NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
ZONE 2
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
@SHillsAlmanac
Our 47th Year
October 24, 2012
www.thealmanac.net
Raja, Smith square off in Senate race ByTerriT. Johnson Almanac staff writer tjohnson@thealmanac.net
PATRICIA VAN HORN / STAFF
Vibrant color The trees surrounding Canonsburg Lake display their crimson and golden leaves. Many of the trees in the area have reached their peak colors.
When state Sen. John Pippy, R-Moon Township, announced he would not seek reelection in the 37th Senatorial District, the vacancy created a rush of candidates on the Republican side. No candidate filed on the Democratic ticket in the primary election. When the votes were counted, former Mt. Lebanon Commissioner D. Raja came out on top and was presumed to be the winner in the November election.That was until a write-in candidate dropped out and current state Rep. Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, announced he would run for the office on the Democratic ticket. Smith is also seeking re-
D. Raja
Matt Smith
election in the 42nd Legislative District, a seat he currently holds. The campaign between Raja, 47, and Smith, 40, has been contentious with Raja hurling barbs at Smith focusing on Smith’s record in the state House. Smith counters with data contending Raja outsources jobs and failed to pay his employees minimum wage. Raja claims to have the support of Democrats and SEE RACE PAGE A5
PT to seek Breast Cancer Awareness Month outside help St. Clair Hospital opens breast care center in Bethel Park in search Billie Whitfield-Vardu cleans a mammography machine in anticipation of the next patient at the new St. Clair Hospital Breast Care Center that opened Oct. 15.The center is on the third floor of 2000 Oxford Drive in Bethel Park.
By Terri T. Johnson
Almanac staff writer tjohnson@thealmanac.net
By Terri T. Johnson Almanac staff writer tjohnson@thealmanac.net
Even though the Oct. 22 personnel committee meeting of the Peters Township School Board to discuss plans to hire a new superintendent was initially scheduled as a closed meeting, the board changed to an open meeting and permitted the public to attend. In the one-hour meeting, the district decided to solicit interest from outside firms to assist in the search for a new superintendent. Current superintendent, Nina Zetty, accepted an offer from the Gateway School District with Nov. 30 being her last day in Peters Township. Immediately after accepting Zetty’s resignation Oct. 15, the board appointed Joseph Dimperio to assume the role as SEE SEARCH PAGE A4
No matter at what age or medical history, waiting to have a mammogram is unnerving and for some, downright frightening. In an effort to make the experience as pleasant as possible, the newly opened St. Clair Hospital Breast Care Center in Bethel Park is designed in such a way as to provide the patient with a spa-like atmosphere where the staff is dedicated to focus solely on the woman who is there for a simple mammogram—or for a more complex follow-up procedure. The center on the third floor of 2000 Oxford Drive began to receive patients Oct. 15, and is fitting as October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Patsy Thompson is breast care center director Raye J. Budway’s nurse and is quick to point out the
TERRI T. JOHNSON/STAFF
❑ EVENTS HELP RAISE
awareness for breast cancer. PAGE A6 patient comes first. The new center is a 6,000square-foot area that gives patients their privacy with dressing rooms with individual lockers, three mammography rooms—all digital—two ultrasound rooms, three private examination rooms, two mammography reading rooms, three offices and four consulting rooms. “If it’s a diagnostic mammogram, they’ll have the results that day,” Thompson said. If additional testing is required or if something unusual is found by the radiologist, in most cases, those tests can be performed the same day, such as a painless ultrasound. Patients may also receive a SEE CANCER PAGE A6
Exchanging ideas Program enables Spanish students to learn American ways Marlana Senge said her hobby is making cupcakes and she recently made several S’mores for the Oct. 16 all-American cookout to provide a taste of the United States for the student exchange program at Upper St. Clair High School.
By Terri T. Johnson Almanac staff writer tjohnson@thealmanac.net
Language is never a barrier where food is involved. On Oct. 16, students in the Spanish Club of Upper St. Clair High School hosted an allAmerican cookout for 17 visiting students from Madrid, Spain, and the two teachers who accompanied them for the three-week exchange. Leslie Leeds, a high school Spanish teacher and club sponsor, said the students and
INDEX ©2012 Observer Publishing Company
teachers are from Colegio Santa Maria de la Hispanidad and for most, the ex-
change is their first opportunity to visit the United States. This is the first year for the
exchange sponsored by the Spanish teachers and the foreign language department with guidance from teacher Cephus Moore. Leeds is home hosting one of the teachers while the students are staying in various Upper St. Clair homes including that of Michael Seitanakis. Michael, 17, is a senior and has been studying Spanish for as long as he can rememPHOTOS BY TERRI T. JOHNSON / STAFF ber.The student from Spain, Michael Seitanakis of Upper St. Clair and Alberto Rodrigues of Madrid, Spain, have become friends during a student exSEE IDEAS PAGE A5 change at the Upper St. Clair High School.
Heartfest
Across South Hills . . .A2
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . .A4
Tradition rules
Event helps mend little hearts. Page C1
Classifieds . . . .D5,6, E1-6
Real Estate . . . . . . . .C6-8
Deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . .A2
Religion . . . . . . . . . . . .C2
Deed Transfers . . . . . .C7
Seniors calendar . . . . .C4
Lady Indians retain WPIAL title. Page D1
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . .A4
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . .D1-4
Entertainment . . . .B1,3,4
Together . . . . . . . . . . . .C1
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