August 2021
CONNECTING YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FOR 22 YEARS
It’s All Here: The Power of
Partnership Also... Health & Wellness | Home Guide | Weather-Themed Song Trivia
www.northernconnectionmag.com | AUGUST 2021
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
August
NORTHERN CONNECTION P.O. Box 425 Mars, Pa. 16046
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NC Features 10 15 20 27
Is It a Messenger With a Message? Ron Eichner In Memoriam: Remembering Dr. John Orie Business Spotlight: Tricycle Learning Company Home Guide
Health & Wellness 12 Cover Story: It’s All Here — The Power of Partnership 16 Medicines Can Be Powerful Lifesavers, But Can Lead to Danger for Children Belinda Burchick, RPh, BPharm
Kids & Education 22 Reality Tour Directors from Across the Nation Emphasize Importance of Program 24 School Movers & Shakers
Advertorials 5
Peripheral Neuropathy Sufferers Have Hope Dr. Shawn Richey
In Every Issue... 4 6 8 11
Movers & Shakers From the Editor: I Lost a Dog Janice Lane Palko August Events Trivia Connection: Breezing Through Weather-Themed Songs Paula Green 26 Support Our Troops: Bob Taylor–World War II Historian and Korean War Veteran Paula Green
Welcome to the August issue of Northern Connection Magazine! We are now in our 22nd year of connecting you to the community. We would like to thank all our advertisers and readers for your support. Together we continue to make our community an outstanding place to live and work. Enjoy reading our August issue! Marion Piotrowski, President & Publisher
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AUGUST 2021 | www.northernconnectionmag.com
Phone: 724-940-2444 ncmagazine@northernconnectionmag.com www.northernconnectionmag.com President & Publisher
Marion Swanson Piotrowski Executive Editor
Janice Lane Palko Managing Editor/Public Relations Coordinator
Paula M. Green Marketing & Account Executive and Office Coordinator
Laura Lyn Arnold Marketing & Account Executive
Mary L. Simpson Design & Production
Kostilnik & Associates Graphics, Inc. Web Master
Swanson Publishing Company Core Writers
Belinda Burchick Ron Eichner Paula M. Green Janice Lane Palko Northern Connection is published twelve times a year by Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. (P.O. Box 425, Mars, PA 16046, 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.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Schogel and Fardo Family Medicine, located in Cranberry Township, has been a medical practice within Genesis Medical Associates, Inc. since 2001 and is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. This year is extra special as both physicians – Dr. Barbara Fardon and Dr. Karen Schogel were named “Top Doctors” by Pittsburgh Magazine.
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum and its 6th Regiment USCT Drum Corps held a Juneteenth Grand Jubilee Parade on June 19.
Heritage Valley OB/GYN Associates of Sewickley welcomes Wenjun Zong, M.D., Ph.D. to the practice.
Carnegie Science Center announced that it received a $50,000 grant from Bayer Fund to provide free STEM outreach programs, virtual field trips, and in-depth teaching training to thousands of students and teachers in low-income school districts in western Pennsylvania during the 2021–2022 school year. The program is titled “Exploration Bundles.”
Dr. Wenjun Zong
One hundred years ago, a seed was planted. It is still growing in the Shaler Garden Club, which celebrates its Centennial this year. The Shaler Garden Club was awarded the prestigious Governor’s Trophy in 2019, given to outstanding garden clubs in Pennsylvania, and continues to strive to be a positive force in the community. The club will celebrate its birthday with a luncheon at the Wildwood Country Club on October 14. For info on the Shaler Garden Club, visit shalergardenclub.com.
Allegheny County Parks Foundation announced the retirement of Executive Director Caren Glotfelty later this year. Caren Glotfelty
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to reserve your advertising space for the Fall issue!
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AUGUST 2021 | www.northernconnectionmag.com
ADVERTORIAL
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FROM THE EDITOR
I Lost a Dog By Janice Lane Palko
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round 10 years ago, I wrote a piece for this column called I Love a Dog. The article told of taking care of my daughter and son-in-law’s dog, new puppy Penny, and about how I, as someone who have never had a pet before, was clueless when it came to dogs. As I stated in that article, I did not have pets as a kid because my brother was severely allergic to them, and while I liked dogs, I had never spent much time with them. Penny, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, was the first dog I ever cared for. I went from someone who gagged when picking up her “presents” left in the yard to poop-pickerupper pro. I learned to sense what she wanted and knew where to look for her if it thundered—hiding in the bathroom behind the toilet. I marveled at how she could collapse her stubby legs and scoot under a bed that had less than a foot clearance. She was such a sweet, gentle pooch, she paved the way for our family getting our first dog, Mickey, three years later. There was something else I was clueless about when it came to dogs—and that was how sad it is when you lose one. After 11 years of furry love, Penny left us on June 28. Nearly two years ago, she was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on her paw and had surgery to remove it. Although she was advancing in age, she was still the same loveable dog as ever. During the last six months, however, she began to experience these distressing episodes where she got severely sick, falling over and ceasing to eat. Thinking that the cancer had spread, we were warned several times that she may be dying, but she always seemed to rally. However, in June she declined rapidly, and her vet advised that the merciful option was to put dear Penny to sleep. Fortunately, this allowed everyone who loved her to say goodbye to her, petting her, telling her how much we loved her and giving her belly rubs. I don’t know if she sensed this was the end and wanted to leave us with even more good memories. On her last day Penny seemed to be infused with energy and spent her waning hours with my daughter’s family doing all the things she loved, fetching balls with the enthusiasm she had when she was younger, snuggling with my daughter during my granddaughters’ nap time. She had her last dinner of her favorite, roast turkey, before my daughter and son-in-law lay on the floor with her as the vet administered the shots and she passed on. I like to believe that “all dogs go to heaven,” but liking to believe something does not make it so. I am no theologian, so I did a little research on what various faiths believe about what happens to pets after death. A cursory search on the internet, shows that all the major world faiths have no conclusive dogma on what happens to pets when they die. The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6, however, gives me hope: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” God doesn’t do things randomly or haphazardly. He doesn’t create something and then abandon it. He cares for it. If God is love and cares for the birds on earth, the creator of all, in my humble and unlearned opinion, will surely want to be surrounded and glorified by all his creation in heaven. Penny was pure love in a fur coat, and I’m sure God would enjoy her nuzzles in heaven as much as we did here on earth. n
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HAPPENINGS
August Events Cindystock 18 Bike Ride & Concert, 4
p.m., Aug. 20 & 21, Helicon Brewery (8/20), the Yates House (8/21). Visit cindystock.org.
