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Summer 2021
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Volume 27
www.twpusc.org/usctoday • www.15241.TODAY •
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Issue 2
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Features & Around the Township
Get Up and Ride The Great Allegheny Passage
10
14 Dale Porter, a Hall of Fame Story
A Bad Trip
70
Medallion Ball Honorees
74
A Decade of Hamm Interns
76
Community Foundation Reboots
45
School District
District’s Student Support Services Restructured
46
USC Hosts and Wins WPIAL Swim Championships
48
USC Boys Basketball Crowned WPIAL Champs
50
USC Earns WELL Health-Safety Rating
52 22
Boyce Mayview Park Trails Climb in Popularity
18
Township
USC Community Days Full of memories
21
Enjoy the Outdoors in USC
28
Summer Camps for Everyone
30
Focusing on Mental Health
Guides/ Directories
9 Pinebridge Commons 40 Summer Opportunities 59 Home & Garden 80 Advertiser Index
Recycling Together, we can make a difference
36 51
Words from Fire Chief Mike Moore Spelling Bee Winner
Cover
The summer cover of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY shows USCHS boys swim team and basketball team celebrating their respective WPIAL wins this past March. See related articles on pages 46–48. Interested in purchasing a TODAY cover? Contact usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us to learn about the specifications and rates. 68
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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a not-for-profit community magazine dedicated to promoting the Township and School District of The award-winning, official publication of the Upper St. Clair by recognizing the gifts and School District and Township of Upper St. Clair contributions of the people who live and work here. This year marks 27 years of our publication.
Fall 2021 edition deadlines: Articles—June 17 Advertising—June 21
Winter 2021 edition deadlines: Articles—September 23 Advertising—September 27 Website(s): www.twpusc.org/usctoday www.15241.today
The 106 th 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. Email: usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us @usctoday
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 Linda M. Dudzinski, Editor-in-Chief Terry Kish, Associate Editor Colleen DeMarco, Office Manager, Advertising Executive Sarah Beitler, Marketing Executive, Advertising Executive Kerry Turner, Advertising Executive Dorothy Clark, Graphic Designer Student Interns Julia Roeschenthaler Bria Zegarelli
Mark Mansfield, Paul Fox, Linda Dudzinski, Terry Kish, Colleen DeMarco, Sarah Beitler, Kerry Turner, and Dorothy Clark UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a non-partisan Township, School District, and community magazine. Political advertising and political commentary are not accepted. The publishers of this magazine reserve the right to reject advertising or articles inconsistent with the objectives, image, and aesthetic standards of the magazine. 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.
Board of School Directors Patrick Hewitt, President Phillip J. Elias, Vice President Amy L. Billerbeck Barbara L. Bolas Jennifer L. Bowen Dr. Daphna Gans Louis P. Mafrice, Jr.
The next issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY will be the Fall 2021 issue and will be published in August 2021. 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@uscsd.k12.pa.us. Article Information Editor-in-Chief Linda Dudzinski phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2681 Advertising Information Office Manager Colleen DeMarco phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284 fax: 412-851-2592 Ad file submission: dclark@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Township Board of Commissioners Mark D. Christie, President, Ward 4 Daniel R. Paoly, Vice President, At-Large Dante R. Plutko, Jr., Ward 1 Pamela L. Enck, Ward 2 Robert W. Orchowski, Ward 3 Ronald J. Pardini, Ward 5 Todd D. Burlingame, At-Large
Jennifer A. Schnore UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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@uscsd.k12.pa.us to find out how your student can contribute. The 106th issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a joint publication of the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair. © Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this magazine, in print or web version, in whole or in part, without the expressed written consent of the Editor, is strictly prohibited. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 Phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284 Fax: 412-851-2592 Email: usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us Township: 412-831-9000 School District: 412-833-1600 Printed by Freeport Press 2127 Reiser Ave. SE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663 Design by DMC Design, 412-824-7844
Angela B. Petersen
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Thank you to our volunteer contributors this issue: Judge Ronald Arnoni, Becky Brindle, Cindy Brophy, Lauren Costello, Lynn Dempsey, Lindsay Dill, Tom Dougherty, Michael Ference, Carolyn Jones Friedrich, Tim Gagne, Chris Girty, Christian Gmiter, Richard Hatch, Jay Lynch, Rep. Natalie Mihalek, Mike Moore, Jim O’Brien, Haley Roberts, Gary Schafer, Dr. Joseph Scherer, Jim Shea, Mary Lynne Spazok, Marilyn Walsh, Glenn Ward, Julie Welter, and Bria Zegarelli (intern & YWG).
Summer 2021
A Summer Note from the Publishers Matthew R. Serakowski
Dr. John T. Rozzo
In late March on the third day of spring, we got together at the McLaughlin Run Activity Center (MAC) to discuss our ongoing strategies for Upper St. Clair. Knowing that the Township and the School District are in step regarding the objectives necessary to effectively run our community, we talked about many things to an audience of zero, but in front of the rolling camera to shoot 15241 TODAY talk, “On Stage with Jim & Lanny.” This broadcast, which can be viewed on Upper St. Clair’s Public Access Television or through YouTube on any handheld device, is a great way to keep residents informed about what’s going on in our community (see page 72 for more details). What was most noticeable during the taping was that communication between the two government bodies has never been stronger. Necessarily ramped up this past year to deal with situations surrounding the pandemic, the level of collaboration and the increased sense of community followed suit. One example is the use of our fields and playgrounds. To move forward last spring, we found a safe way to open up our green spaces, helping all residents—young and old—have a way to participate in exercise and activity. Overall and through joint committees, supported by the continued efforts of wonderful community volunteers, the strength of services to Upper St. Clair residents is unquestionable. Speaking of green space and in order to enjoy Upper St. Clair Community Day this year, we have imagined and put together “A Day of Outdoor Play.” On the third Saturday in May, when Community Day is normally held, we invite residents of all ages to reconnect with nature. See details on page 18 and refer to page 21 for a list of all 18 USC Township parks available for your use. Page 24 shares an interior trail map of our biggest park, the 475-acre Boyce Mayview Park, for your hiking pleasure. Get out, enjoy, destress, and connect not only on this day, but all summer long. In closing, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, our community’s print publication, has been a source of sharing news together. Started in 1994 under the direction of Dr. William Pope, USCSD superintendent, and Douglas Watkins, Township manager, the vision to collaborate began. And while social media through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram has taken a huge leap forward in instant communication, TODAY has continued to carry the torch and stay consistent with its mission of promoting the Township and School District by recognizing the gifts and contributions of the people who live and work here. In this edition and with that in mind, you will see a refreshed presentation of the TODAY masthead, a look that is lock-step with the continued forward movement and consistent efforts of our School District and Township, together, to offer top-notch services to our residents. Thanks for reading our community magazine. We are glad you are here, and we are glad we are here to serve your needs. Happy summer! Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager
Dr. John T. Rozzo Superintendent of Schools
www.twpusc.org/usctoday | usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us 8
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9
Dale Porter, a Hall of Fame Story Worth Sharing Story and photos by Jim O’Brien
Dale Porter pulled a brown autograph book out of a pile of papers and photographs and gave it to me for my reading pleasure. It was a relic, but in good shape, something he had saved from his youth. For the past 34 years, Porter has resided in the eastern-most corner of Upper St. Clair, a neighborhood that borders Mt. Lebanon. He grew up in West Mifflin and is a retired Canonsburg Middle School math teacher. He is a reader and choir member at St. John Capistran Catholic Church, where he attends Mass twice a week. He is grateful for his life. His voice is loud and clear. When he speaks, you swear you’re listening to a public address announcer at a ballpark, stadium, or sports arena. When he calls out the score while playing a game of pickleball, you think you’re competing at Wimbledon or the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing, New York. It was during a break while playing pickleball one morning about two years ago at the Baker Elementary School tennis and pickleball courts that Porter Dale Porter, holding shared some stories with me about a Hall of Fame bat his boyhood experience of visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. I knew right away that he had a story to share—make that stories—worthy of a feature article in this community magazine. I just didn’t know how good a story it was until we later shared coffee one winter morning in February at Panera’s Restaurant in McMurray, about two miles from my home in Waterdam Farms, Washington County. It was worth the wait. Porter came prepared for the meeting and was eager to show me his mementos upon arrival. What were the chances that his former boss, Dr. Nick Bayak, the retired superintendent of schools in Canonsburg would also be there, seated just two tables away, properly “social distanced” during the coronavirus pandemic? They greeted each other with enthusiasm. Porter had been working as a greeter at PPG Paints Arena for Penguins games in recent years, standing just below the statue of Mario Lemieux and welcoming fans, even on cold nights. But not this season. Fans had not yet been permitted to attend games. They started to come in limited numbers in early March. This was March Madness of a different kind, having nothing to do with the NCAA basketball tournament. These days, Porter was out of work except for babysitting his grandchild for his daughter, Stacey Gentoso, like a lot of people associated with sports on a minor level Stan Musial and in various other businesses and enterprises. Porter was still smiling. Porter has a Hall of Fame outlook on life. He says he serves where he can be useful. He has wonderful memories of time well spent. He had a recent haircut, a buzzcut of sorts that made him look young enough to enlist in the military. He had what we once called a “clean-cut” look. He smiled at the suggestion. His autograph book is a real treasure, like digging about for an artifact from King Tut’s tomb, or at least a cemetery discovery or find. It was full of signatures of sports figures, some familiar to me at first glance: Arnold Palmer, Bill Mazeroski, Ralph Kiner, Stan Musial, and Casey Stengel. The names, if not the signatures themselves, brought to mind some great athletes, coaches, and managers. Porter would get more sports autographs as he got older and treasured those of Mario Lemieux, Pierre Larouche, and Randy Hillier, the pride of the Penguins. There were photos Porter had taken with his own camera while in Cooperstown for the Baseball Hall of Fame ceremonies of Musial, Kiner, Yogi Berra, and Roy Campella, and a sportswriter from the Pittsburgh Yogi Berra 10
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Summer 2021
Post-Gazette, the baseball writer Charles “Pally” Feeney who was wearing the darndest red and pink ensemble I ever saw. I didn’t remember him dressing so spectacularly, but I guess he got dressed up for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Cooperstown is a quaint village from another time and named for the author James Fenimore Cooper. You never know who you’re going to spot in the streets during the Hall of Fame induction weekend. The photos were a bit faded, but Porter’s memory was not. He was keen on his recall, going to Cooperstown accompanied by his mother and finding many of the vintage Hall of Famers in the lobby and dining area at the Oteswego Resort Hotel, roaming wherever he wanted to go. A fan could do that once upon a time. But in recent years, those areas have been off limits to most everyone but the celebrities, and that was even before the days of COVID or utterings of the word “pandemic.” I remember being in Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame event with my good friend, Bill Hodges, an attorney from Long Island. Being Dale, in his younger years, with his mother, Dorothy, at apart for a bit and doing our own thing, he returned after brushing the Baseball Hall of Fame with greatness. “I just rubbed shoulders with High Pockets Kelly,” exclaimed Hodges. You have to be a New Yorker to appreciate that meeting. George “High Pockets” Kelly had played 16 years in the majors, mostly with the New York Giants and finishing up his career in 1932 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Porter was so proud of his album. A keepsake for life, it validated that Porter kept hallowed company when he paid visits to the Baseball Hall of Fame for the induction ceremonies of two of his Pirates’ favorites, Roberto Clemente in 1973 and Ralph Kiner in 1975. This brought back memories for me, as well, since I had covered both of those Hall of Fame inductions as a sportswriter for The New York Post, in addition to the induction ceremony of Mazeroski in 2001. I was accompanied by friends Bill Priatko and Rudy Celigoi at the 2001 induction. We got to Cooperstown in a mad car dash from Canton, Ohio, where we had witnessed the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction of the Steelers’ Lynn Swann the day before. It was quite the doubleheader weekend for a Pittsburgh sports fan or sportswriter! Porter’s autograph book reminded me that I also had an autograph book. It was red, and it was somewhere in my storehouse. It included autographs from a sports banquet in my youth, with signatures of Frankie Gustine, Baz Bastien, Jim “Popcorn” Brandt, Danny O’Connell, Gil Mayer, Bobby Sollinger, and Julius “Moose” Solters. Gustine and O’Connell had played infield for the Pirates, Brandt was a running back for the Steelers, Mayer and Sollinger were hockey players, and Solters was a hometown hero, a fixture at every sports dinner in Hazelwood. Solters played baseball for the Arnold Palmer’s signature; always legible, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox of the he carefully crafted each signature for a lucky fan. American League with some distinction. A check of the Baseball Encyclopedia reveals that he had a lifetime batting average of .289 in 938 games. He’d be a millionaire as a baseball player these days. He went blind after his ballplaying days. I am reminded of him when I watch Andrea Bocelli, the Italian tenor, singing a duet with Sarah Brightman of “Time to Say Goodbye” on PBS TV specials or YouTube. Growing up in the mid-50s and early ’60s, Porter and I also had autograph books that were signed by neighborhood friends. Kids we played with—boys and girls—signed their names below hand-written ditties, such as “Roses are red, violets are blue, you can always count on me to be honest and true.” Those were innocent days. Do you have an autograph book from your younger days that you’ve kept? Find it and dust it off. Open it up to relive your own memories. We all have stories to share. n Ralph Kiner first-day-of-issue card
Summer 2021
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
11
Get Up and Ride
The Great Allegheny Passage
Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath Pittsburgh McKeesport Smithton Great Connellsville Allegheny Passage Ohiopyle Confluence
Pennsylvania Meyersdale
Frostburg
Big Savage
Little Orleans
C&O Canal Towpath
Williamsport
Paw Paw
N
Antietam
West Virginia GE
AND
RI
E D
T
UP
Jim at Horseshoe Bend
Hancock
Cumberland
Maryland
Harpers Ferry
Virginia
White’s Ferry Great Falls
Washington, DC
Jim and Marty’s 2010 GAP Adventure by the Numbers Distance: 335 miles over five days (averaging 67 miles/day) Elevation: Climbed 1800 feet over 130 miles from Pittsburgh to Big Savage Mountain Descended 1800 feet over 20 miles from Big Savage to Cumberland, MD Descended 600 feet over 185 miles from Cumberland to Washington, DC Weight of trunk bag, fully loaded with clothes and gear for five days: 8 pounds Estimated total calories consumed per day: 4500 Flat tires: 2 Thunder and lightning storms while riding: 1 Overnight stopping points: Ohiopyle, PA, Frostburg, MD, Berkeley Springs, WV, Harpers Ferry, WV Favorite side trip: Antietam Battlefield, Sharpsburg, MD Shout-outs to Pittsburgh establishments: Piper’s Pub, Hofbrauhaus, Bettis Grille, Giant Eagle 12
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
“A Cycling Version of ‘A Walk in the Woods’,” says one of the reviewers on the Amazon site. Indeed, Jim Shea’s Get Up and Ride bears some similarities to Bill Bryson’s humorous travel book chronicling his hiking of the Appalachian Trail with Katz, a close friend who is very different from Bryson. “It’s about biking vs. hiking, and the journey (and the book itself) is a bit shorter,” says another reviewer. “But it’s every bit as entertaining and readable.” Jim, a tech sales and marketing executive, relocated from his childhood home in the Washington, DC area to Upper St. Clair, where he has lived with his wife and three sons for the last 18 years. He published Get Up and Ride, his first book, this past December. It’s the true story of his 35-year friendship with brother-in-law Marty Moldovan against the backdrop of their 335-mile biking adventure on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) and C&O Canal. What prompted Jim to write it? “There were so many amazing and hilarious things that happened to us on that bike trip,” said Jim. “Plus, Marty is a one-ofa-kind character, and whenever I’m with him crazy and funny things seem to happen. I’d tell other people these stories and they’d laugh, even if they don’t know Marty. With all the stress and negativity these days, we can all use something to help us escape and laugh a bit. So, I decided it was time to record my bike trip adventures in a book.” Marty and Jim married two sisters from Greensburg in 1988. Jim and his wife, Katie, are very similar—both with engineering backgrounds who prefer the suburbs. Marty and his wife, Belle, are artists and teachers in the city of Pittsburgh, where they have lived for the past 35 years. Jim said, “I would never have met someone like Marty had we not become brothers-in-law. In fact, we are polar opposites. I’m always on the go, traveling, working long hours. Marty is more relaxed, has summers off, and goes with the flow. He is 63 years old and has never worn a watch or kept a calendar.”
Summer 2021
Jim writes in the book, “We could not be more different. But we have grown close over the years, and I would trust him with my life in any situation—as long as it didn’t require him to move too quickly.” While Marty does like to relax, he is an avid cyclist who does mountain, trail, and road biking—typically over 100 miles a week. In 2010, he suggested to Jim that they make the trip from Pittsburgh to DC on the recently completed GAP trail. Jim had not ridden a bike in years and was hesitant. “Since I generally only took two weeks off from work each year, I wasn’t sure I wanted to spend one of those weeks on a bike— getting wet, muddy, and dealing with the pain of having a bike seat attached to my butt for five days. But Marty talked me into it.” Since Marty doesn’t keep a calendar, Jim planned the August adventure as a five-day journey, averaging 60 to 70 miles a day. Jim made B&B reservations and mapped out the trip. Then came the training. Three months before the ride, the pair began their training regimen—three months on the Montour Trail, typically accessing the trail at Valley Brook Road in McMurray. “The first time out, I made it only 12 miles before turning around. Each time we rode, I got stronger. Within a few weeks, I was able to complete the entire 30 mile stretch out to Coraopolis, and then 30 miles back. Marty and I did that once or twice a week for the next month or so.” Then, two weeks before the trip, Jim and Marty did the 60-mile roundtrip on Saturday and got up on Sunday and did it again. “On Monday morning I was sore and tired, but I made it. At that point, I figured if I could do two 60-mile days back-to-back, I could probably string five of them together.” The GAP is a 150-mile continuous trail that runs from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland. It is a well-maintained trail built on former railroad right-of-way. At Cumberland it connects with the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal towpath, the trail used by mules to pull barges on the canal in the late 1800s. The C&O runs for 185 miles to Washington, DC. Since its inception, the trek has become quite popular, with more than 1.3 million people riding at least a portion of the trail each year. “For me, the book is very personal. It’s about three different journeys,” says Jim. “The first journey is the obvious one—the 335-mile trip along the trail. The second is my journey ‘home.’ Growing up in the DC area and now living in Pittsburgh, I have driven that stretch a hundred times to visit family and friends. But traveling at ten to 12 mph is a lot different than 60 to 70 mph. On
our bike trip, we got to see small towns, meet interesting people, and take in a lot of history over the course of five days. And, the end of the trip was all so familiar—Great Falls, Georgetown, the Mall, and the Lincoln Memorial. We crossed the bridge and rode to my parents’ house in Arlington, where my mom had dinner waiting for us.” What was Jim’s third journey? “My third journey is learning to be more like Marty,” said Jim. “I learned to appreciate the benefits of slowing down, being in the moment, engaging with strangers, and not wearing a watch. As a result, I still don’t wear a watch to this day.” Get Up and Ride contains sometimes hilarious accounts of Jim and Marty’s adventures and the people they met, interleaved with flashbacks of stories from their long, storied friendship. Jim also sprinkles in the history of towns along the way, including McKeesport as the fastest-growing city in the country in the early 1900s and Connellsville as the “Coke Capital of the World.” The reader also learns about George Washington’s role in 1750s western Pennsylvania, the struggle between the French and British for control of Pittsburgh, and the history of several important Civil War conflicts along the C&O Canal. What was Jim’s favorite story from the trip (and in the book)? “It’s hard to say, there were so many great ones,” said Jim. “If I had to pick, it was probably our lunch stop in Connellsville on the first day.” Jim said that the only open restaurant they found in Connellsville was a Mexican place. They filled up on tacos, enchiladas, and tortilla chips, and then rode another 17 miles to Ohiopyle. “The crazy part was what happened during that lunch. The place was mostly empty, except for a woman sitting by herself in the booth across from us,” said Jim. The conversation went something like this: She asked: Vhat ah you doing? I told her we were biking to DC. Then she asked: Vhere did you staht? I was trying to place her accent. To me, it sounded either French or Eastern European. I asked her about it. She said: You von’t be able to place my accent, because I have foreign accent syndrome! She went on to say that she’d had a stroke seven years before, was in a coma for two weeks, and when she woke up, she had a new voice with an accent. Cont. on page 15
Marty and Jim finish the 335-mile five-day bike trip at the Lincoln Memorial in DC
Marty and Jim stop for a quick photo while along the GAP
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A Bad Trip Jay Lynch
R e m e m b e r t h e P r e s i d e n t ’s Physical Fitness Award? From 1966 to 2012, students who excelled at a set of athletic tests won spiffy embroidered patches, while the vast majority endured gym class humiliation at a stage of life when public embarrassment was worse than swallowing your retainer.
Back in 1971, Mr. Evans, a USC High School PE teacher, was responsible for ensuring that every student took the tests. In addition to reporting our results to national administrators, he was rumored to have had wagers with PE teachers from Bethel Park and Mt. Lebanon on average school times for the 600-yard run, to be paid-off in beverages at Al’s Cafe.
At the time of these tests, I was a high school senior near the end of the school year. Like most of my soon-to-graduate classmates, I’d developed an affliction known as “senioritis,” which causes normally responsible teens to dodge compliance with rules and authority. I had successfully avoided taking the mandatory tests until the day Mr. Evans caught me in the hallway when I should have been in class. He sensed an opportunity, knowing that I was active on sports teams and might be able to turn in some pretty fast running times. Mr. Evans: Lynch, where’s your hall pass? Me: Sorry, Mr. Evans, I don’t have one. Mr. Evans: You know the penalty— demerits that’ll delay your graduation. Me (in my best Eddie Haskell voice): That certainly would be very unfortunate, sir. You’re so kind to point this out. Mr. Evans: Have you completed your President’s physical fitness tests? Me: No, sir, but I sure would like to if it would mean graduating on time. But, we have an important baseball game this afternoon. The team bus leaves at 3:30. Mr. Evans: That gives us an hour. Change your clothes and meet me at the track. The tests went well, until it was time for the 600-yard run. Although my time qualified me for a patch, Mr. Evans needed to push the average USC time lower to get
Al’s Café, circa early ’70s 14
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closer to a frosty Iron City. So, he made me run another 600 yards in an attempt to shave off time. And another. He used the demerit threat to keep me repeating runs until my increasingly bad attitude and exhaustion led to slower and slower times. He released me just in time for me to board the team bus to Baker Field for the baseball game.
We were playing rival Bethel Park in an intra-section game near the end of the season. It was important that we win the game to keep our sectional championship hopes alive. Students, cheerleaders, and a few parents supported us throughout the game and into the final inning. We were trailing 2–1, with two outs, when I came to the plate. It was desperation time. I was never a power hitter, but the pitcher threw me a juicy fastball down the middle and I hit it on the sweet spot. It was a “gap shot” line drive to left-center with plenty of velocity and distance for extra bases. At the time, there was no fence at Baker’s left field, so, as I rounded first base, I could see the fielders chasing the ball to the edge of the grass and up the hill that bordered the field. My delight turned to fear as I rounded second base. As we used to say in the ’70s, rigor mortis set in. As much as my mind wanted to sprint, my legs refused to cooperate. Mr. Evan’s forced runs were taking their toll. As I approached third base, I was slowing considerably, but our team’s coach, Mike Sheleheda, was watching the fielders more than my running speed. He waved his arm like a windmill, giving me the green light to go for the home run, but I gave him a quick two-palms-up signal, indicating that I was exhausted and wanted to stop at third base. He rejected my wimpy resignation, and,
with irritation, barked, “Move it, Lynch!” As I slowly lumbered toward home plate, my teammates and the formerlysupportive crowd joined Coach Sheleheda in admonishing me rather than cheering me forward. “Come on, Lynch, run! What’s wrong with you?” When I finally stepped on home plate, one of my cleats caught its edge. I tripped and fell forward, landing in the dirt near the edge of the backstop. I was totally exhausted, but thrilled that the base running ordeal was over and the game was now tied. The crowd went from being harshly critical to expressing full volume joy. Except for one loud voice from my teammate, Lee Patch, yelling above the crowd, “Lynch, you missed the plate! Tag the plate, man!” I wanted to dismiss his warning, but he raised a shadow of a doubt. So, I scrambled back to the plate, just to make sure. By that time, the ball was in the catcher’s hand. When he saw me reach for the plate, he tagged my arm and the umpire called me out! Coach Sheleheda, usually respectful and polite to umpires, went ballistic, arguing that I had touched home plate, since I tripped on it. The logic was lost on the umpire. Ignoring boos and jeers from the now-hostile crowd, the ump declared that his decision was final and the game was over. We had lost. After the game, my father, who had been in the stands, approached the umpire. Without revealing his allegiances, he asked about the decision to call me out at home plate. The umpire responded, “I was ready to signal home run ’til the kid scrambled back to the plate. He cooked his own goose.”
So, what are the morals of the story for today’s kids? One: Even if you have senioritis, comply with enough school rules that you can’t be blackmailed to exhaustion. Two: Know your limits; belly-flop onto third base if you really can’t go any further.
Three: Ignore the ill-informed screams of friends that can cook your goose. n Email Jay at bkefather@yahoo.com with your comments.
Get Up and Ride Cont. from page 13
She said: Zum days it zounds French, udder days Russian. Jim and Marty did some research and found that, in fact, foreign accent syndrome is a real condition that affects fewer than 100 people globally. And they met one of these people in a Mexican restaurant in Connellsville! Jim’s book is light-hearted and easy to read. “I’ve had people tell me that they haven’t read a book in five, ten, or 15 years, and they enjoyed this one. Most people tell me they read it in one or two sittings.” Jim is donating a portion of the book’s proceeds to both the Allegheny Trail Alliance (for the GAP) and the Montour Trail Council to help fund trail maintenance. “Marty and I have done the GAP trip three times now, and we often ride the Montour Trail,” said Jim. “We appreciate the pristine condition of these trails, so it feels good to provide funding to help
keep them that way.” Jim and Marty recently participated in their first book club meeting. “We did a Zoom meeting with my wife’s book club, made up mostly of women from USC. They loved the book, and we had so much fun discussing it.” Jim went on to say that he and Marty are open to participating in more book clubs. So, what’s next? Jim says he and Marty are planning their next cycling adventure. “And, there will be a book about it at some point. We have a few places we’d like to explore—maybe later this summer when things, hopefully, open up a bit more,” said Jim. n Get Up and Ride by Jim Shea is available on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle. For more information, visit www.Facebook.com/getupandridebook or email Jim at getupride@gmail.com. Summer 2021
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Township Commissioners
The Township’s Check it out at www.twpusc.org website has a brand new look!
