WINTER 2015 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Have We Met...Yet? WINTER 2015

www.twpusc.org/magazine/usc-today-home

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

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Upper St. Clair Office 180 Fort Couch Rd, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 412-833-3600 • HowardHanna.com

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Michelle L. Harvison, M.D. has joined the medical team of Advanced Women’s Care of Pittsburgh, P.C.

Advanced Women’s Care of Pittsburgh, P.C. Welcomes Michelle L. Harvison, M.D. As the newest addition to the practice, Michelle L. Harvison, M.D. delivers a full spectrum of obstetrical and gynecological services, with the personalized care women want throughout all stages of their lives. Visit Dr. Harvison at one of our two locations, St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon or St. Clair Hospital Outpatient Center–Peters Township.

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS:

MT. LEBANON St. Clair Hospital 1000 Bower Hill Road, Suite 213 Mt. Lebanon, PA 15243 412.942.1866

PETERS TOWNSHIP St. Clair Hospital Outpatient Center 3928 Washington Road, Suite 230 McMurray, PA 15317 724.941.1866

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Michelle L. Harvison, M.D. specializes in obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN). She earned her medical degree at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University, Huntington, W.Va. Dr. Harvison completed a residency in OB/GYN at Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. She is board-eligible in OB/GYN.

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Winter 2015

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

3

21 Years

LOCAL Winter 2015 • Volume 21 • Issue 4 www.twpusc.org/magazine/usc-today-home

Features & Around the Township 14

Deer Valley is Dear to USC

16

The Coach’s Corner, featuring Nick Cullen

18

A Fully-Grounded Education

22

Picky Eating Habits…

Explained

School District 27

52

Guides/ Directories 39 Giving 42 Pinebridge 66 Life Planning 84 Advertiser Index

58

Photo Ops 24 Community

Park Improvements

28

Upper St. Clair Halls of Fame

47

Green Asphalt— a Win-Win Meet… These Fantastic Reads!

30

What’s Happening at USCHS?

Winter Fun for the Whole Family at the C&RC

Summer STEAM Academy

23

usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Township 46

Baker Earns Second National Blue Ribbon Award

32

•

63

Foundation Movie Night

25 Community

Foundation Oktoberfest

Fires in the United States

81 Out and About

Cover

Lacrosse—the Old Game for a New Generation

Louis Anthony Jewelers family and staff, shown on the cover of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY and sponsor of this edition, have been delighting area residents with designer jewelry and giftware for 25 years.

Have you met them yet? See pages 12 and 13 for a feature article about this local business with an international flair.

11 The Platform

14 Deer Valley

50 Winter Storm Emergencies

29 Leadership Academy 4

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2015

61 The Outdoor Classroom

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The award-winning, official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a not-for-profit community magazine 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. This year marks 21 years of our publication.

The 84th 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.

Spring 2016 edition deadlines: Articles—January 7 Advertising—January 11

Summer 2016 editions deadlines: Articles—March 10 Advertising—March 14

Publishers Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole Superintendent of Schools Steering Committee Mark S. Mansfield, Assistant Township Manager Paul K. Fox, School District Representative Editors and Staff Linda M. Dudzinski, Editor-in-Chief Terry Kish, Associate Editor Colleen DeMarco, Office Manager,

Advertising Executive Dorothy Clark, Graphic Designer Alison Hess, Marketing Executive Lynn Dempsey, Advertising Executive

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY steering committee and staff members include Mark Mansfield, Paul Fox, Linda Dudzinski, Terry Kish, Colleen DeMarco,

Dorothy Clark, Alison Hess, and Lynn Dempsey.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a non-partisan Town-

The next issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY will be the Spring 2016 issue and will be published in March 2016. Articles that were submitted but not published in this issue are on file for consideration in upcoming issues. Articles and announcements may be sent to:

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY magazine is published

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

ship, 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. and 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 Township Library. If you did not receive a copy in the mail, please call 412-833-1600, extension 2284.

Subscription Information If you know someone living outside the Township who would enjoy receiving UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, please send $12 to cover mailing and handling for the next four issues with name and address, including zip code, to our address listed above. Add $10 to cover international mailings.

Editor

1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 or email UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY at usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us.

Frank J. Kerber, President Buffy Z. Hasco, Vice President Amy L. Billerbeck Barbara L. Bolas Harry F. Kunselman Louis P. Mafrice, Jr. Louis M. Oliverio Angela B. Petersen Rebecca A. Stern

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Young Writers Guild (YWG) promotes and encourages young writers in the Upper St. Clair School District to provide articles of interest for our community magazine.

Email usctoday@uscsc.k12.pa.us to find out how your student can contribute.

Article Information

The 84th issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a joint publication of the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair. © Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.

Advertising Information

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

Editor-in-Chief Linda Dudzinski phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2681 Office Manager Colleen DeMarco phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284 fax: 412-851-2592 Ad file submission: dclark@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Website www.twpusc.org/magazine/usc-today-home Email usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us Board of School Directors

Thank you to our volunteer contributors this issue: John Barsotti, Cindy Brophy, Sandra Castro, Deb Conn, John D’Angelo, Leigh Ferris, Dina Fulmer, Heather Holtschlag, Jessica Kester, Faye Klein, Dave Kutschbach, Gina Lynch, Jay Lynch, Chelsea March, Jim Meston, Helen Palascak, Dr. Eric Reitz, Jim Render, David Riether, Emanuel Romanias, Ron Sarrick, Gary Schafer, Dana Stainbrook, Dr. Beth Troy, Jay Walsh, Marilyn Walsh, and Scott Ziegler.

Township Board of Commissioners Robert W. Orchowski, President, Ward 3 Russell R. Del Re, Vice President, Ward 5 Nicholas J. Seitanakis, Ward 1 Rex A. Waller, Ward 2 Mark D. Christie, Ward 4 Glenn R. Dandoy, At Large Daniel R. Paoly, At Large

Winter 2015

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 Phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284 Fax: 412-851-2592 Email: usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us Township­: 412-831-9000 School District: 412-833-1600 Printed by Knepper Press 2251 Sweeney Drive, Clinton, PA 15026-1818 724-899-4274 Design by DMC Design 412-824-7844 • www.dmcdesign.com

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A Winter Note from the Publishers Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole

Matthew R. Serakowski

Welcome to this year’s winter edition of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY. As we prepare to say goodbye to 2015, we reflect on the community and school news that we’ve shared with you.

Twenty-one years ago, our Township and School District joined as catalysts to establish a collaborative publication in which to offer credible information. The task was to report on our schools and on our community. The goal was to inform residents and to highlight the genius and talent found in our town. TODAY reports a partial glimpse of the entities it represents due to publishing only quarterly, but its mission to document life in USC has never changed.

This year, there’ve been a number of articles about our School District’s many accomplishments and awards—board level to school level, grade level to teacher and student level. You’ve read about the multi-year Strategic Plan that positions the District and our students well for 21st-century learning and enjoyed numerous stories that highlight the academic, arts, and athletic endeavors pursued by our energetic staff and talented students.

With each edition, you’ve learned interesting facts about our Township and read about the ten-year Comprehensive Plan, which includes significant efforts for sustainability. The magazine features A USC-inspired ornament stories from the various Township departments—Community hangs from the holiday tree at Development, Finance, Police, Public Works, Recreation and Central Office Leisure, and the Library—and also regularly highlights certain organizations, including the Volunteer Fire Department, The Outdoor Classroom, and TriCommunity South, to keep you informed about what’s going on in and around our community.

With awards bestowed on the magazine for its content and design, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, like our Township and School District, has seen its share of success, which is A sleigh, on loan from the Historical Society of USC, graces attributable to the breadth of information it reports. Success through awards, though, is not the the lobby of the Township building focus. The focus, and what we deem to be a success, is for the magazine to inform residents of community life in Upper St. Clair in a meaningful and entertaining way.

As representatives of the Township and School District, we look forward to continuing this joint venture and hope that you enjoy our product and its contents. Take the time to let us know how we can better meet your needs through this publication.

We are truly blessed to be a part of this wonderful community, and we take genuine interest and great pride in making USC the very best it can be!

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager

Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole Superintendent of Schools

Township of Upper St. Clair 412-831-9000 • Fax: 412-831-9882 Website: www.twpusc.org Email: uscadmin@twpusc.org

Upper St. Clair School District 412-833-1600 • Fax: 412-833-5535 Website: www.uscsd.k12.pa.us Email: info@uscsd.k12.pa.us

TODAY, the award-winning, official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair www.twpusc.org/magazine/usc-today-home 8

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2015

usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Luminaria

Lighting the way to a historical and USC tradition Mark Collins Have you ever driven through the various neighborhoods of Upper St. Clair on Christmas Eve to see the streets and driveways lit up by hundreds of softly glowing candles? These Luminaria, simply made from small candles placed in brown paper bags and weighted with sand, are part of a Christmas holiday tradition dating back more than 300 years.

Spanish merchants, inspired by Chinese lanterns, designed Luminaria or farolitas and made them popular in New Spain. To this day, Luminaria displays decorate streets, parks, and homes in New Mexico, especially the cities of Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Luminaria or “festival light” also refers to the small bonfires which are lit, one per night during the nine days of Las Posadas, which ends on Christmas Eve. Observed mainly in Mexico and Guatemala, the 16th-century festival of Las Posadas celebrates the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. In the reenactment, people process, guided by each night’s bonfire, to pray at a Nativity scene.

However the word and the tradition of Luminaria as a “little lantern” (the literal meaning of farolita) has spread gradually to other communities nationwide, including our own Township of Upper St. Clair, and it has become a long standing tradition.

To order your Luminaria kit, including 12 candles, bags, and sand, which is delivered to your door, visit the USC band parents’ website at www.uscbpa.org and click on the “Order Luminaria” link to order online.

Paypal or credit cards are accepted for payment. Alternatively, complete

The Luminaria program in Upper St. Clair is organized as a fundraiser by the USC band parents organization and benefits all USC music department students. This year, the band parents and students will assemble the kits December 3-4 and deliver them to residents on Saturday, December 5.

Over the years, many local residents, churches, and homeowner associations have participated in this tradition of lighting Luminaria as a symbol of warmth, peace, and friendliness. One resident notes, “My parents would drive through USC neighborhoods so that we could see the Luminaria. I remember with great fondness that Christmas Eve tradition.” Another writes, “We always made the Luminaria part of our annual family Christmas tradition. The kids would assemble the Luminaria and then we would all go outside to light the candles at sunset.”

If you’ve not yet participated in Luminaria, consider becoming part of the tradition this year. If Luminaria are already part of your family tradition, then welcome back and, perhaps, help spread this tradition to your families, friends, and neighbors by purchasing kits for them. It would be a beautiful sight to light up the entire USC community on Christmas Eve this year! n

and mail the order form found below with your payment. For orders of 20 kits or more, there is a $2 discount per kit. For more information, contact Richard McCormick at uscbpaluminaria@gmail.com or call 412-831-3947.

Luminaria Kit Order Form Name: ________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________ City:_________________________________________________________ State:___________________Zip: __________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________ # of kits: _______________ x $12/kit = Total enclosed: $_______________ Make check payable to: USC Band Parents Association Mail to: USC Band Parents Association, 328 Clair Drive, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 10

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2015

The Platform

A Christmas Tradition Passed Through Generations John Barsotti My father arrived in the United States in 1931 at after Labor Day the age of 14. He once told me that he never saw a Christmas and starting to tintree until he arrived in this country. The “platform,” an Italian ker with another holiday display, was all he ever knew. creation. It was As a child, I took our platform a little for granted; I assumed great fun to watch every family built one. As I’ve grown older, and with a family him build someof my own, I now realize how special it truly is. My two sons, thing and tell me stories about what it was like living in his small Jonathan, 16, and Michael, 12, are every bit as involved as I am town of Lucca, Italy. in our platform’s planning, construction, and decorating. They’ve The “one-upmanship” is not the same as it used to be. I do become a tremendous help to me over the years. Last year, they not think a lot of people make these displays anymore. It is a lot challenged me to make our largest display yet. It extends from of work and I confess that somewhere into the second weekend wall to wall in our living room which is 15 feet by 15 feet. At when I am putting everything up I exclaim, “This is just too much night when the room’s windows provide no natural light and the work and I am going to take next year off!” But the boys and Pam room is dark, the platform comes alive! It is a treat to share with just shake their friends and relatives. heads and know In late November, amid the chaos and boxes, we start con- better. Once it is struction. There is always a lot of discussion about where all the completed, I fall pieces come from. Many things were actually handmade by my in love with it all father, who has passed away, and I cherish each and everything over again, and he made. Others are an accumulation of Department 56 ceramic memories of my pieces which my wife and I have collected over the 22 years that childhood come we have been married. We also include Lionel trains we bought rushing back to each of our sons when they were younger as their individual me of my father memories and contributions to the effort. and working with him There is an enormous amount of infrastructure that goes into to build our platform. building the platform: extension cords, surge protectors, lumber, A lot of immigrants and braces. Eleven months of the year, the living room is fully built similar displays functional, with a baby grand piano, couches, chairs, end tables, years ago to help them and lighting. Because it’s too difficult to move the furniture out remember their jourof the room, we’ve learned how to build over the furniture. While neys and assimilation to you may see what appears to be a mountain in the corner of the their new surroundings. platform, I know that “hump” to be the back of one of my wife’s Sections of the displays decorative chairs. Your perception of a higher elevation on the left would be recreations of the small towns and villages they left is actually the top of our piano. My wife, Pam, laughs and takes it behind when they came to this new land. Other sections would all in stride as I cover everything in drop cloths to get started. She represent a favorite small sliver of an American town or experihas become our best cheerleader when the boys and I go to work. ence they cherish now that they are here in the United States.

My father was one of seven children, and most of them built Lastly, and most importantly, families would recreate the Nativity similar displays for their scene—the manger, the imported figurines, small animals, and families, as well. There was gravel roads—always the focal point of the holiday display. a certain amount of “oneThe platform was a big deal in my Italian family. My father upmanship” back then, and his brothers and sisters would place the three kings and their and they used to compete caravans far away from the manger at the beginning of December with one another. It was all and then every week move them a little closer as they arrived in in great holiday fun. I am Bethlehem. My parents used to cover the baby in a clean, pressed certain that due to limited man’s handkerchief during December to represent the fact that finances at that time in their the baby had yet to be born. The handkerchief would come off lives, most of what my on Christmas Eve to celebrate his birth. father and his siblings I look forward to continuing my father’s and both my granddisplayed was hand- fathers’ traditions and feel blessed that my children seem to made. Houses, fences, enjoy working alongside me each year. My hope is that they will small carts, and farm continue this tradition when they have families of their own. The tools (for example) thought of my father’s creations coming alive and on display each were created by trial December warms my heart. I know that in some way he is still an and error. I remember incredibly important part of my Christmas and I enjoy watching as a kid my father going his grandsons tenderly arrange each piece with the same care and down to his workroom love I once enjoyed when I was their age. n Winter 2015

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Louis Anthony Jewelers 25 Years of Family, Friends, and Fabulous Jewelry

Extended Holiday Hours Starting Sunday, Nov 29 thru Friday, December 25 Monday thru Friday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Louis Anthony Jewelers 1775 N Highland Rd Pittsburgh, PA 15241

412-854-0310

info@louisanthony.com

Veronica Guarino, 2015 Women’s Jewelry Association Retailer of the Year.

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

A trip to Louis Anthony Jewelers is in many ways like visiting good friends.

From the moment you walk through the doors of this dazzling wonderland, every staff member makes you feel valued with a warm welcome and an open invitation to try on the beautiful jewelry that fills the cases.

For 25 years, Veronica and Lou Guarino have embraced the challenge of developing a business while raising a family. Lou has been in the jewelry business for 35 years, beginning his career with a respected national retailer before opening the first Louis Anthony store on Fort Couch Road in 1990. “In the beginning, before we had a team of employees, my wife and I did it all—sales, marketing, and buying inventory,” said Lou. As Lou cultivated his talent and contacts in the jewelry business, Veronica worked on creating a brand identity for the new company. One of her most successful campaigns featured Lou on a billboard with the catchphrase “Have We Met…Yet?” Clients still remember the campaign, one that perfectly captured the friendliness and welcoming nature of the Guarino family.

As the clientele base grew, satellite locations were opened during the holiday season in the Galleria on Route 19. In 2000, Louis Anthony Jewelers moved into its newly constructed store in Norman Centre II, bringing its carefully curated assortment of designer jewelry, watches, and giftware under one roof. After two expansions, the 6500 square-foot showroom now includes a full-service repair shop, customer lounge, and conference room.

At a young age, the couple’s children—Amie, Lou III, and Vanessa—got their first taste of the business by answering phones, stocking shelves, and assembling boxes. While Veronica and Lou didn’t expect their children to join the business, all three have become valuable members of the team.

Their oldest daughter, Amie, 35, has fond childhood memories of her dad having what she considered a cool career. After working various jobs following graduation from West Virginia University, Amie asked her parents if she could become part of the family business. A 1998 graduate of Upper St. Clair High School, Amie started in marketing and is now Lou’s assistant buyer.

Always interested in jewelry making, Amie started her own line, Amelia Jewel, in 2010.

Using precious beads, colored and exotic stones, and one-of-a-kind elements, her distinctive style has proved popular with customers. In addition to the Amelia Jewel line, Amie collaborates with her father on various pieces. “He’s really creative,” commented Amie.

“I’ve learned so much from him.” A 2014 inductee into the USC Arts Hall of Fame, Amie said she enjoys the balance of designing and buying.

Lou III, or Geeg as many know him, worked as a producer and editor for a video production company in New York City following graduation from NYU. After a few years, he decided to make the move back to Pittsburgh and joined the family business in marketing and sales.

Geeg, 30, and Veronica are the marketing “think tank” for the business. He loves the creativity involved with developing ideas for their various campaigns, and on the sales floor he enjoys working to find the perfect piece for his clients.

Geeg, a member of USCHS class of 2003, said that knowing he is going to see family members each day at work is a wonderful opportunity most people don’t have. “There’s a positive energy that we all have together, and it really translates to the customer,” said Geeg. “We really have a lot of fun.”

Their youngest daughter, Vanessa, 27, said being part of the family business seemed very natural to her. While growing up and helping at the store, Vanessa said she didn’t realize it was work. “I thought it was fun,” she commented.

A graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University with a degree in communications, Vanessa joined Louis Anthony Jewelers to run the social media department. Being the youngest, she is more in tune with the ever-changing technological landscape, thus keeping her family and the business current and relevant in the digital age.

Winter 2015

A piece from the Amelia Jewel Collection, designed by Amie Guarino

In the three years since graduating from college, Vanessa, a member of the USCHS Class of 2007, has developed the social media plan for Louis Anthony on Facebook and Instagram. She also has her own company, Social Media Diva, which creates and manages online presences for businesses and individuals.

Veronica and Lou are grateful that their children believe in the business so much that they have invested their futures in it.

Lou’s younger sister, Andrea Kaczmarek, is another essential part of the team at Louis Anthony Jewelers. Andrea’s primary responsibility is sales, and since 2001 she has been building relationships and helping customers find jewelry that reflects their own individual style.

“I love getting to know people. We want them to feel very comfortable from the minute they walk in the door,” said Andrea.

“I love helping people fall in love with jewelry—it’s exciting!”

Andrea, always humble in her ways, has great respect for the business and what it represents. “I look up to Lou and Veronica,” said Andrea. “They’ve built an amazing business and I love being a part of it.”

The family is the first to acknowledge that the store’s success would not be possible without the contributions of each member of the Louis Anthony team. “I have been in this business long enough to know that each person’s involvement is important, whether they are related to you or not,” says Lou. “If they are helping to select a diamond for an engagement ring or changing a watch battery, their expertise is unparalleled.”

As the couple’s children have come into the business and taken

Left to right are Andrea, Geeg, Vanessa, Amie, Lou, and Veronica

on their own responsibilities, Lou has shifted his concentration more to inventory control, making sure the products continue to embody the quality and timelessness customers have come to expect. “Whether it is made in the United States or a small workshop in Italy, we try to keep one step ahead of the retail jewelry market,” says Lou. “We are starting to see the second and third generations of some of our original clients come into our store, and are thrilled to be part of their milestones and celebrations.”

There is no doubt that some of the most memorable moments take place during the holidays. “We’ve definitely pulled off some Christmas miracles,” says Amie. “It’s our season.” Amie recalled one Christmas when she was in high school working at the Galleria store, a couple walked in moments before closing. “They started selecting giftware and jewelry at a rapid clip,” says Amie, “so I called my mom who was at home wrapping her own gifts.

She jumped in the car and showed up in what seemed like minutes. I have no idea how she got there so fast! She immediately recognized the long-time customers who showed up to do some last minute shopping. We stayed until midnight wrapping gifts that evening and had a blast doing it!”

The Guarino family agrees that the greatest part of what they do lies in the opportunity to participate in creating memories and marking special occasions in the lives of the people that shop with them. “We’re fortunate to work in such a happy business,” agree the family members. “You become part of the family here. Our customers share in our life experiences and we share in theirs.

It’s a special bond.” n

Winter 2015

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

13

Deer Valley is Dear to USC

David J. Riether, Executive Director, Deer Valley YMCA Family Camp Less than two hours from Upper St. Clair, in the mountains of Somerset County, sits a place that has long been a special destination for USC residents. Whether through the YMCA Indian Guides and Princesses programs, the Boyce Middle School sixth grade Earthwarden program, or a week of unplugged family vacation, thousands of USC residents have enjoyed the unforgettable experience that Deer Valley YMCA Family Camp has been offering since 1957.

I am privileged both to serve as the camp’s executive director and to be an alumnus of the USC School District. I grew up with annual family vacations at Deer Valley, and during high school I worked on the Deer Valley summer staff. Following six years in the U.S. Army and ten years as a carpenter, I earned my college degree and fulfilled a personal dream by returning full-time to Deer Valley with my wife, Lisa, and daughters, Marlee and Melanie. I take great pride in the long-running history shared by the USC community and Deer Valley.

The Earthwarden program was celebrated in these pages earlier this year (USC TODAY, spring 2015, pages 32-34). Over the last 30 years, about 10,000 Boyce students have experienced outdoor environmental education classes, punctuated with campfires, hiking, and other Deer Valley amenities. And because parents are encouraged to accompany their kids, thousands of USC adults have also had the chance to hike the trails, climb the rocks, and experience the pristine beauty of the camp’s 750 acres.

But for many of those students and parents, this was not the first DV experience. Everyone who went through YMCA Indian Guides and Princesses also got an annual DV camping opportunity with their tribe, and those one-on-one trips remain the source of a lot of precious memories.

Now a number of USC volunteers are helping to support a new Nature Center that is planned to enhance these experiences for future generations of campers from all of our programs.

Slated to start construction in spring 2016, the Nature Center will be a two-story structure on the site of the current one-story building. Built on a shoestring more than 40 years ago, the original building lacks heat and running water, which has severely limited the exhibits and programs that it can support. Recent evidence of structural deterioration has only increased the urgency for the project.

The first floor theme will be centered on things that live in and on the ground, with a darkened walk-in cave area, live

The Boyce Middle School faculty members who facilitate the sixth grade Earthwarden program, from left to right, are co-coordinators Vivian Criner and Matthew Dudley, and program director Kevin Clark

animal specimens, an aquarium, and even a few stuffed specimens of creatures that wouldn’t make good indoor pets. The second floor will focus on air and sky exhibits of birds and trees, and house a modern classroom that will accommodate 25-30 students at a time. The design is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and includes bathrooms on both floors, central heating, and a kitchenette.

The building is being augmented by a series of nature “pods” scattered around the camp. Each pod has a single educational theme, covering biological, ecological, geological, and other scientific topics that are part of the Deer Valley environs.

The goal is to enhance the educational experience both for school groups and more casual campers, with the hope that it encourages even more people to take advantage of the wonderful setting that Deer Valley has to offer.

Upper St. Clair has long been a source of strategic leadership for the camp. Fully 20% of the 25-member Deer Valley YMCA Board of Management consists of USC residents. Don Angel, Janet Lloyd, Gary Paul, Jay Shock, and Don Thomas all work diligently to support the camp’s operations and long-range planning. And the YMCA’s district vice president of camping services, Todd Brinkman, is a current USC resident.

If you are able to support the new Nature Center and its $400,000 fundraising goal, you will be “paying it forward” to thousands of students and parents who have yet to experience that magical spot in the mountains that has meant so much to so many.

Thanks in advance for your support! n An architectural rendering

of the new lakeside Nature Center

Giving the “YMCA” salute during a Deer Valley camping weekend 14

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

To make a tax-deductible donation, you have two options: 1. Go to www.deervalleyymca.org, click the “Donate Now” button, and follow the instructions to donate via credit card. Choose “Deer Valley Nature Center” from the drop-down list of campaigns, and enter “USC” in the “in honor of” box.

2. Mail a check, made out to the Deer Valley Conservancy, to Deer Valley YMCA Family Camp, 254 Deer Valley Drive, Fort Hill, PA 15540. Be sure to include “USC” in the check’s memo line.

Winter 2015

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Second Act for the Sakoians

Upper St. Clair is fortunate to have many talented people working for either the Township or the School District, and their efforts greatly enhance the quality of life in our community. This year, the municipality bids a fond farewell to two of those talented people, John and Eileen Sakoian.

John, a police officer for 42 years, served for 39 years with the Upper St. Clair Police Department before retiring as a lieutenant. Most of Eileen’s 25 years with the School District was spent teaching seventh and eighth grade English language arts.

She also served as a resource teacher and reading specialist for a short time and helped pilot and implement the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program at Fort Couch. During her tenure, Eileen trained many student-teachers and mentored a number of young teachers in the District’s formal mentor program.

While Eileen won’t miss the alarm going off at 5:30 a.m. each weekday morning, what she will miss is the daily interaction with her students. She said, “Perhaps because adolescents can be one of the most challenging of audiences, the rewards of connecting with them are that much more meaningful.” Eileen will also miss the camaraderie that is characteristic of the Fort Couch faculty and staff, commenting that “Fort Couch is really a special place to work.”

John said, “I will miss the wonderful people in the community and their self-sacrifice to make Upper St. Clair one of the best places in the world to live and raise a family.”

While the decision to retire is not an easy one, John said he was blessed with a job offer that has a flexible schedule as a director of recruitment with First Tactical. Eileen said that as rewarding as teaching has been, it has required her to put certain things on

“the back burner.” She felt that this was the right time to move forward to the next stage of her life.

Both John and Eileen look forward to the benefit of having more time to John and Eileen Sakoian spend with family. Married for 43 years, they have three grown children. Their son, Christopher (42), is married to Kendra and they have one son, Declan (5). Their son, John Michael, Jr. (40), is married to Dolores and they have one daughter, America (5), and two sons, John Santiago (3), and Michael Luis (10 months). John and Eileen’s daughter, Cara Stewart (37), is married to Peter and they have one daughter, Eleanor (3).

While some people may view retirement as a time to slow down, that doesn’t appear to be the case for the Sakoians. In addition to spending more time with their grandchildren, especially the four who live out-of-state, Eileen, who also holds a BA in fine arts, looks forward to reawakening her artistic flair and has already started planning a space for a small studio in the couple’s home.

In addition to his work for First Tactical, John plans to continue community service as the president of Command Excellence™LLC and ACTION™Responses, a crisis safety consulting and training company he founded for public safety personnel, schools, churches, commercial, retail, factory, and other workplace settings. The programs are certified by the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission. n For more information about Command Excellence™LLC, visit www.CommandExcellence.com.

Winter 2015

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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The Coach’s Corner

Featuring Nick Cullen Jim Render, USCHS Head Football Coach I am writing this article on September 11, 2015. It is not only the 14th anniversary of 9/11, when the World Trade Center Towers of New York City were destroyed by terrorists who flew planes into those buildings, but it is also game day for my USC football team who will play neighbor and rival Peters Township this evening. Friday can be a long day for anxious coaches and players. Over the years, there have been many games when there have been no classes or we have instead played on Saturday afternoon or in a championship game on a Saturday night. On such occasions, I have always encouraged my players to not over sleep, but to get up and activate their brains. I wanted them to think, to study, to read… anything so that their minds will be sharp at game time.

