IN Plum

SPECIAL: Plum Real Estate

Plum

ALSO INSIDE

VENANGO TRAILS Enriching the Northern Suburbs of Pittsburgh

SUMMER 2013

C.A.S.E. Awards Honor Plum Community Volunteers PLUS! Plum Borough School District News

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Plum SPECIAL:

Plum

INSIDE

te Real Esta

E ALSO INSID O

TRAILSbs of Pittsburg ANGNorth ern Subur VENing the

IN Plum is a non-partisan community publication dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the people of Plum Borough 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.

Enrich

2013 SUMMER

Honor . Awardsity Volunteers C.A.S.E mmuntrict News Plum Co School Dis Borough

IN Plum | SUMMER 2013 |

PLUS! Plum

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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Tressler Chiropractic Right and Wrong Weight Loss Methods ....... | 37 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Venango Trails New Phase Coming Soon ......................... | 12 ON THE COVER

Valley Pool and Spa

| Nearly 500 people turned out for the inaugural IN Community

Magazines’ Community Awards for Service Excellence (CASE), presented

by Northwest Savings Bank in the West Club Lounge at Heinz Field.

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COMMUNITY INTEREST

Plum School District News ...............................................

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Tips on Summer Sun Safety from UPMC Urgent Care ...................................................

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Plum CASE Awards .............................................................

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Plum Borough Looking Forward to New Public Works Building ...............................................

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Lights! Camera! Action! The Oaks Theater ...................

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UPMC Today Health and Wellness News You Can Use ...............

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A Trip Back in Time: The Kerr Museum ..........................

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Plum Library News ..............................................................

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Seeing Is Believing: Lasik Surgery ..................................

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Gives The Area A Place To Go For Expert Pool Care Help ......................... | 47

INPERSPECTIVE Welcome to the summer issue of Plum magazine.

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

What I’ve seen and who I’ve met along the way has convinced me that the resilience of Boston is not a regional attribute. It’s a way of life that seems to be somehow tied to our very genes. Fortunately, not every city will face a challenge of that magnitude. But we do have it in us to take the inspiration demonstrated by the people of Boston and apply it to our daily lives. We can take small steps every day to ensure that the community we live in is a little bit better by the time we lay our heads down on the pillow at night.

Whether it’s raising money for a cause, or visiting someone who needs to see a smiling face, young or old we can all do something to make our surroundings a little bit better. And by making things a little bit better for each other, hopefully, we can be better prepared to help one another if things suddenly get worse.

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

Have a wonderful summer!

Wayne Dollard, Publisher

STAFF

PUBL ISHE R

Wayne Dollard RE GION AL E DITORS

Pamela Palongue [North and East] p.palongue@incommunitymagazines.com Mark Berton [South, West and Erie] mark@incommunitymagazines.com OF FICE MANAGE R

Leo Vighetti leo@incommunitymagazines.com AD PLACE ME N T COORDIN AT OR

Debbie Mountain d.mountain@incommunitymagazines.com SCHOOL & MUN ICIPAL CONT E N T COORDIN ATOR

Megan Faloni m.faloni@incommunitymagazines.com GRAPHIC DE SIGN

Anna Buzzelli Sharon Cobb Mike Miller

Joe Milne Melissa St. Giles Tamara Tylenda

W RIT E RS

Jonathan Barnes Jennifer Brozak Matt Fascetti Tracy Fedkoe Mike Ference Jacob Flannick Britt Fresa Elvira Hoff

Heather Holtschlag Chelsie Kozera Leigh Lyons Dana Black McGrath Joanne Naser Melanie Paulick Gina Sallinger Judith Schardt

PHOT OGRAPHE RS

Ginni Klein Len Pancoast Primetime Shots

Kathleen Rudolph Gary Yon

ADVE RT ISING SAL ES MANAGE RS

Tamara Myers

Tom Poljak

ADVE RT ISING SAL ES

Sophia Alfaras Julie Graff Jason Kalakos Peter Leben Anna Marie Lee Connie McDaniel Brian McKee

FEATURED PET

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Why is your Pet the Best Pet

IN THE IN TH THE WORLD WORLD ORRLDD All ll Animals W Welcome! elcome!

Write and tell Write tell us wh whyy yyour our pet is the g greatest. reatest. B Be e sur sure e tto o send us a phot photo o of yyour our best friend friend and let us kknow now which magazine yyou ou rreceive eceive aatt yyour our home home.. P Photos hotos should be as lar large ge as possible and ma mayy be emailed tto o our edit editor, orr, mark@incommunitymagazines.com mark@incommunitymagazines.com or mailed to to IN Community Community M Magazines, agazines, 603 East M McMurray cMurray R Road, oad, M McMurray, cMurray, P PA A 15317. B Be e sure sure to to include a self-addressed self-addressed stamped en envelope velope if yyou ou w would ould like yyour our phot photo o rreturned. eturned.

TThere’s here’s nothing quite lik likee the unconditional love love of a pet, so share the lo love! ve!

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Gabriel Negri Aimee Nicolia Vincent Sabatini Mark Seamans Michael Silvert RJ Vighetti Nikki Capezio-Watson

This magazine is carrier route mailed to all district households and businesses.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Copyright 2013.

CORRESPONDENCE Direct all inquiries, comments and press releases to: IN Community Magazines Attn: Editorial 603 East McMurray Road McMurray, PA 15317 Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968 www.incommunitymagazines.com

Fall content deadline: July 5

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

news

PLUM BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

...Leading The Way A

Message from Dr. Glasspool Parents and Residents,

It is hard to believe that another school year is coming to an end. Our students are preparing for final exams and our athletes for championship competition. The end of the school year offers introspective opportunities for teachers, students, parents, and administrators. As I reflect on this past school year, I gravitate toward purpose. The primary purpose of public schooling is to educate responsible and productive citizens. A Plum Borough graduate is so much more than a productive citizen.

A Plum graduate realizes character and the rewards of hard work and dedication. He or she understands there is no substitute for healthy competition and participates as a collaborative team member. They possess the ability to incorporate ideas, analyze and synthesize information to solve complex problems. They utilize technology to advance their current knowledge and leverage skills to advance common goals. Plum graduates think critically about the world in which we live, and are able to adapt to an unforeseeable future. We are extremely proud of this year’s graduating class. A detailed review of their body of work over a variety of categories indicates this is truly a special class of young men and women. We are proud of their accomplishments and look forward to their bright futures.

For the third consecutive year, the School Board and Administration must make difficult decisions to balance our operating budget. Like many of our neighbors, the school district is not immune to this tough economic climate. We are working hard to ensure Plum provides the highest quality educational programming for our children in the most fiscally responsible manner. Our 2013-2014 preliminary budget will be approved at a Special Voting meeting on May 22nd with final budget adoption on June 25th.

for our Special Education children. There are several non-routine projects occurring this summer. We will begin the Adlai Stevenson Elementary School transition to Old Pivik or AS@P (Adlai Stevenson at Pivik) on June 10th. Coinciding with this physical move, is the asbestos abatement and the demolition of Adlai Stevenson Elementary School. We also have several significant repair projects throughout the District. Both Oblock Junior High School and Center Elementary School have major plumbing projects scheduled. Central Office Administrators have scheduled professional development activities for our principals and faculty members. The summer months are an opportune time to plan on a macro and micro level. A comprehensive review of our Emergency Operations Plan and resulting modifications to our school safety protocols and procedures is scheduled. Lastly, we will begin implementation of our recently adopted local strategic plan, and begin our Pennsylvania Department of Education 6-year strategic plan.

This current issue of IN Plum is filled with articles showcasing a small cross section of our outstanding programs, learning activities and student highlights. I encourage you to visit our District website (www.pbsd.k12.pa.us) and individual school webpages to view additional exciting activities in our District.

Important summer dates: June 5 – Plum Senior High School Graduation June 6 – Last Day of School June 11 – Kennywood Picnic August 26 – First Day of School Wishing you a safe and relaxing summer, Dr. Timothy S. Glasspool Superintendent

Summer is an extremely busy time for our 12-month employees.

This summer we will continue our annual summer activities, such as develop transportation routes, assign staff, finalize student schedules, clean and repair facilities, hire and orient new staff members, and plan and coordinate school year programming.

Beginning in June, we will offer our Summer Recreation Program for elementary students and our Extended School Year Program Plum | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 3

PLUM BOROUGH

SCHOOL DISTRICT

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Growing with Children Class Offers Reciprocal Benefits Excitement fills the halls of Plum Senior High school as the 3 and 4 year olds eagerly enter the building. These preschoolers are heading upstairs to the “Growing with Children” classroom that is filled with colorful bulletin boards and activities created by the high school students.

Mrs. Carrie Matarazzo, Family Consumer Science teacher, conducts a class for junior and senior high school students in which they study child development theories and teaching techniques. The high school students prepare lesson plans, complete observations on developmental skills, and work one-on-one with a dozen preschoolers three times a day. High school students taking this class realize that it is more than just playing with children; it can be compared to a mini student teaching experience.

Mrs. Matarazzo has high expectations for her students. They are leaders and role models for the preschoolers.

They take this responsibility very seriously. Maria Wittman, senior at PHS, states, “If I didn’t have this class, I probably would not have realized what I want to do in my future.” Wittman has been accepted at Slippery Rock University where she will study elementary education in the fall of 2013.

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Many of the high school students in “Growing with Children” take this class because they are interested in pursuing careers such as pediatric nursing, education or psychology. Senior student, Angela Kotvas, is headed into the nursing program at Penn State University. Her experience while teaching the class has spurred her interest into pursuing pediatric nursing. Kotvas says, “I wanted to have the opportunity to work with children other than my family members to see what it is really like each day helping children.”

Senior, Nina Linhart, planning to study education at Duquesne University in the fall, was happy to teach in the preschool program, “I know I will not be shocked when I have the university field teaching experience.”