Mark D. Christie President Ward 4
Day 412-831-9000 2021*
Township Administration
Daniel R. Paoly Vice President At-Large
Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-862-5995 2021*
Dante R. Plutko, Jr. Ward 1
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
George Kostelich, Jr. Director of Public Works
Christian Gmiter Director of Library
Paul Besterman Director of Recreation & Leisure Services
Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-389-5187 2023*
Pamela L. Enck Ward 2
Day 412-831-9000 2021*
Robert W. Orchowski Ward 3
Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-854-1868 2023*
Ronald J. Pardini Ward 5
Day 412-831-9000 Evening 724-941-1199 2023*
Todd D. Burlingame At-Large
Day 412-831-9000
www.twpusc.org All business regarding the operation of the Township is conducted at the regular meetings of the Board of Commissioners. Citizens are invited to comment on any Township matter. Complete Board minutes can be found at the Upper St. Clair Township Library or on the website at www.twpusc.org. For more information, call 412-831-9000. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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 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
2021 Township of Upper St. Clair Meeting Dates
*Date indicates expiration of term.
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To reach Township personnel, call 412-831-9000 and follow the automated directions.
• The Board of Commissioners meets at 7:30 p.m. in the C&RC Meeting Room. The regular public meeting is held the first Monday of the month in the C&RC Meeting Room. The informational and general affairs meeting is held the last Monday of the month in the C&RC Meeting Room. • The Planning Commission meets the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. • The Parks and Recreation Board meets at the C&RC the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.; no meeting in December. • The Zoning Hearing Board meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 8 p.m. • The Civil Service Board meets as needed. • The Building/Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory Board meets as needed. • The Library Board meets as needed.
Summer 2021
Highlights of the Board of Commissioners’ Meetings January 4, 2021
Approximately 2 people attended.
The Board • Adopted Resolution No. 1695 Re. Approval of the Reappointments of Justin W. Hollingsworth and Gregg R. Zegarelli to the Zoning Hearing Board. • Approved the following Reappointments to various Boards/Commissions of the Township of Upper St. Clair: Building and Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory Board– 3-year term David J. McLean Robert T. Stevens, Jr. Civil Service Board–3-year term Shon Worner Library Board–3-year term Barbara Zimmt Parks & Recreation Advisory Board–3-year term William O. Barnard Diane Morris Planning Commission–4-year term David Sirota
February 1, 2021
Approximately 6 people attended.
The Board • Accepted a check for $24,330 from the Upper St. Clair Athletic Association (USCAA) for the 2020 user fees.
• Adopted Bill No. 1-21 Re. PLC21-5701–Amendment to Chapter 57 of the Township Code entitled “Fees.” • Approved the 2021 Township Engineer Fee Schedule. • Adopted Bill No. 2-21 Re. 2021 Bond Issue Parameters Ordinance.
Members of the USCAA, pictured with board president Mark Christie (right center), presented a check to the Township for the 2020 user fees.
March 1, 2021
Approximately 6 people attended.
The Board • Tabled Recommendation Re. PLC16-0008–Tuscany Pointe PRD–Final Approval–Extension Request to the Board of Commissioners’ Regular Meeting on April 5, 2021. • Adopted Resolution No. 1696 Authorizing the Disposal of Various Township Records in Accordance with the
Municipal Records Retention and Disposition Schedule Referenced in Chapter 11.7 of the Township Code. • Adopted Resolution No. 1697 Re. School District Intergovernmental Agreement–Truxton Drive Earth Disturbance & Wall. • Adopted Resolution No. 1698 Re. Approval for a Grant Application through the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund for the Morton Complex Field Lighting Retrofit. • Approved the Appointment of Lauren Wharton to the Youth Steering Committee for a 4-year term. Approval of Contracts • A. Merante Contracting, Inc................................ $787,045 Pittsburgh, PA Truxton Retaining Wall Installation w/Alternate #1– Driveway and Parking Area Paving Off Truxton Drive • Independent Enterprises............................. $1,557,381.30 Oakdale, PA 2021 Annual Street Resurfacing • Matcon Diamond.................................................. $39,000 Pittsburgh, PA 2021 Street Crack Sealing • Yeadon Fabric Domes, LLC................................. $340,336 Minneapolis, MN Tennis Air Structure “B” Courts 7 and 8 Replacement • Laurel Ford........................................................... $68,150 Windber, PA Two 2021 Ford Police Interceptor Utility AWD Vehicles @ $34,075.00 each
The Changing of the Guard
Retirements and New Hires in the USC Police Department New Hires Garrett Bickmore joined the Township of Upper St. Clair as a police officer in January 2021. Assigned to the patrol division, he is responsible for handling the daily activities of a patrol officer. Garrett received his bachelor’s degree in crimiGarrett Bickmore nology from the Slippery Rock University and graduated from the Police Academy in November 2013. Prior to joining USC, Garrett spent more than seven years working as a police officer, computer crimes detective, and computer operations specialist for the City of Pittsburgh’s Police Department. Welcome Garrett! The Police Department is excited to welcome Jennifer Stampfel as the department’s part-time identification technician. In the past, Jenn has participated in the USC Citizens’ Police and Fire academies. Jenn is a dog mom to three beautiful rescues, and spends her spare time focusing on her ambitious career goals. Jenn received Jennifer Stampfel her master of divinity from
the University of Pittsburgh and is planning to continue her educational pursuits in the near future. Welcome Jenn!
Retirements Lieutenant Curtis Gallatin will retire at the end of June, with more than 42 years of service to USC. Curtis started with the Township in April 1979, and has held the ranks of patrolman, corporal, sergeant, and lieutenant. Curtis received his bachelor’s degree in criminology Curtis Gallatin from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, his master’s degree in public administration (MPA) from the University of Pittsburgh, and his law degree (JD) from Duquesne University. He is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and in the Federal courts, Western District of Pennsylvania, and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy 213th session. He came to Upper St Clair with prior law enforcement experience from the Ocean City, Maryland Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to Curtis, “I am fond of telling my coworkers, ‘You know you’re getting old when Summer 2021
the people you work with weren’t yet born when you started your job.’ It has been an honor and my privilege to work for the Township of Upper St. Clair. I would like to thank my coworkers, Township management, and the residents of Upper St. Clair for this privilege.” In his retirement, Curtis is looking forward to traveling and spending time with his grandchildren. USC police officer Scott Bly will retire at the end of June, with 32 years of service to USC. Officer Bly started with USC Township in June 1989 as a police dispatcher and in November 1991 as a police officer. During his service years, Scott has held the rank of patrolman and Scott Bly corporal. Scott received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Edinboro University in 1985. He came to the department from the Roanoke, Virginia City Police Department. Scott is the past president of the Upper St. Clair Police Officer Association. In his retirement, Scott is looking forward to spending more time with his family and visiting U.S. national parks. n
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USC Community Days— Full of memories
Given the current mitigation strategies in place due to the pandemic, the decision has been made to forgo USC’s traditional Community Day activities for this year. However, let’s celebrate our community spirit with a suitable alternative, “A Day of Outdoor Play.” See page 19. Enjoy this look back at photos from past Community Day festivities, with the hope that next year we’ll be gathering in person once again! n
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A Day of Outdoor Play Saturday, May 15
We invite residents of all ages to participate in a Day of Outdoor Play on Saturday, May 15. Take a hike, pack a picnic, fly a kite, play catch, or swing the clubs. Parks are great spaces to reconnect with nature and neighbors. So, on this day, set aside some time with friends and family to get out, enjoy the fresh air, destress, and simply enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Check out USC Township’s website and follow it on social media for some fun tips for park trips and use the parks guide on page 21 to visit a variety of USC parks near you. Whether in the Township or somewhere more distant, remember to share your leisure and travel photos with USC TODAY. See page 69 to find out how “Traveling with TODAY” can be a great way to share your travel escapades with others. n
Summer 2021
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Trotwood Park Renovations
Gary Schafer, USC Township Parks and Forestry Administrator Trotwood Park will see some new park equipment and maintenance this year. At about eight acres, Trotwood Park is a great asset for the community. Kids gather here to kick a soccer ball or a have a pick-up game of football. When parents meet at Trotwood Park for the first time, they soon gather here again because of the many amenities and wonderful space. The tennis and basketball courts have seen a variety of action, from the youngest kids learning the sports to friendly, competitive games. Children push through their fear of going down a slide for the very first time or master the horizontal bars, The playground equipment will be replaced. feeling like they are swinging on a vine. The current playground, which was installed in 2002, has seen better days, and it has been several years since the courts have been crack sealed. This summer, the playground will be completely replaced with amenities that will challenge all users, while strengthening their bodies and minds. Young users will be exercising without them knowing it because of the fun they’ll be having! The tennis court will be repaved. Since curing is somewhat of a slow process, the court will need to sit idle for about four weeks. During that time, the asphalt will cure, which will allow for proper paint adhesion to the surface. A slow process, this crucial step will cause the end result to be a top-notch quality product. We appreciate your patience while Trotwood Park is renovated. While certain areas of this park will be out of service for a bit, take the time to discover and visit one of The tennis court will be repaved. our other 17 Township parks! See a list of all Questions about USC parks? Call the Township departments of Public Works or Recreation. USC parks found on page 21. n
Community Development
Be Aware of the Rules
According to the Township of Upper St. Clair Codes: • Lawns need to be maintained at a maximum height of six inches from April through October. • Vehicles without current inspection or registration must be stored in a completely enclosed structure. • Waste receptacles and recycling containers should be placed at the curb line after 6 p.m. the day before collection with removal before midnight the day of collection. • Boats, trailers, campers, and other types of recreational vehicles must be stored in completely enclosed structures. • Garage sale signs are permitted, provided the following regulations are met: » Signs are located only on the lot where the sale takes place. » Signs are displayed only on the day of the sale. » Signs do not exceed nine square feet combined. » Signs are set back a minimum of ten feet from any side lot line. » Signs are to be placed outside the Township right-of-way. Typically, the right-of-way
extends a minimum of 13 feet back from the edge of the street or curb. » Signs may not obstruct sidewalks. • No structure may be placed within the Township right-of-way except for a driveway or mailbox. A structure is any object having a stationary location on or in lots. The Township right-of-way typically extends back 13 feet from the edge of the road. • A newspaper tube is permitted provided it is attached to the existing mailbox post. The newspaper tube may not be supported by a separate structure such as a post or column. • Realtor open house signs are permitted provided the following regulations are met: » One tent- or easel-type sign, not to exceed four square feet. » Sign permitted to be displayed Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. » Sign must be located a minimum of 13 feet back from the edge of the street or curb. » With permission of property owner, open house signs may be placed on a lot other than the one for sale with the same restrictions above. » No open house signs are allowed on Township-owned property. • Stormwater management permits are required,
as of January 7, 2019, for all residential small projects proposing additional earth disturbance or impervious area greater than 400 square feet. These requirements apply to both new development and redevelopment. Stormwater management permits must be obtained before the submission of a building permit. • Building permits are required for most construction and remodeling projects. Typical projects that require a building permit include, but are not limited to, sheds, garages, swimming pools, decks, additions, retaining walls, driveway pillars, and patio enclosures. Some projects such as patios and driveways require only zoning approval. In all cases, when a building permit or zoning approval is required, a land survey of the property must be submitted as a part of the permit application process. The Township may have a copy of the property survey on file.
C h e c k t h e To w n s h i p w e b s i t e a t w w w.t wpusc.org for t ypes of projects requiring a permit and the application process. Questions concerning permit requirements can also be directed to the Community Development Department at 412-831-9000, extension 5010.
Questions? Call 412-831-9000, ext. 5010, or visit www.twpusc.org. 20
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Enjoy the Outdoors in USC
USC’s Municipal Park
The Township of Upper St. Clair can fill your summer days with fun and laughter as you and your family
visit its many parks and parklets. Go for an early morning stroll or pack a lunch and stay to play. Feel the evening’s cool breeze as you enjoy the swings, climbing bars, a ball field, or a welcoming bench. You don’t have to travel far to enjoy green space and summer activity. Trotwood Park is being updated this summer (see page 20 for details). Visit twpusc.org/recreationcenter for more information on all our parks. Site
Fields/Courts
Playground Equipment
Baker Park 13.82 acres
1 small baseball field, Play unit and swing set 2 lighted basketball courts (pickleball lines added, bring your own net) 1 lighted sand surface volleyball court, 2 tennis courts (pickleball lines added), 2 lighted bocce courts
Beadling Soccer Field 3.36 acres
soccer field
Boyce Field 1 acre
baseball field
Boyce Mayview Park 475+ acres
1 baseball field (rentable), 1 softball field (rentable), Multi-purpose field (rentable), 1 Miracle League baseball field, All fields have sports lighting
Miscellaneous Small shelter, water fountain, picnic tables, grass play area, large covered sand play area, natural surface trail head, perimeter trail, extra pickleball courts at the basketball courts (must bring your own net)
Dugouts, batting cage, bleachers The Clubhouse at Boyce Mayview is the allinclusive, custom-themed playground adjacent to the Miracle League Field for kids of all ages and abilities, featuring tower slides, ball glove tube slides, replica Clemete Bridge, water misting tree and misting fountain, piano, and a NEOS 360 electronic aerobic game
Natural area
Brookside Park 3.7 acres Byrnwick Park 7.05 acres
1 lighted basketball court, 1 tennis/pickleball court
Play unit and swing set
Walking track, water fountain, walkway lighting, grass play area
Clair Park 2.2 acres
1 basketball court
Play unit with slide and swing set
Splash pad, cozy dome climber w/rubber safety surface, shelter, water fountain, LED walkway lighting 1.25 mile outer loop wood chip trail with interior trail through meadow
Gilfillan Park 59.57 acres Hays Park 4.21 acres
1 basketball court, 1 tennis/pickleball court
Play unit and swing set
Asphalt walking trail, splash pad, small shelter, water fountain, grass multi-purpose area
Johnston Park 2.48 acres
1 lighted basketball court, 1 tennis/pickleball court, 1 lighted hockey court with goals
Play unit and swing set
Walking path, water fountain, walkway lighting
Marmion Field 11.32 acres
1 soccer field, 1 lighted baseball field
Morton Complex 7.5 acres
3 soccer fields, 1 lighted field, 2 lighted baseball fields
Play unit
2 batting cages, concession building, shelter, dugouts, announcer’s booth, natural surface trail head, perimeter trail
Municipal Park 29.75 acres
10 lighted tennis courts with 6 courts under air structures for winter season, 2 lighted paddle courts, 1 lighted little league baseball field with dugouts, concession stand, picnic shelter, 2 lighted basketball courts, 1 sand volleyball court
Swing set, separate play structures for 2–5 and 5–12 year-olds, with synthetic turf safety surface, mega-tower w/two ten-foot twist tube slides, climbing wall, tot and traditional swings, and Mt. Kilimanjaro climbing rock
McLaughlin Run Activity Center (MAC) (rentable facility) building with meeting facilities, kitchen, and restrooms, fire circle, large picnic shelter, 3-hole golf course, water fountain, batting cages, rain garden educational/picnic site
Shelter and bleachers, 2 water fountains
Natural area
Ravine Park 10.51 acres Trotwood Park 8 acres
1 basketball court, 1 tennis/pickleball court
Play unit and swing set
2 water fountains, shelter, splash pad, walkway lighting, grass play area
Tustin Park 6.52 acres
1 basketball court
Play unit and swing set
Asphalt/wood chip walking trail around park Visual presentation of military history, benches, lighting
Veterans Park Wiltshire Park 11.2 acres
Natural area and wetlands, ten miles of natural surface walking trails, expanding perimeter trail along eastern portion of the park, including a pavilion with public restrooms (rentable facility), open space, Community & Recreation Center, with its 90,000-square-foot facility featuring indoor/outdoor aquatics, state-of-the-art fitness, group fitness rooms, 1/8 mile walking track, 2 full-size basketball courts, rentable community rooms, restrooms at the Miracle League/Clubhouse playground, shelter at Miracle League field, baseball field concession building, Boyce Gardens (rentable through Boyce Road Garden Club)
2 lighted basketball courts, 1 lighted street hockey court with goals
Poured-in-place rubber and synthetic turf Restrooms, pavilion, seating area, grass play safety surface playground built in the hillarea, walkway lighting, water fountain side, which includes horizontal net climber, cable bridges, roller slide, double deck tower with slides, Omni spinner, swings with infant seats, a sand play area, and frog splash pad Summer 2021
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Boyce Mayview Park Trails Climb in Popularity Becky Brindle, Communications Specialist, USC Township
A scenic view of the meadows
As the COVID-19 pandemic kept many people isolated, a number of families found a new and welcoming escape in Boyce Mayview Park. “Yes, there seems to be an increase in park usage since the pandemic began last March,” said Gary Schafer, Upper St. Clair’s parks and forestry administrator. “This past winter was the first time in a while that I saw park patrons using snowshoes and cross-country skis.” While the paved trail around the Community & Recreation Center (C&RC) and the new perimeter trail along Brittany Williamson takes a winter hike with her baby, Cornell.
Juli Brown’s dog, Olive, enjoys a cool dip in Chartiers Creek. 22
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Morton Road are the most used, many hikers discovered the park’s interior unpaved trails during the past year. In fact, in fall 2020, Pittsburgh City Paper named Boyce Mayview Park trails one of the five amazing locations to enjoy hiking in the Pittsburgh area. For years, the C&RC’s aquatics director, Chris Biswick, has used the Boyce Mayview Park trails for his marathon and ultramarathon training. “Other parks that have the type of terrain would require me to travel 15 to 30 minutes from Upper St. Clair to get the same type of topography. Most of my friends who train for ultramarathons use this park for the same reasons,” said Chris. Chris knows runners who come from Youngstown, Ohio, to Boyce Mayview Park once or twice a year to train. He has seen the park’s popularity jump. “During my run today, I’ll probably pass 15 to 20 people. Two years ago around the same time in the afternoon, I would pass less than a half dozen people” said Chris. Juli Brown and her boyfriend, Jarrod Interval, come to the Boyce Mayview Park trails from Mt. Washington to take their dog for weekend hikes. “We love that there are so many trail branches that have different landscapes, yet they are all so well maintained,” said Juli. “We love hiking down to the creek with our dog. It’s the prettiest spot!” Boyce Mayview Park is an attractive feature for families moving to Pittsburgh. The Williamson family moved to Upper St. Clair from Minnesota in March 2020. “We chose Upper St. Clair because of the proximity to and abundance of great outdoor life. The parks, the C&RC, and the trails were all huge draws for us,” said Brittany Williamson. “Hiking the trails was our main activity last spring when quarantine began. We welcomed a third son to our family last April, and we included him on our hikes from the very beginQuincy Williamson finds an animal skin ning. Every time we go hiking, we discover something during a family hike. Summer 2021
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new—a new kind of fungus, an animal bone, something swimming in Chartiers creek, an interesting plant. The woods are full of treasures!” One special spot that Boyce Mayview Park hikers enjoy is the waterfall. To get there, start at the Morton complex. Walk down the hill of Ravine Drive. Near the bottom of the hill, take a left on Curved Bridge Trail. Having crossed the bridge, take a left on Mid-Falls Trail to get to the waterfall. “Enjoying the views of the waterfall after a rain event really captures its beauty,” said Gary.
A bridge helps hikers cross over a stream bed.
A scenic spot to enjoy Chartiers Creek
Gary’s favorite spot in the park is where the white pine trees grow along Sylvan Ridge Trail. “My kids have classified that area as “whispering woods.” It’s such a peaceful area where you can listen to Mother Nature,” said Gary. Bikers are asked to remain on the park’s perimeter trail and stay off the interior trails. Some parts of the interior trails are quite narrow, and bikers have overwhelmed some children and adult hikers. Check out the Boyce Mayview Park map found on page 24. Take it with you for directions on your next adventure to USC’s largest park at 475 acres. n Summer 2021
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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Copy this page or tear it out to help you navigate Boyce Mayview Park.
24
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Summer 2021
EIGHT YEARS RUNNING
2013-2020
Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award Winner in Patient Satisfaction
Advanced Surgical Hospital complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. (TTY: 711) Advanced Surgical Hospital cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. (TTY: 711) ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-888-808-9008 ID 67115549 (TTY: 711) Advanced Surgical Hospital 遵守適用的聯邦民權法律規定，不因種族、膚色、民族血統、年齡、殘障或性別而 視任何人。注意:如果 使用繁體中文， 可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請 致電1-888-808-9008 ID 67115549 (TTY: 711)
Hit the Links
As we get closer to summer, it’s natural to want to enjoy the great outdoors. And what better way to appreciate nature and get some exercise than by visiting USC’s three-hole golf course? Upper St. Clair is one of few municipalities that has a golf course to call its own. The three holes were initially part of St. Clair Country Club (SCCC). In the late 1960s, the club redesigned its golf course, and the Township purchased the three-hole, 20-acre parcel for $125,000, with a Pennsylvania “Project 70” grant funding half the purchase. Paul Besterman, director of the Township’s Recreation and Leisure Services Department, says the beauty of the course is that you don’t have to be a great golfer. “It’s for fun, learning, community, and family. The golf course is an example of how our Township’s green space serves the community and its residents.” In the warmer weather, it’s rare not to see someone on the course. Whether it’s a grandparent teaching their grandchild the basics of a life-long sport, tweens and teens socializing in the afternoon, or a parent squeezing in a few holes between their kids’ activities, golfers of all ages enjoy this beautiful course. Located at 1750 McLaughlin Run Road, between the McLaughlin Activity Center (MAC) and the municipal tennis courts, the course is open from 8 a.m. to dusk in the spring, summer, and fall, weather permitting. Golfers are asked to check in and pay at the Tennis Golf Administration Building (TGAB). There are restrooms at the TGAB, and a covered porch with round picnic tables are available for use. Free parking is available by the tennis courts.
A view of the course from the bridge
Open to USC residents and non-residents, golfers may pay per round or purchase a one-day unlimited round option. Also new this year, season passes are available for purchase by visiting the Recreation and Leisure Services page of the Township website. Payments can be made by credit card or check; cash is not accepted. Township Silver Card holders (see page 29) may play at no charge, but must check in at the TGAB before playing. Golfers under the age of ten must play with an adult. The fees help support the care and maintenance of the course. As when playing on any course, all golfers are asked to follow established course etiquette: replace all divots and ball marks, rake the sand trap, and leave the vicinity of the green after putting out. A maximum of four players are permitted in a group, and there is a four-ball limit per player. Whether you’re an avid golfer or just starting out, take time this year to visit this community asset. See you on the links! n Summer 2021
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Township Website Gets a Brand New Look If you haven’t logged on to Upper St. Clair
Township’s website (twpusc.org) in a few months, you’re missing out on its brand new look! The Township launched its 2021 redesigned website this past February. Prior to this upgrade, it was eight years ago, in 2013, that the Township implemented a website redesign. The 2021 redesign is meant to improve mobile usage, functionality, and accessibility for its users and also further engage the public. With users more frequently accessing websites from their cell phones and tablets, it became increasingly important for a design that would be more mobile responsive and mobile friendly. At the top of the website’s homepage, a drone video shows off nature’s beauty that exists within the boundaries of Upper St. Clair Township. There is a new “How Do I” tab in the top navigation bar. Hover over it to go directly to information you might be searching for. Scroll down and you’ll find quick links to some of the most-used pages on the website, including the Building Permits page, the Trash/Recycling page, and the new Contact Us page. Continue to scroll down and you’ll find the new Calendar and News sections of the website, designed to improve communication with USC residents and business owners, alike. Users are encouraged to check out the new, modern designs of the often-visited Upper St. Clair Township Library and Community & Recreation Center (C&RC) web pages, which are intended for easier navigation. Each page also has its own calendar that features upcoming events. n
Township’s Social Media Connect with Us
The Township of Upper St. Clair has a variety of social media accounts for residents to follow to keep up with the latest news and happenings. Most recently, the C&RC and Upper St. Clair Township Library both launched YouTube channels for users to be able to engage in virtual recreational fitness classes and library programming from the comfort of your home. Check out the Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube links to various Township departments, as well as the community’s official print publication, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY.
Township of Upper St. Clair Facebook: facebook.com/twpusc Instagram: instagram.com/upper_st._clair Twitter: twitter.com/Upper_St_Clair Community & Recreation Center Facebook: facebook.com/uscreccenter Instagram: instagram.com/uscreccenter/ YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCIzlIleb0alnK_Z_mfXpRVg/videos Upper St. Clair Library Facebook: facebook.com/USCTWPLibrary Instagram: instagram.com/usc_library Twitter: twitter.com/usc_library YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCz6wKOTbQfZ-zJNk5KKK6tQ Upper St. Clair Police Department Facebook: facebook.com/UpperStClairPolice Upper St. Clair Public Access TV YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC1hzbjc0vYbGDfyLMn1dCRw
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY magazine Facebook: facebook.com/usctoday
Upper St. Clair Public Access Television Glenn Ward, USC Cable Access
Some viewers may have noticed that the video on-demand service that the Township was using is no longer available due to a copyright dispute. No longer posting on Vimeo, USC Cable Access television is now posting on YouTube. Currently, all the 15241 TODAY talk “On Stage with Jim and Lanny” broadcasts are posted to YouTube. Posted also are the “One on One with Lee Adams” shows and USCHS boys’ and girls’ basketball home games. The quickest and easiest way to find these shows is to search YouTube for Upper St. Clair Public Access Television, where it will display the shows that are currently available. The question now posed by Township personnel is: What older shows that were previously cablecast and posted on Vimeo would USC residents like to see? Let us know your ideas! Email USC Township personnel with your wish list at usccable@twpusc.org. n 26
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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Search YouTube for Upper St. Clair Public Access Television to see broadcasts like 15241 TODAY talk, where Jim Leyland was a guest.
