in-mckeesport-summer by IN Community Magazines

SPRING 2012

COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

120 over 80.

What’s it worth to U?

Introducing HealthyU from UPMC Health Plan. Reaching your goals is worth more than ever. It’s worth money. That’s because HealthyU offers financial incentives for making healthy lifestyle decisions. Now when you do things like quit smoking, work with a health coach, or even get a flu shot, we put money into your very own Health Incentive Account. Money that can be used to help pay for doctor visits, prescription drugs, and even surgery. To learn more about this new, one-of-a-kind plan, talk to your employer or visit UPMCHealthyU.com.

upmchealthyu.com

INSIDE

MAGAZINE UNITY COMM

2012 SPRING

By Heather Holtschlag

Curb appeal is not necessarily something that most people will able to define in precise terms, but they will know it when they see it. Simply put, it is about making your front yard and the front of your house stand out and look better than the rest. And, if people like what they see on the outside, including potential buyers, the chances are good that they will want to see what the house looks like on the inside. But what can you do to make your house stand apart? To begin, play up your home’s doorway—one of the first areas people see when looking at your house—with color, a clean door free of nicks, and clean metal fixtures. Consider adding a wreath or some other type of door decoration.

Low-voltage landscape lighting, particularly accent lighting displayed in nearby trees or throughout other outdoor fixtures, can not only enhance a yard’s appearance but provide a pathway of lighted safety for visitors. Potted colorful flowers can provide instant curb appeal and can be purchased already assembled at a local garden center, or you may choose to buy an empty container to fill with all of your favorite flowers on your own.

On a similar note, window boxes can be filled with your favorite flowers to match the rest of your yard’s color scheme. Consider adding some fixtures like birdbaths and wind chimes to add visual appeal to a yard, and a water fountain can sound heavenly on a warm summer day (but be sure to place them on level ground for optimum enjoyment). Shutters and trim work not only add texture and ventilation to a home, but provide added security as well.

To achieve the best curb appeal, paint the shutters in a color that matches the outside of your house and the rest of your yard. In addition, new garden beds are always a welcome sight. Consider planting new gardens in spots that will be most pleasing to the eye, such as along the driveway and in front of the house.

IN McKeesport Area is a non-partisan community publication dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the McKeesport 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.

IN McKeesport Area | SPRING 2012 |

On a similar note, window boxes can be filled with your favorite flowers to match the rest of your yard’s color scheme.

FEATURES

Reduce Costs with Attic Insulation ............................... | 20 Spring Kids Page ............................ | 37 Eco Tourism ...................................... | 40 Small Updates Pay Off Big .......... | 45 Curb Appeal ..................................... | 46 ON THE COVER | McKeesport teachers sit in fellow teacher’s classroom for review. • Photos by Gary Yon McKeesport 8.375 x 10.875_8.375 x 10.875 3/19/12 5:37 PM Page 1

SPRING 2012

Health and Wellness News You Can Use

Let’s Get Physical

What can a daily dose of moderate physical activity do for you? Plenty! As you get older, regular exercise is a key to staying strong, energetic, and healthy. To learn more about the link between fitness and aging, turn to page 3.

What’s Inside page 2

Getting Advanced Cancer Care at UPMC McKeesport

page 3

Fit at Any Age

page 4

Surviving Allergies: What You Can Do Putting Ergonomics to Work for You

page 5

Brightening Lives With Light

page 6

A Walk to Remember

page 7

Meet Our Physicians

COMMUNITY INTEREST

McKeesport Area School District News .......................... |

UPMC Today | Health and Wellness News You Can Use ................. | 21 McKeesport News .................................................................. | 29 Bruce Lauffer and the McKeesport Orchestra ............. | 38 The Face of Hunger in McKeesport ................................. | 42 McKeesport NAACP Annual Breakfast ............................ | 48 Carnegie Library of McKeesport March Events ............ | 49

S TA F F PUBLISHER

Wayne Dollard

elcome to the Spring issue of McKeesport Magazine! Hopefully, we are all enjoying the lengthening days as we forge on to summer. While spring usually brings more rain to the region than we normally get throughout the rest of the year, I’m glad we’ve had a few days of nice weather to get outside and remember what the snow covered up. We’ve grown once again over the winter, and have shifted some staff around to accommodate that growth. I want to point this out because you, the readers, give us many of the great story ideas that you see featured in these pages, and I want you to have the right point of contact so that your story can be heard. The editor for the east region is Monica Haynes (m.haynes@incommunitymagazines.com). Please forward your good news to Monica, and she’ll make sure it finds a place in the magazine. If you’re not sure whether you have a good story, give Monica a call at 412.254.8704 and ask! While our editors have realigned into better-organized zones, we still want everything in those zones to be 100 percent local to you. We also appreciate your feedback (good and bad) to let us know where we missed Wayne Dollard the mark and where we hit it out of the park. Publisher Lastly, it’s not too soon to start thinking about the rest of the year! I know we just got through the holidays, and are thawing out, but since we’re quarterly, we’re already looking ahead to summer and beyond. So if you have events planned and would like to promote them, call or email Monica. If you have an event coming up earlier, let us know so we can send our photographers and document the occasion! Here’s hoping that the start to your year has been a good one!

MANAGING EDITOR

Marybeth Jeffries m.jeffries@icmags.com REGIONAL EDITORS

Mark Berton [South and West] mark@incommunitymagazines.com Monica L. Haynes [East] m.haynes@incommunitymagazines.com N O R T H Z O N E C O O R D I N AT O R

Pamela Palongue p.palongue@incommunitymagazines.com S C H O O L & M U N I C I PA L C O N T E N T C O O R D I N AT O R

Megan Faloni m.faloni@incommunitymagazines.com OFFICE MANAGER

Leo Vighetti leo@incommunitymagazines.com A D P L A C E M E N T C O O R D I N AT O R

Debbie Mountain d.mountain@incommunitymagazines.com GRAPHIC DESIGN

Cassie Brkich Anna Buzzelli Sharon Cobb Susie Doak

Jan McEvoy Joe Milne Tamara Tylenda

WRITERS

Ashley Connor Heather Holtschlag Leigh Lyons Dana Black McGrath

Joann Naser Kathleen Rudolph Gina Salinger Judith Schardt

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ginni Hartle Brad Lauer

Kathleen Rudolph Gary Yon

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGERS

elcome Spring! While June may not be busting out all over yet, hope springs eternal for warmer weather, blooming flowers, and more occasions to walk in the sunshine, and more opportunities to get out and meet your fellow residents and neighbors. Speaking of meeting your neighbors…in this edition of McKeesport, we have a feature on new mayor Michael Cherepko and new council members Dan Carr and Keith Soles. This edition also has news about what’s been going on in the city including the opening of a new Bottom Dollar store, and schedules for upcoming events and concerts. We also have news about the McKeesport School District and all the great things that have been Monica L. Haynes happening there. And IN McKeesport catches up with Eastern Regional Editor McKeesport Symphony Orchestra musical director and conductor Bruce Lauffer. Remember, this is your magazine. It’s about what’s happening in your community. So let us know what you want to read about, what’s going on, what’s important to you. For now, it’s time to think spring, and time to enjoy this edition of McKeesport Magazine!

Derek Bayer Tom Poljak

Tamara Myers

ADVERTISING SALES

Brian Daley Gina D’Alicandro Tina Dollard Karen Fadzen Julie Graf Jason Huffman Lori Jeffries Connie McDaniel Brian McKee Gabriel Negri Aimee Nicolia

Robert Ojeda Ralph Palaski Annette Petrone Vincent Sabatini Jennifer Schaefer Michael Silvert Karen Turkovich RJ Vighetti Nikki Capezio-Watson Sophia Williard

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 E. McMurray Rd. Ph: 724.942.0940 McMurray, PA 15317 Fax: 724.942.0968 www.incommunitymagazines.com Summer content deadline: 5/18 Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

724.942.0940 to advertise |

McKeesport Area

Dear MASD Community Members, The winter months have been relatively kind to us and much anticipated consistent spring weather is just around the corner. It will not be long and we will be celebrating the accomplishments of our graduating class of 2012. It is during these spring months that the many preparations for our PSSA examinations will take center stage and students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 will put forth their efforts in achieving proficient or advanced status as well as measured individual academic growth. This edition of InMcKeesport Area features an article detailing some of the activities throughout the district as staff and students work together to prepare for testing success. A groundbreaking ceremony took place in early February on the former Cornell site with the scheduled opening of the new school set for the 2013-2014 school year, while the eagerly anticipated Open House for Francis McClure will be set for April or May as final touches are beginning to fall into place. We will be

certain to alert the public for the official opening of the entire facility to witness the tangible evidence of the state of the art facility and quality instructional spaces that will be evident for our entire K-6 population. Included in this edition will be our Dignity Robes partnership with UPMC, the Foundersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Hall Math Olympics, Black History Month activities, PSSA preparations, and a renewal of our 21st Century grant to enhance after school activities to name a few. Please share in our pride as you read the many examples that help capture the essence of the well rounded educational experience that all students receive in the McKeesport Area School District. We encourage you to visit www.mckasd.net to keep up with your schools and remain actively involved in the educational process. Thank you for everything you do for the children of our district.

Sincerely, TIMOTHY M. GABAUER, ED.D Superintendent

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 3

Providing Dignity TO WOMEN UNDERGOING CANCER TREATMENT

everal ninth and 12th grade students at McKeesport Area High School and Technology Center are getting the chance to help local women undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer while also getting a taste of the healthcare profession and community service projects. Ninth grade students enrolled in the school’s 21st Century afterschool program will work with 12th grade students who participate in The Future is Mine program as well as caring adults who will volunteer their time to make Dignity Robes for women currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Stitched from a cotton pattern, Dignity Robes are designed to be more discreet than a typical hospital robe and help enable women to maintain their privacy when undergoing treatment for cancer. The robe ensemble is a handmade short wraparound jacket that attaches with Velcro in the front. “The purpose of the robes is so that women do not completely have to disrobe when under-

McKeesport Area

going their treatments. The women who need them also need to maintain their privacy during treatment, and that’s what we hope to help them do,” said Patty Scales, director of Career and Technical Education at McKeesport Area High School and Technology Center. “Our plan is to make 20 robes before the end of the school year and donate them to UPMC Cancer Centers and the Jodie Matta-Dillinger Cancer Care Center, which was founded in memory of Jodie Matta-Dillinger, who fell victim to brain cancer, and provides the students with the monetary resources they need to buy material to make the robes.” The McKeesport Area High School’s involvement in the project is being funded by the Consortium for Public Education, which provides educational support to schools in the area, as well as the Jodie Matta-Dillinger Cancer Care Center. The Consortium was chosen by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and United Way of Allegheny County to pilot the Pathways to Health Careers program at the high school, a program designed for students interested in exploring health careers. Also, with the money given to them by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, the Consortium was able to buy the sewing machines that will be necessary to make the robes. “As a former home economics teacher, this project has special

meaning for me, but because sewing is no longer taught in home economics classes, we were excited, though reluctant, to take on the project, as we had not previously been able to assess the students’ sewing skills,” Scales said. “But the students really understand the importance of the project and are excited to be doing this as a community service. In addition, all of the students who are participating in the project are female, so they are able to relate to what a woman might have to go through when being treated for cancer.” The students participating in the project all have potential interest in a health career, and making these robes will help in a couple of ways. They will be learning more about medical procedures while also providing a sense of comfort and self-confidence to the women who will need to wear them. This is the first year that the school is participating in the Dignity Robes project. “We were told that the need for these robes has grown so much over the years, hence the reason they are appealing to our students,” Scales explained. “We are hoping that by participating in this project, the students not only will learn basic sewing skills, but learn about the importance of doing a community service project.” Donations to the Dignity Robe project can be sent to the Jodie Matta-Dillinger Cancer Care Center, c/o UPMC McKeesport Oncology Department, 1500 Fifth Avenue, McKeesport, PA 15132. Donations of scrap fabric can be made to

McKeesport Area Contact Information BY HEATHER HOLTSCHLAG

SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS Trisha Gadson Christopher A. Halaszynski Mark P. Holtzman Mary Jane Keller Terri Kisan Steven E. Kondrosky Dennis J. (Joe) Lopretto Thomas P. Maglicco Patricia A. Maksin CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION Superintendent Dr. Timothy M. Gabauer 412.664.3612

McKeesport Area High School and Technology Center, 1960 Eden Park Blvd., McKeesport, PA 15132. Each robe contains about one yard of fabric. Velcro and thread also are used.

“The women who need them also need to maintain their privacy during treatment, and that’s what we hope to help them do.”

ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM Special Education Supervisor Mr. David L. Listorti 412.664.3625 Special Education Administrative Assistant Mr. Menas E. Zannikos 412.664.3624 Director of Career and Technology Education/District Grants and Special Project Coordinator Mrs. Patricia J. Scales 412.948.1363

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rula S. Skezas 412.664.3613

Director of Early Childhood Education and Elementary Curriculum Dr. Catherine S. Lobaugh 412.948.1386

Business Manager/ Board Secretary Mr. David M. Seropian 412.664.3600

Secondary Curriculum and Transformation Coordinator Dr. Harry A. Bauman 412.948.1310

Director of Human Resources/ Administration Services Mr. James G. Humanic 412.664.3608

Principal of Cyber School/ District Technology Integration Dr. Jane L. Coughenour 412.948.1317

Director of Federal/State Programs (Homeless Liaison) Mr. Michael V. Matta 412.664.3627

Communications/ Public Relations Specialist Mrs. Kristen D. Giran 412.664.3645

Director of Special Education Mrs. Patricia M. Tkacik 412.664.3622

Director of Buildings and Grounds Mr. Edward F. Fagan 412.664.3631

Director Food Service Ms. Tammi T. Davis 412.664.3685

Technology Coordinator Mr. H. Ben South 412.664.3764

– PATTY SCALES Director of Career and Technical Education at McKeesport Area High School and Technology Center.

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 5

Science Teacher Elected to

Pennsylvania State Advisory Board

by Heather Holtschlag

hris Kastronis, science teacher at Founders’ Hall Middle School, was recently elected to the Pennsylvania State Advisory Board for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC). The CCLC is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to afterschool programs. Since 2004, the 21st CCLC has funded afterschool programs in the McKeesport Area School District in various cohorts that have ranged from the intermediate levels, which encompass fourth, fifth and sixth grades, through middle and high school students up to grade 10. As the program manager, Kastronis became involved with the Pennsylvania Advisory Board in 2006. Following a nomination and interview process, Kastronis was one of only a few representatives from the western side of Pennsylvania. “My initial role was as a member of the Quality Committee, which is one of the Board’s working committees. I then served as chair of the Quality Committee, during which time our committee assisted in the

McKeesport Area

development of the grant’s cost calculator as well as the quarterly reports that are now a requirement of all grantees,” he explained. Since 2010, Kastronis’ involvement and responsibilities with the Board grew, and today, he is responsible for planning quarterly board meetings with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Center for Schools and Communities and to assist with tasks involving the annual 21st CCLC grantee meeting that takes place at the Extra Learning Opportunities conference in Harrisburg. He also is responsible for overseeing the ongoing work of the Board’s committees and to promote the initiatives of the Board and advocate for the 21st CCLC programs statewide. “I feel my involvement on the Board has given me many opportunities to be an active participant in the discussions relating to the development of high quality afterschool programs funded by the 21st CCLC grant,” Kastronis said. “But more importantly, I feel I have had the opportunity to strongly represent at the state level, the students and community members of McKeesport as one of the best school districts in western Pennsylvania. I can only hope that this representation will be carried on in the future by another one of our dedicated staff members.” In 1998, McKeesport was awarded the first of the federal funding

for an afterschool program for seventh and eighth grade students. Since that time, McKeesport Area School District has been awarded state competitive funds for Cohort 2, Cohort 4 and 5, and most recently, Cohort 6. Each Cohort has been designed to reach a grade level and then expand the program either up or down grade levels. Currently, Cohort 5 reaches students in grades seven to 10. Cohort 6 will provide afterschool programming to students in grades four, five and six at Francis McClure Intermediate School, and fourth grade students at White Oak Elementary School and Centennial Elementary School. Each grant Cohort has been for three or four years; Cohort 6 is a three-year grant. “Pennsylvania’s primary goal for its 21st Century Community Learning Centers is to assist youth to meet state standards for core academic subjects by providing students with academic enrichment opportunities,” said Patty Scales, director of Career and Technical Education at McKeesport Area High School and Technology Center. “In addition to academics, Centers are encouraged to offer participants a broad array of other services and programs, including art, music, recreation activities, character education, career and technical training, drug and violence prevention programming, and technology education. These opportunities may take place before or after school and in the summer.” McKeesport Area School District is currently enrolling students for the newly funded Cohort 6 program, which will be housed at Francis McClure Intermediate School, with satellite centers for fourth grade students at White Oak Elementary School and Centennial Elementary School. Students can pick up an application for this exciting new program from their homeroom teachers.

eventh and eighth grade students at Founders’ Hall recently had the chance to show off their math skills during the school’s first Math Olympics. The event, designed to create a unique learning experience for the students, provided an opportunity for more than 550 seventh and eighth grade students to work across different grade levels and with students whom they previously did not know. “The Math Olympics was an initiative that allowed the math teachers to collaborate and create an experience that was based on our school motto, ‘Move, Engage, Assess,’” said Jenn Knight, elementary math coordinator at Founders’ Hall and former seventh and eighth grade math teacher. “The goal of the Math Olympics was for the math students to work cooperatively with challenging mathematical content and to provide a high motivation for completion.” The idea for the Math Olympics originated when Knight attended a professional development opportunity on Journey to Learn Day hosted by Steel Valley teachers in their school district with colleague Missy Capozzoli, seventh grade math teacher. “This conference sparked the idea, but Missy and I made different tasks and planned for about 90 percent of the students in the building to attend,” Knight explained. “We experienced an overwhelming, positive response from the students,” Knight said. “They were very well-behaved and enthusiastic about the event.” Students who participated in the Math Olympics were divided into teams comprised of both seventh and eighth grade students in any of the seven math teachers’ classes. During the Opening Ceremonies, each team introduced themselves by holding up a flag that displayed a mathematical vocabulary word and represented their team name. The teachers assumed the roles of Olympic Greek Gods as they facilitated hands-on tasks in the mathematical areas of measurement, number sense, probability, data analysis, geometry, algebraic concepts, problem solving and critical thinking. Students rushed between seven task areas located in the school’s little gym, hallway and three classrooms and were timed at each event location. Tasks had to be completed and correct before the teams could move on to the next event. Many of the tasks included an extra challenge that gave students the opportunity to earn seconds off of their final group time. “Besides this being an event that embodied our school motto, the Math Olympics gave students the opportunity to take on the role of both student and teacher, develop team building skills, and incorporate all elements of cooperative learning,” Knight said.

Thanks to building-wide fundraisers, silver and gold medals were purchased from Final Score in McKeesport and awarded to the two best overall times in each class period as well as the best time for each event. Individual medals were awarded to “Math Coaches” for leading discussions and peer teaching, and “Super Mathletes” medals were given to students who showed extreme enthusiasm and participation during the Opening Ceremonies. Most of the medals were named for the math teachers and included Szymczak’s Aviation Szymulation Medal, for which the students participated in a paper airplane experiment; Capin’ The Clock Medal, for which the students were asked to calculate theoretical probabilities; Knight’s Nets Medal, which involved building 3-D figures, and Skraitz’s Skool Medal, for which students had to calculate area and perimeter based upon real world examples. Other medals included the KeHegedus Tangible Tangrams Medal, for which students had to exhibit their critical thinking and problem solving skills, Mehn’s Mug Shots Medal, which challenged students’ puzzle building and problem solving skills, and James’s Juniors Medal, for which students had to measure distance. “Because of the huge success of this event, which took more than a month’s worth of planning for the staff, we are planning many future endeavors, starting with an outside event to take place in the summer, hopefully at the end of May or beginning of June,” Knight said.

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 7

Dr.Harry Bauman Unsung Hero of Education

“We also expect the class to be designed with a high level of rigor, students talking to each other, giveand-take and coming up with the best answer.” –DR. HARRY BAUMAN

McKeesport Area

r. Harry Bauman, secondary curriculum coordinator for the McKeesport Area School District, recently received the Unsung Hero of Education Award for development of a program in which teachers and administrators can observe and assess other teachers in the classroom. Begun in the 2011-2012 school year, it’s called Peer Instructional Rounds. Teachers volunteer to open their classroom to a peer group of eight to 10 teachers and administrators, who come in and observe for about 25 minutes. “At that point, we leave, go to a conference room and a have a conversation about the instructional strategies that we observed,” said Bauman. “What we expect to see is cooperative groupings, a lot of formative assessment. By that we mean just constantly figuring out from the kids whether they are with [the teacher].” Ways a teacher may engage students to see if they’re following along could include the students giving a thumbs-up or down, having students move to another part of the room if they agree with a certain aspect, or putting their names on Popsicle sticks and drawing one from the bunch. The person whose name is drawn has to respond. “So teachers have a constant gauge whether the students are following, understanding and are with [them],” Bauman said. “We also expect the class to be designed with a high level of rigor, meaning a little challenging, students talking to each other, give-and-take and coming up with the best answer,” he added. “So we really are causing them to think deeply.” Teachers are also expected to start the class off in a fun and engaging way that gets the students going and at the end of the lesson there should be a summary. In reviewing the lesson, the teachers and administrators who observed talk about what they saw and only positive comments are allowed, Bauman said. The observers identify targeted strategies and where the teachers used them in his or her lesson. “That builds a commonality of terms. We start acting as a learning community and talking in the same language. Once we identify where they saw those things, teachers are encouraged to share with each other the kinds of things working in their classroom,” Bauman said. “When you observe teachers through peer instructional rounds, our assessment is that they grow exponentially.” Teachers who participate by allowing their classroom instruction to be observed are rewarded by having their names placed on the district website, and they are given a certificate. The teachers and administrators who participate as observers are awarded ACT 48 credit. Teachers in Pennsylvania are required to acquire 180 hours of ACT 48 credit over a five-year period. Bauman, who grew up in McKeesport, has spent his entire 31-year career in the district, including a five-year stint as principal of McKeesport High School. He holds a BS in education, special education from Penn State University; a master’s in educational leadership and doctorate in education, educational leadership from Duquesne University.

MASD

District Happenings

McKeesport Mayor Mike Cherepko speaks to a classroom of students learning about how government works.

Semi-Formal Court The students in the last row from left are: Shane Cope, Nicolle Driscoll, Jauna Harper and Hassan Allen, Students in the front row from left are: Luke Kail, Shelby Bendick, Brad Nevius, Dania Halloran, Sean Murphy and Larissa Gerber.

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 9

Home Schedules for Spring Varsity Sports BOYS VARSITY BASEBALL

03/20/12 vs. Elizabeth Forward 4:00 p.m. 04/02/12 vs. Bethel Park 4:00 p.m. 04/11/12 vs. Upper St. Clair 4:00 p.m. 04/16/12 vs. Canon McMillian 4:00 p.m. 04/25/12 vs. Peters Township 4:00 p.m. 04/30/12 vs. Mt. Lebanon 4:00 p.m. 05/04/12 vs. Baldwin 4:00 p.m. 05/07/12 vs. Albert Gallatin 4:00 p.m.

GIRLS VARSITY SOFTBALL

03/16/12 vs. Ringgold 3:30 p.m. 03/21/12 vs. Bethel Park 3:30 p.m. 03/26/12 vs. Belle Vernon 3:30 p.m. 04/02/12 vs. Norwin 3:30 p.m. 04/11/12 vs. Fox Chapel 3:30 p.m. 04/12/12 vs. Woodland Hills 3:30 p.m. 04/17/12 vs. Gateway 3:30 p.m. 04/19/12 vs. Franklin Regional 3:30 p.m. 04/24/12 vs. Plum 3:30 p.m. 05/01/12 vs. Penn Hills 3:30 p.m. 05/09/12 vs. Yough 3:30 p.m.

BOYS VARSITY TENNIS

03/19/12 vs. Upper St. Clair 3:30 p.m. 03/26/12 vs. Canon McMillian 3:30 p.m. 03/30/12 vs. Montour 3:30 p.m. 04/10/12 vs. Mt. Lebanon 3:30 p.m. 04/16/12 vs. Penn Hills 3:30 p.m. 04/23/12 vs. Baldwin 3:30 p.m. 04/30/12 vs. West Mifflin 3:30 p.m.

BOYS AND GIRLS VARSITY TRACK

04/04/12 vs. Penn Hills 3:30 p.m. 04/11/12 vs. Central Catholic/Oakland Catholic 3:30 p.m.

For away games and up to date times of games please go to www.mckasd.net and click on the athletics tab. 10

McKeesport Area

MASD Curriculum Director Gets Published in Statewide Magazine

s director of early childhood and elementary curriculum in the McKeesport Area School District, Dr. Catherine S. Lobaugh knows about curriculum development and instructional strategies and assessment. So well versed is she in this area that she will have an article in Pennsylvania Administrator, the magazine of the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals. The award-winning magazine is published in February, May and September. “What we’re doing is in 2013, we will be one of the school districts in the state that’s adopting the common core standards. The article describes some of the processes

that we’ve gone through so far in doing that,” Lobaugh explained. She submitted her article in December and was notified in early January that it will be published by the quarterly magazine in February. It’s the first time Lobaugh’s had such an article published in a professional magazine. “It’s pretty exciting,” she said. “It talks about the process that we’ve been engaged in and it kind of tells the story of how we began the process and the dedication of the teachers and the staff in the district who have helped move this forward.” It is a process that could not be undertaken without the input of the teachers across the district, Lobaugh added.

DR. CATHERINE S. LOBAUGH Director of Early Childhood and Elementary Curriculum, MASD

She dedicated the article to colleague Randy Gwosden, described by Lobaugh as “a visionary educator,” who passed away in January. “This curriculum requires a variety of methods to address how children learn, so it’s not onesize-fits-all,” Lobaugh said. “We do much with differentiating instruction and all types of assessment and not just pen and paper. There’s a variety of ways to assess children’s learning.” What must be ascertained, she said, is what it is we expect children to learn, how do we expect it, what do we do if they don’t understand it, what do we do if they do get it, how do we move on and how is it real in their lives? “Keeping the focus on what’s best for all children, our eyes are on the mark to make a difference in their future as they face a global world and continuing to press forward to the goal that unleashes an unparalleled potential for the children we serve,” Lobaugh said.

