Spring 2018 GET TIPS ABOUT THE RENOVATION PROCESS FROM A TRUSTED SOUTH HILLS REMODELING COMPANY Centerfold: USC School District’s Annual Report www.twpusc.org/magazine/usc-today-home
The official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair
Upper St. Clair Office• 180 Fort Couch Rd, Upper St. Clair, Pa 15241 412-833-3600 • HowardHanna.com
Robbins Bobbitt Sales Director
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MARCH IS
COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Our practice is committed to providing state-of-the-art care to our patients, treating all gastrointestinal problems and screenings through a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic options. All of our physicians are board certified in Gastroenterology. Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer and screening for colorectal cancer can save your life. The South Hills Endoscopy Center is a state-of-the-art facility providing colonoscopy and upper endoscopy screenings and services. Our medical staff and office personnel strive to work as a team to provide you with quality medical services in a pleasant and professional atmosphere.
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2589 Boyce Plaza Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241
1350 Locust Street, Ste. 406 Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Real Estate Agents Who Make a Real Difference!
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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 ©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.
FIND YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR AT STCLAIR.ORG New Year’s resolution not quite working out? Whether your goal was to lose a few pounds or lower your cholesterol, talk to one of our Primary Care physicians. St. Clair offers a wealth of experienced, board-certified Primary Care physicians to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Please refer to the listings at right or visit us at stclair.org.
ST. CLAIR MEDICAL SERVICES PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS AND PRACTICES FATIGATI/NALIN ASSOCIATES
MT. LEBANON INTERNAL MEDICINE
DeGIOVANNI MONTINI ASSOCIATES
Mario J. Fatigati, M.D., FACP M. Sabina Daroski, M.D., FACP Nicholas P. DiTullio, M.D. Daniel B. Erlanger, D.O. Amanda Hercules-Smith, M.D. James P. McDowell, D.O. Robert E. McMichael, III, D.O. Nithin V. Bhandarkar, D.O. Joseph P. Endrich, M.D. Nina M. Fatigati, M.D. Laurie Shirman-Molinda, M.D. Lindsay A. Yarbrough, D.O. Christine M. Townsend, D.O.
Carol Showalter Myron, M.D., FACP, MBA Karl E. Bushman, M.D., FACP Beth Ann Schneider, M.D. Aimee K. Marmol, M.D. David R. Sacco, M.D., FACP Sapna Vasudevan, M.D. Ramy Khalil, M.D.
Lesley DeGiovanni, M.D. John Montini, M.D.
Bethel Park 5187 Library Road Bethel Park, PA 15102 412.835.4886 Bridgeville 1025 Washington Pike Bridgeville, PA 15017 412.221.3377 Mt. Lebanon 733 Washington Road, Suite 401 Pittsburgh, PA 15228 412.343.1770 Peters Township St. Clair Hospital Outpatient Center– Peters 3928 Washington Road, Suite 280 McMurray, PA 15317 724.731.0090
Bethel Park/Village Square St. Clair Hospital Outpatient Center– Village Square 2000 Oxford Drive, Suite 420 Bethel Park, PA 15102 412.942.8500 DOBKIN / RICCELLI & ASSOCIATES
Larry A. Dobkin, M.D. Antonio M. Riccelli, M.D. Mallory Strickland Ciuksza, M.D. Castle Shannon 250 Mt. Lebanon Boulevard Suite 306 Pittsburgh, PA 15234 412.563.5560 Caste Village/Whitehall 5301 Grove Road Pittsburgh, PA 15236 412.942.9105
Robinson Township 5482 Campbells Run Road Pittsburgh, PA 15205 412.494.3339
Mt. Lebanon 717 Washington Road Pittsburgh, PA 15228 412.341.7887
GOBAO INTERNAL MEDICINE Richard A. Gobao, M.D. Mt. Lebanon 1145 Bower Hill Road, Suite 206 Pittsburgh, PA 15243 412.279.5372
POPOVICH INTERNAL MEDICINE John E. Popovich, M.D. Bethel Park/Village Square St. Clair Hospital Outpatient Center– Village Square 2000 Oxford Drive, Suite 302 Bethel Park, PA 15102 412.854.5491
WEST HILLS MEDICAL Gene M. Battistella, D.O. Michael A. Notte, M.D. Kennedy Township 27 Heckel Road, Suite 212 McKees Rocks, PA 15136 412.777.4319
YOUR HEALTH IS OUR PRIMARY CARE.
St. Clair Hospital is a national leader in quality care, patient safety, patient satisfaction, and value.
Spring 2018 • Volume 24 • Issue 1 www.twpusc.org/magazine/usc-today-home • usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Features & Around the Township 19 St. Clair Stories Never Told
20 Going Straight Downhill
80 Town Hall South Celebrates 50 Years
82 Stellar Medallion Honorees of 2017
84 Local Resident Provides Legacy Contribution
School District 35
Township 60
Meet Our Newest Board Members
36 Upper St. Clair Looks to Alumni
40 High School STEAM Students Advance Baker Playground
44
Department of Finance 2018 Budget Highlights
63 Sustainability Message from Public Works
64 Township Flood Services and Protection
65 Sanitary Sewer Lateral Inspections
Pawprints
68
Centerfold
Tri-Community South … the First Decade
Upper St. Clair School District’s 2017 Annual Report
Guides/ Directories 27 Home Improvement 57 Pinebridge 92 Happenings 94 Advertiser Index Photo Ops 70 Bounty at Boyce Mayview Park
78 Veterans Day Observance
Cover
41
The spring cover of UPPER ST. sponsored by Clark Renovations. See pages 12–13, featuring this South Hills remodeling company, for tips on choosing the right contractor for your project.
USCHS Mini-THON
CLAIR TODAY is
14 Coach’s Corner
66 New Engine for VFD
43 Reach Out Raises Nearly $20,000
88 USCAA Helps Gear Up Se’gou
6
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Spring 2018
Sewer and Drain Inspection and Repair
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412-835-2135
Publishers Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole 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 93rd 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.
Summer 2018 edition deadlines:
Articles—March 15
Advertising—March 19
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 Summer 2018 issue and will be published in May 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 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.
Follow us on Facebook Website www.twpusc.org/magazine/usc-today-home Email usctoday@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
8
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
Spring 2018
Thank you to our volunteer contributors this issue: Judge Ronald Arnoni, Maritza Balta, Becky Brindle, Cindy Brophy, John D’Angelo, Jason Daugherty, Lynn Dempsey, Lindsay Dill, Paul Fox, Trish Gensler, Dr. Jim Hall, Milo Hindman, Heather Holtschlag, Rick Jacobs, David Kutschbach, Jay Lynch, Katie Matson, Ched Mertz, Jim Meston, Ron Morosky, Jim O’Brien, Kevin O’Laughlin, Helen Palascak, Suzanne Palko, R.W. Dick Phillips, Russell Rauch, Jim Render, State Senator Guy Reschenthaler, Dora Rudick, Ron Sarrick, Dr. Tracy Scanlon, Andrew Seay, RJ Shontz (YWG), and Mary Lynne Spazok. 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. Errata: The article “Hail and Farewell” that appeared on page 45 of the winter 2017 edition of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY incorrectly identified Lisa Henricks, a new hire to USCHS, as Lisa Hendriks. We apologize for this oversight and congratulate Lisa on her position with the School District. The 93rd 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. 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
Everything You’ve Wanted to Know About Selling Your House and Downsizing! Please join us at our Informational Open House Just for Upper St. Clair Downsizers!
Have you been considering selling your home for something a bit more manageable in size? Would you love to have someone else take care of all of your maintenance, landscaping and snow removal needs? Are you unsure about what “Apartment Living” is? Could you benefit from a predictable monthly payment that included your luxury home, private garage and some utilities? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, we welcome you to our private open house just for downsizers!
This casual, no-pressure event is scheduled for Thursday, March 29th. 5:00pm- 7:00pm at the Torrente Clubhouse, 2565 Boyce Plaza Road. You will be able to hear directly from current residents just like you, on what their living experience has been like at Torrente, while asking any questions you might have about the downsizing process. There will be tours of the model apartment, delicious appetizers and plenty of literature to take home and read over at your leisure. We hope you’ll stop by and see why your neighbors have been choosing Torrente.
412-551-0520 • www.TorrenteUSC.com • info@TorrenteUSC.com A Maintenance Free Community Located Less Than Two Miles from the USC Rec Center!
“Trento” 2 Bed / 2 Bath
A Spring Note from the Publishers Matthew R. Serakowski
Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole
Welcome spring! With the wintery weather behind us, let’s get ready to usher in the season of new beginnings. We’re getting ready by bringing you this edition of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY—spring 2018. In addition to the many intriguing stories submitted by volunteer writers in this 100-page edition, including an article about Town Hall South’s 50-year anniversary (page 80) and the celebration of USC’s 2017 Medallion Ball honorees (page 82), learn more about our School District and Township by reading these highlighted feature sections. Meet and get to know the three new members on the Board of School Directors (page 35), then learn how the District is reaching out to its alumni base to provide a richer learning experience for current students (page 36). While lots of additional information is peppered throughout this section, pay special attention to the District’s 2017 annual report that is located in an eight-page centerfold spread (pages 45–52), which you can pull out and retain for future reference. Meet our newest Township Commissioner (page 58), learn about the new sanitary sewer lateral inspection ordinance that was adopted last fall (page 65), and become familiar with the 2018 budget highlights from the Department of Finance (page 60). Lots of great things are happening in our Township! Read the entire Township feature section and make sure to take advantage of the free offerings and events at our library and the C&RC (pages 70–77), all developed and put in place with you in mind. So, whether you are getting outdoors for fun and relaxation as daylight extends further into the evening hours or you are putting in motion the home improvement project that you shelved over the winter, find your own special way to greet the upcoming season. If you are sprucing up something around your house, check out our home improvement guide (pages 27–33) for helpful tips and tricks of the trade. Committed to serving your needs, our motto for 2018 is “UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY connects with our community.” Let us know if we are accomplishing this goal or what we can do better to keep you informed and up-to-date with what’s happening in our community as we strive to stay connected with you! Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager
Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole Superintendent of Schools
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 Douglas Burkholder........................................................................................ 238 Chief of Police Mark P. Romito................................................................................................ 218 Director of Finance Adam A. Benigni.............................................................................................. 501 Director of Planning & Community Development Amy Sommer Director of Information Technology 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
To reach School District personnel, call 412-833-1600 and follow the automated directions. Administrator
Secretary/Email Address Extension
Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole................................ Mary Ann Stabile.............................2201 Superintendent of Schools mstabile@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. Sharon Suritsky................................... Donna Faccenda..............................2218 Assistant/Deputy Superintendent dfaccenda@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. John Rozzo............................................ Mary Ann Stabile.............................2201 Assistant Superintendent mstabile@uscsd.k12.pa.us Scott Burchill.............................................. Dawn Machi.....................................2220 Director of Business and Finance dmachi@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. Judy Bulazo.......................................... Donna Faccenda..............................2218 Director of Curriculum dfaccenda@uscsd.k12.pa.us and Professional Development Ray Berrott.............................................................................................................2059 Director of Technology rberrott@uscsd.k12.pa.us Amy Pfender............................................... Terri Lott...........................................2283 Director of Student Support Services tlott@uscsd.k12.pa.us Melissa Garvin............................................ Cheryl Ellison...................................2116 Asst. Director of Student Support Services cellison@uscsd.k12.pa.us Bradley Wilson .....................................................................................................3318 Supervisor of Customized and Online Learning Sheila Gorgonio.....................................................................................................2826 Director of Advancement sgornonio@uscsd.k12.pa.us Joseph Conners......................................................................................................2560 Chief of School Police Jonn Mansfield........................................................................................................ 3450 Director of Transportation Tina Vojtko............................................................................................................2215 Communications Specialist tvojtko@uscsd.k12.pa.us
TODAY, the award-winning, official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair www.twpusc.org/magazine/usc-today-home 10
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Spring 2018
usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us
BEDNER ESTATES Over 75% Sold!
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Visit Us: 1495 Main Street - Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 Model Hours: Mon-Fri 10-5; Sat-Sun 12-5
Five Tips for Locating the Right Contractor Specializing in kitchens, baths, windows, and doors, Clark Renovations has been remodeling the South Hills of Pittsburgh for nearly 50 years. Working from two locations on Industrial Boulevard in Bethel Park, their teams of expert craftsman, designers, and support staff are well versed at turning your ideas and inspirations into beautiful designs that improve the functionality and value of your home. For many homeowners, the most difficult part of a home renovation project is finding a competent and reliable contractor to do the job. Most will tell you they can do anything, but only a few actually can, and sorting out which ones have the skill set to complete your project can be a tedious job. Hiring a quality contractor who will start your job on time, perform at a high level from beginning to end, and still be around four years later to perform warranty work can be a real struggle. Everyone has heard the stories about unscrupulous contractors who took a deposit and disappeared, started the job only to never return, or received the final payment and disappeared off the face of the earth when it came time for warranty work. Even with a good contractor, renovations can be stressful, expensive, and involve surprises along the way that only reveal themselves once demolition has occurred. Choosing the right renovator can make the difference between a successful home renovation project and a disaster. No pressure! Here are five tips that will help you locate the right contractor and provide for a “less stress” renovation: Determine what you need and want before you get your estimates. Develop a rough idea that identifies your needs (must haves) and wants (nice to haves) along with what you like and dislike about your current space. A good full service contractor will be able to take this information and design a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The more precise your information is, the more accurate your estimate will be. Ask friends, relatives, and co-workers for references. People in your neighborhood who have had similar work done are your best source for good information. A company that has been around for many years, and delivers a superior product, will be known by many through “word of mouth.” Expect a good contractor to be too busy to start immediately. Generally speaking, the best contractors are also the most busy. It is not uncommon for an excellent contractor to have a lead time for new projects running in the four- to six-month range. If the contractor you are interviewing doesn’t have a lead time, question them carefully. Unusual events can happen that result in a hole in the schedule, but this is uncommon. 12
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Spring 2018
Ask what work will be done by the contractor’s employees and what work will be completed by subcontractors. Ask if the individuals doing the work are W-2 employees or 1099 subcontractors. A contractor employs W-2 employees and therefore has direct control over their schedules. 1099 subcontractors control their own schedules and have the right to address conflicts as they see fit. Clark Renovations uses subs for plumbing, electrical, tile, and plaster. We have used the same subs for years, and pay them as soon as their portion of the job is complete. By paying promptly, scheduling weeks in advance, and effectively communicating changes, our subcontractors are as reliable as our own employees. Check licenses, complaints, and litigation history. All contractors operating in Pennsylvania who complete more than $5000 worth of work in any given year must be registered as a certified contractor. Ask them for their ID number. You can also check to see if they are on the official registered contractor list at hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov. It is unwise to hire an unlicensed contractor. Check with the Better Business Bureau and local court records to make sure you don’t run into issues. There is a first time for everything, but evidence of habitual issues should scare away a wise consumer. If you are looking for a new kitchen, bathroom, windows, or doors, Clark Renovations is a family-owned business located right here in the South Hills of Pittsburgh and built upon years of highly satisfied customers. To contact them, call 412-833-7222 or visit them online at www.CLARKREMODELING.com.
www.ClarkRemodeling.com • 412.833.7222 Our showroom is located at 3180 Industrial Blvd. Bethel Park, PA 15102
Spring 2018
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
13
Coach’s Corner
Jim Render, USCHS Football Coach
Handful of Stars
Unintended Reunion of QBs My college football coach was a man by the name of Bill Edwards, who is enshrined in the college football Hall of Fame. He grew up in Massillon, Ohio, with the legendary coach Paul Brown for whom the Cleveland Browns are named. For those interested in football history, you might remember that Coach Brown, later in his career, founded the Cincinnati Bengals and established the same colors of orange and white (as well as brown and black) as did Cleveland and Massillon. “Bengals” was a salute to his hometown team, the famous Massillon Tigers. The fact that Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Massillon all use orange and that two of them have tiger stripes is not a random coincidence. I met Paul Brown at Coach Edwards’ retirement dinner at my alma mater, Wittenberg University, in 1973. He was very cordial to me and it was a thrill to meet him. In his farewell speech that evening, Coach Edwards made a reference to a poem that his wife, Dorothy, had read to him. It was about a man, “Caliban in the Coal Mines,” speaking to God about his fate in the depths of the dark mine. The poem ended with the line “God, if you wish for our love, fling us a handful of stars.” Coach Edwards, a former coal miner, concluded that he had been flung a handful of stars that came to him in the form of football players. I have thought of Coach Edwards many time over the years and just like him, I have often thought how lucky I have been in my career to have been blessed with so many “stars.” Good football coaches all have one common thread that is consistently shared—great players. I’ve always enjoyed being in the company
Josh Helmrich
14
Pat McShane
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
of my former players. Often, they do not realize how much satisfaction and pleasure it brings to me. December 17, 2017, was one such memorable day in my football life. I’m sure many of you remember that Sunday as well, when the Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the New England Patriots because “the play” was ruled an incomplete pass after Jesse James carried the ball across the goal line. Surely, you remember! But, let’s talk about my good day rather than Mike Tomlin’s bad day. My son, JT, and I arrived at the stadium area early that day. We met former USC quarterback Josh Helmrich in the Pittsburgh Science Center parking lot at one o’clock. I wrote about Josh in a previous edition of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY. As reported, Josh currently works for the National Football League in New York City. He is talented and very personable, which makes him an asset to the people who run the NFL. He was also talented when he ran the USC offense as our quarterback, 2002–2004. Our record for those years was 31 wins and four losses. Josh missed a few games his junior year because of a knee injury, but people, including Danny Cafaro, Bobby Petrini, and a linebacker/ runningback by the name of Sean Lee, kept the boat afloat. After meeting up with Josh, the three of us headed to a USC pregame tailgate party hosted by Pat McShane, Sr. His son, Patrick (McShane), Jr., was USC’s quarterback during the 2005–2006 seasons. Patrick took over the quarterback position upon Josh’s graduation. His two-year record was 25 wins and two losses, which included a 16–0 record his senior year Pete Coughlin with Coach Render
Spring 2018
Dakota Conwell
and a WPIAL and PIAA state championship. His honors included First Team All State, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22, and Pittsburgh Tribune Review Terrific 25, Almanac Athlete of the Year in 2006, and, of course, he was our team’s Most Valuable Player. As a sophomore, I watched Patrick come off the bench in the WPIAL championship basketball game and score nine points in just over three minutes of the fourth quarter, which helped USC secure a magnificent win over Mt. Lebanon. It was at that moment I realized Patrick had to handle the ball every play and his future as a quarterback was determined. I guess you could say it worked out well. As for the tailgate party, we headed for the hot sausage when I ran into my third outstanding quarterback of the day. If you have any memories of USC football, you have to remember when Pete Coughlin took over for another great quarterback athlete, Dakota Conwell, who was injured against James Conner and his Erie McDowell teammates. We still pulled out a victory! Pete started the first game of his high school career in the playoffs against nationally-ranked Pittsburgh Central Catholic. Pete rushed for 207 yards and shocked everyone in Western Pennsylvania, especially Central Catholic, with one of the greatest wins in USC football history. That night, Pete received a standing ovation from parents, students, and players as he walked into USC’s Outback Restaurant, the local postgame hangout for food and fun. For the record, between Dakota and Pete, they accounted for 29 wins in their three years of quarterbacking, including numerous passes and runs for touchdowns. Dakota, who had a successful quarterback career at West Liberty College, would have enjoyed that tailgate extravaganza. Pete graduated from Washington and Jefferson in May 2017, where he was the school’s outstanding four-year quarterback. It was great to see Pete at the pregame social. The fourth USC quarterback at the social was Joe Repischak. Joe led USC to Joe Repischak
Mac McArdle with Coach Render
the playoffs and a conference championship in 2013. He ran, passed, and played linebacker for the Panthers, as USC won 11 games during his senior year. Joe will graduate from the University of Pittsburgh this spring and will continue his successes in the business and financial world. If you recall the great victories over Mt. Lebanon, you must remember the 2012 game, which USC won 21–19. Joe blocked the end-ofgame Lebo field goal attempt that iced the USC victory. Have you ever heard the argument about what is better for a coach to do: call the wrong play with the right quarterback or call the right play with the wrong quarterback? Trust me when I say that the right guys most often win the day. It’s not the X’s and O’s, but rather the Jimmy’s and Joe’s. Unexpectedly, a fifth USC quarterback walked into that tailgate bash on this unforgettable day. In reality, he flew in from his home in Charleston, South Carolina. Let me tell you about William “Mac” McArdle. First of all, his framed “number 3” jersey is displayed in USC’s sports trophy case. It’s not officially retired, but I declared at our 1997 football banquet that as long as I was head coach at USC, no future player would wear or be assigned number 3. In my world, that number belongs to Babe Ruth, Dale Earnhardt, and Mac McArdle, not necessarily in that order. As an eighth grader in 1993, Mac was an offensive lineman at St. Louise because of some obscure rule about weight restrictions. I had my eye on Mac for several years because my son, Eric, played Little League and Pony League baseball with him. His athletic ability was evident early on during his competitive endeavors. In the fall of 1994, Mac finally enrolled at Upper St. Clair High School. Composed and athletic well beyond his age, by the middle of his freshman year he ascended to the role as starting quarterback of USC’s varsity football team. In all, he was our starter for 46 consecutive games, a record I expect will continue to stand. To break it, you would have to start as a freshman and then lead your team to the WPIAL finals at least three out of the four years and into the state playoffs at least once. Mac McArdle achieved this, including a WPIAL championship in 1997. In a short 12 months, Mac went from being an eighth grade lineman to a primetime high school quarterback, playing for a championship at Three Rivers Stadium. During his four-year career as USC’s quarterback, we won 38 games and
lost only eight. He passed for 5334 yards and was responsible for 53 touchdowns. Mac was a three-time All Conference quarterback, WPIAL Quad A Player of the Year, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22, Pittsburgh Tribune Review Terrific 25, Almanac/Advertiser MVP, captain and MVP of USC’s team, Associated Press All State Team, and an inducted member of the Upper St. Clair Athletic Hall of Fame. He went on to quarterback at Mercyhurst University, where he was a two-year starter. In 2002, he graduated with a degree in business and finance. Mac’s first job was with Morgan Stanley as a financial advisor in Pittsburgh. He switched his emphasis to medical sales and has continued his winning ways for the past 16 years. His work has taken him from Pittsburgh to Annapolis, Maryland, and now to Charleston, South Carolina. He works for Phillips Healthcare, a diversified technology company that focuses on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation. Mac manages the Cardiovascular Ultrasound Business for North and South Carolina. He exceeded quota goals in 2016 and then again in 2017, by more than a million dollars this past year. Mac and his wife, Betsy, have two children: Quinn, age 5, and Beckett, age 3. I feel as though I should apologize to the many other great quarterbacks who have led USC’s team, but who were absent from this “unplanned” reunion of QBs. Maybe we should plan an event that would include the likes of Mark Gentile, 1989 WPIAL and PIAA champion; Jerry Berteotti, 1988 WPIAL; and Mike Junko and Alex Park who all brought wins and conference championships to Upper St. Clair. It’s easy to see that I have been given more than a “handful of stars” during my career as USC’s head football coach. There is one more correlation that joins the aforementioned game versus New England with the beginning of this article. My coach, Bill Edwards, was the head coach at Vanderbilt University in the early 1950s. My uncle, Ike Trubey, and a man by the name of Steve Belichick were two of his assistant coaches. The Belichicks had a son born while they were in Nashville. They named him Bill, after Steve’s friend and mentor, Bill Edwards. Sixty-five years later, Coach Bill Belichick once again brought his team to Pittsburgh to play our Steelers on December 17, 2017. What a memorable day! n Spring 2018
Paths When do you know to believe, If a path is there to choose? As life steers clear to see. Is there really just a win or lose? Can you go back and start again, Are there fences and souls to mend? Told of the narrow path of the Divine Thy will be done So, does just one path exist For each of us through time? To choose a well-traveled lane, Easy it at first seems, without strain A beam of clear light, shines bright Until the prism of troubled life arrives The path now clouded, the spectrum divides, As if asleep on foot uncertain with fear To find a new trail we pray will appear. Through shifting sands of time washed ashore Close to the edge, to want to simply just be, forever more. Intertwined and fluid, a mirage of change. Paths crossed with others from long past in love. Crashing surf, rising tide washes away from where you’ve come Can’t see to look back, can’t turn and run. Carve through those walls that lie in wait Placed there for rest, to test, so simply fate. Souls desperately seek for help along the way Stop we must, to lend a hand Or an ear or voice to say Come with me and walk today. Together our path is wide enough Together our tomorrows are clear. The sun is bright and the breeze is cool, Our sight ahead holds true Together we walk and live in love so sure. Our path, life’s journey For each moment of life to be Awake, alive, ascending To see. To then go slow, at peace, so well done Along the singular path followed and chosen for one. —Ron Morosky Ron shares the following: “We are all on paths through the joys and sorrows of life, sometimes leading and at other times following. It’s at those decision points when the path to choose becomes most important.” UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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Nellie King, Dave Giusti, and Many Nurses Mary O’Brien, left, and Peg Got to Know My Mother Shea visit with one another in Article and photos by Jim O’Brien
It was a fall weekend when the Steelers and Pitt didn’t
play any football games, and I only watched a bit of the Chiefs vs. Cowboys game on TV. I turned it off when the Chiefs went through a choreographed celebration in the end zone. I’ve had enough of that stuff! I ended up at my church’s fall festival, enjoying a four-hour conversation with Milt Hamel, a friend who is a funeral director. Together, we manned a table to share information about our writers’ workshop at Westminster Church that I lead and in which he participates. That day, we swapped stories about funerals. Slow day, eh? My dad, Dan O’Brien, was proud of his hair, mostly, I suppose, because both of his brothers, Rich and Robbie, were bald. My dad used to slick his hair down with lots of Vaseline hair oil. When he died, at age 63, his viewing was at the O’Connor Funeral Home on Old Clairton Road in Baldwin. Before a curtain was drawn back for friends to pay their last respects to my dad, our family had a few final minutes by ourselves to say goodbye. My dad’s hair was not as dark as usual. Quite visible were a number of brown and gray shafts. My mother, Mary O’Brien, took one look at him and said, a little too loud under the circumstances, “Oh, your dad would die if he saw his hair looking like that!” We couldn’t help but chuckle at her comment. “Mom, I think it’s too late to worry about that possibility,” I told her, putting my hand on her shoulder to comfort her. Then, I added, “We better stop laughing and smiling before our friends come in here or they will wonder what we’re up to.” People are often on an emotional ledge at funerals, crying then laughing from one minute to the next, or doing their best to grin and bear the loss. Then, too, someone manages to say the wrong thing, and that’s how family spats start. Milt agreed. He had seen his share of such exchanges during his career as a funeral director. I exchanged another story about my mother with Milt. This is one I’ve often told but have never written. Born at Mercy Hospital in the Uptown section of Pittsburgh back on August 20, 1942, I weighed in at nine pounds, ten ounces. In those days, mothers would remain in the hospital for nearly a week after giving birth. A 20-year-old student nurse, Peg Shea, took a liking to me, and carried me throughout the hospital, showing me off to everyone, my mother told me years later. Peg called me “Pat.” Her dad’s name was Pat and she later had a son and a grandson named Pat. Then, too, there was a movie that came out in 1940 called “Knute Rockne All-American.” It starred Pat O’Brien as Knute Rockne, the football coach at Notre Dame who had been a chemistry teacher at the school before the football team was turned over to his care. One of his players in the movie was George Gipp, Notre Dame’s first All-America football player. I know that because I once visited Gipp’s memorial in his hometown of Laurium, Michigan, while on a sports tour of the Midwest with my pal, Alex Pociask, who played football at Michigan Tech in nearby Houghton. He lived on Norton Drive in Upper St. Clair. Remember how the story went when Gipp was dying? He asked his coach that when the going got tough in a game to ask 16
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the lobby of Westin Convention Center Hotel in 1992 during a 50th anniversary reunion of the Nurses of Mercy Hospital.
Chuck Noll, left, and Nellie King, right, flank Steve Blass at a Pirates alumni golf outing at Churchill Country Club in 1985.
his teammates to “win one for the Gipper.” Whether that really happened has never been validated, but who cares? It was a great story. Gipp died at the young age of 25 of complications from a throat infection. The Gipper was played by none other than the handsome young actor Ronald Reagan; the one who would one day become president of the United States of America. It was easy for my mother to name me James Patrick O’Brien. My mother and Peg hit it off immediately and kept in touch for more than 60 years by writing letters to one another. Peg was married to a military career officer, and I recall that they lived in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where the U.S. War College is located. Each year, Peg would send a Christmas card to my mother, adding the note, “How’s Pat doing?” When Peg’s nursing school class held its 50th anniversary in the summer of 1996 in Pittsburgh, she wrote to my mother in advance and suggested that they meet at the Westin Convention Center Hotel. My mother so enjoyed seeing her! While they exchanged cards and letters on special occasions for 50 years, they hadn’t seen one another at all during that time. Advance to 2008. I am visiting a friend of mine, Nellie King, at Mercy Hospital. He had gotten dizzy and drove his car into a wall inside the Fort Pitt Tunnel and was recovering from his injuries. Nellie had been a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and then a broadcaster with Bob Prince for Pirates’ games. Steve Blass always said that if there were a Hall of Fame for good guys, Nellie King would be a charter member. When I entered his room at Mercy Hospital, Nellie had a visitor, Dave Giusti, with him. Giusti, a former fireman for the Pirates, was one of the best relief pitchers in the team’s history. He and Blass lived for many years in the same neighborhood in Upper St. Clair. Giusti always liked to rib me, and still does. His dark sense of humor can dig under the fingernails of this sports writer, for sure. A nurse entered the room. “Watch what you say,” Giusti greeted her. “This guy’s a writer and he’ll write about you!” I guess Giusti was right. I’ve finally written about her. The nurse, Sharon Howcroft, looked my way that day, and asked, “Are you Jim O’Brien, the sports writer?” I said that I was. She continued, “I looked after your mother a few years back and she talked a lot about you. She was really sick. She had great faith in God, I remember that. She was such a sweet woman.”
My mother had been at Mercy Hospital for 96 days with pancreatitis, but she came out of that difficult bout with flying colors. When the nurse talked about her, I couldn’t help but think that my mother was still hitting it off with the nurses at Mercy Hospital those many years later. Visiting Nellie King that afternoon had a spin on it much like “The Twilight Zone,” a Rod Serling TV show that was popular in my high school and college days (156 episodes on CBS between 1959 and 1964). According to the archives, the show was about “ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinarily situations and remarkably solve those situations.” As the nurse talked and I listened, I looked past Dave Giusti to the TV monitor secured to the ceiling. On the screen was none other than the black-and-white movie “Knute Rockne All-American.” The coincidence was uncanny! A year later, in 2009, King would publish a memoir: Happiness is Like a Cur Dog: The Thirty-Year Journey of a Major League Baseball Player and Broadcaster. I wrote the preface for the book. King, a longtime resident of Mt. Lebanon, died a year later, in 2010. During my mom’s 96-day stay at Mercy Hospital, she had some very bad days. Bill Hillgrove, a popular Pittsburgh sportscaster, asked me if I could pinch-hit for him at a speaking engagement at Central Catholic High School in DuBois during one of those days. I wasn’t sure if I should accept. I asked the doctors at Mercy if they thought it would be okay for me to travel away from Pittsburgh to DuBois for a short trip. They said that if I went, I could always call to see how my mom was doing, and they thought she would still be there upon my return. The night I was in DuBois, my immediate family members, including my oldest brother, Richard, from Bridgeport, Ohio, were at my mom’s bedside. When I returned to Pittsburgh, I learned that during my absence she found herself going down the proverbial white tunnel. But, she raised her head from the pillow, surveyed the room, and announced, “I can’t go! Jimmy’s not here!” Thankfully, my mother lived another 17 years, dying in 2010 at age 96. I often thank Bill Hillgrove, whose mother, also Mary, lived in the same St. Augustine senior complex in Lawrenceville as my mother, for sending me to DuBois that one winter day. n Check out Jim O’Brien’s newest book, Looking Up: A Basketball Memoir. Find his website by googling Pittsburgh sports author Jim O’Brien.
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RONALD A. ARNONI, DISTRICT JUDGE District Court 05-2-20 Office: 412-835-1661; Fax: 412-835-4060 Judge Ronald Arnoni wishes to introduce you to the District Court’s recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Citizen Award. On November 29, 2017, Judge Arnoni presented this award to Richard I. “Dick” Thomas, who was nominated by his son, Jim Thomas. The Outstanding Citizen Award is given to an individual who deservingly demonstrates excellent community leadership, makes significant contributions to their community, positively impacts the residents of their community, and shows generosity and unselfishness through his or her actions. Dick Thomas has resided in Upper St. Clair for more than 45 years, and is known throughout the community as someone who will drop everything to help a friend or neighbor in need. Dick lost his first wife to cancer in 1979. All-the-while raising seven children, he managed to maintain his law practice, which
2414 Lytle Road, Suite 200 Bethel Park, PA 15102
specializes in labor and employment law. Dick remarried in 1992 to his second wife, Jackie. Together, they undertook a complete house renovation project, turning an old estate into his family home. Jim, who was frequently seen working in the yard—one of his favorite pastimes—enjoyed this renovation, which was witnessed by the entire community. Sadly, in 2014, Dick lost Jackie to a rare form of cancer. In 2016, he married his third wife, Jana, and together, they reside in the family home. Dick has always been active in the community and has been involved in many civic and charitable causes, including a volunteer firefighter for USC VFD, chairman of the Pennsylvania Interest on Lawyers Trust Account Board, committee member of the Juvenile Diabetes Golf Benefit, board of director for USC Veterans Park, and a board member of the committee to benefit the Upper St. Clair stadium renovation.
