Spring 2011
enn Hills COMMUniTY MAgAZinE
C2
724.942.0940 to advertise
| IN Penn Hills
Contents Penn Hills | SPRING 2011 |
SPRING 2011
Health and Wellness News You Can Use For residents of eastern communities
What’s Inside
8
4
Publisher’s Message COMMUNITY INTEREST
Healthy Family, Happy Family
|
page 2
UPMC East on Schedule to Open in Summer 2012
13
Keeping yourself and your family healthy can seem like a full-time job.
With UPMC HealthTrak, you now have a convenient way to manage your health anytime and anywhere. © 2011 UPMC
page 3
From Gut-Wrenching Pain to Hope for the Future Stomachaches: When to Worry
page 4
Good Night, Sleep Tight! Are You Allergic to Your Bed?
page 5
UPMC HealthTrak Lets You Manage Your Health Care Online
page 6
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Could It Happen to You?
page 7
Shaping Up to Play Preventing Weekend Warrior Injuries
29
2
|
Allegheny Grows Initiative Spans Three More Communities | 3 Penn Hills Resident Finds Career in Beer | 4 IN Kids | 10 Penn Hills Chamber of Commerce | 12 UPMC Today
|
Health and Wellness News You Can Use | 13
Older Adults in Penn Hills
|
22
Penn Hills School District
|
24
William E. Anderson Library | 26 Penn Hills Organization Strives to Help Teen Mothers | 30 FEATURES
|
Proms & Wedding Section Prom Fashion Tips for 2011 | 7 Home Improvements
|
|
Rethinking the Attic | 28 Fireplace Creates Warmth and the Perfect Décor | 29 INDUSTRY INSIGHTS |
HearWell Center
|
Sharpen Your Listening Skills | 9
21
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
|
Third Generation Garage Door Doctor
ON THE COVER
|
Penn Hills Resident Brant Dubovick crafts beer at the Church Brew Works.
|
enn Hills SPRING 2011 IN Penn Hills is a non-partisan WINTER 2010 SPRING 2011community publication dedicated to representing,
Welcome to the spring issue of Penn Hills Magazine. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday filled with family, friends, and fun. Typically, I use this space to talk about your community or features in the magazine that spotlight the people in your community who are doing wonderful things. Well, this time I want to update you regarding our newest feature for 2011—our new website. Without venturing too far into the realm of shameless self-promotion, I want to emphasize that this website is something for you, our readers. How so? Well, you can have input and help shape the website just like your ideas help shape your magazine. Now you have a place to list all of the nonprofit community organizations that are active in the community. We are also developing pages where we list the local houses of worship . In addition, we now offer every magazine in a fully downloadable PDF format, rather than the outdated flipbook format we used to have. This will allow you to send the magazine, or links to it, to friends and family both near and far. We tied our website into Facebook as well, not to get the biggest list of “friends” we could get but to have a place to keep our readers abreast of all the news we get between issues. It also gives us a place to upload all the photos from community events that we don’t have room for in the magazine. As with all things, there’s always room for improvement, but we always have open ears. If you have comments about our new website or want to see your organization listed, e-mail mark@incommunitymagazines.com with your link or feedback. There’s no charge for listing your church, synagogue, or scout troop’s link, so send your links in today! And if you happen to be on Facebook and like what you see in the magazine, don’t hesitate to click that “Like” button. It’s always nice to be liked! I hope you have a wonderful spring!
Wayne Dollard Publisher When I think about spring, I can’t help but think about light. The days get “lighter,”and the sun stays with us a little longer each day. When we have a great idea, a light bulb goes off in our minds. At Penn Hills Magazine we try to spotlight our communities. What are you doing to be a “light”? If you or an organization that you volunteer or work for is a light in the community, will you let me know? So many good deeds are left unsung. If you have a family member who is in the armed forces, or if your church group or even Mom or Dad are providing a service to someone in need, we want to know! Please e-mail your ideas and photos to me at Marybeth@incommunitymagazines.com. As an avid gardener, I was really interested in the feature on page 3. The Penn Hills Community Development Corporation has begun plans for their community garden. In its second year, the program encourages residents to come together and grow vegetables at a common site in Penn Hills! If you are one of those interested in gardening and take part in the community activity, will you let me know how it goes? Any program that involves a healthy lifestyle and beautification deserves some attention! As we look forward to warmer and brighter days ahead, I hope you will enjoy this edition of Penn Hills Magazine.
Marybeth Jeffries Managing Editor 22 724.942.0940 724.942.0940 TO TO ADVERTISE ADVERTISE
Penn PennHills Hills
encouraging and promoting the Penn Hills area and its comprising municipalities by focusing on the talents and gifts of the people who live and work here. Our goal is to provide readers with the most informative and professional regional publication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PUBLISHER
Wayne Dollard AS S I STA N T TO T H E P U B L I S H E R
Mark Berton mark@incommunitymagazines.com M A N AG I N G E D I TO R
Marybeth Jeffries marybeth@incommunitymagazines.com O F F I C E M A N AG E R
Leo Vighetti leo@incommunitymagazines.com E D I TO R I A L AS S I STA N T
Jamie Ward j.ward@incommunitymagazines.com WRITERS
Jonathan Barnes Kelli McElhinny
Pamela Palongue
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Cassie Brkich Anna Buzzelli Susie Doak Pati Ingold
Jan McEvoy Joe Milne Tamara Tylenda Tracey Wasilco
P H OTO G R A P H E R S
Rebecca Bailey Garyyonphotography.com One Way Street Productions A DV E RT I S I N G S A L E S
Nicholas Buzzell Brian Daley Gina D’Alicandro Tina Dollard Rose Estes Jason Huffman Jessie Jones Connie McDaniel Brian McKee
David Mitchell Tamara Myers Gabriel Negri Robert Ojeda Annette Petrone Vincent Sabatini Michael Silvert RJ Vighetti
This magazine is carrier route mailed to all district households and businesses. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Copyright 2011. CORRESPONDENCE All inquiries, comments and press releases should be directed to: IN Community Magazines Attn: Editorial 603 East McMurray Road McMurray, PA 15317 Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968
Summer content deadline:4/26 www.incommunitymagazines.com
Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.
Penn Hills | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 3
here’s nothing more heartbreaking than pouring 500 gallons of beer down the drain. Fortunately, Brant Dubovick’s only had to do that twice during his time with the Church Brew Works, and both times it was because of mechanical breakdowns. For most of us, being in a position where you can make quantities of beer every day that can be measured in barrels would be a dream come true, and that’s exactly how Dubovick sees it. “I was a project manager for a contracting company in New York,” Dubovick said. “I couldn’t take that job anymore. In 1998, I got a home-brew kit from my wife for my birthday, and I started out making kits. They were pretty easy—you dump in the kit, add the hops during your boil, and that’s that. I did three or four batches that way before moving onto all-grain, which has a pretty drastic learning curve. It took me about a year before I got it down pat.” Perfecting his brew gave Dubovick the skills necessary to take a chance and move his family to Lancaster, where he started working for a brewery making $8 an hour and the chance to move up the ladder.
T
Brant Dubovick
Head Brewer orks Church Brew W
4 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
Penn Hills
By 2005, he was interviewing with the Church Brew Works and, by the following year, took over as head brewer, a job he said is much more satisfying than project management on Long Island. At the Church Brew Works, Dubovick’s job is every bit as important as that as the head chef. Not only is he and his twomember team responsible for all of the regular brews that come out of the brewery, he’s also responsible for some of the unique beer flavors that have come out of the Church Brew Works as well. The Coffee Stout was one such flavor.
up with are planned, others are born out of necessity, like the annual Mexican Mole Stout. “It’s a stout we use with Mexican chocolate and fresh chili peppers,” Dubovick said. “It was conceived in 2008. We have pepper plants in our garden, and the kitchen had so many they couldn’t use any more. I said, ‘Give them to me and I’ll put them in a beer.’ We brewed up a batch. People either love it or hate it. People call me constantly and ask me to make it, and others say it’s the worst beer they’ve ever had.”
