At Hampton Fields Village you can enjoy winter again … minus the slips, falls, maintenance, and mess.
You’ll find fewer burdens and more friendships. Call us at 412-492-8448 and set up a time to visit and see how true independence can mean more of things you want to do, and less of the things you have to do.
Hampton Fields Village 4480 Mt. Royal Blvd. Allison Park, PA 15101
Ameriprise Financial announced that financial adviser, Antonio Aiello, CFP®, CRPC™, has earned Ameriprise Financial Circle of Success status for 2024. This annual recognition program acknowledes the work of the top tier of Ameriprise financial advisers.
Sojourner House and Sojourner House MOMS announced that Dr. Camille Clarke-Smith, founder and executive director of THAW (Transforming the Health of African American Women), as the honorary chair for the 21st Annual Victorian Tea. Dr. Clarke-Smith, an esteemed leader in health and wellness, gives of her time to lead yoga and other movement sessions for the women at Sojourner House as well as for the annual Yoga in the Streets event. The event will be held April 27 at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.
be one of the most transformative projects in the Cultural District in 25 years. Construction will begin in April on the vacant surface lots of the 8th Street Block located between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Boulevard in the Cultural District. A soft opening is expected in April 2026, when the NFL Draft is hosted in Pittsburgh, with a grand opening slated for June 2026.
Grant funding was awarded to first responder companies in the 28th District under the Pennsylvania Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program. Those awarded include: Hampton, Marshall, North Hampton, West Deer, and Wexford Volunteer Fire companies, and McCandless Franklin Park Ambulance Authority, Richland EMS, and Shaler Area Emergency Medical Services Inc.
Michael Hellman will be bestowed with Allies for Health + Well-beings annual Kerry Stoner Award for his work with people living with or at risk of HIV/ AIDS. The award will be presented to Hellman on Sunday, March 2, and he will be recognized at Allies’ 40th Birthday Party on Friday, April 11.
Samantha Salopek received the American Association of University Women’s Gateway to Equity Award from the North Hills Branch on March 19, on the campus of La Roche University. The award was presented to Samantha Salopek during the Women’s History Month Program.
Arts Landing, a new outdoor civic space envisioned by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and designed by renowned landscape architecture firm Field Operations, promises to
Three projects across the 28th Legislative District have been awarded more than $650,000 in funding from Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund. The funded projects include: Pine Township $236,000 for purchasing a driving simulator in a heated and air-conditioned box trailer, Richland Township $118,194 for replacing and increasing the size of 420 feet of the Bakerstown Road waterline, and West Deer Township $320,000 for the West Deer Dog Shelter Renovation and Municipal Building Demolition Project.
Ten projects in the 44th Legislative District have been awarded more than $1.4 million in state grant funding from the Gaming Economic Development and Tourism. Project Include: Aleppo Township retaining wall, Glenn Osborne replacement of sewer lines, Leet Township replacement of the Big Sewickley Creek waterline and renovations for the two borough buildings, Findlay Township expansion of the Imperial Volunteer Fire Station, Moon Township improvements to the Moon Park Amphitheatre, Sewickley Borough sewer system repairs, installation of a new UV system, post office renovations, and Sewickley Hills Borough construction of a concrete walking path.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) received the 2025 Grand Conceptor Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania (ACEC/PA) for their ongoing efforts to support work zone safety.
Eric Kavanagh
Whether it is a Music Ensemble concert or a regular Wednesday art class, 26-year-old Eric Kavanagh is always dressed to impress. He often can be spotted on The Woodlands’ campus wearing bespoke blazers crafted by him and his mother. The garments are a nod to many of Eric’s favorite things including Disney, holidays, and the movie Wicked, to name a few.
Eric has been attending clubs, retreats, and summer camps at The Woodlands since 2021and has a special love for the music, theater, and studio arts classes. According to Eric, he “loves the ability to have a place to create art.” For Eric’s parents, J.R. and Jessica Kavanagh, The Woodlands “allows him to have a sense of belonging,” and provides a place where “he is safe and, most importantly, enriched.”
Eric has sung numerous solos during music camps and exhibited dynamic art pieces in the annual Woodlands’ gallery shows. The Kavanaghs have witnessed Eric’s growth in confidence through these opportunities and are thrilled to watch him continue to thrive at The Woodlands.
The Woodlands offers year-round programming for children and adults with disabilities on a 52-acre, barrier-free campus in Wexford, Pennsylvania. For more information on The Woodlands, please visit www.mywoodlands.org. n
Eric with Woodlands Program Coordinator, Kenyon Lewis. Eric working on an art piece in The Woodlands ART Here class.
Eric and fellow Music Ensemble Member Abby David before the 2023 Winter Concert.
Passavant Hospital Foundation supports innovative new workshop developed by UPMC anesthesiologist
Creating something out of nothing has always been a part of who Charles Lin, MD, MSc, is.
While an undergrad at Columbia University, he launched a nursing volunteer program on campus, providing new opportunities for students to volunteer in local nursing homes. In 2022, he developed a monitor to improve operating room safety.
His latest creation is a simulatorbased workshop that allows health care professionals to hone their skill of effectively establishing emergency airways in high-risk patients while in
a disruptive environment, such as a busy operating room. Although the procedure may be rare, it can mean the difference between life and death for a patient.
“Patients stop breathing when under anesthesia, so doctors only have a couple of minutes to insert a breathing tube through the nose or mouth. The vast majority of time, the procedure is routine and everything goes smoothly,” Dr. Lin explained.
In rare instances, however, complications can arise in which the breathing tube cannot be properly established.
In times past, a surgeon would have to be summoned in these circumstances to make a tiny incision into the trachea so the breathing tube could be inserted through the throat. Dr. Lin’s workshop is an opportunity for anestheologists to refresh, practice and hone their surgical skill so they can successfully perform a similar procedure themselves, saving critical time and thus, quite possibly, a patient’s life.
“Everyone learns the technique during their medical training, but because these situations are uncommon, the skill requires some refreshing and practice from time to time,” Dr. Lin
Certified Nurse Anesthetist Francis Feld, CRNA, and UPMC Passavant Anesthesiologist Charles Lin, MD, MSc, are leading groundbreaking workshops to help health care providers prepare for unanticipated complications in patient care.
said. The workshop serves as that refresher, allowing doctors to remain confident of their abilities when and if the need for it arises unexpectedly.
The workshop, titled “Scalpel-Bougie Front of Neck Access Workshop,” is a 15-minute-long session. Participants watch a short video of the procedure, in which the incision is made in a membrane in the trachea, between the thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage of the larynx. Participants then step up to a simulator, where an instructor demonstrates the technique on a specialized manikin, followed by participants performing the task themselves, under the instructor’s supervision.
Dr. Lin, an anesthesiologist, partnered with John O’Donnell, DrPH, CRNA, director of the nurse anesthesia program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, to develop the workshop. They recommend that participants repeat the workshop yearly in order to retain their skills.
“As Director of Quality Improvement for the Department of Anesthesiology at UPMC Passavant, I’m focused on patient safety,” Dr. Lin said. “These workshops fall in line with that. They elevate patient safety.”