She continues, “I am really sure of my future and feel the preschool program has helped me to prepare.” Janel Moriarty, senior, will be studying education this fall at Duquesne University. Admission officials at Duquesne were very impressed that Moriarty had so much teaching experience and already participated in the Junior Achievement Program. Moriarty states, “I have really benefited from the teaching experience here at PHS and I feel more prepared to enter the university setting.” Eighteen students from Mrs. Matarazzo’s “Growing with Children” class participated in the local Junior Achievement Program. In these experiences, students take the responsibility of teaching a full day at a local private school in grades K-6.

Sometimes the teens think this would be a “fun” class because they actually work with toddlers. Often, they surprise themselves with the skills they have acquired in “Growing with Children” class. These are skills that are used in education, parenting and other life circumstances.

The high school teens often learn a higher level of responsibility. They know they cannot let the preschoolers down. Their lessons must be prepared and on time.

The “Growing with Children” program provides a unique service to the Plum community by giving the residents of preschoolers an opportunity to have their children enrolled in a four day per week program. At the same time, the high school students are exposed to experiences that would help in career choices.

The preschool program has been so popular in the community that the enrollment list for the 2013-2014 school year has been filled since January, 2013.

Plum | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 5

PLUM BOROUGH

SCHOOL DISTRICT

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TECHNOLOGY ROCKS! Technology is a part of students’ everyday lives, and substantial advances in technology have profoundly affected the way they learn. As a result, educators are working hard to meet the ever-evolving needs of 21st century learners. Translating the ongoing technological revolution into a learning experience is a fundamental part of that challenge. It is important for our teachers to provide instructional opportunities for all of our students to exercise their ability to learn and connect to the content taught in an interactive and engaging manner. As a Community of Learners, we will all be able to transform education to encompass a higher degree of learning experiences to ensure success in today’s world for our students.

To better prepare our students we must first begin by preparing our teachers. Plum Borough School District recently sent three teachers to the annual Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference (known as PETE & C) in February of this year. Missy Karkowsky, Dana Pivirotto, and Kylie Tysarczyk participated in the three day event and were asked to share some of the things that they have learned and what technology they are utilizing in their classrooms.

Ryan, Deon, Ashley, Tori, and Lexi

MRS. MISSY KARKOWSKY Mrs. Karkowsky teaches 2nd grade at Holiday Park. Many may think that second graders are too young to begin introducing technology into the curriculum, however, Mrs. Karkowsky and her class would disagree.

PETE & C has given her many creative ideas on how to utilize the iPads she received in 2011 as part of a grant. Her first step was to tailor the iPads to mirror the curriculum of the students. This enables her to accommodate a diverse group that ranges from gifted students to those with special needs. Even assessments can be customized to evaluate individual learning needs. Students utilize the 10 iPads throughout the entire day. They are each assigned an iPad that they share with a peer. The students may use the iPads for something as simple as practicing cursive and math drills; to something more difficult, like downloading and uploading assignments into Dropbox, creating QR codes, or making flashcards for an upcoming test.

Creating digital stories, green screening and having the students create their own digital art are just a few of Mrs. Karkowsky’s favorite activities that she shares with her students to enhance student learning. As for the students’ favorite activity... they love all of it!

Maeryn, Madison, Jaidan, Alex, and Kaitlyn

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MRS. DANA PIVIROTTO Dana Pivirotto teaches 6th grade at Center. She also applied for a grant in 2011 and was approved for a classroom set of iPads. The iPads are used in every subject and enhance all areas of the curriculum. They allow ways to easily differentiate instruction for all levels of learning. Students are engaged, focused on the material, and motivated to learn. Resources are more readily available and tasks, more easily David as a superhero! attainable. Some of the tasks that can be accomplished might include looking up Camden on vocabulary and creating electronic flashcards, annotating and bookmarking the 100th day materials, taking notes, reading and summarizing current events, and creating of school graphic organizers which enhance study and organizational skills. Web 2.O tools like blogging and wikis are also valuable tools which can be accessed on iPads.

Students can collaborate with one another and become actively engaged in their learning.

Aside from all of that, students love working on iPads. They are convenient because they are portable, great content viewers, student-friendly (especially for students with disabilities), and a wonderful communication tool which is fast and easy to use.

MRS. KYLIE TYSARCZYK

Nearpod QR Codes used with a personal device

Kylie Tysarczyk also teaches 6th grade at Center and knows that technology is constantly used all around her, and it isn’t going out of style anytime soon.

After Mrs. Tysarczyk returned from the Pete & C conference, she quickly implemented a few new ideas that creatively use technology while increasing student engagement and learning. Recently, her class completed a research project that used QR (Quick Response) codes that were easily read through the use of iPads and personal devices. QR codes, which are two-dimensional barcodes that encode information, enable the students to quickly find appropriate teacher-chosen websites that are aligned with academic standards. The students were on task and engaged during the entire research project since information was accessed quickly and easily.

In addition, Mrs. Tysarczyk incorporated a valuable app into her classroom lessons called Nearpod. Nearpod is a free app that synchronizes students’ devices to a teacher’s iPad. Nearpod allows teachers to self-create interactive presentations that align to the curriculum while also monitoring student engagement, and collecting individual progress throughout the lesson.

Technology has enabled teachers to make their lessons more interactive, and therefore, more interesting and rewarding. This method has also been shown to improve student performance as lessons are more memorable. Hence, the result has been better retention of information for our students.

Plum Borough School District understands the importance of integrating technology, and has plans to have these three tech-savvy teachers share their knowledge this summer with training to teachers within the district.

Plum | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 7

PLUM BOROUGH

SCHOOL DISTRICT

Science

OLYMPIAD 2013

The Plum Senior High School Science Olympiad team recently qualified for the state level competition. Several veteran members of the team took leadership roles in the qualifying competition and mentored some of the new participants. Seniors on the team include Emily Kieffer, Jessica Allman, Gina Valotta, Canada Montgomery, Abish Pius, Berty Ruan, and Billy Pendergast. The juniors are represented by Danielle Hiener, Shea Metzgar, Michelle Theiss, Alan Yocca, Brendan Galdo, and Alex Monroe. Sophomores Dan Allman and Sabrina Liu also contributed to the team’s successes.

Team members worked diligently to obtain the materials needed to build and create their projects for each specific event. Projects were professionally created, constructed and presented at the preliminary competition. The team’s effort was rewarded by qualifying for the state level competition to be held at Juniata College on April 26, 2013. In addition to qualifying for the state level competition, the team received medals in the events of disease detectives, thermodynamics, circuit lab, and magnetic levitation. The team captains are Emily Kieffer and Jessica Allman.

Faculty advisors are Dr. Shubhada Bhamre, Danielle Skwirut, Mike Supak, Dr. Dave Muchoney, and Eric Jasper.

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“Whoooooo Knew” That Art Could Transform Learning?

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“Whoooo Knew……..” is a question that adorns the hallways of Pivik. And, students answered the question through art. Lining the walls in every corner of Pivik Elementary School are collages of all kinds of animals created by the 523 students who attend.

The collages serve to transform the building into a zoo, capture the attention of all who pass, and show off how students have learned about their world through art.

The children’s work was first on display during Pivik’s Annual Art Show in late March.

Under the direction of Ms. Jackie Ruane, Art Teacher, students began to study the concepts of collages, texture, and values during Art Class in mid-February. After all students, kindergarten through sixth grade, developed an understanding of collages, the real work began. Through student collaboration with Ms. Ruane’s guidance, the “Pivik Zoo” theme emerged. Each grade level selected a zoo animal or animals to design and create. Seventeen different species are represented throughout the building. Some of the animals created include: monkeys, lemurs, fish, seals, penguins and a peacock to name a few. One of the most treasured assignments was to be chosen to create the flamingo collages!

To integrate reading into these art projects, the collages tell a story, narrated by owls. The repetitive text of the owls’ narration mimics the text of several children’s books the students have read and written. The story of Pivik Zoo begins when you enter the building. You are greeted by monkeys, and the owl asks, “Whoooo knew that Pivik had a zoo? Whooo knew, did you?” The tale continues throughout the hallways.

The owls ask questions like, “Whoooo knew we have 51 penguins and 29 seals in our zoo, and, whoooo knew we had a peacock in our zoo?” In addition to integrating reading into art, a student understanding of science was developed. As students began to design their animal collages they studied about varieties of species, and learned much about habitats.

According to the Partnership of 21st Century Skills, “Anyone who has ever seen a student become excited, energized and confident through artistic exploration has seen first-hand how arts education engages children and contributes to their overall development. While each of the arts disciplines has its own unique set of knowledge, skills and processes, the arts share common characteristics that make arts education powerful preparation for college, career and a fulfilling life.” Through her work with Pivik students, Ms. Ruane has successfully provided them with wonderful opportunities for artistic exploration. And, the students are confident and excited to show off their hard work. Whoooo knew that creating the Pivik Zoo could transform students’ learning? Whooo knew, did you?

Plum | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 9

PLUM BOROUGH

SCHOOL DISTRICT

Center Students Learn Lessons of Respect and Acceptance When the books close and the pencils go down, schools are a community of unique and diverse individuals that must learn to respect and care for each other. The first week of April was a week for students at Center Elementary School to do just that. Since April is Autism Awareness Month, Center students and staff participated in a variety of activities to bring awareness to Autism. The theme for the first week of Autism Awareness Month is Light It Up Blue. To participate in Light It Up Blue Week, Center staff wore blue on Wednesday April 3rd, students participated in lessons to teach them about Autism, and everyone wore blue jeans on Friday, April 5th. The lessons students participated in taught them about Autism; each lesson’s main theme focused on the fact that we are all unique and different. The goal was to remind Center students how each of us is unique and how important it is that we accept and respect each other. At the conclusion of these lessons, each classroom of Center students made a pledge to be respectful and accepting of each other by signing a blue puzzle piece, which is the symbol of Autism Awareness that was created by the National Autism Society. During Light It Up Blue Week, each class proudly displayed their signed puzzle piece outside their classroom.

