IN Mt. Lebanon by IN Community Magazines

SPRING 2011

t. Lebanon

Mt. Lebanon Artist Creates Stunning Memorial Prom & Wedding Style Re-Thinking Your Attic

COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

Contents Mt. Lebanon | SPRING 2011 |

SPRING 2011

Health and Wellness News You Can Use

Publisher’s Message COMMUNITY INTEREST

FEATURES

What’s Inside

Healthy Family, Happy Family

page 2

Good Night, Sleep Tight! Are You Allergic to Your Bed?

With UPMC HealthTrak, you now have a convenient way to manage your health anytime and anywhere.

page 5

UPMC HealthTrak Lets You Manage Your Health Care Online Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Could It Happen to You?

page 7

Urology 101

Mt. Lebanon Public Library

Older Adults in Mt. Lebanon

UPMC Today

In Kids

Special Value Coupons

Ten Years Later, Shanksville Memorial Artist Reflects on Sculpture

Focus North America Comes to Pittsburgh

Home Improvement

| Health and Wellness News You Can Use |

52 |

Symphony of Food

Mt. Lebanon Accountability Organization Breaking Down Touch Issues So You Don’t Have To | 18

Mt. Lebanon Girls Tennis Team Works With World Vision to Make Global Impact | 20

Proms and Weddings

Real Estate

ON THE COVER

page 6

UPMC Mercy Emergency Department Project Advances

Wedding Reception to Remember | 22 Wedding Etiquette for the Socially Inept | 23 Venue Planning | 24 Prom Fashion Tips for 2011 | 25

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

From Gut-Wrenching Pain to Hope for the Future Stomachaches: When to Worry

page 4

Fireplace Creates Warmth & The Perfect Decor | 11 Rethinking the Attic | 13 Female Fix-It-Yourself Revolution | 14

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

A Clean Sweep Make fire safety a focus of your spring clean-up projects

33 page 3

Keeping yourself and your family healthy can seem like a full-time job.

Newbury Pro Bikes

Sculpture by Mt. Lebanon Artist Jan Loney. Photo by Craig Thompson.

| |

Newbury - The New Heart of the South Hills! LIVE, WORK, PLAY….SHOP and DINE!

ELS D O M NOW ! OPEN • THE FIRST RESIDENTS HAVE MOVED IN! • 27 homes sold; only 7 homesites remain for single family homes in Phase One • Quality second to none: mandated architectural design and energy performance that leads the region in quality • Single family homes including Cottage, Park, and Manor Homes ranging in size from 2,700 – 5,000 Square Feet priced from the $300’s to over $1 million. • Paired Homes including Courtyard Townhomes with integrated outdoor space and Carriage Homes or Doubles. Ranging in size from 1,700 – 3,000 Square Feet and priced from the $200’s. • Look for the Phase 2 VIP Release Event for the largest lots in the South Hills (18 single family home sites available) in the coming weeks • Award winning South Fayette Schools: South Fayette receives Blue Ribbon National Award for Education Excellence • Purchase now for Summer move in • 1.2 million Square feet of retail commercial spaces coming soon including banks, hotel, supermarket, small shops, national retailers and restaurants. • Every home has a front porch • Neighborhood NOT subdivision: sidewalks, tree lined streets, park with sled riding hill, soon a pool and clubhouse. • Floor plans new to region; come see what an e-nook is! • Look for our updated website to help you and your family find the home of your dreams at Newbury in the coming weeks

Come see what all the excitement is about

www.newburymarket.com Call Kelly Smith at 412.680.5200

Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 3

Welcome to the spring issue of Mt. Lebanon Magazine. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday filled with family, friends, and fun. Typically, I use this space to talk about your community or features in the magazine that spotlight the people in your community who are doing wonderful things. Well, this time I want to update you regarding our newest feature for 2011—our new website. Without venturing too far into the realm of shameless self-promotion, I want to emphasize that this website is something for you, our readers. How so? Well, you can have input and help shape the website just like your ideas help shape your magazine. Now you have a place to list all of the nonprofit community organizations that are active in the community. We are also developing pages where we list the local houses of worship. In addition, we now offer every magazine in a fully downloadable PDF format, rather than the outdated flipbook format we used to have. This will allow you to send the magazine, or links to it, to friends and family both near and far. We tied our website into Facebook as well, not to get the biggest list of “friends” we could get but to have a place to keep our readers abreast of all the news we get between issues. It also gives us a place to upload all the photos from community events that we don’t have room for in the magazine. As with all things, there’s always room for improvement, but we always have open ears. If you have comments about our new website or want to see your organization listed, e-mail mark@incommunitymagazines.com with your link or feedback. There’s no charge for listing your church, synagogue, or scout troop’s link, so send your links in today! And if you happen to be on Facebook and like what you see in the magazine, don’t hesitate to click that “Like” button. It’s always nice to be liked! I hope you have a wonderful spring!

t. Lebanon SPRING 2011 IN Mt. Lebanon is a non-partisan community publication dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the Mt. Lebanon 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. PUBLISHER

Wayne Dollard AS S I STA N T TO T H E P U B L I S H E R

Mark Berton mark@incommunitymagazines.com M A N AG I N G E D I TO R

Marybeth Jeffries marybeth@incommunitymagazines.com O F F I C E M A N AG E R

Leo Vighetti leo@incommunitymagazines.com E D I TO R I A L AS S I STA N T

Jamie Ward j.ward@incommunitymagazines.com WRITERS

Mark Berton Kelli McElhinny

Pamela Palongue

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Cassie Brkich Anna Buzzelli Susie Doak Pati Ingold

Jan McEvoy Joe Milne Tamara Tylenda Tracey Wasilco

P H OTO G R A P H E R S

Garyyonphotography.com

Wayne Dollard Publisher When I think about spring, I can’t help but think about light. The days get “lighter,” and the sun stays with us a little longer each day. When we have a great idea, a light bulb goes off in our minds. At Mt. Lebanon Magazine, we try to spotlight our communities. What are you doing to be a “light” in the community? If you or an organization that you volunteer or work for would like to be spotlighted, will you let me know? So many good deeds are left unsung! If you have a family member who is in the armed forces, or if your church group, Mom or Dad are providing a service to someone in need, we want to know! Please e-mail your ideas and photos to me at Marybeth@incommunitymagazines.com. I am pleased to introduce you to a Mt. Lebanon artist, Jan Loney on page six. She has created the most stunning memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania to honor the victims of the September 11 tragedy. You can find out more about Ms. Loney at her website, www.metalier.com. As we look forward to warmer and brighter days ahead, I hope you will enjoy this edition of Mt. Lebanon Magazine!

Marybeth Jeffries Managing Editor "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another." –Charles Dickens 4 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE

Mt. Lebanon

A DV E RT I S I N G S A L E S

Nicholas Buzzell Brian Daley Gina D’Alicandro Tina Dollard Rose Estes Jason Huffman Jessie Jones Connie McDaniel Brian McKee

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

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 2011. CORRESPONDENCE All inquiries, comments and press releases should be directed to: IN Community Magazines Attn: Editorial 603 East McMurray Road McMurray, PA 15317 Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968

Summer content deadline: 5/2/11 www.incommunitymagazines.com

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 5

   Shanksville Memorial Artist

Reflects On

Sculpture

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

en years ago, Mt. Lebanon artist Jan Loney was in Cleveland on the morning of September 11, helping her father – also an artist – load paintings into the back of a van and get ready to depart to an art show. “We were getting into the van right around 9, and my mom came out and said something was on the radio about a plane hitting a building in NewYork City. I was in the car for five or six hours, listening to the radio without any visuals,” she said. “Being a visual person, it was hard for me to image the magnitude of what was going on without having any images.The conflicting reports, hearing that buildings had fallen—I just couldn’t imagine the magnitude. When I finally did see it, it was six or seven in the evening, and it was an overwhelming visual sight for me. I had gone in thinking that it couldn’t be this bad and found that it was so much worse than I had imagined.” Loney, who works with metal as her primary medium, shared that vision with every American that day. And, soon afterwards, through an artist residency at Shanksville-Stoneycreek School District, sponsored by the Cornell Company, she coordinated a public, site-specific sculpture that serves to memorialize the victims of the Shanksville crash of Flight 93. Now that the tenth anniversary of 9/11 is approaching, Loney said that,

in hindsight, there’s nothing that she would do differently as far as the sculpture’s design, and that she’s looking forward to going back and talking to the students who participated in the project to see what their thoughts are today. “I think it’s interesting, in talking to the art teacher, that the people who are seniors right now were in third grade when we worked on the sculpture together.The amount that the younger kids Mt. Lebanon

contributed was pretty small.They have very little recollection of the event and the sculpture-making process. I’m curious to go back and talk to them and get their reaction to it and what it represents to them,” Loney said. “I think the experience is unique for each and every one of us. For a lot of people, we all remember where we were, what we were doing, how the events of 9/11 unfolded.” Joy Knepp, art teacher at the school, said she’s had a chance to talk to students regarding their thoughts since 9/11 and the sculpture. “Some of the older students have been thinking about the sculpture and that time period in their lives since the 10-year anniversary is approaching, and there has been some media coverage.They have all come to accept the change in the world, and in Shanksville, since 9/11. A couple students said they felt like they were unconnected to 9/11 and Flight 93 since they were not physically hurt by it. Others live near the crash site and have come to accept it and have a feeling of thankfulness that they or their family members were not hurt that day,” Knepp said. “Other students, in the older classes, do not think about it at all anymore and are more self-involved.The younger

I hope that, as they grow, they can look towards the sculpture and see all the positive people did and the ways they came together the days after 9/11. People can do things that are so awful, but there’s a lot of good in the world, and people can come together and celebrate that.” Since 2001, Loney said that her artistic style hasn’t changed much, but added that the Shanksville sculpture was subtly different from her style. “My style hasn’t really changed, but it was great to have such a large project and long period of time. Most of the residencies I do are 10 days; this was 3 months,” Loney said. “The style really came from working from students. I wouldn’t say it’s a departure from my style. In a lot of ways it is characteristic of my style in that I like to use textures and use things like images from nature and things like patterns on leaves or veins in leaves. I don’t’ feel like it’s my design, but it is in keeping with my general style.” Loney said that in 10 years she’s also accumulated a lot of feedback from local residents and visitors to the site via third-hand sources. While the comments have mostly been good, she said she appreciates all of them because

students I talked to who were not yet in school when the sculpture was made have wondered about what the shape represents and have had ideas that it looked like a bird or tree or flames.” For Loney, she hopes that younger children, her own included, never have to endure a similar tragedy in their lives. “I think it’s always hard for future generations to fully grasp the impact of historical events. When you’ve grown up with something, it’s just a fact of life, rather than an event that you experience,” she said. “I hope that my children never have to experience such a terrible tragedy; but

they help her think about what she would do differently on another large-scale piece if she does one in the future. “My in-laws have a cabin that is 10 miles from the crash site, and they and quite a number of their friends go to both crash sites. I get a lot of feedback from family and friends of family. I do get second- and thirdhand comments of things that are said or overheard, and it’s always interesting to me to hear other peoples’ reactions – positive or negative or otherwise – to file them away and think about them if I’m ever able to do another large sculpture.” Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 7

heodora Polamalu may be known by some for her husband’s talents on the field, but what those people don’t know is that she is very passionate about helping others. Theodora is a FOCUS North America Advisory Board Member, and she has a helping hand in bringing FOCUS to Pittsburgh. FOCUS North America is a fellowship of Orthodox Christians united to serve, and the group is spreading their mission to Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood this spring.

In January, Theodora spoke to over 450 people at the FOCUS Pittsburgh fundraising dinner at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Mt. Lebanon. The dinner was hosted by the Church’s Philoptochos Chapter and the Pittsburgh Clergy Brotherhood. Theodora and Steelers safety Troy Polamalu are the national honorary spokespeople for FOCUS. “We thought if they are supporting this, why don’t we have one in Pittsburgh?” says Demetria Pappas, vice president of Our Lady’s Philoptochos. “In less than three months, it’s become a whirlwind of volunteers and people to put this all together.” Pappas says it was the incredible outpouring of support that made this a sold-out event, which raised nearly $62,000 through ticket sales, auction items, sponsorships, and general donations. “It really renewed the orthodox faith in all those that were present,” says Pappas. “We are all one brotherhood who reach out and help anyone that needs help, regardless of race, background, or address.” The expected cost to launch the Hill District center is $150,000. >

FOCUS North America Comes to Pittsburgh By Jamie Ward

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Mt. Lebanon

Pappas says her goal is to create relationships with people so they will come back. “We will sit down with them and talk with them and get to understand why they’re in the situation they’re in,” she says. “Make them feel like they have hope, and that somebody does care about them.” For more information, visit www.focusnorthamerica.org.

