Spend a day with Peters Township Library’s Pier Lee
WJPA Radio’s Dave Porco All About Pets Veterinary Hospital’s Dr. Sacksteder
MARCH / APRIL 2015 A FREE BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION
contents
MARCH / APRIL 2015
features
in every issue
day in thelife a
26 20
Dave Porco
Hang with the WJPA DJ.
12
Neighborhood favorites
Pier Lee
Spend a day with the Peters librarian.
30 Historical flashback 16 Dr. Michele Sacksteder
Find out how this wonder woman balances work and family.
2 SOUTH HILLS LIVING March / April 2015
6 From the editor 8 Calendar of events 10 Snapshots 28 Neighborhood spotlight
from the editor I katie green
A day in the life They say you can’t really know or understand someone until you walk a mile in their shoes – whoever “they” are. The theme of this issue sought to get to know some local personalities a little better. While we didn’t exactly walk a mile in their shoes, we did spend a day with them. Take our cover story on page 12, which takes you through a day in the life of Peters Township Public Library’s Pier Lee. Here’s a tip – if you are looking for Lee, don’t look in her office, because she probably isn’t there. Lee is the epitome of a hands-on leader – not only does she devote her work hours to helping patrons at the library and spearheading the library’s place in the community, but she’s helped transform Peters Township Public Library from a standard place of books and reference materials to a full-fledged modern multi-media center. We also spent a day with Dr. Michele Sacksteder, who owns All About Pets Veterinary Hospital in Canonsburg. The working mother of five – from 19 to almost 1 year old – has an energy that I can only hope to replicate. Seriously, I don’t know how she does everything that she does. Read the story on page 16 to see what I mean! Finally, it was actually a night spent with WJPA DJ Dave Porco, as opposed to a day. The Bethel Park resident works a day job so that he can fulfill his on-air passion at night. Read more on page 20. Something curious happened when I was seeking out photos for our Historical Flashback for this issue. Since it’s spring and love is in the air, I decided to go with “old” wedding photos. They were a lot harder to come by than I thought they would be. I reached out to a few friends in the area who had been married 40, 50, even more than 60 years – and they didn’t have any wedding pictures! The reasons were, interestingly, similar – they had eloped, their parents didn’t approve so the wedding was incredibly small, or the few photos that they did have had worn away with age. Perhaps that’s a good reason to keep things backed up on a hard drive, after all.
Published bi-monthly by Observer Publishing Company South Hills 2600 Boyce Road Plaza, Suite 142 Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 724.941.7725 Washington 122 S. Main Street Washington, PA 15301 724.222.2200 Greene County 32 Church Street Waynesburg, PA 15370 724.852.2602 PUBLISHER Thomas P. Northrop DIRECTOR OF NEWS Lucy Northrop Corwin EDITOR Katie Green ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Matt Miller CONTRIBUTORS Allison Duratz, Suzanne Elliott, Megan Wylie Ruffing, David Singer
On the cover
Until next time,
Katie Green Editor
Pier Lee, photographed at Peters Township Public Library by Megan Wylie Ruffing. 6 SOUTH HILLS LIVING March / April 2015
what’s happening I calendar of events 3.18-21 “West Side Story” Bethel Park High School Auditorium bpsd.org
3.19 Vienna Boy’s Choir Music for Mt. Lebanon Upper St. Clair High School Theatre 412.258.4815
3.27-29 2015 Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh, Downtown pghknitandcrochet.com
3.27-4.5 Spring Car Show The Galleria of Mt. Lebanon Mall 412.561.4000
3.27 Bella Sera Concert Series – Ruff Creek Bella Sera Event Venue bellaserapgh.com
4.10-12 “The Civil War” Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, Carnegie carnegiecarnegie.org
4.3 Bella Sera Concert Series – No Bad Juju Bella Sera Event Venue bellaserapgh.com
4.5 Easter Brunch Bella Sera Event Venue bellaserapgh.com
4.12 Fifth Annual Cookies4Chris Luncheon and Vendor Show South Hills Country Club chris4life.org
8 SOUTH HILLS LIVING March / April 2015
4.16 A Taste of Italy Wine Dinner Bella Sera Event Venue bellaserapgh.com
4.17-18 Washington County Auto Show Washington County Fairgrounds, Washington
4.17 Bella Sera Concert Series – Scott Blasey Bella Sera Event Venue bellaserapgh.com
4.24-5.9 “The Whale” off the WALL Theater, Carnegie insideoffthewall.com
4.24 CASA for Kids Annual Chefs for CASA Bella Sera Event Venue casaforchildren.org
5.7-17 ‘Next to Normal’ Stage 62 Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, Carnegie stage62.com
5.7 Pittsburgh Wine Festival VIP & Grand Tasting Heinz Field pittsburghwinefestival.com
5.8 ATHENA Awards Hilton Garden Inn, Southpointe washcochamber.com
5.10 Mother’s Day Brunch Bella Sera Event Venue bellaserapgh.com
5.15 33rd Annual Bishop’s Dinner Benefitting Catholic Charities Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh ccpgh.org
5.1-3 “Seussical the Musical” presented 5.18 National Kidney Foundation by Fort Couch Middle School Golf Classic Upper St. Clair High School Theatre uscsd.k12.pa.us
5.1 Bella Sera Concert Series – Bon Journey Bella Sera Event Venue bellaserapgh.com
5.1 Taste of the Township Benefitting Peters Township Public Library Valley Brook Country Club 724.941.9430
5.6-9 “Annie Get Your Gun” Mt. Lebanon High School Auditorium mtlsd.org
Valley Brook Country Club nkfgolfclassic.com
5.9 Mother’s Day Tea Trax Farms 412.835.3246
snapshots
Second Annual Dance-A-Thon
Washington County Restaurant Week Kick-Off
Fuggedaboutit Fundraising Event
Jeff and Michelle Kotula with their children, Mallie and Maeve, and former White House Executive Chef Walter Schieb at The Meadows Casino for the kick-off of the inaugural Washington County Restaurant Week. The event featured samples from local restaurants to celebrate the area’s expanding dining scene.