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After Light It Up Blue Week, the puzzle pieces will be fitted together to create a banner that will be placed in the cafeteria and symbolize Center Elementary as a community that cares about and respects each other.

Also during Light It Up Blue Week, Center students had the opportunity to attend an assembly that fit the central theme of the week—respect and acceptance. On Thursday, April 4th, The Josh and Gab Show came to Center. The show features the talents of Gab Bonesso & Josh Verbanets. Bonesso is a nationally renowned comedian, performer, and comedy writer. Verbanets, in addition to being an award-winning songwriter, singer, and musician, attended Center Elementary as a kindergarten student and is a graduate of Plum Senior High School. Their show is a unique and unforgettable live anti-bullying musical comedy. Josh and Gab utilize humor and music to share the extremely important message of respect and acceptance. Center students enthusiastically clapped and sang along while they took in all that Josh and Gab had to share. The Center staff is extremely proud of how Center students responded to and participated in all of the week’s activities.

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

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

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

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

Special Care For Children And The Elderly

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

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

Self-Help Measures For Sunburn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Consider Life-Saving Swimming Lessons

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

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

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

Plum | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 11

Follow our trails and you’ll find the home of your dreams…Venango Trails, a first-class new neighborhood in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh, has already sold 47 homes and is looking forward to continuing this success. “These early sales are exciting for the community and our region. This progress has allowed us to start construction on Phase 2, a year ahead of schedule.” stated Brett Malky, President of EQA Landmark Communities.

With site development on next phase set to being soon, the home styles offered in Phase 2 will closely resemble those is Phase 1. However, these offerings will be expanded to include a Park Home. The Park Home will sit on the largest lots currently available in this portion of the community. For descriptions of all the home styles as well as downloadable floor plans, please visit venangotrails.com.

In addition to Phases 1 and 2, the neighborhood is excited to announce that site development has been completed and three lots

have already sold at Venango Estates. This exclusive section of Venango Trails is located along Mt. Pleasant Road in Marshall Township. Home construction will be starting soon and these residences will feature more square footage, upscale finishes and the latest appliances, all while sitting on some of the largest lots available in the Northern suburbs of Pittsburgh.

The Venango Trails team believes that this success is directly tied to community and they definitely take the definition of community seriously. This is evident in their wide array of new home plans that meet the needs of families, singles and retirees. The variety allows Venango Trails to offer homes from the high $200s to over $2 million, while featuring square footages from 1,700 to 8,000+. The community has also set itself apart in terms of higher standard offerings from home builders. For instance, all homes in Venango Trails feature first and second floor ceiling heights of 10 ft. and 9 ft. respectively.

In addition to the emphasis on community and design, Venango Trails has partnered with national research experts to create the best in Home Performance Standards.

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This is an innovative approach to creating a feeling of openness as well as light and airy living areas. Additionally, the standard package includes an enclosed garage, Anderson double-paned windows, smart-wiring as well as brick, stone or James Hardie Plank exteriors.

Venango Estates also takes full advantage of the natural surroundings blessed to the site. The developer recently donated over 88 acres of pristine woodlands to the Allegheny Land Trust to ensure that it remains untouched in perpetuity. Included in the donated land is the historic Venango Trail. “The trail is a well-worn path cut by Native Americans, and was once used as a military road by George Washington and his troops,” Malky said. Homeowners throughout the neighborhood will have the ability to walk this trail as well as a few new ones, while listening to nature and history speaking to them.

The 325 acre Venango Trails site is just 20 minutes north of downtown Pittsburgh and mere minutes from the business districts of Cranberry and Wexford.

“Venango Trails is a winning combination of serenity and beauty,” said Robin Randall, spokesperson of VT Partners. “It was important to create an environment that appeals to a broad audience,” said Randall.

In addition to the emphasis on community and design, Venango Trails has partnered with national research experts to create the best in Home Performance Standards. This ensures compliance in energy efficiency, building durability, indoor environmental quality, materials and resources.

Other current and future amenities include numerous trails and water features as well as a multi-functional community center with a kitchen, meeting rooms and fitness center. The community is also a proud member of the award-winning North Allegheny School District.

Venango Trails is located in Marshall Township with easy access to Route 79, the PA Turnpike and Route 19. The sales center is located at 1305 Freeport Road Mars, PA 16046 and is open seven days a week. For more information about this special neighborhood, please visit their website at www.venangotrails.com, or call Rich Barent at 412.944.5376.

Imagine the possibilities living in harmony with nature, neighbor and self.

Live an exceptional lifestyle, live at Venango Trails.

Plum | Winter 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 13

The awards were created by former IN Community Magazines editor Monica Haynes to honor the work of individual volunteers and nonprofit organizations throughout the magazines’ coverage area. A total of 111 awardees representing 33 magazines received certificates during the event, for which WTAE-TV anchor Andrew Stockey served as Master of Ceremonies.

IN Community Magazines publisher Wayne Dollard welcomed attendees and spoke about the importance of community service, as did Northwest Savings Bank president Chris Martin. Providing a perfect ending to the evening was an acoustic set by The Clarks.

Below is Haynes’ first person account of how the awards came to be: During my tenure as an editor for In Community Magazines, one of the cover stories we did was about food pantries, those places that provide grocery basics for those who don’t have enough income to keep their kitchens stocked. This meant finding a food pantry to visit so I could conduct interviews. I found one and scheduled an interview around noon, which is the time it opened. It was a cold, blustery day as I made my way up the hill to the church, where the food bank was located. There were some slick spots on the road and I was praying the whole way up, “God, please don’t let me slide over the hillside.”

Finally, I arrived at the church. Inside, it was buzzing like a hive with volunteers moving about among the shelves and tables to fill the grocery bags with various food items for pickup by those signed up for the pantry. Most of the volunteers were retirees 14

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and could easily be in their nice warm homes instead of braving the cold wind and snow flurries to help their fellow residents. I imagine they could ditch Pittsburgh all together during the winter months to enjoy three or four months of Florida sun. But they didn’t. Every week, they made their way to that church and filled those bags and answered the phones and signed people up, listening to the stories of how they ended up needing to utilize a food pantry. The volunteers always treat them with dignity and respect.

They listen with compassion.

I was inspired by these volunteers and others I’d met and talked to. There was a couple who volunteered with a group that helped senior citizens.

The husband would help the senior by carrying out home repairs. The wife would drive him or her to doctor appointments and to shop at the supermarket.

Many times they’d go above and beyond their initial volunteer duties.

People need to know about these and all the unsung volunteers and organizations that serve so unselfishly the members of their community, I thought. I wrote a proposal for an awards program that would shine just a bit of light on these volunteers.

I knew they didn’t do it for recognition or any fanfare, but I was so inspired that I felt if others were able to know about what the volunteers do and how they give, they might be motivated and inspired to do the same.

When I presented the proposal to Wayne Dollard, publisher of IN Community Magazines, his

immediate response was, “Let’s do it.” And so I set about developing the categories, the criteria, the nomination form, etc. We put the nomination form in all the magazines, but also sent forms to clubs, schools, libraries, senior centers, and places that utilize volunteers. I knew that I wanted young people to have a category. Over the years, I have encountered so many amazing high school and college students who have donated countless hours and their talents to help others. I wanted them to be recognized for being so outstanding when it is so easy to think only about themselves and having a good time.

Slowly but steadily, the nominations came in and it was very humbling to see what people were doing in their communities, in their schools, churches, hospitals, food pantries, athletic fields, senior centers, community centers, etc. Personally, it made me want to go out and do more. I was enlightened and moved by their giving and doing.

Some had been giving of their time, efforts and resources for decades. Some youngsters not only volunteered for organizations but started their own organizations and groups to help fellow students, younger students, students with disabilities, or to help older residents. There were organizations, both large and small, quietly going about their missions of healing, helping, saving, counseling, teaching, encouraging and caring.

The year of planning, sorting, reviewing and selecting culminated in a marvelous awards dinner, which shined just a little bit of the spotlight on young

Chris Martin, President of the Southwest Region of Northwest Savings Bank (center), poses with the Plum area winners.

Youth Volunteer of the Year, Jordan Campeau:

Small Nonprofit of the Year, Plum Senior Community Center:

Volunteer of the Year, Joseph Altieri:

Through volunteering, Jordan has learned that people truly are gracious and that gratitude is more satisfying than any sum of money. She says, “Seeing a child smile at an Easter Egg Hunt, or having a homeowner personally thank you after repairing their roof is the greatest feeling.”

The Plum Senior Community Center provides a safe and welcoming environment where people can gather with other members of the community to participate in fitness classes, socialize with friends, enjoy a meal, and learn something new. The staff and volunteers are dedicated to providing a diverse selection of educational programs, support resources, and leisure activities to nourish the mind, body, and spirit.

Joseph is the father of four and has become a father figure to several young people including a German foreign exchange student and a young man who lost his father at 16. In addition, Joe is very active in his church, taking on the task of creating a middle school department, which is now one of the most active and quickly growing departments in his church.

and more-seasoned volunteers and small and large nonprofit organizations.

“As someone who has managed volunteers for 10 years, it was wonderful to witness your recognition efforts of so many deserving individuals and organizations. Thank you again,” said Vickie Mottern, volunteer and outreach coordinator for Brevillier Village, where IN Harbor Creek CASE honoree Catherine Pugliese volunteers.

“I just want to take a minute to thank you for such an amazing event. We are so grateful to be recognized as Small Nonprofit of the Year for IN Norwin at the Inaugural CASE Awards,” wrote Jodi Fowler, one of the founders of Genre’s Kids with Cancer Fund. “

At Genre’s Kids with Cancer Fund, we truly believe that our work is blessed by God, and our purpose is to serve oncology families in need. Never did we imagine, when Genre was diagnosed with leukemia, that we would be at this point, developing our organization and receiving this amazing award because of our incredible volunteers – just a few years later . We honestly appreciate the opportunity this allows to share our story and mission with readers in our community.”

