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REAL ESTATE IN WEST JEFFERSON HILLS

anon Mac From the Publisher

Welcome to the summer issue of IN Canon Mac. While we focus on the communities that we serve, we don’t live in a bubble. The world throws curveballs at each of us, and each of us has to decide whether or not to swing at it. In the case of the Boston Marathon bombing, the city swung and knocked it out of the park. Residents came together to present a united front. First responders put their lives on hold and on the line until the threat was removed. Boston is not unique in that regard. Over the past decade or more that I’ve been publishing magazines, I’ve had the good fortune to come into contact with a lot of residents in the communities we serve. I’ve met dozens upon dozens of municipal officials, police and fire chiefs, EMS teams, and elected officials. I’ve seen them deal with their own issues, and I’ve seen them from time to time mourn their losses in the press.

What I’ve seen and who I’ve met along the way has convinced me that the resilience of Boston is not a regional attribute. It’s a way of life that seems to be somehow tied to our very genes. Fortunately, not every city will face a challenge of that magnitude. But we do have it in us to take the inspiration demonstrated by the people of Boston and apply it to our daily lives. We can take small steps every day to ensure that the community we live in is a little bit better by the time we lay our heads down on the pillow at night. Whether it’s raising money for a cause, or visiting someone who needs to see a smiling face, young or old, we can all do something to make our surroundings a little bit better. And by making things a little bit better for each other, hopefully, we can be better prepared to help one another if things suddenly get worse.

This May, we honored volunteers and organizations in the community that help make a difference in such ways. Those people and causes were chosen by you, and we are proud to thank them for their service to their communities. We thank you for your dedication to our magazines and hope that you continue to be part of them and contribute your thoughts and ideas to our editors. There are many more stories to be told, and we always welcome your help in finding them.

anon Mac

Wayne Dollard, Publisher

Fall content deadline: 9/13/13

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Tips on Summer Sun Safety from UPMC Urgent Care The mid-March snowstorm and the lingering cold weather had many Pittsburghers running for the sun at the first sight of warmer weather. But not so fast, caution two UPMC Urgent Care physicians, who urge awareness and protection when outdoors in the sun.

Minimize Sun Exposure

“Sunburn and heat-related illnesses are the two most common sun-attributed ailments we see in the UPMC Urgent Care centers during the summer months of June, July and August,” says Bret Rosenblum, MD, medical director of UPMC Urgent Care Wexford.

“That said, we advise everyone to reduce their sunburn risk by limiting sun exposure during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., wearing protective hats and clothing, and using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, but 30 or higher for individuals with a family history of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. Also, avoiding indoor tanning beds altogether will help prevent significant skin damage.”

Seek Medical Attention

If a person suffers a milder form of a heat-related illness, with symptoms such as headaches, weakness, dizziness, or an inability to continue current activity, Dr. Rosenblum suggests, seek out a cool area, preferably one that is air conditioned, removing excess clothing and hydrating with water or electrolyte solutions, and monitoring their condition closely. “Evaluation at a UPMC Urgent Care center could help determine if a higher level of care is necessary, such as a referral to an emergency department,” he says. “However, if the condition is not improving or is getting worse, and the person begins to faint, or experiences nausea, vomiting, or confusion, immediate medical evaluation at the closest emergency department for a more serious heat stroke condition may be necessary. In these situations, cold water immersion, ice packs, and IV hydration may be needed.”

Special Care For Children And The Elderly

According to Rachel Schroer, MD, medical director of the UPMC Urgent Care with Washington Health System, located in McMurray, Pa., people can still get sunburn even if the sun is not shining. “The harmful UVA and UVB rays that cause sunburn can penetrate the clouds and cause sunburns,” she explains.

Children and the elderly are the groups most at risk for developing sunburn and sun exhaustion, which is caused by spending too much time in the heat and direct sun, Dr. Schroer explains. “Great care should be taken to limit their sun and heat exposure.”

Self-Help Measures For Sunburn

In addition to the prevention methods previously mentioned, Dr. Rosenblum also adds that the ability to swim can be life-saving. “All children and adults who will be around water should have this skill which they can acquire through lessons at local YMCA centers and community pools,” he recommends.

“Furthermore, while at the beach, heed warnings and signage regarding current conditions such as rip tides and rough water.”

If you take all of these precautions and you still find yourself suffering from sunburn, there are a number of ways you can care for yourself at home, Dr. Schroer advises, including drinking plenty of nonalcoholic fluids and water, staying well-hydrated, and applying a soothing aloe vera gel.

“Severe sunburns fall into the category of first-degree burns, which puts you at risk for excess fluid loss and dehydration,” she adds. “However, should your efforts toward sunburn prevention and sunburn care at home fail to offer relief, a medical evaluation at a UPMC Urgent Care center can assess your condition and offer additional recommendations for aid.”

Avoid Strenuous Activities During Peak Temperatures

To prevent heat-related illnesses, Dr. Rosenblum recommends limiting strenuous activity during the hottest portion of the day, drinking plenty of fluids containing water or electrolyte solutions before, during, and after exercise, and avoiding soda or energy drinks, which can actually cause dehydration.

In addition, wearing lightweight and light-colored clothing, and taking frequent breaks in shaded or air conditioned areas, will help cool the body.

“Sports teams also should be encouraged to schedule practice sessions in the morning or evening hours during the summer,” he notes.

Consider Life-Saving Swimming Lessons

Medical Treatment Available Without An Appointment

A person with concerns about sun-related illness, can visit a UPMC Urgent Care center for further examination any day of the week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., without an appointment. “Our providers can access a patient’s electronic health records within the health system. This can be critical during an evaluation with regard to past medical history, medications taken, allergies, and results from previous tests and x-rays,” Dr. Rosenblum explains.

“Additionally, a treatment summary, which is an important aspect of care, will be provided to the patient’s primary care provider and attached to their electronic health record if they visit a UPMC physician.”

For more information and a complete list of UPMC Urgent Care locations, please visit UPMC.com/UrgentCare.

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Canon Mac

INSIDE

SUMMER

IN Canon Mac is a non-partisan community publication dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the Canon Mac 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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Industry Insights

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Wano Chiropractic Are You Ready to Lose Weight? ................ | 18

IN Community Magazines honored community volunteers at its first ever CASE Awards celebration.

Cover photos by Carl P. Stillitano/CPS Photography

on the cover

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Peacock Keller & Ecker,

LLP

If There’s a Will, There’s a Way To Protect Your Assets ............................. | 22

UPMC TODAY

The Physical Therapy Institute

Health and Wellness News You Can Use | Summer 2013

Baseball Injury Prevention ....................... | 28

What’s Inside

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With Heartfelt Thanks

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Health Care Reform: We Have the Plan

Becoming a Whole New You

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A Closer Look at Medical Imaging

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Is Assisted Living the Right Choice?

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Smart Tips for a Safer Summer

© 2013 UPMC

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Business Spotlight 38

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Features

Canon Mac School District ...................................................... | 6 CASE Awards 2013 ............................................................................ | 14 Catalyst Connection ................................................................. | 16 Canon-Mac Students Honored for Scholarship ................. | 20 Canonsburg WWII Hero Wayne Alderson Receives Posthumous Honors ........................................................................... | 27 Lisa’s Crew Raises Thousands to Fight MS ............................. | 40 Real Estate in Canon Mac ............................................................... | 42 community interests

Tips on Summer Sun Safety from UPMC Urgent Care ... | 3 UPMC Today | Health and Wellness News ...................................... | 29 Seeing Is Believing: Laser Vision Correction Often Eliminates Need for Glasses or Contacts ............................ | 60 Special Value Coupons .............................................................. | 64

Jefferson Hills Surgical Specialists ........................................... | 25 Tender Care Learning Center ...... | 37 Heartland Homes .............................. | 48 Erica Shulsky of eXp Realty and Jeff Lagoni of Victorian Finance . | 53

AN EDUCATION IN CLOUD COMPUTING

CMS Students have their heads in the “cloud” When asked about their experience using these tools in the classroom, the students had an overwhelmingly positive response.

“The best part of using the Chromebooks is being able to edit and communicate with our classmates on their papers. This allows our peers to tell us what is good and bad about our papers.

Left: Mrs. Rebecca Wolf’s seventh-graders working “in the cloud.” Right: Eighth-graders in Ms. Lauren Paddick’s class at Another thing that Canonsburg Middle School. is good is being able to access your documents at home without having to save anonsburg Middle School has been as long as there is an Internet connection. it to a flash-drive or restart the document,” known for its classroom technology During the 2012-2013 school year, a numaccording to Matt Gielarowski, an eighthintegration. One of the most recent inber of teachers incorporated a wide variety grader. novative ideas is cloud computing. “Cloud of opportunities using the tools.

Kaylee Bennett emphasized the ease computing allows students to work on Eighth-grade students on the Hurricanes of use and also reiterated the importance research, papers, and projects in an anyTeam collaborated to complete several of being able to connect with her peers by time, anywhere scenario,” according to Dr. projects using Google Apps throughout the saying, “I really like that you do not have to Greg Taranto, Canonsburg Middle School’s school year in their English, science, and constantly save your work and worry about principal. social studies classes. Students worked to Canonsburg Middle School started off complete a cross-curricular research project losing it. Also I like how you can share and view other papers for peer editing. This was last year with one set of Google Chromein Mr. Jason Colbert’s science classes and also good for the Energy Project when more books in a pilot project to see how the Ms. Lauren Paddick’s English classes. than one person could work on it at once.” teachers and students would incorporate After learning about alternative sources On the seventh-grade Titans Team, stuthe tools in the classroom setting. Chromeof energy in science class, students were dents used Chromebooks and Google Apps books are inexpensive netbooks that allow assigned one form of energy to research. for all formal writing assignments in laninstant access to the web. All work is done They used Google Docs to write a persua“in the cloud” which is a catchy way of say- sive essay meant to convince their audience guage arts, English, and science, enabling ing that the work is stored at a remote site that their source of energy is the best option students to research, draft, self edit, peer edit, and write the final copy using Google on the Internet. With cloud-based computfor the future. Students shared their work Drive (Google’s free cloud storage). ing, students can access their files at school with a peer to give and receive constructive In Mrs. Rebecca Wolf’s Advanced or at home without the use of a storage feedback in the form of “digital comments” Language Arts, students used the tools for device, thus providing ease of use and acon their essays. Students also created a colcessibility. laborative Google Presentation with another a variety of projects. It could be an analysis of the main character in “Tangerine,” or “Students are no longer tied to the student to demonstrate the benefits of their research on Victorian England to analyze school’s computer lab to complete a paper energy source to the class. social classes in “A Christmas Carol.” or project,” according to Dr. Taranto.

Students also completed research on Some could choose an in-depth analysis of Google provides a free suite of applications a famous Pennsylvanian in Ms. Melissa a myth, chosen individually by each stuproviding word processing, presentation, Cashell’s social studies classes and Ms. dent, to determine its value to both ancient and spreadsheet tools. While in school, Paddick’s English classes. Students comand modern day societies. Or it could be the students are using the Chromebooks pleted their research using traditional and composing a ballad based on a historicalin conjunction with the Google App tools. web-based resources. Once the research based novel using traditional structure and Students, in turn, then can access their files was gathered, students used Google Preform. from any sentations to create a timeline portraying In Language Arts, students completed comtheir famous Pennsylvanian’s life, as well the following projects: an analysis of CANON-McMILLAN puter in as a bibliography listing their resources.

SCHOOL DISTRICT the school Students used this timeline as a visual aid continued on next page or at home during their speeches.

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SCIENCE HAPPENINGS AT MUSE ELEMENTARY

continued from last page themes in the novel “Walk Two Moons,” a comparison of the myths “Phaethon, Son of Apollo” and “Icarus and Daedalus,” and a character poem based on the main character from an independent reading novel.

Mrs. Wolf shared, “The Google Chromebooks and Google Apps have streamlined the writing process. Students benefit by having a digital working copy of their draft that is accessible from any location. Since students create the final copy by making revisions to the draft, it also saves instructional time. The ability to share documents makes it easier to monitor student progress on their assignments, since it is accessible to both the student and teacher at any time.”

The Hurricanes and Titans were but two teams creatively using these tools in the classroom. Due to the success, the plan is to expand the use in the 2013-2014 school year.

Canonsburg Middle School will see you in the cloud!

Dinosaur Fun

Muse Drums Up STEM Interest

From left are: Alec Young, Lily Gostic, Olivia Watson, Matt Karlovich.

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he first-graders in Mrs. Heather Hagerman’s and Mrs. Stefanie Ambrose’s classes have participated in two STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) projects.

Using this method, the students were presented with a problem and given materials to design something that solves the problem. In the process, they used many skills and then designed, tested and presented their findings to the class.

In November, the students created Native American-style drums. They studied the Native American culture with a focus on drums and sound. Next,

each group was given a bag of materials and was told that their finished product must make a sound when tapped with their hands and it must hold together after 20 taps. The students did an amazing job! It was surprising to see how each group’s drum was different. Some groups used all the materials while others only used a few materials. Every group was able to meet the challenge within the allotted time.

In the month of March, the students designed and built nests. Discussed were habitats of birds and how a bird may make a nest. Next, the students were given materials only found in nature such as feathers, grass, moss, hay, and mud. Each group had to build a nest that held together on its own, was large and strong enough to fit three eggs and a toy bird. And the nest had to sit on a branch without falling. All the students were able to design a nest, either round or square, that met the challenge.

All the first-graders greatly enjoyed these projects and climbing the “STEMS” up the learning tree!

Muse Celebrates Earth Day

Demonstrating with dinosaur skeleton models are, from left: Javon Moss, Nevin Haynes and Jake Jankoviak.

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prehistoric experience for South Central Elementary School first-graders had students move through six different learning centers about dinosaurs including a dinosaur dig where students became paleontologists and chipped through rock to uncover dinosaur bones. Students also created dinosaurs out of paper plates as well as made their own fossils. What a fantastic step back in time for first-graders to learn about the largest creatures to roam the earth.

First-graders Andrew Coleman and Shannon Bayer learn about Earth Day.

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use Elementary School partnered with the National Energy Technology Laboratory, a division of the U.S. Department of Energy, to educate and celebrate Earth Day. The Department of Energy reminds us, “Earth Day is a time set aside every year to create an awareness of the importance of recycling, conserving energy,

and improving air quality. It is our job not just on this day, but every day, to make our environment a beautiful place to live. By teaching our youth to appreciate the Earth today, we will help them preserve it tomorrow.”

Earth Day was established in the 1970s as a national awareness day occurring each year on April 22.

The NETL team spent the day with students at Muse Elementary School on April 19 educating students on ultraviolet rays, pollution, and energy conservation and awareness. Students in grades 1-4 participated in a variety of hands-on experiments and activities led by the NETL team leader Lilas Soukup.

Students used sunscreen to experiment with UV beads, created a “clean air” and “dirty air” simulation, and tested multiple devices for watt usage and energy label information.

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USING VIDEO GAMES TO LEARN PROGRAMMING

CMS Teacher Provides Chapter to New Technology Education

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rian Herrig doesn’t want his students to waste their time, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want them to spend time on “games” both in school and at home.

“A lot of research supports the use of digital gaming in the classroom,” says Mr. Herrig.

In his ninth year of teaching seventh- and eighth-grade technology education at Canonsburg Middle School, he holds a B.S. in education and an M.A. in teaching from California University of Pa. Dr. Greg Taranto, CMS principal, asked Mr. Herrig to push the eighth-grade Introduction to Programming course down to seventh grade to create a stronger base in the lower grade in preparation for the upper grade. He recommended digital gaming to his principal who told Mr. Herrig to “run with it.”

One of the results was Mr. Herrig writing a chapter in the recently published book, “Cases on Digital Game-Based Learning: Methods, Models, and Strategies” (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK). The book was published by IGI Global, an international publishing company specializing in high-quality research publications in the fields of computer science and information technology management.

“We began teaching a digital gaming component in the 2008-2009 school year and it has significantly grown and developed to the point described in this new chapter, ‘Get Your Head in the Game: Digital Game-Based Learning with Game Maker.’

“Students each year come to school with new skill sets for us to build on,” says Mr. Herrig. “Our students at 12 and 13 are learning logic and sequence concepts which transfer to other areas of programming, not just gaming. Our students are learning the programming mindset in seventh grade.

They think as proCANON-McMILLAN grammers.”

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Herrig uses Game Maker, which has a free version for students to use at home to continue exploring digital game programming.

“I have many students who take my concepts from class and will voluntarily do more at home. Some students ask for some of my instructional materials to try at home. They take ownership of the idea to create a game, but are learning more. Some of our eighth-graders can do so much more than eighth-graders a few years ago because they have seen these concepts before.

They make connections back to my class and things become easier for them.”

He added that in K-12 classrooms, as well as on the college and university level, the incorporation of digital games has played a vital role in the educational system. While introducing teachers to new fields, these digital games have been designed and implemented for the classroom and have shown positive results at a variety of educational levels.

“I’m hoping that one of our goals as a department will be to take these concepts and have students make their own apps for phones or tablets, or that they

Photo by Gary Yon Photography

can put on an iPod or other device that they can use on a daily basis,” he said. “Game Maker has another version that helps with that process and we are exploring that as a future goal and it is a logical next step.”

