Fall 2018 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY by UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY Magazine

R E S I D E N T I A L G U I D E C E N T E R F O L D P U L L O U T

Fall 2018 Mastering the New Sewer Ordinance in USC www.twpusc.org/magazine/usc-today-home

The official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair

Upper St. Clair Office â&#x20AC;˘ 180 Fort Couch Rd, Upper St. Clair, Pa 15241 412-833-3600 â&#x20AC;˘ HowardHanna.com

Robbins Bobbitt Sales Director

Bonnie Bagay

Lynne Bingham

Kirstan Boettger

Shannon Briggs

Maureen Cavanaugh

Leanne Dresmich

Bob Ellison

Shannon Gallagher

Janet Hensler

Susan Highley

Diane Horvath

Jess Hutchinson

Doug Hyrb

Caitlin Kennedy

Frankie Jo Kunselman

Sheryl Kyle

Marie Mageras

Kathy McCloskey

Leann Monz

Patty Morgan

Erin Musciano

Brittany Pantuso

Jennifer Solomon

Coral Stengel

Beth Thomas

Wendy Vespa

Jody Yurcich

Izzy Zehner

Would you like to join our team? Call for a confidential discussion: Robbins Bobbitt, Sales Director 412-833-3600

David Limauro, MD • Mark Cedar, DO • Nicholas Bellicini, DO • Xuong Lu, MD • David Glorioso, MD • Lisa Oliva, DO • Robert J. Pagano, M.D. • Theresa Schuerle, D.O.

SOUTH HILLS ENDOSCOPY CENTER Located at 2589 Boyce Plaza Road in Upper St. Clair

IS A STATE-OF-THE-ART FULL CARE ENDOSCOPY FACILITY PROVIDING BOTH COLONOSCOPY AND UPPER ENDOSCOPY SCREENINGS AND SERVICES South Hills Endoscopy Center is an independently owned and operated endoscopy center, which may lower your out of pocket health care costs.

“Screening for colorectal cancer can save your life.” • We treat acid reflux, heartburn, ulcers, diarrhea, liver disease, fecal incontinence, change in bowel habits and hemorrhoids • Physicians on staff at St. Clair Hospital and UPMC Mercy Hospital • “Compassionate, personalized Anesthesia Care”

Most insurance carriers accepted

Call today

2589 Boyce Plaza Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

412.232.8104 1350 Locust Street, Ste. 406 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

Real Estate Agents Who Make a Real Difference!

Barbara Baker Team*

Lynn Banbury

Magen Bedillion & Laurissa Mathews

Justin Christy

Frank Conroy

Brian and Karen Cummings Team**

Bob Dini

Liz Hoyson

Lori Maffeo

Elva Marotta

Barbara Kurdys-Miller

Bobbie Mikita

Christina Watson & Lisa Murovich

Heather Orstein

Mary Reis

Michelle Schocker & Ruth Weigers

Donna Snefsky

Katy Stanko

Tony Mete, Manager

412.833.7700 1679 Washington Road www.ThePreferredRealty.com

Let us help you find your way home! Call one of our award-winning Mt. Lebanon Regional sales associates * Barbara Baker Realtor®, Stephanie Spahn, Dan Colaizzi, Kim Kocher, Ciara Higgins (not pictured), Fabienne Palu-Benson, Kristen Shaw and Lindsey Schafer - All licensed assistants ** Brian and Karen Cummings Team, Shawnda Smoker - licensed assistant

©2018 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchise of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity. Information not verified or guaranteed. If your home is currently listed with a Broker, this is not a solicitation.

Fall 2018 • Volume 24 • Issue 3 www.twpusc.org/magazine/usc-today-home • usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Features & Around the Township 13 Legislation to Provide for Mental Health Screenings for Students

14 Coach’s Corner We Got ’em Just Where We Want ’em

Township 25 Highlights of the Board of Commissioners’ Meetings

Dr. John Rozzo Named Superintendent

Chief Douglas Burkholder

Thank You for Your Service

32 Tri-Community South EMS A Look at the Third Decade

34 Sustainability…

Fifty Years Remembering Vietnam

45–52 Residential Guide Centerfold Pullout

School District 55

USCHS Commencement, Class of 2018

66 STEAM News

Discussing Household Hazardous Waste

USC Top Ten Finishes at OM Worlds

Recurring Programs at the Library

Partnering for Alcohol Awareness

Guides/ Directories 44 Pinebridge Commons 76 Educational Resource 78 Health & Wellness 96 Advertiser Index Photo Ops 26 USC Community Day Wrap-up

60 USCHS Varsity Scorecard

84 Community Foundation Giving Tea

Profiles of People with a USC Connection

Cover

39 Crossing Borders 65 Trying to Stay Dry

The fall cover of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is sponsored by Mister Sewer. See pages 10 and 11 for a feature article on this sewer company that knows the ins and outs of Upper St. Clair sewers and the regulations surrounding them.

70 We Got Your Back 85 There is No “U” in SHJO 4

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

86 Savoring Outdoor Spaces

GOOD FOR US. BETTER FOR YOU. St. Clair Hospital has once again been recognized as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals®. This marks the third time St. Clair has achieved this prestigious honor since 2012. It affirms St. Clair’s commitment to exceptional patient safety, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and value. St. Clair is proud of the excellent care we provide our patients. We salute our outstanding physicians, employees, and volunteers for this notable achievement. To learn more about our award-winning care, please visit stclair.org. 100 Top Hospitals© is a registered trademark of IBM Watson Health™

10 0 0 B O W E R H I L L R O A D

M T. L E B A N O N , P E N N S Y LVA N I A 1 5 2 4 3

412 .942 .4000

STCLAIR.ORG

Publishers Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager Dr. John T. Rozzo Superintendent of Schools

The award-winning, official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a not-for-profit community magazine dedicated to promoting the

Township and School District of Upper St. Clair by recognizing the gifts and contributions of the people who live and work here. This year marks 24 years of our publication.

The 95th issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY magazine is made possible through the combined resources of the staff and volunteers of the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair. Thanks are extended to the staff and volunteers for their enthusiasm and efforts on this continuing project.

Winter 2018 edition deadlines:

Articles—September 20

Advertising—September 24

Steering Committee Mark S. Mansfield, Assistant Township Manager Paul K. Fox, School District Representative Editors and Staff Linda M. Dudzinski, Editor-in-Chief Terry Kish, Associate Editor Colleen DeMarco, Office Manager, Advertising Executive Lynn Dempsey, Advertising Executive Alison Hess, Marketing and Advertising Executive Dorothy Clark, Graphic Designer

Mark Mansfield, Paul Fox, Linda Dudzinski, Terry Kish, Colleen DeMarco, Lynn Dempsey, Alison Hess, and Dorothy Clark. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a non-partisan Township, School District, and community magazine. Political advertising and political commentary are not accepted. The publishers of this magazine reserve the right to reject advertising or articles inconsistent with the objectives, image, and aesthetic standards of the magazine.

The next issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY will be the Winter 2018 issue and will be published in November 2018. Articles that were submitted but not published in this issue are on file for consideration in upcoming issues. Articles and announcements may be sent to:

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is published and mailed

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

quarterly to residents and businesses in Upper St. Clair Township. Extra copies of the magazine are available at the Township of Upper St. Clair Municipal Building and Township Library. If you did not receive a copy in the mail, call 412-833-1600, extension 2284.

Subscription Information If you know someone living outside the Township who would enjoy receiving UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, please send $12 check, payable to UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, to cover mailing and handling for the next four issues, with their name and address, including zip code, to UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, USC, PA 15241. Add $10 to cover international mailing.

Editor

1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 or email UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY at usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us.

Article Information

Editor-in-Chief Linda Dudzinski phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2681

Advertising Information

Office Manager Colleen DeMarco phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284 fax: 412-851-2592 Ad file submission: dclark@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Board of School Directors Amy L. Billerbeck, President Barbara L. Bolas, Vice President Jennifer L. Bowen Phillip J. Elias Dr. Daphna Gans Patrick A. Hewitt Angela B. Petersen Louis P. Mafrice, Jr. Dante R. Plutko

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Township Board of Commissioners

Mark D. Christie, President, Ward 4 Nicholas J. Seitanakis, Vice President, Ward 1 C. Elise Logan, Ward 2 Robert W. Orchowski, Ward 3 Ronald J. Pardini, Ward 5 Russell R. Del Re, At Large Daniel R. Paoly, At Large

Fall 2018

Thank you to our volunteer contributors this issue: Judge Ronald Arnoni, Becky Brindle, Cindy Brophy, Ben Burlovic (YWG), Deb Conn, John D’Angelo, Lynn Dempsey, Anne Ferry (YWG), Jack Fitzpatrick (YWG), Paul Fox, Emily Gallagher (YWG), Julie Geisler (YWG), Erica Gevaudan, Wayne Herrod, Alison Hess, CJ Hess (YWG), Heather Holtschlag, Dr. Ed Kelly, David Kutschbach, Emma LaRocco (YWG), Jay Lynch, Jim O’Brien, Kevin O’Laughlin, Helen Palascak, Jim Render, State Senator Guy Reschenthaler, Haley Roberts, Dora Rudick, Ron Sarrick, Keith Scannell, Juliana Schnerr, Dr. Monica Smith, Dr. Beth Troy, and Rachel Tudi (YWG). Young Writers Guild (YWG) promotes and encourages young writers in the Upper St. Clair School District to provide articles of interest for our community magazine. Email usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us to find out how your student can contribute. The 95th issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a joint publication of the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair. © Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this magazine, in print or web version, in whole or in part, without the expressed written consent of the Editor, is strictly prohibited. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 Phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284 Fax: 412-851-2592 Email: usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us Township: 412-831-9000 School District: 412-833-1600 Printed by Knepper Press 2251 Sweeney Drive, Clinton, PA 15026-1818 724-899-4274 Design by DMC Design 412-824-7844 • www.dmcdesign.com

Siena

Kitchen, Capri Model

AT ST. CLAIR

NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS For Our Next Building Group

Exterior, Aria Model

Maintenance-Free Living Patio Homes & Townhomes MOVE-IN READY UNITS AVAILABLE Convenient Upper St. Clair Location First Floor Owner Suites & Elevator Options

Dining Room, Capri Model

Make All of Your Custom Selections Under One Roof at Our Brand New Design Gallery Opening April 2018

Exterior, Verona Model

CALL TODAY 724-255-0861 www.benjaminmarcushomes.com

info@benjaminmarcushomes.com Kitchen, Verona Model

A Fall Note from the Publishers Matthew R. Serakowski

Dr. John T. Rozzo

Welcome to the fall edition of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, the back-to-school issue that includes our biennial residential guide. For a helpful reference source, remove this eightpage centerfold from the magazine and keep it handy for various Township and School District contact information. As always, our recurring publishers’ letter helps set the stage for the pages that follow. Enjoy our content, including news about our Township (pages 24–43), and our School District (pages 54–75). Additionally, there are a number of intriguing feature stories throughout the magazine to pique your interest, and the Educational Resource and Health & Wellness guides include stories you might find interesting, as well as informative. News about local people and happenings can be found in our Around the Township section (pages 84–94). Arriving in your mailbox four times a year as an introduction to each season, we are proud of our magazine and its mission… “a not-for-profit community magazine dedicated to promoting the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair by recognizing the gifts and contributions of the people who live and work here.” This mission has not changed throughout the 24 years the magazine has been in existence. We strive to continue reporting on things that matter to the residents of our community. Positive and inclusive, it enables you, the reader, the opportunity to keep up with what’s going on in our neck of the woods. We hope you share our commitment to our hometown publication. Let us know! We invite you to be a contributor and supporter of those things that matter to you and to our community: the wellbeing of your families, your friends, your neighbors. Get involved! May you be rich in giving back and, with your help, let’s continue to make Upper St. Clair Township the best it can be for you and for those around you. Have a vibrant autumn, as we all get back into the routines that this season brings.