April 19, 20, and 21, 2012 Thursday, Friday, Saturday 7:30 p.m.

2012 MUSICAL

Saturday Matinee 2:00 p.m. McKeesport High School Auditorium

For more information and ticket sales, please visit our website at www.mckasd.net or call us at 412-664-3650.

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 11

MASD Students and Family Pledge to

he McKeesport Area School District is partnering with Duquesne Light as part of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Watt Choices School Energy Pledge Program, the goal of which is to educate students about how to cut down on energy use in their homes. Beginning in the second week of February, George Washington Elementary, White Oak Elementary, Centennial Elementary and Francis McClure Intermediate schools held assembly programs during which pledge forms were passed out to each student. Families fill out the pledge and return it with their student to school to receive a free energy saving kit. The kit includes five compact fluorescent light bulbs, two LED night lights, weather stripping, a furnace whistle, and energy saving information. For each eligible pledge form received, the school will get $25 from Duquesne Light. The assembly included a short video that teaches students about energy efficiency and ways that they can incorporate energy saving actions in their homes. Also, as part of the program, Duquesne Light trains a site coordinator to work with the school staff.

K-6 students attend the first assembly of four pledging to save energy

McKeesport Area

A Letter from the School Board President

PATRICIA MAKSIN

McKeesport Area School District is kicking into high gear! Our district is getting ready for this years Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) testing as well as focusing on finishing the school year on another strong note. In the pages to follow, please find stories from each of our schools that highlight the great initiatives we have. You will see stories about progress, success and how we lend a helping hand to our community when needed. Also, in this edition, our readers will get a glimpse into some of the achievements that our faculty and staff have had in the past few months. One of the biggest factors in the overall success of our students and our district will always be our ability to work in partnership with our parents and the community. We hope that you feel welcome in our schools and that you will take

advantage of opportunities to become involved, to learn more about your school district and to be a part of the many things that are taking place. Members of the school board of directors encourage parents and guardians to be actively involved, in all areas if the district, by attending board and building level meetings. Board Meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Sessions begin at 7:30 p.m. in the board room at the district administration building, located at 3590 O’Neil Boulevard in McKeesport. On behalf of the board, have a safe and healthy spring! Sincerely, Patricia Maksin President, McKeesport Area School District Board of Directors

MASD Students Help Leaders

Examine Education Issues

or the second year in a row, McKeesport Area School District hosted a group of participants from Leadership Pittsburgh Inc., “a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing a diverse group of leaders to serve southwestern Pennsylvania.” Ten members of the current Leadership Pittsburgh class visited the high school along with representatives from some of the businesses and other entities the school partners with, including UPMC, Blueroof Technologies, NAPA Auto Parts, Carnegie Mellon University Robotics and The McKeesport Daily News. The theme for the group was “Explore How Public Education is Preparing Our Students for the Workforce. The Leadership Pittsburgh class examined issues and challenges facing our region in preparing a skilled 21st century workforce; key public policy issues around the alignment of public education and the workforce education and training needs of employers; and how business and education organizations are collaborating around workforce development in our region and what future collaborations need to occur. During the visit, students in the district’s culinary arts program prepared and served lunch at the “Tiger Inn” cafe to those in attendance. The Tiger Inn is a restaurant-style area within the high school where culinary arts students learn, serve guests and hold meetings. In addition to the participation of the culinary arts students, four other students were part of the program, fielding questions from the visitors regarding McKeesport and why McKeesport is a great choice for public education.

“Our students truly shined and even mentioned how ‘blessed’ they felt to be part of a district with such rich history,” said Kristen Giran, public relations and communications specialist for the district.

Check it ohouolt!District’s

See McKeesport Area Sc bruary edition featured article in the Fe SA by visiting of Business Review U usa.com/ www.businessreview e688 magazines/10310/pag McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 13

Fire Safety

for Fourth Graders

By Heather Holtschlag

ourth grade students at Francis McClure Intermediate School recently received a hands-on education on fire safety, thanks to their teacher, Jaimie Filotei, and McKeesport Fire Department firefighter Jeff List. Filotei began the lesson in fire safety with the book Firestorm, a story about a family that gets caught in a wildfire while out on a lake canoeing and needs to escape. This was followed by a magazine article, “Flame Busters,” which focused on teaching teenagers how to fight fires, the details of a firefighter’s life, and what that line of work is like. What the students were asked to do next not only was met with enthusiasm and excitement, but prompted the classroom visit from List. Filotei asked the students to write letters to the firefighters at the McKeesport Fire Department, explaining what they had learned so far through the book and the magazine article, and also to ask one question about something they still wanted to know. Some of the questions the students asked included: How many gallons of water can the hoses spray in one minute? What does it feel like to ride on a fire truck? How long are the hoses and how many can be connected to each other at one time? What is the cause of most fires? How high do the ladders reach? What do the firefighters like best about their job? “Jeff is my neighbor, so I thought it would be a great opportunity for the students if I hand delivered their letters to him and asked him if he could answer their questions,” Filotei explained. “But he

surprised me and my students when he suggested coming in for a classroom visit.” List not only answered, in person, all of the questions the students had asked in their letters, but he also brought several pieces of his firefighting equipment that the students were allowed to look at, touch and explore. “He brought a lot of interesting gadgets, including a device, similar to a motion sensor, that would emit a very loud alert if he were to stop moving during a fire, which is to signal that a firefighter is down,” Filotei explained. “He sounded the alert so that the students could hear it, and also told the students what the rest of the devices were and how to use them. In addition, he provided them with fire safety tips. It was extremely informative for the students.” List also encouraged the students to go home and develop, with their families, a fire safety plan, in the event a fire should erupt in their homes. He taught them the best escape routes and explained that smoke rises from the ground to the ceiling. He also told them that if they are trapped in a room they should shine a flashlight in their windows so that that firefighters can easily spot them from the outside. Filotei said she has always been a big supporter of fire safety education for her students. In previous years, when the student population was lower and there was more space in the building, she arranged for the fire department to bring a smokehouse to the school, which the firefighters use to start a mock fire and explain to the students what to do and how to escape. As school enrollment increased and space for the smokehouse decreased, Filotei simply arranged for a firefighter to come in and visit and offer fire safety tips. “This is the first year that I asked the students to write letters to the fire department, which they really enjoyed, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well they did,” Filotei said. “They were even more excited with Jeff ’s visit and all of the gadgets he brought with him. This is an assignment that I will definitely consider doing in the future.”

” will definitely consider doing This is an assignment that I in the future.

”

–Jaimie Filotei, Fourth Grade Teacher

McKeesport Area

HIS LEGACY LIVES ON…

McKeesport Area High School and Technology Center 1960 Eden Park Boulevard McKeesport, PA 15132 Office: 412.664.3650 Fax: 412.664.3787 Principal: Mr. Mark Holtzman Director of Career and Technology Center: Mrs. Patricia Scales

Administration Office 3590 O’Neil Boulevard McKeesport, PA 15132 Office: 412.664.3600 Fax: 412.664.3638 Superintendent: Dr. Timothy Gabauer

andy Gwosden was a teacher; a teacher of children and a teacher of teachers. He was so passionate.

Centennial 1601 Beaver Street McKeesport, PA 15132 Office: 412.664.3750 Fax: 412.664.3756 Principal: Ms. Staci Fitzpatrick

He knew all kids didn’t think the same way…that one size couldn’t fit all when it came to teaching and he embraced the different ways to children learned. He always wanted to perfect his craft of teaching and continually take it to the next level. He took it personally when kids didn’t get it, and worked tirelessly until they did. He was convinced that if we continued to do the same things we had been doing

Founders’ Hall 3600 O’Neil Boulevard McKeesport, PA 15132 Office: 412.664.3690 Fax: 412.664.3768 Principal: Dr. Karen Chapman

in our classrooms every day, we would continue to get the same results…change was on the horizon… and Randy was instrumental in making it happen. It has been said that the mediocre teacher tells…the good teacher explains…the superior teacher demonstrates…the great teacher inspires… Randy Gwosden inspired.

White Oak Elementary 1415 California Avenue White Oak, PA 15131 Office: 412.664.3790 Fax: 412.664.3794 Principal: Dr. Tamara Sanders-Woods

George Washington 1818 Sumac Street McKeesport, PA 15132 Office: 412.664.3770 Fax: 412.664.3777 Principal: Mr. Paul Sweda

Francis McClure Intermediate School 500 Longvue Drive White Oak, PA 15131 Office: 412.664.3740 Fax: 412.664.3747 Principal: Ms. Pamela Gordon Principal of Cyber School/ District Technology Integration: Dr. Jane Coughenour McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 15

Spring brings

PSSA

Centennial Elementary

pring is just around the corner. The excitement building for the spring and everything that comes with it becomes apparent throughout Western Pennsylvania. There is also excitement building throughout the McKeesport Area School District as PSSA (Pennsylvania System of State Assessment) season will be shortly upon us. Preparations for such exams occur all year long and are embedded in the curriculum, teaching strategies, instructional activities and assessment. Each building, however, generates positive energy through specific PSSA activities as testing season approaches. Here is a sample of how buildings are taking initiative in their preparations:

White Oak Elementary Building wide TESTO (Bingo) is part of the daily practice during announcements to encourage recall of vocabulary terms critical to test success. Weekly PSSA study packets are sent home with students to enable parental input and assistance in preparing their child for the series of tests. A PSSA preparatory assembly is provided for all students in grades 3 and 4 as time gets close to provide testing tips, encouragement and support. A student favorite following testing is the I-Scream for ice-cream perfect attendance incentive. Good luck to all White Oak students!

George Washington Elementary Students have been taking “mock” PSSA mini exams every Wednesday since January to heighten their awareness of test format and potential content. Each exam includes short reading passages and math concepts. Every Friday, students in third grade work on individualized themes based on their performance on computerized diagnostic activities including Referencing, Context Clues, Inference, Cause and Effect, Fiction and Non-Fiction, and Drawing Conclusions. PSSA vocabulary packets are sent home with students to encourage parental participation in the preparation process as well. Best wishes to all George Washington students in achieving AYP!

McKeesport Area

Individualized support materials for students generated from computerized testing activities have been prepared by staff to help strengthen areas of identified weakness. A Pastries for PSSA Parents event is being held to help parents understand test format as well as experience actual test questions from released PSSA items. Parents will be taught various strategies to help answer their given questions, which, in turn can assist students in their preparations. PSSA incentives are available for students daily before, during and after the testing sessions. Centennial is prepped for a great season of testing!

Francis McClure Intermediate Students participate daily in Building Wide Bingo activities. Definitions are read over the intercom and are matched with the appropriate word displayed on each room’s Bingo Board. Prizes are given daily for classes that get the first Bingo. Expository writing activities throughout the building will soon give way to persuasive writing to administration on the proposed dress code. PSSA Coach Books are being used to practice mathematics concepts and released PSSA test items in both reading and mathematics from the Standards Aligned System (SAS) site are being solved on the interactive Promethean Boards. Make us proud Francis McClure!

Founders’ Hall Middle School Founders’ Hall has been working diligently with students in both enrichment classes and accelerated classes to help individualize the learning experience as well as move students to their next level of proficiency. Teacher teams have been utilizing their team planning periods to create collaborative activities and assist students in both reading and mathematics. Students have been working with teacher teams in groups of 20-25 two days per week. A fixture in preparation activities is the always popular Rev-Up one week prior to test administration that involves team and grade level competitions that culminate in a building wide assembly for the finals. Best of luck in continued success to all Founders’ Hall students!

Excitement to McKeesport High School/Career and Technology Center The Career and Technology Center has supplemented their relevant and rigorous daily coursework with activities created from monthly issues of Scholastic Math. Teachers have taken the time to help the high school students in their preparations by including academic mathematic lessons into their courses. The high school is in the midst of its 25-days of PSSA activity that continues to be very well received by the student body. All eleventh grade homerooms receive math and English questions to answer during homeroom period. Students are asked to submit their answers to their homeroom teachers and the questions are checked for percentage correct each day. The percentages are posted weekly in the junior homeroom hallway for all juniors to see. Students receive various

incentives during the 25-day preparations time as well as a pizza part and gift cards for the winning homeroom. The high school is poised for a breakthrough year in both mathematics and reading assessment. These activities are only some of the measures taken at the building level to increase awareness and prepare students as the testing season approaches. All building principals and their staff continue to impress upon parents to remain active in the educational experience of their children every day. The children of the McKeesport Area School District will reap tremendous benefits from the school and home working hand in hand. Good luck to all students during PSSA testing!

Celebrate Black History Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month, is an annual observance in the United States for remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African culture. The McKeesport Area School District celebrated the accomplishments in each of our schools. CENTENNIAL – The second graders were read a biography each day during the month of February: “Books of Black Heroes from A to Z”. GEORGE WASHINGTON – On January 25 there was a school wide assembly by Gregg Kenney. He did a “live” portrayal of Willie Stargell and shared his successes. WHITE OAK – Students took on the roles of prominent black Americans Monday as they brought history lessons to life in the school library. A series of plays performed by students in kindergarten through fourth grade capped a month-long lesson on AfricanAmerican history coursing through slavery, segregation and the Civil Rights Movement. MCCLURE – Students in classrooms and computer labs throughout the school searched various websites using the Promethean Board to gather information about famous African Americans.