Mr. Herrig and Dr. Taranto also had an article, “Being a Game Changer,” published in the November 2012 edition of Technology and Engineering Teachers. In 2009 he had an article about game-based learning curriculum in the TEAP (Technology Education Association of Pennsylvania) Journal.

“Cases on Digital Game-Based Learning: Methods, Models, and Strategies” analyzes the implementation of digital games applications for learning as well as addressing the challenges and pitfalls. Providing strategies, advice and examples on adopting games into teaching, this collection of case studies is useful for teachers and instructors at various school levels in addition to researchers in game-based learning and pedagogic innovation.

COUNTRY WESTERN-THEMED READING EVENT

Solar System

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ills-Hendersonville Elementary School made learning out of this world!

Third-graders learned about the solar system beginning with each planet and their orbits.

Students watched videos using Discovery Education, studied facts, and put their knowledge to the test. All third-graders created a model of the solar system using unique and creative materials and designs ranging from Styrofoam balls and clay to lamps that were displayed in the school’s lobby.

Students were placed in groups – one group assigned for each of the eight planets and a ninth to research “What happened to Pluto?”

The students created PowerPoint presentations with each student creating an original slide. They learned how to use Microsoft products and create imaginative shows using design, color, and animation. They condensed their research into a notecard to show off their knowledge to parents/ guardians!

Students assimilated their math and science skills for a final take-off. In collaboration with the Challenger Learning Center and Wheeling Jesuit University, thirdgraders attempted an E-Mission to Moon, Mars and Beyond. They were given specialists’ jobs and then formed into six groups, each group responsible for locating two “missing” astronauts somewhere in space by decoding messages and plotting points on a graph.

Some students were responsible for calculating how much “cargo” would be needed for the mission to be successful. They communicated their findings to the E-Mission Control Center located at the Challenger Learning Center, via live webcams. All of their hard work resulted in the “rescue” of two astronauts lost in space!

Literacy Night

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here was a lot of horsin’ around at the Frank Sarris Public Library – but it was all in good fun as part of the 2013 Reading Round-Up! Students in kindergarten through fourth grade at Canon-McMillan elementary schools were invited to the two-night event. The theme for the second annual Literacy Festival included country western-themed stories, games, crafts, music, and prizes. Cowboys and cowgirls of all ages showed up for the event; even Canon-McMillan High School students from the National Honor Society and Student Council volunteered their time throughout the evening. Nearly 200 elementary school students attended, along with their parents/guardians and siblings.

A sampling of activities included reading in a horse stall with a cowboy, western bingo, line dancing to live music, making a horse craft, sheriff badge and bookmark, and a horseshoe toss. Guessing games and raffle baskets, provided by Sarris Candies, were scattered throughout the children’s department. Students who signed up for a library card were entered into a separate raffle; many students left with stacks of books to take home so that they can practice their literacy skills. All students were given a book for their own home collection that was donated by library board member Thomas Stanko or Canon-McMillan Education Association. Principals of each elementary building volunteered to read in the story-time room and then donated

Pictured from left are: Left: Kelsey Shaffer, Isabella Silvestros and Gabriella Silvestros; Top Right: Mrs. Marella McConnell, Borland Manor Elementary School principal; Middle Right: Zachary and Luke Johnson; Bottom Right: Kaylee Gross.

their books to the library. Canon-McMillan School District provided many of the craft supplies and giveaways the students received.

Spearheaded by Lynne Douglas, fifthgrade teacher at North Strabane Intermediate, and Rebecca Thompson, librarian at the elementary level, this event was largely successful thanks to donations and sponsors, including Canon-McMillan Education Association, Canon-McMillan School District, Sarris Candies, Weavertown Environmental Group, and the Southwest PA Literacy Council. Members of the Reading Round-Up committee include Roberta DeJohn, Cyndy Carroll, Kelly Keruskin, and Joyce Mason.

Students exiting the library after a funfilled night could be heard exclaiming, “I can’t wait until the next one!”

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GIVING BACK AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING

Paying it Forward

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he third-grade students at Muse Elementary School were busy completing random acts of kindness this year. The students developed and participated in a “Pay it Forward Project.”

The purpose of the project was to surprise someone with something that will lift their spirits and hope that they carry on the project by doing their own good deed.

The students wanted to complete projects that focused on school, home, and community.

Kristen Mavrich’s class created good luck cards for the Canon-McMillan Basketball Team, surprised their parents by completing a list of household chores without being asked, and their biggest project was raising money for Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

The third-graders hosted a penny war at Muse Elementary School. Each class competed against one another. Over the period of one week, students were asked to bring in pennies and place them in their own classroom jars to earn one point per penny. The twist was they could also bring in silver coins and place them in other classes’ jars to subtract a point from their penny total. The students had fun sabotaging other classes. Miss Mavrich’s class was in charge of managing the project; they were responsible for advertising the penny war, adding up the points, and counting the money raised. Stephanie Bitz’s fourth-grade class was the winner earning 8,330 points! The entire school came together and raised a total of $944.76 in change which was all donated to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

By participating in these various projects the students hope that others follow and pay it forward by doing their own good deeds. Throughout the project the students kept a journal of the projects they did and how they felt carrying out each project. Most students wrote about how they felt lucky to be able to help others and hope that those who received a good deed will pay the favor forward to someone else!

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Alia Jones holding up a 3D prototype she designed in Solidworks and printed out on the Makerbot 3D printer.

Rapid Prototyping in the 7th Grade

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eginning with the 2012 – 2013 school year, all 403 of Canonsburg Middle School’s seventh-graders had the opportunity to experience what it is like to go from a design concept to a working prototype with the use of state-of-the-art software and a rapid prototyping machine.

Taking a seat in Canonsburg Middle School’s Engineering Technology class brings students face to face with what can only be described as a 21st century learning experience.

Each student PC is equipped with a dual monitor setup, allowing students not only to experience a true workstation environment, but also to support a greener one. Since implementing the dual monitor setup, students worked 20 percent faster than when they used only printed instructional materials. To better facilitate the increased speed, all of the supporting materials for the classes are also now available online.

This allows for faster updates and revisions without the overhead of reprinting and re-distributing each time. As an added bonus, students who are absent or those who just want to review material can re-watch

the actual lesson on one screen while completing the activity on the other.

Along with the addition of the monitors, the key piece of equipment in the Engineering lab is the Makerbot Replicator 3D rapid prototype machine. The Makerbot can effectively “print” any 3D object that fits in its work envelope, which is about the size of a small loaf of bread. It uses an additive process of heating ABS or PLA plastic and laying down layers of material as thin as a sheet of paper to build an object. When coupled with the parametric design software Solidworks, which was previously acquired through a grant, all seventh-graders have the option of creating a design of their own and printing a prototype to take home.

Future plans include acquiring a second 3D printer with faster print speeds to better accommodate the student demand for the prototype project as well as updating the design software as budget and grant monies become available.

ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN BATTLE OF THE BOOKS AND SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

Left - Pictured from left, 1st Place All Star Readers: Kaylee Carroll, Mya Lucciola, Kayla Guyton, Hayley Meerdo; Middle - Pictured from left, 2nd Place Fierce Hawks: Jonathan Hartley, Ian McVeigh, Sam Meyers, Justin Egizio; Right - Pictured from left, 3rd Place Rainbow Readers: Marissa Kopach, Gabriella Gardner, Carrera Sutherland, Riley Conner.

First Street Battle of the Books

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hen First Street Elementary School fourth-graders held the seventh annual Battle of the Books competition, 50 students took part with each group reading the same nine books selected by First Street faculty. The titles included a wide range of genres, from poetry to biography. One of the goals of the event is to encourage students to read books they wouldn’t normally choose for themselves.

Participating students met weekly with parent sponsors who quizzed them on details from the books. Many groups came to the event dressed in an outfit that complemented their team name. The teams had about one minute to answer a question that related to the book and give the title and author of each book. After two rounds

of questions, a winning team was declared!

The All Star Readers came out as the top readers this year, but each team did an outstanding job. First Street students prove each year that they can achieve through reading! First Street’s winning teams battled against South Central Elementary’s winning teams in June.

FIRST PLACE - All Star Readers – Kaylee Carroll, Kayla Guyton, Mya Lucciola, Hayley Meerdo; SECOND PLACE - Fierce Hawks – Justin Egizio, Jonathan Hartley, Ian McVeigh, Sam Meyers; THIRD PLACE - Rainbow Readers – Riley Conner, Gabriella Gardner, Marissa Kopach, Carrera Sutherland.

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS HELPS: • encourage students who enjoy reading • recognize students who demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of books • broaden reading interests by exposing students to a variety of genres • promote collaboration and team work • promote recreational reading • promote creative thinking and problem solving • promote healthy competition based on mutual respect • promote academic excellence and the highest student achievement • promote the Sunshine State Young Readers Awards Books and the Florida Teens Read Books

Science Olympiad Events

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hat do students in grades 2-4 at South Central Elementary have in common with scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians? During three days they solved real-life science, technology, engineering and mathematics problems as part of the Third Science Olympiad. These problems included building suspension bridges which span great distances, reflecting lasers over multiple mirrors in order to hit pre-specified targets, creating mini-barges that can hold over one kilogram of weighted cargo, and developing miniature cars which successfully transport weight powered only by basic laws of physics.

The nearly 300 South Central students in grades two, three and four were able to

engage in over 40 problemsolving STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities thanks to a $3,000 grant awarded to the school by the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh. The main purpose of the grant was to provide funding which helps schools to excite, inspire, challenge, and foster the fun side of science for elementary students of all abilities.

PARTICIPANTS 1. John Strohecker (2nd Grade) 2. Gus Cicconi (3rd)

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Ben Siller (4th) Erin Lawrence (3rd) Chastity Kronawetter (4th) Kenzie Copenhaver (2nd)

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CMSD STUDENT TEACHES HIGH SCHOOL CLASS

Tim Grebeck Teaches Peers About Autism

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hat do you do when a seventhgrader asks to lecture high school students in a leadership class?

That was Rick Bell’s dilemma. The head of the Canon-McMillan High School social studies department did a little checking and then took a leap of faith, inviting Timothy Grebeck into his class.

Tim’s mother had learned from Betsy Somerville, the district’s director of special education, that the Leadership II class invites speakers into the class and that the class had chosen to do a project on Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization that sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities.

Tim believed he had some information the high school students needed to hear.

Mr. Bell knew Ms. Somerville supported Tim’s request and he trusted her judgment. It was worth a shot.

Tim was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism, when he was 9.

He has suffered from bullying in and out of school and thought if he explained to Canon-McMillan High School students about Asperger’s, maybe he and others could help to reduce CANON-McMILLAN bullying in SCHOOL DISTRICT the district.

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Canon Mac

Photos by Gary Yon Photography

“My students applauded Tim when he was done,” remembered Mr. Bell. “It was one of those feel-good days in class as an educator. I think it has made a difference in the lives of my students.”

Today the son of Stan and Debbie Grebeck of North Strabane Township is a 16-year-old who just completed his sophomore year at the school. He is asked to speak not only to the Leadership II classes, but to all freshman health classes each year.

Tim speaks for a few minutes and draws a line, showing where he is on the autism spectrum. Then he takes questions. “Some are hesitant to ask questions and I encourage them, but I don’t pressure them,” he said.

“Tim spoke to eight health classes each semester this year for our health department. Speaking for eight periods in a single day is a difficult task for most

teachers, let alone a student!” said Mary Matus, freshman health teacher.

“Tim has made it his business to have as much information as he can to disseminate to his audience. Tim is well spoken, knows his material and is very passionate and sincere when speaking.

He is able to capture the students’ attention by providing several examples and analogies to help them understand this disorder. He was able to pique student interest to a level where almost every student asked a question.

“His talk was a very emotional one that moved many students to tears, and myself as well,” said Miss Matus.

“The greatest observation I made was watching just about every student walk up to Tim at the end of a period and thank him for sharing his day and past experiences with them.”

Tim explains that he was diagnosed late, since most children today are diagnosed at age 2 or 3. “The main symptoms are poor social interaction, continual social awkwardness, coupled with physical limitations,” said Tim. “I’m not a strong swimmer. I can’t ride a bike. I have trouble running. And my penmanship is poor.” He uses a laptop instead.

“My parents noticed the symptoms first, then my teachers picked up on them. By that time I had been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and was seen by a psychiatrist, then sent to Children’s Hospital for a solid diagnosis.”

He continues to work to overcome his physical and social challenges.

“It is hard to make friends and keep them,” he says. “Bullying started early, but now I can cope with it.”

He very maturely admits, “When people are insecure, they bully others.”

The Asperger’s has not stopped Tim from being in the Gifted Program, maintaining a straight A, 4.0 gradepoint average and taking a sophomore course load that included English, geometry, honors U.S. history, French 3, biology, physical education, and band – crash cymbals in the marching band and drummer in the concert band.

As for speaking in front of students, that wasn’t a problem. “I gave my first presentation in second grade about my guinea pig,” he said. “The talking wasn’t new, but the topic was. Mom thought it was a good idea and I was right there with her.”

One of the reasons that motivated him to speak was the bullying he encountered. continued on next page

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT CANON-MAC continued from last page After his first talk as a seventh-grader, one of the high school students came up to him and said that if anyone bullied Tim, he would go down to the middle school to help.

“A lot of those in the district have people in their lives with autism and my presentation is comforting to them,” Tim said. “And I see a positive difference. Not as many get bullied. The school is becoming a much nicer place.”

Dr. Greg Taranto, principal of Canonsburg Middle School, a big anti-bullying advocate, has also asked Tim to speak in the Middle School Issues classes.

Tim admits, “My confidence took time. Basically I learn from my peers. My arsenal of conversation is by mimicking my peers, but I have a conscience and know the right things to do and the wrong things to do.”

Tim says he wants to become a history teacher. He attributes much of that

decision to his experience with one of his former teachers.

According to Tim, “Adam Manion was my history teacher in seventh grade.

I’m proud to have known him and he’s proud to have known me. He’s an allaround great guy.”

Tim became an Eagle Scout in the summer of 2011. He said many Eagle Scouts construct improvements to facilities, such as building park benches, for their Eagle projects. “There are enough benches around,” he added. “I wanted to do something different. I collected donations for the Washington Women’s Shelter.”

He looks forward to the classes he “teaches” each year.

“Mainly students come up to me afterwards and say ‘thank you,’ then I know they learned something and they now know what to do when someone has a disability.”

Dollars for Scholars Launches New Website

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he Community Scholarship Foundation of Canon-McMillan Dollars for Scholars® officially launched a new website on February 15, 2013, through a new software tool provided by Scholarship America®, Dollars for Scholars’ parent organization.

This new website will allow The Community Scholarship Foundation of Canon-McMillan to help students in the community access more scholarships.

Through the website, students will have the ability to create an online profile, which allows them to apply for and be matched to multiple scholarships – on both the local and national levels – in just a couple of clicks.

The Community Scholarship Foundation of Canon-McMillan was able to customize the website to meet its specific needs; including keeping the local community updated on chapter news, events and deadlines; providing information on what’s going on in education on a national level; and giving students and parents a one-stop-shop for chapter scholarships, educational resources, opportunities, and events.

The Community Scholarship Foundation of Canon-McMillan encourages students to begin developing their online profiles now, to assure they are alerted about scholarship opportunities in advance of deadlines. In addition to scholarships, students will also have ac-

cess to exclusive volunteer and internship opportunities that may be available to them, as well as a wealth of financial aid and college success tools and resources provided by Scholarship America®.

About Dollars for Scholars® Scholarship America Dollars for Scholars ® program is a national network of nearly 1,100 local chapters, driven by local volunteers that help hometown students in over 3,000 communities across the country. In addition to raising funds and distributing scholarships for students, chapters also provide assistance with college readiness and the financial aid process.

About Scholarship America ® Scholarship America® is the nation’s largest provider of private scholarships, helping students pursue and complete their education beyond high school through local and national scholarship programs, and emergency financial assistance. Scholarship America has distributed more than $2.7 billion in scholarship assistance to more than 1.8 million students over the last 50 years. Scholarship America® programs, which include Dollars for Scholars ®, help fund both entry-level and multi-year scholarships, as well as emergency financial grants. More information is available at www.scholarshipamerica.org.

Hockey Star Visits NSIS

I

t was a phenomenal day at North Strabane Intermediate School as author Sigmund Brouwer and National Hockey League Hall of Fame superstar Bryan Trottier spent the day sharing stories and signing autographs.

Mr. Brouwer began the day at an assembly where he shared hilarious stories about what inspires him to write his books. It was an interactive and motivational message that the students loved.

The giggles were in abundance as the students danced, sang, played the air guitar, and walked away with the message that we all need to have a dream and work hard to achieve it.

After an introduction by his son, NSIS fifth-grader Christian, Mr. Trottier shared a video biography of his life as an NHL player. He spoke about the importance of being a good teammate, and about how the people in your life will support you as you strive to achieve your dreams. He encouraged the students to focus on a dream and give their all to achieving it. He also reminded students that a solid education must support this endeavor.

The afternoon concluded with a personal visit by Mr. Trottier to every classroom at NSIS where the students and staff were treated to autographs, pictures, and words of inspiration. Every student was given a puck and an autographed sports card. Also, distributed to the fifth-grade students was the novel, “Legend Pursuit,” which was written by Mr. Brouwer and features Mr. Trottier as the guest coach.