Kara Williams, Kim Gable and Kristi Hilbert at Bella Sera Event Venue for “Fuggedaboutit,” a “Sopranos” themed fundraising event whose proceeds will send a local veteran to Carrick Brain Center in Texas for much-needed treatment.
10 SOUTH HILLS LIVING March / April 2015
PHOTOS COURTESY SHELLY BELCHER, EMILY IMBLUM, KROL MEDIA
In January, students at Peters Township Middle School held their second annual Dance-A-Thon to raise money for the St. Jude Research Hospital. Students pledged to dance for five hours and held building-wide fundraisers throughout the month as they worked toward their goal of raising $12,000. In the end, their efforts paid off – the amazing event raised more than $18,000.
day in thelife a
THE LIBRARY’S LEADING LADY:
Pier Lee
BY SUZANNE ELLIOTT • PHOTOS BY MEGAN WYLIE RUFFING
On a crisp and sunny January morning, Pier Lee, the director of the Peters Township Public Library, is preparing for her day. A dedicated work ethic combined with boundless – and selfless – energy is typical for Lee, who has been the director of the Peters library for 40 years. Through the last four decades, Lee has overseen a continuum of changes at the library, long considered one of the area’s best, as well as been part of her field’s evolution from a book-based business to one that is increasingly reliant on technology and the Internet to meet patrons’ needs. Like everything she does in her life, Lee relishes change, a challenge and the idea of learning something new. For example, she is quick to point out the library’s new 3-D printer, or the videoconferencing equipment purchased through a Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Try It grant. Lee, a Bethel Park resident, was born in Shanghai, and raised in Hong Kong. She received her bachelor of arts degree from National Taiwan University and a master’s in library science from Vanderbilt University. Before coming to Pittsburgh, Lee was executive director at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, Va. She and her husband, William, who is retired, have three grown children. Lee initially wanted to be a teacher. But, she said she found herself working in a library during college and discovered she found her niche. “My job is rewarding when people use the library,” she says. Indeed. Lee says she has no daily routine and takes things in stride as they pop up. Here is a sampling of what it is like to follow her around on a random day because, as she says, no day is typical.
7 A.M. Lee says this is the time she usually gets out of bed. The next couple of hours are spent with her coffee – a must – and the newspaper. She then tries to go on a brisk walk on one of the Bethel Park trails. “It is good for my mind and body,” she says. “I like to walk outside when the weather permits.”
10 A.M. This is when Lee typically arrives at work. The library opens at 9 a.m., but Lee likes to begin her day once everything has been put in place. After arriving, Lee heads to her office to organize her day.
11 A.M. Lee is notorious for not spending much time in her second floor office, and today was no different.
March / April 2015 SOUTH HILLS LIVING 13
“I just saw her,” says the reference librarian, who is located on the second floor, near Lee’s office. “I think she went downstairs.” “I know I just saw her,” says a member of the library’s circulation staff, based on the first floor. “I thought I just heard her talking,” another staff member says. A few more twists and turns on the first floor finds Lee talking with Shannon Pauley, the youth services’ librarian in the children’s area, about a WQED Kickstarter campaign and how the library could benefit. As they are talking, Carrie Weaver, who heads public relations for the library, interrupts briefly to let Lee know there is a draft of the library’s annual report on top of her desk in her office. “Thank-you,” Lee says.
11:15 A.M. Lee is leading a library visitor to Story Time, where Linda Esposito, the children’s librarian, is reading a story – complete with crafts – for seven preschoolers. Lee stops to listen for a few minutes to see if everything is okay before she is off again on her continuous rounds of the library. “Good morning everyone,” Lee says as she walks across the library’s main entry way. She pauses to give a young child a hug and to watch a 4-year-old named Meghan play on a computer in the children’s area. “What you have done for the children has been wonderful,” says Marianne Gallagher of Peters, who is visiting the library with her granddaughter, Claire. “We love Mrs. Lee.”
11:30 A.M.-NOON Lee returns back to her office where she has a closed-door meeting with representatives from Fifth Third Bank, who are interested in hosting a seminar at the library. Lee says she tries to meet with these people on an individual basis before committing herself to anything. Because the library has developed a stellar reputation for its programming, Lee says she wants to make sure any event held at the library will benefit its intended audience. “It makes me real proud when people come in and tell me that we have good programs here,” she says. “I don’t like wasting people’s time.”
NOON-12:30 P.M. Following the meeting with the Fifth Third Bank representatives, Lee is on the move again. This time, she wants to show a visitor where a writer’s workshop was being held. A hand-
ful of people are just finishing up a Skype meeting on the second floor with a fellow writer in Florida. Lee stops to chat with Tom Atkins, a local actor who has appeared in such movies as “Lethal Weapon” and “Striking Distance.” Atkins, also known for his role as Art Rooney in the play, “The Chief,” was a participant in that workshop. “It was a good meeting,” Atkins says to Lee.
