FALL 2012
pper S St. Clair COMMUNITY MAGAZINE
pper St. Clair
P Stacey Pape Moves Her Business to a New, Larger Design Center
“I’d like to have my questions answered in just one phone call.”
Here’s the Plan At UPMC Health Plan, we believe customer service should be a service to you, not a headache. That’s why we offer you a personal health care concierge. A live person who lives here and can answer all your questions in just one phone call. Sure, we win awards for our customer service. But it’s the reaction we get from satisfied members that we find most rewarding.
To find out more visit upmchealthplan.com
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 1
The faces of experience at
NORTHWOOD Energetic, approachable agents. Industry leading technology. Unique neighborhood offices. A fresh new website. All delivered with the same legendary service you’ve come to expect over the past 50 years.
Welcome to the New Face of Northwood.
Upper St. Clair Office 412-831-0100 1797 N. Highland Road • Pittsburgh, PA 15241 Pat Arnold
Karen Auffenberg
412.496.7683
Janet Caputo
412.303.0046
Dan Gillette
w w w. n o r t h w o o d . c o m
Bonnie Detwiler
412.980.6025
Dorina Manolache
Therese Hoetzlein
412.254.3674
Dennis Moorcroft 412.302.7022
Patricia Sharpe 412.576.1251
412.523.9234
412.983.8865
Bill Matyger
Marlene McNaughton
Marilyn Mielnicki
412.537.7333
412.377.3422
412.951.1005
412.759.9642
412.559.5661
Darlene Turkall 412.480.7107
2 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
Audrey & Frank Wadsworth 412.595.3037
Darlene Kruth 412.874.0415
412.606.4702
Mary Rhodes
Kris Price
412.225.4553
412.298.6646
Eric Graziano Mimi Hobbs
412.403.7071
Jeff Earley
Diane Miller 412.759.0137
Judy Scheidler
Emily Schwartz
412.654.8195
412.512.3161
Lyn Wood
Deborah Yu
412.498.0223
412.606.8824
INSIDE
lair pper St. C
IN Upper St. Clair is a non-partisan community publication dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the Upper St. Clair 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.
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AZIN ITY MAG
COMMUN
FALL 2012
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IN Upper St. Clair | FALL 2012 |
P e Moves a Stacy Pap iness to Her Bus 000 Square New 16, ign Center Foot Des
22
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Swift Audiology 25 Years as Your Trusted Hearing Healthcare Professionals............... | 53 Dr. Jay M. Feuer McMurray Dental Practice a Staple of the Community for More Than 30 Years ........... | 57
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Steel City Airsoft A Real-life Call of Duty ................................ | 78 Beinhauer Family Funeral Services Pets are Family Too ..................................... | 89 INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
28
Northwest Savings Bank Lending a Hand .......................................... | 5 Healthy Pet Products Helping Pets Thrive .................................... | 30
FEATURE | Stacey Pape, Owner/President and Veronica Sutyak, General Manager, of SP Floors and Design Center
UPMC TODAY
Pediatric Alliance Bullying ...................................................... | 35
Health and Wellness News You Can Use | Fall 2012
Case Handyman & Remodeling Whole House Remodel .............................. | 44
Get Ready for Fall Soon the leaves will change color and fall to the ground — a welcome mat for cooler days, chilly nights, football games, hayrides, warm sweaters, and everything else that makes fall special.
Circulatory Centers Fallacies ...................................................... | 54
What’s Inside 2
Elevating Cancer Surgery for Women to a New Level
3
Give Your Back a Break Using Your Blood for Natural Healing
36
4
A Partnership of Hope and Transformation
6
Magee’s Newest Baby Is Two Stories Tall — and Ready for Guests
7
Your Doctor and You: A Healthy Relationship
45
58
Phillip Ritter Insurance Agency How to Buy Auto Insurance........................ | 63
© 2012 UPMC
UPMC222169_UPMC Today_Mercy_Fall_2012_Final.indd 1
COMMUNITY INTEREST
7/26/12 5:46 PM
Back to Nature ........................................................................ |
TOC PLACEMENT:
Southpointe Chiropractic Chiropractic Questions & Answers ............ | 61
8
Back to School in Upper St. Clair ..................................... | 12 The Wise Women of the South Hills ................................. | 18 Car Buffs Abound in the Region ........................................ | 22 Kerma Nordyke Celebrates 107 Years .............................. | 26
CHANGE PAGE NUMBER
Bill Few Associates What’s Your Recipe for Retirement? ........... | 68 Beleza Plastic Surgery From Blah to Beautiful ................................ | 69 The Goddard School Focusing on Reading Readiness ................. | 80
SP Floors & Design Center .................................................. | 28 USC Lady Panthers Look to Defend Title ....................... | 32 ADD THESeason FOLLOWING TEXTNinjas LINE BELOW LOGO Filming Second of Supah ......................... | 36
Upper St. Clair Girls Golf .................................................... | 38 USC Gymnast Places at Women’s Junior Olympics ..... | 42
learn more on page xx
UPMC Today | Health and Wellness News You Can Use ................. | 45 Dylan Reese Returns to Roots as Penguin ..................... | 58 TYPEFACE: TRAJAN PRO 12 PT.
USC Tennis Development Program .................................... | 82 Mind Over Matter ................................................................... | 84 Realizing a Dream ................................................................... | 90
safetydriven learn more on page 6
STAF F
W
elcome to the Fall issue of Upper St. Clair magazine! As I write this, we are having one of the hottest summers on record, and it doesn’t look like the record-breaking temperatures will end just because the leaves will be changing colors soon. So while this is the fall issue, I want to reiterate some summer tips from the health department to help you stay safe in the heat. The last two points are probably the most critical because they deal Wayne Dollard with children and the elderly. Publisher • Stay cool indoors, preferably in an air-conditioned environment. Fans don’t help much when temperatures are in the 90s. A cool bath or shower is a more effective way to cool off, if you don’t have air conditioning. Better yet, visit someplace that does, such as a senior center, theater, mall or neighbor’s house. • Drink plenty of fluids, at least eight cups a day, but avoid alcoholic or caffeinated drinks which actually cause you to lose more fluids. Avoid hot foods and heavy meals, which add heat to your body. • Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing. A wide-brimmed hat provides shade and helps keep the head cool. Sunscreen can prevent sunburn, which can affect your body’s ability to cool itself and also cause a loss of body fluids. • Avoid strenuous physical activity, particularly during the hotter part of the day. • Never leave a child, or a pet, in a vehicle alone on a hot day. A child may become disoriented in just five minutes, unconscious in 10 and brain-damaged in 20. • Use the buddy system and check on the elderly and the infirm who do not have air conditioning and are less able to take care of themselves. For senior citizens, local governments also establish cooling centers to help people beat the heat. Contact your local municipality for the one nearest you before the temperatures top 90 again. As always, enjoy your fall, Upper St. Clair!
PUBL ISHE R
Wayne Dollard RE GION AL E DIT ORS
Pamela Palongue [North and East] p.palongue@incommunitymagazines.com Mark Berton [South, West and Erie] mark@incommunitymagazines.com OF F ICE MAN AGE R
Leo Vighetti leo@incommunitymagazines.com AD PL ACE ME N T COORDIN AT OR
Debbie Mountain d.mountain@incommunitymagazines.com SCHOOL & MUN ICIPAL CON T E N T COORDIN AT OR
Megan Faloni m.faloni@incommunitymagazines.com GRAPHIC DE SIGN
Cassie Brkich Anna Buzzelli Sharon Cobb Susie Doak
Jan McEvoy Joe Milne Tamara Tylenda
W RIT E RS
John Barrera Jonathan Barnes Jennifer Brozak Matt Fascetti Tracey Fedkoe Mike Ference Jacob Flannick Britt Fresa Heather Holtschlag
Nick Keppler Chelsie Kozera Leigh Lyons Dana Black McGrath Joanne Naser Aimee Nicolia Melanie Paulick Gina Sallinger Judith Schardt
PHOT OGRAPHE RS
Mark Fainstein Ginni Hartle Brad Lauer
Len Pancoast Kathleen Rudolph Gary Yon
ADVE RT ISIN G SAL E S MAN AGE RS
Derek Bayer Tom Poljak
Tamara Myers
ADVE RT ISIN G SAL E S
We Want to Know!
HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE? Some of the best stories we hear are how two people happened to get together. Some met in bars, some in supermarkets, while others met in more unique circumstances. Send us your story of how you met your spouse. We’ll run the best ones in the next issue. Also include a photo of you and your spouse, how many years you’ve been married and when your anniversary is. Send your story to mark@incommunitymagazines. com or mail it to IN Community Magazines, 603 East McMurray Road, McMurray, PA 15317. You can also fax us at 724.942.0968.
Sophia Alfaras Brian Daley David Despot Andrea Graham Julie Graff Jason Huffman Connie McDaniel Brian McKee
Gabriel Negri Aimee Nicolia Annette Petrone Vincent Sabatini Michael Silvert Karen Turkovich RJ Vighetti Nikki Capezio-Watson
This magazine is carrier route mailed to all district households and businesses. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Copyright 2012. CORRESPONDENCE Direct all inquiries, comments and press releases to: IN Community Magazines Attn: Editorial 603 East McMurray Road McMurray, PA 15317 Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968 www.incommunitymagazines.com Winter Content Deadline 10/16
Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.
4 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
Lending a Hand How one local bank’s history of service, award-winning track record, and desire to make responsible loans is making the difference right here in Upper St. Clair.
“While many other banks continue to find it challenging to help customers get the loans they need, we are actively lending,” says Chris Claspy, Manager at Northwest Savings Bank in Upper St. Clair. “Northwest is an experienced, local bank with expert lenders. Our low rates and fees make it easier to do what you need to do, with monthly payments to fit your budget,” Mr. Claspy adds. “Best of all, we can make it happen right here in our Upper St. Clair office.” Northwest Savings Bank prides itself on local decision making, quick turnaround, and competitive rates on: • Mortgages* with fast, free pre-qualifications so you can qualify before you buy. • Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit* to use your home to pay for the things you need. • Personal Loans* for other necessities, such as purchasing a car, consolidating debt, or paying for medical expenses.
In addition, Northwest Savings Bank has been nationally recognized for exceptional service and trust. For the third consecutive year, Northwest was awarded “Highest Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking in the Mid-Atlantic Region” by J.D. Power and Associates, 2010–2012. And, for the second time, in analyzing more than 8,000 publicly-traded companies across the country, Forbes named Northwest one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies in 2012. For 116 years, Northwest Savings Bank has been committed to the communities it serves. There are plenty of them, with 167 Northwest offices across four states — 28 right here in the Greater Pittsburgh area. loan?
Need a Manager Chris Claspy and Upper St. Clair’s Northwest Savings Bank can make it happen.
Northwest customers enjoy convenient services including Online Banking and Bill Pay, eStatementsplus, Mobile Banking, GO! Rewards Check Cards, and 43,000+ service charge free ATM locations. Not yet a Northwest customer? Interested in a loan? Visit Chris Claspy at Northwest’s Upper St. Clair office to get started today.
2600 Old Washington Rd, Upper St. Clair (412) 851-1493 Chris Claspy, Manager Northwest Direct: 1-877-672-5678 www.northwestsavingsbank.com *Credit approval required. Northwest Savings Bank received the highest numerical score among retail banks in the Mid-Atlantic region in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2010-2012 Retail Banking Satisfaction Studies.SM Study based on 51,498 total responses measuring 31 providers in the Mid-Atlantic region (DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA & Wash., D.C.) and measures opinions of consumers with their primary banking provider. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed January-February, 2012. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com. Member FDIC
Peoples Natural Gas has launched an extensive program to modernize our infrastructure. More than $100 million has been invested to replace pipelines throughout our 16 county service territory. This means replacing over 40 miles of old cast-iron pipes and hiring additional pipeline workers and local contractors to do it. Last year, we brought 200 jobs back to our 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 to improve the infrastructure of our communities. We will replace all the cast iron pipe in our entire system and continue to modernize our infrastructure in the years ahead. This is an extensive project and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to complete it. Peoples Natural Gas is once again 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. 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.
Peoples Natural Gas emergency personnel are on duty to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you smell a natural gas odor, suspect a leak, or there is a fire, leave the area immediately and call the Peoples Natural Gas emergency service line at 1-800-400-4271.
WE’RE PEOPLES NATURAL W E’RE P EOPLES N AT U R A L GAS. GAS. HOMETOWN NATURAL YYOUR OUR H O M E TO W N N AT U R A L GAS G A S COMPANY. C O M P A N Y.
6 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
DA V E B E RT O N I / F I T T E R L E A D E R
SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY Peoples Natural Gas has launched an extensive program to modernize our infrastructure. More than $100 million has been invested to replace pipelines throughout our 16 county service territory. This means replacing over 40 miles of old cast-iron pipes and hiring additional pipeline workers and local contractors to do it. Last year, we brought back 200 family-sustaining jobs to the region. 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. Peoples Natural Gas would like to remind you to help us keep your community safe. Know what’s below. Call 811 before you dig. State law requires you to call 811 at least three days before you dig.
A lot of people talk about keeping our communities safe, we’re actually doing it.
WE’RE PEOPLES NATURAL GAS. YOUR HOMETOWN NATURAL GAS COMPANY. Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 7
BACK TO – By Tracy Fedkoe –
F
rom farmland to strip mine to golf course, the Wingfield Pines Conservation area has come full circle to get back to its natural state. The property lies in Upper St. Clair and South Fayette townships along the banks of Chartiers Creek and was purchased by the Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) in December of 2001. Because of its ecological restoration efforts, the property is now thriving with an abundance of indigenous vegetation and wildlife, forests, and extensive wetlands. Vacant for nearly 20 years after the golf course shut down, thousands of gallons of water contaminated with iron oxide from the abandoned mines drained into Chartiers Creek. While iron oxide is not toxic to humans or wildlife, it isn’t conducive to the ecological system’s development, not to mention it deters people from using Chartiers Creek for recreation because of its bright orange color. In 2004, ALT received a Growing Greener grant from the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection and worked in conjunction with Hedin Environmental Engineering to develop a passive abandoned mine drainage (AMD) treatment system, which became fully operational in 2009. The system includes a series of five settling ponds about 3 to 4 feet deep with each strategically lower than the previous. Open drainage from the mine leads to the first pool and then slowly flows down to the lower levels, allowing the iron oxide to settle on the bottom. Each drop of water takes about 40 hours to go from start to finish. The system filters about 43 tons of iron oxide annually and prevents it from going into Chartiers Creek. The beauty of it is that it’s totally passive and natural, meaning no power, maintenance, or money are required to keep Intern Shannon Powers points it running. As the ponds leave the iron oxide out the wetlands behind, wildlife begins to migrate there and on a tour many species of ducks, birds, amphibians,
NATURE 8 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
THE WINGFIELD PINES CONSERVATION AREA
IS THRIVING WITH WILDLIFE, VEGETATION, AND CLEAN WATER.
COME CHECK IT OUT! fish, and more can be found living in or around the water. There’s also a boardwalk built around the ponds with plaques describing how the system functions, offering many educational opportunities as well as a close-up view of the wildlife and flora. Another benefit of the area is that it is a natural flood plain, which means it holds and absorbs much of the water that would otherwise enter Chartiers Creek and cause it to overrun its banks. The Wingfield Pines Conservation Area is open 365 days per year for the public to enjoy and contains several miles of trails, woods, wildlife and a recently added canoe launch. The area is growing in popularity with bird watchers looking for the 50-plus species that have been spotted here, dog owners, and those out for a walk through a natural trail. A perfect environment for education, the site has been nicknamed “The Living Laboratory” and recently hosted a children’s event in June where
participants learned about the environment and got to interact with reptiles and amphibians brought in by Verna McGinley, of Creative Environmental Education. There was also a Nature Walk on August 11 to benefit the food bank and it was well attended by community residents and food bank staff and volunteers. “We are looking to do more programs in the future to link community experts with a focused topic and increase awareness of the area. The opportunities are limitless,” said Emilie Cooper, stewardship director for the Allegheny Land Trust. While it’s hard to measure the success of ecological efforts in the short term, it is clear that there have been many positive changes to the area when we can see the abundance of wildlife, increased plant types, and thousands of gallons of clear water running into Chartiers Creek. “Ecologically, we want to restore the area back to its natural state with continued on next page
The boardwalk overlooks the ponds and wetlands
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 9
BACK TO
NATURE continued from previous page
the mindset of letting nature take its course with as little interference as possible,” said Shannon Powers, an intern last summer for the Allegheny Land Trust who spent most of her time on site. To get the property to this point, the Allegheny Land Trust staff, along with
also has an annual volunteer day when the whole community pitches in. John Hamm, a passionate conservationist, passed away but created an endowment to fund the Hamm Internship every year, providing students with an unmatched educational opportunity. “This
“Ecologically, we want to restore the area back to its natural state with the mindset of letting nature take its course with as little interference as possible.” –EMILIE COOPER Stewardship Director for the Allegheny Land Trust
WHERE TAILS GO TO WAG! • DOGGY DAYCARE • OVERNIGHT BOARDING • GROOMING SALON • RETAIL STORE • OBEDIENCE TRAINING 2858 Banksville Road Pittsburgh, PA 15216 412-364-7867 FAX: 412-774-1575
wag@thedogstop.net
WWW.THEDOGSTOP.NET Watch great videos of the pups at play at Facebook.com/thedogstoppittsburgh
10 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
many volunteers and stewards, has worked very hard. The USC Citizens for Land Stewardship helped with early funding and now continues to provide support with maintenance and publicity. There are also many volunteer stewards who take charge of plant care, keeping logs on birds and fish, and maintaining trails. The township arranges for mowing and Wingfield Pines
is my first hands-on experience and I have learned so much,” said Powers, a junior at New York University who handled the tours and events during the summer. Other local universities such as Duquesne and Point Park have interns for credit and maintain the research portion of the website. “Our primary goal was the AMD
A water snake make
s his home in the po
nds
Wildlife begins to grow in the lower ponds
treatment system. Now that it’s up and running, our focus is to become an outdoor resource and educational opportunity for everyone in the community,� said Cooper. Come and take advantage of free education and entertainment and go back to nature.
More information and a post-visit survey can be found at www.alleghenylandtrust.org.
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 11
T
he Fall is not just a time of changing leaves and cooler temperatures, it’s a time when the dormant diesel engines of the school buses fire up, SAT applications and college inquiry letters are sent, and students return to college campuses across the nation. In the United States, education is a $900 billion a year business, and that investment, either by the federal and state government, parents and students themselves via student loans, is a testament as to how important learning is to making a name for yourself in the world. Fortunately, for individuals and the economy as a whole, everyone is different and educational opportunities abound for people no matter what their interests or aptitudes.