What is good for them is surely also good for their coach. My daily routine begins by reading in the early morning, followed by a brisk walk where I begin to think about what I can do to help my team. Then I eat fish, which I was always told is “brain food,” and I am almost ready to go.

Next, I arrive at my office and start reviewing my game notes.

But today, in the quiet of my office, I begin to write this article for two reasons. First, it will stimulate my mind, and second, because Nick Cullen will always be closely attached to 9/11.

Almost too close.

Nick had just moved his family to NYC in August 2001. On the infamous date of September 11, Nick was attending a training class at the Goldman Sachs building located in Battery Park, which is a stone’s throw from where the World Trade Center buildings stood tall and proud in lower Manhattan.

Upon graduating from Northwestern University’s Kellog School of Business with a master’s degree in business administration (MBA), Nick accepted a job with Goldman Sachs in New York City. The training class was in progress on the 30th floor of the building when the instructor saw paper floating down outside the window. He remarked that he was unaware of a ticker-tape parade on that day. As the class soon discovered, it was not shredded paper, but rather full sheets. Out in the hall, a television was showing the first pictures of the WTC damage. Soon, thereafter, people from the Goldman Sachs Building were ordered to evacuate, using the steps rather than the elevators.

Nick and his fellow intern and now very dear friend, Steve Bleier, reached ground level and decided to head toward the World Trade Center to see if they could assist in helping people.

The second plane and building had now become a reality. As they approached, building number one started to crumble and they were forced to take refuge behind a truck. Shortly thereafter, a huge cloud of smoke and dust rolled toward them and they ran south for safety towards the East River. At that point in time, many 16

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thought there might be additional planes targeting Manhattan and there was no cell phone service. Nick quickly found a pay phone and called his dad in Upper St. Clair to say that he was safe. Nick could not reach his wife, Mindy, and their two-year-old son, Jake, who were in attendance at, of all places, the Today Show. Nick and Steve then found a bank machine and withdrew their maximum amounts of money, not knowing the consequences of the bombing and what the future might hold for New York.

Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer was told during his team’s practice that day that Nick had been killed in the devastation. It is my belief, that Nick’s wonderful parental upbringing, his intellectual gifts, and his competitive spirit brought out at Upper St. Clair and Virginia Tech, all came together on that day to help him survive and thrive in tough circumstances.

Nick Cullen, the Young Athlete I first met Nicky Cullen in a physical education class in 1984. (He will always be “Nicky” to me.) He would hang around some of my sophomore football players and would do very well in Nick Cullen and Jim Render, our competitive and spirited fall 1986, at USC athletic games. (In those days, girls were in their own separate, but equal PE classes.) When I approached him about playing football, he explained that his dad felt that two sports gave him a better chance for success and that basketball and baseball were going to be his areas of concentration.

Fortunately for all of us, things changed and Nicky Cullen became a high school football player in the fall of 1985, his junior year.

I do not know if I’ve ever seen a young man adapt so quickly to a skill as Nicky did, offensively catching a football and then defensively, preventing an opponent from catching the ball. He was as they say, an overnight phenomenal success story. By the end of senior football season (1986), Nicky made All Conference and was a member of the Fabulous 22 South. Many colleges were actively recruiting him. That same school year, he was USC basketball’s starting point guard and MVP of the baseball team. Elected as a captain of all three teams, he maintained a 3.92 grade point average and finished in the top 20 of his graduating class of 400.

After looking at many schools in the Ivy League, plus Holy Cross and William and Mary, Nick decided to accept a scholarship to the only Division 1 school that offered him a chance, Virginia Tech.

On to Virginia Tech Nick entered Virginia Tech in the fall of 1987 as a 158-pound wide receiver. They used him right away and did not consider a red shirt year. He caught a pass for a touchdown over the defending national champion Miami Hurricanes and their All American defensive back, Bennie Blades.

His senior year he had 37 catches including 13 (remaining a school record) against Brett Favre and his Southern Mississippi Nick Cullen at Virginia Tech team. Once again, he was a senior captain and an academic All American. He graduated in 1991 and had a free agent tryout with

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www.scottbroswindows.com the Philadelphia Eagles. The wide receiver room at the Virginia Tech football complex is named after Nick and is right next to the quarterback room named after Pittsburgh Steeler and former Hokie, Michael Vick.

Business Career and Goldman Sachs Having given the NFL a short-term look, it was time for Nick to get on with his life’s work. Majoring in finance at Virginia Tech, he took a sales job with Dupont Corporation. This led to a sales manager position with Akzo-Nobel, a Dutch chemical company. He marNick Cullen ried Mindy, also a Virginia Tech grad, and they lived and worked in the Philadelphia area. In 1999, they moved to Chicago and Nick started his MBA program at Northwestern. The two-year program ended in 2001, and he accepted a job at Goldman Sachs and moved to NYC in August of that year.

Despite the much less than auspicious beginning on that training day of September 11, 2001, Nick Cullen’s career at Goldman Sachs has only gone onward and upward. His bio at Goldman Sachs reads as follows: 2001–hired full time as an associate in the Foreign Exchange Group; 2004–promoted to Vice President; 2008–promoted to Managing Director; 2010–promoted to Head of the North American Foreign Exchange Corporate business.

2015–promoted to North American Foreign Exchange Real Money Business and American Foreign Exchange eCommerce business.

In short, Nick heads a team of 20 some people who help

American companies hedge their currency risks when dealing in foreign trade. His greatest satisfaction comes in helping companies grow their business and in helping young people grow their careers. The public relations department of Goldman Sachs described Nick by publishing his accomplishments in the following manner. “He is constantly ranked in the top ten percent of managers and leaders at the firm. His athletic background is very conducive to the tribulations of Wall Street—overcoming adversity, teamwork, leadership, and goal setting are all critical attributes. He has worked with many large and small corporations to improve their risk management techniques and has helped them grow. He is viewed by his clients as a value added resource.”

Nick has been instrumental in developing the recruiting pipeline to Virginia Tech. Fifteen years ago, Nick and nine other VT graduates met for dinner and called themselves the “Hokies on Wall Street.” This year, Nick and Goldman Sachs hosted the now annual event, which included the president of the university, the chairman of the business school, and over 400 fellow Hokies on Wall Street. …and Today Much has transpired for Nicky Cullen since I first met him as a high school sophomore in 1984. Today, Nick is a superstar on Wall Street. He and Mindy live in Westfield, New Jersey, with son, Jake, and daughter, Macey. Nick, a 1987 graduate of USCHS, is a 2004 USCHS Athletic Hall of Fame recipient. Nick’s parents, Nick and Arleen, reside in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. n “The Coach’s Corner,” written by Coach Jim Render, is featured in each of edition of TODAY. Read about Dr. Jeff Rudolf on pages 18–20 of the fall 2015 issue.

Winter 2015

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

17

A fully-Grounded Education Jay Lynch Eisenhower School was a wonderful place to learn long before Blue Ribbon designations and other honors. In 1959, I was in the first group of kids to attend the newly constructed grade school built for us baby-boomers. It was quite an honor to christen a brand new facility. Of course, early Eisenhower students faced some interesting challenges.

For example, we participated in scary air raid drills. Once a week, a loud siren was played over the Eisenhower PA system.

At this signal, teachers would instruct us to hide under our desks in “brace” positions, anticipating nuclear bombs dropped from Russian warplanes. We were told that Pittsburgh was a prime target for Russian bombs because of the steel industry, and that USC was well within the zone of death.

This may have been a logical description of military strategy and outcomes, but it was a scary message that created significant childhood anxiety. I assume that field trips to the Nike missile launch site in nearby Oakdale were intended to reassure us that the rockets we witnessed would protect our homes and families from Russian bombers, but our young minds were only put at ease when thoughtful Eisenhower teachers, parents, and clergy personally reassured us of our safety.

I’m sure that today’s generation of USC teachers and parents also helped students navigate the equally scary post-9/11 nationally televised color-coded terrorist threat warnings.

One of the Eisenhower teachers who helped us forget about the cold war and focus on learning and fun was Mr. Radaker. He was my fifth grade instructor for the 1963-64 school year. As a 23-year old, he was full of enthusiasm, and employed several unique educational techniques.

Long before Jim Henson’s Muppets and long after we believed that Howdy Doody was real, Mr. Radaker used puppets as his teacher assistants. Homemade delights, they had rubber bands that permitted mouth movement. He used them like ventriloquist’s dummies to teach lessons by conversing with himself. He couldn’t throw his voice as well as Edgar Bergen but was effective at changing his pitch and dialect.

One of his puppets, Lester Dimwitty, was, as his name implies, dim witted. During class, Mr. Radaker would playfully help Lester understand concepts and invite the students to help him explain

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things. It was pure fun and a clever way to teach to the full array of students.

On the other hand, when it was time to get serious, he would bring Auntie Bellum Mr. Robert Radaker, former Eisenhower out of his desk drawer. We learned quickly Elementary teacher that she always meant trouble. With her high pitched southern accent, she would announce unpleasant events, including pop quizzes, spelling bees, and exams. If Mr. Radaker intended to deflect the “tough love” side of teaching to a puppet, it worked. To this day, I don’t associate Mr. Radaker with academic stress; I blame Auntie Bellum!

Mr. Radaker also had a unique approach to using music in education. He wasn’t a music teacher and I’m not sure of his regional upbringing, but he broke traditional rules when it came to a simple tradition. As a general rule, each school day started with the pledge of allegiance and a song. Most teachers had their classes follow the pledge with patriotic songs like “God Bless America” or “America the Beautiful.” In contrast, Mr. Radaker taught us to sing southern gospel songs, including “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Amazing Grace.” Imagine the principal’s reaction when he walked by our classroom and heard a bunch of northern, white suburban kids singing Negro spirituals (as they were called at the time). To this day, I’m not sure whether Mr. Radaker was a devout Baptist or an early civil rights advocate.

Regarding music, Mr. Radaker disliked the new group from England known as the Beatles. From his looks, you might guess that he was an Elvis fan, and perhaps he felt threatened by the British invasion. He frequently made it a point to tell us they were a flash in the pan, with a few lucky hits like “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Hard Day’s Night.” He insisted they weren’t talented enough to become famous. Being gullible, I believed him. After all, he was my teacher. But, it was tough to be the only kid in the neighborhood to dismiss the Beatles as irrelevant, when the other kids were growing mop tops and wearing Cuban heels. Mr. Radaker was a great teacher, but a poor predictor of musical fame.

My most vivid memories of Mr. Radaker were during his science demonstrations. For example, one day he took us outside to demonstrate an important physics concept. He said that if we paid attention we’d be able to guess the scientific principle he’d be demonstrating. He positioned the class at the front edge of the school property, close to Fort Couch Road, and marched off to the baseball field that was at the opposite corner of the school lot, near Warwick Drive. He carried a baseball bat and a roll of caps.

For younger readers, a roll of caps was a wound paper tape with lots of small black dots that exploded upon impact. When loaded into a toy handgun, the caps would make a noise with each pull of the trigger, simulating gunshots. Single shots made enough noise to alert a playmate that he’d been shot, as well as scare pets and irritate parents. Striking an entire roll with a hammer would make quite an impressive explosion, including a flash that could set your sister’s hair on fire (if you knew what you were doing).

From our distant vantage point, we could see Mr. Radaker waving his hands, yelling at us to pay attention. Then, he placed a roll of caps on home plate, lifted the baseball bat above his head, and drove the bat with full force downward, striking the cap roll.

We saw a bright flash of light as the entire roll exploded. Then, a moment later, we heard the “boom!”

Pleased with his dramatic demonstration, Mr. Radaker ran toward us across the baseball field and parking lot where he breathlessly and excitedly asked us what we had witnessed. Mike Turbeyville, always a cynic, said, “We saw you ruin a perfectly good roll of caps.” Mr. Radaker said, “No, no. What was the scientific principle you just learned?”

Kurt Gardner, the class clown, said, “You just proved the Big Bang theory?” Funny, appropriate answers for ten-year-old boys, but Mr. Radaker became visibly irritated.

A bright, well-mannered girl, Shelly Mann, interrupted our sarcasm by saying, “I know what happened, Mr. Radaker. First, we saw the flash of light. Then we heard the boom. But we know they happened at exactly the same time. So, we learned that light travels faster than sound. Is that right?”

Mr. Radaker was thrilled! His demonstration had been successful, at least with polite, bright girls. Of course, the lesson I learned was that girls are compliant and seek wisdom, while boys endlessly seek opportunities to throw the teacher off his pace and make the other guys laugh.

Mr. Radaker conducted another science demonstration that probably wouldn’t be allowed at Eisenhower today. To make his point, he needed more than a baseball bat and a roll of caps. He needed power. He mounted a WWII vintage hand-cranked generator onto a heavy board, brought it to class, and clamped it to a desk in the corner of the classroom. Once again, he announced that we were to follow instructions and, when the demonstration concluded, guess the scientific lesson. He had us stand along the perimeter of the room to form a big circle.

He instructed us to hold hands, which was pretty yucky, as all girls had cooties in fifth grade. John Thompson and Becky Pence were the unfortunate kids standing nearest the generator. Mr. Radaker had them separate their hands and gave John the generator’s black wire and Becky its red wire. Then, he said, “Don’t be afraid, kids. When I turn this crank, guessing today’s lesson should be easy.”

As he slowly turned the crank, an electrical current traveled from the generator through the black wire to John, then through each of us, and back to Becky. We could feel the trickle of electrons in our hands and bodies.

Mr. Radaker asked for guesses as he continued to slowly turn the crank. Tim Patter jokingly questioned, “When boys and girls hold hands, electricity results?” This got a chuckle out of most of us, but Dorothy Polombo correctly identified the lesson: human bodies conduct electricity. However, Mr. Radaker told us there was another lesson to be learned. He cranked the generator faster and faster. As he did, each of us could feel the current getting stronger and stronger. Most of us quickly lost our smiles, as fear set in that our hands were permanently stuck together. Several of the girls began to cry.

Bob Scanlon, in a panic, screamed, “Thompson, let go of the wire!” But he couldn’t.

Sensing that he might have gone too far, Mr. Radaker slowed his cranking until the electrical current weakened. Within a few seconds, we were able to separate our hands from each other and I distinctly recall the cathartic silence when the generator’s hum subsided. Everyone was relieved to have survived this particular science demonstration.

Mr. Radaker apologized for shocking us, although he said the experiment was in the interest of science. He explained that the reason we couldn’t separate our hands was that an electrical current can be very strong and pull conductive things together like glue. John Thompson, still shaken from the experience, said, “I think the lesson should be to never agree hold a wire coming from a generator.”

From a learning perspective, his demonstration was quite effective. When Auntie Bellum gave us a post-lesson quiz on the subject of human conductivity and the power of electrons, every kid got an “A.” Daydreaming through the demonstration wasn’t possible.

For subsequent classes, the principal and parents who learned of the experiment suggested Mr. Radaker use a lower-powered battery. He went along with the change, but, in his humorous style, called it a “re-volting” development.

If your children are current Eisenhower students, they may be missing the drama of talking puppets, exploding caps, and mild electrocution, but they’ll have their own stories to tell about today’s group of creative, dedicated teachers in a wonderful Blue Ribbon school. n

e m o C ome To H

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Contact Jay Lynch at bkefather@yahoo.com with your memories of USC. Winter 2015

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Good News About Growing Old Jim Meston

Psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler Ross wrote the book On Death & Dying in 1969 that has long been a guideline for dealing with terminal illness. Over the years, the concepts she described have been applied not only to death, but also to traumatic life experiences. She details five psychological feelings (or stages) a person may experience when faced with imminent death. She professes that one does not go through each stage in any certain way. Many people get stuck at one stage or another and do not advance to the next. There’s no road map that shows how to negotiate these phases; it’s an individual choice. The five emotional stages are described below.

• Denial: When a person is told they have a terminal illness or is experiencing a life changing event, such as a divorce, loss of job, or family crisis, they deny it. This stage is normally short lived.

• Anger: The realization of the circumstance triggers rage and bitterness. A person becomes angry at God or questions why has this happened to him.

• Bargaining: The person may try to negotiate a different outcome or go through the pain of reflecting on what he or she could have done differently to affect the outcome.

• Depression: Some people skip directly to depression. A person often gets stuck here and may never fully recover mentally, living out his or her life in despair.

• Acceptance: The person may eventually realize that there’s no changing what has happened. This stage can release the anger and other negative feelings, allowing the person to refocus on enjoying life for as long as he or she can.

Here’s the Good News A while ago, a Pittsburgh psychiatrist, Dr. Marnin E. Fischbach, wrote an article for a Pittsburgh newspaper, the title “Good News About Growing Old,” which I found to be quite interesting. I contacted Dr. Fischbach, and he allowed me to make reference to his article and quote certain passages. He wrote, “Recent research from around the world indicates a startling and counterintuitive truth: Older age is one of the happiest, perhaps the happiest, period of life. Happiness has been studied by economists in many countries, and the bottom line is this: Happiness tends to make a U-shaped curve over the span of a life. People are happy in their younger years, considerably less so in middle age, and then become progressively happier as they grow older, without regard to finances or children.”

This concept struck me as a bit unrealistic, considering the numerous ailments, diseases, and loss of function that older people experience. Older people lose their ability to do many physical activities they used to enjoy. Reflecting on my own life, I realize that there are many things I can still do, and I count my blessings. Some people become so badly inflicted with incurable aging problems that they live their lives in constant pain. These people aren’t prime candidates for the philosophies presented by Dr. Fischbach, but there are many others who are truly enjoying their “golden years.”

Dr. Fischbach says that as we age we lose the drive to prove ourselves. Many of us worked hard at jobs to provide for our families. Now raised, they no longer depend on us. Over the 20

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years, we have accumulated wisdom and have learned to cope with many of life’s challenges. But how can this be the happiest time of life?

Dr. Fischbach continues, “Every chronic malady produces physical symptoms. There’s pain, difficulty breathing, unsteady gait, fatigue, or chest discomfort. There are frequent knee or hip injuries, failing eyesight, cataracts, hearing problems, and low back pain. This list goes on and on. Everyone, including the elderly, undergoes a subtle grieving process over each lost function caused by the injury or illness.”

In another excerpt, the doctor states, “Grieving may seem negative, but it is a biological, universal process with quite positive effects. It helps explain the paradox of the U-shaped curve. First, the older person who successfully navigates the grief process comes to accept a loss of function, as opposed to being emotionally paralyzed by it. This is no small gift, as I have interviewed a number of elderly people who have gotten stuck in their grief and consequently spent much of their remaining lives in sadness and regret.”

I have accepted that I am unable to do certain things that I could easily do in my younger years. For example, last year I agreed to help coach a local high school baseball team. At the first practice, the head coach asked me to hit fly balls to the outfielders. I’ve done that hundreds of times throughout my life, but not recently. I tossed the ball into the air, and after numerous attempts, I realized that I couldn’t hit it. I had to concede that I no longer have the coordination for this seemingly simple act.

There are many other things I can no longer do, as well, and I am accepting the normal progression of the aging process.

Additional comments from Dr. Fischbach’s article regarding the positive aspects of accepting losses include: “Another positive outcome is the development of a new sense of self. Having lost some skills that previously defined them (such as tennis, crocheting, running, piano, etc.), older individuals often develop new skills that better align with their residual abilities. They might take a college course, study a new language, draw closer to their children and grandchildren, or take up swimming.”

So, maybe the golden years aren’t quite as great as the carefree high school and college days were. But not getting stuck in what you have lost because of the aging process and making necessary adjustments to cope with the loss and look for substitutes is what’s important.

As I grow older, I realize that I’m in the checkout line; I just don’t know when I’ll get to the cash register. None of us knows.

But I think that rather than focusing on what we can no longer do, we should search for the things we can do. We should have no regrets when our time is up. I believe that there’s still plenty of fun and happiness in one’s old age; we just need to take the time to look for it.

Even though I could no longer hit fly balls to the outfielders during their practice this past year, I was able to offer sound advice about hitting and fielding from the sidelines. I offered what I could, I altered my mindset, and I was happy about it. n To read Jim’s blogs on various subjects, visit http://curbstonepulpit.wordpress.com.

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Winter 2015

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21

A Healthier U(SC)

Picky Eating Habits... Explained Heather Holtschlag

Do you have a picky eater in your house? If you do, there is little that can be done to quell your anxiety and frustration, other than to assure you that you are not alone.

A 2010 National Institutes of Health study (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC2943861/) found that picky eating is a common childhood problem, affecting between eight and 50% of children in some capacity.

“A picky eater is someone who is extremely selective or restricts certain food types they will eat, and someone who will not taste new things,” explained Kimberly Pezzone, MD, pediatrician at Pediatric Alliance–St. Clair Division.

Dr. Pezzone also explained that parents most often realize they have a picky eater on their hands when their child, who previously would eat most or all of the foods offered, begins to reject those foods or becomes very restrictive to a limited variety of foods.

But it likely may be the parents who are most often to blame for their child’s picky eating habits, according to Lindsay Schmitz, MS, RD, LDN, wellness and sports dietitian, and owner of Live Smarter Nutrition & Wellness.

“Parents are responsible for determining what is offered and when it is offered,” Schmitz noted. “Parents should allow the kids to determine how much to eat. For instance, at snack time, ask ‘Do you want an apple or a banana?’ instead of ‘What do you want to eat?’ If you make dinner, the child has the opportunity to eat what is placed in front of him. Do not allow yourself to become a short-order cook. That is just one way children become picky eaters.

If they don’t want what you made and ask for something else that you ultimately give them, you are feeding the pickiness.”

Schmitz also explained that it is a parent’s role to provide a variety of foods and a relaxed eating environment. Additionally, parents should understand that “food jags” do happen with children, meaning that they might want the same type of food day after day. There is little harm in this, as this behavior typically runs its course.

Of course, the most common type of food typically avoided by children is 22

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vegetables, particularly broccoli. There are other types of avoided food, as well, which can include meat, spicy or bitter foods, and foods that may look odd because of their shape.

“The toddler’s stomach is approximately the size of his clenched fist,” Dr. Pezzone explained. “That is important to remember when offering portions to a picky eater. In general, however, a serving for toddlers is approximately one tablespoon of each food per year of age.”

For a typical toddler, Dr. Pezzone recommends the following daily guidelines: • Two to three servings of fruit • Two to three servings of vegetables • Two to three servings of dairy (1/2 cup of milk, 1/2 ounce of cheese, 1/3 cup of yogurt) • Six servings of grains (1/2 slice of bread, 3 tablespoons of cereal, 1 or 2 crackers, 1/4 cup of rice or pasta, 2 servings of protein) In keeping with these guidelines, it also is important for parents to ensure that their child is not getting too much.

“Parents need to make sure they do not make their kids become members of the clean plate club,” Schmitz said. “It’s okay to leave food on the plate. They will eat when they are hungry. The saying, ‘If you don’t eat your dinner, you won’t get dessert’ can lead to overeating. A better approach may be to say, ‘It’s okay if you don’t want to finish your dinner (or whatever the meal may be), but it’s important to eat a healthy, balanced meal. We aren’t going to eat other, less healthy foods until we eat the ones that are better for our bodies.’ ” Picky eating can become a habit that ultimately could lead to health complications, if help is not sought, according to Dr. Pezzone. “In my experience, most kids will outgrow their picky eating habits by age five. However, some children are so extremely restrictive that their eating habits result in malnutrition, difficulty in social functioning, and extreme strain on the relationships within their family, particularly at mealtime. A child may eat a sufficient quantity of food, but limit the variety, resulting in nutritional deficiencies.

These children can continue to grow both in height and weight when plotted on their Winter 2015

Dr. Kimberly Pezzone

growth curves and often are not diagnosed until the effects of the nutrient deficiency affects other aspects of their health.”

A recent study in the journal Pediatrics describes a correlation between moderate to severe selective eating habits and anxiety and depression. These children were almost twice as likely to have symptoms of anxiety and depression in their later years.

The researchers hypothesized that these patients may have extreme sensory sensitivity, and by limiting the variety of their food, they also can regulate the intensity of their sensory experience, making them feel more secure and less anxious at mealtime.

So what can parents do to help quell their child’s picky eating?

“These are issues that should be initially discussed at the child’s well visits,” Dr. Pezzone explained. “Most pediatricians will ask for details of the child’s eating habits during a routine visit. Many parents will schedule a separate consultation to discuss only the eating concerns, particularly if it seems to be a long-standing problem. The pediatrician can offer suggestions to help the family deal with the picky eater, as well as order any appropriate further testing. In the most extreme cases, a referral can be made to a behavioral therapist, psychiatrist, or perhaps a feeding specialist.”

In the meantime, Dr. Pezzone offered the following suggestions to help better cope with the picky eater: Continued on page 83

Skate—Play—win Mt. Lebanon Ice Center

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Ice Center’s Developmental program will begin 1/9/16.

5 STEP PROGRESSIVE League begins 1/8/16, ON THE Registration for residents and FORMAT. Classes meet once a STUDIO RINK. The league is current 2015 skaters begins week on the studio rink for 40 noncompetitive, no-check; equal 12/10/15. NEW skaters begin minutes. The Hockey School ice time is guaranteed. To ensure registration 12/19/15 with the enables players ages 4-12 of rink cashier. balanced teams, registration is on all ability levels to participate Tot Prep Classes $122. and learn the skills of the game an individual basis, with players rating each other. Enrollment in a progressive, non-pressure is limited. Full equipment is atmosphere at an affordable required. Register in Dec. with price. Small size classes, P.S.A. the rink cashier. The fee of $105 Skating Professionals, certified includes referee’s fee and game USA Hockey Instructors and weekly scrimmages. Register in jersey. The league will be looking for volunteer coaches.

Dec. with the rink cashier.

Lacrosse—the Old Game for a New Generation

Scott Ziegler, USC Boys Lacrosse Youth League

Players at the Turkey Shootout in November

Lacrosse is one of the oldest team sports in North America, dating back to the 17th century. Originally known as stickball, the game was used by tribal warriors for training, recreation, and religious reasons. Early French settlers, using the term for any game played with a curved stick (crosse) and a ball, renamed the game lacrosse.

Over the last 20 years, the game of lacrosse has seen rapid growth and has expanded its reach from coast to coast. It is now considered the fastest growing sport in the nation. According to a January 2014 Wall Street Journal article, combined participation in the four most-popular U.S. team sports—basketball, soccer, baseball, and football—fell among boys and girls age six through 17 by roughly four percent from 2008 to 2012. During the same time period, youth lacrosse participation was up an astounding 158%. Although the reasons for the stagnant growth in other

n to Skate n ow

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ear

L

Mt. Lebanon Ice Center’s fun and friendly learning environment provides the finest programs on ice for pre-schoolers to adults in the Pittsburgh area.

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sports are speculative, the main reason we hear for the increased participation in youth lacrosse in Upper St. Clair is “It’s just fun!”

USC Boys Youth Lacrosse (USCBYL) is a fun and ever expanding family that welcomes anyone from kindergarten through ninth grade interested in trying the sport. The game of lacrosse is unique in that it is a combination of many sports—the agility of basketball, the running of soccer, the anticipation of baseball, and the quickness and physical play of hockey. Because of the similarities to other sports, lacrosse is not a game that children must start at an early age. USCBYL has had many boys come from other sports and begin lacrosse at age 13 or 14 and excel at the high school level. Due to the game’s various positions on the field, anyone can play lacrosse. If your son is small and fast, he would make a great midfielder. If he is big and sturdier on his feet, he would be a great attackman or defenseman. If he loves being a goalie in the backyard, there’s definitely a spot for him! Lacrosse is absolutely a game in which athletes of all abilities can excel.

USCBYL encourages participation in other sports and believes that multi-sport participation helps kids grow athletically. In fact, NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown and NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky credit lacrosse with developing their hand-eye coordination and physical endurance. Since lacrosse is a spring sport, many people believe they cannot play baseball. Simply not true, USCBYL welcomes baseball players. Boys can play both recreation baseball and recreation lacrosse with minimal conflicts, and the lacrosse season ends before travel baseball begins. Soccer players are welcomed, as well. This past year, there were many boys on the lacrosse teams who played spring travel soccer at the same

Continued on page 83

Winter 2015

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BIG HERO 6

THE SIXTH ANNUAL CFUSC FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT ~ Due to a dire weather forecast at the time a decision had to be made, the August 20th movie was moved to the Boyce School Theater this year.

