Northern Connection Magazine April 2015 Issue

2015 Wedding Guide Summer Camps & Programs Business Spotlight:

JADE Wellness Center Vaccinations: A Tough Decision Spring Events & Happenings

Dayalan and Associates: Family, Primary Care and so much more...

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CONTENTS April 2015

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NORTHERN CONNECTION Home & Garden

Health & Wellness

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25 Just a Measly Jab

Jane of All Trades, LLC

10 Keys to a Successful Garage Sale Marianne Reid Anderson

Education & Camps 12 Educators Making a Difference Marianne Reid Anderson

14 More Summer Camps: Offering the Best in Tradition and Innovation Marianne Reid Anderson 17 Summer Camp Guide 18 Project Lifesaver Paula Green

Brian W. Donnelly, MD

27 Business Spotlight: JADE Wellness Center 28 Dayalan and Associates: Family, Primary Care and So Much More...

30 Enhance Your Life: Recently Diagnosed? Donna Summers Moul 36 Fit Families: Kids with Autism and ADHD Who Swim, Bike and Run: It’s All in the Numbers Joella Baker

20 School Movers & Shakers

Senior Living

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38 Town Crier: Appreciating April Joe Bullick

42 In Every Issue 4

From the Publisher

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Movers & Shakers

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Mover & Shaker of the Month: Hana Haatainen-Caye

Marion Piotrowski

Paula Green

24 Trivia Connection: Idioms Trivia Paula Green

32 Starting the Conversation: Vaccinations: A Tough Decision Marianne Reid Anderson

41 Support Our Troops: Vietnam Remembered Paula Green 50 April 2015 Happenings

39 10 Personal Enhancements Gained with Better Hearing R. Patrick Francis, AUD

40 Happenings for Seniors

2015 Wedding Guide 42 Wedding Traditions with a Twist Paula Green and Marianne Reid Anderson

46 Wedding Vendor Guide 48 On Conflict Resolution Rev. Thomas J. Burke

49 Say “I Do” to Wedding Day Beauty Kelly Smith

Advertorials 31 Lose up to 30 Lbs in 30 Days Dr. Michael Vactor

33 Till Death Do Us Part?

Dr. Shannon Thieroff

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COMING UP IN

May 2015

Women’s Health

June 2015

Men’s Health

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PUBLISHER NOTES

W

elcome to the April issue of Northern Connection magazine. This issue features NC Magazine’s annual wedding issue. This year, we take a look at Wedding Traditions with a Twist. There are some really unique and beautiful venues in and around the Pittsburgh area for every kind of wedding that will help make your day almost as special as the bride and groom.

Also, we are continuing to highlight summer camps and programs. Now is the time to think about what type of camp or program would best fit you and your child’s needs.

People use idioms in every day conversations. This month’s Trivia will test your knowledge of where some of the most frequently-used idioms originated.

There is a lot of controversy over vaccinations. This month’s editor’s column, Starting the Conversation, addresses this issue and encourages you to continue the conversation on the blog at northernconnection.blogspot.com.

Hopefully, we will enjoy some beautiful spring weather this month. As the weather gets a little warmer, be sure to check out some of the spring events and happenings that are highlighted in NC Magazine’s Happenings section.

Enjoy reading all of NC Magazine’s regular columns along with this month’s feature articles.

Thank you for your support. Together, we continue to make our community an outstanding place to live and work! F

NORTHERN CONNECTION P.O. Box 722 Wexford, PA 15090-0722

Phone: 724-940-2444

Laura Arnold

laura@northernconnectionmag.com

Executive Editor Managing Editor/ Public Relations Coordinator

Paula M. Green Marketing & Account Executive and Office Coordinator

Mary Simpson

marysimpson@northernconnectionmag.com

”

Coming in May WOMEN’S HEALTH & WELLNESS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Laura Lyn Arnold Marketing & Account Executives

Mary L. Simpson Design & Production

Kostilnik & Assoc., Inc. Web Master

Swanson Publishing Company Core Writers

Marianne Reid Anderson

Begin EACH DAY WITH A LITTLE courage, A LITTLE curiosity AND A LITTLE spring IN YOUR STEP. — DOE ZANTAMATA

President & Publisher

Marion Swanson Piotrowski Marianne Reid Anderson

ncmagazine@northernconnectionmag.com

“

Fax: 724-940-2447 Email: northcon@consolidated.net www.northernconnectionmag.com

Joella Baker Joe Bullick Rosemary Garrity Paula M. Green Barbara A. Killmeyer Ryan C. Meyer Liz Miles Donna Summers Moul, M.S.Ed. Marianne Reid Anderson Stacie Sikora Kelly Smith Distribution

Linda Watkins Lori Palmer Dominion Distribution

Paula Green ncmagazine@northernconnectionmag.com

Northern Connection is published twelve times a year by Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. (P.O. Box 722, Wexford, PA 15090-0722, 724-940-2444) and is distributed free of charge to the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh. Subscription can be purchased from the publisher at $25 for one year.

The mission of the Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. is to connect the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh by publishing the area’s finest community publication, Northern Connection. The publication is dedicated to the people, communities, educational, religious, travel, and recreational needs of the area.

The contents of Northern Connection magazine may not be reproduced or copied in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Northern Connection magazine reserves the right to refuse editorial or advertisements that do not meet the standards of this publication.

@NCONNECTIONMAG Find us on Facebook under Northern Connection Magazine!

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http://northernconnectionmagazine.blogspot.com/

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Northern Connection | April 2015

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MOVERS & SHAKERS April 2015

Movers &Shakers A new director of Dental Medicine has been hired to lead the Dental Group at St. Barnabas. Dr. Jason Strcula, D.M.D. is practicing all aspects of general dentistry including examinations, cleanings, fillings, crowns and restoring implants, as well as cosmetic dentistry such as whitening and Invisalign.

Dr. Jason Strcula

St. Barnabas announced its “Employees for the Month of February.� They are: Judith Boehm, Juanita Marburger, John McCaslin, Kathleen McElhinney and Megan Tataliba.

Mercy Intellectual Disabilities Services, part of Pittsburgh Mercy Health System and Trinity Health and serving in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy announced the opening of the Pittsburgh Alternative Training and Employment center. The innovative, blended program is designed to meet the unique educational and employment needs of adults with intellectual disabilities.

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Hana Haatainen-Caye Speechless was launched ten years ago

BY PAULA GREEN

E

arth Day is commemorated in the United States on April 22. It is a time when we celebrate the beauty of our planet and think “greener thoughts.”

One local woman, Hana Haatainen-Caye has not only grown to appreciate greener and healthier living she has become an expert on the subject.

Haatainen-Caye writes an awardingwinning daily blog called Green Grandma.

The information that she features in this environmental blog led her to publish her first non-fiction book Vinegar Fridays, and is also planning to release an ebook version.

Haatainen-Caye travels around the region speaking on green topics. Additionally, she lectures on creative writing as well as a sought after speaker and workshop presenter at writers conferences. HaatainenCaye certainly has the experience and expertise behind her.

She has published over 60 children’s

books with Marvel’s iStorybooks and is currently under contract for 20 more. Eight of her true stories have appeared in the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Haatainen-Caye leads a monthly writers’ workshop at Northland Public Library and teaches local writing classes upon request.

She also teaches writing courses at Carnegie Mellon through their Osher program. She is slated to teach two writing courses at the university in May and June.

This spring, she will be on faculty at conferences in Leesburg, Va., Stoneboro, Pa., and at the annual Pennwriters Conference, which will be held in Pittsburgh in May. Haatainen-Caye is truly a woman who likes to put words in your mouth. This year she is celebrating the tenth anniversary of launching her business called - Speechless.

When Haatainen-Caye founded her company in January 2005, the central focus of her business was on copywriting and

Photo courtesy of Laura Taylor

MOVER & SHAKER OF THE MONTH

voice-over narrations. As her business flourished, she expanded it to include editing and creative writing. Over the years, she has lent her voice to numerous ventures.

Haatainen-Caye’s voice is heard on corporate videos, commercials, IVR systems, websites, podcasts, radio shows, audio books, and eLearning modules. She is most known for her narrations on over 150 children’s audio books. “That is where my training as an actress pays off,” she says.

Haatainen-Caye and her husband Bill reside in Ross Township. She envisions significant growth for Speechless in the coming years. “I look forward to seeing where this decade takes me,” she says.

“Every day is a different adventure and, so far, I’m really enjoying the ride.”

For more information on Hana Haatainen-Caye and her speaking and writing availability, visit www.wordsinyourmouth.com or www.greengrandma.org. F

National Aviary Senior Outreach Program Benefits the Residents of Little Sisters of the Poor on Benton Avenue in Brighton Heights.

This year’s annual visit was held on Mar. 11. Pilar Fish, director of Veterinary Medicine, has been visiting the senior facility annually. During her visits, she brings with her a number of birds from the Aviary collection, including geriatric birds and birds under special care in the Aviary’s hospital. Dr. Fish conducts a presentation on bird’s species, their behaviors, and the special care they receive.

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HOME & GARDEN

Jane of All Trades, LLC 412-512-0973 www.jane-ofall-trades.com

Licensed Contractor, Specializing in Residential Painting and Landscape Design & Construction Laura Grunert, Project Manager, Landscape Architect

J

ane of All Trades has over 10 years of professional residential painting experience. This includes interior and exterior painting, two-story foyers and rooms, wallcovering removal, and plaster repairs.

Jane of All Trades, Landscape Architect, works with clients to create one-of-a-kind designs to enhance outdoor spaces.

This includes patios, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, custom water features, fire pits, fireplaces, lighting, irrigation, and planting plans.

Call Laura today at 412-512-0973 to arrange for a consultation. F

P.A. ERBE & Associates Inc.

Accounting & Tax Preparation Service for Personal & Business Income Taxes

Penny Ann Erbe

Enrolled Agent Federally Authorized Tax Practitioner

412-487-1009

4767 William Flynn Highway Allison Park, PA 15101-2456

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Northern Connection | April 2015

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HOME & GARDEN

Keys to a Successful Garage Sale

BY MARIANNE REID ANDERSON

W

hether you are planning on moving, downsizing, or just plain need to get rid of stuff, throwing a garage sale will help you meet your goal. Here’s some tips to make it successful: The More the Merrier – The larger the garage sale, the larger the crowd of shoppers. Be sure and let friends and family know that they are welcome to bring items and consider organizing your neighbors to all having a garage sale on the same day.

Everyone Wants a Deal – Everyone wants to come home with their treasures and say, “I got this and that for only…” So you need to price your items accordingly. Know how low you are willing to go on certain items and then give yourself a retail mark-up of at least 25% so that you can negotiate down to your acceptable price.

Early Bird Catches the Worm – There are some very professional garage sale shoppers out there.

Setting the rule of “no negotiations before start time” makes professionals either choose to pay your asking price or take their chances and come back later.

Setting up Shop – When throwing a garage sale, you are turning your garage and front lawn into a store. Taking the time to prepare your items for sale will enable you to ask for and receive the best possible offer.

Avoiding an “oops” – Be sure to look up items on internet first, so you know what they are worth.

This way, you have an alternative way to sell if none of your garage sale customers are willing to meet your price.

Most Important Key: Letting People Know - So remember to advertise! If your neighborhood, church, or charity is planning a garage sale, flea market or rummage sale, be sure to let people know, beginning with us at Northern Connection magazine at NCmagazine@northernconnectionmag.com. F

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EDUCATION & CAMPS

Educators

Making a Difference

BY MARIANNE REID ANDERSON

In this, our fourth installment of highlighting a few of our region’s Educators Making a Difference, we at Northern Connection our proud to continue featuring these incredible individuals who continually go above and beyond in helping students and families.

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Northern Connection | April 2015

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Linda Cessar of Providence Heights Alpha School – Linda Cessar is a certified science teacher that has taught at Providence Heights Alpha School for over eight years. Prior to teaching, Mrs. Cessar worked as a chemist in the environmental consulting industry and at the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Linda provides science instruction for 6th grade (Earth and Space), 7th grade (Life Science) and 8th grade (Physical Science) students. She also supports student efforts in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) and Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair (PRSEF) entries by serving as advisor and sponsor.

Linda earned her Master’s Degree in Analytical Chemistry at Indiana University. Linda has formed strong bonds with her students that last through the years. Students in high school and beyond still credit “Mrs. Cessar” with a great foundation and understanding of science. Linda’s passion and enthusiasm for science is evident and contagious. She truly instills a love of learning and a love of science in her students. To learn more, visit http://www.alphaschool.org.

Neil S. Haley of Total Tutor– has been working with children for more than 12 years. His experience includes: Classroom Teacher; After School Program Director; Behavior Specialist; Educational Advocate; Developmental Therapist, SAT Prep Coach; and Practicum Supervisor. Total Tutor is an international, kindergarten through college, tutoring and consulting company, providing educational advocacy, behavior therapy, autism consulting, home school consulting, all subject tutoring, and SAT/ACT/GRE tutoring.

Beyond being a tutor, Neil is a coach and advocate, for students and families, including students with an IEP, to

reach their potential and make sure the IEP is accurate and being used properly by the teachers at the student’s school. Neil is also the affable host of The Total Education Network, which is heard and viewed in over 180 countries, syndicated on 120 stations, with over 2.5 million listeners and viewers per week. Neil was also a former professional wrestler and is active in Pittsburgh Promise. Neil graduated from LaRoche College with a B.S. in History, and obtained his M. Ed. at Duquesne University. He is married to Jennifer and the proud father of five children. To learn more about Neil S. Haley, visit www.totaltutor.net.