Though primarily developed by anesthesia providers for other anesthesia providers, the workshop has found popularity and value among students and physicians from other medical disciplines, as well.
Michael Barton, MD, chief of emergency services at UPMC Passavant, attended the workshop in January. “(It) provided hands-on learning of a simple and effective method of performing a cricothyroidotomy so an emergency medicine physician will be able to perform this life-saving procedure without hesitation,” he said.
Following two years of planning, development, and pilot programs, Dr. Lin conducted his first workshop in March 2023.
His latest workshops were held at UPMC Passavant during the first two months of 2025. This spring, a “Train the Trainers” session will be conducted to teach clinicians from other UPMC hospitals how to conduct the workshop at their affiliated facilities, including UPMC Magee-Womens, UPMC Shadyside, UPMC Mercy, UPMC Presbyterian, and more. Dr. Lin is confident he will reach more than 400 anesthesia providers, plus additional doctors from across other medical departments and disciplines throughout the UPMC system.
The workshops may also spread beyond the UPMC system as Dr. Lin is currently collaborating with a colleague at WVU Medicine who is eager to bring the workshops to her state.
Passavant Hospital Foundation was one of the first to support Dr. Lin’s efforts through a Foundation grant.
“We are always thrilled to help fund new, innovative ideas that help patients achieve the best possible health outcomes,” said Anthony R. Savannah, president of Passavant Hospital Foundation. “Simply put, Dr. Lin’s workshops will save lives.” n
Dr. Charles Lin observes a nurse anesthetist student as he performs a scalpel-bougie surgical airway procedure on a simulated patient at one of Dr. Lin’s workshops at UPMC Passavant.
Dr. Lin’s team of clinicians helping to lead the workshops at UPMC Passavant include Carl Daltner, MD, and Daniel Mandell, MD (far left), Francis Feld, CRNA, and Wende Goncz, DO (near right). Charles Lin, MD, MSc, is pictured in the middle.
Passavant Hospital Foundation awarded several grants in 2024
Passavant Hospital Foundation continues to align itself with initiatives in McCandless and Cranberry Townships supporting the patients of UPMC Passavant, patients’ families, hospital staff, and the community. In 2024, the Foundation supported multiple Community Initiative Grants totaling $39,996, which were awarded to:
l Anchorpoint Counseling Ministries to support their bereavement and mental health groups
l Elfinwild Volunteer Fire Company for the need of three Stop-TheBleed kits
l Kearns Spirituality Center to support their Comfort & Hospitality Program
l MHY Family Services (formerly the Mars Home for Youth) to help build stronger families through their MST-Psych Family Support Program
l North Hills Community Outreach to help provide food for lowincome families and older adults
l Orchardview Stables to assist with their therapeutic sessions for veterans and first responder
l Ross/West View EMS to support the need of an IV Medication pump
l Variety the Children’s Charity to support the need of two strollers for local families who have children with disability needs
l Butler County Family YMCA to support their automated external defibrillator (AED) needs
Passavant Hospital Auxiliary supports local doctors, patients
Over the past 60 years, the Passavant Hospital Auxiliary has raised and donated more than $4 million to help make UPMC Passavant the worldclass hospital it is today. The Auxiliary works in partnership with Passavant Hospital Foundation to help fund projects that benefit patients, their families, and those who care for them.
In 2024, the auxiliary provided nearly $60,000 for seven different department grants at UPMC Passavant. One of those grants helped the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine obtain a Glidescope Video Laryngoscope, the most comprehensive airway visualization system for laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy and dual-
view airway procedures. Another grant helped the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Passavant aquire Photobiomodulation (PBM) Laser Therapy, a non-invasive treatment to stimulate cells and promote healing. n
Bridge to Hope support group welcomes new members
One of the country’s most innovative models for a support group is Bridge To Hope, a free, weekly educational and support program that is peer-led
and consists of members who have one specific experience in common: they all have a loved one struggling with a substance abuse disorder. The group focuses on its members’ shared ideas, experiences, hopes, and successes.
As a Passavant Hospital Foundation outreach initative, the program has served more than 5,000 local families since it began in 1999. Meetings are held online at 7 p.m. during the first three Wednesdays of the month for the convenience and ability to
serve people living outside the immediate area; the last Wednesday of each month is held in person at the Passavant Hospital Foundation Conference Center at Cumberland Woods Village and features experts who address topics relevant to substance abuse disorders and the importance of each family member’s self care.
Another free, Foundation-sponsored support group, Beyond Bridge to Hope, addresses the needs of family members who have experienced the death of a loved one due to drug or alcohol abuse. This group is led by a certified grief counselor and meets in person on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Passavant Hospital Foundation Conference Center. For details, call 412-748-6640. n
Scan this code to learn more about Passavant Hospital Foundation! t
Passavant Hospital Auxiliary officers, pictured left to right: Carol Koontz, President; Rita Jastrebski, Vice President; Janese Abbott, Secretary; and Debbie Marziano, Treasurer
Sign up for a free health seminar!
Passavant Hospital Foundation partners with UPMC Passavant to provide a variety of health and wellness education programs that are free and open to all. Each interactive class is led by an expert in the field who provides up-to-date medical information in terms people of all ages can understand. Registration is required at PassavantHospitalFoundation.org or 412-748-6641.
Liver Lesions Benign and Malignant: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Care
Tues., Mar. 18 l 6:00 – 7:30 PM l Assembly Hall at UPMC Passavant
William P. Hogle, MSN, RN, OCN, will discuss common liver lesions and explain treatment options and care.
Jaw Pain — Common Causes and Treatments
Thurs., Mar. 27 l 6:00 – 7:00 PM l Northland Public Library
Jaw pain, common causes and pathology will be discussed, along with other symptoms that can often be associated with jaw pain. Physical therapy interventions will also be reviewed.
Natalie Novak, PT, DPT, OCS, of UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, will lead this seminar.
What If I’m Not Ready for Surgery? Exploring Conservative Options to Treat Hip and Knee Pain
Tues., Apr. 15 l 6:00 – 7:30 PM l Assembly Hall at UPMC Passavant
With more than 40 years of experience as an orthopedic surgeon, William D. Abraham, MD, offers diagnosis and development of nonsurgical treatment plans for patients at Tri Rivers Conservative Care Clinic. If you’re experiencing chronic hip or knee pain but are not ready to undergo joint surgery, come learn about alternatives that may align with your goals.
SAVE THE DATES
Everything You Need to Know About Fasting
Thurs., Apr. 24 l 6:00 – 7:00 PM l Northland Public Library
Jennifer Sotirake, RD, LDN, CDCES, Dietitian Advanced Practitioner/ Diabetes Care and Education Specialist at UPMC Passavant will discuss the growing popularity of intermittent fasting as a tool for weight management and health benefits. Come learn if intermittent fasting is right for you.
Management of Thyroid Nodules
Tues., May 20 l 6:00 – 7:30 PM l Assembly Hall at UPMC Passavant
Mark Kubik, MD, will discuss the impact of newly evolving molecular diagnostics and new minimally invasive approaches in thyroid pathology.
