IN Greensburg Salem by IN Community Magazines

SPECIAL: Greensburg Health and Wellness

WINTER 2012

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IN Greensburg Salem is a non-partisan community publication dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the Greensburg, Salem Township area and its comprising municipalities by focusing on the talents and gifts of the people who live and work here. Our goal is to provide readers with the most informative and professional regional publication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Treasure Hunt Tis the Season to Sell ............................... | 3

Kepple-Graft Funeral Home How to Plan Your Funeral in Three Easy Steps .................................. | 33 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT ON THE COVER

In November, students from the Greensburg Salem elementary schools honored family and community members through Veteran’s Day celebrations. Activities varied at each building but all students took the time to thank our past and current servicemen and women for their sacrifice and commitment to preserving democracy.

BIZ Communications It’s 2013: Is Your Medical Practice Prepared to Gain Incentives and Avoid the Penalties Mandated by CMS for Performance Measures? ...................... | 26

Sport Clips Now Open in Greensburg ......................... | 32

COMMUNITY INTEREST

Greensburg Salem School District Message from the Superintendent ................................................. Students Helping Students Golden Lion Art Gallery

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All I Want for Christmas is a Home ................................

Art On Tap ...............................................................................

Local Resident Champions Education Against Violence in His Daughter’s Name ...................

Community Profile: Rebecca Campbell ........................

One Grand Evening ..............................................................

INPERSPECTIVE STAF F

Welcome to the winter issue of Greensburg Salem magazine. At this time of year, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the journey with us that was 2012. IN Community Magazines continues to grow, and for that we thank you, our readers and our advertisers. Our readers help shape these magazines. Those of you who took the time to call, e-mail or write in with your ideas and events are the ones who set our table of contents. We pride ourselves on the fact that we listen to you and your ideas because, in the end, this is your community and you know it best. So I continue to encourage you to send in your ideas to our editor at p.palongue@incommunitymagazines.com. I wish to thank our advertisers for your continued support of IN Community Magazines. By advertising with us, you are supporting your community by underwriting the cost of the editorial content that those who read these magazines enjoy and look forward to each issue. Because of you, our readers can be entertained and informed. In this last issue before 2013, I urge our readers to support the advertisers who support your community magazine before you make your holiday gift lists. If you like this magazine, let them know and make a point to stop in their businesses. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not just trying to sell you something, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also your neighbors and community sponsors. I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season and the best that 2013 has to offer! Enjoy your winter with the ones you love, Wayne Dollard, Publisher

PUBL ISHE R

Wayne Dollard RE GION AL E DIT ORS

Pamela Palongue [North and East] p.palongue@incommunitymagazines.com Mark Berton [South, West and Erie] mark@incommunitymagazines.com OF F ICE MAN AGE R

Leo Vighetti leo@incommunitymagazines.com AD PL ACE ME N T COORDIN AT OR

Debbie Mountain d.mountain@incommunitymagazines.com SCHOOL & MUN ICIPAL CON T E N T COORDIN AT OR

Megan Faloni m.faloni@incommunitymagazines.com GRAPHIC DE SIGN

Cassie Brkich Anna Buzzelli Sharon Cobb Susie Doak

Jan McEvoy Joe Milne Tamara Tylenda

W RIT E RS

John Barrera Jonathan Barnes Jennifer Brozak Matt Fascetti Tracey Fedkoe Mike Ference Jacob Flannick Britt Fresa Heather Holtschlag

Nick Keppler Chelsie Kozera Leigh Lyons Dana Black McGrath Joanne Naser Aimee Nicolia Melanie Paulick Gina Sallinger Judith Schardt

PHOT OGRAPHE RS

Mark Fainstein Ginni Hartle Brad Lauer

Len Pancoast Kathleen Rudolph Gary Yon

ADVE RT ISIN G SAL E S MAN AGE RS

Tamara Myers

Tom Poljak

ADVE RT ISIN G SAL E S

Sophia Alfaras Brian Daley David Despot Andrea Graham Julie Graff Jason Huffman Connie McDaniel Brian McKee

Gabriel Negri Aimee Nicolia Annette Petrone Vincent Sabatini Michael Silvert Karen Turkovich RJ Vighetti Nikki Capezio-Watson

This magazine is carrier route mailed to all district households and businesses. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Copyright 2012. CORRESPONDENCE Direct all inquiries, comments and press releases to: IN Community Magazines Attn: Editorial 603 East McMurray Road McMurray, PA 15317 Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968 www.incommunitymagazines.com

Spring content deadline: February 3

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

GREENSBURG SALEM: WHERE

Letter from the Superintendent The current climate of public cynicism and negativity is everywhere you look these days. People are questioning public leaders, the economy has had a vote of no confidence and the perception of the media is that there is little positive news to report. Yet within our youth and public education system, there is an enthusiasm and optimism that is contagious and exhilarating. Nowhere is this more evident than at Greensburg Salem during this time of year. One only has to spot “The Salem Psychos” cheering on the home football team, the entire K-5 Hutchinson student body waving tiny flags to honor local veterans or glimpse middle school students relentlessly practicing for holiday performances. Each of these, and many other similar moments within the school day, showcases young people who view the current and future state of affairs Dr. Eileen Amato – in their school life as promising and Superintendent an opportunity to make their corner Photo by Jeremy Lenzi of the world brighter. As people question education budgets and the value of public schools, there can be a renewed belief that money spent on public education is money well spent. Not only are students continuing to get a rigorous and relevant education within the classrooms, but they are also getting to learn about themselves and others as they join together for various events and situations. Our students from young to old, gifted to handicapped, economically disadvantaged to affluent are learning about what it means to be a part of a community and respect and support each other. As today’s adults move to spending more and more time in front of a computer screen or on a handheld device away from situations where they interact with others directly, the opportunities our young people are getting to work with others who may be different than themselves and have face-to-face conversations and discussions with a variety of individuals becomes an invaluable investment for our society as a whole. However, social learning is only a part of our charge. Academics are still our main focus and we continue to push for higher levels of learning for all. Our district, along with many other districts in the Commonwealth, is beginning to look ahead to the new state standards and assessment program. Based on the national Common Core Standards, the new PA Common Core standards expand the rigor and difficulty of previous standards and exams by pushing students 4

Greensburg Salem

to increased levels of performance in all content areas. With language arts we can expect skills such as defending answers with text based evidence while in math we will see an increase in reasoning abstractly and quantitatively. All of these shifts prepare students for the 21st Century world of work which requires such skills of the emerging workforce. Our teachers and administrators are diligently laboring to “unpack” the new standards looking for similarities and diﬀerences in order to best prepare students for the changes to come. Before the newly established state assessments are implemented, our present levels are being examined to determine where our students are currently performing and how the changes align with our prevailing practice. Our existing state assessment results over the past six or seven years show that our students at Greensburg Salem have continued to achieve at high levels and perform, in many cases, well above the state average. We also know that we have high numbers of students reaching proficient or advanced with the advanced numbers continuing to grow. This is evident at all levels. For example, last year 52% of Grade 3 students at Metzgar Elementary scored in the advanced category in reading, 77% of Grade 7 students in the middle school scored advanced in math, and 42% of our Grade 11 students at the high school scored in the advanced category in reading. These numbers are remarkable given the number of economically disadvantaged students we have within the district and give us a sound base upon which to build. During the past several years, we have also begun to look at groups of students with a “growth” or “value-added” lens. This means that considering a group’s baseline score we determine if there has been growth during the school year and how much growth is evident. As a district, we have noticed that we are very good at growing certain subgroups and can improve with growing others. Teams of teachers and administrators have spent much professional development time analyzing the data together and working to see that all students achieve and grow at all levels. Both social and academic instruction will continue to form the core of the quality education provided at the Greensburg Salem School District. As you behold the sparkle in our students’ eyes, the skip in their steps and the glee in their voices as they learn and experience new and exciting things, you can be reassured that a public education within the Greensburg Salem community will continue to be a great value for a child and a community.