“My family and I had a wonderful time! It was a great event! The food was excellent; the speeches interesting, nice and short; Andrew Stockey was wonderful; and we thoroughly enjoyed The Clarks.

Thank you for this honor and recognition and a fun family evening to top it off,” wrote IN Chartiers Valley Volunteer of the Year Susan Zuk. These are just a few of the comments IN Community Magazines received about the awards dinner. We’d like to thank everyone for their participation. And we would like to congratulate all of our honorees, all of the nominees and even those who were not nominated. It is your constant devotion to helping others, which all too often goes unnoticed, that makes our communities a great place to live!

Plum | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 15

Plum Borough looking Forward to new PuBlic works Building

By Matthew J. Fascetti

Almost a year ago, Plum held an official groundbreaking for Phase 1 of the new Municipal Center at the site located between Renton Road and Old Leechburg Road in Plum Borough. The new facility which is slated to open in mid-June, will house the public works department, which consists of approximately 20 employees, 50 pieces of maintenance equipment and vehicles and storage for 6,000 tons of salt and anti-skid material.

The parks and recreation department is responsible for road maintenance, parks and recreation maintenance and all borough building maintenance.

The new public works facility replaces the older, outdated building which is grossly undersized for the department. With only 5,000 square feet and one mechanical bay, the facility lacked the space to store all equipment inside. Salt was also required to be stored outside storage with only a 1,000 ton capacity. In contrast, the new facility will be 24,000 square feet, boast four mechanical bays, have enough room to store all equipment and vehicles inside and can store 6,000 tons of salt.

According to Greg Bachy, Assistant Borough Manager, this new facility was much needed. “The new facility will help us better serve the residents of Plum Borough,” he said. “With the larger storage areas, we will be able to have ample supplies of salt available all winter long. Also, being able to store all the equipment inside will allow us to keep the equipment in better shape so it will last longer.”

The increased space will allow the borough to purchase parts for routine maintenance and repairs for the vehicles, such as oil filters, belts, spark plugs and

other frequently used replacement parts, which previously had to be purchased two or three times a week for the vehicles.

Bachy explains that Plum Borough was able to fund the $11.7 million dollar facility without raising any taxes. “[To that end], 11.2 million of the project was funded by a municipal bond issue, and the remaining $500,000 was funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Senator Brewster and former Senator Logan played a key role in securing the funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development,” added Bachy. “While we desperately needed a new facility, it was also very important for us that the residents not be burdened in any way financially.”

The municipal center project was a long time in coming. In 1999 the borough had their initial contact with an architect about a new facility. Due to multiple issues, the new project became stagnate until 2003 when the property for the facility was purchased. The project became stagnate once again until 2009 when the borough was able to show council funding options without raising taxes.

The new facility is Phase 1 of the project. In the future, the borough is hoping to move the municipal building and the police department to the new facility grounds. No timetable has been set for that phase of the project. They also hope to sell the land where the current parks and recreation facility stands to a developer to create either a free-standing grocery store or a grocery store that will be part of a small strip mall.

Plum Borough looks forward to better serving its residents for many years to come.

Plum Chamber of Commerce Empowering People T Too Build Business In A Growing Community Plum Chamber Monthly Luncheon* Time: 11:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. (2nd Friday Monthly) Cost: $20 members, $25 non-members * Please visit our website or contact the chamber for location and keynote speaker

Plum Chamber 4th Annual Golf Outing, August 17, 2013 Visit our website for Events, Member Discounts, Advertising Opportunities & other Membership Information

The Plum Chamber off Commerce wiishes to thank all of our current members ffor or theirr participation in helping us grow by 25% in 2012!

Not only have our numbers grown, but so has the enthusiasm!

We had haad a great yearr and a wish to thank all of those dedicated people who hellped p make this the best yearr ever! ped We have ha many things planned ffoor 2013 and our sincere hope is thatt you will plan on being a BIG part of it! /Ĩ LJŽƵ ĂƌĞŶ͛ƚ Ă ŵĞŵďĞƌ ĂůƌĞĂĚLJLJ͕ ĐŚĞĐŬ ŽƵƚ ŽƵƌ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ͗ www.plumchamberr.com Or email us: inffo@plumchamberr.com

Jo oiin n uss to od da ay y!!

Telephone: 412-798-2300 412-798-2400 Telephone: 412-798798 230Fax: 0 x: 412-798-2400 4555 NewFaTexas Road, Plum PA 15239 4555 New Texas Road; Plum, PA A 15239

www.plumchamber.com or e-mail info@plumchamber.com 16

Plum

Location: 3 Lakes Golf Course.

See website for more information

Monthly Networking Meeting — FREE Early Bird Business Builder (2nd and 4th Wednesday Monthly) Time: 7:45 — 9:00 a.m.

Location: S&T Bank, 7660 Saltsburg Road, Plum Borough, 15239 * Great opportunity to network on a closer basis. You will give a ‘One Minute Commercial’ about your business and share coffee with local business owners.

After Hours — Monthly Event Time: 5:00 — 7:00 p.m. (3rd Thursday Monthly) A FREE event to members and guests with the sole purpose of ‘Showcasing’ one of our members business. Come join us for light refreshments and networking! A fun way to learn about other businesses in Plum, and MAYBE meet your next client too!

ONE MONROEVILLE CENTER

PremierMedicalAssociates.com

lights, camera,

actio the oaks theater is a number one attraction

By Chelsie Kozera

for 75 years the

OAKS THEATER has

been a local business, and an essential ingredient in the recipe that gives the local community such charm.

18

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It first opened in November of 1938 and has been in continuous operation since opening, although ownership has changed several times. Currently, the theater is owned by local lawyer Meg Burkardt, Oakmont Bakery founder Marc Serrao, and Cindy Yount. The general manager, Adam Morgan, spoke with IN Plum about Oakmont’s historic theater.

Morgan began working at the Oaks part-time in 2007 and upon finishing his Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Production from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, moved into the role of general manager in 2011. When Morgan was asked what makes the 430-seat single-screen theater different from other movie houses, he answered, “The main thing that makes us unique is our wide-range of programs.”

The Oaks doesn’t just cater towards one demographic. This charming, yet retro theater makes an effort to appeal to all audiences by showing first-run blockbusters, documentaries and cult oddities alike. Loyal customers of the Oaks will even wait for new features to come to their beloved local theater.

Another aspect that makes the Oaks a special theater to the community is the monthly Cine Brunch. On the second Saturday of the month locals can attend a light brunch provided

by Oakmont Bakery and enjoy a classic film. A great way to spend an afternoon with friends!

Returning this summer at the end of May and continuing until the end of August is the Oaks Theater Moonlit Matinee series. An old school film is offered on Friday and Saturday nights at 10 p.m. Last year some flicks on the schedule were the favorites: “E.T.,” “The Princess Bride,” “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” “The Shining,” “Back to the Future,” and “Ghostbusters.”

o n!

.

In addition to offering a wide variety of movie entertainment, the local theater also prides itself in being a venue for local events. Morgan says, “We’re always interested in helping the local community… We frequently host charity events.”

One major event that happens at the Oaks is Carabella’s annual Fashion Show, a local boutique, which benefits the Alzheimer Association - Greater Pennsylvania Chapter. Over 300 guests watch as the aisles of the theater become two runways for models draped in the latest trends. Live music is played on the boulevard and hors d'oeuvres and drinks are served to guests for a truly exquisite night out in Oakmont. In the past, the theater has opened its doors during Light Up Night in Oakmont to entertain youngsters with cartoons. Patrons can rent the Oaks Theater for private parties or community-wide events.

Admission for daytime screenings is $6, while evening shows are $8. The Oaks offers discounts for seniors over age 62, children under 17 and students who present a student ID. The box office opens 30 minutes before show time, or you have the option to purchase your tickets online. For more information about the Oaks peruse their website at www.theoakstheater.com.

Essentially, the local theater that shows current, classic, and non-traditional movies has something for all residents of this scenic Pittsburgh suburb. It has been remodeled and yet is still laced with history. So grab a friend or loved one this summer and venture down to Allegheny River Boulevard for a night at the movies!

Plum | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 19

Plum EMS / Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department

Ceremony Honors Rescue Efforts of Plum EMS and Rosedale Volunteer Fire

By Chelsie Kozera

On February 24, a crowd gathered at the Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department on Verona Road to honor rescuers from Rosedale VFD and Plum EMS for saving the life of a local resident. Members of the community and the press filled the fire station to hear the miraculous story of a 62-year-old man who was revived after a sudden cardiac arrest.

While most of us were enjoying the company of our family and a warm holiday meal on the evening of December 25, the Dulaney family watched helplessly as their loved one, Mike Dulaney fought for his life.

The Dulaneys’ neighbor, Andrea Huzinec, a registered nurse with 33 years of experience, was on the scene within minutes performing CPR. Following Andrea’s efforts, Plum EMS and the volunteers of the Rosedale Fire Department arrived soon after. Matt Strauss of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation opened the ceremony with an account of the frightening scene...

The emergency workers quickly saw that Mike needed a defibrillator to restart the electrical system of his heart.

The automated external defibrillator (AED), was broken open and the pads applied to his chest. The emergency crew delivered the needed shock and immediately resumed CPR. Fortunately, in a matter of minutes, Mike’s heart responded to the electrical stimulation and his heart rhythm resolved.

Thankfully, this story has a happy ending.

PLUM and PENN HILLS Honorees: Mayor Anthony DeLuca presented the awards

The ceremony continued with remarks from Mary Newman of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation and a word of thanks from Mike Dulaney and his wife.

Awards were then presented to each first responder who assisted on the fateful night.

Diane Fitzhenry, EMS Supervisor, summarized the experience perfectly, “It is said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

The chain of survival in this event had strong links indeed. If it wasn’t for each of these links Mike may not be alive today.”