Depreciation Lands Museum, Flax to Linen, 1-4 p.m., Aug. 29, 4743 S. Pioneer Rd., Hampton Twp. Visit www.DLMuseum.org.
Folds of Honor JamFest, 10 a.m., Aug. 21, North Park Basketball Ct., Kummer Rd. For info, visit www.audacy.com.
Foundations of Faith Community Nursing, a five-day, virtual course, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Oct, 1-2, 16, 22-23. Sponsored by Pittsburgh Mercy. For details, www.pittsburghmercy.org.
Fox Chapel Area High School Community Blood Drive, 1-7 p.m., Aug. 12, at the Vitalant Harmar/Fox Chapel Donor Center.
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For those 16 and older. Schedule an appt., DonateBlood.CentralBloodBank.org.
Gentle Used Clothing Sale, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Aug. 7, St. Aidan Parish (St. Alphonsus Church), lower gym, 201 Church Rd., Wexford. Visit www.saintaidanparish.org or (724) 935-4343.
Giant Flea Market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Aug. 28
(half off sale) and 9 a.m.-noon, Aug. 29, St. Aidan Parish (St. Alexis Church), old church, 10090 Old Perry Hwy., Wexford. Visit www. saintaidanparish.org or (724) 935-4343.
Little Sisters of the Poor Rummage Sale, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Aug. 6 & 7, 1028 Benton Ave. Clothing, furniture, household items, jewelry, books, etc. Proceeds benefit the elderly Residents living at the home. For info, call (412) 307-1100.
AUGUST 2021 | www.northernconnectionmag.com
North Hills Genealogists Online Presentation, 7 p.m. on Monday, August
16. Topic Written in Stone: Tombstones and Other Cemetery Records. For details, visit NorthHillsGenealogists.org.
Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival,
Aug. 12-14, the DoubleTree by Hilton in Greentree. For info, visit www.pghknitandcrochet.com
Swing in the Park After Dark Summer Dance Party, 6:30-10 p.m., Aug. 4,
Avonworth Pavilion, 498 Camp Horne Rd. For info, call (724) 316-5029, or www.dancetonight.weebly.com or email dancetonight09@ aol.com.
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FA C T S F R O M T H E FA R M
Is It a Messenger With a Message? By Ron Eichner Hi Folks,
As you know a farm can be a year-round destination for every season, for many reasons, like our farm market and greenhouses which are open seven-days-a-week throughout the year. Our farm hosts area critters and birds, thinking the fields are a well-developed salad bar, free to eat and or destroy. Animal behavior can tell you a lot if you take the time or had the opportunity to be taught about it like me by my parents and grandparents. If we take the time, nature can teach and tell us a lot throughout the year. This year, Father’s Day was on June 20, and every Father’s Day has been special for my family and me. Those who know or follow our farm family are aware that it was our first Father’s Day without our dad. This past Father’s Day weekend had moments that I want to share with all of you. It started Saturday of Father’s Day Eve when my niece Michelle and my great niece Isabella saw a massive heart in the sky over our farm around 8:30 p.m. Their camera did capture the moment. Father’s Day each year starts with church, then coming home and getting all of the farm chores done. First, we needed to take care of our laying hens, gathering and washing the fresh eggs, and tending to the needs of our greenhouses, crops and field work. Then we could have our farm market and greenhouses open for our great customers. I had to get our John Deere tractor and John Deere corn planter hooked up to plant our ninth field of non-GMO, bi-color sweet corn in the early afternoon. When I returned to the barnyard with three varieties of bi-color sweet corn to plant, I noticed a “white dove” on the ridge of our roof. To catch the moment of time, I called my two best “shutter bugs,” Michelle and my cousin Kathy to take a few pictures. I was called to our farmhouse by my mom, Vi, and going back to the barnyard, I noticed the white dove was still on the barn roof. Then I loaded the two seed hoppers on the JD corn planter, and after being called back to the farmhouse, I came back five minutes later, and the white dove was gone. So, I took the tractor and the corn planter up on our hill to plant 14 rows of corn in the field. It was business as usual. When I got to rows five and six, lo and behold, 80 feet away from the end of the third row was the
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white dove observing what I was doing. I then planted four more rows of the second sweet corn variety, stopped the tractor, unloaded, and reloaded the second seed hopper for the third sweet corn variety. To my surprise, the white dove never moved. I then planted the last four rows, and then stopped to unload the first seed hopper and, once again, the white dove did not move. I unloaded the second seed hopper only to see that the white dove must have flown away. Surprisingly, the white dove was working its way towards me, and I found it parked on the equipment in the field; it was less than 12 inches away. Our Grandpap Brimmeier had pigeons years ago, and I mimicked the pigeon sounds. It took me about nine tries and ten minutes, until I had the white dove in my hand. There was no one to share the story with, and who would believe me? I decided to drive the tractor and equipment back down the barn yard, only to find Kathy walking up to the farm. I surprised her with the white dove, which sent her back to her house to get her camera for a few pictures to capture the moment. I then set the white dove down on a concrete block next to our farm market to answer the farm phone at our market. When I came out, the dove had flown away. Folks, the story doesn’t end yet! An hour later, I took care of our young chickens in the barn only to exit the barn and look across the front garden; l walked the garden looking over the crops. Then I noticed our newest employee, the white dove. I called Kathy and said, “If you have a chance look out your kitchen window and see where the white dove is now.” The next morning, Kathy called me to say that the white dove had been watching her work in the garden, and she said it left. I walked behind her garage and on her retaining wall was our new friend. I communicated with it, then picked it up and took it back to the barn for some feed and water. Anyone is welcome to put some meaning into what I experienced on my Father’s Day weekend 2021. So, you are welcome to stop by Eichner’s Whole Farm & Greenhouses and experience “farm fresh” and bring a friend and be a friend at 285 Richard Road, Wexford, and get “the rest of the story.” n