‘ e f f o r t c r e at e s a b i l i t y ’

Students Helping Students As students enter Greensburg Salem High School, they quickly learn about the Peer-Mentoring Program and by the time they leave, many students have become mentors themselves. The program, which began through a Consortium for Public Education initiative, has become a part of the culture of GSHS. All incoming freshmen are matched with senior mentors and meet during Freshmen Seminar. Senior mentors are grouped with freshmen based on interest surveys and schedules and meet on a six day cycle during the first semester. The goal of the mentoring program is to help incoming freshmen make a connection to the school, which studies show will result in a more successful high school career. Teacher and Program Coordinator, Mrs. Racquel Sutton, has developed the curriculum for the past five years, tailoring it to meet the needs of Greensburg Salem students. Each year, the curriculum is modified and improved to enhance the freshmen experience. Together the students discuss academic issues, as well as teenage issues – like peer-pressure and healthy relationships. Throughout the experience, both the freshmen mentee and the senior mentor learn and grow from the process. This fall the guidance department, freshmen seminar students and senior mentors explored high school course selection. Following a presentation by the guidance department, mentors worked with freshmen talking about what courses and electives to take and how each class could benefit the individual student.

Freshman Juliana Franzino commented on how her mentor, Brian Sweeney, helped to ease her tension about this process. “It was easier because of Brian’s help with scheduling. He explained it and made it simple.” Many freshmen mentioned that the chance to get the “student perspective” on classes was a just another example of how the mentoring program helped them. In addition to academic assistance, mentors have also helped students feel more comfortable being in the high school atmosphere. Elyse Turnbyll said working with her mentor Dakota Jones, “opened me up to people in the school and I can go to my mentor with concerns or problems.” Likewise, Hope Creamer thought that Dakota helped her to “get over my fear of high school,” a sentiment that many freshmen share. It’s not only freshmen that are learning from the program Jones explained, “Being a mentor has helped me to become more outgoing and taught me how to speak in front of people.” The Peer-Mentoring Program is reaching students in all areas and in a variety of ways. As the meetings continue throughout the first semester, students will have more opportunities to discuss concerns and share stories. Soon this year’s juniors will be asked to step up and volunteer to be next year’s mentors. After five years, mentoring has become the way of the lion. by Mrs. Racquel Sutton Pictured below: Dakota Jones, Hope Creamer and Elyse Turnbyll meet during a mentoring session.

Greensburg Salem School District Mission Statement The Greensburg Salem School District will work collaboratively with the community in educating all students to become productive and responsible citizens. This will be accomplished by recognizing the value of each individual and promoting personal growth and academic achievement through the implementation of innovative strategies and the integration of current technologies in a safe and caring environment.

Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 5

GREENSBURG SALEM: WHERE

Golden Lion Gallery

Destiny Petrosky, grade 4

Fourth grade students at Metzgar Elementary drew arrangements of objects from observation with only a contour outline in their lesson on the art elements of “shape and space.” Students were encouraged to decorate the empty or “negative” space with an original pattern.

Mary Warren, grade 12

calvin trout, grade 5

At Nicely Elementary, 5th grade artists collaborated with Mr. Hite, Library; Mrs. Sparrow, Computer; and Miss Alberth, Visual Arts. Students researched notable inventors, scientists, and designers along with their respective creations/inventions. Using a mathematical grid to reproduce a portrait of their chosen inventor, these artists applied shading techniques and a variety of drawing skills to their portraits. In addition creating accurate portraits, the students learned about everything from the inventor of the rubber band to the creator of basketball.

Greensburg Salem

‘ e f f o r t c r e at e s a b i l i t y ’

At GSHS, senior Advanced Art student, Mary Warren created this piece entitled The Missing Key. The piece includes collage, found objects, and a hand painted heart and skeleton key. The assignment led Mary to determine the concentration for her portfolio in which she is focusing on “parts of our human anatomy that can communicate without using words.”

Greensburg Salem Middle School 8th grade students in Mr. Audia’s visual arts classes met the challenge to inventively design a digital model of a public or commercial building using the Google Sketch-up computer program. In the process they learned about the three major pillars of architectural design: structural soundness, function, and aesthetics and attempted to apply these principles to their design concepts.

abby coﬀen, grade 8

Nicole Karl, grade 4

alexis townsend, grade 5

Nate owens, grade 4

Fourth and fifth graders at Hutchinson Elementary created Adjective, Adjective, Noun Drawings. The students strengthened their creative thinking skills by selecting random adjectives and nouns and putting them together to make amusing combinations. Next, they illustrated their noun, described by two adjectives.

Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 7

GREENSBURG SALEM: WHERE

Greensburg Salem’s Littlest Learners Cub’s Den, a GSHS Led Preschool by Megan Parker, GSHS 2013 At the Cub’s Den everyone wins! For the past fourteen years, Greensburg Salem has been oﬀering a free, high-quality preschool while providing high school students the opportunity to work with children and learn about early childhood education through the Cub’s Den program. As part of the Family and Consumer Science Department’s Child Development course, eleventh and twelfth grade students plan and implement the preschool program under Mrs. Kristen Vassar’s supervision. These students utilize course material to conduct suitable lesson plans related to child development, growth, safety, and guidance. Whether enrolled in a level I, II, or III Child Development course, the high school students are responsible for preschool room set-up, weekly themes, family newsletters, Cub’s Den webpage, preschool participation, class lesson plans, parent orientations, journal entries, holiday programs, and end of year celebrations. Additional projects may include a scrapbook, photo album, and class video. Mrs. Ashley Nestor, Coordinator of Elementary Education, stated, “Cub’s Den provides our littlest learners with the tools necessary to make a seamless transition to our elementary schools and prosper in our Kindergarten classrooms.” Students from each of the three levels were interviewed about their Cub’s Den experience. Marissa Klosky, a Child Development I student, said, “I love to learn about how they see things through their eyes.” Classmate Mariah Kopetsky commented, “Just being around them brightens my day.” Level II students were asked why parents should send their children to Cub’s Den rather than another preschool. 8

Greensburg Salem

Brittany Timothy wrote, “At Cub’s Den, there are many teachers. This gives the children the opportunity to look at more than one person as an adult role model and they learn that they should listen to all of the teachers.” Jessica Huczko said, “They get more of a one-on-one experience and a better chance to learn individually.” Megan Parker, Child Development III, was asked what significant memories she has from this class. She responded, “I taught my preschooler not only how to write her name on her own, but also all the letters in the alphabet. It was certainly an accomplishment for the preschooler, but also for me. Over the course of a year, I taught her to write, which is something that will stick with her forever!” Cub’s Den preschool focuses on a thematic curriculum emphasizing physical, socialemotional, and cognitive development. The Child Development room features a variety of centers where the preschoolers can both learn and play. These centers have been developed so that students will be engaged in reading and listening activities, free play, math, art, music, and writing. Cub’s Den provides a safe, comfortable and enriched learning environment for children to practice new skills targeting Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Standards. To be part of this win-win situation, children may be enrolled in Cub’s Den as early as age three. Children in this age category attend the Spring morning class. Children ages four to five are enrolled for either the Fall or Spring afternoon class. To participate, each child must be toilet trained and reside in the Greensburg Salem School District. Morning preschool begins at 9:20 and ends at 11:20. Afternoon preschool begins at 12:15 and ends at 2:15.

