SPRING 2013
• Resident Profile: George Polnar • Monroeville Citizens Police Academy • Home Improvement Special Section • Rebuilding McCully Log House
The Gateway High School Music Department Presents Disney’s
Beauty Beast and the
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INPERSPECTIVE S TA F F
From the Publisher Welcome to the spring issue of Monroeville magazine! I hope that you are as anxious as I am to get the cold and snow behind us and get busy planning projects around the house. This issue is dedicated to home-improvement projects great and small. Some projects will give you curb appeal, some will increase your home’s value, and others are for the sheer enjoyment or luxury of it. Regardless of your aims with your home, whether gutting the walls, or just planting the perfect tree in the yard, our homes are a source of pride for us, and not in a status sense. They are where we raise our families, where we feel safe, and where we invite our friends and loved ones for parties and fellowship. Our homes are where our children play, and where oftentimes, we tend to sick loved ones. They are where we try hardest in life, and where the challenges of life hit us the most. Our homes bear witness to our triumphs as well as our sorrows, and they are as much a part of our personalities as what we choose to wear or adorn ourselves with. So, with so much importance placed on the walls that contain us, we hope that you can find at least one project within these pages to be fodder for your next project around the home. Have a wonderful spring! Wayne Dollard, Publisher
we want to know:
?
How did you get into
Gardening
Gardens are commonplace in Western Pennsylvania, but why? What’s the allure of gardening that prompted you to first turn the dirt? , Was it a relative who first helped you plant your first or was it your spouse who first introduced you to succulent, vine-ripened ? homegrown Let us know how you first got into gardening and send us some pictures of your garden as well! Email your submissions to: mark@incommunitymagazines.com and please indicate which of our magazines you receive so we know where to place your story.
tulip bulb
tomatoes
Summer content deadline: 5/16/13
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INSIDE
IN Monroeville is a non-partisan community publication dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the Monroeville 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.
IN Monroeville | Spring 2013 |
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Features
Citizens Police Academy............... | 16 Home Improvement Special Section................................ | 30 Rebuilding McCully Log House... | 43 |
The Gateway High School Music Department will present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast which should prove enjoyable for all ages. Story on page 46. on the cover
Gateway High School Presents a Disney Classic.............................. | 46 industry insight
NovaCare Rehabilitation .............. | 42 Business Spotlight
Venango Trails ................................. | 12 4
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Valley Pool and Spa ...................... | 34
community interests
The Circulatory Centers ............... | 40
Monroeville Arts Council 2013 Schedule of Events ........... | 4
Dental Arts of Pittsburgh............. | 41
New Advanced Treatment for Skin Cancer ............................. | 10 UPMC Today | Health and Wellness News ...................................... | 21
Cover photo by Prime Time Shots, Inc.
Resident Profile: George Polnar Making Others Feel Safe............................................................................... | 37
Tomosynthesis Offers Women Greater Detection of Breast Abnormalities ............................................. | 48 Features
William Bailey Honored for School Board Service ............. | 9 We Want to Cover You! Do you have an event coming up that you’d like to publicize? Do you have an event that you want us to cover? Let us know! Go to www.incommunitymagazines.com/events and fill out the form. Events will be announced in the upcoming issue. If our deadlines don’t match yours, we may decide to send our photographers to cover the event for an upcoming issue. We’re looking for fundraisers, charity drives, social functions, class reunions, church festivals, awards presentations and more! If you’re not sure you have an event worth featuring, give us a call at 724.942.0940 and we’ll help you out!
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Monroeville | Spring 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 3
MONROEVILLE ARTS COUNCIL
2013 EVENT SCHEDULE By Marilyn K. Wempa
Monroeville Arts Council is pleased to announce its 2013 Event Schedule. Thanks to UPMC East’s generous donation, MAC is able to offer the public these free events: • 30th MAC Summer Concert Series featuring four professional bands • MAC Kids’ Art in the Park in conjunction with Monroeville Recreation and Parks Department, 24th MAC Art Show, and an Outreach Program for Sunrise School “UPMC East is proud to be a part of Monroeville and proud to sponsor the Monroeville Arts Council. We support the Council’s mission to encourage growth of the arts in the community. We applaud them for their work and for enhancing the cultural life here in our area.” — Mark Sevco, President of UPMC East
MAC 24th ART SHOW Information to be announced at a later date.
OUTREACH PROGRAM AT SUNRISE SCHOOL
With funding provided by UPMC East, arrangements are being made to provide an educational and fun program this spring through the Gateway to the Arts Foundation for the students at Monroeville’s Sunrise School. Look for details on MAC’s website and in the newspaper.
MAC KIDS’ ART IN THE PARK – June 15 Sponsored by UPMC East, a unique opportunity awaits children in the Monroeville area when they participate in the second annual “MAC Kids’ Art in the Park” event on Saturday, June 15. Real live artists (art teachers, professionals and amateur artists) and Arts Council volunteers will provide a variety of exciting and creative opportunities for children, ages 6 – 12. The event will take place at Beechwood Park Pavilion next to Gateway’s Ramsey Elementary School from 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please arrive on time! The artistic projects offered will satisfy the aesthetic needs of all ages. Students will enjoy taking home their original projects during this exploration of art that is guaranteed to stimulate and meet children’s artistic interests and requirements. For registration information, visit the MAC website at www.MonroevilleArtsCouncil.org, Monroeville Recreation & Parks Department’s summer brochure, or by calling the Parks Department at 412.856.1006. The deadline is June 13 and the cost is $1, payable to Monroeville Recreation & Parks Department.
Workshop participant drawing a clown at 2012 Kids’ Art in the Park.
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Kids had fun designing their own face painting design at the 2012 MAC Kids’ Art in the Park.
Face painting was a favorite activity at the 2012 MAC Kids’ Art in the Park.
Monroeville
SummerConcert Series Sponsored by UPMC East, MAC will offer these concerts at the CCAC-Boyce Campus, air-conditioned auditorium from 4 - 6 p.m. on the following Sundays. There is no admission and no reservations are required. Boyce Campus is handicapped accessible.
July 14 Donna Bailey and A Four-Piece Band July 21 Penn-Trafford Community Band July 28 Ron D’Amico and Friends August 4 East Winds Symphonic Band
Penn-Trafford Community Band
The Penn-Trafford Community Band (PTCB) will once again take the stage at CCAC-Boyce, with its lively selection of marches, big band sounds, television and movie themes, jazz, patriotic and inspirational music. Several classical pieces will be sprinkled throughout the performance. The Penn-Trafford Community Band is very proud of the diversity of their music; they perform each song in the way it was intended. The band started as the 15-member Penn Township Alumni Band in late 2007 and has evolved into the 65-member Penn Trafford Community Band in five short years. PTCB is truly a community band, with members ranging from 13 to 85 years of age. There are 15 students from sixth grade through college level. Some of the school-age members are also band members at Norwin High School, and Penn Trafford High School, and some are in middle schools bands at East Catholic, Gateway and Penn Trafford. Any youngster who would like a unique instrumental experience is welcome in the PTCB. Please contact Ron Rometo at 724.309.2000. Bill Balawadjer, the musical director of the Penn-Trafford Community Band, is a retired high school band director and conducts and arranges the music for the band. Bill is happy to offer his students a chance to gain confidence in performing a wide variety of music by performing in at
least 15 public concerts a year. The band’s manager is Ron Rometo, who founded the band in 2007. He is currently an adjunct faculty member in the Mathematics Department at CCAC Boyce. The oldest member of the band is trumpeter Riggie Laus, 85. He was a nine-time Drum Corps International solo champion bugler from 1956 to 1964. “Although Riggie no longer competes, he still enjoys performing with our community band...” reports Rometo. The PTCB has recently spun-off three smaller groups; the PennTrafford Flute Choir, a Jazz Ensemble, and the Patriotic Players, who perform at local patriotic gatherings. PTCB has entertained audiences at Kennywood, Twin Lakes Park in Ligonier, the Westmoreland County Fair, PPG Place in Pittsburgh, Oak Hollow Park, the Monroeville Senior Center, Beatty Pointe Village, the Cedars of Monroeville and numerous church festivals, and community-day celebrations. More information about the Band can be found at www.PTCommunityBand.org.
East Winds Symphonic Band
Honored for its high standards of excellence, this Pittsburgh-based band is comprised of approximately 75 serious amateur musicians from all walks of life. Under the direction of Susan Sands, EWSB plays a wide variety of music, including traditional wind band repertoire, marches and classical transcriptions, plus favorites from Broadway, Hollywood and the Big-Band Era. The band was formed in the fall of 1981 with 24 members and performed its first concert in February, 1982. Susan Sands became the conductor of the band in 1990. Some highlights in the band’s history include a performance at the national convention of the Association of Concert Bands in Corning, New York and receiving the Sudler Silver Scroll, a national award presented for excellence in community bands from the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
EWSB made its debut at the Chautauqua Institution’s history Amphitheater in Chautauqua, New York, in 2012. EWSB performs, on average, eight concerts each year, including the annual Three Rivers Band Festival, Kennywood’s Celebrate America!
and “Music with a Mission” at Rodef Shalom Temple, benefiting the local food bank. They also participate in outreach performances with local middle school and high school music programs. For more information, visit the website at www.ewsb.org.
Monroeville | Spring 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 5
Monroeville Chorus Brightens the Area with
Music
By Heather Holtschlag f you have ever attended the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Old Stone Church in Monroeville, then you are likely familiar with the magical sounds of the Monroeville Chorus, a group that was formed in 1953 and sang its first concert in 1954. “In my opinion, [that] is the most fun event of the year,” says Bonnie Bayne, who was elected president in 2011 and still serves in that position. “That is because all of our friends and family members are present, and even Santa comes to enjoy our music!” In fact, the Christmas season is the busiest time of the year for members of the chorus, which usually performs six to eight concerts between November and December alone. The rest of the year is a bit slower, such as springtime, when the chorus performs about four concerts. The Monroeville Chorus is known as a community choral group for adults who reside from parts east of Pittsburgh, including Penn Hills, Irwin, Murrysville, Pitcairn, Export, Trafford and of course, Monroeville. The group also has had members from Squirrel Hill, Verona, Manor and Plum. “The chorus was formed by a group of church musicians who wanted to sing something other than church music and who wanted to have fun with their music,” said Dianne Runser, who began as a member with the chorus in 1978 and became its director in 1983. “Since then, the group has definitely grown, but the
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The chorus was formed by a group of church musicians who wanted to sing something other than church music and who wanted to have fun with their music. one thing that remains the same is our love of music.” According to Runser, the group currently has 18 members and is actively seeking new participants who have a preference for singing lighter music and who love to entertain. “Although our members range in age from 18 to 92, our musical passion helps to keep us young at heart.” In addition to the Christmas tree lighting service, the chorus has entertained community groups at Edgewood Country Club, the Monroeville Senior Center and at
Concordia Commons in Cabot, Pa. In previous years, you may have watched the members perform at the Monroeville Arts Festival, the Penn Township Community Christmas Concert, the McGinnis Sisters store, or in various nursing homes around Pittsburgh. “We were the first group to perform at the Monroeville Amphitheater,” Runser said. “We also have performed at wedding receptions, anniversary celebrations, Bar Mitzvah celebrations, funeral services, Christmas parties, churches and dinner parties. We can perform almost anywhere there is a need for entertainment.”
