WINTER 2002

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© JOHN ATENCIO

www.johnatencio.comWinter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002


Winter 2002

• Volume 8

Issue 4

Features and Around the Township 10

The Skies Above Us Looking for an interesting leisure pursuit? Dennis Fisher suggests stargazing.

22

Brining—The New Turkey Tradition

52 78

Cathi and Stella Macko share a favorite recipe.

76

Antiques in the Woods—A Day Trip Plan a drive to the Riverfront Antique Mall, on to Shaker Woods and back by Beaver Falls—there's much going on!

80

Ted Petersen—Forever A Steeler USC’s Athletic Director is featured in Jim O’Brien’s latest book.

Township 24

Highlights of the Board of Commissioners’ Meetings

27

Upper St. Clair in Martha’s Magazine An article in Living mentions USC’s regulations on house numbers.

28

Winter Storm Emergencies It’s that time again to prepare for the snow.

30

Library The books are flying off the shelves!

38

Moving Forward The Environmental Education Center breaks ground at the Boyce Mayview Park site.

School District 48

Dr. Pope Welcomes Back the USC Staff for the 2002-03 School Year USC School District mission statement—focused on children.

50

White House Conference on School Libraries Barbara Bolas reports on her visit to the White House.

52

Upper St. Clair High School 2002 Halls of Fame Inductees honored in true USC style this past September.

62

Did You Know? Tidbits of School District information for those on the run.

65

Meet Our Principals Catch a glimpse of who our six principals are.

Cover 18

Featured on the cover of this issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY magazine is spectacular platinum and 18 karat fine gemstone jewelry from Citron Jewelers, the underwriters of the cover.

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Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Publishers Douglas A. Watkins Township Manager Dr. William A. Pope Superintendent of Schools Editors Harla M. Brown, Editor-in-Chief

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a community magazine that is dedicated to promoting the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair by recognizing the gifts and contributions of the people who live and work here.

The thirty-second 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.

Paul K. Fox, Managing Editor School Board Directors

Township Board of Commissioners

Mark G. Trombetta, M.D., President

Frank E. Marsh, President, Ward 5

David E. Bluey, Vice President

Robert W. Orchowski, Vice President, Ward 3

Barbara L. Bolas

Edward S. Long, Ward 1

Linda M. Dudzinski, Associate Editor/ School District Liaison Suzanne G. Vernon, Township Associate Editor Advisory Committee Thomas A. Labanc, School District Representative

Albert E. Ferrara, Jr.

Gloria S. Smith, Ward 2

Dina J. Fulmer, School Board Director

Dina J. Fulmer

Cheryl S. Bayne, Ward 4

Mark Mansfield, Assistant Township Manager

Jeffrey W. Joyce

Bill Bates, At Large

August Stache, Township Director of Finance

Clark R. Nicklas

Ernest T. Harris, At Large

Vince Yevins, Accounts Staff Nancy Barnard, photographer Tracy M. Brown, intern Cande Day, artist and volunteer writer Lynn Dempsey, advertising Susan Depe, advertising John Kotzuk, Senior Site and volunteer writer Dawn McQuillen, administrative assistant Jim Meston, volunteer writer Mary Etta Nader, advertising Jim Render, writer Margaret Yerkes, proofreader A special thanks to Cindy Kane for her assistance and contributions to the magazine. The thirty-second issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a joint

Angela B. Petersen William M. Sulkowski, D.M.D. 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 magazine is published and bulk-mailed quarterly to residents and businesses in Upper St. Clair.

Extra copies of the magazine are available at the Township of Upper St. Clair Municipal Building and the Township Library. If you did not receive a copy in the mail, please call 412-831-9000. The next issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY will be the Spring issue and will be published in March 2003. 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: Editors, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241. Subscription Information If you know someone living outside the Township who would enjoy receiving UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY magazine, please send $12 to cover mailing and handling for the next four issues with name and address, including zip code.

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

Article Information Harla Brown 412-831-9000, extension 232

© Copyright 2002 All rights reserved.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 School District: 412-833-1600 Fax: 412-851-2592 Township: 412-831-9000 Fax: 412-854-0773

Advertising Information Dawn McQuillen • Lynn Dempsey • Susan Depe • Mary Etta Nader 412-833-1600, extension 2284 or fax 412-851-2592

Printed by Pentagon Printing Corporation 18 West Steuben Street • Pittsburgh, PA 15205 412-922-0422 • Fax: 412-922-2922 4

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002

Also see: twpusc.org/magazine


Beinhauer A heritage of service and trust that began in 1860. Carrying on the tradition today are fifth generation Beinhauers David and Rick (seated, left to right), and sixth generation Aaron and Scott (standing, left to right) --

All Licensed Funeral Directors.

For nearly 140 years, the Beinhauer name has exemplified the finest traditions of funeral service – caring for the deceased with dignity while serving the needs of the living. We deeply appreciate the confidence that so many families have placed in us over the years. We invite you to call on our family-owned and operated organization for the best personal, reliable and thoughtful funeral services. Personalized preplanning available.

A MERIC A ’ S S ECOND O LDEST M ORTUARY-C REMATORY Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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VIP Advertiser Index VIP Advertiser

Page

Amel’s........................................................................................... 20 Angelo Associates, Inc. ................................................................ 69 ARAMARK.................................................................................... 54 Blackstone Jewelers....................................................................... 1 Brophy, Cindy ............................................................................... 43 Bruschetta’s.................................................................................. 45 Café Georgio’s.............................................................................. 21 Calabro Tire Service..................................................................... 58

Clark Construction ........................................................... 23 Coffey Contracting Company ....................................................... 36

Coldwell Banker (Metro) ................. 12-14, 57, Back Cover Cupelli & Cupelli ........................................................................... 67 Family Practice Medical Associates ............................................. 16

George Girty Landscape Design..................................... 29 Gifted............................................................................................ 45

Sandy and Marshall Goldstein ........................................ 59 Herman Heyl Florist...................................................................... 37 Highley, Susan.............................................................................. 27

VIP Advertiser

Page

Howard Hanna .....................Inside Front Cover, 23, 27, 37 Janet Hays & Company.................................................... 57 Kerr Dentistry.................................................................... 43 Lesko Builders and Remodelers..................................... 73 Manalo, Larry, DMD...................................................................... 42

Pentagon Printing Corporation ....................................... 59 Pinebridge Commons Associates .................................. 42 Prudential Preferred Realty ......................................... 7, 22 Regis McQuaide and Company.................................................... 58 Robin Richards Photography........................................................ 65 Rusmur Floors.............................................................................. 84 Scott Brothers............................................................................... 35

Sesame Inn........................................................................ 20 Silk Road ...................................................................................... 20 St. Clair Hospital........................................................................... 72 Swing Line Windows .................................................................... 77

You’re Invited.................................................................... 44

The above VIP advertisers, who are advertising in this issue, have contributed their support for a minimum of 16 issues. The bolded VIP advertisers have purchased ad space for 27 or more issues and are advertising in this issue.

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002


Lynn Banbury

Jodi Bilski/Cindy Pace

Bob Dini

Wayne Freund

Suzanne Gruneberg

Jackie Hamilton

Pat Hogan/Mary Ann Zupon

Liz Hoyson

Sally Kauper

Judy Keener

Shirley McGinnis

Dottie Nilsen

Betsy Colella Raber

Jo Ann Robb

Chris Sammons

Gladys Walasik

Barb Baker/Bob Main

Lisa DeBartolo

Frank Conroy

Diane Damian/Helane Tobin

High Expectations? Have them exceeded and call the best! Judy Ward

Preferred Realty

Jane Compagnone Manager

Rt. 19 South Office 1679 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228

(412) 833-7700 • PrudentialPreferred.com

Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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1820 McLaughlin Run Road • Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

Douglas A. Watkins

Dr. William A. Pope

Dear Residents,

The Township and School District of Upper St. Clair are proud to present the 32nd issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY.

November and December usher in the season for personal reflection—to count our blessings and recognize the gifts and contributions of the fine people with whom we live and work. As you can see throughout the pages of this community magazine, in Upper St. Clair, we have many things for which to be thankful! In celebration of this spirit of sharing and generosity, we spotlight the contributions of the many professionals and businesses who have consistently supported this publication by advertising. On page 6, we extend a special thanks to our VIP advertisers who have provided the leadership and commitment towards 100% self-funding of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY by purchasing advertising space for at least 16 issues. In addition, we are grateful for the magazine staff, Township and School District employees, volunteers, elected or appointed officials and residents for their inspirational work on this or other community projects—making Upper St. Clair a very special place to live, work and raise a family. Best wishes for a healthy and festive holiday season with family and friends.

Sincerely,

Douglas A. Watkins Township Manager

Dr. William A. Pope Superintendent of Schools

School District of Upper St. Clair 412-833-1600 Fax: 412-833-5535 http://www.uscsd.k12.pa.us email: info@uscsd.k12.pa.us 8

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Township of Upper St. Clair 412-831-9000 Fax: 412-831-9882 http://www.twpusc.org email: uscadmin@twpusc.org Winter 2002


Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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The Skies Above Us Dennis Fisher

I have lived in the Pittsburgh area all my life and in Upper St. Clair for 11

years with my wife Cindy and family. As a child, I had a simple telescope that I used to look at the moon and distant building tops. I even stayed up one night and tracked a lunar eclipse with it. This interest drifted off and was eventually dropped. In recent years, I had thought that it might be interesting to take up the hobby again only with better equipment and a goal of learning more this time around. I would look out the window at our frequently cloudy or overcast Pittsburgh skies and decide, “No, it wasn’t worth the time, effort or expense… too many clouds and too many lights.” Then, Christmas 2000 came around and I found myself with the unsuspected gift from my in-laws—a very respectable telescope and tripod. It was soon after (when the clouds broke) that I had a chance to take this equipment outside and try it. The results were astounding.

Comet Hale-Bopp

Why Bother? Despite all the lights around here, on a clear cloudless night, even the simplest equipment can reveal a multitude of breathtaking sights that one could not even imagine being able to see. From then on, the old interest has been re-kindled and is now burning stronger than ever.

Stargazing is a simple and effective way to observe the wonders around us without even getting off the back porch. All you need to do is sit there and look and you will get a quick appreciation for the vastness and wonders of the universe. True, Pittsburgh is not the best area for this type of thing considering its frequently cloudy nights and heavy light pollution. But, when the clouds are gone, even in the early night times, stars, constellations, nebulas, clusters, galaxies and even occasional satellites and meteors can easily be seen in the skies over USC. Stargazing and astronomy are simple pastimes that do not require a lot of skill or money to engage in but can be very quickly rewarding if you have the patience to wait for clear nights and the time to do something like this in the evenings.

What’s Out There?

Just past full moon phase

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002

If you have ever looked at the night sky, you can’t help but notice that it is generally a pretty busy area. Stargazing and astronomy can help you realize just how busy it is. By the way, stargazing is generally the practice of looking at the overall sky. Astronomy is learning what you are looking at and looking at it with magnifying equipment such as binoculars or a telescope.


Ancient astronomers, in an attempt to understand the sky, and to find their way around, would look at the stars and discern familiar shapes. This would help them comprehend the skies better. These shapes are called constellations and they are the same ones we know today. With a few basic charts, it is possible to learn many familiar constellations and star patterns quickly and easily. Some of the more familiar constellations that can be seen around here are: (clockwise from top center) Leo the Lion (Spring), Gemini the Twins (Winter), The Big Dipper (visible year round) and Sagittarius (Summer). Technically, the Big Dipper is actually part of the larger constellation known as Ursa Major or the Great Bear but the main part of the dipper is easier to see and more recognizable to most people.

Many other sights dominate the night skies and they change throughout the year. Some of the things you could see at different times of the year are: Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Constellations Bootes and Cygnus

Constellation Pegasus

Constellation Cassiopeia

Constellation Orion

Star Cluster Hercules

Andromedia Galaxy (late summer)

Constellation Perseus

Great Orion Nebula

Beehive Cluster

Constellation Sagittarius

Pleiades cluster

Constellation Taurus

A simple star chart that can be found in most book and science stores will help you find all of these objects and many more. By the way, don’t forget the moon—visible year round and quite a sight itself, especially watching its phases change.

Saturn

e Cygnus

d th Alberio an

Hercules

Star Cloud

What’s the Best Way To Do This? How you go about doing this is up to the individual based on time, interest, patience (lots of that) and wallet size. Simple stargazing can be done in your back yard with a two dollar star chart to help you learn your way around. You can get in a bit closer with a decent pair of field binoculars that could run $50 and up. Telescopes that can get good close-up views of many objects can start at around $300 and go up into the thousands of dollars, depending on how serious you want to get. I have taken the telescope route and have added to that the activity of astrophotography. A few simple adapters (some purchased and some homemade) can transform the telescope into a powerful telephoto lens that will allow you to capture spectacular photographs. It takes some time and practice (not to mention wasted film) but once you get the hang of it, the results are interesting and rewarding.

Cluster

Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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S OME P EOPLE T HINK A NY R EAL E STATE Most real estate companies offer one Norma Bishop

Michelle Bonnar

Linda Cobb

John Butera

level of service. At Coldwell Banker, we Diane Croup

Barbara Cusick

Patience Danna

Amy Dias

believe you should expect more and that’s why we surround you

Kathryn Gerhart

Judy Hlister

Pat La Rosa

Sandy Learish

with a team of real estate experts. Jean MacCumbee

Helen Moore

Linda Paolino

Toni Petrucci

Efstratia ‘Tulla’ Rakoczy

Sara Redinger

Kathy Sekeras

Karen Skrainy

Upper St. Clair Office 1699 Washington Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15228 412-833-5405 Jim Walsh 12

Jane Washil

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002

Expect


COMPANY WILL DO. OTHERS EXPECT MORE.

Sophia Alexiades

Bonnie Byrnes

Anita Crago

Kathy Donoghue

Kathy Enick

John Geisler

Edith Gidwani

Genie Gooding

Lois Goodrich

Sandy Hanson

Nancy Heffernan

Sydnie Jones

Sue Kelso

Jane Krauth

Maria Lane

Julie Leslie

Joyce Lewis

Mitch & Angela Mize

Don & Arlene Murray

Valerie Scenna

Shirley Schultz

Mary Ann Wellener

Whether your journey leads you across town, across country or around the globe, you can count on Coldwell Banker to make your real estate experience personalized, effective and satisfying.

More

Rt. 19 South/Galleria Office 1539 Washington Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15228 412-344-0500

Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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S OME P EOPLE T HINK A NY R EAL E STATE COMPANY WILL DO. OTHERS EXPECT MORE. Peters Township Office 3244 Washington Rd. • McMurray, PA 15317 • 412-831-5555

Marylu Fitzpatrick

Lisa Carper

Pat Connolly

Cheryl Ferri

Ginny Macaul

Monica Mahla

Sue Robertson

Expect More

Mona Sutcliffe

South Hills Office

1695 McFarland Rd. • Pittsburgh, PA 15216 • 412-831-9500

Roberta Allen

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Hope Bassichis

Paul Bergman

Tade Bua-Bell

Dal Goldstein

Kris Marra

Nancy Morgan

Michael Wheeler

Sandy Wiedt

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002

Elaine Krelis


THE HEALTH CLUB AT SOUTHPOINTE • OPENING JAN. 2003 A HOT NEW CONCEPT IN HEALTH CLUBS WHERE THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE DETAILS!

Sweat Everything W But the Price.

hen you join The Health Club at Southpointe, you’ll enjoy an atmosphere you just won’t find at other clubs. Our unique vision of comfort and personal service will allow our members to embrace rather than avoid a consistent fitness program. The Health Club at Southpointe is focused on making fitness easy for our members – at their convenience and at reasonable rates.

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON! JOIN NOW AND ENJOY OUR PRE-OPENING SPECIALS! CALL VISIT OUR PRE-OPENING MEMBERSHIP OFFICE TODAY!

380 Southpointe Blvd. • Southpointe Plaza II, Suite 120 • Canonsburg, PA 15317

724-597-0014 TODAY!

And don’t wait! The sooner you join the more you’ll save!!

Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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SCORE— Helping Small Business Since 1964

Family Practice Medical Associates South Upper St. Clair Office f ffice Summerfield Commons Suite 211 2581 Washington W Road Upper St. Clair, r PA r, P 15241

Jefferson f fferson Hospital Office f ffice South Hills Medical Building 209 575 Coal V Road Jefferson Borough, PA P 15025

(412) 469-7010 Bethel Park Office f ffice Metro Pr

Building 300

2414 L Bethel

P 15102

Southpointe Office St. Clair Medical Suite 501 Corporate Drive Canonsburg, PA 15317

(724) 746-3369 * * * * * * * * * * * * * Matthew C. Portz, M.D. Peter J. Gagianas, M.D. Louis M. Komer, M.D. Daniel J. Crable, M.D. John (Sean) Barrett, M.D. Richard S. Urban, M.D. Nupur Dashottar, M.D. Dawn Minyon-Sarver, D.O. Lisa A. Goss, M.D. Jennifer Darkowski, PA-C Dana Motika, PA-C Dawn Bocianoski, CRNP

Bob Carlson loves his retirement.

He is the Chair of the Membership Development Committee of Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), a non-profit organization. Bob would like more USC residents to join SCORE—the Pittsburgh Chapter wants to grow. If you are a retired executive or former small business owner, SCORE Pittsburgh wants you! As a SCORE volunteer, you can put your years of experience to great use by advising small businesses. Last year SCORE members from Pittsburgh and nearly 400 other chapters nationwide counseled more that 250,000 businesses. Why do these volunteers sign up for this work after finally retiring from a career spanning several decades?

USC SCORE Counselors

Dick Baker

1. Giving back to the community— SCORE counselors realize that they can “pay back” in this way for the support they received from others during their working career. 2. Keeping active and involved— SCORE volunteers have energy and knowledge that they don’t want to see wasted. And they want to keep up to date with the business world so their skills don’t get stale.

Walt Becker

3. Helping others to succeed— The rewards of making a difference in someone else’s success are endless. Not only do SCORE counselors see someone improve his standard of living, but they see jobs created and help the regional economy grow. Pittsburgh SCORE is the oldest (founded in 1965) and largest (over 50 members today) chapter in the tri-state region. They counsel small businesses (one to 500 employees) in all areas of business operations and strategy. They also sponsor business workshops and other training sessions. Visit www.scorepittsburgh.com or call Bob at 412-395-6560, extension 130, for more information.

John Boros

We attend St. Clair Hospital and Jefferson Hospital Lou Cappello 16

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002


Senate of Pennsylvania Senator Tim Murphy

TIMOTHY F. MURPHY STATE SENATOR 37TH DISTRICT SENATE BOX 203037 ROOM 460, MAIN CAPITOL BUILDING HARRISBURG, PA 17120 (717) 787-5839 FAX (717) 772-4437 504 WASHINGTON ROAD PITTSBURGH, PA 15228 (412) 344-5583 FAX (412) 429-5092 WWW.LIBERTYNET.ORG/MURPHY TMURPHY@PASEN.GOV.

On September 11th, 2002, Senator Murphy delivered the keynote address at the “Remembrance Service” in Upper St. Clair. Portions of the speech are provided below. Anyone interested in the full text may visit Sen. Murphy’s website at Murphy.pasenategop.com. In the past year, millions of words have

been written, millions more spoken to help us describe and understand how thousands of lives could be taken by a merciless few, on that one fateful day. Despite our attempts, words remain such inadequate messengers, to describe what we feel so deeply, to give voice to our grief and give us hope and direction. But the character of America spoke where words could not. Without the words, no one had to call upon us to be patriotic as millions of flags appeared all over America’s porches, windows, cars and storefronts. No one had to plead with those who scribbled “God bless America” on signs in yards and shop windows. Americans knew in our hearts what needed to be said. Like the many old flags pulled from the attics and raised that day—we felt torn and humbled, while proud and defiant. We have before us the choice of which direction we want to go. Each of us can only answer for ourselves and ourselves alone. A year ago, flight 93 flew in the sky just above us here. The passengers called family from their phones and hinted at their plans. But they said they must wait until they were away from the houses, away from us, and out in a rural area. They made a conscious and deliberate choice to spare our lives, to spare the lives of the targets in D.C. and to take their own because they had made the choice which their own character prepared them for. Character that is built by the decisions made when no one is looking. It is built

by a multitude of choices to either do the job good enough or to do it better, to take responsibility or to place the blame. Then when life or circumstance calls upon our courage, the quality of our character will define what we can do and will define the depth of our courage. If we do not make the choices to protect our freedom we will most certainly see it whither away before our eyes. If we do not open up our eyes to see the vision of what our tomorrow can be, we will remain forever blinded and weakened by our ignorance. If we do not mold our hearts with compassion and toil to love and defend our liberty—then this republic surely cannot stand. The stage is set for a new nation, fueled by a spiritual renewal, a revival of hope, and awareness of the obligation that each moment brings us a choice of how we wish to live and to build the character that binds us, and to seal this commitment as our forefathers did—with our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. We must be clear eyed, singular in purpose, filled with the passion derived from knowing that this time, this precious, precious moment in time is when we must take our stand, to make our choice to either remain in that timid gray twilight of indecision and take the easy way out, or to climb vigorously toward the possibility, that the national character built one moment at a time in each of our hearts will build the strength of our country, so that the next time we are called upon for courage… and we will be called upon… we will be ready. Then we will see that hope is still alive and the character of America is stronger than ever. May God bless us all and God bless America.

Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Truly Fine Jewelry

Citron employees—Ga

yle Kaplan, Sharon Foh

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

l, Denise Galloni and Da

Winter 2002

le Citron

Dale Citron spent eight years in the US Marine Corp. His time was full

of outstanding events—especially, the trade he learned while working part-time for an independent jeweler during those years. “I enjoyed working in the jewelry store so much that when I was discharged from the Marine Corp I went to work for a large jewelry store chain as a sales representative,” says Citron. “I rose through the ranks, promoted first to store manager, then district manager and then vice president. Before I opened my first jewelry store, I was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President of the world’s largest retail jewelry chain,” he proudly states. With that impressive background and 26 years in the business, it’s still the simple joy of pleasing the customer that motivates Dale, a Whitehall native. He opened the first Citron Jewelers at Century III Mall seven years ago and it became a respected sales leader. The success of this first store made it possible for Dale to open a second store at South Hills Village two years later. Dale said during his announcement of the new South Hills Village location in September 1998, “We offer uniquely designed articles to a very specialized market, and we believe the South Hills Village location and clientele will be the right match. We are excited to be opening this new store. Our sales have proven that there is definitely room for tremendous growth for our quality of merchandise, and our specialized sales in this market.” This has proven to be the case. In October 2000, the company opened a third store in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, at the Shenango Valley Mall. “I believe the success of our company has been possible due to the high quality and unique styles that has set us apart from other jewelers,” says Citron. Employees are another factor that separates Citron Jewelers from the chains. “All of our employees have an extensive background in fine retail jewelry,” says Citron. In addition, Citron is proud of the distinctive merchandise his stores offer—jewelry that he hand selects. “We specialize in unusual jewelry that people will enjoy and wear with pride. A unique and exceptional piece of jewelry will increase in value if it is truly fine jewelry.” Custom work is also a part of Citron Jewelers. “Often customers will bring an engagement ring to one of our stores and want a matching band. We will make a


copy out of jeweler’s wax which will represent what the finished band will look like,” says Citron. “If a customer does not have a ring, but only a thought or idea of what the article should look like, that’s okay. We can sketch and make whatever they want. They can even bring in a picture.” Dale takes into consideration his customers’ ideas and produces custom jewelry. He enjoys working with the clients and making them happy and proud of the article they selected. A reasonable estimate for most custom work is about 14 days. Since all work is done locally, the turnaround time is fairly quick. Citron Jewelers will also recondition or duplicate fine jewelry. “It does not matter how old the jewelry is—20, 50 or even 100 years old, it all depends on the wear,” says the artisan. Citron Jewelers employees routinely clean and inspect jewelry for customers at no charge. “We do this regardless of where the jewelry was purchased. If it is in need of some maintenance, we have the facilities to make it look brand new,” states Dale. All fine jewelry purchases come with a free appraisal. Citron Jewelers guarantees all of their emeralds, diamonds, sapphires, and rubies for a lifetime against any defect at no charge. Customer satisfaction and integrity spell success for jeweler Dale Citron, but this is not the whole story behind the man. Each holiday season, Dale contributes his time and money to various charities in the Pittsburgh area. For the past five years he has donated gifts to needy children at the Womansplace in McKeesport, the Laughlin Run School, the Pittsburgh Head Start Program, UPMC McKeesport Hospital and the Children’s Aid Society of Mercer County. Miss Pennsylvania USA 2002, Nicole Dawn Bingham and Citron presented the gifts to Children’s Hospital Pittsburgh. “Our company enjoys helping children during the holidays and it pleases us to share our success and help put a smile on children’s faces in the community,” states Dale. He has also been active in other charities such as the Mario Lemieux Foundation, Make a Wish Foundation and Jewelers Charity Fund for Children over the years. Dale enjoys working with all of the residents of the Upper St. Clair area. Since the time Citron Jewelers opened at the South Hills Village the residents of Upper St. Clair have made it possible for Citron to design and help them design some of the

Dale Citron with Nicole Dawn Bingham, Miss Pennsylvania USA 2002

most unique and spectacular articles of fine jewelry during his career. Dale is confident that with the continued support, relationships and trust that he has received from Upper St. Clair residents that he will continue to help his customers enjoy and receive additional articles of fine jewelry.

Dale is a gambler by nature. From 1996-1999, he was the only jeweler in the Pittsburgh market who insured all purchases from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Eve with a policy that would allow customers who made a purchase during that time to keep their purchase and receive all their money back, excluding sales tax if it snowed on New Year’s Eve four inches or more between 6 p.m. and midnight. Dale has come a long way from the parttime job held while in the Marine Corp, and he attributes much of his success to traits any Marine would respect—character and integrity. According to Dale, “We are what we say we are, and we do exactly what we say we’ll do.” Let’s just end this article with—“The Proud, The Few and The Jeweler.”

For more information, call Citron Jewelers: South Hills Village 412-833-1667 Century III Mall 412-653-4668 and Shenango Valley 724-342-1575. Cover photograph, inside photographs and information provided by Citron Jewelers.

Sharon Fohl, Manager Century III store and Dale Citron Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002

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Catering & Private Dining CELEBRATE WITH US!!

Nothing Better. serving lunch and dinner, Monday–Saturday t h’s Fines Pittsburg pt once

1-79 at Southpointe Exit 48 1000 Corporate Drive Canonsburg

C adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn nt. Restaura Pittsburgh/Southpointe ASONAL “NEW SE phone 724.743.5005 MENU”

Home or Office Catering Weddings Showers Birthday Parties Anniversaries Family Gatherings No matter what occasion – Atria’s can make your event a success!!

Ask about our special featured catering and private dining menus. Mt Lebanon, 412-343-2411 • Wexford, 724-934-3660 PNC Park, 412-322-1850 • www.atrias.com Winter 2002 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Brining— The New Turkey Tradition Cathi and Stella Macko

Cheryl and David Bayne

40 Years Lending Experience 2 Hour Loan Approval Purchase and Refinance Residential and Commercial No-income Loans All Credit Types

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In our German/Italian American family one thing you never messed with,

and always counted on, were holiday food traditions. New food ideas were never gently accepted in our family, despite endless attempts by my adventurous, foody husband to introduce the latest from the culinary world. They simply humor him as he, “married in.” Nevertheless, he does encourage lively debate each holiday dinner—to stuff or not to stuff, start breast side up or breast side down, fresh turkey or Butterball.

One Thanksgiving we all spent together at my sister’s place in Hilton Head. Perhaps it was the sand and salt air that got to him, but my husband shucked oysters into their stuffing—and then Cajun seasonings. They all just sat and stared at the stuffing that year; not an oyster passed their lips. We’re still waiting to be invited back. One other Thanksgiving Ed “ruined” by puréeing the sweet potatoes instead of baking them with pounds of butter, brown sugar and maple syrup. And then there was

412-833-7700 70+ Million in Sales Since 1982 Stella and big bird 22

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002


the Thanksgiving Ed “ruined” by serving fresh cranberries instead of the ambiguous jellied ones that you bang out of a can! One thing Ed never forgets now is the canned corn—we have to have corn, “because the Pilgrims had corn” or so insist the kids in our family. And, it has to be canned because grandma never bought frozen—too expensive. The Pilgrims also had lobster, but no one in our house ever screams for that on Thanksgiving—maybe because it doesn’t come canned. My husband’s most recent, and actually successful attempt to buck tradition was with brining. Emeril does it. Bobby Flay does it. Even Martha does. Brining is the technique of soaking turkey, chicken, or hen in water and salt. The idea is that

the brine tenderizes the bird and most assuredly produces white meat that won’t be banished to Friday’s white bread and mayo sandwiches. The editors of Cooks Illustrated Magazine (who, by the way, know the science of cooking), say in their book, The Best Recipe, “Brining actually promotes a change in the structure of the proteins in the muscle. The salt causes protein strands to become denatured, or unwound.” Hence you have, a meatier, firmer, juicier bird! The following recipe is from The Best Recipe. Ed followed it step for step, measure for measure and our family no longer bristles about the brine, nor about my husband, but embraces both. It’s worth the effort and may well become, like ours, a new turkey tradition!

Turkey Brine (from the book: The Best Recipe) • 2 cups Kosher Salt or 1 cup table salt • 1 Turkey(12-14 pounds gross weight*), rinsed thoroughly, giblets, neck and tail piece removed and reserved for your gravy 1. Dissolve salt in two gallons of cold water in large stockpot or clean bucket. Add turkey and refrigerate or set in very cool (40º or less) spot for 12 hours. 2. Remove turkey from salt water and rinse both cavities and skin under running water for several minutes until all traces of salt are gone. Pat dry inside and out with paper towels. By the way, Ed roasts his turkey (simply stuffed with course chopped carrots, onions, and celery) again, schooled by Cooks Illustrated as follows: • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. • Roast turkey breast side down for 1 hour, reduce oven temperature to 250 degrees, and roast two hours longer. • Flip breast up (after a total of three hours), turn heat back up to 400 degrees and roast until done: 163 degrees in the breast, 180 degrees in the thigh, and if you do a bread stuffing (Ed doesn’t), it should be a safe 165 degrees. Roast according to your favorite recipe and don’t forget the canned corn and jellied cranberries! Happy Thanksgiving. * We found that if we have a larger crowd, it’s better to do two birds this size or smaller, rather than one giant honkin’ one. Photos by Ed Macko

Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Township of Upper St. Clair Highlights of the Board of Commissioners’ Meetings

Frank E. Marsh President, Ward 5 Day 412-831-9000 Evening 724-941-6244

The regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners takes place on the first Monday of each month in the Board of Commissioners meeting room in the Township Municipal Building.

Robert W. Orchowski

All business regarding the operation of the Township is conducted, and citizens are invited to comment on any Township matters. Complete Board minutes can be found at the Library or on the website at www.twpusc.org. For more information, please call 412-831-9000.

Vice President, Ward 3 Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-854-1868

June 3, 2002 Approximately 65 people attended.

Edward S. Long Ward 1 Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-833-7590

Gloria Smith Ward 2 Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-833-1284

Cheryl S. Bayne Ward 4 Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-831-5814

Recognitions • Ms. Janet Mosesso, representing the American Heart Association, presented Officer Jon Wharton with a Heart Service Award in recognition of his heroic and successful efforts for using an AED on a gentleman who was in cardiac arrest. The gentleman, Mr. Edward Brown, is a resident and was present and thanked Officer Wharton for his efforts. Mrs. Nora Helfrich, Director of Tri-Community South EMS, was present and related how they responded to the Kennywood disaster. She introduced several paramedics who were present. Chief Pardini was also present. • Commissioner Harris presented a Certificate of Achievement to members of the Upper St. Clair High School Girls’ Golf Team for capturing the 2001-2002 WPIAL Championship. • Commissioner Harris also presented a Proclamation to the Upper St. Clair High School Boys’ Golf Team for capturing the 2001-2002 WPIAL Championship. • Certificates of Achievement were presented by Commissioner Long to the Upper St. Clair High School Girls’ Tennis Team for capturing the 20012002 State and WPIAL Championships. Among those team members present was Amanda ElTobgy, who was recognized for capturing the 2001-2002 WPIAL Singles Tennis Championship.

A Proclamation was presented to Jessica Jones and Shayna Miller for capturing the Tennis Doubles State Title at the 2001-2002 PIAA Championship. • The Upper St. Clair High School Girls’ Soccer Team was presented with Certificates of Achievement by Commissioner Long, in recognition of its 20012002 WPIAL Championship. Several members of the team were present, along with their coach, Wayne Capra. Coach Capra thanked the Commissioners and the Township for their support. The Board: • Adopted Bill No. 12-02, amending Chapter 130 of the Township Code entitled “Zoning,” to rezone property located at 1240 Boyce Road from R-3 to R-4, Friendship Village of South Hills. • Adopted Resolution No. 1418, adopting a strategy for developing a regional Environmental Education Center and related site improvements at Boyce Mayview Park. • Approved a contract with Skelly & Loy for FGM engineering services for Phase IV of the McLaughlin Run Stream Stabilization for $75,292. • Adopted Resolution No. 1419, objecting to the proposed petition to combine the magisterial districts of Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park into one magisterial district. • Appointed Mr. Michael McDonnell to fill the unexpired term of Dean Hampton to the Building and Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory Board. The term expires December 31, 2004.

Visit Our Website!

www.twpusc.org Bill Bates

Meeting Dates

At Large Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-257-8115

Ernest T. Harris At Large Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-854-1119

• The Board of Commissioners meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building. The regular public meeting is held the first Monday of the month in the Board Room. The informational and general affairs meeting is held the last Monday of the month in the Board Conference Room. • The Planning Commission meets the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. • Parks and Recreation Board meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m., no meeting in December. • Zoning Hearing Board meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 8 p.m. • Civil Hearing Board meets as needed. • Building/Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory Board meets as needed. For more information or specific dates, call the Township Office at 412-831-9000 or see the website www.twpusc.org.

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Winter 2002


July 1, 2002

August 5, 2002

Approximately 17 people attended.

Approximately 15 people attended.

The Board: • Adopted Bill No. 13-02, granting unified conditional use/preliminary and final land development plan approval to the Outback Steakhouse. • Approved a contract with: Gateway Engineers Pittsburgh Investigate the Feasibility of Utilizing Mine Voids for Storage of Sanitary Sewer Overflows and Other Wet Weather Related Projects ....$129,250 • Approved the sale of the Township’s 1984 American La France pumper to the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department in South Fayette Township.

The Board: • Adopted Resolution No. 1421 to authorize the filing of an application for funds with the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development in the amount of $7,500 for CDBG Year 29 Funding for installation of new ADA compliant doors and hardware for the municipal building. • Adopted Resolution No. 1422 to authorize the filing of an application for funds with the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development in the amount of $8,500 for CDBG Year 29 Funding for installation of new ADA compliant doors and hardware for the municipal building. • Granted approval for participation in the Cooperative Emergency Response Program and establish a funding commitment of $1,760 per year beginning in 2003.

• Adopted Bill No. 14-02 to amend Chapter 57 of the Code of the Township entitled “Fees” to adjust rates for EMS subscriptions and paddle tennis permits. • Adopted Resolution 1423 to approve the 2003-2007 Capital Improvement Program. • Approved contract with: Robinson Pipe Cleaning Company Eighty Four Internal Television Inspection, Cleaning, Sludge Removal and Disposal and Root Cutting of Approximately 2,550 Lineal Feet of 27 inch Diameter Sanitary Sewer in the Vicinity of Boyce Road and Mayview State Hospital along Chartiers Creek .............................$42,250

August 13, 2002

August 19, 2002

Approximately 53 people attended.

Approximately 42 people attended.

• Commissioner Marsh announced that this was a special meeting and continued public hearing of the Board of Commissioners regarding the Boyce Mayview Park Environmental Education Center (EEC), Phase I – Site Plan Approval. He added that in addition to the public hearing this evening, there would be a final public hearing on Monday, August 19, 2002, where the Board would take testimony and vote on the proposal. Commissioner Marsh summarized areas, which had been discussed at the public hearing on July 25, 2002: - Resident Concerns—elevation of land as part of the buffering will cause a damaging increase in the water runoff; buffer zones may be inadequate; use of the former kitchen building for the EEC is not in accordance with the master plan; plan

impacts the quality of life of residents; concerns about bioswale; mischief in the parking lot; the number of parking places; the kitchen building may not be worth saving; Questioned Township expenditures for education and/or facilities that support education; the state may not condone the other uses of the building when its use as a temporary classroom is no longer needed; and, the temporary road may not be in an appropriate spot - Concern regarding the business plan - Issues regarding a groundbreaking ceremony • Commissioner Marsh recognized Senator Tim Murphy who was present at the meeting.

The Board: • Adopted Resolution No. 1424, which would repeal Resolution No. 1418, and authorize and direct the Township Manager, or his designated representative, to communicate and coordinate with the EEC management organization to advance development and implementation of the phased plan of the EEC, subject to specified funding commitments including compliance with all required approval processes and negotiation of all necessary agreements between the Township and that organization which would be an action that would utilize modular facilities to function as temporary classrooms during Phase I of the Phase II process. (See page 38.) • Authorized the Township Manager to take reasonable steps to secure the field kitchen building, including the roof.

Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Upper St. Clair Police Department Training Grant for Critical Incident Management Lt. John Sakoian The Upper St. Clair Police Department formulated an “Unusual Occurrence

Manual” in 1989 and updates the plan every two years. The Township also participates in the Allegheny County Emergency Management Team. No community is immune from critical incidents. We need to look no further than the terrorist attack of September 11th on New York City and Washington, D.C., the mass murders in schools across the country or those committed by Ronald Taylor in Wilkinsburg and Richard Bauhammers in Mt. Lebanon.

The Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) certified four Upper St. Clair Police Department officers as Critical Incident Management Instructors.

The Department received a $9,500 grant from the MPOETC to train police officers in “Critical Incident Management and Community Preparedness.” The Police Department hosted three weeks of 40-hour training. Between September 9-27, 2002, 47 police officers in Allegheny and Washington Counties participated in the program. The courses included instruction and mock exercises in, but not limited to School Violence, Terrorist Activity, Major Crimes, Natural Disasters, Hazardous Materials and similar incidents. Officers were certified in multiple weapons and received specific training in rapid deployment, self-defense, weapon retention, photography, legal updates, defensive driving and emergency vehicle operation.

Graduating Class of September 20, 2002

Graduating Class of September 27, 2002

A live fire exercise at the range in “Rapid Deployment.”

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Chief Pardini demonstrating a prisoner control technique to the class with Officer JonathanWharton.

Winter 2002


Upper St. Clair in Martha’s Magazine

The Township of Upper St. Clair

was recently mentioned in Martha Stewart’s Living magazine! In the September 2002 magazine, writer Alice Gordon states in her article “House Numbers”: “Some municipalities regulate house numbers. The Township of Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, offers one of the strictest examples: It requires numerals that are at least three inches high, placed close to the door, and clearly identifiable against the background on which they are displayed. Such rules are designed to help the driver of an emergency vehicle locate your house as quickly as possible, but they also improve the chances that home deliveries will arrive on time.”

USC Community Development or Matt Serakowski says Alice did search on house numbers and St. Clair came up on the search. alled Matt and found out about egulations on numbers. ccording to Chapter 104 of the nship Code: All single-family dwellings are uired to display and maintain dence identification in close proxty to the door facing the street. ntification numbers shall not be s than three inches in length or ight and clearly identifiable from e background upon which they e mounted. Numerals on the mailbox or curb may be used to upplement those required in close proximity to the door, but not in place of them. om the “House Numbers” article, es, “You’ll find an informative guide to house-number visibility at an unlikely source: www.tipthepizzaguy.com/numbers

SUSAN HIGHLEY Experience you can trust . . .

which passionately advises against such mistakes as Roman numerals, address identifications tucked inside dark porches, and numbers that do not face the street.” If you have any questions regarding house numbers in Upper St. Clair, please contact the Community Development Office, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 412-831-9000 or see the Township website at www.twpusc.org.

service you can

COUNT ON! Over 13 years in the South Hills Area 412.833.3600 ext. 268 Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Winter Storm Emergencies

Info Line 412-854-5353 www.twpusc.org Please Do NOT Call the Public Works Department!

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Winter storm emergencies are just

that—emergencies. The Township of Upper St. Clair’s administrative staff, Po lice De part ment and Public Works Department are on call 24 hours a day to help residents and businesses by making the streets safe. During the winter season, Township residents are asked to be patient and understanding. To help the Police and Public Works Department during storms, the Township asks the cooperation of residents in the following areas. 1. Keep calls concerning snow removal to a minimum. Public Works and Police phone lines need to be kept open for emergency calls only during storm situations. The Township is as eager as you to have the streets cleared quickly. Major roads such as Route 19, Boyce Road, McLaughlin Run Road, Lesnett Road, McMillan Road, Fort Couch Road and Mayview Road are plowed first as a matter of public safety and for emergency vehicles.

private snow removal. Please refer to the Verizon Yellow Pages.

