www.twpusc.org/magazine
The official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair
“Simply Original” designs by JAB Jewelry and Joe Bonasso, a USCHS Arts Hall of Famer
Anthony Colatrella, MD • David Glorioso, MD • David Limauro, MD • Mark Cedar, DO • Nicholas Bellicini, DO • Lisa Oliva, DO
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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Winter 2011
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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Winter 2011
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The official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair Winter 2011
•
Volume 17
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Issue 4
Features and Around the Township 10 ’Tis the Season, The Urge to Purge—Trash, that Is
The trash revolution in America and how we can respond with recycling efforts
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16 Gilfillan’s Gift to You
Preserving Gifillan Homestead through technology
gfield
ors of Sprin
Holiday do
18 Two Greats—Armon Gilliam and Sean Casey
Author Jim O’Brien shares a story about two local greats.
77 Rotary Serves Many
Bethel-St. Clair Evening Rotary celebrates another year of service.
78 Profiles on People with a USC Connection
Who made our list?
School District 30 New Teachers
USC prepares new teachers in our District using an extensive, internal induction program.
32 Student Leadership Academy 2011
Now in its second year, five different leadership academies were offered to students in our District.
35 Value-Added Assessment
Following the progress of students over time helps educators better measure and capitalize on academic growth opportunities.
11 Halls of
School 20 Clair High
44
Upper St.
49
USC Vetera
58
Kids library
40 Pawprints—A USC PTA Council Highlight
Read about each school’s PTA or PTSO.
42 USC School District Homecoming Gala
Partnering with the Community Foundation of USC, the first annual Homecoming Gala was very successful.
Township 51 Introducing Liquid into the Snow Fighting Operation
Road deicing efforts in USC now include salt brine.
54 Beating Cabin Fever
The Outdoor Classroom shares activities to keep you and yours from becoming restless.
56 @ Your Library
Don’t wait for summer! Programs and activities abound “@ Your Library” during the winter season, too.
ns Park
60 C&RC Expands “Healthy Choices”
New offerings at the C&RC help to get you on your way to a healthy lifestyle.
65 Flag Finds Home at USCVFD
A 48-star flag has traveled and, now, finds a new home.
Guides 22 Holidays... a Time for Giving 46 Pinebridge Commons 68 Life Planning
USC Photo Ops 36 A Day in the District 53 Our Public Works Employees
63 Staff of the C&RC
bound
activities a
Cover 14 Designers Art Rivero and Angelo Zucca are two of the professionals producing beautiful one-of-a-kind jewelry at JAB Jewelry Designs, this edition’s cover sponsor. On pages 14 and 15, writer and photographer Terry Kish takes you behind the wall of JAB’s showroom to show you what sets them apart and why they’re “Simply Original” in the local market. Winter 2011
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
5
Fame
17 Years of CommunityService
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, we celebrate 17 years of publication.
The official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair 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 Lynn Dempsey, Senior Advertising Associate Erin Gibson Allen, Advertising Associate Alison Hess, Advertising Associate Dorothy Clark, Graphic Designer Andrew McCreery, Finance
Thank you to our volunteer contributors this issue: Erin Gibson Allen, Dr. John Bornyas, Cindy Brophy, Lauren Brush, Dr. Judith Bulazo, Dr. Mark Cedar, Dr. Daniel Erlanger, Dina Fulmer, Amie Guarino, Dr. Natalie Furgiuele-Iracki, Kelly Haywiser, Heather Holtschlag, Gina Kallick, George Kostelich, Jr., Jim O’Brien, Jessica Kester, Ron Sarrick, Gary Schafer, Mary Lynne Spazok, Danielle Thomas, and Jay Walsh. Young Writers Guild (YWG) promotes and encourages young writers in the Upper St. Clair School District to provide articles of interest for this community magazine. Email usctoday@uscsc.k12.pa.us to find out how your student can contribute. The 68th issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a joint publication of the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair. © Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this magazine, in print or web version, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the Editor is strictly prohibited. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 Phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284 Fax: 412-851-2592 Email: usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us Township: 412-831-9000 School District: 412-833-1600 Printed by Herrmann Printing & Litho, Inc. 1709 Douglass Drive • Pittsburgh, PA 15221 412-243-4100 • Fax: 412-731-2268 Design by DMC Design 412-824-7844 • www.dmcdesign.com 6
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
members are, left to right, front row: Lynn Dempsey, Erin Allen, Alison Hess, Colleen DeMarco, and Dorothy Clark; back row: Mark Mansfield, Terry Kish, Paul Fox, Linda Dudzinski, and Andrew McCreery
The 68 th issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY magazine is made possible through the combined resources of the staff and volunteers of the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair. Thanks are extended to the staff and volunteers for their enthusiasm and efforts on this continuing project.
Board of School Directors
Township Board of Commissioners
Harry F. Kunselman President Rebecca A. Stern, Vice President Amy L. Billerbeck Barbara L. Bolas Frank J. Kerber Bruce L. Kerman Louis P. Mafrice, Jr. Angela B. Petersen Louis A. Piconi
Robert W. Orchowski, President, Ward 3 Glenn R. Dandoy, Vice President, At Large Preston W. Shimer, Ward 1 Mark R. Hamilton, Ward 2 Mark D. Christie, Ward 4 Russell R. Del Re, Ward 5 Daniel R. Paoly, At Large
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY steering committee and staff
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a non-partisan Township, School District, and community magazine. Political advertising and political commentary are not accepted. The publishers of this magazine reserve the right to reject advertising or articles inconsistent with the objectives, image, and aesthetic standards of the magazine. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY magazine is published and 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. The next issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY will be the spring 2012 issue and will be published in March 2012. Articles that were submitted but not published in this issue are on file for consideration in upcoming issues. Articles and announcements may be sent to:
Editor, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 or email UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, at usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us. 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 to the left. Add $10 to cover international mailings. Errata The USCHS hockey team article in the fall 2011 edition of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY failed to recognize Andrew Schmitt as both a returning senior and a key contributor to last season’s championships. Please accept our apologies! And with that, TODAY also wishes the entire team “good luck!” as it begins the 2011-12 season and defends its state title.
Spring 2012 edition deadlines: Articles–January 12, Advertising–January 16 Article Information
Editor-in-Chief Linda Dudzinski–phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2681
Advertising Information
Office Manager Colleen DeMarco–phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284, fax: 412-851-2592
Website www.twpusc.org/magazine
Email usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us
For the convenience of smart phone users, visit our website by using TODAY’s QR code shown above. Winter 2011
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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
7
The official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair
Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole
Matthew R. Serakowski
Hello and welcome to the winter 2011 issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, our 68th edition. Our Publishers’ Letter for this issue focuses on our community magazine and what it has accomplished since its entry into the marketplace in 1994. Please enjoy learning more about this “little piece of USC” that has and continues to serve our community well. A not-for-profit organization dedicated to Upper St. Clair and run by residents of USC, TODAY seeks meaningful ways to publicize and support the community. It does so not only by publishing and mailing its award-winning quarterly magazine filled with newsworthy information free to USC residents and businesses, but in other ways, too. As part of its mission to promote the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair and the residents who live and work here, TODAY has made contributions to further our community’s efforts that have included a financial donation in 2005 to the Volunteer Fire Department, donations to the Upper St. Clair Veterans Park in 2010 and 2011, and a donation this year to USCSD’s first annual Homecoming Gala. The opportunity to contribute in this way is viewed by TODAY’s management as an “investment in our community when we are able to do so,” said editor Linda Dudzinski. In addition to its financial contributions, did you know that TODAY also sponsors an annual journalism scholarship for a USCHS graduating senior, provides summer internships for those studying journalism in college, and promotes youth writing through its Young Writers Guild? TODAY’s outreach efforts have included sponsoring a community-wide art contest of the 1830 Log House for children and adults in 2004 and participating in many USC Community Day parades over the years. TODAY also accepts and prints articles and photographs submitted by the community at large, offers luncheons to recognize its advertisers and patrons, and has sponsored group tours of renovated or newly constructed facilities in Upper St. Clair to the South Hills real estate community and others to help showcase our Township. While publishing the magazine is the main reason TODAY exists, as you can see there are many other important communityoriented activities that its staff undertakes. And why does TODAY offer all of these things? The answer is simple: to give back. TODAY is committed to the Upper St. Clair School District and Township and searches for opportunities to play a part in our community’s advancement. And from the many supportive comments and feedback that we’ve received over the years about our publication, we know that you are as committed to our magazine—the official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair—as it is to you. Thanks for 17 wonderful years of publication and thank you also to our advertisers who continue to support our cause. Now that you know a little more about TODAY—this “little piece of USC”—we invite you to take a break and cozy up with reading material in hand to learn a little more about your community through the stories that we share.
8
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
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Winter 2011
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Susan L. Deakin, DO Internal Medicine Mark W. Guy, MD Family Medicine
If you’re looking for a physician, you should know that West Penn Allegheny Health System offers a regional network of nearly 1,700 doctors – including 230 primary care doctors – located in communities throughout Western Pennsylvania. We have your individual health-care needs covered, from routine checkups for you and your family to highly specialized care – all close to home. Our programs have been recognized for quality by Thomson Reuters and U.S. News & World Report, and our physicians are consistently listed as Top Doctors in Pittsburgh Magazine. When doctors lead, better care follows – call 412.DOCTORS (362.8677)
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’Tis the Season, the Urge to Purge Mary Lynne Spazok
The onset of the trash revolution in the United States
began in the early 1970s. To litter was illegal. Americans were fed up with unsightly garbage that plagued the environment. Public outcry initiated the famous “Keep America Beautiful” public service announcement (PSA) which featured a Native American. This environmental ad featured a Native Indian (Tony Cody) shedding a single tear after some trash, thrown from a speeding car, rests at his feet. The announcer, Iron Eyes Cody William Conrad, memorably declares, “People start pollution; people can stop it.” “Iron Eyes” actor Tony Cody was chosen as the “crying Indian” because of his compelling belief in and spiritual respect for Mother Earth. This campaign altered the public’s behavior with an estimated 55% reduction in roadside rubbish. States and commonwealths across the country erected anti-littering signs that read “Every day is Earth Day,” “Mean about Clean,” and “Don’t Trash Our Planet.” One of the most controversial, but effective, signs read “Only Trash Throws Trash!” Automobile travelers finally began retaining refuse in their vehicles for disposal later. In 1995, that crying Indian image was celebrated for its affirmative outcome by the Hollywood American Indian community. Cody (Espera deCort) of Italian descent upheld the beliefs of “Iron Eyes” throughout his life. Today, trash no longer represents just disposables, but also the opportunity to renew, reuse, recycle, and repurpose. Over the past years, Upper St. Clair’s green habits are growing. Recycling piles are now equal to or greater than the regular trash piles. With the escalating cost of relocation, to “clear-out” before the moving van arrives is the wise thing to do. The urge to purge most often occurs as a result of: • Residential relocation • Just before or after winter holidays • Friends and relatives threaten to contact the producers of Hoarding: Buried Alive. Currently in Upper St. Clair, there is no limit as to the amount of trash that can be placed curbside. However, if you have an
—Trash, that Is
excessive quantity, contact Waste Management in advance or set it out over a few weeks. An alternative to dumpster rental is Waste Management’s newest and easiest cleanup solution for remodeling projects, moving preparation, landscaping projects, and general home or garage cleanup—the Bagster®. Simple to set up and strong enough to hold 3300 pounds, the Bagster® is the perfect solution for projects that don’t require a full-size dumpster. Bags may be purchased at USC’s Public Works Building on the corner of McLaughlin Run and Truxton Roads (opposite the threehole golf course), Home Depot, Lowe’s, 84 Lumber, Miller’s Ace Hardware, Brookside Lumber, and Portman Farms, to name a few. Current updates are available from Waste Management online at www.thebagster.com or 1-877-789-2247. Special events, including parties, and the pre- and post-holiday storage, generate moderate to monumental purges. Always begin by consulting the “excluded items” of USC’s Trash and Recycling Information brochure. All bagged, boxed, and bundled trash must be of a manageable weight that one person can safely lift. Waste Management is not responsible for the collection of any item that is not properly prepared. On windy days, disheveled cardboard boxes with loose packing material often take flight, causing an unsightly mess or even street hazard. While flying debris is a traffic menace, wet papers and cardboard become bumpy unsightly blobs. Yikes, what a mess! Secure cardboard boxes by flattening and bundling or cutting into a manageable size to partner with newspaper. If you require a wheel barrow or rolling cart because of weight issues, sub-divide into manageable parcels. Weighty grass clippings may go into compostable paper or plastic bags weekly. However, compostable is preferred and a must at the designated fall and spring “date specific” Saturday collections. Remember, if you can’t lift it, they can’t lift it either. And they won’t! The television series Hoarding: Buried Alive is compelling. Often times, parents, due to illness or death, leave their household belongings for their children or others to distribute or dispose. I asked a friend “Why do some people keep so much stuff?” Her reply: “They lived through a depression.” Sentimentality is another factor. When my mom died, apparel was donated, while Dads’ tools were scooped up by handymen at a neighborhood
Recycle to Bike Pittsburgh Renegade boxes! 10
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Winter 2011
Festive, reusable canisters
sale. I then made a conscientious decision to donate the furnishings. Leslie and Terry Soukup While I could have gone the auction route, a family from a local parish had just suffered the loss of their entire home due to a fire. Helping this family was the right thing to do. At dawn on a snowy pre-holiday Thursday, I noticed perfectly good metal holiday canisters emptied of their belongings and tossed to the curb. Although recyclable, these containers are sturdy and lend themselves quite nicely for storing everyday objects. • Storage for handy tools, art supplies, and kitchen utensils • Storage or gifting of cookies or treats • Bow and ribbon storage • Decorative magazine/catalog storage • Fire starter supplies such as pine cones and kindling • Don’t forget Fido or Meow—ideal for their food and snacks • Travel safety container: Wrap in reflective tape or coat in reflective paint. Keep in the storage area of your car. Display container outside of your car in the event of an accident or emergency to alert other drivers of your presence. Include survival kit items, including a flashlight, bottled water, human and pet snacks, and a pair of waterproof, heavy duty work gloves. Moving forward to 2012, continue to exercise the mindset of renew, reuse, recycle, and re-purpose. Leslie and Terry Soukup affirm, “When we were youngsters, recycling didn’t exist. It now plays an important role in how we shop and in our daily lifestyle.” Leslie has been involved with the recycle process for 30 years as an employee of ALCOA. Aluminum is the most valuable material in the recycling bin. By weight, it is less than two percent of the United States’ recycled stream, but generates 40% of the revenue to sustain all recycling programs. An energetic consumer can earn cash, all the while lessening landfill clutter. Did you know that an aluminum can is consumed, recovered, and recycled back onto a store shelf in less than 60 days? It takes 95% less energy to manufacture from recycled aluminum, rather
than from raw materials. Recovering aluminum reduces our carbon footprint. To salvage and recycle 75% of aluminum cans— 600,000 metric tons of aluminum—1286 megawatts of generated electricity is banked. Thus, ALCOA is saving 11.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from being generated and released into the atmosphere by two coal fired power plants. On Wednesday evenings, Terry dollies his original USC milk crate style containers as well as the updated cylinders curbside no earlier than 6 p.m. for Thursday pickup. The Soukups also use compostable bags for regular trash collection. He states, “In the past, we only used compostable bags during the yard debris collection weeks. However, if this material goes to a landfill, we believe it is best to also use compostable bags for regular trash.” Further, being considerate neighbors, they are diligent about removing emptied containers from curbside as soon as possible. Keep America Beautiful, Inc., our nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education campaign, endorses a practical approach that unites citizens, business, and government together. Their goal is “to engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments.” Macy’s sturdy shopping bag is my #1 curbside choice when it comes to periodicals for pickup. Check out their good news message on the bag bottom: “We’ve turned over a new leaf. Enjoy our good-natured, earth-wise bag made from 60% post-consumer recycled materials.” Now that’s a good neighbor! So, if you have the urge to purge, remember, trash no longer represents just disposables, but also the opportunity to renew, reuse, recycle, and repurpose. Such viable alternatives advance our core issues of preventing litter, reducing waste, and continuing green initiatives in Upper St. Clair. In 2012, resolve to make everyday Earth Day. n
Cathie Scudiero
Side note: Are you a senior citizen or handicapped resident who needs help getting an unusually heavy item to the curb? Contact USC Public Works Department employee Cathie Scudiero at 412-831-9000, ext. 217. Winter 2011
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
11
The Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair, in partnership with USC Township, sponsored
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
On August 25, 2011, approximately 600 residents enjoyed the recent movie, “RIO” on the C&RC Multi-Purpose Field.
To see who all of these people are, and to see more Family Movie Night attendees, go the the CFUSC website at www.cfusc.org.
The Community Foundation began a partnership with our community on January 5, 1993, intent on fulfilling the Mission of “creating a sense of community through enhancing the quality of life for all the people of Upper St. Clair.” The Community Foundation has remained true to that promise for the past 18 years! Your support, now, is vital to securing the future of that promise. The Foundation has returned significant value to Upper St. Clair by entering into partnerships with community groups and others, hosting events, and awarding grants; a list of CF investments in the community can be viewed by visiting www.cfusc.org. These 18 years of good works are not without effort, nor are they without cost. The achievements of the Foundation are a direct result of the generosity of this community – you and your neighbors. The CF is asking that every household in Upper St. Clair give $1 for every year the Foundation has been in existence. The resulting $125,000 would provide the support needed to continue the promise made 18 years ago. Please, help the Community Foundation reach this goal. Send your tax deductible contribution to the CF address below or donate using a credit card by visiting www.cfusc.org and clicking on Annual Solicitation. Your contribution – if just $18 – will make a difference right here at home. Let’s continue
THANK YOU FOR ENHANCING OUR COMMUNITY BY GENEROUSLY SUPPORTING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF UPPER ST. CLAIR
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF UPPER ST. CLAIR 2585 Washington Road, Suite 131A, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 ~ (412) 831-1107 ~ FAX (412) 220-7780 ~ www.cfusc.org 12
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Winter 2011
Traveling with TODAY When students return to school each fall, they are always very eager to share their summer adventures with their classmates and teachers. This year, three Baker School staff members had a very exciting adventure of their own to share with their students. This past August, Pam Dillie (third grade teacher), Christine Hestwood (music teacher), and Carolyn Seymour (school aide) went skydiving together at the Grove City Skydiving Airport. Baker students watched and enjoyed the video of their very adventurous teachers. Left to right are Christine Hestwood, Thanks for taking along Carolyn Seymour, and Pam Dillie UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY on this adventure! And for those of you reading this article, look up every now and again, as you might see our magazine falling from the sky!
Upper St. Clair High School juniors Julie S c h u l d t , Te d Hages, and Doug Cannon traveled to Europe with the People to People A m b a s s a d o r In front of the Vatican, left to right, are Doug Cannon, Julie Schuldt, and Ted Hages Programs in July and took TODAY with them on their journey. The three-week trip, “Mediterranean Traditions,� took 40 high school students from the Pittsburgh area to various cities in Spain, France, and Italy. Julie traveled to China last year and Ted traveled to Australia in 2009 with this same organization. Julie, Ted, and Doug all received the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program certificate of completion this past May. How do I submit information for Traveling with TODAY? See submission information at the bottom right corner of page 81.
Highley Dedicated Knowledgeable Accessible Dependable $120 Million Sales in 21 Years
Susan Highley ABR, CRS, SRES
412 833-3600 Cell-412 889-1214 www.shighley.howardhanna.com Winter 2011
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
13
Behind the Wall Ready for that one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry—the one that is yours, and yours alone; the one that really makes a statement? Then look no further than JAB Jewelry Designs, located on Route 19 in Peters Township. With its eye catching black awnings and distinctive JAB monogram logo, the exterior reflects the elegance within. Sleek cases hold an array of jewelry, from shining silver and gleaming gold to shimmering gemstones and diamonds. But it’s what’s behind the wall that sets JAB apart from other local jewelers. Owner and designer Joe Bonasso says that there is not a better equipped shop in the Pittsburgh area; CAD/CAM, lasers, 3D printers and other state-of-the-art equipment are coupled with old world skill and talent. “We’re a store,” said Joe, “but we’re also a manufacturing facility. We make the product from the ground up.” Joe and his staff excel at creating jewelry that is distinctively yours. From bridal and fashion rings to necklaces and earrings, JAB Jewelry offers exceptional pieces in all price ranges. “We make jewelry people notice,” says Joe. And many people have noticed Joe Bonasso’s work. Joe and his designer, Art Rivero, have won numerous awards. Joe’s honors include several first place Keystone Awards from the Pennsylvania Jeweler Association (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007), finishing first in the Jewelers of America Affiliated Design Competition (2003, 2006), the Pennsylvania Jewelers “Craftsman of the Year” (2003), and his induction into the USC Arts Hall of Fame in 2003. Art has won first (2004) and second (2005, 2007) place Keystone Awards from the Pennsylvania Jeweler Association. A member of USC High School’s class of 1984, Joe fondly recalls taking Mr. Pavlov’s crafts class, a jewelry making class, for three of his four years there. This course sparked Joe’s interest in jewelry making, and after graduation he did an apprenticeship, learning the trade at the Clark Building in Pittsburgh. His interest in jewelry overflowed into diamonds and gems, and in 2003, he received his diploma as a graduate gemologist from Gemological Institute of America, the most respected title for a jewelry professional. Joe worked at the Clark Building for several years before starting his own business in the same building in 1989. Joe moved the business to McMurray about ten years ago, and JAB Jewelry Designs has been in its current McMurray location for about two years. It’s evident that Joe chose the right career. “It’s great to work with your hands,” he said. “I get to work with all these great tools
and lots of cool toys. I think people would be surprised by the equipment and technology used behind the scenes.” In addition to working with his hands, Joe also likes the feedback he gets from his customers, stating, “You can really tell when people love the work!” A big part of JAB Jewelry’s business is diamond and bridal pieces.What sets this company apart is the experience and expertise. When it comes to diamond and engagement ring purchases, their personal service matches the customer with the ideal diamond. Their no pressure approach helps customers sort through their confusion and become more educated, giving them the confidence to make an informed purchase. Then, after the selection of the diamond or other gemstone, comes the fun part, the area where JAB excels: matching it with the perfect mounting. Joe says, “A bride typically spends a lot of time choosing a dress that expresses her individuality. How much more should the ring that symbolizes their love and commitment to each other be exclusive to her? We will take a style or concept and make it special, a perfect fit for her uniqueness or as we say, ‘Simply Original’. Since we do all the design and manufacturing in-house, it is more affordable than most people think when they hear the words ‘custom design’.” Another area where JAB Jewelry Designs makes a statement is recycling old jewelry into something new and exciting. Joe explained that most people have an old piece or two of jewelry that holds sentimental value, but never wear it, often because it isn’t their style. “We love to take old jewelry and redesign it into a piece that our customers will wear and cherish,” said Joe, “especially if it’s jewelry that held meaning for them. Redesigning and refashioning jewelry has been a good niche for us.” Joe and his staff work with each customer to determine their style and what they want their piece to say. This is done by showing them pictures, other pieces of jewelry, and wax models. “We always want to incorporate each person’s ideas into the design, to make a piece that is unique to them,” says Joe. “We want their personality to show in their design, whether it’s modern or more traditional.” After getting a sense of what the customer wants, the designer does a counter sketch. Once the customer approves the concept, the work is priced out and upon approval, a photo-realistic computer rendering or hand carved wax is generated for final approval. “Modern technology gives us the ability to show exactly what a piece will look like before the manufacturing, even showing alternate design elements if needed. From concept to design to manufacturing, it’s all done right here on-site,” said Joe.