The group currently has 18 members and is actively seeking new participants.
All of the performances are free to those in attendance, though the companies who host the group often will make a donation, according to Bayne. The group holds rehearsals twice a month – the first and third Mondays – beginning at 7 p.m. in the Parish House at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on William Penn Highway in Monroeville. The yearly dues are $20, which can be paid in installments, and prospective members are asked to attend three rehearsals so that they can become comfortable with the group. Upon making a commitment to the chorus, new members are given uniform jackets, free of charge, which everyone wears during performances. “Music reading is not a requirement, but it is an asset,” Runser said. “A love for singing and the ability to carry a tune are necessary.” “This is one of the only volunteer organizations you can join that has no meetings, no minutes and no fundraising work required,”
said Bayne, who joined the group four years ago after reading an ad about it in the newspaper. “It’s all about just having fun and enjoying the reactions of our audiences and making people smile.” Occasionally, however, the group will host fundraising events in the form of yard sales, Runser explained, but the expenses are totally funded through the annual dues and concert revenues. Though the group has not yet been asked to perform outside of the extended Pittsburgh area, it has traveled locally to McKeesport, Kennywood, Brush Creek, Greensburg,
Dormont and Mt. Lebanon, where audiences of all ages enjoyed special performances. Individuals who are interested in joining the Monroeville Chorus are asked to visit the website at www.monroevillechorus. org or call Patti Ferari, business manager, at 412.372.8295. “For me, I treasure the friendships I have made through the chorus and the feeling of family we have together,” Runser said. “We support each other in good times and bad. I also treasure the good times we have spent entertaining audiences and bringing a little bit of happiness into the lives of others.”
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he famous poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson, once said “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” These words could have have been written specifically for Monroeville resident and Gateway School Board Director, William Bailey. Bailey was recognized by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) at a school board meeting in December for twelve years of service and dedication to the children and residents of Monroeville and Pitcairn. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association is a nonprofit statewide association of public school boards, pledged to the highest ideals of local lay leadership for the public schools of the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association, founded in 1895, has a rich history as the first school boards association established in the United States. here have been quite a few changes throughout the school district during Bailey’s tenure. Bailey was very active in the construction program in the district that included After an impressive knocking down radio academic career, Bailey hill and building a new enjoyed an outstanding gymnasium at the high career at Westinghouse school. In addition, the high where he worked as an school was renovated, the electrical engineer. He athletic field and activity eventually took a research By Matthew J. Fascetti field were revamped and a position for Westinghouse new auditorium was built. in the state of Washington. There have also been multiple revisions to the educational programs as well While with the company he was involved in the space program, specifically, as subject changes that were stressful to implement. the Man on the Moon project in 1972 and Saturn Missile project. Bailey is very proud to have been part of the process. “I have truly enjoyed Westinghouse eventually transferred him to Pittsburgh in 1982 where he my work on the school board,” Bailey said. “After retiring from my career as and his wife and three children settled in Monroeville and have lived ever an electrical engineer, I became an adjunct mathematics professor at CCAC since. Bailey was a member of the NAACP in 1998 when a spot on the in 2000. I have seen many students go from the high school over to CCAC. Gateway School Board was brought to his attention by the president of the I always encourage them to continue their education and get a Bachelor’s or organization. Always one to enjoy serving others, Bailey was intrigued by the Master’s degrees. It’s been great fun to watch them mature and help motivate opportunity and accepted the president’s recommendation. Eleven others them to be all they can be.” More than anything, Bailey feels being a good applied and Bailey was honored to be chosen. He plans to continue to serve school director is about making decisions and solving problems, and not on the board for the foreseeable future. getting frustrated. “It is human nature to want to complain or get frustrated ur schools need more people like Bailey. People that value education when something is difficult,” he explained. “But during my career one of the and hard work and are willing to serve their communities and try to most important things I learned is to concentrate on solving the problems instill their values in the youth for whom they serve. Certainly the Gateway and to be positive. You must stay School District is in great hands focused on the task at hand and not be as long as Bailey continues to concerned with anything else.” serve as a School Director. ailey, a United States Army *Pennsylvania’s 4,509 school Veteran, has as an extremely directors become members by virtue impressive background that certainly of election to their local board -- the would merit his inclusion on any board joins as a whole. Membership school board. He was born and raised in PSBA is by school district or in St. Louis, Missouri and then moved other eligible local education to Los Angeles to enroll at UCLA. agency such as intermediate unit, After earning a degree in Electrical vocational school or community Engineering he went on to obtain college. For more information on an amazing four Master’s degrees at the Pennsylvania School Boards West Coast University in Computer Association, please visit the website Science, Finance, Marketing and at www.psba.org. Information Systems.
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Monroeville’s
William Bailey Honored for School Board Service
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New Advanced Treatment for Skin Cancer Patricia Sinicki found a scratch on her nose back in 2010 and didn’t think much of it. “I thought that one of my cats had scratched me,” she said. At the time, she was undergoing total knee reconstruction followed by physical therapy, so she didn’t have time to really worry about that scratch. As time went on, however, the scratch continued to get worse. Her primary care physician referred her to a dermatologist who biopsied the lesion and confirmed the diagnosis: basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer, according to Melissa Pugliano-Mauro, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at UPMC St. Margaret and Mohs surgeon. “I have a strong family history of skin cancer, so my primary care physician had prepared me for this type of diagnosis,” Sinicki explained. Fortunately for Sinicki, her dermatologist referred her to Hakeem Sam, MD, PhD, director, Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery at UPMC Presbyterian and in April 2012, she underwent Mohs surgery, a procedure performed for skin cancer that offers the highest potential cure rate; 99 percent. During the surgery, Dr. Sam removed layers of tumor until it was gone. Sinicki now ranks among that 99 percent, and though she continues to visit Dr. Sam regularly for follow-up, she feels very happy with the progress she has made. “I just look at it as one more thing in my life that I have conquered,” she said. Physicians have been performing Mohs surgery for more than 50 years, according to Dr. Sam, with the majority of procedures done on non-melanoma cancers on the head and neck, specifically the areas of skin around the eyes, nose, mouth, lips, and ears. There also is a type of melanoma, called melanoma insitu, on which Mohs surgery is effective.
Dr. Sam explained that the procedure is done in stages, or layers, of tumor removal and is performed under local anesthetic. “We remove a layer of tumor along with a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue and examine it under a microscope. If, upon examination, which can take up to one hour, we find more cancer, we remove another layer. This process is repeated until all of the cancer is removed. This is the most conservative way of removing the entire tumor while still leaving behind as much healthy tissue as possible.” When that part of the surgery is finished, reconstruction begins, and that could be as simple as side-to-side closures or as extensive as flaps and grafts. In cases where the tumor is more extensive, the patient also may be referred to appropriate specialists. “Patients can go home the same day with a pressure dressing applied to the surgical area,” Dr. Sam said. “Pain is primarily managed with over-the-counter medications, though patients who experience more pain can be given a prescription.” More than 3.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer annually, Dr. Pugliano-Mauro said, and one in five will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas are the most common types of skin cancer, with basal cell being the most common out of the two, and melanoma is the deadliest form. “There are similar risk factors for both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers, and those include fair skin complexion, a lot of outdoor sun exposure, or the use of indoor tanning beds, which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently determined are linked to melanoma,” Dr. Pugliano-Mauro explained. “The most effective way to prevent skin cancer is to limit sun exposure. We also strongly advise using sunscreen labeled ‘broad spectrum and water resistant’ and with an SPF of at least 30. Sunscreen should be applied every two hours or more often after swimming or sweating.” To learn more about skin cancer and Mohs micrographic surgery, visit UPMC.com/skincancerprogram or call 855-SKN-SPOT (855-756-7768).
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You only get one smile, protect it…..
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id you know that in as little as 10 minutes there is a painless test that could help save your life? Each year approximately 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed with some form of oral cancer. This form of cancer kills almost three times as many people as cervical cancer and is responsible for more deaths than a lot of the cancers we hear about routinely yet it continues to remain off the radar to most of the American public. Take the famous actor Michael Douglas for example. He was diagnosed with a base of tongue cancer which he is now in remission from today; he got checked early therefore this ugly disease did not do more damage. Screening is highly important since in its early development does not always produce physical symptoms that a person may be aware of and because of this the disease will progress. Some physical symptoms may include difficulty swallowing, change in voice, “tobaccoless” smoking, discoloration on the base of the tongue or maybe even a mouth sore that just won’t heal. Detected early, survival rate may be as high as 80-90%! As some age in life, your medical doctor probably suggests you get cancer screenings done (breast examinations, prostate,
colon just to name a few), why would you not give 10 minutes for this screening? This is recommended once per year so in conjunction with one of your bi-yearly dental maintenance appointments take the time at the end of your appointment and get screened. In honor of February being National Dental Month, Dr. Rick Rivardo is offering free screenings to those patients over the age of 40 or those from ages 18-39 who do/have any of the following: tobacco use, chronic alcohol consumption or oral HPV (human papilloma virus). Since doc and team are being vigilant against this terrible disease, they are extending this offer through the end of March. Call TODAY to schedule your screening! 724-327-2272 or visit his website at www.rivardosmiles.com for more information. Early detection is the key to successful results.
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Business Spotlight
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Monroeville | Spring 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 13
Pitcairn Historical Society Museum F
rom the dawn of time, mankind chronicled history in an effort to pass down vital information and preserve proof of their existence. Nearly 40,000 years ago, Neanderthals painted on cave walls describing their lifestyle and adversities. By the 30th Century BC, these scribblings eventually evolved into coherent writing, known as Cuneiform script, which signaled the beginning of recorded history. Safeguarding this history gives a culture, location or time-period a continual link to the past and serves as an important investment in the future. Like a time portal, historical preservation connects people with their ancestors and each other. In the borough of Pitcairn, just 15 miles east of Pittsburgh, a nonprofit organization is busy working to Photos and collect and preserve the Text by history of its people and Brenda railroad for future Haines Cosola generations, through the restoration and display of photographs, documents, memorabilia and other artifacts. The Borough of Pitcairn Historical Society was incorporated in 1999 and members meet the first Monday of every month at 7 p.m. in the old St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Center Avenue.