Parents interested in Cub’s Den should complete the application found on the Greensburg Salem High School Webpage – Go to www.greensburgsalem.org and click on the Schools tab found along the top of the district home page. Please send all applications to Kristen Vassar at Greensburg Salem High School, 65 Mennel Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601. For additional information contact Mrs. Vassar at (724) 832-2962.

‘ e f f o r t c r e at e s a b i l i t y ’

Middle School Hosts Strengthening Families Program “This program is for ALL parents, even if you don’t think you are struggling. I don’t think any parent can have too many “tools” in their bag.” - Parent

“I learned how to deal with peer pressure and about reaching my goals.” - Youth Twice a year, sixth grade families have the opportunity to spend time together while participating in the Strengthening Families Program. Through a partnership with Penn State Cooperative Extension’s Westmoreland County office, this free program offers a catered family meal and childcare for younger children. The seven weekly sessions are full of activities and games designed to build family skills and improve parent-child communication in a fun and interactive way. The Strengthening Families Program (for parents & youth 10-14): • helps parents/caregivers learn nurturing skills that support their children, • teaches parents/caregivers how to effectively discipline and guide their youth, • gives youth a healthy future orientation and an increased appreciation of their parents/caregivers, • teaches youth skills for dealing with stress and peer pressure. Strengthening Families is the family component of the PROSPER (PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience) program. There is also a school-based component focusing on prevention and resilience skills. The next session of Strengthening Families is scheduled to begin in late January 2013. Registration forms will be distributed after the first of the year. To learn more about the PROSPER – Strengthening Families Program, please contact Anne Lail, Penn State Extension, Westmoreland County at 724-837-1402.

Meteorologists and environmentalists are in the making at Greensburg Salem High School, thanks to the support of local farmers from Kepple Farm in New Alexandria and an America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education grant. Greensburg Salem School District received a $10,000 grant to purchase a weather station and solar panels for their CLIMATES (Classroom Learning Integrating Math, Apparatus’ Technology and Environmental Sciences) project. CLIMATES was designed to provide all high school students with additional opportunities to learn how the climate aﬀects our daily lives and, in turn, how our daily lives aﬀect the climate.

The passing of the No Child Left Behind legislation introduced the state to the Pennsylvania School System Assessment process, commonly known as PSSA. The Keystone Exams are the next step in the evolution of assessing student performance. Phased in over the next several years, the Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments that are one component in Pennsylvania’s proposed system of high school graduation requirements. Eventually there will be at least 10 exams given at diﬀerent times during a student’s academic career.

The Keystones are more course speciﬁc than the PSSAs. During the 2012-2013 school year, 11th-grade students will be tested in the subject areas of Algebra I, Biology, and Literature. These exams were designed to help districts guide students towards greater success in college and the workplace. In order to receive a diploma, in addition to showing proﬁciency on the Keystone Exams, students will need to meet local district credit and attendance requirements and complete a culminating project.

Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 9

GREENSBURG SALEM: WHERE

Hutchinson

ROARS!

When you walk through the front doors of Amos K. Hutchinson Elementary – the first thing you notice is paw prints, hundreds of colored and signed paw prints decorating the lobby area. The paws are everywhere proclaiming that Hutchinson students live by the school’s motto, Hutchinson ROARS –

Respect, Ownership, Attitude, Responsibility and Safety. This school-wide positive behavior initiative highlights and promotes commendable citizenship and good character. By demonstrating exemplary behavior, students can earn special recognition in form of a paw sticker and the paper paw to decorate and post in the school hallways. Entire classrooms of children also have the opportunity to earn a “paw” by demonstrating positive behavior in the cafeteria, hallways, special area classes and on the playground. Once a classroom has earned five paws, spelling out the word ROARS, the class is recognized with a lion, which is proudly displayed outside the classroom. Guidance counselor John Manley has noticed a change since the program kicked oﬀ in early September. “The kids enjoy getting caught doing something good,” commented Manley, “and the teachers like being able to recognize and encourage positive behaviors in their classrooms and throughout the whole school.”

Book Clubs at Middle School Promote Reading Sixth grade students in Mrs. Mankins’ Language Arts class have “joined the club” – that is a Classroom Book Club. Designed to encourage the enjoyment of reading, students have the opportunity to select a book from a variety of high-interest literary options. By allowing students to choose their own books, a love of reading can be fostered that will last a lifetime. After selecting a title, students are grouped with classmates reading the same book. Each book club group creates their own reading assignment which is written on a bookmark for reference. In addition, students complete a short assignment such as writing a summary, creating discussion questions, or using sticky notes to mark sections they want to discuss. At the end of each week, students reading the same book meet to discuss their thoughts and feelings about the book. Research shows that when children spend more time reading, they become better readers. What better way to get students to read than to encourage them to read books of their choice and talk about them with friends!

Sixth grade students meet to discuss The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. 10

Greensburg Salem

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Greensburg Salem School District

District and Westmoreland Intermediate Unit Provide Special Services Greensburg Salem School District, in cooperation with the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit, provides an ongoing system to locate, identify and evaluate students who may need special education services. Procedures may include one or more of the following: Preschool Screening - Children with special needs are identified through a program of public announcements, mass screenings and a referral system utilizing a number of public and private agencies. Kindergarten Screening - School district provides mass screenings of c h i l d r en b ei n g re gi s t ere d i n kindergarten classes. These screenings may include evaluation of learning, vision, hearing and speech. Screening School-age Children Individual needs may be identified through several established procedures including referral by parents, teachers, nurses, guidance counselors and other professionals. Mass screenings for vision, hearing problems, etc., are conducted. Instructional Support Teams Parents and members of the professional staff collaborate to assess VWXGHQWVÂś QHHGV DQG ILQG ZD\V WR KHOS students.

Special Education Programs A continuum of special education services is offered to students identified through an Educational Evaluation and an Individual Education Program (IEP) Team. IEPs are designed to support the educational needs of students in the areas of Learning Support, Emotional Support, Intellectual Disabilities, Giftedness, etc. Parents may request screening and evaluation of their child at any time by FRQWDFWLQJ WKHLU FKLOGÂśV WHDFKHU guidance counselor or building principal. Parents have the right to request screening and evaluation to determine special education needs ensuring that their child is being provided an appropriate educational program. Due-process procedures include: pre-hearing conferences, an impartial due-process hearing and mediation services. Details concerning each of these may be obtained from the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit Director of Special Education or the office of the Building Principal where the child attends school.

Title I Title I is a federally funded program that supports students in reading and math to reach their grade level benchmarks. Title I programs encourage parents to partner with the school to see that students achieve success.

