October 2018 issue Northern Connection Magazine by Northern Connection Magazine

YOUR COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2018

Oakland Catholic:

Creating Empowered Leaders

Also... Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health & Wellness Fall Fix-Ups Fall Happenings

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

I N T H I S I SSUE

NORTHERN CONNECTION October 2018

Contents 10

NC Features

Image & Style

47 Sons and Daughters of Italy

30 4 Best Heat Styling Hair Technique Tips Kelly A. Smith

Kids & Education 10 Cover Story: Oakland Catholic: Creating Empowered Leaders 12 Business Spotlight: Right 4 You Advisors Janice Lane Palko 14 Taste Success with BC3’s “Basic Chef” Series 15 BC3’s Full Menu on Display at Oct. 17 Open House 16 School Movers & Shakers

Health & Wellness 20 B4Stage4 Linda K. Schmitmeyer 22 Fit Families: Indoor Cycling or Spinning: A Workout for Everyone Joella Baker 24 Ideal Image: Experts in Laser and Medical Spa Services 26 Special Essential Oils for Incredible Moms and Busy Women Fe Tubio

Fall Fix-Up Guide 32 Pittsburgh Closets and Doors Janice Lane Palko 34 What Not to Do When It Comes to Your Home Vince Parrucci 35 Jane of All Trades 36 Business Spotlight: Benjamin Moore Colorize of Pittsburgh Janice Lane Palko

Senior Living 38 Town Crier: The Beauty of October Joe Bullick 40 Happenings for Seniors

Advertorials 9

Peripheral Neuropathy Sufferers Have Hope Dr. Shawn Richey

28 Putting You Money Where Your Heart Is Janice Lane Palko

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

49 In Every Issue... 4 From the Publisher: Marion Piotrowski 6 Movers & Shakers 8 Mover & Shaker of the Month: The Alexis Joy D’Achille Foundation for Postpartum Depression Paula Green 31 Where Was I?: TMI Janice Lane Palko 42 October 2018 Happenings 48 Trivia Connection: Hair-Raising Halloween Trivia Paula Green 49 Support Our Troops: La Roche College Honored for Veterans Support & Seneca Valley and Hampton High School Honor Veterans Paula Green

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

P U B LI SH E R ’S NOT ES

Welcome to the October Issue of Northern Connection Magazine!

nce again in this issue, we feature many of the area’s finest schools! This month’s cover story informs us on how Oakland Catholic is creating empowered leaders through STEM and global experiences. Many of the schools are hosting open houses in October, and that is a good time to check out some possible educational institutions that would be best for your children. October is one of the most beautiful months of the year in the Pittsburgh area. The array of colors and cool weather are certainly worth taking some time to enjoy. There are other fall activities for you and your family to enjoy in Northern Connection magazine’s Happenings section. This “Successful and month’s Trivia will explore a little hisunsuccessful people do tory about Halloween and the creepy, not vary greatly in their scary characters that are associated abilities. They vary in with the season. See how much you their desires to reach know about the origins of this fall their potential” tradition. John Maxwell Enjoy reading the October issue’s special features along with our regular monthly columns. Thank you for your support. Together we continue to make our community an outstanding place to live and work! 4 4 4

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

Phone: 724-940-2444 Laura Arnold laura@northernconnectionmag.com

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Marion Swanson Piotrowski Executive Editor

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Web Master

Swanson Publishing Company Core Writers

Joella Baker Joe Bullick Paula M. Green Janice Lane Palko Marianne Reid Anderson Kelly Smith

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Advertise in our upcoming Holiday issues!

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Distribution

Linda Watkins Lori Palmer

Northern Connection is published twelve times a year by Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. (P.O. Box 722, Wexford, PA 15090-0722, 724-940-2444) and is distributed free of charge to the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh. Subscription can be purchased from the publisher at $25 for one year. The mission of the Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. is to connect the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh by publishing the area’s finest community publication, Northern Connection. The publication is dedicated to the people, communities, educational, religious, travel, and recreational needs of the area. The contents of Northern Connection magazine may not be reproduced or copied in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Northern Connection magazine reserves the right to refuse editorial or advertisements that do not meet the standards of this publication.

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

M OVE RS & S HA KE RS

Movers & Shakers The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon R. Lasell Jr. as the new director of VA Butler Healthcare in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Autism Connection of Pa. announced this Jon R. Lasell, Jr. yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winners of the Temple Grandin Awards. The Grandin Award winner is Shawn McGill. Finalists are: Julia Igims and Angela Lowden. Nominees are: Robert Ackerman, Lenore Collupy, Heather Conroy and Kristine Kieler. The awards ceremony will be held Oct. 13 at J. Verno Studio on Pittsburghâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s South Side. The Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber announced that Melissa Leedy is the new member accounts executive. The Rich Mar Rotary hosted a hot dog and corn roast picnic for PARC Butler. The ARC of Butler County invited their customers and family to join in the picnic. There were 110 attendees from PARC and 23 Rotarians that helped serve food. This is the 35th year that the Rich Mar Rotary has been hosting this project. Appleseed Events, located in Valencia, helps businesses, charities, and community organizations to reach their goals by managing the details for them. Owner Amanda (Evans) Becker has over 10 years of experience with events, including creative direction to promotion, media relations, social media marketing, and a focus on fundraising, Amanda Becker especially in the nonprofit industry. For more information, visit their website at: http://appleseedeventspgh.com/or call (412) 559-7062. Francis Audiology Associates welcomes Dr. Jessany Knapp, Certified Audiologist, to their team. She brings with her, formal training at the University of Memphis and work experience at both the Washington, DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health. For more information please call: 724-933-3440 or visit: www.francisaudiology.com.

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

Dr. Jessany Knapp

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

Mover & Shaker of the Month

The Alexis Joy D’Achille Foundation for Postpartum Depression By Paula Green

Giving birth to a baby is usually a happy and rewarding experience. Unfortunately, not every mother is elated when they welcome their newborn into this world. Steven D’Achille knows all too well that some women suffer from postpartum depression after they deliver.

n Aug. 30, 2013, Steven and his wife, Alexis Joy D’Achille, welcomed a beautiful new baby daughter, Adriana. “This was supposed to be the happiest time of our lives; it ended

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up being the most challenging, brutal reality. After our daughter’s birth, Alexis was diagnosed with PTSD. This was a shock to us because prior to giving birth, Alexis has zero mental health issues. Each day she became more irrational, paranoid and cried more. She had been calling her OBGYN, psychiatrist and pediatrician during the time period,” said Steven. “In our struggles to find help for my wife, we went to seven different hospitals and crisis centers within a 13-day span. Tragically, five and a half weeks after Adriana was born, Alexis took her own life.” Steven added. In his grief, Steven decided that he did not want to see another woman fall through the cracks and not get the proper treatment they need for PPD. He founded the Alexis Joy D’Achille Foundation for Postpartum Depression in her memory. The foundation is a partnership with Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. There is a temporary PPD unit at West Penn, but a permanent state-of-the-art 7,000-foot facility will open there on December 20. “Moms in Pittsburgh are now able to receive the proper care that they need. A huge emphasis is on mother-baby bonding, that’s what sets us apart from other places. Moms can stay and have their babies with them. These women already feel like they are bad moms; it is not really fair to separate them from their newborn. They need to be kept together,

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

so they can form a bond. Trained specialists observe them and help them if they are struggling,” said Steven. The program also has some other unique features. There is a chef demo to help with nutrition, and husbands are encouraged to participate. There is a core team that helps with psychiatric care, counseling, both individual and group sessions. There is also intensive outpatient therapy, lactation consultants and nurses are available for around-the-clock care. The hospital also offers mood disorder screenings. Steven feels that “People need to understand that PPD is not just a women’s health issue, it is a family health issue. Since my wife Alexis lost her battle with postpartum suicide, Pittsburgh has decided to not wait for another tragedy and to do something about it. Moms in Pittsburgh can now see a psychiatrist in less than 48 hours because of Allegheny Health Network and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Alexis Joy Foundation. I am confident in the near future it will be under 24 hours.” For more information on this perinatal and postpartum depression, visit https://www.ahn.org/specialties/womens-health/womens-behavioral-health/ perinatal-depression-and-its-symptoms. Please visit: https://www.alexisjoyfoundation.org/ for more information about the Alexis Joy D’Achille Foundation, to donate or attend their events in support of new mothers and their families. 4 4 4

Bob – Hunting again

Bonnie – No numbness

Ed – Awesome program

George – Walking better

Harold – 80% better

Jack – 90% better

Jannie – Play with grandkids

Joe – Feel the ground

Peripheral Neuropathy Sufferers Have

Lou Jr. – Less pain

HOPE Don’t GIVE UP!

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Lou Sr. – Improved balance

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damaged or destroyed and can’t send messages to the muscles, skin and other parts of the body. Peripheral nerves go from the brain and spinal cord to the arms, hands, legs and feet. When damage to the nerves takes place, numbness and pain in these areas may occur. A specialized treatment protocol utilizing brand new technologies is available at the Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH. It includes the combination of very specific, non invasive, FDA approved and painless treatments that are designed to heal rather than just deal with the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Dr. Shawn’s SUPERVISED, MONITORED and IN OFFICE program has a 90 percent satisfaction rate. With the experience of seeing over 3000 patients, he is able to tailor a specific and successful treatment plan for each individual to provide maximum results.

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www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018 Mary – No burning feet

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COV E R S TORY

A robotics project in progress

OC Senior Catie Hassett in Guatemala

Oakland Catholic: Cre Academic excellence. Global experiences. State-of-the-art technology. Athletics for everyone. All wrapped in a commitment to spirituality-in-action that inspires tomorrow’s leaders.

hese are the pillars of education at Oakland Catholic High School, and for the school’s students, parents, faculty and leadership, these pillars are essential to creating empowered leaders. “We have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to prepare our students to be leaders in the global world,” said Mary Claire Kasunic, President of Oakland Catholic High School. “We take that responsibility seriously,” she said, “and we dedicate ourselves to providing endless opportunities for these young women to learn, explore, get inspired and grow into the leaders they are meant to be.” At Oakland Catholic, “endless opportunities” is more than an idea, it’s a reality every day. The school offers 32 extracurricular activities, like Speech and Debate Team, Science Fiction and Fantasy Club, and a chapter of the national organization Girls Who Code; five foreign language classes including Mandarin, French, Italian, Spanish and Latin; seven science and robotics labs; 16 sports teams that have produced national champions and Olympic medalists; and two or more international trips each year where Oakland Catholic students are immersed in global languages, cultures and social justice experiences. Oakland Catholic student Molly Doerfler, Class of 2019, has experienced these endless opportunities first-hand. Through academic preparation and exposure to collaboration between Oakland Catholic and local universities, she attended the PA Governor’s School at the University of Pittsburgh. She credits this and many other Oakland Catholic experiences with helping her to become an empowered leader. “Through my experiences at Oakland Catholic, I learned that becoming a leader is about more than just personal leadership ability. It’s also about recognizing the many forms leadership can take and understanding how politics, geography and socioeconomics hinder or enhance the rise of strong leadership,” said Doerfler. “Because of my education at Oakland Catholic, I was able to fully embrace all that Pitt’s Global Studies Center and the PA Governor’s School had to offer while still attending high school.” Experiences like Doerfler’s are not unique at Oakland Catholic, says Kasunic.

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

“The Oakland Catholic experience is about empowering girls, giving them the opportunity to fearlessly try new things, learn from mistakes, overcome obstacles and embrace their talents,” said Kasunic. “It is an honor to educate and encourage our girls as they become successful, empowered, young women.”

Expressing Herself

The ability to clearly articulate an idea and present a compelling argument is vital to every facet of leadership, so Oakland Catholic prioritizes the Humanities for all students. “At Oakland Catholic, students with a strength in math or science also learn to become strong writers, and girls who have a natural inclination to be quiet gain the confidence they need to express themselves in public forums,” said Heidi Rinkacs, an Oakland Catholic English teacher who leads the school’s speech and debate team. “The skills learned in researching a paper, making a presentation in class or winning an argument in debate are the muchneeded skills leaders have to have in order to communicate in an informed and knowledgeable way.”