Gardening Thyme: Avoid Aches and Pains
While Gardening
Thurs., May 22 l 6:00 – 7:00 PM l Northland Public Library
Join our physical therapist to discuss how to continue enjoying gardening with less stress and pain to your body. Learn what best tools to use amd proper lifting techniques. This class is led by Taylor Docherty, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, UPMC Rehabilitation Institute.
hit our goal of raising $8,000 to support our Cancer Care Fund, which helps qualified UPMC Passavant oncology patients afford medicine, food, shelter, and transportation during their treatment. Contact Passavant Hospital Foundation Development Coordinator Amanda French at 412-748-6641 or posaaa@upmc.edu.
8 at the North Park Pool Loop. The third annual Family 5K Wellness Run/Walk and Kids’ Fun Run will be held on Saturday, August 9 at UPMC Passavant Sportsplex at Graham Park in Cranberry Township.
Legacy of Caring Gala
MAR 30 MAY 3-4
National Doctor’s Day
Honor your favorite doctor by sending a note or making a contribution in his or her name to Passavant Hospital Foundation.
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Pittsburgh Marathon
Join the Passavant Hospital Foundation Fundraising Team and help us
JUNE 2
Annual Golf Outing
Enjoy a day on the links at Treesdale Golf and Country Club while helping Passavant Hospital Foundation raise money for its mission.
4K and 8K Run/Walk Events
AUG 8, 9
Passavant Hospital Foundation’s annual 4K and 8K Run/Walk will take place on Friday evening, August
SEPT 18 OCT 24
Celebrate a Legacy of Caring on Thursday, September 18 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Pittsburgh-Cranberry.
Annual Purse & Tool Bash
Join us virtually on Facebook Live and Microsoft Teams on Friday, October 24 to bid on a vast array of power tools and designer purses, handbags and backpacks!
For details on all our upcoming events, go to PassavantHospitalFoundation.org/Events
National Nutrition Month: Tips for Healthy Eating
By Genesis Medical Associates, Inc.
Providing Quality Healthcare to Families Near Pittsburgh
March is National Nutrition Month, a great time to focus on making healthier food choices. Genesis Medical Associates, a leading healthcare provider north of Pittsburgh, offers simple tips to help you maintain a balanced diet and overall wellness.
Why Healthy Eating Matters
A nutritious diet fuels your body, supports your immune system, and reduces the risk of chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. The right food choices can boost your mood, energy, and long-term health. Small, manageable changes over time create sustainable healthy habits.
Simple Tips for Healthy Eating
• Balanced Diet – Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats for essential nutrients.
• Portion Control – Avoid oversized servings. A serving of meat should be about the size of a deck of cards, and cooked pasta or rice should be around half a cup.
• Increase Fruits & Vegetables – Aim for at least five servings daily, choosing fresh or frozen options for max-
imum nutrition.
• Limit Processed Foods & Sugars – Choose whole foods over processed ones to reduce unhealthy fats, sugars, and sodium.
• Stay Hydrated – Drink plenty of water to aid digestion and overall health.
• Practice Mindful Eating – Eat slowly, savor your food, and avoid distractions like TV or phones.
• Plan & Prepare Meals – Cooking at home helps control ingredients and portion sizes while saving time and money.
• Read Food Labels – Check for added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats to make informed choices.
• Seek Professional Advice – Consult a healthcare provider or dietitian for personalized nutrition guidance. Healthy eating is essential for overall well-being. Make small changes today for a healthier tomorrow! Contact Genesis Medical Associates for support on your wellness journey. n
Read the entire article by visiting genesismedical.org/blog. Genesis Medical Associates: Pittsburgh’s Family Doctor Genesismedical.org
Victor Thomas, MD • Brian Jewell, MD • Mark Langhans, MD
Caleb Campbell, MD • Michael Sybert, MD • Daniel Kopolovich, MD
Gardening and your Mental Health: An Exercise in Mindfulness
By Maura L. Johnson, LCSW, PMH-C
As we head into March, with longer days, warmer weather and things in bloom, I find myself looking forward to buying and planting flowers outside my house. Being in Pittsburgh, most of these remain confined to my porch, due to the ever present deer problem. However, I always admire the effort, time and intention others seem to gain from gardening. Whether it be a full vegetable garden that supplies their homes with produce or flower gardening and landscaping, the efforts are admirable. Not only can this be a very rewarding hobby, it’s also a very powerful exercise in mindfulness, intentionality and goal setting.
You may or may not have considered how tending to a garden, flower bed(s) or indoor plants (shouting out all my fellow plant moms) can improve your mental health. One of my favorite tools to regulate my own emotions, as well as to assist my clients, is Mindfulness. Mindfulness is something that I like to say is simple but not exactly easy. The concept of simply
being present, of observing your surroundings, your senses and your breathing may sound simple; however, many find it challenging. In a busy, digital world that thrives on instant connection and gratification, the act of slowing down can seem completely foreign to us.
Gardening and mindfulness go hand in hand, creating synergy between nature and mental wellbeing. Gardening is naturally a meditative and mindful activity; it engages the senses, requires patience, and encourages you to be present in the moment. Whether you’re tending to a full vegetable garden or taking care of a small indoor plant, the experience can be deeply grounding. Some of the benefits of gardening for your mental well-being can include:
Being Present – Focusing on the feel of soil, the scent of flowers, or the rhythm of watering plants brings you into the moment. Observing the methodical steps of planting, watering, weeding, etc. are wonderful steps in engaging with the present.
Reducing Stress – Gardening may lower cortisol (the stress hormone) and promote relaxation. The repetitive nature of gardening tasks brings a predictability to the activity, which can also be deeply calming.
Engaging the Senses – The colors, textures, and fragrances of plants create a sensory-rich experience. Try grounding exercises such as naming something you observe with each of the five senses while gardening. This supports regulating your nervous system, as well as allowng for a deeper appreciation of what is around you.
Connecting with Nature –Spending time outdoors boosts mood and mental clarity. Being in the sun encourages Vitamin D production, which is crucial for mood support.
(Continued on page 16)
YEARS OF KEEPING SENIORS INDEPENDENT IN THEIR HOMES.
Community LIFE helps seniors confidently and safely live at home with an all-inclusive program and insurance plan. With eight Health and Wellness Centers throughout the region and transportation provided, you can drop by and have a cup of coffee, laugh with friends, and take care of your health all at once. For a community that’s full of LIFE, call 866-419-1693 or visit commlife.org to learn more.
2025 SUMMER Camp Guide Camp Guide
Encouraging Patience –Perhaps the most significant challenge is waiting to experience the fruits of your labor. Growth takes time, teaching you to slow down and appreciate progress.
Ways to Practice Mindfulness While Gardening
Breathe Deeply – Take slow, deep breaths as you work, syncing your breath with your movements. Try breathing slowly through your nose for three full seconds and out through your mouth for three full seconds. You can incorporate some of the grounding techniques with your senses during this exercise. Observe Closely – Notice the details in your plants—how the leaves unfurl, how the soil feels. Use Your Hands – Feel the texture of leaves, soil, and water. Let yourself fully engage without distractions, including music/headphones.