Our Lady’s Philoptochos Society is the second largest faith-based organization in the nation, and it focuses on helping the working poor. “We help the people who don’t have the income to support any type of family needs outside of providing themselves with shelter,” say Pappas. “About 9,000 families in the Pittsburgh are considered under poverty level and are living paycheck to paycheck.” It’s statistics like that one that is helping bring FOCUS to Pittsburgh. “Families suffer in different ways and the focus group wants to establish a shelter in Pittsburgh to offer a sense of community and care for these families,” says Pappas. Through this project, Lady’s Philoptocos will continue with their mission to serve the poor hands on in a way that is difficult and not impossible. In April, FOCUS North America will open its seventh center, located right here in Pittsburgh. The Hill District location will symbolize what focus stands for. “We want it to provide ministry to those who are in need and understand that everyone needs to be fed, but you also need to help out on spiritual side,” says Pappas. The Lady’s Philoptocos plan to assemble a team of eight to 12 women who will be scheduled to help out at the center every month. >

Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 9

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Mt. Lebanon

FIREPLACE CREATES WARMTH THE PERFECT DECOR

Add Warmth, Style & Value to Your Home

What is it about a fireplace that is so comforting? That warm glow and the advantages of heat efficiency and home resale value, all make installing a fireplace the ideal home renovation project. Innovations today in cost-efficient, energy-saving models have put fireplaces at the top of the “to-do” list for home remodeling projects. In spite of the new energy efficiency, a fireplace still continues to provide ambience, warmth, and an upgrade in any décor. What’s Your Style? Fireplaces have come a long way from the typical wood-burning variety. They can be specifically designed to fit any room, and there are a large variety of fuels to produce heat or just glow. A wood-burning fireplace is the classic option. They provide a beautiful flame, crackling-wood sound, and heat. Newer to the market are gas fireplaces, which can be designed to imitate real burning wood, but their fuel source is natural gas or propane. Gas burns cleanly and is much more convenient than its wood-burning counterpart. Electric fireplaces have some of the same advantages as gas-burning fireplaces, but have the extra benefit of being able to flip a switch and have instant ambience. Which is the right investment for you? When deciding which option in fireplaces is right for your home, it is important to look at the space limitations in your home. Determine how much heat you need from the unit and whether you plan to do it yourself or hire a professional. Another thing to consider is that if you do not have a chimney in the house, installing one will add additional expense. Your choice of fuel for the fire should also be considered. Dealing with split wood—the stacking and handling, versus turning on a switch to give you the fire, is something to think about when choosing options. Adding a fireplace to any room in your home will add value to your home and provide a comfortable setting for you to relax. Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 11

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f you’re more than four feet tall and live in western Icomfortable Pennsylvania, chances are that your attic is not a space that you would consider livable. Your attic can be modified, however, by the do-it-yourselfer into more than adequate storage for a variety of your belongings, if you get creative. The first thing you need to consider is the space itself. Is it finished at all? Many attics in the area are open spaces broken up by roof and flooring joists and wads of insulation. The first thing you want to do is inspect your attic for leaks and whether those joists are strong enough to support extra weight. You can add flooring by screwing down plywood or other subflooring. Avoid nailing materials down to prevent damaging the ceilings underneath you through the vibrations of hammer blows. Once you have your flooring down, you can decide whether or not you want to finish the ceiling joists. You can insulate and attach drywall or plywood to these joists, depending on how fancy you want to get with the finished look; or you may decide that having the recessed areas between the joists is beneficial to your storage needs. Keep in mind that a

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triangular space is limiting only if you have Keep in mind that the attic, while dryer boxes or items that you need to store vertically. than the basement, still has its own set of Items that are smaller and that can be arranged issues. Temperatures often vary wildly in into nooks and crannies can be ideal for these attics depending on how insulated they are, odd-shaped spaces. Also keep in mind that, so items that can’t stand high heat or low temperatures – like candles, for instance – may because of the nature of attic access in older not fare well in the attic environment. Each homes, the route to your attic may be through space is different, but each is unique, and how a small trap door in a hall closet, so items you put in the attic might be limited to long-term or you use that space can be a fun project for the whole family. permanent storage, like old college textbooks, holiday decorations, luggage, or all those old National Geographics that you can’t throw away because the pictures are too pretty. If you do have easy access to your attic, either by way of a dedicated staircase or pulldown steps, more options may offer themselves to you. Even tight attics have enough room for several two-drawer filing cabinets, allowing you to store many years’ worth of tax returns or product manuals. Easier access means even more versatility when it comes to your storage plan. Rather than long term, you can use the space for things that require infrequent use—bins for extra blankets and pillows for when guests are in Eagle Eye Construction LLC town, large children’s toys or games that don’t get played with during the Additions school week, and sporting Remodeling equipment when it’s out Game rooms of season. Storing items like Painting these in the attic will keep Decks them out of dank Windows basement conditions, and, in the case of linens and 412.779.6900 sporting equipment, keep eagleeyeconstruction@verizon.net the smell of mildew away. PA028061 Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 13

From pink screwdrivers and mini toolboxes

FEMALE

Fix-It-Yourself

REVOLUTION

SOLVE 5 COMMON HOUSEHOLD PROBLEMS

to a surge of female-targeted home improvement sites and guidebooks, the fix-it-yourself revolution has come for women in the U.S. More empowered females are taking on household problems themselves instead of spending the money to hire a plumber, electrician or contractor. In fact, a recent study by the Medelia Monitor showed that more than 60 percent of women are more likely to tackle the work on their own. The majority of these women (63 percent) are being more resourceful to avoid the high costs of hiring a professional. And 71 percent of women say the desire to “fix-it-myself” stems from the empowering feeling of having the knowledge to improve their home. Sound familiar? If you’d like to empower yourself and join the fix-it-yourself revolution, start by picking up a few affordable tools and products to tackle quick fixes. Here are easy tips for solving five common household problems: Unstick sticky windows by opening them and rubbing wax or spraying silicone into the tracks on both sides. Move the window up and down several times to work the wax or silicone lubricant into the frame. Fix squeaky wood or tile floors by sprinkling baby powder on the surface of the floor that’s squeaking. Then place a chisel between the boards and gently hammer the top to pry up the tile or floorboard. Sprinkle more baby powder underneath the board to seal the excess space causing the squeaking. If your drains are draining slowly or clogged completely, try a de-clogging gel that clears the toughest clogs at a fraction of the cost of a plumber house call. Liquid-Plumr’s new Penetrex Gel is a fastacting, powerful formula that can clear the toughest clogs in just seven minutes. Mend unsightly holes or tears in your window screens by using a screwdriver to straighten the bends in the mesh and dabbing clear nail polish to seal the hole. Allow it to dry. Then repeat the polish application until the hole is completely sealed. A wobbly table leg may seem hard, but it’s a surprisingly easy repair. Just figure out how it’s attached to the seat. Then either screw the leg back into its socket or glue it back into place.

Fix-it resources abound online and at your local bookstore. But here’s a few to get you started: Facebook.com/LiquidPlumr: Most clogged drains are caused by hair. Get tips on how to keep all drains clear and while you’re there, enter the Big Locks Rock! Contest before December 15th for a chance to win a trip for four to L.A. to get haircuts by a celebrity stylist. BeJane.com: A site where women of all ages and skill levels can find answers to home improvement questions and connect with others for inspiration and advice. “Dare to Repair” by Julie Sussman: This book offers a “do-it-herself” guide to fixing almost anything in the home.

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Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 15

 Jason Carney, Delallo’s

Adam Gooch, Bella Sera, Jim Brown, Luma, John Gruver, Market District at Giant Eagle and Patrick Laird, Mitchell’s Fish Market

The fourth annual Symphony of Food was held Friday, January 28, at Bella Sera in Canonsburg, Pa. The event was sponsored by WOMEN of Southwestern Pa., Inc., Patty O’Kelly, co-president of the organization, served as Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening. Guests enjoyed a five-course sit-down dinner prepared by chefs from Mitchell’s Fish Market, Luma, Delallo’s, Market District at Giant Eagle, Sarris Candies and Bella Sera. “Some Kinda Circus,” a group of local circus lovers, provided the entertainment. Proceeds from the Symphony of Food will be used to help women and children in need in southwestern Pennsylvania. Gloria Bombara-Laux, Dr. Robert Laux, Charles Pascoe, Anne Pascoe and Judy Eustice.

Laurie Rushin, Janis Atkins and Penny Thomas Barrett Thomas and Erin Blue Steve Heon, Sophia Sarris Heon, Athena and Bill Sarris

Some Kinda Circus Performer

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Mt. Lebanon



Photos by Debbie Mountain

Katharina, Anne, Liz and Peter Hess Tom and Janis Atkins

Jimmy Green and Katie Mavrich

Donna Nardine, Carol Gehrig and Julie Black (co chairs of the event) Janice Kennedy and Patty O’Kelly (Mistress of Ceremonies/both co presidents of org.)

Diane Allen and Judy Lesso (Chinese Auction)

Carolyn Yurkovich, Robert Black, Angel and J.R. Shaw Sue Klose, Barbara Baker and Margaret Fisher

Noreen Fleming, Linda Hughes and Kathy Gardner

Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 17

MLAO

Mt. Lebanon Accountability Organization

Breaking down tough issues so you don’t have to.

ttended a local municipal or school board meeting lately? Have any idea what they’re talking about? A lot of people don’t. Not because they’re ignorant, but more likely that at the meeting where they go to address a stop sign request in their neighborhood, they might also find out that officials are looking to issue bonds worth millions of dollars, or put in place a new curriculum guideline. That’s when Tom Moertel decided that a forum was needed for residents to get the facts about issues in the community before these issues come up for vote. Moertel moved to Mt. Lebanon in 1998. During the day, he works for SMASH Technologies on the South Side, where he’s responsible for software systems. In his free time, he started up the Mt. Lebanon Accountability Organization, lending his penchant for statistical analysis to the community in which he and his wife live. “The reason I started looking into stuff and started the MLAO, is because I would watch what was happening at meetings and say, ‘They really should consider this or that.’ My wife suggested, ‘Why don’t you do something?’ And I said, ‘You’re right,’” Moertel said. “I started the group a couple years ago. The idea was a lot of the decisions being made in local government are complicated,

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Mt. Lebanon

and most people don’t have time to follow those decisions from start to finish. Why not do analysis and put that online so other people can build upon it? People wouldn’t have to start from scratch.” Moertel based the MLAO on the model of the Government Accountability Office, the independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress, accumulating data and analyzing that data and how it impacts legislation before representatives. One of the recent issues analyzed by the MLAO was the Mt. Lebanon High School renovation project. “The high school project was an example of a huge decision that a lot of people had tuned out because it was so complicated,” Moertel said. The MLAO was able to provide unbiased factual information to the public regarding the project, so that they could entertain the implications of the debate on their own time and formulate their own conclusions. “The idea behind the MLAO is, if we’re going to provide benefit, we have to separate fact-finding from weighing and judging. People can have their own opinions on resolution, but they can’t choose their own facts,” Moertel said. “Too often in political decision making, the facts support whichever way a lobbyist is leaning. We are very clear that we don’t make recommendations. We gather information, summarize it, and show our work online. People can use it without us prejudicing them in one way or another.” Every time there’s analysis,

there’s also a call from the public to ensure that MLAO lives up to its own standards of non-bias. Moertel said that the prevalence of people recording public meetings and posting them to their blogs or websites makes his work easier because he physically doesn’t have to attend every meeting. Watching the meetings is only part of the work, however. Group members have filled out their share of Right to Know requests to local government agencies to get to the bottom of issues. Right now, Moertel said he’s working on an analysis of recent trends in Mt. Lebanon student achievement. While he said that the study won’t be as controversial as the High School project, it’s still an important one, and he urges residents to get involved. “I’m trying to look at a bunch of sources of evidence as to where we are now and what direction are we heading. I started the analysis over a year ago with data made available from the Department of Education which goes back 10 years. I also have SAT and National Merit Scholarship data as well,” he said. “There’s a good data set spanning the past five to 10 years.” One glance at the MLAO website might give a false impression that the club is dormant – the last analysis was posted in December. However, the issues take time to dissect, and members stay connected via e-mail lists and Twitter accounts. “The organization meets online. During its earlier years, we met a lot in coffee shops,” Moertel said. “It’s all volunteer, so there’s no formal membership. Anyone is welcome to participate. I haven’t had a meeting in a while, but we’re still accepting members. Anyone who is willing to contribute some type of research that is clear, correct, trustworthy, and free of personal prejudices is welcome to join up.” For more information on the Mt. Lebanon Accountability Organization, go to wiki.mlao.org online.

Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 19

Mt Lebanon Girls’ Tennis Team Works With World Vision to Make Global Impact By Jamie Ward

The Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team at Mt. Lebanon High School isn’t just giving back to its community; it’s giving back to the world. The team volunteered with a group known as World Vision to donate goods to needy people across the globe. Back in November, 14 students, two parent volunteers, and Coach Ginny Hall made the trip to World Vision’s local office, a 40,000-square-foot warehouse complex in Sewickley. The group packed up whatever items World Vision received that week. Most of the items are surpluses donated by businesses and can range from shoes and boots to coats and coloring books. “We worked for the whole morning, helping organize clothes, shoes, and different toiletries that were being boxed and then sent overseas,” says Hall. And those doing the sending are the folks at World Vision—a non-profit Christian humanitarian organization, whose mission is to work with children, families, and their communities, worldwide, to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Locally they partner with another Christian non-profit organization, the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation, which helps citizens in southwestern Pennsylvania. The organization provides emergency relief, long-term community development programs, agricultural development assistance, and leadership training. But their work doesn’t stop there. They also educate the public on poverty- and justicerelated issues. While the trip in November was the team’s first visit to World Vision, Hall says the girls were excited to do it. “They liked the fact that we were doing something as a team. And while they hadn’t heard of World Vision before, they really supported the mission and wanted to help,” she says. “When we left, they all commented that they felt good about giving back and being part of the process.” Hall says the trip was a very positive experience and is something the team will look into doing again. Locally, World Vision has shipped more than 7 million pounds of items to victims of natural and man-made disasters, assisting about 100 million people in nearly 100 countries. Not only do they respond to international disasters in places like Honduras, Guatemala, and Rwanda, but also to domestic crises like the L.A. earthquakes and Georgia floods. Of the more than 7,500 volunteers they’ve had, they say that 80% of them have been high school students. For more information on World Vision, visit www.worldvision.org.

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Whether it's set in the great outdoors, a lavish ballroom, the couple's favorite restaurant, or at home, the wedding reception is a special time for newlyweds to celebrate with family and friends. The signature dessert â&#x20AC;&#x201C; cake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is usually the centerpiece for this occasion, a continuing reflection of the wedding theme and colors. An assortment of cupcakes or a tower of layers allows today's cakes to take almost any form, from square to round, even pillow or heart-shaped. This stunning all-white creation from the wedding experts at Wilton is both simple yet elegant. Cake layers are covered in pure white fondant, while additional bands of fondant glistening with white sparkling sugar decorate the bottom of each tier. Dots of sugar pearl sprinkles, resembling perfect pearls, add a hint of texture, while a gem-studded monogram topper adds the finishing touch. This unique do-it-yourself wedding topper kit can easily be customized with one initial, two, or a trio. Self-adhesive crystal-like gems are used to trace the initials onto the clear disc. Gems can also be used to create a border or other complementary design. After the reception, it makes a perfect keepsake that the couple will treasure for years to come. Guests will want to raise a glass in honor of the newlyweds with the timeless custom of a champagne toast. Decorated flutes for the bride and groom create a long-lasting memory of this special tradition. Individual boxes are ideal for truffles or other candies to send home with guests. Tie these with ribbons reflecting the color theme of the wedding. Another fun memento is a mini champagne bottle favor that can be filled with small candies. Attach a label with a personalized message. Make it elegant or simple, and always make it meaningful and memorable. For more do-it-yourself wedding ideas, favors, and accessories, visit www.wilton.com. Bethel Park | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 5

for the gue By Pamela Palon

s anyone who knows me personally will tell you, I am no expert on social occasions. However, based upon the theory that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, I have made enough social faux pas to speak authoritatively on what not to do at a wedding. Some helpful tips are listed below to help get you through the season of bliss.

Never wear white to a wedding. This includes eggshell, ecru, light cream, pearl lustre and Tahitian coconut. Never attempt to upstage the bride (unless of course you hate the bride, in which case you probably really shouldn’t be attending the wedding anyway, given the spirit of the whole love and happiness thing).

At Jewish weddings do not ask, “What is that big thing they’re standing under?”

At Catholic weddings try to refrain from asking, “Why is this taking so long?” The well-prepared wedding guest remembers to bring snacks for himself and his friends. (Avoid crunchy snacks that may disrupt the ceremony.)

NEVER bet on how long the marriage will last at the reception. All odds-making must be done outside the reception venue. (In the event of inclement weather, the lobby or bathroom is acceptable.)

Never complain about the food at the wedding reception with your mouth full of food from the wedding reception. It’s a credibility issue.

Throw only designated throwing materials at the bride and groom, such as rice and rose petals. Shoes, Jell-O, and steak knives are not acceptable. Ever. Even when they are within the appropriate wedding color scheme.

The wedding day is NOT the proper time to share the fact that you once dated the groom, the bride, or their parents. In fact, the proper time to share this information may not actually exist.

If you simply must dance at the reception, remember you are not trying out for “Dancing With The Stars.” If you throw your partner in the air, make sure you catch them. Missing is considered grounds for divorce in most states. Avoid high kicks, which may warrant medical attention.

Many people adhere to the time-honored adage, “It’s not a party till something gets broken.” However, avoid breaking things that are irreplaceable, expensive, and likely to lead to a law suit. Cell phones and glasses are okay.

Given the fact that marriage is a formidable undertaking and the courageous souls who dare to tread the rose-strewn path are likely to be distraught, hysterical, and panic-stricken, you owe it to the happy couple to be the best wedding guest possible. These helpful tips are the very foundation of the social graces. If you follow them carefully, you will glide effortlessly from wedding celebration to reception party in a virtual whirl of neurotic enthusiasm.

Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 23

Venue Planning forYourWedding

hen it comes time to plan for the biggest day of your life, you may not know where to start. Planning a wedding is a challenging, time consuming and expensive task, which is why those who can afford it oftentimes hire wedding planners. But for those of us who have to keep an eye on the budget, knowing what to look for in your wedding venue can save you time and money up front, and less hassle when it’s over. Obviously, you want to pick a venue suitable to the size of your anticipated invitation list, and you want to pick it early. Popular venues can be booked well over a year in advance, and if you’re getting married on a date that’s unique – like Dec. 12, 2012, or 12/12/12, you’re going to want to start looking immediately. Robin Craig, Director of Sales for the

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Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Southpointe, said couples should plan out 12 to 18 months when booking a venue. “They need to sit down and find out their guest list and their budget. Once they determine the guest list, we can start quoting pricing,” Craig said. “Next year , 9/10/11 is a big date, and we’re already booked. Also, 10/11/12 would be a hot date. Our hot months are September and October and May and June. If you’re a teacher, June and July are busy months.” Once you have that location selected and it appeals to your personal sense of style and aesthetics, you should evaluate anything that may be taken for granted, such as ingress and egress and parking. Is the wedding/reception hall easy to find? Are there covered porticos for dropping off guests in case of inclement weather or for those who have trouble walking without assistance? Will guests be able to find the hall easily, or is it hidden deep

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in a labyrinth of hallways? And are the restrooms close by? “All of our parking is complimentary,” Craig said. “If you want valet, we can provide it for a fee.” Once you have the building chosen, you should discuss logistics of the day with any facility manager responsible for the site. Important items to discuss include catering – can you hire your own caterer or is there a caterer specific to the venue you’ve chosen? Is there an additional charge for alcohol and can you furnish your own? Will linens be provided and who will be responsible for setting up and tearing down the tables and chairs? Is there a suggested room layout for weddings? Having a tried and true seating arrangement for the venue can save you headaches later on when you’re trying to figure out where to place the bridal table. Lastly, knowing how early you can arrive and how late you can stay will be crucial information for anyone from caterers to your bridal party. Craig said her venue offers full linens with chair covers, sashes, mirrors, candles and champagne toasts. It also offers complimentary bridal party refresher rooms. They can tray cookies at no charge and provide a gourmet coffee station. It also offers a complimentary overnight room for the bride and groom. Lastly, find out all of the financial details up front. Many venues have service charges that are above and beyond your bill. Get all of your charges in writing, up front before you sign for your venue. You don’t want to find out afterwards that there was a food and beverage minimum that you didn’t attain, or that it was ok for you to bring your own wine, but forgot to inquire about corking fees. Craig said service charge at her venue is 21 percent and sales tax is 6 percent. They also have food and drink minimums. However, discounts are offered for group room rentals for overnight guests and for offpeak days and months. Weddings in January-March and November, and those held on Fridays and Sundays, are considered off-peak. If you do your homework up front, there’s nothing stopping you from having the fairytale wedding you’ve always dreamed of. Keep in mind, like any successful marriage, wedding planning is hard work, but work that you’ll reap rewards from in the end.

Hair styles by John Edwards Salon â&#x20AC;˘ Photos by Joanna Fassinger

Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 25

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Mt. Lebanon Public Library 16 Castle Shannon Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15228 412.531.1912 www.mtlebanonlibrary.org Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Friday – Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday: 1-5 (Jan - May)

Springtime Events

THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS WEBSITE IS: www.eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=MTLEB Be advised that non-library events are also included on the calendar. Some are simply organization meetings, but others may be of interest to the community.

LIBRARY OPEN SUNDAYS IN 2011! 0JAN/MAY1

DISCOVER THE LIFE AND WORKS OF MARK TWAIN Friday March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born in a small Missouri town, but eventually as Mark Twain, he towered over American literature and became one of the most famous men in the world. He was a printer, river pilot, reporter, lecturer, and travel writer who turned those varied experiences into non-stop commentary on 19th century America...observations which continue to be valuable and pertinent today. This 6-week series runs from March 4 through April 8. SELECTIONS FROM SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL! Sunday March 13, 2 – 3 p.m. Join us for a preview of Seussical, the Musical! by members of Pittsburgh Musical Theater and Robert Morris University. We’ll make a fun Dr. Seuss craft, too. Singing + costumes + crafts = FUN! For all ages. GARDEN SEED SHARING Saturday March 26, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Join the Mt. Lebanon Courtyard Gardeners for the fourth annual SEED-SHARING event. Mostly organic seeds will be purchased ahead – and then the participants will share the cost and divide up the seed packets of some 30 varieties of herbs and vegetables.

The price for participating will be $5 – collected at the door. To register, please call Mary Beth at 412.344.4885, leaving your name, phone number and email address. A complete list of seeds can be sent to you by email. Bring your own seeds to share as well. Seed envelopes will be provided. Seeds for cucumbers, beets, green (or burgundy) beans, lettuce, arugula, squash, herbs, chard, radishes, and many more will be available. Space is limited to 20 individuals. Registration required. Presented by the Mt. Lebanon Public Library Courtyard Gardeners. MEET CONNIE PORTER, AUTHOR OF ADDY, AN AMERICAN GIRL Sunday March 27, 2 – 3 p.m. Meet American Girl author Connie Porter. Ms. Porter will discuss Addy, An American Girl, and answer questions about the series. In addition, families will have the opportunity to try crafts and activities of the period. For children in kindergarten and up and their families.

A MAD BOOK CELLAR TEA Saturday April 9, 2 – 4 p.m. Enjoy an assortment of teas, tea sandwiches and sweets, plus a $2 Book Cellar coupon! $20 per ticket in advance, $25 at the door. Tickets available ONLY at The Book Cellar. All proceeds benefit Mt. Lebanon Public Library.

FOOD FEST AT THE MOVIES!

DISCOVER OPTIMUM HEALTH CARE 7 – 8:45 p.m. February 22 - Signs and Symptoms of Disease or Potential Disease March 29 - Back Pain April 26 - Stress May 31 - Wellness June 28 - Insomnia July 26 - Autoimmune Disorders Discover Optimum Health Care is a six-week series of workshops designed to provide information for people to understand specific health problems and offer strategies that

These are just some of the many events and programs that the Mt. Lebanon Public Library offers.

empower them to solve these problems. The goal is to help each individual be knowledgeable about their own health and their family’s health; to know what resources are available and to feel empowered to ask the necessary questions to make good health care choices. The workshops will take place on the last Tuesday of the month, beginning February 22 – July 26.

Join Mt. Lebanon’s own Elaine Wertheim and guest chefs as they present a springtime feast of food and film. Culinary delights will complement the best of the best food movies. This three session film festival / dinner theater is a Mt. Lebanon Public Library spring fundraiser. The series includes: Big Night – March 14 Like Water For Chocolate – March 28 Eat Drink Man Woman –- April 11 Attend one, two, or all three dinner films! 6 – 8:45 p.m. Space is limited to 25 people per event. Advance reservations and payment required at the Circulation Desk. Cost is $40 per dinner or a reduced price of $100 for those who sign up for all three dinners. Checks payable to Mt. Lebanon Public Library. All proceeds will be used to purchase books and audio visual materials to enhance the dramatic arts and cooking collections of Mt. Lebanon Public Library.

Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 27

Good Tidings for the Greatest Generation

Older Adults in Mt. Lebanon

Keep Your Credit Card Secure

ow that the holidays are behind us, you’re hopefully putting that smoking credit card back into your wallet or purse for a while. But even though this may be a down time for you and your credit card, it’s no time to be lax about your credit card security. So what do you need to know about keeping your credit card safe? First, off, don’t give yourself a pin number that’s easy to guess. Issuing banks typically assign you a random pin number when you first get your card that you can change later. Keep this assigned number and avoid picking a pin for yourself like “1234” or your birth date. While it may be easy for you to remember, those choices are also very easy for predators to figure out. If you make a lot of online purchases or just want to dip your toes into the world of Internet shopping, get yourself a dedicated card with a low credit limit. You can open up a secured credit card at most financial institutions that require you to deposit a balance to borrow against, allowing you to open a card with a $500 limit. Your deposit will gain interest and you will be able to use your card for online purchases. What’s more, most scammers try to run a small purchase 28 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE

through before running a larger purchase on the card. You may not notice a $0.32 charge right away, but when your bank calls you asking if you tried to purchase a $779 laptop, you’ll be happy your limit was low enough to be declined. If your credit card number is compromised, you should call your bank immediately and report it. While police are able to enforce credit card fraud on a local level, with the Internet the person trying to run your numbers may be six states away, if they’re in the United States at all. In all cases, the sooner it’s reported, the better. Your bank will cancel the card number and reissue you another card. While you’re online, keep in mind that your bank will most likely never contact you via e-mail regarding your account. If you do get an e-mail from a bank that you use, double check the address. Chances are it will be slightly askew from any legitimate

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address. Instead of “@yourcreditcard.com,” you may see, “@yourcreditcard1.com” or “@yourcreditcard.uk.” Banks understand that scammers routinely try to get you to give up your personal information via e-mail. Therefore, most have secured e-mail available through their websites, where you can be sure you’re talking straight to legitimate bank representatives. Lastly, if you have several credit cards that you use often, take the time to flip them over and write down the 1-800 customer service numbers on the back and keep that list in a safe place. It’s also a good idea to keep a copy in your purse or wallet. This way, when you notice your card is missing and are frantic, you can at least go to your list and call to report the missing card. In the end, you should treat your credit card like you would treat your cash—never leave it lying around.

