SPRING 2023 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Robbins Bobbitt

Associate Broker

Bonnie Bagay

Marie Mageras

Del Burrell

Diane Horvath

Kathy McCloskey

Brad Cetnarowski

Jess Hutchinson

Renee Ringer

Kerrie Constantini

Frankie Kunselman

Shannon Rosenberry

Lauren Ganoe

Dana Logan

Jen Schalk

Janet Hensler

Chris Longenecker

Wendy Vespa Suzy Voss

Jody Yurcich

Izzy Zehner

Beth Thomas

David Limauro, M.D. • Mark Cedar, D.O. • Nicholas Bellicini, D.O. • Xuong Lu, M.D.

Jungmin Leo Lee, M.D. • Lisa Oliva, D.O. • Robert J. Pagano, M.D. • Theresa Schuerle, D.O. • Bridger Clarke, M.D.

Personal.

What are you striving for today?

At St. Clair Health, our care teams are driven by a passion to provide world-class, patient-focused care to our neighbors in and around the Pittsburgh Region. That’s why we’ve recruited even more nationally recognized doctors and invested in state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical technology to support them. So no matter how far you push yourself to achieve, you never have to go far to receive the personalized health care you deserve.

Mary J. Sims, M.D.

The spring issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is sponsored by the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair, now celebrating 30 years investing in USC residents and their ideas to continually strengthen our community. You can learn more in their article, found on pages 10–13.

You can purchase a TODAY cover, too! Contact usctoday@usctoday.org for specifications and rates.

Reaching the Summit

Polar Plunge

Seniors Helping Seniors

The award-winning,

Summer 2023 edition includes Home & Garden, Summer Activities, and Pet Care guides.

Deadlines:

Articles–March 9

Advertising–March 13

Website: twpusc.org/usctoday

Email: usctoday@usctoday.org

@usctoday

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.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is published and mailed 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 our community’s official magazine, 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.

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 29 years of our publication.

The 113th 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.

Publishers

Matthew R. Serakowski, Township Manager

Dr. John T. Rozzo, Superintendent of Schools

Steering Committee

Mark S. Mansfield, Assistant Township Manager

Paul K. Fox, School District Representative

Editors and Staff

Terry Kish, Editor-in-Chief

AnneMarie Kopach, Associate Editor

Sarah Beitler, Office Manager, Marketing Executive, Advertising Executive

Colleen DeMarco, Advertising Executive

Kerry Turner, Advertising Executive

Dorothy Clark, Graphic Designer

Student Interns

Emily Barrie

Maanasa Reddy

The next issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY will be the Summer 2023 issue and will be published in May 2023. 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:

Editor

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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

Article Information

Editor-in-Chief Terry Kish phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2681

Advertising Information

Office Manager Sarah Beitler phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284 fax: 412-851-2592

Ad file submission: dclark@usctoday.org

Omission

Chief Justice of the state of Pennsylvania Cynthia Baldwin, president of the Board of the Fulbright Association, presented the Fulbright Association Award for Outstanding Chapter (former) Leader to Dr. Charlotte McDaniel. The name of the presenter came after the winter issue was published.

Board of School Directors Township Board of Commissioners

Phillip J. Elias, President

Dr. Daphna Gans, Vice President

Barbara L. Bolas

Kelly P. Hanna

Louis P. Mafrice, Jr.

Michael R. Mascaro

Angela B. Petersen

Jennifer A. Schnore

Dr. Danielle Z. Wetzel

Daniel R. Paoly, President, At Large

Dante R. Plutko, Jr., Vice President, Ward 1

Pamela L. Enck, Ward 2

Robert W. Orchowski, Ward 3

Todd D. Burlingame, Ward 4

Ronald J. Pardini, Ward 5

Richard I. Thomas, At Large

Thank you to our volunteer contributors this issue: Judge Ronald Arnoni, Emily Barrie (intern & YWG), Lily Bonasso, Cindy Brophy, Lynn Dempsey, Lindsay Dill, Carolyn Jones Friedrich, Tim Gagne, Christian Gmiter, Steve Henk, Wayne Herrod, David Kutschbach, Jay Lynch, Geoff & Christine McQueen, Rep. Natalie Mihalek, Jim O’Brien, Maanasa Reddy (intern & YWG), Jim Render, Mary Lynne Spazok, Kerry Turner, and Tina Vojtko.

Thank you also to the Township’s wonderful Public Works Department employees and our awesome high school custodians! Their help in transporting our magazines and working with the facility needs of our TODAY staff is greatly appreciated.

Young Writers Guild (YWG) promotes and encourages young writers in the Upper St. Clair School District, grades 8–12, to provide articles and artwork of interest for our community magazine. Email usctoday@usctoday.org to find out how your student can contribute.

The 113th issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a joint publication of the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair.

Reproduction of this magazine, in print or web version, in whole or in part, without the expressed written consent of the Editor, is strictly prohibited.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

1820 McLaughlin Run Road

Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

Phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284

Fax: 412-851-2592

Email: usctoday@usctoday.org

Township: 412-831-9000

School District: 412-833-1600

Printed by Freeport Press 2127 Reiser Ave. SE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663

Design by DMC Design, 412-824-7844

Copyright © 1994–2023. All rights reserved.

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

Mark Mansfield Paul Fox Terry Kish AnneMarie Kopach Colleen DeMarco Sarah Beitler Kerry Turner Dorothy Clark

A Spring Note From the Publishers

Matthew R. Serakowski

Welcome to the spring edition of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY! More sunlight and warmer weather tend to have an invigorating effect as we look forward to getting out after the cold winter months, and this issue includes lots of ideas to help you fill your spring calendar.

TODAY congratulates the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair on its 30th anniversary! This organization has enriched the lives of our residents in so many ways—learn more about the group’s activities and plans to celebrate this milestone in the article beginning on page 10.

The School District section opens with the District’s eight-page annual report, with information about its goals, budgets, and achievements. In addition, this section includes articles about the many happenings in our District schools and the accomplishments of our students and staff.

In the Township section, the Department of Finance provides an overview of the Township’s 2023 budget, including information about the sanitary sewer fund, C&RC fund, and the real estate tax notice. You can also find helpful reminders about flood services and protection in this section, as well as information about the various programs offered by both the library and the C&RC.

If travel is part of your 2023 agenda, you’ll want to read about the adventures of five USC moms as they scaled Old Rag Mountain last October, as well as Bob Orchowski’s milestone journey to his 50th state. Bring TODAY with you on your travels, and send us your photos. We would love to feature you in a future article!

As always, we welcome your feedback about TODAY and how we can continue to improve to best meet your needs. Happy spring!

Sincerely,

Township Manager

Sincerely,

Dr. John T. Rozzo Superintendent of Schools

Dr. John T. Rozzo

Pinebridge Commons location:

1580 McLaughlin Run Road, Suite 200

Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 412-221-0392

Bethel Park location: 2414 Lytle Road, Suite 100

Bethel Park, PA 15102 412-831-2188

Troy Orthodontics provides care for the communities of Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park, and the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Dr. Beth Troy takes the time to place and adjust braces on every patient, giving individualized attention in a caring environment.

Schedule your complimentary consultation today!

• Orthodontic services for children and adults

• Individualized care in a friendly and patient-focused environment

• Convenient appointment hours

• 24-hour emergency services

• Most major insurance plans accepted

www.drtroysmiles.com

Community Foundation

The Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair: Your Community Asset for 30 Years

What is a Community Foundation and How Did We Get One Right Here in Upper St. Clair?

As early as 1988, Upper St. Clair resident Linda Serene and Fort Couch principal Thomas Harshman sat down to talk about ways to seek community support beyond the tax dollar for those important extras that could enrich and enhance life-long learning for all residents of Upper St. Clair. Linda served as chair of the school board committee on renovations for the high school and traveled around the country looking at recently built schools, discovering that leading schools in other states had established community foundations to support needs and enhance their schools. She brought her discoveries to the Upper St. Clair School Board. In March of 1992, the Board established a goal to explore alternative means of generating funds and securing personnel resources in support of the educational program, and they decided to support the idea of an educational foundation.

In July, Dr. David Morgan, from the Great Valley School District, conducted a one-day seminar on how to establish a community foundation and how to write grants. The District entered into a planning grant proposal with a consortium of several school districts across the Commonwealth titled New Approaches to the Delivery of the Arts, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, with Linda Serene, Robert Broggi, John Small, Myrna Weise, Jim Bennett, and Marlene Rankin in attendance. In August, the committee was interested in establishing a foundation and met with Jack Selter, a fundraiser for the University of Pittsburgh, and Ralph Terrel, executive director of the Mars Area Foundation for Educational Excellence, to discuss the next steps in setting up a foundation and how to get started. First, a survey was sent to all teachers, administrators, and several dozen residents to determine interest in the concept.

In October, Marlene Rankin hosted the first Ad Hoc committee meeting, with 50 guests attending, and the idea of a community foundation was presented. The goals of the foundation were announced: to maintain educational excellence; to use the educational facilities to provide for all members of the community (not just the ages 5-18); and to make the school the true center of the community. From this group, 12 attendees formed a new committee and each of them donated $1000. A board was created to facilitate the establishment of the foundation, and Marlene filed papers with the federal government to create a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and the paperwork was also submitted to incorporate the organization in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Linda agreed to serve as the first president and John Small became the first executive director. In November 1992, plans were laid for the first partnership for the foundation with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

On January 5, 1993, the Community Education Foundation of Upper St. Clair was officially established and the board of trustees met for the first time as a non-profit, charitable organization committed to providing special programs to enhance life-long learning for all students and residents of the community of Upper St. Clair. Trustees were:

Ray Gergich

Chester Kent

Mary Muffly

Clifford Rowe

Roberta Walsh

Michael Giglotti****

Thomas Harshman

Richard Kleid Charlotte McDaniel***

Clark Nicklas** Richard Purnell*****

Thomas Henderson

Aleen Mathews

Thomas Ramsey

Linda Serene* John Small****** Steven Todorvich

Myrna Weise

*Chairperson **Vice Chairperson ***Secretary ****Treasurer *****Assistant Treasurer ******Executive Director

James Bennett and John Dell were added as trustees at the second meeting as they were already serving as focus chairs.

At that first meeting, four focus areas were defined to develop special programs that were not funded by tax dollars, and plans were made to secure financial support for activities to benefit all residents. The focus areas were: Education—Providing scholastic enrichment beyond the core curriculum; Fine and Performing Arts—Providing scholastic enrichment in Art, Music, Theater and Dance for students K–12 as well as all residents of the community, for life-long enrichment and enjoyment of the arts through partnerships created with musical organizations, theatre groups and artists-in-residence programs. Sports and Leisure—Enhancing life-long physical fitness and wellness activities to promote individual well-being and community spirit. Technology—Encouraging projects and programs designed to promote and maintain use of the most recent technologies.

The partnership with the Pittsburgh Symphony became a stunning project with amazing results. Saturday, March 27, 1993 was chosen for an inaugural event, and planning commenced for a gala kick-off with a black-tie dinner at St. Clair Country Club for community residents and members of the Pittsburgh Symphony. Following the dinner, attendees and musicians were transported in “yellow limousines” (a.k.a. school buses) to the high school for the concert. Reserved tickets were sold for the concert and it was an SRO crowd! Linda Serene appeared on stage during the performance and announced that a significant wave of support had been achieved. She held up a large facsimile of a check in the amount of $53,000, acquired through ticket sales and donations from members of the community.

Since 1993, the Community Foundation has provided more than $1,000,000 in funding for more than 500 projects. Today, the Board of Trustees continues the mission of the founders as the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair, forming partnerships, funding unique needs, and providing life-long learning opportunities and enrichment for all residents in this place we all call home.

John Small and teachers Paul Pavlov, Joe Kallis, Estelle Luck, Susan Watt, and Mary Muffly plan for the inaugural event.

The Community Foundation

cordially invites you to join us to commemorate

investing in residents and their ideas to continually strengthen our community, and enrich life for all residents of Upper St. Clair by supporting activities and programs, developing partnerships, and awarding grants in the defined focus areas of Fine & Performing Arts, Health and Wellness, and STEM.

CFUSC 30th Anniversary Celebration

Friday, April 21

St. Clair Country Club 6:30–10:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite at cfusc.org/casinonight.

This joyous evening of food, fun, and festivities will honor the visionaries who established and guided the foundation for three decades, and illuminate the many contributions CFUSC has made to the community through the years. Entertainment features the band No Bad JuJu and casino games. Visitcfusc.org/casinonight to learn more or use this QR code to purchase tickets.

The Greatest CFUSC Partnership is with YOU!

The generosity and support of residents has been the most significant partnership CFUSC has ever had. Your support is essential to the mission of the Community Foundation. A $30 donation to honor and celebrate 30 years of enrichment for all residents will enable the Foundation to continue its mission and to generate unity in our commUNITY. Please consider making a donation today by mailing a check to the office or through PayPal at cfusc.org.

The Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Charitable Organization CFUSC—2585 Washington Road #131 Pittsburgh, PA 15241 cfusc.org 412-440-8464

Introducing the Community Foundation Board of Trustees for 2023

President—Justin Schmidt Vice President—Bruce Nelson Secretary—Lauren Mathews Treasurer—Pamela Scureman

Paul Fox—Director of Communications

Meagan Junstrom

Navin Parmar

Adina Schiffman

Gary Giallonardo

Gordon Mathews

Melissa Randolph

Ryan Scureman

Consider joining the CFUSC team as a trustee or a volunteer. Go to cfusc.org for details.

Panther blankets are available at cfusc.org/shop

No Bad JuJu

CFUSC thanks to our corporate sponsors for their partnerships in celebrating our 30 year history.

Community Foundation

CFUSC Grants Enable Community Engagement

As the Legacy Sponsor of the USC Robotics Club Expansion Project, CFUSC enabled sponsor high school teacher Tracy Smith to provide for the greater than expected response at the middle school level and to open up opportunities in the elementary schools. Club teams plan and create their projects, and enter them into STEM tournaments.

USC Robotics Team at First Lego League Event

The Foundation also granted partial funding to the USC School District PTO Wellness Committee to bring author Kate Leavell to visit in the school and community where she shared her recent book Superpower. Written as an illustrated fable, this book relates “an inspiring story about overcoming self-doubt and unleashing your authentic greatness.” Central characters in the book are Trent, the “new kid,” who has concerns about being teased, his sister Emma, who doesn’t care what anyone thinks, and Mr. E., the teacher who helps the entire class to make new connections, broaden their perspectives, and discover self-understanding so members can grow in acceptance and overcome their own challenges.

If you have a unique project for Fine & Performing Arts, Health & Wellness, or STEM, please consider partnering with the Community Foundation to see your idea brighten our community. For more information and an application, go to cfusc.org/grants.

Great Duck Race Spectacular!

999 Little Ducks are waiting to be adopted this year at Community Day 2023! Last year 655 adorable pink, blue, and yellow ducks headed for the finish line and won amazing prizes (like an iPad, a golf outing for four, great gift cards, an original lithograph, and other special prizes) for race participants! This was a great restart to a community tradition and this year, the CFUSC Trustees are finding must-have prizes, because they are planning for the adoption of the entire flock!

The race begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 20. All of the adoptees will be set free in McLaughlin Run behind the concession stand, and they will race downstream to the finish line near the footbridge.

Trustees will begin selling ducks on April 12.

Leave a message at 412-440-8464 and a trustee will contact you.

Adoption Donations:

A “Quack” is $5 for 1 Duck

A “Quack Pack” is $25 for 6 Ducks

A “Pack of Quackers” is $50 for 15 Ducks

If you have never seen this race, it is “just ducky!”

Tracy Smith Trustee Gary Giallonardo

Congratulations to a winning team!

Robotics team shirt showing sponsors

Kate Leavell

of Upper St. Clair

Historic Highlights of CFUSC: The First Decade

Focus on Fine and Performing Arts

Inaugural Event-March 27, 1993—First Partnership with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra raised $53,000+

Twelfth Night by John Houseman Acting Company

Philadelphia Dance Council Artist-in-Residence program conducted by 11 Philadanco dancers for all Boyce students

$1000 grant for International Poetry Forum workshop for high school students, and evening presentation of “Will and I” by Michael York

Learning to Look by Marilyn Miller Russell, curator for education at Carnegie Museum for adult residents

$4000 grant to Environmental Education Center for legal fees to set up corporation and file 501(c) (3) status with IRS

QUEST for Lifelong Learning 73 registrants for four classes

Supported start-up of Trail Bike Club and Fly-Fishing Club

$2000 grant for USC Athletic Association to refurbish Fort Couch and Boyce Pony League Fields

$5000 grant for equipment for Fort Couch Fitness Center for students and residents

Started Great Duck Race in 1999

$1000 grant for purchase of four ergometric rowing machines for USCHS Crew Team

Purchased AEDs (Automatic External Defibrillators) for USC schools and USC Township Municipal Building

Focus on Technology

Focus on Sports and Leisure

Provided Super VHS Camcorder for USCHS Campus News

Received Bell Atlantic Grant for satellite communications with fiber optics within school district

Linkups by amateur radio with NASA Space Shuttle Flight TECHNO-EXPO (1995–1999)

$2300 grant for North American Marsville Project and video conference with Astronaut Rick Helb

Technology Telethon raised funds for technology for the School District, Township, and organizations in Upper St. Clair.

Army Apache helicopter landed at USC High School for the first Techno Expo in 1995, attended by 6000 students and community members.

Reaching the Summit

Planning our annual fall camping trip, Kirstan Boettger suggested Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Myself—Kerry Turner—along with Claire Cass, Ashley Collins, and Katie Perrotti, immediately said sure! We just needed to figure out a weekend that all five USC moms would be able to escape our busy lives. Once dates were picked, our group of five was well into the planning. Kirstan was on her game and called the park to determine where we should camp. She spoke to a ranger named Mark who suggested the Loft Mountain Campground—it was big and we should have no issues claiming a first come, first serve spot on a Thursday in October. Bonus—the campground was surrounded by the Appalachian Trail (AT)!

As is customary on our trips, we started looking for one good hike and Ashley mentioned Old Rag Mountain. We quickly learned that there is a lot of information about Old Rag online and we started doing our own research and watching videos. We each had our own level of excitement, anxiety, and doubt about this hike. This trail is not only touted as one of the ten hardest hikes in Virginia, but also as one of the top 25 hikes in the world.

One website described the 9.8-mile hike as follows: The rock scramble begins in earnest at the 2.8-mile mark. From here, it’s a solid mile of climbing, gripping, pulling, and scrambling to reach the top. You’ve got to navigate tight spaces, strategize rocky passages, slide down granite surfaces, and use all your strength to pull yourself up onto rocks and boulders.

After all our individual research, we still reserved our trail tickets. In March 2022, the National Park Service introduced a pilot program for some harder trails where a portion of the trail would require a specific day use pass for a small fee; in this case, $1 per person. In addition to learning all about the program, we also read that life flight rescues aren’t the easiest on this trail and would be a huge out-of-pocket expense. The fact that these warnings were listed in numerous places really made us think about it, but we figured it would be a game day decision as to who would participate in the complete hike and who would choose the easier, but longer route up the fire road.

We arrived at the park Thursday night and discovered that the campground was almost full! It was a beautiful long weekend and it appeared that everyone from Washington DC decided Shenandoah was the place to be. After quite the scramble for the first come, first serve sites, we lucked out and found an awesome site. We set up our tents, put our food in the provided bear box and crawled into our sleeping bags for the night. We had the rest of the weekend to stay up late, but our Old Rag trail tickets were for Friday. If we were planning on doing this, we had to be at the trailhead before 9 a.m. to be sure we would be back to the car by sunset.

While this campground has one of the best views in the park and is surrounded by the AT, it is also about an hour and a half drive to the Old Rag trailhead. When our alarms went off it was still dark, and we grumbled like five school kids not wanting to get up for the bus. Surprisingly, by 7:30, we were in the car heading to the trailhead with all our supplies and insecurities.

The weather was perfect as we checked in at the ranger station with our tickets. At this point only three of us had determined we were doing the full hike, but, after the lady ranger told us we could all do it, the other two decided to do it as well. At 9:10 a.m., we took a “before” group picture and the five of us set out on our long uphill journey to the summit of Old Rag Mountain.

The hike started with 2.8 miles of switchback trails. As other groups of hikers made their way by us, we kept saying slow and steady. Everyone passing us was kind and encouraging. As we got higher, the trail got rockier and then, suddenly, we knew we had entered the mile-long rock scramble and there was no turning back. With the help of complete strangers, we conquered obstacle after obstacle and made new friends in the process. In most instances we were able to boost each other up and over. Katie chuckled at one point that after sleeping in a tent basically on top of each other on some of our camping trips over the years, she didn’t think we could get any closer, but here we were, using the head to butt technique to help boost each other up and over the boulders.

By noon we found ourselves behind schedule and hadn’t quite made it to the lunch site. By 1 p.m. there was no way we could continue, and we found a picturesque spot to snack along

Taking a break at the faux summit

Before the hike (l/r): Katie Perrotti, Claire Cass, Kerry Turner, Ashley Collins, and Kirstan Boettger

Kirstan and Claire figuring their path

Kerry Turner, TODAY Advertising Executive

the trail. Claire had become quite hangry and as she sat there, resembling a wild animal, the four of us watched as a Snickers commercial came to life before our eyes. After just one bite, Claire was a new woman with renewed hope and spirit, and after we all got a little nourishment, we continued onward, still hoping to eat our lunches at the top. It was getting late and the sun was on its descent, which meant we were going to be racing the sun down the mountain.

We kept going and tried to quicken the pace a little, but slow and steady was the only way we would all make it to the top. We still had some harder sections to get by and were starting to struggle helping each other, but the people hiking the trail that day with us were all wonderful humans and when they saw a hiker stuck, they weren’t afraid to ask for consent to touch a butt to give it a shove. From behind me all I heard was, “You can touch me wherever you need to, just shove me through this crevice!” There were indeed lots of laughs and maybe even some tears, but no one would be left on the mountain. We just kept going with a little help from our friends.

We continued to navigate the baby blue blazes and finally arrived at the faux summit just before 3 p.m. We celebrated, took pictures, laughed and smiled, and took back all of the bad words and thoughts we had about the lady ranger at the trailhead. Sadly, I knew this wasn’t the summit and we still had a good way to go, but at this point I thought everyone was done. Questions about how much a chopper would cost were asked, and they weren’t happy when I pointed out that they would have to wait for daylight for any rescue at this point.

