WINTER 2011
orth Allegheny COMMUNITY
MAGAZINE
safety-driven
Thank you, Pittsburgh. At UPMC Health Plan, we don’t set out to win awards. We simply focus on doing what’s right for our members. Like providing them with access to world-renowned UPMC doctors and hospitals as well as outstanding community hospitals and physicians. Giving them the tools and programs they need to live a healthy lifestyle. And offering them a personal Health Care Concierge and online chat capabilities to answer all of their questions. So when J.D. Power and Associates ranked us Highest in Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in Pennsylvania, we don’t see it as adding another award to the trophy case. We see it as doing our jobs.To learn more visit upmchealthplan.com.
“Highest Member Satisfaction Among Commercial Health Plans in Pennsylvania” UPMC Health Plan received the highest numerical score among commercial health plans in Pennsylvania in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Member Health Insurance Plan StudySM . Study based on 33,039 total member responses, measuring 11 plans in the Pennsylvania-Delaware Region (excludes Medicare and Medicaid). Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of members surveyed December 2010-January 2011. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 1
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eny orth Allegh
INSIDE
IN North Allegheny is a 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.
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IN North Allegheny | WINTER 2011 |
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FEATURES
Real Estate in North Allegheny
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Older Adults in North Allegheny
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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Are Your Valves Working Properly? |
ON THE COVER
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Santa is set to visit Bradford Woods, escorted by the Bradford Woods Volunteer Fire Department, on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Gary Yon.
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Tis The Season For Taxes!
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When Depression Grabs a Hold of You
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Sperling Funeral Home
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Are You Financially Exposed?
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Busting the Binky Habit
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Frustrated Over Hearing Loss?
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Local Loan Experts
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The Eyes Have It!
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Are You Suffering from Fibromyalgia?
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WINTER 2011
Health and Wellness News You Can Use
BundleUp,Baby Remember how Mom made you bundle up before going outdoors in the winter so you wouldn’t get sick? She was right. So be sure you dress for the weather — and that means covering your head, ears, mouth, and hands. Turn to page 4 to learn why your ears, nose, and throat need extra care in winter.
What’s Inside
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© 2011 UPMC
page 2
A Different Vein Providing care for patients unable to accept transfusions
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When Your Body Talks ... Be Sure to Listen
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Make a Date With Your Doctor Three Cheers for Your Ears, Nose, and Throat
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Technology for 21st Century Hospitals
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Taking on Tourette Controlling a life in motion at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
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Welcoming New Physicians What’s Happening at UPMC Passavant
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
COMMUNITY INTEREST
North Hills Community Outreach Extends Helping Hands During Holidays
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New Superintendent Builds on District’s Strong Foundation
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Teacher Pens Memoir Structured on James Joyce’s Dubliners
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UPMC Today | Health and Wellness News You Can Use
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Town of McCandless Voted One of the Best Small Towns
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Girl Scouts Earn Silver Award for Anti-Bullying Project | 54 Holiday Happenings and Frosty Fun
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Scott Spine & Rehab
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Shady Side Academy
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Sport Clips
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Prudential Financial Planning Services
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safetydriven learn more on page 10
orth Allegheny PUBLISHER
Welcome to the Winter issue of North Allegheny magazine. I hope you and yours had a wonderful fall, that the kids transitioned back to school well, and that you had an opportunity to catch a few Steelers games along the way. We all view winter differently – some see it as the holiday season, some see it as the gloomy period when we put away the swim trunks and patio furniture. Others see it as their opportunity to break out the skis and sleds and hit the slopes. No matter how you view it, winter is a time when we have to be the most diligent, despite our mood about snow, or our preoccupation with playing in it, for those who need us the most – our seniors. While it’s hard enough for many of them to get around in good weather, the winter months can be a trial of terror for the elderly. Who’s going to shovel the snow? How will I get groceries? Will I be home before it’s too dark for me to see the road well enough to drive? And for those who have transitioned to assisted living facilities, the questions might be of an altogether different, but equally unsettling nature. Will anyone visit me for Christmas? Hanukkah? New Year’s? These are our mothers, fathers, friends and neighbors, and they don’t like to ask anything of us. But they need us just the same. I know the economy is bad, and I’m not saying go out and spend money you can’t afford, but going caroling with a church group, or visiting someone who has no one is free to us all. Chances are, you’ll not only put a smile on their faces, you’ll be giving them something money can’t buy – the feeling that someone cares. Have a joyous holiday and a happy New Year!
Wayne Dollard MANAGING EDITOR
Marybeth Jeffries marybeth@incommunitymagazines.com REGIONAL EDITORS
Mark Berton [South and West] mark@incommunitymagazines.com Dana Black McGrath [North] d.mcgrath@incommunitymagazines.com Monica L. Haynes [East] m.haynes@incommunitymagazines.com OFFICE MANAGER
Leo Vighetti leo@incommunitymagazines.com AD PLACEMENT COORDINATOR
Debbie Mountain d.mountain@incommunitymagazines.com GRAPHIC DESIGN
Cassie Brkich Anna Buzzelli Sharon Cobb Susie Doak
Jan McEvoy Joe Milne Tamara Tylenda
WRITERS
Heather Holtschlage Leigh Lyons Joann Naser
Pamela Palongue Gina Salinger Judith Schardt
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Gary Yon Kathleen Rudolph
Wayne Dollard Publisher
Ginography
PROOFREADER
Kelly Lotter ADVERTISING SALES MANAGERS
Hello and welcome to the winter issue of North Allegheny magazine. This year, the first snowfall of the season seemed to arrive early, a few days before Halloween. We should have been carving pumpkins, but instead my daughters were running through the living room, begging to put up and decorate the Christmas tree. I’ll admit, it was hard to refuse. It may have been just a little more than an inch, but that early snowfall was just what I needed to ignite my holiday fever. After bundling up to go outside to play, we came in and had the first hot cocoa of the season. I fought the urge to watch Christmas movies. Instead of running around town taking care of the usual weekend tasks and errands, we stayed in and watched the snow, which was all the entertainment we needed. I am enjoying the change of season now, but come March I am certain I will be completely disgusted by the sight of the last few flakes. Until then, especially through the holiday season, the snow is a welcome enhancement to the festive season before us – as long as it doesn’t prevent us from arriving safely to all of our holiday activities. And, this time of year, there are so many fun and festive things to do and see. We have included a list of holiday happenings around town to help you plan for the hustle and bustle this season brings. Whatever you are celebrating this season, here’s hoping it is the best ever. Happy Holidays,
Derek Bayer Tom Poljak
Tamara Myers
ADVERTISING SALES
Bruce Burkley Brian Daley Gina D’Alicandro Tina Dollard Karen Fadzen Julie Graff Jason Huffman Lori Jeffries Connie McDaniel Brian McKee Gabriel Negri
Aimee Nicolia Robert Ojeda Ralph Palaski Annette Petrone Vincent Sabatini Jennifer Schaefer Michael Silvert Karen Turkovich RJ Vighetti Nikki Capezio-Watson Sophia Williard
This magazine is carrier route mailed to all district households and businesses. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Copyright 2011. CORRESPONDENCE Direct all inquiries, comments and press releases to: IN Community Magazines Attn: Editorial 603 East McMurray Road McMurray, PA 15317 Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968 www. incommunitymagazines.com
Spring content deadline: 3/1/12
Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.
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Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.
pider veins are tiny red or purple dilated blood vessels that form when veins become enlarged and swollen with stagnant blood. Though smaller than most varicose veins, spider veins are often darker and more noticeable. This is because these veins are located just below the surface of the skin. More common in women, spider veins may be triggered by pregnancy or hormonal variations and sometimes result in itching, restless leg and minor aches and pains. Non-symptomatic spider veins may be found on the face and chest as well as the legs. Although surface veins are mainly a cosmetic problem, they can also be an indication of more serious vein disease deep below the surface.
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Want to learn more? Go to www.AdVeinCenter.com for more information and for directions to our offices, visit our Locations page, or Call 724-987-3220. This Industry Insight was written by Christina Teimouri, DPM.
Restless Leg Syndrome People with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) may find it difficult to sit still, and they may have trouble sleeping due to the urge to move their legs. RLS is commonly associated with the presence of spider veins.
Lose Spider Veins in a Flash with Intense Pulse Light Therapy As you age, developing spider veins, age spots, and broken capillaries is unfortunately part of the process. Just because they are natural does not mean that you are stuck with these unattractive discolorations on your face, chest and legs forever. One of the fastest and safest ways to get rid of spider veins and similar discolorations is through the use of a revolutionary new technology called Intense Pulse Light (IPL) therapy. Large areas can be treated quickly and easily, with less damage. IPL targets spider veins and discolorations deep below the surface of the skin while leaving the outer layer of the skin undamaged. An alternative to Pulsed Light is Sclerotherapy - injections of solutions into your spider veins. Our doctors perform the procedure in-office and administer a foaming solution with minimal discomfort. The solution irritates the veins and causes them to collapse, hiding their appearance.
Treatment Spider veins can be treated with injections, surgical removal and laser surgery. You should discuss these treatments with our vein specialist to determine the best choice for your personal situation after having a Doppler Ultrasound at our ACR (American College of Radiology) accredited site. This is performed by a Registered Vascular Technician. North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 5
ach e r t u ity O n u m s Com l l i H North
by Tawnya Panizzi
t’s that time of year when even Santa’s Elves can use an extra hand. At North Hills Community Outreach, volunteers are preparing for the holiday season just around the corner. They’re hard at work to ensure that more than 1,000 local needy families can share in a warm and joyous holiday spirit. “When there’s a down economy, the first jobs to go are the lowincome,” said NHCO Executive Director Fay Morgan. “But if everybody shares in some way, their time or their funds, there’s enough to go around. “There’s enough to keep people warm and housed and fed.” The NHCO was founded in 1987 after religious and community leaders banded together to help flood-ravaged areas of the North Hills. It has operated since on the foundation of People Helping People. With its main office in Allison Park, NHCO also has satellites in Millvale, Bellevue, O’Hara and Pine. The group in 2011 won the Alfred W. Wishart, Jr. Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management. Today, the group addresses the needs of people in crisis, hardship or poverty. The vision, Morgan says, is sharing a community where no one is cold, hungry or alone. To meet those goals, NHCO offers a variety of services from food banks and utility assistance to auto programs and school supplies. All except the auto program are free. Some of the programs are scheduled specifically to ease holiday stress. The group’s “Turkey on Every Table” program, for example, ensures families are stuffed with good tidings at Thanksgiving. Volunteers seek donations to deliver scrumptious holiday spreads, including stuffing mix, instant mashed potatoes, canned vegetables, pie crust mix, jars of gravy and napkins. Grocery store certificates are welcome too and are particularly helpful to cover turkey costs. The fixings are sorted and stuffed into bags in order to provide a complete, nourishing dinner.
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“All the help stays local,” says Morgan, whose been heading the NHCO for 18 years. There are several winter holiday programs that require helping hands as well, Morgan said. “Sharing Holiday Warmth,” a utility assistance program, and “Holiday Toy Shop,” which helps tuck gifts beneath the trees, are each vital for families whose funds are stretched thin. “Probably the greatest way people can help is to donate for utilities,” Morgan says. “We get so many calls this time of year, up to 50 on some days, from people getting their utilities shut off.” Under that program, eligible families receive up to $50 to apply to gas, electric and food bills. The assistance provides physical comfort but also alleviates stress, Morgan says. “Knowing that they are receiving this help, they are then able to purchase their own gifts for their children or other loved ones,” she says. The seasonal “sharing projects” are a perfect opportunity to give of yourself, the best gift of all, Morgan says. And, any gift of time is appreciated. “It’s a great undertaking to offer these projects and every one of them is fairly large,” she says. Volunteers are needed in shifts for daytime, evening and weekend work. “It’s a challenge to fill each shift,” Morgan says. “Especially as it gets closer to the holidays and people are busy.” But it is worth the time, she said. The group’s “Holiday Toy Shop” benefits several hundred children each year. Volunteers are needed to sort through stacks of donated toys, games, books and clothes and then “shop” with each client. More people are needed to pack the gifts into sacks and transport them to the branch offices.
Like other NHCO services, families must be at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify. Morgan says the aim of all the programs is to treat families with dignity and it’s rewarding to give them an opportunity to shop and select their own items. The Toy Shop never fails to deliver, Morgan says. She’s certain there have been many smiles as a result of the heartfelt donations and hard work behind the packages. A particular need, however, always seems to be for the teens. “Everyone wants to give Barbies, but the older kids need things too. They want the Steelers sweatshirt or a music gift card,” she said. Volunteers who would like to help can register throughout December, from Dec. 5 to Dec. 21. Specifically, shifts are available from 9 a.m. to 12:30 and 1 to 6 p.m. Dec. 15; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 16; 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m. Dec. 19; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 20. For those who like the glitzier side, volunteers are needed for gift-wrapping shifts during which money collected benefits the NHCO scholarship fund. The sessions are held at Barnes & Noble at The Waterworks, near Aspinwall, from 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 16, and 6 to 9 p.m Dec. 19 and 20. Volunteers, says Morgan, are at the heart of the NHCO and there are a variety of ways to get involved. That includes working as a good old fashioned bell ringer through the group’s partnership with the Salvation Army. A traditional site at shopping malls and grocery stores, it’s for people who enjoy the nip in the air while collecting money in oversized kettles during two-hour shifts outside the Wal-Mart along Route 8. “We see an increase in need this time of year,” Morgan says. “We rely on a lot of help.” North Hills Community Outreach is at 1975 Ferguson Road, Allison Park, PA 15101. Phone: 412-487-6316, option 1. Website: www.nhco.org
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 7
Benefits Children
with Disabilities
ittsburgh showed why it has been named the Most Generous City as 260 people attended The Woodlands Annual Butterfly Ball on Saturday, October 8 at the Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry Woods. The gala event raised $210,000; proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit year-round programming for children and adults with disability and chronic illness. The Willard and Carol Tillotson Family were honored for their integral role in supporting charitable organizations Mrs. Carol Tillotson with her children Kimberly Tillotson Fleming, throughout the region. The late Willard Craig Tillotson, and Sharon Tillotson Gallagher. “Bill” Tillotson founded Hefren-Tillotson in 1948. Through his commitment to integrity and business acumen, he built one of the largest wealth management firms in Pennsylvania. He and his wife Carol provided a tremendous example to their family of the true intention of charitable giving; the Tillotson children, Mrs. Sharon (Robert) Gallagher, Mrs. Kimberly (Curtis) Fleming and Mr. Craig (Jill) Tillotson have carried on their parents’ commitment to community involvement through both personal and professional affiliations. Mr. Harry Hunter of Hunter Truck Sales was honorary chair of The Woodlands Butterfly Ball. A good friend of Bill Tillotson, Mr. Hunter is a business leader in Butler County and has continued the legacy of customer service that his father, Homer, instilled as founder of the company. The ball featured a cocktail reception with silent auction, dinner, and live auction. This was followed by dancing to the music of Airborne with Jeff Jimerson. Several local dignitaries attended the event Mr. Harry Hunter with Mrs. Carol Tillotson (left) and Mrs. Joanne Hunter (right). including: Bill and Sandy Lambert (president of The Woodlands Auxiliary); Kevin Srigley; Bill and Bonnie Rydell; Dennis and Jennifer Zeitler; Drs. Steven and Anne Docimo; Tom and Melody Geer; Brian and Linda Heery; Dean and Susan Datre; Michaeleen and James Petrosky; Butterfly Ball chairs Ann Marie DePretis and Leslie Metarko; Woodlands chair Doug and Mary Jo Clark; Drew and Karen Morrison; David and Allie Gray; Cathleen and Stephen Walker; Chuck and Frances Mazur; Tom and Sara DeFilippo; Brian and Monica Thompson; Andrew Stockey, emcee; and Marty Davis, auctioneer. Peter Clakeley, executive director of The Woodlands Foundation, commented on the gala’s success. “Once again, the Pittsburgh community has displayed wonderful generosity. In particular, we thank the Tillotsons for their remarkable support. It’s not only their financial gifts that are so impressive, but their willingness to get involved in so many different causes that truly distinguishes them as great philanthropists.” The Woodlands partners with more than 20 different charitable organizations and serves more than 8,000 participants annually. Its innovative programs and facilities include the Notes from the Heart Music Program, Mazeroski Sports Program, Mrs. Carol Tillotson with the Woodlands Auxiliary: (Back, l to r) Wendy Thomas, Creative Arts Program, Jewel in the Woods Spirituality Program, Susan Heisler, Nancy Yoder, Kathy Drambel, Susan Datre, Carol Tillotson, Wendy year-round aquatics, and adaptive golf at the region’s only “No Moyer, Jill Izenas, Kim Kalnas, D.J. Hammerschmidt, Maryellen Ferri Handicap” Golf Course. For more information about The (Front, l to r) Valerie Straight, Sandra Lambert, Leslie Metarko, Ann Marie DePretis, Gail Clakeley, Rose Rajasenan. Woodlands, go towww.mywoodlands.org or call 724.935.6533.