Digital Photography for Seniors

f the last time you took holiday photos required clumsily spooling film into your 35 mm camera, don’t be intimidated by what technology has done to photography in the past few years. In fact, once you have some basics down, you may find that your digital camera is easier to use than you thought. So let’s start at the beginning and go over your new toy from stem to stern. We can’t go into detail about every feature of every camera, but luckily most cameras share the same properties, so we can cover most scenarios. More than likely, your camera came with a lithium ion battery pack and charger. All you need to know about this is that this battery can last a long time. Thanks to self-timers built into your camera, if you forget to shut it off, it will shut off automatically for you, saving battery life and allowing you to take that unexpected shot when the time comes. That said, the battery won’t last forever, especially if you are shooting with the flash often or shooting video, if your camera has that feature. If you know you’re going to be somewhere with a lot of natural light, turn your flash off altogether and shoot longer. The second thing to familiarize yourself with is your memory card. Cameras come with a variety of memory cards to choose from. Regardless of the kind your camera takes, just remember that bigger is better. A 16 gigabyte memory card can hold hundreds of photos, and if you’re not in the habit of printing your photos right away or moving them to your computer, the extra space is a must. How many pictures you can store on your memory card depends on your resolution setting for your pictures. Your resolution is how big the picture is. If you’re shooting for a website, low resolutions are better because the file size is smaller. However, if you try to print the same low resolution photo as an 8x10, it will appear distorted or “pixilated” because the camera wasn’t set to capture all of the fine details of the image. With most point-and-shoot cameras on high resolution, you can print very large prints or zoom in to crop shots for better composition. The last thing to get to know is the USB cable. This is the cable that came with your camera and connects it to any USB port on your computer. Through this cable, you can transfer your images for future sorting, correction, or sharing. Believe it or not, once you have those things down, your digital camera has many of the same features of your old 35 mm. You can zoom in, set a timer so you have a chance to get into frame, and set a scenic mode where you can select how the camera operates in certain conditions, such as a portrait, sports shot, night shot, or landscape. Your manual will list the specific icons and their meanings. Don’t be afraid to leaf through it if you get stuck. Manuals have come a long way as well and are clearly written for users of all experience levels.

SeniorAgencies Chabad of the South Hills 1701 McFarland Road Pittsburgh, PA 15216 www.chabadsh.com 412.341.1494 Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh 345 Kane Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15243 412.278.1975, ext. 208 dgarfinkel@jccpgh.org www.jccpgh.org

Transportation For Older Adults There are several agencies that offer free or reduced rate transportation services to individuals who qualify. Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) 1.888.547.6287 Provides non-emergency medical transportation to residents of Allegheny County who have a valid Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Medical Assistance Card.

Free Bus Pass for Senior Citizens The Port Authority allows Allegheny County residents, 65 years of age and older, to ride free on local public transportation (buses, trolleys and rapid-transit lines). Participants must obtain identification cards, which are available free of charge, from participating transportation providers. Call 412.442.2000 for the location nearest to you. ACCESS 65 Plus and ACCESS ADA Program 412.562.5353 or TDD 1.800.654.5984 ACCESS is door-to-door, advance reservation, shared-ride transportation provided throughout Port Authority’s service area. It serves primarily senior citizens and persons with disabilities. There are no restrictions on the purpose or number of trips which may be taken by riders, except that riders are required to share their vehicle with others traveling in the same direction and at the same time. Older Persons Transportation Transportation for medical appointments, grocery shopping, senior center activities and other needs throughout Allegheny County is available to adults 60 years of age and older who live in Allegheny County. Call SeniorLine at 412.350.5460. Are you a nonprofit Senior Center serving the needs of our community’s older adults? We would be happy to post your contact information. Contact Marybeth@incommunity magazines.com with your center’s name and phone number.

Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 29

Older Adults in Mt. Lebanon LifeSpan Resource Centers Hillsdale Resource Center 1444 Hillsdale Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15216 412.343.6050 FAX 412.531.9230 Mon. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fri. 9 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3 pm E-mail: hillsdale@lifespanpa.org

Dormont Home Delivered Meals 1444 Hillsdale Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15216 412.343.6050 FAX 412.531.9230 E-mail:dormonthdm@lifespanpa.org

You Are Invited! Concert and Luncheon presented by the Chabad of the South Hills March 16, 12:30 p.m. PrePurim Seniors Jewish Community Center 345 Kane Blvd, Scott Township. Luncheon, live Klezmer Music, raffles, and Hamantashen. Suggested donation $5. RSVP Batya@chabadsh.com or call 412.344.2424.

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Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 31

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SPRING 2011

Health and Wellness News You Can Use

Healthy Family, Happy Family

What’s Inside page 2

A Clean Sweep Make fire safety a focus of your spring clean-up projects

page 3

From Gut-Wrenching Pain to Hope for the Future Stomachaches: When to Worry

Keeping yourself and your family healthy can seem like a full-time job.

page 4

Good Night, Sleep Tight! Are You Allergic to Your Bed?

With UPMC HealthTrak, you now have a convenient way to manage your health anytime and anywhere.

page 5

UPMC HealthTrak Lets You Manage Your Health Care Online

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Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Could It Happen to You?

page 7

Urology 101 UPMC Mercy Emergency Department Project Advances

A Clean Sweep Make fire safety a focus of your spring clean-up projects

Consider these potentially lifesaving tips from UPMC Mercy’s Trauma and Burn Center, which recently earned prestigious verification by the American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons. Spring is a great time to clean up around the house — inside and out. It’s also a great time to do a fire safety check and simple spring cleaning to help make your home safer. “Most home fires and burn injuries can be prevented,” says Jenny A. Ziembicki, MD, medical director of the UPMC Mercy Trauma and Burn Center. “Too often, we see children scalded by bath water that’s too hot, people with painful inhalation burns caused by mixing cleaning products, or deaths in homes with no working smoke alarms.” About 300 people are admitted to UPMC Mercy each year for treatment of burn injuries. Nearly one out of three of those burn patients is under the age of 15. UPMC Mercy is designated as a Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center by the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation. “We were the first burn center in Pennsylvania and the 17th in the country when we opened in 1966,” Dr. Ziembicki says. “Today, we’re the only center in the region with Level I trauma and comprehensive burn capabilities under the same roof.”

Dr. Ziembicki advises families to reduce the risk of fires and burn injuries in their home by following these simple spring cleaning tips: • Check carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, replace the batteries, and vacuum away any dust or debris. • Set your water heater to 120 degrees. Consider using a bath thermometer, especially if you live with young children, the elderly, or diabetics. • Clean out your basement and garage. Properly dispose of any oily rags, and empty paint or aerosol cans. Recycle unnecessary papers and boxes. • Clean out lint build-up in your clothes dryer vents, exhaust ducts, and behind the dryer. Remember to clean the screen/filter after each use. • Read instructions carefully when using cleaning products. Mixing solvents can produce toxic fumes that can burn eyes and airways. • If you have children, look for any evidence they’ve been playing with matches.

• Don’t fire up that propane grill until you check for leaks and cracks, and signs of blockage from insects, spiders, and food grease. • For charcoal grills, use only charcoal lighter fluid, and never add any lighter fluid or other flammable liquids after igniting. • Place your grill away from railings, high traffic areas, windows, heating/air conditioning units, or places with high/dead vegetation. • Make sure all family members know how to respond to a smoke alarm alert. Choose a meeting place such as a tree, light pole, or mailbox that is a safe distance from your home in the event of a fire. • Make an escape plan. Draw a floor plan of each level of your home and discuss it with all members of your household. For more information, contact the Hydrotherapy Department at UPMC Mercy at 412-232-8794.

Did You Know? • Across the nation, someone dies in a fire every 175 minutes, and someone is injured in a fire every 31 minutes.

• Approximately 85 percent of all U.S. fire deaths occur in homes.

www.UPMC.com/Today

• A residential fire occurs every 84 seconds. • Every day, 435 children from infancy to age 19 are treated in emergency departments for burn-related injuries, and two children die as a result of being burned.

• Nearly two-thirds of reported home fire deaths occurred in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Sources: National Fire Protection Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From Gut-Wrenching Pain to Hope for the Future UPMC’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center wields a powerful “triple threat” against IBD: Groundbreaking immunology, genetics research, and innovative clinical care. The primary goal of drug therapy is to reduce inflammation in the intestines. Medications include anti-inflammatory drugs; antibiotics to kill germs in the intestinal track; probiotics to restore good bacteria; corticosteroids to provide short-term relief during flare-ups; and immunosuppressants.

At age 23, John Oliver* is feeling better about the future. Free from the gutwrenching pain of Crohn’s disease since a second bowel surgery in 2008 — this time followed by a promising new treatment developed at UPMC using biologic-based drug therapy — he is now making plans to attend medical school next fall. “I think the medicine is working. It’s the best I’ve felt and the best I’ve looked,” says John, who earned his biomedical engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a master’s degree in engineering management from Duke University. His gastroenterologist, Miguel Regueiro, MD, clinical head and codirector of the UPMC Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, says the future has never looked brighter for IBD patients. “Ten years ago, a diagnosis of IBD was devastating. Now, we have new medicines, a greater understanding of the disease, and better research,” he says.

IBD: Who’s at risk? Nearly two million Americans live with IBD, which is not to be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBD involves two chronic diseases that cause inflammation of the intestines: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Symptoms include abdominal cramps and pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and bleeding.

Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the small and large intestines, while ulcerative colitis affects the large bowel alone. IBD cuts across all ages, genders, and ethnicities, but generally affects Caucasians ages 15 to 35. While the exact cause is not known, experts believe IBD involves a compromised or overactive immune system. Because IBD may run in families, doctors also believe genetics plays a role. While stress and certain foods do not cause IBD, both can make symptoms worse.

Treatment According to Dr. Regueiro, drugs cannot cure IBD, but they can be effective in reducing the inflammation and accompanying symptoms. While some patients have mild symptoms requiring little medication, others have more debilitating flare-ups, and some patients have severe problems requiring surgery and even transplants.

In addition, the IBD Center recently developed a Visceral Inflammation and Pain (VIP) Center to help patients deal with both the physical pain and emotional stress of coping with IBD.

Exciting breakthroughs The latest generation of drugs, called biologic therapies, are proving very effective in inducing remission so that patients can lead normal lives. At UPMC, doctors took this approach a step further — as in John’s case — by prescribing biologic drug therapy after performing surgery to remove the damaged section of the intestine. In use now at other hospitals, this treatment has reduced the recurrence of Crohn’s disease in patients by nearly two thirds. * John Oliver’s treatment and results may not be representative of similar cases.

Stomachaches: When to Worry Everyone gets a stomachache — or abdominal pain — from time to time. Most stomachaches are harmless conditions caused by overeating, gas, or indigestion. But they can point to more serious medical problems, says Ragunath Appasamy, MD, PhD, chief of gastroenterology at UPMC Mercy. “Most people know when a stomachache is simply a stomachache,” says Dr. Appasamy. “However, if the pain is different — something unusual for you — it’s time to call your doctor.” There are many potential causes of abdominal pain, explains Dr. Appasamy. “It’s important that patients contact their primary care physician if mild stomach pain lasts more than six hours or continues to worsen, or if the pain is accompanied by other symptoms.”

Get immediate medical help if: • You have abdominal pain that is very sharp, severe, and sudden. Pain located on the lower right side of the abdomen can mean appendicitis. • You also have pain in the chest, neck, or shoulder. Some heart attacks and pneumonias can cause abdominal pain. • You’re vomiting blood or having bloody diarrhea. • Your abdomen is stiff, hard, and tender to the touch. • You can’t move your bowels, especially if you’re also vomiting. The bottom line: Trust your gut! Contact your doctor if you’re concerned about lingering or unusual stomach pain.

