in-north-allegheny-spring by IN Community Magazines

Spring 2011

orth Allegheny COMMUNITY

MAGAZINE

NA Cast Performs

“Les

Miserables”

NA Tigers Go All the Way to Hershey Older Adults in North Allegheny Plus... Restaurant Coupons Inside

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North Allegheny

Contents North Allegheny | SPRING 2011 |

SPRING 2011

Health and Wellness News You Can Use

What’s Inside page 2

Coming Back from a Back Injury From Gut-Wrenching Pain to Hope for the Future Stomachaches: When to Worry

page 4

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

page 5

UPMC HealthTrak Lets You Manage Your Health Care Online

page 6

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Could It Happen to You?

page 7

Welcoming New Physicians What’s Happening at UPMC Passavant

Publisher’s Message COMMUNITY INTEREST

| | | | |

FEATURES

| | |

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

| | | | | | | | | |

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

| | | | | |

ON THE COVER

29 page 3

Annual Mammograms are an Important Way to Detect Breast Cancer Early | 13 Choosing a Good Summer Program | 20 It’s Time to Get in Shape for the Spring | 22 My Home: Renovate or Sell? | 27 What are the Benefits of Kung Fu and Tai Chi? | 37 Looking Forward to Liposuction in 2011 | 42 You don’t have to live with painful varicose and spider veins Pure Café is Perfect for Children’s Parties | 51 Is Barefoot Running Really for Everyone? | 54 Why Your Business Needs a Website, or a Better One! | 60 Who is At Home Senior Service? | 65 H.P. Starr Lumber Company | 19 Lutheran SeniorLife | 24 King Orthodontics | 28 Kids & Golf: A Lifetime of Enjoyment spotlight Quality Gardens | 53 Seven Fields Dental Care | 58

North Allegheny High School musical cast performs “Les Misérables.” Photo by Gary Yon Photography.

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 3

Welcome to the Spring issue of North Allegheny 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!

Wayne Dollard Publisher

CHArLeS DICkeNS

SPRING 2011 IN North Allegheny is a non-partisan community magazine dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the people of Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, Marshall Township and the Town of McCandless 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

Jonathan Barnes 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

Rebecca Bailey Garyyonphotography.com One Way Street Productions A DV E RT I S I N G S A L E S

"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another."

orth Allegheny

hen I think about spring, I can’t help but think about light. The days get “lighter,” 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 North Allegheny Magazine we try to spotlight our communities. What are you doing to be a “light”? If you or an organization that you volunteer or work for is a light in the community, will you let me kn ow? So many good deeds are left unsung! If you have a family member who is in the armed forces, or if your church group or 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. every spring I look forward to our annual high school poetry contest and this year is no exception. On page 6, I want to introduce you to some amazing young adults from the community. We truly value the words of everyone who puts “pen to paper.” But when you read some of the talented writing from area students, I’m sure you will be impressed!

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: 4/19/11 www.incommunitymagazines.com

Managing editor

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

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North Allegheny

 get Ready for

 tudents at North Allegheny High School are working hard in preparation for their spring musical, “Les Misérables School edition.” While the show isn't until March, the kids have kept very busy with rehearsals. Cast members have been practicing three days a week, putting in a total of 11 rehearsal hours each week, which will increase as the show gets closer. “We have students working with a dramatic director, a choreographer, a movement coordinator and a few vocal directors,” says Ahlam Weidman, parent coordinator. Weidman says the school never chooses the musical until after they have held auditions. “It’s always based on the talents that we audition,” she says. “It all depends on the number of boys and girls who can sing, dance, act, and have a combination of those skills. This year we chose a male-based show because we had a lot of good strong male talent this year, and the show fits perfectly.” According to Weidman, the rehearsals have been running smoothly with no problems. “The kids are doing an excellent job,” she says. Students may be busy working up a storm, but parents are pitching in too. Parent volunteers are coming in on week nights and weekends to build the show's set. “The set has been being built since the beginning of January and will go on through performance day,” says Weidman. The musical is based on the novel by Victor Hugo and recounts the struggle against adversity in 19th century France. Don't miss your chance to see the show at North Allegheny High School Auditorium. There will be a senior citizens show on March 1 at 3:30 p.m. that's free of charge. Doors open to the public on March 2. For more information call 724.934.7288.

Free senior citizens show: March 1, 3:30 p.m. Public Shows: March 2 - 5 at 7 p.m. and March 6 at 6 p.m. Photos by Gary Yon Photography North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 5

NOrTH ALLegHeNy SCHOOL DISTrICT & IN NOrTH ALLegHeNy MAgAzINe Presenting some of the best poetry in the North Allegheny School District and coordinated by kathy esposito, High School english Teacher.

elegy

Being

This tale is true, and mine. So early in swing Summertime renewed. The height of June Descending, oh, too soon. Not even the tide Can return what is lost. Only the sand holds the water’s high cost. The days spent carelessly in search of time, When low and behold it was all mine. As waves Remained constant, the months must change In the blink of an eye July was in range. No matter how far gone, the clock Would not stop. For time is the mother to the entire lot. My home an hour glass never holding still. Forever changing, Only to fill, fill, fill. But for what, nothing gained From one o’clock to two. Places differ but none can hold true. And so it is told—August came bold, teaming, steaming, and beaming Of gold. How hard I fought to know the taste of feelings felt, Only time could erase. As days burnt on, nights torn asunder, The world kept on spinning unaware of the blunder. Hotter and hotter Fit to ignite, I tried and I tried with all of my might to hold These feelings true; so now it is you that I leave all the rest. The know-how I keep so close to my chest after waiting and waiting Giving my best I’ve come to the conclusion Life’s all a test.

Being sure about it Doing it Without thinking Opening the front door to my house The hallway Shoes and bags lying around Sitting around the table waiting to start Brothers My dog jumping around Getting excited over and over again Opening the kitchen door A fragrance in the air Memories Next to the dining room, through the living room Faces on the wall Out of good old times Up or down, doesn’t matter, opened or closed I know what it is, behind there Significant Don’t you want to see more? Don’t you have to, to become what you will be one day? But what are you going to be? Aren’t you already someone? Without doing anything Habit I left them, discovered new ones Rooms And I am still me, I always have been me Don’t we all want to become more? Experiences Good or bad Helpful, to become someone Being someone that is the difficulty Not being.

Zach Visgitis is a senior at North Allegheny High School who plans to study Journalism at Penn State University Park and aspires to become an investigative reporter. Currently, he is a member of the Creative Department for VArIATIONS, North Allegheny High School’s literary and creative arts magazine, and he is the Artistic editor of the North Star, his school’s newspaper.

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North Allegheny

Lilith Haussmann is a senior at North Allegheny High School. Originally from Frankfurt, germany, Lilith is completing her exchange student year here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has been living here since the beginning of August and says that her choice to travel to America was one of the best decisions of her life in many aspects, which she chose to address in her poem.

Deception of Perception The candy-colored cover of everything a young woman should aspire to be lounges next to me; the photo-shopped woman that I should probably know and worship, poses: hair flowing back so you can see just how flawless, beautiful and perfect she really is. The colors of “you are beautiful just the way you are!” fade to the scent of fourteen different perfumes intertwining, causing me to choke. Then, it shows me how I can never be her. I am flawed in every way: from the pigment of the gates to my mind (they are just a shade or two off of what they should be) to the fibers that block debris from distorting my view of the world—they aren’t long enough, thick enough, or dark enough to be appealing to the eyes of society. But don’t worry! They can show me how to fix it. How to look better, eat better, kiss better, love better, talk better, learn better, take pictures better, be charitable better, make my skin look better, just be better. Maybe, I’m not good enough for Seventeen, Cosmo, Vogue, or Elle. Or maybe, they aren’t good enough for me. Maybe, I should wear makeup as self-expression, not to cover my flaws. Maybe, I should eat to be healthy, not to drop a size. Maybe, I should kiss not to burn calories, but to show someone how much I truly love them. Maybe, I should love, not for the experience, but to walk into life holding the hand of my best friend. Maybe, I should talk without using “like” in every sentence not to be taken seriously,but to, like, talk to be, like, actually comprehended. Maybe, I should pay attention in class, not to get good grades, but to actually learn for the sake of learning just how beautiful the world truly is. Maybe, I should take pictures to attempt to catch the wonder of life in an instant, not to add a new profile picture to facebook. Maybe, I should volunteer not to impress colleges, but to leave this world a little bit better of a place than how I entered it. Maybe, it is just a fact of life that my pores will always be too big for the world’s liking. Maybe, the bibles of millions of girls and women are nothing but interpretations of how a few of them see the world. Maybe, their interpretations are wrong. And maybe, just maybe, I’ve spent too much of my life reading their crap.

er n n i W

Bonnie Noel, a senior at North Allegheny High School, plans on attending the University of Pittsburgh and majoring in biology with a minor in zoology. She enjoys photography, writing, and volunteering at a local animal shelter.

Song Inside the Broken Crate A worn and torn exterior, from hand to hand it seems was passed, Keeping contents safe within, making sure the insides last. The outside face is ever changing, shifting with the woes of life, Eyes grow older, face grows colder, screaming silence sways with strife. But though the outside scrapes and wears, the inside dares to save a song, a passing beauty melody, life's harmony as it goes on. I feel I fit this frame of mind, and think myself alone, putting myself above the rest, a gem among the stones. But my pride is shot down hard, as I realize the fact I am just a broken crate, my out colors an act. I have a ragged mess within, that I try so hard to hide, thinking if I paint the out, you won’t see what's inside. It takes a brave and caring soul, to attempt to break my lid to crash their way down to the deep, to find that which I hid. And in that crashing, caring friend, I find the truth that shocks in this world of broken crates, I'm not the only music box. Beyond the broken wooden frame, lies a song unsung, not just in me, not just in you, but inside everyone. All of us are broken crates, we all wear and fall, but all of us have songs inside, the harmonies enthrall. All we need are open lids, just let each other in. Start with looking past the wood, then you can begin. A simple matter, yet so hard, The wish to keep the locks, But I challenge you to open up, And find your music box.

Benjamin T. Wilson is a junior at North Allegheny Senior High School. In addition to writing poetry, his interests vary along a broad artistic spectrum from music to movies. Although he has studied music for many years, he hopes to pursue creative writing and cinematography in college.

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 7

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               



Mar Kevin Laird,

hn Lamagne y Demas, Jo

oward Hanna real estate Services held its annual “Choo Choo Chow Chow for Children” Luncheon in December. The event raised $301,000 this year, to combine with other Howard Hanna's across the region for a total of $6.1 million raised over the past 21 years. For 90 days, from mid-September to mid-December, all Howard Hanna offices come together to plan their own Chow Chow events to raise money for the Children's Free Care Fund in their area. This year’s luncheon was attended by Hanna clients, family, friends and businesses who came out to support the care of children while enjoying holiday entertainment, raffles, and auctions. All profits raised from the event stay within the region to help local children.