NSIS had many assemblies over the years, but by far this one left everyone with a very inspirational message. It is our responsibility to create our own Stanley Cup ... hoist it high over our head, and be proud of what it stands for! DREAM ON!!

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 13

Photos by Carl P. Stillitano / CPS Photography

Inaugural

CASE AWARDS Honoring Unsung Volunteers

Nearly 500 people turned out for the inaugural IN Community Magazines’ Community Awards for Service Excellence (CASE) presented by Northwest Savings Bank on May 10 in the West Club Lounge at Heinz Field.

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he honorees and their guests were welcomed to the prestigious event following a short reception.

A total of 111 awards were presented to individual volunteers, non-profit organizations and corporations who have demonstrated exceptional service to the community either through direct volunteer efforts or support of nonprofits. They represented a cross section of both young and old from 33 different communities in western Pennsylvania.

Some of the honorees traveled from as far away as Greensburg and Erie to participate.

Popular anchor Andrew Stockey of WTAE-TV served as Master of Ceremonies and presented the honorees with their certificates. Stockey opened with some remarks on the importance

14 724.942.0940 to advertise |

of volunteerism and his own community service background.

IN Community Magazines publisher, Wayne Dollard, addressed the assembly, with special thanks to his wife Lisa, his staff and to the honorees for their service. Dollard read a poem about the importance of making every moment count and finished by expressing his hope that the awards will become an annual event to recognize outstanding accomplishments in volunteering.

Chris Martin, Northwest Savings Bank president of the southwest region, congratulated IN Community Magazines on the success of the event in highlighting non-profits. Northwest Savings Bank sponsored the event.

Monica Haynes, who originated the concept for the CASE awards, spoke

Canon Mac

about the process of developing the recognition program. Haynes, a former editor with IN Community Magazines, had visited a local food pantry to conduct interviews on a snowy Pittsburgh day last winter. She was inspired by the dedication of the food pantry workers, who despite treacherous, slick streets, had left their warm, safe homes to honor their volunteer commitment in order that others less fortunate might have enough food to eat.

The experience led Haynes to meet with Dollard regarding the possibility of honoring volunteers who donate their time, talents and money to improve the community. Haynes said Dollard’s immediate response was, “Let’s do it!”

“I knew they didn’t do it for any recognition or fanfare,” explained Haynes,

Volunteer of the Year, James W. Gregorakis:

Jim has been serving non-profit organizations as a board member since 1987.

Among those organizations are: United Cerebral Palsy of Southwestern PA (now Pathways), The Greater Pittsburgh Cultural Center, The Family Trust of the Achieva organization, The Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh, Group Home Inc. of Washington County and The Washington Arts Council. He encourages everyone to volunteer to serve on any non-profit in any capacity. It is the volunteer core of all non-profit groups that is the lifeblood as well as the heart and soul of those organizations.

Youth Volunteer of the Year, Megan Jones:

Small Non-Profit of the Year, The Greater Pittsburgh Cultural Center:

Megan really enjoys helping at the Canonsburg/ Houston Food Pantry, as well as the many other organizations that she volunteers with throughout the year. She says: “It gives me great pleasure to help those in need and give back to my community”.

The Greater Pittsburgh Cultural Center is dedicated to creating a special place to celebrate, embrace, perpetuate and share the cultures which reflects the vision, imagination, resilience and spirit of the people of the Greater Pittsburgh Region. We intend to expand our collaboration to ALL of the ethnic communities in order to gain their support and partnership as we move forward to develop the GPCC.

2013

Case

Awa rds

Chris Martin, President of the Southwest Region of Northwest Savings Bank (left) poses with the Canon Mac area winners.

“I felt if others were able to know about what [they were doing] they might be motivated and inspired to do the same.”

With a firm commitment from Dollard, the initial planning began and an appeal was placed in each of IN Community’s 37 magazines to nominate teen volunteers, adult volunteers, non-profits and corporations who exhibited extraordinary levels of service to the community. The response was overwhelming, with hundreds of names being put forward as possible honorees. A selection committee sorted through the stacks of nominations to narrow the field to just one honoree for each category in every school district.

(The magazine coverage area is based

on school district lines.)

There were volunteers honored from ages 13 to 86. Non-profits and corporations, both large and small, received awards for their work.

“As someone who has managed volunteers for 10 years, it is wonderful to witness your recognition efforts of so many deserving individuals and organizations,” commented Vickie Mottern, volunteer coordinator for Brevillier Village, located in Harborcreek in Erie County.

“We are so grateful to be recognized as Small Non-Profit of the Year for Norwin,” said Jodi Fowler, one of the founders of Genre’s Kids with Cancer Fund. “Never did we imagine... that we would be at this point, developing our

organization and receiving this amazing award because of our incredible volunteers – just a few years later.”

“It is a great event!” said Chartiers Valley Volunteer of the Year, Susan Zuk. The night was capped off with live entertainment provided by The Clarks, as guests rocked the night away.

IN Community Magazines would like to thank everyone who made the awards event possible. We would also like to congratulate all of our honorees, the nominees and even those individuals who were not nominated and yet serve on a daily basis. It is your constant devotion to helping others, which all too often goes unnoticed, that makes our communities a great place to live!

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 15

Catalyst Connection

By Joann Naser

Photos by Scott Dietz

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anon-McMillan High School students experience real world manufacturing opportunities through partnerships with Catalyst Connection.

Catalyst Connection is a 25-year-old nonprofit economic development agency, funded by state and federal funding, which began promoting STEM education 12 years ago, according to Scott Dietz, Catalyst’s workforce initiatives manager. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“Manufacturing remains the backbone of our region in Western Pennsylvania,” said Mr. Dietz. “When STEM was established, manufacturers feared with retirements there would be large vacancies in jobs and we are trying to close the interest gap and skills gap.”

When one thinks of manufacturing, they may think of “dirty, dark and dangerous,” explained Mr. Dietz. However, “manufacturing today is in clean environments and computer driven such as it is in the high-end specialized field like All-Clad,” he added.

Established in 2002, Adventures in Technology brings manufacturers and Canon-McMillan High School students together. The students have worked with All-Clad Metalcrafters, LLC, Canonsburg; Universal Electric Corporation, Cecil Township; and Mark West, Southpointe.

Dr. Sandra Cavanaugh, who is Canon-McMillan’s High School technology department chairperson, works with bringing

students to the companies through such classes as computeraided design and drafting.

“The students act as outside consultants,” said Mr. Dietz.

“They tour the facility and see the processes then they go back to their classrooms and work out improvements.”

In the past, students have worked on permitting and sound mitigation with Mark West. During the 10-week timeframe, students are working on the problem, and they have access to employees at the various companies who can act as mentors to them, explained Mr. Dietz.

“The students come back and make an official presentation with their suggestions,” stated Mr. Dietz. “The students need to learn to work together, make relevant suggestions and make a public speech—all important real life experiences. The great thing is they don’t come in with preconceived ideas of how things should work.”

Universal Electric production manager Doug Childers said, “The students were extremely engaged and very attentive. They had a serious approach and they were very interested in working in industry. They did not view it as just a field trip.”

The students also have access to Noah Brandy and Jeff Wagner, manufacturing engineers, who have visited CanonMcMillan High School classrooms to assess the students’ progress, offer suggestions and mentor ideas, said Mr. Childers.

Canon-McMillan Superintendent Michael Daniels has

A Universal Electric Corporation engineer provides additional information on product assembly at the February 6, 2013 project kickoff.

Doug Childers, Production Manager at Universal Electric Corporation, gives students a tour of their Canonsburg facility.

CanonMcMillan School District Superintendent Michael Daniels addresses the students at Universal Electric.

Noah Brandy, Manufacturing Engineer at Universal Electric Corporation, talks to the students about assembly of the electrical components of their product and how this area of the company relates to the student project.

16 724.942.0940 to advertise |

Canon Mac

The fall team of students with the Mayor of Canonsburg after presenting their recommendations to All-Clad at Bella Sera on January 17, 2013.

attended the official presentations to the companies by the students and he has “been absolutely amazing in giving students exposure to possible future academic programs for them,” said Mr. Dietz.

“We are looking for partners in the community to provide authentic STEM experiences and real problems to our students,” said Grace Lani, director of curriculum and instruction. “We have begun to implement the engineering thought process throughout the schools including the elementary level.”

Wylandville students thought through the process of building a Valentine’s Day box while students at Muse Elementary developed birds’ nests, explained Ms. Lani. “In Stephanie

Ambrose’s class, the students gathered sticks, mud and leaves to engineer a nest and they went outside to put the nests on a limb to see how long it stayed and how many eggs could fit in a nest.”

At the high school level, however, “These students who have participated in these events can put this on their resumes and as part of the college admissions process,” concluded Mr. Dietz. “They have been taught 21st century skills which include time management, teaming, presentation skills and outside technical skills.”

For more information about Catalyst Connection, one may call 412.981.4300 or go to its website www.catalystconnection.org.

Students looking at one of several robotics cells with All-Clad Engineering Manager Michael Hinegardner

Students learning how All-Clad cookware is made from Michael Hinegardner including in this new automated cell that was being installed while the students were touring on February 13, 2013.

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 17

weight?

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ver the last 20-plus years our clinic has helped thousands of patients lose thousands of pounds. During that time we have seen many fad laboratory evaluation, body composition testing and extensive diet approaches come and go. Everything medical and diet histories and that data is used to design a from high carbohydrate, fat free, low-carb, high comprehensive customized plan which enables patients to BEFORE protein, diet pills, shots, and lipolasers. The lose 3-5 pounds per week without feeling hungry. All the question is: What really works? Our extensive food selections are store-bought and restaurant foods. We clinical experience and expertise tell us have formulated a custom Vitapack that has all the vitamins moderation – not deprivation – gets the job done. and minerals that are needed to complete RDAs as well as all Our approach consists of three equally important the vital nutrients that promote weight loss. We use a bariatric phases: weight loss, stabilization and maintenance. protein supplement that protects the patient’s muscle and AFTER During the weight loss phase of the program, enhances the patient’s weight loss. we determine a realistic goal weight and timeframe During the stabilization phase of the program, we slowly to achieve their goal. This initial phase focuses on two reintroduce all the restricted foods back into their day. By the end of critical components. First, we establish ground rules for a the stabilization process the patients are able to choose from any food patient’s eating habits and, second, we teach nutrition. We don’t available. They learn how their bodies react to certain foods and which have the patient counting calories, using confusing exchanges, or points foods should be limited. to lose the weight. We have found that approach to be a short term The final and most important phase is the maintenance portion of the solution to a long term problem. With our system, the patient undergoes program. We address obesity or being overweight like any other chronic disease process. Keeping the weight off requires long term management.

If you are a diabetic and take insulin to correct your sugar levels to an acceptable level, it does not mean you’re no longer a diabetic. It means you are managing your disease. If you stop taking insulin, your sugar levels go back up. Losing weight is very similar. Just because you lose weight doesn’t mean you no longer have a weight problem. It just means you’re managing your obesity. If you return to old eating habits, you will gain all the weight back plus more. For that reason we use a computer application on maintenance that helps you keep track of your eating so you can be proactive with your corrections, as compared to reactive, when the excess pounds show up on the scale.

Our clinic offers more than just a plan. We provide a complete wellness package. We have a full-service fitness center staffed by certified trainers to reshape your body as you lose the weight. We have the availability of vitamin B-12 injections and appetite suppressants, if needed.

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This Industry Insight was written by Dr. Tony Wano DC, CCSP, FACACN, President /CEO of Wano Chiropractic Weight Loss & Nutrition Centers Inc. 193 W Beau Street, Washington, PA 15330 Tel: 724.222.8322 Website: www.WanoWellness.com 18 724.942.0940 to advertise |

Canon Mac

Announcements

Class of ‘88 The Canon-McMillan High School Class of 1988 will be having their 25th reunion on Saturday, September 21, 2013. The reunion will be held at the George Washington Hotel located at 60 South Main Street, Washington, PA 15301 from 6 -10 p.m. For more information go to Facebook “CMHS Class of 1988 Reunion” and/or email CMClassOf1988@yahoo.com.

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 19

Chad Lani was presented a $5,000 ANSYS scholarship by Joseph Manich, left. At right is Canon-McMillan School District Superintendent Michael Daniels.

Two Canon-McMillan High School graduating seniors - Gilbert Lehotsky, second from left, and Jacob Cadez, third from left, each received a $2,500 scholarship from Aquatech.

Presentation was made by Aquatech’s Paige Davies, at left. Also pictured is Canon-McMillan School District Superintendent Michael Daniels.

The presentation took place at the annual CMHS Scholarship Banquet.

The six top scholarship winners at the Canon-McMillan High School Scholarship Banquet are, from left: Michael Burchesky, Alex Campbell, Connor Schram, Kevin Freeman, Jennie Brancho and Katina Langraff, pictured with CMHS Principal Dave Helinski (far left), Darla Bowman-Monaco, president of the Canon-McMillan Board of School Directors (third from left), and Canon-McMillan School District Superintendent Michael Daniels (far right).

North Strabane Township awarded $1,000 scholarships to each of 10 Canon-McMillan High School graduating seniors.

Pictured are, from left: CMHS Principal Dave Helinski, North Strabane Supervisors Eric Spicer and Sonia Stopperich; scholarship recipients - Ryan Weber, Nicole Kelly, Emily McPeake, Shyanne Hemphill, Brett Haney, Haley Gault, Jim Ciamocco, Natalie DeMarino, with Canon-McMillan School District Superintendent Michael Daniels, recipient - Kaitlin Brekosky, North Strabane Supervisor Jeff Stanley and CMSD Assistant Superintendent Scott Chambers.

20 724.942.0940 to advertise |

Canon Mac

Canon-Mac Students Honored for Scholarship

Canon-McMillan High School’s annual scholarship banquet honored 128 students at the Hilton Garden Inn recently. A total of $4.13 million was awarded by colleges and universities, independent companies and organizations, and the Community Scholarship Foundation of CanonMcMillan (CSFCM).

Top winners included the recipients of full-tuition scholarships: Connor Schram, Stanford University; Alex Campbell, Colgate University; Kevin Freeman, Northeastern University; Katina Landgraff, Youngstown State University; Jennie Brancho, Kent State University; and Dan Hansen, Gannon University. Other top recipients were Michael Burchesky, Hamilton College; and Jeffrey Mack, University of Alabama.

Megan Jones was awarded the first national award for service through the CSFCM’s parent organization, Dollars for Scholars. Big winners from the CSFCM were Chad Lani, who received the $5,000 ANSYS scholarship; and Jacob Cadez and Gilbert Lehotsky, who each received $2,500 from Aquatech. North Strabane Township graciously funded $1,000 scholarships to each of 10 students this year.

“The CMHS administration and staff are grateful to all of our scholarship donors and colleges who financially help our students to further their educations. Special thanks go to the Community Scholarship Foundation of Canon-McMillan for all they do every day to support our graduating seniors. The scholarship banquet is an exceptional event for the entire Canon-McMillan community as it spotlights the best and brightest that Canon-Mac has to offer,” said CMHS Principal Dave Helinski.

The Canon-McMillan High School Counseling Department coordinates this annual event to recognize the hard work and accomplishments of Canon-McMillan’s outstanding students. Scholarship information and applications are available in the counseling department beginning in September, and are advertised throughout the year on the announcements and on the guidance wiki.

Those in the community who would like to sponsor a scholarship for deserving students, should contact Karen Rubican, guidance counselor, at 724.873.5165 or a member of the Community Scholarship Foundation of Canon-McMillan.

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 21

If There’s a Will There’s a Way~

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any are under the impression that only the wealthy benefit from estate planning. Although highincome individuals can gain an advantage from complex tax planning techniques, a basic estate plan can benefit everyone, and is more affordable than might be anticipated.

A Last Will and Testament can address a number of issues. Primarily, a Will is used to pass assets from one generation to the next based on the owner’s wishes. Without a Will, probate assets are subject to the Pennsylvania Intestacy Law. In other words, the law decides to whom the assets will pass. This usually has unintended consequences for surviving family members. Since children are entitled to a share of a parent’s estate under the Intestacy law, the surviving spouse can be deprived of much-needed funds, and it can result in unexpected death taxes.

Some assets, however, are not distributed according to a Will.

Jointly-owned property, such as real estate or bank accounts, usually pass to the surviving owner. Additionally, accounts with beneficiary designations, such as life insurance, 401(k) accounts, annuities and individual retirement arrangements, are paid to a designated individual per the account documentation. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to coordinate these items when crafting an estate plan.

A Will can also address several other matters. For instance, those who have minor children may have a preference as to which family

To Protect Your Assets member or friend would serve as the child’s guardian. While it is beneficial to discuss this with the prospective guardian, verbal agreements are insufficient. Appointing a guardian in a Will, on the other hand, solidifies the parents’ wishes. Moreover, a Will can designate who is to safeguard the minor’s assets and determine when they are to be distributed, either in the form of a trust or a custodianship, ultimately decreasing the family’s financial and administrative burdens. Without this mechanism, the safekeeping of a minor’s inheritance will result in court involvement.