Susan Highley
Calabro Tire & Auto Service
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL
(412) 221-4300 www.calabrotire.com 1476 Bower Hill Rd. Family Owned Since 1941
1
Safe refers to wet braking when tires are new and worn to 3/32”. All tires eventually wear out and should be replaced. Based on internal wet braking tests from 50 MPH using new tires and tires buffed to 3/32” in tire size 235/55R18 on a 2020 Toyota RAV4 against the Continental® CrossContact™ LX25 and the Goodyear® Assurance® WeatherReady®; and in size 215/55R17 on a 2019 Toyota Camry against the Bridgestone® Turanza™ QuietTrack™ tire and the Continental® PureContact™ LS tire; using the MICHELIN® CrossClimate®2 tire. Actual on-road results may vary.
2
Based on third-party snow traction tests using ASTM Test Method F1805-12, using tires buffed to 3/32” remaining tread depth. When compared to Standard Reference Test Tire (SRTT), in size 235/55R18 the MICHELIN® CrossClimate®2 tire scored 93 compared against the Continental® CrossContact™ LX25 tire, which scored 63, and the Goodyear® Assurance® WeatherReady® tire, which scored 65; and when compared to SRTT, in size 215/55R17 the MICHELIN® CrossClimate®2 tire scored 90 when compared against the Bridgestone® Turanza™ QuietTrack™, which scored 62, and the Continental® PureContact™ LS, which scored 59. Actual on-road results may vary.
25+ Years & $282 Million Listed or Sold President’s Circle of Excellence
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Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm; Sat. 8am - noon
Upper St. Clair Office
412-889-1214 | shighley@howardhanna.com
Invasive Spotted Lanternfly Gary Schafer, Parks and Forestry Administrator The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatul), a native insect from China, India, and Vietnam, has been wreaking havoc in Pennsylvania since 2014 when discovered in Berks County. In its native land, the spotted lanternfly (SLF) has predators to keep the insect at bay and from causing widespread destruction of the agriculture crops and ornamental trees. The SLF does not bite; however, it uses its piercing and sucking mouthparts to suck nutrients out of plants’ leaves, stems, and trunks. To date, there are few known predators of the SLF. Predatory bugs, like the praying mantis or parasitoids wasps, attack the SLF during different growth periods of the insect. There are also fungus pathogens that can control the SLF during different growth stages. These biocontrol measures show great potential to manage the SLF population; however, insecticides may still be necessary for control.
There are more than 70 plant species to which the SLF are attracted. A favorite plant choice is Ailanthus altissima, also known as the Tree-of-Heaven, a nonnative, highly invasive plant that is often considered a weed tree. Major concerns are for the other prize species of plants— maple, apple, plums, grapes, and hops— that the insect is attracted to. Last year, the SLF was spotted in Allegheny and Beaver counties. How to help control this insect is to squish it and remove its egg masses. In the fall, the adult SLF lay egg masses, which look like putty. Those egg masses can be found on almost any hard surface. They are often found on trees; however, expect to see them on the side of your house, car, patio furniture, or any other hard surface. Inspect your vehicle when traveling. Should you see egg masses, scrape off the masses with a plastic card or putty knife. Summer 2021
Place the mass in a container or plastic bag filled with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to kill the eggs. You can also burn or smash the eggs. Controlling an egg mass can kill 30 to 50 potential SLF. Reporting SLF helps officials understand the movement of SLF and identify quarantine counties (1-888-4BADFLY). Commerce within and in and out of quarantine counties has special regulations. n
Spotted lanternfly infestation of a tree trunk
Find more information at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s webpage, www.agriculture.pa.gov. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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USC Recreation and www.twpusc.org
Summer Camps for Everyone For staff members at the C&RC, summer means camps of all kinds! Summer camps have been shown to enrich the lives of children through interaction with their peers, learning from positive role models like camp counselors, and the numerous opportunities to grow and learn while having fun. Whether a child has an interest in arts, sciences, outdoors, or sports, there is something at camp for him or her to enjoy this summer. A full list of camp offerings is available in the Recreation Department’s summer camp guide, which can be found at twpusc.org/recreationcenter. Earth, Wind, Inspire June 14–18 Grades 1–5 Explore how weather works, how planet Earth was formed, and more with Mad Science.
Animal Adventures June 14–18 (No class on Wednesday) Ages 4–6 Learn the movements of animals from around the world. Participants will use their imaginations to enjoy physical activity and play.
Gemini Theater Workshops June 19–23 and August 16–20 Ages 4–6 (1–2:15 p.m.) and 7–11 (2:30–3:45 p.m.) Through theater games, daily themes, puppetry, story acting, music, and stage movement, participants will develop both acting and social skills. Kids in the Kitchen June 21–24 and August 16–19 Ages 4–6 (9–10:30 a.m.) and 7–11 (10:30 a.m.–noon) Children will have fun learning baking techniques from Jessica Gombar of The Pie Place. Participants will learn hands on, and will have the opportunity to make cakes, cookies, pies, and other savory items. Strength and Conditioning June 21–August 6 Ages 12 and up This program teaches young athletes the foundation of athleticism through a fun, motivating, and dynamic training environment. The program focuses on injury prevention, as well as developing agility, power, speed, and flexibility.
June 21–August 6 Grades 1–7 This day camp is filled with games and field sports, walks to the creek in Boyce Mayview Park, and activities in the pavilions. In a safe environment, campers will explore, play, and learn each day.
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Red, White, and Blue June 28–July 2 (No class on Wednesday) Ages 4–6 Play traditional American sports and games, including football, tee ball, and baseball. Each day, children will learn something new and be actively engaged while having fun. Cartooning and Anime Art July 5–8 for grades 6–8 July 26–30 for grades 3–5 Ever wished your life could be like a cartoon? Now it can! Come nurture your inner comic genius and leave with a portfolio full of finished art pieces that express your creativity.
Leisure Services 412-221-1099
Little Doctor School July 12–16 Ages 4–11 Role play the responsibilities of a doctor. Practice first-aid, and learn about organs, bones, and medicine. Take home your own lab coat! Olympics July 26–30 (No class on Wednesday) Ages 4–6 Campers will play Olympic-themed games that have an international focus. Learn about and participate in sports from China, Russia, Great Britain, and more, including handball, hockey, and tennis. Pets and Animals Art July 26–30 for grades 3–5 August 2–5 for grades 3–5 From your own backyard to the zoo, you’ll have fun drawing, painting, and sculpting your favorite pets and animals. Take home multiple pieces of finished art! Eureka! The Inventors Club August 9–13 Grades 1–5 Create catapults and forts, build shelters and bridges, and complete challenges using simple machines with Mad Science. Ecosystems Science August 9–13 Grades 1–6 Hunt for fossils, discover the secrets of soil, use microscopes, play games, make crafts, and create an anti-venom for a mock snakebite with Eco Explorers!
Learn to Swim at the C&RC
Did you know that 71% of the earth is made up of water? Right in our own backyards there are creeks, streams, ponds, and lakes. Add to that public and private swimming pools and hot tubs, and you can easily understand why learning to swim is an essential life skill. We all know that knowing how to swim can save your life, but did you also know there are other wonderful benefits to swimming lessons? For example, swim lessons have proven to help release personal stress and tension, as well as bring enjoyment to individuals learning new skills and techniques. Socialization is an added benefit to participation. Children and adults alike not only develop swimming skills, but also grow friendships through group participation. Additionally, participants leave each lesson with a sense of accomplishment as they continue to build confidence and comfort in and around the water. Ready to take the swim lesson plunge? Look no further than the C&RC! There are year-round American Red Cross group and private swim lessons for all ages, providing various levels of instruction, beginner to advanced. Because everyone learns at a different rate, the instructors at the C&RC adapt their teaching techniques to help each individual succeed throughout the lessons. The Learn-to-Swim program focuses on building skills one step at a time. By mastering one element before moving to the next, the structure of the kids’ swim classes makes it easy to build confidence in the water. Staff at the C&RC looks forward to helping you and your family members reach your goals! Visit the Recreation Department’s website to view the current list of swim program offerings. Classes are open to everyone; C&RC membership is not required. n
Information for Seniors For more information about any Older Adult programming, contact the C&RC at 412-221-1099.
USC Township Silver Card Offered by USC Township to residents age 62 or older. Proof of age and residency required at time of application. Card admits holder to the Municipal three-hole golf course, outdoor tennis facilities, specified Community & Recreation Center programs, and other activities designated and sponsored by the Township of Upper St. Clair. Applications are available at the Community & Recreation Center at Boyce Mayview Park.
USCSD Gold Card Farewell to Summer Carnival August 9–13 (No class on Wednesday) Ages 4–6 As we get ready to say goodbye to summer, this camp will focus on a variety of games you might see at a carnival. While putting the focus on fun, this camp promotes teamwork and self-confidence.
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. Summer 2021
ACCESS and Port Authority Transportation for Senior Citizens Applications for the Pennsylvania Senior Transit ID and ACCESS transportation are available at the C&RC. Application must be made in person at the C&RC during operating hours. Proof of age (65 and older) is required. Additionally, proof of Allegheny County residency is required for ACCESS. The Port Authority will indefinitely continue to accept blue or yellow Pennsylvania Senior Transit ID cards.
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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Recycling
Together, we can make a difference Acceptable for Curbside Recycling:
RECYCLE RECYCLE OFTEN: OFTEN:OFTEN: RECYCLE OFTEN: RECYCLE RECYCLE OFTEN: RECYCLE OFTEN: RECYCLE OFTEN: RECYCLEOFTEN: OFTEN: RECYCLE RECYCLE OFTEN:
• #1 or #2 plastic in the shape of bottles, jugs, jars RECYCLE OFTEN: • Steel, tin, aluminum cans • Paper, brown paper bags, newspaper, magazines, junk mail, windowless envelopes • Cardboard and paper board; cut up and placed in the Food & Beverage Plastic Bottles, Jars Paper Brown paper bags, nonRoad confidential in & container. Jugs (narrow neck Michael Cans Brothers at 901 Horning office paper, newspaper, magazines Steel, tin & aluminum soda, containers labeled #1 vegetable, fruitavailable & tu n a ca n s andBethel #2) Park has containers for excess cardboard; please flatten. All recycling material must be placed in the USC-issued recycle container and should be placed loose in the can.
Flattened Cardboard RECYCLE OFTEN: & Paperboard CYCLE OFTEN: NOT Acceptable for Curbside RECYCLE OFTEN: RECYCLE RIGHT: RECYCLE OFTEN: Recycling: Things you can do to ensure quality material is recycled:
RECYCLE OFTEN: paper • Shredded
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recycling, Michael Brothers has outside dropThingsyou youcan cando dototoensure ensurequality qualitymaterial material isrecycled: recycled: Things Things is you can do to ensure quality materia containers for glass items and excess or NO Needles NO Needles NO GlassNO Bottles Glass & Bottles & Things you can do to ensure quality material is recycled: NO Recyclables NO Recyclables in in (Keep medical (Keep waste medical out of waste recycling. out of recycling. oversized cardboard. Containers Containers Plastic Bags Plastic Bags Place in safePlace disposal in safe containers disposallike containers like Management’s Waste Management’s MedWaste MedWaste NO Needles Additionally, refer to the Township website Waste NO Glass Bottles & NO Recyclables in box.) waste out of recycling. Tracker box.) Tracker (Keep NO Plastic Bags & Film NOPlastic Foam Cups s NOinmedical Food Waste Containers Bags at twpusc.org for dates and locations of ongoing Place safe disposal containers like (Find a recycling site at & Containers Waste Management’s MedWaste (Compost instead!) NO Plastic Bags & Film NO Foam Cupss NO Food Waste scheduled Flattened Cardboard glass drop-off events throughout the Tracker box.) plasticfilmrecycling.org.) (Find a recycling site at NO Bags & & Containers (Check option NO Waste NO Plastic &Earth911.org Film forNO instead!) NO Food Waste NO Plastic Plastic BagsBags & Film Film NO NO Food Food Waste plasticfilmrecycling.org.) Flattened (Compost Cardboard South Hills. Please be mindful and do not place (Check Earth911.org for options.) & Paperboard NO Plastic Bags & Film Flattened Cardboard NO Food Waste (Find recycling site & a recycling Flattened Cardboard (Find aa(Find recycling site at at site at (Compost instead!) &C C (Compost instead!) (Compost instead!) glass in your regular trash. & Paperboard NOPlastic PlasticBags Bags&&Film Film NOFood FoodWaste Waste NO NO RECYCLE RIGHT:off
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5 6 7 8 9 10 11 • Half ACRE + Lots 12 13 14December 15 16 17 18 November November • Easy Access to Pittsburgh 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 S M T W Airport and Shopping S M T W T T F F S S 27 28 1 Home 2 29 3 30 4 31 5 4 6 •26Every Designed 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 Architect 7By Our 8 In-House 9 10 11 12 13 5 8 11 9 10 7 6 8 7 9 10 12 11 13 14 13 15 14 16 15 17 16 18 17 19 18 20 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 r ou 22 21 y19 21 23 24 23 25 26 25 27 21 20 22 23 22 24 25 24 26 27 28 29 y28 30 26 our 29 30 31 28 27 29 30
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From the Director’s Desk
Christian Gmiter, Library Director Greetings, Upper St. Clair residents and library users. I hope that you are all enjoying the warm weather as we get closer to the summer months. In this issue, I would like to highlight e-resources that we have linked from the USC Township Library website that you may find helpful, interesting, and entertaining. You can access these tools by going to the library’s website located at twpusc. org/library and clicking on “Ebooks & More” at the top right corner of the page. From there, you will see a list of databases that the library subscribes to. These databases cover many subjects, which I expound on below. When we purchase databases, we look for things that appeal to everyone, whether they are seeking information for education or recreation. The first database that I would like to discuss is the Universal Class database. Universal Class offers courses on a wide range of topics, from business strategies to computer software tutorials to cooking. These courses are taught by experts in their respective fields, and the curriculum for each selection is extremely comprehensive. The tutorials may be broken down into segments and do not have to be watched all in one sitting. Quizzes are offered at the end of each segment and users earn certificates at the end of their courses. Are you a genealogy researcher? If so, you may be interested in the Family Search database. The Family Search database is a genealogical database that works similarly to the more prominent Ancestry.com. The most notable difference between the two is that Family Search doesn’t have a pay wall and allows armchair genealogists to get further in their results than they would using Ancestry.com. Looking for that next great book, but stuck in a rut? Try goodreads. Goodreads is your one-stop shop for book reviews, book ratings, online discussion groups, and read alike suggestions for users who enjoy a particular type of genre or would like to discover a new author. Unlike many other literary and readers’ advisory sites, goodreads provides a social and collaborative atmosphere that allows users to connect with others to talk over books and genres and add some new variety to their personal bookshelves. Finally, who hasn’t gone to their local library during childhood to gain access to encyclopedias? I think that’s a memory that a lot of us share and can relate to. Both the World Book Encyclopedia and Encyclopedia Britannica are standards in their field and have adopted an online platform. Rather than featuring shelves of multi-volume encyclopedia sets in the library reference collection, the World Book Encyclopedia is available at your fingertips, linked from the library’s website and able to be accessed from your computer or mobile device at any time. However, due to licensing, the Encyclopedia Britannica may only be used while you are in the library. Additional databases and streaming services are available through the Countywide Library Consortium’s e-resources site at https://elibrary.einetwork.net/. Check it out! Our databases are available 24/7. Hopefully you can learn something new via an online class, research your family history, discover new authors and books, or work on that educational project. The expert staff at the library can connect you with any of these resources during your library visit, but if you can’t make it here, you can access materials online at any time. n
USC Township Library Hours Monday–Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Friday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday, 1–5 p.m. Outside book and video return available 24/7. Summer and Holiday Closures: Closed summer Sundays, May 30–September 5 Closed Monday, May 31 for Memorial Day Closed Monday, July 5 for Independence Day Due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to check the library’s website for hours of operation. 412-835-5540 www.twpusc.org 32
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What’s Happening at the Kids Library in June and July? Weekly Zoom Programs Listen, Learn, and Create with Miss Colleen Miss Colleen shares fun stories, games, and activities! This program is recommended for kids in Kindergarten through fourth grade, but all are welcome! Mondays, 10 or 11 a.m. June 14–August 2 No class July 5. Zoom Rhymes and Songs with Miss Sheri Join Miss Sheri for some happy rhymes and songs and a picture book story. It’s a great way for kids to have fun and interact with a caring adult. Tuesdays, 10 or 11 a.m. June 15–July 13
Paws for Reading Paws for Reading promotes reading and communication skills. Kids have the opportunity to read to registered therapy dogs and their handlers. Each child gets a special time with one of these furry friends. Tuesdays, 2:30 p.m. June 15–August 3
All About Animals Join Miss Colleen and Miss Sheri to learn fun facts about animals through books, games, and activities. This program is recommended for kids in Kindergarten through fourth grade, but all are welcome! Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. or 4:30 p.m. June 16–August 4
Zoom Storytime with Miss Deb Each week, Miss Deb will read great stories and use interactive activities to explore subjects and ideas that young children will find fun and interesting. Favorite subjects include animals, nature, friendship, and adventure. Thursdays, 10 or 11 a.m. June 17–July 15 Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten with Miss Deb In this class, Miss Deb will explore skills that will help preschoolers get ready for Kindergarten. Some of the readiness concepts to be covered include letters of the alphabet, letter sounds, vocabulary, writing, finger dexterity, following directions, numbers and counting, sorting, and patterns. Fridays, 10 or 11 a.m. June 18–July 16
Teen Zoom Programs with Miss Colleen Miss Colleen will lead teens in a game, activity, or craft. These programs are for kids in fifth grade and up. Wednesdays, 6 p.m. June 16, 30; July 14, 28
Kids Learn Summer Reading for Kids and Teens of All Ages (even babies) Summer is a great time to encourage kids to read! During the summer, kids can choose books that appeal to them and possibly find new interests. It’s a time to relax and escape through stories. Books will be entered onto an online platform that you’ll find on the library’s website. School-age kids and teens can log the books they’ve read or listened to. Caregivers can log the books they’ve read to children who are not yet reading on their own. You can also call the library to log your books. At the end of the summer, all participants are eligible for a prize drawing.
Kids Activity Challenge Characters in fairy tales often have to overcome obstacles and challenges. Complete five fairy tale challenges from some famous fairy tale characters, including Cinderella, The Little Red Hen, and The Three Bears. Complete all five challenges to be entered in a Kids Activity Challenge prize drawing. Teen Activity Challenge If you’re up to a challenge, take on the five fairy tale challenges by the end of the summer to be entered in the Teen Activity Challenge prize drawing. Take and Make Kits Weekly Take and Make kits will be available this summer and include fun and interesting activities for kids. Each week, there will be one kit for preschoolers and one for kids in elementary school. Kits for tweens and teens will be available by request. Summer 2021
Tails and Tales on the Trails Throughout the summer, story walks will be displayed on a rotating schedule in Upper St. Clair’s community parks. The stories unfold page-by-page as you walk through the park. It’s a great way to get some exercise with your family and read a story along the way. This summer’s story walks will feature fun and funny stories about animals. Continue to check the library website for when and where story walks are scheduled. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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Adult Programs
Register for adult programs online at twpusc.org or call 412-835-5540. Stop the Spotted Lanternfly! (via Zoom) Wednesday, May 5, 5:45–7 p.m. Join the Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County and The Penn State Extension for a discussion on the spotted lanternfly. Learn about this invasive species that feeds on trees, food crops, and ornamentals found in residential areas in Allegheny County. Learn how to identify this threatening species, report the spotted lanternfly to authorities, and pick up tips on how to stop this pest and halt its impact in Pennsylvania by using researched and recommended control methods. Also, for more information, refer to the article by USC Township’s parks and forestry administrator, Gary Schafer, on the spotted lanternfly on page 27.
From Miescher to Mice: Background to the Discovery of DNA (via Zoom) Wednesday, May 12, 5:30–7 p.m. Join evolutionary biologist, paleoanthropologist, science historian, and professor Adam Davis of the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) for this fascinating talk on the story of DNA. This talk will explore the history of DNA research prior to the famous discoveries of Watson, Crick, and Franklin, who in 1953 discovered the chemical structure of DNA and revolutionized the fields of biology, forensics, and medicine. Davis will also tell the story of the unsung scientific heroes who made the DNA revolution possible.
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Introduction to Nutrition (via Zoom) Wednesday, May 19, 4–5 p.m. Join Case Specific Nutrition’s Rob Marty for an informal, relatable conversation around food, dieting, and the fundamentals of nutrition.
More than Ethnicity Estimates: The Many Facets of DNA Testing (via Zoom) Wednesday, June 9, 4–5 p.m. You may be seeing various genetic testing companies’ commercials that encourage you to discover your ancestral heritage through taking a DNA test. What’s it all about? What are the pros and cons? What do the test results mean? This presentation, by the North Hills Genealogists, should answer many of your questions about services offered by AncestryDNA, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, and MyHeritageDNA.
Your Own Detective Story: The Why and How of Genealogy (via Zoom) Wednesday, May 26, 4–5 p.m. Each person’s genealogy is a fascinating detective story. There is the mystery of the who, what, when, where, and why of our family history—and no two stories are the same. The North Hills Genealogists will equip you with the tools needed to begin your own detective work in genealogy research. Examples of where to obtain information, how to get organized, and where to record your findings will be shared.
The Rise of Machine Learning (via Zoom) Thursday, June 17, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Join professor Coral Sheldon-Hess for a non-technical introduction to the concept of “machine learning.” Machine learning is a popular term these days, but what is it actually? How do machines learn? Does having a machine making our decisions lead to better decisions? Find out what it’s all about in this relaxed and informal talk. Sheldon-Hess teaches data analytics and computer information technology at CCAC.
Guided Nature Hike with Allegheny Parks Thursday, June 3, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Explore the outdoors with a park ranger as your guide. Learn about local flora and fauna while being outside, getting exercise, and enjoying Pittsburgh parks. Meeting location for this hike is at the Oliver Miller Homestead parking lot (maximum of 20 participants).
Summer 2021
Diabetes Prevention (via Zoom) Wednesday, June 23, 4–5 p.m. Did you know that one in three Americans have prediabetes? Or, that 80% are at risk for developing prediabetes or diabetes? Join Rob Marty from Case Specific Nutrition to learn more about the things you can easily start incorporating into your life today to reduce your risk for chronic disease like prediabetes and diabetes.
Wonder Women of World War II (via Zoom) Wednesday, June 30, 5:30–7 p.m. In 1941, Wonder Woman appeared as the first female superhero. Pittsburgh historian Todd DePastino will tell the remarkable story of how women’s lives changed during WWII and how American culture consequently changed to accommodate these radically new gender roles. Come hear about Rosie the Riveter, the WAVES, the WAC, and the much-disparaged WASP, some of which only achieved official recognition decades after the war was over.
The Importance of Credit Wednesday, July 14, 5:30–6:30 p.m. Join Elvan Jones for a talk on the importance of credit. Learn how credit is an important part of your financial power and how it affects where you live, what kind of car you drive, your employment, and your borrowing and purchasing ability. All About Bitcoin (via Zoom) Wednesday, July 21, 6–7 p.m. Does Bitcoin leave you befuddled? What is it, how does it work, and why is it so important? In this seminar, University of Pittsburgh professor Chris Wilmer will give a short history of the development of digital currencies. He’ll explain what Bitcoin managed to accomplish that all prior attempts had failed, and what it might mean for the future. He will also explain the link between Bitcoin and blockchain technology and the relationship to other cryptocurrencies.
Under the Hood of Your Computer: Operating Systems and Internet Basics Wednesdays, August 11, 18, 5–7 p.m. Explore with CCAC instructor Eric Darsow how modern personal computers use an operating system to manage your computer’s memory and processor, and learn tips for reducing lengthy load times and ending stuck programs. Through interactive demonstrations that you can do on your own computer, we’ll look inside at how your web browser displays web pages and even learn tricks for changing the styling of your favorite website. No special skills or prior software knowledge is required.
Library Self-Checkout Machines 500 Years of Thrills, Chills, and Memories: A History of Amusement Parks (via Zoom) Wednesday, July 7, 6–7 p.m. Join historian Jim Futrell as he takes you on a journey through the history of a beloved summertime tradition—the amusement park—from its roots in renaissance Europe to today’s theme park resorts. Romantic Relationships: The Science Behind Dating, Mating, and Relating (via Zoom) Thursday, August 5, 5:30–7 p.m. Join University of Pittsburgh psychology professor Amanda Forest for a fun discussion about the psychology of romantic relationships. Topics will include attraction, intimacy development, and relationship maintenance. She’ll also share researchbased answers to questions, including “What predicts romantic attraction between people?”, “How does intimacy develop?”, and “How can people maintain satisfying romantic partnerships over time?”