Sarah McGraw Krushinski of Wexford Acting Studio – Sarah was a Theater Major as an undergrad at the College of Wooster, a private college in Wooster Ohio and earned her graduate degree in Theater and Directing from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Post-graduation, Sarah

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got an agent in NYC and was booked for several European tours performing in 17 countries, in both major cities and small town throughout Europe including Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium and The Netherlands appearing as the Mistress in Evita, Maria in West Side Story and Christine in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. When Sarah and her husband decided to start a family, they moved here to the Pittsburgharea. Ten years ago, Sarah was invited to open the Wexford Acting Studio where she teaches and directs students. According to Sarah, “It is always so great and so rewarding to see a child take to the stage and see them develop and grow. Before you know it, they are a level three and playing leads becoming, poised and confident on stage.” To learn more about the Wexford Acting Studio, visit http://wexfordactingstudio.com.

If you know of an educator, administrator, camp counselor or volunteer making a difference, contact us by emailing NorthCon@consolidated. net or by calling 724-940-2444. F Northern Connection | April 2015

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EDUCATION & CAMPS

Scenes from Wexford Acting Studio’s production of “The Music Man.”

More Summer Camps: Offering the Best in Tradition and Innovation

BY MARIANNE REID ANDERSON

I

f only there was a way to be a kid again! This month, we continue to highlight amazing summer programs and opportunities in our region for children, tweens and teens. Choose among these incredible summer camps or mix-and-match, to make sure your children will be enjoying fun and incredible learning experiences throughout the summer! Remember – the key is to register early!

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Glen Montessori – Open to all children from 3 to 12 years of age, The Glen Montessori School in Ross Township is offering an innovative international and cultural awareness experience called “Passport to Summer Adventures Around The World.” Each week, summer campers will experience different cultures from around the world through, art, music, dance, science, cooking various cuisines, playing

Northern Connection | April 2015 www.northernconnectionmag.com

a country’s sports and games, going on a weekly field trip and so much more.

The individual cultures include French, Irish, Brazilian, Chinese and many others. This fun engaging experience will broaden both a child’s mind and create curiosity to travel the world! To register, go to http://www.glenmontessori.org.

Gymkhana - Gymkhana gymnastics facility offers innovative summer camps designed to keep children, cre-

ative, busy and active this summer.

Theme-based kamp activities including dry-land water games, parachute play, awesome obstacle courses, craft activities, zoom-zoom zipline, climbing cargo net, bouldering and more. In particular, there is their KHIDS KAMP for 3-10 year olds, using all of the gymnastics equipment including: floor exercise, balance beam, rings, uneven bars, mini trampoline, tumble trak the goliath trampoline and our incredible inflatables. And their Survivor Kamp for 6 to 16 year olds. Based on the popular Survivor TV show, campers will be split into tribes, where they create their own tribal flags and compete in challenges for rewards. To register, go to www. gymkhanafun.com.

Forest Dancing - Forest Dancing is a one-week intensive summer dance camp for serious dancers ages 8 and older with a minimum of 1 year ballet training. Located in one of the most beautiful settings in Pennsylvania, dancers have the opportunity to do what they love best surrounded by the beau-

ty of virgin pine forests and mountain laurel overlooking the Clarion River. A Forest Dancer’s week also includes the fun of crafts, a canoe trip on the Clarion River, a talent show, nature walks, swimming and an evening out at the Sawmill Theater. Early Bird Discount is available for resident students if they register before May 1. In addition to the 4-5 classes a day that both resident and day students enjoy, resident students also receive shared lodging in the Lodge, 3 meals a day and access to all camp activities. Forest Dancing is also offering a two-day Teachers Workshop that will include overnight accommodations, dinner and breakfast, class demonstration, a panel discussion, syllabus and notes. Visit our website at www. forestdancing.com for details.

Wexford Acting Studio – Wexford Acting Studio is offering a very special Musical Theater Camp from Aug. 3 through 9. The classes will take places at the studio Monday through Saturday with a showcase performance at the Kean Theater on Sunday. Half-Day

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EDUCATION & CAMPS

Camp is for students ages 5-8 and FullDay Camp is for ages 9-18. The camp will prepare students for the showcase performance which will include solos, duets and production numbers with

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acting scenes and monologues that lead into the musical numbers. Many alumni, who have gone on to major in performing arts and appear in professional productions in such places as New York and Chicago, have returned as counselors to prepare students through rehearsals and improve games and exercises. To register, visit http:// wexfordactingstudio.com.

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This issue is filled with camps programs to explore and be sure to read our May issue to learn about even more summer activities. If you are implementing a summer camp or would like us to feature a camp counselor or volunteer that is making a difference, be sure and let us know by emailing northcon@consolidated.net or calling 724-940-2444. F

Summer Camp Guide Camp Deer Creek

www.campdeercreekonline.com 412-767-5351

Camp Spirit of the Game www.camp.pghultimate.org

Carnegie Science Center

412-237-1637 www.CarnegieScienceCenter.org/SummerCamps

Cranberry Twp. Parks & Recreation www.cranberrytownship.org/Camp 724-776-4806 x1129

Early Years Child Care www.earlyyearsinc.com

Forest Dancing

www.forestdancing.com 814-938-8517

Glen Montessori International Summer Camp www.glenmontessori.org 412-318-4885

Gymkhana

www.gymkhanafun.com 412-366-3800

Hampton Township School District (HTSD) www.ht-sd.org 412-492-6393 or 412-492-6357

La Roche College/ UPMC Passavant Summer Soccer Camp Miguel.lozano@laroche.edu

Moraine Sailing Club “Learn to Sail”

www.morainesailingclub.org

Pittsburgh Center For The Arts 412-361-0455 www.Pittsburgharts.org

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Summer Day Camps www.trustarts.org/artcity 412-471-6079

Pittsburgh International Film Festival www.pghkids.org 412-456-6666

Shady Side Academy

www.shadysideacademy.org/summer 412-447-2230

St. Alexis School www.st.alexis.org 724-935-3940

TenderCare Learning Centers www.educationpros.org Wexford 724-934-0411 Cranberry 724-772-0598 McCandless 412-367-3269 Hampton 412-486-5510

Western Pa Montessori School www.wpms.edu 412-487-2700

Wexford Acting Studio

www.wexfordactingstudio.com 724-716-1920

Winchester Thurston

www.winterchesterthurston.org/summercamp

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EDUCATION & CAMPS

Project Lifesaver Bringing Loved Ones Home

BY PAULA GREEN

A

pril is “Autism Awareness” month and during this observance, we bring you the latest developments in assisting those with autism, Alzheimer’s, dementia, intellectual disabilities and other special needs. Law enforcement and other emergency responders have a powerful tracking system available that helps bring your loved ones home. “Project Lifesaver” is a program offered in 41 states and it is a wonderful means of locating and rescuing those that wander. Fortunately, this tool is available here in Allegheny County.

Persons enrolled in this program

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wear a small transmitter, about the size of a wristwatch, which emits a unique tracking signal. If a person goes missing, search teams use their signal receiving equipment to track and locate the missing person.

“These tracking devices work on radio signals, not GPS signals. Radio signals give you a more precise location and are subject to less external interferences between the transmitter bracelet and the receivers used by the police officers,” explained deputy district attorney, Tom Swan.

“Currently, 50 families have signed up to participate in Project Lifesaver from Allegheny County. Forty officers from 16 police departments have been certified to operate the tracking devices. The trained police departments from the North Hills are: Northern Regional, Ross, Ohio, Indiana and Harrison.

The Chiefs of Police, from those respective jurisdictions, have agreed to allow their certified officers to track lost persons registered in the program in neighboring jurisdictions covering the entire North Hills area. The same goes

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for the other three quadrants of Allegheny County. The Chiefs with the trained officers can track outside their respective jurisdictions as well. The city is on board too, but due to the recent change in administration, they will require additional officers to be trained in each zone before the program will be up and running with the city of Pittsburgh,” Swan added.

“Each department was given one receiver to track with and they will obtain another one in the near future to better ensure shift coverage. All caregivers enrolled in the program have been logged in with the Allegheny County 911 Center with information specific to the person wearing the transmitter bracelet and its unique frequency. When a call comes into the center, all certified officers get an automatic page, as do I and one of my assistants. Everyone will try to respond, with the jurisdiction (closest to the callout location) responding first, generally,” Swan explained.

“The bracelets cost about $300 each.

The receivers cost about $1,500 apiece.

All of the costs have been borne by the DA’s office with drug forfeiture money, not taxpayer’s money. The transmitter bracelets are water resistant and work up to about seven feet of water, so they can be worn in pools, bathtubs and showers,” noted Swan.

Persons residing in group homes or who operate motor vehicles are not permitted to enroll in this program. To learn more about Project Lifesaver in Allegheny County, call (412) 350-3138. F

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KIDS & EDUCATION April 2015

School Movers & Shakers Avonworth Avonworth High School senior Ryan Johnston and junior David Clark took first place for Editorial Writing and Editorial Cartoon at the Pennsylvania School Press Association State Championships.

Avonworth High School principal Dr. Kenneth Lockette with Heather McElwee from the Pittsburgh Glass Center, Tresa Varner from the Andy Warhol Museum and Felice Cleveland from the Mattress Factory hosted a panel discussion at the South-bySouthwest Education Conference on March 9-12 in Austin, Texas.

North Allegheny Several North Allegheny students won multiple Gold Key Awards for their accomplishments in the Scholastic Art & Writing Contest.

Winners were John Curcio (6 awards); Nathaniel Chen, Kelly Kim, Sam Marzula, Sara Nill and Mia Shikora (3 awards); Nick Koehler, Alexis Kruth, Bethany Schaelchlin,

Anastasia Shabalov, Gabriela Tomayko and Elizabeth Wang (2 awards); Melissa Daltner and Lauren Rogus (Gold Key & American Visions Nominee).

Forty-two North Allegheny students medalled in the American Association of Teachers National German Exam. Seven students earned Gold Medals they are: Allison Frank, Alexander Giorgetti, Mark Hartigan, Benjamin Radock, Alaina Rodi, Nicholas Swensen and Megan Wadas.

A team of North Allegheny students placed at the National Ocean Sciences Bowl where they won second place. Winning team members were: Sean Giger, Gunasheil Mandava, Rahul Rao, Russell Ruffolo and Joe Zhao.

North Allegheny senior Catherine Zhang has been named a 2015 Coca-Cola Scholar and will receive a $20,000 scholarship to the college or university of her choice.

Forty-three members of North Allegheny’s DECA chapter competed in the State Career Development Conference. Two NA students won top awards – James McGaa and Shreyas Vasudevan.

Two North Allegheny teams won first place in the U.S. Dept., of Energy’s National Science Bowl.

First place winners from the senior high were: Songela Chen, Eric Mi, Rahul Rao, Gabe Ren and Sean Tao. Marshall Middle School first place winner included: Jiangfeng Chu, Jerry Chen, Jiwoo Cheon, Roy Sun and Venkata Daita.

Marshall Middle School eighth grader John Ehling and Ingomar Elementary fifth grader Owen Prem have been named semifinalists in the Pennsylvania National Geographic State Bee held at Penn State University.

Marshall Middle School National Academic League team made it to the “Final 8” Round of the Terrel H. Bell national Tournament of Academic Excellence.

Shaler Josiah Johnson, a senior at Shaler Area High School has been named one of 15,000 National Merit Scholarship Finalists.

Two Shaler Area High School teachers have been named semifinalists for the 2016 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year. Jade Leung, a science Teacher and Paul Stadelman, a math teacher will compete against the top educators in the state for the prestigious honor.

Josiah Johnson

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A group of Shaler Area High School students won awards at the High School Japanese Speech Contest. Kevin Kachur won the Grand Prize and first place overall.

Luke Pomrenke took second place honors overall. Other award winners included: Evan Lysko, Jake Matthews and Stephen Borgen.

Fox Chapel Six Fox Chapel Area High School students placed in the Pittsburgh Diocesan Qualifying Tournament for the National Catholic Forensic League Grand national Championship Tournament. They are: Darwin Leuba, Sara Puthenpurayil, Rama Godse, Rishi Mirchandani, Frank Lou and Ellen Pil. A team of Fox Chapel Area High School student qualified for the 2015 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference. They are Jacob Kronman, Benjamin Kronman, Sophia Lee and Yelim Lee. Dorseyville Middle School eighth grade students and teachers participated in Holocaust Remembrance Day activities on March 27.

Jade Leung

Hampton Hampton High School junior Maggie Gibson has been accepted into the CMU Saturday Art Class program, which was attended by Andy Warhol. Gibson received a partial scholarship to attend the program.

Paul Stadelman

Shaler Area High School students, Tori Lorenz and Paige Milavec were two of 36 vocalists in their voice sections that performed at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Conference on March 25-28 in Hershey.

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Shaler Area AP chemistry students Tyler Eklund and Logan Hellinger were recognized for their essays in the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh 2014-15 High School Essay Contest.

Hampton School District students Nick Wilkins, Nalini Ramanathan and Mike Yu competed in the Math^3 math challenge sponsored by SIAM. The team earned an honorable mention award and shared a $1,000 scholarship award.

Two Hampton Middle School classes received a special visit on Mar. 3, by Amy Brooks, author of Unseen Arms. Brooks was born without arms and legs and abandoned by her parents at birth.

Poff Elementary School is the recipient of a Recyclebank Green Schools Grant. It is one of only 18 schools statewide awarded the Green Schools Grant and one of two schools from Western Pennsylvania.

Pine-Richland Pine-Richland Middle School student and Boy Scouts Troop #344 member, Ryan Farbacher earned his Eagle Scout Award. This award is the highest advancement award bestowed by the Boys Scouts of America. For his service project, Farbacher spearheaded the construction of a pavilion at St. Richard’s Parish, where he is a member.

in the World Events tournament. Haine Middle School placed first, second and third.

Seneca Valley junior Sarah Johanknecht was named a runner-up in the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Award for Aspirations in Computing.

The Seneca Valley Middle School (SVMS) Mathcounts Team placed first in the Midwestern Chapter Mathcounts competition.