FOUNDERS HALL – The middle school had a building wide essay contest with a focus on Dr. Martin Luther King. A panel of judges named first through third place winners. A poster was made to memorialize Dr. King’s achievements. The posters were displayed at the annual NAACP Pancake Breakfast. EAST END ACADEMY – A focus was on the Red Tails as most of the students can relate it directly with the release of the new movie. The students’ focus was Dr. Harry Launaze, one of the original red tail airmen. They researched his life history and read poetry about the red tails. HIGH SCHOOL – The social studies department organized retired teachers Gary Christian, Gerald Grayson and Theodore Kirby to address students with a strong message about overcoming odds while working toward success. Black History Month is an opportunity to emphasize the history and achievements of African Americans.

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 17

Mckeesport KinderGarten students keep flat Stanley on the

move

etsy Bacon’s kindergarten class at White Oak Elementary School has been doing the Flat Stanley Project the entire school year. The project is based on the popular “Flat Stanley” series of children’s books by Jeff Brown, in which a boy named Stanley gets accidentally flattened by a bulletin board. In this flattened state, he is able to be slipped into an envelope and sent to all kinds of exciting places. As part of the project, Bacon’s students sent out Flat Stanleys, and have received responses from Iceland, Ireland, India, as well as many states such as Ohio, New Hampshire, New York, Nevada, and Virginia. In addition, they have also heard back from Senator James Brewster, and have sent care packages to two service men. Another interesting event with this project is that they recently heard back from Chile and one of the district’s instructional assistants, Nevenka Kostley, is from there and will be talking to the class about her homeland. Kostley’s presen presentation will consist of a PowerPoint presentation about culture, translation of the Chile letter, Chilean snack and Chilean crafts.

Groundbreaking on the Cornell site took place on February 10, 2012. In attendance were (from left) Ryan Pierce, Dr. Rula Skezas, Dr. Timothy Gabauer, Steven Kondrosky, Mark Holtzman, Joe Lopretto, Trisha Gadson, Patricia Maksin, Tom Maglicco, Terri Kisan, Christopher Halaszynski, Mary Jane Keller, Gerald Tedesco.

McKeesport Area

Everything’s Coming Up Roses for

Garden Club of McKeesport

ave you ever wondered how the spectacular rose garden at Renziehausen Park got to be so spectacular?

Well, it’s the work of the devoted members of the Garden

Club of McKeesport. If you want to know specifically what it takes to make the gardens so amazing, you can stop by and learn. The club begins working on the garden in mid-April with two Saturdays set aside for rose pruning demonstrations with help from the Pittsburgh Rose Society. This year, pruning will be April 14 and 21 at 1 p.m. The public is invited to come out and learn about the gardens and how to help them grow. Volunteers from The Garden Club of McKeesport and the Pittsburgh Rose Society work on each Wednesday beginning the month of April and continue throughout October. Our workday hours are 9:00 a.m until 2:00 p.m. with lunch at noon. Work takes place not only outside, but inside, as well where volunteers collect flowers for pressing and for floral arrangement. Anyone who’s been inside the clubhouse knows how beautiful the arrangements and crafts made from the pressed flowers are. Club members are willing to show the public how this is done, too. On May 5, the club will hold its Annual Plant and Mother’s Day Gift Sale and on June 16, there will be a flea market. Both will be held at the group’s clubhouse in Renzie Park.

For more information about the Garden Club of McKeesport, visit the group’s website at

www.GardenClubOfMckeesport.org.

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 19

By Heather Holtschlag

More than half of the energy used in the average American home goes toward heating and cooling, and if your house is not properly insulated, much of that expense can go to waste. Insulation, particularly when installed in an area such as the attic, requires less work from the air conditioning and furnace systems, translating into less expense and fewer repairs. There are a number of things to note to properly install attic insulation, the first of which is called R-value. R-value measures the effectiveness of types of insulation; the higher an insulationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s R-value, the more effective it is. The recommended R-value for walls and floors in a mild climate is R-11; for ceilings and attics, it is R-19. In moderate climates, R-values should be a minimum of R-19 for walls and floors and R-30 for ceilings and attics. And, in cold climates, R-values for walls and floors should be R-19, and R-38 to R-49 for ceilings and attics. If you use your attic as living space, it is a good idea to install insulation in the walls and ceiling. If it is not used, you should still insulate, and the empty space will provide ample room for installation. If your attic is being insulated for the first time, it should include a vapor barrier, which is any material that does not absorb moisture and through which vapor will not pass. After it snows, it is recommended that you check the roof to see where the snow has fallen. If you notice specific areas on the roof where the snow has melted, this may signal an area that needs to be insulated or where the insulation is damaged. When installing insulation in the attic, the best method is to install it from the eaves toward the center of the room so as to leave more headroom when you need to cut or fit the insulation properly. If, upon installing the insulation, you discover that you need an extra layer, you can simply lay blankets on top of the insulation already there. To reduce fire hazard, cover the panels with wallboard or use fiberglass panels if you must install panels between the rafters in a ceiling that slopes. Also,if you use cellulose insulation, which is the most common type of loose-fill insulation, be sure that it has been treated with a fire retardant.

724.942.0940 to advertise |

McKeesport Area

SPRING 2012

Health and Wellness News You Can Use

Let’s Get Physical

What’s Inside page 2

Getting Advanced Cancer Care at UPMC McKeesport

page 3

Fit at Any Age

page 4

Surviving Allergies: What You Can Do Putting Ergonomics to Work for You

page 5

Brightening Lives With Light

page 6

A Walk to Remember

page 7

Meet Our Physicians

Getting Advanced Cancer Care at UPMC McKeesport

Growing numbers of McKeesport area residents are finding that cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment is just minutes from their home!

For anyone coping with a cancer diagnosis, locating the highest quality treatment is an important first step in the journey toward recovery. UPMC McKeesport is committed to delivering that level of advanced care for area residents — and more.

State-of-the-art clinical care with a personal touch

“Our patients and their families are pleased to discover how comprehensive and high tech cancer care is here,” says Susan Rakfal, MD, medical director of radiation oncology for the UPMC Cancer Center at UPMC McKeesport. “As part of the UMPC Cancer Centers network, we offer a level of care that is comparable to what you would find at any of UPMC’s cancer facilities — and we’re right in your neighborhood.”

A Varian Clinac 23iX linear accelerator and GE CT simulator, the newest additions to the center’s arsenal of cancer-fighting weapons, give patients access to the latest radiation therapies and enable the staff to create patientspecific treatment plans. “These state-of-the-art devices allow us to target tumors and deliver the radiation beam with pinpoint accuracy, thereby destroying cancer cells while sparing the surrounding normal tissue,” explains Dr. Rakfal.

Combining convenience, comfort, and quality The radiation oncology wing of UPMC McKeesport’s cancer center is undergoing a major renovation designed to create a healing environment for the body, mind, and spirit. When work is completed in May, the wing’s waiting area will be bathed in natural light, and music and artwork will add homelike touches. “It will be a warm and inviting space that supports our staff’s delivery of personal care,” says Dr. Rakfal. Members of the UPMC McKeesport radiation oncology care team are among the best in the country at using different kinds of radiation therapies to treat patients with cancer. “We also make certain that primary care physicians and other cancer care specialists here at UPMC McKeesport are involved in managing a patient’s care.”

Radiation Oncology at UPMC McKeesport The UPMC Cancer Center at UPMC McKeesport offers patients access to some of the most advanced radiation delivery systems and imaging technologies available for treating patients with cancer, including:

UPMC.com/Today

UPMC McKeesport’s affiliation with UPMC Cancer Centers ensures that its center is equipped with cutting-edge technologies that aren’t typically found in community hospitals.

Having these capabilities in their backyard means patients don’t need to travel to the city to receive the same treatment. “When someone comes to us for cancer treatment, they can be confident that they will get care of the highest quality and added measure of comfort.” To learn more about the UPMC Cancer Center at UPMC McKeesport as well as the radiation oncology and medical oncology services, visit UPMCMcKeesport.com. To meet the cancer specialists at UPMC McKeesport, turn to page 7.

Respiratory gating During a radiation treatment, the patient’s tumor may change position due to the patient’s breathing cycle or other involuntary movements. In a respiratory gating treatment, a tracking device “watches” the tumor’s position and briefly shuts off the radiation treatment machine when the tumor moves beyond a certain point, helping to protect healthy tissue. RapidArc® This advanced equipment rotates 360 degrees around the body, providing radiation precisely sculpted to the tumor, helping to spare healthy tissue. RapidArc delivers treatment in two to three minutes, compared to other conventional treatments, which may take up to 30 minutes. On-Board Imager® (OBI) An imaging technology used in conjunction with radiation delivery systems prior to treatment ensures that the patient and the tumor are in the same place as originally planned. This allows the oncologist to precisely deliver treatment, which may spare healthy surrounding tissue.

Fit atAnyAge Comedian George Burns — who lived to be 100 — often advised his audience to “Look to the future, because that’s where you’ll spend the rest of your life.” Vonda Wright, MD — a practicing orthopaedic surgeon at the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine and a nationally recognized author of several books on active aging and fitness — thinks that’s sound advice. “Nothing is more natural than aging,” she says. “Adults over 40 today are redefining what it means to age. They’re looking ahead — and doing what it takes to stay fit and vital. “With just 30 minutes of daily exercise, you can minimize your risk for 35 common illnesses — including high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes,” says Dr. Wright, who also directs the center’s Performance and Research Initiative for Masters Athletes (PRIMA®), which focuses on maximizing the performance of both elite and recreational athletes over age 40.

Staying fit as you age “As we enter our 40s and 50s, we’re just starting to hit our stride, with the potential for many years of wonderful living ahead of us. A well-balanced exercise plan is a key to maintaining that quality of life as we grow older,” she maintains.

Many say that 50 is the new 30 as today’s mature adults enjoy more active, fitter, and healthier lives than any other generation.

“There’s no age or activity level to prevent any older adult from being active,” explains Dr. Wright. In fact, studies of 90-year-old men doing resistance training on a daily basis showed improvements in their strength and functioning.

Getting started

Starting — and sticking with — a fitness plan initially can be hard, says Dr. Wright. “The first step is to make exercise a part of your daily routine. Schedule it on your calendar, like an appointment,” she advises. “Don’t be a weekend warrior. Instead, try to maintain a moderate activity level throughout the week, and increase your exercise level gradually to reduce your chance of overuse or injury.” She tells her patients to FACE the future with a balanced, total body workout designed to achieve maximum benefits while avoiding injury:

F — Flexibility with daily stretching exercises A — Aerobic cardiovascular exercises every other day, using interval-style training Carry a load (or strength train) to build and maintain muscles in your arms, C — legs, and core (stomach, back, and abdomen) — Equilibrium and balance through simple exercises like standing on one foot E “Whenever possible, mix up activities like running, swimming, cycling, or rowing,” encourages Dr. Wright. “Cross training helps promote total fitness while reducing the chance for injury. Most of all, take that first step!” To learn more about UPMC’s PRIMA program for mature athletes, call 412-432-3651 or visit UPMC.com/SportsMedicine. You’ll find PRIMA listed under Performance in the Our Services section.

Should you see a doctor first? You’re 50 years old and a pack-a-day smoker. You also have high blood pressure, and you haven’t exercised since Ronald Reagan was president. Should you see your doctor before hitting the local gym? “Regular exercise is the best gift you can give yourself. But it’s important to use common sense when getting started,” says Christopher Radkowski, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at UPMC McKeesport. If you’re in generally good health and starting off with light to moderate physical activity, an extensive medical workup probably isn’t necessary. “But if you’ve been diagnosed with any medical condition, have been sedentary for some time, or are at risk for potential heart problems, it’s essential to talk to your doctor,” advises Dr. Radkowski. “Working together, you and your doctor can create the right exercise plan based on your age, physical condition, family history, and other key factors.” If you’re over the age of 40, visit UPMC.com/Today to take the American College of Sports Medicine’s Physical Activity Readiness Self-Exam.

1-800-533-UPMC

Health Tips from UPMC Health Plan

Surviving Allergies:

What You Can Do If you dread the approach of spring and the arrival of allergy season, here are a few ways to reduce your sniffling, sneezing and itchy eyes

What to do If you take medication to control your symptoms, start treatment early — before your seasonal allergies flare up, says BJ Ferguson, MD, director of the Division of Sino-Nasal Disorders and Allergy at UPMC, and a professor of otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In western Pennsylvania, tree pollen starts flying around by the end of February or in early March, when it warms up enough for trees to begin budding.

Medications to take Dr. Ferguson recommends starting with an over-thecounter (OTC) medication, preferably a non-sedating antihistamine. She cautions that some products can be sedating or even result in extreme drowsiness that can impair driving. Be sure to read the accompanying instructions or ask your pharmacist about side effects. OTC decongestants can relieve nasal congestion, but should only be used on a short-term basis, Dr. Ferguson says. Decongestants can cause significant side effects, such as insomnia, agitation, heart palpitations, and a rise in blood pressure. A saline nasal wash also can help relieve congestion.

