessary, will help you avoid putting yourself in a stressful buying situation. Plus, you will know exactly what you qualify for or what you will need to do to get to the point of actually getting the loan. Obtaining a loan and your dream house is not impossible if you are willing to be patient, organized and go through the steps to qualify before you start searching for the perfect home.

UPMC

Artisans Hail to the

ccording to Wikipedia, “An artisan is a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative.” Manufacture by hand with hand tools imparts unique and individual qualities to artisanal products. Traditionally, artisans worked in media such as: stone, wood, ceramics, glass, common and precious metals, basketry, textiles, esparto grass, leather, fur, wax, paper and flowers; and, more recently in food products, such as bread, beverages and cheese. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, artisans employed their creative

“Through the gates...

a luxurious garden community awaits...” Jane Moffet 412-973-9509

Lynn Niman 412-719-6048

Directions: Fox Chapel Road to Squaw Run Road to a right on Dorseyville Road to a left turn into Fox Hall. Proceed past the villages of Fox Hall to the Gated entrance of The Gardens.

Pref erred Realty www.TheGardensAtFoxHall.com

thinking, skill and manual dexterity to produce their goods. Prominent among artisanal products, were furniture, pottery, jewelry and quilts to name a few. Artisan jewelry dates as far back as 7000 BC and continues today. Likewise, blacksmiths, carpenters and potters figure prominently in production of functional ware, to decorative, or the synergistic culmination of both. In Pittsburgh, we are fortunate to see the contribution of the skilled and talented artisans. Brought from the countries of their origins, families have passed on their skills from one generation to the next. Today’s local artisans trace their skills through the generations to the countries of their origins. This is evident in artisanal endeavors, not the least of which is the architecture which exists in Pittsburgh. Varied in style, period and design, the stamp of the artisan is evident in the stately Tudor, with its elegant uses of stone, wood, tile and marble, to the bungalow and the ultimate bungalow, more commonly built in California and dubbed as a Craftsman style. The carpentry in these homes clearly bears the stamp of the artisan. The influence of architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright brought other artisanal contributions. In today’s more recently constructed, local homes of distinction, we prize our crown moldings, bookcases, built in cabinetry and decorative mantles, contributions of the carpenter; decorative iron gates and iron railings, fabricated by the iron worker; mirrors and stained glass, artistic contributions of the glass worker. Lest we forget the contributions of the stone mason: decorative walls, unique patios, brick and stone facades, decorative chimneys and fireplaces. Faux finishes have become the artisanal hallmark of the painter. We can’t overlook those who work with marble, granite, quartz from our floors to our fireplaces and counter tops. To quickly view outstanding examples of the crafts and contributions of the artisan, we suggest you visit the three models at The Gardens at Fox Hall, designed and built by Miller Homes, open Sundays from 1 – 4 p.m. or by appointment. The artisan’s influence is breathtaking and worth the visit.

This I nd ust ry I nsigh t was written by Jane Moffett.

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The Buzz on Mommy Makeovers ne of the newest buzz words in today’s plastic surgery practice is the Mommy Makeover. Childbirth is a very rewarding experience, but the aftermath can often be overwhelming for the new Mom. Pregnancy takes its toll on your body, particularly in the breast and abdominal areas, and a Mommy Makeover may help you look and feel your best. As a Mom myself, I know how demanding your schedule can be. You devote most of your time to your children, husband, job , home, ETC. ETC. ETC.!!!!!! I’ve heard all of the many reasons to postpone surgery for yourself because of guilt, BuT what I’ve heard more is “I wish I had my surgery sooner. I feel absolutely wonderful about myself now and it makes it easier to accomplish all of the many daily tasks that I need to perform.” Generally, a Mommy Makeover may include:

Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, Tummy Tuck, Liposuction, Buttock Lift, and Breast Reduction. Mommy Makeovers can be a single procedure or a mixture of any of the above surgeries. It is your personal prescription for your physical and emotional needs. In this procedure, I perform a unique combination of plastic surgery procedures counteracting the physical effects of childbirth to best enhance your body. These are some of the important questions to ask yourself before deciding on a Mommy Makeover: 1. Are you finished having children? 2. Are you at a stable weight? 3. Are you finished breast feeding? 4. What body parts are you the most concerned about? The next step is to schedule an appointment to discuss your options with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, such as myself. It will help you

to determine whether or not your expectations are reasonable, and facilitate in making a customized plan for your individual Mommy Makeover. I recommend that you wait six months or longer after having your baby before considering a Mommy Makeover. This gives your body time to normalize after childbirth. In the specialty of Plastic Surgery, we are specifically trained in each of the surgeries mentioned above, and in their management. Safety and an individualized approach to your specific needs by the aesthetic eye of a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon is a very important factor in your surgery decision. You want an expert in these types of surgeries taking care of you from your first visit to your last post-op visit and a doctor who will see you for regular follow up visits, long after your surgery is performed. Some women may need Breast Augmentation to correct severe deflation of the breasts. Others may need a Breast Lift in combination with an Augmentation and still others may need a Breast Reduction in combination with a Lift. With regard to the abdominal area, some women may require a full Tummy Tuck, which removes excess fat and skin along with the tightening of the muscle, while others may only need a mini Tummy Tuck. Some women may find liposuction of the back, hips and thighs beneficial in smoothing out their body contours. Recovery depends on what your Mommy Makeover entailed. You will see me about five days after your surgery. This surgery has helped so many Moms to feel good about their new role as Mom, while bringing back the body they had before they became a Mom. Truly, the best of both worlds!! Visit our website, beleza-plasticsurgery.com, or become a fan on Facebook and learn more about Mommy Makeovers taking the field of Plastic Surgery by storm!

This I n d u s t ry I n s i g ht was written by Anna Wooten, MD. Dr. Wooten, the founder of Beleza Plastic Surgery, is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. She completed her General and Plastic Surgery Residency and Fellowship at one of the leading Plastic Surgery Training Programs in the Country, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Her unique and extensive education and training brings a special perspective to the discipline and art of Aesthetic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

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e lov e parties! Send us the information and we' ll do our b est to get y our organiz ation some well-deserv ed recognition. Please send information to

Mario T. Plaza-Ponte, MD FACS, FASCRS, RVT, RPVI Venous Circulation Specialist 2550 Mosside Blvd., Suite 105 Monroeville • 412-373-9580

mary b eth@ incommunity magaz ines. com

www.pittsburghveins.com

SHEERER & ASSOCIATES A T T O R N E Y S- A T - L A W 4 1 2 -7 8 1 -3 1 0 0 1000 Main Street • Pittsburgh, PA 15215 •Tim@Sheererlaw.com

We can provide you with assistance in all of your legal matters. W e are I N F ox Ch apel A rea – SH A R P SB U R G • Wills,Trusts and Estates • Elder Law • Business Law • Employment Law

• Driver License Restoration • Criminal Law • Civil Litigation • General Practice

Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area |

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  It is not a luxury to be transported safely and promptly. Given the types of issues people face when travelling, hiring a limousine is a service that many are willing to pay for to insure that their plans for travel are not derailed. All of those external factors such as parking, safety, negotiating an airport, even the stress of driving, can be eliminated by hiring a car and driver. What should people look for when hiring a limousine service? There are several factors you want to ask for when hiring a driver. Ask about the driver- If you are a new customer, it is always good to know about the person who will be driving your car. Do they have clearances? Can they speak English? Did they pass a drug screen? At A Limousine Service, we hand pick our drivers. They have all had license and airport security clearances, are drug tested, and are put through an extensive training program to insure that our customers are well taken care of while in our care. A Limousine Service drivers arrive at your location dressed professionally and will be able to communicate with you in English.