The event closed with comments from the Mayor of Penn Hills, Anthony Deluca, “First, I want to congratulate you guys on doing a good job. As the mayor of Penn Hills some things I love about our community are our neighbors – we have neighbors who care about each other and check in on each other – and our first responders: they are some of the best in Allegheny County. You saved the life of one of our residents… Congratulations once again to the first responders who are standing here today.”

There are moments in life when time is of the essence and this was one of them. Luckily for Mike, the first responders were experienced professionals who didn’t hesitate to do their job and do it well.

For more information on Plum EMS, please visit the website at www.plumems.org.

Andrea Huzinec, RN Nick Gerstel, Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department Stacy Gerstel, Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department Tom Hordubay, Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department James Muse, Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department

Frank Ribich, Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department Matthew Strauss, Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department (former member who secured AED) Eric Ritter, Plum EMS Glenn Kopec, Jr., Plum EMS Dan Fitzhenry, Plum EMS David Bender, Plum EMS

Proudly Serving Plum Borough 20

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UPMC TODAY Health and Wellness News You Can Use | Summer 2013

What’s Inside 2 3

Pain Management Becoming a Whole New You

4

Health Care Reform: We Have the Plan

5

A Closer Look at Medical Imaging

6

Is Assisted Living the Right Choice?

7

Access to Elite Cancer Care

Pain Management UPMC East’s new Spine and Pain Center offers comprehensive care for patients seeking relief from acute and chronic pain.

Dr. Chen works closely with Ghassan Bejjani, MD, co-director of the Spine and Pain Center and chief of neurosurgery at UPMC East, to diagnose and treat spine-related conditions.

Although neurosurgeons are trained to “fix” spine conditions through surgery, patients often can be treated nonsurgically, says Dr. Bejjani.

“Only one in 10 patients needs spine surgery. That’s why it’s so important to work in close collaboration with a pain management specialist,” says Dr. Bejjani. “Our goal is to restore quality of life and control pain using the least invasive methods. That can mean using several types of treatment at the same time.”

Depending on the severity of the condition, patients often can be treated with physical therapy, spinal manipulation, acupuncture, and medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid injections, muscle relaxers, and sometimes narcotics. In addition, injection therapies such as epidurals and nerve blocks may help. Patients often benefit from rest and modified activity.

Options for managing pain Everyone experiences pain at some point — it’s a good indicator that something is wrong. But pain can be a complex problem requiring treatment by pain management specialists.

The new Spine and Pain Center at UPMC East provides a team approach to treating different acute and chronic pain. Located near UPMC East at 600 Oxford Drive, the center offers comprehensive, coordinated care in one location for patients dealing with pain of the neck, back, shoulder, abdomen, and other areas of the body.

ZongFu Chen, MD, co-director of the Spine and Pain Center, says pain management isn’t just about taking a pill or getting a steroid injection. “A single treatment rarely makes pain go away,” says Dr. Chen, who also is a board-certified anesthesiologist and medical director of pain management at UPMC East.

“Pain can be very complex.”

Pain can be treated At the Spine and Pain Center, patients are carefully evaluated to assess their pain, develop a treatment plan, and coordinate care. A wide range of specialists is available onsite — including imaging, physical and occupational therapists, physical medicine and rehabilitation, sports medicine and orthopaedic specialists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons. Mental health specialists will be available via telemedicine to help patients cope with anxiety, depression, and other issues arising from pain.

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UPMC.com/Today

For patients requiring surgery, UPMC East’s neurosurgeons perform a full range of spine procedures, including minimally invasive surgical procedures such as microdiscectomies, spine fusions, spine stabilization, and microsurgery for herniated disks and spinal stenosis. These cutting-edge procedures can result in faster recovery and less discomfort.

“We offer world-class spine care right in Monroeville,” says Dr. Bejjani. “Our specialized technology includes a surgical microscope that provides amazing detail and allows the surgeon to make smaller, more precise incisions.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a pain management specialist, call 412-374-7302. To schedule an appointment for a neurological consult, call 412-623-6910.

Did You Know?

According to the National Institutes of Health, pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. One in four Americans has suffered from pain lasting longer than 24 hours, and millions more suffer from acute pain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It changed my body and my mind.”

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

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

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

Visit UPMC.com/Bariatrics for more information.

1-800-533-UPMC

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Health alth Car Care re eR Reform: efform: W We e Ha Have ve the th Plan UPMC Health Plan has cr created eated a website website tto o provide provide information information to to help you you learn how how health car care e rreform eform ma may y affect affect y you ou and your your family. family.

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

Several important reforms have been adopted since then.

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

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

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

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UPMC.com/T Today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What can you do to be proactive?

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

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

1-800-533-UPMC

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Is Assisted Living the Right Choice?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mom loves it there.”

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

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

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

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

Terry Schwartz and her mother, Ethel Yanowitch

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

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

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

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

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

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

Access to Elite Cancer Care Growing numbers of Monroeville area residents are finding that cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment are just minutes from home.

According to the National Cancer Institute, one in three Americans can expect to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes.

When that happens, finding a place that offers the best cancer care in a warm, comforting environment is a top priority. For Monroeville area residents, that place is UPMC CancerCenter Radiation Oncology at UPMC East and Medical Oncology, Monroeville (400 Oxford Dr.), which have the expertise to treat any type of cancer.

Once a patient is diagnosed with cancer, a multidisciplinary team crafts a treatment plan that will likely include one or more types of treatment — surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy — all available in the Monroeville area.

Cancer surgeries are performed at either UPMC East or the UPMC Monroeville Surgery Center, depending upon the type of surgery. At the radiation oncology suite at UPMC East, cutting-edge technologies enable doctors to deliver powerful and precise treatments. The UPMC CancerCenter Medical Oncology, Monroeville, has a full range of services, including hematology and medical oncology, chemotherapy, injections, lab work, and access to clinical trials. “We deliver the highestquality, state-of-the-art care in a warm and comfortable environment,” adds Dr. Diego.

Comfort and convenience At UPMC CancerCenter at UPMC East, providing world-class care also means helping to alleviate some of the stress, worry, and hardships patients and their families can sometimes experience during the treatment process.

“Cancer treatment is a marathon, not a sprint,” says Sanjeev Bahri, MD, medical director of radiation oncology at UPMC East. “It can require frequent — sometimes daily — trips to UPMC CancerCenter at 400 Oxford Dr., or UPMC East.

Not only are people relieved to get treatment in their own community, they also find comfort in having compassionate caregivers who are their neighbors and friends.”

A community resource UPMC CancerCenter is one of the largest networks for cancer care in the country. Their partner, the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, is the only center in western Pennsylvania with the elite Comprehensive Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute.

“As part of the UPMC CancerCenters network, we offer the same world-class cancer care available at the Hillman Cancer Center,” says Dhaval Mehta, MD, medical oncologist at the UPMC CancerCenter at UPMC East.

Most cancer treatment regimens can require frequent office visits. “Our patients and their families are pleased to discover that they don’t have to travel outside the community to find such comprehensive and quality cancer care,” adds Dr. Mehta.

A team approach to cancer care “Cancer is a complex disease and its treatment requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach,” says Emelia Diego, MD, a surgical oncologist.

To learn more about UPMC CancerCenter, visit UPMC.com, click on Our Services, then click Cancer. For information on radiation oncology services at UPMC East, call 412-357-3037.

For information about medical oncology services at UPMC, call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).

Monroeville Cancer Support Group Second Thursday of each month, 6 to 8 p.m.

UPMC CancerCenter Radiation Oncology UPMC East, Ground Level Cancer support groups can enhance the quality of life for many people with cancer. We’re pleased to offer our patients and their families a support group that is also close to home.

Parking is free and light refreshments are served.

Registration is required. Call 412-622-1212 or visit cancercaring.org for more information.

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.

Follow UPMC East on Facebook.

State-of-the-art emergency care.

Hospital of the future,

focused on patient-centered care.

UPMC East’s Emergency Department delivers both stateof-the-art and patient-centered care to all of our patients.

Our cutting-edge technology helps our physicians and nurses make fast, accurate, and effective treatment decisions. World-class care. You can always count on it.

Why would you choose to go anywhere else?

For questions about your access to UPMC, call 1-855-646-UPMC (8762) or visit UPMCEast.com.

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

A TripVisitBack in Time – the Kerr Museum in Oakmont

By Chelsie Kozera

Driving up Delaware Avenue in Oakmont, I scanned the street for signage that would indicate which home is in fact, the Kerr Museum.

Just a few blocks from Allegheny River Boulevard, a large green Queen Anne structure with a small yellow building marked “office” caught my eye. I parked my car and began walking towards the office when I was greeted by a tour guide in professional attire, wearing a name tag reading: Laura Wengerd.

Laura has been a volunteer tour guide at the Kerr Museum for two years. She and Jane Foster, a long-time tour guide of ten years and Oakmont resident, escorted me around the former home of Dr. Thomas Kerr for a Saturday afternoon step back in time.

The Kerr Museum is not just another museum; it’s a depiction of the middle-class lifestyle during the Victorian era through the preservation of one family’s home and belongings. Jane credits Dr. Kerr's daughter, Virginia for retaining so many artifacts of the period. Virginia was known as somewhat of a packrat in her day.

Lucky for us that she was since her penchant for saving everything gives present-day visitors a peek into life 100 years ago.

The house was built in 1897 for Dr. Thomas Kerr and his wife Jesse. Daughter Virginia lived in the house until she died in 1994 at the age of 91. She bequeathed the house and its contents to the Borough of Oakmont to be used as a museum. The house was dormant for several years until 2000 when the borough acquired grants to restore the home, which took two years to complete and involved about 40 volunteers.

In addition to the Kerr Family treasures, the museum accepts donations from local residents and volunteers procure antiques from the era to fill the museum with objects that portray a time when people did not have the modern conveniences we enjoy today.

Upon entering the home, it’s as if you’ve been transported back to the turn of the century. A wooden ice box, carpet beaters, an ice cream churn, a cider press, a speaking tube and an annunciator for communication throughout the house set the stage.

