IN Fox Chapel Area by IN Community Magazines

SUMMER 2011

ox Chapel Area COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

 

COMMUNITY-DRIVEN

  

Fox Chapel Area School District Information on the FCASD 2011-2012 Proposed Final Budget

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Contents F ox C h a p e l A r e a | S U M M E R 2 0 1 1 |

S U M

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2011

H ealth and W ellness N ew s Y ou Can U se

Heart Health Is a Family Awair E v ery member of your family could hav e some degree of risk when it comes to dev eloping heart disease. L ook inside for ways to get your family heart healthy.

What’s Inside

5 6

K eep in g Y our C ool in H ot W eather T he G ood N ews Ab out H eart D isease F ive W ays to L ower Y our B lood Pressure

3 3

page 4

Publisher’s Message

2 0 11 U P M C

5 8

Y oun g Athletes an d S udden C ardiac D eath W hat P arents N eed to K now Ex ercise: T oo Much of a G ood T hin g C an B e H armf ul

page 5

T he D own side of F alls

page 6

C hoosin g the Rig ht D octor f or Y ou

page 7

F it F eet: S ummer F oot C are T ip s W hat’ s H ap p en in g at U PMC S t. Marg aret

4 |

Sharpsburg Baseball/Softball Association is in Full Swing |

Alpine Inspired Estate Brings Touch of Europe to Aspinwall |

On the Road to Recovery |

Free Van Service Keeps Area Seniors Moving |

Fox Chapel Area School District |

Oakmont’s Newest River Development |

Peoples Natural Gas

UPMC Today |

Real Estate in Fox Chapel Area |

Cooper-Siegel Community Library Unveiled |

Special Value Coupons |

Tired of Being Tired? Fighting Fatigue |

EVLA Minimally Invasive Procedure Brings Immediate Vein Relief | 32 |

Ask the Dentist |

Is Estate Planning Really Necessary? |

Rhinoplasty: A Surgery for Any Season of Your Life |

Poor Posture Equals Poor Health |

So What if I Have a Hearing Loss?

FEATURES

COMMUNITY INTEREST

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

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| Health and Wellness News You Can Use |

| Community-Driven |

42 |

69 |

Helping Families Say Goodbye |

What Keeps You Up at Night?

57 | |

62 |

46 |

65 66

Why Isn’t My Home Selling? |

Does My Child Need Speech Therapy? |

One Doorway, Two Options |

Pool & Spa Outlet |

Westmoreland Supply |

Fox Chapel Area High School students who have qualified for national forensic (public speaking) competitions and the club's sponsor, Mark Matusiak, show off just some of the trophies they have won this school year.

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

ON THE COVER

page 2 page 3

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ox Chapel Area S U M M E R 2 0 1 1 Welcome to the SUMMER issue of Fox Chapel Area magazine. As I write this, I’m thinking back to the time I spent with my family during Easter, and wish that that togetherness could be something shared yearlong. I suppose it’s the holidays that make family time seem more special, which would mean that the other days of the week are taken for granted. I think that’s true for most of us. You can’t treat every sit-down meal like it’s Easter brunch, not when there are sports practices to drive to, homework assignments and piano lessons. Sometimes the best quality time we can have as a family is passing the happy meal to the back of the caravan so the kids can eat before they get dropped off yet again. But keep in mind, that before we know it, these summer days will be winding down into fall and we’ll have missed the season that’s best for spending time with our families – outside of holidays. My wish for everyone is to hold on to what’s dear, and make the most of your summer!

I N F ox Chapel Area is a non- p a r t isa n c om m u nit y m a g a z ine d e d ic a t e d t o r e p r e se nt ing , e nc ou r a g ing a nd p r om ot ing t h e F ox C h a p e l S c h ool D ist r ic t a nd it s c om p r ising m u nic ip a l it ie s b y f oc u sing on t h e t a l e nt s a nd g if t s of t h e p e op l e w h o l iv e a nd w or k h e r e . O u r g oa l is t o p r ov id e r e a d e r s w it h t h e m ost inf or m a t iv e a nd p r of e ssiona l r e g iona l p u b l ic a t ion in t h e C om m onw e a l t h of P e nnsy l v a nia . PU B L IS H E R

Wayne Dollard M

A N AG IN G

E D IT O R

Marybeth Jeffries marybeth@incommunitymagazines.com R E G IO N A L

E D IT O R

Dana Black McGrath d.mcgrath@incommunitymagazines.com O FFIC E

A N AG E R

Leo Vighetti leo@incommunitymagazines.com ST A FF PH O T O G R A PH E R

Jack Megaw j.megaw@incommunitymagazines.com W

Wayne Dollard Publisher

Hello and welcome to the summer issue of Fox Chapel Area magazine. I joined the team at IN Community Magazines in April as North Regional Editor and I am so excited to turn the page on a new chapter in my career with such a dynamic and fast-growing company. As editor of this and seven other local magazines, I will be getting back to the work I did early on in my journalism career – delivering community-focused news. Over the past 22 years I have worked in Pittsburgh regional media for a number of newspapers and magazines, and also worked on the other side of the fence in public relations and corporate communications. I am so grateful for the contacts and colleagues I have met along the way, many of whom have become dear friends. Though I appreciate this rich experience, I have to admit my favorite job is being mom to my four-year-old triplet girls, Molly, Bridget and Shannon. As I work through my first production cycle, I am looking forward to learning more about what makes each of the communities we cover unique. If you have ideas for news and feature stories or something else you would like to see on our pages, please do not hesitate to contact me. I always welcome the opportunity to meet new friends. Happy summer,

R IT E R S

Pamela Palongue G R A PH IC D E S IG N

Cassie Brkich Sharon Cobb Susie Doak

Jan McEvoy Joe Milne Tamara Tylenda

PH O T O G R A PH E R S

Garyyonphotography.com A DV E R T IS IN G

SAL E S

Derek Bayer Brian Daley Gina D’Alicandro Tina Dollard Rose Estes John Gartley Jason Huffman Lori Jeffries Rita Lengvarsky Connie McDaniel Brian McKee

David Mitchell Tamara Myers Gabriel Negri Robert Ojeda Annette Petrone Vincent Sabatini Michael Silvert RJ Vighetti Nikki CapezioWatson

T h is m a g a z ine is c a r r ie r r ou t e m a il e d t o a l l d ist r ic t h ou se h ol d s a nd b u sine sse s. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Copyright 2011. CO R R E S P O N D E N CE A l l inq u ir ie s, c om m e nt s a nd p r e ss r e l e a se s sh ou l d b e d ir e c t e d t o: I N Com m u n i t y M ag az i n es A t t n: E d it or ia l 6 0 3 E a st M c M u r r a y R oa d M c M u rra y, P A 1 5 3 1 7 P h : 7 2 4 .9 4 2 .0 9 4 0 F a x : 7 2 4 .9 4 2 .0 9 6 8

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Dana Black McGrath Regional Editor

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                                  

g n i w S l l u F

ne of the most beloved rites of summer came close to striking out in Sharpsburg. But, thanks to dedicated volunteers and supportive businesses stepping up to the plate, baseball in the borough is in full swing. Two years ago, the Sharpsburg Baseball/Softball Association was fighting for survival as participation in the once-thriving organization dwindled to just one team. Established in 1950 by John Susi along with other organizers, the association hit its low point two years ago, when just 15 children participated in the program. Since then the association has focused on rebuilding and expanding, growing to three teams last year and five teams this year. “One of the reasons we were falling apart is that there is the competition of more sports in each season that take some players away,” says Barbara Gigliotti, president. More and more sports are expanding and lengthening their seasons and cutting into other sports’ traditional seasons. Gigliotti has volunteered with the Sharpsburg association for the past 15 years and has served as president for two years. Another reason for the downturn in enrollment, Gigliotti says, was the recession and poor economic climate. With so many families struggling to make ends meet, economic concerns prevented many from enrolling their children in such activities. So, to encourage enrollment, the association decided to lower the registration fee, which now is $35 per year. This year there are approximately 75 children involved in the program, a significant increase from the 15 enrolled just two years ago. “We keep growing at the next age level, so the kids who have been playing with us can stay,” Gigliotti

explains. “We don’t want to lose the kids who have been playing.” This season’s five teams consist of a T-ball team for kids age 5-6; a boys team and a girls team for ages 7-8; and a boys team and a girls team for ages 9-10. Gigliotti is quick to credit the support of local businesses with the association’s financial regrowth. “About two-thirds of the business owners in town have purchased sponsorship banners to hang at the field,” she estimates. Those sponsorship dollars have helped to keep the registration fees down and to provide new and updated equipment for the players. And, it has enabled the association to donate back to the borough, providing new fencing for the first and third baselines and backstop, and making repairs to the outfield fence. The Sharpsburg Baseball/Softball Association is part of the Fox Chapel Area Baseball Federation, which includes organizations from Sharpsburg, Indiana, Morningside and Aspinwall. Teams from each of the areas typically will face each other two to three times during the season. The spring season runs April through June and there also is a Fall Ball session from September through the end of October. Home field is Heinz Memorial Field at 19th and Chapman streets. To keep the momentum going even in the offseason, the association hosts events throughout the year to give team members the opportunity to socialize and rejuvenate their team spirit. Organizers also make an effort to support the volunteer coaches by standing behind their decisions on rules, policies and procedures, and supplying them with educational materials. For more information, call 412.781.2673.

F ox C h a p e l A r e a | S u m m e r 2 0 1 1 | inc om m u nit y m a g a z ine s. c om

 Brings Touch of Europe to

f you have ever been sitting in traffic along the Route 28 corridor, chances are your wandering gaze led you to Heidelberg – not Germany, but the series of miniature castles that pepper the hillside along Center Avenue in Aspinwall. The series of stone structures built by famed architect Frederick Sauer has earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places as the Sauer Buildings Historic District. An Alpine-inspired “village,” Heidelberg started with construction of Sauer’s own residence, a three-story, foursquare Colonial Revival style home. Sauer, a German-born immigrant, came to Pittsburgh from Germany in 1880 and soon afterward established an architectural firm as well as the Aspinwall-Delafield Land Company. His works included numerous Catholic churches around the area. Two of his most notable works can be found within major Pittsburgh attractions – St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (the huge church in the middle of the bustling Strip District that was built in 1891) and St. Mary of the Mount Church (situated along Grandview Avenue on Mt. Washington overlooking the city, built in 1896). Sometime in the late 1920s, Sauer started to expand on his 30-acre home site. The project started with the remodeling of a chicken coop in an eccentric, fantasy-inspired style. One by one, he built smaller structures and offered them as rental units, creating the series of miniature stone castles connected by a narrow and winding stone path. Decorative archways, walls and other interesting structures work to enhance Heidelberg’s old-world charm. He named the estate “Heidelberg” for his hometown in Germany. Several of Sauer’s other works in the area also have made it onto the National Historic Register, including the aforementioned St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Latimer School (located at Tripoli and James streets in East Allegheny/North Side), and St. Nicholas Croatian Church on Maryland Avenue in Millvale. Sauer continued to work on his Heidelberg project until his death in 1942, when ownership of Heidelberg passed to his son. About 10 years later, in 1952, Sauer’s son sold the property to Joseph Noro, an Aspinwall resident. Now Mario Noro, Joseph’s son, is owner and caretaker since inheriting the property from his parents. Sauer’s son had allowed the property to deteriorate, according to Noro, and when the elder Noro purchased the property he spent somewhere between $200,000 and $300,000 restoring it to its former grandeur. 6

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Aspinwall

“He bought it because those homes reminded him of his home,” Noro explains. Joseph Noro also was an immigrant, and hailed from a region north of Venice, Italy – just on the other side of the Alps from Sauer’s native land. After his father’s death in 1979, Mario Noro watched over the property for his mother and eventually inherited it, along with the responsibility of its upkeep. “It’s a piece of property that you have to have someone around all the time,” he says. “You can’t just look at it – it’s an antique.” Fortunately Noro had the know-how to keep up with the demands of maintaining the property. He has been in construction for most of his life. “You have to be in that kind of work. It’s a matter of knowing what to do,” he says. These days he put his son, Joseph Noro (named for Noro's father), in charge of the property. And, the elder Noro reports, he is doing a great job. “It's a lot of headache and a lot of money to bring it back because it is a unique piece of property,” Noro says of Heidelberg. “My dad did it, I did it, and now my son is doing it.” Noro, who lives in Aspinwall but not on the estate, owns a total of six buildings housing 10 rental units. There also are three other structures at Heidelberg that now are private homes. Spring cleanup at Heidelberg is an annual ritual – and a lot of work. At 84 years old, Noro says, “I’m getting too old for this.” He has put the property up for sale, but it is not listed with a real estate agent or broker. Noro says he is entertaining private offers and, although he did not disclose the amount, says his asking price is reasonable.

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r e c o m e n d e d 201 1 - 201 2 BUDGET: A ME SSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

eveloping a budget for public school districts in Pennsylvania has become a very complex and strategic process. Each year, the decisions become more difficult as we consider significant cuts in state subsidy, rising costs, and an uncertain economy. I have often praised the members of the Fox Chapel Area Board of School Directors for taking their responsibility very seriously of providing our students with the best possible educational opportunities while keeping the district financially sound. Although the loss of nearly $1 million in state subsidy in the 2011-2012 budget is significant, our district has taken steps over the past few years to protect the programs and practices that make the Fox Chapel Area School District a district recognized for excellence in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation. As a result, although the cuts to school funding are significant, the school district remains financially sound. You have probably read the reports on the impact state funding cuts have had on various districts throughout Pennsylvania. Some districts have been forced to return to half-day kindergarten classes while others are furloughing dozens of teachers across all grade levels and curricular areas. The Fox Chapel Area School District began to look at the financial picture of the district when Act 1 (the legislation that limits raising taxes to fund education to an index that is determined by the state each year) became law. The district has used the index to support our programs and to also maintain a healthy reserve fund that can be used when facing emergency situations or difficult funding years. Although the Board has used the index to increase funding, they have never used the exceptions that allow school districts to go above that index. In addition, over the past three years, the administration has worked to not replace positions when staff members have retired from the district. Providing a quality education that meets the needs of all students is an expensive mission. The Fox Chapel Area School District strives to provide a high quality education to each child that enters our district. The district is also noted for its outstanding programs and practices to ensure that gifted students and students with special needs are challenged. In addition, it is difficult to find other school districts as dedicated to the arts and educational technology as Fox Chapel Area. Our students are accepted to the finest institutions of higher learning in the nation. We truly work hard to educate the total child. The goal of the Board of School Directors and administration is to continue to be a premier school district. Our challenge will continue to be the rising costs and the unfunded state mandates that are taking millions of dollars from the public school districts across Pennsylvania. An example is the fact that the Fox Chapel Area School District paid out over $900,000 for students to attend cyber charter and charter schools instead of attending schools within the district in 2010. Another future threat to the stability of our public schools is Senate Bill 1 that proposes the creation of a voucher system that would allow public school dollars to flow to private and nonpublic schools. The citizens of the Fox Chapel Area School District understand the importance of a quality education. That is evident in the support that has been given to the school district through the years. The 2011-2012 proposed final budget is outlined on the following pages. We feel strongly that the budget allows the Fox Chapel Area School District to maintain the excellence in education expected by our community while at the same time cutting back on as many expenditures as possible. Thank you for your continued support of public school education. Together, we can make a positive difference. Anne E. Stephens, Ph.D. Superintendent

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2011-2012 PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 201 1 - 201 2 PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET

he 2011-2012 Fox Chapel Area School District proposed final budget calls for budgetary expenditures of $79,656,744. The increase in expenditures from the 2010-2011 final budget is projected at $708,375, or 0.89 percent. The proposed final budget will increase the property tax rate from 21.26 mills to 21.5576 mills. This represents a 1.4 percent increase in the millage rate, which matches the increase allowable under the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s index for 2011-2012. The value of a mill for the 2011-2012 school year is estimated to be $2,634,364. The School Board approved the 2011-2012 proposed final budget at its regular business meeting May 9, 2011. The public will have the opportunity to learn more about the budget and make comments at a public information session that will be held Thursday, June 9. 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 6 (at Dorseyville Middle School) and June 13 during its meetings, and the Board is expected to pass a final 2011-2012 budget at the special year-end meeting June 20. 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 2011-2012 proposed final budget reflects the following: — Salary line items are expected to increase 1.8 percent from last year’s budget. — There is no anticipated increase in premium costs for medical insurance (PPOBlue), dental insurance (United Concordia Flex and Plus), and vision insurance (Davis Vision). — The school district’s contribution rate paid to the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) will increase from 4.11 percent to 8.65 percent. The trustees of PSERS annually determine the contribution rate increase. This rate increase results in an 8.1 percent increase in cost to the district. — The proposed final budget includes a $600,000 transfer into the capital projects fund. This money will be used for various capital improvements planned in the future. The 2011-2012 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

In February 2009, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) issued “Statement 54 Fund Balance Reporting and Governmental Fund Type Definitions.” Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, the district will be following Policy 620 – Fund Balance that conforms to these new standards. It is projected that the Fox Chapel Area School District’s unassigned fund balance will be $7,369,325, or eight percent of anticipated expenditures and reserve, on June 30, 2011. The district’s goal is to attempt to maintain a managed fund balance of between five and ten percent. The district will also have a committed fund balance of $9,230,955 to cover anticipated spikes in the PSERS retirement rates. The fiscal practice of committing these funds will help the district bridge potential shortfalls that will occur as a result of these anticipated rate increases. Finally, the district has an assigned fund balance of $1,561,675 to be used for future capital projects and improvements. This will enable the district to avoid additional borrowing of capital to complete anticipated maintenance projects.

G aming F unds D istribution*

On May 1, 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Education informed the Fox Chapel Area School District that its share of gaming funds available for distribution will be $1,465,372. 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 $8,493 of its taxable value, excluded for the purpose of calculating current school district real estate taxes for the 2011 tax year. The owners of the 8,003 properties in the district that qualified for the homestead exclusion will receive the equivalent of a $183 reduction in their property taxes. This distribution is based on the release of $612,099,999 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 2011. *A lleghe ny County h as certified th at th ere are 8 , 0 0 3 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 nassigned F und B alance $400,500

$7,369,325

$622,216 6000 - Local: 77.19% - $67,177,278 7000 - State: 13.17% - $11,456,750

$11,456,750

8000 - Federal: 0.71% - $622,216 9000 - Extended-Term Financing: 0.46% - $440,500

$67,177,278

Unassigned Fund Balance: 8.47% - $7,369,325

E x penditures/ B udgetary R eserv e 1000 - Instruction, 2100 - Pupil Personnel, 2200 - Instructional Support Services, 2400 - Pupil Health: 61.7% - $53,689,787 $7,369,325

2300 - Administration: 6.7% - $5,812,043

$5,901,154 $410,851 $1,998,509 $913,355 $3,917,372

2600 - Operation & Maintenance: 8.1% - $7,013,673 2700 - Student Transportation: 4.5% - $3,917,372 2000 - Remaining Support Svcs.: 1.0% - $913,355 3000 - Noninstructional Svcs.: 2.3% - $1,998,509

-$7,013,673

4000 - Facilities: 0.5% - $410,851 $53,689,787

5000 - Other Financing: 6.8% - $5,901,154

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; $5,812,043

5900 - Reserve: 8.4% - $7,369,325

MILL

AGE IMP ACT ON PROPERTY OW

Market Value Assessed Value Proposed Final Budget (21.5576 Mills) Annual Cost of 1 Mill Monthly Cost of 1 Mill

NERS

$50,000 $50,000

$100,000 $100,000

$200,000 $200,000

$300,000 $300,000

$1,078 $50 $4.17

$2,156 $100 $8.33

$4,312 $200 $16.67

$6,467 $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 $8,493 for those homeowners in the Fox Chapel Area School District with an approved homestead exclusion.