TRIVIA CONNECTION
Breezing Through Weather-Themed Songs By Paula Green
Since we have weathered our way through some bright and hazy tunes, we must now storm through this meteorological query. Get set to don the beach hats, rain ponchos or parkas because it’s time to get a little trivial. 1. This shaky weather hit by the Classics IV was released in 1968. 2. The Carpenters came out with this song about soggy weather and the start of the week. 3. Name the group who brought us the hit tune Weather With You? 4. In 1982, the Weather Girls came out with this masculine, drizzly tune. 5. Which band released the hits Who’ll Stop the Rain and Have You Ever Seen the Rain? 6. Colors of the Wind is the theme song for this popular Disney film. 7. In 1984, the Scorpions belted out this powerful storm single. 8. Name the singer who serenaded us with Laughter in the Rain. 9. This group makes us feel happy with their upbeat tune Mr. Blue Sky. 10. Supertramp recorded this song about repeated bouts of showers. 11. He poured out his heart when he sang Ain’t No Sunshine. 12. Name the popular 1969 weather-themed Fifth Dimension hit. 13. The Beatles released Here Comes the Sun, and what other sunny tune? 14. This famous singer, songwriter and pianist composed Come Rain or Come Shine. 15. Name the weather song that Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, VeraEllen, and Rosemarie Clooney sang in White Christmas. Sources: rateyourmusic.com, ranker.com, www.accuweather.com, https://www. songfacts.com/category/songs-with-weather-conditions-in-the-title, https://spinditty.com/playlists/Songs-With-Weather-Conditions-in-the-Title
Answers: 1. Stormy 2. Rainy Days and Mondays 3. Crowded House 4. It’s Raining Men 5. Creedence Clearwater Revival 6. Pocahontas 7. Rock You Like a Hurricane 8. Neil Sedaka 9. ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) 10. It’s Raining Again 11. Bill Withers 12. Aquarius: Let the Sunshine In 13. Good Day Sunshine 14. Ray Charles 15. Snow
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re we in for Stormy Weather? If so, how good are you at Ridin’ the Storm Out, or do you Blame It On the Weatherman? Perhaps it was a Perfect Storm, and you can start to sing, I Can See Clearly Now. Weather is unpredictable. Sometimes we love it, and other times it is downright depressing. So this month, we’ll breeze through weather-themed songs. See how many you recognize. Let’s storm through these records – American Storm, Shelter From the Storm, Riders on the Storm, Sandstorm, and Electrical Storm. Other detrimental phenomena includes: Jump Into the Fog, Hurricane, Thunder Rolls, Thunder Road and 10,000 Nights of Thunder, Thunderclouds, Thunderstruck, and Tsunami. Try to navigate - Lightning Crashes, Lighting Strikes, White Lightning or sweat through a Heat Wave. Finally, we can’t forget old man winter with Coldest Winter, Cold Weather Blues, Let It Snow, Snowbird, Snowblind, Snow Time, and Winter Wonderland. Perhaps the storm involves some sprinkles. There are numerous rain-related hits - Blame It On the Rain, Box of Rain, Crying in the Rain, Don’t Rain on My Parade, Fire and Rain, Here Comes the Rain Again, It’s Raining Again, Let It Rain, Listen to the Rain, November Rain, Purple Rain, Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head, Rainy Day Women, Singing In the Rain and Sunshine on a Rainy Day. Different regions have their share of drizzle - It Never Rains in Southern California, Kentucky Rain, and A Rainy Night in Soho. The Temptations sang I Wish it Would Rain; then we heard Phil Collins croon I Wish It Would Rain Down. Often the wind can carry a mighty wallop. The Association sang the tune Windy. Other breezy hits include Against the Wind, Blowin’ In the Wind, Call Me the Breeze, Candle in the Wind, Caution to the Wind, Dust in the Wind, Ride Like the Wind, She’s Like the Wind, Summer Wind, The Wind Cries Mary, and Wind Beneath Your Wings. It’s time to bring on the pleasant weather with hits like Beautiful Sunday, Beautiful Sunshine, Bring Back the Sunshine, Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Seasons in the Sun, She’s a Rainbow, Soak Up the Sun, Some Sunny Day, Sunny, Sunny Afternoon, Sunshine of Your Love, Sunshine On My Shoulders, Sunshine Superman, Walking On Sunshine, You Are My Sunshine and You are the Sunshine of My Life. Don’t forget that famous Wizard of Oz weather song – Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
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COVER STORY
It’s All Here: The Power of
Partnership UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh are renowned for their state-of-the-art care and world-class specialists. New partnerships with UPMC Passavant now bring more of that trusted expertise closer to home for the communities north of Pittsburgh. New Initiatives and Investments Bring Advanced Care for Children and Women UPMC Passavant President Susan Hoolahan, RN, MSN, carries a map in her head. It helps her visualize UPMC’s remarkable growth in recent years throughout the northern corridor. “I imagine UPMC Passavant–McCandless