12:45 P.M.-2 P.M. Lunch, which today is at Sesame Inn in McMurray.
2:00 P.M.-4:30 P.M. After returning from lunch, Lee stops in to visit with various staff members to find out how things are progressing. Once she receives assurances that things are okay, she stops in to check on how the library’s homeschoolers are doing. The next stop on her rounds is to see how the Wednesday ping pong players are doing. Each Wednesday from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m., the library hosts ping pong games for its patrons.
Lee continues her rounds, talking to patrons to get their input on what they would like to see and have at the library.
5-6 P.M. Depending on what the library has scheduled on a particular day, this is when Lee says she returns to her office to check and return emails and telephone calls. This is also the time she begins organizing and thinking about the next day. Before leaving for the day, Lee makes her final round of the library. “I like to see if things are in order. I guess you can call me the Inspector,” she laughs.
7-11 P.M. Lee says she sometimes will make dinner. Or, she and her husband will go out to dinner. “We like to mix it up,” she says. The hours after dinner are spent watching television, reading or catching up on her emails, which come at all hours. “I am here to serve the patrons,” she says. n
See Pier Lee at the Peters Township Public Library’s Taste of the Township fundraiser, May 1 at Valley Brook Country Club. For tickets and more information, call 724.941.9430. 14 SOUTH HILLS LIVING March / April 2015
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day in thelife a
WONDER WOMAN:
Dr. Michele Sacksteder Growing up on a farm in Ft. Recovery, Ohio, Michele Sacksteder rescued and raised baby animals with her sister. They ministered to birds and bunnies, turtles and frogs, snakes and bugs. While those experiences laid the foundation for a career in veterinary medicine, Sacksteder had a momentary lapse of reason. Blame it on mock trial. She served as a successful prosecuting attorney on her high school team. In fact, she earned a full-ride to Capital University, a prominent law school in Columbus. But, the day before she was to begin her undergraduate studies, Sacksteder did a complete 180 and instead chose to pursue her dream. Today, she finds herself the successful owner and operator of All About Pets, a veterinary hospital in Canonsburg. “I wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as I can remember,” Sacksteder, 39, says, “but the whole (mock trial) experience was amazing. It made me feel powerful and confident. At the time, it felt like the perfect fit.” That was the only time Sacksteder remembers wavering. “I have felt so thankful (almost) every day since. There is no doubt in my mind that I was meant for the veterinary profession.” Sacksteder graduated from Ohio State University in June of 2001, and began her veterinary career just one month later. Soon, her spirit was crushed by a practice that was poorly managed and offered little mentorship. “I had big aspirations and even bigger ideals,” Sacksteder says. After seven frustrating years, she left with misgivings. “I felt like I was abandoning my clients, my patients. It was the hardest decision I have made in my life, but I felt like I had so much more to offer.” Though scary, Sacksteder said the leap to ownership was “remarkably easy.” She was able to hand-pick her employees, including her husband, Jon Witmer, who was a stay-at-home father for several years. “He fit perfectly as office manager.” All About Pets promotes preventative health-
BY ALLISON DURATZ 16 SOUTH HILLS LIVING March / April 2015
• PHOTOS BY MEGAN WYLIE RUFFING
care. It is something the Venetia resident feels passionately about. “I spend a good amount of my day diligently working to keep pets healthy. It’s hard to believe I started out with such a false notion of veterinary medicine only curing ailments,” says Sacksteder. “It’s an amazing field to be in … ever changing, ever improving.” Like others in the medical field, Sacksteder must find time to stay up-to-date on treatments, diagnostics and disease conditions, which she does by attending lectures, or reading in the car while traveling. Similar to the challenges she faces at work, her home life is on a tight schedule. She and Jon have five children: Keenan, 19, who will be majoring in chemical engineering at Sacksteder’s alma mater in the fall; Mackenzie, 7, Kylee, 5, Alyse, 3, and Vallann, who will turn 1 in April. The family also includes two dogs: Rogue, a rottweiler, and Kendall, a golden/Bernese mountain dog mix, and four cats: Soren, Brin, Max and Chloe. With a houseful of kids, animals and a practice to run, it is imperative that Sacksteder and her husband discuss logistics. “I am a perfectionist. In my mind it’s unattainable, yet I continually strive for it. I am guiltridden most days because I can never do enough, be enough.” Somehow, she says, it all works out. “I was blessed with the ability to move on quickly. I don’t dwell too much on the past so each day is a new opportunity to succeed,” she says. “Life has a way of forever pushing you forward. You put one foot in front of the other.” She avoids looking at the big picture and instead focuses on one obstacle at a time. “I am the most happy when I am the busiest, because then I am accomplishing the most. I enjoy the challenges that every new day brings.”
“I spend a good amount of my day diligently working to keep pets healthy.” – Dr. Michele Sacksteder
5 A.M. Sacksteder wakes up and squeezes in a workout. Typically a combination of 30-60 minute walks/runs in the woods with her dogs and workout videos like “Insanity.” “I feel happier and healthier when I am working out. It’s a great mental exercise for me and the dogs.”
7 A.M. Pouring a coveted glass of chocolate milk (her only breakfast), this nursing mother is now ready to pump. Occasionally, one of the girls will get up early and come downstairs. “These quiet moments with them are so special. I get them breakfast, let them eat and just listen to them chatter on while I am pumping.” She then washes and sterilizes the pump parts and prepares Vallann’s bottles.