Sincerely,

Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager

Dr. John T. Rozzo Superintendent of Schools

TODAY, the award-winning, official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair www.twpusc.org/magazine/usc-today-home 8

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Southwest Gastroenterology Associates

Comprehensive and

compassionate care

Southwest Gastroenterology Associates is a Private Practice Physician Group specializing in the evaluation and treatment of all digestive diseases, composed of Richard Panicco DO, Mohan Phanse MD, Philip Joson MD, Richard Kenney DO, Jennifer Totten MD, Manhal Tannous, MD, Theresa Meldon, CRNP and Heather Beta, CRNP. This dedicated group of physicians has been taking care of patients in Southwest Pennsylvania for over 30 years. In addition to the wealth of experience, each of our doctors is Board Certified in Gastroenterology. Together we strive to provide outstanding care and service to our patients and fellow health providers.

724-941-3020 Tri-State Surgery Center 80 Landings Drive Washington, PA

www.swgastro.net

Canonsburg Hospital 100 Medical Blvd, Canonsburg, PA

Washington Health System 155 Wilson Ave, Washington, PA

Washington Health System Greene 350 Bonar Ave, Waynesburg, PA

St. Clair Memorial Hospital 1050 Bower Hill Rd, Pittsburgh, PA

Mastering the New Sewer Ordinance in USC Alison Hess

Founded in 2009 by USC resident and owner Jason Daugherty, Mister Sewer is a local business that is dedicated to sewer cleaning and repair. Unlike other plumbing companies that are learning how to find ways to help homeowners comply with the new sewer regulations in municipalities like Upper St. Clair, Baldwin, and Brentwood, Mister Sewer has focused on the sewer cleaning and repair business from the beginning. “Our relationships are built on trust,” said Jason as we looked at his line of trucks and excavators before they headed out on a Monday morning. “We started long before everyone else jumped into it.” And he plans to continue long after the others may close up shop. So, what does it take to do the job right and satisfy the customer and USC Township? “We clean the sewer first,” said Jason. Then he showed me the expensive attachment for his special hose truck: the Warthog. He wratcheted it to the end of the high-pressure green hose. “It can clean out any clog in just minutes.” It was small and didn’t look like much, but on our second job of the day, I got to see how powerful it really can be. We pulled up next to a house in Shane guides the new liner in place Scott Township, and Jason got out of his truck to meet the homeowner. I during a trenchless sewer pipe repair. walked around the side of the house to find a good angle for photos and to observe him in action. By the time I adjusted my camera and took a few shots, he was finished and the line was clear. “You might want to step back,” he said. “I’m going to hose off the driveway now.” High pressure, indeed! I walked all the way to the back of the yard to avoid the spray from the hose. Clean and clear in under six minutes. “That’s a pretty typical job,” he said, as we parted ways for the day. The Warthog was worth the investment. Visit MisterSewer.com to see that the website is clean and simple. It’s easy to find the phone number, big and bold at the top. Click the number from your phone, and the call is made. But you won’t reach a receptionist; you’ll reach Jason himself. “I feel that the connection when a customer talks directly to me is different than when they talk to a receptionist. They’re getting answers.” Jason talks to each customer about the problem, discusses ways to fix it, and sets up a time to meet. “Clear and focused,” he says of the website and his company, “that’s what we try to be.”

Tasso digs as PJ describes the next steps in the trenchless repair.

Baldwin and Brentwood enacted ordinances regarding sewer inspections prior to Upper St. Clair enacting theirs, and each municipality handles it a little differently. So, plumbers and sewer experts need to be trained on the specifics, township by township. For USC residents, the guide is NASSCO, the National Association of Sewer Service Companies. They compile photos and books for training and ongoing education relating to sewer defect classification and repair categories. It is this list of classifications that Upper St. Clair uses in its ordinance. This allows each homeowner to be subject to the same regulations. Joint separation, offsets, and infiltration (i.e., rainwater coming in through broken pipes) are all rated and categorized in the NASSCO book that the technicians use as their guide. But the most interesting calls are the ones that involve the trenchless line repairs. One particular house needed a broken line to be repaired before a home sale could be completed. Jason and his crew went to work, first cutting 10

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

a small hole in the concrete driveway, then carefully digging the dirt out of the hole with a precision excavator. Tasso, a member of Jason’s crew, operated the excavator, slowly bringing scoop after scoop of earth from the hole into the waiting dump truck. PJ directed the dig, motioning to Tasso slightly left or right and inspecting the hole to be sure the walls were stable, digging by hand when needed. And Shane stood by, ready to cut out the broken pipe and attach new fixtures when the time was right. While we watched the meticulous job continue, the crew attracted the attention of neighbors. One curious man, who lived across the street, came over to say hello. He wanted to see the newly cut driveway hole up close. As he spoke to the homeowner’s son about the house, its upcoming sale, and the roof that was recently repaired, he kept an eye on the hole and the excavator. After a few more scoops of dirt were taken away, the crew stopped to switch gears and begin the pipe replacement process. “When are they going to dig up the rest of the driveway?” the neighbor asked “They aren’t,” replied the homeowner’s son. They argued back and forth a few more times, the neighbor insisting there had to be more digging, and the son saying again and again that the digging was done. “They have to,” said the neighbor. “They have to get to the rest of the pipe.” “Nope,” said the son. “That’s it. They do the rest under the driveway.” “No,” the neighbor insisted. “They have to dig a hole down to the street.” “They go under,” the son explained, his patience wearing a little thin at this point. The neighbor shook his head. He thought for a while. “Well, I never,” he said, not taking his eyes off the hole in the ground. And like two little boys who stop playing to watch big trucks dig in the dirt, Jason’s crew said the two men stayed right there long after I left and watched them finish the line repair. No large hole was made, no more driveway destroyed. The trenchless repair had done its job and gained a new fan in the neighbor. So how do they do it? Trenchless sewer repair is a simple three-step process. • Step one: A camera sewer inspection is completed to diagnose the problem and develop a clear plan for the work that needs to be done. The video inspection lets them see the size of the pipe and the condition prior to starting any work. • Step two: The pipe is accessed from its shallowest point. Once the scope of the repair is determined, they completely clean the pipe with both a hydrojetter and a mechanical snake. Then a new liner is inserted into the host pipe and left to cure. • Step three: After the pipe has fully cured, the new liner is inspected again to ensure free flow to the city main. Once the camera sewer inspection is complete, the pipeline is returned to service and can be used immediately. The process takes about one day from start to finish, a cleaner and quicker method than traditional excavation. Trenchless repair is a better option for many reasons: • Saves Money • Saves Time • Not Invasive • Not Disruptive • No Damage to Repair • No Long-Term Labor Costs • Your New Pipes Will Last a Lifetime

Owner Jason Daugherty works to clear a clogged sewer line with the Warthog.

In the center, the Warthog: small, shiny, and gets the job done quickly.

Jason gets to work on another sewer clog, clearing it in no time.

Mister Sewer 3003 South Park Road, Bethel Park, PA 15102 412-835-2135 https://mistersewer.com

While a sewer company may not seem like the obvious first choice for the cover of USC TODAY, the list of reasons why residents of Upper St. Clair may want to know more about Mister Sewer grew longer with each job site I visited. Understanding the sewer lateral inspection ordinance is the first step to finding a qualified service company; but finding a company that understands the ordinance and has worked with USC and other townships can be a valuable step, as well. And even though the name sounds like it could belong to a national chain, this locally-owned company knows the ins and outs of Upper St. Clair sewers and the regulations. n

Fall 2018

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 11

RONALD A. ARNONI, DISTRICT JUDGE District Court 05-2-20 Office: 412-835-1661 Fax: 412-835-4060

Hiras Professional Building 2414 Lytle Rd #200 Bethel Park, PA 15102

It’s easy to be cynical today; to see it, all we need to do is watch the news. I see crime, disputes, negativity, and despair in my courtroom every day. I think we all could use a little positivity in our lives. That is why I want to reward those who demonstrate the good in our society. I want to honor people who strive to make our communities better. I will be presenting two Outstanding Citizens awards this coming fall—one will be for a Bethel Park resident and one for an Upper St. Clair resident. I need your help in identifying those individuals who possess qualities that best exemplify an outstanding citizen. Please take this opportunity to nominate someone who you believe

Outstanding Citizens Award

best meets the criteria by using the nomination form below. For nominee consideration, a nomination form must be submitted by Friday, October 26. I will read all entries and choose the two honorees, each being presented with a commemorative medal and certificate. We will also pay tribute to the recipients with a photo and an article about their accomplishments in a future edition of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, as well as on local channels, Comcast channel 7 or Verizon channel 42. Thank you, in advance, for your help in recognizing that person who you believe to be an outstanding citizen worthy of this consideration. n

Outstanding Citizens Award Nomination Form

This award will be presented to an individual who has consistently: • Demonstrated excellent community leadership • Made significant contributions to our communities • Positively impacted the residents of our communities • Shown generosity and unselfishness through his or her actions Nominees should meet the above listed criteria and have resided in Bethel Park or Upper St. Clair, respectively, for at least two years. You cannot self-nominate. Name of Nominee: _______________________________________ Email: ______________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________ Phone #: ___________________________________ Describe the attributes and qualifications of the nominee and the reason(s) why you believe this individual should be honored (use a separate sheet of paper, if necessary). ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your name (nominator):___________________________ Phone #:________________ Email:_ _____________________________ How you know the nominee:___________________________________________________________________________________ Return this application by Friday, October 26, 2018, via mail to: Judge Ron Arnoni Hiras Professional Building 2414 Lytle Rd #200 Bethel Park, PA 15102 or Fax your application to 412-835-4060 or send email to heather.petronio@mdjs.pacourts.us. I hope this inspires you to participate in the nomination process! Again, thank you. 12

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

State Senator Guy Reschenthaler Bethel Park District Office

100 Broughton Road Bethel Park, PA 15102 Phone: 412-831-0250 Fax: 412-831-2740 It is essential that we do more to address the mental health crisis in Pennsylvania. That is why I recently introduced legislation, Senate Bill 1181, which will require depression screenings for students in Pennsylvania. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately one in five youth ages 13 through 18 experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during his or her life. Lack of proper diagnosis and treatment can result in serious risk-taking behaviors, including dropping out of school, substance abuse or self-medication, harm to oneself, or even harm to others. Seventy percent of youth in the juvenile justice systems have at least one mental health condition. Early diagnosis of mental illness, before it progresses, can help many young people who are facing these challenges. In addition, diagnosing and treating more cases of depression among students in Pennsylvania can help save lives. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 12 to 18, while half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14. This legislation aims to identify and treat more of these cases of depression before the condition worsens. We know that many adolescents who are diagnosed for depression are treated successfully; but many are left undiagnosed. Currently, although there are various mandatory health

Robinson Township District Office

5996 Steubenville Pike Robinson Township, PA 15136 Phone: 412-788-2967 Fax: 412-788-2970

Legislation to Provide for Mental Health Screenings for Students

requirements for students, including dental exams and hearing screenings, there is no required mental health examination. Senate Bill 1181 will ensure that each student across the commonwealth receives a depression screening along with his or her required physical exams. This legislation passed out of the Senate Education Committee this past June and a companion bill was introduced by Representatives Dan Miller and Judy Ward in the House of Representatives. To address concerns regarding students’ privacy, this bill allows parents to choose who conducts the screening and also allows them to opt their child out of this requirement. To ensure the privacy of each student’s information, we specified that no record of the screening will be permitted to be a part of a student’s academic record. Additionally, the bill does not mandate that school districts themselves perform any of the screenings nor that they receive the results of the screening, only that they receive confirmation that one has occurred. I believe that improving the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions for students in Pennsylvania will advance the overall health and safety of our children. It is my hope that Senate Bill 1181 will progress quickly so that we can further address this crisis in Pennsylvania and across the nation. n Fall 2018