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at the southern tip and the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex at the north in Cranberry,” she says. “At both points — and everywhere in between — we offer hundreds of resources for basic and advanced care. They all focus on serving residents throughout northern Allegheny, Butler, and Beaver counties.” With UPMC Passavant as the hub, there are growing efforts to bring more and more of UPMC’s specialty services in cancer, pediatrics, as well as both general and specialized obstetrics and gynecology (ob-gyn) services to meet the growing needs of Pittsburgh’s northern communities, says Richard Beigi, MD, president of UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. “For two years, Susan, Mark Sevco [president of UPMC Children’s], and I have worked on new ways to support pediatric and women’s health throughout the north,” says Dr. Beigi. “We’re building on UPMC’s commitment to deliver the right
AUGUST 2021 | www.northernconnectionmag.com
care, in the right way, at the right time, every time. Our added promise: to deliver that care even closer to home.”
Top Pediatric Emergency Specialists Now in UPMC Passavant’s Emergency Departments When a child has a medical emergency, parents in western Pennsylvania immediately think of UPMC Children’s Hospital. With good reason: It’s consistently ranked on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll. “But during an emergency, every minute counts,” says pediatric emergency medicine specialist Stephen Janofsky, MD, director of outreach for pediatric emergency care at UPMC Children’s. “You may not always have the added time needed to drive into Pittsburgh.” A new pediatric emergency program now links Children’s pediatric emergency
specialists with the emergency departments (EDs) at UPMC Passavant– McCandless and UMPC Passavant– Cranberry. UPMC Passavant is the first hospital in western Pennsylvania to launch this affiliation. “Our board-certified pediatric emergency specialists are on call 24/7. We are here to collaborate in real time with UPMC Passavant’s emergency doctors and families,” says Dr. Janofsky. “We can offer advice on a complex or unusual condition or provide an expert second opinion for infants, children, and adolescents up to age 18.” An added benefit: before families leave the hospital, they can schedule any necessary follow-up appointments, including a new or return visit with any pediatric specialist at UPMC Children’s, another Children’s location, or a video visit. Betsy Tedesco, DNP, leads UPMC Passavant’s emergency services. She’s also a mom. “What could be more reassuring for parents? UPMC Children’s emergency specialists bringing extra expertise to our care,” she says. “We’re very excited to offer this added level of service to our families. It supports our efforts to provide world-class care for our pediatric patients.” The new program also includes educational and consulting services, adds Dr. Tedesco. “Our ED team always looks for ways to deliver quality specialty care and an excellent patient experience. With this new partnership, we’ll regularly evaluate what we do with the added insight and support of specialists from UPMC Children’s.” Molly Gibson, RN, is an outreach nurse
coordinator for Children’s ED affiliation program. She says ED nurses at UPMC Passavant also have the opportunity to become certified in pediatric emergency nursing. “We’ll help nurses take advantage of this national certification through our review course, offered several times a year.”
Expanding the Expertise of UPMC Magee-Womens in the North
For more than 110 years, women in western Pennsylvania have relied on UPMC Magee for the best practices in care for themselves and their unborn babies. “We know that most people want much of their health care delivered as close to home as possible. The northern communities are no exception,” says Dr. Beigi. “That’s especially true when you’re preparing to have a baby, dealing with complex gynecological needs, and/or dealing with a serious health problem like a female cancer. It’s why we’re deeply committed to bringing Magee surgical, gynecological and obstetrics (ob-gyn) services closer to women where they live.” These expanded Magee specialty resources go far beyond annual checkups and preventive care. Women also can access diagnostics and testing, state-ofthe-art surgery, and advanced treatments closer to home than ever. “Our experts from Magee are coming right to the north to deliver care,” he says. That’s especially good news for patients who are expecting, or hope to (Continued on page 14)
The new pediatric emergency department affiliation program is just one way UPMC delivers world-class pediatric care closer to home. Families in Pittsburgh’s northern communities also have access to a wide range of services that include:
Children’s North Wexford Outpatient medical and surgical care, plus imaging and lab diagnostics
Children’s Pine Center in Wexford Outpatient services from primary care and dermatology to child and family counseling, including advanced specialty centers like UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital’s behavioral health services
UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics More than 50 regional practices offer well and sick care visits, plus a variety of specialty services
UPMC Children’s Express Care (Wexford and Cranberry Township at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex) Walk-in, after-hours, or video visit care on evenings and weekends for minor injuries and illnesses by board-certified pediatricians
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be. “Most, if not all, of a new mother’s obstetrical imaging and prenatal/postnatal care can take place in our northern locations,” says Dr. Beigi. And women with complicated or high-risk pregnancies no longer need to travel into the city to meet with Magee maternal fetal medicine specialists. “Of course, when it’s time to deliver or if a mom or baby needs advanced care, patients have a seamless transition to care with these same specialists at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Oakland,” he adds.