7:30 A.M. While Jon is getting the girls ready for school – “All four of them, bless his heart!” – Sacksteder heads to the bathroom to blow dry and style her hair, and dress.
8 A.M.
Dr. Sacksteder with four of her five children, from left: Mackenzie, Alyse, Kylee and Keenan. The family took Sacksteder’s mother to West Virginia to check off an item on her bucket list – an aerobatic thrill ride.
The goal is to be out of the house by 8 a.m. “Lately, I’ve been trying to leave by 7:45, because my staff wants me at work earlier. Inevitably as I am leaving, one of my children guilts me into doing something: March / April 2015 SOUTH HILLS LIVING 17
brushing hair, brushing teeth, helping pick out clothes, looking at artwork. So then I leave by 8:10. Ah well!” Two to three days each week, Sacksteder drops Rogue and Kendall off at doggie daycare. “It helps ease my conscious for never walking them and they love going.” That stop sets her back about 15 minutes. The morning commute is spent talking on the phone with her mother. It is a routine she began many years ago at the advice of a friend. “Every morning, I talk to her and every morning she asks, ‘running behind again?’ Two years ago my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer and I am so grateful to my friend for giving me all those precious minutes with my mom.”
Veterinary technician Nicole McKinney assists Dr. Sacksteder with a ferret she was treating for a rectal prolapse.
8:30 A.M. Sacksteder defines a successful morning as one in which she arrives at work before her staff exits the exam room of her first appointment of the day. Appointments are scheduled every 20-30 minutes until 10:30 a.m. On this day, she is attending to a ferret with rectal prolapse. Sacksteder, who was powering through a migraine with a smile on her face, also caters to exotics, but only for pet stores. After she finishes stitching up the ferret, it’s time to examine a Great Dane whom she suspects has Wobbler’s, a progressive disease of the spine most commonly seen in this breed and dobermans. After examining the well-behaved, larger-than-life canine, Sacksteder offers to contact Ohio University for the owners to try to get the dog in to a free study. It will save the couple a lot of money, something Sacksteder strives to do for her patients whenever she can.
10:30 A.M. Sacksteder is ready for surgery on a golden lab to remove a tumor. She has called in a traveling dentist to perform dental work on the dog while it is under anesthesia. However, before doing so, she performs a less favorable part of the job – euthanizing a 16-year-old shepherd/chow mix.
12:15 P.M. After surgery, Sacksteder squeezes in lunch. While it’s rare, the staff will sit down to lunch together if everything is running on time. Most days, however, Sacksteder is working through lunch.
1 P.M. Appointments resume and continue to 5 p.m.-ish. “There’s a big emphasis on ‘ish,’” Sacksteader says as she washes her hands for the millionth time today. “My hands are always dry and cracked. In this job you can’t lotion; you’ll end up with furry mitts,” she jokes. Between appointments, Sacksteder scrambles to find time to read and respond to call logs, interpret bloodwork results and chart her physical exam findings of the patients she examined throughout the day – all while dealing with constant interruptions. “One of the challenges is trying to focus on a difficult case, running through all the possible diagnosis, tests to perform, what you’ve missed … all the while having people interrupt your thoughts. Most days, I truly love the challenge.” Most rewarding are the times she is able to make a difference in the lives of her patients. “Many times you treat disease symptoms and patients get better faster than they would have without you, but what keeps me coming back are those patients that would have died without my care … especially the really challenging ones, the ones you invest your heart and soul in.” Sacksteder gets excited when she sees a second or third opinion on the schedule. “I want to be the one who 18 SOUTH HILLS LIVING March / April 2015
figures it out when others haven’t been able to.” The words “It’s just a dog or cat” are agonizing to Sacksteder, who gets attached to all of her patients. “I don’t even want to go into those rooms. I love what I do, so to have someone ask me to be sub-par or to do a poor job, I can’t stand that.” It is the most difficult aspect of her job. “I would much prefer the owner that loves their pet and is willing to do anything, but has limited financial means. Helping that pet with limited resources, how to best use that owner’s money – I can handle that so much easier than the owner who doesn’t care.” That is the reason Sacksteder created a Good Samaritan account, which is used for special cases, to defray the cost of medical care. Sadly, she must be selective. “There’s just not enough to go around. The hardest thing is ending an animals’ life because an owner is either unwilling or unable to provide care due to finances.”
5:30 P.M. In order to pick up her children from daycare, both human and canine, Sacksteder must leave work between 5:30-5:45. Evening schedules are planned out in advance. “The kids have activities, and my husband takes care of most of the running.” Mackenzie has karate, voice, piano lessons and Girl Scouts. Kylee takes dance lessons. Sacksteder describes the days Mackenzie’s and Kylee’s schedules coincide as “hairy.” Witmer picks Kylee up from daycare and drops
her at dance. He then meets Sacksteder at daycare to deliver Mackenzie and the two rush off to Girl Scouts. Sacksteder is the leader of her daughter’s Troop, which meets at 6 p.m. two Mondays a month. Witmer picks up the rest of the children then heads back to dance to grab Kylee. From there, he and the kids head home. Sacksteder is thankful for her husband, who manages the shopping and running around. “I barely keep my head above water with the laundry and cleaning the house!”
7 P.M. Once home, Sacksteder says it’s a rush of dinner, baths and bed. “We read to the girls most nights, and now that Mackenzie is reading very well, she has taken over some of the duty.” Sacksteder enjoys sitting back and watching the girls interact. Once the children are asleep, it is time to clean. While getting the kitchen back in order, Sacksteder switches on her Roombas – “the best gifts from my husband yet!” and watches as the crumbs, dirt and hair that come from a house-full of children and pets are magically swept away.