Tom Ceponis and Helen H annacasey

Susan Kohler, Rosanne Russo

David Cannone, John Carroll, Sarah Kelly, Katie Patrick Ceponis Hoddy Hanna and Tom

Randy Cornelius , Lou Stempkow ski, Patrick Muto, Jim Keating

Boozern rer, Rose Dave Weh

Diane Salava, Jamie McLaughlin, Natalie Guiler, Kelley Disvonik North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 9

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

  

Ward By Jamie

hen Levan and Julie kadagishi moved to Bradford Woods in 2007, they did more than just move into their new house—they moved into a piece of history. The building the kadagishis now call home was built in 1915 and is well-known in the region as an historic schoolhouse. Julie kadagishi says visitors were constantly stopping by when she and her husband first started working on the house. “Former students would come knock on the door and want to come in and see it,” she says. “They would say, ‘I remember the clock that hung here, and here’s where my desk was.’” The schoolhouse was built out of necessity, says June McCartney of the Heritage Committee of the Women’s Club of Bradford Woods. “residents were concerned about their children being forced to walk to Neely School in Marshall Township for their education.” The Heritage Committee has done a lot of research into the building, most notably through

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the books of Ann Jenkins, a former local historian. In 1917, forty-three students were enrolled in the one-room schoolhouse. Over the years, hundreds of local residents were educated there. In later years, the building was used a community center, library, and printing shop. “In looking through Ann’s books you get such a good feel for what a community Bradford Woods was,” says McCartney. “The schoolhouse really brought the community together by trying to take care of the children of the area.”

North Allegheny

The schoolhouse also served as a meeting location for many civic organizations, like the men’s and women’s clubs, scout troops, and the red Cross. If you read Jenkins’ books, The History of Bradford Woods (1985) and Bradford Woods: The War years (1994), you’ll learn the school also hosted elections, dances, suppers, and even minstrel shows. That all ended in the 1950s when Pappy Jewell purchased the property and installed a print shop downstairs. “Most recently, the building was used by the Jehovah’s Witnesses as their meeting house,” says kadagishi. “That’s who we purchased the property from.” But it wasn’t the history of the building that drew the kadagishis. It was the architecture. “When I drove by, the windows were the first thing that caught my eye about the house,” she says. The large, light-filled windows are one of the original architectural details that still remain in the house. Levan kadagishi did a lot of work to refinish the original hardwood floors, which had been covered with layers of linoleum and carpet. “We moved right into the basement of the house while we did renovations on the top floor,” she says. “We were looking for a fixerupper, but this turned out to be a bit more work than we expected.” The kadagishis added an addition to the house that allowed for a two-car garage and more space in the back of the house. They also converted the one large room into two bedrooms with two bathrooms. The home is scheduled tobe one of five homes highlighted on the Bradford Woods Historic House Tour in May. “The schoolhouse was a central part of what happened in the borough many years ago,” says McCartney. “It symbolizes people really looking out for each other.”

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The Pittsburgh Chapter of

Jack and Jill of America hosted

Alexis Aiken, Erica Mann, Brandi Henderson

Anthony & Desiree Merriweather

their 2011 Presentation Ball at the Omni William Penn Hotel in January. eleven extraordinary African American juniors and seniors from the Pittsburgh area were celebrated for their outstanding academic, athletic and community service achievements. The evening began as the presentees and their parents entered the grand Ballroom for an elegant waltz . These accomplished teens made a year-long commitment in preparation for the ball that included lessons in grooming/etiquette, leadership, education, money, legal matters, community service and social events. established in 1938, Jack and Jill of America is the oldest and largest African American family organization in the country. This non-profit association boasts a membership of over 9,500 mothers and associates, and more than 30,000 family members nationwide. Proceeds from the 2011 Presentation Ball benefit the Neighborhood Academy, located in Pittsburgh. The mission of the academy is to break the cycle of generational poverty by providing a holistic college-prep education to low-income youths in grades 8 through 12.

Alexis Steals, Gretchen Givens Generett

Karen Henderson, Jennifer Chomos, Linda Chomos

Camara, Valerie & Camden Copeland

Greer Jones, Naila Ansari, Kaylin Horgan

Lee Adams, Wes Henderson

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 11

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North Allegheny

Annual Mammograms are an Important Way to Detect Breast Cancer Early – When it is Treatable and Curable Digital Mammography Offers Superior Advantages by Christina A.Cirucci, M.D., Premier Women’s Health

he importance of mammograms cannot be overstated. HERE ARE THE FACTS: A woman’s risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime is one in eight. More than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women (excluding skin cancer) and is the second most common cause of cancer death in women (after lung cancer). A mammogram is important because it can detect breast cancer in the very early stages, well before the cancer can be felt on an exam.When detected early, breast cancer is treatable and often curable.When breast cancer is detected in the localized stage, the five-year survival rate is 97 to 98 percent. Mammography is the best way to detect breast cancer in its early stages. Digital mammography, a relatively new type of mammography, is even more useful in early breast cancer detection. Digital mammography, like traditional mammography, uses compression and X-rays to image the breast, but instead of capturing the image on film, the image is sent to a computer as a digital file.The difference between digital mammography and traditional mammography is similar to the difference between film cameras and digital cameras. From the patient’s point of view, the procedure is similar. There are many advantages to digital mammography, which make it superior:

• There is less radiation exposure with digital mammography as compared to traditional mammography. • Several studies have shown that digital mammography is more accurate in finding cancers in women under age 50 and in women with dense breast tissue. • Digital mammograms are faster than traditional mammograms because there is no film to be developed. • Fewer patients are called back later for additional views. • The radiologist views the mammogram results on a computer screen rather than looking at film on a light box.This allows the radiologist to adjust the size, brightness and contrast in order to read the results more accurately. • Instead of being stored as large sheets of film, digital mammograms are stored as digital computer files. They can easily be sent to another doctor, if necessary. Most women are aware of the importance of regular mammograms, but there has been some confusion in the media about how often mammograms should be done. Much of the confusion about mammograms occurred last year when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)

issued a recommendation stating that women ages 50 to 74 should get mammograms only every two years starting at age 50. This statement raised much discussion, as most women have been advised to get yearly mammograms after age 40. It should be noted that neither the American Cancer Society nor the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists agrees with the USPSTF recommendations.

The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends mammograms every one to two years for women ages 40 to 49, and annually thereafter. With my patients, I obtain a baseline mammogram at age 35 and then yearly mammograms starting at age 40. For a woman who has a first-degree relative with breast cancer, such as her mother or sister, I begin annual mammograms at age 35. We at Premier Women’s Health, and our imaging facility, Diagnostic Imaging of Sewickley, believe that excellence in patient care is of the utmost importance.That’s why we have recently switched to digital mammography. Our technicians and radiologists are highly skilled, not only at mammography, but in other types of imaging, such as ultrasound and DEXA (bone density). Do you have questions about about digital mammography or mammograms in general? Our doctors are available to answer your questions at any of our three offices: NORTH HILLS (724) 778-9966 SEWICKLEY (412) 741-6530 MOON (412) 264-2450 We are able to accommodate busy schedules with early morning and late afternoon appointments. For more information, visit us at www.premierwomenshealth.org. Dr. Cirucci is board-certified and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and she also is a member of the Pittsburgh Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, the Allegheny County Medical Society, and the Christian Medical and Dental Association. Dr. Cirucci has traveled frequently to Africa, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to volunteer her medical services. She has been practicing at Premier Women’s Health since 1998. North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 13

NA Tigers Football Win State Championship by Stephen Jeffries

he North Allegheny Tigers entered the 2010 season looking to build on their 9-2 finish in 2009. The Tigers, expected to compete for a spot at Heinz Field, lost to North Hills in the quarterfinals. The team used that upset loss as fuel for their season. Nobody was talking about this team before week one. Or after week nine. Or after they lost star running back Alex Papson. The 2010 Tigers made sure everyone would talk about them for a long time. The season started with two wins by a combined 90-7 score. Week 3 was a trip to Upper St. Clair. An expected showdown turned into a laugher for N.A., as the defense posted its second consecutive shutout, 270. The following week, the Tigers traveled to erie McDowell in the conference opener. They rallied from a 10-7 deficit to beat the Trojans 21-10. They extended their win streak to eight with four wins by an average of 44-6. The last of those victories was a 45-0 shellacking of Shaler. Traditional rival North Hills stood in the way of a 90 regular season. A defensive struggle went to the Indians, 21-16. All of N.A.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s momentum seemed to vanish with the loss. A win could have meant the top seed in the playoffs; instead, the Tigers ended up with the fifth seed and little buzz about their title chances.

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North Allegheny

After cruising past Peters Township 38-7, the Tigers faced Bethel Park in the quarterfinals. They led only 1713 midway through the fourth quarter, and the Blackhawks were in scoring range. The defense needed a big play, and safety Brendan Coniker delivered. He intercepted a pass in the end zone to stop the B.P. threat. Alex Papson capped a monster game by racing 62 yards for his third touchdown and a 23-13 victory. Papson carried the offense with 301 rushing yards. Top-seeded Central Catholic awaited in the semifinals. In the semifinal match, the Tigers and Vikings battled to a 7-7 draw at halftime. North Allegheny went ahead on a 33-yard field goal by Alex greenblatt with 10:50 remaining. Central Catholic had its chances but could not break the Tiger defense. Papson solidified the win for a second straight week. His 67-yard scoring run with 3:12 left gave the Tigers a 17-7 lead they would not relinquish. The Tigers advanced to their first WPIAL title game since 1998. In the title game, the Tigers took on Woodland Hills, the defending champions and owners of an 8game win streak. Quarterback Mike Buchert capped a 93-yard drive with a 3-yard scoring pass to tight end rob kugler. They would add to the lead one possession later, as Buchert threw his second touchdown pass of the game, this time to receiver James kleinhample from 18 yards out. Late in the second frame, Papson turned what

Photos by Gary Yon Photography

looked to be a small gain into a spectacular 43-yard touchdown run. The Tigers led 21-0 at the half. The champs would make a comeback. The Wolverine defense forced a Papson fumble on N.A.’s first drive of the third quarter. Papson suffered a shoulder injury on the play that ended his night early. Woodland Hills went to the air as a 46-yard scoring strike brought them to within 21-7. A bad snap on a Tiger punt gave the Wolves a short field, and one play later it was 21-14. The Tigers struggled on offense without Papson. The defense came up with two huge stops late. A sack ended the first Wolverine threat, and an interception on a fourth down sealed the 21-14 win and N.A.’s second WPIAL title. Before the PIAA playoffs began, N.A. learned that Papson would miss the rest of the season. They didn’t miss a beat, shutting down State College 21-6, then hammering Cumberland Valley 35-17 in the semifinals. The turning point was a fake punt for a touchdown in the third quarter. In the PIAA title game, the Tigers forced five LaSalle turnovers and cruised to a 21-0 victory for their second state championship. There was a lot to talk about in 2010 for the Tigers. They outscored their opponents by an average 31.6–7.9 score. The defense pitched four shutouts and only allowed more than 10 points four times. They finished 15-1. So much for nobody talking about them, right?

On Monday, Feb. 7, the North Allegheny boys’ cross country team visited the State Capitol. Majority Leader Mike Turzai (r-Allegheny) recognized the team on the floor of the House for winning the 2010 PIAA State Class AAA Cross Country State Championship. Turzai is pictured with members of the 2010 boys’ cross country team, as well as head coach John Neff and assistant coaches Liz Bollens and e.J. robertson.

Mike Turzai Hosts North Allegheny High School 2010 State Champs in Cross Country and Football Majority Leader Mike Turzai (r-Allegheny) hosted members of the North Allegheny High School 2010 football team at the State Capitol on Monday, Feb. 7. While in Harrisburg, the team was recognized on the floor of the House for winning the 2010 PIAA State Class AAAA Football Championship. Turzai is pictured in the main rotunda of the Capitol with members of the 2010 football team, as well as head coach Art Walker and assistant coach Doug Brinkley.