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 13

Coach’s Corner

Jim Render, USCHS Football Coach

We Got ’em Just Where We Want ’em The 1988 football season was my tenth year at Upper St. Clair. It was a year that would be life changing for me as a coach and for the football program at USC. We had some pretty good success in previous years, but we fell short of getting to the championship game at Three Rivers Stadium. I have lots of stories about playing in ankle deep mud and playing on frozen mud. Some good, some bad. We also had the misfortune of some strange calls by the WPIAL officials at the wrong time. On the other hand, we played some excellent opponents, including North Hills who won the mythical National Championship in 1987 as voted by USA Today. Comparatively, we’d won a lot of games, 52 in fact, between 1982 and 1987, but something would always happen before we got to the big dance. In 1988, several changes were made before the season began. First, we were moved into the western division of AAAA football. That meant we would play (teams listed north to south) Butler, North Allegheny, North Hills, Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park, and Ringgold. We would not see the likes of Gateway and Central Catholic until the playoffs. The second change would be that for the first time in Pennsylvania history, we would have state playoffs to crown a PIAA state champion. Our western conference league was very competitive, with many great teams and players. We had a good, tough team, but lost to Mt. Lebanon in the third game, got shut out by North Hills in the fifth, and had four turnovers in a Saturday afternoon game at North Allegheny, losing 26–15. We were tied with our tenth opponent, Butler, for fourth place in the conference and needed to beat them to earn the final spot in the WPIAL playoffs. So, in essence, we traveled to Butler knowing that we would either win or the season would be over. We won that game 14–0, qualifying for the tournaCoach Render and Jerry ment of champions. I assumed my usual front seat on the right side of the bus for the late night ride home from Butler. Many thoughts and emotions run through my mind and body on those bus rides home. First, there was the thrill of victory and then I started thinking about what lay ahead. Not very far into the ride home, our always optimistic and feisty quarterback Jerry Berteotti leaned over my seat and said, “Coach, this is going to be great! We got ’em just where we want ’em.” Fortunately, the bus was dark and he could not see my expressions. I thought he was a little crazy. North Hills was still the defending champion, Mt. Lebanon had beaten us at home, Gateway was undefeated, and North Allegheny and Central Catholic were always looming in the playoff mix. I faked a “You’re right, Jerry,” response, since, as any successful coach knows, it’s always best to have a great quarterback on your side. 14

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

Jerry Berteotti, circa 1988

Jerry (right) with his dad, Jerry

In week one of the playoffs, we played at Gateway and came away with a 21–0 victory. Jerry’s marvelous touchdown pass in the third quarter got us going. On that same night, Central Catholic upset North Hills and Mt. Lebanon pummeled Woodland Hills 41–0. That set up a rematch with Lebo in a semi-final game played at Baldwin. Mt. Lebanon was ranked sixth in the state with a 9–1–1 record. Jerry decided to do his talking on a bigger stage and was quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Everything is just flowing for us. I think that with the confidence we have right now there isn’t anyone that can beat us.” Joe Namath wasn’t the only western Pennsylvania quarterback that could make bold predictions. Going into the game against Mt. Lebanon, Jerry had completed 49 of 98 pass attempts for 703 yards in 11 games; the Lebo quarterback, Matt Smith, the Almanac player of the year, completed 49 of 99 passes for 731 yards. Statistics don’t get much closer than that and a lot of interest was generated for the game between two neighboring towns playing each other for the second time and for the opportunity to play for a WPIAL championship. Current radio sports talk show host Mark Madden wrote an article in the Post-Gazette about the upcoming game, and he featured USC’s outstanding defensive lineman Jim Mansfield, the son of retired Steeler center, the great Ray Mansfield. Quarterback Berteotti scored on an option play in the second quarter to give USC a 7–0 halftime lead. Leading 14–0 with 2:42 left in the third quarter, we got the ball back and maintained it for 21 straight snaps under Jerry’s management, the clock winding down to 1:50 remained in the game. Running backs Pete Habib and Mike Thelk pounded Mt. Lebanon’s defense until we stalled at the Jerry, throwing the winning pass in the two-yard line. We won the 1988 WPIAL championship game rushing battle 258 to 53 and our defense had its third straight shutout. I must admit, that game is firmly embedded in my memory bank of thrills. We were now going to Three Rivers Stadium to play for the WPIAL championship. WTAE Channel 4 broadcast the game live Saturday night after Thanksgiving. Stan Savran and Jack Ham were the broadcast partners, along with Ann Devlin in the stands and Alby Oxenreiter on the sidelines. It was a big night for the Panthers as we secured another shutout, beating Pittsburgh Central Catholic 7–0 to claim our first outright WPIAL championship. Jerry was proven correct, we indeed “had ’em just where we wanted ’em.” As a side note, Central Catholic went on to win the first Pennsylvania state championship that year as our school district, along with a few others in the greater Pittsburgh area, had voted that September to not participate in the first state tournament. Also noteworthy

was the fact that we began the 1989 season with four straight shutout victories, making it a total of eight in a row where our opponents were scoreless. Great memories! Jerry was a three-year letter winner who combined for more than a thousand yards passing and rushing his senior year. He was voted an Almanac All-Star quarterback for the South Hills of Pittsburgh and was also honored as a scholar-athlete at the 15th annual Al Abrams YMCA All Sports Banquet for both football and baseball. (To be selected and honored for this award, you must carry a grade point average of at least a 3.5.) As is the case with many great high school athletes, Jerry excelled in more than one sport and had success in baseball as a batter and a catcher. He was relentless in his pursuit of honing his skills as a batter. His idea of free time was going to the batting cages for hours on end. Mark Madden covered a story in the Post-Gazette about Jerry’s intensity, when he wrote of the similarities between being a quarterback and catching on the baseball field. “Leadership has a lot to do with it, and you’re involved in every play at both positions.” At the conclusion of Jerry’s senior season (1989), USC baseball coach Jerry Malarkey awarded his all-star catcher and leading slugger with a host of awards and honors: the team’s most valuable player, most RBIs in a season (31), most career RBIs (56), and highest career batting average (545) 1987 to 1989. The USC athletic department and its coaches voted Jerry as the outstanding senior athlete of the school year. His records remain intact as we approach the 30-year mark! The University of Pittsburgh’s baseball coach, Bobby Lewis, was an Upper St. Clair resident who’d followed Jerry’s high school baseball career. Coach Lewis offered Jerry a scholarship to continue his education and play baseball at Pitt. After giving some thought to playing football and baseball at Cleveland’s John Carroll University, young Jerry opted to stay in Pittsburgh and go to Pitt. He became a three-year starter as a catcher and on some days as a designated hitter. He graduated as a top ten career leader in RBIs and doubles. He graduated in 1993 with a dual major in business and communications. I knew of Jerry’s communications skills long before Pitt awarded him a degree. For the next year, Jerry worked with a personal friend and professional scout, Mike Berger. He coached Jerry on refining his skills so he could compete on a professional level. After a year of hard work, Jerry was signed as a free agent in 1994 by the Los Angeles Dodgers and was invited to spring training. He promptly adopted the philosophy to be the first to arrive and the last to leave. He was voted the “hardest working and most improved” catching prospect by his peers. He was then assigned to the Yakima Bears (single A) in the state of Washington. After that season, one of his coaches arranged for him to go to Adelaid, Australia, for winter ball. Arriving back in Los Angeles, the Dodgers cut him from their professional roster. Still wanting to play, the highly competitive Jerry was not happy. Legendary Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda admired this quality and offered Jerry a job as the bullpen catcher for the Dodgers. Jerry worked three seasons, 1995–1997, helping the team to two playoff berths. The hard-working young coach was voted a full share of Jerry Berteotti and Tommy Lasorda playoff money among the players and upper management. Rubbing elbows on a daily basis with a number of Dodger legends, including Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza and decades-long voice of the Dodgers (67 years) Vin Scully, it was a unique experience to work in one of the most storied franchises in major league history. When Tommy Lasorda retired in 1996, Jerry began to think about coming home to work with his dad, Jerry Sr., in the restaurant business. He partnered with his dad in two restaurants: one in Johnstown and the one on the border of USC and Peters Township, Pizzaz Italian Restaurant. Upon his father’s death, Jerry returned to operate Pizzaz, where he continues to make it a great South Hills spot for food and fun. Jerry is supported and surrounded by family: his mother, Dorene, and sisters, Kendra and Missie (a former professional athlete and LPGA championship level golfer). Jerry and his wife, Rochelle, live in Peters Township with their two sons, Lino and Angelo. Always quote ready, Jerry summed up his playing days and his life in Pittsburgh, Johnstown, and Los Angeles. “The best times I’ve spent over the years have been reminiscing with friends, former teammates, and coaches—sometimes with laughter and sometimes with tears—about those long-ago days at Upper St. Clair High School. I will always treasure those experiences.” n

Fall 2018

Wellington REAL

ESTATE

al S r

1852 Winchester Drive Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

$1,199,000 • 6 Bedrooms and 5 Full Bath Home Custom Built by JT Thomas Homes, Inc. • 4 Car Attached Garage • Finished Lower Level with Kitchen and Home Theater • Security System • Level Governor’s Driveway • Spacious Backyard abutting Serene Woodlands • Located On A Cul-De-Sac Street …and so much more! MLS# 1341671

Rebecca Lutz, Realtor Patty Thomas, Broker

724-731-0100 WellingtonRealEstatePA.com

www.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 15

Fifty Years Dr. Ed Kelly

I graduated from medical school in 1967. While in school, I was classified as 4F (ineligible for the draft). When I graduated, I was classified as 1A, eligible for the draft. During my internship year, I received my draft notice and reported for my physical. I ultimately received notification that I was to be a Navy physician assigned to the Marine Corps and was to report to Camp Pendleton for basic training on July 5, 1968. It was there that I was introduced to the military and given a three-week preparation course for my assignment to serve as a battalion surgeon somewhere in the I Corps of Vietnam (generally in areas north of Danang), where the Marines were mostly concentrated. I was given various immunizations and warned to take chloroquine on a daily basis as prophylaxis against malaria. Prior to my deployment, I read about the Vietnam conflict and why the U.S. was there. I read about Vietnam having been a colony of the French for approximately 100 years and about the brief occupation by the Japanese during WWII. I familiarized myself with Ho Chi Minh, whose goal was that Vietnam become an independent nation. I also studied the domino theory, which was spoken about in 1954 when Dwight D. Eisenhower was president. It was based on what was happening in the Far East, and China and North Korea becoming communist nations. The basis of the theory was that communism would slowly overtake all nations, insidiously creeping across the Pacific. I also read two books by Bernard Fall, a Franco-American professor who wrote Hell in a Very Small Place, which chronicles the defeat of the technically superior French army at Kien Bien Phu by the Viet Minh. He also wrote Street Without Joy, a name given by the French to a stretch of Highway 1 from Hue to Quang Tri, which

was part of a supply route used by the North Vietnamese. I recall thinking about what the U.S. would do differently from the French, who had been there as unpopular colonists. (At that time, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam were referred to as French Indochina.) During my three weeks at Camp Pendleton, young men were being schooled in combat training. Although we were housed and schooled in different locations, it was easy to witness what we all were going through. We had a Marine D1, a drill instructor who was a Vietnam veteran who did his best to indoctrinate us about the rigors of being a combat-tested Marine. When our time at Camp Pendleton came to an end, we, along with other young recruits, were addressed by a Marine general who gave us a pep talk. He admonished young privates to avoid reaching in their pockets when approached by Hare Krishna, a common presence in airport corridors in the late â&#x20AC;&#x2122;60s. That was the first time I recall dwelling on the age of the young men who were being deployed. I was initially assigned to the First Battalion Fourth Marines, whose home was LZ (land zone) Stud, part of Vandergrift Combat based near Dong Ha, about six miles south of the DMZ. With me as the doctor and eight Navy Corpsman, there were four companies of about 800 young Marines. Daily sick call exhibited various afflictions that strike adolescents, as we struggled for compliance among the young men to take chloroquine. Many approached our advice like an auto accident: an illness wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hurt me. Therefore, many young men were afflicted with and died from malaria. Another common problem was trench foot. Always ready for mortar attacks or if our lines were penetrated, the troops were leery to remove their boots.