When to see a doctor “If you are getting no relief and it is impairing your quality of life, you should see a doctor about more effective alternatives and testing,” says Dr. Ferguson. • A doctor can prescribe medications that can provide effective relief from chronic congestion. • Allergy testing can determine precisely what you are or aren’t allergic to. A new sublingual immunotherapy administered under the tongue is just as effective as allergy shots, and with fewer side effects, says Dr. Ferguson. • Your doctor also can determine if your nasal blockage is caused by inflammation or nasal polyps, a deviated septum, enlarged adenoids, or an infection.

UPMC.com/Today

Putting Ergonomics to Work for You

At home and on the job, ergonomics can help you avoid injury and discomfort — and even increase your productivity The goal of ergonomics is to make our places of work as safe, comfortable, and efficient as possible. But let’s not limit its uses to our day jobs! “Many of the aches and pains people experience can be attributed to ergonomic issues like poor posture, excessive repetitive movement, or improper lifting techniques,” says William S. McCall, facility director, Center for Rehabilitation Services at UPMC McKeesport. “Whether you’re at work, home or play, applying basic ergonomic principles can help you avoid injury and perform at your best,” adds Mr. McCall. Here are a few tips to get you started: • Use the right equipment. Make sure the tool fits the job and your body, whether you’re sitting at a desk, vacuuming, riding a bike, or swinging a golf club. • Work at the right height for you. A too-low computer chair or a too-high kitchen counter can wreck havoc on your neck, back, and shoulders. • Avoid contact stress. Wear gloves or use tools designed to reduce pressure on soft tissue to avoid blisters and other skin damage. • Keep items within easy reach. Extend your arms out on each side. Picture an imaginary arc in front of you from left to right. Place the tools or supplies you use most often within that area. • Avoid repetitive movements and working long periods in one position. Alternate tasks and change your body position regularly. Stretch every 20 to 30 minutes. Visit UPMC.com/Today where you can find more ergonomic tips to use at work and at home.

Brightening Lives with Light

Light therapy is proving to be an effective treatment for bipolar depression and other mood disorders Michele Twyman of Penn Hills always dreaded the approach of winter and the holidays. As the days shortened, she grew increasingly tired, sleepy, and depressed. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed — and stay there. “I didn’t enjoy anything — from decorating to shopping. I never felt like celebrating,” says Ms. Twyman, who has a bipolar disorder and has battled depression for more than 30 years. But last Christmas was different. For the first time in years, she decorated, shopped, and made wreaths and centerpieces. “I enjoy the holidays again. I realize now how much I missed being happy about life’s little things,” she says.

New treatment shows bright promise

People with bipolar depression are especially sensitive to changes in outdoor ambient light and the seasons, she explains. The onset of fall and winter can trigger symptoms similar to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), including fatigue, sluggishness, daytime sleepiness, carb cravings, loss of interest, and inability to experience pleasure. Individuals with bipolar depression also may have suicidal thoughts.

How and why it works

“There are few effective treatments for bipolar depression. That’s why we’re exploring novel approaches such as light therapy.” — Dorothy Sit, MD

Ms. Twyman credits her new outlook to an artificial light box provided by Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC) of UPMC. Every afternoon, she sits in bright light for about a half hour while reading or planning appointments and activities. It took just a few weeks to feel the effects. She now wakes up feeling more rested and relaxed. She’s also better able to care for her 95-year-old father. “There are few effective treatments for bipolar depression. That’s why we’re exploring novel approaches such as light therapy,” says Dorothy Sit, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, and a researcher at WPIC who is leading an ongoing study in the use of light therapy for treatment of bipolar depression. “Most patients feel better within two weeks of starting it, and continue to improve for up to eight weeks.” According to Dr. Sit, treatment is inexpensive and effective. Patients with seasonal depression require 30 to 60 minutes of daily light therapy while patients with non-seasonal depression need 45 to 60 minutes.

Light therapy replaces lost sunlight exposure and resets the body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythms — important for everyone’s general health, mood, and thinking. That’s why light therapy also can help patients with jet lag, shift workers, and people with sleep disorders.

While light therapy is generally safe, patients with bipolar depression also must be on a mood stabilizer or they’ll be at risk for manic episodes, says Dr. Sit. Other possible side effects include headaches, eyestrain, irritation, agitation, and insomnia. These symptoms normally disappear following adjustments in the time and length of treatment.

Light therapy tips • Check with your doctor or mental health professional to see if light therapy is a good option for you. • Follow your doctor’s advice concerning any special precautions you need to take. • Use light therapy only with guidance from your doctor or mental health provider to minimize possible side effects and maximize benefits. Visit UPMC.com/Today for more information on bipolar depression and the light therapy study. To participate in the study, call 1-800-436-2461. For information on light boxes, visit the Center for Environmental Therapeutics website at cet.org.

1-800-533-UPMC

AWalk to Remember UPMC Rehabilitation Institute helps make a seemingly impossible wedding dream come true

Megan Dow was an athletic, carefree 27-year-old with so much to look forward to — from her upcoming wedding to a new house and barn. But a freak ATV accident on Memorial Day 2010 changed her life in an instant, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. It took a week for Megan to realize her broken neck and back wouldn’t be a quick fix and another six months to acknowledge that her paralysis might have permanent effects. Despite the diagnosis, the Negley, Ohio, resident was determined to walk down the aisle on her wedding day 16 months later. “What means more to a girl than walking down the aisle at her wedding?” asks Megan, who became engaged just weeks before the accident.

Regaining the life she lost Initially, she couldn’t sit up without help and wore braces to support her back, neck, and legs. “I went from doing everything to not being able to brush my teeth; from being able to throw a bale of hay to not being able to pick up a gallon of milk,” Megan says. An avid outdoorswoman, Megan longed to return to her activities, including horseback riding, camping, volunteering as a 4H Club adviser, and working as an interior designer. “I absolutely loved the life I had before the accident. I had to work to bring these things back into my life,” she says.

UPMC.com/Today

At the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute’s spinal cord injury unit at UPMC Mercy, Megan’s team of specialists put her to work four hours a day, six days a week in an intensive rehabilitation program. Luckily, she had use of her quadriceps, which allowed her to walk with the help of braces and a walker. Slowly, she relearned everyday skills like dressing herself and walking. She also learned new skills, such as transferring to a shower chair from her wheelchair, and did exercises to build her strength. Megan vowed she’d walk without the walker by that Christmas (a goal she met by Thanksgiving) and down the aisle without a cane. A few weeks before her wedding, Megan donned her gown and practiced walking in the gym with her physical therapist.

Walking happily into the future On her wedding day — Oct. 1, 2011 — Megan did walk down the aisle. Among the guests were her UPMC doctor, physical therapist, and occupational therapist. “They’re a huge part of my life and the reason I’m where I am today. They had to be there!” exclaims Megan. “I’m so grateful to everyone at the Rehabilitation Institute. They gave me the tools I needed, and they encouraged and steered me in the right direction.”

Megan and Eric Dow walked down the aisle after exchanging marriage vows on Oct. 1, 2011.

Megan and her husband Eric honeymooned in Cancún, Mexico, where they snorkeled, swam, kayaked, and even explored some ancient ruins. Today, while she still uses a wheelchair and cane, Megan is thankful she can walk up to two hours with just leg braces. She’s also driving again, riding horses, camping, and doing other activities. “It was a miracle. I’m so grateful I can still do what I used to do — I just do them differently,” Megan says. To learn more about UPMC Rehabilitation Institute and its services, visit UPMC.com/RehabInstitute. You’ll also find a link to Megan’s story and those of other patients who’ve benefited from the institute’s specialized care.

Meet Our Physicians Please visit UPMC.com/FindADoctor or call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762) for more information about any of our physicians. To contact the UPMC McKeesport physicians listed below, please use the office phone number provided. UPMC CANCER CENTERS AT UPMC McKEESPORT CANCER SPECIALISTS Susan Rakfal, MD

Division Chief, Radiation Oncology Board-certified in therapeutic radiology, Dr. Rakfal received her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and completed residencies at Rush Presbyterian, St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Rakfal has been a member of the radiation oncology staff at UPMC McKeesport for 14 years. She is currently medical director of UPMC Cancer Centers at UPMC McKeesport and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology. For more information, or to schedule an appointment please call 412-664-2676.

Kevin M. Kane, MD

Division Chief, Medical Oncology Dr. Kane received his medical degree from the Ohio State University College of Medicine, and completed his internal medicine residency and oncology fellowship at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. He is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. Dr. Kane, who has been practicing at UPMC McKeesport for 34 years, serves as chief of the Hematology Oncology Division. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call 412-664-2607.

Jason Bierenbaum, MD Medical Oncology

Dr. Bierenbaum is a graduate of Eastern Virginia Medical School. He completed an internal medicine residency at UPMC, and a hematology and oncology fellowship at the University of Baltimore. Dr. Bierenbaum is board-certified in internal medicine and board-eligible in hematology and oncology. He has been practicing at UPMC McKeesport for nearly a year. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call 412-664-2607.

UPMC McKEESPORT GENERAL SURGEONS University of Pittsburgh Physicians Department of General Surgery

Richard Bondi, MD Board Certification: General Surgery Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Residency: University Hospitals of Pittsburgh 412-672-3422 Stuart Chetlin, MD Board Certification: General Surgery Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Residency: West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh 412-351-3821 Marc Cordero, MD (Joining April 1) Board Certification: General Surgery Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies Residency: St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, Pontiac, Mich. 412-672-3422 Steven Gribar, MD Board Certification: General Surgery Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Residency: UPMC 412-672-3422 Surgeons in Private Practice Mumtaz Alvi, MD Board Certification: General Surgery Medical School: Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan Residency: McKeesport Hospital 412-678-2015 Arthur Fine, MD Board Certification: General Surgery Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies Residency: McKeesport Hospital 412-469-7035 Showri Palepu, MD Board Certification: General Surgery Medical School: Sri Venkateswara University Medical College, Tirupati, India Residency: McKeesport Hospital 412-678-7799

1-800-533-UPMC

UPMC McKeesport 1500 Fifth Ave. McKeesport, PA 15132

UPMC Today is published quarterly to provide you with health and wellness information and classes and events available at UPMC. This publication is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice or replace a physician’s medical assessment. Always consult first with your physician about anything related to your personal health.

Follow UPMC McKeesport on Facebook.

YOU'D TRAVEL FAR FOR EXPERT CARE. BUT THANKFULLY YOU DON'T HAVE TO. When you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, receiving expert care is a priority. But receiving that care close to your home shouldn’t have to be a luxury. That’s why the experience you trust from UPMC Cancer Center at UPMC McKeesport is right here where you need it. Our convenient, state-of-the-art, newly renovated center has a variety of diagnostic and radiation therapy options. And our specially trained professionals use the newest technology for precise tumor treatment and detection. Plus, we work closely with our expert medical oncologists to ensure seamless care. You’ll even have your own personal oncology information specialist to take you through each step of your treatment.

To learn more about radiation oncology services or to schedule an appointment, CALL 412-664-2607 OR VISIT UPMCCANCERCENTERS.COM.

at Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. UPMC Cancer Centers is a partner in cancer care with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Mayor’s Corner Michael Cherepko

elcome to a new year in McKeesport. I am now proudly serving as mayor of our fine city and looking forward to working with everyone, not just in McKeesport, but in all of the surrounding areas. We have adopted a new slogan—“Working Together for a Better McKeesport.” We will be tying that slogan into everything that we do here in the city. We will be striving to make McKeesport a better place to live and work. Spring is in the air, and that brings about thoughts of our gem of a park, Renziehausen Park. This upcoming season involves a flurry of activities that will include not only our annual events such as International Village and Concerts in the Park, but also a Civil War Re-enactment and Rib Fest. These events will be two great additions that will attract even more people from McKeesport and the surrounding areas to come out and enjoy our park that is so generously funded in part by the Regional Asset District. While at the park be sure to visit our Rose Garden, the second largest in the state. Don’t forget to spend some time outdoors by utilizing our wonderful trail system. The trail runs through Gergely Park, and there is convenient, free parking at the Marina.

We have adopted a new slogan— “Working Together for a Better McKeesport.” By now, I hope that many of you have taken the time out of your busy schedule to explore the new grocery store in town, Bottom Dollar. We are looking forward to soon developing more businesses in this corridor to complement those businesses that have also recently opened there, including Rite Aid and Chick’s Grill. We have a couple of new City Council members, and I invite all citizens of McKeesport to attend the City Council meetings to see not only the new members, but all of our City Council members in action. Council meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month with the exception of August, when the meeting is on hiatus. In conclusion, remember that we will be “Working Together for a Better McKeesport,” and also a better tri-state area in which to call home.