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REGULAR INSTRUCTION

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION

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1 300 &

1 400

2011-2012 ................................... $34,729,205 2010-2011 ................................... $33,370,759 Increase of ..................................... $1,358,446 % of change ..........................................4.07% Cost per student .................................... $7,962 % of budget ........................................43.60%

2011-2012 ...................................... $1,747,395 2010-2011 ...................................... $1,826,782 Decrease of .......................................... -$79,387 % of change ...........................................-4.35% Cost per student ........................................ $401 % of budget ............................................ 2.19%

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. Includes the cost of workbooks and textbooks, and increased costs of repair and maintenance of equipment.

Comments: 1. The A.W. Beattie budget will fund Fox Chapel Areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s share of the debt service payment for the 2011-2012 school year. 2. Costs fluctuate annually based on the number of students who require services. PUPIL PERSONNEL

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM S 1 200

2011-2012 ................................... $11,338,340 2010-2011 ................................... $11,476,103 Decrease of .......................................-$137,763 % of change ......................................... -1.20% Cost per student .................................... $2,599 % of budget .........................................14.23% Includes: Salaries and fringe benefits for special education and gifted teachers 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 staff has been reduced by three teachers due to retirements. 2. Tuition costs for students placed in outside agencies and those attending cyber/charter schools will rise by approximately 17 percent, continuing a trend from the last several years.

Salary and fringe benefit costs are increased for all district personnel in all budget categories. 1 2

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2011-2012 ......................................$2,520,029 2010-2011 ......................................$2,582,471 Decrease of ..........................................-$62,442 % of change .......................................... -2.42% Cost per student ........................................$578 % of budget ............................................3.16% 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. INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES 2200

2011-2012 ...................................... $2,719,212 2010-2011 ...................................... $2,618,254 Increase of .......................................... $100,958 % of change ............................................ 3.86% Cost per student ........................................ $623 % of budget ............................................ 3.41% 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 funds to support safety and security.

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ADM INISTRATION

OPERATION & M AINTENANCE

2300

260 0

2011-2012 ......................................$5,812,043 2010-2011 ......................................$5,938,495 Decrease of ........................................-$126,452 % of change .......................................... -2.13% Cost per student .....................................$1,332 % of budget ............................................7.30%

2011-2012 ......................................$7,013,673 2010-2011 ......................................$7,304,731 Decrease of ........................................-$291,058 % of change .......................................... -3.98% Cost per student .....................................$1,608 % of budget ............................................8.80%

Includes: Salaries and fringe benefits for district resource staff, school principals, and clerical support staff. Expenditures for tax collection and legal services are also included.

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. The reduction is due to the reclassification of central business office staff salaries and benefits to the Business/Data Services (2500 & 2800) budget area. PUPIL HEALTH 2400

2011-2012 .........................................$635,606 2010-2011 .........................................$731,960 Decrease of ..........................................-$96,354 % of change ........................................ -13.16% Cost per student ........................................$146 % of budget ............................................0.80% 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. Comments: 1. The salaries and fringe benefits have decreased due to a prior year resignation.

Comments: 1. There is a reduction in the cost for maintenance and repair agreements. 2. There is a reduction in the cost for communications services by changing the district’s local and long distance carrier. BUSINESS/ DATA SERVICES 2500 &

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2011-2012 ........................................ $794,905 2010-2011 ........................................ $572,502 Increase of ........................................ $222,403 % of change ........................................38.85% Cost per student ....................................... $182 % of budget ..........................................1.00% Includes: Salaries and fringe benefits of business/data office staff along with supplies, expenses, and purchased services to conduct the business and data processing functions of the district. Also includes expenditures for video, voice, and data networking equipment. Comments: 1. A portion of the increase is due to the reclassification of central business office staff salaries and benefits from the Administration (2300) budget area.

Salary and fringe benefit costs are increased for all district personnel in all budget categories. F ox C h a p e l A r e a | S u m m e r 2 0 1 1 | inc om m u nit y m a g a z ine s. c om

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2011-2012 PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION

NONINSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES

2700

3000

2011-2012 ..................................... $3,917,372 2010-2011 ..................................... $3,860,858 Increase of ........................................... $56,514 % of change ...........................................1.46% Cost per student ....................................... $898 % of budget ...........................................4.92%

2011-2012 ......................................$1,998,509 2010-2011 ......................................$1,953,749 Increase of ............................................$44,760 % of change ........................................... 2.29% Cost per student ........................................$458 % of budget ........................................... 2.51%

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).

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

Comments: 1. This budget reflects an increase in costs in the transportation services agreement. AIU BUDGET 2900

2011-2012 ........................................ $118,450 2010-2011 ........................................ $115,000 Increase of ............................................. $3,450 % of change ...........................................3.00% Cost per student ......................................... $27 % of budget ...........................................0.15% Includes: The district’s share of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) administrative budget. Comments: 1. The increase is based on the AIU-approved budget.

Comments: 1. The costs of supplemental contracts and officials’ fees are increasing. 2. The costs for transportation for field trips and interscholastic athletic events are increasing. FACILITIES 4000

2011-2012 .........................................$410,851 2010-2011 .........................................$146,235 Increase of .........................................$264,616 % of change ...................................... 180.95% Cost per student ..........................................$94 % of budget .......................................... 0.52% Includes: Funds for site and building improvements. Comments: 1. Paving and painting projects are scheduled for the summer of 2011. 2. The district is conducting a feasibility study of facilities with regard to possible future renovations and upgrades. OTHER FINANCING 5000

2011-2012 ......................................$5,901,154 2010-2011 ......................................$6,450,470 Decrease of ....................................... -$549,316 % of change ..........................................-8.52% Cost per student .....................................$1,353 % of budget ........................................... 7.41% Includes: Debt service (mortgage) payments on building renovations and refunds of tax payments received in previous years.

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Comments: 1. The district refunded the 2002 series bonds to lower the interest rate and the annual debt obligation.

 enate Bill 1 is legislation that is being promoted as another way to provide school choice in Pennsylvania. Those who have taken a close look at this legislation have found significant flaws and reason to believe that Senate Bill 1 will not be good for public schools in the commonwealth.

According to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) School Leader News, January 21, 2011, Senate Bill 1 would take money earmarked for public schools to provide vouchers to a selected population of students so that they may attend a nonpublic or private school instead of their local public school. It is assumed that once a student leaves and the money moves from the public school to the nonpublic or private school, that the public school’s costs will be reduced. This assumption seems to indicate that a school district could reduce the cost of electricity, heat, maintenance, and the classroom teacher for every child that leaves. Of course, that is not realistic. If we have a third grade classroom with 24 children and two take advantage of the vouchers, around

INCLEMENT WEATHER MAKE-UP DAYS The students in the Fox Chapel Area School District currently have a few inclement weather make-up days. Because of these make-up days, the end-of-the-year calendar for the 2010-2011 school year is now as follows:

$14,000 would be reduced from the public schools. It would be expected that the cost to run that classroom of 22 would actually be the same as it was before, but the dollars to pay for the education of the 22 students would be reduced. According to Peter L. DeCoursey, Bureau Chief, Capitolwire, the Senate Appropriations Committee projects nearly $370 million for vouchers by the fourth year of the plan. Students eligible in the first two years average getting an anticipated $7,000 per student. The Education Law Center (ELC) has issued a statement concerning Senate Bill 1. The ELC is a nonprofit legal advocacy and educational organization dedicated to ensuring that all of Pennsylvania’s children have access to a quality public education. The ELC has operated statewide for more than three decades. The single measuring stick for Senate Bill 1 and all education policy proposals used by the ELC is whether the suggested reform is in the best interest of disadvantaged students, families, and communities throughout Pennsylvania. According to the ELC, Senate Bill 1 fails that test. Senate Bill 1 is not designed to maximize help for the neediest students. According to the ELC, the bill presents bad choices for disadvantaged students, families, and communities. The bill is written to allow private and religious schools to take state funding while picking and choosing only the students they prefer, excluding most students with disabilities and other significant challenges, and avoiding real state oversight and accountability.

• Kindergarten-Grade 11 – Friday, June 3, and Monday, June 6, will be full days of school for students in kindergarten-grade 11. Tuesday, June 7, will be an early dismissal day and the last day of school for students in kindergarten-grade 11.

Public schools have been educating all children from all backgrounds since the 19th century. Public polls (PSBA School Leader News, January 21, 2011) show that citizens do not favor vouchers in Pennsylvania. Even so, Senate Bill 1 continues to move rapidly in Harrisburg and, without input from our citizens, may become law.

• High School Seniors – Wednesday, June 1, and Thursday, June 2, will be full days of school for high school seniors. Friday, June 3, will be the last day of school for seniors. Graduation is still scheduled for Sunday, June 5, 2011.

Additional information concerning Senate Bill 1 is posted on the Fox Chapel Area School District Web site at www.fcasd.edu and on the PSBA Web site at www.psba.org.

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

— Anne E. Stephens, Ph.D.

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Self-Reliance Wins High School Junior Prize Being an American Essay Contest Largest in Nation

Congressman Jason Altmire presented Fox Chapel Area High School junior Ryan Shymansky with a proclamation in honor of Ryan’s winning essay.

yan Shymansky believes that it is the self-reliance of Americans that makes this country great. The Fox Chapel Area High School junior states, “Most of the greatest and most influential people have come from nothing. They became great just based on what they were able to do.” It wasn’t difficult to choose his topic for the civic value most essential to being an American in the fifth annual Being an American Essay Contest conducted by the Bill of Rights Institute. Ryan’s essay, entitled “American Self-Reliance,” captured him second place in the Mid-Atlantic Region (encompassing New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania), a $1,000 cash prize, and an all-expenses paid trip for him and his dad to Washington, D.C. Ryan wrote in his essay, “I am an individual, not another number on the federal census; I intend to lead my life as my own man, failing on my own dime rather than succeed on another’s. How far I go in life will be determined by how far I am willing to push, not by how many people are giving me a hand.” Ryan was one of 27 students from nine regions across the United States to be honored at the awards gala emceed by Juan Williams

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and featuring a keynote address by John Stossel, both Fox News analysts. The threeday trip in March also included a Capitol Hill luncheon and tours of the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, and National Archives. For Ryan, who looks forward to continuing his study of government and politics in college, a high point of the trip was when he and the other student finalists sat on the House Floor at the Capitol. Even more meaningful was the chance to meet with his congressional representative from Pennsylvania’s 4th District, Jason Altmire. Ryan commented that the 15-minute meeting was “something I never even imagined,” especially since Congress was in recess that week, and other students had to be satisfied visiting with congressional staff members from their districts. Ryan, who was also a local winner in the first-ever Stossel in the Classroom Essay Contest, says he enjoys writing essays. “I like to be able to say things to people but think about it before I say it. It’s almost easier than speaking to people because you get to lay it out and think about it.” In addition to sharing his ideals through his writing, Ryan is also co-founder of the high school Carnegie Club, established to raise funds for organizations that help people learn skills they need to support themselves. He and junior Sarah Ogren organized the Carnegie Club just this year which has already raised more than $2,000 for Bead for Life and the local library. Ryan says about 30 students are actively involved in the club’s projects. He is also involved on the high school crew team and recently won first place in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) state competition. More than 24,000 students from across the country submitted essays in this year’s contest, all answering the question, “What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American?” “The Being an American Essay Contest encourages students to see how vital it

is to the future of our country and Constitution that they live out key civic values every day,” said Bill of Rights Institute Vice President of Education Programs Jason Ross. “By thinking about the civic values evident in our Founding documents and in the lives of American heroes, students can begin to see how their own actions are significant in supporting the experiment in self-government started by our Founders.” Founded in 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a nonprofit educational organization based near Washington, D.C. The mission of the Bill of Rights Institute is to educate young people about the words and ideas of America’s founders, the liberties guaranteed in America’s founding documents, and how the founding principles continue to affect and shape a free society. The 2010-2011 contest sponsors included the Stuart Family Foundation, the Jack Miller Family Foundation, the History Channel, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Koch Industries, DonorsTrust, and the Heritage Foundation.

Ryan Shymansky had the opportunity to meet John Stossel of Fox News at a gala honoring the essay contest winners.

 



    

airview Elementary School kindergartners in Alison Francis’ class devote their center time, about 40 minutes of creative academic play first thing in the morning, researching and writing news segments for their own show – the “Kid’s Show.” The program includes segments on the weather, health, cooking, entertainment, books, and pets and animals and the kindergartners make their own backdrops for their productions. “I like sticking the things on the map,” kindergartner Audrey Claessens declares as she prepares to deliver the Pennsylvania weather forecast.

Teacher Alison Francis helps a student learn to operate the Flip Video Camera.

According to Mrs. Francis, the students are learning how to use technology as tools to produce their news segments, including a Flip Video Camera, digital camera, audio recorder, iMovie, and computer. The students also learned about the purpose of advertising and they are producing commercials to go along with their segments. Audrey noted that the strawberries in her commercial were fake. One might expect that kindergartners would enjoy the food segments and weather forecasting, but other topics they have chosen to produce include segments on classical music, chipmunks, Earth Day, and health and exercise – all important topics for kindergartners to learn about. Speaking about his friend Stephen Santilli’s health segment, kindergartner George Cooper says he learned that “soda wasn’t very good for you. It told you that kids who drink soda break bones more easily. Stephen looked that up on Mrs. Francis’ computer.” Segments run several seconds to about a minute and a half each. They have been put together and can be viewed on the Fairview Elementary School Web site at www.fcasd.edu/fairview. “As a kindergarten teacher it’s my responsibility to find projects to keep them engaged and interested,” says Mrs. Francis. “They’re learning to do things that they haven’t done before and they have exhibited a lot of self-direction, sometimes beyond what you would expect from kindergartners.”

Students demonstrate how to make “gold coins” during a cooking segment taped by a classmate.

Kindergarteners choose to research chipmunks for their pets and animals segment.

The students learn that it takes more than just the person in front of the camera to do a weather forecast as they prepared backdrops, researched the weather, and learned to operate the Flip Video Camera.

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Fox Chapel Area Sc hool Distric t

Assistant Principal

 

       —Rebecca Cunningham, Ed.D.

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ebecca Cunningham, Ed.D., was ready to move back to the Pittsburgh area and she was seeking just the right school – a “school of excellence” where she could bring her knowledge and expertise. Fox Chapel Area High School just happened to be in need of an assistant principal, and it was a perfect fit. Since arriving at Fox Chapel Area in midFebruary, Dr. Cunningham has found the high school to be a unique and special place. She says she is excited to be working with such an accomplished and professional group of teachers and administrators who are all focused on the students. “Fox Chapel Area has an outstanding reputation as an academic powerhouse and as a wonderful place for children to learn and grow,” she states. No stranger in the principal’s office, Dr. Cunningham served as principal of

Pine-Richland High School from 2000-2003 and as the dean of students from 1996-2000. She left Pine-Richland to become an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh where she taught graduate courses that focused on leadership and instructional supervision, culture, and professional development to aspiring principals. A few years later she moved to Mechanicsville, Virginia, with her family. In the short time she has been here, Dr. Cunningham has observed that the students are extremely focused on their academics and says, “Even at 7:30 a.m., the students are working hard on their math, talking with friends about their English papers, working through science labs, and putting finishing touches on their social studies debates. It’s exciting to see them explaining derivations to each other at the white boards, playing a banjo during QRT, working on their jewelry projects, and studying for tests.” She adds, “Even with this intense concentration on their academics, the students are extremely respectful, mature, and a delight to be around.” As the principal of Pine-Richland High School, Dr. Cunningham was responsible for strengthening the instructional program, ensuring a strong curriculum, creating a positive student-centered culture, and making sure that annual goals were met. She also chaired the Middle States site visit and will focus on similar tasks at Fox Chapel Area High School. Dr. Cunningham is helping to guide the Middle States process, a yearlong internal evaluation of the high school. She also looks forward to devoting her time and expertise working on differentiated instruction – the art of planning, teaching, and evaluating students based upon their unique learning styles, how quickly they learn the material, and how to add rigor to the instructional content. In addition to earning her doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Cunningham was awarded a master’s degree from the University of Virginia and an undergraduate degree from The College of William & Mary where she graduated with an English major and an education minor. She and her husband Steve have been married 17 years and they enjoy spending time with their children.

 In order to help visualize their heritage, one of the first steps is for Hartwood third graders to interview family members and visit the computer lab to create a “pie graph” featuring flags representing the countries they come from.

mmigration may seem like a difficult concept for third graders to grasp. However, when students explore the social studies topic in terms of their own family histories, it becomes clear – virtually all Americans were, at one time or another, part of the immigrant movement. Using an inquiry-based social studies curriculum, the third graders learn about their own family histories as they become engaged in the concept of immigration. According to Hartwood Elementary School third grade teacher Lynn DePellegrini, students begin their study by interviewing family members and then creating a pie graph to represent their own nationalities. Nine-year-old Hartwood student Luke O’Connor interviewed his grandfather, Pete O’Connor, to find out about his family tree.

Students use multiple sources, including both reference books and online materials, to research their countries.

Mr. O’Connor, who spends a lot of time with his grandson, says he was pleased that Luke asked him about the O’Connor heritage. He had recently looked into his family’s Irish roots, and through his research, Mr. O’Connor was able to find his own grandfather’s home while on a trip to Ireland. He was happy to share his knowledge about Luke’s great-great grandfather and that his grandfather’s name had actually been “Connor” and that O’Connor was the name given to the “son of Connor.” He was also able to share some information about his maternal grandparents who came to this country from Germany. Luke says he likes the heritage unit “because you get to learn about the history of your family so you know more about yourself.” Coordinator of Elementary Education and Instruction Ron Korenich, Ed.D., says teachers have found that students really enjoy researching their own heritage. Third graders from all four elementary schools discover that finding their family history is very meaningful, he says. The heritage study serves many purposes, according to Dr. Korenich. In addition to learning about their family roots, students spend time in the library researching to gain a broader understanding of the countries including the geography, culture, and customs. They learn how to use reference books and online materials, take notes, and track works cited in preparation for their final presentation. The project teaches the students how to research a topic and deepens their understanding of the concept of immigration. It also helps keep family stories alive and gives families the chance to share their stories. According to Mrs. DePellegrini, “It’s so important for the students to understand they can be made up of different nationalities. We also want to establish the many similarities between cultures. It leads to an understanding of other cultures, as well as acceptance. We’re different, but we’re also the same.”