In recent years, many Pennsylvanians have fallen prey to salespeople offering Living Trusts, who convince their customers that this product decreases or eliminates death taxes. This is incorrect, as property held by a Revocable Trust does not escape Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax. Further, most Americans will not be subject to Federal Estate Tax, regardless of the existence of a Trust, due to a $5.25 million exclusion. On the other hand, a Living Trust oftentimes makes matters unnecessarily complex and expensive. These “trust kits” can cost thousands of dollars, while a basic estate plan, along with the advice of an attorney, can be obtained for a fraction of the cost.

Nevertheless, Trusts can be useful under certain circumstances. For instance, a Trust can rein in a beneficiary with poor spending habits. A Special Needs Trust can provide for family members with disabilities while guarding against their disqualification from receiving government benefits. Irrevocable Trusts can help to mitigate death taxes and can assist families in transitioning a business from one generation to the next. However, it is important to review your individual needs to determine whether the creation of a trust is worthwhile or appropriate.

While a Will can simplify matters after one’s death, two additional estate planning documents, a Durable General Power of Attorney and Health Care Power of Attorney, can ease the burden on loved ones while you are alive. A Durable General Power of Attorney allows you to designate an agent to act on your behalf with respect to personal and financial matters. This document survives one’s incapacity - meaning that it helps the family avoid costly and time-consuming guardianship proceedings in the event that someone is unable to manage their affairs.

Similarly, a Healthcare Power of Attorney allows a person to appoint an agent to make medical decisions if he or she is unable to do so. This document includes an advance directive component, which allows one to designate the treatment options they would prefer in the event of an end-stage medical condition. Other issues, such as whether to make an anatomical gift and treatment directives in the event of Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia, are also commonly addressed in the Living Will portion of the Healthcare Power of Attorney.

While it may be unpleasant to think about these issues, an estate plan provides peace of mind for the entire family. A Will, in conjunction with a Power of Attorney and Living Will, diminishes the burden faced by family members when they are at their most vulnerable.

This Industry Insight was written by Donald B. Formoso, Esq. of Peacock Keller & Ecker, LLP, a general practice law firm with offices in Washington and Allegheny County. Don’s practice is concentrated in the areas of estate planning, probate and business law. To learn more, visit www. peacockkeller.com or call 724.222.4520.

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Canon Mac

Master Survivor (age 40-59): 21st Annual Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure 5K Winners Announced

Local Survivor Places as “Master Survivor”

This year’s Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure® attracted more than 25,000 participants, including approximately 2,000 breast cancer survivors, and one local survivor finished as “Master Survivor.”

Susan Johnson of Canonsburg, finished with a time of 26:08, which earned her the designation.

The 5K run began at 8:35 a.m. Runners started at Schenley Drive, traveled to Forbes Avenue and ran through Squirrel Hill via Northumberland and Wightman, then down Bartlett to Westinghouse Memorial Pond, ending at Phipps Conservatory.

The 5K race is sanctioned and certified by US Track & Field. A complete list of results is available at www.runhigh.com.

The Pittsburgh Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure serves 30 counties in Western and Central Pennsylvania. Through its year-round fundraising efforts, Komen Pittsburgh has raised more than $31 million to fund local breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment initiatives. The first Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure—Komen’s signature event—was held in 1993. It since has become an annual Mother’s Day tradition for thousands of residents from the tri-state area. The Pittsburgh Race is among the top 15 of the more than 100 Komen races around the country. For more information, visit www. komenpittsburgh.org.

CM Student Heads to DC for Youth Leadership Conference Dominic Dodson, a 6th grade student at Canon McMillan’s North Strabane Intermediate School, was recently nominated by his Principal, Mr. Mark Abbondanza, and his Gifted Support Teacher, Christine Sill, to participate in the Jr. National Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. this summer.

Dominic will attend a six-day conference with his peers from across the U.S. focusing on and sharpening his leadership skills.

A straight “A” student, Dominic is also involved in the Gifted Program, a participant of the CalcuSolve competition in 2012, a member of four Championship Lil Macs Football teams, a member of a National Championship Lil Macs Football team, CM Travel Basketball program, Woflpack Travel Baseball team, and the SMAC AAU Basketball program.

Dominic is the son of Will and Danielle Dodson of Canonsburg.

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 23

Dr. Philip Kantor has a unique dental practice in that he is now treating the grandchildren of patients who have been with him since he opened his practice over 35 years ago.

And when asked why these patients have been with him for so long and why they bring their children and grandchildren in as well, the answer is simple: Trust. Period.

“I’ve been doing this for probably longer than most other dentists around the region, and while we’re a one-stop-shop for our patients’ dental needs, we don’t push treatments that may not be necessary,” Kantor said. “To make our services more affordable, we offer interest-free financing and take a wide range of insurances. One of the unique services we offer is on-site, same-day repairs of older, existing dentures.”

What patients can expect is a professional environment, where their problems are heard and addressed in an expedient manor.

“People come to me with estimates of thousands of dollars worth of treatment that they were told they need and, in reality, it might be a fraction of that.”

For more information on Gentle Dentle, or to schedule your appointment today, call 724.746.3360.

Canon Mac Alumni Update: Jesse John Martin enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps straight out of high school. He successfully completed three months of boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, and went on to further his training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he will be instructed in combat training.

To date, he has achieved his Red Bar Medal for joining under wartime conditions and Expert Rifleman certification. His two sisters, Georgene Martin and Deanna Powell, inspired by his actions, also aspire to become future marines from Canon-McMillan.

Update submitted by his extremely proud father, Jim Martin.

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Canon Mac

Professional Excellence. Personalized Care.

Charles W. Cline, M.D.

Mark P. Gannon, M.D.

Surgical Oncology Breast Care Bariatric Surgery Robotic Surgery Minimally Invasive Surgery Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Colorectal Surgery and Screening Capsule Endoscopy Emergency Surgical Care

Peter K. Kummant, M.D.

Steven A. Esser, M.D.

Tunc O. Aksehirli, M.D.

Jefferson Hills Surgical Specialists ~ Surgical Expertise Close to Home

Specializing In: General Surgery

Arnold E. Fingeret, M.D.

S

ome people think finding an experienced surgeon means fighting traffic to get to a hospital downtown. But with Jefferson Hills Surgical Specialists, the reality is you already have six experts in their related fields – right in your own backyard.

The group has been growing and evolving under the direction of Dr. Charles Cline since 1988 and now includes Drs. Mark Gannon, Arnold Fingeret, Peter Kummant, Steven Esser and, more recently, Dr. Tunc Aksehirli. The practice has a combined 110 years of experience with expertise ranging from common general surgery procedures such as gall bladder removal, hernia repair and endoscopy (“scopes”) to more involved comprehensive breast care, cancer surgery, colorectal surgery and bariatric (weight loss) surgery.

“Our patients not only receive the benefit of a skilled surgeon caring for them, but the benefit of the entire group when they come to see us,” Cline said. “There is always a colleague nearby in the clinical theater lending his skills, both intellectually and surgically. In fact, we pride ourselves on being a strong, cohesive group with excellent patient care as our primary focus.”

Such collaborations have resulted in surgical options that are patient

specific as well as state of the art.

Combined with the group’s adoption of the latest advanced techniques such as laparoscopic and robotic surgery, patients typically can expect a minimally invasive approach with shorter recovery times.

“Robotic surgery has been around the Pittsburgh region for at least 4 - 5 years” Cline said. “It is similar to laparoscopic surgery, but adds 3-dimensional visualization and much greater precision with the use of the robotic arms. This allows us to combine the surgical techniques used in both classic open surgery and advanced laparoscopic surgery, in a minimally invasive approach. Currently, we are following the national trend to include robotics in gall bladder, hernia, cancer and reflux surgery.”

Because surgery is often just one piece of the overall care of a patient, a practice initiative led to the development of a Comprehensive Breast Program spearheaded by Dr. Mark Gannon, Medical Director, and Brenda Cline, R.N., M.S.N., Nurse Navigator. This program provides well-coordinated interdisciplinary care and support for women with any breast health issues, including breast cancer.

Having this program with Jefferson Hills Surgical Specialists allows women to obtain the multi-faceted treatment

they need closer to home.

With few bariatric surgeons outside of the city of Pittsburgh, Jefferson Hills Surgical Specialists has collaborated with Hope Bariatrics to offer patients weight loss surgery under the direction of Dr. Tunc Aksehirli. Now patients can explore the surgical options of gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, and gastric banding procedures in an easily accessible comprehensive bariatric program located in the South Hills.

While the surgeons with Jefferson Hills Surgical Specialists excel at staying current with the latest surgical techniques, their primary focus has always been the well-being of the patient. The practice’s motto “Professional Excellence. Personalized Care.” is a commitment to their patients to provide them with the highest level of individualized medical care along with that personal touch. Patients with problems as simple as skin lesions or as complex as diverticular disease and cancer receive the utmost attention, compassion and care from each of the group’s six board certified surgeons and their staff.

For more information on Jefferson Hills Surgical Specialists, you can call them at 412.469.7110, visit their website at www.jeffersonsurgical.net, or find them on Facebook at Jefferson Hills Surgical Specialists.

412.469.7110 • www.jeffersonsurgical.net Main Office 1200 Brooks Lane Suite 170 Jefferson Hills, PA 15025

Bethel Park 1000 Higbee Drive Suite 101 Bethel Park, PA 15102

Brentwood 3720 Brownsville Road Pittsburgh, PA 15227

Charleroi 1200 McKean Avenue Suite 107 Charleroi, PA 15022

Speers 17 Arentzen Boulevard Suite 102 Charleroi, PA 15022

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 25

Flock Leaders This space is reserved for leaders of religious congregations to submit ecumenical messages for our readers. If you want to submit your message, email mark@incommunitymagazines.com.

Space is available on a first-come/ first-served basis. Topics should be of interest to people of all faiths.

IN Community Magazines realizes the value of faith in people’s lives, however, we do not endorse or promote any specific religion in our magazines.

by Father Joseph Oleynik of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church

Psychology in Great Lent After centuries of merely existing in the world, the human race, because of the Resurrection of Christ, had a ‘new life.’

This is our reason for our celebration of Pascha - Easter. As Christ walked away from the dark, musty tomb, mankind now had the opportunity to walk away from the darkness of uselessness, hopelessness, gloom and despair. This is what we as Orthodox Christians are called to celebrate on Pascha. And in the Orthodox Church it is indeed celebrated! Anyone who has been to the service at midnight on Pascha, even if he or she is not Orthodox, can sense in the atmosphere a special feeling.

We try fervently to show the world that the splendor of Pascha will produce a different attitude toward life.

But how can our Church do this? Practically we can’t constantly celebrate. We work, we pay bills, we change diapers; we do everyday stuff. We prepare for the feast of Pascha by changing our bodies and, consequently, our spirits.

The question now becomes: What does the Church do to effect such changes? She uses basic psychological principles. These aren’t ‘tricks of the trade.’ They are just simple techniques she has learned to use to change people in the Church centuries before they were ‘discovered’ by scientists.

Humans like to be in balance. There are essentially three aspects of an attitude: affect, cognition and behavior. The affective elements of an attitude are defined by a person’s feelings toward an object. The second dimension of an attitude is cognition – that which an individual perceives and believes about an object. This comes by way of the senses. The final aspect of an attitude is the behavioral aspect. These are ways a person can act or does act towards an object implicitly or explicitly. These three elements need to be in balance.

And the Church seeks to do this during Great Lent. She does this by using all of the senses.

During Great Lent the Church uses the perception of the senses to create a state of uneasiness or at least a sense of contrast. Of the five senses, touch and taste cannot supply any information unless objects are in contact with the sense organs. Partaking of Communion does both of these. The sense of smell is able to gain information if incense is a few yards away. However, the two senses used effectively by the Church to change a person during Lent are sight and sound.

Perhaps the most noticeable change is in the ‘colors’ of Lent.

Throughout the year there are bright and rich colors. Now they are not there. The joy left. Although the spring air permeates we are in a ‘bright sadness.’

But the eye can close.

During the year worship for the most part is a joy-conveying medium. There are times of solemnity but this is perceived as awe. Now instead of being light and peaceful, the music is harsh and foreboding.

It is during Great Lent that a person breaks the normal, ‘same old stuff,’ and rediscovers a new depth and perception.

This seems too obvious and simple. However, one thing is certain. The essence of Great Lent is a process which must be experienced if a person is to leave the gloominess of this world and have joy in life forever..

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Canon Mac

Canonsburg WWII Hero

Wayne Alderson Receives Posthumous Honors

I

n recognition of World War II Veteran Private First Class Wayne Alderson of Canonsburg, who passed away on February 22, Congressman Tim Murphy gave a statement on the floor of the United States House of Representatives recognizing Private First Class Alderson’s exemplary service, bravery, and commitment to his country. The Congressman’s full remarks were as follows: Today we honor the memory of Private First Class Wayne Alderson of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania; a World War II hero awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart for his courageous actions during the Rhineland campaign of 1945. PFC Alderson died on February 22, 2013. At 86, Wayne was a member of our Greatest Generation and a great American. This son of Southwestern Pennsylvania lived a life of purpose and sacrifice and remains an inspiration to those who knew him.

Born on June 7, 1926, Wayne Alderson entered the United States Army as an 18-year-old on August 31, 1944. His service would help bring Nazism to its knees, and PFC Alderson would become the first American solider to advance into Germany across the forbidding, tank-protected Siegfried Line on March 15, 1945.

In the course of this assault, PFC Alderson, serving as a scout for B Company 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, would singlehandedly destroy two machine-gun emplacements, attack pockets of German snipers, and fight house-to-house at night before capturing and taking three German prisoners. At considerable personal risk he led the prisoners back to headquarters where vital information was obtained by the Allies about the Siegfried Line defenses.

Then, on March 18, in Rieschweiler, Germany, the 18-year-old private would lead a new assault against enemy forces. His company pierced the German line, but was cut off by enemy soldiers. Fearing the Germans were about to launch a counterattack that would wipe out his men, PFC Alderson and two other soldiers volunteered to lead a surprise assault, and disappeared down a long zigzag spider trench behind a dense warren of fortifications.

The assault would ultimately help melt German defenses along the Siegfried Line and leave PFC Alderson’s face permanently carrying

the shrapnel of a bitter, closed-quarters firefight. The small and vulnerable patrol engaged the larger German force in combat at pointblank range. PFC Alderson, fully exposed and vastly outnumbered, charged with his men, inflicting 12 casualties on the advancing enemy.

With the Germans now in retreat, Wayne was seriously injured when a grenade exploded at his feet, blasting shrapnel and debris into his face. Wayne crashed face-first into the mud from the blow. One of his fellow soldiers attempted to flip him over, to prevent him from suffocating to death. A sniper took his life. The shooting over, PFC Alderson, suffering from a head wound, crawled back through the trenches to brief his company commander on the events that had just transpired. The company commander later surveyed the battle scene and determined the three men had killed at least 35 German soldiers.

Wayne was discharged from service on October 6, 1945, with the rank of Private First Class.

Wayne’s leadership continued after the war. He helped resolve a conflict between labor and management at Pittron Steel, retold in the book Stronger than Steel, a dispute that threatened to shutter the company but instead saved jobs and changed Pittron’s corporate culture. Fittingly after this episode, Wayne went on to found a consulting firm called Value of the Person, which he ran for the last 40 years. Value of the Person grew out of Wayne Alderson’s unique theory of management, stressing the importance of respect and responsibility between management and workers – commonsense ideas that too often can become lost in the hum of modern life. These ideas cohered into a book co-written with Wayne’s daughter, Theory R Management, in 1994.

On May 20, 2007, I had the privilege of presenting Wayne Alderson, the hero of the Rhineland campaign, with the Silver Star when he was inducted into the Hall of Valor. PFC Alderson is survived by his wife, Nancy, of 60 years, sisters Lillie Shannon and Jeanne Alderson of Canonsburg, daughter Nancy McDonnell, and a grandson, Patrick Wayne McDonnell. Wayne Alderson always put his country first. Now it is time for PFC Alderson’s country to recognize his bravery, and place him among the first rank of those Americans who helped liberate Europe and beat back the twin scourges of fascism and Nazism. It is in this spirit that we recognize Wayne Alderson today..

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 27

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Canon Mac

UPMC TODAY

Health and Wellness News You Can Use | Summer 2013

What’s Inside 2 3

With Heartfelt Thanks

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Health Care Reform: We Have the Plan

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A Closer Look at Medical Imaging

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Is Assisted Living the Right Choice?

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Smart Tips for a Safer Summer

Becoming a Whole New You

© 2013 UPMC

With Heartfelt Thanks A local sports fan expresses thanks to fast-acting strangers and his UPMC Mercy medical team for a second chance after surviving a near fatal cardiac arrest earlier this year.

According to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, SCA is the nation’s leading cause of death, killing more than 325,000 people each year. During SCA, heart function ceases abruptly without warning. More than 90 percent of SCA victims die because the heart cannot pump blood to the rest of the body.

At UPMC Mercy, cardiac electrophysiologist Stuart Mendenhall, MD, implanted an internal defibrillator — a device that will shock David’s heart if he goes into cardiac arrest again.

Dr. Mendenhall says SCA can strike with little or no warning.

While it is more common in older adults, SCA affects people of all ages, gender, and race — even those who are seemingly in good health. Knowing the risk factors and leading a hearthealthy lifestyle can help prevent some possible causes, including coronary heart disease.

Do the right things “Awareness is key. You can significantly lower your risk by staying active, eating healthy, and not smoking,” says Dr. Mendenhall.