Summer 2021
Did you know that the USC Township Library features two self-checkout machines? One is on the second floor in the Adult Library and another is on the third floor in the Children’s Library. Here’s a short tutorial for using these express use kiosks. 1. Use the touch screen to select “checkout” (you can also view your account information from the touch screen). 2. Place your library card under the red scan line. 3. When prompted, enter your four-digit library PIN number using the touch screen. 4. Place each item you wish to check out under the red scan line. 5. Choose “yes” or “no” when asked if you’d like a receipt. If you have questions or would like to set or reset a PIN, library staff is always nearby and ready to help. Happy scanning! UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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Words from Fire Chief Mike Moore It goes without saying that many things have changed over the past year. However, one thing that hasn’t changed is the dedication of the members of the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department. Let me take this time to introduce myself. I’m Mike Moore, the current USC volunteer fire chief. My father and grandfather were both members and chiefs at this department, so you could say that I’ve grown up being a firefighter. In 2003, I officially joined the department as a junior firefighter. A junior firefighter is a person between the ages of 16 and 18 and has less responsibilities and requirements than that of a regular firefighter. After serving in this role and becoming a full-fledged firefighter, I completed the required basic fire schools and started working on more advanced fire training. In 2009, I was elected as a lieutenant to the line officers. The line officer positions include chief, deputy chief, first assistant chief, second assistant chief, captain, and lieutenant. These are the people you see at the fire scene directing the other firefighters. You can pick them out easily by their red or white helmets. While on the line, I continued attending and completing more fire schools. In 2019, I filled in as acting chief when the current chief, who happened to be my father, was having health issues. At the start of 2020, I was elected as the fire chief. As we began that year, the decision was made to have members focus on getting more professional board certifications, an international accreditation system for fire service organizations. (To read more about those certifications, visit www.osfc.pa.gov.) These certifications help the department assure that a member’s training is top notch, and also helps when the department is applying for federal and state grants. Because of our members’ diligence and hard work, the department currently
Answer the Call
Tri-Community South (TCS) EMS is looking for tomorrow’s EMS providers. Just 50 years ago, there was no such thing as an EMT or paramedic. Ambulances existed, of course, but the people who staffed them rarely had training beyond first aid, and often the only person in the ambulance was the driver. Today’s EMS personnel are far more than ambulance drivers. Since the birth of TCS in 1978, its EMTs and paramedics have been regarded as skilled, professional caregivers, and the system offers an opportunity to make EMS a career. In fact, the average length of service for a full-time employee at TCS is now 18 years, and three have been with the system for more than 40 years. The issue at hand is that those longest-serving employees are approaching retirement and will need to be replaced by the next generation of providers. Many of the people who take EMT and paramedic training today are using it as a steppingstone to careers in other healthcare fields. That’s legitimate and certainly understandable. EMS is a great entry into both the healthcare and public safety professions. What the community needs, though, is more people who want to make EMS their career. Emergency medical service is a unique field—part healthcare, part public safety. EMS providers need skills and training in both areas, and a few others specific to the field. Of course, most formal training is in the medical arts, particularly patient assessment,
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has 15 members who have Firefighter I designation, six members who have Firefighter II designation, six members who have Fire Instructor I designation, Fire Chief Mike Moore and two members who have Fire Officer I designation. Each of these certifications comes with its own set of challenges. The Firefighter I course focuses on the physical demands that members encounter, while the Instructor and Officer courses focus on the mental demands of firefighting. This information shares just one example of the dedication that USC volunteer firefighters have given in order to make sure they are trained to the highest of standards. Training as a firefighter is never ending, and as things change, advancements are made. Along with the aforementioned schools and training, the department’s members are also advancing their skills in a variety of other areas, including aerial operations, high angle rescue, water rescue, first aid, and pumps I and II. Do these classes spark your interest? The department is always looking for and accepting new volunteer members. Click the link on the department’s website, message us on Facebook, or stop in at the main fire station at 2001 Washington Road if you notice a parked car in the lot. Wednesday evenings are always a good time to stop by and ask questions, when members are at the station for weekly drills. In closing, I’d like to thank the USC community for its continued support. As an all-volunteer department, we rely on your generous donations to keep our operations going. Your protection is our highest concern. n
patient treatment, and case documentation, including medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, as well as medical ethics and law. Public safety training includes incident command, emergency vehicle training, rescue, hazardous material operations, as well as training in dealing with disturbed or violent individuals and mass casualty incidents. EMS providers also learn how to use specialized equipment peculiar to EMS. Obviously, an EMT or paramedic needs to be versatile. The EMT or paramedic needs to be a compassionate listener, an accurate questioner, a perceptive observer, a clear communicator, a thorough and concise writer, and a conscientious caregiver. He or she must be a skilled driver, a careful furniture mover, and a gentle patient handler. EMS personnel are proficient at handling things from high-tech electronics to high-power tools to high-strung household pets. They need to be able to work calmly and competently in the comfort of the patient’s home or the chaos of a crash scene. They need to be able to follow complex procedures despite distractions, and make critical decisions in hostile environments. EMTs and paramedics know they’ll have to see horrible things, things nobody should ever have to see; but they know they’ll also have the chance to see some rare and wonderful things that few get the opportunity to see. Do you have what it takes to be an EMT? If so, answer the call! n
Grilling Safety Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department All Volunteer Since 1939
When warmer weather hits, there’s nothing better than the smell of food on a grill. Seven out of every ten adults in the U.S. have a grill or smoker, which translates to a lot of tasty meals. But it also means there’s an increased risk of home fires. From 2014 to 2018, fire departments went to an annual average of 8900 home fires involving grills, hibachis, or barbecues each year, including 3900 structure fires and 4900 outside or unclassified fires. To help keep you safe and unintended fires at bay, read the following. Safety Tips • Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors. • The grill should be placed well away from the home and deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches. • Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area. • Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grill slats and in trays below the grill. • Never leave your grill unattended. • Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
Charcoal Grills • There are several ways to get charcoal ready for use. Charcoal chimney starters allow you to start the charcoal using newspaper as a fuel source. • If you use starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquid to an existing fire. • Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources. • There are also electric charcoal starters, which do not use fire. Be sure to use an extension cord approved for outdoor use. • When you’re finished grilling, let the coals cool completely before disposing of them in a metal container. Propane Grills Check the propane tank hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year. Apply a light soap and water solution to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles. If your grill has a gas leak, by smell or the soapy bubble test, and there is no flame, turn off both the gas tank and the grill. If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the leak does not stop, call the fire department. If you
National EMS Week
Tri-Community South (TCS) EMS is observing the 46th annual National Emergency Medical Services Week May 16–21. National EMS Week is sponsored by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) in conjunction with the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). It was first designated in 1974 by President Gerald Ford to honor EMS providers nationwide who deliver lifesaving care all day, every day, with little fanfare and little recognition. In 2021, EMS remains at the forefront in the effort to reduce sickness and death from the global coronavirus pandemic. EMS workers are expected to encounter the virus as a normal part of daily operations, and to protect themselves and their patients accordingly. It’s not an easy task. The effects of the pandemic have taken a toll on EMS providers and EMS systems, alike. Providers need to wear cumbersome and uncomfortable protective equipment on all calls, and decontaminate ambulances and equipment after every call, prolonging turnaround times. EMS systems are suffering financially because of the combined effects of increased costs associated with pandemic preparedness and decreased incomes because of the nationwide and global economic situation. Through it all, TCS, along with other EMS agencies across the country, serves with dedication and professionalism to respond to all calls. Because of the pandemic, TCS is unable to hold public events that were normally part of EMS Week in years prior. The annual
smell gas while cooking, immediately move away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill. The grill flame may go out if it’s not getting adequate propane gas or fuel. It could be that the propane tank is empty, the flame was blown out due to the wind, or there could be a mechanical issue with the pressure regulator or the valve. If the flame goes out and you have fuel (propane or natural gas), turn off the grill and gas and wait at least five minutes before re-lighting the grill. If it still doesn’t work, there could be a mechanical issue with your grill and you should a contact a professional for repairs. n
golf outing has been cancelled, and there will be no in-person mass public CPR or Stop the Bleed classes. Though vaccination efforts are well underway and some of the restrictions on public gathering are being slightly relaxed, the pandemic is ongoing. The best and safest course of action will be to maintain mask and distancing protocols. To best support EMS during this year’s EMS Week, please stay aware of all precautions and follow CDC guidelines. Say “thank you” to EMS providers by being smart and staying safe. Would you like to support TCS by becoming a subscriber? See the article “Tri-Community South EMS Subscription Drive” found on page 71 for more information. Learn how your subscriptions dollars work for you and for your community. n For more information on EMS Week or for any other questions on emergency medical services, call Tri-Community South at 412-831-3710, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., or visit TCS’s website at http://tcsems.org. Summer 2021
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This is beautiful. This is home.
This is Providence Point— When Providence Point is your home, you’ll find you don’t downsize, you SUPERSIZE! Your new home offers a pool, spa, fitness center, theatre, indoor parking, four dining venues, a library, a bank, and stellar healthcare.* Providence Point is Pittsburgh’s premier retirement address and, as a Life Plan Community, it is designed for the way you live now with the added peace of mind you want for your future.
See all of our floor plans and RSVP for upcoming events on our website. *Providence Point Healthcare Residence is consistently rated one of the Best short-term and long-term care Nursing Homes in the USA by US News & World Report.
A Baptist Homes Society community
WWW.PROVIDENCEPOINT.ORG
CALL 412.489.3550
500 Providence Point Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15243
Making the Right Moves in Retirement PP Ad-USC Summer 2021.indd 1
3/22/2021 9:49:30 AM
Marilyn Walsh, Providence Point Providence Point resident Ron Feller moved several times throughout his working career, but after retiring from his position as vice president of manufacturing for Unilever, he and his wife, Marjon, retired to Sarasota, Florida. During a recent conversation at Providence Point, we talked about Ron’s moves during retirement. His story follows:
Marjon and I moved several times throughout my career, but after retiring, we moved to Sarasota, where we volunteered, met new friends, golfed, and enjoyed time in the sun. It was a good move. We lived there for 23 years. However, at one point, we decided we wanted to be closer to our growing family. We were not from Pittsburgh, but learned about Providence Point from our son who lives in Mt. Lebanon. We toured the facility, selected a beautiful two-bedroom apartment with a sunroom, and moved in late 2014. Originally from Ohio, we were familiar with Pittsburgh’s inclement weather. But, at Providence Point, we could go to any of the four dining venues, all the activity areas, and the pool or fitness center without going outside. Plus, our grandchildren 38
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and great grandchildren live nearby and can visit frequently. Additionally, we can walk out of our apartment, close the door, and lock it up. The benefit of living at Providence Point is that it’s easy to leave for the day or a planned trip away. We quickly realized that moving to Providence Point was a great move and the right choice. Unfortunately, Marjon became ill and passed away in 2017. At that point, I was grateful to be near family and have the support of friends. Plus, throughout Marjon’s illness, we had the benefit of such a caring staff and healthcare team at Providence Point. I continue to be very involved at Providence Point. I bowl, play bocce, and I am on a billiards and pool volleyball team. I even started a genealogy club. I still love to travel and I appreciate the fact that I don’t have to worry about canceling my mail or turning off my water. I have visited Florida, taken cruises, and more. That was until COVID hit. The pandemic has put the brakes on traveling for now. But, I’m glad that during the pandemic I live at Providence Point. It has been a tough year for all of us, but having friends Summer 2021
and neighbors nearby has been equally as important as knowing that Providence Point’s five-star healthcare and outstanding services continue to be available. Even while some services needed to be scaled back, Providence Point continued to offer wellness opportunities, delicious food delivered to my door, and regular updates about the precautions and medical guidelines to follow. I’m glad to be here with people I trust. Providence Point was a great move for me! n
Ron Feller talks about the many benefits of living at Providence Point during the pandemic.
See ad for Providence Point, a Baptist Homes Society community, on this page.
Do I Have Cataracts?
Dr. Joseph Scherer, Chang Eye Group
As people age, the lens of the eye becomes cloudy; we call this a cataract. If left untreated, a cataract leads to a significant decrease in vision. Fortunately, there is cataract removal, the most-performed surgery in the U.S. With greater than a 98% success rate, cataract removal is one of the safest medical procedures. Typically, it is done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. In the hands of an experienced surgeon, the process typically takes about ten to 15 minutes to complete. Many patients notice improved vision immediately after surgery and are usually able to see more clearly the day following the procedure. Signs of cataracts Any of these symptoms may indicate that you have cataracts, but only a trained eye doctor can properly diagnose cataracts: • Blurry vision • Glare and reduced vision in bright light • Halos around lights when driving at night • Double vision in one eye • Frequent eyeglass prescription changes • Poor vision at night • Need for brighter light when reading How are cataracts removed? Every human eye is a bit different in terms of size, depth, and other key features. Using the latest instruments and testing, the surgeon takes precise measurements of your eye prior to surgery and plans the procedure for the best possible outcome. Cataract surgery uses local anesthesia to numb the area. After making a tiny incision, the surgeon uses an ultrasonic instrument to emulsify the lens material (called Phacoemulsification or Phaco). The surgeon aspirates the cataract out of the eye through the tiny incision, which typically requires no stitches. The surgeon will then implant an intraocular lens, or IOL, to replace the emulsified cloudy lens. Before surgery, the surgeon will help you decide which type of IOL is best suited for you.
What lens implants are right for me? Near
Intermediate
Distance
Astigmatism
Multifocal Lens Imagine the possibility of not needing corrective glasses anymore! Multifocal lenses can help you see both near and far, so you may enjoy being glasses free. Astigmatism-Correcting Monofocal Lens Now you can have your astigmatism as well as your cataracts corrected in one simple surgery. With this advanced technology, most people only use glasses for reading. Monofocal Lens Designed for sharp distance vision, these lenses are usually covered by Medicare and other insurance plans. Glasses may still be necessary for reading, and in some cases, distance vision, especially if you have astigmatism.
Transform your eyesight IOLs replace the eye’s natural lens and are a solution to cataracts. Premium IOLs decrease your dependency on glasses. Either way, this type of lens replacement surgery provides better, sharper vision. Dr. Joseph Scherer, a board certified ophthalmologist who has been practicing in the South Hills for nearly 20 years, specializes in advanced small incision cataract surgery, using premium lens implant technologies. He also provides comprehensive eye care, including glaucoma treatment and laser, diabetic eye care, and other problems of the aging eye, like macular degeneration. n To schedule a cataract evaluation or your yearly medical eye exam with Dr. Scherer, call Chang Eye Group at 412-429-2020 for either one of two convenience locations: Greentree or Peters Township. For more information, visit www.changeyegroup.com. See ad for Chang Eye Group on this page.
Joseph Scherer, MD
Board Certified Ophthalmologist Chang Eye Group is happy to welcome Dr. Joseph Scherer to their practice. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Scherer is committed to providing expert medical and surgical eye care to new and existing patients.
Call 412.429.2020 today to schedule!
GREENTREE 2101 Greentree Road, #105 • Pittsburgh, PA 15220 p: 412.429.2020 f: 412.429.0932
PETERS TOWNSHIP 3380 Washington Road • McMurray, PA 15317 p: 412.429.2020 f: 412.429.0932 Summer 2021
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SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
Super Summer Staycation
Haley Roberts, Administrative Coordinator, Extended Day Services It’s crazy to think that COVID-19 has been changing the way our children attend school, participate in extracurricular activities, and socialize for more than a year now. While there’s excitement surrounding the vaccine roll-out, many families might still elect to delay summer vacations. Even so, your children will not feel like they’re missing out on summertime if you keep them engaged with these super fun activities! 1. Blow bubbles. You will be surprised how long your elementary school children will entertain themselves with some bubble solution and wands from the dollar store! Alternatively, you can take a crack at a homemade bubble recipe for making giant bubbles, like this one! (https://happyhooligans.ca/homemadegiant-bubbles/) 2. Paint with shaving cream. Borrow some of dad’s or grandpa’s shaving cream and spray it on a glass door in your home. With their fingers, children can move the shaving cream around to create their own masterpieces! Just keep a watchful eye on younger children so they do not get it in their eyes. 3. Create nature self-portraits. Cut oval shapes out of old cardboard boxes and encourage children to collect items from your backyard, including twigs, blades of grass, and leaves. Arrange them on the cardboard shapes to make their own face, or someone else’s. This activity not only gets them outside, but also activates their creativity. (https://happyhooligans.ca/nature-faces/) 4. Ride bikes on a trail. Gather the whole family and ride bikes on a local trail. See how many different types of creatures you 40
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can spot during your ride. Stop for ice cream afterwards! Check out nearby Montour Trail for easy, flat bike paths or the Three Rivers Heritage Trail for some great city vistas! 5. Play tag with super soakers. Dust off the super soaker water guns stored in your garage and play freeze tag by squirting water at your opponents. If you get hit with water, you “freeze” until someone else sets you free by squirting you again. 6. Make homemade pizza. Cooking is often a life skill that we do not think to teach our kids until they’re older, but it’s never too early to start! Make a simple pizza dough recipe like this one, and have the kids add their favorite sauce, cheese, and other toppings. (https://happyhooligans.ca/quick-easy-pizza-doughready-20-minutes/) 7. Create sidewalk chalk masterpieces. Break out the sidewalk chalk or sidewalk chalk paint to create art on your driveway or street. Stuck on what to draw? Try giving your children prompts, such as “Draw a character from your favorite movie,” or “Show me what kind of pet you’d like to have when you grow up.” 8. Read together. Head to the library or your local bookstore and stock up on fun summer-themed reads. Each night, read to your kids—or if they’re old enough, have them read to you—and discuss things like what might happen next, character development, plot, and the moral of the story. This exercise helps children build and maintain their reading comprehension skills, while creating quality family time. n See ad for Extended Day Services on this page.
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
Join us this summer! Ballet camps for children of all ages and levels—as low as $40!
Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh 4100 Library Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234
412-343-9333
www.balletacademypgh.com info@balletacademypgh.com
Women’s Golf League The Women’s Golf Association of Mt. Lebanon invites you to join its golf group for play on Tuesdays, now through September. Membership is open to women of all skill levels. For more information, call Sharon Ackerman at 412-480-3319.
Little Lake Theatre Set to Come Back This Month While Broadway in New York City will not reopen until at least June 2021, Little Lake Theatre is looking to welcome back audiences for live performances as early as May 20, 2021. Little Lake’s artistic director Jena Oberg is thrilled to announce an exciting lineup of theatrical experiences for its 73rd season of fun. Initial programming will be offered in a new open-air venue, a 40'x40' three-sided canopy tent, equipped with lighting and comfortable seating. Programming slated for fall 2021 will be produced live on stage in the theatre, with social distance seating options available as one of Little Lake’s implemented safety protocols for 2020. More information on sanitization practices will be publicized on Little Lake’s website, once patrons are invited safely back into the building. Little Lake Theatre looks forward to welcoming everyone back, and hopes that you will join in for the upcoming season. Get ready to see familiar faces and meet some new friends. See you at the Lake! n
For more information, visit www.littlelake.org. See ad for Little Lake Theatre on this page.
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SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES References on TODAY’s Website DINE-IN NOW OPEN
Summer and Beyond
Two documents you might find useful this summer that contain contact information can be found on TODAY’s website (www.twpusc.org/usctoday) under “USC TODAY Features” in the “Past Issues” subsection. • Serving Upper St. Clair includes a list of places of worship and adult and children’s daycare facilities that are located in and around USC. • Local Clubs and Organizations includes contact information for many of the local clubs and organizations in our community. Request to have your group’s information added to our lists. Contact usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us.
Beyond COVID
The Coming Return to Normalcy and Youth Recreational Programming Richard Hatch, Owner, Learn3Ride.com I don’t know about you, but I’m really tired of worrying about which human contact will lead to my loved ones or myself becoming sick from COVID. Every human on the planet has been impacted in some way by the life-threatening virus, whether it’s having to work at home, not being able to see our elder relatives in the nursing home, or our children being forced into in-home isolation to attend school online. Based on the science of contact tracing, the majority of person-to-person transmission has occurred inside where the virus can become a persistent presence. The incidences of suicides, drug overdoses, clinical depression, PTSD, and domestic abuse have all peaked sharply during governmentimposed lockdowns and public school closures. By far, our children have suffered the most. At a time when their mental and physical development has been impeded by the social isolation imposed by distance 42
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learning and curtailing of recreational activities, and with the combination of the coming herd immunity from the mass vaccinations and warm weather, it’s time for our kids to reclaim the childhood memories we as adults remember and so treasure. Outdoor activities have proven to be safe and beneficial and are the remedy for the cultural malaise that the lockdowns and distance learning have created. While not a magic elixir, our children are highly adaptable, and we must do what we can to give them a modicum of normalcy. Outdoor individual activities—bike riding, jogging, swimming, hiking—are the most safe and can be used to strengthen socialization through regular participation while maintaining safe social distances. Many team activities—softball, soccer, hockey—have proven to be safe with proper precautions and social distancing. The Allegheny County Health Department has standardized these precautions, and
References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021. Considerations for Youth Sports Administrators Community, Work, and School. [online] Available at: <https://www. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/youth-sports.html> [Accessed 28 February 2021]. Einhorn, E., & Sesin, C. (2020, December 15). COVID is having a devastating impact on children—and the vaccine won’t fix everything. Retrieved February 28, 2021, from NBC News website: https:// www.nbcnews.com/news/education/ covid-having-devastating-impact-childrenvaccine-won-t-fix-everything-n1251172. Greene, J. (2020, October 4). COVID’s heavy toll. Crain’s Detroit.Com. https:// www.crainsdetroit.com/health-care/ covids-heavy-toll-depression-suicidesopioid-overdoses-increase-pandemic-era. Science and technical resources related to indoor air and Coronavirus (COVID-19). (2020, November 04). Retrieved February 28, 2021, from https://www.epa.gov/ coronavirus/science-and-technical-resources-related-indoor-air-and-coronaviruscovid-19.
412.344.3900
municipalities would do well to continue to comply with these precautions while the coming herd immunity builds. Upper St. Clair Township has been a cautious and balanced leader. In a time when almost every other Allegheny County municipality completely canceled their summer 2020 recreational programming during the height of the pandemic, USC recognized the risks and determined to go forward with opportune programming that the C&RC is known for. The success of USC’s recreational programming through implemented precautionary measures, which caused the lack of COVID transmissions during the pandemic, led other local municipalities to take heart and open their programming, as well, using our community’s example. While it might not yet be time for us to remove our masks and cease with the social distancing, it is time to move past the fear of COVID and embrace the hope of a return to normalcy that is so critical to the success of our children and their futures, by letting them participate in outdoor recreational activities this summer. n
dcpdance.com
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
Summer Dance Intensive 13+ Junior Dance Intensive 9-13 Young Dancer Programs 7-12 Open Teen Classes 12+ Early Dance 3-6
Enjoy an exceptional night in.
Savor delicious appetizers, entrées, desserts, cocktails and wines from the comfort of your home with our new curbside pickup service. Begin your order at bisteccapittsburgh.com or text PIPA to 33733. Orders may be picked up under the race track portico at the front of the casino.
located at the meadows (upper level) | 210 race track road, suite 200, washington, pa 15301 | 724.503.1510
Summer 2021
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Upper St. Clair School District
Board of School Directors
Patrick A. Hewitt President 412-831-0178 2023*
Phillip J. Elias Vice President 412-257-1198 2023*
Amy L. Billerbeck 412-833-2712 2023*
Barbara L. Bolas 412-833-9841 2023*
www.uscsd.k12.pa.us
@USCSchools
To reach personnel, call 412-833-1600, and follow the automated directions.
Administrator
Secretary/Email Address
Extension
Dr. John Rozzo...........................................................Sarah MacDonald.................................... 2218 Superintendent of Schools smacdonald@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. Sharon Suritsky...................................................Mary Beth Harkleroad............................. 2214 Assistant/Deputy Superintendent mharkleroad@uscsd.k12.pa.us Amy Pfender...............................................................Mary Beth Harkleroad............................. 2214 Assistant to the Superintendent mharkleroad@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. Lou Angelo ..........................................................langelo@uscsd.k12.pa.us............................ 2272 Director of Operations & Facilities Ray Berrott.................................................................rberrott@uscsd.k12.pa.us........................... 2059 Director of Technology Sean Bryson ...............................................................sbryson@uscsd.k12.pa.us........................... 2560 Chief of School Police Dr. Judy Bulazo .........................................................Mary Beth Harkleroad............................. 2214 Director of Curriculum and Professional Development mharkleroad@uscsd.k12.pa.us Scott Burchill ............................................................Dawn Machi ............................................ 2220 Director of Business and Finance dmachi@uscsd.k12.pa.us Ray Carson, Jr............................................................Sarah MacDonald.................................... 2218 Senior Director of Operations & Administrative Services smacdonald@uscsd.k12.pa.us Cassandra Doggrell ..................................................Julie Karabinos......................................... 2116 Director of Special Education jkarabinos@uscsd.k12.pa.us Lauren Madia ..............................................................Terri Lott .................................................. 2283 Director of Pupil Services tlott@uscsd.k12.pa.us Jonn Mansfield ............................................................jmansfield@uscsd.k12.pa.us ...................... 3450 Director of Transportation Tina Vojtko ................................................................tvojtko@uscsd.k12.pa.us............................ 2215 Communications Specialist Bradley Wilson ..........................................................bwilson@uscsd.k12.pa.us........................... 3318 Director of Strategic Initiatives
School District Central Office Administration
Jennifer L. Bowen 412-660-5846 2021*
Dr. Daphna Gans 412-851-1825 2021* Dr. John Rozzo Superintendent of Schools
Louis P. Mafrice, Jr. 412-851-0622 2021*
Angela B. Petersen 412-833-4873 2023*
Ray Carson, Jr. Senior Director of Operations & Administrative Services
The 2021 regular meetings of the Upper St. Clair Township Board of School Directors are held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month at the Central Office Board Room, unless otherwise noted. No regular meeting is scheduled for July.
Jennifer A. Schnore 412-833-4141 2021* *Date indicates expiration of term.