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The group’s president and lifelong Pitcairn resident, Carl Howard, said preserving Pitcairn’s past through its significant historical resources gives the community its unique character. “Pitcairn is named for Robert Pitcairn,” Howard explained. “He was the superintendent of the Pittsburgh division of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He came out to the valley here and said, ‘This place is a good place; it’s fairly level. Why don’t we build a yard here?’ Since he was the instigator in getting the rail yards built here, they named the town after him.”
By the end of the 19th century, the Pitcairn Railroad Yards were massive. For many years, all east- and west-bound freight of the Pittsburgh Division of the PRR was channeled through Pitcairn and its yards grew into one of the largest yards on the PRR system. “During World War II, more than 200 trains passed through Pitcairn a day,” he said. “The trains carried troops, supplies and [material critical to the war effort].” The town flourished until 1979, when operations ceased at Pitcairn Railroad Yards. Along with it came a decline in population and soon, the nearby creek overflowed its banks, sending floodwaters into the town. “The flood of 1979 caused extensive damage to the lower section of our town when Dirty Camp Run overflowed and filled many cellars and even reached the first floor of some homes,” Howard said. “The people who were flooded could not believe how many strangers came to assist them with salvage and cleanup … this has always been a close and caring town.” The impact of the flood and its cleanup spawned revitalization in the 1980s in an effort to breathe new life into the once flourishing area. New commercial life for the valley also arrived when Consolidated Rail Corporation utilized some of the old PRR yards as a transfer point for the trans-shipment of cargo in containers by
For more information or to donate to the museum, please visit www.pitcairn-historical.webs.com. trucks to trains. As a result, approximately 100 trains pass through Pitcairn today. Safeguarding the past through its physical remains is important to the Pitcairn Historical Society because it captures the spirit of this present-day, tight-knit community. Howard said the historical society really wanted a way to display all of the memorabilia they had acquired, so when they had the opportunity to set up inside of the old St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, society members were ecstatic. “We left all of the original religious items inside of the church; even the stained glass windows are original,” Howard said. “A lot of our showcases were donated by a lady who closed her store. We tried to represent everybody here: girl scouts, boy scouts, both fire companies, railroad, power plant, churches and even sports.” Evidence of Pitcairn’s community character can be seen on display at the Pitcairn Historical Society’s Museum. Numerous religious, civic, social and fraternal organizations have measured
the community’s closeness and dedication over the years and various photos, memorabilia and relics can be viewed at the museum, which is located on Center Avenue at Agatha Street. “Visitors to our museum are always welcomed,” he said. “Our regular hours are each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., but we are
glad to accommodate individuals and groups who would like to arrange a personalized tour of the museum and its exhibits, guided by one of our knowledgeable volunteers.” Howard also advised that exhibits are changed and updated regularly as new memorabilia is discovered or donated to the society.
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Monroeville and Penn Hills Police Departments Team up for
Photos by Ben Chronister
Citizens Police Academy
By Matthew J. Fascetti he Citizens Police Academy was back by popular demand! After tremendous feedback from the last attendees, the Penn Hills and Monroeville police departments teamed up to host the academy once again. All classes were held at the Monroeville Public Safety Center on Johnston Road. The academy was set up to be a hands-on experience with very little classroom time. This was a change from the previous academy. Time was also added to a few classes to enable every student to participate fully in different activities. The idea for the academy was for students to get a real-world understanding of what goes on in day-to-day police operations. Courses included simulated traffic stops, crime scene investigations (where participants processed a simulated crime scene), use of force, emergency response, drug identification, working with canines, and firearm safety. Participants fired police firearms at a shooting range. There were also Taser demonstrations and a simulated DUI traffic stop in which students got to experience the dangers and difficulties of dealing with impaired motorists. “The academy allows citizens to see what law enforcement goes
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through on a daily basis,” said Monroeville Assistant Chief Steve Pascarella. “It is a great lesson in the difference between TV and reality.” Bill Trogler, a Penn Hills police detective, adds, “We call this the CSI effect. Shows like CSI make it seem like our work is easier and much quicker than it is. Much of what we do is good old- fashioned police work. Interviews, processing of evidence, following leads…these things take time and diligence.” Trogler added that the most popular classes in the previous academy were the use of force class, the Taser demonstration and the interaction with the K-9 unit.
The reason for the success of the academy is quite simple…it is both educational and informative. As evidenced by the number of police dramas on TV, people are fascinated by law enforcement. They want to learn more, they want to experience it firsthand…and it doesn’t hurt that they learn potentially useful skills along the way. “In the fall academy, many of the participants had never shot a firearm before. We provided one-on-one instruction at the range. They all had fun, but more importantly, it taught them how to safely use a firearm,” said Pascarella. The police use three different types of firearms: a 12-gauge shotgun, a semi-automatic 45 pistol and a patrol rifle. The academy is also a unique opportunity to bring the community together. People from all races, ages, genders, religions and economic backgrounds attend. oth Monroeville and Penn Hills have conducted a Citizens Police Academy in the past. A few years ago Chief Burton of the Penn Hills Police Department was approached by a neighbor who expressed interest in having the police academy again. Penn Hills
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didn’t have a sufficient facility to hold the class so the chief reached out to the Monroeville Police Department and a partnership was formed. aving a Citizens Police Academy is very important to the police department. “There are so many benefits to having the academy,” Pascarella stated. “It is vital to us that the public gets to see things from our point of view. That will generate a better relationship between the general public and community and the police. These participants become unofficial liaisons between the community and the police department. It also generates a better image for the police department. Seeing what we do and what we deal with, these participants have a better
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appreciation for what we do. They see that we are skilled professionals who take our jobs seriously.” Trogler agrees, “There are definitely many mutual benefits to the Citizens Police Academy.” This year’s academy had 22 participants. There is no charge for the classes, but all participants must fill out an application, available at their local police station, and clear a Pennsylvania State Police check prior to the start of classes. For more information on the Citizens Police Academy, contact the Monroeville Police Department at 412.856.1111.
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Monroeville Public Library • 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd. • Monroeville, PA 15146 • 412-372-0500 • www.monroevillelibrary.org
News Library from the
Friends of Monroeville Public Library
Spring Clearance Book Sale Spring Clearance Book Sale sponsored by the Friends of the Monroeville Public Library will feature no book over $2.00. Select from mysteries, fiction, romance, children’s and much more. The sale dates are Thursday, May 2 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., and May 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Raffle Basket tickets will also be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit the library. So stop in the Program Room at the library to pick up some summer bargains!
Second Annual
Book Blast
5K Walk/Run
The second annual Book Blast 5K will be on Sunday, September 15, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. at Monroeville Community Park. The first Book Blast 5K Walk/Run was a great success due to our wonderful sponsors, participants, and volunteers. We look forward to continued community support to make our second race even better. Post race activities will continue to include food, entertainment, a 50/50, raffle, and awards. Anyone interested in sponsorship or volunteer opportunities for the second annual Book Blast 5K, please contact Johnna Cornelius at: 412-372-0500 x10 or Barbara English at: 412372-0500 x10. For more information visit the Library’s website.
Save ! the date
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Monroeville
Children’s Programs
Storytime for children
Ages 3-6 Each Wednesday February 6 - March 27 10:15 - 11 or 1:15 - 2. Registration begins January 23
Tot Time
Children ages 1 - 3 with an adult 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, 10 - 10:30 January 8 & 22, February 12 & 26, March 12 & 26, April 9 & 23 Registration begins one week before each program information.
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Family Puzzle Day
Sunday, February 24, 2:30 - 4:30 A wide variety of puzzles for all ages No registration needed
Family Craft Night 7 - 8:30 p.m
ff The Board and Sta of the Monroeville h to Public Library wis s thank all our friend so and neighbors who d generously supporte c bli the Monroeville Pu Library in 2012 le with their charitab donations.
EASTER
Tuesday, March 12, registration begins February 26
EARTH DAY
Monday, April 15, registration begins April 1
adult programs Wednesday, April 24 7- 8:30 p.m. Gallery Space
Please join violinist Steven Greenman and accordionist Walt Mahovlich for an exciting virtuosic program of East European folk and gypsy music. Greenman and Mahovlich are both part of the Cleveland ensemble Harmonia that performs concerts and gives workshops for East European ethnic events throughout North America.
UPMC TODAY
Health and Wellness News You Can Use | Spring 2013
What’s Inside 2
Expanding Services, Exceeding Expectations
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Hope and Healing A Healing Touch Food in a Glass
5
Clinical Trials Can Change Lives
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Depression and Older Adults
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A Difference You Can Count On
© 2013 UPMC
Expanding Services, Exceeding Expectations The new UPMC Comprehensive Lung Center-Monroeville brings a nationally ranked pulmonary program to the Eastern communities — and renowned specialists to UPMC East.
Our lungs play a critical role in maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. But growing numbers of people of all ages are diagnosed annually with a respiratory illness or disease — including asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, and sleep apnea.
Through the introduction of its intensivist and hospitalist programs (see below), UMPC East also provides a new level of comprehensive medical care to patients with respiratory problems. “UPMC East offers access to skilled physicians 24/7,” notes Dr. Lanz. “This round-the-clock care is key to better patient outcomes.” To learn more about the new UPMC Comprehensive Lung Center-Monroeville, visit UPMCEast.com. To schedule an appointment with any of our lung specialists, please visit UPMC.com/FindADoctor, or call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).
Physicians you can count on Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) need greater monitoring and specialized care while recovering from critical condition, such as chronic respiratory failure and postoperative procedures with potential risk of complications. To meet that need, UPMC East’s medical staff now includes intensivists — skilled physicians who deliver a high level of medical expertise to ICU patients any time of day or night.
New support for lung health UPMC’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine in Oakland includes renowned specialists in pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine, and allergic disorders of the lung. Their research and clinical accomplishments led U.S. News & World Report to rank UPMC among the top 10 pulmonary programs in the country. With the arrival of the new UPMC Comprehensive Lung CenterMonroeville, located at 400 Oxford Drive, those same physicians are bringing their expertise to Monroeville. “The mindpower of many of the country’s leading experts in pulmonary health is now available here,” says James Lanz, MD, division director for pulmonary medicine at UPMC East. The center’s specialists will offer outpatient and inpatient care, using advanced diagnostic tools and the latest treatments for teens and adults. Comprehensive sleep medicine services also are available at the new center, including a sleep lab with four newly renovated rooms. Sleep evaluations are offered during the day and night.
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“Intensivists specialize in areas like pulmonary medicine or surgery, then train for several years in critical care medicine,” explains James Lanz, MD, division director for Pulmonary Medicine at UPMC East. “National studies show that ICU patients cared for by intensivists do better and recover more quickly.” Non-ICU patients at UPMC East have 24/7 access to hospitalists, who are board-certified physicians in internal medicine or family practice. “Family doctors and specialists have hectic schedules,” says Tiffany Musick, MD, director of the hospitalist program at UPMC East. “We’re available at all times, offering patients a continuum of care from admission to discharge and back to their primary care doctor.” “And even if your family doctor or specialist is not affiliated with UPMC East, through our electronic health records, he or she will have full access to your hospital records and receive regular reports from our hospitalists and intensivists,” says Dr. Musick. “Both programs ensure a high touch and satisfying experience for patients, and provide seamless communication with their physicians.”