Richard “Dick” Thomas (left) is presented with the Outstanding Citizen Award from Judge Ronald Arnoni
Judge Arnoni would like to thank all those who participated in the nomination and selection processes. Judge Arnoni would also like to thank nominator Jim Thomas and the entire Thomas family for submitting such a fine candidate. This past year was the first year of the Outstanding Citizen Award, and Judge Arnoni looks forward to providing this nomination/selection opportunity to residents of Upper St. Clair on an annual basis. n
Time Equals Change Jim Meston
As a result of downsizing I had to do to prepare for my move into a retirement community, a number of old photo albums surfaced. I found one very funny group shot of me in the seventh grade with my buddies, skinny legs and all. I paged through the albums, taking the time to look at each photo, and I noticed the changes in the people that take place over time. I’m sure everyone has experienced this same thing at one time or another. Who could have known that one gangly kid would become an All-American football star at a big school, play pro football, and end up in the College Football Hall of Fame? Another gawky kid became a surgeon and was a highly esteemed head orthopedic chief of staff who had a wing named after him at a hospital in Los Angeles. Another very low-key guy joined the Navy and rose to a high-ranking officer as captain of his ship and fought in two wars. There were several boys who would go on to become priests. One, a doctor of theology in the Maryknoll order, served the needs of others all over the world. He is alive today, unlike the other middle school chums I’ve mentioned. Most of my former high school buddies have also died. Uncovering some of my history by paging through old photo albums has caused me to look at time and change with a heightened awareness as it relates to today’s political arena. I’d like to share my thoughts with you. Patience is a virtue. Members of today’s society lose patience much too quickly. Patience has become a rare commodity in our current culture. It is being steam rolled by the need for quick answers, while haphazardly rejecting others’ beliefs and actions. People would benefit from the additional time for study, observation, and introspection. If patience is consistently practiced, who knows what good might develop? 18
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Can history be helpful? As I write this, there is no way to predict how today’s political decisions will affect us years from now. But, it is sad to me to see so many large groups of people demonstrating and acting on impulse, protesting at every decision; many of them not fully understanding or appreciating the scope of the political decision and ultimate action. For a richer understanding of any political climate, people should spend more time studying history, including the world’s history, over time and, in particular, our own country’s history. History teaches a lot. Focus on learning about the underlying reasons for many of the decisions that have been and are being made in today’s culture and throughout time, rather than simply protesting. What will I do? I will give my country’s administration as much support as I can because I am proud to live in the United States of America. My hope is that the ever-present, unstoppable, always-moving “Mr. Time” will prove our country has, indeed, made many decisions in the best interests of its citizens. My advice during this time of continual change.
• Kids, get back to class and learn all that you can! • Most demonstrators are disruptive and divisive; rather, be a positive influence for change. • If you must voice your concerns, do so in a civilized, respectful manner. • Always support your government. • Do whatever positive things you can do to make America as great as it can be. • Be grateful for the opportunity to live in this county. Believe it and, especially, contribute to it. n
St. Clair Stories Never Told
R. W. Dick Phillips, Author, Historian Most are familiar with the romanticized version of Washington Crossing the Delaware, painted by Emmanuel Lentz, in 1851. After much research, a more practical version of the painting was created by New York artist Mort Kunstler. It has been displayed since 2007 at the New York Historical Society Museum, under the same title, with the addition of the words “at McConkey’s Ferry.”
Sometimes there’s a story behind a story which might include inconvenient truths for, or expose, the agendas of those in charge. Often the public never hears those back stories, which go untold for political reasons or personal agendas. The effects of these falsely reported stories can be disastrous to the reputation of the person involved. But for 240 years? Such occurrences happened often during the formation and development of America, when Congress micro-managed every military aspect of the war and often looked for a scapegoat for their mistakes. During his 40-year military and public service to America, Arthur St. Clair survived two such actions by Congress and although his career grew steadily, his nationally deserved reputation as a brilliant strategist and courageous military leader never became known. And, yet, this patriot became a Major General, a congressman, president of Congress, and federal governor of the Northwest Territory. So, why have generations of historians since the early 1800s ignored him? St. Clair walked with the giants of the American Revolution— Franklin, Hancock, Washington, Adams, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, and others. It was Washington who recruited St. Clair as one of the first Scottish Freemasons in America. Many of his descendants say that Ben Franklin inducted him. Perhaps one reason why historians haven’t written about this courageous Scot is because St. Clair thought and acted outside the box. He always tried to do what was right, regardless of the consequences. This often put him in the crosshairs of the powers that be… and he paid a heavy price. Arthur St. Clair, a native Scot, became a British officer to fight the French in Canada’s Seven Years War. After retiring and settling in western Pennsylvania, he spent the next decade helping the Scottish settlers fight off Indian attacks and worked in various judicial capacities assigned by Governor Penn. After he learned that the Indian raids had been incited by the British command in Virginia, he became increasingly critical of the British taxation and their brutal treatment of Colonists and their families. In 1774, when Virginia’s British Governor made two attempts to annex the fertile three-rivers area around Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh), St. Clair had the governor’s men arrested and put in jail. After ten years of being “Americanized,” St. Clair increasingly resented the British attacks on settlers and their families. When he had had enough, he joined America’s fight for independence in 1775. Pledging his allegiance to America in a meeting with President Hancock, he accepted a commission as a colonel in the Continental Army. His recruiting talent, strategic planning, and leadership experience quickly became known and respected and, within a year, he was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned to George Washington’s senior staff. But the war was not going well and, in the six months following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Washington had not won a battle and was suffering trust issues with his Major Generals who would not answer his orders to bring their troops to help save the fight for freedom. The one exception was Brigadier General St. Clair, who brought him 2000 troops, planned the strategy, and led a Brigade, all of which helped Washington turn around an all-but-lost Revolutionary War, with three victories in New Jersey. Within weeks, Washington rewarded St. Clair with a promotion to Major General. Despite being in dire straits in December, these three victories over the British in the nine days after Christmas in 1776 helped Washington become recognized as “the greatest military strategist of the century.” Congress didn’t understand that Washington had been retreating from each battle to preserve the existence of his army and was ready to replace him. The public never knew that Washington was in dire straits or how St. Clair helped him. Washington and St. Clair were trusted fellow combatants and remained friends for more than 20 years. After serving as president of Congress in 1787, St. Clair was appointed by Congress to lead America’s expansion west of the Ohio River as the first federal governor of the Northwest Territory. n
Contact R. W. Dick Phillips at phillphx@aol.com or follow the story on Facebook: Arthur St. Clair, The Invisible Patriot. Also see Amazon for reviews of the book.
Spring 2018
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Going Straight Downhill Jay Lynch
Upper St. Clair families enjoy an impressive array of recreational activities and facilities, where active kids can learn to play a variety of sports with guidance from qualified coaches. A few of our hard-working, athletic kids might make it to the 2022 Olympics. But, for most kids, learning to play sports the right way, while young, can provide a lifetime of fun and valuable social engagement. While the goal may not be the Olympics, proper learning and guidance might prevent odd athletic styles and even public embarrassment. When growing up on USC’s Mitchell Drive (Washington Terrace) in the 1960s, young kids relied on siblings, older neighbors, or parents for sports training, sometimes resulting in generational oddities. My father believed that timing and repetition were keys to success in all sports, especially baseball. He was a fan of Juan Marichal, a Giants pitcher with a dramatic windup and perfectly timed delivery. So, when he taught me how to pitch, I learned a four-step windup and delivery that featured precisely timed arm movements and a Marichal-style leg lift, followed by an air kick. The intended timing was “one-two-three-STRIKE!” My technique was successful until opposing batters used my steady rhythm against me. The predictable delivery made it easy to time my fastballs, and, unfortunately, I didn’t have Marichal’s blinding speed. So, when my pitches started landing in the Municipal field parking lot, the cadence was more like, “onetwo-three-WHAM!” My teammates were delighted when my dad modified my wind-up to mimic the tamer and less predictable delivery of 1960 World Series hero Vernon Law.
Juan Marichal
Vernon Law
Our lack of today’s top-notch fields and courts also resulted in modified playing styles. For example, although several neighbors became high school basketball players, none of us excelled at aggressively driving to the basket. Why? We played at our neighbor Robin Weis’ backyard basketball court, which featured a chest-high concrete block wall directly beneath the backboard. If momentum from a drive to the basket carried you past the hoop, you received quite a body-blow from the wall or a gash in the forehead from its edge. As a result, we became a neighborhood of suburban jump shooters. None was better than A.J. Isacco, who held USC High School scoring records for many years—24 points in a quarter and 34 points in a game. Impressive feats, as three-point shots didn’t exist at the time. And, painful memories of Weis’ wall ensured that he’d set his records without a single lay-up. 20
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1967 USCHS boys’ basketball team; A.J. Isacco is front row, fourth from left
Our favorite winter sports included ice skating at Canonsburg Lake and a modified version of hockey, played with household brooms and a puck. Brooms replaced hockey sticks due to parental outrage after Logan Taylor nearly lost an eye when struck by the blade of a stick. I’m not sure the adjustment improved safety. The fact that you could whack an opponent in the face without causing injury encouraged more aggressive behavior and lots of bloody noses. Since we had no training or understanding of the sport, games were chaotic and high-scoring as the smallest kids played goalie. Pushing them through the goal (along with the puck) was routine behavior. Sled riding was great fun after every snowfall, and, once again, Weis’ back yard was the venue. It had a hill that seemed like Mt. Everest at the time, but was merely a 30-foot vertical drop. Mark Cahill’s father had a 1930-era pair of skis without bindings or wax, but they provided thrilling, yet short, trips down Weis’ hill. None of us knew how to ski, so our technique came from watching the ski jumpers in the 1964 Olympics. We simply stood on the skis and tucked our body while a buddy shoved us from behind. The hill was narrow and we didn’t know how to turn. We gathered speed on the 40-yard run until we had to make a choice—either crash into the jagger bushes at the bottom of the hill or intentionally wipe out with crowd-pleasing drama. Marty Kutschbach mastered the art of falling with style long before Buzz Lightyear made it famous, and he routinely earned style points of at least 9.5 from kids-turned-Olympic judges. Of course, the rest of us gave up on skiing and relied on flexible flyers, aluminum saucers, and cardboard boxes.
My lack of proper ski training came to haunt me when I was a young adult in my early 20s. When living in southern California, my good buddy, Chuck Wasker, invited me to join a group of friends who were headed for a day of skiing at Big Bear resort in the San Bernardino Mountains, east of Los Angeles. Chuck was an excellent athlete (he played football for Kansas State) and an experienced downhill skier. The rest of our friends were also lifelong skiers. I explained that I had never learned how to ski and wasn’t the right guy to join the fun. Chuck was never one to accept excuses, so with a “man or mouse” tone, he insisted that I make the trip. “It’ll be easy, Lynch. Spend an hour on the bunny slope and you’ll be ready to hit the trails.” My desire for inclusion outweighed my apprehension. When we arrived at the resort, my friends headed for the lifts while I rented boots, skis, and poles and walked to the bunny slope, which was populated by small children and their instructors. With no supervision (my pride prevented me from hiring an instructor), it took me quite a while to figure out how to get my boots in the bindings Left to right: Chuck Wasker and Jay Lynch without falling over, as the skis were moving targets in the snow. Children became distracted from their lessons as they watched me wage my personal “battle of the bindings.” They giggled as I attempted to conquer the bunny slope in my untrained, clumsy way—wiping out every ten feet, coming dislodged from the bindings, and starting the battle anew. I sat in the snow and watched the instructors teach the kids how to stay upright, easily pop into their bindings, start and stop without falling, and other basics. Before I knew it, Chuck was tapping me on the shoulder. “Time for lunch!” I was thrilled that the day was half-over and proceeded to remove my boots. “No, no. Leave ’em on. We’re going up the lift. The restaurant’s at the top.” We proceeded up the lift, which was a tad scary as there was no Kennywood-style safety bar to prevent a 50-foot drop from the swinging chair. Getting off the lift resulted in more embarrassment, as the lift operator had to stop the line when I didn’t make the “hop-off” at the right time. After lunch, I started to walk back to the lift, but Chuck asked, “Where you headed? They won’t let you on the lift from the top. You’ll need to ski down.” Panic struck. This wasn’t a 3000-foot Seven Springs-type hill. It was 8500 feet, straight down. Trees, rocks, moguls, ice. My friends dismissed my anxiety with words like, “You’ll figure it out,” and “Sink or swim, Lynch” and began their graceful descents. After considering my options (there weren’t any), I started my journey using the same technique I used on the bunny slope—get into the bindings, stand up, go forward ten feet, fall over, repeat. I was a human hazard, as accomplished skiers sped past me at great speed. A warden asked me why I was on a black diamond slope and issued me a warning to stay away from the middle of the trail. Even worse, he refused my request for a helicopter rescue. It took quite a while to get to a point where I was only a few hundred yards from the base of the mountain. I was tired of falling over and wanted to end the misery. So, I pointed my ski tips
at the base of the mountain and pushed off. My plan was to keep the skis parallel, tuck my body, and quickly speed to the base, the same approach we used at Weis’ hill. It worked! However, I became a 180-pound projectile, traveling at great speed, with no guidance system and no brakes. As I accelerated toward the mountain base, I realized that a last minute bail-out would not prevent a collision with the large, unsuspecting crowd of happy skiers waiting in line for the ski lift. I violently waved my hands and yelled at the crowd, warning them to move out of my way. I don’t remember my exact words, but they were brief and direct, “Ahhhh! I can’t stop!” Almost everyone in the crowd heard my warning or saw me coming. The people in my direct path skillfully shuffled their skis to make an opening. Except for one kid. He wasn’t paying attention to the oncoming danger. I hit him straight on. We became a two-person rolling ball of fast moving, snowy humanity as skis, poles, goggles, and gloves flew in all directions until we came to rest in the resort parking lot, a good 30 yards from the collision. People in the lift line watched from a distance as we untangled and stood up. Neither of us were hurt. Stunned, but not injured. I brushed the snow off the kid, retrieved his equipment, and apologized. Then it got worse. With a tear in his eye, the boy handed me one of his poles, which was bent. I then learned a lesson about the properties of aluminum ski poles. You can’t unbend them. When you try, they snap in half. So, when I broke the boy’s pole over my knee, he started a full-bore cry. The mood of the distant crowd switched from concerned relief to unmitigated anger, as they thought I had intentionally broken his pole in anger. When the boy’s father, and multiple, burly wardens surrounded me, I explained my mistake with the pole and begged for mercy, saying that I was a doofus from Pittsburgh who had no business being on their lovely mountain. Their anger subsided when I hobbled to the ski store in my boots, bought new poles for the kid, lift tickets for his family, and gave him a $10 bill. I wasn’t aware that Chuck and friends had been watching (and laughing) from a distance, so my misery provided a source of entertainment on the trip home, including mock-congratulations for “setting a speed record for the last 50 yards of the slope,” having quite an “impact” on the sport, and making “solid contact” with my fellow skiers. So, kids, please heed my advice. Take advantage of the excellent coaches and facilities in our area. Learn to model your pitching windup after the unpredictable Clayton Kershaw, drive to the hoop without fear of “the wall” by playing on the great courts at the C&RC, and join the USC ski club, where you’ll learn to ski like Lindsey Vonn. And, remember, when you’re in the lift line at Seven Springs, always keep an eye out for a human missile headed your way! n To learn more about the USCHS Ski Club, contact assistant activities director Brooke Tarcson at 412-833-1600, extension 2264, or btarcson@uscsd.k12.pa.us. An informational meeting is held each year in October. Contact author Jay Lynch with your comments about this article at bkefather@yahoo.com. Spring 2018
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The Case of the Crazed Cardinal Mary Lynne Spazok
For 18 years, Ed, the Cocker Spaniel was the sentinel of our rear covered porch, patio, and courtyard. During daylight hours and into sunset, the back door was slightly ajar for Ed to come and go, within his territory, as he pleased. Casey Cooper, a frisky Irish Setter from across the street, would often visit in the morning, sashay gingerly into the kitchen, and wait patiently for his treat. Tail wagging excitedly, he would visit Ed, the Cocker Spaniel until human mom Chris came a callin’. During our 18 years of Ed, intruders were never a problem. It was his territory until June 2014, when Ed crossed the Rainbow Bridge. The following March, a sunrise slumber was cut short by birds’ tempestuous chirping and out-of-the-ordinary raucous behavior. There was a relentless clattering at the kitchen picture window. Alarmed, I set off to investigate only to find a handsome male cardinal “beaking” and then crashing, sometimes to the concrete. It was alarming. Was this red bird suicidal? I shooed him away to no avail. Google advised, “This is a problem that is most common in spring as male birds are establishing, defending territories.” The male meets his reflection in the window. Is it a rival trying to usurp his territory? Such persistent behavior occurs most often from mockingbirds, robins, and cardinals. This idiosyncratic performance is territorial at the onset of the breeding season and, most likely, ceases once a male finds his mate and dominates a nest with eggs or young. My yard towers with Emerald Italian Spruce, and bird condos thrive! Therefore, I was frantic to discover a positive solution. Relying on the Internet, there appeared to be a myriad of potential solutions. Up went a thin sheet of plastic over the window. Forget that, the cardinal’s next quest was the stainless-steel gas grill. Yet, another sheet of plastic. Further enemies included a shiny stainless trash receptacle and another window. Back online, I sought bird enthusiast testimonials about the “crazed cardinal” syndrome. By 22
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unanimous voice, the most successful deterrent were realistic owl and hawk decoys. Off to the hardware store for my first purchase ever of one life-size bobble-head owl and his steadfast buddy. Most valuable and a necessary recommendation was to alter the positions of the decoys at twilight, anticipating daybreak. By golly it worked! I immediately ordered the Bird B Gone Hawk Decoy to fortify the front line. The trio comes out every March 31, and then is stored away toward the end of April. These lifesaving replicas are durable, moderately priced in the $13–$20 range, and well worth peace of mind. Millions of wild birds perish each year from crashing into reflectives. With pup patrol no longer on duty, an eclectic backyard brigade has emerged. Mother Nature has revealed a rambling rotund Woody Woodchuck, tumultuous turkeys, deer (fleeing from a neighboring community!), yowling love-sick felines, one diminutive garden snake, bunnies, chippies, squirrels, and a robust Rocky Raccoon. With no food on site, why, like clockwork, did RR appear nightly around 10:40 p.m.? Once I silently observed this quirky character jumping up and down gingerly in a petite, flip-top paper recycling bin. To no avail, I attempted many suggested deterrents, except for the cage trap. But then, Rocky’s visits abruptly ceased. My husband, Ted, reported that Rocky fell to his demise on Fort Couch Road. I’ve not experienced problems since. RIP Rocky! My next conquest is the banishment of the egg snatching, territorial Cow Birds, commonly known as crows. Pesky buggers! The Northern Cardinal, lifetime residents throughout their range, has been steadily expanding latitude north. Motivation is the proliferation of abundant sustenance from residential bird feeders. Favored seeds are high in protein and fat: the black oil sunflower and safflower. When nesting in your environs, this rather secretive Phylum Chordata, in the bird class Aves, should be observed from afar. The male is a vivid crimson, while the female is mostly buff brown with crimson splashes on her head, wings, and tail. Both have mini black face masks surrounding the bill. Quite revered, every greeting card company in North America, as well as a USPS holiday postage stamp, feature these awesome wonders. As winter snows melt, and the days become warmer and melodious birds sing out in exaltation, be mindful of the “crazed cardinal.” After all, with spring fever, love is “in the air!” n Working as a pair, the owls keep the birds away.
State Senator Guy Reschenthaler Bethel Park District Office
100 Broughton Road Bethel Park, PA 15102 Phone: 412-831-0250 Fax: 412-831-2740 Last month, I introduced Senate Bill 1011, also known as Marsy’s Law, which will establish a crime victim’s Bill of Rights in Pennsylvania’s Constitution. A bipartisan group of 27 senators joined me in co-sponsoring Marsy’s Law. Both the United States Constitution and the Pennsylvania Constitution rightfully provide for certain protections for the accused. As a former U.S. Navy prosecutor and defense attorney, and former district judge, I understand the importance of these rights for the accused. However, Pennsylvania experienced 40,447 violent crimes in 2016, according to FBI data. This included 23,027 aggravated assaults, 4433 rapes, and 661 murders. Thousands of Pennsylvanians are victimized each year and, unfortunately, both the United States Constitution and the Pennsylvania Constitution fail to provide enumerated protections for crime victims and their families. My legislation would begin the process of amending the state constitution to grant inherent rights to victims in Pennsylvania. This bill was developed by a collaboration of the Pennsylvania Office of Victims Advocate, the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, various victims’ right groups, and the national Marsy’s Law Project. Marsy’s Law Project is part of a national movement spearheaded by Dr. Henry T. Nicholas, who founded Marsy’s Law in honor of his sister, Marsalee (Marsy) Nicholas. The Marsy’s
Robinson Township District Office
5996 Steubenville Pike Robinson Township, PA 15136 Phone: 412-788-2967 Fax: 412-788-2970
Legislation to Establish a Crime Victim’s Bill of Rights
Law website describes the horrific encounter that motivated Dr. Nicholas to start this national movement: …Marsy, a beautiful, vibrant University of California Santa Barbara student, was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Only a week after Marsy was murdered, Dr. Nicholas and Marsy’s mother, Mrs. Marcella Leach, walked into a grocery store after visiting her daughter’s grave and were confronted by the accused murderer. The family had no idea that he had been released on bail. Marsy’s Law will work to protect victims from these types of painful experiences. The constitutional amendment requires that, for the criminal and juvenile justice systems, the enumerated rights of victims will be protected no less vigorously than the rights afforded to the accused. It stipulates notice of hearings and other proceedings, protection from the accused, notice of release or escape, full and timely restitution, proceedings free from delays and with prompt conclusion, the ability to confer with the government’s attorney, and information on all of these rights. I hope that this legislation will help victims across the commonwealth for years to come. With the co-sponsorship of Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati (R-25), Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34), Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-43), and Appropriations Chairman Pat Browne (R-16), I hope the momentum is on our side to end Pennsylvania’s silence on crime victims’ rights. n
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Spring 2018
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Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair Celebrating 25 years of community enrichment! Celebrating 25 years of community enrichment
Answers will appear in the next issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY magazine Answers will appear in the next issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY maga
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Upcoming Community Foundation Events Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate Thursday, March 8
Whistling Past the Graveyard By Susan Crandall Thursday, Sept. 13 Beartown Book Club meets by Fredrik Backman at C&RC Thursday, Sept. 13 Homecoming 11:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. by Yaa Gyas Thursday, Nov. 8
Plan to attend the 8th Annual Family Movie Night
August Date and Movie to be announced in Summer Issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY magazine
Adopt a Duck! Or Purchase An Entire Flock!!! Community Foundation Duck Races - May 19, 2018, at 3 p.m.
Order your adoptees online at www.cfusc.org/shop
Watch for details about the 3rd Annual Golf Invitational at St. Clair Country Club September 24, 2018
Building a sense of community by supporting activities and programs that have enhanced the quality of life for our residents for 25 years.
Spring 2018
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Traveling with TODAY He walked into the showroom to “just browse.” His gaze fell upon a tour de force, the 2017 Touring Electra Glide Ultra, a platinum performance Harley Davidson. As motorcycle freedom equates to exhilarating travel, Al Iaconis magnified this pursuit with a quick text to longtime biker buddy Ted Spazok, Ted and Al pose with TODAY along their setting in motion the “2017… The Expedition Lewis & Clark Trail journey. Returns.” The original 1804 trek of Lewis and Clark from Missouri to Oregon and back again that lasted two and a half years was facilitated by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson who was intrigued by the vast territory west of the Mississippi River after the signing of the Louisiana Purchase. You may remember that Al and Ted traveled to Italy two summers ago. These two HOG (Harley Owners Group) lifers keep firing on all cylinders because of their unexpiring sense of wanderlust! This past July, the excursion was a tad over 5400 miles and lasted three and a half weeks. Making new friends along the way, USC TODAY went along for the ride. Al Iaconis poses while on the Lewis While today’s bikers utilize GPS wireless headset technology, Lewis and Clark had the help & Clark expedition recreation. of Sacagawea, the only Indian woman on the expedition. Shrewd, affluent, and masterful Native Americans built successful collaborative enterprises among Indian neighbors, including the Clatsop, Chinock, and Nehalem of the Columbia River Basin. The party of Lewis and Clark embraced these amiable “extrodeanary friendships” (Lewis journal) throughout their journey. Traveling west to east, Al and Ted’s points of interest (by miles) from Portland, Oregon, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, included: • Fort Clatsop National Monument, Berbey Maritime Center, Oregon (180 miles) • Rock Fork Campsite, Lewis and Clark Trail State Park, Idaho (351 miles) • Lewis and Clark Pass, Tower Rock, Montana (386 miles) • Rainbow Falls, Great Falls, Crazy Mountain Museum, Montana (271 miles) • Beartooth Pass, Yellowstone National Park, Montana (460 miles) • Pompeys Pillar, North Dakota (414 miles) • Fort Abraham, South Dakota (210 miles) • Spirit Mound, Iowa (306 miles) Traveling with TODAY • Fort Atkinson, Missouri (362 miles) Read the following criteria to find out how to • Arrow Rock, Missouri (227 miles) submit information. • Clear, close-up photo of USC resident(s) • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (760 miles, two-day holding his or her TODAY magazine. excursion home) • Digital photo or hard copy 35mm accepted. September 1806, Meriweather Lewis ‣‣ For digital, attach jpg (at least 300 dpi) and journaled, “My hope, and that of Captain Clark, Ted Spazok holds TODAY at Pompeys Piller, send via email, including required information North Dakota. is that our work over the last two and a half years (see below) in the body of the email. ‣‣ For 35 mm, attach post-it to back of hard will accomplish this administration’s goals to expand the Republic westward and inspire copy photo, listing the required information future generations into ever further exploration and adventure.” And so it has! n (see below). • List name(s) of resident(s), group, and specific photo location. • List objective of visit—leisure, volunteer, career, etc. • Include email address or phone number should further contact be necessary. • Deliver one 35 mm photo with details to the USC Township receptionist in an envelope marked “USC TODAY,” or • Email one digital photo with details to usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us, with “TODAY” listed in subject line.
Note: Submitted photos and information for this feature section will remain on file for upcoming editions until published. 26
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Article by Mary Lynne Spazok
This past August, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY enjoyed international travel
and the company of former Upper St. Clair residents Kathie O’Brien and Sharon Pociask during a Rhone river cruise, touring Lyon and Provence in southern France. n Flanking Viking Delling cruise manager Mia Dikkers are Kathie O’Brien (left) and Sharon Pociask. Spring 2018
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Spring 2018
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Will New USC Sewer Regulations Affect My Home Sale or Remodel? Jason Daugherty, Mister Sewer Can the new sewer regulations in Upper St. Clair affect my home sale or kitchen remodel? The short answer is yes! While the Sanitary Sewer Lateral Inspections article (page 65) explains the “why” surrounding Ordinance No. 2175, let’s delve further to understand what this means for Township homeowners. At the point of sale, for any home in Upper St. Clair, a dye test and video camera sewer inspection must be done from the residence to the public sewer connection by a NASSCO-certified technician. Based on this inspection, repairs, some costly, may need to be made before the sale can proceed. But, did you know that certain building permits, such as those for kitchens or bathrooms, also require a sewer inspection? When you are ready to begin your remodel, contact the USC Department of Planning and Community Development to see if you need a permit and to get any necessary paperwork. Once you turn in your paperwork and your permit 28
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
is approved, you will need to contact a NASSCO-certified contractor to perform a lateral video inspection. Certified contractors will charge a fee for the video inspection. Lateral defects observed during the inspection could result in repairs to the lateral sewer line. This could affect kitchens, game rooms, bathrooms, finished basements, and more. Buyer beware! Don’t engage with plumbing companies that try to sell work when it is not needed. Here are some signs that you are dealing with a reputable company. • Homeowners should be welcomed to view the video during the inspection to see problems as they arise. • Select a company that provides you with a DVD copy of the inspection. • Inspections take approximately an hour to perform. • To properly classify the issues as they relate to the ordinance, all technicians must be NASSCO certified. • Ask if the company’s technicians Spring 2018
have experience advancing a camera through difficult plumbing systems. • For peace of mind, select a contractor who has worked with your sewer line protection service (i.e., American Water Resources). As a homeowner who is excited about a new kitchen or thinking of selling, the last thing you want is to have to tear up your front lawn to repair the sewer line. In cases demanding a less invasive repair you may want to research the process of trenchless pipe lining. If you are getting ready to sell your house and you have questions about the regulations or if you are concerned about roots in your pipes, check with your real estate agent. Most agents have worked with sewer companies because of this ordinance and can recommend one that is NASSCO certified and provides exceptional service to meet your needs. n See ad for Mister Sewer on page 7.
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Spring 2018
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
Five Tips When Shopping for a Home Dora Rudick and Kevin O’Laughlin
We all know that buying a new home can be stressful, but having a real estate agent and lending team by your side that use cutting edge technology and new-age marketing strategies will allow you to look at the process as fun and exciting rather than a tense one. Buying real estate in Upper St. Clair? Read these tips: Tip #1: Get Pre-Approved There’s a big difference between a buyer being pre-qualified and a buyer who has a pre-approved mortgage approved by an underwriter. Most lending institutions only provide a pre-qualification letter, which essentially is a loan officer’s best guess. An underwriter, not a loan officer, is the only person that can approve a mortgage. Using only a best guess pre-qualification can lead to horror stories, including delayed closings or not being able to close on the home at all. Before you search for your dream home, find a lending institution that will gather all the necessary documents to provide for a fully underwritten approval signed off by an underwriter. This helps to ensure a seamless transaction and makes your offer stand out from the crowd! If you are part of a multiple-offer situation and come in with an offer that has a fully underwritten approval—which is considered similar to a cash offer—you will quickly trump other buyers’ offers that come in with only a best guess pre-qualification letter, even if your offer is somewhat less than others’ offers. Tip #2: Avoid Sleeper Costs Sleeper costs are the difference between renting and homeownership. In addition to the mortgage payment, be aware of the other expenses, including property taxes, utilities, homeowner-association dues, or if buying a condo, the condo fees. Be prepared to pay for repairs, maintenance items, and potential property tax increases. Before making an offer on a house and to avoid last-minute surprises, work with your loan officer to come up with a detailed cost sheet, labeling all possible costs of purchasing a specific home. Ideally, before spending your time 30
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touring a house, use your cost sheet to make sure you are comfortable with the full monthly payment associated with that property. Tip #3: Stalk the Neighborhood Before you buy, get the lay of the land—drop by morning, noon, and night. Many homebuyers have become completely distraught because they thought they found their perfect home, only to realize that the neighborhood wasn’t for them. Drive by the house and surrounding neighborhood at various hours of the day to see what’s happening. Drive the work commute from the house to your place of employment to make sure it’s something you can deal with on a daily basis. How far it is to the nearest grocery store and other places you frequent? Even if you don’t have kids, make sure to research the schools. The school district in which the house is located can affect the home’s value by as much as 20%. Tip #4: Give Your Potential House a Physical Would you buy a car without checking under the hood? Of course not! Hire a home inspector. At an approximate $400 expense, it could end up saving you thousands of dollars. A home inspector’s sole responsibility is to provide you with information helpful in making your home buying decision. If there are concerns with the house, an inspection report can be used as a bargaining tool for lowering the price of the home. Spend the money upfront on a home inspection rather than spending a fortune on repairs later on. Tip #5: Find the Company That Works Best With You Schedule interviews, and then choose an agent and lending team to ensure your specific needs and home-buying goals are discussed and can be met. Rely on the experts to provide you with the best guidance throughout the home-buying process. The goal is to make it fun and exciting and reduce the stressors as much as possible! n Check out Facebook.com/movementmortgagepittsburgh and Facebook.com/dorarudickrealtor. See ads on this page.
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Energy Efficient Shades More Than Just a Trend or Luxury Trish Gensler, Preferred Drapery & Blinds
When choosing window treatments, be mindful of the climate that affects both your indoor and outdoor living spaces. Invite the light in, not the heat or cold, with insulating fabrics. Light filtering, natural textures are the perfect touch for creating comfort in all your living spaces. Custom draperies are great for reducing the intensity of the sun coming through your windows and allow you to easily regulate the temperature of your home, maintaining a comfortable environment for the whole family. Saving energy can be simple. Did you know that window shades can be one of the most effective window treatments for saving energy? Solar shade fabrics vary in weave (or openness), which allow for different levels of light and UV rays to pass through. Studies demonstrate that medium colored draperies on windows with direct sunlight can reduce heat gain by up to 33%. Functional and stylish patio shades can add a layer of light control to make outdoor spaces even more stylish and comfortable. Bring your outdoor space alive with stunning accent fabrics for cushions, pillows, and draperies. When planning your outdoor space, keep in mind your nearest indoor room, choosing a similar style and palette to ensure a smooth transition from indoor to out. Exterior roller shades protect your outdoor living space from unwanted damaging sunlight. More than just a trend or luxury, outdoor shades offer many benefits, including a wide variety of opacities; available in a variety of materials, solar, fabric, or vinyl; horizontal or vertical applications; limitless color and decorative options; child and pet safe; ideal light control and easy to operate, with optional motorization; reduces fading and sun damage to your furniture; preserves your beautiful views; keeps house cool in the summer; blocks the sun’s UV rays; increases and protects your privacy; reduces harsh glare during all hours of the day; custom fit for any space, indoor or out; and, if outdoor, designed to withstand nature’s elements. Explore the ever-changing window treatment market with an expert to help you find custom window treatments that not only complement your décor, but enhance it! Preferred Drapery & Blinds is here to help you combine practical and decorative elements to create healthy, everefficient, and beautiful living spaces for your home. n
See ad for Preferred Drapery & Blinds on this page.
Spring 2018
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412-266-1869
www.ashlininteriors.com UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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HOME IMPROVEMENT Home Insurance Reviews
The next time you need to renew your insurance policies, consider taking these steps to help you get the most out of them: • Meet with your agent. Your insurance needs change over time. Conducting a home insurance review with your agent at least once each year can help you determine if your policies continue to make sense for your current situation. • Ask about discounts. During your annual home insurance review, ask about policy discounts. Before you renew your policy, speak with your agent about discounts that may be available. You may qualify for discounts for alarm systems or consider higher deductibles. Commonly overlooked discounts include infrequent or safe driver discounts. • Insure your home for the estimated cost to rebuild rather than the real estate value. State Farm® suggests you select a policy amount equal to at least 100% of the estimated replacement cost of your home, but the choice is yours. You also should make sure any replacement cost estimate reflects the actual characteristics of your home. Insuring your home for at least 100% of its estimated replacement cost—not the current market value—could give you the means to replace your home entirely in the event of a loss. Carefully review the limitations on coverage and exclusions in your policy. Some items in your home might qualify for extra protection. For example, you may need more protection for jewelry and firearms. Business-in-the-home coverage can protect furniture and equipment used for business purposes. Talk to your insurance agent to make sure you’re not overlooking important add-ons to your policy. n Article provided by Cindy Brophy, State Farm® agent. See ad on this page.