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 15

North Allegheny SPRING http://www.northallegheny.org/athletics

Sports

LACROSSE Girls Varsity

SOFTBALL Place

(S) Thursday 03/17/11 (S) Tuesday

03/22/11

Friday

03/25/11

Monday

03/28/11

Tuesday Thursday

03/29/11 03/31/11

Monday

04/04/11

Thursday

04/07/11

Tuesday

04/12/11

Thursday

04/14/11

Monday Tuesday

04/18/11 04/19/11

Tuesday

04/26/11

Thursday

04/28/11

Tuesday

05/03/11

Thursday

05/05/11

Monday

05/09/11

Tuesday

05/10/11

Thursday

05/12/11

Monday

05/16/11

Time

Bethel Park High School Away 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Hampton High School Away 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Vincentian High School Home 7:30 PM (JV at 6:00pm) Shaler Area High School Away 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Sewickley Academy Away 4:15PM Quaker Valley High School Home 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Mt. Lebanon High School Home 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Franklin Regional High School Away 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Hempfield High School Home 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Seneca Valley High School Away 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Sewickley Academy Home 7:30PM Pine-Richland High School Home 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Quaker Valley High School Away 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Hampton High School Home 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Franklin Regional High School Home 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Hempfield High School Away 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Fox Chapel High School Home 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Seneca Valley High School Home 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Pine-Richland High School Away 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm) Upper St. Clair High School Home 7:30PM (JV at 6:00pm)

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Girls Varsity

(S) Saturday Friday Saturday Tuesday Wednesday Friday Monday Wednesday Friday Monday Wednesday Friday Monday Wednesday Monday Tuesday Saturday Monday Wednesday Friday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

Place

03/19/11 03/25/11 03/26/11 03/29/11 03/30/11 04/01/11 04/04/11 04/06/11 04/08/11 04/11/11 04/13/11 04/15/11 04/18/11 04/20/11 04/25/11 04/26/11 04/30/11 05/02/11 05/04/11 05/06/11 05/09/11 05/10/11 05/11/11

West Allegheny Orlando, Florida - 2 games Orlando, Florida (2 Games) Hempfield High School Latrobe High School Shaler Area High School Pine-Richland High School Mt. Lebanon High School Montour High School Butler High School Oakland Catholic High School Seneca Valley High School North Hills High School Shaler Area High School Pine-Richland High School Poland Seminary High School Butler High School Oakland Catholic High School Seneca Valley High School North Hills High School Blackhawk High School Ambridge High School Peters Township High School

Time

Home Away Away Home Home Away Home Home Home Away Home Away Home Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Home Away

12:00PM TBA TBA 7:00PM 7:00PM 4:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM 4:00PM 7:00PM 4:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM 4:00PM 6:30PM 7:00PM 3:30PM 7:00PM 4:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM 4:00PM

Away Home Away Home Away Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Home Home Away Home Away Home Home Away

1:00PM 4:30PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:30PM 3:45PM 4:00PM 3:30PM 7:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:30PM 7:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 5:00PM 5:00PM 5:30PM

SOFTBALL GirlsJuniorVarsity

(S) Saturday Tuesday Wednesday Friday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday Monday Wednesday Friday Wednesday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday Monday Wednesday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

03/19/11 03/29/11 03/30/11 04/01/11 04/04/11 04/05/11 04/06/11 04/08/11 04/11/11 04/13/11 04/15/11 04/20/11 04/25/11 04/26/11 04/27/11 04/29/11 05/02/11 05/04/11 05/09/11 05/10/11 05/11/11

Place

WestAlleghenyHighSchool HempfieldHighSchool LatrobeHighSchool ShalerAreaHighSchool Pine-RichlandHighSchool HamptonHighSchool Mt.LebanonHighSchool MarsHighSchool ButlerHighSchool OaklandCatholicHighSchool SenecaValleyHighSchool ShalerAreaHighSchool Pine-RichlandHighSchool PolandSeminaryHighSchool MarsHighSchool ButlerHighSchool OaklandCatholicHighSchool SenecaValleyHighSchool BlackhawkHighSchool AmbridgeHighSchool PetersTownshipHighSchool

Time

BASEBALL Boys Varsity

(S) Wednesday 03/16/11 (S) Saturday 03/19/11 Saturday 03/26/11 Monday 03/28/11 Wednesday 03/30/11 Thursday 03/31/11 Friday 04/01/11 Monday 04/04/11 Wednesday 04/06/11 Friday 04/08/11 Monday 04/11/11 Wednesday 04/13/11 Friday 04/15/11 Monday 04/18/11 Tuesday 04/19/11 Wednesday 04/20/11 Thursday 04/21/11 Monday 04/25/11 Wednesday 04/27/11 Thursday 04/28/11 Saturday 04/30/11 Wednesday 05/04/11 Friday 05/06/11 Monday 05/09/11 Wednesday 05/11/11

Place

West Allegheny High School Upper St. Clair High School Latrobe High School Baldwin High School Mt. Lebanon High School Hampton High School Norwin High School Pine-Richland High School Shaler Area High School Gateway Senior High School Butler High School Fox Chapel High School Seneca Valley High School North Hills High School Blackhawk High School Penn Hills High School Bethel Park High School Plum Senior High School Pine-Richland High School Shaler Area High School Hempfield High School Butler High School Fox Chapel High School Seneca Valley High School North Hills High School

Time

Home Away Away Away Away Away Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Home Away Away Home Home Away Home Home Away Home Away

4:00PM 1:30PM 12:00PM 4:15PM 4:15PM 4:00PM 7:00PM 4:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM 4:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM 4:00PM 3:00PM 7:00PM 3:45PM 7:00PM 4:00PM

GO TIGERS! TRACK Boys and Girls Varsity

BASEBALL Boys Junior Varsity

Place

Time

Away Away Away Home Home Home Away Home Away Away Home Away Home Away Away Home Home Away Away Home Away Away Home Away Home

4:15PM 1:30PM 2:30PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 6:30PM 3:45PM 6:30PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 4:00PM 12:00PM 6:30PM 6:30PM 4:00PM 6:30PM

(S) Thursday Saturday Tuesday Friday Tuesday Tuesday Saturday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Friday Friday Tuesday Thursday Thursday Friday Saturday

Place

03/17/11 Mars High School 03/26/11 South Hills Invitational 03/29/11 Cathedral Prep School 04/01/11 North Hills High School 04/05/11 Fox Chapel High School 04/12/11 Seneca Valley High School 04/16/11 McDowell Invitational 04/19/11 Pine-Richland High School 04/20/11 Butler 9th and 10th Grade Invite 04/27/11 Butler High School 05/04/11 WPIAL Team Semi-Finals 05/06/11 Baldwin Invitational 05/06/11 Pine-Richland Invitational 05/10/11 WPIAL Qualifier 05/12/11 WPIAL Team Finals 05/19/11 WPIAL Individual Qualifier 05/27/11 PIAA Championships 05/28/11 PIAA Championships

Time

Away Away Home Away Home Away Away Home Away Away Away Away Away Away Away Away Away Away

3:30PM 10:00AM 4:30PM 3:30PM 3:30PM 3:30PM 8:00AM 3:30PM 3:30PM 3:30PM TBA 12:30PM 2:30PM 2:00PM 2:00PM 12:00PM 9:00AM 9:00AM

www.northallegheny.org/athletics North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 17

Shady Side Academy Senior Named to Regional Honors Orchestra hady Side Academy senior Lisha gu (Marshall Twp.), an accomplished violinist, has been selected to play in the MeNC All-eastern Honors Orchestra, from March 31 to April 3, 2011, in Baltimore. This regional orchestra will feature top musicians selected from schools in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New york, New Jersey, rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Vermont. gu is a member of the Shady Side Academy Senior School String Orchestra. earlier this fall, she was selected to perform at the Pennsylvania Music educators Association (PMeA) District I Honors Orchestra Festival, held at Plum Senior High School on Nov. 6-7. gu was the assistant concert master chair as first violin, second seat, in the PMeA festival. MeNC: The National Association for Music education is among the world's largest arts education organizations. Through membership of more than 75,000 active, retired, and pre-service music teachers, and with 60,000 honor students and supporters, MeNC serves millions of students nationwide through activities from preschool to graduate school. MeNC works to ensure every student has access to a wellbalanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. Shady Side Academy is a nationally respected private school in Pittsburgh for boys and girls in grades pre-kindergarten through 12, with an optional five-day boarding experience in high school. Three age-specific campuses with extraordinary resources, teachers who actively mentor, a forward-thinking curriculum, a diverse and inclusive community, and a legacy of alumni accomplishments all inspire Shady Side students to high achievement in academics, the arts and athletics, and to meaningful ambitions in life. For more information visit www.shadysideacademy.org .

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H.P. Starr Lumber Company Expertise and Experience for your Projects from the Foundation to the Roof here’s a whole world of information out there when it comes to homebuilding and remodeling. Which wood moulding is best suited for staining? Which deck material lasts longest for the price? Which window requires the least maintenance? At H.P. Starr Lumber Company, employees have an average of more than 10 years of experience with the company and are ready, willing and able to answer all of those questions and any more that you can think of. Bruce edwards, one of the owners of H.P. Starr, said that experience, expertise and breadth of product selection are what customers come to H.P. Starr for, not to mention value. “I would describe value as a combination of quality of product, the service provided while selecting the product, and getting the appropriate product for the project at the best price,” edwards said. H.P. Starr has everything you would need to build a house from the foundation to the roof. And while you could call H.P. Starr a “one-stop shop” for your building needs, it’s still a family business at heart. There are two locations, one on route 8 in glade Mills and the other on route 68 near evans City. The glade Mills homestead has been in existence since the 1880s, and was once the Starr family farm. This location began serving customers in 1948 and the evans City location later opened in 1984. In 1998, H.P.

Starr merged with another family-owned lumber business, Brookside Lumber, in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. edwards said the merger brought more than just two families together; it combined the experience of dozens of employees, making the company a veritable trove of knowledge when it comes to all the products they offer. “We have conversations with our customers,” edwards said. “We can really drill down into their projects and make sure they leave here with the best products for their projects. Can you go buy a 1”x12” board somewhere? Sure. Can you come here? Absolutely. But what you’ll find here is a broader selection and the people who can give you the appropriate guidance so that you’re getting what you need, not what a brochure says you need.” edwards said that expertise is even more valuable today with the majority of customers perusing the Internet for ideas on projects and materials. “When you’re on a manufacturer’s website, you’ll read that their product is the best for your project, hands down, and you shouldn’t even consider anything else out

there,” edwards said. “But if you’re looking for moulding, for instance, there are many choices, each with their own advantages in their own situations. you could go with a hardwood, a composite, vinyl or MDF. Which is the best value for your project? The manufacturer won’t tell you that, but we can.” Multiply that by the hundreds of quality brands of siding, trim, windows, doors and cabinets, along with building materials, and that wealth of knowledge can be worth its weight in gold to a homeowner. For a tour of many of the products that H.P. Starr Lumber Company stocks, visit the company website – www.starrlumber.com. H.P. Starr Lumber Company is located at 2134 evans City road, 724.776.2800, and 1011 Pittsburgh road, 724.898.1501. Both locations are open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 19

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North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 21

  S

pring is around the corner and most of us will set the same goal that we set last year: get in shape for the summer! getting fit and staying fit can be a challenge in itself. A study from the Johns Hopkins University states that being 10 pounds overweight places an additional 30-60 pounds of stress on the joints, including those in your back! Whether we would like to lose weight or build muscle, one common denominator is that exercise is the key. But what happens when exercise causes joint or back pain? Unfortunately, the pain in your joints and/or back can inhibit your weight loss due to the inability to exercise without causing more pain. So, there we are stuck in that vicious cycle yet again.