1-800-533-UPMC

Health Tips from UPMC Health Plan

Good Night, Sleep Tight! Are you among the millions of Americans suffering from lack of sleep? If so, droopy eyelids, wide yawns, and low energy are the least of your worries. Sleep disruption — not sleeping enough or sleeping poorly — can affect your memory, disease resistance, and leave you struggling to stay alert in school, on the job, and on the road. Studies show that people who get the appropriate amount of sleep on a regular basis also tend to live longer, healthier lives than those who sleep too few or even too many hours each night. So, what is a good night’s sleep? According to the National Institutes of Health, most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep a night. School-aged children and teens need at least nine hours of sleep each night. Tips to help you sleep • Stick to a sleep schedule. Get up about the same time each day, no matter how many hours of sleep you got the previous night. • Maintain healthy sleep habits. Go to bed only when you’re sleepy. Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and relaxing — not too hot or too cold. Don’t text, e-mail, read, or watch TV in bed. • Make sure your mattress is comfortable. Remember, even a good quality mattress needs to be replaced within 10 years. • Exercise is great, but not too late. Avoid exercising within a few hours before bedtime. • Avoid caffeinated drinks after lunch. The stimulating effects of caffeine in coffee, colas, teas, and chocolate can take as long as eight hours to wear off. • Avoid large meals at night. A large meal can cause indigestion that interferes with sleep. • Avoid alcoholic drinks before bedtime. While a nightcap may help you relax, alcohol keeps you in the lighter stages of sleep and tends to wake you during the night. And, for adolescents and young adults: • Avoid stimulating activities around bedtime. This includes intense studying, text messaging, video games, and lengthy phone conversations. • Avoid pulling “all nighters” during exams. • Sleep in on weekends — but not more than two to three hours past your normal wake time. Sleeping longer may disrupt your body clock. Find a more complete list of the benefits of good sleep at www.UPMC.com/Today.

AreYouAllergic toYour Bed? The dust in your bedroom might be making you sick. Dust mites, and dander, and fibers — oh my! These are just some of the microscopic menaces in ordinary house dust that can cause health problems. Dust mites are a common cause of allergies and asthma. It’s not the dust mite itself that can make you sick; it’s the dust mite debris (the mite’s feces and decaying body). Dust collects in every room of the house because it is easily trapped in linens, upholstery, carpets, and draperies. But the bedroom is a favorite habitat for dust mites because it provides a warm, humid environment, and plenty of food (dead skin from humans and pets).

Five ways to help wipe out dust mites While you can’t completely eliminate dust mites, these simple steps may help reduce their numbers: 1. Cover your mattress and pillows in dust-proof or allergen-blocking covers, and encase box springs in vinyl or plastic covers. 2. Wash and dry bed sheets, pillowcases, blankets, curtains, and bedcovers weekly in hot water (140 degrees). If bedding can’t be washed, put the items in the dryer set at a high temperature for 20 minutes. 3. Vacuum carpeting and upholstery weekly. Using a HEPA-filter vacuum can help keep dust from floating back into the air. 4. Use a damp cloth or mop to remove dust from hard surfaces and exposed floors. This will prevent dust from becoming airborne and resettling. 5. Keep the indoor temperature at 70 degrees and humidity at no more than 50 percent. Dust mites aren’t the only puny pests that can invade your bedroom. Bed bugs have made a comeback in recent years. For tips on ways to avoid a bed bug infestation, visit www.UPMC.com/Today. Sources: National Institutes of Health, Environmental Protection Agency

www.UPMC.com/Today

UPMC Spotlight

UPMC HealthTrak Lets You Manage Your Health Care Online

Keeping track of health issues, test results, and medications is challenging for Sandy Hogue*, who is disabled and chronically ill. Because she must rely on cabs for transportation, seeing a primary care doctor can be an all-day affair. That’s why she was eager to sign up for UPMC HealthTrak, an Internet-based service that enables patients to receive and manage information about their health. Sandy uses it to monitor her glucose and high cholesterol levels, check test results, make appointments, renew prescriptions, and diagnose medical conditions — all from the comfort of her home in Westmoreland County. “It’s a good system. I get the medical treatment I need faster without spending a day traveling around,” says Sandy. “It keeps me in contact with my doctor and helps me monitor my medical conditions. And if I have anything contagious, like the flu, it prevents me from infecting other people.” More patients choosing HealthTrak Approximately 42,000 UPMC patients have signed on to HealthTrak, which gives them secure electronic access to their medical records, medications, and other information. HealthTrak recently was expanded to include eVisits — an online digital house call — with a primary care physician. * These patients’ treatments and results may not be representative of similar cases.

During an eVisit, patients select a symptom and complete an interactive questionnaire. A UPMC doctor then reviews the information and makes a diagnosis. If medication is needed, a prescription can be sent electronically to the patient’s pharmacy.

“HealthTrak is great for college students who are far from home, the elderly, and other people who have trouble getting to the doctor. It doesn’t take the place of going to the doctor for regular check-ups, but it’s very useful,” Robin says. “If only UPMC could figure a way for me to see my dentist online!”

Oakmont resident Mark Gleeson* uses HealthTrak primarily to keep track of his medical records. In October, when the computer-savvy 83-year-old came down with a cough and cold late in the day, he decided to “see” a doctor via eVisit. Within an hour of completing the questionnaire, a UPMC doctor responded with medical instructions and a prescription for his sinus infection and chest congestion. “It was so convenient, and it worked! Within three days, I felt good as new,” Mark says. Convenience and comfort As a graduate student, Robin Sales* relied on HealthTrak to connect with her hometown doctor while attending school in Nevada. Now a young professional living in New York City, she continues to use the online service for eVisits, to fill prescriptions, and access her medical records.

UPMC HealthTrak Benefits Manage your health from home with HealthTrak. Here’s what you can do online: • Send a message to your doctor • View medical records and test results

“It’s comforting. Having easy access to a doctor back home gives me the chance to find the right doctor for me locally, without rushing into it. It’s one less thing to worry about,” she says.

• Renew prescriptions

Robin, who first used eVisit to consult a doctor about an eye infection, says the online questionnaire asks the same questions the doctor would ask at an appointment. When she needs medicine, her doctor in Pittsburgh faxes the prescription to her New York drug store two minutes away.

• Ask billing questions

• Track current health issues such as glucose levels and blood pressure • Request appointments • “See” a doctor (digital house call) For more information or to sign up, visit www.UPMCHealthTrak.com.

1-800-533-UPMC

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Could it Happen to You? Most of us associate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with returning military veterans who have experienced the tragedy of war. But you don’t have to be a soldier to undergo the intense feelings of helplessness, horror, and fear that characterize PTSD. Imagine being in a terrible car accident on your way to the mall. For days and weeks afterwards, you constantly relive the accident in your mind. You take a different route to shop and, worst of all, your body won’t let you relax. You can’t sleep — and when you finally do doze off, you’re awakened by nightmares. You can’t concentrate, your heart pounds, and you break out in cold sweats. “We know that anyone who has undergone some kind of trauma can be at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder,” explains Anne Germain, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Based at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC, she currently leads several sleep research projects with returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who have PTSD. PTSD can be triggered by a single event you’ve experienced or even witnessed — be it an accident, violent crime, or natural disaster — or by ongoing trauma, such as child abuse or domestic violence. When we experience a life-threatening event, it’s normal for our body to react with a powerful, stressful response; it’s what enables us to fight or flee. “But for some people, these symptoms persist and worsen,” says Dr. Germain. “The toll can be profound if symptoms are ignored. PTSD has a devastating impact on the lives of people who have it — and on those around them. It also has enormous financial and economic implications.”

Did You Know? UPMC's Sleep Medicine Center — accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine — is the only multidisciplinary sleep medicine facility in western Pennsylvania. The center performs approximately 2,000 sleep studies annually for adult patients with all types of sleep disorders. The staff at the UPMC Sleep Medicine Center include board-certified physicians, certified nurse practitioners, and registered sleep laboratory technologists. To schedule an appointment, call 412-692-2880.

www.UPMC.com/Today

PTSD is a relatively new specialization in psychology, and experts are still trying to determine why it affects some people and not others. Fortunately, for most people, the symptoms of PTSD begin to ease in about a month. “If they continue, it’s extremely important to seek professional help,” notes Dr. Germain. “The best place to begin is to talk with your family doctor and seek a referral to a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist.”

PTSD and sleep disorders Among the most troubling aspects of chronic PTSD for patients are the recurring nightmares and insomnia it can bring. There is growing evidence that such sleep disorders have a direct impact on both a person’s mental and physical health. Individuals with PTSD often say they have problems falling or staying asleep, and that the sleep they get isn’t refreshing and restorative. “Our sleep research studies with veterans show that they have many more sleep disorders than the general public, including sleep apnea and other breathing problems,” notes Dr. Germain. With PTSD, nightmares can become an ingrained behavior, affecting a person’s daytime functioning — from faltering concentration and poor memory, to emotional outbursts. “By stopping the nightmares and helping to make sleep more normal, restful, and restorative, patients can overcome other aspects of chronic PTSD in their lives a bit more easily. And sleep can be improved in a matter of weeks,” she says. Dr. Germain uses several methods to treat PTSD-related sleep disorders, including image reversal therapy. “We help patients replace a recurring nightmare with a more positive, affirming dream. They write it down and rehearse it several times a day to train the brain to have a new dream image.” Individuals interested in participating in Dr. Germain’s sleep research studies for military veterans are invited to call 412-246-6404 or visit www.veteranssleep.pitt.edu.

Urology 101 From prostate cancer to kidney stones, here’s a quick crash course about your urologic health. “Out of sight, out of mind.” That’s how most of us regard our urinary tract — until we’re jarred from a sound night’s sleep by the sudden urge to urinate, or pass a painful kidney stone. These are just two of the many conditions diagnosed and treated by urologists, physicians who specialize in the medical care of the male and female urinary tracts (comprised of the kidneys, bladder, urethra, and ureters), and the male reproductive system. Today’s television commercials may help build public awareness of urological problems like incontinence and impotence. But many people — particularly men — remain steadfastly embarrassed to talk about such issues with their family doctor.

And while urologic problems can happen at any age, they increase as we grow older. Among men over age 50, prostate cancer is a particular concern. “It’s the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the United States,” explains Dr. Benoit. He advises men ages 50 to 75 to undergo an annual prostate exam and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. “If you have a family history of prostate cancer, or are of African-American heritage, you’re at higher risk and should begin annual screening between the ages of 35 and 40.”

“It’s important to be proactive and take a preventative approach when it comes to your urologic health,” advises Ronald Benoit, MD, director of general urology and clinical vice chair, Department of Urology at the University of Pittsburgh. “For example, research shows that erectile dysfunction can be a sign of an underlying medical problem, such as cardiovascular disease.”

Conditions Treated by Urologists

What can you do to stay healthy? “Simply put, live a healthy lifestyle. It’s easy to say, but hard to do,” acknowledges Dr. Benoit, who recently moved his practice to UPMC Mercy. “Eat a heart-healthy diet, avoid too much alcohol, don’t smoke, and exercise regularly — and your whole body benefits.”

• Erectile dysfunction

Your family physician will typically refer you to a urologist for treatment of the following conditions: • Cancers of testicles, prostate, penis, bladder, kidneys, or adrenal gland • Enlarged prostate • Male infertility • Painful bladder syndrome

• Prostatitis • Pelvic organ prolapse • Kidney stones • Urinary incontinence • Urinary tract infections • Urinary retention

UPMC Mercy Emergency Department Project Advances Work on a major $21.3 million expansion and renovation project at UPMC Mercy’s Emergency Department (ED) is humming along with finishing touches scheduled for completion by late fall. Thomas Gronow, executive director of UPMC Mercy’s Emergency, Trauma, and Burn Services, says the project — which began in February 2010 and has been conducted in phases to minimize disruption — is “on time and running smoothly.” “We are pleased to be able to continue providing exceptional care to our patients during this exciting time of transition,” Mr. Gronow says.

Other recent improvements include: • Fifteen newly renovated treatment bays (another 21 are planned). • Two dedicated, state-of-the-art trauma resuscitation bays will be added for the most acutely injured patients. • An innovative ‘Super Track’ design that offers speedy care for patients with minor injuries and illnesses needing less urgent care. • A new 128-slice CT scanner added last year offers the latest imaging technology with faster scanning capability. • An expanded patient and family reception area to provide comfort to families of patients during treatment. By the time the project is completed, 11 beds will be added to the ED.

1-800-533-UPMC

UPMC Mercy 1400 Locust St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219

UPMC Today is published quarterly to provide you with health and wellness information and classes and events available at UPMC. This publication is for 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 on Facebook.

The name you trust in women’s health is right here at Mercy. UPMC Mercy ob-gyn services are growing to provide comprehensive women’s services by bringing you the same experts who practice at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. In addition to community-based physicians and midwifery, these expanding services for women are consistent with Mercy’s rich tradition of care. UPMC’s complete range of specialty services for women covers obstetrics and gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, midlife health, women’s cancer, and much more. From checkups and preventive care to testing, diagnosis, and advanced treatments, the superb doctors, nurses, and caregivers at Mercy and Magee are with you every step of the way on the path to good health. We work closely with your primary care physician to provide seamless care. And every service is backed by UPMC’s world-class care, providing peace of mind when you need it most. To learn more about UPMC Mercy ob-gyn services or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762), or visit UPMCMercy.com.