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Fox Chapel Area Sc hool Distric t

  Mairi Thompson Selected as Distinguished Music Educator

Photo Courtesy Town and Country Studio

Mairi Thompson

s recipient of the Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award, Fox Chapel Area teacher Mairi Thompson will travel to Yale University this June to participate in the 2011 Symposium on Music in Schools. The symposium, held once every two years at the Yale School of Music as part of the Music in Schools Initiative, is honoring 50 music teachers from 30 states across the nation. With support from the Yale College Class of 1957, the symposium includes three days of skill-building workshops, discussions, and other events. Education reporter John Merrow will present the keynote address at the 2011 symposium, and world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma will lead a workshop on the value of music education. Miss Thompson, who has been teaching in the district since 2001, is the orchestra director and chairperson of the high school music department, and also teaches strings at O’Hara Elementary School. Since she began teaching in the district, the high school orchestra has grown from 22 to 82 students, although she attributes much of the growth to

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elementary and middle school strings teachers who “work very hard every day to build strength in numbers and depth in understanding in our students.” It is important to take an interdisciplinary approach, says Miss Thompson, to take music beyond the rehearsal hall. She finds “the connections with history, English, and science are fascinating and give depth to understanding the music.” The Fox Chapel Area High School music department has hosted an event called “The Grand Salon” several times that includes music and interdisciplinary works. An upcoming event is being planned and will be held at Carnegie Music Hall in 2012 and will feature the works of Dvorak and will recreate the 1892 Chicago World’s Fair, displaying student work from a variety of disciplines in the large foyer. Earlier this year Miss Thompson worked with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to bring the Tchaikovsky Festival to high school students. She also invites professional musicians to visit her

students at the high school. “The students really respond to them as artists and people. It raises the level of their understanding and it also makes the performers seem more real.” Commenting on the importance of the Yale symposium for music education, Miss Thompson states, “In a time when the arts, and arts education in particular, are struggling for support, it is that much more important to show the value of fine arts in the development of children’s learning. I am very excited that I will be able to speak with other educators about their solutions and ideas for taking music outside of the classroom.” And naturally, she is thrilled at the prospect of meeting and spending time with Yo-Yo Ma. According to Fox Chapel Area School District Superintendent Anne E. Stephens, Ph.D., Miss Thompson is the perfect candidate for this prestigious award. “From the moment I read about the Yale music symposium, I thought about Mairi Thompson – the excitement she has for her profession, and the talent she shares with her students each day.”

Craig Cannon – A Choral Music Teacher of Note or current and former students of Craig Cannon, it’s no surprise that a national publication would recognize his zeal for music and teaching. Former student Anisha Nagarajan, who currently plays the role of a shy call center operator on the NBC sitcom “Outsourced,” states, “I always thought his dedication to his students and to music was exceptional. He selected pretty complex pieces to work on with us. It was amazing how he taught each part so thoroughly and in a manner that was appropriate for every student, depending on his or her musical ability.” Mr. Cannon, who has been teaching vocal music for 32 years at Fox Chapel Area High School, was recently selected to be included as a “Choral Director of Note” in the January 2011 issue of Choral Director Magazine. The magazine, which is read by approximately 14,000 elementary, middle, and high school vocal music educators, featured 11 choral music teachers from across the country who are exemplary models in their field of choral music.

Illustrator V isits Fox Chapel Area Elementary Schools hildren’s illustrator David Catrow recently visited all four elementary schools, courtesy of the Fox Chapel Area School District librarians. Mr. Catrow shared his experiences as an illustrator and even shared one of his books that has not yet been published, referring to the students as his “test audience.” At O’Hara Elementary School, he demonstrated for the students how he often starts an illustration with a simple squiggle, then studies the mark to determine what his imagination sees. He showed the students how a story came to his mind as the squiggle became a baby playing a violin while riding a turtle. Mr. Catrow often uses animals and exaggerated characters to convey a story. He told the students that when he illustrates a book he first obtains a manuscript and then thinks about how he wants to depict the story and characters. Perhaps most well known for his cartoonlike illustrations in children’s books, Mr. Catrow once worked as an editorial cartoonist, syndicated in more than 1,000 newspapers. He also spent over a year working on the visual development for the 20th Century Fox animated feature “Horton Hears a Who.”

Photo Courtesy Town and Country Studio

Craig Cannon

While many ask the musical question, “What’s the matter with kids today?,” Mr. Cannon states in the article

Illustrator David Catrow starts with a squiggle and shows how a simple mark can become a ballerina being lifted by a dog.

(which can be accessed by visiting www.choraldirectormag.com) that the past four years he has taught have included the proudest moments of his career when 10 to 15 of his choir students each year have chosen to continue to sing in college. What is especially notable is that many of these students are not music majors, but they realize that music is important to them. One such student, Megan Arcovio who went on to study English, described for the article how Mr. Cannon made a difference in her life. “Singing for Mr. Cannon is about transcending the music and lyrics and creating something amazing.” She also said he taught them the importance of striving for something difficult and the power of collaboration. Anisha thinks of her high school chorus teacher when she watches the film, “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” “I am

An O’Hara Elementary School student draws a squiggle and then Mr. Catrow goes to work.

Students are anxious to ask questions and speak with Mr. Catrow.

reminded of Mr. Cannon because he is one of those teachers who inspire you to reach for your dreams.” She credits Mr. Cannon for helping her decide to pursue a career in the theatre and says, “He is and always will be a mentor. I know that I speak for the vast majority of his students when I say this. Some of my best friends, whom I see on a regular basis, are the people I met in his classes and during the musicals that he directed.” She remembers that she spent countless hours during high school in Mr. Cannon’s choral room. “It was here that we wrote our own musicals and rehearsed them and, finally, staged these productions two years in a row. A lot of that creative inspiration came from the fact that Mr. Cannon was hugely supportive of our following our musical aspirations.”

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Fox Chapel Area Sc hool Distric t

F oxes T ak e a N o- N on s en s e Approac h t o

  hen in doubt, sit the player out” is the no-nonsense approach taken by the Fox Chapel Area School District athletic department when it comes to sports-related concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). It’s an important topic that has captured the attention of the media and is influencing a myriad of changes ranging from new laws to protect young athletes to the contents of the latest edition of a popular video game. According to the American Academy of Neurology, mild TBI/concussion is defined as “any alteration of mental status due to a biomechanical force affecting the brain with or without loss of consciousness.” Some states already have adopted legislation designed to promote awareness and protect young athletes from this injury. Pennsylvania legislators are reviewing a proposed bill (House Bill 200) that is expected to pass this year. The Fox Chapel Area School District interscholastic athletic program already adheres to strict, self-initiated protocols that meet or exceed those in the proposed bill. In fact, Fox Chapel Area holds the distinction as one of the first public school districts in the state to implement Immediate PostConcussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT™), now the most widely used computerized concussion evaluation system for athletes worldwide. The test is administered by certified athletic trainers at the high school, takes less than 30 minutes to complete, and measures such brain functions as attention span, working memory, reaction time, and other indicators of head injury and concussion. District athletes engaged in contact/collision sports are required to take the baseline test in seventh and ninth grades and again in eleventh grade because results can vary over time as the brain continues to develop. John Panos, the district’s assistant athletic director and head certified athletic trainer, works very closely with the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program and often

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serves as the link between parents, their care providers, physicians, and neuropsychologists. “We are very fortunate to have a program of this caliber nearby and concussion specialists who are international leaders in the study of neurocognitive effects of sports-related concussion. We refer nearly all of our athletes who sustain head injuries to the UPMC program because they see a very high percentage of high school and college athletes, as well as members of Pittsburgh’s professional sports teams,” says Mr. Panos. The program’s director invented ImPACT and developed the neurocognitive testing programs used by the National Football League and the National Hockey League. ImPACT is also used by other professional sports teams including Major League Baseball. Mr. Panos says his immediate post-injury rule following a blow to the head is “when in doubt, sit the player out,” which often times is very difficult for young players to accept because their natural competitive spirit drives them to play through the pain. Within 72 hours of an injury Mr. Panos administers ImPACT. The association with UPMC permits timely interpretation by UPMC neurocognitive specialists and physicians who can view and compare an athlete’s results online. The athlete then is required to follow up with a doctor and neuropsychologist. The district’s official policy regarding head trauma states athletes must return to their ImPACT baseline score and be totally asymptomatic during daily activities for a sustained period of time before getting clearance for a gradual return to play. “ImPACT is a good, objective tool to take emotions out of the equation, especially when young athletes tell their parents and coaches they are asymptomatic in order to get back in the game sooner,” says Mr. Panos. He

Certified athletic trainer John Panos administers the ImPACT test to seventh, ninth, and eleventh grade student athletes. The baseline score is used to determine if an athlete has sustained a sports-related concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

stresses, however, that testing is only one component of the district’s overall initiative to take every precautionary action necessary to prevent sportsrelated injuries. Next on the list is education and awareness. In collaboration with UPMC and medical personnel, the athletic department devised a protocol and procedures policy that is especially helpful for coaches and staff. The policy outlines important guidelines including how to recognize the common signs and symptoms of concussion; explains treatment, referral, and management procedures; and offers information about follow-up medical care provided during the school day, as well as the academic assistance provided by the school district to help athletes achieve a full recovery. Coaches also are required to train and obtain certification from the National Federation of High Schools so they can identify indicators of concussions. In addition, coaches are also expected to teach less skilled players proper techniques to avoid injuries, and coaches, parents, and players are encouraged to incorporate strength and conditioning workouts – especially core and sport-specific training – to prevent injuries. Finally, the athletic department continuously updates protective sports gear for athletes, such as facemasks that were purchased for softball players, although at this juncture their use is not legally mandated. But in the end, it may just be the newest edition to the highly popular John Madden NFL video game series that will have the strongest impact on young athletes. Players in the video game who receive concussions are forced to be sidelined without exception, and gamers cannot reinsert them. Announcers then explain why the player is out and warn against the dangers of concussion. Copies of the Fox Chapel Area School District Athletic Department’s Protocol and Procedures for Management of Sports-Related Injuries are available in the high school athletic office.

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DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION

Fox Chapel Area Sc hool Distric t DORSEYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL 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

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 and Activities: Michael O’Brien Coordinator of Communications: Bonnie Berzonski

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

FOX CHAPEL AREA SCHOOL BOARD

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: Rebecca J. Cunningham, Ed.D.

For the latest information on school activities and weather-related delays and cancellations, call the Fox Chapel Area School District 24-Hour Information Line at 412/967-2500 or visit the Web site at www.fcasd.edu. The athletic events calendar can be found on the Fox Chapel Area School District Web site at www.fcasd.edu or visit www.highschoolsports.net.

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.

Photo Courtesy Town and Country Studio

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.

Compliance Statement

Front Row (l to r): Karen A. Mitesser, Treasurer (2011 - Region I); Charles R. Burke, President (2013 - Region III); Robin F. Baum, Vice President (2011 - Region I); and Joanne C. Gaus (2011 - Region II). Row 2 (l to r): David P. McCommons, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent; Sherman M. Snyder, Assistant Secretary (2013 - Region I); Robert Mauro (2013 - Region II); Sandra M. Garbisch (2011 - Region II); and Anne E. Stephens, Ph.D., Superintendent. Row 3 (l to r): Frederick C. Leech (2011 - Region III); Martin W. Sheerer, Esq., Solicitor; and Joel R. Weinstein (2013 - Region III).

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3732 Saxonburg Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15238 412/767-5343 Principal: Matthew J. Harris Assistant Principal: Patricia A. Clark Assistant Principal: Jonathan T. Nauhaus

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The Fox Chapel Area School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, nationality, ethnic origin, age, or disability in the administration of its policies, hiring practices, employment practices, and admission to its programs, services, or activities, in access to them, in treatment of individuals with disabilities, or in any aspect of its operations. Additional information pertaining to civil rights, school district policies, and grievance procedures can be obtained by contacting the officers listed below from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Title IX: David McCommons, Ed.D. (412/967-2456) Section 504 & ADA: Lonnie Carey, Ed.D. (412/967-2435) Address: Fox Chapel Area School District 611 Field Club Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238



Building the Future by Restoring a Community No one can question the allure of Oakmont – pedestrian-friendly streets, small town charm, and a bustling business district where shop owners routinely wave to customers as they walk down the street and call them by name. While there has always been a smattering of new development in Oakmont over the years, there hasn’t been a proj ect of the scale, quality and commitment to an overall grand vision until now. It’s no wonder that Richard Kacin, Bruce Corna, and Brett Malky, are building the area’s newest new community – Edgewater – within to this quaint river town. The Kacin name has been synonymous with quality for decades and Malky’s firm has been working to bring the region some of the most exciting new communities for over 15 years. “ Edgewater will be one of finest new neighborhoods in our region,” said Kacin. “ In the truest sense, Edgewater will be the best that our region has to oLer. Less important than what’s diLerent about Edgewater is what’s the same: we’ve developed an architectural style from Oakmont itself, we’ve extended the street grid from the municipality over into Edgewater, but we’ve brought a commitment to construction quality, performance and technology that makes these homes and this neighborhood second to none.” For Malky, who grew up in Oakmont, a development of this caliber is a source of personal pride.

“ Y ou have a place that really is one of the prettiest towns in the country. There’s so much that’s already right about Oakmont,” Malky said. “ What Edgewater, in its simplest form, intends to do is be the best new neighborhood in Oakmont.” The center of the plan involves a historic lynchpin of the community that was a reminder of a challenged past– the Edgewater Steel Facility, formerly one of the area’s largest employers. “ That place was opened, shut down and there were three or four attempts to try to save it,” Corna said. “ Now it’s being reborn and reintegrated into the very fabric of Oakmont. We’re not forcing a new proj ect on that site. We’re literally extending Oakmont, overlaying the grid that already exists over that site, and we’re adding some things that we hope will make Oakmont better.” What the developers also are doing that will benefit the entire community is preserving the riverfront, rather than privatize it. “ That should be a public property and returned to the community as a public asset forever,” Kacin said. “ Some of the most interesting responses we’ve gotten are from neighbors, who were elated when the plant came down. They said, ‘ We’ve lived here for i 0 years and have never seen sunlight fall on our home.’” In addition to the razing of the factory, the entire site has been graded and roadways, street lights and street trees have been installed for Phase One. The developers expect people to begin moving into the 240-home development in July.

Prices will range from the R247,000 to R600,000, and include T own Homes, Manor Flat Condominiums, Courtyard Homes, Cottage Homes, Paired Cottage Homes, and Park Homes. The list of manufacturers contributing to the proj ect, all known for their quality and efficiency, include: Andersen, Carrier, Hearth T echnologies, James Hardie, Kohler and Whirlpool, to name a few. “ Response to our new community has been unbelievable” , said Jason Corna, head of Sales at Edgewater. “ We’ve sold 25 homes in Phase One in the few weeks since the grand opening of our Information Center on the site.” What they find when they take ownership of their new homes at Edgewater will be LEED-certified, green design, traditional neighborhoods with architecturally and aesthetically diverse designs based on existing Oakmont homes. It will be a neighborhood where residents can stroll to the corner store for a quart of milk, walk to a nearby movie theater, or spend a lazy aKernoon at the park or the river walk. “ Oakmont is a place people already love, but new housing on such a scale hasn’t existed in Oakmont for a long, long time,” Malky said. “ Our approach is authentic architecture. People will say Edgewater looks like it’s been there forever and that’s what makes this neighborhood diLerent. It will seamlessly blend with the place that’s already there.”

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

Every home in the United States is built to the minimum standards of a building code. That code addresses standards for safety, livability, and energy efficiency. The developer of Edgewater has developed its own home performance standards to ensure that every home within its communities achieves the highest level of quality in the region, making these homes measurably better than typical code-compliant homes. Rather than default to the minimum industry standards, Edgewater is committed to offering homeowners the opportunity to own a high performance home, using proven technologies and best practice construction techniques to deliver a better home. The home performance standards for Edgewater were created in partnership with IBACOS (Integrated Building and Construction Solutions), a leading national research and development firm for the housing industry, and a strategic partner with EQA Landmark Communities for more than 13 years. The Edgewater Home Performance Standards address the following criteria for construction quality and performance: 1. Energy – Improve the energy efficiency of the home to at least 30% better than energy code in order to reduce utility bills and ensure optimum occupant comfort. 2. Indoor Environmental Quality – Provide homeowners with better indoor air quality and a more comfortable living environment through the use of fresh air ventilation systems, high efficiency air filtration and less toxic building materials. 3. Building Durability – Build the home to last longer while minimizing the need for routine maintenance by using best practices in home construction to control the movement of water, moisture vapor and air through the home. 4. Materials & Resources – Reduce the environmental impact of the home by using sustainable building materials and efficient construction techniques. By building homes to these quality standards, Edgewater is offering homeowners the benefits of improved comfort, healthier living environments, and the peace of mind of knowing that their new home at Edgewater is the best home in the region. In addition, every home is built to an architectural standard and guideline at Edgewater overseen by the founding architect and town architect, Brad Shapiro with Shapiro & Company Architects, Inc. Brad assures that every home in Edgewater beautifully integrates with the surrounding homes to enhance the unique sense of place established by Edgewater’s pedestrian-friendly master plan, community amenities, and neighborhood streetscape with sidewalks, street trees, street lights and generous front porches. And finally, a fundamental part of assuring the highest quality homes is partnering with industry leaders to assure that the best products are used in the construction of homes at Edgewater. Every home at Edgewater will have a high efficient, custom designed window from Andersen Windows. All exterior cladding materials will be long-lasting, durable products such as the factory finished James Hardie fiber cement siding with Colorplus Technology, natural stone or Cultured Stone®, or quality brick materials. And in addition to 10 foot ceiling as standard in every home at Edgewater, all homes will benefit from two of the best product manufacturers in the industry who will be providing the appliances and plumbing fixtures for every home, namely Whirlpool Corporation and Kohler.