“We make jewelry people notice,” says Joe.
Sketch.................Design...................Render....................Wax.....................Casting......Finished Product
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Jeweler staff, left to right, front row: Stephanie Engle, Laura Nalesnik; back row: Angelo Zucca, Art Rivero, Tobin Hrutkay, Joseph Bonasso, Todd O’Farrell
Sales staff, left to right, front row: Mandy Vukich, Sandy Walshak; back row: Christine Powders, Michael Kelley, Karen Bonasso
Jeweler Staff • Joseph Bonasso–Goldsmith/Jeweler/Designer–27 years experience, award-winning designer, graduate Gemologist Gemological Institute of America. • Art Rivero–Master Setter/Jeweler/Designer–34 years as goldsmith/jeweler, award-winning designer, taught jewelry course at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. • Angelo Zucca–Goldsmith/Jeweler—12 years, BFA (Bachelor Fine Arts) Jewelry & Metalsmithing, Indiana University of Pennsylvania. • Tobin Hrutkay–Shop Foreman–27 years as a jeweler. • Laura Nalesnik–Apprentice Goldsmith/Jeweler–two years, BFA Jewelry & Metalsmithing, Rhode Island School of Design. • Stephanie Engle–Apprentice Jeweler–six months, BFA Illustration, University of the Arts. • Todd O’Farrell–Goldsmith /Jeweler–21 years experience, third generation jeweler.
Sales and Office Staff • Michael Kelley–Sales Manager–18 years in fine jewelry sales, DCA Diamond and Gemstone Certified, BA in Business Administration, MBA in Personnel Management and Human Resources, University of Pittsburgh. • Christine Powders-Scott–Office Administrator–11 years in jewelry sales; Joan Michlan Gallery, Movado Watch Company, Saks 5th Avenue, Louis Anthony Jewelers. BFA Edinboro University, undergrad BA University of Pittsburgh. • Sandy Walshak–Sales Associate–36 years working for Bailey Banks & Biddle in many capacities. DCA Certified in Diamonds. • Mandy Vukich–Sales Associate–three years in fine jewelry sales, BFA Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design, Edinboro University of PA.
“We’ve done a lot of varied pieces over the years,” said Joe, “including a commission for the ordination ring for Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt, the Bishop of Greensburg.” A number of their pieces have won awards, but Joe said it’s hard for him to pick a favorite. In addition to their custom design work, JAB Jewelry Designs also carries an array of fine jewelry from diamond intensive pieces and bridal mountings to what Joe calls “fun and fashionable” pieces in silver. Mostly handmade and sticking with the ‘Simply Original’ theme, Joe carries pieces that the customer can’t find locally. While the business bears Joe’s initials, a team of professionals with almost two centuries of expertise is behind the beautiful work at JAB Jewelry Designs: “I have the best staff,” said Joe. “They are all very talented and hard working.” Joe has a great team behind him at home as well. He and his wife, Karen, have four children: Joey, 13; Lily, 11; Benjamin, 9; and Luke, 7. The family has lived in Upper St. Clair for 12 years, choosing to make their home here because of the community and great school district.
In addition to Karen being involved in the business, Joe said that Joey and Lily have already started working for him, doing a good job organizing various items behind the scenes. Joe said his kids, especially Lily and Luke, like “playing with wax” and they have already made a few pieces. While you would think running a successful business and raising four children would leave no free time, Joe is an assistant coach for a USC in-line hockey team and also plays guitar in a contemporary Christian band. Just as there is real substance behind the showroom at JAB Jewelry Designs, for Joe, the driving force in his life is his faith. Joe said the attention to customer service and the high quality of jewelry at JAB is the “why.” “I think what people believe is how they will live.” Moving forward, Joe plans for JAB Jewelry Designs to continue to use the investment in technology and people to provide the highest quality product and service possible. And with his faith, family, and friends, Joe plans to continue to use his gifts and abilities in whatever capacity God has planned. n
JAB Jewelry Designs is located at 3220 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 15317, or call them at 724-941-8300. You can also find them online at jabjewelry.com or follow them on Facebook (JAB Jewelry Designs).
JAB Jewelry Designs Services Diamonds and Gemstones Expert Repair Services Laser Welding Custom Designs Platinum Work Restringing
Winter 2011
Goldsmith Stone Replacement Antique Restoration Engraving Watch Repair Appraisals & Gem Identification
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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Gilfillan’s Gift to You Mary Lynne Spazok
Because of the generosity of Margaret Gilfillan, residents of Upper St. Clair, and distant friends, the USC Historical Society has conserved an impressive and priceless collection of papers, books, photographs, maps, artifacts, antiques, and other historical materials. Weekly, Historical Society president Jean Brown receives many requests for information about USC, especially genealogy. Each request requires extensive manual research of paper files and photographs. Through the use of information technology and the computer, Gilfillan Homestead and Upper St. Clair history will be forever preserved in digital format and accessible regardless of where you live. Anthology management undertakes the organization and storage of vast amounts of data specific to a detailed digital collection or database. Computer science—it’s not just about hardware and software anymore; it’s also about oceans, stars, networks of friends, and history. Sound complex? It is! Fortunately, members of the Historical Society found Carolyn Jones. She is as excited about history as every Pittsburgher is about the Steelers! Saving yesterday for tomorrow, Carolyn is pursuing a career in an academic library environment, which requires her to interact with researchers and students. Carolyn states, “Within my specialization, I explore creative solutions to common challenges at many libraries (public and private) to encourage exploitation of both online and print holdings.” Carolyn is pursuing a master’s degree in Library Science with a specialization in preservation and special collection management as a student at The University of Pittsburgh through the Pitt Partners Program (PPP). This program, sponsored by the faculty of the Library and Information Science Program, provides Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) students the opportunity to pursue their education while gaining related work experience in Pittsburgh-area libraries, archives, cultural, and other types of institutions. The MLIS program partners with various institutions to benefit students by providing work experience through partial tuition scholarships. MLIS benefits from the students’ expertise all the while attracting quality students who covet a work/study opportunity. The PPP supports full-time MLIS students with partial tuition scholarships for three terms based on the number of hours a student works per Gilfillan descendant Jean Brown week while attending classes on campus. In addition to the scholarship, the student may receive an hourly wage/stipend from the partner institution. A student working ten hours per week receives a three-credit tuition scholarship each term, while 20 hours of employment per week earns a six-credit tuition scholarship. An associated hourly wage/stipend is variable and determined and paid by the partner institution—USC Historical Society, for example. 16
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Along with typical research, Carolyn is proficient in creating archival storage containers such as Mylar encapsulations. Encapsulation protects documents from rough treatment and holds fragile items together. Reversible, it does not harm documents with use of heat or adhesives. Book repair includes spines, loose hinges, cover re-attachment, “tipping in” (a method of incorporating loose pages, a detached leaf, replacement page, errata sheet, or other insertion into a bound volume) pages and more. In addition to manipulating physical documents, her experience extends into digital database Metadata. Humans (search engine social browsers) enter a topic and receive a reply, thus exploiting Metadata. From Wikipedia 2011: Metadata (Meta content) is traditionally found in the card catalogs of libraries. As information becomes increasingly digital, metadata is used to describe digital data using metadata standards specific to a particular discipline. By describing the contents and context of data files, the quality of the original data/files is greatly increased. For example, a webpage may include metadata specifying what language it is written in, what tools were used to create it, and where to go for more information on the subject, allowing browsers to improve the user’s experience. Gilfillan will also link into The Historic Pittsburgh Image Collections. This website provides access to over 23,000 visual images of the Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania region selected from over 50 photographic collections held by places, including the Archives Service Center at The University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Art, Chatham University, and Heinz History Center, just to name a few. This wide range of photographs offers a comprehensive and compelling look at how Pittsburghers lived and worked in the 19th and 20th centuries. These images visually document the cultural, educational, and social variations of the greater Pittsburgh region, as well as its vast infrastructure, regional landscapes, and diverse transportation modes. Paramount is Pittsburgh’s vast immigrant workforce, steel industry, education community, and ethnic diversification. The coming year promises to be remarkable for the Upper St. Clair Historical Society with the formal introduction of the Gilfillan Homestead user-friendly website as well as its graphic gift to the Historic Pittsburgh Image Collections. Thanks to the wisdom of Margaret Gilfillan, passion of intern Carolyn Jones, faithful dedication of Jean Brown, and loyal society members, a few computer key strokes and a nanosecond will instantly showcase Gilfillan Farm, a wonderful mainstay of Upper St. Clair. n Intern Carolyn Jones
e r e H m o Fr Everyone Has a Place on the Street Erin Gibson Allen I’m
surprised
when people comment that they’ve read my latest column. I try to be a reliable writer, but I don’t count on catching the eye of busy readers. I am humbled when someone takes the time to read and maybe comment on something I wrote. A response from my last column got me thinking and, I must admit, wiping away a few tears. The column was about how quickly we transition from parents with children selling lemonade to parents shuttling our children off to college or into their first apartment. I recounted how I moved onto my street with two children and how, before I could notice that the leaves had changed color, our 11-year-old babysitter and neighbor was suddenly a young adult and going off to college. The following year, her family left the street and moved to another city. Early this fall, I received the following email from my neighbor: I’m sure you can tell by the subject line of my email that I’ve read your most recent USC TODAY article. I have to admit that I cried. Concerned about what was making me sad, my husband kept asking me what was wrong and all I could do was hand him the magazine to read for himself. How I came to be in possession of the magazine merits mention as well. My dad, in his fatherly desire to keep me connected to USC, has been sending newspaper clippings and other items of interest to keep us up-to-date. He thought I would enjoy the USC TODAY articles about the Veterans Monument and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, not realizing that your column was about our family moving away. I was so touched by your article. For one, to think that the “old neighbors” I was missing so dearly missed me back! Second, because I enjoyed your story of the lemonade stand. I’ll offer a little glimpse of the opposite perspective. I was once that young mom, too. And my goodness yes, the years do fly. I remember the neighbors’ children going off to college, but that was certainly eons away for me. I watched babysitters grow up and go off to college and then I would find the next babysitter on the street until they too would go off to college. Then my kids became the sitters. To my dismay, my children grew up and went off to college, too. This, my friend, is one of the hardest things for a mother to do. It is such a
conflicting moment. You have encouraged them to dream, and watch proudly as they succeed, and then you are hit with the overwhelming sadness that they are leaving and nothing will ever be the same. And then, an even bigger challenge presents itself—the concept of moving to a new town. Picking up roots, and replanting in an unknown place. I approached the challenge with all the bravado of a fearless matador. Leaving our street was very hard. The first few nights in our new home I would close my eyes at bedtime and in my mind walk room to room as if I were in our old house, as if nothing had changed. As we got settled into our new home, I would watch all the young kids on the street and think, “Oh my gosh, we are going to be so much older than all the other parents.” The young mother across the street came to welcome us with a cake and her three beautiful daughters, the youngest still a baby on her hip. Next door to them were two cute little towheaded boys who can often be seen shooting baskets and riding their bikes. And then we met our next-door neighbor, Karen. She laughed when I said I thought it was all young kids on the street and I would be the “old mom.” Turns out that there are many teenagers and college kids on the street, they just aren’t out in all their “cuteness” playing in the street. In fact, we have a very fun group of neighbors, just like we did on our old street. And so we approach things based on our needs at the current time. I just returned “home” to our new city this past weekend from a week abroad with my daughter. We had an absolutely wonderful week together. One particularly poignant moment came when we were touring Glamis Castle (the setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth and reportedly one of the most haunted castles in Scotland!). The docent went around the room and asked where everyone was from. My daughter and I had become separated at this point and were standing in different parts of the room. When my daughter was asked where she was from, she said “Pittsburgh” and when the docent got to me, as unnatural as it was, I laid claim to my new city. The docent said, “Oh I thought you and Pittsburgh were together. We grinned and said, “We are!” And so there I had it—my daughter will always be “from Pittsburgh” and I will
learn to be from my new part of the country. And so my story ends just as ironically as it began. This summer, a group of young kids around the street corner were having a big lemonade stand. I was struck by the fact that it was a fundraiser for a team I was not familiar with, by a bunch of kids I have not gotten to know yet. I resolved I would get to know these kids and their teams, and I would become friends with their parents, my new neighbors. I wave to my new neighbors when walking the dog, and I try very hard to remember all of their names. We look for familiar faces at the high school football games. It will take a while, but we’ll get there, and if we have to move again, I am sure of one thing. There will be more lemonade stands! Aside from the bittersweet feeling of missing a friend, from this email I came away with three ideas. One. No matter how old our children are, everyone has a place on the street and a role to play in the success of the street lemonade stand. Two. We have something to learn from those who move away. Courage and optimism, apparently, are essential. Three. A child raised mostly in Pittsburgh is always from Pittsburgh. The community follows our young adults around like a sticky paper napkin on a hot summer day. n
For many, the Reid family will always be “From Here.”
I’d like to hear your thoughts on contemporary parenting in Upper St. Clair. Please share your ideas about my column with me in person, or email your thoughts to me at eallen@uscsd.k12.pa.us. Let me know if, like me, you’re from here. Winter 2011
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Two Greats— Armon Gilliam and Sean Casey Story and photos by Jim O’Brien
I had never considered Armon Gilliam and Sean Casey in the same sentence or the same breath. They were two of Pittsburgh’s highest-paid professional athletes in history and they played at neighboring high schools in Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair, respectively, and I followed their careers from their teen years until their retirement years. It wasn’t until a chance meeting with Sean Casey’s parents, Jim and Joan, on a Sunday morning in early May at breakfast at the Eat’n Park Restaurant at South Hills Village that I learned of the link they shared. The Upper St. Clair Township Library also figures in this story. “They were both unheralded as high school athletes and no one was after them to offer them scholarships,” said Jim Casey. “They both surprised everyone by their successes in sports.” “I thought Sean had a partial scholarship at Richmond,” I told his parents. “Yes, for $1000 a year,” Joan Casey came back. And Richmond is a pricey school. Tuition, room, and board came to about $20,000 a year at the time. Sean Casey picked up a full scholarship for his junior and senior years. “But he was rich even then,” I said. “He has always had that great personality. And he and Armon were both nice guys,” I added. “They were two of my favorite ballplayers. They were always eager to talk with me whenever we met. You and Armon’s parents both did a great job raising your boys.” Armon Gilliam, who changed the spelling of his name to Armen when he was playing in the NBA, played a little football and wrestled when he was in middle school in Bethel Park. He did not make the basketball team until his junior year in high school. He was not offered a single scholarship upon graduation. So he went to junior college in Independence, Kansas, and from there to the University of Las Vegas, where he developed into an All-American performer for Jerry Tarkanian’s nationally-ranked Rebels. He was the second player picked in the 1987 draft by the Phoenix Suns right after the San Antonio Spurs selected David Robinson of the U.S. Naval Academy. Gilliam, a 6-9, 235-pound power forward, played 13 seasons in the NBA and averaged 13.7 points and 6.9 rebounds in his career. He was always respected for his work ethic and the way he carried himself. He was popular in every clubhouse. He was such a big man, yet I was always amazed by how he could walk into a restaurant or a library in his hometown and nobody would notice him. He could stroll the aisle at Giant Eagle in Bethel Park and go unrecognized. He was one of the least known big-time athletes in town. In early May, he collapsed after playing in a pickup basketball game at LA Fitness near Bridgeville and was pronounced dead that evening at St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon. He was only 47 years old.
Sean Casey was all smiles when the All-Star Game was played in Pittsburgh in 2000.
I remember seeing Armon play in pickup games through the years, most recently against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a fundraiser at Bethel Park High School. I remember when his father, James T. Gilliam, worked as a front counter clerk at the post office just across the street from the hospital where his son was taken. I had written about his father when I was 14 and the sports editor of The Hazelwood Envoy. James T. Gilliam won the heavyweight title of the Pittsburgh and New York Golden Gloves Tournaments back in the mid-50s. He fought for the Glen-Hazel Boys Club during a span when they won the Golden Gloves team title 11 of 12 years. They also had a champion bantamweight called Jimmy Gilliam. Eugene Tippett of Homestead was a star boxer on that team. The Rev. James T. Gilliam, now 80, is the pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Library and has long retired from the post office. Armon provided funding for many projects at his father’s church through the years. Armon got his size and strength from his father, and his determination and spirit from his mother, Alma. They are great people. “I didn’t know that,” said Jim Casey when I told him about Armon’s father. “I’ve read where Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates is the son of a minister in Florida. I think kids whose dads are ministers have their heads screwed on straight.” Some do, and some don’t. Joe Gilliam, the gifted quarterback of the Steelers in the early 70s, would be an example of a minister’s son who walked on the wrong side of the street, ruining his career with illegal drug use. Surely, Armon Gilliam walked the talk offered by his dad in his Sunday sermons. Armon Gilliam was no relation to Joe Gilliam. I got to know Armon over the past dozen years. I had interviewed him for a book called Hometown Heroes in the same seating area at that Eat’n Park Restaurant in South Hills Village back in 1998. I had met with him in that restaurant and at the Upper St. Clair Library over the last five years to critique his writing. He had expressed a desire to do some writing and wanted my help. He was always easy company. Armon Gilliam was ambitious, but in subtle ways. He moved to the beat of his own drummer, and it was a relaxed beat. He went back to school and got his business degree, something too few professional athletes ever do. He coached for a few seasons at the McKeesport campus of Penn State University. He conducted clinics at Ringgold High School. He was a bit of a Renaissance man. He played the bass guitar and the saxophone, and sang at
Armon Gilliam was ambitious, but in subtle ways.
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his father’s church. He spoke with a soft voice and there was a smile in his bright eyes. My daughter, Sarah, is the same age as Sean Casey—37. They were classmates at Upper St. Clair High School. Sarah attended the University of Virginia when Sean was an hour’s drive away at the University of Richmond. Every time I see Sean Casey, he is quick to ask, “How’s Sarah?” “Sean always liked Sarah,” said Jim Casey on two occasions during our breakfast meeting. We met completely by chance. We were seated at a table near the rear of the Eat’n Park Restaurant this past Sunday morning after we’d come from church, and the Caseys were seated next to us. They had their six-year-old granddaughter, Carli, with them. Carli is one of four children of Mandi and Sean Casey. I remarked that there is a photo of Carli’s dad, when he was eight years old and wearing a baseball uniform, that is in my book, Glory Years, a sequel to Hometown Heroes, in which they strongly resemble one another. “She looks just like him,” agreed Joan Casey. They said Sean had caught an airplane from Pittsburgh that day to fly to Phoenix for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, returning Thursday to Pittsburgh, where he makes his home. The senior Caseys are happy to live so close to their son and grandchildren. Sean works for the Major League Baseball Network as a studio analyst. He also does a show called “The Mayor’s Office.” When Sean was playing for the Cincinnati Reds, he was the most popular player on the team and came by the nickname “The Mayor.” He was voted “the most popular player in baseball” in a poll of players by Sports Illustrated. I mentioned to the Caseys that Branch Rickey, the GM of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates in the 50s, once remarked that Donora’s Stan Musial was “the most liked player in baseball.” “And they’re both from this area,” Jim Casey said of Sean Casey and Stan Musial. When Armon Gilliam was an All-American at UNLV he came by the nickname of “The Hammer” because of his physical play under the boards. His coach, Jerry “Tark the Shark” Tarkanian, was shocked to hear the news of Armon’s premature death. “He was such a great person,” said Tarkanian. “Everybody loved him and he loved everybody. He was a people person and such a caring guy. He would give you the shirt off his back.”