A Limousine Service

We get you there safely and reliably. 30 Prager Street Pittsburgh, PA 15215 412.782.5466 1.800.241.5466 412.782.2013 fax 4 0

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What types of cars are in the Fleet? I definitely recommend asking about the type of vehicle in which you will be transported. The fleet at A Limousine Service is rotated every 36 months. We do this because our customers expect to be transported in top of the line, new vehicles. Our vehicles are cleaned daily and maintained. How long has the company been in business? Find a reputable company. One who has been in business long enough to know how to get you where you need to be promptly. At A Limousine Service, we have been transporting people for over 25 years. We have garaged our fleet at the same Sharpsburg address for 25 years. Ask aroundresidents who live in the Fox Chapel Area know us. That’s an important feature. We are successful because of our reputation in providing prompt, friendly service in clean, new cars. How should I find a limo service out of town? Reputable services will arrange for your transportation, even if you are traveling out of town. A Limousine Service has an extensive network of companies that we work with in all fifty states to provide you with a simple way to secure transportation when you travel to other cities. We make it easy for our customers with door to door service. From their front door to the airport to their destination and back home again, we can handle everything with one transaction. What about my personal security? Security is in the forefront of many travelers’ minds today. A reputable service will let you know that all of their drivers have security clearances. We take security very seriously at A Limousine Service. Our clients have included high level security officials that participated in the G-20 Summit, actors working on a movie and many corporate travelers. With our service, clients are offered the security and safety of a curb side drop off and prompt pick up. Your safety and schedule are of the utmost concern to us. With A Limousine Service, you can be assured that you will be taken care of from start to finish. How Do I Arrange Transportation? Find a reputable company who is there twenty four hours a day, seven days a week (even holidays). This will give you an indication that when you need service, you can be sure you will get transportation promptly, when you need it. Take the time to research your transportation options. Find a reputable company who can provide you with a driver who is professional and prompt. Knowing that you will be transported safely and reliably will make your trip much more enjoyable!

This I nd ust ry I nsigh t was written by Gary L Arndt. Gary is President of A Limousine Service, located in Sharpsburg, PA. He and his wife Lenita have been transporting government officials, those involved with the acting industry, and corporate clients for over 25 years. They pride themselves on their distinctive customer service and wide range of vehicles to suit their customers’ needs. You can reach A Limousine Service at 800.241.5466 or 412.782.5466.

What to Do About

Risky Teen Drivers? he teenage brain is designed for fun, not good judgment. It is scientific fact that teen brains are underdeveloped because neurons are not fully connected until age 25. That’s a pretty good excuse for behavior that makes teen intelligence questionable at times. Peer pressure, internet influence, lifestyle trends, gadgets, and raging hormones, all make teen behavior much riskier than the average adult’s. So when teenagers get behind the wheel of a car, you get “risky teenage drivers” – the main reason crashes are the leading cause of death for teens. We know that teens are the worst offenders in distracted driving and that they should have better driving skills. What are we doing about it? The Graduated Drivers License (GDL) limits teen driver privileges, until they are older and have more driving experience.

Mostly, the reduction in crashes from the GDL results from fewer miles travelled in this age group due to hour restrictions, than from improving their driving. The GDL controls teen drivers only during restricted hours. The rest of the time young drivers are allowed to drive, they are still risky teen drivers. DuI laws severely penalize infractions after the deed is done. unfortunately, teens know that their illegal behavior inside a car is difficult to enforce. Risky drivers will naturally consider the low odds of getting caught, but mostly the payoff of having fun. A ban on texting while driving sounds like a plan, until we realize that it is even harder to enforce than the seat belt laws which teens often disregard. Texting behind the wheel is concealed by holding the phone down, increasing the inattention to the road and the risk. As long as teen drivers have a feeling of invincibility and a willingness to risk illegal behavior such as texting and driving, they will continue to do so. Logically, we need early intervention to modify specific teen risky

Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area |

driving behavior which causes most crashes, such as texting and other distractions. Driver inexperience as well, needs to be addressed by teaching safe driving and crash avoidance skills in a safe, yet real driving situation, not in a simulator that mimics video games that teens are so proficient at. New drivers should experience the effects of distractions and involuntary panic reaction on their ability to drive safely, themselves. They should experience how easily they lose control of the vehicle when distracted. They should learn to maneuver should they need to recover control in an emergency and foremost, learn about limitations and the importance of avoiding risks in the first place. A complete effort to reduce teen crashes must incorporate new driver education that takes risky behavior and improving driving skills into account. Teen driver experts at BeaveRun Driving Academy have taken the initiative in this approach, applying the New Era Driver Instruction Technique (NEDIT) based on behavior modification and safe driving skills in various teen driver programs.

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a ll Chamber of Commerce Meeting - 8 a.m. Third Wednesday of each month Planning / Zoning Meeting - 7 p.m. Fourth Wednesday of each month

Aspinwall Borough Manager: Ed Warchol Administration: Georgene Veltri, Dawn Celendar Building/Zoning Inspector: Ed Crates Public Works Foreman/Fire Chief: Lee Albacker

FIREMEN’S MEMORIAL PARK Firemen’s Memorial Park located at the end of Ninth Street , has a public shelter for rent. The rental fee is $50 (subject to change) and non-refundable. The park is available April 15th thru October 15th. Alcohol permits are available. Rentals are first come first served to Borough residents only. Stop in the Borough office Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or call 412.781.0213 to check on availability.

POLICE Chief of Police: John Sabol DIAL 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCY POLICE DEPARTMENT Non-Emergency: 412.781.3568 FIRE Aspinwall Volunteer Fire Department Inc. 217 Commercial Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15215 2.24 miles from Blawnox, PA 15238 412.781.0447

Township Blawnox 376 Freeport Road Pittsburgh, PA 15238 Phone: 412.828.4141 Fax: 412.828.7138 blawnox@choiceonemail.com Manager: Sherry A. Kordas POLICE: DIAL 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCY POLICE DEPARTMENT Business hours non-emergency phone: 412.828.4149 FIRE DEPARTMENT: Blawnox VFD 378 Freeport Rd Pittsburgh, PA 15238 412.828.6380

Note: Everything is subject to change without notice due to weather or other unforeseen situations.

For information on becoming a volunteer firefighter call the non-emergency number at the First Street Station at 412.781.0447 Foxwall EMS - 412.963.6611 Real Estate Tax - Georgene Veltri 412.781.0213 Earned Income - Joint Tax Collection Agency 412.967.9680 Meetings at the Municipal Building on Commercial Avenue Agenda Meeting - 6:30 p.m. First Wednesday of each month Council Meeting - 7 p.m. Second Wednesday of each month

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Indiana Township 3710 Saxonburg Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15238-1068 Phone: 412.767.5333 E-mail: admin@indianatownship.com Hours of operation: M-F 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTORY POLICE DIAL 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCY POLICE DEPARTMENT 3710 Saxonburgh Blvd. Pittsburgh PA 15238-1068 Non-Emergency 412.767.5333, Ext. 315 FIRE DORSEYVILLE VOL FIRE DEPT Chief Noel Bongartz 100 Charles Street Pittsburgh, PA 15238 412.767.4343 412.767.9977 MIDDLE ROAD VOL FIRE DEPT Chief Mike Dolegowski 2034 Middle Road Glenshaw, PA 15116 412.486.6365 Fax: 412.487.1815 E-mail: middleroadvfd@yahoo.com

RuRAL RIDGE VOL FIRE DEPT Chief Bob Ben 135 Little Deer Creek Road P. O. Box 58 Rural Ridge, PA 15075 724.265.4000 Fax: 724.265.4077 E-mail: Ruralridge175@nauticom.net AMBULANCE SENECA E.M.S. 1885 Main Street Pittsburgh, PA 15215 412.781.8596 412.767.4343 LOWER VALLEY 1201 Freeport Road P. O. Box 13 Cheswick, PA 15024 Emergency: 724.274.4499 Business: 724.274.4155 EARNED INCOME (WAGE) TAx COLLECTOR: Jordan Tax Service: 412.345.7964 REAL ESTATE TAx COLLECTOR: Phyllis Will: 412.486.5559

