Inaugural Year for the Bocce Team

This year marks the inaugural season for the USCHS Interscholastic Unified Indoor Bocce team. The co-ed team, partially funded and sponsored by Special Olympics PA, is made up of an equal number of students with and without disabilities. The team is coached by Anne Wagner, a teacher’s aide at Streams Elementary, and Katelyn Nassar, who previously coached a similar team at Mt. Lebanon High School. Although it is not a WPIAL sport, the bocce team is managed by Upper St. Clair’s athletic department. All participants must complete PIAA paperwork and are recognized in the same manner as other Upper St. Clair club sports.

“The Unified Sports concept is different from many with which people are familiar. It is not a ‘buddy’ or mentoring program. All participants train and compete as equal teammates,” said Anne. “One of the most important principles of Unified Sports is meaningful involvement, and that applies to all of the athletes. Each one is learning, working, and growing through his or her experiences at bocce. Through this model, the kids become friends and true teammates.”

Sixteen players comprise the bocce team. Eight players compete during each match, while the other eight fulfill various game roles. All matches are played indoors on a gym floor.

The response from the school community has been overwhelmingly positive, which Anne attributes to the school’s established climate of inclusion. Numerous student groups, including the football team, boys and girls basketball teams, varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders, as well as staff members, families, and friends filled the stands for the team’s first home match against Moon Area High School. “We had a positive response and a great group of fans in the stands at our home match. It was amazing!” said Anne. Serving as officials for the home match were Upper St. Clair High School’s assistant principals Dr. Dan Beck and Cara Senger. “The best part for us was seeing the support from our student body,” said Cara. “To see the student sports groups and other USC students, as well, cheering on our participants was special and provided an exciting environment as the teams competed.”

The Unified Indoor Bocce season runs from December through February. As with varsity athletics, teams compete in post-season playoffs. Two Allegheny County teams advanced to the state-level competition, which was held late March in Hershey.

The idea of creating a bocce program at the high school was initially suggested to Amy Pfender, assistant superintendent, in 2019 by a parent. After researching, connecting with officials from Special Olympics, program planning, delays due to COVID-19, and a comprehensive review and approval process from Special Olympics PA, the bocce team was launched.

“The idea of a bocce team was shepherded by Amy, who brought together a group of individuals from the athletic department, student support services department, and the school’s administrative team for initial planning,” said Dr. Timothy Wagner, high school principal. “One of Amy’s primary goals was to continue to develop and offer programs in Upper St. Clair that promote an inclusive school environment.” The high school has numerous other programs in place that promote a culture of inclusion, including SHOP@USC, Partners in PE, and Best Buddies, in addition to a strong partnership with the Miracle League of South Hills. The Interscholastic Unified Indoor Bocce team was a natural fit.

“As a school district, we strive to continue to grow best inclusionary practices for all students,” said Amy. “Competitive bocce is a way to provide another equal opportunity for students. With the support of high school administration, the athletic department, and wonderful coaches, bocce is now alive and successful in USC.”

There are 18 Unified Bocce teams throughout the greater Pittsburgh area, including Avonworth, Baldwin, Carlynton, Deer Lakes, Elizabeth Forward, Fox Chapel Area, Franklin Regional, Hampton Area, Montour, Moon Area, Mt. Lebanon, Norwin, Pine-Richland, Shaler Area, South Park, Sto-Rox, Upper St. Clair, and West Allegheny high schools. n

The USC Panther shows support at a home match.

USC’s bocce team members

To learn more about Interscholastic Unified Sports, visit https://specialolympicspa.org/interscholastic-unified-sports.

Cont. from page 63 PMEA Band Musicians

USCHS senior Phoebe Chen was selected through competitive audition for the PMEA All-State Band. A flutist, Phoebe attended PMEA’s 2022 All-State Festival and annual in-service conference in April. In addition, Phoebe, along with students Lauren Tenney, clarinet, and Ben Wasson, trombone, were selected to participate in the PMEA Region I Band Festival in March. The students receive music instruction from Dr. John Seybert, USC’s director of bands.

Phoebe Chen Lauren Tenney Ben Wasson All-State Choir

Four USCHS students—Skyler Bruno, alto 2; Rebecca Lang, soprano 1; Sia Iyer, alto 2; and Edy McCurrie, alto 2—successfully auditioned to participate in the PMEA All-State Choir this past April. The students receive music instruction from Lorraine Milovac, USCHS choral director. n

Skyler Bruno Rebecca Lang Sia Iyer Edy McCurrie

Pennsylvania Music Educators Association is a statewide nonprofit organization of more than 4000 members, dedicated to promoting the musical development of all Pennsylvanians. The organization promotes and supports quality music education, learning and performance, as well as promoting and supporting music education in schools and communities. PMEA is affiliated with the National Association for Music Education.