Unparelleled

at Edgewater

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724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE

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Vision

Architectural Styles

COTTAGES

COURTYARD HOMES

MANOR FLATS

PARK HOMES

TOWNHOMES

PAIRED COTTAGES

Fox Chapel Area | Summer 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 27

Building the Future by Restoring a Community

Five Decades of Excellence Go Into Every HomeWe Build

KACIN Comp anies

DEVELOPERS/CONSTRUCTORS

Since the early 1960s, A. Richard Kacin has been developing upscale residential properties in the Pittsburgh region. KACIN has built and is developing more than 1,500 homes and condominium complexes in Westmoreland and Allegheny Counties, including: • Murrysville - Fair Oaks Manor, Allison Farms, Lindenwood • Pittsburgh (Squirrel Hill) - Summerset at Frick Park • Greensburg - South Meadow Villas • Pine Township - Pine Ridge Manor • Edgewater - Historic Oakmont

At KACIN, we’ve always been dedicated to our clients, and to maintaining the highest ethical standards in the homebuilding industry. This commitment to client loyalty and professional integrity is exemplified by Richard Kacin and Bruce Corna, vice president of Kacin Companies, each served terms as president of the Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh, and of the Homebuilders Association of Westmoreland County. Richard and Bruce remain active in those organizations and serve on the boards of many community groups throughout Westmoreland County. Edgewater Office 412-551-0182 www.liveatedgewater.com Find Edgewater on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Edgewater-at-Oakmont

Questions? We’re here to help.

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Call Jason, our Edgewater specialist at

F ox C h a p e l A r e a

412.877.1055

  o you feel tired all the time? You are not alone. Most people at one time or another feel fatigue related to work or daily life. It is a common complaint that send people to their doctors looking for answers. Some causes of fatigue are obvious, such as lack of sleep or medical issues. While, depression, anxiety and medical issues can cause fatigue, the most common causes are sedentary lifestyle or poor nutrition. Both sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition leads to a feeling of low energy. Generally speaking, fatigue is mental or physical exhaustion. Fatigue slows down the body at the end of the day, which lets us sleep, and protects us from overusing our bodies. Fatigue can be a negative force in our lives that is inconvenient and debilitating which can cause depression and anxiety. How do we fix the sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition? The first step should be changing your nutrition. You can fight fatigue with your fork! Here are some dietary changes that are easy to do. Drink plenty of water. We all know we need to drink water but still we do not get enough water during the day. Mild dehydration is a common and overlooked cause of fatigue. Dehydration reduces your blood volume, which in turn diminishes the flow of blood to the organs, slowing down your brain and now you feel tired. Drink eight glasses of water a day and don’t wait until you are thirsty. The next step is to eat breakfast. We all know that children do better in school when they eat breakfast. Why as adults do we think we can skip breakfast and stay alert throughout our day? Breakfast refills our empty energy stores and keeps morning lethargy at bay. We need a breakfast that includes carbohydrates, protein and fruit. A good example of this type of breakfast would be one egg, a bowl of cereal with fruit. Our next two meals of the day should always have carbohydrates and protein in combination. It is not your imagination that you feel sleepy at four in the afternoon. Probably the largest group of people susceptible to late afternoon fatigue is women. Women tend to choose salads for lunch and now have no way to make it to dinner without feeling tired and hungry. This bad choice for lunch leads to late afternoon overeating. The best lunch contains an equal amount of carbohydrates and protein. Protein contains the amino acid tryptophan which promotes a calm feeling, which helps fight emotional fatigue. Protein eaten in combination with carbohydrates boosts the brains intake of tryptophan which in turn elevates both energy and calm mood. The last component to reduce fatigue is exercise. Your body gets lazy with no exercise. Exercise for reducing fatigue can be as simple as daily half hour walks. It can also be committing you to four days per week at the gym. Time doing cardio and building your muscles will improve your overall health picture makes one feel better about them. Daytime exercise helps us to sleep at night. People who are not tired enough to sleep six to eight hours at night, often get up in the morning with fatigue they carry throughout the whole day. Night time rest is essential to fighting fatigue. Let’s sum up our new fatigue fighting regiment. We just need some simple dietary changes and to get some form of exercise on a regular basis. Our first step in to increase our water intake by drinking eight or more glasses of water per day. Our next step is to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with small snacks between meals. All of our meals should include carbohydrates and protein. Our last step is to commit to exercise. Allegheny River Health Club has a trained staff that can help on your new path to fighting fatigue. Come see us.

  How do we fix the sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition? The first step should be changing your nutrition. You can fight fatigue with your fork! This Industry Insight was written by Mary Ryan. Mary Ryan is President of Allegheny River Health Club. For the past eighteen years she has been helping people achieve their fitness goals. Opened in 2006, the 9,000 square foot facility overlooks the Allegheny River and provides members with a boutique setting in which to work out. For more information you can call the club at 412.963.6460 or visit their web site www.alleghenyriverhealthclub.com.

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c o m m u n i t y -d r i v e n                                                

                                                   

y o u r e n e r g y p a rt n e r

F ox C h a p e l A r e a | S u m m e r 2 0 1 1 | inc om m u nit y m a g a z ine s. c om

3 1

EVLA

Minimally Invasive Procedure



ook at your legs. Have you ever noticed the unsightly veins and wondered what can be done about them? Do you ever experience pain or tingling? You are actually experiencing symptoms of a true medical problem that can be easily treated. Varicose veins are abnormally large veins that indicate a problem in the circulation of blood back to the heart. Though they were healthy and functional at one time, after veins become varicose, they are not working correctly. Spider veins are smaller and lie close to the surface of the skin. They are not as damaged as varicose veins, but still indicate a medical issue. In addition to a visually unattractive mass of purple or blue bursts of veins, rope-like appearance or knotty feeling, many patients may experience one or more of the following symptoms in their legs: Pain or cramping feeling, heaviness or tiredness, burning, itching or tingling sensations, swelling, throbbing, or tender areas around the veins. If you experience symptoms and are delaying treatment, your

symptoms may progress to more serious complications including: Phylebitis (inflammation), deep vein thrombosis, ankle sores or skin ulcers. At one time, the only only option for treatment of varicose veins might have been a vein-stripping done in a hospital. Often this option left people needing extended down-time and left ugly scars where once was a varicose vein. Now people can expect safe, nearly painless, office based procedures with even better results and no down-time. Sclerotherapy and Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) are now considered the “gold standard” of treatment for veins by the American College of Phlebology. Performed under local anesthetic, EVLA can bring immediate relief from symptoms relating to varicose veins. This minimally invasive procedure normally takes less than 60 minutes and is less painful than traditional surgical alternatives, resulting in fewer complications. This is because laser energy is delivered in a thin, fiberoptic probe to treat the underlying cause of the varicose vein—also decreasing the likelihood of an unattractive scar. During a Sclerotherapy procedure, the doctor injects a small amount of medication into the affected vein, which will, in turn, cause it to collapse. Some patients may require more than one session, and each session can consist of more than one injection. That’s why patients should look for a vein center with customized treatment plans based on each patient’s specific needs. Following the procedure, patients are normally able to resume regular activities. In most cases, a medically prescribed support hose (known as a compression stocking) may need to be worn for several days after the procedure. Patients should look for a vein center that offers a thorough, free vein consultation for new patients and where treatments are done on an outpatient basis in the offices. They should also look for a vein center where treatments are covered by health-insurance plans. Some vein centers make it so easy that procedures can be done on your lunch break. Try to find a physician that will perform the procedure so that there will be little to no limitation on activity. Once you have found the right vein center, you can have the pain-free, healthy legs you've always wanted! This I n d u s t ry I n s i g ht was written Louis Certo, M.D., F.A.C.S. Medical Director of Circulatory Centers A graduate of St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Dr. Certo earned his medical degree from the University of Rome in Italy. After completing a five-year residency in General Surgery, he joined the St. Francis Medical Center staff in 1988 and UPMC St. Margaret Hospital staff in 1990. He also is on the staff at UPMC Passavant Cranberry, Allegheny General Hospital and Surgery Centers in Erie, Austintown and Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Certo is Board Certified and Recertified in General Surgery. For the past ten years he has devoted most of his practice to venous surgery and has been associated with Circulatory Centers since 1997. Dr. Certo is a current member of the American College of Phlebology.

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724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE

F ox C h a p e l A r e a

S U M

E R

2011

H ealth and W ellness N ew s Y ou Can U se

Heart Health Is a Family Awair E v ery member of your family could hav e some degree of risk when it comes to dev eloping heart disease. L ook inside for ways to get your family heart healthy.

What’s Inside page 2

K eep in g Y our C ool in H ot W eather

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T he G ood N ews Ab out H eart D isease F ive W ays to L ower Y our B lood Pressure

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Y oun g Athletes an d S udden C ardiac D eath W hat P arents N eed to K now Ex ercise: T oo Much of a G ood T hin g C an B e H armf ul

0 1 1 UP

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T he D own side of F alls

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C hoosin g the Rig ht D octor f or Y ou

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F it F eet: S ummer F oot C are T ip s W hat’ s H ap p en in g at U PMC S t. Marg aret

K eeping Y our C ool in H ot W eather W hether you’re ex ercising, lounging at the pool, or working outdoors in the heat, use caution and common sense to prev ent heat-related illnesses H e at s t rok e is a true medical emergency.

It’s a cool, bright summer morning, and you’re getting ready to tee off for an early round of golf. lthough the forecast calls for a hot and sunny day, you decide to walk the course. You’ve hauled your bag around for 1 “ holes in the past without being bothered by the heat, so there’s no reason to worry — or is there?

“The body is at risk of shutting down vital functions and for major cardiac issues,” warns Dr. N icholas. If you see these signs, call for emergency help immediately: • High body temperature -above 1 o3 degrees Fahrenheiti • Skin that feels hot and dry, but not sweaty

If you ignore high temperatures on a sunny summer day, outdoor fun can quickly become dangerous, so take care—

• Severe headache

H ow hot weather a ects the b ody

• Muscle cramps or weakness

The body normally cools when sweat evaporates. O n hot, sunny, and humid days, the cooling process slows and your body temperature rises. If you don’t take proper precautions, it’s easy to get sick. “Heat exhaustion can come on rapidly,” explains zames N icholas, MD, medical director of Emergency Services at UPMC St. Margaret. “L eft untreated, heat exhaustion can progress into heat stroke, which is a life-threatening situation.”

• Feeling confused, anxious, or disoriented • Seizures • Unconsciousness

t ecause heat exhaustion and heat stroke are the most severe heat-induced illnesses, it’s important to act quickly.

While waiting for help to come, follow Dr. N icholas’ recommendations for treating heat exhaustion.

W ho’ s most at risk ?

Rules that can help you stay cool

• Profuse sweating

lthough anyone can suffer a heat-related illness at any time, some people are at higher risk, including:

“Prevention is the best treatment for heat exhaustion and heat stroke,” says Dr. N icholas. Drink plenty of water or other fluids before you head out into the heat, and stay hydrated throughout your activity. “Water and sports drinks are both good options,” adds Dr. N icholas. Stay away from alcoholic and caffeinated beverages; they won’t replace the fluids you lose through perspiration.

• N ausea and vomiting

• Infants and young children

• Feeling dizzy or light-headed

• People age q5 or older

• Pale, clammy skin

• Individuals with chronic medical issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure

O ther precautions Dr. N icholas recommends to help avoid heatrelated illnesses: • Dress in loose, light-colored clothing • Protect your skin outdoors with a wide-brimmed hat, and be sure to wear sunscreen -minimum SPF 1 5i • If you start to feel overheated, go indoors or to a shady area • Use common sense. O n a hot day, plan your exercise or other vigorous outdoor activities for the morning or evening when it is cooler.

• Fast heartbeat and fast breathing

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Warning signs of h e at e x h au s t i on include:

• Weakness • Decreased or dark-colored urine • Headache “If you suspect someone is suffering from heat exhaustion, act immediately,” says Dr. N icholas. Move the person to a cool, shady spot to rest. L oosen and remove any unnecessary clothing. Mist the body with cool water, or apply a wet cloth to the skin while fanning. Most importantly, never leave the person unattended. If the symptoms of heat exhaustion last more than a few minutes or get worse, seek emergency treatment.

• People who are overweight • People who take certain medications, such as those for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation Source: Centers for Disease Control and P revention

T o learn more ab out heat ex haustion and heat strok e, visit w w w .U P M C .com/ T oday.

T he G ood N ew s Ab out H eart D isease T ake charge of your heart through health screenings and heart-healthy lifestyle changes While you can’t change your genes and your family history of heart disease, you can control other risk factors by eating a healthy diet, exercising, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight. Some changes, like quitting smoking, can have an immediate impact.

H e art di s e as e i s t h e n at i on ’ s l e adi n g cau s e of de at h f or bot h m e n an d w om e n . Every 25 seconds, someone experiences a coronary event; every minute, it claims a life. The good news? You can take steps to reduce your risk of heart disease through routine screening and lifestyle changes — even if you’ve already had a heart attack or stroke.

Dr. Gulati recommends regular health screenings that tell you your numbers and whether you need to take action. For example, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can damage your heart and blood vessels, but you wouldn’t know you have these conditions without testing for them.

“Heart disease is a disease we can do something about. In most instances, it is preventable,” says Daniel Edmundowicz, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, and director of preventive cardiology at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.

EKGs, ultrasound, and CT scans can sometimes detect atherosclerosis or coronary heart disease, adding useful information to the traditional risk assessment. UPMC’s Heart and Vasular Institute has the region’s only low-radiation electron beam coronary CT scanner. It looks specifically for calcium in the coronary arteries, a marker of the cholesterol accumulation that can cause sudden heart attacks.

“Screening absolutely saves lives. We can help people change the outcome once we know their risk factor levels,” Dr. Edmundowicz says. H eart- H ealthy Resources at U PMC S t. Marg aret Vijay K. Gulati, MD, assistant professor of medicine and cardiologist at UPMC St. Margaret, says the more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of developing heart disease.

Risk f actors that can’t b e chan g ed • Family history of heart disease, carotid artery disease, or peripheral artery disease • Age ( 6 5 and older) • Gender ( men have a greater risk of heart attack)

Risk f actors that can b e chan g ed • • • • •

Smoking High b lood pressure High cholesterol levels O b esity P hysical inactivity

“The bottom line is: Knowing your risk helps you and your doctor intelligently lower your risk,” says Dr. Gulati.

F ive W ays to L ower Y our B lood Pressure High b lood pressure puts you at risk for heart attack, stroke, and other serious diseases. Follow these recommendations from Dr. Gulati to take charge of this “ silent killer” : • I n crease p hysical activity. Aim for at least 3 0 minutes each day ( most days) of b risk walking, b ike riding, or other aerob ic activity that you enj oy. • Mon itor your sodium. L imit your sodium intake to less than two grams ( 2 , 0 0 0 mg) a day. B eware of “ hidden” sodium in processed foods, including canned soup, lunch meats, froz en dinners, and crackers. • Eat healthy. Follow a lower-fat diet that’ s rich in fruits, vegetab les, and low-fat dairy foods. • C on trol your stress. Take 1 5 minutes each day to decompress and focus on yourself. L isten to music, read, pray, or meditate. • D on ’ t smok e! N icotine has a direct ewect on your b lood vessels as well as your lungs. It causes your heart to b eat faster, and raises your b lood pressure. • T ak e your medicin e. If medicine is needed to control your b lood pressure, make sure you take it as prescrib ed b y your doctor.

K n ow your n umb ers

B ecome heart smart

Aim for these vital numb ers to k eep your tick er in good w ork ing condition:

Take time to educate yourself ab out heart disease and the treatments availab le. The U P M C Heart and V ascular web site is a one-stop source of information ab out cardiac conditions, as well as U P M C’ s full spectrum of cardiovascular services from routine screenings to advanced cardiac care. B e sure to check it out at www.U PMC .com/ H eartan dV ascular.

Monit or

T arg et L evels

Cholesterol

less than 2 0

Blood P ressure

b elow 1 2 0 / 8 0

BMI

, b ody mass index 1 8 .5–

mg/ dL

2 4 .9

Ask your doctor If you have q uestions or concerns ab out your heart health, call your physician to schedule an appointment.

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Health Tips from U P M C Health P lan

Y o u n g A t hle t e s a n d uS d d e n Ca r d ia c D e a t h

W hat Paren ts N eed to K n ow Is your child among the three to five million young people in the United States who play organized sports each year6 If so, you know that a pre-participation physical examination can help identify young athletes who may be at risk for an injury or illness that could req uire additional medical evaluation. R ecently, identifying young athletes who may be at risk of sudden cardiac death has become a hot topic among sports medicine professionals, focusing the attention of parents on the need for better cardiovascular screening of young athletes. “Sudden cardiac death -SCDi in young athletes is extremely rare,” says V ivekanand Allada, MD, clinical director of pediatric cardiology at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and professor of pediatrics. “In fact, it’s a one in a million risk.” According to Dr. Allada, sudden death in young athletes is most often due to heart problems, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy -an abnormal thickening of the hearti. Other causes include congenital coronary anomalies, arrhythmia -which can be caused by a blow to the chesti, and Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that can weaken the aorta and lead to a tear or rupture. “Unfortunately, there’s no perfect test to find a needle in a haystack,” says Dr. Allada. However, parents can take steps to uncover risk factors that may req uire more testing or a consultation with a pediatric cardiologist. The AHA recommends that young athletes undergo a screening medical history to check specifically for: • • •

Chest pain, palpitations, or fainting during exercise -red flags that req uire immediate attentioni A history of a heart murmur or hypertension Family history of coronary disease, sudden death, or Marfan syndrome

Children with any of these risk factors or an abnormal physical exam should see a pediatric cardiologist, who is specially trained to look for cardiac problems in children and teens, Dr. Allada says. Further testing might include an E0 G, echocardiogram, and stress test. He offers these tips to parents: • Don’t let your child play through chest pain. Pain can be a warning sign. • Teach your child to avoid energy drinks that have high levels of caffeine. Such drinks can make the heart race and cause cardiac arrhythmias. They are particularly dangerous for athletes with undiagnosed cardiac problems.

T o learn more ab out caring for your child’ s heart, visit w w w .chp.edu, then click on C hild H ealth A- Z . T o schedule an appointment w ith a C hildren’ s- a liated physician, call 4 1 2 - 6 9 2 - P E D S ( 7 3 3 7 ) .

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E x ercise:

T oo M uch of a G ood T hing C an B e H armful Regular exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy life. M any of us, however, still struggle to fi t even a moderate amount of exercise into our schedules. B ut there are plenty of people who are getting too much exercise. If some exercise is good, they think more will b e b etter. N ot true. In fact, excessive exercise can lead to a host of physical issues, including inj uries, the loss of lean muscle mass, a weakened immune system, sleep prob lems, irritab ility, and depression. A study in the American J ournal of Cardiology suggests that too much vigorous exercise also can increase the risk of heart prob lems.

Are you ex ercisin g too much? Experts say that if your workouts suddenly seem more div cult than usual and you aren’ t making progress, you may b e overexercising. O ther troub le signs include: • Insomnia • Aches or pain in muscles and/ or j oints • Fatigue • Feeling unmotivated and lacking energy • Increased susceptib ility to colds, sore throats, and other illnesses If you’ re experiencing any of these signs, see your doctor to fi nd out if something else is causing the prob lem.