Yoga for: • Young Athletes (Ages 7 - 13) • Swim Conditioning (Ages 6 and up) • Adults
Emphasizes: Flexibility • Endurance • Strength Balance • Focus • Alignment Injury Prevention
★★ College: College remains one of the most traditional avenues for graduated high school students to pursue. Colleges can be public or private and offer two-year or four-year degrees. While post-secondary education is not a requirement for securing work, those who obtain a college degree can expect estimated lifetime earnings of $2.1 million, according to the US Census Bureau. A master’s degree boosts that to $2.5 million, a professional degree averages $4.4 million, and a doctoral degree $3.4 million. High school graduates are estimated to earn just $1.2 million over the course of their lifetime, according to the same report. ★★ Trade Schools and Vocational Careers: While vocational training can start in high school, thanks to regional
For more info: www.AtOmYogaPittsburgh.com Email: AtOmYogaPittsburgh@gmail.com 12 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
BACK TO SCHOOL
vocational/technical centers that serve school districts, post-high school programs can take graduates from apprentices to masters of their field. What’s more, vocational programs aren’t like they used to be in the latter half of the 20th Century. Today’s vocational schools still cover trades such as carpentry, plumbing and stonemasonry, but they also excel in specialty fields such as computer networking, HVAC, and robotics. ★★ Online Learning: Online learning is a relatively new form of degree program using the power of the Internet to bring students and schools together. Also known as E-learning or distance education, online programs have brought some big names into the fold as Harvard and MIT recently joined forces, offering a variety of free, online courses. Online education typically costs less than bricks and mortar schools. ★★ Financing Education: No matter where you end up after high school, chances are you’re going to need to take out a few loans to make your goals attainable. Student loans come in a variety of forms ranging from federal to private. Scholarships often are attainable for eligible students, and are nice to have, but realistic students shouldn’t expect to garner enough scholarship money to cover their entire academic career. Programs such as the Federal Stafford Loan can offset up to $23,000 of tuition, which can be increased to $46,000 if parents do not qualify for the Parent PLUS program. The downside to student loans is that you will be graduating with substantial debt to pay down. The upside, however, is that student loan interest rates are generally low, tax deductible and the loans themselves can be deferred until you are in a position to make payments on them, such as the time necessary for you to find a job.
Upper St. Clair
★★ Private Schools: Private schools can be an alternative for some students. They tend to have a lower number of students, so if a student needs more attention or one-on-one help from teachers, private schools might be a good option. According to the National Association of Independent Schools, the average cost of private school tuition tends to be around $17,441. ★★★Benefits of Preschools: When it comes to early cognitive development, researchers have found that that children who attend preschool tend to show higher intelligence quotients than those who do not, according to Early Childhood Research and Practice (ECRP). Although sending your child to preschool can help them academically, it also improves their early social skills. Preschool is the time when children become aware of sharing and learning how to interact with one another. The classroom gives the young students a friendly, safe environment that allows them to grow and prepare for the later education in kindergarten and Grade School. Children who attend preschool are usually between 3-5 years old. ★★★Special Needs Education: Technology has opened many educational doors to children with disabilities. Alternative solutions from the world of technology are accommodating physical, sensory, communication or cognitive impairments in many ways. No matter what your path in life may be, being prepared academically for that path is the key to future success.
★★ Benefits of tutoring services: One of the keys to acquiring scholarships is good grades. While that’s totally on the student to achieve, there are many services available that can help that student put in the extra effort to make the grade. From SAT preparation centers to study centers that cover a broader range of curricula, these investments are well worth the cost if the result is several thousand dollars coming off your tuition bill because you got a 4.0 versus a 3.8 GPA.
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 13
BACK TO SCHOOL
Upper St. Clair
Our Back to School
PARTNERS
AT OM YOGA Anne Chaikowsky
412.818.4151 atomyogapittsburgh.com
At OM Yoga offers a class for teens and adults and has also developed specialized classes with a specific focus for young athletes. The Yoga for Young Athletes class at the Peters Township Community Recreation Center is designed to benefit young athletes regardless of sport. Partnering with the South Hills YMCA Aquatics Program, Yoga for Swim Conditioning classes are available for young swimmers who are on or planning to be on competitive swim teams.
All Clients: A Special 5-Year Anniversary September Discount!
For 5 years Creative Minds Learning Center, located near Routes 19 & 88 has offered age appropriate, fun and educational Pennsylvania Early Learning CREATIVE MINDS LEARNING CENTER Standards child care. Its new school-age 412.343.4363 program provides before/after school care and full/half day summer programs. It is proud to announce its upcoming achievement of the Star 2 Keystone Stars accreditation, the official recognition of surpassing Department of Public Welfare requirements.
C.S. KIM KARATE 412.854.1616 www.cskimkarate.com
C.S. Kim Karate was established in 1974 in Pittsburgh by Master C.S. Kim. The authentic Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do has helped thousands of students. This training increases a person’s coordination, concentration, flexibility and more importantly their focus, confidence, discipline and self-respect. In this age of anti-bullying just saying “No” is not enough. Parents and students, start this school year with an edge both mentally and physically with C.S. Kim Karate.
14 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
BACK TO SCHOOL
Upper St. Clair
Our Back to School
PARTNERS
It’s All Closer Than You Think. An average class size of 15 students SAT scores 436 points above the national average PK-Grade 12 on one campus Foreign languages for PK-Grade 12 Championship-level sports teams with a no-cut policy New after-school programs in the Lower School, including robotics, hiking, story writing, and more
Schedule your personal visit to Sewickley Academy today. We can’t wait to show you around!
315 Academy Avenue. Sewickley, PA 15143 www.sewickley.org | 412.741.2235
C-MITES at Carnegie Mellon University offers programs for gifted students in kindergarten through 10th grade including Weekend Workshops, Summer Programs, and above-level testing. C-MITES classes are purposefully challenging, meant to stimulate the minds of bright students. They are filled with captivating hands-on activities that are both informative and fun! Topics include creative writing, mathematics, robotics and chemistry. For more information, go to www.cmites.org or call 412.268.1629, ext. 1.
The Goddard School ® is a high-quality preschool servicing families with children aged 6 weeks old to Kindergarten. In addition to adhering to the rigorous internal franchise standards, The Goddard School is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (DOE) and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Goddard’s renowned curriculum, certified faculty, state-of-theart facility, and commitment to excellence have made it the fastest growing preschool in the United States.
C-MITES 412.268.1629 www.cmites.org
THE GODDARD SCHOOL 724.941.6464
Dr. Tom Krah has been proudly serving families in our community for over 18 years. We would like to wish returning students the best in their upcoming school year. We specialize in family dentistry and welcome you to schedule an appointment with us for all of your preventative and cosmetic dental needs. Our patients enjoy getting their x-rays without putting films or sensors in their mouths through our use of a state-of-the-art ProMax unit. DR. TOM KRAH KRAH FAMILY DENTISTRY 724.941.2929
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 15
BACK TO SCHOOL
Upper St. Clair
Our Back to School
PARTNERS
SEWICKLEY ACADEMY 412.741.2235 sewickley.org
As Pittsburgh’s oldest co-educational, college preparatory, independent day school, Sewickley Academy prepares students for a lifetime of success by inspiring them to reach their full potential as curious, courageous, and compassionate learners. Exceptional programs, small classes, and talented faculty help our students become conscientious leaders, critical thinkers, and responsible members of a global community. All students are hosted on a single 16-acre campus. All of our graduates continue their education at a 4-year college or university.
16 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
Become a part of the best business park in Bridgeville, PA. Bursca Business Park provides a scenic working environment close to many amenities like, banks, restaurants, hotels and golf courses.
Leased and Managed by Burns & Scalo Real Estate Services, Inc.
OFFICE | FLEX | RETAIL | WAREHOUSE
sweet suites
call today. lease tomorrow.
KELLEY HOOVER 412.670.4248 khoover@burnsscalo.com
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 17 412.250.3000 | BurnsScalo.com
I
f it takes a wise woman to know a wise woman, then Kim Epp Frenette must be the wisest of them all. She knows enough wise women to fill an entire website. Literally. In April 2011, Frenette launched Wise Women Life, a website designed to motivate and inspire women in the South Hills of Pittsburgh to accomplish their dreams by highlighting the work and achievements of other women. “For a long time, I had been daydreaming about doing some sort of site that profiled interesting women and the cool things they were doing,” Frenette explained. “I talked about it non-stop to my two friends during early morning walks through South Hills Village, and I also took a course at Chatham University’s Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship. These two things combined made it all fall into place. One morning, I woke up and realized that it was possible. It was a done deal. I was going to do it.” Perhaps the main purpose of the site is to inspire women to accomplish their dreams. Frenette believes that it can be inspiring and motivating when women hear and read the stories and experiences of other women who have accomplished a measure of success toward achieving their personal goals. That purpose is shared with the idea to give these women credit where credit is due. “There are a lot of interesting, inspiring local women who are doing very cool things,” Frenette noted. “These are women you might run into at the grocery store or at the gym, yet they have such great backstories. Wise Women thinks that, as a community, we should be spotlighting, celebrating and appreciating them!” Frenette explained that the Wise Women site features four
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Upper St. Clair
The
Wise Women OF THE
South Hills BY HEATHER HOLTSCHLAG
to five stories about interesting women and may also feature different reflections, funny or serious, by various local writers. And something that she is especially proud of is that the banner picture on the site changes each month to showcase the work of a different local female artist, along with a feature story about that woman and photos of her work. “Wise Women has featured women who have started small businesses, written books, founded and/or are leading foundations, and who have organized community events, made dramatic changes to their lives, achieved career success, and the list goes on,” Frenette pointed out. “The common thread is the women who are passionate about something and pursued it and are willing to share the life lessons that they learned.” And although the women featured on the Wise Women site are unique in their own individual ways, Frenette does not think any of these women would identify themselves as such. “Like all of us, they have dreams and ambitions or something they are passionate about,” she said. “What distinguishes them is that they have pursued those dreams and ambitions to some degree and are willing to share their experiences. The truth is, however, that as women, we ALL have some wisdom to share. You just never know when sharing what you have experienced will leave an impact on somebody.” Frenette’s idea for the name of the site is somewhat tongue in cheek, she said. “We all wish we were completely wise, though we’re not, but everyone has some wisdom. We learn from each other’s stories and experiences, and this is particularly true of CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 19
The
Wise Women South Hills
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
women. Really, what is the first thing you do when you have a problem or are in an unfamiliar situation? I would bet that you call your girlfriends!” Wise Women was born after thinking through several other names and informal email focus groups. This was the name that seemed to be most well-received. But unlike a website where women gather simply to gossip, Frenette encourages her site to be read as a form of “possip.” “It’s true that women love to talk,” she said. “Very often, the stories that we tell each other and the conversations that we have are uplifting, supportive and useful, which is truly the exact opposite of gossip or words that can tear down. But I could not find a word that described positive talk, so I decided to make one up, and that is how possip came to light. Although the site is primarily focused on the women of the South Hills, as Frenette believes it is more inspiring and powerful to read about the impressive things that women are doing just around the corner, it also garners attention from people as far away as Philadelphia, Florida and Canada. “To read about the women who live and work right down the street makes everything that much more real,” she explained. “We see these women every day at the grocery store or gym, and then we learn that they just started their own business or just published a book. It makes us realize that our dreams are possible, too.” To become part of the Wise Women community, simply log on to the site at www.wisewomenlife.com and sign up. It is free and you will not need to give any information other than your name, email address and zip code. Frenette noted that you do not even have to sign up to browse the site, though if you do not register, you may miss out on special notices of events or the monthly newsletter, which is usually distributed on the first Tuesday of the month. Frenette also sends out email notifications when the site has been updated and maintains a page on Facebook, on which she posts news about special events and happenings and an alert when the new newsletter issue has been posted. “I would really like to make the site more interactive and get a directory of interesting businesses and services up and running, and eventually have events whereby wise women can connect in physical space,” Frenette said. “I want Wise Women to be the destination site for women who are motivated to make their lives great for themselves, and who realize that we can rely upon each other to make this happen.” 20 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
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Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 21
BY JONATHAN BARNES or some, the smell of car wax, the heat of the sunshine and the strains of ‘50s music take them back to their younger days. In their minds, they go back to a time when having good weather and a great car for the afternoon, and the free time to enjoy it, were all that you needed for some fun. Thankfully, it’s been a good summer to lower the convertible roof on the car and go cruising, allowing the wind to blow through your hair, smelling the flowers and watching the gawkers staring at you as you roll past them in your classic car. After all, what’s the sense of having an antique car or a classic muscle car if you can’t show it off and allow others to enjoy it? Sharing the love of design, beauty and mechanics of a classic car or muscle car is
part of the joy of collecting such vehicles. Car cruises are an American tradition in which owners of classic and high-performance cars meet together in parking lots and other wide-open spaces, to show off their vehicles and to enjoy an afternoon or evening of fun with other car lovers. Often these events include music or entertainment and food, and sometimes, they even have races. Western Pennsylvania is home to many of these events, thanks to the many gearheads who live in the region. Here is a sampling of some of the many popular car cruises in the Pittsburgh area:
• Mineral Beach (in Finleyville) — This popular event
happens every Friday night and often includes motorcycles as well as cars. This larger cruise usually includes several hundred cars.
• Wendy’s (in Peters Township, along Rt. 19) — This
cruise is every Monday night and is a smaller cruise that usually has about 50 to 100 cars.
• McDonald’s (Meadowlands - Racetrack Road) — This event is held every other Saturday all summer long. It is a medium-sized cruise is sponsored by The Washington Cruisers Car Club. www.washingtoncruisers.com
Wexford Star Lite Car Cruise (Wexford) — Wexford Star Lite Car Cruise is held every Friday night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. through Labor Day. This is one of the largest weekly cruises in the region, and usually has more than 1,000 cars attending each week. The Wexford Star Lite Car Cruise is free and is hosted and presented by North Way Christian Community. www.starlitecarcruise.com
•
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Upper St. Clair
’65 Bonnevil
le, Don Petit
• Ultimate Car Cruise (Galleria
o
at Pittsburgh Mills) — Every Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. through October. This cruise and many others can be found listed at the website www.carcruises.com.
• Flashlight Drags (Waynesburg) —
Features a car show, a car cruise, a vendor’s midway, music, food and more. The idea behind this event sprang from the need for local hot rodders to have a place to legally and safely race each other. The essence of the event is providing a safe environment in which to enjoy the excitement of street racing, with an equal measure of nostalgia— which is where the antique and classic cars displayed at the event make their greatest impact. www.flashlightdrags.com.
• Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix International Car Show (Schenley Park, Pittsburgh) — Held every July and touted by international media including National Geographic magazine, the Vintage Grand Prix once hosted competitive races between racers in vintage cars around the park’s winding roads, but for years the entire event has been for show, and as always, still benefits charity. More than 2,000 cars, many of them very high-end, were displayed at the event, in which all makes of car are welcome. Held annually since 1983, the Vintage Grand Prix has raised more than $2.75 million to benefit autistic and developmentally disabled people. All local car cruises are weatherdependent. Check the web sites for each cruise regularly to determine if a cruise will be held when foul weather could be imminent. While each car cruise is unique in its location and the makeup of vehicles, owners, and attractions, every car buff comes to the hobby by his or her own path. It could have started with a secret childhood yearning for a hot rod, or by catching a glimpse of something extraordinary in a shop window, seen totally by happenstance. Like a lover retelling the story of his romance, each classic car owner has a tale to tell about how he and his car were united. d
by Brady
Ashe
A
fter Don Petito of Upper St. Clair and his wife, Marguerite, ga gave ve their their new wedding vows 48 years ago, the newlywed couple drove off in the kicking in the 1965 Pontiac Bonneville convertible, the ceremonial tin cans ki dust of the lengthy automobile. Petito sold the convertible for some extra cash several years later when the couple was expecting their first child. As their children grew older, Don and Marguerite nostalgically longed for the car they shared in the dawn of their marriage. In 1992, their sentimental pangs were put to rest when Petito found and bought a ’65 Bonneville convertible for sale in Belle Vernon. “It was a piece of rust,” the 76-year-old Upper St. Clair resident said. “The top was shot and the upholstery was a complete disaster. It needed a total restoration.” Petito promptly took the ’65 Pontiac to an Elizabeth auto body shop for a ground-up, body-off restoration. The shop stripped the car to its nuts and bolts before installing a new V8 engine, transmission and suspension in the complete restoration that took about six years to complete. “I don’t know how much money I’ve put into this thing,” Petito said. “I just know my wife would probably leave me if she ever found out.” The 365-horsepower Bonneville’s odometer is virtually stagnant as the classic car seldom leaves the confines of the Petitos’ garage. Aside from the occasional weekend joy ride when the weather’s pristine, the Petitos’ vintage Americana convertible only hits the road when it’s driven to a local car show. The ’65 Pontiac has earned the Petitos several first place ribbons in a host of car shows throughout the area including Mount Lebanon, Uniontown, Washington and Latrobe. The couple also owns a slew of second and third place ribbons to complement the blue ones in their trophy case. “It really is just a great looking vehicle,” the retired instructional engineer said. “It runs like a beauty. We love it and our kids love it.” The ’65 Pontiac Bonneville was popular among Americans in the 1960s for its flashy, angular exterior and a blend of luxury features with high engine performance. It was named Motor Trends magazine’s car of the year in 1965. The Petitos’ four adult sons all live in the Pittsburgh area. Their only daughter and her husband relocated to Charlotte, N.C., several years ago to pursue a job opportunity.
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 23
“As soon as he put it in the
hen it comes to aficionados of muscle cars—those who love that sweet spot of American car culture manufacturing that happened from about 1964 to 1972, when midsized vehicles with full-sized engines were at their zenith—it’s often simply one make over all the
Just One
Make
driveway, I fell in love with it,” Donald said. Though Wally intended to fix up the car and restore it, he never got around to it. His brother offered to do the job for him, and in 1986 Donald took on the project in his parents’ one-car Bethel Park garage. After Wally saw the wonderful job his brother did
others. While one muscle car lover
restoring the 1969 Rally
might be a fan of Chevelles over all
Sport, complete with
other models, another, like Donald
a yellow paint job
Bele, will be crazy about Camaros. Bele, 47, a Bethel Park native who now lives in Upper St. Clair, is an auto mechanic by trade and a Camaro collector by calling. That calling first came at home, before he could get a
Upper St. Clair Man Loves Camaros Over All Other Cars BY JONATHAN BARNES
learner’s permit to drive. When Donald
with black stripes, he decided to give Donald the car. That was the start of a collection of Camaros that Donald began to
was 13 his older brother, Wally, bought a 1969 Camaro and
assemble. In addition to the 1969 Rally Sport,
brought it home, making a huge impression on the younger boy.
he now also has two other models of 1969
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Upper St. Clair
Camaro: a convertible and a blue/white Super Sport that is
familiar territory for the mechanic. Unlike some other classic
valued at $35,000. “It’s my favorite year of Camaro,” he said.
car owners who lack the skills to do all of their car restoration
So in 1999, after searching for a convertible Camaro and
work themselves, Bele literally does all of the work in restoring
finding one, he bought the vehicle. He immediately began
his muscle cars. All three of the 1969 Camaros required a fair
restoring it and by February of 2000, the car restoration was
amount of work, including installing New Old Stock fenders.
finished. He couldn’t say exactly what that vehicle now is worth.
And for his own enjoyment, Bele fancies up his cars’ engines,
“To me, it’s worth $75,000,” he said.
preferring a lot of chrome and painted engine parts, and even
His most recent Camaro purchase is a 1971 model that he bought in November for $8,500 from an owner in California, and which he plans to restore. The Mojave Gold colored car, being from the Golden State, has a solid, rustfree body, Bele said. “The 1971 [model] they call the ‘second generation’ Camaro—they’re becoming popular, too,” he said. If a buyer is looking around to buy such older muscle cars, the west and southwest
painting the cars’ undercarriages. “I do mechanical work as a job, and I do body work as a hobby,” Bele said. He has also owned other classic cars that he has restored and sold, including a Ford Mustang. Part of his hobby is displaying his work, which he does while regularly attending local car cruises. He enjoys taking one of his Camaros to the Mineral Beach car cruise nearly every Friday, and on most Sundays, he also makes it to the Caste Village car cruise. Any casual observer who is stopped at a light sitting next to a
are usually where they get the cars. Solid
restored vintage Camaro can tell that the classic car is obviously
cars, such as the 1971 Camaro that Bele
very cool. Why it is so cool could be debated, but it is really a
just bought, could cost several thousand
question that an expert should answer.
dollars. Cheaper ones are available, though they sometimes will require a lot more work to restore, he cautioned.