Selling Your Home? Six Must Do Steps! Lynn Dempsey
Are you preparing to sell your home? In the Pittsburgh area, an average home stays on the market for approximately 35 to 75 days. While there are regional differences, basic selling principles remain the same. From great curb appeal and knowing which home improvements offer the highest return on your money to pricing your home to sell, here are some ideas for your consideration. 1. Get your home pre-inspected. Valuable information from a pre-inspection helps you fix those items that will eventually arise when the buyer gets his own inspection. Sometimes the buyer will use the seller’s already paid for home inspection to save money. In addition to a pre-inspection, conduct a pest inspection and radon test, giving you time to get any problems corrected. 2. Shape up your home before putting it on the market. Does your house present itself well? Spend the money ahead of time to make sure your home is in good repair. As the saying goes, “put your best foot forward” when selling your home. a. Freshen it up with a new paint job… just the trim or a whole room. It will pay back handsomely! b. Clean up and declutter the entry way, clean the windows and mirrors, and assure the outdoor lighting fixtures are working properly. Add flowers (indoor and out) and other colorful items to bring life into your home. 32
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c. Shape up your landscaping for a lush, professional look. A healthy lawn, new mulch, and a bed of flowers is a perfect combination! 3. Devise a marketing plan with your real estate agent. Use a professional real estate agent to help you sell your home in a timely manner and for the highest price. Interview several agents to find one who works best with you and who works with your ideas and strategies in mind. 4. Will you be receiving the assistance of a relocation company? Check to see that your agent is a relocation specialist who can help with certain relocation questions you or the buyer might have. 5. Ask your agent to do a comparative market analysis. This tool will help you correctly price your house. Your agent can also offer home staging advice. 6. Purge! Keep your house clean and clutter-free. Use a “less is more” strategy! Clean out your closets, cupboards, and cabinets. Throw things out or give them away. Rent a storage unit, if necessary. Prospective buyers will envision the available space in your home as it relates to their things. n Lynn Dempsey, Realtor®, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services, can be reached at 412-833-5405, ext. 255, or lynn.dempsey@pittsburghmoves.com. See ad on page 87.
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SD Upper St. Clair School District Board of School Directors
Amy L. Billerbeck President 412-833-2712 2019*
Patrick A. Hewitt 412-831-0178 2019*
Barbara L. Bolas Vice President 412-833-9841 2019*
Louis P. Mafrice, Jr. 412-851-0622 2021*
Jennifer L. Bowen 412-660-5846 2021*
Angela B. Petersen 412-833-4873 2019*
http://www.uscsd.k12.pa.us
Phillip J. Elias 412-257-1198 2019*
Dr. Daphna Gans 412-851-18250 2021*
The 2018 regular meetings of the Upper St. Clair Township Board of School Directors are held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month at the Central Office Board Room, unless otherwise noted. No regular meeting is scheduled for July.
Dante R. Plutko, Jr. 412-389-5187 *Date indicates expiration of term. 2021*
Upper St. Clair School District Annual Notices
The required annual notices to parents of children who reside in the Upper St. Clair School District are available online. Visit the District website at www.uscsd.k12.pa.us. Click on Information and then select Compliance Notifications to view required state and federal notices and information.
Farewell to Outgoing Board Members
As the incoming members take their place on the Board of School Directors, TODAY would like to recognize the three outgoing members who graciously served our community. Thank you for your service to the Upper St. Clair School District and its citizens!
Buffy Hasco served from January 2012 to December 2017. She served as board president in 2016 and as vice president in 2015. Buffy was committee of the whole chairperson in 2015, Youth Steering Committee alternate in 2016 and 2017, PTC Council and PTSO alternate from 2013–2017, Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) representative in 2013 and 2014, and Pathfinder alternate in 2012.
Frank Kerber served from September 2008 to December 2017. He served as board president in 2015 and as vice president in 2014. Frank was committee of the whole chairperson in 2014, USC Township liaison representative in 2013 and alternate in 2014, Pathfinder alternate in 2013, PSBA alternate in 2013, SHASDA alternate from 2009–2012 and 2016–2017, and Youth Steering Committee alternate from 2009–2012.
Buffy Hasco 34
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Frank Kerber Spring 2018
Harry Kunselman served from January 2008 to December 2017. He served as board president in 2011 and vice president in 2009 and 2010. Harry was committee of the whole chairperson in 2009 and 2010, PSBA representative in 2012 and 2015, and alternate in 2016 and 2017, legislative representative from 2012–2015, Youth Steering Committee alternate in 2013 and 2014, USC Township liaison alternate in 2011, School District advancement ad hoc committee in 2011, and naming rights ad hoc committee in 2011. n
Harry Kunselman
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Meet Our Newest Members of the Board Upper St. Clair’s newest members of the Board of School Directors answered a few questions for TODAY. Continue reading to learn more about these three community leaders!
Jennifer Bowen
Jennifer Bowen Spouse’s name: Brian Bowen Children: Son, Brooks (6); daughter, Emily (3) Education: BS Marketing and International Business, Penn State Behrend, MBA, Duquesne Occupation: Area general manager for Automated Logic Contracting Services, a United Technologies company Hobbies: Ask me again in five to ten years. Right now, it seems to be Legos® and Princess tea parties. One thing you’d like to accomplish as a board member: I’d like to see if there aren’t some ways that we as a community and school district can help address the challenges our students are currently facing with adolescent stress and anxiety.
Daphna Gans
Daphna Gans, PhD Spouse: George S. Gans Children: Jonathan (22); Ella (15)
Education: BA Social Work, University of Haifa; MA Family Studies, Michigan State University; PhD Gerontology, University of Southern California; Post Doctorate Fellowship: Economics of Aging, RAND. Occupation: Faculty member of the School of Medicine at UCLA; Health Policy researcher; Health Policy consultant Hobbies: Life-long avid volunteer and leader, serving as president of USC Parent Teacher Council (PTC), member of the District Curriculum Input Committee, USC Community Foundation trustee, chairing the Science Committee, former president of Fort Couch PTSO, an expert member on the United Way’s task force on Family Caregivers, and a board director and chair of the quality committee of one of Western Pennsylvania’s leading service provider of long term care, memory care, rehabilitation and hospice, among others. When I do not work or volunteer, I enjoy spending time with my family. One thing you’d like to accomplish as a board member: Capitalizing on my experience in securing multi-million dollar grants in my work at the School of Medicine at UCLA, I will work with other board members and District administration to seek opportunities and successfully apply for available local, state, and national grants. Specifically, I will draw on my expertise in building collaborative partnerships and work tirelessly at strengthening existing and developing new partnerships with local universities to enhance our academic offerings and increase access to technology without adding cost. Additionally, I will work with local businesses and for-profit and non-profit organizations to create new learning opportunities for our students outside the classroom, including developing internship programs. We are all accustomed to hearing “You can’t have your cake and eat it, too.” If one wants to expand on excellent academic programs, including
the one-on-one learning initiative, innovative STEAM programming, state-of-the-art art and music programs, and specialized programs for special education and gifted education, one must raise taxes. I believe that we can “have our cake and eat it, too!” I will work hard to make our cake bigger, increase our budget through grants, partnerships, and collaborations, allowing us to expand programming while balancing our budget responsibly.
Dante Plutko
Dante Plutko, Jr. Spouse: Barb Plutko (lifelong USC resident) Children: Ari (10); Elias (9) Education: University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Community College of Beaver County Occupation: Financial Registered Representative and insurance agency owner of Dante Plutko Agency, Farmers Insurance Hobbies: I enjoy watching sports, especially my sons’ sports, attending various musical and theatrical events, gardening and lawn work, and politics and current events. One thing you’d like to accomplish as a board member: Become more engaged in the education of students by enhancing connections to our community and its legacy of tradition and high standards for excellence. Ensuring that we are fiscally responsible, forward projecting, and utilizing funding to maximize classroom educational opportunities. n
Dr. O’Toole Retiring
While each season brings exciting changes, sometimes those changes can be bittersweet, like the change we are announcing here. After serving the District since March 2007, Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole, superintendent of schools, announced his retirement at the January 2018 school board meeting. Dr. O’Toole’s retirement will be effective June 30, 2018. The Board of School Directors is evaluating its succession plan for naming a new superintendent. See page 45 for Dr. O’Toole’s message to the community concerning Upper St. Clair School District’s 2017 annual report. n
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SD Capital Projects Proceed Through Bidding Process Upper St. Clair School District is moving forward with its capital projects. Bid approval was scheduled for February, after the print deadline for this issue of TODAY. For the latest information regarding the awarding of bids and the anticipated construction schedule, visit www.uscsd.k12.pa.us. The capital projects include: • Construction of a new 8-lane pool at the high school o Consideration of a separate diving well/special use pool, to be bid as an add alternate or delete to the project • Construction of a multi-use complex at the high school stadium, to include: o Home and visitor-side bleacher repair/renovation o ADA-compliant restroom facilities, ticket booth, concession area, announcing facilities o Multi-use space available for District and community use o District administrative office space within the complex
• Completion of Boyce athletic field facilities o A single structure to include rest rooms/changing area, concession area, and announcing booth In December 2017, the District’s Board of School Directors authorized the administration to request bids for its capital projects after being granted municipal approvals. The Upper St. Clair Township Planning Commission approved the plans on September 21, 2017, and, subsequently, the Township Board of Commissioners took similar action on December 4, 2017. The action of gaining municipal approval and the school board’s authorization to go out to bid maintains the anticipated timeline for the projects. Construction will likely begin later this spring with an estimated completion in August 2019. “We are excited about our new USC facilities,” said Dr. Patrick O’Toole, superintendent of schools. “With some construction likely beginning before the end of the school year, a lot of careful planning will be required in order to limit the disruption to students.” In June, the school board approved a contract with PJ Dick to serve as construction manager for the projects. Board members cited PJ Dick’s previous experience with the District as well as its successful involvement with several swimming facilities as rationale for their support. The company served as project manager for the duration of the renovation projects at Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools, as well as the high school.
Upper St. Clair Looks to Alumni
Upper St. Clair School District is reaching out to its alumni in order to leverage their collective expertise and experience to provide a richer learning experience for current students. “Enhancing curricula content and classroom learning with visits from experts—whether in person or via video conferencing—will provide added value to the educational program,” said Dr. Sharon Suritsky, deputy/assistant superintendent. “Imagine the possibilities for students interested in pursuing careers in medicine, business, law, engineering, journalism, performance arts, or others to have the opportunity to connect with working professionals who once walked the halls of their high school.” The school board recently approved a contract with Almabase, a centralized alumni relations software product, which will enable the District to create an online community for graduates and friends of the District. Participating alumni and others will be able to volunteer for a variety of capacities, including classroom visits, career exploration events, and job shadowing experiences. The software will enable District teachers and other staff to search participating alumni by expertise to match the educational goals of the classroom and/or project. “We believe that there is enormous potential for this endeavor,” said Gordon Mathews, student services intern and project coordinator. “To be able to engage with our alumni to offer authentic and real world perspectives will be incredibly impactful.” Each year, the USC school board approves goals for the year that correlate with the District’s strategic plan. One of those goals is to “engage the expertise of alumni and other external professionals to assist students and staff with field expertise and career guidance.” The initiative originated from former school board member Becky Stern. The Lawrence & Rebecca Stern Family Foundation has generously provided funding to support the project through the 2019–20 school year. “Many of our most transformational initiatives would not have been possible without the shared vision and private support of generous individuals,” said Dr. Patrick O’Toole, superintendent of schools. “We are enormously grateful to Becky Stern and the Lawrence & Rebecca Stern Family Foundation for their foresight 36
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and commitment to Upper St. Clair School District.” Almabase will provide the software necessary to manage the alumni data. Gordon has been developing the platform necessary to launch the initiative—branded as Connect2USCSD—this spring. In addition to the software platform, Gordon offered two career exploration luncheons for Upper St. Clair High School students during the fall 2017 semester. A business-focused event was held in October and a technology-focused event occurred in early December. USC alumni participated in both events. An Alumni Spotlight section has been added to the District’s website. Each month, a new alumnus or alumna will be featured, reflecting on his or her experience at Upper St. Clair. The section currently features musician Benny Benack III (2009), college football coach Kirk Ferentz (1973), and author, actress, and producer Eleni Romanias (2010), with new profiles being added each month. Those interested in learning how to get involved with the new alumni initiatives should contact Gordon Mathews at gmathews@uscsd.k12.pa.us. n To discuss partnership opportunities that would enhance the mission and vision at USC, contact Sheila Gorgonio, director of advancement, at 412-833-1600, extension 2826, or email at sgorgonio@uscsd.k12.pa.us. Sheila works with individuals who have an interest in supporting strategic, integrated, and visionary initiatives that will significantly enrich the District’s mission. Other privately funded initiatives include the Innovation Hub@USCHS, which opened in 2014 and includes a MITcertified FAB Lab and SHOP@USC, the Innovation Hub@Boyce, and the recent renovation of the high school’s café321 (formerly the Commons).
As construction manager, officials from PJ Dick are working cooperatively with the District’s architects at McLean Architects LLC to develop and review construction documents and bidding specifications, review responsive bids, and provide day-to-day, onsite supervision of the projects. In March 2017, the school board approved its ad hoc committee’s final report and authorized McLean Architects to continue the design development, construction documents and construction phase administration for capital projects. In addition to the outlined capital projects, the ad hoc committee’s recommendation also includes the removal of a pedestrian bridge at the high school and repaving of the high school’s parking lot at the conclusion of the project. The estimated cost for the projects totals $16 million. The potential effect on property taxpayers is spread out over two years, with a tentative 0.15 mill tax increase in 2018–19 and a tentative 0.16 mill tax increase in 2019–20. n
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Retired USC Curriculum Leader Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award Retired USC High School World Languages curriculum leader Deanna Baird was recently honored with the W. LaMarr Kopp Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pennsylvania Council for International Education. Awarded annually at PACIE’s conference, the Kopp Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who has demonstrated longstanding excellence, commitment, and leadership in the field of international education. Deanna, who retired from USC School District in 2016, received this recognition at the joint conference of the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association (PSMLA) and the Pennsylvania Council for Deanna Baird International Education, which was held this past fall in Hershey. During her 43 years of teaching, Deanna taught German at all levels in grades six through 12, created and taught an international studies course, and also served as world language curriculum leader K–12 for 23 years. She established USC’s elementary Spanish program, instituted department oral proficiency testing and interviews, and led the effort to create District-wide student electronic language and cultural proficiency portfolios. “Deanna is an incredibly passionate educator who positively influenced our schools and community. Her passion ignited student interest and drew colleagues close,” said Dr. Louis Angelo, USCHS principal. “She is overwhelmingly deserving of this award, and I consider myself fortunate to have served with her.” Believing in the necessity of a strong international focus, Deanna advocated for the District’s K–12 International Baccalaureate program, implemented and led an interdisciplinary team during the annual school-wide International Education Week, and helped to develop a Global Fluency certificate for students. She began and led a German exchange for 23 years, which resulted in departmental exchanges in French and Spanish, trips to Spain, Peru, Italy/Greece, and Japan, and school-wide teacher trips to the German partner school. In addition, Deanna co-authored two books for PSMLA and has presented on language and international topics at the local, state, and national levels. She also co-founded and is president of the Cultural Communications Alliance, which facilitates international marketing competitions for students. Deanna served as a co-presenter during the conference with Bethany Chase, USCHS French teacher. Their session, titled “Boost World Languages and Global Skills with High School International Studies Course,” included a brief overview of USCHS’s international studies course that teaches cross-cultural competencies and promotes world language experiences. n
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Tim Wagner Named W&J Outstanding Young Alumnus Upper St. Clair High School associate principal for Program Planning & Innovation Timothy M. Wagner, EdD, was recently honored with the Outstanding Young Alumni award by his alma mater, Washington & Jefferson College (W&J). This award is presented to an alumnus/a who is within 15 years of his or her graduating class and who has made a significant contribution to either his or her chosen field, community, and/or Washington & Jefferson College. “Because of what W&J offers, my service in schools has been marked by a desire to understand fully the nexus of educational theory, policy, and practice,” said Tim. “Most importantly, however, my work at W&J instilled in me a belief that the best learning happens when instructors use both ‘head and heart’ as they consider the needs of children and families.” Tim earned a bachelor’s degree in child development and education from W&J in 2007. In addition, he holds two degrees from the University of Pittsburgh: a master’s degree in applied developmental psychology and a doctorate in education in administrative and policy studies. His dissertation research focused on the public school experience of child refugees.
Having joined the USC faculty in fall 2007, Tim began his teaching career as an elementary teacher. Throughout his tenure with the District, he has also taught middle-level English and social studies and has served as a gifted education coordinator for students in grades seven through 12. From 2013–15, Tim served as the middle school English language arts curriculum leader. He was promoted to his current position as associate high school principal for program planning and innovation in July 2015. Beyond Upper St. Clair, Tim serves as an adjunct faculty member in the education department at W&J. In 2016, he assisted the Pennsylvania Department of Education with its analysis of the Every Student Succeeds Act in the area of educator evaluation. His scholarly interests relate to curriculum design, leadership development, and school-based behavioral health. “My journey at W&J revealed to me that the answers to today’s most complex problems are often found in the treasure of a liberal arts education,” said Tim. “Considering life from a multi-disciplinary perspective, and holding oneself accountable to both knowledge and community, are hallmark features of a W&J education.”
High School Named National Model of Innovative Successful Practices Upper St. Clair High School was recently named one of only 25 schools nationwide to be selected as a national model of Innovative Successful Practices by the Successful Practices Network (SPN) and AASA, The School Superintendents Association. “As a selected model, we would like to collaborate with you and your team to learn more about your work and to highlight the lessons you have learned to share with school and district leaders from across the United States,” wrote Liz Centi, member services manager with SPN. As part of this process, SPN conducted a two-day site visit in December to see the high school’s work first hand. This visit included meetings with groups of stakeholders, as well as classroom visits. The goal of the site visit was to provide SPN a greater understanding of USC’s programs, students served, and the innovative approach to student learning. Based on information from the site visit, SPN, in collaboration with USC School District, will produce a case study highlighting the high school, including challenges faced, innovative approaches implemented, and the impact of that work on student learning and achievement. The case studies of all 25 schools will be disseminated nationally by both SPN and AASA as models and inspiration for other schools and districts. “It’s an honor to be among the 25 schools selected for innovative successful practices,” said Dr. Patrick O’Toole, superintendent of schools. “Our high school is a special place that embraces a culture of empowerment—encouraging and supporting staff and students as leaders, and fostering strong partnerships with families and the community. We are thrilled to share nationally the great work of our students and staff.” n 38
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Tim earned similar accolades for his leadership endeavors. Earlier this year, he was honored with the University of Pittsburgh School of Tim Wagner Education’s 2017 Early Career Award. In 2014, he received the Outstanding Young Educator Award from the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (PASCD). This award recognizes educators who have made an impact on educating the whole child, leadership, and contributions to the profession. Two years later, in fall 2016, PASCD named him an Emerging Leader. The PASCD Emerging Leader program recognizes and prepares young, promising educators to influence education programs, policy, and practice at the state level. In addition to his work in the field of education, Tim is actively involved in the local community, including serving as the chair of the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair, vice president of Beverly’s Birthday’s board of directors, and education director for the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair. n
What is the AASA? Shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War, a group of city and state superintendents gathered at the National Teachers Association meeting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. These school leaders saw the need to form an organization made up of individuals engaged in supervisory work in schools. In February 1866, this new organization called itself the National Association of School Superintendents. In a period of our country’s reconstruction, school people were concerned about the role of education. In 1870, the National Association of School Superintendents along with the American Normal School Association merged with the National Teachers Association to create the National Education Association. Within the NEA, the Department of Superintendents was formed. Decades later, in the 1930s, the administrators decided to break away and become the American Association of School Administrators. Today, the organization is known as AASA, The School Superintendents Association. From the very beginning, it was apparent that advocacy would be the driving force behind this newly formed organization. AASA is the premier association for school system leaders and serves as the national voice for public education and district leadership on Capitol Hill. n
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Teacher Earns Two Awards
Christy Mikolaj, a special education teacher at Boyce Middle School, was recently honored with two awards from the Educational Leadership program at Duquesne University. A Christy Mikolaj doctoral candidate, Christy was awarded the Horton C. Southworth Endowed Scholarship for Educational Leaders as well as the Mind, Heart, and Spirit of Educational Leadership award. “As a teacher and leader, I am a humble person whose main goal is to focus on the needs of the students and ensure the whole child is being educated,” said Christy. “Receiving this award from the faculty and peers of the Educational Leadership cohort was an honor. Without the inspirational leaders from the Duquesne University School of Education staff, my Duquesne University cohort, and my leadership mentors at Upper St. Clair School District, I would not have achieved this honor.” The Horton C. Southworth award and scholarship pays tribute to and is named for the late Dr. Horton Coe Southworth, who was a professor emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh, a scholar in residence at the Duquesne University School of Education, and one of the original developers of the EdD in Educational Leadership program at Duquesne University that launched in 1993. Each year in honor of Dr. Southworth’s legacy, the EdD in Educational Leadership program and the faculty of the Department of Educational Foundations and Leadership at the Duquesne University School of Education select a doctoral candidate who exemplifies Dr. Southworth’s educational leadership qualities of vision, altruism, collaboration, and commitment to social justice. “Award winners serve as inspirational leaders who embody the
core value of serving the children and youth of this world,” said Connie M. Moss, EdD, director of the Educational Leadership program. “Christy consistently represents herself and the Upper St. Clair School District with integrity and embodies a deep commitment to furthering the learning and well-being of all children.” The Mind, Heart and Spirit of Educational Leadership award is presented annually to members of the EdD in Educational Leadership cohort in the second year of their program. Awardees are selected by their peers to exemplify educational leadership impact that engages the mind, heart, and spirit in the moment of action. “To be selected by one’s peers is a deeply meaningful honor and one that Christy Mikolaj so richly deserves,” said Dr. Moss. “She is an exceptional leader.” As one of this year’s recipients, Christy received a plaque and a check with the stipulation that she use the funds to purchase books on leadership for her own professional leadership library. “The pursuit of continued learning is a hallmark of our faculty at Upper St. Clair,” said Patrick O’Toole, superintendent of schools. “Ms. Mikolaj’s honors exemplify, at the highest level, this commitment to higher learning.” Christy joined the Upper St. Clair teaching staff in 2009. She previously taught in the Elizabeth Forward School District and Holy Family Institute. A graduate of Duquesne University, Christy earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary/special education and a master’s degree in educational administration. In addition, she holds principal, special education supervision, and curriculum and instruction supervision certifications. She expects to complete her doctoral program in May 2019. n Spring 2018
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High School STEAM Students Advance Baker Playground Proposing solutions to real-world problems is the backbone of the STEAM curriculum at Upper St. Clair High School. Students from two courses—STEAM Inovation & Consulting and Advanced Architecture—have worked in tandem to bring Baker Elementary School’s new play spaces to fruition. The STEAM course, launched in 2014, forms partnerships between students and corporations and/or organizations throughout the community. The Baker playground project was first presented to the student team of seniors Brian McGrady, CJ Stott, Neale Misquitta, and Mac Dominic in the fall of 2016. (The four students graduated in June 2017.) Baker principal Dr. Patrick McClintockComeaux challenged students to develop a plan to design and update the school’s outdoor play spaces that maximizes usage while ensuring appropriate supervision. Baker students typically enjoy recess immediately following lunch, using the school’s blacktop area and swing set located directly outside the cafeteria. The school’s large playground, located on the other side of the building, is used only on occasion by students who are accompanied by their teachers. This playground is currently underutilized. The first challenge was to find a way to better utilize the smaller, more captive space located adjacent to the cafeteria during recess time. The second challenge was with the larger playground. With it now more than 20 years old, the Baker PTA has begun a renovation fundraising initiative in celebration of Baker Elementary’s 50th anniversary, which is coming up in two years. But there is no use in creating a great new playground that few use. The STEAM team, under the supervision of technology education teacher Fred Peskorski, presented its recommendations in December 2016. “Based on that presentation, Baker administration and the PTA switched gears from that which was originally designed. The new playground has been redesigned and will be relocated,” said Dr. McClintock-Comeaux. “We’re following the team’s recommendation to replace the existing swing set that accommodates only seven students at a time with a 40
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3D model of Baker’s new playground
playground that will functionally serve 30 to 40 students.” Installing the new playground equipment within the swing set area ensures that students will be able to use the supervised space during recess. The plan also calls for a renovation of the existing playground– replacing some equipment and adding a smaller swing set. In August 2017, Dr. McClintockComeaux looked to expand the partnership between Baker and the high school, seeking a team of students to create a scaled three-dimensional model of the new playground. Fred turned to his Advanced Architecture students senior Zack Miller and junior Tony Cancilla, who were excited about the opportunity and quickly accepted the challenge. “Neither student had significant prior experience with the school’s 3D solid modeling software, laser engraving, vinyl cutter, or CNC machine, all of which had to be learned and then used to design and build this scaled model,” said Fred. Z a c k a n d To n y m e t w i t h D r. McClintock-Comeaux to discuss the vision of the project and the plans for the model. In addition, they obtained the model files from the playground contractor so that they could 3D print the playground using the school’s Fab Lab machines so the playground could be presented as a full model, including topographical features. “To do this, the boys needed to use the CNC machine to engineer the lot where the playground would sit. With very little background or experience with CNC machines, they again needed to learn the software, machines, and processes associated with making a 3D CNC machined part,” said Fred. The topographical part took more than ten hours of machining to complete. When finished, they painted the features, placed the assembled models, Spring 2018
added sawdust for bark, and complemented the model with signage. Fred finds enormous educational value in providing students with these types of real world experiences. “Real-world projects give students a better appreciation for the things that they learn in classes because they are able to see actual applications of theory,” he said. “Additionally, these types of experiences provide students with introspection about whether or not they are pursuing and learning things that they enjoy. The feedback and recognition from people other than their teachers or parents carry a different kind of weight,” he added. Since its inception three years ago, the STEAM course has established partnerships with All Clad Metalcrafters, EAFab Corporation, and Universal Electric Corporation, as well as various USC community organizations. However, the Baker Elementary playground project presented a unique and more personal experience. “My favorite thing about this project is that it links together students who are ages and grades apart—elementary students with high school students,” said Fred. “And, it is my hope that having the playground model on display at Baker will generate greater interest in selecting STEAM-related classes when these students enter high school.” Baker PTA has been actively fundraising for the new playground, which is expected to cost more than $40,000. The PTA hosted a “Monkey Bars and Memories” event this past November. A read-a-thon—challenging students to read as much as they can during a ten-day period—was held in January. And, families will have an opportunity to “buy a brick” for the new playground. Installation of the playground is planned for this summer. n
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USCHS Mini-THON 2018 Mary Lynne Spazok
Join in the fight against childhood cancer! Upper St. Clair High School (USCHS) will host its second MiniTHON on Friday, April 6. USCHS Mini-THON begins with “Community Time” from 2018 Mini-THON chairs, left to right: Jack 6:30–9 p.m. in the high school de la Parra, Andrea Mays, Rayna Recht, gymnasiums. USCHS sports Brady Warmbein teams and clubs will have booths set up with fun, interactive games for all ages. This 12-hour event will bring together hundreds of USC students and teachers for a common cause, with proceeds benefitting Four Diamonds’ mission of conquering childhood cancer. Four Diamonds provides direct support to children with cancer through childhood cancer research, paid medical expenses, and support services at Penn State Children’s Hospital. With nearly 300 USC students participating, USCHS’s first THON in April 2017 was a major success, and the students and faculty are excited to make an even bigger impact this year. In 2017, the community exceeded the fundraising goal of $10,000 by collecting $17,531. Consider helping the THON grow from major to monumental in 2018! No matter the amount, all monetary donations are greatly appreciated and will have a positive impact on the success of the second thon. Visit the District’s website at www.uscsd.k12.pa.us for upcoming pre-THON family events and for online donation opportunities
and individual student sponsorship. Online donation receipts are printable and acceptable for tax purposes. Thank you to students Rayna Recht (fundraising chairperson), Brady Warmbein (public relations chairperson), Jack de la Parra (community time chairperson), and Andrea Mays (event coordination chairperson), and Brooke Tarcson (faculty committee leader). n Bake sale fundraiser
Revealing the 2017 fundraising total
For questions or for more information, contact Brooke Tarcson at 412-833-1600, extension 2264, or visit the website at www.uscminithon.com. Spring 2018
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
41
SD
Commons Transformed to café321
Tucked just inside Upper St. Clair High School’s nutrition center is a space for students to hangout, relax, talk with friends, finish homework, play games, and grab a snack. For years, the space—simply known as the Commons—was underutilized and often just overlooked. As part of the Reimagining the High School initiative, the Commons underwent a transformation during the previous school year. Renamed café321, the student-centered space was officially dedicated this past December. Although it has inspired many creative tagline puns, the new name—café321—was derived from its room number, 321. The bright colors mirror the palette used in the school’s Innovation Hub, located just down the hall. Carpeting and pendant light fixtures help to create a warm atmosphere. Flexible furniture offers several small-group seating options with charging stations nearby. Cushions were added to the existing built-in wooden benches that line the walls. For juniors and seniors who experienced the before and after, the contrast is significant. “Just from walking into café321, students now see a colorful room with their peers hanging out or playing ping-pong, whereas the Commons just lacked that vibrant atmosphere,” said Lexi Feldman, USCHS junior. “Not only are there lots of charging outlets, which are very useful for all of the technology used by students, but it’s great to see other students playing games and relaxing with their friends.” The old water fountains were replaced with a water bottle refilling station and brightly colored artwork from the school’s Innovation Hub cover the cabinet doors. “Personally, I love the water bottle refilling station, which not only quickly refills your water bottle, but also helps eliminate plastic waste at the same time!” Lexi added. The purpose of reimagining the space was to fulfill the vision set by Upper St. Clair School District’s four strategic plan goals embedded within social emotional learning, time and schedule, technology, and professional learning communities. “The effort to repurpose café321 is in alignment with the social emotional learning goal,” said Dr. Lou Angelo, high school principal. “Research indicates students prosper academically when they have time and opportunity for rest and relaxation.” Many of the changes were the result of feedback provided by students through an online survey and group discussions. As a result of student feedback, game tables, including foosball and ping-pong game tables, which were part of the Commons, were also included within café321.
“café321 is inviting and a huge change in scenery,” said Savannah Smith, USCHS junior. “Students are more relaxed and can release pent up energy by playing games and talking with their friends.” Savannah estimates that use of the space has more than tripled since the transformation. In addition to the physical space, café321 also offers a reimagined café. At the window, adorned with a black awning emblazoned with the café321 logo, students can order a variety of items, including seasonal fruit smoothies. The café also offers breakfast sandwiches to help extend the breakfast hours for students. In response to funding challenges, approximately six years ago the School District created an Office of Advancement to connect community members and granting organizations with strategic initiatives that enhance the District’s educational program. The transformation of café321 was made possible through the support of Chuck and Amy Billerbeck, longtime Upper St. Clair School District advocates, and the high school’s PTSO. “These partnerships have been crucial in launching initiatives that would simply not have been possible due to funding challenges that face all Pennsylvania public schools, including Upper St. Clair,” said Dr. Patrick O’Toole, superintendent of schools. “We are excited about many of the projects on the horizon and what they will mean for our students and our community. We are always open to new individual funding opportunities to support our students and programs.” Other privately funded initiatives include the Innovation Hub@ USCHS, which opened in 2014 and includes a MIT-certified FAB Lab and SHOP@USC; the Innovation Hub@Boyce and SHOP-Boyce@USC; the Innovation Hub@Fort Couch; and the development of the Professional Learning Communities model in all six USC schools. n
During the dedication of café321
Senior Selected as AMIA 2017 High School Scholar
Kevin Chen USCHS senior Kevin Chen was selected to participate in the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) 2017 High School Scholar Program. His research paper, titled “A Deep Learning Approach to Cancer Gene Expression,” was admitted for a poster presentation at the AMIA 2017 Symposium, held in November in Washington, D.C.
42
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Kevin’s research utilized a deep learning model to create meaningful and low-dimensioned abstractions from noisy, high-dimensioned cancer gene expression data. The results of this study demonstrate the biological and clinical relevance of a deep learning approach to cancer gene expression data analysis and highlight how deep learning models can aid in the understanding of biomedical data and advance precision medicine. Each research submission was reviewed by two members of the AMIA High School Scholar Program review committee on a variety of criteria, including importance to the field, scholarship, methodological contribution, and overall organization of the presentation. This marked Kevin’s second year participating in the AMIA High School Scholar Program. His research paper the previous school year, “A Comparison of Methods for Identifying Direct
Spring 2018
Casual Influences,” was also selected for a poster presentation during the 2016 symposium. The American Medical Informatics Association, formed in 1988, is a professional scientific association that sponsors meetings, education, policy, and research programs. The organization aims to lead the way in transforming health care through trusted science, education, and the practice of informatics, using data, information, and knowledge to improve human health and the delivery of healthcare services. Last fall, Kevin was recognized as one of five Upper St. Clair seniors who achieved a perfect score on the 2017 ACT, one of 11 USC seniors who earned the distinction of National Merit Semifinalist, and was named an AP Scholar with Distinction for earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. Upon his completion of high school, Kevin intends to further his education and pursue a degree in computer science. n
SD
CalcuSolve High School Sweeps Team and Individual Math Competitions Upper St. Clair High School students swept the first and second place team and individual finishes in the 11th/12th grade category of CalcuSolve, a competition that tests students’ problem-solving skills related to mathematics. The team of seniors Sahil Doshi, Spencer Miller, and Abbie Wagner, along with sophomore Braden Yates, won first place; the team of seniors Steven Cheung, Ariana Chiu, and Kriti Shah, as well as junior Sam Ding placed second. In individual competition, Sam Ding and Sahil Doshi tied for second place, while Braden Yates placed first. At the 9th/10th grade competition, two USC teams tied for second place, including the team of sophomores Jason Choi and Katie Hobart and freshmen Harrison Chui and Kathy Li; and the team of sophomores Aleksa Rodic and Braden Yates and freshmen Christian Chiu and Reshma Gudla. In individual competition, Braden Yates finished second and Harrison Chui placed third. Schools from throughout Allegheny County participated in the competition, sponsored by the II-VI Foundation and the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Team coaches/facilitators Connie Gibson and Pat Palazzolo accompanied the students as they represented Upper St. Clair. Additional 9th/10th grade team members included freshmen Sadhana Boddhula, Reshma Gudla, Ishaan Shah, Sophia Shi, and Henry Zou, and sophomores Claire Chen, Jack Clark, Eri Hayakawa, and Ben Nelson. Also competing at the 11th/12th grade level were juniors Brooke Christiansen and Serena Luo and seniors Matt Higgs and James Khor.