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REAL ESTATE
NORT H A L L E G H E N Y
By Pamela Palongue
old winter weather is inevitable in Pennsylvania, but you can make sure your home is warm and toasty by getting your home ready now for the snowy season. One important thing to do is to purchase some non-perishable food items that can be eaten without heating in case of a winter power outage. Also, make sure those flashlights have fresh batteries and are in a handy place. Make sure that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors have fresh batteries. CO detectors become especially important in the winter months because of increased use of kerosene and gas space heaters, leaking chimneys and furnaces, wood stoves and gas stoves – all sources of carbon monoxide. CO detectors are inexpensive and install easily. Next, insulate all exposed water pipes to prevent freezing pipes in the coldest part of winter. Be sure to leave your heat set to at least 55 degrees if you are going to be away from home for a few days. Consider adding extra insulation to the attic. The U.S. Dept. of Energy recommends approximately 12 inches of insulation in attics in Zone 5. One important thing to remember when adding insulation is to avoid insulation with paper backing which will act as a vapor barrier and may cause moisture problems. Seal up foundation cracks and any entry points into your home such as crawl spaces. This will deter mice and insects from coming into your house and also help with heating bills. Use weather resistant caulking for exteriors and masonry sealer for brick areas. Weather stripping around doors and caulking around windows will help prevent cold air from pouring into your home. Plastic may be use d in basement windows for added protection. If your home has a fireplace, yearly cleaning by a chimney sweep is essential; twice a year if the fireplace is used frequently. The buildup of wood resins forms creosote and can create a combustible fire in the chimney that can
destroy an entire home. Make sure that the chimney top has a grate to prevent small animals such as squirrels from entering your home t hrough the chimney. A furnace inspection will not only ensure safety, but help lower heating bills by more efficient use of your furnace. Cleaning the ducts and replacing filters monthly helps your home to have cleaner, healthier air. Dirty filters restrict air flow and can potentially cause fires. One area of your home that may go unnoticed is the gutter spouts. These should be cleaned thoroughly and hos ed down before temperatures drop. Leaving gutter spouts clogged with leaves will lead to snow and ice building up in the gutters with no way for melting snow to drain, causing possible water damage to your home. A really easy tip is to reverse your ceiling fan so that the blades turn in a clockwise direction. This will help force warm air down into living space, rather than collecting near the ceiling. Wi th a little planning, your home can be safe and warm all winter long, no matter what the temperature outside.
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 9
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safety-driven Peoples Natural Gas is embarking on an extensive program to modernize our infrastructure. More than $100 million will be invested to replace pipelines throughout our 16 county service territory. In 2011 and 2012, this means replacing 40 miles of old cast-iron pipes wherever they exist. This year and next, Peoples Natural Gas is hiring 60 new pipeline workers. And, we’ll need to employ almost as many local contract workers. Last year, we brought back 200 jobs to the region. These are not temporary jobs, but family sustaining jobs – the type of jobs that generations build on. Through the end of 2012, you will see Peoples Natural Gas employees hard at work on this project. They will be working in the snow and sun to improve the infrastructure for our communities. Our goal is to replace all the cast iron pipe in our entire system. This is an extensive project and we will need your patience and understanding as we work to complete it. In 2010, Peoples Natural Gas was purchased from an I out-of-state company. We are now a Western Pennsylvania managed company. All our management lives in the region. Our sole priority is serving our local communities. Our new company has refocused its total efforts right here. This pipeline replacement program is the first major construction initiative of Peoples Natural Gas and it has been made for your safety, and the need to modernize our infrastructure for the future.
Safety is the number one priority of Peoples Natural Gas. Every day, we strive to keep our customers, our employees and our communities safe. Here are 3 Sensible Words about Natural Gas to help keep you and your family safe. Natural gas leaks are rare. But they can happen. Your senses will alert you if a leak occurs. SIGHT Escaping gas affects the nutrients in soil, so discolored soil or dead vegetation near a pipeline may indicate a leak. Dirt or water blowing up from the group may indicate a natural gas leak. SOUND Natural gas leaks may make a hissing or a high-pitched whistling noise. Noises will vary based on the line pressure.
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SMELL A strong odor of natural gas can indicate unburned fuel in the air. Because the gas is odorless, a sulfur based odorant is added to give it a rotten-egg smell that warns of its presence. Be alert for this odorant or any petroleum smell. If you believe a natural gas leak is occurring, leave the area immediately and notify Peoples Natural Gas by calling 1.800.400.4271.
y o u r e n e r g y p a rt n e r
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North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 11
New Superintendent Builds on
District's
Strong Foundation by Amanda S.F. Hartle aymond Gualtieri has learned plenty in his first few months as superintendent of North Allegheny. “I can say I am not getting lost as much as I am used to,” jokes Gualtieri. “I don’t have to use my GPS nearly as much now.” Gualtieri started August 1, and he hit the ground running. He doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. “I am proud to try and maintain the quality that is here as we move into financially challenging times. It will be more difficult, but we are going to try to not lose anything and keep all the quality programs we have in place,” said Gualtieri. “This is a great district, and I am proud to be the one asked to take it to a higher level.” In his first few months, he has refocused the goals of the North Allegheny Foundation to address education’s financial woes that are being felt across the nation as well as in North Allegheny. He feels lucky to have an established and dedicated foundation already in place unlike previous districts he has led. Now, he envisions small changes in the foundation that will lead to big returns. “I discovered when our foundation was formed 20 years ago their original purpose was to bring technology into the district. They actually bought the first servers for NA. I’ve redirected them back to that original message.” He wants the foundation to use their resources to spread technology into the district’s elementary schools. At the high and middle school levels, many classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards, laptop computers and other technology components, but that effort has not trickled down to elementary students. This intention marks a change for many foundations from providing extras to providing needs, he said. “Normally, you would look to a foundation for fluff items like scholarships that go on top of our programs, now they are getting to the meat of the districts.” Beyond changes to the foundation, he hopes to attract more students by marketing North Allegheny to private school students as well as keep current students. “We have empty seats at NAI and NASH. Could we compete with private schools to have parents send their children to our schools? I would put our curriculum and programs up against any private school. I think the time has come to offer those seats. We could be very competitive with our per pupil costs.” He also believes that North Allegheny can provide a cybereducation just as well as any cyber school. That’s why this month, the district will be launching the North Allegheny Cyber Academy in partnership with Waterfront Learning, a branch of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. In the academy, the district will utilize various vendors to provide courses and and certain vendors allow districts to tweak the class to what they desire creating a similar curriculum to the one being taught in North Allegheny’s classrooms.
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“I am proud to try and maintain the quality that is here as we move into financially challenging times. It will be more difficult, but we are going to try to not lose anything and keep all the quality programs we have in place.” – Raymond Gualtieri 12 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
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“For those students that choose a cybereducation, they can choose an NA cybereducation.” As well, he hopes the academy will keep upwards of $1.4 million in the district’s coffers that now is paid to cyberschools North Allegheny students attend. Gualtieri also plans to promote the district’s outstanding math, science and technology programs by creating a high school STEM track. STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math, will be packaged as a four-year program spread throughout a student’s high school career. “You will have this from the time you start as a freshman until you graduate, and you will be prepared to go into a university and major in engineering, sciences or pre-med.” These are ideas he has gleaned from heading three other districts Somerset Hills School District in Bernardsville, N.J., Wissahickon School District in Ambler, Montgomery County near Philadelphia and, most recently, East Hampton Union Free School District in East Hampton, N.Y.
He holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from West Chester University, a master's degree in school administration from Villanova University and a doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. North Allegheny is the largest school district he has led and he is learning to work with its size and large staff, while maintaining its reputation as a top district in Pennsylvania and the nation. “Everyone here is a team player and everyone has children at heart, which is very important for what we do. I’m glad to have the opportunity to work with such a high-achieving district. ”
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 13
HISTORIC GRAFNER BROTHERS JEWELERS SERVES NORTH HILLS FROM NEW STORE IN WEXFORD nown as “Downtown’s Hidden Gem” for over 120 years, Grafner Brothers Jewelers was founded in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District in 1888 by Emanual Grafner and his two older brothers. Grafner Brothers relocated to a more accessible and convenient location in The Pine Tree Shoppes of Wexford in 2009 to serve the local community. Their new home gives them ample space to showcase the talents of local artists and host special events, along with free parking. This multi-generational family business has become a premiere source for exquisite engagement and bridal sets, fine gemstones, custom creations, and much more due to the promise they have upheld since 1932: “Every article we stock is a representative of our entire store. Nothing is described or shown that does not fully measure up to our usual high standards of excellence. People want to deal with someone they trust when shopping for diamonds, someone who has been in business for a long time.” It’s this trust that keeps customers coming back, generation after generation. Grafner Brothers is proud to have provided expert advice and service to grandparents, parents, and the newest generation of brides and grooms in the Pittsburgh area. Customers include 5 generations in one family! A recent customer echoed what Grafner Brothers Jewelers’ staff has been hearing for more than 100 years:
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“I just wanted to send a quick note to thank you and your team for all your help and expertise with buying a ring. Although very inexperienced, I felt comfortable with your staff and trusted everything you had to say.” With a graduate gemologist on staff and decades of experience in procuring only the finest diamonds and gemstones, Grafner Brothers Jewelers ensures that their customers receive not only quality but also exceptional value. It is that knowledge and experience that enables the staff to provide exemplary service. They provide expert jewelry and watch repair, custom design, and jewelry appraisals. Grafner Brothers offers free jewelry cleaning and inspection. They buy gold, diamonds, and antique jewelry, giving you an on-the-spot appraisal. In addition to classic diamonds, gemstones, and timepieces from leading watchmakers, Grafner Brothers offers contemporary pieces from trusted and popular designers like Sara Blaine, Gregg Ruth, Cordova, and Ebel. Grafner Brothers Jewelers invites you to visit them during their annual Holiday Open House on Thursday, December 15 from 5pm 9pm. Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres from La Mendocina, the area’s only authentic Argentinian caterer. A few vendors will be present showcasing their lines. What a great way to get in the holiday spirit while getting some shopping done!
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 15
EARNED INCOME TAXES By Amanda S.F. Hartle
For as long as some Pennsylvania residents can remember they have sat down four times a year and filled out a small postcard. his small postcard asked you to list your wages, calculate approximately 1 percent of your earnings and mail a check to your local earned income tax collector in your community municipal building. But in 2012, every Marshall Township, Town of McCandless and Bradford Woods and Franklin Park boroughs taxpayer can cross one more chore off their to-do list thanks to a new state mandate. Beginning Jan. 1, all employers who have work sites in the commonwealth are required by Act 32 of 2008 to withhold all earned income taxes from every employee. And all employees have to do is make sure they have filed out a residency certification form. “The legislation affects every single municipality and school district in Pennsylvania,” says Mitch Hoffman, local government policymanager at the state Department of Community and Economic Development. “That in itself is huge. In addition, it also affects every single taxpayer and every single business that operates in Pennsylvania.”
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IN THE BEGINNING Earned income taxes have been a fixture in Pennsylvania since 1965. At the time, state lawmakers imposed the levy to allow local entities such as school districts and municipalities to raise more funds. “It provided an avenue for local taxing bodies to impose a tax to help fund their operating costs, and it was only imposed on people who actually had earned income-not those who were retired or were not working,” says Hoffman. Earned income tax is unique to Pennsylvania. Neighboring states have similar structures in place, but they are not identical. In theory, the tax is simple. Anyone who works in the state pays on average a 1 percent tax four times a year. Some townships, boroughs and school districts tax a bit higher and some a bit lower. 16 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
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And to pay their bill, an employer could withhold the tax from an employee’s pay or the employees themselves could calculate their tax and send it to their local earned income tax collector. But from the start, issues arose. Pennsylvania has one of thehighest numbers of local municipalities in the country, and at one point, there were up to 560 different earned income tax offices in the state, says Hoffman. “It was very fractured and very convoluted. There was no consistency in collections. No consistency in annual returns and no consistency in transfer of records from one tax collector to another.” Confusion about where to send taxes also aboundedfor companies that are headquartered out of state but have a plethora of work sites and thousands of employees in Pennsylvania. “Many of these companies did withhold the tax, but with so many different collectors it was difficult for them to comply with all the expectations,” says Hoffman. The cumbersome structure also was not attractive to new business endeavors as it created one more regulation interested companies had to comply with when they opened a site in Pennsylvania. Within decades, people started to question the structure used to collect earned income tax.
A NEW WAY By 2002, various organizations sought change and restructuring. Their pleas were supported by a study commissioned by the Pennsylvania Economy League among other entities. The study found that millions of dollars across the state were not being accounted for correctly and millions of potential tax dollars were not being collected at all. The actual amount always remained uncertain, says Hoffman. “I talk to employers every day who have had work sites in Pennsylvania for years and have never collected the tax. We are not just dealing with Pennsylvania businesses though, this hits businesses across North America.”
Change was slow to come, but in 2008, state lawmakers passed Act 32 and its effects were so far reaching it gave local municipalities and school districts three years to implement its regulations. Under the new law, the burden related to the tax has shifted from employees to their employers. Every employer in Pennsylvania is required to have each employee fill out a one page local earned income tax residency certification form by year’s end. On the form, employees list their address, municipality and county of residence. This information matches to a municipality specific code ensuring the tax dollars are automatically withheld and end up at the correct tax collector. Throughout Pennsylvania, except in Allegheny County, earned income tax collector positions were eliminated or altered as taxes will go toa county level tax collector chosen by a tax collection district made up of representatives from every municipality and school district in the specific county. In Allegheny County, four collection districts were chosen to better serve the area’s unique demographics, says Hoffman. “The four collection districts are separated by the rivers. Allegheny County is different than anywhere else in the state due to its diverse populations and number of corporations.”
GOING FORWARD In addition to the more centralized structure, the law has other oversight and accountability features. There are explicit time frames set out for the distribution of dollars as well as training and certification for all tax officers. There also are penalties for late payments and annual auditing, says Hoffman. “All of these are built in to guarantee the amount of monies being collected are collected properly, remitted properly and distributed properly.” Filing returns also will be more uniform throughout the state. “Some local returns were several pages, some half a page and some had none at all. Now there is a standard form for all of Pennsylvania and all the tax collectors are required to use it. We now have consistency.” Marshall Township Manager Neil McFadden expects the positive outcomes predicted to come to fruition in time. “I have hope and confidence that it will result in a more stream-lined and efficient collection system in the long term, but I do anticipate having the usual transition issues especially the first few quarters of 2012.” Due to uncertainty, he has budgeted his revenues from the tax for 2012 as $1.7 million in addition to approximately $60,000 from delinquent taxes - the same as 2011. In Franklin Park Borough, despite the elimination of her position as earned income tax collector Donna Roche thinks the changes will be better for taxpayers. “I think it is a good thing because everyone will be withheld. They don’t have to worry about paying their quarterlies. We won’t have to hound them saying you paid this and you didn’t pay that. It will already be taken care of by their employer.” For Bradford Woods Borough, Mary Ann Moretti expects the transition to be simple as the borough already has outsourced their earned income tax collection for multiple years and now will partner with Keystone Collections Group, Allegheny County’s north region tax collector. “I think it’s a great thing.”
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 17
OLDER ADULT S IN NORTH ALLEGHENY Whether you are a mature adult facing changes in your living arrangements or the child of an aging parent, the prospect of discussing this major life change can be a formidable one. Most experts agree that it is best to broach the subject earlier rather than later.
By Pamela Palongue
n the popular 1990s TV series “The Golden Girls,” Dorothy always had a secret weapon she used to coerce her mother into cooperating with her. Dorothy would periodically threaten her with the ominous warning, “Shady Pines is getting your room ready as we speak…” But nowadays, only around 7% of people over age 75 live in nursing homes, according to census figures, and there are more choices than ever for different lifestyles and levels of care. There are as many as 20 different types of senior care facilities, and before looking at any new living arrangement, it’s important to have a basic idea of what the different levels are to avoid feeling overwhelmed with choices. The following are some of the most popular living arrangements for seniors of today. One favorite for mature adults is the active adult community, sometimes referred to as a retirement community or independent living. These dwellings are usually homes or condos with individuals living independently and owning their own home, but in a grouping or housing plan with other seniors. Many times these communities will offer a clubhouse and have planned social and cultural activities 18 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
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and limited transportation. They may also provide housekeeping and communal meals for a monthly fee. They are probably best suited to individuals who are active and able to assume total care for themselves, but desire social interaction with others in their own age group. Assisted living facilities usually allow individuals to have the privacy of their own apartment or home, while offering daily assistance with bathing and dressing. Some communities may also help with administering medications. This is an attractive option for many seniors because residents may be able to bathe and dress themselves initially, but as health and mobility decline the help becomes readily available without having to make a change in living arrangements. Communal dining may also be an option for an added fee. Residents rent their apartment or home and may pay one ‘all inclusive’ fee for services or may be charged ‘a la carte’ for each additional service needed. This is a good choice for any mature adult who is currently ambulatory, but who may have concerns about future mobility problems or perhaps has the beginning of mobility issues. Another increasingly popular option for mature adults is home
health care which allows individuals to remain in their homes while receiving professional assistance with bathing, dressing and meal preparation. The care may also extend to medical needs such as the administration of medications and the ongoing management of blood pressure or diabetes. Medicare and Medicaid may provide financial assistance in some cases, but there are several eligibility requirements which must be met. This is a particularly good option for individuals who are emotionally attached to their residence and do not have a strong need for social interaction with other seniors. Rehabilitation facilities are primarily a temporary option for those recuperating from injury or illness. Rehab helps the individual recover and provides adaptive techniques for preparing the patient to return to independent living. While the person may not function at the previous level, the goal of rehab is to enhance the patient’s quality of life by improving mobility, speech and self-care. Though people seldom look forward to going to a nursing facility, skilled nursing homes provide 24-hour care for individuals with serious illness, injury or mental decline. The good news is that there have been several improvements in the quality of care received in nursing facilities since the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987. Nurse aides now have more training, and each resident must be fully evaluated upon admission so that an individual care plan can be established. Meals are planned by a dietician to ensure proper nutrition, and many nursing facilities now include regular exercise as a part of their managed care for residents. Whether you are a mature adult facing changes in your living arrangements or the child of an aging parent, the prospect of discussing this major life change can be a formidable one. Most experts agree that it is best to broach the subject earlier rather than later. Try to discuss the different options with aging parents and find out which ones appeal to them. Certain conditions such as serious dementia may prevent a meaningful discussion of these topics later. By talking about the choices now, your loved one can weigh in on the decision and help you decide based on personal preferences. The topic is also easier to discuss when it seems a long way off, rather than inevitable in the near future. The older person will also have more time to make decisions, rather than hastily settling on a new home. When beginning the discussion, always reassure your loved one that you want him/her to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible. Ask questions rather than offering advice. This will help your parent to feel more in control of the conversation. Try not to force any decisions with only one discussion. Give your loved one a chance to digest the idea and to form some thoughts on the subject. Suggest the possibility of a visit to an independent or assisted living community. Many parents who are initially reluctant to even discuss moving become excited about the prospect of making a change when they are able to see firsthand the positive social aspects and activities offered at assisted living facilities. Finally, enlist the help of one of your parent’s friends already in independent or assisted living as an advocate. Oftentimes parents may feel that their children are “ganging up” on them if they are confronted by several siblings telling them what they should do. However, an individual in their own age group who has made the adjustment and is happy is the best advocate. For more information on finding a home for your loved one, you may want to consult www.aplaceformom.com, a free elder care referral service. For more tips about speaking with your parents or services available for your loved one, visit the Area Agency on Aging website at www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/aaa.aspx. North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 19
Vincentian Collaborative System Our North Hills Senior Services and Locations Include: • Vincentian Villa Retirement Community 412-364-6592 • Vincentian Personal Care 412-366-1039 • Vincentian Home 412-366-5600 • Vincentian Regency 412-366-8540 • Vincentian Rehabilitation Services 412-348-1593 With more than 950 employees serving 673 residents in five locations throughout Pittsburgh, Vincentian provides a continuum of senior services including independent living at Vincentian Villa, personal care, secure memory and dementia care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. A new outpatient rehabilitation center is also available on the campus of Vincentian Home. Vincentian seeks to be a healing presence dedicated to quality care provided with respect and dignity. This is accomplished through a family-like setting—a loving, caring atmosphere for persons of all faiths —that promotes the physical, spiritual, psychological, and social well-being of each resident and engages their families and caregivers. Vincentian Collaborative System is a non-profit Catholic Organization sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (formerly the Vincentian Sisters of Charity).