Hope and Healing UPMC is leading the way with new treatment options for hepatitis C.
Decades after receiving a childhood blood transfusion, Chris Sosinski was shocked to learn he had the hepatitis C virus, which had led to cirrhosis and the prospect of a liver transplant. Today, Chris remains hepatitis C negative, thanks to a new direct-acting antiviral therapy he received at the UPMC Center for Liver Diseases last year. Months after ending treatment in October, his viral load remains at zero. “That means it’s gone,” says Chris, 49, of Jeannette. “No more medicine and — if I take care of myself — no transplant.”
Baby boomers beware Chris is one of a growing number of baby boomers diagnosed with hepatitis C, a problem so serious that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that everyone born between 1945 and 1965 be tested for the virus. The CDC estimates that more than 75 percent of the nation’s 3 million adults currently living with hepatitis C are baby boomers — and most don’t know they’re infected. “Hepatitis C is a silent disease; most people have no symptoms,” says Kapil Chopra, MD, director, UPMC Center for Liver Diseases. “But if diagnosed early, it can be cured or managed successfully before it can develop into cirrhosis or liver cancer.”
A new era of treatment Thankfully for Chris and other hepatitis C patients, two drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011 ushered in a new era of treatment, delivering improved cure rates and shorter treatment time for the most prevalent — and hardest to treat — strain of the virus. Playing a critical role was the UPMC Center for Liver Diseases, where specialists have been at the forefront in the evaluation and clinical trials of promising new therapies.
Hundreds of UPMC patients took part in groundbreaking clinical trials for those new drugs. (Turn to page 5 to learn about other clinical trials and how they are affecting patients’ lives.) Today, even more are participating in clinical trials of new therapies at UPMC with the potential for even better results in fighting chronic hepatitis C infections. “These are exciting times. Over the next few years, we expect to have several new options that will eradicate the hepatitis C virus in most patients without side effects,” says Dr. Chopra. “It’s a new era of treatment and hope for our patients.”
A leading resource for complex care Treating and managing hepatitis C can be complex for both patients and health care providers. In the tri-state area, UPMC is the leading provider of comprehensive and advanced specialty care for patients with the virus. “Our multidisciplinary specialists are involved in researching and evaluating new treatments. They bring a unique perspective for managing these complex therapies,” explains Dr. Chopra. These specialists work together to assess patients, select appropriate antiviral therapies, educate patients, monitor for adverse effects and drug interactions, and provide support for patients and family members. “They are familiar with the latest, cutting-edge therapies and developing new ones,” adds Dr. Chopra. For those patients who don’t respond to treatment and are experiencing liver failure, the program also provides seamless transition to UPMC’s internationally renowned transplant program. To read about the risk factors for hepatitis C and what you can do, visit UPMC.com/Today. For more information about treatments for hepatitis C, contact the UPMC Center for Liver Diseases at 1-800-447-1651.
1-800-533-UPMC
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Health Tips from UPMC Health Plan
A Healing Touch There are ways to relieve pain and nausea through alternative medicine. A growing number of patients are adding acupuncture and other alternative therapies to their medical care.
“You don’t have to be a believer for it to work,” says Betty Liu, MD, a physician and acupuncture specialist at the UPMC Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. “I’ve seen dramatic reductions in pain and nausea — some instantaneous, some after multiple sessions.”
Who uses it? Patients frequently turn to acupuncture and other therapies to control pain, including arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, and spasms, or to ease nausea due to pregnancy or chemotherapy. Integrating these therapies with conventional medicine can help patients find relief more quickly, or continue making progress toward their goals.
What are some treatments? Acupuncture, one of the most popular therapies, uses thin needles to stimulate various points around the body. “We’re not certain how it works, but we know it releases endorphins, which act like opiates to relieve pain,” Dr. Liu says. Massage therapy uses acupressure and deep tissue massage to increase blood flow to an injured area and release endorphins.
What is alternative medicine? If you visit an acupuncturist or chiropractor, you’re seeking treatment in the field of complementary and alternative medicine — an increasingly mainstream tool for doctors.
Chiropractic medicine adjusts the spine through manipulation to put the body into better alignment. For more information about alternative treatments, visit UPMC.com/Today.
Food in a Glass Choosing the best milk option for you. Are you lingering longer in the dairy aisle, pondering your ever-increasing options? Should you reach for your usual skim milk — or be adventurous and try rice, almond, or soy? Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, UPMC’s director of sports nutrition, says making the right choice is this simple: “Essentially, milk is food in a glass. Choose the drink that offers the best nutrition for your needs.” Not all milk and dairy alternatives are equal: read labels carefully, comparing the fat and carbohydrate contents. “For example, to reduce soy milk’s ‘beanie’ taste, sugar is added,” explains Ms. Bonci. “That can jump the carbohydrate count from 12 to 24 grams.” Look beyond just calories, too: milk is rich in protein, calcium, and minerals. “An 8-ounce serving of milk has 8 grams of protein, compared to 6 grams for soy milk and just 1 gram for almond and rice milk,” she adds. Unless a food allergy is present, the best choice for most of us is cow’s milk. “For children under two, select whole milk,” says Ms. Bonci. “Otherwise, reach for 1 percent or skim milk — both offer a lower saturated fat content and higher calcium. Enhanced or ‘super’ skim milk features a richer texture many people prefer.” And if you’re debating about organic versus regular milk, Ms. Bonci advises that your pocketbook be your guide. “There’s no nutritional difference between the two,” she says.
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Clinical Trials Can Change Lives Bringing patients, physicians, and researchers together to change the future of medicine.
Research opens the door for new possibilities in patient care. But long before a drug, medical device, treatment, or surgical procedure becomes widely available, it must first be proven safe and effective.
therapy from a patient’s own fat tissue,” explains Dr. Rubin. “By harnessing the body’s own regenerative capabilities, we’re applying new technologies and scientific advancements to restore both form and function in patients.” For more information, visit UPMC.com/restore or call 412-864-2587. Solutions for out-of-control blood pressure. Of the 67 million Americans with high blood pressure, more than half fail to keep it under control. Many have difficulty battling the disease despite taking three or more medications, a condition known as treatment-resistant hypertension. As part of the body’s sympathetic nervous system, our kidneys play an important role in regulating long-term blood pressure. In most patients with hypertension, the sympathetic nervous system is overactive, thereby increasing blood pressure and causing heart, kidney, and blood vessel damage.
At UPMC, clinical trials are the bridge between research and the future of modern medicine. As one of the nation’s top-ranked health care systems, UPMC annually directs or participates in hundreds of groundbreaking clinical trials in virtually every medical specialty. Some are offered only at UPMC, while others are part of national and even international trials. Each is carefully monitored and measured by expert UPMC physicians who are leaders in their fields. For patients whose illness has no cure or no longer responds to current treatment, UPMC’s clinical trials offer potentially life-saving medical breakthroughs. Other patients enroll in clinical trials with the hope of finding a better or more costeffective treatment. The following three UPMC trials currently are seeking qualified patient volunteers: Healing soldiers disfigured in battle. A flash of light, the sound of an explosion … and a soldier’s life is forever changed by a traumatic facial injury. But thanks to two government-funded clinical trials, efforts are under way at UPMC to improve the lives of wounded soldiers through facial reconstruction using the person’s own tissue. The study is enrolling military and civilian patients with visible deformities of the head or face following trauma, applying minimally invasive therapy to restore a more normal appearance. These trials are led by J. Peter Rubin, MD, director of UPMC’s Center for Innovation in Restorative Medicine and an expert in adult stem cells derived from fat. “We’re using stem cell
John Schindler, MD, an interventional cardiologist with UPMC’s Heart and Vascular Institute, is participating in an industryfunded clinical trial in which a device is placed in an artery leading to the kidney. “This therapy uses a catheter to deliver low radiofrequency energy to destroy or disable the renal nerves,” says Dr. Schindler. “If effective, this device could be a valuable alternative to medications for patients with resistant hypertension.” For more information, contact Lisa Baxendell, RN, at 412-802-8672. Eliminating blood clots. In 2013, nearly a quarter-million adults will be diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in which blood clots form mainly in a deep vein in the leg. DVT can result in persistent leg pain and swelling; if the clot breaks loose and moves to the lungs, a potentially deadly pulmonary embolism can occur. Conventional treatment involves blood thinners and wearing compression hosiery. “We want to dissolve the clot to eliminate its consequences,” says Rabih Chaer, MD, a UPMC vascular surgeon. Dr. Chaer is participating in a national, multidisciplinary clinical trial to determine if DVT patients would benefit from a more aggressive treatment involving the use of an image-guided catheter to dissolve the clot. “In vascular surgery, our work is technology driven; medical devices are constantly changing,” says Dr. Chaer. “By testing innovative devices, we offer our patients new opportunities to alleviate or resolve their illness.” For more information, contact Susan Tamburro at 412-623-8452. For a complete list of clinical trials now available, please visit UPMC.com/Today. To learn more about the benefits of clinical trials in patient care, please turn to page 3 and read about UPMC’s advancements in the treatment of hepatitis C.
1-800-533-UPMC
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Depression and Older Adults While it may be common, it’s important to know that depression is not a normal part of aging.
Its services include: • Preventive services, evaluation, and consultation • Treatment through therapy and/or medication • Participation in innovative research studies • Educational support • Referrals for assistance
Research studies benefit patients today and tomorrow Among the center’s current research studies are efforts to improve sleep patterns, lower stress levels, promote brain health, and reduce pain as a way of preventing depression among adults age 60 and older. These include: RECALL: A study about reducing stress among seniors experiencing mild memory, language, or judgment loss More than 6.5 million Americans over age 65 experience latelife depression that can last for months and even years. But many older adults and their caretakers don’t seek treatment because they think depression is inevitable as we age. Its symptoms — irritability, social isolation, poor sleep, loss of appetite, and memory loss — also are easily mistaken as signs of other illnesses. “Depression erodes our quality of life, our productivity, and our ability to have fulfilling relationships,” explains Charles Reynolds III, MD, director, Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Endowed Professor of Geriatric Psychiatry at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC, and director of the Center of Excellence in Late Life Depression Prevention and Treatment Research at the University of Pittsburgh. The center is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “Untreated, late-life depression puts older adults at risk for significant declines in their mental and physical health. It can be so debilitating that it threatens their ability to live independently,” he notes. “But the right professional help and medications can be life changing for these individuals.”