That last leg to the summit was a quiet one and wasn’t as easy as I had hoped it would be, but luckily the people on the trail came to the rescue again. We all had two goals while hiking here—to get to the summit and then to get back to our cars safely—so people were willing to work together and help out their fellow trail mates. With another literal boost to the butt to get up the boulder in order to reach the hands of those who were waiting to pull them up, the last of our group conquered the final obstacle and leapt across the rocky gap. Once we got to the actual summit, it was solemn and not all the glory and bells I was expecting. It was after 3:30 and we were exhausted, and we still had a long way to go back to the car.

Thinking we would be hiking in two groups, we had come prepared with handheld radios, but we never turned them on. On our way down we got separated, and they sure came in handy. After a short break and some laughs at the Byrds Nest shelter, we had one last part of the rocky trail before hitting the final section of our journey, the fire road. Unfortunately, this portion had mountain stairs and after seven hours of hiking, the older knees in the group fell behind. We told the other three not to wait on us and that we would catch up.

Carefully going down the stairs one step at a time, Kirstan and I finally made it to the Old Rag Shelter, which meant we were finally

out of the ticketed area of the mountain. It was obvious that the sun was setting, and I finally pulled out the radio to turn it on. As I called hello from Old Rag Shelter, the sound of joy on the other side of the radio as they heard my voice was encouraging. They were much further along and were walking along the fire road. We all felt a little better now, knowing we had communication between the two groups. After a few minutes, we heard the cries of “scat” coming over the airwaves. Piles of bear scat had been sighted in the middle of the road. This was a good thing, because we were able to use those landmines as a landmark.

Kirstan and I continued down the road, always on the lookout for who left the scat. We finally got down to where the road leveled out, and while we were in a rush, I was still enjoying the surroundings. Suddenly, I felt like we were being followed. Relax, it wasn’t the bear, it was a family of deer. Kirstan realized I had fallen behind and turned to see me talking to the deer and taking pictures. Although we see deer all the time, this was just so peaceful, and it made me smile. Nature is a beautiful thing and we are fortunate to have places our nation has protected for exploration.

We eventually made it down to the bottom just as the sun was setting and for last quarter-mile we needed our headlamps. We got back to the car and found the other three stretching and doing yoga in the parking lot. It was now after 7 p.m. and I needed to eat my lunch, so I plopped myself down, pulled out my Jetboil and made myself three-cheese macaroni right there. I cherished every bite before we loaded into the car and started driving back to camp. Shortly after pulling out, I realized that I didn’t have the radio, so we quickly made our way back. As we pulled up to where we had all been sitting, we saw a copperhead; but no worries, no one was bitten. I took some pictures of the snake, grabbed the radio that was sitting there, and hopped back into the car and headed back to camp.

We had done it! We had all faced our fears and obstacles, and we climbed to the summit of Old Rag Mountain and survived to tell the tale. It was a much longer day of hiking than we had planned, and we were ready for our sleeping bags.

When I asked Claire what her favorite part of the hike was, she quickly announced: “When it was over!” She was thrilled she completed the hike, but was so happy it was in the past. For Katie, this hike gave her a renewed faith in humanity that she thought she had lost for good. While the people on the trail were there for their own journey, we were all aware that the people along the way were part of that adventure. So many people were willing to lend a helping hand on the mountain and while we were all from different walks of life, on the trail there was no divide, and we were all one just trying to accomplish this feat.

In the end, it was an experience none of us will ever forget. As Claire observed, we never would have thought about hiking as a group effort; but getting to the top of Old Rag was just that, and we couldn’t have done it without our girlfriends and a handful of random strangers. n

Claire and Ashley Kerry Ranger Mark

Medallion Honorees of 2022

Upper St. Clair TODAY is happy to celebrate the Medallion Ball honorees of St. Lucy’s Auxiliary to the Blind. These ten stellar young women contributed 1500 aggregate volunteer hours, a gift of one’s time and talent. Exceptional defines their determination and strength of character throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

A force that transforms lives, proceeds from the 59th Medallion Ball benefits the Blind and Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh. Bishop David Zubik, Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, awarded the Joan of Arc medallions.

Did you know that past presidents of the United States have proclaimed April as National Volunteer Month? NVM salutes the unparalleled service of those who have afforded personal time and countless hours for the betterment of mankind. With Canadian origins, National Volunteer Month was adopted here officially in 1990. It is acclaimed worldwide, dispersing hope through committed passion.

Research confirms that volunteers experience positive mental health, increased happiness, and reduced stress.

From The American Presidency Project, Proclamation 10183—National Volunteer Week, 2021: “We are living in a moment that calls for hope and light and love. Hope for our futures, light to see our way forward, and love for one another. Volunteers provide all three. Service—the act of looking out for one another—is part of who we are as a Nation. Our commitment to service reflects our understanding that we can best meet our challenges when we unite. We recognize the enduring contributions of our Nation’s volunteers and encourage more Americans to join their ranks.”

Time management is paramount regarding high school academics, extracurricular activities, and volunteering. Employers and college/university admission officials acknowledge its merit for one’s potential future success. This year’s honoree group, representing CAPA, Oakland Catholic, and Upper St. Clair high schools, embraced volunteering for the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh, GSWPA-Girl Scout Day Camp, Little Lake Theater, St. Louise de Marillac, St. Winifred’s Food Pantry, and The Neighborhood Resilience Project.

There were several new venues where these young women volunteered. Community based, the AMD3 Foundation’s agenda aspires to improve health and wellness care with resources worldwide. Bianco School of Baseball offers training in all aspects of the sport in partnership with Washington Health System. The Children of Steel is a gratis online tutoring service found and led by Taylor Allderdice High School. The Arnold Palmer “First Tee” Learning Center at the Bob O’Connor Golf Course, Schenley Park, teaches youngsters to golf. Operation Walk Pittsburgh aims to provide life changing education, service, and free-of-cost surgery to patients in need. Post pandemic, St. Clair Health’s Junior Volunteer Program (ages 14–18) supports the Outpatient Surgical Center where volunteers assist staff with administrative tasks and patient discharge.

As we strive to lead lives that reflect our values, civic life evolves. Making every effort to demonstrate positive values with determination fosters integrity. These seniors of Upper St. Clair Township challenge you to appreciate their ambition and energy. Moving forward, lend your time and talent to make a difference in 2023. Whether at the local food bank or the curbside USPS food drive; perchance a vote, a voice, or a wallet—doing good comes in many forms. TODAY salutes the honorees who have donated selfless hours for the betterment of the American way of life. Championing their success are loving families, friends, educators, clerics, and the inclusive community of Upper St. Clair.

Honoree escorts, in alphabetical order, included Greg Boughner, Colin Eccher, Luke Fisher, Noah Frank, Alex Gill Lesh, Nathan Rising, William Sandoval, Derek Schuster, Gavin Stanek, and James Terrell. n

Victoria Crowley

Olivia Cuba

Kara Fisher Marina Gzikowski

Markella Jahn

Grace Kelly

Mary LaPorta

Olivia Pretto

Lillian Spencer Quinnin Stanek

Article courtesy of Mary Lynne Spazok.

Photos provided by Maxine McGough of Ron Richards Studio.

Who Is Maxine McGough?

Maxine McGough, Ron Richards Photography, has generously sponsored hundreds of St. Lucy’s Medallion Ball photos. USC’s stellar honorees are featured each March in TODAY. The photographic technique originated with Louis Daguerre who formulated the Daguerreotype in 1839. That same year, Robert Cornelius aimed the camera at himself and took what is widely believed to be the first self-portrait (today’s “selfie”).

With a visual rendering, the most captivating feature is the eyes, along with a genuine smile. As the saying goes, “The eyes are the window to the soul” which convey, captivate, and connect, while a smile is synonymous with happiness.

Trust is paramount to calm the anxious, appease the adverse. Maxine states, “Compassion is my Passion 10. Bringing out a person’s inner beauty is paramount. I have always loved working with people and am honored to capture lifetime memories.”

For Maxine, day-to-day positivity is the key to personal and professional gratification. Her greatest accomplishment is her family—she is a wife, mom, and grandma. At home, gardening is not only reposeful, but a fount of artistic inspiration. Answering “What is the main incentive you possess as a photographer?” she replies, “I love what I do and do what I love. Over 30 years, creating portraits and capturing extended family memories is so rewarding.”

John F. Kennedy said, “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” TODAY applauds consummate professional Maxine McGough, a champion of extraordinary support and spirited enthusiasm. n

Maxine McGough

Our great country will be 250 years old in 2026. From the passage of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, the threeday Battle of Gettysburg, and the production of steel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s contribution to America is inarguable.

Therefore, it makes sense that Pennsylvania was among the first states to begin planning for our nation’s 250th birthday, or semiquincentennial.

America250PA is the short name for the Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. It was created through legislation passed by the General Assembly in Harrisburg in 2018. It was preceded by the creation of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission in 2016, which began its work by encouraging states to establish their own commissions to plan for the nation’s 250th birthday.

Generally speaking, America250PA’s mission is simple—to engage in programs and ceremonies that reach citizens throughout Pennsylvania. The official campaign theme is to make 2026 E.P.I.C. as organizers “educate, preserve, innovate and celebrate” Pennsylvania’s rich history and promising future.

However, as simple as their campaign theme is, their roll out has been robust and has the ability to capture the interest of just about every Pennsylvania resident. Throughout 2026, they will be showcasing our future growth and achievements in agriculture, arts, workforce, diversity, education, innovation, environment, military, and tourism.

As one of the methods to spread the word about 2026, America250PA has been engaging with students in colleges and universities around the Commonwealth through their Direct Effect Innovation Challenge. Students work in teams to design and launch programs and events that are consistent with the commission’s focus areas.

Working with Pennsylvania artists, the commission is engaging in Bells Across PA and will be accepting design submissions for fiberglass liberty bell sculptures to be placed throughout the state. All artists,

District Court 05-2-20

Office: 412-835-1661

Fax: 412-835-4060

It’s Not Too Early to Plan for 2026 Making a Difference

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

We are fortunate to live in a wonderful community, but as individuals, we can all make it better. There are too many instances nowadays of crime, neglect, and tragedy. Doing little things such as being a good citizen, spouse, parent, employee, student, or even a mentor can make a lasting impact as a preventable solution.

Let’s look at how we, as individuals, can make our area the best place to live and work.

Each new year the usual resolutions and vows are made to exercise more, eat better, get organized, etc. Taking care of yourself is very important, and we have to take care of ourselves in order to take care of others. But adding goals such as practicing positive habits, being mindful of others, getting involved, or volunteering your time at a local organization may have more far-reaching effects.

Think about setting goals and objectives, but be realistic. At first you may not succeed; however, you must keep trying. If you have a bad day, just brush yourself off and go at it again. Remember that we all make mistakes, and mistakes are important in everyone’s growth process. What you do today can certainly impact your tomorrow. If you do not have a positive impact today, tomorrow will not be any different. Challenging yourself to do better and set an example for others around you is really important.

regardless of skill level, are encouraged to apply.

As a means of celebrating Pennsylvania’s proud military history and recognizing Pennsylvania veterans, America250PA created the #PAProudServicememberSpotlight. The commission is accepting nominations of Pennsylvania veterans by a friend or family member to feature on its social media platforms.

Another worthwhile concept is America250PA’s Young Heroes Outreach Program, which offers civic leadership curriculum plans to fourth- through eighth-grade teachers who seek to participate.

The process used for America’s 250th birthday is not unlike what was employed in 1976 when we celebrated the country’s bicentennial. Lawmakers in Washington, D.C., established the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration in 1965, and events were scheduled across the country. In Philadelphia, the week leading up to Independence Day was dubbed Freedom Week and included daily parties and street performances. Also, a 2076 time capsule was buried in the city and a 50,000-pound Sara Lee birthday cake was served at Memorial Hall.

Celebrations in Pittsburgh occurred as well. At one point, a downtown parade included a Bicentennial Wagon Train making its way from America’s west coast to Valley Forge. Days later, nearly 500,000 people welcomed the wagon train at the newly named Valley Forge National Historical Park, which was previously a state park.

Tourism is one of Pennsylvania’s largest industries. Annually, more than 200 million people visit the Commonwealth and generate nearly $5 billion in state and local tax revenue. Though it is too early to predict how 2026 celebrations will be part of the tourism market, one thing is clear—Pennsylvania will be well prepared. In large part, that will be because of the plans assembled by America250PA. n

Write down the goals or objectives that you wish to complete, and be productive with your time. It is easy to do the same things over and over. Be creative and think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to get involved, help others in your community, and watch out for your neighbors and neighborhood. Volunteer to clean up trash around the community, or seek a position on your local rotary, food pantry, church, or government. In helping others in your community, you are helping yourself as well, and the reward is plentiful.

I have always endeavored to give back. When I first got involved in public life, I made the statement to be a leader not a follower, to be proactive not reactive, and to publicly teach through presentations and outreach. I have had numerous conversations and community meetings, lectures, and presentations to discuss the pressing issues I see in the courtroom and our region every day. I hope to genuinely have a positive impact and make a difference in people’s lives.

Plan to share your talents, get involved, read to a child, teach a craft or hobby, or get involved in coaching. You will be surprised with the positive impact you will have on others. We can all make a difference if we give a little. We will get a lot in return, including a vibrant community. Let’s all resolve to make our community the best it can be! n

RONALD A. ARNONI, DISTRICT JUDGE

The Passing of Two of WOW’s Greatest Men

Jim O’Brien

Jack Watson and Ed Lyness were two of the charter members of The Writers of Westminster (WOW), which originated in 1997. They were great story-tellers, but they had never gotten their stories down on paper prior to joining this church group.

Jack and his wife Helen had been two of most productive members of WOW. Then Jack was slowed by various ailments and they had to leave our writing group. Helen died a few years ago, and Jack was alone at Friendship Village in Upper St. Clair.

I visited him there this past August. He was wearing a Penn State jersey (class of 1952) and took pride in how neat his surroundings were. Jack told me some stories.

I had signed up to direct two writing sessions at Westminster, but I was so fascinated by the tales these men and women offered, and just how good they were at writing them, that I have stayed on for six more years. Our almostmonthly meetings are conducted in Room 238 at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Watson and Lyness shared stories about Iwo Jima and Forbes Field, and they brought those iconic battlefields to life with their vivid recall. Iwo Jima and Forbes Field may have never shared the same sentence before, but this shows the variety of stories and eclectic tales produced by this group that had never been identified as writers before, or encouraged to get their stories in print.

Lyness left us, quite by surprise, at age 93 on August 13, 2022, and Watson died at age 98 the following week. Both lived, as they like to say, full lives, full Christian lives at that.

Room 238 was rocking and rolling the evening four years ago when Watson shared his story about his harrowing experience during World War II. He was with the 4th Marine unit, a reserve group that was originally supposed to land after the battle at Iwo Jima. Casualties were so high, his unit was called into action.

They were traveling in an LST (Landing Ship Troop), one of those tank-like vessels famous for spearheading the attack at Normandy in World War II. The ship would open at one end and the troops would rush forth, often under heavy fire from wellentrenched German tanks and machine-gun pillboxes.

“We had been sitting out there at the edge of the ocean, our ship casting in the rough waters,” Watson said. “Guys were getting sick to their stomach and worse. There were no toilets on

those ships, and it got messy. It stunk to high heaven.”

“Finally, we got on shore and were immediately engaged in hand-to-hand fighting. It was awful, driving a bayonet into somebody’s stomach and then pulling out the blade. At this one point, I heard a cracking noise behind me—a Japanese soldier stepping on tall, dry grass—and I turned to face my enemy.”

“We looked into each other’s eyes. I can still see his eyes. We had our bayonets pointed at one another. Then we both just turned and walked away. I guess we both had enough of war.”

“Later, when I was cleaning my gear, I couldn’t get the bloody gore off the blade on my bayonet. So, I just stuck my blade in the sand, a memorial to our war effort. I picked up someone else’s bayonet and moved on.”

I would later hear Watson tell this same story at the Memorial Day breakfast program at Duquesne University. That event, the largest gathering of its kind in Pennsylvania, was then under the leadership of Tony Accamando of Washington County.

Ed Lyness will never be replaced at Westminster Presbyterian. “Few in this church will ever have a cup of coffee that they don’t think of Ed Lyness,” Rev. Jo Forrest, the pastor, said from the pulpit a week after his death.

Lyness was, indeed, “Mr. Coffee” at our church. He made the coffee and helped out with the maintenance effort every Thursday by church volunteers. Plus, he was the handiest of handymen.

“In his ’80s, he was up there fixing a light in the ceiling,” said his son, Erick, at a memorial service in Ed’s honor on September 10.

Ed taught his son how to use tools, how to do repairs, electrical stuff, sound systems, automobile engines, etc., and how to play the piano. Ed sang in the church choir and had performed with barbershop quartets. He was truly a man for all seasons.

He grew up on Parkview Avenue in South Oakland, near Frazier Field that overlooked the Jones & Laughlin Steel Mill. It’s now been renamed Danny Marino Field in honor of the great Pitt and NFL star, whose family lived next door to the Lyness home.

This patch of South Oakland was also once home to the internationally famous artist Andy Warhol and world wrestling champion Bruno Sammartino. Marino used to play catch with Willie Stargell in those same streets. n

Jack Watson Ed Lyness

White Lies and Magic

Jay Lynch

When my “Irish twin” sister Bonnie Anne and I were growing up on Mitchell Drive (Washington Terrace) in the 1960s, our parents, Jack and Bonnie, used secret codes and clever fabrications to help us navigate the challenges of early youth. Even though they eventually lost their magic, they temporarily shielded us from clumsy social messages and life’s realities.

My mother was an aspiring actress in her youth and performed in her high school play, so she could whip up a pretty dramatic scene when she put her mind to it. However, she wasn’t the best script writer, so her impromptu verbal fabrications could be humorously off-target. Her thespian talents were on full display when objecting to my dad’s numerous wild ideas for family fun. A dinner table pronouncement like, “This summer, I’ll rent a backhoe and dig an earthen pond in the back yard for swimming and fishing,” would be met with overly-dramatic facial expressions of extreme fear and anxiety, followed by the look of pending tears or a Scarlet O’Hara-style fainting swoon. Then, she’d deliver her lines, describing scientifically questionable perils that awaited us kids, like hypothermia, osmosis, and terminal fish bites.

From my perspective, her acting ability was a blessing. She would convincingly play “bad cop” when I asked for permission to do something I really didn’t want to do. For example, if my friend, Mark Cahill, invited me to a liver and onions dinner at his house, I’d ask her permission while keeping Mark within earshot. I’d also give her a secret wink, which was the signal for a fabricated negative response. She’d usually come up with a good excuse, like “Your father’s coming home from a long business trip tonight and I want you and your sister at the dinner table.” To demonstrate to Mark that I wasn’t insulting his mother’s cooking, or disrespecting his invitation, I’d fake disappointment, saying, “Aww, come on, Mom.” She’d respond with a believable, if not perfect threat, like, “I said no! If you keep it up, you won’t be watching The Flintrocks tonight.” Mark would ignore the minor mistake and get the message that the “no” came from my mom, not me; and I’d be delighted that she had saved me from liver and onions.

Our charade would occasionally backfire when I hadn’t winked, but she thought I had.

Jay (in the kitchen, with buddy Jack Oelschlager): ”Mom, can I walk to the Moo Shop with Jack for a banana split? His dad gave us 50 cents to get out of his hair.”

Mom (thinking I had winked): “You can’t go. I want you to change the sand in your ant farm.”

Jay (facing her and raising both eyebrows to show I wasn’t winking): “Really, Mom. I want to go to the Moo Shop with Jack. Ants don’t care about dirty sand.”

Mom (still not getting it, but with thespian-trained tears welling in her eyes): “Is it so wrong to care about God’s little creatures? Do you really want them to suffer? “

She put her dishtowel to her forehead as if she was about to faint. Alarmed and a little frightened, Jack said, “I’m really sorry about your ants, Mrs. Lynch. I’ll invite one of the Kutschbach boys to the Moo Shop.” Although I was disappointed about missing out on a banana split, I had been entertained by my mom’s delightfully creative insect-centric script and dramatic delivery.

As I aged, I became more of a social instigator than reactor and we abandoned our secret code and banter. But, we occasionally used it much later in life, in reverse, and I added my own embellishments.

Restaurant waiter: “Tonight’s special is squid tartare. I highly recommend it.”

Mom (not wanting to hurt the waiter’s feelings): “That sounds wonderful.”

Jay (to the waiter, knowing that my mom hated squid): “She’s forgetting that the last time she ordered squid, she went into toxic shock. The restaurant went bankrupt from lawsuits and bad publicity.”

My father, also had acting experience, as a member of a postWII US Army theater group in Europe. He used his flair for the dramatic to entertain us kids by reading the Sunday Pittsburgh Press comics “in character” with multiple voices and dialects to dramatize the dialog. To this day, I can hear my dad’s booming voice as Sergeant Snorkel berating Beetle Bailey with real expletives, not the censored placeholders on the page.

He also had a secret, creative way to help us deal with misplaced possessions. In our era, this meant losing Mr. Potato Head’s appendages, Barbie’s outfits, or countless miniature plastic soldiers. We were fairly responsible kids, and generally kept track of our belongings, but when we lost an important item, we knew there was still hope, in the form of Aiken Drum the Brownie. A strange name, but a magical fellow my father described as a benevolent Scottish elf who specialized in returning lost items to their owners. There was a catch, of course…we had to sincerely believe in him to reap his rewards (much like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny).

Belief was easy, as Aiken Drum had a very impressive track record. For example, when my sister lost the adjustment key for her roller skates, making them unusable, she was distraught, until Aiken Drum placed her missing key on her nightstand while she slept. And, when I lost my favorite Duncan yo-yo, it appeared the next day in my lunch box when I was in the cafeteria at Eisenhower School. The miracle was worth the doublepunishment I received for having a toy at school and blaming it on someone the teachers deemed fictional.

One summer day, I was flipping through my collection of baseball cards and discovered that my 1960 Roberto Clemente card was missing. It wasn’t the card of an ordinary player, destined for use as a spoke-clacking noisemaker for my bike, it was Roberto Clemente! I scoured every corner of the house and yard, but it was gone. I begged Aiken Drum for help. My prayers were answered within days, when the missing card appeared in the webbing of my baseball glove. It was yet another miracle and I was overjoyed. Before I went to bed that night, I placed the card in my usual hiding place for safe keeping, between my mattress and box springs. That’s when I made a shocking discovery—another ’60 Clemente card! Something was amiss. Did I really lose the card, or was it between the mattresses the whole time? Why was one card worn around the edges, while the card delivered by Aiken Drum was flawless and smelled like fresh Bazooka bubble gum?