J ust startin g an ex ercise p rog ram? Congratulations on taking an important step to improve your health. Here are a few tips to help your b ody adj ust to a new routine: • Create a reasonab le exercise program b ased on attainab le goals. • Exercise in moderation. • B egin slowly and b uild up gradually to avoid inj uries. • Cut b ack the volume and intensity of your workouts at the fi rst sign of inj ury. • L isten to your b ody. When it needs a rest, give it a rest. Sources: American College of Sports M edicine, American Heart Association

U P M C Spotlight

The Downside of Falls P rev enting tripping, falling can be key to maintaining independence Falls may be funny on comedy shows, but they can be traumatic for older adults. Simply tripping on a rug or slipping on a wet floor can change an older person’s life in an instant — posing serious threats to his or her health and independence. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three people over q5 experience at least one fall each year, and more than two-thirds of them are likely to fall again within six months. Falls also are the leading cause of accidental death in seniors. And, as many as ( 0 percent of those who fall end up with debilitating hip, pelvic, or spine fractures that make it harder to get around and adversely affect self-confidence. u ven those who don’t suffer serious injury can become fearful. “The most obvious concern when an older adult falls or trips is injury,” says Stephanie Studenski, MD, MPH, director of the Claude D. Pepper O lder Americans Independence Center at the University of Pittsburgh and associate director of research at the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh. “But the fear of falling can cause people to restrict their activity and sacrifice their independence. In some cases, it can lead to social isolation,” she says. u veryone is at risk for falls, but that risk increases with the changes that come with aging, plus other medical conditions such as arthritis, cataracts and glaucoma, and balance problems. “Fortunately, there’s a lot people can do to prevent most risk factors,” says Dr. Studenski. “Taking care of your overall health, staying active, socializing with friends, and taking a few common-sense precautions can help you avoid falls and broken bones.” To learn more about the Falls Clinic, located at UPMC Senior Care-Benedum w eriatric Center in O akland, call ) 12-q”2-) 200.

T hree things

you can do to p reven t f alls

Ex ercise! Exercises such as tai chi or other relaxation exercises that improve balanc e and coordination can help lower your chances of falling and make you feel stronger. S ee your doctor regula rly. Annual physical and eye examinations can uncover underlying medical prob lems that can lead to falls. See your doctor if you feel unstab le or diz z y, p ossibly d ue to medications. Tell your doctor if you fall; a medical evaluation can help. Mak e your home saf er. Seventy-fi ve percent of all falls occur at home. To help make your home fall-proof: • I mprove lighting. As you get older, you need b righter lights to see well. Us e night lights in your b edroom, hall, and bat hroom. • R emove small throw rugs. Tack down all carpets and area rugs so they are fi rmly fastened to the fl oor. • R emove things you can trip over. Clear boo ks, clothes, and shoes from stairs and places you walk. K eep cords and wires near walls. • Us e handrails. Install grab bar s near toilets, and bot h inside and outside your tub and shower. Always use the handrail when using the stairs. • St ore items w ithin easy reach. Don’t store things too high or too low. A void using stepladders or step stools. Mos t of all, think b efore you reach. • W ear shoes w ith non- sk id, non- friction soles. Avoid going b arefoot or wearing only socks or loose-fi tting slippers.

L eading the W ork in F alls P revention Dr. St ephanie Studenski received the 2 0 10 N ational Award for Falls P revention Research and will be honor ed as the grand champion at the third annual Celeb rating Senior Champions benefi t dinner and auction Thursday, N ov. 3, 2 0 1 1 . For more information about the event, sponsored b y U P MC Senior Services, the Aging Institute, and the Division of Geriatric Med icine of the Uni versity of P ittsb urgh, c all P eggy V anHorn, bene volent care advocate, at 4 12 -6 2 2 -9 2 3 9 .

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Choosing the Right Doctor for Y ou T aking the time to fin d “Dr . Rig ht” is one of the most important inv estments you can make. We’ve all heard about the importance of the doctor/patient relationship, often described as the cornerstone of quality medical care. “In fact, the stronger that relationship, the better your chances of receiving the right care at the right time in the right way,” says Tami Minnier, vice president of UPMC’s Donald J. Wolff, Jr. Center for Quality Improvement and Innovation. “At UPMC, our goal is to help you develop a long-term partnership in which your doctor is your number one health care champion.” According to a 2010 survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, most of us are very satisfied with our physicians. It usually takes something major — like moving to a new area, changing medical insurance, or being diagnosed with a serious condition — to prompt us to look for a new doctor. “If you’re in the process of changing doctors, there are some exciting new options to consider,” says Ms. Minnier. “For example, UPMC’s Health Plan is working with a growing number of primary care physicians to implement patient-centered medical homes in their practices.” In this medical model, your family doctor becomes the hub for all your care by linking you to a collaborative team of medical professionals — from physician assistants to specialists.

Medical homes are designed to ensure that you receive appropriate and comprehensive care over your entire lifetime, including preventive health care, treatment for acute or chronic illness, and assistance with end-of-life care. Studies show that medical homes are resulting in improved care, access, and communication between patients and their “medical team” — as well as improved quality, safety, and cost of care.

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When searching for “Dr. Right,” here are five helpful tips to locate the best match:

D etermin e what’ s imp ortan t to you “Finding the ‘right’ doctor often involves personal preferences apart from a physician’s skills or qualifications,” says Ms. Minnier. “For example, are you more comfortable with a doctor of your gender? Is a primary care physician right for you, or do you have a medical condition that requires treatment by a specialist? And if easy access is a concern, do you need a doctor located close to your home or workplace?”

G et the op in ion of p eop le you trust “Begin your search by asking your circle of family, friends, and co-workers about the positive experiences they’ve had,” she advises. “If you’re moving, or seeking a specialist, your current doctor also can be an excellent referral source.”

D o some homework “There are a number of credible online resources, including UPMC’s FindA Doctor (www.UPMC.com/FindADoctor), with information on more than 5,000 physicians, that allow you to confirm a physician’s medical credentials, board certifications, and specialties,” says Ms. Minnier. You also can check with the state medical board at docboard.org. In general, avoid “doctor ranking” sites, which are unregulated and difficult to verify for accuracy.

At UPMC, a variety of tools are used to assess physician quality, including patient satisfaction surveys. “We literally review thousands of surveys monthly, which provide us with invaluable insights and feedback,” says Ms. Minnier.

V erif y your doctor’ s in suran ce p lan s an d hosp ital a liation s “Most practices accept a variety of insurance plans, but be sure yours is among them,” advises Ms. Minnier. “And should you ever require hospitalization or special tests, it’s important that your doctor be affiliated with a hospital you know and trust.”

C all f or an ap p oin tmen t “Bring a written set of questions covering your concerns and expectations. When your visit is over, evaluate the experience,” suggests Ms. Minnier. “Was it easy to get an appointment? Were you treated with respect by both the doctor and the staff? If your answers are positive, you’re on the right path to a doctor/patient relationship characterized by quality care, compassion, and open communication.” F or more information, or to schedule an appointment w ith a U P M C - a liated physician, visit w w w .U P M C .com/ F indAD octor, or call 1 - 8 0 0 - 5 3 3 - U P M C ( 8 7 6 2 ) .

F it F eet: Summer Foot Care Tips Think twice before kicking off your shoes this summer. t aring your tootsies is the biggest mistake people make, leaving you at risk for puncture wounds, sunburn, and infection — especially dangerous for diabetics who lack normal protective sensation. Alex K line, MD, orthopaedic surgeon at UPMC St. Margaret, offers these tips for healthy summer feet: D on’ t go b arefoot. It leaves feet vulnerable to cuts, scrapes, bruises, puncture wounds, skin issues, and nail injuries. “ v lip-flops are better than nothing but they provide no support, which can lead to ankle sprains, tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis,” says Dr. K line. Wear water shoes when you are at the beach or lake.

D on’ t forget the sunscreen. v eet can get sunburned just like the rest of your body. Apply sunscreen with an SPv of at least 1 . . R eapply frequently if you’ re at the beach, in and out of the water, or sweating. Change yo ur sock s — and shoes. v eet sweat more during the summer, which makes you more prone to athlete’ s foot, fungal infections, and smelly feet. Avoid moisture accumulation by changing into clean, dry socks several times a day. Change your shoes, too. W ear shoes with good support. It’ s great to be active, but avoid injury by wearing the right shoe with good support. “ If you’ re a runner, avid walker, play tennis or another sport, be sure to choose an athletic shoe that fits your activity,” advises Dr. K line.

B eware of lock er rooms, pub lic showers, and swimming pools. Public places are a common source of fungi and bacteria that can lead to foot infections. Always wear sandals or water shoes.

W hat’ s H ap p en in g at U P M C St. M argaret Classes

Events

C O PD Education an d S up p ort 4 12 -7 84 -5 7 6 4

Alive & W ell Presen tation s UP M C St. Mar garet physicians and health professionals speak on a variety of health-related topics at community lib raries. For upcoming dates, locations, and topics, vi sit www.UP MCSt Mar garet. com.

Ins ulin Pump C lass 1-86 -334 -5 2 2 7 L ook Go od, F eel B etter 1-80 -2 2 7 -2 34 5 Mana gin g Y our D iab etes 1-86 -334 -5 2 2 7

Support Groups Alz heimer’ s S up p ort Gr oup 4 12 -7 84 -5054 B ariatric S up p ort Gr oup 4 12 -7 84 -5 09

Amp utee W alk in g S chool Free, one -day clinic to help individuals with leg amputations improve performance. S ponsored by the U P MC R ehabilitation Institute For upcoming dates, vi sit www.UP MCSt Mar garet. com.

Dia b etes S up p ort Gr oup 4 12 -7 84 -4 19 4

F or m or e inf or m atio n abo ut or c all Com m unit y R elations

B ariatric I n f ormation S ession s M ondays, J une 6 and 2 0; J uly 1 1 and 1 8 6 to 8 p.m . U P MC S t. Margaret C onference R ooms A, B , and C

For more information or to register, call 4 1 2 -7 8 4 -4 0 7 7 .

For more information or to register, call 4 1 2 -7 8 4 -5 90 0 .

S mok in g C essation Prog ram Eight-week program for those who are serious ab out q uitting. U P MC S t. Margaret C onference C enter

U PMC S t. Marg aret B lood D rive Thursday, J uly 2 1 7 a.m . to 3 p.m . U P MC S t. Margaret D ining R ooms A and B

V olun teer O p p ortun ities For information ab out volunteer opportunities at UP M C St. M argaret, call V olunteer Services at 4 1 2 -7 8 4 -4 0 8 1 .

For more information or to register, call 4 1 2 -7 8 4 -504 3 .

an y of t hes e c las s es or s pou r at 412-784-5160, or go t o w

t gr oups , c all the umn erb ndi i c at ed, . UPMCS tM ar gar et. c om .

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U PMC S t. Marg aret 815 F reeport Road P ittsbur gh, P A 15 2 15

UPMC Today is publi shed quar terly to provide you with health and wellness information and classes and events availab le at U P M C. This pub lication is for informational purposes only and should not b e taken as medical advice or replace a physician’ s medical assessment. Alw ays consult fi rst with your physician about anything related to your personal health. To receive additional copies of this publi cation, call 4 1 2 -7 8 4 -5 1 60

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Even the smallest discovery is important. Doctors rely on quality images to make accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions for their patients. UPMC is a leader in creating and adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance medical imaging and improve patient care. In fact, some of the most innovative advances in the field of radiology have happened in our hospitals, such as the invention of PET/CT a combined technology that can help to detect cancer in its earliest stages. And our state-of-the-art computer system allows imaging scans to be quickly accessed and viewed by physicians across our network  with just the click of a mouse. Our advanced technology and expert radiologists can make a real difference in your care. Whether you need an x-ray or advanced radiology testing, trust UPMC Imaging Services at St. Margaret. To schedule an appointment, call 1-866-331-9800, or for more information, visit www.UPMC.com/Imaging.

 Where your important medical questions are answered! Q: I needed to have a tooth pulled in the lower back of my mouth, you really can't see it, and it doesn't bother me, do I REALLY need to do something about it? A: Thanks for the question Sue. The short answer is no. However, the potential problems this could cause, certainly make it worth your time to understand the options you have. I'm not sure of the specifics of why you lost the tooth, and hopefully when it was removed, the dentist/surgeon talked with you about grafting the area to maintain the approximate size and shape from where the tooth was removed. We will be covering why this is a potential problem when removing a tooth and doing nothing to replace it. But first, something I think we need to cover, that in science and dentistry we are now growing and engineering teeth to replace ones that have been lost. The bad news is, it's not ready yet, and it looks like it won't be for a few years. So in the mean time, your options to replace a missing tooth are limited to 3. First let's talk about what happens when a tooth is lost and nothing replaces it. Teeth want to keep growing out by nature. if they don't have anything to grow against, they will literally begin to grow themselves out of the socket. This can lead to further tooth loss, and biting and chewing issues, as well as shifting that can affect your looks. Also, the main reason we have bone is to hold on to the teeth. Once the tooth is gone, there is nothing for the bone to do and consequently disappears as part of a remodeling process. This may limit options in the future, and also may effect your looks ultimately. One option for replacement is a denture type, which is more of a quick fix, that would be removable, and you would need to take it out at night. The positives are it is quick to make, usually reversible, and also usually the least expensive. The downside would be it is not permanent, usually bulky because it will need to clip on to other teeth you have, and where it attaches, may be the source of cavities or other problems. But acceptable for a temporary stop gap. The next option is something called a bridge. So named because we "bridge" the fake tooth between two healthy teeth. The way this is done is to reduce the teeth next to the space to create room for the Bridge to attach on them. then the "fake" tooth is attached, usually to two

crowns on each side, and the whole apparatus is cemented, or bonded over the prepared teeth to to make them look like 3 separate teeth. Positives are it is permanent, and when done properly, very predictable. The cost will be the cost of 3 crowns, which in this area of the country averages between $850-1500 per tooth, depending on the materials your dentist uses. The downside to a bridge, is that we need to work on two teeth that we wouldn't have normally had to work on, and if a problem arises with the bridge, you have a problem with three teeth not just one. Also, since nothing is in the bone, bone loss will continue in the area and flossing can be trickier since the three teeth are attached together. The final option, would be a dental implant. With this, an artificial "root" is implanted in the space. These implants are currently made of either titanium or a ceramic material. Like everything else in life, there are a number of different types of implants, as well as ways to place them. The traditional way of placement involves 2 minor surgeries and a few sutures. The implant is allowed to heal for 4 months or more, and, depending on bone loss, a bone graft may be needed to make it work. that may be done at the same surgery, or at a different procedure. But this can add 4 or months to the procedure. If the doctor has access to 3D scanning technology such as the Galileos machine we have here at Fox Chapel Advanced Dental Care. The doctor can place the implants

virtually in the scan first and essentially plan the procedure before working on the patient. From this information, a guide can be fabricated that allows for "minimally invasive implants" to be placed accurately through a small hole about the size of a paper hole punch. There are no sutures and very little to no discomfort or pain. Similar to the difference between regular surgery and laproscopic surgery. Just like laproscopic surgery, since guided implant surgery is less invasive, healing times are significantly reduced allowing for quicker tooth replacement. Hope this helps, but as always hanging on to your natural teeth is always better than what we can do artificially. As always, maintain your regular appointments with your dentist. Direct any questions or concerns to them, as they will be able to guide you in a direction that will best fit your situation. Thanks for the question! Dentally yours, Kevin Pawlowicz This Industry Insight was written by Dr. Kevin Pawlowicz. Dr. Kevin Pawlowicz practices at Fox Chapel Advanced Dental Care on Old Freeport Road in Fox Chapel. Dr. Pawlowicz has trained at the Las Vegas and Seattle Institutes. He is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the Academy of Laser Dentistry. You can learn more about Dr. Pawlowicz on his website www.foxchapeldentistry.com.

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R E A L E S TAT E

By Pamela Palongue

Downsizing Your Home

Retired persons are commonly advised to sell their home to avoid the cost of repairs and maintenance. Well-meaning friends and relatives often point out that they won’t be able to mow the lawn forever. Is selling your house always the best choice? According to Tom Ceponis, of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in Pittsburgh, it’s a decision that needs to be weighed carefully with knowledgeable people you can trust. “There are many reasons a home may not be practical to maintain in retirement years. Lifestyle or financial changes are two of the main reasons a person chooses to relocate,” Ceponis explains. For example, some older homes may not be well insulated and this can lead to high gas or electric bills. There are the major expenses of replacing a roof as well as the ongoing costs of lawn maintenance, snow removal and real estate taxes. Additionally, as the children grow up and move out, a large home will seem impractical to maintain. Some retired persons opt for condominium living which quells many of the anxieties of home ownership. Maintenance is usually taken care of in the association fees and will generally include lawn maintenance, roof repairs and replacement and siding. Some condos may include exterior painting as part of their upkeep agreement. The down side is that association fees can be raised over time. However, most associations manage their money wisely and the increases are usually infrequent. If you like the idea of condo living, do your homework. Attend the association meetings and see how the money is being spent and if they are managing it well. One other point to consider is that condo associations occasionally may assess their members a one-time fee to pay for a major

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renovation or repair. This is not common and generally the tenants have months to years prior notice before such an assessment is made. Some Baby Boomers opt to move to another home that has better use of living space. With people maintaining a healthy lifestyle longer, a move to a more efficient home can have great returns. In addition to their active lifestyle, “Baby Boomers still want the flexibility to entertain and live in a home with plenty of privacy that a single family home offers,” says Ceponis. So you are ready to move, but can’t face the daunting task of getting your home ready to sell? “Most people have a trusted relative or friend to help walk them through the process”, says Ceponis. For those that don’t, most agencies today offer services to help guide you through the whole process. Just can’t fathom cleaning out that garage? “No problem, says Ceponis, the right agent, will coordinate a company to clean up your garage, recommend a painter to freshen up the front door, or just about anything else you need to help sell the house.” Choosing the right agent is extremely important when selling a home of a person who has lived there for 20-30 years. It is an emotional move, one that will take patience on the part of the agent and the family to get the whole project done in a manner that will leave everyone feeling ok with the sale. Ceponis says that if you are in doubt about the best agent to help sell your home (or your Mother’s home), call and speak to the manager of any reputable real estate agency. They can recommend a person who has experience in dealing with this type of sale as well as the patience and know how to get the job done. While every real estate transaction is different, selling your home can be an emotional decision. It’s best to make sure you have the right person representing you. The best agent is the one who will listen to your needs and guide you to make good decisions on the sale of your home.