Even the last load of coal delivered to the family through the basement window accompanied by the original receipt for $11.92 are all remnants of the era that help visitors to visualize how the middle-class lived during this time.

Upon entering the basement Jane picks up a large woven basket with a lid and asks, “What do you think this is for?” After pondering for a second I concluded the item was a hamper, of course. She informed me, “It’s a basket for chicken feathers.” After plucking the chicken they would save the feathers to later make pillows. A great example of how resourceful people were long ago.

Jane, Laura, and the tour guides of the Kerr Museum all share a love of history which is evident when you experience their level of enthusiasm and desire to educate visitors.

One of the more interesting rooms in the museum is a spare bedroom that was converted into an exhibit room. The volunteers change the room to showcase certain themes from the era. Some recent exhibit themes have included mourning customs, nurseries, school days, winter Sundays and Christmas.

When you visit the museum, you learn not only about how society and Oakmont have changed since the Victorian era. The Kerrs were a major part of the local community. Dr. Kerr was a local physician who made house calls traveling in his horse and buggy, while Virginia grew up to be an English teacher at 10th Street School in Oakmont. Today, the legacy of this family lives within the walls of the museum.

This local treasure is supported in part by an annual antique show on the second weekend in March at the Oakmont Country Club.

Membership in the Friends of the Kerr Museum also helps to maintain the museum and includes several advantages. Volunteers are welcomed for yardwork, seasonal displays and various other essential functions.

The Kerr Memorial Museum is open every Saturday to the community from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. You can experience an hour-long guided tour for the admission price of $8. Private tours and field trips are held upon request.

For more information on the Kerr Museum, please call the office at 412.826.9295, or visit the website at www.kerrmuseum.com.

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Gwen Zaspel A Friend to the Library

Gwen Zaspel wasn’t born in Plum Borough, but she has adopted the area and truly made it her home. A resident for 32 years, her children attended and graduated from Plum Borough School District and she has volunteered at the local library for the past 10 years.

“I think that the library is a living part of the community and it’s all about people getting involved and participating in its programs. The days of the library being a place to keep quiet and only read books are gone!

The library is the center of the community; it’s a place of open exchange.”

The Plum Borough Library Friends was organized one year ago and Zaspel serves as president of the group.

“Our purpose is to promote the programs of the library and encourage the public to actively use the library,” explains Zaspel.

She would like to see the Plum Borough Library Friends grow. At present, there are 8 members, but the former teacher and school librarian believes that the library deserves community support to be the best possible resource it can be. At this point, there are no dues to become a member of the Library Friends.

She has seen the library grow from one room to a building and then finally to the beautiful facility in which they are now located. “There is something for all ages and all tastes,” says Zaspel who volunteers at the facility on a weekly basis.

“I believe in the power of the library,” adds Zaspel.

She even credits it with helping people to heal from traumatic circumstances in their lives. “I’ve seen people benefit from the social interaction they get from coming to the library and their recovery.”

Indeed, the library has cutting edge information on medical research, travel information for planning family vacations, scholarship resources which can be life-changing for students, and classes and performances that enrich the lives of area residents every day.

Zaspel herself has learned to knit by attending an activity offered called “The Circle of Stitchers.” The group is comprised of people who knit, crochet, quilt and cross stitch. According to Zaspel, they are not only very proficient at what they do, they are eager to teach others.

They have donated their mittens, hats and scarves to homeless shelters in the past.

Zaspel also points out that the outreach programs of the library have helped individuals in poverty-stricken areas of Appalachia and has helped victims of Hurricane Sandy with gifts of clothing, books, blankets and every day essential items.

“The library is evolving in its role in the community,” says Zaspel. “It is alive with activity and meeting the needs of [residents] in new ways all the time.”

Persons interested in joining the Plum Borough Library Friends, should leave their name and number with the circulation desk of the library. For more information on the library and its resources and upcoming events, please visit the website, www.PlumLibrary.org.

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Dig Deep – A Musical Puppet Show!

Everybody Loves Puppets

June 25/6:30 pm

Looking for something to do this summer?

Grab your shovel and miner’s hat and join us as we DIG into some great books!

We’ll UNCOVER mysteries from the past and see what lies BENEATH THE SURFACE. We have tons of fun planned for all ages – it will be GROUNDBREAKING!!

Join the Summer Reading Club and see what fun things you can find between the covers of a book!!

Dig into Reading A Magic Show!

Steve Haberman

July 16/6:30 pm

Registration begins June 10. Come into the library, or register online at www.plumlibrary.org Read and log in your books online.

Visit the library to be eligible for prizes!

Weekly activities for children of all ages!

Dig Deep for Science

Plum Borough Community Library 445 Center-New Texas Road Pittsburgh, PA 15239 (412) 798-READ www.plumlibrary.org

Dog in Boots Books Alive!

August 1/6:30 pm

Mad Science

July 2/6:30 pm

Plum | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 31

How We got into

Imagine Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship Empowering Students.

Encouraging Leadership.

Inspiring the Future.

ImaginePennHills.com 412-793-6471 200 Penn School Drive 32

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Imagine Schools Equal opportunity for all students.

Therapeutic Garden My gardening experience started several years ago after my identical twin daughters, Rachael and Maria died shortly after birth. I wanted a place to honor the girls and also a place of comfort. My garden was a way to keep them near to me.

When I became disabled, the garden expanded. I had been a school speech/language pathologist and the loss of my work left me with hours to fill. I joined an online gardening group and both my garden and me were featured numerous times.

I have found that when you are given lemons in life, you find a way to make lemonade. The answer for me was gardening.

I have made many dear friends over the years through my love of gardening.

-Submitted by Kathleen Manganaro of Plum

She Hated Gardening I was a child in the ‘50s and a teen in the ‘60s. Our generation spent lots of time outside. My dad, a World War II veteran, just like everyone else’s dad at the time, planted our lawn and did the landscaping at our brand new home.

Dad worked hard getting the grass to grow and mom routinely weeded out the dandelions. My father loved working outside every weekend and I have fond memories of him wiping his face with a hankie as he chatted with the neighbors about the planting, watering and care of their prized lawns. I personally didn’t care for gardening or yard work, but preferred to spend time in the nearby woods, where the trees kept it shady and cool in the hot summer months. My siblings and I hung out at the creek, and loved the clean, fresh scent of the woods. My brother and I would discover all kinds of wild flowers, moss and wildlife. We would spend all day in the woods with sandwiches in our pockets for lunch.

My lack of interest in gardening was to soon to change though, when I married the most remarkable man my first year as an elementary school teacher. As luck would have it, he absolutely loved plants, trees and all manner of gardening. We even spent our honeymoon exploring the woods, looking at plants and flowers!

My husband was always outside, exploring, digging and planting. And I was happy to support this creative man who enjoyed designing with trees and shrubs. I decided early on that if I wanted to spend time with him, I had to go outside.

Gradually I began to appreciate the little things that so impressed him. The strong evergreens which he referred to as anchor plants, unique and unusual shrubs and weeping plants that seemed to bow their heads toward the earth. He dreamed of starting his own nursery one day, although it seemed like a remote possibility. But with lots of hard work and dedication, the dream came to pass. He poured so much love into it and I went from being jealous of our plants, (seriously, I was), to being a plant lover. My husband truly inspired me to slow down and connect with the rhythms of nature. A calm peace comes over you when you are around plants and flowers and you really do relax when you garden.

Plants grow at the pace of God who created them.

In our garden, I am able to express myself and go about the business of creating something beautiful. The Good Lord gave us unending varieties of plants and flowers; all shapes, sizes and colors. I love to garden because it is a way to honor my husband Bill, founder of Plumline Nursery who passed away in May 2010 after a courageous battle with cancer. He left behind much beauty in our garden.

- Submitted by Karen Tribou of Plum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Deepinder Dhaliwal, MD, L.Ac.

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

Plum | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 35

Plum Community Festival!

You know that your smile is in good hands when you walk i

ce.

D

Plum Community Festival will have a little something for everyone this year on June 21 and 22 at Larry Mills Park.

The two-day event will feature a Car Cruise on Friday night ce encompass the and live bands, Buffettman and the Fruitcakes and country artist Michael Christopher. There will be games of chance, a rock-climbing wall, rides for kids and bungee jumping for big kids. Exotic animals will appear in a Wild World of Animal Show on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Vendors will be selling hot dogs, gyros, pulled pork sandwiches and apple dumplings and ice cream. into the The celebration will culminate with a dazzling fireworks display s on Saturday night.

The Plum Community Festival is sponsored by the Borough of ce we use the Nobel Biocare Dental Implant System, which is the Plum and the Plum Rotary Club to help fund projects that will w benefit the entire community. So mark your calendars!

s

tissue changes that make the face a

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Right and Wrong Weight Loss Methods – It’s no coincidence that the acronym for the Standard American Diet is SAD. Sad because it consists of highly processed food; laden with sugar, chemicals and toxic fat and devoid of vitamins, minerals and real nutritional value. This lifestyle is deeply reflected in the health of our society, with rates of obesity, cancer, heart disease and many other chronic diseases continuing to skyrocket each year and there’s no end in sight. The answers to halting chronic disease lie in lifestyle choices and truly restoring health to your body, rather than continuing to mask symptoms.

If weight loss is a concern, leptin is disregulated, or the body is in crisis mode, then fruit intake must be limited. That is not to say that fruits are not healthy – they absolutely are!

It is just that when the body is in a crisis or weight loss is a concern, all sugar, including that from fruit, must be monitored to help the body heal and repair.

DO: Stick with Natural Foods

DO: Ensure Your Body Functions At Its Best

And Little Pointers That Will Increase Your Efforts

If it is a man-made product, made in a lab, subjected to extensive processing, bleaching, heat, etc., AVOID IT! This includes margarine, artificial sweeteners (Sweet’N Low, Equal, Splenda), low-fat, weight loss foods. Rule of thumb: Eat more food that grows on a plant, not foods that are manufactured in plants.