11 P.M. After pumping one last time, the couple is off to bed. “I have come to really appreciate being horizontal,” Sacksteder quips. n
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day in thelife a
DOUBLE DUTIES OF A NIGHTIME JOCK:
Dave Porco TEXT AND PHOTOS BY DAVID SINGER
20 SOUTH HILLS LIVING March / April 2015
In the era of Facebook and Twitter, anyone can pester or outright harass you. In the past golden age of radio, an understandable feeling of paranoia that callers would do more than request songs had disc jockeys changing their real-names into clever or coy aliases. Dominicks, Tonys and other Sting-like single monikers dominated the airwaves through the early ’90s. For a small-town radio station like WJPA in Washington, a fake name needs some more approach. Dave Anthony – real name Dave Porco – isn’t shy about sharing his true identity now, because he stays off of aforementioned social media. “As you might imagine, Porco wasn’t exactly the best of last names to have as a kid growing up,” he says, “and I get enough of traditional and old school media that I don’t need to be online.” Old school indeed, at least when talking about technology at WJPA. The dusty turntables were only recently cleaned off for the start of a new “Vinyl Countdown” show on Sundays, but carts – bulky, magnetic strip cassettes – are still used to play news soundbytes and back-up commercials for the station. You might know them as 8-track tapes. Though, all music is still played on that newfangled device known as a compact disc player. And obviously old school to any listener is the music catalogue. WJPA is an oldies station. Porco takes the day-part DJs’ penchant for playing the hits, and throws in deep cuts alongside them. “The format lends itself to your ’60s and ’70s hit-makers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fleetwood Mac, but at night, I like to play things people haven’t heard in a while or at all,” he says. It’s a night job that Porco has been doing for 12 years. “I remember it exactly, because it was right after they caught Saddam Hussein in (December) 2003,” he says. The unofficial show title he now uses came from a listener.
Porco watches the evening news perchance there’s an entertaining tidbit to share with his driving audience.
“It was four years ago. He called in during what’s now my Saturday ‘In the Basement’ show, and said, ‘Man, you’ve got the coolest show on the radio.’ How could I argue with that?” As for truly deep cuts and gritty album rock, the Saturday Basement Show from 9-11 p.m. is where you’ll find Porco really digging out treasures. “It’s a party show, but you’ll also get the long cut of “InA-Gadda-Da-Vida” just because. It’s stream of consciousness, whatever I’m feeling plus those requests.” Here’s a typical weekday for a night jock that has a day job.
5 A.M. The early hour calls for some sort of jolt to Porco’s system. Unless it’s bitterly cold, you won’t find a bitter brew in his hands. “I’ve just never been a coffee guy,” the 54-year-old Bethel Park resident says. “I know the value of a double espresso if it’s really frigid out, but I can count the number of times I have coffee in a year on one hand.” So, his go-to caffeine comes in the form of cola or Diet Mountain Dew. “That and some oatmeal and maybe another granola bar. Two granola bars instead of the hot oats if it’s summer,” he says. Talking about food is part of Porco’s day job.
6:45 A.M. After making sure his wife gets to work at a local hospital,
Porco arrives at his Acosta office in Robinson, where he’s been a food and product brokerage manager for nearly six years. He’s still a full 12 hours away from cracking that mic.
10 A.M. By mid morning, Porco is in stride sending out calls to new potential clients and keeping in touch with sales and shipment teams in the field. Keeping his clients’ products in prominent display areas in grocery stores is the name of the game. Campbell’s and Coca-Cola are big clients. “You don’t want a situation we had a few years back. We had a planeload of clients coming in to check in on how Giant Eagle displays were going. Well, someone forgot to hit a button or something and there was no stock of that product anywhere on their shelves,” he says. So it was scramble mode. Though it doesn’t happen often, Porco said it makes for a stressful lesson in logistics: getting somewhere you didn’t think you needed to be at a time you can’t get there.
4 P.M. Time to head home to get ready for the show. Dave has to get back home and change out of work attire and into his usual black, longsleeved T-shirt.
March / April 2015 SOUTH HILLS LIVING 21
Porco peruses a vast oldies library, but also brings in his own collection each night.
7 P.M. “Hey! It’s Dave Anthony! It’s a Thursday edition of the coolest show on the radio,” an excited voice says from a cardoor speaker.
“I’ve been conditioned as both a listener and a jock, no matter how much you like a song, or how much you hate it, you gotta play it if it’s a hit. You gotta play it.” – Dave Porco
7:10 P.M. Porco finishes reading the daily lottery numbers, his excitement not waning from his opening, as he regales the numbers with vocal dynamics that would have auctioneers taking notes. “Sit right there, hitting the jukebox for the ladies, next,” Dave says, his voice slowing to self-aware schmaltz. When Dave cracks open the mic for his “air checks” as they’re called in the business, he starts off fast and strong then slows to a lethargic crawl, his tone now meek and doubtful, as if he doesn’t even believe what he’s saying. It’s a style that’s immediately familiar and charming even if hearing him for the first time. The only other thing he cracks besides jokes and the microphone on a weekday night is a can of coke. “It’s like therapy for me when I get here,” he says behind the control board. “They pay me for the therapy, so I have that going for me,” he jokes, “and I try to dish out some free therapy while I’m here. I try to have fun.”