Borough of Fox Chapel 401 Fox Chapel Road Pittsburgh, PA 15238 412.963.1100 Office 412.963.1819 Fax 412.963.7220 Police (office/non-emergency) 412.963.1854 Police Fax foxchap@fox-chapel.pa.us Manager: Gary Koehler The Borough Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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POLICE The Fox Chapel Borough Police Department consists of the Chief, two Sergeants and eight patrolmen. DIAL 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCY POLICE DEPARTMENT Non-emergency: 412.963.7220. David M. Laux, Police Chief FIRE Fox Chapel Fire Department 401 Fox Chapel Road Fox Chapel, PA 15238 Non-Emergency Calls 412.963.1100

Ch a p e l Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area |

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Sharpsburg Borough MANAGER: Ron Borczyk 1611 Main Street Pittsburgh, PA 15215 Phone: 412.781.0546 Fax: 412.781.8449 POLICE DIAL 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCY Business hours non-emergency phone: 412.486.3201 FIRE Sharpsburg VFD 1611 Main Street Pittsburgh, PA 15215 412.781.1116

F ir e m e n ’s M e m o r ia l P a r k , As p i n w a l l

Sh a r p s b u r g Township of O'Hara 325 Fox Chapel Road Pittsburgh, PA 15238 Phone: 412.782.1400 Fax: 412.782.4530 www.ohara.pa.us MANAGER: Julie A. Jakubec, CPA E-mail: jjakubec@ohara.pa.us POLICE DIAL 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCY POLICE DEPARTMENT Business-hours non-emergency number: 412.782.1403 After-hours non-emergency number: 412.486.3201 FIRE Guyasuta VFD 1341 Old Freeport Road Pittsburgh, PA 15238 412.963.7577

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Pleasant Valley VFD 152 Kittanning Pike Pittsburgh, PA 15215 412.781.8108 MuNICIPAL MEETINGS: Township Council – Regular: Second Tuesday 7 p.m. Township Council – Workshop: First Tuesday 7 p.m. Second Tuesday following the Regular meeting 7 p.m.

Parkview VFD 726 Midway Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15215 412.781.1220 4 4

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PLANNING COMMISSION: Third Monday 7:30 p.m. PARKS/RECREATION COMMISSION: Fourth Wednesday 7:30 p.m. Civil Service Commission: First Monday 7 p.m. Zoning Hearing Board: First Monday 7:30 p.m.

SUMMER

2010

Adopt a Pet: Precious his little cat’s story is a great example of how a little love goes a long, long way. Precious was initially found as a stray and rescued off the streets by a kind gentleman who gave her a wonderful loving home. For years she lived happily with her new family and feline roommate, until her owner became ill. With no one else to care for them, he sadly brought these dear cats to Animal Friends. Precious did not have an easy adjustment. She missed her owner miserably and no matter how much kindness the staff and volunteers showed her, this sad little cat would not let anyone near her. She was just not a happy cat. But we knew that there was wonderful cat hiding in that sad little face. And we were right! Precious went home with a foster family who just gave her a little love and within days we saw

the sweet gentle personality we knew was hiding under the sadness. Today, this sweet little cat will come up to you and show her affection by rubbing against you and giving you long deep purrs. She is great with using both the scratching post and litterbox and loves to spend her days watching everything going on outside the window. She even gets along with the family dog! All it took was a little bit of love. Please contact Animal Friends to set up a meet and greet with Precious. Call Animal Friends at 4 1 2 . 8 4 7 . 7 0 0 2 .

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                       

   

Provided by Mrs. Becky Sonnenberg, Art Teacher at FCASD

              

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Surfing the ‘Net

W hat did the computer do at lunchtime? Had a byte !

Check out these rules that keep you safe when online! 

NEVER give out your name, address, phone or the school you attend to anyone online without your parent’s permission.

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Don’t enter contests without asking Mom or Dad first.

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If someone sends you something that makes you feel uncomfortable, let your parents and teachers know. NEVER respond to it yourself.

 NEVER agree to meet someone you’ve met online. NEVER send a person your picture without your parent’s permission. Only your parents should know your internet passwords.

Top Tech Words You Should Know!

Computers are Fun! F ind each of t h ese w ord s in t h is puz z le.

1 . D ow nload - To download a file is to get it from someone else's computer, over a network, and save it on your own computer, CD, or memory device. Example: Let’s download the photo of George Washington for the history project. 2 . P ix el- A pixel is a tiny dot of light on the monitor. It is the smallest part of every image you see on the computer monitor. Example: How many pixels does that photo have in it? 3 . Mod em - A device that links a computer to the internet through a telephone line, or a DSL or cable connection. Example: Our modem needs to be replaced. Our computer is downloading this photo slowly! 4 . B row ser - A software program that lets you explore the internet to let you discover things like graphics, sound, movies, games, and more. Example: Open a browser and search for George Washington for your President of the United States history project. Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area |

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S uMMERTIME A ILMENTS

Protection and Treatment For Your Child by Karen Ferrieri

t is inevitable that now that summertime is here and the weather is warmer, kids will be outside doing all sorts of things from playing on swing sets to riding bicycles, swimming, hiking in the woods and playing summer sports. And, with all of this outdoor activity there are some preventative measures to help avoid summertime ailments along with treatments that help reduce the symptoms during the healing process. Before doing any outside activity, especially in the summertime, it is extremely important that children wear sun block. Sheela Bhat, MD of Children’s Community Pediatrics in Fox Chapel, recommends using a sun block with a number of 30 or higher. This definitely offers better protection because it goes on thicker and stays on longer. Sun block for children less than 6 months old is not recommended. “Their skin is very sensitive and while children this age do need some sun, small amounts of exposure are best,” says Bhat. Generally young children should stay out of the sun between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and wearing loose fitting clothing and a hat to protect children from the sun’s harmful rays.

“Their skin is very sensitive and while children this age [less than 6 months] do need some sun, small amounts of exposure are best.” Sheela Bhat, MD Children’s Community Pediatrics in Fox Chapel However, if your child does get sunburn the best way to treat the burn is to provide a cool compress on the burn site to ease the pain. Ibuprofen can be used to ease the pain however, you may want to check with your pediatrician on the correct dosage. While playing outdoors your child inevitably will experience mosquito bites, bee stings and poison ivy. You can try to avoid getting a rash from poison ivy by simply avoiding the plant, “teach your kids what poison ivy looks like,” says Bhat. However, children playing outdoors may come in contact with the plant at some time. So, Dr. Bhat recommends applying a topical cortisone cream or anti-itch lotion along with cold compresses to make your child more comfortable if they do develop the itchy, inflammatory rash. using that treatment method should result in the resolution of the rash within a week. However, if a more severe reaction occurs, it is best to contact your pediatrician. In an attempt to avoid mosquito bites, using an insect repellent is generally considered safe. “For bee stings, we generally recommend a paste made out of meat tenderizer. This breaks up the protein in the sting”, says Bhat. Also, use a credit card to try and scrape out the stinger, don’t use tweezers.” Playing outdoors enables a child to grow physically, socially, and emotionally, according to the National Association of Childcare. Knowing how to protect your child against some summertime ailments will enable you and your child to relax and enjoy everything that comes with the warm weather season.

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Investing with Emotion Pride

ou’ve probably heard to boredom how much terms like diversification, correlation, yield, and earnings per share affect your investment returns. But what about amygdala, corpus callosum, hypothalamus, and framing? They may have an even stronger link to your investment results. In the past decade behavioral economists have uncovered evidence that the very survival instincts that have kept us around for millennia profoundly influence how we invest for retirement, college, and other purposes. Instincts and emotions govern our lives, don’t they? They are human nature. We do things because we feel the need, necessity or desire to do them. So is investing any different? It should be, according to authorities on the subject, as well as my own experience with clients. Let me cite a few of the common forms of instinctive or emotional investing. You decide if these are the way to go.