For most of us, being in a position where you can make quantities of beer every day that can be measured in barrels would be a dream-come-true, and that’s exactly how Dubovick sees it. “We came up with the base porter, the alcohol by volume, and did all the preliminary planning. Once we get that basic porter recipe down, then we figure out how much coffee we want to add. In this case, it was five gallons of Ethiopian and Columbian coffee, and we injected it into the line so that it was introduced into the beer as it was being transferred,” Dubovick said. While some of the brews he’s come
When he’s not brewing, Dubovick said that he enjoys the flavors of other breweries, such as Victory’s Prima Pils, East End Brewery’s Black Strap Stout, and Bell’s Hopslam, out o f Kalmazoo, Mich. And it’s not a stretch to think that the brew masters in those breweries are enjoying Dubovick’s beers. The Church Brew Works is available in a 10-county region stretching between the Route 80 corridor and the West Virginia border and as far east as Latrobe. Dubovick said that he has four regular year-round beers that he brews, and that fans can look forward to his Octoberfest brew being offered in 12-ounce bottles this fall. He said that 5-liter Celestial Gold cans just came out this past December and have also been a hit. For more information, go to www.churchbrew.com/ menus/BeerMenu.pdf to read up on everything this Penn Hills resident has brewing. Penn Hills | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 5
So when it comes to finding that perfect dress and getting your hair done just so, a little planning can go a long way towards making the difference between a night that’s mediocre and a night that’s magical. Jenn Lementowski, co-owner of Reflect, a women’s boutique in Settler’s Ridge in Robinson, said that this year’s fashions will be a lot of the tried and true that proms have been known for in the past few years. “There will be a lot of patterns and a lot of basic silk dresses with beading and rhinestones,” Lementowski said. “Those have always been popular, and they’ll be popular this year as well.” Lementowski, who attends national fashion shows with her business partner, Kristy Picard, said that the duo is bringing long and short dresses to market this year. But, because of the popularity of the short dresses, the long dresses will only be offered in two sizes. Lementowski said that prom shoppers will want to allow time for proper fitting and alterations, so waiting until the last minute should not be an option. Regardless of where they go to shop, Lementowski said that people should plan on spending between $300 and $500 on the dress, depending on the level of detailing and material. “It is a pretty big expense, but I’ve noticed that people are willing to spend that much on a prom dress,” Lementowski said, “especially if their daughter’s a senior. I have seen people spending anywhere from $500 to $600 on a dress.” 6 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
Penn Hills
While prom is a singular event, there is hope for the dress after it’s over for those who can’t justify spending that kind of money on a dress meant to be worn one time. Lementowski said that many women use the dress after prom to wear to weddings. “Depending on what type of dress they get, a lot of people may cut it and make it into a shorter dress and get it tailored,” Lementowski said. “That’s what I’ve seen, mostly.” As far as hairstyles go, John Gamble of John Edwards Color and Design said this season’s special occasion hairstyles will be a tip of the hat to the 1970s. “Wepredict this spring’s special occasion hairstyles will be somewhat reminiscent of the ‘70’s, with a fuller, more romantic silhouette,” Gamble sad. “Although the smooth, sleek looks we’ve been doing in recent years will still be around, we’re definitely seeing a trend towards texture and fullness and expect that to carry over into this year’s prom season.” Gamble also said that color will be “multidimensional,” and the trend is toward softer, more natural hair. Bryan Bassett No matter where you get your dress, or do your hair, make sure you plan ahead and make your appointments for fittings and stylings early. As prom creeps up –and it will be here before you know it – knowing that you’re booked for hair, nails, and fitting will take several layers of stress off of you so that you have more time to plan that after-prom party! Hair styles by John Edwards Salon (photos by Joanna Fassinger)
Spans Three More Communities
by Jamie Ward
llegheny County Executive Dan Onorato announced the selection of three new communities to participate in “Allegheny Grows,” an initiative to encourage urban farming and community gardening on vacant lots and blighted properties. Bellevue and Wilkinsburg will create urban farms, and Penn Hills will develop a community gard en. These three municipalities join nine others that participated in the inaugural year of the program. “The first year of Allegheny Grows was very successful, and we’re pleased to add three new communities to the program this year,” said Onorato in a press release. “Allegheny Grows builds on the County’s ongoing initiatives to revitalize older communities and distressed municipalities through sustainabl e development and strategic investment. It also improves the environment, strengthens communities, and provides access to fresh produce.” The Penn Hills Community Development Corporation (CDC) started a community garden last year. CDC President Ed Zula says, “We thought it was a good idea to have a community garden so that people could grow their own vegetables in a common location and get to know their ne ighbors.” Zula started the CDC last year and thought the garden would be a
For more information or to download a garden application, visit
good, low-cost project to get started with while waiting to receive non-profit status. “After talking to some people in the community and looking around for sites, the municipality let us use the site at 1162 Jefferson Road,” says Zula. “We went out and got some donations of wood and manure from a few different entities around Penn H ills and went ahead and put up fence, built raised beds, and had a Boy Scout help us clear the land as part of his Eagle Scout project.” A group of volunteers put together a dozen 4-ft. by 12-ft. raised beds. The CDC didn’t want to give the beds away for free so they decided to “rent” out the plots for the growing season to anyone interested in growing fresh vegetables. “With a certain amount of ownershi p it motivates people to try to do a better job of growing things,” says Zula. Groups of neighbors are encouraged to join together, as well as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and 4-H children. The CDC applied for the Allegheny Grows grant figuring they would have a good chance with their community interest project, and they were right. “Hopefully we can expand this concept to 22 beds or even more,” says Zula . “We’re really looking forward to a bigger and better garden this year.” Zula will meet with Allegheny Grows in March to start planning for the spring. “We’re excited about the opportunity and hoping to make the best of it.”
“The first year of Allegheny Grows was very successful, and we’re pleased to add three new communities to the program this year.” - Dan Onorato Penn Hills | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 7
FREE NICOTINE PATCHES OFFERED TO HELP SMOKERS QUIT Likelihood of Success Increases with Patches & Counseling
8 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
Penn Hills
Tobacco Free Allegheny, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Allegheny County Health Department, is announcing that free nicotine replacement therapy kits are available to help people quit smoking or stop using smokeless tobacco. A four-week supply of nicotine patches can be obtained, while supplies last, through the PA Department of Health’s Free Quitline at 1-800-784-8669. Quit coaches ask callers if they are ready to set a quit date and whether they have any medical condition that would rule out the safe use of nicotine patches. In addition, participants will be enrolled in a series of free tobacco counseling sessions. While it takes most tobacco users an average of five to eight attempts before they quit, nicotine replacement therapy with counseling increases the likelihood someone will be successful in their attempt to go tobacco free. Additional information about the state’s tobacco cessation resources is available at www.DeterminedToQuit.com. The website offers guidance on developing a quit plan, video blogs of people sharing their own stories about quitting, as well as information for friends and family members who wish to support their loved one’s attempt to quit.
uditory training is a term you will probably only hear in an audiology office or perhaps a school. But it is important for people with hearing loss to know that they can train their brain to hear and listen. Our brain is always searching for sounds whether or not we focus on the sounds and this is called “hearing”. Attending to and focusing on a sound, causing more parts of the brain to react is called “listening.” People who have hearing loss often stop working at listening because it is too difficult and causes fatigue or frustration. Unfortunately this leads to more communication problems due to the combined effect of hearing loss and diminished listening skills. Though
A
anyone can benefit from the practice of using and strengthening listening skills it is more important for those who are hard of hearing. When it comes to hearing loss and hearing aids, most hearing aid users look to the device to make communication better and though hearing aids can improve hearing, they cannot improve listening. Instead, hearing aid users should strive to be “patients of hearing health care” and look for solutions to improve hearing and listening. This can be accomplished by using any and all devices needed to support hearing as well as therapy and exercises for listening. The highest level of satisfaction with hearing aids comes from following the audiological recommendations in full and accepting that learning to hear and listen again is a process that requires motivation and time. Research in audiology reveals over and over again that hearing care is not a simple thing. The audiology degree is a testament to this fact. For example, an audiology student will spend 8 years in college, earn two or more higher education degrees and perform thousands of clinical hours with patients. Still many people price check for hearing aids believing they are making a technology purchase instead of looking at the professional behind the technology and the service that comes with learning to hear and listen. AUTHOR’S NOTE I’ve been on both “sides of the fence” so to speak. I am a hard of hearing consumer and user of hearing aids. I grew up with hearing loss in both ears and have used hearing aids in both ears as long as I can remember. I am also a doctor of audiology and the owner of HearWell Center in Forest Hills (independently owned private practice). Educating patients is very important to me and I invite you to visit our website at www.hearwellcenter.com for more information.
Penn Hills | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 9
S P R I N G
2 0 1 1
What Are Allergies?