Dr. Judy Bulazo Director of Curriculum and Professional Development
The required annual notices to parents of children who reside in the Upper St. Clair School District are available online. Visit the District website at www.uscsd.k12.pa.us. Click on Information and then select Compliance Notifications to view required state and federal notices and information. www.uscsd.k12.pa.us UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Amy Pfender Assistant to the Superintendent
Dr. Lou Angelo Director of Operations & Facilities
Cassandra Doggrell Director of Special Education
Scott Burchill Director of Business and Finance
Ray Berrott Director of Technology
Lauren Madia Director of Pupil Services
Bradley Wilson Director of Strategic Initiatives
School District Building Administration
Upper St. Clair School District Annual Notices
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Dr. Sharon Suritsky Assistant/Deputy Superintendent
Dr. Timothy Wagner High School Principal Dr. Daniel Beck High School Assistant Principal Dan Zelenski High School Assistant Principal
Summer 2021
Joseph DeMar Fort Couch Middle School Principal Erin Peterson Fort Couch Assistant Principal Daniel O’Rourke Boyce Middle School Principal Dr. Christine Mussomeli Boyce Middle School Assistant Principal
Dr. Patrick McClintock-Comeaux Baker Elementary School Principal Mark Miller Eisenhower Elementary School Principal/Supervisor of Elementary Education Lindsay Klousnitzer Streams Elementary School Principal
District’s Student Support Services Restructured This past January, the Upper St. Clair Board of School Directors approved the restructuring of the District’s student support services, creating two separate areas of responsibility: special education and pupil services. The student support services department encompasses several critical areas, including special education, school counseling, psychological services, health services, English as a second language, homebound instruction, student assessment, student registration, and more. Special education will continue to be led by Cassandra Doggrell, whose title will shift to director of special education. Lauren Madia, who has served as the District’s assistant director of student support services since 2019, was promoted to the position of director of pupil services. “The District is fortunate to have an exceptional team of student-centered administrators who work collaboratively to meet the ever-changing needs of our students, families, and staff members,” said Dr. John Rozzo, superintendent of schools. “This restructuring is in direct response to the evolving demands of our District to best meet our students’ needs, and will enable the District to leverage the expertise of these two administrators through the pandemic and beyond.”
Cassandra joined the Upper St. Clair administrative staff in 2019. She previously served as a middle school principal, assistant middle school principal, and elementary autism and emotional support teacher in the Seneca Valley School District. In addition, she served as a part-time faculty member in the graduate education program at Waynesburg University. A graduate of Grove City College, Cassandra earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education/early childhood education. She holds a master’s degree in special education from Waynesburg University and a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Duquesne University. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in educational leadership at the University of Pittsburgh. A Tarentum resident, Cassandra and her husband, Keith, have a school-aged daughter, Luna. As co-chair of the District’s health and safety team, Lauren has provided significant leadership and direction regarding COVID-19 throughout this past year. From 2013–2019, Lauren served as a school counselor at Upper St. Clair’s Fort Couch Middle School. During that time, she also provided leadership as the student support services curriculum leader. Lauren
Outstanding Administrator
Erin Peterson, Fort Couch assistant principal, was recognized with the Leonard R. Ference Outstanding Administrator Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Middle Level Educators (PAMLE). According to the association’s website, the award, established in 2004, honors “administrators who value, understand, and support middle level education practices that promote powerful learning for young adolescents.” Erin was nominated for the award by Joe DeMar, Fort Couch Middle School principal, with letters of support from Kate Ruth, middle school English/language arts curriculum leader and reading specialist at Fort Couch, and Catherine Deep, a Fort Couch parent. “In her eighth year as Fort Couch assistant principal, Erin has transformed the position into an integral part of the school’s success,” said Joe. “She has taken the traditional role of an assistant principal and morphed it into one that embodies authentic leadership and builds trust with the staff and provides opportunities for the students.” Erin joined the Fort Couch staff in 2006. She has served as an English/language arts (ELA) teacher, reading specialist, curriculum leader for middle school ELA, and
Professional Learning Community facilitator before ascending to her current role as assistant principal in 2013. This year marks her 21st year working with middle school students, whom she describes as creative, enthusiastic, and fun. “The most rewarding part of my role is partnering with staff, students, and families to care for the students and help them find success,” said Erin. “I am privileged to work alongside an incredible staff, wonderful students, and supportive families who make every day fulfilling.” According to Kate, Erin’s ability to recognize the balance between quality curriculum, engaging learning experiences, and student needs have enhanced the experience for all Fort Couch students. “She has a pulse on what is happening in the classrooms. She understands the importance of engaging students and meeting their individual needs. She’s used her administrative role to support the piloting of various curriculum and assessments,” said Kate. “Thanks to her leadership, all content areas have made significant curricular changes over the past years to improve student learning and performance.” In-school clubs at Fort Couch Middle Summer 2021
Cassandra Doggrell
Lauren Madia
serves as a District trainer in comprehensive crisis management and is recognized as a national certified counselor through the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. Lauren earned her bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from Pennsylvania State University and her master’s degree in school counseling from University of North Carolina, Greensboro. In addition, she holds a master’s degree in educational leadership, as well as principal and supervisor of pupil personnel services certifications from Duquesne University. Currently, she is enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, pursuing her doctoral degree in education leadership. She and her husband, Matt, reside in the city of Pittsburgh. n
School are organized by Erin, an effort that is appreciated by parents. “Erin spends countless hours balancing student preferences, friendships, school Erin Peterson social circles, and teacher availability. She recognizes the importance of extra-curricular opportunities, where students can share common interests with peers and a trusted adult,” said Catherine. A graduate of Grove City College, Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in English and secondary education. She earned her master’s degree in education for reading and language arts from Duquesne University, where she is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership. Erin and her husband, Shane, reside in Upper St. Clair and have two school-aged children, James and Katherine. n PAMLE is the leading advocate for middle level education in Pennsylvania. Learn more at www.pamle.org. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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USC Hosts and Wins WPIAL Swim Championships In its first full season, the new USCHS pool received a christening like no other. With its new eight-lane, 25-yard competition pool and special use/diving pool, Upper St. Clair played host for the two-day Class AA and AAA WPIAL swimming championships on March 6 and 7. The Panthers leveraged their home field advantage to capture the WPIAL Class AAA boys championship, securing the team’s first title in ten years by beating Seneca Valley by 1.5 points. In doing so, USC became the first WPIAL swim team to win a title in its home pool since 1962, when Mt. Lebanon High School hosted WPIAL finals. In addition to securing the team championship, the Panthers earned gold medals in the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, and senior Josh Matheny’s signature event, the 100-yard breaststroke. All three events set new pool records. While Josh enjoyed the logistics of a short commute from home to the site of the WPIAL championships, the biggest perk was celebrating the win with his teammates. “By far the best part of having the meet at home this year was that after our boys team won the meet, we celebrated in the pool with all our teammates and coaches,” said Josh. “We wouldn’t have been able to do that if the meet was anywhere other than USC.” The girls team placed third overall in WPIAL competition, behind first place North Allegheny and second place Seneca Valley. USC girls won gold in four events, including Taylor Connors, who set a pool record in the 200 freestyle; Kaitlyn Connors, who set a pool record in the 50 freestyle and was a member of the 200 freestyle relay that also set a pool record; and Taylor Connors who set a pool and school record in the 100 freestyle. For senior Taylor Connors, hosting the event in USC’s home pool provided an extra boost of confidence as she competed in her final WPIAL championships. “At first the idea of having the meet at USC was weird
• 200 Medley Relay: Lilly Bernard, Sarina Krishnaswamy, Rachel Fibbi, Caroline Wright–12th • 200 Freestyle: Taylor Connors–1st/1:50.46, USCHS pool record Abby Rutkowski–3rd • 200 IM: Amanda Aidar–7th • 50 Freestyle: Kaitlyn Connors–1st/23.75, USCHS pool record • 100 Butterfly: Amanda Aidar–9th
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Girls
Individual Point Scoring Honors
• 200 Freestyle Relay: Kaitlyn Connors, Abby Rutkowski, Amanda Aidar, Taylor Connors–1st/1:36.06, USCHS pool record • 100 Freestyle: Taylor Connors–1st/51.02, USCHS school and pool record Kaitlyn Connors–3rd Abby Rutkowski–6th • 500 Freestyle: Sophia Schlichting–11th • 400 Freestyle Relay: Kaitlyn Connors, Abby Rutkowski, Amanda Aidar, Taylor Connors–2nd • Diving: Addison Burnette–10th
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
because every year we look forward to the fast pool and energy at Pitt,” Taylor said. “But as the meet approached and it sunk in how fortunate we were to be having the meet at all, it was really great to be familiar with the blocks and the turns and all the aspects that go into having a fast race.” The new high school pool first opened in January 2020, in time for last year’s senior class recognition night. However, this year marked the first full season that the Panthers trained and competed in the new facility. “Not many high schools have the facility to pull off an event like this; we are tremendously grateful for what we have here at Upper St. Clair,” said Dr. Kevin Deitrick, director of athletics. “It was a chance to show off our facility but, more importantly, it gave the high school kids an opportunity to compete for a championship. Our student athletes have worked too hard not to have that opportunity.” In order to meet COVID-19 capacity and social distancing guidelines, attendance was limited to swimmers, coaches, and officials. Although they could not attend in-person, families and friends could watch the competition via live stream online. According to Dr. Deitrick, the biggest challenge in running the WPIAL swim championships was the preparation throughout the week leading into the event. “It takes a village and everyone pitched in,” said Dr. Deitrick. “The athletic office staff, custodians, maintenance, coaching staff, parents, and the administration all had a hand in preparing and enabling USC to run an efficient and organized championship under the COVID-19 restrictions.” The University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool has hosted the WPIAL swimming championships for 57 years, each year since 1964. However, due to the university’s COVID-19 protocols, Pitt was unable to accommodate the event this year. n
Summer 2021
• 200 Medley Relay: Ganesh Sivaramakrishnan, Josh Matheny, Jason Zhang, Daniel Wang–1st/1:33.33, USCHS pool record • 200 Freestyle: Ethan Neal–10th • 200 IM: Josh Matheny–2nd Andrew White–8th Will Perham–10th • 50 Freestyle: Ryan Senchyshak–6th Daniel Wang–15th • 100 Fly: Ganesh Sivaramakrishnan–2nd Jason Zhang–12th • 200 Free Relay: Daniel Wang, Ganesh Sivaramakrishnan, Ethan Neal,
Boys
Ryan Senchyshak–1st/1:25.35, USCHS pool record • 100 Freestyle: Ryan Senchyshak–9th • 500 Freestyle: Andrew White–13th • 100 Backstroke: Ganesh Sivaramakrishnan–4th Daniel Wang–8th Ethan Neal–9th • 100 Breaststroke: Josh Matheny–1st/54.40, USCHS pool record Will Perham–8th Patrick Benedict–16th • 400 Freestyle Relay: Ryan Senchyshak, Jason Zhang, Ethan Neal, Josh Matheny–6th • Diving: Sam Levy–7th
National Merit Finalists
Eleven USCHS seniors—Richard Carlson, Christian Chiu, Harrison Chui, Donovan Kohler, Richa Mahajan, Shay McDowell, Samantha Seewald, Ishaan Shah, Sophia Shi, Constantine Tripodes, and Jason Zhang—were named Finalists in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. They were selected on the basis of their SAT scores, grades, essays, and letters of recommendation. Prior to being named Finalists, these students were named Semifinalists in September 2020 for scoring in the top one percent of nearly 1.6 million juniors completing the PSAT in October 2019. “We are proud of our students who have been recognized as National Merit Finalists,” said Dr. Timothy Wagner, Upper St. Clair High School principal. “This is an amazing testament to their academic abilities and unlimited potential.” As Finalists, these students are now competing for National Merit Scholarships that will be offered and announced this spring. The program awards three types of scholarships: National Merit $2500 Scholarships, Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarships, and College-Sponsored Merit Scholarships.
Richard Carlson
Christian Chiu
Samantha Seewald
Harrison Chui
Ishaan Shah
PIAA Swim Results
All winners of Merit Scholarship awards are chosen from the Finalist group based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments. A variety of information is available for selectors to evaluate, including the Finalist’s academic record, information about the school’s curricula and grading system, two sets of test scores, the high school official’s written recommendation, information about the student’s activities and leadership, and the Finalist’s own essay. Founded in 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT—the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test—during the fall of their junior year. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, “The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.” n For more information regarding the National Merit Scholarship Program, visit www.nationalmerit.org.
Donovan Kohler
Sophia Shi
Richa Mahajan
Constantine Tripodes
Shay McDowell
Jason Zhang
The USC boys swim team finished third in the PIAA state championships this past March, marking the team’s best finish since 2015, when that team finished second. Josh Matheny earned his fourth straight title in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 51.84, breaking his own PIAA and National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) records. In total, Josh earned three gold medals—100 breaststroke, 200 individual medley, and 200 medley relay—as well as PIAA AAA boys swimmer of the meet honors. Other highlights of the meet included: Boys: 100 Butterfly, Ganesh Sivaramakrishnan, 3rd place 100 Backstroke, Ganesh Sivaramakrishnan, 3rd place 200 Medley Relay, Ganesh Sivaramakrishnan, Josh Matheny, Jason Zhang, and Ryan Senchyshak, 1st place 200 Freestyle Relay, Ryan Senchyshak, Dan Wang, Ethan Neal, and Ganesh Sivaramakrishnan, 8th place Girls: 200 Freestyle Relay, Amanda Aidar, Kaitlyn Connors, Taylor Connors, and Abby Rutkowski, 3rd place Congratulations to Coach Dave Schraven and the swim team for their stellar performances at the season-ending competitions. n Summer 2021
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USC Boys Basketball Crowned WPIAL Champs Congratulations to the Upper St. Clair High School boys’ basketball team for a season deserving of praise. The team defeated the Pine-Richland Rams 56–53 to capture the school’s first WPIAL Class 6A basketball championship since 2005 and third overall. Following the WPIAL championship game, an individual associated with the Upper St. Clair team tested positive for COVID-19, requiring all players and coaches to quarantine. With six players testing negative and a 20-year-old volunteer coach, the Panthers entered the first round of the PIAA playoffs. With what has been hailed as the “Upper St. Clair Six,” the Panthers defeated District 10 champion Erie High, 62–57 in the PIAA quarterfinals. The squad included three senior starters—Ethan Dahlem, Luke Gensler, and David Pantelis—along with junior Porter Rauch, sophomore Matt Gaither, and freshman Devin Hall. Serving as coach was Tanner Gensler, a sophomore at Muskingum College. The Panthers faced Reading in the PIAA semifinals. Despite the return of senior Luke Banbury and head coach Danny Holzer, the Panthers fell to Reading High School, 68–46. This marked the first time in school history that Upper St. Clair advanced to the PIAA boys’ semifinals in basketball. The team finished the season 21–2 overall. In addition, Luke Gensler, Dave Pantelis, Ethan Dahlem, and Luke Banbury earned First Team All-Big 56 honors. Big 56 also named head coach Danny Holzer as Coach of the Year. Congratulations to the team and all associated with their team effort! n
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Upper St. Clair High School Halls Of Fame 21st Anniversary Mission Statement
To identify and to honor those who have distinguished themselves in academics, the arts, or athletics at the high school, collegiate, or professional level and who, in so doing, have contributed to the pride and prestige of Upper St. Clair High School. A former student must meet the following criteria to be considered for any of the three Halls of Fame: the individual must be a graduate of Upper St. Clair High School, must be away from the high school for at least five years, and must have made a positive contribution during high school as well as significant achievements after leaving USCHS. Students are nominated by members of the high school staff, an Upper St. Clair alumnus, or the Upper St. Clair community. Administrative staff, teachers, and coaches are also eligible. Each Hall of Fame committee will include representatives from the high school staff, alumni, and the community. Nominees must earn a 75% vote of a quorum of the committee. During and after high school, the student could have excelled in one or more of the following:
Arts • School and Local Awards • District and Regional Awards • • State and National Recognition • Contributions in the Field • • Post Graduate Recognition • Collegiate Recognition • • Professional Accomplishments • • School Service and/or Leadership in Field • • Benefactor of the Arts • Contributions to Society • • Excellent Citizenship •
Academics • Academic Honors • National Merit Recognition • • National Honor Society • Valedictorian • • Student of the Year • Scholarship Awards • • School Service and/or Leadership • • Post Graduate Recognition • Collegiate Recognition • • Publication of Work • Professional Accomplishments • • Contributions to Society • Excellent Citizenship •
2021 Halls of Fame Inductee Nomination To nominate a candidate for the 2021 Upper St. Clair High School Halls of Fame (the event’s 21st anniversary), use the nomination form found on the Upper St. Clair School District website at www.uscsd.k12.pa.us. Click “Alumni” and select “Halls of Fame.” Submit your name, address, and phone number, along with your completed nomination form via email to hof@uscsd.k12.pa.us. For more information, contact Nancy Dunn at 412-833-1600, extension 2236. Nominations Due June 30, 2021. Nomination forms can also be mailed to: Nancy Dunn Halls of Fame Committee Upper St. Clair High School 1825 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241
Athletics • High School Awards and Records • • WPIAL or PIAA Champion • Post Season Recognition • • National Recognition • Multiple Sport Consideration • • Post Graduate Recognition • Collegiate Accomplishments • • Professional Accomplishments • • Leadership Accomplishments • • Other Hall of Fame Honors • Media Recognition • • Excellent Citizenship •
Due to the cancelation of the 2020 Halls of Fame celebration last year, recognition will occur this year for the Halls of Fame classes of 2020 and 2021.
Support Our 2021 High School Varsity Football Team Cheer on our Panthers!
Kick-offs Fridays, 7:30 p.m. at Panther Stadium for four home games September 10
USC tackles Baldwin
September 24
USC battles Penn Hills
October 1
October 22
USC meets South Fayette
USC challenges Peters Township For additional information regarding the schedule, including special activities, call the USCHS Athletic Office at 412-833-1600, extension 2260 or 2261, or visit the District website at www.uscsd.k12.pa.us.. Summer 2021
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USC Earns WELL Health-Safety Rating This past winter, Upper St. Clair School District earned training, and evaluation associated with our cleaning protocol, the WELL Health-Safety Rating for each of its six schools, the building systems, emergency preparedness, and health services a first school district to reach this achievement worldwide. The primary focus of our program.” WELL Health-Safety Rating through the International WELL To achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating, the District validated Building Institute (IWBI) is an evidence-based, third-party veri- current practices and improved upon others, including increasing fied rating for all new and existing the environmentally-friendly cleaning building and space types, focusing products used. “I am particularly exon operational policies, maintenance cited to share our District’s movement protocols, stakeholder engagement, toward preferred cleaning prodand emergency plans to address a ucts and, specifically, the transition post-COVID-19 environment now toward Green Seal Certified or recomand into the future. “The health mended products,” said Dr. Angelo. and safety of our students and staff “These products are proven safer members, as well as others who use for our school community and the our school facilities, remain our top environment.” priority,” said Dr. John Rozzo, suIn pursuing the WELL perintendent of schools. “The WELL Health-Safety Rating, Upper St. Clair Health-Safety seal is further testament partnered with Advantus Engineers, that we are sincere in our efforts to go LLC, which is led by Alicia Avick. above and beyond to provide the safAlicia, a USCHS graduate, is president Desks use plexiglass shielding to prevent the spread of viruses est environment possible for teaching of the engineering company and a and learning.” parent of two District students. “As Designed to empower organizaan engineer, with so much invested tions to take the necessary steps to in sustainable and healthy buildings, prioritize the health and safety of and as a parent, I was impressed with their staff, visitors, and stakeholdall the steps Upper St. Clair was taking ers, the WELL Health-Safety Rating to keep our children in their school can help guide users in the wake of buildings,” said Alicia. “Teaming them the COVID-19 pandemic, instilling with our highly experienced director confidence in those who come into of sustainability, Angelica Ciranni, the building, as well as the broader to review and refine the great strides community. “Our schools serve not already being taken, validates those only as learning environments for efforts and provides a science-based children, but also as workplaces for framework for moving forward.” teachers and staff and as gathering Launched in July 2020, the WELL spaces for communities,” said Rachel Health-Safety Rating was developed Hallways are marked to maintain social distancing Hodgdon, IWBI president and CEO. with recommendations from nearly “We applaud the Upper St. Clair 600 experts across public health, School District for its leadership medicine, design, real estate, governand commitment to evidence-based ment, and academia. The rating is interventions that will help pave the managed by the IWBI, whose mission way for schools everywhere that are is to improve human health and wellnavigating these pandemic times.” being in buildings and communities In addition, the District has develacross the world. oped a robust plan to renew the rating According to Dr. Angelo, a healthy annually and achieve the rigorous and safe physical school environment criteria year after year. “Our work to promotes learning by ensuring the this point has ensured and validated health and safety of students and staff. that we have coordinated systems “Our priority is to create an environand intentional efforts across the ment that optimizes learning and District that are designed to improve protects the health and well-being of the environment by making it the students and staff,” said Dr. Angelo. healthiest and safest for our students “We will continue to do everything and staff,” said Dr. Lou Angelo, direcwe can to ensure our community’s tor of operations and facilities. “We schools are among the best, both enwill continue to make the review and vironmentally and educationally.” n A reminder to wear masks is posted at each the assessment of products, practices, school building entrance 50
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Upper St. Clair School District Calendar 2021–2022 Aug 24 Sep 6 Oct 15 Nov 1–2 Nov 8 Nov 24–26 Dec 23–31 Jan 17 Feb 18 Feb 21 Mar 25 Mar 28 Apr 11–15 Apr 18 May 30 Jun 9 Jun 9 Jun 10 Jun 21
First Day of School for Students No School–Labor Day Half Day (Early Dismissal for Students) No School–Teacher In-service No School–Teacher In-service No School–Thanksgiving Recess No School–Winter Recess No School–Teacher In-service No School–Teacher In-service No School–Teacher In-service Half Day (Early Dismissal for Students) No School–Teacher In-service No School (Spring Recess) No School–Teacher In-service No School–Memorial Day High School Commencement Last Day of School for Students Teacher In-service Kennywood Day
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2021 School-Level Bee Results
Boyce year, an Upper St. Clair student was Baker (grade 4) First place: Raana Parchuri, First place: Finley Garvey crowned champion of the Western grade 5 Second place: Hadley Treffinger Pennsylvania Spelling Bee held virtuSecond place: Sam Cranganu, Third place: Abhi Muppavarapu ally this past March. Rohan Mehta, a grade 5 Fourth place: Jenny Chemoriya Fort Couch eighth grader, took top Fifth place: Patrick Lewis Third place: Avery Moore, grade 5 honors in the 71st annual bee, qualifyFourth place: Josh Alex-Nimal, ing him for the national competition Eisenhower (grade 4) grade 6 Rohan Mehta scheduled to take place this summer. First place: Divya Singh Fifth place: Ida Epshteyn, grade 6 Four other USC students—Finley Second place: Vivek Sattuluri Fort Couch Garvey, Divya Singh, Lindsey Fitzgerald, and Raana Parchuri— Third place: Anvi Vaishya First place: Rohan Mehta, Fourth place: Emily Chen participated in this year’s Western Pennsylvania bee. To get to this grade 8 (Western Pennsylvania Fifth place: Kaaveri Patil round of competition, each of these five students finished first in champion) his or her school’s spelling bee held earlier this year. The schoolSecond place: Kesahi Streams (grade 4) level bees, also held virtually, were sponsored by the USC Parent First place: Lindsey Fitzgerald Mathanachandran, grade 8 Teacher Council and open Second place: Nathan Suchta Third place: Juliya Chemoriya, to all students in grades four Third place: Max Reyes grade 7 through eight. Fourth place: Jack Stupar Fourth place: Eitan Schwartz, Last year, Raana Parchuri, Fifth place: Mira Murthy grade 8 Fifth place: Ahmed Elsaidi, then a fourth grader at Baker grade 7 Elementary, was crowned Western Pennsylvania champion at the 70th annual bee held at Robert Morris University in March 2020. Although Raana qualified to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC, the event was canceled due to the pandemic. Congratulations to all the students who participated in the 2021 school-level spelling bee and a special congratulations to Rohan. n
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Focusing on Mental Health
This past February, 25 USCHS students attended the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) virtual conference. The students were members of the school’s student council, Natural Helpers, Mending Mindsets, and Student Wellness groups who had an interest in mental health. R.J. Shontz, junior class president and a member of the school’s Natural Helpers, welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with other high school groups that share the focus of mental health. “It was great to network and build relationships through discussing and learning about a topic that tied our various groups together,” said R.J. “Spreading awareness is the first step to making change. For growth within our school regarding this topic, everyone must first learn and acknowledge the role that mental health plays across our community.” The theme of the conference was “Closing the Gap: Prioritizing the Needs of Traumatized Youth,” and included presentations on coping strategies for youth during the pandemic, suicide prevention and mental health education, and the influence of social media on teens. USCHS sophomore Yoshna Venkataraman started the Mending Mindsets Club at the high school this past year to spread mental health awareness throughout the student body. “I believe that being more educated on mental illnesses can potentially create a better quality of life for people who are struggling,” said Yoshna. “It is crucial our student body learn about the impact mental illness has on those around us. Having opportunities like NAMI conferences allow us to learn how to spread awareness and how to make our school a safer place for students to talk about what and how we feel.” As a result of the conference, Yoshna renewed her commitment to spreading mental health awareness throughout the high school. “I want to get out the message that ‘it’s okay to not be okay,’ and to let others know that there is a safe place you can go to talk
USCHS attendees at the NAMI conference
about what you’re feeling,” she said. “It’s important for students to know that they are not alone and that there are trusted adults they can go to.” For Sarah Robert, a sophomore and member of Natural Helpers, the event inspired her to set a personal goal of helping to destigmatize mental health. “A big issue that we talked and learned about during the event was that a lot of people feel alone in their struggles,” said Sarah. “My biggest take away from the event was that mental health and its awareness need to be further talked about and discussed.” Next up on the agenda for these student groups is the Stand Together initiative, facilitated through Allegheny County’s Office of Behavioral Health. With more than 25 area schools participating, Stand Together inspires and equips youths to take action against the stigma associated with mental health and substance abuse disorders. In its eighth year, Stand Together focuses on three goals: • Students work to “stand together” to increase education and awareness. • Increase social inclusion. • Encourage adolescents to talk to an adult if they are concerned about their own or another student’s mental health. n
Students Excel at Future City Competition
A team of Fort Couch students earned three awards and placed third overall in the Pittsburgh regional Future City competition held this past February. The team, represented by eighth graders Rohan Mehta, Opal Miller, and Sophia Whitman, was recognized for Excellence in Systems Integration, Most Innovative Design of Infrastructures, and Mission Possible: Positively Impacting the Community. The Future City competition challenges students to design a city that may exist 100 years in the future. This year’s challenge, Living on the Moon, asked teams to design a futuristic lunar city and provide examples of how the city uses two moon resources to keep its residents safe and healthy. “In addition to addressing the main prompt, students researched the latest technologies for all aspects of the city, including transportation, energy, waste management, and food production, and combined the technologies with social systems, including government, education, and healthcare, to come up with their city of the future,” said Connie Gibson, Fort Couch gifted coordinator and sponsor. 52
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The students used their research to write a paper, create a model, and prepare a presentation for their city. “While many students at Fort Couch worked on the project, the team of Rohan, Opal, and Sophia wonderfully presented the project at the competition,” said Connie. Future City is a national project-based learning experience that starts with a question: How can we make the world a better place? To answer it, students in grades six, seven, and eight imagine, research, design, and build cities of the future that showcase their solution to a city-wide sustainability issue. Past topics have included stormwater management, urban agriculture, public spaces, and green energy. Participants complete five deliverables: a 1500-word city essay, a scale model built from recycled materials, a project plan, a presentation video, and a virtual/online Q&A session with the judges. Regional winners go on to represent their region at international finals. n
President’s Volunteer Service Award
Manjiri Palayekar, a USCHS senior, qualified for the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her service to the greater community. Manjiri volunteered at a local senior care center, assisting wheelchair-bound seniors and helping with recreational activities. In addition, she served as a volunteer at Allegheny General Hospital, where she was a guide for newcomers to the hospital and a care cart volunteer, offering recreational tools and activities to patients. According to Manjiri, greater empathy for others was a primary Manjiri Palayekar bi-product of her volunteerism. “One of the most important things I’ve gained through volunteering is meeting so many new people, all from different backgrounds and experiences,” said Manjiri. “Meeting people who are significantly older than me, who do different day jobs, etc., has given me a lot of insight into what other people want from their lives.” Manjiri is involved in the school’s RPG Club (based on a game similar to Dungeons and Dragons), National Honor Society, and Art Club. Her award-winning artwork was recognized in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. In addition, last spring Manjiri and two of her classmates created Art for Joy to raise funds for the Greater Washington County Food Bank. Manjiri, who will graduate in June, plans to pursue a science-related major in college. n The President’s Volunteer Service Award, a civil award program established by George W. Bush during his presidency, recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country. To qualify, young adults ages 16–25 must volunteer a minimum of 100 hours. Visit skillsusa.org to learn more.