Herd Mentality Picture a group of animals frantically fleeing from predators. Frenzied running about might describe the scene. Well, that might also describe many people in the face of stock market slumps. One hazard of getting caught up in the herd instinct is the possibility of a stampede in the wrong direction, or of just heading in some direction on the basis of poor information. Going with the herd in investing— going with information from CNBC, newspaper articles, or the opinion of a colleague at work—can set you racing toward a cliff.

Over-confidence

Pride most often comes into play when you buy a security and refuse to let it go, even after it makes sense to do so. “This one will recover,” you tell yourself. Sometimes companies don’t recover. Competitors take market share, consumer demand changes, a core technology changes, or some other factor cripples the company. In other cases, people who acknowledge portfolio rebalancing as a smart long-term investing technique refuse to sell off part of their big winner and invest in something that has gained less. They are too proud of buying that winner when they did. The result in this case is an unbalanced portfolio more exposed to the negative effect of a market downturn.

Regret Investors also often avoid selling stocks that are going down in order to avoid the regret of having made a bad investment. Similarly, they avoid selling when prices are going up, because they are afraid that the price will keep going up and they don’t want to regret selling. Those emotional twins, pride and regret, can wreak havoc on a portfolio’s return. Think about one more characteristic of our emotional nature. We respond more strongly to losses than gains. It’s a commonplace in marketing that a person with a bad experience is more apt to talk about it than a person with a good experience. Our restaurant meal is cold or late, and we tell others about it. Our hotel room is not ready when we arrive; we talk about it. Our car breaks down; we recount the story every chance we get. When our experience meets or even exceeds expectations, we are more apt to keep it to ourselves. That imbalance in our responses to setbacks and advances is part of human nature. But it doesn’t always make for the best investment decisions. The less emotional we are, the better investment decisions we make. As wise heads have frequently observed, an important reason for hiring a professional to manage your investments is to remove the emotional tie to the decisions. It’s that emotional tie that can put investors in harm’s way.

Over-confidence comes from thinking you know what you’re doing, when you really don’t. Over-confident investors interpret what’s going on around them and feel they are able make decisions that they’re really not equipped to make. They equate the information they take in with the information affecting entire markets. If they get something right, they credit their investment savvy, not just luck. Over-confidence far too often moves investors to sell on the basis of a day’s or a week’s discouraging news. As a result, they lose a significant amount of potential return compared to sticking with a long-range plan.

Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area |

This I nd ust ry I nsigh t was written by David Jeter CFP®.

David is a Senior Vice President with Allegheny Financial Group. As a member of the executive team, David helps guide Allegheny’s Marketing and Practice Management initiatives. As a practitioner, David provides comprehensive planning and investment management advice for individuals and families. Allegheny Financial Group is a Pittsburgh based financial planning firm that has been providing advice to clients since 1976. For questions or comments contact David at: 811 Camp Horne Road Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412.536.8012 djeter@alleghenyfinancial.com www.alleghenyfinancial.com

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NORTH HILLS COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The Next Best Thing to Having a Superhero in the North Hills by Pamela Palongue

orth Hills Community Outreach has rescued a lot of families. They may not be able to stop a locomotive, but they can certainly take a family suffering from the devastating effects of poverty, hardship or crisis, and put them back on the road to recovery. Now that they have banded together with the Community Auto Division, they will be able to increase their help to the community exponentially. NHCO was formed in response to a flood in 1986 which affected many families in the North Hills. Their formation was unique in that it merged religious, secular business and civic groups in order to help victims. It worked so successfully that the new group decided to form a more permanent organization to continue the assistance for crises resulting from job loss, illness, poverty and other unexpected situations. According to the Executive Director Fay Morgan, the organization helps with immediate situations such as hunger, but the long-term goal is self-sufficiency. Morgan says, “This is not a band-aid solution. Our programs help people to find life-changing solutions.” Realizing the empowerment of selfsufficiency, the organization strives to liberate individuals from dependence by improving their life circumstances, not just feeding them for a day. Some of the short-term solutions include the food pantries, utility assistance and emergency financial help. The long-term help comes in the form of Family Savings Accounts with financial guidance, college scholarships, support groups, and employment-focused training. With education, training and the knowledge of how to manage their money, families and individuals can make permanent improvements to their lifestyle. The Community Auto Program, added in January, continues that tradition of long-range solutions for people in crisis. Previously a separate organization, Community Auto Program accepts donations of cars, which they have repaired and sell at a greatly reduced price to needy families. NHCO and Community Auto realized that the combination of their efforts could be synergistic for the communities they serve.

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As program manager Jennifer Carr notes, “A vehicle is no longer a luxury, it is a tool to get you out of poverty.” According to national statistics, a car can increase the income of an individual by an average of $4,500 to $5,000 annually. The connection between a car and income may seem somewhat obscure at first glance, especially to those blessed with their own transportation. But here are just a few of the reasons why a car is so vitally important to elevating people above the poverty line. A car can enable a person to seek employment outside of his immediate area. Jobs are often hard to come by and if you must limit your search to your surrounding boroughs because of lack of transportation there will be less jobs available and you will most likely miss an opportunity to work for a better salary. Another problem for those looking for employment without transportation, is that the job may not be located on a bus line. This automatically eliminates many opportunities. A car can also get you a promotion in your current position. Carr recalls a situation where a woman worked for a fast food establishment. When she purchased a car from the program, her supervisor promoted her to manager. Carr explains, “Management positions often require the individual to open and close the establishment and to be a [key-holder]. If that employee depends upon the bus to get to work, they may be late in arriving and therefore late in opening the business.” Also, many shifts require a person to work later than the buses run. Some occupations require a car to be able to engage in them at all, for example home health nurses and nurses’ aides which require the aide to drive to the patient’s home. Education is also a major factor in determining income. Carr remembers a young girl who was attending Community College of Allegheny County. In order to graduate, she needed a class that was not offered by CCAC , but was available at the Greensburg campus. However, she had no way to get to Greensburg since she did not have a car. She was placed on the waiting list for a car with the program. When it was finally her turn to come and purchase one, she showed up with her young

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son and her mother driving a brand new Toyota. Initially, Carr wondered why she needed to purchase a car through the program when she already had access to such a nice vehicle. She later learned however that the girl and her mother had pooled their funds to rent a car for the day, in order to take her mother to a job interview that morning and to make the trip to buy a car at the Community Auto Program. Sometimes the car is a lifeline for the elderly and sick. According to Carr, a 74-yearold woman who was an insulin-dependent diabetic could not get to the food pantry or her doctor because she did not live on a bus line. Her own broken down vehicle had a leaky gas tank and other problems. The program was able to help her get a dependable, fuel-efficient car. The Community Auto Program is completely dependent upon individuals donating their old used cars. After repairs are made to these vehicles the cars sell for around $2,000 to $2,500 on average and can literally change someone’s life. The repairs which generally average around $900, are done by certified mechanics which in turn helps

We Take Your Care Personally. At Fox Chapel Physical Therapy, we offer a wide variety of services to patients of all ages. Whether you require individualized therapy services to recover from an injury, accident or surgery, or specialized services to address pain, osteoporosis or incontinence, our team has the experience to develop a treatment plan for you. Rely on the professionals who take your care as personally as you do. Paula of Bellevue needed a safe and reliable vehicle to get to work and to take care of her daughters. She was able to purchase a 2001 Chrysler van with her own savings.

the local economy by providing work to area mechanics. Although more expensive model cars such as BMWs cannot be sold to applicants because of the high cost of insurance and maintenance to such vehicles, the cars can be sold by the program and the money used to purchase more inexpensive cars. Therefore, any vehicle is a welcome donation and the program will travel to anywhere in Allegheny or surrounding counties to pick it up. This is a fitting end for cars that have been inherited from deceased relatives or vehicles to which the owner has an emotional attachment. A car that you are not driving, sitting in your garage could change someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life from despair and poverty to one of hope and prosperity. If you would like to donate a car or make a financial contribution to the North Hills Community Outreach Auto Program, please contact them at 724.443.8300 or you may visit them online at www. nhco.org.