DO YOU THINK YOUR CHILD HAS A DEVELOPMENT, SPEECH OR LEARNING PROBLEM? ,I VR FDOO XVÂŤ

WESTMORELAND INTERMEDIATE UNIT Preschool/Early Intervention Program x

No cost regardless of income

Screening, testing and instructional services

Ages 3 thru 5 years

All information is kept confidential

724-836-2460

Gifted Services The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate education program. Screening is a joint effort between the school district and parents. When results suggest that a student might qualify for the gifted program, an educational evaluation is completed. The school guidance counselor or building principal may be contacted if additional information is needed.

______ Protected Handicapped Students ______ Federal and State regulations protect otherwise qualified handicapped students who have physical, mental or health impairments from discrimination because of those impairments. The regulations require public educational agencies to ensure that these students have equal opportunity to participate in the school program and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the ability of the protected handicapped student. Greensburg Salem School District will provide aids, services and accommodations that are designed to meet the educational needs of protected handicapped students. These aids, services and accommodations are provided without discrimination or cost to the student or family. To qualify, the student must be of school age and have a physical or mental disability which substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program. Special education services are different from services for protected handicapped students. Special education students require educational modifications while protected handicapped students generally require accommodations for access to programs. For further information about the evaluation and services available to the protected handicapped, please contact Dr. Lisa Rullo, Director of Student and District Services at 724.832.2906.

Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 11

r o f t n a W I l Al is a s a m t s i Chr Home... The best gift ever is a pet that offers unconditional love. There are so many dogs and cats that are just waiting to be your friend. The Humane Society of Westmoreland County built a new shelter in 2006, the Donald Mateer Facility. Now, just six years later, the shelter needs to be expanded to house all the animals that need a home. They accept dogs from animal control, kill shelters and humane cases on a weekly basis. These wonderful animals many times wind up on the doorstep of a shelter through no fault of their own. Their owner may have moved to a home that does not allow pets, or may have decided that they no longer can afford them.

In some cases, owners die or have to be moved to nursing facilities that do not accept pets. These confused, lonely animals don’t know why they’ve been abandoned or what they’ve done wrong. If you can give a home to these dogs or cats, you will find a true friend for life. As John Grogan, author of the book Marley & Me wrote, “A dog judges others, not by their color or creed or class, but by who they are inside. A dog doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his.”

the Humane society of Westmoreland county Dog shelter is located on route 119 North, (behind lynch field), Greensburg, Pa 15601. if you would like more information on adopting a pet, or are interested in contributing to the Humane society, please call 724.837.3779.

Photos by Gary Yon

Greensburg Salem

Westmoreland Museum’s

Mixing Cocktails with Collections Jennifer Brozak

Say the words “art museum” and a few images typically come to mind: visitors walking slowly, perusing art galleries and sculptures; the quiet murmur of hushed voices and footsteps shuffling on tile floors; perhaps even soft music playing in the background.

What about happy hour, glasses of beer, roars of laughter and the sounds of a swinging jazz trio? Not so much? The staff at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art thinks that art and happy hour go together just fine. So well, in fact, that the museum has established “Art on Tap 5.2.7,” a monthly happy hour event to encourage more visitors, according to Jessica Zamiska, manager of visitor and member services. “The purpose was to create an atmosphere that was social, casual and fun,” she said. “We want to engage a new audience here at the museum. So far, it’s working!” Zamiska said that approximately 125 attendees participate in the happy hours, which occur on the second Friday of every month from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is $7 and includes two drink tickets for beer or wine, appetizers and live entertainment. The event, which debuted in November 2010, also gives visitors the chance to explore an art museum in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. “The entire museum is open during Art on Tap, so visitors are free to roam the galleries,” said Zamiska. At each event, Joan McGarry, who is the museum’s director of education and visitor services, leads attendees on a themed scavenger hunt to introduce them to the museum’s collection. Everyone who completes the hunt is eligible to win prizes. “It’s a fun way to learn about the collections and meet new people,” said Zamiska. Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 13

The word heroic means different things to “I fought for that bill for over a year and a different people. Some look at certain athletic half,” Cuccia says. “It was very frustrating feats as heroic. Others look to firefighters or that they stripped it down so much, so I police officers for heroic deeds. However, said, ‘To heck with the legislators, I am there is no doubt that Greensburg resident going into the schools myself to make a difDr. Gary Cuccia belongs in the category of ference.’” Representing the Demi Brae Cucheroic. cia Awareness Organization, he currently Cuccia’s beloved daughter, Demi Rae Cucspeaks publicly during school assemblies, cia, was killed in a violent attack a day after mentoring young men and women on the her 16th birthday, August 15, 2007. Since that dangers associated with teen dating viohorrific day, he has made it his mission to be lence and abuse. an advocate for preventing teen dating vioDuring the 2011-2012 school year, he vislence. For his considerable efforts, Cuccia ited more than 20 school districts and was honored by the Women and Girls Founreached an estimated 15,000 students— dation with its Award of Disand he is aiming to go above and tinction at an event held beyond that number this year. December 1. “What I stress to them is that if Demi was brutally murdered you realize you are in a bad relaby her ex-boyfriend, who had tionship and you’re going through been her brother’s best friend a breakup, be very careful and do for several years. Looking back, not allow yourself to be in a situaCuccia says he knows there tion where you are alone,” advises were warning signs, but he just Cuccia. “If Demi would have didn’t see them because he learned that one thing at an asdidn’t know what to look for. sembly, she wouldn’t have let him “When I went to the hospicome over to the house and she By Matthew J. Fascetti tal that night, she had already would be alive today.” passed. I promised Demi that I He wants everyone to know wouldn’t let anyone forget about her,” Cuccia says. “I wanted what an amazing girl his daughter was and how dearly she is people to know what an amazing young lady she was.” missed by everyone close to her. “I’m no expert,” Cuccia adds, He soldiered on in his daughter’s memory with tremendous “just a grieving father who misses his daughter.” purpose. He knew right away that he wanted legislation to be The Women and Girls Foundation is proud to have worked passed mandating that schools teach about the warning signs, with him and pleased to be honoring him with this award. “We and how administrators, teachers, and teens could proactively created this event and the accompanying case study collection prevent dating violence. to celebrate the powerful role that men can play as allies and On October 6, 2009, House Bill 2026, The Demi Brae Cuccia champions for gender equity,” said Heather Arnet, CEO of the Bill, was introduced into the House of Representatives. It would foundation. “This is a group of men, working at different stages mandate that all public schools in Pennsylvania teach teen datof careers, in varied sectors, utilizing diverse strategies, to help ing violence education in health class, grades 7-12. During the advance women. While our state still has higher-than-average legislative process, teen dating violence prevention curriculum poverty rates for women, a significant gender wage gap, and language, along with Demi's story, were excerpted from Demi’s fewer women in elected office and in the corporate board room bill and amended into House Bill 101, a Senate Education Omthan the national average, it is these men – celebrated on Denibus Bill, recommending dating violence education in grades 9- cember 1 and in our case study book – who give us hope that 12. The Women and Girls Foundation served as an advocate for the future for women and girls in Pennsylvania looks bright.” the legislation. Demi’s death was a terrible loss to many, and her father’s life With Cuccia’s tireless efforts, the bill was passed into law as will certainly never be the same. But because of his courage and Act 104 on November 17, 2010. As a direct result of the Demi effort and his unwavering dedication to his daughter’s memory, Brae Cuccia Bill, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has Demi Brae Cuccia will live on forever in the hearts and minds of now developed a curriculum for all the schools in the state to Pennsylvanians. Perhaps with his help, there will be far fewer use as a teen dating abuse prevention effort. Still, it does not go horrific stories of lives ending too soon due to teen dating viofar enough for Cuccia. At this point, the legislation that was lence. passed into law only strongly recommends but does not require school districts to adopt the curriculum, and it is only recomTo learn more about Demi and teen dating violence, mended in high schools, not in middle schools. please visit www.demibrae.com.