“The 1969 Camaro—everybody wants one. Any kind of GM guy, most will want a 1969 Camaro. They look the best of any Camaro ever,” Bele said. d
Restoring his newest muscle car will be
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 25
Kerma N of Friendship Village
CELEBRATES
YEARS
W (724) 772-3131
20273 Rt. 19 • Cranberry Township, PA 16066 DESIGN CENTER HOURS 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM: Monday - Saturday
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Upper St. Clair
hat’s the secret to living a long, happy life? Just ask Kerma Nordyke, a resident of Friendship Village who just celebrated her 107th birthday on June 4 with a few of her family members and friends. Kerma has lived in Friendship Village for 28 years and until recently has been mostly independent. Kerma Pauline Bradford was born in 1905 and grew up in Coshocton, Ohio, with a younger brother and sister, whom she both outlived. She attended Dennison College where she met her first husband, John Minor. They moved to his father’s farm in Greene County near Carmichaels and Garards Fort, Pennsylvania, where they raised their five children: Marilyn (Lynn) Strickland of Greensboro, North Carolina; Robert Minor, of Mullica Hill, New Jersey; Helen Ashley of Ephrata, Pennsylvania; Donna Carroll of Peters Township; and John Minor of Wichita, Kansas. The farm included Herford cattle, a small dairy operation, chickens, lambs, pigs, and a vegetable garden to feed the family. As a teacher, education was always important to Kerma. She went back to work as an elementary school teacher in Bobtown, Pennsylvania when her children were still in school to make sure they all had the opportunity to go to college. The children were also required to work to help with the cost. Today, she still loves reading, poetry, and most of all—children. “If there was one thing that kept her young, it was her love for teaching and children,” said Ashley. After the death of her first husband at 62, Kerma married two more times. Her second marriage was to Albert Hoge, who owned Hoge’s Bakery in Waynesburg. He passed away and she moved to Friendship Village in 1986 where she met and married her third husband , Jack Nordyke, at the age of 84. They were married for several years before he passed away.
Kerma in 1962 when she taught second grade
Nordyke BY TRACY FEDKOE
Kerma is fortunate to have five generations in her family now and longevity seems to be a trait. Her mother lived to 108 and one aunt to 100, with several others well into their 90s. Kerma has 15 grandchildren, 22 greatgrandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, the second just born in June this year. Kerma’s secret may be that she has always lived a simple life, believes in the value of hard work and education, and is surrounded by the love of her family. She has been involved in a variety of church activities including choir, and often played bridge. With many years of collected memories, she can still recite the entire poem, “The Value of a Smile,” and takes its advice every day. “The whole family came back for her 105th birthday,” said John Minor. These days, Kerma prefers a few visitors at a time to keep the excitement at a more manageable level. Her health is still good and she’s on very little medication. “She’s blessed,” said Ashley. Likewise for her family and friends who have the privilege of knowing her. Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 27
SP Floors & Design Center: A Premier Flooring Showroom in the Pittsburgh Region There’s something about meeting Stacey Pape and Veronica Sutyak of SP Floors & Design Center in Peter’s Township and hearing the excitement in their voices that makes you instantly know that you are in great hands with your home flooring project. “We’ve been involved in flooring most of our lives and we’re passionate about doing everything we can do to be a full-service design center that has something to offer for anyone’s budget, tastes and lifestyle,” says Stacey, the owner and president. To accommodate its steady growth, SP Floors & Design Center is relocating from its previous Peters Township site to their new permanent location. SP Floors & Design Center is the new proud owner of 2917 Washington Road (previously known as the “Old Ethan Allen Building”). The move will more than double their current showroom size to 7,000 square feet, making it one of the largest, (if not THE largest) flooring showroom in the Pittsburgh Area. “We are essentially a one-stop shop for all your flooring and decorating needs, and our premier showroom will enable us to bring additional levels of services to our customers,” explains
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Upper St. Clair
Veronica, the general manager. “Even so, we are a work in progress, and we will continue to expand with future offerings in areas such as countertops, cabinetry, window treatments and other products related to our business.” They cater to designers, real estate agents, contractors, restoration companies, property managers, home builders and commercial properties, as well as all residential homeowners. “Outside representatives which have clients of their own love that they can bring their customers to us and we can assist them in the selection process. Our goal is to eventually provide them with all the items they need for their home, all coordinated under one roof,” comments Stacey. The showroom includes a separate “builder area” specifically for new construction and a division for various ranges of commercial work.
SP Floors & Design Center offers a comprehensive selection of flooring types and styles, always with an eye on the most current designs in the market: hardwoods, tile, laminates, carpet, area rugs, resilients, bamboo, cork, vinyl, rubber and more. SP Floors & Design Center buys directly from the manufacturers such as Shaw, Mohawk, Beaulieu, Masland, Fabrica, Couristan, and carries brands such as Mercier, Columbia, Armstrong, Porcelanosa and Dal Tile just to name a few. They also carry many styles of “in-stock” carpet. Whether you need a temporary fix, or a style and quality to last for years to come, SP Floors & Design Center has carpets in stock for various budgets. They have several lines of laminate and hardwood in stock, as well as “quick ship” special order products. With so many gorgeous product choices available, it can be confusing. That’s
where SP Floors’ staff comes in. “Our staff is so helpful, friendly and knowledgeable that they make the selection process easy,” says Stacey. “We have a combined 100 years of experience in flooring and design” So no matter what your flooring needs are, rest assured that Stacey, Veronica and staff will help you make the best possible choices for your project at extremely competitive prices, while offering the latest and greatest in design trends. “We are proud to help bring a more progressive styling to the Pittsburgh market and we will continue to be on the cutting edge into the future.”
SP Floors & Design Center is located at 2917 Washington Road in McMurray. To learn more, call (724) 941-3172 or visit www.spfloorspgh.com.
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 29
Overweight Pets: I
s your pet overweight? If you’re being
honest with yourself, I’m betting that your reply is yes because almost 50% of all pets are these days. It’s interesting that our pets have mirrored our own tendency to have trouble with weight control. One distinct advantage we can provide to our “best friends” is to control what & how much we feed them, thus controlling their overall well being. Unless your dog or cat is sneaking into the fridge and making sandwiches when you’re not around, the only way they can eat is when YOU feed them! So how do you know if your pet is overweight? One way is being able to feel each rib. They should have an hourglass shape and feel to them when looking at your pet from a topical view. From this simple test if you determine that your pet is overweight, the first thing you want to do is have your vet run a blood panel to rule out hypothyroidism or any other medical condition. If there is no medical condition contributing to This chart applies to cats as well.
your pets weight problem all you’ll need to do is reduce calorie intake and increase exercise/ calories burned. Sounds easy right? Not always and there’s actually much more to it than that. First thing I’d suggest is to look at “what” type of food you’re feeding. Examine the ingredients of the food you are currently feeding or bring the bag in and we can examine it. The first ingredient should be an identifiable meat source. Any type of grains or corn should never be the first ingredient. Because dogs are omnivores and carnivores, (cats are true carnivores), their protein needs to come from meat, not carbohydrates! Simply put – they need a diet high in protein, which isn’t stored as fat, and is low in carbohydrates. A high carbohydrate diet increases insulin production which tells the body to store unused calories as fat. Now don’t be so quick to run out and buy that “Lite” pet food. These diets have restricted fat levels to reduce the calories but by necessity have to increase the carbohydrate percentages to maintain the proper protein levels.
Did you know that almost 50% of all pets are overweight?
Secondly I’d suggest you look at “how” you are feeding your pets. “Free feeding” means keeping that bowl nice and full, so your pet can eat whenever it wants! Remember, you’re in control! You should give your pet a measured amount of food twice per day. If your pet is used to free feeding it may take some “tough love” on your part to get them on a feeding schedule but is certainty possible with minimal effort. Another big No-No when it comes to your pet’s weight is found in their between meals treats. More often than not they are often full of simple carbohydrates and low quality ingredients such as by-products, chemical preservatives and food coloring.
Gary Yon
(providing more support to the musculoskeletal system) and lastly it keeps them happy, calm and well behaved. Just like us humans we look to lead a “quality” lifestyle thru proper diet and exercise; why should it be any different for our four legged family members!?! Interestingly enough, we have had several customers come to us just wanting to change to a better food and they have seen weight loss in their pets. Reason being, the foods we choose to carry contain high quality meat protein and not corn or any simple carbohydrates. Choose health and a quality (not quantity) lifestyle for our pets. They’ll love you even more and look/feel better doing it!
Thirdly, you need to consider how much exercise your pet is getting. Exercise burns calories and can also lead to a plethora of other benefits. Increased bone density, (decreasing chances of arthritis and osteoporosis) strengthening of ligaments, tendons
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Upper St. Clair
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Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 31
USC Lady Panthers Look to
Defend Title
BY LEIGH LYONS
T
he Upper St. Clair girls soccer team is looking to do what their predecessors last did in the 2002 season: defend a W.P.I.A.L. Championship. The last time the Lady Panthers repeated as W.P.I.A.L. champs, this year’s seniors were about seven years old. Ten years may have gone by to this point, but 11 talented and dedicated seniors stand ready to lead Upper St. Clair back into the W.P.I.A.L. final again this year. Last season, then-senior Val Repischak kicked the astonishing game-winning goal to push the Lady Panthers past seasoned rival Peters Township. However, the Peters team did gain a bit of revenge in the P.I.A.A. state semi-finals last year as they were
able to out-maneuver Upper St. Clair on their way to their second state championship in as many years. The sting of that loss still lives on in the Lady Panthers, and they will look to use that emotion to keep pushing as they work toward another W.P.I.A.L. championship. This year’s team is led by seasoned veterans such as Carley Bogan, Sammi Witsberger, and goalkeeper Jocelyn Alfera. These three individuals have been on the varsity team for at least three years, with Bogan now coming into her fourth year as a varsity player at Upper St. Clair. These three young ladies are accompanied by an onslaught of eight other seniors who have been integral parts of the soccer program for the last few years. These young women will have tough shoes to fill, as Upper St. Clair graduated 14 seniors from last year’s championship team, many who had been starters for three or more years. “I believe we still have a lot of talent left despite the loss of 14 seniors,” Bogan explained. “Winning the W.P.I.A.L. last year was one of the most rewarding experiences; we overcame so much throughout the season, but we are looking forward to stepping 32 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
up into the leadership role this season.” Bogan, along with the other seniors, often gives credit to the class of 2012 for providing them with positive leadership qualities to emulate so that they are able to step up now as seniors and lead their team. The team is comforted in the fact that they will have their steadfast leader back in the net for them this season. Alfera has been consistently steady since taking over the starting role. She is an overly athletic keeper who often makes saves that are not seen regularly in the girls’ game. “There isn’t really any shot that she can’t stop,” said senior defender Emily Elliott. This provides an enormous lift to her team, and just having her presence in the net will add confidence to the team in front of her. Those immediately in front of Alfera this year will be looking to gel together quickly as a defensive unit, as the only returning starter the defense will have will be sophomore Sami Lackner. Lackner came in and contributed immediately to the Lady Panthers team last year as a freshman, which doesn’t happen often in this program. She will be playing with two seniors, Ashley Lahr and Elliott, who will both be in their first year as starters for Upper St. Clair. Both Elliott and Lahr have been steady contributors to the program thus far, but they will be called upon in a major role this season as they will be responsible for leading the team from the back line. The three above will most likely be paired with Julia de la Parra in the back, another underclassman. Senior Becca Degregorio will also help aid the defensive line in the 2012 season. The midfield, which was such a strong point for the Lady Panthers the last few years, will look to rebuild and restyle in the upcoming season. Luckily for the Panthers, they have several strong seniors who are readying to take on the skillful role in
“Winning the W.P.I.A.L. last year was one of the most rewarding experiences; we overcame so much throughout the season, but we are looking forward to stepping up into the leadership role this season.” – Carley Bogan, Senior
the midfield. Senior Ellie Dinardo will most likely be the go-to crafty playmaker for the Panthers. Dinardo will start her third season on varsity and will look to link up with the strong forwards that the Panthers will boast. Seniors Ellie Blake and Rebekah Walsh will add experience and skill to the midfield as well. Outside midfielder she is described by her teammates as being one of the most hardworking players that they have ever played with. Her determination and attitude have won admiration from both her teammates and coaches alike, and Witsberger will undoubtedly carry that same mindset and work ethic into this upcoming season. Junior Olivia Belack will also be expected to provide a break-out year. Belack is a versatile player who will also see time up top this year, but her speed and skill set lend well no matter where she is placed on the field. Senior Meghan Allwes will also see time in the midfield in a more defensive role for the Lady Panthers this year. Up top, the Lady Panthers will rely heavily, once again, on Bogan. She has been on the varsity squad since her freshman year at Upper St. Clair, and has played with top quality players and has matured into one of the top forwards in the W.P.I.A.L. Last year, Bogan provided the bulk of the scoring for the W.P.I.A.L. champions, and she has steadily become a more all-around threat. Her speed combined with
her extraordinary skills set her apart from other quality forwards in the league. She will look to pair up with a variety of players who are slotted to play with her, depending on the team’s formation, but she will be a consistent threat for any team that is unlucky enough to have to try to defend her. Senior Alaina D’Aloisa will look to provide some of that support up top with Bogan. All in all, although dubbed as a “rebuilding year,” the Lady Panthers aren’t counting themselves out. Bogan said, “We will need a lot of players to step up this year, but I believe we can meet the challenge. This team will definitely be one to watch for, and teams shouldn’t overlook us.” Teams, especially South Hills rivals Peters Township and Mt. Lebanon, will probably not be overlooking the Lady Panthers in the 2012 season. With returning starters, and all-stars in Alfera and Bogan, teams will have more than their hands full at any given time. The nine other seniors have been preparing for their moment to step into the legacy that is Upper St. Clair girls soccer, and are excited and ready to meet the challenge. The Lady Panthers acknowledge that the only thing harder than winning a W.P.I.A.L. championship might be repeating that feat, but the seniors, along with the other talented players, are eager to do just that.
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 33
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Bullying and what every parent should know to help protect their children B
y some estimates over 13 million children this year will be bullied in the United States. It is a pervasive public health problem. As our children head back to school in the next few weeks, this topic is even more relevant. Over the past decade, media coverage has increased, bringing with it a spotlight on this very serious issue. From a seventh grader in Minnesota Rachel Ehmke who took her own life after being repeatedly bullied to Jamey Rodemeyer from western New York who committed suicide after bullying from his classmates who made a YouTube video prior to his death. Whether at school or on the playground, at a park or even in your own home, children sometimes find themselves the target of bullies. Social media which has been quite promising at bringing old classmates together, people sharing similar interests, some would even say helpful in the uprising of common people against dictatorships in the middle East dubbed “the Arab Spring” has also brought with it vicious attacks and tauntings between our own children. Bullying no longer is a “school issue” but now much more of a “community issue.” As a pediatrician I care for children fairly frequently who have complaints from headaches and abdominal pain to anxiety caused by bullying. I see children who instead of attending school are home schooled, or do on-line schooling because of social issues caused by bullying. The purpose of this article is to define bullying, and determine some steps that we can do as parents, and family members, to help our children avoid bullying, but if being bullied, steps that can help rectify this event. We need to understand bullying is different than fighting. Bullies have power over other children. They intimidate children, which turns our children into victims. Bullying often happens when other children are present and watching. This is an important point. We are all in this together and if we teach our own children to stick up for others (even when they are not the victim or target) it sets a standard that should they unfortunately become the target, others are more likely to stick up for them.
5. Teach your child to speak firmly and loudly, looking the bully in the eye, to have them stand tall and stay calm. 6. Teach your child it is okay to walk away from a situation that may turn violent. 7. Teach your child to speak up for others who may be too fearful to speak for themselves. 8. Encourage your child to make friends with others; support their activities and interests. By participating in team sports and social clubs, your child can develop new abilities and social skills. When children feel confident in themselves and how they relate to others, they are less likely to be picked on. A child who has loyal friends is less likely to be singled out by a bully, and also have allies to help them in a difficult situation. This Industry Insight was written by Dr. Damian Ternullo. Dr. Ternullo attended medical school at the University of Pittsburgh. While a medical student, he was awarded a military scholarship and completed his pediatric training at the San Antonio Military Pediatric Center. As an active duty pediatrician, he deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served as a Battalion Surgeon for soldiers of 3-7 Infantry. Upon completion of his active duty tour, he moved back to Pittsburgh where he joined Pediatric Alliance St. Clair. Dr. Ternullo is also a Pediatric Hospitalist at St. Clair Hospital. His medical interests include ADHD, concussions and adolescent care.
There are 3 types of bullying • Physical (hitting, kicking, pushing, choking, punching) • Verbal (threatening, taunting, teasing, hate speech) • Social (excluding victims from activities or starting rumors) Key points to help our children • Communicate with your child. • How are things at school? What do you think of other kids in your class? Is anyone getting picked on or bullied? Develop a plan for your children to respond 1. First, they need to tell a teacher, school administrator, bus driver as well as you. Many children are embarrassed and it is important to let them know it isn’t their fault. 2. Call the school, speak with the counselor, and ask what the school is doing to help. School systems now have dedicated plans to help deal with this issue. One of them, called Olweus (pronounced Olvayus), has numerous published articles in regards to its effectiveness. 3. It is important to find out what the school’s policy is on internet/ social network bullying. 4. It is perfectly okay to have students speak up and stick up for themselves. No child has the right to injure or intimidate another child. Practice this with them, e.g., “Stop now!” “I’ll talk to you but I won’t fight!” Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 35
USC GRADUATE
Filming Second Season of
U
bridges and rivers, the environment really lends itself to what we’re trying to convey in terms of the setting,” he said. “We’re in good company with Christopher Nolan shooting the latest Batman here, too, and there’s also a tremendous financial benefit, as well.” For Garcia, who recently took home a Writers Guild Award for the Nick show’s pilot episode, the best part of shooting in the area is having the opportunity to show friends and family the work he’s been doing in Los Angeles for over a decade. His parents, both retired medical professionals, still live in Upper St. Clair. His only sister lives in Bethel Park with her two sons. The “Supah Ninjas” creator was able to bring his 14-year-old nephew along one day to meet the cast and tour the set. The Bethel Park High School freshman-to-be experienced his “first day of high school” on the set as the crew was shooting a scene set in the show’s fictional Benjamin Rush High School. The school is “You want to be able to named after have people watch it over the founder of Garcia’s and over again and still alma mater, Dickinson get something out of it.“ College in Carlisle. - ERIC GARCIA “Supah Ninjas” stars Ryan Potter as Mike Fukanaga who pper St. Clair High School graduate Eric Garcia returned to Pittsburgh this summer with a Los Angeles-based production team to shoot the second season of Nickelodeon’s “Supah Ninjas,” which he co-created with seasoned artist and producer Leo Chu. The fantasy-fueled action and adventure show, which documents the path of an awkward teenager who discovers he hails from a long line of crime-fighting ninjas, began production June 18 at Shadyside’s 31st Street Studios and will wrap up mid-September. Downtown Pittsburgh will serve as the backdrop for the show’s fictional setting of Empire City, a gloomy Gotham-esque metropolitan whose future rests in the hands of the Supah Ninjas. Garcia said the decision to move production to the Steel City stemmed from a collective idea among the Nick executives and the show’s creators. Both parties were attracted to the economic and aesthetic advantages the location had to offer. “With the old brick buildings and dark
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recruits his best friend Owen Reynolds (Carlos Knight) as his crime-fighting sidekick, all the while vying for the heart of his long-time crush and martial arts-lover Amanda McKay (Gracie Dzienny). Owen and Mike are trained in their under-the-bed dojo by a hologram of Mike’s late grandfather, played by “Star Trek’s” George Takei. Garcia, a self-proclaimed life-long “Trekkie,” and Chu wrote the part of “Hologramps” specifically for Takei. “We always had George in mind and we were thrilled when he signed on,” he said. “It’s great working with a guy you grew up watching. He has such a positive effect on the show and he’s really been enjoying everything that Pittsburgh has to offer this summer.” Growing up in the South Hills, Garcia was always interested in the fantasy realm and would create his own stories, drawing inspiration from “Star Trek,” “Lord of the Rings,” and several comic
books. Intrigued by expressing his ideas through visual art, particularly oil painting, he would turn to writing only when he couldn’t visually represent his thoughts to his satisfaction before
BY BRADY ASHE
growing infatuated with the craft over time. The 1986 USCHS grad attributes his writing ability to the stellar education he received from St. Thomas More in Bethel Park and the Upper St. Clair public schools. “I had a lot of really good teachers and they kind of drove me to create something that’s not disposable,” he said. “You want to be able to have people watch it over and over again and still get something out of it. That’s what I learned from them and now I have this pop culture vehicle where I can tell really good stories that focus on issues everyone deals with. It’s in a supernatural setting but my hope is that kids can relate to the issues at hand and learn some valuable lessons from them like I did. Garcia previously worked with Chu in creating the animated Cartoon Network series “Afro Samurai,” starring Samuel L. Jackson. He tentatively anticipates a January 2013 premier for the 26-episode second season of “Supah Ninjas” which airs Saturdays on Nickelodeon.