USCHS’s CalcuSolve first place team
Fifth and Sixth Graders Score Top Math Honors Boyce Middle School students took top honors at the annual CalcuSolve competition this past November at Duquesne University. Boyce students placed first and second in the individual and team competitions among 360 participants and 90 teams. In team competition, the first-place team included sixth graders Leona Chen, Libby Eannarino, Arya Patel, and Arjun Suresh. Finishing second was the team of sixth graders Luke Bishop, Mahir Parmar, and Alex Sun and fifth grader Yuhong Shi. Sixth grader Alex Sun placed first in the individual competition, followed by sixth grader Arjun Suresh, who earned a second-place finish. Other Boyce students who competed in the regional CalcuSove competition included fifth graders Jamie Barrett, Sam Berger, Esha Lathia, Grace Myers, Eitan Schwartz, and Ishaan Sharma, as well as sixth graders Colin Liang and Brian McFerran. The Boyce Middle School students were coached by Kathy Hoedeman, the school’s math resource teacher. To earn a spot on one of the Boyce CalcuSolve teams, 112 fifth and sixth graders completed the selection test. The top 16 scorers were tapped to serve on the school’s four teams. The CalcuSolve event, sponsored by the II-VI Foundation and organized by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, was open to fifth and sixth graders throughout Allegheny County. n
Reach Out Raises Nearly $20,000 RJ Shontz, Fort Couch Student Council Eighth Grade Vice President Reach Out is an annual fundraiser at Fort Couch Middle School where the school’s six teaching teams compete to donate the most money for charity. The collected money is combined together at the end of the day and then divided into four portions for four charities. The 2017 Reach Out charities were the MS Bike-a-thon, Hope for Haiti, Angel Ridge Animal Shelter, and the Upper St. Clair Police Department, where the funds were used to purchase Giant Eagle gift cards for local families in need. Reach Out’s primary goal is to make other people’s and animals’ lives better. Reach Out 2017 raised $19,307.16! This activity surely brings out the best from the school’s staff and students. Students raise money outside of school by working hard. Shoveling snow, completing chores around the house, and Christmas caroling are some ways that students earn money. Fort Couch students also bring in donations from local businesses and relatives. Reach Out began in 1933, when the students and staff raised $500. From $500 to now just under $20,000, Reach Out has certainly grown and has helped many lives through the years. I hope Reach Out continues for many years to come! n
Fort Couch principal Joe DeMar was guest conductor for the band during the assembly.
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. Spring 2018
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
43
SD PTC
Baker
Pawprints... Eisenhower
Council Daphna Gans, PhD The Parent Teacher Council (PTC) continually evolves, searching for more ways to benefit our students and families in its role as a liaison between the different PTA/PTOs/ PTSOs and the School District. During our fall Open Mic (the PTC semi-annual open forum with Dr. O’Toole, superintendent of schools, and the administration), we received several questions from parents relating to students’ well-being on topics, including nutrition at school, social media use outside of school, and mental health, to name a few. Around the same time, the District hosted an event addressing suicide prevention, which drew a large crowd of parents and sparked an active discussion on the topics of anxiety and depression among teens. It is well documented that there has been an increase in incidences of anxiety and depression in the past decade among high achieving students in high schools and colleges. Students today face different pressures than previous year’s cohorts and have high exposure to social media. We are fortunate that our District is committed to the well-being of our children, and while we strive for excellence in our academic, athletic, and art/music programs, we first and foremost care about the well-being of our children. The concept of “happiness” is embedded in our District mission statement: “Developing lifelong learners and responsible citizens for a global society is the mission of the Upper St. Clair School District, served by a responsive and innovative staff who in partnership with the community provides learning experiences that nurture the uniqueness of each child and promotes happiness and success.” To allow for more opportunities for an open and healthy dialogue on these topics in our community, the PTC decided to establish a new committee, the Wellness Committee. The community response to this committee from parents, school administrators, and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive. Many parents reached out to us and offered to provide their professional expertise in support of this committee’s activities. By now, you may have heard of some of these committee’s activities. Our goal is to collaborate with other groups in the community who share a similar mission; for example, the Youth Steering Committee. Once again, we 44
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Streams
Boyce
have come to see the power of our community and the willingness of everyone to come together and support a common goal. As always, please continue to attend the PTC’s meetings, visit its website, join the Facebook page, volunteer if you can, and stay engaged! High School PTSO Tracy Barnett What is wellness? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines wellness as “the quality or state of being in good health, especially as an activity sought goal.” Good health includes both mental and physical health. At the high school, although the primary focus is on academics, the administration and staff also know that healthy students are more apt to excel. Café321 is a new, wonderful space tucked off of the cafeteria. It is filled with brightly colored, comfortable furniture where the students can relax, play ping pong, or grab a smoothie. As principal Dr. Lou Angelo said at the recent dedication of the space, it is a place where “kids can just be kids.” It is an oasis where kids can recharge and regroup. With so many of our students having full class schedules throughout the school day, café321 allows them a great place to relax during the few breaks they do have. Assistant principal Daniel Beck, who is also a member of the Youth Steering Committee (YSC), works with student representatives and YSC to bring relevant programming to the community. Presentations this school year have included or will include speakers on student stress, vaping and marijuana use among teens, and drinking and driving. Similarly, Dr. Angelo uses funds provided by the PTSO to bring in speakers pertinent to student wellness, including talks about drug and alcohol use for all students and dangers of the Internet, presented to ninth and tenth graders. The administration also recognizes that a student’s physical well-being is important, especially during stressful times, like finals. The gym is kept open so that students can play basketball or other active games. With the upcoming renovation and relocation of the high school pool, the old pool area will become a recreation space where students can work out, lift weights, or do yoga. Although individual wellness is important, it is important for the kids to have fun, as well. At various times of the year, tournaments are Spring 2018
USCSD Annual Report Pull Out (pages 45-52)
Fort Couch
USCHS
held for both students and teachers, including basketball, volleyball, and beloved pickleball. Fall/winter final exams concluded in January with a social, where students chose one of the following activities: pickleball, basketball, four square, coloring, watching a movie, or simply hanging out with friends—something for everyone! Fort Couch Middle School PTSO Hemina KrishnaBachia Generosity describes the spirit of Fort Couch Middle School. In December, the students raised nearly $20,000 for charities by singing carols in neighborhoods, performing chores, identifying and collecting corporate sponsors, and sharing their pocket money. In November, basic education supply bags were distributed to students at Turner School. The seventh graders assembled STEM kits and wrote personal notes to each student, the eighth graders assembled the education supply bags, and parents distributed the bags to the Turner students. The Fort Couch PTSO donated $2500 to the school for the purchase of moveable furniture. In the social studies classrooms, this flexible furniture supports the students’ health by allowing them to stand or move around as they collaborate with their classmates. Boyce Middle School PTO Stacey Cobb Things have been very busy at Boyce over the past few months. Students have been busy learning and teachers have been busy teaching them. To show our staff how much they are appreciated, there have been a few events held just for them, including a breakfast of Duck Donuts and gift cards for each staff member and a wonderful lunch, complete with a huge cookie bar! There have been many collections, some for charity (including Friendship Shoeboxes) and others for the school. School collections included STEAM items for the Innovation Hub. All the students love getting time in the lab. It’s a great place for kids to be creative and use their imaginations with projects they are working on. Students needn’t wait to be assigned Innovation Hub time to be involved with STEAM projects. The PTO purchased two STEAM carts that teachers can check out and use in their classrooms. Cont. on page 56
ANNUAL REPORT
CUSTOMIZING LEARNING
|
NURTURING POTENTIAL
From the Superintendent Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole It is with tremendous pride that I present the 2017 Annual Report to the Upper St. Clair community. The following pages provide a snapshot of our collective accomplishments of 2017, details regarding the school district’s budget as well as important information regarding the district’s strategic direction — established by our committed board of school directors. This marks my final report to the community as I will retire from Upper St. Clair this June and join the ranks of the “gig economy.” In total, I have spent 39 years in public education — having the good fortune to serve as your superintendent of schools for the last 11 years. Upper St. Clair is truly a special place. Although no school district is perfect, Upper St. Clair comes awfully close. The cooperation and collaboration that happen between and among our school board, administration, faculty, staff and students are simply unparallelled. And, the community’s support of and commitment to the highest quality education are unwavering. The student-centered culture and collegial climate are ideal for continued success for our district and, most importantly, our students. Serving the community of Upper St. Clair has been the greatest honor of my career. Thank you for allowing me to share in this journey with you. Sincerely,
Patrick T. O’Toole, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools
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2017
DELIVERING EXCELLENCE
Our StudentS USCSD Student Enrollment:
4,036
Home Languages Spoken:
41
2017 Graduates seeking 2 or 4 year degree:
96%
Our teacherS Number of Teachers:
292
Teachers with a master’s degree or higher:
79%
Average years of teaching experience:
15
Strategic Plan by ensuring that they obtain STEAM content, pedagogy and technology experience through professional development. Technology • Determine the best practices and strategies for expanding 1:1 learning opportunities. • Define the necessary infrastructure, tools and human capital to support the district’s tagline, “Customizing Learning, Nurturing Potential and Delivering Excellence.”
Strategic Plan Visioning Team Goals: 2015 - 2020 (adopted Jan. 2016) Professional Learning Communities (PLC) • Develop and implement Beliefs for Student Learners to guide programmatic and instructional decision-making. • Establish consistent Professional Learning Community practices that are in alignment with our Beliefs for Student Learners. Safety & Security • Examine and prioritize safety and security needs for the district’s physical plants. • Systematically monitor and adjust policies and procedures to maximize the safety and security of students and staff.
• Enhance the implementation of programming and services that respond to students’ personal well-being and safety concerns, as well as those that enhance student relationships and connectivity to school. STEAM
• Research and implement best practices for self-directed, selfpaced and personalized learning in blended and online environments. The High School Experience • Establish a systematic process for teachers to collaborate, plan and deliver instruction that is responsive to the unique needs of all learners. • Customize structures and learning opportunities to meet the academic and developmental needs of each learner by creatively using time, schedules and resources.
• Increase the depth and breadth of STEAM curriculum offerings and improve the integration of STEAM across the curriculum.
• Provide a comprehensive school experience in which students feel healthy, safe, engaged, supported, challenged and empowered.
• Enhance inquiry-based instructional practices and project-based learning opportunities.
• Leverage technology to create learning opportunities that empower students to become active learners in a dynamic and interconnected world.
• Equip teachers to educate students in STEAM areas
diStrict gOalS USC School Board: Goal Statements (adopted Feb. 13, 2017)
T
he USC Board of School Directors adopted the following Goal statements for 2017 in its ongoing effort to Customize Learning, Nurture Potential and Deliver Excellence in all that we do for the students, families, staff and community of Upper St. Clair.
• Inject an entrepreneurial spirit of innovation, collaboration and problem-solving in student programs including leadership academies, STEAM and more. • Engage the expertise of alumni and other external professionals to assist students and staff with field expertise and career guidance. • Update district policies related to changes in law and practice.
Customizing Learning & Nurturing Potential:
• Oversee the leadership transition for district Finance and Human Resources management as well as the Board Secretary function.
• Take action on the Strategic Plan Goal (2015-2020) related to Safety and Security.
Facilities & Finance:
• Take action on the Strategic Plan Goal (2015-2020) related to Technology with specific emphasis on the 1:1 implementation at the high school, continuous improvement at Boyce and Fort Couch, expansion of technology resources at the elementary buildings and improved infrastructure throughout the district. • Take action on the Strategic Plan Goal (2015-2020) related to Professional Learning Communities with a continued focus on our Beliefs of Student Learners and with additional emphasis on the high school teams. • Take action on the Strategic Plan Goal (2015-2020) related to STEAM with curriculum recommendations that expand opportunities, especially at the elementary and middle school levels and address learning space configurations for STEAM instruction. • Take action on the Strategic Plan Goal (2015-2020) related to the High School Experience through collaborative processes that enhance our responsiveness to social/emotional learning needs of students, the structure of time and a growth mindset for all teaching and learning practices. Delivering Excellence: • Evaluate the leadership succession plans to address the administrative needs of the district resulting from personnel changes, budget limitations and personnel development. • Energize the Total Leaders staff development initiative to support and grow new leaders.
• Continue community engagement and public education advocacy efforts to address the negative impact of additional unfunded state/federal laws and mandates, such as significant increases to the district’s pension (PSERS) costs, and insufficient state/federal funding. • Expand our Advancement function to supplement traditional funding of school programs, such as curriculum enhancements, professional development and technology investments. • Decide on the scope of the identified capital improvement and investment projects to be completed while continuing to develop an advancement plan that addresses the means of funding the projects. • Continue to make improvements to learning space design and furniture that supports the Strategic Plan Goals related to 21st century teaching and learning and, thus, attracts grant and private funding.
Budget & Finance 2017-18 Budget
T
he Upper St. Clair School Board approved the 2017-18 final budget totaling $79,704,071 in June 2017. The budget included a millage increase of 0.8172 mills – resulting in a 2017-18 millage rate of 25.156 mills.
2017-18 Budgeted Revenue: $79,701,363
The 2017-18 budget represents an increase of nearly $3.5 million or 4.59 percent over the previous year. More than $1 million of this increase is attributed to mandated increases to the Public School Employees Retirement System, which has ballooned from an expense of $2 million in 2007-08 to more than $11,380,880 in 2017-18. Other notable increases include the areas of salaries, special education and transportation.
Federal 2% Local 77%
Despite state and federal mandates, funding levels remain at 21 percent and two percent, respectively. The vast majority of Upper St. Clair’s budget (77 percent) is locally funded.
State 21%
“The theme of school budgets continues to be increased mandates from both the state and federal levels with an absolute failure to adequately fund,” Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole, superintendent of schools, said. “In effect, our legislators at every level have passed the buck of school funding to local school boards.” The budget provides for additional teaching positions at the high school to accommodate an increase in enrollment due to a larger-than-average class of ninth graders. There were 361 students in the recently graduated class of 2017. The current ninth grade class has nearly 400 students. Also included in the spending plan is the addition of an assistant principal at Boyce Middle School, which serves 647 students in grades 5 and 6.
2017-18 Budgeted Expenditures: $79,704,071
“For years, we have struggled with this staffing decision and have attempted several lower-cost support solutions, including paid interns, sharing an assistant principal between buildings and, most recently, utilizing a Books curriculum leader,” Dr. O’Toole said. “The reality we now face is that school leadership is Other Purchased more complex at this level and the new teacher evaluation process is much more time intensive Services 5% than before.” In April 2017, the district approved a lease for seven new school buses that will have an annual budget impact of $93,032 over a seven-year term. In addition, several capital projects were included within the 2017-18 budget including carpet replacement in the elementary schools; the creation of an Innovation Hub@Fort Couch; the expansion of the SHOP@USC program to Boyce Middle School; technology infrastructure improvements; and security camera installation at Boyce Middle School.
& Supplies 4%
Purchased Services 1% Contracted Services 5%
Benefits 27%
Misc. Fees 7% Other Uses 6%
Salaries 45%
Student achievement Students Excel on National Exams
138 USC students earned the designation of AP Scholar – including six National AP Scholars. These students earned recognition for their exceptional achievement in the college-level Advanced Placement Program.
700
613
500
400
300
200
540
533
533
Evidence-based Reading & Writing
527
Math
36 30
26.7 23.2
24
23.4
12 6 0
20.7
24.2 21.4
25.4
26.5 23.7
23.3 21.0
21.0
National
20.3
18
26.9
26.5
Pennsylvania
Five students earned perfect scores on the 2017 ACT. Seniors Kevin Chen, Steven Cheung, Michael Hrehocik and Abigail Wagner as well as junior Dina Leyzarovich are among less than one-tenth of one percent of ACT test takers earning the top composite score of 36.
ACT average scores
Upper St. Clair High School
5
610
600
National
Twenty-six seniors were recognized by the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. Eleven were named Semifinalists – scoring in the top one percent of all test takers – and 15 earned recognition as Commended Students. Students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT during the fall of their junior year.
Upper St. Clair High School earned the highest composite score in Allegheny County and the 10th highest in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania
138
800
Upper St. Clair High School
26
SAT average scores
English
Mathematics
Reading
Science
Composite
Student achievement Statewide Testing Results The Pennsylvania System School Assessment is a standardsbased, criterion-referenced assessment used to measure students’ attainment of academic standards. Students in grades 3 through 8 are assessed in English Language Arts and math. Students in grades 4 and 8 are also assessed in science. Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to measure proficiency in the subject areas of algebra, literature and biology. Exams are administered as students complete each course. For most students, biology is completed in grade 9; literature in grade 10; and Algebra I ranges from as early as grade 6 through grade 9.
PSSA: English Language Arts Upper St. Clair School District
Grade 3
Pennsylvania
91%
90%
88%
86% 76.0%
Grade 7
60%
20
40
60
100
94%
73% 38%
79.8%
73% 33% 0
20
Algebra I
75% 82%
40
60
80
40
60
80
Upper St. Clair School District Pennsylvania
100
100
95% 63% 93%
Biology 0
91%
66%
Literature
53% 20
40%
Keystone Exams
Pennsylvania
0
67%
Grade 8
80
Upper St. Clair School District
Grade 8
44%
79.8%
PSSA: Science Grade 4
80%
Grade 7
59% 0
47%
76.0%
88%
84%
Grade 8
80%
Grade 6
64%
82%
55%
Grade 5
60%
Grade 6
Pennsylvania
Grade 4
61%
Grade 5
Upper St. Clair School District
Grade 3
65%
Grade 4
PSSA: Mathematics
73% 20
40
60
80
100
Student achievement Where are they now?
Alderson-Broaddus College Allegheny College American University Baldwin Wallace University Bethany College Bowdoin College Bowling Green State University Brown University Bucknell University California University of Pa. Capital University Carlow University Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Coastal Carolina University College of William and Mary Community College of Allegheny County Denison University DePaul University Dickinson College Drexel University Duquesne University Eastern Gateway Community College Edinboro University of Pa. Flagler College Florida State University Franciscan University Furman University Gannon University Georgia Institute of Technology Grove City College Harvard University High Point University Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University of Pa. James Madison University John Carroll University Kent State University Lehigh University LIM College Loyola University Chicago Lynn University Marquette University Mercyhurst University, North East Miami University Michigan State University Middle Tennessee State University Muskingum University New York University Oakland University Ohio Northern University Ohio University Pennsylvania College of Technology Pennsylvania State University Point Park University Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina Princeton University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rider University Robert Morris University Rosedale Technical Institute Rutgers University Saint Vincent College Santa Clara University Seton Hill University Slippery Rock University St. John’s University Tarrant County College
Temple University The George Washington University The Ohio State University The University of Akron The University of Alabama The University of Arizona The University of Scranton The University of Tampa U.S. Air Force Academy U.S. Military Academy University of California, Berkeley University of Dayton University of Delaware University of Denver University of Florida University of Kentucky University of Maryland University of Michigan University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of North Carolina University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Richmond University of South Alabama University of South Carolina University of Tartu University of Tennessee, Knoxville University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Washington, Bothell Vanderbilt University Villanova University Virginia Tech Washington & Jefferson College Washington University in St. Louis Waynesburg University West Virginia University Western Michigan University Westminster College Yale University
Year in review 2017 Highlights... District Awards & Recognitions • Upper St. Clair High School was one of only 25 schools nationwide to be selected as a national model of Innovative Successful Practices by the Successful Practices Network and AASA, The School Superintendents Association. • Upper St. Clair High School ranks among the 2017 Best High Schools in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report. USC ranks 12th in Pennsylvania and third in Allegheny County. Nationally, it ranks 666 out of more than 22,000 high schools in the nation – among the top three percent. • For the second year in a row, Upper St. Clair was named among the nation’s Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. USC is one of only 11 school districts in Allegheny County, 72 in Pennsylvania and 527 from across the country to earn the distinction in 2017. • Upper St. Clair School District was selected as one of three national Grand Prize Winners in the 23rd annual Magna Awards program sponsored by the American School Board Journal. Specifically, Upper St. Clair was recognized for its SHOP@USC program. The Magna Awards recognize school districts and their leaders for taking bold and innovative steps to improve the lives of their students and their communities. Advancement • The Lawrence & Rebecca Stern Family Foundation generously provided funding to support an alumni initiative designed to enhance the learning experience for USC students.
• Through the Steelcase Pilot Program, SHOP@USC was expanded to provide opportunities for students in grades 5 and 6 at Boyce Middle School and the Innovation Hub @ Fort Couch was created. • A $42,320 contribution from an anonymous donor family enabled USC to host Pennsylvania’s first Professional Learning Communities at Work Institute in July 2017. Conference attendees hail from 22 states and one Canadian province. The donor’s contribution underwrote the registration cost for USC attendees. Leadership • Dr. Sharon Suritsky, assistant/ deputy superintendent, was named one of two finalists in the Women in School Leadership Award in the Central Office/Principal category, sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and AASA, The School Superintendents Association. • Upper St. Clair High School Associate Principal for Program Planning & Innovation Timothy M. Wagner, Ed.D. was honored with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award by his alma mater, Washington & Jefferson College. In addition, he was named an Early Career Awardee from the University of Pittsburgh School of Education. • Matt Henderson, STEAM design teacher and 1:1 Initiative facilitator at Boyce Middle School, was selected as a National School Boards Association’s 20 to Watch educator for the 2016-17 school year.
• Pam Dillie, science curriculum leader and third grade teacher at Baker Elementary, was selected by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to participate on a PSSA Exam review committee. • Christy Mikolaj, a special education teacher at Boyce Middle School, was honored with two awards from the Educational Leadership program at Duquesne University. A doctoral candidate, Ms. Mikolaj was awarded the Horton C. Southworth Endowed Scholarship for Educational Leaders as well as the Mind, Heart, and Spirit of Educational Leadership Award. • Fort Couch Middle School Librarian Mary Grace Kelly completed the Sustaining Leaders Academy for Pennsylvania School Librarians. • Upper St. Clair High School Technology Education Teacher Fred Peskorski was selected as an Honorable Mention for the 2017 Carnegie Science Awards in the High School Educator award category. • Steve Miller, high school mathematics teacher and curriculum leader, was named one of four Pennsylvania finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
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USCHS Seniors Selected for All-National Chorus
USC High School seniors Jonah Glunt and Jack Smith were among 281 vocalists selected to perform in the National Association for Music Education’s All-National Chorus this past November at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, performing under the direction Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, director of choral and vocal studies at Oklahoma State University. Jonah and Jack are among 18 Pennsylvania students and the only two from Allegheny County who participated in the AllNational Chorus. Students were chosen through an audition process. Eligible students qualified for their state-level honor ensemble program and competed against top students for a spot in the national honor ensemble. Throughout high school, Jonah has participated in Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s Honors, District, Region and AllState choirs, earning second chair at the region and state festivals. He serves as president of the high school’s Pantheon choir and also sings in the Chanteclairs choir and in the men’s ensemble. In addition to singing, Jonah has won awards from the Pittsburgh Piano Teachers’ Association for both piano composition and performance. He can be found performing on stage in many of the high school’s productions. Jack has participated in PMEA Honors Choir, District Choir, Region Choir–first chair, and All-State Choir–third chair. He is actively involved in the high school’s music program, where he is in the Chanteclairs choir, Pantheon choir, men’s ensemble, wind ensemble, and marching band, where he serves as vice president
All National Chorus members, left to right, Jack Smith and Jonah Glunt
as well as sousaphone section leader. He can be found on stage or in the pit for the spring musical productions. Jack thanks USCHS choral director Lorraine Milovac and band directors Donald Pickell and Frank Eisenreich for guiding him through his musical journey in high school and helping to make him who he is today. n Spring 2018
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T HEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? SD THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDITHEY DWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDID WHAT? DID THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIWHAT DWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? ? THEY DID WHAT?THEY DID WHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEY DID WHAT?THEY DID WHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? THEYDIDWHAT?THEYDIDWHAT? Students Support Classmate On behalf of SHOP@USC, student representatives presented USCHS senior Rita Beauchamp with a gift of $700 to further assist with her recovery expenses. Rita was seriously injured in an automobile accident on the first day of school this past August. After a lengthy hospital stay, she continues to recover at home with her family and beloved dog, Bronco, and is completing her coursework online so that she can graduate this spring with her classmates. SHOP@USC raised $530 from the sale of specially designed #WakeUpRita t-shirts, bracelets, and rally towels. In addition, Fort Couch contributed $170 through a casual day fundraiser.
SHOP@USC representatives presenting a check to Rita
Granting Wishes This past December, Eisenhower teacher Michelle Stack and a student representative from each grade—Eva Doak, Kaaveri Patil, Evelyn Ritchey, Thomas Geanopulos, and Chloe Faist—presented the school’s donation of $7,714.35 to Make A Wish live on the radio with Wish 99.7 at The Mall at Robinson. The students raised the money by participating in a Math-a-thon earlier in December.
World Affairs Council USCHS students attended a presentation by former CIA and NSA director Michael Hayden. Students enrolled in Ron Sivillo’s 21 st Century Global Affairs course and the program for the Certificate of Global Fluency participated in the program offered by the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh this past December. In addition, students had a round-table discussion with former U.S. Ambassador and current Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Dan Simpson, where students were briefed on internationalrelated careers in both the government and private sectors.
Honors Choir Six USCHS students were selected to participate in the 2017 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 1 Honors Choir, including Sammy Cancilla, Tenor 2; Millena DeIuliis, Soprano 1; Christian Jones, Tenor 2; Andrew Rauber, Tenor 2; Logan Reynolds, Tenor 1; and Zach Reynolds, Tenor 1. The students are among more than 175 high school singers from Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmorland counties who participated in a two-day experience at Trinity High School. Serving as guest conductors for the honors choir were Dr. Yugo Ikach, director of choral activities and fine arts cochair at California University of Pennsylvania, and Melanie Catana, director of choral activities a t Wa y n e s b u r g University. USCHS members of PMEA’s Honors Choir
Senior Named National Hispanic Scholar USCHS senior Wyatt Keating was recognized as a National Hispanic Scholar by the College Board for scoring in the top 2.5% among Hispanic and Latino PSAT test takers in the region. To qualify, students must be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino, achieve the minimum required PSAT Selection Index score during junior year, and earn a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher by the middle of his or her junior year. In addition to being a National Hispanic Scholar, Wyatt was recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction by the College Board for earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. He was also named a National Merit Commended Student for scoring in the top three percent in the nation on the PSAT during his junior year. Wyatt Keating
Truly a mountain of shoeboxes!
Collecting cereal for SHIM
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Boyce Students Brighten Holiday A Boyce annual tradition spanning more than 20 years is the Friendship Shoebox project, organized by school counselors Amy Antonio and Vicki Cayuela. Each of the school’s 645 students was asked to fill a shoebox with small gifts to brighten the holidays for another child. The gift-wrapped shoeboxes were then delivered to children in Washington County through Northwestern Human Services. Getting the mountain of festive boxes from the guidance classroom to the awaiting delivery truck was a feat in itself. One-by-one, the boxes left the guidance classroom through a Friendship Shoebox chain—passing from one student to the next down the hall, out the door, and into the delivery truck. “We form the human chain to give all of our students the opportunity to participate in this project,” said Vicki. “Due to their personal situation, some of our students are not able to make a gift for another child. They participate in the passing of the boxes just like any student who made a box.” In addition to the shoebox project, Boyce’s student council collected nearly 300 boxes of cereal to benefit the South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM), which provides food, clothing, and services to people in need in Pittsburgh’s southern suburban neighborhoods.
Honors Band Eight USCHS students were selected through competitive audition to participate in the 2017 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 1 Honors Band, performing a public concert at North Hills Senior High School. Musicians named to the honors band (listed by instrument) included clarinet: Meghan Johnson– 20th chair, Holly Smith–5th alternate; trumpet: James Boston–3rd chair; euphonium: Justin Pacella–3rd chair; percussion: Shane Bowman–1st chair, Matt Higgs–2nd chair, Justin Dreyer–7th chair, and Steven Halpner–9th chair.
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Vocalists Selected for Music Festivals Thirty-three USC students in grades six through nine were selected to participate in choral festivals sponsored by the American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania, including the Sweet Harmony festival for girls and the Mucho Macho festival for boys. Participating in Sweet Harmony at West Allegheny High School were ninth graders Clare Joyce, Maddie Nolen, and Elizabeth Young; eighth graders Madison Bruno, Kaitlyn Clougherty, Jordana Kennedy, Katie Kobeski, Sofia Putorti, and Mia Skeel; and sixth graders Melodi Caliskan, Gabrielle Deep, Sydney Garvey, Evelyn Hertzog, Janelle Knierim, Jaelyn Lakes, Reagan Safko, and Emily Whiteford. Four of the nine music solos at the festival included USC vocalists Maddie Nolen (ninth grader), who had a solo, and Evelyn Hertzog, Sydney Garvey, and Jaelyn Lakes (sixth graders), who were part of a double trio in “Cover Me with the Night.” Boyce Middle School hosted Mucho Macho, which included USC ninth graders Zain Aizooky and Rohan Mishra; seventh graders Colin Eccher, George Garces, Ryan Higgs, Thomas McQuillan, Keshav Narasimhan, Dimitri Suher, and Benjamin Wasson; and sixth graders Graydon Altherr, Marshall Howe, Jadon Kithcart, Arnav Kumar, Jude Pagliai, Eli Rankin, and Maxim-Levi Shevchenko. Boyce sixth graders Marshall Howe and Jadon Kithcart performed solos at the festival on an arrangement of Shawn Mendes’ “Mercy,” the only soloists of the day. The USC students represented Boyce, Fort Couch, and the high school and receive music instruction from Jennifer Schetley, Thomas Hunsberger, and Lorraine Milovac, respectively.
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USCHS members of PMEA’s Honors Band
USC Hosts District Band Festival USCHS welcomed 141 student musicians from 45 area high schools this January for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 1 West Band Festival. Serving as guest conductor was Don Owens, an emeritus faculty member from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, where he serves as director of jazz studies, contemporary music ensemble, marching band, concert bands, and the National High School Music Institute. Participating in the festival were USCHS students James Boston, trumpet; Shane Bowman, percussion; Lauryn Davis, tenor saxophone; Olivia DeLeo, clarinet; Alexa Drecnik, flute; Matthew Higgs, percussion; Matthew Hornak, trumpet; Meghan Johnson, clarinet; Justin Pacella, euphonium; Ritik Parmar, clarinet; Nick Ravasio, alto saxophone; Holly Smith, contra bass clarinet; Abbie Wagner, flute; and Amanda Ross, horn.
Honors Orchestra Four USCHS students were selected through competitive audition to participate in the 2017 PMEA District 1 Honors String Orchestra Festival, including Samuel Ding, violin; Mallika Matharu, cello; Jason Zhang, violin; and Veronica Zhang, violin. The four students are among more than 100 high school musicians who participated in the two-day experience at Bethel Park High School.