McKeesport Recreation Board

Front: Jim Brown, McKeesport Parks and Recreation Director; Annette James and Councilman Dan Carr Back: Ron Melocchi and Warren Bolden McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 29

McKeesport

BOTTOM DOLLAR

MAKES G I N

RAND OPENING M C K E E S P O R T

undreds of people from McKeesport and the surrounding area attended the Jan. 26 grand opening of Bottom Dollar Food store on Eden Park Blvd. The festivities started off with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by McKeesport Mayor Mike Cherepko, council members Dan Carr, Richard Dellapenna, Darryl Segina, Keith Soles and Fawn Walker-Montgom-

McKeesport Area

ery, former McKeesport Mayor now State Senator Jim Brewster, and County Councilman Bob Macey among other public officials. Former Steeler Mike Merriweather was on hand to greet shoppers and sign autographs. Several other Bottom Dollar Food stores opened in the area on that date as well, including stores in Penn Hills, and Bridgeville. Still more stores opened February 9.

2012 Concerts in the Park Schedule Lions Bandshell at Renzie Park JUNE EVENTS June 3 June 10 June 17 June 24

The Vogues Airborne featuring Jeff Jimerson Higher Vibe Big Band Memories

JULY EVENTS July 1 July 4 (Wed.) July 8 July 15 July 22 July 29

Souled Out Johnny Angel and the Halos The Four Townsmen Scott, Rob and Gregg of THE CLARKS Zoot Island BEACH PARTY Legacy

AUGUST EVENTS August 5 August 12 August 19 August 26

BEATLEMANIA MAGIC (Tribute to the Beatles) Sputzy (from Modern Man & Gigolo) Chris Denem (Tribute to Neil Diamond) Todd Jones (Country Band)

SEPTEMBER EVENTS September 1

(Saturday and Sunday)

September 2

McKeesport Ribs and Wings Festival Tres Lads Mona Lisa Overdrive William Dell and the Wee Jams

2012 McKeesport Schedule of Events James Brown, Recreation Director March 31 April 14 May TBA June 9 June 19-23 June 21 August 13 August 14-16 See above September 1-2 TBA

Easter Egg Hunt, Main Pavilion First Day of Trout Fishing Derby, Lake Emilie Blue Top Circus Fishing Derby, Lake Emilie McKeesport City Carnival Good Neighbor Day, 5th Ave. Kids Village Day, Renzie Park Lions Bandshell International Village, Stephen Barry Field Concerts in the Park Ribs and Wings Festival Civil War Re-enactment

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 31

McKeesport

NEW MAYOR BRINGS

YOUTHFULM S A I S U H T N E TO THE JOB

hen Michael Cherepko decided to run for mayor, after having served eight years on city council, he said it was “a chance to give back to the community that’s given me everything I have today.” Now, as McKeesport’s newly-installed mayor, Cherepko, who was born and raised in the city, relishes the opportunity he has to move the city forward and help it flourish. “We’re getting used to a lot of the routine. It’s very exciting,” he said. “When I got involved in city politics, it’s something I really developed a strong passion for. I enjoy helping people. When the opportunity came across to run for mayor, it’s a challenge I was certainly up for.” Even though he is only 34 years old, Cherepko said his age did not deter folks from getting behind his campaign. “It was very encouraging to see how many seniors were excited about the opportunity to have a young person as mayor of the city.” He said many of the city’s older residents as well as others liked his youthful vitality and were eager to have that kind of energy in office. During his run for mayor, Cherepko’s slogan was “Building a Better McKeesport.” How does he plan to accomplish that? “Obviously, we know we need to bring new businesses and jobs to our city,” he said. “Part of our foundation was, in order to attract people – one, people have to feel safe; two, you have to clean up.” Cherepko said the city plans to be very aggressive on demolishing and taking care of vacant property. “Once you take care of those issues, it will help enhance the city and make it appealing to new businesses,” he added. Cherepko believes curbing the violence in the area begins with the youth. Having been a teacher in the McKeesport Area School District for 12 years and director of the National Youth Sports Program at Penn State

McKeesport Area

McKeesport, now Penn State Greater Allegheny, he is familiar with what it takes to keep young people on track. “Being an educator in the McKeesport school district, I’ve always been able to successfully develop a good rapport with students of all ages,” he said. He would like to see collaboration between the city, school district and the local ministerium and/or anyone else interested in addressing the issue of youth violence and the need for more youth programming. “It’s a priority of mine to speak in the schools when asked, and do as much as I can with the youth to let them know they have many people out there who care about them.” Every summer, the federally funded National Youth Sports Program would take 300 youngsters from McKeesport, the vast majority of them from low-income families, give them breakfast and lunch, drug and alcohol prevention information and sessions on health and nutrition. The program ended after 40 years because of cuts in the federal budget. Cherepko said the program gave him a basic understanding of the kind of programs and ideas he’d like to help bring to the city. “We cannot turn our backs on this younger generation,” he said. In addition to his mayoral duties, Cherepko has a young family to care for at home. His wife, Nicole, is a fourth grade teacher in the McKeesport Area School District. The two have a daughter, Madeline, 5, and a threeyear-old son, Jacob. “That is another main reason why I’ve taken on this new challenge and new endeavor, because I want to see my children grow up in McKeesport and go to McKeesport schools. My goal is that when they go to college, they can return to live and work here.”

New Council Members Say

Community Interaction, Involvement is Key

n addition to a new young mayor, McKeesport also has two new energetic council members, Keith Soles and Dan Carr. Soles, a 50-year-old insurance and real estate agent, is serving in public office for the first time. The son of William and Sally Soles, he is one of four siblings. He is married with one stepdaughter and four The role of council grandchilis to get people to dren. “I live work together to here and I make McKeesport didn’t like a better place.” the way things were Keith Soles going.” He said he’s watched the city deteriorate but is hopeful that with the new blood on council, public officials will be energized to be more involved in the community. “We as a council are making it a point to get out, work with and see as many people as we can.” He is in favor of council having neighborhood meet-and-greets to “let [residents] know that we’re aware of the problems in their neighborhood.” “The biggest problem we have in our city, to me, is the blight in the seventh ward,” Soles said. “I grew up there.” Seeing the area today, he said, “I just saw so many homes that are totally destroyed, so many windows broken. He believes the city should put efforts into restoring the seventh ward. “It’s our biggest ward and it’s in really bad shape. I believe the new council and mayor are working hand in hand and trying to do the best we

can, working together, and I think it’s going to work.” Of course, like most people in McKeesport, he believes that business development is important and that businesses need incentive to move into the city. That task falls mostly on the shoulders of the mayor and the city administrator, Soles said. He believes the role of council is to connect with the com-

Having a positive attitude is attractive and costs nothing. Taking pride in our homes and helping our neighbors costs very little with an immediate return.” He said he knows there is a problem with run-down and abandoned houses and all of council is working on this with the mayor. He said the city is aggressively seeking grants and private funding. “Under the direction of our mayor, we are developing a plan to give residents hope and a reason to stay. This will bring people back to McKeesport,” Carr said. He adds that Mayor Mike Cherepko has the vision to implement the best ideas for McKeesport. “My goal is to align myself with average, hardworking persons like myself. I think the most common-sense solutions to problems come from those who are affected the most, us.” munity “and try to get people to work together As a businessman and someone who is to make McKeesport a better place.” heavily involved in civic organizations, Carr Carr, 53, is self-employed. He’s married believes that community involvement is necesand has three children and two grandchildren. sary for the betterment of the city. He has always been involved in nonprofit “Look at our parks and organizations and is currently president of recreation areas – the the McKeesport Lions Club. improvements over “Taking pride in the last few years our homes and should be an helping our neighbors example of how costs very little with an volunteers can improve ‘busiimmediate return.” ness as usual.’ I was inspired to Dan Carr enter into politics to further the cause of empowering volunteers and organizing ways to allow us to fulfill the obligation and honor of civic responsibility,” Carr said. “As a businessman in McKeesport, I encourage “The main question that I am asked as the community to support the businesses in a new councilman is what can I do to bring McKeesport. I don’t personally know anyone people back to McKeesport? My answer is who owns a small business in McKeesport that we first need to stop people from leaving who is not willing to give back when they can. and improve the way we think,” Carr said. It will be the small to medium businesses that “Improvement begins at the individual level. can rebuild McKeesport.” McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 33

McKeesport By Heather Holtschlag

Get Your

Groove

on at McKeesport Palisades

ooking for a fun place to dance the night away? Look no further than the McKeesport Palisades Community Center for the Performing Arts, located in the heart of McKeesport. “Our dance floor is famous for being the largest dance floor in the tri-state area,” said Mike Joyce, manager of the McKeesport Palisades. “The floor is comprised of five layers of wood, making it quite conducive to dancing.” The McKeesport Palisades, which is operated by a four-member board of directors, has served as a grand source of entertainment for many audiences during its 100-year history. Originally purchased and owned by the Speney family, the center once housed a car dealership downstairs and a roller skating and ballroom dancing area upstairs. Wrestling and boxing matches also headlined the calendar of events. The center was then purchased by the City of McKeesport in the early 1990s, and today serves as the backdrop to many different types of affairs, including weddings, cash bashes, fundraisers and oldies dances. “We also offer free country line dancing lessons at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and open the dance floor to anyone at 7:30 p.m.,” Joyce noted. The center also hosts other types of events, from fundraisers for the McKeesport Library, which featured disco band Dancing Queen, to celebrations for Flag Day and other days of dedications and memorial oldies dances.

urns t e r t s e Ribf port s e e K c M to have

oard ecreation B cKeesport R Ribs and Wings M e th f o s ort Member a McKeesp tember 1 e details for Saturday, Sep k . ce la p finalized th ke ta zie Par e event will p.m. at Ren Festival. Th ber 2, 4 to 9 m p.m. Sunday te 7 d ep S an , 5 ay a ncerts at and Sund co e b l il w 4 p.m., and e at er car show a Saturday th ., m p. s. 3 ie at festivit e a parade s to end the there will b ith firework w . m p. 7 at concert

McKeesport Area

“McKeesport Palisades has enjoyed a long history of entertaining members of our community. We are fortunate to have had political figures who have supported us, from deceased Mayor Joe Bendel, who helped develop the site into a community center, to former Mayor Jim Brewster, who carried the torch and followed through on Mayor Bendel’s original plans. Today, we are lucky to have Mayor Michael Cherepko, who is a big supporter of the McKeesport Palisades.” The center has been host to a wide variety of past performances, including the Wayne Macuga Big Band, the Mystic Knights, musician Todd Jones, a “Blues from the Burgh 2” CD release party, and even the Mon Valley Democratic Rally. Attendance at all of the events has been good, despite the down conditions of the economy, according to Joyce, and there are a number of regular customers who followed Joyce to the McKeesport Palisades from his days as owner of The Viking Lounge in McKeesport. And although 2012 has only just begun, Joyce’s calendar of entertainment is already getting full, as he is lining up events well into the summer. For starters, Pure Gold with Rich Antoncic will showcase a dance and performance on Saturday, March 24. Doors will open at 7 p.m., and advance tickets are $15 or $20 at the door. The annual Palisades Beach Burgh Blast is a two-day dance party that will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 13, and at noon on Saturday, April 14. This annual event will feature DJs from around the country and 10 of the best DJs in Pittsburgh, who will be sure to get attendees swinging with their different styles of music, from boogie and beach tunes to blues and doo wop songs, and of course, line dances. Tickets are $10 to attend one day or $15 for both days. “This is a very popular event that provides great entertainment and fun for everyone who comes,” Joyce said. “In the past, we have seen more than 400 people here on each day.” Looking ahead to summer, the McKeesport Palisades will feature Scooter Lee line dance instruction on Saturday, June 2. “We want the residents to know that the McKeesport Palisades is a dance hall that was purchased for the whole community, not just the performing arts population, but for everyone to enjoy,” Joyce said. “We look forward to making many more great memories here.”

For more information on any of these events, call Mike Joyce at 412.370.2971.

From to

Dirty

Delectable

By Heather Holtschlag

hirty years ago, the area that is now home to the RIDC Industrial Center of McKeesport was home to a dark, dirty, black environment of steel buildings. And although there were a lot of jobs and money to be made, this area is now seeing much better days. “There is now a lot of open land, about 40 acres, waiting to be built upon,” said Bill Burroughs, vice president of development of Regional Industrial Development Corporation, or RIDC. RIDC is the company that acquired the land from the Allegheny County Industrial Development Authority, which purchased the land from US Steel in the 1980s. Market conditions were such that US Steel was forced to move National Tube Works, its metal tube and pipe mill company that previously occupied the land, to Texas. In 1989, RIDC sought bids for remediation and redevelopment of the area and began working closely with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in redeveloping the land. In fact, the redevelopment even stimulated the passing of legislation for industrial site remediation. Upon completion of each phase, RIDC designed and constructed new

onsite access road systems and utility networks to service sites cleared for development as well as for buildings that were to be retained and rehabilitated. “It is the mission of RIDC to work on urban properties and give them new life,” Burroughs said. “If the buildings are in relatively good condition, we will retain and rehabilitate them to make them fit into the market place.” RIDC Industrial Center of McKeepsort is a 133-acre industrial park that consists of 11 buildings on the site, three of which have been rehabilitated. In 2004, RIDC constructed McKeesport Manor One and McKeesport Manor Three, which are multi-tenant facilities. RIDC also has renovated and converted four existing buildings, which include McKeesport Commons, McKeesport Manor Two, Roll Stop and Brick Shot. Eight companies, which employ more than 200, house their businesses in these buildings, including Bulk Conveyor, which operates out of two buildings; Health Waste Management; Steel City Products; Consolidated Power; and Equitable Gas. Burroughs pointed out that Bulk Conveyor has experienced nice growth since it moved into McKeesport Manor One in 2004 and operated out of 30,000 square feet. In 2008, the company moved its business into McKeesport Commons and now has 150,000 square feet. And, RIDC is always looking for more companies like this one. “We are anxious to talk with companies who want to build an employee base at this location,” Burroughs noted. “Although heavy manufacturing is not that prevalent in this area anymore, we would like to see manufacturing companies operate some of the space, as they are typically more likely to hire more employees.” In the meantime, RIDC is working diligently to remove all of the old structures that lie beneath the existing surface so that it can begin new construction. RIDC has taken on some of the region’s most challenging economic development and real estate projects. It is a company that began in 1955 as regional businesses, corporations, government and other labor leaders concluded that there should be an effort undertaken to establish new employment opportunities and diversify the economy in southwestern Pennsylvania. It was decided that a central agency should take the lead on this effort, and so RIDC was born.