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Upper St. Clair
Girls Golf W hen perusing the ever faithful Wikipedia page dedicated to everything Upper St. Clair, one can become easily entranced by the sheer number of W.P.I.A.L. and state championships that the Panthers have won in all sports; however, the sport that claims the most W.P.I.A.L. gold medals, which wins by a landslide by the way, is the golf program. The Upper St. Clair girls and boys golf programs each have 17, yes 17, W.P.I.A.L. titles under their belt. Perhaps even more impressive about the Lady Panthers golf team is the fact that from 1994 until 2005, the Lady Panthers claimed every single W.P.I.A.L. golf title. Sports journalists speak of back-toback W.P.I.A.L. titles as being almost unheard of, and to imagine that the Panthers won 12 titles in a row is mindboggling. Since 2005 though, the Lady Panthers have been unable to claim
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Ready for Upcoming Season W.P.I.A.L. gold. While other schools improved and eventually caught up to the talent at Upper St. Clair, the Lady Panthers golf team has continued to impress by winning numerous section titles along the way. The 2012 Girls golf team is excited at the prospect of the season being right around the corner, and they are looking forward to repeating as section champions again this year. Junior Maddie Phillips has been on the team for the previous two seasons during which she has been able to experience the meaning of Upper St. Clair golf as she has been a part of two section championship teams. “I look forward to the season every year. Our team has won the section championship the past two years, and I hope we can achieve the same this year as well,” Phillips commented. This year’s team will be led by senior captains Darby Gallo and Stacey Vespa. These two seniors will look to lead by example as they attempt to win the section championship again, and overcome rivals such as Peters Township, Fox Chapel, and Shady Side Academy. This year’s top golfer looks to be Melissa Kearney, and the team will likely follow her lead as well. The team will likely consist of 10 to 12 young ladies who will be led by Coach Matt Henderson. “Coach Henderson is a great guy and is amazing to have as a coach. He wants us to have fun, and that’s exactly what we do,” Phillips says. In a sporting environment in high school, some teams can get caught up in the black and white of athletics where winning is everything, and student-athletes often forget the reason they started playing in the first place. Coach Henderson makes sure that the golfers never forget that they play the sport because it is fun, and his attitude and positive coaching seems to be a formula that is working for the Lady Panthers on the golf team. Phillips said, “I am looking forward to this season because our team is always so close. We do a lot of activities outside of golfing too because we really enjoy each other’s company.” Coach Henderson will have his team hitting on all cylinders as the 2012 season is ready to take off. Kearney, Gallo and Vespa will be relied upon heavily to lead the way for the other team members, and as long as the girls are working hard and having fun, the outlook for the season looks bright as they work toward achieving another section championship and making a run at yet another W.P.I.A.L. title.
BY LEIGH LYONS
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 39
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Upper St. Clair
Pink Pamper
Raises Money for Cancer Assistance Fund
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 41
t s a n m y G USC WOMEN’S P L A C E S AT
t
aylor Manolo, 17, of Upper St. Clair won a 5th place medal on the balance beam at the Women’s Junior Olympic Level Nine Eastern Gymnastics Championships held May 4 through 6 in Landover, Maryland. Manolo also placed 10th in the all-around competition in her division among the 16 age categories at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex. She competed in the vault, balance beam, floor exercises and uneven parallel bars. This USA gymnastics competition leads some of the champions on to make the United States National Team and represent the United States at international competition such as the Olympics as well as compete in collegiate gymnastics. To make it to nationals, Manolo had to place in the top six at regionals, which was held in Virginia Beach, Va., on April 13-15. The regional competition includes elite gymnasts
from West Virginia, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Previously, she was a second alternate to the nationals and would have competed only if the placed gymnasts could not perform. “I’ve known Taylor for a long time, since the sixth grade,” explained Karen Clark, her coach at Gym Dandy’s, Meadowlands. “She is the epitome of
“ ” I will miss my teammates,
coaches and parents so much
because they kept me grounded. –TAYLOR MANOLO
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Upper St. Clair
BY JOANN NASER
a hard worker. She does some things by sheer determination.” Manolo received two gymnastics scholarships this year totaling $1,000 from the Myra Bachuchin Spadafore Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Barb Knothe Memorial Scholarship. She had to write an essay on what gymnastics means to her and “she has led by example,” said Clark. “Taylor does double what anyone else does here.” “I love gymnastics,” said Manolo, who is the daughter of Jill and Arsenio Manolo. “It is a surreal dream to compete at the nationals.” Finishing her senior year, “this is the way I wanted to go out,” explained Manolo. “Making it to nationals was a huge stretch for me.” Planning to attend Penn State University’s Schreyer Honors College in the fall, Manolo wants to major in psychology. “I believe there are so many opportunities for me there. I plan to study abroad but yet see my family because they are close,” explained Manolo. She does not plan to compete in gymnastics at the college level. “I will miss my teammates, coaches and parents so much because they kept me grounded,” said
Manolo. “I will not miss the nerves I get before a competition, particularly nationals, but it is a good day after the competition ends.” Working through injuries has complicated Manolo’s training. “I have fractured my ankle four times since competing in gymnastics.” It did not affect her competition at the Pa. State Gymnastics Competition held in Allentown, Pennsylvania, March 24-25. She received first place in the all-around competition in her age category. “The vault is my favorite event because you have to be so strong,” said Manolo. “It is hard work but you can do it. I also like to compete in the floor exercises because you can put so much of yourself into it.” Practicing four hours a day after school on gymnastics has left little time for other activities. “However, I finished what I wanted to accomplish (with gymnastics),” concluded Manolo.
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 43
Whole House Remodel S ometimes a client’s remodeling needs can be addressed with a kitchen renovation or by putting on an addition. However, sometimes there are many different parts of the house that need to be addressed; that is when it’s time for a whole-house remodeling project. The homeowners may be envisioning something small such as a basement renovation or kitchen remodel, but then it becomes apparent that the problems they want to solve are best addressed by looking at the house as a whole. Whole house remodels are popular with many homeowners today who cannot move because of a tight real estate market or difficulties with mortgage qualification. You can get a new home without having to relocate or go through closing! Why a Whole House Remodel? There are lots of reasons my clients decide to go the whole-house route. One of the most common
motivations is that the house is out-of-date. Many of today’s homeowners have homes built in the 50s and 60s that do not meet the needs of today’s lifestyles. These homes are often inefficient in their use of space, with lots of space wasted to hallways and multiple small rooms. A new renovation gives you an opportunity to improve the house’s traffic flow and to transform these hallways and small rooms into bigger rooms. Today’s homeowners often prefer large, open rooms such as great rooms that include the family room and kitchen—instead of small, cramped kitchens and family rooms in the basement. A whole-house remodel allows you to combine rooms to make larger rooms and/or add on to the existing spaces to suit the needs of today’s families. Energy Efficiency: Whole-house remodels can also be motivated by a desire to make your home more energy efficient and more green. Older homes can leak air to the outside; have antiquated HVAC equipment; contain inefficient windows; and often don’t take advantage of the available natural light. You might be planning a remodeling project for aesthetic or lifestyle reasons, but that presents a great opportunity to increase your efficiency; you can actually use your remodel to save money! For instance, when you open up walls or add new ones, that gives you a chance to 44 724.942.0940 to advertise |
add additional insulation; many older homes have inadequate or nonexistent insulation in exterior walls. Many projects require you to rewire the home’s electrical system and replace lighting fixtures, so you can make the system more efficient. You can install more windows to allow more natural light and replace old, leaky windows with modern, Energy Star-rated ones. Your remodeling projects will also call for new finishes on cabinets and floors as well as fresh paint, so it’s a good time to improve the indoor air quality by using materials that are low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Stylistic Considerations: If you’re doing a whole-house renovation, it presents an opportunity to not only update the home, but to change the home’s style in a way that goes beyond simply redecorating. Now is your chance to make the house into the art deco, retro 50s, or country French aesthetic you’ve always craved. However, that means addressing the stylistic elements throughout the house—not just in the parts that are being remodeled—to ensure that the home is stylistically harmonious. This is one reason to hire an architect. An architect can consult you about what kind of style you would like and make sure that the all parts of the house, inside and outside, are consistent with your tastes. If you want to make a 60s home into one that is consistent with 2012, you need someone who can figure out how to blend the old and new elements harmoniously so that it doesn’t look like an old house with some new parts tacked on.
This house demonstrates how an addition and whole-house remodeling can be blended into the original structure to make a harmonious whole.
Keep an Open Mind: You probably entered into the process with some preconceived ideas about how you want your newly renovated home to function and look, but be sure to keep an open mind during the design process. Your architect or remodeler can probably give you some ideas that hadn’t occurred to you. Maybe your best use of space would be to turn the old rec room into a master bedroom or you’d be better off combining two bathrooms into one big bathroom. Professionals have more experience envisioning a project holistically while homeowners tend to think of each area to be remodeled as a discrete unit. They can think out-of-the-box and may have some ideas that surprise you. For instance, you might be able to totally transform your house or improve traffic flow with something as simple as relocating the stairs or downsizing an overly large fireplace.
Upper St. Clair
If you keep an open mind, you can work wonders. Moving doorways, adding lighting, and expanding to include windows totally transformed this space.
Don’t Forget the Exterior: It’s pretty much impossible to do a whole-house remodeling project without impacting the home’s exterior at all. Even if you don’t move walls or add additions, you’re probably going to replace windows and doors. You also want to ensure that the inside matches the outside. If your interior is up-to-date and attractive, you don’t want the outside to look like it’s stuck in the 50s or worn out. A whole-house renovation is a great opportunity to update and beautify the outside as well as the inside of your home.
UPMC TODAY Health and Wellness News You Can Use | Fall 2012
Get Ready for Fall Soon the leaves will change color and fall to the ground — a welcome mat for cooler days, chilly nights, football games, hayrides, warm sweaters, and everything else that makes fall special.
What’s Inside 2
Elevating Cancer Surgery for Women to a New Level
3
Give Your Back a Break Using Your Blood for Natural Healing
4
A Partnership of Hope and Transformation
6
Magee’s Newest Baby Is Two Stories Tall — and Ready for Guests
7
Your Doctor and You: A Healthy Relationship
© 2012 UPMC
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 45
Elevating Cancer Surgery for Women to a New Level Robotic surgery is transforming the treatment of gynecologic cancers with minimally invasive techniques that offer greater precision and promote faster healing.
For women diagnosed with cervical, endometrial (uterine), and early ovarian cancer, the use of minimally invasive robotic surgery is offering impressive results. “The robotic surgical system is truly revolutionizing the way we operate on certain cancers,” says Alexander Olawaiye, MD, a gynecologic oncologist and director of robotic surgery at UPMC Mercy. Also certified to perform robotic surgery at UPMC Mercy is gynecologic oncologist Wayne Christopherson, MD.
Enhanced clarity and precision With robotic surgery, surgeons also get a magnified, threedimensional view of the inside of the body — up to 12 times what the human eye can see. “That enhanced vision allows us to navigate with far greater precision around delicate internal organs, nerves, and large blood vessels,” says Dr. Olawaiye. “We’re able to see and dissect tissue and lymph nodes more thoroughly, which allows us to do a better job of removing any cancerous growths.” While surgeons applaud the robot’s surgical applications, patients appreciate the benefits it offers after surgery. “Because the incisions are small, there is less bleeding, less pain, and less risk of infection,” explains Dr. Olawaiye. “Most patients go home the day after surgery and return to their regular activities in a week or two.” The most advanced surgical care for all types of cancers is available to patients at the UPMC CancerCenter at UPMC Mercy. To learn more about all the cancer services and treatments offered at UPMC Mercy, visit UPMCMercy.com and click Our Services.
How robotic surgery works
Traditionally, women with gynecologic cancers faced a 12to 14-inch open incision that often involved weeks of recovery. Laparoscopic surgery offered patients a less invasive option, but its stick-like instrument often limited a surgeon’s range of motion. With today’s robotically assisted surgery, the robot becomes an extension of the surgeon’s hands, offering flexibility and a 360-degree range of motion that’s virtually impossible for humans to achieve. “We’re able to manipulate the tips of the surgical instrument at highly unusual angles,” says Dr. Olawaiye. “That gives us critical access to very compact and limited areas of the body.”
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UPMC.com/Today
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Once you are put to sleep, your surgeon generally makes a series of small incisions (“ports”) in your abdomen. The number and size will vary based on your condition. A surgical cart is then attached to the ports, and specialized instruments are inserted into your body. Your surgeon controls the movements of these instruments from a nearby consol, using controls to guide the surgery. Your surgeon is always in charge — the robot moves only as directed.
Typical benefits of robotic surgery for select gynecologic cancers • Smaller incisions • Minimal scarring • Reduced blood loss
• Less pain • Shorter hospital stays • Faster recovery
Health Tips from UPMC Health Plan
Give Your Back a Break Tips that can help you avoid back pain. Amazingly complex, remarkably strong, and incredibly flexible, your back is one of the most important parts of your body. Without it, you couldn’t stand up straight, walk on the beach, chase after the kids, or dance the night away. Like most people, you probably take your back for granted — until it starts to hurt. “Eight out of 10 Americans will have back pain at some point in their lives,” says M. Melissa Moon, DO, a physician in the UPMC Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. So what’s causing all those achy backs? “Everyday habits like hunching over your computer, toting a heavy purse or backpack, or picking up a toddler are often to blame for the pain,” says Dr. Moon.
Using Your Blood for Natural Healing Even after having surgery for a sports-related groin injury, recovery was slow for Megan Cortazzo, MD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist with UPMC. A fellow physician suggested platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy — and her results were so positive that she now offers the service to patients at UPMC.
What is PRP therapy? PRP therapy is a type of regenerative injection therapy (RIT) that promotes the healing of injured or deteriorated tissue. “Platelets are rich in growth factors that stimulate healing,” explains Dr. Cortazzo. “We draw a small quantity of the patient’s blood and spin it in a special centrifuge machine. The process extracts platelets, which we then inject at the point of injury or inflammation,” says Dr. Cortazzo.
Who should use PRP therapy? “PRP therapy’s use by professional athletes has generated tremendous interest in the procedure,” says Dr. Cortazzo.
“And studies show that smokers have more back problems than non-smokers, which is another good reason to quit,” she adds. To help keep your back healthy and strong, Dr. Moon also recommends the following: Sit up straight. Use good posture when sitting or standing. That improves muscle tone and makes breathing easier. Work out. Back and abdominal exercises strengthen the core muscles that support your back, while low-impact aerobics strengthens bones and improves blood flow to muscles. Lose it. Being overweight puts added strain on your back muscles. Carrying weight around your midsection isn’t good for your heart either. Think before lifting. Remember to keep your back straight and bend at the knees or hips when lifting something. Ask for help with a heavy load. Pay attention. If you feel back pain during any activity, stop and rest. Your body may be trying to keep you from getting hurt. Call the doctor. Most back pain can be relieved with self-care. However, Dr. Moon recommends that you see a doctor if: • You have pain after a fall or injury. • You have weakness, pain, or numbness in one or both legs. • The pain is severe and doesn’t improve with medication and rest. • The pain is accompanied by trouble urinating, fever, or unintentional weight loss. Learn more about building a healthy back at UPMC.com/Today. Source: National Institutes of Health
It also can be an effective alternative to surgery for patients with a wide range of conditions, she says, including: • Chronic tennis elbow (tendinosis) • Mild to moderate rotator cuff tears • Chronic ankle sprains • Mild arthritis of the knee For best results, Dr. Cortazzo recommends combining PRP therapy with physical therapy.
Is PRP therapy covered by insurance? Because it is still in its infancy, medical insurance does not cover PRP therapy. “Although it’s a self-pay procedure, many patients feel it’s worthwhile because it can eliminate lost work time and the cost of a deductible for surgery,” explains Dr. Cortazzo. “Most of all, they want the relief from pain it offers.” For more information about PRP, call UPMC Rehabilitation Institute at 412-692-4400, or go to UPMC.com/prp.
1-800-533-UPMC
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Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 47
A Partnership of Hope and Transformation Every year, the lives of 74,000 cancer patients and their families are transformed by the care, specialized services, and research of UPMC CancerCenter, Partner with University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.
Applying good science, investing in smart technology, and putting patients first. That’s the philosophy driving the cuttingedge research and lifesaving care offered through UPMC CancerCenter, Partner with University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI).
A network like no other UPMC CancerCenter is one of the nation’s largest integrated community networks of cancer physicians and health care specialists. Its more than 30 locations throughout western Pennsylvania and Ohio — including UPMC Mercy — bring outstanding cancer care close to home for many patients. “One of the main strengths of the UPMC CancerCenter network is its ability to obtain virtually identical results wherever patients are treated,” says Peter Ellis, MD, director of the medical oncology network. “Our Clinical Pathways are evidence-based care standards that provide uniformity across the network.”
Three powerful pillars supported by 1,700 experts “Through our quarter-century-long partnership, UPCI and UPMC CancerCenter have identified three pillars that enable us to achieve our common goals: clinical care, specialized care, and research,” says Stanley Marks, MD, chairman of UPMC CancerCenter.
p UPMC is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as having one of the best cancer programs in the nation.
“We’re committed to being a leader in the fight against cancer today and tomorrow, with the patient always at the center of all we do,” says Nancy Davidson, MD, director of UPMC CancerCenter. “From the groundbreaking research that takes place in our laboratories to our delivery of the latest cancer therapies in locations throughout the region, we’re at the frontline of cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment,” she says. “We also play a key role in inspiring and educating the next generation of bright young scientists and cancer specialists.”
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“It’s not always easy to see the ‘behind the scenes’ story of who we are and what we do. With these three pillars, we marshal the resources of nearly 250 medical, radiation, and surgical oncology physicians; more than 1,160 nurses, technicians, and staff; and 350 research and clinical faculty,” he explains. “Few organizations in the country can match the level of scientific and medical expertise, state-of-the-art technology, and physical locations found here.”