“If you have risk factors, see a doctor for an evaluation.”

Although David’s only warning was shortness of breath, he had several risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a family history of heart disease.

David Allen, 66, was walking uphill to the CONSOL Energy Center for a Penguins hockey game when he felt short of breath. That’s the last thing he remembers until waking up in the Emergency Department at UPMC Mercy. David had survived a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

A fast-acting team of strangers — an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer and an ex-Army medic who together performed CPR, a bystander who ran for help, and a hotel bellhop who grabbed a defibrillator — saved his life. At UPMC Mercy, doctors determined he had experienced an electrical “short circuit” due to an irregular heart rhythm, or arrhythmia.

A rare second chance “I was lucky people were around who knew CPR and were willing to get involved,” says David, a Beaver resident.

Christopher Wentz, MD, a cardiologist from the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Mercy who treated David, says SCA is a serious medical emergency. “Most people don’t get a second chance,” he says. “You can die within minutes if not treated.”

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UPMC.com/Today

David says he’s not wasting his second chance at life. The former pack-a-day smoker kicked the habit immediately and plans to start exercising. “I’m going to do a better job of taking care of myself. I owe that much to everyone,” he says.

Who’s at risk If you experience any of these symptoms or risk factors, ask your doctor whether heart testing or evaluation by an electrophysiologist or cardiologist is necessary.

• A family history of heart disease, heart attack, or cardiac death • Unexplained fainting, near fainting, or palpitations • Chest pain, shortness of breath • Previous heart attack or SCA • Cardiac risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, or high cholesterol To learn more about cardiac and vascular services, visit UPMCMercy.com and click on Our Services. To schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762) or visit UPMC.com/FindADoctor.

Becoming a Whole New You Struggling to lose weight or keep it off? The UPMC BodyChangers program can change your body and your life.

Larissa Myaskovsky figures she tried about a dozen diets over 20 years, losing weight only to regain lost pounds. It wasn’t until she enrolled in the UPMC BodyChangers program that she saw lasting results.

“BodyChangers was different,” says Larissa, 42, a borderline diabetic who wanted to lose weight without surgery. “It helped me realize losing weight is a permanent lifestyle change. It gave me the tools I needed to succeed.”

A healthier lifestyle Based at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, and a joint venture of the UPMC Life After Weight Loss and bariatric surgery programs, BodyChangers provides a social support system to promote healthy lifestyles.

“We offer a comfortable environment for people who want to maintain weight loss — and become healthy and fit,” says Jeffrey Gusenoff, MD, a plastic surgeon at Magee and co-director of BodyChangers.

Designed originally for bariatric surgery patients, BodyChangers now supports anyone needing help with their weight loss journey. The program includes: • An exercise class with a personal trainer who tailors activities for each individual • Group sessions with a behaviorist who teaches coping skills • Yoga and belly dancing classes • Cooking classes and “Destination Education” trips to community places, like grocery stores and markets • Group activities, such as biking, kayaking, and walking “We’re showing people different ways to achieve wellness and have fun,” says Vicki March, MD, an internist at Magee and co-director of BodyChangers.

A turning point The program appealed to Larissa, an O’Hara Township resident with two young children and a full-time job. She signed up for BodyChangers’ basic free membership, which includes a newsletter, recipes, and educational seminars. She also attended optional cooking demonstrations and met with a nutritionist.

“It was a turning point in my thinking,” says Larissa, who lost 65 pounds and at 5’1” is now a healthy 115 pounds.

BodyChangers saved my life For Beth Walley, 49, of Carnegie, BodyChangers was a lifechanging experience. Having lost and regained a great deal of weight on various fad diets, she knew she was in trouble when she couldn’t keep up with her elderly mother at the grocery store.

With her weight topping 400 pounds, she joined BodyChangers to prepare for bariatric surgery, but soon started attending other classes and events. Beth lost 50 pounds prior to her bariatric surgery in January 2012, and she is now down to 170 pounds.

“The support I received through BodyChangers was key to my success. I feel great,” says Beth. “BodyChangers saved my life.

It changed my body and my mind.”

Basic membership includes free educational seminars and a newsletter. Other BodyChangers membership levels range from $25 to $50 a month.

To learn more, call 1-855-BODY-CHG (263-9244) or visit UPMC.com/BodyChangers.

Interested in learning more about UPMC’s bariatric surgery programs? Free information sessions are offered several times a month at Magee, UPMC Hamot, UPMC Horizon, and UPMC St. Margaret.

Visit UPMC.com/Bariatrics for more information.

1-800-533-UPMC

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Health alth Car Care re eR Reform: efform: W We e Ha Have ve the th Plan UPMC Health Plan has cr created eated a w website ebsite tto o pr provide ovide inf information ormation tto o help y you ou learn ho how w health car care e rreform eform ma may y aff affect ect y you ou and y your our ffamily. amily.

The formal name for health care reform is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA or ACA). Signed into law in March 2010, the ACA made broad changes to the way health insurance will be provided and paid for in the United States.

Several important reforms have been adopted since then.

Extended coverage for dependents, full coverage for preventive care, and plain-language coverage explanations were all prompted by the ACA. In 2014, more parts of the ACA will go into effect, including the Health Insurance Marketplace (Marketplace) designed to help you find health insurance that fits your budget. According to the ACA: đ Marketplaces must be operational for open enrollment by October 2013 đ Each Marketplace will have Navigators to help people enroll đ Marketplace plans will be presented in only four cat i (platinum, gold, silverr, and bronze) to help consumer compare plans from different providers

Health car care e rreform eform and yyou ou Health care reform will affect nearly everyone. The qu most people are asking is how health care reform will them personally. To To help you better understand tand chang related to the ACA and the resulting effect on health insur UPMC Health Plan created an informative website.

The consumer-friendly site offers unbiased information about Marketplaces and other elements of health care refor wide range of people, including: đ Individuals and family members who want to learn

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UPMC.com/T Today

đ Health care providers treating patients in this new environment đ Employers looking for coverage for their employees đ Producers who sell insurance plans to companies and individuals đ Marketplace Navigators who are responsible for providing impartial advice on how to choose among competing plans On the website, you will find the answers to basic questions, such as: đ Who can get health insurance? đ What will be covered? đ Where can I shop for insurance? đ When will changes happen? đ What financial assistance is available?

UPMC Health Plan’s website and support staff are committed to providing an unbiased forum in order to make health care reform easier to understand and to explain what changes can be expected as our nation continues to implement the ACA.

A Closer Look at Medical Imaging Medical imaging plays an integral role in diagnosing medical conditions of all kinds — from broken bones to life-threatening tumors. UPMC radiologists are leaders in helping to ensure both quality and patient safety during testing.

Medical imaging lets your doctor take an immediate and detailed look deep inside your body. More than 200 noninvasive tests are used to diagnose medical problems that once required exploratory surgery — or simply went undetected.

Types of medical imaging Imaging tests that use ionizing radiation include: • Computerized tomography (CT scan) • Mammography • Radiography (x-rays)

For women preparing to schedule their next annual mammogram, Jules Sumkin, DO, chief of radiology at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, emphasizes that nothing is more regulated in medical imaging than mammography. “There are very strict guidelines, and UPMC has always operated at or below established national standards for radiation exposure, ” he says.

“New technologies like digital mammograms further reduce what are already very low radiation levels.”

Others use a different form of energy: • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — uses magnetic fields • Ultrasound — uses sound waves As the use of diagnostic tests increases, there’s growing research on their long-term impact on patient health. That’s especially true for radiation-based tests and their possible link to cancer.

“Many medical professionals are concerned about some of the methods used to calculate the risk posed by such tests, and the confusion it’s creating among patients,” says Mitchell Tublin, MD, chief of radiology at UPMC Presbyterian and a leading expert on CT scans. “It’s important to talk to your doctor before deferring a test so that you clearly understand both the risks and benefits offered.”

Setting the standard nationally UPMC has one of the largest radiology programs in the United States, and its radiologists include some of the nation’s leading authorities on medical imaging safety. “On many fronts, we are helping to define the national safety standards for both patients and health care personnel,” says Emanuel Kanal, MD, director of magnetic resonance services at UPMC Presbyterian, whose innovative work on MRIs has been adopted by both the Food and Drug Administration and the American College of Radiologists.

“As a health care system, UPMC is continually investing in research, training, and equipment to minimize patient risk, such as radiation exposure from medical imaging,” says Christopher Deible, MD, PhD, medical director of radiology informatics at UPMC Presbyterian. “We’re also working to standardize imaging services at all UPMC hospitals, following best practices, and participating in national reporting initiatives.”

What can you do to be proactive?

“Ask your doctor if a nonradiation test — like an MRI or ultrasound — can be substituted. That’s not always possible, though, since tests like CT scans may provide a higher level of detail that could be essential in some conditions,” says Janet Durick, MD, vice chair of clinical operations for the Department of Radiology for UPMC. “You should also ask if a test is truly needed — and don’t be disappointed if your physician doesn’t order an imaging test for a condition that could be addressed through a medical examination.”

For more information about imaging safety for adults and children, visit Radiologyinfo.org, Imagewisely.org, or Pedrad.org.

1-800-533-UPMC

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Is Assisted Living the Right Choice?

For seniors and their families, assisted living can offer the ideal solution when extra help is needed for life’s daily activities.

Terry Schwartz of North Huntingdon was dogged in her search for the perfect living facility for her mother, Ethel Yanowitch.

“For six years, Mom lived with our family, so I wanted a place that truly felt like home — but where she could also get the increased care and supervision she needed,” says Terry.

“Assisted living is tailored for seniors who need help with daily living activities, such as dressing, grooming, walking, and taking medications — but who don’t require skilled nursing care,” explains Deborah Brodine, president of UPMC Senior Communities and Community Provider Services.

After visiting 10 different senior care facilities, she chose UPMC Senior Communities’ Weatherwood Manor in Greensburg.

Mrs. Yanowitch, 90, has been a resident there for two years and, Terry says, “It has exceeded our expectations in every way.

Mom loves it there.”

Each UPMC facility provides on-site nursing care and medication management. All residents have spacious apartments with private baths and kitchenettes. Three restaurant-style meals are served daily.

Before moving into a UPMC Senior Communities assisted living facility, residents are carefully assessed and individual care plans are created for them. “Because our health and lifestyle needs change as we age, residents also receive regular assessments to ensure they’re receiving the best possible care,” she adds.

To learn more about UPMC Senior Communities assisted living options — as well as the personal care facilities at Canterbury Place in Lawrenceville and Sherwood Oaks in Cranberry — visit UPMCSeniorCommunities.com.

Understanding Assisted Living Personal care homes and assisted living facilities once meant the same thing in Pennsylvania — but that’s no longer the case.

Terry Schwartz and her mother, Ethel Yanowitch

For Terry and her mother, assisted living represents the “best of both worlds.” It offers an increased level of services while encouraging and supporting residents to be as independent as possible through activities and socialization.

UPMC Senior Communities offers assisted living options at: • Cumberland Crossing Manor, McCandless • Seneca Manor, Penn Hills • Strabane Woods, Washington • Weatherwood Manor, Greensburg

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Pennsylvania now distinguishes the types of basic services that can be provided by personal care and assisted living residences. One of the fundamental differences is that assisted living facilities must provide health care services that will enable the residents to “age in place” as their health declines and their care needs change.

Weatherwood Manor recently received licensure as an assisted living facility under new state guidelines.

UPMC Senior Communities’ Cumberland Crossing Manor, Seneca Manor, and Strabane Woods also are converting from personal care to assisted living licenses.

“Assisted living community licensure is an expression of UPMC Senior Communities’ commitment to offering older adults and their families the kind of continuing care they need and depend on to safely and confidently age in place,” says Ms. Brodine.

Smart Tips for a Safer Summer During the summer, UPMC Mercy sees an increase in its number of emergency, burn, and trauma patients. Learn what you can do to stay healthy and safe this summer.

At the region’s only combined Level 1 Trauma and Comprehensive Burn Center, UPMC Mercy’s physicians and staff know from experience that treasured summer traditions can lead to serious, life-changing injuries.

“Accidents can happen in a split second, but with caution, many can be prevented,” says Michelle Fontana, BSN, manager of Trauma Clinical Services at UPMC Mercy. As a Level 1 Trauma Center, the hospital is focused on providing the highest quality trauma and burn care in western Pennsylvania, as well as leadership in education and community outreach.

“The UPMC Mercy Trauma and Burn Center offers injury prevention programs year-round, including a free fireworks safety clinic in July,” adds Ms. Fontana.

Fireworks Each year, thousands of people are hurt by fireworks, which can cause severe burns, scarring, permanent disfigurement, blindness, and death. Even sparklers can be dangerous.

“The tip of a sparkler burns at 1,200 degrees, hot enough to cause a third-degree burn,” Ms. Fontana explains. To enjoy fireworks safely: • Don’t buy or use illegal fireworks. Only use fireworks permitted under state law • Take the family to watch a professional fireworks display in your community • Teach your children to stay away from firecrackers, sparklers, and other fireworks For more information about fireworks safety, contact the UPMC Mercy Trauma and Burn Center at 412-232-8375.

A Life-Saving Difference According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, severely injured adults who receive care at a Level I Trauma Center like UPMC Mercy are 25 percent more likely to survive than those treated at a nontrauma center.

Here are a few ways you and your family can avoid injury while enjoying two of summer’s favorite outdoor activities:

Riding ATVs As the popularity of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) has increased, so have the number of accidental injuries, especially to the head and spine. “ATVs are powerful and potentially dangerous vehicles that can cause serious injuries,” says Ms. Fontana.

To stay safe on the trails, be sure to: • Always wear a helmet • Only ride off-road and avoid unfamiliar terrain • Never let children drive adult ATVs

That designation allows UPMC Mercy to provide the highest level of trauma care. “Our multidisciplinary team of experienced specialists is ready around the clock to care for seriously injured patients,” says Tom Gronow, the hospital’s vice president of operations.

The UPMC Mercy Trauma and Burn Center is a state-ofthe-art unit dedicated exclusively to the care of trauma and burn patients.

“It requires a serious commitment of resources to provide such exceptional care,” says Mr. Gronow. “However, there is no substitute for the medical expertise of a Level 1 Trauma Center when it comes to treating serious life-threatening and disabling injuries. We see proof of that in the lives we save every year.”

1-800-533-UPMC

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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.

Don’t let a nonhealing wound slow you down.

A chronic wound is cause for concern – and deserves exceptional care. The kind you’ll get from UPMC Wound Healing Services at UPMC Mercy. For conditions ranging from diabetic foot ulcers to slow-healing surgical wounds, our team of experts will develop a treatment plan that works best for you. And our wound experts are leaders in limb preservation technology and treatment.

If you want to get back on your feet again, why would you choose to go anywhere else?

To learn more about UPMC Wound Healing Services and see if it’s right for you, call 412-232-5744, or visit UPMCMercy.com/WoundHealing.

Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC is ranked among the nation’s top 10 hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

business spotlight

Tender Care Learning Center Coming to Washington PA/Meadowlands

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or more than 30 years, Tender Care Learning Centers have been providing early care and education throughout the Pittsburgh area, and now their expertise is coming to Washington PA at the intersection of Route 19 and Racetrack roads in the new Park Place development at the Meadowlands.

Director, Angela Mantick, said the location which opens for business later this year, already is taking registrations.

“We anticipate that we can accommodate 128 children from infant to school age,” Mantick said. “The location will be divided into agebased classrooms and will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.”

More important than their convenient hours, parents can rest assured that Tender Care is a fun and safe environment that their children will enjoy as a home away from home.

“We hire the best professionals that we can find to care for our children,” Mantick said. “Our teachers are continually taking professional trainings throughout the year that include health and safety topics and much more. Our company has teachers with all levels of education including master degrees. In the last 12 years, 37 of our teachers received national awards through The Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Teacher Awards, sponsored by the makers of Children’s Tylenol. This is something that we’re very proud of as an organization.”

Only 50 teachers are chosen to receive this award across the country each year!

In addition, they are the official child care providers for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates sports teams. Tender Care

is one of the largest non-profit early child care programs in the United States solely dedicated to early education. While they also have schools in Iowa and Connecticut, their roots and base operations are right here in Pittsburgh. Tender Care began with just one location in Bethel Park in 1982, and now has 18 locations.

They didn’t get there by resting on their laurels, however. Tender Care figured out early on that learning should be and can be fun for children. Their educational curriculum is based around creativity, all while incorporating the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards.

Their mission is to help children prepare for a lifetime of learning by providing quality early care and educational experiences. They seek organizational excellence by providing high quality services that meet or exceed licensing and recognized industry standards.

“Tender Care Learning Centers uses Creative Curriculum™ which is a holistic approach to education that shows children how fun it can be to learn. To parents, it may look like their child is just playing, but they’re really learning math, science, language and more,” Mantick said.

When the children move on to elementary school, they are ready!

Once the location is open for business, parents will be welcome to arrange free tours of the facility or attend an open house when it’s scheduled.

For more information on Tender Care Learning Centers, go to: www.earlyeducationpros.org or call them directly at 724.914.3603. You can also email your questions to Mantick at: mea@earlyeducationpros.org.

Now En rollin g!