Go to the CFUSC website to see more movie attendees — www.cfusc.org

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Winter 2015

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SD Upper St. Clair School District Board of School Directors

Buffy Z. Hasco Vice President 412-833-5712 2017*

Frank J. Kerber President 412-833-4873 2017*

Louis P. Mafrice, Jr. 412-851-0622 2017*

Louis M. Oliverio 724-941-4584 2015*

Amy L. Billerbeck 412-833-2712 2015*

Angela B. Petersen 412-831-7182 2015*

*Date indicates expiration of term.

Barbara L. Bolas 412-833-9841 2015*

Harry F. Kunselman 412-851-1115 2017*

The 2015 -2016 regular meetings of the Upper St. Clair Township Board of School Directors are held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month at the Central Office Board Room, unless otherwise noted. No regular meeting is scheduled for July.

Rebecca A. Stern 412-220-0745 *Date indicates expiration of term.

2015*

School District Detailed Monthly Calendar—Visit www.uscsd.k12.pa.us.

School District Central Office Administration

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

Administrator

Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Sharon Suritsky Assistant Superintendent/ Deputy Superintendent

Dr. John Rozzo Assistant Superintendent

Frosina Cordisco Director of Business and Finance

Dr. Judy Bulazo Director of Curriculum and Professional Development

Ray Berrott Director of Technology

Melissa Garvin Supervisor of Special Education

Sheila Gorgonio Director of Advancement

Eloise Stoehr Supervisor of Pupil Personnel

Secretary/Email Address Extension

Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole................................ Mary Ann Stabile............................. 2201 Superintendent of Schools mstabile@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. Sharon Suritsky................................... Donna Faccenda..............................2218 Assistant Superintendent/ dfaccenda@uscsd.k12.pa.us Deputy Superintendent Dr. John Rozzo................................................................................................ 3211 Assistant Superintendent jrozzo@uscsd.k12.pa.us Frosina Cordisco........................................ Dawn Machi.....................................2220 Director of Business and Finance dmachi@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. Judy Bulazo.......................................... Donna Faccenda..............................2218 Director of Curriculum dfaccenda@uscsd.k12.pa.us and Professional Development Ray Berrott.................................................. Doreen Leech....................................2211 Director of Technology dleech@uscsd.k12.pa.us Eloise Stoehr............................................... Terri Lott...........................................2283 Supervisor of Pupil Personnel tlott@uscsd.k12.pa.us Melissa Garvin............................................ Cheryl Ellison...................................2116 Supervisor of Special Education cellison@uscsd.k12.pa.us Sheila Gorgonio.....................................................................................................2826 Director of Advancement sgornonio@uscsd.k12.pa.us Jonn Mansfield........................................................................................................ 3450 Director of Transportation School District Building Administration

Dr. Lou Angelo............................... High School Principal Dr. Timothy Wagner ..................... High School Associate Principal for

Programming Planning and Innovation Daniel Beck.................................... High School Assistant Principal Christine Mussomeli...................... High School Assistant Principal Joseph DeMar ................................ Fort Couch Middle School Principal Amy Pfender................................... Boyce Middle School Principal Erin Peterson.................................. Middle School Assistant Principal (Grades 5-8) Dr. Patrick McClintock-Comeaux... Baker Elementary School Principal Mark Miller.......................................Eisenhower Elementary School Principal/

Supervisor of Elementary Education Dr. Claire Miller............................. Streams Elementary School Principal Bradley Wilson............................... Supervisor of Customized and Online Learning

USC School District website: www.uscsd.k12.pa.us 26

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Winter 2015

Baker Earns Second National Blue Ribbon Award Baker Elementary School was

one of 335 schools nationally to earn a 2015 National Blue Ribbon Award this past September. “This honor recognizes your students’ accomplishments and the hard work and dedication that went into their success,” said U.S. Secetary of Education Arne Duncan. “Your journey has taught you collaboration, intentional instruction, and strong relationships in school and with your community. You represent excellence—in vision, in implementation, and in results—and we want to learn as much as we can from you.”

Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole, Superintendent of Schools, stated, “The Board of School Directors and I wish to commend the Baker leadership team, teachers, support staff, parents, and most of all our students for this significant achievement. Their hard work and talent made this prestigious honor happen.”

“I feel tremendous pride that the Baker family has been honored with the 2015-16 Blue Ribbon,” commented Dr. Patrick McClintock-Comeaux, Baker principal. “It validates all of the hard work of our students, families, and the entire Baker staff.

The whole team has a common goal of meeting student needs and it is wonderful to be recognized for our efforts.”

Dr. McClintock-Comeaux and Pamela Dillie, Baker teacher and elementary science curriculum leader, will travel to Washington, D.C. where the U.S. Department of Education will honor the National Blue Ribbon Schools with a plaque and flag as symbols of their recognized status.

The 2015 National Blue Ribbon Award is the second received

by Baker, having earned this distinction in 1998-99. Previously, Upper St. Clair High School earned three and Fort Couch Middle School earned four National Blue Ribbon awards. Boyce Middle School and Eisenhower and Streams Elementary Schools have each earned one National Blue Ribbon award.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award plaque affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. The award flag gracing a school’s building is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning. n

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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, 2016, are eligible to register. It is not necessary that the student accompany the parent to registration.

Elementary Schools Date/Times* Baker, Eisenhower, Streams........Wednesday, March 2,

9–11 a.m., noon–2 p.m. *If school is cancelled or delayed, registration will occur on Thursday, March 3, same times.

Evening Session for Kindergarten Registration For all USC families with a child entering kindergarten, a special evening registration session will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 6:30–8 p.m. at the USC School District Central Office at 1820 McLaughlin Run Road. School personnel will be available to provide information on the kindergarten program in general and about the Primary Years Program offered beginning at the kindergarten level at Streams Elementary.

Readiness Evaluation School personnel are available to screen children whose parents wish additional help in making a decision on entrance into kindergarten. Individual dates and times will be established during registration. Questions regarding kindergarten readiness should be directed to the school counselor at the elementary school located in your child’s attendance area.

Registration Packets Registration packets will be available at each elementary school beginning February 22. Parents are encouraged to pick them up during school hours and return the completed forms at the time of registration. See the District’s website at www.uscsd.k12.pa.us regarding school health immunization requirements and proof of residency.

Welcome USC School District’s New Hires

Thank You to the District Retirees

Welcome to the following new hires in our District: Lakyn Bianco (Fort Couch), Kathryn Calano (Fort Couch), Jennifer Cramer (Fort Couch), Kelley Dykstra (USCHS), Anne Marie Ganster (Fort Couch), Russell Hoburg (USCHS), Lauren Kress-Gaudelli (Streams), Jared Nicholson (USCHS), Michael Rigano (Bus Garage), Ian Stevenson (Boyce), Erika Valentine (USCHS)

Thank you to the following District personnel who retired this past school year: Robert Cain, Nancy Cantola, David Carilli, Linda Descutner, Mary Grace Diulus, Glade Eakin, Robert Fish, Anne Glaid, Karen Green,Cindy Kehren, Karol Kommer, Heather LaCotti, Estelle Luck, James McDonough, Charles Nebel, Melvin O’Bryon, Eileen Sakoian, Helen Sobocinski, Jane Walters, Leslie Gregg West, Renee Williamson, Peter Wray

Hail

Farewell Winter 2015

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Upper St. Clair Halls of Fame 2015 It was a “sweet 16” indeed as 11 outstanding Upper St. Clair alumni were inducted into the 16th annual Halls of Fame, held this year on Friday, October 16 at Upper St. Clair High School. After a reception in the school’s Arts lobby, members of this year’s class were inducted into the Halls of Fame. Afterward, the inductees attended a special dinner, the “Parade of Honor” to Panther Stadium, and the USC vs. Canon McMillan football game.

Inducted into the 2015 Halls of Fame were (USCHS graduation year in parenthesis):

Academics

Arts

Athletics

Academics Jonathan Bayat (1996) Barbara E. (Spotz) Johnson (1975) William Maher (1974) Michael D. Rees (1993) Jeffrey A. Rudolph, MD (1985) Arts Tim Federle (1998) Lisa Wunderlich Wetzel (1979) Denise Wunderlich (1975)

Tim Federle

Cameron Griffin

Barbara E. (Spotz) Johnson

William Maher

Michael D. Rees

Jeffrey A. Rudolph, MD

Aly Walker

Lisa Wunderlich Wetzel

Denise Wunderlich

Athletics Cameron Griffin (2005) Jeffrey A. Rudolph, MD (1985) Aly Walker (2009)

Established in 2000, the Upper St. Clair High School Halls of Fame annually identifies and honors those who have distinguished themselves in academics, the arts, or athletics at USCHS and at the collegiate or professional levels and who, in so doing, have contributed to the pride and prestige of Upper St. Clair High School. n

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Jonathan Bayat

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Winter 2015

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Students Participate in Sixth Annual Summer Leadership Academies The Student Leadership Academies were held the week of July 26–31, with nearly 400 students participating.

T h e H i g h S c h o o l L e a d e r s h i p Academy celebrated the conclusion of its sixth academy. Once again, Phases 1, 2, and 3 took place at the high school, while Phase 4 became a three-tiered experience with students participating in a local, regional, or international opportunity. A total of 187 students in grades nine through recent graduate participated in one of the four phases. Each phase builds upon the previous phase, each with its own tagline: • Phase 1: Who You Are is How You Lead • Phase 2: What’s Your Tagline?

• Phase 3: Make it Happen • Phase 4: Leave Your Legacy The USCHS Leadership Academy continues to grow; with higher student and facilitator numbers and a multi-tiered culminating phase, the positive, meaningful global impact is immense. Each teacherfacilitator ends the week feeling energized and excited about the work that was done and education in general. The positive energy of the students is contagious and fuels the attendees, leaders, and the academy itself. The District looks forward to many more years of the USCHS Leadership Academy and can’t wait to see where it takes us!

Armando Ocando, a certified financial planner and USCHS alumnus, speaks to the Phase III Leadership Academy students regarding his “vision board” and community service challenges he has incorporated into his life plan.

The Fort Couch Leadership Academy was an exciting week with 60 seventh and eighth grade students and a team of teacher-facilitators. The theme for the week was “What is Success?” To begin the week, the students were placed in groups and required to create group identities.

They worked in groups to focus on ten core values and other supporting values, as well. Students completed group activities including the human knot, bridging the gap, and the clapping competition along with group discussions of the meaning behind personal success. One particularly important activity was a service project involving students preparing 300 bagged lunches for an outreach organization. The students finished the week with individual roadmaps to success to focus them on their goals. Overall, it was a wonderful experience for those involved.

Sixth grade Boyce Leadership students work to complete their “I Believe” podcast.

Fort Couch Leadership students brainstorm their pathways to success.

The Boyce Leadership Academy included 80 participants who were entering either fifth or sixth grade. Throughout the weeklong academy, students were introduced to the ten core qualities of leadership described in the Total Leaders 2.0 book by Charles Schwahn. At the end of the week, students were able to identify individual leadership strengths and weaknesses based on the core qualities. Fifth grade students were able to answer the question, “What is your sentence?” by developing a statement that captured who they are as a person.

They also worked together to develop miniature golf courses that were evaluated by peers. Sixth grade students developed “I Believe” podcasts and assisted in packing student supply kits at the Educational Partnership. All students were given a variety of opportunities to define, apply, and reflect on the core qualities. They ended the academy by sharing with their families a variety of experiences and activities from the week.

Winter 2015

The “Who you are is how you lead!” motto for the Elementary Leadership Academy was put into full swing, as over 50 rising fourth graders were introduced to five key attributes of personal leadership. Beginning with “commitment” and followed by “teamwork,” “integrity,” “courage,” and “reflection,” students participated in games and challenges designed to give meaning to these qualities. Highlights included student-produced videos, which will be used at each of the three elementary schools in conjunction with the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.

Another highlight was a field trip to The Climbing Wall to focus on the attribute of courage. While in fourth grade, academy participants will have a chance to put each attribute into action throughout the school year. n

To explore various dimensions of personal leadership, students from Baker, Eisenhower, and Streams Elementary Schools collaborate during problem solving activities, including “alligator river.”

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What’s Happening at USCHS? Student Choice!

Upper St. Clair High School is currently implementing several student-centered experiences, arising from a focus on academics, arts, special education, and technology. These programs are designed to foster each student’s growth and development in 21st-century skills such as creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, innovation, interpersonal relationships, leadership, problem solving, and self-regulation. Collectively, the programs contribute to a high school experience that is designed to prepare students for postsecondary education and a globally competitive workforce.

SmartDesk SmartDesk is an independent study program in which students at USCHS can assist with technology support for staff and their fellow students. The mission of the SmartDesk is to assist the staff and student body of USC High School with the highest quality of technical support provided in a timely manner.

• Students are provided with real-world experience, as they use professional software and communication skills to solve real-world problems. These can include: ‣‣ Computer hardware issues ‣‣ Software or operating system issues ‣‣ Supporting teachers’ and students’ use of different programs ‣‣ Application programming and design ‣‣ Adding easy-to-use support solutions for common problems • SmartDesk students also interact with staff and fellow students, as they provide support in person in a timely manner.

Whether finding them at their location in the library, or communicating with them via their website or email, both staff and students have access to their expertise.

• SmartDesk students also complete independent projects that benefit their professional growth or the school. These have included: ‣‣ Help guides or tutorial videos ‣‣ Website development ‣‣ Mobile and desktop application development

Partners in SHOP@USC In 2014-15, SHOP@USC (Showing How Opportunity Pays) was launched. This pioneering student-run business is housed within the Innovation Hub and is a revolutionary way of delivering educational programming that enables students to design and manufacture products while learning how to develop a business plan that includes all aspects of running a business, such as pricing, marketing, sales, and inventory of products.

This year the Partners in SHOP@USC program was designed for students with special needs to have the opportunity to partner with regular education students in a smaller and specificallymodified STEAM classroom environment. This program fosters socialization, relationship building, respect for individual differences, and peer modeling, all of which help to cultivate friendships and partnerships throughout the school and community culture.

Partners in SHOP@USC provides a customized experience for both regular and special education students. Regular education students who may want to pursue a career with special needs students benefit from a class where they are given a leadership role to help facilitate the class and meet the needs of the special education students. Special education students benefit not only from acquiring STEAM-related skills, but also working side-byside with regular education students toward a common goal.

Anthony Mazzei, Imogen Snowdon (front), and Emily Prinsky work on punching and binding District directories.

Providing tech support at the SmartDesk

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Winter 2015

Peer Tutoring Peer Tutoring is a program that is being piloted this year to assist with academic support in the high school’s resource center.

Students are expected to aid their peers in the following: • Discussing new information and concepts students are learning • Reviewing material they already know • Refreshing mastery of material they have forgotten • Preparing for an exam or presentation • Getting academic assistance beyond the help provided by the course teacher Since the high school resource center has proven to be an invaluable asset for students seeking support and enrichment in certain subject areas, specifically from the teachers who are placed here, it is an environment conducive to academic support

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and enrichment. Those students who are serving this year are supplementing the supports already in place and helping to further highlight the resources that exist in higher education. The overall process promotes self-regulatory and self-assessment skill growth and overall development for college preparation.

The Music Lab The high school’s music department has created a Music Technology Lab that gives students access to the music technology available on the market, allowing for real-world, hands-on experiences and learning.

The lab consists of six stations of equipment; each station has a Mac computer, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) controller, microphone, and headset. Students currently enrolled in the yearlong Music Theory and Music Technology electives are using this equipment, which is housed in individual practice rooms at the school. Students are focused on their own music production in these courses and have begun using GarageBand software as an introduction. As the courses continue this year, students will be given the customized, hands-on opportunity to learn about important software used in the music field, such as Cubase, as they create mash-ups and live recordings.

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Sophomores Julia Conlon and Rebecca Smith take five to explore music theory in the music lab.

Conclusion These four innovative programs focus on the student experience and are deliberately designed to foster student engagement while providing the skills that will provide our students with an advantage. In short, Upper St. Clair High School is proud to embody the District’s commitment to customizing learning, nurturing potential, and delivering excellence! n

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Summer STEAM Academy 2015—Patterns and Chaos The STEAM Academy completed its fourth year this summer during the week of June 22–28. This year’s theme, Patterns and Chaos, was selected based on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) that encompass both science and engineering. Each course was related to the theme, finding patterns within the context of the class. Fifty Upper St. Clair students entering grades nine thought 12 participated in the program, which ran from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Each student selected to participate in one of the four courses, which included: • FabLab—Forms and Fluctuations • M o d e l R o c k e t r y — D e s i g n a n d Variance • Chemistry—Entropy and Symmetry • Sculpture—Exceptional Arrangements Through Erratic Motions

Students made rockets from recycled materials.

Dr. Dominic Frollini, USC High School AP and Honors chemistry teacher, was the instructor for the chemistry course.

Students had a busy week learning about crystal structures and actually growing crystals of copper sulfate, alum, and magnesium sulfate. Students prepared forms to grow the crystals, creating a synthetic “geode” structure to take home at the end of the week. They also experimented growing crystals on various other surfaces, including paper and rocks. Students also made paper and Styrofoam models of the various types of crystal structures.

Steve Stroyne, the high school’s technology education teacher, was the instructor for the FabLab course. The students learned 32

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

how to use the Autodesk Inventor program to design and create a keychain that was then printed using the 3-D printer. They next explored CorelDraw X6 to design and create a decorative wooden box using the laser engraver. Students spent the remainder of the week creating personal projects ranging from an engraved plaque of an older sibling’s graduation speech to a set of full-size chairs (made using the CNC cutting machine).

Russ Hoburg, the high school’s new science teacher, was the instructor for the model rocketry course. The students explored the factors that affect the flight of rockets, including propulsion, aerodynamics, and safe landing. Working in teams, students were challenged to build a rocket using recycled materials that would hold an egg and protect it upon landing. They began with water rockets, tested parachute landing systems, and then advanced to rockets with chemical propulsion. With the weather not a factor, the students had many opportunities to test their rockets outside.

Students also had the opportunity to visit via phone with former USC graduate Matt Vernacchia, who graduated this past May from MIT with degrees in aeronautics and astronautics. Matt shared his experiences both from high school and college with the USC students and offered his support as they continue their academic careers.

Erika Valentine, the high school’s new art teacher, returned for a second year to the STEAM program to lead the sculpture class. Students were supported in designing and creating a sculpture made of recycled metal and then mounted in concrete. Students began by learning about the use of repetitive patterns, or fractals, and their role in art design. They then moved into the Innovation Hub lab and learned how to use metal cutting and grinding tools along with welding tools. By the end of the week, each student had created a unique and amazing sculpture.

The students were in class from 9 to 11:30 a.m. each day and then gathered for lunch as a group in the LGI room. They enjoyed the summer weather mid-week with an outdoor picnic by the school’s athletic entrance. Following lunch each day, Lynn Kistler, the high school’s science curriculum leader and head of the STEAM Academy, supervised students through a variety of STEAM design challenges.

Students were challenged on Monday to build a Lego figure by listening and following directions given by their partner. On Tuesday, teams had to build towers made of spaghetti and marshmallows. Wednesday, the challenge grew to building a tower made of aluminum foil and straws to support a golf ball. On Thursday (during the Duquesne Light mandated power outage), students used scissors and construction paper to make a cutout of a fractal pattern.

After lunch on Friday, each group gave a presentation explaining to the other classes their activities throughout the week. The presentations were followed by the presentation of certificates to each student and a STEAM t-shirt.

Overall, the week was a great success and the dedication of the students to summer learning opportunities was phenomenal. The District looks forward to another exciting STEAM Academy in summer 2016! n

Using welding tools in the Innovation Hub

Working in the FabLab Winter 2015

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1:1 Learning Initiative

It is with great excitement that the School District announces the rollout of the 1:1 Learning Initiative at Boyce and Fort Couch Middle Schools. All students in grades five through eight have been provided with an iPad, a tool that will help to provide learning opportunities that are only possible through the use of progressive technologies. By leveraging the continually improving power of mobile technology, the goal is to improve the learning process in the following ways: • Enhance and expand student engagement through improved feedback and assessment • Provide access to content • Facilitate collaboration and communication along with the opportunity to demonstrate creativity • Engage in self-directed and self-paced learning The 1:1 Learning Initiative for the District came about as the result of careful planning and development over the course of many years. The project’s beginnings were rooted in a research and development project in a fifth grade team at Boyce in 2012. With a combination of District and grant funds, the creation of the Innovative Customized Classroom offered a combination of best instructional practices, progressive learning tools, and integrated 21st-century skills. Evidence from the evaluation of this pilot project showed program success based on the numbers of students scoring proficient or advanced on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests. In addition, 93% of parents reported a difference in the engagement level of their children in the learning process.

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The Innovative Customized Classroom pilot at Boyce provided a basis for new and advanced practices that could be replicated.

The practices were determined to be effective and significant in improving student learning, and thus prompted an expansion of this initiative for all middle school students.

In January 2013, a curriculum recommendation was presented by the middle school leadership team to research and determine the best ways to expand and integrate the use of mobile technology and related 21st-century skills at the middle school level, with the ultimate goal of customizing learning for all students. In 2013-14, the Innovative Customized Classroom concept was expanded to a team of seventh grade students at Fort Couch, which grew to include providing all seventh grade students with an iPad and access to these learning opportunities this past school year.

During this careful and deliberate pilot process, teachers were critical to each achievement and the ultimate project success and expansion. By relying on the instructional and technological expertise of our professionals in authentic learning environments, the District was able to determine the practices that would have the most impact on improving and enhancing the learning process for all students.

The 1:1 Learning Initiative has been designed to provide the best learning opportunities for every student. Technology is only effective when it empowers students in a culture of learning. It is the District’s strong belief that this investment will provide the means by which our schools strive to meet the District’s vision of “customizing learning, nurturing potential... and delivering excellence.” n Winter 2015

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Fort Couch Students Complete Passion Projects USC Performing Arts Calendar November 19 HS Instrumental Concert–7 p.m.

(USCHS Theater) 21 HS Choir Madrigal Dinner

(Westminster Church) 24 HS Jazz Concert–7 p.m.

(Boyce Theater) December 15 HS Choir Concert–7 p.m.

(USCHS Theater) 17 Boyce Winter Band/Chorus/

Orchestra Concert–7 p.m.

(USCHS Theater) 18 Boyce Winter Band/Chorus/

Orchestra School Concert–noon (Boyce Theater) 22 HS Instrumental Winter Concert–

7 p.m. (USCHS Theater) January 13 Elementary Combined Choral Concert–7 p.m.

(USCHS Theater) 25 FC Band and Orchestra Concert–

7 p.m. (USCHS Theater) February 13 HS Choral Beethoven Concert

Concert–7:30 p.m.

(Location TBD) March 4-5 Spring Musical–7:30 p.m.

(USCHS Theater) 6 Spring Musical–2 p.m.

(USCHS Theater) 10 Spring Musical–6:30 p.m.

(USCHS Theater) 11-12 Spring Musical–7:30 p.m.

(USCHS Theater) 14 Combined Band Concert (grades 5–12)–7 p.m. (USCHS Theater)

Last June, Lauren Ghilani, seventh grade social studies teacher at Fort Couch Middle School, had her students complete “Passion Projects” during the last week of school. She modeled the activity after Google’s policy to provide employees 20% of their time for independent projects.

Students were asked to answer the following seven questions/statements, which served as catalysts in the brainstorming process of their projects: 1. List all of the things you’ve ever wanted to do physically but have never been able to.

2. List all of the things you’ve ever wanted to do mentally but have never had the chance to.

3. What are some of your current loves? Likes?

4. How do you like to spend your time when you aren’t in school?

5. If you could read or learn about anything in the world, what would it be?

What do you wonder about?

6. Think of some ways that you can better yourself.

7. Think of some ways that you can better your school or community.

According to Lauren, “Our role as educators is changing. Information is now at our fingertips, so we must look at content and what we teach differently. It is our duty to foster critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and technological literacy. There is no better way to cultivate 21st-century skills than through real-life, authentic experiences where students choose what they want to learn about.”

She summed up the vision for the activity with a quote from Anthony J. D’Angelo, “Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”

A consultant-based workday was held on June 9 and a student presentation day took place on June 10. U.S. Olympic gold medalist sailor Anna Tunnicliffe gave an inspirational keynote presentation about her own personal story: the passions and goals which led her to achieve fame in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Other consultants who volunteered their time to assist on the projects included Matthew Madia, Bridgeway Capital (nonprofits); Robert Petrini, 2005 USC graduate employed at Deloitte Consultants (construction/finances); and Annette Vybral, Washington County Humane Society (animals).

Projects were shared with the public during Fort Couch fall open house in September.

In addition to Lauren, the following School District staff members assisted in spearheading this educational venture: Andy Lucas, Brad Wilson, Jennifer Cramer, and Anne DeGerolamo, and Duquesne University student-teacher Lauren Francioni. n

Ryan Junko, who wants to become a graphic designer, is shown here with a few samples of a website he created with software engineer Vineet Singh.

34

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2015

Jacob Yakima played his saxophone as his “hook” to get the student audience’s attention.

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We Dream, We Do.

Kimberly Cooper, Food Services Director Joe Wightkin, Support Services Director

Let’s Turn the Stadium Pink Gina Lynch

Why do so many people wear pink in October?

It seems like every sports team wears pink: pink socks, pink shoes, pink ribbons, and more. Upper St. Clair High School cheerleaders wear pink to create awareness of breast cancer in young women. The Young Women’s Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation (YWBCAF) was created to educate young women and help them deal with their diagnoses.

In 2009, a Mt. Lebanon High School senior and cheerleader wanted to turn the football stadium pink to honor her mom who had recently died from breast cancer and also raise money for YWBCAF. That’s when the idea of the “pink out” was born.

On October 30, 2009, 42 schools in the WPIAL conference participated in the first pink out. High school stadiums across western Pennsylvania turned pink to honor cancer survivors and to bring awareness to breast cancer.

USCHS cheerleaders have been participating in the event since its inception six years ago. For the past two years the

cheerleaders have designed and sold pink T-shirts and walked the stands during football games, collecting donations with their pink decorated containers, with all funds donated to YWBCAF. They raised and donated more than $1300 to YWBCAF each year for the past two years.

Led by USCHS cheerleading coaches Lexi Long, Elle Lohman, and Amanda Dames, the girls sell the pink out T-shirts at home varsity football games, at youth football games, and in school during lunch mods the week leading up to the pink out football game.

At the pink out game, it’s inspiring to look up in the stadium stands and see so many students, parents, and fans wearing pink out T-shirts and supporting the cause. Even better are the kind words received from the survivors and family members who see what an impact our teenagers can make.

Next October, remember to take part in pink out as USC once again turns the stadium pink! n

USCHS cheerleaders sporting their “pink out” T-shirts Winter 2015

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Pawprints...

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Baker

Eisenhower

Streams

Boyce

Fort Couch

USCHS

Giving Traditions at Our Schools

No one has ever become poor from giving.—Anne Frank

Council

Brooke Tarcson, PTC Advisor

We have so many reasons to be thankful in Upper St. Clair. Our schools are equipped with the newest teaching technology, including Promethean Boards and state of the art computers. Our middle school students are given iPads to learn subjects in an innovative way that is catered to their own personal learning pace, style, and level. We have numerous excellent athletic facilities and a township recreation center that is second to none right in our own backyard.

We have an award-winning administration and teaching staff willing to spend hours interacting with parents and children outside of regular school hours. Our music and art programs are thriving. These are just some of the positives that go along with living in Upper St. Clair.

Yet we all know that many children in the world do not have the same good fortune. Each USC school has a dedicated outreach committee working hard to make the families of our District aware of groups in need of our help and charity.

It is a beautiful lesson for our students, parents, and school staff to be reminded that we are all called to help our neighbors near and far.

Below are some examples of how our schools respond to the call of outreach. Parent Teacher Council has also created an outreach committee at the District level. Since Council is the umbrella organization of our PTA/PTO/PTSOs, the umbrella sale dedicates all proceeds directly to the Council outreach program.

USC High School

Melissa Epler, PTSO President

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart.”

I love this quote! School volunteers are often asked how they have the time to do all they do, and I truly believe that if your heart is in it, you will find the time. The USCHS PTSO cares about giving back, and we hope to model that for our students here at the high school.