Pillar I: Clinical Care From the moment of diagnosis, UPMC CancerCenter’s network of nearly 100 medical oncologists links patients to a full range of treatments and services that include: • Conventional chemotherapy • Stem cell transplants • Biological therapy
• Targeted therapies • Hormone therapy • Perfusion therapy
Pillar III: Research UPCI physicians and scientists are recognized leaders in molecular and medical oncology research. Their primary goal is to discover new ways to prevent, treat, and cure all types of cancer, particularly those with the lowest survival rates. Working hand-in-hand with UPMC CancerCenter, UPCI’s investigators strive to translate their research into actual treatment. More than 300 clinical trials now underway at UPCI give patients access to cutting-edge therapies long before they are broadly available. The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) 12th most-funded cancer research institution, UPCI received more than $174 million in support in 2011. UPCI is also western Pennsylvania’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. p Mark Sosinski, MD, a nationally recognized lung cancer specialist who joined the UPMC CancerCenter and UPCI team in 2011, says “This was a good fit for me and my research, but the strong leadership really stood out.”
The UPMC CancerCenter radiation oncology network includes 16 community-based radiation oncology centers and 10 dual radiation and medical oncology centers. Many of these sites offer innovative, advanced technology that allows for more precise tumor imaging and radiation treatment. The surgical oncology network specializes in the surgical treatment of a wide variety of cancers, including many rare and difficult tumors. Its multidisciplinary team of physicians has attracted national attention for work in areas such as minimally invasive surgery, including robotic surgery; specialized procedures, such as the pancreatic Whipple; and regional perfusion therapy, which directs high concentrations of chemotherapy to the tumor site.
Pillar II: Specialized Care For patients with challenging or late-stage cancers, UPMC’s Hillman Cancer Center is a beacon of hope and innovation. It is home to internationally regarded surgical, medical, and radiation oncology specialists who perform treatments and procedures unavailable elsewhere in the region. Hillman also has the area’s most advanced imaging technologies to detect cancer and monitor treatment. Nationally ranked Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC features dedicated and comprehensive women’s cancer care, including breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers. For patients with hard-to-treat cancers, UPCI and UPMC CancerCenter offer disease-specific multidisciplinary clinics called Specialty Care Centers (SCC) designed to provide quick access to leading specialists. Many SCC reviews are done over the Internet, eliminating the need for long-distance travel. Care for children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer is provided at the highly-ranked Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.
To learn more about UPMC CancerCenter, Partner with University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, visit UPMCCancerCenter.com.
Hillman Cancer Center Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary When the Hillman Cancer Center opened its doors in 2002, it was hailed as an architectural gem — its spectacular, glass-block walled atrium serving as a symbolic link between research and patient care. Today, Hillman Cancer Center is the treatment and research flagship of the growing UPMC CancerCenter network. A 350,000-square-foot comprehensive cancer center, Hillman is home to UPMC CancerCenter’s pre-eminent clinical care for patients and UPCI’s internationally recognized academic and research programs. Here, patients and their families have access to specialized cancer diagnosis, prevention, care, and treatment, including multidisciplinary outpatient stem cell transplant services. Architectural rendering of the patient waiting area of the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers, currently under construction at Hillman Cancer Center. u
Opening in January 2013, the new Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers will offer comprehensive diagnostic services, individually designed treatment plans, and long-term follow-up services to patients with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and other blood malignancies. For more information, visit UPMCCancerCenter.com.
1-800-533-UPMC
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Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 49
Magee’s Newest Baby Is Two Stories Tall — and Ready for Guests New state-of-the-art intensive care and cancer care units blend the latest in medical technology with the best in patient comfort.
It’s no coincidence that the words hospital and hospitality share the same Latin root, hospes, which means to treat guests with kindness and care. That spirit of welcome is immediately evident in the thoughtful design of two newly opened patient care units at MageeWomens Hospital of UPMC — one of Magee’s major expansion projects during a century of providing medical service.
“Their ideas and suggestions helped us create a quiet, calming, and safe environment for patients and caregivers. Each patient room is filled with natural light and decorated in soothing earth tones, blending comfort with technology. That kind of setting is very important to healing.”
Emphasizing patient and family-centered care Because studies confirm that the presence of loved ones promotes recovery, each patient room in the new unit features a comfortable sleeper sofa to encourage overnight stays. Family members also can order in-room meals for a modest fee, and all patient rooms have free Internet access and cable television. “Every room has separate zoned areas for families and caregivers, minimizing disruption and reducing infection,” explains David Muigai, MD, medical director of Magee’s ICU. “Visitors comment on how quiet it is here, thanks to acoustical features to minimize sound. And the ICU rooms are designed to accommodate changes in a patient’s condition, eliminating the need to transfer patients as they continue to recover.”
p The patient rooms are warm and spacious, with a comfortable sleep sofa to encourage overnight stays by a family member or close friend.
“We wanted Magee’s latest major construction to focus on our patients with the greatest medical needs: those requiring intensive care and women undergoing cancer treatment,” says Leslie C. Davis, hospital president. “We’re still among the leading deliverers of babies in the nation, but we also care for men and children, from infants to centenarians. The additional beds also allow us to expand our core obstetrical (OB) services to the units that relocated. Adding space for our OB patients was a primary reason for this expansion.” Two floors were added to a three-story section of the hospital to create the new 14-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 28-bed Cancer Care Unit, more than doubling the number of critical care beds. Completed in record time, the new units increased the hospital’s overall bed capacity by 13 percent. “Before starting the project, we sought the advice of former patients, as well as our doctors, nurses, and staff,” says Joseph Kelley, MD, director of both the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and the Gynecologic Cancer Program at Magee.
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Each floor also has a family lounge and a meditation room. They offer privacy when needed, and company when desired. Both floors also incorporate the latest technology and best practices in green building solutions to minimize environmental impact. “We couldn’t be prouder of our newest addition,” says Dr. Kelley. “It reflects the kind of signature care and compassion Magee has delivered for more than 100 years.” Several of Magee’s programs, including cancer care, are again ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News and World Report (2012-13). Learn more about Magee’s services for women and men at UPMC.com/Magee. The meditation room on each floor provides patients and families with a private space that is peaceful and soothing. q
Your Doctor and You: A Healthy Relationship Whether you have a minor concern or a more serious medical issue, your primary care physician (PCP) is the first line of defense in getting well and staying well. If you don’t already have a PCP, it’s best to find the right one before you get sick.
A trusted partner in your good health “It’s important to have a relationship with a PCP you trust and are comfortable with, even when you feel great,” says Jorge Lindenbaum, MD, an internal medicine specialist with Lindenbaum Perryman and Associates-UPMC and medical director of the UPMC Mercy South Side Walk-in Primary Care Clinic. By getting to know you and your health history, your PCP can provide you with the best care possible.
Someone to watch over you Research indicates that people who have an ongoing relationship with a PCP are healthier than those without one. “Personalized care leads to patient trust, and that is vitally important in the doctor-patient relationship,” says Dr. Lindenbaum. Patients who trust their doctors are shown to have improved outcomes, such as better control of their diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. If you need advanced care, your PCP is the most effective and efficient link to medical specialists, or advanced services or treatments. “For patients and their families, having a PCP to coordinate their care with specialists and other providers is a huge relief,” adds Dr. Lindenbaum. Since early detection can minimize the impact of many illnesses, your PCP will recommend screenings, including annual physicals, Pap tests, breast examinations and mammograms; prostate screenings, and colonoscopies. “Without a PCP, you might ignore important health maintenance issues,” he says.
Finding Dr. Right A PCP can be a family medicine physician, internal medicine specialist, pediatrician, or obstetrician/gynecologist. With so many types of PCPs, how do you choose? For many adults, internal medicine specialists or family practitioners are their PCP of choice. These physicians are equipped to deal with all kinds of health problems, whether simple or complex. “The benefit of having access to highquality, comprehensive care at one convenient location is something patients really appreciate,” says Dr. Lindenbaum. Two new physicians recently joined Lindenbaum Perryman and Associates-UPMC and are accepting new patients. Kelly Chaney, DO, an internal medicine specialist, earned her medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisberg, W.Va., and completed a residency in internal medicine at UPMC Mercy. John Wohar, DO, also completed a residency in internal medicine at UPMC Mercy. He received his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pa. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Chaney, Dr. Wohar, or any UPMC physician, call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).
Did You Know? Back-to-school and sports physicals as well as vaccinations for children of all ages are available at the UPMC Mercy South Side Walk-in Primary Care Clinic, located at 2000 Mary St. Appointments aren’t needed, and parking is free and plentiful. Clinic hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 412-488-5705.
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 1-800-533-UPMC 51 7
UPMC Mercy
1400 Locust St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219
UPMC Today is published quarterly to provide you with health and wellness information and classes and events available at UPMC. This publication is for information purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice or replace a physician’s medical assessment. Always consult first with your physician about anything related to your personal health.
Follow UPMC on Facebook.
The name you trust in women’s health is right here at Mercy. UPMC Mercy ob-gyn services are growing to provide comprehensive women’s services by bringing you the same experts who practice at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. In addition to community-based physicians and midwifery, these expanding services for women are consistent with Mercy’s rich tradition of care. UPMC’s complete range of specialty services for women covers obstetrics and gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, midlife health, women’s cancer, and much more. From checkups and preventive care to testing, diagnosis, and advanced treatments, the superb doctors, nurses, and caregivers at Mercy and Magee are with you every step of the way on the path to good health. We work closely with your primary care physician to provide seamless care. And every service is backed by UPMC’s world-class care, providing peace of mind when you need it most. To learn more about UPMC Mercy ob-gyn services or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762), or visit UPMCMercy.com.
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IC912
25 years as your Trusted hearing healthcare provider
Peters Township 724.942.4700 Washington 724.222.9010 North Hills 412.364.8338
25 YEARS as your TRUSTED
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Hearing724-942-4700 Healthcare Professionals 412-364-8338
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with no service, or to pay ith more thanADVERTISEMENT 25 years of expertise when it comes to hearing a little more with bundled improvement, Swift Audiology’s Debra Swift admits that the services, batteries, and world of hearing aids can be an enormous, confusing sea of warranties that provide choices for those with hearing impairment. everything you need for However, that same expertise allows her to help her clients cut the life of the aids to hear well and extends the life of through the confusion to get to a personalized solution that’s convenient, the aids? If a patient needs that lower price range, we have quality aids that’s convenient, programmed to customize and affordable. “A lot of with services, follow up for life and batteries included for that price. We people think that buying a hearing aid is like buying a computer,” she explain the differences and you make an educated choice. There are many said. “But once they have that computer, can they program it for future options, and you’re never stuck with your choice, if it isn’t satisfactory.” improvements to accommodate changes in their hearing? Can they Swift Audiology has helped patients continue to hear well for the maintain it and keep it functioning like the day it was new? We counsel past 25 years. With free trials, 45 day NO RISK returns and 90 days our clients right off the bat about their hearing aids, how to develop good to trade to another type or technology—these benefits make Swift practices in order to maintain them at home, as well as providing free in Audiology stand out. office service, cleaning, free batteries and replacement of parts as needed. Experience does matter when choosing a professional. Choose a Hearing is a brain function. The ears are the pathway and that local practice that you can trust with credentials and skilled Professionals pathway becomes damaged due to noise, aging, illnesses, ototoxic to work with you . They will help you find your best hearing aid solution. medications, or even hereditary factors. Almost 95% of hearing loss is You will make a safe investment in Better Hearing for YOUR quality sensorineural (nerve loss) and hearing aids are needed to make up for the of life. Call our most convenient location near you for a no cost, no damaged hair cells (nerve). Hearing aids get the missing information to obligation, no risk Screening and Trial. g the brain, so that the brain can cognitively process speech and the sounds of the world that keep us acclimated and in communication with people! This is called aural rehabilitation and it is a process that takes time. Studies posted in the Archives of Neurology have linked hearing loss to Alzheimer’s/dementia. For every 10% of hearing loss that goes untreated over a prolonged period of time, the risk for developing dementia is increased by 20%. We have certainly seen the relationship between hearing loss and dementia for years in our practice. How can Tammy Swift Janelle Kisiday Debra Swift B.C.-H.I.S. Leslie Dunst we remember what we don’t hear or understand clearly? The brain slows President/Founder MS.-CCCA Au.D., Apprentice 25 years in practice Senior Audiologist Dr of Audiology PA. Fitter cognitively and it takes extra effort to understand conversations, which is not only tiring but also frustrating, embarrassing and impacts the person’s self-confidence and sense of well-being, according to a National Council on Aging study. This study has shown that untreated hearing loss can lead to isolation and depression as well. Wearing hearing aids daily reverses these effects and maintains cognitive processing. “We set realistic expectations in our counseling when we’re fitting a patient. They know what to expect. They know the brain will adjust. In the first month, they come in for several visits during this acclimation period,” Swift said. “People with hearing aids, when set properly, have benefit, but it’s not overwhelming. Adjustments are made at future visits to provide normal hearing as the patient acclimates.” With Swift’s maintenance and counseling plan, which includes, IC912 annual hearing tests and reprogramming of your aids, as well as lifetime Peters Township 724.942.4700 quarterly cleaning and free batteries, during FREE walk-in clinics daily, Washington 724.222.9010 North Hills 412.364.8338 our Patients can not only hear again at optimal benefit, but they can go 25 years as your Trusted hearing healthcare provider about their lives not worrying that their investments in their hearing will North Hills Washington Peter’s Township be wasted. 5900 Corporate Dr. Ste. 260 3035 Washington Rd. 2107 N. Franklin Dr. “Not having the extended services that we offer, is one of the reasons (Pittsburgh Office & Research Park) (Dr. Feuer/Happel Laser Bldg.) why so many hearing aids end up in the drawer after a time period,” Swift (Washington Eye Center) Renamed: McCandless Corporate Center 724-942-4700 724-222-9010 said. “A good provider will set you up on a program to cover all of these 412-364-8338 things on an ongoing basis. Then you have value and benefit for the cost. Is it better to buy a hearing aid for $1,000 that ends up in a drawer, ADVERTISEMENT Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 53
Fallacies
of Varicose Veins and Chronic Venous Insufficiency 1. Spider veins are the same as varicose veins. Spider veins and varicose
veins are caused by dysfunctional valves within the vein. Spider veins appear as a nest of veins just below the surface of the skin. They typically do not bulge above the surface. Varicose veins, however, are a sign of more significant venous disease and should be diagnosed and treated by a physician.
2. Prolonged standing does not play a role in varicose vein development.
Regularly spending a large part of a workday on your feet, puts you at higher risk for developing varicose veins. In an attempt to reduce the strain standing causes, individuals with careers that require prolonged standing should make a point to walk regularly and perform isolated calf exercises by contracting and relaxing the calf muscles to assist the veins in “pumping� blood through the leg veins.
3. Varicose veins are a cosmetic issue and do not need treatment.
Varicose veins were previously thought of as a cosmetic condition. However, contemporary understanding of the actual disease process indicates varicose veins can ultimately progress to a more serious condition called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). If left untreated, CVI is a progressively deteriorating disease that
can result in increasingly serious signs and symptoms. Leg pain, swelling, restlessness, skin damage and ulcers are all potential symptoms of untreated venous insufficiency. As a treatable condition, varicose veins should be evaluated by a physician and various minimally-invasive treatments can be explored before the varicose veins progress.
4. Excessive weight does not contribute to varicose veins and CVI. Being overweight is directly associated with the formation of varicose veins. Added pressure on the legs and ankles causes the veins to bulge and the resulting valve stress can lead to failure and CVI. Maintaining a healthy weight through healthy eating and regular exercise is recommended. By exercising and strengthening the calf muscles, improved venous flow by calf muscle augmentation is achieved.
5. Men do not develop varicose veins and CVI. Men and women are both at risk
to develop varicose veins and CVI. More than 40% of men develop venous disease before the age of 60. Unfortunately, the majority of men do not seek treatment until the condition worsens. While this is still able to be treated, early recognition and timely treatment are the best way to treat varicose veins and CVI.
6. Compression stockings and elevating your feet are cures for varicose veins. Compression stockings
provide external compression on the leg and this helps to reduce aching and swelling. This is a way to manage symptoms but does not affect the long term management of the disease in any positive way. People with varicose veins, who choose to manage their symptoms with only compression stockings, will need to continue to wear stockings for as long as they live. Similarly, elevating the feet above the level of the heart when lying down will relieve some pressure and swelling, but is also temporary. As soon as the patient resumes an upright posture, the benefit of elevation is lost.
7. Genetics and age do not play a role in the development of varicose veins and CVI. Women older than 50
are most likely to develop venous disease. However, men and women of all ages can develop varicose veins and experience venous insufficiency. If you have a family member with varicose veins or CVI, you are more likely to develop varicose veins in your lifetime. Therefore, genetics and age play a significant role in the development of varicose veins.
8. Varicose veins do not develop after trauma. Trauma to the legs has been
shown to lead to the development of signs and symptoms of CVI and varicose veins. Injuries where significant swelling or bruising is produced are at times associated with varicose vein development.
9. Pregnancy does not cause varicose
veins. Pregnancy increases blood volume, hormones cause the veins to be more pliable and external compression to the pelvic veins during pregnancy causes increased pressure inside the leg veins. These factors may contribute to the creation of varicose veins in the legs.
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stickley ad C:DHL Summer 2007
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What to do with your old electronics
Mobile phones, laptops, tablets, game consoles, cameras – electronic devices are a big part of American life. In fact, Americans own an average of 24 electronic products per household, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. With technology changing so rapidly and new “it” devices hitting the market every few months, a lot of those devices get discarded quickly. That adds up to a lot of potential e-waste. In fact, a recent survey found: • More than 90 million American adults 18 and over have unused technology products lying around the house. • As part of that pile of retired tech, a third of mobile phone users report owning unused phones — and more than half of those with unused phones own two or more. Some unused electronics just collect
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dust, but many get thrown away. The Environmental Protection Agency’s most recent report showed that nearly 1.8 million tons of e-waste was simply trashed. Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to keep old electronics out of the waste stream. DONATE. Donations give schools, nonprofits and lower-income families access to equipment they might not otherwise afford. Before donating, check with the organization to see what it needs. TRADE UP. If you are ready to upgrade to something new, ask your local electronics retailer if it is a program that lets you swap retired technology for store credit toward your purchase. RECYCLE. Electronics in nonworking condition should be recycled. Check www.Earth911.com or www.e-stewards.org to find a recycling center near you. Many states have regulations about disposing and recycling electronics. Learn more about your state’s laws at www.electronicstakeback.com. DON’T FORGET THE BATTERIES. Recycling your rechargeable batteries is another easy step you can take. Retailers also recycle rechargeable batteries. Find out more at www.Call2Recycle.org.
business spotlight
McMurray Dental Practice a Staple of the Community for More Than 30 Years D
r. Jay Feuer Family Dentistry is an established dental practice in McMurray. For over thirty years Dr. Jay’s office has been a landmark and a semi-annual stop for thousands of families living in the Peters Township and South Hills region. Patients new and familiar are treated by an attentive team of longterm employees in an office that is modern, efficient and at the same time, relaxed. Short waiting time for appointments has always been the standard for Dr. Jay’s patients, and as a family dentist, he likes to schedule plenty of time for both comprehensive care and pleasantries. He has treated multiple generations of many families and has cultivated a close-knit office staff that interacts warmly with patients and with each other. Some of Dr. Jay’s staff even join him for the community bingo he runs every Tuesday night.
for dentistry and teamwork - a foundation that has led to a successful practice that continues to grow and serve the community. In his spare time, Dr. Jay grows an extensive herb and vegetable garden; woodworking and furniture making take over in the winter months. Dr. Adam enjoys photography and maintains various corals and fish in a saltwater aquarium that he custom built recently. Dr. Jay is proud to welcome his son to his team of expert health care professionals, and the entire team is always eager to meet new patients and reconnect with existing patients. Stop by the office or visit the practice website at www.drfeuer.com to learn more about Dr. Jay Feuer Family Dentistry and schedule your next dental appointment.