A wide range of support The center offers expertise in the detection, prevention, and treatment of depression, stress, complicated bereavement, or bipolar disorders in older adults. Through its research focus, all visits and medications are provided at no cost.
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RAPID: A study for adults with osteoarthritis knee pain Addressing Pain and Depression Together (ADAPT): A study for adults living with both depression and back pain Healing Emotions After Loss (HEAL): A study for adults ages 18 to 95 who are experiencing prolonged or acute grief lasting six months or more over the loss of a loved one
One of the nation’s leading programs of its kind The Center of Excellence in Late Life Depression Prevention and Treatment Research is located in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh at both the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and Western Psychiatric. It is one of only three centers of excellence in geriatric psychiatry funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the John A. Hartford Foundation. To learn more about the center’s services or to participate in one of its current research programs, call 412-246-6006 or visit latelifedepression.org.
A Difference You Can Count On UPMC East offers expert surgical care close to home.
When Marcia Grimes was suddenly stricken with overwhelming stomach pain and nausea last July, she immediately told her husband to drive her to nearby UPMC East, which had opened days earlier.
“Patients love UPMC East. It’s a modern, state-of-the-art hospital, providing quality care that’s second to none,” says Dr. Georgiades. “We’ve assembled a terrific staff of nurses, doctors, surgeons, and specialists.” UPMC East also offers residents in Pittsburgh’s eastern suburbs access to many of the same surgeons who practice at UPMC’s Oakland and Shadyside facilities, “without having to fight traffic and pay for parking,” he adds.
Designed for excellence UPMC East’s “all new” design incorporates the latest best practices in advanced technology, patient comfort and safety, and infection control. The surgical suite includes seven spacious, open operating rooms featuring the newest surgical technologies and instrumentation, including: • Computerized surgical camera navigation systems giving surgeons an inside view of the area of the body undergoing surgery • Video capabilities enabling physicians to confer with specialists worldwide • Computer systems offering instant access to medical databases
p UPMC East has seven spacious operating rooms that feature the latest in surgical technologies and instrumentation.
In each operating room, cables, electrical wires, and tubing for medical devices are hidden from view, providing greater mobility and freedom of movement for the surgical team. And a sterile elevator, same-floor surgical prep, and other modern decontamination and sterilization procedures dramatically reduce risk of infection. For Marcia, however, the features she’ll remember most are the “wonderful, attentive staff” and her private “room with a view.”
Diagnosed with diverticulitis and a perforated intestine, she underwent emergency surgery at UPMC East to remove the damaged portion of her colon and create a temporary colostomy. Last October, Marcia, 60, a Wilkins Township resident, returned for a scheduled surgery to reverse the procedure.
“The facility is important, but the people are even more critical,” says Marcia, who was so impressed by her first hospital stay that she asked to return to the same floor following her second surgery. “It meant the world to me to have that care and attention from top-notch nurses and doctors.”
“Both times were fantastic — and not just because the hospital was brand new. I’ve been to other hospitals over the years and never have been treated so well,” says Marcia, a Pittsburgh commercial real estate attorney.
UPMC East’s comprehensive array of surgical services include general surgery; neurosurgery; orthopaedic surgery; plastic surgery; ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery; endocrine surgery; vascular surgery; thoracic surgery; and urologic surgery.
A community treasure
To schedule an appointment with any of our UPMC East physicians, visit UPMC.com/FindADoctor, or call toll-free 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).
Her surgeon, Athan Georgiades, MD, chairman, Department of Surgery at UPMC East, says Marcia’s experience echoes that of the hundreds of other patients who have undergone surgery there since July.
1-800-533-UPMC
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UPMC East
2775 Mosside Blvd. Monroeville, PA 15146
UPMC Today is published quarterly to provide you with health and wellness information and classes and events available at UPMC. This publication is for 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.
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Home
Improvements In Monroeville
If you have a home, you know how challenging it is to maintain it. Roofs leak, landscapes need weeding, and kitchens and baths need facelifts. If you’re handy, you can get by with your own sweat equity. However, most people don’t have the skills, let alone the time, to tackle major household projects – many of which will require you spending more time at the office just to be able to tackle the price tags such projects come with. Here, we try to cover it all for you – from financing your project to enjoying it when it’s complete. Building a home addition can be a good alternative to buying a new home or building a house from scratch. Besides saving money, it can be a means of investing in your home and customizing your home to serve your family’s specific needs and desires. But additions also bring up potential problems that may not make them the best option for everyone. An addition can drastically change the way a house looks from the road or yard. An addition that isn’t well planned can look like it doesn’t belong or doesn’t match the rest of the house in terms of style or overall shape. Planning an addition carefully with a skilled architect is the best way to ensure that the house looks as good, or even better, than it did before the addition. An architect should be able to produce sketches that give a sense of how the finished addition will look. To minimize the appearance of an addition, homeowners can usually choose to build onto the back of the existing house, thereby hiding the new construction from the road. Depending on the size of an addition and the construction schedule, it may take weeks or months before an addition is completed. Bad weather can cause unanticipated delays, and working with an unreliable contractor can prolong the process even further. If a homeowner can’t afford to be patient 30 724.942.0940 to advertise
Monroeville
during the planning and construction process, moving into a new, larger home may be a better option. An addition can be a good investment, helping to increase the value of a home. Using a home equity line of credit or getting a new mortgage that includes money to pay for the addition can be a wise financial decision, especially when interest rates are low. However, if the expected value of an addition – which a homeowner can estimate by studying the sale prices of nearby homes with similar characteristics – is less than its cost, it may be a poor investment. An addition is likely to raise the value of a home. After the addition is completed, a new assessment will raise property taxes. Prior to adding on, homeowners should estimate the value of their home with the addition and compute a new annual tax liability based on current tax rates. Building an addition is an ideal time to invest in energy-efficient fixtures and construction. Windows that prevent hot or cool air from escaping and low-energy-consuming appliances can minimize the cost of an addition by reducing energy bills and its environmental impact. Remodeling your bathroom is another popular way to jazz up your home as well as build equity. In some cases, not only is remodeling the bathroom an aesthetic choice but a functional choice as well. Giving your bathroom a boost doesn’t always have to require a boatload of cash or space – just a little planning and creativity before you get started. Refresh your bath’s look with a wow-worthy makeover that improves its style and function. Perhaps you have an old toilet that you want to replace with a highefficiency model that will lower your water bill. Or perhaps the old tile is falling off your shower and you need to replace
it. Whatever your situation is, there are many options to choose from, including do-ityourself options.
Our Home Improvement Partners
One popular and inexpensive option is to have a theme for your bathroom. Examples could be a Disney theme for a child’s bathroom, or perhaps a beach theme. This can be accomplished by painting the walls, adding a wall border and by well-placed décor. Some larger and more costly bathroom updates include new flooring, new sink and vanity and a new bathtub or shower. These improvements will get even costlier if you paid someone to do it for you.
Do you plan to renovate your kitchen, finish your basement, or add on a new deck? These are just a few home improvements that may change your insurance needs. For most people, the home is their single largest investment. Take some time to assess your insurance needs. Call one of our Monroeville Agents and ask for a Homeowners Insurance Makeover.
Decks on the rear or side of homes have become extremely popular in the United States. Used for entertaining or just relaxing, decks come in all shapes, sizes, designs and material.
State Farm See our ad in this section • www.statefarm.com
The most popular, and least expensive, deck material is treated wood. It is durable, however it will need to be painted or stained yearly or every other year depending on your climate. Composite decking products are building materials manufactured using a mixture of plastic and wood fiber. Composite decking materials are very popular because they require less maintenance than wood and often use recycled materials. Composite decking is easy to install and is guaranteed with a 20-year warranty against rotting, splitting, splintering or termite damage. However, composite decking can be very costly.
Think EZ Storage for your Spring Cleaning and Renovation Needs! We offer month-to-month leasing, security, convenience, great rates, and a FREE Move-In Truck. We know you’ll be pleased with how “EZ” storage with us can be. Stop in or call today to reserve your space; your friendly Resident Managers will be happy to explain this month’s great specials and help you pick your perfect unit.
Vinyl decking made from Cellular PVC is a great choice for decking because it is essentially resistant to stains, mold, insects and fading. PVC material is low maintenance and is a sustainable building material. But like composite, it can get costly.
EZ Storage 412.856.6080 • www.ezmini.com
Powder coated aluminum decking can be used to create a watertight floor for your deck. This unique material will never splinter, rot or rust. LockDry Aluminum decking is cool to the touch and is available in five colors. Aluminum decking is strong and lightweight. The LockDry system can be used to create a dry space to use under your deck on rainy days. Decks can built right on the ground, or be elevated high in the air, depending on the design of your home. If you are building a deck yourself it is very important to check all local building codes and follow all of the guidelines very closely to ensure the safety and long-term durability of your deck. Bringing your family together is often difficult. A family game room is a fantastic way to upgrade your home and bring the family together. Whether you have an unfinished basement, an unused attic room or an empty garage, you can transform it into a fantastic oasis where your family can spend countless enjoyable hours. There are many aspects to making your game room remodel a success. First you should talk to a Design/Build contractor about water access, waste lines and additional electricity needs. The contractor can also offer advice on any changes that might be necessary to update the space, whether it be additional insulation for a garage or attic room or waterproofing for a basement room.
Valley Pool & Spa is your community, family owned Pool & Spa superstore since 1967. We pride ourselves on creating a unique shopping atmosphere with a huge product selection in our stores. With free computerized water testing and pool experts on staff, we can help with your every need. Visit one of our stores in Monroeville, North Versailles, or Greensburg and experience the Valley difference. Valley Pool & Spa 412.349.8190 • www.valleypoolspa.com
Water access could also be an important aspect if you plan to have a bar or sink area. A Design/Build contractor can offer advice on what needs to be done to make the area completely usable. You might also want to speak with the contractor about creating an additional half bathroom for guests and family members to use when you’re entertaining. Electricity for lighting and appliances is also incredibly important. If you are updating an unused area of your home, the current electric wiring may not be able to handle the additional demands of a game room. The Design/Build contractor can guide you through what will need to be updated and how much it will cost.
Continued on page 32 Monroeville | Spring 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 31
Home Improvements In Monroeville Continued from page 31 If finances are an issue there are definitely still projects you can complete yourself including painting, laying carpet, adding shelves or simply updating the dĂŠcor. Gone are the days when it was frowned upon to bring work home. Today a home is not a home unless it has a home office. Whether you are turning an extra bedroom into a workspace with store-bought furniture or constructing a full-scale two-level library and office, home offices are a regular part of what makes a house a home in 2012. Making the space your own is essential to effective use of a home office. Create a space that makes you more productive and relaxed at the same time and that is a winning combination. A desk is an essential part of most offices. Choose one that meets your needs. If all you need is a work top to use your laptop from, consider a computer cart and save the space for a comfortable chair or small sofa. If you are in the market for a larger desk, consider office furniture resellers. They sell executive-grade used furniture for a fraction of the cost.