Winning team members were: Matt Muir, Rishin Sharma, Dean Smith and Nishant Jayachandra.

Seneca Valley

Seneca Valley Middle School health teacher, Michael Flood was awarded with the Moniot Outstanding Middle Level Educator of the Year Award for the 2014-15 school year from the Pennsylvania Association of Middle Level Education.

Seneca Valley was the winner of the Governor’s PA STEM Competition which was held Feb. 17, at the RIU6 headquarters in Clarion.

Haine Middle School sixth grader Mia Campagna created the winning design for the Superheroes Foundation’s 7th Annual Run that will be held on April 25 at North Park.

Seneca Valley Senior High School mathematics teacher and student council advisor, Katie Halliday Katie Halliday was awarded the Pennsylvania Association of Students Councils (PASC) District 2 Advisor of the Year for 2014-15.

Six Haine Middle School students earned top awards at the Butler County Elementary Student Art Show. The winners were – Christina Yang, Brooklyn Beard, Allison Buchek, Kayla Moon, Gabby Guerrini and Emily Vlasnik.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and USA Football Heads Up-Football have awarded Seneca Valley Junior Football and Cheer Association with a $2,000 grant.

St. Gregory Three Seneca Valley students received top honors at the Region 9 Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science competition. Julia Kooser and Bailey Hixon received a first place award and Cassidy Friedrich was given a second place honor.

Seneca Valley School District Academic Games Team had an excellent performance

Twelve seventh and eighth graders at St. Gregory School won awards at the PA Junior Academy of Science. First place winners were: Elise Harmer, Justin Hand and Jason Mangus. Second place awards: Riley Drouin, Katelyn Dudash, Emily Gregor, Carly Kusich, Nathan Paras, Isabella Rubolino, Kelsey Smith, Alex Dudash and Aaron Sutton.

Aquinas Academy Aquinas Academy’s pro-life club, Vivat Vita held their annual fundraising events on Feb. 8 & 9.

Twenty-one students baked cakes for the “Cakes for Life” contest. All students were given an opportunity to vote for their favorite cake. Evie Archer won the contest with her “burger and fries” cake.

The following Aquinas Academy students earned first place honors at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS). They are: Alex Garcia, Anni Truschel, Molly Maglio, Lauren Mroch, Mikey Seel, Coyne McDermott, Louis D’Angelo, Isabella Porta, Katie O’Connell, Elizabeth Blume, John Reed, Ella Stewart and Natalie Zimmerman.

The following Aquinas Academy students earned second place honors at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science. They are: Katie Yellin, Brigid Newcamp, Mary Bence, Harry Hardman, Anthony Hite, Jack Kartsonas, Anthony Buck, Justin Panzarella, Clara Osburg, Ella Horner, Natalie Hyrcza and Erin Palmer.

Shady Side Academy Shady Side Academy senior Caris Gagnon is one of 1,300 outstanding black American high school seniors Caris Gagnon who were named finalists in the 51st annual national Achievement Scholarship Program.

Eight Shady Side Seniors have been named National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists.

They are: Courtney Clark, Tyler Demchak, Adam Hart, Sylvie Lee, Brendan Leech, Krishna Patel, Lalitha Reddy and Kevin Vellanki.

(Continued on page 22)

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Northern Connection | April 2015

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EDUCATION & CAMPS

La Roche College Miguel Ntutumu Evuna Andeme, a 2003 graduate of La Roche College has been named Equatorial Guinea’s ambassador to the United States.

CCAC Two Community College of Allegheny County North Campus students – Kayla Schwartz and Alex Garbini qualified to participate in the NJCAA Division III National Cross County Championship was held Nov. 8, in Canandaigua, N.Y.

St. Vincent College James D. Bendel has been named director of planned giving at Saint Vincent College and will be joining the college’s administrative staff effective July 1.

James Bendel A team of five students from Hempfield Area High School was the first place winner in the pasta engineering contest at Saint Vincent College.

Two Saint Vincent College students will be featured in a new video produced by the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (AICUP). The video will be shown on social media.

Maggie Harteis, a freshman psychology major from South Fork has won first place and a $250 cash prize in the 20th annual Ragan Poetry Competition at Saint Vincent College.

The N.A. Fiddlers The N.A. Fiddlers, under the direction of Dennis Morton, a string teacher within the North Allegheny School District, is comprised of students in grades 6 through 12. These fiddlers participate in a weeklong workshop during the summer months.

Tunes are taught and learned in the traditional aural style, meaning by ear and without the use of written notes. Local folk musician Mark Tamsula attends each workshop and presents the students with a variety of styles including Scottish, Irish, Old Timey, Scandinavian and Cajun.

In 2011, the fiddlers hit the recording studio and produced a professional CD at the Maywood Studios. After 3 hours in the recording studio they were able to lay down 12 fiddle tunes including Appalachian, Irish, Scottish, Kentucky and Cajun fiddle tunes.

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The N.A. Fiddlers have performed at various locations throughout the North Hills area including Sherwood Oaks in Cranberry, Soergels Orchards in Wexford during their fall festival, Vincentian Home in Ross, Ice Jam in Butler County, North Pittsburgh Philharmonic at the North Hills High School, and Butler Symphony

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Orchestra in Butler, plus many more and most recently, at the opening of Trader Joes in McCandless Crossing.

For more information, contact Dennis Morton at dmorton@northallegheny.org or visit their web site at www.nafiddlers. net.

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TRIVIA CONNECTION April 2015

Idioms Trivia They Are...A Piece of Cake!

BY PAULA GREEN

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Since we have “jumped on the bandwagon” with idioms, we must now go over this quiz “with a fine toothed comb.” Be sure to be “on the ball” because it’s time to get a little trivial...

1. A determined person, who can be difficult to deal with and downright crummy.

2. What does “costs an arm and a leg” mean?

3. This spiritual idiom means something good that isn’t recognized at first.

4. When we “hit the nail on the head” we have done what?

5. Avoiding the main topic, not speaking directly about the issue.

6. What is meant when you are, “on cloud nine?”

7. Doing something to make a bad situation even worse.

8. When you “wine and dine” someone, what type of dining is this?

9. Learning something informally through rumors is called what?

10. What happens when a person “kicks the bucket?”

11. To share information that was previously concealed.

12. What are you doing when you go “back to the drawing board?”

13. You squandered your opportunity.

14. What does it mean when you have “the best of both worlds?”

15. In honor of Easter, we’ll decipher this one – not putting all of you resources into one possibility. F Sources: http://hubpages.com/hub/Common-Idioms-and-Phrases-Meaningsand-Origins, http://www.idiomsite.com/, http://www.myenglishteacher.eu/ blog/8-funny-idioms-about-food-with-examples-and-explanations-infographic/

Answers. 1. A tough cookie 2. It’s costly 3. Blessing in disguise 4. Got it exactly right 5. Beating around the bush 6. elated, profound happiness 7. Add fuel to the fire 8. expensive 9. Heard it through the grapevine 10. dies 11.

Let the cat out of the bag 12. start over 13. Missed the boat 14. Have all the advantages 15. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket

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id you wake up on the “wrong side of the bed this morning,” or were you “happy as a lark?”

Whatever the case, our world is filled with unique expressions called idioms, which is a phrase where the figurative meaning differs from the literal one. There are thousands of them, and this month, we’ll look at a few common ones.

“It’s raining cats and dogs!” This originated in the 1500s in England, when houses had thatched roofs. The roof consisted of straw piled high with no wood underneath it. Small animals would crawl on the roof to keep warm. When it rained hard, some animals would slip off the roof and wash up in the gutters on the streets.

Hence, the saying now refers to heavy rain.

Before TV, phones and other media, politicians had to depend on other ways of getting feedback to find out people’s opinion. To do this, they sent their assistants out to local taverns where people hung out. They would sip some ale, and listen to folk’s conversation and learn their concerns. They were told to “go sip some ale,” thus the term “gossip” was coined.

Minding your P’s and Q’s is an expression that insinuates, you must watch what you are doing. It dates back to when local pubs served their patrons drinks by the quart and the pint. Bar maids had to keep an eye on the customers to see what they were drinking. They paid special attention to who was consuming pints and who was drinking quarts, thus came the term – minding your P’s and Q’s.

Another unique saying comes to mind; in the early days ladies would use bee’s wax to smooth their acne complexion. If a woman stared too long at another lady’s face, they would say, “Mind your own bee’s wax!” If the woman were to smile, it might crack the veneer of bee’s wax on her face, thus the phrase, “crack a smile.” Also the slogan “losing face” came from when a girl would sit too close to the fire and then the bee’s wax would melt.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS APRIL 2015

Just a Measly Jab

BY BRIAN W. DONNELLY, M.D.

T

he recent outbreak of measles in Disneyland has affected more than 100 people in 14 states so far. This took some people by surprise. After all, measles was eradicated in the United States as of the year 2000.

What happened, you ask?

Vaccination rates have declined enough throughout the country to allow this nasty disease to make a comeback. (There were 644 reported cases of measles in the US in 2014.) One of the triggers was the publication of an article in 1998. The article posited the theory that the measles vaccine somehow caused autism. There was no proof, just the speculation. It turns out that the author of that study had been paid by a law firm to advance this claim. The law firm used this important information to sue pharmaceutical companies that had produced the vaccine. It was later discovered that the author misrepresented the data, however, and he ultimately lost his medical license. The article has been recalled, all the other authors have recanted, and, ten years later, the medical journal apologized for publishing it.

So the link between the MMR vaccine and autism has been debunked, but vaccination rates have still lagged. This is despite the fact that more than 150,000 children die annually from measles worldwide.

Measles is famous for the rash it produces. But it can also cause pneumonia, conjunctivitis, and encephalitis. Babies suffer the most serious consequences.

The measles vaccine has a serious adverse event rate of less than 1 in 1 billion.

Pediatricians interested in preventing this ugly illness have to fight ignorance, overconfidence, and pride. Ignorance means many parents are not aware how serious measles disease can be, and how contagious it is. (Infectious disease experts usually rank it first in contagion out of all the spreadable diseases out there.) Overconfidence means some parents don’t believe THEIR child could get sick from it. MY child is strong enough to beat it, they think. The recent outbreak in California made a bunch of parents rethink that one. Pride means some parents think their sources of information are better than that of the infectious disease experts. The sad truth is that the current resurgence of measles puts a lot of babies at risk. The forecast is for more, similar outbreaks in the near future.

The downside risk of the injection is rather low. The downside risk of contracting measles is substantially higher, especially for an infant.

Please, don’t gamble with a child’s life. Prevention makes much more sense. F

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HEALTH & WELLNESS APRIL 2015

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

JADE Wellness Center:

A Family Devoted to Helping Families Struggling with Addiction

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ADE Wellness Center was founded in 2010 by Lucy Garrighan, JADE’s Matriarch and CEO. As the mother to two young adult sons suffering from the disease of addiction, Lucy searched near and far for the secret, for the answer to why this happened to her children and for a resolution that would “cure” them. Painstakingly, after seven years, relentless visits to treatment centers across the United States and the devastating loss of her first born son, John, she arrived at the bitter truth: There is no secret and there is no cure. However, with one son still in front of her, growing into a better version of himself each day, Lucy knew with certainty that specific treatments could lead to a life free from drugs and alcohol. She and her family are determined to help as many people as possible while continuing to refine the practice based treatment model of JADE Wellness Center.

JADE Wellness Center’s mission is to help others and their families in ways Lucy Garrighan wished her older son could have been helped. Through JADE, derived from the first letters of each of her children’s names, John, Jamie, Abbie, Dan

“

JADE WELLNESS CENTER’S mission IS TO help others AND THEIR FAMILIES IN WAYS LUCY GARRIGAHN WISHES HER older son COULD HAVE BEEN HELPED.

”

and Emma-her first grandchild, Lucy has brought all necessary services to treat addiction under one roof. JADE has a remarkable staff of medical doctors, addiction psychiatrists, registered nurses, licensed therapists and support staff all trained in drug and alcohol addiction.

JADE Wellness focuses its treatment on the altered brain chemistry in the areas of the brain affected by addiction; the part responsible for biological cravings as well as the part of the brain responsible for impulse control and rational thinking, as well as the emotional, social and mental health aspects of addiction. JADE Wellness is having success with treating cravings of both opiates and alcohol, and preventing relapse by using a once monthly non addictive injection, amongst other medications.

Lucy is also joined at JADE Wellness by two of her adult children, Abbie Scanio, a graduate of Duquesne University’s Business School and Dan Garrighan, a graduate of the

Lucy Garrighan, Dan Garrighan, and Abbie Scanio of JADE Wellness Center

University of Pittsburgh, who has continued on with education in clinical management. Both run the daily operation of JADE Monroeville and Wexford locations. Dan’s journey has put him in a place to help others and he does so with great determination.

Dan Garrighan, clinical supervisor, stresses “it is imperative to focus on all aspects of addiction for individuals to establish sobriety. Everyone who comes through our doors seeking treatment is assessed and developed a treatment plan that caters to their individual needs. Those who suffer from substance abuse need to change one thing and that is everything. We are here to help facilitate that change process and assess all the areas that have been most impacted and in return need nurturing. We don’t believe addiction judges.

Anyone can become self identified as an addict. We see physicians who are addicted; mothers, fathers, the rich, the poor, black, white, old, young. We also see all these same categories recover and maintain a life of abstinence. Anyone can become addicted and anyone can beat addiction with a new practice based treatment model. At JADE, we want people to feel empowered about their recovery. We no longer want to see the hopelessness in people and want them to know change is available; however you can’t do that on your own.

We want those still suffering, as well as their families to know there is help out there and it does get better.”

If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse contact Jade Wellness at 412-380-0100 or to learn more, visit www.myjadewellness.com and read the many testimonials of people who have gotten well.