One of the programs we are most proud to support is our Caring & Sharing fund. In our community, we can sometimes forget that we have families right here that struggle. When our counseling department hears of a student’s needs, this fund allows that need to be taken care of anonymously. One example was a student who had a donated laptop, but no Internet at home. We all know it’s next to impossible for our 36

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

students to complete their homework without the ability to connect online; it’s something that many of our students take for granted. The fund provided Internet capabilities. Our committee chairs also help arrange meals for students’ families who have suffered a hardship or have had a death in the family and could use a little extra TLC. Because our students are young adults, most of the outreach here is student-driven through clubs. The PTSO supports their efforts with donations to the mentoring program and student council. When even a small group of students is trained in leadership and mentoring skills, it has a trickle-down effect that can lead to great things throughout the entire school! When our students leave the halls of USCHS, we hope that they will take with them the spirit of giving and helping others that they have learned here.

Fort Couch Middle School

Daphna Gans, PTSO President

The tradition of giving is an integral part of the philosophy at Fort Couch, encouraging students to give for the right reasons and give in a meaningful way. For nearly 20 years, each year, Fort Couch students lead and participate in several outreach activities, including an annual toy drive and the iconic Reach Out campaign.

As a guidance class activity for seventh grade, led by counselors Lauren Madia and Jace Palmer, Fort Couch students hold an annual toy and clothes drive and participate in a community service and mentorship project in partnership with the Steel Valley Family Center in Homestead, which is run through the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. The Family Center serves as a community resource and daycare for children from infants through school age. Students are encouraged to donate (with parental permission) gently-used toy items, games, and books.

Students are also asked to provide new winter wear items, including gloves, scarves, and hats in small children’s sizes. The top-contributing homerooms participate in several activities where they serve as “big brothers” and “big sisters” to the daycare children. At Halloween, Fort Couch hosts a Halloween party for the children, complete with trick-or-treating around the building, songs, and lunch at the nutrition center. The daycare children each receive an individualized bag of toys and books. In the winter, our students attend a winter holiday party near Winter 2015

the Family Center in Homestead, where they do crafts, play games, and enjoy a celebration lunch with the children as well as provide the children with presents from their big brothers and big sisters at Fort Couch. In the spring, weather and time permitting, there is a final outdoor picnic with a cookout and outdoor sports and games.

The Reach Out campaign each year takes place in the weeks leading up to the winter holidays. Led by student council and advised by Fort Couch teacher Kathryn Gibson, students raise funds for charity by reaching out to neighbors and local businesses to join their cause. To make this a meaningful act of giving, the students are encouraged to earn funds to donate through service opportunities, including chores, jobs, babysitting, skipping an expensive activity like a movie night, or fun suggestions such as offering to hang up exterior holiday decorations for neighbors or caroling for a cause to help these worthy organizations.

Each year the campaign “reaches out” within our community by helping local families in need through a distribution of Giant Eagle gift cards with the assistance of the USC police department. Charities also extend beyond the USC borders, with target organizations selected by the students. In the 2014-15 school year, for example, Fort Couch students selected Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Junior Partners, MS Bike-a-thon, and Hope for Haiti as their additional charities to support. In the 2014-15 school year, students raised over $23,000 through their Reach Out activities, more than double of what has been traditionally collected in previous years. Reach Out is also a team challenge at Fort Couch, with lots of healthy competition across teams, ending in the top fundraising team receiving a field trip.

In the coming weeks, be on the lookout for Fort Couch students reaching out for a good cause.

Boyce Middle School

Brenda Tomsheck, PTO President

It’s a good feeling to be tasked with writing an article about outreach at Boyce Middle School and to wonder, “Where do I start?” There are so many outreach efforts at Boyce that serve as perfect opportunities for fifth and sixth graders who are becoming more aware that their actions can directly help others. With the support of parents and teachers, Boyce students better understand the concept of “reaching out” as they start to

SD

... a USC PTA Council Feature take ownership of their individual volunteer experiences and are able to identify causes with which they feel a sense of connection.

At Boyce, there are various opportunities throughout the year for students to get involved and give back. These include a canned food drive for South Hills Interfaith Ministries (SHIM), a leftover Halloween candy collection for troops overseas, and a Thanksgiving food drive. Valentine grams and a March Madness basketball tournament both encourage students to raise money for different charities each year.

The Friendship Shoe Box project, led by the school’s guidance counselors, is also a favorite outreach activity. Student volunteers assemble shoeboxes containing treats, school supplies, and small gifts that are distributed at the holidays to a variety of organizations that help local children in need.

One of the newest outreach efforts at Boyce, called The Boyce Bash, started just last year. The Boyce Bash is a carnival-like event planned and run primarily by Boyce student council with the assistance of sixth grade teacher Justin Gremba.

Event proceeds are donated to a charity selected by student council. Last year’s event, held in February, raised $3000 for Casey’s Clubhouse.

The concept of Boyce Bash started years ago when the students expressed a desire to have an event at Boyce that was similar to the major fundraising events at the elementary schools.

Last year’s student council created a Google document to share ideas and plan event details.

Within 24 hours, the document was more than 15 pages long and students were well on their way to planning the first Boyce Bash. This year’s Boyce Bash promises to be another successful fundraiser, with students already planning improvements to the event.

It’s exciting to see the many ways that Boyce students continue to connect with our community as they gain awareness of the role they can play in helping others.

Baker Elementary

Kristin Polochak, PTA President

Over the years, Baker Elementary has strived to make outreach a priority during the school year. This school year will be no exception.

Helping others is such a wonderful concept to teach our children, especially at the elementary level. Children who experience the pride of giving to others will often carry this value with them throughout their lives.

September was the start of this giving with our food drive, which benefits SHIM (South Hills Interfaith Ministries). In 2014, this organization was able to distribute 350,000 pounds of food to local families in need. It gives all of us at Baker pride to be able to contribute to that number.

Another form of outreach that will take place is our goal to raise funds for Partners in Education.

Money raised will benefit local schools in need

of supplies, and this is often done with a coin drive. Last year, former Steeler Chris Hoke spoke to Baker students at an assembly to assist with this effort. Outreach committee chairs Jamie Del and Beth Brown are hoping to organize a similar assembly this school year.

With the fast approaching holiday season, I’m hopeful that outreach is something we will all keep in mind. Even small contributions add up to make big differences for those in need.

Eisenhower Elementary

Amy Garces, PTO President

As students walk through the main doors of Eisenhower, one of the first things they see is the school’s motto: “Be A Good Egg…” This message is at the heart of all we do at Eisenhower, encouraging everyone who enters to do their best for others and work together to make good decisions. From the opening of the school year, we set the tone for the Eisenhower spirit of giving back with events, including student-led school tours during Welcome Breakfast for new and “new-to-kindergarten” families and the Welcome Back staff luncheon.

Eisenhower’s outreach programs exemplify our “good egg” beliefs. Once again, the school is sponsoring Kelly Elementary School in the Wilkinsburg School District, continuing the relationship that has meant so much to so many for the past five years. Our efforts began with a Kelly School initiative table at this year’s Eisenhowler fundraiser, where guests bid on a specialty package with proceeds going directly to Kelly Elementary. Third and fourth grade students had their turn to “pay it forward” by visiting The Education Partnership offices and packaging student kits that are given to each Kelly student.

A sense of community was fostered between the schools as homemade “good luck” and “thank you” cards were shared between students.

Eisenhower continues to support Kelly Elementary this year with the winter Hat and Mitten Tree and a spring coin drive.

A second outreach program was established this fall with the completion of the “Pledge a Player” run for The Miracle League. By completing laps around Eisenhower’s track, the students raised funds needed to sponsor individual players for the Miracle League season, giving many more children a chance to “batter up!”

Representatives from Casey’s Clubhouse were on hand to cheer on the runners, and additional funds were given through a raffle of special auction items at the ’Howler and through an event partnership with Doubletree Hotels.

There are always opportunities to help others throughout the year, and each Eisenhower student is given a choice to do so in many ways.

The school supports Make-A-Wish with its Winter Math-A-Thon, and gives back to those in need with the February Food Drive for Winter 2015

SHIM. We are grateful to all who coordinate and promote these events; you are all good eggs!

Streams Elementary

Alissa Mammana, PTO President

There are many organizations Streams supports each year through outreach programs. The focus is centered on getting the students actively involved in providing charity in many forms for the less fortunate. Some of the upcoming programs for this school year include: • Crayola Marker Project entitled “color cycle” encourages eco-friendly practices by collecting and repurposing used markers.

• Collecting food items for SHIM. • Collecting character band aids to be distributed to the nurses at Children’s Hospital.

• St. Mary of Mercy Red Door Program receives candy collected by the students beginning the day after Halloween. This program hands out lunches to the homeless and working poor in Pittsburgh.

Additionally, Streams continues the tradition of selecting an organization to support through the school’s silent auction. This is not a PTO-run event, rather a Streams event. Each year, a different organization is thoughtfully chosen; this year we are excited to support Beverly’s Birthdays.

Beverly’s Birthdays provides birthday celebrations for homeless children in the Pittsburgh region. Since 2011, they have provided over 1000 birthday presents to children. It is Streams’ goal to pick organizations that our children can relate to and be excited to support. This was an easy choice, because what child does not love their birthday? And, how sad is it that so many children cannot afford to celebrate their birthdays?

In the weeks leading up to the silent auction, children will have the opportunity to bring in various items, coins for the coin drive, and typically they will make cards, letters, and artwork to be sent along with the donations. It is fun for the kids, and the activity brings a wonderful energy to the school. It all ends with an evening at Streams where the kids enjoy fun activities and they, along with adults, can bid on various items such as food, baked goods, classroom artwork, and many other goods and services.

In the past, Streams has raised in excess of $7000. We certainly hope to exceed that amount this year and provide some well deserved cheer for some very unfortunate children.

Recently, I randomly asked three Streams students if they could recall one thing they collected from last year for other children and organizations. Each child was able to recall several things, which is very impactful coming from elementary-aged children. As a parent, it makes me happy to know that children care about their world, the welfare of others, and that they want to help. Hopefully the outreach programs will continue to grow in the years to come! n UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Bolded dates identify delivery weeks of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY’s quarterly publication.

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• Orthodontic services for children and adults Pinebridge Commons location: 1580 McLaughlin Run Road, Suite 200 Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 412-221-0392 Bethel Park location: 2414 Lytle Road, Suite 100 Bethel Park, PA 15102 412-831-2188

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Psychotherapy at Pinebridge Commons, Suite 214 Professional Psychotherapists with over 15 years experience working with children and adults in clinical, outpatient, inpatient, and school-based settings. Extensive experience with both clinical and school-based evaluations in the child, adolescent/adult populations.

Specializing in the Treatment of Mood Disorders, Anxiety/ Panic, Behavioral Problems, Complicated Grief, Marriage/ Parenting Support, Anger Management, Conflict Resolution, & Court-ordered treatment or Mediation.

Renee Kinavey, MSED, NCC, LPC Suite 214-A

A Welcome New Addition to Pinebridge Commons, Renee will offer additional evening & weekend time. She currently accepts Highmark BCBS, but will be adding other major medical insurers throughout the year.

Melissa D. Michel, MSCP, NCC, LPC

• 24-hour emergency services

Suite 214-B

• Most major insurance plans accepted

I accept Most Major Medical Plans including UPMC, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Tricare, Health America, MHNet, ComPsych, & LEAP as well as many other employee assistance plans.

For more information call 412-407-2900 www.talkpittsburgh.com Winter 2015

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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T Township Commissioners

Robert W. Orchowski

Russell R. Del Re

Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-854-1868 2015*

Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-287-9076 2015*

President, Ward 3

Nicholas J. Seitanakis

Vice President, Ward 5

2015–2016 Township of Upper St. Clair Meeting Dates

Rex A. Waller Ward 2

Ward 1

Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-220-4434 2015*

Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-854-5065 2017*

Mark D. Christie

Glenn R. Dandoy

Daniel R. Paoly

Day 412-831-9000 2017*

Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-944-3957 2015*

Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-862-5995 2017*

Ward 4

At-Large

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

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

• The Parks and Recreation Board meets at the C&RC the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m., no meeting in December.

• The Zoning Hearing Board meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 8 p.m.

• The Civil Service Board meets as needed.

• The Building/Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory Board meets as needed.

• The Library Board meets as needed.

At-Large

*Date indicates expiration of term.

All business regarding the operation of the Township is conducted at the regular meetings of the Board of Commissioners. Citizens are invited to comment on any Township matter.

Complete Board minutes can be found at the Upper St. Clair Township Library or on the website at www.twpusc.org. For more information, call 412-831-9000.

Township Administration

Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager

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

Douglas W. Burkholder Chief of Police

Mark P. Romito Director of Finance

Adam A. Benigni, AICP Director of Planning & Community Development

Amy Sommer Director of Information Technology

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

Administrator Extension Matthew R. Serakowski........................................................216 Township Manager Mark S. Mansfield.................................................................219 Asst. Township Manager & Director of Administration Douglas W. Burkholder.........................................................238 Chief of Police Mark P. Romito......................................................................218 Director of Finance Adam A. Benigni, AICP.........................................................501 Director of Planning & Community Development Amy Sommer Director of Information Technology George Kostelich, Jr...............................................................271 Director of Public Works Helen M. Palascak.................................................................247 Director of Library Paul Besterman......................................................................656 Director of Recreation & Leisure Services Other Services Police–Administration............................................ 412-833-1113 Tri-Community South EMS–Administration........ 412-831-3710 USC Volunteer Fire Department–Administration.... 412-835-0660 Animal Control..................................................... 412-833-7500 Community & Recreation Center....................... 412-221-1099 Cable 7................................................................... 412-831-1030 Emergency–Police, Fire, EMS ............................. 412-833-7500

George Kostelich, Jr. Director of Public Works 44

Helen M. Palascak Director of Library

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Paul Besterman Director of Recreation & Leisure Services

Winter 2015

USC Township website:

www.twpusc.org

T Seeking Talented Residents The Township is seeking to replenish its Talent Bank Inventory.

Township Manager Matthew Serakowski (right) accepts the 2015 Banner Community citation from County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

If you have been a resident one year or longer and are interested in volunteering your time as a

Upper St. Clair Designated Banner Community

Upper St. Clair Township was recently designated as a 2015

Banner Community by the Allegheny League of Municipalities (ALOM), indicating it implements best practices in all aspects of its operations and governs in an inclusive, collaborative manner. The Township has been recognized each year since the program’s inception in 2013. In his press release regarding the program, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald stated, “Local government is the level of government that is closest to its residents and its officials are more likely to know about local issues and where help is needed. The municipalities recognized in the Banner Community Program are the best of the best.” n

board or commission member, please submit a “Talent Bank Inventory Form” to the attention of the Township manager. Forms may be found on the Township’s website at www.twpusc.org or by visiting the Township receptionist.

Highlights of the Board of Commissioners’ Meetings June 1, 2015

Approximately 12 people attended.

The Board • Adopted Bill No. 8-15 Re. PLC15-1301–Amendment to Chapter 130 of the Township Code entitled “Zoning” to establish regulations for Distributed Antenna Systems.

• Continued Public Hearing Re. PLC15-0003–CVS Pharmacy–Unified Conditional Use and Preliminary Land Development Approval to the Regular Board Meeting of July 6, 2015.

• Continued Public Hearing Re. PLC15-0007–BJ’s Restaurant–South Hills Village Mall–Final Approval Planned Development to the Regular Board Meeting of July 6, 2015.

• Adopted Bill No. 10-15 Re. PLC15-0008–Bedner Estates PRD Phase 2–Final Approval.

• Approved the Traffic Calming Plan–Sky Ridge Drive.

Approval of Contract • Traffic Systems and Services Pittsburgh.....................................................$157,049.73 Traffic Signalization Improvements to McMurray Road (SR 2004) and Bethel Church Road

July 6, 2015

August 3, 2015

Approximately 10 people attended.

Approximately 10 people attended.

The Board • Continued Public Hearing Re. PLC15-0003–CVS Pharmacy–Unified Conditional Use and Preliminary Land Development Approval to the Regular Board Meeting of August 3, 2015.

• Approved applicant’s request to extend the Public Hearing and grant a 39-day extension Re. PLC15-0003–CVS Pharmacy–Unified Conditional Use and Preliminary Land Development Approval.

• Adopted Bill No. 9-15R to grant Final Planned Development Approval to BJ’s Restaurant located at South Hills Village Mall, Block and Lot Number 394-C-200, subject to certain conditions.

• Adopted Bill No. 11-15 Re. IMP12-0002 accepting the dedication of the sanitary sewer in the Piatt Plan of Lots.

• Adopted Bill No. 12-15 granting Final Planned Residential Development Approval to Bedner Estates PRD Phase 3, located along Cook School Road, subject to certain conditions.

Approval of Contracts • CleanNet USA Pittsburgh............................................$ 72,000 per year Janitorial and Cleaning Services at Municipal, Public Works & Fire Department Buildings.......................... $216,000/3 years • Martins Maintenance New Providence, RI.............................$214,209 per year Janitorial and Cleaning Services at C&RC and The Outdoor Classroom Facilities....... $642,627/3 years

Recognitions • Commissioner Christie presented the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the Township’s 2015 Budget to Mark P. Romito, Director of Finance.

The Board • Approved applicant’s request to continue the public hearing to the Regular Board Meeting of September 8, 2015, and granted a 27-day extension Re. PLC15-0003–CVS Pharmacy–Unified Conditional Use and Preliminary Land Development Approval.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1603 adopting the Capital Improvement Program for 2016-2020.

Approval of Contract • Cargill, Inc. North Olmstead, OH...................................... $69.29/ton 2015-2016 Rock Salt

Winter 2015

Township Finance Department personnel, including Director of Finance Mark Romito (center), are recognized at the August meeting by Commissioner Mark Christie (right) UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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USC Parks Baker Park Beadling Soccer Field Boyce Field Boyce Mayview Park Brookside Park Byrnwick Park Clair Park Gilfillan Park Johnston Park Marmion Field Morton Complex Municipal Park Ravine Park Trotwood Park Tustin Park Veterans Park Wiltshire Park

Baker Park Improvements Planned Gary Schafer, Parks and Forestry Administrator

It has been another busy year of park improvements, with major Township accomplishments in 2015 being the Municipal Rain Garden at Municipal Park, Wiltshire Park, The Clubhouse Playground at Boyce Mayview Park, and Clair Park. We are now set to renovate another neighborhood park in 2016: Baker Park.

Baker Park, a 13.82-acre park, has many amenities. Conveniently located on Morrow Road adjacent to Boyce Mayview Park and next to Baker Elementary School, this park has activities for all ages and abilities. Whether it’s tennis, sand volleyball, basketball, bocce, or baseball, Baker Park has the facilities ready for use. There is a great playground and covered sand box for the kids to play and a covered pavilion for relaxing or picnicking. The ten-foot-wide, multi-purpose asphalt-paved perimeter trail runs through Baker Park for walking or biking access to the Community & Recreation Center or the Morton Complex. There is also an access point to the interior hiking trails of Boyce Mayview Park.

Within the past few years, minor renovations to the park’s tennis courts and basketball courts were completed.

Pickleball regulation lines were added to the tennis courts and basketball backboards were installed. If you haven’t heard of pickleball, stop by the park sometime. Chances are you will find a pickleball game going on.

Easy access to the paved perimeter trail The 2016 renovation plans focus on the sand volleyball from Baker Park and the bocce courts. There is a grade elevation between the courts that needs to be addressed. The sand from the volleyball court continues to wash over towards the bocce court. Addressing this issue will allow for a safe and fun playing experience on both courts.

The small baseball field will also be renovated. This field for our youngest ones is a place for them to learn the game of baseball. Plans include replacing the benches and portions of the fence.

During the renovations, some of the amenities, including the trash receptacles, will be replaced and recycling receptacles will be added. A few benches and a couple of water fountains will also be added to the park.

Take the opportunity to visit the Township’s municipal parks frequently! Should you see the need for an improvement, contact the Township offices at 412-831-9000, or come and voice your praises or concerns at Grade elevation concerns will be addressed in 2016 at Baker Park’s volleyball and bocce courts. the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meetings held on the fourth Tuesday of each month, excluding the month of December. n

Municipal Rain Garden

A new addition to Upper St. Clair’s conservation efforts is the Municipal Rain Garden, located next to the municipal playground and adjacent to the library parking lot. This project helps reduce storm water pollutants entering McLaughlin Run Creek from the parking lot. The Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD), an urban conservation district that engages and leads through partnerships, innovation, and implementation to conserve, promote, and improve Allegheny County’s natural resources, funded portions of the project. The Township is grateful that ACCD assisted in this project and hopes that it inspires more people to incorporate rain gardens into their landscape. n For another article on the Rain Garden, see page 58 of the summer 2015 issue of TODAY.

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HOME DESIGN CENTER

Green Asphalt—a Win-Win Warm mix asphalt (WMA) is the new “green asphalt” and the wave of the future

in the paving industry.

WMA is produced at temperatures 50 to 100 degrees lower than hot mix asphalt (HMA). The WMA mix is the same recipe as the conventional HMA, with the addition of an organic additive that reduces the viscosity (thickness) of the asphalt binder within the mix. Reducing the viscosity means that the mixture is easier to manipulate and compact at lower temperatures.

The greater the difference between the asphalt mixture and the ambient air temperature, the faster the mix cools. WMA cools slower than conventional HMA. The longer cooling period allows additional time for placement and compaction, and better compaction equals better performance.

There are environmental and health benefits of WMA, as well. The workers at the production facility and on the construction site are inhaling far less smoke and dust.

Producers are able to cut fuel consumption at the plant by 30 to 35% and decrease the production of greenhouse gases. Environmental conditions are also improved for the neighbors living near the asphalt plant. An additional benefit is that the pavement stays black longer because the light oils are not cooked out of the liquid asphalt binder material.

PennDOT began advocating for WMA in 2011 by setting an internal goal of 20% of all of their paving projects to incorporate WMA. Based on PennDOT’s success with WMA, USC Township paved a WMA pilot project in 2013. WMA has become a standard item for USC’s annual streets resurfacing program ever since.

The Township of Upper St. Clair was the first municipality in the Pittsburgh area to incorporate green asphalt into its annual street resurfacing program, a win-win for all!

In addition to the street resurfacing, the Township also performs 50,000 linear feet of crack sealing annually. Crack sealing the existing streets keeps storm water from entering the cracks and weakening the base underneath, which supports the asphalt pavement.

Public Works forces have been busy repairing isolated areas of pavement throughout the Township in 2015. As of September, approximately 400 tons of asphalt was used to repair potholes and damaged areas. n

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Street Resurfacing

The Township’s 2015 annual street resurfacing program included the following streets: Ashley Circle–Scarlett Drive to cul-de-sac Bingham Drive–Boyce Road to Rutledge Drive Blairmont Drive–Devonwood Drive to Devonwood Drive Boxfield Drive–Warwick Drive to Warwick Drive Carriage Lane–Corteland Drive to cul-de-sac Corteland Drive–Johnston Road to #2504 Englewood Drive–Morrow Road to Jenkins Drive Jenkins Drive–Golfview Drive to Hidden Timber Drive Keifer Drive–Royanna Drive to Locust Lane Locust Lane–Royanna Drive to Terminus Manordale Drive–Boxfield Drive to Seegar Road Merry Oak Drive–Turnberry Drive to cul-de-sac Montclair Drive–Clairmont Drive to Old Meadow Drive Painter’s Drive–Gilkeson Road to cul-de-sac Rhett Drive–Scarlett Drive to Terminus Rostron Drive–Morton Road to Shenandoah Drive Rutledge Drive–Bingham Drive to Township Line Scarlett Drive–Cook School Road to cul-de-sac Terphin Drive–Tragone Drive to Terminus Tiffany Drive–Lesnett Road to Clairmont Drive Turnberry Drive–Hollow Tree Dive to Merry Oak Drive Repaved Blairmont Drive Clair Park–Color coating at Truxton crosswalk basketball court

Winter 2015

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Coexisting with Coyotes Coyotes have been occasionally spotted in Upper St. Clair since about 2000, and have existed in our neighborhoods and surrounding communities for some time. If residents see these creatures close to home, it’s good to know more about them and what to do when encountering a coyote.

• Coyotes are omnivores, so keep garbage in a tightly sealed container, preferably in your garage or in a shed.

Put garbage cans out the morning of trash collection.

• In your yard, remove pet food, fallen fruit, and spilled seed beneath bird feeders.

• Don’t feed other animals that coyotes prey upon. Birdseed often attracts these innocent animals to your backyard, which in turn may attract a coyote that is hungry.

• Keep pets in fenced areas or covered kennels. Stay with your pets while outdoors, unless pets are in a secured, covered kennel.

• Keep pets on a leash; do not allow them to run loose.

• Fear of humans is important for coyote survival. Use loud noises and yard lights and motion detectors to frighten them away.

Coyotes are usually skittish around humans and typically try to avoid people.

However, if you encounter a coyote:

• Do not turn your back on a coyote or run away from it.

• If it approaches, make loud noises and make yourself look big. If this fails, throw rocks or other objects at the coyote.

• Although attacks on humans are extremely rare, parents should speak to their children about what to do if they encounter a coyote. Children should tell an adult if they see a coyote. If they have a cell phone, they should call the police to report the location they saw or encountered the coyote. n Contact the authorities if you encounter a coyote, stray dog, or injured animal by calling 412-833-7500.

Introducing the MAC

What is an MS4?

For many years, the facility at 1770 McLaughlin Run Road was known as the Rec Center, home to Upper St. Clair’s senior citizens and the site of varied celebrations for countless Township residents.

But six years ago, with the opening of the Community & Recreation Center at Boyce Mayview Park (commonly known as the C&RC), the McLaughlin Run Road building has been known as the “old” recreation center.

Most residents had little difficulty with the rec center vs. the old rec center naming system; but occasionally, visitors and those new to the Township would go to the wrong location.

After staff recommendations, this September, the USC Board of Commissioners voted to rename the facility the McLaughlin Run Activity Center, or the MAC. While the name has changed over the years—back in 1967, it was the “Teen Canteen” before becoming the Rec Center— one thing remains constant: it’s a great place to make memories with friends. Here’s to more good times at the MAC! n

Under the Federal Clean Water Act, the EPA established Phase I of the National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water Program in 1990. Phase I required medium and large cities with populations of 100,000 or more to obtain an NPDES permit to cover their storm water discharges into public waters.

Storm Water Phase II then established the NPDES Storm Water Program for “small” Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) located in urbanized areas and included all areas not covered by Phase I regulations. An MS4 is defined as a conveyance system used to collect or convey storm water into waters using storm pipes, storm drains, swales, channels, or un-named tributaries. The required permit will be a five-year renewable permit.

The basic requirement of Phase II MS4s is to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent possible (MEP) to protect water quality in compliance with the Clean Water Act. The goal of the EPA’s Storm Water Phase II MS4 is to improve waterways by reducing the quantity of pollutants carried into a storm water collection system during a rain. Common pollutants may include, but not be limited to, oil and petroleum product residue from roadways, pesticide run-off, sediment from construction sites, and discarded trash.

The Township of Upper St. Clair is considered to be an MS4 and must obtain a NPDES permit. The permit will require the Township to develop and implement a storm water management plan (SWMP). There are six mandatory Minimum Control Measures (MCM) associated with a NPDES permit.

These MCMs are: 1. Public education and outreach 2. Public involvement and participation 3. Illicit discharge detection and elimination 4. Construction site storm water run-off controls 5. Post-construction storm water management 6. Pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations Upper St. Clair Township’s Department of Public Works and the Community Development Department are actively working on a storm water collection system operation and maintenance program plan. Additional information regarding the plan is being developed and will be made available in the future. n

David Kutschbach, Superintendent of Projects

McLaughlin Run Activity Center (the MAC) 48

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Municipal Solid Waste

In 2013, Americans generated about 254 million tons of trash and recycled and composted about 87 million tons of this material, equivalent to a 34.3% recycling rate. On average, we recycled and composted 1.51 pounds of our individual waste generation of 4.40 pounds per person per day.

EPA encourages practices that reduce the amount of waste needing to be disposed of, including waste prevention, recycling, and composting.

• Source reduction, or waste prevention, is designing products to reduce the amount of waste that will later need to be thrown away and also to make the resulting waste less toxic.

• Recycling is the recovery of useful materials, such as paper, glass, plastic, and metals, from the trash to use to make new products, reducing the amount of virgin raw materials needed.