32 724.942.0940 to advertise
Monroeville
Bookcases or other storage can be a nice addition. Not only can they store books, but they are also great places to display awards or showcase your favorite collection of knickknacks or memorabilia. Decide whether you prefer furniture pieces or built-ins. Antique shops have great deals on beautiful bookcases, and most local cabinet shops can design and install custom built-ins. If you have a closet in your office, visit your local home center for a plethora of storage and organizing options. A comfortable chair or two is a necessity. Choose long-lasting fabrics and sturdy frames. Go with classic styles that won’t end up as next year’s garage sale item. Test out the chair before you buy it. Desk chairs especially need to provide good support and be comfortable. We live in a society of overindulgence. Nothing shows this like the home theater. So many popular home magazines have a page dedicated to converting your basement into a home theater, or something similar. The HGTV website has 16 home theater features alone. But how doable is the home theater in reality? First, you need a fairly large space, either a big family room or a basement. Second,
you need to budget for all the furnishings including, of course, the stars of the show: home theater equipment – a big-screen TV, DVD player and speakers – and comfy seating. Also very popular for home theaters is floor and aisle lighting similar to real movie theaters, and perhaps even an old-fashioned popcorn maker. Frankly, home theaters are generally for those with deep pockets because there really is no way to make a home theater cheaply. Still thinking of taking the plunge? The home improvement website Home Time has a really useful feature on home theater planning. It covers everything you’ll need to consider, like the space you’ll need and even suggested room layouts, to maximize your viewing pleasure. Kitchens are the most popular room in the house to remodel. Many people consider the kitchen to be the center of the home and its most important component. Another reason it is so popular to remodel is there are so many things in the kitchen that can be remodeled… cabinets, cabinet hardware, countertops, floor, appliances, lighting, walls and sinks. There is very little right or wrong when it comes to remodeling your kitchen; it comes down to personal taste. There are so many choices when it comes to style, design and type of material for every component of your kitchen. When remodeling there is much to consider: cost, what is your goal, what is your situation (pets or small children could help decide what type of flooring to use, for example) and what is the cost vs. equity value of the remodel.
and releases water vapor) from trees can reduce surrounding air temperatures as much as 9°F (5°C). Because cool air settles near the ground, air temperatures directly under trees can be as much as 25°F (14°C) cooler than air temperatures above nearby blacktop. Using shade effectively requires you to know the size, shape, and location of the moving shadow that your shading device casts. Also, homes in cool regions may never overheat and may not require shading. Therefore, you need to know what landscape shade strategies will work best in your regional climate and your microclimate. Also, if you can determine how much water your plants actually need, then you won’t overwater them and waste water. It is important to not only understand a plant’s particular watering requirements, but also evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration (Et) is the amount of water that is evaporated from the soil and transpired through the plant’s leaves. This amount of water needs to be replaced through watering. If you know your area’s Et rate, you can plan the amount of water to be replaced through irrigation. It’s best to water or irrigate your plants in the early morning when evaporation
Continued on page 35
If finances are an issue and you are not the handiest individual, there are still many simple and easy things you can do to add pizzazz and value to your kitchen. For example, you can paint your cabinets and add new handles rather than buying new cabinets. Adding a stylish splashguard behind your stove and sink is easy to do and adds great appeal. Painting the walls can also make a huge difference in your kitchen, as can changing the light fixture. If done well, landscaping can completely change the character and perception of a home. Landscaping encompasses anything on the outside of the home including grass cutting, plants, flowers, rock, mulch, borders, vegetable gardens and more. Beyond the aesthetics, landscaping can be beneficial to a property if designed properly. Solar heat absorbed through windows and roofs can increase cooling costs, and incorporating shade from landscaping elements can help reduce this solar heat gain. Shading and evapotranspiration (the process by which a plant actively moves Monroeville | Spring 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 33
Business Spotlight
Valley Pool & SPa Opens New Store in Monroeville
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alley Pool & Spa is your community, family owned Pool & Spa superstore that prides itself on creating a unique shopping atmosphere with a huge product selection and expert help. Valley Pool & Spa opened their first store in 1967 and there is a reason that they have been around for so long. Original owners Jim and Dolly Harding made their customers’ satisfaction a priority and that same philosophy continues today with the current owner Corie Kraft, the Harding’s granddaughter. Corie and her husband Jeff go the extra mile to ensure that their employees are well-trained and knowledgeable, in addition to a store that offers every product imaginable for the care of your pool or spa. “We have 20 times more products for the care of pools and spas than any other store around,” explains Eric Cassidy, Vice President. “We also offer a free loyalty program called PoolPerks, which provides a 3% discount on everything, everyday! It also allows us to keep track of a customer’s pool & spa so they know we are always providing them with the right items and that no receipts ever need saved. Additional discounts are also made available based on what the customer needs & buys through the PoolPerks program.” In addition to an extensive product line, Valley Pool & Spa offers complimentary computerized high-tech water quality
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testing which checks for over 28 vital water levels. “We have people drive from as far away as Ohio to have their water tested with us,” says Eric, but fortunately residents of the eastern Pittsburgh areas will not have far to drive with the new Monroeville store location. There are three different testing systems available, including the AccuDemand test which is administered by the only trained and certified chlorine demand treatment staff in Pittsburgh. Water quality is such an important factor in ensuring that your experience is safe and beneficial and can also extend the life of your pool or spa; there’s really no reason not to have it professionally tested. “We also have a store within a store,” adds Eric. There is an entire section deemed “Pool Toy Wonderland” devoted to water toys and water sports equipment, including water polo, basketball, volleyball, kids’ games, mask, goggles, rafts, tubes, noodles, and other fun stuff for babies, children, teens, and adults. Their staff completes over 100 hours of training in March and April each year which includes industry updates and information. This extra attention to training is probably one reason that Valley Pool & Spa was designated as one of the top 100 employers by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2012. They were also rated as one of the top 100 companies in Western PA out of over 3,000 Pittsburgh businesses in 2008. Besides being a great company to work for, Valley Pool & Spa actively gives back to the surrounding community, sponsoring area Little League Baseball teams and supporting the arts, particularly the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra. In fact, if you are lucky enough to catch one of their concerts, you will hear owner Corie in the violin section. Former Pittsburgh Penguin Max Talbot, past spokesperson, and loyal customer probably said it best, “Ditch your pool boy! Valley Pool & Spa’s experts will teach you how to care for your pool or spa yourself.” Visit Valley Pool & Spa’s NEW Monroeville location in the Holiday Center located on Route 22 next to PetSmart & Michaels. Their other locations include Route 30 in Greensburg and also Route 30 in North Versailles. Visit them online at www.ValleyPoolSpa.com and “like” them at www.facebook.com/ValleyPoolSpa.
Home Improvements In Monroeville Continued from page 33 rates are low. This also provides plants with water before midday when the evaporation rate is the highest. Lighting is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to cast an enchanting spell on any outdoor space. It is also very effective for safety and security purposes. Examples of exterior lighting include: torches, candles, lanterns, solar ground lighting, flood lights, lamp posts, landscape lighting and general light fixtures. For setting a mood the most popular lighting is candles or small lanterns. For security and safety purposes, it is critical to have flood light or lamp posts or ground solar lighting or all. A burglar is much more likely to enter a home without a lot of light on the outside illuminating the property. With countless styles and options available, there are no right or wrong choices. The outdoor lighting a homeowner will choose will come down to budget and personal preference. Many of us take pride in our homes, investing countless hours rearranging and remodeling the interior. But it can also be refreshing to step out of the confines of the inside and spend some time outside. It’s especially enjoyable during the spring, summer and fall months. When the weather is favorable, it’s difficult to miss out on a nice day outside. But spending time outside doesn’t mean you have to forfeit your creature comforts. With a few small adjustments you can make your outdoor space comfortable and inviting. Turning a yard, patio, porch or other outdoor area into a functional living space can be a rewarding task, and will expand your living space to the outdoors. With the right setup, you can spend more time in the sunshine and fresh air, and host events al fresco for friends, family and neighbors. Options for outdoor living include outdoor kitchens, dramatic lighting, fireplaces or fire pits, a water feature (like a fountain), outdoor living rooms, gazebos and pavilions. With so many options to choose from, for most people it will come down to price, climate where they live and available space in which to be creative. Ponds can be a wonderful addition to your property’s outdoor experience. Surprisingly, they are not as difficult to build as one might think. Before you start, call 811 or your local one-call center to have electric and gas lines marked so you know where to dig to steer clear of them. Then, when you map out the location of your pond, put it where it will be noticed – visible from a window, off a patio, or along a walkway – but away from the play areas of small children or pets. Keep clear of major root systems or mature trees, which can block too much of the sunlight plants and fish need. You’ll also need to be within reach of a grounded exterior outlet so you can plug in a pump, an essential tool for keeping the water aerated; most pumps come with a maximum cord length of 25 feet, and extension
cords are not recommended. You may need to bury the power cord a few inches down in PVC pipe to hide it. Space permitting, you need at least 40 cubic feet for your pond – about 7 feet by 4 feet – to keep the water clean. An initial shallow terrace just inside the perimeter of the pond holds rocks that conceal the liner edge and keep it in place. A second, deeper terrace supports plants that live in the water and help balance the pond’s ecosystem. As you dig, you must slope the sides of the pond so that if the water freezes, the ice will push up instead of against the liner. Even in warmer climates, small ponds can change temperature rapidly, so if you’re adding fish you’ll want a deeper pond that will maintain a more consistent temperature and accommodate the fish – 18 to 24 inches for goldfish and at least 3 feet for koi. To maintain the consistent depth of the water, you need to line the pond. A thin layer of sand and old newspapers or burlap bags softens the jagged edges of rocks and roots. But over that you will need to put a waterproof skin. There are several types of flexible liners meant for small ponds – made from polypropylene and EPDM, among other materials. Look for one that’s weather-resistant, so it will stand up to UV rays and freezing temperatures. It should also be rated “fish-safe” if you plan to stock your pond and come with a warranty of 10 to 20 years so your pond will be watertight for many years to come.
Financing Remodeling Projects While home sales may be sluggish, home remodels are roaring. In the second quarter of 2011, Americans were expected to spend $132.8 billion on remodeling – up 12.8% over the previous year, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. And it’s no surprise that these projects aren’t cheap. In fact, the same studies report that 57% of home-remodeling projects cost at least $20,000. Since saving your pennies in a pickle jar is probably not enough to update your master bathroom with a slate walk-in shower or add granite countertops to your kitchen, explore these options to finance your newand-improved home.