Embrace the Rhythm – The repetitive motions of planting, pruning, and watering can be meditative.
Express Gratitude – Reflect on the beauty and life you are nurturing. Try expressing these out loud and sharing with others.
Wishing everyone a peaceful end to winter and a beautiful spring ahead! n
Johnson is a licensed clinical social worker currently in practice at Cranberry Psychological Center. She is a certified perinatal mental health provider, as well as a contributing staff member with
Support International. While her primary focus is treating PMADs, she also treats a variety of conditions and clients of all ages. She resides in the
Maura
Postpartum
Pittsburgh area with her husband, Brendan, daughter, Sloane, and dog, Max.
St. Barnabas Founder’s Day Celebration Honors Jimmy Failla
Enjoy an energizing and inspiring evening as St. Barnabas Charities honors Jimmy Failla at the annual St. Barnabas Founder’s Day Celebration on Wednesday, April 16, at the Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry Twp. Founder’s Day tickets are on sale, and event proceeds support residents and patients who rely on the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund.
Failla is a New York City cab driver turned professional stand-up comedian who has appeared more than 500 times on various FOX TV Shows. His first comedy special, State of the Union, is streaming on Amazon Prime. His nationally syndicated talk radio show, FOX Across America with Jimmy Failla, launched in March 2020 on 27 radio stations and can be heard on over 150 stations nationwide. Failla is also the author of Cancel Culture Dictionary: An A-to-Z Guide to Winning the War of Fun
The St. Barnabas Founder’s Day Celebration will bring together corporate sponsors, prominent business people, and community leaders to honor Jimmy Failla for his contributions. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception, auction, and raffles, followed by a dinner celebration. Guests can also purchase a VIP photo pass and book signing. Jimmy Failla will deliver an inspirational and motivational speech following the Hance Award presentation.
Tickets range from $300 to $500. For event tickets, call 724-625-3770 or visit stbarnabashealthsystem.com/founders-day. Proceeds benefit the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund, which supports elderly patients and residents who cannot afford their care. n
Marcia Sweet’s journey started on a farm in upstate New York, where hard work became her foundation. After marrying her high school sweetheart, James, in 1957, she enjoyed a fulfilling career in teaching and later, a successful antique business. In 2021, Marcia moved to The Village to be near her family and found a supportive, welcoming community. Today she lives the sweet life – cheering on the Buffalo Bills, playing bridge, and sharing laughs with children, grandchildren and new friends.
Schedule a tour with Cindy or Nina today at CBoyd@StBarnabasHealthSystem.com or 724-444-5568.
Mardi Gras Trivia
HLaissez les bons temps rouler
By Paula Green
appy Mardi Gras! This year’s festivities begin on Tuesday, March 4, in New Orleans, Louisiana. “Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday,” which is the day before Ash Wednesday. As the final day before the fasting season of Lent, it serves as the last opportunity to feast and celebrate. Mardi Gras is celebrated in many countries around the world.
Mardi Gras is also known as Shrove Tuesday. This name originates from the practice of “shriving,” confessing one’s sins before the start of Lent. For Christians, Shrove Tuesday serves as an opportunity to receive penance and absolution. “Fat Tuesday” refers to the tradition of using up the milk, eggs, butter, and other fatty foods in the home before Lent begins.
There is more to Mardi Gras than eating beignets and partying in the streets. It has deeprooted traditions and histories that date back hundreds of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. While New Orleans, Louisiana, is famously known for its Mardi Gras festivities, Mobile, Alabama— founded in 1703 by French settlers—claims to be the first city to observe the event. Mardi Gras was celebrated in New Orleans soon after the city’s founding in 1718, and the first recorded street parade in New Orleans took place in 1837.
“Carnival” is a season of celebration that begins on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, and culminates on Mardi Gras. The dates of Carnival vary each year because they are linked to Easter; however, Mardi Gras always occurs exactly 47 days before Easter. A krewe is a private social group that organizes parades, balls, and other festivities during the Carnival season.
Masks and beads are prevalent throughout the festivities. New Orleans estimates that around 25 million pounds of beads are thrown into the streets yearly. People wear masks so that they can mingle and “be whoever they want” during the celebration. Float riders are required by law to wear masks
The popular Mardi Gras dessert is the king cake, a coffee cake with filling. One popular tradition is hiding a small plastic baby (representing the baby Jesus) inside the cake. Whoever finds the baby has to buy the next king cake or hold a king cake party the following year.
Since we’ve unmasked the excitement of Mardi Gras, we must now test our knowledge of Fat Tuesday in this festive query. Get set to don those thinking caps because it’s time to get a little trivial..
1. The Feast of the Epiphany, which marks the beginning of the Carnival season, is called what?
2. New Orleans and Mardi Gras are often associated with this type of music.
3. In Mobile, Alabama, Mardi Gras events begin this month.
4. What breakfast food is associated with Shove Tuesday?
5. Which Midwest city in the United States hosts the second largest Mardi Gras celebration, following New Orleans?
6. A common Mardi Gras phrase is “Laissez les bons temps rouler.” What does that mean?
7. What famous father and son were each crowned King Bacchus at New Orleans, Mardi Gras?
8. What phrase do revelers shout to catch throws from Mardi Gras parade floats?
9. During the 1940s, this global event canceled Mardi Gras for four years.
10. Mardi Gras colors are purple, green, and gold. Purple symbolizes justice, green for faith, and gold represents this.
11. What song is the anthem of Mardi Gras in New Orleans?
12. What are unique coins thrown during Mardi Gras parades called?
13. The Monday before this celebration is sometimes called Fat Monday, also known as?
14. During the Mardi Gras parade in 1880, a man dressed as this person started throwing beads into the crowd, and the tradition has continued ever since.
15. According to the law, what time must masks be removed on the night of Mardi Gras? n
NHRCES Expands Summer STREAM Camp for 2025, Adding Faith-Focused Learning
The North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools (NHRCES) are excited to announce the return of our Summer STREAM Camp for 2025—now bigger and better than ever! This year, we are expanding to four weeks of hands-on, innovative learning at three convenient locations: Blessed Francis Seelos Academy in Wexford, Holy Cross Academy in Ross Township, and St. Gregory School in Zelienople.
In a significant addition for 2025, we are bringing the “R” into STEAM—integrating Religion into our traditional Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math programming.
“We want to provide a dynamic summer learning experience that not only sparks curiosity in science and technology but also reinforces the values of faith and service,” said Vince Scalamogna, NHRCES Business
Manager. “STREAM education encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity, and now we’re adding a faith component that makes our camp experience even more meaningful.”
With sessions running across multiple weeks and locations, families have greater flexibility to participate in this exciting program. Each week will feature new challenges and projects, so students can attend multiple
sessions without repetition.
Looking for a way to get your kids off their screens and into something inspiring this summer? NHRCES
Summer STREAM Camp is the perfect place for young minds to build, create, and innovate—all while deepening their faith.