In addition to the benefits of personalized care, patients choose Dr. Jay Feuer Family Dentistry for the advantages of its modern facility. Four comfortable, well-equipped patient rooms and the spacious front office are wirelessly connected, with immediate access to electronic medical records. Patient information is secure and up-to-date while being accessible to key staff members by password protected software. This makes the review of important patient history possible, with seamless integration of the digital radiography system. The digital X-rays offer significantly lower exposure to radiation than traditional film and provide instant results that are shared with patients on large, easy-to-view chairside monitors. While the practice has been ahead of the technology curve for many years, more renovations to the office continue with the addition of Dr. Jay’s son, Dr. Adam Feuer. Dr. Adam is a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and is trained in the latest advances in comprehensive oral care. Most established patients already know Dr. Adam for his winning smile and long-term involvement in the practice’s technology and business office. Returning patients will immediately recognize the newly renovated office, with coffee and tea provided daily in the waiting area. Dr. Adam also happens to be right-handed, while Dr. Jay is left-handed, necessitating some equipment updates that might have otherwise been optional! Drs. Adam and Jay Feuer share a gentle approach to dentistry and take pride in educating their patients, granting them the opportunity to choose the best treatment for their personal (and financial) health. They believe in their patients’ ability to make sound decisions when given their complete assessment and treatment options, whether they seek preventative or cosmetic care. They share an evident enthusiasm Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 57
N A L DY ESE RE
Dylan Reese has done some pretty nifty things on the ice as a hockey player.
The former defenseman for Upper St Clair High School was also captain of the midget major Pittsburgh Hornets, played for the USHL Pittsburgh Forge, and won a hockey scholarship to Harvard. He was drafted by the New York Rangers, and he played two seasons for the New York Islanders. When the National Hockey League training camps open this year, he’ll be attempting what would be the fulfillment of a lifelong dream— to earn a spot on the roster of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Reese, a 2002 graduate of Upper St. Clair High School, was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Penguins this summer. He played part of the last three seasons with the New York Islanders and their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport
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Welcomes Opportunity to Return to Roots as
Sound Tigers, and prior to that, had been part of the Columbus Blue Jackets organization in Syracuse. He made his professional debut in 2007 with the San Antonio Rampage, after signing with the Phoenix Coyotes. He never signed with the New York Rangers, after they drafted him in 2003. Reese went on to play four seasons at Harvard, where he not only led all defensemen and scoring for two seasons, but was part of the best defensive unit in the nation. He also served as captain of the Crimson in his senior year. His ability to play a solid game defensively along with his knack of scoring led to his ultimate signing with the Penguins. It is something both Reese and the Penguins hope will be a natural fit. “The vibe I got from the Penguins was encouraging,” Reese said. “They were one of the first teams to call, and they were very encouraging that they could see me fitting into the puzzle. I think that I’m a good two-way defenseman, and my style of getting the puck up to the forwards quickly suits their system. I got a good feeling from the Penguins that I could fit in really well.” The chance to play hockey in his hometown not only gives Reese the opportunity of a lifetime, but it also provides him a fresh start with an organization that has always been near and dear to him. “I’ve played in three organizations in the past five years, and it involved meeting whole new teams and adjusting to whole new systems,” Reese said. “There’s a comfort factor about being in Pittsburgh. I’ve skated with a lot of the Penguins’ players when they’ve been in town before camp, and I feel comfortable with the Pittsburgh staff and their system.” Reese, who turns 28 on August 29, has obviously grown in maturity and in hockey experience, but in a personal sense has always
“To be able to play in your hometown is really special. Not a lot of guys get that opportunity, and I’m really excited about it.”
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–Dylan Reese Upper St. Clair
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carried Upper St Clair and Pittsburgh with him wherever he has played. His connection with family and friends at home remain strong. During his professional career, he has endeavored to spend as much of the off season at home with parents Barry and Marcie Reese, and his younger brother Evan, 24, who now lives and works in Boston. “Evan is a huge Penguins fan, and he was probably more excited than anyone when I told him what was going on,” Reese said. “He has the NHL TV package and when the Penguins were on TV, he told me he’d try to catch some of my games when I was playing with the Islanders.” The Reese brothers grew up in the Mario Lemieux era in Pittsburgh, and Dylan said that Mario’s influence led to his decision to play hockey. Others however, helped him refine his skills, and helped him to become a better player and individual. “I had a lot of great coaches along the way,” Reese said. He includes Mike Magulik, his first coach with the Pittsburgh Hornets, Joe Gaul, his coach with the midget major Hornets, and former Penguins coach
By Earl Bugaile Kevin Constantine, whom he played for with the Pittsburgh Forge. “He had an incredible hockey mind, and one of the best developmental coaches I’ve ever played for.” Reese also credits his family and his father as his biggest supporters and those who influenced him the most. “My dad was a big believer in if you’re going to do something, you do it the right way,” he said. “He said to put your heart in it and learn how to skate and learn the fundamentals of the game before you play. I credit my dad for getting me skating lessons for a year and a
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“It’s been a long hard road for me so far,” Reese said. “For me, it’s been a humble process. I’ve never felt like I deserve anything special. I’m still the same person I always was growing up. I feel very lucky to have fans, sign autographs and have hockey cards of myself. I think that’s a privilege and something I don’t think you can take for granted. Yes, it’s special, but it’s also very humbling.” When he returns to his home in Upper St. Clair, Reese said he prefers just relaxing with family, and hanging out with his hockey and non-hockey friends still living in the area. “My friends from Upper St Clair still
“My dad is a big believer in if you’re going to do something, you do it the right way.” –Dylan Reese
half before I started even playing hockey. That was at age seven.” Reese, and another Upper St. Clair graduate and close friend, Grant Lewis, a defenseman in the Nashville Predators organization still skate with Barb Benedetti, his first skating coach prior to the opening of each season. Becoming an NHL player, however, has not changed the personality of Dylan Reese. He talks of the fame and glory with a sense of humility. It has been a part of his personality since he played in high school.
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remain my best friends today, even though some of them may be all over the United States,” he said. “As far as relaxing, I don’t play golf, but I do like the beach. But most of all, I just like getting together with my friends. Pittsburgh is my home and my heart, and it’s extra special to come back.” The prospect of being a part of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2012-13 remains a dream yet to be realized. “Not many guys get the chance to play in their hometown,” Reese said. “No matter where you’re playing, there’s really not much outside of the team. To be able to play in your hometown is really special. Not a lot of guys get that opportunity, and I’m really excited about it.”
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Chiropractic
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
By Dr. Tyson Swigart
WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC? Chiropractic is a healing art that emphasizes the importance of body structure, alignment and movement. Chiropractic and other manual therapies have been practiced since antiquity. Chiropractic made its official start as an organized healing profession in 1895 when D.D. Palmer introduced the concept of a specific, short lever manipulation of the spine. This was a step beyond the traction, massage and ancient “bone setting” that had been recorded as far back in history as Hippocrates. Chiropractic is practiced widely throughout the U.S. and in almost every country in the world. Today, most chiropractors combine spinal manipulations or “adjustments” with physical medicine and exercise. Many chiropractors also incorporate massage therapy techniques and nutrition to help patients get well and stay well. There are numerous specialties and treatment styles. HOW ARE CHIROPRACTORS DIFFERENT FROM MEDICAL DOCTORS? Chiropractors emphasize a drug free and non-surgical approach to healing that promotes the concept that the body will heal itself if given the proper assistance. Today’s medical doctors and chiropractors have very similar levels of education and often will work in conjunction to provide treatment to a patient.
as to attribute a large portion of their success to chiropractic’s ability to prevent injury and improve performance. DO INSURANCE COMPANIES COVER CHIROPRACTIC CARE? Most insurance companies cover chiropractic care without referrals from another doctor. In fact, many insurance companies that previously did not cover chiropractic care now have added this benefit due to its cost effectiveness. Please feel free to call our office if you have any additional questions in regards to the nature and effectiveness of chiropractic treatment. This INDUSTRY INSIGHT was written by Marcella and Tyson Swigart. Tyson Swigart, DC, CCSP, CSCS, has been the owner and founder of Southpointe Chiropractic and Fitness since 1999. He is a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic and the University of Maryland. In addition to his experience as a physician, Dr. Swigart is an exercise physiologist, former college professor, and former collegiate strength and conditioning coach. He has worked extensively with athletes of all ages and levels of competitive sports. Dr. Swigart and his wife Marcella, a registered nurse, reside in Upper St. Clair with their four children.
WHAT KIND OF CONDITIONS DO CHIROPRACTORS COMMONLY TREAT? Chiropractic physicians most commonly treat neck pain and back pain that can come from a variety of conditions. However, chiropractic care is not limited to the spine. Many chiropractors work on other parts of the body including shoulders, elbows, knees and feet. Chiropractic is a very effective form of treatment for disc herniation, arthritic conditions and migraine headaches. Many parents also take their children to chiropractors for the prevention of ear infections and to promote health. IS CHIROPRACTIC CARE SAFE? Yes. Because chiropractors do not utilize drugs or surgery, chiropractic care is among the safest forms of healthcare. Side effects from chiropractic treatments are very rare. HOW LONG DOES CHIROPRACTIC TAKE TO WORK? This depends on the nature and chronicity of the condition. Generally speaking, the longer a condition has been around, the longer it takes to treat. Treatment time is also dependent on severity of a condition. Most conditions should begin to improve within a few weeks. If improvement isn’t seen within an expected window of time, changes in treatment and the necessary referrals will be made. ONCE YOU GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR DO YOU HAVE TO GO FOREVER? No. However, many chiropractic patients feel so much better with treatment, they will continue to maintain regular visits to promote well-being or to control pain. Also, chiropractic plays a large role in preventative care to help patients maintain a healthy lifestyle. CAN ATHLETES BENEFIT FROM CHIROPRACTIC CARE? Absolutely! Many top-level athletes such as Michael Jordan, Jerry Rice and Tiger Woods are proponents of chiropractic care, even going so far Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 61
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HOW TO BUY AUTO INSURANCE
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f you are like most people the terms 100/300, full or limited tort, comp & collision deductibles sound like a foreign language. That’s particularly true when they are used in the context of auto insurance. The purpose of this article is to help you understand these terms and to help you answer the questions we all should be asking when determining which auto insurance to buy. There is certainly no shortage of questions regarding which auto insurance to buy: which agent should I choose, which company is best for me, how are they at paying claims, etc. These are all important questions, but whichever agent or company you choose, there are three primary questions that need answers. Those are: 1. What Liability limits do I need? 2. Should I choose Full or Limited Tort coverage? 3. What Comprehensive & Collision deductibles should I choose?
Liability Limits The question concerning Liability limits is listed first because it is by far the most important of the three. This decision determines how much your insurance company will pay when you are held responsible for injuries or damages to other people or their property while driving. Typically these limits are stated in terms like $100,000/$300,000/$100,000. The first of these numbers is the amount the insurance company will pay for injuries you cause to each of the other parties involved in the accident. The second number is the most the company will pay for all injuries to other parties, regardless of the number of people injured, and the third is the amount the company will pay for damages to other people’s property. The purpose of this coverage is to keep you from having to pay for other people’s injuries or damages out of your existing assets. So the questions then become: what amount of injuries or damages am I likely to cause and what amount of assets am I trying to protect. The answers to these questions will vary with individual circumstance, but anyone who has recently visited an emergency room with an injured or sick loved one can tell you that expenses mount up quick. We recommend limits of at least $100,000/$300,000/$100,000, with strong consideration for $250,000/$500,000/$100,000. The additional premium for the higher limits is typically relatively small. If the additional premium is of concern you can choose higher Comprehensive & Collision deductibles and use the reduction in these premiums to pay for the higher Liability limits. Thus our catchphrase of “Don’t let a bad day become a bad lifetime.” In other words, better a few more dollars out of pocket now rather than having to liquidate assets because you didn’t have enough insurance to cover all of the injuries or damages.
choose for Comprehensive & Collision coverage are a function of two things: 1) the highest deductible that would not cause you unacceptable stress on your monthly budget and, 2) how much premium you would save by going to a higher deductible. In the first instance, no one wants to have to pay the deductible in the event of an accident, but the additional premium for a lower deductible is a guaranteed expense whereas the deductible is an expense only if you have an accident. In the second instance, if you can save $100 in premium by raising your deductible from $250 to $500, you will be better off financially unless you have more than one accident over a three-year period. You would save $300 in premiums over three years, but only pay $250 if you only have one accident in that three-year period. Combining the answers to these three questions with the advice of a personal agent who knows you & your community will allow you to spend your insurance dollars wisely.
Full or Limited Tort Full Tort simply means your right to sue another party for injuries, loss of income, lost income, and pain & suffering when you’re involved in an accident is unrestricted. Limited Tort means that you voluntarily surrender or limit your right to sue for pain & suffering (sometimes referred to as non-monetary damages). Opinions on which to choose vary and the decision is ultimately up to each individual, but the important thing to know is that Limited Tort can significantly reduce premiums.
Deductible Levels Comprehensive coverage pays for, with a few exceptions, any damage to your vehicle other than Collision. The deductibles you Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 63
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Madeleine LaPorte and dog Murphy (who won 2nd Place for Cutest Dog).
AND
DAY.
Members of the Beta Sigma Phi organization and their daughters. L to R: Kristen Kiesling, Courtney Kiesling, Carolyn Kerr and Daryl Criss
The Morgan family waiting for the parade to begin. L to R: Lillian, Joseph, Nicholas and Laura Morgan
Swigart family attending USC Community Day. Top (L to R): Marcella, Madelyn, Grace, Paige Stevenson (cousin). Bottom (L to R): Violet, Tyson
Boy Scout Troop No. 366
64 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Peyton and Kendall Green
Upper St. Clair
Anna Siegfried and Rebecca Patton, members of USC High School Environmental Club
Residents couldn’t have asked for better weather. The kickoff event was a 9 a.m. “Fun Run.” Next was the “Hottest Dog” contest, where proud families showed off their adorable pets. Fair booths lined the parking lot of the municipal building where adults, children (and even pets!) could find fun things to do like ring toss, face painting, eating Italian ice or learning about different local organizations, such as the local chapter of Beta Sigma Phi or the Upper St. Clair Citizens for Land Stewardship. Beta Sigma Phi was raising money to donate food and extend services to Interfaith Hospitality
Shannon Parker, Tess Dupree, Jolie Oswald
Network. Preston Shimer, board member of USC Citizens for Land Stewardship, patiently explained to anyone who stopped by how the
People enjoying the sun near the 1830 Log House.
organization is trying to get rid of non-native invasive plants that are crowding out the rest of the plant and animal life in the region. Members of the high school’s Spectrum Club, which provided the face painting and hair wraps, were raising money to promote equality. Other organizations rallied to raise money and support their own causes as well, such as the Environmental Club, the Boy Scouts Troop 366 and A Cause for Paws. By the way, did you know that the USC High School Environmental Club competed in a recycling contest with Mt. Lebanon High School and won? If that weren’t fun and exciting (and even somewhat academic) enough, tours of Gilfillan Farm
and
Homestead
were
available
Members of USC High School’s A Cause for Paws. L to R: Marisa Fobbs, Lyndsey Nagy and Abbey Ciancio
all
afternoon, the infamous 1830 Log House was open, there were inflatables and a petting zoo, pony rides and a treasure hunt. Perhaps the most anticipated event, however, was the Community Day parade. Relaxed and smiling families lined the street to wait for it to begin, chatting and conversing with one another. It began (and ended!) with a bang and kids chased after candy that was tossed into the street while everyone enjoyed the music and lively spirit of the day. Unarguably, USC’s Community Day had
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Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 65
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Kim Guzzi (far right), President of the 1830 Log House Association
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a friendly, sociable and upbeat vibe. It is clear that residents of Upper St. Clair truly have a sense of community. They relate to one another easily and eagerly and there definitely is a sense of camaraderie. Resident Marcella Swigart noted that she’d moved five times in seven years, but she found herself staying with her family in USC. Why? “It is community oriented, there are wonderful events for families, and it’s a great school district. Third grader Madeleine LaPorte, who attends Baker Elementary, would agree. Madeleine likes her school because “there are a lot of nice kids. There really are no mean people…in school we’ve talked a lot about bullying. Also, the teachers are really nice.” Seventh grader Tess Dupree remarked, “We all know each other…we’re like family.”
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he Little Sisters of the Poor are preparing to celebrate their 140th anniversary with “A Heavenly Feast.” On October 25 the Little Sisters will continue their celebration of 140 years of caring for the elderly poor in Pittsburgh by serving up “A Heavenly Feast” Celebrity Chef Tasting. Eight priests from the Diocese of Pittsburgh, who are celebrity chefs in their own right, will dazzle guests with their culinary wizardry. The evening, hosted by Honorary Chair Bishop David Zubik, will take place at the newly renovated Cardinals’ Great Hall at the St. Paul Seminary. The evening will include an offering Wines from Cana and homemade Lemoncello, special recipes from the chefs’ own collections, a unique assortment of live auction items, and the presentation of the St. Jeanne Jugan Medal to the Sisters’ longtime board chair and friend James F. Will. John Barsotti, owner of The Common Plea, will lend his expertise from over 30 years as a restaurateur in Pittsburgh and provide support to the celebrity chefs as they offer their splendors to over 300 guests. This event will serve as the major fundraiser for the Little Sisters of the Poor as they pursue their mission of promoting the dignity of life for so many elderly poor in our region who otherwise would not know such security and love in their final years. With the generous support of friends and benefactors, the Little Sisters of the Poor will continue their legacy of maintaining one of the top 39 nursing homes in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report. Tickets are $150/person.
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We support: *WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT* Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 67
What’s Your
I
Recipe for Retirement?
was recently watching a local cooking show on public television. The host was commenting that in his 18 years of doing the show there was one particular chicken recipe that had been requested by viewers far more often than any other recipe. He said “not a week has gone by that someone does not stop me on the street or call the station for this recipe.” I thought to myself that having that recipe written down and ready to distribute for people to follow the directions had led to many a successful meal with a satisfied outcome. All anyone needed to do was just follow the recipe.