Purchase a Variable-Rate CD What it’s good for: Projects that can wait until a fixed time in the future with a price tag you can pay by saving. If you plan to pay for the kitchen of your dreams the old-fashioned way – by saving for it – consider a variable-rate certificate of deposit. This savings vehicle is similar to a traditional savings account in that you can add money to it at any time (a fixed-rate CD does not allow additional deposits during the term of the CD). In return for an interest rate that may go up or down, the interest rate often is slightly higher than a traditional CD when you buy it. You make a low minimum deposit and lock in your money for a fixed time – usually at least six or 12 months. If you withdraw your funds before then, you pay penalties and lose the interest.
Monroeville | Spring 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 35
Choosing the Right Food for Your Pet When it comes to caring for your pet, you do everything you can to ensure they stay happy and healthy. And while there are a variety of pet foods on the market boasting recipes made using wholesome ingredients, if pets aren’t digesting that food correctly, they may as well be eating the inexpensive fillers you’ve been trying to avoid. In fact, many pet owners don’t know their dogs and cats have sensitive stomachs, which may make it hard for pets to properly digest their current food, and could lead to a host of problems. Pets need consistency; they need to eat the same food every day to avoid digestive upset. If pets can’t absorb the nutrients in the food they eat, it can lead to malnutrition, lethargy, frequent vomiting and worse. There are pet foods on the market that offer wellbalanced, easily digestible nutrients. Here are some tips for choosing the right food for your pet:
Check the Label
Look for natural, wholesome ingredients and avoid fillers. Remember, while proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals all play an important role in the health benefits of your pet’s diet, there are other ingredients to consider to help ensure your pet is properly absorbing these key nutrients.
Probiotics
Prebiotics stimulate the growth and maintenance of good bacteria, like probiotics, in your pet’s digestive tract. Your pet’s digestive tract requires a careful balancing act of bacteria. Probiotics – or good bacteria – help keep your pet’s immune system healthy. There are cat and dog foods that contain live probiotics added to the food after it has been cooked and cooled. This process assures maximum survival of the probiotics, so that your pet reaps the full benefits of their food.
Natural Fibers
Just as fiber plays an important role in human digestive health, it also plays an integral role in your pet’s digestive health. Fiber-rich foods such as oatmeal and flaxseed promote digestive regularity. Flaxseed, for example, helps with the movement of food through your pet’s digestive tract, is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, and offers benefits for your pet’s cardiovascular, endocrine and immune systems.
Easily Digestible Enzymes
Several organs such as the pancreas help break down food within the digestive process by producing enzymes. Adding enzymes to pet food actually helps with this process by ensuring your pet is getting the nutrients from their food, while reducing stress on their organs. This is especially crucial for aging pets. When it comes to choosing a pet food for your dog or cat, keep in mind that more than just the main ingredients matter. Ensure your pet is getting the maximum amount of nutrition from every bite by purchasing quality food that supports the digestive system.
Photo courtesy of UPMC
Resident Profile
Local Resident Has a Knack for
Making Others Feel Safe
By Judith Schardt Having dreams is a part of life. George Polnar dreamed of being a police officer, but when he was in a near fatal car accident that left him badly injured, doctors told him he could not withstand the physical demands of a police job. So he pursued other interests and was offered a wonderful job in California. But he couldn’t forget about his dream of wanting to be a police officer. Against all odds, he went through rigorous, extensive physical therapy, got into shape and took the police test. Out of 185 applicants, he scored number one on this test, and never looked back. For more than 31 years, Polnar worked in the Monroeville Police Department serving as Patrol Officer, Detective, Corporal, Sergeant, Training Officer, Lieutenant and finally, as Chief for 13 years. He retired January 2010 but soon realized he missed working. He applied and was hired in December 2011 at UPMC East as the full-time Manager of Security and Parking. Polnar built a Security Force from the ground up,
including the hiring of staff, training and developing a budget and policy/procedures manual tailored to the facility. He is responsible for the safety of patients, visitors, staff and property. When asked if his current position is less stressful and dangerous than his previous one, he replies, “By the grace of God, I had 31 years on the force, but this line of work is a challenge no matter where you work or what your duties are.” His wife, Susan and four daughters (Stacey, 24; Meaghan, 22; Mara, 22 and Erin, 17), still worry about him on the job. Polnar is well-suited for his work. He was born and raised in Monroeville and knows the community. He graduated from Gateway High School; acquired an Associate’s degree in Administration of Criminal Justice at CCAC, Boyce Campus. He earned his Bachelor’s at Point Park University and his Master’s from California University of
Continued on page 38 Monroeville | Spring 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 37
Continued from page 37 Pennsylvania where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He is also an Associate Professor at Point Park University where he teaches Criminal Justice. Polnar is active in community service. He is an elder at Hillcrest United Presbyterian Church in Monroeville. He served as President of the Allegheny County Chiefs of Police Association, President of the Western Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association and was the Third Vice President of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association until his retirement. He enjoys what he does and says the facility, which opened July 2, 2012, is “state of the art, with a bright and beautiful appearance, and a delicious cafeteria menu.” “I’m a people person and I get to know peoples’ habits, quirks and concerns. Teamwork is essential in any type of work, but especially police work in order to get things done and keep those in your charge safe. While on the Monroeville force, I had a great team and now here at UPMC East, I have another one.” According to the Centers for Disease Control/ Prevention, the average life span for a police officer is 66 years, ten years lower than the national average. This could be due to the physical demands, dangers, long hours and mental strains that are part of the job. Polnar feels that if you enjoy what you are doing and keep focused on protecting the innocent, you will be fine. He also enjoys volunteering, doing things to help others which he believes helps his physical and emotional health as well. George Polnar genuinely loves his community and feels his neighborhood is blessed to have such a great medical facility as UPMC East right in the heart of it. The brand new, 156-bed hospital Project1_Layout 1 a2/12/13 10:21 AM Page 1 located on Mosside Boulevard provides state-of-the-art, patient-centered care in community setting. If you happen to visit Polnar while on the job as Manager of Security and Parking, you will see two things: a modern, safe and caring facility, and a man who is determined to serve and protect – and help you find a parking place.
If you are in the business of selling homes... Don't get left out of our summer real estate section! Call us for further details on how to get involved. 724.942.0940. 38 724.942.0940 to advertise
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If D s d in
Business Spotlight
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Business Spotlight
Smile On
with Dr. Paulin
Dr. Paulette Paulin loves to see you smile. She has the distinct honor of being a past President of the American College of Prosthodontists and a former professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Department of Prosthodontics. You know that your smile is in good hands when you walk into her office. Dr. Paulin is a specialist in prosthodontics which requires three or more additional years of postgraduate training after finishing dental school. Prosthodontists have extensive training in the restoration and replacement of teeth as well as TMJ dysfunction and bite problems. “Some of the dental services we provide in our office encompass the smallest fillings to complete oral reconstruction,” Dr. Paulin said. “We provide comprehensive dental services from cleanings and x-rays, to crowns and bridges, to dentures and partials, to TMJ and treatment for bite problems. But our most common procedures that we do are cosmetic and implant dentistry, where we strive to preserve the remaining natural teeth and bone in a healthy state for as long as possible, and to provide alternatives for replacement that the patient is happy with esthetically, functionally and comfortably.” To do that, Dr. Paulin utilizes state-of-the-art dental implants to replace missing teeth, a process that not only restores the area where the missing tooth was, but also outlasts any other replacement options. “Dental implants are titanium tooth roots shaped like the root of a natural tooth. For patients missing one tooth, a single implant and crown can be used for replacement. If a patient is missing multiple teeth, a bridge can be constructed on top of the implants. For patients who are missing all of their teeth in either the
upper or lower arch, we can attach a denture to the implants to provide retention, support and stability. Even people missing only one tooth can be set up for a cascade of events that compromise the neighboring teeth. The remaining teeth want to shift into the space, predisposing them to an increased risk for periodontal disease and tooth decay, which leads to further tooth loss. “In our office we use the Nobel Biocare Dental Implant System, which is the world’s most used implant system and has the most scientific documentation, with more than 40 years of publications on their safety, predictability, clinical success and longevity.” Dr. Paulin said that many times, if the missing tooth is not one visible by smiling, people tend to ignore its replacement, which is a bad choice. “The back (posterior) teeth are so very important for proper diet, nutrition and overall quality of life,” she said. “When one or more teeth are missing and not replaced, there are unhealthy additional forces placed on the remaining teeth that could result in fracture and faster deterioration. It can also cause bite problems, shifting of the surrounding teeth, TMJ dysfunction, as well as physical facial soft tissue changes that make the face appear sunken and aged.” Dr. Paulin said missing teeth will also lead to bone loss and further tooth drift, as teeth surrounding the missing space shift. It’s a common problem, as it’s estimated that 69 percent of adults between the ages of 35 and 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth. The American Dental Association estimates that the number of people missing all of their teeth at more than 20 million, and those missing between 11 and 15 teeth at 100 million. Dental implants are a relatively minor surgical procedure typically performed with just local anesthetic to numb the area. Dr. Paulin cites patients who have returned to work the same day they received their implant, highlighting the ease of the procedure. What’s more, implants can be anchors for crowns, bridges and dentures, securing dentures firmly so they don’t “move around and float,” a common complaint among denture wearers. For more information, contact Paulette P. Paulin, D.M.D., dental specialist in prosthodontics and implant dentistry, at 412.823.4948. Monroeville | Spring 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 41
Industry Insight
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— Restoring a Log Cabin is Not for the Faint of Heart —
The Story of the Rebuilding
of the
McCully Log House The following is an interesting account of the restoration of the McCully Log House, submitted by William J. Johnson and edited by Marilyn Wempa, longtime members of the Monroeville Historical Society and local residents. hile many in the community know that an authentic log house is preserved by the Monroeville Historical Society on McGinley Road, few know that it was moved there, log by log, by a group of fellow citizens in the 1990s. The society’s McCully Log House project involved acquiring the log house, tearing it down and moving it to a location next to the McGinley House museum, reconstructing it, furnishing it, and finally, opening it to the public as a museum. This seemed fairly straightforward, but there were many obstacles to making it all happen. I first visited the house, located at 106 Queen Drive in 1991 with Marilyn Chandler. Owners Phillip and Jean McGrath had knocked at my door and invited me to their home, hoping the Historical Society might be interested in purchasing the property. The house was fairly run down, but Mr. McGrath had undertaken some initial efforts to expose, clean, and varnish some of the interior logs. The house was definitely a ‘diamond in the rough’ and particularly interesting to me because the family that had built the log house was the same one that had built my own home on James Street around 1790. My historical research has led me to believe the house on Queen Drive, was occupied either by James or John McCully, the sons of John McCully, Sr. The house was still in the McCully family in 1862, but by 1876 William Linn was listed as the owner. The house is almost certainly a parcel of property purchased by John McCully in
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t t t ttttt t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t ttttt Continued from page 43 1810 from Joseph Reed and the deed indicates there were buildings on the property, so it is possible the house was constructed by Joseph Reed or the Myers family from whom Joseph Reed acquired the property. After my visit, the McGraths abandoned the house in the winter of 1991-1992 and the Municipality of Monroeville condemned the home. This made them liable for a hefty $5,000 demolition fee. At this point the Historical Society was still debating what to do about the house. I declined to purchase the house because I was still restoring my own log home, but I hated the idea of the house being demolished because I thought it should be turned into a museum. The McGraths agreed using it as a museum was a good idea, so they signed the house over to me on March 23, 1992. I had no idea what I was getting into!