Curiously, early medical reports indicate Gilliam died with an extremely enlarged heart. Jim Casey asked me if I had seen Gene Collier’s story in the Post-Gazette that morning about the All-Star Game. I had not, but I ventured that it said the All-Star Game was a waste of time. When I got home I checked out the column and, sure enough, Collier confessed that he hated the Baseball All-Star Game when he was seven years old, and he still hates it at 57. I was not surprised. Collier is an outstanding writer, a clever wordsmith with a droll sense of humor, but I have never understood why he is a sportswriter. Collier doesn’t seem to care much for sports. Several of the New York Yankees, including Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Mariano Rivera, called in sick for this year’s AllStar Game, saying they wanted to heal their hurts for the second half of the season. Sean Casey played in three All-Star Games and thought he was the luckiest man on earth to be so honored. I remember seeing Sean Casey carrying a portable TV camera with him in the dugout, clubhouse, and on the field when he participated in the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park in Boston. “He was so excited to see Ted Williams,” recalled his father. I checked out the chapter I wrote on Sean Casey to see what he had said about that All-Star Game experience. I prefer his take on the game to what Gene Collier wrote. When I was working for big city dailies, I always loved going to All-Star Games because, simply enough, the game’s greatest players, past and present, would be there. Everybody who was anybody in the sport was there. I wanted to be in their company; I wanted to interview them and write stories about them. You could fill up a notebook with stories. “I felt like I had just won a contest,” Sean Casey commented about playing in the 1999 All-Star Game. “It’s a time I’ll never forget. Being ten feet away from Mark McGwire, when he was Continued on page 20
Armon Gilliam stands outside Eat’n Park Restaurant at South Hills Village Alma and James T. Gilliam at their home on Elm Street in Bethel Park Winter 2011
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Continued from page 19
smashing the ball out of the park in the home run derby. It was League Field in Upper St. Clair to enable mentally and physically the end of the century, and it was the greatest experience I’d ever challenged youngsters to play baseball. He [Sean] said his parents were always positive. They were alhad in my life.” “My dad is big on history, so I learned a lot about baseball at an ways behind him. His dad didn’t feel so hot this particular Sunday early age. I always thought to appreciate the game today you had to morning. He told us he had been in St. Clair Hospital for three know about the game before. I know there were a lot of guys who days during the week with a bout with pneumonia. He was there, got this going, who paid their dues and set the standards for the though he didn’t know it, when they brought Armon Gilliam to rest of us to live and play by. I always thought I had an obligation the emergency room. to learn the history of the game,” continued Sean. Jim Casey had collapsed and passed out on the kitchen floor of their home. He pointed to a “So I knew about Stan Sean is giving back to his community, as well. This year small divot in his forehead Musial and Warren Spahn where he had struck the and Pete Rose, and it was he provided the seed money and the leadership to build a special to see them close up. Miracle League Field in Upper St. Clair to enable mentally floor. “That’s what he has to show for it,” said Joan I saw Rollie Fingers, Nolan and physically challenged youngsters to play baseball. Casey. Ryan, and Johnny Bench. “I still feel a little tired,” said Jim Casey. All those legends. I got chills. When Ted Williams came out in the The previous time I had seen Jim Casey he was checking out golf cart, I got the ultimate chill. The history of the sport was right the newspapers and magazines at the Upper St. Clair Library. “I’m there on the field. It was a most amazing experience.” retired now and I have time to do this,” he told me that day. “I I wish Gene Collier could feel that way. There weren’t many observers who saw Sean Casey as a future didn’t realize they had so much at this library. It’s really great.” He was as excited as his son at an All-Star Game. major league baseball player when he was in his teens. “I know I had a special gift,” Sean Casey confided to me. “I That’s also the last place where I saw and spoke to Armon thank God for that every day. I read a statistic that only six to Gilliam. “I’m still working at my writing,” he told me that day, seven percent of professional baseball players ever make it to the just a few months ago. “I’ve gotten some of my writing published. big leagues, and only four percent make a career of it. I realized I’d like to do more.” n my goal of making it a career. I’m still involved in major league Pittsburgh sports author Jim O’Brien has written 20 books in his baseball.” “Pittsburgh Proud” series that are available at area bookstores. His website Sean is giving back to his community, as well. This year he is www.jimobriensportsauthor.com. provided the seed money and the leadership to build a Miracle 20
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Holiday Doors of Springfield The development of Springfield Commons, located across from South Hills Village and just off Route 19, is edged on one side by the natural landscape of the Gilfillan Homestead. It is especially convenient to education and leisure amenities in Upper St. Clair. A development that began in the 70s, each home boasts individuality with a myriad of traditional and modern architecture. Springfield residents embrace their neighborhood and decorate their doors in celebration of the winter season.
Do You Believe? Bah! Humbug! I say, this Christmas Eve For I am that one boy who does not believe. I’m eleven years old, I know what it’s about I’ve come of age, I can figure things out. Sure, I’ve sent my letter to good ole Saint Nick I won’t tell my brother, that’s too mean a trick! I’ll allow him sweet dreams tonight in his head While I toss and turn in my own big boy’s bed. How foolish it is to imagine such a sight As a Santa with reindeer and sleigh in the night, Alighting rooftops, all covered with snow Then with a big sack, down the chimney he’ll go. Ha! Ha! I do laugh, Do they think I’m a fool? I sure don’t believe, let the little ones drool. Suddenly, from up above, there was such a clamor I had goose bumps galore, and my heart it did hammer. It can’t be, it can’t be, it must all be a dream Have I been the dumb one? I asked with a scream. I jumped out of bed, I stood straight and tall Then I ran through the doorway and out in the hall. I descended the staircase at such a quick pace Then I glued both my eyes on that old fireplace. Through the ashes and soot, someone came into sight A jolly round man with a beard fluffy white. This just cannot be. He is not really here. I stood there and watched with a heart full of fear. He began placing some packages under the tree For my parents, my brother, but none were for me. He filled only three stockings; mine he left bare. How can he do this, does he think I don’t care? Then I recalled who it was that did not believe In the magic that happens on each Christmas Eve. I fell down on my knees and started to pray, Santa Claus, Santa Claus please don’t go away. I believe, I believe in each thing that is true. Give me one more chance, I will always love you! He had finished his task and was ready to go. Then he stopped in his tracks, why I don’t know. He left three more boxes, filled my sock to the brim, It was then that I knew how I trusted in him. He gave a nod of his head, as if he did agree Then he started his climb, back up the chimney. I rushed off to the window and I heard him say Merry Christmas Johnny, a merry Christmas today! —Jay Walsh, retired Eisenhower Elementary custodian Winter 2011
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First Place, 2010 “Where the Locals Eat,” a survey of the readers of Bon Appétit and Gourmet Magazine • First Place, Reader’s Vote: AOL City Guide Post-Gazette Tribune-Review South Hills Record City Paper
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Lunch ’til 4 • Dinners • Open Late • Bar • Sandwiches • Open 7 Days HOLIDAY PARTY TRAYS and GIFT CARDS available
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660 Washington Rd. Mt. Lebanon
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Winter 2011
Amel’s Restaurant, McNeilly Road AmelsRestaurant.net
a Time for Giving
We’re raising the steaks.
www.bisteccapittsburgh.com Bisteccapittsburgh Please call 724.503.1510 to make a reservation.
Warm Holiday Wishes from Your Neighborhood Cafe
Delicious Fruit Design® with dipped apples
412-563-2425
250 Mt. Lebanon Blvd. Suite E-40 Pittsburgh, PA 15234
412-489-6234
6506 Steubenville Pike Pittsburgh, PA 15205 EdibleArrangements.com
Dinner Served Monday–Saturday 5 p.m.–10 p.m. Reservations Suggested See our full menu at www.cafegeorgio.com
24 Donati Road • 412-833-7000
©2010 Edible Arrangements, LLC. Containers may vary. Delivery not available in all areas. Available in a variety of sizes. Franchises available call 1-888-727-4258 or visit eafranchise.com
Winter 2011
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Holidays... a Time for Giving Pearls Redefined Amie Guarino
Pearls have often been associated with classic styling. Once predictable and sensible, pearl jewelry has experienced one of the most daring and refreshing metamorphoses in jewelry history. Once relegated to debutante balls and country club socials, pearls are getting a fresh start in everyday wear and high fashion looks. Historically, saltwater pearls were highly coveted over freshwater varieties. Known for their unique satiny luster, and large size, highly desirable saltwater pearls are harvested in areas of the Pacific and Indian oceans. South Sea and Akoya varieties are considered the finest. While their beauty and rarity proves this to be true, the lengthy cultivation process and small volume production limits availability to a broader audience. Advances in the cultivation of freshwater pearls have given way to their popularity. Producers are able to supply a high quality and affordable product that packs a punch in the looks department. Freshwater pearls can be harvested without sacrificing quality and are often of the baroque variety. Baroque pearls are irregular in shape and larger varieties make stunning statements in rings and necklaces. Most highly desired are the white and natural colors, however freshwater pearls in shades of grey and even trendy metallic tones are breathing new life into traditional jewelry. Some refreshing and modern twists this season include freshwater pearl tassel necklaces, baroque pearl statement rings, and long strands of pearls accented with diamond beads. Ultimately, the value and appeal of fine quality freshwater pearls is undeniable. New applications and contemporary styling are sure to excite any jewelry enthusiast or maybe even the pearl See inside front cover for Louis Anthony Jewelers ad. jewelry skeptic alike! n
Luminaria—A Local Tradition In Upper St. Clair, the luminaria program is organized by the USC Band Parents as a fundraiser to benefit the USC music department students. This year, the band parents and students will assemble the kits December 8-9 and deliver them to residents on December 10. Become part of the tradition this year! To order your luminaria kits, including 12 candles, bags, and sand, visit the USC Band Parents website, www.uscbpa.org, and order online using PayPal or a credit card or complete and mail the order form below. For more information, call Rich McCormick at 412-831-3947. n Luminaria Kit Order Form Name: _______________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________ Zip: ____________ Phone: _ ____________________________________________ # of kits: __________ x $10/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 24
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Give Your Grandchildren the Gift of Life Cindy Brophy, State Farm® Agent
When trying to choose the right gift for your grandchild, you can have a tough time sifting through the newest trends and fads. Last week it was this pop star, next week it may be a new cartoon character. On top of that, you don’t want to get something that won’t last ten minutes out of the package. One gift that will last for many years is a life insurance policy. There are a number of reasons why it can be an excellent gift for your grandchild. • Affordability. The younger the child’s age, the lower the premiums. • Protection. Illness or injury may affect a child’s ability to purchase life insurance coverage later in life. Coverage purchased now will continue to provide protection, even if a child’s health changes, provided premiums are paid as required by the policy. • Financial security. Life insurance can be the foundation for a strong financial plan. The child may be able to borrow against the accumulated cash value (with interest charged) to pay for future expenses. While loans decrease death benefits and cash surrender values, the proceeds can be used for important expenses, including college education or the purchase of a home. Giving a gift of life insurance to your grandchild can be one of the most significant things you do during your lifetime. He or she may not understand at the time how important the gift is, but he or she will grow to appreciate it in the future. Take the guesswork out of your gift shopping! Life insurance is a gift that will last a lifetime. See ad for Cindy Brophy, State Farm® agent, on page 46.
Upper St. Clair’s Kitchen & Bath Design Center
In this economy, an investment in your home is one of the safest investments you can make. Whether you plan to live in your home long term or are planning to sell your home within the next 5 years, a new kitchen and bath can offer a 30% return on your investment. Premier Home Design Center offers expertise and products designed to fit your budget. Call Premier now for an excellent return on your biggest investment. Design & Planning Services • A Merillat Signature Showroom • Consultations by appointment 412-276-5650
Collier Town Square, 1597 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, PA 15017 • 412-276-5650 email: premierkitchenandbath@verizon.net www.premierhomedesigncenter.com PA054993
Dedicated Professional Skilled Negotiator Frankie Jo Kunselman —Realtor®—
Upper St. Clair Resident
412.833.3600 ext.222 Cell: 412.551.1161 Office:
Email: frankiejokunselman@howardhanna.com
Howard Hanna - USC Office 180 Fort Couch Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241
Winter 2011
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Lights, Candles, Action! Ron Ron Sarrick, Sarrick, Mary Mary Lynne Lynne Spazok Spazok
Take action this holiday season when it comes to iridescent interior and sparkling landscape lighting. USC’s Ron Sarrick, Superintendent of Building Operations and Sustainability, has attempted to convert me to LED lights. However he is unsuccessful for the following reason: I have a cache of string and single incandescent legacy lights. What are legacy lights? Leftover lights are inherited or they purposefully gravitate to my shopping cart at the holiday’s halfoff sales. It is an addiction, and I just can’t help myself. I cannot bear to let go of the past or send these light strings to a landfill when they remain perfectly good. Further, the mixing of 2011 supernovas with “A Christmas Story” lights is like wearing plaids and stripes at the same time! However, to help conserve I do make use of interior and exterior timers as well as window candles with dusk to dawn sensors. Lighting the night with a string of 35 whites on an indoor artificial topiary (definitely, a decorator faux pas!) is so cheery. Can anyone justify LED’s worth and defend the cost before incandescent is off store shelves forever? Let us consider Ron’s provocative challenge. At this writing, a refreshing sunrise chill is exhilarating. My early morning routine led me to the computer and an email from my friend, Mary Lynne Spazok. “Please tell me why I should give up my seasonal legacy lighting for LEDs,” she challenged. Well MLS, there are some very good reasons for you to take the leap. However, I must set the mood for this 180 degree temperature swing as soon as I crank up the AC to get into the celebratory holiday spirit. My pitch is simple: conserve energy. But for a moment, forget about squandered energy. In 2011, how many of you have the “dinosaur” bubbler lights? Not too many, I suspect. They are the elite accent for making any tree majestic, but are dreadfully dangerous with the risk of burns and overloaded electrical circuits. Old school seasonal lighting is of the colored and white variety with the mini screw base. These energy hogs consume five or seven watts per bulb. They burn hot and can cause structure fires. A wise replacement, the mini incandescent, offers low wattage, is economical, and avoids overheating and fire potential. The disadvantage is that sections of lights on the string go out when a bulb fails. This initiates a time consuming effort of trial and error bulb swapping. Frustrated, you give in and purchase new lights… matching style to keep “the look” consistent. You have just set yourself up for the same outcome going forward. Yes, you do have a wiser choice! Save money, time, and aggravation; purchase LEDs from the onset when one bulb goes out on your current string of lights.
LED technology benefits include:
Durability Extended service Energy efficient low wattage Personal energy and travel time diminished Less power to operate, can be “daisy chained” Longer life expectancy than incandescent lighting “Green,” consumes the least amount of power Eliminates tripping circuits, excess heating of the wire
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While you will pay more for these newly found treasures, all things considered, you will be further ahead down the road on dollars spent per watt. Here at USC Township, as we continue to feature seasonal displays, we get closer to circuit overload. This season, the dazzling deer on the front lawn boast LEDs. Failed incandescent strings were impossible to keep up with. Year after year, extra sets of wire and lights were amassed to accommodate burn-outs. Out of control, the beloved deer were gaining weight with all the additions. LEDs were the solution. The deer are back to their svelte selves and happy to have shed the extra pounds! String lights aren’t just for Christmas anymore! Find the perfect lights for numerous occasions at Miller’s Ace Hardware store in neighboring Bethel Park. One-stop Ron Sarrick tends to the Township’s deer shopping for electrical must haves, this store showcases a cosmic collection. Assistant manager Eric Hladis inventories conventional string lights for as little as $1.99 a package, while LEDs, which are a bit pricier, are rising in popularity. Eric states, “LEDs glow has improved significantly. Color change LEDs enrich a decorating scheme, inside or out. Further, rather than a max of three conventional strings, they allow for more than 20 connections. As the holidays near, patrons have preferences, but when challenged with our sizeable selection, questions abound. Can I blend traditional and LEDs? Is there a long-term cost savings? Our competent staff guides consumers through the vast array of innovative illumination. ReManager Eric Hladis of Miller’s Ace Hardware member, LED warm white is the color of traditional truer white.” So inventory, strategize, and then visit Miller’s for a stress free “enlightening” experience! While electrics are effortless, everyone appreciates a wax candle that embodies holiday spirit! Fung Shui is cozying up to the fireplace, eggnog in hand, trilling about your favorite things! From the turkey to the tree, nothing delights the sense of smell more than a candle’s scent of apple cider, mint chocolate, or pumpkin pie spice. Through the centuries, candles have been offered as gifts to ward off darkness. Historically, their first use was during the Roman jubilee of Saturnalia. Tall tapers of light were offered honoring planet Saturn, the Roman God of Agriculture. Contrasting, pagans’ candlelight and bonfires bid farewell to the past by
lighting the way to a new cycle of seasons. As Christianity grew, candles were placed in windows to guide the Christ Child on Christmas eve. In the early 1700s, America became a journey’s end for freedom; immigrants trekked the wide open spaces of the western frontier. In those homesteading times, distant dwellings welcomed travelers with a solitary (tallow or beeswax) candle aglow in the window. Through the swirl of a blinding storm, that faint glimpse of hope spared many lives. Later, during Victorian times, merchants and tradesmen would gift pine-oil perfumed tapers, tied together with vibrant ribbon, as favors to loyal patrons. Lit upon a Christmas tree, tapers symbolized the Star of Wonder (an angel sent by God to lead the Magi to the Christ Child). Candle therapy has been practiced for centuries, harmonizing ones power of mind, body, and spirit. Soy wax is the healthier wax alternative as it not only burns cleaner, but slower, too! A soy candle burns up to twice as long, while its “scent throw” radiates a clean, vibrant aroma. You may be disturbed about this next point, but it’s been noted that paraffin wax initiates headaches not from the scent itself, but from certain chemicals (petroleum derivatives) that burning paraffin emits. In 2011, support American farmers and our own economy! Purchase soy candles created from soy beans grown in the United States. These candles are more cost effective than paraffin not only in quality, but quantity, too. Foreign, cut-rate paraffin candles benefit big business. Detrimental to one’s health, the main concern with paraffin wax is that its properties are derived from crude oil. Cheap metal (zinc) core wicks are pollutants as well. The EPA has determined that, in general, interior air is three times more polluted than the air outside. The burning of paraffin contributes substantially to the decline of indoor air quality with emissions that irritate the lungs and can trigger asthma attacks. Another alternative is the all-natural beeswax candle. Casting a brighter flame, these candles exude sunshine. It is a wellestablished fact that burning beeswax emits natural negative ions into the air which clean the air and invigorate the body. Beeswax draws its color and aroma from the honey and pollen packed into each honeycomb cell. The hand poured candles’ color variations depend largely on the floral pollination source. Quality candles will vary in color, assuring that 100% beeswax is never chemically treated or bleached. Soy or beeswax, continue a healthy tradition and delight in the candle’s hues, aromas, and radiance by adding a touch of magic year round. Window “welcome” candles, battery or electric, are complementary to flame candles. Showcasing a peaceful, elegant aura, traditional style homes bypass strings of holiday lights for a single glorious candle twinkling from every window. Have you wondered, “What is the meaning behind these window candles?” Although they may characterize a family that loves the aura of simplicity and refinement, for others the significance is much deeper—it guides the Biblical Mary and Joseph. A secular offering of hospitality invites weary travelers to come in where there is room at the hearth. During wartime, both Soy, electric, beeswax, battery
then and now, this beacon of hope, the humble window candle, is a guide and promise kept lit until loved ones return home safely. Electric, battery, or natural wax candles are choices that we have. Whether your reason is rooted in history, security, or you simply “like the look,” not having an electrical outlet close to a window or door is vexing. Ron clarifies that a battery operated candle is a sensible alternative and a “green” decision. Consider this: Are your batteries sustainable? You may be surprised to know that primary dry cell batteries are a “one shot power source”—not eco-friendly. Unlike rechargeable batteries, a steady stream of cheaper, less powerful units lose their energy quickly (depending on the application) where the end of the journey is a landfill. We thrive in a mobile society. Consider flashlights, calculators, remote controls, clocks, and a host of others that use the AA, AAA, C, D, or 9-volt battery for a single energy source. This little cell has been the ticket to some of our favorite forms of portable entertainment and added convenience touching every level of our lives. It is also economical to want the best value for a hard earned dollar. According to the Tribune Review, May 5, 2011, the best battery value of all the primary cell or disposable batteries is the alkaline. It packs more punch and lasts much longer. The study, as printed, found that all alkaline cells performed measurably equal, no matter which brand, including generic. ConsumerSearch.com reinforces this finding, adding a marginal edge for Duracell. The term “heavy duty” can be confusing. These cells are actually a zinc-carbon upgrade from the now defunct zinc-oxide cell, which often leaked. Its potential energy is a bit better than the standard battery, but much less than the alkaline. Look to the alkaline to get the best bang for your buck. There is one more consideration when battery shopping— secondary cell or “the rechargeable.” This improved cell is now easily charged in about an hour. These units work with the rechargeable AA, AAA, C, D, and 9-volt battery. Intrigued? Visit the Internet and type “disposable vs. rechargeable batteries.” Many sites will reveal relevant pros and cons. Recycling is a hot button issue. It is a matter to consider since there are chemicals in all batteries, some more toxic than others. Today, all categories of batteries should be salvaged because it is prudent and environmentally beneficial. The key to less waste is through recycling and purchasing longer life batteries. So, the next time that portable device needs repowered, your dollar can go farther by selecting the best grade battery. Moving towards 2012, the radiance of festive lights and window candles, bestowing guiding lights of consolation, inspiration, and peace of mind, can also be energy wise. n
Be Safe with Candles Accidental candle fires account for approximately four percent of U.S. residential fires. There’s a special beauty and tranquility in burning candles, but an open flame lighted candle is a potential fire hazard if not carefully monitored. The National Candle Association urges consumers to follow these three basic rules of fire safety: • Never leave a burning candle unattended. • Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. • Never burn a candle on or near anything flammable. Winter 2011
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SD Upper St. Clair School District Board of School Directors
Harry F. Kunselman President 412-851-1115 2013*
Bruce L. Kerman 412-221-5407 2013*
Rebecca A. Stern Vice President 412-220-0745 2011*
Louis P. Mafrice, Jr. 412-851-0622 2013*
Amy L. Billerbeck 412-833-2712 2011*
Angela B. Petersen 412-831-7182 2011*
*Date indicates expiration of term.
Barbara L. Bolas 412-833-9841 2011*
Louis A. Piconi 412-831-1880 2011*
Frank J. Kerber 412-833-4873 2013*
The 2011-12 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.