When questioned, my dad resorted to his acting skills and quick wit, explaining that Aiken Drum would occasionally get multiple requests for the same lost item, and sometimes deliver it

to the wrong kid. He said that if I left the newer-looking card on my nightstand, Aiken would pick it up and deliver it to its rightful owner. Sure enough, the card was gone by morning, but my faith in the legend had been shaken. Did Aiken Drum really find lost items, or did he replace them with new ones? Did he really exist, or was my dad the real Aiken?

The timing was right for the truth to come out, as we were getting a little older. Bonnie Anne and I considered the evidence and had several deep discussions. We came to the conclusion that Aiken Drum might not be a tangible being, but he was just as real as Santa. We decided that both were kindly spirits who placed love in our parents’ hearts, which they shared with us, through good deeds, gifts, and kindness. Our parents were spiritual surrogates!

My dad never admitted that he had replaced the lost items, but, after his death, we found multiple “variety packs” of opened 60’s era baseball cards in the back of his dresser drawer, along with very stale slabs of bubble gum and a Clemente card. It seems that the spirt of Aiken Drum had cost our modest-income father a lot of beer money. A true sacrifice, indeed.

When I asked my mom if Aiken Drum was real, I winked. She knew that I knew the truth, and didn’t say a word. We just hugged. And, this time, real tears fell from her eyes as she mourned the loss of innocence.

So, what’s the message for today’s parents? If you want the Easter Bunny to visit your house this year, keep the faith, sacrifice a little lager, and you, too will be a spiritual surrogate. n

Robert Orchowski—Upper St. Clair’s “I’ve Been Everywhere Man”

Wayne Herrod

There’s a truck commercial with the Johnny Cash song “I’ve Been Everywhere” that could have been written with Bob Orchowski in mind. Part of it goes like this:

I’ve been everywhere, man

I’ve been everywhere, man

Crossed the deserts bare, man

I’ve breathed the mountain air, man

Of travel I’ve had my share, man

I’ve been everywhere

In late fall of 2022, Bob completed a trip to the 50th state to which he has traveled. This qualifies a person for the All 50 Club, a club with only 1600 members. To be eligible for this exclusive club, which is based on an honor system, you not only have to visit the state but stay over at least one night.

Bob’s quest started many years ago. Born in Pennsylvania, the second state in Bob’s quest was Massachusetts. In 1969 as a junior in high school, he received a scholarship to Phillips Andrew Academy, located in Andover, north of Boston. Flying back then was a big deal, and Bob’s family saw him off at the airport.

From travels with his kids’ youth sporting events, business trips, and vacations, the states started adding up. Many years later, the kids started putting pins in a state cork board showing every visit.

Bob said, “I did remember all the states and the kids did all the work. Many years later the pet cat played with the board and somehow got all the pins out. It took a long time to put the more than 120 pins back in the state cork board. I actually had to use a magnifying glass to find the pin holes. And I glued them in this time.”

Around 2008, Bob found out about the All 50 Club on the Internet and realized how many states he had visited. Bob signed up and started to complete the quest. The Orchowskis then started planning trips to reach this goal. It finally came down to visiting Alaska, Hawaii, and midwestern states.

In 2018, as Bob got closer to reaching this goal he jokingly (at least we hope so) told his lovely wife of 48 years, Rose, that if he didn’t make it, to take his ashes and spread them in the remaining states. Rose’s response was, “No way! We’re going!” Thankfully, that didn’t need to be done.

In early 2020, Bob had one more trip scheduled. (See TODAY Summer 2020—”Getting His Kicks on Route 66.”) “We had planned a family trip which would include attending our son-in-law’s graduation from Boise State. Then COVID hit, and everything came to a stop,” said Bob. “We were disappointed.”

Finally, in early 2022, Bob and Rose scheduled a vacation in September to complete this amazing accomplishment. The magic number 50 was finally going to happen! The trip included Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Utah. As the plans went forward, floods in Yellowstone changed the itinerary drastically.

“We thought there was a higher force going against us completing this goal,” said Bob. But they changed the itinerary and reached Idaho, the magic number 50. Bob decided when they were in Idaho (think Idaho potatoes) to find the ultimate French fry.

“Every restaurant meal included French fries. The best was the Brakeman Grille in Victor, Idaho. Delicious!”

When asked about the Orchowskis’ feelings when they reached Idaho, Rose answered, “It wasn’t a relief, but a huge feeling of accomplishment, something we enjoyed doing.”

Bob added, “I feel that it was fitting that number 50 happened to be Idaho. I love that area of the country, its openness, scenery, wildlife, and way of life. Although I prefer South Carolina in the winter, I had visited eastern and central Wyoming previously. But starting in Idaho, we were able to spend considerable time in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. I went out the first

Inspiration Point at Yellowstone

Bob, on his quest to find the best fries, at Brakeman Grill in Victor, Idaho

Bob and Rose at Grand Teton National Park

night in Victor, Idaho and saw countless stars, including the Milky Way Galaxy ‘dust.’ But something that made me smile and think that this was really meant to happen was seeing a huge shooting star, something I saw in central Wyoming over 30 years earlier.”

Bob added, “As a celebration we are planning a special vacation trip to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. We haven’t selected where yet, but it is going to happen.”

In addition to being Upper St. Clair’s ultimate “Travelin’ Man” you may also recognize him as Robert Orchowski, Upper St. Clair commissioner. Bob was elected in 1997 and began serving in 1998.

“I’m completing my 25th year and when my current term runs out at the end of 2023, I will have served on the Board of Commissioners for 26 years, the longest tenure in USC history. I ran because I felt my technical background as a civil engineer would fit what the Township does: roads, facilities, etc. My long tenure as commissioner has been made easy by our competent manager and staff—true professionals.”

You could say that Bob is the Energizer Bunny of USC; he just keeps on running. Thank you, Bob, for your dedication to Upper St Clair, and many thanks for sharing this amazing accomplishment with TODAY. n

An interesting note, this is Wayne’s 50th story that he has written for TODAY. Thank you, Wayne, for your contributions to our community magazine!

Elk antler arch in Jackson, Wyoming town square

Bob on a Union Pacific engine at Promontory Point, Utah, the terminus of the transcontinental railroad

Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra rehearsal in Salt Lake City, Utah

Oxbow Bend, Grand Teton peak

Coach’s Corner A Rudy Story

I was recently told by a journalist friend of mine that she looks forward to reading my articles because she enjoys learning about what our USC alums do after graduation. “[There are so] many amazing people with an Upper St. Clair connection.”

She probably has no idea what that little piece of encouragement does for me. Writing can be time-consuming, lonely, and challenging, not necessarily in that order. I have learned that you do not get much feedback unless you write something inaccurate, mean spirited, or controversial. None of those things are a part of the mission statement of USC TODAY

I must admit that controversy sometimes creeps into my DNA. So, her positive encouragement helps me to “fight on.” I am sure that you are aware that the University of Southern California fight song begins with the words “Fight on for USC.” A little play on words for Upper St. Clair.

Of course, my motivation for writing is the players themselves. My hope is that readers will be almost as proud of my guys as I am. You will not get to that level, but you can certainly be more USC proud.

Of all the players I coached at Upper St. Clair, none of them keeps in contact as much or as well as Mark Rudolph. There is always a birthday, Christmas, or Happy New Year wish from “Rudy.” Notre Dame has their version of a Rudy story, and we have ours. Both are about guys who are quality people with a hard work mentality. Neither Rudy was the strongest or fastest, nor destined to be a star. However, both were well loved and respected by their teammates. Please meet Upper St. Clair’s Mark Rudolph.

Fred and Janet Rudolph moved their family of four from Kittanning to Upper St. Clair in 1981 when Mark was 11 years old and in seventh grade. They still live in the same house on Huntington Drive 42 years later. Daughter Cheryl was a senior in high school, Rich was a freshman, and Jeff was a sophomore. Some of you may recall, that in my first article in this series about former players, the subject was Dr. Jeff Rudolph, a highly regarded physician at Pittsburgh’s Children Hospital. Jeff was a major contributor as a starting lineman almost immediately after arriving in USC.

Two years later when Mark entered the ninth grade, he and I had an almost immediate bonding. The husky young man told me he wasn’t sure if he was going to continue playing football because he had a respiratory condition better known as asthma. I informed Mark that when I was five years old, I spent the best

part of a week in the Cleveland Clinic and received close to 500 shots in the back and arms so they could determine what I was allergic to and how to go about controlling my allergies. I do not have many fond memories about that experience, but I do know that I had one of the first and original inhalers (puffers as they were called back then) that science and medicine created. I do also recall that my mom and I took the train back home from Cleveland, as my dad could not miss a day of work because of the necessity of the labor force to support the military during World War ll. So, at this point, I told Mark that as a fellow asthmatic, I would take care of him and monitor him so that he would never be asked to do physical activity and/or conditioning that he was not capable of doing on any given day.

I am happy to report that he was a center and defensive lineman and twoyear starter on a team bound for the playoffs. He was honorable mention on the conference All-Star team, as well as PPG South and an Almanac All-Star. At the 1987 football banquet we gave Mark an award named after a USC faculty member by the name of Joe Argiro. Joe was a biology teacher, football coach, and later a film coordinator. He was well respected by everybody in the high school. Joe was the ultimate team player among students, faculty, and administrators. Following an untimely and early death due to cancer, we established a football award in his name. The Joe Argiro Memorial Award reads as follows:

“Thank you for being a great teammate. The winner of the Argiro Memorial Award is a person everyone would like to have as a member of the USC team. This person would be loyal, hardworking, unselfish, and always willing to see the team excel first and foremost. He must also be a conscientious student, an outstanding citizen, and a person who truly cares about his teammates, his school, and himself.” No one has ever been more deserving of this award than Mark Rudolph.

Mark was also a premier athlete in track and field. In 1987 and 1988, he was a co-captain and a champion in the shotput and discuss. He was undefeated for two years in dual meet competition. He was a WPIAL champion and a runner-up in the state meet. He was also a champion in the prestigious Baldwin Invitational. Mark was honored in 1988 as an All-National Scholastic performer in the shot put. In true Rudy demeanor, he gave much of the credit to his Hall of Fame USC Coach, Dave Batchelor.

Following his 1988 graduation, he accepted an offer to

Coach Jim Render Mark and Jim Render

Mark at Georgia Tech

continue his education and track athleticism at Georgia Tech. There he joined another USC athlete, Mark White, who I have previously written about on these pages. Mark was a record setting discus thrower in Pennsylvania state competition, who played both football and track at Georgia Tech. Rudy scored many points for the team in ACC meets in the throwing events. He set a Georgia Tech (1992) school record in the indoor hammer throw event. He majored in business management, graduating in 1992, and was also selected to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Academic Team.

Would you agree that his was a very busy, successful, and accomplished high school and college career? Like most successful people, Mark was only getting started. Chance favors the prepared. Since leaving Georgia Tech, Mark has been in the business world in sales, management, and as a revenue officer. His territory has included the western hemisphere, not just western Pennsylvania. He currently works as the chief revenue officer for Wiser Solutions, which specializes in commerce execution. Based in Boston, Mark is in charge of 120 people across the world, with teams in Sydney, Paris, London, Monterey, and San Mateo. Customers include Amazon, Hershey, Best Buy, Home Depot, and of course, Nike. When I got out of college, I thought the world revolved around the 3-C highway of Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. My vision was not global.

Mark’s previous experience was at Sherwin Williams, Beaulieu, a carpet manufacturer, and Emory Waterhouse, a hardware distributor. Along the way, he obtained an MBA degree from Boston College in 2002, while working for Gomez, a web performance company. He worked there for 13 years as the vice-president of sales. His previous job before Wiser was with Evidon, a data governance company in New York City.

Another accomplishment happened in Boston in 1995. He married Donna and started a family similar to his own—that means they have four kids. His oldest daughter, Lauren, played basketball at Springfield College (the founding home of the game of basketball), and she is now the head athletic trainer at Cornell University. Son Paul is a senior at Wentworth Institute of Technology majoring in architecture. Next is Jack, a junior biology major at Pitt. Kate is a freshman at the University of Delaware. She is a gymnast and her high school team was the New England Regional Champions. Would you say Mark and Donna have created a busy life between work and family?

If you need something done, I have always learned that you ask a busy person to help get it accomplished. When the Franklin,

Massachusetts School District—their kids’ home base—needed a throwing coach for their track program, Mark stepped up. His voice got excited and his eyes lit up when he told me about his league champion shot put and discus throwers. He is in charge of both the boys’ and girls’ teams.

The lesson learned is never be afraid of hard work. The guy who chops the wood gets warm twice! And that is my Rudy story! n

Donna and Mark

The Rudolph children, Jack, Lauren, Kate, and Paul, with Millie, the dog

Spring Cleaning Guide—Jewelry Box Edition

Lily

Bonasso

With the sun beginning to warm the air and the days starting to get a little bit longer, we are often motivated to clear out our winter stores and make room for all the new life that comes with spring. As you sort through piles of boxes in storage, reliving old memories and trying to talk yourself into parting with unused items, don’t forget to take a look through your jewelry drawer. When it comes to spring cleaning and jewelry, people are often left paralyzed; not only do the pieces hold sentimental value, but they often hold financial value as well. It’s certainly not as easy to part with your mother’s cherished necklace as it is to donate your child’s old toy, even if neither item has been touched in over ten years. This is why so many of us are left with a drawer of precious jewelry that never gets to see the light of day. Why not give those pieces a chance to shine while tidying up that old drawer? Luckily, you have plenty of options!

One option for handling heirloom or outdated jewelry is to have it cleaned. This is a great place to start with any piece, regardless of what you plan to do with it, as you may be surprised with the result. Depending on your personal style, a glistening vintage piece might fit right in. If you’d like to give the piece more attention, consider polishing and refurbishing. This is a wonderful choice if you want to restore the jewelry to its original condition and wear it just as it was made to be worn.

Another route to take could be a custom redesign. Whether you have one piece or ten, there is always the possibility of turning something old into something new. Depending on its condition and quality, you may be able to use the original stones and metals to design a new piece of jewelry that will better suit your style and allow you to celebrate your story.

The final course of action would be to decide whether you are ready to sell any of your old jewelry. Sometimes, after it has been stored away for many years, you may just be ready to part with the piece or pieces. If this is the case for you, the first step would be to have the jewelry assessed and appraised to determine its value and ensure you receive a fair price from any potential buyer. Celebrate the coming warmth and the purging of unused belongings by giving those old pieces a fresh start. Your jewelry will thank you! n

JAB Jeweler offers free polishing and inspection and their design team offers obligation-free consultations to discuss your ideas for redesigning your jewelry. See their ad on page 27.

This year, Upper St. Clair High School presents On the Twentieth Century , a musical with book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and music by Cy Coleman. Based partly on the 1932 play Twentieth Century and its 1934 film adaptation, the musical is part operetta, part farce, and part screwball comedy. The story involves the behind-the-scenes relationship between Lily, a temperamental actress, and Oscar, a bankrupt theatre producer.

The annual production will be presented to the public in the USCHS Theater on Friday and Saturday evenings March 3, 4, 10, and 11; Thursday, March 9; and a Sunday matinee on March 5. n

While timing of delivery of TODAY may occur after the performance dates, look to the summer edition for photos of the musical.

If you haven’t been to the opera recently, you’re missing out. Create wonderful memories with friends and family with a night at the opera!

This spring, Pittsburgh Opera is proud to present Verdi’s sweeping, majestic opera Il Trovatore for the first time since 1999.

A mother’s tragic past returns to haunt her as she struggles to protect her son in Verdi’s powerful epic masterpiece. Famous for its thunderous “Anvil Chorus,” experience opera at its most operatic in this hot-blooded, high-stakes drama replete with rivalry and revenge.

Il Trovatore will be performed March 25, 28, 31 and April 2 at the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh. As always, English supertitles are projected above the stage for all performances, so you’ll understand every word.

Single tickets for adults start at just $15; kids and teens ages 6–8 are halfprice. Pittsburgh Opera has a no-hassle refund policy so you can purchase your tickets with confidence. Pittsburgh Opera will offer full refunds for any patrons who notify us that they need to cancel their tickets at least one hour prior to their performance start time. For tickets call 412-456-6666 or buy online at pittsburghopera.org.

Groups of six or more people can receive exclusive group discounts and benefits. Call us at 412-281-0912 ext. 213, or email groups@pittsburghopera. org, for details.

A night at the opera makes a great date night with your significant other, a fun night out with friends, or an enriching family experience.

It’s time to experience the ultimate performing art! n

See the Pittsburgh Opera ad on page 26.

F R E E L E S S O N

Piano▪Guitar▪Bass Guitar▪Ukulele

Voice▪Violin▪Viola▪Cello▪String

Bass▪Drums▪Flute▪Piccolo

Clarinet▪Saxophone▪Trombone

Trumpet▪Euphonium▪Baritone

Tuba▪French Horn▪Banjo▪Music Technology

Lewis Music Studio is South Fayette's own school of music! We enjoy making music with students of all ages! Visit our website for details about classes, lessons, summer camps, instrument rentals, and more!

Looking Your Best for Your Celebrations and Beyond

Spring is almost here, which means you will soon be making plans to attend lots of special events including weddings, proms, graduations, showers, and more. Weddings and these other special events will leave you with memories and photos that you will look back on and enjoy for the rest of your life. Your smile will be front and center in those photos. If you, your child, or your grandchild is planning a wedding or other special occasion, it’s time to think about prioritizing your oral health and planning for your camera-ready smile. This planning often starts months before the special event.

Cameras can pick up and highlight both the beauty and the imperfections of a smile. The good news for anyone feeling selfconscious about their smile is that procedures and technology have come a long way, and you’ll be surprised at what a good oral surgeon can do to help correct and replace missing or broken teeth.

For example, dental implants are available to replace and restore your teeth to give you a perfect Hollywood smile. Implants consist of a post, which is a specially designed titanium screw that is inserted into your gums, and a beautiful crown replacement tooth which is affixed to it after the post heals. It can take a while for healing so that the post becomes permanently affixed to your gums before the crown is placed by your dentist.

Contact your oral surgeon as soon as possible for a consultation to help you prepare for your family’s special occasion. The oral surgeon can evaluate your needs, develop a treatment plan uniquely suited to giving you a healthy and beautiful smile, coordinate with your dentist, and schedule you to be camera-ready before the big day! n

See the Three Rivers Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ad on page 17.

Celebrate at Push 40 Fitness

Life is busy, and often we forget to take time to care for ourselves. In this Celebration Guide, we want to encourage you to celebrate U, USC! We all want to give our best to our jobs and families, but we cannot be our best if we do not take time to care for ourselves through proper nutrition and fitness.

Find time for yourself, even just a few times a week, and it will lead to a healthier, happier, and more energetic you! We understand that working out at home can be difficult. It is challenging to get motivated—and to put the house and kids on hold—to go to the basement and work out. Likewise, large box gyms can be busy and intimidating, and you can feel lost.

A solution to all of this lies just on the outskirts of USC, in Bridgeville, at Push 40 Fitness. This small-group fitness studio with a professional coaching staff offers efficient workouts for those looking to improve their health and fitness.

Push 40 Fitness offers two styles of training to help everyone reach their goals. Their original 40-minute, Full-Body HIIT workout is a fast-paced, interval workout

that burns a ton of calories in an enjoyable, group fitness format. They also have semiprivate strength training for clients who want to focus on building lean muscle and getting stronger. Many of their members use a combination of the two programs for the ultimate program!

Kristie Proud is a USC mother of four, and despite being a busy mom, she finds the time to celebrate herself at both the HIIT workouts and semi-private strength sessions. Although Kristie is a former distance runner, she now enjoys how efficient the signature 40-minute, Full-Body HIIT workout is. “I know that I’ll get a great cardio workout every time I show up for class. The coaches push me and I know I’d never work out as hard as I do when I’m in a class at Push,” said Kristie.

Many of the members in the semiprivate strength program have never lifted weights before, because they were not sure where to begin, or they were too intimidated. But once they try the program, start to see results, and get stronger, they fall in love with it!

USC resident Shelby Wherry falls into

that category, stating, “I never would have started a strength program were it not for the incredibly supportive atmosphere at Push 40. I have had the opportunity to work out with a variety of coaches at Push, and I can honestly say they are all terrific. I rarely miss a workout because I love the way it makes me feel physically and mentally. And I won’t lie, it’s awfully fun to tell people that I lift weights just to see the surprise on their faces!” n

If you are interested in seeing what Push 40 Fitness is all about, sign up for a free trial at push40fitness.com. See their ad on this page.

Upper St. Clair School District

Board of School Directors

To reach personnel, call 412-833-1600, and follow the automated directions.

School District Central Office Administration

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 uscsd.k12.pa.us. Click on Information and then select Compliance Notifications to view required state and federal notices and information.

School District Building Administration

Principal

*Date indicates expiration of term.

Jennifer A. Schnore Vice President jschnore@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2025*

Phillip J. Elias pelias@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2023*

Louis P. Mafrice, Jr. lmafrice@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2023*

Angela B. Petersen apetersen@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2023*

Dr. Daphna Gans President dgans@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2025*

Michael R. Mascaro mmascaro@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2025*

Kelly P. Hanna khanna01@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2023

Dr. Danielle Z. Wetzel dwetzel@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2025*

Barbara L. Bolas bbolas@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2023*

The list of the Upper St. Clair Board of School Director 2023 meeting dates is available on the District’s website: uscsd.k12.pa.us/schoolboard. Meetings typically begin at 7 p.m. in the District administration building.

Schools

Dr. Sharon Suritsky Assistant/Deputy Superintendent

Amy Pfender Assistant Superintendent Bradley Wilson Director of Strategic Initiatives

Dr. Lauren Madia Director of Pupil Services

Dr. Cassandra Doggrell Director of Special Education

Dr. Judy Bulazo Director of Curriculum and Professional Development

Scott Burchill Director of Business and Finance

Ray Carson, Jr. Senior Director of Operations & Administrative Services

Ray Berrott Director of Technology

Dr. Lou Angelo Director of Operations & Facilities

Upper St. Clair School District

Annual Report: 2022

Dr. John T. Rozzo Superintendent of Schools

It is with great pride that I present the 2022 Annual Report for the Upper St. Clair School District. The report highlights just some of the individual and collective accomplishments of our school community over the last year.