www.vcs.org
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to a Senior Program
When Joann Stack needs a ride to the store or elsewhere, she’s got a group of helping hands at her service, thanks to a new initiative geared toward keeping seniors living in their homes as long as they are able. Stack, 86, had a nice outing recently with Kathy, one of the Open Your Heart to a Senior volunteers. She took Stack shopping and Stack returned the favor, buying lunch for the two of them. “It was very enjoyable,” said Stack. “The volunteers are very lovely people, very enjoyable.” The Open Your Heart to A Senior program is made possible through funding from the United Way of Allegheny County. “ We are trying to connect seniors with their neighbors,” stated Rachel Steigerwalt, coordinator of olderadults for Family Services of Western Pennsylvania. “We like the idea of having residents in every community helping out those who are the most vulnerable and need assistance with things like shoveling snow, getting to the doctor’s or the grocery store.” “The Open Your Heart to a Senior initiative is designed to help recruit more volunteers,” Steigerwalt said. “The idea is to let the community know there are seniors who need a ride to the grocery store or to the doctor’s office, a visit or a friendly call.” Those interested in volunteering to help a senior in need are welcome to join the effort. Training is provided and even if you only have an hour to give, most seniors would welcome your visit! “The nice part about this volunteer program is that everyone can get involved, including families with children. The sight and sounds of children bring a smile to every senior’s face,” says Steigerwalt. For more information about the program, please visit the website www.openyourhearttoasenior.org or contact Nancy Jones at 412.307.0071 or email seniors@nhco.org.
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 21
North Allegheny WINTER http://www.northallegheny.org/athletics
Sports BASKETBALL
BASKETBALL Boys Varsity Fri 12/09/11 Sat 12/10/11 Tues 12/13/11 Fri 12/16/11 Sat 12/17/11 Tues 12/20/11 Tues 12/27/11 Wed 12/28/11 Tues 01/03/12 Fri 01/06/12 Tues 01/10/12 Fri 01/13/12 Tues 01/17/12 Fri 01/20/12 Tues 01/24/12 Fri 01/27/12 Tues 01/31/12 Fri 02/03/12 Tues 02/07/12 Fri 02/10/12 Sat 02/11/12 Mon 02/13/12
Place State College Tip-Off Tournament State College Tip-Off Tournament Mt. Lebanon High School (JV at 6:00pm) Shaler Area High School (JV at 5:00pm) Wheeling Park HS Pine-Richland High School NA/Wright Automotive Holiday Tournament NA/Wright Automotive Holiday Tournament Gateway Senior High School (JV at 6:00pm) Butler High School (JV at 5:00pm) Central Catholic High School (JV at 6:00pm) Seneca Valley High School (JV at 5:00pm) North Hills High School (JV at 6:00pm) Shaler Area High School Pine-Richland High School Erie Cathedral Prep Butler High School Central Catholic High School (JV at 6:30pm) Seneca Valley High School (JV at 6:00pm) North Hills High School (JV at 5:00pm) Penn Hills High School (JV at 6:00pm) Blackhawk High School
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Girls Varsity Fri 12/09/11 Sat 12/10/11 Mon 12/12/11
Place Wright Automotive Tip-Off Tourn. Wright Automotive Tip-Off Tourn. Fox Chapel High School (JV at 6:00pm) Wed 12/14/11 Norwin High School (JV at 6:00pm) Fri 12/16/11 Shaler Area High School (JV at 3:30pm) Mon 12/19/11 Pine-Richland High School (JV at 6:00pm) Thurs 12/22/11 Peters Township High School (JV at 6:00pm) Tues 12/27/11 Wright Automotive Holiday Classic Wed 12/28/11 NA/Wright Automotive Holiday Tournament Mon 01/02/12 Canon McMillan High School (JV at 6:00pm) Fri 01/06/12 Butler High School (JV at 3:30pm) Mon 01/09/12 Oakland Catholic High School (JV at 6:00pm) Fri 01/13/12 Seneca Valley High School (JV at 3:30pm) Mon 01/16/12 North Hills High School (JV at 6:00pm) Thurs 01/19/12 Shaler Area High School (JV at 6:00pm) Mon 01/23/12 Pine-Richland High School (JV at 6:00pm) Thurs 01/26/12 Latrobe High School (JV at 6:00pm) Fri 01/27/12 Penn Hills High School (JV at 6:00pm) Mon 01/30/12 Butler High School (JV at 6:00pm) Oakland Catholic High School Fri 02/03/12 (JV at 3:30pm) Mon 02/06/12 Seneca Valley High School (JV at 6:00pm) Fri 02/10/12 North Hills High School (JV at 3:30pm)
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HOCKEY Boys Varsity Mon 12/5/11 Tues 12/13/11 Fri 12/16/11 Tues 12/20/11 Tues 1/3/12 Tues 1/10/12 Fri 1/13/12 Tues 1/17/12 Thurs 1/19/12 Mon 1/23/12 Thurs 2/2/12 Tues 2/7/12 Fri 2/10/12 Mon 2/13/12 Tues 2/21/12 Fri 3/2/12
Place McDowell SHALER STATE COLLEGE PENN-TRAFFORD MT. LEBANON BETHEL PARK at Seneca Valley CANON-McMILLAN Peters Township Fox Chapel Mt. Lebanon McDOWELL Central Catholic at Hempfield BUTLER Bethel Park
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ALL HOME GAMES PLAYED AT BLADERUNNERS (WARRENDALE)
WRESTLING Boys Varsity Fri 12/09/11 Sat 12/10/11 Wed 12/14/11 Sat 12/17/11 Tues 12/20/11 Fri 12/23/11 Wed 12/28/11 Thurs 12/29/11 Wed 01/04/12 Wed 01/11/12 Fri 01/13/12 Sat 01/14/12 Wed 01/18/12 Sat 01/21/12 Sat 01/21/12 Sat 01/21/12 Wed 01/25/12 Mon 01/30/12
Place Eastern Area Wrestling Tourn. Eastern Area Wrestling Tourn. Pine-Richland High School Franklin Regional Duals Seneca Valley High School Canon McMillan High School Manheim Invitational Manheim Invitational Hopewell High School Ambridge High School Allegheny County Tournament Allegheny County Tournament North Hills High School Latrobe High School Norwin High School Mt. Lebanon High School Section Team Championship WPIAL/PIAA Team Tournament
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SWIMMING/DIVING Boys/Girls Varsity Thurs 12/08/11 Peters Township High School Sat 12/10/11 State College Invitational Mon 12/12/11 Westminster/IUP Invitational Tues 12/20/11 Bethel Park High School Thurs 12/22/11 Upper St. Clair High School (at Chatham University) Tues 12/27/11 South Park Diving Invitational Thurs 01/05/12 Seneca Valley High School Tues 01/10/12 Fox Chapel High School Friday 01/13/12 All American Invitational Sat 01/14/12 All American Invitational Thurs 01/19/12 Butler High School Tues 01/24/12 Franklin Regional High School Thurs 02/02/12 Hampton High School Thurs 02/09/12 Shaler Area High School Thurs 02/16/12 North Hills High School Sat 02/18/12 Last Ditch Invitational Sat 02/25/12 WPIAL Diving Championships Wed 03/14/12 PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships
Place Home Away Away Home
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Go Tigers!
Show your support and watch your NA Tigers play!
www.northallegheny.org/athletics North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 23
Teacher Pens Memoir Structured on James Joyce’s by Dana Black McGrath
hen you hear that a teacher at North Allegheny High School has published a book, you might assume it is someone from the English department – but we all know what happens when we assume. Jack Kernion is chair of the science department at North Allegheny, and has been teaching AP physics since 1988. So, now you may be thinking that he published a scientific work – wrong again. Jack Kernion The avid reader and fan of fame d Irish author James Joyce has published a collection of stories, Pittsburgher(s), a memoir structured around Joyce’s work, Dubliners. “I read Dubliners a long time ago, and was really taken by the coincidences that reminded me of my own life,” says Kernion. “And, I really liked the structure of Dubliners.” Over the years, Kernion, a resident of McCandless, started learning more about Joyce and his works and eventually became an enthusiastic student of the author. It was in the same vein that his own literary work progressed. Kernion explains, “Dubliners is a collection of 15 short stories that holds a mirror up to the people of Dublin, and shows both the good and the bad.” Joyce wrote about struggles as tradition was being pushed aside to make way for the modern age. He saw a parallel to Pittsburgh, as the city moved from the industrial modern age to a post-modern age that embraced technology. “The same pains Joyce wrote about are the same pains we experienced here,” Kernion says. The similarities even extended into his personal life.
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So, he had the idea to take each one of the short stories contained within Dubliners and find an area of his life where that story overlapped. Using Joyce’s work as a foundation, he then built his own stories. Each of Kernion’s stories begins with a synopsis of the Joyce story upon which it is based. “As I started, I found it was working,” he says. “After a few stories, I saw it coming together.” Because of his full-time occupation, he saved his writing for his evening hours. After developing his original idea, the work took nearly two and a half years to complete. He spent another six months editing his work. “Pittsburgher(s) has many different themes,” he explains, “the most important of which is the difficulty of living an authentic life in an era that lacks solid foundations.” Now that his work is complete, he has been enjoying the feedback he has received. “I really wrote it for family, friends, and the local community,” he says. “I didn’t anticipate much of a broader audience.” So, instead of going through the exhausting and competitive process of finding a publisher, he decided to self-publish the book. Pittsburgher(s) now is being sold at three stores locally, and is available online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
When
grabs a hold of you
t times we all get stuck, especially as the holiday period ends and we experience the post holiday pressures. We may feel stuck, and totally stumped about what to do or which way to turn. When there is no one to turn to, depression and/or anxiety may set in, and it may be difficult to admit to ourselves or others we love that depression has grabbed hold of “me.”
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It is difficult to admit to our self that depression and/or anxiety has grabbed hold of us and we try the ‘stiff upper lip’ approach or even denial. When nothing seems to get better, panic may set in and you can’t move forward even with ‘normal’ daily routines. Oddly enough, when we are heading in the wrong direction, the disturbance of being on the wrong path can be the best motivation to get us back onto the proper direction. When our minds get bogged down, we can’t move forward without help and we feel the strain of perplexing problems and have difficultly asking for help. Sometimes the help we ask for isn’t helpful then we go into denial and therefore we feel no peace or resolution of our difficulties. The result is poor sleep and lack of appetite. Also, since we feel so stymied we lose our ability to remain organized psychologically in our daily lives. Two of several additional characteristics of depression include sustained sadness and heavy hearts. A pervasive sense of helplessness and hopelessness affects the whole person, including body mind and spirit. A feeling of being “closed in” can affect us greatly. But depression is not permanent and healing is possible through counseling, medications if necessary, and the support of loved ones. Strengthening of ones faith in oneself, from others, and spiritual growth can do a lot to disperse depression.
Dr. Adelman received his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctor of Philosophy degree in Psychology in Education at the University of Pittsburgh. He worked at Staunton Clinic, Sewickley Valley Hospital for 34 years before retiring two years ago. He has maintained a private practice in Wexford for 37 years. In addition to individual psychotherapy, he is also trained in marital therapy and is a Certified Diplomat in Sex Therapy.
How can you help a depressed person? The following are suggestions that can help: 1. Learn all about depression and anxiety. 2. Ask if suicidal thoughts are present; if so then learn the correct action. 3. Support the person and don’t “abandon” him or her. 4. Regularly communicate with the person. 5. Listen, hear and understand the person’s pain, and give feedback to him or her. 6. Give strong encouragement. 7. Bring laughter into the relationship. 8. Enlist the help of family members and friends. 9. Help the person set small, obtainable daily goals. 10.Show compassion and unfailing love and concern. North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 25
Nutrition is No
by Pamela Palongue
I
nformation on dieting and nutrition seems to be everywhere these days and conflicting reports on what's good for you is a frequent occurrence. A bit of common sense applied to the situation, tempered with some consideration for your particular lifestyle and taste preferences is in order. Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition for UPMC and author of The Active Calorie Diet, has some surprising answers to some frequently asked questions. “Nutrition should be more inclusive, rather than exclusive,” says Bonci. “People give way too much attention on what to avoid and that becomes a negative focus.” Nutrition should be based on positive choices and pursuing good health, rather than avoiding bad health. There is no one, perfect diet for every individual, due to age, medical conditions and the different activity levels of individuals, but there are some general guidelines that make planning a healthy meal a little easier. In the battle of the bulge, exercising alone seldom results in weight loss. You must change your eating and eat less in addition to exercise, according to the experts at Defined Fitness in Wexford. “We see with our clients at Defined Fitness who are looking to lose body fat that while restricting calories helps them to lose weight, by adding exercise in addition to restricting calories they see the greatest fat loss," says Tammy Zubasic of Defined Fitness. "At Defined Fitness we've developed a Hierarchy of Fat Loss and what this means is that certain types of exercise are more effective than others when trying to lose body fat. However, the most important aspect is not exercise, it's nutrition. If you don't make any changes to your nutrition, it is very hard to lose body fat," explains Josh Proch, also of Defined Fitness in Wexford.
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The way that nutrition is approached is changing. “Thank goodness we got rid of the Food Pyramid. People don't eat from a pyramid and it's too abstract,” says Bonci. The Food Plate is much more natural with the plate being divided into quarters made up of 50% fruits and vegetables, 25% proteins and 25% grains. The blue circle beside the plate represents dairy products such as milk, which supplies D-3, a vitamin that research has indicated prevents several serious diseases. Dairy products of course also supply calcium, an important mineral for everyone, but especially women in the prevention of osteoporosis, a disease that the International Osteoporosis Foundation estimates affects 200 million women worldwide. The fork beside the plate is a reminder that the meal should be a sit-down affair, with time to eat and enjoy and appreciate the meal. Noticeably absent from the Food Plate as a category is fat, but Bonci says, “The goal is not to eliminate fat entirely. It is an important part of the diet which helps the body to use fat soluble vitamins and helps keep skin soft and supple. Unsaturated fats can be found in foods such as salmon, trout, flaxseed oil, walnuts, almonds and olive oil. While these fats are healthy in limited amounts, they still have a high density of calories and will sabotage any diet if left unchecked. They should be consumed in reasonable amounts.” One recommendation that is common these days is the advice to eat six meals per day, consuming something every couple of hours. “People in Europe and other parts of the world don't eat this way; this is an American idea. I would like to see people eat three meals per day with a floating snack in between,” suggests Bonci. Of course she points out that if you only have one meal per day and it is late in the evening, your body
devoting time to exercise begin to also focus more attention on their nutrition and calorie intake as well. Exercise changes your mindset to a healthier routine. Bonci adds that another advantage to exercising is that “When you're exercising, you're not eating. Many times people eat from boredom and exercise or sports fill a void in an otherwise inactive lifestyle.” Healthy nutrition is all about focusing on positive choices and realizing that food is not just something to be gulped down in 5 minutes on the way to the soccer game. It is an important part of our lives that deserves attention and appreciation and is instrumental in preventing diseases and promoting optimal health for a better life. For more information on eating a balanced diet, you may visit the United States Dept. of Agriculture website at www.ChooseMyPlate.gov. For healthy suggestions on how nutrition and exercise can affect your life in a positive way, Leslie Bonci's books, Run Your Butt Off and The Active Calorie Diet are available online at Prevention Magazine's website at www.Prevention.com.