Register now as spots are limited: https://nhrces.org/summer-steam-camp
Academic Center Breathes New Life Into Old Building
Children’s laughter is once again ringing through the halls of the former St. Ursula school building, which closed its doors more than 10 years ago. After debuting in Wexford eight years ago, Solid Foundations Academy (SFA) has been the talk of the North Hills, and now its second location has taken up residence in the erstwhile diocesan school; local families now have access to unique and varied options for educational and social support for all ages. Under the guidance of owner and educator Beth Rupert, every inch of the building has undergone a renaissance of sorts in recent months, as workers continue updates on everything from the windows and floors to the classrooms and library. The building has been transformed into a secure, beautiful, state-of-the-art academy!
SFA is an academic center with programming options for the entire family, including a familyflexible child care center that offers drop-In; half and full day preschool and kindergarten (including transportation to area elementary schools); extracurricular activities; summer camps; tutoring; a special needs program; before and after school care; ACT/ SAT preparation and college planning; and even an intergenerational program that pairs elderly residents with children for a variety of activities. The academy is licensed by three governing bodies including the Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Health Department. They are also a STAR and ELRC provider.
Beth is a Hampton resident whose natural enthusiasm fuels her work on behalf of children and families, and she describes SFA as an academic hub for the entire family.
“The business model,” she explains, “is everything under one roof for learning and education, so parents don’t have to go to five different places to access quality care or education. They can come to Solid Foundations Academy for it all.”
Beth began her career in psychology, and she worked professionally with children and families for over fifteen years, the last six with the Psychiatric Emergency Department at Saint Francis Medical Center. During her time in that environment, Beth conducted evaluations alongside psychiatrists, and she noted many children presented with problems that were not mental health issues, per se, but rather learning disabilities that were diagnosed either too late or not at all.
“I realized something was going on,” she shares, “because this is not something that kids suddenly develop. It was obvious there were skill gaps, and in many cases, those gaps were apparent before or at the preschool level. And if you’re trying to catch up
on skills long after they should have been solidified,” she says with a slight shrug, “that’s really difficult to do, especially with large class sizes. Learning is scaffolded, and we need to fill in those skill gaps for that child to succeed.”
The name, Solid Foundations, defines SFA’s mission of serving as a gateway to elementary education and beyond, creating a firm base of skills for children to build upon. The SFA preschool curriculum provides an academic-based program that’s aligned to core standards while offering an appropriate, multisensory approach to learning by utilizing play and teacherguided academics. No two students think the same way, so SFA’s accredited curriculum uses hundreds of programs to find the right fit for each child. The reading, writing, and math remediation and enrichment services also provide individualized programs to target each child’s needs.
Beth and her team partner with elementary schools and other providers, enabling SFA to serve as a bridge to ensuring all children have a free and appropriate public education. Interventions include comprehensive assessments, support referrals, tutoring, and working with families to advocate for 504 plans and IEPs.
SFA has plentiful space to provide all levels of academic support. In addition to housing a beautiful, full library, the building features support programs on site; an indoor gym; a commercial kitchen; a large multi-purpose room, which can be rented for
special events; computers and technology in every classroom; and a state-of-the-art science room as part of the STEM program. The outdoor grounds include a large playground, blacktop for bike rides, and plenty of natural grounds for gardening and dirt play.
In discussing the many options available to families at SFA, Beth excitedly shares that she’s working on introducing the area’s first intergenerational program.
“Some children don’t have grandparents nearby, and they can learn so much from someone who’s been around for so long. And for the elderly participants, time with young children provides a dose of fun and excitement; it gives them a sense of renewal. It’s a beautiful experience for everyone,” she says with a smile.
In looking over her new space, Beth is grateful to have found such an ideal location to continue her mission of helping children and families obtain the support they need. In a building whose walls, were they able to talk, could share countless stories of school years gone by, it seems especially fitting for new families to add their voices to the echoes of the past. A solid foundation indeed.
Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is open. For more information on Solid Foundations Academy, call 724-799-8038, email solidfoundationsacademy1@gmail.com or visit solidfoundationsacademy.com n
School Movers & Shakers
Anchorpoint Christian Academy
Anchorpoint Christian Academy in Mars, eighth grader, Levi Eaton, won the Pennsylvania level in the annual Daughter’s of the Revolution Essay contest sponsored by the Kushkushkee Trail. He will be invited to the state luncheon at the Continental Congress at the end of June in Washington, D.C., to read his essay and receive his award. Pictured is teacher, Mrs. Ruth Butler with winner, Levi Eaton.
Fox Chapel
Three Fox Chapel Area High School students won awards in January and February at the Model United Nations (UN) conferences. Arnim Kuchhal was named the Outstanding Delegate, equivalent to second place. Benjamin Fiedler won the Best Delegate award, equivalent to first place, and Zachary Rubin won an honorable mention award, equivalent to third place.
undefeated in the competition. The team of sixth-graders Reese Carrel, Noah Fecich, Kristin Sadhu, Hannah Nam, and Benen Pears placed sixth out of 58 teams.
Fox Chapel Area High School senior Gabriella Hample has been named a member of the 37th class of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program. Gabriella is one of only 150 high school students from across the nation to be selected as a Coca-Cola Scholar this year.
Fox Chapel Area High School junior Karsten Buchert was named a national winner in the Congressional Essay Contest for high school students run by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA). Karsten is one of approximately 50 winners from across the nation and one of only three from Pennsylvania.
Mars Area
Dr. Megan Collett, Fox Chapel Area School District’s executive director of instructional and innovative leadership, has been named the 2025 Technology Administrator of the Year by the Pennsylvania Education Technology Expo and Conference (PETE&C).
Several Mars Area School District students competed in the Academic Games League of America (AGLOA) Equations academic competition, held Feb. 5 at Slippery Rock University. Sixth-grader Kristin Sadhu went
Mars Area High School’s Competition Cheer Team joined in the 2025 UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships, held Feb. 7-10 at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Mars Area Middle school students Olivia Airgood, Emma Johnston, Mary Rhenish, and Everly Henderson earned third place for their entry in the Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Garden Fairchild Challenge.
Bishop Canevin
Bishop Canevin High School and its board of directors announced that the school will adopt the President/Principal leadership model to align with other Pittsburgh Diocesan high school and better position Bishop Canevin in pursuit of its mission.
La Roche University
La Roche University and Butler County Community College (BC3) have partnered to offer BC3 graduates a streamlined and cost-efficient way to complete their bachelor’s degrees. The agreement offers BC3 students several benefits when transferring to La Roche University with an associate degree earned since May 2013: 40% tuition discount: BC3 graduates will pay a discounted per-credit tuition rate, lowering the cost of their education at La Roche. Waived academic core: BC3 graduates will be exempt from La Roche’s full academic core requirements, allowing them to focus on major coursework. Students will only need to complete a nine-credit abbreviated core, including English and math courses. Junior status: Students transferring at least 60 credit hours of eligible coursework will be granted junior status in La Roche’s bachelor’s programs, helping them to graduate sooner.
HOME AND GARDENING WITH YOUR OFFSPRING!