R E A L E S TAT E

by Pamela Palongue Once upon a time, young people bought a house and lived there happily ever after. End of story. Now an individual or couple may buy four or five different houses in a lifetime and even more if they are working in an industry where transfers happen frequently. In today’s real estate market, is it smart to buy and sell so many times? Or is it safer to buy a dream home and remain there for life? According to Kevin Mihm, a Pittsburgh native and real estate agent for 28 years, it all depends upon the individual and the situation. Decades ago, people stayed in the same job for their entire lives. Now people may switch companies or relocate across the country for job opportunities. Corporate executives may be transferred within their company 10 or more times in a 25-year period. People are also basing their housing choices on their immediate needs, rather than long-term requirements. People begin their home-buying adventure in a starter home, which may have only two bedrooms and one bath. Then when they start a family and are more stable in their careers, they will advance to a mid-range home to accommodate the growing number of children. Eventually they may upgrade

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to an even larger, more luxurious home if that you are not over-improving for your particular neighborhood if you hope to get a good return on income allows. your investment. Check comparable home prices in Are they making money by investing in a house, renovating and selling? The surprising your area before making remodeling choices. answer is “Yes!” Mihm explains that the Mihm also points out that Pittsburgh’s growing Pittsburgh housing market has been fairly stable elderly population has created a need for housing compared to other urban areas around the that is sensitive to the mobility problems of this age country. “We don’t have a housing shortage group. Retirees are empty-nesters that don’t need here created by the influx of as much space as a growing family. S t art er H om e new residents. It’s actually a They also don’t need stairs. A type Increase in Average Square Feet very stable market here.” of dwelling called a “flat” has There are a few key become popular. A typical flat has 2 0 0 0 2 ,2 0 0 s q . ft. considerations to look at when no basement, and the kitchen, 1 9 7 0 buying a home and upgrading it as bathroom and master bedroom are 1 ,5 0 0 s q . ft. an investment. Most importantly, all located on the ground floor. The 1 9 5 0 1 ,0 0 0 s q . ft. when selecting a neighborhood in upstairs may include one or two which to live, take special notice bedrooms and a bath for their adult of the school district. Because children when they are visiting or parents want their children to be able to attend the residing in the home while taking care of their very best schools, the school district is key to the aging parents. Most older Pittsburgh homes do area retaining its value over the long haul. Choosing not fit this description. There were new flats being an area that is safe, low-crime and likely to remain built in recent years, until 2008 when the economic that way is also important. People tend to gravitate recession halted new construction. In the future, toward areas with shopping malls, groceries and with the greater numbers of elderly, this type of entertainment nearby as well. These elements housing could be in short supply. But Mihm is will help ensure that your home retains its value optimistic about the future of Pittsburgh real when you are ready to sell it in a few years. estate and says, “We are actually very blessed Another important consideration is to make sure to live in this market.”

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R ob ert Friedlander, MD, left, and Michael Horowitz, MD, discuss treatment options with a patient who has an unruptured aneurysm.

ROAD

On the

By Mark Berton

Ashly Hunt

U PMC neurosurgery patient making strides after sut ering a near fatal b rain hemorrhage.

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When you think of someone who has suwered a stroke, common images arise: paralysis on one side of the b ody and div culty with speech and coordination. While stroke can occur at any age, most people associate strokes with older people. So if you’ re an athletic 2 4 -year-old with no history of b rain inj ury, on the b each at O cean City, M aryland during the Fourth of J uly holiday with stroke-like symptoms, denial is a natural response. And for Ashly Hunt, she denied her symptoms until the moment she was loaded into a helicopter. “ I rememb er thinking I wanted water. I am a huge runner. I ran b efore this and thought I was dehydrated, ” she said. “ It literally took the life-fl ight to b elieve that I wasn’ t dehydrated. When it’ s happening to you you’ re not thinking the worst. ” Within a matter of hours, what she thought was a simple headache evolved and rob b ed her of her sight and ab ility to speak. She also had troub le moving her arms and hands. Emergency responders decided to life-fl ight her to the nearest hospital in B altimore, where she was diagnosed with a b rain stem hemorrhage. B lood from the hemorrhage was pooling in an area that connects her b rain to her spinal cord, causing her to lose movement on her right side, and creating a maj or dilemma for the neurosurgeons b ecause they b elieved the site was too risky to treat with surgery. Soon after the diagnosis, Ashly entered a rehab ilitation program in her hometown of J ohnstown, P a. , to help her regain movement of the extremities that were awected b y the hemorrhage. However, after several weeks in rehab ilitation and slight improvements in her vision and speech, Ashly’ s overall condition b egan to worsen. Ashly still maintained her hearing, b ut what she heard going on around her, she didn’ t like. U ntil she met Rob ert Friedlander, M D, at U P M C.

“I’m pretty close to 100 percent now. My hand and foot are the last things I’m waiting for to come back. I’m writing again. It’s like a 3-year-old, but I am. I’m going to be 100 percent.” Ashly Hunt

From left to right, Brian Jankowitz, MD, Paul Gardner, MD, Daniel Wecht, MD, and L. Dade Lunsford, MD, discuss a complex neurovascular case.

Dr. Friedlander was called after Ashly’ s family doctor consulted with a neurosurgeon at The J ohns Hopkins U niversity, who recommended that Dr. Friedlander manage this complex situation. Within four hours of the initial consultation, Ashly was in an amb ulance headed for P ittsb urgh where, she said, she met the doctor who made all the diwerence. “ I couldn’ t speak and had a hard time seeing, b ut my b rain was processing everything. All of the other doctors were talking ab ove me and not looking at me, not doing anything with me even though I understood them all, ” she said. “ U ntil I went to Dr. Friedlander and he worked with me through my condition to give him the answers he needed. He never came ow as pompous. He’ s the most caring person I’ ve dealt with to this day. ” Ashly’ s hemorrhage was caused b y an underlying condition called a cavernous malformation, which is an ab normal, b erry-like patch of b lood vessels located inside her b rain stem. B ecause the b rain stem is deeply situated within the b ase of the b rain and controls important functions such as movement, sensation, b reathing, and instructing the heart to b eat, surgery to remove the malformation was extremely risky. However, if left untreated, the malformed vessels could again b leed and result in additional critical neurologic damage or even death. Dr. Friedlander and the neurosurgeons at U P M C faced the challenging task of removing the malformation without causing further complications. U sing advanced b rain imaging technology known as High Defi nition Fib er Tracking, pioneered at the U niversity of P ittsb urgh, Dr. Friedlander was ab le to view the detailed wiring of Ashly’ s b rain fi b ers to determine the b est way to execute the surgery with as little damage to her b rain as possib le. In order to ob tain appropriate access to the b rain stem, Dr. Friedlander turned to Dr. B arry Hirsch, a skull b ase EN T surgeon at U P M C. U sing a special microscope and image guidance device, Dr. Friedlander approached the b rain stem and was ab le to completely remove the cavernous malformation.

After surgery, Ashly’ s vision and speech b egan to improve. She also could move her right hand, which had b een paralyz ed. She improved daily, making strides with her b alance, speech, movements, and other functions, and credits her improvement to her strict discipline in following her doctors’ recommendations and her physical therapy program. “ If I could say one thing to inspire anyone going through this it’ s that you can’ t j ust sit there. It b ecomes your j ob , ” she said. “ I’ ve seen a lot of people who have had strokes. Y ou can’ t j ust sit down and think you’ ll get b etter. Y ou have to follow the therapy and give your b ody time. ” While she’ s b een living with her parents in J ohnstown during her recovery, Ashly is looking forward to getting b ack to her life in B altimore. “ I’ m pretty close to 1 0 0 percent now. M y hand and foot are the last things I’ m waiting for to come b ack, ” she said. “ I’ m writing again. It’ s like a 3 -year-old, b ut I am. I’ m going to b e 1 0 0 percent. ” Her road to recovery has b een long. Approaching the anniversary of her ordeal, she and her family are thankful to Dr. Friedlander and everyone on the U P M C staw who helped her through this challenging time. She maintains a b log at ashlystatus. com, where family and friends post updates on her condition. “ I’ ll never forget, Dr. Friedlander said to me, ‘ We’ re a team. I’ ll do my part as long as you do yours, ’ ” she said. “ That’ s b ig in my mind. That made an impact. ” For more information, please call the U P M C Department of N eurological Surgery at 1 -8 6 6 -9 7 9 -1 3 3 6 or visit U P M C. com/ nv. This patient’ s treatment and results may not b e representative of all similar cases.

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estate planning

really necessary?

by Martin W. “Tim” Sheerer, Esquire state planning is often incorrectly perceived as a tool only beneficial to the rich. It can also be a difficult topic to broach because some people don’t like to talk about the prospect of their own death. However, you have the right under law to direct what shall happen with your assets and other matters when you are gone and you should exercise that power – no matter the size of your estate. You may have minor children and you should make provision to protect your assets for them. There are many other aspects of estate planning which can save taxes and otherwise protect your assets so they benefit your loved ones. Please consider seeing a lawyer to discuss your situation. You will find that many lawyers will provide these services at very reasonable charges. You can ask about the legal fees up front and obtain comparative fees before committing to a particular lawyer. Before you call an attorney to get the ball rolling, I will provide you with a brief overview of some of the vehicles commonly used in proper estate planning.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT Very simply, a will is a legally binding document that provides you with the ability to direct where and to whom all that you own will go after your death. A will also appoints an executor or executrix to act as your legal representative to carry out your wishes. If you die without a will, your state’s

intestacy laws will determine how your estate is distributed and such a distribution may not be in accord with your intentions. For example, for young parents, a will is most important because it allows you to appoint a guardian of your minor children should both parents pass away and, if necessary, a testamentary trust for the care and maintenance of the children to an age which you choose. If you have not structured the time for distribution, each of your children will receive their share on their 18th birthday. I believe that you should make a will holding the assets in trust for a longer period while allowing the trustee to expend some of the funds for support, education and care of the children.

DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY A Durable Power of Attorney allows you to appoint a trusted agent as your “attorney-in-fact” to act on your behalf for financial purposes. This document is valid during your lifetime and typically is activated if you ever become incapacitated. The document is important so that your legal and financial matters can be managed in the instance of disability.

MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY Similar to a Durable Power of Attorney, a Medical Power of Attorney allows you to appoint a proxy to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself.

LIVING WILL OR MEDICAL DIRECTIVE A Living Will outlines the various types of medical care you would like to receive, or refuse – including instructions to your health care provider regarding life support if you are terminally ill or in a vegetative state. These documents enable you to direct your health care even at a time when you are physically or mentally unable to do yourself.

TRUST DOCUMENTS Trust documents must be explored with scrutiny. In proper estate planning, trust documents can be valuable if special circumstances exist. However, before paying for the preparation of such documents, you should make certain that your situation is one that would benefit from one or more trusts. You may often hear that certain trust documents will help you avoid probate costs. While this is true, you must know that probate in Pennsylvania is often not as expensive as the preparation of those documents. Furthermore, probate may be avoided in many fact situations where there is no controversy. State inheritance taxes are not avoided by the use of a revocable living trust. Before moving forward with certain trust documents, make sure you clearly understand the true value of the trust compared to using simpler documents. Proper estate planning, which may go beyond the mere preparation of the documents listed above, can provide many benefits. It can minimize taxes, save money for the estate, and provide for surviving family and friends. However, and most importantly, it allows you to carry out your wishes before the time comes when it is too late! If you have questions on this subject, you may call us at SHEERER & ASSOCIATES at (412) 781-3100 or email at tim@sheererlaw.com. 4 6

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 K id s a C a rn e a rra y d a n c b a llo m o r a d u

t t h e UP M C C g i e Sc i e n c e C o f a c tiv itie s a in g , a fa b u lo u o n a n d c a r ic a e . Su m p t u o u s lts . It w a s a n

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h ild r e n 's B a ll h a d a b la s t a s t h e y p a r t ie d it u p a t t h e e n t e r o n Sa t u r d a y , M a r c h 1 9 . Th e r e w a s a f a n t a s t i c n d e n te r ta in m e n t th r o u g h o u t th e e v e n in g – m u s ic a n d s s ta g e s h o w , N a tio n a l A v ia r y b ir d s , fa c e p a in tin g , tu r e a r tis ts , c r a fts , a s c a v e n g e r h u n t, a n d s o m u c h o ffe r in g s a t th e d in n e r b u ffe t p le a s e d c h ild r e n a n d a w e s o m e e v e n in g fo r th e w h o le fa m ily !

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B a l l b e n e f i t Th e Th i s c a m p i n v i t e s to e x p e r ie n c e l a c tiv itie s , fr e e o d life s k ills , a c a d e im p o r ta n c e o f

UP M C H e a l t h f o r Li f e s k id s fr o m o n e o f o u r p o s itiv e s o c ia l, f c h a rg e . C a m p e rs e m ic s , c a r e e r c o m m u n ity s e r v ic e .

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 B rin g s O ly m

pic- Sty le T rain in g

H om

ool & Spa Outlet is proud to introduce the innovative new line of Michael Phelps Signature Swim Spas by Master Spas. Master Spas developed the line with input from the 14 time Olympic Gold Medal winner and his coach, Bob Bowman. Fred & Jan Cerminara, owners of Pool & Spa Outlet had the opportunity meet Phelps at a private event in Las Vegas and discuss his love of the sport and his desire to bring the benefits of swimming and aquatic exercise to everyone. With six different models of Michael Phelps Signature Swim Spas available, it is now possible to enjoy the full-body benefits of aquatic exercise in the privacy of your own home. A commercial model has also been designed for use in physical therapy centers, schools and swim clubs. “Our swim spas can accommodate swimmers of all abilities, from beginners to elite competitive swimmers.” explains Jan Cerminara. She notes that the emergence of swim spas is a huge trend in the industry, because of the overall health benefits associated with swimming and aquatic exercise and the fact that a water exercise regimen puts less stress on muscles and joints, thereby making it the perfect work-out for people looking to increase stamina and endurance and strengthen muscles and joints. In addition to the smoothest, strongest and widest water current in the industry, the Michael Phelps Signature Swim Spas by Master Spas also come standard with the Aquatic Exercise System , which includes a rowing kit and resistance bands. Optional underwater treadmills and exercise bikes are available as well. These swim spas are completely portable and install in just one day, Cerminara explains. They are energy-efficient, can be used year-‘round, and do not require any additional plumbing or excavation. Prices range from approximately $18,000 to $40,000. The Michael Phelps Signature Swim Spas are on display now at Pool & Spa Outlet’s Peters Township showroom. Their knowledgeable sales team is eager to educate you on the therapeutic benefits of owning a swim spa and they look forward to helping your family choose a model that best suits your needs and your budget. Pool & Spa Outlet has been Pittsburgh's premier pool and spa retailer since 1988 and is proud to be Western Pennsylvania's only Aqua 100 Hall of Fame inductee.

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Free Van Service Keeps Area Seniors   

f you travel along Freeport Road, chances are you’ve passed by the large white coach style van that shuttles area senior citizens to any number of stops around town. The Free Rides for Seniors program was initiated in 2006 to serve area seniors by providing them with free transportation to local destinations. Since its inception, the program has been funded annually by the St. Margaret Foundation with operational services administered through North Hills Community Outreach. St. Margaret Foundation awards a grant of approximately $45,000 annually to the program, according to Mary Lee Gannon, foundation president. The funds support the gasoline, maintenance, and staff required to keep the van rolling. “The van is driven 100 percent by volunteers, and that is really special,” says Gannon. The program serves the Allegheny River corridor stretching from Sharpsburg through Aspinwall, to O’Hara Township and Blawnox, transporting area seniors from their residences to a variety of destinations: from doctor appointments, to the pharmacy, to the grocery store, or even a friend’s home. A new van, purchased through a grant from Allegheny County Economic Development, was dedicated to the program and put into service in April. “The van itself really needed to be updated,” Gannon explains. Previously those who rode the van to the supermarket or other shops had no place to put their purchases. Passengers’ bags were either placed on a seat beside them or underneath their seat – in either case bags often ended up rolling around the floor.

Moving

Inside the new van there are racks where passengers can stow their purchases during the ride home. “This is a very special program to us,” Gannon explains, “because we have a lot of aging seniors in our service area.” She reports that riders have expressed their appreciation for the service, stating that sometimes they are grateful for a way to get out of the house. “As you age, if you don’t have a support network around, you can easily become depressed,” says Gannon. “This is a way for us to help seniors maintain their relationships with friends, get to the hospital, or get to the store.” The office that operates the service, Faith in Action, is located within Lighthouse Pointe, but seniors need not go there to access the service. Those who would like to request a ride can call 412.449.0151. Afterward, they may call again to arrange for their ride home or, if they do not have a mobile phone, simply tell the driver where and when they would like to be picked up. And, if a senior is in need of a ride to a destination that is somewhere other than within the program’s service corridor, the staff will assist with finding other transportation resources. “We really want to help seniors stay connected with what they need,” Gannon says. For more information about St. Margaret Foundation, visit www.stmargaretfoundation.org.

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         

Fay Morgan of North Hills Community Outreach, Richard Ranii of Allegheny County Economic Development, Mary Lee Gannon of St. Margaret Foundation and U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire celebrate the dedication of the new Free Rides for Seniors van.

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The Kidney

Gift of Life Gala The National Kidney Foundation Serving the Alleghenies Annual Fundraising Gala Guests at this year’s Kidney Gift of Life Gala celebrated with all the glitz, glamour and gaming one would expect to find in vintage Las Vegas! Dr. Kevin Ho and Mrs. Brenda Ho hosted this year’s celebration which was held at the Circuit Center Ballroom on Pittsburgh’s South Side. The event featured Vegasstyle dining stations, live music by Vincent’s Quartet, casino-style gaming, silent auctions and raffles. Funds raised at the gala are used to aid CKDaffected individuals living in the Foundation’s 47-county territory. The event supports efforts to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being of those affected by these diseases, and increase the availability of all transplantation organs.

Amy Tavolario, Khristine Sechler

Jim Price, Nanc y Harris

Diane Allison, Mary Starusko

Emily Hamysher, Laura Nizlek, Chrystin Bunion

Michelle & Bill Zinsser

n a, Tiffany Ray, Shannon Flyn Maggie Pratt, Nikki McKenn

Laurie Streiner 50 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE

Fox Chapel Area

                  



            

                      

  W S N P M L R U G L Q S X

A L X S F T E S K P P I X

N Q J R R L Q Q E D H Q Q

T R A L L I P R E T A C A

M W M C R L R E D I P S P

P R A Y I N G M A N T I S

O G X L A D Y B U G J Y M

R T C E N T I P E D E L C

G C P S A W Z W N S W F P

Y I H E L O W E P J O E C

Y L F R E T T U B D R R N

T Q F K W C T J T P M I N

B T O Z G G Q G R Y L F E

Ant Butterfly Caterpillar Centipede Firefly Ladybug Praying Mantis Spider Wasp Worm

         In m y c h ild h o o d m e m o r y is a ja r o f lig h t, C a p tu re d s p a rk s fro m th e q u ilt o f n ig h t. On t h e b e d s t a n d t h e y g lo w w ith g r e e n , Th e i r c a p t i v e s p i r i t s ’ w in k in g b e a m . Ti m e w a s c u t s h o r t b y a s u m m e r p a s tim e , Ye t t h e y e a r s c a n n o t d i m th e ir lig h t o f lim e .