          

Back and joint pain is a common symptom caused by weak (deconditioned) muscles and/or misaligned bones. For example, lower back pain can come from weak abdominal muscles coupled with tight hamstrings causing the pelvis to rotate. This is commonly seen with prolonged sitting. Another common symptom is knee pain. Fallen arches in the feet combined with over-active thigh muscles can cause unequal pressure on the knees, and hence pain. This condition is common for people who stand for long periods of time. removing the obstacles that are inhibiting your exercise will allow you to focus on fitness, prevention, and wellness activities. This change will ultimately decrease out of pocket healthcare costs and future healthcare expenses. If you are sick and tired of chronic reoccurring pain and you are ready to make a change be sure to contact a qualified healthcare professional who understands and can customize an exercise and rehabilitative program for you. At genesis Chiropractic you will receive a complete functional evaluation to discover the cause of your pain. During your functional evaluation, we will show you where your muscles are tight, tender, overactive, or de-conditioned. The doctors will customize a treatment plan to decrease your pain while rehabilitating the area that is causing your pain. Through rehabilitation, stretching, and strength training we can prevent this pain from reoccurring and improve your quality of life. Drs. Bentz and Cook, your genesis Chiropractors, specialize in the treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of your musculo-skeletal system (your spine and your joints) and the effects that these disorders have on the function of your nervous system and general health. Treatment at genesis Chiropractic consists of a consultation and detailed history, a comprehensive examination, digital X-rays (if indicated), therapy, and manual adjustments. Call 412-847-0066 today to schedule an appointment.

This Industry Insight was written by Dr. Jeffrey Bentz and Dr. Matthew Cook. Dr. Bentz is a graduate of North Allegheny High School, Pennsylvania State University, and Palmer College of Chiropractic. Dr. Cook is a graduate of North Hill High School, Duquesne University, and Palmer College of Chiropractic. Drs. Bentz and Cook are board certified in chiropractic and adjunctive procedures and are members of the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association.

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 

he North Allegheny community came together at Hoops for Hope to support their beloved friend Christina Schuliger, a senior at NASH who underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor in October. kayla Wilson, Portia Isaac and other friends organized the benefit basketball tournament to help the Schuliger family defray extensive medical bills. These kids did an awesome job with the tournament—also selling persona lized teeshirts and bracelets, raffle tickets, refreshments—all for their dear friend. With the assistance of her two sisters Brie

Christine Walt ers, Kayla Wils on, Portia Isaac

and Anna, Christina was able to attend the event and thank everyone for their support. Serving as president of key Club this year, Christina has a passion for helping others. This beautiful girl has a lot of recovery work to do and, at the same time, is working to raise funds to realize her dream in mission work, which is to establish an orphanage in Haiti with ties to adoption agencies in the United States. To support and learn more about Christina's cause, visit www.gofundme.com/christina-schuligermission-foundation.

Anna, Christina & Brie Schuliger Sammi Petraglia, Brie Schuliger, Anna Schuliger, Carly Brailer

 by Jamie Ward

he McCandless Police Department received a Silver Award from AAA east Central for their success in making the community safer. The AAA Community Traffic Safety Awards Program presents awards to departments who are putting forth efforts to make their roads safer. The organization’s highest honor is the Platinum Award, followed by gold, Silver and Bronze. AAA Safety Advisor J.J. Miller says that McCandless qualified for a Silver Award because they were able to show that they developed programs to target their problem areas. “They are out there working to help us stay safe on the roadway, and we commend them for that,” she says. “Ours was primarily for aggressive driving enforcement, targeting certain areas of Mcknight and Perry Highway identified as high accident areas,” says gary Anderson, McCandless police chief. “Their statistics reflect most of those accidents caused by aggressive driving.”

The department received grant money from PennDot and put forth effort to reduce those accidents. Anderson estimates the outcome to be a 10% reduction in accidents. All police departments are asked to fill out a form that lets AAA know what type of activities they are doing. “They are reporting to us their traffic safety initiatives and what their efforts will be,” says Miller. McCandless was one of seven departments in the North Hills and one of 30 in western Pennsylvania to receive AAA awards for safety. AAA’s safety award program is nationally recognized and the highest award that the organization can recognize these departments with. “It’s the best way we can say thank you for the great job they are doing,” says Miller. Anderson says the award means a lot to the department, and they are continuing their efforts to make the community safer. “The challenge will be what happens during the reconstruction of Perry Highway, as well as after the reconstruction. So we will have to keep our eye on it and see what’s going on,” says Anderson. North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 23

Lutheran SeniorLife to Open New Assisted Living Care Facility in Mars utheran SeniorLife will open the doors to a new, state-ofthe-art assisted living facility this May that promises to be the pinnacle of assisted-living care with memory support. The 30-bed center, called roseCrest after Martin Luther’s rose and the fact that the center is situated on a hill, will boast all-private suites with flat-screen televisions, sitting areas and outdoor courtyard. The one-story facility is designed with easily accessible “neighborhoods,” and 24-hour memory support services, including nursing and related care. residents will receive three meals a day, including a daily snack, and benefit from the facility’s proximity to St. John Specialty Care Center, also part of the Lutheran SeniorLife campus. karen russell, executive director of St. John Specialty Care Center, said roseCrest has a

number of amenities that will make it stand out from other facilities of its kind. “The creative design of this facility will give residents the feeling that it’s just like home. It’s a very non-institutional look,” russell said. “residents will live in suites, situated around a center community area with nursing staff able to provide emergency response when needed most.” russell said that all aspects of roseCrest are designed with the safety and well-being of the residents in mind. “From the outdoor courtyard and other amenities, which are all secured so our residents can enjoy the outdoors without leaving the premises, to the monthly wellness checks, roseCrest is a leader,” russell said.

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“Housekeeping is included in their stay. There’s also an activity center and coordinated transportation to local destinations. It’s all part of the St. John Campus - St. John Specialty Care Center in Mars, which was our only facility on that campus until now. After roseCrest, we’ll begin construction of residential living apartments on that campus. There may be other things down the road, but when you look at the skilled nursing, assisted and residential living, we have all elements necessary designating St. John as a certified Continuing Care retirement Community.” St. John currently serves 300 residents. Lutheran SeniorLife also has a campus in zelienople – the 42-acre Passavant retirement Community, which, like St. John, offers all levels of senior living care. Lutheran SeniorLife also has residential living communities in Hempfield and Butler, and a 31-unit apartment building in McCandless – The Commons at Stonebrook Village. The organization also has several programs for those in need, including its “LIFe” Programs. LIFe stands for “Living Independence For the elderly,” and is comprised of partnerships with area hospitals for low-income senior citizens or those who are medical-assistance eligible. Partnerships exist in three counties - Butler, Beaver, and Lawrence and allow nursing-home eligible seniors to be transported to LIFe centers for their routine services, including daily meals, up to three days each week. “We are developing a waiting list for roseCrest, but it’s not filled yet,” she said. “Those who are eligible and interested should call as soon as possible so that they can be accommodated.” For more information on roseCrest, go to www.lutheranseniorlife.org, or call 724.625.1900.

Bradford Woods Elementary Kids

Walk to Cure Diabetes

he children of Bradford Woods elementary School participated in kids Walk to Cure Diabetes. They learned about diabetes and the importance of a healthy lifestyle and raised $1,287 to help fund type 1 diabetes research. This autoimmune disease affects approximately three million Americans and more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes every year; that's 40 children each day. For more information on diabetes or organizing a walk, visit www.jdrf.org\kidswalk.

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 25

North Allegheny Students Win PennDOT's Aviation Art Contest On Display in State Capitol Nov. 29-Dec. 3 ut of 22 students from across the state, two North Allegheny students have been selected as division winners in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's "The View from the Pilot's Seat" aviation art contest. Cody Lubic of Bradford Woods elementary won in the grade one through three level and Teresa Majewski of Marshall elementary won in the grade four and five level. They were competing in PennDOT’s District 11, which is comprised of all of Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties. "More than 500 entries poured in from homes and classrooms around the state and the students continue to impress us with their creativity," said PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler. "The winners should be proud of their achievement, and I offer my thanks to teachers and family members who ensure this contest is an annual success." entries were judged in two divisions: first through third grades, and fourth and

fifth grades. One winner was chosen from each division in each of PennDOT's 11 district offices. Winners will receive a mounted, 16-by-20-inch copy of their entry, and a certificate signed by the transportation secretary. The students' schools will also receive a mounted copy of the artwork for display. The winning entries will be on display in the east Wing of the state Capitol building in Harrisburg from Nov. 29-Dec. 3. For more information or to see the winning entries, visit www.dot.state.pa.us and click on "Aviation & rail Freight," then the bureau of aviation.

Teresa Majewski

Cody Lubic

 ymphony North, an affiliate of The Pittsburgh Symphony Association, held their annual fundraiser at The Chadwick in Wexford. More than 300 guests enjoyed a fashion show presented by Pittsburgh elegance, a silent auction, raffles, and browsing through the "boutiques" set up throughout the ba llroom. Thirteen-year-old Sasha Voinov of Franklin Park, who made his Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra debut in December, treated everyone to an amazing performance at the piano!

Carol Loiselle, Wendy Plank, Amy Poppa

Peggy Fowler, Iris Dober

Ruth Ane Reginella, Anita DeFranco, Sue Rudisill, Tonia Koltiska

Sasha Voinov

Jean Ewers, Mary Jean Plank

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RENOVATE OR SELL? Where Should We Stay?

Renovating a home you live in and love may be the answer, then again, maybe not. Living in a home with a major renovation, especially with children, can be a very stressful, very exhausting task.

As our life circumstances change, this question will inevitably come up with anyone who currently owns a home or someone looking to purchase a new home. When we get married, our finances may not allow us to purchase our dream home, so maybe we purchase a home priced below our budget and renovate once we move in. Then there’s planning the wedding, honeymoon, setting up contractors for the renovations, making design decisions, getting married, moving in….then renovating. We now have our first child, maybe two, when we start thinking it’s time to move up, but we love our home, so maybe we should

stay and renovate, or maybe we should buy a larger home. But, this new home may still need to be renovated to our tastes, needs, desires. Again, we’re faced with the financial implications and stress of living in a renovation. When we become empty-nesters, we no longer wish to spend our time maintaining a larger home and property, but our kids still visit; do we stay and maybe renovate our home to an age-in-place home and hire house

cleaning and lawn maintenance services so we don’t have to worry about the maintenance anymore, or maybe we should let go and downsize. renovating a home you live in and love may be the answer, then again, maybe not. Living in a home with a major renovation, especially with children, can be a very stressful, very exhausting task. Those of us who either purchase a home or are already in a home and live in it during a renovation is, without doubt, very stressful. even those of us, including myself, who have the experience in the renovation arena with suppliers, contractors, subcontractors, and design, have struggled with this same decision. If you don’t have any experience or skills in renovations, you must interview architects/designers, contractors, check their credentials, trust that they are going to show up and do the job you hired them to do; after all, you have to work every day to pay for these renovations and can’t supervise those you’ve hired all day. Some of the even most experienced construction professionals who attempt to perform these renovations on their own struggle with self-performing some of these renovations during their off time. Some of these professionals make the decision to move out and rent another property during the renovation. But, can you perform any of the renovations with no experience or knowledge? Can you afford to pack up your family and move into a rental property during the renovation process. One80 can assist you in answering these questions. Whether you’re considering selling your current home, buying a first home or upgrading to a new home, we can help you answer some of the even more underlying questions you may not have considered.