Building the Future

Science, technology, engineering and math, often referred to as STEM, has been a major push in high school education for the last decade, and Oakland Catholic offers extensive courses and resources in each area. Oakland Catholic’s STEM-related courses include: traditional courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, as well as A.P. Computer Science, Java and A.P. Principles in Computer Science, and are complemented by E.P.I.C., an engineering elective, and Bioinformatics, where biology, computer science and big data intersect. All STEM courses offer a range of levels from college-preparatory, to honors, to Advanced Placement, and College-Equivalency through partnership with the University of Pittsburgh. Moreover, Oakland Catholic’s labs are fully equipped for excellence in hands-on learning; the school’s Collaboration Center encourages the integration of design thinking, group brainstorming and technology with pods that allow students to share their laptop screen with the group or for the teacher to push out information to

The 2017-2018 Oakland Catholic Speech and Debate Team

ating Empowered Leaders all pods at once; and every classroom features one to three white board projectors that teachers use to compare/contrast, create small group stations and display engaging content in every area of the room. Perhaps most importantly, every student receives an Apple MacBook Air and full IT support from the school at the start of freshman year, so every girl, regardless of personal resources, has access to the same high-tech tools, and the entire community, both faculty and students, work together on the same platform. “There is a famous quote that says, ‘she cannot be what she cannot see,’” said Kasunic. “At Oakland Catholic, we are proud to overcome that obstacle, creating classes where students can see themselves and one another successfully using the latest high-tech tools and achieving success in STEM, robotics and coding every day.”

Seeing the World

At Oakland Catholic, students not only learn about the world, they see it up close and in person through the school’s Global Competence Initiative (GCI) and mission trips. Taking all that they’ve learned in the classroom – from foreign languages and literature, to social studies and world cultures, to leadership and spirituality – they venture out each year to the community around us, lectures, campuses and even new countries, hoping to make meaningful changes to the world and to themselves. This summer, Catherine Hassett, Class of 2019, joined Oakland Catholic’s mission trip to Guatemala, where she learned real-life lessons that will forever inform the way she sees the world. Although the Guatemala mission trip officially falls under Campus Ministry, it integrates with GCI as many student participants apply principles of social justice and their growing global consciousness to the experience. “I liked the idea of putting my faith into action and being a positive agent of change in the world, and my trip to Guatemala made that idea concrete for me,” said Hassett. “But it was much more than that. The trip also gave me the opportunity to apply my skills and knowledge in real-world situations. It challenged me to figure out group dynamics beyond my circle of friends, and it helped me realize that, while not everything works the first time, even the smallest contributions can be significant.” Hassett continued: “I feel that because I engaged with new people in a new culture trying new things, I now have greater confidence in myself and my ability to lead.”

Empowering Results

With a world-class high school education firmly in place, Oakland Catholic’s graduates have gone on to become successful leaders in business, politics, education and athletics. Most recently, alumna Peyton Kondis, Class of 2016, was named the University of Houston’s Female Athlete of the Year for her achievements in swimming while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. And alumna Jeimy Ibarra, Class of 2013, was named a 2018 “30 Under 30” winner by the Pittsburgh Business Times for her leadership at Casa San José, a Latino Community resource and welcome center in Southwestern PA. “Leadership takes on many forms,” said Kasunic, “but with an Oakland Catholic education, our students are prepared and empowered to lead in every facet of their lives.” For more information about Oakland Catholic, please visit: OaklandCatholic.org. 4 4 4 Oakland Catholic Chemistry class

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

K I D S & E DUC AT ION

Business Spotlight

Right 4 You Advisors By Janice Lane Palko

he cost of attending college is a major expense. It can cost up to $24,291 per year to attend a state school like Slippery Rock University. To attend a private school, such as Carnegie Mellon University, costs soar to $72,283. Paying for a college education can be one of life’s greatest expenses. With so much money at stake, it would seem foolish not to consult with Right 4 You Advisors. They are independent educational consultants who guide students through the college admissions process and

help parents make informed financial decisions. Right 4 You Advisors was founded in 2016 by L. N. Blackburn and Karen Corral. “After going through the college search and financial aid process with my own child, I was asked to help others,” said L.N. “ I went back to school to make sure I knew the business. I also knew that I needed someone with a financial background who could help families understand financial aid funding. That’s Karen’s area of expertise.”

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

Karen generates a Family College Funding Report, which lets parents know how much they might have to pay for college and recommends sound financial choices. Right 4 You Advisors works backward by helping students first to identify a good-fitting career and major then to select colleges. “The average student switches majors three times, and each time they do that it can cost a lot of time and money,” said L.N. “With our career assessments we suggest options that suit a student’s personality, goals, and values. Then we identify colleges that match the educational needs of the career.” It’s never too soon to begin thinking about higher education. “The earlier the better, but after 8th grade generally. We can help high school students anytime including those in their senior year,” said Karen. “The sooner you start, however, the less stress there is,” said L.N. “We supply the students and their families with facts so that they can have confidence in their selections.” Right 4 You Advisors offers free, 30-minute consultations along with hourly services and several packages. In addition, they hold free workshops and speak at local schools and organizations to help spread the word. For more information on how Right 4 You Advisors can coach you through the college selection and financial process, call (412) 301-7871 or visit their website at Right4YouAdvisors.com. 4 4 4

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

K I D S & E DUC AT ION

Taste Success with BC3’s “Basic Chef” Series Butler County Community College this fall will host a four-course “Basic Chef” series for those hungry to attempt tempting dishes.

hef Shannon Israel, a 2006 graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts, Pittsburgh, will tantalize the taste buds of students in “Basic Chef: Sauces”; “Basic Chef: Whole Roasted Chicken with Roasted Veggies”; “Basic Chef: Cast Iron Cooking” and “Basic Chef: 5 Recipes Everyone Should Know.” “Our culinary classes are exciting because people can try many different cuisines and techniques in the kitchen and go home with a satisfied palate,” said Paul Lucas, director of BC3’s Lifelong Learning division. Israel says she loves teaching others about culinary arts because “cooking is my passion,” and that she hopes students will impress those at their dinner tables by learning easy recipes that have intimidating names. “People can take what we are teaching them,” the Harmony resident said, “and even if it has a big fancy name, they can make it in their own kitchen. They get to eat, plus learn and have fun.” The first course, “Basic Chef: Sauces,” is set for Oct. 16 and Oct. 23; and the final, “Basic Chef: 5 Recipes Everyone Should Know” – featuring pasta carbonara, chicken noodle soup, risotto, frittata and Caesar salad – will be held Nov. 5 and Nov. 12. “If you get these five recipes down,” Israel said, “or the basics of these five recipes, you can go in so many different directions.” Enroll by visiting bc3.edu/lifelonglearning or call 724-284-8504. 4 4 4

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

BC3’s Full Menu on Display at Oct. 17 Open House

isitors to Butler County Community College’s Oct. 17 open house can learn how BC3’s tuition is the most affordable among 42 colleges and universities in western Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Department of Education, how 75 percent of BC3 graduates are debt-free, and why BC3 is the No. 1 community college in the state in back-to-back rankings by Schools.com. Open house guests can also learn about partnerships that enable students to earn a bachelor’s degree from BC3’s main campus, about BC3’s flexible course scheduling options, and about associate degree programs that enable students to start a career upon graduation or transfer to a four-year college or university. BC3 will waive its $25 application fee for those who apply for admission during the open house, scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on BC3’s main campus in Butler Township. Students can complete a bachelor’s degree on BC3’s main campus in communications-public relations, and in nursing, from Chatham University; in accounting, from Clarion University of Pennsylvania; in business administration, online, from Franklin University; in psychology, from La Roche College; and in administration of justice, from the University of Pittsburgh. BC3 offers 14- and 10-week sessions, and three five-week online Fast Tracks held consecutively throughout each semester. Students can select from BC3’s 36 career and 19 transfer programs. BC3’s salary-to-cost ratio is the highest among 42 colleges and universities in western Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Department of Education, and BC3’s credits transfer to public, private and online institutions. RSVP at bc3.edu/open-houses. 4 4 4

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

KIDS & EDUC ATI O N

School Movers & Shakers Shaler Area Shaler Area High School teacher Nick Haberman has been honored again and named Secondary Teacher of the Year by the Pennsylvania Council for Social Studies (PCSS). Shaler Area School District was one of 23 schools and school districts in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer, and Westmoreland counties to receive a Catalyst STEAM Grant through the AIUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center for Creativity, which will expand the school districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) programming to meet the needs of students with autism and intellectual disabilities with Project EMBRACE. Shaler Area School District recognized six athletes and one team by inducting them into the Shaler Area School District Athletic Hall of

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

Fame. The inductees are: Jerry Dickinson, Tim Gralewski, Erich Kaiser, Skip Palmer, Sam Robick, Steve Sciullo and the 2009 Boys Hockey Team. Shaler Area Elementary School teacher Michael Penn is one of 11 teachers in the United States selected to participate in PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating), an educational research experience that partners middle and high school science teachers with academic researchers actively involved in polar science research. Penn is one of five teachers who will travel to Antarctica and six teachers will travel to the Arctic.

Fox Chapel Fox Chapel Area High School announced their National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program. The Semifinalists are Justin Breen, Arnav Gupta, Theresa Heidenreich, Rachel Himmel, Elizabeth Kaslewicz, Zachary Lakkis, Mitchell Miles, Annika Urban, Gina Wang, Landon Williams, and Ziya Xu. The Commended Students are: Vaishavi Agrawal, Abigail Baldauf, Benjamin Cagan, Steven Cano, Kristen Friday, Marissa Hardiman, Sanjana Harish, Cara Himmel, Jayanth Kashyap, Trevor Klatt, Eric Moore, Jared Nord, Robert Shymansky, Benjamin Weiss, and Chloe Yofan.

Catholic Schools of the Pittsburgh Diocese REGISTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;NOW for the 2018-2019 School Year Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy (Aspinwall) Principal: Mr. Mark Grgurich (412) 781-7927 www.cdtca.org

Providence Heights Alpha School (Allison Park)

Principal: Margaret Ruefle M.ED.M.S. (412) 366-4455 www.alphaschool.org

Saint Joseph High School (Natrona Heights) Principal: Beverly K. Kaniecki (724) 224-5552 www.SaintJosephHS.com

Vincentian Academy (North Hills, PA)

Principal: Mrs. Rita Canton (412) 364-1616 www.vincentianacademy.org

North Allegheny The North Allegheny School District has been recognized as a Top Workplace by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The list is based on employee feedback gathered through a thirdparty survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC (formerly WorkplaceDynamics).

Seneca Valley Officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced Seneca Valley seniors Katherine Bablak, Victoria Beck, Jacob Geil, Ryan Lipscomb, Scott McElhinny and Rishin Sharma, as semifinalists in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. (Continued on page 19)

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

K I D S & E DUC AT ION

Aquinas Academy

Representative Keith Rothfus addressed students during Aquinas Academy’s flag pole dedication and flag raising ceremony Thursday, August 30. Aquinas Academy senior Anthony Hite and fellow members of Boy Scout Troop 596 raised an American flag donated by Rothfus’ office. The new flag pole was installed this summer as Hite’s Eagle Scout project.

CCAC

Saint Vincent College

Community College of Allegheny County student Qingqing Zhao is one of 207 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society members named as a 2018 Coca-Cola Qingqing Leaders of Promise Scholar and, Zhao as such, will receive a $1,000 scholarship. A dual enrollment student, Zhao is a junior at Shady Side Academy Senior School. She is pursuing an Associate of Science in Business Management at CCAC.