A full triage 16

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

An empty triage

Consequently, they suffered the result of maceration of the skin associated with wet socks worn for days on end. A few young men were med-evaced with their first psychotic schizophrenic episode, and, as a result, we dealt with some self-inflicted trauma prior to a combat assault. Young 18-year-olds feared for their lives and a variety of iatrogenic injuries surfaced. Rat bites were common and necessitated a trip to Danang for rabies prophylaxis. There was a host of dermatologic conditions, which fell on my shoulders because dermatologic consultation was not available. Abdominal pain that suggested appendicitis necessitated a flight to the Naval hospital in Danang for workup and appropriate treatment. After a combat mission, leeches would attach themselves to various body parts. If they were noted on skin, they were easily removable. Occasionally, they penetrated a body orifice, and we had to med-evac the affected Marine to a medical facility that was equipped to deal with the problem. During my time at LZ Stud, I became more aware of the young age of the youth by whom I was surrounded. I had conversations with many young men. Some would ask: what are we doing here? I saw many who presented with physical complaints, which they believed should have qualified them for medical discharge. In early December 1968, I was assigned to the Third Medical Battalion in Quang Tri, just south of Dang Ha, remaining there until August 1969 to complete my tour. Living there was an upgrade. We had electricity, showers, and a mess hall. I shared hooch with three officers assigned to III Med. In a hospital built by the Seabees, there were six operating rooms, a recovery room, several wards, and a minor surgical unit where procedures could be accomplished using local anesthesia. There was a lab, blood bank, and a radiology suite. Casualties were flown to a landing zone directly in front of III Med. The mortally wounded were taken to a grave registration adjacent Continued on page 18

Fall 2018

The Revenge of Matisse Jay Lynch

As attention turns to a new school year, many parents and students are justifiably focusing on another challenging year of math and science classes. It’s understandable that careers in STEM fields dominate our attention, but it’s unfortunate when humanities and arts take a back seat. If I had given equal priority to my math and art lessons, I may have avoided future embarrassment. Paul Pavlov was my art teacher in the 1960s. As you might guess, his students, like me, were humorously known as Pavlov’s dogs. He was always patient with us as we attempted to develop the mechanical skills necessary to reflect our interpretations in ink, paint, clay, and other media. He tried to broaden our appreciation of the works of famous artists (and fellow students) with his mantra, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” He told us it was easy to see the artistic skill in popular media of the time, like Life magazine covers by Norman Rockwell, but the beauty and deep meaning behind the works of Picasso and Jackson Pollock would only be revealed through open-mindedness. My response: “Mr. Pavlov, if I paint with Picasso’s cubism, you’ll give me an F.” Later in life, my artistic close-mindedness came back to haunt me. When I got married, in 1986, I thought I hit the lottery. I had a beautiful, smart, kind wife, Katie, who shared my values and enthusiasm for life. But there was one small problem. Although she had beautifully furnished and decorated our love nest in Mt. Lebanon, she hung a Henri Matisse poster in a prominent spot above the sofa. It wasn’t an expensive print in a fancy frame. Just a plastic-framed ’80s poster intended for dorm rooms, organic restaurants, and communes. I sought inspiration from the memory of Mr. Pavlov to muster up some tolerance, but I couldn’t do it. I detested the poster, but, given the otherwise blissful environment, I tolerated it. Until opportunity struck. We had a child (the first of three) and needed a bigger house. We found it in Upper St. Clair. As we prepared for moving day, we identified lots of items to discard, and created quite a pile of plastic garbage bags for our final “garbage Monday” in Mt. Lebanon. Before I left for work, I had to move the bags to the curb. I also had to move items to the garage to get ready for the moving van, including (guess what?) the Matisse poster. I’m not quite sure how it happened, but I dropped it on the concrete garage floor and the cover glass shattered. As I was picking up the glass shards and throwing them into a trash bag, an evil thought arose. Even though the poster could be repaired, maybe it would be best to pitch the whole thing. My dislike for the poster overwhelmed my fear of lifelong Catholic guilt, violating Mr. Pavlov’s teachings or suffering

Katie’s potential scorn. So, in a frenzy of mal intent and false justification, I threw all of it—the print, frame, and glass—into the bag. The garbage pile was already high, so I had to give the bag a good swing to launch it to the top of the pile. However, I didn’t realize that a piece of A yearbook photo of USCHS teacher Paul Pavlov glass had broken through the bag, and gashed my lower leg during the toss. The pain wasn’t overwhelming, and I had to attend an important client meeting, so I ran into the house, threw on a few Band-Aids®, showered, and dressed. I didn’t show Katie the injury because she would’ve asked how it happened and I would’ve had to fess up about her Matisse poster. At that time, I was starting a long career with a nationallyprominent management consulting firm that had just opened an office in Pittsburgh. Since our clients were senior executives and board members at large organizations, our dress and manner were expected to be highly professional. Navy blue suits, white shirts, red neck ties, wing tips, and country-club etiquette. But we had a problem: no clients. So, I spent most of my time as a “rainmaker,” building new relationships and seeking consulting assignments. That morning, I was headed to an introductory meeting with the CFO of a large hospital system, and I wanted to make a good impression. About half way to the meeting, I felt a strange sensation. My right pant leg felt heavy and there was moisture in my shoe. Visual inspection, while behind the wheel dodging traffic, indicated a pool of blood on the floorboard. Yuk. My pant leg was soaked up to my knee and my sock was squishing around in the blood-filled shoe. I fumbled around for something to stop the bleeding, and found the perfect solution… one of my son’s diapers, which I shoved up my pant leg. When I got to the hospital parking lot, I pondered my next move. Should I go directly to the emergency room or to the office of the CFO? I thought I’d be able to make it through the meeting and head to the ER afterward. After all, I was wearing a dark suit, so maybe he wouldn’t notice. So, I changed my diaper, so to speak, and made my way to the executive office suite. The CFO came out to greet me and held out his hand. I hesitated, knowing that my hand was a tad messy (covered with blood), which might not have made a good first impression. He pointed out that I’d left a trail of blood on his beige carpet from my soaked wing-tips and personally escorted me to Continued on page 18 Fall 2018

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 17

Connecting with 15241.today Even the largest social networks started with that one small connection. Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. Each needed a few people who tried something new. Then a few more. And a few more. And in time, they grew to be the place where we go for news that makes us smile, laugh, and relate to one another. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY’s newest social network is https://15241.today. It’s small by any standard, but it has big goals. We plan to have sections for local news, events, and fundraisers, and hope to make this the place to go for a quick overview of what’s happening in zip code 15241. Certain feature articles from our printed magazine will be reposted here, along with things that may have missed the deadline or changed since printing. Crossposts will go to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@15241.today). We plan to sell limited ad space for those businesses that may or may not advertise in our quarterly print publication. Take the opportunity to connect with us today. You’ll be glad you did! n

To learn more about advertising with USC TODAY online or if you are interested in sharing something with our readers, send your questions or information to online editor Alison Hess at ahess@uscsd.k12.pa.us.

Fifty Years, continued from page 16

to the LZ. The injured were carried to the triage unit where the injuries were assessed and immediate measures were instituted (IVs, chest tubes, etc.). Appropriate X-rays were done, and operative management was instituted, with the timing being based on the urgency. We usually kept patients for 24 to 48 hours, and then they were flown to the Naval hospital in Danang prior to being flown out of the country. When evaluating a young soldier, conversation and reassurance were important aspects of our emergency management tactics. Most were happy they were still alive, and many considered their wounds to be a ticket home. I have a few vivid memories. One young Marine said, “At Pendleton, it seemed like cowboys and Indians. That guy was trying to kill me.” To this day, I find myself thinking about the mortally wounded, many who were young high school graduates. During the past year, I spoke with someone who was a young Marine brought into III Med. He told me that he enlisted after high school because he was looking for something to do, but had no idea what he was getting into. He had been in Vietnam for only three months when he was severely wounded and ultimately medically discharged. He was from Pittsburgh and it was by chance that we rediscovered each other. My conversation with him, in addition to the many books I’ve read over the years, caused me to again reflect on the young age of the men who surrounded me during my 13 months in Vietnam. Many of us have visited the Wall in Washington DC, where the mortally wounded from Vietnam are memorialized. Of the 58,267 names inscribed, 39,996 (or nearly 69%) represent young men who were 22 years of age or younger when they succumbed. At the suggestion of others and having served in Vietnam, I have read countless books that deal with all aspects of the conflict. Most of them describe the youth engaged in assault, ambush, mortar attack, and being over-run. I have read about the retrieval of victims, body bags, combat fatigue (PTSD, shell shock, etc.), and a host of other aspects of the war, all which have a common thread about the young age of the combatants. Let us all reflect on the loss of young life due to the war, resulting in the unfulfilled dreams of those who were mortally wounded. n The Revenge of Matisse, continued from page 17

the emergency room. The ER nurse told me I looked as white as a ghost and instructed me to remove my pants. Which is when the bloody diaper fell to the floor. Assuming a life-threatening bladder injury, she prepared a catheter, until I anxiously explained that the diaper belonged to my son, directed her to the gash in my leg, and noted that my clean undies were proof that my bladder was fine. (Yet another good reason to always wear clean undies!) The attending physician had me lay on the exam table to evaluate the leg injury. He confirmed my suspicion that Matisse was a vengeful Frenchman. The shard from his poster glass had severed a vein in my leg. To my surprise, the CFO remained at my bedside, while the doctor was stitching me up. We discussed our firm and his organization’s priorities while the doctor and nurse stifled giggles about the situation: a guy in jockey shorts lying on an operating table conducting a “business as usual” conversation with their nattily dressed and typically reserved senior executive. The nurse gave me a tetanus shot and let me wash my hands in the ER sink before I finally shook hands with the CFO, who agreed to schedule another meeting when I wasn’t so exposed. My “call report” of the meeting to my superiors at the firm became a long-lasting consultant training case study of behavior to avoid at all costs, as it tarnishes the legacy and image of the firm. When I returned home, I sheepishly told Katie what had happened. She responded with silent scorn, but no drama, and, surprisingly, no demand for a mea culpa. However, when the moving truck was emptied at our new house, something was missing: my comfortable, overstuffed, bachelor TV-watching chair that smelled like skunky adultbeverages and gym socks. I knew not to ask what had happened. Maybe she “dropped it” prior to the move. To this day, I seek mercy and absolution from Mr. Pavlov, St. Catherine of Bologna (patron Saint of the arts), and, of course, my wife, Katie. n Contact author Jay Lynch with comments about this article at bkefather@yahoo.com.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

MOVEMENT M O R T G A G E

Kevin O’Laughlin MOVEMENT MORTGAGE MARKET LEADER NMLS#: 1289348 direct: 412.600.1527 kevin.olaughIin@movement.com movement.com/kevin.olaughlin

110 For t Couch Rd., Suite 303, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania 15102 I PA-53158, IN-28226, Ml-1289348, VA-ML0-25546VA, OH-ML0.048081.000, OH-L0.048081.000, TX, Fl-L031566 I Movement Mor tgage, LLC suppor ts Equal Housing Oppor tunity. NMLS ID# 39179 (w ww. nmlsconsumeraccess.org) I 877-314-1499. Movement Mor tgage, LLC is licensed by PA # 34374, IN # 18121, Ml # FR0018717 & SR0020189, VA # MC-5112 and OH # SM.501922.000 & MB.804187.000, TX, FL# MLD200 & MLD1360. Interest rates and products are subject to change without notice and may or may not be available at the time of loan commitment or lock-in. Borrowers must qualify at closing for all benefits. “Movement Mor tgage” is a registered trademark of the Movement Mor tgage, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. 8024 Calvin Hall Rd, Indian Land, SC 29707. CPID 5238 I Exp. 7/2018

List (and Sell) Your Home at the Right Price

Dora Rudick, REALTOR®, Coldwell Banker; Kevin O’Laughlin, Loan Originator, Movement Mortgage Establishing a reasonable and profitable

listing price for a home is perhaps the greatest challenge for every home seller. Many factors must be considered before settling on a listing price. Take the following steps before setting an asking figure. Ask for a CMA. A competitive market analysis (CMA) will provide a list of recent sale prices of similar homes in the area (with comparable numbers of bedrooms, baths, square footage, and lot size), the asking prices of homes currently for sale nearby, and other important information. Prospective sellers should be provided with a professional estimation of a legitimate selling price. Take the emotion out of it. A sales associate will evaluate the location, condition, and size of your home. A house in a

secluded, exclusive area may appeal to some, while others will want to be closer to schools, shopping, and healthcare facilities. What is the physical condition of your home? Is it a fixer-upper? Does it make a good first impression (the ever-important curb appeal)? Will it appeal to a growing family, or is it better suited to empty nesters? Determine if it is a buyers’ or sellers’ market. Real estate markets vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. Home inventory, mortgage interest rates, and the local economy all play a role in determining whether the buyer or seller has a negotiating advantage. Interest rates remain at historically low levels and financing is available for those qualified, putting buyers in a good position to achieve homeownership. Do the math. Do not forget to figure in closing costs, legal fees, and other selling expenses when determining the selling price. A qualified sales associate will provide cost estimates and negotiate with a potential buyer to ensure an accurate sale price. Give it the once over. There’s an important one-more-step to ensure that your house sells at your asking price, or higher. Improve the home’s appearance as much as possible—touch up the paint, fix any leaks and seal any cracks, clean up the clutter, and eliminate pet odors. Your house has one chance to make a great first impression. Make it count! n Check out Facebook.com/movementmortgagepittsburgh and Facebook.com/dorarudickrealtor. See ads on this page.