JADE Wellness Center, our family and our treatment program will give you hope. F

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HEALTH & WELLNESS APRIL 2015

Front row left to right: Laura Moore, LPC, Maria Funair, PA-C, Shailaja Parepally, M.D., Syeda Shergill, M.D., Alka Kaushik, M.D., Erin O’Donnell, LPC; Back row left to right: Lauren Ashline, CRNP, Kenneth Hogue, Practice Director, Ashim Dayalan, M.D., Danielle Maloney, PA-C

Dayalan and Associates: Family, Primary Care and So Much More…

Dayalan and Associates Family Medicine, a division of Genesis Medical Associates, is a NCQArecognized Level-3 Patient Centered Medical Home, providing complete medical management for all patients, and serving as your home base to manage every aspect of communication within your network of caregivers while providing a secure patient-portal for access to your medical records.

D

ayalan and Associates Family Practice – was founded by Ashim K. Dayalan, M.D. who specializes in Internal Medicine and provides Primary Care along with Syeda R. Shergill, M.D. and Maria Funair PA-C and Danielle Maloney, PA-C. In addition to Primary Care services, Dayalan and Associates offers advance point of service testing and treatment including osteoporosis testing, pulmonary care testing and screening for peripheral artery disease.

While also offering complete lab services in conjunction

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with Genesis Medical including walk-in blood drawing and testing Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

In addition to offering services as Primary Care physicians, Dayalan and Associates has expanded its practice and staff of associates to provide services in the following specialties: Endocrinology – services offered through Shailaja Parepally, M.D. along with Lauren Ashline CRNP who provide the complete range of endocrinology services including educational services and lab testing services

Northern Connection | April 2015 www.northernconnectionmag.com

Dayalan & Associates offers complete allergy testing & immunotherapy services.

for adolescents and adults with such maladies as diabetes, hyper-thyroidism, hypo-thyroidism, among others.

Pain Management – services provided by Alka Kaushik, MD, a specialist in chronic pain management.

Dr. Kaushik’s pain management services involving medical therapy and maintenance including trigger-point injections, interventional pain management on an outpatient basis and providing counseling and education regarding pain management and pain-related issues.

The dexa scan is used to detect osteoporosis.

Behavioral Health – services offered by Erin O’Donnell LPC and Laura Moore LPC to provide counseling services for patients with depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, self-esteem issues and many other psychological and social disorders. The team is also able to assist patient and their families in coping with serious, chronic diseases and states.

On-going counseling is also available on a 1:1 basis.

Dayalan and Associates Family Medicine accepts ALL major insurance including Medicare, UPMC and Highmark and as an Independent Physician practice has privileges to admit and treat at BOTH UPMC Passavant and Allegheny General.

Dayalan and Associates Family Medicine is located in Pittsburgh’s North Hills at 3601 McKnight East Drive in Ross Township. Call (412) 369-9643 for an appointment. Dayalan and Associates Behavioral Health is located at 100 McKnight Park Drive, Suite 103, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 Phone 412847-2840. Both locations are open for appointments Mon.-Thurs. 9am to 7pm and Friday 9am to 5pm.

Visit http://www.genesismedical.org/location/SinghDayalan-Medical-Associates/ for more information on these extended services or to read the biographies of this dedicated team of healthcare providers. F

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The clinical staff at Dayalan & Asssociates provides skilled medical care along with high quality.

Our business office staff will assist patients with scheduling, billing, prior authorizations, referrals, and much more Northern Connection | April 2015

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HEALTH & WELLNESS APRIL 2015

ENHANCE YOUR LIFE

Recently Diagnosed?

BY DONNA SUMMERS MOUL

I

f you have recently been diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness, you are probably reel-

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ing from the news. At a time when you could still be in shock and not thinking clearly, you may be required

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to make critical decisions about your health. Here are some suggestions to make that process easier: Pick a trusted friend or relative to go with you to your doctor’s appointments and tests to give you moral support, to take notes and to ask objective questions. You can review the information together when you get home, and call the doctor’s office for any clarifications you may need.

Designate an advocate who will research medical journals and medical websites to find the latest breakthroughs for your condition.

Have your advocate also talk to local doctors, nurses and other medical personal to find out who the top experts are in the field and which hospitals have the most experience treating your illness.

Get a second opinion, both on the seriousness of your condition and also on treatment options.

Opinions can vary from no treatment at this time to intensive chemotherapy or surgery. If you are still unsure of what to do, get a third opinion.

Hire a medical coach who is knowledgeable about complimentary medicine. They can evaluate additional treatments that may expedite your healing, such as specific nutrition, massage, meditation, acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic care, or energy medicine.

Today there are many options available in addition to conventional treatments.

Prepare yourself for an emotional roller coaster ride.

Working your way through a medical maze can be exhausting. Actively try to keep your stress levels down: talk to friends, listen to soothing music,

walk, get a massage, and breathe deeply. You may find yourself sleeping more, reaching for comfort foods more often or feeling weepy. Be extra gentle with yourself during this time. And rest, rest, rest to give your body time to heal.

Find role models of people who have had your particular diagnosis, who have survived, and who are doing well. Talk to them about what they did to get healthy and consider their suggestions. Role models provide proof of what is possible.

Pray and ask all your friends to put you on their prayer lists. Miracles happen every day. Even the scientific community has noticed and is researching the power of prayer.

Choose a correspondent to keep family and friends updated to your progress. That way, everyone will stay informed, even when you don’t feel like talking or just need some time to be alone.

Life can feel out of control when you are diagnosed with a serious illness. Allow yourself to be angry, sad or scared, but also empower yourself by creating a support system that will handle the details so you can use your energy to cope and to concentrate on healing. F Donna Summers Moul is a Certified Life Coach. Her passion is to help women create their best lives. She offers Individual Coaching and Coaching Groups for Women.

Contact Donna: (724) 935-6275 or www.

Especially-For-Women.com

8-week Coaching Group for Women New Group forming now Tuesday evenings 7:00-9:00 pm, Starting April 14 Cost: 8 Sessions - $320 Contact Donna (724) 935-6275 www.Especially-for-Women.com

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HEALTH & WELLNESS APRIL 2015

STARTING THE CONVERSATION

Vaccinations: A Tough Decision

BY MARIANNE REID ANDERSON

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arents today seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to vaccinating their children. Medical experts are telling them that their children need to be vaccinated against diseases such as measles, mumps, whopping cough and several others – diseases that are highly contagious, cause tremendous suffering, and can even be deadly. But, these are also diseases that young parents today have never seen or experienced. They have never seen a child suffer with these diseases, they have never lost a friend or sibling to these diseases and there is very little news footage available of these diseases and the long-term effects.

What young parents have experienced are other parents, many who are insisting and blaming vaccinations, when their child has been diagnosed with special needs such as an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other learning disabilities.

Now, because parents are confused and don’t know who to trust, these diseases, that were once thought eradicated throughout the United States are again on the rise and are again reaching epidemic levels.

What do you think of this decision-making dilemma? Let’s continue the conversation on my blog where I also have several links to additional and more in-depth research on this topic. Also on the blog, there is a comment section where you can state your opinion or give advice to young parents.

To reach my blog, “Continuing the Conversation,” go to http://northernconnectionmag.blogspot.com. F

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ADVERTORIAL

Till Death Do Us Part?

BY DR. SHANNON THIEROFF

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et’s talk about one of the biggest obstacles people face when they consider starting chiropractic… The Commitment. The notion that once you start that you have to go forever, or maybe that it’s addictive. The idea of facing that kind of commitment may seem fairly daunting and instead of engaging in a decision that could change their lives for the better, free them from pain and get them off drugs, they just settle for the status quo and “Live with it.” Come to think of it, “Living with it” is a commitment too, isn’t it?

I want to teach you about the different ways you can choose to use chiropractic and share some statistics on the people that do commit to the lifestyle of chiropractic. I’ll also address some of the biggest fears that hold people back from seeing a chiropractor.

Chiropractic is Work. This statement is totally true.

And here’s why: • To change your body permanently, you must be consistent.

This fact is true with diets, exercise, and chiropractic.

• Your body’s tissues have memory. Essentially, a lot of us learn how to be out of good balance and alignment because the process starts early in life. Poor posture, tension, muscle

imbalance and poor health are all a process.

Undoing that pattern and getting the body stable is a learning process.

• We are used to the “quick fix” of symptomatic relief that mediAre you treating your health cations offer us. Though like it’s a ball and chain or as if it’s your greatest asset? we know that they’re masking the problem a lot of the time we’ll choose them… because even in spite of some pretty serious side effects, they’re easy.

You can engage in chiropractic in different ways.

Most chiropractors practice in a fashion that is considered “Corrective” in nature. The scope of the treatment goes beyond pain relief and focuses on retraining the nervous and muscular systems to get that body back to a healthy internal balance (homeostasis).

You can do chiropractic for pain relief. It’s effective, with a 92% satisfaction rate among patients (Consumer Reports, April, 2009). However, you should know that if your body is not stable and you go back to your activities that caused the problem in the first place, you’re probably going to get repeat bouts of the problem.

It’s not a chiropractic failure, it’s a natural result of the failure of your body being able to endure the stresses it’s exposed to.

What Happens if you Do Commit?

There are studies that demonstrate that people who use chiropractic care over a period of time show decreased rates of medication use, surgeries, and hospital stays.

A Medicare study showed that when people were under chiropractic treatment they only spent 30% on medical care compared to people who were not treated with chiropractic.

There are no negative long term effects. You cannot overdose or become addicted.

If you want to live in a body that feels good and that lasts, you have to do the work. Chiropractic can help. F

Brought to you as a Public Service by:

Choice Chiropractic & Wellness Center, P.C. Dr. Shannon Thieroff and Associates McKnight (412) 364-9699 Harmar (412) 826-9030 www.choicechiropractic.net We are your “in-network” provider Like us on Facebook www.northernconnectionmag.com

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April 2015 Getting ready for breast feeding April 1, 2015 – 6 to 9 p.m. $40 per couple.

Baseline concussion testing Every Wednesday in April from 5 to 6:40 p.m. $20/student $15/student if the parent is an AHN or Highmark employee. Children 10- years and older.

COPD Talk: Learn about COPD and the various treatments available to improve lung function and quality of life.

April 2, 2015 – 6 to 8 p.m.

Tariq Cheema, MD Anil Singh, MD The Scoop on Local Seasonal Foods: Owner of Dillner’s farm will join us to discuss buying local produce from the farm and why local and seasonal foods are more nutritious.

April 7, 2015 – 12 to 1 p.m.

Free Breast Cancer Support Group: Free breast cancer support group on the second Wednesday of every month!

Open to recently diagnosed breast cancer patients and survivors.

April 8, 2015 – 6 to 7:30 p.m.

CPR Classes: Learn CPR through a free “Family & Friends CPR” course.

April 11, 2015 – 9 a.m.

April 28, 2015 – 6:30 p.m.

Wexford Pregnancy/Birth Primer: Expectant parents will learn about normal physical and emotional changes during pregnancy, basic information about the birth process and what to expect in the hospital.

April 15, 2015 – 6:30 to 9 p.m.

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Health For Her Series – Win the Weight Loss Challenge: Learn how gender affects your weight – and weigh your options for losing pounds with diets, medications and surgery.

April 21, 2015 – 6:30 to 8 p.m.

George M. Eid, MD Weight loss info session: We invite you and your family to our free session to enhance your understanding of weight loss surgeries and services offered by our Institute.

April 22, 2015 – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

April 23, 2015 – 12 to 1 p.m.

Plastic Surgery Talk: Learn about the normal changes to the human face, how to prevent those changes and treatment options available.

April 22, 2015 – 6 to 8 p.m.

Rafael Diaz-Garcia, MD Health cooking for Life Series – Egg-Cellent Cuisine: Learn the pros and cons of eating eggs and quick egg recipes that will boost the protein and omega 3 fats of your meals.

April 23, 2015 – 12 to 1 p.m. $10 fee required.

One-Day Labor and Delivery Session: This intensive full-day class prepares couples for what to expect through labor, birth and beyond.

April 25, 2015 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Prenatal yoga (zen mama) April 28, 2015 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

May 5, 2015 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

May 12, 2015 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

May 19, 2015 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. $50 per 4 class session

Healthy Cooking for Life series – Greens-healthy and easy: Class will include an introduction to all the greens in the market place with recipes and ideas on how to add to meals.

April 15, 2015 – 12 to 1 p.m. $10 fee required.

Hypertension: The Silent Killer Learn about hypertension, the risk factors in the development of hypertension and the role of medical and non-medical therapy in reducing blood pressure.

April 29, 2015, 6 to 8 p.m.

Benjamin Susco, MD

Meet Dr. Right: Need help finding a Primary Care Physician? Come mingle with Allegheny Health Network PCPs and find the right one for you and your family’s health needs.

April 16, 2015 – 5 to 8 p.m.

Wexford Newborn basics: April 29, 2015 – 6 to 9 p.m. $40 per couple

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HEALTH & WELLNESS APRIL 2015

Kids with Autism and ADHD Who Swim, Bike and Run: It’s All in the Numbers

BY JOELLA BAKER

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’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to work with hundreds of kids over the years through my work with horses and coaching. When I graduated with Master’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh, my first job was with Glade Run Lutheran Services where I taught kids with emotional disabilities learn to ride horses and work with animals. I became a certified riding instructor so I could better teach these kids. The skills I learned while working with these kids has transferred over to my current work and coaching kids of all levels and abilities in triathlon, running and swimming.

I have had the privilege of working with many kids who have highfunctioning autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and even some with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Research states that exercise is good for all of these kids. It helps to keep them centered and more focused. Kids with ADHD have trouble with executive function. Executive function is the problem solving skills that we use to plan and organize. Kids who are missing the executive function has difficulty remembering ever day things like finishing their homework or to bring home their lunchbox.