Dr. Matthew Fisher, professor of chemistry at Saint Vincent College, was the recipient of the William E. Bennett Award for Dr. Matthew Extraordinary Contributions to Fisher Citizen Science, an award that recognizes and celebrates champions who advance civically engaged science.

Butler Catholic Congratulations to Butler Catholic School Principal Sister John Ann Mulhern. She celebrated her Jubilee Anniversary as a Sister of Divine Providence on September 7.

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

H E A LT H & WEL L NESS

B4Stage4 By Linda K. Schmitmeyer

4Stage4—This may seem nonsensical at first glance, but there’s an important message in the phrase Before Stage Four, especially as it applies to our mental health. Most people promptly seek medical treatment for physical illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. It’s also important to get help in the early stage of a mental health problem. Oct. 7-13 is Mental Illness Awareness Week, a good time to take stock of our mental well-being, especially since one in five Americans is affected by a mental health condition each year. Like physical illnesses, knowing the “symptoms” is important, but unlike those illnesses, there aren’t reliable biological markers to tell us something is medically wrong. For mental illnesses, we have to look to our everyday lives

for signs of potential problems. This may include sleeplessness or sleeping too much, anxiety, persistently low feelings, an inability to concentrate, obsessive thoughts and hearing voices. Sometimes these symptoms pass, but it’s important not to delay seeking help. According to Mental Health America, a community-based nonprofit that promotes early identification and intervention, it typically takes ten years from the time symptoms first occur until a patient gets a correct diagnosis and proper treatment. This was true for my husband, who was diagnosed with a mental illness in the early 1990s when few people talked openly about mental health problems. He began showing signs of an illness before my daughter’s first birthday, and doctors didn’t find the combination of medications to stabilize his mind until she was nine years old. Those were challenging years, and I wrote about my experience of raising three children with a husband who has a mental illness in the book Rambler: A Family Pushes Through the Fog of Mental Illness. I write how my husband’s mental illness “didn’t manifest in any medically discernable manner, like a lump on a breast or and an elevated PSA number. Instead, it crept into our life over a period of several years, an indefinable force that disrupted routines and changed our lives without our knowing it was happening.” It’s important to take the signs of mental health problems seriously. If the symptoms pass, that’s wonderful. But if they don’t, you’ll be on the path to getting medical help B4Stage4. 4 4 4 Linda Schmitmeyer is an award-winning author and features editor. For many years, Linda wrote a newspaper column on the everyday adventures of parenting with her carcentric husband, Steve. Now she blogs about her experience of caring for a husband with a mental illness when her children were young at www.lindaschmitmeyer.com The former senior director of news at the University of Pittsburgh, Linda is an adjunct university professor and does freelance writing for university alumni publications. She and Steve live near Mars, Pa. Rambler: A Family Pushes Through the Fog of Mental Illness is her first full-length book. You can follow her on Twitter @LKSchm. “Rambler” was released by The Artists’ Orchard in September; it’s available on Amazon and at barnesandnoble.com.

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

HE A LTH & WELLN E S S

Fit Families

Indoor Cycling or Spinning: A Workout for Everyone By Joella Baker

s the first days of fall roll in, we start to think about cooler weather and moving our exercise routine inside. There are so many great opportunities to workout inside, but what is the best workout for you? I’m a true believer in mixing things up and trying something new. If you’ve never tried an indoor cycling class, I highly recommend you add this to your weekly schedule. I teach indoor cycling at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township. We have great indoor cycling classes at the YMCA and a number of instructors who all teach a little differently. Some teach like an aerobics instructor, some teach like a traditional indoor cycling instructor, some teach as if they are riding out on the roads. What is indoor cycling? You ride in a class, often with the lights turned down and music turned up and you do a workout that is typically timed to the music. The class is extremely motivating, and you can burn from 400 to 800 calories with one class. Workouts consist of endurance riding, intervals, power and watts training, hill climbing, jumps, low intensity workouts and high intensity workouts. What I love about these classes, is the workout is your workout. You make it your own. Most indoor cycling bikes use gears or a knob to increase resistance. How hard you want to ride is truly up to you. You can turn the resistance up or down based on the ride you want to have. Best of all, it’s a low impact workout. For people overcoming knee surgery, those with bad backs, those just starting back to working out or who want to lose weight can benefit from these classes. Bikes can be properly adjusted to fit you and to your comfort level. Those with bad backs can put the handle bars up higher so your aren’t leaning too far forward on the bike, those wishing to take pressure off their knees or hips can adjust the bike seat up or down or forward or backward to get just the right position for you. Those wishing to get a hard workout in, those training for an Ironman or spring triathlon can use indoor cycling as a way to build their cycling endurance in the winter time. There are so many possibilities with indoor cycling. The key is to find the instructor you love, the one who plays your favorite type of music, who does workouts that coincide with your overall goals and one who pays attention to how you’re doing in class. The overall benefits of indoor cycling include • Low impact workout • Improves muscular endurance • Improves cardiovascular endurance • Increases bone density • Reduces stress levels • Improves sleep quality • Lowers cholesterol • Decreases your risk for heart disease or diabetes • Increases your energy levels • Allows you to meet new friends with the same interest • Gives you a fun activity to look forward to each week This winter, I know our YMCA will have great classes and even special cycling events like the cyclethon on Nov. 10, when you can ride for several hours. Check out the opportunities at your local YMCA or fitness center and try a cycling class today. 4 4 4

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

H E A LT H & WEL L NESS

Ideal Image: Experts in Laser and Medical Spa Services The experts at Ideal Image can trim you down and make you look your best!

deal Image is dedicated to helping you look and feel your personal best. Giving you the confidence you deserve. Whether you are the bride, groom, bridal party member, parents, grandparents or guest, Ideal Image has a service or treatment for you. Don’t hesitate any longer, Ideal Image has a solution. One of the most popular treatments is CoolSculpting®. CoolSculpting is an FDA-cleared procedure that uses patented cooling technology to eliminate fat cells, without surgery, and little to no downtime. The reduction in fat cells in the treated area provides noticeable, and lasting results to help you look and feel your very best. Within one treatment, you’ll be on your way

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

to achieving the sleek, toned body that you’ve always dreamed about.

What are the benefits of CoolSculpting? Natural-looking results After one session, the treated area will gradually appear smoother and more toned over the course of the following three months. The majority of the frozen fat cells will naturally work their way out of your body in the first two months, but many see some fat reduction after just four weeks!

(Continued on page 26)

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

Special Essential Oils for Incredible Moms and Busy Women By Fe Tubio

o two women’s lives look the same. Whether their days are filled with ball games or ballet recitals, boardrooms or business-building, most women have one thing in common: We’re incredible! It maybe rewarding to accomplish so much every day, but it can also be exhausting. It’s time to stop, relax, and pamper yourself with our essential oils for women—you deserve it! DRAGON TIME Women experience often monthly moodiness. Dragon time essential oils support feelings of stability and calm. • Carefully place a hot towel infused with 5 drops of Dragon Time over your stomach for a relaxing experience. • Gently massage a few drops of Dragon Time onto the lower abdomen FENNEL VITALITY is another great essential oil for women’s health. It’s fantastic in post-meal tonics and teas for digestive support! • Take with a dietary supplement to support a healthy body.

• Slip a drop into your favorite beverage for kick of black licorice flavor TEA TREE A stressful schedule can lead to stressedout skin. Thanks to oil’s incredible benefits, such as reducing the appearance of blemishes and maintaining healthy-looking hair and scalp. • Mix a few drops of Tea Tree oil in your shampoo and conditioner. • Apply to skin as part of your nighttime routine LADY SCLEROL Essential oil blend for women has a warm floral scent that inspires feminine feelings and provides a relaxing experience when diffused. • Combine 2-4 drops with a carrier oil and massage on desired area. • Diffuse up to 1 hour 3 times a day. GRAPEFRUIT VITALITY is a must-have essential oil for women! It offers cleansing properties and supports the lymphatic system and weight management. Add 1-2 drops to a vegetarian gel capsule and take it to support your weight-manage-

ment program, lymphatic system, and circulatory system.* GERANIUM It helps promote healthy, radiant-looking hair, and it maintains the appearance of healthy-looking skin. It’s a game changer! Add Geranium to a neutral skin moisturizer and apply it morning and night to enhance the appearance of healthy-looking skin. 4 4 4 (Content here is for entertainment and educational purposes only, it is not intended or designed to diagnose, prescribe, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease. ) For additional information please access my website http://oily.life/fetubio/ or call 724-601-6628.

Ideal Image (Continued from page 24)

FDA-cleared CoolSculpting uses controlled cooling to target and freeze away fat cells. Developed by scientists at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, it’s the only FDA-cleared fat freezing technology. The treatment is safe on your body - but tough on stubborn fat. Convenient and comfortable A session lasts only 60 minutes, making it quite possibly one of the best-used hours of your life.

Ideal Image also offers other anti-aging, skin and body services: • The Forever Young BroadBand Light™ Skin Therapy – produces younger looking skin that’s firmer, and more even in tone and texture. Broadband Light Therapy removes brown and red spots to leave your face looking younger and smoother. • Laser Hair Removal – achieve permanent hair reduction. No more bumps, stubble or irritation. Treatments average just under 30 minutes.

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

• Ultherapy® Skin Lifting – Ultherapy®—a non-surgical, non-invasive procedure to lift, tone, and tighten loose skin on the brow, neck, under the chin, and even the décolletage (upper chest area). It’s the lift without the surgery! • Wrinkle Relaxers & Fillers – With safe and effective anti-aging treatments services including Botox, Dysport, Restylane, Juvederm Ultra, Voluma, and Kybella.

Ideal Image® also prides itself on accommodating its customers’ divergent needs with economical payment plans and interest free financing for all services.

Qualified professionals

Ideal Image employs more than 250 of the country’s top licensed medical and nursing professionals. While it’s an innovative technology, our staff members are very familiar with the process, and can even give you insight into the amazing results they’ve experienced first-hand. To learn more and watch informative videos, visit our website https://www.idealimage.com or call (724) 759-2620 for our Wexford location and ask to speak to Michelle. Or call Lisa at our Robinson location at (412) 706-5262. 4 4 4

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

NC ADVERTORIAL | FINANCIAL

Putting Your Money Where Your Heart Is By Janice Lane Palko

ou’ve heard the saying “put your money where your mouth is.” But more and more investors are opting to put their money where their heart is. Michael Labos, Investment Advisor Representative with Pennsylvania Financial Group, can help you to do that. “The world is changing, and today investors—especially women and millennials—want to be connected to and believe in the companies in which they invest their dollars,” said Michael, who has spent 14 years as a financial advisor, the last six with Pennsylvania Financial Group in Wexford. Unlike traditional investment advisors whose primary focus is obtaining a good return on investment for their clients, Michael takes a different approach. “I listen to my clients and try to understand what’s important to them—what they believe in, what causes are dear to them, what charities they support—and I customize a sustainable portfolio for them that supports those ideals while at the same time pursuing a favorable rate of return,” Michael said. Michael has talked with numerous women, listening to their concerns. Some are overwhelmed by financial issues because their husbands have always handled the finances, while some are too intimidated to take charge of their investments because the financial industry is male-dominated. “When I’ve asked women what they would like to do with their money, you discover that they want to invest in something bigger than themselves, and some of the most common issues my clients are passionate about are breast cancer awareness, children’s issues, animal welfare and Alzheimer’s disease. These are some things that affect their lives intimately and that they are passionate about,” said Michael. Conventional wisdom says that emotion should be divorced from investing, but that is not what Michael believes. “Certainly, I don’t think you should buy or sell an investment out of emotion, but when I build a custom, sustainable portfolio for a client, one that they feel emotionally connected to, it makes for a better educated, more engaged investor. And I think that’s a good

thing,” said Michael. To illustrate this, Michael recently met with a couple and began to present the idea of creating a sustainable portfolio for them. “Initially, the husband was mainly concerned with return on investment. However, as I began to ask his wife if she had charities or causes that she supported, and she identified mental health research, her husband became interested. He then