The good news is planning, at least the initial financial planning, need not be difficult or overly detailed. I’m a financial planner, not a cook. However, the secret to a successful retirement is having a financial plan (your own recipe) that you can follow to create a satisfied outcome. Almost anyone who has accomplished any goal, be it business, financial, personal or fitness, has typically followed a plan. So why don’t we all have financial plans? Are our financial goals not important? Of course they are, but planning takes time, can be difficult, and may require us to take action or behave differently. Therefore, it can be easy to postpone this task until we have more time or think that we will. The good news is planning, at least the initial financial planning, need not be difficult or overly detailed. The fabulous recipe above that had been the most successful in the history of the cooking show, other than the chicken, had just three ingredients. I couldn’t believe how simple it was to make and what a great meal it made. Financial planning does not have to be complicated or intimidating. I have one couple who has a very simple plan. They want to accumulate 3 million dollars by age 60. They are most of the way there, with different “planning” along the way, but the basic plan was simple. If you need help developing your own unique financial plan, please give me a call. We have helped thousands of families develop their own recipe for a successful retirement. It may start with a very simple goal and then it will become a more detailed financial plan as your assets grow. The likelihood of your assets growing purposely to meet your financial objectives will increase if you have developed a written plan with someone who has helped 68 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
many people transition from work to retirement. If you don’t need help with a financial plan but want the chicken recipe, give me a call anyway! Mike. This INDUSTRY INSIGHT is provided by Bill Few Associates. For more information or to speak with a Bill Few Associates financial consultant, call 412.630.6000 or visit www.billfew.com. OUR LOCATIONS: 740 Washington Road, Suite 100 Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228
Micheal K. Kauffelt II, CFA President and Chief Investment Officer
107 Mt. Nebo Pointe, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15237
BLAH Beautiful
From
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hat can change your skin from blah to beautiful with a 20-30 minute treatment? The VI Peel can! This is a freshening facial peel, rejuvenating your skin and giving you the boost you need. This chemical peel can clear up acne, blemishes and pigmented skin in as little as one week. It helps to remove discoloration, pigmented patches of skin and increase cellular turnover and collagen production. It can also help with precancerous cells, but we must remember anyone with a history of skin cancer should always see their doctor on a regular basis for a check-up. Let’s begin by talking about the acne patient. This peel is excellent for both adult and adolescent acne sufferers. The results are quick and quite impressive. Combined with a daily skin regimen, most acne cases can be safely managed. Another plus is that often patients who suffer with cold sores are told not to get chemical peels. Although these patients may be asked to premedicate prior to their peel, they can certainly receive the peel—which is a big step forward from the chemical peels of the past. This skin treatment can also be used to improve the appearance of the skin not only on the face, but the chest and hands, as well. It can improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, age spots and enlarged pores. Another way it bestows a more youthful glow is by brightening the overall appearance of the skin and improving cellular turnover. This is all accomplished by using a chemical solution to remove the upper layers of skin allowing the growth of fresh new skin that is smoother and more youthful in appearance. The advantages of this type of rejuvenation are that it is basically pain free, little to no downtime, and you may return to normal activities almost immediately. It is safe and effective on all skin types, where the chemical peels of the past were not able to be done on Mt. Lebanon | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 81
to
darker skin tones, such as Asian, Latino or African-Americans. The actual peel takes about 30 minutes to complete in the office and then needs to be left on for 5 hours and washed off by the patient at home. You may feel slight stinging when it is applied, but it quickly subsides. You can receive them every 2 weeks, until desired results are achieved, however, most patients need only 1 initial treatment and to follow up with 3 to 4 times per year for continual skin renewal and luminosity.
The peeling usually begins 3 days after the office treatment and can last up to one week. You should avoid sun exposure as much as possible at this time. Moisturizer may be used during this time to mask the appearance of the feathery peeling. For those who need help refining their skin or those who have problem skin, the VI Peel is your answer. Let this new and innovative skin peel help to deliver the radiant luminosity that you have always wanted.
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 69
By Amanda Fastuca
The prospect of bringing a pet into the family might come up every now and then in conversation, with questions still up in the air. The truth is, it all depends on which house pet is right for you. According to the 2011-2012 American Pet Products Association (APPA), in the National Pet Owners Survey, researchers found that there are about 72.9 million households in the United States that have at least one pet. That’s more than 60 percent of the U.S. population who are considered pet owners! This number has drastically increased within the last 20 years. The survey’s results also show that the benefits of owning a pet include relieving stress, creating companionship, and just making a pleasant change in your daily life. Describing only a few of the many household pets in the U.S., it’s proven that those who have a close relationship with their animals tend to live a longer and healthier life. It especially helps those who might suffer from depression or illnesses.
70 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
–––––– FISH –––––– There are currently about 151.1 million freshwater fish that are owned within the U.S., making them the number one household pet. Because of the way fish peacefully glide through the water, they are known to have a calming effect on their owners. Fish are also an easier, less expensive alternative to a larger pet. Although the prices can vary, depending on the type of fish and aquarium, fish are generally an affordable investment. Owning fish requires little maintenance; however it is very important that they are still cared for on a regular basis. The main and most important responsibilities in caring for fish are as follows: • Appropriate feeding • Checking water temperature and equipment • Cleaning the tank or aquarium when necessary
Our Pet
–––––– CATS –––––– Cats are the second most popular pets owned in the United States. With 86.4 million house cats, they are an affordable way to add a loving animal member to your home. For the most part, cats are easy to maintain. Because they have a natural instinct to clean themselves, frequent bathing is not necessary. Although commitment and plenty of care is essential, house cats usually don’t require too much attention, making them great pets for those who are generally busy throughout the day. Prices also vary when it comes to choosing the right cat. Some breeds range from 500-1,000 dollars, plus other expenses like food, vaccines, operations and other necessities. However, adoptions from shelters are becoming more and more popular. Cat adoption varies from about 100-150 dollars, making the purchase much more affordable. In fact, many cat lovers might agree that adoption is the best way to go.
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While operating my own pet sitting business over an eight-year period, I became increasingly concerned about the various health afflictions that I was seeing in my customers’ dogs and cats. The list of ailments appearing over and over again included allergies, itchy skin, ear infections, auto-immune disorders and a multitude of other problems. I began researching these health concerns and discovered that every symptom seemed to point to food and environment. If one of your pets is suffering from any of these ailments (or not) and you just want to give your pet the best please come and see what we have to offer.
–––––– DOGS –––––– Number three on the list of the most-owned house pets belongs to “man’s best friend,” a dog. There are about 78.2 million domestic dogs in the U.S. With their energetic personalities and great sense of companionship, dogs require the most attention. Depending on the breed, grooming and hygiene care must be taken with full responsibility. Along with grooming comes time and commitment to training and building a strong relationship. Training can be time consuming, but is well worth it when accomplished. As most of us already know, dogs are known to be quite active and playful. According to the previously mentioned survey, 40 percent of dog owners say that they are more motivated to exercise on a regular basis than those who do not own a dog. Like cats, dogs can get quite expensive as well, depending on the breed. Purchasing a pet-quality puppy can be anywhere from about 300 to over 1,500 dollars. However, adoption can go as low as 60-70 dollars. Additional costs also must be kept in mind. When the topic of animal shelters and adoption comes about, certain points should be highly considered. With such a low percentage of rescued pets being returned to their original owners, about 5-7 million animals are kept in a shelter or rescue society.
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724.942.0940 Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 71
n o i t c e n n o C m m o s i o t r u s s A a s l ’ C D r o o d t u ABOAR O e h T d n a of PA nt e v E t s u g for Au
p U m a e T
D STORY AN PHY BY A R G O T PHO K O. PAULIC MELANIEE
I
n today’s world, it is increasingly difficult to find space and time to exist without an Internet connection, without noise, and without other technological distractions. There is, however, a wellknown cure for this problem: Mother Nature! The need for youth to exist in and become intimately acquainted with nature is not a surprise—research and common sense show that fresh air and green space is the best for optimal health and overall brain functioning. This is true for all people, and it is also true for children with autism. On Saturday, August 4, ABOARD’s Autism Connection of PA sponsored a nature event hosted by The Outdoor Classroom of Boyce Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair. The goal of this event was to connect autistic children with nature in order to appeal to their senses in a gentle way as well as increase the comfort level of the families involved. ABOARD’s Autism Connection of PA was established in 1996 by a group of parents who met to foster support and encouragement among one another. Today, the group continues to provide a lifeline to families and individuals affected by autism. Connecting families remains a top priority, as well as providing
72 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
helpful resources that enable people to navigate unique challenges. ABOARD has had many successful outdoor events in the past, including an outing with Three Rivers Rowing, where the children learned how to paddle and row, as well as an event with Autism Outdoors at Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Commons Park where the youth had an opportunity to try yoga, wall climbing, paddling and an obstacle course. The Outdoor Classroom in Boyce Park was a perfect place for ABOARD’s next outdoor event. On 475 acres of land, The Outdoor Classroom is open to everyone from dawn until dusk. The mission of this nonprofit organization is to “highlight the connections between people and the natural world of Southwestern Pennsylvania through programs, exhibits, and resources in order to foster informed stewardship of the environment.” On August 4, ABOARD’s Autism Connection of PA and The Outdoor Classroom teamed up to provide an interesting, interactive day for the children and their families. Events included a birding stroll, crafts in the Learning Lab, nature hike, marshmallow roasting, bug hunt, Chartiers Creek exploration and an insect safari. Of course, a large part of the positive activity of the day was families meeting and interacting with other families who have children with autism. On that Saturday afternoon, the sun
was shining and only the sounds of nature could be heard. Children walked on trails that showcased the best that the park had to offer and chose activities that suited their particular interests. Everything was gently, soothingly inspiring and relaxing. There were soft-spoken words of direction, explanation and encouragement. It was a peaceful environment and the children were relaxed. What, exactly, is autism? According to Lu Randall, executive director of ABOARD’S Autism Connection of PA, autism is a brainbased disorder that is caused by nerve cell overgrowth and by nerve fibers developing and going in the wrong directions in the brain. A person with autism may have parts of the brain that are too small, too big, or missing entirely; those with it are biologically different. An autistic person’s behavior stems, for the most part, from the struggle to cope with everyday
life with a different sensory system and different ability to process emotions. These individuals are challenged to communicate needs and wants. Although people are becoming more aware of autism, there still are frequent misconceptions about it. For example, Mrs. Randall explains that a common misconception is that people with autism behave a certain way in order to gain attention. Or, that parents have somehow raised their autistic children incorrectly if they demonstrate big, dramatic types of behaviors. Randall believes that people “really need to listen to parents who have undergone a life-changing moment at diagnosis and then are supposed to somehow figure out exactly what to do every single minute of every day, with no road map, in order to keep their children safe, healthy and happy. It’s a really overwhelming continued on next page
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 73
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from previ
situation and we as a society need to be better about providing inclusive activities and asking how to help instead of judging.” For parents and leaders who deal with autism on a daily basis, it’s all about providing happy days and respecting the individual. Randall says that there are families who call ABOARD with stories about being asked to keep an autistic child home from a family function or holiday. She explains, “…we all behave better when we are treated with respect.” In that vein, she recommends that, overall, children with autism should be treated age-appropriately. Randall relates the story of how she once walked into a school nurse’s office and saw a 13-year-old with autism. She fist-bumped him and said, “What’s up, dog?” He smiled shyly and replied, “Nothing, what’s up dog?” The nurse was amazed, as she had been working very hard for him to say “good morning” and shake her hand. But that’s just not what 13-year-olds do right now, Randall explains. Overall, children or adults with autism should be treated age-appropriately and we should presume they are of high intelligence. Autistic children tend to be diagnosed when the demands of their environment exceed their abilities. As Randall explains, that’s a fancy way of saying that they “hit a wall.” Some babies hit a wall when they cannot show what they need, so they cry incessantly. Some toddlers ‘hit a wall’ when they cannot share and want to be in their own world, so they may hit another child in preschool or daycare. The same kinds of things can happen when kids enter kindergarten, middle school, high school, or when adults first try 74 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
to go to college or get a job. A person can be diagnosed at any of those points when their brain cannot handle what is required in the situation. That is why it’s called an “autism spectrum”—there are many different functioning levels. As for the popular, ever-changing discussion as to the triggers or causes of autism, Randall thinks that it’s safe to say that there are many different kinds of autism and therefore probably many different triggers. Generally it is accepted that there is a genetic difference in people who have autism. This does not necessarily mean that autism runs in families, but that there is sometimes an error in the genetic code of an individual (the trigger unknown) that creates different brain development that then results in autism. In order to continue to provide support, resources, and help for families of children with autism, ABOARD’s Autism Connection of PA has successfully organized other types of events, such as meeting
the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus when the mall was closed and the music and lights were dimmed. They have also hosted two Apple Store open houses, where, similarly, the store was closed to everyone else and children and their families had a chance to explore some new, helpful apps with the help of speech pathologists and Apple staff. If providing happy days for autistic children is one of the primary goals of ABOARD, then it was completely successful with the program at The Outdoor Classroom in August.
ABOARD is always open to trying new ideas for people of any religion or cultural background. To suggest an idea, or to gather more general information about autism and the region’s support groups, please visit www.autism-support.org or call 412.781.4116. For more information on The Outdoor Classroom, please visit www.TheOutdoorClassroomPA.org or call 412.838.0064.
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 75
412.670.5496 crescentbathsandkitchens.com 412.782.3300
Dare to Dream...
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“Creating a home with the lifestyles of the clients in mind gives home buyers not just a house, but a vacation, making every turn into the driveway a peaceful retreat from the world” – Jeff Costa
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www.costaexcavation.com 412.405.9514
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osta Homebuilders is a fourth generation, family-owned construction company based in Pittsburgh, PA. At Costa Homebuilders, our goal is simple: Provide our customers with the most positive experience possible throughout the building process. We are one of the area’s leading building companies, and our clients receive the finest product at the greatest value possible.
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77
NE, O n sio s i BUdY a m THE GET ONE D 2N e. pag
STEEL CITY AIRSOFT
E E FR
A Real-life Call of Duty
is g th brin 12 n o i / mpt /31 rede xp. 10 E For
V
ideo gamers have long been fans of the first-person shooter games like the Call of Duty and Halo series of games. But what if you could get off the couch and take it a step further with your friends and family? At Steel City Airsoft, you can do just that and more, 7 days a week. “We have a 30,000 square-foot facility and I basically built a village inside,” said owner and airsoft enthusiast, Justin Caldwell. “If you don’t have your own airsoft weapons, we can provide them at a modest cost. After that, players can play a variety of games from capture the flag to team death matches.” For those who aren’t familiar with the sport, airsoft weapons are replicas of their real-life counterparts, which use compressed air to fire plastic bb’s at opponents. The concept is similar to paintball without the mess. The sport developed in the 1970s in Asian countries and was quickly exported and adopted worldwide. Game play is moderated by referees on the field to ensure maximum fun and safety for all players. Caldwell said he got into the sport via his son, and it has helped bring his entire family closer together through an activity they can all play and enjoy. “We played in the backyard for a while, and then I started looking around Pittsburgh for ways to expand the sport,” he said. “In Pennsylvania, it’s still pretty much a niche sport, but it’s growing. Next month, we’re off to a 500-person event that’s being held on a military base, so it’s gaining in popularity.” At Steel City Airsoft, the facility not only is open to the public, it can host private parties of 8 or more guests, open parties during regular play times, corporate team-building exercises, and law enforcement or military training exercises. “We have full rental packages available for pretty much any use of the facility,” Caldwell said. “We have certified firearms instructors on site who
emphasize safety and who can offer tips to improve your game.” Steel City Airsoft has been serving the Pittsburgh community for over three years, but recently moved its location to 100 Willow Avenue in Oakdale. It is open Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from noon-midnight, and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. Membership packages are also available for those who want to challenge their friends more often, which entitles members to reduced fees on play times and rental equipment. Children under 12 are required to have a parent on site during play. Because of the modular design of the new facility, Steel City Airsoft’s courses are always changing, giving players variety and constant new challenges.
For more information about Steel City Airsoft, go to www.steelcityairsoft.com, or call 412.437.8305.
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Upper St. Clair
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 79
Focusing on Reading Readiness for Children
M
any parents look forward to announcing that their child can read, but the truth is children are reading long before they can interpret the pages of the book. As with most things in life, reading requires the proper building blocks before it can begin. Reading begins with language and how it relates to your child’s world. Creating a language-rich environment will help your child’s vocabulary grow. Language develops with every interaction you have with your child – infants begin by reading their parents’ facial expressions while older children develop their vocabulary by listening and eventually repeating what their parents say. Verbalize your child’s world and he or she will begin to repeat sounds and syllables —be sure to pause, speak and alter conversation style. Remember, it takes many interactions with the alphabet and phonemic awareness for reading skills to develop. The following are easy-to-follow steps for your child when it comes to reading: Infant to One Year
• Play appropriate music; it leads to acute sound discrimination used later in letter sound discrimination. • Read simple board books with one picture per page, contrasting colors or simple pictures, and point to the items on each page. • While reading to your child, make faces— it’s fun and your child will notice subtle differences. • Allow your child to point and turn book pages. • Describe everything: name colors, shapes and sizes. • Verbalize and describe your child’s actions (e.g., “That’s the blue ball. Uh-oh, it rolled away. I’ll roll it back to you. You caught it.”) First Steps (12-18 months)
• Read longer stories to your child and allow him or her to interact with the book – pointing, turning pages or even turning the book upside-down. • Name objects as your child points. • Sing and give characters of books funny voices.
• Offer opportunities for discrimination. • Talk about the stop light (e.g., red circles mean “stop,” green circles mean “go”). • Play with objects that are similar and point out the differences (e.g., cow versus horse). • Speak to your child in a normal tone to demonstrate accurate sound recognition. • Enunciate words of interest like M-MMommy. • As syllables start to represent words, such as “juice” and “more,” expand upon them (e.g., “apple juice,” “Would you like more apple juice?”). Toddler & Get Set (18-36 months)
• Read everything – signs, labels, toys and your child’s name. • Take cues from your child – interested, not interested, read or just look at the pictures, read more or stop before the end of the story? • Find and point out shapes and symbols in your home or community. • Recite rhymes and alliterations; pause to allow your child to fill in the last word or phrase. • Play games such as Candyland® where symbols lead to action. Preschool (36 months +)
• Read words and point to each one as you read it, moving your finger from left to right, top to bottom. • While grocery shopping, ask your child to find an item that starts with a certain letter or find a particular cereal. Have these items on your grocery list for comparison. • While in the park, ask your child to bring you nature items one at a time. Write the word for each item and then write a story with these words. • Show your child speech in the written form. Ask your child what he or she would like to buy at the grocery store and add it to your grocery list together. Pre-Kindergarten (48 months +)
• Read with your child. Take turns reading pages, modeling intonation and punctuation cues. • Play “Going on a Hike.” Start by picking
This Industry Insight was written by Bob & Lori Santo. Bob & Lori Santo are the owners of The Goddard School®, located at 825 East McMurray Rd. in Peters Township. Goddard offers both full- and part-time Infant/Preschool/K programs. For more information, visit www.goddardschool.com or call 724.941.6464. 80 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
a letter and saying. “I’m going on a hike and in my backpack I have a …” Take turns repeating the sentence, naming the previously listed words and adding a new word that starts with the chosen letter each time. • Ask your child to get something in the pantry that he or she would not recognize by sight; provide the beginning letter sound of the item and ask him or her to search for it by reading the letters. • While driving, ask your child to help you find a particular street sign. Finding a preschool/early childhood center that runs its program year round can be very beneficial for reading readiness and other developmental areas as well. The very best early childhood centers include developmental guidelines for each classroom and age level that include specific goals related to reading emergence as well as other developmental goals. Some centers are also able to do layered learning within each classroom to support individualized learning. Don’t be fooled by a glitzy sales pitch; the staff must be educated in writing and implementing lesson plans to support layered learning. The most ingenious preschool programs are integrating specialty enrichment resource programs, such as a second language, sign language, math, science, fitness, and music, into their curriculum. This seamless assimilation provides optimum learning opportunities for children in a convenient “all-in-one” package.