DO: Increase the Fat Fat is actually the #1 missing ingredient in American’s diet. When low fat diets became the latest fad, incidence of heart disease actually increased! In fact, if you look at cultures like Polynesia where they eat very high amounts of saturated fats from coconut products or at some African tribes that eat up to a pound of fat per day; you will not see breast cancer, prostate cancer, or any cancer at all for that matter. However, it’s important to include healthy fat, and exclude bad fats. Trans-fat should absolutely be avoided.

Polyunsaturated fat, such as safflower oil, should be restricted due to its unstable and highly oxidative nature.

STOP: Passing the Bread Basket If weight loss is a concern, and you are facing any health challenge, then whole grains need to be avoided. This seems like it would be difficult, but within 2-3 weeks you won’t even miss the grains. By replacing grains with more healthful fats and more vegetables, you’ll be getting the most nutrition for the least amount of calories. In addition, the human species survived for thousands of years before the advent of farming and milling grains. In other words, you do not need grains to survive and attain optimal health. One good “trick” to replace pasta, is to use a

spiral slicer on zucchini – it comes out looking just like spaghetti noodles.

DO: Cut Back On the Fruit

There is one very important health risk factor that is often overlooked which is how a person’s nervous system is functioning. That is why you can see a person with a terrific diet who exercises all of the time, die of a heart attack at age 40 and someone who smokes, eats poorly, and never exercises live to a ripe old age. Much of the so-called mystery can be boiled down to how well their body is able to function and heal.

For real weight loss and true restoration of health, a comprehensive program must include all of the above factors. Focusing on any one aspect and neglecting the others provide limited, short-lived results. When the factors that build true health are understood and, most importantly, implemented, then not only can permanent weight loss be achieved, but one can begin the experience the life they desire and deserve.

About the writer.

Dr. Aaron Tressler owns Tressler Chiropractic. His passion is helping others reach their fullest potential.

Tressler Chiropractic has been providing chiropractic care to entire families for over 17 years, and now provides comprehensive customized weight loss programs. Contact information: www.DrADT.com, 724-327-5665, 4241 William Penn Highway, Murrysville, PA 15668 Tressler Chiropractic has been serving area families for over 18 years. They specialize in providing life enhancing natural care to entire families, including chiropractic, nutrition and weight loss. Their passion lies in helping individuals reach their full potential, so they may lead fulfilling lives not dependent on drugs and surgery.

Plum | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 37

SPECIAL SECTION

IN PLUM Real estate is a big part of our lives. For the vast majority of us it is the biggest purchase we will ever make, as well as the largest investment. Not to mention the fact that our purchase is “our home”…the place we laugh, cry, raise children, share timeless memories with friends and family and so much more. So it is very important that we understand every aspect of the selling and purchasing of a home. is includes mortgage and finance information, curb appeal, new housing developments and new ways to look for homes. professionally cleaned carpeting, new hardware on the kitchen cabinets, new stain on a rear deck, new exterior and interior light fixtures and de-cluttering of the interior of the home.

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

CURB APPEAL

Curb appeal is a well-known term that refers to the attractiveness of the interior and exterior of a home. While the term seems overused, it is a very real phenomenon. The old saying goes, “You only get one chance at a first impression.” This phrase perfectly explains the importance of curb appeal. When someone pulls up to a house for the first time, things like paint, landscaping, carpeting and light fixtures, just to name a few, make a huge STAGING difference in the person’s opinion. It is much Selling a home requires harder for most people more than a “For Sale” sign. to envision the Competition is fierce, and if you potential of a home want the best offers and your home to sell quickly, home when unattractiveness staging is essential. Staging abounds everywhere involves cleaning, de-cluttering, they look. Most people and decorating a home so it looking at a home make appeals to buyers. Never a snap judgment the confuse decorating for staging. moment they enter the * Data provided by Realtor.com. Data presented is representative of the Décor is an expression of property. Sure, these time of publication. For up-to-date information, go to Realtor.com a particular style, while staging snap judgments can is a strategy. be changed with other According to www.globalspan.net, there are five basic steps positive attributes, but why take the chance when adding curb to staging your home. appeal can be so easy and cost-effective. #1 - Clean. Your home must sparkle! To achieve this level is often Curb appeal can be accomplished by any number of methods only feasible by hiring a cleaning crew. In fact, having a cleaning including exterior decorations, repainting, extensive attention service return weekly while your house is for sale is probably a to the landscaping, timely grass cutting, new or even recently

Real Estate by the Numbers

IN Plum

Homes for Sale: 110 Recently Sold: 93

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pretty good investment. Get your windows professionally cleaned inside and out too. #2 - Fix. Got a dripping faucet or a cracked tile? These will send the wrong message to potential buyers. Getting them fixed before you put your house on the market is a smart idea. #3 - Eliminate Clutter. The “50% Rule” requires that you eliminate the clutter in your home by at least half. This may be the hardest rule of all! We love our clutter – it reflects our memories, hobbies, and values. But it doesn’t sell homes! Clutter makes homes seem smaller and disorganized. (Have you ever noticed that the really expensive stores seem to have an expansive, clutter-free layout, while “cheap” stores are often a jumble of merchandise?) Even the ancient practice of Feng Shui has as a central focus the elimination of clutter. #4 - Go Executive Neutral.

Neutral colors sell. It’s a fact.

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

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

Single-purpose reverse mortgages are the least expensive option.

They are not available everywhere and can be used for only one purpose, which is specified by the government or nonprofit lender.

For example, the lender might say the loan may be used only to pay for home repairs, improvements, or property taxes. Most homeowners with low or moderate income can qualify for these loans.

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

Before applying for a HECM, you must meet with a counselor from an independent government-approved housing counseling agency. Some lenders offering proprietary reverse mortgages also require counseling. continued on page 40

REVERSE MORTGAGE According to www.consumer.ftc.gov, if you’re 62 or older – and looking for money to finance a home improvement, pay off your current mortgage, supplement your retirement income, or pay for health-care expenses – you may be considering a reverse mortgage.

It’s a product that allows you to convert part of the equity in your home into cash without having to sell your home or pay additional monthly bills.

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

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

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

Plum | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 39

R E A L E S TAT E I N P L U M

The counselor is required to explain the loan’s costs and financial implications, and possible alternatives to a HECM, like government and nonprofit programs or a singlepurpose or proprietary reverse mortgage. The counselor also should be able to help you compare the costs of different types of reverse mortgages and tell you how different payment options, fees, and other costs affect the total cost of the loan over time.

You can visit HUD for a list of counselors or call the agency at 1.800.569.4287. Most counseling agencies charge around $125 for their services. The fee can be paid from the loan proceeds, but you cannot be turned away if you can’t afford the fee.

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

The HECM lets you choose among several payment options.

You can select:

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

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

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

A combination of monthly payments and a line of credit.

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

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

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

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

If you’re considering a reverse mortgage, be aware that: Lenders generally charge an origination fee, a mortgage insurance premium (for federally-insured HECMs), and other closing costs for a reverse mortgage. Lenders also may charge servicing fees during the term of the mortgage. The lender sometimes sets these fees and costs, although origination fees for HECMs currently are dictated by law. Your upfront costs can be lowered if you borrow a smaller amount through a reverse mortgage product called “HECM Saver.”

The amount you owe on a reverse mortgage grows over time.

Interest is charged on the outstanding balance and added to the amount you owe each month. That means your total debt increases as the loan funds are advanced to you and interest on the loan accrues.

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

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

Because you retain title to your home, you are responsible for

Our Real Estate property taxes, insurance, utilities, fuel, maintenance, and other expenses. If you don’t pay property taxes, carry homeowner’s insurance, or maintain the condition of your home, your loan may become due and payable.

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

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

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

There is an infinite number of loan types out there, and lenders are constantly coming up with creative ways to wrangle in new homeowners. The type of home loan you choose can make or break you as a borrower, so make sure you fully understand it before making any kind of commitment.

Most prospective homeowners these days seem to be interested in 100% financing, generally because they don’t have the assets necessary for a down payment.

Unfortunately, the proliferation of these types of home loan programs have increased the number of high-risk borrowers in the United States at an alarming rate.

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

Below is a list of the types of loans available to potential homeowners. continued on page 42

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CONFORMING LOANS AND NON-CONFORMING LOANS One way home loans are differentiated is by their Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) eligibility. If the loan meets requirements set forth by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, it is considered a conforming loan. If the loan does not meet all the underwriting requirements set forth by the pair of GSEs, it is considered “non-conforming.”

The main guideline that determines whether a mortgage is conforming or not is the loan amount. Generally, a mortgage with a loan amount below $417,000 is considered conforming, whereas any loan amount above $417,000 is considered a jumbo loan.

However, in Alaska and Hawaii the conforming limit is $625,500. Note that the conforming limit may change annually, and has risen quite a bit in the past few years as housing prices skyrocketed.

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

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

CONVENTIONAL LOANS AND GOVERNMENT LOANS Mortgages are also classified as either “conventional loans” or “government loans.” Conventional loans can be conforming or jumbo, but are not insured or guaranteed by the government.

Then there are government loans, such as the widely popular FHA loan. This type of mortgage is backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Another common government loan is the VA loan, backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The maximum loan amount for these types of loans varies by county.

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

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

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

There isn’t much else to it.

Let’s say you secure a rate of 6.5% on a 30-year fixed loan with a loan amount of $500,000.

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

LOCAL HOUSING MARKET According to www.buildingpittsburgh.wordpress.com, unlike the overall U.S. market, the housing market in Pittsburgh does not have to bounce back from falling prices and is showing remarkable consistency across a number of metrics.

For more than six months the prices of houses sold and the number of homes sold has remained solidly up more than 10% year-over-year. That’s an unusual level of consistent growth, especially since the sales took place in periods of both higher and lower seasonal activity.

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

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

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

SMARTPHONE APPS FOR HOUSE HUNTING This is 2013 and we are an “on the go” society. So doesn’t it just make sense to use apps for house hunting before contacting a real estate agent? According to www.msn.com, today there are dozens of cheap — even free — applications you can download that can make your home buying quest easier and savvier than ever before.