By Sofya Stearns
Dear ladies, don’t be surprised by the title of this article! I assure you, it’s not from Better Homes and Gardens magazine, and no—I haven’t retrained myself from a chef to a gardener. I’m still Chef Sofya, a proud mom to Izabella, and each month, I take on the task of discussing topics close to our hearts—our beloved children and their well-being.
Fun fact about me: while I’m truly amazing and quite creative in the kitchen (if I do say so myself!) and a very nurturing mother, but I have what you’d call a black thumb. In other words, I kill plants—yes, even cacti!
This month, I want to talk about a wonderful tool for parenting—gardening together. There is a beautiful connection between gardening and raising children. Planting anything, from herbs like dill to towering trees, shows kids firsthand how delicate and beautiful life is. It teaches them that every living thing requires care, love, and attention to thrive.
Watching plants grow helps children understand that, just like trees, they too need shelter, nourishment, and protection. And not just any nourishment—proper food that promotes growth, strength, and longevity. Gardening also teaches kids the value of making a positive impact on the things—and people—they love.
At the end of the day, teaching our children valuable life lessons is our goal, isn’t it? And don’t worry—you don’t need to be Martha Stewart or a master gardener! All you need is a few minutes and a little patience to share this special experience with your child.
La Dolce Vita! Happy Parenting!! Happy mommy hood!!!
Until next month! n
2025 STEAM & SPORTS SUMMER CAMPS
Offering sports and steam camps throughout the summer on our beautiful 105-acre campus in Monaca, PA!
• Accredited, Academic Preschool
• SAT/ACT Preparation • Extra-Curricular Programs • 504/IEP Advocacy • Vision & Auditory Processing • Tutor Time Program • OT/PT Support
ESL Support
Mother Nature Motivates March
By Ron Eichner
Seasons aren’t like a traffic light when one car stops, and then the other goes. It is more like having some spring during winter and winter during spring. If you think that statement is true, hang on for some of the “rest of the story.”
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March is an exciting month, with spring starting each year between March 19 and 21. A few interesting facts about March are: Women’s History Month shared with National Nutrition Month. March 4 is National Grammar Day, National Son’s Day, and Employee Appreciation Day. March 17 is Saint Patrick’s Day, and March 21 is National Teenager’s Day.
As the daylight increases each day, and the days get warmer, there is still a balance to focus on because our silent partner is Mother Nature and always gets her way. If the weather gets too warm too early, fruit trees get pushed and a seasonal or late frost can have a light crop or no crop for the year. It’s the same with vegetable and flower plants; it’s tempting to get a head-start for an earlier harvest of some crops, but the plants can be set back just by planting too early. We often get early warm weather for seven to 10 days, and the soil temperature is rising, which the soil temperature is the pulse of the plant. However, if you get a cold rain or two, all the soil temperature gains are lost; it stuns the plants.
For those who like pure maple syrup, March can be the month for maple sap flow. It starts to flow when daytime temperatures rise above freezing, and nighttime temperatures falling below freezing. The sap moves up into the tree during the warm day and then drops back down on the cold nights. The maple syrup producers have a short season, if it gets too warm, too quickly, and for too long and doesn’t drop below 32° at night. Farming would be easier if we
could talk to Mother Nature, but as farmers, we accept that if we get a setback due to weather, we have to hope that the future will be better.
Science has been a big part of agriculture. As a farmer, experience tells me that one should be cautious until all the facts are presented. I trust God and the free will to choose. Look at the beginning when Adam and Eve were and the Garden of Eden and were told to trust and see where it got us all.
As farmers we have a long history of offering free advice; there are no billable minutes. So, whether it’s family, friends, or customers, you can always go back to the farm to get questions answered, solve a problem or share knowledge.
A nutritional tip from the farm is by God’s design, humans and livestock often lack minerals that cannot stimulate their vitamins. Lacking minerals doesn’t support wellness. Most of our modern agriculture for the last 60 years has exclusively used synthetic fertilizers, and the minerals have been depleted from the soils. Again, by God’s design, livestock utilizes about 65% of their feed’s nutritional value. Then it leaves 35% of the nutrition to nurture the fruit and vegetables as fertilizer to add nutritional values. This is the science that you can truly count on.
At our farm market, we have a recipe from a German doctor Dr. Barbara Hendel for an inexpensive way to get 84 minerals and trace elements every day. All you need is an empty pint mason jar and a trip to our farm market for a free recipe using Himalayan crystal salt. Another tip is look up the benefits of NAC/600 mg. It has been one of my go-to everyday tips for years. NAC truly is a golden nugget.
I hope you have a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, and since we are told, we are all Irish on that day, I will be known as Ron O’Reilly. Diane’s homemade Saint Patrick’s Day cut-out cookies are a hit and a treat to enjoy.
If you want nutritionally fortified eggs and seasonal vegetables, you are welcome to stop by Eichner’s Whole Farm and Greenhouses and let us be one of your year-round destinations for 2022 at 285 Richard Road in Wexford and get the “rest of the story.”
Coming in April, I will discuss the latest news on the bird flu epidemic. n
A WWII Helmet Returned, Resources for Traveling Veterans and Local Veteran Earn Accolades at the Creative Art Festival
By Paula Green
A World War II helmet lost and long forgotten for 80 years has miraculously returned to the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. Earl L. McCorkle served in the US Army Engineer Company, responsible for building bridges, clearing obstacles, and preparing beaches for landings during the war. From March 7 to 25, 1945, McCorkle’s battalion played a key role in the American offensive into Germany.
During intense fighting at the Remagen Bridge, which spanned the Rhine River and linked Belgium to Germany, McCorkle lost his helmet. In an incredible turn of events, the McCorkle family received a letter from a Swiss forensic pathologist, JeanLoup Gassend, who discovered a rusty, mud-covered helmet near the bridge. After some examination, Gassend could decipher a soldier’s initials and a partial service number scratched into the helmet’s fiber lining.
This information made Gassend suspect the helmet belonged to McCorkle from Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. He contacted McCorkle’s family, who then contacted Soldiers & Sailors for information about Earl’s military history and whether he had been involved in the combat at that bridge.
Following an investigation, the staff at Soldiers & Sailors confirmed that the helmet did indeed belonged to Earl McCorkle. Gassend returned the helmet to Soldiers & Sailors, and on January 31, McCorkle’s daughters attended a private ceremony at the museum to unveil the long-lost helmet.
In other military news, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a new armed forces initiative in partnership with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. This initiative, a testament to the VA’s commitment, ensures that veterans in rural areas can now access telehealth and mental resources, providing them a sense of security.
Flyers have been posted at the 17 service plazas spanning the 565+ mile PA Turnpike to provide Veterans with crucial information. These flyers guide veterans to VA locations and the Veteran’s Crisis Line, reassuring them through free telehealth access and confidential support from caring and trained responders 24/7, 365 days a year.