Boyce Student Earns Volunteer Award
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This past February, Boyce fifth grader Aaron Jiang was recognized with the 2020 President’s Volunteer Service Award (Gold). Aaron earned the award for completing more than 80 volunteer hours Aaron Jiang with the Youth Development Resource Consortium, a California-based non-profit organization that promotes student-run community service projects. Throughout 2020, Aaron taught two free weekly classes—Rubik’s Cube and Origami—via Zoom to children nationwide who are learning from home due to COVID-19. “In March 2020, right after the pandemic forced schools to close, our organization started to recruit volunteers countrywide to provide free extracurricular activities for children who had to stay home,” said Haofan Cheng, president of the Youth Development Resource Consortium. “Aaron was among the first group of students who signed up for this program that later developed to benefit thousands of families affected by COVID-19.” Aaron has been teaching two weekly classes via Zoom since April 2020. Through these carefully designed classes, he offered hands-on learning experiences to hundreds of children all over the country. “He is always well-prepared for each class, and his classes are fun, engaging, and entertaining,” said Cheng. “His dedication to helping other children during this challenging time is inspiring and admirable.” According to Cheng, Aaron is one of the youngest volunteers at the Youth Development Resource Consortium. “The amount of effort he devotes to this program is rare for a ten-year-old. A total of 136 students volunteered for the program, with most of them in seventh grade and up, including college students,” said Cheng. “Of all 13 volunteers who earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award at all three ranks (Gold, Silver, and Bronze), only two students earned the Gold Award, Aaron and another student who is in high school.” According to the Presidential Service Award website, “In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.” n
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USCHS Student Council Honors Bus Drivers Bria Zegarelli, USCHS Junior, TODAY Intern At the end of February, specifically February 25 to March 1, an important event, which should be heralded, often goes unnoticed—School Bus Driver Appreciation Week. Members of the high school’s student council felt that the school’s bus drivers were not receiving proper recognition for the important jobs they do. So, the students planned a special event. During the last weeks of February, student council members distributed blank cards to staff, the school’s clubs, and to
Student council members paint signs for School Bus Driver Appreciation Week.
Thank you notes for the bus drivers
students, asking them to write thank you cards for the bus drivers. Student council members also took time to paint signs during their academic resource time, a time which is normally free time for the high schoolers. On February 26, students went from school bus to school bus, delivering cookies and the handmade cards, and held up colorful signs as the buses were departing from school that day. Everyone involved with the event was excited to do something special for the bus drivers. It made their day! n
Maddie Nolan Earns First Place for Monologue USCHS senior Maddie Nolan tied for top honors for Best Monologue Upper Division in the 27th annual Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest, a program of Pittsburgh Public Theater (PPT). This year marked Maddie’s seventh and final year of competition. She’s participated every year since fifth grade, with the exception of her sophomore year. For this year, Maddie selected a monologue from the play Two Noble Kinsmen, where she performed the role of Jailer’s Daughter. “When I began researching the play, I liked the prose and found it emotionally dynamic. I didn’t know much about it, so I thought it would be interesting to study,” said Maddie. “As I learned more about the context of the character and the object of her affections, I continued to find it more and more fascinating. I’d really like to read the entire play now!” “Shakespeare is super fun to read because it has so many layers,” said Maddie. “You can read a monologue 30 times and find something new at each reading because of the depth of the language and characters. We just started Hamlet in English class, so I’ve gotten a lot of recent opportunities to read Shakespeare, and the language is definitely my favorite part.” The Showcase of Finalists was broadcast in February via YouTube. This year’s contest was held virtually for the first time in the organization’s competition history. “Performing virtually was definitely a different environment,” said Maddie. “I’m sad that I 54
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didn’t get to visit the PPT stage this time, but performing in my house took a lot of the stress off me. Regardless, I’m thrilled that the show got to go on!” Maddie, who will graduate from the high school in June, plans to study language education and theater. More than 600 area students from 70 schools competed in the Maddie Nolan preliminary rounds of this year’s contest via video submissions of monologues and/or scenes chosen from the works of William Shakespeare. Students in grades eight through 12 competed in the upper division and grades four through seven competed in the lower division. Teams of judges evaluated each participant, and those with the highest scores advanced to the Showcase of Finalists. Other Upper St. Clair competition finalists included Boyce Middle School students Ava Liu (Titania) and Aaron Jiang (Bottom) in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for lower division/scenes and Fort Couch Middle School students Armen Pettit (Peter Quince), Ishaan Sharma (Bottom), and Rohan Mehta (Starveling) in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for upper division/scenes. n
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Cornhole for Charity
Bria Zegarelli, USCHS Junior, TODAY Intern Four days in February, students at the high school came together for an event that raised $391 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), an organization that fights blood cancer by funding research, helping to find cures, and ensuring access to treatments. To raise funds, the high school organized a cornhole event where students could help LLS, while also having a fun time playing a game that they enjoy. Additionally, USCHS student council teamed up with Nothing Bundt Cakes for the event. If students donated a certain sum of money to participate in the tournament, they would receive mini bundtlets. To participate in the fundraiser, students could pay $5 to be on a team of two. If they paid $15, they could play on a team of two and also receive two cakes. However, Having fun for a good cause students didn’t have to play cornhole to be a part of the fundraiser. If students didn’t want to play the game, but still wanted to contribute, they could pay $5 to receive a cake and to support the cause as a spectator. Teams that signed up for the tournament played against other teams that had the same lunch mods. The winners of each lunch mod then faced the winning players of other lunch mods to determine the overall champion. Kayla Lumish and Colin Eccher were winners of the first lunch mod, Gavin Fitzpatrick and Triston Schaffer were winners of the second lunch mod, and Joe Donnelly and Zach Salapow were winners of the third lunch mod. Joe and The cornhole tournament raised money for LLS. Zach went on to become the overall winning champions of the tournament. n
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PTC Council Kerstin Goodworth, President As we approach the end of the school year, I would like to express my gratitude to all the wonderful people who have come together to make this year workable for the children in our community. Gina Swanson From the USCSD administrators, teachers, and staff to the parents making it work at home, I extend my deepest gratitude for all you have done and continue to do. I would also like to highlight the group of wonderful women represented in this feature section of USC TODAY each issue, the parent volunteers who have rallied to support one another, our kids, and the USC School District. And now, it’s time to start thinking about the 2021–22 school year. I am thrilled to introduce next year’s PTC president, Gina Swanson. Gina has three kids in the District, in grades four, six, and eight. I have gotten to know Gina over the past few years. And, if you’ve participated in the free lunch pickups, you’ve likely met her, too, as she’s been a staple each and every week. I asked Gina to reflect on her many volunteer efforts, especially during this past year. She said, “I have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people, many of whom have become my friends. Upper St. Clair is an amazing, supportive community, and the District, the parents, and the students have all demonstrated resourcefulness and resiliency in the face of COVID.” Here’s what Gina learned about herself this past year: • Not to worry about things I cannot control, and instead focus on ways I can positively impact my family and myself. • Value the relationships I have with my family and friends. • Flexibility, creativity, and hard work are key when facing challenges in life. I couldn’t agree more with Gina’s sentiments. I know that Council and our schools will be in great hands next year! While this has been an extraordinarily challenging school year, I believe we’ve come together because of it. USC is an extraordinary place to live and it’s filled with extraordinary people! 56
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Pawprints... High School PTSO Beth Thomas, President Wow, where has the time gone? I am sure we all are having these thoughts as we look back on this past year. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you the incoming president of the high Maria Cedar school’s PTSO, Maria Cedar. Get to know more about Maria by reading her responses to my questions. How have you and your family been handling the challenges of COVID? During COVID, my family and I have been spending more quality time together. We’ve done a lot of hiking with our dog and taken a few day trips. Ohiopyle is a quick getaway, with great hiking and biking trails. We have also caught up on movies. How long have you lived in USC, and what do you like most about our community? We’ve lived in USC for ten years. I love all of USC’s wonderful hiking trails. I am also impressed by the kindness and generosity of USC residents. How many children do you have? I have two children, both of whom are in high school. My tenth grade son enjoys the wrestling program for his extracurricular activity, while my ninth grade daughter likes soccer and theater. And, we are grateful for the excellent teachers at USC. If you are interested in volunteer opportunities with the PTSO, please reach out! We would love to have you join in. Fort Couch PTSO Sian Howell, President Even though the pandemic brought the world to a standstill, the Fort Couch PTSO wheels have kept turning, albeit a little differently! It’s reached that time of year where our school’s vice president is preSarah Beitler paring to take on the role as president. Today we are introducing to you the PTSO president-elect, Sarah Beitler, using this Q&A. Summer 2021
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? If I could live anywhere, it would be close to my parents and my in-laws. I love having family around me, and I am fortunate that both my parents and in-laws live in Pittsburgh. My boys are lucky that both sets of grandparents are still living and are close by. What is your favorite family vacation? My family loves to downhill ski. So, my favorite family vacation would be anywhere on a beautiful snowy mountain. We recently (preCOVID) went to Deer Valley in Utah, and it was wonderful! I would love to go back. What is your proudest accomplishment? My kids are my proudest accomplishments. Josh and Matt are identical twins who are age 12 and in sixth grade at Boyce Middle School. I love being their mom and seeing them grow and change. How would your friends describe you? I think my friends would describe me as quiet and kind. I am most comfortable behind the scenes and love to help people. What is your favorite book? I love science fiction and long series books. I recently read the “Mistborn” series by Brandon Sanderson and loved it. I also loved the “Enders Game” series and its off-shoot series. What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play? If you know me, you know I love Mah Jongg! It is my absolute favorite game. Mah Jongg is a tile-based game developed in China. I play the American version, which is similar to Gin Rummy. I teach Mah Jongg and play it as often as I can with friends. It’s a great way to keep your mind sharp while socializing. Boyce PTO Andrea Amorose, President I t ’s h a rd t o believe that the 2020–21 school year is almost over and my time of serving as the Boyce PTO president is coming to an end. It’s been a blessing to work with so many Pamela Scureman amazing people throughout Boyce and the school community! This year has been a lesson of unity throughout our District. Please allow me to highlight and introduce your 2021–22 school year Boyce PTO president, Pamela Scureman. Pam has four children, Clare (age 11), Jack (age 9),
PTC
... a USC Parent Teacher Council Feature
Danielle (age 7), and Keely (age 5). I asked Pam a few questions that will allow you to get to know her better. Read on. What do you like to do in your spare time? I live to be busy and love spending time with family. I enjoy volunteering, gearing up to reenter the workforce, reading, and gardening. Now, I have to find a way to keep it all organized. Do you have a favorite motto? I resonate with Lou Holtz’s motto: “Do right. Do your best. Treat others as you want to be treated.” Is there anything you would like to share with the families at Boyce? Boyce PTO is always looking for volunteers to join our team! If you’re interested in volunteering or have questions, concerns, or ideas, please contact us. Thank you, Pam, for all your hard work this past year! And to the executive board, which includes Pam, Gina, Natalea, Melissa, and Principal O’Rourke, it has been a pleasure working with each of you this past year. I appreciate your dedication, and I am thankful for your creative ideas, words of wisdom, caring hearts, inspiration, and positive influence. You have spread light during a difficult year. And finally, to all the families, fellow volunteers, administration, staff, the PTC executive board, and Council president Kerstin Goodworth, thank you for always being there for the students. Have a wonderful and safe summer! Baker PTA Jackie Barefoot, President The Baker P TA i s p l e a s e d to introduce Sarah Cranganu as president for the 2021–22 school year. Sarah has been a valuable asset to the Baker community for the past three years Sarah Cranganu since she and her family moved to Upper St. Clair. The Cranganu family—Sarah, husband Dan, sons Sam (grade 5) and Ben (grade 2), along with daughter Cate (Kindergarten)—have lived all over the U.S., but most recently in St. Louis prior to calling USC their home. This active family “enjoys living here and participating in all of the academic, cultural, and athletic options available,” says Sarah. In her free time Sarah enjoys reading, baking, and running. Sarah has been active in
the PTA as a homeroom parent and committee chair, and is always one of the first to volunteer when help is needed. Just this year when the PTC needed a Spelling Bee chair, Sarah stepped in to save the event and make sure it happened virtually. Her work experience in higher education administration and schooling at Texas State University San Marcos campus surely played a role in her strengths as a leader. This year as Baker PTA vice president, Sarah played a key role in setting up the monthly newsletter that helped keep everyone connected. Sarah is always willing to reach out to newcomers to welcome them and get them involved. Her hope for next year “is that all Baker families continue to feel connected to our wonderful school, as well as one another through as many activities and opportunities we can safely offer in the coming school year.” We are thankful to have Sarah as a part of the Baker family and we look forward to her leadership. Eisenhower PTO Kristin LeBeau, President Justine Walker i s a f a m i l i a r, smiling face at Eisenhower Elementary. She has been active as a room parent and chair for various committees, and served as PTO treasurer. As the Justine Walker current PTO vice president, she will be next year’s president. Justine expressed how she missed getting to interact in person with the students, families, faculty, and staff at Eisenhower during the 2020–21 year. She is looking forward to getting back to providing activities that include socials, breakfasts, and other student events for the coming school year. While Justine grew up in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, she has also lived in Connecticut, New York, North Carolina, and Massachusetts. She and her family have settled into USC and love the Eisenhower community! A graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, Justine majored in business and received her MBA from NYU. She now stays home full time with her children, but previously worked in marketing for various financial services companies. Justine and her husband, Jonathan, have three daughters: Evelyn (grade 5), Grace (grade 3), and Lily (grade 1). When she’s not busy at Eisenhower, Summer 2021
you’ll likely see Justine out for a run or heading to Sweat for a workout. She also loves to cook and entertain. Justine will be a great leader who cares about the Eisenhower community. She’ll work to facilitate memorable experiences for students and their families, and help to provide support for the teachers and staff. When asked what motivates her to serve as PTO president, Justine replied, “My three daughters love Eisenhower, and I do, too! I enjoy the Eisenhower community, and volunteering is a small way to give back to an amazing school. I hope that during my time as PTO president, we can continue to create fun, memorable experiences for our kids.” Streams PTO Michelle Holzer, President Having been an active volunteer and Streams parent for the past 13 years, Jennifer Clougherty is no stranger to the PTO. She and Jim, her husband of nearly 20 years, have four children—Kaitlyn Jennifer Clougherty (grade 11), Jacob (grade 7), Renee (grade 3), and Caleb (grade 1)—all who’ve attended Streams. Throughout her years of being a Streams parent, she has gained the knowledge and experience that will make her the ideal PTO president this coming school year. In a year where everything was different and many challenges presented themselves, Jennifer has been a wonderful asset to our board as vice president. Like many parents around the world, Jennifer is hoping for normalcy next year, as one of the aspects of her new role is planning events for the students. While this is what she most looks forward to, it is also what she believes will be her biggest obstacle: navigating the new normal to create the events we’ve successfully held in the past. If anyone is up to the task, it’s Jennifer! In addition to her dedication to the school, Jennifer also works part-time as a senior materials engineer at Pratt & Whitney. Though anyone would consider that a very full plate, Jennifer still manages to find time to support her hobbies of photography, traveling, and walking her two beagle puppies. We are fortunate to welcome Jennifer as our incoming president, and we look forward to seeing what she can do! n UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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#TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhatPerfect #TheyDidWhat Scores at CalcuSolve Three Fort Couch Middle School #TheyDidWhateighth#TheyDidWhat graders—Jamie Barrett, Eitan and Yuhong Shi—tied for #TheyDidWhatSchwartz, #TheyDidWhat first place in the virtual CalcuSolve this past January #TheyDidWhatcompetition #TheyDidWhat and earned perfect scores in the competition. In team #TheyDidWhatindividual #TheyDidWhat competition, the Fort Couch team Jamie, Eitan, Yuhong, and seventh #TheyDidWhatofgrader #TheyDidWhat Jeffery Zhang finished second Jamie Barrett among 35 teams from throughout #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat western Pennsylvania. Teams of four students worked #TheyDidWhatin groups #TheyDidWhat and as individuals to difficult math problems in #TheyDidWhatcomplete #TheyDidWhat a timed setting over Zoom. During competition, students completed #TheyDidWhatthe #TheyDidWhat seven individual problems and two problems. #TheyDidWhatteamOther #TheyDidWhat Fort Couch Middle School students participating in the #TheyDidWhatCalcuSolve #TheyDidWhat event included seventh Eitan Schwartz graders Pritika Gupta and Kaia #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Petrick, as well as eighth graders McClintock-Comeaux and #TheyDidWhatTyler #TheyDidWhat Ishaan Sharma. The students were by Jason O’Roark, the #TheyDidWhatcoached #TheyDidWhat school’s gifted coordinator and math teacher. #TheyDidWhataccelerated #TheyDidWhat The annual math competition is by the II-VI Foundation #TheyDidWhatsponsored #TheyDidWhat and the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Yuhong Shi #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Montage Earns#TheyDidWhat Top Honors USCHS’s literary arts magazine, Montage, earned first place #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat honors in the 2020 Scholastic Yearbook and Magazine Awards in the category of Senior High Schools with a population of 1001–1700 #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat students. The 2019–20 Montage was #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat published through the work of many students, including editors Haley #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Beardsley, Anika Sinha, and Shana Reddy, and staff members Kaitlyn #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Clougherty, Jordan Holleran, and Aditri Thakur. Dr. Timothy Wagner, #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat high school principal, serves as adviser for the publication. #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Sponsored by the American Scholastic Press Association, the #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat annual contest provides feedback on page design, story layout, graphics, #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat headlining, cover design, advertising placement, photography, and other #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat publication elements. Each school The 2020 Montage earned yearbook and magazine is scored first place honors #TheyDidWhat on a point system and is awarded#TheyDidWhat a first, second, or third place in its classification. #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat 58 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY Summer 2021 #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat
#TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat NASA Art Contest #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Fort Couch eighth grader Olivia Fuscaldo earned second place in the 2021 NASA Student art contest. She was one of 90 student #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat artists recognized from among 773 entries nationwide. First, second, and third place winners, as well as honorable mention in each grade #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat level, were recognized. The theme for the 2021 art contest, open to U.S. students in Kindergarten through grade 12 was “Virtually #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Everywhere,” which encouraged students to explore the ways that NASA is all around them. #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Olivia Fuscaldo #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Olivia’s artwork #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat USCHS seniors—Alex Carlson, Christian Chiu, Harrison #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Chui, Jack Myers, and Sophie Shi—earned honorable mention, both overall and in the technical computing category, in the MathWorks #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Math Modeling (M3) Challenge, splitting a $1000 scholarship. #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Presidential Scholars #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Two USCHS seniors were named candidates in the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Harrison Chui and Richa Mahajan #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat were among the 4500 selected to apply for the program from the 3.6 million high school seniors graduating#TheyDidWhat this school year. #TheyDidWhat The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by the executive order of the President, to recognize and honor the #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. The application is by invitation only. Candidates are identified for the #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat program by scoring exceptionally well on either the SAT or ACT exam. To be considered further, candidates must submit candidacy materials, #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat including essays, self-assessments, secondary school reports, and transcripts. Candidates are evaluated on their academic achievement, #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and an analysis of their essay. #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Harrison and Richa were both named National Merit Semifinalists and Finalists, and were inducted into the Upper St. Clair High School #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat chapter of the National Honor Society in June 2020. #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Harrison Chui Richa Mahajan #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat
#TheyDidWhat
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Protect Your Home While on Vacation
Help prevent your house from becoming the target of a burglary
You’ve packed your suitcase and booked your trip. But, before you board the plane, take the time to protect your house while you’re away on vacation. July and August are popular vacation months, and not surprisingly, they’re also the months when home burglaries peak. To fully enjoy your time away, plan appropriate home security measures and maintenance, using this checklist. Inside the house • Set timers on interior lights. This goes a long way in deterring burglars, who often look for crimes of opportunity. Don’t allow your house to appear as if no one is home. • Power surges. You never know when a power surge may occur. Be prepared. Disconnect the computer, TV, stereo, and other electronics, or make sure they are plugged safely into a surge protector. • Don’t share your status. Never broadcast your travel and locations on social media. Even if you think that it’s only your friends or colleagues who are viewing your online profiles, it’s safest not to prompt a burglar. • Alert your alarm company. If you have an automatic security system in place, call your representative, letting him know that you’ll be away from home for an extended period of time. Before you leave, make sure the alarm is set properly. Remote monitoring through your smart phone is also a good idea. • Secure valuables. If you don’t already have your jewelry or other valuables in a safe deposit box, now might be the time to do so. Doing this also ensures that you don’t leave out anything valuable that can be seen from a window.
• Adjust the HVAC. Set a programmable thermostat to lower your heat or air conditioning usage, and remember to change the thermostat’s battery. • Protect your pipes. Make sure that pipes in vulnerable areas— attics, basements, crawlspaces—are insulated. In unusually cold weather, set your thermostat at 55 degrees or above. Ask a neighbor or trusted friend to stop by and check on the house and periodically turn on the faucets to help ensure that the pipes don’t freeze. • Check doors and windows. While it might seem obvious, doublecheck that all doors and windows are locked. Outside the house • Arrange for lawn care. Have your landscaping tended to by a friendly neighbor or local service. Before you leave, trim tree branches that might allow access to a tree climbing burglar. • Stop newspapers and mail. Stop newspaper and mail deliveries, or have them regularly picked up by a neighbor. You don’t want to clue in a burglar to your absence by the mounting newspapers on your doorstep. • Plan for exterior lighting. Set exterior lights on timers to deter burglars. • Don’t leave spare keys outdoors. Collect any hidden spare keys from around the exterior of your home. Burglars know the popular hiding places, like beneath door mats and in potted plants. • Lock the garage. Even if there is no entrance to your house from the garage, there’s still a chance for numerous things to be stolen. Secure the garage door and any other entrances to the garage. n
This article was provided by Cindy Brophy, State Farm® agent. See ad on page 61.
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Buying or Selling? Consider These Upgrades
HOME & GARDEN
The Housing Market for Summer and Fall 2021 Lynn Dempsey, Realtor®
Michael Ference, Greater Pittsburgh Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
Trenchless Sewers When you think of sewer repairs, you might have images of dug up yards and flower beds. You may also imagine a torn up street and, generally, a long, messy process. Trenchless sewer repair technology is about 20 years old and is an answer to sewer line problems. Here’s how it works. The insides of your ground pipes are viewed using a camera. Using the shallowest point of entry, the pipe is hydrojetted. A new pipe lining is then inserted into the damaged area and left to cure. After the new lining is cured, the camera is reinserted to examine and recheck that the area has been corrected. Service is turned back on. A huge benefit of trenchless sewer repair is that it does not tear up your yard, the street, or your gorgeous flower beds. There are other perks, as well. Trenchless repairs can be made in a shorter amount of time. Larger jobs might take a few days or weeks, but for the most part, repairs can be made in a single day’s work. Less time to complete means less labor expense for the same basic service. The technology used in trenchless sewer repair is remarkably high quality, which means less likelihood of future repairs, and it provides high-functioning pipes by increasing flow capacity. Because of the unfamiliarity with a trenchless repair system, opting for this type of repair can be a bit unsettling to potential customers. We understand that. A qualified expert should be able to explain any parts of the process that may seem concerning. Make sure that the plumber you use is licensed and insured and stands by his work. Tankless Water Heaters An endless supply of hot water! Enjoy a hot shower even if you’re the last one in. Space saving and efficient and without a tank to operate and store, you have more space for other things and, likewise, reduce the chances of flooding. Because it heats on demand, you save money! Also, there is no risk of harmful bacteria developing inside the tank, which means you get fresh, clean water every time. On average, a new water tank could last up to ten years. A tankless water heater will last well past 20 years. Enjoy the relief of no longer arranging schedules around showers, laundry, and the dishwasher. Imagine how wonderful that will be! n See ad for Greater Pittsburgh Plumbing, Heating & Cooling on page 63. 62
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The real estate market in winter 2020 and spring 2021 was resilient, to say the least. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the economic downturn and high unemployment, low mortgage interest rates were a boom for the residential real estate market and contributed to the low inventory we continue to experience today. Real estate indicators show that strong home-buying trends are up all across America, especially in Upper St. Clair and throughout the Pittsburgh region. The demand for owneroccupied housing has never been stronger. With multiple bid offers, contracts over asking price, and homes selling within 24 to 48 hours, the 2021 real estate market is headed to set new records! With a “work from home” mentality, coupled with company-directed work flexibility, people are outgrowing their homes. People want home offices or the ability to convert an unused room into an office. Young families are upsizing to larger homes, and senior citizens are downsizing to “over 55 communities” that include all the bells and whistles of a smaller home, clubhouse, pool, senior citizen activities, and other amenities. Get your home ready to sell using these tips: 1. Curb appeal. The first thing a buyer sees as he or she drives through the neighborhood is the front exterior of your home. Make a good first impression! 2. Minimize personal belongings. Follow the tried-and-true philosophy of less is more. 3. Neutralize the interior color scheme. Sherwin William’s “Agreeable Gray” is in. Coordinate it with white trim. Wallpaper is not currently the trend. 4. Purge closets, storage spaces, kitchen cupboards, etc. Remove unnecessary “fluff” items. 5. Check that your HVAC system, chimney, roof, and downspouts are in good repair and working order. 6. Give your home a professional cleaning before putting it on the market. Think spring cleaning and beyond. 7. Declutter the garage. Every room counts. Space matters! n
See ad for Lynn Dempsey, Realtor®, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, on page 63.