School District Detailed Monthly Calendar Visit www.uscsd.k12.pa.us. School District Central Office Administration
To reach personnel, call 412-833-1600, press 1, enter extension number followed by the # sign. Administrator
Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Sharon Suritsky Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction/ Supervisor of Special Education
Dr. Judy Bulazo Director of Literacy, Assessment, and Professional Development
Dr. John Bornyas Director of Operations, Community Relations and Special Projects
Frosina Cordisco Director of Finance and Business
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 / Assistant Superintendent for Cheryl Elison........................2218 / 2116 Curriculum and Instruction/ dfaccenda@uscsd.k12.pa.us Supervisor of Special Education cellison@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. John Bornyas........................................ Karen Huckestein.............................2204 Director of Operations, Community khuckestein@uscsd.k12.pa.us Relations and Special Projects Dr. Judy Bulazo.......................................... Donna Faccenda..............................2218 Director of Literacy, Assessment, dfaccenda@uscsd.k12.pa.us and Professional Development Frosina Cordisco........................................ Dawn Machi.....................................2220 Director of Finance and Business dmachi@uscsd.k12.pa.us Liz Hall........................................................ Tiffany Suryand...............................2286 Director of Advancement lhall@uscsd.k12.pa.us Ray Berrott.................................................. Doreen Leech....................................2211 Director of Technology dleech@uscsd.k12.pa.us Eloise Stoehr............................................... Susan Bosco.....................................2283 Supervisor of Pupil Personnel sbosco@uscsd.k12.pa.us Chuck Samek, Matthews Bus Company . .. Karen Powers...................................3450 Transportation Manager kpowers@uscsd.k12.pa.us School District Building Administration
Liz Hall Director of Advancement
Ray Berrott Director of Technology
Eloise Stoehr Supervisor of Pupil Personnel
Dr. Michael Ghilani ............ Principal of the High School Lou Angelo............................ Assistant Principal of High School Jace Palmer........................... Assistant Principal of High School Dr. William Rullo ............... Supervisor of High School Guidance Joseph DeMar . .................... Principal of Fort Couch Middle School John Rozzo............................ Assistant Principal of Fort Couch Middle School Karen Brown ....................... Principal of Boyce Middle School Mark Miller ......................... Acting Principal of Baker Elementary School Mark Miller ......................... Principal of Eisenhower Elementary School Dr. Claire Miller .................. Principal of Streams Elementary School
USC School District website: www.uscsd.k12.pa.us 28
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SD
Director of Advancement Named
On May 9, 2011, the Board of School Directors of Upper St. Clair selected Liz Hall as the new Director of Advancement for the District, an important component to the District’s goals and strategies. Earlier in the 2010-11 school year, the District Advancement Function was established to develop and implement a Strategic Advancement Plan that assesses the District’s assets and needs that would include, but not be limited to: 1. investigating and optimizing sources of revenue, 2. engaging and coordinating with the District’s volunteer groups such as alumni, PTA, PTSO, and booster organizations, 3. managing public affairs, 4. formalizing the partnership with the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair, 5. seeking business opportunities and relationships that support the District’s short- and long-term goals, and, 6. maintaining accountability and compliance standards for Advancement activities. The goals of the Advancement Function are to enhance the District’s goal of financial independence; expand revenues to minimize the adverse effect of current fluctuating funding from local,
state, and federal sources; create new funding sources; establish effective coordination of volunteer groups and their efforts; expand efforts in the area of grant and funding opportunities; increase public affairs activities; increase viable partnerships; and foster a culture of philanthropy within and toward the District. The Upper St. Clair School District has been named the number one school district in Pennsylvania for the sixth consecutive year. Administrators and School Board members are committed to maintaining a world-class public education in Upper St. Clair. The short-term goals of the new Director of Advancement include planning a successful inaugural fundraising event in partnership with the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair, securing corporate sponsors for the scoreboard signs in the High School stadium, working with administrators, teachers, and curriculum leaders to submit competitive grant applications, and establishing an internal Advancement Committee to review and prioritize opportunities. Because her position is new, Liz stated that her role in the School District is evolving and will continue to evolve as new initiatives are explored. Contact Liz with suggestions or ideas at 412-833-1600, ext. 2826 or lhall@uscsd.k12.pa.us. n
Meet Liz Hall
Liz Hall has a long-standing
relationship with the Upper St. Clair School District. Raised on Warwick Drive as one of five children of Margaret and Tom Whyte, Liz was a 1987 graduate of Upper St. Clair High School. After attending the University of Richmond where she majored in journalism and communications, Liz worked for close to ten years on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC for Congressman Alan Mollohan (D-WV). She began her career as a specialist on the Federal Budget and Appropriations processes and spent the last three years of her tenure as the Congressman’s Chief of Staff.
In 1998, Liz married Mt. Lebanon native David Hall and moved home to Pittsburgh where she started her own consulting company to assist non-profit organizations. The couple now resides on Engelwood Drive with their three children, Katy (11), Buddy (9), and Lexi (8). Liz is a past-president of the Upper St. Clair PTA Council and she and Dave are both actively involved with Casey’s Clubhouse and that organization’s efforts to bring a Miracle League Field to Upper St. Clair. n
Liz Hall
Welcome to USC School District’s new hires for the 2011-12 school year:
Thank you to the following District retirees for their years of service:
Professional: Benjamin Edwards (USCHS), Yasmina Hough (Fort Couch), Juliana Lamantia (Fort Couch), Anne Rose (USCHS), Sarah Smith (Fort Couch) Classified: Leo Rudge (USCHS), Robert West (Boyce)
Administrative: Ruth Ann Matyuf, Lee Schaffer Professional: Bernard O’Brien, Deborah Ford, Nancy Groff, Janis Kapadia, Joyce Pratt, David Silvers, Virginia Zemaitis Classified: Joyce Bartolomo, Carole Beltz, Ron Cline, Ronald Crum, Mary Gates, Rori Howard, Janet Jones, Kathryn Robinson, David Shelpman, Carol Shewan
Hail
Farewell Winter 2011
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SD
New Teachers— Well Prepared for USC Culture and Expectations Dr. Judith Bulazo, Director of Literacy, Assessment, and Professional Development
I found the induction program to be very helpful. I am learning so much and I feel the support. It is nice to be around other new teachers who are going through the same things as me. Thank you for the excellent training, support, and information. The Upper St. Clair School District has been known These induction training sessions have been organized around for its rich tradition of professional development and has placed an instructional framework that enhances professional practice a high value on the continued training and growth of all District and has been designed by supervision researcher Charlotte professionals. Though new teachers are hired for their educa- Danielson. This same framework is used in the evaluation process tional knowledge and experiences, when they are welcomed to for all teachers in Upper St. Clair and in Pennsylvania, seamlessly USC School District’s professional team, additional training is tying together the professional learning process with a mechanism necessary in order to create an understanding of the instructional for potential feedback and refinement of a teacher’s knowledge and and professional expectations of the District. As a school district practices. The instructional framework consists of four domains: known for excellence, USC planning and preparation, classroom environment, instruction, The induction program administration is very con- and professional responsibilities. All of the topics presented in scious of the need to pass the induction program are categorized into these four domains, really prepares us to along sound instructional recognizing that the profession of teaching entails more than just step into our classrooms knowledge along with the effectively spending time in front of students. The variety of topics presented through the induction proas professionals. The culture of high expectations and student, family, gram include, but are not limited to, meeting the diverse needs professionals at USC and community-centered of students, 21st century skills, using technology to enhance partnerships. instruction, assessment practices that promote learning, student really made us feel T h e P e n n s y l v a n i a engagement, District decision-making and curriculum processes, comfortable while Department of Education responsibilities for developing as a professional, and much more. challenging me to succeed. requires that all districts These sessions are typically led by professionals from the District in Pennsylvania offer an who are experts in the particular area being addressed. Sessions induction program for new professionals. Though a requirement are delivered so that good instructional and professional practices of the state, minimal content and format are prescribed, leaving a are modeled. Learning targets are provided to the teachers for great deal of responsibility to each school district for determining each training session. Just as teachers are being trained to provide programming for new teachers. Some districts have chosen to resources and practice in an online format that is accessible to outsource this training to the Intermediate Units (notstudents 24/7 through the for-profit branches of the Department of Education that District’s Blended Schools provide support to school districts), that provide solid I really enjoyed the induction platform, the induction protraining experiences, but include sessions that may or gram models this practice by and mission-oriented all resources and asmay not be consistent with a particular district’s goals, training. I think it is really an making signments accessible to new needs, and values. interesting and meaningful teachers through this same USC School District has worked diligently for many years to provide an induction program that is customized way to help me understand electronic format. Pre- and post-assignments are also to the needs of Upper St. Clair teachers and that represents best practices and experiences that promote a culture of matters as well as the methods given to enhance the application of the learning. excellence. An orientation session and an additional six I should know and use. Initial training time is days of training are provided to new professionals over the also spent analyzing and uncourse of the first two years in the District. Two of these days occur before the professionals begin their work assignments, derstanding the District’s mission statement. The professionals are asked to consider the mission from the viewpoint of a student, a prior to the start of the school year. 30
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parent, and a teacher. They are asked to select key words from the mission statement that they think might speak most strongly to each stakeholder. One homework assignment asks the professionals to visit (or recall a visit to) a Starbucks Coffee Shop and to come back prepared to discuss the event in light of the experiences provided by the Upper St. Clair School District. Parallels are then drawn to the customization process, the warm atmosphere, the knowledge of the professionals providing the services, and the resulting name recognition and reputation for success and excellence. The initial orientation day concludes with one of the favorite activities of the new professionals, a bus tour of Upper St. Clair Township. This one-hour tour allows the teachers to see all of the schools in the District as well as important sites in the community while being provided with some history and noteworthy details. These are just small examples of the many opening activities that are used to acclimate new teachers to the District.
SD The Center for Theater Arts
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I came to this induction slightly nervous and not knowing what to expect. I found that the days were very informative and welcoming. In addition to induction training sessions, new professionals are also supported by a number of District personnel. A mentor teacher is assigned to provide support, advice, and guidance that are necessary to making the initial experiences of the professional positive and successful. The mentor provides coaching, collaboration, and formative observations. District curriculum leaders also provide mentorship, particularly in the implementation of content and strategies prescribed in the USC curriculum. Building principals play a key role in acclimatizing the new teachers to the operations of the District and their instructional and professional responsibilities. Colleagues and teaching teammates also offer critical support and encouragement. New teachers of Upper St. Clair recognize that much is expected of them, but they feel welcomed and well-supported in their efforts. They gain a great sense of pride in being selected to work in USC’s wonderful District. n Quotes placed throughout the article are from new USC teachers.
Come to The Center and be yourself!
412.563.5080
250 Mt. Lebanon Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15234 info@centerfortheaterarts.org
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www.saloniaomo.com UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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SD
Student Leadership Academy 2011
This past July, the Upper St. Clair School District hosted its second annual Student Leadership Academy. After the success of last year’s inaugural academy, the District’s administrative team decided to expand this educational program and make it available to students at all levels. In July 2010, the one-week summer workshop at the high school accepted 20 students. Only one year later, 122 students attended five different academies spanning grades 4, 6, 8, and 9-12. All five of the academies operated from the foundational principle: Who you are is how you lead. This concept illustrates the importance of and relationship between personal development as a means of cultivating leadership skills. As Dr. Charles Schwahn, a professional educator, author, consultant, and speaker at the academy said, “If you don’t have your personal act together, don’t expect to have your leadership act together.” Through the use of experiential learning strategies, reflection, and goal setting, all students began their journey of personal leadership development. It Elementary Boyce was neat to During the USC Elementary Leadership Academy week, The Boyce Leadership Academy pro- hear the kids begin to students experienced a variety of hands-on activities, geared to vided the opportunity for students to articulate what makes a developing their understanding of five of the leadership cor- expand on the core qualities of leader- great leader... not just the nerstones: Commitment, Teamwork, Integrity, Courage, and ship. Throughout the week, students “boss.” These skills would Reflection. Students enjoyed being “master architects,” crossing participated in a variety of activities that be helpful for many the “Alligator River,” and encouraging one another at a climb- allowed for application of the ten core adults. —Parent ing wall. qualities and self-reflection of strengths and Daily time for journal reflection needs in regards to the core qualities. Students My helped the students to make connechad the ultimate task of developing and “leading” younger chilson learned tions to their own experiences and dren in a recreational activity. Through peer and self-reflection, a great deal about to plan how they would intentionstudents gained further insight of their leadership skills. This the importance of ally integrate the cornerstones into group of students will meet throughout the school year for further teamwork and listening their daily lives. As the team looks to others, and how these reflection, discussion, and growth. to the 2011-12 school year, students relate to being a good are poised to provide leadership in Participants: Sanath Boddhula, Sahil Doshi, Thejaswi Duvvuru, leader.—Parent each elementary school, putting the Mary Claire Engel, Elizabeth Gillece, Jonah Glunt, Katy Hall, cornerstones into action. Matthew Higgs, Wyatt Keating, Laura Lapham, Ashley Long, Emily Megonnell, Samuel Ramos, Arsalan Saeed, David Sileo, Participants: Eden Auslander, Casey Bakayza, Maggie Daniel Speer, Samantha Spina Halloran, Allison Schuldt, Vianna Shiry, Andrew Casey, Olivia Facilitators: Amy Antonio, Mark Goelz, Justin Gremba, Gregory, Nathan Hamel, Nicholas Heinrich, Matthew Hyatt, Kathy Hoedeman Ashley Joyner, Justin Maglin, Caroline McCormack, Nathan Academy leader: Amy Pfender Piatt, Brody Ploeger, Callahan Sollie, Gabriella Spina, Loren White, Cosette Bayles, Jacob Conte, Isabela Couoh, Devan Ekbote, Gavin Genter, Marty Gold, Keith Kerber, Ian Kirby, Jackie Kobeski, Demi Kucherawy, Gracie Lowden, Luke McDonnell, Isabella Putorti, Anika Sinha Facilitators: Matt Alloway, Liz Conrad, Nicole Lesovitch, Renee McCarthy, Lauren Mechler, Leslie Smirniw, Stacey Templeton, Tim Wagner Academy leader: Dr. Claire Miller
Boyce participants
T h i s camp was one that was initially “My parents are making me do this.” However, after the first day, our child was so excited and couldn’t wait to go the rest of the week. Her comment was, “Mom, thank you for signing me up, I love it. Dad and you really know what is best for me.”—Parent
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I learned that you have to be open to new things and take risks once in a while. —Student Playing a game called “hoop it up” where each team is trying to get the 20 balls into their hula hoop. After a few minutes and many attempts, they realize that if the entire group works together and puts their hula hoops together, everyone wins. Winter 2011
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Fort Couch
Fort Couch Middle School piloted the Leadership Academy this July with outstanding success. Students who took part in the academy participated in over 20 activities that helped build and foster essential leadership skills. Some of the highlights of the week included working with a partner to design a fictitious business that serves the community, participating in an obstacle course while blindfolded with the assistance of a partner, completing trust falls, participating in a magic carpet activity, building blind, and much more. A rewarding activity of the week was the trip to Upper St. Clair’s Friendship Village where students assisted seniors in the creation of sand art crafts. Students and staff are already looking forward to next year’s academy! I loved this academy! I want to come again! —Student
Participants: Juliana Balta, Aleen Klym, Keerthana Lanka, Evan Mamakos, Jahnavee Mittal, Nymisha Rameswarapu, Ben Rieker, Katherine Starr, Alexis Venturini, Emily Yoos Facilitators: Michelle Senneway, Dan O’Rourke, Tom Kaminski Academy leader: John Rozzo Continued on page 34
I have a better understanding of what it is to be a part of a team. —Student
Fort Couch participants
My least favorite activity was... well I didn’t have a least favorite activity! I liked them all! —Student, when asked about his least favorite activity
During the service field trip to Friendship Village, the students organized, led, and completed a craft with the senior citizens.
Yes, because it really helped me feel more confident and know how to be a better leader myself. —Student, when asked if she would recommend this opportunity to another student. Two students partner up. One leads his blindfolded partner through a teacher-made minefield. The blindfolded partner must listen closely to his leader to help him successfully navigate the minefield. Winter 2011
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Continued from page 33
High School Phase I
I In the High School Phase I Academy stepped students focused on personal leadership out of my comfort development. Through the use of expezone and learned a lot riential learning strategies and physical about myself and how and mental challenges, students reto be a good leader. flected upon their decision-making —Student and behaviors. Students also developed a Personal Leadership Plan designed to guide students through personal goal setting and creating personal mission and vision statements. Participants: Rosa Alesi, Joseph Ardolino, Martin Bacik, Alex Bogdanova, Maura Boston, Alex Bowman, Brenna Carse, Erica Chuong, Ananya Cleetus, Olivia Criss, Alexandra DiCenzo, Clayton Dubbs, Mary Dudas, Yasaswi Duvvuru, Catherine Engel, Will Erlanger, Alivia Fink, Peter Frauen, Paige Gillen, Shivani Gosai, Aaron Harris, Garrett Himler, Steven Joiner, Noah Kalathunkal, Lindsey Kirkpatrick, Colin Kunselman, Nathan Lachell, Jacob Lemis, Alex Loverich Bernard, Kaleigh Mace, Carson Mafrice, Shibani Mally, Mark McTiernan, Anna Meenen, Owen Meiman, Sarah Meiman, JP Miller, Nikita Nagpal, Olivia Nusselt, Eliana Ondrejko, Chrysann Panos, Sam Park, Nick Ramser, Evan Roy, Hassan Saeed, Nick Sembrat, Katherine Snyder, Emily Sota, Yash Tripathi, Greg Vitcavage Facilitators: Mike Funfar, Jen Kirk, Johanna Rennoff, Jen Wagner Academy leader: Lou Angelo I think that we learned a lot about ourselves, but also about others and how to motivate people. —Student
High School Phase II
Students piloting the High School Phase II Academy took their leadership skills a step further. Compared to Phase I where the students are forced to look intrinsically, Phase II students began the process of looking extrinsically by initiating an organization that serves others while reflecting a personal connection to the cause. Students created the mission and vision for these organizations and will continue working on the organization plans throughout the school year. Participants: Maria Alessi, Marissa Behun, Milo Freese, Sean Gaudio, Poorwa Godbole, Hannah Harris, John Kyriacopoulos, Peter Rigano, Mackenzie Rodgers, Jordan Ryan, Adam Sneath, Morgan Wangler, Tara Williams Facilitators: Doug Kirchner, Lou Angelo Academy leader: Lou Angelo It is fun. You get to learn to have open heart conversations with the group and learn because you want to. —Student
Erica Chuong scales the rope ladder prior to making her final ascent through the hanging tire. Moments later she completed the climb and stood on the tire at 70 feet in the air.
Partners Jacob Lemis and Nick Ramser work together to ascend the vertical ladder. USCHS participants
Phase II improved my What’s Next? leadership skills through Lou Angelo, USCHS assistant principal and creator of the District’s Student Leadership Academy, the inspiration of thinking continues to tweak his vision for the students. “For the most part, my vision continues to be the same: to big into the future as well as institute a program to foster leadership skills for all students K-12, but the reality is developing leadership celebrating small victories. skills isn’t a one-week plunge, it’s a lifelong journey. I envision getting to a point where these leadership —Student skills are part of a positive District-wide behavioral support plan implemented in each school building and valued as part of our culture at Upper St. Clair.” Lou and his team of facilitators plan to develop Phases III and IV for the high school, and consideration to expand the programming for the students at the elementary and middle level buildings has already begun. “Our students and families deserve tremendous credit for recognizing the importance of developing leadership skills, some sacrificing their summer vacation to participate,” Lou said. “In addition, our teams of facilitators and academy leaders did a tremendous job creating lessons that forced our students to reflect and grow. The Student Leadership Academy has been so fortunate to have the unwavering support of our school board, administration, and community, and with this type of commitment, we can really impact our children as students today and adults tomorrow.” n 34
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Value-Added Assessment Dr. John Bornyas, Director of Operations, Community Relations, and Special Projects
During this past school year, the Pennsylvania Department of Education released the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS) Reports for all school districts in the Commonwealth. PVAAS is another method by which the state can provide indicators of the effectiveness of a district school in making academic progress with students. Achievement results (PSSA) and growth results (PVAAS) must be used together to get a complete picture of student learning. While PSSA scores are more “student” specific in nature, PVAAS scores are more “aggregate” in nature. Value-added is a statistical analysis used to measure a district’s or school’s impact on the academic progress rates of groups of students from year-to-year. Conceptually and as a simple explanation, a value-added “score” is calculated by using current achievement (current results measured by an appropriate test such as the PSSA) with prior achievement (on the same appropriate test) to determine growth. The following information is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. To understand the concept of value-added analysis and reporting, imagine a child’s physical growth curve. Every year, a child stands up against the wall; the parent puts a ruler on his head and measures the child’s height at ages two, three, four, and so on. From these data points, the parent can construct a graph to illustrate the height of the child, and then use these points to construct a graph of the growth of the child. Often, parents discover that this growth curve does not resemble the smooth line seen on a pediatrician’s chart. Instead, there are “dimples” and “bubbles” in this constructed graph. Children may have growth spurts. In addition, errors of measurement are possible: the child may not have stood straight or the parent did not hold the ruler level. Now apply the same process to education. Imagine that a school has been testing each student annually in math and that the scores from these tests are used to construct a graph of each student’s math growth. The graph for any group of students will likely exhibit a pattern of dimples and bubbles similar to the physical growth graph for an individual child. However, if by aggregating the information on many students we discover a dimple effect occurring at a specific grade level in math at a specific school, then the dimple may be evidence that math in this specific grade level may need to be examined. This is an example of using value-added—following the progress of students over time to estimate their growth during a year of schooling. With value-added assessment, educators get a sense of whether they are making appropriate academic progress for their students. More specifically, value-added does this by following the same students over time and then looking at the progress of groups of students to make an estimate of educational effectiveness. These schooling influences accumulate across the years and measurably affect students’ attainment at least four years beyond the grade in which the student encountered them. Without a value-added metric for measuring effective schooling, districts and schools have no way of knowing if they are capitalizing academic growth opportunities for all students. Student opportunities to progress each year must be maximized to allow more students to enroll in and be academically prepared for college and a career. By measuring students’ academic achievement and progress, schools and districts will have a more comprehensive picture of their effectiveness in raising student achievement.