Upper St. Clair is a special place to teach and learn. Families often share with us that our high quality school system was a major factor when purchasing their home. What’s the secret to our success? Our people. Whether it’s our students, parents, teachers, staff members, coaches, or other community members, there is a shared commitment to providing our students with exceptional experiences both in and out of the classroom. The momentum of having everyone working toward a common goal continues to propel our district forward within our academic, athletic, and fine and performing arts programs.

Pennsylvania’s schools are largely funded at the local level through real estate taxes and local income tax. In Upper St. Clair, nearly 80 percent of our budget is funded locally. We understand and respect our responsibility to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us. We hope this publication provides assurances to our residents that the Upper St. Clair School District continues to be an outstanding asset for our children and the broader community.

It is an incredible honor to serve as Upper St. Clair’s superintendent of schools. Several years ago, my wife and I chose to raise our children here in Upper St. Clair. With a soon-to-be USCHS graduate, it remains one of the best decsions we have made.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. John T. Rozzo Superintendent

Upper St. Clair School District ranks No. 1 among Pennsylvania’s 500 public school districts, according to the 2022 School Guide published by the Pittsburgh Business Times (PBT). For the third straight year, Upper St. Clair ranks No. 1 among the 105 school districts in the region.

“Teaching and learning through a pandemic created enormous challenges,” Dr. John Rozzo, superintendent of schools, said. “We are incredibly proud of the tenacity and fortitude shown by our students and staff throughout the last two years.”

This marks the first year that Upper St. Clair has reached No. 1 in the statewide rankings, which began in 2017.

“Upper St. Clair’s students were the top-scoring in the region based on this year’s Honor Roll Rank. It is the third straight year Upper St. Clair claimed the top spot on the PBT Honor Roll,” the PBT article stated. “Upper St. Clair also landed in the top five in every grade ranking, topping the rankings for eighth grade and seventh grade, and was No. 1 on the statewide rankings.”

For each of the last five years, Upper St. Clair has ascended in the state rankings. Debuting at No. 10 in 2017, the district climbed to No. 5 in 2018, No. 3 in 2019, and No. 2 in 2020.

Our Students

•Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools earned the Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn Schools to Watch (STW) designation for the sixth time. Only two other Pennsylvania schools have achieved this accomplishment since the program’s inception in 1999.

•Four Upper St. Clair High School seniors were named candidates in the 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Milan S. Giroux, Alex J. LeKachman, Sambhav Saggi, and Daniel J. Wang were identified for their outstanding performance on the SAT or ACT exam.

•For the third year in a row, Upper St. Clair’s Speech & Debate team was named one of the Top 100 schools by the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA). Upper St. Clair ranked 36 out of more than 3,000 schools nationwide–up from 38 the previous year.

2022 SAT averages

•USCHS ranks among the top high schools in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report. The newspaper released its list of 2022 Best High Schools in April 2022.

•USCHS launched its Interscholastic Unified Indoor Bocce team The co-ed team, partially funded and sponsored by Special Olympics PA, is comprised of an equal number of students with and without disabilities.

•The Upper St. Clair Speech & Debate team won the Pennsylvania High School Speech League State Championship for the third time since 2017.

•USCHS junior Yoshna Venkataraman was named among the inaugural class of 18 Under Eighteen honorees by Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania.

Varsity Athletics

WPIAL Champion

• Dani Prunzik, Track 1st Place, 100 meter dash

WPIAL Runner-Up

• Girls Basketball

• Boys Swimming

• Baseball

Section Champions

• Boys Basketball

• Boys Swimming

• Boys Volleyball

• A team of USCHS students were crowned KDKA Hometown High Q champions of the 2021-22 season. This marks the first time that Upper St. Clair has won the competition since it began in the 1999-20 school year.

2022 ACT averages

•USCHS junior Autumn Ma earned a Silver Medal from the Congressional Award Program.

•For the second year in a row, a team of USCHS students won the statewide Academic WorldQuest competition, sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg. Team members include Keshav Narasimhan, Daniel Wang, Ben Wasson, and Qadir Khan.

•Six USCHS students earned recognition as 2022-23 Scholars by the College Board for their academic achievements and outstanding performance on the PSAT. Junior Lucia Miles was named a National African American Recognition Program Scholar. Seniors Ava Keating, Sarah Robert, Benjamin Rush, and Elisa Tucker, along with junior Grace Atencio were named National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars.

•The USCHS chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 199 new members in May 2022.

• Teams from Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools placed third at the Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind State Finals–advancing to the World Finals at Iowa State University.

•Seventh grader Suhavi Singh inished among the Top Winners in the grades 6-8 category in the 2022 Gandhi Creative Writing & Art Contest.

National Merit Scholarship Program

Students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT – the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test – during the fall of their junior year.

Our Students

•For the seventh consecutive year, Upper St. Clair was named among the nation’s Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. USC is one of only 14 school districts in Allegheny County and 118 in Pennsylvania to earn the distinction in 2022.

• Boyce Middle School fifth grader Arjun Kairi was awarded first place in the flute category at the 2022 Crescendo International Music Competition.

•USCHS senior Edy McCurrie was selected by competitive audition for the 2022 National Association for Music Education (NAfME)

All-National Honor Choir

•Three USCHS seniors were selected to the 2023 National Association for Music Education All-Eastern Honors Choir Ensembles: Sia Iyer, Rebecca Lang, and Edy McCurrie.

•Four USCHS students were selected to participate in the PMEA All-State Choir: Skyler Bruno, Rebecca Lang, Sia Iyer, and Edy McCurrie.

•Four USCHS students were selected for the PMEA All-State Orchestra: Leona Chen, violin; Sophie Chen, violin; Miriam Gutensohn, violin; and Joe Phillips, cello.

•USCHS senior Phoebe Chen successfully auditioned for the PMEA All-State Band.

2022 PSSA & Keystone Exam Scores

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) is a standardsbased, criterion-referenced assessment used to measure students’ attainment of academic standards. The standards identify what a student should know and be able to do at varying grade levels. 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 algebra, literature, and biology. For most students, biology is completed in grade 9; literature in grade 10; and Algebra I ranges from

PSSA: English Language Arts

as early as grade 6 through grade 9. The data below is for students in the Class of 2023 regardless of when the Keystone Exam was administered. Due to the pandemic, there is insufficient data to report for the biology Keystone.

PSSA: Math

PSSA: Science

Keystone Exams

Our Staff

• Erin Peterson, who had served as Fort Couch Middle School assistant principal since 2013, was named the school’s principal in June 2022. She takes over for Joe DeMar, who retired at the end of the school year. Gordon Mathews, who previously served as a school counselor at USCHS, was named Fort Couch assistant principal in August 2022.

•USCHS biology teacher Monica Erwin was named a 202223 Scholastic Fellow by the North America Scholastic Esports Federation. Monica, who serves as the school’s esports club sponsor, is one of 30 individuals and the only Pennsylvania teacher selected for this honor.

• Christine Hestwood, middle school strings teacher and high school orchestra conductor, was honored with the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.

• Dave Watson, USCHS English teacher and speech & debate coach, earned his second Diamond Award from the National Speech & Debate Association.

• Danny Holzer, social studies teacher and boys varsity basketball coach, was named athletic director, effective Feb. 1, 2022.

• Three middle school teachers were honored with the Promising Practitioners Award from the Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education (PAMLE). Congratualtions to Bridget Kaufman, sixth grade English language arts teacher; Erin Kyle, fifthgrade science teacher; and Paige Steinhaus, eighth grade English language arts teacher.

Bridget Kaufman

Erin Kyle

Paige Steinhaus

Erin Peterson Gordon Mathews

Dave Watson

Christine Hestwood

Danny Holzer

Fiscal Responsibility

2022-2023 Budget

The 2022-23 budget totals $95,751,292, which included a 3.2% millage increase of 0.8856 mills–resulting in a final millage rate of 28.5628 mills.

Throughout the budget process, district leaders continued to focus on three primary goals as it balanced the needs of students and its fiscal responsibility to taxpayers.

“We have remained steadfast in our commitment to maintain a high-quality education for our students; balance the needs of the school district while recognizing our fiduciary responsibilities to our community; and remain cognizant of the interdependence of all aspects that directly and indirectly affect our students’ school experience,” Dr. John Rozzo, superintendent of schools, said.

Upper St. Clair’s budget is primarily funded by local taxpayers–amounting to more than 78% of all district revenues. State funding totals approximately 21%. Federal revenues account for less than one percent of the district’s funding.

There are several areas of the budget that have experienced increases in recent years related to safety and wellness. In particular, expenditures have increased in the areas of special education, nursing services, school counseling and school psychologists, and school police. In addition, the district continues to support co-curricular and athletic opportunities for students that foster connectivity, including the fine and performing arts, WPIAL sports, and numerous clubs at the high school and middle school levels.

The 2022-23 budget includes several capital improvement projects, including HVAC repairs to the high school, as well as waterline and drainage repairs to the stadium and Baker field.

“In addition to supporting all existing educational programs and activities, the 2022-23 budget protects the district’s short and long-term financial health,” Scott Burchill, director of business and finance, said. “In particular, we continue to be intentional in our use of the district’s fund balance–limiting its use to funding onetime expenses rather than recurring costs.”

EXPENDITURES: $95,751,292

REVENUE: $95,753,425

Real Estate Tax Savings

Qualifying homeowners benefited from a homestead exclusion that resulted in an assessment reduction of $10,305.36, which equals a real estate tax savings of $294.35. This property tax relief program is funded through the distribution of a portion of gaming funds provided from taxes on slots and casinos throughout Pennsylvania.

To qualify, the property must be an owner-occupied residence and the property owner must have filed and received approval via a homestead exemption application with Allegheny County by March 1. To obtain an application, please visit the Allegheny County website.

Where are they now?

Allegheny College

American University of Paris

Arizona State University

Army National Guard

Baldwin Wallace University

Boston College

Boston University

Bowling Green State University

Brandeis University

Brigham Young University

Bucknell University

California University of Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University

Case Western Reserve University

Catholic University of America

Chatham University

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clemson University

College of the Holy Cross

Community College of Allegheny County

Dartmouth College

Davidson College

Denison University

DePaul University

Dickinson College

Drexel University

Duquesne University

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Emory University

Florida State University

Fordham University

Franciscan University of Steubenville

George Washington University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Grand Canyon University

Harvard University

Haverford College

High Point University

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana University-Bloomington

James Madison University

Kalamazoo College

Kent State University

La Roche University

Liberty University

Miami University

Michigan State University

New York University

Newberry College

Northeastern University

Northwestern University

Nova Southeastern University

Ohio State University

Ohio University

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

Penn State New Kensington

Pennsylvania State University

Pittsburgh Technical College

Purdue University

Queen’s University

Rice University

Ringling College of Art and Design

Robert Morris University

Rochester Institute of Technology

Saint Joseph’s University

San Francisco State University

Seton Hill University

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

State University of New York at Fredonia

Susquehanna University

Syracuse University

Thiel College

Towson University

Tulane University of Louisiana

United States Air Force

University of Akron

University of Alabama

University of Arizona

University of Arkansas

University of California-Berkeley

University of Cincinnati

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Dayton

University of Delaware

University of Florida

University of Georgia

University of Kentucky

University of Maryland

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

University of Melbourne

University of Miami

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

University of Notre Dame

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

University of Pittsburgh

University of South Carolina

University of Southern California

University of Texas at Dallas

University of Vermont

Vanderbilt University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Washington & Jefferson College

Waynesburg University

West Virginia University

Westminster College

Wheaton College

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Xavier University

2022 Valedictorians: William Andrew Bacdayan, Bridget Catherine Boal, Phoebe MeiYin Chen, Sophie Chuang-Yin Chen, Alyana Sara Childs, Shivani A. Jajoo, Maggie Farrell Lowden, Eden Ma, Molly Catherine Maher, Luka Misic, Kaelyn Grace Moran, Dev K. Patel, Victoria Ann Pete, Serena Fair Ploeger, Julia Eve Roeschenthaler, Sujay Shah, Nikhil Evan Shetty, Madeleine Joy Wetzel, and Andrew H. White

Author Shares Message of Connection

Best-selling author Kate Leavell was in Upper St. Clair this past November, delivering a presentation for parents, students, educators, and community members in the USCHS theater. More than 175 individuals registered for the program, titled “Superpower: Overcome Self-Doubt and Unleash Your Authentic Greatness.”

The presentation included themes from her two books, Stick Together and Superpower. A Wall Street Journal best-seller, Stick Together delivers a crucial message about the power of belief, ownership, connection, love, inclusion, consistency, and hope. Recently released, Superpower offers a compelling story of self-love, appreciation, and the power of sharing and connecting with those around us through vulnerability and understanding.

In addition to the evening community event, Ms. Leavell conducted an interactive presentation with Upper St. Clair’s middle and high school faculty earlier in the day.

This event was made possible through the partnership between the District and the Parent Teacher Council Wellness Committee along with support from private contributions including the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair.

Kate serves as the vice president of leadership development for the Jon Gordon Companies. She creates and delivers content for workshops, trainings, and keynotes, and advises all levels of business leadership and sports teams across the country. She is recognized for her work in creating internally motivated, high-performing teams, and elevating relationships, connections, and mission-driven personnel. She is the mom of three grown kids and currently resides in Florida. n

Grant Supports Mental Health Coordination Services

Upper St. Clair School District is offering additional support to its students, staff, and families through a new partnership with Care Solace, a resource that helps connect individuals with local mental health-related programs and substance use treatment centers.

The School Board approved a two-year contract with Care Solace on September 20, 2022. The total cost to the District for the two-year contract is $26,000, which is fully funded by a recent safety grant through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).

Care Solace has staff available online or by phone 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays, to help identify local practitioners or programs and to secure appointments. Care Solace’s services are entirely free and optional for students, staff, and their families.

“We are excited about the partnership with Care Solace because this initiative has come about from direct feedback from families,” said Dr. Sharon Suritsky, deputy assistant superintendent. “We have had a growing number of students with social, emotional, and mental health needs. Despite the work the District has tried to do to assist those families, it’s been incredibly hard to access those outside services.”

Students and families can use the service directly or they can contact their school counselor for assistance. Care Solace’s care coordination services are free to District families. n

Kate Leavell

PTC Council

Shanna Caplan, President

With spring blossoming, I am smiling at the thought of kids playing outside, riding bikes, and starting warm weather sports again. This school year started with a promise of things being back to “normal.” Each school is bringing back activities that were paused, and hopefully revamping or adding new activities. With all these activities returning, so are opportunities to volunteer, one of my favorite things to do. There are so many ways to volunteer and be a part of our district family. I personally have helped in the computer lab at Streams, as a homeroom parent, at field day, at book fairs, with a talent show, and with games and food at Stravaganza. Another way to volunteer is by being on the board of one of our PTA/PTO/PTSO or the PTC.

At Streams, I served as the PTO treasurer, where I saw what our PTO accomplished for the students, families, and school itself. As the current PTC president, I worked closely with the administration, each unit, and committees dedicated to bringing students, families, and staff together for many fun, exciting, and educational experiences. Springtime brings nominations and elections to each unit, including the PTC. Each unit has a website with information about current board members, past and upcoming meetings and activities, volunteer opportunities, and more.

The PTC is looking for people interested in becoming PTC vice president or treasurer. We also have committee volunteer opportunities, including chairs for our STEAM and welcoming committees. Check out our website at uscsd.k12.pa.us/ domain.53 for more information on what the PTC is and our committees. I look forward to seeing you all at our next general meeting!

High School PTSO Kelly Powell, President

As 2022 came to a close, the student council raised more than $2775 at the second annual Polar Plunge, with all donations benefitting Children’s Hospital

of Pittsburgh. USCHS students and staff held a blood drive in November, which helped more than 159 people with over 50 blood donations.

Spring is always a busy time! On April 14, USCHS will host a TedxYouth Talk. TEDxYouth@UpperStClair is an independently organized TEDx event that features both students and teachers. Student ideas will be shared with the rest of the world on TEDx’s official YouTube channel. This is an amazing opportunity for students to share ideas, experiences, and thoughts. May 20 is Community Day! Mark your calendars to see all of the exciting activities the student council has planned. The spring is all about our seniors. May 25 is senior banquet, followed on June 6 by the red carpet and senior prom. Graduation for the class of 2023 is set for June 8. Watch for details as these events get closer.

We encourage the parents of all rising high school students to consider being a part of the PTSO! We will be accepting applications for the new executive board, and are grateful to have committee volunteers or chairpersons. Contact me with any questions or about how you can become involved at ptsopresident.uschs@ gmail.com. Stay connected with everything that is happening at the high school on the USCHS PTSO’s district website uscsd. k12.pa.us/domain/72, or by following our Facebook page at facebook.com/uschsptso.

Fort Couch PTSO

Carrie Fick, President

Greetings from The Fort! Before winter break, the PTSO held a catered Warm Winter Wishes appreciation luncheon for the teachers and staff. Teachers took home boxes full of assorted cookies that parents generously baked and donated. The PTSO also sponsored the Caught You Being Good program, and the chorus and band held their winter concerts.

December 2022 ended with the ReachOut Campaign, Fort Couch’s annual charitable donation drive. This year, we raised approximately $22,000 that went directly to the Miracle League of the South

Hills, Bike MS, Hope for Haiti and The USC Police Department.

In January/February, the PTSO hosted the Fort Couch Spelling Bee, Valentine Grams program, Arts in USC competition, and the ever-so-popular Valentine Social. We also held a ‘Souper’ Bowl staff appreciation luncheon, where parents generously donated crockpots full of various soups.

Serving on the Fort Couch PTSO executive board is a wonderful way to get to know the staff and students at Fort Couch. If you would like more information on how to volunteer for next school year, email ftcouchptso@gmail.com.

Boyce PTO

Erica Baldasare, President

When students begin their middle school journey at Boyce, they have a distinct sense of nervous excitement within them—excited as they are no longer elementary students who need constant oversight, yet nervous about making new friends from other schools, combined with having their first taste of independence. It is this transition that makes spending the quick two years at Boyce such a memorable time in their lives.

One of the most memorable—and long-standing traditions—at Boyce is the Deer Valley Earthwarden Program, which students have the opportunity to attend when they are sixth graders. The Earthwarden Program was established in the early 1990s and has educated thousands of our Boyce students over the years. Students will once again be returning to taking overnight Deer Valley trips with their teams during the dates of May 8–11 and May 15–18, to help our students better understand the delicate balance of the basic life support systems of the earth.

The Boyce PTO is also proud to support Boyce students once again having the opportunity to participate in the Arts in USC competition, which is spearheaded by the USC PTC. The PTO will be supporting Ginny Husak, the Boyce librarian, on bringing in an author for Author’s Day to

USC Parent Teacher Council Feature

speak and read to the students. We will then wrap up the school year in June with a school-wide field day out on the Boyce turf field.

Baker PTA

Kristen McIntyre, President

This year has been the year of comebacks for Baker PTA! Our first big return was the Baker Boo Bash in October. We had a beautiful evening and a fantastic turnout for our fall carnival of games, food trucks, raffles, and, of course, a cake walk. In December, we saw the return of an inperson Enchanted Shop where students shopped for gift items during the school day for the special people in their lives. Students loved spreading holiday cheer and really leaned into the spirit of giving! Next up, we were delighted for Baker Bingo to return in February for a night of bingo, prizes, and pizza for the whole family. Finally, our PTA-sponsored grade level socials also returned this year. Grade level socials are events for each grade level to gather together at Baker for an evening of fun—DJ/dance party, magic show, animal show, etc.—and snacks.

Aside from our big comebacks, Baker PTA was also busy with our Scholastic Book Fair in November (in-person and online), the Fourth Grade Spelling Bee, and Baker’s Got Talent! variety show in January, the Baker Read-a-Thon that kicked off at the end of February, as well as various staff appreciation events to show our support and appreciation for our wonderful Baker staff.

As always, a huge thank you to our Baker community of volunteers for being so generous with their time and efforts so that the PTA can continue to offer fun and educational activities for Baker staff, students, and families.

Eisenhower PTO

Jenny Hecht, President

We had a strong start to 2023 with the Fourth Grade Spelling Bee, Family Bingo Night, grade level socials, Valentine’s Day Ice Cream Social, and Eisenhower Extras.

At Eisenhower, we are glad to grow

the love of reading through various ways: Birthday Book Club, Scholastic Book Fairs, and Reading Night, an enjoyable evening making a comeback this spring! Reading Night at the Eisenhower library is an evening with our kids, driven by the love of reading and books, and is a fun way to promote the happiness that a good book can bring to all of us.

Is it springtime already? Field day is almost here! Our field day is an all-day event for Grades 1–4 and half day sessions for the Kindergarteners. We kick things off with a parade around the field and each classroom performs a cheer to pump up the crowd. The outdoor games are set up in stations and the classrooms rotate throughout the day and have a blast! Parent volunteers, teachers, and students alike make memories to cherish well beyond our years at Eisenhower. It is a joy to see the fun and excitement of the day!

It is great to share some highlights from the school year. It has been a very busy year and the full calendar of events has been a welcomed change in our lives. Thank you for all of your support throughout the year. The PTO strives to offer plenty of activities and opportunities to make memories in this amazing community.

Streams PTO

Michelle Faulds, President

The PTO is excited to again offer fun events and activities for our students and staff. Before winter break, we had two successful Spirit nights held at both Crave and Piada. Our students attended the Holiday Shop to purchase gifts for family members and enjoyed their classroom winter parties, planned by our awesome room parent volunteers. The PTO gifted Streams spirit wear to show our appreciation for the wonderful Streams staff.

The first event of 2023 was the Streams Family Bowling Outing event at AMF Bowling in Mt. Lebanon. Our fourth grade students could also test their spelling abilities at the annual Streams Spelling Bee, followed by our Bingo night in early February.

Every Wednesday in March, both open mics and special nights will be held for each class. This gives parents the opportunity to communicate with our principal and homeroom teachers, as well as enjoy an evening of a special event. Our after-school programs are also going strong, with activities ranging from cooking with The Pie Place to adventures in science with Mad Science.

Moving into spring, the Scholastic Book Fair will visit Streams in April. The evening ice cream social has long been a favorite tradition and a chance for students and parents to connect over ice cream sundaes after shopping at the book fair.

In May, the PTO is thrilled to host Streams Stravaganza, the largest fundraiser of the year. We also look forward to our staff appreciation luncheon, Field Day, Kindergarten Olympics, fourth grade graduation, and welcoming the incoming class of Kindergarteners! n

USCHS Teacher Named Esports Scholastic Fellow

High school biology teacher Monica Erwin has been named a 2022–23 Scholastic Fellow by the North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF). Monica serves as the school’s esports club sponsor and is one of 30 individuals and the only Pennsylvania teacher selected for this honor.