USCHS members of PMEA’s Honors Orchestra
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SD
... a USC Parent Teacher Council Feature
Cont. from page 44
Boyce focuses on student wellness, something Boyce takes very seriously, as does the District. All students meet with their counselors once during their six-day rotation. In these classes, students are encouraged to have social, emotional, and personal growth. As listed on the counseling webpage: “The counselors work directly with students in individual and group counseling sessions. These discussions include topics such as self-understanding, getting acquainted in a new school, dealing with divorce or separation, friendship, and other relevant topics.” Students get plenty of gym time during each rotation. Teachers Pete Serio and Dana Mellinger keep the students busy with lots of fun activities during gym class. Students also have a little down time during recess period where they can go outside, weather permitting, and burn off a little more energy or just hang out with their friends. Baker Elementary PTA Michelle Urban In the late fall and early winter, PTC kicked off the Wellness Committee. Inspired by PTC’s newly formed committee and the passion of Libby Mascaro (PTC Wellness Committee chair and Baker family member), Baker PTA hopes to start its own Wellness Committee this spring. The committee will focus on the well-being of the students, both mentally and physically. The goal is to offer education, support, and resources for the students and their parents in all areas of wellness. With the help of both Kristin Rose, the school counselor, and Becky Findley, the physical education teacher, we hope to initiate programs and information and move this committee forward. Several Baker family members have expressed interest in helping with this initiative, and some great programs are already being researched. If you are interested to be involved with this committee or have an idea you would like to share, email Michelle Urban at urban1326@yahoo.com. Eisenhower Elementary PTO Jessica Strub The Eisenhower PTO is committed to partnering with the students and staff at Eisenhower Elementary to focus on the wellbeing of students and their families. Currently, several wellness-based activities are implemented throughout each school year. The school week begins with Motivational Mondays, where students, in their homerooms, watch a short video clip designed to foster a guided dialogue between students and their homeroom teacher. The theme of the clips is centered on areas of the USC 56
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
guidance curriculum and Eisenhower’s GRIT terminology. Each week concludes with Fitness Fridays. Each Friday, a few fourth graders are selected and filmed while performing choreographed exercises. These films are then shown throughout the school in each classroom so the whole school can exercise together. It’s a fun way to illustrate the importance of physical wellness. These short videos are also sent digitally to families through the E-Alert program. At the beginning of the school year, all families receive a permission form allowing parents to refer their child to a small group program. These small groups allow students to focus on areas of growth and make connections in a less intimidating setting. Topics include self-esteem, friendships, and the various GRIT themes. As the year progresses, the school counselor, Amy Miller, gathers six to eight students to participate that day during their lunch period. During these informal Lunch Bunch sessions, the students meet with Counselor Miller, using that time to create a safe space for open dialogue and motivational discussions. Throughout the year, we offer several outlets for students to make positive connections with their classmates. These efforts focus on the emotional health and well-being of our students and their families, and concentrate on the value of successful peer-to-peer relationships. The goal is to equip students with the tools and know-how to foster and maintain positive peer relationships through teacher-led discussions and a number of authentic peerto-peer interaction opportunities. One of these opportunities is the Ike’s Buddies initiative. First graders are paired with third graders and second graders are paired with fourth graders for this yearlong initiative. These pairs of students collaborate through guided activities and discussions, all geared toward initiating and maintaining positive peer relationships. Recognizing that every peer-to-peer interaction in classrooms, on the playground, or on the bus is not always positive, our goal in offering these programs and opportunities is to provide students with structured learning experiences that they will be able to learn from and use during unstructured or authentic peer experiences. An additional program offered at Eisenhower pairs selected eighth graders to mentor selected Eisenhower students. On Wednesdays, the Fort Couch students travel to Eisenhower to partner with various elementary students through these one-on-one projects and initiatives. We encourage our Eisenhower families to speak with their children about which program they enjoy the most. In my home, we love to Spring 2018
PTC
recap the Motivational Monday themes, as well as mark the Ike Buddies days on our family’s calendars. The commitment to the emotional and physical well-being of our students and their families is a primary concern throughout USC School District. The Eisenhower PTO is proud of the programs currently in place and we look forward to partnering with Council to develop and foster the collective commitment to wellness! Streams PTO Veronica Davis The definition of wellness is “the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal.” But what is good health? Is it having a strong heart? Being physically fit? Being able to mentally cope with the normal, and sometimes not-so-normal, stresses of life? Or, is it all of these things, and more? At Streams Elementary there are many actions put into place to ensure our students are reaching wellness in mind, body, and spirit! This year at Streams, the PTO has generously funded flexible seating options for the classrooms. Classrooms may have stability balls, cushions, floor pillows, wiggle seats, wobble stools, scoop rockers, and raised tables for standing. Flexible seating gives students options to create a more customized learning environment. With the help of the school’s counselor, Leslie Smirniw, we focus on the social and emotional wellness of the students through bi-monthly lessons and small, focused skills groups as well as the Caring Star program. Students receive caring stars when they demonstrate caring, thoughtful, and openminded actions towards others. When a student receives ten caring stars, he or she receives “real, fake golden beads,” and his or her photo is proudly displayed on the Caring Star Wall of Fame! An additional component of the school’s social/emotional wellness initiatives is its cross grade-level get-togethers that focus on the Primary Years Program (PYP) learner profile words and PYP attitudes. Students in first and third grades are paired together, as are second and fourth graders. Buddy classes get together up to five times a year to participate in activities that reinforce the development of the learner profile and PYP attitudes. The cross grade-level get-togethers have focused on taking action to help others in our school, family, community, and world. For example, through the Veterans Day cross grade-level get-together, students learned about the importance of showing respect to and appreciation for others. Future lessons will focus on being balanced, cooperative, and confident. n
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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 Ward 2
Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-206-5130 2021*
2018 Township of Upper St. Clair Meeting Dates
Robert W. Orchowski Ward 3
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.
Meet Elise Logan
Thank You for Your Service
Upper St. Clair’s newest commissioner, Elise Logan, took time to answer a few questions for TODAY. Read on to learn more. Name: C. Elise Logan Spouse: Steven Logan Children: Hope Logan (8 years); Naomi Elise Logan Logan (3 years) Education: BA in political science from Lee University; MS in public policy from Georgia Institute of Technology Occupation: Specialist in energy policy at Deloitte Consulting; I work as a contractor at the National Energy Technology Laboratory. Hobbies: When the weather is warm, I garden with my two daughters. Last year we planted a vegetable patch. In the winter, I prefer to stay inside with a good book. One thing you’d like to accomplish as a board member: My biggest priority as a member of the board is to communicate regularly with residents and ensure that they are aware of the board’s upcoming actions. In a community the size of Upper St. Clair, residents can have a significant voice in decisions made by the Township, and I plan to do everything I can to encourage that participation. As an example, I was recently approached by a group of local moms who had suggestions for how our local recycling pickup can be improved. That kind of initiative is what makes our community work so well, and I’m excited to have the chance to facilitate it. n
USC TODAY would like to recognize outgoing Ward 2 commissioner Rex Waller for his service to Upper St. Clair Township from January 2014 through December 2017. Rex served the board as vice president of the board, chair of the Community Development committee, member of the Human Resources committee, the Budget and Finance committee, and the Public Safety committee, and a representative of the South Hills Area Council of Governments and The Outdoor Classroom ad hoc committee. He helped guide and oversee the development and approval of the Township’s 2015–2025 Comprehensive Plan and was a member of the board for the approval of the 2016 Parks and Recreation Plan. Thank you, Rex! n
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Rex Waller (left) is presented a Proclamation for his years of service from USC Township Commissioner Mark Christie.
T Highlights of the Board of Commissioners’ Meetings September 5, 2017
Approximately 15 people attended.
The Board • Adopted Bill No. 14-17r Re. PLC17-9901–Amendment to Chapter 99 of the Township Code, entitled “Public and Private Improvements”–Street Lighting and Site Lighting. • Adopted Bill No. 16-17 Re. PLC17-1061–Amendment to Chapter 106 of the Township Code entitled “Sewers and Drains”–Sanitary Sewer Lateral Inspections. • Adopted Resolution No. 1646 for Plan Revision for New Land Development (Planning Module) for GRD170007–1477 Cook School Road Sanitary Sewer Extension. • Continued Public Hearing Re. PLC17-1302–Amendment to Chapter 130 of the Township Code entitled “Zoning” to amend the Definition, Requirements, and Zoning Districts permitting “Massage Therapy Establishments” to the October 2, 2017, Regular Board Meeting. • Adopted Bill No. 17-17 Re. PLC17-0007–Woodlands Lot 3–1810 Woodlands Circle–Residential–Conditional Use Approval. • Continued Public Hearing Re. PLC17-0010–2600 Old Washington Road–Planned Office Center–Amended Final Approval to the October 2, 2017, Regular Board Meeting. • Approved the Community & Recreation Center–Facility Assessment Proposal–Ballard*King & Associates in an amount not to exceed $42,700. • Authorized Staff to sell two Boyce Mayview Park Modular Classrooms for $1000 per unit to Growing Seasons Landscapes.
October 2, 2017
Approximately 12 people attended.
Recognitions • Commissioner Waller presented a Proclamation to Steven Moore, Fire Chief, designating October 8–14, 2017, as Fire Prevention Week in Upper St. Clair. • Commissioner Waller recognized the following Volunteer Fire Department members for their years of service: Joshua O’Connor–10 years, Gary Salerno–10 years, Anthony Messina–15 years, David Ickes–25 years, Steven Moore–35 years.
• Continued the discussion regarding the Traffic Calming Policy Update to the November 6, 2017, Regular Board Meeting. • Adopted Bill No. 21-17 to amend Chapter 57 of the Code of the Township entitled “Fees.” • Adopted Resolution No. 1647 Re. Approval of Contract Re. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Winter Maintenance (5 years) for snow and ice control on the State roads within the Township. Approval of Contract • National Gunite Company Johnstown, PA Remediation of the Walther Lane Culvert ..........$53,990
November 6, 2017
Approximately 12 people attended.
The Board • Continued Public Hearing Re. PLC17-0011–Upper St. Clair High School–Natatorium Renovation and New Community Complex Building–Unified Conditional Use/ Preliminary and Final Land Development Approval to the December 4, 2017, Regular Board Meeting. • Adopted Bill No. 22-17 Re. PLC17-0013–Laurel Place− Planned Residential Development–Final Approval. • Adopted Resolution No. 1648 for Plan Revision for New Land Development (Planning Module) for PLC17-0013– Laurel Place–Planned Residential Development–Final Approval. • Approved the Traffic Calming Policy Update. • Closed the Public Hearing Re. 2018 Proposed Budget. Approval of Contracts • Glassmere Fuel Service, Inc. Curtisville, PA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel and Winterized Diesel Fuel Additive OPIS Daily Pittsburgh Average Index Plus Fixed Margin of between $.0129 and $.0885 on each gallon of gasoline with a fixed margin price of $.0129 on each gallon of Diesel Fuel. A winterized Diesel Fuel additive at $.025 on each gallon of Diesel fuel. • NetServe365 Pittsburgh, PA Wireless Connectivity Solutions for C&RC, C&RC Pool Area, Public Works, Public Works truck diagnostics, and Township Buildings......................................$66,637.32
December 4, 2017
Approximately 55 people attended.
Members of the Volunteer Fire Department, left to right, Dave Ickes, Tony Messina, Josh O’Connor, and Steve Moore received Certificates of Achievement from Commissioner Rex Waller (right). The Board • Adopted Bill No. 18-17 Re. PLC17-1302–Amendment to Chapter 130 of the Township Code entitled “Zoning,” to amend the Definition, Requirements, and Zoning Districts permitting “Massage Therapy Establishments.” • Adopted Bill No. 19-17 Re. PLC17-0010–2600 Old Washington Road–Planned Office Center–Amended Final Approval. • Adopted Bill No. 17-17r Re. PLC17-0007–Woodlands Lot 3–1810 Woodlands Circle–Consideration of Revised Bill granting Conditional Use Approval. • Adopted Bill No. 20-17 Re. Bank of America–Final Land Development Approval.
Recognitions • Commissioner Del Re presented a Proclamation to Ruthann L. Omer, PE, recognizing her 20 years in the capacity of Township Engineer and her retirement from The Gateway Engineers, Inc. on December 31, 2017, thereby leaving her position as Engineer for the Township of Upper St. Clair. • Commissioner Christie presented a Proclamation to Commissioner Rex A. Waller, recognizing his position as a member of the Board of Commissioners for the Township of Upper St. Clair from January 2014 through January 2, 2018. The Board • Adopted Bill No. 23-17 Re. PLC17-0011–Upper St. Clair High School–Natatorium Renovation and New Community Complex Building–Unified Conditional Use/ Preliminary and Final Land Development Approval. • Tabled Recommendation Re. PLC17-0016–Manual of Design Guidelines–Streetscape Plan–Siena at St. Clair to the January 2, 2018, Regular Meeting.
Spring 2018
• Continued Public Hearing Re. PLC17-0017–Siena at St. Clair–Outdoor Restaurant Dining Phase II–Conditional Use Approval to the January 2, 2018, Regular Meeting. • Continued Public Hearing Re. PLC17-0014–1395 McLaughlin Run Road–Nonresidential–Unified Conditional Use/Preliminary and Final Land Development Approval to the January 2, 2018, Regular Meeting. • Adopted Bill No. 25-17 Re. PLC17-0018–1131 Boyce Road–Claire Place–Planned Office Center–Amended Final Approval. • Adopted Bill No. 26-17 Re. PLC17-0019–Friendship Village of South Hills Phase VI–Planned Residential Development–Amended Final Approval–Phase 1. • Adopted Resolution No. 1649 Re. Prohibiting Category 4 Casinos within the Township of Upper St. Clair. • Adopted Bill No. 27-17 Re. Adoption of the 2018 Budget. • Approved the following appointment and reappointments to various Boards and Commissions: Building and Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory Board (three-year term) David McLean, Robert Stevens, Jr. Civil Service Board (three-year term) Paul Battisti Library Board (three-year term) Barbara Zimmt Municipal Authority (five-year term) Ched Mertz Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (three-year term) Bill Barnard, Tom Browand, Diane Morris Planning Commission (four-year term) Kimberly Smith, Kevin Turkall Youth Steering Committee (four-year term, expiring June 30, 2021) Gary Seech, Geralyn Austin, Mike Burch, Tina Florkowski, Jeffrey Krantz, Joanne Petursson (new appointment, two-year term–Resident Professional) Zoning Hearing Board (three-year term) Gregg Zegarelli, Robin Weissert (Alternate) Approval of Contracts • USDA Wildlife Service Raleigh, NC Special Use Culling Permit/ Prescribed Activities.....................Not to exceed $45,000 • Independent Enterprises, Inc. Oakdale, PA Boyce Road (S.R. 3006) at Boyce Plaza Road Public Improvements Project.......................$805,226.85 • Pfund Superior Sales Lower Burrell, PA Three 2018 Ford E-450 Life Line Superliner Type III Ambulances @ $168,422 each, less $79,400 in sale/trade-in of three 2013 Ambulances.....................................$425,866
The Township of Upper St. Clair, founded in 1788, is a 10.5-square-mile, primarily residential community (19,000+ residents) located ten miles southwest of Pittsburgh. This family-oriented community boasts an award-winning school district, excellent recreation, and a safe environment. Upper St. Clair has been named one of the “Top Ten Best Places to Live” by U.S. News & World Report.
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Department of Finance 2018 Budget Highlights Township Budget Overview Upper St. Clair Township’s Board of Commissioners has once again approved a budget with no tax increase, as the 2018 budget keeps the real estate tax level for the ninth consecutive year. Development of the Township’s 2018 budget began in May 2017 and continued through subsequent months to include information resulting from multiple internal and public meetings. The 2018 budget was adopted on December 4, 2017. Thirteen separate funds comprise the budget. The operations of each fund are accounted for by providing a separate set of self-balancing accounts, which include its assets, liabilities, fund equity, revenues, and expenditures. This compartmentalization of resources, transactions, and statements is necessary to ensure that specific revenue sources are used to finance the specific activities for which they are intended. The Township’s primary operating fund is the General Fund, which is supported by taxes, fees, and other revenues. The General Fund includes all operations not required by law or policy to be recorded in other funds. Other major funds are the Capital Projects Fund, the Sanitary Sewer Fund, and the Boyce Mayview Community & Recreation Center (C&RC) Fund. Full details are available in the Township’s award-winning budget document, which is online at www.twpusc.org and available in the Upper St. Clair Township Library. Where the Money Comes From Upper St. Clair Township’s primary sources of operating revenue in 2018 continue to be real estate tax and earned income tax. These taxes make up 38% and 41%, respectively, of total General Fund revenues. Other taxes and other revenue comprise the balance of the operating revenue. Other taxes include real estate transfer, public utilities, sales & use, and local services taxes. Other revenue consists of licenses and permits, fines, fees, rental & service agreements, investment earnings, recreation fees, and other non-tax revenue. General Fund revenues are budgeted at $21,610,872 for 2018, an increase of 3.44% from the 2017 budget. Notable changes in General Fund revenue include increases in state pension aid, earned income tax, and real estate tax revenue resulting from continued development growth. The Township’s real estate tax rate remains at 3.83 mills and the earned income tax rate
remains at 0.80%. The General Fund is projected to end the year with an unassigned fund balance of $3,844,831, or 17.8% of estimated 2018 General Fund revenues, which is in line with the Government Finance Officers Association’s recommended fund balance level. Where the Money Goes General Fund operating expenditures are projected to be $15,837,725—an increase of 3.17% from the 2017 budget. The accompanying chart illustrates how those expenditures are distributed across the major programs. The Township’s two largest programs are Public Safety (which includes the Police Department, Volunteer Fire Department, and Animal Control Services) and Public Works. These programs combine to represent 64.8% of the operating portion of the General Fund budget. The remaining difference of projected revenues over operating expenses of $5,770,397 will be used to fund the debt service costs of $1,348,889, and transfers to other funds of $4,424,258.
Capital Projects Fund
The Capital Projects Fund accounts for most of Upper St. Clair Township’s major equipment purchases and capital projects. Funding for these items comes from grants, a General Fund transfer, and existing capital reserve. Highlights of the 2018 Capital Projects Fund budget include the annual Street Improvement Program, which is budgeted at $1,700,000—an increase of $100,000 over 2017. The budget includes grant funding the Township received to improve the traffic signals at the intersections of McMurray and Johnston roads, as well as Panther Pass, McMurray, and McLaughlin Run roads. Improvements to the intersection of Boyce and Boyce Plaza roads are also budgeted for 2018, with developer contributions and grants covering most of the cost. In 2018, the Township plans to reinvest in its facilities with a variety of building projects. This includes construction of a new tennis and golf administration building on McLaughlin Run Road and a renovation of the McLaughlin Run Activity Center (MAC).
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Department of Finance 2017 and 2018 General Fund Budget GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS
GENERAL FUND REVENUES
2017 Budget
Real Estate Tax $8,055,000 Earned Income Tax 8,531,000 Local Services Tax 274,000 Real Estate Transfer Tax 975,000 Public Utilities Tax 21,000 Local Option Sales & Use Tax 513,750 Licenses and Permits 174,275 Fees and Fines 561,200 Rental Income 84,676 Investment Earnings 3,500 Service Agreements 222,000 Other Non-Tax Revenue 1,098,359 Recreation Fees 377,975 Total Revenues Fund Balance Total Major Revenues
2018 Increase Percentage Budget (Decrease) Change $8,278,500 8,867,300 279,500 1,050,000 20,500 522,250 164,575 550,800 85,872 8,000 222,100 1,189,200 372,275
$223,500 2.77% 336,300 3.94% 5,500 2.01% 75,000 7.69% (500) -2.38% 8,500 (9,700) (10,400) 1,196 4,500 100 90,841 (5,700)
1.65% -5.57% -1.85% 1.41% 128.57% 0.05% 8.27% -1.51%
$20,891,735 $21,610,872 $719,137 3.44% - - - 0.00% $20,891,735
$21,610,872
$719,137
3.44%
2017 Budget
General Government $1,929,128 Public Safety 5,185,750 Community Development 679,762 Public Works 4,726,764 Refuse Collection 1,224,500 Recreation & Leisure Services 511,615 Library 914,960 Unallocated Insurance Costs 178,467 Operating Expenditures $15,350,946 Operating Transfers 4,234,278 Debt Service Payments 1,306,511 Non-Operating Expenditures $5,540,789 Total Expenditures $20,891,735 Fund Balance - Total Major Programs $20,891,735
2018 Increase Percentage Budget (Decrease) Change $1,954,698 5,452,399 698,311 4,820,680 1,255,500
$25,570 266,649 18,549 93,916 31,000
1.33% 5.14% 2.73% 1.99% 2.53%
515,754 948,504
4,139 0.81% 33,544 3.67%
191,879
13,412 7.52%
$15,837,725 4,424,258 1,348,889
$486,779 3.17% 189,980 4.49% 42,378 3.24%
$5,773,147
$232,358 4.19%
$21,610,872 $719,137 3.44% - - 0.00% $21,610,872 $719,137 3.44%
Boyce Mayview Community & Recreation Center (C&RC) Fund Current demographics show the C&RC membership is made up of 60% residents and 40% non-residents. The C&RC reached 9997 total members in 2017, including 3328 annual memberships. The 2018 membership revenue is budgeted to remain in line with the 2017 revenues. Other revenue sources in the C&RC Fund include facility rental revenue and program revenue, which are estimated at $101,500 and $376,000, respectively, for 2018. The General Fund will appropriate $1,201,633 to the C&RC Fund for debt service costs associated with the construction of the C&RC building. The General Fund is also budgeted to contribute $532,456 to support the common area operations of the C&RC. Based on ten years of strong support from C&RC members and the community, the Township plans to reinvest in the C&RC by undertaking a facility assessment study in 2018. The objective of the study is to develop
long-term recommendations for future facility and programmatic enhancements of the C&RC. In addition to the study, several capital projects are planned in the 2018 C&RC budget, including indoor pool deck resurfacing and the replacement of some fitness equipment and community room furniture. n
2018 Real Estate Tax Notice and Payment Schedule The Township of Upper St. Clair and the Upper St. Clair School District hereby give public notice to all Township real estate taxpayers of the payment schedule of each taxing body for the year 2018. The Township’s real estate tax millage rate for 2018 has been set at 3.83 mills. The School District’s schedule is dependent upon its adoption of a real estate tax millage rate for the 2018–2019 fiscal year no later than June 2018.
Township Real Estate Tax Schedule for 2018 Date Tax Period May 1, 2018 ...................................... Billing date May 1–June 30, 2018 ....................... 2% discount July 1–August 31, 2018 .................... Face amount September 1–December 31, 2018 ..... 10% penalty January 1, 2019 ................................ Lien date School District Real Estate Tax Schedule for 2018 Date Tax Period July 1, 2018 ........................................Billing date July 1–August 31, 2018 ......................2% discount September 1–October 31, 2018 ..........Face amount November 1–December 31, 2018 .......10% penalty January 1, 2019 ..................................Lien date Spring 2018
This notice reminds all taxpayers that they are responsible to see that their property is properly assessed and taxed, and to request the appropriate tax bills if they have not received them by mail. No appeals will be granted due to a taxpayer not receiving a real estate tax bill. Only payments received in the tax office or postmarked by the tax period due date will receive the two percent discount or avoid the ten percent penalty. n Cont. on page 62
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Department of Finance 2018 Earned Income and Net Profits Tax Rate Notice and Payment Schedule The Township of Upper St. Clair and the Upper St. Clair School District hereby give public notice to all residents of the Township that the Earned Income and Net Profits tax rates of the Township and the School District for 2018 are 0.80% and 0.50%, respectively, of taxable income as defined by Act 32 of 2008. Thus, the Township taxpayer’s total rate for 2018 is 1.30%. All unincorporated business owners of Upper St. Clair Township and School District are also taxed upon the net profits from their business at the same aforementioned rate and must remit their tax
liability quarterly to Jordan Tax Service on the following schedule for 2018: Date Tax Period April 16, 2018 ............1st quarter 2018 tax estimate due July 16, 2018..............2nd quarter 2018 tax estimate due October 15, 2018..........3rd quarter 2018 tax estimate due January 15, 2019.............4th quarter 2018 tax estimate due
Quarterly tax payments are required. A taxpayer whose employer does not withhold local earned income tax must file and pay quarterly tax on the aforementioned schedule. Final tax returns are required for all taxpayers. Final returns for the 2017 tax year are due on April 17, 2018. n
Sanitary Sewer Fund
The Township’s Sanitary Sewer Fund (SSF) accounts for all sewer usage fees paid by residents and the expenses related to sewage processing and maintenance of the sanitary sewer system. Sewage processing is performed by Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN), who bills the Township for the service. ALCOSAN has increased its 2018 fees by 7.5%. In an effort to partially absorb that increase, the Township has reduced its sewer rate multiplier for 2018 to 2.05. The ALCOSAN expense is the largest cost in the 2018 SSF budget (see “Sewer Processing Fees” in the accompanying chart). The remainder of the sewer fee revenue is used to rehabilitate the Township’s sanitary sewer infrastructure, and provide other services related to satisfying all regulatory requirements that have been and will be imposed with regard to sanitary sewer improvement and maintenance.
2018 Upper St. Clair Township Sewer User Multiplier Rate
The Township of Upper St. Clair hereby gives public notice to all Township sewer users that ALCOSAN will raise sewage service charges and usage fees by 7.5% for 2018. The Sewer User Multiplier Rate that is used to calculate the Township’s cost reimbursement has been set at 2.05 for the year. The Township of Upper St. Clair contracts with Jordan Tax Service to provide the billing and collection of the Township’s monthly sewer usage fees. n Direct questions or concerns regarding sewage billing to Jordan Tax Service at 412-835-5243, option 4, or via email to sewage@jordantax.com. 62
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Montour Trail at Hendersonville
Rails to Trails Ad Hoc Committee Formed Ched Mertz
The Upper St. Clair Board of Commissioners has appointed an ad hoc committee to study the construction of a bike/walking path linking USC Boyce Mayview Park with the Montour Trail in Peters Township. The committee includes representatives from the USC Board of Commissioners, USC Township residents, the Montour Trail Council, and various USC staff employees. Possible routes are being studied and present landowners are being consulted. Watch for periodic updates in future issues of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY. n
Reading to Inspire
This past November, RaAnne Gingrich and Ron Sarrick, who dressed up as PW Paws, of the USC Department of Public Works enjoyed a night of reading to children at the Streams Elementary evening event “Snuggle up and Read.” The book they read, Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, was a hit! n
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Sustainability Message from Public Works Ron Sarrick, Sustainability Coordinator
Recycling Opportunities Abound Within the Township of Upper St. Clair, recycling has been ongoing for more than 30 years in some form or another. The residential curbside recycling program takes in an average of 2350 tons of paper, cardboard, plastics, and glass each year. The monthly drop-off E-cycling events at the Community & Recreation Center (C&RC) parking lot have realized the ongoing collection need for electronic and electric waste items to the tune of more than 12 tons per year. The Township recycles end-of-life rechargeable batteries through “Call 2 Recycle,” a zero-cost program to USC residents. In 2017, nearly 550 pounds of battery waste was collected and recycled. Cell phones, printing cartridges, and eyeglasses are also part of the reuse and recycle effort. There are additional programs for your consideration. There is the DEA’s Drug Take Back program, held in the spring and fall of each year (dates TBD). Expired or unused drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC), can be dropped off for proper disposal. To make this program even more convenient, the USC Police Department accepts drugs from USC residents year-round. Syringes and liquids are not accepted. The Pennsylvania Resource Council is also committed to recycling. Their Household Hazardous Waste program is the coordination of hard-to-recycle and household chemical drop-off events for the public throughout the year at Allegheny County parks in the north, south, east, and west. Visit prc.org for more information regarding the program dates and times. The Township continues to actively participate in many recycling programs and communicates to the public about the available residential recycling opportunities. In addition to recycling all forms of materials mentioned above, the Township recycles oil, ballasts, bulbs, outdated office documents, and scrap metals. Contact Upper St. Clair Township with any recycling comments or questions you may have. The Township would like to know how recycling works for you. Remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle for a sustainable lifestyle. Make a Change for 2018 Once each quarter, consider a change that might help you become more sustainable. That’s just four thoughtful ways in which you can make an impact on a sustainable lifestyle. Below are some examples: • Take reusable bags to the grocery store. Compartments in your vehicle can temporarily accommodate a place for their space. This eliminates disposable bag use! • Walk or bike instead of driving. Many of us live close enough to stores or places that we frequent. Take the two-wheeler for a spin and enjoy the added benefit of the exercise! • Share a ride. There are programs that provide this service; commuteinfo.org, for example. • Take public transportation instead of driving. There are times it makes good dollars and sense! • Limit trips to stores by coordinating trips for multiple stops, or buddy shop with friends. • Install a programmable thermostat. Affordable, some thermostats on the market can be controlled from your smart phone if electronics are your niche! • Turn down the temperature on your hot water tank. Even a few degrees can make a difference in savings! There are many other ways that can move you toward an environmentally-thoughtful change in living. One change within a family can have a positive impact on other family members. Share with others and go for green!
Community Day 2018— Saturday, May 19 Remember to put Upper St. Clair Community Day on your calendar! The Public Works Department will again have an informational booth for recycling questions and sustainable living ideas. Learn about some of the things you can do to make our community more sustainable and help us strike a better balance where our community can prosper financially, socially, and environmentally while making significant strides in adapting a conscious change for a healthier environment. Retire Old Glory The Township has been involved with the Retire Old Glory project since July 2012, performing numerous U.S. flag retirements with the aid of local Boy Scout Troop 366. On average, 125 flags are retired at each event, with nearly 1600 flags retired since the event’s inception! The official start date for the Retire Your Unserviceable Old Glory project was May 2011. To learn more about the project and for more information, visit the “In the Press” page to view articles and media releases from the Retire Your Old Glory site (retireyouroldglory.com). The retirement events take place on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the McLaughlin Run Activity Center (MAC) fire circle during spring, summer, and fall. The 2018 dates are to be determined. Information for dates can be viewed on the Township’s website (www.twpusc.org), the Township monitors in the municipal building lobby, or on the Public Access Channels, Comcast Channel 7 or Verizon Channel 42. Zero Waste at Bounty The Township is applying for a Zero Waste recognition award for the November Bounty event held at the C&RC and Boyce Mayview Park. Awards are given to programs or events that achieve a 90% or greater rate of waste deferral from a landfill. Upper St. Clair has been involved with Zero Waste—a program supported by Pennsylvania Resource Council—for a number of years, winning at least three achievement awards. The Township is seeking yet another winning effort through the diligent efforts and coordination of the USC Departments of Recreation & Leisure Services and Public Works. All Bounty recyclables and trash were separated into appropriate dumpsters and compostable items were taken to the Boyce Road leaf mulch site. Proven to be yet another successful campaign toward zero waste, we thank you for your help and cooperation! Household Hazardous Waste Event The Township is planning a Household Hazardous Waste event to be held on Saturday, April 14 at the Township's municipal building. Further details will be shared with residents and posted on the Township’s website (twpusc.org) and the Public Access Channels, Comcast Channel 7 or Verizon Channel 42. Great American Clean Up The Great American Clean Up is an annual spring event in USC. Volunteer for a few hours on a Saturday in April or May (date TBD) to help pick up trash from a USC roadway. For more information, contact USC Public Works at 412-831-9000, extension 271 or 217. n For more information about recycling, visit twpusc.org or send comments or questions to sarrick@twpusc.org or Ron Sarrick, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241, or phone 412-831-9000, extension 264. Spring 2018
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Township Flood Services and Protection Upper St. Clair participates in the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS: • Reduce flood damage to insurable property, • Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and • Encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management.
In order to protect your home or business from flood damage, it is important to access the flood hazard. A complete Flood Protection Library, including flood maps and flood protection references, is available at the Upper St. Clair Township Library. Localized flooding can result from even minor storms. Runoff overloads the drainageways and flows into the streets and low-lying areas. Sewers back up; yards are inundated. These minor storms could potentially cause more damage as they are most likely recurring, and small impacts accumulated over time can become major problems. A few factors to consider: • Even shallow flooding can pose safety hazards. It is not unusual for children to drown after slipping in shallow water or to be swept into a ditch or storm drain. Adults and even vehicles can be swept away by just a few inches of moving water. • The growth of mold and mildew in damp structures after flooding could contribute to allergies, asthma, and respiratory infections, especially in children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. In addition, gasoline, pesticides, fuel oil, chemicals, and other substances can be brought into the area and into buildings by flood waters. They soak into the soil, building components, and furniture, and can result in long-term health problems. • Even a few inches of water in the basement or ground floor of a building can cause expensive damage. Carpeting, wallboard, insulation, mattresses, and upholstered furniture must be thrown out and replaced. Flooring, studs, and other wooden parts of the building must be thoroughly cleaned and dried. Business records, photographs, and other papers are often destroyed. • Flood waters can block streets, disrupt traffic patterns, and hinder access to homes and businesses. This can affect the entire community, not just those whose property is flooded. People have to evacuate wet and/or damaged homes, and businesses have to close. Cleanup and repairs take time away from normal routines, interrupting lives and business operations. For your safety, Upper St. Clair regulates all construction and development in floodplains to ensure that buildings will be protected from flood damage. What You Can Do The Township’s efforts depend on your cooperation and assistance. Here is how you can help: • Do not dump or throw anything into creeks, ditches, ravines, or streams. Dumping is a violation of Section 83 of the Township Code. Even grass clippings and branches accumulate and plug channels, causing danger during rains. • If your property is next to a creek or ditch, keep the banks clear of brush and debris. The Township has a maintenance program to help remove major blockages such as downed trees. • If you see evidence of dumping of debris in creeks or ditches, contact the Public Works Department. • Always check with the Community Development Department before you build, alter, grade, or fill on your property. A permit may be needed to ensure that projects do not cause problems on the other properties. If you are in a floodplain, special building codes may apply. The Community Development Department will walk you through any application and answer your questions. If you see building or filling without a Township permit posted, contact the Community Development Department at 412-831-9000. • Help yourself by understanding floodproofing, flood insurance, and flood safety. Flood Insurance If you do not have flood insurance, talk to your insurance agent. Homeowners’ insurance policies typically do not cover damage from floods. However, because the Township of Upper St. Clair participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, local residents can purchase a separate flood insurance 64
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policy. It is backed by the federal government and is available to all residents, even for property outside a floodplain. Any property could be flooded. Surface water can accumulate from heavy rain, melting snow, a broken water main, or a ruptured swimming pool. Insurance agents may require photographs of the front and back of your house, an elevation certificate (if you are in a floodplain), a completed and signed application, and a check for the first year’s premium. For sample flood insurance applications, visit the Flood Protection Library in the Township Library. Stormwater Information The Township maintains a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This program places requirements on stormwater discharges associated with construction activities and discharges for municipal storm sewers. There are projects that the Township has undertaken to protect our streams and waterways from hazardous discharge. Check the Township’s website on a regular basis for updates on Stormwater Management and Flood Protection in addition to the steps the Township is taking to meet the federal requirements to keep Upper St. Clair a safer place to reside. Sanitary Sewer Lateral Inspection Ordinance The Township has recently adopted an ordinance that requires video inspections of private sanitary sewer laterals prior to the sale/conveyance of property or for property improvements requiring a Township building permit that also requires an Allegheny County plumbing permit. Sewer lateral inspections must be conducted by a National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) certified contractor. In addition to the mandatory dye testing prior to the sale/conveyance of property, sewer lateral inspections are also required as of January 1, 2018. The adopted ordinance supports the inspection, repair, and replacement of private sanitary sewer laterals that are cracked, disjointed, damaged, or blocked in order to reduce the amount of stormwater penetrating the sanitary sewer system. The influx of stormwater into the sanitary sewer system increases the wastewater flow in the collection system and could potentially lead to sanitary sewer overflows during wet weather conditions. To order the Dye Test Inspection Report and Sanitary Sewer Lateral Report, contact the Department of Public Works at 4120-831-9000. The completed forms and DVD copy of the inspection can be remitted to the Township Tax Office at least 14 days prior to closing, along with a $50 fee made payable to “Township of Upper St. Clair” to cover the cost of the dye test and sanitary sewer lateral inspection evidence of compliance letter. A copy of the ordinance can be found on the Township website at www.twpusc.org.
This information is published annually as part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System recertification and is also available on the Township website at www.twpusc.org.
Sanitary Sewer Backups AND your homeowner’s coverage The Township maintains over 158 miles of underground sewer lines. There is no way to predict when the next sanitary sewer backup will occur. And while only a handful of our residents experience a significant sanitary sewer backup each year, we know that when it does occur, it is a distressing situation. It can be even more devastating if a resident is not insured for losses—losses that can easily run into tens of thousands of dollars. Sewer Backup Insurance Homeowners can alleviate possible sewer-related damage expenses by contacting their property insurance provider to verify that they have sewer backup coverage. Most homeowners’ insurance policies do not automatically include coverage for these occurrences. Given the potential for significant loss, it would be advisable for homeowners served by a public sewer system, particularly those with finished basements, to obtain some level of coverage. Lastly, if you experience a floor drain backup or otherwise suspect a sanitary sewer problem, contact the Township’s Public Works Department immediately at 412-831-9000, extension 271.