VA selected Pennsylvania for this program due to the state’s size and rurality. The campaign will connect veterans with VA resources and maintain their continuity of care within the VA healthcare system. The program will be achieved through the innovative ‘Anywhere-to-Anywhere’ Telepath Practice Authority using VA-Video Connect, a system that allows veterans to access healthcare services remotely, ensuring they receive the care they need when needed.
Finally, two local Veterans have been named first-place winners in the National Veterans Creative Arts Competition, Art Division. Lori Ceder, a Marine Corps Veteran, took first place for two of her submissions and second place for a third submission. Her submissions “Reminiscing My Childhood” (Fiber Arts Kit) and “Haunted House” (Stained or Painted Figurines) won first place. Krystal Anspach, an Army Veteran, took first place for her submission “A Bushel of Fairies” (Diorama). The first-place winners are invited to attend the national festival hosted in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 11-18. For more information on the Veterans Creative Arts, visit www.creativeartsfestival.va.gov. n
Lori Ceder
March Happenings
Athletics
Senior Softball registration
Northern Allegheny County Senior Softball League NACSSL is open for 2025. The competitive, slow pitch Senior Softball league is for ages 50+ and 62+ comprise 2 divisions. Tryout evaluations are March-April. Games are played May-August primarily at the North Park Senior Ballfield Complex at the Lodge in North Park. Sign up at www.NACSSL.com, or email nacssl@yahoo.com.
Entertainment
Chamber Music Pittsburgh presents PubliQuartet, 7:30 pm, March 10, PNC Theatre, 350 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh. For info, visit chambermusicpittsburgh.org.
Free Matinee Movies on Mondays: 2 pm, March 3, Twisters; March 10, Upgraded; March 17; Mother’s Instinct; March 24; Freud’s Last Session; March 31, Shirley, at the Legacy Theatre at Cumberland
Woods Village in McCandless Twp. For details, visit TheLegacyLineup.com.
Kelly Strayhorn Theater presents Whitney: A Tribute Concert with Dwayne Fulton, 5:30-7:00 pm: VIP Reception; 7:30-9:00 pm: Concert, Saturday, March 15, 5941 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh. For info, visit kelly-strayhorn.org.
La Fleur Music, Art, Culture & Botanical Soiree, 6:30 pm, April 3, Phipps, One Schenley Drive, Pittsburgh. For more info, visit www.phipps.conservatory.org/.
Pittsburgh Concert Chorale presents Verdi’s Requiem, 4 pm, Mar. 2, Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland. For info, visit www.pccsing.org, or call (412) 635-7654.
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh North American Tour of the 2023 Tony Award-Winning Best Musical, Kimberly Akimbo, March 4-9, at the Benedum Center. For details, visit TrustArts.org.
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live, 7:30, Mar. 12, at the Byham Theater. For details, visit TrustArts.org.
Resonance Works concerts: Dwell Together, 8:00 pm, Friday, Mar. 7, at First Baptist Church in Oakland & 4 pm, Sunday, Mar. 9, at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church. For ticket details, visit www.resonanceworks.org.
Saturday Singles Dance, 8 pm, Mar. 8, West View VFW. Win a “Pot of Gold” drawing. Admission includes snacks. For info, call (724) 316-5029.
Fundraisers
Adventures in Training with a Purpose Cigar Fundraiser, 1-3 pm, March 1, Club Leaf and Bean, 33 Quail Acre Lane, Washington, Pa. For details, visit www. AdventuresTraining.org.
Adventures in Training with a Purpose 5K Run / Walk, 9 am, April 13, North Park Boathouse, 10301 Pearce Mill Rd. For details, visit www. AdventuresTraining.org.
Gala / Teas
Garden Gala Down the Rabbit Hole, presented by UPMC & UPMC Health Plan, at April 26, at Northland Library. For info, visit mckinleya@northlandlibrary.org, or (412) 366-8100 x104.
Shake Your Booties
Masquerade Gala, presented by Children’s Home & Lemieux Family Center, Saturday, May 10, at Rivers Casino. For info, visit www. childrenshomepgh.org/SYB.
Sojourner House Victorian Tea, 1-2 pm, April 27, at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. For more info about the Victorian Tea, visit www.sojournerhousepa.org/support/victorian-tea.
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Gardening
Big Bugs & the Mighty Pollinators art installation is a collaboration with the Cranberry Yarn Creations group and the Southern Butler County Garden Club (SBCGC). The project will be unveiled during National Pollinator Week June 16-22, at Cranberry Township Community Days at Graham Park. It will be on display at the group’s Annual Garden tour on Saturday, June 28.
Southern Butler County Garden Club’s 17th Annual Garden Tour, 9 am-3 pm, Saturday, June 28. Six gardens on the tour. Registration
and Day of Event ticket sales are from 9 am to 10 am only at The Cranberry Twp. Municipal Center, 2525 Rochester Road, Cranberry Twp. For info, call: Linda at (412) 335-0550 or visit www. southernbutlercountygardenclub.org.
Historical / Library
Greater Pittsburgh Civil War Roundtable, U.S.C.T. Troops: Department of the South presented by Rich Condon, 7 pm, Monday, March 17, at Hampton Township Community Center, 3101 McCully Road, Allison Park. Presentation is free and open to the public.
Northland Library has numerous events scheduled for March. For a complete list of events, visit northlandlibrary.org.
Meals / Nutrition
Farm to Table Expo, March 7-16, at the Home & Garden Show at the David L. Convention Center.
Free Community Meal First Monday Meal, 5-7 pm each 1st Monday of the Month at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1719 Mt. Royal Blvd., Glenshaw. Meal includes entrée, starch, vegetable, salad, homemade dessert and drink. Open to the public. For info, Call (412) 4860550.
Palate Partners & Dreadnought Wines presents Wine & Dinner Journey to South Africa, March 19, at the Omni. For details, email info@palatepartners.com.
Networking / Social
Cranberry Township 55+ Club meets 1 pm the 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center. Members must be residents of Cranberry Township. The Club features activities, social opportunities, and visits to nearby points of interest. For info, contact Frank at (724) 316-5807.
pm, second Tuesday of the month. Call (412) 487-1041 for more info.
UPMC Passavant Hospital
Auxiliary Membership Opportunities! Are you looking for a stimulating opportunity for social interaction with other dedicated people in support of our community hospitals—UPMC Passavant McCandless and Cranberry? Then join the Passavant Hospital Auxiliary’s long tradition of caring. The Auxiliary meets at 10 am the 2nd Monday of each month (Sept. through June). New members are always welcome! For more info, visit passavanthospitalfoundation. org/. Call (412) 748-6639 if you plan to attend a meeting.
Psychic Event
Psychic Vincent Sisters event, 5:30-7:30 pm, Sat., Mar. 22, and 3:30-5:30 & 6:30-8:30 pm, Mar. 23, at Harmony Laden Gift Shop. The sisters were featured on A&E, Dateline, Travel Channel, Investigation Discovery, & SyFy. For tickets, call (724) 452-3980. Please bring a can of cat or dog food, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Butler County Humane Society.