The Scholastic Fellow Program is an elite professional learning community providing mentorship, tools, resources, and instructional coaching for educators who are tapping the power of interest-based learning by connecting esports and education. The program provides ongoing support and opportunity to educators in order to benefit students in schools and out-of-school time/ community-based organizations across the globe.

“As we enter our fourth consecutive year of the program, it is incredible to see the diversity of educators and unique intersections of esports in education, which continues to elevate the exciting opportunity that scholastic esports can provide for young people,” said Jorrel Batac, NASEF’s chief operating officer and director of the program. “I can’t wait to see the projects and programs that this year’s cohort will create and collaborate on encouraging the growth of a global community.”

The USC Esports Club was formed about two years ago. With more than 50 students currently signed up, the club has four active teams competing on the PlayVS, an esports competition platform, with Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart.

“Esports is a great way to build teamwork, communication, strategy, and sportsmanship. It is also a way to build community at the high school involving diverse groups of students. Not

every student is an athlete and esports offers a way for students to develop skills similar to those of a sports team,” said Monica. “I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I see an amazing future for esports at my school, but I need help with how to get it to that future.”

Twenty-four USCHS students competed in an in-school esports tournament in October 2022. Monica anticipates hosting additional tournaments and events in the future.

“As the club develops, I hope to incorporate career pathways as well as give students opportunities for leadership in the club, such as advertising events, fundraising, organization of events, and coaching opportunities,” she said. “I am very excited to see how this club grows in the future.”

Scholastic Fellows who complete their year of fellowship have the opportunity to move on to become a Scholastic Mentor, building on their leadership by supporting other educators in the community. All of the Fellows who complete this pathway are certified Community Leaders, who become the official NASEF trainers-of-trainers. They will support the continued capacity building of educators and communities around the world. n

USCHS Welcomes Pennsylvania Science Teachers

department chairs, curriculum leaders, and administrators attended the day-long event. Dawn Mostowy, an USCHS biology teacher who has been a member of PASCC for ten years, served as this year’s site host.

“This annual conference gives biology teachers the opportunity to collaborate and share effective methods of both science instruction and assessment, including the implementation of the new science state standards,” said Dawn. “Teachers of elective courses, such as AP Biology, are also given the chance to collaborate and share ideas.”

This past November, the high school hosted the 15th annual Pennsylvania Science Curriculum Council (PASCC) Conference. The annual event provides an opportunity for science instructors to collaborate and share effective methods of science instruction and assessment.

Nearly 100 middle and high school science teachers,

Attendees had the opportunity to visit numerous stations that offered engaging lessons on a variety of instructional topics, including basic biological principles, chemical basis of life, bioenergetics, homeostasis and transport, cell growth and reproduction, genetics, evolution, ecology, and Keystone Exam preparation and remediation strategies.

High school science teachers Ben Cramer and Lynn Kistler (who serves as the science department curriculum leader) also participated in the conference. Ben presented a lesson titled “Classifying Solutions Using Water Beads” on the concept of homeostasis and transport. n

Monica Erwin

Seniors Helping Seniors

The struggle to adapt to new technology and ever-changing devices is real. As we age, the challenge of keeping up with the latest smartphone can feel daunting and, oftentimes, insurmountable. A group of USCHS seniors hoped to alleviate those frustrations for the township’s senior citizens.

For the second year in a row, high school seniors visited with local senior citizens to assist them with their smartphones (and even a couple flip phones). The students dropped in on the weekly United Senior Citizens program this past December, at the McLaughlin Run Road Activity Center.

Brooke Tarcson, head of activities for the high school, recruited the student volunteers, which included seniors Justin Allen, Michael Barbarita, Anthony Ho, Reagan McGregor, Nikhil Misra, Ava Pasquini, Jocie Rullo, and Michael Stalder.

“Our students are always eager to help others in our community. A quick ask to just one quickly resulted in eight highlyqualified and enthusiastic volunteers,” said Brooke. “I love any event where our students can interact with our community. Our students have so much knowledge to share beyond what they have learned from their classes here at USCHS.”

The students’ eagerness to assist may have been outmatched by the excitement of the awaiting senior citizens.

“The older adults love to have the students help them because they know they are smartphone experts,” said Paula Henderson, coordinator of the United Senior Citizens program. “Many of their grandchildren do not live close by or don’t have the time to assist them. They appreciate the undivided attention the students give them.”

The eight students assisted with a widerange of issues, including managing emails, texts, and notifications. The app Find My Phone was added to the phones of one couple who often find themselves searching endlessly for their devices. Creating Bitmoji characters in the likeness of the older adults was a popular request for several.

“The most common challenges are locating and retrieving their emails and messages and loading games on their phone,” said Paula. “They use their phones to share photos with each other.”

As noted by everyone’s smiles, Paula and Brooke see this event as a win-win for the older adults and high school students.

“The students are involved in helping in their community and the older adults are reassured that they are important and respected,” said Paula.

Brooke hopes that both students and adults note the positive takeaways from their time together.

“I hope the students learned that our USC senior citizens are lifelong learners willing to tackle new technology and keep connected to our ever-changing world,” said Brooke. “And, I hope the senior citizens learned that our high school students are patient, polite, kind, and always willing to take time out of their day to help.”

The United Senior Citizens program is coordinated through the Township of Upper St. Clair Department of Recreation & Leisure Services. The program offers weekly activities to entertain, educate, and enhance the lives of seniors within the community.

Jocie Rullo and Jane Lienhardt

Dick Descutner, Michael Stalder, and Justin Allen

Elio D’errico, Mary Jane Kummer, and Justin Allen

18 Under Eighteen Honorees

Two USCHS students are among the 18 Under Eighteen honorees for 2023. Junior Isaac Bernstein and sophomore Kriti Gupta were recognized by Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania (JA) this February.

Nominees were evaluated in the following categories: leadership, community service, entrepreneurial spirit, extraordinary skill sets, and any talent or intangible qualities that contribute to the nominee’s road to success.

Isaac’s big dream is to eliminate food insecurity. After learning that cash donations are more valuable to food banks than food drives, he spearheaded an initiative to support the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Since April 2020, he has visited local families dressed as the Grinch and the Easter Bunny— raising enough donations to provide more than 100,000 meals to families in need.

An avid hockey player, Isaac plays competitively and uses the sport to give back to his community. Hockey Fights Hunger, his most recent event, was a 3-on-3 tournament designed for participants to have fun while raising money for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The tournament raised 27,000 meals for families in need.

At the high school, Isaac is an active leader in student council, works as a peer tutor, and serves as a mentor through the Natural Helpers program. This summer, Isaac will travel to Japan as a High School Diplomat, a scholarship program that connects students from the United States and Japan.

Kriti is committed to improving youth education for underserved and underfunded communities. After learning about the inequities that remote learning created, she founded Chance to

Senior Honored

High school senior Marcus Fennell was recognized for outstanding character and sportsmanship and honored with the Burlsworth Character Award from the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation.

The Burlsworth Character Award is presented nationwide by high school coaches to a senior player that represents the ideals and values that Brandon Burlsworth had. Marcus received the award from head football coach Mike Junko.

“Marcus comes from a family with strong ties to the military. He understands the willingness to stand in the breach and the honor that is bound to protecting others,” said Coach Junko. “The life of an offensive linemen is one in which very little glory is earned on the front pages of the newspaper. Instead, their time is spent lifting others to new heights and sharing in those successes. Marcus embodies all of the reasons our program has been successful over the past few years. Just like Brandon Burlsworth, it is rooted in a selfless desire to lead others to greatness through his own sacrifices. We are blessed that Marcus was a part of our football program.”

Through hard work and determination, Brandon Burlsworth ascended from walk-on to team captain and All-American at the University of Arkansas. In the 1999 NFL draft, he was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the 63rd overall pick. Sadly, Brandon was tragically killed in a car accident just 11 days after the draft.

According to the organization’s website, the Burlsworth

Change Lives (CCL) Kids, a non-profit organization that helps children who reside in economically disadvantaged communities or experience homelessness.

In 2022, CCL-Kids donated 96 backpacks filled with school supplies to United Elementary School within the McKeesport School District. The organization also delivered hygiene care packages to teenage girls living in Women’s East-Pittsburgh, a local homeless shelter. Kriti is currently developing a summer reading program for elementary-aged students to prevent the summer slide, or the loss of academic skills and knowledge. This academic program will pilot at United Elementary School in McKeesport during summer 2023.

Kriti is passionate about helping others and making positive change within her community. She hopes to extend her outreach efforts to as many shelters and underfunded school districts as possible. n

Character Award “is given out nationwide in recognition of outstanding character and sportsmanship. The award honors the player who may or may not be a top athletic performer, but who represents the ideals and values that Brandon Burlsworth had: to give 100 percent on the field and to stand as a moral example to his team. We hope that the award encourages the honoree to continue on his path of excellence, and inspires others to follow his lead.”

A multi-sport athlete, Marcus competed in football, wrestling and baseball. He is a member of the National Honor Society and Natural Helpers organizations. In addition, Marcus devotes considerable time volunteering with special needs students through the school’s SHOP@USC and Partners in PE programs. During COVID, he used his IB Middle Years Program project to connect Miracle League Athletes with local high school athletes through a letter writing campaign.

Marcus plans to major in mechanical or aeronautical engineering while playing football at the collegiate level. His career goal is to become a pilot. n

Isaac Bernstein

Kriti Gupta

Marcus Fennell

Boyce Donates 100+ Books to Partner School

Boyce Middle School raised more than $1100 through a school-wide coin drive. All of the donations were used to purchase more than 100 books for the Clairton City School District.

The “All for Books” coin drive was held in partnership with the Boyce Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and the Scholastic Book Fair. Through a matching contribution, Scholastic Book Fairs will match the funds collected with a book donation to literacy nonprofits serving under-resourced communities.

Coin collection boxes were placed in classrooms as well as at the book fair, which was held during open house. As an added incentive, the fifth and sixth grade Boyce teams that collected the most change won extra recess time. The honors went to Team Comet, grade 5, and Team Wind, grade 6.

“Shanna Caplan (PTO president) led the book drive at Boyce, and did a remarkable job,” said Boyce principal Dr. Daniel O’Rourke. “Early in the process she informed me about the All for Books Program and asked that I consider potential partner schools.”

Through his doctoral program at Point Park University, Dr. O’Rourke met Dr. Tamara Allen-Thomas, who began her post as superintendent of the Clairton City School District in July 2022.

“She is such a driven, passionate, positive, student-centered educator who has high aspirations of impacting students in the Clairton community, so I reached out to her to see if she would like to participate, and she was ecstatic about the opportunity,” said Dr. O’Rourke. “The staff and students at Clairton were so appreciative to receive the books to add to their library.” n

Fort Couch Reach Out Raises More Than $22,000

Fort Couch students raised more than $22,000 through the school’s annual Reach Out campaign that spanned from December 12–22, 2022. The effort was spearheaded by the Fort Couch student council and its sponsor, Eliza Luxbacher, with support from the school’s administration, teachers, and PTSO.

“This year’s effort felt especially special because students truly leaned into the spirit by actively raising money independently of their family and friends’ contributions,” said Eliza. “Students held their own fundraisers through offering services in their neighborhoods; some students went door-to-door asking for donations. It is empowering to see students’ energy and effort toward being in service to others.”

All six teams of seventh and eighth graders raced to collect the most donations. While the spirit of competition provided added excitement, the school community was more moved by the spirit of giving.

The money raised was divided among the following organizations: Miracle League of the South Hills, Giant Eagle gift cards to the Upper St. Clair Township Police Department (which enabled officers to deliver the gift cards to USC families needing extra help during the holiday season), Bike MS, and Hope for Haiti. n

Dr. Daniel O’Rourke and Dr. Tamara Allen-Thomas

USC school police officer Tom White with eighth grade students Raegan Faulds and Caroline Barnard

Junior Selected for Language Program

Junior Aarav Patil has been accepted to the West Virginia Mandarin STARTALK program at West Virginia University, one of only 40 high school students selected to participate in the 16-month program that begins this spring. The STARTALK program’s curriculum focuses on Chinese language and culture learning through topics related to science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

Aarav, an International Baccalaureate student, is in his second year of instruction in Chinese at the high school. In addition, he has studied Japanese and French.

For more information about the program, visit worldlanguages. wvu.edu/students/undergraduate-students/chinese-studies/startalk.

Teams Excel at Model EU

Two teams of high school students placed second and third at the Model European Union (EU) event on December 7, 2022. Senior Jasmine Dietiker and sophomore Anna Engelman, representing Denmark, earned second place for Most Outstanding Position Paper. Sophomore Jamie Barrett, and freshman Anoushka Barve, representing the Netherlands, earned third place for Outstanding Delegation.

In total, nine Upper St. Clair High School students participated in the annual event. Students were coached by Thomas Yochum, gifted education teacher.

The goal of the Model EU is to give high school students a chance to learn about the workings of the European Union through a hands-on simulation. In its 18th year, the Model EU event is sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh’s European Studies Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Education and Jean Monnet European Union Centers of Excellence.

Two Earn Top Honors at Model UN

Speech & Debate Team

Ranks 36th Nationally

For the third year in a row, the high school’s Speech & Debate team was named one of the Top 100 schools by the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA). In the 2021-22 school year, Upper St. Clair ranked 36 out of more than 3000 schools nationwide—up from 38 the previous year. Students earn Honor Society points and degrees based on participation, which contribute to a school’s strength points. The Upper St. Clair Speech & Debate team achieved more than 451 strength points last year, earning membership in the NSDA’s 400 Club for the third consecutive year. Nearly 170 students participate in speech and debate at the high school. The team is coached by Ben Edwards, social studies teacher, and Dave Watson, English teacher.

Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalist

High school senior Peer ‘Qadir’ Khan was named a 2023 Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalist. Qadir is one of only 13 in Allegheny County and 100 in Pennsylvania to earn this honor. Nationally, less than two percent of all applicants were selected as Semifinalists. Semifinalists are now asked to complete Phase 2 applications, which include essays, a recommendation, and a transcript. One hundred fifty Coke Scholars will be named in March to receive a $20,000 college scholarship and attend Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta in April 2023, where they will be the guests of honor at the 35th annual CocaCola Scholars Banquet and participate in the Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Development Institute facilitated by program alumni.

High school junior Shiven Verma, U.N. Security Council (Sweden), placed first and freshman Sara Gillespie, U.N. Environmental Programme (Canada) finished second, authoring two of the top three Outstanding Position Papers within their respective committees at the 2022 Model UN High School Conference last October. In total, 20 USC students were among the nearly 300 who participated in the Model UN Conference.

Model UN, a simulation of the sessions of the United Nations, provides an opportunity for high school students to apply their studies to real-world contexts and practice diplomacy, negotiating, and resolution writing.

The Botsburgh robotics team earned the Innovate Award at the Red and Black FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Qualifier this past December. Team members include USCHS senior John Scherer, sophomores Bryan Deep, Cadence Forney, Harsh Mali, Liam Moriarty, Komel Nulwala, Ben Ross, and Nikhita Thakuria, as well as freshman Aadhi Bharath.

The Innovate Award celebrates a team that thinks imaginatively and has the ingenuity, creativity, and inventiveness to make their designs come to life. Elements of this award include elegant design, robustness, and out-of-the-box thinking related to design.

The FIRST Tech Challenge program challenges teams of middle and high school-aged students to design, build, and program a robot to play a floor game against other teams’ creations. Students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and sharing ideas. Learn more at fttcpenn.org.

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Aarav Patil

Robotics Team Earns Innovate Award

Botsburgh robotics team

Shiven Verma Sara Gillespie

Qadir Khan

Seventh Grader Named Essay Contest Top Winner

A seventh-grade student finished among the top winners of the grades 6–8 category in the 2022 Gandhi Creative Writing & Art Contest. Suhavi Singh, from Fort Couch Middle School, was recognized during the Gandhi Community Celebration this past October, where she presented her paper on stage.

The writing contest tasked students with submitting a 500-word essay on the topic “What does community mean to you? Is Gandhi’s view on community relevant today and how?”

Polar Plunge

In its second year, the high school’s Polar Plunge raised $2775 to benefit Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh through the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Led by student council, students and staff competed for the highest cumulative donation totals, with the top eight “taking the plunge.”

In addition to the Polar Plunge, student council organized a Spirit Week that featured several fun themes, including Ugly Sweaters, Summer in December, Bundle Up Day, and Holiday PJs. n

USCHS Supports Mental Health Awareness

Upper St. Clair High School students and staff raised more than $1200 in donations to support the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). In support of the organization and mental awareness, nearly 50 Upper St. Clair students participated in the 16th annual NAMIWalks Keystone PA on October 2, 2022, at the Monroeville Community Park. Students represented academic and AP psychology classes, National Honor Society (NHS), Tri-M, and Stand Together. The trip was organized by Doug Kirchner, social studies curriculum leader and psychology teacher. Chaperones included Shannon Dressler, school psychologist and Stand Together sponsor, and Dr. Stephen Torquato, social studies teacher and NHS sponsor. In addition, the Upper St. Clair girls’ soccer team also attended as a group with their coaches. NAMIWalks raises awareness for mental health and spreads the word that treatment works and recovery is possible. For more information about NAMIWalks, visit namikeystonepa.org/ nami-events/namiwalks/.

History Bowl

Two teams of middle school students placed first in the annual regional History Bowl, held this past December.

Fort Couch eighth graders—Ryan DeStefano, Ryland Katukota, Myles Owens and Jonah Zahalsky—finished first in the Middle School Division (grades 6–8). In the Elementary Division (grades 4–5), Boyce fifth graders—Tyler Marsh, Kenzie Petrick, Sarah Staub, and Noah Zeringue—took top honors.

Serving as mentors for the event were Tom Yochum and Sherri Garvey, gifted/enrichment resource teachers at Fort Couch and Boyce, respectively.

Sponsored by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, the one-day event challenges students to find answers to questions, think and write creatively, and practice problem solving abilities as they explore the history center’s exhibits.

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Suhavi Singh

Three Selected for All-Eastern Choir Ensembles

Three high school seniors were selected to the 2023 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) All-Eastern Honors Ensembles. Sia Iyer will perform with the mixed choir, and Rebecca Lang and Edy McCurrie have been named to the treble choir.

In April, Sia, Rebecca, and Edy will spend three days at the 2023 NAfME All-Eastern Conference in Rochester, New York. The students will rehearse and perform under the direction of guest conductors from the University of Maryland and the University of North Texas. At Upper St. Clair, the students work under the direction of Lorraine Milovac, high school choral director.

All three students were named to the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) All-State Choir last spring. In May 2022, they were part of a six-student chorus ensemble that performed alongside the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall. The students are members of the Chanteclairs and National Honor Society. n

Virtual Coaching Presentation

This January, high school teacher and coach Doug Petrick delivered virtual presentation for Coaching Distance, an online community for cross country and track coaches to learn, share ideas, and connect.

Titled “Grow a Positive Culture,” Doug focused on how improving communication, playing the long-term game, and utilizing progressions have helped improve the culture of Upper St. Clair’s cross country and track programs.

Coaching Distance hosts monthly virtual clinics on various topics related to coaching and developing successful athletes and athletic programs. Presenters include high school and college-level coaches from throughout the country.

“I feel honored to represent Upper St. Clair, as other coaches that have presented each month are people I admire from across the United States in both high school and college ranks,” said Doug, who joined the USCHS science faculty in 2002. He coaches the school’s winter and spring track teams as well as cross country. Learn more about his presentation at coachingdistance.com/ doug-petrick. n

Musicians Selected to PMEA Bands

Several Upper St. Clair High School musicians were selected by competitive audition for the 2022 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 1 Honors Band and participated in the Honor Band Festival at North Hills High School last November. Participating musicians were Isaac Bernstein, grade 11—percussion, Leah Henning, grade 12— clarinet, Jacob Higgs, grade 10—French horn, Brian McFerran, grade 11— trombone, Gabe Pacella, grade 11—trumpet, Carlee Santel, grade 10—trumpet (alternate), Abby Smith, grade 10— tenor saxophone (alternate), Lauren Tenney, grade 11—clarinet, and Ben Wasson, grade 12—bass trombone.

Selected for and performing in the PMEA District 1 Band Festival (West) at Trinity High School this February were Isaac Bernstein—percussion, Leah Henning—clarinet 2, Jacob Higgs—French horn 2, Brian McFerran— trombone 3, Gabe

Pacella—trumpet 1, Carlee Santel—trumpet 3, Lauren Tenney— clarinet 1, and Ben Wasson—bass trombone. PMEA District 1 includes more than 100 high schools from Allegheny, Fayette, Green, Washington and Westmoreland counties. PMEA District 1 (West) comprises 55 high schools.

USCHS band students are taught by Dr. John Seybert, performing arts curriculum leader and director of bands. n

PMEA is a statewide nonprofit organization of more than 4,500 members, dedicated to the musical development of all Pennsylvanians. The organization supports quality music education, learning and performance as well as promoting music education in schools and communities. PMEA is affiliated with The National Association for Music Education.

Isaac Bernstein Leah Henning Jacob Higgs Brian McFerran Gabe Pacella Carlee Santel Abby Smith Lauren Tenney Ben Wasson

Doug Petrick

Sia Iyer

Rebecca Lang Edy McCurrie

Personal.

What are you striving for today?

At St. Clair Health, our care teams are driven by a passion to provide world-class, patient-focused care to our neighbors in and around the Pittsburgh Region. That’s why we’ve recruited even more nationally recognized doctors and invested in state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical technology to support them. So no matter how far you push yourself to achieve, you never have to go far to receive the personalized health care you deserve.

Best.

Jeffrey C. Liu, M.D.

Design Trends We’re Loving in 2023

Geoff and Christine McQueen, McQueen Building Co.

When folks decide to renovate their homes, they want to make choices they’ll love for years to come. At the same time, they’re eager to embrace styles that feel fresh and new. At McQueen Building Co., we’re constantly tracking trends and keeping what’s popular in mind, even as we’re creating designs that will stand the test of time.

If you’re wondering what’s hot right now—and what your neighbors are asking for as they plan renovations for this year and beyond—here’s a snapshot of the designs that are trending. Colorful,

welcoming kitchens full of natural materials

Stark white kitchens and synthetic materials like quartz had their moment. But this year, we’re finding that most homeowners want natural stone countertops such as quartzite, soapstone, marble, and granite. Natural materials have a welcoming warmth and they’re durable enough to handle the impact of daily use. In fact, wear and tear can even give some stone countertops a gorgeous patina.