Fall 2018

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 19

Reminiscing Jim O’Brien

Foge Fazio

It’s a good memory… one that makes me smile each time I reflect on what happened outside Gate 3 at Pitt Stadium that day. It was sometime in the spring of 1983 and I was walking Cardiac Hill on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. I was in my first of four years as Pitt’s assistant athletic director for sports information. I was accompanied by my wife, Kathie, and our daughters, Sarah, nine, and Rebecca, who had just turned six. We were approached by two men coming up the hill. I recognized them both. They had big smiles on their faces. The smaller of the two was Joe Panucci and the big guy was Tony “Toodles” Magnelli. I smile every time I reminisce his name. How many guys do you know who are nicknamed Toodles? They were both long-time friends of Foge Fazio, the head football coach at Pitt at the time. He was getting the team ready for the second of his four seasons at the helm. They liked Foge because he was a friendly guy. They liked him even more because he was Italian. Joe grew up in McKees Rocks and came from a family of barbers. His brother, Steve, insisted on cutting my hair with a straight razor when he was in his 80s. My wife called me one day when I was seated in his chair at the barber shop. “Don’t say anything to startle me,” I advised Kathie. “An 80-something-year-old barber has a straight razor on the top of my right ear!” I got many compliments on that haircut. Joe was a clerk and tipstaff to some prominent judges through the years 20

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

at Pittsburgh’s City-County building. You didn’t move through the courtrooms where Joe worked without being prompted by him to do so. Tony was his neighbor and friend from “the Rocks,” a community with more characters per square inch than any other community in the Pittsburgh area. Tony’s son, Tony, was a center for the Panther football team, and in 1983 he was preparing for his senior season. This particular day was the team’s annual spring football game. Joe and Tony were two guys who really knew how to greet you. They don’t come any more garrulous than Joe. He’s one of those people who always makes you feel special. This time, he was especially enthusiastic. He embraced me and kissed me on my left cheek and then my right cheek. Rebecca was inquisitive, having not seen this type of behavior before. “Mom, how come that guy is kissing Daddy?” she asked. Kathie, always quick with a comeback, especially at my expense, replied, “He either really likes your dad or your dad is a goner.” For years, Joe and Toodles would laugh when we revisited that story whenever I’d be in their company. This particular story came to mind while I was in southern California this past February. Kathie and I were visiting our daughter, Rebecca, now 40, at her new apartment in Woodland Hills. Rebecca has been recruiting, interviewing, and teaching prospective managers for the Mendocino Farms restaurant chain in

southern California for the past two years. We were reminiscing about an earlier stay when I made a call back home to check my phone messages. There were some back-to-back calls, for instance, from my friends Dick Goetz and Joe Gordon. What struck me as strange about that is these two men and their respective home phone numbers are listed back-toback in my personal phone number black book. What are the odds of that? I also received call backs from Bill Sharman, the Hall of Fame basketball coach and player and one of my favorites from my days of covering pro basketball, and from Jimmy Allen, a defensive back on the Steelers’ first two Super Bowl teams. They both now live in southern California and I wanted to visit with them while I was in the neighborhood. However, the call that caught my attention most of all came from Joe Panucci. “I’m sorry to call you when you’re so busy,” he began, “but I thought you’d want to know that our dear friend Toodles has died. He’d been sick for quite some time. I need to call Foge and I will get hold of Billy Hillgrove, too. Toodles loved you guys,” he said. When I got back to Pittsburgh, I learned that Foge had gone to Toodles’ one-session viewing at the funeral parlor. “The place was packed,” reported Joe when I called him. Joe also told me that he’d taken his wife, Barbara, to Allegheny General Hospital a few days earlier for some cardiology treatments. Joe and Barbara were each dealing with some

Left to right: Don DeBlasio, Walt Harris, Joe Chiodo, Foge Fazio Fall 2018

health issues that left them both feeling rather low and unnerved. My wife, Kathie, had seen and spoken to them a few times when they were at AGH. I told Joe that Kathie had retired from AGH last November, after 17 years as a medical social worker in the cancer center. Time is surely moving on for all of us! I reminded Joe that he was someone who’d always pick up another person’s spirits. He was such an upbeat fellow, but these days he was finding it difficult to stay spirited. Joe’s phone call to me while I was in California brought back another memory. Once before he had caught me escaping to a warm place on a getaway mission. That was back in 1969 when I was working as a sports writer at The Miami News. Kathie and I traveled with another couple who lived in our apartment building in Southwest Miami to Key West. Checking into the resort, I hadn’t even shared the location with my parents (who lived in Pittsburgh at the time) or that we were away. But, I must have told someone at my sports desk where I could be reached in case of an emergency. I received a call at our Key West hideaway from none other than Joe. He was calling to tell me that a kid from the Rocks, a quarterback named Bob Medwid, was coming to Pitt to play football for his dear friend Carl DePasqua. He liked Carl because he was a friendly fellow, but most of all he liked him because he was Italian. I couldn’t believe that Joe had succeeded in getting ahold of me in Key West! There were no cell phones in those days and we didn’t have any recording device to take messages on our phones. Joe wanted me to know about Medwid’s decision to go to Pitt so I could scoop the other sports broadcasters in Pittsburgh about the story. I was living in Miami, but continued to conduct a daily morning sports show on WEEP Radio back in Pittsburgh. I had been under consideration for a similar show at WTAE Radio in Pittsburgh, but they chose Myron Cope instead of me to do the show. They made the right choice, I know. I subsequently accepted an offer to go to Miami and cover the Dolphins of the American Football League. It’s funny how things work out. It wasn’t easy to stay on top of things in Pittsburgh while living and working in Miami. I remember being at a movie theater in Miami one Sunday night with Kathie, when she asked me, “Why are you sweating?” The movie theater was air-conditioned, but the thought of coming up with material for a Pittsburgh audience the next morning from my Miami outpost was nerve racking. Nowadays, with the Internet and social media, it’s quite easy to keep up with things in Pittsburgh from wherever you happen to be. On my most recent trip to Los Angeles, it seemed that everyone had cell phones in hand and were either talking on their phones or texting. How’d we ever function without these modern technological devices? Better, if you ask me. All movie theaters in Southern California are air-conditioned. More importantly, so was Rebecca’s apartment. During one of our stays, daily temperatures were in the high 90s and crept upward to 104 degrees on some days. The heat rising up from the sidewalks provided an oven-like feeling. In the mornings, while it was cooler, Kathie and I would take Rebecca’s dog, Bailey, for long walks. We’d go to Starbucks for some coffee and pick up copies of The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times to read. We’d take along a cup of ice water for the trip and give some to Bailey every so often. She did fine and we enjoyed our reunion with her. Bailey died a few years ago, a heart-breaking event for all of us. We think of her often and miss her every time we visit Rebecca. Mark Twain once said, “You should take your dog for a walk every day… even if you don’t have a dog.” And, we do… but it’s more fun to be in Bailey’s company. With or without Bailey, it’s always good to see Rebecca and to meet many of her friends at various restaurants around town. When I asked Rebecca about her memory of Joe Panucci kissing me on the cheeks outside Pitt Stadium, she said she didn’t recall the incident. In her defense, she was only six. My, how time flies! n Pittsburgh sports author Jim O’Brien has many stories to share about local personalities in his books, Pittsburgh Proud, Hometown Heroes, and Glory Years. For more information, contact him at jimmyo64@gmail.com. Photos by Jim O’Brien.

Fall 2018

Susan Highley,

ABR, CRS, SRES

Dedicated Accessible Dependable Knowledgeable

Highley

$230 Million Sales in 26 Years “Your Real Estate Needs Are My #1 Priority”

c) 412.889.1214 o) 412.833.3600 ext 268

www.shighley.howardhanna.com

KMF Designs

Kyle M. Fasenmyer 724.302.7944 kylemf88@gmail.com

Technical Illustration Cartoons & Caricatures Special Event Cards & Materials Logo Design

www.kylefasenmyer.com UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 21

Growing a sense of community to enhance living in Upper St. Clair by financially supporting enrichment projects, programs, and opportunities that are not funded by tax dollars. The five CFUSC focus areas are Education & Lifelong Learning, Fine & Performing Arts, Recreation & Leisure, Science, and Technology.

Recent CF EVENTS

Community Day Duck Race with 2018 Co-Sponsor, Duck Donuts

Established 1993

CFUSC activity over the last 12 months: • Supporting Becoming a Competitive College Applicant • Supporting USC Book Club • Sponsoring “Zootopia” at Family Movie Night • Hosting the 2nd Annual Golf Invitational • Hosting the 5th Annual Oktoberfest • Supporting the Miracle League Halloween Party • Face-lifting www.cfusc.org website • Establishing e-commerce via PayPal • Expanding Constant Contact emails to subscribers • Inaugurating the John Small Memorial “Spirit of the Community Award” • Awarding grant to Junior Robotics Camp for Girls • Funding year one of a partnership between Little Lake Theatre and the High School English Department • Supporting publication of the School Directory • Supporting school activities with program ads • Awarding grant for USC Library project, Crossing Borders - Music of Many Lands • Awarding grant for operation of USCHS Mini-THON • Awarding mini-grants for Community Podcasts, Boyce Theater Updates, and Little Libraries • Co-sponsoring Annual Duck Race • Hosting After Party to celebrate 25 years • Holding biennial Giving Tea

Celebrating 25 years serving Upper St. Clair with a party following Community Day

CF After Party Organizers Ponny Jahn & Alison Hess

“Up Past Ten” Performing at the After Party

It is never too late to contribute to the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair. Please visit www.cfusc.org to register for the e-UPDATE digital newsletter, find information about upcoming events, become involoved and donate. 22

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

The Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair proudly hosts the th 9 Annual Family Movie Night on Thursday, August 23, 7 p.m. Rescheduled to the Fort Couch MS Field

Upcoming CF EVENTS

Book Club meets at the C&RC at 11 a.m. & 7 p.m.

Bring your lawn chair. We will bring the popcorn! In case of rain, we will move to the FC Cafeteria

September 13, 2018

November 8, 2018

The Gallagher Foundation

CF Reaches Out to Golfers For a quarter of a century, the Community Foundation has formed many partnerships to advance opportunities to enrich the lives of the residents in Upper St. Clair. This year, we are honored to co-sponsor the 3rd Annual Golf Invitational with The Gallagher Foundation. The bonding of these two organizations for a charity golf event is all about caring for people. While the Community Foundation grows a sense of community to enhance life, the Gallagher Foundation honors the memory of those we love by supporting hospice patients and families in need during the most difficult times we all experience. Please consider joining us for a day of golf to support the mission of these two amazing organizations. If you are not a golfer, consider becoming a hole sponsor. Visit www.cfusc.org to register for the Invitational at St. Clair Country Club on Monday, September 24, 2018.