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412-833-6166 www.stevenrcrandalldmd.com Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 81
SUMMER happenings at GIRLS’ 12 SINGLES: Bethany Yauch (1) d. Allie D’Orazio(3) 6-1, 6-0 BOYS’ 12 SINGLES: Conner Bruce (1) d. Ethan Muza (2) 6-0, 6-3 GIRLS’ 14 SINGLES: Angela Consiglio d. Megan Hixon 6-1, 6-3 BOYS’ 14 SINGLES: Sam Berteotti (4) d. Christian Vietmeier (2)
7-6 (7-2),6-2
The 2012 Upper St Clair Junior Championships Tournament was held July 30-Aug 2. Tournament Director Augie Garofoli said “the tournament was a great success, with over 100 participants from all over the Pittsburgh area. Ten of the 16 finalists train at our USC tennis program.” The phrase “Home Court Advantage” certainly applied here. Finalists in each category were:
GIRLS’ 16 SINGLES: Kristi Riley (1) d. Olivia Warner 6-2, 6-1 BOYS’ 16 SINGLES: Dane Bendel (2) d. Miguel Ascencio 6-1, 6-1 GIRLS’ 18 SINGLES: Yvon Martinez d. Rachel Klemash(1) 6-2, 7-5
ALLIE D’ORAZIO
CONNER BRUCE
MEGAN HIXON
CHRISTIAN VIETMEIER
KRISTI RILEY
MIGUEL ASCENCIO
BOYS’ 18 SINGLES: Joshua Smith d. Domenick D’Amico(1) 6-2, 6-2
& BETHANY YAUCH
& ETHAN MUZA
& ANGELA CONSIGLIO
& SAM BERTEOTTI
& OLIVIA WARNER
& DANE BENDEL
NO joke
.
Just seriously good car insurance.
82 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
USCTDP hosted a fundraising event called “Tennis Pairs for Free Wheelchairs” on Sunday August 19. The tournament was a day of tennis, food and fun. More importantly, a day that transformed many lives. For only $63.94, “Free Wheelchair Mission” can build a wheelchair for someone in need. To learn more about this organization go to freewheelchairmission.org. September 15 will kick off our first “10 and Under” tennis tournament. Play will feature USTA regulation court size and red and orange balls. Join us for a fun filled day of tennis. Sign up by calling 412.831.2630 In support of the Smash Hits Tennis Event held at Peterson Events Center on October 16, 75 of our students/pros will proudly be in attendance. The event features Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Andy Roddick, with cohosts Billie Jean King and Sir Elton John. We are anticipating a star studded night of tennis and fun. If any other tennis DOMENICK D’AMICO
YVON MARTINEZ
USC TENNIS Development Program
Donaldson’s Crossroads Shopping Center
& RACHEL KLEMASH
FALL AND WINTER REGISTRATION STARTS NOW. To sign up, if you have questions or would like more information on any of these programs, please call 412.831.2630 or visit our website at usctdp.com.
enthusiasts would like information on this event call 412.924.8270. It’s been a busy and hot summer at USCTDP! Camps for tournament, high school and recreation players, travel team, and ten and under classes have all been packed full. The staff is also looking forward to a great indoor season this year.
WE OFFER MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AT ALL LEVELS TAUGHT BY CERTIFIED TEACHING PROS: • Clinics for Juniors and Adults • 10 and Under Tennis • Cardio Tennis—Burn calories while having fun playing tennis to upbeat music • TRX Cardio Tennis • Whizz Kids—A program where parents can choose to participate with their 3–5-year-olds • Men’s and Juniors’ Round Robin Play • Saturday Night Travel Junior Travel Team
& JOSHUA SMITH
We Have
That ! Giant Eagle Hibachi Japan Lifestyle Health
K Louise Hunan Inn Love Nails
TJ Maxx Pat’s Hallmark GNC
Anytime Fitness Tuesday Morning Green with Ivy
Josephine Wig The Little Gym Radio Shack
Leone’s Animal Supply Super Cuts Rita’s Italian Ice
One Price Dry Cleaner Get Go US Post Office
Peck Travel Five Below Chalkboard
Eye Candy EB Games UPS
Italian Village Pizza
Peck Travel
PA Wine & Spirits
Route 19 & McMurray Roads donaldsonscrossroads.com
Donaldson’s Crossroads Shopping Center
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 83
MINDVER By Heather Holtschlag
O
MATTER S
USC Classics Team Poorwa, Alexa, Dave, Paul, Sam, Anna, and Mohini
USC with their “Buddy Team” from Singapore who placed 1st in the performance Problem–Odyssey Angels.
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Upper St. Clair
everal Upper St. Clair High School students problem-solved their way to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at Iowa State University for the program’s World Finals. The team placed an outstanding sixth out of 55 teams. “It is exciting that USC has had teams consistently qualify for World Finals—and do so well,” said Susan Rosati, USC Odyssey of the Mind program coordinator and coach. “In the past three years alone, our teams have brought home two first place finishes, a third, two sixth places and two coveted Ranatra Fusca awards, the most coveted award given through the Odyssey program. It is really remarkable! It shows the strength in the program, the strength in the coaches—and the stamina of everyone!” Odyssey of the Mind is an international creative problem solving competition, built on the premise that creativity and creative problems can be cultivated in the learner, Rosati explained. Team members, who range in age from kindergarten through college, apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They bring their solutions to competitions on the local, state and world level. “USC had 78 students in the Odyssey of the Mind program this past year, from first through 12th grades, and had 14 teams, which are comprised of five to seven students,” Rosati said. “We do not limit the number of students or teams, however. As long as there is a coach and at least five students, there is a team.” Rosati explained that the competition begins at the region level, with USC being in the Western Region of the state. From there, the top two winners and any Ranatra Fusca winners advance to the state level, and finally, the World Finals, which has taken place in previous years at locations such as Michigan State University and the University of Maryland. “USC has had good success in sending at least one team to the World Finals in recent years,” she says. “This past year, the high school team attended, and for some of the team members, it was their first time. For others, it was their second or even third time making it to World Finals.” At the beginning of the Odyssey of the Mind season, students choose one of five problems to solve in five categories: vehicle/technical, science, classics, balsa structure, and performance/humor. Each problem specifies a list of elements that the team has to solve during an eightminute performance. At the most recent World Finals competition, the high school team chose to solve the classics problem, “To Be or Not To
Opening ceremonies welcomed 815 teams (130 of which were international) from 33 states and 15 countries
The Odyssey of the Mind program asks open-ended questions, and there is not one right answer that students are trying to discover. The students are constantly being pushed to think at a higher level and to revise what they first thought of as an answer.
Be.” The team consisted of members Dave Ambroso, Paul Austin, Poorwa Godbole, Sam Park, Anna Rosati, Alexa Schlein, Mohini Walavalker, and Coach Rosati. “Basically, their problem required them to portray a Hamlet character who had a dilemma,” Rosati explained. “They were scored on the creativity of Hamlet’s portrayal, creative portrayal of Hamlet’s conscience, originality of the dilemma, effectiveness of a trap door, creativity of a costume change, creativity of a scene change, effective elements of musical theater, and effectiveness of the use of a comedic style. They also scored on style, which has its own criteria, like the presentation of the sigh and the creativity of a costume.” For their winning solution, the team decided they wanted their overall visual theme to be the unexpected. They wanted set pieces and costumes to transform and pop in front of the audience in a very unpredictable way. “For example, in one of the scene changes, boxes were stacked to create the wall of the mad villain’s lair. Quite unexpectedly, when the villain called for his tower, ‘I said my tower!’ part of the boxes was seemingly lifted in the air to create a new scene of the villain’s tower. In addition, flaps resembling Venetian blinds were used to decorate the lair scene and as the boxes flipped, so did the flaps, revealing the stone tower. The team used various techniques like this to create a risky and creative solution.” The Odyssey of the Mind program asks open-ended questions, and there is not one right answer that students are trying to discover, according to Rosati. The students are constantly being pushed to think at a higher level and to revise what they first thought of as an answer. “In training a child to be a creative problem solver, you have to get him/her to see that revision is not a criticism of the idea, but a way to get to something cooler. The only way to really invent something new is to stop thinking of things in the same old way. Odyssey of the Mind really breaks down barriers of how we define things around us.” Odyssey of the Mind is open to students in grades kindergarten through college, and students who return each year have the drive to keep doing better. “I love the creative thinking that this program instills,” Rosati said. “After you ‘get it,’ you think and see everything differently. It lets you visualize something crazy, and then create it. You test it, assess it, and then maybe you start over or adjust it. Then you present it and get scored. You compare yourself to the competition, assess your strengths and weaknesses, and then do it again!” For more information about USC’s Odyssey of the Mind program, contact Rosati at susanrosati@comcast.net or 412.418.9117 or visit the website at www.uscootm.com. Registration runs from September to October and is open to all students in kindergarten through grade 12.
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 85
Make
Back to
School Taste Better S P U T I P RA W Yield: 1 wrap
la, wrap, lavash) readable cheese flatbread (tortil 1 d herb flavored sp ocado an c rli ga on po es tabl ssic av 1 lly Guacamole cla tablespoons Who 2 ed lettuce 1/4 cup shredd diced small tomato, 1 arti cheese 2 to 3 slices Hav ey (optional) 2 to 3 slices turk se on flatbread. spreadable chee rb he d an ic rl ga Spread the tomatoes. ole on top. ttuce and diced le of e lin a le Spread guacam nk ri leaving at the flatbread, sp e and tomatoes, uc tt le de On one end of si be d sliced turkey at the other end. in Layer cheese an untopped bread roll up bread/tortilla, tucking of es ch in o tw d, least en t. o ea at m /m the cheese e lettuce/to Starting from th the first roll and proceeding to two-inch thick ith e w ic d sl in the vegetables the roll rolled, an ep ke to ks ic hp Stick in toot spirals.
86 724.942.0940 to advertise |
Upper St. Clair
I
n the rush to get everyone off to school, it’s easy to fall into a food rut, serving the same things for breakfast, lunch and snacks. But with some inspiration and a little planning, going back to school can taste a whole lot better than it used to. To make things even more fun, have the kids help with these recipes and ideas. Once they get the hang of it, they can experiment with new ingredients and do it themselves, taking one more thing off your to-do list. BREAKFAST: Start the day off with pizza — Breakfast Pizza, that is. This recipe layers eggs, cheese, turkey bacon, hash browns, sour cream and guacamole on your favorite pita or flatbread. Kids can make it as hot or as mild as they like. It’s a great way to sneak in avocados’ 20 vitamins and minerals, and it will give them energy to get going on their busy day. LUNCH: Skip the same old sandwiches and liven up the lunchbox with these tasty creations. Try a Tortilla Wrap made with chicken, Wholly Salsa, Wholly Guacamole and a hint of lime juice. Experiment with different kinds of tortillas, from whole wheat or sundried tomato, to spinach or jalapeño. For a full-of-flavor favorite, make a Mexican Turkey Torta. Thin turkey slices get topped with a zesty black bean and corn relish, crisp lettuce and your favorite guacamole. To help keep all the delicious flavors inside the roll, hollow it out a bit so the other ingredients don’t fall out. AFTER SCHOOL SNACK: Whether they need something to hold them over until dinner or a quick bite on the way to practice, these Wrap It Ups will do the trick. Turkey, garlic and herb spread, Havarti cheese, guac, lettuce and tomato get wrapped up in a tortilla or flatbread, then sliced into bite-sized swirls of deliciousness. Make them ahead of time, then just slice when it’s time to enjoy. Get more back to school inspiration—including quick-fix dinner recipes for busy school nights— at www.eatwholly.com. BAN THE BORING LUNCHBOX Keep school lunches interesting—and healthier—by including something nutritious to munch on. Guacamole and salsa are perfect for dipping into, and individually portioned packs of all natural Wholly Guacamole and Wholly Salsa are the perfect fit for a lunch box. Here are some “and” options to make lunch something fun to dip into:
Guacamole and… Zucchini sticks Baby carrots Whole grain pretzels Sweet potato chips
Salsa and…
Blue corn chips Sliced jicama Cucumber slices Baked pita chips
Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 87
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Upper St. Clair
At Beinhauer Family Services,
Pets Are
Family Too
E
veryone knows that Beinhauer Family Services is a regional leader in providing compassionate, quality funeral services in the South Hills. But did you know that they also offer funeral arrangements for your four-legged family members as well? Beinhauer’s Peaceful Pastures Pet Cemetery not only offers families a beautiful setting for their pets’ final resting place, it also provides an opportunity for pet lovers to be buried next to their pets, through their cemetery, Woodruff Memorial Park. “For six generations, people have known Beinhauer’s as the leading name in funeral services, but our dedication to pets is something that people aren’t as familiar with,” said Rick Beinhauer, the company’s leader and a fifth generation family member. “Our pets are family, and they should be treated just as any other member of a loving family.” The Beinhauer dedication to pets goes beyond pet funeral services, memorials and burials, however. The family is so pet-loving, that they offer free burials and services to all service animals at Peaceful Pastures. Beinhauer said they do this because it’s simply the right thing to do. “These are police dogs and seeing-eye dogs who have put in a lifetime of service so that the lives of others can be enriched, so we are happy and proud to recognize that,” he said. The Beinhauer family serves five communities in the South Hills— Peters Township, Bethel Park, Bridgeville, Dormont/Mt. Lebanon, and Canonsburg. Their locations are family-friendly, providing children’s rooms, cafés where food and beverages can be served, and a community room where dinners and luncheons can be scheduled. In the business since 1860, Beinhauer’s can personalize services for
their clients in a way that other funeral homes can’t. No other funeral company can provide the options they can in-house as they own funeral homes, cemeteries and the nation’s second oldest crematory. “We’re in the business of helping families create an event or service that is an extension of their loved one’s life— something that provides a meaningful experience for the family and the community,” said Scott Beinhauer. Some of those personal touches include an interactive website, personalized DVD videos, and webcasting of funerals, which, through the use of a password protected website, can give those with physical considerations or travel limitations the ability to attend a loved one’s funeral service over the Internet. People also can create photo collages that chronicle their loved one’s life, or bring in personal items that represent one’s hobbies or lifestyles. “You have the year of birth and the year of death, and then you have the dash in the middle. We focus on the dash—everything in the middle that that person has done for their family and community. We help the family celebrate and honor the life that was lived,” said Scott Beinhauer. The Beinhauer family also manages Woodruff Memorial Park Cemetery, located on Route 19 in North Strabane Township. The newly constructed Community Mausoleum offers magnificent crypt entombment as well as extensive cremation niches, including bronze and beveled glass and a beautiful indoor chapel. For more information on Beinhauer Family Funeral Homes and their cemetery and pet options, call 724.969.0200 or visit them at www.beinhauer.com. If you are looking specifically for their pet options, go to www.peacefulpasturespetcemetery. Upper St. Clair | Fall 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 89
f you had asked Upper St. Clair resident Niki Williams a year ago what she would be doing in 2013, she probably would have had no hesitation stating that she would hopefully be preparing for medical school interviews since she had been preparing for the better part of the past year and a half to take the Medical College Admission Test (better known as the MCAT). But, surprisingly enough, if you were to ask the same question to the same young lady today, her response again would have no hesitation as she would joyfully announce that she will be playing professional basketball in the Israeli Premier League, therefore realizing a childhood dream that not many athletes ever get to pursue. Her path to playing professional basketball has been anything but “normal,” if any path to
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Upper St. Clair
becoming a professional athlete can be said to be normal. Williams, a longtime resident of Upper St. Clair, excelled in any sport put in front of her, but as she grew up it became clear that basketball was her true love. “Once I slowed down with softball and soccer, I realized that basketball was my sport, and I knew I would try to make it with basketball someday,” Williams recalls. She was a multi-sport athlete at Seton-LaSalle High School and graduated in 2005. She then went on to play basketball at Hofstra University. At Hofstra, Williams excelled both on and off the court. While being a successful point guard, commanding respect from opponents and earning respect from her teammates and coaches, Williams built a reputation for being a solid leader for her team while putting in an incredible work effort day in and day out. Like every athlete though, Williams had her fair share of injuries throughout her college career that left her wondering if her childhood dream of playing
professional basketball could ultimately be attained at all. “After having numerous procedures, including surgeries that left me relying on a steel plate, several screws, and synthetic mesh to function on a daily basis, my career outlook had changed,” Williams says. The injuries intrigued her due to her interest and general awareness of the human body. She has always been interested in the workings of the human body and how aspects of nutrition and fitness integrate with the human body to have certain results. After her senior season at Hofstra, Williams remembers thinking that her vision for her future would have to shift. She recalls, “I remember knowing that going back to school would be a necessity for me.” After making such a drastic decision, she immediately worked on the credits between her degree in business and what she would need for credits in the area of science. Williams became a teacher’s assistant for inorganic chemistry, and essentially went from playing basketball for six hours a day to teaching and studying chemistry and other sciences for six hours a day. While she was at Hofstra, she also continued to stay active by participating in workouts with the women’s basketball team. Williams graduated from Hofstra with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, specializing in legal studies, and she has since obtained a premedical degree, which she describes as basically a minor in chemistry and biology since she didn’t have that coursework in her bachelor’s program. All of her hard work and long study hours culminated in Williams taking the MCAT this past spring. She has been applying to medical schools, and like thousands of other prospective med students across the country, she will anxiously await any response and further interviews to move
along in the journey that is applying to med school. This was her plan since her senior year at Hofstra University, once she realized her body may have gotten the best of her childhood basketball dreams; however, this past year, while she was finishing her studying for the MCAT, Williams was still working out, when she could, with the Hofstra women’s basketball team. Hofstra’s coach, Coach Kilburn-Steveskey, and her staff, prepared film for Niki and helped get her into contact with a great agent who was looking for a player with Williams’ talent and vast experience. “The coaching staff knew I still wanted to play if the right opportunity presented itself, and this all seemed to fall into place at the right time,” Williams said. The timing couldn’t be more serendipitous for Williams as she had completed her goal of studying for, and taking, the MCAT, and anyone who knows the process of applying for med school knows that it is not something done in a day, or even a few months, like most other graduate school programs. Now that Williams has taken the MCAT and applied to schools, she will now have to wait the better part of a year to have any idea where she could be attending school in the fall of 2013, which leaves her the perfect amount of time to fully commit herself to her dream of playing professional basketball. Now that Williams has signed with a team in the Israeli Premier League, she has begun to prepare her body and mind for her upcoming venture. The journey to Israel will mean more to Williams than it would to most. “I am very excited for the basketball aspect, of course, but to be in a country that I grew up learning the language, culture, and traditions will be an
amazingly unique experience,” William boasts. She is looking forward to soaking up every aspect of the experience that she can. One aspect that Williams is not looking forward to is the prospect of being so far away from her family. She is the second-oldest of six children who grew up in a Jewish household. Her siblings include: older brother, Louis, who currently is in medical school himself; younger sister Elana, who will be an upcoming junior at University of Pittsburgh; younger brother Philip, who will be an upcoming sophomore also at the University of Pittsburgh; younger sister Mandi, who will be entering her freshman year at Upper St. Clair High School; and younger brother Shane, who will be going into third grade next year. Williams has always been extremely close to her five siblings, and parents Stuart and Francine, so the idea of being in Israel even if only for six months seems a bit daunting to her. However, one of the immense benefits of
having a large family unit is the fact that her family will always provide a more-than-solid support system that Williams can rely on throughout her journey. Williams relays, “Thanks to Skype and other recent technologies, I know I will be seeing them all as much as possible.” As the season rapidly approaches, Williams is excited for what is to come and sometimes forgets to sit back and soak in the fact that in a few short months she will be in full swing of her first season as a professional basketball player. I’m sure her inner-sixth-grade-self hasn’t, for a single second, forgotten that come fall, she will be realizing a dream long ago envisioned by a little girl resting her head at night, staring up at her walls covered with basketball icons and logos, and dreaming of the moment when another young girl could possibly be doing the same thing. Only this one would be staring up at a picture on her wall of her favorite professional basketball player, who could now possibly be Niki Williams.
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