9 P.M. Call-in requests are dwindling, and Porco seems poised to start digging into B-sides and deep cuts. He’s practicing a sort of musical education on his audience, much akin to a popular syndicated DJ by name of Steven Van Zandt, found-
22 SOUTH HILLS LIVING March / April 2015
ing guitarist of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, actor and host of “Little Steven’s Underground Garage.” In Porco’s case, it’s blending the contemporary with the classic. “Take the Noisettes, a British three-piece band. Some of their stuff sounds like British Invasion stuff straight out of the ’60s. The Breakers, from Norway, again, sound like they’re R&B players from another era, so I play them,” he says, as the intro to the Shirelles’ 1963 hit “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” cascades over the room. Porco says he thanks management and ownership for allowing and encouraging the musical charades games he plays with listeners. Though, listeners are part of the reason Porco insists on his partial anonymity. “You get the guy calling in late Saturday for the Patsy Cline tune for the 10th time, but you deal. Most callers just want to know what a song was or to make a request and chat with you for a minute,” he says. Some requests Porco will turn away, but he wouldn’t go on record as for favorites or tunes he loathes. “I’ve been conditioned as both a listener and a jock, no matter how much you like a song, or how much you hate it, you gotta play it if it’s a hit. You gotta play it.”
9:56 P.M. It’s almost time to hang up the headphones, but Dave isn’t done yet. He still has to tell his bedtime story. He teases a humorous news story and tries to follow it with a suitable tune. “There was this one story that worked almost too perfectly with the song without me realizing it. I read off this story about this guy sawing off his foot to avoid work. And, well, I just played ‘Footloose.’” n
Your Art. Our Frames. Perfection! 3339 Washington Road • McMurray, PA 15317 Rt. 19 South in Ace Plaza 724-941-5001 • www.loisguinngallery.com
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Gretchen Means
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The Romanias Group
724-941-3000 Ext. 77 412-370-3447 stacyromanias@thepreferredrealty.com
Lisa Scott
724-222-6040 Ext. 218 724-255-3421 lscott@howardhanna.com “A home is where your story begins”
Barry Crumrine & Jamie Nicholls Team 724-229-SOLD 412-997-6531 724-809-9973
Lisa Conklin
724-222-6040 Ext. 231 412-217-1177 lisaconklin@howardhanna.com “Relax. I’ll Get You Home”
Mary Ketchum
412-561-7400 Ext. 272 412-445-0819 mketchum@howardhanna.com
Jean Watson
724-222-6040 Ext. 210 412-759-8826 jeanwatson@howardhanna.com “Your Guide For Homes & Careers”
Community Real Estate
Linda Ward
724-222-5500 Ext. 303 412-217-7514 lmward@kw.com
Monica Mikolay
724-222-6040 Ext. 213 724-322-6513 monicamikolay@howardhanna.com “You’ll Be Sold”
Julie Graham
724-229-SOLD 724-350-5543 agentjag@hotmail.com “Selling Washington County by the Yard”
Agents, for all your advertising needs contact Nate Wagers 724-222-2200 ext. 2499
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
724-228-7335
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neighborhood I favorites SPRING VEGETABLE POTATO SALAD BY CHEF CRYSTAL BALDWIN PHOTOS BY MEGAN WYLIE RUFFING INGREDIENTS: 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon Market District White Balsamic Vinegar 1/4 cup Market District Tuscan Herb Olive Oil 1 lb. small Yukon gold potatoes 1 lb. asparagus, cut in 2-inch sections 2 cups leeks, sliced 1-inch thick 2 tablespoons chives, snipped Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, whisk the mustard with
the vinegar. Whisk in the oil in a thin stream and season with salt and pepper.
2. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add
the potatoes and cook for 20 minutes or until fork tender. Remove the potatoes and quarter them; add to the bowl.
3. Cook the asparagus and leeks in the
salted water for 5 minutes. Drain and pat dry; add to the vinaigrette.
4.
Add the chives, season with salt and pepper and mix the salad. Serve warm.
Chef Crystal Baldwin
GIANT EAGLE MARKET DISTRICT marketdistrict.com 26 SOUTH HILLS LIVING March / April 2015
neighborhood I favorites Traditional and Modern Italian Food Private Event Rooms for Up to 65 – Birthdays, Business Meetings, Anniversaries, Bereavements Off Premise Catering – Weddings, Corporate, Picnic, Fundraising Events 18 flavors of Homemade Gelato (Italian ice cream) 2109 North Franklin Drive, Washington, PA 15301 724.222.7120 • www.angelosrestaurant.com Hours: Monday - Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. • Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
A New York style bistro in the heart of Mt. Lebanon. A casual, elegant spot featuring executive chef Jessica Bauer’s creative new American menu, using the freshest locally grown seasonal ingredients. Open lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Gift certificates available. 711 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon • 412.306.1919 • www.bistro19.com
10AM - 2PM
LA GOURMANDINE, A true taste of France in the heart of Pittsburgh France is known for many things, but most of all for its food. In French, “Gourmand’ means someone who likes to eat. LA GOURMANDINE offers the elegance and true ambiance of a French Bakery. Each dessert, pastry and loaf of bread is hand-crafted and baked onsite everyday. And the use of butter is no sacrilege! 300 Cochran Road, Mt. Lebanon www.lagourmandinebakery.com • 412.200.7969 Tuesday - Friday 7am - 5pm • Saturday 9am - 4:30pm • Sunday 9am - 2:30pm
The chic sophistication of the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Southpointe guarantees a first class wedding. The ballroom and outdoor garden are the perfect settings to express your creativity and originality. Every detail of your wedding will be considered and every expectation exceeded at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Southpointe 1000 Corporate Drive, Canonsburg, PA 15317 • 724.743.5000 www.pittsburghsouthpointe.stayhgi.com
The SpringHouse SpringHouse Country Store, Creamery and Eatery opened in 1975 on the Minor family’s real working dairy farm in 84 PA. Over the years, the business has grown to include a buffet style restaurant and Sun Porch In our old-fashioned country store you can enjoy the yummiest family-recipe meals, goodies in our from-scratch bakery, a smokehouse for old-fashioned hickory smoked hams, classy catering, ice cream concoctions galore, and of course farm fresh milk and famous rich chocolate milk. Come on out to the farm for a step back in time with old-fashioned food and fun. 1531 Rt 136 Washington PA, 24-228-3339, www.springhousemarket.com. Monday - Saturday 9am - 9pm; Sunday Noon - 9pm. 7 Let us share a little of our farm with you!