Nutrition should be based on positive choices and pursuing good health, rather than avoiding bad health.
will have less time to expend the calories before bed, possibly resulting in excess weight. However, six meals a day is often not practical for those who work regular jobs in an office or other setting that prevents food while at work. While food allergies have gotten a great deal of media attention lately, Bonci explains that actual food allergies are relatively rare. What is more common are food sensitivities and food intolerance, such as those individuals who are lactose intolerant. There are alternative sources for calcium if a person is lactose intolerant, such as soy milk, almond milk, baked beans and canned salmon. These are all acceptable alternatives providing important nutrients. For those people wishing to drop a few pounds, Bonci points out that it is a relatively simple principle: “You have to create a deficit. There has to be less calories eaten than what is being used. This of course can be done with having smaller portions while still enjoying a variety of foods to enable you to have a balanced diet.” One suggestion is to use a smaller plate, making the portion size look a bit large. Another way to create a deficit in your caloric intake is to add activity. Exercise not only helps you to burn more calories, but the benefits are intensified in that most people North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 27
Let’s face it funerals and funeral homes are really not a conversation topic that too many people wish to engage in on a daily basis. Quite frankly the thought of our own funeral can be a bit scary and unpleasant. Our family has worked hard to change those perceptions. Five years ago we opened a new facility in McCandless to help the community say goodbye.
S
ince we have opened, families often share with us how much easier it was to grieve and mourn in an open and comfortable environment. This works because we are here to help you say goodbye, something that is natural, as opposed to make you want to forget that someone you loved has died.
Our family’s goal was to create a funeral home that people felt comfortable in: no dark rooms, heavy drapes or long hallways. A home that has easy access from the street and is 100% accessible for those with physical hardships. Our parking lot includes ample and level parking for safety. A place that was inviting, comfortable and you could share your grief. A place to help family and friends say goodbye. We accomplished this in our building on Blazier Drive in McCandless. We included large entry doors, open hallways and comfortable rooms. No matter where you are in the funeral home when visiting you will be able to see out a window. We also included a fireplace as a reflection area to allow you a moment to yourself and a separate place to sit and have a cup of coffee. We also felt a great need to include a kid’s room. This area is not a place for the children to be babysat, but a room in which they can engage in grief. Children are not just little adults when it comes to mourning. They are individuals who need to be able to express themselves and learn from adults that mourning and grief is natural. This area allows them to do that in a non-threatening environment.
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Our family has continued to work hard to make a difficult time a little easier with our facilities and technology, but what keeps generations calling us is our service. We opened our first funeral home in 1923 on the North Side. We help sheppard families through the difficult time without sales pressure or fancy casket displays. We believe in treating every family as if they are a part of our family. It is with this footprint we base our services. We are alumni of North Allegheny School District and shop and worship within this community. A many of you, we choose to be here because of the outstanding community, and we feel a part of that. With all this information it is our hope that we can help you understand that funerals are for the living, while honoring the deceased.
If you have a question about us or our services please feel free to call or email us. You can also learn more about our family and services by visiting
As we designed the interior, we also included technology that families expect to be available, so our home includes WiFi access, flat screens for memorial videos and projectors in our chapel for videos and programs. Our web site 28 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
provides individual obituaries that have the ability to be linked to Facebook. A place for family and friends to leave memories and condolences is also provided. These memories are archived so you can always go back and read what was sent to you and your family. A family’s memorial video is placed online to be shared with family and friends from out of town. We will continue to integrate new technology to our services as they became available. We feel we owe this to those that use our services.
North Allegheny
www.sperlingfuneral.com
Sperling Funeral Home, Inc
700 Blazier Dr. • Wexford, PA 15090 Jarett D. Sperling, Supervisor 724-933-9200
WINTER 2011
Health and Wellness News You Can Use
BundleUp,Baby Remember how Mom made you bundle up before going outdoors in the winter so you wouldn’t get sick? She was right. So be sure you dress for the weather — and that means covering your head, ears, mouth, and hands. Turn to page 4 to learn why your ears, nose, and throat need extra care in winter.
What’s Inside
© 2011 UPMC
page 2
A Different Vein Providing care for patients unable to accept transfusions
page 3
When Your Body Talks ... Be Sure to Listen
page 4
Make a Date With Your Doctor Three Cheers for Your Ears, Nose, and Throat
page 5
Technology for 21st Century Hospitals
page 6
Taking on Tourette Controlling a life in motion at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
page 7
Welcoming New Physicians What’s Happening at UPMC Passavant
A Different Vein
The UPMC Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery offers special care for patients who are unable to accept blood transfusions There are many patients who choose bloodless medical treatment — medical care without blood transfusions or products — for religious or ethical reasons. However, a growing number are selecting it to reduce their risk of adverse reactions and bloodborne illnesses. The UPMC Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery was established to ensure that patients who are unable to accept transfusions, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, are identified early. “Most patients don’t Resources provided by the Center realize blood transfusions often for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery can be avoided are available for all patients including by following a those at UPMC Passavant, Mageefew simple steps Womens Hospital of UPMC, and before surgery.” throughout the UPMC network. — Perry Doebler Special wristbands are placed on all patients who choose not to have transfusions so that their wishes are clearly understood by medical staff and other care providers. Patients who decide against receiving a blood transfusion are educated by their doctors about the risks and benefits before any procedure is done. “Our paramount concern is to make sure the doctor is committed to respecting the patient’s decision,” says Perry Doebler, the center’s director. “We make sure the surgical team and nurses know ahead of time so they can be ready, and the patient doesn’t have to keep explaining things.”
Advance planning Planning is key to successful bloodless medicine and surgery. Careful blood management can boost the patient’s blood count before surgery and minimize blood loss. Minimally invasive surgery, special surgical tools, medications, and other techniques can help reduce or even stop bleeding. Doctors also can capture blood lost during surgery, clean it, and reinfuse it into the patient. Mr. Doebler says most patients don’t realize blood transfusions often can be avoided with a few simple steps before surgery. For example, one in four surgical patients is anemic, but doctors can recommend iron therapy, vitamins, or medication to stimulate blood production. Doctors also may tell surgical patients to discontinue certain pain relievers, herbs, and supplements that may interfere with blood clotting and cause more bleeding. “Being proactive and planning ahead are important for everyone. There are things a patient can control,” he says.
To learn more If you cannot accept blood transfusions, or may be planning for surgery and want to learn more about blood management, visit www.bloodlesscenter.com, or call the Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery at 1-877-674-7111.
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Blood Management Benefits According to Mr. Doebler, reducing or avoiding blood transfusions has many potential benefits, including lessening the patient’s exposure to viruses and other bloodborne diseases, and even helping to shorten the hospital stay. It also helps preserve the blood supply for other patients.
Is bloodless medicine a good option for you? Your doctor is the best source of information when it comes to deciding to choose bloodless medicine. Some questions you may want to ask: 1. What is my current blood count? 2. How can I increase my blood count? 3. Should I stop any medications or supplements? 4. Will I need a blood transfusion during surgery? 5. What risks are involved with blood transfusions? 6. What are the risks if I decline a transfusion? 7. What can my doctor do to minimize my need for a transfusion?
Pre-op tips • Know your blood count. The normal hemoglobin range for males is 14-18 g/dL and for females is 12-16 g/dL. • Be honest. Tell your doctor about all of the medications and herbal supplements you take. • Ask questions. Understand your risks and options. • Communicate. Make sure your bloodless medicine preferences are known.
When Your BodyTalks…
Be Sure toListen Being attuned to changes in your body can help in the early detection and treatment of cancer and other serious medical problems Is your body trying to tell you something important? It can be an excellent communicator — if you pay careful attention to its symptoms. There are numerous warning symptoms for cancer, many of which also can point to other serious medical conditions. That’s why you should call your primary care physician (PCP) if you have any unusual or persistent symptoms lasting longer than two or three weeks, says Edward Chu, MD, chief of the Division of Hematology/ Oncology at UPMC and deputy director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. “The vast majority of patients will get a clean bill of health from their doctor,” says Dr. Chu. “But when it comes to cancer, time is often of the essence. Early detection can help keep cancer from spreading, allow for faster treatment, and improve your chances for recovery.”
Symptoms that reveal Most of us know to be on the lookout for such important cancer warning signs as a sore that does not heal; a thickening or lump in the breast, or other parts of the body; blood in the stool or urine; or changes in the size or color of a mole.
Dr. Chu says it’s also important to be aware of more generalized body changes (also known as constitutional symptoms) that can compromise your physical performance and overall well-being. By getting to know what’s typical for your own body, you’ll be better able to recognize unfamiliar changes when they occur. They can include: • Extreme tiredness (fatigue) • Unexplained weight loss (typically 10 pounds or more) or loss of appetite • Changes in how food tastes • Fever and chills • Night sweats • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing “These symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have cancer,” he emphasizes. “But if they linger or worsen, it’s important for your doctor to rule out — or treat — possible problems.” If you are interested in locating a PCP or specialist in your area, visit UPMC.com/FindADoctor or call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).
Did You Know? The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), based at the Hillman Cancer Center in Shadyside, is the only National Cancer Institutedesignated Comprehensive Cancer Center in western Pennsylvania. Learn more about UPCI and its partnership with UPMC Cancer Centers at UPCI.UPMC.edu.
Cancer Screenings: Are they right for you? Another important tool in the early detection of cancer is screenings. “When combined with regular checkups with your family doctor or specialist, screenings like mammograms, PAP smears, and colorectal exams have proven to be invaluable in the fight against cancer,” notes Theodore L. Crandall, MD, of UPMC Cancer Centers at UPMC Passavant. “Your personal and family medical history, risk factors, age, and other considerations will help your physician recommend the right tests — and frequency — for you.” To learn more about the program and services of UPMC Cancer Centers at UPMC Passavant, visit UPMCPassavant.com.
1-800-533-UPMC
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Health Tips from UPMC Health Plan
Make a Date With Your Doctor You take your car to the mechanic for an annual inspection to be sure it’s running properly. So why aren’t you giving your body the same kind of attention? When you’re in good health, it’s easy to put off going to the doctor. But regular checkups can help you stay healthy, and avoid disease and disability. That’s why scheduling a physical is the one New Year’s resolution you should keep. According to primary care physicians (PCPs) at UPMC Passavant, an annual exam is the perfect time to talk about illness prevention, healthy lifestyle choices, and any screenings. That information helps you and your doctor create a plan to maintain your health, or get you started on making changes to improve your health. Building an ongoing relationship with a PCP also means peace of mind. PCPs at UPMC Passavant say there’s real value to being seen by someone who knows you and your health history — someone you trust to guide you through an illness or emergency.
Your exam checklist How can you make the most of your annual exam? Here are four things to do before you see the doctor:
1. Make a list of all medications you are taking Include all prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements that you currently take, how often you take them, and why.
2. Update your family history Your family history can provide important clues about your risk for certain diseases, including diabetes, some cancers, and heart disease.
3. Ask about health screenings Screenings can be important tools in preventing some illnesses and diseases. Get a list of recommended screenings and talk about them with your doctor.
4. Make a list of questions or health concerns Asking questions and sharing your concerns about health issues helps your doctor improve your care. One final piece of advice: Be honest. Never be afraid or embarrassed to tell your doctor something. What you don’t disclose could be important for your doctor to make an accurate diagnosis or prescribe the best treatment plan.
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Three Cheers for Your Ears, Nose, and Throat Winter is the season for sniffles, scratchy throats, and earaches — often all at once! And with good reason: our ears, nose, and throat all are connected and affect each other greatly. Otolaryngologists (also known as ear, nose, and throat doctors or ENTs) are physicians who specialize in caring for this complex, interrelated system. Test your ENT knowledge with this quick quiz:
Who gets earaches more often — children or adults? Nearly every child experiences at least one ear infection between infancy and the age of five — something weary parents know firsthand. Because children have shorter, straighter Eustachian tubes (which connect the nose to the ears), it’s easier for bacteria to migrate into their ears.
Why are you more likely to get a nosebleed in winter? The same heated indoor air that makes your home cozy in winter also can dehydrate the inside of your nose. It can become crusted or cracked, or can even bleed. A dry nose makes you more susceptible to germs, so exercise good nose care. Lightly coat the inside with petroleum jelly. Overthe-counter saline mists and sprays (not decongestants) also are helpful.
Will antibiotics cure laryngitis? Most cases of laryngitis are caused by viral infections that make the vocal cords swell — so antibiotics are ineffective. Your best course of action? Drink plenty of fluids, rest, and cut back on talking. Straining your voice when you have acute laryngitis can damage your vocal cords. Source: American Society of Otolaryngology
Technology for 21st Century Hospitals How technology is working to transform the quality of your care during hospitalization If you ever have to be hospitalized, you’ll certainly want to be cared for at a place that delivers quality health care using the latest technology available. That’s precisely what patients find when they are admitted to a UPMC hospital. “UPMC’s vision of quality is for every patient to receive the right care, at the right time, in the right way — every time,” says Tami Minnier, RN, and chief quality officer for UPMC. “Technology lets us serve patients more efficiently and accurately. Most of all, we’re able to give patients greater control of their health care.” Here are just two of the ways UPMC hospitals are delivering on that goal.
SmartRoom® technology brings it all to you Launched three years ago by UPMC in partnership with IBM, SmartRoom is an impressive technology. First used at UPMC Shadyside and UPMC Montefiore, it is gradually being introduced in other UPMC hospitals. All patient rooms at the new UPMC East will be equipped with SmartRoom technology. SmartRoom brings all essential data related to your care to your bedside. Its computerized software programs give caregivers fingertip access to all the information essential to your care — from your electronic medical records to the tests you’ll need that day.
The SmartRoom concept simplifies workflow and makes documentation of your care faster and easier. Each room has two screens: one for your caregivers, and another for you to access email, entertainment, and a vast library of patient education videos and information.
The right meds at the right time “It is our goal to make the hospitalization and discharge experience as stress-free as possible for our patients and their families,” says Jacqueline Dailey, UPMC’s vice president for Solutions for Medical Science, Research, and Patient Centered Accountable Care. “Not surprisingly, by the time patients leave the hospital, they’re often confused and overwhelmed by changes in their medications and how to take them.” “We begin when you’re admitted with an electronic assessment of your current medications and how they’re being taken,” explains Ms. Dailey. “As medications are adjusted or eliminated during your stay, this information is instantly available to all your physicians — from your family doctor to the specialists caring for you. That’s especially important if you transition from one level of care to another, such as intensive to acute care.” An added layer of safety: both a pharmacist and the nurse administering the medications verify any new medication orders from your doctors. Throughout your stay, you’ll receive comprehensive instructions on your medications. “We know that people learn in different ways, so this information will be shared multiple times and in multiple ways,” notes Ms. Dailey. “We also urge patients to contact their doctors for help with any questions they may have on their return home.”
1-800-533-UPMC
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Taking on Tourette Controlling a life in motion at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC That’s especially difficult for adolescents who want to fit in. Tics, such as throat clearing, turning, or shaking, also can cause pain.
Seven Barnishin was just 11, playing with action figures alone in his Pitcairn home, when the tics began — involuntary arm flicks, head jerks, and sounds. “I freaked. It seemed like something else was controlling me,” he says.
At the Tourette Syndrome Clinic, patients have access to a trio of experts: two pediatric neurologists with training in neurodevelopmental disorders, and an adult neurologist trained in movement disorders who provides transitional care for older teens.
Tom and Amy Barnishin first thought their son’s behavior was linked to the start of the school year and peer pressure. When symptoms grew worse, and other tics emerged, their doctor sent Seven to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC where he was officially diagnosed with Tourette syndrome (TS) in January 2009. “We were blindsided,” says Amy.
Be in the know about TS Treatment varies.While there’s no cure, medication sometimes helps control tics. Psychologists can teach habit reversal and relaxation techniques to help patients cope with stress and reduce symptoms. But the most important treatment is education, says Dr. Coffman. “That includes educating families, educators, and the general public about TS.”
Diagnosing Tourette syndrome TS is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting one in 100 people, says Keith Coffman, MD, a pediatric neurologist and co-director of the Tourette Syndrome Clinic, part of the Brain Care Institute at Children’s Hospital. Most cases are diagnosed between ages 3 and 12; the majority are boys. The main symptoms are sudden, repetitive, uncontrollable movements and sounds called tics, including throatclearing, sniffing, blinking, gestures, and head jerking. For a true TS diagnosis, tics must start before age 18, include two or more motor tics and at least one vocal tic, and last at least one year. Tics peak at the onset of puberty. Approximately 60 percent of children outgrow the tics, or the tics become so subtle only that person knows when they occur.
Did You Know? An estimated 200,000 Americans have TS, but misconceptions still surround the disorder. For example, TS is not an emotional or behavioral condition. It is an inherited neurodevelopmental disorder that causes abnormalities in the brain.
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Coping with Tourette “People with TS cannot control their tics. They experience a sensation that makes them feel like they have to move — like having to sneeze,” Dr. Coffman says. The earlier the diagnosis, the sooner children can benefit. Movements can interfere with school work. Children with TS often are bullied, teased, or viewed as being disruptive.
Other TS facts include: • TS patients have the same IQ range as the general population. • People in every walk of life, including professional musicians, athletes, authors, and scientists, have TS. • Less than 15 percent of TS patients swear or use inappropriate expressions.
“Knowledge is power. I’d be unnerved if I didn’t know what it was,” adds Seven, now age 14. Although he cycled through almost every tic, the movements and sounds have subsided with treatment. The Barnishins credit the team at Children’s for helping them understand TS, guiding them through treatment options, and providing support. “Children’s gave us answers and helped us gain control over an uncontrollable situation. Instead of being spectators, we were part of the process. That helped lower Seven’s anxiety, which helped ease the tics,” says Tom. To learn more about the Tourette Syndrome Clinic and the Movement Disorders Clinic at Children’s Hospital, visit chp.edu, choose Neurology as the service, then click the Clinics and Services button on the left.