• Composting involves collecting organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, and storing it under conditions designed to help it break down naturally. This resulting compost can then be used as a natural fertilizer.

In 2013, newspapers/mechanical papers recovery was about 67% (5.4 million tons), and about 60% of yard trimmings were recovered.

Organic materials continue to be the largest component of municipal solid waste (MSW). Paper and paperboard account for 27%, and yard trimmings and food account for another 28%.

Plastics comprise about 13%; metals make up nine percent; and rubber, leather, and textiles account for nine percent. Wood follows at around six percent and glass at five percent. Other miscellaneous wastes make up approximately three percent of the MSW generated in 2013.

Resource Conservation Recycling and composting prevented 87.2 million tons of material from being disposed of in 2013, up from 15 million tons in 1980. This prevented the release of approximately 186 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the air in 2013— equivalent to taking approximately 39 million cars off the road for a year.

Learn more about how common wastes and materials, including food and yard wastes, paper, metals, and electronics, contribute to MSW generation and how they can be recycled. n Published by the Department of Environmental Protection Source: http://www.epa.gov/wastes/ nonhaz/municipal/index.htm Winter 2015

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Winter Storm Emergencies Winter storm emergencies are just that—emergencies. The Township of Upper St. Clair’s administrative staff, Police Department, 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.

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 garbage 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 Township’s website at www.twpusc.org for information on garbage collection.

6. The Township cannot recommend contractors or companies that provide private snow removal. Please refer to advertising publications.

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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 12 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.

8. Please keep fire hydrants clear of snow.

They are for your safety.

Public Works Snow Removal— How It Works

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 requires residential roadways to be designated secondary priority.

The department deploys 15 trucks equipped with salt spreaders and plows to clear approximately 110 miles of roadway, all Township-owned parking lots, buildings, and all School District parking lots.

The department is currently contracted to perform snow and ice removal on all state-owned roadways within the Township, including Route 19, Boyce Road, Mayview Road, Lesnett Road, McLaughlin Run Road, Fort Couch Road, and McMillan Road. It does not have maintenance responsibilities for Allegheny County-owned roadways, including Painters Run Road, Bethel Church Road, and Drake Road.

Some considerations regarding the snow removal services that you receive as a resident of USC include: 1. The Public Works Department must be alert to air temperatures and road Winter 2015

www.twpusc.org

surface temperatures. Sodium chloride (rock salt) is effective to about 23° Fahrenheit. At temperatures below 23°, 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 contracted by the Township and available on a 24hour basis to provide periodic advance weather forecasting.

3. Peak traffic occurs between the hours of 6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. Decisions to delay school must be made by school administration.

4. The Public Works Department minimizes the use of chemicals by plowing whenever possible. Generally, accumulations over one inch with additional snow predicted may require plowing as dictated by temperatures and information obtained from Air Science Consultants.

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 will be cleared at the Township building, C&RC, and tennis bubbles as soon as possible. The Recreation Center schedule is checked to ensure clear walkways prior to scheduled activities.

7. Excessive snow may require opening of inlets or location of fire plugs.

8. The Public Works Department has instituted an anti-icing process into the snow removal operation. This process consists of applying manufactured salt brine to the roadways prior to a storm event. As you encounter these Public Works’ trucks applying the product, please give them the space and right of way needed.

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Recycling Reminders

Ron Sarrick, Buildings/Grounds & Sustainability Administrator Automated recycling has taken off in a big way. First and foremost, the 14 x 14-inch cardboard size requirement has been discontinued. This makes it much easier to just break down most boxes and insert them into the cart. It also ensures that a steady volume of cardboard will be recycled moving forward with the automated program.

Some residents are placing generic carts and former recycling bins at the curb. The loose black or white 12-gallon bins and most recent 32-gallon round dark green containers will no longer be emptied during recycling pick up. The hauler will pick up only the USC Township authorized gray

recycling carts, which are made of reinforced plastic. The carts purchased for the program are warranted and will be replaced at no cost should they fail. Generic carts purchased from other sources may not have the structural integrity to withstand the grasp of the automated lift arm.

Please pay attention to the lid instruction for placement of the cart at the curb, as carts have been seen placed in many haphazard positions. For the ease and safety of the drivers, residents should place the cart properly according to the instructions that came with the cart. This ensures driver safety and the ability of the hauler to have all the streets picked up in the scheduled

Lid opening should face street, lid hinge (and wheels) should face house Winter 2015

time frame projected.

There have been many requests for the large 96-gallon carts. Public Works is in the process of getting these out to residents, and super recyclers are encouraged to order a second cart.

Become more aware of the recycling stream; for example, juice boxes, milk cartons, creamer cartons, and pizza boxes have been added to the recycling list. A pizza box must be clean, with no cheese or grease, please. If necessary, remove and discard the lid if cheesy or greasy.

It is estimated that the average person generates nearly five pounds of waste per day. A good portion of that is recyclable, so make the effort to limit the waste that goes to the landfill. Recycling would be the best option for ensuring that there is a place to contain our trash. Recycling, along with reuse of items seasoned with reducing that which we use in excess, could provide a much better environment today.

Moreover, it is a sustainable lifestyle that guarantees natural resources for generations to come. n UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Meet… These Fantastic Reads!

Recommended for you by USC Township Library staff The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows (adult floor) Once again Barrows has hit it out of the park with a story about abandonment, love, and redemption. She gifts the reader with precocious 12-year-old Willa Romeyn, the narrator of this wonderful family saga. Willa sets out to investigate family secrets, ultimately opening a Pandora’s box, which will change everyone irrevocably. Barrows has chosen to place the Romeyns in the South during the Great Depression, perfectly recreating the era, evoking all Janet Sheley the charm and gentility of the people as well as the volatility of the time. Written in exquisite prose with characters you’ll cherish and long remember, I highly recommend this read.—Janet Sheley

Barbara St. Clair

Deb Conn 52

The Girl in the Spider’s Web

by David Lagercrantz (adult floor) This is the long-awaited sequel to the best-selling Millennium trilogy written by Stieg Larsson, who passed away from a heart attack shortly after completing The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest. The new author, selected by Larsson’s heirs, has managed to write in the style of Larsson and incorporates many of his characters from previous books in the series. Main characters Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist become involved in a case involving computer espionage, the Russian mob, and an autistic savant. While using much from Larsson, the story is fresh and well worth reading.—Barbara St. Clair Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood (kids floor) This is my favorite fractured fairytale of the year. It’s the tale of an out-of-this-world Cinderella.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2015

“Once upon a planetoid, amid her tools and sprockets, a girl named Cinderella dreamed of fixing fancy rockets.” With the help of her fairy god-robot and her ability to repair spaceships, Cinderella charms the prince, but leaves him hastily at midnight.

He searches the galaxy for Cinderella and finds her based on her mechanical abilities and not her shoe size. Do Cinderella and the prince live happily ever after? Check out the book to find out!—Deb Conn Belief is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe by Lori Jakiela (adult floor) Local author Jakiela has written another compellingly honest and brutally funny memoir. Set in Pittsburgh, it chronicles her search for her birth mother. I love how her insights into family relationships and dynamics explored not only her feelings about her adoption, but her relationship with the “real” mother who raised her, Helen Palascak and Lori’s mothering of her own children. Exceedingly well written, it’s a page turner of a memoir you will not want to put down.—Helen Palascak The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny (adult floor) It’s hard to imagine a more satisfying series than the Three Pines mysteries. Louise Penny somehow manages to make her work defy categorization, by the simple fact that “mystery” doesn’t begin to describe it, as it involves complex characterizations and storylines. Three Pines is a place one wants to visit as often as possible. It’s quite obvious why; with her latest novel The Nature of the Beast, librarPam Khalili ians throughout the U.S. have named it one of the top ten books of the month, through Library Journal.—Pam Khalili Our Souls at Night: a Novel by Ken Haruf (adult floor) Addie, a 70-year-old widow, pays an unexpected visit to Louis, the aging widower from just around the block, to make a “kind of proposal.” Despite cold feet, she just says it: “I wonder

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Highley

if you would consider coming to my house sometimes to sleep with me. I’m lonely.

I think you might be, too. I wonder if you would come and sleep in the night with me. And talk.”

And so begins an Diane DeAngelo unlikely friendship in which middle-of-thenight talks of dreams and regrets serve as an elixir for the deep loneliness of the wee hours. Beautifully written prose will charm and delight you.—Diane DeAngelo An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (kids floor) This thought-provoking and gripping debut novel is poised to become the next Hunger Games.

Laia and Elias live in Serra, a once-beautiful land now ruled by the ruthless Martials, but their lives are worlds apart. Laia is a member of the Scholars, a slave class who live in fear Colleen Miles of the Martials. Elias is an unwilling student at Blackcliff, the training ground for the Martials. Laia and Elias’ worlds collide when Laia risks her life by becoming a spy within Blackcliff in the hopes of saving her brother imprisoned there. Will Elias shrug off the tyranny he is trained to enforce? Will Laia find her brother? Read this thrilling novel to find out!—Colleen Miles

Dedicated Knowledgeable Accessible Dependable

Susan Highley ABR, CRS, SRES

$190 Million Sales in 25 Years

“Your Real Estate Needs Are My #1 Priority”

412.833.3600 ext 268 Cell: 412.889.1214

www.shighley.howardhanna.com

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (adult floor) Doerr sees the world as a scientist and feels it as a poet. This story, winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, is so beautifully written that you want to slowly savor every word in every passage. Werner, an orphan boy, is selected for a Nazi youth program and sent to France where he ends up entangled in the life of a young French blind girl, Marie. Although set during the years of WWII in occupied France, this is not a story of battles, but of the tragic effect war has on those caught in it. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.—Jackie DeLong n Jackie DeLong

Photos courtesy of library staff member Carla Roehner Winter 2015

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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T From the Director’s Desk:

Not Just for Kids. Color to Relax.

Helen Palascak, Library Director Coloring is an activity usually associated with kids, little kids. As we grow older, we put aside our crayons in favor of more respectable writing utensils like fancy pens and highlighters. However, it turns out coloring can be beneficial for adults—namely for its de-stressing power.

Coloring can generate wellness and quietness as well as stimulate Helen Palascak brain areas related to motor skills, the senses, and creativity. Coloring can have a de-stressing effect because when we focus on a particular activity, we focus on it and not on our worries. But it also stimulates our imagination and takes us back to our childhood, a period in which we most likely had a lot less stress. Coloring comforts us, gives us peace, and lets us enjoy ourselves. Use coloring to connect with how you feel, since depending on your mood you will choose different colors or intensity. Reflect on your choices to get tuned in to your inner self.

Coloring books for adults aren’t like the ones from your childhood. The library has recently added a collection of coloring books designed specifically with stress relief in mind. Many feature intricate designs and mandala inspired patterns intended to provide a meditative experience. Since the illustrations can be quite detailed, you’ll want a set of colored pencils or fine tipped markers for your coloring session.

Check out a new library coloring book and try it for yourself. Let the color and the lines flow.

Yes, you can color in these library books! Try it in a quiet environment or with some mood music.

Try it with milk and cookies, or even better, a glass of wine and a couple of crackers and cheese.

Try it outside in your garden, or go to a park and take advantage of the positive energy of nature to enhance the stress relieving effects of taking pencil to paper.

Color a page or two, or as many as you like. Sign your work or remain anonymous. We’ll make a color photocopy of any work you would like to keep for yourself.

Understanding Memory Loss Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias

When: Monday, December 7, 7 p.m.

Where: Library multipurpose room Suzanne Weessies, constituent services coordinator of the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Pennsylvania, will define dementia, discuss its effects on thinking, and explain the ten warning signs of the disease. The stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as diagnosis and care, will also be addressed.

I WANT TO BE A FRIEND! ❑ Yes, I'd like to sign up today.

Please accept my tax deductible donation payable to Friends of the Library of USC. $10 per household + $____ (donation) = ____Total Name:_______________________________________ _____________________ Date:___________________ Address:_____________________________________ ____________________________________________ Phone:_______________________________________ Email:________________________________________

❑ Yes, call me for volunteer opportunities.

1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 www.twpusc.org 54

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2015

T Library Accessibility

Tools and Services to Assist the Physically Impaired The library welcomes all visitors and strives to make reasonable accommodations to assist those with disabilities.

• The building is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. • Handicapped parking is available at the main entrance.

• A wheelchair is available for on-site use, and service desks are wheelchair accessible.

• Assistive technology on library computers includes a screen enlargement tool and a screen-reading tool.

• A large-print keyboard is available for use.

• A collection of large-print materials can be checked out, and most library brochures are available in large print.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh also provides services at USC Township Library through the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH). Anyone unable to read standard-sized newsprint,

USC Connect

Library Materials to Your Door: Let Us Bring the Library to You!

If you are a USC resident and unable to get to the library on your own, regular monthly delivery to your door can be set up. You can receive regular and large print books as well as audio books, CDs, and DVDs on a regular monthly basis.

You are eligible if you have: • A short or long-term illness • A senior non-driver status • A physical challenge • A visual disability

Friends FAQ Who are the Friends of Upper St. Clair Library? The Friends of the USC Library are a group of people who value the Upper St. Clair Library and the services it provides to our community.

What do the Friends of the Library do? The Friends help to support the library by purchasing items and sponsoring programs that are not included in the regular library budget. In the past, the Friends have contributed toward the purchase of new library furniture; the spiffy, space-saving magazine wall racks; updated study rooms; and incentives for both the adult and children’s summer reading

unable to hold a book or turn pages, or who has a physically-based reading disability may be eligible for services through Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s LBPH. Visit http://www.carnegielibrary.org/lbph/. LBPH provides a wide range of lendable resources. Once one is enrolled, materials are sent to and from patrons through U.S. mail in postage-free containers. Resources include: • Large print books • Audio described DVDs • Audio books and magazines with digital reader • Downloadable audio through Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD), which can be used with an iOS device such as an iPhone or iPad • Downloadable electronic Braille, also through BARD • Physical Braille books The Township librarians can help you register for this program. You can see a digital reader at the library and learn how to use it before your personal one is mailed to you upon registration. BARD software is also on library iPads for demonstration purposes.

End of Summer Reading Ice Cream Social

Summer readers were entertained by the South Hills Keystone Chorus, a 16-member Barbershop Quartet. What fun!

Save the Date

Holiday Concert with the Aeolian Winds of Pittsburgh Back by popular demand! Enjoy an evening of music and refreshments in the library.

Monday, December 14, 7 p.m.

South Hill Keystone Chorus

programs. Funds are raised through the annual book and audiovisual sales, member dues, and the generosity of library patrons.

How do I become a Friend of the Upper St. Clair Library? It’s easy to become a Friend of the Upper St. Clair Library! All it takes is a minimum donation of $10. There is no volunteer commitment, but if you would like to help out with the book sale, we would love to have you! Donors who give $25 or more receive an Upper St. Clair Friends of the Library mug— perfect for that coffee, tea, or hot chocolate you enjoy when you are curling up with your next great book.

Have Books? Need Space? If your used books are taking up too much space, drop them off anytime when the library is open.

A wise person once said that if you’re standing still when things are changing, you will get Winter 2015

run over. Things are changing for the Friends of the Library’s monthly Saturday book collection!

Some Township residents commented that collecting used book on only the first Saturday of each month really did not fit their schedules, so the library adapted and has begun to accept used books anytime the library is open.

Simply call the library at 412-835-5540, and a library staff member will meet you downstairs by the main doors with a dolly (if necessary) to show you where to leave your boxes of books in a newly designated storage area. For now, the Friends will also continue with the first Saturday of the month book collection. But, if the daily acceptance of books results in very few or no books coming in on Saturdays, Saturday collections may be discontinued. n Become a Friend.

See membership form on page 54.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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T Kids & Teens Dear Librarian, y sight words? s that are written using onl Do you have books for kid Looking for Answers Dear Looking, s are encourused words that new reader Sight words are commonly s will automatically morizing these words, kid aged to memorize. By me reader can identify ding. When a beginning recognize them while rea hension and fluconcentrate more on compre most sight words, they can every single word. p and decode (sound out) ency without having to sto lots of sight book collection contains The library’s Easy Reader ht words. You can rds in these books are sig words. Up to 75% of wo beginning reader, r child’s learning. For a use them to reinforce you your child chime in the books aloud and let you might want to read s fun and to keep It’s important to make thi on the words they know. the sessions short. sight words. learning kits devoted to In addition, the library has ans are happy le to check out. The librari Some of the kits are availab r child as he or she books that will help you to help you find kits or learns to read. l or come and ation, please give me a cal If you’d like more inform see me at the library. soon!

Hope to see you all really Deb Conn, Your Librarian

Enjoy library programs?

Want the latest library news?

Sign up now to join the library’s email list and get the latest news about upcoming library events and programs. It’s easy! Just click on the link at the bottom of the library homepage from the Township website (www.twpusc.org) to fill out a simple form or cut out this one. You can also stop by any library desk and a staff member will help to sign you up.

Every Story Has a Hero!

The library would like to give a hearty thanks to all of its summer reading heroes.

The heroes are the individuals and businesses who helped to support the summer reading program. Thanks to all for your continued support. The following is a list of our generous donors who made it possible for the library to encourage our young readers with small rewards.

AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes, Applebee’s, Ardolino’s Pizza, Bravo! Cucina Italiana, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, Chick-fil-A, Fired Up Pottery Studio, The Friends of the Library of Upper St. Clair, Laura Ann Werner. Learning Express, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Olive Garden, Pati Petite Cookies, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Phoenix Big Cinemas, Pittsburgh Children’s Museum.

Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Science Center, Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, Rice Enterprises, Senator John Heinz History Center, Sincerely Yogurt, Target, Texas Roadhouse, TGI Friday’s, and Washington Wild Things. n

Variety Show a Hit! The library’s teen volunteers worked hard to develop a variety show for the end of summer family fun night. The show featured jokes, magic, music, readers’ theater, and live science experiments. All who attended had a great time! n

Mailing List Sign Up Stay current with the latest news from USC Library!

First Name_________________________________________________ Last Name__________________________________________________ Email address_______________________________________________ Subscribe to Library

❑ Adult Mailing List ❑ Kids Mailing List Variety show participants

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2015

T Kids & Teens

Community Hero Day Over 200 kids and parents enjoyed

a morning speaking with and getting autographs from our local firemen, police, paramedics, and public works employees.

The kids had a great time getting to see two fire trucks, a police car, an ambulance, and a very large dump truck that were stationed in the Township building’s parking lot. A big thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible! n

Upcoming Classes This winter, the library will offer a wide variety of classes for children of all ages.

The popular storytime sessions begin Monday, January 18 and run through Friday, February 26. This six-week series offers children, parents, grandparents, and caregivers many opportunities to visit the library, hear stories, and have a good time.

Registration for all winter classes begins Wednesday, January 6 at the library.

A complete listing and all program information can be found at the library or on the library’s website: www.twpusc.org/library/kids.

Family Storytime Children 2 to 7 years of age with a caregiver Thursdays, 7 p.m.

Dates to be announced Babies & Toddlers Children ages 4 to 24 months with a caregiver Mondays, 10 or 11 a.m.

Tuesdays, 10 a.m.

Twos & Threes Children 2 to 3 ½ years of age with a caregiver Tuesdays, 11 a.m. or 1:45 p.m.

Wednesdays, 10 a.m.

Pre-School Storytime Children 3 ½, 4, or 5 years of age who are ready to spend a half-hour on their own Thursdays, 10 a.m. or 1:45 p.m.

Fridays, 10 a.m.

Math Mites Children 4 and 5 years of age who are not yet attending kindergarten Wednesdays, 1:15 or 2:15 p.m.

Special Events 2015 Winter Reading Program: Come In from the Cold and Read!

Children in kindergarten–grade 2 Registration begins Wednesday, January 6 Program runs January 6–March 5 Third Grade Battle of the Books Kids in grade 3 with a parent Registration begins Monday, January 11 Battle Date: Monday, February 29, 6 p.m.

Fourth Grade Battle of the Books Kids in grade 4 with a parent Registration begins Monday, January 11 Battle Date: Thursday, March 3, 6 p.m.

Teen Battle of the Books: Book to Movie!

Pairs (or individuals) grades 7–10 Registration begins Monday, January 11 Battle Date: Thursday, March 10, 6 p.m.

Crafting Fun at the Library The library will offer a variety of comeand-go craft programs to celebrate the upcoming holidays.

Library Explorers: Have Fun with Math!

Children who are currently in kindergarten Tuesdays, 10 a.m. or 1:45 p.m.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day Monday, February 8–Sunday, February 14

BookTrek: Art Appreciation Children in grades 1–4 Tuesdays or Wednesdays, 4 p.m.

Celebrate Spring Wednesday, March 16–Saturday, March 26

412-835-5540 USC Township Library Hours www.twpusc.org Monday–Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–9 p.m.

Friday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Sunday, 1–5 p.m.

Outside book and video return available 24/7

Holiday Closures: • Closes at 5 p.m., Wednesday, November 25 • Closed Thursday, November 26; and Friday, November 27 (Thanksgiving) Winter 2015

• Closed Thursday, December 24; Friday, December 25; and Saturday, December 26 (Christmas) • Closes at 1 p.m., Thursday, December 31 • Closed Friday, January 1 (New Year’s) UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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USC Recreation and www.twpusc.org

Winter Fun for the Whole Family Holiday Celebration at the C&RC Date: Saturday, December 5 Time: 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Celebrate the holiday season with musical performances, craft making, sweet treats, and a special visit from Santa at noon. Be sure to bring along your camera!

Fee: Free for all USC residents and residents of surrounding communities Winter Wellness Dash Date: Saturday, January 9 Start time: Noon Start your New Year off right by attending the annual one-mile run/walk. Open to all ages and fitness levels, it’s a great way to bring friends and family together outside on a normally brisk January day.

Fee(s): $5 per person (Children age four and under are free with no T-shirt), free for all HAPPY New You registrants Registration closes 9 p.m. Friday, January 8 MLK Day of Service Take a Day to Give Back Date: Monday, January 18 Time: 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Participants will spend part of the “day on” doing various community service projects that benefit our greater community (this time can count toward required community service hours needed at various schools), and then we’ll take a little bit of the “day off” to enjoy some treats and amenities of the C&RC. You are required to pack a nut-free lunch.

Grade requirement: grades 1–6; students in grade 7 and higher may register to be a group assistant.

Fee(s): $15 per student, free for adult volunteers Do you have ideas for a project? Contact the Community Programs Department at 412-221-1099, ext. 603 or 655.

Celebrate National Pie Day Date: Sunday, January 24 Time: 2–3 p.m.

In celebration of National Pie Day, Jessica Culicerto Gombar of The Pie Place will teach families the art of crafting small individual fruit tart pies. The class will include a pie dough demonstration, sampling, and six tarts to take home and bake. Please indicate any food allergies or other special needs at time of registration. Open to families with children ages four and up.

Fee(s): $25 C&RC member family, $27 resident family, $29 surrounding community family 58

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Family and Friends Workshop Date: Monday, February 29 Time: 6–8 p.m.

Spend some time together creating as a family or group of friends. You will be glad you did!

Everyone will learn, share, and express themselves in a relaxed atmosphere and go home with a completed project.

The project this session is nesting dolls and a mini wooden family. Open to ages seven and up.

Fee(s): $30 C&RC member family, $32 resident family, $35 surrounding community family Festive Fitness Programs Mark your calendar for these fun fitness programs sure to keep your stress level down (and energy up) during the hectic holiday season.

Thanksgiving Spin-A-Thon Date: Friday, November 27 Time: 12:30–1:15 p.m. or 1:20–2:05 p.m.

This is a great way to help you burn off your Thanksgiving feast! Two 45-minute cycling classes will be offered back-to-back. Participate in one or both! Registration opens Monday, November 9.

Maximum: 15 participants per class.

Fee: Donation of three (3) canned or boxed food items required at time of registration.

Zumba® Jingle Jam Date: Saturday, December 12 Time: 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Join us for a holiday Zumba dance party to celebrate the season. Wear your jingle bells!

Fee: Donation to local charity. Contact the C&RC for more information.

Very Merry Mix Dates: Thursdays, December 24 and 31 Time: 10:30 a.m.–noon This class takes three of your favorite group exercise classes and puts them into a one-anda-half-hour-long workout. Registration opens Monday, December 7 for December 24 class and Monday, December 14 for December 31 class.

Maximum: 60 participants per class. Sign up early!

Fee: Donation of three (3) canned or boxed food items required at time of registration Get Fit on Fat Tuesday Date: Tuesday, February 9 Time: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Celebrate Mardi Gras with an aqua dance party! All fitness levels welcome. Maximum 20 participants.

Fee: Free for everyone age 16 and up.

Winter 2015

Valentine’s Day Workout Date: Saturday, February 13 Time: TBD Grab your spouse, friend, or neighbor to join you and other pairs for a morning of partnerbased workouts. This program will feature an hour and a half of cardio and strength training exercises.

Fee: Free for everyone age 16 and up. Call the C&RC for details.

Give the Gift of Fitness Holiday Promotions • 25% off all personal training services and Eat Smarter program Sessions must be purchased between December 1, 2015, and January 31, 2016.

• Group Exercise Holiday Session December 14, 2015–January 2, 2016 Discounted drop-in rates for all group land and aquatic exercise classes, plus 25% off all regular priced aquatic, fitness, and cycling coupon books.

Aquatic Certifications Have you ever wanted to become a lifeguard or swim lesson instructor? The C&RC offers American Red Cross lifeguard courses as well as Water Safety Instructor (WSI) classes yearround. Sign up for the winter session(s) so that you are ready for summer employment.

Lifeguard Course Dates: Classes begin Monday, February 15 All classes are approximately 25 hours in length.

Participants must attend all classes and pass all exams in order to obtain the following certifications: lifeguarding/first aid: 2 years; CPR/AED for the professional rescuer: 2 years Prerequisites: Minimum age of 15 (bring a copy of your driver’s license, state identification, birth certificate, or passport to first class to verify age); swim 300 yards (12 lengths of pool) continuously, using front crawl and breaststroke; start in the water, swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke; surface dive seven to ten feet, retrieve a ten-pound object, return to the surface, swim 20 yards back to starting point with the object, exit the water without using a ladder or steps, within one minute, 40 seconds; tread water for two minutes using legs only.

Fee(s): $200 C&RC member without book, or

$232 with book;

$235 USC resident without book, or

$267 with book;

$255 surrounding community resident

without book, or $287 with book

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Leisure Services 412-221-1099

Lifeguard Instructor Course Dates: Thursday, March 17 and Friday, March 18 Time: 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

Lifeguard Instructor (LGI) candidates must be 17 years of age; able to demonstrate 300-yard continuous swim, using the front crawl and breaststroke; retrieve a ten-pound weight from seven feet of water, swim 20 yards; with legs only, tread water with hands out of water for two minutes. Lifeguard Instructor (LGI) candidates must be able to demonstrate proficient lifeguard training, CPR/AED for the professional rescuer, standard first aid, land and water skills, and pass a pre-course written exam with a score of at least 80% correct.

Registration deadline: March 16 Note: Instructor candidates must have current basic certifications in the following: lifeguarding, standard first aid, and CPR/AED for the professional rescuer. Proof of current basic certifications is required on the first day of class.

Fee(s): $300 plus $35 for the Red Cross online fee Water Safety Instructor Course Dates: December 15–18 Time: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

This course is not designed to teach you basic-level swimming skills. It is dedicated to developing the knowledge and skills you will need to plan and teach courses in the American Red Cross swimming and water safety program.

To enroll, participants must be at least 16 years of age, and must pass a pre-course skill assessment consisting of a 25-yard swim using each of the following strokes: crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke, elementary backstroke, and butterfly (15 yards).

Registration deadline: December 11 Fee(s): $150 C&RC member* $175 USC resident* $195 surrounding community resident* *Add $35 for the Red Cross online fee New Children’s Programs The C&RC offers a variety of programs for toddlers through teens. For a complete list of all programs as well as more information about those listed below, view the digital fall/winter program guide at www.twpusc.org/crc/crc-home.

Moving Together for Children and Parents This class encourages children (ages two and up) to develop gross and fine motor skills as their parents, grandparents, or caregivers participate, too. Participants will be using their bodies to mirror, connect, and even to move above and below one another.

Dates: Saturdays, November 14–December 19 Time: 10–10:45 a.m.