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 37

Josh with Sammy, Max and Cole Orlowski of Canonsburg

Swimmers watching Josh Davis’ technique

Demonstrating the streamline technique

Olympic Gold Medalist Visits Canon-Mac Pool

By Joann Naser

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T

he Mon Valley West YMCA Swim Team held a Mutual of Omaha Breakout Clinic with Olympic gold medal winner Josh Davis recently at the Canon-McMillan High School pool. Seventy-five swimmers from nine to 18 years of age participated in the four-hour event. They worked on all four strokes—back, breast, freestyle and butterfly. It was organized by Coaches Michael Master and Steve Leonardi and it was tied to a Washington County Library System book drive with 1,300 pounds of books donated. Sam Halulko and Emily Serene donated the most books and got to spend extra time with Mr. Davis in the pool. Mr. Davis told the group to “stay positive and never give up. Remember you are loved.”

He added, “All Olympians set goals and look at them every day.” He urged them to set one goal for themselves. He talked about his core seven principles which include finesse, fueling the body, fitness, flexibility, fun and focus, family and friends, and faith and freedom. Swimmers are tougher than all other athletes, explained Mr. Davis. “You have great time management, are smarter, better looking and cleaner,” he said. He won three gold medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, GA. His favorite medal is a silver one from the 2000 Sydney, Australia Olympics when he “swam the fastest and broke the American record. I did my best.” He urged the participants to always do their best. He allowed photos taken with him and the participants wearing his gold medals.

Josh in the pool with the book drive winners Sam Hululko, Emily Serene and Allison Kurtz

“I raced a Gold Medalist Today What did you do?”

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 39

Lisa’s Crew

Raises Thousands to Fight MS

F

or the past six years, family and friends of Lisa Bright, a Canonsburg mom, have been raising money with for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Lisa was diagnosed with MS seven years ago and wanted to do something to help others with the disease so she and her family started “Lisa’s Crew.”

Each year, they try a little harder to do a little more. “It’s our way of helping her,” said Billie Schroeder, Lisa’s mom. “I have to believe the money helps.”

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that is generally diagnosed among young adults. It is estimated that over 2.1 million people in the U.S. are living with various stages of the disease. “Most everyone knows someone who has MS,” said Lisa. While it is not considered a fatal disease, it is certainly debilitating because it can cause blurred vision, balance and coordination

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By Tracy Fedkoe

problems, loss of memory and concentration, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue and even paralysis. Lisa was lucky to have been diagnosed early, but she still struggles with managing the symptoms with two children and a full-time job as a nurse.

One of the fundraising events Lisa’s Crew participates in is the annual MS Walk, held this year at Tanger Outlets on April 28. A group of over 20 crew members from Canonsburg, her hometown of Bethel Park, and all over the area joined together to support Lisa and the efforts of the Western PA Multiple Sclerosis Society in raising money to fund research to find a cure for MS. Last year, Lisa and her children Brandon, 12, and Kaitlyn, 8, got to cut the ribbon to kick off the event.

The MS Walk is not the only event that Lisa’s Crew organizes to raise money. Each year, they have held a large Vendor Fair that includes basket raffles, drawings, and more. The sixth annual Lisa’s Crew MS Vendor Fair was held on April 13 at the Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Hall and was near capacity with 24 vendors and over 30 baskets. In addition, over 50 local businesses donated items, services, or helped to support the event in other ways. Hundreds of people attended the Vendor Fair to shop, buy tickets for the raffles and stop by to say hello and

The Vendor Fair

support Lisa’s Crew. “It’s amazing how many people are willing to help for a good cause,” said Lisa.

Last year, the efforts of Lisa’s Crew raised around $5,000. Always striving to do better, this year they set their goal at $6,000—and reached it. The combined efforts of Lisa’s Crew raised a total of $6,482 that will be donated to the Western PA Chapter of the National MS Society, which serves over 7,500 people in our area living with the challenges of MS. Lisa doesn’t just believe that it’s making a difference – she has seen it firsthand. The FDA just approved a new oral drug to treat the symptoms of MS that has fewer side-effects than the traditional shots. “Because of the money we raise that goes towards research, things like that can happen,” she said.

DONATE

To donate to the MS Society through Lisa’s Crew, go to: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/LisasPage Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 41

Real Estate IN CAnON-MAC Real estate is a big part of our lives. For the vast majority of us it is the biggest purchase we will ever make, as well as the largest investment. Not to mention the fact that our purchase is “our home”…the place we laugh, cry, raise children, share timeless memories with friends and family and so much more. So it is very important that we understand every aspect of the selling and purchasing of a home. This includes mortgage and finance information, curb appeal, new housing developments and new ways to look for homes.

CURB APPEAL Curb appeal is a well-known term that refers to the attractiveness of the interior and exterior of a home. While the term seems overused, it is a very real phenomenon. The old saying goes, “You only get one chance at a first impression.” This phrase perfectly explains the importance of curb appeal. When someone pulls up to a house for the first time, things like paint, landscaping, carpeting and light fixtures, just to name a few, make a huge difference in the person’s opinion.

It is much harder for most people to envision the potential of a home when unattractiveness abounds everywhere they look. Most people looking at a home make a snap judgment the moment they enter the property. Sure, these snap judgments can be changed with other positive attributes, but why take the chance when adding curb appeal can be so easy and costeffective?

Real estate by the numbers

IN Canon-Mac Homes for Sale: 51 Recently Sold: 71 *Data provided by Realtor.com. Data presented is representative of the time of publication. For up-to-date information, go to Realtor.com.

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Curb appeal can be accomplished by any number of methods including exterior decorations, repainting, extensive attention to the landscaping, timely grass cutting, new or even recently professionally cleaned carpeting, new hardware on the kitchen cabinets, new stain on a rear deck, new exterior and interior light fixtures and de-cluttering of the interior of the home.

Always think of curb appeal when marketing your home or looking at a new home. It may not sell your home on its own, or entice you to buy a home on its own, but it does make a difference. You won’t be sorry because it is worth the time and relatively low cost.

STAGING Selling a home requires more than a “For Sale” sign. Competition is fierce, and if you want the best offers and your home to sell quickly, home staging is essential. Staging involves cleaning, de-cluttering, and decorating a home so it appeals to buyers. Never confuse decorating for staging. Décor is an expression of a particular style, while staging is a strategy.

According to www.globalspan.net, there are five basic steps to staging your home. #1 - Clean. Your home must sparkle! To achieve this level is often only feasible by hiring a cleaning crew. In fact, having a cleaning service return weekly while your house is for sale is probably a pretty good investment.

Get your windows professionally cleaned inside and out too. #2 - Fix. Got a dripping faucet or a cracked tile? These will send the wrong message to potential buyers. Getting them fixed before you put your house on the market is a smart idea. #3 - Eliminate Clutter. The “50% Rule” requires that you eliminate the clutter in your home by at least half. This may be the hardest rule of all! We love our clutter – it reflects our

Our Real Estate Partners

memories, hobbies, and values. But it doesn’t sell homes! Clutter makes homes seem smaller and disorganized.

(Have you ever noticed that the really expensive stores seem to have an expansive, clutter-free layout, while “cheap” stores are often a jumble of merchandise?) Even the ancient practice of Feng Shui has as a central focus the elimination of clutter. #4 - Go Executive Neutral. Neutral colors sell.

It’s a fact. Try to convey an image of quality and neutrality. Potential buyers walking through your home want to imagine themselves as the owners. If you use styles or colors they would never select, you’ve just turned them off. Staying high-quality, but neutral is safest. #5 - De-personalize. Remove objects that your potential buyers won’t be able to identify with. For example, political and religious items may turn off whole groups of buyers, because they cannot “imagine” your home as their home. Buying a home is an emotional decision, and you want potential buyers to make an emotional connection with your home by being able to “see” themselves in it.

Passion. Innovation. Respect. Honesty. At Northwood Realty Services, these aren’t just words – they are words to live by.

They represent a promise we make to our clients – and ourselves – each and every day. Say hello to the New Face of Northwood at Northwood.com today.

190 N. Main Street Washington, PA 15301 724.222.6550 • Northwood.com

Julie has built a sterling reputation on personalized service, and professionally handled transactions. Her passion, integrity, creative ideas and analytical thinking yield exceptional results. With experience ranging from modest homes to $1M+ luxury properties, Julie applies a level of knowledge, negotiation skills, and sophistication necessary to close transactions.

Julie’s “to-the-point” candor and problem solving abilities have earned the respect of her fellow REALTORS® and clients.

Julie Cain Cwynar, Keller Williams Real Estate Professionals 724.941.9400 ext 189 • www.juliecaincwynar.com

REVERSE MORTGAGE According to www.consumer.ftc.gov, if you’re 62 or older – and looking for money to finance a home improvement, pay off your current mortgage, supplement your retirement income, or pay for health-care expenses – you may be considering a reverse mortgage. It’s a product that allows you to convert part of the equity in your home into cash without having to sell your home or pay additional monthly bills.

In a “regular” mortgage, you make monthly payments to the lender. In a “reverse” mortgage, you receive money from the lender, and generally don’t have to pay it back for as long as you live in your home. The loan is repaid when you die, sell your home, or when your home is no longer your primary residence. The proceeds of a reverse mortgage generally are taxfree, and many reverse mortgages have no income restrictions.

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There are three types of reverse mortgages: •• Single-purpose reverse mortgages, offered by some state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

•• Federally-insured reverse mortgages, known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) and backed by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

•• Proprietary reverse mortgages, private loans that are backed by the companies that develop them.

Single-purpose reverse mortgages are the least expensive option. They are not available everywhere and can be used for only one purpose, which is specified by the government or nonprofit lender. For example, the lender might say the loan may be used only to pay for home repairs, improvements, or property taxes. Most homeowners with low or moderate income can qualify for these loans.

HEARTLAND HOMES IS PITTSBURGH’S NUMBER ONE LUXURY HOME BUILDER, AND WITH NEARLY 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, HEARTLAND HAS CREATED A NEW SERIES OF LUXURY HOMES, WHICH INCLUDE GOURMET KITCHENS, HARDWOOD & CERAMIC FLOORS, 9 FOOT CEILINGS, AND COZY FIREPLACES, ALL THIS AND MORE ARE NOW STANDARD. LUXURY HAS ARRIVED! Heartland Homes 724.949.0079 • www.HeartlandLuxuryHomes.com Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 43

Real Estate IN CANON MAC

HECMs and proprietary reverse mortgages may be more expensive than traditional home loans, and the upfront costs can be high. That’s important to consider, especially if you plan to stay in your home for just a short time or borrow a small amount. HECM loans are widely available, have no income or medical requirements, and can be used for any purpose.

Before applying for a HECM, you must meet with a counselor from an independent government-approved housing counseling agency. Some lenders offering proprietary reverse mortgages also require counseling.

The counselor is required to explain the loan’s costs and financial implications, and possible alternatives to a HECM, like government and nonprofit programs or a single-purpose or proprietary reverse mortgage.

The counselor also should be able to help you compare the costs of different types of reverse mortgages and tell you how different payment options, fees, and other costs affect the total cost of the loan over time. You can visit HUD for a list of counselors or call the agency at 1.800.569.4287.

Most counseling agencies charge around $125 for their services. The fee can be paid from the loan proceeds, but you cannot be turned away if you can’t afford the fee.

How much you can borrow with a HECM or proprietary reverse mortgage depends on several factors, including your age, the type of reverse mortgage you select, the appraised value of your home, and current interest rates. In general, the older you are, the more equity you have in your home, and the less you owe on it, the more money you can get.

The HECM lets you choose among several payment options. You can select:

Our Real Estate Partners Personalized plan for each individual buyer and seller. I work with in town and relocation moves. I have a preliminary meeting with each buyer to develop a plan for their home purchase. For sellers I work with them as a team to develop a marketing plan unique to their home and work with them through the mortgage, appraisal and inspection processes.

Mary Eve Kearns • Howard Hanna 412.889.7244

Erica is a Listing Specialist in the Pittsburgh area. With the backing of an extraordinary Real Estate Company and her Marketing background, her innovative selling techniques have become a key component in her marketing strategies. She’s been nominated by Pittsburgh Magazine as one of “Pittsburgh’s Top Real Estate Agents” three years in a row for “Highest in Service and Overall Satisfaction.”

Erica Shulsky from eXp Realty (D) 724.986.8688

•• A “term” option – fixed monthly cash advances for a specific time.

•• A “tenure” option – fixed monthly cash advances for as long as you live in your home.

•• A line of credit that lets you draw down the loan proceeds at any time in amounts you choose until you have used up the line of credit.

•• A combination of monthly payments and a line of credit.

You can change your payment option any time for about $20.

HECMs generally provide bigger loan advances at a lower total cost compared with proprietary loans. But if you own a higher-valued home, you may get a bigger loan advance from a proprietary reverse mortgage. So if your home has a higher appraised value and you have a small mortgage, you may qualify for more funds.

Reverse mortgage loan advances are not taxable, and generally don’t affect your Social Security or Medicare benefits. You retain the title to your home, and you don’t have to make monthly repayments. The loan must be repaid when the last surviving borrower dies, sells the home, or no longer lives in the home as a principal residence.

In the HECM program, a borrower can live in a nursing home or other medical facility for up to 12 consecutive months before the loan must be repaid.

If you’re considering a reverse mortgage, be aware that:

I build clients for life through a unique, handson approach so my clients buy and sell with confidence. My extensive mortgage background offers education and effectiveness. My sellers benefit from a comprehensive marketing plan and exclusive Howard Hanna programs for a competitive edge. I’m a Multi-Million Dollar Producer and Quality Service Award winner who truly works on your behalf. Call me today at: 412-841-6612.

Howard Hanna – Amber Bennett 412.841.6612 • amberbennett@howardhanna.com

For over 50 years, Prudential Preferred Realty has been helping people in Southwestern Pennsylvania meet all of their real estate needs.

Whether you are interested in buying a home, selling a home, financing a home or building your dream home, our team of experienced real estate professionals can help. Ready to get started? Give us a call at 724.941.3000 or visit www.prudentialpreferred.com.

Prudential Preferred Realty 724.941.3000 • www.prudentialpreferred.com

continued on page 46 Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 45

Real Estate CANON-MAC •• Lenders generally charge an origination fee, a mortgage insurance premium (for federally-insured HECMs), and other closing costs for a reverse mortgage.

Lenders also may charge servicing fees during the term of the mortgage. The lender sometimes sets these fees and costs, although origination fees for HECMs currently are dictated by law.

Your upfront costs can be lowered if you borrow a smaller amount through a reverse mortgage product called “HECM Saver.”

on a 30-year jumbo.

However, the bad news is that, due to new mortgage laws adopted after the nation’s foreclosure crisis of several years back, it is more difficult to get a mortgage than ever before. Credit scores are even more scrutinized and debt-to-income ratios are more strict.

There is an infinite number of loan types out there, and lenders are constantly coming up with creative ways to wrangle in new

•• The amount you owe on a reverse mortgage grows over time. Interest is charged on the outstanding balance and added to the amount you owe each month.

That means your total debt increases as the loan funds are advanced to you and interest on the loan accrues.

•• Although some reverse mortgages have fixed rates, most have variable rates that are tied to a financial index: they are likely to change with market conditions.

•• Reverse mortgages can use up all or some of the equity in your home, and leave fewer assets for you and your heirs. Most reverse mortgages have a “nonrecourse” clause, which prevents you or your estate from owing more than the value of your home when the loan becomes due and the home is sold. However, if you or your heirs want to retain ownership of the home, you usually must repay the loan in full – even if the loan balance is greater than the value of the home.

•• Because you retain title to your home, you are responsible for property taxes, insurance, utilities, fuel, maintenance, and other expenses. If you don’t pay property taxes, carry homeowner’s insurance, or maintain the condition of your home, your loan may become due and payable.

•• Interest on reverse mortgages is not deductible on income tax returns until the loan is paid off in part or whole.

FINANCING AND INTEREST RATES There is both good news and bad news when it comes to home financing and mortgage interest rates. The great news is that interest rates are still extremely low. According to bankrate.com, the interest rates on 12/26/12 were 3.59% on a 30-year fixed rate, 2.87% on a 15-year fixed, 2.77% on a 5/1 ARM and 4.07% 46 724.942.0940 to advertise |

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homeowners. The type of home loan you choose can make or break you as a borrower, so make sure you fully understand it before making any kind of commitment.

Most prospective homeowners these days seem to be interested in 100% financing, generally because they don’t have the assets necessary for a down payment. Unfortunately, the proliferation of these types of home loan programs have increased the number of high-risk borrowers in the United States at an alarming rate.

But if you take the time to educate yourself on the many home loan types out there, you’ll effectively decrease your chances of defaulting on your mortgage. That said, let’s talk about the many different loan types and programs available today.

Below is a list of the types of loans available to potential homeowners.

Conforming Loans and Non-Conforming Loans One way home loans are differentiated is by their Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) eligibility. If the loan meets requirements set forth by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, it is considered a conforming

loan. If the loan does not meet all the underwriting requirements set forth by the pair of GSEs, it is considered “non-conforming.”

The main guideline that determines whether a mortgage is conforming or not is the loan amount. Generally, a mortgage with a loan amount below $417,000 is considered conforming, whereas any loan amount above $417,000 is considered a jumbo loan. However, in Alaska and Hawaii the conforming limit is $625,500. Note that the conforming limit may change annually, and has risen quite a bit in the past few years as housing prices skyrocketed.