Enhancing Women’s Specialty Services at UPMC Lemieux
In 2020, UPMC Magee-Womens Specialty Services opened a 12,000-square-foot women’s center at
the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry. This year, mammography services at UPMC Passavant–Cranberry also transferred to UPMC Lemieux. “We’ve invested in new resources and state-ofthe-art equipment at the women’s center,” says Dr. Beigi. “Our goal is to provide not only convenient access to basic care, but expert specialized care for women at every stage of life.” Magee-Womens Specialty Services at UPMC Lemieux include: • Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Program • UPMC Magee-Womens Imaging (breast imaging and ob-gyn ultrasound) • UPMC Magee-Womens Surgical Associates • Ob-gyn services
• Specialty services in gynecologic specialties, reproductive endocrinology, midwives, and midlife care • UPMC Cancer Genetics Program
Growing Women’s Health Services at UPMC Passavant–McCandless Magee-Womens Specialty Services also are expanding at UPMC Passavant–McCandless. “That includes a major new UPMC Magee-Womens Imaging center that opened in July,” says Dr. Beigi. It offers diagnostic mammograms, sonograms, and DEXA scans that measure bone density. Other specialized services for women at UPMC Passavant– McCandless include: • Gynecologic cancer treatment (chemotherapy* and radiation) • Minimally invasive and robotic gynecologic and oncology surgery • Urogynecology (center opening this summer) * Chemotherapy is also offered at UPMC Passavant– Cranberry
Units on the fifth and sixth floors offer special care and private rooms to women after gynecologic or oncology surgery. “Every day, these and other initiatives prove our commitment to bringing the best of UPMC’s care to northern residents,” says UPMC Passavant’s Hoolahan. n
For more information, visit UPMCPassavant.com/ItsAllHere. The information in this article was provided by UPMC.
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In Memoriam
Jack Schuler, Rev. Paul Zywan and Dr. John Orie
Remembering Dr. John Orie
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r. John R. Orie passed away peacefully on June 25, surrounded by his family and loved ones. He was a lifelong resident of Allegheny County and a 60-year parishioner of Saint Aidan Catholic Church, formerly Saint Alexis. Dr. Orie’s deep Catholic faith was the foundation of his life, and he attended daily Mass, was a Eucharistic Minister until he was 97 years old and lived his faith life every day. Dr. Orie was born and raised in the Polish Hill section of Pittsburgh. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical College. Doc Orie was a 55-year pioneer physician with UPMC Passavant hospital when it was first located in the Hill District of Pittsburgh when it was formerly called Passavant Hospital. He was a family physician. When Doc retired 25 years ago, his office visits were five dollars, and he still made house calls. He encouraged everyone in the community to get the health care they needed. If they could not afford it, he told his patients not to worry about paying him and provided free medical care. On his days off (Thursdays), he would take a handful of the Orie kids to the inner-city schools, communities and clinics, where he would provide free health care to those who could not afford it. The Orie children thought their father was amazing because he spent this quality time with his kids as busy as he was. Dr. Orie volunteered to do physicals throughout his medical career for athletes attending inner-city schools and at North Catholic High School for its football and basketball teams. He also volunteered to be the team doctor for the Duquesne University football team. In 1996, Dr. Orie came out of retirement to work in his late daughter, Dr. Judith Orie’s (nuclear cardiologist) medical office. In May, Doc celebrated his 99th Birthday with a “Neighborhood Birthday Parade” on Montgomery Road where he resided for 67 years. He received official proclamations from former President Donald Trump, Senator Patrick Toomey, Congressman Conor Lamb, PA State Senator Lindsey Williams; PA House of Representatives Rob Mercuri, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Councilwoman Cynthia Kirk, City of Pittsburgh Councilman Corey O’Connor and Bishop David Zubik honoring his milestone 99th birthday and for being a “community hero.” On May 10, Dr. Orie received the distinguished lifelong McCandless Citizen Award of Recognition by the McCandless Township Council. In addition, on May 11, UPMC Passavant Hospital President Susan Hoolahan and Passavant Foundation Chair, Dr. Daniel R. Sullivan honored Dr. Orie with an official proclamation for his outstanding medical contribution to the medical community and the community at large, as a physician for well over 55 years, and as a “pioneer physician” at UPMC Passavant. Finally, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical School jointly honored Dr. Orie as a distinguished alumnus. The Pittsburgh Penguins honored Dr. Orie with an official Penguins jersey with the number 99 and his name, Dr. Orie, on the jersey’s back. Dr. Orie and the late Jean Lally Orie had nine children and 17 grandchildren. May he rest in peace! n
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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S
Medicines Can Be Powerful Lifesavers, But Can Lead to Danger for Children By Belinda Burchick, RPh, BPharm
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oth prescription and over-the-counter medicines (nonprescription) can relieve symptoms, manage your health condition and even save your life. On the flip side, medicines can be deadly if ingested by children, especially if given in too high of a dosage or if taken unintentionally. As a result, about 50,000 U.S. children end up in the emergency room each year. Many common medicines, such as ones used for pain, heart and diabetes can have toxic effects. Even over-the-counter medications, such as vitamins, can be fatal to the very young. Below are some medication safety tips for anyone who may have children around: • Store all medications on a high shelf, in a locked cabinet. Consider a lockable container. • It is important to use medicine containers with safety caps and keep them out of reach of children. Out of sight, out of mind. • After taking medicines, immediately put back in safe storage. • If a medication spills, clean the area immediately. If you drop