Exercise has been found to improve the executive function in these kids.

We often see behavioral problems with kids with ADHD or autism.

They often struggle socially, but when they exercise, these tendencies improve both at the time of exercise and afterwards at home or school.

Studies show, kids who exercised got in trouble less often for disruptive behaviors such as talking out of turn,

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name calling, hitting, moving inappropriately, and refusing to participate in activities. Therefore, exercise is seen to improve behavior and, when used in conjunction with proper medication, can show even better results.

Olympic Gold Medalist, Michael Phelps, was diagnosed with ADHD when he was seven years old. His mother knew that she needed something to help to keep him focused, so she started swim lessons with him.

When he first started to swim, he hated getting his face wet, so they started with backstroke and the rest is history.

As with many kids with ADHD, Michael Phelps needed structure to stay focused. I’ve found this to be the leading element in engaging the kids. The more structured the workout, the more receptive they are.

Of course, when working with kids, maintaining structure isn’t always easy. Sometimes things happen that force us to change a workout. When this happens, I expect the consequences from my autistic and ADHD kids. I know when the schedule

changes, I may get some backlash, so I do what I can to quickly state the new adjustments to the workout, it could be to run 5 more laps on the track, then do their cool down, or to swim 6 more 50’s in the pool. By putting each workout into numbers that the kids can count, they stay more focused. These kids always tell me how many laps or minutes they have left. The numbers keep them on task.

For these reasons, I believe that’s why I’m getting more and more kids with Autism or ADHD in my program. The kids don’t find the same structure in a lot of the team sports like soccer or lacrosse. The numbers aren’t there where they can run a certain number of laps or swim a certain number of yards. That is why triathlon, running and swimming work well for these kids. There is always a number to focus on.

I never would have imagined how important a number was until I started to work with these kids so closely.

Now I know, the numbers mean everything. Furthermore, if done cor-

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rectly, you will see the talent pour out of these young athletes. I love working with these kids. Yes, they may be challenging at times, but once you learn who they are and what keeps them focused, you will find these kids are sweet, fun and most of all, incredibly talented. Some of my best athletes have some type of diagnosis and I’m so proud when these kids excel at their sport of choice and realize how amazing they truly are.

I look forward to working with these kids. I look forward to learning from them. They make me more patient, more understanding and they make me a better coach. I can only hope I give back to them as much as they give to me. F Sources 2012 WebMD, LLC Gapin, J. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, December 2010.

Kang, K.D. International Journal of Sports Medicine, December 2011.

Always be sure and consult a physician before starting any exercise program.

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SENIOR LIVING April 2015

TOWN CRIER

Appreciating April

BY JOE BULLICK

H

ello April! Well, we are now into Daylight Savings Time (DST). By changing our clock in the spring and fall, we save energy because less electricity is used for lighting

our homes and businesses. It also allows us to take advantage of longer sunlight hours.

April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It is one of four months with a length of 30 days. The word “April” is derived from the Latin word aperire which means “to open or bud.” It is a time to celebrate the season’s renewal of life.

There is no doubt that the first week of April this year will be a busy time for many people. Churches celebrate Palm Sunday on March 29, which begins the start of Holy Week. On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the Last Supper. Good Friday is the day that we commemorate the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. April 5, is Easter Sunday, which is the greatest feast in the Christian calendar, as we acknowledge the Resurrection the Lord.

As a young boy, I was glad to see Easter coming. I spent much of my time in church during the season of Lent, which was important in my house. I had to fast, and go to the Stations of the Cross every Friday. Mom would say, “We must use Lent as a time to prepare for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.” I don’t know about you, but I have eaten more fish and soup to float a battleship!

It was fun to go to church on Easter Sunday. I always had a new suit and new shoes to go along with it. I enjoyed being all decked out. I think almost every woman had a new bonnet as well. They were all dressed to the hilt. I remember Fred Astaire singing, “In Your Easter Bonnet…” from the movie Easter Parade. When we would get home, I would search for my Easter basket that was always hidden. Many folks look forward to Easter egg hunts, even the White House has an Easter egg hunt for children.

Over the years, Easter has become a highly commercialized event full of chocolate rabbits, decorated Easter baskets and colorful eggs. In many central European countries, Easter eggs are a symbol of new life.

Each Easter season, Americans buy more than 700 million marshmallows peeps which are shaped like bunnies and chicks.

Yellow peeps are the most popular. Let’s not forget about jellybeans – 16 billion of these are consumed at Easter time. They only became popular in the 1930s.

Many significant events have happened in April. The big thing for older people happened on April 27, 1937 when the first social security checks were distributed. Boy, was I glad to get one! For horse lovers – the Pony Express began delivering the mail coast-to-coast on April 3, 1860. On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. On April 6, 1896 the First Olympics opened in Athens, Greece. On April 15, 1912 the Titanic sank.

There were some famous people born in April – jazz singer Billy Holiday on April 7, 1915 and Spencer Tracy on April 5, 1900. Well that’s enough from me.

Happy birthday to you Aries and Taurus. I leave you with this – Take time to laugh it is the music of the soul Take time to pray it is the source of strength and peace.

– An old English prayer Correction - In our February issue in the Town Crier column, it stated that the new postmaster general started her postal career in 1946. She started in 1986. We apology for the error.

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Northern Connection | April 2015 www.northernconnectionmag.com

10 Personal Enhancements Gained with Better Hearing

BY R. PATRICK FRANCIS, AUD

T

he idea of correcting a hearing impairment is often limited to pragmatic reasoning such as understanding family members, television, telephone or environmental sounds such as the doorbell. While these are important, there are a whole host of reasons that often go unrecognized and have a profound effect on your sense of well-being .

Below is a list of 10 reasons to improve your hearing.

Quality of Life Enhancements 1

Participation: Better hearing allows you to interact in group conversations.

2

Confidence: Respond appropriately.

3

Relaxation: Sit back and just listen.

4

Awareness: Tune in to the 3D world of sound.

5

Independence: Understand on your own.

6

Peace of mind: Be included in conversations.

7

Enjoyment: Connect with the beautiful sounds of music, nature and life!

8

Understanding: You understand the first time.

9

Emotion: Have fun, laugh and love.

10

Advantage: Better hearing results in quicker responses.

You deserve to enjoy life to your fullest potential.

Bring us your personal list of hearing desires along with this coupon and let us help you capture the thrills that life has to offer! F

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SENIOR LIVING April 2015

Happenings for Seniors Free Home Safety Inspection is available for seniors through the Open Your Heart to a Senior program. For info, call Cathy at (412) 307-0069, ext. 3313 or clpschirer@nhco.org.

How to Take the Stress Out of Moving, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 22, Strabane Trails Village, 317 Wellness Way, Washington, Pa. Call (724) 225-4100.

Free Rides for Seniors, to grocery stores, doctor’s appts & more thru St. Margaret’s Foundation. Pick up & drop off seniors in the corridors from Sharpsburg to Blawnox & Rt. 28 to the Allegheny River. Sign up by calling, (412) 449-0151.

Pittsburgh: Quirks and All, 2 p.m., Apr. 27, Sherwood Oaks, 100 Norman Dr., Cranberry Twp. Call 1 (800) 642-2217 or www.

Sherwood-Oaks.com.

Free Services for Seniors through North Hills Community Outreach. Help with rides to medical appts., grocery stores, yard work. For info, call Cathy at (412) 307-0069 ext. 3313 or Kerry at (412) 449-0151 to schedule an in-home registration visit.

Home Instead Senior Care® is offering a unique approach to help area families in Northwest Allegheny County manage the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Free training is available for families at HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com.

McKnight Meals on Wheels provides home delivered meals to the elderly, homebound and disabled. Services Ross Twp., Berkley Hills, Swan Acres & part of McCandless Twp. Call (412) 487-4088.

Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring – An Hour a Week Can Change a Child’s Life. For adults 50 & over become a tutor.

Training sessions are held at Macy’s downtown. For details, call (412) 232-2021.

UPMC Senior Communities offers independent living & personal care. For details, call 1-800-324-5523.

Senior Meetings AARP #2991 invites you to join their monthly meetings 11:30 a.m., every 3rd Thurs. of the month (Apr. 16), in the hall at Northmont Church, located at Perrymont & Rt. 19. Light lunch at noon is provided for a nominal fee. Travel and events will be discussed.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 8, Beatty Pointe Village, Monroeville. To register, call (412) 374-9000.

Zumba® Gold, 9:30 a.m., Apr. 23, Seneca Hills Village, 5350 Saltsburg Rd., Verona. To register, call (412) 793-1700.

Volunteer Opportunities: Hope Hospice is looking for volunteers to visit Hospice patients. For details, call (412) 367-3685.

North Hills Community Outreach’s Faith in Action program is seeking Senior Companion volunteers. For details, contact Nancy, at (412) 307-0069 or nljones@nhco.org.

VA Benefits Seminar, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 8, Lighthouse Pointe Village 500 Chapel Harbor Dr., Fox Chapel, call (412) 781-2707; Apr. 9, Hampton Fields Village, 4480 Mt. Royal Blvd., call (412) 492-8448.

Open Your Heart to a Senior volunteer orientations, 10:30 a.m., Apr. 7, Eat N Park, Butler St., Etna; 9:00 a.m., Apr. 21, Panera Bread, McKnight Rd; 10:30 a.m., May 5, Cooper Siegel Library, Fox Chapel; 6 p.m. May 27, NHCO, Ferguson Rd, Allison Park. For details, visit oyhs.org.

Entertainment & Social Events

Pittsburgh Friendship Group is looking for volunteers to help visually impaired seniors. No experience is necessary. For info, call (724) 444-0064.

Cahal Dunne - Ireland’s Happy Man, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 15, Hampton Fields Village, 4480 Mt. Royal Blvd, call (412) 492-8448; Apr. 16, Lighthouse Pointe Village, 500 Chapel Harbor Dr., Fox Chapel, call, (412) 781-2707; 2:30 p.m., Apr. 22, Beatty Pointe Village, Monroeville, call (412) 374-9000.

Saint Athanasius Parish Education & Community Center (West View) & Allegheny County Dept. of Human Services need your help this tax season to provide tax preparation for low income individuals, families, the disabled & the elderly. If interested, call Frank at (412) 350-3463 or frank. grande@alleghenycounty.us.

Elton John Tribute, 3 p.m., Apr. 2, Seneca Hills Village, 5350 Saltsburg Rd., Verona. To register, call (412) 793-1700.

Liz Calfo’s Tribute to Connie Francis, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 9, Strabane Trails Village, 317 Wellness Way, Washington, Pa. Call (724) 225-4100.

Silver Sky Duo, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 9, Vanadium Woods Village, 50 Vanadium Rd., Bridgeville. Call (412) 221-2900.

Bereavement Support Group (for Widows/Widowers over 50), 1-2:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Wed., St. Sebastian, Haber Hall. To register, call (412) 366-1300.

Cranberry Senior Citizens Club for residents 55+ meets at 1 p.m., the 2nd Tues., of the month in the Cranberry Municipal Center. Call (724) 816-4977 for info and programs.

Friendship Groups for Visually Impaired, Men’s Group meets every Weds. 1-3:15 p.m., Knitting & Crocheting Circle meets every Weds., 1-3:15 p.m., Monthly Meeting 2nd Thurs. of each month 1:15-3:15 p.m., The Lunch Bunch meets 4th Thurs. of every month 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., The Talking Book Club meets 1st Mon. of each month 1-2:30 p.m. For info, call (724) 444-0064.

Glenshaw AARP #3744 meeting, Apr. 14, Elfinwild Presbyterian Church, 3200 Mt. Royal Blvd., Glenshaw.

Entertainment by Bill Campbell.

Paramount Senior Living at Cranberry Alzheimer’s Affiliated Support Group meets the 1st Mon., of every month 3 p.m., and the last Fri., 2 p.m. Contact Pam, at (724) 779-5020.

Primetimers, noon, first Thurs of the month, Christ Church Grove Farm, Ohio Twp. For info, call (412) 741-4900 or visit http://www.ccgf.org.

Seminars Abraham Lincoln: A Man of Ambition, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 16, Vanadium Woods Village, 50 Vanadium Rd., Bridgeville. Call (412) 221-2900.

Assassination of President John Kennedy, Single Bullet Theory, 2 p.m., Apr. 10, Sherwood Oaks, 100 Norman Dr., Cranberry Twp. Call 1 (800) 642-2217 or www.Sherwood-Oaks.com.

Cumberland Woods – A Taste of Greece, 11 a.m., Apr. 7; Brain Health Retreat, 9 a.m. or 6 p.m., Apr. 21, 700 Cumberland Woods Dr., McCandless. For reservations, call (412) 635-8080 or TheLegacyLineup.com.

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Fitness

Northern Connection | April 2015 www.northernconnectionmag.com

Volunteer drivers are needed for various programs to help seniors. For details, call (412) 307-0071 or allegheny@openyourhearttoasenior.org.

Yard work help for seniors is needed countywide.

To register, call (412) 307-0071 or email allegheny@openyourhearttoasenior.org.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS April 2015

Vietnam Remembered 50th Anniversary of America’s Ground War 40th Anniversary of the War’s End

BY PAULA GREEN

I

n 1964, Ronald Reagan expressed his sentiments on the situation in Vietnam. “We are at war with the most dangerous enemy that has ever faced mankind in his long climb from the swamp to the stars, and it has been said if we lose that war, and in so doing lose this way of freedom of ours, history will record with the greatest astonishment that those who had the most to lose did the least to prevent it happening.”

On March 8, 1965, America’s ground war in Vietnam began when 3,500 Marines were deployed.

They arrived in China Beach with the American public’s support. By Christmas, nearly 200,000 soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors were in the country.