7. The Township receives numerous calls regarding sidewalks not being adequately maintained during heavy snow periods. Sidewalks with unshoveled snow may cause problems for residents, school children, mail carriers, delivery persons, etc. Chapter 109 of the Township Code states that the standard removal time of snow and ice from sidewalks is within twelve hours after the snow or ice has ceased to fall or be formed. There are several Township-owned sidewalks that are posted “No Winter Maintenance” and are not covered under this ordinance.

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8. Please keep fire hydrants clear of snow. They are for your safety.

Public Works Snow Removal—How It Works

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2. Do not shovel or plow snow back into the streets. This is a violation of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code and creates additional traffic safety problems. 3. When streets are plowed, snow will be pushed in front of driveways. Unfortunately, there is no other place for the snow to go. 4. The Public Works Department is not permitted to assist residents by clearing driveways, sidewalks, or paths to mailboxes. Public Works employees work as many hours as necessary to make streets, inlets, cul-de-sacs, sidewalks and parking lots safe for all vehicles and pedestrians. 5. Under emergency situations, there may be delays or cancellations of garbage collection and recycling pickup. Please do not call the Township during a snow emergency to ask about gar bage collection. Until the snow situation is under control, it is impossible to say when garbage collection will be back on schedule. Check Cable 7 or the website www.twpusc.org for information on garbage collection.

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The Public Works Department is on call 24 hours a day to help residents with snow removal emergencies and related situations. During severe snow situations where plowing is needed, the main state and Township roads have priority, which in some cases require residential roadways to be designated secondary priority. Some considerations regarding the snow removal services that you receive as a resident of USC:

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1. The Public Works Department must be alert to air temperatures and road surface temperatures. Sodium chloride (rock salt) is effective to about 23 degrees F. At temperatures below 23 degrees, road surfaces will require additions of liquid calcium chloride. Traffic causes rock salt to act more quickly, so streets with heavier traffic will show the results of sodium chloride application sooner than less traveled roadways. 2. Air Science Consultants are available to the Public Works Department on a 24-hour contracted basis and provide periodic advance weather forecasting. 3. Peak traffic occurs between the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 a.m., and 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. Decisions to delay school must be made by school personnel by 5:30 a.m. to permit contacting their personnel.

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

4. The Public Works Department maximizes the use of chemicals and anti-skid materials by plowing whenever possible. Generally, accumulations over two inches with additional snow predicted may require plowing as dictated by temperatures and information obtained from Air Science Consultants.

Winter 2002

5. Constant monitoring of road conditions helps the Public Works administration coordinate snow removal actions to ensure total roadway coverage. All snow removal vehicle drivers assist and back each other up to ensure effective roadway salting and plowing. 6. Walks should be clear by 8 a.m. at the Township Building and Tennis Bubbles. The Recreation Center schedule is checked to ensure clear walkways prior to scheduled activities.Evenings require walk clearing for the Township Building Li brary un til 9:30 p.m. and for any scheduled meetings which normally run until 11 p.m. Tennis bubbles operate until 11 p.m. It may be nec es sary to call personnel for morning walkway clearing by 5:30 a.m. or 6 a.m. as dictated by the size of the back-up crew.

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7. Excessive snow may require opening of inlets or location of fire plugs. 8. The Public Works supervisor coordinates with all drivers to ensure that vehicle breakdowns and problems are reported and scheduled, so that effective snow removal operations are not jeopardized. 9. On-call Public Works supervisors have access to four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Watch for the UPDATED GARBAGE and RECYCLING Calendar in January 2003.


Asbury Villas Assisted Living offers older adults the help they need, the experience they trust, and the confidence that comes from knowing they have the support of a comprehensive long-term care system should they need more extensive assistance. Asbury Villas • 94-year history of service to older adults • Studio, one and two bedroom suites • Three flexible pricing options • Restaurant-style dining • Retain your own physicians or see our specialists onsite.

Asbury Heights offers Independent Living, Nursing and Rehabilitative Care, Alzheimer’s Care, and Adult Day Services. For more information or to schedule a tour, please call 412-571-5370 or visit our website at www.asburyheights.org.

Asbury Villas † Operated by United Methodist Services for the Aging

Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company Jean Gedeon,

Artistic Director

Gift Certificates Available

UPPER ST. CLAIR THEATRE Thursday, Dec. 5 - 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 - 8:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 - 2:00 & 8:00 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 - 2:00 p.m.

Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company 1033 Paxton Drive, Bethel Park, PA 15102

(412) 835-1335 • (412) 835-1250 www.pybco.com Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Library

They are Flying Off the Shelves Help Us Land Them In The Right Spot Our Library circulated 201,019 items the first six months of this year. That is an average of 33,504 items per month that need to be shelved. Have you ever looked for a book, video, or CD that our system says is checked in but you could not find it? Accurate shelving is one of the most important jobs in our Library. Our seven High School Pages do a good shelving and shelf-reading job, but with demanding school schedules they have fewer hours to work, and we could use some extra help. Consider volunteering to shelve or shelf read several hours a week. Call 412-835-5540, extension 247.

Our pages Tim Krizner and Michele Palascak begin a busy evening of shelving.

Award Winning Books Highlighted at the Library They say life is getting more complicated, but here at the USC Library we are making it even easier to find an outstanding book. Be watching for a new florescent green “Award Winner” label on the spines of many of the finest fiction and non-fiction books in the adult library. The librarians are preparing lists of winners of literature prizes such as the National Book Award, the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Awards. Winners of the Hugo and Nebula awards for the best science fiction and fantasy, as well as the Edgar Awards for best mysteries are also included.

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We will also note Booklist’s Editor’s Choice awards, and Library Journal’s Best Books selections. The award (or awards), which the book has won, will be noted in the book. While this new project gets underway, be sure to check out the popular New York Times Best Sellers display by the adult circulation desk. It features both fiction and non-fiction titles from the NYT Best Sellers lists. New titles are added daily. From books with popular appeal to books with literary, intellectual, or artistic merit, the book display browsers at USC Library are your best choice for a great read.

Winter Hours Monday thru Thursday 9:30 a.m. –9 p.m. Friday thru Saturday 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Sundays 1 p.m.–5 p.m. Winter 2002

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Children’s Library Top Readers 2002

Congratulations to our fifty top readers. They spent many happy hours curled up with a good book last summer.

Spotlight on Reading was the Library’s most successful summer reading program ever. We had 1,255 kids register and they read or listened to over 37,000 books and magazines. We gave away 133 prizes in our weekly drawings and countless pieces of candy and coupons furnished by the Friends of the Library and local businesses. The top fifty readers in kindergarten through fifth grade received a Spotlight on Reading book bag. The top readers read a total of 6,462 books. Kindergarten

Second Grade

Fourth Grade

Douglas Hapeman .............................210 Deepika Narayanan ...........................156 Olivia Wright.....................................141 Cullen Murin.......................................70 Madhumita Mahesh ............................62

Benjamin Zhang ................................220 Jessica Hapeman................................210 Amanda Buckholt..............................165 Alex Bowman ....................................160 Robert Moore ....................................154 Kay Subosits ......................................154 Ben Mertz ..........................................147 Adam Lucas.......................................130 Jillian Lesaca......................................126 Kevin Muck .......................................114 Joe Conlon ........................................103 Ashley Pearson ..................................100

Erik Potts...........................................121 Victoria Lazur....................................120 Andrew Ma ........................................112 Alyssa Sciomacco ..............................110 H.B. Mertz .........................................109 Evan Pearson.....................................100

First Grade Irina Huey .........................................177 John Buckholt ...................................146 Emily Manalo ....................................128 Christian Heil ....................................112 Alyson Sciomacco .............................106 Alex Hardwick...................................104 Greg Vitcavage...................................104 Joe Repischak ....................................102 J.P. Gillen ...........................................100

Third Grade Marissa Bowman ...............................240 Akhil Venkatesh ................................240 Vijay Viswanathan .............................210 Vinay Viswanathan............................210 Mira Singhal ......................................138 Shane Potts........................................134 Michael Hsu ......................................114 Maggie Zangara .................................107 Christie Parkinson ............................101

Fifth Grade Hirsch Singhal .....................................92 Jennifer Thompson .............................91 Christina Reynolds..............................89 Jeremiah Wagner ................................ 89 Amanda Huey......................................86 Molly O’Grady.....................................67 Daniel Parkinson.................................61 Ryan Pearson.......................................60

Winter 2002

Also see White House Conference on School Libraries on page 50. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Time Flies When You

Speed through the winter blues by keeping busy in one of the exciting programs sponsored by the Recreation and Leisure Services Department. Contact the Recreation and Leisure Services Department, 412-831-9000, extension 256, for a full listing of classes available this winter. Our Time Art

Family Swim

Paint, glue, scissors and paper… what’s more fun for kids than these kinds of things? Doing these things with a grownup! Come share an artistic experience with your child. This class is open to children ages 2-4 accompanied by an adult. Each week, instructor Ellen Margolius will guide the children and their caregiver through an art project. Explore creativity through the eyes of a child. Be prepared to get messy and have a great time creating art together.

The Recreation Department will be offering public swimming at the High School Pool for residents on the following days and times:

Session: Day: Time: Location: Fee:

February 4–March 25, 2003 Tuesday 11 a.m.–11:45 a.m. Recreation Center $57 (+ $12 materials fee paid at first class)

Children’s Dance Classes Classes are taught by faculty from the Vella Dance Studio under the direction of Donna Grove.

All classes are half an hour in length for 12 weeks. Preschool Dance Classes (ages 3-5) Ballet 10:15 a.m.–10:45 a.m. or 1 p.m.–1:30 p.m. or 5:45 p.m.–6:15 p.m. Tap 11:15 a.m.–11:45 a.m. or 2 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Tumbling 10:45 a.m.–11:15 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.–2 p.m. or 6:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Children’s Dance Classes (ages 6-10) Jazz/Hip Hop 4:45 p.m.–5:15 p.m. Tumbling 5:15 p.m.–5:45 p.m.

We Need Your Help! Do you love working with children? We are always looking for individuals or groups to offer their services for our special events. We are looking for kind volunteers that have some extra time or a special talent or service that they would like to give toward our community. If you are interested in helping us out with our many activities, please contact Karen Babeji at 412-831-9000, extension 255.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

February 1–June 1, 2003 Saturdays and Sundays 2 p.m.–4:30 p.m. USC High School Pool $20 per individual/$45 per family $5 per person walk-in at the door

Photo ID cards are required. Pictures will be taken and ID cards will be processed at the Recreation Office during regular business hours. Monthly schedules will be available at the Recreation Department at the time of registration. Resident seniors—swim for free with your Silver Card.

Happy Hearts Day— Valentine’s Day Workshop

Session: January 14– April 1, 2003 Day: Tuesday Location: Community Center Multi-Purpose Room I Fee: $36 per class/$45 nonresidents

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Session: Days: Time: Location:

Winter 2002

Valentine’s Day is the day of love and your preschoolers, ages 3–5, will love this fun-filled workshop. Have your little ones work on a special Valentine’s Day craft they can keep or share with their favorite valentine. Also included is a holiday video and snack. Date: Day: Time: Location: Fee:

February 14, 2003 Friday 10:30 a.m.–11:15 a.m. Library Multi-Purpose Room $10

Due to ordering requirements, no refunds can be issued after February 7, 2003.

Junior Ski Program Open to children grades 6 and above. This program travels to Hidden Valley Ski Resort. Fee includes lift ticket, lesson, free-skiing, transportation and equipment (if applicable). Time: 3 p.m. leave Municipal Building 12 a.m. return to Municipal Building Fee: $200 with own equipment $250 with rental equipment Program begins January 4, 2003, and runs for five weeks, weather permitting. Cancelled trips will be made up by extending the program.


Are Having Fun! Kid Fitness (ages 3-5) It’s never to early to start learning about healthy living and basic safety. This program will include kid aerobics, dancing and stretching for children. A portion of the class will be devoted to teaching children how to eat healthy and make healthy snacks as well as basic safety precautions. Bring a friend and join instructor Renee Baldino for some fun! Session III: Session IV: Day: Location: Time: Fee:

January 10–31, 2003 February 7–28, 2003 Fridays Community Center Multi-Purpose Room I 1 p.m.–2 p.m. $25 per session

Drawing and Painting for Children Create drawings and paintings with different media. Learn about line drawing, color and design by drawing from still life, the figure, and your imagination. Limit 12 per class. Session: February 4–March 19, 2003 Location: Recreation Center Offerings: Tuesday, 4–5 p.m. (ages 6-8) Tuesday, 5:15 p.m.–6:30 p.m. (ages 9-12) Wednesday, 4–5 p.m. (ages 6-8) Wednesday, 5:15 p.m.–6:30 p.m. (ages 9-12) Instructor: Ellen Margolius Fee: $50 (+$12 materials fee paid at first class.)

Preschool Art Mommy and Me Tea (ages 3-6) Mothers and daughters, come spend some fun time together. Enjoy finger foods and desserts and work on a special craft together. Rummage through your closets to find that special outfit, and wear your Sunday best to this fabulous mother-daughter tea. Session: Day: Time: Location: Fee:

December 14, 2002 Saturday 11:15 a.m.–12 p.m. Library Multi-Purpose Room $16 per parent and one child $6 per additional child

Due to ordering requirements, no refunds can be issued after December 6.

Exercise Programs— For All Ages and Abilities Get a jump-start on your New Year’s Resolution. Join one of the many exercise classes offered through the Recreation Department. We are currently offering Bodysculpting, Yoga for all levels, Tai Chi, Jazzercise, Body Effort, and Senior Strength Training classes. Check your recreation booklet, the Township website www.twpusc.org or call the Recreation Department for class times and availability.

Children, (ages 3-5), will explore a new art activity each week. We will dabble in the arts and experiment with paints to make a color wheel and just enjoy what fun paper, markers, and paint can be. Session: Day: Location: Times: Fee:

February 4–March 25, 2003 Tuesday Recreation Center 10 a.m.–10:45 a.m. $57 (+$12 materials fee paid at first class)

Mommy and Me A special time for moms, dads or caregivers and their preschoolers ages 2-3 to have structured fun together. This program is a sharing time (designed for one child per caregiver) with basic tumbling, puppet play and parachute games designed to develop coordination as you play together. Session: Day: Time: Location: Fee:

January 15–April 2, 2003 Wednesday 10:15 a.m.–11 a.m. or 11 a.m.–11:45 a.m. Community Center Multi-Purpose Room I $72

Register for any of the Recreation classes in person or by mailing registration with appropriate fee to: Upper St. Clair Recreation, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 Please make checks payable to USC Recreation. Some classes have limited availability. Register early to guarantee yourself a spot! For more information, call the Recreation Department at 412-831-9000, extension 256, or check the website at: www.twpusc.org.

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You are invited to participate in the

Township of Upper St. Clair’s Clair's Christmas Tree Recycling Project! Bring your tree, without decorations, to the YMCA upper parking lot between January 13–27, 2003. The trees will be ground for mulch for your use.

Please remove all plastic tree bags! For more information, call 412-831-9000, extension 271 or visit www.twpusc.org.

Joseph L. Gurecka, DMD, FAAHD Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

Enjoy Your Smile!

Sanitary Sewer Backups and Your Homeowner’s Coverage While only a few of our residents experience a sewer

backup each year, we know that when it does occur, it can be a stressful experience. It can be even more devastating if you are not insured for losses that can easily run into tens of thousands of dollars. Homeowners can alleviate possible sewer-related damage expenses by contacting their property insurance provider to verify that they have sewer backup coverage. Most homeowners’ insurance policies do not automatically include coverage for these occurrences. Given the potential for significant loss, it is advisable for homeowners served by a public sewer system, particularly those with finished basements, to obtain some level of coverage.

Are You Tired of Chronic Heel Pain? If you are one of the millions who suffer from heel pain that has not responded to traditional treatments, a new therapy may offer you relief. Extracorporeal ShockWave Therapy (ESWT) can be used to alleviate pain without surgery. This innovative, non-invasive therapy is performed on a outpatient basis and you can resume your daily

activities after a brief recovery time.

Summerfield Commons 2579 Washington Road, Suite 315 Pittsburgh, PA 15241 412-831-2520

www.gureckadental.com

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Southwestern Ambulatory Surgery Center 412-469-6996 Dr. William Braun, Whitehall (412) 881-5989 Dr. Lynne Haubelt, Brentwood (412) 881-5580 Dr. John Snyder, Bethel Park (412) 831-1515


Judge your window contractor by the company he keeps. • Scott Bros. received the designation as the leading Certified ARS Contractor in the Pittsburgh area. This designation signifies our knowledge and expertise in the sales and installation of high-performance, low maintenance Andersen® product lines. • We pride ourselves on our professionalism and customer service. Scott Bros. comes highly recommended in the South Hills area by customers, distributors and lumberyards. • You can be confident that Scott Bros. will assist you in making the best decision in product and installation for your home. Together with a fair and competitive cost we will give your project our undivided attention.

SCOTT BROS. • Windows and Doors “Your Windows Are Our Reputation!” Ask for Dave Scott

724.745.2376 Visit Us at: www.scottbroswindows.com

Windows supplied by Brookside Lumber Winter 2002

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WE NEED YOUR HELP! I am interested in serving my community through the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department. I am interested in the following areas: ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏

USC Volunteer Fire Department Meet Two More USC Volunteer Firemen

Fire Fighting Rescue Support/Helpers Fire Prevention Program Presenter Salvage and Overhaul Babysitting Secretarial/Filing Fund Raising Communication Pump Operations Safety

Name_____________________________ Address ___________________________ Greg Gerlach has spent the last decade vol un teer ing for the USCVFD. He and his wife Shari are the parents of Zachary and Olivia. Greg earned his BS in Management from Clarion University and works for Xerox Connect as a Solutions Architect/Project Manager. While serving the fire department as captain and spending time with his family keep him busy, when Greg gets some free time he enjoys camping, fishing, riding ATV’s and golf.

__________________________________ Phone ____________________________ Please return to USCVFD, P.O. Box 12583, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 or call 412-835-0660 for more information. THANK YOU!

Tony Messina joined the Department this past summer. He is currently a senior at Upper St. Clair High School.

See the related article, “Meet the USC Volunteer Firefighters” by Terry Kish, in the Fall 2002 issue on page 18.

Coffey Contracting Co. ROOFING & CHIMNEYS Slate • Tile • Shakes Tinning • Spouting Flashing • Box Gutter Repair We can recreate workmanship and styles from any Architectural Era

Once again this year Santa Claus will visit Upper St. Clair on Saturday, December 14th. The Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department will transport Santa on a fire truck throughout the Township beginning at 10 a.m. Schedules will be distributed through the elementary schools in early December. Listen for the fire truck’s siren to know when Santa is in your area. He will have treats for all—young and old. If you know of someone with special needs who would enjoy seeing Santa, please contact Deputy Chief Russell Rauch at 412-835-0660. Happy Holidays from the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department

FREE ESTIMATES FULLY INSURED

412.341.1127 36

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Santa To Visit Upper St. Clair December 14th

Winter 2002


Scout Project Benefits Fire Department Terry Kish It’s now easier for Upper St. Clair firefighters to find the locations of fire hydrants throughout the Township, thanks to the efforts of Bryan Ferguson. Bryan’s Eagle Scout project involved designing and stenciling hydrant markings on Township roads. Since some fire hydrants are not easily visible from the street, the markings are more noticeable in an emergency. When thinking about what he wanted to do for his Eagle Scout project, Bryan wanted to do something to help the USC Volunteer Fire Department. “My dad’s a volunteer firefighter,” explained Bryan, “and it’s something that’s interested me my entire life.” Bryan and his father did some brainstorming and developed the idea of road markings for hydrant locations. Last October, Bryan started the process to turn his ideas into a reality.

After the approval stage, Bryan had to organize work crews and their routes so they could mark the locations of all the hydrants in the Township. Bryan used the fire department’s hydrant map to draw up routes to locate the 428 hydrants in Upper St. Clair. The only hydrants that were not scheduled to be marked were those on main roads, like Route 19. In late August, seven fire trucks with 13 firefighters and 16 scouts went throughout the Township to do the actual stenciling. If a crew found a hydrant that was blocked by bushes or other debris, they noted its location so the water company could be notified to clear it. Bryan, who joined the USCVFD this spring, said that several firefighters have already commented that the lines on the road are more noticeable than the hydrants themselves. Bryan is a senior at USC High School, and is considering majoring in fishery science when he attends college. He is the son of Dan and Jody Ferguson. Bryan is a member of Troop 228, under the direction of Scoutmaster Dave Barker.