The Walnut Grill is a fresh, casually unique dining experience fit for the entire family. We offer a diverse, Chef driven menu in a very comfortable and inviting environment. We have a traditional dining room, a large, comfortable bar with multiple large, flat screen TVs and private dining facilities for your party and event needs. We are open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner and offer a Sunday Buffet Brunch from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Mt. Lebanon, 660 Washington Road, 412.668.0951 Bridgeville, 1595 Washington Pike, 412.564.5746 www.eatwalnut.com Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m. to midnight Fri. and Sat.: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
To appear on this page contact your advertising consultant. 724.942.1517
neighborhood I spotlight
Peters Township
Brush Run Pet Styling
Named one of the safest communities in Pennsylvania, Peters Township boasts a population of almost 23,000. Route 19 might be the main drag, but wander off the beaten path for some truly unique, hidden gems. TEXT AND PHOTOS BY DAVID SINGER
Antoine Nassar was sort of disappointed I ordered a chicken gyro for lunch along with a side of hummus at CEDAR’S MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE. “There’s so much more!” The chef/owner/dishwasher/everything-man wanted to show off a bit of his flair for cooking kabobs and other traditional Lebanese food. Nassar and his wife, Rena, are the entire two-person operation at 4071 Washington Road: he cooks and does everything in the kitchen while she takes customers’ orders. “Everything is made fresh daily. You saw me chopping up all that parsley for the tabouli. If that’s not used today, it’s thrown out. You have to have fresh ingredients to get the authentic taste,” he says. Nassar, a former cards dealer at various casinos, said it was indeed a gamble to open up in the midst of so many eateries. Yet Cedar’s is coming up on its four-year anniversary, and Nassar attributes the restaurant’s success to a dedicated customer base. The restaurant enjoys a nearperfect rating on Urbanspoon with reviewers saying “they have excellent baba and tabouli. Lunch specials are only $7.95 and they are worth it. Never disappointed!” IT’S NEW TO ME CONSIGNMENT store at 522 Valley Brook Road is one of three area gallery locations that Elaine Fitzgerald has been using for nearly 11 years to show furniture, lighting, rugs, paintings, china and all sorts of knick-knacks. “I worked as a buyer for Kaufmann’s for about 18 years, and when I left, I really wanted a quality consignment store to go to. So I opened them,” she says. Fitzgerald’s longevity can be attributed to her customers-first attitude. “With our sellers, they know they’re getting paid as soon as possible. Every 10th of the month, those checks go out.” For buyers, they can peruse an expansive showroom of quality brands such as Drexel, Henredon, Heckman, Ethan Allen and Thomasville. “People always come looking for pairs of chairs. So we’ve got them, but we’re always looking for them as well.” Celebrating 20 years of quality grooming, BRUSH RUN PET STYLING owner Debbie Regan knows clients love the easy drop-off location at 450 Valley Brook Road. “People will drop in for just 20 minutes to get their dogs’ nails trimmed up,” she says, “and for grooming, our earliest drop-off is 8 a.m. They’re here for 3-4 hours.” The thorough grooming ends with a medical once28 SOUTH HILLS LIVING March / April 2015
over. “We check their feet, their ears, teeth – just making sure everything is doing alright.” And if something is noticed, they’re easily referred next door to BRUSH RUN VETERINARY CLINIC. The two businesses share a symbiotic relationship of catching pets’ illnesses and injuries, but most customers to each have been going from word-of-mouth referrals. Regan said her staff easily handles and cleans more contemporary breeds such as goldendoodles and labradoodles, and provides breed-specific cuts to traditional and pure-bred animals. In addition to the surrealist Pittsburgh landscapes for sale from nationally-acclaimed local artist Johno Prascak, there are a multitude of art, picture and framing services and products at LOUIS GUINN FRAMING located at 3399 Washington Road. “Photo restoration is a unique service we offer for ripped, damaged or faded photos,” said owner Carrie Hutsko, “We can take that photo, scan it, and digitally restore it to its original luster. We can piece together a nearly-destroyed antique photo and print out a new one.” Also offered on-site is expansive photo alteration to make still shots look like paintings, comic book panels or even Warhol-style pop art. Framing 3-D figurines and sports memorabilia is also big with customers. “Framing pictures and objects are 90 percent of our business. We do custom-made acrylic cases for models, jerseys and keepsakes, and we can do it same-day in emergencies.” Named the top local go-to destination by KDKA-TV, FIRED UP, at 4151 Washington Road, is a place for kids, date nights and BYOB get-togethers to relax and paint your own custom pottery. “People come here to create a memory, or maybe forget reality for a while,” says owner Debra Bracco. Celebrating her third year, Bracco offers specific glass art classes and myriad chances to find the perfect take-home collectable. “We have beer steins, coffee mugs, wine glasses, plates, traditional canvases, ninja turtles – it really runs the gamut.” For spring, Bracco will offer fused-glass chick plate classes in addition to ceramic Easter egg painting. “You don’t have to have an ounce of creativity. We impart the ability on you so you can create something tremendous.” n
Lois Guinn Framing
It’s New To Me
Fired Up
Cedar’s
neighborhood I spotlight
PETERS TOWNSHIP It’s New to Me
CONSIGNMENT Furniture, Accessories & More! South - 522 Valleybrook Rd, Peters
724-942-1921
North - 339 Rochester Rd, Ross 15237
724-935-1921
Tues. - Sat.: 10-5 • Sun.: 1-4
ru
n Pet Sty lin Call for appointment
Ru h s
724-942-6352 Quality Pet Grooming
g
B
ItsNewToMeConsignments.com
450 Valley Brook Rd. McMurray, Pa 15317
distinctive. dramatic. distinguished.