ABCs of Sports Agility Balance Coordination—Young children ages three to six will learn and develop basic foundation movements through imaginary play.

The instructor is ready to inspire your child using a careful blend of developmentally-sound physical activities, preschool skill sets, and storytelling.

Dates: Tuesdays Session III—Tuesday, January 5–February 9 Session IV—Tuesday, February 16–March 29 (no class 3/22) Groups: Ages 5-6: 9:30–10:15 a.m. or 12:30– 1:15 p.m.

Ages 3-4: 10:15–11 a.m. or 1:15–2 p.m.

Little Gymsters Through fitness and sports-based skills, Little Gymsters explores different dimensions of learning for your little sports star (ages four to six). Every session will allow each child to grow and develop basic sensory, cognitive, and motor skills such as balance, flexibility, coordination, strength, and cooperation as they learn to follow directions and work as a team!

Sessions: Winter I – Monday, January 11– February 15 Winter II – Monday, February 22–March 28 Time: 9:30–10:30 a.m.

CAMP “December” Calling all elementary-aged children! Have some great counselor-supervised fun at the C&RC while you’re home over winter break.

Come to the C&RC to participate in all sorts of activities. You’ll have a chance to swim, do arts and crafts, play themed games, and socialize with your friends.

Dates: Monday, December 28–Wednesday,

December 30 Time: 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Kids’ CAMP in the Kitchen Spend spring break learning to bake! Participants (ages five through ten) will learn hands-on to make cakes, cookies, pies, and other savory items. Supplies, ingredients, and recipes are all included.

Dates: Monday, March 21–Thursday, March 24 Time: 3:30–5 p.m.

CAMP “S-p-r-i-n-g Break” Kids in grades K–6 will have a blast with the highly qualified staff from Jump Start Sports.

During the structured camp hours, kids will play various sports, including baseball, basketball, lacrosse, flag football, soccer, and ultimate Frisbee in the morning.

Dates: Monday, March 21–Friday, March 25 Times: Half-day – 9 a.m.–noon

Full-day – 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Extended Care – There are optional before-camp Winter 2015

hours from 8 to 9 a.m. and after-camp hours from 3 to 5 p.m. where children will be involved in additional supervised activities.

Jump Up, Sit Down This new program provides just the right afterschool balance of physical and mental activity, and zero electronics! Participants will get to try their hand at fun games and activities in the gym as well as creative projects.

Grades 3-4: Session III – January 4–February 1 (no class1/18) Session IV – February 22–March 14 Day/Time: Mondays, 5–6:15 p.m.

Grades K-2: Session III – January 6–February 3 (no class 1/20) Session IV – February 24–March 16 Day/Time: Wednesdays, 5–6:15 p.m.

2015-2016–A Space Odyssey Young artists (ages eight to 12) will be traveling at the speed of ART—through the Milky Way— witnessing the making of stars and moons in a spacecraft. Astral creations—2D and 3D—will be produced using a variety of mediums and recycled objects.

Dates: Thursday, January 14–February 11 Times: 6–7:15 p.m.

Comic Books and ’Zines Basic techniques in drawing and painting animation plus collage will inspire tweens and teens (ages 12 to 17) to create their own comic books and artist journals and ’zines. All styles of illustrations will be welcomed and encouraged whether a beginner doodler or a returning cartooning student.

Sessions: I – Tuesday, January 12–February 9

II – Tuesday, February 16–March 15 Time: 6–7:15 p.m.

Karate—Youth, Teen, Adult Shotokan karate classes emphasize order and self-discipline. Youth classes teach lifelong social and leadership skills and build strong character. Teen/adult classes offer a means of self-defense and rigorous exercise. Karate training can aid in weight reduction, stress relief, flexibility, and core training. Classes are taught by staff of Riva’s Shotokan Karate-Do. Day: Thursdays Dates: December 10–January 21

(no class 12/24, 12/31)

January 28–February 25

March 3–31

April 7–May 5 Times: Youth beginners, 4:45–5:15 p.m.

Youth colored belts, 5:15–5:45 p.m.

Teen/adult (age 12+), 5:45–6:15 p.m.

Fee: $50 per five-week session UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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USC Recreation and Leisure Services

www.twpusc.org

Older Adults

Adult Pickleball Tournament— Save the Date!

Date: Saturday, December 19 Time: 9 a.m.

Calling all pickleballers! Join in for the first annual one-day adult pickleball tournament at the C&RC. Participants age 16 and up can compete in men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and coed doubles teams. Pool play or brackets will be created based on registration. Deadline to register is December 16. To register, complete the pickleball tournament registration form at the C&RC. Questions? Call 412-221-1099, ext. 603.

Fee: $16 per team

Pickleball

Need Some Practice?— Pickleball Clinic Days Day: Second Monday of each month Time: 1–3 p.m.

The C&RC pickleball clinics welcome all newcomers, beginners, and any players wanting to improve their game. These free clinics are geared towards the development of the fundamentals, skills, and techniques of the growing sport of pickleball. Held the second Monday of each month, the typical structure is one hour of instruction followed by one hour of free play.

Fee: Free

412-221-1099

Pickleball Play Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays Time: 1–3:30 p.m.

It’s the hottest racquet sport around, and it’s perfect for those 50 and above. Pickleball is a fun game played on a badminton court with the net lowered to 34 inches at the center. It is a combination of tennis, badminton, ping-pong, and racquetball, and is one of the fastest growing sports in America. It is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players.

Fee(s): C&RC member & USC residents: $25 punch card (ten sessions) or $3 per session; Surrounding community residents: $35 punch card (ten sessions) or $4 per session

New Fitness Programs

Find Your Path to Wellness— Coping with Chronic Conditions Day/Time: Wednesdays, 10–11 a.m.

A low-intensity exercise class designed specifically for individuals dealing with chronic conditions. Exercise is good for everyone.

But if you have a chronic disease, the benefits of exercise will be even greater for you than for most people. A safe level of exercise will depend on your health and the stage of your disease, but even a small amount of exercise is better than none. The program is led by diabetes wellness coach and certified personal trainer Michele Fennell.

Class limit: 20 participants Sessions: Fall IV – November 18–December 9

Winter I – January 13–February 3

Winter II – February 10–March 2

Winter III – March 9–30 Fee(s): Free C&RC member $5 non-C&RC member per session

C♥nnecT (helping) Caretakers Take Care (of themselves) Caring for loved ones can take a toll on a caregiver’s physical and emotional health. These group exercise classes are designed to allow caretakers to connect with others, share stories, and relieve some stress.

Class limit: 20 participants Day/Time: Wednesdays, 10–11 a.m.

Sessions: Fall IV – November 18–December 9

Winter I – January 13–February 3

Winter II – February 10–March 2

Winter III – March 9–30 Fee(s): Free C&RC member

$5 non-C&RC member per session

Resources for Seniors

Gold Card

Offered by the USC School District to residents age 62 and older.

Card admits holder to School District drama and musical performances, athletic events, and other events free of charge. Applications taken at School District reception desk at 1820 McLaughlin Run Road.

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Silver Card

Offered by USC Township to residents age 62 or older. Card admits holder to the Municipal three-hole golf course, outdoor tennis facilities, specified Community & Recreation Center programs, and other activities designated and sponsored by the Township of Upper St. Clair. Applications are available at the Community & Recreation Center at Boyce Mayview Park.

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ACCESS 65 PLUS is a shared-ride transportation service program for senior citizens age 65 and older. Contact Chaz McCrommon, assistant community programs coordinator, at 412-221-1099, ext. 603, for information about this program and for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Senior Citizen identification card for the Port Authority Transit (PAT) system.

For more information on any Older Adult programming, contact Chaz McCrommon, assistant Community Programs coordinator, at 412-221-1099, extension 603, or mccrommon@twpusc.org.

Hidden Treasures at The Outdoor Classroom

Jessica Kester, Program Manager, The Outdoor Classroom Some of the things I love about working at The Outdoor Classroom (Classroom) are all the little things that I have the opportunity to see that many people wouldn’t; it’s like getting to stop and smell the roses, but I’m paid to do so. Now that the snow is falling, this is a great time to learn about some of the wonderful treasures you can find in the winter in the Boyce Mayview Park.

Winter is the best time for tracking. Going out on a hushed, cool morning after a fresh snow is an adventure, as you see the remnants of the previous night’s comings and goings. You may discover the prints of a cottontail rabbit or the tiny stick-like markings of a chickadee’s feet as it hopped its way across a snow-covered branch. You can tell a lot from looking at tracks; where an animal may live, find water, find food, or even hunt can be learned from looking at tracks. Sadly, many people will trudge Rabbit tracks through the snow without taking the time to examine it before those tracks are lost for good.

You can find signs of animals other than tracks. Scat, droppings, feces, poop— although these are all words that will make any elementary school child break into an immediate case of the giggles—are really a great tracking tool. In 2014, we were lucky to find black bear scat in the park! We’ve also found coyote, fox, rabbit, deer, raccoon, and beaver scat. Even caterpillar scat (or frass) has been found throughout the year. Not only does the scat give you an indication of what the animal was eating, but where it is eating and possibly where it has been.

There are also non-natural items that you can find in the winter in the Boyce Mayview Park and these hidden treasures Turkey tracks are geocaches. Geocaching started in 2000 and has been picking up interest ever since. Someone hides a container, records the latitude and longitude coordinates of the hiding place, and then others use a GPS-enabled device (like a GPS receiver or your smartphone) to locate the coordinates and try to find the hidden container.

Sounds simple, right? Speaking from experience, some of these containers can be harder to find than a well-camouflaged screech owl!

The class stops to admire an But it’s tons of fun, easy to learn, free to play, amazing sycamore while November and you can geocache anywhere in the world. searching for animal signs.

25 Moonstruck Full Moon Hike The local geocaching organization is the December Pittsburgh Area Geocaching Association (PAGA), and the Classroom works together with 6 Talk N Walk: Winter Birding the geocachers at PAGA to host three events each year. Our next event will be our Trash & 12 Volunteer Day: Treasures Park Stewardship CITO (cache in, trash out) event for Earth Day in April 2016, where newsletter mailing (free) participants come out and volunteer time to 19 Christmas Bird Count (free) clean up the park, prep the native plant gardens, and more. We also do our Geo-Pupping: January Geocaching with Your Dog in August each 24 Moonstruck Full Moon Hike year, where we hide caches on dog friendly February trails in the park and meet adoptable dogs 13 SOD Hike: Winter Tracking from local shelters. Finally, we do our 20 Winter Fun Day Autumn Adventure in October where partici22 Moonstruck Full Moon Hike pants dress in costume, roast marshmallows, March and find spooky themed caches. Each event 16 Project WET facilitator has a potluck meal, prizes and contests, and training at The Inn at they are free to experienced cachers!

Pocono Manor GeoPupping crew Not an experienced cacher yet? Then 19 Twinkles at Twilight: an Earth join us this spring for a Mother Daughter Hour event Geocaching 101 program in May 2016, where families can learn to geocache together.

20 Talk N Walk: Hiking in the All in all, it’s great to be able to find hidden treasures, whether they are natural or manBoyce Mayview Park made, as part of my job. Next time you’re out on the trails, stop and take a look. n 23 Moonstruck Full Moon Hike

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Tri-Community South Shares Information About Colds and Pneumonia John D’Angelo, Tri-Community South The Common Cold According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Americans suffer from one billion colds every year. Also, the CDC estimates that colds cost 22 million lost school days and 50 million lost workdays yearly. In addition, it is estimated that Americans spend $5 billion each year on over-the-counter (OTC) cold remedies. Because colds are so common, many myths and half-truths have arisen concerning the common cold. Learn what is factual and what is myth.

1. Cold weather causes colds—myth. While it is true that colds occur more frequently in cold weather, cold weather does not cause colds. Colds are spread between people and people are more likely to be crowded together indoors in cold weather, thus causing colds to spread more easily.

2. Antibiotics will cure a cold—myth. Since a virus causes almost all colds, antibiotics have no effect on a cold.

3. Children are better able to fight off a cold than adults are—myth. Generally, children’s immune systems are not as strong or as fully developed as an adult’s immune system, so children usually will be more susceptible to a cold.

4. Chicken soup can cure a cold—myth. Although chicken soup may warm you up and make you feel better psychologically, the soup itself will not cure a cold. However, certain vegetables commonly used in chicken soup such as celery, onions, carrots, and parsley are known to be high in antioxidants and thus will have limited medicinal properties.

5. Keeping the humidity low will help prevent colds—myth.

Because the air is lighter when the humidity is low, germs, bacteria, and viruses will travel farther and spread to a wider area. Thus, there is a greater opportunity of infecting more people in low humidity. Also, the most common coldcausing viruses survive longer in low humidity.

6. Muscle aches and high fevers are normal cold symptoms—myth. Muscle aches and fevers do not usually accompany the normal cold symptoms. In all likelihood, these symptoms usually are a sign of the flu rather than a cold.

7. Most colds last three to four days—myth. The average cold will last from seven to ten days. It is not really known, however, how long a person who has a cold is contagious to others.

8. Massive doses of Vitamin C are the most effective means of preventing colds—myth. Although this theory has been around for quite a while, no definitive proof has shown that Vitamin C has any special preventative powers. Frequent hand washing and keeping the hands away from the face are still the best ways to protect oneself, although even these measures are not foolproof.

9. There is only one virus that can cause a cold—myth.

Researchers have discovered over 200 cold-causing viruses although only one, the rhinovirus, causes almost half of the colds in adults. Also, viruses can live over two days outside the body, so surfaces can remain contaminated for long periods of time unless sterilized frequently.

10. Cold season generally lasts from November through March—myth. Research has shown that the so-called cold season roughly follows a school calendar so that the typical cold season begins in August and usually lasts through April.

The research is based on numbers of colds contracted in the U.S. during a typical year.

As you can see, the so-called common cold has a good many myths and misconceptions surrounding it. One thing that is not a myth, however, is that we all know how miserable a cold can be, especially in its early stages. Exercise common sense to reduce incidences of the common cold. Keep washing those hands!

Facts About Pneumonia 1. Pneumonia is a common lung infection that will impair a person’s breathing ability by inflaming the air sacs. The air sacs, once inflamed, may fill with pus or fluid that will affect the amount of air that the lungs can hold.

2. Symptoms can vary, but usually include a persistent cough, a fever, shortness of breath, chest pain when coughing, and feeling tired and weak. Symptoms can be mild in the beginning (walking pneumonia), but the symptoms will gradually worsen if not treated. Confusion and delirium are common symptoms of pneumonia in older adults.

3. Pneumonia can be caused by either bacteria or viruses, which are breathed into the lungs. The symptoms are basically the same no matter the cause. Pneumonia is more likely to occur after having a cold or the flu.

4. The diagnosis for pneumonia is usually made from a chest X-ray or a CBC (complete blood count). The treatment then is based on the diagnosis. For example, antibiotics will be prescribed for a bacterial infection.

5. Those who have received the pneumococcal vaccine may still contract pneumonia, but the effects will be less pronounced.

6. For most people, pneumonia can be treated at home with the guidance from a health professional. However, older adults, very young children, and those with a weakened immune system may need more intensive care.

7. Get immediate medical help if coughing produces a redtinged mucus, if breathing becomes increasingly difficult, if a fever persists at 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, or if symptoms continue longer than three weeks.

8. Those at a higher risk for pneumonia include those who smoke, have a lung disease (such as COPD), use alcohol excessively, have a weakened immune system, or live in a multi-person facility (such as a nursing home).

9. If prescribed antibiotics, follow the directions faithfully and complete the entire prescription. If you take the antibiotics for two to three days and your condition has not improved or has worsened, contact your medical professional immediately.

10. Preventing pneumonia follows pretty much a common sense approach. Live a healthy life style, including getting plenty of daily exercise and eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, get an annual flu shot and wash your hands frequently. n Tri-Community South can be reached at www.tcsems.org.

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Fires in the United States In 2013 (the latest complete data source), there were 1,240,000 fires reported in the United States. These fires caused 3240 civilian deaths, 15,925 civilian injuries, and $11.5 billion in property damage.

• 487,500 were structure fires, causing 2855 civilian deaths, 14,075 civilian injuries, and $9.5 billion in property damage.

• 188,000 were vehicle fires, causing 320 civilian fire deaths, 1050 civilian fire injuries, and $1.3 billion in property damage.

• 564,500 were outside and other fires, causing 65 civilian fire deaths, 800 civilian fire injuries, and $607 million in property damage.

• The 2013 U.S. fire loss clocked a fire department response to a fire every 25 seconds.

• One structure fire was reported every 65 seconds.

• One home structure fire was reported every 85 seconds.

• One civilian fire injury was reported every 33 minutes.

• One civilian fire death occurred every two hours and 42 minutes.

• One outside fire was reported every 56 seconds.

• One vehicle fire was reported every 167 seconds.

These statistics show that fires are still very destructive in our country. We often hear questions from our residents like, “We don’t really have fires in Upper St. Clair, do we?” In fact, we do have fires in the Township. This September, reports showed we just reached over $1 million in fire damage in Upper St. Clair Township, and the year isn’t over. Your volunteer fire department is responding to an average of 300 calls per year of various types. In the fund drive letter that you received is a list of all the calls that USC VFD responded to in 2014. Take a look.

The Fire Service In 2013, 1,140,750 firefighters protected the United States; 354,600 (31%) were career firefighters and 786,150 (69%) were volunteer firefighters. Most career firefighters (71%) are in communities that protect 25,000 or more people. Most volunteer firefighters (95%) are in departments that protect fewer than 25,000, and more than half are located in small, rural departments that protect fewer than 2500 people.

There were 64 firefighter deaths in 2014. The largest share of deaths occurred at fire scenes (22 deaths). As in most years, sudden cardiac death accounted for the largest share of the on-duty deaths (36 deaths, or 56%).

There were 65,880 firefighter injuries in 2013, with 29,760 of all firefighter injuries occurring during fire ground operations. Other firefighter injuries by type of duty include: responding to or returning from an incident (4015), training (7770), non-fire emergency (12,535), and other on-duty activities (11,800).

Firefighting is still the most hazardous job in the country. With that being said, the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department is in search of new members. Properly protecting the safety of Upper St. Clair is important and can only be accomplished if new members, who are willing to give of themselves to protect their neighbors, join the ranks.

Routinely, members of the USC VFD are at the main fire station on Washington Road every Wednesday evening to answer questions. Stop by to introduce yourself and learn how you might help your neighbor by volunteering to be a member of this very special team. n

mcavanaugh@howardhanna.com

Members of the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department Winter 2015

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Township Reminders 2015 Trash-Recycling Holiday Collection Holiday

Collection Date

Thanksgiving.......................... Friday, November 27 for the

normal Thursday collection There is no change in the regular trash and recycling schedule for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

2015 Fall Yard Debris/Leaf Waste Collection—Saturdays

Township of Upper St. Clair’s Christmas Tree Recycling Project December 26, 2015 – January 31, 2016.

The trees will be ground for mulch for residents’ use.

Please remove all plastic tree bags!

Location for tree drop-off, without decoration, will be determined. Check the Township website at www.twpusc.org, view Cable 7, or call 412-831-9000, etx. 271, for more information.

Place your fall yard debris and leaf waste in compostable bags, then place the bags at curbside by 6 a.m. the morning of pick up. Collection will take place the following two Saturdays: November 21 and December 5.

Attention Dog Owners

Deer Management Update

Pennsylvania law requires owners to obtain dog licenses in January of each year. Violations can result in fines of up to $300 per day. To be in compliance with this law, dog owners must obtain the Allegheny County License

by January 1 of each year.

The Allegheny County application is available at: • The Upper St. Clair Police Department • The Upper St. Clair Reception Desk • Online at: www.county.allegheny.pa.us/treasure/dog.aspx The Upper St. Clair license, which should be obtained in January of each year, is a “Pet License.” Chapter 41 of the Township Code defines a pet as “any dog, cat, or other domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility.”

The Upper St. Clair license application is available at: • The Upper St. Clair Reception Desk • Online (PDF) at www.twpusc.org There is no charge for the Upper St. Clair license, but proof of rabies vaccination is required.

The Township continues its partnership with Whitetail Management Associates and contracts with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services to help manage the Whitetail deer population within the Township.

Before USDA involvement with USC in 2004, the Township recorded an all-time high number of reported deer vehicle collisions (207). The Township reversed this trend through more aggressive culling efforts and last year the total number of accidents involving deer was 73. The deer population in some areas of the Township appears to be normalized. However, due to limited culling opportunities in portions of the Township, there is still significant herd growth, which creates a challenge to reduce the deer-vehicle collision occurrences much beyond the current level.

The Township is fortunate to have residents assist the Township efforts by offering private property for the culling programs. Residents who would like consideration for inclusion in private property culling for the Deer Management program should contact Debi Bakowski, Township personnel, at 412-831-9000.

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EXPANDING OUR EALING TOUCH.

Raye J. Budway, M.D.

Tara L. Grahovac, M.D.

St. Clair Hospital’s Breast Care Center Welcomes Tara L. Grahovac, M.D. St. Clair Hospital welcomes Dr. Tara L. Grahovac as she joins Breast Care Center Director Dr. Raye J. Budway at the area’s leading, most comprehensive center of its kind. Together, the breast surgeons, along with a team of diagnostic radiologists, medical and radiation oncologists, nurse navigators, and plastic and reconstructive surgeons, help guide patient care every step of the way — all within our warm, comfortable environment. As a 100 Top Hospital, St. Clair continues to invest in exceptional physicians, technologies and processes to deliver superior care.

BREAST SURGERY

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3-D MAMMOGRAPHY

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BREAST ULTRASOUND

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BREAST MRI

ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT CENTER–VILLAGE SQUARE • 2000 OXFORD DRIVE • BETHEL PARK, PA 15102 • 412.942.3177 • WWW.STCLAIR.ORG Raye J. Budway, M.D. earned her medical degree at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. She completed her residency training in general surgery at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital and a fellowship in surgical critical care at UPMC. She previously served as the Site Program Director for the Allegheny General Hospital General Surgery Residency Program, and Director of the Surgical Breast Disease Program and Surgical Intensive Care at West Penn Hospital. She is board-certified in surgical critical care and general surgery. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and serves on the Fellowship’s Commission on Cancer.

Tara L. Grahovac, M.D. specializes in breast surgery. She earned her medical degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Grahovac completed her residency in general surgery at Allegheny General Hospital, and a fellowship in breast surgery at UPMC Magee Womens Hospital.

Life Planning Together

We can grow a healthy

Commyou nity

Because Washington Health System is Centered Around You.

Education is Key to Diabetes Dana L. Stainbrook, RN, MSN, CDE

Questions I hear every day: What can I eat? What am I not allowed to eat? Will I have to take insulin? Can I reverse this disease?

Of all the questions we get, these are the most common. Many people know someone with diabetes and many think they know something about diabetes, yet much misinformation exists. For example, because diabetes is often referred to as “having sugar” or “sugar diabetes,” a very common belief is that diabetics can’t have sugar. Not so!

Most insurance plans cover the cost of diabetes education.

Most people with diabetes who want to control their diabetes and not allow it to control them will seek us out and attend education. Diabetes education gives you the tools you need and puts you in the driver’s seat. You are able to be in control and keep your blood sugar normal. That is the key. High levels of sugar in the blood damage the arteries, organs, and nerves, which leads to the complications of diabetes. No one wants complications.

Managing your blood sugars enables you to improve or maintain your quality of life.

Symptoms of diabetes include increased amount and frequency of urination, increased thirst, increased hunger, changes in vision, and sometimes weight loss. Unfortunately, many people have diabetes for several years before they have symptoms. Early testing is important in identifying the disease in a timely manner so you 66

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can manage it well. The hemoglobin A1c is a non-fasting blood test your doctor can do if he or she suspects diabetes. This test gives a three-month average of your recent blood sugar levels.

Think of the tools you need to manage diabetes as a threelegged stool. One leg is food, one leg is exercise, and one leg is medication and monitoring. Most of us have difficulty balancing ourselves on a two-legged stool. To get the best results (normal blood sugars) you need to pay attention to eating healthy, being active, and monitoring and taking medications appropriately.

Some people with diabetes test their blood sugar three to four times a day because they adjust their insulin doses based on their blood sugar results. If you are not on insulin or any diabetes medication, the benefit of self-blood glucose monitoring is the immediate feedback you get for yourself. Eat the same thing for lunch two days in a row, one day take a walk and the other day sit quietly and read a book. Glucose readings will help you see the effects of the exercise on your blood sugar. Test before and two hours after certain meals or snacks to immediately see what effect those particular foods had on your blood sugar. n Call Washington Health System’s Diabetes Education & Management program at 724-250-6262 to obtain the tools you need to manage your diabetes. Group and individual education are offered, as well as nutrition counseling and help with insulin dose adjustments and insulin pumps. See ad on this page.

Life Planning Do You Really Need Life Insurance?

Life insurance isn’t just for married couples with children.

The need for life insurance is much broader. “Anybody who would experience a financial loss or an emotional loss after a death will need some type of life insurance,” says Marvin Feldman, president and CEO of the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education.

Who is it for? Having dependents of any kind necessitates life insurance. Here are examples: • Unmarried couples. Unmarried individuals may have a significant other who relies on their support. Life insurance can help provide for them.

• Stay-at-home spouses. Life insurance isn’t just for breadwinners. It can help cover the cost of replacing the services of stay-at-home parents.

• Single parents. These individuals are typically the sole source of support for their children. Life insurance can help provide for children financially should their parent die.

• Singles. Single individuals could be responsible for aging parents or may have significant debt. Life insurance helps make sure those debts are paid.

• Retirees. Insurance can help replace income from part-time work, Social Security benefits, pensions, or other employer benefits. It helps spouses continue living as they’re accustomed.

• Empty nesters. Older adults may have custody of a

THE POWE R TO DO GREAT THINGS Start your legacy today with Planned Giving

grandchild or provide support for other family members. Life insurance may help this care to continue.

• Business owners. Life insurance has many benefits for business owners, such as helping protect family members from taking on a person’s professional debt or providing funds for survivors to buy out the deceased’s interest.

What can it cover? Beyond paying for final expenses, loved ones can put these death benefits toward: • Paying off debt • Financing an education • Settling estate taxes • Contributing to charity • Creating an inheritance • Replacing income • Replacing employer benefits Are there additional benefits? Some policies also offer living benefits. Whole policies and universal life policies accumulate value that can be tapped as retirement income or used to help cover unexpected expenses. Universal life policies also may have riders allowing chronically-ill policyholders to withdraw the face amount during their lifetimes to help cover long-term care costs or to prepare loved ones financially before passing. Decide which type of policy best suits your needs. n Article complements of State Farm®.

See ad for Cindy Brophy, State Farm® agent, on page 42.

Every legacy begins with a thoughtful plan, put in place today. We offer a wide range of Planned Giving opportunities tailored to fit your interests and your philanthropic goals. You can make a bequest in your will that requires no upfront investment; set up a charitable gift annuity or trust that provides you with income; or use other vehicles such as your IRA, 401k, life insurance and more. Plan now, so you can make a difference in the community forever.

Visit pittsburghfoundation.org or call 412-391-5122.

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Life Planning

Planning the Future of Your Dental Health Dr. Beth Troy and Dr. Eric Reitz

Donaldson’s Crossroads 3967 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 15317

Phone: (724) 941- 4747

pecktravel@pecktravel.com

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Specializing in group travel, exotic destinations & more!

Ten Reasons to Use a Travel Agent Leigh Ferris, Peck Travel

The travel industry has changed drastically in the last several years, and this comes as no surprise. As a result, travel agents have been asked over and over again: “Do people still use travel agents?”

The answer is, yes; many people still use travel agents. What industry hasn’t changed in some way?

Travel agents understand why the question is asked, as the online competition has proven to be reputable and user friendly… sometimes.

The online travel business has most certainly modified the industry, but travel professionals have embraced this, and the Internet has become our most useful tool! Technology has helped the industry become more efficient. Agents are continually being informed, constant updates keep agents’ rates competitive, and online education allows ongoing training with use of webinars and other sources.

So, why is it important to use a travel agent?

1. A travel agent is your advocate. Planning a trip is time consuming. A good agent will eliminate the stress and allow for peace of mind.