The benefits of value-added offers a more objective, accurate way to measure student progress and the influence the school has on students’ educational experiences. With this information, educators are better able to: • Monitor the progress of all groups of students from low-achieving to high-achieving, ensuring growth opportunities for all students. • Measure the impact of educational practices, classroom curricula, instructional methods, and professional development on student achievement. • Make informed data-driven decisions about where to focus resources to help students make greater progress and perform at higher levels. • Modify and differentiate instruction to address the needs of all students. • Align professional development efforts in the areas of greatest need. • Network with other districts and schools that may be yielding different growth results. • Identify best practices and implement programs that best meet the needs of the students. n Winter 2011
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A Day In The District
Photos by Terry Kish 36
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Ruth Ann Matyuf Retires A familiar face was missing from Baker Elementary when school resumed this fall, as Dr. Ruth Ann Matyuf retired from USC after 18 years of dedicated service to the School District. Dr. Matyuf began her tenure with the District on September 13, 1993, as Associate Middle School Principal. In July 1995, Dr. Matyuf was assigned as the High School Director of Secondary Level Education and Instructional Principal, and in July 2002, Dr. Matyuf was assigned as the Baker Elementary School Principal. While serving as the High School Director of Secondary Level Education and Instructional Principal, Upper St. Clair High School received their third Excellence in Education “Blue Ribbon” Award and was also named a New American High School by the U. S. Department of Education. Dr. Matyuf holds a bachelor of science degree from Penn State University and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. She earned her Administration Program for Principals–Elementary Certification from California University of Pennsylvania and her Administration Program for Principals– Secondary Certification from the University of Pittsburgh. She received both her Letter of Eligibility Certification and Educational Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Patrick O’Toole, Superintendent of Schools, stated, “Dr. Matyuf has been an effective instructional leader at Upper St. Clair for 18 years. Her strong commitment to the highest ideals of professionalism in education set her apart as a leader.” n
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Boyce Field—Ready for Action! One of the most visible additions to Boyce Middle School is the newly renovated athletic field on the west side of the school, located in front of the existing girls’ softball field. The regulation size football field is lined for most field sports and will be used for football, soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey games and practices. The field also has a track around its perimeter, which residents can use for walking or running. Specific hours for track and field use will be established. Community use of the field is permitted by the District and permits can be obtained through the District’s permitting procedures. While the field can be accessed on foot from both Boyce and Morton Roads, vehicular traffic is limited to entrance and exit from Boyce Road only. n
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Winter 2011
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Lessons from the Links
Todd Flynn, coach of Upper St. Clair’s boys’ golf team, doesn’t like to lose. Fortunately, USC’s golf team has a history of winning ways. The boys’ team has won 37 Section championships and 17 WPIAL championships, tied with Penn Hills for the most WPIAL titles. But even more important to Flynn is giving kids a direction for the rest of their lives, and golf is the tool he uses. “Golf is the only sport with true integrity,” said Flynn, a retired USCHS social studies teacher. It’s the only sport where a player calls a penalty on themselves. I tell my players: “You may not always win, but you’ll always be gentlemen.” Flynn also tells his team to think on every shot and ask themselves what they have to do for the team to succeed. It is a lesson he said that they can apply later in life; for example, asking, “What do I have to do for the company to succeed?” When playing high school golf, the team declares six players, keeping the five lowest scores with no handicap. With four sophomores, one junior, and one senior making up USC’s top six golfers this year, Flynn said it bodes well for the future of the team. “Five years ago we had no freshmen come out for the team.” said Flynn, “so we had some rebuilding to do.” You need a steady feeder program, which is why the JV team, under the direction of USC Athletic Director Matt Mellinger, is so important explained Flynn. “The younger golfers benefit from the example of the more experienced golfers,” said Flynn, “like our senior Tim Novic. Tim’s been in the top six since he was a freshman.” Lynn Zacur said her son Nelson’s love of golf has grown and become a passion since he made the varsity team. “It’s a sport he can enjoy now and for the rest of his life,” said Lynn. “You can’t ask for more than that.” On the ladies’ tee,
the future looks equally bright for USC golfers. Coach Matt Henderson said the team is doing “quite well” this year. The girls’ team has won 28 Section championships including the last two in 2009 and 2010, as well as winning 17 WPIAL titles. A shot off the tee Henderson explained that in girls’ high school golf, the team declares their top five golfers, using the four lowest scores. With one sophomore, two juniors, and two seniors, Danielle von Waldow and Darby Gallo, composing the top five, the team is positioned to continue St. Clair’s winning ways in the future. Henderson said golf is unique because there are no referees, judges, or umpires when the students are playing. It’s very rare to have no officials in high school sports he said. The players are the sole judges of their own play, and they could easily cheat, but they don’t. That personal responsibility is the essence of the game. According to Henderson, a teacher at Boyce Middle School, another nice thing about participating in golf while in high school is that it gives the students an opportunity to take a break from the pressures of school. “We’re so blessed to be able to play on a beautiful course like St. Clair Country Club,” said Henderson. “It gives the girls a kind of escape where the only thing they have to concentrate on is getting the ball in the hole.” “I really try to get the girls to have fun while they’re playing,” said Henderson. “I always ask them to tell me one positive thing about their round, even before telling me their score.” As the father of three young daughters, Olivia, 8, Ally, 6, and Julia, 3, Henderson said he likes bringing his daughters to golf banquets to meet his players and observe their camaraderie. “The girls on the team are positive role models for my girls,” he said. n USCHS girls varsity golf team. Photo courtesy of M&M Photography. Boys Varsity Golf Team: Tim Novic (captain) Matt Barone Grant Engel Pat Jonnet Kris Lantz Pat McDonnell Trey Phillips Thomas Steve Corey Wilding Nelson Zacur
Offering congratulations after the match
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At press, the boys varsity golf team advanced to the state championships, while Tim Novic advanced to states individually.
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Winter 2011
Boys JV Golf Team: Zach Barone Carl Behling Austin Cassidy Joe Musiol David Schenken John Wilcox Brooks Wilding Josh Zakaria
Girls Varsity Golf Team: Alyssa Beynon (captain) Danielle VonWaldow (captain) Darby Gallo Lindsay Johnston Melissa Kearney Mariah Kelly Libby Phillips Maddie Phillips Eva Roy Jordan Ryan Stacey Vespa
Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did Did
You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You
Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know? Know?
Kids Helping Kids Hosts Silent Auction USC High School’s Kids Helping Kids club hosted a silent auction in September in the main theatre lobby of the school. The event, with dozens of items up for bid, supported the students’ annual Dominican Republic trip. Now in its fifth year, club sponsor and high school English teacher Tom Yochum said Kids Helping Kids has grown to between 60 and 70 members, with about 20 students making the yearly trip to the Dominican Republic. While best known for the work they do during their annual trip, the club also does outreach to local charities throughout the year, like volunteering at local food banks on the weekends.
Ralph Munn Finalists USCHS students Jessica Wasilco and Anna Rosati were finalists in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Ralph Munn Contest. The contest, which has categories for poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction, was advertised and promoted by USCHS librarians Janine Despines and Debbie Rentschler and the USC Township librarians. The contest is funded by an endowment from former Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh director Ralph Munn. The finalists’ works were published in Ralph Jessican Wasilco and Munn Writing Anthology Anna Rosati 2011.
School District Now on Facebook and Twitter Upper St. Clair School District is moving into social media to encourage and promote communications with families and the community. Visit the District’s home page at www.uscsd.k12.pa.us to “like them” on Facebook or to “follow them” on Twitter.
Panther Marching Band Takes Top Honors The Upper St. Clair High School “Panther”Marching Band performed in a Tournament of Bands competition at Steel Valley High School in September. Out of eight bands competing, USC received the highest overall score, the highest scores for Auxiliary, Drumline, and Music, and the “Crowd Favorite” award. 9/11 Remembrance On Friday, September 9, students and staff at USCHS acknowledged the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001 by watching a feature-length documentary simply titled “9/11.” The film, originally airing on CBS six months after the tragedy, is a first-hand account of the heroic acts of the NYC firefighters at the World Trade Center.
En Garde! Upper St. Clair’s Giana Vierheller, an eighth grader at Fort Couch Middle School, took gold in the 2011 U.S. Fencing Association’s National Championship, held this past July in Reno, Nevada. Two years ago, Giana won the 10 and under championship in the Epee Division, this time claiming top honors in the Y12 age group. In fencing, Epee is the middle weighted sword between foil (the lightest) and saber (the heaviest). Earlier this year, Giana won a gold medal in Women’s Y12 Epee at the U.S. Fencing North American Cup E national competition in Gianna (Gigi) Vierheller Portland in April 2011. She also placed first in several Super Youth national competitions and in regional competitions throughout the 2010-11 season, which runs September through July. In November 2010, she placed third in Women’s Y14 Epee at the U.S. Fencing North American Cup B national competition in Milwaukee and earned a “B” rating. (The best rating is “A” and usually held by 16 to 19-year-old fencers.) While in Reno, Giana also placed 19th out of 133 competitors in the Women’s Cadet (under 17), qualifying for the 2012 Junior Olympics at Salt Lake City in February 2012. Giana practices with Tiger Fencing Club in Eighty Four.
Winter 2011
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Pawprints... PTA Council
Rachel Lowden, PTA Council President Our children learn from what we are, not what we say. When we give, we teach our children to give. When we give our time and attention, we show our children what we value and what we care about. When you volunteer your time and when you become of member of the PTA, you are showing your child that education is a priority. Last school year, hundreds of USC parents gave their time in the USC School District. The five PTAs and USC parents contributed more than $500,000 through sponsored events, fundraising, box tops programs, and Apples for Students programs. Thank you for giving your support to our children, our schools, and our future.
Baker Elementary
Aliceson Yates, Baker Elementary PTA President
The “B” in Baker could stand for a multitude of things, but when it comes to giving, it stands for “big!” The Baker community of families has given generously to the school and its programming throughout the years. Although the focus may change from year to year based upon the needs of the school, one thing has always held true: the PTA will do what it takes to help our children succeed in their school environment. In order to achieve this goal, Baker families have pulled together to provide advancements in technology by assisting in placing Promethean boards in each of the classrooms and special rooms in Baker, as well as providing Activotes and Activiews for classroom use. Each year, Baker PTA continues to fund programming for the children to use in the classroom as well as at home: Learning A-Z, Brain Pop Jr., Whisper Phones, and computer headphones, as well as provide planners for all third and fourth graders. The Baker PTA hosts three to four assemblies each year for all grades, correlating to the curriculum. The Carnegie Science Center comes to expand upon classroom room experiences with hands on lesson plans. Each year, the PTA brings in a guest author to emphasize and support the love of reading for the students. Baker PTA realizes that fun activities bond students together. Baker families spend time at PTA-sponsored events, including playing Bingo, bowling, performing in the variety show, playing games at the Baker Boo Bash (the school’s major fundraiser), and flipping pancakes at a new event this year, Families and Flapjacks. All of these activities are possible because parents give of their time and talents. Baker Elementary and the Baker PTA are lucky to have such wonderful parents who consistently give in a “Big Baker” way.
Eisenhower’s Circle of Giving
Chrissy Sileo, Eisenhower PTA President
In this season of giving and thanks, Eisenhower PTA members reflect on the spirit of the school and the people who make it great. 40
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There are three different groups that form the school’s ecosystem, and without each one the school would not function the same. The first group—the students who provide the raw energy, excitement, and motivation which challenge the staff each day. The second group—the staff that creates the environment that fosters growth and learning, making sure that every child has the opportunity to achieve his or her potential. And, finally, the Eisenhower PTA that provides resources and educational experiences. Each year, Eisenhower PTA raises funds through several activities including the “Eisenhowler” which provides a night of great fun for the students and families. All proceeds from the Eisenhowler go directly to fund student-related needs. The funds pay for many educational experiences that enhance the curriculum at the school. Last year, the Eisenhowler funds paid for school planners and folders, assembly programs, educational field trips for all grade levels, Weekly Reader magazines, and classroom technology, including ActiVote and Promethean interactive white boards. These resources help to energize and motivate the staff as they work to keep pace with a changing world and dynamic group of children. The Eisenhower ecosystem is created from three groups giving to one another. The PTA gives the school needed support and assistance, while the staff gives each child valuable knowledge and attention. The students give back to both parents and teachers with their personal growth and development, and never ending enthusiasm.
Streams Elementary
Edie Andres, Streams PTA President
We’ve all heard the saying, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” This statement could not be more accurate than when applied to Streams PTA. The PTA could not exist without the wonderful building administrators, teachers, and Streams staff, but these wonderful assets increase in value with the support of the PTA. Through the generous support of parents and teachers, the PTA improves the classroom by providing classroom technology, books and supplies, games, and gym equipment. Streams PTA purchased ten Actiview slates and seven Actiview document projectors to be used in the classrooms. These devices coordinate with and enhance the use of the previously purchased Promethean Boards. Every classroom had one to start the 2011-12 school year. Participation in Box Tops, Campbell’s Labels, Apples for the Students, and the book fair yielded over $2900 worth of classroom supplies. The curriculum is enhanced through the programs, assemblies, field trips—including a $1000 grant to The Outdoor Classroom—and Cultural Week events that take place during the year. Likewise, Streams students become more socially aware of others and help those in need through donating their time and talents to raise money at the Silent Auction and participating in outreach collections of food and clothing for local charities. Friendships are solidified and memories are made during grade special level nights, Field Day celebrations, and the fourth grade graduation party.
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...A USC PTA Council Highlight Streams teachers and staff are supported through volunteering and recognized and appreciated for their skills and talents. The whole education experience at Streams is made better because of the sum of the parts!
Boyce Middle School
Missy Moore, Boyce PTA President
All of the money raised by Boyce PTA throughout the year goes back to the school, teachers, and students. Boyce PTA funds many student events and student/teacher activities, including field trips, Author Day, Breakfast with Teachers, Boyce Pride, Random Acts of Kindness, and Valentine’s Day treats, to name a few. Boyce PTA also “gifts to school” technology that the teachers, students, and staff are able to use on a daily basis, including Activotes for use in the classrooms and library. Projectors that don’t use transparencies, but rather a piece of paper to keep with the green initiative, have been purchased. Boyce PTA is a great place to volunteer with great families. It makes giving back easy!
Fort Couch Middle School
Sherri Woomer, Fort Couch PTA President
Fort Couch Middle School is proud to announce its “Reach Out” program—a holiday spirit project which will take place
the end of November to mid-December. Last year the students collected toys for a Homestead daycare center and also raised $11,600. Five thousand of that money went to the USC Police Department in the form of Giant Eagle gift cards, which were then passed out to local needy families in Upper St. Clair and the surrounding area. A portion of the money was also used toward the MS Bike-a-thon, to support a wellness fund to be used to help our own students and their families throughout the year, and to support charities designated by Fort Couch Student Council.
High School
Beth Erlanger, PTSO President
The USC High School and PTSO provided a number of activities and services for high school students and faculty in the 2010-11 academic school year. The PTSO provided: a monetary gift to the school for the Mentor Program; four $250 book scholarships to selected seniors whose parents were PTSO members; a creative writing workshop conducted by Marc Harshman, author, poet, and storyteller; a faculty and staff appreciation luncheon; flip video recorders for classroom use through the Apples for Students program; a tri-monthly online newsletter; as well as innumerable service hours assisting in the counseling office, greeting visiting college representatives, and chaperoning trips and dances. n
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email:arbortreespecialists@comcast.net www.arbortreespecialists.com 1115 Wilson Road - South Park, PA 15236 Winter 2011
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2011 Upper St. Clair High School Halls of Fame
Eight of Upper St. Clair’s finest were honored on Friday, September 30 at the 12th anniversary of the Upper St. Clair High School Halls of Fame. The newest members of the Halls of Fame were individually recognized during the pre-game festivities before the Upper St. Clair football game against Baldwin and during the first annual Homecoming Gala held at St. Clair Country Club on Saturday, October 1. It is with great pride that we welcome the following inductees of the 2011 Upper St. Clair High School Halls of Fame and hold in esteem the 218 honorees recognized before them.
Arts Hall of Fame
Academic Hall of Fame
Matthew Mehaffey
Athletic Hall of Fame Alicia Avick
Michael Barnard
Amy Balsinger Michelle Boss Catucci
Daniel Cafaro
2011 USCHS Halls of Fame
Academic
Student Alumni Honorees Alicia Avick (1997) Michael Barnard (1997) Michelle Boss Catucci (1998)
Administrative/Staff Honorees Nicholas Beck
Arts
Student Alumni Honorees Matthew Mehaffey (1993)
(Year in parentheses indicates year of USCHS graduation)
Enjoying pre-game festivities at the inductee ceremony 44
Robert MacWhinnie
Nicholas Beck
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Winter 2011
Athletics
Student Alumni Honorees Amy Balsinger (1996) Daniel Cafaro (2005) Robert MacWhinnie (2001)
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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, 2012, are eligible to register.
School Area Date Baker......................................................................................................... Tuesday, February 21 Eisenhower.......................................................................................... Wednesday, February 22 Streams................................................................................................... Thursday, February 23 Times for all........................................................................................... 9-11 a.m., noon-2 p.m. A special evening session for all elementary schools will be held on Wednesday, March 7, 6-8 p.m. at the School District Central Office. It is not necessary that the student accompany the parent to registration.
Readiness Evaluation
School personnel are available to screen children whose parents wish additional help in making a decision on entrance into kindergarten. Individual dates will be established during registration. Questions regarding kindergarten readiness should be directed to the elementary school guidance counselor or Eloise Stoehr, Supervisor of Pupil Personnel, at 412-833-1600, extension 2214. Registration Packets
Registration packets will be available at each elementary school beginning February 13, 2012. Parents are encouraged to pick them up during school hours and return the completed forms at the time of registration. School Health Immunization Regulations
The Allegheny County Health Department’s (ACHD) Board of Health has enacted the School Health Immunization Regulations for children in Allegheny County. All students entering school for the first time at kindergarten must have the following immunizations completed prior to entering any public, private, or parochial school: • 4 doses of tetanus (1 dose after the fourth birthday); 3 doses if series started after seven years of age • 4 doses of diphtheria (1 dose after the fourth birthday); 3 doses if series started after seven years of age • 3 doses of polio • 1 dose of rubella
• 2 doses of measles • 2 doses of mumps • 3 doses of hepatitis B • 2 doses of varicella or written statement from physician/designee indicating month and year of disease or serologic proof of immunity
Any student in K-12 grade may by provisionally admitted to school only if evidence of at least one dose of antigen is given to the school administration/designee and the parent or guardian’s plan for completion of the required immunizations is made part of the child’s health record. The plan for compeltion of the required immunizations shall be reviewed every 60 days. Families are encouraged to obtain the needed immunizations from their physicians. However, the ACHD does offer the required vaccines free of charge. To obtain information about clinic location and times, interested persons should contact the ACHD Infectious Diseases Program at 412-578-8060. Provisions for this regulation do not apply in cases where extenuating medical or religious factors are involved. If there is any reason why a child should not be fully immunized, parents must submit a physician’s certificate explaining the circumstances. Parents are also required to provide written documentation if they disapprove of immunizations for religious reasons. These documents will be accepted in lieu of a certificate of immunization. Winter 2011
Kristy G. Cupelli D.M.D. Pediatric Dentistry
Alfred A. Cupelli D.M.D.
Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry
411 McMurray Road, Suite 102 Bethel Park, PA 15102 412/831-3373 Fax: 412/831-3777 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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P I NEBR I DG E Pinebridge Commons McLaughlin Run Road at Lesnett Road ••••••••••••••••• The Chief Partners
Pediatric Dentistry South
Davin Interiors
Piccolina’s Restaurant
Design Image Salon, Joe Ruffalo
Questa Petroleum Co.
Emma’s Market & Deli, Inc.
Eric J. Reitz DMD &
Peter Gialames & Associates
Beth Troy, DMD
Interior Designs/Furnishings
Richardson Family
by Mary Kay Chaffee
State Farm Insurance
Jimcor Associates, Inc.
Suburban Dry Cleaners
Timothy Kerr, DMD &
TEC Marketing & Entertainment
Romana Pautler Kerr, DMD
Amy L. McGarrity, MD
“Exceptional Care for Your Children, Confidence and Convenience for You.” • • • • • • • •
New Patients Welcome Electronic Medical Records Saturday Morning Hours; Evening Hours; Monday thru Saturday walk-in hours available 24/7 On-Call Pediatric and Adolescent specialists In Office Lab In-office medication dispensing Coming Soon
Kimberly M. Pezzone, MD Edwin B. King, MD Debra M. Faber, MD Mark M. Blatter, MD Whitney L. Boyle, PA-C Kristin L. Koontz, PA-C
Travel Leaders, Kiernan Ent.
Larry E. Manalo, DMD Pediatric Alliance
St. Clair Division
412-221-2121
Wininsky Law Offices
Xcoal Energy Resources
•••••••••••••••••
Pinebridge Commons Associates Leasing (412) 220-9288
www.PediatricAlliance.com
S O MU C H TO O FFE R ... LARRY E. MANALO, D.M.D.
A GOOD SIGN EVEN IN TIMES LIKE THESE.
General Dentist & Prostodontic Specialist
Quality Gentle Dentistry for the entire family!
Brighten your smile with
ZOOM!
chairside whitening system! “New research indicates that healthy teeth and gums may improve overall health. By receiving REGULAR DENTAL CLEANINGS, diabetes, low birth weight babies, & heart disease may be prevented!”
PINEBRIDGE DENTAL
88 DENTAL
1580 MCLAUGHLIN RUN ROAD UPPER ST. CLAIR, PA 15241
4100 LIBRARY ROAD CASTLE SHANNON, PA 15234
412-221-2221
412-343-4100
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Cindy S Brophy, Agent 1580 McLaughlin Run Rd Pittsburgh, PA 15241 Bus: 412-221-2775 www.cindybrophy.com
Graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Proud resident of Upper St. Clair. Provider of most major insurance plans.
PROVIDING INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES State Farm, Bloomington IL
P087082 11/08
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P I NEBR I DG E FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY
Let us make you smile!
Northern Italian Restaurant “Come visit with the little one”
Received the Trib Media Gold Award as the Most Romantic Restaurant in the Southwest
Private Party and Banquet Room Al Fresco Dining Expanded Dining Room Reservations suggested Gift Certificates available Hoilday party reservations now being accepted
Phone (412) 257-1880 Fax (412) 257-2895 1580 McLaughlin Run Rd., Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 Visit our website: www.piccolinas.com
T imothy J. K err , D.M.D. R omana P autler K err , D.M.D.