Those who we love live on in our hearts. One way to continue to honor their memory and their life is through the Gallagher Foundation. A donation to the Gallagher Foundation supports hospice patients and families in need, as well as our local community. We strive to promote end-of-life care awareness in the community with special events and educational programs. With each donation, please know that you are helping to make a difference in the lives of dying patients and their families. Over the past few years, we have provided financial support to families who need help with funeral expenses, household expenses, and other special items needed to sustain the care of their dying loved one. Places are available for individual golfers, foursomes and hole sponsors. To register for the 2018 Golf Invitatinal, visit the Community Foundation website www.cfusc.org

Fall 2018

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 23

T Township Commissioners

Mark D. Christie

Nicholas J. Seitanakis

President Ward 4

Day 412-831-9000 2021*

Vice President Ward 1 Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-220-4434 2019*

C. Elise Logan

2018 Township of Upper St. Clair Meeting Dates

Robert W. Orchowski

Ward 2

Ward 3

Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-206-5130 2021*

Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-854-1868 2019*

Ronald J. Pardini

Russell R. Del Re

Daniel R. Paoly

Day 412-831-9000 Evening 724-941-1199 2019*

Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-287-9076 2019*

Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-862-5995 2021*

Ward 5

At-Large

• The Board of Commissioners meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building. The regular public meeting is held the first Monday of the month in the Board Meeting Room. The informational and general affairs meeting is held the last Monday of the month in the Board Meeting Room. • The Planning Commission meets the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. • The Parks and Recreation Board meets at the C&RC the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.; no meeting in December. • The Zoning Hearing Board meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 8 p.m. • The Civil Service Board meets as needed. • The Building/Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory Board meets as needed. • The Library Board meets as needed.

At-Large

*Date indicates expiration of term.

All business regarding the operation of the Township is conducted at the regular meetings of the Board of Commissioners. Citizens are invited to comment on any Township matter. Complete Board minutes can be found at the Upper St. Clair Township Library or on the website at www.twpusc.org. For more information, call 412-831-9000.

Township Administration

Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager

Mark P. Romito Director of Finance

Mark S. Mansfield Asst. Township Manager & Director of Administration

Adam A. Benigni Director of Planning & Community Development

George Kostelich, Jr. Director of Public Works

To reach Township personnel, call 412-831-9000 and follow the automated directions. Administrator Extension Matthew R. Serakowski........................................................216 Township Manager Mark S. Mansfield.................................................................219 Asst. Township Manager & Director of Administration Mark P. Romito......................................................................218 Director of Finance Adam A. Benigni....................................................................501 Director of Planning & Community Development George Kostelich, Jr...............................................................271 Director of Public Works Helen M. Palascak.................................................................247 Director of Library Paul Besterman......................................................................656 Director of Recreation & Leisure Services Other Services Police–Administration........................................... 412-833-1113 Tri-Community South EMS–Administration....... 412-831-3710 USC Volunteer Fire Department–Administration... 412-835-0660 Animal Control..................................................... 412-833-7500 Community & Recreation Center....................... 412-221-1099 Cable 7................................................................... 412-831-1030

Emergency–Police, Fire, EMS ............................. 412-833-7500 Helen M. Palascak Director of Library 24

Paul Besterman Director of Recreation & Leisure Services

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

USC Township website:

www.twpusc.org

T Highlights of the Board of Commissioners’ Meetings April 2, 2018

Approximately 21 people attended.

• C ommissioner Logan presented a Proclamation to Gabriella Spina for attaining the rank of Girl Scout Gold Award.

Recognition • Commissioner Logan presented a Proclamation to Bob Ontolchik, Library Board Member, in recognition of National Library Week, April 8-14, 2018.

June 4, 2018

Approximately 6 people attended.

Recognition • C ommissioner Pardini presented a Proclamation to Alexander Wolfe for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.

Surrounded by her parents, Gabriella Spina receives a proclamation from Commissioner Elise Logan (left center). Members of the library’s staff and board, with Commission Elise Logan (right) The Board • C ontinued Public Hearing Re. PLC18-0001–1377 McLaughlin Run Road–Nonresidential–Unified Conditional Use/Preliminary and Final Land Development Approval to the May 7, 2018, Regular Board Meeting. • Approved the Applicant withdrawal of PLC18-0002–2575 Boyce Plaza Road–Southwood Psychiatric–Amended Tentative and Final Approval of Boyce Plaza Complex Planned Office/Hospital Center. • C ontinued Public Hearing Re. PLC18-0003–1405 McLaughlin Run Road–Nonresidential–Unified Conditional Use/Preliminary and Final Land Development Approval to the May 7, 2018, Regular Board Meeting. • Adopted Bill No. 6-18 Re. IMP18-0002–Acceptance of Public Improvements at 220 Johnston Road.

• C ommissioner Seitanakis presented a Certificate of Achievement to Jack Fitzpatrick for being the highest point scorer on the Upper St. Clair High School Boys’ Swimming Team at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Boys’ Swimming Class AAA Championships. • C ommissioner Seitanakis presented a Certificate of Achievement to Abby Matheny for her Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) Girls’ Swimming Class AAA Championship win in the 200-yard Freestyle. • Commissioner Seitanakis presented a Proclamation to Josh Matheny for his Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class AAA Championship win in the 100-yard freestyle.

Approximately 20 people attended.

Recognitions • C ommissioner Orchowski presented a Proclamation to Nora Helfrich, Director of Tri-Community South Emergency Medical Services, proclaiming May 20–26, 2018, as “National Emergency Medical Services Week” in Upper St. Clair, with the theme “EMS STRONG: Stronger Together.”

Left to right: Coach Dave Schraven, Josh Matheny, Jack Fitzpatrick, Abby Matheny, Commissioner Nicholas Seitanakis

The Board • C ontinued Public Hearing Re. PLC18-0005–1614 Washington Road–Union Savings Bank–Nonresidential– Conditional Use Approval to the July 2, 2018, Regular Board Meeting. Approval of Contract • G & G Fitness Williamsville, NY Replacement/Upgrades of Various Exercise Equipment for the Community & Recreation Center........................ $75,942

Guidelines for Maintaining Creeks in Upper St. Clair

May 7, 2018

Members of Tri-Community South EMS, with Commissioner Robert Orchowski (center)

Commissioner Ronald Pardini and Alexander Wolfe

The Board • Adopted Bill No. 7-18 Re. PLC18-0001–1377 McLaughlin Run Road–Nonresidential–Unified Conditional Use/ Preliminary and Final Land Development Approval. • Adopted Bill No. 8-18 Re. PLC18-0003–1405 McLaughlin Run Road–Nonresidential–Unified Conditional Use/ Preliminary and Final Land Development Approval. • Adopted Resolution No. 1656 authorizing the disposal of various Township records in accordance with the Municipal Records Retention and Disposition Schedule referenced in Chapter 11.7. of the Township Code. Approval of Contract • Walsh Equipment Prospect, PA One Ford F-550 Dump Body/ Snow Removal Upfit............................................ $52,245

Fall 2018

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has guidelines for maintaining streams and creeks across the state. Review the booklet to understand what property owners can do to help prevent flooding in local creeks. Access the DEP Stream Maintenance booklet at http://files.dep.state. pa.us/Newsroom/NewsroomPortalFiles/ StreamMaintenanceBooklet.pdf

Seeking Volunteers to Serve

In addition to the elected Board of Commissioners, the Township is seeking residents to serve as volunteers on various boards and commissions. To find out how to be considered, see information on page 47.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 25

USC Community Day Community Day Wrap-up Amateur sleuths didn’t have to work too hard to discover this year’s “jewel” of a Community Day! The Color Run for Fun got the day off to a bright start, followed by activities that included the USC Veterans Park opening ceremony, the Hottest Dog and Bakeoff contests, the parade, and games and activities on the midway area on McLaughlin Run Road. Fun continued on Route 19 at both the USC VFD’s main station and Gilfillan Farm. Even a sudden storm late in the afternoon couldn’t wash out the Community Foundation’s duck race in McLaughlin Run Creek. Finding fun was easy at Community Day 2018!

Color Run for Fun Top Finishers Event winners Tommy O’Brien (17:13.82)

Sophie Shi (22:07.41)

AGE GROUP MALE (race time) (excluding event winners)

FEMALE (race time)

8 & under 9–11 12–14 15–19 20–29 30–39 40–49 50 & over

Kylie Baran (34:52.18) Gabrielle Fishell (27:39.66) Jillian Fishell (22:19.16) Nikki Gibbons (24:44.93) Stephanie Spahn (32:42.32) Caroline Naft (25:52.81) Ann Rhodes (25:59.51) Barbara Baker (37:27.84)

Tom Howard (36:31.15) Nolan Sarkett (26:54.55) Abelardo Soborza (18:23.90) Michael Gallagher (17:21.82) Chris Scorsone (23:43.19) Jeff Harris (25:50.56) Brandon Ritchie (22:35.27) Mike Romzy (21:13.98)

For full race information, visit the Smiley Miles website at www.smileymiles.com. Look for the race date and location.

Thank You to Our Community Day Patrons

Thanks to the following businesses and organizations that supported USC’s 2018 Community Day: American Concrete Solutions, Aramark, Ardolino’s, Berkshire Hathaway The Preferred Realty Barbara Baker Team, Colussy Chevrolet, Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair, Cricket Wireless Authorized Retailer, Kings Family Restaurant Upper St. Clair, Kittridge Dermatology, Lorenzato Automotive Service, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Pittsburgh Fleet Feet Sports, Restorations Physical Therapy, Rex Glass & Mirror Co. Inc., Rusmur Floors Carpet One, South Hills Financial Group, The Gateway Engineers, Inc., Township of Upper St. Clair Recreation and Leisure Services, The Rooted Tree, Traffic Control Equipment & Supplies Co., and Washington Wild Things. 26

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

T Bake-off Winners The detectives at Coldwell Banker were hot on the case to find the best bakers in USC Township! Listed below are this year’s winners of the Community Day bake-off, sponsored by Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services: • Grades K–2: Ben Cahill, first; Olivia Anderson, second; Evelyn Ritchey, third; Markis Sobel-Drum, honorable mention • Grades 3–4: Vivian Engelbert, first; Grace Misra, second; Caty Howard, third • Grades 5–6: Zoe Sobel-Drum, first; Aiden Crochier, second; Reese Copehaver, third; Maddy Oliva and Peyton McGregor, honorable mention • Grades 7–8: Neeve McCormick, first; Marley Crochier, second; Jillian Seftchick, third; Maura Joyce and Aashna Banerjee, honorable mention

Hot Dog!

The mystery is solved! This year, Upper St. Clair’s hottest dogs are: • Best Trick: Lola (Golden Doodle), with Layla Wollmann • Best Costume: Dobby (Italian Greyhound), with Owen Ritchie • Pet and Owner Look Alike: Kami (mixed breed), with Alyvia Baculik • Best Tail Wag: Rudy (Dachshund), with Lauren Hess • Cutest Puppy: Timmy (St. Bernard), with Brooke Heiser Proceeds from Community Day’s 2018 Hottest Dog contest, sponsored by Howard Hanna, benefitted Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund.

Congratulations to Aaron Todd for winning the Rain Barrel giveaway at the Public Works building on Community Day!

Bike Raffle Winners The Upper St. Clair Police Department congratulates this year’s Community Day bicycle winners. The girl’s bike winner was Rasika Khedikar and the boy’s winner was Dylan Bodnar. A special thank you to Target, South Hills Village, for donating the bicycles.

Left to right are Rasika Khedikar, Officer Michael Cafaro, Officer Thomas Fahey, and Dylan Bodnar Fall 2018

Photos by Terry Kish

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 27

Chief Douglas Burkholder Thank You for Your Service Wayne Herrod

Five-hundred and nine months; 15,480 days; 367,020 hours.