Recreational
Glenshaw AARP 3744 meets at Elfinwild Presbyterian Church, Mt. Royal Blvd. 2
The Edgeworth Bridge Club is sponsoring POP-UP Bridge games, 2-5 pm, on March 2, April 20, & June 29. The games will be hosted by The
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Balls of Fire Golf-Outing Honors Dan Stack
On May 10, 2024, the lives of many people changed forever; Dan Stack suffered a Line-of-Duty attributed death, passing away unexpectedly at his home while asleep. Dan was a devoted husband, loving father, dedicated firefighter, and a true pillar of his McCandless community for decades. He was a 1992 graduate of North Allegheny High School. From a young age, Dan had a passion for service, sports, family, and faith, values that would define his life and legacy. His years of service as a volunteer firefighter at Highland Volunteer Fire Department and the Ingomar Volunteer Fire Department, where Dan held positions of leadership at both departments, were irreplaceable. He was also a lifelong member of Saint Alexis Catholic Church in Wexford. His smile and caring nature touched countless people in our community.
To honor Dan and the sense of community that he lived by daily, his family has formed the WWDD Foundation. The foundation will raise funds for various nonprofit organizations near and dear to Dan and the Stack family’s hearts.
Camp Koala (formerly the West Penn Hospital Summer Camp for Burn-Injured Children) is a benefactor of this year’s golf outing. We aim to raise at least $10,000. Can you help us exceed our goal?
On May 12, the “Balls of Fire” Memorial Golf Outing will be held at Wildwood Golf Club (shotgun start at 10:00 am). For years, the “Balls of Fire” Golf Outing was an annual firefighter appreciation event that Dan helped to start and annually coordinate. It is time to honor Dan for his decades of community service. We are seeking donations from businesses in and around the area for door prizes, auction items for the event, and monetary contributions. The deadline for donations is Monday, May 5.
Prices are: $800 per foursome, $200 per single golfer, $1,000 hole sponsorship (foursome included), $200 hole sponsorship (no golf), $100 tee sponsorship (no golf). Event sponsorships are available as well, call for details.
A corn hole tournament may possibly be held concurrently with the golf outing. Make checks payable to Highland VFD, address is 8705 Harold Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. Mark in the memo line “Balls of Fire” Outing.
For additional information, please call or text (412) 298-9139 or (412) 780-3566. n
Laney, Riley, Kelby, Sue & Dan Stack
Riley & Dan Stack
Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center in their Community Room, 418 Walnut St, Sewickley. For questions, email EdgeworthBridgeClub@gmail.com.
Sales
Rummage Sales, 8 am-2 pm, Mar. 8, and 10 am-2 pm, Mar. 9, St Aloysius Campus, 3616 Mt. Troy Rd., Reserve Twp. Huge selection of kitchen items, jewelry, books, seasonal items, clothing etc. Bake goods available on Saturday. If you have furniture to donate, call Deb at (412) 3371713.
Vintage Market is a non-profit store in Shaler that benefits The Blessing Board. Open 10 am-3 pm every Th/F/Sat in the Shaler Plaza, 880 Butler Street & Rt. 8 (look for the gray door between Rite Aid & Planet Fitness).
Schools
Fox Chapel Area High School Spring Musical, The Addams Family, performance 7 pm. March 13, 14, & 15 in the high school auditorium and 2 pm, March 16, 611 Field Club Road in O’Hara Township. Tickets can be purchased through the website fcahsmusicdepartment.ludus.com. Senior citizens are invited to a matinee performance, 3:30, Tuesday, March 11. Reservations are required for this performance, call (412) 967-2410 for reservation info.
Summer Camps
Carnegie Science Center Summer Camps for age 4-14, June 9-Aug. 22. For details, email customerservice@ CarnegieScienceCenter.org or call (412) 237-3400.
International Conservation Center (ICC) has various summer camps: June 16-July 8; June 18-July 18; June 23-July 18, Somerset County. The events are sponsored by the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. For details, visit www.pittsburghzoo.org/icc/icc-summer-camp/.
Trainings
Pennsylvania State Police Active Shooter Community Educational Night, 6-8:30 pm, March 26, at Fox Chapel Area High School, 611 Field Club Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15238, in O’Hara Twp.
Block Northway Farmers Market, Thursday 3-7 pm, from June 5 to September 25. An array of fresh farm-to-table food and unique local vendors. For info, visit www.theblocknorthway.com
Lenten Fish Fries
Food, Glorious Food!
By Janice Lane Palko
My youngest granddaughter when she was a year old was diagnosed with severe food allergies to eggs, tree nuts, and peanuts. It was a real challenge at times, especially when she was a toddler. We purged our house of nuts for fear we would accidentally drop one, she would find it, put it in her mouth, and go into anaphylactic shock. We learned how to use an EpiPen, read labels, and always made food that was “safe” for parties.
Happily, she is now five and has outgrown the allergies, which I didn’t know could occur. What a relief! Recently, when I was babysitting, I asked her if there was a food she has tasted since nothing now is off limits that she hates, and she replied, “That smoking, rubber fish!” This was the smoked salmon that her mom gave her.
We all laughed at her remark, but if you ever want to start a conversation, ask someone what is a food that they despised as a kid.
I post on social media sometimes, and I once asked, what was a food that you hated growing up as a child? I never got so many passionate replies. Responses ranged from liver and onions to lima beans to cornmeal mush to limburger cheese.
I don’t know if things are like that as much now, but back when I was growing up most parents made their kids eat whatever was served for dinner. It was the “eat it or wear it” option. There was no other choice or opting for a peanut and butter jelly sandwich. As a result, kids back then got creative getting rid of hated food. I remember dinners at home when I was small and trying to conceal some green beans under the skin of a baked potato.
Our school lunch at St. Athanasius was a homecooked meal made by the moms of the school kids and did not include kid-friendly foods like pizza and chicken nuggets like today, but menu items like ham sticks, peas, and “seaburgers” warm tuna fish sandwiches. If you didn’t finish
your food, the cafeteria lady when you went to clear your tray sent you back to your seat until you ate it. Kids used to drink their milk and hide their veggies and everything else they couldn’t stomach inside the milk carton and then clean their trays.
I had seven cousins on the Lane side of my family, and often my Grandma Aggie would have all of us over for Sunday dinner. With 11 kids running around her house, no one thought it strange that my one cousin always wanted to eat in the living room. That was until ants invaded one of her overstuffed chairs. My cousin had been stuffing the food he hated down the side of the chair.
When my twins were in kindergarten, there was a girl named Anna in their class, and her mom told me that they required Anna to eat one bite of a food for every year of her age. We thought that was a good, and I told my son, Chris, that we were instituting the “Anna” rule and that he had to eat five bites of broccoli since he was five. He did and then vomited onto the kitchen table. We dispensed with the “Anna” rule.
Fortunately, I grew up to be a healthy eater, and there’s been a lot of talk about improving our diets and Making America Healthy Again. That’s a great objective, but if kids are kids, they may not take to it. Psst, kids, if you need any advice, I can tell you about how to hide lima beans in your pocket or pretend to cough and spit your food out into a napkin. n
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Explore our apartments and scenic campus. Tour our community and learn why Masonic Village may be the perfect solution to your retirement plans.