When our bodies need to fight off germs, they make antibodies to attack germs and keep us healthy. Just as our bodies make antibodies to fight germs, they may also make antibodies in response to other substances that get inside our bodies. This results in an allergy—an adverse reaction caused by hypersensitivity to a normally harmless substance such as pollen, dust, food, or a drug. Allergens—the substance that causes the allergic reaction—can cause one or several responses.
Key Fact:
When you sneeze germs can travel at 80 miles per hour across a room!
When should kids wash their hands?
Children should be reminded to wash their hands before, during and after food is prepared; before and after you eat; after using the bathroom; after handling animals or animal waste such as The “Happy Birthday” song changing a cage or catbox; whenever hands are dirty or when helps keep your hands clean? kids have been outside playing; and more frequently when Not exactly. Yet we recommend that when anyone in the classroom, care setting or home is sick. you wash your hands – with soap and warm water – that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. That’s about the same time it takes to sing the A single germ can grow to become more “Happy Birthday” song twice!
Key Fact:
than 8 million germs in just one day.
mon Most Com erms dG Places to Fin droom in Your Be ame
nd-held g ✓ Your ha rd ter Keyboa ✓ Compu itches d Lamp Sw ✓ Wall an cans ✓ Garbage
m Fighter, r e G a e b To to: remember our
y neeze into ✓ Cough/s e elbow/sleev after our hands y h s a W ✓ ue using a tiss
10 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
Penn Hills
he groundhog, or woodchuck, is one of 14 species of marmots. These rodents eat during the summer to fatten themselves up for hibernation during the winter. After the first frost, they retreat to their underground burrows and snooze until spring. During hibernation, the groundhog lives off its body fat, its heart rate plunges, and its body temperature is not much warmer than the temperature inside its burrow. Groundhog hibernation is where the popular American custom of Groundhog Day got its name. Groundhog Day is held on February 2 every year. By tradition, if the groundhog sees its shadow that day, there will be six more weeks of winter. In the spring, females welcome a litter of perhaps a half dozen newborns, which stay with their mother for several months. Groundhogs are the largest members of the squirrel family.
Though they are usually seen on the ground, they can climb trees and are also good swimmers. These rodents hang out in areas where woodlands meet open spaces, like fields, roads, or streams. Here they eat r e v grasses and plants as well e n as fruits and tree bark.
NG
WARNI
ld You shou wild go near a he’s ven if animal...e kyard! ac in your b
Groundhogs can mean trouble for many gardeners. They can wreak havoc on a garden while fattening themselves up during the summer and fall seasons.
germs...
find these things hiding in this picture. Penn Hills | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 11
PENN HILLS
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 12013 Frankstown Road • Pittsburgh, PA 15235 • Phone: 412.795.8741 • Fax: 412.795.7993 www.pennhillschamber.org
Chamber Events
Jo Luncher Bruce T. Hall Mary Beth Delpino Scott Yusavage Beth Fischman Jay Hope Bernadette Rose Chris Fedele Dave Smith Dennis Lynch Denise Graham Shealey Dominique Ansani Sara Werner Carl Prince
President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Co-Director Co-Director
Anywhere Travel Service, LLC Bruce T. Hall, CPA PNC Bank Computer Fellows Maiello, Brungo, Maiello Law Firm Penn Hills YMCA Rapp Funeral Home Fedele Insurance Company Dave Smith Autostar Superstore Penn Hills Police Department First Niagara Bank Penn HIlls School District Penn HIlls Chamber of Commerce P.H.C.C.
Third Wednesday of each month Third Thursday of each month Twice a year Once each month As scheduled April each year November December Many other events to be announced 12 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
Penn Hills
Please mark your calendar for the following events: All Member Luncheon When: March 17, 2011 Where: Edgewood Country Club Price: $20.00 per person More Info: Registration at 11:15 a.m. Lunch at 11:45 a.m.
Administrative Assistant Day
When: April 27, 2011 Where: Green Oaks Country Club Price: $20.00 per person More Info: Registration at 11:00 a.m. Lunch at 11:30 a.m. Speaker Wendy Bell, WTAE
Penn Hills Chamber Golf Outing
When: May 23, 2011 Where: Green Oaks Country Club Price: $125.00 per golfer More Information will be forth coming
Please visit our Office and our website for more information and a listing of current events.
SPRING 2011
Health and Wellness News You Can Use For residents of eastern communities
What’s Inside
Healthy Family, Happy Family Keeping yourself and your family healthy can seem like a full-time job. With UPMC HealthTrak, you now have a convenient way to manage your health anytime and anywhere. Š 2011 UPMC
page 2
UPMC East on Schedule to Open in Summer 2012
page 3
From Gut-Wrenching Pain to Hope for the Future Stomachaches: When to Worry
page 4
Good Night, Sleep Tight! Are You Allergic to Your Bed?
page 5
UPMC HealthTrak Lets You Manage Your Health Care Online
page 6
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Could It Happen to You?
page 7
Shaping Up to Play Preventing Weekend Warrior Injuries
UPMC East on Schedule to Open in Summer 2012 New hospital shows UPMC’s commitment to green construction and renovation In the last year, area residents have seen major changes at the site where construction of the new UPMC East hospital is well under way. “With the steel structure in place, people can actually see that progress is being made,” says Melissa Kovtun, executive director of Monroeville-based services. On schedule for a summer 2012 opening, UPMC East will be a fullservice community hospital featuring: • 140 private medical-surgical beds • 16 ICU rooms • Two cardiac catheterization labs • State-of-the-art operating rooms • Full diagnostic services, including CT, MRI, and ultrasound • Radiation Oncology • Emergency Department • Helipad for immediate airlift of critical cases to UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Shadyside, or UPMC Mercy All outpatient services available at the Daugherty Drive and Oxford Drive locations will continue. “UPMC has been offering a wide range of outpatient services here for the past five years,” says Ms. Kovtun.
When completed, UPMC East will be the centerpiece of a plan to create a campus that links UPMC’s inpatient and outpatient services. “Building a full-service hospital shows that we are committed to bringing more high quality care options into this community.”
Going green from the ground up Since the project’s inception, building green has been a top priority. “Reducing energy consumption, enhancing air quality, and promoting a healthy environment were important considerations in our decision to go green,” says Joseph Badalich, UPMC senior project manager. “Our goal is to become one of the first hospitals to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.” Pittsburgh has long been a leader in employing energy-efficient construction. According to the New York Times, Pittsburgh ranks seventh nationally in the number of buildings with LEED certification. Among the city’s long list of certified green buildings are the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the first green convention center in the world, and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, one of the first LEED-certified children’s hospitals in the nation.
A leader in greening health care UPMC has taken a leadership role in creating a new model for green health care — one in which health systems not only recycle medical equipment and remove mercury from their hospitals, but also educate individuals on environmental health issues and support research into the mysterious links between the environment and disease. These wide-ranging environmental efforts have a potentially powerful impact.Working with the U.S. Department of Energy, UPMC has designed a training program to help all hospitals better manage energy in one of the most energy-intensive sectors of the economy.
Did You Know? LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
Architectural rendering of UPMC East. Opening summer 2012.
2
www.UPMC.com/Today
From Gut-Wrenching Pain to Hope for the Future UPMC’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center wields a powerful “triple threat” against IBD: Groundbreaking immunology, genetics research, and innovative clinical care. The primary goal of drug therapy is to reduce inflammation in the intestines. Medications include anti-inflammatory drugs; antibiotics to kill germs in the intestinal track; probiotics to restore good bacteria; corticosteroids to provide short-term relief during flare-ups; and immunosuppressants.
At age 23, John Oliver* is feeling better about the future. Free from the gutwrenching pain of Crohn’s disease since a second bowel surgery in 2008 — this time followed by a promising new treatment developed at UPMC using biologic-based drug therapy — he is now making plans to attend medical school next fall. “I think the medicine is working. It’s the best I’ve felt and the best I’ve looked,” says John, who earned his biomedical engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a master’s degree in engineering management from Duke University. His gastroenterologist, Miguel Regueiro, MD, clinical head and codirector of the UPMC Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, says the future has never looked brighter for IBD patients. “Ten years ago, a diagnosis of IBD was devastating. Now, we have new medicines, a greater understanding of the disease, and better research,” he says.
IBD: Who’s at risk? Nearly two million Americans live with IBD, which is not to be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBD involves two chronic diseases that cause inflammation of the intestines: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Symptoms include abdominal cramps and pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and bleeding.
Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the small and large intestines, while ulcerative colitis affects the large bowel alone. IBD cuts across all ages, genders, and ethnicities, but generally affects Caucasians ages 15 to 35. While the exact cause is not known, experts believe IBD involves a compromised or overactive immune system. Because IBD may run in families, doctors also believe genetics plays a role. While stress and certain foods do not cause IBD, both can make symptoms worse.