a pill, do everything you can to locate lost pill. Vacuum or sweep the area. It is best to take medicine over a bowl or sink. • Remind visitors such as, grandparents, friends, and babysitters, to keep coats and bags with them or up and out of reach of the children as they may contain medication. A larger percentage of the emergency room visits are from giving too much dosage of a medication to a child. The dosage can be different for every child. Consider their weight and age, and other medications they are taking. Measure dose accurately for a child to prevent overdosage, and use a dosage syringe or dosage spoon, not a regular kitchen spoon. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider about the correct dose for your child. When buying an over-the-counter medicine, look for the ingredients on the label, usually in small print, to make sure you are not doubling up. Acetaminophen can be alone and included in other cold and sinus remedies. Also, read label for dosage based on age and weight. If minimum age is listed, and child is below this minimum age, please do not give medicine and consult your pharmacist or health care provider. As a general rule, avoid giving child unnecessary medicines, such as, symptom relief medicines, unless child needs it or it is prescribed by their healthcare provider. If child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures due to possible poison contact or ingestion, call 911. If a child has come in contact with a poison and has mild or no symptoms, call the Poison Control Center, 1-800-222-1222, open 24/7. Poison Control is a government-funded service staffed by nurses or pharmacists who are specially trained to assist callers who have been potentially poisoned. They will ask you the following questions: age of the patient, your relationship to the patient, presence of symptoms, name and strength of the product (read the label for ingredients), container size, amount of exposure, and contact information such as name, phone number and zip code of the patient. The specialist will guide you on whether it is appropriate to call 911, go to the hospital, or if there is a way to counteract the poisoning with an antidote or prevent it from getting worse. Poison Control centers manage calls regarding snake and insect bites, food poisoning, sun poisoning and accidental ingestion of medicines and any contact with potential poisons. Medicine can help, if in the right hands and taken at the right dose. Take caution. n Belinda Burchick, RPh, BPharm, has focused her career on geriatric pharmacy and automated dispensing systems to promote patient safety and improve health outcomes. For the last 10 years, she has served as Chief Pharmacy Officer (CPO) for a long-term care pharmacy, servicing the geriatric population in nursing homes, assisted living, independent living, and the senior day programs, such as, Pennsylvania’s LIFE programs and the PACE programs in multiple states. Belinda oversees the pharmacy operations in three pharmacies, located in Denver, Philadelphia and headquarters in Pittsburgh.
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Tricycle Learning Company
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ack to School is quickly approaching, and Tricycle Learning Company offers families ways to prepare and adapt by getting Back to Basics. Tricycle Learning Company teaches students to move from a passive mindset to an active mindset when it comes to their study habits. “The pandemic certainly triggered student disengagement due to the asynchronous study environments and lack of structure and accountability. Because of our commitment to each of our students’ success, we help families identify and overcome roadblocks in their schoolwork. Our processes are consistent yet flexible - because we are a small, family-run business,” said Founder and President Christopher Yco. Tricycle Learning Company’s college preparatory services have a three-pronged approach. First they emphasize that grades are paramount, and TLC offers academic tutoring to supplement what students are already learning in their classrooms. The second is to maximize SAT/ACT/College Entrance Exam scores; TLC trains students to confidently and strategically dissect each component and arrive at the correct answer. The third element is college application completion assistance. TLC provides services from selecting the appropriate college/s in alignment with students’ goals, to writing an impactful essay or personal statement, and organizing financial aid and grant applications. Tricycle Learning Company also understands what college admissions counselors are seeking in student applicants. TLC knows admissions counselors are not only seeing students’ grades in black and white; they are looking at the progression of difficulty of the classes students choose throughout high school. With SAT/ACT preparation, TLC trains their students in a bootcamp-like environment. They progressively turn up the heat with timed drills, simulating the pressures of test day.
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“Tricycle definitely helped improve my SAT scores. I took my first one blindly without any tutoring and got a decent score but not good enough to get me into my college of choice. After working with them I developed the strategy needed to tackle the SAT which led me to being able to CHOOSE which college I wanted to go to,” said Camille Cohen, current student at University of San Diego.
“Tricycle Learning Company is amazing. They helped my son improve his SAT score and tutored him and assisted with college applications. My son has been offered numerous scholarships.” – Joella Baker from Get Fit Families in Zelienople Most importantly, Tricycle Learning Company’s biggest source of inspiration is the belief that all students should have equal access to opportunity. Christopher Yco has made it TLC’s mission to encourage students to give back to their communities. Wendy Porter-Coste, from Upward Bound in Long Beach, CA stated, “As the director of a pre-college program serving low-income, first-generation high school students, we were heavily impacted by the pandemic. Fortunately, we have a long-standing relationship with Chris and TLC. Once Covid hit, they were instrumental in supporting us in quickly transitioning to online services to keep our students connected and receiving the support they were accustomed to. Chris goes above and beyond to inspire and motivate students.” n
Please visit their website at www.tricyclelearning.com to learn more about Tricycle Learning Company.
www.northernconnectionmag.com | AUGUST 2021
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K I D S & E D U C AT I O N
Reality Tour Directors from Across the Nation Emphasize Importance of Program
Principal Adam Kostewicz of Mars Centennial greets a student at the Mars Reality Tour
Pike County Reality Tour director Jill Gamboni outlined the importance of parents attending Reality Tour with their child, while Las Vegas tour director Dr. Charlene Day outlined the importance of the program’s prevention message in her city in a series of March 2021 interviews.