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The Healing Powers of

Nutrition

hen Janet McKee saw a 13-year-old girl suffering from a mystery ailment that baffled doctors get out of her wheelchair after drastically changing her diet, she knew that the story had to be documented for others to learn from. The ensuing production, entitled “Bethany’s Story,” chronicles the girl’s illness from its onset to her recovery and should be ready for viewing later this year, McKee said. While the story is unique unto itself, it’s not the first time McKee has seen people recover in ways that can only be termed “miraculous,” and she’s convinced that diet was the one variable that measurably resulted in those recoveries. “I am a board-certified holistic house practitioner. My job is to resolve health challenges and help people reach health and wellness through natural means,” McKee said. “The common sense things I’m coming across all are results of experiences with certain clients that have incredible stories of how food has healed their bodies.” Those clients include a woman rebounding from stage 4 lung cancer and a man who made similar progress in reversing his stage 4 colon cancer. “As part of what I’m seeing with my client and with others, it’s absolutely unbelievable what we’re finding that’s possible through nutrition,” McKee said. “People know this generally. They know that heart disease and diabetes are food related, and there are things that people can do to prevent or improve their chances of avoiding them. But you can eat certain foods, and it will reverse diabetes. We have a client who was terminal and told she had a few months to live. We put her on a program and changed her diet dramatically. Her smaller tumors have disappeared, and her large one is dead because they aren’t finding any activity with it. We’re seeing that the body can heal, and we want to encourage people to know this information and make it available. Regardless of the situation, there’s potential that things can be resolved or at least improved. Their health can be improved greatly.” In Bethany’s case, the young subject of McKee’s documentary, Bethany stepped on a nail. After receiving a tetanus shot, which McKee said was and is the best course of action in those cases, Bethany started having a reaction to the shot that resulted in gradually debilitating paralysis. She lost her ability to walk, was in a wheelchair for three and a half years, and eventually became paralyzed from the neck down. Doctors concluded that Bethany would never walk again, McKee said. After much research, Bethany and her family decided to make a drastic change in Bethany’s diet, a sort of “Hail

Mary” pass looking for a medical touchdown. Within a month, she was moving her feet and mystified her physicians. A month later, she was wearing leg braces and in five months, she was running and dancing like any girl her age. “It proves, along with all these people I’ve been working with, the power of food to heal the body,” McKee said. “The story is really powerful. We interviewed five medical doctors to explain how this is possible. How can the body regenerate nerves? How can she regain the ability to walk? We still have quite a bit of work to do, but we do have the full interviews available on a DVD. We didn’t want to wait to get that out.” Since working on the documentary, McKee has been presenting to doctors at UPMC, where she just completed a four-part lecture series. This February, McKee is scheduled to talk to more medical directors. “All of this is just building, and it’s like a snowball effect. We’re talking about foods that you can get in any grocery store—mostly mainstream fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These are things that anyone can go to the local store and buy for themselves,” McKee said. “It’s not necessary for people to go to health stores or go to the Internet. I’m not even talking supplements. We’re talking food— raspberries, garlic, broccoli. It’s a focus on plant foods. Plants have what you need to heal the body.” Because of our culture, McKee said that much of what Americans eat does little for them nutritionally. Food is packaged for convenience, speed, and shelf life, resulting in over-processing. “The standard American diet is not ideal for our bodies, and it’s really a shame,” she said. “We’re going back to some of the traditional diets that you would see in Asia and Europe. It’s going back to what our ancestors ate. Everything you see today is processed and full of chemicals.” McKee said that she hopes the film, and the lessons it will offer, will be complete by winter of 2011. Whether it be casual viewers or those in the medical profession, McKee’s goal is to get the documentary into as many hands as she can so that people can see that food and nutrition really can make a difference in people’s health. “We’ll need the summer to do what’s necessary to do what’s right with the video,” she said. “We have people already who want to bring it out nationally. The story is incredible. The medical community is seeing it and coming on board with it.” For more info on “Bethany’s Story,” including project updates, go to: www.janetmckee.com. Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 45

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R E A L E STAT E

Both Buyers and Sellers Need to BEWARE of

M T. L E B A N O N

OVERpricing

“You have to make sure that your agent But there’s no similar failsafe with overAs with any major purchase, doing your does comparisons to similar homes in the pricing. A home that’s overpriced may get a homework should be something you do area, knows the market, and gets supporting nice offer, but ultimately, the final arbiter of before you sign on a major loan. Never evidence that the house is really worth what it’s truly worth is the appraiser, before has this been more true than in the what it’s being advertised at before you assigned independently by the bank or housing market, where overpricing can creput in an offer,” Fincham said. “If the house lender. That appraisal will dictate the future ate major headaches for buyers and sellers. of the sale. For sellers, overpricing can mean that doesn’t appraise for the agreed upon price, The resulting appraisal could tank the sale your home sits on the market longer, raising it is unlikely that you will receive any altogether, or force buyers to seek extra flags to potential buyers that something is seller’s assist.” money or alternative financing to amiss. For buyers, an overpriced compensate for the missed seller’s home can mean a loss in seller’s For buyers, an overpriced home can mean a loss assistance. Either way, it’s going to assistance, money that sellers in seller’s assistance, money that sellers sometimes bring to the table from mean a hassle for the buyer and sometimes bring to the table from their profits their profits to help defray closing frustration for the seller. costs for the buyer. Worse yet, if However, if an agent does the to help defray closing costs for the buyer. there is no appraisal contingency homework and knows their business, addendum attached to the Fincham said the home should be listagreement of sale, a buyer may be ed at a fair price, resulting in a forced to go through with a home relatively smooth sale in reasonable purchase after being told that it is not worth length of time. what they have agreed to pay. “It is now imperative that agents and What’s more, overpricing is a one-way Sharon Fincham, a Realtor with clients know the recent selling prices of street by way of mistakes. Homeowners who Prudential Preferred Realty, said that, comparable homes,” she said. “Buyers list their homes for too little may receive in addition to including an appraisal and sellers agreeing on a price is not multiple offers, allowing the power of free contingency addendum to an offer, you necessarily enough anymore. The study market economic supply and demand need to make sure that your agent is of a neighborhood before an offer is made to take over, driving the price up until doing the proper legwork before the can save everyone involved a lot of grief it’s comparable to the other homes in offer is even made. the neighborhood. and frustration.”

Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 47

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R E A L E STAT E

Reeducation

M T. L E B A N O N

Seller

In today’s post-housing-bust world, selling your home isn’t the same process that it may have been when you moved in 10 years ago.

Maureen Cavanaugh, with Howard Hanna Real Estate, said that sellers need to re-educate themselves if they want to remain competitive in today’s market and make a profit on their homes. “Selling your home is very diﬀerent today, and it’s been a progressive thing,” Cavanaugh said. “Ten years ago, you could list your home as is. Buyers were willing to come in and do updates. With the changes that occurred in the last three and four years, the expectation of buyers has dramatically risen. Many sellers who have lived in their homes for years with a lot of equity

should consider doing as many updates as they are willing to do.” Those updates will reap more money when it comes to their final sale price, Cavanaugh said. No updates will result in a lesser price. “It really depends on the house. I’m dealing with someone right now that has a nice home of 32 years, and they’ve spent three months and have done everything. They’re spending upwards of $25,000, but it will take their sale price from the $380,000 range to $425,000 or $430,000. They will recoup what they put into it,” Cavanaugh said. “And the reason is that today’s buyers want to move in, put down the furniture, start paying the mortgage, and get on with their lives. They don’t want to be bogged down with the projects and upgrades like taking down old wallpaper.” If you don’t have a budget for upgrades, Cavanaugh said that even minor cosmetic changes can improve your odds of getting more for your home when it comes time to sell. These types of upgrades include updating the hardware on cabinets to more contemporary styles. At the very least, Cavanaugh suggests getting rid of any junk, cleaning thoroughly, and doing some rudimentary staging. “Exposing hardwood floors is a no-brainer. You don’t have to paint the whole house beige. You can still have some color and have some interest,” she said. “But everything should be sparkling.” Cavanaugh said that now that the first-time homebuyer frenzies spurred by government tax rebates are over, the bulk of homebuyers are mid-level buyers looking in the $150,000 to $300,000 range with access to aﬀordable mortgage money. “These are relocation buyers, and they want all the bells and whistles,” she said. “They want to buy more, and they want it done.”

Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 49 Xxxxxxxx | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 2

R E A L E STAT E

M T. L E B A N O N

Many finding the flexibility and income potential excellent

Real Estate As A Career

s the dwindling job market numbers continue to make the news lately, the professionals in the real estate market seem to have one of the best kept secrets going. For those who need some flexibility but desire a job with excellent income potential, a career in real estate is an excellent choice. Whether a person has just finished college or wants to return to work now that the kids are attending school, joining a sales team at a real estate agency close to home can lead to income rewards and a flexible work schedule that many people desire. In this day and age of electronic media, with all of the tools available to agents to help buyers and sellers in acquiring and disposing of properties, the fast pace of the real estate market is an exciting place to work. People who have just graduated from college have the upper hand in marketing to their peers through social network sites. The use of Face Book and Linked In is a tool that is being used to make contact with their peers, who are also first time home buyers. Those who have taken time off to raise their children and are looking for an alternative to a standard 9am-5pm job have found great success in a real estate career. The flexibility of the job is what makes it such an attractive option.

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What makes for a successful real estate professional? “Patience,” says Sandy Goldstein of Keller Williams. With the economy still in turmoil, real estate transactions don’t just happen. You need to be willing to educate clients on the real estate process, show them properties and then wait for the decision. Patience is key,” states Goldstein. People wanting to get into the real estate industry must be willing to invest in their brand. “You must brand yourself as a real estate professional, and that takes time.” Goldstein, who has been in real estate for over 20 years says you must be willing to work hard to establish yourself in the community. The career path to becoming a real estate agent is varied. People who have previously worked in service-oriented fields like nursing, teaching or in the airline industry make great real estate agents. Those who have spent years volunteering their time and are now looking for a paying job, and have honed their skill in dealing with different types of personalities generally make a good transition into the real estate work force. A position within a real estate agency can be rewarding both personally and financially. The flexibility that comes with setting your own schedule and the satisfaction of assisting in one of the largest transactions that most people will make, can make the difference between a just doing a job and a creating a successful career.

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S P R I N G

2 0 1 1

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How to Keep them Away!

G e r mWhat s Are Allergies?

When our bodies need to fight off germs, they make antibodies to attack germs and keep us healthy. Just as our bodies make antibodies to fight germs, they may also make antibodies in response to other substances that get inside our bodies. This results in an allergy—an adverse reaction caused by hypersensitivity to a normally harmless substance such as pollen, dust, food, or a drug. Allergens—the substance that causes the allergic reaction—can cause one or several responses.

Germs

Key Fact:

Germs

When you sneeze germs can travel at 80 miles per hour across a room!

When should kids wash their hands?

Children should be reminded to wash their hands before, during and after food is prepared; before and after you eat; after using the bathroom; after handling animals or animal waste such as The “Happy Birthday” song changing a cage or catbox; whenever hands are dirty or when helps keep your hands clean? kids have been outside playing; and more frequently when anyone Not exactly.Yet we recommend that when in the classroom, care setting or home is sick. you wash your hands – with soap and warm water – that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. That's about the same time it takes to sing the A single germ can grow to become more “Happy Birthday” song twice!

Key Fact:

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K R R H W I I O S V A

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M T K O K N AW K H E G Z U F O S C S U WG

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Germs

The

Groundhog T

he groundhog, or woodchuck, is one of 14 species of marmots. These rodents eat during the summer to fatten themselves up for hibernation during the winter. After the first frost, they retreat to their underground burrows and snooze until spring. During hibernation, the groundhog lives off its body fat, its heart rate plunges, and its body temperature is not much warmer than the temperature inside its burrow.

Groundhog hibernation is where the popular American custom of Groundhog Day got its name. Groundhog Day is held on February 2 every year. By tradition, if the groundhog sees its shadow that day, there will be six more weeks of winter. In the spring, females welcome a litter of perhaps a half dozen newborns, which stay with their mother for several months. Groundhogs are the largest members of the squirrel family.

wild local a nimals Though they are usually seen on the ground, they can climb trees and are also good swimmers. These rodents hang out in areas where woodlands meet open spaces, like fields, roads, or streams. Here they eat grasses and r e plants as well as fruits and v e n tree bark.