Treatment According to Dr. Regueiro, drugs cannot cure IBD, but they can be effective in reducing the inflammation and accompanying symptoms. While some patients have mild symptoms requiring little medication, others have more debilitating flare-ups, and some patients have severe problems requiring surgery and even transplants.
In addition, the IBD Center recently developed a Visceral Inflammation and Pain (VIP) Center to help patients deal with both the physical pain and emotional stress of coping with IBD.
Exciting breakthroughs The latest generation of drugs, called biologic therapies, are proving very effective in inducing remission so that patients can lead normal lives. At UPMC, doctors took this approach a step further — as in John’s case — by prescribing biologic drug therapy after performing surgery to remove the damaged section of the intestine. In use now at other hospitals, this treatment has reduced the recurrence of Crohn’s disease in patients by nearly two thirds. * John Oliver’s treatment and results may not be representative of similar cases.
Stomachaches: When to Worry Everyone gets a stomachache — or abdominal pain — from time to time. Most of the time, stomachaches are harmless conditions caused by overeating, gas, or indigestion. Frequent or recurring stomachaches are often due to stress and worry, even in children. But they can point to more serious medical problems.
Get medical help immediately if: • You have abdominal pain that is very sharp, severe, and sudden. • You also have pain in the chest, neck, or shoulder. • You’re vomiting blood or have bloody diarrhea.
Harmless abdominal pain usually subsides or goes away within two hours. If you have the stomach flu, your stomach may hurt before each episode of vomiting or diarrhea. In serious cases, the pain worsens or becomes constant. According to UPMC physicians in the Monroeville area, you should call your primary care physician if mild pain lasts more than a couple of days, or if the pain is accompanied by other symptoms.
• Your abdomen is stiff, hard, and tender to the touch. • You can’t move your bowels, especially if you’re also vomiting. The bottom line: Trust your gut! Contact your doctor if you’re concerned about lingering or unusual stomach pain.
1-800-533-UPMC
3
Health Tips from UPMC Health Plan
Good Night, Sleep Tight! Are you among the millions of Americans suffering from lack of sleep? If so, droopy eyelids, wide yawns, and low energy are the least of your worries. Sleep disruption — not sleeping enough or sleeping poorly — can affect your memory, disease resistance, and leave you struggling to stay alert in school, on the job, and on the road. Studies show that people who get the appropriate amount of sleep on a regular basis also tend to live longer, healthier lives than those who sleep too few or even too many hours each night. So, what is a good night’s sleep? According to the National Institutes of Health, most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep a night. School-aged children and teens need at least nine hours of sleep each night. Tips to help you sleep • Stick to a sleep schedule. Get up about the same time each day, no matter how many hours of sleep you got the previous night. • Maintain healthy sleep habits. Go to bed only when you’re sleepy. Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and relaxing — not too hot or too cold. Don’t text, e-mail, read, or watch TV in bed. • Make sure your mattress is comfortable. Remember, even a good quality mattress needs to be replaced within 10 years. • Exercise is great, but not too late. Avoid exercising within a few hours before bedtime. • Avoid caffeinated drinks after lunch. The stimulating effects of caffeine in coffee, colas, teas, and chocolate can take as long as eight hours to wear off. • Avoid large meals at night. A large meal can cause indigestion that interferes with sleep. • Avoid alcoholic drinks before bedtime. While a nightcap may help you relax, alcohol keeps you in the lighter stages of sleep and tends to wake you during the night. And, for adolescents and young adults: • Avoid stimulating activities around bedtime. This includes intense studying, text messaging, video games, and lengthy phone conversations. • Avoid pulling “all nighters” during exams. • Sleep in on weekends — but not more than two to three hours past your normal wake time. Sleeping longer may disrupt your body clock. Find a more complete list of the benefits of good sleep at www.UPMC.com/Today.
AreYouAllergic toYour Bed? The dust in your bedroom might be making you sick. Dust mites, and dander, and fibers — oh my! These are just some of the microscopic menaces in ordinary house dust that can cause health problems. Dust mites are a common cause of allergies and asthma. It’s not the dust mite itself that can make you sick; it’s the dust mite debris (the mite’s feces and decaying body). Dust collects in every room of the house because it is easily trapped in linens, upholstery, carpets, and draperies. But the bedroom is a favorite habitat for dust mites because it provides a warm, humid environment, and plenty of food (dead skin from humans and pets).
Five ways to help wipe out dust mites While you can’t completely eliminate dust mites, these simple steps may help reduce their numbers: 1. Cover your mattress and pillows in dust-proof or allergen-blocking covers, and encase box springs in vinyl or plastic covers. 2. Wash and dry bed sheets, pillowcases, blankets, curtains, and bedcovers weekly in hot water (140 degrees). If bedding can’t be washed, put the items in the dryer set at a high temperature for 20 minutes. 3. Vacuum carpeting and upholstery weekly. Using a HEPA-filter vacuum can help keep dust from floating back into the air. 4. Use a damp cloth or mop to remove dust from hard surfaces and exposed floors. This will prevent dust from becoming airborne and resettling. 5. Keep the indoor temperature at 70 degrees and humidity at no more than 50 percent. Dust mites aren’t the only puny pests that can invade your bedroom. Bed bugs have made a comeback in recent years. For tips on ways to avoid a bed bug infestation, visit www.UPMC.com/Today. Sources: National Institutes of Health, Environmental Protection Agency
4
www.UPMC.com/Today
UPMC Spotlight
UPMC HealthTrak Lets You Manage Your Health Care Online
Keeping track of health issues, test results, and medications is challenging for Sandy Hogue*, who is disabled and chronically ill. Because she must rely on cabs for transportation, seeing a primary care doctor can be an all-day affair. That’s why she was eager to sign up for UPMC HealthTrak, an Internet-based service that enables patients to receive and manage information about their health. Sandy uses it to monitor her glucose and high cholesterol levels, check test results, make appointments, renew prescriptions, and diagnose medical conditions — all from the comfort of her home in Westmoreland County. “It’s a good system. I get the medical treatment I need faster without spending a day traveling around,” says Sandy. “It keeps me in contact with my doctor and helps me monitor my medical conditions. And if I have anything contagious, like the flu, it prevents me from infecting other people.” More patients choosing HealthTrak Approximately 42,000 UPMC patients have signed on to HealthTrak, which gives them secure electronic access to their medical records, medications, and other information. HealthTrak recently was expanded to include eVisits — an online digital house call — with a primary care physician. * These patients’ treatments and results may not be representative of similar cases.
During an eVisit, patients select a symptom and complete an interactive questionnaire. A UPMC doctor then reviews the information and makes a diagnosis. If medication is needed, a prescription can be sent electronically to the patient’s pharmacy.
“HealthTrak is great for college students who are far from home, the elderly, and other people who have trouble getting to the doctor. It doesn’t take the place of going to the doctor for regular check-ups, but it’s very useful,” Robin says. “If only UPMC could figure a way for me to see my dentist online!”
Oakmont resident Mark Gleeson* uses HealthTrak primarily to keep track of his medical records. In October, when the computer-savvy 83-year-old came down with a cough and cold late in the day, he decided to “see” a doctor via eVisit. Within an hour of completing the questionnaire, a UPMC doctor responded with medical instructions and a prescription for his sinus infection and chest congestion. “It was so convenient, and it worked! Within three days, I felt good as new,” Mark says. Convenience and comfort As a graduate student, Robin Sales* relied on HealthTrak to connect with her hometown doctor while attending school in Nevada. Now a young professional living in New York City, she continues to use the online service for eVisits, to fill prescriptions, and access her medical records.
UPMC HealthTrak Benefits Manage your health from home with HealthTrak. Here’s what you can do online: • Send a message to your doctor • View medical records and test results
“It’s comforting. Having easy access to a doctor back home gives me the chance to find the right doctor for me locally, without rushing into it. It’s one less thing to worry about,” she says.
• Renew prescriptions
Robin, who first used eVisit to consult a doctor about an eye infection, says the online questionnaire asks the same questions the doctor would ask at an appointment. When she needs medicine, her doctor in Pittsburgh faxes the prescription to her New York drug store two minutes away.
• Ask billing questions
• Track current health issues such as glucose levels and blood pressure • Request appointments • “See” a doctor (digital house call) For more information or to sign up, visit www.UPMCHealthTrak.com.