One of the first steps in his project was getting approval for the idea from the fire department, Township and the Boy Scouts. The Scouts have to approve the concept as a legitimate Eagle Scout project. Then Bryan needed approval for the stencil itself, which he designed. Winter 2002

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Moving Forward Mary Wilson

Phase I of the Regional Environmental Education Center to be developed at Boyce Mayview Park was launched by an enthusiastic gathering at a groundbreaking celebration this summer. Stay tuned for further developments on the EEC project.

wing off the model of the joined local officials in sho DEP Secretary David Hess Mayview Park complex ce Boy at ter Cen on Educati new Regional Environmental Clair. Left to right: Rep. John Maher; Township St. th and Bill Bates; to be constructed in Upper sh, Edward Long, Gloria Smi Tim Murphy; Commissioners Frank Mar . Sen on; ens Stev Rep. Tom ie Harris DEP Secretary David Hess; ers Bob Orchowski and Ern Upper St. Clair Commission g Watkins. Dou r age Man ip nsh Tow and

Rep. Tom Stevenson, Commissione r Bob Orchowski, DEP Secretary David Hess, Commissioner Frank Marsh, Sena tor Tim Murphy and Rep. John Mah er

Breaking ground for

of Phase I of ding the construction ck to be used for fun n Center at Boyce Mayview Park che big the ng ldi Ho vironmental Educatio nt Committee the new Regional En Rep. John Maher; Project Developme retary David ht: Sec P rig to DE t ; lef ene m are fro d Linda Ser nthal, Ed Lyness an mmittee Chair David members Sue Berte ject Development Co tor of Public Works. Pro ; son ven Ste m To Hess; Rep. binson, Direc rphy and F. Kyle Ro Wade; Sen. Tim Mu

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the Regional Environm ental Education Cente r Rep. John Maher; Pro at Boyce Mayview Park are from left to right: ject Development Co mm ittee Chair David Wa Rep. Tom Stevenson Township of Upper St. ; Sen. Tim Murphy; DEP Secretary David de; Clair Commissioners He Frank Marsh, Ernie Ha ss; Ed Long, Bob Orchows rris, ki, Cheryl Bayne and Township Manager Do Bill Bates; ug Watkins and Township Comm issioner Gloria Smith .

Photos by Kerry Brown

Also see page 74.


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Friendship Village

Tums

AARP

Preparation H

Lawrence Welk

Medicare

Falseteeth

The Golden Years

Senior Soapbox Sensory Perceptions Unless we have been deprived by birth or accident, most of us have five senses and maybe, once in a blue moon, a sixth. Which one is the most important to you? If you could, at will, call up that extra sixth sense—esp, clairvoyance, telepathy, peer into the future, it would be pretty powerful stuff. Try to imagine our life and our world if everyone was able to use that sixth sense just like the other five. Someday in the distant future we may be able to voluntarily use extra-sensory perception, who knows? Right now, which of the five could you least do without? Which one of them would you value most above the others? Is it the sense of smell, along with it’s neighbor, the sense of taste? Think about fresh baked bread, frying bacon, peppers and onions, hamburgers, hot dogs or steak on the grill, cinnamon rolls and apple pie. Sniff, sniff. Breathe deeply, the salivary glands spring into action. Taste follows odor. Some odors partner with the sense of feeling. Scent of roses, fresh cut grass, a haystack, salt-spray of the ocean, deep pine forest, sharp bite of winter mountain air. All evoke feelings of youth, romance, adventure; feelings of renewal, vigor and action. Is it the sense of sight with its partner, feeling, that is the most important? Good, sharp, clear vision enables us to see loved ones, tiny babies, children, pets, flowers, sky, clouds and sunsets. The sight of a familiar face leads to the warm grasp of a hand, an embrace and a kiss. Bright sun and soft breeze, a warm bath, a bracing shower, the enveloping comfort of an easy chair

after a hard days work. Seeing and feeling. Touching. Is there anything better? Are any of our senses better, do more for us, stir up more emotion than seeing and feeling? Our fifth sense seemingly is independent. Smelling goes with tasting. Seeing goes with feeling. There may be some slight links between hearing and the other senses but basically, hearing stands alone in its duty to connect us to our world, to our perception of reality. Since it works all by itself, it has to be the strongest of the senses, the one that can move us the most deeply, to affect our emotions to the greatest extent. Have you ever heard a speech that made you feel as if you could sell refrigerators to the Eskimos? Have you ever listened to a half-time peptalk that made you fire back from a short end score to a lop-sided victory? Have you heard the spoken word that made you sympathetic, cheerful, sad, angry, dejected or annoyed? The sounds that you heard worked on your emotions, powerful forces that can push us, even along dangerous paths. Listen to a familiar melody, that song that you seem to have heard before, and be overcome with nostalgia. Listen to a symphony orchestra, stirring choral works, a marching band playing patriotic music and be unmoved, only if you’re a robot. Even the sound of silence on a summer evening on a quiet road can move something within us, the search for meaning, the reason for being, our particular odyssey. In the end, there are the five senses and for me, the greatest is hearing.

Katey says…

A Senior from Upper St. Clair, Enticed by a giggly au pair, Had to run for his life From the wrath of his wife, Fini l’affaire, commencez la guerre.

The CCLU* is gonna hear about this…

A Senior from Upper St. Clair Said, “I really like gourmet fare,” So he went on a hunch, To the Rec Center lunch, And dined well on ragout of hare. Silver Card Senior Citizens of Upper St. Clair, the Recreation and Leisure Services Department offers for your consideration the Silver Card. Holders of this card are entitled to free admittance to the three-hole golf course, outdoor tennis facilities and family swim at the High School pool. Any resident age 62 and retired or age 65 with no re stric tions is eligible for the Silver Card Pro gram. Applications are available at the Recreation Department, so stop in and ask for your Silver Card! 40 40

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Winter 2002 Winter 2002

* Canine Civil Liberties Union

Full knee-deep lies the winter snow And the winter winds are wearily sighing. —Tennyson 1809-1892


Prunes

Depends

Viagra

Miracle Ear

Sally Westlund—A Mini Bio “I’m lonesome. Come back and see me again. Please?” If your world has shrunk down to a little

bed in a little room with a little window looking out into a little courtyard, a visitor from that other big world that you used to know can be the most looked for event in your day. You want that visitor, you wait for them, you need them. You say, “Please come back again. I’m all alone.” Sally Westlund has been a visitor of shut-ins for many years. She has been that important event in the lives of many lonely, sick or handicapped people. She has been that cheerful visitor that has brought the smile back if only for a short time. Every week for years she has been calling in at local homes: Country Meadows, Friendship Village, Independence Court, Castle Shannon Baptist Home, McMurray Manor and at Presbyterian Home and Kade Home in Washington, Pennsylvania. Many times has she heard the words, “Don’t forget to come back. I like to see you and talk to you.” Sally was the first of six girls born to Elizabeth and William Carroll. At an early age, from her birthplace in Washington the family moved to Claysville where Sally grew up and graduated high school. She enrolled at Muskingum College in Concord, Ohio, but was forced to drop out after two years because of illness. After her recovery, she worked for several years for her father at his Chevrolet dealership in Claysville. Mother was a school teacher and, in addition to teaching and raising the family, she spent much time visiting the sick and shut-ins. Sally, having gotten her driver’s license at age sixteen, was elected chauffeur and drove her mother on visits in the surrounding area to drop off a few kind words, a cheerful smile or a plate of cookies. It must have been a genetic trait that was passed on to Sally—the sympathetic desire to help the troubled and less fortunate. She continued driving her mother on her good-will visits while waiting to see what was around the next bend in the road of her life. It turned out to be a significant blind date. Sally had agreed to go on the date arranged by a friend. At a meeting in Homestead Park she was introduced to Arvid Olaf Westlund from Etna. They decided to go to a movie, “No More Ladies,” playing at the Loew’s Penn theater in downtown Pittsburgh. Two years later they were married at the Claysville Methodist Church.

Bi-Focals

Access

Geritol

Whoop-DeDo @92

They made several moves during the early years of their marriage. First it was to Ithaca, New York, where Arv worked for the J.C. Penney Company. After a couple of years, he was transferred to Johnstown and after a few more years to Pittsburgh. Arvid changed jobs; he started working for the Pittsburgh Railways Co., a division of the old Philadelphia Company. They lived in the Morningside section of Pittsburgh where daughter Kathryn was born. In 1947, Arv and Sally moved to Upper St. Clair. Sally got into real estate work and was moderately successful. However, Arvid did not want her to work so she gave it up and thereafter spent more time visiting shut-ins. Alfred “Bud” Eck is a Deacon at Westminster Presbyterian Church and chairperson of a group called Caregivers to which Sally belongs. The group meets periodically to discuss the needs of the 40 to 50 people that they visit, some of whom have no friends or relatives. Speaking of Sally, Eck says, “I’ve known Sally for more than ten years and she’s my best visitor. She does more and does it more often than anybody else. She goes over and above what is called for. She is a dedicated and wonderful person.” In the 1970’s Sally was visiting at the Baptist Home in Mt. Lebanon when she met young, wheel-chair bound Birdie Volkhart. Birdie had been injured in high school sports and would never walk again. Despite her handicap, Birdie was very musically active. She sang in the choir, played the organ, taught music and performed at church functions. She and Sally became close friends. Using Access, they were able to go shopping and to lunch. Birdie eventually got married although she and husband Harry could not live on their own. Sally continued visiting them at Birdie’s parents home. Arvid Westlund died in 1990. Sally and Arv had enjoyed 52 years of marriage. To fill the empty space in her heart, Sally began giving even more of herself and more of her time to the shut-ins, the sick and the lonely. At every visit, with every eye that lit up, with every smile that she brought forth, the void in her Sally and Birdie Volkhart own life was somehow being filled. Only in giving do we receive. Sally Westlund—volunteer, visitor, caregiver. With a kindly twinkle in her blue eyes and a smile curving the corners of her mouth, we can understand why people say, “Sally, please come back again.”

Gold Card Senior Site information and articles have been gathered and written by John Kotzuk.

The icy fang and churlish chiding of the winter’s wind —Shakespeare

Senior Citizens of Upper St. Clair, apply now for your Gold Card. See and enjoy drama and musical performances, exciting athletic events, and other activities, courtesy of the Upper St. Clair School District. No credit checks, income information or your mother’s maiden name needed. If you are a resident, 62 years of age or older, just stop by the School District receptionist desk and ask for your Gold Card! Winter 2002 Winter 2002

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Pinebridge Commons McLaughlin Run Road at Lesnett Road ••••••••••••••••• Carlson Wagonlit Travel Larry E. Manalo, DMD Common Ground Café William McVay Design Image Joan Dugan Miller, CPA DeWalt Enterprises Pediatric Alliance Raymond James Financial Services Pediatric Dentistry South Henderson Investment Corp. Piccolina Restaurant Herff Jones, Inc. Primary Physicians Research Hickory Heights Land Co. Questa Petroleum Co. Jimcor Associates, Inc. REFCO Eric J. Reitz & South Hills Financial Group Gary J. Yanniello, DMDs State Farm Insurance Timothy Kerr Suburban Dry Cleaners Romana Pautler Kerr, DMDs Weidmann Technical Services Pinebridge Commons Associates

•••••••••••••••••

for leasing information, please call Pinebridge Commons Associates (412) 220-9288

a h o l A from Pittsburgh!

Happenings Announcements on this page are for non-profit groups. Organizations and Support Groups will be published in the Summer and Fall issues. Please submit updated information with a maximum of 35 words, including a phone number that will be published to: Happenings, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY Magazine, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 or fax 412-854-0773. Activities

Paige Sullivan and Carly Feduska, both residents of USC, participated in the 93rd Annual Baby Parade in Ocean City, New Jersey, in August. Their entry, entitled “Aloha from Pittsburgh” placed second in the fancy division. Over 200 children took part in the parade on the boardwalk. Their vehicle was inspired by the movie “Lilo and Stitch.”

December 6–7 and 13–14—South Hills Chorale performs a Holiday Celebration at 7:30 p.m. at Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church (on Dec. 6–7) and at the Mt. Lebanon High School (on Dec. 13–14). Call 412-429-9501 for more information. December 8—“And This One Shall Be Peace”—7:30 p.m. Advent Music Service—Featuring the adult, children’s and handbell choirs of Westminster Presbyterian Church and a string orchestra from the Pittsburgh Symphony. Call 412-835-6630 for more information.


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South Hills Village

The Sweetest Place in Upper St. Clair

The Sweetest Place in Upper St. Clair 44

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002


BUY4 GIFT CERTIFICATES. GET1 FREE. (IT’S OUR WAYOF SAYING “GRAZIE”)

HERE’S A HOLIDAY GIFT EVERYONE WILL LOVE. ESPECIALLY YOU. CALL 412-431-3535 OR STOP IN.

BRUSCHETTA’S - 19TH & CARSON STREETS

Winter 2002

SOUTHSIDE -

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Need More Gift Ideas? What about a donation in someone’s name? Donate money or your time to: SHIM’s Angel Emporium—412-854-9120 Church or Synagogue—See page 71. Your USC Library—412-835-5540 USC Volunteer Fire Department—412-835-0660 Family Hospice—412-572-8800 Salvation Army—412-394-4800 World Vision—412-749-1800 Boys and Girls Clubs—412-782-5710 Animal Friends—412-566-2103 Humane Society—412-321-4657 Pet Search—724-228-7335

What about… • Gift certificates are available from many of our advertisers! • A gift basket from Chartiers Basket, Craft and Gift Shop— 412-344-2160 (Sponsored by the Chartiers Community Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center) • USC auto license plate—Township Receptionist or Recreation and Leisure Services Department • Tickets to River City Brass Band, Little Lake Theater, South Park Summer Theater or a Pittsburgh theater • Movie tickets • Dinner gift certificates—See our Dining Guide on pages 20-21. • High School Bookstore items—See page 64. • Pink Flamingos—412-344-7533

Why not give your time to someone… • Share experiences that you have had. • Take the time to go to lunch with a friend. • Get the old car pool group together for dessert. • Take a buddy to Sarris Chocolates and Ice Cream Parlor in Canonsburg or to Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor in the Strip District—412-434-0451.

Try donating on line with a click of the mouse to— www.thehungersite.com www.theanimalrescuesite.com www.therainforestsite.com www.thebreastcancersite.com These sites have interesting gift ideas and links to other international gift ideas. 46

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Upper St. Clair School District Board of School Directors

Welcoming Remarks To the Staff Dr. William A. Pope Superintendent of Schools—September 4, 2002

Mark G. Trombetta, MD President 412-831-8543

David E. Bluey Vice President 412-835-6145

Barbara L. Bolas 412-833-9841

Albert E. Ferrara, Jr. 412-835-2709

Dina J. Fulmer 412-831-8664

Jeffrey W. Joyce 412-257-1704

Clark R. Nicklas 412-831-1027

Angela B. Petersen 412-831-7182

I am honored and privileged to be here to speak to you as we start the 2002-03 school year. This will be a special year, because during this year, we will continue the renovation and reconstruction of our last three buildings in the Upper St. Clair School District. Once we complete the elementary project we will have renovated, added to and updated all of our school buildings in the last fourteen years. Coincidentally, those are the same fourteen years that I have served as your superintendent. As I begin my last year, I want to take a moment to reaffirm what is important to me and I hope to you, as collectively you will carry on in the true tradition of excellence in learning and teaching in Upper St. Clair. When I think we have only been a K-12 school district since 1962, I am convinced that all of our people have done an incredible job in building the reputation that we all enjoy. We have created one of the finest public school systems in this part of the country and maybe in the world. In 1993 we wrote our first mission statement. Is our mission still the same? Do we still value responsible citizens? Do we still advocate innovation among our staff? Do we still promote an educational partnership with our community? Most important to me; do we still treasure the uniqueness of each child and empower them to be happy and successful? For me the mission is and will always be the same! The “children first” is the mission today, and it always was. We always believed it. We acted like we believed it. We just camouflaged it occasionally with impressive, trendy “education-ese.” By reviewing all that we have created together, we can affirm that the value of our students was never far from our minds and hearts.

Upper St. Clair School District Mission Statement Developing learned and responsible citizens for a global society is the mission of the nationally recognized Upper St. Clair School District, which is served by a responsive and innovative staff who, in partnership with the community, provides learning experiences that nurture the uniqueness of each child and promotes happiness and success.

William M. Sulkowski, DMD 412-221-9516

Dr. William A. Pope Superintendent, Winter 2002

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We have a purposeful staff development program. This program, based on the teachings and the philosophy of Madeline Hunter, enables us to maintain our outstanding instructional perspective. Our focus is clearly on teaching and teaching behavior, and giving our faculty the ideas that make the science of teaching truly an art. What a beautiful high school! I couldn’t be more proud of this building. Everyone who has traveled along Route 19 is impressed by this high school, a symbol of instructional distinction. Although we have experienced significant numbers of retirees, we have attracted and selected a host of capable, qualified, energetic and enthusiastic teachers. It helps that we have such a wonderful standard of achievement and reputation in this School District to attract people who are highly skilled, talented teachers who want to practice their craft here with us. We have managed to maintain excellence despite the number of retirements of curriculum leaders. In fact, the last member of our first generation of curriculum leaders retired. Now, we are passing the torch to a new core of curriculum leaders measured by the same standard of excellence, maintaining and celebrating it with the emphasis on curriculum and the educational program. We have an International Baccalaureate (IB) program, perhaps the only school district in the state to have the IB program K-12. We recently were approved for the IB middle years program. We already have the IB secondary program with a diploma for 11th and 12th grade, and we are close to getting the approval for the elementary IB program. Risk taking is doing more than our traditional, safe educational excellence program. We weren’t satisfied. We wanted to go further. We wanted to take it to the next level. The International Baccalaureate, while challenging and difficult to implement and sustain, does make us truly outstanding. By the acceptance of the IB program in the middle schools and high school, we now have a world-class program, because we are now affiliated with the world’s schools. That gives us a distinction worldwide. We are now among the elite acknowledged and deeply regarded for our progressive attitude about children and learning. In the last 13 years we have acquired nine of our ten federal Blue Ribbon awards. We have now earned a Blue Ribbon in every school, and we won them before the whole “Blue Ribbon Excellence” program was changed to the “No Child Left Behind” program. Our Blue Ribbon flags fly from all of our schools. That is an accomplishment unequaled by our friends in public or private education. We practice “educational choice” K-12. Mosaic, Flight, multi-age teams and traditional academic programs have made true choice a

reality for all of our students. We believe, as our mission statement declares, in being educational partners with our parents. The creation of the Upper St. Clair High School Halls of Fame is testimony to our continual pursuit of excellence in academic, athletic and artistic achievements—three distinct areas of recognition. Through the years Upper St. Clair has settled for nothing less than excellence. We built a complete electronic network so that all of our schools are connected electronically with technology. We became a New American High School in the year 2000. During my tenure as superintendent, there have been 25 different individuals serving on the Board of School Directors. Despite the number of different personalities we always have maintained the focus on the children in our mission and vision. If our mission is still the same, what is our vision of the future for public education? This is where I would like to finish. We have reviewed the excellence of the past. What will excellence be in the future? Our schedule should reflect an emphasis on learning. Secondary students should start school at 9 a.m., because students learn more when they are rested and focused. No one is focused at 7 a.m. I think we have to make a sacrifice and do what is best for our students. I also would like to see our “best practices” partnership with Clairton School District expanded to include other school districts. Through this partnership not only have we been able to choose and identify what the best practices are, but we are poised to take the next step and employ what we have learned in our study to what actually goes on in the classroom. Whether that means we partner with all teachers between Clairton and Upper St. Clair or if that means we exchange teachers, we need to move forward and use the talents and skills of many educators to define and refine a process that focuses our energy and ability on the art of teaching. In the future, our state government will not be willing or able to support 501 school districts. Perhaps we could partner with a number of different school districts and effect change throughout. The best practices in Upper St. Clair are the best practices in Clairton. We have to break the geopolitical boundaries within the Commonwealth. Hopefully, we are going to improve education beyond Upper St. Clair. That is part of the future of public education. I hope it is the future of public education to have successful learning centers as opposed to 501 school districts, with the number of learning centers to be determined later. The status of an educated populace was debated by two of my neighboring superintendents, both now retired. The discussion started with their views of public education. One superintendent stated that to be truly educated,

one has to study the humanities. By studying the cultural disciplines, you learn more than facts and formulas. You learn how to think. You become comfortable with the process of thinking. With that perspective and background, one can become a more interesting, wellrounded, knowledgeable, problem solving specialist. The other superintendent listened and agreed that majoring in the humanities led to greater breadth and formative thinking, but the real advantage to studying the humanities is that these graduates are “enlightened” not simply educated. The future will belong to the enlightened. The enlightened people are those who seek to help everyone move forward. Let us in Upper St. Clair be those enlightened educators who help everyone move forward. About once a week I have lunch at Sesame Inn. Recently, the fortunes in my fortune cookies have taken a rather serious tone, almost as if the writer knew that I am in my final year as superintendent and looking for words of wisdom to pass along to you. Two recent fortunes said: Nothing in the world is accomplished without passion. Keep true to the dreams of your youth. Back in 1998 when I wrote our vision statement I said, “Remember, the future appears first in the imagination of the learner.” Today I am the learner. Today, in 2002, I challenge you as learners. What lies ahead is as limitless as your imaginations. I hope and pray that you will cherish and hold on to your passion. It is what will give you courage during difficult times and inspire you during the wonderful challenges and opportunities ahead. And, I hope and pray that you will keep true to the dreams of your youth. Those of us who have been here a while have seen many of our dreams come to fruition. We are depending on those of you who will carry forward the culture of the Upper St. Clair School District to stay the course and carry on the proud tradition that has begun here. It has been my privilege to serve as superintendent. I wish you a great 2002-03 school year and a wonderful future in Upper St. Clair. God Bless each of you.