The Benefits of Exterior Retractable Shades Lauren Costello, Mt. Lebanon Awning
Home improvement projects are on everyone’s minds right now, and with warm weather approaching, exterior home improvements are topping the list. Providing shade and privacy for your outdoor living space may be on your list as an important addition to your home this year. Installing exterior retractable shades can provide comfort, as well as solar protection, and can be custom designed to fit your needs. Retractable shades use tracks or stainless steel cables that mount to the exterior of your house. They can be motorized and easily operated with the push of a remote button or manually operated with the turn of a crank. There are many different options for fabrics, from solid Sunbrella acrylic fabric to sleek woven mesh. Mesh fabric has the ability to shade the sun without limiting your beautiful view. The shades can also be a privacy barrier to keep others from watching your day-to-day activities. Exterior shades block up to 97% of the heat and UV rays, and can lower the temperature of your outdoor space by up to 20 degrees. By installing shades with side tracks, you can even keep out the wintry weather, enclosing your space during the colder months. By keeping your shades down, there is the added benefit of keeping your outdoor furniture protected year-round, too. The complete enclosure using tracks also gives you shelter from wind, rain, and insects. The benefits of retractable exterior shades make them an ideal addition to your porch or patio. This summer, consider the many budget-friendly and attractive options available for your outdoor living space. n
Summer 2021
See ad for Mt. Lebanon Awning on page 63.
HOME & GARDEN
Dempsey Delivers Results
Lynn Dempsey, Realtor
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Mold Prevention for Wood By Bactronix
Wood is commonly used in building structures, flooring, cabinets, furniture, and more. As a porous, organic material, wood is highly susceptible to water damage and mold growth. Flooding can damage wood, but high humidity is often enough to cause a mold problem. How to Prevent Mold on Wood Follow these tips to keep wood clean, dry, and mold-free. • Seal wood to prevent mold. You can treat clean lumber with a mold prevention spray that lowers its moisture uptake. This can be a purely preventative measure, or a mold treatment can reduce the chances of future fungal problems. • Clean up standing water. Check your under-sink cabinets regularly for signs of plumbing leaks. Wipe up any pools of water you find, and repair the leak as soon as possible. • Don’t install wood flooring in the basement. Basements have notoriously high humidity and flood risk. That’s why wood flooring, along with carpeting, is often not recommended for the underground level of your house. Need help removing mold from wood? Reach out to Bactronix! Offering everything from inspection and testing to treatment and remediation, the exclusive Bactronizing™ Process uses environmentally-friendly disinfectants for highly effective results against mold and other dangerous microorganisms. n
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Online articles for your reference: https://inspectapedia.com/mold/ Fungicidal_Sprays_Sealants.php
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Contractor License #069727 HP#3663
To learn more or request a mold remediation quote, contact Bactronix at 412-375-7886 or www.bactronix.com. See ad on page 64.
We’re Hiring! Summer 2021
Visit our website for details: www.mistersewer.com UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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HOME & GARDEN Residential and Commercial Landscape Design & Installation landscaping, lighting, patios, pavers, retaining walls, ponds, waterfalls, outdoor kitchens, fire pits
Over 30 years in business!
412-720-5189
Creating beautiful outdoor living spaces
“Good landscaping doesn’t just happen, it’s designed.”
Bee Kind, Bee Friendly, Bee Beautiful Chris Girty, George Girty Landscape Design I’m sure by now you’ve heard that bees are in trouble. Pesticides, herbicides, loss of habitat, disease, and climate change have all made their deadly impact on honeybees all around the world. Why should that matter? Because most of the food we eat is a result of those little bees. Fruit, nuts, coffee, and more are all a result of those black and yellow pollinators. Without them, the variety of fresh foods would drop and their costs would escalate. So, what can you do to help? It’s pretty simple; let me give you some ideas! Plant a pollinator garden. Bees and other pollinators (butterflies, moths, beetles, hummingbirds, and even flies) need a variety of plants. Milkweed, goldenrod, Wild Bergamot (Bee Balm), Echinacea (Coneflowers), ironweed, tickseed, asters, sunflowers, Joe Pye Weed, and native lilies are great flowers for bees. Redbud, crabapples, apples, Basswood, and Box Elder trees are also important for the bees of southwestern Pennsylvania. Plants that some people consider weeds—dandelions, clover, violets—are also important. Find plants that bloom at different times so that bees have pollen and nectar all season long. Different colors, different flower shapes, different heights, and different blooming times will go a long way to helping the bees. 66
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Make a Bee Bath. Bees can’t swim, but they do need a water source. Use a shallow bowl or bird bath, adding a couple inches of water and stones so that the bees can land on them and safely drink. Avoid chemical pesticides and herbicides. Most concerns in your garden can be successfully treated using non-toxic methods. Try this inexpensive, but effective weed killer recipe: Mix one gallon white vinegar, one tablespoon liquid dish soap, and one cup of salt. Spray mixture onto weeds on a dry, sunny day and see the results in a few days. Another DIY weed killer is two tablespoons of alcohol to one quart of water. One to try on Creeping Charlie or ground ivy is one cup of powdered borax to two gallons of water. And, some say that sprinkling cornmeal over an area as a pre-emergent works well, too. To do more, determine if your municipality allows private individuals to keep bee hives! Beekeeping can “bee” a rewarding and sweet experience (i.e., honey!). Visit your local nurseries to find some pollinatorfriendly plants. Not only will the bees be happy, your yard will look beautiful, too! n See ad for George Girty Landscape Design on this page.
Low Cost, High Impact Updates
HOME & GARDEN Do you want to help the earth? Do you hate how much you throw away?
The Compost People want to create a better earth together, by providing a weekly, curbside, compost pickup service.
Julie Welter, Realtor®
People ask for suggestions on what they can do to make their house sell for more money. Is it worth redoing a kitchen or bath to sell your house? Almost always, the answer is “no.” You won’t net more profit by tackling such an expensive project. My favorite low cost, high return updates are simple and easy to do. Do you have shiny brass lights? How about the dreaded “boob” lights? Chances are your house has them, and the time to change them is now! Swap out those dated fixtures for something with matte black, matte gold, brushed nickel, or oil rubbed bronze. You don’t need to spend a lot of money. Affordable and attractive options are readily available at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Wayfair, and Amazon. Don’t forget to swap out your light bulbs, too! I highly recommend changing your light bulbs throughout your whole house to a bright white hue instead of a natural or warm white. It will make your house appear brighter and it will photograph nicer, too. Costco and Amazon usually have the best deals on light bulbs. If you have almond or tan switch plates, consider swapping them out for white plates. Plastic is fine.
This is composting made easy! We take all your food waste, and more than turn it into compost. You even receive compost in return 1x/yr if you would like. All of this for the monthly fee of $18. To sign up and gather more information, please visit our website at:
thecompostpeople.com
Advertisers Appreciate Your Support
It’s all about local support. Check out the advertisers who support the TODAY magazine, then support their businesses! See the complete list of our summer 2021 advertisers on page 80.
Quick, inexpensive touches like these will make buyers instantly fall in love with your updated home! n See ad for Julie Welter, Realtor® on this page.
BAN THE BOOB LIGHT: FLUSH MOUNT ALTERNATIVES
Call Upper St. Clair’s #1 agent to get maximum profit when selling your home! Boob light
412.692.1589
FOLLOW ME @juliewelterrealestate to view my listings and to see sneak peaks of upcoming homes before they hit the market!
Summer 2021
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Around the Township
Horsin’ Around
Horses with Hope filling Gilfillan Farm and Upper St. Clair with awesome events Tim Gagne
Since it moved from Bethel Park to its new home at the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair’s Gilfillan Farm in May, Horses with Hope: Discovery, Growth & Learning Program—which offers programs surrounding therapeutic riding and equine assisted learning—has filled the long-unused farm buildings and fields with animals and the grounds with pleasant sounds of people and animals working together. The group is now also filling the calendars of area residents with a number of awesome events and opportunities to connect with the non-profit and its mission.
Belmont Fundraiser On Saturday, June 5, Horses with Hope’s Belmont Fundraiser will return to St. Clair Country Club. This annual event, the primary fundraiser for Horses with Hope, has quickly become a must-attend evening, due to its Derby-like air of casual elegance. Following arrival and a relaxing cocktail hour, guests are treated to a delicious dinner and an enlightening presentation on the work Horses with Hope does in the community to serve its clients reach beyond their abilities, allowing daily success and longer-term milestones to be reached by the partnership developed by horse and rider. Also part of the Belmont Fundraiser, a silent auction provides further opportunities to support Horses with Hope and go home with some desirable prizes.
USC residents at the 2019 Belmont fundraiser; photo courtesy of photographer Heather Nyapas
Summer Camp Another much anticipated Horses with Hope happening is its summer camps. Camps are planned for July 12–15, July 19–22, and July 26–29. During each four-day camp session, children ages seven to 15 will gather from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily to learn about small animal care, participate in riding lessons, do crafts, play games, and have fun on scavenger hunts. It’s a great opportunity to Gilfillan Farm’s grounds and barn are destined for activities of all sorts. enrich your child’s summer with days spent forming meaningful connections between child and animal and also provides examples of giving back to the community. Each four-day session is $300 per child and $275 per additional sibling. Forms are located on the Horses with Hope website under Programs and Events/Summer Camp. Christmas in July Christmas in July, a new event, is scheduled for Saturday, July 24 and is open to the public. Come and interact with animals, ride the horses through a Christmas decorated course, enjoy fun games, and more! Check the website for more details. Volunteer Opportunities Becoming a Horses with Hope volunteer is an ongoing opportunity that is more than just helping out. Volunteers are an integral part of the team. It’s through their enthusiasm and dedication that the group is able to make a difference in the lives of others in our community. Volunteer opportunities exist within a variety of options, not only within the stable and helping with the riding programs. Volunteers are also welcomed in the areas of fundraising, student mentors, community events, animal care, and more. Volunteers must be 14 years of age to assist with therapeutic riding lessons. Volunteer forms and information can be found at www.horseswithhope.org/volunteer. n
Having some fun with a parachute
Horses and riders stop for a photo op.
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For more information on the Horses with Hope Discovery, Growth & Learning Program, tickets to the Belmont Fundraiser, or any other opportunity or planned event, visit https://www.horseswithhope.org.
g in h l ve wit a Y Tr A D O T
Instructions for Traveling with TODAY
No matter on which side of the political fence we find ourselves, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY wishes that the fence surrounding the Capitol building was taken down and gone when visiting our nation’s capital earlier this year. The building’s beauty and representation of the American people should always stand proud, even if fences force temporary barriers to visitors. Do you have a planned trip—business or leisure—where you could carry along your TODAY magazine? Read the accompanying directions to find out how to include your next adventure in “Traveling with TODAY.” Then leave the magazine behind for others to read and enjoy. n
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-athome project. • Include email address or phone number should further contact be necessary. • Email information to usctoday@uscsd.k12. pa.us, with “TODAY” listed in subject line. Note: Submitted photos and information for this feature section will remain on file for upcoming editions until published.
The U.S. Capitol, fenced in
Barbed wire fencing and the National Guard prohibit pedestrian and vehicle traffic within blocks of the Capitol.
Meet Nick
About Horses with Hope
In the coming months, as the Horses with Hope animals begin to move into the barns and graze the fields of Gilfillan Farm, we’d like to continue introducing you to some faces you might see as your walk or drive by. Last issue, you met mild-mannered Sven. For this issue, meet Nick, the Horses with Hope glamour boy. Most days he knows it! Even though he’s an Arabian, a breed known for their high-spirited ways, Nick is an absolute gentleman while under saddle and saves his antics for the pasture. He’s a beautiful boy and a favorite among riders. n
Horses with Hope founder Anne Davis left behind a 20-year career in the airline industry to start Horses with Hope in 2007. Inspired by her daughter, Jamie Lynn, now 17 and born with Down Syndrome, Anne started a therapeutic riding program on a farm in Washington, Pennsylvania. In 2013, Horses with Hope incorporated as a non-profit organization, bought four horses, and moved the program to the South Hills of Pittsburgh. By the following year, the group had expanded to 100 clients per week while school is in session, offering both therapeutic riding and equine assisted learning sessions. The growth is attributable to both Horses with Hope’s reputation and efforts of outreach to underserved groups, including group homes for the physically and developmentally disabled, a psychiatric hospital working with the mental health populations, Pittsburgh public schools, and Allegheny Intermediate Unit schools. n
Nick
Visit Facebook@HWHTherapeuticRiding to see more animals coming to Gilfillan Farm this spring and summer.
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Something Great About 2020! Mary Lynne Spazok
Cheers to 2021, as we continue on our way into the year! Despite the anxiety of 2020, Medallion Ball honorees of St. Lucy’s Auxiliary to the Blind did not lose heart. Upper St. Clair volunteers representing USCHS and Seton-LeSalle persevered with remarkable resolve and courage. Founded in 1957, St. Lucy’s inspires high school freshmen to embrace the value of service to others. By the time of recognition at the annual Medallion Ball being awarded the Joan of Arc Medallion by the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese, these high school seniors have completed at least 150 hours of volunteer service. Event proceeds facilitate the Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh, whose objective is to empower the blind, deaf blind, and vision impaired.
In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.—Author Marianne Williamson, motivational reference from A Return to Love. Why is volunteerism important to society? Community service affords a competitive edge. Not only does it benefit the recipient, it also benefits the student, and his or her family. Commitment encourages networking, the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information, thus developing social contacts and cultivating professional links. Active civic engagement facilitates kinship between local neighborhoods, with those nearby, and, at times, globally. Entry level high school students can choose their volunteer path. They would be wise to select what complements their career aspiration or extra-curriculum interest. For their hours, honorees of 2020 chose a variety of charities, including Appalachia Missions, Campo Italiano, Catholic Charities, Emmaus Community, Girl Scouts of Western PA, Houses of Worship, Meals on Wheels, and Miracle League. In addition, volunteer hours were devoted to Amen to Action. This charity provides nutrition through food to the hungry and less fortunate, and holds an annual meal-packing event the day after Thanksgiving in partnership with Meals of Hope and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Horses with Hope, a discovery learning center that combines therapeutic riding with equine assist therapies, was a recipient of volunteer hours. (See article on page 68 for more information on this non-profit.) Some honorees accumulated hours through youth swim coaching, as well as volunteering with the Pittsburgh Super Cats Cheer (an organization for special needs children). Hours were also spent volunteering with the theater at the Civic Light Opera for on-site and virtual instruction of set design, costume creation, and drama workshops. Whatever the volunteer choice, committing to a project, cause, or organization means long-term participation, not just giving a few hours during the honoree’s senior year. Since 1997, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY has proudly showcased hundreds of stellar Medallion Ball honorees. Exceptional role models, their fresh outlook, youthful energy, and positivity is infectious. The encouragement from loving families, friends, educators, clerics, and the inclusive community of Upper St. Clair is priceless! The world is better today than it was yesterday, in part, because of the 2020 class of these 13 young women. You are each truly something great! n
Marina Bulazo
Christina Conte
Elizabeth Finkel
Daniela Gibbons
Alexandra Hall
Celena Kerr
Emma Musillo
Emily Rhodes
Jordyn Ruffner
Caroline Sandford
Jeana Talerico
Caroline Wright
With kindness and gratitude, I am extremely proud of our Medallion Ball honorees’ dedication to their community by creatively contributing their time and talents in a wide variety of ways. Their “I can do it” enthusiastic attitude is both admirable and inspiring.—Karen Boston, St. Lucy’s Auxiliary 2019 president, presiding past president Sarah Strain 70
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Are Candy Stripers a Thing of the Past? Mary Lynne Spazok
At the beginning of each new year, I make a concerted effort to properly distinguish each class of the Medallion Ball honorees of St. Lucy’s Auxiliary. In January 2020, I chose the theme “Spring Season” for the 2020 year of recognition. With it, spring brings hope, inspiration, a new beginning. Perfect, I thought. However, with the onset of COVID-19 and its resulting endless restrictions, followed by event delays and eventual cancelations, that theme was necessarily archived for another year. The annual ball for the honorees’ recognition, normally held each November, was postponed until summer 2021 for the class of 2020. For this reason, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is proud to present the ever-popular annual feature here, in our summer edition. As a volunteer writer for UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, compelling composition includes meeting a print deadline, a relevant theme, obtaining formal photos from the Ron Richards Studio, receiving parental permission to post the honoree’s photos, and details regarding where the honorees acquired their 150+ hours of volunteer service. Research is always a learning experience. For example, I inquired as to why many of the young women normally list two to five sites for volunteer service. Are candy stripers a thing of the past? At one time, medical facilities were the most sought-after choice for volunteerism. However, a physician parent informed me this year that hospitals now only seek those who have a healthcare agenda. Devoid of applied experience, how does a teen know what vocation is best suited for her? Various volunteer venues cited in the related article “Something Great About 2020!” are seasonal at best. As a result, high school freshmen must juggle their academic, social, and volunteer schedule to achieve the required hours by their senior year. Yet, even in these challenging times, it is possible to be grateful and to look ahead with positivity. With confidence, my “Spring Season” theme will come to fruition next year. Sadly, candy striper uniforms have faded away, but volunteer energy has not. Let us be grateful for all volunteers, each and every one. n
Excellent Care for Excellent Families WHS ranks among the top 10% of Hospitals for Labor and Delivery in 2020!
For more information visit whs.org
Tri-Community South EMS Subscription Drive
The Tri-Community South (TCS) EMS annual subscription drive is continuing. But, as of February 1, 2021, fewer than 21% of the residences in Bethel Park, South Park, and Upper St. Clair (5527 out of 27,057) had subscribed, a four percent decrease from the same time last year. Tri-Community South operates solely on revenue from the subscription drive, insurance reimbursements, and fees for service. TCS receives no municipal tax money. Your subscription to TCS shows that you support your emergency medical service provider. Without the support of residents through subscriptions and donations, the municipalities would be unable to provide this valuable service. Your $60 individual or $70 household subscription helps to make sure that TCS can continue to provide quality ambulance service whenever you need it. Your subscription to TCS means that should you need medically necessary ambulance transportation, TCS will accept reimbursement from your healthcare company or other appropriate insurance carrier, and you will be responsible for only 50% of any co-pay and deductible amounts. The household subscription also covers family members living at and guests visiting your house. Non-subscribers are responsible for the full amount billed for the service. Your 2021 subscription takes effect as soon as it is received and payment is accepted by TCS. It remains in effect through December 31, 2021, regardless of the day it is received. Subscription terms and conditions are available upon request or online at http://tcsems. org/_assets/pdf/2021%20Sub%20Terms.pdf. To subscribe, visit http://tcsems.org/subscriptions-n-billings/residential-subscription. You will find options for paying with a check by mail or online by credit card. n If you have questions about your ambulance subscription or about TCS EMS and any services it provides, call 412-831-3710, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. or visit TCS’s website at http://tcsems.org. Summer 2021
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State Representative Natalie Mihalek 40th Legislative District
1121 Boyce Road, Suite 2200A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241
724-942-2045 www.repmihalek.com
Facebook.com/RepMihalek
For assistance with any state-related issue, either call my office at 724-942-2045 or stop in to visit my office located at 1121 Boyce Road, Suite 2200A, Pittsburgh. To keep up with my legislative updates, follow me on social media: www.Facebook.com/RepMihalek, Twitter.com/RepMihalek, and Instagram.com/RepMihalek.
Women Supporting Women
Glass ceilings. Girl power. Women in all places where decisions are being made. We’re getting there. Women in the workplace face a unique set of challenges on top of the balancing act of home and family life. Sometimes they’re told they don’t belong, they must work harder for less, and their place is in the home. I have faced some of these challenges myself. But women who enter the working world are brave, fierce, and empowering. And women who sacrifice career for family are strong, patient, and selfless. Many women are at the forefront of male-dominated industries, including healthcare, alternative energy, pharmaceuticals, and entrepreneurship. They have worked hard to not only pave their way to the top of their industries, but to also take care of their families, run households, maintain strong relationships, and so much more. I don’t only support women who are determined to do it all and do it well, I am one of those women, always striving to be my best. I’ve served in the U.S. Navy and was admitted into the Navy’s elite nuclear power program, of which only one percent of the sailors admitted are women. I started a legal career in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, working with crime victims and police to prosecute criminal cases. Now, I have the honor to serve the residents of the 40th legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. In every one of these roles, I’ve had to prove that I belong. I was faced with challenges that women in male-dominated industries are faced with every day. Because of this, I am always working to support other women and young women who want something different.
Women are an asset to the workplace because they bring with them a perspective to whatever field they choose. They have created environments that are responsive to the needs of individuals who are juggling work, family, and community involvement. Women leaders are no longer the exception in business or in politics, they are the future. As women continue to break through those glass ceilings, opportunities are broadening and women’s successes will become commonplace. In 2007, there were just 28 female members in the House of Representatives among a total of 203. Today, I am proud to say that there are 52 female representatives, each one an active and strong voice. According to the U.S. Census in 2012, there were 30,671 women-owned businesses in Allegheny County and 4718 in Washington County. At that time, 35.8% of businesses in the U.S. were owned by women. Compare that to 1997, 15 years prior, when only 26% of businesses in the U.S. were owned by women. The numbers are increasing, but we still have a way to go. Women work best together when they share ideas on how they have succeeded. With this thought in mind, my office will be holding an event for women entrepreneurs later this summer. The purpose of this event is to connect, share ideas, and offer support to like-minded women who are trying to make a difference and a profit, all while supporting their families. n If you are a woman who owns a business and are interested in connecting with other female business owners, call my district office at 724-942-2045. Keep an eye on my website at www.repmihalek.com for more details about the event in the coming weeks.
On Stage with Jim and Lanny More and more residents are tuning in to 15241 TODAY talk “On Stage with Jim and Lanny” to enjoy the half-hour broadcast that engages local celebrities and people with ties to USC. Through light-hearted, friendly conversations, the show is co-hosted by Jim Render and Lanny Frattare and aired on USC’s TV stations, Cable 7 or Verizon 42. The broadcast can also be viewed at any time using a computer or handheld device. Search YouTube for “Upper St. Clair Public Access Television” to choose the broadcast you’d like to watch or visit USC Township’s website (www.twpusc.org) and choose “Video Gallery” under subhead “Life in USC.” The links to the videos are also shared on the School District’s athletic website (https://upperstclairathletics.com). Highlights from our most recent interviews, and their YouTube links, accompany this feature story. 72
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Left to right: Matt Serakowski and John Rozzo
Matt Serakowski and Dr. John Rozzo These talented leaders of USC Township and USC School District share their thoughts on the progress made in the community during the pandemic this past year. Cooperation between the two entities has never been better. https://youtu.be/2JNLZ0YG3sU
Profiles
Profiling People and Pets in USC
Know of a resident to profile? Send information to: Editor,
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 or
usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us.
Rotarians visit with Ed Harmon.
This past February, the Rotary Club of Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park stopped by The Grand Residence in USC to let their fellow Rotarian Ed Harmon know they were thinking of him and wishing him well. While there, the group built a snowman and talked to Ed, using cell phones and waiving through a window.
This past March, local real estate agent Lynn Dempsey W e M o v e u p p e r s t . c l a i r was recognized with a distinguished award from Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services. The award, Celebrating Women Who Move Us, is a national company award which was presented to Lynn by Ruth Rivera of Coldwell Banker NationalRon Lead Lynn Dempsey John Geisler GrafDirectors. Florine Kelly Kathi Kernan The question posed to women in the Coldwell Banker family for which Lynn’s response was chosen, was “What moves her?” In her comments, Lynn shared, “God!... His power to renew our strength in the deepest, darkest hours. His grace and mercy envelope us every day. I am thankful and blessed.”
Anita Crago
ALLOW US TO LEAD THE WAY HOME
Heather Linz
Rotarian Ed Harmon
Profiling community animals? Sure! And, what better way to get into the summer season than playtime with family pets. Meet Lynn Martinelli’s dogs, Rowdy, Bonnie, and Chaser. They are game for summer fun, and afterwards love a cool dip in their own pool!
Maria Lane
Kim Lanphear
Rowdy, Bonnie, and Chaser
Sandi Ricci
Rachael Richard
Jen Sowers
Brad Templeton
Considering selling your home? That’s a smart move. With today’s low inventory and interest rates, buyers are motivated to act. Kathy Sekeras
Jim Walsh
John, Jeffery, and Michael Mascaro These USC graduates and brothers have developed Mascaro Construction Company, founded by their father, Jack, into one of the most successful building venues in Coldwell Banker Peters Township Pittsburgh history, if not the entire USA. Teamwork is always the goal, which leads to customer satisfaction. https://youtu.be/hG3ErlCWP5M
Milo Hindman Manager
Contact any of these experienced ® Coldwell Banker affiliated Left to right: Michael, Jeffery, and John Mascaro agents to share their expertise and effectively market your property.