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 35

McKeesport

Serving The Mon Valley CITY OF MCKEESPORT 500 Fifth Avenue McKeesport, PA 15132 412.675.5020 Fax: 412.675.5049 www.mckeesport.org Mayor: Michael Cherepko

COUNCIL Dan Carr Richard J. Dellapenna Dale McCall Darryl Segina Keith Soles Alfred Tedesco Jr. V. Fawn Walker-Montgomery POLICE Non Emergency Phone: 412.675.5050 FIRE DEPARTMENT McKeesport Fire Fighters P.O. Box 262 McKeesport, PA 15134 412.675.5021 or 412.675.5070 McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Service (MARS) Emergency Phone: 911 Edwin Coulter, Chairman, McKeesport Ambulance Authority & Emergency Management Coordinator Non Emergency Phone: 412.675.5076

McKeesport Area

WHITE OAK BOROUGH

2280 Lincoln Way White Oak, PA 15131 412.672.9727 Fax: 412.672.0760 www.woboro.com Mayor: Ina Jean Marton Borough Manager: John W. Petro, Jr. 412.672.9727 COUNCIL Edward Babyak Charles Davis George Dillinger Ronald Massung David Pasternak Kenneth Robb Carrie Verbanick POLICE Non-Emergency Phone: 412.672.9726 FIRE DEPARTMENTS Rainbow Volunteer Fire Company 2916 Jacks Run Road White Oak, PA 15131 412.664.9523 White Oak No. 1 Fire Company 1130 California Ave. White Oak, PA 15131 412.664.4822 White Oak EMS White Oak Search and Rescue 2800 State Street White Oak, PA 15131 Emergency Phone: 911 Non-Emergency Phone: 412.672.3055

BOROUGH OF DRAVOSBURG 226 Maple Avenue Dravosburg, PA 15034 412.466.5200 Fax: 412.466.6027 Mayor: John Powell

COUNCIL Jay McKelvey Michelle Vezzani William Snodgrass, Jr. Barbara Stevenson Greg Wilson

SOUTH VERSAILLES TOWNSHIP P.O. Box 66 Coulter, PA 15028

GOVERNMENT Township Secretary: Carla Barron Treasurer: Carol Haines Board of Commissioners: John Warabak William Haywood Edward Kulasa, Jr. Terry Payne David Stockett

VERSAILLES BOROUGH 5100 Walnut Street McKeesport, PA 15132 412.751.3922 Fax: 412.751.4430 Mayor: James Fleckenstein COUNCIL Cheryl Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Antonio Emerson Fazekas Cheryl Flaherty Dennis Keefe Cynthia Richards Gary Rosco James Sheedy Linda Sheedy

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 37

BRUCE LAUFFER HERE! Brings His Talent and Passion to ADVERTISE

McKeesport Symphony Orchestra

Reach over 36,567 potential customers in McKeesport Area Call 724.942.0940 sales@incommunitymagazines.com

724.942.0940 to advertise |

ruce Lauffer, music director and conductor of the McKeesport Symphony Orchestra, believes music directors must be aware of how the arts, especially music, fit into a dramatically changing society. “Today, music directors must be in the trenches,” he explains in a statement about his artistic vision. “Our job is to do whatever is necessary to get our message across, and you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done right. Music directors have to be able to outreach, to fundraise, to develop public relations, to research the particular taste of the audience, and to create a vision as a spokesperson and public ambassador for the orchestra.” Under his baton, the McKeesport Symphony Orchestra is stretching its wings – growing artistically and geographically – and emerging as regional treasure. Stepping to the next level, from a city orchestra to a regional orchestral, is personal for Lauffer. He grew up in nearby Jeannette. It is one of the many reasons why he was attracted to the position with the MSO. Jeannette, like McKeesport, has a storied past. Both were once thriving hubs of industry that later fell onto hard times as those industries disappeared and the local economy plummeted. “It’s really sad to see a town decline. But the people are still there and they deserve the same quality,” he says, speaking of the orchestra, which has been performing as a professional group since 1959. Some of those people Lauffer speaks of are his family and friends who still live in the region.

McKeesport Area

His passion for music and conducting is home-grown and can be traced back to his junior high school days. A junior high honors band festival, under the baton of guest conductor Don Wilcox from West Virginia University, proved to be a fateful event for the aspiring maestro. “I was just in awe,” Lauffer says of the experience. “I just knew - this was what I wanted to do.” His interest and passion for music and conducting continued through his high school years. “I had a really good start in high school,” he explains, and was influenced strongly by his teachers whom he considered to be tremendous role models. Lauffer ended up earning his Bachelor of Music degree in music education from West Virginia University and, coincidentally, ended up becoming good friends with Wilcox, the conductor who inspired him all those years before. After completing his studies at WVU, Lauffer did his student teaching at East Allegheny School District, and was hired as a sabbatical replacement. Not long afterward, as the economy declined, he was laid off from that position, so he decided to pursue his Master of Music degree at Baylor University. Afterward, he ended up with a teaching position at Indiana State University. He returned to East Allegheny to guest conduct a spring concert and later was offered the job as director of bands at the district. “The guys I student taught with were phenomenal teachers and had great camaraderie – they were best friends – so I was happy to take that job. And, it meant I could move back home from Indiana.”

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FOR MORE INFORMATION about the McKeesport Symphony

Orchestra, visit the website at www.mckeesportsymphony.org. For more information about conductor Bruce Lauffer, visit his website at www.brucelauffer.com.

He first came to the McKeesport Symphony as a guest conductor in the late 1990s, and directed a concert featuring Irish performer Cahal Dunne. Soon afterward, the permanent position opened. He applied for the job but was not selected. A few years later the position opened again, and that time he was the selected candidate for the post. Now Lauffer is in his eighth season with the MSO. The symphony is in its 53rd year and consists entirely of professional musicians, all of whom are members of the musicians union. “They are all top-flight players,” Lauffer says of his musicians, many of whom perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and the Pittsburgh Opera. “The level of musicians in this orchestra is just the best around.” Still, some in the region may not be aware of the MSO and the caliber of their performances. “Once we get someone to a concert, they’re hooked,” says Lauffer. Rehearsals – usually just two – are held about a week before each of the group’s concerts. Routinely there are four performances each year. But, this is a transition year for the orchestra, Lauffer explains. There has been a restructuring of the board, and the performance schedule has changed a bit. It is part of the effort to expand the reach of the orchestra and grow the presence of the group to that of a regional orchestra, Lauffer explains. That expansion is essential from a business perspective. “It’s hard because our funding is declining, so we have to do a lot of different marketing,” Lauffer explains. Increasing presence and reach will lead to new funding avenues for the orchestra. “We want to grow our presence as a regional orchestra, but not lose the McKeesport part. There have been 53 years’ worth of a wonderful product with great board members who have worked hard all of those years. We don’t want to move because it would be like saying the people in this area don’t deserve it – but they do. We just want to share it with others too.” To do that, the orchestra has been repeating its concerts in other communities, including the South Hills. For instance, the upcoming March concert will be performed Saturday, March 17, at Independence

Middle School in Bethel Park, and again the next day, Sunday, March 18, at the First Evangelical Free Church on the Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus. Next year, Lauffer anticipates that concerts will be planned for October, December, March and May, and perhaps a summer performance as well. Another part of the orchestra’s plan to increase its presence is to help support school music programs in the area. With the statewide education funding cuts, many music programs are being hit hard. Lauffer and members of the orchestra are offering to assist school districts— especially those in the South Hills and Mon Valley area—with their music education departments. For example, members have offered to do master classes, help with lessons or whatever else the department may need. “If we can expose students to the orchestra, in return it helps to build our audience. It ensures another generation of people coming to our concerts. With his goals of expansion in sight, Lauffer says, “I feel blessed to Music directors have to be make my living as a conductor, able to outreach, to fundraise, without having to travel. I to develop public relations, to really enjoy research the particular taste of the being here and working audience, and to create a vision in the area where I as a spokesperson and public live.”

ambassador for the orchestra.

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 39

eco tourism W

Travelling Green Is Easier Than You Think

e all love our vacations when we can get them. But while travelling may mean leaving town for a dream destination, it also means baggage and one the pitfalls that come with it – waste. From “travel-sized” tubes of toothpaste and shampoo bottles to disposable razors and eating utensils, travelers often plan to return home with less than they take in order to make room for souvenirs or to simply lighten their loads., With a little planning, however, one can achieve the same goal while putting less of a burden on the environment. For starters, many discount stores sell empty plastic flip-top containers that are perfect for shampoos and conditioners. Instead of purchasing travel size versions of your favorite products, just get a few of these containers and fill them from products already in your bathroom. Rather than packing disposable razors, consider purchasing an electric razor for travel. Even after years of use, a quality electric razor that’s been properly maintained will still deliver a close shave. If you’re travelling to a major city or tourist destination, public transportation will almost certainly be available. Just like at home, traveling by bus is the most environmentally friendly way of getting around if rmation on fo in re o you can’t walk the distance. Most m r Fo r traditional o , sm ri u to port authorities in destination o ec nning, call cities have routes to all major vacation pla Travel today tourist attractions already in Three Rivers 41, or visit at 724.260.53 avel.com. place. If you need a car, many verstr www.threeri major rental companies have added flex fuel and electric hybrids to their fleets.

Upon arriving plan a grocery stop. Buying from a grocery store for snacks and drinks is cheaper than eating every meal out. If you’re on the go, packing a few sandwiches can also save you time, avoiding long lines at lunch and dinner time. Your hotel room most likely will have a refrigerator; why not use it? The grocery store also will save you from the enormous mark-up on food items in hotel lobbies, restaurants and room service. Dining out can also be a vacation highlight – no need to eat every meal in the room! If you really want to be an eco-tourist, find local restaurants that reflect the culture of your destination. Local cuisine is part of the experience, so treat yourself, and avoid chainrestaurants until you’re back at home. Eating locally also has ecological advantages; smaller restaurants tend to take advantage of locally grown produce, meats and cheeses. By patronizing these mom-and-pop eateries, you’re not only helping to sustain “mom and pop,” you’re helping the local farmers as well. If you’ve chosen an exotic locale, chances are that there are ecotours available. These unique and exhilarating sojourns are planned around responsible tour routes to preserve the local ecology. They typically hire local employees and guides, and will engage local officials to plan operations to minimize negative impacts on the ecology and social structure. Another advantage to ecotours is that they oftentimes allow unprecedented access to the

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eco destinations to consider in

2012

local wildlife, so be sure have your camera ready. The last thing to know about ecotours is that they are educational. Many tours not only point out fauna and wildlife, but will inform you as to what you can do to keep your favorite destination pristine for generations to come. In the end, your vacation is your dream. Whether you’re more comfortable in a hotel room or in a tent in Madagascar, you always have options to minimize your impact during your stay. And by being a conscientious traveler, you also leave the locals with a better opinion of you and the United States as a whole. When it comes to tourism, you’re not just a visitor, you’re an ambassador.

MAKE 2012 your year to visit an eco-friendly destination with your family. Here are four places where GREEN is good:

Oregon. This northwestern haven for all things green is possibly the most eco-conscious state in the nation. With more than 300 miles of stunning coastline preserved as public land, families can visit pristine beaches, bike in two-wheelfriendly cities like Portland and Eugene, and raft on wild and scenic rivers. You can also explore high deserts, farm and wine country and the Columbia River Gorge, all within one grand holiday.

3 Utah. Robert Redford is the eco-

minded force behind this mountain resort that provides a high-altitude lesson in good fun and environmental stewardship. Join guides for a snowshoe trek under the night sky in search of owls. By day, enjoy skiing, hiking, horseback riding, art projects and music. The resort operates on wind power, recycles its own glass and offers organic linens, amenities and vegetables. Carpoolers receive $5 off lift tickets for their energy-saving efforts.

Visit this exotic island to see 2theBorneo. world’s largest flower and to discover 4 St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. sparsely populated beaches, caves, lush jungles and an expansive list of endemic plant species. Trek through the virgin jungle to Mount Kinabalu and explore the Kinabatangang River region. Be on the lookout for wild boars, orangutans, macaques, elephants, kingfishers and proboscis monkeys. Stay in awardwinning eco-lodges featuring solar power, the harvest of rainwater and wildlife rehabilitation efforts.