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Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area |

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And improve your picture. Securities offered through Allegheny Investments. Member FINRA SIPC.

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SHEERER AND ASSOCIATES

It Was Almost Not to Be

by Rosemarie Estes

fter a three-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis, Martin (Tim) Sheerer had a left lung transplant in December of 2009. We were finally able to sit down together in April of 2010 for this rare interview. Getting to know Tim over the last year, I was pleased to see he is feeling well and was able to speak about his recent ordeal and surgery. During the progression of his illness, he was stubborn to the point that he used extreme measures so as not to take his breathing machine with him into the courthouse, and certainly not into the courtroom. Walking in without his machine, he was forced to take frequent sitting breaks on the way from the front door into the courtroom, doing all he could not to gain the attention of anyone in the building. Wearing a big grin, he states, “I am very pleased to not have to deal with that.” Tim, 73 years young, spoke with his doctor before his surgery. When asked what his expectations of the operation were, he stated, “Expectations? I have absolutely none. I’ve had a full and blessed life with only one tragedy. And if I died now, I would have no right to complain.” At which point, he added, “Now, about my hopes, though, I have very high hopes and I’m counting on you to give me another 25 years because I love my life!” Soon to be a 50-year resident in the area, Tim says, “The most important person in my life is my wife, Beverly, of 49 years, who grew up on Dorseyville Road and attended Aspinwall High School. It is because of her that we decided to reside here. We raised four children: Tim, Ted, Sally and John, and are further blessed with 10 beautiful grandchildren. We are very fortunate that all live in the area.” It wasn’t always the case. Nine years ago, at the time of 9/11, Tim was still working at Merrill Lynch on Wall Street.

warrant of legal issues, reversing it strictly on the evidence. He mentioned that the most enriching experience of his career was when he was a member of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He served two terms which covered six years from 1999 through 2005. He is the chair of the School Law Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association, a member and former chair of its Professional Ethics Committee and previously has served on the ACBA Board of Governors and the Judiciary Committee. He has been the solicitor for Fox Chapel Area School District since 1984, and served as solicitor for Oakmont and then Riverview School District from 1968 to 2002, and as solicitor for Allegheny Valley School District from 2003 to 2008, and participated in the development of today’s body of school law in all aspects over the years. Early in his legal career, he was an Assistant District Attorney for Allegheny County and then served as Legal Counsel to the President pro tempore of the Senate of Pennsylvania. With his general practice law firm, due to the extent of Tim’s history and experience, Tim notes, “We consider ourselves the very first contact to make when seeking any type of legal counsel. We recognize people have a difficult task at hand when trying to identify who is the most qualified attorney for them. We know the local bar and we can determine the best fit for an individual’s situation.” In closing, Tim reflects on the winding road he took in the beginning of his life’s journey. “I look back and realize, it was almost not to be. If I had my way, when I came out of high school, I would have joined the Navy. My father, who was a steel worker and had served four years in the Pacific with the u.S. Marines in World War II, was strongly against it, saying, ‘I served our time.’ To this, I replied, ‘You didn’t serve my time.’” He adds, “My father hadn’t gone to college and he was adamant about my education. And he had his way; I’m grateful for his persistence. We had a steel strike that year but my parents found a few hundred dollars in the bank when my grandmother died that summer and they got me on the path that has led to a wonderful life for me. I love my family. I love this area where we all live. I love being a lawyer.”

Ted, a bank senior vice president, has lived in Aspinwall for years with his family. Sally worked for Pepsi in West Virginia and now is the owner of PAWS, Inc., an Etna-based corporate ad specialties firm. John was out living in Alabama, as well as Michigan, working for u.S. Steel, and now he is an owner of Juniper Holdings, Inc., a local real estate investment and construction business. On a personal note, showing Tim’s character, while I was walking through the law office of Sheerer & Associates, I took notice of a photo of Lou Holtz on the cover of Life magazine, with a personal message stating, “Thanks for being a great friend for 40 years. I always wanted a brother and I found one in you.” When I inquired about the photo, Tim said that the coach and he grew up together. After the magazine came out, he sent a copy of it to Lou. He wrote to him, “Since I’ve been bragging about you for the last twenty years, and now that you are becoming so famous, I thought it was time for you to autograph this so people will realize that we are friends!” The coach called Tim and said “What is this twenty years? We’ve been friends for more than forty.” To which Tim replied, “Yes, but I’ve only been bragging about you for twenty!” (Some of you may remember that Tim and Beverly were flown in as surprise audience guests during an interview with Lou Holtz on the Regis and Kelly show, at which time, Mr. Holtz lovingly referred to the same story!) Sheerer & Associates’ location of 1000 Main Street in Sharpsburg is in itself, rich with local history. Built in 1871, the building was originally a Farmers and Merchants Bank. With the exception of a short period of time during the Roosevelt administration, it remained a bank until 2000 when National City closed its doors there. Tim bought the building in 2001. Keeping the nostalgic history of the building, the vault remains. The building is landmarked with a statue of Chief Guyasuta, who was the local guide for General George Washington, and also includes on its front a memorial to H. J. Heinz, who grew up and started his business in Sharpsburg. Tim has had many achievements during his career. He holds the distinction of being the only lawyer to earn a reversal of a criminal conviction in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in the last 20 years without the

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L a u r i An n W e s t M e m o r ia l L ib r a r y 1220 Powers Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238 Phone: 412.828.9520 Fax: 412.828.4960 Email: lawestref@einetwork.net www.lauriannwestlibrary.org by Sandy Trozzo

onstruction of a new $6 million Lauri Ann West Memorial Library began in the spring. Now, the Community Center and Library Association is turning its fund-raising attention to the Boyd Community Center. “This is a very exciting time for us,” said Stephanie Flom, executive director of the center. The new library will be built adjacent to the Fox Chapel municipal building. It is currently located in the Boyd Community Center, formerly the Boyd Elementary School, in O’Hara. The association is only approximately $250,000 away from raising the entire $6 million needed for the new library. Bids for the project were received March 2, and the contract awarded to Marty Stewart Co. Groundbreaking was held in April, and construction is expected to take one year.

“It’s exciting to imagine that, a year from now, we’ll have a brand spanking new library,” Flom said. “We couldn’t be happier that we’re able to build our dream library.” The new building will have a reading room with a gas fireplace and comfortable furniture, “almost like a reading parlor,” she added. The children’s area will encompass almost one-quarter of the space, and a teen room will be added. Meeting rooms will also be included. She added that the librarians are currently working to figure out where everything will go in the new building, and the color schemes, tile and furniture are being chosen. “When you get down to that, it starts to feel very real,” Flom said. The Lauri Ann West Library serves all six municipalities in the Fox Chapel Area School District, and also has a small branch in Sharpsburg. That branch, in an old restaurant on Main Street, will also be seeing some work, Flom said. The association received a grant from Allegheny County to pave the parking lot, tear down an old bakery and put in a patio behind the facility.

“It’ll be like a courtyard with a small garden,” Flom said. “It almost doubles our footprint to be able to have outdoor space in the good weather months.” Plans for a second phase include an addition to the building, with the courtyard becoming a transition space between the old building and the addition, she added. “It is such a little jewel down there.” The CCLA is also fund-raising for a new Boyd Community Center. Flom said $2.5 million of the $6 million needed for that project has already been raised. O’Hara Township “took the lead” with a $1 million pledge, she said. After the new library opens, she said, the area now housing the library will be torn down and a new space built closer to Powers Run Road. “It’ll give us a little more street presence,” she said. “[Boyd] is very hidden. It’s a hidden gem. You have to know we are back there.” Because the new facility will be separate from the current center, the center will continue to operate during construction. “Both the library and the community center won’t miss a beat in serving the public,” Flom said.

ox Chapel Area ADVERTISE HERE Please submit your information to sales@incommunitymagazines.com or call

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LOVE the LIBRARY

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We're Just About Harry!