1-800-533-UPMC
5
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Could it Happen to You? Most of us associate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with returning military veterans who have experienced the tragedy of war. But you don’t have to be a soldier to undergo the intense feelings of helplessness, horror, and fear that characterize PTSD. Imagine being in a terrible car accident on your way to the mall. For days and weeks afterwards, you constantly relive the accident in your mind. You take a different route to shop and, worst of all, your body won’t let you relax. You can’t sleep — and when you finally do doze off, you’re awakened by nightmares. You can’t concentrate, your heart pounds, and you break out in cold sweats. “We know that anyone who has undergone some kind of trauma can be at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder,” explains Anne Germain, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Based at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC, she currently leads several sleep research projects with returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who have PTSD. PTSD can be triggered by a single event you’ve experienced or even witnessed — be it an accident, violent crime, or natural disaster — or by ongoing trauma, such as child abuse or domestic violence. When we experience a life-threatening event, it’s normal for our body to react with a powerful, stressful response; it’s what enables us to fight or flee. “But for some people, these symptoms persist and worsen,” says Dr. Germain. “The toll can be profound if symptoms are ignored. PTSD has a devastating impact on the lives of people who have it — and on those around them. It also has enormous financial and economic implications.”
Did You Know? UPMC's Sleep Medicine Center — accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine — is the only multidisciplinary sleep medicine facility in western Pennsylvania. The center performs approximately 2,000 sleep studies annually for adult patients with all types of sleep disorders. The staff at the UPMC Sleep Medicine Center include board-certified physicians, certified nurse practitioners, and registered sleep laboratory technologists. To schedule an appointment, call 412-692-2880.
6
www.UPMC.com/Today
PTSD is a relatively new specialization in psychology, and experts are still trying to determine why it affects some people and not others. Fortunately, for most people, the symptoms of PTSD begin to ease in about a month. “If they continue, it’s extremely important to seek professional help,” notes Dr. Germain. “The best place to begin is to talk with your family doctor and seek a referral to a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist.”
PTSD and sleep disorders Among the most troubling aspects of chronic PTSD for patients are the recurring nightmares and insomnia it can bring. There is growing evidence that such sleep disorders have a direct impact on both a person’s mental and physical health. Individuals with PTSD often say they have problems falling or staying asleep, and that the sleep they get isn’t refreshing and restorative. “Our sleep research studies with veterans show that they have many more sleep disorders than the general public, including sleep apnea and other breathing problems,” notes Dr. Germain. With PTSD, nightmares can become an ingrained behavior, affecting a person’s daytime functioning — from faltering concentration and poor memory, to emotional outbursts. “By stopping the nightmares and helping to make sleep more normal, restful, and restorative, patients can overcome other aspects of chronic PTSD in their lives a bit more easily. And sleep can be improved in a matter of weeks,” she says. Dr. Germain uses several methods to treat PTSD-related sleep disorders, including image reversal therapy. “We help patients replace a recurring nightmare with a more positive, affirming dream. They write it down and rehearse it several times a day to train the brain to have a new dream image.” Individuals interested in participating in Dr. Germain’s sleep research studies for military veterans are invited to call 412-246-6404 or visit www.veteranssleep.pitt.edu.
Shaping Up to Play Preventing Weekend Warrior Injuries A warm spring day can inspire even the most dedicated couch potato to head outside for a pick-up game of basketball, work in the garden, or bike with the family. But if you spend most of your time at a desk — or on the couch — you run the risk of a weekend warrior injury.
No pain, no gain … not true
Jumping into a sport or activity without proper training and equipment can make you more susceptible to these typical sports injuries:
See your doctor immediately if you experience a serious injury like a fracture, or if your pain is severe, increased, or continues for more than a week or so.
• • • • • •
If your injury requires treatment or surgery, call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762), or visit www.UPMC.com/FindADoctor to locate UPMC orthopaedic specialists in the Monroeville area.
Strains Bursitis Sprains Epicondylitis (tennis/golfer’s elbow) Stress fractures Plantar fasciitis
If you experience a sprain, strain, muscle pull, or tear, remember the acronym PRICE to prevent complications and heal faster: Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Anti-inflammatory medication also may be taken.
Shape up to play Both men and women are vulnerable to weekend warrior injuries. However, such injuries are most common in formerly active 30-somethings. The best way to prevent pain and injury is to improve your overall fitness. These tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are designed to keep athletes of all ages healthy and active. • Don’t pack a week's worth of activity into a day or two. Try to maintain a moderate level of activity throughout the week. • Learn to do your sport right. Proper form reduces the risk of overuse injuries such as tendonitis and stress fractures. • Remember safety gear. Depending on the sport, this may mean knee or wrist pads, chest protector, helmet, or more. • Make warmups and cooldowns part of your routine. Exercises, such as stretching or light jogging, can help minimize the chances of muscle strain or other soft tissue injury. They also make the body’s tissues warmer and more flexible. Cooldown exercises loosen the muscles that have tightened during exercise. • Accept your body's limits. You may not be able to perform at the same level you did 10 or 20 years ago; modify activities as necessary. • Increase exercise levels gradually. • Strive for a total body workout of cardiovascular, strength training, and flexibility exercises; cross-training reduces injury and promotes fitness.
1-800-533-UPMC
7
UPMC 600 Oxford Drive Monroeville, PA 15146
UPMC Today is published quarterly to provide you with health and wellness information and classes and events available at UPMC. This publication is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice or replace a physician’s medical assessment. Always consult first with your physician about anything related to your personal health.
Follow UPMC on Facebook.
Our Monroeville-based services are rooted in your community. UPMC has always been proud to be a part of Monroeville, providing residents access to all of the resources of a nationally recognized academic medical center. We offer a breadth of services close to home, including primary care, advanced diagnostic capabilities, specialty physician and surgical services, and cancer care. It’s our tradition, and commitment, to bring advanced and compassionate care to you where it matters most ... in your very own community. For aa comprehensive comprehensivelist listof ofour ourMonroeville-based Monroeville-basedservices servicesororfor fordirections directionstotoany anyof For of our convenient locations, 1-800-533-UPMC oror visit www.UPMC.com/East. our convenient locations, call call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762) visit www.UPMC.com/East.
“Is the doctor in?” The call came in early in the morning, and the woman’s voice on the phone sounded distressed. Her garage door wouldn’t go up, she had to leave for work, and the old wooden door was too heavy for her to lift. She needed help fast. This was not an unusual call for Leet Sommerfeld Sr. After several years of helping homeowners solve all kinds of repair problems, he had heard it all before. What was unusual about this call was the woman referring to him as “the doctor.” Thus a new name for the business was born on that early morning in 1979. At the Garage Door Doctor today, just as in 1979, Sommerfeld and his employees deal with many types of garage door and operator malfunctions, including broken springs, broken cables, and garage doors that “get stuck” midway open. “The garage door is the heaviest moving part in the house, and often people are not aware that it can pose a safety hazard,” says Leet Sommerfeld Jr., who has taken over the operation of the company from his dad. “A door that is not working properly is dangerous for everyone—but especially for children and pets.” Sadly, the Garage Door Doctor has received calls from broken-hearted pet owners whose pets were trapped under a closing door. Because of the safety issue, the Garage Door Doctor is recommending a yearly “check up” for garage doors in which parts are inspected, lubricated, and adjusted if necessary. Nowadays, the Garage Door Doctor is a third-generation corporation. When Sommerfeld Sr. incorporated his business from his Churchill home in 1979, he did not realize that the Garage Door Doctor would become a way of life for his son, Leet Jr., and his grandson, Brandon. “When I started the business in 1979, I wrote a letter that I had hand delivered to homes in Churchill, Monroeville, and Penn Hills, in which I introduced myself, my family, and what services were offered by the Garage Door Doctor,” says Sommerfeld Sr. “People would tape the letter to their garage door and call when they needed us.”
If you have any questions about the operation of your garage door or your electric door opener, the staff of the Garage Door Doctor will be happy to help you. Please call 412.829.2007.
In time, Sommerfeld Sr. took on employees who worked from their homes, but he was always assisted by his son, who helped even during his college years in the summers and on breaks. “After being awarded his degree in business management, Leet Jr. had thoughts of taking a job elsewhere. But he finally settled on the Garage Door Doctor, where he does a terrific job not only because he knows garage doors, but because he knows people and cares about satisfying their needs,” says his proud dad. “He handles every job just as if he were working on his own home, and he has instilled that attitude in his employees.” Grandson Brandon also grew up in the business and today assists his dad with both
residential and demanding commercial jobs. “Brandon was able to handle jobs on his own from a very early age,” says Sommerfeld Sr. “When he was a young teenager he would be dropped off on a job and the customer would say, ‘Isn’t your dad going to work with you?’ Brandon did it all on his own, and the customers were always pleased.” Apparently customers still are pleased with the company, as the Garage Door Doctor has been awarded the Angie’s List Super Service Award every year since 2006. Angie’s List, an organization which provides its members with evaluations of home contractors based on customer ratings, presents the award to those businesses which receive consistently superior ratings from homeowners.