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 27



 More Confidence veryone knows that life for teens is difficult enough. As adults we often recall what it what it was like having highly visible orthodontic treatment during our formative years. Traditional orthodontic treatment can often cause young people to become self-conscious or introverted. Today, it is a whole different ball game! Let’s be honest, having some sort of orthodontic treatment while in middle or high s chool is about as common as homework. But, as common as it is, it can still be a serious source of stress for tweens and teens. No one wants a mouth full of brackets and wires that make you speak funny and are uncomfortable, especially when you are trying to discover who you are in the first place. Thanks to Invisalign Teen, traditional braces are not the only option for your young adult’s treatment. Invisalign Teen is a series of aligners that are comfortable, practically invisible, and completely removable. They work by moving the teeth a little at a time. each aligner is worn for approximately two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, the patient moves on to the next aligner in their set. It’s that

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North Allegheny

before In the photo above, you can see the contrast between traditional braces and the Invisalign technology. Left: A current King Orthodontics patient who underwent treatment with Invisalign Teen.

simple. And it’s effective. Invisalign is currently after being used to correct everything from crowded teeth to over bites. It is also giving teens the opportunity to find themselves and not let their orthodontic treatment define who they are. When asked why he recommends Invisalign Teen, Dr. Bryan king of king Orthodontics said, “Invisalign Teen allows for the growth of teen's permanent teeth (second molars, plus first and second bicuspids). So, as a parent, you can be assured that new, growing teeth won't deter your teen's orthodontic treatment in any way.” Dr. earle king added, “Treatment won’t interfere with a teen’s sports or social life. The aligners are custom made to fit over the teeth and can be removed for games or photo opportunities.” The aligners should be worn for approx 22 hours a day. They should be removed for eating, brushing and flossing. Drs. earle and Bryan king are the area’s leading providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen. With over 1,500 Invisalign cases, both completed and currently in treatment, they are is also part of the Invisalign Century Club—an honor awarded to the nation’s top 100 providers. In fact, both doctors present on the topic of Invisalign at a national level. Dr. earle king has participated as the expert in the “Ask the expert” webinar, and Dr. Bryan king has presented at the Invisalign National Summit to over 1,000 of the country’s orthodontists and their staff. This unmatched experience allows the doctors at king Orthodontics to treat the most difficult cases, even those that were told Invisalign is not for them! Teens are thrilled about having the option. “No one knew I was wearing Invisalign Teen until I took them out to eat. They are so comfortable I almost forgot I was wearing them,” said Michael, a king Orthodontics patient. Sara, a trumpet player said, “it makes a huge difference that I can take them out to practice or for a concert.” The benefits of treatment with Invisalign Teen are countless. you can help your teen improve his or her overall dental health and appearance in a way that works for everyone. king Orthodontics has two locations in the greater Pittsburgh area, 11200 Perry Highway, Wexford and 951 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information about king Orthodontics or Invisalign, visit www.kingorthodontics.com. Call our office and set up a free consultation: Wexford: 724.935.5323 or Downtown: 412.246.0600

SPRING 2011

Health and Wellness News You Can Use

What’s Inside

page 2

Coming Back from a Back Injury

page 3

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

page 4

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

page 5

UPMC HealthTrak Lets You Manage Your Health Care Online

page 6

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Could It Happen to You?

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Welcoming New Physicians What’s Happening at UPMC Passavant

Coming Back from a Back Injury UPMC Passavant’s state-of-the-art spine care services offer the latest surgical and nonsurgical treatments Nearly 12,000 spinal injuries occur in the United States each year. While most are the result of motor vehicle accidents or falls, nearly 12 percent are the result of sports-related injuries. An accident, a sudden fall, or the accumulated trauma of several minor injuries can sideline anyone with a serious back injury. Just ask John Busse* of Charleston, W. Va. The gifted basketball player started playing on his high school’s varsity team as a freshman. By his senior year, John was close to matching the high school record of legendary NBA player and fellow West Virginian, Jerry West. But then he started experiencing lower back pain. “I can’t blame my herniated disk on any one injury,” says John, now a wildlife biology/pre-vet major in his junior year at Auburn University in Alabama. “I continued playing until I realized I couldn’t really feel my legs any more.” Following in his father’s footsteps John’s dad — himself an active outdoorsman — wasted no time convincing his son to make the journey to Pittsburgh’s North Hills for evaluation by Matt El-Kadi, MD, chief of Neurosurgery at UPMC Passavant and clinical professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “My dad had undergone four failed back surgeries until Dr. El-Kadi operated on him. There was no question that’s where I wanted to go,” adds John. * John Busse’s treatment and results may not be representative of similar cases.

www.UPMC.com/Today

The Spine Center at UPMC Passavant features one of the region’s most comprehensive programs for the treatment of spine injuries, with a multidisciplinary team of specialists who can provide both surgical and nonsurgical options. “We’re generally able to treat most back pain and injuries with conservative measures (including rest, medication, and physical therapy),” explains Dr. El-Kadi. “When an operation is the only option, we specialize in minimally invasive surgery, which incurs less damage to muscle tissue so that patients generally recover more quickly and experience less postoperative pain.” Spine Center offers advanced neurologic services Individuals with back injuries have access to the latest imaging and diagnostic tools at the Spine Center. UPMC Passavant’s new pavilion also houses a complete navigation suite for spine surgery where surgeons can perform a wide range of complex and advanced spine surgeries that attract patients from hundreds of miles away. While most herniated disks don’t require surgery, it was John’s only recourse due to the extent of his injury. “Everything went like clockwork. Except for being a little stiff right after the operation, the whole thing was painless,” he says. “I did physical therapy for a few months afterward, too, mostly for reconditioning. Nothing has stopped me since — I’m now playing intramural basketball and football at Auburn.”

When to Get Help Your back is an integral part of everyday movement, providing strength, flexibility, and stability for the entire body. Keeping your back healthy means knowing when to get help for an injury. Minor back injuries can be selftreated with rest; over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication for pain; the use of ice for the first 48 hours, followed by heat; and exercises to build the core muscles of the stomach and lower back. However, Dr. El-Kadi recommends that you seek prompt medical attention if you experience any of the following after sustaining a back injury: • Any neurologic symptoms such as numbness, weakness, or searing pain down the leg • Bowel or bladder problems • Pain that gets progressively worse • Pain at night or at rest • Longer-than-usual recovery time For more information about the Spine Center at UPMC Passavant, or to make an appointment, call 1-877-967-2225, or visit www.UPMC.com/Passavant.

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 flareups, 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. Usually, stomachaches are harmless conditions caused by overeating, gas, or indigestion. Frequent or recurring stomachaches are often due to stress and worry, even in children. But they can point to more serious medical problems.

Get medical help immediately if: • You have abdominal pain that is very sharp, severe, and sudden. • You also have pain in the chest, neck, or shoulder. • You’re vomiting blood or have bloody diarrhea.

Harmless abdominal pain usually subsides or goes away within two hours. If you have the stomach flu, your stomach may hurt before each episode of vomiting or diarrhea. In serious cases, the pain worsens or becomes constant. According to gastroenterologists at UPMC Passavant, you should call your primary care physician if mild pain lasts more than a couple of days, or if the pain is accompanied by other symptoms.

• Your abdomen is stiff, hard, and tender to the touch. • You can’t move your bowels, especially if you’re also vomiting. 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 Fahrenheit). 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 Fahrenheit 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 patient’s treatment 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. “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. 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.

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

1-800-533-UPMC

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Could it Happen to You? Most of us associate posttraumatic 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 posttraumatic 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.

Welcoming New Physicians To schedule an appointment, or for more information about any of our physicians, visit www.UPMC.com/FindADoctor or call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). John T. Comerci, MD Gynecologic Surgery

Andrew S. Hall, DO Internal Medicine

Richard J. Lowery, DPM Podiatric Surgery

Michael T. Stang, MD General Surgery

Noedahn Copley-Woods, MD Gynecologic Surgery

Steven M. Heilbrunn, MD Cardiology

Richard M. Maleski, DPM Podiatric Surgery

Nangali S. Srinivasa, MD Internal Medicine

Anna Dumont, DO Family Practice

Wendy M. Helkowski, MD Orthopaedics

David S. Medich, MD Colorectal Surgery

Charles H. Srodes, MD Oncology

Marsha J. Fino, MD Internal Medicine

Brian T. Jankowitz, MD Head and Neck Surgery

Antonia A. Mendoza, MD Nephrology

Przemyslaw J. Sutkowski, MD Nephrology

Robert M. Friedlander, MD Head and Neck Surgery

Uma M. Kannapadi, MD Nephrology

Nabil H. Mikhael, MD Nephrology

Ian M. Wu, MD Nephrology

Dennis Gabos, MD Cardiology

Jeff Krachkow, MD Cardiology

Jingjiang Nie, MD Nephrology

Timothy Wu, MD Cardiovascular Surgery

John M. George, MD Cardiology

John A. Lech, DO Oncology

Thanh Nguyen, MD Nephrology

Brian W. Zimmer, DO Nephrology

Chiara Ghetti, MD Gynecologic Surgery

Ryan M. Levy, MD Thoracic Surgery

Scott G. Rainey, DO Orthopaedics

Halina M. Zyczynski, MD Gynecologic Surgery

Pablo G. Giuseppucci, MD General Surgery

Jerry L. Lowder, MD Gynecologic Surgery

Lane Y. Schumacher, MD Thoracic Surgery

What’s Happening at UPMC Passavant These free events are offered by the Passavant Hospital Foundation Understanding the Cardiovascular System and You Tuesday, Mar. 15, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Apr. 19, 6:30 p.m. CCAC North Campus Speakers: Daniel Edmundowicz, MS, MD, FACC and Darlene Loebig, RN These educational sessions are for those who want to begin living a heart healthy lifestyle. Please call 412-369-3701 to register. Colorectal Cancer: What You Need to Know Wednesday, Mar. 16, 12:30 p.m. Senior Center, Cranberry Township Municipal Building Speaker: Ved Kaushik, MD Prevention, detection, and advancements in treatment options related to colorectal cancer will be discussed at this seminar. Please call 412-367-6640 to register.

Autism Through the Lifespan Wednesday (day one), Apr. 13, 8 a.m. Thursday (day two), Apr. 14, 8 a.m. Passavant Hospital Foundation Conference Center and Legacy Theatre This two-day event will cover autism from early childhood to adolescence (day one), and adolescence through adulthood (day two). CEUs available. Registration is required. For more information, visit www.passavanthospitalfoundation.org.

Legacy Music Series UPMC Passavant–McCandless Passavant Hospital Foundation is seeking talented musicians who want to help lift people’s spirits and volunteer their time to give the gift of music. Inquiries are now being accepted for 2011 dates. Please call 412-367-6640 for more information.

Good Nutrition for Seniors: Attaining and Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle Wednesday, Apr. 20, 12:30 p.m. Senior Center, Cranberry Township Municipal Building Speaker: Joan Avolio, RN, LDN Learn about healthy eating and exercise, and practical ways to incorporate good nutrition into day-to-day living. Please call 412-367-6640 to register.

1-800-533-UPMC

UPMC Passavant 9100 Babcock Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15237

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.