The United States involvement in the Vietnam War was debatable and controversial. Some held to the notion that U.S. intervention was necessary and critical to the suppression of Communism and vital to prevent South Vietnam from coming under North Vietnamese rule. However, those who opposed U.S. involvement in the conflict had steadfast reasons for rejecting the United States’ participation in a war that didn’t directly affect the U.S. and resulted in a high number of casualties at a tremendous financial expense. The ten year battle that raged on certainly took its toll on the United States.

At war’s end on April 30, 1975, nearly three million Americans had been on the ground, in the air and on rivers of Vietnam. More than 58,000 Americans had lost their lives.

A special lifetime dedication was established to honor those U.S. soldiers who perished in this horrific war. In 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund was established to raise money for construction of a memorial to the veterans of the Vietnam War. In 1980, Congress allotted three acres of land near the Lincoln Memorial be

designated for the site of the Vietnam War Memorial. Construction began in March 1982 and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was dedicated on November 13, 1982.

The Three Soldiers statue, sculpted

by Frederick Hart, was completed and dedicated by 1984. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial was designed by Glenna Goodacre and was dedicated in 1993. In April 2000, the In Memory Plaque was authorized by Congress to be added to the three-acre Memorial site on the National Mall. The plaque is intended to honor those who died after service but are not eligible for placement on The Wall due to Department of Defense policies.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is

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free and open to the public 24 hours a day. To learn more, visit, http://www. vvmf.org/memorial. F Sources: www.vietnamwar.net/quotations/quotations.htm, www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle. aspx., http://classroom.synonym.com/five-reasonsshould-not-invaded-vietnam-16254.html, http:// washington.org/DC-guide-to/vietnam-veteransmemorial, http://www.vvmf.org/memorial

We welcome brief biographies and photos of local servicemen and women from our community. If you know of someone you’d like to see featured in this column, please call (724) 940-2444 or mail the information to: Northern Connection Magazine, P.O. Box 722, Wexford, PA 15090-0722 or email northcon@consolidated.net.

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2015 NC Wedding Guide

WEDDING TR

BY PAULA GREEN AND MARIANNE REID ANDERSON

Adding your own unique flare to your wedding will keep your guests talking for years. Check out these great ideas and locations for help expressing the wonderful and one-of-a-kind couple you are.

THEMES – Beach-themed wedding are very romantic. If you aren’t able to do a destination wedding at the beach, then capture the essences at the reception by incorporating beach or ocean-related decors to your reception venue. For the color motif incorporate base colors - such as a deep-sea blue, light emerald-green, or a medium blue.

You could also have an outdoor-theme, complete with butterflies, roses, or other favorite outdoor flowers. Rustic country-themed receptions are growing in popularity as well. An angel-themed wedding would be divine, with fluffy white feathers, cute cherubs, Grecian columns and urns, and of course, angel wings to use as a decorating scheme.

You could also capture the essence of a celestial marriage celebration with this starry night theme wedding – complete with dark blues and celestial stars. A sports-themed wedding is sure to be a

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hit. Choose your favorite sport or team, and use the colors and symbols available to help build your wedding theme.

It will score big points with your guests.

Contact General Rental for all kinds of items to spice up the big day. In addition to the conventional party rentals such as tents, tables, chairs, linens and much, much more, they have fun rentals too including dunk tanks, bounce houses, cotton candy machines and frozen drink dispensers. We are constantly updating our inventory with new games and concession equipment, so be sure and visit their Cranberry location. To learn more, call (724) 776-6990 to speak with an event planner or visit http:// general-rental-center.com.

BRIDAL SHOWER – Take the shower out of the living room and out of the house. Instead, move it to someplace elegant, filled with charm and grace.

This way, no one in your wedding party

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needs to worry about decorating and best of all, no clean-up, leaving you time to visit with your guests for some real girl-bonding time. The Johnston House Tea Room located in Mars near Cranberry is just such a place. It offers a blend of romance, luxury and old world charm inside and out with unmatched options and impeccable service. Their core purpose for over 25 years is “making memories” and “making people feel at home.” For more information on this one-of-a-kind location, contact their event coordinators at (724) 625-2636.

ACCOMMODATIONS for OUT of TOWN GUESTS – Forget the fold-out sofa and the futon on the floor, book a block of rooms at Home2 Suites to give your out-of-town guest that homey feel without the work and chaos.

Home2 Suites by Hilton are walking distance to all of the shops, eateries

Photos: (page 42 left) Crystal Conservatories at St. Barnabas; (page 42 right) The Johnston House; (page 43 left) The Camelot in Warrendale; (page 43 right) delicious catering at The Crystal Conservatories at St. Barnabas

RADITIONS

with a Twist

and cinemas in McCandless Crossing for your guest to enjoy while you are busy getting ready for the wedding. In addition, each Home2 Suite gives your guests a kitchenette, free breakfast and a great place to relax and enjoy. Also, be sure and provide a welcome gift and thank you note for each guest. To see what all Home2 Suites have to offer your out-of-town guests, visit http:// home2suites3.hilton.com.

SAVE THE DATE – If you are bored with Save the Date cards, then why not created a board game like the game of Life? It can be accompanied by bride and groom game pieces. Another option would be to create a “comic book” style Save the Date. Share with your invited guest an abridged version of your relationship or proposal. Or you could showcase your writing skills by composing a magazine-format Save the Date or even a Crossword puzzle – “How Well Do You Know the Bride and Groom?” Passport covers are another

creative Save the Date option – be sure to select ones that match your wedding colors. You could also choose to tantalize the intended guest taste buds by sending out a cookie box Save the Date. It is definitely a sweet option!

Whatever you decide be sure to make it as fun and personalized as possible.

Things in Mars. In addition to invitation, they can help with all your printing and wedding item needs including programs, place cards, napkins, favors, thank you notes and so much more.

To see what all they have to offer, visit http://www.printdaughters.carlsoncraft. com.

INVITATIONS – Wedding invitations now comes in many imaginative designs. A guided concept is to – “Map-it out” – set up the invite to read like road map directions. Are you travel buffs? Then design your invitations to look like airplane tickets or passports. Vinyl records may be yesterday’s news, but you can utilize them for a record label invitations – just affix your wedding invitation right on the label and you could even make a recording on the vinyl record. Feeling like you hit the jackpot – then design your wedding invites as lottery. For help designing your invitations, use the Print Daughters at the Print Shop at Office

TABLE DÉCOR – Find some innovative ways to number your guest’s tables. One idea is burlap bags. Wrap the table’s wine in a cute burlap bag stamped with the table number for a rustic table number idea. You can write the words for “love” and “marriage” in different foreign languages. Have sports-themed tables. Or name the table after your favorite movies, TV shows, actors or actresses. Or you could names the tables after birds, flowers, parks or trees. How about taking a historical spin-on things, name them after favorite presidents, historical dates or monuments. For food and drink tables you can name them after

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Northern Connection | April 2015

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2015 NC Wedding Guide

your favorite restaurants, desserts, or cocktails. For centerpieces you could have mason jars with fresh flowers, or hiking centerpieces with wooden flower holders, or perhaps a nice little teapot with fresh buds. Instead of going floral, try a few unique centerpieces – lamps, ice sculptures, candles, or seashells and corals. Be imaginative and have fun, your guests will enjoy your creativity.

VENUES – How about tying the knot on a bridge? Just pick out your favorite one, because Pittsburgh has 446 to choose from. Great local reception venues include, The Crystal Conservatory at St. Barnabas, The Magnolia Room, The Camelot, and The Colombian Room. The Crystal Conservatories at St. Barnabas is a four building complex that includes a Pre-function room ideal for mingling, The Main Conservatory

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with a large indoor heated pool featuring poolside dining, the Tower Conservatory which is a glass house with buffet and bar areas, tables and a loft and the Cruise Deck with patio dining and room to socialize outside and adjacent to the pool. Visit https://stbarnabashealthsystem.com/retirementliving/the-crystal-conservatories. The Magnolia Room offers classic elegance in a contemporary setting, located only 1.1 miles from Pittsburgh Mills Mall and the Magnolia Room also includes a Bridal Room where the bridal party enjoys hors d’oeuvres and can freshen up before being announced to guests.

“We have enjoyed every wedding reception we have had at The Magnolia Room. No two are alike. Each one is unique in some way. We are there with our personal touch to help every one of our brides and grooms along the

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The Camelot in Warrendale

way,” explains co-owner and operator Sue Zaleski. Visit www.themagnoliaroom.com to learn more. The Camelot, in Warrendale is an idyllic location for a wedding reception with its large, individual ballroom; it offers seating for 75-200 guests. The Camelot team also offers another remarkable venue, The Columbian Room, located in Wexford which accommodates 175-300 guests.

“We offer an inclusive package – the

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Northern Connection | April 2015

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2015 NC Wedding Guide

cake, the linens, the food, really everything needed for a beautiful event with the exception of the DJ and the photographer. What sets us apart is our unique venues, our The Crystal Conservatories at St. Barnabas amazing in-house catering team, experience, and owner involvement. We help the couple with the whole reception process every step of the way,� said The Camelot’s owner and events manager, Valerie Sarel. Her husband Ryan is also the owner, and he serves as the executive chef as well. http://www.thecamelotbanquethall.com/camelot.cfm Want more wedding ideas with a twist, including registries, favors, proposals and so much more? Be sure and check out our website at http://northernconnectionmag. com and our Facebook page! F

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2015 Wedding Guide Vendors The Print Shop

724-935-2221 www.printdaughters.com

Chiropractic Family Health Center 724-940-9000 www.laserawayinches.com

The Magnolia Room

Crystal Conservatories at St. Barnabas

724-625-3807 www.stbarnabashealthsystem.com

General Rental Center

724-776-6990 www.General-Rental-Center.com

724-224-9401 www.themagnoliaroom.com

Wexford Nails & Spa

The Camelot Banquet Hall The Columbian Room in Wexford

The Johnston House

724-935-4550 www.thecamelotbanquethall.com

Home2 Suites

412-630-8400 www.home2suites.com

Northern Connection | April 2015 www.northernconnectionmag.com

724-933-7399

724-625-2636 www.thejohnstonhouse.com

Saint James Catholic Church 412-741-6650 www.saintjames-church.com

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2015 NC Wedding Guide

On Conflict Resolution

BY REV. THOMAS J. BURKE

T

he spring season starts the beginning of a busy wedding season. A lot of couples like to

get married this time of year because it is not too hot or too cold. I am blessed to come from a family with stable mar-

riages: my parents Bill and Marge have been married fifty-three years, my sister Lisa has been married twenty-five years and my other sister Linda twenty-four years. We all know that there is no “perfect marriage.” We are always to going to have up’s and downs in life in any relationship. We are human beings, and humans are not perfect people. So how do we resolve conflicts in marriage? How can we improve communication? How can we forgive and move forward?

One of the important aspects to a successful marriage to is to have good communication with one another. If we have a misunderstanding, argument, or if we lose our temper with our spouse, it is best to “talk things out.” They say, never go to bed angry. If we do not talk things out, then the issues that bother us will never get resolved. Sitting down and talking things out is the best way to smooth over the issues. When talking things out, it is best to let go of any anger or frustrations that we have. It is not good to hold things in. Once things are spoken, try to have an end solution to the concern or problem. Learn to forgive by letting go and moving forward.

When a couple recites their vows and promises before a priest, minister, rabbi or civil official, they state the words: “for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.” Let us remember this important statement and remember that we never walk this journey alone. F

The Rev. Thomas J. Burke is Pastor of St. James Catholic Parish in Sewickley. He can be reached at 412-741-6650, ext. 311 or thomasburke70@hotmail.com.

St. James’ website is: www. saintjames-church.com.

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Say “I Do!” to Wedding Day Beauty

BY KELLY SMITH

E

very bride wants the royal treatment for her wedding so, having princess-worthy makeup is a must! You should always choose hair and makeup styles that are consistent with your everyday self. Although you should amp up the beauty volume on your wedding day, you don’t want to show up looking like someone else or even worse, a faux version of yourself. Your goal on your wedding day is to highlight your best features by using simple, neutral makeup colors and techniques with an added twist of drama. Wedding day makeup is typically more time consuming for brides-tobe; because, let’s be honest here, it needs to be perfect! It needs to be perfect because it has to last all day through kisses, tears, and hugs, eating, drinking and dancing. Let’s take a look at a few tricks and tips to try out before you say “I do!”

Skin – Always exfoliate before applying any makeup to remove dead skin cells.

Dewey skin looks best but if you are having an outdoor wedding with heat and humidity then, opt for a matte foundation and loose powder. Peach colored blush is universally flattering on most skin tones so be sure to apply generously on the apples of your cheeks. I don’t recommend using a lot of bronzer just because of the risk of color transfer to white/light colors but if you really crave that sun-kissed look, be sure to spritz a good makeup setting spray to keep it in place. The décolletage should always be highlighted as well, try sweeping a fluffy brush full of sparkle powder to highlight the area, your photos will thank you later!

sional and can take months or even longer to lighten up. For women who don’t want them to be seen on their big day, I would recommend going to a cosmetic counter at one of the larger department stores and ask about which products would work for you. If you have an unexpected pimple show up on your wedding day you have a few options to start a quick zit-zapping.

Lemon juice and honey applied directly to the blemish will start working in about 20 minutes. Likewise with honey and cinnamon, this combination is a powerhouse to start reducing the size of a pimple within minutes as well.

Eyes – everyone wants the smokey-eye look but do so with caution. It is after all, your wedding day so be sure to “tearproof” your lashes with a good brand of waterproof mascara. If you’re feeling really glamourous, try a pair of falsies for an elegant and waterproof look! If you choose a sparkly shadow to finish your smokey eye look, then keep the rest of your make up sparkle-free.