Welcoming New Physicians To schedule an appointment, or for more information about any of our physicians, visit UPMC.com/FindADoctor or call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Fnu Abhishek, MD Hospitalist Medicine
Christopher J. Friend, MD Imaging Services
Charles J. Lin, MD Anesthesiology
Erin K. Snell, MD Rheumatology
Aneel Kumar Bole, MD Hospitalist Medicine
Kenneth N. Gold, MD Rheumatology
Rohan D. Naik, MD Hospitalist Medicine
Kristen A. Stephen, MD Dermatology
Asheesh Bothra, MD Hospitalist Medicine
Razvan N. Gramatovici, MD Radiation Oncology
Khoa N. Nguyen, MD Anesthesiology
Guillermo Linares Tapia, MD Neurology
Ralph A. Capone, MD Internal Medicine
Denise M. Hall-Burton, MD Anesthesiology
Jeffrey S. Nicklas, MD Anesthesiology
Haibin Wang, MD, PhD Anesthesiology
Timothy J. Chips, DMD Head and Neck Surgery
Sulwen He, MD, PhD Nephrology
Kristin M. Ondecko-Ligda, MD Anesthesiology
Jeremy B. Wingard, MD Ophthalmology
Megan H. Cortazzo, MD Orthopaedics
John W. Ingle, MD Otolaryngology
Jennifer L. Rogers, MD Emergency Medicine
Aaron J. Wyse, MD Imaging Services
Pavan Devulapally, MD Hospitalist Medicine
James J. Jaber, MD, PhD Otolaryngology
Abir A. Senz, DO Internal Medicine
Christopher R. Dobbelstein, MD Psychiatry
Michael C. Jones, MD Imaging Services
Toni Sicenica, MD Pulmonary/Critical Care
What’s Happening at UPMC Passavant These free events are offered by UPMC Passavant and the Passavant Hospital Foundation Diabetes Education Series Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011 1 to 3:30 p.m. UPMC Passavant–McCandless Ask at the Information Desk for class location. Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011 Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011 6 to 8:30 p.m. UPMC Passavant–Cranberry Classes are held in the 2nd floor conference room. Learn what diabetes is, what medicines are available for treatments, and current recommendations for staying healthy with diabetes. Please call 412-367-6640 for more information.
For more information about classes at UPMC Passavant and affiliated outpatient centers, call UPMC Physician Referral at 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).
Heart-Healthy Living ... Good Choices to Live By Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012 12:30 p.m. Senior Center, Cranberry Township Municipal Building Speakers: UPMC Heart and Vascular Team Heart disease is America’s leading killer. More women than men die each year from heart disease, but few women really understand how the heart and vascular system work. Learn what you can do to maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle and diet. Please call 412-367-6640 to register. Colorectal Cancer… What You Need to Know! Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012 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.
Weight Management & Safe Weight Loss for Seniors Wednesday, Apr. 18, 2012 12:30 p.m. Senior Center, Cranberry Township Municipal Building Speaker: Registered dietitian, UPMC Passavant Your body is absolutely unique. To lose weight and keep it off, you need to know about a variety of factors that will improve your health, thus allowing you to lose weight and maintain the weight loss. Please call 412-367-6640 to register. Autism Through the Lifespan Thursday, Apr. 19, 2012 8:30 a.m. Passavant Hospital Foundation Conference Center Legacy Theatre This daylong event will include presentations and breakout sessions. Topics will appeal to families, educators, and providers dealing with autism. CEUs will be available. Registration is required. For more information, visit PassavantHospitalFoundation.org.
Bridge to Hope — Family Support Group Wednesdays 7 p.m. Passavant Hospital Foundation Conference Center Conference Room #1 Cumberland Woods Village Drug and alcohol addiction and its accompanying tragedies have touched countless Americans from all walks of life and from all backgrounds. The Bridge to Hope provides education and support to such affected families. Please call 412-367-6640 for more information. 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 upcoming dates. Please call 412-367-6640 for more information.
1-800-533-UPMC
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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.
Follow UPMC Passavant on Facebook.
Ask your child’s dentist to talk with her while at six-month checkups.
Believe it or not, for older toddlers and preschoolers, sometimes this is all it takes!
When all else fails, you may want to consider the “Binky-Fairy”! Cuddle up with your child during a comfy, quiet, low-key time and break out your most creative skills to tell your child a story of the Binky-, Buttonor Pacie-Fairy who collects pacifiers from children who are ready to be “big-girls” and “big-boys.” Let your child know that when she is ready, she can pack up her pacifiers to trade to the Fairy for a very special reward. This lets her take an active role rather than a passive role; it gives her some control over the situation and fosters development. Mention the Fairy on a regular basis—keep it fun, positive and lowpressure—and most importantly, let the decision about when she is ready be hers to make. You may be surprised how quickly your child is ready to make the trade! This Industry Insight was written by Mark & Jennifer Rebstock.
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ou may cringe when you think about ending your child’s “binky” or pacifier-sucking habit. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), “sucking is one of an infant’s natural reflexes. They begin to suck on their thumbs or other fingers while they are in the womb… Placing a thumb or another finger [or an object] in the mouth provides some children with a sense of security during difficult periods, such as when they are separated from their parents, surrounded by strangers or in an unfamiliar environment.” Infants and young toddlers who are teething may like the binky for something to chew on as a relief from teething pain. However, as the ADA and most pediatricians in the U.S. will also point out, a prolonged sucking habit may cause problems with healthy growth of the mouth and roof of the mouth, as well as alignment of teeth. For these reasons, as well as the obvious social ones as your child gets older, it’s best to try to break the habit as early as possible. Most pediatricians will encourage stopping by age two, and many children will break the habit on their own between the ages of two and four. Sometimes they simply quit with no outside prompting and sometimes they need a little help. To discourage your child’s habit, consider the following tips:
Prior to opening The Goddard School in Wexford, Mark Rebstock was training manager for a national utility company, and Jennifer worked in early childhood education. 3000 Brooktree Road • Wexford, PA 15090 724.935.1100 or www.goddardschools.com
Start by letting your child know that a binky is only to be used at bedtime and naptime. Give your child the responsibility of making sure that the binky is stored on her pillow or nightstand each time she wakes up.
Peer pressure may encourage preschool-age children who have not yet given up the binky to break the habit at naptime while at school. Use this opportunity to encourage the elimination of a binky during naptime on weekends.
Don’t put too much pressure on your child to pass up the binky. This may cause anxiety and can actually make it more difficult for your child to kick the habit. But, DO encourage every positive step in the process.
Consider that sucking may occur when your child is feeling insecure. Comfort your child, address the stressor and try to resolve or redirect. You may also consider rewarding her when she avoids sucking during stressful situations. North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 37
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Scott Spine &
Rehab
Brings Evidence-based Chiropractic Care to North Allegheny
T
he Scott Spine & Rehabilitation Center of Wexford is bringing a new wave of chiropractic care to the North Pittsburgh area. This approach to treatment is known as evidence-based chiropractic care and is focused on not only effective but efficient treatment through addressing all aspects of injury. This is not your father’s chiropractor. The clinic’s founder and operator, Dr. Justin D. Scott, received his Bachelors Degree in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and his Doctorate of Dr. Justin D. Scott Chiropractic from Palmer College in Davenport, IA. Dr. Scott’s training in evidence-based chiropractic care includes a clinical clerkship with the Department of Defense and Veterans Healthcare Administration at the Central Texas Veterans Hospital and specialized training in extremity and sports injury work through his certification as a Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner. Dr. Scott believes his evidence-based approach can “minimize treatment time while maximizing and maintaining results.” So, what is evidence-based chiropractic care? Evidence-based chiropractic care is a treatment model that combines various researchbased techniques in manual therapy, functional assessment, and rehabilitation aimed at providing long-term alleviation of pain and injury within a short series of visits. The traditional thought about chiropractic care is that you will receive an “adjustment” and be sent on your way to return again and again to maintain relief. “Evidence-based care is a multifaceted approach aimed at eliminating this cycle” explains Dr. Scott. Treatment includes a specific combination of spinal manipulation/ mobilization and extensive soft tissue work including techniques such as Active Release (ART), Graston, myofascial release and trigger point therapy, as well as functional rehabilitation. This protocol provides true correction to all aspects of injury thus eliminating the need for constant visits to the office.
With evidence-based care, patients can expect their initial treatment to consist of passive therapies to provide pain relief and aid in the healing process from injury. These passive therapies include manipulation/mobilization for joint dysfunction and soft tissue techniques to release adhesions and break up scar tissue. Once the pain is eliminated or significantly reduced, the patient is transitioned to active therapy with an efficient, customized in-office rehabilitation program designed to aid in proper healing as well as stabilization and protection against recurrence of injury. Patients are then released from care with a home exercise program to maintain their progress. This treatment process most often involves only 4-6 visits.
Sports/Orthopedic Massage Scott Spine & Rehab also offers Sports/Orthopedic massage by their on-staff specialist, Gary Obney. Gary is a nationally certified massage therapist holding licensure in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and South Carolina. He has trained with the professions elite completing over 1,600 hours of training in various techniques in soft tissue work and adhesion release. “Gary’s skill set is an excellent compliment in cases with moderate to severe soft tissue involvement” remarks Dr. Scott, “enabling us to achieve maximal results.”
Golf Fitness Assessments and Training For you golfers out there, Scott Spine & Rehab is one of the very few facilities in all of Pittsburgh offering Titleist Certified Golf Fitness Assessments and Training. Dr. Scott is nationally certified with the Titleist Performance Institute as both a Certified Golf Fitness Instructor and as a Titleist Performance Institute Medical Professional. Consisting of 13 physical screens, the assessment is designed to identify limitations in flexibility, mobility, stability, strength and motor coordination that may be preventing golfers from reaching their maximum swing potential. Using the results from the assessment, Dr. Scott then designs a custom golf fitness program for his clients aimed at eliminating their limitations therefore making their swing corrections easier and morenatural. “This work doesn’t end with golf,” Dr. Scott explains. “These principles can easily be adapted to aspects of other sports involving rotary motions such as swinging a bat or tennis racket, pitching, or throwing a football.”
Back pain? Neck Pain? Sciatica? Headaches? Sports Injuries? Sports Performance? Scott Spine & Rehab seems to have it all covered. For more information, you can visit their website at www.ScottSpineandRehab.com.
38 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
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North Allegheny
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 39
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any people realize the need for life insurance but keep putting it off until it is too late. You may think that life insurance is confusing, expensive and complicated. You may think you don’t know enough to make the right decisions for you and your loved ones. Postponing this decision leaves you and your family exposed financially.
Assumption #1: I’ll always be able to buy life insurance. You could develop a health condition that makes you uninsurable or could make life insurance too costly for you. Assumption #2: I’ll get life insurance later when I’m older or have a family. Life insurance may be needed at all stages of life. Whether married or single, male or female, with or without children, you may have financial obligations that need to be met. Life insurance provides financial security for you and your loved ones. Assumption #3: My family and I are covered by the group insurance at work. To meet the future needs of your family, you need to have 7 to 10 times your annual income. Most group term insurance amounts offered by employers won’t meet this need. And, when you don’t work for that employer any longer, you usually lose that coverage Assumption #4: My husband has life insurance so I don’t need it. Women often live longer than men but not always. There are countless stories of men who had to shoulder the family financial burden along with the emotional burden after their wife passed away. Assumption #5: My family can cover funeral and burial expenses. Burying a spouse or loved one is the most stressful time in a family’s life. Having life insurance can reduce financial concerns for the family. Take the time now to review your needs and provide adequately for yourself and your family. For more information, contact an insurance professional. This Industry Insight was written by Peter J. Piotrwoski, who has been in the Insurance and Financial Services industry for over 10 years. His State Farm Agency is located in the flats of Wexford where Route 19 crosses over Route 910 and serves the Pittsburgh community. Unwavering commitment to always doing what is in the best interest of our clients and providing unmatched service and support for all of their insurance and financial services needs have been the catalyst for our continued growth and success. For more information contact Pete directly at 724-935-6330/ pete@petesinsurance.com or via his website at www.petesinsurance.com.
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North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 41
Be s t l l a m S s n w o T
La Roche College by Kristy Snyder
ittsburgh is a metropolis that has been named the most livable city time and time again, acting as the steady heartbeat of the nation. However, most of these surveys take into account more than just the electrifying vigor of the downtown area. Much like the veins and arteries of the circulatory system, surrounding counties, towns and municipalities also play a major role in the vitality of this central hub. They keep the blood flowing back to the heart. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that one of these fundamental veins that feeds the larger community has been named the 46th best small town to live in America by CNN's “Money Magazine.” The Town of McCandless, which is known for the top-ranked La Roche College, the breathtaking campus of the Divine Providence, the life-saving successes of UPMC Passavant and the beautifully picturesque North Park, beat out many other small towns to earn this prestigious title. “I couldn’t agree more that McCandless is a delightful place to live and raise a family,” said
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the North Allegheny School District Superintendent Raymond Gualtieri. Though he just moved here during the summer, he already feels right at home because of the warmth and welcoming nature of the community. The magazine's survey included all 3,570 towns in America with a population between 8,500 and 50,000 residents. This list was narrowed to 1,548 by eliminating towns with extremely high or low median family incomes, towns where over 95% of the population is white and towns with poor education systems and high crime rates. The remaining towns were then cut down again to 749 and finally to 100. These 100 were ranked according to several essential categories including finances, housing, education, quality of life, leisure and culture and the neighbors. Gualtieri feels that North Allegheny provides students with an excellent education, and the data from the survey backs up his reasoning. According to the magazine, which used statistics from GreatSchools.net, 46.8 percent of McCandless students scored above or below the state average on their reading tests. In addition, 36.5 percent scored above or below the state average on math. The reading score actually trumps the top ten places on the list and ranks far above the list’s average of 25.1 percent. However, more went into the decision than primary schools. Colleges and universities also were a persuading factor in the decision like McCandless’s La Roche College. “La Roche College is very excited about being a part of the McCandless community,” said Mary DelBuono, La Roche director of marketing and media relations.
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“One of the things that we do love about McCandless is that it is a safe urban community so close to the city and all the amenities the city has to offer our students like opportunities for internships, entertainment and cultural events.” Indeed, McCandless has a lot of entertainment options nearby. According to the survey, there are 29 movie theaters within 15 miles, which beats five of the top 10 places in America. In addition, there are 2,818 restaurants, 420 bars, three museums and 97 libraries. One of those libraries is Northland Library. Though it services five different communities, it is right in the center of McCandless. “There have been lots of studies done through various organizations that demonstrate that the presence of a good public library, just like a quality school district, adds to a community’s quality of life,” said Executive Director Sandra Collins. “It can be something that people moving to a community can look for. I was talking to a couple who were moving back to this area from the state of Indiana, and they said one of things that helped their decision to move to McCandless was the presence of a good library.” La Roche was founded in 1963 by the Sisters of the Divine Providence, who have been housed in McCandless since 1927. Between the school, the Kearns Spirituality Center, three chapels, an elementary school and the meditative walking labyrinth, the Sisters do their best to contribute to the success of McCandless. “Those are ways we try to extend care, be a good neighbor and share what we have,” said Sister Mary Fest, who is the Provincial Councilor and Canonical Treasurer. She originally moved to McCandless in 1957 to attend the Divine Providence Prep School and entered the sisterhood in 1960. She has worked for Divine Providence for 21 years in an effort to make the town a more joyous place.
“We try to keep the grounds beautiful, so that it is a place of beauty. We want to be a good neighbor. It’s not even for our own reputation, it’s because it’s the thing that we do. And I think that we do it well. It’s a spiritual connection, it’s a neighborly connection, and it’s the right thing to do.” This same palpable spirit of working together can also be found in the town’s government from Township Manager Tobias Cordek to Council President Robert Powers. Cordek has been the Township Manager since 1984 and has a personal philosophy of always doing things the optimal way. It is this personal motto that has allowed the town to flourish under his tenure. Though, he clarified, it is not because of him that he town has been a success. It has been “built on good stock and a good foundation of people who are always trying to do the right
thing.” In addition, the great teamwork of the rest of his administration and council North Allegheny Senior High School have been instrumental. “I’m very fortunate as be widened and sidewalks will be added. president of council to have an excellent council Representative Mike Turzai, who comes behind me,” echoed Powers, who has been on from the 28th legislative district, understands the council since 1973. “There are seven of us, the importance of such large-scale projects for and we’ve always been able to get along. We small towns. have disagreements, and we make a decision “I think we try to listen to what they think and then you go about your business. There’s a the priorities should be,” said Turzai. “We just lot of cooperation.” have to make sure that the expansion of Along with the rest of the council, the two Wexford Flats on Route 19 goes as well as it can have been working on the project to create because the finished product is going to be really McCandless Crossing as well as redesign beneficial to all of our citizens.” Wexford Flats for years. The challenge was to With all of these organizations and leaders use performance zoning to find the best way to working together as perfect as the organs of the respect the environment and blend in the body, there should be no question as to why the development with landscaping that looks Town of McCandless has won such a natural, said Cordek. In addition, Route 19 will prominent award.