Kitchens have also become more colorful. Clients tell us they’re looking for more color on their cabinetry (blues and greens are definitely popular right now), as well as natural and stained wood. They want warmer, deeper, darker tones versus the all-white and bright look that was dominant in recent years.

It’s a fun choice that doesn’t lock folks into a huge commitment, because painted cabinets can be repainted in the future. So, homeowners are comfortable going with a deep color they love, knowing they can always swap it out for a different shade a few years from now.

Kitchen layouts are also evolving. Homeowners aren’t necessarily as concerned with open floor plans as they once were. Rather than knocking down walls, we find that some clients are looking for a little privacy in their homes.

Bigger, better bedrooms

Everyone loves a fabulous living room or great room. But we’ve been finding consistently that as families look to build onto their houses, very often their goal is to add bedrooms or to dramatically increase the size of the primary suite’s bedroom, bath, and closet space.

It can really boost your quality of life to have a bedroom that truly serves as your oasis of calm and relaxation. And upgrading your master suite with a spa-worthy bathroom is a great way to increase the value of your home.

Extraordinary outdoor living spaces

The trend toward creating really great outdoor living spaces is still going strong. Pittsburgh homeowners have absolutely embraced the idea of designing outdoor living spaces they can enjoy year-round.

We’re busy building incredible outdoor fireplaces and outdoor kitchens, with all-weather outdoor TVs and furniture that looks and feels as fabulous as anything you’d find indoors. A curated-over-time style with plenty of elegance

We’re definitely seeing that designer high-end finishes and selections are driving the market. As homeowners become more and more design savvy, they’re seeking a curated-over-time look that doesn’t feel at all “new and shiny.”

Think vintage, timeless, and beautifully made— bespoke rather than mass-produced. That means we’re busy sourcing special items that our clients can fall in love with, and layering styles that contrast and complement each other.

With all these creative ideas trending, and with so many homeowners ready to enjoy the fun of dreaming and designing with us, it’s a very exciting (and non-boring!) time to be in the home design and home building industry. n

To learn more, visit mcqueenbuildingcompany.com and be sure to follow along on social media. See their ad on page 52.

Ten Suggestions for Preparing Your Home for the Spring/Summer 2023 Market

Lynn Dempsey, Realtor®

If you are considering selling your home in 2023, now is the time to start preparing. The spring real estate market is the foundation for the upcoming year of home sales. It is important to make a lasting impression on the home buyer who comes to preview your home.

Here are some helpful tips to prepare your home.

1. Organize all of your paperwork and finances to make sure you are financially ready to purchase your dream home.

2. Personally take inventory of all necessary home repairs, starting at the roof and continuing through the house, including the garage and outside perimeter area (front, back, and side yards).

3. Schedule home maintenance items to be included on the sellers disclosure documentation for the buyer. Examples: Check the furnace, air conditioning, plumbing, garbage disposal. Make sure all electrical outlets are working. Check the service panel. If you have a sump pump, make sure it is working properly.

4. Evaluate your home from the outside. Curb appeal is important. Look at the shrubbery, mulch beds, front porch, railings, front light and porch light, to name a few items, to make sure they are presentable and working.

5. Start decluttering your home spaces. Pick one room at a time and finish that room before moving onto another. If you can donate items to local charities or have items picked up at your home, these items can be used as a tax write off.

6. Deep clean your home! If need be, hire a professional. Clean carpets, flooring, cob webs, and get those dust bunnies.

7. If your home needs staged, consult a real estate agent who offers that service for free.

8. Depersonalize each room: remove photos, trophies, awards, artwork, and other items that may be a distraction.

9. Rearrange furniture. Again, home staging is important. Maximize the space you have in your home; if need be, remove a few pieces of furniture and store them at a friend’s house or parents’ until your house sells. The saying, “less is more” works. Less furniture will make the room look bigger.

10. Find an experienced real estate agent/advisor/consultant who will help you, free of charge, to get your home to be a “showcase home” and stand out above the others. Good luck! n

See ad for Lynn Dempsey, Coldwell Banker Realtor® on this page.

Appliance Maintenance To-Dos for Your Home

Each of your home’s appliances and systems will function better with a little regular maintenance from you.

You probably take your car in for regular oil checks and go to the dentist several times a year to make sure your teeth are healthy. But do you put periodic home appliance maintenance on your calendar? You should! Repair for just one appliance costs about $170, on average.

There are several ways to tackle appliance maintenance. You can go floor to floor or room to room, for example, or put one or two appliances per month or week on your schedule. In doing so, you’ll help extend your appliance life and put a stop to frantic calls to repair experts. Here’s help to get you started.

Appliance maintenance in the kitchen

Oven: Check the owner’s manual for recommended maintenance. Regularly inspect the burners to ensure they light up evenly. Check the seal on the oven door; a poorly sealed oven door can cause your appliance to lose a large portion of its heat, driving up utility bills and unevenly cooking food. Inspect the rubber or fiberglass seal around the perimeter of the door for any breaks, and check for leaks with the door closed. Replace if necessary. Take the necessary precautions to keep cooking time safe.

Garbage disposal: Check for blockages and remove any with tongs, then run the disposal with a deodorizing or cleaning agent such as ice cubes and salt, vinegar, or even frozen citrus.

Dishwasher: Follow manufacturer recommendations for cleaning. Regularly inspect the racks for chips and go over them with special touch-up paint to prevent exposed metal and rust, which can damage your dishes.

Fridge: Clean the interior, exterior, and coils according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Regularly inspect the seals on the doors for cracks or breaks.

Microwave: Regularly inspect the interior of the microwave to ensure the seals and coatings are intact.

Appliance maintenance in your laundry

Washing machine: Look for any cracks, weak spots or deformities in the hoses connected to your washing machine to prevent floods or leaks. Replace hoses every five years or as directed by your owner’s manual.

Dryer: Clean the filter after every use—no exceptions. Use guidance from the manufacturer to clean out the vent.

System maintenance in your living spaces

Electronics: Use surge protectors to help guard electronics. Regularly inspect cords for any cracks, and clean per manufacturer instructions.

A little periodic maintenance can help prevent unexpected problems, and expense, down the road! n

Article provided by Cindy Brophy, State Farm® agent. See ad on this page.

Township Commissioners

Daniel R. Paoly President At Large

Day 412-831-9000

Evening 412-862-5995 2025*

Dante R. Plutko, Jr. Vice President Ward 1

Day 412-831-9000

Evening 412-389-5187 2023*

Pamela L. Enck Ward 2

Day 412-831-9000 2025*

Township Administration

Robert W. Orchowski Ward 3

Day 412-831-9000 2023*

Todd D. Burlingame Ward 4

Day 412-831-9000 2025*

Ronald J. Pardini Ward 5

Day 412-831-9000

Evening 724-941-1199 2023*

Richard I. Thomas At Large

Day 412-831-9000 2023*

*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 on the website at twpusc.org. For more information, call 412-831-9000.

To reach Township personnel, call 412-831-9000 and follow the automated directions.

Administrator

Extension

Matthew R. Serakowski 2160

Township Manager

Mark S. Mansfield 2190

Asst. Township Manager & Director of Administration

Jonathan Wharton 2380 Chief of Police

Mark P. Romito 2180 Director of Finance

Adam A. Benigni 5010 Director of Planning & Community Development

Ed Poljak Director of Information Technology

George Kostelich, Jr. 2710 Director of Public Works

Christian Gmiter 2470 Director of Library

Paul Besterman 6560 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

2023 Township of Upper St. Clair Meeting Dates

• The Board of Commissioners meets at 7:30 p.m. The regular public meeting is held the first Monday of the month. The informational and general affairs meeting is held the last Monday of the month.

• The Planning Commission meets the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

• The Parks and Recreation Board meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the C&RC; 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.

Meetings are held in the Municipal Building’s board room, unless otherwise indicated. Meeting locations are subject to change; refer to the Township website at twpusc.org for more information.

Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager

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

Jonathan Wharton Chief of Police

Mark P. Romito Director of Finance

Adam A. Benigni Director of Planning & Community Development

Ed Poljak Director of Information Technology

George Kostelich, Jr. Director of Public Works

Christian Gmiter Director of Library

Paul Besterman Director of Recreation & Leisure Services

Highlights of the Board of Commissioners’ Meetings

October 3, 2022

Approximately 36 people attended.

Recognitions

• Commissioner Burlingame presented a Proclamation to the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department designating October 9-15, 2022 as Fire Prevention Week in Upper St. Clair.

• Commissioner Burlingame recognized the following Volunteer Fire Department members for their years of service: Josh O’Connor—15 years, Gary Salerno—15 years and Dave Ickes—30 years

• Commissioner Pardini presented Certificates of Achievement to Augustine Schmidt and Madeleine Thomas for their attendance at Camp Cadet.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1730 Re. Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department Organization Assessment and Strategy Recommendations Study.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1731 to Establish the Ad Hoc Strategic Assessment Implementation Advisory Committee for the Purpose of Assisting with the “Organization Assessment and Strategy Recommendations—Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department” and guidance contained therein.

Approval of Contracts

• Insight Pipe Contracting, LLC $315,125 Harmony, PA 2022 Manhole to Manhole Lining

• USDA Wildlife Service $45,000 Raleigh, NC Special Use Culling Permit/Prescribed Activities

• Colussy Chevrolet $59,930 Bridgeville, PA Tri-Community South Vehicle 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD

November 7, 2022

Approximately 29 people attended.

Recognitions

• Commissioner Enck presented Proclamations to Lillian Spencer and Srinidhi Rukmani Rajaganapathy for each obtaining the Girl Scout Gold Award.

The Board

(l/r) – Firefighters Gary Salerno, Josh O’Connor, and Dave Ickes with Commissioner Burlingame

• Closed the Public Hearing Re. PLC22-0010—Waffles INCaffeinated—Unified Conditional Use/Preliminary and Final Land Development Approval.

• Adopted Bill No. 8-22 Re. PLC22-0010—Waffles INCaffeinated—Unified Conditional Use/Preliminary and Final Land Development Approval.

• Continued the Public Hearing Re. PLC22-1301—Zoning Text Amendment to Chapter 130 of the Township Code Entitled “Zoning” to add Standards and Criteria for Distilleries and Breweries in the RM—Restricted Light Industrial District and to add Landscaping Requirements for Private Recreational Structures in the R1—Single Family Residential District to the December 5, 2022 Regular Board Meeting.

• Established Public Hearing Re. PLC220007—Southwood Hospital—Planned Development—Nonresidential—Tentative Approval on December 5, 2022.

• Established Public Hearing Re. PLC22-0012—Boyce Road Residences—Planned Development— Tentative Approval on December 5, 2022.

Cadets (l/r) – Chief of Police Jon Wharton, Madeleine Thomas, Augustine Schmidt, Commissioner Pardini, and Lt. Michael Lindenfelser

The Board

• Continued the Public Hearing Re. PLC22-0010—Waffles INCaffeinated—Unified Conditional Use/Preliminary and Final Land Development Approval to the November 7, 2022, Regular Board Meeting.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1728 Re. Adoption of Resolution for Plan Revision for New Land Development (Planning Module) for PLC22-0005—Maggie’s Farm Distillery—Unified Conditional Use/Preliminary and Final Land Development.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1729 Re. Approval for a Grant Application Through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Park Rehabilitation and Development Program for the Morton Complex/Park Rehabilitation and Development Project.

• Adopted Bill No. 9-22 Re. Amending Chapter 13 of the Township Code Entitled “Government Organization” to Amend the Government Organizational Chart.

• Adopted Bill No. 10-22 Re. Amending Chapter 21 of the Township Code Entitled “Departments of Government” to Establish the Responsibilities of the Department of Fire Protection.

• Closed the Public Hearing Re. 2023 Proposed Budget.

• Adopted Bill No. 11-22 Re Act 1 & Act 20 Ordinance for Recovery of Delinquent Tax Collection Fees & Related Expenses.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1732 Re. McLaughlin Run Multi-Municipal Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Transfer— ALCOSAN Regionalization Program.

• Approved the Appointment of Mr. Adam McGurk, AICP to the Planning Commission for the remaining term ending on December 31, 2022.

Approval of Contracts

Public Works Equipment

• Stephenson Equipment, Inc $100,127.76 Lilly, PA

One (1) Aluminum Dump Body Upfit with salt dispensing and liquid dispensing system, stainless steel salt spreader, and snowplow system. (for 2023 International Cab & Chassis)

Tax Collection Services

• Jordan Tax Service

Agreement extension of:

• Tax Collection Approximately $20,000 annually for 5 years

• Sewage Collection Approximately $70,000 annually for 5 years

• Delinquent Claims Collection Paid by delinquent payer annually for 5 years

Upper St. Clair School District

• Agreement extension of $2,390/month paid by School Tax Collection Agreement the Upper St. Clair School District for 5 years

December 5, 2022

Approximately 19 people attended.

Recognitions

• Commissioner Orchowski presented a Proclamation recognizing Edy McCurrie for being selected to the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) All-National Honor Choir.

The Board

• Closed Public Hearing Re. PLC 22-1301—Zoning Text

Amendment to Chapter 130 of the Township Code entitled “Zoning” to add Standards and Criteria for Distilleries and Breweries in the RM—Restricted Light Industrial District and to add Landscaping Requirements for Private Recreational Structures in the R1—Single Family Residential District.

• Adopted Bill No. 12-22 Re. PLC 22-1301—Zoning Text Amendment to Chapter 130 of the Township Code entitled “Zoning” to add Standards and Criteria for Distilleries and Breweries in the RM—Restricted Light Industrial District and to add Landscaping Requirements for Private Recreational Structures in the R1—Single Family Residential District.

• Continued Public Hearing Re. PLC 22-0007— Southwood Hospital—Planned Development

– Nonresidential—Tentative Approval to the Board of Commissioners’ Regular Meeting in January.

• Continued Public Hearing Re. PLC 22-0012—Boyce Road Residences—Planned Residential Development— Tentative Approval to the Board of Commissioners’ Regular Meeting in January.

• Adopted Bill No. 13-22 Re. Ward Redistricting.

• Adopted Bill No. 14-22 Re. Adoption of the 2023 Proposed Budget.

Approval of Contracts

• Glassmere Fuel Service, Inc.

Curtisville, PA

89 Octane Gasoline, Diesel Fuel and Winterized Diesel Fuel Additive

OPIS Daily Pittsburgh Average Index Plus Fixed Margin of between $.0284 and $.0989 on each gallon of 89 Octane Gasoline depending on order quantity, a Fixed Margin Price for Diesel Fuel of $.0989 on each gallon and $.0325 on Winterized Diesel fuel additive on each gallon of Diesel Fuel.

• Advanced Computer & Network Corporation $21,490 Storage Area Network (JetStor 826FXD)

• Magna5 $69,654 Server Solution including HPE DL360 with related hardware, licensing, and installation

Department of Finance

Township Budget Overview

2023 Budget Highlights

The Township’s Board of Commissioners has once again approved a budget with no tax increase. For the 14th consecutive year, the budget keeps tax rates level. The real estate tax millage rate, currently 3.83, has remained flat since 2010. The Township’s earned income tax rate, currently 0.80%, has not changed since 2007.

The 2023 budget process began this past May with a continued focus on maintaining the Township’s positive record of stable operations and strong financial performance in the face of record inflation. Working through economic uncertainty has unfortunately become necessary in recent years. This environment has not been isolated to the Township, but that reality does not minimize the pressure faced by the staff to continue delivering high-quality services while adhering to tight budgetary controls. Whether the pressure has come from the employment market or the commodities market, staff has navigated the challenges successfully, always being mindful of the goal to ensure long-term, sustainable service delivery and operations. This goal also aligns with the Township’s budget philosophy which emphasizes long-term financial planning.

The Township’s budget comprises 13 separate funds. 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, policy, or external restriction to be recorded in other funds. Full details are available in the Township’s award-winning budget document which is online at twpusc.org/budget.

Where the Money Comes From

The Township’s primary sources of operating revenue in 2023 continue to be earned income tax and real estate tax. These taxes combine to make up roughly 78% of total General Fund revenues. The balance of operating revenue is comprised of other taxes and other revenue. Other taxes include real estate transfer,

sales & use, and local services taxes. Other revenue consists of permits, fees, fines, service agreements, investment earnings, and recreation fees.

General Fund revenues are budgeted at $25,220,454 for 2023—an increase of 5.9% from the 2022 budget. Notable revenue changes include earned income tax and sales tax, both seeing increases of 10% from the prior year. The General Fund is projected to end the year with an unassigned fund balance that achieves the Government Finance Officers Association’s recommended fund balance level.

Where the Money Goes

General Fund operating expenditures are projected to be $18,618,409, which is a 5.9% increase from the 2022 budget. The accompanying chart illustrates how the expenditures are distributed across the major program areas. The Township’s two largest programs are Public Safety and Public Works. These programs combine to represent 65% of the operating portion of the General Fund budget. The remaining difference of projected revenues over operating expenses of $6,602,045 will be used to fund debt service costs of $1,843,157, and transfers to other funds of $4,758,888.

For more information, visit twpusc.org.

Capital Projects Fund

The Capital Projects Fund accounts for most of the Township’s major equipment purchases and capital projects and is based largely upon the five-year Capital Improvements Program. Proceeds from the 2021 bond issue will continue to fund several capital projects into 2023, most notably the NextGen Municipal Building renovation project and potential Morton Field Complex upgrades. Other items in the Capital Projects Fund will be covered by a combination of grants, General Fund transfers and the portion of fund balance that is specifically assigned for Capital Reserve. Other significant items in this fund for 2023 are $1,900,000 for the annual Street Improvement Program and $800,000 for a new fire truck.

2022 and 2023 General Fund Budget Department of Finance

Boyce Mayview Community & Recreation Center (C&RC) Fund

After a period of great uncertainty resulting from multiple state-mandated shutdowns in 2020, membership levels at the Community & Recreation Center (C&RC) rebounded in 2022. Despite the success in rebuilding the C&RC membership base, the financial challenge is not completely over. Like other businesses, the C&RC has been faced with rapidly increasing operating costs due to the current economic environment. Wages, utilities, and general commodities are all pressuring the C&RC operating budget. The 2023 Budget reflects these pressures and provides a foundation for the Township to continue providing a quality user experience that generates a high level of satisfaction.

Membership revenue for 2023 is budgeted at $3,075,000 which anticipates a small increase in membership rates. Other revenue sources in

2023 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 2023.

The Township’s real estate tax millage rate for 2023 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 2022–2024 fiscal year no later than June 2023.

the C&RC Fund include facility rental revenue, program revenue, daily admissions, and miscellaneous revenue. These sources are budgeted to total $549,000 in 2023. The General Fund will appropriate $1,187,764 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 $617,053 to support the common area operations of the C&RC. n

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

Township Real Estate Tax Schedule

2023 Highlights Department of Finance

2023 Earned Income and Net Profits Tax Rate Notice

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 2022 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 2023 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 1.30% rate, and must remit their tax liability quarterly to Jordan Tax Service on the following schedule for 2023:

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 ALCOSAN, who bills the Township for the service. ALCOSAN has once again increased its fees by 7% for the year. The Township’s sewer rate multiplier is being reduced from 1.86 to 1.80. As usual, the ALCOSAN expense is the largest cost in the 2023 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. n

For more information, visit twpusc.org.

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 2022 tax year are due April 18, 2023. n

2023 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 has raised sewage service charges and usage fees by 7% for 2022. The Sewer User Multiplier Rate that is used to calculate the Township’s cost reimbursement has been set at 1.8 for the year.

The Township contracts with Jordan Tax Service to provide the billing and collection of the monthly sewer usage fees. n

All questions or concerns regarding sewage billing should be directed to Jordan Tax Service at 412-835-5243, option 4, or via email to sewage@jordantax.com.

New Look for Hays Park

While it’s technically still winter, once March arrives the weather often offers a chance to get outdoors. If you and your family are looking for something fun to do without leaving the Township, why not visit Hays Park? Recently updated, the park features newly replaced playground equipment, repaved and recolor-coated basketball and tennis courts with replaced fencing around the courts, repaved pathways, and upgraded LED park lighting. It’s a great place to recharge after spending so much time indoors! n

Hays Park is located at 345 Hays Road in Upper St. Clair

Upper St. Clair Honors Veterans

A Veterans Day observance honoring veterans of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces was held on November 11, 2022, at the Upper St. Clair Veterans Park on McLaughlin Run Road.

Delivering the keynote address was Upper St. Clair resident David Andros, a 2005 U.S. Military Academy (West Point) graduate. David served in multiple combat tours of Iraq as an infantry officer in the Army and is currently employed as chief operating officer of AE Works, a national architecture and engineering firm headquartered in Pittsburgh. He also serves on the board of Trying Together and volunteers with local veterans’ organizations.

Pastor Seth Booher, New Day Assembly of God, provided the invocation and benediction, and the Marine Corps League Color Guard Detachment 726 presented the colors. Members of the USCHS Chanteclairs, directed by Lorraine Milovac, performed several songs, including the National Anthem. The Fort Couch Middle School band was also scheduled to participate; however, the band’s performance was canceled due to inclement weather.

This year’s Veterans Day event, held in partnership with the School District and the Township, was coordinated by Lt. Col. Brian Schill who serves as executive director of the Peters Township Chamber of Commerce.

In preparation for Veterans Day, the School District participated in events to honor veterans for their service and sacrifice.

Second graders at Baker were visited by members of the U.S. Coast Guard to learn about how the Coast Guard helps to protect our waterways. The Baker community honored more than 100 veterans and active military members with its annual Star Wall. Baker families were asked to write the name of the person, military branch, and relationship to the Baker student or staff member on each star. In addition, Baker fourth grade students had the opportunity to interview a special veteran in their life.

Students at Streams learned about veterans that are a part of the school community with special presentations, videos, and pictures.

At Boyce, students created a Wall of Honor to celebrate family members who are veterans or who are actively serving in the military.

Despite rainy weather, the USCHS marching band participated in the annual Veterans Day parade in downtown Pittsburgh. The high school’s Local Historical Leaders Club coordinated a display to honor those who have and are serving in the U.S. military. n

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 community actions that meet 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 and understand flood hazard information. 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.

• If you see evidence of dumping of debris in creeks or ditches, contact the Township.

• 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, ext. 5010.

• 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 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 safe place to reside.

Sanitary Sewer Lateral Inspection Ordinance

The Township has an ordinance that requires video inspections of private sanitary sewer laterals prior to the sale/conveyance of property. Sewer lateral inspections must be conducted by a National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) certified contractor.