Suzanne Lorenzi Sala
Bonnie Loya
Pete Serio
Joe DeMar
Pete Serio Joe DeMar The successful, enthusiastic coach of This longtime educator in the Upper St. the Upper St. Clair High School woman’s Clair School District is one of a kind. He basketball team, Pete consistently has experienced it all, both the good and Faith Williard Mary Ann Wellener deflects the praise and glory to his players and the sullied in his 18 years as principal of | 724.942.1200 assistant coaches. A longtime physical Fort Couch Middle School. Previously an education teacher at Boyce Middle School, assistant principal at USCHS, Joe has always he is a caring husband, involved father of put the students first. four, and an exceptional example for and https://youtu.be/1cEnysm9ClY n leader of young people. https://youtu.be/SEL7M1Yopss
Monica Mahla
Suzy Stauffer
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A Decade of Hamm Interns
Your donation will help ensure a decade more of interns Tom Dougherty and Lindsay Dill, Allegheny Land Trust
As we write this article, we’ve just passed the one-year anniversary of when our world changed due to the pandemic. We’re also marking the beginning of mass vaccination, and at Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) and Wingfield Pines, we’re hoping this means that soon we can together again explore on the land. This year is also a special year for ALT, as it marks the tenth annual Hamm intern at the Wingfield Pines conservation area. Every year since 2012, a passionate and knowledgeable student of the environment has worked with ALT at this special conservation area to maintain and enhance the land, improve plant and wildlife habitat, conduct educational and scientific programming, and be the face of ALT to the site’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 his classroom learnings and further explore career interests through hands-on application in a working outdoor laboratory. 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. The internship was established a decade ago in memory of John Hamm, a board member of the Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Fund (PAEDF) and a Wingfield Pines is home to many frogs. tireless advocate for environmentally-safe Chartiers Creek. Generous donations at the time from PAEDF and John Hamm’s friends and family created the initial fund that enabled the internship to be established. Unfortunately, the initial fund’s investment proceeds do not cover the total cost of the internship each year, leaving ALT to cover more than $1500 of costs out of the organization’s regular operating cash flow. This annual After college graduation, Garrett continued at Shannon Powers, 2012 deficit could be permanently Pursuing dual majors in environmental studies Duquesne in pursuit of a master’s degree in funded by an increase of and history at NYU, Shannon developed an conservation biology and hopes to work as a $30,000 in the Hamm Internappreciation for the importance of community wildlife conservationist upon earning his degree. ship Fund. building and communications in the non-profit On this, the tenth anniworld. She credits her time as a Hamm intern Lori Kofalt, 2019 versary of its creation, ALT with providing hands-on exposure in those areas. Lori had just earned her diploma in horticulture is launching a fundraising Shannon, now a communications/development technology from the Bidwell Training Center in campaign to raise the $30,000 professional at a large New York City hospital Pittsburgh when she took on the role of Hamm necessary to guarantee the network, says the Hamm internship helped foster intern in summer 2019. Now the community sustainability of the Hamm greenspace services coordinator at the Western personal interests, as well. internship in perpetuity. ALT Pennsylvania Conservancy, she says the Hamm is requesting your assistance internship provided her with an introduction to Dan Dougherty, 2014 in reaching this goal by the Dan was a recent graduate of Slippery Rock the conservation field and helped her to make end of June 2021. Please University with a degree in environmental studies/ valuable connections with other conservation support the continuation of geography when he landed the Hamm internship. organizations. this career-building opportuDan is now a project manager/superintendent at nity, a Hamm internship, that one of the region’s leading green-build companies Josh Weiland, 2020 improves our cherished conand is currently leading the construction of a net- After completing the Hamm internship, Josh servation area, our neighbor, accepted a position as a sustainability and zero energy passive house. Wingfield Pines. n resiliency metrics assistant within the Office of Sustainability at Chatham University as he also Garrett Struble, 2018 As a biology major entering his senior year at works to completes his degree. Upon graduation, Visit alleghenylandtrust.org/donate Duquesne University, Garrett Struble found the he intends to pursue career interests in the areas of to make a donation to the Hamm internship to be “an amazing learning corporate social responsibility and the intersection Hamm internship fund opportunity that provided firsthand exposure to the between our ecological and urban worlds. and to learn more. management complexities of land conservation.” Planting a tree at Wingfield Pines
Meet Some of ATL’s Past Hamm Interns
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Donor Wall at Dunlap Family Outpatient Center Salutes Patrons of St. Clair Health St. Clair Health has from its very beginnings counted on the support of the people, organizations, and businesses of this region. Six decades ago, area residents saw a critical need for local, quality healthcare and their grassroots fundraising campaigns resulted in the opening of St. Clair Hospital in 1954. Today, with the opening of the Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, this legacy of giving continues. In 2017, St. Clair Hospital Foundation, now St. Clair Health Foundation, kicked off the Groundbreaking Growth Capital Campaign to support the construction of the new Dunlap Family Outpatient Center. With the support of the community, including individuals, corporations, foundations, and state grants, St. Clair has raised more than $42 million to date. Some 70 donors who gave $10,000 or more toward the construction of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center are showcased on a donor wall for their part in supporting the construction of a building that offers one-stop access for everything from doctors’ appointments to outpatient tests and procedures. Designed by Pittsburgh-based architectural firm IKM, the donor wall recognizes
community members who helped the capital campaign exceed expectations. Installed in the fifth floor lobby of the new Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, the donor wall looks more like art than a standard plaque of names on a wall, with its layers of etched glass and metal. Prominently located next to Café Kara and adjacent to the door to the patio, visitors can appreciate the beauty of the wall from both sides as they move about. The base construction of the donor wall is a series of layered glass panels with an abstract image etched onto the surface of each layer. Name plates of different sizes, one for each donor, float in front of the glass in a random layout. Donors who are committed to the idea of an independent regional hospital have been as committed to the Dunlap Family Outpatient Center as they have been for the hospital’s previous construction projects, including the expansion of St. Clair’s emergency room and the outpatient center in Peters Township. n To donate to this cause, visit stclair.org/giving/groundbreaking-growth. See St. Clair Health ads on pages 2 and 79.
ALT Spring Events via Webinar Curious Caterpillars Webinar When: Wednesday, May 5, 5–5:45 p.m. Where: Virtual, via Zoom What: Join ALT’s senior director of education and curriculum, Julie, on a webinar about the fascinating world of caterpillars. Learn their vital role within the food web and ecosystem, and learn why the early bird would much rather have a caterpillar than a worm. Cost: Free Age: All ages welcome RSVP: https://alleghenylandtrust.org/event/curiouscaterpillars-webinar/
Is it Time...to cash in on your Equity? We are experiencing the most active sellers market in the history of Pittsburgh Real Estate.
Spring Wild Edibles Webinar When: Wednesday, May 19, 5–5:45 p.m. Where: Virtual, via Zoom What: Join ALT’s senior director of education and curriculum, Julie, for a virtual lesson on spring time foraging. Cost: Free Age: All ages welcome RSVP: https://alleghenylandtrust.org/event/spring-wildedibles-webinar/ Visit ALT’s event calendar for future opportunities at alleghenylandtrust.org/events.
25+ Years as a Proven Professional Over 360 Million illion in Sales Results Relocation Specialist
Real Estate
• Mortgage • Title • Insurance
Diane Horvath, GRI, CRS 412-491-6984 or 412-833-3601 x 219
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Community Foundation
CFUSC Reboots!
Beginning in late 2018, the Board of Trustees decided to do some house-cleaning. They proposed a new operating model and created a new logo for the Foundation. During the 2019 term, they worked to refine the elements of the model and in 2020, in spite of the “new normal” imposed by COVID-19, they continued to plan for the future and continued to provide support to community ideas, including mini-grants for Tri-Community South EMS, grocerydelivery412.com, Book Buddies, and communications support for Art for Joy. In 2021, the reboot continues with a revamping of communications, including a new telephone number using Google Voice, updates to the website, continued virtual meetings on Google Meet, and a relaunching of E-blast newsletters using Mailchimp, all at a significant cost reduction. Additional updates are coming to the CF office at Summerfield Commons, where historic documents will be sorted, filed, digitized, and archived, and the space will be rearranged for more efficient usage. And, of course, there are plans to reactivate focus activities, events, and grant applications for unique projects. Blanket sales are returning, and plans are being made for the days when the Golf Invitational, the Giving Tea, and other activities can be rescheduled. Please visit the website to catch up as event plans unfold, and while you are there, sign-up for our E-blast newsletters. Keep watching CFUSC as it works to enhance life for our residents by nurturing ideas, facilitating opportunities, creating engagement, and celebrating successes.
CFUSC can now be reached at 412-440-8464. Please leave a message and we will return your call. Bookmark www.cfusc.org as one of your favorites sites.
Blanket Sales to Resume CFUSC blankets have always been a big hit as graduation gifts. There were many inquiries for these warm and cozy favorites, but the supply ran out. While planning for a reorder, we learned that the new blankets will have the same Panther imprint on the front and now they will have an imprint on the back, as well. A contest was launched with students in the High School’s C2CF (Connect to Community Foundation) Club. The creator of the winning design for the back of the blanket will become the proud owner of blanket #1, a gift from the Board. Watch the website and E-blast Newsletters for sales information. When the new blankets arrive, we will also post on Twitter and Instagram. In June of 2020, it became the practice of the Board to deliver blankets to residents’ homes, and all blankets will continue to be hand-carried to their happy owners.
Upcoming 2021 book discussion meetings will be jointly sponsored this year by CFUSC and the USC Library. They will be held at various times on May 13 and September 9, and on a date in November yet to be determined. You are cordially invited to join the Book Club! Register to attend by sending an email to bookclub@cfusc.org. Provide your first and last name and the email address you would like to use for Book Club notifications. Once registered, you will receive a secure link and password for entry into the meeting. New members are welcome at any time! Happy reading!
The Great Duck Race Must Go On... Neither rain, nor snow, nor... COVID-19 will prevent those colorful plastic creatures from racing this year! The contest may be live and in-person in McLaughlin Run creek, or it may be virtual due to the continuing need to socially distance! In either case, the ducks will race! Check the CFUSC website for updates on ticket sales and details. www.cfusc.org.
Did you know that ...
Since 2002, the Community Foundation has provided a service to residents who wish to create a scholarship fund for the distribution of awards to graduating seniors. Some of these awards are memorial funds honoring family members and friends, and others are named in honor of those who have made a significant impact in the educational arena. As the steward of these funds, CF works with the High School Guidance Department to assist in the selection process of candidates, as well as in the distribution of the awards each year at the Senior Awards Ceremony. For more information on creating a scholarship fund, please contact us at 412-440-8464 or send a letter to CFUSC, 2585 Washington Road #131, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. ns Descriptio holarship College Sc
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rship nd a letic Schola who will atte St. Clair Athd to a graduating senior g in his/her sport. hip is awarde to continue participatin m sport for all s tea This scholars plan and ege ber of a USC ers in four-year coll e been a mem at least two varsity lett on. hav st mu nt rati ived The applica ol and rece d for conside le in e is require of high scho ilab four years Point Averag Applications are ava A 3.2 Grade 0. that sport. exceed $75 hip will not This scholars Department at USCHS. ling nse the Cou
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n – 2008 Andrea Pio Recipients 0 erson – 201 ck – 2007 Jeremy Bla 9 Amy And phan – 2012 Kline – 200 Austin Ste Elizabeth J. ) – 2011 ini – 2014 ate pe Giusep Ors (No Candid 3 – 2016 201 – oad ski kler Ryan Har John Rutkow – 2015 8 an ninger – 201 Sam Schiffm 7 Kate Gro 2020 vsky – 201 – Sara Steve Louis Olsako – 2019 ini Antonio Ors
rick rship 2020 Grader, Pat rien Schola of Baker School Third ting class in ory dua ship is in mem a member of his gra to will awarded 0 O'Brien and 202 ey, Class of 2020. Haley Beardsl Awarded to
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Summer 2021
k – 2009 Amy Twerdo – 2011 an Erin McTiern cano – 2013 Tro Grace Ellen lish – 2015 Kristine Eng
er ip 2003-2017senior who attended Bak application ng t Scholarsh Ted Barnet ip is awarded to a graduati-year college. Criteria forent and four lvem This scholarsh ol and will attend a rricular invo Scho ip, extra-cu ions are s, leadersh 0. Applicat Elementary d on academic ip will not exceed $50 will be base larsh HS. . This scho ent at USC volunteerism Counseling Departm the in lable avai
Recipients 3 osella – 200 Nicholas Car 2005 – James Marsh 2007 a– Nicholas She – 2009 1 Eric Elliott rstreet – 201 3 Maggie Ove odran – 201 Anastasia Nov 2015 ik – Martin Bac 7 201 – Alex Beynon
– 2004 Julie Poljak 6 ilakis - 200 Aristaia Vas 8 ssaro - 200 Madeline Ma n 2010 Stei ten Kris 2 Snyder – 201 ine her Kat n – 2014 Grace Che – 2016 Sarah Kerman
018 minor in rship 2002-2senior who will major or n Batz Schola ng d upo will be base Mary Elenaip is awarded to a graduati application year s for t two This scholarsh arts. Criteria not ry of at leas or theater and a histo larship will performing leadership, Play. This scho artment at talent and ical or Fall ing Dep exceptional USCHS Mus the Counsel tion in the available in of participa lications are App 0. exceed $50 USCHS.
Recipients 2 etta – 200 Trevor Fall 4 ienza – 200 Lauren Sap 2006 Maloney – Stephanie – 2008 Sarah Scola s – 2010 mer Emily Sum 2 201 as – Michael Boy 2014 cLachlan – Melody Ma – 2016 Ben Nadler – 2018 Holly Smith
r – 2003 Darcy Shaffne 5 – 200 Lara Hillier 7 usch – 200 Joyce Hinneb – 2009 ey Car nt C. Gra ler – 2011 Sarah Nad 13 Rosatti –20 zy Aziz a Ann an – 2015 Tom Maddig 2017 – Carly DeCock
se make come. Plea ds are wel indicating larship Fun memo line tion on the and will s to the Scho Contribution to CFUSC, with a nota is greatly appreciated ree. Mail ort able a college deg checks pay . Your supp they pursue you support as fund ents ch whi g stud y deservin r Clai St. benefit man to er n tion of Upp 131 your donatio Community Founda e Suit d, ton Roa 2585 Washing Clair, PA 15241 Upper St.
of Upper St. Clair
CFUSC Welcomes New Trustees Ryan Scureman is joining CFUSC, where he will be collaborating with fellow USCHS Alumni who are now Trustees. He had the benefit of being a K-12 student in the School District, graduating in 1999. During his school years, he was initiated into community service by his mother, Michele Scureman, who was an Art teacher and Curriculum Leader for the District. When she received a grant from the Community Foundation, she founded and launched “Celebrate the Arts,” and Ryan assisted her in running these events, which went on for many years. Ryan says “Being a part of Celebrating the Arts gave me an appreciation for our community and how diverse the interests and talents are amongst our residents.” Following high school he attended Indiana University, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance and then attended Robert Morris University to earn an MBA, and most importantly, where he met his beautiful wife, Pam. They chose to make their home in Upper St. Clair where they are raising four wonderful children. Pam is deeply involved in volunteering in the schools, where she has served as Treasurer of the Baker PTA and is currently Vice President of the Boyce PTO. Both Ryan and Pam are looking for ways to be more involved in the community and becoming a Trustee with the Community Foundation is a perfect fit!
Jack Colletti has lived in Upper St. Clair for over 23 years and is one of the few Trustees who has served on active duty. He grew up in North Strabane Township and graduated from Canon-McMillan High School in 1987. He received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. While at Annapolis, he graduated from the US Army Airborne School in Fort Benning, GA. He served as a Naval Officer for over 8 years on active duty and completed deployments to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf. In 1997, the Colletti family returned to Pittsburgh and chose to settle in USC for many reasons and to be closer to a set of grandparents who had lived in Brookside Farms for over 50 years. Jack’s wife of 29 years, Nicole, has been a labor and delivery nurse for over 20 years, and is currently a certified lactation consultant at St. Clair Hospital. Their son Nick (USC class of 2012) is an actor and comedian, living in Los Angeles for the past six years and daughter Rachel (USC class of 2013) graduated from the University of Miami and recently completed her second year of medical school. In late 2017, Jack was the proud recipient of a CFUSC grant, which enabled him to develop and launch “USC Radio,” a series of 12 podcast episodes featuring many prominent USC personalities. These podcasts can be found on iTunes or any podcast app. Jack shared, “The project allowed me to connect with amazing individuals and it really drove home the notion that we have so many interesting people with strong ties to the USC community.” As an entrepreneur with a strong bias for service, Jack brings many skills to the table, with a goal to establish networks and foster innovative solutions to address needs in our community.
Mother/Daughter Team Joins CFUSC
syn-er-gy: noun; the interaction or cooperation of two or more
individuals or organizations, in order to produce a combined effect greater than what could be accomplished alone.
Since 1993, the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair has worked to enhance life for residents by nurturing ideas, facilitating opportunities, creating engagement, and celebrating successes. Visit www.cfusc.org to learn about the work of the Foundation and find an application for a position as a Trustee. Join us by contributing to the synergy and perpetuating the shared benefits to our community!
The Community Foundation welcomes its first mother and daughter team to the Board of Trustees. Danielle Pirain learned that the Foundation had openings for new trustees in an E-blast she received from CFUSC. Danielle brings her experience in community outreach to the board, and in addition, she’s bringing her daughter, Noelle, who applied for a position as a Junior Trustee. Noelle is a member of the High School Interact Club and the Tennis Team, as well as Kids Helping Kids. Answering the question what would you bring to the Board that would assist CFUSC in meeting its mission, Noelle said, “I would bring a high interest for helping the community become as unified as it can be and an open mind to all of the cultures in the district.” Danielle works in the Medical Technology field and is a Licensed Lab Professional who enjoys running, hiking, cross country skiing, and swimming. She brings a perspective to the table learned from the community project she launched in the South Hills and in Pittsburgh City Parks where she created a safety initiative with the installation of sunscreen dispensers to improve inclusion throughout the community. “My daughter and son were an active part of that initiative and learned that when we have an idea to make our community safer and healthier, we have the power to change things.” n
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RONALD A. ARNONI, DISTRICT JUDGE District Court 05-2-20 Office: 412-835-1661 Fax: 412-835-4060
Hiras Professional Building 2414 Lytle Rd #200 Bethel Park, PA 15102
Retail Theft—a Crime That Affects All of Us Retail theft is a crime that affects all of us, and shoplifting is the most common type of retail theft. Shoplifting is defined as a crime that occurs when someone steals merchandise offered for sale in a retail store. To commit shoplifting, one must “intend” to permanently deprive the merchant of the value of the goods. Shoplifting results in over $33 billion of losses each year and it is on the rise. The loss of merchandise, however, is not the only expense associated with shoplifting to retail establishments. There is also the added cost of security, including plain clothes floor detectives, security officers, cameras, and other security equipment. Unfortunately, these costs are passed on to you and me, the consumer. Entire retail chains have gone out of business due to their inability to control retail theft losses. Shoplifting also burdens law enforcement and wastes tax dollars by using the court system to hear and prosecute these cases. Offenders range from children to the elderly. Men and women shoplift at the same rate. Shoplifters come from various ethnic backgrounds, education levels, and economic statuses. Shoplifters steal for a variety of reasons, including excitement (adrenaline rush), desire, need, and peer pressure. Some shoplift out of desperation due to drug addiction, alcoholism, and homelessness. The common denominator of these shoplifters, however, is their rationalization that retailers can afford the loss. Another type of shoplifter is the “professional.” In some areas, “fences” employ teams of professional shoplifters, paying them ten to 20 cents on the dollar to steal specific items. Interestingly, these professionals make up only about three percent of all shoplifters.
Shoplifting prevention is a community responsibility. Here are some ways to help combat shoplifting. • Parents, please talk to your child about honesty and integrity. Let him know that shoplifting is not okay. Also, if your child suddenly has an unfamiliar, new item in their possession, investigate and, if warranted, hold him accountable. • If you are a compulsive or habitual shoplifter and feel guilty and ashamed, there is help through educational programs and referrals through the National Association of Shoplifting Prevention (NASP) at 1-800-848-9595 or www.shopliftingprevention.org. • Locally there is a diversionary program administered by Domestic Outreach Corporation (DOC) for first-time offenders to educate them about retail theft. The court uses this program on a regular basis and, in most cases, it has been successful. • If you witness retail theft, report it to a store employee or security guard. • Be patient with merchants who are trying to control their losses, as they monitor the number of garments taken into a dressing room, attach electronic security devices to merchandise, lock displays, and have their store employees be vigilant. Let’s do our part to help reduce retail losses. In turn, it will save money, businesses, and jobs. Our economy depends on it. n
Virtual Volunteers Needed. We Invite You! Carolyn Jones Friedrich, Historical Society To make selected collections easier to use, the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair (HSUSC) has plans to transcribe letters and other digitized documents from its archives. While penmanship can be beautiful, sometimes the handwriting can be difficult to read. Often, a second person can make sense of hard-to-read text that another reader found illegible. The HSUSC would like to invite you to be a virtual volunteer! Virtual volunteers will be the “second set of eyes” to read and transcribe letters and documents from the Historical Society’s archival collections. The contents of these letters and documents will hopefully provide details—including breeds of animals or particular crops grown on the farm—that the HSUSC can then choose to implement in order to be historically accurate in its modern day interpretation and presentation of the working farm. For the buildings, the hope is to uncover dates that particular outbuildings were constructed and, perhaps, other details, including where the building materials 78
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Volunteers are needed to transcribe documents like this 1861 letter from John Gilfillan [1826-1885] to his family.
came from or what specific materials were used (e.g. bricks made from clay on the property or wood logged nearby). Stay tuned for future updates regarding how this project will help further historically accurate farming practices and the building restoration taking place on Gilfillan Farm. n If you would like to help with this project or would like more information, email historian@hsusc.org.
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Advertiser Index Summer 2021
www.twpusc.org/usctoday Advanced Surgical Hospital .................................................................... 25
J&A South Park, LLC Heating-Cooling-Plumbing-Electric ........................ 61
Arbor Tree Specialists, Inc. ....................................................................... 59
* Kerr Family and Cosmetic Dentistry ...........................................................9
Affordable Decks & Additions .................................................................. 66 Bactronix Corp. ........................................................................................ 64 Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh .................................................................. 41 * Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, The Preferred Realty, Rt. 19 South ....5 Bistecca Steakhouse-Wine Bar ................................................................ 43 * Brookside Lumber ................................................................................... 64 * Calabro Tire & Auto Service ..................................................................... 27 Chang Eye Group .................................................................................... 39 * Coldwell Banker–Lynn Dempsey ............................................................. 63 Coldwell Banker–Dora Rudick ................................................................. 55
* Keller Williams–Sandy and Marshall Goldstein ...................................... 53 Little Lake Theatre Company ................................................................... 41 * Manalo, Larry E., DMD ...............................................................................9 Mister Sewer ........................................................................................... 65 Mt. Lebanon Awning ............................................................................... 63 Movement Mortgage–Kevin O’Laughlin ................................................. 55 * Pinebridge Commons Associates ...............................................................9 * Providence Point, a Baptist Homes Society community .......................... 38 * Rusmur Floors .................................................................. Inside back cover
* St. Clair Health .....................................................................................2, 79
* Coldwell Banker–South Hills Office ...............................Outside back cover
* Scott Bros. Windows and Doors .............................................................. 60
Davey Tree and Lawn Care ....................................................................... 64
South Hills Endoscopy Center ....................................................................1
* Cupelli & Cupelli, Drs. ............................................................................. 53 * Extended Day Services ............................................................................ 40
* Sesame Inn ............................................................................................. 42 Southwest Gastroenterology Associates ....................................................7
It has been a great experience working with USC TODAY. It is more than a magazine, it is an essential part of the community.—George Girty Landscape Design
G’s Landscape, LLC .................................................................................. 61 G’s Window and Gutter Cleaning ............................................................ 64 George Girty Landscape Design .............................................................. 66 Greater Pittsburgh Plumbing, Heating & Cooling .................................. 63 Hastings South Fayette–Charter Homes & Neighborhoods .......................3 * Howard Hanna–Susan Highley ............................................................... 27 * Howard Hanna–Diane Horvath ............................................................... 75 Howard Hanna–Kathleen & Diana Mathison .......................................... 51 * Howard Hanna–USC Office .............................................. Inside front cover
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* State Farm Insurance–Cindy Brophy ....................................................... 61 The Compost People ............................................................................... 67 The Dance Conservatory of Pittsburgh .................................................... 43 * Thomas Dance Studio ............................................................................. 40 Torrente Apartment Homes ..................................................................... 23 Troy Orthodontics .......................................................................................9
Washington Health System .................................................................... 71 * Wellington Real Estate–Patty Thomas & Rebecca Lutz ............................ 31 Welter, Julie, Realtor® ............................................................................ 67
Place your ad in UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, our communityʼs go-to publication. Contact 412-833-1600, x2284. *The above advertisers, who are advertising in this issue, have contributed their financial support for a minimum of 53 issues. Thank you!
412-833-1600 x 2284 | usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us | www.twpusc.org/usctoday
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W e
Shannon Briggs
Julie Leslie
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M o v e
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u p p e r
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Ron Graf
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Kathi Kernan
ALLOW US TO LEAD THE WAY HOME
Maria Lane
Kim Lanphear
Sandi Ricci
Rachael Richard
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Faith Williard
Considering selling your home? That’s a smart move. With today’s low inventory and interest rates, buyers are motivated to act. Dora Rudick
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Contact any of these experienced Coldwell Banker affiliated agents to share their expertise and effectively market your property. ®
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ColdwellBankerHomes.com/southhills South Hills | 1630 Washington Road | Pittsburgh, PA 15241 | 412.833.5405 Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2021 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports 21DAAC_PIT_3/21 the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.