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Mayor Harry McLaughlin

here was no shortage of white turtlenecks, plaid pants, and good times at Pittsburgh Field Club on Thursday, April 29, as guests enjoyed the 1st annual fundraising gala for the library. Honored at the sell-out event was Mayor Harry McLaughlin who has served on the board of the Community Center and Library Association for over 10 years and as president since 2005. The beloved Mayor is also the "trendsetter" of monogrammed white turtlenecks and plaid pants around town. The official groundbreaking of the new Cooper-Siegel Community Library was on Wednesday, May 12, at 10 a.m. Construction of this beautiful facility, which will be located adjacent to the Fox Chapel Municipal Building, is expected to take one year. Marylinda Maddi, Stephanie Flom

Chuck & Jan Malone, John Mihm Melinda & Phillip Beard, Ed & Neatsie Siefert Molly Childs, Katie Butler

Marjory Reynolds, Peggy Jayme

Robert & Kimberly Bartolacci

Mary Beth Smith, David Smith, Bill Martin

Mike Wickerham, Jill Quinn

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             

by Pamela Palongue

spinwall Neighborhood Watch began in January 2010, but already it is bringing the community together and making it a safer more beautiful place to live and work. Over the years, community membership in the more well-known Crime Watch Program had begun to dwindle. At a community meeting to better understand Megan’s Law (a law requiring certain convicted criminals to register their place of residence,) a group of Aspinwall residents became interested in revitalizing the Crime Watch program, which eventually lead to the formation of Neighborhood Watch. Lorraine

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Marks, president of the new organization explained that the program is more comprehensive than Crime Watch and extends beyond crime prevention to community relationships, beautification of the neighborhood and environmental initiatives.

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The national organization of Neighborhood Watch has been extremely helpful in providing support and answers for Marks and the other eight board members in the formation of the Aspinwall group, while maintaining local objectives. Also, extensive research was done and other local watch groups were consulted, including Forest Hills and Sharpsburg in deciding their specific role in the community. They have already participated in several activities. Neighborhood Watch worked with the Annual Green Streets program in April to help remove litter from the streets and park areas of Aspinwall, making it cleaner and more attractive. The group also made an appearance in the Aspinwall Memorial Day Parade to draw awareness to their presence in the community. Neighborhood Watch will also sponsor a self-defense class as their first educational program, taught by Young Brothers Tae Kwon-do. In addition to the positive influence in the borough, Neighborhood Watch will also issue alerts when crime occurs in the area. With support of the Aspinwall Police Department, they will be able to provide citizens with updated information regarding specific areas and situations where crime has occurred and in some cases, a description of the suspect. These warnings will be issued via email alerts. Neighborhood Watch will help lend some peace of mind as a protective influence in the area. In addition to the alerts, other information will be distributed by email, including the group’s events, meetings and helpful information regarding ways to prevent crime. According to Marks, the email list has grown to over 100 citizens already. If you would like to be included on the email list you may inquire at aspinwallneighborhoodwatch@gmail.com. If you would like more information on the Neighborhood Watch program or starting one in your community, you may visit their national website at www.usaonwatch.org.

Embrace Color ummer is around the corner, so why not revitalize a dated room in your home with color? An updated color scheme will give you a refreshing, ‘love coming home’ feeling. Color has an amazing impact on the transformation of a room. Reds pack a wallop. Yellows are warm and welcoming. Greens relax. Blues cool… Memorable, eyecatching color is a major design movement of this decade!

Bright, fresh colors were in abundance at this spring’s furniture market in High Point, NC. There were blues ranging from ink blue and navy to turquoise and bold aqua. There were bright, bold shades of coral, orange, and red. All were crisp, fresh, and invigorating! Greens, in shades from bright grass to olive, moss, and sage were also prevalent. Imagine a colorful new scheme in your kitchen, dining, or family room – full of energy and warmth for your family. Sophisticated hues are now the ‘new neutrals’ (no longer your basic black or brown). You can use beautiful grays and bronze for neutrals, such as warm, rich slate, stone and metallic. Mix several shades of white or soft yellows to create a chalky white, vanilla or buttery yellow as a new neutral. Layer in rich textures in fabrics and furnishings for interest and sophistication. How about a black and white scheme, with an eye-catching accent color of bright blue or red? Be sure to consider your wood moldings when updating your color scheme. Painting wood-stained molding a fresh white or off-white will freshen and update a room. And don’t forget the ceiling (forget the basic white). A complementary color on the ceiling may be the perfect way to contrast your wall color. Or, consider a ceiling color that’s a few shades lighter than the wall color. If your walls are light, think about a bold color on the ceiling to contrast. Also, consider a fabulous new wall covering. They’re no longer “your mom’s wallpaper,” but come in great textures, patterns, and colors. Wall covering can serve as a rich but subtle background, or stand out and set the tone for the entire room. We don’t paper whole homes anymore, so a stylish paper in a dining room, powder room, or master bedroom is often a great design element. And today’s papers are easy to remove from properly prepared walls. Homeowners are embracing color in a big way, so don’t be afraid. Go for it and love coming home! This I nd ust ry I nsigh t was written by Cathy Davin of Davin Interiors LLC. Davin Interiors LLC is a full-service design firm dedicated to bringing style and comfort to your home. Please contact us at 412.221.5770, or visit us on the web at www.davininteriors.com.

!! Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area |

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Buy from Someone Who Knows– and Cares– DON’S APPLIANCES hen Donald Hillebrand, a former Maytag Appliance repairman, started Don's Appliances in 1971, his vision was to provide customers with premium appliances, but also to provide outstanding service throughout the appliance's lifetime. 39 years later, Don Hillebrand and his 4 sons, Terry, Jason, Matt and Nick are still offering the same brand of customer service. “Our service department is outstanding,” says Don Hillebrand. “We service what we sell and our factory trained employees have the knowledge and knowhow to take good care of our customers.” Don’s Appliances sells over 20 different brands of appliances for every budget from practical to luxury. With four locations, they offer a convenient, easy way to shop. The sales staff is trained to help customers figure out exactly what they need - and want - in new appliances. In addition, customers can be sure they are getting the best price at Don’s. With their guaranteed low prices and Don’s strong reputation for top-notch service before and after each sale, customers can feel good about their purchases. No time to stop in the showroom?

Refined Tastes

No worries! Shoppers can go to the web site www.donsappliances.com and shop online. In the Don’s Appliances showroom, shoppers can look at everything from practical dishwashers, luxury gas cook tops and even outdoor grills. With the variety of luxury appliances on the market today, shoppers planning their new kitchen will find the most up to date, energy efficient appliances that are also beautifully designed. In this day and age of big box appliance stores, customers can walk into Don’s Appliances, a family owned and operated business, and feel like a person, not a number. “We take our customer service very seriously,” says Hillebrand. “We stock over 20,000 parts in our Canonsburg showroom, including parts for Sub-Zero, Miele, Asko, Dacor, Fisher & Paykel, and Viking, just to name a few. Don’s also offers a full line of vacuum parts and service including bags and belts for almost every brand. If your appliance is in need of repair, next day service is available for Don’s Appliances’ customers. Additionally, customers can carry in their microwave ovens, vacuums, and dehumidifiers to the Canonsburg Showroom for service. Don's Appliances has brands and products that can meet a wide variety of needs. With everything from refrigerators, cook tops and wall ovens to washers and dryers and vacuums, customers will be able to take advantage of the large selection and have access to some of the best names in the industry. With four locations including upper St. Clair, Canonsburg, Pittsburgh (Baum Boulevard) and a service center at 2335 Washington Road, they can help you with all of your appliance purchases and service. The service team has over 100 years of combined experience and is very knowledgeable in all of the major brands. Don’s also remodeled their showrooms highlighting Wolf-Sub Zero and also includes the new Miele Gallery at the Baum Boulevard and Canonsburg locations.