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 and Sanitary Sewer Lateral Inspection paperwork, contact the Department of Public Works at 412-831-9000, ext. 2710. The completed forms and video of the inspection must be remitted to the Public Works Department at least one month prior to closing, along with a $50 fee made payable to the 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 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, ext. 2710.

Pool Permits Necessary

Swimming pools deeper than two feet in the Township of Upper St. Clair require a permit, or in many cases, two permits.

During the pandemic, the popularity of storable/temporary pools took off around the country. In Upper St. Clair, a building permit is required for the construction or installation of any swimming pool that can hold a depth of 24 inches or more of water. This includes permanent in-ground, above-ground, and storable/temporary pools. Any pool that contains a filter system, heater, or electrical lighting requires a second, electrical permit.

In order to prevent children from gaining uncontrolled access to the pool, a barrier must be constructed. The height of the barrier or fence must be at least 48 inches above grade. A successful pool barrier prevents children from getting over, under, or through it. n

For more information, visit twpusc.org/buildingpermits.

Gretchen Kreizenbeck, MD

From the Director’s Desk

Christian Gmiter, Library Director

Happy Spring, TODAY readers! I hope the changing of the seasons is treating you well and that Spring has sprung wherever you are reading this issue of TODAY

In this edition, I am going to talk about the 2022 library statistics. I know that this can be considered a dry topic, but I believe that you will find it interesting.

As many of you know, 2022 was a year of transition for the USC Township Library as we underwent extensive renovations that sectioned off the operable space of the building at various times. For instance, the children’s’ library was closed from April to July and adult fiction was closed during the summer of 2022. Adult nonfiction was closed at the end of that year. You get the picture. Despite this, the library operated all year, even with the construction. This is a testament to the strength of the library staff, the support from Township administration, and the affection that our residents have for the USC Township Library. All of these things are what makes the library truly special.

I have mentioned library circulation, or cumulative materials checked out in this space before. Circulation currently comprises the checkout and renewal of all print materials, as well as digital e-books and e-audio. I see circulation as being the “profit” that the library takes in each year, as it represents the mindset that we are purchasing and providing users with things that they find informative and interesting. In 2022, the USC Township Library circulated 265,242 items/virtual items. The highest circulating month was March, with 27,333 total items circulated.

Another key library statistic that is used as a benchmark is visitor count. As you have probably inferred, the number of visitors in and out of library doors are compiled each month. The USC Township Library saw 111,377 people cross our threshold in 2022. While this number is not 100% accurate as it includes Township staff and library employees—not just patrons—it is a good representation and outline of foot traffic in and out of the library.

The final statistic that I will discuss is items that were added to our collection in 2022. These items are all physical items—books, magazines, DVDs, and audio materials. 6,382 new physical items were added to the USC Township Library collection in 2022. The month with the most additions to the collection was March, with 707 items purchased and cataloged.

All of the categories that I have touched on above are important on a Commonwealth-wide level as these numbers are included in the library’s annual State Report. On a regional level, usage and collection statistics are all part of what makes the Upper St. Clair Library the preeminent library in the South Hills—we are a destination, not just a location. Our impressive statistical figures prove as much! n

Until next time,

Chris

Kids Library

Upper St. Clair Township Library is pleased to offer an easy, fun, and free program that puts children on the path to success. And yes, you can read 1000 books. If you read just three books a day, you’ll reach your goal within one year. But even if you read just one book per day, you’ll reach the goal of 1000 books in three years.

Register, Read, & Reach the Goal!

Visit the library to get your introductory informational packet. You’ll be directed to Beanstack, the online tracker you will use to record your child’s progress. A paper log will also be provided. Throughout the program you’ll be prompted on Beanstack to pick up your reading rewards. Your rewards can be picked up at Upper St. Clair Township Library Kids & Teens Check-Out Desk during our library hours.

Any time your child reads a book—or you read to them— mark it in the online or paper log. We encourage reading the same books several times—and each reading of the book counts! For example, if you read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You Hear? four times, log that as four books.

When you and your children reach milestones in the program, come into the library to receive rewards and progress pins.

• First 50 books —a 1000 Books Before Kindergarten tote bag.

• For those using the online log—every 50 books— a digital progress badge.

• Every 100 books–—a pin to put on to your tote bag to show your progress in the program, with a goal to earn 10 pins.

• 1000 books—the final pin and a certificate of completion.

My First Library Card

For more information about this reading program and more, visit the library’s website.

Need more books to help achieve your goal? How about getting your child their first library card? Sign your child up for their first library card during your next visit to the Township library. You’ll take the first step in supporting their early literacy development and lifelong love of reading.

A Librarian’s Tip for Sharing Books with Preschoolers

• Keep books throughout the house, the car, or diaper bag.

• By creating a book rich environment, children will have easy access and more opportunities to read or listen to books.

• Talk about pictures in the book.

• When you’re done reading the text, you can also talk about the colors, shapes, and actions in the pictures or photos.

• Attend a story time at the library.

• Anyone can read to a child, and the books read at story time will count towards the 1000-book goal!

The Importance of Reading Early and Often

Research shows that sharing books, conversations, and songs with young children builds language skills. This type of sharing contributes to children’s healthy development, provides skills to succeed in school, and helps assure that they will love reading.

Download the free Beanstack Tracker app. It is easy to use, has an ISBN scan feature to easily log your reading, and you can manage all the readers in your family in one account. Available from Apple and Google for all major devices.

Scan this code for easy access to Beanstack. Once you log in/sign up, you can begin the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Program.

20 WAYS TO RAISE A BOOK-SMART BABY Early Literacy Experiences for Babies & Toddlers

Read to your child from birth on. Read several times a day, even if it is just for a few minutes at a time.

When your baby begins to handle books, give them board books with heavy pages, rounded edges, and uncluttered pictures (look in the Library’s TODDLER section). Around 12-months, share lift-the-flap books for peekaboo experiences (look in the Library’s TODDLER section). When toddlers are ready, choose books with paper pages and just one or two sentences per page (look in the Library’s EASY PICTURE BOOK section).

Invite your toddler to help pick out books. And yes, it is good to read their favorites over and over again, as they will begin to recognize words.

Talk about the pictures—both illustrations and photographs. Ask simple “what” questions, point to words occasionally, and eventually let your child turn the pages.

Your reading experiences together should always be fun! Don’t attempt to teach your child to read.

When your baby makes sounds, imitate them. After repeating their sounds a few times, make new sounds for them to imitiate.

Talk to your child during everyday activities and daily routines. Introduce new and unusual words to them.

USC Township Library Hours

Monday: 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

Tuesday: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

Thursday: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Friday: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Library hours are subject to change; please call or visit the library’s website for hours of operation.

412-835-5540 twpusc.org/library

Provide experiences that allow you to introduce new words to your child. For example, at the zoo or on a farm you can introduce animal names and sounds; on a nature walk, introduce plant and insect names.

When you are the store, the post office, a restaurant, or any other public place, point to words on the signs that are everywhere and read them to your child.

Read, sing and chant nursery rhymes with your child. Make up motions to go with the rhymes.

Share lap rhymes, finger and hand rhymes, toe and foot rhymes, and bounce rhymes daily. Examples are “Where is Thumbkin” and “This Little Piggy.” If you don’t know any check out the Library’s Mother Goose section!

Sing songs with your child every day. And don’t worry about singing in tune—your child doesn’t care!

Sing songs slowly so that your child can hear different sounds that make up each word. In children’s songs, there is a distinct note for every syllable in a word, making it easier to hear those sounds.

Sing songs that are silly and that play with language, such as “This Old Man,” “Hickory, Dickory, Dock” and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Make up new songs, and sing them to familiar tunes. Add motions or act out songs.

Share all kinds of music styles with your child, and let them play simple instruments such as wrist bells, shakers, rattles, or maracas.

Share stories with your child. Tell them stories about your family, stories about things that have happened during the day, and even made-up stories about their favorite toys or stuffed animals.

Share wordless books with your child, telling the story from the pictures. Check out the Library’s collection of wordless picture books. You can also use a photograph as inspiration for any story.

Turn off the TV and play with your child every day. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television for children younger than two years.

Provide play materials and experiences that encourage the imagination, such as water play, sand play, play dough or modeling clay activities, painting, blowing bubbles, scribbling with large crayons, and pretend play.

When grandparents, relatives, or friends ask for gift suggestions for birthdays and other occasions, recommend books!

Adult Programs

Survival Skills with Allegheny County Parks

In-Person Event

Wednesday, March 8 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

What do you do if you become lost in the forest? Learn about basic woodland survival skills, including how to start an emergency fire, how to find water, and how to avoid getting lost or to be prepared if you do.

There is a fee of $7 per participant for this program. Participants receive a small fire-starting kit. Limited to 20 people. Meet at South Park—Cottage.

Try-It Tuesday: Sock Bunny

In-Person Event

Tuesday, March 14 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Try-It Tuesday, with local artist Judé Ernest, is a regular monthly USC Township Library Adult in-person art program. Each Try-It program is “Make-It and Take-It” and is specially developed to provide an introduction and the fundamentals for creating a variety of crafts.

This month we will make a sock bunny. This is an easy, no sew project that is perfect at Easter or any time you need a stuffed bunny. Limited to 15 participants. If you are unable to make it, cancel ahead of time to allow for other participants. This event will be held at the McLaughlin Run Activity Center (MAC) down the street from the library. A $5 donation is suggested.

Plant-Based Lasanga

Zoom Event

Wednesday, March 15

2–3:30 p.m.

Naomi Herman, MSW will demonstrate a whole food, plant-based lasagna recipe. Naomi has a coaching certificate from WellStart Health and a nutrition certificate from T. Colin Campbell/eCornell. She has been predominantly plant-based for about five years. Naomi leads the Plant-Based Pittsburgh South group, a subsidiary of Plant-Based Pittsburgh.

What to Keep: Organizing Your Life for the Years

Zoom Event

Ahead

Wednesday, March 22 6–7 pm.

Organizing, downsizing, transitioning, aging-in-place...what do they all have in common? Decision-making, prioritizing, and taking action on those choices takes time. Ceri Binotto, certified senior move manager for Discover Organizing, shares her best tips, not just on decluttering, but creating a home filled with what brings you happiness. Whether you are downsizing or just want to live a less cluttered life, this presentation will help you to prioritize your possessions and simplify your life! By deciding what we want to keep first, we can let go of the things that no longer serve us.

Kumihimo: The Japanese Art of Braiding and Beading, Part 1 In-Person Event

Thursday, March 23

1–3 p.m.

Learn the art of Japanese braiding during the Samurai period. In the first class, you will learn the basics of Kumihimo using silky fibers to make a lovely bracelet. It is important that you understand the practice of braiding on a foam disc and are comfortable with the process. You will be proud of what you have made in a short time period.

Contact library for program location.

Vietnam, Then and Now Zoom Event

Tuesday, March 28

6:30–8 p.m.

In honor of Vietnam Veterans Day, Todd DePastino discusses the history and meaning of the holiday and talks about his trips back to Vietnam with members of the Veterans Breakfast Club. They retraced the footsteps of the veterans who’d served in country a half century earlier and took in Vietnam’s history and natural beauty. Todd will share what he and the veterans learned on the trip, including how Confucianism determines traffic patterns, why Vietnamese people always ask how old you are, why many young Vietnamese thanked us for the “American War,” and what it was like for our veterans to meet their former battlefield enemies.

Audrey Hepburn: Our Fair Lady Zoom Event

Wednesday, March 29

6–7:30 p.m.

A survivor of the horrors of Nazi occupation in her childhood, Audrey Hepburn went on to become the “It” girl of films in the 1960s. Audrey showcased her inner beauty as well as her grace and style by becoming a noted humanitarian in later years. Discover the life of Audrey Hepburn and delve into her greatest film performances in this documentary-style tribute to Our Fair Lady.

Kumihimo: The Japanese Art of Braiding and Beading, Part 2 In-Person Event

Thursday, March 30

1–3 p.m.

Continue to learn the art of Japanese braiding during the Samurai period. In this class, you will learn how to complete your braid and wear your bracelet home. Contact library for program location.

Adult Programs

Autism Awareness

Zoom Event

Wednesday, April 5 6–7 p.m.

Join an interactive presentation on neurodiversity and autism with Aprilynn “April” Artz, LPC. April is a licensed professional counselor and a neurodiversity advocate who has been working in the helping field for 20+ years. If you know someone who is autistic and you would like to better understand the nuances of brain wiring and autistic culture, this is a great opportunity! Autism isn’t a new puzzle that we’re trying to figure out! It’s always been a part of our society. Let’s learn more about it together!

Try-It Tuesday: Spirelli or Dutch String Art

In-Person Event

Tuesday, April 11 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

This month make Dutch String Art. We will create a Spirelli supporting shape and decorate it with all kinds of colorful thread surface weaving. This traditional threadwork technique is addictive and the decorated Spirelli forms make wonderful embellishments and even ornaments. Limited to 15 participants. If you are unable to make it, cancel ahead of time to allow for other participants. This event will be held at the McLaughlin Run Activity Center down the street from the library. A $5 donation is suggested.

Clutter Fixes that Work

Zoom Event

Wednesday, April 12 6–7 p.m.

Sandy Kutchman, professional organizer and hoarding specialist with Discover Organizing, shares her best tips on not just decluttering but creating a home that serves you today and in the future. Learn how to get organized at work, in the garage, the kitchen, the basement, your clothes closet or the home office with step-by-step instructions and tips.

Pittsburgh in the Movies

Zoom Event

Wednesday, April 19 6–7 p.m.

Join in a fascinating talk about how the presentation of Pittsburgh in film

has changed over time. Professor Jeffrey Hinkleman from CMU will discuss various locations used in Pittsburgh for the movies and how they’ve been used to shape the world’s view of our city.

Kumihimo Beading Class, Part 3

In-Person Event

Thursday, April 20 1–3 p.m.

Before the Beaded Kumihimo class, you should use the skills from parts 1 and 2 to make a few more braided bracelets or necklaces. Then you will be ready to add seed beads to the strands to make a beaded bracelet. Spend time learning how to add beads to the stringing fiber, how to put the fibers on the disc and how to braid with the beads on the fibers. Once you start with the beading, you will be delighted with your accomplishments.

Contact library for program location.

Wildflower Walk with Allegheny County Parks

In-Person Event

Tuesday, April 25 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Join the park rangers for a walk in the woods to look for spring wildflowers. Learn about which bloom first and which bloom last, as well as where to find different species. Meet at South Park—Forbes Shelter. Limited to 20 people.

Marty Gitlin—From Chumps to Champs: The History of the Super Steelers

In-Person Event

Wednesday, April 26 6–7 p.m.

Join veteran sports writer Marty Gitlin for an enjoyable and enlightening program featuring the most interesting and greatest teams, players, events and moments in franchise history. Covering the Steelers from the 1930’s to today, he’ll show videos and talk about stars Bobby Lane, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis, Big Ben, and more. Learn some fun trivia and impress your friends with your knowledge!

Contact library for program location.

Kumihimo Beading Class, Part 4

In-Person Event

Thursday, April 27

1–3 p.m.

Before the Beaded Kumihimo class, you should use the skills from parts 1–3 to make a few more braided bracelets or necklaces. Then you will be ready to add seed beads to the strands to make a beaded bracelet. We will spend time learning how to add beads to the stringing fiber, how to put the fibers on the disc and how to braid with the beads on the fibers.

Contact library for program location.

USC Mental Health Series: Breaking Down Barriers to Mental Health Services

Zoom Event

Wednesday, May 3

6–7 p.m.

Join St. Clair Health’s Susan Evans for a discussion on the disparities in access to mental health services. She will be speaking about multiple factors including inaccessibility to mental health care services, cultural stigma surrounding mental health care, discrimination, and overall lack of awareness about mental health.

Get Organized for Good

Zoom Event

Wednesday, May 10

6–7 p.m.

Join professional organizer Sandy Kutchman of Discover Organizing for a free program at the Upper St. Clair Library to help those dealing with the challenge of too much stuff in their homes. Learn ways to clear possessions from your living spaces and how to keep on top of clutter with steps to do daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly.

USC Recreation and Leisure Services

While aging is often associated with slowing down, that doesn’t always have to be true.

A visit with members of the Upper St. Clair United Senior Citizens program revealed that many of them have extremely busy social calendars! With trips to sporting and cultural events, parties to celebrate the holidays and major birthdays, and weekly meetings that often include a speaker, this group is staying vital and active.

If you’re age 55 or older and retired, consider joining the group, which meets most Wednesdays at the McLaughlin Run Activity Center (MAC), located at 1770 McLaughlin Run Road. (Spouses of eligible members may also join, even if under age 55.) Informal activities begin at 10 a.m., with members holding a brief business meeting at noon, followed by lunch. In addition, there are various outings are held throughout the year. n

United Senior Citizens Senior Spotlight

As an active senior, Angela Doughty’s main interest is participating with The Sassy Seniors of Pittsburgh. The members, ages 60–86, go to nursing homes, retirement homes, and senior facilities to present musical shows. Each show, says Angela, requires extensive rehearsing by the cast.

In the same venue, Angela is a member of The Vintage Radio Players, a group that reads shows going back to the 1940’s and 1950’s radio shows.

USC Township Silver Card

The township Silver Card is free and available to residents ages 62 and older. To obtain a Silver Card and receive access to a select number of group exercise classes, USC’s three-hole golf course, as well as a complimentary summer tennis permit, visit the Community and Recreation Center, 1551 Mayview Road.

Silver card applications are available 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Monday–Friday. A valid photo ID showing USC residency is required upon application. Residents who acquired their Silver Card prior to 2019 are encouraged to re-apply for and receive a new, updated card.

For additional information about any older adult programming, contact the community programs department at 412-221-1099.

Angela is involved in volunteer activities at Christ Church, including their anti-racism team. She belongs to an exercise group in the aforementioned church, which meets twice a week.

A board member of USC United Senior Citizens, Angela takes a Tai Chi class at the C&RC and played tennis with Different Strokes until she was 79 years old. n

USCSD Gold Card

Upper St. Clair residents who are age 62 or older are eligible to receive a Gold Card, entitling them to free admission to plays and musicals, as well as regular season home athletic events and activities sponsored by the USC School District. WPIAL and PIAA playoff games are not eligible for free or discounted admission.

To obtain a Gold Card, visit the high school main office at 1825 McLaughlin Run Road. For more information, contact Nancy Dunn at 412-833-1600, ext. 2236, or email ndunn@uscsd.k12.pa.us.

ACCESS Paratransit and Pittsburgh Regional Transit Senior Citizen Connect Card

Applications for the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Senior Citizen Connect Card and the ACCESS 65 Plus Coordinated, Shared-Ride Paratransit Service are available at the C&RC. Application must be made in person at the C&RC during business hours, Monday–Friday. Proof of age (65) is required at the time of application.

Structural Burn Training

Steve Henk, USCVFD Vice President

Training is an essential pillar of the fire service. Every year, active members of the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department (USCVFD) are required to complete 32 hours of training to maintain their active membership. Although the members can select from a myriad of certified training classes, one of the training sessions hosted annually in November by the USCVFD is a structural burn session at the Washington County Fire Academy in accordance with NFPA 1403. During this annually hosted training, the training instructors utilize the concrete burn building on site to simulate a structure fire. Instructors ignite wood pallets and hay strategically throughout the burn building to simulate a structure fire in various rooms within the burn building. Different evolutions can be created by adding victims to rescue or changing the location and fire dynamics. Members then practice different techniques to achieve a safe conclusion to the evolution, whether that is securing the victim, ventilating the burn building, or extinguishing the fire.

All members, including junior, life, support, probationary, and active members are able to come to the structural burn session and participate in various aspects of the training evolutions, but only active members are able to partake in the live fire evolutions. All active members of the USCVFD are required to achieve Fire Fighter I certification in order to earn active membership. In order for a firefighter to be a candidate for Fire Fighter I, they must have an Interior Firefighting (ELIF) from the PSFA Entry Level curriculum that must include live fire training or a PA State Fire Academy local level structural burn session (SBS) prior to applying. That means for the USCVFD active members, this annual training is continued education in live fire evolutions. During these live fire evolutions, skills such as hose line advancement, victim search and rescue, pump operations, and ladder operations are all put together and exercised in unison. During the year, these skills are trained independently from one another or together without live fire, but the SBS allows the firefighters to train holistically in a controlled environment.

In Upper St. Clair, fortunately, we do not experience many structure fires. USCVFD firefighters are trained in HAZMAT, search and rescue, vehicle rescue, drone operations, swift water rescue, and various other non-fire related incidents, but structural firefighting proficiency remains a key core value within the department. An SBS allows firefighters as real world of an experience as possible while maintaining control and safety. Training with a live fire evolution is key to gaining familiarity with the conditions firefighters could face on any given day. The SBS is a time to practice skills previously learned and try out new techniques learned throughout the year, taking classroom applications and applying them to real world fire dynamics in a controlled environment. Members work together to build trust with each other and pass down knowledge learned through years of experience. n

New Chief at Tri-Community South EMS

Tri-Community South (TCS) EMS is now under the leadership of Chief Keith Morse, who joined the organization this past September.

Keith comes to TCS from Allegheny County Emergency Management, where he was the Allegheny County EMS Coordinator from 2015–2022. During his time with Allegheny County Emergency Management, Keith was incident commander during the landslide on Route 30. He was emergency operation center (EOC) manager during the Tree of Life shooting and spent a week after the incident working with families who were affected by the tragedy. Keith was recognized by several state-wide organizations for his work during the COVID pandemic. He was the clinical coordinator for the mass COVID testing program in McKeesport, the mass vaccine program in Castle Shannon, and helped the EMS agencies in the county by providing training, information, supplies, and county-wide procedures.

An Eagle Scout, Keith said he always gravitated to helping people with injuries when he was in scouting. His first job in public safety was as a volunteer firefighter in Kirkland, Washington. Keith explained that on the west coast, most fire departments also run EMS, so most of his calls were as an EMT. At the same time, he worked for Tri-Med Ambulance in King County, Washington as an EMT and a supervisor. Following completion of paramedic school, in 2005, Keith joined Woodland Hills EMS as a paramedic, and later a supervisor, and served as their director from 2012–2015.

Keith said he likes the resources available at TCS. “We have an incredible group of providers who care about the residents,” he commented. He sees himself as a steward to facilitate that and provide training and resources so they can do the best job possible.