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The strength of UPMC’s advanced spine care is right here. If you’re suffering from back or neck pain, put your trust in the experts at UPMC Passavant. Our world-class, specially trained surgical team delivers high-quality care for spinal injuries and painful disk conditions, including highly advanced fusion techniques and the latest in minimally invasive procedures. And with the addition of several high-tech operating rooms in our new pavilion, our surgeons have access to real-time, integrated, 3-D imaging. This can increase the accuracy of stabilization techniques, minimize operating time, and enable surgeons to perform more complex procedures closer to your home. We even offer a full range of nonsurgical options, including on-site physical and occupational therapy programs. It all adds up to the premier spine care center north of the city. Call us at 1-800-533-UPMC or visit UPMC.com/Passavant

PATIENT PAVILION NOW OPEN

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his is a great question people often ask when they enroll in a kung available with those goals in mind. Some might be geared just towards self defense, while others might just be concerned about tournaments. Fu or Tai Chi course. Of course, there are many obvious benefits Pick a kung Fu academy that stresses life improvement over just such as stress relief, self-defense, and social and sports the physical techniques. aspects, but did you know kung Fu training is also a great Before choosing a course, try a free VIP course. form of fitness? kung Fu training is not only great The VIP course should allow you to try at least 2 for toning your body, but it also offers a great a thought, concept, or object to 4 lessons. This way you can determine what cardio workout. The best part is you get all the formed by the imagination. the training might involve and if it does other values while getting into shape. match your goals. Classes should be Another benefit over the typical gym is separated by age and level of ability. That we have professional instructors to allows the instructor to concentrate on motivate you and keep you on track to that class’s particular needs. If you’re meet your fitness goals. keep in mind, just starting, you don’t want to be in a results don’t happen overnight but you class with highly skilled black belts, will start feeling the benefits right away. but rather a class of other beginner’s Chinese kung Fu is a fast-paced learning the proper way to do the cardio workout geared toward self Many times, we set goals without even realizing techniques. defense. Tai Chi (which means grand that’s what we’re doing. Have you ever thought The other great benefit of kung Fu Ultimate Fist) stresses relaxation, and and Tai Chi is that you’re always the slow-paced postures are great for about getting an ‘A’ in math or nailing a learning something new. So as you older adults looking for a low impact way complicated technique in Kung Fu? You knew how workout and increase your flexibility and to get in shape. excited you would be when it happened. strength, you’re learning new techniques Both kung Fu and Tai Chi offer many You dreamed about it. You thought about it that challenge you both mentally and great physical benefits such as muscle tone, every time you were in class. Guess what? physically. In addition, you improve improved flexibility, cardiovascular strength, You had a vision to reach a goal. coordination, which helps your muscles work stress relief, relaxation, coordination, balance, together for smoother movement and improved strength, posture, energy, and weight control. In posture. you improve your breathing because kung Fu addition, there are many mental benefits such as and Tai Chi uses low abdominal breathing for improving the discipline, concentration, confidence, awareness, leadership, internal organs. you also learn self defense, which is important for responsibility, positive attitude, control, and perseverance. protecting yourself or your loved ones. When starting a kung Fu or Tai Children benefit because they learn the tools necessary to be Chi program, it’s important to study at a regular pace. Many students start successful in life. These include the 3 rules of Concentration, 4 rules of with enthusiasm that can quickly fade because of over training… just as it Discipline, 7 rules of Leadership and the 7 Magic Words. As you know would be difficult to go from three meals a day to one meal a day. The most of these attributes are not taught in school, which is one of the most important thing is to have commitment and regular attendance. reasons for children with poor grades. When choosing a school, make sure you know what your goals are for This Industry Insight was written by Master Rothrock. yourself or your child. Then explore the different kung Fu schools

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Rothrock's Kung Fu & Tai Chi Studio has been offering instruction and training in Kung Fu & Tai Chi since 1973. The academy is headed by Master Rothrock with 40 years of experience and has a staff of expert back belt instructors. 11965 Perry Highway., Wexford PA 15090; 724.940.0120; www.rothrockskungfu.com

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 37

Good Tidings for the Greatest Generation

Older Adults in North Allegheny 

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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 typicall y 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 38 724.942.0940 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 email 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 |

North Allegheny

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 c ards 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.

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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.

Senior Agencies Center at the "Y" 8500 Thompson Run 412.367.2221

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, sharedride 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 non profit 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.

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 39

    then. When Butterini retired in July, Sieminski was named acting principal and officially assumed the position on November 17. “There was some anxiety about following someone as adored as he was,” says Sieminski, who notes that it's much easier to follow someone who developed such a great school. “Now the task is trying to maintain it going forward.” After graduating from Westminster College with a master’s degree in education, Sieminski started his career teaching at Seneca Valley School District. During his time there, he coached football and track until he left in 1987.

by Jamie Ward

ollowing in the footsteps of someone as widely loved as former Principal Larry Butterini, is not an easy task to take on. But Walt Sieminski has a pretty good shot. Sieminski is no newcomer to the district. He has been the senior high's vice principal since 1992, and served as Butterini's assistant since

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North Allegheny

Sieminski served as the assistant principal at Moniteau High School for over three years, then as principal at Valley High School for two years before coming to North Allegheny. Since taking his new position, Sieminski meets with many more parents and is ultimately responsible for the entire high school operation. “So far, the experience has been great,” he says. Moving forward, Sieminski has a few goals to implement: Advancing staff development with current strategies and trends; infusing technology and advanced efficiencies technologies for teaching and learning; and embracing the concept of students becoming digital learners. Technology has become a big part of classrooms nationwide and North Allegheny is no exception. Students arealready using google Docs and google applications on a daily basis. “The collaborative functionality that these technologies provide is an exciting and enriching educational experience,” says Sieminski. Though, he is prepared to address issues surrounding this new technology, particularly with respect to students using it wisely. Sieminski says his favorite part of the job is to influence and be influencedby students. “I have the opportunity to talk to kids, listen to what’s on their mind, and lead them so that they may experience success.” “I work hard to get the students to embrace the diversity that exists and not be judgmental, says Sieminski, “It's a diverse and ever-changing world.” Sieminski lives in Cranberry with his family. He has three kids: a son, 21, studying journalism at West Virginia University; another son, 23, studying art at Temple University; and a daughter, 17, who is a senior at Seneca Valley. “One of the reason's the district is as good as we are is that students come here ready to learn,” says Sieminski, “and that's a commendation to the parents who prepare their kids for this.” In turn, the district has the ability to hire quality teachers who expect students to learn. For Sieminski, this has made promoting education as something important much easier. “The door to a successful and prosperous future is open,” says Sieminski. “I'm blessed to work in a climate where the focus has been keeping students on the path to success.”

kids golf Jr Team Golf was started in 2008 by

gregor Meyer as a golf league for kids. Mr. Meyer has been in the golf business since 1993 when he built Pine Creek golf Center. “I have young kids and would take them to the range and hit balls with them. After a bit, they would start piling about 10 balls at a time on the mat and try to hit them all. They were bored and it struck me how difficult it is for a parent to get their kids interested in golf. At that moment, I made it my mission to get kids excited about playing golf.” “The first thing I wanted to do was to get kids golfing with other kids so I created a league called Jr Team golf. After our first week, I knew we were on the right track. The kids related to each other as they struggled and got excited for each other when they connected. They had smiles on their faces and were getting focused trying to see who could hit the farthest drive, land their ball on the target, or sink a putt to win a star for their cap!” 2011 will be Jr Team golf’s fourth season and the program has grown each year. Mr. Meyer explains, “golf is a great sport for kids because they don’t have to be the fastest, the strongest, or the most agile and aggressive to do well. There are many paths to success, and the skills they learn will provide a lifetime of enjoyment. I am excited about our upcoming season and seeing great kids and great families get involved with this sport. I like to say, families that play together, stay together.” Mr. Meyer is the league director and head coach. Jr Team golf is for boys and girls ages 7-17 and has a spring, summer, and fall Program. each program runs for 6 weeks. During those weeks the kids are sorted into groups of about 10 according to their age and meet for a 90-minute training session at Pine Creek golf Center. On Saturdays, tee times are assigned starting at 10 a.m. and the competitions are held at Clover Hill golf Course in Franklin Park Borough. Our final competition each season is the Parent Child Tourney, which brings the kids together with the families. Many parents worry about whether their child is ready for the golf course. Of course this is a concern so Jr Team golf has modified rules for beginners so they can have fun learning and enjoy the experience. “Once the kids get out on the course and start swinging away with other kids, the fear goes away and they realize that everyone struggles. They also feel the excitement of the game and their interest level and focus goes way up.” “It’s important to give kids proper guidance so I have assembled what I believe to be the finest staff of PgA and LPgA golf instructors in western Pennsylvania. Our players put forth a lot of effort during training, and I want them to get excited about improving!” In addition to the professional instructors, Mr. Meyer is the Jr Team golf Coach. “golf is a tough game to learn, so each week I have a theme for training to help them through the struggles. These include honesty, determination, perseverance, patience, good sportsmanship, and having fun. My main goal is to have them understand the importance of striving to improve each day and learning from all their experiences, good and bad.” During the season performance records and photos are compiled for each player. “I want our players to have a record of their performance so they can set their own goals and measure their progress. Photos are great aids to improvement because our players are able to compare themselves to tour players and it helps them learn the proper golf swing. Mr. Meyer is excited for the players, “Jr Team golf is the real deal and gets kids excited about golf and striving to improve!” FOR MORE INFO AND TO REGISTER PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: JRTEAMGOLF.COM

A Lifetime of Enjoyment To see pictures of our kids in action go to Facebook.com/JrTeamgolf. registration is Open now and space is limited!

2011 Program Dates Spring Summer Fall

April 20 – May 28 June 15-July 23 Sep 7 – Oct 15

For more information, contact: gregor Meyer, 412.720.2791, gregor@jrteamgolf.com www.jrteamgolf.com, www.facebook.com/jrteamgolf

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 41

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f you’re more than four feet tall and live in western Pennsylvania, chances are that your attic is not a comfortable space that you would consider livable. Your attic can be modified, however, by the do-ityourselfer 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 triangular space is limiting only if you have boxes or items that you need to store vertically. Items that are smaller and that can be arranged into nooks and crannies can be ideal for these odd-shaped spaces. Also keep in mind that, because of the nature of attic access in older homes, the route to your attic may be through a small trap door in a hall closet, so items you put in the attic might be limited to long-term or 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 twodrawer 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 town, large children’s toys or games that

don’t get played with during the school week, and sporting equipment when it’s out of season. Storing items like these in the attic will keep them out of dank basement conditions, and, in the case of linens and sporting equipment, keep the smell of mildew away. Keep in mind that the attic, while dryer than the basement, still has its own set of issues. Temperatures often vary wildly in attics depending on how insulated they are, so items that can’t stand high heat or low temperatures – like candles, for instance – may not fare well in the attic environment. Each space is different, but each is unique, and how you use that space can be a fun project for the whole family.

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 43

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               

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                         

          

               

G U N U R T L I N X R

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K R R H W I I O S V A

F D G S B L S S O V Q

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

T E M P E R A T U R E

  X M Y H G R F O J A R

R G X S T N P J B Z W

S N E E Z E N A B F Y

W U L D T G E R M A D

C G U H U S U R I V G

Cough Germ Nose Sneeze Temperature Tissue Virus Wash

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              

 

Strangers – What do I do? What is a stranger?

        

What should I do if a stranger tries to talk to me?

        

What if I am out with my family?