ARABESQUE A P P A R E L D E SI G N E D F O R W O M E N
3204 Washington Road McMurray 724-941-5266
historical FLASHBACK
‘I do’ Fashions, hairstyles and even the way we celebrate weddings have changed drastically over the years. But, there is one constant – the love that brought these couples together in the first place.
1
3
30 SOUTH HILLS LIVING March / April 2015
2
4
1. Donna and Nick Nardine of Peters Township on their wedding day in August 1974. 2. Nancy and John Gilmore of Collier on their wedding day, May 3, 1996. 3. Susan and Edward Vodzak of Bethel Park on their wedding day, April 2, 1977. 4. Almanac circulation director Judi Smith with her father, James Simmons, on her wedding day, Nov. 20, 1979.
AUTO DEALERS DIRECTORY ARNOLD MOTOR COMPANY Home of Guaranted Credit
BORTZ SUBARU CHEVROLET I CADILLAC
Robert S. Arnold III, Manager 122 N. Main Street, Houston, PA 724.745.2800 arnoldpontiacgmc.com
Richard Bortz, Jr., Owner 249 E. Roy Furman Hwy., Waynesburg, PA 724.627.6171 bortzauto.net
BOWSER CADILLAC
FIKE CHEVROLET I JEEP
2670 Washington Road, McMurray, PA
Dave Plaski, New Car Manager 213 North Main Street, Masontown, PA 1.800.464.0305 fikechevrolet.com
724.745.7400 bowsercadillac.com
PREMIERE AUTO SALES PRE-OWNED VEHICLES 667 East Maiden Street, Washington, PA 724.223.0600 premiereauto.com
SOUTH HILLS LINCOLN Jeff Innes, New Car Manager Route19, McMurray, PA 724.941.1600 southhillslincoln.com
THREE RIVERS VOLKSWAGEN John Bauer, General Manager 3694 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 724.941.6100 3riversvw.com
BUDD BAER BUICK GMC I MAZDA I SUBARU
Mark Baer, Owner 71 Murtland Avenue, Washington, PA 724.222.0700 buddbaer.com
BILL GRAY VOLVO 2897 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 724.949.1555 billgrayvolvo.com
SOLOMON CHRYSLER I DODGE I JEEP Brownsville 724.785.8000 Carmichaels 724.966.2600
SOLOMON FORD
Brownsville 724.785.5500 solomonauto.com
STAR LAKE FORD
SOUTH HILLS AUDI 453 Race Track Road Washington, PA 15301 724.229.9000 southhillsaudi.com
SUN CHEVROLET
1212 Main Street, Burgettstown, PA 724.947.3381 starlakeford.com
Roch Curinga, General Manager Washington Road, McMurray, PA 724.941.5160 sunfamilyauto.com
TOMSIC MOTORS
TREGEMBO MOTORS
SALES & SERVICE
PRE-OWNED VEHICLES
Frank Valencic, Owner 150 Racetrack Road, Washington, PA 724.228.1330 tomsicmotor.com
Barry Tregembo, Owner I-70, Exit 32B, Bentleyville, PA 724.239.2200 tregembomotors.com
WASHINGTON CHEVROLET
WASHINGTON HONDA
Intersection of Rt. 19, I-79 & I-70, Exit 19A Washington, PA 724.222.2800 washingtonchevy.com
Rt. 19, Strabane Square Washington, PA 724.222.2213 washingtonpahonda.com
WARNE MOTORS PRE-OWNED VEHICLES John Warne, Owner 100 East Pike Street, Canonsburg, PA 724.745.5956 johnwarnemotors.com
WYSOCKI, INC WASHINGTON HYUNDAI Rt. 19, Strabane Square Washington, PA 724.222.2213 washingtonpahyundai.com
PRE-OWNED VEHICLES
WASHINGTON TOYOTA I SCION Rt. 19, Strabane Square, Washington, PA 724.222.2213 washingtonpatoyota.com washingtoscion.com
2070 Smith Township State Road Burgettstown, PA 15021 724.947.9720 wysockiinchasyourcar.com
If you are interested in advertising on this directory, please contact Mauriann Curtis at 724.222.2200, ext. 2504