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    

   

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                           

      5 2

724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE

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

  am often approached by potential patients who have been unhappy with their noses for most of their life. One frequent question is “Am I too old or too young to consider this surgery?” As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, I do recommend that patients wait until at least 14-15 years of age (maybe older for boys) before having this type of surgery. As for the older population, assuming you have good health, there is no upper age limit for nose reshaping surgery. First let us begin with what Rhinoplasty surgery can accomplish. This wonderfully liberating operation can change nose size, nose width, nose profile, size and shape of the nasal tip, nostril size, and can address nostril assemetry and deviation. Another pre-requisite for this surgery is that one must stop smoking. This will impede proper healing and could cause complications post surgery. It is also imperative to have a clear idea of how you would like your nose to look, while at the same time, realizing that

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724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE

there are limitations to the procedure. Realistic expectations from the surgery is something that your Plastic Surgeon will evaluate when determining whether or not you are a good candidate for Rhinoplasty surgery. Your skin quality, along with the size and shape of your nose in relationship to your other facial features will also be studied. Sometimes, it may be recommended that nose reshaping surgery be combined with a facelift or chin implant surgery. This all will depend on your individual needs and facial proportions. There are two types of Rhinoplasty surgery—open and closed. Which one is used will be dependent on what will best accomplish your needs. In your consultation appointment, both will be discussed in relation to which would be a better choice for you. In a closed rhinoplasty, all of the

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incisions are placed inside the nose, where they will not be visible. In an open procedure, a very short incision is made across the vertical strip of tissue that separates the nostrils, called the columella. After healing, these incisions are very inconspicuous. You may now be wondering about what you can expect AFTER your surgery. After surgery, you may have a splint on the bridge of your nose to help hold tissues in place until they are stabilized—this will also protect your nose while sleeping. You will only wear this for 4 days to a week after your procedure. The first few days after your surgery, you should sleep with your head elevated, as it helps to reduce swelling, promoting quicker healing. Usually bruising around the eyes and cheeks is only obvious the first 3 days post surgery. Most discoloration disappears within a week. You may often return to work in a week to 10 days. Lifting, bending and straining should be avoided during the early postoperative period. Most normal activities including exercise, can usually be resumed within 3 weeks. It will be a few months before you can expose your newly reshaped nose to direct sunlight. You must be conscientious about using sunblock to protect your skin. Rhinoplasty surgery can truly be a life changing event, as it can give you more confidence and allow more possibilities to become realities. Although each patient’s desires and results are individualized, one thing is for certain—your new nose will allow you to still look like yourself, just an improved, more self confident YOU.

Westmoreland Supply Participates in

PPG Pittsburgh Paints Dealer Designer Referral Program t happens to all of us – we stare at a wall of paint chips trying to remember what color our sofa is, or if the lights in our living room are incandescent or compact fluorescent. Thanks to PPG’s Dealer Designer Referral Program, you can leave the store with the one tool that you need the most – a professional Interior Designer. “We launched this program where designers get referrals directly from the paint store. A customer comes into the store and is either looking for paint, or browsing for color,” said Steve Shorthouse, Voice of Color Marketing Manager for PPG Pittsburgh Paints. “They’re someone who could use professional help in their home for color consultation. PPG teamed up with local, experienced designers and the paint stores. We provide the stores with a prescreened group of designers who can be tapped for consultation through our dedicated website: www.myvoiceofcolor.com/pittsburgh.” At the site, customers can preview the portfolios of 15 different Interior Designers to see whose work most reflects the customer’s style and personality. The customer can schedule an appointment right there with the designer they pick. They pay the designer a flat rate of $75 for a one hour session. In return, they get an hour of solid design advice at a greatly discounted rate, and a voucher for $50 off PPG Pittsburgh Paints. “The best part about this is that designers typically charge between $75 and $200 an hour. This is a great deal,” Shorthouse said. “The homeowner gets the help they need quickly and at a great price.” The program was originally a pilot program in Pittsburgh, but this March, recently rolled out to three other cities on the west coast. Shorthouse said that within the first year, customers scheduled 260 design consultations in the Pittsburgh market alone. Shorthouse also suggested that customers visit PPG’s www.voiceofcolor.com and enter the PPG Pittsburgh Paints section of the site to play the fun and informative Color Sense Game 2.0 that will allow them to answer a series of questions to come up with a custom palette of colors that match their personalities and demeanor.

“We encourage homeowners to play the game and find out what their personal color scheme is prior to meeting with the designer,” Shorthouse said. “By answering the questions, they can easily get color selections that are right for them and are unique PPG Pittsburgh Paints offerings.” Westmoreland Supply Paint and Decorating Centers has 12 convenient locations to serve you no matter where you live in the Pittsburgh region. To find the Westmoreland Supply Paint and Decorating Center nearest you, go to www.westmorelandsupply.com.

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THE EIGHTH ANNUAL

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Lisa Corbett, Alexis Macklin, Beth Slagle

onta Three Rivers Pittsburgh North hosted its Eighth Annual Glass Slipper Ball in March at Four Points Sheraton, with Sally Wiggin filling the role of Mistress of Ceremonies. Dozens of local establishments offered delicious samplings of cuisine, confections and libations. There was a live auction full of fabulous trips and adventures, along with raffles, a silent auction, and mystery bags. Guests also enjoyed an exhibition by Arthur Murray dancers, and dancing to the music of Dr. Zoot until the stroke of midnight. Educational needs of women and their families, both locally and abroad, is the focus of the Zonta Club of Three Rivers Pittsburgh North. This organization has financially supported local agencies such as North Hills Community Outreach, Crisis Center North, Girls Hope, HEARTH, and Genesis House. The club meets in Wexford the second Wednesday of the month, September through June. For more information, visit the club's website at www.ZontaThreeRiversNorth.com.

Event Chair, Cindy Yingling & Sally Wiggin 5 6

Margaret Haughney, Cinderella of the Ball Amy Markewinski, Lisa Freeman, Dawn Pomaybo Butson & Brian Butson

Melissa & Jerry Salandro Casey & Angela Carr, Jill Bauer

Gerry Johnson, Judy Sporka

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Poor Posture Equals

Poor Health T he human spine has 3 c urv es, one in the nec k one in the mid b ac k and one in the low er b ac k . T hese three c urv es w ork together to distrib ute w eight and support our b odies.

Sit Up Straight! Most likely these words resonate with a large majority of us. Well as always Mom was right. Poor posture is a national epidemic and is a lot more harmful than you may assume. Your Spine has an intimate connection with your Brain, Spinal Cord, and overall organ function. This relationship means that poor posture and or poor spinal health can and will lead to an improper functioning body, not to mention the orthopedic ramifications as well. How could ones posture really be so important? For starters our spine and its movements literally feed our brain. Dr Roger Sperry a Nobel Prize recipient has shown that 90% of the brains nutrition and stimulation is generated by the movement of the spine. It is such delicate relationships that even the slightest disruption of one drop of Cerebral Spinal Fluid, which bathes and protects the brain, will result in a terrible headache. Our brain is the cornerstone of our existence. It’s improper function could lead to every system of the body not functioning at 100%. The human spine has 3 curves, one in the neck one in the mid back and one in the lower back. These three curves work together to distribute weight and support our bodies. A disruption of anyone of these curves will directly affect the others as well. There are many factors that can alter or misalign these curves, such as trauma improper sleep habits and yes of course posture! One of the worst types of misalignments occurs in the neck. Ideally we should have a 40-50 degree curve in our neck, which many Chiropractors and Neurosurgeons call the “arc of life.” The average American spends 3-4 hours daily slumped in front of a television, computer, video game or cell phone. This behavior alone will create a lasting postural change. A forward head posture will most likely be the result which can add up to 30 pounds of abnormal weight which will pull on our entire spine and will lead to degenerative changes. Also with an increase in forward head posture there is a decrease in lung capacity. Rene Cailliet is the director of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of California and she states that forward head posture could lead to up to 30% decrease in total lung capacity! The list of the dangerous ramifications that could result from poor posture goes on and on. One needs to take action in order to prevent these postural changes. Chiropractors traditionally look for the warning signs of these postural changes and in many cases can prevent them from progressing. Also with the use of corrective care techniques in many cases

can reverse them. Many times Chiropractic alone is not enough and core stabilization and stretching is needed as well . Our daily life offers many stressors to our spine and with today’s technology there are many solutions as well. I recommend visiting a chiropractor who has knowledge of postural changes and they should be able to offer you advise into your daily life on things you can do to prevent and reverse discrepancies in your posture. So until next time remember good posture leads to great health. This Industry Insight was written by Dr. Frank LeDonne. Dr. LeDonne is a local, graduating both from Fox Chapel High School and The University of Pittsburgh. He attained His Doctor Chiropractic at Life University in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a firm believer in natural healing, and has been involved in physical fitness for most of his life. Dr. LeDonne opened up Hartwood Chiropractic 8 years ago in the wonderful shopping center Hartwood Town Center located at the corner Of Saxonburg Blvd and Harts Run Road and has been practicing for 10 years. Hartwood Chiropractic • 3390 Saxonburg Blvd. • Glenshaw, PA. 15116 412-767-0200 • hartwoodchiropractic.com

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 celebration of over three years of tireless fundraising, planning and executing was held at the new Cooper-Siegel Library on Fox Chapel Road for patrons that made it possible for the six municipalities of Aspinwall, Blawnox, Fox Chapel, Indiana Township, O’Hara and Sharpsburg to have a new library that would best suit their needs. The Executive Director, Stephanie Flom, and staff worked with Axis Architecture P.C. Architect Craig Collins to make the 24,000-square-foot building a welcoming, inspiring and functional space, always keeping the needs of the community in mind. “Our vision was to have a library that is a hub for all of the community for lifelong learning,” Ms. Flom said. “A team of our librarians and I worked with Craig to plan the space to make it welcoming from the front to the back entrance, but keeping it functional.” The Cooper-Siegel Community Library replaces The Lauri Ann West Memorial Library on Powers Run Road. The old library was located in the former Boyd Elementary School since 1968 and housed not only a library but Boyd Community Center. A new library was needed because the community was outgrowing the space. Verne C. Koch, Community Library Association President, agrees. “I’ve lived in this community for 40 years and I want to improve the quality of life for the residents. The library has the same people working in and visiting it, but just in a new facility,” Mr. Koch said. Besides the $1 million contribution and land donation from Fox Chapel taxpaying

Axis Architecture P.C. Architects Richard Taynes & Craig Collins

Children’s Department Head Susan Herald with portrait of Lauri Ann West

Fox Chapel Mayor, Harry McLaughlin & Community Library Association President Verne C. Koch Susan Sphar, John and Anne Harmon & Holly Sphar

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Event Co-Chairs MaryLinda Maddie, Christine Beara & Executive Director Stephanie Flom

Operations Director Barb Satler, Cooper-Siegel Community Library Donor Naomi Siegel & Executive Director Stephanie Flom

Reference Department Head Ann Andrews, Circulation Desk Volunteer Krisstine Nieman & Young Adult and Children’s Librarian Melanie ArticeMoore

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residents, the library would have not been possible without the donation from Naomi Siegel, along with her husband, Eric Cooper, who generously gave $2 million. Ms. Siegel believes in early literacy for children, previously working at the literacy outreach program for underprivileged children, “Beginning with Books” and currently working on programs for kids up to 18 months old that encourage reading to infants. “Books are a portal to your imagination, your experiences, to lifelong learning,” said Ms. Siegel, who holds a degree in library science. “That is why I wanted to do this.” The spacious library provides an ideal place to read, do research or homework with its natural light from the countless windows and calming hues of the walls and flooring. Besides being aesthetically pleasing to the eye, the library offers something for everyone in the community. Patrons can participate in a book discussion group in the program room or a computer class in the computer lab. A lecture can be held in the meeting room while families enjoy a movie matinee, with a large screen provided, in another program room. Children can attend preschool story time with their parents in the themed children’s room, or take a crafts class in the craft room. Finally, because of increased space, there are more books and other materials offered to patrons and a climate controlled room to store historical documents. If you would like to visit the new Cooper-Siegel Community Library, it is located at 403 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238.

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earing Loss is more common than you might think. More than 10 million Americans over the age of 64 have significant hearing loss. Unfortunately, most people put off doing something to help them hear better – to their own detriment and to the detriment of their family and friends. Hearing loss was also shown to have a negative impact on a person’s earning power, reducing household income on-average up to $12,000 per year. 60% of people with hearing loss are below retirement age, meaning that 16.3 million people with hearing loss were in the US work force in 2010. However, the use of hearing devices was shown to mitigate the effects of hearing loss by 50%. Studies show that untreated hearing loss can lead to: • Irritability, negativism and anger • Fatigue, tension, stress, sadness and depression • Avoidance or withdrawal from social situations • Social rejection and loneliness • Reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety • Impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks • Reduced job performance and earning power • Diminished psychological and overall health Studies have also shown that the longer you let a hearing loss go untreated, the harder it is to learn how to process sounds that your brain hasn’t heard. Your ears do the coupling of sound, but it is actually your brain that does the processing of what you hear. If you have a loss of hearing in certain pitches and your brain is not being stimulated with sound in those pitch ranges, eventually you lose the ability to process those sounds. Some people wait so long to do something about their hearing – by the time they finally decide they need help, there is limited help available. According to a study attributed to the Alzheimer’s Association, in conjunction with the Better Hearing Institute (BHI), strong evidence suggests that hearing impairment contributes to the progression of mental impairment in older adults. “People living with Alzheimer’s face many challenges,” says Sergei Kochkin, Executive Director of the BHI. “Hearing loss shouldn’t have to be one of them. When hearing loss is left unaddressed, it can significantly compound the challenges that people with Alzheimer’s and their families already face.” Dr. Kochkin states that untreated hearing loss is not hidden. It results in underachievement for nearly all who delay treatment while they are in the prime of their life. The tragedy is that untreated hearing loss impacts the individual and his or her family for the rest of his or her life in the form of lost wages, lost promotions, lost opportunities, and unrealized dreams, not to mention lower income in their retirement. Hearing devices in this day and age are very inconspicuous. Many devices are hidden by the ear or hair. There are even completely invisible devices that are placed deep in the ear canal. At Eartique, we offer a

completely RISK FREE 30 DAY TRIAL PERIOD on all hearing devices. We also offer a free consultation. Call our office (412422-8006) for an appointment so that you can see for yourself what the new technology looks like. Don’t be that person who laughs inappropriately during a serious conversation or nods and smiles because you missed what was being said. Come to the Audiologists at Eartique and let us be the last stop you make in successful hearing aid use.

This I n d u s t ry I n s i g ht was written by Debra L. Greenberger, owner of Eartique. She received her Master's Degree in Audiology (Hearing Science) from Washington University in St.Louis, Missouri and she is certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association. Debra has been diagnosing hearing loss and fitting hearing aids for over 25 years.

Allison L. Chase, Au.D., CCC-A earned her Master of Arts degree in Audiology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 2004. She completed her clinical doctorate in Audiology from Salus University in 2008. Allison is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and has been practicing in the field for seven years.

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FO X

CH APE L AR E A

GET YOURSELF

Exercise is important for every age, and mature adults are no exception. According to UPMC Sports Medicine’s Dr. Jeanne Doperak, “The ultimate goal—whether you’re 3 or 104—is some sort of activity.” Dr. Doperak suggests a combination of aerobic exercise (exercise which raises the heart rate and increases the body’s need for oxygen) two days a week of strength training, and some sort of balance and flexibility training. Before beginning any type of aggressive workout program, it is always best to consult your physician. Many people make the assumption that running is bad after a certain age, but this actually depends upon the individuals and their physical condition. Dr. Doperak explains, “As we age, our activities don’t necessarily have to change but the way we train has to be adjusted. We do not recommend that anyone over the age of 30 [engage in] impact activities every day.” An example of an impact activity would be jogging. It is recommended that impact activities be staggered with non-impact exercise such as yoga, tai chi or bicycling every other day. If an individual cannot tolerate impact activities due to arthritis or other problems, swimming is an excellent aerobic exercise (as is bicycling, which can be done with a recumbent stationary bike).

Yoga and tai chi rotated with impact exercise can fulfill the need for balance and flexibility training. Many churches, synagogues, libraries and other non-profit organizations offer classes for free or at reduced rates. Also important to overall optimum physical health is strength training. Although strength training conjures up images of heavy weightlifting, Dr. Doperak suggests that this can be accomplished with weights as light as two pounds. With active workouts, it is vitally important to replenish liquids in the body, especially in the summer months. A vigorous activity such as jogging or tennis for more than 10 to 20 minutes requires fluid replacement. Serious dehydration depletes the body of electrolytes which ensure that the heart’s electrical system works properly. Dr. Doperak recommends water as the best replacement. Although there are many drinks on the market that advertise their benefits of electrolyte replacement, they can also be quite high in calories. Individuals trying to reduce their weight will conversely be adding more calories to their diet. The main thing to remember is that bodies need movement to be healthy. As Dr. Doperak says, “Keep moving.”

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P a m e l a P a l ong u e

FO X

CH APE L AR E A

When fair weather arrives, the call of the road beckons. For seniors, travel options abound in various lengths, styles and price ranges. If you find that you are on a limited budget, why not consider a day trip to a nearby attraction? Many churches and civic organizations offer day trips to interesting destinations such as Gettysburg or Fallingwater and you usually do not have to be a member to attend. Transportation, admission and one or two meals are usually included in one reasonable fee. If you can’t find a group going to the destination of your choice, why not form your own? A small group of three or four friends can carpool to save on gas and enjoy a day in the country. McConnells Mill State Park is less than an hour away and features a covered bridge and 19th century gristmill. The hiking trails are scenic and great exercise. A Pennsylvania winery is never more than a 45-minute drive from anywhere in the state. Most offer tours and free samples and some even have a restaurant on site. Be sure to have a designated driver! If the fact that you are single or widowed is keeping you at home, you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that most local travel agencies offer group tours to U.S. and European destinations especially for those over 50 at discounted prices. You may also be surprised to learn that most of the individuals on these tours are also traveling alone or with a friend. Within a few hours into the trip, you will have new friends and feel like a part of a group. Many older Americans are interested in exploring their European roots. Be sure to let your travel agent know of your interest and they can customize your tour with travel connections to records offices and churches. Before departing on any kind of trip, be sure to take into consideration any mobility issues that you or your travel companions may encounter. Many travel agencies have specially designed itineraries for those with limited mobility. Additionally, don’t forget to pack all the medications you will need for the duration of your visit since refilling them may prove difficult. Be sure to keep them in their original containers. A little planning can make your trip a success, so get out there and have some fun!