Keith earned his BS in Paramedicine from Central Washington University and holds a MS in Emergency Management from Millersville University. In addition to his paramedic certification, Keith has a county level Professional Emergency Management certification and attended FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute’s Advanced Leadership Academy. He has his Firefighter 1 certification and volunteered with the Forest Hills VFD for ten years. Keith also brings operations level certifications in HazMat response, swift water rescue, active shooter operations, and response to radiological emergencies. n

Recognizing and Reporting Storm Water Pollution

David Kutschbach, Superintendent of Projects

The water from an average rain storm is absorbed into permeable surfaces, like lawns, fields, and open and undeveloped areas. Rain water that is not absorbed into the ground becomes runoff. Runoff occurs from impermeable surfaces like a roof, paved sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, and streets. Eventually, water runoff can enter a storm sewer system and discharge into local streams, rivers, and lakes. Along its journey, storm water can pick up chemicals, dirt, debris, and other pollutants after passing over impermeable surfaces. It is important to remember that stormwater discharge is not treated. Any discharge to the storm sewer system that is not composed entirely of stormwater is an illicit discharge.

Illicit discharges may often include nutrients, pathogens, and toxic pollutants. There are exceptions to an illicit discharge which include, but may not be limited to, potable waterline flushing, dechlorinated swimming pool discharges, and flows from fire fighting activities. However, an illicit discharge is pollution.

Recognizing an illicit discharge is important, because we use our local waterways for swimming, fishing, boating, and as a source of drinking water. Some examples of pollution entering the storm sewer system include dirty water in the street, the wash out of solids or liquids from trucks or vehicles, unusually

colored discharges, a leaking trash dumpster or storage container, and leaves or other solids being blown or swept into the street or down a storm drain.

There are a variety of pollution warning signs that might be observed coming out of a storm sewer pipe. Unusual water color such as milky white or orange, grey or black, tan to light brown, or bright green. Unusual odor is easiest to recognize. A rotten egg smell—hydrogen sulfide—may indicate raw sewage. A sharp pungent odor may indicate the presence of chemicals or pesticides. A gasoline or petroleum odor may indicate an industrial discharge, illegal dumping, or waste water. High turbidity may indicate a construction site discharge or sewage discharge. Lastly, illicit discharge includes floatables in the water. Examples include suds, an oil sheen, leaves and grass clippings, and trash and debris.

If you observe questionable discharges entering the storm sewer system or someone dumping items down a storm drain, report it to the Township. It is in everyone’s best interest to keep the water flowing through our storm sewer system free of pollutants. n

To report storm water pollution, call 412-831-9000 x 2710 during regular business hours.

Chief Keith Morse

Educational Technology

Maanasa Reddy, TODAY Intern

I began my time at Eisenhower Elementary when Upper St. Clair seemed to be dipping its toes into educational technology. We would use an iPad mini every so often in Spanish class, but otherwise our experience consisted of crayons and wooden #2 pencils. Middle school, however, was a new beginning for the 1:1 program in the District. iPads were distributed and we were taught how to submit assignments online through apps like Canvas or Showbie. Finally, in high school, we began to use Chromebooks in our classes.

This technology is exceedingly useful to students who may have lost their homework or forgot something from a lesson. Frankly, I, nor my back, can imagine having to carry heavy textbooks to and from school every day.

However, it also opened a Pandora’s box of sorts for all kinds of educational maladies and mischiefs. For many educators and students alike, the question remains, was this technology a boon or a curse?

To teenagers, the answer is simple: Why daydream about doing something other than integrals, when you could actually be doing something on your Chromebook…other than integrals?

Timothy Sabram, IB English teacher, recounts his own experiences: “I was showing a movie to the class which they typically would enjoy, but I witnessed a student with earbuds in, watching another movie on his own device.” Although chuckle-worthy, these sorts of situations do pose a real problem.

As many students want to go on to two- or four-year institutions, the gaps caused by technological distractions will show. The hand holding found in high school is simply not present in college, where oftentimes, a student’s grade is the culmination of a few test grades. If students are missing foundational knowledge

in a college-level course, they are unfortunately set up for failure. Even outside of school, there has been a true shift in human ability to learn due to electronics. Everything, from the news to articles, has been condensed into small bites of information. Naturally, by shortening everything else in their lives, students also have less of a capacity to read 500-page novels or sit through lengthy lessons.

However, the benefits of educational technology cannot be ignored. Students are able to catch up on lessons they have missed simply because everything is online at their fingertips. If a student does not understand what they are learning, they can search for Khan Academy or YouTube videos for a fresh explanation. Collaboration on group projects can be done anywhere and at any time.

Educational technology is not meant to be a substitute for learning in a classroom. Rather, it provides countless options in a student’s education. Christopher George, an English teacher at Eisenhower, finds, “Today, the ability to quickly pivot to online learning or conduct virtual parent-teacher conferences are two elements of those pandemic solutions that we can use as needed.” For busy families and students alike, these options provide flexibility in their schedule.

Ultimately, paper may be used to write on…or it could be made into paper airplanes. Like paper, technology can be misused in schools. Despite this potential, many students and teachers alike say that the benefits outweigh the problems of educational technology. Educational technology also is not a one-size-fits-all. Adjustments can be made constantly to set students up for success. As time goes on, schools can adjust to these challenges to ensure that students are benefited regarding the big picture. n

Educational technology: not a one-size-fits-all.

Upper St. Clair’s Global Awareness Fair

Emily Barrie, TODAY Intern

On the agenda: four high schools, 26 clubs, and four guest speakers showcasing their cultures. This is a short description of the Global Awareness Fair, which was a huge success for Upper St. Clair High School. Led by a committee of students and faculty members including LIGHT Initiative leader Doug Khorey, social studies teachers Doug Kirchner and Steve Torquato, seniors Emily Barrie, Aashna Banerjee, and Dakota Worstell, and junior Lucia Miles, the planning for the fair started this past September.

On November 18, high school students from Mt. Lebanon, Chartiers Valley, Montour, and Upper St. Clair went to the Upper St. Clair High School to attend the fair’s organized activities. To commence the fair, the Upper St. Clair Pantheon Choir sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”

Miles, who is also a member of the choir, said she was “really proud of my involvement because one of the most connecting aspects of culture is music and the song we sang had a global theme to it which I feel really tied the morning events together nicely.”

Next on the agenda was a Saudi Arabian artist named Ebtehal Badawi who is the artist behind Pittsburgh Builds Bridges. Initially inspired by the bullying her son faced in school, Badawi made a poster that works to promote inclusivity and fight racism. At the fair, students were invited to help paint the poster, which was later hung up in the High School for all students to see. Badawi also gave a moving speech at the event that was the initial inspiration for the theme of the fair—Building Bridges—and the bridge-building activity that followed. Maanasa Reddy, who helped run the Multicultural Club booth, said that the theme “allowed people to open their minds to cultures that they may not have had contact with outside of Upper St. Clair. For example, I was able to try Nepali tea for the first time and also play a trivia game about the Middle East.”

The Council of the Three Rivers American Indian Center Dancers came to perform, as well. They gave an indigenous people’s presence in between performing native dances alongside the powerful beating of a drum. During the performance, most students’ faces were filled with awe at being able to immerse themselves in a culture most of them had never been introduced to in person.

The next part of the day was by far the largest in scope. It featured interactive booths from more than 26 USCHS clubs and organizations and a PGH Crepes truck for students to purchase food. From the South Asian milk tea at the Asian Student Union Club booth to the trivia wheel courtesy of the Environmental Club, club members worked hard to engage the entire student body in promoting inclusivity and spreading awareness. There were also buttons made by the Global Awareness Fair committee that students could collect at each booth they visited, which was an added bonus of the event.

Dhana Misquitta, a leader of the Women’s Studies’ booth about the current crisis in Iran, remarked that the fair “really pushed me to get more involved in situations affecting women in Iran. I gained a lot from this experience, including becoming a better researcher and presenter.”

Along with the booths, professional poet Haley Clancy from the Pittsburgh area had a station where she wrote poems for people about anything they desired, on the spot.

To close the fair, a packing session for the non-profit organization Hello Neighbor was led by Aubrey Parke, who works there. Over the course of the previous weeks, students and faculty had been encouraged to donate supplies to Hello Neighbor, and the products would be given to newly settled refugee families in the area. Students came together from all the schools to sort out the donated supplies into different boxes depending on the product’s intended use.

The fair is already confirmed to take place next year, and after this year’s fantastic results, it is a sure bet that Upper St. Clair High School students will continue to promote a school that is more globally aware. n

Students were able to visit interactive booths during the fair.

Students painting a poster to promote inclusivity and fight racism.

The Pantheon Choir opened the Global Awareness Fair by singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”

Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center Dancers performed native dances for the students.

Tending to the Land with Helping Hands

Lindsay Dill, ALT

Upcoming Local Events

March 20 | 7:30–8:30 p.m.

Starlight Stroll: Spring Equinox

@ Wingfield Pines

All Ages

Cost: $5/person

alleghenylandtrust.org/event/starlight-strollspring-equinox/

Enjoy the opportunity to explore Wingfield Pines after dark. Topics vary depending on the evening’s educator and can include nocturnal and crepuscular creatures, astronomy, lore, and much more.

April 5 | 5–5:45 p.m.

Webinar: Spring Wild Edibles

@ Virtual

As winter’s end looms and early robins remind us that spring is on the horizon, Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) is looking forward to sharing time on the land. As weather warms each year, so too does ALT’s busy season for maintaining and improving our green spaces, hosting volunteer workdays, and offering environmental education programming for all ages. This year, ALT will also be hosting two on-site interns at Wingfield Pines Conservation Area and Churchill Valley Greenway to help steward those spaces.

Every year since 2012, a passionate and knowledgeable student of the environment has worked with ALT as the John Hamm Intern at Wingfield Pines to maintain and enhance the conservation area, improve plant and wildlife habitat, conduct educational and scientific programming, and be the face of ALT to the conservation area’s many visitors during the busy summer season.

Far more than simply a good summer job, the internship provides a truly outstanding opportunity each year for one college- or graduate-level student in an environmental field. The intern in this position can apply their classroom learnings and further explore their career interests through hands-on application in a working outdoor laboratory.

The internship was established a decade ago in memory of John Hamm, a board member of the Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Fund (PAEDF) and a tireless advocate for Chartiers Creek. Wingfield Pines is a better place thanks to a decade of service from Hamm interns, most of whom have leveraged their internship experience as a building block to successful conservation or environmental careers.

Now, a family of dedicated conservationists has created another annual internship opportunity with Allegheny Land Trust—this time at the recently-conserved Churchill Valley Greenway.

Each year, the ten-week Mark A. MacKay Conservation Internship will provide one student an opportunity to gain experience in a nonprofit environment working with staff, partners, and volunteers to maintain and improve Churchill Valley Greenway. Like the annual internship at Wingfield Pines, this opportunity will serve as an excellent opportunity for students to gain experience and hone their skills while improving a regional asset.

The internship will take place between ALT’s offices in Sewickley and the green space in Churchill and Penn Hills. This green space is among ALT’s newest protected lands, and has both a rich history and a promising future of serving the community through the many benefits conserved land has to offer. n

All Ages

Cost: Free

alleghenylandtrust.org/event/webinar-springwild-edibles/

Can you make a meal from what grows in your backyard? Discover common springtime edible plants with ALT’s senior director of education and curriculum Julie Travaglini.

April 6 | 6–7 p.m.

Sustainability at Home Series: Composting 101

@ Citizens Library

All Ages

Cost: $10/person

alleghenylandtrust.org/event/sustainability-athome-series-composting-101/

Join ALT for round 2 of our popular series of workshops: The Sustainability at Home Series! These workshops will focus on living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle through at home sustainability practices. This workshop will focus on composting, how to start and how to maintain it properly. All participants will receive a compost tumbler to take home. No walk-ins will be permitted. Generous funding and support for this series was provided by the EQT Foundation.

April 19 | 5–5:45 p.m.

Webinar: City Nature Challenge & iNaturalist

@ Virtual

All Ages

Cost: Free alleghenylandtrust.org/event/webinar-city-naturechallenge-and-inaturalist/

Join ALT senior director of education and curriculum Julie Travaglini to learn how you can document biodiversity during the four-day City Nature Challenge. You’ll also learn the basics of using the iNaturalist app.

Find these

and more at alleghenylandtrust.org/events

To learn more about the paid John Hamm Internship at Wingfield Pines in Upper St. Clair, the paid Mark A. MacKay Conservation Internship at Churchill Valley Greenway in Churchill or Penn Hills, or about ALT’s upcoming volunteer, education, and other activities at its green spaces across the county, visit alleghenylandtrust.org.

events

Horses with Hope Gets Bigger

Tim Gagne

by Getting Smaller

Something big has come to Gilfillan Farm. Well, it’s more of a small thing…miniature, really.

Since expanding its therapeutic riding and equine assisted therapy program to the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair’s Gilfillan Farm two years ago, Horses with Hope: Discovery, Growth & Learning Center has continued to get bigger. Their latest growth move, however, has come from getting smaller… horses.

Titus and Zane, two six-month-old miniature Appaloosa horses were brought to Gilfillan Farm last fall, after Horses with Hope’s last therapeutic riding programs session of the year had wrapped up. It was a wish of the Gilfillan family that, somehow, the farm return to its roots as a working farm. As the Horses with Hope horses return to the group’s Bethel Park location in the winter (where there is more indoor room for the horses in bad weather), that Gilfillan family wish could not yet be fulfilled. But miniature horses are a better fit, size wise, for the outbuildings at the farm, making it finally possible to once again have animals on site year-round.

More than a cute novelty, Titus and Zane were acquired by Horses with Hope so the group could expand its programming to include feeding and grooming therapy sessions. Grooming horses helps children with special needs with fine motor skills and it helps them practice “soft” skills like patience, caring for others, and following directions—all skills that transfer nicely to activities and routines in the clients’ daily lives. Plus, those minis are just so stinking cute! The “smile therapy” that Titus and Zane provide brightens the day all who interact with them.

Two volunteers arrive at Gilfillan Farm every morning around 8 a.m. to feed, groom, and exercise Titus and Zane. They also lead the minis through various exercises—introducing various noises, toys, tarps, etc.—meant to desensitize them to new sights and sounds. This helps the horses stay calm during therapy sessions and around children who may move or vocalize in unexpected ways. This routine is repeated at the end of the day, regardless of weather. n

How You Can Help Horses with Hope

Horses with Hope is always looking for volunteers to act as “side walkers,” helpers who walk alongside the horses during therapy sessions to assist with therapeutic activities and help guide the rider. Other volunteers help with the upkeep of both Horses with Hope locations—Gilfillan Farm and the winter quarters in Bethel Park.

Local scouts looking for an interesting Eagle Scout project can also make a big impact on Horses with Hope. The Bethel Park location is in need of a new mounting block—a ramp and deck structure which helps riders get on their horse—and a run-in shed, which provides shelter to horses out in the pasture.

Horses with Hope is a faith-based discovery, growth, and learning center that is a resource for numerous populations in and around the Pittsburgh and Washington communities. Each participant is encouraged to reach their full potential, assisting them to reach beyond their abilities by the partnership developed with the horses. To learn more or to help, visit horseswithhope.org/mission-and-vision. n

Mounting block to help riders get on their horse

New minis, Titus and Zane

What You Need to Know About Women’s Heart Health

Did you know that each year cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined? Though heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women, too many are unfamiliar with their cardiovascular disease risk factors and/or the symptoms unique to women.

“Insufficient awareness of possible cardiac problems, a lack of preventive measures, and at times, confusing presentation of symptoms ultimately lead to worse outcomes for women with cardiovascular problems,” says Katherine Shreyder, MD, the newest cardiologist at St. Clair Health. “Plus, research shows that nearly half of all women ignore symptoms or wait to seek medical care, which can lead to a late diagnosis, delayed treatment, and complications down the road.”

As the first female physician to join St. Clair Medical Group Cardiology, Dr. Shreyder is committed to raising awareness of cardiovascular disease and addressing the gender gap in care to improve outcomes for women in Southwestern Pennsylvania. In fact, she is striving to introduce a new women’s heart health program at St. Clair Health this year. By collaborating with physician colleagues in obstetrics and gynecology and primary care, Dr. Shreyder hopes to help more women better recognize the signs and risk factors of heart disease.

Dr. Katherine Shreyder

“Heart disease and stroke can affect women of all ages and ethnicities, so it’s critical for the millions of American women at risk for cardiovascular disease to understand their risk factors and family history,” explains Dr. Shreyder. “Knowing your risk level is of great importance and can help physicians like me to better identify preventive measures you can take to inhibit heart disease.”

While hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and obesity are risk factors prevalent in both sexes, Dr. Shreyder emphasizes that conditions unique to women can increase their chances for heart problems. These include high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy, preeclampsia, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), breast cancer, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Additionally, researchers have found many sex-related differences in the cardiovascular system that can affect how women and men experience heart disease. Female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone may impact many aspects of heart health. Plus, women have smaller blood vessels and heart chambers, fewer red blood cells, and thinner ventricle walls.

“Women may suffer from different cardiovascular conditions throughout their life spans due to these unique risk factors, but the good news is that most heart and stroke events can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes,” explains Dr. Shreyder. “You should eat healthy, get active, maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking or stay away from second-hand smoke, and control cholesterol and blood pressure.”

In addition to learning more about heart disease and taking the necessary steps to reduce their risk, women should see a physician regularly to ensure they are in good health. The most important step in diagnosing heart disease is to find a physician you trust—one who specializes in cardiovascular care, can analyze your symptoms, and will choose the best diagnostic approach to treat any conditions. n

Katherine Shreyder, MD, received her medical training in Moscow, Russia, and worked as a physician there for 13 years before immigrating to the United States. She completed her residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and a fellowship at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Massachusetts. She is board certified in cardiovascular medicine and practices with St. Clair Medical Group.

If you are searching for a cardiologist, Dr. Shreyder is currently accepting new patients at multiple St. Clair Medical Group Cardiology locations. To request an appointment, call 412-942-7900 or visit physicians.stclair.org/scmg-cardiology/. See ads for St. Clair Health on pages 3 and 49.

Mountain Climbing

Scaling new heights, TODAY was with a group of Upper St. Clair moms as they hiked Old Rag in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Learn about their adventrues in “Reaching the Summit” on page 14. n

50 States

TODAY was in Idaho with Bob Orchowski as he marked a major milestone—visiting all 50 states! Read more about Bob’s journeys in the article, “Robert Orchowski—Upper St. Clair’s I’ve Been Everywhere Man” found on page 22. n

Instructions for Traveling with TODAY

Read the following criteria to find out how to submit information.

• Clear, close-up digital photo of USC resident(s) holding his or her TODAY magazine.

• Attach jpg (at least 300 dpi) and send via email, including required information (see below) in the body of the email.

• List name(s) of resident(s), group, and specific photo location, and objective of visit (leisure, volunteer, career, etc.) or stay-at-home project.

• Include email address or phone number should further contact be necessary.

• Email information to usctoday@usctoday.org, with “TODAY” listed in subject line.

Note: Submitted photos and information for this feature section will remain on file for upcoming editions until published.

(l/r) Kirstan Boettger, Ashley Collins, Kerry Turner, Katie Perrotti, and Claire Cass on Loft Mountain, along the Appalachian Trail

Bob in Idaho, his 50th state

How Do Roads Get Their Names?

In Upper St. Clair, like in many communities, road names are frequently connected to local people. As time passes, the road remains but memories of their namesake fades. Thanks to old photographs, sometimes we can put a few faces with these names.

Drake Road runs between South Park and Bethel Church Roads and was named after the Drake family. A. H. Drake worked for John Poellot, who ran a hardware and wagon shop in the Clifton area of Upper St. Clair. Pictured here are Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Drake, along with Myra and Eugene Drake. n

Article courtesy of Carolyn Jones Friedrich, historian, Historical Society of Upper St. Clair.

Profiles

PACP Recognizes Chamber Professional with Service Award

Brian Schill, executive director of Peters Township Chamber of Commerce was the awarded Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals (PACP) Distinguished Service Award during their Chamber Professionals & Leadership Conference held in Gettysburg.

To qualify, candidates must have been in full-time chamber or chambersponsored affiliate management for at least five years, must now be serving in chamber management in Pennsylvania, and must have been a PACP member for at least three consecutive years.

Brian is currently the vice chairman of PACP and will take the helm in January 2024.

PACP’s service awards are meant to promote and recognize outstanding chamber service not only to the individual’s community but also to their professional association.

Pirates Catcher Has USC Connection

Austin Hedges , son of Pam Opar (USCHS 1971), was raised in Southern California and spent the first five-and-a-half seasons of his Major League career in San Diego. But this year, Hedges will be joining the Pittsburgh Pirates as a catcher. A great reason to cheer on the Buccos this season!

Happenings!

Free Tax Assistance by VITA

Location: The Bible Chapel, 300 Gallery Drive, McMurray, lower level of rear building.

Directions: Five miles south of South Hills Village on Washington Road, right at the light onto Gallery Drive, 0.4 miles to VITA site.

Dates/Times: Monday—Thursday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m., now through April 6. First come, first served; no appointments. What to bring: 2021 tax return; ID for yourself and spouse, if applicable; Social Security number(s) and birthdate(s) for yourself, spouse, and any dependents; all W-2 and 1099 tax documents (including Social Security 1099); 1095 health care statements; and property tax receipts. Both spouses must sign joint returns. Must wear a mask.

Federal, state, and local taxes, and property tax/rent rebate forms will be prepared.

Questions? Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 or search “VITA” online at irs.gov. Do not contact The Bible Chapel.

Women with Roots

Women with roots in Upper St. Clair gather together every year on a night in December to celebrate the season and friendship. While started through the common thread of childrearing, this group has stayed together and continues to honor this tradition, some for more than 20 years.

Girl Scout Cookie Sales

Girl Scouts of all ages will be out in the community hosting cookie booths until March 26. You can usually find Girl Scout cookie booths at local businesses, the post office, churches, and more. Customers can search for nearby cookie booths by visiting gswpa.org/en/ cookies/find-cookies.html.

Hitting the Links

Women’s Golf Association of Mt. Lebanon invites you to join us every Tuesday from April through September. Membership open to all women, all skill levels, residents, and non-residents. For more info call Sharon Ackerman at 412-480-3319.

Brian Schill

Austin Hedges

Women with roots in Upper St. Clair

Dempsey Lane

Kathi Kernan

John Geisler

Elaine Krelis

Kim Lanphear

Julie Leslie

Brad Templeton

Mary Ann Wellener

Rachel Richard Dora Rudick Amanda Nasman

McCarthy

Darla Stevick

Faith Williard

Milo Hindman Manager