KK 412-257-4250 Pinebridge Commons Suite 207 Chairside Whitening System
kerrdmd.com
. . .O N E S TO P C O N V E N I E N C E 1580 McLaughlin Run Rd Pittsburgh PA 15241
412-257-1150
The orthodontic office of Dr. Eric Reitz and Dr. Beth Troy provides care for the communities of Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park, and the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Dr. Reitz and Dr. Troy take the time to place and adjust braces on every patient, giving individualized attention in a caring environment.
4000 Waterdam Plaza McMurray PA 15317
724-942-4840 133 West Allegheny Road Imperial PA 15126
724-695-0133
Our primary goal is to give your child positive memories that instill lifelong hygiene habits.
Schedule your complimentary consultation today! • Orthodontic services for children and adults Pinebridge Commons location: 1580 McLaughlin Run Road, Suite 200 Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 412-221-0392
Office hours are Monday through Friday. Evening appointments are available.
Bethel Park location: 2414 Lytle Road, Suite 100 Bethel Park, PA 15102 412-831-2188
Winter 2011
• Individualized care in a friendly and patient-focused environment • Convenient appointment hours, including Saturday mornings • 24-hour emergency services • Most major insurance plans accepted
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Township Commissioners Robert W. Orchowski
President, Ward 3 Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-854-1868 2011*
Glenn R. Dandoy
Vice President, At-Large Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-973-9260 2011*
Preston W. Shimer Ward 1
Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-221-1736 2011*
Mark R. Hamilton Ward 2
Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-478-2812 2013*
Mark D. Christie Ward 4
Day 412-831-9000 2013*
Highlights of the Board of Commissioners Meetings June 6, 2011
Approximately 36 people attended.
Recognitions and Proclamations • Commissioner Christie presented a Proclamation to Victoria Lazur of Scout Troop 50443, recognizing her attainment of Gold Award for organizing and initiating a project with her rowing mates to replace plastic water bottles with aluminum water bottles during the Crew races. This project led Victoria to organize a recycling program in her community for the Scholastic Springs Regatta at Moraine State Park. • Commissioner Orchowski presented a Proclamation to Patricia Palazzolo, USC School District Gifted Education Coordinator for grades 7-12 and Team Ouroboros Coach, for the achievement of Team Ouroboros capturing the National Science Award at the 2011 Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards. • Commissioner Orchowski presented Proclamations to Team Ouroboros members Yudi Chen, Kate Groschner, Brent Heard, Avisha Shah, and Matt Vernacchia for capturing the National Science Award for the development and design of their aerospace invention, the Perpetual Harvest Space Nutrition System, at the 2011 Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards. • Commissioner Dandoy presented a Certificate of Achievement to Head Coach Emil Deliere for the USCHS wrestling team’s 2010-11 successes. Mr. Deliere also accepted a Certificate of Achievement for Mackenzie McGuire who was not in attendance. The Board • Approved modifications to applicant’s plan Re. PLC110002–South Hills Village Mall Redevelopment–Tentative Nonresidential Planned Development. • Adopted Resolution No. 1523 Re. Transfer of Liquor License–631 Painters Run Road. • Continued public hearing Re. PLC11-0003–Fair Acres PRD Plan–Tentative Approval to the Regular Board of Commissioners’ Meeting of July 5, 2011. • Adopted Resolution No. 1524 to establish public hearing date Re. PLC11-1302–Zoning Text Amendment Re. Electronic Message Center Signs. Approval of Contracts • Approved the following contracts in accordance with the Township Code: ‣‣ A&H Equipment Company, Bridgeville One Accubrine Automated Brine Maker with Control Panel and Installation....................................... $78,500 (COSTARS Program Price) ‣‣ CleanNet Systems of Pennsylvania, Inc., Pittsburgh Interim Custodial Services Contract.... $20,871.67/month
The Board • Adopted Decision USC-PRD 2-2011 Re. PLC11-0003–Fair Acres PRD Plan–Tentative Approval. • Continued public hearing Re. PLC11-0005–Wesley Academy–Educational Challenge Course to the Regular Board Meeting of September 6, 2011. • Adopted Bill No. 3-11 to grant preliminary and final subdivision approval to South Hills Village Mall Redevelopment Plan for Target, located at South Hills Village Mall, subject to certain conditions. • Adopted Bill No. 4-11 to grant final approval to the South Hills Village Mall Redevelopment Phase 1, to renovate the existing Boscov’s building for Target on the first level and Dick’s Sporting Goods on Levels 2 and 3, a reconfiguration of the parking lot, and a reconfiguration of the entrance at the Macy’s end, subject to certain conditions. • Adopted Resolution No. 1527 to approve the plan revision for new land development (planning module) for PLC110007–South Hills Village Mall Redevelopment Phase 1. • Adopted Resolution No. 1528 approving the 2012-2016 Capital Improvement Program, which includes the “amended” Exhibit A to include the addition of $126,000 to Park & Field Improvements, Boyce Mayview Barn Improvement/ Demolition.
July 5, 2011
August 11, 2011
Recognitions and Proclamations • Commissioner Shimer presented Proclamations to the USCHS Odyssey of the Mind Division II Team for winning the Ranatra Fusca award and capturing first place in their division and problem, Le Tour Guide, at World Finals at the University of Maryland on May 27-30, 2011. Coach Susan Rosati and team members Paul Austin, Marissa Bowman, Erin Perelstine, Chloe Roberts, Kelsey Roberts, Anna Rosati, and Alexa Schlein were recognized. • Commissioner Shimer presented Proclamations to Boyce Middle School Odyssey of the Mind Division II Team for winning the Ranatra Fusca award and capturing sixth place in their division and problem, Good as Gold…berg, at World Finals. Coach Sharon Byrnes and team members Brendan Allen, Connor Byrnes, Liam Carse, Arushi Kewalramani, Abigail Shoemaker, and Vicki Wang were recognized.
Approval of Contract • Approved the following contract in accordance with the Township Code: ‣‣ Arch Masonry, Inc., Upper St. Clair Masonry work for the Veterans Monument Park............................... $188,000
Approximately 52 people attended.
Russell R. Del Re Ward 5
Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-287-9076 2011*
Daniel R. Paoly At-Large
Day 412-831-9000 Evening 412-862-5995 2013*
*Date indicates expiration of term.
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The Board • Tabled the public hearing Re. PLC11-0003–Fair Acres PRD Plan–Tentative Approval, to the August 1, 2011, Board of Commissioners’ Regular Meeting. • Adopted Decision USC-PD 1-2011 Re. PLC11-0002–South Hills Village Mall Redevelopment. • Adopted Resolution No. 1525 establishing the date of September 6, 2011, for the public hearing on the proposed amendment to Chapter 130 of the Code of the Township, entitled “Zoning,” to Permit Mixed Use Development as a Conditional Use in the SB, Special Business District. Approval of Contracts • Approved the following contracts in accordance with the Township code: ‣‣ CleanNet Systems of Pennsylvania, Inc., Pittsburgh Three-year Custodial Services for Municipal Building, Public Works Building, Volunteer Fire Station, and Recreation Building........................................ $216,000 ‣‣ Martins Maintenance, East Providence, RI Three-year Custodial Services for the Community & Recreation Center (C&RC) and The Outdoor Classroom....................................................... $381,072
August 1, 2011
Approximately 17 people attended.
1 Attendee
All business regarding the operation of the Township is conducted at the regular meeting 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. Winter 2011
T USC Veterans Park
Local dignitaries, elected officials, township residents, and a number of veterans gathered for a July groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Upper St. Clair’s Veterans Park. Lanny Frattare emceed the ceremony, the Upper St. Clair High School Band performed, and USCHS social studies teacher and U.S. Army veteran Keera Dwulit was the keynote speaker. The monument, which is expected to be completed this November, is located along McLaughlin Run Road near the Municipal Building. Each station in the park is dedicated to one of the seven branches of the armed forces—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and National Guard. Design services were donated by Graves & McLean, architects. The park serves multiple purposes: honoring our veterans, educating Upper St. Clair students and visitors to the park about the branches of the armed forces and their history, beautifying the McLaughlin Run corridor, and providing a place for peaceful reflection by visitors to the park. n
Upper St. Clair Veterans Park, Inc. is a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For additional information or to contribute, visit www.uscveteranspark.org.
Sanitary Sewer Backups AND your homeowner’s coverage
2011-12 Township of Upper St. Clair Meeting Dates • 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.
Visit the Township’s website: www.twpusc.org
The Township maintains over 158 miles of underground sewer lines. There is no way to predict when the next sanitary sewer backup will occur. And while only a handful of our residents experience a significant sanitary sewer backup each year, we know that when it does occur, it is a distressing situation. It can be even more devastating if a resident is not insured for losses—losses that can easily run into tens of thousands of dollars. Sewer Backup Insurance Homeowners can alleviate possible sewer-related damage expenses by contacting their property insurance provider to verify that they have sewer backup coverage. Most homeowners’ insurance policies do not automatically include coverage for these occurrences. Given the potential for significant loss, it would be advisable for homeowners served by a public sewer system, particularly those with finished basements, to obtain some level of coverage. Lastly, if you experience a floor drain backup or otherwise suspect a sanitary sewer problem, contact the Township’s Public Works Department immediately at 412-831-9000, extension 271. Winter 2011
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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.
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.
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 the Verizon Yellow Pages.
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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 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 to 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.
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.
www.twpusc.org
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 require residential roadways to be designated secondary priority. The department deploys 16 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 State Route 19, Boyce Road, Mayview Road, Lesnett Road, McLaughlin Run Road, Fort Couch Road, and McMillan Road. It does not have maintenance responsibilities to Allegheny County-owned roadways, including Painters Run Road, Bethel Church Road, and Drake Road.
Winter 2011
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 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.
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Public Works Introduces Liquids into the Snow Fighting Operation George Kostelich, Jr., Director of Public Works Although rock salt (sodium chloride) is, and will continue to be, the primary deicing material used to combat snow and ice in Upper St. Clair, the Public Works Department will be adding salt brine to its arsenal in the Township’s continuing efforts to become more efficient and environmentally responsible in its road deicing efforts. Salt brine is a mixture of sodium chloride (rock salt) and water placed together in a brine processor to produce a brine solution consisting of 23.3% sodium chloride. In 2011, the Public Works Department purchased a salt brine production unit that will allow the Department to produce brine on site to meet demand. With the newly purchased equipment, Public Works will have the ability to manufacture approximately 5000 gallons of brine in a one-hour time period. One ton of rock salt will make 5000 gallons of salt brine. Once produced, the brine is transferred to 5000-gallon vertical storage tanks where it will eventually be loaded into the individual tanks located on the trucks. Each snow removal truck is equipped with a poly tank capable of carrying 35-100 gallons of liquid material that will be applied to the rock salt in the pre-wet process. Currently, one truck is equipped with a poly tank capable of carrying 750 gallons of liquid material that will be applied directly to the paving by a spraybar in the anti-icing process. The Public Works Department expects to be able to produce salt brine solution for approximately .07 cents per gallon at current rock salt prices and expects to use at least 1150 gallons of brine per “normal” deicing effort.
Once produced, this salt brine product is applied to the roadways in two ways; the first is a “pre-wet” application in which the liquid is sprayed over the rock salt as it is spread from the truck; the second is an “anti-icing” application in which the salt brine is applied directly to the road surface by a spraybar attached to a tank and mounted on the truck. Typically, the “anti-icing” process will take place just before an upcoming storm in which the brine solution is applied directly to the pavement to prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement, keeping the roadway free of snow and ice longer at the beginning of a severe storm or light snow, and allowing traffic to move about as crews respond to the event. This desired reduction in rock salt usage will ultimately benefit our environment, reduce labor costs, and reduce equipment costs. In lower temperatures, this new equipment will allow Public Works to blend in calcium chloride at a prescribed percentage to the “pre-wet” process to provide much more effective melting action during sub 20degree temperatures when soduim chloride (rock salt) is less effective. Even with all of the technology Public Works and other agencies are afforded, good ol’ Mother Nature still rules! At times, dealing with challenging travel conditions will require patience and common sense, while Public Works uses all of its tools to help make the roadways safe again for travel. n
Anti-icing unit
Proven advantages of “pre-wetting” with salt brine: • Rock salt can be spread more uniformly, resulting in less salt wasted on roadsides and shoulders. • Materials adhere to the pavement surface after being wet, and salt saturated with brine will have reduced bounce, leaving more salt on the roadway. • Melting action is accelerated because liquid is added to the salt. (Rock salt must first find moisture before it can begin to work.) • When dry materials are mixed with brine, application rates may be reduced as much as 20-30%, resulting in a dry material cost savings. Proven advantages of anti-icing with salt brine: • Application prior to a storm can help prevent snow and ice from bonding to pavement. • Helps keep roadway wet longer while crews respond to weatherrelated conditions. • Makes cleanup quicker. • Helps reduce equipment needs and labor hours.
Brine station control panel
Brine processor
Winter 2011
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Recycling—Get on Board!
Ron Sarrick, Buildings/Grounds and Sustainability Administrator To some degree, it seems as though recycling has been around forever. Over half a century ago, items were recycled because there was a need for the valuable resources at hand. The demand for some items exceeded the availability of many of the raw materials, so recycling was a good economic decision as well. In many cases the cost to recycle products proved to be less than processing new products from the stream of raw material. This was especially true during the World War II effort. Many metals and materials were recycled and diverted from everyday products to the making of tanks and guns to supply our troops. It was not uncommon to see recycle vendors soliciting neighborhoods to collect old clothing, rags, iron, and all sorts of metals. Over the course of decades, all of these recyclables have had value in our society.
Recycling Competition
The Recycling Competition of 2011 is coming to an end. Eleven South Hills communities were engaged in this friendly effort to increase the awareness of recycling. The winners of the competition will enjoy bragging rights for having successfully accumulated the most residential tonnage and/ or the highest percent of increase of recycled items over 2010 numbers. Based on the residential municipal carrier tonnage collected for the year, it does not include e-waste or sensitive document shredding. There is a good chance that the competition will continue to 2012. So let’s get ready to give our best for another go-round. You can find recycling competition information on the USC Public Access channel via Comcast or Verizon or you can visit www.twpusc.org to get this and other Township-related information.
However, after the war we morphed into a disposable or “throw-away” society where products were mostly inexpensive imports and substitute materials that were less durable. America now needed a place to get rid of damaged or worn items that began to clutter our homes and countryside. The constant stream of cups, drink containers, cartons, crates, dispensers, paper, and cardboard—the list could go on for pages—created a need for a better method of retrieving useful materials from the stream of waste. Inexpensive goods flooded the market. Manufacturers began to use less durable materials to cut product costs, which also became a bargain for the end user. Plastics, vinyl, and fiberglass entered almost all sectors of manufacturing. Items that were once made of steel, metal, or wood could be molded using any of these other materials as a less expensive alternative. The end user’s dollar went further and it became commonplace to opt for less durable, less expensive good, thus giving up durability for a cheaper product. Initially, items became so inexpensive that consumers didn’t hesitate to make repeat purchases of the same product, as “normal” wear and tear was no longer normal. Enter the problem of how to dispose of the new stream of unwanted debris. We shifted more toward incineration and landfills and all the pollution and rubble that cheaply designed items brought to our thriving economy.
Bales of mixed plastic containers
Incineration, a controlled high temperature burning process that eliminates bulk and which has gone on for ages, reduced the size of the content to a fraction of its former size. The remains became another by-product which needed to be further handled. An adaption of this process now creates electricity from the harnessed energy that heat releases. The negative effect, however, is that byproduct particulates produced during incineration become airborne. The other waste disposal option to get rid of unwanted debris is to pack trash in the ground via landfills. There would be plenty of land that could be used for compacting waste as the need presented or, perhaps, not. Locating potential landfill sites is difficult, as property around urban areas available for this activity is scarce. Government regulations further reduce the possibility of acquiring fill space. Apparently, there is not as much willingness to give access and create these waste areas as
Food for Thought
Symbols for recycling are actually Mobius loops comprising three changing arrows used to form a triangle. This Mobius loop was designed by Gary Anderson, a 23-year-old-college student in the late 1960s to 1970. The design was the winning entry for an art contest sponsored by a Chicago-based recycled paperboard company to raise environmental awareness amongst high schools and colleges across the country. * * Source: Wikipedia.com 52
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Cans and steel containers loaded via a magnet crane Material for recycling loaded onto truck Winter 2011
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USC Pays Tribute to Our Public Works Employees
Upper St. Clair Township residents generally have high expectations. And Upper St. Clair Township’s Public Works Department delivers! Meeting our needs and often exceeding our expectations are the many employees of Public Works. Give them a wave, a smile, and a warm “hello” when you see them around the Township, taking care of our community and always providing that extra helping hand. n
USC Township Public Works administration staff, left to right, are Rich Botz, Char Adams, Dave Kutschbach, Ron Sarrick, Dan Flatz, Cathie Scudiero, Gary Schafer, and Debbi Yelich
USC Township Public Works maintenance crew, left to right, are Mike Inks, Mark Stalter, Walt Donaldson, Jimmy Stewart, Tom Welsh, Piero Pasquarelli, Ted Harms, Jim Kane, Don Echtler, Jason Hirt, Dale Harris, Jeff Otto, Nick Medvid, Mike Moore, Ken Churney, and Tom Skiba. Missing from photo are Jeff Charlier, Mike Deferio, Butch Hagan, Bill Pinto, Gary Pitchok, and Gary Vodzak.
E-Waste Event in USC
first thought. Regulation and public pressure have a lot to do with this position. And there is always the question: What can be done with the land afterward? Considering this question should inspire us to be more in tune with recycling. Face the reality. Some of us find recycling challenging, while others view it as a mild inconvenience. The residential recycling movement has been going on in our area for about 30 years. Yet, we are still not as effective at it as we should be. Now is as good of a time as any to minimize our trash and make efforts to increase our recycling habits! So, where does all this lead? Increasing our commitment to recycling makes us more committed to use items that will never see a landfill and can be reused in our everyday lives. It also defines us as a community of people willing to do what it takes to be more considerate of our environment. This is just another small step in creating a better place for us to live. Won’t you give your best effort to reduce, reuse, and recycle? n
On Saturday, September 10, USC held an e-waste and sensitive document destruction event, giving residents a chance to rid their homes of unwanted items while helping the environment. n
Another load
Truck at the USC lot
USC resident awaits her
hits the feed
ing table.
USC resident disposes of e-waste. certificate of disposal.
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Beating Cabin Fever at The Outdoor Classroom Lauren Brush and Jessica Kester
As 2011 comes to a close, The Outdoor Classroom would like to share some ways that you can continue to enjoy the outdoors in Boyce Mayview Park or your own favorite park and beat the cabin fever that we all know is bound to come as the weather cools! There are so many things to love about autumn! The mild weather, beautiful leaves, holidays, and fun festivals make it a great time to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you’re into hiking on your own or as a group, The Outdoor Classroom has many family-friendly opportunities for you to explore the outdoors as autumn nears its end. There are two Moonstruck Full Moon Hikes left in 2011 and both will prove to be wonderful events. The Moonstruck hikes are a great way to experience nature after dark under the light of a full moon. Classroom staff will cover various topics ranging from nighttime creatures to astronomy and folklore. Don’t worry, Moonstruck hikes for 2012 dates will be posted on the website soon! Speaking of The Outdoor Classroom’s website, be sure to keep your eyes open for a brand new look coming early 2012 to www.TheOutdoorClassroomPA.org with new features and photos! Will you be one of our enthusiastic outdoorsman faces on the website or our Facebook page? Don’t forget to check! Were you noticed at this year’s third annual Bounty of Boyce Mayview Park Fall Fest on November 12? Hopefully you joined in on a guided hike, decorated pumpkins, and made fall-themed recycled crafts in the Learning Lab or played around and took photos on the interactive hay structure. Or were you at the Community & Recreation Center for the pumpkin plunge, baking contest, face painting, balloon animals, and cider tasting? As the autumn colors fade and winter blows in, we know it’s not the first season that comes to mind when we think of outdoor activities, but there are still plenty of ways to enjoy nature this coming season. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing on the trails at Boyce Mayview Park are great ways to stay physically active and outdoors in the winter. For those who enjoy natural history, this time of year is a great time to learn tree identification by bark. Shagbark Hickory, Winter campers on the floodplain Black Cherry, Sycamore, and Hackberry are just a few tree
Building an igloo
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www.TheOutdoorClassroomPA.org
species that are easily identifiable by their bark. Even though the lack of leaves during the colder seasons makes plant identification a new challenge, the lack of foliage is great for bird watching. Whether you’re a novice birder or someone who has their very own life list of birds they’ve seen, you can always learn more about common winter birds at the Talk-n-Walk: Winter Birding on Sunday, December 4. The workshop is also a great way to hone your skills to take part in the annual Pittsburgh South Hills Bird Circle Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 17, led by the Upper St. Clair Citizens for Land Stewardship. No need to be an avid birder to help out. You can join The Outdoor Classroom and other groups of experienced birders and learn as you help scientists compile migration and over wintering The cardinal
data on a variety of bird species. The cost of $5 per person goes directly to the Audubon Society. All participants will receive a national bird count report using data collected by people just like you! Praying Mantis egg case— When the snow starts to easy to find during the winter! pile up and children (and parents) become restless, The Outdoor Classroom will offer two wonderful ways to get your youngsters up and out of the house, expending some energy. On Saturday, February 25, The Outdoor Classroom will offer two great winter programs for young girls. The Winter Fun Day for Brownie Girl Scouts and interested girls in second and third grade takes the scouts on a fun winter hike while they work on completing their Senses Try-It. The Frosty Fun Day for Junior Girl Scouts and interested girls in grades four and five involves snow art and a snowless snowball fight while the scouts complete their Frosty Fun Badge. Both programs include a participation patch from The Outdoor Classroom. Don’t forget to bring your mugs for a warm treat! So when it comes to spending time outside, The Outdoor Classroom finds it hard to pick a favorite time of year. Each season offers something fresh and exciting to experience. Enjoy this winter season here at The Outdoor Classroom and elsewhere, too. Happy hiking! n
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Winter Pruning
Gary Schafer, Parks and Forestry Administrator Winter is a great time to get back outside and continue to landscape your yard. This is the dormant growing season for the trees and shrubs in your landscape gardens, and it offers an optimal time to safely prune those plants. With proper pruning techniques you can dramatically improve the look of your landscape and reduce potential safety issues of branch failure. Most trees and shrubs respond well to pruning during the plants dormant growing season, which, in our area, is November through March. Pesky insects that run the risk of plaguing your trees with terminal diseases have become less active and found a place to lie dormant for the cold winter. For example, the Nitidulid beetle is attracted to the fresh sap of your oak tree when pruned during the growing season. This insect is a major vector in the spread of Oak Wilt, a highly contagious and rapidly spreading terminal disease. Under certain moisture and temperature conditions, compact masses of spore-producing fungal material known as “spore mats” are sometimes formed on oak trees that have been killed by Oak Wilt. The Nitidulid beetles visit the sweet smell of the spore mats and carry the Oak Wilt fungus from tree to tree. Once your tree has become infected with Oak Wilt, there is nothing that can be done to save it. Other healthy oak trees in the surrounding area become at risk of attracting the disease due to the inter-connection of the roots grafted together. By properly pruning your oak trees in the winter months, your tree is less susceptible to attracting this insect, which, too, is not actively moving around from tree to tree. The proper pruning of the oak tree also improves the structural stability of the tree and reduces the risk of summer storm damage, thus making your tree less vulnerable to attracting the disease. Other tree considerations of winter pruning would be to inspect your plants along the roadways. Pruning your trees along the roadways allows for the safe passage of vehicles and pedestrians on the streets. Once the leaves have fallen from your trees, it is a little easier to see where to prune the branches that extend into the road ways, causing safety concerns. Pruning your plants along the roadways reduces potential damage to school bus lights, salt and delivery vehicle mirrors, garbage truck obstructions, private vehicles, and personal injury along sidewalks from encroaching tree limbs. Trees that extend over the roadway are required to be maintained at a minimum of 13 feet of vertical clearance above the edge of the road to ensure the safe passage for vehicles. Evergreens should not extend over the roadway. Sidewalks should have an eight foot clearance. The recommended method to remove tree limbs or uplift the crown is to cut the limbs at the branch collar close to the trunk. Happy pruning! n
Diane Horvath, GRI, CRS Let my over 25 years of experience go to work for you.