What do these numbers mean? They each represent a way of expressing 42 years, which happens to be the amount of time Chief of Police Douglas Burkholder served Upper St Clair Township as a member of the police force before his retirement this past June. Early in his career, Doug was an officer with the Rostraver Police Department. His former chief, John Kelly, had become the USC chief and brought Doug with him to Upper St. Clair. John knew of the qualities he desired in an officer, and Doug had them all. It was a life changing move for Doug and his family. Doug joined USC’s Police Department as a patrolman on February 25, 1976. Promoted to sergeant in 1980, lieutenant in 1987, and deputy chief in 1989, Doug became chief of police in September 2013 upon the retirement of former police chief Ronald Pardini. Doug earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in regional planning, both from California University of Pennsylvania. In addition, Doug completed thousands of hours in various training related to law enforcement. He also served in the United States Marine Corps with the Connellsville Reserve Unit from 1970 to 1976. When Doug took over as chief in 2013, his goals were simple. After working as deputy chief for 24 years under Chief Pardini, Doug had a thorough knowledge and understanding of what Chief Pardini had built in the USC Police Department during his tenure. Left to right, USC Township Manager Matthew Serakowski “When I took over as chief, my goals were to maintain the high and Chief of Police Douglas Burkholder standards that were already in place. Chief Pardini developed a highly professional, very highly trained, and efficient force of officers. There is not a police force in the country of a similar size that is as well trained as ours,” said Doug. “My goal was to continue this level of training and increase the use of new technologies that were becoming available. The advances in criminal and enforcement technology are remarkable, and we will not fall behind.” Township Manager Matthew Serakowski, who was responsible for promoting Doug to chief, said, “Doug provided the perfect transition from Chief Pardini, while also bringing another perspective to the department. We knew that in the years following Doug’s promotion, the USCPD would have the greatest turnover in new officers in its history due to retirements. Doug handled this situation impeccably and created a strong foundation for the next generation of the department.” When asked to describe Doug’s career, Matt answered, “Where do you start? He has earned the total respect from the citizens of this Township, his force, and his peers. He has been asked and has served on various police organizations throughout the years, which is another example of the high esteem people have for Doug. It would be difficult for anyone to follow Chief Pardini as the head of the department, but Doug was a perfect choice. He has been both an incredible colleague and friend. I have worked with him for the past 25 years and it has been a true pleasure. He has been a tremendous asset to this community, and his Douglas Burkholder, circa 1976 straightforward professional approach inspired trust. More simply put, he exuded integrity and leadership,” he concluded. Former police chief and current USC Township commissioner Ron Pardini commented, “Doug is a terrific person. He is fair and compassionate, and he has been an extraordinary chief. Everyone knew from day one when Doug was hired that he would be a bright light. His qualities were obvious to everyone he met. He has the necessary ingredient to be successful in anything he attempts. There are so many qualities that are needed to be a successful chief,” Ron continued. “You need to immediately evaluate a situation and quickly act upon it so that the decision brings the situation to a successful resolution. Doug has done an outstanding job in this regard. Doug has resolve, fortitude, compassion, logic, integrity, and honesty, but, most of all, he has common sense. I cannot praise him enough,” said Ron. Douglas Burkholder, in front of USC’s Police Department

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

As Doug moves on from his position at Upper St. Clair, he shared, “I love USC Township and its people. The citizens are wonderful, my police force is second to none, and the management of this Township is great to work with. From top to bottom, we have been able to do our jobs in the way we need to, and that makes our jobs so much better. I have had a great career, but it’s now time to step away. I’m looking forward to my retirement.” Married for 45 years to his lovely wife, Darcie, the couple has two sons, Brandon and Jared, both engineers. Their daughter, Devon, is a registered nurse. Doug and Darcie also have two granddaughters. “It is time to relax and enjoy the fruits of all the years that Darcie and I have worked. We will travel some, golf a lot, and visit our children and grandchildren often,” said Doug. It’s understandable that Doug will be missed, not only as the Township’s chief of police but also as a person with whom the Township and its citizens had daily engagements. Matt said that as long as he has known Doug, he’s never heard a negative comment made about him. One of the highest compliments paid to Doug was when Chief Pardini retired, and the entire police department supported Doug to be cast as the new chief. In hindsight, it was surely a wise choice! n

Well Wishes to Doug from Members of the USCPD Lieutenant Curtis Gallatin, who worked with Doug for 39 years at the USCPD, said, “He is a great guy, and he is wonderful to work with and for over the years. He has been helpful to my career and to countless other officers. He is an inspiration to the force. Everyone here is sad to see him leave. He is family.” Sergeant Jim Sambolt, who retired this past May after 39 years with the USCPD, said, “We spent a lot of time together over the years. Doug was a pleasure to work and be with. I wish the Burkholders good health and a long and happy retirement life. You miss out on a lot of things because of this job. But now, hopefully, he can enjoy what he’s worked so hard to obtain.” Lisa Beadle, who has been with the USCPD for 30 years and was Doug’s confidential secretary, said, “Doug created a pleasant work environment that we all appreciated. Doug’s relaxed style of leadership and open-door policy made him approachable to everyone. Doug will be missed not only as our chief, but as our friend.” John Beadle, USCPD retired after 39 years, said, “I had the privilege of working with Doug and witnessing his well-deserved rise to the top of the ranks. Doug was the heart and soul of the department. While he commanded the respect of department members, he also provided the same to his subordinates. You could bring any issue to Doug, professional or personal, and you knew he was there for you.” Lieutenant Jonathan Wharton, who worked with Doug since 1991, said, “Chief Burkholder is a true mentor. A lot of what I do now is based on what I’ve learned from him. While under the tenure of former Chief Pardini, my actions and attitudes were guided by him to make me the patrolman I was. Promoted to sergeant just before Chief Burkholder took over in 2013 and since that time, Doug has guided me to make me the supervisor that I am today. A complete professional, the chief always goes the extra mile for his employees and for the community in which he serves. He imparted on me the importance of family and how to remember even the smallest, yet meaningful, things that family provides.”

Duckling Rescue! A day on the job for one Upper St. Clair police officer wasn’t quite what it was quacked … err … cracked up to be! Late in the spring, a panicked woman called the Upper St. Clair police station to report that a family of ducklings fell into a storm sewer. Although it’s not in his job description, Officer James Johnston climbed down into the storm sewer and rescued the small ducklings. Animal control officer Donald Cooley helped reunite the ducklings with their mother, who was anxiously waiting nearby. It was the first duck rescue for Officer Johnston, who joined the Upper St. Clair force in December. Lt. Jon Wharton said the Upper St. Clair police occasionally receive similar calls for help. “Please call us for assistance, even if you think it’s something the police won’t do. We always try our best to serve the public … and nature,” a post on the Upper St. Clair Police Department’s Facebook page stated. n

Officer James Johnston to the rescue

Reunited

Fall 2018

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 29

T USC Police Department Welcomes New Officer The Upper St. Clair Police Department recently hired officer Carlos Andrade of Pittsburgh. Carlos, a graduate of Robert Morris University, comes to the department after serving with the University of Pittsburgh Police Department for four years. Welcome! n Carlos Andrade

UPPER ST. CLAIR POLICE DEPARTMENT CITIZENS’ POLICE ACADEMY Objectives and Overview • An overview of the criminal justice system, local and global • Active shooter and crisis management in schools and the workplace • Cybercrimes and identity theft issues and prevention • Local ordinances, crimes, and vehicle code issues • The United States Constitution and citizens’ rights • Firearm safety, use of force, and self-defensive • Patrol procedures, traffic stops, speed enforcement, and officer safety • Criminal, drug, and gang investigations • Domestic crimes, custody disputes, and missing children • The role of the District Attorney and the District Court • Local crimes, current investigations, programs, and public issues

A special opportunity for adults (must be at least 21 years old) who live, work, or conduct business in Upper St. Clair. The Upper St. Clair Police Department is hosting its 2018 Citizens’ Police Academy. Classes will meet on Thursdays, beginning September 27 and ending November 15, and will be held at the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department, 7–9:30 p.m. The syllabus includes instruction and scenario-based training on various aspects of law enforcement and public safety.

Lieutenant Curtis Gallatin instructs academy students on felonies and other crimes.

There is no fee to attend the Academy. If you are interested in this program, complete and submit the application shown below to the Upper St. Clair Police Department, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241. Questions? Contact Police Administration, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 412-833-1113.

Upper St. Clair Police Department 2018 Citizens’ Police Academy Application Name: (last, first, middle)_ ________________________

Employer:______________________________________

Date of Birth: ___________________________________

Business Phone:_________________________________

Address:________________________________________

Have you ever been arrested?_____________________

_______________________________________________

If yes, please explain:_ ___________________________

Cell Phone:_____________________________________

_______________________________________________

Home Phone: ___________________________________

Signature:_ _____________________________________

Email Address:__________________________________

Date:___________________________________________

The decision on class participants is up to the discretion of the USC Police Department. 30

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

Funding the EMS System

John D’Angelo, Tri-Community South EMS Tri-Community South EMS (TCS) has been serving the citizens of Bethel Park, South Park, and Upper St. Clair since 1978. In that time, TCS has seen many changes in EMS, especially in the areas of technology, patient care advances, and call volume. At present, TCS responds to more than 7000 emergencies calls a year. However, one area that has not changed in all this time has been the funding practices used for maintaining the system. Traditionally, EMS systems across the U.S. have been funded through a combination of health insurance billings, tax subsidies, and ambulance system memberships. TCS does not receive tax subsidies from any of the three municipalities it serves. Alternatively, it must rely on health insurance billing and system memberships as its only revenue sources. Many people assume that their health insurance will pay all ambulance fees. However, insurance billing practices are based on a complex formula involving factors such as distance to a hospital and level of patient care so that, in the end, almost no insurance plan will cover 100% of the cost of ambulance transportation. And, whatever is not covered by the insurance company becomes the responsibility of the patient. This cost can exceed $600 for a single ambulance trip. No insurance plan contributes payment for an ambulance visit to a residence which results in treatment without transportation to a hospital. The fee for this service, which can cost $200 for a BLS response and $250 for an ALS response, is the sole responsibility of the patient. These charges, however, can be reduced or eliminated altogether simply by joining Tri-Community South as a subscriber. For a fee of $60 a year, each household family member is protected from incurring unnecessary bills for emergency ambulance service. Subscriptions will cover 50% of any co-payments or deductibles not covered by an insurance policy. Also, the subscription plan will cover 100% of any emergency treatment in which transport is not required. Those who are covered by a subscription include all family members who reside at that address as well as non-resident visitors and guests. The subscription plan also covers subscribers who may require an ambulance at most near-by communities that are outside of TCS’s coverage area. Additionally, because of the shortfall that results from current insurance company practices as well as the fact that TCS does not receive money from municipal taxes, your subscriptions help to maintain TCS’s position as one of the foremost EMS systems in Pennsylvania. The subscription program replaces taxes as a source of revenue to enable TCS to continue to operate. The subscription program is so beneficial to both the EMS system and to the citizens it serves, it seems people would need little convincing to join. However, the opposite appears to be the case. Each year, only slightly more than 25% of the entire coverage area choose to become members, which means that 75% of the citizens served by TCS do not. Brochures for the 2019 campaign drive will be mailed to TCS’s communities at the end of October. Look for your subscription material in the mail sometime around the beginning of November. Maintaining a quality ambulance service requires cooperation from all of us. Consider maintaining your membership or becoming a member if you have not done so in the past! With your help, we can, and will, be ready to help you! n

Go for

THE GOLD TEAM with more than 30 YEARS of real estate experience

PA license RS162211A

Sandy Goldstein ABR e-Pro Marshall Goldstein, The Gold Team

Keller Williams Real Estate Tel: 724-941-9400 x 215 Cell: 412-721-0306 sandy@sandygoldstein.com www.sandygoldstein.com

If any group or organization would like to have a speaker from Tri-Community South appear to talk about the subscription plan or any other topic related to emergency healthcare, contact TCS at 412-831-3710, extension 109.