A jumbo loan may meet all of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s loan underwriting guidelines, but if the loan amount exceeds the conforming limit, it will be considered non-conforming and carry a higher mortgage rate as a result.

If your loan amount is on the fringe of the conforming limit, sometimes simply dropping your loan amount a few thousand dollars can lower your mortgage rate tremendously, so keep this in mind anytime your loan amount is near the limit.

Conventional Loans and Government Loans Mortgages are also classified as either “conventional loans” or “government loans.” Conventional loans can be conforming or jumbo, but are not insured or guaranteed by the government.

Then there are government loans, such as the widely popular FHA loan.

This type of mortgage is backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Another common government loan is the VA loan, backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The maximum loan amount for these types of loans varies by county.

Now that you know a bit about different home loan types, we can focus on home loan programs. As mentioned earlier, there are a ton of different loan programs out there, and more seem to surface every day. Let’s start with the most basic of loan programs, the 30-year fixed-rate loan.

Loan Programs The 30-year fixed loan is as simple as they come. Most mortgages are based on a 30-year amortization, and the 30-year fixed is no different.

The 30-year fixed loan is just how it sounds, a loan with a 30-year term at a fixed interest rate for 30 years. What this means is that the loan will take 30 years to pay off, and the rate will stay the same during those entire 30 years.

There isn’t much else to it.

Let’s say you secure a rate of 6.5% on a 30-year fixed loan with a loan amount of $500,000. You’ll have monthly mortgage payments of $3,160.34 for a total of 360 months, or 30 years. You will be required to pay the same amount each month until the loan is paid off. So the total amount you would pay on a $500,000 loan at 6.5% over 30 years would be $1,137,722.40.

LOCAL HOUSING MARKET According to www.buildingpittsburgh.wordpress.com, unlike the overall U.S. market, the housing market in Pittsburgh does not have to bounce

Continued on page 49 Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 47

business spotlight

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Real Estate IN CANON-MAC

back from falling prices and is showing remarkable consistency across a number of metrics.

For more than six months the prices of houses sold and the number of homes sold has remained solidly up more than 10% year-over-year.

That’s an unusual level of consistent growth, especially since the sales took place in periods of both higher and lower seasonal activity.

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J & D Waterproofing & Home Improvements 1-800-VERY-DRY • www.jdwaterproofing.com

The third quarter also showed a consistent trend in the yearover-year growth in new construction. Through nine months there were a total of 2,396 new dwelling units started compared to 2,155 during the same period in 2011, an increase of 11.2%.

The increased activity was constant whether the construction was traditional detached single-family homes (and attached) or multifamily units, with each cohort up between 10-12%. Permits were issued for 1,393 units of detached dwellings compared to 1,264 in 2011 and for 1,003 attached units this year compared to 891 last year.

While there is growing evidence that financing conditions are normalizing so that buyers can buy, the dwindling supply of lots are keeping a broader housing recovery from spreading into 2013, although the construction of multi-family apartments will boom for at least the next 18 months. Following is a breakdown of new housing by county.

•• Allegheny County — Single Family Detached, 609. SingleFamily Attached, 392. Total, 1001.

•• Beaver County — Single-Family Detached, 108. Single-Family Attached, 25. Total, 133.

•• Butler County — Single-Family Detached, 190. Single-Family Attached, 323. Total, 513.

•• Fayette County — Single-Family Detached, 66. Single-Family Attached, 10. Total, 76.

•• Washington County — Single-Family Detached, 251. SingleFamily Attached, 74. Total, 325.

•• Westmoreland County — Single-Family Detached, 169.

Single-Family Attached, 179.

Total, 348.

Continued on page 50

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Real Estate IN CANON-MAC SMARTPHONE APPS FOR HOUSE HUNTING This is 2013 and we are an “on the go” society. So doesn’t it just make sense to use apps for house hunting before contacting a real estate agent?

According to www.msn.com, today there are dozens of cheap — even free — applications you can download that can make your home buying quest easier and savvier than ever before.

So go ahead and download ‘em, take ‘em for a test drive … then hit the open-house circuit. This time, you’re guaranteed to waste less time finding a new “home sweet home.”

Tools to help you find a home — all with GPS •• Realtor.com says its app has more listings — reportedly more than 3 million — than any other app in the country. You can highlight areas of town to search, check for homes for sale near you and search for open houses. Most homes show multiple photos as well as pricing and open-house info. (Free.)

•• Zillow not only lets you see listings and the estimated worth of any home — not just homes for sale – but also has rental-rate estimates.

(Free.)

Navigating the real-estate maze •• Dictionary of Real Estate Terms. Baffled by a bilateral contract?

Confused by carrying charges? You need this dictionary. ($1.99 for iPhone and iPad. Other dictionaries available for different devices.)

•• Mortgage Calculator. A solid calculator to help steer you through the finances of a home purchase, this calculator computes monthly rate, price per square foot and your amortization schedule. (99 cents for iPad and iPhone. Other calculators available for different devices.)

•• Can you afford that home? Home Buying Power lets you input variables — desired payment or income percentage, plus down payment, loan term and interest rate — and then tells you how much house you can afford to pay for on a monthly basis. ($1.99 for iPad and iPhone.)

Choosing the right city and neighborhood •• Learn your neighborhood: With Wikihood, you can get a mini-tour of most any neighborhood in the world — everything from the history to the culture to companies in the area. (Free for iPad and iPhone.)

•• Wonder where that smell is coming from? Worried by those airplanes flying low overhead? You need Suburb Scout. This app allows users to search for possible nuisances near a home — airports, landfills, sewage-treatment plants and more. ($1.99 for Android.)

•• Are you worried about sex offenders? Consider getting Safe Neighborhood. This app gives you access to the National Sex Offender Registry and can tell you locations of sex offenders in your area. It’s a little controversial — not only can you search by address, but you can pull up names and pictures of the offenders. (Free for Android.)

•• Trying to pick a new city? You might want to look at the crime statistics. The app Crime Stats lets you see statistics on several violent crimes and property crimes for cities nationwide, using FBI data. The app also lets you compare those stats to the national average and to other cities. (99 cents for iPhone and iPad.) •• Want to know what kind of amenities your neighborhood has?

Download the Walk Score app. It gives a home a score of up to 100, based on residents’ ability to walk to things such as a grocery, a pub, etc. The better the score, the more walkable the neighborhood.

Somewhat related, Around Me tells you the distances to key spots such as banks, coffee shops and post offices. (Both are free for iPhone and iPad.) •• SiteWise gives the demographics of your prospective home’s immediate area, using info up to and including the 2010 Census. The app creates a demographic report that includes population by age, education level, number of children, household income, number of renters versus owners and more. ($9.99 for Blackberry and iPhone users.)

When looking hard at a home •• Photo Measures is an app that lets you take pictures of, say, a room and then allows you to save your measurements of the room’s dimensions on the photos.

You can take photos during

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Real Estate IN CANON-MAC your walk-throughs of an appealing house, note the dimensions of walls and doors and cabinets, then plan your space and refer to the measurements later. ($4.99 for iPhone.)

•• ColorSmart. With paintmaker Behr’s ColorSmart app, you can visualize colors in your prospective home. Just take a photo, then fill in the walls with a Behr paint color to check out the new look. (Free for iPhone and iPad.) You now have 13 new ways to find your perfect home — and no excuses.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A REAL ESTATE AGENT

why the #1 complaint in the real estate industry is lack of communication.

In an occupation that requires communication, the #1 complaint is lack of it. I want my real estate agent to communicate with me in the method that I prefer [email, text, phone call, Facebook, Twitter, smoke signal, Morse code etc.] whatever that is. I also want a regular schedule of check-ins — even if there is nothing to report. Keep me in the loop!

Truthful: Someone who is going to tell me the truth whether I want to hear it or not. ‘Yes, Mr. Garner, that purple carpet is ugly and needs to go’ or ‘Stephen, the deer head or stuffed bear in the den is not a good idea.’

Full Time: Real estate is not a part-time job. My agent needs to be available when a potential buyer is. I don’t want to have to wait until my agent gets off his/her shift at Walgreen’s before [responding to] an offer on my home.

This is where an agent with a team can be beneficial as they can cover for each other so I can get the service I deserve.

Sometimes when the time comes to buy or sell a home the focus is so much on the homes that the real estate agent is an afterthought.

However, it is very important to pick the right one for your needs. On the site www. mytitleguy.com is a blogger who has worked in the title industry for 11 years and has met and worked with countless real estate agents.

He has come up with a list of things to look for before signing a contract with an agent:

NEW HOME TRENDS

Personable: I want someone who does not make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Someone I can tolerate talking to or sitting across from on more than one occasion.

The housing industry has taken a beating these past few years, but a glimmer of hope is on the horizon. Housing starts are increasing, according to a story by the National Association of Business Economics.

Licensed: Sounds dumb but it is not. I want my agent to be licensed and in good standing, i.e. no complaints [no legitimate complaints one way].

Google is your friend. Go to Google.com, put [potential agents’ names] in quotations and see what Google and other consumers have to say about them.

Not surprisingly, though, the Great Recession curtailed many of the extravagances that buyers desired before things went south. Homebuyers want different things from their homes today. The watchword is “flexibility” — things such as rooms that serve multiple purposes and homes that can accommodate either “boomerang” children or aging parents.

Tech Savvy: An agent who is savvy with technology is a non-negotiable for me. I want someone who has a strong website, who understands the Internet and search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. Not so much social media. Remember, 98% of consumers start their home search online — my real estate agent better know how to get my home to stand out online — where the eyeballs are.

Integrity: Integrity is one of those [attributes] that many people say they have. In my opinion, integrity is demonstrated, not necessarily spoken. I want a real estate agent/Realtor to put my interests above [his/her] own.

That offer of $400,000 on my $430,000 home may only equal a reduction of $900 for the agent’s commission but it equals a $30,000 reduction to me. If I’m buying with an agent and I’m interested in 4-bedroom, 2-bath homes, show them all to me, even the ones offering a reduced commission and the ones listed by an agent you don’t necessarily care for. Put my interests above your own. If my agent represents me, I want him/her to represent me.

According to www.msn.com, [researchers] talked to homebuilders and industry watchers to find out what will be behind the front doors of new homes.

Easy access

Knowledgeable: I want an agent who knows [his/her] way around the purchase contract and how to negotiate. Just because [agents are] licensed does not mean they understand either. I also want an agent who specializes in what I am buying or selling.

Accessibility is big and likely only to get bigger, says Kermit Baker, chief economist of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). “It’s strictly an aging-related thing: Boomers are getting older, and parents of boomers are getting older.”

Familiar with the local market: I would want an agent who is familiar with my neighborhood, builder, and local market conditions. Local market conditions — not an area 20 miles away. [Yes, markets can vary considerably in as few as 20 miles.]

Baby boomers in particular are starting to think about what their homes need to look like if they’re going to stay in them as the years advance.

That means single-story homes, homes with grab bars in the bathroom, fewer stairs and perhaps even wheelchair ramps. In the AIA’s most recent survey, almost half of the architects who responded said accessibility was a growing design priority.

Communicates well and often: You would hope that service and communication would be the basics [for being] in the real estate industry…but sadly it is not. There are real estate agents out there who are horrible at returning calls or emails or even giving updates. Maybe that is 52 724.942.0940 to advertise |

Canon Mac

business spotlight

JEFFREY A. LAGONI - 412-854-4500 x 250 Jeff@VictorianFinance.com Company NMLS ID: 50635 NMLS Loan Originator ID: 140105 PA Department of Banking License: 28662

Are you ready for the Seller’s Market?

A

fter a long haul of a buyer’s market, some unique changes are occurring with real estate trends that Realtor Erica Shulsky of eXp Realty and Mortgage Banker Jeff Lagoni of Victorian Finance want people to know about.

“We are transitioning into a seller’s market,” Shulsky said. “The last six or seven homes I’ve sold have been multiple bid situations, which is great for the sellers. We are actually experiencing inventory shrinkage in some markets coupled with interest rates that are still incredibly low for all of those buyers out there.”

Yes, the low interest rates are still great, but with the shrinking inventory, buyers have to be more reactive than ever before if they want to get into the home of their dreams. Erica and her team at eXp Realty will make sure a reactive buyer is able to view the house of their choice in the shortest amount of time possible.

“The Western Pennsylvania area was mostly insulated from the recent housing woes facing other parts of the country and homes priced correctly and in showing condition are selling much faster,” Shulsky said. “I sold a house over two years ago where the people bought it for $112,000. The owners of that home did virtually nothing besides basic maintenance and kept it in above average condition. This incredible market just allowed them to recently resell this same home for $130,000, allowing the couple to get every penny they were asking for it. All I can say is, ‘What an incredible market!’”

Because of her affiliation with eXp Realty, the process of home buying and selling has been streamlined into a quick and paperless process, letting people focus more on moving in and moving out, rather than making trips to an office to sign page after page of paperwork.

However, if you would prefer to sit down and discuss your goals or sign your paperwork face to face, we do have offices with very relaxed atmospheres, Shulsky said. eXp separates Erica and their agents from the pack in other ways besides the paperless process.

“What’s nice is that eXp does not tie me down to marketing my homes the ways that traditional brokerages do. My team and I have come up with some very unique selling propositions to position our properties to sell in the least amount of time possible for the most money and eXp encourages these kinds of ‘out-of-the-box’ techniques,” Shulsky said. “eXp is truly the future of real estate, and I am ecstatic to be a part of such an amazing, innovative company!”

On the finance side of things, Lagoni said that at Victorian Finance, they typically are able to expedite financing more nimbly than other lenders.

“We’re a Mortgage Bank, which means we underwrite and fund the loan with our own local resources here in Pittsburgh,” Lagoni said. “For customers, that results in a closing time of 30 days on average rather than the industry average of 40 to 60 days.”

Victorian Finance also stresses the pre-approval process for homeowners so that they enjoy an efficient and smooth loan process.

“The best advice I can give somebody, regardless of their timeframe, is ‘Call me today,’ so I can coach them on credit and the loan process to ensure that they’re prepared to enjoy the pleasure of purchasing their new home and not be stressed about the financing,” Lagoni said. “The loan process can be easy if they are prepared. If they’re not well prepared, that’s when the process can be a challenge. Education is the key part of it.”

In addition to getting your credit and pre-approval up to par, Victorian also offers FHA, USDA, VA, conventional, reverse, and PHFA mortgages to qualified borrowers.

Lagoni is a mortgage banker first and foremost, and credit coach second, which allows him to teach people the best way to manage their credit scores to make the most of their buying power.

“Paying your bills on time is the most important factor for obtaining a perfect credit score,” he said. “Keeping your credit card balances below 40 percent of the limit is a key factor as well. There are other little things people can do to get the most out of their credit score. In today’s world that score means more now than ever. It affects your mortgage rate, insurance rates, car loans and even employers are checking credit reports for employees. It is imperative to understand how your credit works. These all are things I can coach people on if they call me today. ” Victorian Finance is a locally-owned mortgage bank, focused on reducing cost which allows them to provide mortgages more cost effectively, with emphasis placed on highly-personalized customer service. Because of these factors, Jeff was recently awarded Pittsburgh Magazine 5 Star Mortgage Professional for 2013 – his third consecutive year.

“My goal is to always do right by the borrower and to deliver on what is promised,” Lagoni said, “because, at the end of the day, all I have is my reputation.”

For more information on how you can find or sell your next home, contact Erica Shulsky at 724.986.8688 or ericashulsky@gmail.com or visit her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/realtorerica. For more information on your financing Licensed by the PA Department of Banking options, call Jeff Lagoni of Victorian Company NMLS ID: 50635 NMLS Loan Originator ID: 140105 Finance at w412-677-3170 or email, PA Department of Banking License: 28662 jeff@victorianfinance.com.

Jeffrey A. Lagoni MORTGAGE BANKER 412-677-3170

JEFFREY A. LAGONI - 412-854-4500 x 250 Jeff@VictorianFinance.com Company NMLS ID: 50635 NMLS Loan Originator ID: 140105 PA Department of Banking License: 28662

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 53

Real Estate IN CANON-MAC A bigger garage — for everything but cars

smaller home, rooms can serve multiple functions.

Not long ago, homebuilders were adding garage space to accommodate SUVs. Now some are making more room in the garage for all the other items families put there, from tricycles to golf carts. “We know that growing families accumulate a lot of stuff,” says Scott Thomas, director of product design for Pulte Group, which includes Pulte Homes, Centex and Del Webb retirement communities. “These garages help avoid clutter. A trend for the larger garages is to use part of it as a ‘man cave’ of sorts — space where you can fit two cars, in addition to a sofa, TV, weights, etc.”

The ‘resource center’ People want homes that are more flexible, more versatile. Rooms dedicated to one purpose are less popular now, according to the AIA survey.

As homes shrank in the past few years, people asked, “Where’s that space going to come from?”

Baker says. Those people are realizing that in a

David Barista, editor in chief of Professional Builder and Custom Builder magazines, calls these multipurpose areas “resource centers” — nooks that include a desk, printer, room for a laptop and even some cubbyholes for mail and bills. “You don’t need this huge den/office anymore,” he says. “Most families are working off laptops or iPads.” Also hearing that demand, Pulte Group has been adding “planning centers” to its homes — spaces adjacent to the kitchen “that serve as the family command center of sorts,” Thomas says. “It’s a place where the kids can do their homework and be within earshot of the parents. They are great for family organization, paying bills.”