• Top Producer • Member of Top 1% of Realtors Nationwide • Listing and Sales Leader • Relocation Specialist Office: 412-833-3600 ext. 219 Cell: 412-491-6984 Howard Hanna - USC Office 180 Fort Couch Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241
dhorvath@howardhanna.com
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T Adult Department Focus on India
Join in for a fascinating look at India; its culture, customs, and cuisine. Terry Jeggle, visiting professor at the University of Pittsburgh, and Maneesha Kumar-Cleetus will lead this two-part series. To register, call the library. Thursday, December 1, 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, December 8, 1-3:30 p.m.
the Library Computer Furniture Upgrade Planned
Give us your email address! We’ll send you: • An email when your hold is ready • Courtesy reminders three days before your items are due • Notification when items become overdue You can also opt into a new e-newsletter service providing alerts about upcoming library programs and events. Simply reply to register! You can add an email address to your account online yourself or stop at any service desk and library staff will add your email address to your account information.
Adult Summer Reading 2011— Novel Destinations
The highlight of this past summer’s adult program was the ice cream social end of Summer Reading gala held at the Community Center on McLaughlin Run Road. An overflow crowd of all ages enjoyed ice cream sundaes and listened to music by members of the Pittsburgh Banjo Club. Both the entertainment and refreshments were underwritten by Friends of the Library of Upper St. Clair. Adult summer reading participants who turned in tickets as they read books were eligible to enter drawings for five bags of country-themed prizes.
Library patron computers on the adult floor are moving to a new home! Wonderful new computer furniture is being installed soon which will greatly increase the amount of space available at each station. A new location will also eliminate the glare created by the wind o w s w h e re the computers are currently stationed. Grouped around core towers, which supply clutterfree power and data to each set of tables, the hexagonal units make efficient use of floor space. A pneumatic high adjustment on one will enable a lower height or standing height work surface as needed. Installation is planned for November.
The lucky drawing winners, left to right, were Janice Kincaid, Marjorie Thomas, Susan Balukin, Joan Smith, and Janet Norkus
Harmony: Mind, Body Spirit Concert
The year of events associated with the library’s collection of Harmony materials ended with a grand finale concert by the musical group Life in Balance. Crystal bowls and flutes were combined with new age technology to create a soundscape of vibrational energy. Thanks to the Friends of the Library who underwrote the cost of this concert.
The audience feels the vibrations.
Ami Scuilli, playing the crystal bowls
Steve Scuilli, with the electronic flute 56
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T Adult Department Conversation Salon-Discussion Group
Become an active participant in the larger world around you, develop the skills of good conversation, and connect with others in your community. That’s what the Conversation Salon-Discussion Group is all about! Each discussion group is a unique mix of personalities. Members of the group select the subjects they wish to discuss. Topics are drawn from diverse sources such as current events, social and cultural issues, politics, ethics, entertainment, and science and technology. Participants don’t argue or debate, but rather listen respectfully to the thoughts and opinions of others. There’s no preparation necessary. Listen if you wish. Talk if you like. Everyone is welcome! The Conversation Salon-Discussion Group meets the first Friday of each month, 10 a.m.If you have an apple noon, in the Library Multipurpose Room. Call the library for more information. and I have an apple Examples of topics previously discussed and we exchange these include: apples, then you and I • How can we improve public schools? • Is marriage still necessary today? will still have one apple. • How are global warming and other enviBut if you have an idea ronmental issues impacting the world? • Is there a difference between wisdom and and I have an idea knowledge? and we exchange these • Is the family growing weaker or stronger, ideas, then each of us and why? • What makes life happy, satisfying, and will have two ideas. meaningful?
–George Bernard Shaw
Monthly Activities Meeting Dates
(Activities are held in the Library Multipurpose Room, unless otherwise stated.) • Conversation Salon-Discussion Group First Friday of each month 10 a.m.-noon • Cooks Book Group First Wednesday of each month 7-8 p.m., Library’s second floor. • Global, Issues Third Wednesday of each month 10-11:30 a.m. • Library Ladies Book Group Fourth Tuesday of each month 7-8 p.m. • Men’s Book Group First Tuesday of each month 7-8 p.m. • Mystery Readers Book Group Third Thursday of each month 2-3 p.m. • Yarn Works! Second and fourth Saturday of each month 10 a.m.-noon, Library’s second floor
USCconnect
Can’t get out to the library? A new USC service, USCconnect, is in the development stages to deliver library materials to your door, including regular and large print books, audio books, and DVDs. You are eligible for delivery service if you have a short- or long-term illness, a senior non-driver status, a physical challenge, or a visual disability. Examples of people who might use this service are a pregnant woman on bed rest, a person with a broken leg, or a person undergoing treatment for a serious illness. Call the library at 412-835-5540 and ask for Diane or Helen: • if you have questions, • if you would like to volunteer to deliver materials to a USC resident requesting this service, or • to name someone who might need this service. Winter 2011
Upcoming Adult Programs
(Programs begin at 7 p.m., unless stated otherwise. Call the library to register.) • November 14: Meditation, presented by Dorit Brauer, certified reflexologist and guided imagery teacher • December 1: Focus on India (Part one): culture, customs and history, presented by Terry Jeggle, visiting professor at the University of Pittsburgh • December 3: Silk Painting for the Holidays, presented by Colleen Miles, USC librarian (10 a.m.-noon) • December 8: Focus on India (Part two): Indian dining, food prep, and sampling, presented by Maneesha Kumar-Cleetus (1-3:30 p.m.) • December 5: Yoga: History and Explanation, presented by Gary Carlisle, registered yoga instructor UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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T Kids Department Don’t Wait for Summer— Sign Up for a Winter Reading Program Be a Smart Cookie—Read! Students K-2 are invited to join our sweet winter reading program “Be a Smart Cookie.” When you sign up you will receive a game card to complete with a parent, grandparent, or caregiver. Follow the instructions found on each cookie of the game board. For every five cookies you complete, you will get a paper cookie to add to our cookie jar. Complete all 20 squares and you’ll receive a sweet treat. Winter Reading begins Wednesday, January 4. Family Battle of the Books It’s time for the sixth annual Family Battle of the Books. Teams of kids in third and fourth grades and a parent read books, and then gather at the library for a question and answer style competition. Teams play for individual points, and in more recent years, school glory. Last year saw Streams Elementary School sweeping the competition. This year it could be your turn to bring the prize to your school! Families may begin registering on Monday, January 16 at the library. Each member of the team will read the ten books selected for the program. Teams will receive the official book list at the time of registration. The registration period will last until Friday, February 3. Teams will have until the date of the Battle to read all ten books. This year’s Family Battle of the Books will occur on Monday, March 5 at 6 p.m. in the Library Multipurpose Room 1, located on the first floor. Teen Battle of the Books The Teen Battle of the Books, for kids in seventh through 11th grades, pits teen against teen in a showdown of ultimate book knowledge. Teams of two teens may begin registering on Monday, January 16 at the library. Each member of the team will read the five books selected for the program. Teams will receive the official book list at the time of registration. The registration period will last until Friday, February 3. Teams will have until the date of the Battle to read all five books. This year’s Teen Battle of the Books will occur on Monday, March 12 at 6 p.m. in the Children’s Library.
onfiction rarian, ading n e Dear Lib r e k li a fan of child em to be Will my se ’t sn e o e d books? H t . d Paren n o ti fic Intereste me they don’t to kids who tell s Dear Parent, ok bo n tio ic d information mend nonf present facts an I often recom s ok bo n ences tio fic ited life experi tion. Non Kids have lim like to read fic ts. en ev r d ei an th , places tending about subjects, resource for ex of all oks are a great bo books for kids n n tio tio ic ic nf nf no no ve and ha e W . d knowledge experiences an . g abilities. in rest your child ad re ages and topics that inte on autifully s be ok e bo ar g s tin ok le. Most bo Start by selec ab ch oa e and pr ap ’s your child ag tion is very ures. Consider Today’s nonfic ct pi or s ph ra photog . propriate book illustrated with bjects selecting an ap n he out favorite su w ab el ad lev re g be n ca readin s ok fo bo suggested r n picture Easy nonfictio y nonfiction is as E e. n is nc da d saurs, an venile nonfictio like trucks, dino d grade and ju ir our th in h s ug ok ro bo th n school . Nonfictio es ad gr es. kids from preth gh gr ei and second ad urth through readers in first suggested for fo w e ne th r es fo t elv ea iction sh ns are gr owsing the nonf reader collectio d your kids br an u yo e se to Hope . visit the library next time you Sincerely, an Your Librari Debra Conn,
January 16 or January 19 and ends on either February 13 or February 16. (The start date/end date will depend upon whether your kid(s) will be working with me on Monday evenings or with Ms. Colleen on Thursday evenings.) Final performances of the plays will take place at area assisted living facilities with performance dates to be determined. Budding thespians in grade five or higher are invited to join Ms. Colleen and me for this fun and exciting program. We are looking for kids who are interested in acting. Scripts in hand during all practices and the final performances will allow the kids to hone their read-aloud skills. A behind the scenes option is also available for help with set design and building. There’s an option for everyone to participate! Registration begins Wednesday, January 4, 2012.
Teen Reader’s Theater Hello everyone, my name is Ms. Sheri, and I work in the Children’s Department of the Upper St. Clair Library. For several years now, I have been working with my co-worker, Ms. Colleen, on a Teen Reader’s Theater group. Based upon feedback from last year’s participants, we have chosen to perform Macbeth and Hamlet. We had such fun with last year’s Shakespearian comedies that the kids decided they wanted to try their hands at some tragedies. The scripts chosen are shortened and simplified for this age group. This program will run for five weeks beginning on either 58
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Participants in Teen Reader’s Theatre
T Kids Department Winter Programs for Kids
Registration for winter programs begins Wednesday, January 4. Programs begin the week of January 16 and run through February 24. Babies & Toddlers Children ages 4 to 24 months with a parent, grandparent, or caregiver Mondays at 10 or 11 a.m. Tuesdays at 10 a.m. Twos & Threes Children 2 to 3 ½ years of age with a parent, grandparent, or caregiver Tuesdays at 11 a.m. Wednesdays or Thursdays at 10 or 11 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 at 1:45 p.m. Fridays at 10 a.m. or 1:45 p.m. Science & Math in the Library Children 5 years of age or older who are not yet in first grade Wednesdays at 10 a.m. or 1:45 p.m. Library Explorers Children who are currently in kindergarten Tuesdays at 10 a.m. or 1:45 p.m. BookTrek: Our Amazing World Children in 1st-4th grades Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Wednesdays at 4 p.m. Beginning Chess with Eric Berthoud Kids in 1st-8th grades accompanied by a parent Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Kids Read at the Library
It was a great summer of reading at the library! Kids and teens, 1425 of them, registered for one of three library reading programs: Reading Together, Summer Reading, and the new Teen Read. Thank you to all who contributed to these reading programs. Library Summer Reading corporate and government supporters include: Friends of the Upper St. Clair Township Library, Allegheny County (Wave Pool), Applebee’s, Ardolino’s Pizza, Carnegie Museum of Art and History, Carnegie Science Center, Chick-fil-A, Community and Recreation Center at Boyce Mayview Park, Donut Services Group, Inc., Eat’n Park Restaurant, Gateway Clipper Fleet, Learning Express Toys, Little Lake Theatre Company, Loafers, Pati Petite Cookies, Inc., Pepperoni’s, Phipps Conservatory, The Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, The Pittsburgh Pirates, The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, RAD, Red Robin, Rice Enterprises LLC (McDonald’s), Rita’s Italian Ice, Senator John Heinz History Center, Snapology, StonePepper’s Grill, and TGI Friday’s.
USC Township Library Hours Monday–Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Outside book and video return available 24/7. Items collected daily at 9 a.m. The library closes at 5 p.m. on November 23 and is closed on November 24 and November 25 (Thanksgiving); is closed December 24, December 25, and December 26 (Christmas); and closes at 1 p.m. on December 31, and is closed January 1 and January 2 (New Year’s).
www.twpusc.org/library
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USC Recreation and
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C&RC Expands “Healthy Choices” for Our Community
The Community & Recreation Center has recently unveiled a variety of new active programs that highlight healthy choices. To learn more about some of these programs see below, or about the C&RC and its wide range of offerings, visit www.livesmarterplayharder.org or call 412-221-1099.
Get Up and Go Challenge– Grades 3-5 Are you trying to stay active during the school year? The Get Up and Go Challenge is a great way to keep kids active. This program will allow participants to compete in fun fitness activities, including obstacle courses and team events. Along with the program sessions, the kids will be motivated to earn points for their team at home by making healthy eating choices, partaking in physical activity, and doing well in school. This program is a great way for parents to motivate their kids to stay healthy in all aspects of their lives while school is in session. T’ai-Chi—Great for Seniors! T’ai-Chi Ch’uan is an ancient form of Chinese exercise unlike any western exercise. T’ai-Chi unifies your mind and your body while using ancient principals in a series of movements. T’ai-Chi aids in developing patience, balance, coordination, and concentration and is considered to be healing to many people. T’ai-Chi is suitable for anyone looking to improve his or her overall health. No prior experience required. Wear loose fitting clothes. Offered Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-noon and Thursdays, 7-8 p.m. Upcoming Events—Save the Date
Holiday Mitten & Hat Donation December 1-15
Holidays at the C&RC Saturday, December 3
New Year Wellness Fair Saturday, January 7
MLK Day of Service for Grades 1-6 Monday, January 16
Third annual Chili Golf Classic Saturday, January 28 Family Prom–Friday, February 10 Blood Drive–Tuesday, March 6
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Live Smarter: Eating for a Healthy Body–Girls ages 12-17 Remember when you were a teenager and tried crazy diets with your friends? Interested in teaching your teenage girl what healthy eating really means? Each session of this six-week class will help teenagers understand how to eat for a healthy body, dispel myths regarding fad diets, and build a positive body image. Three classes will also include a cooking demonstration and tasting. Instructors: Lindsay Schmitz MS, RD, LDN, C&RC dietitian, Beth Ellis, cooking instructor, Young Chefs® Academy, and additional guest speaker New! Athlete and Family Personal Training The C&RC now offers both student athletes and families an opportunity to participate in personal training. Personal training applications are available at the C&RC. To learn more, call 412-221-1099, ext. 619.
MLK Day of Service— Grades 1-6 See information on page 62.
Family Prom Join in the fun with an event that was a smashing success last year! Dress up for a night of fun and dancing, but most importantly to create memories that will last a lifetime. Art projects, a family photo, food, and music are included. Put on your dancing shoes and join us for a night to remember! Day/Date: Friday, February 10, 2012 Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m. Place: C&RC Community Rooms Fee: Call 412-221-1099 for more information. Winter 2011
Youth and Family Karate As a holder of a seventh degree black belt, chief instructor Chuck Kerrigan began his training in 1985 and currently owns and operates TKA of Pittsburgh. His primary program is teaching karate as it was meant to be taught—as an exercise and self-defense. But the driving force behind TKA is the desire to make participants feel better about themselves, both physically and mentally. The C&RC now offers TKA karate classes for pre-schoolers through adults including Little Tigers, Family Karate, and Karate for Youth. Class goals are for students to each gain a sense of accomplishment, a positive self-image, self-defense, and life skills. Little Tigers Introduction to karate–ages 4-6 Day: Thursday Date(s): Session II–December 1-January 26 Time: 3:30–4 p.m. Family Karate Ages 6 and up with parent or caregiver Day: Wednesday Date(s): November 30–January 25 Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Karate for Youth Ages 7-12 Day: Thursday Date(s): Session I –December 1-January 26 Time(s): 4:15-4:45 p.m.–white belt with stripes, 4:45-5:15 p.m.–beginners To l e a r n m o re a b o u t u p c o m i n g karate classes, visit the C&RC or call 412-221-1099.
Family Prom
Leisure Services Kids Just Wanna Have Fun Holiday Camp Have some fun while you’re home over winter break! Come to a holiday break camp to do all sorts of fun stuff. We’ll be romping indoors and out (weather permitting), swimming, doing arts and crafts, playing games, and having a great time. Pack a lunch—you’ll need the fuel for the afternoon of fun!
Days: Dates: Times: Place: Fee:
Tuesday–Friday December 27–December 30 9 a.m.-1 p.m., ages 5-6 9 a.m.-3 p.m., ages 7-12 C&RC as posted $60–C&RC member $65–Resident non-member $70–Surrounding community non-member
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Give the Gift of Health Looking for a new holiday gift idea? C&RC gift cards are a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer! Gift cards can be used for all C&RC programs, personal training, camps, swim lessons, day passes, memberships, and more!
Offerings for Older Adults USC Township’s Recreation
and Leisure Services Department offers many opportunities for older adults to be active and engaged. Want some companionship and fun? There are many activities to choose from. • Luncheon and a program every Wednesday at noon. The United Senior Citizens of Upper St. Clair meets at the Recreation Center on McLaughlin Run Road. There is no fee for Silver Card holders. • Day trips to various places. • Game and Card Club, first Thursday of the month, 1:30-3:30 p.m., in the C&RC. There is no fee for this program. • Movie Day, third Thursday of the month, 12:30 p.m., in the C&RC. There is no fee for this program. In the mood for some physical activity? Try a class at the C&RC. Here
are a few suggestions: • Senior Fit—a training class designed to increase stamina, strength, range of motion, and muscular flexibility • Functional Fitness Program—a lower intensity, yet high quality, fitness class with a total body wellness approach
• Zumba Gold—the latest exercise dance craze, this class is designed for the older adult. No experience necessary • From the Aquatics Department—try Water Walking, Aqua Motion, or a class offered by a certified instructor from the Arthritis Foundation • Walking Club—meeting Mondays and Thursdays, this group walks the indoor low-impact track, then gathers for coffee and social time. Coaching and seminars are offered. Driver improvement classes are offered and presented by Seniors for Safe Driving. Pennsylvania insurance laws provide for at least a five percent discount on your automobile insurance premium upon successful completion of this course. Celebrations! United Senior Citizens of Upper St. Clair announce upcoming special birthdays: Liz Jawela–November 17 Alfred Fiumara–December 1 Betty Zhu–December 15 Tom Atkins–December 21 Jeannette Hitchens–December 25 Youzhen Zhang–January 25 Malinda Kelly–March 18
Is there something you’d like to see, or need more details about something listed here? Contact Amy Kerman, Older Adult Coordinator, at 412-221-1099, ext. 603 or at kerman@twpusc.org. Senior Walking Club Walk for fitness! Improve your cardiovascular strength and balance; assist with weight control; decrease your risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke; fight depression; improve sleep; and have more zest and energy! Walk with friends and meet new exercise buddies! • Open to 15 people, age 50 and up • Meets twice weekly; walk anytime between 9:15-11 a.m. • Coffee and social time available before and after your walk • Club meetings, and coaching and seminars offered Days: Mondays and Thursdays Session II: October 31–December 15 (no meeting November 24) Session III: January 2–February 23 (no meeting January 16) Session IV: February 27–April 19 Time: 9:15-11 a.m. Place: C&RC lounge and track Age Requirement: Adult, age 50 and up Fee: $15 Register: Visit the C&RC Administration or Control Desk
Resources for Seniors Silver Card
Offered by USC Township to residents age 62 and retired or age 65 with no restrictions. Card admits holder to Municipal three-hole golf course, outdoor tennis facilities, and other activities free of charge. Applications at Community & Recreation Center at Boyce Mayview Park.