Local Resident Champions Education Against Violence in His Daughter’s Name

Greensburg Salem

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Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 15

Resident Profile:

Rebecca Campbell

Greensburg Native Rebecca Campbell is a Modern Day “Pioneer Woman” By Jennifer Brozak

When Greensburg resident Rebecca Campbell was hired to lead Seton Hill University’s career services department in 1987, access to personal computers was still somewhat rare. Many students had little or no experience with word processing, and the internet would not be in homes for at least another five years. By the time Campbell retired from her position on June 30 – well, let’s just say things had changed. After nearly three decades as Seton Hill’s director of CareerWorks, Campbell knows a thing or two about adaptability, transitioning and change. When she was first hired at Seton Hill as coordinator of the Learning Center, for instance, she was expected to teach students how to use the two Apple IIe computers that comprised the department’s “lab.” There was a slight problem, however. Campbell was not familiar with the computers – or the software. “Effectively, I was the first computer teacher at Seton Hill,” Campbell said with a laugh. “And I didn’t even know how to turn the machines on when I first started. I was training myself at night, and then coming in and training the students.” Despite her anxiety about learning a new skill, Campbell thoroughly enjoyed her work with the Learning Center. “I would tell myself, ‘I can’t believe I’m getting paid for this,’” she said. When the opening at CareerWorks (then known as Career Services) popped up, she had just started working on her master’s degree in Counselor Education at Duquesne University. She applied, and when her interviewer asked her, “Where would you like to be here at Seton Hill?” Campbell answered, confidently, “One place: Career Services.” Campbell got the job, and ran with it. Over the course of her career as the department’s director, Campbell wrote five Department of Education grants, tripled student contact and developed many new successful programs, including Sophomore Shadowing, Senior Series, Deciding Program and Mock-Interviewing Day. By the time she retired, she was managing a department that serves more than 2,000 students and alumni. “When I first started with the department, the most important thing for students was writing resumes,” Campbell states. “Our main priorities were to help students choose majors and to help them write resumes. It was simple, but effective.” When she first took over as director, Campbell said she would take books home every night and teach herself about resume writing. Similar to the way she learned about computers and taught students in the Learning Center, she said, “I would teach myself, and then I would teach the students.” Then, in 1997, Campbell took on yet another role. For one year, she served as associate director of education for Seton Hill’s National Education Center for Women in Business, now known as E-Magnify. In this role, she designed entrepreneurial 16

Greensburg Salem

programming for “Strategy 2000,” a series of one-day conferences for women entrepreneurs that were held in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Puerto Rico. In her position, she also created programs for “Camp Entrepreneur,” which taught women and girls how to start their own businesses. “Becky has contributed widely to the greater entrepreneurial initiatives of Seton Hill University through E-Magnify as well as through collaborations with the University's faculty, staﬀ and students,” said Jayne Huston, director of E-Magnify and a longtime colleague of Campbell’s. “She is a proponent of the development of entrepreneurial skills and encouraging students to be ‘entrepreneurs of their own careers.’" When Campbell returned to her primary role as CareerWorks director, she continued the drive to get students more involved in internships. She secured grants from the Department of Education that helped to “push experiential learning across the curriculum.” Over time, CareerWorks essentially became the liaison between students, faculty and the outside world, she said. “In the early 1990s, an internship in Liberal Arts was cutting edge,” she said. “But we became more and more focused on setting up students with employers, and they began to see the value in not only providing internships, but in hiring students who had gone through one. I can’t tell you how big my Rolodex became!” Outside of her work with Seton Hill, Campbell was also a “founding mother” of Women’s Services of Westmoreland County, Inc., which is now known as the Blackburn Center Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Campbell was prompted to get involved because of an article she had read in the newspaper about sexual assault. At the time, Campbell was a young mother, raising young children, and was infuriated by what she had just read.

“The article was blaming women for being sexually assaulted,” she said. “It stated that most sexual assaults occurred because the women were drunk, or because it was a crime of passion. The way it was written was crazy. It was terribly unfair to women.” The article also stated that a Pittsburgh-based rape crisis center was starting a center in Westmoreland County, and she knew she had to help. Campbell, along with seven other women from the National Organization of Women task force, formed the Westmoreland Alliance Against Rape. The group started a hotline and Campbell took its ﬁrst call in December 1976. “When we started, we had a pie-in-the-sky notion that we would eradicate rape. We didn’t think we would need to be around after 25 years. But here we are, and unfortunately, we are now seeing domestic violence becoming an even a larger issue than rape.” In addition to being a founding member, Campbell served on the Blackburn Center’s board as both president and vice president. Since leaving the board, she has remained an active member of the center’s Human Resources Committee. “Becky brought a valuable sense of history and perspective to Blackburn Center’s work, tapping into her experiences of the agency’s early, formative years as she guided the board through the realities of new challenges which the agency has faced in the past 10 years,” said Ann Emmerling, executive director of the Blackburn Center. Moreover, Campbell was able to join her two professional passions by connecting Seton Hill students to internship opportunities at the Blackburn Center. “Becky provided strong leadership to Blackburn Center, exhibiting passion for the mission and an unwavering focus on the agency’s future,” said Emmerling. Today, Campbell is enjoying the lack of structure and freedom that retirement brings. “I love getting up every day and not having a plan,” she muses. She said that she considers this time her “cocooning phase,” a term coined by her mentor, Frederic Hudson. In this phase, she said, she is letting go of her old experiences before she heads into the next chapter of her life. In other words, she is trying to “just be and not do.” Campbell celebrated her 43rd wedding anniversary in August with her husband Terry. She is up for the challenge of whatever happens next. “Life changes, and I am a student of this process,” said Campbell, “I am calling this phase of my life, “Life Works.” She eventually plans on using her career skills to help Baby Boomers with their own career development and life goals. “I am learning as much as I can at this point,” she said. “I am in transition.” No doubt that transition will lead to the beneﬁt of others and her community.

Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 17

ONE

GRAND

EVENING

Forbes Trail Faith in Action By Autumn Altieri

Forbes Trail Faith in Action is a community-based program of the United Way serving Murrysville, Penn Township, Trafford, Export and Delmont. It is a service provided by volunteers, with community support, whose goal is to assist residents over age 60 so they can maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life while remaining in their homes. In the spring, Forbes Trail Faith in Action presented “One Grand Evening” in Greensburg. The event began at The Supper Club and offered attendees gourmet hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, silent auctions, a raffle, and an opportunity to purchase keys for a chance to win a “treasure chest.” Later that evening guests walked across the parking lot to Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center to see the first run of the play “Running in Traffic,” which tells the story of a lost young man with autism and was written by Denise Pullen, a Seton Hill University professor. After the play guests returned to The Supper Club for coffee, dessert, and live jazz music. With over 80 tickets sold and more than $4,000 raised, the event proved to be a great success. Event organizer and steering committee member Michele Clark remarked, “The committee was thrilled with the success of this first-time event; comments from the attendees were very positive. We look forward to doing it again next year. We appreciate all the support from those who made donations of money for sponsorships and items for the raffle and treasure chest, and those who attended, enjoyed the evening and made bids at the silent auction... all for a great local cause.”