                  

                    

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 47

 at Marshall Middle School by Jamie Ward

arshall Middle School students are really stepping up to fight Cystic Fibrosis with the “Cure Finders” fundraiser. Sixth-grade teacher Chris Panos started the fundraiser and couldn’t be more proud of the response he has gotten. It all started nine years ago at Camp kon-okwee, a camp that fifth-graders in the district attend. Panos met a young boy who he saw struggle from being sick. After learning that the boy suffered from Cystic Fibrosis, Panos knew that he wanted to help in any way he could. The boy’s family put him in touch with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), and from there his fundraiser was born. “The kids didn’t want ‘CF’ to stand for Cystic Fibrosis,” says Panos. “So we came up with a name for the fundraiser that would stand for something positive.” Panos and his students settled on “Cure Finders.” The fundraiser kicks off around Halloween every year, and the goal is for kids to raise money

Chris Panos, 6th Grade teacher at Marshall Middle School

48 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE

North Allegheny

any way they can. Sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders in the building participate. Chris and two of his colleagues keep fivegallon paint buckets in their classrooms to fill up with money. Donations are collected until the holidays, when Panos presents the checks to CFF. This year, Cure Finders raised a total of $9,311 to go towards Cystic Fibrosis research. Students Madison Frasinelli and Laura Bradley raised $1,100 by collecting in front of Walmart and pulling their allowances. gillian Hook and Caroline Houghton raised $500 by going door to door. Peter Mathew and Matt Larking raised $350 by organizing a dodgeball tournament, and Cooper and Shaefer king raised $250 by selling chocolate covered pretzels at church. “I am overwhelmed and totally blown away by how willing my middle school students are to help,” says Panos. “you see the smiles on their faces when they donate the money, and that’s what’s great.” The students manage to exceed Panos’ expectations year after year.“I would think we would be lucky to get $2000 each year,” he says. “It’s like a snowball rolling downhill that keeps getting bigger and bigger.” Panos isn’t the only teacher getting involved. His compassion has inspired two of his colleagues to help out too. Fellow sixth-grade teachers at Marshall, kim Wert and Mary Moschetta, have been helping out for the last four years. “Chris’s unique gift of motivating students to participate and get involved in important community causes is contagious,” says Wert. each March, the school holds an assembly celebrating Cure Finders’ success. “kids with Cystic Fibrosis and their parents will come to the school to thank the kids,” says Panos. “It’s really nice.” “The district has been very supportive of the fundraiser,” says Panos. “It’s really a win-win situation for everyone.” While Cure Finders’ success has been unbelievable, Panos has big plans for the fundraiser. “By the time I retire, I want to raise $100,000,” he says. He’s still got about eight more years left to teach, but with all the support he has, he knows that he’ll be able to realize his goal someday. For more information and to find out how you can help, contact the Marshall Middle School at 724.934.6060.

you don’t have to live with painful varicose and spider veins. Should I Have My Veins Evaluated? Q & A WITH A VEIN SPECIALIST: While finishing charts at the end of my day, I took a few moments to listen to my staff answer questions for a patient on the phone. The questions asked were very important as were the answers that were given. Here are some examples:

What is Phlebology? Phlebology is the branch of medicine that deals with veins and the disease of veins. Two organizations dedicated to the advancement of this field are The American College of Phlebology and the American Venous Forum.

Why should I see a board- certified phlebologist to evaluate my varicose veins When it comes to any aspect of your health care, it is important to be proactive in the choice and research of who will become medically responsible for your evaluation and treatment. Though venous disease is not always a visible ailment, it can be a serious health problem leading to more serious issues, so choosing a specialist, or board certified phlebologist for your venous care is a wise decision. Board certification in phlebology identifies a physician who has taken the extra step of becoming specialized in the treatment of venous disease. Not only is the physician often a member of organizations such as the American College of Phlebology (ACP) and the American Venous Forum (AVF) but they have met additional requirements set by the certifying board. After meeting these requirements, he or she must then pass a certifying exam allowing the physician to identify him or herself as board-certified.

Is membership the same as board certification? This question is particularly important as it defines the specialty of a phlebologist. While a physician may be a member of many different organizations, these organizations only require an interest in the field for joining. Thus membership is unlike board certification where qualification is determined through training and testing. Here’s how the ACP defines its board certification: “The establishment of a Board Certification exam brings recognition to both the field of phlebology and those providers in the field who have the knowledge, skills and experience to provide quality care to phlebology patients.”

I had a free screening at a health fair and was told that I don't have venous disease, but I still have aching, pain and discoloration at the ankles. What should I do? While free screenings can be informative, remember that this is just a brief glance into a patient's venous system. A complete venous exam and venous mapping by a board-certified phlebologist is best to determine if a patient has venous disease. Since a proper venous ultrasound is such an integral part of this evaluation, the American College of Phlebology has set requirements for it that include the following: • A venous ultrasound should be ordered by a physician. • A lower extremity ultrasound should study the entire leg, from ankle to groin. Failure to identify and treat all sources of reflux may result in outright treatment failure. • evaluation of the venous system should be performed with the patient in the upright position. Sitting or lying down are inappropriate for the detection of reflux or the measurement of vein diameters. • A venous ultrasound should be performed by a trained physician or a registered vascular ultrasound technician (rVT) and then interpreted by a physician.

If I have had an evaluation elsewhere, can I still be evaluated in your office? Of course. A free evaluation is commonly ‘ free’ because patients are often not meeting with a physician, a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner, so this visit cannot be billed to insurance. However, most insurances allow for a second opinion. If you have any questions about the second opinion being covered, contact member services on the back of your insurance card. This Industry Insight was written by Theresa Schneider. Terrance R. Krysinski, MD General Surgeon Board Certified Phlebologist Vein Institute of Pittsburgh 724.934.VEIN (8346)

724-934-VEIN (8346) 16000 Perry Highway, Suite 2, Warrendale • 6507 robinson Center Dr., Pittsburgh North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 49

  by Ann Ferguson & Julie Barnes

fter the winter we have just experienced, let us welcome in spring 2011 and put a gardening plan into action. Uh oh! No plan! Then it is time to make one. even though it is too early to plant colorful flowers, it is not too early to prepare for the upcoming season. March is a time to prune: butterfly bushes and Annabelle hydrangea should be cut down to 12”, hypericum or St. John’s wort, 6-9”, while perennials such as asters, black-eyed Susan, coneflower and ornamental grasses should be sheared down to the ground. remove dead, broken, diseased or insect infested branches from shrubs or trees by making a parallel cut ¼ inch away from the main branch. When pruning diseased branches, always clean your tools after each cut with alcohol or household bleach. Do not paint over pruning cuts because this slows down the healing process. Instead, let the woody plant take care of itself by allowing the wound to heal naturally. Clean up garden debris. Apply dormant oil spray to any tree and shrub (excluding blue spruce) plagued by scale insects or mites. In the recent past, many tomatoes have succumbed to a blight caused by a fungus easily spread by wind-blown spores from as far as 30 miles away. These blight spores will survive from one season to the next and are totally unaffected by freezing. Consider purchasing contact fungicides now to treat your tomato plants, especially if you or your neighbor experienced a blight problem last year. Contact fungicides are edible. But, Make sure you always read the label! Thoroughly wash all fruit and vegetables to remove bacteria, dirt, or chemical residues. This includes prepackaged fruits and vegetables as well, although a label may assert that they were pre-washed. An increase in light levels stirs houseplants or tropical plants from their winter rest. Now is the time to begin feeding them. This is to replace the washed out nutrients that leached from their potting mixes after repeated watering. If you haven’t done so already, begin to spray or apply granules for critter control. rotate or change your treatments often to ensure that the critters do not get used to anything. This will teach them not to dine in your yard. Once forsythia blooming starts to wind down, it is time for an application of Pre-emergent treatment against crabgrass and weeds. However, grass seed will not germinate when a preemergent is used. Choose whether to over seed your lawn or fight against the crabgrass and weeds instead. Both cannot be done at the same time. According to the Month to Month Guide for the Mid-Atlantic Region, it is time to put Osmocote on perennials, Holly-tone on shrubs such as rhododendrons, or azaleas and to fertilize ornamental trees, shrubs and fruit trees as well. rose-tone will follow in April. general lawn care times: easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

Mark your calendars for:

The Ingomar garden Club Plant Sale Saturday, May 7, 2011 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Corner of Ingomar road and route 19 This is our annual Fund raiser for some great Mother’s Day plant shopping. Highlighting the sale are our “dig’um” perennials that are lovingly raised from plants grown in. members’ gardens. We also offer a great selection of hanging baskets, herbs, and lots of unique annuals to surprise any mom. garden club members will gladly assist with selections or even offer their advice.

The Ingomar garden Club always welcomes new members Contact: Julie Barnes 412.367.2685 or ruth kirk 412.366.7824

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Pure Café is Perfect for Children’s Parties Another interesting amenity is that Pure is strictly a BYOB site allowing for fully-catered events to be more cost effective than a restaurant where you would have to purchase a bar package. Our temperature-controlled lockers, catered specifically towards “The Bottle Club at Pure,” are perfect for storing any of the beer, wine or liquor that your heart desires.

hat’s new at Pure Café? Well, in addition to the wraps, soups, salads and Panini you already know and love, crepes have now become a staple at this healthy eatery. With a selection ranging from the sweet “Hazelberry-Anna,” stuffed with strawberry, banana, and Nutella, to the savory “All-American,” loaded with bacon, cheddar cheese, tomato and ranch dressing, or even the “Margarita,” that comes full of tomato, basil, mozzarella cheese and is topped with a balsamic reduction sauce. Armed with a plethora of options, including a gluten-free buckwheat batter, we guarantee that you’ll be able to find a crepe to fit your fancy. As of late, Pure Café has been the host to plenty of children’s parties, bridal and baby showers and corporate meetings. Pure’s clean and peaceful atmosphere makes for an ideal location to hold any type of gathering. We’re equipped with adequate power supply, comfortable seating and free Wi-Fi connectivity to fuel all of your computing needs and the fact that delicious, healthy food is just footsteps away, only adds to the convenience factor. If having your office events or meetings at Pure Café is not an option, we also offer catering delivery. Call ahead and work out a catering package with us and we will have it delivered to your place of business exactly when you need it. Not a member at Pure Athletex Sportsplex? Not a problem. Pure Café is open to the public. We even have a drive-thru window that you can place your order at or you can call ahead and swing through to grab your food and smoothies. Another interesting amenity, is that Pure is strictly a ByOB site allowing for fully-catered events to be more cost effective than a restaurant where you would have to purchase a bar package. Our temperature-controlled lockers, catered specifically towards “The Bottle Club at Pure,” are perfect for storing any of the beer, wine or liquor that your heart desires. Also, when the weather breaks, our sizable outdoor deck, fit with five flat-screen televisions, is perfect for any function where open air and beautiful scenery is desired, especially sporting events. And for people who like to take in a fine cigar, we will have a humidor containing an immense selection of premium stogies to be enjoyed on our deck. For more details, visit www.pureathletex.com and contact us at 724.935.1515 to book your next event!

This Industry Insight was written by Angela Cella. Angela is the owner and operator of Pure Café located inside Pure Athletex. 119 Neely School Road, Wexford PA 15090 724.935.1515 www.pureathletex.com/purehospitality.html

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 51

North Allegheny Restaurant Guide Bella Frutteto ~ see coupon (just off the Wexford exit from I79) Brandt School road & rt. 910 Franklin Village Shopping Center 724.940.7777

China House

Brush Creek Inn

12037 Perry Highway Wexford PA 15090

295 Northgate Drive

Carmody's Restaurant

Chinese Restaurant

2620 Nicholson road

724.935.9166

Chen's Mike China Palace

One Free Soda with Order

10441 Perry Highway

China House ~ see coupon 12037 Perry Highway, 724.935.9166 Eat 'n Park 2650 Brandt School road

Ichiban Hibachi & Sushi Bar ~ see coupon 1500 Village run road, 724.935.8388

King's Family Restaurant 105 VIP Drive

Luciano Pizza 1411 Duncan Avenue

Wexford 12027 Perry Highway Pine Tree Shoppes, Wexford

724.935.3200 Free Fountain Drink with purchase of gyro & Fries

Lucky Chinese Restaurant 11360 Perry Highway

My Big Fat Greek Gyro ~ see coupon 12027 Perry Highway, 724.935.3200

North Park Lounge 8701 Babcock Boulevard

Oriental Express Franklin Village Shopping Center corner of Brandt School road & rt. 910

Oriental Express ~ see coupon

724.940.3303

Franklin Village Shopping Center corner of Brandt School road & rt. 910 724.940.3303

Buy One entree, get 2nd Half Off

Patron Mexican Grill 11676 Perry Highway

Pomodoro Pizzeria & Ristorante 2563 Brandt School road

Tomato Pie Cafe 885 east Ingomar road

Wexford Pizza Hut ~ see coupon 10650 Perry Highway (in the Wexford Plaza), 724.935.5400

Woodside's Grille 1600 Stone Mansion Drive

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North Allegheny

We DeLIVer to your Business or Home! Expires 4/30/11. Cannot be combined with other coupons.