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s a member of the Pike County Child Death Review team, Jill Gamboni was seeing firsthand the deadly effects of substance abuse and cited the rampant number of overdose deaths in her community as a catalyst for bringing Reality Tour to the area in 2007. “It is a very impactful program, especially the dramatic scenes,” Gamboni said. “I have had parents come back to me after years who say they still talk to their kids about what they learned at Reality Tour. I think Reality Tour’s approach is great because it covers the full spectrum of substance abuse.” On average, Pike county holds four Reality Tour programs per year. Gamboni believes that while it is important for children and teens to attend the program, it is perhaps even more important for parents to attend alongside them. “Very often the parent needs to hear the message more than the child,” Gamboni said. “Parents don’t understand the full scope of what their kids actually know. It is amazing how much more kids know than their parents about drugs. To me, that was a very surprising factor about Reality Tour.”
Since COVID began, Pike County has not been able to hold any Reality Tour programs. Gamboni emphasized an eagerness to see the program return in Fall 2021 as officials from the Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission indicate an upward trend in at-home substance abuse in adolescents. Recently, Reality Tour has made its first appearance in the state of Nevada, and Las Vegas tour director Dr. Charlene Day believes the program is exactly what her city needs to address substance abuse. “We are called ‘sin city’ for a reason,” Dr. Day said. “This is the place people usually come if they have any sort of vice or addiction. When we say what happens here stays here, that is true. It also stays with the people who live and work here.” Day pointed to the legalization of gambling, marijuana and prostitution as areas of concern for her community members and explained that when people move to the city to reinvent themselves, they bring their addictions and vices with them, sometimes passing the behaviors along to their children. While substance abuse has proven to be a daunting issue, Dr. Day expressed enthusiasm about the promise of Reality Tour in Las Vegas. “When you do prevention, you want to do something that is new, novel, and previously successful,” Dr. Day said. “The fact that this program is evidence-based is paramount to me.” Reality Tour is getting back on track nationwide after delays and cancellations due to the pandemic. Emails from parents inquiring about the program have been increasing rapidly, and school partners are eager to get the program back into their communities. There will be a meeting July 13, 6:30 p.m. at Fun Fore All in Cranberry Twp. for volunteers who plan to staff the Mars and Cranberry Reality Tours in the fall. The program is seeking organizations like service clubs to adopt a Reality Tour site for one year to help fill gaps in the volunteer needs. Reality Tour’s fundraiser is going on now. Sponsors can have signs on the mini-golf course at Fun Fore All during the Aug. 1-14 fundraising event. Fun Passes purchased online from Aug. 1-14 using code REALITY will receive a discount and part of the proceed go to Reality Tour. For info email RealityTour@candleinc.org. n
About CANDLE, Inc. Reality Tour
CANDLE, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit committed to presenting reality-based drug prevention programs and initiatives that engage and educate parent, child, and the community at large in a manner that reveals the true risks of drug abuse and experimentation and identifies emerging drug preferences as they evolve. CANDLE, Inc. Reality Tour 100 Brugh Ave., Butler, PA 16001 www.RealityTour.org | (724) 679-1788 Contact: Norma Norris, Executive Director at Reality Tour (724) 679-1788 NormaNorris@candleinc.org
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K I D S & E D U C AT I O N
School Movers & Shakers Enrichment Center of W Pa Eighth grade Enrichment Center of Western Pennsylvania student Riley Jasper won the Eastern level of the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Annual Essay Contest. This was submitted by the Kushkushkee Trail Chapter of the DAR. Her entry will now move on to the National Region level of the contest. The Enrichment Center of Western PA has won the Eastern level four times since 2013. The essay commemorated the 250th anniversary of the Boston Massacre. Pictured is Riley and her teacher, Mrs. Ruth Butler.
North Allegheny North Allegheny Senior High School rising seniors, Victoria Ren and Alina Zaidi
were named Bank of America Student Leaders. Both girls participated in an eight-week, paid internship, working closely with local nonprofits, developing leadership and workforce skills, and participating in a week-long virtual leadership summit. These students are engaged in an eight-week, paid internship, working closely with local nonprofits, developing leadership and workforce skills, and participating in a week-long virtual leadership summit. This program is part of the bank’s overall commitment to youth employment, helping to prepare a diverse pipeline of young talent for success in the workforce.
Seneca Valley The Seneca Valley School District is in the process of organizing a special Veteran Recognition Day during the first official Raider Football home game on Friday, Sept. 3. For info visit, www.svsd.net/ VeteranRecognition. Seneca Valley’s school board members approved the appointment of Jackson Township Police Department Officer Jason Young as the District’s new Supervisor of Safety and Security. Jason Young In 2020, Governor Tom Wolf announced Seneca Valley was the recipient of a $25,000 Teacher in the Workplace grant to enable teachers to visit local employers and learn the skills and industry trends to enhance their classroom instruction, student learning, and career readiness. Seneca Valley earned twelve awards in the National School Public Relations Association’s (NSPRA) 2021 Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards Contest and five awards in the Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association’s (PenSPRA) “Excellence in Education Communications” 2020 Contest.