Penn Hills | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 21
Good Tidings for the Greatest Generation
ow that the holidays are behind us, you’re hopefully putting that smoking credit card back into your wallet or purse for a while. But even though this may be a down time for you and your credit card, it’s no time to be lax about your credit card security. So what do you need to know about keeping your credit card safe? First, off, don’t give yourself a pin number that’s easy to guess. Issuing banks typically assign you a random pin number when you first get your card that you can change later. Keep this assigned number and avoid picking a pin for yourself like “1234” or your birth date. While it may be easy for you to remember, those choices are also very easy for predators to figure out. If you make a lot of online purchases or just want to dip your toes into the world of Internet shopping, get yourself a dedicated card with a low credit limit. You can open up a secured credit card at most financial institutions that require you to deposit a balance to borrow against, allowing you to open a card with a $500 limit. Your deposit will gain interest and you will be able to use your card for online purchases. What’s more, most scammers try to run a small purchase through before running a larger purchase on 22 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
the card. You may not notice a $0.32 charge right away, but when your bank calls you asking if you tried to purchase a $779 laptop, you’ll be happy your limit was low enough to be declined. If your credit card number is compromised, you should call your bank immediately and report it. While police are able to enforce credit card fraud on a local level, with the Internet the person trying to run your numbers may be six states away, if they’re in the United States at all. In all cases, the sooner it’s reported, the better. Your bank will cancel the card number and reissue you another card. While you’re online, keep in mind that your bank will most likely never contact you via email regarding your account. If you do get an e-mail from a bank that you use, double check the address. Chances are it will be slightly askew from any legitimate address. Instead of “@yourcreditcard.com,”
Penn Hills
you may see, “@yourcreditcard1.com” or “@yourcreditcard.uk.” Banks understand that scammers routinely try to get you to give up your personal information via e-mail. Therefore, most have secured e-mail available through their websites, where you can be sure you’re talking straight to legitimate bank representatives. Lastly, if you have several credit cards that you use often, take the time to flip them over and write down the 1-800 customer service numbers on the back and keep that list in a safe place. It’s also a good idea to keep a copy in your purse or wallet. This way, when you notice your card is missing and are frantic, you can at least go to your list and call to report the missing card. In the end, you should treat your credit card like you would tre at your cash—never leave it lying around.
f the last time you took holiday photos required clumsily spooling film into your 35 mm camera, don’t be intimidated by what technology has done to photography in the past few years. In fact, once you have some basics down, you may find that your digital camera is easier to use than you thought. So let’s start at the beginning and go over your new toy from stem to stern. We can’t go into detail about every feature of every camera, but luckily most cameras share the same properties, so we can cover most scenarios. More than likely, your camera came with a lithium ion battery pack and charger. All you need to know about this is that this battery can last a long time. Thanks to self-timers built into your camera, if you forget to shut it off, it will shut off automatically for you, saving battery life and allowing you to take that unexpected shot when the time comes. That said, the battery won’t last forever, especially if you are shooting with the flash often or shooting video, if your camera has that feature. If you know you’re going to be somewhere with a lot of natural light, turn your flash off altogether and shoot longer. The second thing to familiarize yourself with is your memory card. Cameras come with a variety of memory cards to choose from. Regardless of the kind your camera takes, just remember that bigger is better. A 16 gigabyte memory card can hold hundreds of photos, and if you’re not in the habit of printing your photos right away or moving them to your computer, the extra space is a must. How many pictures you can store on your memory card depends on your resolution setting for your pictures. Your resolution is how big the picture is. If you’re shooting for a website, low resolutions are better because the file size is smaller. However, if you try to print the same low resolution photo as an 8x10, it will appear distorted or “pixilated” because the camera wasn’t set to capture all of the fine details of the image. With most point-and-shoot cameras on high resolution, you can print very large prints or zoom in to crop shots for better composition. The last thing to get to know is the USB cable. This is the cable that came with your camera and connects it to any USB port on your computer. Through this cable, you can transfer your images for future sorting, correction, or sharing. Believe it or not, once you have those things down, your digital camera has many of the same features of your old 35 mm. You can zoom in, set a timer so you have a chance to get into frame, and set a scenic mode where you can select how the camera operates in certain conditions, such as a portrait, sports shot, night shot, or landscape. Your manual will list the specific icons and their meanings. Don’t be afraid to leaf through it if you get stuck. Manuals have come a long way as well and are clearly written for users of all experience levels.
SeniorAgencies 444 Avenue D Pittsburgh, PA 15221 412.824.5610 3000 Locust Street Pittsburgh, PA 15221 412.824.9660 544 Monongahela Avenue Glassport, PA 15045-1425 412.673.4580 624 Lysle Boulevard Senior Care Plaza McKeesport, PA 15132 412.664.5434 519 Penn Avenue Turtle Creek, PA 15145 412.824.6880 6000 Gateway Campus Boulevard Monroeville, PA 15146 412.856.7825 401 Ninth Street McKeesport, PA 15132 412.664.5434
147 Jefferson Road Pittsburgh, PA 15235 412.244.3409 501 Second Street Oakmont, PA 15139 412.828.1062 Seventh & Center Streets Verona, PA 15147 412.828.5888 Gaskill & Third Streets Jeannette, PA 15644 724.527.3200 499 Center-New Texas Road Pittsburgh, PA 15239 412.795.2330 Are you a nonprofit Senior Center serving the needs of our community’s older adults? We would be happy to post your contact information. Please contact Marybeth@incommunity magazines.com with your center’s name and phone number.
412.664.5434 627 Market Street McKeesport, PA 15132
Penn Hills | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 23
Penn Hills Breaks Ground on New High School by Jamie Ward
Construction on the new Penn Hills High School is well underway. The district broke ground on the project back in December and is now in the excavation phases. The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the former Roberts Administration site at 309 Collins Drive. The administration building was torn down to accommodate the new school. The old school will remain in operation until the new one is built, and then it will be torn down. Director of Business Affairs Richard Liberto says the construction is already a few weeks ahead of schedule. The decision to build a new high school was a cost effective one for the district. The old building was in terrible need of updating and would have cost just about as much to renovate as to build a new one. “The old school had really outdated technology and mechanical s ystems,” says Liberto. Upgrades in the new building will include air-conditioning, a state-of-the-art auditorium, modern classrooms, and better lighting.
Aside from having state-of-the-art technology, the new building will also be much more energy efficient. “We are building a lot of green features into the building,” says Liberto. “The air-conditioner has an underground cooling system, we are putting i n a lot of skylights for natural light, and certain fixtures in the building will be green.” The new school will be slightly bigger to accommodate the now 1,488 high school students. The design is what Liberto says will make it more efficient. “It’s a very compact designed building, compared to the old one. This will add space and cut down our utility bills.” The new senior high site will also include na ture walking trails, three access points for parents and buses to enter the property, and a location designated for parent pick-up and drop-off. The district took out a bond issuance to complete this project along with the elementary school. Liberto says the total cost for the project will come in at $56 million. In the beginning of February, a camera system was installed on the site to provide a constan t view of construction. Three cameras will provide views online on the school’s website. Once the project is completed, the construction team will produce a time-lapse compilation of the project for historical record. The Massaro Corporation, general contractor doing the construction, is in the process of pouring footers for the building. Once the footers are poured, construction on the steel structure s hould start around May. Construction is expected to be completed in 2012. For up to date information on the project, visit www.phsd.k12.pa.us.