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Sanitary Sewer Lateral Inspections David Kutschbach, Public Works Department Superintendent of Projects
As you may recall, Upper St. Clair, along with 83 other communities, entered into an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) with the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) in March 2004. The goal of the Order was to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows in compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act. To be in compliance with the ACO, which expired in 2010, a Dye Test Ordinance was adopted. The ordinance ensures that there is no direct connection of storm water into the sanitary sewer system. We are currently in the latter years of an Interim Consent Order. While direct connections of storm water into the sanitary sewer system (inflow) were addressed in the initial ACO, the Interim Consent Order addresses ground water infiltration into the sanitary sewer system. The Interim Order requires the Township to complete a demonstration project. One of the options available for a demonstration project is to adopt a sanitary sewer lateral (line) inspection ordinance. A lateral inspection ordinance is anticipated to be a mandatory requirement in the next Consent Order, so the Township took a proactive approach and adopted the sanitary sewer lateral inspection Ordinance No. 2175 on September 5, 2017. What exactly does a sanitary sewer lateral inspection mean? As part of a real estate transaction, a video camera inspection is required of the private section of the sanitary sewer, called the lateral, from the residence to the connection into the public sewer. This inspection can be done from the house going toward the connection to the public sewer or from the public sewer up the lateral toward the house, depending on the contractor’s capabilities. A digital copy of the video inspection report will be provided by the contractor performing the inspection to the Township of Upper St. Clair Department of Public Works. Who does the video inspection? Any National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) certified contractor can do the video inspection. NASSCO has developed a standard to rate defects observed in the sanitary sewer pipe. The standards and
training required helps to ensure consistency in rating observed defects. How are defects rated? Defects are rated as structural defects or maintenance defects, and range in numbers from 1 to 5. Grade 5 structural defects are the most serious and could include items like broken or missing pipe. Grade 1 defects are less severe; for example, it may include some minor cracking. Maintenance defects at grades 2 through 5 may require point repairs or replacement of the property owner’s entire sewer lateral. What happens when defects are observed during the video inspection? When defects are observed that require repair or replacement, the property owner must hire a contractor or registered plumber to make the repair. Repair methods include, but may not be limited to, internal spot lining, full length internal lining, a point repair of the defect by excavation, or replacement of the entire lateral by excavation. Some repairs require inspection by the Allegheny County Health Department Plumbing Division. After the observed defects have been repaired and the sanitary sewer lateral is brought into compliance to the satisfaction of the Township, the Township shall issue evidence of compliance and the real estate transaction can move forward. Sewer lateral repair/replacement, if Spring 2018
necessary, can easily cost thousands of dollars to correct and in some cases, a closing escrow may need to be established. There is an appeal procedure for any dispute regarding the rating or need for repair of any observed defect. Appeals will be reviewed by a committee comprising the Township engineer, the director of Public Works, and the director of Planning and Community Development. The decision of the committee shall be final, and a written summary of the decision will be provided to the property owner. Video inspection of the sanitary sewer lateral is valid for three years from the date of inspection. If the inspection passes, completed forms must be returned to the USC tax office. The fee for each form is $25. If the inspection fails, defects must be repaired prior to closing on a property. Call the Township of Upper St. Clair Planning and Community Development Department at 412-831-9000, extension 501, for further information. The Township has been working hard to improve the public sanitary sewer infrastructure under the initial Consent Order. Now, the private side of the sanitary sewer system is being inspected and repaired to help eliminate infiltration of ground water into the sewer. n UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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New Engine for USC VFD Russell Rauch, Vice-President/Secretary USC VFD The Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department recently took delivery of a new 2017 Rosenbauer Fire Pumper Truck or “engine” as it is widely known in the fire service. On Saturday, November 18, 2017, a “wetdown” ceremony was held at the fire station, where a number of neighboring fire departments helped hose down the new engine. A wetdown is a ritual celebrated by many volunteer fire departments in the United States, where squads of firefighters from neighboring towns commission a new piece of fire apparatus by spraying it with water from the visitors’ firefighting equipment. The celebration of the arrival of a new piece of apparatus has long been a source of pride for volunteer fire companies; the volunteers of the 18th and 19th centuries spared no expense in outfitting and decorating their new engines. The evolution of the event to commemorate a new truck is not clear. Certainly,
parties and soirees were held, and in the era of hand pumpers, a new engine attracted the attention of rival engine companies attempting to “wash” the new engine. The rival engine would pump at a rate faster than the new engine, causing water to fill the reservoir at the rear of the new engine and flood over the engine’s sides. It is perhaps this washing from which the wetdown has evolved. As most of us know, early hand-drawn fire engines, ladder wagons, hose carts, and so on had to be pushed back into the station by hand on a daily occurrence. The horse-drawn steam engines that followed could be backed up by the engineers, but it was difficult to align the steam connections on the engine with those in the station. So, the horses were disconnected and the steamers were also often pushed back into the station by hand. All of this backing in by hand became moot when self-propelled motorized engines went into service. But the fire service is deep into tradition, and some companies make every effort to honor and pay homage to past and old-time members who had to push their engines into the station by hand by pushing the new engines into the station at all wetdowns. While honoring the older and former members, the tradition is also intended to display unity among current members. The engine is a firefighter’s lifeline; this is why great care is given to its maintenance and appearance.
In any case, the USC VFD wetdown and push back celebration announces to our community that it has a new source of pride. The new engine is the result of the hard work of the department’s truck committee. The committee, made up of a number of its members, had a challenging time completing the specifications for the new engine since American LaFrance, the manufacturer of the older engines that the department has in service, is no longer in business. The committee spent countless hours investigating several manufacturers, narrowing down their choice. At that point, the more complex work on specs began. Choosing an engine is not like purchasing a new vehicle where you go the dealership and pick from a list of options that are available for the model you want. Each truck is custom built, so all the specifications must be precisely considered ahead of time. Rosenbauer America in Wyoming, North Dakota was selected to build the new engine. The order was placed in November 2016 and the truck was completed and delivered in October 2017. n
Upper St. Clair Citizens’ Police Academy, Class of 2017 The Upper St. Clair Police Department hosted its 2017 Citizens’ Police Academy this past fall at the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department on Route 19. The academy is a free opportunity for people who live or work in Upper St. Clair to learn more about the police department, law enforcement, courts, the criminal justice system, and to discuss current local and national issues during interactive academy classes. If you missed the 2017 class, the 2018 Upper St. Clair Citizens’ Police Academy will be held this coming fall, with dates and times to be announced. n 66
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Graduates of the 2017 Upper St. Clair Citizens’ Police Academy, listed alphabetically, are Sunny Ahn, Danielle Bauer, Abigail Bishop, Leila Bishop, Marianne Choltko, Kimberly Daly, Oran Daly, Richard Deasy, Michelle Dougherty, Joseph Findley, Jr., Rebecca Findley, Marshall Goldstein, Sandra Goldstein, Mary Jaquay, Khalid Khan, Hemina KrishnaBachia, Rebecca McKenzie, Isabella Oprison, Kristen Overstreet, Kelly Powell, Laura Rooney, Colleen Steele, and Albert Wylie, Jr., pictured with USC Police Department employees Chief Douglas Burkholder (back left), Lt. Curtis Gallatin (back, second from right), and Lt. Jonathan Wharton (back right)
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Spring Cleaning Vital for Fire Safety
Russell Rauch, Vice President/ Secretary USC VFD Spring cleaning is an annual ritual for many people. Just as the first crocus of spring ushers in a new beginning for nature, our spring cleaning habits signify a fresh start after enduring the long winter months. Spring cleaning can take on another meaning. It’s the ideal time to check our homes and yards for dangerous materials and unsafe conditions, and to spend the time to protect our families and our properties. Start by taking a few minutes to plan your safety clean-up day. Check each room in your house, including the attic and basement. Also, don’t forget the garage, yard, and storage shed. First, remove all hazards. Check and correct things, including: • Frayed or damaged appliance cords, wiring, fuses, or breakers. • Piles of rubbish, trash, and yard debris. • Remove stacks of paper and magazines; take them to recycling centers. • Check for water leaks, especially near electrical appliances. • Check for good clearance between heating appliances and combustibles. Second, properly store flammable liquids and house chemicals. • Make sure that all your chemicals are kept under lock and key and out of reach of children and pets. Store in a cool, dry place outside of the home. • Clean up work areas. Put dangerous tools, adhesives, matches, or other work items away and out of a child’s reach. • Inventory all house and yard chemicals, paints, and poisons. Store them according to their label. Properly dispose of any that are expired or leaking or that look bad, but do not throw them in the trash or down the drain. Third, check fire protection and safety equipment. This is important! • Check your smoke detector. Do it now while you’re thinking about it. If you need help checking or replacing a battery, call the fire department. We’re here to help you. Most importantly, make sure your smoke detectors are in working order. • Check fire extinguishers for proper type and placement. • Make sure all doors and windows open easily for fast escapes. • Make sure your street numbers are posted properly on your house and are visible. • Make sure you have a working flashlight and battery-powered radio for the approaching storm season. Finally, plan your home escape now. • Sit down with family members and make sure that everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire. • Make sure you have two ways out of every room, and specify a location outside the house where the whole family will meet. • Practice the plan. Even the best plan is no good if it’s not practiced! You can do a lot to protect yourself, your family, and your property. In fact, you are the key to your safety. A little time spent on simple commonsense prevention will do a lot to make your house a safer place. The USC Volunteer Fire Department is here to help show you more ways you can protect yourself all year long. Call 412-835-0660, extension 130. n
T Your Satisfaction is My Goal!
Diane Horvath, GRI, CRS
Let my 25+ years of experience go to work for you! • Top Producer • Member of Top 1% of Realtors Nationwide • Listing and Sales Leader • Relocation Specialist
Office: 412-833-3600 ext. 219 Cell: 412-491-6984 dhorvath@howardhanna.com Howard Hanna–USC Office 180 Fort Couch Road Pittsburgh, PA 15241
Mt. Lebanon RecReation centeR ATTENTION UPPER ST. CLAIR RESIDENTS SKATE & SWIM at the MT. LEBANON RECREATION CENTER Open Year Round with Something for Everyone *Learn-to-Skate Classes/ Beginner & Advanced Hockey Clinics Youth Developmental & Adult Hockey Leagues Public Skating Summer Figure Skating School and Figure Skating Sessions Daily Adult Skating & Instructional Programs Speed Skating * Broomball Birthday Party Packages Newly renovated pool and bathouse *Individual & Family Season Swim Passes Available Pool Open Noon – 8 P.M. Daily beginning June 18, 2018
Call the Recreation Center at 412-561-4363 for times and rates Or visit us online at www.mtlebanon.org Spring 2018
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40 YEARS
Tri-Community South … the First Decade Becky Brindle
Supervisor Chuck Bryan was working the very first shift when Tri-Community South EMS (TCS) went into service at 11 p.m. on December 31, 1977. Not long after his shift started, he responded to Bethel Park for an emergency at a New Year’s Eve party. “We had a shooting in Bethel Park. A man celebrating the New Year accidentally shot himself,” said Chuck. The man survived; it was fortunately just a flesh wound. But the pace that kicked off the very first shift never slowed down. In its first year of operation, TCS answered 2779 calls. Ten years later in 1987, Tri-Community South’s first shift: Bob Jacobs (left) and TCS answered more than 4000 calls. And recently in 2016, it was 7133 calls. “One Chuck Bryan, pictured with the first TCS ambulance on of the biggest changes I’ve seen in my time is the aging patient demographic,” December 31, 1977 said TCS supervisor Kevin Trichtinger, who started working just a month after TCS went into service. “Our population is living longer. We have an abundance of senior citizens,” said TCS director Nora Helfrich. The aging population and the increase in senior assisted living centers in the area are main reasons for the surge in call volume. The type of emergency calls has also changed. TCS employees received more trauma calls in the 70s and 80s for bad vehicle accidents. Now, a surprising number of calls are for lift assists, otherwise known as falls. TCS employees’ ability to take care of patients has also improved over the years. During its first decade, paramedics had to wait to receive instructions from the medical director Left to right are Nora Helfrich, Lorraine Williams, at St. Clair Hospital. “Early on, we were under strict medical and Sue Irwin Bower, presenting the Junior Paramedic program command, even to start an IV,” said Chuck. Paramedics are now in the mid-1980s capable to administer advanced life support without permission from a hospital medical director, which benefits the patient. “By far, another one of the biggest changes from our first decade are the changes in technology,” said Kevin. The ambulance equipment is much lighter and less bulky. Stretchers are now electric. And paramedics are able to send critical information to doctors much faster and more efficiently. “As far as technology, today it feels like we are living in the future,” said Chuck. And 40 years later, after his first shift started on that New Year’s Eve in 1977, Chuck Bryan is still with TCS. “Over the years we’ve grown and developed into one of the best in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and probably across the United States,” said Chuck. “We’re proud of that. The equipment we use is the best, and the patients deserve that.” TCS has been able to provide medical care for the communities of Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park, and South Park for 40 years due to the support of the residents. TCS is largely funded through Vehicle rescue demonstration annual subscription fees. By supporting at the first Upper St. Clair our local EMS with a $60 donation each Community Day year, the resident and everyone in the household will get more in return. The membership includes ambulance rides Visit tcsems.org to learn for anyone in your household or anyone more about TCS and to pay visiting your household for 50% of cofor an annual residential pays and/or deductibles. Residents who subscription good January 1– A simulated patient care demonstration at the Bethel Park EMS December 31 of each year. do not subscribe will likely pay much base in 1981; the patient is TCS volunteer Alex Ivkovic; the more for an ambulance ride because providers are TCS employees Chuck Bryan (left) and Kevin insurances do not cover the full cost. n Trichtinger, who are both still with TCS in 2018 68
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Ruthann Omer Retires
After 20 years as Upper St. Clair
Township’s engineer, Ruthann Omer, PE, has retired. Ruthann was president and a member of the board of directors of The Gateway Engineers, Inc., retiring from Gateway on Dec. 31, 2017. She served on countless boards and committees, was an educator with the Local Government Academy since 1990, received numerous recognitions throughout her career, and promoted the recruitment of more women in the fields of engineering, science, and management. While Township engineer, Ruthann was instrumental as municipal team leader and a principal in charge of many Township projects, including Boyce Mayview Park, The Community & Recreation Center, Upper St. Clair main fire station, the Veterans Monument, and countless parks and sewer utility projects, guiding USC To w n s h i p s t a f f t h ro u g h t h e re quirements with the Allegheny County Health Department. We wish Ruthann a long and happy retirement! n Upon her retirement, USC Township Commissioner Russell Del Re presents a Proclamation to Ruthann Omer.
Meet Our New Township Engineer
Following Ruthann Omer won’t be an easy task, but Jennifer Slagle, PE, of Gateway Engineers is up for the challenge! Learn more about Jennifer, our Township’s new engineer, by reading her answers to our questions. Education: BS in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Career information: In addition to being Upper St. Clair Township’s engineer, I am a project manager at Gateway Engineers on the Municipal Team, with knowledge and skills in various municipal projects, including MS4 compliance, Jennifer Slagle plan reviews, permitting, stormwater design, storm sewers, sewer upsizing, sanitary sewer repairs, cleaning, and CCTV. Why you became an engineer: While growing up, I always loved math and science. I chose civil engineering so I could enjoy occasionally being out of the office and on various job sites. What you like most about your job: I like working with people and solving problems. I work with different municipalities, and while many face similar challenges, the solutions are unique to each community. Each project is a new challenge. I also enjoy the rewarding aspects of my job, working with municipalities from design through construction, and seeing the long-term effects each project has on a community, from road improvement projects, storm and sanitary sewer projects, to development. Biggest challenge facing you as Township engineer: Upper St. Clair is a great community! My biggest challenge will be to seamlessly continue the high level of service and collaboration with the Township’s residents, professional staff, and elected officials, all who have come to expect what Gateway Engineers has provided for more than 60 years. Spouse/children: Husband, Scott; Zachary (freshman at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio); and Sarah (junior at USCHS). USC Township resident for 16 years. Hobbies: Biking, skiing, and enjoying the outdoors as much as possible; also family dinners and spending time with friends and family. n
Sleep Problems—Causes and Possible Cures John D’Angelo, Tri-Community South EMS Do you take longer than 30 min- nights and is usually caused by a physical utes to fall asleep every night? Do you wake problem, such as an ache (i.e., a toothache up frequently after having fallen asleep? or an ear infection), a sickness (i.e., a cold Do you get out of bed in the morning or the flu), or an environmental issue (i.e., feeling tired? Do you go through the day an extremely cold or hot room). Once the feeling overly tired, impatient, and short- cause is removed, sleep patterns return to tempered? If you answered “yes” to most normal. Chronic insomnia, which is usually deof these questions, you may be one of the millions of Americans who suffer from fined as sleep disturbances that occur three some form of insomnia. According to the or more times a week for at least a month, Center for Disease Control (CDC), 25% will interfere with daytime functions, of Americans report occasional symptoms especially in tasks that require concentraof insomnia and ten percent report having tion. Causes of chronic insomnia are much more complex to diagnose and can range insomnia almost every night. Insomnia is usually classified as either from side effects of certain medications to acute, temporary, or chronic. Acute insom- psychological causes, such as depression nia can last from a few days to a week and or mood disorders. And, to make matis usually caused by excessive worry and ters more complex, worrying about sleep anxiety related to a singular event, such problems can lead to more sleep problems. Those whose sleep problems fall into as a medical exam, a work deadline, or a school test or project. Usually, once the the chronic category should seek guidance from a primary care physician. While the event passes, sleep improves. Temporary insomnia is a fairly common physician can prescribe sleep medications, condition that generally lasts for just a few these will only provide short-term relief.
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More helpful would be a referral to a mental health professional who can help identify the underlying cause. Finding the cause will point the way to treatment. Sleep problems seem much more common among those over the age of 65. The CDC estimates that over 50% of older Americans have sleep disorders, but no clear evidence exists to pinpoint the causes. So, it is the opinion of some researchers that sleep disorders may be a natural side effect of aging. However, much more evidence must be gathered before any scientific conclusion can be reached. Members at Tri-Community South EMS want you to be aware of the role that good sleep habits, along with nutrition and exercise, play in maintaining a healthy, vibrant life. n Contact Tri-Community South EMS at 412-831-3710 for any topic related to emergency healthcare. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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USC Recreation and www.twpusc.org
Reflections of Bounty at Boyce Mayview Park
Bounty 2017 It was a beautiful day for the 2017 Bounty at Boyce Mayview Park Fall Fest! Eventgoers from all over Western Pennsylvania (and beyond) made their way to Boyce Mayview Park on Saturday, November 4 to eat, play, and take in the spectacular sights and sounds of fall. Visitors had plenty of activities to choose from, including mini golf, outdoor games, apple launching, face painting, craft making, cookie decorating, hay wagon rides, and drumming in an instructor-led drum circle. There were many friendly faces to visit within the Community Services lot and a few fun mascots to meet along the way, too. Guests were treated to a wonderful line up of live performances by Jason Craig & Mark Anthony, See the Summer, and the School of Rock while lunching on delicious food from BRGR, Two Brothers BBQ, Miss Meatball, La Palapa, Oh My Grill, Sweet Sips, The Pie Place, and Wild River Kettle Korn.
Bounty’s 2017 Baking Contest Winners
Many would agree that the “sweetest” part of Bounty at Boyce Mayview Park Fall Fest is the baking contest. The 2017 contest category winners graciously share their recipes with the readers of TODAY (see page 71). Take some time in your kitchen to try these special treats! Youth Division (through age 10) First place: Isabelle Ciletti and Alayna Button, pumpkin lasagna Second place: Gabrielle Fishell, turkey cupcake-First Thanksgiving Third place: Andrew Cianflone, turkey cupcake Junior Division (Age 11–17) First place: Aubrey Lenthall, pumpkin mini-cakes Second place: Kendall Busch, cake Third place: Lindsay McKenney and Zoe Sobel-Drum, pumpkin butterscotch cookies 70
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Adult Division (Age 18 and up) First place: Abby Pagliai, pumpkin crunch cake Second place: Alan Popey, pumpkin-sweet potato cake Third place: Donna Pembroke, salted caramel cream puff Thank you to our judges! Paul Fox, Community Foundation of USC Anthony DeAngelis, The Pie Place Colleen Miles, USC Children’s Librarian Tristan Slater, winner, Cake Wars
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Pumpkin Lasagna (winner, youth division) Directions: Ingredients: Preheat oven to 350°. In a mediCrust layer: um bowl, combine flour, butter, 1½ cups flour ½ cup butter, softened and pecans. Press mixture into ¾ cup pecans, chopped the bottom of a sprayed 9" x 13" pan. Bake 15 minutes. Cool Cream Cheese layer: completely. 8 oz cream cheese, softened In a bowl, mix cream cheese 1 cup powdered sugar 1 cup Cool Whip, thawed and powdered sugar. Add 1 cup Cool Whip and spread on top of Pumpkin layer: cooled crust. 2½ cups milk In a large bowl, mix milk, pud3 small packages white chocolate or vanilla pudding ding mixes, pumpkin pie filling, 1 can pumpkin pie filling 1 cup Cool Whip, and pumpkin pie spice until smooth. Spread 1 cup Cool Whip, thawed 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice on top of cream cheese mixture. Spread another cup of Cool Whipped cream topping: Whip on top; sprinkle with 1 cup Cool Whip, thawed pecans. ½ cup pecans, chopped Chill for at least three hours, until set.
Recipes
Pumpkin Crunch Cake (winner, adult division) Ingredients: Crunch Crust: 3 cups walnuts, chopped 3 cups vanilla wafer, chopped (about 75 cookies) 3 cups brown sugar 8 oz butter, melted Cake: 1¼ cup sugar Directions: 6 oz butter 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Prep 16 oz canned pumpkin four 8-inch round cake pans 2½ cup flour with grease and flour. ½ cup Greek yogurt 2. For crust layer: Combine 1 Tbsp vanilla ingredients. Press one cup 1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice in each cake pan. 2¼ tsp baking powder 3. For cake: Beat sugar and but¾ tsp baking soda ter until fluffy. Add pumpkin ½ tsp salt and remaining ingredients 4 eggs (but not the eggs); mix well. Frosting: Add eggs, one at a time. 16 oz cream cheese Divide batter into pans over 8 oz Mascarpone (or more crust layer. Bake for 25–30 cream cheese) minutes. Cool completely. 8 oz butter 4. Mix frosting ingredients. 2 cups powdered sugar Layer cakes with frosting, 1 Tbsp vanilla and frost top.
Pumpkin Mini Cakes (winner, junior division) Directions: Ingredients: For Cake: Cake: 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Butter and flour mini 3 cups all-purpose flour bundt pans. 1 tsp baking powder 2. Cream the oils and sugar together, add in the 1 tsp baking soda yogurt and mix until combined. 2 tsp cinnamon 3. Mix in eggs one at a time, making sure one ¼ tsp ginger egg is incorporated into the mixture before ¼ tsp allspice adding the next. 1 pinch ground cloves 4. In a separate bowl, sift the remaining dry 1 pinch nutmeg ingredients together. 2 cups granulated sugar 5. Mix dry ingredients into the sugar/egg mix¼ cup brown sugar, lightly packed ture in three batches alternating with the ½ cup melted coconut oil pumpkin puree. Mix until just combined. ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 3 / cup plain yogurt 6. Spoon or pipe your batter into the pans, filling 1 15 oz can pumpkin puree 2/3 the way up. ½ tsp salt 7. Bake at 350° for about 20 minutes or until 3 large eggs wooden skewer inserted into center comes Cream Cheese Frosting: out clean. 8 oz cream cheese softened 8. Allow to cool in pan for about 10 minutes 2 cups powdered sugar before inverting onto a wire rack. 1 tsp vanilla extract For Cream Cheese Frosting: Buttercream: 1. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. 1 lb confectioners’ sugar Add in vanilla and powdered sugar and mix 1 cup salted butter, room temp until ingredients are well-incorporated and ¼ cup milk, add in slowly until you desired consistency is reached. achieve desired consistency 1 tsp vanilla extract 10 drops orange food coloring (Amount of food coloring depends on brand used and desired color.)
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For Buttercream: 1. Beat butter until light and fluffy, add vanilla, and slowly add sugar. Add milk, a few tablespoons at a time until desired consistency is reached. You will want a stiffer buttercream, so you might use less milk. Finally, add the food coloring. Assembly: 1. Cut bottoms off cakes (less if you want tall pumpkins, more if you want rounder ones). 2. Pipe or smear cream cheese frosting onto the bottom of one mini bundt cake and sandwich together. 3. Cover in orange buttercream and sculpt into a pumpkin shape. (I cut a yogurt container up to make my tools. The best ones were a rounded off “V” to scrape the indents and a straight edge to sooth the sides.) 4. Top with a stem. I used a real pumpkin stem, but you can make one from fondant or very thick buttercream. Recipe notes: If you fill the mini bundt forms about half way up, there will be enough batter to make approximately ten pumpkins. The excess from the cut-off bottoms makes a great snack or can be used to make pumpkin cake pops!
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USC Recreation and www.twpusc.org
Coming Soon: Spring/Summer Recreation Guide
Annual Egg Hunt Saturday, March 17
Highlighting Spring Events
Arts & Chocolate Spectacular Saturday, March 24, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. The most delicious event of the season is right in your backyard! Come to the C&RC to celebrate a beautiful blend of the arts and sweet treats. Sample and purchase cookies, candies, and cupcakes from some of your favorite local chocolatiers and bakeries, while surrounded by amateur works of art. Performances by various youth dance, music, and theater groups will fill the lobby stage as student paintings, portraits, and drawings line the hallway and walls of the community room art gallery. Be sure to stop by the children’s craft tent to create your own masterpiece as well.
Kids in the Kitchen Spring Break Camp Left to right are volunteers Lexi Abbott, Courtney Silverman, Mythri Sundar, Rushikesh Kulkarni, March 26–29, 3:30–5 p.m. Children ages 6–14 will learn hands-on Christian Wreczenski, Jonathan Knittle (sitting on Santa), Tim Schroeder, and Grace Wagner baking techniques from Jessica Gombar of the (C&RC employee) Pie Place while preparing tasty sweet and savory items. All supplies, ingredients, and recipes Mitten and Hat Drive are included. Those who visit and work at the C&RC are surely a generous bunch! Hundreds of donated Spring Break Cartooning Mini winter items draped a tree this past December Camp during the C&RC’s annual Holiday Mitten and March 26–28, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Hat Drive. In total, 256 hats, 95 scarves, and 96 The fundamentals of line, shading, and perspec- pairs of gloves were collected. tive action illustrations will be introduced to T h e i t e m s w e re open and develop your creative imagination d i s t r i b u t e d t o while completing amazing projects. Open to l o c a l c h a r i t a b l e students in grade 3 and up. organizations, including Clairton Head Start, SHIM, a n d O u t re a c h e d Arms. Thank you to everyone who gave the gift of warmth this winter season.
Senior Information
Pictured, left to right, are the board members of the United Senior Citizens of Upper St. Clair: Saitak Yeung, Florence Kenny, Richard Whitman, Mary Oppel, Joanne Melucci, Thomas Atkins, Diane Atkins, Kay “Sis” Kalinoski, Joan Toth, Marlene Ganassi, Joyce Soung, Bertha Lorson, Jane Lienhardt; not pictured: Joyce Burke, Elizabeth Jawelak
For more information on any Older Adult programming, contact the C&RC at 412-221-1099. 72
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Holidays Were Wonderful!
Community Event Members and non-members were invited to the C&RC this past December for a free event to celebrate the holiday season. Children enjoyed crafts, hot cocoa, and cookies before Santa Spring Break Camps arrived on an Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Jump Start Sports Spring Break Department truck. Kids got photos with Santa Spring Break Camp while live musical performances entertained March 26–30 the crowd. A big thank you to our volunteers Kids in grades K–6 will have a blast with the for making this another fun community event! staff of Jump Start Sports. Children will play a variety of sports in the mornings, then take part in camp games and/or swim in the afternoon. Participants can register for a full day (9 a.m.– 3 p.m.) or half day (9 a.m.–noon). Before- and after-camp childcare is available. Contact the Recreation Department for more information.
Break out of your winter blues with classes and programs for everyone in the family! Spring and summer programs, camps, and class information will be available in the Recreation Guide, published late March. Registration information will be available on the website and guides will be mailed to all USC residents soon. Be on the lookout!
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Gold Card Offered by the USC School District to residents age 62 and older. Card admits holder to School District drama and musical performances, athletic events, and other events free of charge. Applications taken at School District reception desk at 1820 McLaughlin Run Road. Silver Card Offered by USC Township to residents age 62 or older. Card admits holder to the Municipal three-hole golf course, outdoor tennis facilities, specified Community & Recreation Center programs, and other activities designated and sponsored by the Township of Upper St. Clair. Applications are available at the Community & Recreation Center at Boyce Mayview Park.
ACCESS 65 PLUS is a shared-ride transportation service program for senior citizens age 65 and older. Contact Lynn Walcoff, community programs coordinator, at 412-221-1099, ext. 603, for information about this program and for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Senior Citizen identification card for the Port Authority Transit (PAT) system.
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Leisure Services 412-221-1099
Happenings at the C&RC 2017 and Beyond There is no doubt that the Community & Recreation Center (C&RC) has become an integral part of the community. With a wide range of services and amenities, there is something available for all ages and abilities. Over the past year, the Recreation Department continued to grow its offerings by introducing new programs and expanding upon those already in place: • The popular summer youth strength and conditioning program (DAP) is now offered throughout the school year for studentathletes ages 9–12 and ages 13 and up. • The addition of Yoga Under the Stars provided participants a unique opportunity to practice yoga in a serene, outdoor setting followed by a relaxing bonfire. • Annual events, including the Color Crawl and Winter Wellness Dash, continued to provide families a fun way to stay active throughout the year. • Seniors enjoyed the free Seniors at Leisure program and the continuation of afternoon pickleball play and clinics.
SAVE THE DATE
• Animal lovers of all ages met, greeted, and learned something new about local creepy, crawly, and furry friends through the Human Animal Rescue programs, held at both the outdoor learning lab and within the C&RC. • Youth camp selections expanded to include programs over summer, winter, and spring break, and year-round programs in art, music, dance, theater, and sports continued to grow. Wrapping up 2017 were the restoration of the indoor pool play structure (completed during the annual building closure) and the purchase of multiple new pieces of cardio equipment for the C&RC. These new fitness pieces provide users with better connectivity than previous models, allowing individuals to log in and watch Netflix as well as track their workouts and progress using the Lifefitness Connect app. Additional self-powered cardio pieces—Truform treadmills and Sparc ellipticals—were also added to provide new challenges for individuals and small group training sessions. Moving forward into 2018, Ballard*King & Associates, recreation facility planning and operation consultants, will visit the C&RC to assess the current operations and assist with future planning. n
Testing the new equipment
USC Community Day–Saturday, May 19
Complete information will be printed in the summer edition of TODAY. Questions? Contact Lynn Walcoff, community program coordinator, at 412-221-1099, extension 655.
USC Community Day Run/Walk For Fun Registration Name_____________________________________________ Age as of May 19, 2018_____________ Sex____________ Address___________________________________________ Preferred Contact Number___________________________
Save the Date! 15th Annual USC Bake-Off! Community Day Saturday, May 19th, 2018
Email_____________________________________________ T-shirt sizes: Child q M q L Adult q S q M q L q XL Check C&RC website for registration and t-shirt costs. Make checks payable to:
Upper St. Clair Recreation Return this form by May 1, 2018 to: C&RC at Boyce Mayview Park 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241
CONSENT RELEASE FORM: I agree to hold the Township of Upper St. Clair, the Community Day committee and volunteers, and/or any employees thereof harmless and blameless for any accident or injury which may occur while participating in the Run/Walk for Fun. Check the Township website for updated route map and race details.
_________________________________ _______ Signature
(Parent/Guardian if Under 18 Years of Age)
Date
© 2017 Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. 93714 1/17
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T From the Director’s Desk Blended Librarian
Helen Palascak, Library Director
USC Township Library Hours
Monday–Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Friday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday, 1–5 p.m.
412-835-5540
Outside book and video return available 24/7 Holiday Closures: Easter Sunday, April 1
www.twpusc.org
I heard the term “blended librarian” the other day and began to reflect on how that applies to our library staff and the work they do here at Upper St. Clair Township Library. According to the Information Science Wiki, the blended librarian combines the traditional aspects of librarianship with the technology skills of an information technologist. The library has always served as an educational and recreational resource, but now technology has changed the way it’s done. Working in this day of digital content and self-service models, what exactly are these tech skills and what purpose do they serve? At the heart of every position at the library is a person with the desire to help others. It may be as simple as Helen Palascak finding the book someone wants to read or as complex as helping someone learn a new skill they need to be successful. It may involve a single interaction at the checkout desk or be a longer session at a computer, setting up an email or ebook account. Staff members are teachers, fostering learning and literacy. They facilitate the process of helping others understand. They are guides, directing another through the library to areas of interest. They are coordinators, planning programs and organizing the daily work of the library. They are publicists, creating marketing materials highlighting all of the resources and services available at the library. They are information sources as well as instructors for using digital devices. They are experts in technology-related learning! In all of these roles, staff members at the library strive to blend their technological skill set with an awareness of the human dimension of their work. We hope that your experiences in our library live up to this standard. n
Better Driving! Upper St. Clair Township Library is partnering with Driving-Tests.org to offer free Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) practice tests to library patrons. The new service includes free tests specifically based on Pennsylvania’s DMV materials. The site includes accessibility tools that let users hear selections read aloud, make them into MP3s, translate pages into other languages, magnify text, and mask portions of the screen for greater visibility on the practice tests. Drivers of all ages and experience levels can benefit from this free online service. Try it out at http://twpusc.driving-tests.org.