2. A travel agent has access to exclusive deals and promotional offers that actually save more dollars! The idea that using a travel agent will cost more money is simply not true. There is a misconception that rates are higher when working with an

Continued on page 82

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Do we have control of our dental health? Yes! Does lifelong dental health even matter? Yes! What should be our plan?

Keep reading.

Planning for dental health contributes to the goal of overall health, and with dedication to brushing, flossing, a low-sugar diet, and regular dental check-ups, it is easily attainable. Some things in life, such as heredity and age, we cannot control. Other behaviors, such as tobacco-free living and brushing our teeth, are in our control. Making a daily effort with choices for quality overall and dental health will improve our general and dental health.

Never before has there been a stronger link between dental and overall health. Current research links dental health to overall health, especially in areas of heart disease and diabetes. Much of dental health relies on oral hygiene and proper function (being able to chew and speak). Although not absolutely necessary for good oral hygiene, straight teeth are easier to brush and floss.

Most people seek orthodontic treatment simply to straighten crooked teeth, making their appearance more attractive. Having straight teeth, however, provides a healthy, functional, esthetic result that will remain stable throughout your life. Orthodontic treatment ensures that each tooth has an exact location in the mouth where it is in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth. When this equilibrium is established, the teeth will function together properly.

Children can influence their dental health early by undergoing orthodontics. A good dental foundation can be established, providing enough room for eruption of all permanent teeth. This early correction may prevent later removal of permanent teeth to correct overcrowding or surgical procedures to align the upper and lower jaws. Leaving such a condition untreated until all permanent teeth erupt could result in a jaw discrepancy too severe to achieve an ideal result with braces alone. The disadvantage of waiting for complete eruption of permanent teeth and having only one phase of treatment for someone with a jaw discrepancy is facing the possibility of a compromised result that may not be stable.

Over time, some adults may have experienced breakdown or loss of their teeth and bone that supports the teeth and may require periodontal and dental treatment in conjunction with orthodontics. More frequent cleanings at the dentist may be required to maintain healthy teeth and gums for the long-term. Periodontal breakdown can stop when proper hygiene is established and sometimes periodontal surgery is needed, but it is important that adults follow the advice of their general dentist with regard to periodontal health and also with other dental specialists.

No matter at what age, it is advantageous to plan for the future of your dental health. It starts with making the right choices, and ends with a beautiful, healthy smile. n See ad for Drs. Reitz & Troy on page 43.

Life Planning

tdipasquale@farmersagent.com

Celebrate Aging

Marilyn Walsh, Baptist Homes Society The world is getting older. In addition to living longer, population growth has slowed. By the year 2025, about 25% of the population in the U.S. will be over 60 years of age. Is this something to cause alarm or to celebrate? According to HelpAge International, that depends on our response to this changing demographic trend.

HelpAge International is a non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of older adults. It publishes a report card, called the Global AgeWatch Index, that ranks 96 countries on quality of life issues such as income security, health status, age-friendly environment, and capability for addressing the global shift in aging. Currently, the U.S. ranks eighth on the scale, behind six European countries and Canada, and just ahead of Japan. So, the U.S. does well, but could do better.

According to HelpAge, the U.S. ranks poorly in current public perceptions about aging. The media frequently depicts seniors as a “burden,” warning of the “looming” effect the “tsunami of seniors” will have on the economy. Negative hype and images of older persons can have a profound effect on policy-making, healthcare, and societal trends.

HelpAge International suggests that, with proper understanding and preparation, this shift in population could be part of the solution to many of the world’s current issues. With appropriate support systems, seniors can contribute substantially to society. Older adults are exceptional volunteers, mentors, tutors, babysitters, and companions.

HelpAge challenges the world to do more to help seniors, including: • Recognize the change and prepare for the growing numbers of older persons. Enhance understanding, strengthen capacities, and develop the political, economic, and social reforms needed to adapt.

• Ensure that all older persons can live with dignity and security, and enjoy access to health and social services that extend their autonomy

Seniors living at Providence Point and Baptist Manor are active and engaged in their community and participated as models in a wellness fair.

and independence and contribute to healthy aging.

• Support communities and families to ensure that frail older persons receive the long-term care they need and promote healthy aging to facilitate aging in place.

• Promote healthy habits throughout people’s lifetimes to improve the lives of future generations.

• Offer flexible employment, lifelong learning, and retraining opportunities to help integrate or retain seniors in the labor market.

• Support local, national, and international efforts to develop research on aging.

Baptist Homes Society, which operates two senior living and care communities—Baptist Homes in Mt. Lebanon and Providence Point in Scott Township—has been at the forefront in senior care for more than 100 years. President and CEO Al Allison, Jr., agrees with HelpAge’s challenges and notes that, “The seniors we are privileged to serve in our communities are vibrant, engaged, and a wealth of information and inspiration. I am optimistic that the increased involvement and awareness will result in more resources for seniors.” n Baptist Homes Society is a not-for-profit, faith-based organization founded in 1910, committed to providing the highest quality of living for seniors. See ad on page 21.

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Around the Township

A History Lesson

USC Woman’s Club Visits the Heinz Plant The Famous Picture

The Upper St. Clair Woman’s Club first met at the home of Mrs. Morgan Fife in April 1912. In 1932, Eleanor Gilfillan wrote a short history of the organization for their 20th anniversary. The following information is based on her history.

“At first, no name was decided upon, but in a short time it was known as the ‘Clifton Social Circle.’ ” Originally the club members just visited each other’s homes socially, but after some time, the club hosted informational “programs” on topics, including local history, foods, traveling, manners, and current styles in fashion and decorating. Their first program was the history of Johnny Appleseed with accompanying recipes for all things apple.

In addition to these educational programs, the Upper St. Clair Woman’s Club took up important matters such as “The Famous Picture” (circa 1911) of the USC Woman’s Club visit to the Heinz Plant, erected 1907 the debate on Woman’s Suffrage, supporting the Red Cross during World War I, and donating to local school libraries.

For entertainment, these ladies listened to the first Victrola in the neighborhood, wrote and performed plays, and hosted lantern slide shows for the community. They also toured Pittsburgh area attractions at a time when few people owned cars and few roads were paved. Eleanor Gilfillan recalls one such trip, “As the first excursion as a club, we visited the Heinz Plant and the famous picture was taken, which we look at now and say, ‘Did we ever look like that?’ ” After 1932, the club continued to support the community through the establishment of the USC Township Library and scholarships for local students. n For genealogy inquiries or to submit old photos, contact president@hsusc.org.

South Hills Residents Bike 100+ Miles for Arthritis

Rainy, muddy trails, and cooler weather were no match for the 13 people who participated in RiverRide100, an annual bike fundraiser on the Great Allegheny Passage benefitting the Arthritis Foundation. The ride occurred on Saturday, September 12.

Riders from Upper St. Clair—Jeff Krakoff, Vic Walczak, Kurt Meissner, and Jon and Ellen Hart—were joined by riders from Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township, Bethel Park, and South Park. Most of the group rode 106 miles from Rockwood, Pennsylvania, to downtown Pittsburgh, while three started in Pittsburgh and met the group at the halfway mark before joining for the remainder of the ride. Two participants opted to ride 20 miles from Boston, Pennsylvania, to the Point in downtown Pittsburgh.

This was the first year RiverRide 100 set up multiple starting points along the trails between Rockwood and Pittsburgh, allowing participants to choose their own distances, ranging from nine to 106 miles.

“We were pleased to get out and enjoy the trails and camaraderie while raising money to help the Arthritis Foundation with the great work it does,” said Jeff Krakoff, president of Carnegie-based Krakoff Communications and one of the organizers of the event. He added, “Biking is a great, low-impact exercise for people of all ages and fitness levels, especially for people like me who live with arthritis. Lastly, it’s a great way to keep fit; we estimated that riders burned roughly 7500 calories during the ride this year.”

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The bike fundraiser began in 2013 when a group of nine bike riders traveled from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C., over five days and raised more than $6000 in just two weeks. Last year, the group raised more than $6500 when they decided to challenge themselves further by riding a “century” ride of more than 100 miles in one day. So far this year, the event has received almost 60 donations totaling more than $4000. n

Taking a break at West Newton, left to right, are Ellen Hart, Craig Hoffman, Scott Bowlin, Robert McCoy, Vic Walczak, Jeff Krakoff, Laura Hoffman, Kurt Meissner, Jon Hart, Pete Chiste, and Lori Heinecke. Photo credit: Erica Bowlin

RiverRide 100 for 2015 is still accepting donations.

Those interested in donating should visit https://www.crowdrise.com/RiverRide100/fundraiser/RiverRide.

Traveling with TODAY Santa, the jolly old man from the North Pole, dons his red suit and travels great distances to read TODAY in between visiting the neighborhoods of Upper St. Clair during the winter holiday season. Be on the lookout for him and his Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department helpers in your neighborhood on Saturday, December 12, when they will be passing out treats for man and dog, alike. See “Happenings,” page 80. n

We’ve heard that Santa takes TODAY back to the North Pole after his USC visit.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY traveled back in time for a rich heritage journey and to view a spectacular holiday display of the Barsotti family. Continuing with a family tradition that started in Italy with their grandfather, Michael and Jonathan Barsotti stand proud in front of their “platform” with TODAY in hand. To read the story “The Platform,” as told by John Barsotti, see page 11. n Left to right are Michael and Jonathan Barsotti

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY was happy to travel with the Himler family on their trip through Italy this past summer. The first stop for a photo op was in Florence, where the Himlers met up with the Bartusiak family for lunch. They lifted up the Terrible Towel for all restaurant patrons to see.

The second spotting of TODAY with Garrett and Kathleen Himler, was in Rome, in front of the Colosseum. n

The Himler and Bartusiak families meet for lunch in Florence

Garrett and Kathleen Himler at the Colosseum

The Colosseum History To many, the Colosseum, an ancient piece of architecture that was built to hold 50,000 spectators, represents the sheer power and magnificence of the Roman Empire. The Colosseum, or Colosseo in Italian, is perfectly symmetrical and ornately decorated in marble and stone.

Completed in 80 AD, the Colosseum—the place where gladiators, lions, and those accused of crimes were put to the test, often fighting to the death—remained the amphitheatre of Rome until the end of the Roman Empire. Since the fall of the Roman Empire, the Colosseum has suffered various destructive forces, including extensive pillaging and an earthquake. Even though a third of the Colosseum has been lost over time, this magnificent structure remains one of the most fascinating and beautiful historic sites in the world.

Winter 2015

Travel with UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY Read the following criteria to find out how.

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

• Digital photo or hard copy 35mm accepted. ‣‣ For digital, attach jpg (at least 300 dpi) and send via email, including required information (see below) in the body of the email. ‣‣ For 35 mm, attach post-it to back of hard copy photo, listing the required information (see below).

• List name(s) of resident(s), group, and specific photo location.

• List objective of visit—leisure, volunteer, career, etc.

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

• Deliver one 35 mm photo with details to the USC Township receptionist in an envelope marked “ USC TODAY,” or • Email one digital photo with details to usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us, with “TODAY” listed in subject line.

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

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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Prof iles

on People with a USC Connection

Know of a resident to profile?

Send information to: Editor,

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 or usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us.

Robert Parknavy proudly holds his Telly awards

Parknavy Advertising, Inc., in business for 29 years and owned and operated by USC resident Robert Parknavy, was recognized at the 36th annual Telly Awards this year, coming away with two bronze awards in the Local Promotional/Branding and Cause Marketing categories for TV commercials made for DAY Automotive Group and Mick’s North Hills Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge & Ram. The Telly Awards, founded in 1979, is the premier award honoring outstanding TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online commercials, video, and films.

Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, and corporate video departments in the world.

“Our agency, with its offices in Collier Township, is honored that two of our commercials stood out among over 12,000 entrees submitted from all 50 states and five continents,” stated Robert. “There are two simple reasons why we won these prestigious awards: our fantastic clients and my passionate and dedicated team at Parknavy Advertising,” he concluded.

Long-time resident Patricia Petrusik recently launched a website called The Slippery Slope and an educational game called the Slippery Slope of Substance Abuse.

The website is designed to inform individuals about substance abuse.

The game is an educational game for students K-12. It is designed to help students understand the physical, legal, societal, educational, and familial impact of drugs.

Playing the game readily leads to discussion. The discussion should be led by a teacher, guidance counPatricia Petrusik selor, therapist, parent, or other responsible adult. The game is an example of authentic learning and makes drug awareness part of the regular curriculum and hopefully part of the students’ daily lives. Check it out on the web at www.theslipperyslopeofsubstanceabuse.com or at the Apple store.

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Susanne Wagner, of Upper St. Clair’s RE/MAX Premier Group, met the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission’s licensing requirements, including advanced education (240 hours), testing, and sales production.

As a result, she was recently promoted to associate broker. Susanne is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors, and Realtors Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh. Her business focus and expertise are with the residential real estate market. Susanne is a member of the Bethel/St. Clair Susanne Wagner Evening Rotary Club.

This month, James J. McQuade was named as Dollar Bank’s new president. Robert P. Oeler, who has lead Dollar Bank since 2007, will remain the bank’s CEO until sometime in 2016, when he will step down from day-to-day operations. McQuade will assume the role of chief executive officer upon Oeler’s retirement.

Oeler will continue as chairman of the bank’s board of directors.

McQuade, with 27 years of banking experience, 20 of them with Dollar Bank, most recently served as executive vice president of James McQuade retail banking where he managed all Dollar Bank branch offices, loan centers, card operations, security and facilities, and retail training and operations and also served on Dollar Bank’s executive management committees.

“As the largest independent mutual bank in the country, Dollar Bank’s focus has always been on our customers, our employees and our communities, stated McQuade. “Under Bob’s continued mentorship, I am deeply committed to furthering our mutual mission and leading Dollar Bank forward as we continue to grow and serve the people and businesses of southwestern Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio.”

Janie Feldmann, a 2011 graduate of Upper St. Clair High School, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Germany. As an English teaching assistant in Worpswede, she will help teach the English language while serving as a cultural ambassador for the United States. Janie graduated cum laude from Dickinson College with a degree in English and German.

She was the 2015 recipient of the Heinrich Böll Prize for excellence in the study of German literature and the 2015 Dickinson College recipient of the Academy of American Poets Janie Feldmann University and College Poet Prize.

Proud parents are Lori and Paul Feldmann of Upper St. Clair.

Get back to it!

Visit the Sports Medicine and Spine Center.

Jose Ramirez-Del Toro, M.D. and Justin Petrolla, M.D. specialize in non operative treatment options for sports and work injuries, arthritic conditions and spine pain.

Cutting-edge non-surgical rehabilitation Diagnostic and therapeutic treatments Advanced interventional pain procedures Patient-centered care

1145 Bower Hill Road Suite 301 412-276-7022

d Dr. Petrolla Dr. Ramirez-Del Toro an

theorthopedicgroup.com

Members of The Orthopedic Group: Scott L. Baron, M.D.; Thomas F. Brockmeyer, M.D., Ph.D.; William T. DeCarbo, D.P.M.; Gerson Florez, M.D.; Mark Hofbauer, D.P.M.; Alexander Kandabarow, M.D.; Richard Mitchell, M.D.; Ari E. Pressman, M.D.; and Shaka Walker, M.D. MM/CL-USCT/8-15

Family Tradition Takes to the Water Chelsea March

At the heart of every family tradition is a meaningful experience. One Upper St. Clair family knows this very well. Their tradition of fishing has spanned four generations.

Paul Cryder, a resident at Friendship Village of South Hills, just got back from his most recent fishing adventure in Canada.

It’s a trip he’s been making every summer for the past 45 years.

The fishing experience has become a family tradition passed on from Paul’s father.

Paul grew up in State College, and started going on long fishing trips with his father when he was 11 years old. As he grew up, he began fishing in the waters of Knee Island, in Manitoba, Canada.

With a fishing rod in hand, he’ll stand in the freezing waters with about six layers of clothes on, in hopes of catching the biggest northern pike in the river.

The trip has now become a family affair of three generations. Paul’s son, Chris, and grandson, Bryan, also go on the trip with him. It’s a chance for the three of them to spend time with one another, an opportunity they only get a couple of times a year, and it’s usually while fishing.

As you can imagine, Paul has hundreds of fishing stories. Possibly one of the best is the story of how he caught the

“big” northern pike fish. It measured 48 inches. After snapping a couple of pictures, he threw the fish back into the river. On average, the men catch 75 to 80 fish a day. They keep the walleye for meals and release the northern pike for other fishermen.

As Paul unpacked from his most recent trip, he reflected on the memories he’s made with his family and looks forward to another fishing trip within the next few months. To help reminisce, Paul has pictures of his fishing expeditions placed in frames and photo albums of his adventures in his home at Friendship Village. n

Three generations of Cryders gone fishin’— Paul; his son, Chris; and his grandson, Bryan Winter 2015

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Directory of Important Numbers Police/Fire/Ambulance Emergency

412-833-7500 Township Offices are open 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Monday - Friday Administration/Township Manager 412-831-9000, ext. 216 Community Development 412-831-9000, ext. 501 Finance/Tax – 412-831-9000, ext. 226 Recreation – 412-221-1099 Public Works – 412-831-9000, ext. 271 Public Works Hotline (Emergency After Hours) 412-833-7500 Police Administration – 412-833-1113 Animal Control 412-833-7500 Tri-Community South EMS 412-831-3710 Volunteer Fire Department (Fire Station) 412-835-0660 Library – 412-835-5540 Frequently Called Numbers

Cable 7 (Public Access Television) 412-831-1030 District Judge Ronald Arnoni 412-835-1661 League Of Women Voters 412-261-4284 Post Office – 1-800-275-8777 School District – 412-833-1600 South West Communities Chamber of Commerce – 412-221-4100 Tennis Administration – 412-831-7556 The Outdoor Classroom 412-838-0064 Three-Hole Golf Course 412-831-7556 Utilities & Services

Comcast Cable Communications Sales, Service, and Billing 1-800-266-2278 Allegheny Power – 1-800-255-3443 Columbia Gas Company 724-416-6300 Dominion People’s Gas Company 1-800-764-0111 Equitable Gas Company 412-395-3050 PA American Water Company 1-800-565-7292 Verizon – 1-800-660-2215

St. Clair Hospital Welcomes Dr. Harvison Obstetrician/gynecologist Michelle Marsich Harvison is now practicing at St. Clair Hospital as the newest physician at Advanced Women’s Care of Pittsburgh, P.C., where she joins Patricia J. Bulseco, M.D.; Stephanie Brown, M.D.; Shannon H. McGranahan, M.D.; Douglas H. MacKay, M.D.; and Kristen Peske, D.O. Advanced Women’s Care has been providing premier obstetric and gynecologic care, including prenatal and pregnancy care, postpartum care, birth control, Dr. Michelle Harvison midlife care, and gynecologic surgery, to women for 30 years. Dr. Harvison brings many strengths to the practice; having completed her four-year OB/GYN residency last June, she is well versed in the most up-to-date advances in OB/GYN science and treatment. Having her first baby last summer, she has personal insight into the experiences of her OB patients.

Dr. Harvison grew up in Charleroi, Washington County, and attended undergraduate school at the University of Pittsburgh, where she had a full academic scholarship and majored in chemistry and anthropology. She says she knew as early as her middle school years that she would become a physician. “I loved to take care of people and I was always interested in the sciences,” she recalls. Her compassion for others was evident at an early age, as she volunteered at Children’s Institute throughout her college years.

She earned her medical degree at Marshall University in West Virginia, graduating in 2011. Dr. Harvison chose her area of specialization while she was a third-year medical student at Marshall. She completed a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where she says she found inspiration from several exceptional attending physicians.

“Specializing in women’s health enables me to care for women in all the stages of their lives,” she says. “I love the delivery room and caring for pregnant women, but I also like caring for my gynecology patients. During my residency, I enjoyed every rotation.” Dr. Harvison says helping women deliver babies is an awesome experience every single time. “It’s the best feeling in the world,” she says. “If you choose a field in which you are going to be repeatedly called in to the hospital in the middle of the night, what’s better than being called in to bring new life into the world?”

Joining Advanced Women’s Care and delivering babies at St. Clair Hospital is a dream come true for Dr. Harvison. “I knew I wanted to come back to the Pittsburgh area. It’s my home; my family is here and my husband, Dan, a personal trainer, is from McKeesport. We have an infant daughter, Caroline Grace, and so being close to family is important. We live in Peters. I heard a lot about the outstanding quality of the OB/GYN program at St. Clair Hospital, and I had a great experience at St. Clair for an elective in my third year. I was fortunate to work then with Paula Duncan, M.D., an OB/GYN with Zubritzky and Christy OB/GYN Associates, who also practices at St. Clair Hospital.”

At St. Clair, Dr. Harvison performs open surgery and minimally invasive and robotic-assisted gynecologic surgery, in addition to her clinical office exams and procedures and delivering babies in St. Clair’s Family Birth Center. “Patients have the best experience at St. Clair,” she says. “The nursing staff in the OB unit is excellent and the environment is beautiful, with top-notch clinical resources. St. Clair is a great hospital with strong leadership and a philosophy of personal, compassionate care. I have a great situation with my partners; we share on-call responsibilities and have a very family-friendly atmosphere.”

“I’m very happy and fortunate to return to this community and to practice medicine. I’m actually going to be able to take care of the people I grew up with and be a part of their lives in a meaningful way.” n To contact Dr. Harvison, call 724-941-1866. See ads for St. Clair Hospital on pages 2 and 65.

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Art Touches Our Lives Sandra Castro, J.J. Gillespie Gallery

Art touches our lives in many ways. It evokes emotions and memories much like music and aromas.

As children create art early in life—such as a self portrait or a crayon drawing—and present it to us, it becomes something that we cherish for years to come. How we acquire our art varies: garage sales, art shows, auctions, or inheritance. At some point we are drawn in to a specific art piece and decide it is something that we would enjoy looking at.

Oil paintings are among the longest lasting, and often most highly valued in the art world. Here is a common scenario based on a true story.

An example of artwork in As I look back at the marvelous years of the many childrestoration at J.J. Gillespie Gallery hood visits to my grandparents’ farm, I reminisce about what brought happiness and laughter. The days were usually very busy, but occasionally included a peek into the heirlooms of an old steamer trunk. It was full of embroidered linens, quilts, old lace, and postcards. Stories were told of who made what and who traveled where. As evenings approached, and I became sleepy eyed and lay in my bed, I would look at the painting on the bedroom wall. It was a landscape with a cottage in it. As I look back, I realize that it had hung in that same spot long before I was born. Grandma would tell me that it had been her mother’s, and it reminded her of where she had grown up. I remember her asking me at one time if I liked it; maybe because she noticed I was always looking at it. Immediately I said “yes.” Even though it appeared brown and hazy, it represented a sense of security and comfort in her cozy home during my visits over the years.

As time passed by, I was told that I had inherited the painting with the cottage in it.

Grandma had written a personal note with my name on it, which she taped to the wire on the back of the painting.

When I look at the painting, wonderful memories of my visits to the farm return and I begin to wonder, “Is it worth something?”

These were the thoughts of a client of J. J. Gillespie Gallery who further remembered that the gallery previously did some custom framing for her, and that they also did appraisals, cleaned oil paintings, and performed expert restoration work. The client took the artwork to Gillespie Gallery where they examined it for restoration purposes. She was advised that it needed to be cleaned. A slow and meticulous cleaning will reveal original colors and details that the dirty varnish had obscured. There were no holes or tears in the canvas but, most of the time, tears upon repair are no longer visible.

The restoration staff asked permission to do a small spot clean on an outer edge of the canvas. A test swab with the appropriate solvent revealed a dark golden brown varnish, which had hidden a blue sky color. The frame was perfect for the painting but was missing pieces. The “missing compo” pieces could be made with molds, and the new pieces made would be toned to match the rest of the frame.

With the painting in the restorer’s hands, the cleaning process began. The sky, which once was a dirty yellow brown green, was revealed to be blue with creamy clouds and hints of peach and pink tones. The trees, when cleaned, show details of individual leaves. Another stroke with the cleaning swab and a wisp of smoke appeared from the chimney and the cottage windows reflected the sky. Progressing down, more cleaning showed colorful flowers that previously looked dirty brown. Brushstrokes that previously looked like brown leaves, now cleaned, showed chickens and geese feeding in the yard. A signature appeared that was hidden for years behind the dirt, and the client was informed that it was a “listed artist,” establishing a value on the painting of $8000.

The story continues… When the gallery presented the painting to me I was so pleased and astonished at the colors and details that I never knew were there. I had requested a written appraisal from the gallery for insurance purposes. When I took it home and placed it on the wall, I decided that I could not part with it. I knew I had to keep it and hopefully pass it to my children, along with my stories and memories. n Winter 2015

I Am Me I am me, that’s plain to see I’m what I am and I have to be.

I’m not my sister, not my brother I’m only me and no one other.

I do the things that I must do I answer to me and not to you, I’m not ashamed of what I’ve done I look to me, no other one.

I I I I

say the things that I must say say them true, from day to day, act my way, not as you would act the way I think I should.

I I I I

am responsible for my own needs prove myself by my own deeds, may not always do what’s right myself must see the light.

I’m only me and no one other I’m not my sister, not my brother, I’m what I am and I have to be It’s plain to see that I am me.

—Jay Walsh, former custodian, Eisenhower Elementary UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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412-561-5405

info@outreachteen.org Dear Outreach, World War III has broken out at our house! Our two daughters will not stop fighting; they wake up in the morning bickering over clothes and by dinnertime they are throwing things and hurling insults. I had hoped that having them close in age would make them friends, but they are turning into bitter enemies. Please help!

Frustrated Father

Dear Frustrated Father, While sibling rivalry shows up in many homes, parents can sometimes underestimate the impact that severe conflict with siblings can have, so it is important to address this issue. Start by allowing each child the opportunity to clear the air and express how she feels about her sibling. It may be hard to hear hurtful things said about your child, but listen for the feeling behind the message and validate their concerns. Once they feel heard, you can practice with them how to express their emotions and assert their needs to each other in appropriate ways.

Sometimes siblings have deep resentments built up toward each other if they believe that their parents are comparing them to one another or if they feel they are being treated unfairly.

Even well-meaning comparisons or labels such as “the smart one” or “the athletic one” can create a sense of competition among siblings. Instead of comparing or labeling, try describing the behavior, how it made you feel, and the expectation. Sometimes the rivalry can be a reflection of emotional tensions in the home or between parents. Family sessions can be helpful to mediate conflict and work toward improving relationships. n If you need more support, contact Outreach by phone at 412-561-5405 or email at info@outreachteen.org. Outreach Teen & Family Services is a nonprofit, confidential counseling service offering counseling and educational programs to teens and parents that are affordable, accessible, and discreet.

Guilin Humanitarian Mission Trip September found the Gurecka family from USC’s Deerfield Manor traveling to China for a humanitarian medical/ dental mission trip. Dr. Joseph and Helen Gurecka of Hollow Tree Drive made the trip with their daughter, Diana, age 12, and Kristen Montgomery, a graduate student at Duquense University. They accompanied 28 other health care workers from seven other states and Canada who arrived in Shanghai then split into two teams, one going to Guilin in Guangxi Province and the other to Suqian in Jiangsu Province.

The group represented the humanitarian non-profit Care for the Children, which was invited by the government and local universities to participate in student training and provide free clinics for local residents. “I had always wanted to do a mission trip but wanted it to be a family experience to benefit my daughter because cultural awareness and community service is part of what the IB program, in which

The Guilin team, including Helen (front, far left), Diana, and Dr. Joe Gurecka (front, third and second from the right, respectively) 76

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Diana is enrolled, is all about,” said Dr. Gurecka. “I discovered this opportunity ten months ago by talking to colleagues and signed on immediately. It was the best decision I could have made,” said Dr. Gurecka.

As part of the Guilin team, Dr. Gurecka worked in the Guilin Medical University dental treatment clinic seeing patients while his wife, Helen, helped with triage and daughter, Diana, escorted patients to their respective stations. Many of these patients had never had dental care and were very appreciative to have someone care for them.

During the lunch period, team members traveled to several local “Sunshine Homes” (literally Talent Development Schools) which cared for children who were deaf, blind, or had Down Syndrome.

Here they worked with teachers to give presentations and distribute toys and oral hygiene supplies. Diana was quite helpful in the clinic and especially enjoyed working with the special needs children at the Sunshine Homes. Helen functioned as the team translator and kept the clinic running smoothly. Every day would end with case presentations and lectures for the dental students and residents on topics like dental implants and principals of bone grafting.