Linton Science Fair Results Despite some snow, parents, students, and District representatives came out for the Linton Science Fair on January 29th. The event involved students in Grades 6 through 8. A complete list of winners is included below. Additional photos can be found in the Linton photo gallery on the District website. 1st Place: Daniel Ternent, “What Liquid Makes Plants Grow the Best” 2nd Place: Ian Banks, “Does Hot Water Freeze Faster Than Cold Water” 3rd Place: Christine Spieler, “Buoyancy and Density” Honorable Mention: Katarina Shields, “Stink Freeze”; Cathan Crowley, “Bread Mold Growth and Environment Conditions”; William Berkshire, “The Effect of Different Types of Music on Plant Growth” Honorable Mention: Mason Linn, “Do Hermit Crabs Like Sand or Rock” 24 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
Penn Hills
1st Place: Francesca Fello, “Making ‘Scents’ Out of Aromatherapy” 2nd Place: Justin Dumm, “Which Light is the Brightest” 3rd Place: Andre Kuminkowski, “Packing Problem” In addition, Ian Banks received the award for Most Creative Project, given by PAGE, along with a $50 savings bond. Francesca Fello was also awarded Best of Show from the PTA, along with a $50 savings bond.
Phillip Woods - Involvement is the Key Penn Hebron Elementary Academy Principal Phillip Woods believes in giving 100 percent to the job, motivating students and staff by his high visibility and involvement, and making the positive-if not always popular-decisions. Visitors will see him constantly, greeting students in the morning, directing traffic in the afternoon, and visible throughout the day. “I have to be on my game at every moment,” he e xplained. In his first year as principal of the now K-4 building, Mr. Woods said he is extremely excited to be in this position. “I feel that a school should focus on fostering the academic, personal, and social growth of all its students,” he explained. For students to reach this growth, the classroom must be student-centered, focusing on high standards and expectations, he went to say. While the g oal for all educators should be to identify and address the individual needs of students, he said, building the connective bond with the community and parents is a priority to the success of the school. There has been a high level of involvement this year at the school, with excellent turnouts during the picnic and open house events this year. Events at the school have been standing room only in many c ases. And, at most of those events, you will find Mr. Woods. “I’m always somewhere working for you,” he said. This visibility, he believes, has helped him top gain the respect of his co-workers, who recognize his dedication and work ethic. He wants people to see Penn Hebron as a welcoming, inviting, nurturing learning environment where people enjoy coming to work, fulfill their responsibilities, vol unteer for activities/events, and go that extra mile to achieve the ultimate goal of student growth. He is dedicated to his position as building principal, enhancing the educational environment and making sure the curriculum is adhered to and all students are receiving an equal opportunity to learn. “I’m a people person,” Mr. Woods said, adding that he puts students first when making any decision. He always asks how his decisions will impact the students and student achievement and does not try to make his job easier or take short cuts. He stated that he will make a lot of positive decisions during his tenure but not necessarily popular ones. And, while they may be unpopular, he explained, they will be the right decisions and he will stand by all of them. It all goes to the heart of maintaining the integrity of the facility, building, policies, and curriculum. Mr. Woods sees his most important goal for the building as principal is to establish a culture for students that embraces the learning process. “To accomplish this goal,” he said, “We have to first
Write for
establish an organized user-friendly set of procedures that are clearly stated and easily communicated to our students and parents.” The best thing about his day-to-day job, Mr. Woods explained, is seeing students coming to school excited to learn. “The job of the staff is to empower students to make better choices when other situations arise, based on what they have learned in the school,” he said, “thereby extending their learning beyond the school and into the community and everyday life experiences.” Every student has different goals, he said, and he can see students working toward those goals. That, he added, is the ultimate reward of his job, as well as seeing parents excited about school and attending events there.
Penn Hills!
We are looking for experienced writers! If you’re a writer based in the Penn Hills community and you’re interested in writing features that keep our readers up to date on what’s happening, e-mail hr@incommunitymagazines.com. No phone calls please! Penn Hills | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 25
W I L L I A M E. A N D E R S O N L I B R A R Y
26 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
Penn Hills
www.pennhillslibrary.org Tyrone Ward Executive Director
Mary Ann Zeak
W ORSHIP N EWS C HURCHES S ERVING P ENN H ILLS
Librarian & Children’s Services
Jean Kanouff Adult Librarian
Main Branch 1037 Stotler Road Pittsburgh, PA 15235 412.795.3507 Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday: 1-5 p.m.
Lincoln Park Satellite 7300 Ridgeview Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15235 412.362.7729 Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Saturday & Sunday
Friends of the Library The Friends of the Penn Hills Library is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing together people who are interested in the well-being of the library. The Friends work to provide many extras for the library, items not included in the regular library budget. The Friends welcome gifts of time, money and materials from their members and the community. These donations are channeled into gifts that benefit the library and its patrons. To join the Friends, choose a membership category below: Individual: $10 Donor: $50 Family: $25 Patron: $100 Organizations/Associations: $30 Dues are paid at the time of registration. Stop in at the library for a membership form or send your name, address, telephone number to: Friends of the Penn Hills Library 1037 Saltsburg Road Pittsburgh, PA 15235 Make checks payable to Friends of the Penn Hills Library.
All Saints Episcopal Church 412.793.0270
Laketon Heights Methodist 412.241.9170
Apostles Lutheran Church 412.793.4899
Mt. Hope Community Church 412.793.0227
Beulah Presbyterian Church 412.242.4570
Mt. Olive Church of God in Christ 412.361.0503
Christadelphian Ecclesia of Pittsburgh 412.828.6157 Christian Science Church 412.731.1204 Church of Latter Day Saints 412.798.3011 Covenant Church of Pittsburgh 412.731.6221 Emmanuel Lutheran Church 412.824.4525 Faith Community Church 412.242.0210 First Baptist Church 412.371.5335 First Reformed Presbyterian Church 412.793.7117 Grace Evangelical Lutheran 412.793.1394 Hebron United Presbyterian Church 412.371.2307 In Him Ministries 412.795.4272 Jehovah’s Witnesses Pittsburgh 412.241.8188 Kerr Presbyterian Church 412.793.5508
New Vision Community Church 412.241.6160 Parkway Jewish Center 412.823.4338 Penn Hills Alliance Church 412.795.1818 Penn Hills Baptist Church 412.793.6640 Penn Hills Free Methodist Church 412.793.7263 Praise Center Full Gospel Church 412.793.7263 Redeemer Orthodox Presbyterian Church 412.795.2956 Queen of the Rosary Church 412.672.6390
Saint Gerard Majella 412.793.3333
Verona United Methodist Church 412.828.8844
St. James Anglican Church 412.242.2300
Verona United Presbyterian Church 412.828.4494
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church 412.793.4511
Rolling Hills Baptist Church 412.795.1133
Saint Joseph 412.795.5114 St. Susanna 412.798.3591
Rosedale United Methodist 412.793.2019 Sri Venkateswara Temple 412.373.3380 Second Baptist Church 412.371.6445 St. Bartholomew’s Church 412.242.3374
Victory Temple Orig. Church of God 412.243.5308 Zion Lutheran Church 412.242.2626
Three Rivers Assembly of God 412.372.3453 Trinity Lutheran Church 412.828.7799 Trinity Tower United Methodist 412.793.9000
If your church is missing from this list, please e-mail mark@incommunity magazines.com.
Universal United Presbyterian Church 412.793.1355
Penn Hills | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 27
28 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
Penn Hills
The first thing you need to consider is the space itself. Is it finished at all? Many attics in the area are open spaces broken up by roof and flooring joists and wads of insulation. The first thing you want to do is inspect your attic for leaks and whether those joists are strong enough to support extra weight. You can add flooring by screwing down plywood or other subflooring. Avoid nailing materials down to prevent damaging the ceilings underneath you through the vibrations of hammer blows. Once you have your flooring down, you can decide whether or not you want to finish the ceiling joists. You can insulate and attach drywall or plywood to these joists, depending on how fancy you want to get with the finished look; or you may decide that having the recessed areas between the joists is beneficial to your storage needs. Keep in mind that a triangular space is limiting only if you have boxes or items that you need to store vertically. Items that are smaller
and that can be arranged into nooks and crannies can be ideal for these odd-shaped spaces. Also keep in mind that, because of the nature of attic access in older homes, the route to your attic may be through a small trap door in a hall closet, so items you put in the attic might be limited to long-term or permanent storage, like old college textbooks, holiday decorations, luggage, or all those old National Geographics that you can’t throw away because the pictures are too pretty. If you do have easy access to your attic, either by way of a dedicated staircase or pull-down steps, more options may offer themselves to you. Even tight attics have enough room for several twodrawer filing cabinets, allowing you to store many years’ worth of tax returns or product manuals. Easier access means even more versatility when it comes to your storage plan. Rather than long term, you can use the space for things that require infrequent use—bins for extra blankets and pillows for when guests are in town, large children’s toys or games that don’t get played with during the school week, and sporting equipment when it’s out of season. Storing items like these in the attic will keep them out of dank basement conditions, and, in the case of linens and sporting equipment, keep the smell of mildew away. Keep in mind that the attic, while dryer than the basement, still has its own set of issues. Temperatures often vary wildly in attics depending on how insulated they are, so items that can’t stand high heat or low temperatures— like candles, for instance—may not fare well in the attic environment. Each space is different, but each is unique, and how you use that space can be a fun project for the whole family.
firePlaCe
&
Creates Warmth
W
the PerfeCt DeCor
Add Warmth, Style, and Value to Your Home
hat is it about a fireplace that is so comforting? That warm glow and the advantages of heat efficiency and home resale value, all make installing a fireplace the ideal home renovation project. Innovations today in cost-efficient, energy-saving models have put fireplaces at the top of the “to-do” list for home remodeling projects. In spite of the new energy efficiency, a fireplace still continues to provide ambience, warmth, and an upgrade in any décor.