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

TOOLS TO HELP yOU FIND A HOME — ALL wITH GPS Realtor.com says its app has more listings — reportedly more than 3 million — than any other app in the country. You can highlight areas of town to search, check for homes for sale near you and search for open houses. Most homes show multiple photos as well as pricing and open-house info. (Free.)

ZipRealty allows the user to view listings in nearly 5,000 cities — including asking price, photos, distance from where you are, etc.

The app also allows you to see homes that have sold recently. (Free.)

NAVIGATING THE REAL-ESTATE MAZE Dictionary of Real Estate Terms. Baffled by a bilateral contract?

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

Mortgage Calculator. A solid calculator to help steer you through the finances of a home purchase, this calculator computes monthly rate, price per square foot and your amortization schedule.

(99 cents for iPad and iPhone. Other calculators available for different devices.)

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

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CITy AND NEIGHBORHOOD Learn your neighborhood: With Wikihood, you can get a mini-tour of most any neighborhood in the world — everything from the history to the culture to companies in the area.

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(Free for iPad and iPhone.)

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

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

(Free for Android.)

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

wANT TO KNOw wHAT KIND OF AMENITIES yOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS? Download the walk Score app. It gives a home a score of up to 100, based on residents’ ability to walk to things such as a grocery, a pub, etc. The better the score, the more walkable the neighborhood.

Somewhat related, Around Me tells you the distances to key spots such as banks, coffee shops and post offices. (Both are free for iPhone and iPad.) Sitewise gives the demographics of your prospective home’s immediate area, using info up to and including the 2010 Census.

The app creates a demographic report that includes population by age, education level, number of children, household income, number of renters versus owners and more. ($9.99 for Blackberry and iPhone users.)

When looking hard at a home Photo Measures is an app that lets you take pictures of, say, a room and then allows you to save your measurements of the room’s dimensions on the photos. You can take photos during your walk-throughs of an appealing house, note the dimensions of walls and doors and cabinets, then plan your space and refer to the measurements later. ($4.99 for iPhone.)

ColorSmart. With paintmaker Behr’s ColorSmart app, you can visualize colors in your prospective home. Just take a photo, then fill in the walls with a Behr paint color to check out the new look.

(Free for iPhone and iPad.) You now have 15 new ways to find your perfect home — and no excuses.

wHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A REAL ESTATE AGENT Sometimes when the time comes to buy or sell a home the focus is so much on the homes that the real estate agent is an afterthought.

However, it is very important to pick the right one for your needs.

On the site www.mytitleguy.com is a blogger who has worked in the title industry for 11 years and has met and worked with countless real estate agents. He has come up with a list of things to look for before signing a contract with an agent: “Personable: I want someone who does not make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Someone I can tolerate talking to or sitting across from on more than one occasion.

Licensed: Sounds dumb but it is not. I want my agent to be licensed and in good standing, i.e. no complaints [no legitimate complaints one way]. Google is your friend. Go to Google.com, put [potential agents’ names] in quotations and see what Google and other consumers have to say about them.

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

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

Familiar with the local market: I would want an agent who is familiar with my neighborhood, builder, and local market conditions. Local market conditions — not an area 20 miles away.

[Yes, markets can vary considerably in as few as 20 miles.]

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

Maybe that is why the #1 complaint in the real estate industry is lack of communication. In an occupation that requires communication, the #1 complaint is lack of it. I want my real estate agent to communicate with me in the method that I prefer [email,

text, phone call, Facebook, Twitter, smoke signal, Morse code etc.] whatever that is. I also want a regular schedule of check-ins — even if there is nothing to report. Keep me in the loop!

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

Full Time: Real estate is not a part-time job. My agent needs to be available when a potential buyer is. I don’t want to have to wait until my agent gets off his/her shift at Walgreen’s before [responding to] an offer on my home. This is where an agent with a team can be beneficial as they can cover for each other so I can get the service I deserve.

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

That offer of $400,000 on my $430,000 home may only equal a reduction of $900 for the agent’s commission but it equals a $30,000 reduction to me. If I’m buying with an agent and I’m interested in 4-bedroom, 2-bath homes, show them all to me, even the ones offering a reduced commission and the ones listed by an agent you don’t necessarily care for. Put my interests above your own. If my agent represents me, I want him/her to represent me. continued on page 46

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

Not surprisingly, though, the Great Recession curtailed many of the extravagances that buyers desired before things went south.

Homebuyers want different things from their homes today.

The watchword is “flexibility” — things such as rooms that serve multiple purposes and homes that can accommodate either “boomerang” children or aging parents.

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

“Where’s that space going to come from?” Baker says. Those people are realizing that in a smaller home, rooms can serve multiple functions.

David Barista, editor in chief of Professional Builder and Custom Builder magazines, calls these multipurpose areas “resource centers” — nooks that include a desk, printer, room for a laptop and even some cubbyholes for mail and bills. “You don’t need this huge den/office anymore,” he says.

“Most families are working off laptops or iPads.” Also hearing that demand, Pulte Group has been adding “planning centers” to its homes — spaces adjacent to the kitchen “that serve as the family command center of sorts,” Thomas says. “It’s a place where the kids can do their homework and be within earshot of the parents. They are great for family organization, paying bills.”

HOMES wITHIN HOMES EASy ACCESS Accessibility is big and likely only to get bigger, says Kermit Baker, chief economist of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

“It’s strictly an aging-related thing: Boomers are getting older, and parents of boomers are getting older.”

Baby boomers in particular are starting to think about what their homes need to look like if they’re going to stay in them as the years advance. That means single-story homes, homes with grab bars in the bathroom, fewer stairs and perhaps even wheelchair ramps. In the AIA’s most recent survey, almost half of the architects who responded said accessibility was a growing design priority.

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

THE ‘RESOURCE CENTER’ People want homes that are more flexible, more versatile. Rooms dedicated to one purpose are less popular now, according to the AIA survey. As homes shrank in the past few years, people asked,

Almost one-third of American adults today are “doubled up,” or living in the same household with another adult generation, the U.S. Census Bureau says. Those adults could be “boomerang” kids who have come back home to live after college, or aging parents who moved in with adult children.

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

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

Not just ‘green’ — really green Homebuilders have been edging toward greater energy efficiency in the past few years, with features such as compact fluorescent bulbs and Energy Star appliances.

But Barista sees an even bigger leap. Once the realm of “out there” rich people, “net zero energy homes” — houses that create as much energy as they consume — are going mainstream, he says. “The production builders (larger builders) are becoming masters at building homes that have really tight building envelopes” — that is, homes that don’t leak air where not intended, he says.

For several thousand dollars more, large builders are offering homes with solar panels that help power the house. That’s not only good for the environment, but it helps the homes stand out in the market. “I’ve heard of other big builders going in this direction, too,” Barista says. continued on page 48

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

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

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

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

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

The most obvious example is the way many new homes now have a continuous space and open sightline — a great room — that extends from kitchen to dining area to living area, says Brent Anderson, Vice President of Investor Relations for Meritage Homes.

That suits today’s more casual family, he says. “You can watch the football game while you’re cooking dinner.”

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

INFILL IS IN Finally, one shift doesn’t involve just what’s in homes but where homes are being built. There’s a real shift toward smaller-scale “infill” development projects within existing towns and cities — projects that emphasize affordability, access to public transportation, commercial opportunities and job centers, according to the AIA. “During the housing boom, builders were building where they could reach sufficient scale in their operations. So they needed big land parcels to produce the volume that they wanted to produce,” Baker says.

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

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UPMC Eas Eastt will ccelebrate elebrate its one-year one-year anniversary anniversary this summer summer.. Backed Backed by by the adv advanced anced ttechnology, echnology, resources, resources, and expertise UPMC Eastt pr provides expertise of UPMC, UPMC, the region’s region’s leading health ssystem, ystem, UP MC Eas ovides the eastern eastern communities communities with convenient convenient access access to services. to the region’s region’s finest finest physicians physicians and health servic es.

“The new, 156-bed, state-of-the-art facility was built with the patient experience in mind,” says UPMC East president Mark Sevco. A striking new facility, UPMC East was designed to transform the patient care experience. Private patient rooms equipped with SmartRoom® technology help optimize patient care and safety by tracking, monitoring, and documenting treatment.

UPMC East’s cutting-edge technology includes electronic medical records that help caregivers prioritize patient care and discharge, as well as ensure safety in administering medications.

UPMC East is also the first UPMC hospital to offer the convenience of comprehensive point-of-care bedside testing.

“We can deliver the results of many tests more efficiently, allowing the caregiver to receive results more quickly,” Mr. Sevco says. “We offer telemedicine technology that enables our physicians to have virtual consultations with UPMC specialists at other locations.”

And with more than 650 primary care and specialty physicians on staff, with offices throughout the region, UPMC is providing convenience to residents by bringing a variety of programs and services to the eastern suburbs.

The UPMC Surgery Center at Daugherty Drive in Monroeville has been in the community for years, offering same-day outpatient surgical procedures in a wide variety of subspecialties. UPMC Oxford Drive in Monroeville offers primary care, diagnostic imaging, orthopaedic and rehabilitation services, the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, the UPMC Sleep Medicine Centerr, UPMC Centers for Rehab Services, and additional multispecialty clinics.

In addition, comprehensive care for both women and children is provided at Children’s Express Care and Magee Womancare Centerr, and UPMC Urgent Care Monroeville offers express care for all ages.

“Without question, UPMC East will impress you with its beauty and thoughtful amenities. But what truly distinguishes us is the quality of care, provided by compassionate staff,” says Mr. Sevco. “UPMC East takes our commitment to the next level. Our connection to the additional services in the eastern suburbs helps provide area residents with the quality of care that people have come to expect from UPMC.” FFor or mor e information information about UP MC Eas t, visit UP MCEast.com. more UPMC East, UPMCEast.com.

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