Love Your Library The Jack Buncher Foundation once again showed its love to the libraries of Allegheny County. Not only did the foundation provide more than $150,000 in matching funding to the countywide September Love Your Library campaign, it also distributed an additional $2000 gift to every Allegheny County library this past December. USC Library plans to use the Buncher gift to support children’s literacy. The library plans to purchase more beginning and intermediate readers and an updated set of United States state books for its Kids Collection. A grateful thank you goes out to the Jack Buncher Foundation!
Print at the Library from Anywhere! Use PrinterOn from the library website to send your documents from any Internet connected device to the library. We will release your print jobs when you arrive to pick them up!
Want Text Notifications from the Library? In addition to emailed reminders, you can also receive notices and renew items using your cell phone! Just text SIGNUP+your 14 digit library barcode+PIN to 412-459-7442. (Must include plus (+) signs.) Questions? Check the library website for more information or call 412-835-5540 and a library staff member will be happy to help you. 74
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Adult Special Theme Programs Register for adult programs online or call 412-835-5540. Introduction to Acupuncture Monday, March 26, 7 p.m. Join board-certified acupuncturist Dr. Mark Li for an introduction to the history and benefits of acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical technique! With a rich history dating back thousands of years, acupuncture has been used to treat headaches, muscle and back pain, neurological diseases, and more. Confessional: Making Art from Secrets Wednesday, March 28, 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 31, by appointment Dancer and installation artist Sarah Kate Smigiel creates multimedia art works based on the voices and experiences of real people, diving deep into the human psyche and focusing on what we often leave unsaid. Come learn about her new work “Confessional,” in which she asks participants to anonymously “Confess something to me,” and then uses the words to inspire music, dance, and visual art. Hear Sarah speak Wednesday, and sign up for an appointment Saturday to record your own anonymous confession. The White Light of Grace: Reflections on the Life of a Spiritual Intuitive Thursday, March 29, 7 p.m. Local author Lillie Leonardi shares the stories of her life, beginning with the ancestral origins of her intuitive gifts and the early childhood
T Adult Programs
Recurring Programs
• Bring-Your-Own-Book Group No special preparation needed for our newest book group; just stop by and chat about whatever you happen to be reading! Third Fridays, 2 p.m.; March 16, April 20, May 18 • Cozy Up With Books Ladies’ morning book discussion group. Read the book prior to the meeting. New participants welcome! First Thursdays, 10 a.m.; March 1, April 5, May 3 • WOW (Women Of Words) Book Group Ladies’ evening book discussion group. Read the book prior to the meeting. New participants welcome! Fourth Tuesdays, 7 p.m.; March 27, April 24, May 22 • Yarn Works Make your own projects, share your talents, and meet new people. Knitters, crocheters, fabric artists, please join us! Second and fourth Tuesdays, 7 p.m.; March 13 & 27, April 10 & 24, May 8 & 22 experiences that uncover her ability to communicate with angels. The book traces life-altering events, times when she called on the angels for blessings, and others when she learned how to rely on herself. Throughout, her revelations about love, loss, and healing unfold. 3D Selfies Thursday, April 5, 7 p.m. Curious about 3D printing? Learn how to scan your head, create a 3D model of yourself on the computer, and bring it to life with the library’s 3D printer! This class is intended for adults and teens. Adult Gaming Night Mondays, April 9 & May 14, 7 p.m. Today’s board games promote deep strategic thinking, creative problem solving, and empathy. Come learn to play new games and meet fellow gamers at our monthly tabletop game nights! Bring your own favorite or try one of the library’s selection of exciting new classics.
• Express Yourself Writers’ Group The focus of this group is to share writings and to serve as a resource and writing inspiration for one another. Stop in anytime. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.; March 14 & 28, April 11 & 25, May 9 & 23 • Creativity Café Makers of every kind join in for a monthly exploration of the creative process! We’ll support each other’s efforts and experiment with tools to spark creativity. First Fridays, 2 p.m.; March 2, April 6, May 4 • History Night Don’t miss this popular ongoing History Nights program series! This season’s topic is World War II: The War in the Pacific. Mondays, 7 p.m.; March 5, April 2, May 7 • Caregiving 101 Join in for this ongoing series with topics of interest for caregivers of family members with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Mondays, 7 p.m.; April 23, May 21
Death Café Thursday, April 12, 7 p.m. At a Death Café, people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea, and discuss death. The objective is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives. A Death Café is a group-directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives, or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session. Join us! War Stories from Pittsburgh’s World War II Veterans Monday, April 16, 7 p.m. Todd DePastino knows how to tell a good story. As an award-winning historian, that’s his job. But for the past six years, he’s been focused on listening. And the stories he’s heard—some beautiful and heartbreaking, others gut-wrenching—are largely about war. Todd is co-founder and director of the Veterans Breakfast Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to gathering veterans of all eras and generations together to share their stories of service. Using photographs of the veterans he’s met and interviewed, Todd will tell the extraordinary WWII stories he’s heard from veterans living in the region and will also discuss his quest to preserve and celebrate them. Spring 2018
Feng Shui for Basic Everyday Living Thursday, April 26, 7 p.m. Let expert Yvonne Phillips teach you the ancient practice of feng shui. Explore the relationship of person to place and learn simple, easy to implement solutions for your environments. Help bring harmony and balance to your life! World War II on the Homefront Four sessions: Monday, April 30 & Thursdays, May 10, 17, & 31; 7 p.m. Blackouts, rationing, war bonds, sabotage, income tax—these were just a few of the things that Americans confronted on the homefront for the first time in World War II. Todd DePastino talks about how Wo r l d Wa r I I changed everyday life in the United States. Stop the Bleeding Thursday, May 3, 7 p.m. Join John D’Angelo of Tri-Community South EMS for this hands-on first aid workshop. Learn how to pack a wound, how to apply a tourniquet, and everything you need to know to stop life-threatening bleeding following an everyday emergency or disaster.
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T Kids & Teens Upcoming Classes
Hop into the library and enjoy some great classes and activities throughout the season! This spring, the library will offer a wide variety of classes for children of all ages. The popular five-week-series storytime sessions—Monday, March 26 through Friday, April 27—offer children, parents,
Babies & Toddlers Storytime Children, ages 4–24 months, with a grown-up Babies & Toddlers Storytime combines interactive play, action rhymes, songs, and books all designed to hold the attention of our youngest participants. Mondays or Tuesdays, 10 a.m. Twos & Threes Storytime Children, ages 2–3 ½, with a grown-up Twos & Threes Storytime features books and stories, action rhymes and songs, and puppets and play. Tuesdays, 11 a.m. or 1:45 p.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.
grandparents, and caregivers many opportunities to visit the library, hear stories, and have a good time. Registration for all spring classes begins Wednesday, March 14, in person, at the library, unless otherwise noted. A complete list and all program information can be found at the library or online at www.twpusc.org/library/kids.
Preschool Storytime Children, ages 3 ½, 4, and 5, who are ready to spend a half-hour on their own Stories, songs, finger plays, and bookrelated activities are featured in Preschool Storytime, which concludes with an ending activity for participants and their caregivers. Thursdays, 10 a.m. or 1:45 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. Math Mites Children, ages 4 and 5, who are not yet in Kindergarten Preschoolers can learn early math skills through stories and hands-on activities at the library’s Math Mites class. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. or 1:45 p.m.
Library Explorers Kids currently in Kindergarten Let’s explore the earth and sky! This session of Library Explorers will showcase books and activities featuring topics such as worms, plants, gravity, the solar system, and our planet. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. or 1:45 p.m. Book Trek Kids in 1st–4th grades Get creative and explore engineering! Featured will be all new stories of famous characters who need help solving a problem using STEM. Tuesdays or Wednesdays, 4 p.m.
I WANT TO BE A FRIEND! ❑ Yes, I'd like to sign up today.
Please accept my tax-deductible donation payable to Friends of the Library of USC. FRIEND
$10 per household + $____ (donation) = _____Total
GOOD FRIEND (entitles you to a Friends of the Library coffee mug)
$25 per household + $____ (donation) = _____Total Name: ______________________________________ _____________________ Date: __________________ Address: ____________________________________ ____________________________________________ Phone: ______________________________________ Email:_______________________________________
❑ Yes, call me for volunteer opportunities. 1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 www.twpusc.org 76
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T Kids & Teens Family Storytime Families with children ages 2–7 are invited to spend a fun evening sharing stories, songs, and games! Thursday, March 15, 7 p.m. Registration begins Monday, March 5. Reading Skills Program This special three-week class will focus on practicing and reinforcing reading skills for children in Kindergarten and 1st grade. • Kindergarten Session: Mondays; March 5, 12, 19; 6:30 p.m. Registration begins Monday, February 19. • First Grade Session: Mondays; April 2, 9, 16; 6:30 p.m. Registration begins Wednesday, March 14.
Events for Tweens and Teens at the Library Kids in middle school and high school are invited to attend Teen Fun Nights each month at the library. For upto-date information, see the flyers on the Teen Librar y website at www.twpusc.org/library/teens. If you’d like to be included on the teen program announcements, email Miss Colleen at milesc@einetwork.net with your name to join! Spring events will include: • Princeton Review SAT and ACT Strategy Sessions • Poetry Party • Library Monopoly
Save the Dates! Art in the Park will be held Friday, June 8, 10 a.m.–noon at the library’s outdoor playground. Dress for a mess and keep your fingers crossed for pleasant weather! Registration begins Monday, May 21. The library’s annual Summer Reading Program and Teen Read Program begin Monday, June 18 and run through Thursday, July 26. Registration for these programs, as well as summer classes and events for kids of all ages, begins Wednesday, June 6.
Paws for Reading Kids in Kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to come to the library and read to dogs licensed through Therapy Dogs International. These dogs love to listen to stories read by boys and girls! Thursdays; March 29, April 26; 5:30 p.m. Crafting Fun at the Library Enjoy a variety of craft times throughout the spring. Crafts will be set up for you to complete at your leisure during library operating hours. Parents or caregivers are asked to assist their children with the crafts! • Spring Crafts Monday, March 26 through Monday, April 2 • Mother’s Day Monday, May 7 through Sunday, May 13
Dear Librarian, read at home. When I ll in school but refuses to we s doe der gra th six My How can I encourage is boring.” I’m at a loss. ing ad “re d tol I’m g, din suggest rea my child to read? Concerned Parent Dear Concerned Parent, ild select books your child. Have your ch th wi rly ula reg y rar lib 1. Visit the and magazines to read. child likes. Ask our oks on topics that your bo ng ali pe ap se oo Ch 2. librarians for suggestions. easy to read. are not too hard or too 3. Make sure the books oks to borrow. 4. Select four or five bo he or she doesn’t like the d 25 pages of a book. If 5. Tell your child to rea are more likely to give try another book. Kids to e tim s it’ , int po t tha book at ok they don’t like. ll not have to finish a bo wi y the ow kn y the if reading a try to help! the kids library is here 6. Don’t give up! Staff at Sincerely, Deb Conn, Your Librarian
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Around the Township Veterans Day Observance Upper St. Clair took time on November 10 to honor veterans of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces during an observance at the Upper St. Clair Veterans Park on McLaughlin Run Road. Jack Wagner, a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam Infantry veteran who received the Purple Heart, was the event’s featured speaker. In addition to his military service, Jack is a former state senator and auditor general for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and currently serves as the executive director of Pittsburgh Hires Veterans. The Veterans Day program included musical performances by USC High School’s marching band and Chanteclairs. The Rev. Valerian Michlik, pastor of St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church in Upper St. Clair, delivered the invocation and benediction. The Marine Corps Color Guard presented the colors and the South Hills Honor Guard rendered a gun salute. James Boston, a USCHS senior, played Taps, a tradition that started in 2011 when James volunteered to play when the scheduled bugler was not able to perform. James has played Taps every Veterans Day since. USC Veterans Park, located adjacent to the Township and School District offices on McLaughlin Run Road, was dedicated on November 11, 2011. TJ McGarvey, a recently deceased U.S. Marine veteran, William Babcock, a U.S. Navy veteran, the USC Board of Commissioners, and several Township residents were the catalysts behind the planning, fundraising, and construction of the park. A full description and history of the park can be viewed at www.uscveteranspark.org. n
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High School Honors Veterans Upper St. Clair High School honored its school community veterans on November 9 during “Overcoming Challenges,” a program which featured USCHS senior Torianne Miller, who will be enlisting in the Marine Corps following graduation. Guest speakers included Master Sgt. McRae of the U.S. Marines and Todd McIntyre, a 27-year retired Navy lieutenant commander. Master Sgt. McRae, a 100% disabled veteran, retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in July 2011 after a 24-year military career where he earned more than 62 personal awards and decorations, ten military occupational specialties, and served in Desert Shield/ Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Currently, Master Sgt. McRae serves as a wildland firefighter— a career that has spanned more than 25 years and has included serving as an EMT, paramedic, and engineer on ladder trucks. Despite his injuries, he is the pinnacle of fitness and overcoming adversity. He trains, mentors, and coaches people throughout the U.S. and competes as a power lifter, earning first place in his weight and age class at International Powerlifting League World Bench and Deadlift Championships. During his service in the U.S. Navy, Lt. Cmdr. Todd McIntyre worked in the nuclear propulsion program. He is an accomplished athlete who has completed more than 35 marathons, including the Boston Marathon eight times. Additionally, he has competed in 77 triathlons, including seven ironman distance races. In June 2015, Lt. Cmdr. McIntyre experienced a medical event that changed his life forever. He suffered a cerebellum brain bleed and had seven brain stem strokes. He spent one month in a coma and a total of six months hospitalized with a rare neurological condition known as locked-in syndrome, which rendered him completely paralyzed and mute without any way of communicating except with vertical eye movement. Although it is rare to recover from locked-in, Lt. Cmdr. McIntyre is now able to speak, eat, and walk. He does have some remaining difficulties with his balance, but he has never given up. Through his perseverance, Lt. Cmdr. McIntyre has overcome unimaginable odds and someday plans on racing in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. In June 2017, he completed his first race toward this goal by successfully finishing a sprint distance triathlon with the Dare2Tri organization, a non-profit organization specifically started to support injured veterans to become physically active in the sport of triathlon. The Veterans Day program included performances by the Chanteclairs and the USCHS marching band. The Marine Corps League, South Hills Detachment 726 Pittsburgh, presented the colors, and current and retired members of USC faculty and staff who are veterans or serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces were recognized for their service. • Lee Altman: Bus #159 driver. Served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1966 before being honorably discharged at the rank of senior airman. • Ed Callahan: Former high school science teacher and curriculum leader served in the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1969. • Tom Dailey: Bus #169 driver. Served in the U.S. Marine Corps from April 1963 through January 1969. He served overseas
in the Philippines and Vietnam. Interestingly, Sgt. Dailey extended his deployment in Vietnam for six months so he could save his recently drafted brother from serving a year there. • Kelley Dykstra: Fort Couch Middle School and Eisenhower Elementary School health room aide. Served as a captain in the Army Nurse Corps and assistant head nurse on a medicalsurgical unit stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, from May 2010 to February 2017. • Bill Jordan: High school custodian served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an aircraft recovery technician from 1980 to 1984. • Christine McCown: Fort Couch Middle School teacher aide served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1988 to 1996 as a specialist in the engineer battalion of Kittanning. • Maj. Gary McCullough: Boyce Middle School science teacher Maj. Gary McCullough currently serves as a pilot for the Air National Guard and has served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. • Fred Peskorski: High school technology education teacher served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1992 to 1998. • Chief Master Sgt. George Salamacha: High school security officer, he served on active duty for 29 years in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard from 1971 to 2000. • Tom Smedley: Former high school math and physics teacher and curriculum leader served on active duty and in the Pennsylvania National Guard from 1974 to 2004. • Kevin Stretavski: High school nutrition center employee served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1976, honorably discharged as a specialist 4th class. He was a personnel records clerk and served with the 101st Airborne/Air Assault Division, the 198th Personnel Service Company, 2nd Support Command, VII Corps in Nelligen, Germany, and with HHC, Presidio of San Francisco FORSCOM. He received the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. • 1st Lt. Rob Sully: Boyce Middle School social studies teacher is serving in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and was recently deployed with the Air Force in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. • John Trainor: Fort Couch custodian served in the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1986. He was a cryptologist technician interpreter and interrogator. In addition, he was a qualified Navy diver stationed in Rota, Spain, and served on five surface ships and five submarines. He was also a Farsi linguist, graduating from the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. • Cpl. Gregory L. Wagner: USCHS interim assistant athletic director and assistant girls’ soccer, basketball, and track coach, served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1966 through 1970. He is the father of USCHS associate principal Dr. Timothy Wagner. • David Walk: Former USC School District supervisor consultant served on active duty in Vietnam in the U.S. Navy from 1965 through 1967. He also served in the Navy Reserves from 1967 through 1971. • Peter Wray: High school security officer served in the U.S. Army Reserves. n See photo collage of the Veterans Day festivities on page 78. Spring 2018
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Continuing to enrich our community 50 years later Suzanne Palko Jon Meacham, Presidential Historian, Author October 2, 2018 Presidential historian, Pulitzer Prize winning author, and contributor to Time and The New York Times Book Review, Jon Meacham is one of America’s most prominent public intellectuals. A regular guest on Morning Joe, he is known as a skilled raconteur with a depth of knowledge about politics, religion, and current affairs. He understands how issues and events impact our lives and why historical context matters. Meacham’s latest presidential biography, Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestselling list in November 2015. Meacham received the Pulitzer Prize for American Lion, his bestselling 2008 biography of Andrew Jackson. A contributing editor at Time, Meacham writes for the magazine’s Ideas section. Adam Steltzner, Chief Engineer/ NASA Mars Rover “Curiosity” November 6, 2018 From aspiring rock star going nowhere fast to a history making PhD rocket scientist, Adam Steltzner is recognized as one of NASA’s leading and most unique innovators. For nearly a decade, he has led and inspired the breakthrough team that invented the ingenious “sky crane” landing system that so spectacularly landed the Mars rover “Curiosity” on the Martian surface in 2012. Next, Steltzner will lead NASA’s Mars 2020 Project that will gather core samples of Mars for scientific discovery. In his book, The Right Kind of Crazy: A True Story of Teamwork, Leadership and High Stakes Innovation, Steltzner brings to life unique strategies and perspectives on breaking through the seemingly impossible. Francine Segan, Food Historian, Author December 4, 2018 One of America’s foremost experts on Italian cuisine, Francine Segan, is an engaging public speaker, author, and TV personality. She is a noted food historian and a James Beard nominated author of six books including Dolci: Italy’s Sweets and Pasta Modern. Segan is the host of NYC’s popular weekly TV series “Americans who love Italy” and appears on many other TV shows, including the Today Show and Early Show. She has been featured on numerous specials for PBS, Food Network, History, Sundance, and Discovery channels. Having collaborated with many regions of Italy to promote Italian food, culture, and wine in the United States, Segan is the American spokesperson for several distinguished Italian companies. She has also been a food judge for the Fancy Food Show, Barcardi Cocktail competition, and the International Pesto competition. Lara Logan, 60 Minutes Correspondent, Foreign Affairs Journalist February 5, 2019 Bold, award-winning reporting has earned Lara Logan a prominent spot among the world’s best foreign correspondents. She was named CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent in February 2006 and Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent in 2008, all while contributing to 60 Minutes. In 2012, Logan was named a fulltime correspondent for this newsmagazine. Her recent reports for 60 Minutes include the operation to take back Mosul from ISIS, a story of little known victims of the Holocaust, and another story that reported on the similarities between ISIS genocide tactics and those of Hitler’s Final Solution. Her work has taken her from the front lines of the Ebola crisis to the forests of central Africa, where she did a story on veterinarians treating endangered mountain gorillas in the wild, to Hollywood where she recently profiled one of rock ’n roll’s most prolific photographers. David Eagleman, Neuroscientist, Author March 5, 2019 David Eagleman is a daring young scientist who provides a new understanding of our brains and ourselves. As a speaker, this Guggenheim Fellow and New York Times bestselling author is energizing, edifying, and able to connect scientific discovery to any field. He deals with everything from how the brain rewires itself to why science and art must learn from each other. In his spectacular PBS series The Brain, he provides viewers with a deeper understanding of themselves, the unseen world of decisions, and of modern neuroscience. His influential neuroscience books include the New York Times bestseller Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain, and Wednesday is Indigo Blue: Discovering the Brain of Synesthesia.
Jon Meacham October 2, 2018
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Adam Steltzner November 6, 2018
Francine Segan December 4, 2018
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Lara Logan February 5, 2019
Spring 2018
David Eagleman March 5, 2019
In 1969, two members of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Edna Brown and Ruth Bayley, envisioned a plan to enrich the community by hosting lectures that would provide intellectual growth and cultural stimulation. It was decided that the lecture proceeds would be distributed to local charities. With the support of Westminster Presbyterian Church founder, Dr. John Galbreath, the Town Hall South Lecture Series was conceived, and 50 years later it continues to provide both enrichment and service to the South Hills and surrounding areas. Town Hall South enjoys the distinction of being one of the few independently run lecture series remaining in the U.S. today. The dedicated volunteers who have served on the Town Hall South board, along with the continued support of lecture subscribers, have ensured this series’ survival. “Amazing” was the term used by Christopher Buckley, a political satirist who spoke in 2010, when describing the efforts of this dynamic team of volunteer women in bringing “so many famous people to Pittsburgh.” The board continues the strong tradition that began in 1969, with an eye on continuous improvement. The lecture venue has changed throughout the years. The first venue, the South Hills Village Theater, could accommodate up to 1500 attendees before it was subdivided. In later years, lectures were held at Bethel Park High School’s theater, and then at the Greek Orthodox Church before moving in 2003 to the current site, the Upper St. Clair High School Theater. The current stateof-the-art theater can accommodate approximately 900 attendees. As Town Hall South has evolved, “series only” subscription tickets have replaced individual lecture tickets. The development of a Town Hall South website and most recently, a Facebook page, keeps patrons up-to-date on both past and current speakers. But, three elements have remained unchanged: 1. The quality of the more than 245 nationally- and internationally-acclaimed speakers 2. The annual distribution of philanthropic grants by Town Hall South 3. The morning timing of the lectures Each season, the majority of net proceeds goes to local charities, with a focus on women, children, and families. Last season, $20,000 was given to local agencies, including CASA for Kids, Inc., an organization that provides advocates for abused and neglected children in the courts of Washington County, and South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM), which empowers struggling families to achieve self-efficiency. Over the past 50 years, Town Hall South has donated nearly $600,000 to similar local charities. Town Hall South’s inaugural lecture season featured Sydney Harris, a New York drama critic; Betty Furness, an actress and consumer advocate; Rod MacLeish, a world renown journalist; Vincent Price, an actor known for his horror films; and William Pollard, a nuclear physicist. Over the years, the variety of speakers has run the gamut
OWS! E SH 6 IN CREDIBL
Shows for Kids & Teens of
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sTheat er
’ ldren sTheate i r Ch
’ ldren sTheate i r Ch
PLUS Free Public
Art & Music
May 17-20, 2018 Cultural District TRUS TARTS.ORG /PGHKIDS
of the individual that frequently from authors Mary Higgins leads to a candid exchange of inClark and Mitch Albom, to formation with the speaker. The journalists Mike Wallace, luncheon is a hidden gem that Steve Kroft, and Martha sells out quickly each year. Raddatz, to television perTown Hall South extends sonalities Phil Donahue and community outreach invitations Jane Pauley, to chefs Anwhenever possible. For examthony Bourdain and Jacques ple, when John Miller, deputy and Claudine Pepin, and to one of the most famous commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism for the NYPD, cultural anthropologists in the world, Margaret Mead. spoke in 2014, detectives from A photo from a THS luncheon at St. Clair Country Club with Jacques and Claudine Pepin, local personality Chris Fennimore, and Town Hall South board members the Upper St. Clair police departThe mission is to bring new ment were invited to meet with topics, ideas, and perspectives that will challenge and expand the thinking of the demographic Mr. Miller privately backstage prior to the lecture. Directors of the of our community. The process for selecting the slate of speakers Pittsburgh Zoo were invited to meet privately with Jack Hanna prior is a very demanding and lengthy undertaking. The speaker chair, to his appearance in 2016.This past October, Dr. Steven Farmer, CEO, a key position on the board, spends lengthy time researching and of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, and members of working with many speaker agencies to present potential lecturers his staff met backstage with Marlee Matlin. to the board. Five speakers are selected from the worlds of art, sciAs the Town Hall South Lecture Series looks forward to its ence, economics, politics, and social issues, to comprise each lecture 50th season, it will continue its rich tradition of providing yet anseries. It is the goal of Town Hall South to inspire, educate, inform, other highly acclaimed slate of speakers. Jon Meacham, presidential entertain, and expand the minds of its subscribers. historian, Pulitzer Prize winning author, and contributor to Time At the conclusion of each lecture, the speaker is available in the magazine will kick off the 2018–2019 lecture series. As in previous theater vestibule to sign copies of authored books offered for sale seasons, the coming series promises to delight! n by Barnes and Noble. Season subscribers also have the option of See page 80 for the 2018–2019 speaker list. To purchase tickets for attending a luncheon and Q&A session immediately following the the 2018–2019 season or for additional information about Town Hall lecture at St. Clair Country Club. The question and answer period South, visit www.townhallsouth.org or follow them on Facebook. with the featured speaker provides an up close and personal view
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Stellar Medallion Honorees of 2017
With great pride, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY presents the Upper of St. Lucy’s Auxiliary to the Blind. Since the first ball held in St. Clair St. Lucy’s Medallion Ball honorees, whose generosity 1964, $4,300,000 has been donated to the Blind and Vision of spirit fosters love, peace, and joy. Inspiration emanates from Rehabilitation Services (BVRS). Over time, this strength of family, companion volunteers, and young activists who embrace character displayed by the many fine young women, who have a positive global perspective. Each young woman remains task- clocked more than 900,000 volunteer hours, is truly a wonderful precedent of giving back. Hope for oriented, without compensation, the Tenderness and kindness are not mankind’s brighter future lies in very definition of a freewill serviceact. At the heart of it, the honorees signs of weakness and despair, but their selfless acts.” The community of Upper strive to achieve and mature without manifestations of strength and resolution. St. Clair appreciates our 2017 being motivated by profit. —Kahil Gibran, philosopher, writer Medallion honorees, who each Twenty-four USC High School seniors have eagerly put aside self-centered individualism—the purposefully expanded their talents towards volunteer voids that stubborn, immature, and selfish stance of “me”—entrenched in beg to be filled with care and compassion. We thank them and wish our society today. These stellar young women are an inspiration them the continued pursuit of whatever sets their souls on fire! Medallions escorts, listed alphabetically, are Jonathan Barsotti, to their peers, having embraced a philanthropic principle with such positive energy. Along the way, academic, social, and family John Cappetta, Paul Cullen, Nadith Dharmasena, Alexander responsibilities encompass their spirited lifestyle. Leo Buscaglia, DiPrampero, Connor Damon, Phillip Elias, Bennett Falce, American author and motivational speaker reminds us, “Only Alexander Gasper, Jack Giba, Dominic Ivol, Kahlil Jackson II, when we give joyfully, without hesitation or thought of gain, can Wyatt Keating, Ian Keith, David Kohler, Kaleb Krebs, Nicholas Mologne, Thomas O’Brien, John de la Parra, Ian Rankin, Jack we truly know what love means.” USC resident and co-chair of the 54th St. Lucy’s Medallion Ryan, Maximilian Schuler, Brady Warmbein, and Matthew Ball Edyce Rizzi affirms, “It is an honor to work with the guild White. n Article courtesy of Mary Lynne Spazok; professional photography compliments of Ron Richards Portrait Studio, Pittsburgh
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Mia Beyerl
Mary Claire Engel
Meredith Engel
Allison Epler
Kate Groninger
Kathryn Hall
Cassie Henricks
Ahnna Jones
Aidan Keith
Ava Kunkle
Melissa Lloyd
Susan Mathie
Madelyn McConaghy
Maya Narayanan
Abigail O’Brien
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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Caroline O’Connor
Kathleen Oxenreiter
Maggie Paul
Zoe Rankin
Why walk when you can fly? Catherine Sanford
Bria Smith
Holly Smith
Samantha Spina
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Local Resident Provides Legacy Contribution to Girls Education in Africa Katie Matson, U.S. Executive Director, and Rick Jacobs, Board Member, Hekima Place Upper St. Clair resident Patricia (Pat) Jacobs was proud of her many roles: PhD chemist at Bayer, mother of two, active member of her church, avid runner, photographer, and world traveler. But perhaps the role she treasured most was as a volunteer and mentor for orphaned and vulnerable girls at Hekima Place, a children’s home in Kenya. On Novemer 19, 2017, Pat died peacefully at her Upper St. Clair home from ovarian cancer. She remained involved with helping the girls in Kenya until the very end of her life.
and eventually was awarded a PhD in organic chemistry. As a chemist at Bayer for two decades, Pat invented polymers that improved industrial and automotive coatings, accumulating more than a dozen patents during her career there. The couple’s two daughters also became scientists. Jennifer is a public health epidemiologist in Colorado, and Bethany became an academic biostatistician at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. “She passed on her love of science and the outdoors to both our girls,” Rick said. “We went camping while other families went to Disneyland. Our kids learned to be resourceful and creative, making do with what we had. It’s pretty hard to beat that as a family experience, completely away from distractions.” Members of Bower Hill Community Church for more than three decades, Pat and Rick also passed their deep faith and Pat, showing some of the Hekima Place girls her computer commitment to serving those in need to their daughters. Pat was A U.S. board member for Hekima Place, an active volunteer and valued member of Pat traveled regularly to Kenya to volunteer their congregation. She always “had a heart with the girls and to document the work of for mission,” Rick said. the organization through her photography. The couple’s love for the outdoors con“Pat was proud of her contributions to tinued after their daughters were grown. Hekima Place, both in the U.S. and in Their travel around the world included Kenya,” said her husband, Richard (Rick) trips to Antarctica, South America, Tibet, Jacobs Jr. “She was also incredibly pleased and New Zealand. There, Pat honed her that she could be the catalyst for an im- skill and passion for both photography portant next phase for the organization.” and birdwatching. Eventually, her curiosity, Before she died, she made a substantial do- compassion, and desire to help led to her nation toward building a primary school, to Kenya and Hekima Place, Rick recalled. to be run by Hekima Place. High-quality Founded in 2005 by Kate Fletcher, schools are in short supply in Kenya, and formerly of Mt. Lebanon, Hekima Place many underprivileged girls never have the is home to nearly 90 girls of all ages. The chance to attend school. girls are placed at Hekima Place because “Pat never imagined that her life would they have been orphaned, abused, or lead toward this home for girls outside abandoned. Volunteers come to help from Nairobi,” Rick reflected. He and Pat first around the world, and it was on their first met in 1966 while attending Rice University trip to Kenya that the Jacobs couple fell in Houston, Texas; they married while she in love with the mission of Hekima Place. was still in college. Despite her mother’s Pat and Rick both joined the organization’s fears that marrying so young would halt U.S. board of directors in 2007. her professional dreams, Pat went on to Several years ago, Pat stepped in as earn a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees, acting executive director of Hekima Place, 84
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Pat with Maggie Wambui (left), a student at Hekima Place who Pat sponsored for many years (Maggie visited Pittsburgh last fall and stayed in USC for most of her trip.)
when Kate Fletcher returned for several months to the U.S. to recover from a car accident. This experience gave Pat a great deal of insight and experience on the ground that she brought to her role as a board member. At the same time, her time there brought her much closer to the girls and staff. Her months living and working in Kenya gave her a deep understanding of the operations, daily running of the home, and challenges facing a small children’s home in Kenya that is partly off the grid, surrounded by farms and grazing land. In 2017, Pat chose to donate her retirement fund as seed money for a new primary school, which Hekima Place hopes to build this coming year. Pat hoped that her gift would inspire others in Pittsburgh to join her in giving deserving children in Kenya a good education and chance for a better life. The school will have room for nearly 200 students, pre-kindergarten through ninth grade. n
Pat, taking photos
Donations may be made to Hekima Place online at www.hekimaplace.org or by mail to 407 Morrison Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15216.
The Sad Passing of One of the Magazine’s Founders Paul Fox, TODAY Steering Committee School District Representative
Retiring from USC School District in 2009, Tom Labanc (left) handed over the reins of the USC social studies curriculum leader position to Douglas Kirchner. What is the measure of a man who
so selflessly volunteered his time, love of history, leadership and organizational skills, and inspired the success of so many projects, all with a great sense of humor? It is amazing what Thomas Andrew Labanc accomplished in his 71 years. • Graduate of McKeesport High School • Graduate of Penn State University (bachelor’s degree in education) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (master’s degree in education) • Steelworker • Teacher and head of the social studies department at Baldwin High School • Assistant basketball coach and play producer at Baldwin High School • Presentation instructor and salesman for Ritter Engineering • Consultant and trainer for Priority Management International, Inc.
• Assistant to the superintendent for the Upper St. Clair School District • Teacher and social studies curriculum leader at Upper St. Clair High School • Alumni and class reunion representative for the Upper St. Clair School District • Tour guide for the Rivers of Steel and Carrie Furnace • Tour guide for the Pittsburgh Transportation Group (local attractions) • Avid Pittsburgh Steeler’s and Penn State fan
But, for me, it is hard to describe the true essence of Tom. He was a very generous, caring and gifted friend, educator, the consummate professional, historian, and fellow visionary. For everyone with whom he worked, he was like a managerial cheerleader, inspiring us to achieve greater things for ourselves, our students, and the programs. Twenty years ago, he taught me the skills of time and media management, citing a system known as Priority Management (PM) to develop the methodology and business tools to immediately route every piece of paper and the to-do tasks that come into your life into one of the four Ds: Do it! (right now), Date it! (file it for the future), Delegate it! (make it someone else’s task), or Dump it! (delete it). Everything he touched seemed to turn to gold, including the original planning and establishment of the joint Township and School District community magazine UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY. In 1994 when Superintendent of Schools Dr. William A. Pope and Township Manager Douglas A. Watkins took a risk and launched TODAY, Tom served as the first School District representative on its Steering Committee. In those early years, the publication was also managed by Mark Mansfield (Township) and Thomas Harshman (USC School District administrator), and coordinated by co-editors Kathleen Slencak and me. Although the premiere issue presented a modest 80-page, black and white text magazine with little advertising, it immediately caught the imagination and support of the community. With Tom’s help, it grew to a fully colorized 80- to 100-page “keepsake quarterly” funded by advertising and subscriptions, and sustained entirely by volunteer writers, photographers, and a small part-time, paid staff of editors, sales associates, and an office manager. We mourn the loss of Thomas Labanc, who passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, November 19, 2017. We will miss his smile, positive can-do attitude, PR savvy, and golden touch. n
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For a related article on Tom’s retirement from the USC School District and departure from TODAY, read the fall 2006 edition, page 16, online at https://issuu.com/usctodaymag/docs/06_fall/18, “Labanc Leaving TODAY.”