   Quality Gardens Inc is an independently

weather outside it will be feeling like spring at Quality gardens! Customers can get information on future gardening events such as the Open House, Ladies Nights, and Flavor Festivals at their website, www.quality-gardens.com, Facebook page or sign up for their e-newsletter. Of course you can always call Quality gardens at 724.625.2770 or the Farm Market at 724.625.1211. McMeekin states, “I wanted to reach out and invite the community to become more involved in gardening. With every yard, we can make our community a little more beautiful.”

            

owned garden center on 228 West, in Valencia, that has been growing its own annuals, perennials, and seasonal floriculture for almost 25 years. It is owned and operated by Tom McMeekin, who was born and raised in the Mars area and whose love of growing plants blossomed into a greenhouse and farm market. It quickly grew over the years into 17 greenhouses, 20,000 square feet of outdoor nursery space, a landscape design division, and a one of kind 5,000-square-foot glass building filled with garden and home décor. This growth came with a lot of hard work and help from the community. Many of his customers have been with Tom since the beginning and have experienced the growth and diversity of different plants and materials as the greenhouse has grown. Mckeekin prides himself on the quality and diversity of our plant material. He grows not only the tried and true but the new and interesting. However what really sets him apart from the rest, is the knowledgeable staff at Quality gardens. “Most of us here are avid gardeners and enjoy nothing more then playing in the dirt and then talking about what we know with others. We can help customers with any problems they might be having with certain plants or help plan a landscaping project,” says McMeekin. “Our mission is to not only sell top quality plant material but also to educate our customers on what to plant where and how to keep it looking its best. We realize how hard it can be, to begin a garden no matter what the size or scale of it. We provide trees, shrubs and perennials that are hardy to this planting zone. This means that, if planted right, they should flourish.” Quality gardens landscape division can take care of all of your gardening needs, whether it’s a brand-new installation or maintaining your existing landscape. Mark Waldsmith has a degree in landscape design and has worked for Quality gardens for over 15 years. He works with clients building their dream yard, whether it’s a small botanic retreat or a large estate. It’s never too early to begin the design process. Waldsmith is available by appointment at 724.625.2770. The garden center hosts many educational and hands-on workshops throughout the year. The growing season is kicking off this year on Saturday March 19 with a Landscape Symposium. It will be a chance to meet and ask questions of the Quality gardens staff and also some local experts in the horticultural field. Mark Waldsmith, in-house designer, will be on hand to talk one-on-one with anyone interested in his design and installation processes. There will be a special emphasis on fruit trees and sustainable landscape, to help those interested in this type of gardening. It is always feels warm and sunny in the greenhouse, so no matter the

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 53

Is Barefoot Running Really For Everyone? f you were to ask Splash, our shop dog pictured below, and if he could talk, he would probably tell you that being unshod is perfectly natural for him and he would die of humiliation if I ever put those ridiculous dog shoes on him. However, we humans were not born with the pads that animals have, nor is our environment conducive to running around barefoot. So, what is all the rage about the "bare-foot running" and those "fivefinger shoes" by Vibram? And why are so many people throwing away their traditional running shoes in hopes of finding the magic solution to all of their issues? First of all, I do believe that the form that you can acquire while running in your bare feet is a very productive form, and it does help in the prevention of some stresses on the body. When running bare foot, it is impossible to rely on a direct heel strike for forward propulsion. you would bruise if not break your heel. When running bare foot we tend to land more directly over the forefoot with your forward propulsion being more off of the big toe with only a slight tap to the heel. This form creates a shorter stride, faster turn over, proper hip alignment and, ultimately, less stress on the knees. Can this form be acquired with having protection on the feet? Most defiantly, yes. The reality of the whole “bare foot movement” is that it has created a new awareness in running form and it has ultimately created another category in running shoes. In the industry we call it “minimalism.” Minimalistic footwear simply means that the heel to toe ratio is closer

together than with traditional running shoes, your heel is not stacked so much higher than your forefoot. Simply put, the shoe feels lower to the ground, lighter in weight and more natural to the foot. The foot must work within the shoe rather than the shoe acting like a cast that encases the foot. When we actually use the foot, the arch becomes stronger and ultimately healthier. Can everyone run in minimalistic shoes or barefoot? Let me put it this way: it is important to begin with proper form. It is more important to understand that you have been wearing shoes for decades and your foot needs time to adapt. In our shop, we suggest that running bare foot is not a great idea unless you are on a flat beach or doing strides on turf. We suggest that this new form takes time to adapt to and it is most important for you to give your body time—don’t go out and run 3-5 miles the first day. Minimalistic shoes are a great addition to your repertoire of running gear. If you are having consistent injuries in your current shoes, then most likely changing your form and using a minimalistic shoe might provide you great relief. Personally, I use three different shoes in my training program. As your form improves or your terrain changes, your shoes’ needs will change as well. It’s not uncommon that a person comes into the shop wearing the same type of shoe that they did four years ago. Often we introduce them to something different and “Woosh!” the lights go on. They had no idea how much better they could move. To sum it up, proper form is the key to injury prevention. There isn’t ONe magic shoe, and often it is best to have two or three tools in your tool box for running. your feet are the most important and often most neglected part of your body. Think about it, they balance you and carry you around all day. We stuff them into shoes that are too narrow, too short, too inflexible, etc. It is important to be fitted properly and to address your own individual needs, and it’s most important to strengthen those arches by wearing the proper protection on the proper surfaces. We look forward to keeping you walking, running and being active for years to come! This Industry Insight was written by Jenn Wohlgamuth. Jenn Wohlgamuth is the owner and operator of Second Sole of Pittsburgh. She has been in the running and fitness industry for 20 years. Jenn is a mother of four, an avid runner and budding triathlete. Her favorite customer is the person with the most complicated foot. She loves the challenge and the results are always gratifying!

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North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 55

R E A L E STAT E

NORTH ALLEGHENY

Both Buyers and Sellers Need to BEWARE of

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

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R E A L E STAT E

NORTH ALLEGHENY

Real Estate as aCareer Many finding the flexibility and income potential excellent understand their needs easily is one who will make a successful agent. As the dwindling job market numbers continue to make the news The career path to becoming a real estate agent is varied. People lately, the professionals in the real estate market seem to have one of who have previously worked in service- oriented fields like nursing, the best kept secrets going. For those who need some flexibility but teaching or in the airline industry make desire a job with excellent income great real estate agents. Those who potential, a career in real estate is A person who loves working with and around have spent years volunteering their an excellent choice. people and can understand their needs easily time and are now looking for a paying Whether a person has just finished college or wants to return is one who will make a successful agent. job, and have honed their skill in dealing with different types of to work now that the kids are personalities generally make a good attending school, joining a sales transition into the real estate work team at a real estate agency close to force. home can lead to income rewards A position within a real estate and a flexible work schedule that agency can be rewarding both personally and financially. many people desire. In this day and age of electronic media, with all The flexibility that comes with setting your own schedule and of the tools available to agents to help buyers and sellers in acquiring the satisfaction of assisting in one of the largest transactions that and disposing of properties, the fast pace of the real estate market is most people will make, can make the difference between a just doing an exciting place to work. a job and a creating a successful career. People who have just graduated from college have the upper hand when it comes to 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 friends, who are generally 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. What makes for a successful real estate professional? “ you don’t need a specific background to jump into a career in real estate, says Pamela kimbrell, manager of Howard Hanna in Franklin Park and Wexford. Thirty years ago, I was in medical research and had a successful career. My drive for wanting to get to know people is what I see as a Someone who is empathetic, and likes working in a fast paced environment. yvonne guthrie of Howard Hanna real estate in Cranberry Township says “our most successful agents are those who at the end of the day, really want to help people to achieve their dreams. Of course we all need to earn a living, but the ones who are self motivated and have a deep desire to help others seem to stand out both in terms of income and recognition in the market.” A person who loves working with and around people and can

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 57

Seven Fields Dental Care



 r. Mark Vanella’s philosophy regarding dentistry is like his practice – simple, straightforward, and focused on the patients. “I would say our philosophy is to maintain the patient’s dental health and correct any kinds of dental problems that could cause permanent loss of teeth or loss of chewing. Our goal is to give our clients beautiful results in an anxiety free setting.” Dr.Vanella said. To facilitate that mission, Seven Fields Dental Care and its threemember staff utilizes a variety of technologies to make your visit as quick and easy as possible. All x-ray machines at Seven Fields Dental Care are digital, meaning you will have your results on a monitor in front of you within seconds of the x-rays being taken. What’s even better, digital x-rays mean you’ll receive 80 percent less radiation exposure over traditional x-ray machines. Dr. Vanella’s practice also has intraoral cameras and

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North Allegheny

Seven Fields Dental Care is a general dentistry practice, which means that you will find most everything you need to keep your smile pearly white for years to come. computer screens in every operatory to ensure that every aspect of your smile is documented and stored so that problems can be found earlier and corrected sooner. Seven Fields Dental Care is a general dentistry practice, which means that you will find most everything you need to keep your smile pearly white for years to come. “We do fillings, root canals, extractions, dental implants, and smile enhancements like teeth whitening and veneers. The smile enhancers help to eliminate stains, chips, and gaps with effective, natural looking results. Dental implants are exciting procedures because they can correct missing teeth issues with replacement teeth that are permanent, comfortable, and look and feel natural.” Dr. Vanella said. Open since September, Seven Fields Dental Care is always looking for new patients. Most insurances are accepted for services rendered and the practice accepts most major credit cards. Seven Fields Dental Care also can work out payment plans for patients who need them. Vanella, who is a member of the American Dental Association, graduated from Temple University’s Dental School in 1988. Prior to that he attended St. Vincent College and graduated with a degree in biology. He frequently attends dental seminars and clinics so that you’re getting the most up-to-date care known to the dental community. Seven Fields Dental Care is his second practice. He opened his first practice, which he still owns and operates, in Tarentum in 1996. Opening a location in Seven Fields gave him the opportunity to offer his services to a burgeoning community closer to home and the community he loves. When he’s not in the office, the Franklin Park resident can be found in the community, coaching youth soccer and youth wrestling for North Allegheny. Seven Fields Dental Care is located at 663 Castle Creek Drive, Seven Fields, PA 16046. For more information or to schedule your appointment, go to www.sevenfieldsdentalcare.com, or call 724.741.2050.

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North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 59

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.

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. Below are a few reasons why a professional website redesign may be right

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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

Hair styles by John Edwards Salon (photos by Joanna Fassinger) North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 61



 



    ~Francis Quarles

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North Allegheny

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 – cake – 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.

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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 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 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.

North Allegheny | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 63

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e By Pamela Palongu

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.

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