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 43
Marshall Middle School Teacher Takes a Revolutionary Approach to Teaching By Dana Black McGrath
here is a revolution brewing at Marshall Middle School. Students there are being treated like Colonists— intentionally—as part of a creative approach to learning about the Revolutionary War period of American history. Teacher Tracy Devlin has created an alter ego, Queen Devlin, to help teach her eighth grade American history students about the events leading up to the American Revolution. “Queen Devlin kind of evolved over time,” Devlin explains. “I love being queen, so it is a perfect fit,” she laughs. In her classroom, she strives to simulate what the Colonists were feeling prior to the American Revolution. To achieve that goal, she transforms herself into the queen, makes “royal” proclamations and sets forth a series of Queen Devlin Acts. Some are realistic and mirror those of the period, such as the Proclamation Act of 1763, which prohibited the Colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. In the classroom, the boundary is set via a line of tape on the floor. Students also select a Colonial job by drawing a written task from a bucket. They are paid in “shillings.” If they can keep their shillings, Devlin explains, they receive a bonus. But, often they must pay their “taxes” out of these wages to help teach about the tax system by replicating the Colonists’ taxes. Taxes are levied on everyday items so that the impact hits home for students; for instance, wearing blue jeans and sneakers would
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result in taxation, as well as wearing certain colors that are reserved for the queen. She also chooses about three students to work as soldiers for the queen to help enforce taxes and other acts. If a student disagrees, he/she may petition the queen and file a grievance. Queen Devlin then invites other teachers into the class to serve as Parliament to listen to the petition. “It’s quite a lot of fun, but it’s a lot to maintain,” she says. The queen has different acts planned for the separate classes so that each is surprised, and students can’t give their friends a heads-up about what is goingto happen in class. She usually asks the students to explain why the queen does what she does. Then, she asks the students to write about how they feel. The exercise helps students to understand the frustration of the Colonists and how the American Revolution began. Devlin is a strong believer in simulation, reenactment and handson learning in the classroom, she explains, and created the Queen Devlincharacter as a teaching tool. “She has evolved into a finetuned queen machine.” Eventually, the class may vote for independence or to remain a colony. If the class does vote for independence, then they elect a president to help run their colony and deliver the tasks of the day. Photos by Gary Yon
F R U S T R AT E D O V E R H E A R I N G L O S S ?
Attorney John McIlvaine
hen we were younger adults, we had a different set of concerns and focus. Career choices, finding love, raising our kids, providing for our family financially and how to pay for a house. Now as mature adults, everything changes. Our focus shifts to maintaining our Health so we can enjoy what we worked so hard for, throughout ou r lives. We want to travel a little more, remain social and enjoy the Grandchildren. That takes not only energy, but the ability to hear and communicate with our world. We all want to remain in control of our lives and stay active, sexy, healthy and youthful, as long as possible! Admit it, we all want to love - be loved, and to enjoy this life! In the past several years, my life began to slowly change and actually turned into a very lonely and isolated existence. The ones I loved the most didn’t even want to talk with me and were very frustrated with me. My Grandchildren, who mean the world to me, would talk to their Grandmother like I wasn’t even in the room. They constantly repeated their words to me, like I was an idiot and would finally raise their voices like they were mad at me. I finally quit aski ng them to repeat because I was embarrassed and quite frankly, didn’t want them to know I didn’t understand what they said. The distance between us was becoming so devastating to me, that I found myself really quite sad and even depressed at times. As for my wife, it was like living with a stranger after almost 47 years of marriage. I think she was even more frustrated than I was! Finally, I decided to lo ok for help. Where would I go? There are ads everywhere I looked, including in my mailbox! They all looked alike. I remember thinking, “I don’t care what I pay for Hearing help- it’s too much if it doesn’t work! I don’t want to go from one place to another, searching for the best Hearing Aid at the cheapest price, and then end up putting it in the drawer! I have too many friends who have done that. I just feel like my life is out of control!” Finally, one of my best friends told me about
Debra Swift, B.C.-H.I.S. Leslie Dunst Original Founder/President MS.-CCCA 25 yr. + Senior Audiologist
Swift Audiology and showed me his very discreet Hearing Aid. I literally had to get right up to his ear and study it, to even see it! He had compared several different practices and Professionals. He decided he would be in the best hands with Swift Audiology. They offered a 45 day no risk trial period for return, or he co uld actually exchange the hearing instruments he chose for another type or brand, for up to 90 days. He couldn’t lose! In talking with him, he was very happy with his hearing results and with Swift Audiology. Debra Swift, founder and President, has 25 years experience in practice. She utilizes the latest state of the art testing and fitting computers. She has built her practice from the ground up, has three locations and employs only highly credentialed Professionals. She gave him several different options and price ranges to choose from, to meet his needs. Another favorable thing about Swift Audiology, is that they offer a wide variety of brands and manufacturers, so you know you aren’t locked into just one type. He said Debra really explained everything to him in a way he clearly was able to understand and was able make his own choice, from the options presented, that he felt comfortable with. YOU GUESSED IT! I went to Swift Audiology and I couldn’t be happier I did! I am hearing again, I feel like my life is back to normal, and my family is actually talking to me again! They are just as happy as I am! I asked myself why I waited and suffered so long? Why would anyone choose to live with hearing loss that is so frustrating, when it just takes a visit to Swift Audiology to get your quality of life back! This Hearing Instrument that I wear isn’t even noticed by anyone unless I show them! It was affordable with the payment terms I arranged, and every dime is worth it. I have spent more money on things that come and go, with no benefit to me, or my family, long term! I learned that wearing hearing aids actually has a rehabilitative benefit to my ability to understand speech and for my brain to remain sharper.
Melissa Carnes AuD., Dr. of Audiology
The benefits I experience daily with the OPEN, RECEIVER-IN-THE-CANAL, are too many to described! They not only help me communicate with my family again, without frustration, but they have helped me in my work and social life immensely! I love the outdoors and the sounds of nature and animals. Nothing makes me happier than hearing all of those sounds and experiencing the beauty of this earth again! Talk about stress relief! I didn’t realize how tense I was from NOT hearing, until I could hear again. Nor could I even imagine how much I was really missing! The consequences of doing nothing, are far worse than the little bit of money and time it took to get me back to feeling like myself again! Why don’t you just pick up the phone and call Swift Audiology like I did. Consider me a friend, and take my advice, you won’t be sorry you did! Call them at 412-364-8338. You can even call toll free at 1-800-331-3277. They are even offering a special program right now. You can save a significant amount of money and get free batteries and extra warranties!
Leslie Myers AuD., Dr. of Audiology
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 45
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NA Girls Varsity Slowpitch Softball Wins WPISL Championship The North Allegheny girls varsity slow-pitch softball team traveled to Graham Park in Cranberry on Sunday, Nov. 6, to play in the WPISL championships. They received a bye in the first round. In game one vs West Allegheny, the Tigers exploded for 14 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning and never let up. In the semi-final game vs. Shaler, the Tigers exploded again for 12 runs in the top of the 1st inning and never looked back. Shaler made it close, scoring 8 runs in the last 2 innings, but it wasn’t enough – NA won 19-14. In the championship game vs. Fort Cherry, NA had a 6-2 lead after 3 innings, then the bats exploded again – scoring 27 runs over the next 3 innings. The final score: Fort Cherry 5 - NA 33. The Tigers dominated on Sunday, outscoring their opponents 86 to 24 to win their third WPISL championship. Great season Tigers!
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Shady Side Academy:
Explore
Engage
I
magine a place where your child has the opportunity to explore new interests in a safe, supportive atmosphere. Envision a place where your child can engage with educators who are leaders in their fields and are committed to your child’s individual needs. Picture a place where your child will learn to excel in the classroom, the arts, athletics and life. Shady Side Academy is that place. 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.
Excel
The average SAT score is more than 400 points above the national average, and the Academy enjoys a 100 percent college matriculation rate. An impressive 43% of 2011 graduates were accepted to schools among the Top 30 Universities and Top 30 Liberal Arts Colleges as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. An optional five-day boarding program at the Senior School offers students the opportunity to enjoy weekends at home and weekdays at school, providing a preview of college life to help ease that future transition. North Allegheny School District provides bus transportation to both the Middle and Senior School campuses in Fox Chapel. Admissions open houses are being held in December. Call 412-968-3206 or visit www.shadysideacademy.org/admissions to learn more.
To meet the needs of children in various life stages, Shady Side Academy is set on three unique campuses: the Junior School (PK-5) is in Point Breeze while the Middle (6-8) and Senior Schools (9-12) are in Fox Chapel. At Shady Side Academy, there is a balanced approach to education with a commitment to students’ academic, physical and emotional development. Putting that approach into action is a caring faculty dedicated to fostering a true love of learning in students. Shady Side’s academic program provides a challenging, yet nurturing, atmosphere that encourages inquiry, questioning, self-determination and creativity. Small class sizes encourage a strong sense of community among students, faculty and parents. Technology is integrated throughout PK-12 classrooms. Arts and athletics are an integral part of the curriculum. Music, visual and performing arts are intertwined into all levels of learning, and students are encouraged to explore an array of athletic options and find the sport or activity best for them. Extracurricular activities support students’ diverse interests, including community service. Faculty members are leaders in their fields. Sixty-one percent hold advanced degrees, and they participate regularly in professional development activities. They believe in a traditional approach to learning while developing creative curricula and determining how to best meet students’ individual needs. Senior School students refine critical thinking, writing and analytical skills that distinguish them in the college search, while three full-time college counselors help them prepare for the next stage of their academic careers. North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 47
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Supports Those with Cystic Fibrosis by Kathy Rudolph amily, friends and supporters came together for a gourmet barbeque, live music featuring Jazz 3, a Chinese auction, and family games to honor the memory of Muriel Lagnese, a former resident of Hampton, who succumbed to Cystic Fibrosis at age 56 in 2009. “The money that we raise goes straight to the social workers who can distribute the money to patients and families who need medication, gas cards, or to pay co-pays quickly,” said Paul Lagnese, Muriel’s brother-in-law, foundation member, an event organizer and Bradford Woods resident. Held in the picturesque Richland Township Community Barn, the second annual barbeque was hosted by Muriel’s Breath of Life, a non-profit foundation created by Muriel’s family to honor her memory by “helping Cystic Fibrosis patients and their families cover medical expenses that are not covered by health insurance.” Affecting 30,000 children and adults in the United States, Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited condition that causes severe lung damage and nutritional deficiencies. Although there is no cure, daily medical treatment regimens that may include over 25 medications help combat the disease, but are very expensive. “Muriel had excellent health insurance and her treatments were paid for,” said Les Lagnese, Muriel’s husband, foundation member and event organizer. “She knew that she was the exception and was concerned about patients that were not insured.” So far the foundation has raised over $30,000. Proceeds are administered by Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation and go to uninsured or underinsured patients who receive treatment at The Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center at UPMC’s Comprehensive Lung Center. Those funds have been used for medications, travel expenses while receiving treatment and ‘end of life’ support for families. Foundations like Muriel’s Breath of Life are important in tough economic times. “We are living in a time when jobs and health insurance are at a premium,” said Connie Richless, of The Cystic Fibrosis Center Health Care Project. “There are tremendous advances in research but people having to choose between food or treatment is growing in number and that is why the donations from Muriel’s Breath is so important.” Muriel’s family continues her legacy of strength by moving forward through the foundation. “Muriel was such a trooper and she quietly pushed her way through her treatments,” said her brother-in-law, John Lagnese. “When it was the end of her life, she accepted and rose above it. She was so positive and focused on the feelings of others.” Her husband, Les, says, “Muriel was wonderful; my rock and soul mate. It can be difficult, but the help and support of my family has been unbelievable.” There are many ways to help Cystic Fibrosis patients through Muriel’s Breath of Life. Visit the website at http://murielsbreathoflife.org.
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The Lagnese Family of Muriel's Breath of Life
Connie Richless, of The Cystic Fibrosis Center Health Care Project Paul Lagnese, of Bradford Woods, Muriel’s brother-in-law and foundation member
Emily Arnold and Jeremy Matelan, Hampton High School Students
Jane Barclay, Les and Pat Lagnese, Elizabeth Hixson and Pat Falbo, Metalsmith Artist North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 49
By Amanda
S.F. Hartle
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orth Allegheny In termediate High School students pe annual play in Oct rformed their ober. A total of approx imately 63 freshm part in “Charlotte an and sophomor ’s Web e students took The play is adapte ” as cast members, set builders an d d st fro age crew. m the children's no named Wilbur an vel that tells the d his friendship w st ory of a pig ith a spider named pig's life. Charlotte that sa ves the Students and dire ctor Bryan Kiggins counselor, starte , an in te rmediate high scho d working on thei ol guid r fall play in early days a week for tw September, meetin ance o hours each day. g three The production is open to any NAI choose plays that student and scho invo ol officials genera lly child-friendly them lve as many students as possible as well as ones with e for North Allegh a eny’s third grade students in the di students. All third strict attend the an grade nual production during a half-day as part of their cu field trip. rriculum
Cast included: Selene Wartell (sheep), Emily Ulhlein (lamb), Lauren Brendel (goose), Austin Edgar (gander), Emily Wilson (Charlotte), Kelly Graner (Fern), Casey Hoolahan (Wilbur), Antonia Puma (Templeton), Robby Dunbar (Homer Zuckerman), Raymo Donch (Avery Arable), Connor Labarge (John Arable), Elly Silberstein (Martha Arable), Nico Lynn (Lurvy), Lindsey Davis (Edith Zuckerman), Kristen Barczynski, Katie Dollard, and Tori Stone 50 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
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North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 51
Gala A
fun evening including ‘foot stomping’ live music by Vida, The Singing Diva, Stoney Richards of Y108, delicious foods, raffles and auctions welcomed 300 survivors, supporters and equestrians to the Pink Ribbon Round-Up Western Gala. Pink Ribbon Round-Up is a non-profit, volunteer organization that combines the members' love of horses with their dedication to eliminating cancer in an effort to raise funds for breast cancer research. The two-day event included an evening gala and a Sharon McSwaney, Survivor, Pink Ribbon horse ride and picnic the Round-Up Committee Organizer and next day through Her Supporters the picturesque North Park, located in Hampton, McCandless and Pine Townships. At the gala, held at The Chadwick in Wexford, guests dressed in their best pink and western wear; the color pink being the international symbol of breast cancer awareness. Hosted by The Pink Ribbon Round-Up with honorary chair Mary Robb Jackson of KDKA-TV, the gala was a celebration of breast cancer survivors, who were identified by their pink carnation corsages, and also served to raise funds for breast cancer research. “Tonight is not a sad event, but a fun celebration to honor and show our love to the survivors,” said Patricia Hodder,
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By Kathy Rudolph
survivor, president and chairperson of The Pink Ribbon Round-Up. “We have also raised $170,000 in six years for breast cancer research.” The organization believes that “the passion and energy spent with our animals can be directed to presenting a wonderful, exciting two-day event that will raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Pittsburgh and help us achieve our goal.” Susan G. Komen for the Cure is named after Susan G. Komen, who succumbed to breast cancer in 1980. Before she died she asked her sister, Nancy, to raise awareness and help women fight breast cancer. Nancy G. Brinker created the non-profit foundation in 1982 in honor of her sister. Since then, the foundation “is the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $1.9 million,” according to the foundation’s website. It is “dedicated to education and research about causes, treatment and the search for a cure.” Many women are winning the battle and so are members Pink Ribbon Round-Up Committee. “People were so supportive when I was going through breast cancer,” said Sharon McSwaney, a survivor and Seneca Valley School District teacher. “I wanted to give back and celebrate all of those that supported me.” Others on the committee want to show their support for their loved ones.
Rita DeMore, Survivor and Pink Ribbon Round-Up Committee Member and Her Sister, Marion Yeager, Survivor, and their Family
Dana Pietrzak and Barbara Moeller, Pink Ribbon Round-Up Committee Members
Nicole Syder and Sue Groff, Pink Ribbon Round-up Committee Members and Bob Groff, Volunteer “My aunt is Patricia Hodder and I have been part of this since the beginning,” said Barb Moeller. “I love that our gala is different, fun and positive. We are celebrating hope.” The gala could not happen without the support of so many volunteers. “We are growing every year and it is because of our excellent volunteers and wonderful support from the equestrian community,” said Ms. Hodder. To learn more about Pink Ribbon Round-Up, please visit the website at www.pinkribbonroundup.org.
Vida, The Singing Diva North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 53
Girl Scouts Earn Silver Award for
Anti-Bullying Project by Tawnya Panizzi rmed with nothing more than a pen and paper, North Allegheny freshmen Cooper King and Sarah Pitell are waging war against teen bullies. The pair, each 14, hit the drawing board in an effort to spread the word on the increasing epidemic. “We wanted people to recognize bullying because there’s a lot of ignorance about it,” Cooper says. “We both love to draw and we figured we could use it to teach people a lesson.” Their impassioned effort resulted in a 26-page book, “Usagi,” which is the Japanese word for rabbit. “We chose that name because the character being teased in our story has rabbit ears,” Sarah says. The book is written Manga-style, like a Japanese comic strip, with whimsical drawings. “You read it from right to left,” Cooper says. “Manga’s really popular right now.” The girls each put 50 hours into producing the book.
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Their effort was enough to earn them the Girl Scouts of America’s Silver Leadership Award, the second-highest honor in the organization. Only Cadet Scouts, ages 11 to 14, can earn the award which acknowledges achievements in leadership development along with community-based actions that have a sustainable element and incorporate personal growth. “It felt really great to earn it,” Cooper says. “We spent all this time and it turned out just as good if not better than we thought.” Cooper and Sarah were not alone in their achievements. The troop boasts a total of four Silver Awards this year, including one for Lindsey Davis for a video about boosting self-esteem in girls and one for Michaela Schlichtkrull for collecting coats for the needy through North Hills Community Outreach. “It felt good, it’s a big honor,” Sarah says. Earning a Silver Leadership Award is no easy feat. It required a significant commitment from Cooper and Sarah prior to starting the book, including setting self-improvement goals and identifying community problems and solutions. According to the Girl Scouts guidelines, the project inspires teens to look around their neighborhoods and consider how they can make a change for the better.