Kevin and Sharon Wise

Mike Gallo, Sam Wyss

Greensburg Salem

Miriam Petrillo, Julie McNamara, Rhonda Campbell James Clements, Lynn Bacon, Carol Goulding, Jayne Clements

John and Nancy McAdoo

Paul and Linette Jack

Kathy Bartollomucci, Michele Clark, Joyce Vernon, Phyllis Morgan

Jack and AJ Serra

Mark and Paula Ripepi

Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 19

by Pamela Palongue

According to Minnie Elfkin, Public Relations Coordinator for Santa Claus Operations North America, the iconic Christmas ﬁgure will be keeping a dizzying schedule of public appearances this holiday season. During December, Mr. Claus will be visiting as many cities and towns across the U.S. as possible. Because the children in Greensburg and Salem have been so good this year, he will be visiting every single house! Those wishing to consult Mr. Claus to make a particular gift request should check the local shopping malls and holiday parades. Mr. Claus also may be seen in the vicinity of 34th Street in New York City and any cold, mountainous region where reindeer may live.

In other news from the North Pole, Prancer has been placed on the injured reserve list, although he is expected to be healthy for the Christmas Eve event. A young reindeer named Techno is being called up from the farm team as a possible replacement if Prancer is unable to fly by Christmas. Elfkin stresses, “Presents WILL BE delivered on time and there will be no lapse in service regardless of personnel changes.” Elfkin also reminds homeowners to leave the damper open to provide easier access through the chimney. (This season Mr. Claus is watching his cholesterol intake and would greatly appreciate low fat snacks). Elfkin also reports that the United Federation of Elves, (UFE), has been working on some exciting, new toys this season that should please any toddler or preschooler. Children are alerted to be on their best behavior, now that Santa Claus has Skype capabilities. Although there have been many imposters, there is still no official Santa Claus website at this time. Santa Claus cannot be liked on Facebook or followed on Twitter due to the covert nature of his operations in the North Pole region. Those children wishing to write Mr. Claus should send all correspondence to the usual address, Santa Claus, North Pole. All children in the Greensburg area are requested to go to bed no later than 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus will be arriving in Salem Township sometime between 2:17 and 2:18 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. After landing his sleigh at the airport, he will travel by ground throughout the county, making his last stop in Greensburg at 2:23 a.m. In order to receive a present from Santa, children should be sure to pick up their all of their toys and eat all of their vegetables, including their broccoli. In the meantime, keep a sharp eye toward the northern sky and watch for flying reindeer and twinkling lights. To All a Merry Christmas and to All a Good Night!

Greensburg Salem

Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 21

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If so, write to us at p.palongue@incommunitymagazines.com and we’ll tell your friends and neighbors. If you have an iPhone and you’re from the Pittsburgh area, you’ve most likely heard of the newest mobile accessory called “cellhelmet.” But did you know those helmets are made here in the Greensburg area? Launched in early 2012, all assembly of the cellhelmet takes place here. The company is the first ever to include accidental damage coverage with their mobile accessories. Simply put, if you break an iPhone inside of a cellhelmet case, the company will repair or replace your device for $50. The company of three manufacturers, Michael Kane, Bryan McHenry and David Artuso, is located on Old Salem Road in Greensburg. Since its inception, the company has grabbed national attention for the product and has been rapidly growing. The cellhelmet is now available in The Cellular Connection, Wireless Zone and MacOutfitters. Kane is anxious to make an early 2013 announcement which “will bring more jobs to Greensburg and the Pittsburgh area.” For more information on cellhelmet, please visit the company website at www.cellhelmet.com.

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SPECIAL SECTION

Health & Wellness The Whole Picture Many people think of health and wellness as just diet and exercise. While those are two key components, there are many more factors that aﬀect an individual’s overall vitality. Other areas of focus include dental and vision; specialties such as podiatry and audiology; preventive measures such as chiropractic visits and acupuncture/massage. Even feel-good procedures such as hair replacement and cosmetic surgery can boost a person’s demeanor and self-confidence. With all of these areas of wellness to consider, it can be a daunting task to pay for the treatments and procedures that enhance the quality of our lives. So how do we decide what to spend our health-care dollars on? Which procedures are the most eﬀective and beneficial? e following is a review of what to consider when choosing a healthier lifestyle.

FITNESS Exercise is the one thing most doctors stress when the subject of health and wellness is broached. Certainly there are other factors such as genetics, eating, smoking, drinking and medication that can play a significant role, but exercise is at the core of health and wellness. So what is the best way to stay fit? ere is no perfect answer as it is diﬀerent for each individual’s needs and desires. ere are many ways an individual can exercise on his/her own such as walking, running, biking, hiking, at-home workout DVDs or weight training, just to name a few. Many Americans join gyms to help them stay fit. ere are advantages to having a gym membership which include a wide array of equipment, fellow members to help motivate you, professional trainers and a monthly monetary obligation that can help you stay committed to your fitness goals. Unfortunately, gym memberships are not covered by health insurance, so it is up to the individual to not only foot the bill but to select one that best suits our needs. Most gyms have monthly payments, but some also have yearly or bi-yearly options as well. Depending on the facility and the region you live in, the average gym membership can vary from $10 a month to $100 a month. While gyms, fitness programs and personal trainers can be an excellent way to achieve cardiovascular health, just remember they are not the only way. If money is tight there are plenty of free alternatives that may work just as well for you.

ACUPUNCTURE and MASSAGE If you’ve ever been treated to a massage, you probably don’t need a list of advantages to persuade you to have one on a regular basis. Massage is the manipulating of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue using various techniques, to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. Massage involves working and acting on the body with pressure – structured, unstructured, stationary, or moving – tension, motion, or vibration, done manually or with mechanical aids. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, skin, joints or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, and feet. ere are over 80 diﬀerent recognized massage modalities. e most cited reasons for introducing massage as therapy have been client demand and perceived clinical eﬀectiveness. Massage is usually only covered by insurance in very special circumstances, so be prepared to pay out of pocket for these services. According to www.mayoclinic.com, acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. A key component of Traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain. Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force known as qi or chi, (pronounced CHEE), believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance.

Continued on page 27

Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 25

it’s 2013: Is your medical practice prepared to gain incentives and avoid the penalties mandated by CMS for Performance Measures? Physicians have spent over a decade training to be a physician. They didn’t expect these aspects of running their practice: Rising Costs, OSHA and HIPAA regulations, Human Resource Problems, Decreasing Reimbursement, Higher Patient Deductibles, and now Electronic Health Records (EHR), Meaningful Use and Physician Quality and Reporting System. (PQRS penalties for 2015 will be based on 2013 performance).

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In contrast, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. is stimulation appears to boost the activity of your body’s natural painkillers and increase blood flow. Reasons for having an acupuncture procedure include chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, fibromyalgia, headaches, labor pain, low back pain, menstrual cramps, migraines, osteoarthritis, dental pain and tennis elbow. As with massage, acupuncture is generally not covered by insurance.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE According to www.chiropractor.com, chiropractic care is a natural method of health care that focuses on correcting the causes of physical problems from subluxations or misalignments of the bones in the body, especially the spine. e field of chiropractic is considered holistic, improving people’s lives by optimizing the functioning of the nervous system. Every cell in the body is controlled by the nervous system, including taste, touch, smell, hormones, digestion and cardiovascular. Chiropractic does not just treat symptoms or problems, but allows for a healthy nervous system, so the body functions better. A healthy nervous system has the ability to resist disease and ill health.