Winter 2002

I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing… and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing inefficiency and demoralization. —Petronius - died 66 AD

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White House Conference on School Libraries Barbara Bolas, Upper St. Clair School Board Director The return address on the envelope

in my hand contained three words in raised gold letters… The White House. The inside script read, “Laura Bush requests the pleasure of your company at the White House Conference on School Libraries.” For a moment I sat there wondering if this was for real. A quick phone call to the liaison at the National School Boards Association confirmed that indeed it was a valid invitation and that attendance at the conference would be appreciated. Away I went. Groups gathered outside the White House eagerly waiting entrance—sharing stories about their educational experiences, parents’ dreams of success for their children, the challenges facing public education and the meaning of democracy and freedom. Many of us felt fortunate to have the opportunity to enter the White House after the events of September 11, 2001, considering the heightened security in Washington. I sensed a little more anxiety about safety, different from trips to the White House previous to September 11. The tension of the security screening decreased slightly once inside the White House, where family photos reminiscent of those of most any other family’s milestones, lined the walls conveying a welcoming feeling to a family’s home. The guards, in their strict military precision, escorted us up the marble staircase establishing the protocol for the event. We knew by watching the guards’ mannerisms that they conveyed an absolute adherence to directives of where to go and when. Once upstairs we were served breakfast in the State Dining Room, in awe of our surroundings. Wandering through the adjacent rooms, I stopped in the Green Room to gaze through the wavy paned glass toward the Washington Monument. In a humbled sense I thought of the many foreign and national dignitaries who’d stood in this very spot making decisions about world leadership, economic policy, and world or national conflicts. My thoughts raced ahead to the White House Conference on School Libraries soon to convene in the East Room. Two noteworthy comments about the event spread amongst the attendees as we were 50

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Seated in the High School library are senior Emily Main, School Board Director Barbara Bolas and senior Joey DeBartolo.

ushered in. First, the event was being held in the White House and hosted by First Lady Laura Bush instead of in a nearby hotel ballroom where the first lady would only make a brief appearance. Second, it was considered intimate by Washington’s standards because a mere 175 people had been invited. Besides educational leaders from across the country, also attending the conference was Mrs. Barbara Bush and Senators Arlen Specter and Ted Kennedy. A moment of expectation filled the room as everyone noticed the one empty chair on the end of the first row. Soon, First Lady Laura Bush appeared to address the group about the proceedings and the purpose of the First White House Conference on School Libraries.

A Book There is no frigate like a book To take us lands away, Nor any courses like a page Of prancing poetry. This traverse may the poorest take Without oppress of toll: How frugal is the chariot That bears a human soul!

Winter 2002

—Emily Dickinson

The First Lady conveyed how going to the library had been a key part of her childhood and young adult years. She referred to her library card as a “passport.” She believes that a library is a place where a child can ask questions about the world and find answers. I thought about the numerous times I’ve visited our school libraries seeing students engaged in work, seeking answers to their many questions. Presenters included Dr. Vartan Gregorian of Carnegie Corporation, Dr. Susan Neuman, Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education from the U. S. Department of Education, and other educational leaders from across the country. The information presented intrigued the attendees. For example, how good school libraries advance student achievement including improving reading skills, and SAT and ACT test scores. One of the presenters stated that libraries are a source of unity and knowledge—guardians of freedom, thought and choice—the heart of democracy. Another said that what students do while they are reading is more important than the facts they get from reading. Research indicates that those who bring a child to a library help make a difference as to what kind of reading that child does and how engaged that child is as a student. Parents certainly play a pivotal role in shaping the early years of their children’s education. Particularly intriguing was when the presenters discussed the role of the school


librarian and the cross curriculum role the librarian should play. They emphasize how important it is to student achievement. When talk turned to the size of the library staff, book collection and the direct correlation between those numbers and student achievement, I wanted to hear more. The four hours allotted for the conference seemed inadequate. Regretfully, the morning had come to an end and it was time to leave. I walked away from the conference reflecting on how libraries have evolved over the years. Once just a place for books and filmstrips, now a hub of activity more often referred to as a media center than a library. Research shows that students who obtain higher achievement attend schools where the school librarians work in partnership with all of the teachers, across grade levels and across curriculum. The challenge we face is how to get the word out about the changing role of school libraries, the partnering role of the school librarian and the correlation of good school libraries and improved student achievement. As I walked west in front of the White House noticing the concrete barriers that symbolize how the world has changed since September 11, 2001, I couldn’t help but reflect on the words from the conference—Information processing is the key to a student’s future success. I was at once reminded of an article that appeared in the USA Today shortly after the attacks. Terrorist attacks (against the United States) are taught in Pakistani religion schools, called madressa. Students are specifically taught about the destruction of the United States. It is through books and learning that one has control of one’s own mind. All students need access to good school libraries— helping to ensure a truly educated democratic society.

Winter 2002

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2002 Upper St. Clair

Inaugural 2000 Halls of Fame Recipients Academic Hall of Fame - Administration/Staff Honorees Dr. Niles Norman Dr. Robert Christiana Dr. Donald Eichhorn Dr. John DeBlassio Dr. Carl Streams Academic Hall of Fame - Student Alumni Honorees Rev. Ray Bandi (1968) David Brewton (1977) Dr. Ed Chekan (1983) Tricia Hwang Connerly (1990) Dr. Mark Katlic (1969) Trisha Meili (1978) Dr. Brian Phillips (1978) Dr. Jack Phillips (1963) Dr. Karen Swartz (1983)

Upper St. Clair High School held its third annual Halls of Fame induction ceremony on Friday evening September 20, 2002. Thirty inductees, who symbolize the spirit of this award, were honored. A sell out crowd who gathered at Panther Stadium to see the USC vs. Ringgold football game and its half time festivities cheered with approval as the inductees were individually recognized under the black, white and red canopied ballons. It is with great pleasure that we introduce you to the inductees of the 2002 Upper St. Clair High School Halls of Fame. Year below photo indicates USCHS year of graduation.

Arts Hall of Fame - Student Alumni Honorees Stephen Chbosky (1988) John Graulty (1980) Laura Schrock (1968) Ann Talman (1975) Michael Werner (1989)

Academic Hall of Fame — Student Alumni Honorees —

Athletic Hall of Fame - Student Alumni Honorees Missy Berteotti (1981) Joey David (1982) Jeff Delaney (1975) Bob Johnston (1990) Jeff Joyce (1966) Marty Sieckmann (1982) Dave Vanchina (1976) Frank Vanzin (1962) Mandy West (1995) Doug Whaley (1990) Mark White (1985)

— Administration/Staff Honorees —

Lynn Digby Baxter (1981)

Jonathan Bickham (1975)

2001 Halls of Fame Recipients Academic Hall of Fame - Administration/Staff Honorees Joseph Argiro (honored posthumously) Robert Brosnahan Franklin Carr Rosemarie Rocher Donald Stoicovy Victor Zuraw

Kathy DeBlassio

Joseph Ferderbar (honored posthumously)

Joe Wesley Coltman III (1974)

Daniel Cooper (1987)

Ann Gladden

Jane Hollman

George Davis (1960)

Amy Snyder Kaminski (1994)

George McClintock

Alex Perinis

Simona Pautler (1985)

Linda Decker Steindorf (1978)

Paul Pryor

John Small

Norman Wagner (1984)

William Warren (1982)

Arts Hall of Fame - Administration/Staff Honorees Thomas Harshman Linda Serene Academic Hall of Fame - Student Alumni Honorees Raj Chakrabarti (1991) Dr. Lori Cherup (1972) Dr. Jeffrey Cooper (1983) Dr. Stephanie Fulmer-Smentek (1987) Dr. Melisa Lai (1990) Donald Lund (1985) Kenneth Lund (1983) Robert Swartz (1983) Arts Hall of Fame - Student Alumni Honorees Claudia Curley Benack (1976) John Edkins (1976) Wynn Harmon (1978) Thomas Kikta (1980) Preston Simpson (1980) Athletic Hall of Fame - Student Alumni Honorees Mark Battaglia (1978) Sean Casey (1992) Craig Dunaway (1979) Scott Hawkins (1968) Mark Hondru (1993) Kathleen Tomko Kappert (1990) Laura Koerner (1996) Jack Maitland (1966) Mary Moran (1985) Gary Schick (1989) Nancy Tomich (1979)

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Winter 2002


High School Halls of Fame

Arts Hall of Fame

Athletic Hall of Fame

— Administration/Staff Honorees —

— Administration/Staff Honorees —

Joseph DePalma

George McClintock

Robert J. Gielas

Willard Hartley

— Student Alumni Honorees —

Paul Pavlov

Edward Driscoll (1980)

Sean Garnhart (1988)

Kirk Ferentz (1973)

Kristen Elias (1985)

— Student Alumni Honorees —

Martin J. Smith (1974)

Cullen Hawkins (1996)

Joseph Luxbacher (1969)

Kevin Orie (1990)

2003 Halls of Fame Inductee Nomination Nominee’s Name: _________________________________________ My nominee should be honored in the Upper St. Clair High School Halls of Fame because: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (include a separate sheet if necessary)

All Nominations Due May 31, 2003. Please submit your name, address and phone number along with your completed nomination to: Principal’s Office—Halls of Fame Committee • Upper St. Clair High School • 1825 McLaughlin Run Road • Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 Winter 2002

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Our Transportation Department Is At Your Service Transpor ting school students is not taken lightly

in Upper St. Clair. “Delivering students safely between homes and schools is our number one concern,” says Chuck Samek, Director of Transportation. To efficiently provide safe transportation services for approximately 4400 public, private and special needs students attending 30 schools within a ten-mile radius is no easy task and requires much planning. In addition to scheduling bus routes and pick up and drop off times Chuck must also make sure that all school bus drivers are properly certified and carry a Pennsylvania class B commercial driver’s license with a passenger endorsement and no air-brake restriction. All bus drivers are required to pass an annual physical and recertify as a Pennsylvania school bus driver every four

54

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

The Transportation Department— Tim Kostelic, Ron Crum, Chuck Samek, Steve Moore and Karen Powers.

years. Certification requires ten hours of instruction—classroom and hands on, which Chuck provides as a certified instructor examiner. The Federal Highway Administration requires all new employees are to have Act 33 and Act 34 clearances and must be pre-employment drug tested. Federal regulations also require that half

Winter 2002

of all Commercial Drivers Licensed bus drivers be randomly drug tested annually. To keep things rolling along smoothly, Karen Powers became head secretary of the bus garage, replacing Angela Palmer who retired this past year. Karen came to the bus garage equipped to handle all situations, previously serving as High School secretary of facilities. At your service are bus garage mechanics Ron Crum, Tom Kostelic and Steve Moore. They make sure that all 52 buses and vans owned by the District are properly inspected and maintained, helping to keep our children safe. To reach the bus garage with questions regarding transportation, contact Chuck Samek at 412-833-1600, extension 3450.


Jacob Lambach,

Highlights on Students

Presidential Classroom participants at the Georgetown University Conference Center are left to right: Hanna-Ruth Gustafsson—Sweden, Emily Smith—Ohio, Jennifer Andreassen—California, Michaelene Weimer—Upper St. Clair and Breana Boettener—Illinois.

Michaelene Weimer, a senior at the High School, attended the Presidential Classroom

Media and Democracy Program held in Washington, D.C., this past June. She, with more than 200 other students from across 42 states and abroad, experienced the inside world of the federal government. They spent a week discussing the role of the media and current issues with Washington policy makers and observing the federal government at work. “The Presidential Classroom was one of the greatest experiences of my life. In the week I spent in Washington I learned more than I ever expected, met peers from around the world and made friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime,” said Michaelene. For more information on the Presidential Classroom, a nonprofit organization, visit the website www.presidentialclassroom.org.

an Upper St. Clair High School junior competed in the 2002 USA Math Olympiad (USAMO) sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America this past May in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In the first round of testing held this past February, in which 238,000 students from 5100 schools nationwide competed, Jacob scored 146.5 out of a possible 150 points to qualify him for the second round of the competition in which 12,000 students competed. His composite score of the first two rounds enabled Jacob to compete in the third and final round of testing. He was among an elite 326 mathematically accomplished seventh through twelfth grade boys and girls from across the United States who took this two-day nine-hour exam. He is the first student from Upper St. Clair to have reached this level of competition. Congratulations Jacob! For more information on the USAMO and for a full list of participating students and their representative states visit the website www.unl.edu/amc.

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Renovations on Schedule Focused on “Phasing”

Baker’s halls were ready to greet the students on their first day back.

Constant change is the status quo at our three elemen-

tary schools these days. It’s a major undertaking to keep up and follow these changes on a daily basis. Away for a week—the side of a building gone! A week later—doesn’t look like the same school. Progress is continuing at such a rapid clip with bricks and mortar coming down, and new infrastructure going up. This change is good and exciting and certainly visible driving by any one of the three schools under construction. So, let’s report on what we know. With cooperative weather and diligent construction crews the renovation project remains on schedule. Site preparations were completed shortly after the last school day in June. Asbestos abatement was accomplished over the summer and foundations for the new sections of each building were successful prior to September 9, the date on which students returned for the new school year. The buzzword for this project is “phasing.” This term is used to describe the architect’s lingo for having school while the school is under construction—instruction during construction. Using the phasing approach disruption to the instructional program will be as little as possible. With the joint effort of the project’s construction manager, Turner Construction Company, and the School District administration and its focus, safety and security remain the primary goals for staff and students.

The Streams’ ballfield is intact for playing when Mrs. Mulhern’s third level class breaks from the classroom. 56

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Winter 2002

Beginning with the start of the 2003 calendar year, some students will be moving into the first completed phase at each building. At Baker, this move means the new classroom wing in the rear of the building and the renovated and expanded multipurpose room (gym). At Eisenhower it means the new classroom wing in the rear of the building and the new office area and library in the front of the school. At Streams, this move means the new classroom wing and the new multi-purpose room, both in the rear of the building.

Dr. Dunkis and Principal Mark Miller stand well in front of the steel girders at Eisenhower.

Upon moving into the newly constructed portions at each school, the vacated areas of the existing buildings will be available for renovations. Upon completion of these renovated areas, the next phase of student population and classroom movement is expected around spring break. “We recognize that our timetable of renovating three schools in a fifteen-month period is ambitious, and we are very pleased to be on schedule,” said Dr. Patricia Dunkis, Director of Education/ Instructional Principal (K-6), who is helping to oversee the project. “The phasing presents many challenges, but teachers have been positive and creative about dealing with obstacles. Students have taken construction very much in stride, and their parents have been wonderfully supportive.” Who’d have thought that tennis balls would come in so handy to help keep the chair and desk noise level down! While logistically tricky, School District administration remains committed to limiting each classroom to only one move this school year to keep disruption to a minimum. We’ll keep you posted!


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Whose Fault Is It? Reflections From a Curbstone Pulpit Jim Meston A kid came home from school and

said to his parents, “Here’s my report card… and I’m tired of watching TV anyway.” While his parents scanned the poor report card, and before they could say anything, the kid said, “What do you think the problem is, heredity or environment?” Each parent thought to himself that it was probably heredity on their spouse’s side, but neither said anything. The kid then said, “Why don’t you both sign the card with an X so they don’t expect too much out of me for the rest of the year?” Under cross examination, when a report card is below expectations many struggling students will have multiple excuses, such as, “The teacher doesn’t like me,”—the most common. I’ve used that one myself. Haven’t you? “I lost my book,” may work in the short run. “The teacher just doesn’t explain it so I can understand it,” is another good attempt at exoneration. In truth, that excuse may be closer to the truth than any of them. “The teacher always has to have the exact answer she is looking for.” (Example: The student’s response to the physics question, “Describe a solid state,” with the answer, “Alaska in the winter time.”) He argued it was at least a possible answer.

Whenever we don’t do well we frequently look for excuses, anything we can think of to deflect the poor results away from being our fault. Many people go through life never taking responsibility for a poor grade in school, poor performance on a job, or negative or inappropriate behavior that ruptured a relationship or caused it pain and stress. It’s so easy to find something or someone to blame for our failures. We can now include poor genes as a contributing culprit, narrowing down the heredity demon. When our intimate, constant companion “self worth” is too fearful of ever being wrong or making a mistake, we will do about anything not to be found out that we are not perfect in every way. We have all known people who speak in total absolutes as though their point of view is the only possible truth. They appear to know everything about everything and the last thing they would ever do is admit they are wrong. It makes it pretty hard to stay connected to someone like that, unless it’s your boss or your spouse, in which case you have a lot of stress to deal with in the relationship. The more insecure a person is the more they may try to always be right and will behave to extremes to avoid being discovered as being wrong or not knowing something. When something does go wrong, the last thing this insecure person will do is accept

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002


responsibility for what went wrong. They will go to extremes to blame someone else or generate any kind of excuse. This kind of insecurity frequently breeds pettiness which fosters vindictiveness because the insecure person resents anyone who may expose them as being wrong or having made a mistake and will seek revenge against that person. Their insecurity drives their inappropriate behavior of pettiness and vindictiveness. Many people live their lives blaming others and doing their utmost to avoid any personal responsibility for their ineffective behavior. Some people experience enough pain in their relationships from their arrogant and self-righteous behavior that they may change or modify their behavior. Some need the help of a professional therapist to exercise the contamination of their selfworth. Some look in the mirror and begin acknowledging their role in the drama of their lives. They admit their imperfections. They realize their unrealistic belief that they must be perfect. They learn it’s not a sign of weakness to admit they don’t know something. They begin to realize that mistakes can be viewed as learning experiences, which present opportunities to identify better ways to do something or optional ways to behave. They find the courage to make changes. When we’re engaged with other people and problems arise, we all have the potential to be the catalyst to help reduce defensive behavior. Instead of arguing when we don’t agree with someone, we can simply say, “I don’t see it the same way you do. Do you want my reasons?” The other person doesn’t feel as threatened. When something goes wrong we all have the ability to acknowledge the poor results, but instead of dwelling on the mistakes Continued on page 82

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School District Central Office Administration

Dr. William A. Pope Superintendent of Schools

M. Jane Sierzega Director of Finance and Business

Robert Obrosky Director of Technology

Jean Toner Director of Human Resources

Eloise Stoehr Supervisor of Pupil Services

Dr. Sharon Suritsky Director of Special Education

Dr. John Bornyas Director of Education/ Instructional Principal (7-12)

Dr. Patricia Dunkis Director of Education/ Instructional Principal (K-6)

Charles Samek Director of Transportation

To reach personnel call 412-833-1600, press 1, enter extension number followed by the # sign. Administrator

Secretary/Email Address

Extension

Dr. William A. Pope ........................................................ Mary Ann Stabile ............................ 2201 Superintendent of Schools mstabile@uscsd.k12.pa.us M. Jane Sierzega .............................................................. Bonnie Thomas ............................... 2266 Director of Finance and Business bthomas@uscsd.k12.pa.us Robert Obrosky ............................................................... Doreen Leech ................................... 2211 Director of Technology dleech@uscsd.k12.pa.us Jean Toner ........................................................................ Debi Bakowski ................................ 2286 Director of Human Resources dbakowski@uscsd.k12.pa.us Eloise Stoehr.................................................................... Phyllis Feller.................................... 2283 Supervisor of Pupil Services pfeller@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. Sharon Suritsky ........................................................ Phyllis Feller ................................... 2283 Director of Special Education pfeller@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. John Bornyas............................................................. Cheryl Ellison.................................. 2202 Director of Education/Instructional Principal (7-12) cellison@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. Patricia Dunkis ......................................................... Cheryl Ellison.................................. 2202 Director of Education/Instructional Principal (K-6) cellison@uscsd.k12.pa.us Charles Samek................................................................. Karen Powers .................................. 3450 Director of Transportation kpowers@uscsd.k12.pa.us School District Building Administration

Dr. Terrence Kushner ................................... Principal of the High School Joe DeMar ..................................................... High School Assistant Principal/Dean of Students Dr. Mike Ghilani .......................................... High School Assistant Principal/Dean of Students Dr. William Rullo ......................................... Director of High School Guidance Dr. Timothy Steinhauer ............................... Principal of Fort Couch Middle School Kevin Deitrick .............................................. Administrative Intern at Fort Couch Karen Brown ................................................ Acting Principal of Boyce Middle School Dr. Ruth Ann Matyuf ................................... Principal of Baker Elementary School Mark Miller ................................................... Principal of Eisenhower Elementary School Beverly Krill .................................................. Principal of Streams Elementary School

General USC School District website is www.uscsd.k12.pa.us 60

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002


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School District Strategic Plan Update Dr. Timothy Steinhauer, Strategic Plan Chairperson

TUCKER ARENSBERG, P.C. ATTORNEYS

The Upper St. Clair School District completed “Strand

I” of its six-year strategic plan. With the help of 80 volunteers— teachers, administrators, parents and community members, an excellent plan was developed. What a strategic plan does: • Defines the purpose of the organization • Provides a clear focus for resources • Communicates District goals to the educators and community • Provides a baseline from which progress can be measured The School District shall engage in planned activities during the six years leading toward the achievement of the following goal areas: • Academic Standards • Assessment • Graduation Requirements • Professional Development and Induction • Student Achievement Following school board approval on September 23rd, the plan was submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education on September 30, 2002. Thank you for the outstanding effort to develop a plan that will help guide the Upper St. Clair School District into the future.