Earning a Silver Award demonstrates leadership, organization, determination and dedication. Not to mention a lot of time. Participants have to pledge at least 50 hours. “It was challenging,” Cooper says. “It was tough to get all that time in, especially over the summer when we’re busy doing other things.” “Another challenge was drawing the person over and over again, and our drawings had to look similar to each others,” Sarah says. The pair transformed their art and text into a book at the local Kinko’s and already has distributed copies at Marshall Middle School and to local Girl Scout troops. A retired North Allegheny guidance counselor, Dr. Stevie Smith, served as the girls’ advisor. Bullying, according to the Family First Aid website, involves about 5.7 million, or 30 percent of American children each year. Cooper says that a lot of teenagers might not realize they are guilty of bullying. They might consider what they do to be teasing. “It can be subtle between the two,” she says. “We want to tell people not to do it at all. “We also want to tell people that if it happens, to tell someone. Tell a friend, tell a teacher.” Sarah says the book might help teens find comfort in knowing they are not alone.
“Kids that are bullied need to know that other kids know what they’re going through,” she said. “If they don’t feel isolated the problem will get solved faster.” Girl Scouts since second grade, Cooper and Sarah say they enjoy the camaraderie as well as the discipline offered by the group. “It’s helped me keep up my friendships,” Cooper says. “A lot of people grow apart as they grow up and we’re all still pretty tight.” With community service an emphasis, troop members spend a lot of time together outside of meetings. In the past year, members have rallied runners at the Pittsburgh Marathon, standing along the sidelines and passing out water. They’ve also shared lessons with younger children in the North Hills area on the benefits of recycling. In their spare time, both girls say they love to read, draw and play video games. Not that they have much spare time. Having received their sash pins that signify their Silver Awards, the pair says they’re ready to go for the Gold. “That one takes 80 hours, but we’re ready to start,” Cooper says. “That’s the big one,” Sarah says. “The one everyone sets out to get.”
Earning a Silver Award demonstrates leadership, organization, determination and dedication. Used cars find new purpose in securing employment for low-income families The morning commute for Loretta, a single mother with three children who recently moved her family into her mother’s two-bedroom apartment, used to be a daunting task. Each day she and her children rode the bus, stopping at daycare before Loretta reached her full-time job downtown. Thanks to Community Auto, a program of North Hills Community Outreach that pairs used cars with low-income drivers, Loretta’s commute has become much more manageable, and she feels her independence has been restored. Community Auto accepts donations of used cars, has them repaired and serviced by local mechanics and then offers them for purchase at prices well below market value. Four months ago, Loretta was able to buy a minivan. “Your program is such a blessing to so many people,” Loretta writes. Donors receive the maximum tax deduction allowable for the donation, as well as assurance that their car is directly helping a local family in need. Buyers benefiting from the program must meet income eligibility guidelines and work at least 25 hours per week. Community Auto encourages Pennsylvanians to BE A DRIVING CHANGE by donating used vehicles. Learn more at commu-
nityauto.org or call 724-443-8300.
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 55
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ADVANCED ARTHRITIS CARE IS NOW IN YOUR COMMUNITY The UPMC Arthritis and Autoimmunity Center is proud to announce the opening of our new Wexford office. UPMC is one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation for rheumatology care as ranked by U.S News & World Report. Our experienced physicians and advanced clinical treatments for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other rheumatic conditions can help you overcome and manage these chronic conditions.
Meet our clinical staff Kenneth N. Gold, MD Board-Certified, Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Dr. Gold earned his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed a fellowship at the Mayo Clinic.
Praveen Jajoria, MD Board-Certified, Internal Medicine Dr. Jajoria earned his medical degree from University College of Medical Sciences in Delhi, India. He also earned a master’s of public health degree at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. Jajoria completed his residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in rheumatology at the University of Texas.
Erin K. Snell, MD Board-Certified, Internal Medicine Dr. Snell earned her medical degree from the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas. She completed her residency in internal medicine at University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and a fellowship in rheumatology at UPMC.
New office location: UPMC Arthritis and Autoimmunity Center, Wexford 117 VIP Drive, suite 120 Wexford, PA 15090 To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 724-935-1130 or visit UPMC.com/Rheumatology.
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
The
Eyelid surgery can usually correct these problems, but sometimes other treatments may also need to be considered. What we commonly refer to as “crow’s feet” lines may be smoothed out with Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Chemical Peels or Laser Resurfacing. Dark circles under the eyes that are caused by dark pigmentation may be treated with Hyaluonic Acid fillers, fat injections or sometimes chemical peeling. Often, if drooping upper eyelids is combined with sagging of the brows, an endoscopic brow lift may be the answer. When patients come in for a consultation for this type of surgery, I usually have them look in the mirror and tell me EXACTLY what they want to see improved. This will allow me to understand their expectations and determine whether they can be realistically achieved. Patients should always come to their appointment ready to discuss their medical history. Especially important conditions with eye
ave you ever seen someone and said those are the most beautiful, hypnotic eyes I have ever seen? A person’s eyes are the focal point of their facial features and are often focused on by others during conversations or first meetings. For that reason, patients are very concerned about how their eyes appear to others. In this day and age with everyone wanting to look as lovely as they can, aesthetic eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, can be beneficial to men and women at any age. How do I know if I need eyelid surgery? This is a common question that men and women alike ask me as well as themselves. Here is a good checklist reference for you. 1. Bags and dark circles under the eyes 2. Lower eyelid droopiness 3. Excessive and loose skin hanging down from the upper eyelids, sometimes even obstructing vision 4. A puffiness to the upper eyelids, making the eyes appear tired 5. Excess skin and fine crepe paper type wrinkles of the lower eyelids
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surgery are high blood pressure, diabetes and thyroid problems. Allergies are also something I need to know before performing this surgery. Eyelid surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure, which means the patient can go home after their operation and time in the recovery room. With upper eyelid surgery, or Upper Blepharoplasty, the incision is generally hidden in the natural fold of the eyelid. With lower eyelid surgery, or Lower Blepharoplasty, the incision is usually hidden just below the lower lash line. As with other surgeries, I will advise you to stop smoking. The amount of recovery time varies among individuals. The first few days after surgery, you should rest quietly with your head elevated. Remember not to take aspirin or any anti inflammatory medications. These products tend to thin your blood, which can increase bruising and swelling with surgery. Bruising usually disappears within 7-10 days. Straining, bending and lifting should be avoided during the early postoperative period. But, in most cases, you will be able to resume most of your normal activities within 10 days or less. After you have aesthetic eyelid surgery, people may remark about how rested you look or think you have recently returned from a vacation. When you have eyelid surgery, the healing is a gradual process. Because of this, you will need to wait at least a few weeks to get an accurate picture of your results. Incisions will fade over several months, usually becoming barely visible. The results of this type of surgery are ordinarily long lasting. Removing fat from your eyelids, which is what typically causes the bags and puffiness, is permanent. Patients are normally delighted with their results and feel that they look much younger and refreshed. In today’s world, patients want to look the very best that they can, not only for themselves, but for the workplace. People are working later into their lives and want to have an edge in the competitive marketplace. In summary, eye surgery is not just for reasons of vanity, but can also aid in securing new jobs or advancing to that promotion.
By Pamela Palongue
MONEY SAVING
LTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES ARE GAINING GROUND IN THE U.S., PARTIALLY FUELED BY THE COST OF HIGH ENERGY PRICES BUT ALSO A DESIRE TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT. The U.S. Dept. of Energy states in its five-year plan regarding the cleanup of nuclear waste, “Fifty years of nuclear weapons production and [nuclear] energy research generated millions of gallons of radioactive waste, thousands of tons of spent nuclear fuel and special nuclear material, along with huge quantities of contaminated soil and water.” And natural gas is not a renewable resource. So what can families do to save money on energy costs and also protect the environment? One alternative is solar power. According to MakeSolarPanels.org, the cost of installation of solar panels in your home is completely paid for within four years and greatly increases the value of your home. The website also explains how to make your own solar panels and install them, and has a list of resources for determining the best location in your home for maximum sun exposure. Of course, the more panels that are installed, the more power that is generated. If more power is generated than what you need for use in your home, you can actually sell the power for extra income. Also, the PA Alternative Energy Investment Act offers rebates up to 35% for the cost of installation in your home. Solar power can be used for baking, heating water, heating a pool, or for electric lights in your home. And according to Pennsylvania Solar (www.pasolar.org), Pennsylvania receives as much solar radiation in the month of June as southern Florida! Another alternative for heating your home is an ancient European invention called the masonry stove, which seems to be making a comeback. This stove is made of cast iron and is covered in ceramic tiles which radiate heat evenly in the home. They use very little wood and burn the wood completely and cleanly. Instead of the room becoming cold after the wood has burned, the tiles continue to radiate the heat for up to 12 hours. Although many environmental enthusiasts want to “save a tree,” trees are a renewable resource and grown as a crop, much the same way that cotton or tomatoes are grown, with the difference being that they are harvested every 14 to 20 years, rather than annually. Giant redwoods and 200-year-old historic oak trees are not harvested for use as fuel by foresters. Another environmental concern with wood burning is the smoke released into the atmosphere. But according to the Alternative Energy Primer, because trees remove carbon from the atmosphere as they are growing, the release of carbon into the atmosphere as they burn is an equal exchange, making for a neutral effect on the environment. Also, the growing and harvesting of more trees actually improves the environment by providing ecosystems for wildlife and improving air quality. The masonry stoves come in a variety of sizes, from small models to heat a single room to larger systems equipped to heat an entire home. They can be very basic or may have computer regulated thermostats. There is also a great variety in the appearance of the stoves, ranging from plain, monochromatic tiles designed to blend in with the wall color to elaborate, decorative designs. Another attractive feature of this source of heat is that it is completely off the power grid, with availability even during power outages. For more facts on masonry stoves, The Masonry Heater Association of North America has a library of information and a gallery of stove designs at www.mha-net.org. A discussion about alternative energy sources would not be complete without wind power. Pennsylvania ranks 16th in the nation in total wind
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capacity installed, and according to the American Wind Energy Association (www.AWEA.org) is one of the best states for wind power. One reason is an abundance of wind; another is the excellent tax incentives and rebates for installing wind power. Wind energy has become more efficient over the past few years as turbine technology has improved, making it more viable than ever. In fact, 180,000 homes in Pennsylvania are at least partially powered by wind. Wind power is clean and produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation and generally has less negative effect on the environment than any other source of power. The cost of a typical size turbine for a residential home, such as a Skystream 3.7, costs in the neighborhood of $5,000 to $8,000, plus the cost of installation. Like solar power, the cost of installation pays for itself over time and any excess power produced can be sold back to the utility company for a profit. If you are interested in wind power for your home, you may find it helpful to consult the U.S. Dept. of Energy Wind and Water Program page at www.eere.energy.gov which has a helpful list of frequently asked questions for examining the feasibility of wind power for your home. Alternative energy sources can help save your family money while helping the environment in a meaningful and lasting way.
Energy Choices
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 59
Fire Departments Join Together for Picnic orth Allegheny area fire fighters and their families came together for a fun filled picnic this fall. Held Sept. 10 at Warrendale Park, those attending included members of the Marshall Township, Bradford Woods and Wexford fire departments. “We are always working together on emergency scenes, so we thought it would be nice
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to bring everyone together, with their families, on a social level,� explains Jason Bragunier, who serves on the Board of Directors for the Marshall Township Fire Department. Approximately 80 people, including firefighters and family members, attended the event.
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 boardcertified 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.
724-934-VEIN (8346) North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 61
by Kathy Rudolph esidents came together and celebrated living in one of the “Top 100 Small Towns in America,” (Money Magazine), with a day of fun events including a parade, car cruise and rides. Entertainment featuring musical and dance performances got the crowd moving and delicious local food booths kept families full and happy. Raffles and auctions, a chili contest and local business and community exhibits were part o f the countless activities provided. “McCandless Community Day started in 2001 which was our 150th Celebration,” said Councilman Gerald Aufman, Community Day Planning Committee Chairman. “From then we continued to have it and add to it each year. The grounds are perfect for the many activities.” Founded in 1851 and originally named Taylor, the township was renamed McCandless after District Judge Wilson McCandless in 1857. Today, McCandless has grown to 29,000 residents. The Community Day Celebration also included opening ceremonies honoring those who lost their lives on 9/11 and recognized the local fire, police and ambulance personnel. Besides the many vendor booths, residents were introduced to important community organizations such as The McCandless Volunteer Fire and Rescue. The firefighters made the kids feel like real fire fighters by guiding them through a fun obstacle course where they ran, jumped and even sprayed a fire hose. Going Home Greyhounds, a non-profit organization showed residents beautiful greyhound dogs that need homes. The organization provides “refuge, aid and care for retired racing greyhounds until they are placed in permanent homes.” “I hope that everyone had a good time and enjoyed themselves,” said Councilman Aufman. “We have an outstanding committee that works hard to make this event special.” To learn more about upcoming events in McCandless, please visit the website at www.townofmccandless.org.
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Councilman Gerald Aufman, Jr., Chairman, Community Day Planning Committee “Going Home Nancy Shade of Greyhounds”
a Cubellis ergrift and Mar Rosemary Vand ademy Ac e nc Da e of Center Stag
Kardaz
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McCandless To wnship Sewer Authority Em ployees
Michele's Dance Center
The Simon Fam ily
Elena Cubellis and Allie Ziolkowski of Center Stage Dance Academy
The Santucci Family North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 63
Are You Suffering from
? a i g l
a y om
r b Fi
Did you know that one in 50 Americans is estimated to have Fibromyalgia? After years of treating the northern Allegheny County community, we have successfully treated countless cases of fibromyalgia. When an individual approaches our clinic with aches and pains from this elusive and chronic disorder we assure them that this condition is not imaginary. Although this condition affects mostly women we have observed men being equally affected. Women of all ages and occupations have stated that they are feeling pains in areas that have not been previously injured or stressed. People with fibromyalgia have difficulty performing routine daily activities such as walking, standing, or recreational activities. The frustration of learning to cope with these changes can affect the individual’s family life as well as their relationship with friends.
Fibromyalgia is the 2nd most common ailment affecting the musculoskeletal system after osteoarthritis, according to the American College of Rheumatology. If there are no underlying causes for your symptoms you may have a condition of classic fibromyalgia. The traditional allopathic approach includes a prescription of a steroid, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-depressants, sleep medications, or muscle relaxants. These prescriptions temporarily relieve the symptoms however they can produce serious side effects. Fibromyalgia is typically diagnosed in patients with: • Widespread pain throughout the body for a minimum of 3 months • Tenderness or pain in at least 11 tender points when pressure is applied. These tender points are typically located around the neck, shoulder, chest, hip, knee, and elbow regions. If your pain is caused by a muscle or joint condition, chiropractic care may help relieve it more effectively than other therapies. Chiropractic care is a therapeutic approach that offers relief from the pain of fibromyalgia. Through massage, muscular balance, and holistic therapy we can decrease your pain while increasing 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 your general health. Treatment at Genesis Chiropractic consists of a consultation and detailed history, a comprehensive examination, therapy, and manual adjustments. Treating pain is only one part of chiropractic care at Genesis Chiropractic. If you are bothered by a recent injury or auto accident, or suffer with chronic pain, let us customize a rehab program to help you eliminate/reduce your pain or discomfort. If you're looking for a second opinion or a new perspective on a health issue, give us a call at 412-8470066 to schedule your appointment.
Chiropractic care is a therapeutic approach that offers relief from the pain of fibromyalgia. Through massage, muscular balance, and holistic therapy we can decrease your pain while increasing your quality of life. 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 Hills 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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RESIDENT PROFILE
Wexford Plastic Surgeon
Smiles to Those
Brings
by Dana Black McGrath
in Need
ach year, Dr. Anna Wooten takes a week away from her busy plastic surgery practice in Wexford to volunteer with Surgicorps International, an organization founded by Pittsburgh area surgeon Jack Demos that provides free surgical and medical care to the disadvantaged in developing nations. “I joined because I think his mission is well-organized and we can help a lot of people,” says Wooten. Doctors and other volunteers with Surgicorps travel the globe, including missions to Ethiopia, Bhutan, Guatemala, Vietnam, Zambia and Haiti to perform life-changing procedures, such as cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries, treatments for burn scars, and procedures to help with other traumatic injuries and congenital deformities. Wooten has been making the journey to Guatemala with the organization for the past three years, and plans to travel there again next year. Although she speaks little Spanish, Wooten says, “It is amazing how well you can communicate about what needs to be done and how to take care of them.” When she goes on a mission trip, Wooten performs an average of about 10 cleft lip surgeries and 10 to 15 cleft palate surgeries, along with procedures for other congenital deformities. The vast majority of those surgeries are performed on children. These are the procedures that are most common during mission trips to Latin American countries, she explains. Doctors who travel to Africa often treat those with severe burns and devastating burn deformities that require multiple operations. Some can be saved, but some cannot be helped because they are so badly injured. The cleft lip and palate surgeries are something Wooten was trained to do and enjoys doing, but really does not handle as part of her regular practice at home. “Here there is a comprehensive approach to these types of surgeries,” she explains. Most are handled through a specialized center at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where care is well coordinated. “There, it is just me trying to take care of a child in a few days,” she says.