Occasionally, team members had a bit of time to break away and explore the wonders of the Li River Valley, a designated World Heritage site with village traditions dating back over 2000 years. There were Winter 2015

also many opportunities to sample local delicacies and some really different fruits.

Staff members at the clinical medicine department were gracious hosts and made everyone feel right at home. After a week of patient care, mutual learning, and making friends, the team ended its visit and was delighted to accept an invitation to return again next year.

On the way home, the Gurecka family stopped in Beijing to visit Helen’s parents and show Kristen the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and other sites of interest in the capital city. A special treat was finding a new bakery and feasting on fresh baked croissants and American coffee! The Gurecka family returned home exhausted but richly rewarded by the experiences they shared and patients they had helped. n

Dr. Joe, with a patient

Diana, helping at the dental clinic

Dr. Joseph Gurecka has a dental practice in Peters Township and his wife, Helen, works in the Corporate Risk Department for PNC. Their daughter, Diana, is an IB student in seventh grade at Fort Couch Middle School.

See ad for Dr. Gurecka and Valley Brook Family Dental on page 77.

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Rotary Club of USC–Bethel Park (Breakfast) Meet New Members

Tim Johns is vice president and relationship man- son, Nash (1). Tim and Nicole both grew up in Upper St Clair.

Danielle Gosnell was born and reared in Greensburg. She is ager in metro business banking for First National Bank’s Pittsburgh Region. In this role, Tim manages a portfolio of employed at Gardner Denver Nash as a contract administrator. existing client relationships and works to develop new business With an MBA from Point Park University, she is currently working toward a second master’s degree in law and public policy opportunities throughout the Pittsburgh region. from California University. She is a member of Tim has been active in the Bethel Park Lions Club and a mentor with commercial banking for alBig Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh. most 20 years, all of which She is also an advocate for CASA of Allegheny have been in Southwest County (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Pennsylvania. Throughout for abused and neglected children. Danielle and his professional career, he her husband, Edwin, have a three-year-old son, has delivered value-added Mason, and live in neighboring Bethel Park. n ideas and helped hundreds of commercial clients accomplish their financial goals, while identifying Left to right are Brian Schill (sponsor), Scott Churchill (president), Tim Johns, and Mark Casciola and protecting their busi(membership vice chairman) nesses from risk.

Tim is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business. He went on to earn an MBA from Duquesne University. He serves on the Sonny Pugar Memorial Foundation’s board of directors, an organization which is responsible for the Music Smiles program in various local hospitals.

Left to right are Natalie Mihalek (sponsor), Tim resides in Upper St. Clair with his wife, Nicole (a Keller Danielle Gosnell, John Biedrzycki (past president), Williams Realtor); daughter, Luca Bella (12); son, Roman (4); and and Larry Lehman (membership chair) Winter 2015

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A Box Full of Make-Believe Heather Holtschlag

As any parent can surely attest, parenthood is a constant balancing act.

Parents manage their own careers and schools, extracurricular activities, and play dates for their children. Throw in the day-to-day tasks required to maintain house and home, and it can potentially be a recipe for a chaotic calendar.

Life is no different for Upper St. Clair resident and mother Morna Pollock, who realized that with all of the activity, there was becoming less and less time for her kids, Callum, six, and Rowan, three, to just simply play.

“Imaginative play is one of the most important activities for a child under age eight and has so many wonderful benefits,” Pollock said. “As a family, we tried out several ‘craft boxes’ with which to play, but after about 30 minutes of crafting, we were done, and the craft would eventually go into the trash, along with the many others that had appeared from preschool and kindergarten that week.”

Pollock said that an idea struck her of how great it would be to have something delivered right to the door that would inspire children to use their imaginations. It would be something fun, but educational, and provided with guidance and activities for open-ended play. Her idea would be especially beneficial for those days when parents are struggling for some inspiration but may be feeling somewhat overwhelmed by sites like Pinterest.

“My idea would be that there’s a kit right there, packed with fun and learning,” Pollock explained. “So, I started putting together themed kits for my kids and also delivering them to friends to test them out.”

Bramble Box was born.

Bramble Box is a subscription-based service for kids and can be ordered for a single month to several months. Boxes filled with themed activities and resources for imaginative play arrive at the subscriber’s doorstep each month.

Themes can range from ice cream shop to veterinarian, to world traveler, gardener, and post office. The boxes are packed with all of the necessary education and fun to keep kids busy for hours.

“Each pretend play prop box is designed to encourage kids ages three to eight to step into a make-believe world while building skills in essential development areas, including social and emotional, language, problem solving, and gross and fine motor skills,” Pollock noted. “Each Bramble Box is lovingly curated and hand-packed by me in my home (my basement is a kid’s creative wonderland). We try and go a step further by using 100% recycled mailers to package in our boxes, and we also strive to use biodegradable or recyclable materials within our internal packaging,” she said.

Pollock said that it took about six months from her initial idea to the actual product. “I penned the business plan on the back of scrap paper while on an express train during a six-hour train ride from Glasgow to London, UK, while on vacation,” she said. “Once home, I spent time researching the market and developing content themes and expanding the business plan. After I had a few rough ideas, I gathered sample boxes and a focus group to test out the contents on a group of families. I then tweaked the product, set up a website, and launched in time for the 2014 holiday season.”

From the beginning, Pollock pictured a red fox as a key component of the Bramble Box logo, after having carried out wildlife surveys in Scotland and coming face-toface with many adorable fox pups. She spent some time trying to think of a name for the business and decided to call the fox “Bramble.”

“I threw the name Bramble Box out to one of my good friends, a graphic designer, who I had tasked with creating the logo, and she loved it,” Pollock said.

As part of her initial planning, Pollock outlined three years worth of imaginative play themes, from researching online and studying various books. Each theme that she chooses is designed to inspire children to assume roles, with various props and activities designed to enable them to explore that role and use their imagination.

“We try to source products from other small businesses throughout the country and from wholesale companies,” Pollock said. “We try to support small and local whenever we can. Products for each themed box are ordered in advance and tested for quality, educational value, and of course, fun.”

Bramble Box celebrates its first birthday this November. The business has grown by 500% in the past several months, which makes Pollock excited for what the next several months have in store.

“Starting the business was the easy part,” Pollock explained. “After that, and because I was doing everything myself from my home, it was a massive learning curve, learning everything from how search engines work to how to build a website, marketing, graphic design, and website coding. The amount of time I have put in behind the scenes is much more significant than I ever could have imagined,” she said.

Her hard work has certainly paid off.

Pollock said that the majority of the feedback she’s received has been positive, with customers loving her product. She has customers who have ordered every month since the business launched.

“One of the challenges I have encountered, however, is how hard it is to overcome negative feedback,” she said.

“When I am so emotionally involved in something, it’s hard to process negative feedback and turn that into positive change. I’m getting there, though!” n

Bramble Box ships throughout the United States, and offers gift certificates.

For more information, visit www.brambleboxprops.com.

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Ritual of Spring Cleaning Might Be Better for Winter Real Estate Round Up by Emanuel Romanias

Thinking ahead… spring is right around the corner. Awaking to the robin’s gentle call will soon become commonplace, flower buds will begin to reveal themselves, and the temperature will once again reach the point that you can open the windows to air out the house. Unfortunately, this glorious cycle of re-birth will also bring with it the unglamorous ritual of spring cleaning.

Most of us do it, most of us hate it, and some view it as misguided.

Builder and home improvement author John Riha argues that, “Our national obsession should be winter cleaning.” Why? The EPA estimates that air quality inside the home during the winter could be up to five times more polluted than the air outside due to the build-up of dust and grime that our houses have accumulated during the hot, dry days of summer and fall. John cites the following tips to help you breathe easier before locking down your home for those long winter months.

• Vacuum dryer, heat, and return vents.

• Wash and disinfect garbage cans, wastebaskets, and toilet brush holders.

• Vacuum the bottoms of furniture, and behind the freezer and refrigerator.

• Change furnace filter.

• Clean the tops of doors, trim, and artwork.

• Clean windows and ceiling fan blades.

• Winterize the doors leading to the outside and garage.

“As cold weather approaches in the northeast, it’s important to prepare your home for freezing temperatures, ice, and snow,” says Steve Gladstone of Stonehollow Home Inspections in Stamford, Connecticut. Here are a few other inexpensive maintenance tips to perform before the inhospitable weather rears its ugly head: • Clean the gutters.

• Schedule a furnace tune-up.

• Disconnect hoses and winterize lawn irrigation systems.

• Replace wicks and air filters in the humidifier.

• Cover the air conditioning unit.

• Close storm windows.

• Insulate attic pull down staircase.

I am sure you are aware of the old adage “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In fact, I am reminded of this every time a circumstance, which was clearly avoidable, bites me on the fanny due to my laziness. Since we are on the subject, it may be prudent to explore a few common areas of home maintenance neglect which could prove quite costly. These come courtesy of independent contractor Todd Vendituoli, a 30-year veteran in the industry: • Drain the hot water tank annually. There’s a lot of gunk that builds up on the tank’s bottom, reducing efficiency.

• Check washing machine fill hoses annually and replace if you see any hint of brittleness or age. These hoses are inexpensive and easy to replace, yet can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage if they burst.

• Each spring inspect the underside of your deck to ensure everything is properly secured.

And finally, Bill Stack, energy-efficiency spokesman for the utility company NStar suggests vacuuming the refrigerator coils regularly to increase efficiency up to 20%. n

Wishing you a Happy Holiday Season and a Prosperous New Year!

My gift to you in 2016 is a Free Home Warranty for your home if you list with me (Value to $450).

Lynn Dempsey REALTOR®  5 Star Real Estate Top Agent Award

by Pittsburgh Magazine 2010 - 2015

USC Resident—35+ years

Coldwell Banker International President's Circle— Top 1% of Coldwell Banker agents

O: 412-833-5405 x255 C: 412-445-6264 www.lynndempsey.com lynn.dempsey@pittsburghmoves.com

http://www.facebook.com/LynnDempsey.ColdwellBanker

Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned And Operated By NRT LLC.

Emanuel is a Realtor® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty®, and can be reached at eromanias@thepreferredrealty.com. See ad on page 83.

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Happenings!

Cookie and Kolbassi Sale Date/Time: Saturday, December 5, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Location: St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church, 2005 Mohawk Road, Brookside Farms What/Price: Taste of Heaven Christmas cookie sale.

Containers provided: small=$7, large=$14. Select your choice of delicious cookies from a variety of homemade treats.

Date/Time: Saturday & Sunday, December 12 & 13.

What: The church’s special recipe kolbassi will be available for purchase ($6 per pound) and pick up at same location listed above.

VFD Candy Pass Out in USC Neighborhoods Date/Time: Saturday, December 12, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

What: Santa Claus contacted the USC Volunteer Fire Department and asked for the members’ assistance for the annual candy pass out event. The route schedule will be posted on the uscvfd.org website as soon as Santa finalizes his plans.

Santa and his crew follow the school bus routes and stop at the stops the school buses use. Please take note of the expected time of arrival and listen for the sirens of the fire trucks as they turn on or near your street.

Unfortunately, the trucks cannot stop door-to-door, as there are too many kids to reach in the time permitted.

Bundle your kids for the weather and have Santa receives his final route instructions. them ready for Santa as he passes. Take the opportunity to make it a neighborhood or block event with hot treats (think coffee) for the adults and sweet treats (think donuts) for the kids!

Visit the parish website: www.stgregoryusc.org for more information.

Call Santa’s hotline at 412-835-0660 throughout the day to reach the elves who will assist Santa in answering your questions.

“Joy of Christmas” Craft Show Date/Time: Saturday, November 21, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Location: St. Louise de Marillac Parish Center and School, 320 McMurray Road What: 117 crafters, bake and candy sale, Chinese auction, and lunch and snacks available Price: $2 admission

Add Inventor to Her Skill Set Faye Klein

Sometimes it’s life hurling an unexpected curveball that sparks the need for change and inspires ingenuity. That’s the way it happened for Upper St. Clair resident Susan Castriota, the award-winning illustrator and author who invented the Cuchina Safe™ Lid. Known by her friends as an avid pet lover and pet adoption advocate, Susan believes that her little dog Bella saved her life by sniffing out an aggressive breast cancer that went undetected despite regular mammograms. What followed for Susan was a radical mastectomy, chemotherapy, and reconstructive surgery in 2013, as well as the search for clues for possible cancer causes since there was no genetic family link.

The suggestion that using plastics in the microwave could be a cause spurred Susan’s research that uncovered numerous studies in the areas of nutrition, metabolism, and cancer that validated the notion. Researchers associated with the Breast Cancer Fund have found that three plastics were shown to leach toxic chemicals when heated: polycarbonate, polystyrene, and PVC. Overwhelming scientific evidence convinced Susan that her breast cancer was linked to these toxins, so she threw away all of her plastic ware and created a unique vented glass lid to use for safe microwave cooking.

The Cuchina Safe™ Lid, scheduled to launch in January 2016 on QVC, is used to cook, reheat, and steam food safely in the microwave without the health risks associated with toxicreleasing plastics despite being labeled “microwave-safe.” Made from strong, durable, heat-resistant Borosilicate glass, it’s the very same glass used to make the original Pyrex cookware. Bob Warden 80

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spokesperson on the “In the Kitchen with David” show and a QVC favorite along with his partner, Ronda Pierson, worked with Susan on the testing, packaging, videos, and all the preparation required for QVC, the television Susan Castriota, with Pittsburgh Today Live co-host Jon Burnett, sales giant that receives talking about her invention 500 new product requests a day. The eco-friendly Cuchina Safe™ Universal Lid set will cover a variety of microwave-safe glass or porcelain bowls, mugs, and glassware. Three vents let just enough steam to escape to hasten cooking and keep microwaves clean. The lids are dishwasher safe, can be used in a conventional oven up to 400° and are easy to store.

Adding inventor to her varied skill set, Susan, an artist whose work has been displayed at the White House, is also the authorillustrator of a series of award-winning children’s books about her dogs, Wilson and Bella. She is a frequent guest at book signings at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and The White House gift store.

When Bella uncovered Susan’s breast cancer by fixating on a particular spot on her breast, the story caught national attention and she was featured on YAHOO, The Doctors TV show, and Fox and Friends. n To view TV appearances and learn more about the Cuchina Safe™ Universal Lids and recipes, visit http://cuchinasafe.com.

Out and About

Photo credit: Terry Kish Winter 2015

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USC’s Own (Maternity and Nursing) Fashion Mogul Heather Holtschlag

Moms need more fun , and that’s exactly what Upper St. Clair resident Elena Petzold wants to give them, in the form of the most fashionable styles of maternity and nursing apparel.

Petzold founded Maternity Girl, which evolved into Mama’s MilkBox, a maternity and nursing apparel company, in 2013. And she’s been a sought-after source of the best in breastfeeding fashion ever since.

“I was selling maternity and nursing apparel by appointment, and one of my frequent clients said she had a girlfriend who was really jealous of my client’s clothes,” Petzold said. “My client’s friend doesn’t live in the Pittsburgh area and was saying that she wished there was a Maternity Girl located near her. I had done trunk shows, but this person was too far away, so I suggested my client give her my phone number and I would do a style consult over the phone and put together a box of items that she might like.”

Her client’s friend called Petzold, established a style profile, and Petzold got to work.

She sent her a box of clothing items she thought the woman might like, but it as it turned out, the woman didn’t. She loved them!

In fact, word quickly spread among the members of the woman’s breastfeeding group about Petzold’s business, and Petzold received calls from two of them.

“Every time I sent out one or two boxes, I would hear from two or three new people who wanted to know how they could get a box, too,” Petzold said. “Alas, Mama’s MilkBox was born.”

Petzold said she works about 40 to 60 hours a week, which is sometimes challenging when balancing her family life.

“I manage my business life and family life on a day-to-day basis,” she explained. “But I’m lucky to have a partner, children, parents, and trusted caregivers who see me for the me I like to be—working—and they do what they can to support and help me as the company grows.

There’s also the 3 a.m. showers that keep me awake and Market District Express for dinner.”

To become a subscriber of Mama’s Milkbox, a person simply needs to visit the website www.mamasmilkbox.com and click the link on the home page to begin the process of building a personal profile. Petzold explained that the customer will be required to answer several questions to help identify her style, personal preferences, and breastfeeding needs, as moms who pump require different clothes from those who exclusively breastfeed.

“Once the profile is complete, the user will be directed to the next page—the payment page—where they will pay a styling fee of $39, which turns into a Mama’s MilkBox credit and is applied to any clothing that the customer chooses to keep,” Petzold explained.

“After the styling fee is paid, the customer becomes an automatic subscriber and is added to the company’s queue. Once someone

is in the queue, we use her style profile and our knowledge of the clothes to assemble a Mama’s MilkBox that fits her personal style and, more importantly, body.”

Petzold acknowledged that breastfeeding clothes have been around for quite some time, and the styles that are available today are quite amazing. “I try to ensure that breastfeeding moms know that, above all else, these types of clothes exist and through Mama’s MilkBox, I make sure we order and stock only the most amazing styles so that our subscribers feel less like frazzled, exhausted moms and more like a fabulous new version of themselves.”

Petzold said that she didn’t choose this business as much as it chose her. Her “maternity and nursing apparel by appointment” arrangement was meant to be converted into a brick and mortar boutique, but it didn’t work out quite that way. “The momentum of Mama’s MilkBox is like a runaway train and the feedback from subscribers is endearing. I stopped keeping count of the beautiful handwritten thank you notes that were coming back in the boxes, but some of the comments remain in my heart forever, including a note from a subscriber that said, ‘This was the first time I felt pretty in nine months.’ ” “At the core of it, I truly believe that breastfeeding clothes help nursing moms, both in that they make breastfeeding so much easier and that they make them feel good about themselves.” n For more information about Mama’s MilkBox or to learn how to become a subscriber, visit www.mamasmilkbox.com.

Photo credit: Red Lotus Photography

Continued from page 68

Ten Reasons to Use a Travel Agent

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

agent. Travel agents have access to the same or better rates than what may be seen online and provide their services at no cost to the client.

Often the idea of a vacation sounds great, but destination options are endless. A good agent will understand individual travel needs and offer suggestions accordingly. Having options is a great way to begin.

There is less room for error when using a professional. The fine print is often overlooked or misunderstood and this can cost you (big time!) down the road. A travel agent understands the rules, exclusions, and terms and conditions.

If there is a sudden change, a problem occurs, or there is any issue with travel plans, a good agent is available and is prepared to make every effort to find resolution. Whom do you call with a problem?

Your travel agent, your advocate.

Travel agents monitor schedule changes, seat assignments, and are constantly updated on baggage rules and many other details that a traveler may not think about during the planning process.

A licensed agent attends conferences, seminars, and in-house training to always know what is new or on the horizon.

Suppliers offer discounted rates so agents can visit all types of

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destinations, including different resorts, cruise ships, and guided tours… and, therefore, can speak from personal experience.

8. A good agent is aware of every aspect of your itinerary, including the small details and will recognize if something has been overlooked.

9. Travel agents have destination knowledge and use reputable tour companies that are American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) approved.

10. Offering personalized service is a travel agent’s gift that you cannot receive online. By talking with an actual person, your unusual requests and special circumstances can be considered. A travel agent can assist with decision making based on gathering additional information from you.

As travel professionals, we do not discourage using the Internet as a good source to get started. However, let the professionals guide you from there (especially if your purchase is non-refundable). As professionals in the industry, Peck Travel has thrived for 18 years in the South Hills community, and continuing to defend the need for our services, our business continues to grow. We pledge to fulfill travel dreams, and we are convinced that we will exceed your expectations.

As a client recently stated, “Leigh, I can’t look anymore. It makes things so confusing and difficult to choose!” n See ad for Peck Travel on page 68.

Continued from page 22

Picky Eating Habits... Explained • Do not force feed. Do not spoon feed and do not follow children around the house attempting to bribe them to take bites of their food.

• Offer smaller portions of new or previously rejected foods to avoid overwhelming them.

• Be patient. Many children need to touch or smell new foods before they decide to put it in their mouths.

• Do not be a short-order cook by preparing a separate meal for the picky eater.

• Serve fewer in-between meal snacks.

• Do not use sweets or desserts as bribes for eating healthy food.

• Encourage the child to assist with the grocery shopping.

• Limit external audio and visual stimulation. Turn off the TV during mealtime.

• Set a good example.

• Make sure all caregivers are consistent with your meal plans.

For parents who feel as if they’ve tried everything and are still attempting to manage the picky eating, it may be time to talk with a pediatrician or nutritionist and request further resources. n Continued from page 23

Lacrosse—the Old Game for a New Generation time. As with other sports, if your child falls in love with the game of lacrosse, there are plenty of opportunities in USC to continue lacrosse play in the off season.

The youth lacrosse season is short and action-packed from March to the beginning of June, with away games played mostly in neighboring communities. Even though the season is short, the USC lacrosse club is active in Upper St. Clair throughout the year. The annual Turkey Shootout and alumni game in November, held at the USC High School stadium, kicks off the season. Led by high school players, this is an opportunity for the younger boys to come together and participate in lacrosse drills and fun games. This year’s alumni game brought in participants who graduated from 1987 through 2014. Active in USC Community Day festivities, USCBYL players march in the parade. During the season, a fantastic adultonly fundraiser brings many USC boys youth lacrosse families together to share in camaraderie and great times.

Bring your son out this season to learn lacrosse in a friendly, encouraging enviNine and under players ronment. The league’s paid team coaches have lacrosse backgrounds and are dedicated to teaching children the fundamentals of the game so your child can be successful.

Members of USCBYL want

Eleven and under players

BUSINESSES AT Y O U R S E RV I C E

Designer Fabrics & Trims Decorative Drapery Hardware Motorization

Vivian C. Dibrell (412) 344.3308 chasecustom.com Stacy & Emanuel Romanias

USC residents since 1991, with over 13 years of experience.

Simply Put, We Get Results...

Office 724.941.3000 Cell 412.370.3447

x77

www.romaniasgroup.com

550 Sleepy Hollow Road, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228

412.563.2858

PRESCHOOL (AGES 2-6) THRU 6TH GRADE OPENINGS AVAILABLE FOR ALL AGES

www.MtLebanonMontessori.org

S B M

Estate & Household Liquidations Fawn Moore Campbell, Proprietor

412-657-9132

sydneybmoore.com

Experience is the key to success your child to have fun while learning the great game of lacrosse, and they promise to help him develop both on the field and off.

Registration for the 2016 season begins in January, but members are always available to answer questions. n

For more information about youth lacrosse in USC, contact Jim Moss, USCBYL president, at JamesTMoss@yahoo.com. Visit online at USCLAX.com or like them on Facebook at USC Boys Youth Lacrosse. USCBYL is governed by the Western Pennsylvania Youth Lacrosse Association (WPYLA) and nationally governed by US Lacrosse.

Winter 2015

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21 Years

LOCAL Advertiser Index

Winter 2015

www.twpusc.org/magazine/usc-today-home

Advertiser Page

Advertiser Page

* ARAMARK ............................................................................................. 35 Arbor Tree Specialist, Inc. ...................................................................... 51 Axios Tutoring........................................................................................ 69 Bedner’s Farm Market ............................................................................ 40 * Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, The Preferred Realty, Rt. 19 South ..7 BISTECCA - STEAKHOUSE - WINE BAR ............................................... 38 Bragdon-Stofman Plastic Surgical Group .............................................. 31 Brookside Lumber ................................................................................. 53 * Calabro Tire & Auto Service .................................................................. 79 Chase Custom Creations ....................................................................... 83 Chinese Acupuncture & Herbs Center, LLC ........................................... 75 * Coldwell Banker–The South Hills Office .......................Back outside cover Coldwell Banker–Lynn Dempsey ........................................................... 79 * Cupelli & Cupelli, Drs. .......................................................................... 63 Dance By Cami ...................................................................................... 31 Extended Day Services .......................................................................... 35

* Mount Lebanon Montessori School and Academy ................................ 83 Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center ............................................................. 23 Northwood Realty Services .................................................................... 15 Orthodontics by Dr. Reitz & Dr. Troy ...................................................... 43 Pazzo–an Italian Bistro .......................................................................... 39 Peck International Travel Services ......................................................... 68 Pediatric Dentistry South ....................................................................... 42 * Piccolina’s Restaurant ........................................................................... 43 * Pinebridge Commons Associates .......................................................... 42 Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater ............................................ 40 Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company........................................................... 39 Premier Home Design Center ................................................................ 47 Providence Point, a Baptist Homes Society Community ........................ 21 RE/MAX Premier Group–James Roman ................................................ 33 * Rusmur Floors ...............................................................Back inside cover * St. Clair Hospital ............................................................................... 2, 65

What They Said We enjoy advertising in UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY because we are able to reach a large population of the South Hills community. Many of our patients have seen our practice ads and articles in the magazine, and this exposure contributes directly to the growth of our practice. We love the quality of TODAY, and the patients and parents reading the magazine in our waiting rooms value the pertinent local information they receive.

—Dr. Beth Troy and Dr. Eric Reitz Farmers Insurance–Tom DiPasquale ..................................................... 69 Furgiuele, Natalie, M.D., F.A.C.S. .......................................................... 49 * Howard Hanna USC Office ............................................Front inside cover * Howard Hanna–Maureen Cavanaugh .................................................... 63 * Howard Hanna–Susan Highley .............................................................. 53 Howard Hanna–Diane Horvath .............................................................. 77 Infinity Custom Homes ............................................................................ 3 Jacksons Restaurant-Rotisserie-Bar ...................................................... 38 Jade Grille ............................................................................................. 38 * Kerr Family and Cosmetic Dentistry ...................................................... 43 * Louis Anthony Jewelers ...............................................Front cover, 12, 13 * Manalo, Larry E., D.M.D. ....................................................................... 42 Michel, Melissa D. LPC. ........................................................................ 43

* Scott Bros. Windows and Doors ............................................................ 17 * Sesame Inn ........................................................................................... 40 South Hills Endoscopy Center ................................................................. 1 Southwest Gastroenterology Associates .................................................. 9 * State Farm Insurance–Cindy Brophy ..................................................... 42 Sydney B. Moore Estate Sales ............................................................... 83 The Orthopedic Group ..................................................................... 21, 73 The Pittsburgh Foundation .................................................................... 67 The Romanias Group at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices .................. 83 Torrente at Upper St. Clair–Luxury Apartments ....................................... 5 Valley Brook Dental, LLC–Joseph L. Gurecka, DMD ............................. 77 Washington Health System .................................................................... 66 * Wellington Real Estate–Patty Thomas & Rebecca Lutz .......................... 19

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY thanks the wonderful advertisers who have supported our publication for 21 years.

We couldn’t do it without you!

*The above advertisers, who are advertising in this issue, have contributed their support for a minimum of 42 issues. Thank you.

Upcoming guides for the Spring 2016 issue include Celebrations, Dining, and Home Improvement.

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Winter 2015

Advertise in

the official publication of the School District and Township of USC ... and your local connection!

Be Comfortable

Bridgeville n Moon n Murrysville n North Hills n Whitehall PA Contractor’s License #1961

Relax. It’s Rusmur.

1-800-2-RUSMUR n www.rusmurfloors.com 1-800-278-7687

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

ECRWSS* CARRIER ROUTE

1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

POSTAL CUSTOMER Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

This magazine was printed on recycled paper.

Global Connections, Local Traditions Hope Bassichis

Noel Bliman

Anita Crago

Barbara Cusick

Lynn Dempsey

Janine Dillon

John Geisler

Elaine Goldblum

Genie Gooding

Andrew Guillot

Leigh Harkreader

Nancy Heffernan

Judy Hlister

Sydnie Jones

Sue Kelso

Kathi Kernan

Jane Krauth

Hedy Krenn

Maria & Joe Lane

Julie Leslie

Mary Torchia

Nancy Morgan

Arlene Murray

Carmela Viviano

Faith Williard

Julie Puzausky

Jim Walsh

Tulla Rakoczy

Kathy Sekeras

Diane Snyder

Mary Ann Wellener

Jane York

Marian McGinley Manager

The South Hills Office 412-833-5405 • 1630 Washington Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15241

Introducing the NEW ColdwellBankerHomes.com! © 2015 Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.