Chiropractic restores the body’s nervous system, thereby increasing its resistance to illnesses. Chiropractors are able to determine and remove blocks to the nervous system by locating subluxations or misaligned vertebrae and adjusting them. ere is one issue that will arise with chiropractic care… visits are sometimes not covered by insurance. Although suggested by many health care practitioners, including primary care physicians, some insurance companies still consider chiropractors luxury visits in some instances. One session with a chiropractor can cost anywhere from $35-$100 depending on the region you live in, with additional fees for more complicated procedures. When it comes to chiropractic care, one must decide if the benefits outweigh the cost.

D E N TA L W O R K Dental care is a vital aspect of health and wellness. Many people incorrectly believe that dental care is important for aesthetic reasons only, but this is far from the case. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, there is a link between poor oral health and conditions such as endocarditis and cardiovascular disease, although researchers are not sure of the role that oral health plays in causing heart problems. Recent studies have also shown that women with periodontal disease are at three to five times greater risk for delivering a preterm infant than those who are periodontally healthy. ere may also be a link between oral health and diabetes, Alzheimer’s and certain immune disorders. Continued on page 30

Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 27

Greensburg Salem

Laser Accuracy Now Available for Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery Laser Cataract Surgery Uses Latest FDA-Approved Technology It’s a fact of life that over time our vision may not be what it once was – crisp images and vibrant colors gradually fade. This change in our vision affects most of life’s activities – reading, driving, being active, enjoying nature, and so much more. Cataracts can affect all of us as we age. What Are Cataracts? Cataracts are a clouding of the eye’s natural lens. They are the leading cause of blindness in the United States. It is estimated that more than 22 million Americans over the age of 40 have cataracts, and that more than half of the population will experience this condition by the time they are 80 years old. In a healthy eye, light passes through the lens and is focused on the retina. The retina transfers the image into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. As cataracts form, the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and the images sent to the brain are not as sharp and vivid as they once were. What Is Available to Treat Cataracts? Treatment of cataracts involves surgery to remove the cloudy natural lens, replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens, or IOL. With more than 3 million cataract surgeries performed each year in the United States, it is the most commonly performed elective medical procedure under the Medicare system. Standard cataract surgery is covered by most insurance plans, as well as Medicare. These IOLs, or implants, are effective in restoring vision and a cataract will not develop again. Although standard IOLs produce clear vision, patients will likely need glasses or contacts due to remaining astigmatism or presbyopia. Astigmatism causes blurriness or visual distortion due to an irregularity in the dome-shaped curvature of the front surface of the eye, the cornea. Presbyopia is the hardening of the natural lens, which causes a loss of focus on objects up close. The ability for the lens to change shape in order to focus for near vision is typically lost as people age, so reading glasses become necessary.

Presbyopia usually begins around the age of 45 and it affects everyone sooner or later. Custom Cataract Surgery involves the use of special advanced technology – IOLs and surgical techniques. These special IOLs and techniques are very successful in helping people reduce or eliminate their dependency on glasses by decreasing nearsightedness or farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Multifocal and Accommodating IOLs improve vision at all distances. Toric IOLs improve distance vision and correct astigmatism. Laser Accuracy for Customized Cataract Surgery The latest technological advance is laserassisted cataract surgery. Until now, standard cataract procedures and custom cataract surgeries were performed manually by the surgeon, making several small incisions with a blade. A manual procedure allows for a margin of error that can increase risks and affect outcomes. With the introduction of the first FDA-approved laser for cataracts, called LenSx®, this image-guided laser allows the surgeon to perform incisions with efficiency and precision without the use of a blade. The laser also assists in breaking up the lens so that removal of the cataract requires less ultrasound energy. Additionally, the laser allows for better management of astigmatism, increasing the likelihood of not needing glasses for distance after surgery. Patients who undergo cataract surgery with implantation of a standard IOL will likely have presbyopia the rest of their lives, requiring glasses for reading and any close work. Those who choose to have cataract surgery along with implantation of a special or “lifestyle” lens will likely not need glasses for most anything they do – near, far, or in between. As expected, this new technology comes with additional costs. Cataract patients who elect to have customized surgery may still use insurance for the standard portion of the procedure, but will pay the cost of the custom upgrade out-of-pocket. Undergoing Laser Cataract Surgery is an important decision involving one’s vision. Patients should be sure to discuss all the available options and any questions they have with the doctor who will perform their procedure. This is the best way to get clear, candid answers that apply specifically to the individual. Lifestyle and visual needs are also important considerations and should be taken into account when making decisions about cataract surgery.

Lisa M. Cibik, MD, FACS Director of Cataract Services Associates in Ophthalmology

A board-certified surgeon, Dr. Cibik is one of the most productive cataract surgeons in the United States. She has lectured nationally on advancements in cataract removal techniques/technology and is currently involved in the investigation of several new ophthalmic medications and devices.

John P. Nairn, MD Eye Surgeon Associates in Ophthalmology

A board-certified and fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist, Dr. Nairn is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, Pittsburgh Ophthalmic Society and the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology. He has published numerous articles and lectured extensively throughout the country.

Associates in Ophthalmology, AIO 1.800.246.1000 www.AIOEyeSurgeons.com AIO has seven locations in the Pittsburgh area and Wheeling, offering easy access to the latest in vision care procedures and technology. In fact, AIO is the first Western PA practice to offer the ALCON LenSx® for LASER CATARACT SURGERY and the Constellation Visual System® for ADVANCED SUTURELESS VITREORETINAL SURGERY. In the hands of our renowned surgeons, these eye care advancements increase the accuracy, reduce the time, and provide a faster recovery for our patients.

Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 29

Whether you have a cracked tooth, a cavity, braces, dental implants or are needing a simple whitening or cleaning, dental care is a priority for most people. Because the costs of dental care keep increasing, some are choosing to cut out dentist visits all together. is is not recommended. However, if carrying dental insurance is not an option, then an individual should still stick to routine checkups. According to ehow.com, the national average cost for a regular cleaning can range anywhere from $50-130 depending on the region in which you live. Skipping these checkups and cleanings can lead to more serious issues down the road that can cost thousands of dollars. In the meantime, as is the case with most health-related issues, prevention is the key. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss aer every meal and you drastically increase your odds of having great oral health.

VISION CARE Many of us take our vision for granted. But we would certainly be completely lost without it, so it is essential we take good care of our eyes with regular exams and wearing glasses or contacts, if needed. According to the Vision Council of America, approximately 75% of adults need some sort of vision correction. Although drugstores sell non-prescription glasses for reading, which means anyone can buy them without seeing an eye doctor for an exam, there is no substitute for a professional vision exam by an eye doctor, with a customized prescription for glasses or corrective lenses. Approximately 30% of the American population is near-sighted and must use glasses for activities such as driving and schoolwork. About 60% of Americans are far-sighted meaning that they have trouble reading or sewing without glasses, but can focus well at a distance. e majority of young people who wear glasses are near-sighted. As people age, they are more likely to need vision correction for far-sightedness. About 25% of people who wear glasses to see distances will end up needing reading glasses or bifocals as they get older. e recommendations for the frequency of vision exams varies somewhat, but generally individuals are advised to have an eye exam somewhere between one to four years, depending upon their age group.