“More investors are opting to put their money where their heart is.” said that he would like to invest in companies that support veterans,” said Michael. “This process has enabled them to become engaged with their investments as a result.” You don’t have to sacrifice your savings to support your cause either. “While no financial advisor can guarantee a rate of return, when comparing the MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF, to the S&P 500 index, their yearto-date rates of return are very similar,” said Michael. It takes Michael a bit more work to customize a sustainable portfolio. Most advisors don’t want to take the time to customize a portfolio the way Michael does. “I find out what’s important to my client. Then I do my research; I have a database of companies and the organization to which they contribute, and I align my client’s ideals with these investment opportunities. I really enjoy the

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

process,” said Michael. According to Nuveen in their Third Annual Responsible Investment Public Release Survey (2017), 80 percent of investors want their investments to deliver competitive returns while promoting positive social and environmental outcomes. “I believe I’m the only investment advisor in the area doing this, but I want to be a trailblazer. I love being a niche advisor. I’ve always admired the big disruptors, and the agents of changes. I want to change how people invest their money.” As people learn that they can direct their investment dollars into funds and companies in which they support, Michael believes that the desire for customized, sustainable portfolios will only grow. “We are at an inflection point; investing is changing, and people want to make a difference with their money,” Michael said. To learn more about how Michael can help you to create a customized, sustainable portfolio, call him at: (724) 934-3880 or email him at: mlabos@pfginc.com 4 4 4 The S&P 500 Index is a capitalization-weighted index made up of 500 widely held large-cap U.S. stocks in the Industrials, Transportation, Utilities and Financials sectors. The MSCI KLD 400 Social Index, previously known as the Domini 400 Social Index, is a market cap weighted stock index of 400 publicly-traded companies that have met certain standards of social and environmental excellence. Investors cannot invest directly in indexes. The performance of any index is not indicative of the performance of any investment and does not take into account the effects of inflation and the fees and expenses associated with investing. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment strategy will be successful. Securities and advisory services offered through Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. 2591 WEXFORDBAYNE RD STE 202, SEWICKLEY, PA 15143 / 800-477-4507

Michael Labos is an experienced independent financial advisor for Vicus Capital and registered representative with Cetera Advisor Networks located in Sewickley, PA. After 14 years as a financial advisor Michael has realized that investing can be more than just focusing on risks and return. It can be about someone’s values, beliefs and a voice wanting to be heard. His focus is on aligning one’s convictions with their portfolio. This produces a portfolio that they can believe in. He advocates change by specializing in sustainable investments. Michael resides in Cranberry Township. When he is not working he enjoys playing golf, travel, wine, playing the guitar and attending local sporting events.

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

I M AG E & S T YL E

Best Heat Styling Hair Technique Tips By Kelly A. Smith

lat irons, curling irons, blow dryers-they all get a bad rap for damaging our locks. They get the job done but it comes with a price. I can vividly remember the first time I had my hair professionally straightened and I was amazed at the results.

That was a long time ago. I’ve since become a seasoned a selfproclaimed hot hair tool aficionado- that’s not to say I don’t have heat damage, but I’ve gained knowledge over the years that has slowed down and even improved my heat-damaged hair. I happen to have very full, coarse and wavy hair. I also like to keep it long, so my flat iron tends to be my salvation to sleek looking hair. Some of us have had our hair singed, broken or even worse, burnt off. The key to preserving the resilience of your hair depends on what you do before, during and even after using heat styling tools. Obviously, wash and go styles are best but realistically, most of us choose to pass on that and continue to subject our hair to heat abuse. If you’re like me, (come on, I know I’m not alone here!) and are just too invested with your heat tools, there are ways to minimize the daily damage that we are doing to our lovely locks. Read on and help to halt the heat wave on your own hair! Air dry after your next shampoo — If you have hair that dries quickly, then by all means, don’t reach for the blow dryer! If you have thick, long or naturally frizzy hair that stays soggy for hours without a good blow-drying, try washing your hair the night before and let it dry overnight. If you can get a good look by only using a single heat source, then by all means, do it. In the morning, you will have a clean, dry head of hair to style using only a single heat tool of your choosing. Never, ever put a hot tool (flat or curling iron) through wet or even damp hair. You will do irreparable damage! If you can, you should give your hair a break from heat styling; just as you give your face a break from makeup every so often, your hair is no different. Protect those strands — Your tresses should never touch any hot tool without a good heat protectant. You can find heat protectants at any drug store or even better, at your salon or beauty supply store.

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

WHERE WA S I?

Heat protectants are best used by making sure they contain some form of silicone, which acts as a natural barrier against heat damage. Be careful not to use a leave-in conditioner and apply a flat iron over that- there is a big difference between a hair conditioning spray and a heat protectant spray. Using the wrong product will cause more damage, so do read the labels carefully. Use quality tools — If you’re going to splurge, then do so by selecting better quality flat irons, blow dryers and curling irons. You don’t need to necessarily order salon-quality products, but you should invest in decent products especially ones that have a temperature control. Not everyone’s hair needs a flat iron that is set at 400 degrees but others do. Finding products that have a range of self-controlling temperatures can make a big difference in keeping your hair healthy and shiny. Work quickly, ensuring not to heat up one area of hair longer than a second or two. If your flat iron is more than five years old, it’s probably best to replace it now since technology is always changing the way heat is distributed. For curling irons, select one with a bigger barrel as it can curl larger sections, resulting in less damage. Not to mention, loose waves are very “in the moment.” Minimize damage after washing — Just like our bodies need constant hydration, our hair is no different. Always use a good, salon-quality conditioner after a shampoo. After that, add a leave-in spray conditioner. This doesn’t have to be a top-of-the-line product, but do pick up a few good ones even from your local drug store. “Garnier” sells a good product line that is very affordable as does “John Frieda” and “It’s a 10.” “Sexy” brand is a brand that I can’t get enough of- I like to stock up on their soybased products when I find them on sale. These are all good products that can be found at Walgreen’s, Target or Ulta. If you don’t already own a wet brush, go get one! These are an invaluable tool that is used in the shower to evenly distribute your conditioning treatments as well as detangling after you towel dry. I don’t want anyone thinking that they need to ditch their heat styling tools altogether- quite the contrary. The reality is that we would otherwise not be able to achieve so many sleek and sexy looks without them. If you ask any stylist, they will tell you to cut back on your heat tool styling use. I mean, just look at how quickly those oh-so-skilled stylists pass those heat tools through our hair- they never seem to do a second pass through and we need to learn to do the same. However, shall we be realistic? Like most of us, I’m not going to give up my flat iron so I’m willing to do what it takes to keep up the hair abusing tradition of staying smooth in the name of beauty! 4 4 4

TMI By Janice Lane Palko

’m a bit of an information junkie primarily because I’m interested in what’s going on in the world, but also because information is my stock-in-trade. Essentially, as I writer I take in info, tumble it through my brain and attempt to distill an insight that I hope you may enjoy or learn something from. I don’t know about you, but it seems to be getting more difficult to stay abreast of all the information spewed at us in this rapidly changing world. For instance, my daughter was at my house recently, and she decided to take my granddaughter, Sadie, for a walk. Sadie was wearing jeans and a shirt. When my daughter put on Sadie’s jeans jacket, she laughed and exclaimed, “Oh no, Sadie, you’re wearing a Canadian tuxedo!” “A what?” I asked. “A Canadian tuxedo. That’s what it’s called when you wear jeans and a jeans jacket together. I thought everybody knew that.” This “everybody” did not know that. Later that day, there was some mall brawl on the TV news and my son quipped, “That’ll be on World Star Hip Hop.” When I asked what that was, I learned that it’s a website where people can upload, among other unsavory things, their cell phone videos of street fights. Who knew? I certainly didn’t. Having grown up in a time when people who didn’t know the latest trends or slang made them uncool, I resent the fact that there is just too much to take in these days for anyone to remain “with-it.” There is an episode of The Simpsons where Homer says, “The problem in the world today is communication. Too much communication.” I think Homer got it wrong. I think the problem in the world today may be too much information or in today’s shorthand TMI. There’s lots of talk that this is a divided country, and I believe that some of what contributes to that is the explosion of information. When I was growing up, there were three TV channels and only a few genres of music. We were pretty much as a generation watching the same shows, listening to the same music, and reading the same books. We had a shared culture. Today, it’s difficult to find common ground with people when there are thousands of shows to watch with cable, Netflix, Hulu, etc. In 1959, when the first Grammys were awarded, there were 28 music categories, in 2018, there were 84. According to the New York State Library Bookboard, in 1907, there were 9,260 books published. It is estimated that over 2 million new books were published worldwide just last year. With that many titles, it’s no wonder that the best-selling books of 2017 never cracked a million sales. I’m not for going back in time because I love the choices and options we have today, but along with all of that comes the realization that I will never be on top of things. So, I’ve decided to adopt a new attitude—it’s the Hip-to-Be-Square mindset. I’m abandoning even trying to know everything, and if you are finding it stressful too, join me. I hope you enjoyed this article and didn’t find it tl;dr. If you don’t know what means, it means “too long; didn’t read it.” I didn’t know what that meant either; I had to look that up too! 4 4 4 www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

Fall Fix-Ups! Business Spotlight:

Pittsburgh Doors and Closets By Janice Lane Palko

hen it comes to home improvements, the words quickly, easily and affordably are music to homeowners’ ears. With Pittsburgh Doors and Closets those words are not only true but they also provide an amazing whole-home improvement. Pittsburgh Doors and Closets is Western Pennsylvania’s local dealer for One Day Doors and Closets, the nation’s largest home interior door installation company. With two state-of-the-art production facilities, the company has been featured on Extreme Makeover Home Edition and is rated Best Value Home Improvement by Good Housekeeping Magazine.

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

“Replacing doors and closets is the best whole-home improvement a homeowner can make because it updates the entire home, can be completed in a few hours with no messy construction and is very affordable, said Scott Satkoske, owner. “In fact, we are typically 30-50 percent less than contractors, home improvement stores and handymen, and the project is completed in less than a day.” Located at 11269 Perry Highway in Wexford, Pittsburgh Doors and Closets offers an exact fit. “We use 3D Digital Measuring with patented measurement technology that accurately measures the door jambs to within 1/1000 of an inch. These measurements are sent to a robotic door-cutting machine that cuts the doors to the exact specification for each door opening measured. So, no matter how the door was originally installed or if the home has settled for any reason, each replacement door will fit perfectly. We can also apply a custom paint that is oven cured at the production facility that lasts five times longer than common residential paint finishes,” said Scott. The process to upgrading your home is simple. “Contact us by calling or visiting our website,” said Scott. “We would then schedule a time to visit your home to inventory the existing doors and openings for any odd sizes or imperfections. Then you choose from our large selection of doors and closets on display in our showroom. The digital measuring would take place, and when the doors arrive, we will schedule a date to install your whole home with doors or closets in one day!” said Scott. For more information, visit the website at: www.onedaypittsburgh.com or call: (412) 417-5296. 4 4 4

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

Fall Fix-Ups!