R E T IR E M E N T

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Helping Families Say Goodbye Funerals allow us to reflect on the life of the person who died. It also allows us to reflect on our own lives. We reflect on the fact that we too will someday die. This is crucial to working through grief. “That’s Daddy.” With that simple statement I smiled. I knew I had helped a family. The family asked if their husband and father could have his favorite Pittsburgh Pirate shirt and his Pirate hat on instead of a suit and tie. This is how his family and friends knew and loved him. “No problem,” I said. The funeral is for the survivors. What I do is help families say goodbye. Many are choosing not to have any type of funeral. “Just give me a direct cremation.” To those who are thinking that there is no fuss, it doesn’t work that way. Funerals are one of history’s first and enduring social rituals. Vast empires and ancient civilizations were built around the process of dying and death itself. Think of the pyramids, the Taj Mahal, Stonehenge, Native American burial mounds, Mayan temples, the

Catacombs and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. All were built with the theme of honoring the dead. Think of the very public funerals of Princess Diana, the Challenger crew and annual 9/11 events. Funerals allow us to reflect on the life of the person who died. It also allows us to reflect on our own lives. We reflect on the fact that we too will someday die. This is crucial to working through grief. A funeral is our society’s only public venue of expression of feelings and beliefs about someone we have known and loved. A funeral is also a public notice of a change in social status just like a wedding or a birth. We are social beings who find our worth and meaning through the social interactions of those around us. When someone announces that they are getting married, we know how to interact with their new social status. Without a funeral, society has a difficult time interacting with someone who is between states of status. A funeral is a public statement from the family that they need support. Alternatively, those who do not have any type of funeral announce, “Don’t come and support us.” And people won’t come and won’t support. Families are then surprised when, “No one comes to see me” or “no one calls to see how I am.” Funerals allow friends to ask how they can help. They ask if they can watch the kids a couple days a week or can they bring a meal over or can they take Dad to his doctor’s appointment. Physical presence at a funeral is crucial aspect of showing care and concern. Funerals allows for deep concentration of the actuality and enormity of the death. Embracing the pain helps people move towards reconciliation of grief. People will attend a funeral and tell a spouse a story they never knew about the person they lived with. This storytelling adds to the rich memories and helps create more. I recently had a Spring Memorial Service for families we served. At the end I read the names of those we served. Afterwards, the husband of someone who had a direct cremation came up to me and said, “Thank you. I just needed to hear her name.” That memorial service became her funeral. Resolving grief is hard. Resolving grief alone makes it even harder. As social beings, we ask others to help us through the life changing reality of death while recognizing the memory of those who died. Let us help you say goodbye. This Industry Insight was provided by Frank R. Perman, Funeral Director and Owner of the Frank R. Perman Funeral Home, Inc. located at 923 Saxonburg Boulevard at Route 8 in Shaler Township. Mr. Perman can be reached at www.frankrpermanfuneralhome.com or 412.486.3600 or frperman@verizon.net. © Copyright Frank R. Perman Funeral Home 2011

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NORTH PITTSBURGH

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he chances of giving birth to twins are about one in 80; the chances of triplets are one in 6,400. Connie Vitale was that one in 6,400. And three and a half years ago she gave birth to Sarah, Jenna and Mia. Because of the unique situation presented to mothers of multiples, having a support network is extremely important, because planning for multiple children doesn’t mean you take the planning for one child and double or triple it. There are specific challenges that present themselves to mothers of multiples, where having the guidance of someone who’s been there before helps. North Pittsburgh Mothers of Multiples offers that guidance, and, while Vitale didn’t find them until after she delivered, the group can start helping mothers as soon as they know that they will be having more than one child. “It’s for anybody who is expecting or a mother of multiple birth children – twins, triplets – they’re all welcome in the club. The main focus with the group is to provide support and resources to the members who have specific needs that are different than mothers of a single child,” said Vitale, who also serves as the group’s spokesperson. “There are differences. Normally you would assume you’d need two or three of everything. I had triplets and that wasn’t necessarily the case. The group gave advice. They said you could do with one of these or triple of these or more. There are also complications with the pregnancy that some of the members have experienced, so there’s a lot of emotional support.”

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Being pregnant with multiples doesn’t always mean multiple upsides. While there are more children involved, the risk factors to the expectant mother increase as well. Multiple birth children often are premature, have a lower birthrate and chance of survival, and increase delivery complications for the mother. Mothers often are in need of bed rest prior to delivery. Mothers of Multiples steps in with that emotional support. The meetings are from 7 to 9 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at the North Hills Community Baptist Church. Annual dues are just $40, and the group holds fellowship events and fundraisers throughout the year. “We have monthly newsletters that go out to the club and a club library that moms can borrow books from on specific issues,” Vitale said. “We have mothers of newborns up to teenagers in the group. You form friendships through the group, and you stick around for that and to give support to others as they come on board.” Vitale said the group usually has guest speakers come in to speak on topics such as sibling rivalry, which gets to be a huge issue once the children are toddlers; discipline, getting organized, and other topics of interest to the group. “Right now, because my girls are 3-and-ahalf, I’m getting a lot of support on potty

Mothers of Multiples members learn self-defense techniques during a recent meeting.

training, switching from cribs to toddler beds and choosing a preschool or daycare,” Vitale said. “We have general discussions at our meetings. A recent discussion included preparing the nursery, and breast-feeding multiples. Our membership chair stays in contact with everyone, and there is a club email chain and a website with forums.” For more information on North Pittsburgh Mothers of Multiples, visit www.npmoms.org or attend a meeting. Expectant mothers and new moms are encouraged to attend a meeting before joining. The address for the meetings is 7801 Thompson Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 15237.

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  n a world where unexpected occurrences seem to happen almost every day – political uprisings in the Middle East, the tsunami and earthquake in Japan, record breaking tornadoes here in the U.S., and even the demise of Osama Bin Laden – it isn’t unusual to ask oneself, “How are these events affecting my financial well being?” “What happens when interest rates start going up? When will the market fall again? What about the price of oil? These are all legitimate questions if you are anxious about the immediate future and want to protect your assets in the short term. However, as much as today’s headlines can be anxiety producing, the long term may be what you really should be thinking about. More specifically you should be worried about outliving your assets and long term threats such as inflation, taxes and distribution rates. You also may want to consider a plan to combat these conventional threats, not just the short term fluctuations of the market. Inflation. When planning for the long term, remember that the same dollar today will probably buy far less 5 years, 10 years and 20 years from now. Therefore, in my opinion you need to make sure you have a growth portion to your allocation mix of stocks, bonds, alternatives and cash to combat inflation. That number can vary depending on your risk profile and how much volatility you are willing to accept in your portfolio. Taxes. If you are a high income earner in the top tax bracket, ask your advisor if your investments are tax sheltered, tax deferred or tax free. The use of retirement accounts such as 401(k) plans, Roth IRA’s , and traditional IRA’s may be options for high income earners. Also, tax free bonds can be one choice to produce an income stream. Distribution Rate. I believe it is prudent to limit the amount you take out of your accounts on which to live – more specifically, no more than 4% a year. One option is to use fixed income vehicles to achieve two thirds of your desired income. Another option is to establish a cash reserve fund with systematic withdrawal from the growth portion of your assets. I prefer keeping 18 months worth of expenses in your reserve bucket for you to keep your worth component intact in the event of distributions. You also should replenish your cash reserve bucket every 18 to 24 months. So, if you want to reduce your anxiety about outliving your assets, be mindful of these steps, stay in contact with your financial advisor and don’t fret about the headlines of the day.

This I n d u s t ry I n s i g ht was written by Nadav Baum, Executive Vice President BPU Investment Management, Inc. is a wealth management firm located in downtown Pittsburgh. BPU Investment Management One Oxford Centre 301 Grant Street, Suite 3300 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 www.bpuinvetments.com Member FINRA/SIPC a Registered Investment Advisor

The accuracy and completeness of this information is not guaranteed. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of BPU Investment Management, Inc. or its affiliates. The material is solely for informational purposes and is not a solicitation of an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Our firm does not render legal, accounting or tax advice. Please consult your CPA or attorney on such matters. Asset allocation, diversification and rebalancing do not assume a positive return or protect against loss.

F ox C h a p e l A r e a | S u m m e r 2 0 1 1 | inc om m u nit y m a g a z ine s. c om

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 ou have made the decision to sell your home. The sign is up and you wait anxiously for showings. You have the first appointment, then the second and third but no offer. Frustration sets in and you start to question what is wrong with your home?

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You are setting yourself up for disaster if you don’t do your homework and instead go with what you “feel” your house is worth. It’s important to take the time to educate yourself on the local market and hire a professional agent so you can get a lot closer to that magic number. One word of caution; don’t decide to list with an agent because their listing price is higher than what any other agents have recommended. Unfortunately, some agents will tell you a higher price in order to get your business. This is called the “buying the listing” or the “list now and reduce later” tactic. These are some of the most common mistakes sellers make when setting a price:

Price is the No. 1 culprit

Price based on need

If your answer is price, you’ll be right a good majority of the time. If your home isn’t selling, buyers think the value of your house is less than the price you want. For all the time and effort that goes into buying and selling, the economics of the process is relatively simple. Anything is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay and a seller willing to accept. This is the same whether it’s a pack of baseball cards or a $1 million house.

What you want to make from selling your home means absolutely nothing to buyers or the marketplace. So setting a price based on what you want so you can retire, move up, start a business, etc. will almost certainly fail.

Price based on ego Your neighbor sold for $200,000 last year so you want $210,000 because you “know” your house is better. Regardless that the market dropped five percent since your neighbor sold. Nearly every owner thinks their house is the best on the block, or at least better than any of the ones that have recently sold or are on the market. Unfortunately for sellers, your opinion doesn’t carry any weight with buyers. Only their opinion matters.

Price based on greed If the recent comparables (within 6 mos. to 12 months) say your house should sell at $250,000, don’t insist on listing it for $275,000 because “you never know someone could come along who just has to have or if we don’t get any bites we can always lower the price later.” This is never a good idea. If your house sits on the market for too long, price reduction or not, Buyers will start to wonder what is wrong with the house.

The solution is to get the price right. This is done by using what is called a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) or a Professional Appraisal. They both break down the sales price of homes that are similar to yours in location, size, age and condition and determine a fair market price for your home.

Out of your hands Unfortunately, there is not always a specific reason the house isn’t selling even if it is priced appropriately. Sometimes the market changes and buyers disappear. Qualifying for a mortgage is much harder to do than in years past which will reduce the amount of qualified buyers. Oversaturation or too many homes for sale in your neighborhood is also a factor which makes it even more important you price your home competitively. Keep these things in mind when pricing your home and you will be SOLD in no time!

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      here you are, sitting at your “Mommy & Me” class staring in amazement at the child who is giving full blown dissertations on the color wheel while your child is pointing at everything saying “Dat! Dat!” You go home and pull out every padded picture book you have with the bright orange flowers sticking out at you as if they are sticking out their tongue out at you and begin language boot camp for your child. You point patiently (okay, impatiently) at colors, shapes, and any object in sight prodding your little one to repeat with perfect annunciation- just like the kid at the Mommy & Me class. You call your mother, your friends, your Aunt Fanny who you have not spoken to in 10 years- anyone and everyone you can asking when your child should be talking- really talking. After hours, days and maybe even weeks of racking your brains, tiring and exhausting your child and Googling “how soon should my child speak” into oblivion, you stop and finally ask yourself in a very logical manner “does my child need speech therapy?” The fact is, each child is unique and each and every child develops at their own pace. It is difficult to define “normal”. Some children will ride a bike much sooner than others because they have better developed motor skills at an earlier age. Some children

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will stand sooner; run sooner; potty train sooner; etc. There are, however, are sure signs that your child’s speech is in fact developing slower than they should and that they would greatly benefit from speech therapy. The first and clearest sign is if your child has zero words or word attempts by 12 months. Babies begin as early as 6 months repeating the phrases "Ma Ma", "Da Da", and "Bye Bye". Below is a list of more benchmarks to look for when deciding whether or not you need to turn in the Vocab Boot Camp stamp card for some professional help. • Inability to point to common objects by 12 to 15 months. • Your child is not speaking in two word phrases by the age of 18 months- i.e. “go car!” • Inability to answer simple yes/no, who/what questions by 2 years of age. • By age of 3, child is not speaking in 5 word sentences using clear speech 75% of the time. • If echolalia (repetition of phrases that the child has just heard) is present beyond the age of two. This can also be an early sign of Autism. Your child will also know when something is wrong themselves, they will exhibit signs of frustration which can be

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manifested in biting, hitting or other aggressive actions. Imagine what it must be like to not have anyone understand you, ever? Especially hard when you are small and rely on other people for every need you have. This can also lead to your child being withdrawn socially from their peers. Of course, knowing your child has any type of special need can invoke a number of emotions in you as a parent. Whenever something is amiss with our children, we tend to blame ourselves or wonder what we could have done differently. Don’t. Most always, you as a parent have done nothing wrong, and the best way to help your child is by getting your child a 15 minute speech screening at a local private practice. This easy, play-based screening will let you know that your child is right on target or might need some help. This I n d u s t ry I n s i g ht was written by Cherie River. Cherie River is a Speech Language Pathologist in the Greater Pittsburgh area and the owner & founder of River Speech & Educational Services. She is also the owner of River Kids Gym, a state of the art facility which offers Physical and Occupational Therapy to children with special needs. River offers free speech screenings at both the Monroeville Mall and Fox Chapel office. To learn more, please visit www.RiverSpeech.com.

C om m u nit y M a g a z ine s NEW DINNER MENU • NEW DINING ROOM

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One Doorway, Two Options National studies have shown that senior citizens fear moving into a nursing home and losing their independence. Children of seniors who have such anxieties feel it is important for their parents to remain at home while at the same time have a concern about their ability to do so safely. They fear their parents' quality of life will deteriorate as a result of fall related injuries, medication mistakes and increasing age related health issues. However, they are caring for their own families while providing physical hands on support to their parents whenever they can. Parents in turn do not want to trouble their children with additional responsibilities fearing they will become a burden. It's a dilemma many elderly parents and their children face day to day. Non-medical home care allows seniors to maintain their independence and dignity in the comfort of their home while receiving assistance with activities of daily living.

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Care At Home and Care At Home Preferred strive to make all of your home care needs readily available with two convenient options. Services begin with a promise to provide the best care necessary to meet you or your parent needs. Care At Home provides help with personal care needs (bathing, showering and toileting), medication reminders, meal preparations, ambulation and/or transfers, errands and light housekeeping. Services can be provided in private homes, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Care At Home Preferred is a Medicare licensed home health care agency that offers homecare nursing, physical and occupational therapy, geriatric care management, medical social services and registered dietician services. Both agencies are owned, and under the direction of, Sandra Dunkel, RN. Sandy has been a registered nurse for 30 years and first opened Care At Home in 1994 and Care At Home Preferred in 2010. Both agencies provide free assessments of your service needs. Sandy is the driving force behind her staff motivating everyone to believe that all clients should be treated as if they were their own parent. Service costs are the lowest and most competitive in the tricounty area. Care At Home and Care At Home Preferred would consider it a privilege to be given the opportunity to provide you with the best care possible. To receive our comprehensive package of information related to services for both agencies just give us a call.

F ox C h a p e l A r e a | S u m m e r 2 0 1 1 | inc om m u nit y m a g a z ine s. c om

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

THE 14TH ANNUAL

  L odeling Susie Brendel m for Carabella

ook out New York and Milan! The Ladies' Luncheon & Fashion Show caught the attention of fashionistas from all over Pittsburgh, with a fabulous show featuring the latest trends from four local boutiques~Cajoli, Carabella, One Brilliant, and Victoria. Held at the lovely Fox Chapel Golf Club in April, this event is an annual fundraiser benefitting The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Cindy Feldman hosts this wonderful luncheon and fashion show every year, and her dear friends Cindy Harrison and Paula Lockhart chaired the benefit. Guests also enjoyed a silent auction, raffles full of terrific prizes, a little shopping and some delicious "Susan FarberTinis!" The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is funding research that is making great strides towards finding a cure for this chronic disease. CF affects the lungs and digestive system of nearly 30,000 children and adults in the U.S. alone. It's the number one genetic killer of children and young adults. To learn more about CF and how you can support this effective, efficient organization, visit www.cff.org. Over 90 cents of every dollar goes to research/care.

Cindy Feldman

Janet Brendel

Barb Shafran, Joanie Ferrara , Lynn Kovalch ik

Annah Sukay, Elizabeth Costa Jennifer Blair, Rae Ann Urick, Cyndy Blackhurst

Sherri Wils on modelin g for Cajoli

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B USINESS D IRECTORY

WORSHIP NEWS Places of Worship in your area: A d a t S h a l om . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A l l S a int s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A sp inw a l l P r e sb y t e r ia n . . . . . . . . . C h a b a d of F ox C h a p e l . . . . . . . . . . C a t h ol ic C om m u nit y S h a r p sb u r g . . C h r ist T h e D iv ine T e a c h e r C a t h ol ic A c a d e m y . . . . . . . . . . . . C om m u nit y U nit e d M e t h od ist C h u r c h . . . . . . . . . . . . D or se y v il l e A l l ia nc e C h u r c h . . . . . E m m a nu e l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h . . . E v a ng e l ic a l B ib l e F e l l ow sh ip . . . . F a it h U nit e d M e t h od ist C h u r c h . . F ir st E ng l ish L u t h e r a n C h u r c h . . . F ox C h a p e l E p isc op a l C h u r c h . . . F ox C h a p e l P r e sb y t e r ia n C h u r c h G ood S h e p h e r d L u t h e r a n C h u r c h G r a c e U nit e d M e t h od ist C h u r c h . H a r m a r v il l e U nit e d M e t h od ist . . . H a r m a r v il l e U nit e d P r e sb y t e r ia n .

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H ob ok e n P r e sb y t e r ia n C h u r c h H ol y S p ir it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I m m a nu e l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h . . M t . O l iv e B a p t ist C h u r c h . . . . . P ine C r e e k P r e b y t e r ia n C h u r c h S h a r p sb u r g F a m il y W or sh ip C e S t . J ose p h O â&#x20AC;&#x2122; H a r a . . . . . . . . . . S t . M a r y of A ssu m p t ion . . . . . S t. M a r y â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S t . N ic h ol a s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S t . S c h ol a st ic a . . . . . . . . . . . . . S t. E d w a rd C h u rc h . . . . . . . . . . S t . F r a nc is of A ssisi . . . . . . . . . S t . J u a n D ie g o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T r init y U nit e d C h u r c h of C h r ist

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