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yuck!

germs...

find these things hiding in this picture. Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 53

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Thrive PlaceTM Gets to the ROOT of Feeding, Sensory & Nutritional Challenges “I can’t get my baby to eat table foods, she gags and vomits when I feed her - I am so frustrated!” At Thrive Place™ we understand the challenges parents face when their child struggles with mealtime difficulties, whether it be gagging, extreme pickiness, pocketing food, food refusal, chewing or swallowing problems, aspirating or just general mealtime anxiety. Developed by Thrive Place™, The Eat Right Plan™ is a personalized, structured feeding therapy process designed to help children achieve the eating skills they need to thrive. Each plan is designed around your child’s needs, abilities and skills. Through highly-specialized therapy, our dedicated team of therapists will work with your child to develop a healthy relationship with food and eating. We will also give you the tools and training you need to continue the therapy in the comfort of your own home. “Completing daily routines and transitioning between activities is a constant struggle for our son. What can we do to help him?” The Good Sense Plan™ is Thrive Place™’s treatment approach for children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Through this plan occupational therapists develop a personalized journey that guides your child through active, meaningful, and fun activities, administered in a purposeful sequence to promote appropriate lasting responses and behaviors to the daily sensations the body receives. As your child progresses through the The Good Sense Plan™ a major focus of treatment will include continuous education of the family so that parents can learn to engage their child in therapeutic and enjoyable activities at home and in the community. “The doctor says my daughter is underweight for her age, I’ve tried everything and I just don’t know how to get her to gain weight.” The experienced multi-disciplinary team at Thrive Place™ includes a registered dietitian who advocates for early and aggressive nutrition therapy. She works with the occupational and speech therapists to ensure that nutrition is an integral part of managing symptoms and promoting wellness for children. If you have concerns about your child’s feeding, sensory abilities or nutrition contact Thrive Place™ today at 412.521.1067 or visit us on the web at www.ThrivePlace.com.

412.221.2248 724.745.7422 www.colemanmitchell.com info@colemanmitchell.com

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Do business with people who do business David and Leslie Runco Tim Bywalski

Edward Jones “Making sense of investing.” www.edwardjones.com 412.343.1660

Eagle Eye Construction “Additions, remodeling, game rooms, painting, decks and windows.” eagleeyeconstruction@verizon.net 412.779.6900 PA028061

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North Star Communications, Inc. “More than just talk” 802-3 Millers Run Road Cecil, PA 15321 412.221.5155

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Health Insurance & Employee Benefits “Medical benefit plans for you or your business” 412.341.0848

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McKee Organizing Services Inc. “Helping busy people, simplify their lives, save time and enjoy life more!” www.mckeeos.com 412.341.8754 Lasondrah at

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Dennis E. Piper, CEO

DEP Technologies, Inc. Computer, printer, network, Web, sales and service specialists. www.deptechnologies.com 412.922.8824

H. David Holzer David L. Holzer

Holzer Financial LP “Protecting Your Business, Family & Employees” www.HolzerFinancial.com 412.429.9650 Sam McMillen

Sam & Mary’s Woodworks “Furniture Refinishing and Repair” 550 Mayer Street Bridgeville, PA 15017 412.221.1477

Diane Wright

Diane Wright Designs “Unique and original handcrafted jewelry” www.dianewrightdesigns.etsy.com 412.781.4818

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Mary Kay Cosmetics “How old you are is your business, how young you look is mine” www.marykay.com/rspadaro 412.279.7749

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Dormont Appliance Centers “Discover the Dormont Difference” www.dormontappliance.com 412.531.9700

Mt. Lebanon Chapter Michael S. Hornick

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Schafer Interiors “Furniture, Design, Fine Art, Lighting and Accessories” 320 Castle Shannon Blvd. Mt. Lebanon, PA 15234 schaferinteriors@verizon.net 412.344.0233

“Expose your property to more buyers” 1539 Washington Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15228 412.344.0500 Linda Barnicott

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For more information on BNI Mt. Lebanon Chapter, go to www.bni–westernpa.com Contact Cyndi Sanborn 724.941.0101 cyndi@bni–westernpa.com

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BNI is the largest business networking organization in the world. We offer members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and most importantly, business referrals. BNI was founded in 1985. The organization has over 5,500 chapters throughout every populated continent of the world. Last year alone, BNI generated 6.2 million referrals resulting in $2.6 billion worth of business for its members. In Western Pennsylvania, over 700 members participate in 31 chapters covering 20 counties.

HOUSES

We are interested in highlighting your church! If you are a member of the clergy from this area and would like to contribute an inspirational message that all of our readers might enjoy, please contact Marybeth Jeffries, Managing Editor at marybeth@ incommunitymagazines.com for more information.

Beth-El Congregation of South Hills ..................... 412.561.1168 Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church .................. 412.561.5100 Bower Hill Community Church............................... 412.561.4114 First Church of Christ, Scientist ............................. 412.561.1125 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church ...................... 412.833.3355 Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church .................................. 412.561.8113 Mt. Lebanon Christian Church ............................... 412.531.8554 Mt. Lebanon United Lutheran ................................ 412.563.0300 Mt. Lebanon United Methodist .............................. 412.531.7131 Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church ........... 412.531.3387 Our Lady of Grace .................................................... 412.279.7070 Our Savior Lutheran................................................. 412.561.1211 Southminster Presbyterian..................................... 412.343.8900 St. Anne’s Church..................................................... 412.531.5965 St. Bernard Church .................................................. 412.561.3300 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.................................... 412.531.7153 St. Thomas More...................................................... 412.833.0031 St. Winifred’s Church............................................... 412.344.5010 Sunset Hills United Presbyterian Church............. 412.561.6261 Temple Emanuel of South Hills .............................. 412.279.7600 The Chabad of the South Hills................................ 412.344.2424 Unitarian Universalist Church of South Hills ....... 412.561.6277

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ears of a “double-dip” recession are in the air. Obviously, this isn’t particularly good news; we’d all like to feel that the economy is growing robustly. At the same time, however, you’ll want to avoid making hasty, ill-advised investment decisions based on the mere threat of a slide into another recession. Instead, you’ll want to keep your long-term investment plan intact — in all economic environments. The possibility of a double-dip recession makes great headlines. But such events have been rare. In fact, we’ve seen only one double-dip recession in the past 77 years. However, this history hasn’t stopped gloomy forecasters from predicting a double-dip in 1991 (it didn’t happen) and in 2003 (when it didn’t happen again). Will we again avoid the double-dip recession this time? It’s dangerous to make predictions, but it seems more likely that what we’re really experiencing is a “soft patch” in the economic recovery as retail sales remain weak, consumer confidence is low and unemployment remains high. But on the positive side, manufacturing activity has been strong, corporate earnings have rebounded to pre-recession levels and profit margins are near all-time highs. And yet, many investors are focusing strictly on the negative reports — and they’re acting on their fears by moving money from stocks to fixed-income vehicles, such as bonds. During the period from July 2008 through June 2010, investors pulled more than $200 billion out of stock-based mutual funds and put more than $475 billion into bond funds, according to the Investment Company Institute. Bonds can provide a source of regular income and will return your principal when they mature, providing the issuers don’t default. They're an important part of most investors' portfolios. But if you're joining the crowd and over-concentrating on bonds, you risk losing the following:

Don’t let “Double Dip” Fears Sink Your Investment Plans whether any other changes are needed. But if you’re constantly disrupting your portfolio’s balance by reacting to short-term events, you’ll have a much harder time achieving your objectives. In virtually all areas of life, balance is essential — and that’s certainly true in regard to your investments. A “double-dip recession” might sound scary, but it may well never come to pass — so don’t let the mere prospect throw you off your investment strategy. Good investment opportunities are out there — so dip into them. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Before investing in stocks, you should understand the risks. Stocks are subject to market risks, including loss of principal invested. This Industry Insight was written by Edward Jones for use by Tim Bywalski, Financial Advisor

Growth opportunities —. According to Ibbotson, a leading investment research organization, stocks have done particularly well following 10-year periods in which the stock market hasn’t performed strongly — and the past 10 years were one of the worst periods we’ve ever seen for stocks. And right now, many quality stocks are trading at some of the most attractive values in 15 years, as measured by price-to-earnings ratio, or P/E. Portfolio balance — Ideally, you want your portfolio to contain a mix of investments — stocks, bonds, international and cash — designed to reflect your risk tolerance, time horizon and long-term goals. You’ll need to adjust your investment mix over time to reflect changes in your life, and regular portfolio reviews will prompt you to rebalance back to your target mix and determine Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 59

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Why Your Business Needs a Website, or a Better One! f you’ve resolved to launch or update your business website in 2011, then you’ve made a wise decision. The research firm BIA/Kelsey recently noted that a businesses’ website now serves as the central core of marketing. A website essentially combines all other forms of advertising including print, e-mail/direct mail, video, mobile, Internet Yellow Pages, reputation management, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM). When you hand a prospective client a business card, if they do not see a website or an e-mail address with your corporate domain listed, there is an instant perception that you are behind the times. This, in turn, gets people wondering where else your business falls short. The last thing you want is a customer searching for your business and finding nothing (or worse, finding your competition). Today, any credible business is expected to have a website. Yet, many businesses still fail to establish a web presence. A professionally developed website can serve a business in a variety of ways, providing a platform to convince potential consumers that the business is a legitimate, trusted operation and providing site visitors with important information about the goods and services offered. A business website will also serve as a hub for your social media pages such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, essentially cross-promoting relevant traffic and building your online reputation.

Choosing a Professional Business Website Development Firm Choosing a web design firm can be a daunting task. Many web designers like to show off websites full of flashy designs. Unfortunately, when you “lift the hood” so to speak, these web designers have left an empty shell. Most websites fail to attract traffic due to the fact they are poorly designed in terms of identifying business goals, targeting relevant visitors and following SEO best practices. A well-qualified, web development firm will be able to build your business a professional, traffic generating website that takes into account these critical business aspects: • Specification of business goals for the website • Optimization towards your target audience • Expression of the appropriate corporate message • Promotion of your goods and services However, it takes even more effort by a professional web development firm to create a traffic generating website. For the search engine spiders to crawl and index your website high in the search engine rankings these items need to be taken into consideration: • Relevant content full of business-specific keywords and keyword phrases • Accurate web page titles and descriptions • Search Engine friendly URLs which include keywords relevant to the web pages • Search Engine Optimization (SEO) If the website development firm you choose achieves these goals and you see to it that new content is added to the website regularly to keep the website current, a business should begin noticing increased website traffic and a return on investment within 3 to 6 months.

Below are a few reasons why a professional website redesign may be right for your business. • The business goals have changed • The current website fails at generating business • The current website appears outdated and contains inaccurate information • A new product or service line is missing The same rules for a website design apply for a website redesign. You can expect to start noticing an increase in relevant traffic and a return on investment in the 3 to 6 month timeframe.

Professional Web Development Services to Meet Any Business Budget As your New Years’ Resolution for 2011, make sure to launch or update your business website. There will be no shortage of potential clients who will be searching for your business throughout the year and beyond. You deserve to win that business by investing in your website today. Farmer SEO, Inc. offers affordable web development services that will turn your business website into a revenue generating machine! Give us a call today toll-free at 1-877-474-2573 to find out how we can develop or improve your website. This Industry Insight was written by Greg Uhrlen, President of Farmer SEO, Inc., an Internet Marketing company. Farmer SEO specializes in Web Design and Development, Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Marketing. Contact Farmer SEO, Inc. at 1-877-474-2573, via e-mail at services@farmerseo.com or through the website http://www.farmerseo.com

Why Your Business Needs a Website Redesign Many businesses still have websites that were built by web design agencies on older platforms, some of which still utilize frames. Websites such as these may not be indexed in search engines such as Google, Yahoo! or Bing, which can make your website nearly invisible online! If your website looks good and was recently built or rebuilt, but is not generating a tangible return on investment, it was probably created by a web designer with no knowledge of web development best practices.

Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 61

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raig Cozza knows that biking is addictive, and he wants to do everything he can to get you passionate John F. Kennedy put it best when he about cycling, fitness, and the well being that goes said, “Nothing compares to the simple along with cycling. Not because it sells bikes, but because bikers are part of a unique community of pleasure of riding a bike.” enthusiasts who share fitness, camaraderie, fun, and because biking is “green.” Biking is great physically, mentally, and emotionally. You release your negative energy into nature, and nature recycles it, endorphins flowing. It's really tough to go on a bike ride and come back in a bad mood. Can't do it! “Biking is a no-impact sport, and the second largest sport in the USA, only second to walking,” Cozza said. “But with walking or running, there’s an impact. Runners usually become bikers because you do not get beat up from the impact. You can go out for a long, hard ride and come back with only your muscles being tired, not your joints. Our trails, single-tracks, and roads are great and growing rapidly in the Pittsburgh region.” Pro Bikes supports every organization you can think of when it comes to biking, from a multitude of charity rides like the annual Race to Anyplace, various M.S. 150's, school programs, racers and racing, fitness and fun rides, as well as every type of cycling imaginable. “We support road, mountain, trail, cyclocross, triathlons, unicycles, BMX riding and everything in between” says Cozza. “We currently support 15 plus race teams.” That support brings people back to the shop for service, fittings, bikes, supplies, and training. The success of Pro Bikes has led to the expansion of all three locations, tripling the square footage in the South Hills, Monroeville and Squirrel Hill locations. “We’ll be finished with all three of the expansions by spring, which will help us do a better job of meeting people’s needs,” Cozza said. “Our three major brands are Cannondale, Specialized, and Giant. We carry 15-plus other specialty brands. We buy and sell the best – a true pro shop for every type of riding – and we service and fit everything. We’re the fourth largest Cannondale dealer in the country. Our goal is to get more people on bikes because it is a healthy lifestyle. We can start kids as young as two on balance bikes, and fit people well past their 70s. We also help people train or find them a coach for an event if they need it.” The expanding Squirrel Hill Pro Bikes will have four floors—over 13,000 square feet—making it one of the largest in the country, offering everything biking. It will be a comprehensive, full-service bike facility with something for everyone. Pro Bikes will also be a “spin center” with focused training, coaching, and professional bike fitting. There will be a custom building and teams area, and people can sign up for maintenance and training workshops. By

spring, these amenities will be available in all locations to help even more people with anything from lubing a chain to fixing a flat to riding skills and triathlon techniques. “We’re teamed up with local coaches and can offer training and rides to help everyone accomplish their goals,” Cozza said. “Our big push is to get people out supporting charity events, races, and rides, and to keep growing fitness and cycling in western Pennsylvania.” Cozza hopes that all people will give cycling a spin and stop in to see the enthusiasm for biking that Pro Bikes and its employees can impart. “We are ‘Powered by Passion,’ because we are passionate about cycling, fitness, and well being,” Cozza said. “We’re bike people. That enthusiasm pours over, and you get hooked. It's a way of life—a really good way of life!”

a Cannondale CAAD 9 Road Bike or a Specialized Hybrid Bike. at www.ProBikesLLC.com Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 63

Straighter Teeth in Six Months

be fo re

hen people hear that someone is getting braces, immediately images of “metal mouth” come to mind. This treatment is most commonly associated with teenagers and at one time may have led to embarrassment and insecurity. However, today braces are so widely accepted during the school-age years that children are sometimes eager to begin orthodontic treatment. It is refreshing to see this shift in acceptance among teenagers. What about the adults who have crooked, crowded, uneven, or spaced smiles? There are adults who may have missed the opportunity to straighten their teeth when they were younger and are now looking at their options. The workplace can be as unforgiving as high schools once were. However, this shouldn’t limit adults from the opportunity to have a straighter, more attractive smile. There are currently a few options for adults to have their teeth straightened.