What Not to Do When It Comes to Your Home

By Vince Parrucci Licensed Real Estate Agent/Realtor and Professional Real Estate Consultant

ou may be aware of a television show called What Not to Wear, which offers fashion advice. Consider this month’s column What Not to Do, where we examine things you should not do to your house if you want it to retain or increase in value. One misconceived notion is that painting and landscaping will add value above and beyond the market, but they really don’t. Most buyers regard that as routine maintenance. While all homeowners should maintain and periodically upgrade their homes, and we admire people who can do those tasks themselves, unless you know what you are doing, you may want to think twice. I’ve seen many shoddy DIY home improvement projects completed by people who didn’t know what they were doing actually devalue a home instead of adding to its value. If you can’t do it right, don’t do it. 34

Another area where people run into trouble is converting a room or garage from its intended use. Converting a garage into a living space could devalue your home especially if you are left with a home without a garage or a home with only a one-car garage when every other home in your neighborhood either has a garage or two-car garages. The same goes for eliminating a bedroom. If you are short on living space, it would be better to add an addition to the home. Lastly, don’t spend a small fortune updating a kitchen in a modest house. While it may fulfill your dream of having a kitchen worthy of Better Homes & Gardens, if you sink $50,000 into a kitchen in a $200,000 home, you may never recoup your investment when it comes time to sell. So, think twice before you make any major changes or DIY projects to your house, it may save you some

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

aggravation when it comes time to sell. 4 4 4 Considering a move? Contact Vince Parrucci, Licensed Real Estate Consultant, at: vinceparrucci@thepreferredrealty.com, or call (724)612-3770. In addition to be a Licensed Real Estate Agent/Realtor and Professional Real Estate Consultant, Vince Parrucci is the author of Smart Buy, Strong Sale: The Consumer’s Guide to Buying and Selling Your Next Home which is available through Amazon.com. His extensive experience includes VP of Mellon Bank, VP of Allegheny Financial Group, real estate investor, mentor and coach to thousands on investment real estate and flipping of houses and property.

Jane of all Trades

Landscape Architect, Residential Painting, Project Management Residential Painting – Bringing over 14 years of professional painting experience, a meticulous eye and honest work ethic to projects both large and small. This includes plaster repairs, wallpaper removal, painting for twostory walls and foyers and exterior painting.

Landscape Architect—Providing clients one-of-a-kind landscape designs, master plans and project management that takes you from conception to completion. Outdoor living designed and built especially for you! Custom water features, patios, fireplaces, walls, lawns, irrigation, planting, lighting and outdoor kitchens.

“Transforming Lives, One Residence at a Time!” Call today for a consultation, 412-512-0973

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

Fall Fix-Ups!

Business Spotlight:

Benjamin Moore Colorize of Pittsburgh By Janice Lane Palko

ainting, when it is done correctly with quality paint and with the right color, can dramatically transform a home; however, when it’s done using inferior quality paint or with the wrong color, it can spell disaster. Benjamin Moore Colorize of Pittsburgh can help you to avoid all of that. With three Colorize Store locations in the area— Wexford, Cranberry and Robinson—Benjamin Moore can provide you with quality paint and offer assistance that goes beyond what you’d find at a home improvement store. “We are family-owned and operated,” said Erin Flaherty, store manager. “We are new to Benjamin Moore in the Pittsburgh market. We just opened our first location in December 2017; however, the family has been in the paint industry for over 27 years.” “Benjamin Moore Paint is like no other. It has Gennex Color technology – the science behind Benjamin Moore quality. It’s durable, provides great coverage and is fade resistant,” said Erin. The first thing to consider when choosing paint is where is the paint going? Interior or exterior? And the next is what surface are you putting it on? Walls? Furniture? Brick? And finally, what sheen of paint would you like? “Sheen is important to consider,” Erin said, “because it determines the amount of light reflected, washability and the look of the space. Pearl and matte are popular Benjamin Moore sheens.” Colorize of Pittsburgh sells the complete line of Benjamin 36

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

Moore Paint, which includes everything from interior to exterior (walls, doors, cabinets, trim, furniture, etc.) as well as all lines for contractors and DIYers. “We also have specialty products. For example, we have paint that transforms any surface into a chalkboard or Dry-erase board. Our Bath & Spa paint is specifically designed for high humidity environments, and we also sell Scuff-x, which is a scuff-resistant paint that does not burnish or dull the surface,” Erin said. The Colorize Store also offers in-home color consultations, top-of-the line painting supplies suitable for both the professional painter and DIYers, free delivery, painter referrals, contractor pricing, wallpaper, including brands such as Thibaut & Brewster, and specialty products including Festool, Corona, Wooster & Graco. The Colorize Store can help you with the latest trends in decorating. “The Color of the Year is ‘Caliente’ – a deep, bold red. This color works great as an accent wall or on a front door,” said Erin. “But our number one seller is the color, “Revere Pewter” – a greige. It contains a mixture of gray and beige, which proves to compliment wood or white trim. This universal color keeps the room neutral allowing many options for decorating.” For more information on how Benjamin Moore Colorize of Pittsburgh can help to transform your home, stop by any of their three locations or visit the website at: https://mycolorize.com/. 4 4 4

Get More Holiday Business

by advertising in Northern Connection’s 19th Annual Holiday Guide featured in the November & December issues. Discounted rates apply

Featuring:

Holiday Gifts • Specials • Events • And much more!

Call: 724-940-2444

or email: NCmagazine@northernconnectionmag.com www.northernconnectionmag.com www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

SE N I OR LI V ING

Town Crier

The Beauty of October By Joe Bullick

hat a beautiful time of year October is. The garden tasks for this month are to harvest before the first hard frost and to clean up the beds before the first snow. Old timers would say if autumn leaves are slow to fall, a cold winter is in store. As a young boy, I never thought much about our months. They all have their ups and downs. But I would have to say that October is my favorite month. I was born in this month in 1931. I loved raking leaves. I would get a big pile of them and jump in. The Cole brothers in Wexford had a great hay ride in the fall. It was pulled by a team of horses. We would sing and just enjoy

the fall evening. We would go to our local farmer to pick our pumpkin. I could hardly lift the one we would pick, it would be so large. There was always a haunted house around that you could go to visit. One time my dad took me to visit the town of Jim Thorpe. It comes alive with fall foliage. If you love sports, there’s all kinds going on. Football, both professional and college, hockey and baseball are being played with baseball holding the World Series. I love quotes from old baseball players. Willie Stargell once said something like this about the game: They give you a bat and

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

they throw you a round ball and they tell you to hit it square. The late Leo Durocher said, “I never questioned the integrity of an umpire. Their eyesight, yes.” Perhaps the most noted quote from a baseball player is Lou Gehrig’s when he said, “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” It was his last day playing baseball. Enjoy October and I leave you with this thought: Things you cannot recover: The stone after it’s thrown. The word after it’s said. The occasion after it’s missed. The time after it’s gone. — Unknown

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

SE N I OR LIV ING

Happenings for Seniors Collections North Hills Community Outreach is collecting safety items for seniors. For details, visit nhco.org or call Cathy, at (412) 307-0069 x3313.

North Hill Community Outreach

provides Safety Checks for Seniors. Interested seniors who reside in northern Allegheny County should email Cathy at clpschirer@nhco.org or call (412) 307-0069 x3313.

Pennsylvania consumers are

Health & Wellness Free Services for Seniors through

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

Healthy Start Café, 8:45 a.m.,

every Mon & Thurs, St. John Lutheran Church of Highland, 311 Cumberland Rd. Presented by Lutheran SeniorLife & St. John Lutheran Church of Highland. Call (412) 364-1606 or (412) 307-1797.

encouraged to sign up for a new text alert system through his Bureau of Consumer Protection to raise their awareness on how to avoid becoming a scam victim. For info, visit https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/ consumer-alerts/

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

North Country Meal on Wheels

provides home delivered meals to the elderly, homebound & disabled. Services Marshall, Pine, Richland, Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, parts of McCandless, West Deer, Cranberry, Adams, Seven Fields, Mars & Valencia. Call (724) 9351877.

Medical North Hills Community Outreach

offers free medication safety screenings for seniors living in northern Allegheny County, north of the city of Pittsburgh. For details contact, Cathy at (412) 307-0069, ext. 3313.

Seminars Medicare Options for 2019; 11 a.m., Oct. 2; Protect Allegheny County Green Space, Oct. 16; AARP’s Driver’s Course, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Oct. 29 & 30; Pittsburgh at the 1893 World’s Fair, Nov. 13; Where There’s a Will, There’s Relatives, Nov. 27; History 16,000 Years in the Making, Dec. 11. For info, visit http://thelegacylineup.com/

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

Senior Meetings AARP 3736 welcomes new mem-

bers, 7:30 p.m., every 2nd Thurs., of the month (except June & July) at St. Ursula Church Social Hall.

Cranberry Township 55+ Club

meets at 1 p.m., the 2nd Tues., of the month in the Cranberry Municipal Center. The club features activities, social events and local trips. For info, call Bill at (724) 776-1933.

at 1 p.m., the 3rd Monday of the month, at West View Banquet Hall at 398 Perry Hwy. Short meeting with entertainment, and cake & coffee. Everyone is welcome.

National Aging in Place Monthly meetings: 12 p.m., Oct. 10, Life

Pittsburgh; 5:30 p.m., Nov. 14, Wexford House. For info, visit http:// www.lifepittsburgh.org or call (412) 388-8050 ext. 6311.

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

Social Groups Amazing Singles, for singles in the

Pittsburgh region, visit, http://www. amazingsingles.com/pittsburgh.html.

Catholic Alumni Club of Pittsburgh, has dances, retreats

and plays various sports and other great events. Visit their website http://www.cacpittsburgh.org/.

AUP Club, have fun & meet new

people with the Association of University People/AUP. We are looking for single, 4-year college graduates over 50 to join us for monthly dinners, meet at various social spots, gatherings and Scrabble. For info, call (412) 734-8445 or visit us at www.aupsinglespittsburgh.org.

Visit Pittsburgh Events & Festivals lists upcoming events for singles, kids, and married folks. It enlightens Pittsburghers on dining, shopping and recreational events. Go to http://www.visitpittsburgh. com/events-festivals.

Support Groups

Friends and Fun 55+ Singles

meet at 7 p.m., every 1st Friday, at St. Ferdinand’s, Rochester Rd., Cranberry Twp., Oldenski Hall, Upper Room. Call (724) 816-2159.

Alzheimer’s Support Group, 10 a.m., 1st Monday of each month, St. Catherine of Sweden Parish, 2554 Wildwood Rd. Call Suzie, at (724) 799-7049.

Friendship Groups for Visually Impaired, Men’s Group meets

Bereavement Support Group (for

every Weds. 1-3:15 p.m., Knitting & Crocheting Circle meets every Weds., 1-3:15 p.m., Monthly Meeting 2nd Thurs. of each month 1:15-3:15 p.m.,

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

Gateway North AARP #3586 meets

Legacy Theatre Seminars, UPMC

Senior Facilities

The Lunch Bunch meets 4th Thurs. of every month 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., The Talking Book Club meets 1st Mon. of each month 1-2:30 p.m. Call (724) 444-0064.

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

Home Instead Senior Care® has a program

to help families in Northwest Allegheny County manage the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Free training is available at HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com.

Paramount Senior Living at Cranberry Alzheimer’s Affiliated Support Group meets 2 p.m., the last Friday. Contact Pam, at (724) 7795020.

Volunteer Opportunities: Hope Hospice is looking for volunteers to visit Hospice patients. Call (412) 367-3685.

Neighborly Gnomes assist seniors with disabili-

ties with yard tasks. Visit NeedsbyNeighborhood. org.

North Hills Community Outreach needs volunteer dispatchers for their senior shuttles. For info, contact Kerry at kkmulhern@nhco.org or (412) 449-0151.

North Hills Community Outreach urgently needs volunteers in the upper Route 28 corridor to help seniors. Visit http://nhco.org/volunteer-opportunities/volunteer-help-seniors/. For details, call Kerry, (412) 449-0151 or kkmulhern@nhco.org.

Pittsburgh OASIS Intergenerational Tutor Program seeks volunteers (50+) to tutor in

Pittsburgh & Woodland Hills School Districts in grades K-4. Trainings are held at the Duquesne Light Building downtown Pittsburgh. For info or to register, contact John at OASIS at (412) 393-7648 or jdspehar@oasisnet.org.

UPMC Passavant Auxiliary Membership Opportunities, are you looking for an opportunity

for social interaction with other dedicated people in support of UPMC Passavant McCandless and Cranberry? Then join UPMC Passavant Auxiliary’s tradition of caring. The Auxiliary meets the 2nd Monday of each month (Sept.-June) at 10 a.m. New members welcome. For info, contact Alice at (412) 748-6640 or burkea2@ph.upmc.edu.