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Did You Know? Did You Know? Did You Know? Did You Know? Did You Know? Did You Know? Did You Know? Did You Know?

Did You Know?

Jeff rey W. Joy ce was app oin ted school board member to replace Jim Murdy, who resigned his boa rd position this past June. He will sit on the board through Decemb er 2003, fulfilling the remainder of the term. Jeff, a former USC High School science and chemistry teacher, was the school’s basketball coach from 1976 to 1982, and previously serv ed as assistant basketball and football coach during his 12year teaching tenure. A 1966 graduate from USCHS Jeff was inducted in the inaugural Upper St. Clair High School Halls of Fame in 2000 for his outstanding athletic contributio n. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in chemistry and political science and received his master’s degree in teaching from Duquesne University. Jeff is currently the president and owner of 1902 Corporation and North Shore Manage ment, Inc. and member of the City of Pittsburgh plannin g task force to redevelop areas of downtown Pittsburgh. In related news, Dr. Mark Tromb etta was selected to fulfill the position of School Boa rd president and Dave Bluey will serve as vice preside nt of the board through December 2002.

er

Boyce IB team with teacher Jim Smoy

ndation in Switzerland The International Baccalaureate Fou s program and designated certified the District’s Middle Year ol. Upper St. Clair is one of Upper St. Clair as an international scho authorized IB middle school only 50 schools in the nation with an in the country with both a program and is the only school district and baccalaureate program middle years (grades six through 10) seniors graduated from (grades 11 and 12). This past June, nine ional Baccalaureate diploma the High School receiving an Internat as well as a high school diploma. involved in the IB proOur elementary school students are also l School (USCIS) is a pilot gram. The Upper St. Clair Internationa ’s Primary Years program. program of the International Baccalaureate , is comprised of elementary USCIS, in its fourth year of operation ram and attend the program school students who choose the IB prog rict has applied for and at Streams Elementary School. The Dist ion from the International anticipates authorization and designat school year. An onsite visitaBaccalaureate Organization (IBO) this place at Streams this past tion from three IBO representatives took n consideration. September. The visit was for certificatio

mittee, left to right, back row: St. Clair Super Team Steering Com Pope, Bill Pope, Tom Labanc, Adam Mike Golden, Tim Lightner, Fran McElroy and Rachel Golden Front row: Ryan Pope and Kim Pope

helped make the Multiple ScleOur own St. Clair Super Team team, chaired by Tom Labanc rosis (MS) Walk successful. This ed MS awareness but also coland Fran McElroy, not only rais Pittsburgh MS Walk held this lected $8100 in donations for the team sixth of over 50 teams past April. This amount placed the entered in this fundraiser. n by walking one mile and Dr. Pope also rose to the occasio donations, earning him sixth personally brought in $3200 in tributions. Congratulations to place in individually collected con Team who collected donations all members of the St. Clair Super k you to everyone who made and walked in the event. Also, than Look for information on the contributions to this worthy cause. on April 6. 2003 Pittsburgh MS Walk to be held 62

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002

Matt Mellinger, Ted Petersen, Cindy Storer and Tom Labanc

Personnel in the Athletic Department are ready, willing and able to effectively guide our athletes and athletic programs at the High School. Athletic Director Ted Petersen, Assistant Director Tom Labanc, Assistant Director Matt Mellinger and Athletic Office Secretary Cindy Storer match up to form a “scoring” team. To reach the Athletic Office please call 412833-1600, extension 2260.


meet our coaches meet our coaches meet our coaches meet our coaches

Meet Our Coaches

Along with the new school year brings new coaches to our high school fields. Please welcome them and cheer them and their teams on during their spirited and competitive endeavors. Carol Olack has accepted the role of girls’ cross country coach, taking over for her husband, Tim, who remains the boys’ cross country coach and the District’s track coordinator and track coach. Carol is a physical education teacher at Eisenhower and is assistant winter and spring girls’ track coach.

After serving two years as assistant coach, High School German teacher Uwe Schneider stepped up and accepted the head coach’s position of the boys’ soccer team. He replaced retired teacher and coach Joe DePalma. Assistant coaches are Joe’s son Gary DePalma, David Gray, Dustin LeBeau and Fred Jackson.

ies teacher, Todd Flynn, High School social stud . He previteam golf s’ is head coach of the boy er retired und ch coa t ously served as assistan linger, Mel t Mat . etti teacher and coach Jim Fus leti c ath t stan assi ’s one of the Hig h Sch ool ch. directors, is assistant coa

h the assigned to coac Jack Zebo was Jack ar team. Last ye girls’ volleyball ach. co ’s interim head served as the team ol ho Sc h her at the Hig He is a science teac ’s ol ho Sc News, the High and runs Campus le gg Ri sa sistants are Li TV station. His as e. and Steve McIntry

Rachel Heins and Chris Bu da share the coaching position for girls’ field hockey this year. The team celebrates its sec ond year as a PIAA sanctioned women’s sport at USC. Rachel is earning her maste r’s degree in bio-medical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, works at UPMC as a bio-medical engineer in the artificial heart pro gram and is the engineering mentor at the High School. Chris is an attorney and a ministe r. He also is the regional director of Young Life, a Christian program for high school stu dents. Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Kindergarten News Parents are requested to register their kindergarten aged children at the elementary school located in their attendance area. All children five years of age on or before September 1, 2003, are eligible to register.

School District Coming Attractions Spring 2003 Issue: An interview with the Business/Finance Department

School Area Date Baker...............................................................................................................Tuesday, March 4 Eisenhower............................................................................................... Wednesday, March 5 Streams ........................................................................................................ Thursday, March 6 Times for All........................................................................................ 9-11 a.m., Noon-2 p.m. A special evening session for all elementary schools will be held on Thursday, March 13, 7–8:30 p.m. at the High School library. It is not necessary that the student accompany the parent to registration. Readiness Evaluation

School personnel are available to screen students whose parents wish additional help in making a decision on entrance into kindergarten. Individual dates will be established during registration.

Boyce Middle School— A school in review

Special Testing

How Fort Couch students, teachers and families celebrated the Blue Ribbon award

Parents of four-year-olds with birth dates between September 2, 1998, and January 31, 1999, may request school personnel to test their child to determine readiness for early admission to kindergarten. The final decision on a child’s readiness for school will be made by school personnel. Requests for early admission testing should be made by June 1, 2003. Admission Periods

Updating you on the progress of the elementary school project

The admission period for kindergarten is limited to the first two weeks of the school year unless the child’s family transfers to Upper St. Clair from another school district where the child was enrolled in a kindergarten program. Questions regarding kindergarten readiness should be directed to Eloise Stoehr, Supervisor of Pupil Services, at 412-833-1600, extension 2214. School Health Immunization Regulations

Show Your Pride and Wear Your Colors! Upper St. Clair Panther clothing is available for sale at the High School bookstore. Choose from screened T-shirts to embroidered shirts and sweaters. Stop in at the bookstore to see our selection, or call 412-833-1600, ext. 2265.

The Allegheny County Health Department’s (ACHD) Board of Health has enacted a revision to the School Health Immunization Regulations for children in Allegheny County. Since August 2002, all students entering school for the first time at kindergarten or first grade must have the following immunizations completed prior to entering any public, private or parochial school: • At least four doses of diphtheria/tetanus vaccine (one dose must be on or after the fourth birthday) • Three doses of polio vaccine • Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine • Two doses of measles vaccine, preferably as MMR vaccine • One dose each of mumps and rubella vaccine, preferably as MMR vaccine • Vericella immunity, either from vaccination, history of having chicken pox or laboratory testing Since 1983, Allegheny County Regulations have allowed provisional status only for students who transfer from another state. Students transferring from out of state may be enrolled provisionally provided there is evidence of having received at least one dose of each antigen and provided there is a plan to complete the required immunization within eight months. Families are encouraged to obtain the needed immunizations from their physicians. However, the ACHD does offer the required vaccines free of charge. To obtain information about clinic location and times, interested persons should contact the ACHD Infectious Diseases Program at 412-578-8060. Provisions for this regulation do not apply in cases where extenuating medical or religious factors are involved. If there is any reason why a child should not be fully immunized, parents must submit a physician’s certificate explaining the circumstances. Parents are also required to provide written documentation if they disapprove of immunizations for religious reasons. These documents will be accepted in lieu of a certificate of immunization. Registration Packets

Registration packets will be available at each elementary school after February 24, 2003. Parents are encouraged to pick them up during school hours and return the completed forms at the time of registration. 64

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Winter 2002


Who’s Who At Our Schools? Dr. Matyuf Makes a House Call to Baker Dr. Ruth Ann Matyuf warmly welcomes Baker families to call her principal of this fine elementary school. When the school board realigned administrative positions this past summer, her previous position as Director of Secondary Education was eliminated. Ruth Ann easily became comfortable at Baker and is up for the different types of challenges that younger students bring. She has been with the District since 1993 serving in capacities from K-12 and in Central Office. “I have had the wonderful opportunity to see programs evolve, students grow, and connections being made between the elementary and Dr. Matyuf gives morning middle schools and the High School,” said Ruth Ann. announcements. “I am proud of implementing the International Baccalaureate (IB) program that distinguishes USC from other Allegheny County school districts.” Dr. Matyuf earned her bachelor’s degree from Penn State University, her master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and her doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. Ruth Ann was the recipient of the distinguished Dr. Lillian Fehr Educator of Excellence award from the Alpha Pi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for Women Educators in 2001. Ruth Ann shares her love of academia with her husband, John Esaias, who is the superintendent of North Hills School District. Ruth Ann exercises for relaxation, enjoying both snow and water skiing and golf. A number one priority is spending quality time with family at their home in the North Hills. Son David is currently working on his undergraduate degree at West Virginia Wesleyan. Ruth Ann enjoys everything this School District is about and sums it up by saying, “Upper St. Clair has outstanding students, quality programs and teachers, and supportive parents. This is what makes USC a Blue Ribbon District!”

Mark Miller “Marks his Spot” at Eisenhower Mark Miller traveled

two miles northwest from his fourth level elementary teaching position last year to “mark his spot” as the new principal of Eisenhower. “I’m looking forward to working with the students, teachers and parents in the Eisenhower community. I firmly believe in working together to build a positive learning environment,” stated Mark when asked about his new position in the District. Mark received his bachelor’s degree in accounting at Point State Park College in 1991. He served as an auditor for the Office of Inspector General at NASA from 1991 to 1994. He went on to earn his teacher certification from the University of

Pittsburgh in 1995 and received his principal certification in 2002. Mark is currently concluding graduate studies that will earn him a master’s degree in education. Mark taught levels one through four at Streams since 1995 and also served as assistant varsity baseball coach at the High School from 1994 to 2001. Over the summer Mark was married and enjoyed vacationing in the northwest United States and British Columbia with his new bride, Rachel.

Continued on page 66 Winter 2002

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Who’s Who at Our Schools? Continued from page 65

Tried and True Stands Beverly at Streams

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

may be the status quo regarding the elementary schools construction project, Beverly Krill is the person to keep things “the same” and comfortable for students and staff at Streams, as she continues as principal, a position she’s held there for six years. Prior to her current role, Beverly was the principal at Boyce Middle School. She also served as principal for two years at Beth Center and five years at Seneca Valley. She totaled ten years of teaching in the Penn Hills, West Greene and Central Greene school districts and taught at our Township’s Johnston Elementary School, prior to its closing. Beverly received her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, continuing with her education at California University of Pennsylvania where she earned her master’s degree and her principal’s certificate. “I am proud of the strong partnership that exists among parents, teachers, administrators, the school board and the larger USC community to support high quality learning for all children,” said Beverly. “Together we have built an outstanding curriculum which is adaptable to unique student’s needs,” she added. Streams Elementary is the host school of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years program for our elementary school age students, and Beverly is proud of that program as well as the multi-age program at the elementary level. Turning to the building’s renovation Beverly stated, “The renovation and expansion project is exciting for all involved. We are using the ‘construction during instruction’ approach as an opportunity for our children to learn how the world works.” Beverly and her husband, Richard, are the parents of three young adult daughters. Emily is an artist, living in New York City. Rebecca is a teacher in Virginia and Julia is serving in the Peace Corp in Nicaragua.

Winter 2002

Karen Brown warmly greets her students.

Karen Brown gives up her seven-year

position as seventh and eighth level gifted coordinator and math resource teacher at Fort Couch to accept the position of principal at Boyce this year. Karen has been with the District for 30 years, a career that began in 1973 as a fifth level teacher at Eisenhower. She moved to Boyce in 1987 when a fifth level was established there and stayed until 1994 when she transferred to Fort Couch accepting a teaching position and going on to become the school’s gifted coordinator. “It’s like coming home to a special family,” Karen said when asked about returning to Boyce. Karen earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and received both her master’s degree and principal certification from Duquesne University. She’s served on over a dozen School District committees dealing with human relations, planning and student subjects. She’s presented material and paneled subjects on middle school philosophy and gifted student programs and is the current District In-service Coordinator. Karen lives in Baldwin Borough with her husband, Larry, of 21 years and their two children Maria and A.J. who attend Baldwin High School. Larry works as a supervisor of special education for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Karen enjoys golf and gardening to wind down from a busy school day and takes self-defense aerobics classes to stay fit. She escapes to the sunny south, visiting Sanibel Island as often as possible. Karen takes over as principal for predecessor Dr. William Rullo. Bill was appointed Director of High School Guidance this past July, a position vacated by John Koesel who retired over the summer.


Who’s Guarding the Fort?

Seventh graders Kristen Kennedy, Aly Murray, Corey Grimm and Glenn Phillips help Dr. Steinhauer inspect the lockers on the first day of school.

Dr. Timothy Steinhauer guards Fort

Couch Middle School (dearly known as “the Fort”) as school principal, a position he’s held for five years. Tim graduated from Penn State University with a doctorate in educational administration. He spent two

years at Bentworth High School, Washington County as assistant principal, then moved to USCHS where he spent two years as Dean of Students. What recently at USC has caused enthusiasm for Tim? “I am very proud that Fort Couch Middle School, with its staff and students, earned its third Blue Ribbon award in school year 2001-02,” Tim answered. Tim lives in the community with his wife Dr. Kimberly Steinhauer, a singing voice specialist at UPMC Voice Center and researcher at the Veterans Hospital, and their two children, Luke and Nathan, who attend Eisenhower. Tim enjoys running and cycling and has participated in the Multiple Sclerosis 150, a two-day cycling event—riding from Cranberry Township to Lake Erie. He is a member of the Mt. Lebanon Lutheran Chancel and Bell choirs, which his wife directs.

Where in USC is Terry Kushner? The High School—Of Course!

Dr. Kushner talks with tenth grade student Megan Wiles.

Dr. Terrence Kushner is a staple at

our impressive academic structure we call Upper St. Clair High School. As principal of the High School and with his seventeen years of experience in the School District he knows how to properly guide and get the most out of the 1400 students enrolled here. “I’m most proud of the success of our students,” said Terry when asked about lasting impressions of USC. “This is a great School District and our finest resource is our students.” Terry received his bachelor’s degree in math from Colgate University and his M.A.T. from the University of Pittsburgh. He attained his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Supervision from Pitt and went on to earn his principal’s certification from California University of Pennsylvania. Not stopping there, Terry culminated his academic achievements by getting his superintendent’s letter from West Virginia University. Terry started his teaching career in 1969 at Moon Township High School where he taught math and was the head football coach. He then worked in Peters Township School District for three years and went on

to become assistant principal at Trinity High School and Baldwin High School for three and two years, respectively, before coming to Upper St. Clair High School as principal. Much has happened while Terry has been at the helm of the High School. Two programs were added during his tenure— Advanced Placement (A.P.) Science and International Baccalaureate (I.B.)—both of which are highly regarded academic successes. He was instrumental in instituting the Classified Staff Development program and helped establish the Resource and Testing Centers at the school. He also kept things very much on course during the construction of the new High School, which was completed and dedicated in 2000. Two prestigious awards were earned during his tenure, of which Terry congratulates and shares the accomplishments with USC administration, staff, students and families of the High School—The Blue Ribbon award received in the 1999-2000 school year and the New American High School award earned in 2000-01. “These awards are never earned alone, but with the help of all,” said Terry. Terry and his wife, Pam are celebrating their 30-year wedding anniversary on December 23rd. Being a huge football fan, Terry couldn’t have picked a better date for this celebration—also the 30-year anniversary of the memorable “Immaculate Reception” of Pittsburgh Steelers’ Franco Harris at the 1972 Steelers vs. Raiders playoff game. Terry and Pam have two grown children, Kristen, 24 and Drew, 22. Winter 2002

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Around The Township

What’s for Dinner? The Upper St. Clair cookbook, Flavours, contains ap-

proximately 400 great recipes, and promises to be a welcome addition to any cook’s collection of books. In addition to recipes from USC residents and others, there is a chapter devoted to recipes from restaurants and chefs. The cookbook will be a three-ring, hard bound book published by Slavia, a local printer and a USC resident. The cover for the cookbook, a still-life painting, was created by Elizabeth Hayes, a USC resident and nationally known Certified Decorative Artist. She has authored six decorative art books, a video and also teaches throughout the USA and South America. In addition, another USC resident, Ellen Leimkuehler, has drawn eight scenes found in USC. These scenes include such favorites as Tustin Farm, Boyce Station, the Log House, and the barns along Morton Road. The drawings will be featured throughout the book. The committee met every Wednesday since March and is known as “The Women of Wednesday.” These women are Celeste Acinapura, Betsy Basinski, Vivian Criner, Chaya Dewan, Kathy Foley, Genie Gooding, Inger Grenvik, Erin Heise, Dee McNinch, Mary Etta Nader, Sandy Nicklas, Joan Purnell, Sharon Pashel, Mariam Richardson, Mary Jean Rollick, Peggy Snavely, Sandie Thomas and Dee Weaver. The book is $20.05. All profits earned from the sale of this book will be used to fund programs and projects supported by the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair.

Flavours Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair 2585 Washington Road, Suite 131A Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 Phone: 412-831-1107 • FAX: 412-257-4160 www.mainstreetusc.com Name Street Address City

State

Zip Code

Telephone

E-mail (optional) Your Order

Quantity

Flavours at $20.05 including tax, shipping and handling per book

Total $

Method of Payment ❑ VISA

❑ MasterCard

❑ Check payable to the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair Account Number

Expiration Date

Cardholder Name Signature Photocopies accepted 68

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2002


USC Newcomers Club

Newcomers 2002-03 Executive Board, left to right: Sue Friday, president; Peggy Canose, treasurer; Erin Parker, recording secretary and Donna Kiernan, corresponding secretary. Missing from the photo is Marie Klos, vice president.

The Newcomers Club of Upper St. Clair is open to any woman who has lived

in the Township for less than two years. Membership may be retained for five years. Newcomers is a great way to get acquainted with your community, meet new friends and enjoy many social and family activities. For membership and event information call President Sue Friday at 412-854-5593 or click on to the link from the community’s website at www.mainstreetusc.com.

Ladies Golf Classic Raises More Than $50,000

Among the participants in the Ladies Golf Classic are left to right: Co-chair Carlyn Belczyk, Ginny Shovick, former LPGA pro Missie Berteotti, Kathy Landock, and Michele Dawson.