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he house was to be torn down, but how could we make sure that the structure could be saved? The Historical Society had always wanted a log house to complement the McGinley stone house. The president of the Historical Society at that time, Dan Nowak, petitioned the municipal council to tear down the structure in an orderly manner so the logs could be saved and the building reconstructed. Municipal officials pledged to keep the Historical Society informed of any developments in the demolition process. The society had only about $3,700 on hand and limited fundraising capacity, which did not bode well for our being able to save the house. After consulting with Dan Aston, I indicated my intent in a letter dated March 27, 1992, to donate the house to the Municipality of Monroeville with the idea that it be turned into a pioneer museum. Of course, it is not that simple to just “give” a house to a municipality. I first had to apply for a building permit. I filled out all the forms and made drawings which were submitted to the Zoning Hearing Board and subsequently approved. The municipality accepted my donation and pledged to expedite the permit process and even offered municipal trucks for moving the logs. We were also given dumpsters from Chambers Landfill for collecting the debris from the demolition. The stage was set and the real work began. I was a partner working at Paul C. Rizzo Associates, an engineering firm, so I was able to twist a few arms for some of our engineers and scientists to help. There were quite a
few society members who generously donated their time and many community members who volunteered, including Kurt Brooks, owner of the Haymaker Log House. We tore down the house on weekends in the months of May and June 1992. Every log was marked with a unique tag and then photographed. A sketch map was prepared so that we would know how all of the logs would fit together for the reconstruction. This was quite an effort because we did the work by hand. Men and women wore masks to pull off the siding because the dust was terrible. The upper logs were lowered by pulleys and everything had to be neatly stacked so the logs and whatever stone we could recover from the foundations could be hauled over to the McGinley House grounds off Haymaker Road. The chimney came down with a big roar of bricks! One thing I remember clearly is we had a lot of volunteers the first weekend, not so many the second, and only a handful for the third and fourth weekends when we loaded up the logs for their transport on the weekend of June 6, 1992. Fortunately, the quality of the logs was excellent. The house had been covered with grey siding for most of its long life. After all of the siding had been torn down, we could see had an unusual double-decker front porch with two massive logs supporting the second floor that were cantilevered out to support the upper porch. This was an amazing discovery and something that makes the McCully House unique. I have never seen another log house with a balcony, and I have looked at a lot of log homes. This house is referred to as a “log house” rather than a “log cabin” because it is a two-story structure, while a cabin is one-story.
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here were several interesting moments during the demolition process. The black snakes turned out to be living in the attic and may have contributed to the dwindling supply of volunteers as the weeks wore on... They fell on top of whomever it was that was tearing down the second floor ceiling, at which point I heard some serious screams. My son Tom, grabbed the snake and carried it off into the woods. Five minutes later, the second snake dropped from the attic and the same scene repeated itself. After the house was gone,
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t t tttttt t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t ttttt I was told the snakes would still show up on the property, apparently trying to figure out where their home went. After the logs were hauled over to the McGinley House, the project stalled. My idea was to simply build some stone foundations with the stone we hauled from the house, but modern building codes prohibited this from happening. I wanted to achieve authenticity, so I was able to negotiate a compromise whereby the modern foundations would not be exposed above the ground surface and the house would be constructed on stonework over the top of the buried concrete. The municipality built the concrete foundations to modern code in the spring of 1993 and a number of us helped build the stone foundations. Meanwhile, the logs were still sitting on the ground and there was some concern that they might rot, but fortunately they remained in good condition. Volunteers assembled the logs for the first floor, while a local contractor, Craig’s Cranes volunteered to help us lift the second floor logs.
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ow we had to face a more severe crisis – money! We needed to put up the roof; construct the floors, windows, and doors; install the chinking between the logs; and build the fireplace/chimney. These tasks could not be accomplished with volunteer labor, but required cold, hard cash to pay contractors. Marilyn Chandler and I petitioned municipal council for a grant of money. I worked with municipal Engineer Tom Zeglin to arrive at the costs for building materials, and we estimated $12,000 and Mayor Tom Scheurger pledged municipal support. When all was said and done, the total costs were about $20,000, excluding the thousands of volunteer hours. We found the money to slowly progress. The first job was to spray-clean the logs and coat them with sealant. We contracted a local lumber yard to fabricate pine floor planks of variable widths to replicate the original floors, and I installed the floors with help from my son, Ben. Then we started the tedious job of chinking (installing four inches of Styrofoam covered by the material you see between the logs), with a lot of support from family and friends. Female volunteers used hand trowels to patiently smooth the ribbons of chinking that had been put on the Styrofoam in a looping pattern with a caulking gun. We located a skilled contractor to fit together the roof joists, half of which are
original and half were handmade from local trees. Mr. Clair Chandler made the wooden frames for the windows, doors, windows latches, shutters, and supports authentic to the 19th century. They were installed in the fall of 1994. Special recognition needs to be made to Clair Chandler. At the age of 80, he contributed considerable time and carpentry skills to the details of this project and many others. What was remarkable is Clair did this work when he had very limited ability to lift anything. An antique clock with his name on a plaque was purchased by the Society to honor him for his exceptional work. It’s located in the McGinley House living room. An incredible contractor from Laughlintown, Pennsylvania, built the chimney for $5,800 and the municipality covered the cost. Bob Elms, who took over as the president of the society in 1993, continued to work hard to find money. We received more financial support from the municipality in April 1995 in the amount of $4,000. Some of the grant money was used to purchase antiques to partially furnish the house with kitchen and bedroom furniture. I was thrilled to find a contemporary rope bed at the Hannastown antique market for only $100!
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inally, the McCully house was dedicated on September 17, 1995. I received a letter of congratulations from the municipality and on December 31, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette designated me as an “Outstanding Citizen of 1995.” It was nice to be recognized, but this was really a team effort. The best accolade was not given to me, but my wife. Bob Elms sent her a thank-you note for allowing me to help. You see we didn’t get to spend much time together during the more than three years this project took to complete, so her patience was much appreciated.
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The Gateway High School Music Department Presents Disney’s
Beauty and the Beast
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Photos by Prime Time Shots, Inc.
T
he music department will present the timeless classic, Beauty and the Beast, composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Beauty and the Beast premiered on Broadway in April of 1994 and became one of the longest running productions of all time! The legendary tale begins when the handsome prince, Adam, is cursed and transformed into a beast by Enchantress. The spell can only be broken when Adam learns to love another, made considerably easier by the appearance of the lovely Belle. The result is one of the most enchanting love stories ever written with hauntingly beautiful music. Performances of the musical will be April 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. There will be afternoon matinees on April 21 and 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens and may be purchased at the Theater Box Office located outside the lobby area of the high school’s theater. The box office will be open every Monday from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. and various other days through the week. For more information please call the music office at 412.373.5751 or the box office at 412.373.5866.
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Current issues of this magazine are also available online. www.incommunitymagazines.com Monroeville | Spring 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 47
Tomosynthesis Offers Women Greater Detection of Breast Abnormalities Donna Peters, 46, was told she had breast cancer in July 2012 – a diagnosis that almost had not happened, had it not been for tomosynthesis, a revolutionary three-dimensional mammography imaging technology being used at Magee-Womens Imaging. Peters explained that she had a standard mammogram at a local hospital in March, only to be called to have a second one a few weeks later. “My doctors said that my breast tissue was dense, but they were not sure if something else might be going on,” she explained. She returned for the second mammogram, and had a sonogram immediately after, as her physicians were still somewhat unclear of what they were seeing.
“This is the biggest advance we’ve seen in breast imaging in a long time, and we are excited to provide it to our patients.”
A few weeks later, she had an MRI, which concluded a possibly benign tumor, so another MRI was performed, but this time with a guided biopsy. The results were in and showed no cancer. That is when Peters took matters into her own hands and sought a second opinion.
“I knew in my heart that they were wrong, so I called Dr. (Marguerite) Bonaventura’s office at Magee and made an appointment for a second opinion,” Peters said. “Thank goodness I did! She and Dr. (Denise) Chough saw something that my previous doctors had missed.”
- Dr. Margarita Zuley
Dr. Chough ordered tomosynthesis for Peters, who said that it did not feel any different from that of a standard mammogram. The diagnosis was confirmed. Peters had infiltrated ductal carcinoma, the most common kind of breast cancer. “Tomosynthesis provides physicians with the ability to improve upon the limitations of the standard two-dimensional mammography, which will hopefully allow us to find more cancers with fewer false-positives and limit the number of additional workups and potentially unnecessary biopsies,” said Margarita Zuley, M.D., director of breast imaging at Magee-Womens Imaging. 48 724.942.0940 to advertise
Monroeville
“And although tomosynthesis currently does not replace traditional 2-D mammography, especially in women with dense breast tissue, it does reduce the recall rate of patients by 30 to 40 percent.” The technology uses precise 3-D digital imaging to create a complete reconstruction of the breast, which gives radiologists the ability to identify certain abnormalities which can be more difficult to detect with traditional 2-D digital mammography screening. One of the main differences between tomosynthesis and 2-D mammography is its ability to capture 60 to 100 pictures through use of an advanced digital platform, compared to two pictures produced by the standard mammogram. Although the test can be performed on anyone, for now, tomosynthesis is used for patients who have an inconclusive mammogram or for patients who request it, according to Dr. Zuley, who does feel that it will eventually replace the two-dimensional test. Dr. Zuley also stressed that the radiation levels in tomosynthesis are equal to that of traditional two-dimensional mammography. Much of the research on tomosynthesis was conducted at Magee-Womens Imaging, and researchers there are the most widely published group in the country on the technology. “I am so grateful for this new technology,” Peters said. “I feel it was a big part in my diagnosis, because it gave my doctors a clearer image of what was going on inside my body. But the equipment is only as good as the doctors who know how and when to use it, and when Drs. Bonaventura and Chough saw something that they did not like, they immediately opted to use tomosynthesis to verify their suspicions. They made the process easy!” “This is the biggest advance we’ve seen in breast imaging in a long time, and we are excited to provide it to our patients,” Dr. Zuley said. Tomosynthesis is currently available at Magee-Womens Imaging locations in Oakland and Monroeville and at the Magee Breast Center at UPMC St. Margaret.
B u s i n ess D i r ec to ry
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