Ursuline Services’ Checks and Balances pro-

gram assists those who have difficulty with financial affairs. Register at (412) 224-4700 x113 or ktobin@ursulinesupport.org.

Trips Jesus: Live on Stage, Nov. 2 & 3, Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster. Deluxe Motorcoach tour is sponsored by the 55 Plus of St. James Parish in Sewickley. For details, call Suzanne at (412) 2648446.

St. Alexis Over 50 trips: Cuyahoga Excursion,

Oct. 18, historical ride thru Cuyahoga National Park. Call Dave (412) 366-3789.

Workshop Write Your Personal Story with author Janice

Lane Palko, Oct.14, 1:30-4 p.m., Creative Harmony Arts & Books, $40 includes guidebook. Register at: www.harmonyartsbooks.com or call (724) 4520869.

Look for it wherever you find Northern Connection

CALL now to reserve your advertising space for the next issue!

724-940-2444 www.pittsburghfiftyfiveplus.com

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

October 2018

Happenings Arts & Entertainment Cranberry Artists Network exhibits: C.A.N. Plein Air Painters, Oct.

4-Nov. 11; C.A.N. Members Small Works, Nov. 12-Dec. 20. For info, visit www.cranberryartistsnetwork.com.

Legacy Theatre Movies, 2 p.m.,

Book Club, Oct. 1 (2 & 7 p.m.); A Quiet Place, Oct. 8; Black Panther; Oct. 15, Chappaquiddick, Oct. 22; Adrift, Oct. 29, 700 Cumberland Woods Dr., McCandless. Visit http:// www.thelegacylineup.com/movies/

Legacy Theatres shows: 7:30

p.m., Cahal Dunne, Oct. 13; The Marcels, Oct. 27; The Vogues, Nov. 10; Johnny Angel & the Halos Christmas Show, Dec. 1; Pittsburgh Doo Wop Big Band Christmas Show, Dec. 8, 700 Cumberland Woods Dr., McCandless. Visit http://www.thelegacylineup.com/productions.

Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival,

Nov. 14-18, Kelly Strayhorn Theater. Five days of short films, visiting directors, special guests and parties.

ReelAbilities Pittsburgh Film Festival, Oct. 3-9 at South Side

Works Cinema. For info, visit filmpittsburgh.org/pages/reelabilities.

College La Roche College Discover STEM event, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Oct.

13, in the Zappala College Center. Register online at laroche.edu or call (412) 536-1272.

La Roche College Interior Design Advisory Board is hosting Design Dialogue Presentation, 6:30 p.m. (5 p.m. dinner), Oct. 11, at the Pittsburgh Opera House. For info, visit laroche.edu.

La Roche College Professional

Development Series to Benefit HR and Business Professionals, 6:30 p.m., Oct. 15, Winning Managers Connect-the-Dots: Goals, Feedback, Coaching & Development; Nov. 19, Dazed & Confused: What Every Employer Needs to Know about Medical Marijuana, Opioid & Prescription Drug Use in the Workplace. For info, visit laroche. edu/hrmseries.

North Pittsburgh College Fair, 6-8 p.m., Oct. 8, La Roche College’s Kerr Fitness & Sports Center. For details, visit https://www.laroche.edu/ Events_Calendar/ or email northpittsburghcollegefair@laroche.edu or call (412) 536-1272.

Concerts Got it Covered! Three bands per-

form Oct. 19 at Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center to benefit North Hills Community Outreach. For info, email Harriet at hzlatte@nhco.org or (412) 408-3830 x3204.

Counseling Ask the Attorney, free counseling for qualified individuals, the 3rd Wed. of every month, 7 p.m., Oct. 17, Allison Park; Nov. 14, NHCO in North Boroughs. Pre-register at jmboggs@nhco.org or (412) 4083830 x3217.

Courses The Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program, four-day prep course,

Oct. 12 & 13, and Oct. 26 & 27, at UPMC Mercy, Sister M. Ferdinand Clark Auditorium, 1400 Locust Street, Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (Uptown). Register, at https:// www.pittsburghmercy.org/faith-communities/education/#foundationsoffaith-community-nursing-course.

Dancing & Recreational Events Ballroom Dancing at Orchard Hill, 1st, 3rd & 5th Fri., 7-8 p.m.,

Beginner Dance Lesson; 8-10:30 p.m. Social Dancing; Wexford, gym. For info, visit www.orchardhillchurch. com/ or call (724) 935-5555.

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

Beyond the Basics Dance Lessons, 7-10 p.m., Fri, Oct. 12,

Wexford, gym. Registration preferred. Visit orchardhillchurch.com for details.

Country Knight Line Dancers

host a line dance 7-10:30 p.m. every Wed., in St. Athanasius Hall, cost $5 per person. Call, Janine (412) 9316971 or janine.beley@gmail.com.

Mommy & Me Ballet, 10-11 a.m.,

Weds, Oct. 10-Nov. 14, Wexford, Kidzburgh 3-yr. old room at Orchard Hill Church. Register by Oct. 9. Visit orchardhillchurch.com for details.

Saturday Singles Dance, for ages 40+, 8 p.m. to midnight, Oct. 13, Free Pizza Party; Oct. 27, Halloween Costume Party & Monster Mixer Dance. Free dance lesson 7:30 p.m., West View VFW, 386 Perry Hwy. Call (724) 316-5029 or www.dancetonight.weebly.com. Y-Knot Square & Round Dance Club of the North Hills Free Open

House, 7:30-10 p.m., Sept. 6, at North Hills Community Baptist Church, 7801 Thompson Run Rd. Classes 6:30-8:15 p.m., Thurs evenings. To sign-up, visit whynotdance. org or call (412) 440-3090.

Environmental Western PA Mushroom Club

meetings, 7 p.m., Oct. 16 (photo contest results & election of officers), Nov. 20 (potluck dinner & member photos), Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, 614 Dorseyville Rd. For info, visit wpamushroomclub.org.

Fall Events Depreciation Lands Museum: The Hydref, a fall festival & market

faire, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Oct. 6; Lantern Tours, 6-9 p.m., Oct. 20 & 27, 4743 S. Pioneer Rd. for info, visit http:// www.depreciationlandsmuseum.org/ or call (412) 486-0563.

Girls on the Run Sneaker Bash,

7-10:30 p.m., Oct. 20, The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. For info, visit https://www.girlsontherun.org/.

Unique Boutique, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.,

Nov. 10, Edgeworth Club, 511 East Drive, Sewickley. Fifty artisan & vendors, clothing, gourmet food, home décor, jewelry and accessories. Presented by Heritage Valley

Health System Foundation. For info, call (412) 749-7050. Shopping, buffet lunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Oct. 31. Register online at www.heritagevalley.org.

Films For the Loves of Books, 10 a.m.-

2:30 p.m., Oct. 6, La Roche College. Sponsored by the North Hills branch of AAUW. For info, visit https:// northhills-pa.aauw.net.

Fundraiser Adeline’s Angels 5K/1 Mile Funwalk, 9 a.m., Oct. 13, North

Park Boathouse. Benefits SUDU (Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood) Foundation. For info, visit AdelinesAngels.com.

Corporate Monopoly® Tournament to Benefit National

Kidney Foundation, 5:30 p.m., Oct. 4, Rivers Casino Ballroom, 777 Casino Drive. For info, visit www.kidney/org/ PittsburghMonopoly or email Kelley. George@kidney.org or call (412) 2614115 ext. 754.

Gardening Greybrooke Garden Club Garage Sale, 8 a.m.-noon, Oct. 6,

at Parkwood United Presbyterian Church, 4289 Mt. Royal Blvd. For info, call Bonnie at (412) 366-3689.

Ingomar Garden Club meets 10:30

a.m., the 1st Wed. of the month, thru Nov., at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 311 Cumberland Road, McCandless Twp. Business meeting followed by a light luncheon and speaker. All perspective members are invited. Visit https://www.ingomar-gardenclub.com/

Halloween Halloween Party in the Park,

1-4 p.m., Oct. 20, Pine Community Center, all ages. $3 per child. For info, visit https://www.twp.pine.pa.us/ Calendar or call (724) 625-1636.

Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival, Oct. 21- 22, along

the Great Lawn at North Shore Riverfront Park & Allegheny River. Free event. For details, visit monsterpumpkin.com.

Health & Wellness Arthritis Expo, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.,

Oct. 9, Cumberland Woods Village. Free expo sponsored by UPMC Life Changing Medicine & UPMC Health Plan. For info, email dwaksmunski@ arthritis.org or (412) 218-1947.

Cancer Caring Center free exer-

cise programs for cancer patients, 7:30-8:30 p.m. every Wed., Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA; 9:30-10:30 a.m., every Sat., Sewickley YMCA. Registration is required, call (412) 622-1212.

First Place 4 Health is a Christian

Bible-based weight loss group that meets 6:15-7:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 536 Lincoln Ave., Bellevue. Call (412) 487-4819.

Health & Wellness Fair, 2-7 p.m., Oct. 26, at the Ross Park Mall. Sponsored by the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber. For info, visit pghnorthchamber.com.

Living Life Post Cancer Treatment Program, 6-8:30 p.m., Wed evenings

thru Nov. 7, UPMC PassavantCranberry, 1 St. Francis Way Cranberry Twp. Register at (412) 338-1919.

Parkinson’s Exercise programs

are available at the Oxford Athletic Club in Wexford. For details, visit http://www.oxfordathleticclub.com/ knocking-out-parkinsons-with-thenewest-programs-at-oxford/ or call (724) 933-1911.

Revelations Fitness® Fusion (car-

dio, strength & flexibility) classes, 9:30 a.m., Mon; 6:30 p.m., Thurs., 2 p.m., Sundays, Get Moving for those with special needs, Woodland Valley Church, Mars; 6:30 p.m., Tues., Revelations Fitness® Fusion, North Way Christian Community. Contact heather.simplynatural@gmail.com.

Solutions to U.S. Maternal and Infant Mortality Crises, 8 a.m.-

4:30 p.m., Oct. 8, Westin Convention Center. Sponsored by the Women’s Health Activist Movement Global. For info, email golebiewski@jhf.org or call (412) 594-2553.

Tai Chi Classes, gentle martial

art that provides health benefits, 1:30 p.m., Tues., at St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church, 2365 McAleer Rd., corner of Rochester Rd., Franklin Park. Visit www.stbrendans.org or call (412) 364-5974.

Historical Greater Pittsburgh Civil War Round Table lecture Gettysburg the

Aftermath, 7 p.m., Oct. 15, Hampton Township Community Center, 1301 McCully Rd. Free & open to the public.

Library Northland Library, Northland’s

50th Anniversary Interactive Mural, 3-6 p.m., Oct. 3; What is a Panic Attack, 7 p.m., Oct. 15; Terrifying Tales From the Cabin, 7 p.m., Oct. 20; Solo Handbell Concert, 3:30 p.m., Oct. 28. For info, visit www. northlandlibrary.org or (412) 3668100.

Shaler North Hills Library, Fall

Book Sale (runs Oct. 5-7), 6:30-8:30 p.m., Oct. 5; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Oct. 6; 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Oct. 7; Oh ‘Deer!’ Mammals in our Area, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Oct. 16; Conservation: How we Interact with the Natural World, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Nov. 13. For info, visit http://www.shalerlibrary.org/.

Networking

Amity Lodge #45 affiliated with

Italian Sons & Daughters of America is welcoming new members. Meetings are held the 2nd Sunday of the month with a social & refreshments. If interested, call Joanne at (724) 443-8303.

Butler County Business Matters Friday Morning Monthly Coffee Club, 9 a.m., Sept. 28, Suncrest Golf

& Grille, 137 Brownsdale Rd. For info call (724) 283-2222.