More than 200 participants in The Washington Hospital Foundation’s eighth

annual Ladies Golf Classic, held on August 19, raised over $50,000 to benefit Women’s Health Care at the hospital. A highlight of the day was the participation of former LPGA pro and USC native Missie Berteotti, who played golf, posed for photos with each of the foursomes, conducted a putting clinic, and spoke at the dinner that followed the event. Missie was a recipient of the USCHS Athletic Hall of Fame award in 2000. Winter 2002

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The Mighty Oak Barrel Restaurant in Oakmont Margaret Fisher They say from a little acorn grows a mighty oak. And that’s exactly what

happened in the case of The Mighty Oak Barrel Restaurant in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. From a little seed of an idea (and a great deal of hard work and determination) sprouted a mighty, albeit physically small, restaurant. Five years ago, Lisa Rusak and Grainne Trainor, proprietors of The Mighty Oak Barrel, had an idea for a small, intimate restaurant that served creative dishes of fresh, seasonal ingredients prepared simply yet bursting with flavor. I was there recently for a wine tasting which, by the way, they have monthly, featuring wines from different regions. On this particular evening, they featured Italian wines from Castello de Querceto. Lisa and Grainne had recently returned from a trip to Tuscany where they were guests at this beautiful winery and experienced first hand the fruits of the winemakers’ labors. Rocco Cavuoti of Prestige Wine Importers presented three different Chiantis from Castello de Querceto, graduating from the lower end Chiantis all the way to the Chianti Classico Riservas. Along the way, the patrons that evening received a condensed education on the winemaking process and other fun facts. A different appetizer was served to complement each wine. Total cost for the event was $25 per person—not bad for a virtual tour of Tuscany. On any other evening, the menu is a veritable mix of appetizers, pastas, seafood and meat entrees, with the menu changing seasonally to take advantage of freshly available ingredients. One of their most popular appetizers is the Tuna Tower, comprised of seared medium-rare ahi tuna stacked with sesame-crusted wontons, cucumber relish and cusabi vinaigrette for $8. In addition to a number of pasta dishes, they offer four different types of ravioli. I tried the butternut squash ravioli in a sage cream sauce, $14, which was exquisite. The fresh seafood dishes caught my eye, especially the red snapper encrusted with lemon zest and asparagus served with mascarpone ravioli in a tomato hollandaise sauce for $18. There was also an assortment of duck, pork and chicken 70

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Winter 2002

dishes on the menu which all sounded appetizing. House salads are served with all entrees. Prior to opening The Mighty Oak Barrel, Lisa and Grainne had worked in larger, more commercial establishments, honing their skills. When they joined forces, they were able to put into practice their common philosophy that smaller is better. Their vision of creating an intimate, homey atmosphere where their patrons would feel like family became a reality. Lisa’s mother, Puddy, greets you as you enter with such a warmness you feel as if you’ve known her all your life. The decor is unassuming, but the low lighting and some quirky touches contribute to a cozy ambience. The bar adjacent to the dining area draws a friendly crowd where many locals gather to meet old friends or make new ones. Grainne told us that many locals come in solo, just to relax after work, and strike up conversations with complete strangers. They serve approximately 25 wines by the glass, mainly domestic, but also an increasing number of Italian, French and Australian wines. They also have a small but interesting wine list by the bottle, all reasonably priced. As if they aren’t busy enough, Lisa and Grainne also have a thriving catering business. Next time you’re in Oakmont, treat yourself to this little gem of a restaurant. The hours of operation for lunch are Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., and for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, 5–10 p.m. Reservations are recommended. The Mighty Oak Barrel 939 Third Street Oakmont, PA 15139 412-826-1069


Serving Upper St. Clair Churches and Synagogues Alliance Church of Upper St. Clair 2510 Old Washington Road—412-835-4775 Berean Fellowship Church 300 Rockfield Circle, Scott Township 412-220-4673 Beth-El Congregation Of South Hills 1900 Cochran Road, Mt. Lebanon 412-561-1168 Bethel Presbyterian Church 2999 Bethel Church Road, Bethel Park 412-835-0405 Beverly Heights United Presbyterian Church 1207 Washington Road—412-561-5100 Center Presbyterian Church 255 Center Church Road, McMurray 724-941-9050 Christ United Methodist Church 44 Highland Road, Bethel Park—412-835-6621 Faith Lutheran Church of Upper St. Clair Bartley Road, Mt. Lebanon—412-835-4590 First Church of Christ Scientist 1100 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon 412-561-1125 Good Shepherd Church USC High School, LGI Room—724-746-0224 Holy Child Parish 212 Station Street, Bridgeville—412-221-5213 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox 123 Gilkeson Road, Mt. Lebanon 412-833-3355 Hope Lutheran Church 2799 Old Washington Road—724-941-9441 Mt. Lebanon Christian Church Cedar Blvd., at Hollycrest Dr.—412-531-8554 New Day Assembly of God 701 Circle Drive—724-941-1661

Reverse the ravages of time.

Ruthfred Lutheran Church Patterson and South Park Roads, Bethel Park 412-835-7140 St. David’s Episcopal Church 905 E. McMurray Road, Peters Twp. 724-941-4060 St. George Orthodox Church 610 Dewey Avenue, Bridgeville—412-221-2277 St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church 2005 Mohawk Road—412-835-7800 St. John Capistran Roman Catholic Church 1610 McMillan Road—412-221-5445 St. Louise de Marillac Roman Catholic Church 312 McMurray Road—412-833-1010 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Washington Road—412-531-7153 St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church 126 Fort Couch Road, Bethel Park 412-833-0031 South Hills Assembly of God 2725 Bethel Church Road, Bethel Park 412-835-8900 South Hills Community Baptist Church 2400 Old Washington Road—412-833-1313 South Hills Interfaith Ministries 1900 Sleepy Hollow Road, South Park 412-854-9120 South Hills Presbyterian Church in America 110 Hays Road—724-941-3480 Temple Emmanuel 1250 Bower Hill Road—412-279-7600 The Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills 1240 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon 412-561-6277

Unlike the damage that occurs to other parts of your body, damage to your teeth cannot heal on its own. Over time, teeth erode, fracture, and decay, and older repairs deteriorate. But you don’t have to give in to the ravages of time. Our expertise in restorative dentistry allows us to recreate your ideal tooth structure, and restore you to optimal dental health. To find out how you can recapture your dental youth, simply call our office and schedule an appointment. It could be your first step to a happier, healthier future. General Dentistry Implants Cosmetic Dentistry Headache Relief Restorative Dentistry

Westminister Presbyterian Church 2040 Washington Road—412-835-6630

New Song Church 3755 Library Road, Castle Shannon 412-341-1293

If we overlooked your information, or have incorrect information, please write to: Editor, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 or email us at brown@twpusc.org. Thank you! Winter 2002

70 Fort Couch Road, Upper St. Clair

412-833-6166 www.implantcosmeticdentistr y.com UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Profiles

St. Clair Hospital Medical Suites Comprehensive health care services for your family and business: Family Practice Medical Associates South (Southpointe) Fatigati-Nalin Associates (Bridgeville) LabLink Laboratory services Medical Diagnostics X-rays, EKGs, Bone Density testing, Ultrasound SHORE Physical, Occupational, Speech and Massage Therapies St. Clair OB-GYN Associates, Inc. (Southpointe) Occupational Medicine Work injury, pre-employment physicals and drug screening Travel Medicine Pre-travel medical consultation, vaccinations

St. Clair Hospital Medical Suites

Three convenient locations

An affiliate of St. Clair Hospital

Services vary by location

St. Clair Hospital Medical Suite at Bethel Park (across from South Hills Village) 2000 Oxford Drive Bethel Park, PA 15102 (412) 344-6388 or (412) 835-7100

St. Clair Hospital Medical Suite at Bridgeville (in the Chartiers Valley Shopping Center) 1025 Washington Pike Route 50 Bridgeville, PA 15107 (412) 344-6600, x4050

St. Clair Hospital Medical Suite at Southpointe (Route 79S, Exit 48) 501 Corporate Drive Canonsburg, PA 15317 (724) 746-3369

w w w. s t c l a i r. o r g No appointment for general x-ray or lab services. 72

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Winter 2002

Heidi Vollmer, USCHS ’91, has accepted

the position of Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Brigham Young University following her marriage to Trent Snarr. Heidi received her doctorate in Organic Chemistry from Oxford University, which was funded by a Keith Murray Scholarship and Overseas Research Award. She did her postdoctoral research at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Columbia University in Manhattan in organic chemistry and biochemistry, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As an undergraduate, Heidi received fellowships from Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and the University of Utah to do research in organic chemistry. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Utah with a degree in chemistry/math and in German. A chemistry departmental scholarship and a Kiel scholarship for study abroad funded these degrees in Germany. Heidi also studied at Salzburg College in Austria and at the University of Colorado. She was one of the University of Utah’s candidates for the Rhode’s Scholarship. She has had her work published in several prestigious scientific journals. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. Heidi spent two years of high school at The National Sports Academy in Lake Placid, training in figure skating with Olympic aspirations. She spent two years in college being trained in speed skating with the Olympic coach that trained Bonnie Blair and other Olympic gold medallists.


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1-888-55-FERRY or 412-650-5579

Classifieds Tailwaggers Pet Sitting, LLC, 412-343-3433. Professional and responsible pet sitting to meet your needs during vacations, weekends or day trips. Fully bonded and insured. References always provided. Call now! Book early! Japanese Garden For Sale—Green Japanese maple tree—Five feet high by eight feet wide—$2,000 or best offer. Red Japanese maple and Oriental spruce trees—both nine feet high—$800 for pair. Call 412-322-0172. Advertise in UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY Magazine Call Dawn at 412-833-1600, extension 2284 or visit www.twpusc.org/magazine

Luminaria Luminaria has come to represent warmth, peace and friendliness in Upper St. Clair and draws visitors from far and wide to enjoy our candlelit streets. Order by December 4. Delivery on December 14. Luminaria kits, including candles, bags and sand, are $7 per dozen. Luminaria sale is sponsored by USC Band Parents Association. Proceeds benefit USCHS Band/Orchestra students. For more information call 412-221-5657 or visit www.uscbpa.org. Luminaria Kit Order Form Name: ________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________ Zip: __________________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________ Number of Kits _______ x $7 per kit = $ _______Total Enclosed Make check payable to: USC Band Parents Association Mail to: USC Band Parents Association 2354 Rexford Drive, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

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Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair Attention Business Owners and Employees Who Would Like to Support the New Regional Environmental Education Center

COMING EVENTS

Join us for the Community Foundation’s

Tenth Anniversary Celebration January 18, 2003

The Community Foundation, because of its non-profit 501(c)(3) status, has received approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to be listed as an educational improvement organization under the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, for the purpose of supporting the new Regional Environmental Education Center (REEC) to be built on the Boyce Mayview property. The application was approved and determined by the state to be an “innovative educational program.” Under this new state program, a business or corporation may obtain Pennsylvania tax credits for up to 90% of its gift if the identical contribution is made over two consecutive years. The maximum, two-year gift that can be made is $200,000. These credits may be used to offset Pennsylvania business taxes such as corporate net income tax and capital stock tax. The Foundation will be seeking funding to support the initial programming for the new Environmental Education Center. Residents who are interested in participating in this wonderful program, through their own business or by making contact between their employer and the Community Foundation, should contact CF Executive Director Linda Serene at 412-257-2520 or via email to LHSerene@aol.com. This is a wonderful opportunity to support environmental education of students and adults.

MainStreetUSC presents:

CELEBRATING THE ARTS May 10, 2003

eNews Sign up to receive USC eNews delivered electronically to your email address. Emails are sent out about once a week and cover topics such as general community news, education/school news, fine and performing arts events, recreation and leisure activities, and science and technology updates. The USC Police will also use this to issue Police Alerts for the community.

Want to get involved with the planning committee? Contact the CF office.

To sign up: • Go to www.mainstreetusc.com • Click on the link “MainStreetUSC eNews” in the green links bar at the top of the home page • Fill out the New Subscriber’s Form

“Flavours” The latest Upper St. Clair Cookbook is now available for purchase! $20.05 per book See page 68 for details.

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for Lifelong Learning

Note: A recent grant of $5,000 from PNC will be used to support the continuing development of MainstreetUSC.

The fall session of classes, which concludes the week of November 4, featured the following topics of interest: • • • • • • •

As you like it (Shakespeare Comedy) Beyond e-mail I wish I could draw Mary Baker Eddy Paris in the Twenties Retirement and estate planning The roots of democracy

Watch for the brochure detailing the spring session offerings coming soon.

For additional information on any of these items, visit the community's website at www.mainstreetusc.com or contact the Community Foundation office at 412-831-1107.

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Faith Lutheran Church Making a Connection Fifty inner city children arrive at an after school program in Homewood—hungry and in need of help with homework. A missionary begins the long, dusty walk home through the low, rolling plains of Senegal. A homeless man seeks out the Washington City mission for lodging and food. The common ground that these people share is the congregation of Faith Lutheran Church—making a connection. Faith Lutheran Church, 80 Bartley Road, actively seeks to “make a connection” between people and spirituality in all of its forms. While the word spirituality generally brings to mind prayer life, meditation and worship services, it also means authentic discipleship. And at Faith, discipleship is alive and well in many vital forms. Led by the Rev. Ronald Weryha, M.Div., M.ED in Counseling Education, the congregation faithfully reaches out to those in need, locally and internationally, through financial assistance and by volunteering time and talents to various causes. In addition to working with inner city children, the Washington City Mission and supporting a missionary in Senegal, some other outreach efforts include a program for the patients of Mayview State Hospital and support of South Hills Interfaith Ministries. “One advantage that we have at Faith is being a comfortable mid-size church,” said Weryha. “It is large enough to draw on many different members to serve the Lord and one another through fellowship and outreach programs, but it is small enough that we are able to get to know one another and make personal connections.” Faith has also embraced a new educational concept in children’s ministry that is gaining momentum throughout the country called “rotational Sunday school.” According to Sue Hunley, Sunday school superintendent, “It involves an interactive, workshop style of teaching

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that allows children to use many of their senses to process, understand and absorb Bible stories. As the children rotate through workshops that incorporate music, storytelling, art, multimedia and puppetry, a single message is covered in a variety of ways.” In addition to a vibrant children’s Sunday school program, Faith offers adult Bible study, youth groups, a vocal choir and handbell choir. Examples of Ministry Teams on which to serve include health and wellness, evangelism, long-range planning, stewardship, fellowship, prayer chain and outreach. Numerous fellowship activities for all ages are planned throughout the year and a social group for seniors, called “Voyagers,” meets monthly. Founded in 1949, Faith completed a renovation in the year 2000, adding a stunning, airy, new narthex and balcony. Remodeling projects continue to update and beautify the facility. Adult Bible study and Sunday school for ages K–12 begin on Sundays at 9:15 a.m. Worship service is at 10:30 a.m. Everyone is warmly welcomed to worship with, serve with, and make a connection to the congregation of Faith Lutheran Church. Please call 412-835-4590, for more information.

STUDENTS THRIVE ON 5-DAY BOARDING Board at Shady Side five days a week. Spend the weekends at home. It’s a step toward independence while keeping close family ties. Students experience extensive opportunities for discovering and developing talents — academically, in sports and the arts. And they make lifelong friends.

For an interview and tour please contact Katie Mihm, Director of Admission, 412-968-3180, kmihm@shadysideacademy.org Admissions Testing Sat. January 11 & Sat. February 1

SHADY SIDE ACADEMY Day School K-12

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Antiques in the Woods—A Day Trip! Mary Lynne Spazok Engines, Classic Cars and Olde Time Demonstrations. Nestled among the trees, for the seasonal festivals, are charming cabins, which offer over 90 dealers from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, the opportunity to tastefully display their quality wares. Don’t be surprised to see a child’s HeywoodWakefield snow sleigh or Civil War memorabilia. Try some of the ethnic cuisine, kettle corn, candy apples and homemade fudge. Plan a trip next year to enjoy additional Shaker Woods’ festivals, which include Shaker in the Woods (August) and the Old Fashioned Christmas in the Woods (October—two shows). A 2003 schedule of events can be found at www.shakerwoods.com or call 330-482-0214.

Summer is over. Golf is winding down.

The grass is green, soon to be white! Banish the thought of carving the turkey and climbing a ladder to hang festive icicle lights. So, what is there to do? For anyone who enjoys a diversity of shopping activities, try the River Front Antique Mall, seasonal festivals at the Shaker Woods Festival Grounds, Antique Emporium and Peggy Smith’s Collections. Leaving at 8:30 a.m., from Upper St. Clair, the one hour and twenty minutes drive is easy on Route 60 at the Pittsburgh International Airport. Continue to the Chippewa exit 15 turning left on Route 51.

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Your first stop at 9 a.m. is the Riverfront Antique Mall, which is open all year. With 68,000 square feet and 300 dealers, walking shoes are a must. Handicap accessible, Riverfront boasts air-conditioned comfort (heated too!), clean restrooms and a café, which offers homemade specials daily. Merchants present estate jewelry, sterling silver and vintage clothing in addition to fine case goods. Years ago, paper mache jack-o-lanterns were often tossed into the trash. Today at Riverfront, these endearing baby boomer “must have” collectibles are quite pricey. Allow at least two hours for browsing. Particulars are available at www.riverfrontantiquemalls.com or call 1-800-443-5052 or 724-847-2304. Exit Riverfront on 51 turning right. At Ohio State Route 7, turn right. Onemile north at County Line Road is Shaker Woods. Parking is free along with a display of Antique Tractors, Hit and Miss Steam

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Re-energized, begin the process of purchase negotiation. Remember, cash is preferred and the bargaining tool of choice. However, most vendors will take a personal check with identification. Dealers are chatty and more than willing to assist in loading a purchase into your vehicle.

Exhausted? This trip is not over yet! Head back to Chippewa, then follow the signs to downtown Beaver Falls, just ten minutes away. Enjoy the historical buildings of Geneva College before coming to Seventh Avenue, where on-street parking is trouble-free. The Antique Emporium has treasures from every time period. An average of 75 items is added daily creating an ever-changing inventory of over 100,000 antiques and coltibles. Visitors are invited relax at the coffee lounge d complimentary wine r before continuing on to Peggy Smith’s Collections. Don’t miss the glamorous sidewalk mannequin dressed in outrageous attire who gleefully welcomes you! The summer season boasts a wide array of wrought iron patio furniture while the purchase of a pair of Louis XV style chairs, which perhaps once adorned a wealthy estate, is not unusual here during the winter season. Keep in mind that shops are interested in items you may want to sell. Don’t be shy—inquire. As the saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!” The Western Counties of Pennsylvania offer a rich and varied vein of antiques waiting to be discovered by the veteran shopper and novice alike. Photos by Mary Lynne Spazok

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GoforWest an Eastern Experience Tracy Brown

n and Katie

Tracy Brow

McCurdy

This summer I had the opportunity to travel to China with the Pitt in China program for three and a half weeks where I met another USC graduate, Laura Palmer (2001). We stayed at the famous Bei Da, the best university in Beijing and China where we attended a variety of classes taught by the university’s international relations faculty. We learned about the history, media, healthcare, calligraphy and art, the Peking opera and economics. Our free time was consumed by adventures to the Old Summer Palace, Tienanmen Square, Bei Hai Park, and fun places like Silk Street (where you can pick up a great quality knock-off North Face Hiking backpack for $12, normally $200, or a Polo sweater for $8) and the Night Market, which is a great place to get dinner for two for less than $4—including delicacies like scorpion, grasshoppers and fat, juicy bugs—none of which I tried but Laura did! I had an extraordinary experience in Beijing. I acquired an upper

respiratory infection from the air pollution. Others joined in on the national “sport” of spitting from the “Beijing Hack.” My week began with hyperventilating in an elevator with two fellow Americans and an older Chinese woman who looked at me with 78

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curious, confused and somewhat disgusted eyes. The experience became even more memorable as I reached my final destination, the university’s hospital, in a taxi. I stepped out of a taxi-time machine with a new identity, becoming Xu Xiao Mei, the only foreign patient, in a hospital that probably would be shut down if it were in the United States. The strong clean sterilized smell was absent. The walls in the clinic were white, but the halls were dark. Being somewhat mysophobiac (paranoid of germs), I sat and slept on my jacket because the seats and sheets were worn-out and yellowed from previous patients. Having a high fever and uncertain of my illness, the system’s inefficiency was extremely frustrating. There is no such thing as an appointment. I waited in long lines to get treated. Everyday, when I received oxygen, a student assistant paid for me to see the doctor, then she paid for my oxygen and only after she had a receipt did the nurses give me the oxygen. I was amazed at the bathroom “situation” in China. Western toilets with or without toilet paper and a sink with or without soap are valuable treasures, no matter how dirty. I found myself missing roadside gas station bathrooms and yearning for a john. I actually had the “privilege”