DON’S APPLIANCES LOCATIONS Norman Center II 1759 N. Highland Road upper St. Clair, PA 15241 412.835.2300

Pittsburgh at 5958 Baum Blvd 412.661.7550 Upper St. Clair at Norman Center II 412.835.2300 Canonsburg at 2335 Washington Rd 724.916.0100 Service at 2335 Washington Rd 866.544.1711

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Hours: Mon, Wed 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tues, Thurs, Fri 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Closed Sunday

2335 Washington Rd. Canonsburg, PA 15317 724.916.0100 www.donsappliances.com

| IN Fox Chapel Area

Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tues, Thurs 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Closed Sunday

5958 Baum Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412.661.7550 Hours: Mon-Thurs 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Fri, Sat 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Evenings by Appointment Closed Sunday

Service Dept. 2335 Washington Rd. Canonsburg, PA 15317 866.544.1711 Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Closed Sunday

Pittsburghâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Most Spectacular Flooring Store!

ANDREW LEO

MARBLE GRANITE SLATE LIMESTONE CARPET HARDWOOD TILE LAMINATE AREA RUGS VINYL

Hair Salon

PROFESSIONAL CUSTOM DESIGN & INSTALLATION

5416 Walnut Street Mineo Bldg. 2nd Floor Shadyside

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Exclusively on Route 8 - Valencia Just 4 Miles North of Route 228 West Across from H.P. Starr Lumber

Cutting Styling Coloring Relaxing Treatment

Discover a new way to shop for carpet and floors!

Kerastase Mon-Wed-Fri 9-5; Tu-Th 9-8; Sat 9-2

Retail Products

724-586-7777

www.ParaccaInteriors.com

Hair Salon

SHE BROKE

To a Home of Distinction...

THE GLASS

Every amenit enity y awaits the most discriminating buyer, including sports court, media room, wine cellar. Seven acres of complete privacy, large heated swimming pool and new barn. A rare opportunity to own your own private resort!

CEILING BEFORE ANYONE EVER

CALLED IT THAT. NOW SHE JUST NEEDS

A CONVERSATION.

Volunteer now.

Or to a Perfect home in O'Hara

Thousands of seniors are trying hard to remain independent. But they need our help. A friendly visit. A ride to a doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office. Even simple help with grocery shopping. Please join us. Volunteers are needed in every neighborhood, from as little as an hour a month to routine weekly visits. Learn more at 412-307-0071 or www. openyourhearttoasenior.org.

A completely remodeled, charming brick Cape Cod. Hardwood floors, beautiful kitchen with granite and stainless appliances, 2.5 remodeled baths. Fully finished basement with bath. Spacious level fenced-in in backyard, detached garage.

Jhonnie Jhonni e M. Sims

Howard Hanna Realty Fox Chapel Office Multi-Million Dollar Producer 412 412-980-3724 (Cell) jsims@howardhanna.com

An initiative of United Way of Allegheny County in cooperation with Family Services of Western Pennsylvania and North Hills Community Outreach

Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area |

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Formerly Alcoma Golf Course

3 Lakes Golf Course Public Play & Events

18 Holes INCLUDES cart $39.50 Any Day, Any Time!

www.JustMath.net www.AllianceInEducation.com

6700 Saltsburg Road Pittsburgh, Pa 15235

412-793-7111 www.3lakesgolf.com

Mooney's Cleaning Service and Supplies 2 1 4 Holland Ave. P ittsbur gh P A 1 5 1 0 4 P hone 4 1 2 . 7 5 9 . 5 5 8 3 mooneyscleaning@ Gmail. com Commercial and Business Cleaning B OND E D AND INS UR E D

your MESS up is my CLEAN up

ox Chapel Area H I G H S CH O O L R E U N IO N ? Are you planning a High School Reunion? Let us know! We'll post your contact information so that your classmates can get in touch! Contact Marybeth at

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ADVERTISE HERE! I N F ox Ch apel A rea, pub lish ed f our t im es a year, is carrier rout e m ailed t o all F ox Ch apel h ouseh old s and b usinesses.

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Open Your

Heart

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By Jonathan Barnes

hen Mary Allshouse needs a ride to the store or elsewhere, she’s got a group of helping hands at her service, thanks to a new initiative geared toward keeping seniors living in their homes as long as they are able. Allshouse, 90, had a nice outing recently with Dee, one of the Open Your Heart to a Senior volunteers. She took Allshouse shopping and Allshouse returned the favor, buying lunch for the two of them. “It was very enjoyable,” said Allshouse. “The volunteers are very lovely people, very enjoyable.” The program, a one-year partnership of North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO) and Family Services of Western Pennsylvania, is made possible through funding from the united Way of Allegheny County. The necessity of the initiative was determined through a study by the university of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health which was funded by the united Way of Allegheny County, said Nancy Jones, North Boroughs Outreach Manager for NHCO. For several years both NHCO and Family Services have had outreach programs geared toward helping seniors in their homes.

From the university of Pittsburgh study, the united Way identified the care of frail, home-bound seniors as one of the most serious issues in the region. The united Way also learned that both NHCO and Family Services’ programs were struggling to get enough volunteers to help seniors. “The initiative is designed to help recruit more volunteers,” Jones said. “The idea is to let the community know there are seniors who need a ride to the grocery store or to the doctor’s office, or a visit or a friendly call.” Those interested in volunteering to help a senior in need are welcome “The idea is to join the effort. They help by providing transportation for seniors to let the to medical appointments, community know there are pharmacy visits, yard work or simply helping them with seniors who need a ride correspondence or bills. to the grocery store or to For more information on the Open Your Heart to a Senior the doctor’s office, or a program, email seniors@nhco.org, or visit or a friendly call.” call 412.307.0071 or toll-free 866.467.0888.

Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area |

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Probate and Negotiations What you should know WHAT IS PROBATE?

NEGOTIATIONS

Probate is the post-death process performed by an attorney through the Register of Wills in which the deceased individual’s assets are determined and valued, creditors are determined and paid, estate and inheritance taxes are calculated and paid, with the filing of the requisite tax returns, and the remaining assets are distributed to the decedent’s heirs. The following are some of the necessary steps in the probate process: 1. Acknowledgement of a Personal Representative - In this part of the process, the Executor or Administrator of the estate is determined. 2. Determining and Locating Assets - This is the initial stage in securing and valuing the decedent’s assets. 3. Determining Creditors - Creditors with liens or claims should be paid before any other distributions except administrative expenses. 4. Ascertaining the Values of Assets at Death - This will ultimately determine the tax obligation. 5. Publishing Notice - This is to allow any potential creditors to make a claim. 6. Pay Outstanding Bills - Generally, every estate has some outstanding bills at the decedent’s death. 7. Filing the Tax Returns - Final income tax and inheritance tax returns must be filed. 8. Paying the Taxes - This is a priority before distribution to heirs. 9. Final Distribution - The final distribution of the remaining assets are distributed in accordance with the will.

The following is a simple model I use in most negotiations. Although simple, application of the model to the case and the process can be very complex. • Look at the facts. • Assess leverage. • Determine issues. • Weigh issues against statutes and legal precedent. • Assess relative strength of arguments based upon application of law to facts. • Repeat above steps from opposition’s standpoint. • Do the settlement v. fight cost-benefit analysis. • Never negotiate from weakness. • Rarely bluff. (There is a difference between playing poker and gambling.) • Shrewdly communicate your position to the opposition without letting them know where you ultimately stand. • Never give best offer first. • Allow for development of the negotiations. (Timing is key in all negotiations.) • Never let them know what you’re thinking. • Never let the type of opponent you are up against affect how you negotiate. • Never let it get personal. • Never negotiate with emotion. • Negotiate hard, but strive toward the win-win. Feel free to contact me either by email or by phone to suggest or discuss additions to my list. This I nd ust ry I nsigh t was written by Gusty A.E. Sunseri. Gusty is a graduate with University honors from Carnegie Mellon University, earning a B.S. Degree in Administrative Management Sciences and a B.S. Degree in Economics. Mr. Sunseri, who has 25 years experience in general legal practice, earned his Juris Doctor Degree from Catholic University. www.sunserilawfirm.com Feel free to contact me with any questions.