AM Spirit Business Link Cranberry Chapter, a business

Sealarks Women’s Group meet-

AM Spirit Business Link McCandless Chapter, a business

Western PA Professional Business Association Network Breakfast, 7:15 a.m., Tuesdays,

networking group, meets 7:15 a.m. every Wed, at North Park Deckhouse, Rt. 19, Cranberry Twp. Contact Ralph at ralph@woodhyrst.com.

networking group, meets at noon every Wed, at Billy’s Roadhouse, 10150 Old Perry Hwy. Contact Adam at adam@navageinsurance.com.

AM Spirit Business Link Pittsburgh North Chapter, a busi-

ness networking group, meets 8 a.m. every Thurs, at Sports Grille at Cranberry. Contact Dan at novakovich@zoominternet.net.

AM Spirit Business Link Wexford Chapter, a business networking

group, meets 7:15 a.m. every Mon, at Eat N’ Park, Franklin Village. Contact Jen at jnodonnell86@yahoo.com.

ing, 1 p.m., Oct. 10, Memorial Park Church. This group provides Christian fellowship & social activity for alone women. For info, call (412) 487-7194.

King’s Restaurant, Rt. 8, Gibsonia. Call Mary Ann, at (724) 935-2221 or www.wpabusiness.com.

Outreach Donate your vehicle to NHCO’s

Transportation Assistance program. Free pickup or towing and hassle-free donation process. For details, visit nhco.org/donate/donate-car or (412) 408-3830 x3225. (Continued on page 44)

www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

Knitters needed to join the Busy Hands Group at The Olive Branch Fair Trade Store and Missions. The group meets 9:15-11:15 a.m., 1st & 3rd Monday of the month, at 11160 Perry Highway in Wexford. Bring your needles! For info, call (724) 799-8700.

Nativity Lutheran Church, 4517 Mt. Royal Blvd.

in Allison Park is a donation site for non-perishable groceries for North Hills Community Outreach for its three food pantries. Drop-off hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit, www.nativitylutheranchurch15101.org.

North Hills Community Outreach’s Pathways program offers goal-setting help for those who are

struggling. Call Abby at North Boroughs (412) 3070069; Nicole in Millvale (412) 408-3830 or Shela in McKees Rocks (412) 331-1685 x233.

North Hills Community Outreach’s Winter Coat Drive runs thru Oct. 12, 1975 Ferguson

Rd., Hampton. For details, visit nhco.org or email vdburst@nhco.org or call (412) 487-6316 opt. 1.

North Hills Food Bank, 10 a.m.-1:45 p.m.

every Tues & Thurs, rear parking lot of Hiland Presbyterian Church, 845 Perry Highway. Call, (412) 366-7477 or www.northhillsfoodbank.com. Donations always welcome.

UPMC Passavant Auxiliary Membership Opportunities, are you looking for an opportunity

Presentations Psychic Investigators, Suzanne & Jean Vincent presentation, 7-8:30 p.m., Oct. 24, Northland Library. Topics: Caylee Anthony, Scott Fosnaught & Shawn Baur, John Yelenic, Christine Sheddy, Cherrie Mahan, Mickey Scheller. Ghost stories, hauntings and a gallery reading. Bring a can of cat/dog food for Animal Friends or donate to Northland. Reserve spot at, (412) 366-8100.

Races & Walks St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church hiking group

hits the trails every three weeks. The group meets at 9 a.m., each hike is followed by lunch at a nearby restaurant. Visit www.stbrendans.org or (412) 364-5974.

Recreation Pine Community Center events: Little Athletes,

10 a.m., 1st Wed; Muck-N-Mess, various sessions; Story Time, 10 a.m., 2nd & 4th Wed; Tot Time, 10 a.m., Thurs thru Oct. 11; DIY Patterns & Prints, 5:30 p.m., thru Oc.t 16; It’s KNOT True Friendship, 1 p.m., Oct. 27; Kids Dodgeball Night, 7 p.m., Oct. 26; Baby Sitting 101, 1 p.m., Oct. 6; Escape Room Night, 7 p.m., Oct. 12. For info, call (724) 625-1636.

Sales Flea Market & Bake Sale, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Oct. 27, St. Luke Lutheran Church, 305 Center Ave., West View.

St. Aloysius Spring Rummage Sale, 8 a.m.-2

p.m., Oct. 6 & 7. Visit https://saintaloysiuspittsburgh.org or call (412) 821-2351.

School & Classes GAB SQUAD has Fall/Winter assembly programs,

kick-offs and workshop event ideas for your school. For details, visit www.GabSquad.com.

Glade Run announces that The Glade: A Life

Development Academy is now accepting applications. For info, visit gladerun.org.

North Hills School District officials are accepting

nominations for the 2019 North Hills Distinguished Alumni Award through Nov. 15. Recipient(s) will be announced in February and recognized during High School Awards Night that is held each spring at North Hills High School. For details, visit www.nhsd.net.

Saint Joseph High School Fall Open House, 1-3

p.m., Oct. 21. For info, visit SaintJosephHS.com, or admissions@SaintJosephHS.com or (724) 226-4932.

Seminars AAUW presents Saltworks: The Power of Live Theater, 9:30 a.m., Oct. 9, Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church (corner of Fox Chapel & Field Club Roads). For info, email lbtotten@comcast.net.

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

Support Groups Amputee Support Group, 4-5:30

p.m., 3rd Wed. of every month, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley, 3rd Floor Boardroom, 303 Camp Meeting Rd., Sewickley. For info, call Michelle at (412) 749-2388.

Bereavement Support Group,

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

Bereavement Support Group (for

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

Bereavement Support Group in

the North Hills, 10-11:30 a.m., 2nd & 4th Thurs. of each month, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1965 Ferguson Rd., Allison Park. To register, call (724) 334-6600.

Beyond Mourning, is a free, short-

term, weekly support group that combines grief education and peer support, Mondays thru Oct. 29, Hiland Presbyterian church in Ross Twp. If you would like to attend, call (412) 364-9000 or email hilandchurchoffice@gmail.com.

Brain Injury & Stroke Support Group, noon-1:15 p.m., 3rd Weds.,

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, Sewickley, 3rd Floor Board Room. For info, call Michelle at (412) 749-2388.

Brain Injury Support Group, Mind

Matters, 7-9 p.m., every 3rd Thurs., of the month, Butler Memorial Hospital, East Brady St. in the Dimmick Center. Call (724) 283-6666.

Brain Tumor Support Group, 6:308 p.m., 3rd Thurs., AHN Health & Wellness Pavilion. Free & open to cancer patients & caregivers over 18, no students. Sponsored by the Cancer Caring Center. Register at (412) 622-1212.

Breast Cancer Support Groups,

5:30-7 p.m., 3rd Mon., AGH Hospital; 7-8:30 p.m.,1st & 3rd Weds, UPMC Passavant Cranberry; 6-7:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Wed., AHN Health & Wellness Pavilion. Free & open to cancer patients & caregivers over 18, no students. Sponsored by the Cancer Caring Center. Register at (412) 622-1212.

Bridge to Hope, 7 p.m., every Wed., of the month, Passavant Hospital Conference Center, at Cumberland Woods Village, McCandless Twp. For drug & alcohol addiction. Visit bridge2hope.org, or call (412) 7485120. bridge2hope.org.

Christian 12-Step Recovery, 7-9

p.m., Thurs thru Dec. 13 (no meeting Nov. 22), Wexford Gathering Place. Visit orchardhillchurch.com for details.

Compulsive Eaters Anonymous,

10:30 a.m., Tues., Prayer Room of Memorial Park Church, 8800 Peebles Rd., McCandless. For info, call Jane at (412) 951-9517.

General Cancer Center Support Groups, 6:30-8 p.m., 2nd & 4th

Weds, UPMC Passavant Cranberry. Free & open to cancer patients & caregivers over 18, no students. Sponsored by the Cancer Caring Center. Register at (412) 622-1212.

Grief Support Group for widows

and widowers over fifty, 2:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Wed., of the month, St. Sebastian Parish, 311 Siebert Rd. Visit http://www.saintsebastianparish.org/

Lupus Foundation meetings,

7-8:30 p.m., every 3rd Tues, UPMC Passavant Hospital, 9100 Babcock Blvd., Donor Hall. Call (412) 2615886 or ccallen92@aol.com.

Metastatic Cancer Support Group, 5-6:30 p.m., 1st Thur. of each month, UPMC Passavant HospitalMcCandless. For cancer patients and survivors with metastatic disease. Caregivers are welcomed. No cost to attend. Led by Wendy Myers, MSW, LSW. Free parking & light refreshments. Sponsored by the Cancer Caring Center. New members register at (412) 622-1212.

National Coalition Cancer Coalition (NOCC) “Teal Hearts

Network” meets 6-8 p.m., the 3rd Monday of every month at the Cancer Caring Center. This network group is for ovarian cancer survivors. For info, visit http://ovarian.org/component/events/event/483.

Our Clubhouse Cancer Support Groups, 6:30-8 p.m., 1st Tues, Breast Cancer Support and Prostate Cancer Group; 6-8 p.m., 2nd Tues, Multiple Myeloma; 6-8 p.m., 3rd Tues, Living Life with Metastatic Breast Cancer; 6:30-8 p.m., 2nd Thurs., Pancreatic Cancer Group, 2816 Smallman St., Pgh. Call (412) 338-1919 to register.

Overeaters Anonymous, 7 p.m.,

Tues, at St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church, 2365 McAleer Rd., corner of Rochester Rd. in Franklin Park. For info, visit www.stbrendans.org or call (412) 364-5974.

Parkinson’s Support Group, 10

a.m., 1st Tues of each month, Rose E. Schneider YMCA. For details, contact Dale at (724) 591-8121 or d.reckless@mrsphysicaltherapy.com.

Parkinson’s Support Group,

1-2:30 p.m., last Wed of each month, HealthSouth Harmarville, 320 Guys Run Rd. Contact Jessica, at (412) 828-1300 x7710.

Pittsburgh L.A.M.P.S. is for those

grieving the loss of a child – includes miscarriages, still birth and prematurity. Meetings held 7:30 p.m., 1st Tues of the month, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Cumberland Rd., McCandless. Contact Laurie. Jackson@missfoundation.org. (Continued on page 46)

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Oktoberfest Saturday, October 27 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Good German Food, music and drink! Take-out available. Call or visit website for reservations $20 at the door - $2.00 discount if you reserve your ticket before 10/23. Basket Auction 21 and over Hiland Church 845 Perry Hwy, Ross Twp. 412-364-9000 www.hilandchurch.org Recovery from Codependency, 7-9 p.m. Thurs.,

Wexford, Kidzburgh 3-yr. old room at Orchard Hill Church. Visit orchardhillchurch.com for details.

S.P.I.N. For Single Moms: 6-7:30 p.m., 4th

Monday of the Month in Bellevue. For details, call (412) 366-1300.

Stroke Support Group, 1-2:30 p.m., once a month on Weds., HealthSouth Harmarville, 320 Guys Run Rd., For info, contact Valerie at (412) 826-2784 or valerie.bucek@healthsouth.com.

Under One Roof supports people who are hous-

ing extended family members under their roof. The group meets 6:30 p.m. every other Wed. at St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church, 2365 McAleer Rd., Franklin Park. St. For details, visit www.stbrendans. org or (412) 364-5974.

Thanksgiving North Hills Community Outreach Thanksgiving Food Drive Collection runs Oct. 9-Nov. 9 (preferably before Oct. 26), 1975 Ferguson Rd., Hampton. For details, visit nhco.org or call (412) 487-6316.

Veterans Butler VA Healthcare Fall Flu Clinics for veter-

ans are being held various times in October. For a list of times and dates, visit https://www.butler. va.gov/features/Free_Flu_Shots_for_Veterans.asp

VA Butler Healthcare’s Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Program now offers Veterans the opportunity to work one-on-one with a personal trainer in its Wellness Center at the Abie Abraham VA Health Care Center. For info, visit https://www. butler.va.gov/services/Health_and_Wellness.asp or call, 878-271-6484.