Saint Joseph High School (Natrona Heights) Principal: Beverly K. Kaniecki (724) 224-5552 www.SaintJosephHS.com
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Fox Chapel
Shady Side Academy
Seven Fox Chapel Area High School students and graduates received a 2021 Student Production Award for Excellence from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). The students won the award for Our Assignment from Fred Rogers. The honorees were Adina Munin, Santiago de la Torre, Jean Daniher, Ryan Kenyon, Jonathan Snider, Anushka Vis, and Lance Wilhelm.
Shady Side Academy announced the appointment of Dek Ingraham as its new Executive Director of the Hillman Center for Performing Arts and Senior School Performing Arts Chair.
Fox Chapel High School 2021 graduate, Samantha Dunlap was selected as the 2020-2021 Western Pennsylvania Positive Athlete Award winner in girls soccer. The award is given to the “Most Positive High School Athletes” who serve as role models in their schools and who embody the “Seven Definitions of a Positive Athlete.”
Dek Ingraham
Ralph B. Canterbury Scholarship Clearview Federal Credit Union has selected a few local outstanding Pennsylvania students to receive $1,500 scholarships for the 22nd Annual Ralph B. Canterbury Scholarship. The recipients include: Genevieve Archer of Aquinas Academy; Sarah Fiorina of Butler Senior High School; Anna Staresinic of Pine-Richland High School and Kipauno Washington of Sewickley Academy.
BC3
The Fox Chapel Area School District received five awards in the 2021 National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards contest.
Mars Area Mars Area School District’s elementary schools (K-6) received the American Heart Association Heart of Gold Award for raising $44,045.56 as part of the schools’ 2020-2021 Kids/American Heart Challenges. Mars Area Elementary School collected $20,976.79; Mars Area Primary Center, $17,056.64; and Mars Area Centennial School brought in $6,012.13.
Butler County Community College programs that enable eligible high school students to earn affordable and transferrable college credits will benefit from NexTier Bank’s $20,000 gift. NexTier Bank’s contribution to the BC3 Education Foundation will support BC3’s College Within the High School and College Now programs, and Stock Market Games administered by the college’s Center for Economic Education.
Mars Area High School graduate Ellie Coffield (Class of 2021) was named the 2020-2021 Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Soccer Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Mars Area High School graduate Alaina Metal (Class of 2021) was selected to receive the 2020-2021 Western Pennsylvania Positive Athlete Award for Girls Lacrosse. Mars Area High School graduate Victoria Witouski (Class of 2021) earned first place in the Girls 16-18 Division at the Isaly’s Tri-State Junior PGA Tournament, held June 25 at Slippery Rock Golf Club. Additionally, incoming Mars Area High School junior Blake Bertolo earned first place in the Boys 15-16 Divisions. www.northernconnectionmag.com | AUGUST 2021
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SSUUPPPPOORRTT OOUURR TTRROOOOPPSS
Bob Taylor
World War II Historian and Korean War Veteran By Paula Green When school students learn about World War II, they’re educated on the major events such Pearl Harbor and Normandy. Eighty-six year old, Bob Taylor did not serve in the big war, rather, he lived through it as an elementary school student. Bob is a volunteer with the Heinz History Center. He talks with school-age kids in his spare time and educates them on what life was like growing up during World War II. Bob Taylor with his wife Linda McCormick
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oday, we can look up information on the web or watch the news. “Back when I was growing up, every night my family and I would listen to the radio; that’s how we got our World War II news. So WWII can be defined as the good against the bad,” Bob said. “Many items were in short supply due to the war, so we had to ration. We had ration books. American were issued red stamps and blue stamps. You could purchase meats and dairy each month with the red stamps, and with the blue ones, you could buy canned, dried and bottled items. Every Friday, we had Stamp Day. We bought saving bonds, and we raised the Minute Man flag,” said Bob. “We had a Victory Garden which we planted. That is what we mainly ate. We dined on homemade soups and fresh baked bread. We planted vegetables, and it was my job to clean the garden. I had to get rid of the slugs, and I also had to tidy up the chicken coops, which was a dirty job,” said Bob. “I had a cousin who served in World War I, and he worked at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. He used to send me Dubble Bubble chewing gum. I was a popular guy. You couldn’t get that during the war. One piece of chewing gum lasted five or six days,” Bob said. “One way we found to raise money was to have a scrap sale. We collected old cans and newspapers and then sold them. We also practiced air raids. The government made people believe that they were part of the war,” Bob added. World War II ended in 1945, and several years later Bob joined the Korean War effort. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was a Specialist 4th Class. Bob trained in Massachusetts, was sent to Korea, and finished his Army career at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Bob enrolled at California University where he studied education. He obtained his master’s at Slippery Rock University. Bob taught history for three years at Elizabeth-Forward. In 1962, he began teaching at Avonworth High School where he remained for 30 years until his retirement in 1992. Bob grew up in Frank, Pennsylvania, near McKeesport. He currently resides in Beaver County with his wife, Linda McCormick. Northern Connection salutes Bob for his service during the Korean War and his dedication to enlightening students on World War II. n 26
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