GUYASUTA FOOTBALL

1 2 9 0 F reeport R oad • L IT IGAT IO N • PERSO NAL INJ U RY • DIV O RCE • BU SINESS L AW 6 2

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KIDS AND PARENTS, GUYASUTA FOOTBALL IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2010 SEASON, AGES 5-13. AS A COACH AND AS A PARENT, I HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND HAVING YOUR CHILD PARTICIPATE. FEEL FREE TO CALL ME FOR MORE DETAILS.

WORSHIP NEWS Places of Worship in your area: Adat Shalom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.820.7000 All Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.781.0530 Aspinwall Presbyterian . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.781.2884 Chabad of Fox Chapel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.781.1800 Catholic Community Sharpsburg . . . . . .412.784.8700 Christ The Divine Teacher Catholic Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.781.7927 Community United Methodist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.781.6951 Dorseyville Alliance Church . . . . . . . . .412.767.9797 Emmanuel Lutheran Church . . . . . . .412.781.2764 Evangelical Bible Fellowship . . . . . . . .412.726.6684 Faith United Methodist Church . . . . . .412.963.8155 First English Lutheran Church . . . . . . .412.782.1623 First Evangelical Lutheran . . . . . . . . . .412.782.2272 Fox Chapel Episcopal Church . . . . . . .412.963.8938 Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church . . . .412.963.8243 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church . . . .412.963.9494 Grace United Methodist Church . . . . .412.782.3396 Harmarville United Methodist . . . . . . .412.828.0292 Harmarville United Presbyterian . . . . .412.828.8232

Hoboken Presbyterian Church . . . . . . 412.828.2611 Holy Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.821.4424 Immanuel Lutheran Church . . . . . . . . .412.271.1995 Mt. Olive Baptist Church . . . . . . . . . . . .412.781.5554 Madonna of Jerusalem . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.781.6119 Pine Creek Prebyterian Church . . . . . .412.963.7868 St. John’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.781.6119 St. Joseph O’Hara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.963.8885 St. Mary of Assumption . . . . . . . . . . . .412.486.7611 St. Mary’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.781.2866 St. Nicholas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.821.3438 St. Scholastica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.781.0186 St. Edward Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.828.4066 St. Francis of Assisi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.828.4066 St. Juan Diego . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.784.8700 Trinity United Church of Christ . . . . . . .412.767.4794 If your place of worship was not on our list, please E-mail the information to marybeth@incommunitymagazines.com.

able

cates Avail

Gift Certifi

KD’S KLEAN UPS Cleaning Up Fox Chapel Move In/Move Out Cleaning One shot Cleaning Weekly Cleanings Alternate Weekly Cleanings Monthly Cleanings Whole House Clean Outs Organization (Homes and Offices) Garage Clean Outs New Construction Clean Up

Do y ou k now someone who is serv ing in the armed forces from the Fox Chapel area? W e would lik e to honor their commitment b y featuring them IN Fox Chapel Area M agaz ine. Please forward your name, the soldier’s name and where they are serving, along with a photo to marybeth@incommunitymagazines.com

Free Phone or On Site Estimates

H e lp u s r e c o g n iz e th e s e fin e m e n a n d w o m e n ! Summer 2010 | IN Fox Chapel Area |

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Fox Chapel Coldwell Banker Agent Lori Crandell Takes the Stress out of Real Estate hen it comes to real estate, Coldwell Banker Fox Chapel agent Lori Crandell is someone you want to know. In the business for more than 12 years, Crandell has come full circle - starting out as an agent, then a broker managing an office, and back into sales, and now is consistently ranked as one of the top 25 agents in Coldwell Banker Pittsburgh market. “I love selling real estate. I love the flexibility of it,” she said. “With two kids at Dorseyville Middle School, there is a lot of picking up and dropping off that goes on. However, real estate is a 24/7 job. You can never really say I’m not going to answer calls this day.” Crandell said it’s helpful that her husband Tal Crandell is a Coldwell Banker manager in the Hampton office because of the demands the business puts on agents. “He completely understands the crazy hours and is very supportive by helping at home as well as with work issues.” But because of the “crazy” hours she works, Crandell’s clients tend to be clients for life. “I often get calls from past clients who are referring friends or asking for real estate advice, even though I sold them their house 5 or 10 years ago,” she said. “It’s the best compliment anyone can ever give

Let Our Experience Work for You! 1344 Freeport Road Pittsburgh, PA 15238 412.963.7655 Ext. 242

Kathy Marsico 412.260.8852

Lori Crandell 412.779.6239

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY REAL ESTATE BEGINS WITH PROPERTY BUT IT DOESN'T END THERE. We strive to make the buying and selling of real estate as cost effective as possible while maintaining the highest level of service ALWAYS EXCEEDING CUSTOMERS' EXPECTATIONS. We provide the most professional, informative, loyal and dedicated service in the industry. The best intrest of our clients will always come first, and we will place the clients' concerns ahead of our own in each and every transaction, as we are dedicated to the development of long-term client relationships! We provide accurate and up-to-date information, skilled analysis and sound real estate advice. We continually explore new ideas and technology, to make the selling of real estate faster and easier. 6 4

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me because it shows that they appreciated the level of service I provided for them.” While Crandell resides in Fox Chapel, she doesn’t limit herself when it comes to area, or just being a Buyer’s Agent or Listing Agent. She specializes in working with first-time buyers, people relocating to the area and “downsizers.” “Buying and selling real estate is unlike any other asset because there are emotional ties that come with it,” Crandell said. “Buyers are stressed because buying a home is the biggest investment they will ever make or they are relocating from another state. Sellers often have difficulty because they either grew up in the house or have other emotional circumstances surrounding their moving, like a divorce or financial difficulties. I try to make the process as easy as possible and to reduce the amount of stress involved in a transaction.” With all of the ups and downs in the real estate market, Crandell remains optimistic and said that conditions in Pittsburgh are still conducive for buying and selling. “I don’t like to predict what the market’s going to do, but despite all the media that we’re hearing, there are some areas around Pittsburgh that actually are experiencing a housing shortage,” Crandell said. “People are afraid to put their house on the market, and as a result housing inventory is down compared to the last couple of years. The bottom line is if they’re priced right, the houses are going to sell.” And while she’s been the Fox Chapel office’s Top Selling Agent for 2008 and 2009, Crandell said it’s the office and Coldwell Banker’s technology that makes it easy for her to do her job. “We have an internet marketing strategy that is unrivaled in the Pittsburgh market. We also have had a new manager for the past two years, Rohn Neugebauer, and the office has really grown; it’s a team environment.” she said. “We also do charitable work to give back to the community. Last year, we organized a fashion show and auction at the Fox Chapel Racquet Club and raised more than $18,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.” Despite all that she has going on, Crandell said she always has time for her clients. She welcomes all prospective homebuyers and sellers and said that she’s ready to make them her highest priority. “When I’m working with them, they are my main focus and get 100 percent of my attention,” she said. “I treat every client as if they are my only client.” Lori Crandell can be reached by calling her directly at 412.779.6239.

“My doctor told me I can treat my fibroids without a hysterectomy.” — Tanya, age 43

Heavy Periods? Pelvic Pain? Frequent Urination? Constipation/Bloating? You might have uterine fibroids Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that grow on or in the muscles of the uterus (womb). At least 25 percent of women in the U.S. have fibroids. Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a safe, non-surgical procedure for treating uterine fibroids and providing symptom relief.

• No surgery • No general anesthesia • Overnight stay • Covered by most insurance plans

For more information contact:

866-241-7215

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ox Chapel Area