Veterans Breakfast Club Meetings, held every month throughout the Pittsburgh region. For details, visit http://veteransbreakfastclub.com/.

Veterans Discover HOPE Here-Career, 3rd

Wed., 6:30-8:45 p.m., Cranberry Twp., Municipal Building, 2525 Rochester Rd., Cranberry Twp. Free. Call (724) 779-8323, discoverhopehere@gmail.com or www.discoverhopehere.com.

Veterans Fitness Classes 5 Days a week, 4:30-

5:30 p.m., VA Butler Healthcare Auditorium (bldg. 1), 325 New Castle Rd., Butler. Visit www.prevention.va.gov/B_Physically_ Active.asp.

Veteran HOPE, support group for women Veterans

North Pittsburgh Quilts of Valor meets 7-9 p.m.,

recovering from mental illness, meet 6-8 p.m., every Tues., VA Butler Healthcare, Room 217WS, Building 1. Call (724) 996—8892 or (724) 285-2756 or butlerva.gov.

Pennsylvania Community-Based Programs

Veterans’ Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Support Group, 10 a.m., Fridays, VA Butler

2nd Mon., of the month, Quilt Company, Middle Rd., Allison Park. Call (412) 487-9532 or www. qovf.org.

Awarded VA Grants to Support Disabled Veterans in Adaptive Sports at Slippery Rock University. Visit www.va.gov/adaptivesports.

VA Butler Healthcare Flu Vaccination Clinics

to Veterans at the main campus, Community-Based Outpatient Clinics, and other community locations this fall. For a list of date and times, call (724) 2874781 or 1-800-362-8262.

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

Healthcare. Call 800-362-8262 ext. 2498.

“Veteran X” mental health & substance abuse

recovery program for vets meets 6 p.m., every Mon., at VA Butler Healthcare, Room 213, East South (ES), 325 N. Castle Rd., Butler. Visit http:// www.butler.va.gov/.

The Sons and Daughters of Italy

he Sons and Daughters of Italy (SDOI) is located at 338 S. Main Street, Butler. In 2017, the hall underwent renovations, morphing it into a modern space with remnants of historical elements. SDOI features an exposed industrial ceiling, handicap accessible bathrooms and ample parking. SDOI is the best place for your next wedding, conference, birthday or anniversary party. Rental rates include tables and chairs, cleanup and off-street parking. The hall holds 160-190 people comfortably, conveniently located in downtown Butler. Interested in renting the hall and not yet a member of SDOI? No worries – SDOI is open to the public. However, one of the benefits of your membership is discounted rates for rentals. Renting with us ensures you get not only the best location, but also the best catering services. We collaborate with top catering companies – Medure’s Catering and Faraone Brothers Catering – to provide you an authentic (and delicious) Italian experience. Bingo games at SDOI are half the price of other venues. Bingo is every Tuesday and Thursday starting at 6 p.m. SDOI is home of the $5 package deals, each game paying $50. Join us if you are feeling lucky! During football season, SDOI will be open during the Steelers games with special drink prices for members. SDOI membership is always open. Membership dues are $15 per year for a social membership. Being a social member grants you private access to the facilities, discounted rental rates, specialty drink prices and camaraderie. SDOI has been around for many decades, and we’d love to welcome you to la famiglia. Give us a call if you love good food, friends and fun! For more information, contact us via email butleritalianclub@gmail.com or call us at 724-332-5231. Be sure to like us on Facebook @SOIButler. 4 4 4

Volunteer Opportunities American Cancer Society is looking for volun-

teers to drive cancer patients who are undergoing treatments to & from their appts. Call (412) 9191100 or emailsharon.stalter@cancer.org.

ESL Conversation Friends, which teaches every-

day language skills to immigrants meets at 10 a.m., Tues. & Thurs., and 7 p.m. Weds, at St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church, 2365 McAleer Rd., Franklin Park. New students & volunteer tutors are welcome. Visit stbrendans.org or (412) 364-5974.

New York Firefighter Who Became Priest to be Featured at St. Alphonsus Event A Catholic priest who served as a New York firefighter on 9/11 will be the guest speaker at a Faith on Fire event. It will be held at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 3, at St. Alphonsus Parish, 201 Church Road in Wexford. The Rev. Thomas M. Colucci will speak on “Always Hopeful.” The free event will include music and food. A freewill offering is encouraged. Proceeds go to the Wexford Volunteer Fire Co., Northern Regional Police Department and McCandlessFranklin Park Ambulance Authority. For info, call (724) 935-1151 or info@ SaintAlphonsusWexford.org.

Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council volunteer

tutors needed to work with adult literacy students on basic literacy skills, 4 hour/week commitment. Free tutor training provided. Call (412) 393-7600 or http://www.gplc.org/become-a-volunteer.cfm.

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

Mission Vision needs volunteers to help with

Provide vision–Give hope. Call (724) 553-3114 or www.mission-vision.org.

Seeking hospice volunteers...if you can find the

time to sit with hospice patients, we would love to have you. Call Bethany Hospice, at (412) 921-2209.

Tutoring volunteers needed for Anchorpoint’s

Tutoring Mentoring Program. For details, call (412) 366-1300 x123.

Volunteers needed at The Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh, 282 Sarah Street on the Southside. Help make a difference in the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. Call (412) 381-0277 or www.EmmausPgh.org.

Workshops Divorce Workshop for Women, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Oct. 13, Medallion Wealth Management, 2605 Nicholson Road in Franklin Park. Preregistration at (724) 493-9695.

Write Your Personal Story with author Janice

Lane Palko, Oct.14, 1:30-4 p.m., Creative Harmony Arts & Books, $40 includes guidebook. Register at: www.harmonyartsbooks.com or call (724) 4520869. www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018

T R I V I A CO NNEC T ION

Hair-Raising Halloween Trivia Witch Creepy Characters Scare You? alloween’s origin dates to an ancient Celtic celebration in Ireland and Scotland called Samhain. People were frightened of evil spirits, so they would dress in costumes and make noise to scare spirits away. When the Catholics arrived in the Celtic land, they brought the celebration of All Saints’ Day, which is celebrated on November 1. The night before was called All Hallows Eve, and many of the traditions from the two holidays merged together. Over time, All Hallows Eve was shortened to Halloween and additional traditions like trick-or-treating and carving Jack-o-lanterns became a part of the holiday. Creepy creatures are also part of the festivities, and this month we’re going to look at some frightening beings. Witches are one of the oldest sources of terror. They’re often portrayed as old hags flying on broomsticks and casting powerful spells. Bram Stoker created the fictional character of Dracula for his 1897 novel of the same name. Stoker’s Dracula was inspired by Vlad the Impaler, also called Vlad III Dracula, a real-life Transylvanian prince from the 1400s. Most vampire tales originated in Eastern European and Balkan countries, including Romania. Like their Draculian counterparts, a small number of bat species actually subsist on animal blood -vampire bats have been occasionally known to attack humans - using sharp teeth to cut into the sleeping victim. Mummification was used by ancient cultures as a way of preserving the human body and readying it for the journeys of the afterlife. The monster trope however, is predominantly focused on Egyptian mummies. Werewolves are a scary part of Halloween. The idea of a humanwolf hybrid goes back to ancient Germanic times. Wolf-men stories morphed over time into the modern versions of a man that turns into a rabid wolf during the full moon. Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein was adapted by director James Whale for his 1931 genre classic of the same name. The story tells of a monster created from various parts of long-buried corpses. Zombies stem from the voodoo religion of Haiti, where it is still believed that people can fall into mindless trances—just like the walking dead we’ve seen in films. According to folklore, a ghost is the imprint or soul left behind in the physical world after a person dies. History is full of terrifying stories of vengeful ghosts haunting the living. Slasher horror movies gained popularity over the years. Examples include: Ghostface in Scream, Jason in Friday the 13th, Freddy Krueger

OCTOBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

in Nightmare on Elm Street, Michael Myers in Halloween, Leatherface in Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Pinhead in Hellraiser. Since we’ve soared through demons, goblins and ghouls, we must now probe this eerie query. Get set to scream out the answer, because it’s time to get a little trivial... 1. This creature is a skeleton swathed in a black robe, holding a scythe. 2. He played Frankenstein in three movies and Imhotep in the 1932 film The Mummy. 3. Sasquatch’s snowy counterpart ______is said to trek through the Himalayan Mountains. 4. Name this iconic sea monster found in numerous Japanese films. 5. In this 1922 silent German film, we see the emergence of this Dracula monster. 6. This actor portrayed The Wolf Man in the Universal film. 7. In Halloween II, what movie is playing on TV, when Michael enters the elderly couple’s house? 8. Craig T. Nelson and Jobeth Williams starred in this 1982 supernatural horror film. 9. This actor was born on Halloween, and in 1957 he starred in I Was a Teenage Werewolf. 10. An aggressive extraterrestrial creature attacks the crew of a spaceship in this 1979 film. 11. The Blob was remade in 1988, when did the original starring Steve McQueen debut? 12. Name the 1954 classic horror movie about an aquatic-gilled monster. 13. In this 1998 horror film, a man conjures up a vengeful demon to destroy a group of teens. 14. Elsa Lanchester portrayed the monster’s lady in 1935 creepy flick. 15. Researchers in Antarctica encounter a parasitic extraterrestrial lifeform in this 1982 horror movie. 4 4 4 Sources: https://www.ducksters.com/holidays/halloween.php, https://www.worldbooklearning.com/halloween-monster-history/, https://www.surveycrest.com/blog/10-scariest-halloween-monsters/, https://www.livescience.com/11340-halloween-top-10-scary-creatures.html

Answers: 1. The Grim Reaper 2. Boris Karloff 3. Yeti or Abominable Snowman 4. Godzilla 5. Nosferatu 6. Lon Chaney Jr. 7. Night of the Living Dead 8. Poltergeist 9. Michael Landon 10. Alien 11. 1958 12. The Creature from the Black Lagoon 13. Pumpkinhead 14. The Bride of Frankenstein 15. The Thing

By Paula Green

S UPP O RT O UR TRO O P S

La Roche College Honored for Veterans Support & Seneca Valley and Hampton High School Honor Veterans By Paula Green

a Roche College has recently received accolades from the U.S. News & World Report. They were recognized as a Best Regional College, a Best Value School and a Best College for Veterans. La Roche was ranked 15th on the list for Best Colleges for Veterans in the North. They received this recognition because they make college education affordable for service men and women. The school offers benefits to military veterans and active-duty service members. This is the second consecutive year that La Roche has received this prestigious honor. To qualify, a private school has to be certified for the G.I. Bill and participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. They must also enroll a minimum of 20 veterans and active service members in the 2017-2018 academic year. The institution must be in the top half of its U.S. News ranking category to be eligible. Seneca Valley High School, once again, showed its appreciation for veterans. On Friday, Sept. 7, the school held its annual Veteran Recognition Event at NexTier Stadium. This is the 19th year that the school district has paid tribute to military personnel. Representatives from various military conflicts were acknowledged, which included members of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Persian Gulf, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Among this elite group were recipients of the Purple Heart, special service medals, defense medals, commendation ribbons and battle stars. Hampton Township School District’s annual “Hampton Heroes” event will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at Hampton High School. The school district has been sponsoring this event since 2001. To date, approximately 200 Hampton men and women have been inducted as Hampton Heroes and recognized at the Veterans Day program. The district honors veterans who have resided in Hampton, worked there or graduated from Hampton High School. The district also participates in Operation Recognition, a program that authorizes school districts to grant high school diplomas to veterans who missed their own graduations while in service to their country. For more information on the Hampton Heroes program and Operation Recognition, visit the website at https://www.ht-sd.org/. 4 4 4 www.northernconnectionmag.com | OCTOBER 2018