What’s Your Style Fireplaces have come a long way from the typical wood-burning variety. They can be specifically designed to fit any room, and there are a large variety of fuels to produce heat or just glow. A wood-burning fireplace is the classic option. They provide a beautiful flame, crackling-wood sound, and heat. Newer to the market are gas fireplaces, which can be designed to imitate real burning wood, but their fuel source is natural gas or propane. Gas burns cleanly and is much more convenient than its
wood-burning counterpart. Electric fireplaces have some of the same advantages as gas-burning fireplaces, but have the extra benefit of being able to flip a switch and have instant ambience.
Which is the right investment for you? When deciding which option in fireplaces is right for your home, it is important to look at the space limitations in your home. Determine how much heat you need from the unit and whether you plan to do it yourself or hire a professional. Another thing to consider is that if you do not have a chimney in the house, installing one will add additional expense. Your choice of fuel for the fire should also be considered. Dealing with split wood—the stacking and handling, versus turning on a switch to give you the fire, is something to think about when choosing options. Adding a fireplace to any room in your home will add value to your home and provide a comfortable setting for you to relax.
Penn Hills | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 29
rightened, confused, and alone, are just some of the feelings that teen mothers endure. But fortunately, there’s an organization that is dedicated to helping them get their lives back on track. Young Lives, which has been around nationwide since 1991, and in the Penn Hills area since 2007, is a mentorship ministry that reaches out to teen mothers in order to give them the guidance they need. “What we do is we reach out to mainly to girls in the Pittsburgh East Hills area,” said Joy Malloy, executive director. “We reach out to girls in the Penn Hills and Woodland Hills high schools. In Penn hills, we have lunch with the girls a few times a month. That’s how we recruit. We also recruit through word of mouth and different social agencies in Pittsburgh.” Young Lives hold activities for the girls on a monthly basis, providing child care while they have a “girls night out” with other teen moms. Mentors also offer Bible study twice monthly for interested girls. “Our mentors come alongside of them in life and extend themselves as a friend,” Malloy said. “Out of that, we see what their needs are and we connect them with agencies that can help them out, whether they be health needs, financial needs. We try to connect them with emergency assistance. Anything we see that they have need of, we try to connect them with different government and health agencies.” Because they are a nonprofit, Young Lives is always looking for items and assistance that can help them further their mission. From financial assistance, to gift cards for local restaurants and retailers like Target and Wal-Mart, to baby items such as diapers, furniture and clothing, Young Lives can use your help. “We also can use gift cards to craft stores like Pat Catan’s or Michael’s because we do a lot of crafts with the girls,” Malloy said. Malloy said the mentorship is vital for the girls because, while they don’t face the derision and ridicule in school that they would have in the past, they still feel alone and have a need for support. “It’s a new mindset than it was about 20 or 30 years ago. The biggest problem is that most come from broken homes, where the mom is a single mom head of the household,” Malloy said. “They don’t get the consistency to stay in school, or the child care to stay in school. Home problems can get them off focus. We have to concentrate a lot on the brokenness of the home and counsel them that way to stay focused on what truly matters.” That focus comes from goal-setting by Young Lives and the mentors. When the girls achieve a goal, they are rewarded for that goal. Rewards come by way of funding from the Buhl Foundation and PNC, Malloy said, so whether it’s a meal out, or other reward, the financial component for that reward does not come out of Young Lives’ main budget. “There are a lot of problems that the girls have that get them off focus, mainly the breakdown of the home,” Malloy said. “They do have some problem with the baby’s father 30 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
Penn Hills
not supporting them enough. They feel alone. A lot of girls in high school have to work because of the financial hardships, so staying in school is difficult, or finding child care to stay in school is difficult.” Volunteers for mentors and volunteers for child care, as well organizations willing to cook for the girls once a month are at the top of Young Lives’ wish list. If you would like more information on Young Lives, or to make a donation, contact them at Young Lives, 501 Jefferson Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235, or by calling 412.452.2344. They are online as well at younglivespittsburgh.younglife.org or via E-mail at: youngliveseasthills@gmail.com.
· Restaurant gift cards for mentors to take mentees out for meals. · Office supplies-tape, copy paper, pens, stamps, etc. · Baby and toddler supplies-diapers, baby bottles, new car seats, etc. · Gift cards for baby items. · Sponsor a girl to go to camp. If you would like to volunteer in one of these areas, please contact: YoungLives • 501 Jefferson Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235 (412) 452-2344 • youngliveseasthills@gmail.com younglivespittsburgh.younglife.org
Prayer Support: Receive a prayer list 2 times per month, optional prayer meeting two times per month. Mentor Relationships: One-year commitment to meeting with a girl weekly and helping her reach her goals; approximately 3-6 hours per week; training, support, and resources provided. Childcare: Up to 3 hours per month in the evening at Club Meeting (the 3rd Saturday of each month from 5-8pm at Hebron Church) or one of the Campaigner meetings (alternate Tuesdays from 6:15-8:45 at Faith Community Church) in Penn Hills. Committee: Approximately 4 hours per month; support the ministry through fundraising, securing resources, and encouraging staff and volunteer leaders; protect the integrity of the ministry; ensure fiscal responsibility and pray for the spiritual strength of the leadership. Hospitality: Small groups are needed to provide dinner for girls and mentors at monthly club. Transportation: One to three hours per month providing transportation for girls to and from meetings
• • • • •
Train and pair up 10 new mentors with teen moms Increase our monthly donations by $1,500/mo. Increase the number of volunteers Obtain use of a 12 seat passenger van Partner with 15 new churches for spiritual and financial support Penn Hills | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 31
B USINESS D IRECTORY
East Hills Coin Laundry 2766 Robinson Blvd • Open every day of the year 6:30a-10p • Corner of Frankstown and Robinson Boulevards across from the old East Hills shopping center • Always under surveillance for your protection
Rick Parrotta & Associates ACCOUNTING & TAX SERVICES
Rick Parrotta ENROLLED AGENT 21 Yost Blvd. Suite 202 Phone: 412.823.8223 Pittsburgh, PA 15221 Fax: 412.823.8226 rparrotta@rp-associates.net
View magazines online Leave comments Stay in touch with your neighborhoods from a distance
www.incommunitymagazines.com
32 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
Penn Hills
Penn Hills | Spring 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 33
603 East McMurray Road McMurray I PA I 15317 724.942.0940 www.incommunitymagazines.com
| IN BEDFORD COUNTY | | IN BETHEL PARK | | IN BRENTWOOD-BALDWINWHITEHALL | | IN CANON-MAC | | IN CHARTIERS VALLEY | | IN FOX CHAPEL | | IN HAMPTON | | IN KEYSTONE OAKS | | IN MARS AREA |
Our Family of Magazines is Growing!
| IN McKEESPORT AREA | | IN MERCER COUNTY | | IN MONROEVILLE | | IN MONTOUR |
ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS Our community magazines partner with over 20 School Districts and Townships.
| IN MOON TOWNSHIP | | IN MT. LEBANON | | IN MURRYSVILLE |
We direct mail to over 518,000 households including these new fall 2010 additions:
| IN NORTH ALLEGHENY | | IN NORWIN | |
PENN HILLS |
| IN PETERS TOWNSHIP | | IN PINE-RICHLAND | | IN PLUM | | IN ROSS TOWNSHIP | | IN SENECA VALLEY | | IN SEWICKLEY AREA | | IN SHALER | | IN SOUTH FAYETTE | | IN UPPER ST. CLAIR | | IN WEST ALLEGHENY | | IN WEST JEFFERSON HILLS | | IN WEST MIFFLIN | | IN WOODLAND HILLS |
TO ADVERTISE Call 724.942.0940 sales@incommunitymagazines.com