P O D I AT R Y Podiatry is the specialty devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of conditions aﬀecting the foot. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, most people log an amazing 75,000 miles on their feet by the time they reach age 50. Regular foot care can ensure that your feet are up to the task. With proper detection and intervention, most foot and ankle problems can be lessened or prevented. 30

Greensburg Salem

Many people are unaware of the many issues that can affect feet. Arthritis, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), peripheral neuropathy, common injuries (sprains, strains and fractures), Haglund’s deformity (bony enlargement of the back of the heel bone), heel pain and tendinitis can all create mobility problems for individuals. ere are various skin disorders including athlete’s foot, corns and calluses, psoriasis, skin cancer of the feet, as well as toe joint and nerve disorders such as bunions, hammer toes and neuromas to consider. Individuals may also suffer from ingrown toenails. Some basic but effective foot care tips include washing your feet daily, making sure to rinse off all soap and water especially between the toes and trimming nails straight across and not overly short to avoid cutting or digging at corners. Over the counter medications are not recommended for removing corns or calluses. A qualified podiatrist should be consulted for treatment and removal. Wear clean socks or stockings changed daily and make sure that they are not too tight. Always wear properly fitting shoes. If you do suffer a foot ailment, there are various ways to treat them. Prescription, custom orthotics, which are specially-made devices, are designed to support and comfort your feet and may correct the problem. For more severe issues, surgery may be needed in cases when pain or deformity persists.

AUDIOLOGY Audiology is the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and management of hearing loss and balance disorders in adults and children. It is an important component to health and wellness, yet it tends to be ignored unless there is a noticeable problem. Individuals should get their hearing checked yearly to ensure that everything is as it should be. An audiologist, commonly called an ear doctor, prescribes and fits hearing aids, assists in cochlear implant programs, performs ear or hearing related surgical monitoring, designs hearing conservation programs and provides newborn screening programs to test hearing levels. Audiologists may also provide hearing rehabilitation such as auditory training, speech reading and listening skills improvement. What many people don’t realize is that almost all types of hearing loss are treatable by an audiologist. No one should ever feel there is no hope with hearing loss. Some hearing related problems include occupational; earwax blockage; hearing loss related to aging; acoustic neuroma, a noncancerous tumor on the hearing nerve; Meniere’s disease, a serious tumor on the nerve ending; ringing in the ears; and fluid on the ear. Most hearing-related procedures and tests will be covered by most insurance companies.

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Dr. bruce Matthews 3 Convenient Locations Ligonier • Greensburg • North Huntingdon

AIO has seven locations in the Pittsburgh area and Wheeling, offering easy access to the latest in vision care procedures and technology. In fact, AIO is the first Western PA practice to offer the ALCON LenSx® for LASER CATARACT SURGERY and the Constellation Visual System® for ADVANCED SUTURELESS VITREORETINAL SURGERY. In the hands of our renowned surgeons, these eye care advancements increase the accuracy, reduce the time, and provide a faster recovery for our patients.

Dr. Bruce Matthews, D.M.D., M.D.S. has been in private practice since 1989, specializing in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics for adults and children. Dr. Matthews is a well-respected Orthodontist and strives to provide the highest quality of affordable orthodontic care in Westmoreland County, with locations in Ligonier, Greensburg, and North Huntingdon. For more information on orthodontic care call 724.836.4452 or visit us at www.matthewsorthodontics.com.

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F A M I LY M E D I C I N E According to the American Academy of Family Medicine (AAFP), family practice is health care for the individual and family that integrates the biological, clinical and behavioral sciences. e scope of family medicine encompasses all ages, both sexes and every organ system of the body. Common services provided in family medicine include bone density screenings, EKGs, hospital care, immunizations and flu shots, lab services, minor surgery (warts, lesions, stitches), newborn health, gynecology and obstetrics, school and sports physicals and preventive visits. Family Medicine physicians work closely with patients to prevent disease and oﬀer them a long and healthy life. Healthy lifestyle, exercise and weight control are oen points that are

stressed to all members of the family. For those with a personal history of chronic disease, specific measures are taken to ensure that they are being monitored and that their disease is being managed eﬀectively. is is usually achieved with regular health maintenance exams and by keeping up with what is going on in their lives. e main focus and advantage of family medicine is the very personal and intimate care that is normally received. e attending physician almost becomes a member of the family. Another particular benefit of family medicine is that it concentrates on education as well. Everyone in the family should understand what good healthy living is and all the ins and outs of how to achieve health goals. is is done with open discussions with your physician.

Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 31

Greensburg Salem

How to Plan Your Funeral in Three Easy Steps By Terence L. Graft

The value of planning ahead is one of those lessons in life we learn the hard way. Early on, procrastination seems like the way to go. But then, the consequences start setting in: messy room, failing grades, chores left undone, and a whole lot of time spent alone “thinking about what you did.” In the end, you don’t save time, you miss out on all the fun! If those early life lessons teach you anything, it’s that the path of least resistance usually leads straight to the school of hard knocks. The thing about planning ahead is that it takes effort. I talk to a lot of people about planning ahead for funeral services in my work. This is one area where it is particularly difficult to plan in advance. It’s like packing a suitcase for a trip someone else is going to take in 10 to 20 years. That would be hard for anybody! Plus, there is the fact that people don’t really like to think about their own mortality. I hate to break it to you, but the death rate, last time I checked, was hovering right at 100%. Life is a terminal condition, no exceptions. Most people, once they have come to terms with their own mortality, believe that planning ahead for funeral services is a good idea. If you’re not sure, all you have to do is imagine losing your parent or spouse and having to take care of all the arrangements within three days. I’m pretty sure you would be a fan of preplanning if you found that everything had been arranged and paid for so that you didn’t have to do anything but pick a day and a time and stay at home with your loved ones until it was time for the service. So, if you’re sold on the idea that planning ahead is important, then the next question is, what do you do now? Here are three easy steps that will help you get all the bases covered: 1. Speak to a licensed funeral prearrangement specialist. Families often tell me that when they meet with a prearrangement specialist, they learn about questions they didn’t even know they should ask. You don’t know what you don’t know, and a specialist can help you clarify your wishes and make sure everything that you want to take care of is covered in your plan. Oh, and by the way, this is a free service we offer at Kepple-Graft Funeral Home. 2. Get your wishes and important information put in writing. The importance of this step cannot be over-emphasized. Whatever knowledge and information you are walking around with in your head right now will die with you if nothing is written down. You can’t count on your loved ones’ memory to be at its best during a time of grief. A prearrangement specialist will help you get all that knowledge and information on paper so your loved ones don’t feel pressured to try to remember something you told them in passing 12 years ago.

3. Decide whether advance payment is right for you. Not everyone has the means to pay ahead, and that is fine. But you can still come in and go through the first two steps, which are a free service to our community. If you do want to take care of the financial side of things, such as burial spaces, funeral services, catering, and other expenses, then the prearrangement specialist can go over all the options available to you so that you can make an educated decision. Obviously, the more that can be taken care of ahead of time, including plans, wishes, and payment, the less your family will have to worry about in their time of grief. These are the very basics of how to get started with funeral prearrangement. But just reading this article won’t get it done for you. Planning doesn’t happen all by itself. It takes action. I can tell you from experience that taking the first step is always the hardest part. I’ll make it easy, though. Just call me and tell me you’d like to get started with your plans, and we’ll take it from there.

Greensburg Salem | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 33

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