Ways to Keep Supply Chain Issues From Driving You Crazy These days, the waiting is the hardest part

Geoff McQueen, McQueen Building Company, President

We’ve all been experiencing it and hearing about it. Supply chain issues around the country and the world are creating long wait times for things that used to be easily accessible. Maybe your favorite snack has been missing from grocery store shelves lately, or an outfit you’ve seen online continues to be on back-order in your size.

You see a gorgeous piece of furniture that would look perfect in your living room, but it’s been out of stock for months, with no sign of progress. Or delivery will take three months, and you’d really like to have it now. For anyone redecorating their home or planning renovations, this can be frustrating.

We get it! As a design/build firm, McQueen Building Company (McQueen) sources materials each day for projects in Upper St. Clair and throughout the South Hills and beyond. Responding to supply chain woes has been challenging. But McQueen has a strong sense of obligation to its clients to make sure none of the frustration gets passed on to customers. So, the already very creative team at McQueen has continually become more resourceful with strategies to respond to this new challenge.

Some of these strategies may help you as you shop, decorate, and plan future home renovations this summer. Have things made locally. You might expect that custom-made items are always more expensive. But, they don’t have to be. McQueen can manufacture its own interior and exterior doors to bypass worries about lead time. And, since custom doors can generally be manufactured for as low as off-the-shelf pricing and can be ready in as little as five weeks, there is no increased cost to the customer. Five weeks is about a quarter of the time it currently takes to have doors and windows shipped from major manufacturers.

Beyond saving clients time and money, local manufacturing also limits the environmental impact. Because things are not shipped from out of town, the carbon footprint is lessened. Plan way in advance. McQueen is grateful to be so busy, and is scheduling projects many months in advance. Currently, the company is booking to the end of 2023 and further out. With jobs being scheduled that far in advance, it provides McQueen the opportunity to purchase materials long before they are needed. Much planning and lead time is involved in materials nowadays. For example, appliances taking 20 weeks for delivery is the norm. Windows and doors are the same.

Protecting its clients from supply chain concerns by planning projects now that will happen months into the future, as well as ordering ahead (custom-crafting many items, too), ensures that McQueen will have all the materials it needs to get your job done, beginning to end. Be flexible. Certain staff members’ entire job at McQueen is sourcing materials and finding fantastic substitutes if an item isn’t available. If you’re shopping online for home furnishings, you should have a similar mindset. Be open to switching gears and finding something nearly identical that’s available sooner. Sometimes, you might find that the more easily available item better suits your needs than the out-of-stock piece you first saw. Buy decor items locally. When McQueen styles its clients’ homes and design spaces for photoshoots, they don’t hunt online for home decor. Everything is purchased locally. Not only is it a great way to support the local community and lower the carbon footprint of the items you buy, you might also find some incredible local treasures!

One of McQueen’s favorite places to shop for antiques and other beautiful home goods of all kinds is Bass and Bennett. Their art experts source phenomenal antique pieces and hip, trendy decor items, too. Another antique and home decor shop is Bloom Home Market in McMurray. Check them both out!

In the near future, McQueen is planning to launch its own home goods shop, beginning online and eventually branching out into a brick-and-mortar store. Stay tuned for news about that on McQueen’s social channels and at its recently redesigned website: mcqueenbuildingcompany.com.

Supply chain issues and long wait times are definitely challenging for everyone. Lots of designers and builders are falling victim. McQueen is getting in front of these challenges by asking, “How can we solve it for our customers today, so they’re not the ones suffering?”

We hope our strategies can help you, too! n

Lauren Costello, Mt. Lebanon Awning

Adding an awning to your home can have great benefits, but you may not be aware of the many placement options other than decks or entrances. Once you’ve determined placement, there are many awning styles to choose from. Here are six great locations for an awning on your home. Over your deck. A deck awning is a popular choice for many homeowners. Covering your outdoor entertaining space creates the perfect shaded area for summer parties, barbecues, or just enjoying a sunny day. A deck awning not only provides protection from the rain and sun, but also protect your outdoor furniture from fading, dirt, and leaves. There is the option of a retractable awning, which lets you decide when you want protection from changing weather. Over your patio. Similar to a deck, a covering over a ground-level patio is beneficial while entertaining and relaxing. With both over-thedeck and over-the-patio options, covering your entire outdoor space provides you the desired protection. Choices include fixed stationary awnings, retractable awnings, pergola shades, or free standing canopies. Over your front door. A front door awning can be useful for preventing rain or snow from getting into your house and provides protection to your visitors. It’s also a great way to distinguish your house from your neighbor’s, using a unique design and fabric color. Front door awnings usually remain in place year-round, and are sized to suit the scale of your home and front entrance. Over your back door. An awning on your back door has the same benefits as a front door awning, but can be more functional than decorative. You can incorporate a larger awning over your back door to serve as a small space for a seat in the shade, as well as protection from the elements. Over side windows. Installing awnings above windows on your home will increase shade and help decrease energy costs. They can prevent direct sunlight from coming through your windows, protecting interior fabric window treatments and furniture from fading. They can also help keep your home cooler, resulting in using your air conditioner less, thus decreasing your energy bill. Next to your pool. A shady place to lounge next to a swimming pool is another placement opportunity for an awning or free-standing canopy. Either one can provide shade on a hot, open pool deck. Another one is a pergola shade, which can provide flexible shade and add a distinctive style to your outdoor space. n See ad for Mt. Lebanon Awning on page 68.