Lips – You’ll be swimming in kisses all day and night so do be sure to have a good lipstick in tow! You will probably

need to reapply your lipstick more than anything else on your face so it’s best to have a good brand that has staying power. Also, try using a lip liner to keep from bleeding into skin and setting with just a dab of translucent powder will give you staying power. Want to keep the lipstick off of your teeth? Try the old school trick of swiping a bit of Vaseline across the top row of teeth. This will keep them lipstick free and give your smile an extra sparkle!

Taking that big walk down the aisle and bidding farewell to single life is one of the most anticipated and exciting time of a woman’s life. You want to make sure that everything is just perfect and while there may be a few glitches throughout the day, you can be sure that you’ll look good handing them! F

Blemishes – most imperfections can be concealed with the right products but it may take a few times to find the right one for you. Tattoos that are no longer wanted will, unfortunately, need to go through a removal process by a profes www.northernconnectionmag.com

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HAPPENINGS April 2015 Deadline for submissions is by the 12th of the month prior to publication.

April 2015 Happenings North Happenings North Hills Community Outreach’s Community Auto Program serving the Greater Pittsburgh region needs car donations. Call (724) 443-8300 or www.communityauto.org.

North Hills Food Bank, 10 a.m.-1:45 p.m. every Tues & Thurs, rear parking lot of Hiland Presbyterian Church, 845 Perry

Highway. Call, (412) 366-7477 or www.northhillsfoodbank.com.

Donations always welcome.

Mondays Chisel and Chips Carvers of North Pittsburgh meetings, meets 6:30-10 p.m., the 2nd Monday of every month, Parkwood United Presbyterian Church, 4289 Mt. Royal Blvd., Allison Park. For info, call (724) 940-0034.

Greater Cranberry Barbershop Chorus, meets every Monday at 7 p.m., Mars Alliance Church, Rt. 228. Visit Bogmeisters.com.

Greater Pittsburgh Civil War Round Table meets the 3rd Monday of every month 7 p.m.,(Apr. 20) Hampton Township Community Center, 3101 McCully Rd., Allison Park.

Free & open to the public. Call, Bob or Margie (724) 625-2329.

Legacy Theatre Movies, 2 p.m. Mondays, Apr. 6, St. Vincent; Apr. 13, The Devil Wears Prada; Apr. 20, The Proposal; Apr. 27, The Best of Me, 700 Cumberland Woods Dr., McCandless. For info, visit http://www.thelegacylineup.com/ movies/

Tuesdays North Pittsburgh Mother of Multiples meeting, 7:30 p.m., 3rd Tues., of the month, North Hills Community Baptist Church, 7801 Thompson Run Rd. For info, visit www. facebook.com/NPMOMS.

Wednesday Country Knight Line Dancers host a line dance 7-10:30 p.m. every Wed., in St. Athanasius Hall, cost $5 per person. Call, Janine (412) 931-6971 or janine.beley@gmail.com.

Thursdays Cranberry Women’s Club, meets 7 p.m. the 2nd Thurs of the month, Cranberry Library Meeting Room. Contact Sandy, (724) 779-1854.

Friday Christy House Tea Room Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Fridays, on Walnut & Frederick in Sewickley.

Homemade soups, salads, breads & cookies. Needles Eye & Early Treasures gift shops. RSVP to (412) 741-5960.

Saturdays Saturday Singles Dance for ages 40+, 8 p.m.midnight, Apr. 11, “Black & Gold Pirates & Penguins Party,” 7:30 p.m. free dance lesson; West View VFW, 386 Perry Hwy, West View. Call, (724) 316-5029 or www.dancetonight.weebly.com.

Arts & Entertainment Act One Theatre: Willy Wonka, 7:30 p.m., Apr. 16-19 & 23-26 with a 1:30 p.m. matinee, Apr. 18-19 & 25-26. Children of Eden, 7:30 p.m., Apr. 29 & May 1, 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., May 2, noon & 3 p.m., May 3, Scotus Hall, Millvale. For info, visit www. actonetheatreschool.com.

Benedum Center: Pittsburgh Rockin’ Reunion, 4 p.m., Apr. 4; MythBusters Jamie & Adam Unleashed, 8 p.m., Apr. 20; An Evening with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, 7:30 p.m., May 7; Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, 8 p.m., May 16; Matilda, May 31-Jun. 12.

For tickets, (412) 456-6666 or www.TrustArts.org.

Butler Symphony Orchestra concerts: Apr. 11, Celebrate Butler County, Butler Intermediate High School. Call (724) 283-1402 or visit ButlerSymphony.org.

Children’s Theatre: The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Apr. 4-10, Byham Theatre. Visit www.

TrustArts.org/kids.

Legacy Theatres shows: Harvey, 7:30 p.m., Apr. 11 & 18, 2 p.m., Apr. 12 & 19, 7:30 p.m., Pure Gold, May 16. For tickets, call 1-877-987-6487 or thelegacylineup.com Music Space concert series: Apr. 24, The Early Mays and Ben Shannon; May 29, The Garment District and Butterbirds, 812 Liberty Ave. For info, (412) 456-6666 or visit TrustArts.org.

Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival, June 19-21. For details, visit TrustArts.org/jazzlivefest.

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Family Fair Cranberry/Seven Fields

671 Castle Creek Drive Seven Fields, PA 16046 724.761.2020

Kids don’t take a day off.

Neither do we.

Just off Rt. 228, 1.5 miles east of I-79

Now Open.

Office Hours 7 Days & 4 Nights a Week

Plus Pediatrics is Pittsburgh’s most caring, Family!

Games, Vendors, &Kids Fun for the Whole connected, comprehensive pediatric practice. We

Saturday April 11th

dedicate ourselves to meeting the needs of every family, to learning what makes each child special, and to providing a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, accessibility, and top-quality care:

10am-4pm

FREE FAMILY FUN

• No-appointment-necessary Walk-In Hours All Day, every weekday • An Online Patient Portal that gives you 24/7/365 access to your child’s medical records on your computer, tablet, or smart phone

Adams Area Fire Truck Climb on and explore! . Butler County Humane Society See and pet animals!

• Nationally recognized expertise in Infant Sleep, Nutrition, Adoption, Eventioneers Bounce Houses Jump, bounce,Immunization, & play! . Face Painting by and Pediatric Dermatology • Home to the Play nationally renowned Breastfeeding Center of Pittsburgh & create with life-sized Nancy Cool, colorful designs . Imagination Playground www.kidspluspgh.com

• Health & Wellness Classes for kids, parents, and expectant parents

facebook.com/KidsPlusPediatrics building blocks! . Kahuna Balloona Balloon Twisters Animals, hats, and more!

North Allegheny Golden Strolling

• Home of Dr. Todd Wolynn, 6-Time Pittsburgh Magazine Top Doc, Dr.music Nancyplayed Brent,bya local Babyteens!

Talk Magazine National Pediatric Hero StringsandLive

Prizes, Games, and Activities For kids of all ages!

FAMILY FRIENDLY VENDORS Babies R Us . BRGR Food Truck . Hey Baby! 4D Ultrasound . Highmark . Kindercare Kindermusik . Moments Kept Photography . Northern Connection Magazine . Northwest Mutual PNC Bank . and More! .

Cranberry/Seven Fields 671 Castle Creek Drive Seven Fields, PA 16046 724.761.2020 Just off Rt. 228, 1.5 miles east of I-79

Now Open.

Office Hours 7 Days & 4 Nights a Week

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Very Eric Carle traveling exhibition premieres June 13, and runs thru Sept.

20, Children’s Museum. For details, call (412) 322-5058 or www.pittsburghkids.org.

Health & Wellness Back to Nutrition Fundamentals, 1 p.m., Apr. 1, Club Julian, 101 Corbett Ct., Ross Twp. Sponsored

by Passavant Hospital Foundation. To register, call (412) 366-1931.

Bobby Mo Fitness Expo, Apr. 12, Robert Morris University. For details, visit BobbyMoFitnessExpo@gmail.com.

Brain Health Retreat, 9 a.m. or 6 p.m., Apr. 21, Legacy Theatre. Open to the public.

For tickets, 1-877-987-6487.

Diabetes and Your Feet, 6 p.m., Apr. 8, UPMC Passavant in McCandless Twp. Sponsored by Passavant Hospital Foundation.

For info, call (412) 748-6550.

Dyslexia Executive Functions, May 2, AIU at the Waterfront, Homestead. For info & to register, visit http://pbida.org.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Pirates Charities team up and created recipe cards that focus on nutrition. For details, visit www.pittsburghfoodbank.com.

New Advances in Total Joint Replacement, 10:30 a.m., Apr. 15,

Sherwood Oaks in Cranberry Twp. Free seminar, open to the public. Sponsored by Passavant Hospital Foundation. Register at 800-642-2217.

NHCO Pep Rally for Highmark for a Healthy Community, 4-7 p.m., Apr. 10, Sieb’s Banquet Hall. Highmark Walk is May 16. For info, call (412) 408-3830 ext.

3209 or www.walkforahealthycommunity.org.

North Hills Community Outreach needs at least 50 runners to run in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon on May 3. For details, visit pittsburghmarathon.com or Patti (412) 408-3830 or pmferraro@nhco.org.

Support Groups Bereavement Support Group, Beyond Bridge to Hope, 7-8:30 p.m., 2nd Wed., of every month, Passavant Hospital Conference Center, McCandless Twp. Free of charge, no registration is necessary. For details, (412) 748-6640.

Bereavement Support Group (for widows/widowers over 50), 1-2:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Wed. Hosted by St. Sebastian Parish, Haber Hall. To register, call (412) 366-1300.

Bereavement Support Group in the North Hills, 10-11:30 a.m., 2nd & 4th Thurs. of each month, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1965 Ferguson Rd., Allison Park. Contact Heritage Hospice at (724) 3346600 with questions.

Bridge to Hope, 7-8:30 p.m., every Wed., of the month, Passavant Hospital Conference Center, McCandless Twp. For drug & alcohol addiction. Phone, (412) 748-6640.

Lupus Foundation meetings, 7-8:30 p.m., every 3rd Tues, UPMC Passavant Hospital, 9100 Babcock Blvd., Donor Hall. To register, call (412) 261-5886 or ccallen92@aol.com.

Recovery programs for Addicts & Codependents is available at Orchard Hill. For details, call (724) 935-5555 or visit http://www.orchardhillchurch.com Sanctuary Teen Support Group, (ages 14-17) meets 4 p.m., Weds thru Apr. 1, Anchorpoint. Visit http://anchorpointcounselingministry.org.

Counseling Ask the Attorney, free legal consultation for low-income families. Sessions are 7 p.m., Apr. 8 at NHCO in Allison Park, May 13, NHCO in Millvale. For info, call (412) 408-3830 or hzgibbs@nhco.org.

Berkley Hills Lutheran Church is offering it Stephen Ministry Program for people experiencing grief, divorce, cancer, illnesses, job loss, loss of home, military deployment & other life struggles. Free & confidential program for people of any faith. Call (412) 486-4010 or www.bhlc.org.

Employment Counseling is available through Workable, a countywide United Way-funded program through North Hills Community Outreach. For info on workshops & counseling, contact Harriet at (412) 408-3830, ext. 3219 or visit www.workableac.com.

Group Services, Intensive Outpatient Program, 5:30-8:30 p.m., M,W, Th.,Therapy Group 6-8 p.m., Tues., Family Only Group 7:30-9:00 p.m., 2nd Tues, Psycho-educational Support Group 7-9 p.m., 4th Mon. Contact Anita at 412-215-7967, pened1@aol.com, or www. anitasinicropemaier.com.

Professional Counseling, need someone to talk with but can’t afford it or lack health coverage. Call Anchorpoint Counseling Ministry, (412) 366-1300.

North Allegheny Special Education Parent Networking meeting, 9:30 a.m., Apr. 17, presentation on ADHD, Baierl Center at NA High School.

For info, visit http://www.nasepng.org/ Toastmasters Cranberry High Noon Club, meets noon-1 p.m., every Mon., Pella Windows Training Center, 230 Thorn Hill Rd., Warrendale. Questions? Call (724) 316-3595 or email SueEllis@PeopleLearn.com.

Volunteer Opportunities American Cancer Society is looking for volunteers to drive cancer patients who are undergoing treatments to & from their appts. Interested volunteers should call (412) 919-1100 or emailsharon. stalter@cancer.org.

Hope Hospice is looking for volunteer for their patients. Volunteers don’t necessarily have the time, just have the heart! For details, call (412) 367-3685.

North Hills Community Outreach Volunteer Orientation, 6 p.m., Apr. 9, NHCO North Boroughs, AGHSuburban in Bellevue, 10 a.m., May 14, NHCO, Ferguson Rd., Allison Park. Call Patti, (412) 408-3830 or pmferraro@nhco.org.

North Hills Community Outreach has speakers available who will speak at your business, congregation, or school at no charge about our programs. For info, call Jen at (412) 487-6316, opt. 1 or ext.

3112 or JLKissel@nhco.org.

Treasure House Fashions, a nonprofit boutique style women’s clothing shop is looking for volunteers. For details, call Karen at (412) 979-1534.

Volunteer Tutors Needed for children struggling with school work. Call Anchorpoint Counseling Ministry, (412) 366-1300.

School Events & Courses & Symposiums

Networking

The Coverlet Casualty Civil War Exhibit is on display thru May 20, McCarl Gallery at Saint Vincent College. For info, call (724) 805-2188 or www.mccarlgallery.org.

AM Spirit, a business networking group, meets 7:15 a.m. every Wed, at North Park Deckhouse, Rt. 19, Cranberry Twp. For info, call Glen at (412) 916-8699.

Cyber Safety What Every Parent Should Know, 6-8 p.m., Apr. 20, Seneca Valley Intermediate High School auditorium.

For info, visit svsd.net.

Cranberry Chapter of Professional Referral Exchange meets 7:15 a.m., networking meeting every Wed., North Park Deckhouse, Rt. 19, Cranberry Twp. Call Mary Ann, (724) 935-2221.