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Special Celebration
Lindsay Dill, Marketing Communications Director, Allegheny Land Trust This year, Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) celebrates its 25th birthday. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished with help from communities like Upper St. Clair, and look forward to the next quarter century. A lot can happen in that time! Twenty-five years ago, I was a two-year-old being raised in a suburban house with a large, publicly-accessible forest in the backyard. Over the years, I spent the majority of my time in those woods, making new friends, developing curiosity, practicing creativity, attaining a healthy respect for sharp and poisonous plants, learning to value nature, and getting plenty of exercise. Today, however, those trees and trails have been replaced with half a dozen high-rise condominiums with Boyce students on a Wingfield Pines field trip sprawling parking lots. While I’m sentimental and sad for my personal loss of place that was formative in my youth, I also mourn the loss of this space for the family that now lives in my childhood home, their neighbors, and their children and grandchildren, as they’ll never have the opportunity for those woods to transform them as it did me. My story is not unique; many experience this loss of special places as sprawl and development continue to alter the landscape of the Pittsburgh region. While change is inevitable, prudent communities recognize the real and intrinsic values of green space by taking a thoughtful approach to balancing conservation and development. It’s for this reason that Allegheny Land Trust was formed 25 years ago to take on the task of “helping local people save local land.” Since 1993, ALT has protected more than 2100 acres, contributing to our region’s scenic character, biodiversity, water quality, and opportunities for recreation and education. Every Allegheny County resident now lives within 12 miles of an ALT conservation area, and for Upper St. Clair residents, that distance is much shorter. ALT’S Wingfield Pines conservation area is right in your backyard! This 87-acre conservation area has a story quite opIron oxide being filtrated from the posite to mine: its natural state as forested flood plain water that flows into Chartiers Creek was altered long ago when it was cleared for farming, then used as a coal mining site, and was strip-mined in the 1940s. The space’s next use was as a golf and swim club. Finally, in 2001, the space was acquired by ALT, and efforts to repair the green space began. Since acquiring Wingfield Pines, ALT has restored it to a natural state as a forested flood plain by protecting the land, maintaining and improving it, and implementing a passive abandoned mine treatment system to filter iron oxide pollution from water that flows into Chartiers Creek. From foxes to frogs, from pollinators to dogs, and from Virginia rail—a small waterbird—to humans, Wingfield Pines is a place for all to enjoy, thanks to the restoration. The conservation area’s assets provide a space for current and future Become involved. Learn more! Visit: • The events calendar at bit.ly/altoutside generations to enjoy the environment through a variety of recreation oppor- • The Wingfield Pines conservation area page at https:// tunities, volunteer activities, and environmental education programs for all alleghenylandtrust.org/explore/wingfield-pines ages. Wingfield Pines is a true asset for the community, and through ALT’s • The 25th anniversary page at https://alleghenylandtrust. org/25-years activities this year and in future years, we hope to continue improving the quality of life for those in the Pittsburgh region. Upcoming Events: I became the person I am today by getting lost, discovering new paths, building forts, getting cuts and bruises, capturing tree March frogs, and inventing stories about old ruins in my green space. 10 Twitter in the Trees: Breakfast with the Birds 8–10 a.m. ALT hopes you become the person you want to be and celebrates May its 25th anniversary by expanding efforts in land conservation, 8–10 a.m., stewardship, environmental education, and urban greening to 12 Twitter in the Trees, followed by International Migratory Bird Count 10 a.m.–4 p.m. protect places like Wingfield Pines conservation area for you, people like you, and the youth in our community. n 25 Starlight Stroll 9–10 p.m. 86
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Chess Anyone? Fort Couch student
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Alex LeKachman took third place in the “Under 600” category at the 2017 Pennsylvania State Game/15 Championship-6 Grand Prix Point chess event. Held this past November at the O’Hara Student Center at the University of Pittsburgh, Alex accepted his trophy from Tom Martinak, Pennsylvania Chess Federation president. Congratulations, Alex! n Alex (left) and Tom
Little Lake Theatre Celebrates 70 Great Years!
Andrew Seay, Managing Director, Little Lake Theatre Company This year, 2018, is a special year for Little Lake Theatre, our region’s premier community theatre. Celebrating its 70th anniversary season, Little Lake will feature 11 spectacular productions at its location, south on Route 19 in Canonsburg. Highlights of the season include favorite classics: The Dresser, A Streetcar Named Desire, Steel Magnolias, The Lion in Winter; delightful comedies: A Flea In Her Ear, Arcadia, Hay Fever, Sherlock Holmes and the West End Horror; and musicals inspired by your favorite movies: Little Miss Sunshine: The Musical, A Christmas Story: The Musical. This year also brings the theatre’s first production of Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy, Macbeth, featuring indoor and outdoor scenes, special student performances, and performances in area parks (all made possible by a grant from The Heinz Endowments). This year brings an exciting season of plays for young audiences, too! Come this summer to see Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr., The Jungle Book, or The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Jr., and, this fall, discover The Secret Garden. Plus, there are five various summer camps for children, ages 6–18, including improv, acting, musical theatre, and filmmaking. All summer camps in 2017 sold out; so, register soon! Come to Little Lake Theatre to help celebrate its 70th anniversary season and be a part of the family. See you at the Lake! n Learn more at www.littlelake.org or call 724-745-6300. See ad on this page.
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USCAA Helps Gear Up Se’gou Dr. Jim Hall
This past year, members of the USC Athletic Association (USCAA) boys’ basketball program donated boxes and boxes of used uniforms, basketballs, bags, nets, and whistles to Gearing Up Se’gou, West Africa. In addition to the supplies, members of the Upper St. Clair community donated new and slightly used dress and basketball shoes. The Se’gou region of Mali, West Africa, is the hometown of Almany (Al) Thiero. Coach Al is the assistant basketball coach at Sewickley Academy and the director of College Basketball Prospects of America. Leaving his home at the age of 16, unable to speak English, Al Al Thiero (left) delivers donations became an from USCAA for Gear Up Se’gou.
exchange student at Moore High School in Louisville, Kentucky. From there he transferred to Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, North Carolina (NBA superstar Tracy McGrady also graduated from Mount Zion). From 2002–2006, he played basketball for University of Memphis, playing center under Coach John Calipari. Unfortunately, chronic medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints) and four knee surgeries prevented Al from going on to the NBA. He instead earned his master’s degree in sports management from Duquesne University. For the past three years Al, his family, and staff have organized a clothing, equipment, and fundraising campaign to benefit the youth of Se’gou. One of the world’s highest infant mortality rates, people in this region suffer limited access to electricity and water, have low literacy rates, intense poverty, and malnutrition. Many of these kids see sports as a means to escape from their challenges and pursue a better
A Healthier U(SC)
life in Europe or America. Last year, with the help of the USCAA and the USC community, Al sent ten 50-pound barrels filled with donated items. Very appreciative, Coach All expressed, “I am grateful to the people of the USC community and all that you do for my community in West Africa. Upper St. Clair helped our Gear Up Se’gou, West Africa, campaign in a big way! We hope to have you by our side in future campaigns.” Many folks, young and old, with far less then we have, were greatly touched by the donations! n To learn more, contact Al at coachal@collegebballprospects.com or jimhalloms11@gmail.com.
mindfulness in our lives, even in our daily chores, as Shawn attributes mindfulness to a way of living and says that we can be mindful in all aspects of our lives. “Many of us have Heather Holtschlag placed our lives on a constant loop,” she said. “Stop going through the motions and experiNo matter the goals you have set for ence life. Fill your life with gratitude instead of yourself in 2018, approaching—and ultimately, conquering—them mindfully may be just what Shawn Fertitta, in meditation pose stress and challenges. Meditation, is one intentional way to help us achieve mindhelps you accomplish them. Or, perhaps incorporating a daily mindfulness practice is just what you need to bring more peace- fulness and has its own array of benefits, including a reduction of stress and anxiety, reduced depression, deepened relaxation, fulness and serenity into your life. “When you are mindful, you are active in the present mo- increased compassion, decreased blood pressure, improved ability ment,” said Shawn Fertitta, a Reiki practitioner and meditation to problem solve, and an improved ability to regulate our emoinstructor at the Upper St. Clair Community & Recreation tions and overall happiness. “The length of time you meditate Center (C&RC). “You have non-judgmental awareness of your is not as important as consistency,” Shawn said. “It’s better to thoughts, feelings, body, and world around you. Mindfulness is meditate for five minutes each day as opposed to two hours once a week. We can all be meditation practitioners, which means the living in the moment.” According to Forbes.com, a mindfulness practice has a myriad more we practice, the more benefits we will receive.” Shawn suggested meditation as a way to propel our personal of benefits, including improved focus and concentration, reduced anxiety, increased body satisfaction, and improved cognition. growth to the next level, and that most people become drawn In fact, in a recent study conducted by Willem Kuyken, PhD, a to it for its relaxation benefits. She explained an easy meditation professor at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, that helps us to relax called Pranayama (breath control). Begin revealed that a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy was as effec- with an inhale and count to four, hold your breath and count to tive at preventing a depression recurrence in people who suffer four, then exhale and count to four. “People can experience the benefits of meditation after their from the condition as a maintenance antidepressant medication. This type of therapy helped by enabling sufferers to recognize first practice,” Shawn noted. “The more we practice, the longer when they were dealing with a lot of negative thoughts, feelings, the benefits last. By practicing every day, we train ourselves to and beliefs about themselves and enabled them to redirect these live mindfully every minute of the day.” n thoughts by engaging with them in a more positive way. Shawn Fertitta’s meditation class takes place at the C&RC at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There are a number of activities that can help us achieve
Mindful Living
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Spin-a-Thon Team of One Wins Maritza Balta
As spinning has sustained its role as a great way to exercise, the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh has leveraged spinning as a way to encourage physical fitness while also raising money for people in need. YMCA spin-a-thons—during which teams of people from different Ys, fitness clubs, and other groups compete against each other— have become a popular way to do this. A YMCA spin-a-thon lasts a total of four hours. Mike Lloyd, winner of the With each hour divided equally into 15-minute segOctober 2017 Allegheny ments, there are 16 segments across the four-hour YMCA spin-a-thon event. Each team uses one bike. The team’s members bike one at a time as hard and fast as they can for 15 minutes and then hand off to another teammate who is fresh and ready to sprint the next segment. This process repeats itself over the four-hour span and the team that covers the most total miles is the winner. Miles for each team are calculated based upon the bike’s total revolutions per minute. For example, if a team consists of eight people, the team can put a different rider—fresh and rested— onto their bike every 15 minutes for the first two hours and repeat this pattern during the third and fourth hours. In this case, the first rider who biked for 15 minutes would get back onto the bike at the beginning of the third hour, maximizing the rest and the collective ability for teammates to bike as hard and fast as possible throughout the four-hour competition. Clearly, it takes a team to race a four-hour YMCA spin-a-thon... unless you’re Upper St. Clair resident Mike Lloyd! Mike has been actively involved with numerous YMCA programs for decades. Many parents across the South Hills know Mike from his long-term commitment to the YMCA’s Indian Princesses and Indian Guides programs. These programs encourage fathers (and moms, as well) to take their elementary school-aged daughters and sons to weekend camp outs at YMCA Camps Kon-O-Kwee and Deer Valley. Mike has not only been a consistent camper with his own four daughters, but he also has been an active recruiter of other parents to join the Princesses and Guides programs. In addition, Mike is an avid supporter of YMCA Camp AIM for children and young adults who have physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and communication challenges. Mike has also been eagerly involved with the creation of the South Hills’ new Spencer Family YMCA in Bethel Park, the site of the former Blade Runners facility. That’s why it was natural for Mike to want build a team that represented the new YMCA facility to compete during the Allegheny Y’s spin-a-thon this past October. Unfortunately, many of the very best cyclists who were interested in participating on the Spencer Y team had conflicts, and Mike found himself on the day of the event as a team of one. That would normally mean that Spencer Family YMCA would not compete. But there’s nothing normal about Mike’s commitment. By day he’s a partner with the law firm Williams Coulson LLC in downtown Pittsburgh, but outside of work he’s a husband, dad, volunteer, and an avid athlete who not only teaches spinning classes but also does long distance biking, hiking, marathons, and triathlons. All at the age of 56. So, when faced with a team of one—himself—Mike decided since he was there that he’d start the four-hour spin-a-thon and simply see how many minutes he could keep up a “hard and fast” pace for the fun of it. To the surprise of many, Mike not only stayed on the bike for the entire first hour, but he also was in the lead. He decided to keep biking. And he did it again for another hour. After two hours of nonstop biking—the halfway point—Mike just kept on going. He made it for yet another hour—the third hour—after which his team of one was in first place with a two-mile lead. To the amazement of many, Mike kept going during the fourth hour and single-handedly won the spin-a-thon for the new Spencer Family YMCA. Across four hours he never took a break, never stopped moving the pedals, and never stopped sprinting. Congratulations, Mike! n
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Winners of Celebration of Champions 2017; Kelly Dzanaj is third from left
USC resident Kelly Dzanaj, of CBS Radio, was a winner at the Celebration of Champions 2017 event held this past October. Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square hosted the event to honor influential leaders who are making Pittsburgh a better place to live, work, and play. The five chosen categories reflect some of Pittsburgh’s most prominent industries, including healthcare, education, tourism and hospitality, community heroes, and sports and entertainment. Finalists, and their friends and families, as well as program supporters from Visit Pittsburgh, Station Square, Allegheny Conference, Pyramid Hotel Group, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania (BGCWP) attended. In addition to Kelly, who was named as Champion of Sports and Entertainment, the following were announced as winners in the four other categories: Greg Hamilton, Community Hero; Christopher Cooley, Education; Lauren and Chris Miladinovich, Healthcare; and Jacob Hagofsky, Tourism and Hospitality. Each of the winners received a $1000 donation made in their name to the BGCWP nonprofit, an etched glass plaque, a gift certificate to Trackside Restaurant, and 50,000 Starpoints® to use for personal travel.
The HDG team celebrating 25 years; Rob Rensi is in back row, third from right
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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Winter Spring 2017 2018
USC resident Patricia Petrusik, retired from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, shares her newest book The Sober Cat to continue the discussion about drug prevention. Through three primers, which are focused on elementary school-age children, she shares the story of Jazmine, a lifelong cat resident of Upper St. Clair, who is greatly concerned about the number of pets, especially cats, that have lost their pet parents to a drug overdose. Becoming “The Sober Cat,” Jazmine helps to start the dialogue about drug prevention in the books for kindergarteners, first and second graders, and third and fourth graders. Patricia advocates that “prevention is part of the treatment for drug prevention. Not talking about a problem does not usually make it go away. Every community has a drug problem and everyone one of us knows someone affected by the drug epidemic. It is our responsibility to provide our children information about the effects and consequences on taking drugs, street drugs or prescribed drugs. Parents need to be good role models and they need to start the discussion early. Children learn about drugs one way or another. If you love someone, start the talk.” Patricia was highlighted in the winter 2015 edition of TODAY for authoring other books on the topic of drug prevention that expand the curriculum through high school and beyond. Copyright 2017 Cyberdealers
For more information, check out Patricia’s website at www.theslipperyslopeofsubstanceabuse.com. Publisher is Outskirts Press.
Hayes Design Group Architects (HDG), a Pittsburgh-based architecture firm offering a full range of professional services for a wide variety of project types, celebrated its 25th anniversary. The firm was founded in 1992 by Kevin Hayes, AIA, of Mt. Lebanon, as a way to provide exceptional client service and excellent design within a collaborative, familial, synergistic work environment. He has always felt that “we can do more together than as individuals.” HDG’s 17 employees, including Rob Rensi, AIA, LEED AP, of Robson Drive in Upper St. Clair, and numerous clients celebrated the firm’s anniversary at their sixth annual client appreciation luncheon this past November at St. Clair Country Club. Kevin remarked, “It was wonderful to celebrate 25 years in business with our clients without whom we could not have reached this milestone.” HDG’s focus is institutional design, including public and private schools and universities, government, and office buildings. Noteworthy projects include the Bethel Park High School completed in 2012 and the new Peters Township High School and Robinson Township Municipal Complex, both currently under design.
Get In Line Online An innovative technology is transforming the patient experience at St. Clair Urgent Care at St. Clair Hospital Outpatient Center, Village Square in Bethel Park. A new self-scheduling tool makes it possible for persons who wish to be seen at St. Clair Urgent Care to electronically register, reserve a spot in the patient queue, monitor their progress moving up in the line, and receive a text message when it is time for them to be seen. Best of all, this can all take place from the comfort of home or at the office. The online registration system streamlines the delivery of care at St. Clair Urgent Care, minimizing waiting and keeping the patient constantly informed of his status. It helps eliminate the frustration of not knowing how long the wait will be, and it greatly reduces the waiting periods that can occur at busy times. Dave Kish, RN, director of Emergency Services at St. Clair Hospital, is excited to offer this service to the community. “Registering online gives the patient a new option and a better experience. It’s convenient, efficient, and easy to use. You choose the best time for your visit and reserve your place in line by using a smart phone or computer. Those using a text-enabled device will receive text messages telling you when to arrive for your visit, and if there are delays, the system’s real-time data algorithm will send the patient a text message advising him of the delay and providing an option to reschedule for a later time. The system is designed to minimize wait times and to provide the patient with a better experience by reducing unanticipated surges in patient arrivals.” Kish says that registering online not only offers advantages to patients, but also to the Urgent Care staff who will be caring for those patients. The system facilitates the logistics of treating the wide variety of patients who visit St. Clair Urgent Care, providing data that can be used by the staff to anticipate needs and prevent a backlog of patients. n To access the online registration system, visit stclair.org/urgent-care. See ads for St. Clair Hospital on pages 4 and 5.
Springing Forward Dr. Tracy Scanlon, LPC After the long, cold, lonely winter,
as the song goes, how does one nurture their own emotional wellness? It can be challenging, especially if you happen to be one of the many who struggle with seasonal depression. Even without seasonal affective disorder, we can feel sluggish and heavy, sometimes blue. We are not, however, powerless to these finite conditions. We have the power to change our minds even when all else is outside of our control. “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” (Victor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning) In other words, the forward thinking among us are the benefactors of the hope we are told springs eternal. Mindset as inspiration! The spring season and a sense of renewed hope are connected in our minds, and what lives in our minds shows up in our bodies and informs our affective states. Nature conspires with us in the spring, stimulating an ember that underlies and acts as a precursor to hope and inspiration. The first day of spring, the vernal equinox, brings a balance between the light and the dark.
This phenomenon not only alters our biological state, but our psychological as well. Among the multitude of benefits from this shift is the fact that our feel-good chemical, Serotonin, increases notably during such times. Serotonin is a major mood-controlling neurotransmitter. When it ignites, becomes excited—like in the spring—the psychological benefits can be substantial. Spring resonates a healing potential; a feeling of hope becomes palpable and serves us by way of shifting us into recovery mode. The curative capacity of spring is unquestionable. Anthony Scioli, professor of psychology at Keene State University writes, “Hope is made collectively from the same bio-psycho-social ‘stuff’ that investigators have separately associated with well-being (perceived control, social support, self-regulation, and spirituality). A survey of oncologists revealed that more than 90% cited hope as the primary psychological factor that impacts mortality.” (Scioli, March, 2012. Psychology Today). Harvard psychiatrist, John Sharp, has studied the effects of changing seasons and the relationship between those changes and our state of mind. According to Sharp, “Most Spring 2018
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Contact me today for a free consultation. people do feel an increase in exuberance, energy, optimism, excitement, maybe a restlessness and sleeplessness that can come from what the Americans call ‘spring fever’.” He goes on to state, “We are exquisitely sensitive to the effect of physical influences on our mood and behavior.” Sharp names multiple ways in which we are effected: The physical realm, the cultural realm (think rituals and spring/summer festivities), and thirdly, the connectivity realm—associating the season with past people, places, and things. (Hegarty, BBC World Service, May 2011). We’ve been raised on the theory that spring is the launching pad for fresh starts and new beginnings. What will you do this spring to nurture your soul and renew your vow to living—really living? I leave you with this reminder, and a renewed hope that you will take every opportunity to care for you: “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” (Voltaire) n Dr. Tracy Scanlon, LPC, a psychologist in private practice in Pittsburgh, is the director of professional and program services at Outreach Teen and Family Services. Outreach is a nonprofit, confidential counseling service offering counseling and educational programs for teens and parents. For more information, visit www.outreachteen.org or phone 412-561-5405. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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Happenings! Art on the Walls: Karmalogue As part of Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council’s exhibition series, Art on the Walls: Karmalogue, art by Francis Cleetus and A.A., runs through June. Life isn’t always about the big picture. It’s about the little bits. It’s about those elusive moments that slip through the cracks. It’s about those deceptively insignificant thoughts, emotions, and feelings that leave an impression. And occasionally, show up on a canvas, a sheet of paper, or a piece of wood. Francis Cleetus interprets those tiny glimpses of life through his contemporary paintings, drawings, and sculptures. All inspired by his real life experiences across three countries, multiple cultures, and countless lives. Francis lives in USC with his wife, Maneesha, and their two daughters, Ananya and Antara, and works out of his basement studio. He has drawn hundreds of cartoons for the Pittsburgh Tech Council’s TEQ magazine and other publications and has created award-winning ads for Nike, Maker’s Mark, and MTV. More importantly, he has painted murals for the Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and pieces for the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. For more information, visit pittsburghartscouncil.org. Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council 810 Penn Ave #600, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Hours: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Phone: 412-391-2060
Welcome to the South Hills Senior Softball League Serving the Pittsburgh PA metropolitan area!
“You’ll feel like a kid again when you play” —Doug Houston, Commissioner
League Runs April thru August Eight Teams Join if you turn 55 in 2018 Average player age is 66 28 game Schedule Games start at 6:30 pm A player draft is held every spring so the talent is spread fairly on each team. Players come from all over the south Pittsburgh area.
Band Festival Moves to Boyce Middle School Theater for 2018 The 15th annual Three Rivers Community Band Festival will bring together three of the best community bands in Western Pennsylvania, plus an all-new festival band. The festival is 2:30–5 p.m. on Saturday, April 14 at Boyce Middle School Theater. Doors open at 1:45 p.m. WQED-FM’s Jim Cunningham returns this year as program host. Best of all, admission is free! Contributions to support the festival are greatly appreciated, but not required. The Three Rivers Community Band Festival showcases the many musically-talented individuals in the region, and the concert promises a medley of music that will appeal to a wide range of musical tastes. Community Band South represents the South Hills communities. This brass, woodwind, and percussion band of more than 80 members is directed by James Bennett, retired Upper St. Clair School District director of bands and chairman of fine arts, and Max Gonano, former director of bands at California University of Pennsylvania and music department chair. Since its premier concert in 1987, at Upper St. Clair High School, Community Band South has been entertaining audiences throughout the communities from which its membership is drawn, performing an average of 15 concerts each year. Also participating is the East Winds Symphonic Band, founding band of the festival. Joining the festival this year as the regional guest band will be the Pine Creek Community Band from the North Hills area. The fourth band will be the “ultimate community band,” made up of musicians from more than 50 community bands in Allegheny County and ten other counties in the region. The 2018 Festival Band will perform selections under the baton of guest conductor Dr. Otis C. French. Dr. French serves as the director of bands and instrumental activities at the University of Mount Union, Ohio, where he directs the Purple Raider Marching Band, wind ensemble, concert band, and teaches music education courses. He remains active as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, euphonium soloist, and marching band show designer. The Festival Band performance will be the exciting kick-off to a wonderful afternoon of music. Festivalgoers are invited to enjoy free light refreshments after the concert as well as have an opportunity to meet and greet the musicians. For more information, visit the web site at www.ewsb.org/festival.
If you are 55 years of age and older, come join us for the 2018 season. For more information, visit our website at www.seniorsoftballleague.com or contact Doug Houston at 412-522-9887 dohouston@gmail.com. 92
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
James Bennett, directing Community Band South Spring 2018
Tax Assistance Free tax assistance by VITA at The Bible Chapel, 300 Gallery Drive, McMurray weekdays through Friday, April 13, 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m. for help with the preparation of federal, state, and local taxes and property tax/rent rebate applications. Bring 2016 tax return; ID for yourself and spouse (if applicable); Social Security number(s) and birthdate(s) for yourself, spouse, and dependents; W-2 and 1099 tax documents (including Social Security 1099); 1095 health care statements; and property tax receipts. Both spouses must sign joint return. First come, first served. (Closed Friday, March 30 for Good Friday.) Need more information? Phone the IRS at 800-829-1040 or go online by typing “VITA” in the search box at www.irs.gov. Do not contact The Bible Chapel. Women’s Golf League The Women’s Golf Association of Mt. Lebanon invites you to join its golf group for play every Tuesday from April through September. Membership is open to women of all skill levels. For more information, call Sharon Ackerman at 412-480-3319. A Celebration of Orchids The Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania (OSWP) will hold its annual orchid show on Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday, March 18, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at the Phipps Garden Center, 1059 Shady Avenue (Fifth and Shady). The show is open to the public and admission is free. Voluntary donations at the door are appreciated. This year’s theme, A Celebration of Orchids, captures the amazing variety, beauty, and quantity of the orchids, inspiring visitors as they view the varied exhibits displaying hundreds of blooming orchids at their finest. Society volunteers and expert orchid growers will be on hand to answer questions about orchid cultivation, and free educational seminars will be held throughout both days of the show. In addition, an hourly raffle of plants and orchid-related items will be held. In the sales area, you can purchase orchids from a wide range of vendors brought in from all over the eastern United States. Many plants are perfect for the casual grower, and there is also a large selection of rare and unusual orchids. At the repotting table, visitors can watch and learn as their orchid plant is repotted by an OSWP member. For pots under six inches, the cost for repotting is $5; the cost for larger specimens will be determined on a case-by-case basis. For more information about the orchid show, orchids, and the OSWP, visit www.oswp.org. For show-related questions, contact Gary VanGelder at 412-638-9756 or Sheila Nathanson at 412-343-9457.
Sources for Family History Information When researching family history, census records can
be a valuable resource. Tax records are another potential source of family information. Particularly due to the long history and universal nature of taxes, it is likely that past generations created a paper trail when paying local, state, and federal taxes. When these documents survive, they can confirm information, including names, addresses, and occupations, and can also provide a window into a family’s role in the community.
Handwritten ledger of A. Gilfillan, showing ownership of certain buildings and animals
For example, early tax ledgers may list livestock and the number of buildings on a family farm. By comparing neighboring families, tax records can help estimate how prosperous our ancestors or communities may have been. While not all tax records survive or are accessible, small collections of tax records, such as the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair’s school tax ledgers from 1922– 1926, provide an interesting snapshot of the area and its residents that may be valuable to the family historian. n
Upper St. Clair school tax ledgers
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2018 Housing Market Outlook
Milo Hindman, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Service, South Hills Office Manager Those who closely follow the real estate market are watching and wondering what changes 2018 will bring. At Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services, the reports we are seeing bode well for both homebuyers and sellers. According to the realtor.com® 2018 National Housing Forecast, the easing of inventory shortages is expected to result in more manageable increases in home prices and a modest acceleration of home sales. The annual forecast also expects an increase in millennial mortgage share. Some of the trends identified include: 1. Inventory is expected to increase. Realtor.com® projects U.S. year-over-year inventory growth to tick up into positive territory by fall 2018. The majority of growth is expected in the mid-tier price points, which includes U.S. homes priced above $350,000. Recovery for starter homes is expected to take longer because their levels were significantly depleted by first time buyers. 2. Slowing price appreciation expected. Realtor.com® reports home prices are forecasted to slow to 3.2% growth year-over-year nationally. Most of the slowing will be felt in the higher-priced segments, so expect that sellers will need to price competitively. Entry-level homes will continue to see price gains due to the larger number of buyers that can afford them. 3. Millennials gain most market share. According to the forecast, “Millennials are on track to gain mortgage market share in all price points due to the sheer size of the generation.” Millennials could reach 43% of all home buyers taking out a mortgage by the end of 2018. Expect millennials to start competing for higher-priced homes. 4. New tax reform laws. The laws will affect taxpayers in different ways, so consumers are encouraged to consult with their tax advisors. The National Association of Realtors® also provides the latest news and forecasts on how tax reform will impact consumers. n Looking to buy or sell? Conveniently located at 1630 Washington Road in Upper St. Clair, visit the Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services South Hills office or visit online at ColdwellBankerHomes. com/SouthHills. See ad on outside back cover. Spring 2018
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Advertiser Index www.twpusc.org/magazine/usc-today-home
Spring 2018
Advertiser
Page
Affordable Decks and Additions .............................................................. 33 * Angelo Associates ................................................................................... 33 Arbor Tree Specialist, Inc. ........................................................................ 29 Asbury Heights ....................................................................................... 53 Ashlin Interiors ........................................................................................ 31 Benjamin Marcus Homes/Siena at St. Clair ............................................ 95 * Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, The Preferred Realty, Rt. 19 South.....3 BISTECCA – STEAKHOUSE – WINE BAR .................................................... 65 Brookside Lumber ................................................................................... 29 * Calabro Tire & Auto Service ..................................................................... 85 Chinese Acupuncture & Herbs Center, LLC .............................................. 89 Cirigliano Plumbing ............................................................................... 33 * Clark Renovations, Inc. ............................................. Front cover, 12, 13, 27 * Coldwell Banker–The South Hills Office ......................... Back outside cover Coldwell Banker–Rebecca Church ........................................................... 91 Coldwell Banker–Lynn Dempsey ............................................................. 87 Coldwell Banker–Leigh Harkreader ........................................................ 55 Coldwell Banker–Dora Rudick ................................................................. 30 * Cupelli & Cupelli, Drs. ............................................................................. 55 Davey Tree and Lawn Care ....................................................................... 33 EQT Children’s Theater Festival ............................................................... 81
Advertiser
Page
* Keller Williams–Sandy and Marshall Goldstein ...................................... 89 * Kerr Family and Cosmetic Dentistry ........................................................ 57 Little Lake Theatre Company ................................................................... 87 * Manalo, Larry E., D.M.D. .......................................................................... 57 Mister Sewer ..............................................................................................7 Movement Mortgage–Kevin O’Laughlin ................................................. 30 Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center .............................................................. 67 * Pinebridge Commons Associates ............................................................ 57 Plastic Surgical Assoc. of Pittsburgh, Robert W. Bragdon, MD, FACS ....... 37 Preferred Drapery & Blinds ..................................................................... 31 Providence Point, a Baptist Homes Society community .......................... 23 RE/MAX Premier Group–Susanne Wagner .............................................. 81 * Rusmur Floors .................................................................. Back inside cover St. Clair Fitness ........................................................................................ 17 * St. Clair Hospital ....................................................................................4, 5 * Scott Bros. Windows and Doors .............................................................. 28 * Sesame Inn ............................................................................................. 22 South Hills Endoscopy Center ....................................................................1 Southwest Gastroenterology Associates ................................................. 96 * State Farm Insurance–Cindy Brophy ....................................................... 32 The Dance Conservatory of Pittsburgh .................................................... 41
What They Said
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY has been a great partner in helping us get the word out about our company.
We work daily in the Upper St. Clair community and have found this publication is the place to be seen.
TODAY enables us to reach clients who are looking for a specialized window and door company. We
have used this magazine as our source of advertising for more than 15 years and we look forward to working together many more years.—Dave Scott, Owner, Scott Brothers Windows and Doors Eichenlaub Landscapes for Living ..............................................................2 Extended Day Services ............................................................................ 83 G’s Landscaping ...................................................................................... 29 Gregor Roofing Company, Inc.................................................................. 85 Heartland Homes Bedner Estates ........................................................... 11 * Howard Hanna USC Office .............................................. Front inside cover * Howard Hanna–Diane Horvath ............................................................... 67 Howard Hanna–Mary Hardy Ketchum .................................................... 41
The Romanias Group at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices .................. 93 * Thomas Dance Studio ............................................................................. 83 Torrente at Upper St. Clair–Luxury Apartments ..........................................9 Troy Orthodontics .................................................................................... 57 U.S. Heart and Vascular, P.C. .................................................................... 17 Washington Health System .................................................................... 39 * Wellington Real Estate–Patty Thomas & Rebecca Lutz ............................ 19
The Spring 2018 edition of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a great opportunity to advertise in USC’s community magazine! Our advertisers know this and have responded wonderfully by placing their ads in our publication! *The above advertisers, who are advertising in this issue, have contributed their financial support for a minimum of 46 issues. Thank you.
Let guide you the rest of the year with great ad placement.
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Summer: Home & Garden and Summer Activities Fall: Educational Resource and Health & Wellness Winter: Holiday and Life Planning
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, the award-winning, official publication
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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Spring 2018
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COLDWELL BANKER WE MOVE UPPER ST. CLAIR
Hope Bassichis
Noel Bliman
Mary Lou Borchert
The John Geisler Team John Geisler | Michael Hornick | Carmela Viviano
Anita Crago
Elaine Goldblum
Barbara Cusick
Genie Gooding
Lisa Davis
Leigh Harkreader
Lynn Dempsey
Nancy Heffernan
Janine Dillon
Judy Hlister
Kathi Kernan
Julie Leslie
Ron Loncharich
Kathy Sekeras
Laura Simon
New Year, New Home!
Maria Lane
Kim Lanphear
Julie Puzausky
Dora Rudick
Diane Snyder
Mary Torchia
Coldwell Banker® agents helped to put smiles on the faces of many new homeowners in 2017, and we know there are many more to come in 2018. Does the new year mean a new home for you? If it does, contact any of the agents shown here. They’re making smiles from year to year!
Jim Walsh
Mary Ann Wellener
Julie Welter
Faith Williard
Jane York
Milo Hindman
ColdwellBankerHomes.com/SOUTHHILLS The South Hills Office | 1630 Washington Road | 412.833.5405 Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services are independent contractor agents and are not employees of the Company. ©2018 Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. 259404PIT_1/18