Follow the underwater trail and enjoy one of the few fully protected marine areas in the world. Run by the National Park Service, the 176-acre island and surrounding coral reef ecosystem form Buck Island Reef National Monument, a nature lover’s paradise. Intensely colored fish and coral thrive in a turquoise sea, providing a visual treat for both novice and experienced snorkelers and divers. The preserve can be reached via halfand full-day charters.

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The Face of

Hunger

McKeesport

BY PAMELA PALONGUE

ACCORDING TO A 2004 STUDY BY WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY OF ST. LOUIS, AT LEAST 42% OF AMERICANS WILL DEAL WITH FOOD INSECURITY AT SOME TIME DURING THEIR LIVES.

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McKeesport Area

o many, hunger is someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s problem; a difficulty that will happen to someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family. But according to a 2004 study by Washington University of St. Louis, at least 42% of Americans will deal with food insecurity at some time during their lives. It is interesting to note that this study was done four years prior to the beginning of the recession. It is hard to overestimate the importance of food to quality of life and overall health. Medical experts now tell us that the major factors in determining disease are DNA, exercise and nutrition. A person may be able to stay alive by eating cereal every day, but how healthy is a consistent diet of nothing but cereal? Unfortunately, the poor are many times forced to buy what is cheap without regard for nutritional value. Indeed, many people are lucky to have enough money to buy food at all. As people age, nutrition becomes even more important to sustaining life. For individuals with health problems such as diabetes or heart problems, good food is essential. To growing children, proper nutrition is vitally important for optimal learning in school and normal physical development. Unfortunately, many people in our area do not have enough food to eat, much less the financial resources to buy healthy, nutritious food. One common misconception is that people who are hungry are unemployed. Although this is sometimes the case, many

individuals who work at full-time jobs do not have enough to eat. With employee benefits such as health care decreasing, many workers are faced with the choice of paying for their health care insurance and prescriptions – or food. Workers have also accepted cutbacks in the number of hours worked or decreases in hourly wages in order to retain their jobs. This shortage in pay has to be made up in other areas and one way that individuals stretch their paychecks is by skipping meals, to the detriment of their health. According to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, since August of 2008, area food banks have been serving an average of 2,500 new households every month! This dramatic increase correlates directly to the economic hard times of the past few years. Sometimes a crisis or emergency can lead to the need to seek out a food pantry for help. In McKeesport, the Salvation Army provides the only emergency food pantry in the area. “We exist for the people who have not signed up for one of those regular food pantries,” said Salvation Army Captain Sean Barton. “Usually, someone just got laid off from work, the unemployment hasn’t started yet, or people just find themselves in a rough situation.” People can only utilize the emergency food pantry once every 90 days. Those who might need help from a regular food pantry are encouraged to sign up for one of them. Most of the food the Salvation Army obtains is purchased from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The food pantry also gets food donated via food drives through the school district and also Stamp Out Hunger, which is a food drive sponsored by U.S. postal workers, Barton said. In addition to providing emergency food, the Salvation Army also has a regular food pantry that is only for senior citizens. “We have about 95 seniors and we have people on a waiting list,” Barton said. The food for seniors comes from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank already boxed up and sealed. Bruce Hall, food pantry coordinator, said last year the pantry served almost 1,100 people just in emergency food. When the people who sign up for Christmas food and presents are added, that total grows to 3,825 people. “[At Christmas] we give extra food, food vouchers, that type of thing,” Hall said. “Anyone in our service area can sign up for Christmas and emergency food.” The service area includes the municipalities of McKeesport, Port Vue, Boston, North Versailles, White Oak, and Glassport and the communities of

Greenock, Coulter and Vunola. To qualify for emergency food assistance from the pantry, a person must call and make an appointment. When applicants come in, they must bring photo identification, proof of income, proof of expenses and residency, birth certificates for children living in the household and Social Security cards for every member living in the household. How much food people receive is based on how many are in the household and how much food is available at the food bank, Hall said. “We keep a very well-stocked pantry,” he added. “We purchase not only canned goods and those types of items; we also purchase meat to give to a family so that there is a protein source for them.” Because people are being given food in an emergency situation, the bag they receive is designed to last four or five days and can include cereal, pasta, tomato sauce, canned vegetables, soup, tuna fish, etc. Families are also given personal care items such as toilet paper, toothpaste, dish washing liquid, and things of that nature. In addition, the pantry also gives away three loaves of bread per family, nearly every Thursday. “The faces of those who come are changing constantly,” Hall said. “We have a lot more first-time, working-class people who are trying to make ends meet.” If a family is fortunate enough to have plenty to eat, there are important things that anyone can do to help those who are hungry. One of the most obvious ways is to donate money to your local food pantry. This enables the food bank to buy the nutritious foods that are needed, rather than having to cope with limited amounts of random food items. Although many businesses and corporations support the food banks, they could not survive without help from the general population at large. The support of individuals in the community is crucial. For some families, a donation of $25 or $50 may pose a hardship on their budget. But even with limited income, there are things that almost anyone can do to help. Most grocery stores offer shoppers the opportunity to make a contribution to the local food pantry at the checkout line. If every family who is able makes a donation of $1 each week when they shop for groceries, think of the money that could be generated to help feed the hungry! By donating a smaller amount more frequently, it is less painful than writing a check for $20 or more. A small donation of one dollar will most likely not be missed in the family budget, but will help make a continued on next page

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 43

continued from previous page

big impact when combined with the dollars from other area households. Although monetary donations allow the food pantry the ability to buy food supplies to fill particular needs, food donations are also helpful. Many times we buy things at the store with good intentions, but those items at the back of the cupboard are just not being eaten. Chances are if you take a quick inventory of your pantry, there are a few items that could be donated to your local food bank. In particular need are high fiber cereals, rice, pasta, and canned beans such as kidney, black and navy which are an important source of protein. Peanut butter, canned tuna and salmon also supply much needed protein. Canned vegetables and fruits are always welcomed as well as fruit and vegetable juices, although they should be 100% juice so be sure to check the ingredients label before donating. Chili, stews and soups are also valuable items because they offer a quick and easy way to get several daily nutrients in one convenient source. Glass containers cannot be accepted at local food banks because of possible breakage. Although many foods remain nutritious and palatable after they expire, some do not. Therefore donated food items should not be expired. Another practically painless way to donate food is to take advantage of store specials. When your local grocery runs a special where two items may be purchased and the third one is free or there’s a “two for the price of one” special, consider donating that extra can of carrots to the food pantry. If this is done weekly, the items will add

up quickly and the surplus will help feed hungry families. Last of all, but in no way least, if individuals cannot afford even small sacrifices of money or groceries, time is another valuable commodity. Most food banks are operated entirely by volunteers. There are many different jobs to do which allow a person to be matched with a task that fits his/her own unique personality. Groceries must be organized and stocked on the shelves and later packed into boxes for food pantry clients. Individuals are also needed to work directly with clients to determine eligibility and the distribution of food. Still other people are needed for fundraising activities, food drive events and marketing duties. One of the best things about helping your local food pantry is that you are helping your neighbors. Oftentimes the hungry go unnoticed because hunger cannot be seen or felt by those around it. The person who is hungry could be your neighbor, a co-worker or the waitress at your local coffee shop. If 42% of U.S. citizens will have food insecurity at some time in their lives, the hungry person may even be you or your family. Helping the food pantry to help others will build a stronger, healthier community for us all.

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT HELPING YOUR LOCAL FOOD PANTRY IS THAT YOU ARE HELPING YOUR NEIGHBORS.

Photos by Monica Haynes 44

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McKeesport Area

Small Updates Pay Off

By Heather Holtschlag

BIG for Home Values

If you are thinking of selling your home or just making some updates to your current living space, you don’t necessarily need to think big expense and lots of work. Small fixes can increase your home’s value for a big payoff. For starters, maintain a regular cleaning schedule. This serves a dual purpose of not just keeping your house tidy and neat, especially for visitors, but will help keep your maintenance issues in check since you will notice relatively early on if something is in need of a fix, thus avoiding costly repairs. Keep your house looking fresh by adding some new paint. When selecting a color, remember that neutrals appeal to a wide variety of people, and if you are selling your home, a neutral color is easy to paint over should the new owners choose a different color. Consider consulting a professional real estate agent or a home inspector. Each can walk through your home and pay close attention to its detail and alert you to areas that require improvement or repair. If repairs are necessary, make them in a timely manner to prevent the problem from getting worse. Buyers tend to favor bathrooms and kitchens, so it could be especially beneficial to keep these rooms clean and updated. Consult a real estate agent if you need ideas for updating. If these rooms are small, consider what could be rearranged to make them look bigger. Also, keep the appliances clean and in working order, even if you are not planning to include them in the sale of the house.

Spend some time in the yard. Remember that curb appeal is a person’s first impression of your overall house, so maintain a yard free of debris and coordinate the colors of your gardens to match the house. Installing modern light switches and power outlets can help your lighting system look newer than it is. Also consider installing dimmer switches, which are a favorite among potential buyers. Show off the bright sides of your house by increasing the wattage in your light bulbs. Finally, keep your house free of clutter by cleaning up after yourself and making sure your children do the same. In addition, keep your carpets clean by vacuuming regularly and administering deep cleaning treatments.

Reach over 36,567 potential customers in McKeesport

412.664.7554

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 45

By Heather Holtschlag

Curb appeal is not necessarily something that most people will be able to define in precise terms, but they will know it when they see it. Simply put, it is about making your front yard and the front of your house stand out and look better than the rest. And, if people like what they see on the outside, including potential buyers, the chances are good that they will want to see what the house looks like on the inside. But what can you do to make your house stand apart? To begin, play up your home’s doorway—one of the first areas people see when looking at your house—with color, a clean door free of nicks, and clean metal fixtures. Consider adding a wreath or some other type of door decoration.

On a similar note, window boxes can be filled with your favorite flowers to match the rest of your yard’s color scheme.

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McKeesport Area

Add shutters or accent trim Shutters and trim add a welcoming layer of beauty to your home’s exterior. Shutters also control light and ventilation, and provide additional security. Exterior shutters can be made of wood, aluminum, vinyl, composite, or fiberglass. New composite materials make trim details durable and low maintenance.

Replace old hardware House numbers, the entry door lockset, a wall-mounted mailbox, and an overhead light fixture are all elements that can add style and interest to your home’s exterior. If they’re out of date, your home may not be conveying the aesthetic you think it is. These elements add the most appeal when they function collectively, rather than as mix-and-match pieces. Oiled-bronze finishes suit traditional homes, while brushed nickel suits more contemporary residences.

Add outdoor art Give your yard a little spunk by adding weather-resistant artwork. Choose pieces that complement your home’s natural palette and exterior elements. Birdbaths, metal cutouts, sculptures, and wind chimes are good choices for outdoor art. Water sculptures not only function as yard art, but the burbling sounds soothe and make hot days feel cooler. Place fountains on level ground in optimum hearing and sight vantage points.

Make a grand entry Even with a small budget, there are ways to draw attention to your front door. Molding acts like an architectural eyeliner when applied to the sides and top of the doorway.

Install window boxes Window boxes offer a fast, easy way to bring color and charm to your home exterior. Choose boxes made from copper or iron for a traditional look, or painted wood for a cottage feel. Mix and match flowers and plants to suit your lighting conditions and color scheme.

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 47

McKeesport NAACP Annual Breakfast Brings Community Together

arly on a cold and snowy Saturday morning, the McKeesport NAACP held its 11th annual Pancake Breakfast in February at The Common Grounds to benefit the local chapter. The quickly falling snow didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop members of the McKeesport community from coming out and supporting the cause. McKeesport city council members were in attendance along with the mayor, Michael Cherepko, and his children. McKeesport school district superintendent Tim Gabauer and his daughter also enjoyed the pancake breakfast, rubbing elbows with political figures like Congressman Mike Doyle and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. Lots of laughter and friendly conversation filled The Common Grounds.

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McKeesport Area

Carnegie Library of McKeesport

MARCH EVENTS

MCKEESPORT CHILDREN’S ROOM Pre-School Story Time for children 3 years to kindergarten March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb! Join us for storytime during the month for themed stories and crafts. For children 3 years to kindergarten. Date: Thursday, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2012 Time: 12:30 p.m. Contact: Staff 412.672.0625, mckeesport@einetwork.net Mother Goose Storytime for children ages birth to 35 months Nursery and action rhymes, books and songs for children birth to 35 months with caregiver/parent. Date: Thursday, March 1 ,8, 15, 22, 29, 2012 Time: 10:30 a.m. Contact: Staff 412.672.0625, mckeesport@einetwork.net Spring Fling Family Night - RSVP online Join us at the library for a fun spring fling family night. Great stories, crafts, and refreshments. Please RSVP online. Date: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 Time: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Contact: Staff 412.672.0625, mckeesport@einetwork.net

WINTER HOURS

Adult Department Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday— 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Thursday & Friday—8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Saturday—8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday—CLOSED Children’s Department Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday—11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Thursday & Friday—10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday—10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Sunday—CLOSED

www.McKeesportLibrary.org

McKeesport Area | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 49

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