Faith & Reason Summer Program, Jun. 14-19, St. Vincent College. For info, call (724) 805-2844 or Michael.krom@stvincent. edu/faithandreason. Students can register online at www.stvincentedu/faithand reason.

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FREE Client Education - Laser Therapy Can your pet benefit from laser therapy? Join us for a free question and answer session (and a free light dinner), 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 23 at BelaCoop Animal Hospital of North Park, 2232 West Hardies Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044.

Please RSVP by Monday, April 20 to savannah@ belacoopaniamlhospital.com or 724.939.7062. F

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Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) is taking registrations for 12 courses to be held 2 different weeks, Jun. 18-Jul. 3 & Jul 19-24, at La Roche College. For info, visit www.GRIPitt.org.

Global Development and Humanitarian Aid Training Program, Jun. 1-5, Essentials program; Jun. 1-12, Extended training, La Roche College. Apply by Apr. 20.

Call (412) 536-1215 or charlotte.reed@ laroche.edu.

Global Problems, Global Solutions Conference, 7 p.m., Apr. 9; 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Apr. 10, La Roche College. For info, call (412) 5361215 or charlotte.reed@laroche.edu.

Hampton High School play – The Addams Family, 7 p.m., Apr. 17 & 18 and Apr. 24 & 25. For tickets, visit http://hhsmusical.wikispaces. com/TICKET+ORDERS. La Roche College has developed a Master of Science in Information Systems. For info, call (412) 536-1260 or graduateadmissions.edu.

La Roche College Undergraduate Open House, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Apr. 25, Babcock Blvd., McCandless Twp. To register, call (412) 536-1272 or laroche.edu or admissions@ laroche.edu.

North Allegheny Kennywood Day, Jun. 18.

Discount FunDay Kennywood Tickets ($30) will be on sale beginning May 29, at all North Allegheny Schools. Tickets may be used any day in May or Jun., or weekdays in Jul. or Aug. For info, visit www.northallegheny.org/athletics.

Tickets can be purchased online ($1.25 per ticket online fee) visit www.kennywood.com/na.

Saint Vincent College Department of Education will offer a live online graduate program leading to a teaching certificate in online instruction beginning in the fall of 2015.

Call (724) 805-2933 or gradadmission@ stvincent.edu.

Saint Vincent College Dept. of Music will offer two one-week workshops in Gregorian chant, Jun. 22-26. For info, visit www.stvincentedu/ sacredmuic.

Saint Vincent College “Wizard College” summer Challenge program, Jun. 29-Jul 3. For info, (724) 805-2981 or www. tvincentchallenge.org.

Seneca Social, 6:30-11 p.m., Apr. 16. Benefits the Seneca Valley Foundation. For info, call (724) 4526040, ext. 1612 or www.svsd.net/ SenecaSocial2015.

Courses & Camps Grandparent University (GPU®), June 16-18 for youths 7 to 14 to attend with their grandparents, St. Vincent College. For info, call (724) 805-2288 or grandparentsuniversity@ stvincent.edu.

Quilt in a Day, 10 a.m.-noon, May 26, Harmony Museum, Stewart Hall.

For info, call (724) 452-7341 or www. harmonymuseum.org.

Veterans Harmony Museum presents “The Civil War in Pennsylvania,” Heinz History Center traveling exhibit. For info, (724) 452-7341 or www.harmonymuseum.org.

North Pittsburgh Quilts of Valor meets 7-9 p.m., 2nd Mon., of the month, Quilt Company, Middle Rd., Allison Park. Call (412) 487-9532 or www.qovf.org.

Pennsylvania CommunityBased Programs Awarded VA Grants to Support Disabled Veterans in Adaptive Sports at Slippery Rock University. For info, visit www. va.gov/adaptivesports.

Veterans Discover HOPE Here-Career, 3rd Wed., 6:308:45 p.m., Cranberry Twp., Municipal Building, 2525 Rochester Rd., Cranberry Twp. Free. Call (724) 779-8323, discoverhopehere@gmail.com or www. discoverhopehere.com.

Veterans Fitness Classes 5 Days a week, 4:30-5:30 p.m., VA Butler Healthcare Auditorium (bldg.

1), 325 New Castle Rd., Butler. For details, visit www.prevention.va.gov/B_ Physically_ Active.asp.

“Veteran X” mental health & substance abuse recovery program for vets meets 6 p.m., every Mon., at VA Butler Healthcare, Room 213, East South (ES), 325 N. Castle Rd., Butler. For info, visit http://www.butler.va.gov/.

Spiritual Buddy Program Respite Night (for special needs kids), 6-9 p.m., May 22, Orchard Hill.

Register at least day prior. Call (724) 935-5555 or visit http://www.orchardhillchurch.com/ChildrenBuddy.asp.

Easter at Orchard Hill: Good Friday Communion Service, 7 p.m., Apr. 3; Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, 6 p.m., Apr. 4; Sunrise service, 7:30 a.m., Apr. 5, services 9:30 a.m. & 11:15 a.m., Cultural District, 10:30 a.m., Apr. 5. For info, call (724) 935-5555 or orchardhillchurch.com.

Tennabrae Service, 7:30 p.m., Apr. 3, (Good Friday), St. Alexis Parish, 10090 Old Perry Hwy., Wexford. For info, call (724) 935-4343.

Fundraisers Inaugural Charitable Block Party, 4-7 p.m., June 6, The Woodlands, 134 Shenot Rd., Wexford.

For info, call (724) 935-6533.

Lupus Luncheon, doors open 11 a.m., Apr. 11, Eleven Contemporary, 1150 Smallman St. For details, visit lupuspa.org.

Night at the Races, 6 p.m., May 12, Adams Ridge Clubhouse.

All proceeds benefit the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber Educational Foundation Scholarship. For info, call (724) 934-9700 or http://www.pghnorthchamber.com/.

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Curtis Stephan Concerts

C

urtis Stephan, renowned member of Oregon Catholic Press, (OCP), composer, accomplished musician, and clinician, who specializes in working with the youth, is coming to Pittsburgh from Texas, to share his gifts and music for two evenings. Stephan, a Catholic musician, will perform A Night of Worship concerts.

The first concert will be held, 7 p.m., Thursday, April 30, at St. Bonaventure Parish, 2001 Mount Royal Blvd., Shaler Township.

The second show will take place at 7:00 p.m., Friday, May 1, at St. Joseph Parish, 342 Dorseyville Road, O’Hara Township. Both evenings will include singing, prayer, adoration and discussion. Sponsors for this event are: St. Bonaventure Parish, All Saints Parish, Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, and Oregon Catholic Press. Youth groups in attendance will be enrolled in a Curtis Stephan’s raffle. One lucky group will win an autographed CD and a chance to meet Stephan after the event. For more information, call Shari Whitico, music director at St. Bonaventure Parish, at (724) 766-6012 or music@stbonaventureparish.org. F

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HAPPENINGS April 2015

A Night of Hope, 5:30 p.m., Apr. 16, Rodef Shalom Congregation in Oakland. Proceeds benefit POWER (Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery). For info, visit www. power-recovery.com/events_main.html.

North Hills Newcomers & Friends Spring Raffle, May 12, Shannopin Country Club. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit Hairpeace. For info, visit www.northhillsnewcomers.org or email NHNFmembership@gmail.com.

Ole 5K Walk, 10 a.m., Apr. 11, Harmar Grove Pavilion, North Park (by the swimming pool). Benefits the Anna Seethaler Hospital in Oaxaca, Mexico. To register, visit http://ole5k.com/.

Oxford Athletic Club is sponsoring an Any Footwear drive. The goal is to collect 7,500 pairs by May. For details, visit http://www.oxfordathleticclub.com/oxford-cares-shoe-drive/.

Pittsburgh Walk Now for Autism Speaks, 10 a.m., Jun. 14, Schenley Park. For info, call (412) 367-4571 or visit www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/pittsburgh.

Race for Joe, 9 a.m., Apr. 4, start & finish, 1572 King Charles Dr., in Franklin Park. 5K (run/walk) event held in honor of Joe Guzzetti. Sign up at www.raceforjoe.org.

Walk Like MADD, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Apr. 26, North Park Boathouse, Pearce Mill Rd. For details, visit walklikemadd.org.

All You Can Eat Spaghetti Dinner, Saturday, April 11, Knights of Columbus, St. Catherine of Sweden Church Hall 2554 Wildwood Rd., Allison Park Pa. FREE WILL OFFERINGS ACCEPTED, Benefits Local Charities. For additional information call (412) 486-6001 (412)638-6079

Fish Fry & Cooking

Little Sisters of the Poor to Hold Rummage Sale

T

he Little Sisters of the Poor are having a rummage sale of clothing, furniture, household items, jewelry, books and assorted items. Their Home is located in the Brighton Heights neighborhood at 1028 Benton Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15212. The sale is 10 a.m.

- 4 p.m., April 23-25 daily. Saturday is the bag sale. All proceeds will benefit the elderly residents living at the Home. This is the first of only two sales this year. For more information or directions, please contact the Home at (412) 307-1100. F

St. James Catholic Parish, 4:30-7 p.m., Fridays in Lent thru Apr. 3, school cafeteria, 200 Walnut St., Sewickley. For take-out (412) 741-5540 #2. Visit saintjames-church.com.

Taste & See: Cooking with Rania, 7-9 p.m., Apr. 28, lobby at Orchard Hill, 2551 Brandt school Rd., Wexford. For info, call (724) 935-5555 or orchardhill.com.

Tax Preparation Northland Public Library in cooperation with AARP, free tax prep for seniors and low-income residents, 9 a.m.-noon, Tues., & Thurs., thru Apr. 14. For info, call (412) 366-8100 or northlandlibrary.org.

Spring Events Afternoon Tea, 1:30-3:30 p.m., May 3, St. Ferdinand Church, Oldenski Hall, 2535 Rochester Rd., Cranberry Twp. Required reservations, by Apr. 27. Call (724) 779-3986.

Neighborhood Street Fair for NHCO, 5:30-9 p.m., Apr. 30, The Chadwick. For tickets, call Cheryl, (412) 4876316, opt. 1 or clenglish@nhco.org.

PA Job & Career Fair, Apr. 15, Butler Days Inn. For info, call (724) 283-2222.

Spring Craft Fair, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., May 3, East Union Presbyterian Church, 292 East Union Rd., Cheswick. Hand-crafted item and Chinese auction. Free admission. For info, call Mary Lynn at (412) 767-5750.

Steel City Con, Apr. 10-12, Monroeville Convention Center. Featuring: Noah Wylie, Karen Allen and Tom Wopat.

For info, visit http://www.steelcitycon.com.

Environmental & Gardening Events Earth Day Celebration, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Mellon Square, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.,Schenley Plaza, 7-9 p.m., Fairmont Hotel, Apr. 22.

For details, visit pittsburghearthday.org.

Greybrooke Garden Club meetings, 11 a.m., 2nd Wed of the month, Parkwood United Presbyterian Church, Allison Park. The 11 a.m., Apr. 8 meeting will be held off site, 7041 Crider Rd., Mars. For info, call (412) 487-1072.

Rid Your Home of Unwanted Chemicals, Electronic and Freon Appliances (no refrigerators), Apr. 18, May 16, Jun. 6 & 27, Jul. 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 3 & 24, Nov. 21 & Dec. 19, 129 Ash Stop Rd., Evans City.

Nominal fee, must pre-register at 1-866-815-0016.

Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, Nature Book Club, 6-8 p.m., Apr. 9, St. Vincent College. For info, call (724) 537-5284 or wpnr.org/programs/for-adults-18plus/.

Recycle Rama & Community Shred, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday May 2, Township of Pine Municipal Building Parking Lot, 230 Pearce Mill Road. No paint or household chemicals. For details, visit http://prc.org/programs/collection-events/ household-chemicals/.

Summer Events Whiskey Rebellion Festival, July 9-12, for details, visit www.whiskeyrebellionfestival.com.

Woodlands Block Party, 4-7 p.m., Jun. 6, The Woodlands, 134 Shenot Rd., Wexford. For info, call (724) 9356533 or ccohn@woodlandsfoundation.org.

Golf NHCO’s Mini Masters Golf Tournament, May 14, RMU’s Island Sports Complex on Neville Island. Call Pam, (412) 307-0069 ext. 3322 or pjlindenberger@nhco.org.

Library April Events at Northland Library: Writers at Work, 6:30 p.m., Apr. 13; AARP tax-Prep concludes Apr. 14; Genealogy Lock-In, 6:30 p.m. Apr. 24; Protecting Your Identity (Apr. 18-25); What Your Coins Worth? (Apr. 18-25); Computer Courses are available all month long. For info, call (412) 3668100 or www.northlandlibrary.org.

Spring Book Sale, preview night for Friends of the Library 6:30-8:30 p.m., Apr. 24, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Apr. 25 & 26, Shaler North Hills Library, 1822 Mt. Royal Blvd., Glenshaw. For info, call (412) 486-0211 or www.shalerlibrary.org.

Spring Book Sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., May 1 & May 2, 1-4 p.m., May 3 (bag sale), Northland Library, 300 Cumberland Rd., McCandless. For info, call (412) 366-8100 x103 or www.northlandlibrary.org.

St. James Parish Pancake Breakfast

S

t. James Catholic Parish and School in Sewickley along with the Knights of Columbus Council 5367 will conduct an All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast runs 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, April 12 in the St. James School Cafeteria. Pancakes, Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, Fruit Cup, Coffee, Tea and Orange Juice will be served. Adults are $6, children under five $3. Proceeds benefit the Emily Jancart Scholarship Fund.

St. James Catholic Parish is located at 200 Walnut Street in Sewickley. For more information please call 412-741-6650 or www.saintjames-church.com. F

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