Homes within homes Almost one-third of American adults today are “doubled up,” or living in the same household with another adult generation, the U.S. Census Bureau says. Those adults could be

“boomerang” kids who have come back home to live after college, or aging parents who moved in with adult children.

Homebuilders are starting to respond to this trend. “We’re seeing a huge growth in floor plans that include dual master suites,” Barista says.

Lennar Homes has introduced its NextGen home in several areas of the country. “It really is a home within a home,” says Alan Jones, Arizona division president for Lennar. Imagine a home that contains a separate apartment with its own sleeping area, kitchenette, bathroom and perhaps even garage. A door connects it to the rest of the house, Jones says.

Not just ‘green’ — really green

Homebuilders have been edging toward greater energy efficiency in the past few years, with features such as compact fluorescent bulbs and Energy Star appliances. But Barista sees an even bigger leap. Once the realm of “out there” rich people, “net zero energy homes” — houses that create as much energy as they consume — are going mainstream, he says. “The production builders (larger builders) are becoming masters at building homes that have really tight building envelopes” — that is, homes that don’t leak air where not intended, he says.

For several thousand dollars more, large builders are offering homes with solar panels that help power the house. That’s not only good for the environment, but it helps the homes stand out in the market. “I’ve heard of other big builders going in this direction, too,” Barista says.

Home plans that fit today

Another trend Barista sees is “home plans that work for today’s buyers,” he says. In other words, homes designed to accommodate the ways people live today and use their homes.

Here are some examples: •• Laundry. “We’re seeing a lot of floor plans that have direct access to laundry rooms,” Barista says — for instance, a laundry alcove that’s right in the master suite, where it’s easy to use. He’s even seen laundry chutes.

•• “Costco” pantries. One designer told Barista about the appearance of large pantries just off the garage where people can store all the bulk items that they buy at warehouse stores.

•• Drop zones. These are small spots, usually near the kitchen, that are dedicated to dropping off your cell phone, keys, purse, maybe the mail, too. “It’s just another example of home plans working for today’s homeowner,” he says.

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The house that flows Several builders and observers mentioned a trend that’s not exactly new, but continues to pick up speed: the open plan. As homes have gotten smaller in recent years, an open plan is a way to make a home seem larger than it is, Barista says.

The most obvious example is the way many new homes now have a continuous space and open sightline — a great room — that extends from kitchen to dining area to living area, says Brent Anderson, Vice President of Investor Relations for Meritage Homes. That suits today’s more casual family, he says. “You can watch the football game while you’re cooking dinner.”

By losing the walls and hallways, a home can seem much bigger, Anderson says. “If I walked through a home today that’s a 3,200-squarefoot, four-bedroom home, it looks, feels and lives better than a 4,000-square-foot home of 20 years ago. You would literally think that you are in a larger home. But you’re in a home that’s 20% smaller.”

Infill is in Finally, one shift doesn’t involve just what’s in homes but where homes are being built.

There’s a real shift toward smaller-scale “infill” development projects within existing towns and cities — projects that emphasize affordability, access to public transportation, commercial opportunities and job centers, according to the AIA. “During the housing boom, builders were building where they could reach sufficient scale in their operations. So they needed big land parcels to produce the volume that they wanted to produce,” Baker says.

But companies aren’t building as many homes right now and no longer need all that land, Baker says. Moreover, not everyone liked those sprawling suburbs where “you have to drive 15 minutes to get a quart of milk.”

Hence, they are looking back into towns and cities, he says.

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 55

How Did You Get Into Gardening?

My love for gardening came from my dad.

He grew up on a farm in Eighty Four, PA. My mom, dad and the seven (yes, seven!) of us kids lived there for a while. Then, when I was eight years old, we moved to the “big town” of Canonsburg. Street lights? Sidewalks? What was this? We moved into a big old rented house on North Jefferson Avenue.

One of the first things my dad did was start planting flowers. We had a huge porch with wooden columns. Under my dad’s direction, I helped tie string to small dowel rods which we pounded into the dirt around the porch.

The strings went all the way to the top of the porch. Soon enough, lovely heart shaped leaves started poking through the earth. Dad showed me how to gently twist the vines onto the strings. Within weeks, the beautiful vines made their way up and up as far as they could climb.

I remember my dad waking me early one morning. He asked me to come outside and see something special! Sleepily, I trudged downstairs and onto the front porch. The green curtain of leaves that surrounded the porch was covered with deep bluish purple flowers. I settled onto the bench with my head on my Dad’s lap while we reveled in this morning glory spectacular. It is easily one of my favorite childhood memories.

My dad died when I was only seventeen. He never got to walk me down the aisle, never met my husband or held my two baby boys.

I have a big old house of my own now. Every year my morning glories come up thicker, taller and more spectacular. Even though I don’t have my dad with me to see this house, my garden, and my sons – I know he is with me. When I go out on my deck with my sleepy boys and show them our morning glories, I can tell my dad is smiling in Heaven.

Rebecca O’Donnell Canonsburg, PA 56 724.942.0940 to advertise |

Canon Mac

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 57

How Did You Get Into Gardening?

We own two acres and have a rather large flower garden. In the summer we grow over 800 varieties of daylilies after a spring bloom of an equal amount of daffodils. Our garden also has many varieties of (miniature) iris, hosta, heuchera, and Echinacea. Our daylily mentors were Dan Tau from McMurray who is now in daylily heaven along with our neighbor John Yonski. Yes, we have an eight foot deer fence protecting our flowers!

Pictured are two photos, one from spring and one from summer.

Jeanne and Larry Rowles North Strabane 58 724.942.0940 to advertise |

Canon Mac

Gettin

: w o n K g to

By Joann Naser

Superintendent Michael Daniels

“Enlightening and challenging, and I love coming to work every day” is how Michael Daniels, Canon-McMillan School District’s superintendent, describes his job.

Beginning his career in the field of education, Mr. Daniels first worked for the Intermediate Unit 1 as a school psychologist serving non-public schools in Washington and Greene counties.

In the 1995-96 school year, Mr. Daniels was hired by Canon-Mac as the school psychologist. After he was in the position for 18 months, a vacancy occurred in the special education director’s position.

“It was an audit year for the school district,” explained Mr. Daniels, which meant that all the special education programs would be reviewed by the state’s Department of Education. “I said I can do this. I have been networking with the Department of Education.”

Starting as the special education coordinator, Mr. Daniels completed the appropriate credentials and then became the director. “It was a really great job,” recalled Mr. Daniels. “I also got to travel over the state as a peer monitor for the Department of Education, at its expense, and see what other schools were doing.”

One of the highlights during his tenure was the establishment of autistic classrooms, starting at South Central Elementary School. “We wanted to bring back our students to school and for some of the students, it works very well,” stated Mr. Daniels. “For other students, it was worth a try but maybe that it just can’t work here for them.”

People from other districts request to see the model classroom in action.

In the 2010 school year, Mr. Daniels was appointed assistant to the superintendent. Dr. Helen McCracken, then superintendent, took a health sabbatical leave in June 2011 and eventually retired. “During that window of time, about one and a half years, I assumed both roles,” said Mr. Daniels.

“Some people stated that it was not possible in a district our size to do it, but I did and I am still alive.”

Canon-Mac has nearly 5,000 students in 11 buildings. “I am up for the challenge,” remarked Mr. Daniels. “I am making sure we stay on course and follow the rules. The decisions stop here.”

“I see people as good and that we treat each other kindly and fairly, but I will impose and enforce the rules if people take advantage of the rules,” he added. “I must demonstrate leadership.”

Getting additional professional development, Mr. Daniels was selected to participate in an all-expense paid program by the District Administration Leadership Institute in La Jolla, California, in March.

“They (institute sponsor) would not give me specific details why I was one of only 65 superintendents selected throughout the country but they said some well-known colleagues recommended me,” explained Mr. Daniels.

Current trends in public schools, board relations, school security and “embedding technology in the curriculum,” were some of the topics discussed, according to Mr. Daniels.

Regarding board relations, “I can say that our board is student centered and really cares about the education process,” said Mr. Daniels of Canonsburg, who was unanimously approved of by the board as superintendent on October 22, 2012 and has a three-year contract with the district. “They are volunteers and they are not motivated by their own students in particular schools.”

Hiring an architect of record and updating a feasibility study are primary goals for Mr. Daniels. “We have to get something done,” he said. “We need new buildings. Our communities are growing in North Strabane and Cecil townships and we need to be ready to educate the students coming in to the district.”

In August, “there will be one principal in each building,” said Mr. Daniels, which was not always the case. He is also proud of the partnership with Catalyst Connection that provides project-based lessons and real-

life experiences for students with corporations like Mark West, Universal Electric, All-Clad Metalcrafters, and Consol Energy.

Of course, “high stake testing” remains a focus of the district because reimbursements are based on test scores. “There needs to be some form of assessment checking students’ mastery of a skill to determine if this is a waste of time or is there evidence to see positive results,” Mr. Daniels explained, “but you also have to have a certain amount of money to operate the district.”

Another goal of Mr. Daniels is having high achieving students and “we are creating the right environment to keep them motivated and have the best educational experience we can offer.”

He added, “We want each student to get the best out of their experience and become productive citizens through project-based learning and rigorous standards to reach their full potential.”

Receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washington and Jefferson College and a master’s degree in school psychology at California University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Daniels completed his school psychology certificate at Duquesne University.

When asked if he has hobbies, Mr. Daniels explained his children are his hobby. “They gladly take up any free time,” he said.

Married to Peggy, the couple has two children: Abby, 12, “who plays basketball year round” and Nathan, 10, who also plays basketball and was recently on a championship team.

He concluded, “I can’t take a picture of it, but I made a difference today and that is comforting to me.”

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 59

Seeing Is Believing: Laser Vision Correction Often Eliminates Need for Glasses or Contacts

Imagine waking up in the morning and not having to reach for your glasses or contacts. If that sounds too good to be true, then you should consider laser vision correction surgery, a procedure performed by surgeons at UPMC Eye Center’s Laser Vision Center. This procedure often allows patients to see better without glasses and contacts.

According to Deepinder K. Dhaliwal, MD, L.Ac., director of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service and the Center for Integrative Eye Care at UPMC, laser vision correction has been performed at UPMC for some 20 years. UPMC was among the first in the region to offer laser vision surgery and was the only center in the area to participate in the initial studies of the procedure that resulted in its approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Focus on Patients “UPMC has the longest continuously running program in Pittsburgh,” says Dr. Dhaliwal. “What sets us apart is our focus on providing patients with a continuity of care that is present from their very first visit with us, through their testing and evaluations that determine their candidacy for the procedure, to the surgery itself, and finally to their post-surgery visits. We also encourage our patients to meet and talk with their surgeon well in advance of their scheduled surgery so they feel completely comfortable with everyone and everything involved in their pre- and post-operative care. All of these things will help achieve good outcomes.”

According to Dr. Dhaliwal, good candidates for laser vision correction are healthy individuals with healthy eyes. “People who have eye conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts would not be candidates for this surgery,” she says. Multiple other factors are involved in deciding if laser vision correction is right for you, and these are addressed during a complimentary evaluation with your surgeon.

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Canon Mac

The actual procedure, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes, involves the use of very sophisticated lasers that sculpt the cornea, enabling the patient to reduce or eliminate their need for glasses or contacts. “If I perform a procedure on a Thursday afternoon, I would be surprised if, at the patient’s follow-up appointment on Friday, they did not have improved vision,” says Dr. Dhaliwal.

Beyond the potential biggest benefit of the procedure, no longer needing glasses or contacts, other typical advantages include reduced risk of infection related to contact lens wear for those who will no longer require vision correction after surgery.

“The number one risk factor for developing an infection in the cornea is sleeping in your contact lenses,” Dr. Dhaliwal says. “And tap water is not sterile. There have been incidents of blindness when people have used tap water to clean their contacts.”

In addition, people who wear contact lenses can often develop an allergy to them or can over wear them, particularly if they lead active lives that may prohibit the regular use of glasses.

There are some side effects that are associated with laser vision correction, such as a glare or halo effect that seems to be more apparent at night, dry eye, and inflammation, which is mainly treated with eye drops. “All of these things tend to get better over time,” said Dr. Dhaliwal, who trains, teaches, and educates physicians interested in performing laser vision correction nationally and internationally.

Although laser vision correction is not covered by insurance, there are discounts available and cost should not deter a patient from engaging in conversation about the benefits of this procedure.

Customized Care “We deliver a truly customized laser vision correction experience to each patient,” Dr. Dhaliwal says. “This includes an individualized map of the patient’s eye, which accounts for conditions such as astigmatism and the amount of their nearsightedness. Each treatment will be tailored and delivered to the cornea so that the patient receives the best possible outcome. This is not a ‘one size fits all’ type of procedure.”

UPMC refractive surgeons have been selected to take part in a study that will evaluate a new imaging device used during laser vision correction surgery. The results of this study will be presented to the FDA.

“ What sets us apart is our focus on providing patients with a continuity of care that is present from their very first visit with us, through their testing and evaluations that determine their candidacy for the procedure, to the surgery itself, and finally to their post-surgery visits.”

Deepinder Dhaliwal, MD, L.Ac.

For more information about laser vision correction or to make an appointment, call the UPMC Eye Center’s Laser Vision Center at 412-647-2917 or visit UPMC.com/LVC.

Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 61

Canon-Mac Youth Girls Softball Association Helps Rehab Field On April 20, 2013, the Canon-Mac Youth Girls Softball Association (CMYGSA), where over 170 girls aging from 6 to 16 from the Canon-McMillan School District play recreational softball, had a field day at the Town Park Softball Fields. Canonsburg Borough provided materials to replace the wood on the bleachers which ran over $2,000. They also have numerous sponsors throughout the community that they would like to thank.

With everyone’s support, including the sponsors, CMYGSA now has “like-new” bleachers, and the fields were completely redone with new anchors, bases, home plates and pitching rubbers which ran up another $2,000 in materials. CMYGSA has an all new board running the association and they are proud to start making these much needed improvements to the fields!

They had about 20 people from the community come out to help (including a few kids, ranging in age from 13 to 16). With the support from all of the sponsors, the Canonsburg Borough and the families that came out to help, Town Park is on its way to being a proud place for our community to play ball!

Here are the names of the people that participated in the CMYGSA field day: Michael Jameson, Jaculyn Duke, Amanda Frank, C.J. Rothacher, Tyler Tronzo, Alissa Kline, Jay Kline, Brandon Kline, Desiree Kline, Kurt Blanock, Bruce Steffan, Rege Passante, Damon Skiles, Rob Freeman, Steve Matheny, Ashley Matheny, Chris Hopkins, Ryan O’Neil, and Kaylee Thomas.

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Canon Mac

B USINESS D IRECTORY

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Canon Mac | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 63

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NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP PARK’S Community Day It is with great pleasure and excitement that the North Strabane Parks & Recreation Board, along with the Community Day Committee, announces the highly anticipated return of our well attended Community Day event. Saturday, June 22, 2013, will be a day for people of this great community and beyond to come together. Mark this date on your calendar as you won’t want to miss this event!

Community Day is a FREE event and an opportunity for the people and businesses of our community to acknowledge our shared goals.

There will be plenty of information booths, demonstrations, food, and FUN to entertain the entire family, from toddlers to senior citizens.

Festivities will conclude with our annual fireworks display that will light up the sky at approximately 9:30 – 9:45 p.m. With that said, the North Strabane Parks & Recreation Board and Community Day Committee encourages all residents to accept the invitation to participate in this memorable day centered around the community.

We are also excited to announce that we have secured Country Singer, Chris Higbee, as LIVE entertainment for the evening. Additional music entertainment by Tim Grealish, as well as the Four Townsmen.

There is also talk of a Community Day favorite returning…the DUNK TANK! You won’t want to miss out on an opportunity to dunk your favorite township member! There will be appearances from The Pittsburgh Passion women’s football team and the Wild Things mascot.

Our Community Day Kid’s Zone will provide FREE activities for kids of all ages. We will have two strolling magicians and two clowns who will entertain with balloon art and face painting. We will have additional 64 724.942.0940 to advertise |

Canon Mac

face painters at a booth. There will be a scavenger hunt which will take place throughout the park. A trackless train for kids to ride. The games this year are fish pond, tip the cat, basketball, and hill climbing, just to name a few. There will be four inflatables for hours of fun! Make sure you look for the red and white awnings because that’s where the games will be and EVERYONE is a WINNER. Make sure you cool off with a sweet treat from the Hershey cart! For listening entertainment, we will have a kid-friendly DJ playing music in the Kidz Zone!

The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Grand Opening of the North Strabane Township Disc Golf Course will take place at 12 noon near the McClelland Pavilion. This is the first permanent course in Washington County. The 9 hole disc golf course will be expanded to 18 holes in 2014.

Professional disc golfers will provide demonstrations throughout the day.

Discs will be for sale at the event.

The Cornhole Tournament will begin at 3 p.m. Pre-register by June 14 at 3:30 p.m., and the cost if only $5 per person, so only $10 for a two person team. $15 per two person team to register the day of the tournament. Cash prizes for top finishers.

Please be advised that we are diligently working to confirm the remaining details of our Community Day event. In the interim, please visit our website, find us on Facebook, and Twitter to receive the latest updates.

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PITTSBURGH, PA PERMIT NO. 887