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“The cleft lip is usually wider because there has been no prep work, so the surgeries are more complex.” Conditions there also are part of the challenge, Wooten says. Trusting the people you are working with is essential. During these trips, Surgicorps has not only teams of surgeons, but nurses and other volunteers as well to help care for children before and after their procedures. It is a team approach to the mission at hand, she explains, and people often take on different roles. “One day you are a surgeon, the next you may be working as a scrub nurse, the next assisting an abdominal surgery,” she says, “and there is no hierarchy. What you do depends on what’s needed to take care of the patients safely.” While trips to other destinations, such as Africa or Vietnam, may last for a few weeks, Wooten’s trips to Guatemala usually last a week. During that time, the surgeons work Monday through Friday and perform anywhere from 40 to 50 surgeries each. Aside from plastic surgeons, other surgeons who travel on the missions include those who specialize in orthopedic surgery, general surgeons and Ob/Gyn surgeons. Typically the doctors stay until their patients recover and get through their procedures safely. “I think it is a great pleasure to go every year and see the same patients coming back, and I can see the progress of how they healed and how happy they are.” During her stays there, she witnesses much poverty, which makes the everyday complaints here seem very minor. “It is an amazing experience,” says Wooten. “I even have patients from here coming with me now. They love it because it is such a rewarding experience. It’s like going to church, only much better.” When she returns from a mission trip, she says it takes her a while to adjust back to the American lifestyle. “It makes you appreciate what you have and to be thankful you can give back.” For more information about Surgicorps International, visit the website at www.surgicorps.org. North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 65
Spina Bifida Association of Western Pennsylvania
he sun shone brightly on the Spina Bifida Association of Western Pennsylvania (SBAWP) and Blueberry Hill Park in Franklin Park during the Third Annual Summer Festival, presented by Seubert and Associates on Aug. 7. Between 700 and 800 people attended the event, SBAWP’s largest annual fundraiser and a great day of fun. There was something for everyone at the festival. Kids enjoyed a bounce house and inflatable slides provided by ELF Entertainment, and spinning the wheel for prizes. Children got “artsy” with face painting, sand art, spin art and candy art, and enjoyed hanging out with the Pirate Parrot. People of all ages enjoyed playing and competing in horseshoes, archery, remote car demonstrations and races, golf chipping, and trying their hand at a corn hole toss. The crowd was thrilled with a remote helicopter demo. Bingo provided some indoor recreation and prizes for some of the bigger “kids” in attendance. Festival goers had the opportunity to win a number of auction baskets and prizes, including merchandise from the Steelers, the Penguins and the Pirates, day spa packages, Steelers tickets and much more. Richard L. (Dick) Smith, chairman of the SBAWP board of directors, presented the Chairman’s Award to Brian Long, president of Seubert & Associates. This honor was given to Long in recognition of his tireless efforts to benefit the association and his ongoing support of the annual Summer Festival, the organization's largest annual fundraiser. Seubert and Associates has acted as Presenting Sponsor of the festival since it was established in 2009. A classic rock and jazz concert finished off the festivities. Natalie Vogel and the Humans kicked off the evening with their classic rock tunes. Southern Comfort entertained us with smooth sounds of cool jazz. Midlife Crisis finished off the night with an energetic set of classic rock standards. The Spina Bifida Association of Western Pennsylvania (SBAWP) is a private nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life for individuals with spina bifida and other disabilities by providing a continuum of direct services, education and advocacy. Each year, SBAWP helps more than 1,000 individuals to live happy, healthy, productive and independent lives through its programs, which include preschool play programs, educational advocacy, recreational camps and retreats, transitional living, life skills and wellness training, job training and placement and support services to individuals living in the community. Proceeds from the event are for the benefit of all SBAWP programs. Photos by Ginography
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Financial Planning for Your
arents of special needs children know that they will do anything to provide their children with the best possible quality of life as long as they are here. But what happens when they are not? That is a worry financial planner Lisa Austin may help to eliminate. Austin is a financial planner with the Prudential Financial Planning Services, a division of Pruco Securities Corporation, a Prudential Financial Co mpany. Her office is located at 3055 Washington Road, Suite 301, Lisa Austin McMurray, PA 15317 and she also works out of offices in 5000 Stonewood Drive, Suite 210, Wexford, PA 15090 (North Hills office) and 1001 Ardmore Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Austin's specialty is financial planning for children with special needs. “Their needs are extremely specific, Austin explains. “It really is different from other type s of planning.” What many parents of special needs children do not realize is that without the proper planning, their child's future could be in jeopardy. “Often one of the biggest hurdles I encounter is getting parents to take the first step,” Austin says. “They sometimes have a lot of fear.” One of the key elements of planning for parents of special needs children is to establish a special needs trust, she explains. The part of that process that seems to be overwhelming for parents is choosing a guardian for their child. That person may ultimately become responsible for making decisions about health care and financial matters. “Sometimes parents need to be convinced that anyone they chose would be better than a guardian who is appointed by the court,” Austin says. There are many intricacies to planning for this population. For instance, there are many children with
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special needs who may not qualify for supplemental security income (SSI) benefits because, as dependents, they do not meet eligibility criteria. But, that may change once the child turns 18. At that point eligibility will be determined based on the child's income and assets. Federal legislation states that, generally, a person must have as sets of less than $2,000 to qualify for SSI benefits and have personal income less than specified levels, Austin explains. From a financial standpoint, that is where she starts. “If a well meaning grandparent or aunt or uncle for example dies and leaves the child any sum of money, the child could be in danger of losing benefits until the inheritance is spent down to something below the $2,000 limit.” Pla nning ahead, and especially planning early, is essential, according to Austin. “As financial planners, we work to make sure that when the parents are gone, the rest of the child's life remains consistent and stays as intact as possible.” And, that takes money. Austin works to get the parents to a secure place financially to ensure that their special needs child is secure in the future. Life insurance po licies are often a key tool. To help information reach as many parents as possible, Austin offers an educational seminar called “Special Needs Solutions for All Ages” to parent support groups and nonprofit associations. For more information about financial planning, especially for those with special needs, contact Austin at 412.721.4579 or email her at lisa.austin@prudential.com or visit the website at www.prudential.com/us/lisa.austin.
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 67
by Pamela Palongue
o T t a Wh With Do t Old a r h e T put t m a h o C .now t nd
echnology is moving at a dizzying pace with television, video equipment and computers becoming obsolete within a few months to a couple of years. So what happens to electronics that have lived past their useful purpose? According to Erik Johnson of eLoop LLC, which offers an electronics recycling drop-off site in partnership with Computer Cafe in Wexford, 80% of them are still being thrown into the trash. Four-hundred million electronic units will be discarded this year and if they could be assembled into one giant heap, it would be as tall as Mt. Everest. The haste to throw them into the trash probably stems from the fact that most people are wary of the chemicals contained in some computers. It turns out, this may be wise. Old models may contain lead, cadmium, mercury and other not so friendly substances. Additionally, consumers worry about the possibility of information being lifted off of their hard
drives once they are disposed of, including financial and legal information. Johnson explains that at eLoop, they are certified to destroy all hard drive material, giving the consumer the peace of mind that no one will be committing identity theft with their old computers. His company is a certified member of the National Association of Information Destruction. Workers use an industrial shredder that completely obliterates the hard drive, making every part of it unreadable. They first triage the equipment to see if any of it is able to be refurbished, however 90% of the items are not. They then dismantle the remaining pieces completely, separating the plastic from the metals, glass, and other recyclable materials. “Everything is recycled. Nothing is wasted or ever goes to a landfill,” says Johnson. This should also make consumers feel more at ease since disposal of electronics in a landfill could potentially result in harmful substances leeching into the groundwater supply.
u .. o f e w v e ’ n u g yo n i h t e som
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eLoop works with many Fortune 500 companies, but is also readily available to take care of disposal of electronics and household appliances for individuals. “We take anything with a cord except air conditioners or refrigerators, due to the special disposal requirements for Freon,” says Johnson. Kitchen blenders, toasters and other small appliances are readily accepted. They are currently working on certification by the Basil Action Network, the most stringent organization for certification of recycling businesses. Johnson also explains that in Nov. 2010 a new Pennsylvania state law was passed called The Covered Recycling Act. Under provision of this law, electronic recycling centers are obligated to accept electronics at no cost to the consumer. Electronics companies such as Sony, Samsung and Dell have to pay for the cost of recycling due to an extended producer responsibility. Also taking effect in 2013 is a landfill ban on electronics. After this time, if individuals throw their television or computers in the trash, the trash collectors will be instructed to leave the items at the curb.
To make recycling easier for the individual consumer, eLoop has established drop-off centers around the city. The company has an arrangement with Construction Junction, located in East Liberty, the Computer Café in Wexford and has also partnered with Peters Township to pick up items at the Peters Municipal Building. If any company or organization is interested in becoming a drop-off site for eLoop, please contact the company directly at (724) 519-7646. Or if you would like more information on recycling your electronics and appliances, you may visit the website at www.eloopllc.com. This is an important opportunity to help keep our environment safe for generations to come.
WORSHIP
Ascension Lutheran Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412.364.4463 Bradford Woods Community Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 724.935.3135 Franklin Park Baptist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 724.935.3950 Ingomar United Methodist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412.364.3613 New Community Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 724.935.0909 North Hills Christian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412.487.4142 Northmont United Presbyterian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412.364.0105 Orchard Hill Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 724.935.5555 St. John & Paul Catholic Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 724.935.2104 St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412.364.6626 St. John's Lutheran Church of Highland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412.364.1606 Temple Ohav Shalom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412.389.6581 The Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412.366.0244 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 724.935.2746 Wexford Community Presbyterian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 724.935.5650 If you would like your information posted, please contact marybeth@incommunity magazines.com with your name, phone, address and web site. North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 69
ach year, Santa takes time out from his busy schedule and leaves the hectic toymaking headquarters at the North Pole to visit children around the North Allegheny area. In Bradford Woods, on Saturday, Dec. 17, the Bradford Woods Volunteer Fire Company will give Rudolph and the rest of Santa's reindeer a chance to rest up for their all-night flight and escort Santa through town on the company's fire truck instead. This local tradition actually started in Franklin Park, explains Mike Slater, chief at Bradford Woods and former Franklin Park resident. There, in years past, the fire department would drive Santa around on the back of the truck to deliver cookies and candy to children on the street. “My daughters loved it and having been a volunteer fireman most of my life I thought that was a nice touch,” says Slater. When he and his family moved to Bradford Woods in 1994, he joined the fire company there and suggested inviting Santa for a ride on their company's truck too. You see, Santa already was an annual visitor there, and for the past 30 years had been visiting neighborhood children, so he appreciated the offer and accepted the ride. Santa's annual ride through Bradford Woods runs from 1pm to about 3pm. Firefighters utilize the time to do more than just chauffeur Santa around town, they get to practice driving all of the neighborhood roads, observe where houses are situated, and review where fire hydrants are. Plus they get to meet neighbors who often come to the station giving gifts. “It allows the firefighters who do not drive to gain insight into those same things, but add an appreciation for terrain. Then you can think of where to put ladders or where to attack a fire from,” Slater explains. For many years, the Marshall Township fire department also hosted Santa for brunch to help him, but the tradition has evolved and now the township's parks and recreation department hosts the event at The Camelot in Warrendale.
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To help you plan your visits with Santa, and other fun outings, we pulled together some information about holiday happenings around the North Allegheny area:
Dec. 11 1 p.m. Lunch with Santa Claus Come and have lunch, make a cute holiday craft and sit on Santa's lap at Blueberry Hill Park Activity Center. All families must be preregistered and pre-paid by Dec. 9. For more information, call 412.364.4115, ext. 318 or 347. Fee is $5 per person for residents, $6 per person for non-residents. Those who register at the door will be charged $7 per person. Attendance is limited to 150 people.
Nov. 25 - Feb. 29 Snow Creations Contest Residents are invited to create a snow sculpture or creation, such as a snowman, after any snowfall until February 29. A photograph is to be taken of the family members with the snow sculpture and submitted to Heather Cuyler Jerry at Marshall Township, 525 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 100, Wexford, PA 15090 or e-mail heatherj@twp.marshall.pa.us. Name, address, telephone number and date are to be written on the back of the picture. The photos will not be returned. One photograph will be accepted for each snow creation. Families may submit multiple entries. Prizes will be awarded for the top two entries.
Jan. 28 1 to 3 p.m. Sledding Day Enjoy free hot dogs and hot cocoa during the sledding party at the sledding hill in Knob Hill Park. Bring your family for an afternoon of outdoor fun. There is no fee for the event but registration is required. To register, call 724.935.3090 x115 by Jan. 25 to register.
BRADFORD WOODS Santa Sighting Santa will be escorted through town by Bradford Woods Volunteer Fire Company via the firetruck on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 1 to 4 p.m.
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Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction. It would seem reasonable that with millions of sperm and only one egg that the majority of infertility problems would lie with the female. Not true, according to the National Library of Medicine which tracks national statistics kept by fertility clinics. Difficulties with fertility are evenly split, with the source of fertility problems being linked to the male one third of the time and the female also having difficulties one third of the time. The final third is a mixture of situations where both parties have infertility issues and those cases where the cause is indeterminate. The good news is that there is hope for males who wish to start a family. Director of Male Reproductive Medicine Surgery at UPMC, Thomas Jaffe, MD, an urologist, offers a hopeful perspective for males experiencing difficulties with reproductive issues. “Because of many technologies and treatments, many men who previously had no hope of fathering a child now have treatment options that can be [effective.]” One important advancement in reproductive research is a relatively new diagnostic test called the DAZ test. The DAZ test detects a genetic mutation in the Y chromosome for sperm production.
This test is ordered when sperm production is unusually low. Another important factor in analyzing the quality of the sperm is its motility or movement. Generally, sperm with greater motility are able to more easily fertilize an egg. One common problem among men with fertility issues is type 1 or juvenile onset diabetes. Individuals with diabetes may experience what’s called retrograde ejaculation. Simply put, this is when the bladder stays open with ejaculatory fluids washing back into the bladder rather than exiting the body as with normal functioning. “This problem can be treated with Sudafed which helps the bladder to stay closed during ejaculation,” explains Dr. Jaffe. Retrograde ejaculation can also be a problem with spinal cord injuries, nerve damage or certain medications that contain alpha blockers such as high blood pressure medications. Another problem Dr. Jaffe sees among his patients are men who have little to no sperm production. “Even with no sperm, we have found that these men still produce limited numbers of sperm within the tissues of the testicles.” This sperm can be extracted from the tissue and remains viable to fertilize an egg.
One of the most common problems associated with male infertility is when an enlargement of a vein in the scrotum forms. These veins are specially equipped with one-way valves which insure that blood flows upward. When these veins become compressed, they crush the gonadal vein and heat and toxins build up in the scrotum inhibiting healthy sperm production. The vein can be surgically repaired however to promote normal function with increased sperm production and better quality with sperm motility increased. Finally, male cancer patients may experience fertility problems due to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. “Ideally ,we [harvest] sperm prior to treatment. We work with the Pittsburgh Cryobank to store the sperm until needed,” explains Dr. Jaffe. Although no treatment is an absolute guarantee, male infertility can often times be overcome with the right evaluation and treatment. For more information about Dr. Jaffe and treatment of male infertility, call 412.692.4100.
North Allegheny | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 71
Ken Fisher, President, Christy Turici, Social Chair, Glenn Powell, Vice President
Jen McWilliams, Co-Chair of Cheerleading, Michele Steigerwald, Director of Cheerleading, and Jen Whipkey,Co-chair of Cheerleading
Appreciation Tracy Lawless, Team Rep. Chair and Michael Lawless Kathy Klinkner, Team Mom and Cheer Mom
by Kathy Rudolph
elicious food, music and a touching slideshow presentation of their kids having fun playing football set the backdrop for a celebration honoring coaches, volunteers and parents at the 2011 North Allegheny Tiger Pride Youth Football Club Parent Appreciation Night. Held at The Four Points Sheraton in Cranberry, the event also raised funds for uniforms, lights, field maintenance and to keep programs affordable each year. The ‘Monte Carlo’ themed auctions and gaming tables helped to achieve this goal and kept the evening exciting. The North Allegheny Tiger Pride Youth Football League, a nonprofit, volunteer organization that is not affiliated with North Allegheny School District Athletics, welcomes boys and girls from age six to twelve and is part of The Greater 19 League. The Greater 19 Youth Football League is “committed to providing a meaningful tackle football experience for as many children as possible within the communities that participate in the league.” The league encourages teams to use football as a “teaching tool for life skills” and consists of Bethel Park, Keystone Oaks, North Allegheny, Peters Township, Seneca Valley, South Fayette and Upper St. Clair teams. Tiger Pride also includes a developmental cheerleading program that also includes girls from ages six to twelve. Ken Fisher is the President North Allegheny Football Club. “I have always believed that football is a metaphor for life,” said Mr. Fisher. “We hope to teach these boys, at a very young age, how to work together as a team to accomplish a common goal. These boys are not just learning how to block and tackle; they are being taught how to deal with adversity. I can tell you , nothing will make your heart swell with pride like
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John Klinkner, Field Committtee Co-chair
watching your son get knocked down, face first into the mud, then see him pick himself up, walk back to the huddle and reset for the next play. That's not just football…that's life.” Many parents have volunteered for over four years and take on multiple volunteer positions. “We have a lot of pride in our program,” said Christy Turici, Social Night Chair, Spirit Night Director, Website Manager and Parent Appreciation Night Chair. “Our program is a nonprofit, community organization that benefits our youth. All of the coaches, board members and volunteers work together and embody what the spirit of what the program is all about.” John Klinkner is a Field Committee Co-chair and is impressed by the volunteerism in the league. “I think that it’s great that volunteers give so much of their time and effort to make league better for the players.” Practice and game fields are located at Blueberry Park and practice begins in early August and runs five days a week from 6-8 pm. When the school year begins, practices are held three days a week with a game on Saturday. “People sometimes think we’re crazy driving to games every Saturday,” said Tracy Lawless, another ‘Mega-Volunteer’ that has been a Team Rep., Newsletter/Pictures/Trophies Chair and Super Bowl Co-chair for three years. “But Saturday is our ‘family time’ spent at the games and eating hotdogs at the concession stand. I’m proud to be part of a successful organization where there is such a sense of community.” To learn more about North Allegheny Tiger Pride Football Club please visit their website at http://www.natigerpride.com.
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