Fall 2018

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 31

40 YEARS

Tri-Community South EMS… A Look at the Third Decade Becky Brindle

Tri-Community South (TCS) EMS celebrated its 30-year anniversary in 2008. “It was a time when everything was really coming together,” said supervisor Kevin Trichtinger. In the 1990s, the system faced declining income because of a decrease in insurance company reimbursements, increasing costs due to increases in insurance premiums, and a decreasing pool of volunteers. Nonetheless, TCS remained financially stable, operated with a positive ledger balance, and required no funding from the municipalities’ tax base in the 2000s. In October 2000, Nora Helfrich, who had served as a volunteer, part-time employee, full-time employee, supervisor, and supervisor of support services, was named the new director. Nora remains the director in 2018. Along with new leadership came a new EMS base. On a snowy March 1, 2005, crews broke ground on the new TCS EMS headquarters on Progress Boulevard in Bethel Park. The building was completed in October 2005, ahead of schedule and under budget. The 14,100 square-foot facility had and continues to have Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) adequate space to garage all of the system’s vehicles, training and classroom Ambulance Service of the Year Award, August 2007 areas for staff education and community classes, sufficient parking areas, and full accessibility. All records are stored on-site and TCS is fully compliant with all privacy rules. TCS has always provided more than ambulance transportation. From its earliest days, the system has been involved in community healthcare and education. As a community training center (CTC) for the American Heart Association, TCS ranked among the top ten CTCs in Pennsylvania in the number of people trained annually. In 2003, TCS was the busiest CTC in Pennsylvania and the second busiest CTC in the Northern Atlantic region. TCS earned the Achieving Excellence in Drill at the U.S. Department of Energy; National Energy Defibrillation award for the Technology Laboratory, 2002 best small-community AED program in North America at the National Center for Early Defibrillation Conference of Champions in October 2003. After training local police officers to carry and use AEDs in the 1990s, TCS placed more AEDs in area municipal facilities, churches, schools, and businesses in the 2000s. Groundbreaking for the new base, March 1, 2005 In April 2006, TCS became the first EMS system in Allegheny County and second in Pennsylvania to be granted accreditation by the Commission on the Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). In a rigorous yearlong process, the CAAS evaluators examined TCS operations, financial practices, policies and procedures, vehicles and equipment, and community awareness and responsiveness. At the end of the examination, evaluators gave TCS the maximum three-year accreditation in recognition of its full compliance with the most demanding standards in the EMS industry. Another significant recognition came one year later. In August 2007, the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council named TCS as the Ambulance Service of the Year. TCS was a training site for field preceptorship of students in the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) and the University of Pittsburgh–Center for Emergency Medicine paramedic training programs. In 2003, TCS first participated in training 14 paramedic students from the Dedication of new base, October 25, 2005 32

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

T “Scott Bros. comes highly recommended in the Upper St. Clair area.”

SCOTT BROS. Windows and Doors

Call us today for FREE estimate

724.745.2376

www.scottbroswindows.com

With Nora Helfrich are, left to right, Rick Santorum and Rudy Giuliani

Republic of South Korea. The students were firefighters with the Seoul Fire and Disaster Management Department who traveled to Pittsburgh for paramedic training. TCS provided their field training and also trained international students from Norway, Qatar, Ireland, Germany, Canada, Nigeria, Argentina, Iceland, and Finland. “It was a great opportunity for them, but for our staff, as well. We got to learn how EMS systems work all over the world,” said supervisor John Bower. In the 2000s, and still today, TCS is dedicated to assisting its neighbors in emergencies. TCS helped in Shanksville, Somerset County, on September 11, 2001, during the United Flight 93 terrorism event. Closer to home, TCS assisted in West Mifflin when a microburst struck Kennywood Park on May 31, 2002.

In its third decade, TCS participated in many multicommunity drills, including the Beaver Valley Power Station, where TCS is responsible for covering the primary relocation site, and the National Energy Technology Laboratory in South Park, where TCS is the primary EMS provider. In 2006, TCS personnel helped provide the security and safety escort for former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani at the MLB All-Start Game in Pittsburgh. From big names to the tiniest patients, in July 2007, TCS crews rescued ducklings from a storm sewer outside the Bethel Park EMS base. TCS continues to serve the communities of Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park, and South Park, while adhering to the highest of standards. n

Duck rescue

Visit tcsems.org to learn more about TCS and how you can pay for your annual ambulance subscription fee online. Fall 2018

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 33

Sustainability

Ron Sarrick, Sustainability Administrator Household Hazardous Waste The words “household hazardous waste” (HHW) conjure up a host of items that you probably know cannot be placed in a landfill. Some of the more toxic HHW items for discard (and no longer acceptable for dumping in landfills) are lawn chemicals, fertilizers, pool chemicals, oil, gas, gas cans, mineral spirits, turpentine and other household chemicals, and paint, both oil-based and latex. The easiest of these to dispose of is latex paint. It is also the most common item brought to HHW events. Regulations for the disposal of latex paint differ from one region or state to another. Some make it mandatory for recycling. In this case, paint is accumulated in large drums and colors are separated to retain a gray or brown base. The combined paint is then processed and placed back into consumer markets. While accumulation of paint is not the case in the Pittsburgh area, a common thread in most areas is drying paint for disposal. Drying can be done with kitty litter or a paint hardener purchased in most retail paint, home improvement, and local hardware stores. Why is latex paint the most common of all the HHW? Paint is used in all or nearly every room in our homes. Painting our home’s interior is one of the most common DIY jobs many people undertake. A little lesson in painting 101 and you’re off! Google it! The problem usually occurs near the end of the job when you’ve discovered that you bought too much paint. (Read the “area of coverage” on the paint can to more closely estimate your wallcovering needs.) So, what to do with the rest? In most cases, the leftover paint goes to the depths of the basement or garage where it becomes lost for eternity. Then one beautiful Saturday in spring, you become energized to clean and relieve the sagging shelves from the years of paint accumulation. You load your vehicle and you’re off to a local HHW event. It will cost you a few dollars to get rid of the high-end paint that you saved money on when purchasing the big bucket. So, 70 pounds and one hundred dollars later, you’re relieved of the 20 years of accumulated pails of semi-hard paint product that could be used as a boat anchor if you would’ve only been patient and waited another 30 years! USC’s HHW Event This brings us to the reality of HHW events and USC’s firstever. The May 12 event had a steady stream of cars unloading all types of HHW items, along with propane tanks, fire extinguishers, and a tire or two. I was quite surprised by the vast amount of paint, pool chemicals, and old fertilizers that were brought for disposal. USC’s contractor did a good job in keeping pace with the incoming traffic. There were some folks that mistakenly thought, for some reason, that it was also an E-cycling drop-off. This created a longer-than-usual line for a brief period. Folks that did not preregister had a bit longer wait and were required to fill out some necessary paperwork. So, here is what you need to know about USC’s next HHW event to be held on Saturday, October 13, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in the Municipal building parking lot at the Veterans Park area along McLaughlin Run Road. • This is not a free drop-off event. • To save time, preregister with Environmental Coordination Services & Recycling (ECS&R). 34

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2018

• Times are scheduled for each vehicle; call early for a desirable time. • View the schedule of charges on the Township website (www.twpusc.org). • Document destruction is scheduled for the same day at the same time in the same lot. Follow the directional arrows to queue into the correct drop-off area. Note: In addition to our Township HHW events, there are several HHW events around the local community during the year. Pennsylvania Resource Council is active in providing the community-at-large a venue to accept these items. Visit prc.org for more information.

Document Destruction at the Municipal Lot Document destruction will be held Saturday, October 13, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in the Municipal lot at the rear of the building. Follow the directional signs for drop-off. Approximately a ton of personal documents for shredding have been collected at each previous event. Community Day 2018/ Public Works Day This year, USC’s Public Works chose to celebrate the department’s day on USC Community Day to appeal to a broader audience and provide greater exposure about the department’s work to community residents. The program included paint a plow, tree sapling giveaway, and recycling and storm water management information. These, in addition to the equipment on display in the PW parking lot, provided a sampling of how Public Works serves the residents of USC.

Public Works parking lot entry

E-Cycling at the C&RC We noticed at the April collection that the lines for e-cycling were growing and getting to be quite long. In response to a number of requests, our contractor, JVS, agreed to two lines for drop-off at the May event, and it appeared to handle the crowd! Most of the drop-offs were timely and smooth. However, some folks insist on getting out of their vehicles to assist. That is not necessary. Remaining in your car allows the process to go much smoother. JVS provides personnel to remove the items from your vehicle. If you are kind enough to provide a monetary donation, as many of you do, just hand it to the person servicing your vehicle. Televisions remain nearly half of all the e-cycling items being dropped off. Due to the overwhelming number of TVs, only

one TV per vehicle is accepted at each ecycling event. There is no charge to drop off a TV. Many other area drop-off events charge a substantial amount for TV drop off. Please be respectful of the one TV limit. E-cycling occurs at the C&RC the second Saturday of each month (except for the month of February).

Curbside Recycling To eliminate contamination, do not place shopping bags, film plastic, or shipping plastic of any kind in the recycling stream. This has been one of the most notable problems for USC’s single-stream collection. Place only clean plastic containers and other single-stream recyclables in your bin.

T Cardboard must be placed in your recycling bin to be picked up by the truck’s mechanical arm. Break it down so it fits inside the bin. Items placed adjacent to the bin will, most likely, go as trash. Thank you for your cooperation. n

Storm Water Detention Structures David Kutschbach, Superintendent of Projects Have you ever noticed or wondered about the pond area in your neighborhood? Since the mid ’70s, municipalities have required dry extended detention basins or ponds to be incorporated into new development projects. Detention ponds are designed to temporarily detain or store storm water run-off to help reduce the peak rate of flow into a stream during a rain event. The ponds help to prevent localized flooding downstream and reduce streambank erosion. During plan review, the developer must show that the rate of storm water leaving the area after development will be no greater than the rate of storm water leaving the property before development. Detention ponds are designed to release captured storm water over time, typically over a 24-hour period, and do not allow for the permanent pooling of water. As a result, the size of the pond varies from project to project. Typically, detention basins or ponds, are earthen structures constructed by excavating existing soil or impoundment of a natural depression. In some developments, there may be an underground oversize pipe or tank, designed with the same intent to temporarily collect and slowly release storm water into a stream. Storm water regulations associated with the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) are administered under the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program. The MS4 Program is managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). One of the six Minimum Control Measures (MCM) required under the MS4 Program is MCM #5, Post Construction Storm Water Management. Detention ponds and tanks are inventoried structural Best Management Practices (BMP), and they are a DEP reporting requirement. Currently, there are 64 detention ponds or tanks within USC Township. Fourteen are owned and maintained by the Township. The remaining 50 ponds and tanks are privately owned, with the majority owned by neighborhood homeowners’ associations. Each year, detention ponds and tanks are inspected by the Township. Maintenance deficiencies are noted and referred to code enforcement. Maintenance and remediation of a detention pond or tank is the responsibility of the owner. Maintaining Your Detention Pond A consistent maintenance program is the best way to ensure that a detention pond will continue to perform its design function. Regular detention pond maintenance will ensure that your detention pond is aesthetically pleasing, functional, and safe. Vegetation Management • Grass is the most common groundcover in and around a detention pond. Regularly mow the grass to maintain consistent growth.

• It is ok and recommended to cut any cattails growing within the internal pond area. • Remove all “wild” trees and woody bushes from the pond’s sides, embankment, and internal pond area. • To help prevent erosion, seed areas without vegetation growth. Debris and Trash Removal • Remove debris or trash that may blow or wash into the pond area. • Remove trash or debris blocking orifices, grates, trash racks, outlet pipes, or the emergency spillway. • Remove fallen trees or limbs. • Do not place or allow yard waste, including grass clippings, leaves or brush, to be disposed of around the pond area. • Do not allow pet waste to be discarded around the pond area. Structural Integrity of the Pond or Piping • Remove significant sedimentation accumulation in the pond bottom that may impede water flow or block the discharge pipe. • Check embankment conditions for signs of erosion, and repair as needed. • Check the control structures and piping, and replace any deteriorated piping. • Check the outfall structure. Add rip-rap or repair as needed. • Check the structural integrity of hatch doors for underground tanks. Replace hatch doors that have broken hinges or those that are severely rusted. • Keep access ways open and free of debris. Everyone has a stake in and responsibility for storm water control under the MS4 Program, including USC Township, homeowners’ associations, businesses, and residents. These are your detention ponds, typically located in your green space. Let’s keep our storm water detention facilities aesthetically pleasing and functional, allowing them to perform as designed. n

A storm water detention pond in Upper St. Clair Fall 2018

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 35

T General Election—Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Polls Open 7 a.m.–8 p.m.

Tuesday, October 9, 2018, is Voter Registration Deadline Date. (Date subject to change pending Pennsylvania legislative action.)

If you have questions regarding the election, registration, or absentee ballots, call the Allegheny County Elections Department at 412-350-4500 or visit www.twpusc.org. The Township library and the post office have voter registration forms. Check the Township website to verify the location of the polling place closer to the General Election date. Ward District Polling Place 1 1

Township Building, Library Multi-purpose Room, Ground Floor–McLaughlin Run Road

Baker Elementary School, Gymnasium–Morton Road

1 3