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of observing many women go to the bathroom during my hospital stay, as there were no doors on many of the stalls. U.S. hospitals maintain a clean environment—I only saw one nurse wearing rubber gloves. A woman rode her bicycle straight through the hospital halls—I worried about all of the sick patients getting run over as they wandered off to wait in another line. Open windows in the IV room allowed the noise from the construction outside to be heard loud and clear. The smoke from the workers taking cigarette breaks below, plus all that Beijing pollution, drifted into the open windows! Looking back, the uncleanliness may seem normal and even healthier to the Chinese. The philosophy behind Western medicine is to destroy infections with harsh drugs, which kills both the good germs as well as the bad. Dr. Wang, the director of the acupuncture department of Beijing hospital, explained that the Eastern “way” of medicine is about increasing the overall health of the body, and some germs will help the healing process. During my stay in the hospital, one of my first ‘mishaps’ was a urine test— something I thought was routine. But attempting to get the sample in a thin


plastic, tablespoon-sized uncovered cup over a hole in the ground (Eastern john) with no toilet paper and no ledge to put the sample, I laughed. I also had to get a skin test to determine whether I was allergic to penicillin, which I already knew that I was not. A student assistant and my friend Marwa watched as my frustration and fear heightened as the nurse approached me with a needle. I could not understand the Chinese word for penicillin. I did not know how the ‘mystery medicine’ would affect me and I did not know if the needle was clean. The student assistant had trouble translating—panic overtook me and I ripped my arm away crying hysterically. Marwa comforted me and I eventually received my first injection, with a sterilized needle and the good medicine. As my anxiety passed, I was both frustrated and impressed by the administrative system. The process of seeing a doctor before any and every treatment was an extremely slow process. There was no communication between the doctors and the nurses. They do not work side-by-side. They work at opposite ends of the building. At one point, the doctor ordered two shots for me and the nurse disagreed because the medications would be ineffective if given together. The nurse took the initiative to ask the head doctor, who agreed with her and I was given only one shot. The nurse showed concern and was willing to go the extra steps to make sure I was getting treated well. Once a trust was established, I became more comfortable with the clinic. While in the emergency room to receiving oxygen, I felt like I was a patient on an ancient television hospital drama series. The room had red floors, white

Laura Palmer enjoys a scorpion— tastes like crispy chicken!

walls and natural lighting from two large open windows. A large leaf from a nearby tree that reached further inside every time the wind blew. The emergency equipment was pushed back against the walls, covered with cloth and a layer of dust. I was put on a wooden bed-like stretcher in the center of the room and given the oxygen tube that was for one nostril instead of two. The glass IV medicine bottle, to which I was connected, hung from the ceiling in a netted rope contraption like a hammock. Since I was in the IV room for a few days, I became one of the “IV regulars” and observed the interaction and relationships each patient had with one another. They were an older crowd, in their sixties and seventies, and chatted the morning away. Laughter and smiles prevailed in a stereotypical dull and gloomy atmosphere. One woman befriended me. Her flat round peanut butter-colored face gave a look of

concern when I was placed in the bed next to her. She receives treatment for her heart seven hours a day, but was in good spirits. Her husband brought her lunch and as they picnicked on her bed, they offered vegetable steamed dumplings and their address so we could visit. Her hospitality created a more relaxed and welcoming atmosphere in the clinic. I was forced to break my fever by sweating, which is very unusual to me. I have always been told to wear minimal clothing with a high fever. But, everyone at the clinic made me keep my coat on and eat and drink hot soup and tea. By the end of the day I had showered and changed clothes three times, which was a problem since there were only two washers and no dryers. I do not know which method of fever reduction is better, but both are effective and both are long, miserable processes. My adventure to the hospital was a success. I completed my course work and said goodbye to my classmates as they traveled back to the U.S. I stayed on in China and traveled with my cousin Katie McCurdy from Stone Mountain, Georgia. We took a two-week tour of Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, the Yangzte River and the final stages of the Three Gorges Dam project. I cannot comprehend the major effects it will have on the million and a half people who live in the soon-to-be flooded areas. The dam will produce enough electricity for one third of China, but it will destroy millions of homes, towns, farms, temples and history.

Wanzhou—a town that is being destroyed for the Three Gorges Dam project.

Continued on page 82

Shanghai

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Ted Petersen—

Forever A Steeler

Jim O’Brien

Pittsburgh sports author and Almanac columnist Jim O’Brien, who has lived in Upper St. Clair the past 23 years, has authored another entry in his “Pittsburgh Proud” sports book series. The latest is Steelers Forever, about the Steelers who played here and stayed here becoming contributors to the Pittsburgh community. This book has chapters about Chuck Noll, who resided in Upper St. Clair during the entire 23 years he was head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Andy Russell and Mike Wagner, who lived here during their playing careers. It also has chapters on Tunch Ilkin, Craig Wolfley and Edmund Nelson, who continue to reside in Upper St. Clair, Rocky Bleier, who lives in neighboring Mt. Lebanon, and Ralph Berlin, a resident of Bethel Park. An excerpt follows about Ted Petersen, who is in his first year as athletic director at Upper St. Clair High School. Ted Petersen stood 6’5” and weighed 245 pounds. He was one of

the lightest offensive tackles in the league. Most of the Steelers’ linemen didn’t weigh as much as most NFL linemen at their respective positions. But they were skilled, smart and athletic, swifter than many linemen, able to execute Chuck Noll’s pet trap plays and end sweeps in which they had to pull out of the line to lead the blocking. “I was never a big offensive lineman,” Petersen said. “I was a suped-up tight end without the talent to play that position in the pros.” 80

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In 1981 and 1982, Petersen played only nine games while rehabilitating from surgery to remove a benign tumor from his right hip. He was never quite the same after that operation. The kid from Kankakee, Illinois, was a blonde Dane—they’re rare in the NFL—and a handsome blue-eyed fellow who was well liked by his teammates. He was an easy traveler. His full name is Ted Hans Petersen III. He was a physical education teacher in the Trinity School District in Washington, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles south of Pittsburgh, when I interviewed him for this book. He was the head coach of the high school football team for five years, but surrendered the position when he didn’t feel he was getting the cooperation he needed to be successful. He was 47 years old. Petersen played for the Steelers for eight seasons altogether, from 1977 through 1983, and then briefly in 1987. In 1984, he played ten games with the Cleveland Browns, and five more with the Indianapolis Colts. He sat out the 1985 and 1986 seasons, and came back to play three games with the Steelers when the veterans were on strike at the outset of the 1987 season. And three games count as a full season on the NFL players’ retirement plan. It gave him nine NFL seasons to his credit. It was a real bonus for Petersen in several ways. “I was doing construction work, and thinking all the while that I should still be playing pro football,” recalled Petersen. “I thought I was in good condition. When the players were out on strike in ’87, and the

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team was looking for players to fill the roster, I asked my friends on the team how they’d feel if I came back. I wouldn’t have jeopardized my friendships for that.” “I had more fun during those three weeks playing football than at any other time because there wasn’t a lot of pressure. Other teams were putting makeshift teams on the field, too. But I was so banged up physically, and it was a real education. It underlined how important it is to be properly conditioned to compete in pro sports. I thought I was in fairly good shape, but I wasn’t. I never could have lasted 16 games. So it was nice to put those thoughts of continuing to play pro ball to rest for good.” Petersen started coaching in 1988 as an assistant to Bill Vosel at Canon-McMillan High School in Canonsburg. He had


gotten to know Vosel in Bridgeville, where Petersen was living. He did that for two seasons, and then assumed the head coaching position at Trinity High School. When I interviewed Petersen, he was in his 12th year of teaching in the Trinity School District, and 14th in the teaching and coaching profession. Petersen and his wife, Marian, celebrated their second wedding anniversary in May 2002. His sons, Teddy, 21, and Garrett, 18, live nearby. I visited with Ted again on May 7. He was getting ready to accompany the track and field team to a WPIAL qualifying meet at West Mifflin High School. He is an assistant track coach at Trinity and helps with the weight throwers—discus, shot put and javelin—and as a strength coach. There had been some interesting developments since we last spoke. I traveled to West Mifflin that afternoon, and caught up with Petersen who was helping officials conduct the shot put competition. We had a chance to talk again.

USC residents Tunch Ilkin, Craig Wolfley and Edmund Nelson attended Steelers’ training camp at St. Vincent’s as Steeler analysts. Photos by Jim O'Brien

Ted Petersen: I saw in the newspaper this morning that John Luckhardt has been hired to be the head football coach at California. I know John Banaszak had interviewed for that job as well, and Greg Gattuso. That job attracted some good candidates. I’ve been looking into the athletic director’s job at Upper St. Clair High School since I saw you the last time. Tunch Ilkin encouraged me to apply. I know Jim Render, their football coach, and I’ve met their basketball coach, Danny Holzer—he seems like a heck of a nice guy—and I’d enjoy working with people like that. I hear there’s a teaching position open, too, so that could work out well for me. I coached in the same conference in which Upper St. Clair competed, and I know a lot of those programs and the people running them. It’s close to my home, so it has a lot going for it, from my standpoint. Getting into high school coaching was a real transition. I was making $150,000 my last year with the Steelers, and I made $18,500 my first year at Canon-McMillan. It’s a good thing I saved my money. With the NFL pension plan, you can take an early retirement at age 45, and you can get your full pension at 55. You do better, of course, if you wait till your 65 to take it. I’m 47 and I haven’t drawn on it yet. Bill Vosel helped me get started when he came back to coach at Canon-Mac. He was a good guy and I learned a lot from that experience. I wanted to lead my own team and use my own methods, so I jumped when Trinity was interested in me. I was a head coach there from 1990 to 1994. Two years before I came to Trinity, they won one game in two years. My records were 3-7, 6-4, 1-10, 6-4 and 6-4. We hit rock bottom my third year. We

worked harder the next year. The next guy came in and won four games in four years. I don’t know that I’d have won any more during that span. In every school district, parents get too involved. I don’t know that my parents ever spoke to a coach. It just wasn’t done. I came home and said I was going out for football. And they said work hard and don’t quit. That was it. I’ve spent two years being the parent of a player, and all I’ve done is sit in the stands. Jeff Mattey was the head coach at South Fayette for my son, Garrett. I thought he did a great job with the kids. I learned something just from watching him. Garrett played at 6’3”, 170 pounds. He built up to 185 pounds, but he couldn’t hold the weight. I thought I was very objective with my kids. Garrett wasn’t the best player at his position. He didn’t play that much. I remember how meaningful it was to me to see him get in at the end of the game. I’m going to learn from that. If the game is secure, I’m going to get those reserves in there. That was an eye-opener for me. I could see what it meant, even if it was just two or three plays. I think Jim Render had the best program in the past ten years that I ever saw, and he did a great job the ten years before that at Upper St. Clair. His record over that 20 some year stretch is the envy of every coach in the district. In the second half, he’d substitute early. Then the next year they’d have experienced young players ready to move up. He built a program, not a new team each year. They were good. They improved as the season went on. They had a lot of good attributes that I saw. I can testify that there was no one whose teams were coached as

fundamentally sound as Render’s teams. They reminded me of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the ’70s. Everything they did was picture perfect. They had good techniques. He had great assistants. I think they had something like 150 years of coaching experience on his staff. Many of them were former head coaches at other schools. He coached them all in “football by Render.” I think having a good football team, or basketball team, or athletic program, is great for school spirit on every level. The main reason I gave it [coaching] up was because I was moved from teaching at the high school to teaching at the elementary level. You can’t run a high school football program when you’re not in the school building all day. You have to make sure they show up for school, that they do their work, and that they’re behaving. You have to keep your eye on them. It’s hard enough to win when the playing field is even, but you want to be in the same situation as the coaches you’re competing against. There are no hard feelings. The administration has to decide what they want to accomplish. I don’t believe in whining or complaining so I walked away from it. I didn’t have a lot of problems with parents, except for some instances. It wasn’t a real problem and it’s not the reason I gave up the job. Having been a player for those great Steelers teams meant more in the beginning. Maybe they thought I knew more than they did. Maybe I was more intimidating in the beginning. My strongest point may be human relations. Everyone thinks their kid is an all-star, but I understand that better now because of my experience with my own boys.

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Brave Enough to try Popism or to go Savage? The Latest Hairstyles from London Glenn Rengers We had a very exciting trip this year to London and

came back home pumped up and ready to try some new hairstyle techniques. The style sessions motivated us and we want to share these leanings with everyone. The trend shown on the right is called Popism, which gains some of its influence from Andy Warhol. Yes, that is the Andy Warhol from Pittsburgh. The trend also takes us back to the ‘80s with the asymmetrical looks. Popism takes on a look of its own in the variation of long and short areas. Instead of just one side being long and the other side short, there are two short areas and two long areas with the Popism. If you were looking at the front of the model, you would see her hair cut to the front of the left ear with the bang (fringe) to the hairline. The bang drops long over the right eye. As shown, the hair is cut very short again on the right side nape gradually becoming longer until it is long on the left side. The look, which is also known as Tilted, illustrates Vidal Sassoon’s colors of the season that features more natural tones like minking. A lot less red is in their forecast this year. With the more natural look on top, panels of color underneath show through the surface color. Triangles of bolder colors peek-a-boo from within. The next autumn trend is purely Savage. The Savage collections featured a somewhat longer, softer, and a little sexier look. In many cases this trend could be considered classic. The model featured was given a graduated bob. The front of her hair is cut shorter over the left eye and angles down gradually with a soft edge. This collection also incorporates the asymmetrical look from the Popism trend. The differentiator for many of the Savage looks is the underneath is cut shorter than the surface. This technique is known as disconnection. The disconnection could be a shorter cut at the nape and above the ears. In some cuts there are two or three areas of disconnection. Disconnection allows the hair to fall into the shorter nape area than the rest of the hair. You can hold out the hair and point cut until the hair falls at your original base line, the nape, allowing for tremendous movement and freedom. The client loved her new Savage look! Questions or comments? Contact Glenn at brown@twpusc.org or write to Glenn at UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair PA 15241. 82

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Whose Fault Is It? Reflections From a Curbstone Pulpit Continued from page 59

we can encourage creative behavior to search for better ways to achieve better results. This requires a high level of listening but will greatly increase the potential for greater problem solving. It makes it easier for the other person to admit their mistakes when they see productive improvements as being possible. You would probably pass out from shock if your child came home with his report card and said, “Here’s my report card and I think I know several things I can do to improve. I’d like your reaction and suggestions. I know I have not done as well as I can do.” That would be refreshing. Environment does play a large role in shaping one’s behavior. We all need to look in the mirror frequently. We all have a role to play in the show. We all can look for opportunities to admit our mistakes and accept responsibility and the consequences for our counterproductive behavior. We don’t admire people who don’t admit their mistakes. Who wants to be like them?

Go West for an Eastern Experience Continued from page 79

The consequences of the dam really affected me when I saw that the city of Wanzhou has a red line running through it at 175 meters. Everything below the line must be destroyed. I saw a woman digging through the rubble of what was her home to find the leftover whole bricks, which she gently placed into a stack and carried them off, probably to the new site of her life. These people have mixed feelings about the dam. They are forced out of their past and possibly will move into the major cities, which could cause more overcrowding problems. Seeing one of the 175 meter signs above houses and farms really puts things in perspective, reemphasizing the difference between my “problems” of college life and the real problems of the world. I am unable to convey all of my learning experiences in such a short space, but I have learned more than I imagined that I could learn, and I am more thankful for everything that I do have. My interaction with the Chinese people gave me insight to and knowledge of the ancient and mysterious culture that I had never studied. For the first time, I wanted to return to the States when my trip was over. I have never had that feeling before when traveling. I finally realized how much I have been given in the United States and how much I take for granted. I am more thankful for the little privileges that I have taken for granted, like the opportunity to go to college, to drive a car, and the privilege to have more than one child without being penalized. The Chinese people feel fortunate to attend a university. They know how hard their parents worked for them to go to a college. They know they will have to do the same for their children. American students realize the cost of going to school, but we have the opportunity to take out loans and get scholarships so we can get an education and gain interesting experiences. Other countries are fascinating to learn about and to explore, but I have learned of my love for my country and my loyalties to her, and how I want to help America survive and grow in this uncertain world.


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Winter 2002

N UPPERTST. CLAIR E TODAY R 83


R

usmur f loors

“You Stand On Our Good Name Every Day!”

– SOUTH – 500 Station Street Bridgeville, PA 15017 (412) 221-6366 (412) 341-6558

84

– NORTH – 3230 Babcock Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15237 (412) 364-7330

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

– EAST – 2047 Golden Mile Hwy. Pittsburgh, PA 15239 (724) 325-1900 (412) 244-8378

Winter 2002

– WEST – 996 Brodhead Road Moon Twp., PA 15108 (412) 262-4707

– WHITEHALL – 4720 Clairton Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15236 (412) 884-3600



COLDWELL BANKER www.pittsburghmoves.com

Check out these fabulous Upper St. Clair area homes! No Lender Fees Mortgage Most lenders charge closing costs that keep adding up, but Coldwell Banker Mortgage offers a No Lender Fee program. Call for details. Galleria • 1-888-791-9079 Peters Township • 1-888-791-9080 South Hills • 1-888-791-9082 Upper St. Clair • 1-888-400-7965 Westminister Manor’s elegant Georgian Colonial, gourmet kit, FR fireplace, mstr BR suite w/ jacuzzi, covered stone patio! Sara Redinger 412-833-5405 $849,500

Financing provided by Coldwell Banker Mortgage, 3000 Leadenhall Road, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054. Please note: Not Authorized to lend in the following states: Montana and Virginia. Arizona Residential Mortgage License #BK BR 0102236, Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act; Georgia Residential MortgageLicensee, Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee, Massachusetts Licensed Lender #ML 1774; Minnesota - This is not an offer to enter an interest rate lock-in agreement. New Hampshire First Mortgage Banker #5625-MB & Second Mortgage Home Lender #5626-MHL; Licensed by the N.J. Department of Banking and Insurance; Licensed Mortgage Banker - NYS Banking Department, Licensed First Mortgage Banker and Secondary Mortgage Lender by Pennsylvania Department of Banking; Rhode Island Licensed Lender. Coldwell Banker Mortgage is an Equal Housing Lender. Coldwell Banker® MortgageSM; ® and SM are trademarks licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation.

Charming Cape on private one acre, spacious and full of exquisite amenities, 4 BR, 3+3 BA, simply stunning! Amy Dias 412-833-5405 $585,000

Hand crafted design by Clairbrook Homes. Open foyer, cherry kit w/ granite counters, den built-ins, 9’ ceilings on first floor! Janet Nassif 412-831-5555 $474,900

Charming 4 BR colonial on a gorgeous lot! Sunken LR, back staircase plus bonus room off master BR suite, deck! Kathy Sekeras 412-833-5405 $469,900

Bright vaulted entry, bleached oak kit, luxury master suite w/ fireplace, walkout GR, private setting w/ woods & play area! Monica Mahla 412-831-5555 $420,000

Spectacular townhome! 3+ BR, 4 BA, 4 fireplaces, FR, den, GR, 2 patios, 2 decks, fish pond, elevator, 3 car garage. Mona Sutcliffe 412-831-5555 $412,000

Spacious ranch borders country club! LR wall of windows overlook 6th fairway, 4 BR, 3.5 BA, FR, den, GR. Kathy Enick 412-833-8000 $399,000

Georgian colonial, 2 story entry, FR fireplace, 4 BR, 3.5 BA, deck w/ gazebo, central vac and sprinkler systems. M. Fitzpatrick/S. Sala 412-831-5555 $379,900

Brookside Farms secluded mini estate on gorgeous 1.43 acres. Features 6 BR, 5 BA, GR wet bar, inground heated pool! Barbara Cusick 412-833-5405 $324,900

Beautiful private lot w/ year round solarium! Contemporary features 4 BR, 2.5 BA, FR, 2 fplcs, sec system, deck! Rick Cross 412-833-8000 $239,900

Meticulously maintained and decorated, 4 BR, 2.5 BA Provincial, FR, GR, screened porch overlooks water garden! Val Scenna 412-833-8000 $219,000

Multi level home on extra wide lot on cul de sac! Equipped kitchen, FR fireplace, 4 BR, 2.5 BA, light and bright! Jane Krauth 412-833-8000 $184,900

Updated and neutral split level, 3 BR, 2.5 BA, equipped white kitchen w/ ceramic floor, FR fireplace, large patio! Judy Hlister 412-833-5405 $169,900

Completely updated two story colonial, 3 BR, 1.5 BA, eat in kitchen with access to large deck! Marv Levin 412-343-7711 $159,900

SOME PEOPLE THINK ANY REAL ESTATE COMPANY WILL DO. OTHERS EXPECT MORE

1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

ECRWSS* CARRIER ROUTE

POSTAL CUSTOMER Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

This magazine was printed on recycled paper.

Expect More Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Pittsburgh PA Permit No. 206


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