Lynn Dempsey

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Guess Watts Here in 2022… GENERATOR SUPERCENTER OF PITTSBURGH

… whole-home generator sales, installation, service, and monitoring

1519 West Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15226 Generatorsupercenterofpittsburgh.com (412) 947-4GSC (4472)

Local owner/operator: Dan Repischak and Chet Dudzinski Contractor License #PA169431 Mfg in USA

Is a Patio Home Right for You?

Lynn Dempsey, Realtor®

In the last decade, I have seen more and more baby boomers and others who are considering buying a patio home. What is a patio home? There really isn’t an exact definition, as patio homes vary by region and the type of build. Most definitions, though, include the downsizing of the home, along with a sense of community. The term “patio home” usually refers to a home with affordability and low maintenance that does not sacrifice the quality of construction, and normally includes a community clubhouse..

There are normally a multitude of options when building or buying a patio home. Most homeowners who choose this style of home tend to decide that this purchase will be their forever home. Baby boomers, many of them, are looking to downsize with maintenance hired out—usually through a homeowners association (HOA) fee—to cut the grass, maintain the trees, shrubs, and mulch. Most patio homes are single-family homes with the primary living space all on one level. Sometimes, the home can include more options, like a loft area/second floor or, possibly, a game room. Most patio homes provide the buyer with an outdoor living space, such as a patio or deck, or both, and/ or a front porch.

When a clubhouse is in an “over 55 community,” many times there are social directors who add a schedule of activities for all its residents. Facilities and activities might include swimming pools, fitness centers, social events, happy hours, horse shoes, and other events that are usually paid through HOA dues.

Is a patio home right for you? Many retirees have decided that this is the wave of the future... their future. Less home to maintain, no yard maintenance, no snow shoveling, more free time to travel and spend with family and friends, and it provides a sense of community. All of these are good reasons! Gone are the days of having that second job of maintaining your home.

Unclutter your life for an easier lifestyle. If that sounds appealing, a patio home might be the right choice for you! n

Don’t Put Your Peace of Mind in Jeopardy

Chet Dudzinski, Generator Supercenter of Pittsburgh

I’ll take “Energy” for $1000.

The answer is: Whole-home standby generators.

What is... the solution to the aging power grid, and the need for uninterrupted power?

Correct!

Around the region and, indeed, the country, white box-like units about the size of a small air conditioner are appearing on the sides of houses. And, yes, they’re the solution to what’s become a grave concern around the country—an aging electrical grid that continually experiences failures, causing thousands of outages and affecting millions of people every year. The increasing electrical demand, as well as climate events, assures a continuing problem will exist. The solution: whole-home standby generators.

In its biannual report on electrical events in Pennsylvania published in July 2021, the Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC) reports on the continuing increase in out-of-power events in the commonwealth. The report reveals that in 1993, a total of

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895,400 Pennsylvanians experienced loss of power events. One would think with the passage of time and increased technology, these numbers would decrease. That is not the case. Unfortunately, in the last reported year of 2020, the number of affected Pennsylvanians increased dramatically and reached 2,431,842! And there is no relief in sight. Trillions of dollars are needed to upgrade the national infrastructure of utilities, including electric. And, demand is going nowhere but up.

Once reserved for only the most critical of buildings, such as hospitals and nursing homes, standby generators now offer energy solutions for houses of all sizes. Operating off natural gas or propane, these generators automatically turn on in the event of an electric energy failure. Unlike portable generators that only allow one or two extension cords to be run from the unit to power up specific appliances, whole-home generators can be sized directly to your energy needs, whether that’s keeping limited necessities running or allowing energy to flow to your home as if no outage had occurred.

If a true outage happens, as opposed to a flicker, the home’s electrical power switches from the electric provider to the generator by means of a transfer switch. Depending upon the generator’s size, you will have all or most of your power needs met in a matter of minutes. Do you have a home office? A medical device? Air conditioner? Heat pump? How about the desire to watch TV or permit the kids to use their gaming devices? During a power outage, playing cards around a candle is no longer the only option.

“Watt” is the local solution? Generator Supercenter (GSC) of Pittsburgh! GSC of Pittsburgh is member of GSC national that includes more than 60 U.S. locations and is the largest purchaser of Generac® generators in the world. GSC offers a holistic approach. Whether at its retail location, a visit to your home, or a virtual visit, GSC professionally matches a consumer with the proper unit. From there, permit applications, installation, service, monitoring, and warranty work are also offered. Many good electricians can install generators, but few offer services beyond that.

At a time when our country is experiencing supply chain challenges, GSC’s extensive buying power can help you get your Generac generator up and running and monitored, giving you and your family members peace of mind. n