Six Month Smiles Short Term Cosmetic Braces Six Month Smiles is a new, short term, affordable option to straighten your teeth. This is a great option for adults!

Benefits of Six Month Smiles Cosmetic Braces • Tooth colored brackets • Tooth colored wires • Little discomfort • Quick treatment times (5-8 months) • Cost effective (less than invisalign and traditional braces) • Tooth whitening is included! • Multiple financing options • Less chance of cavities with faster treatment

BEFORE

AFTER

180 Fort Couch Road, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15241

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Daniel L. R air ig h, DDS

the dentistwith the artist’s touch

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after

The traditional method of metal braces and wires over a treatment time of a couple years is still a great option for a straighter smile. For some patients’ teeth this may be the only real option. Many people do, however, fall into a category that can benefit from Invisalign or “Short Term Orthodontics.” Almost everyone has heard of Invisalign, and it is a great treatment option for patients with mild crowding and moderate spacing. However, there are limitations in tooth movement for more severe cases. Short Term Orthodontics can provide an alternative to traditional braces and Invisalign. All three options have their benefits and limitations that should be explored before making a decision. 6 Month Smiles is a cosmetic short-term orthodontic option that uses clear brackets and tooth-colored wires. The average treatment time is six months. The technique works by focusing treatment on the patient’s primary concern. The faster treatment times are accomplished by treating only the teeth you see when you smile, not by increasing the forces on the teeth. 6 Month Smiles does not make major changes to the alignment of the back teeth as traditional braces can. Fortunately, most adults’ primary cosmetic concerns do not involve the back teeth. The treatment comfort is comparable to traditional braces. With 6 Month Smiles, your smile can be straighter and more symmetrical in 5 -8 months. Whitening is also included with treatment. Another benefit of 6 Month Smiles is that it is typically a more economical choice due to shorter treatment times and lower cost. 6 Month Smiles is not a replacement for traditional braces, but rather an alternative that can provide a more symmetrical and pleasing smile for adults who are not interested in the time, costs, or cosmetics of traditional braces. Children are still best treated by traditional comprehensive orthodontics, but it is nice for adults to have one more option for a straighter smile. Dr. Rairigh is a certified Invisalign and 6 Month Smiles provider. Learn more at PittsburghIsSmiling.com or 6MonthSmiles.com. This INdustry INsight was written by Dr. Daniel Rairigh. Dr. Daniel Rairigh practices at Advanced Dental Solutions of Pittsburgh on Fort Couch Road. He received his degree from West Virginia University School of Dentistry. Dr. Rairigh is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the Academy of General Dentistry. He is a certified Invisalign provider and is certified in MDI placement. Dr. Rairigh is also an accomplished artist who has won numerous awards for his artwork. You can learn more about Dr. Rairigh or send him an email if you have article suggestions at www.pittsburghissmiling.com.

If you need more space in your house but have a limited budget for home remodeling, consider converting a garage into living space. You can usually add 200 to 400 square feet, depending on the size of the garage. You can even save a bundle compared to an addition because a garage already has walls, a floor, a roof, and electrical wiring. Depending on where the garage is in your house, you can convert to suit just about any need your family has. Many homeowners use the garage for an extension of the kitchen or to add a bathroom. Family rooms and playrooms are other popular choices. If your garage isn’t near the house’s main living area, it might be good for adding a home office, fitness room, or extra bedroom. If you have a relative or nanny living with you, it can be made into an apartment with its own entrance. Below are some things to consider before starting a garage conversion: First Steps: First assess the garage space and think about what you can do with it. Think about cracks in the floor or other issues that would need to be fixed before you start. Set up a budget and then look for a designer. Your designer doesn’t have to be an architect, but even if you’re doing the work yourself, you’re better off consulting with someone who has experience with garage conversions.

GE A R GA NS O I S R E V N CO D D A CAN E L B A V LI E R MO O T E C SPA E M O H R U O Y

Garage Door: This can be the biggest challenge. If you remove the garage door, you will have a large empty space to fill. Some homeowners put in sliding doors, French doors, or a large bay window. You can also frame the empty space and install standard size doors or windows. Floor: Most garages have concrete floors, which are generally cold and ugly. Many garage floors are also sloped so that water will run out of the garage door, so check to see if your floor is level before you start your conversion. You can use the concrete as a subfloor and put hardwood, tile, or carpeting above it. If the garage floor is lower than the floors in the rest of the house, you may want to elevate the entire floor. Plumbing: If you are adding a kitchen or bathroom, you will need to figure out how to run pipes into the new room. You can cut into the existing floor or elevate the floor for the entire room. It’s best to consult a plumber during the planning phase to avoid any nasty surprises. Heating and Cooling: Although your garage has walls, they aren’t insulated, so the first step is to add insulation before putting up drywall. Then see if you can extend your existing HVAC into the new space. If not, you can add a separate system to the converted garage. Aesthetics: Think about how you can make the renovated garage blend in to the rest of the house. You want it to be pleasing from the outside and inside, especially in the space where the garage door used to be. If the interior is dark, use light colored paints and carpeting to make the space feel lighter and larger.

This Industry Insight was written by Jeff Morris, owner and CEO of Case Handyman & Remodeling, located at 2335 Washington Rd. in Canonsburg, PA. Case offers a variety of home repair services, from full-house remodeling to simple handyman jobs. For more information, visit www.caseremodeling.com or call 724.745.9888.

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In May 2003, Bonny Diver-Hall was at the height of her radio career at 3WS and enjoying riding her beloved horse Romeo. Unfortunately, a bad fall left her with a broken shoulder, but it was that fall that saved her life. Bonny discovered a lump in her breast while examining her wounds. That lump turned out to be breast cancer, which became an opportunity for victory. Today, almost eight years later, Bonny is cancer-free, and on a mission to bring dignity and comfort to women undergoing chemotherapy. Hair Peace Charities was born after Bonny's oncologist mentioned that four out of five Pennsylvania health insurance companies wouldn't cover the cost of a wig (around $300) for women who would lose their hair during chemotherapy.

Methodist Church, which remains a steady lifeline to the organization that today is independent. Hair Peace provides women in the 412 and 724 area codes with financial assistance to purchase a wig needed from chemotherapy. Donations come from generous individuals, businesses and organizations. Many donors have been personally affected by cancer. Last year, Hair Peace served nearly 175 women and expects to double that number in 2011, bringing the outreach to over 800 since its inception. In addition to helping pay for wigs, Hair Peace Charities provides a helpful

informational packet with ways to deal with the effects of treatment and how to fight cancer with changes in diet and lifestyle. At monthly meetings (Empowerment Circles) expert speakers educate women on a variety of topics related to health and spirituality. Volunteers have gone to women's homes to plant flower bulbs, made prayer quilts and sent prayer cards. Women struggling with cancer should contact Hair Peace Charities at 412.327.5177 or bdiver1@verizon.net . Bonny Diver-Hall is available to speak to groups about the spiritual and practical aspects of fighting cancer. She says she is more than a survivor, she is a warrior!

"It is imperative to give women the means to maintain their dignity while taking on the fight of their lives," says Bonny. "It is not just a wig, it is the circle of support that Hair Peace Charities offers along their way." Bonny received immense help to launch Hair Peace Charities from Ingomar

Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 67

The Denis Theatre Foundation 685 Washington Road Pittsburgh, PA 15228 DenisTheatre.org The Denis Theatre Foundation is Pleased to Introduce its New Executive Director We are delighted to introduce to all of our friends and supporters the new executive director of the Denis Theatre Foundation, Valerie Golik. Valerie, who will assume her responsibilities on January 17, brings excellent experience in arts management to her new role. The Denis Theatre Foundation was established in 2007 for the purpose of purchasing, renovating and reopening the Denis Theatre as an independent film theater, community cultural center, and key contributor to the region’s economic vitality. For more information, visit www.denistheatre.org.

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or those of us who live life with our mobile devices clutched firmly in the palms of our hands, there’s now another reason why we can’t While saving lives and preserving property – as well as increasing put them down… namely, the security and safety of our loved ones, homes peace of mind – are the overriding reasons for using these services today, and pets. there are also important cost components to consider. Here are some facts As Americans spend more and more time away from their residences, monitoring their homes, using an increasing number of mobile applications, about the real costs of crime… • 47% of all home invasions include injury to the home’s occupants has become the next best thing to actually being there. For the past few • 205,000 children are abducted each year, many right from years, it’s become a fact that thieves prefer breaking into homes during the their homes daytime, when the occupants are not there. That syndrome places those • Falls in the home account for the majority of accidental deaths of who may still be there during that time – either alone or staying with those over 65 years of age working care givers – such as children, pets and even elderly parents in • An average of 500 people die and 15,000 are hospitalized each year potentially dangerous situations. due to carbon monoxide poisoning While traditional alarm central stations alert the authorities, they can • An estimated 1,800 (including children) die each year from now even open up two-way audio communications with residents present in-home poisonings during the alarm event. Operators can then communicate with residents, • An average of 3,500 Americans lose their lives in home fires and assess threats and update the police department. 50,000 people are injured, including 10,000 pediatric burns But the benefits don’t just end there! In addition to emergency • Medical costs of the average burn victim range from $200k to $2mm notifications, mobile applications can deliver real time information, alerts • The average loss from home burglary is $2,800 per event and even video pictures to mobile devices as they occur, using motion• Out of pocket expenses for burglaries can average $5,000 activated recording. Homeowners can conduct video tours of their homes • Costs to repair homes from copper theft average $20,000 any time they want, through the installation of web-enabled video cameras • The average cost to repair homes subject to freeze and water throughout the inside and/or outside of their homes. Parents can now damage is $50,000 acknowledge the return of their children from school each day through a video clip that is routinely delivered to their mobile devices. The clips can identify what time they arrived, if anyone else came into the home with them, and even the fact that they re-armed the home’s security system after entering. Devices placed in sensitive locations of the home such as medicine and liquor cabinets, firearm safes and pool areas allow parents to know if their children are trying to access dangerous areas, in time to avert a potential tragedy. If anyone comes to the door while they’re present in the home, additional video clips can help determine if the visitor is there for legitimate purposes. For those who have pets, the service can reduce the emotional turmoil of caring for their wellbeing while no one is home. Again, video cameras can be accessed at any time to see what’s going on with their pets, and conditions such as fire and carbon monoxide can be detected. Pets simply can’t dial 911, open a door and escape from danger, or even open a window to bark for help. The ASPCA estimates that over 500,000 pets lose their lives each year in home fires; mostly through asphyxiation. Now signals can be delivered right to mobile devices, saving valuable time for the fire department to be dispatched. For those who cringe at the idea of leaving their home for an extended period of time, these mobile security applications can help take the worry out of travel. Sensors installed in the home to detect low temperature, flooding and loss of electricity can be added to standard intrusion, fire detection and carbon monoxide detection to arrive at a full complement of services. If a neighbor or service technician needs to be dispatched to a LOCKED home, homeowners can even remotely unlock a designated entrance door to allow for access. This Industry Insight was written by Bob Bronder. Bob is the General Manager of Vector Security’s Western Pennsylvania market, and has over twenty years experience in the security industry. Vector Security is a leading provider of residential and commercial security technology services. Please call 724.779.8800 for more information, or visit www.vectorsecurity.com

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