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 at School District reception desk at 1820 McLaughlin Run Road. Winter 2011
ACCESS 65 PLUS is a shared-ride transportation service program for senior citizens age 65 and older. Contact Amy Kerman, Upper St. Clair Township older adult 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. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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T Directory of Important Numbers Police/Fire/Ambulance Emergency
412-833-7500 • 724-941-7500 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 or 724-941-7500 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 Robert C. Wyda (District Justice) 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 USC Chamber of Commerce 412-833-9111 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 62
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
C&RC Making News
Upper St. Clair’s Community & Recreation Center at Boyce Mayview Park continues to make an impact, not only within our community, but in recognition both regionally and nationally, as well. Pittsburgh Magazine recently recognized Upper St. Clair as one of its “Best of the Burbs” not only because of our award winning School District, but also for the facilities and programs at the C&RC (http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/City-Guide/ August-2011/Best-of-the-Burbs/index.php?cparticle=3&siarticle=2#artanc). The C&RC was featured in Aquatics International for adopting the modified Note & Float program for aquatic birthday parties, resulting in a significant drop in the number of water rescues and increasing water safety awareness among parents (http://www.aquaticsintl. com/2011/may/1105_rm.html). The C&RC’s ADA compliance was recognized in the National Parks and Recreation Association Magazine (http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nrpa/201105/index.php#/64), and the C&RC was also featured in Athletic Business Magazine, the leading resource for athletic, fitness, and recreation professionals (http://athleticbusiness.com/galleries/project.aspx?id=477). Paul Besterman, director of Recreation and Leisure Services, said this type of recognition says a lot about the impact the C&RC has on the region and how it enhances the quality of life in Upper St. Clair and surrounding areas. n
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service A Day On, Not a Day Off! In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday as a national day of service. Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service—“a day on, not a day off.” The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Life’s most urgent and persistent question is: What are you doing for others?” Dr. King challenged us to build a more perfect union and taught us that everyone has a role to play in making America what it ought to be. The Upper St. Clair Department of Recreation and Leisure Services will be a part of the 26th annual Martin Luther King Day of Service on January 16, 2012. Volunteers at the C&RC will join hundreds of thousands of Americans who participate in MLK Day of Service projects in all 50 states. This day honors Dr. King’s legacy and commitment to transforming our nation through service to others. “Dr. King’s life of service continues to inspire us more than 40 years after his death,” said Paul Besterman, director of USC’s Recreation and Leisure Services Department. “There is no more fitting way to honor Dr. King’s memory than by serving others, particularly those most in need.” The C&RC will spend part of the “day on” doing various community service projects that benefit our greater community, including making “plarn” from plastic grocery bags that are crocheted into mats for the homeless. If you have a special project on which you’d like us to work, contact USC’s Community Programs Department at 412-221-1099. The program is open to all students in grades 1-6; students in grade 7 and higher may register to be group leaders or assistants. Adult volunteers are welcome too! The program runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $15 and includes all supplies, snacks, and a T-shirt. After completing the service projects, participants will enjoy some treats and casual recreation in the C&RC. Wear comfortable clothes and sneakers, and bring a bag lunch. You may also bring canned goods to donate to the food bank and/or books to donate to Children’s Hospital. To register for MLK Day of Service, stop by the C&RC or visit livesmarterplayharder.org. Advance registration is required. n Winter 2011
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Staff of the C&RC—Here to Serve The Community & Recreation Center at Boyce Mayview Park has entered its third year of providing health and wellness to the South Hills community. This jewel of our community located on Mayview Road is further enhanced by its engaging staff members available to answer questions, offer classes, lead tours, and keep it spruced up and welcoming—all to keep you on your road to wellness. If you’ve not yet taken the opportunity to visit the C&RC, you should do so now and find out about the many self guided offerings and classes providing land and water fitness activities to the community. It’s the place to “fit” in and be “fit!” See this page for “free day pass” coupon from the C&RC. n Administrative staff, left to right, Storm Foreman, Sarah Povazan, Lynn Walcoff, Kristen Knittel, Julie Shriver. Inset photo: Amy Kerman.
Maintenance staff, left to right: Bill Sommers, Kevin Ansell, Jeremy Lemley
Fitness and Aquatics staff, left to right, Katie Stache, Emily Memo, Melissa Lindberg, Bobby Davenport, Chris Biswick
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USC TOWNSHIP
BULLETIN BOARD W i n t e r
2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2
Dog Owners Purchase a County license for dogs three months or older by January 1 every year. Applications are available at the Township reception desk. Visit http://www.twpusc.org/police/ animals/index.html to download and print the online annual dog license application (available in pdf format).
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Fines can be up to $300 a day for each unlicensed dog.
You are invited to participate in the
Township of Upper St. Clair’s Christmas Tree Recycling Project! Township of without Upper decorations, St. Clair’s Bring your tree, Christmas Tree upper Recycling to the YMCA parkingProject! lot
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The Township has partnered with Whitetail Management Associates and contracted 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 alltime high number of reported deer vehicle collisions (207). The Township reversed this trend through more aggressive culling efforts and last year saw the reported accidents drop to 73. The deer population in some areas of the Township appears to be normalized. However, due to limited culling opportunities in other 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 has been 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. n
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Deer Management Update
Code requirements concerning animal control can be found on the Township website at www.twpusc.org.
2011-2012 Trash and Recycling Holiday Collection Week of Thanksgiving Day Wednesday, November 23 (no change) Friday, November 25 (Delayed one day) Week of Christmas Regular schedule Week of New Year’s Regular schedule
January 2-23, 2012. The trees will be ground for mulch for residents’ use.
Please remove all plastic tree bags! For more information, call 412-831-9000, extension 271 or visit www.twpusc.org. 64
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2011 Fall Yard Debris and Leaf Waste Collection—Saturdays
Place your fall yard debris and leaf waste in compostable paper bags, then place the bags at curbside by 6 a.m. the morning of pick up. The final two fall collections will take place Saturdays: November 19 and December 3.
T Flag Finds Home at USCVFD
It’s been three quarters of the way around the world, but a very special flag will soon find a permanent home at the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department. The 48-star flag once belonged to Peters Township resident Bernie Singer. Singer, who had been a teacher with the Canon-McMillan School District, and his first wife, Marguerite, never had children, but one of his former students, Vince Crider, said that he and Bernie became so close that Bernie considered Crider his adopted son. Crider explained that the Singers were a very patriotic family, and that the flag was given to Marguerite’s mother when she retired from the postal service. “It’s been in the family a long time,” said Crider. Singer, who served in the military during World War II and Korea, carried the flag with him during his military service in Germany and on various islands in the Pacific. Crider recalled his first interaction with Singer, who taught electricity and electronics at Canon-Mac. “I wanted to get into his class,” said Crider, “so I went to talk to him. He gave me a box of junk and a manuscript and told me to take it home and make an electric motor. I took it home and came back the next day and gave him a motor. The next day I was in his class,” said Crider. After graduation, Crider went on to work for various companies, including Westinghouse, RCA, and Motorola. He said that Singer was always proud of what Crider accomplished professionally, especially when Crider was listed as communications manager for ABC during the 1980 Olympics. “Bernie was a motivator,” said Crider. “He asked me to speak to his students and he often invited other successful graduates back to speak to his current students.” “I never thought of them as anything other than parents,” said Crider. He said that when he and his wife, Connie, adopted their daughter Katherine Lian, Bill and Marguerite served as godparents and often babysat for Katherine. “Bernie and Marguerite were the type
of people who were always paying it forward,” said Crider. “If they liked you, you were part of the family. If they thought you were worth something, they would do what they could to help you.” Crider said Carlow College once called Bernie because a student, a woman with children, was widowed and couldn’t afford to continue her education. Bernie paid her tuition until she finished her degree. Crider said the Singers met at Carlow College and donated a lot of money to the institution. After Bernie Singer died, his second wife held an estate sale, and the items that were not sold went to Crider. Crider donated most of the items to St. Benedict the Abbot Church, but kept the 48-star flag. Crider, who has the flag from Bernie Singer’s burial in the Cemetery of the Alleghenies, said he gave the 48-star flag to another of Bernie’s “sons” Dan McPoyle. McPoyle, a graduate of Bethel Park High School, said he was Bernie’s only son who wasn’t from Canon-Mac. McPoyle got to know Bernie and Marguerite from St. Benedict the Abbot Church, as well as the VFW. “The flag has always been important to me,” said McPoyle, “both as a veteran and an American. When I received the flag from Vince Crider, I told him I was going to donate it to honor Bernie.” As he was walking on the trail at Gilfillan Farm in Upper St. Clair one day, McPoyle said he looked at the fire station and thought he would ask the firefighters at the USCVFD if they would accept Bernie’s flag. McPoyle said he finished his walk and drove over to the station. He put on his vets hat and walked up to some of the volunteers, holding the old flag. “I introduced myself,” said McPoyle, “and told them I was a close friend of Bernie Singer and wanted to donate his flag from the estate of Bernie and Marguerite.” The flag is now in the process of being framed and will eventually be displayed in a place of honor at the fire station. n This story first appeared in The Almanac. Note: The 48-star flag, used from 1912 to 1959, is the second longest U. S. flag in use. Winter 2011
Spiritual Healing Expected Here for all mankind and you!
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST 1100 Washington Road • 412-561-1125
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Tri-Community South 2012 Subscription Drive Won’t You Join?
It is time once again for the Tri-Community South EMS annual subscription drive. Tri-Community South Emergency Medical Service would like to thank those who have supported the system with donations and through the subscription drive in 2011. Tri-Community South EMS has been providing emergency medical care since December 1977. The system is entering its 34th year with the help and support from the people it serves. Tri-Community South EMS takes pride in providing the highest possible level of emergency medical care to the community. It uses state-of-the-art equipment and technology in the hands of highly trained emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. The system proves its dedication to quality medical care by maintaining accreditation by the Commission on the Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). Tri-Community South is one of only 125 EMS agencies in North America to receive this accreditation. Tri-Community South depends on the support of the residents of Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park, and South Park through subscriptions and donations to continue to provide its valuable service. Your subscription helps to cover the cost of operating the ambulances 24-hours a day. Though EMS providers remain among the lowest-paid health care or public safety workers, operating costs like insurance continue to rise. Your subscription also helps to pay for ambulances and medical equipment such as cardiac monitors. This equipment has a long, but not unlimited service life. In 2012, Tri-Community South will need to replace three ambulances at a cost of approximately $130,000 each. Since 2001, Tri-Community South has received no money from municipal or township taxes. The system’s operating expenses of more than one million dollars each year are funded entirely through fees for service, third party insurance reimbursements, donations, and the annual subscription drive.
Preparing for Disaster
Tri-Community South EMS participated in the regional National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) drill at Pittsburgh International Airport this past August. The goal of the drill was to assess the ability of the local NDMS agencies to treat and transport a large number of disaster victims arriving in Western Pennsylvania from a remote location. Tri-Community South was a part of the transport contingent. Among the other participants in the drill were the 911th Airlift Group of the Air Force Reserve, the PA-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), the Civil Air Patrol, and about 20 Southwestern Pennsylvania EMS services. The Southwestern Pennsylvania area is one of several identified in the NDMS as having excellent capability to handle many medical and trauma patients from a remote disaster. Part of that capability is the availability of high-quality EMS services to 66
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The subscription rate remains at $60 a year. By comparison, many people will spend $30 per month or more ($360 per year) on membership fees to a gym or exercise club. Some of these people will not even go to the gym in a given year, but still pay the monthly membership fee “just in case” they want to go. At one-sixth the cost of a gym membership, an ambulance subscription is a much better “just in case” value! Your subscription to Tri-Community South EMS means that should you need medically necessary ambulance transportation, Tri-Community South EMS will accept reimbursement from your health insurance carrier as payment in full for the services rendered, and you will not receive any direct bill for these services. Non-subscribers must pay the full amount of the invoice, regardless of what the insurer pays. Most insurance companies cover only 80% of the ambulance bill, leaving the remaining 20% for you to pay. With your $60 per year subscription to TriCommunity South EMS you will not receive any direct bills for medically necessary emergency ambulance service, regardless of your insurance coverage. Your subscription covers any copayments or deductibles. Keep in mind that non-subscribers are responsible for full payment of all applicable charges, which can often exceed $600 per trip. So, go ahead and join. Won’t you? n
provide transport. Drills to practice and evaluate different parts of the response plan are held periodically, each with a slightly different scenario. The scenario for this year’s drill was that of a gulf coast hurricane that destroys the medical facilities of a number of large communities. The 911 th Airlift Group flies patients from these communities to Pittsburgh International Airport, where they are triaged and treated by DMAT personnel and transported by EMS agencies for treatment at the Pittsburgh region’s hospitals. In such a scenario, local providers would have about three days to assemble resources to prepare for the arrival of the injured. The focus of this year’s drill was the triage, treatment, and transfer of patients in the field treatment area at one of the hangars at the Air Force base, including the transfer of care from the airlift team Winter 2011
to the treatment personnel, and from the treatment personnel to the transport crews, and the staging of transport ambulances. Since neither the ambulance transportation nor receiving hospital aspects were being reviewed this year, the patients were not actually transported to area hospitals, but to a site on the air base. Evaluators from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assessed every aspect of the drill. This year’s drill proceeded smoothly and there were no obvious inadequacies. As in the past, FEMA evaluates every detail and makes recommendations that could lead to even better performance. n For more information on disaster management or for any other questions on emergency medical services, call Tri-Community South at 412-831-3710, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or visit www.tcsems.org.
FATIGATI/NALIN ASSOCIATES NOW IN PETERS.
Dr. DiTullio
Dr. Fatigati
Dr. Bhandarkar
Ou r p h y s i c i a n n e t wo r k co n t i n u e s t o g row. Fatigati/Nalin Associates has been providing a full spectrum of primary care to residents for more than 20 years. We’re expanding and welcoming patients at our new offices in Peters Township. To schedule an appointment please call 724-731-0090. 4000 WATERDAM PLAZA DRIVE
Nicholas P. DiTullio, M.D. earned his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,where he was awarded the James D. Heard Award for Best Senior Performance in Internal Medicine.He completed his training in internal medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. DiTullio is a certified medical director in long term care and board certified in internal medicine.
. SUITE 240 . MCMURRAY, PA 15317 . WWW.STCLAIR.ORG
Mario J. Fatigati, M.D. earned his medical degree at the University of Rome, Italy. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the former St. Francis Medical Center, Pittsburgh, where he later served as chief resident in internal medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine and holds specialty certification in Geriatric Medicine. He is a certified medical director in long term care.
Nithin V. Bhandarkar, D.O. earned his medical degree at the Western University of Health Science, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Pomona, Calif., and specializes in internal medicine. He completed his training in internal medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Mercy Hospital.
LIFE PLANNING
Early Detection of Breast Cancer—The Breast Self Exam Dr. Natalie Furgiuele, Breast Surgeon at Radiance Surgery Center It is common knowledge that the earlier a cancer is found the better chance for survival. It is no different with breast cancer. The largest risk factor is being female and aging. So, what’s a woman to do? Mortality has decreased significantly with the use of screening. Screening means looking for a disease when an individual is completely without symptoms, as opposed to “diagnostic” testing done to evaluate symptoms like breast pain or a breast lump, or to further investigate something new or a change in the breast seen on your routine mammogram. Current recommendations for screening are baseline mammography at age 35 and yearly from age 40 on. Unfortunately, there is no perfect X-ray! Breast imaging is pretty darn good, but it can miss up to 15% of all breast cancers. What about breast self exam? Anyone who has ever felt her breasts knows that there are plenty of “lumpy-bumpy” areas. Breast tissue changes in response to hormones and since it extends into the armpits, so can tenderness. Deciding whether an area is abnormal can be a dilemma. In my opinion, the best time to do your breast exam is after your menstrual cycle is finished. Breasts are primarily symmetrical, so one side should feel like the other side. Comparing the sides of each breast can help determine if there is an abnormality. If doing a breast self exam just causes too much anxiety, at least look at your breasts in the mirror occasionally. Raise your arms looking for retraction (pulling in of skin) around the nipple. Glance inside your bra to look for staining and at the nipple itself checking for crusting. 68
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“Drainage” depending on age, number of ducts involved, and medicines, can even be “physiologic” or normal. Do not compress the nipples since overzealous compression can cause bleeding. Drainage that is bloody, clear, or only from one duct can be more serious and needs to be further evaluated. Women may not feel comfortable doing a breast self exam. But as we age, so, too, does our risk increase. Try to be observant. Without coordination with breast imaging, breast self exam alone may not necessarily save lives. As a matter of fact, there was a recent suggestion in a local newspaper that perhaps breast self exam should be done away with completely. I strongly disagree. Of course, a breast exam should be part of your yearly physical exam done by your family physician or gynecologist. The bottom line is that you are your own best advocate. So if something doesn’t feel “quite right,” seek help from a medical professional. Because of its variability, it can be difficult to know if what you are feeling is really abnormal. It might take a few visits and some imaging to be certain, so follow through with a repeat exam if things do not seem to be resolving. Common sense should prevail. You can’t run away—your breasts go with you! Early detection can save lives. The breast self exam is simply one of the first steps in that direction. n Dr. Furgiuele also operates at St. Clair and Mon Valley Hospitals, UPMC South, and The Washington Hospital/Tri-State. She can be reached at 412-833-9722. See ad for RADIANCE Surgery Center on this page.
LIFE PLANNING
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tenacity
in the south hills, 888-833-5777/hefren.com
member SIPC
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LIFE PLANNING
Find strength in our care. HarmonyHospice 412.276.4700 • harmonyhospice.com Understanding Hospice and End of Life Care Daniel Erlanger, D.O., Fatigati-Nalin Associates/St. Clair Medical Services When to use hospice care continues to be poorly understood by both the community as well as health care providers. Hospice care is care that is provided when a terminally ill person is no longer seeking or benefitting from aggressive, life-sustaining treatments. The goal of hospice is to make the patient comfortable, encompassing the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient and those of the patient’s family. The hospice philosophy seeks to allow patients to maintain their dignity and to attain a degree of mental and spiritual preparation for death that is meaningful and satisfactory to them. There are several misconceptions regarding end of life care and hospice. Hospice, at its inception, was primarily utilized by patients suffering from a terminal cancer. Currently, more patients without cancer are taking advantage of the hospice benefit. Examples of other life-limiting illnesses include severe cardiac and pulmonary disease, large strokes, kidney failure, and even end stage dementia, among others. Patients who have a disease which their doctors feel will likely limit their life expectancy to six months or less if the disease runs its expected course are eligible and appropriate for hospice care. Another common misconception is that hospice hastens the dying process. Several reports have shown that hospice patients often live longer because they do not develop the many side effects of aggressive treatments and repeated hospitalizations. Additionally, because the focus is on quality of life and palliative treatments, patients and their families have a higher level of satisfaction. Patients who elect hospice care are not required to stop all other treatments and medications. Even though the goal of hospice is to treat the patient’s signs and symptoms of his or her disease, including pain, nausea, anorexia, anxiety, and fear, a care plan
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developed with hospice can allow for ongoing care of the patient’s other medical issues, like diabetes or hypertension. Hospice provides sensitive, dignified, and cost effective health care. Hospice is covered by the Medicare and Medicaid benefit as well as most private insurance carriers. Hospice services include medical and nursing care, home health aides to assist with patient hygiene, social services, grief and counseling services, and spiritual care. The goal is to provide a high level of care wherever the patient resides, whether at home, a personnel care home, skilled nursing facility, or in the hospital. The majority of hospice patients are able to stay in their current living situation throughout this process. It is appropriate to start thinking about hospice anytime during a lifelimiting illness. It is sometimes difficult for patients and their families to recognize that aggressive treatments are becoming less tolerated by the patient and also less effective than before. Patients and families should discuss with their physicians the options of hospice care versus the current care they are receiving. Electing hospice does require an order from a physician. Hospice care is a benefit to those with a life-limiting condition whose goal is directed toward the relief of symptoms rather than cure of the underlying disease. The medical community and general population are increasingly seeking out end-of -life options and care. A better understanding of the benefits of hospice care allows patients and their families to meet the goals of the dying patient. Upon request, all hospice providers will offer more detailed information and guidance. n
See ad for Harmony Hospice on this page.
LIFE PLANNING Is Heartburn Keeping You Up At Night? Dr. Mark Cedar
You knew you shouldn’t have eaten that
chili cheeseburger right before bed, but you just couldn’t resist. Now the burning in your chest has you worried that you’re going to go into full cardiac arrest. But, contrary to popular belief, heartburn isn’t a problem with your heart at all. Heartburn, commonly known as acid reflux, is one of the cardinal symptoms associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD has been defined as symptoms or mucosal damage produced by the abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. Common symptoms associated with GERD include food regurgitation and difficulty swallowing. Studies have shown that up to 26% of the population in the Western world suffers from weekly symptoms associated with GERD, according to a 2001 article in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Acid reflux often is confused with angina and is therefore one of the leading causes of emergency room visits and hospital admissions. Although it is typically described as a burning sensation in the upper abdomen or chest, heartburn also may present as chest pain, nausea, a lump in the throat, or difficulty swallowing. According to the 2003 American Journal of Gastroenterology, up to 78% of patients reflux nocturnally, so GERD is also a common cause of sleep disorders. Complications related to GERD include esophagitis, stricture, anemia, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma). In addition, a variety of extraesophageal manifestations have been described, including chronic cough, asthma, laryngitis, and bronchospasm. Upper endoscopy (EGD) is recommended for the initial evaluation of patients suspected to have GERD. Patients are sedated before endoscopy to prevent discomfort, and gastroenterologists insert a thin, lighted tube with a camera that allows them to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Endoscopy with biopsy is used to detect most cases of GERD. Treatment of GERD requires lifestyle modifications, such as weight loss and smoking cessation, as well as dietary changes, including limitations of caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, peppermint, and latenight eating. Antacids and non-prescription histamine-2 (H2) receptor antagonists, such as Ranitidine, often are sufficient for mild symptoms, but the stronger proton pump inhibitors, such as Omeprazole, are usually required for refractory GERD symptoms. Surgery and endoscopic techniques for treatment of GERD are generally reserved for patients with severe complications, such as strictures, advanced Barrett’s esophagus, or adenocarcinoma. n
Dr. Mark Cedar is a board-certified gastroenterologist, serving patients in the Pittsburgh area. See ad for South Hills Endoscopy on page 1.
“ When I moved to Country Meadows I left home responsibility behind. Here, everything is taken care of for you and your worries are gone.” ~ Jeanne Wood
Country Meadows resident since 2008
Life gets better. ®
Jeanne brought her memories with her to Country Meadows and left homeowner worries behind. Now Jeanne feels spoiled by people serving her dinner, cleaning her apartment, even planning a full social calendar. It gives her the gift of time to do the things she loves most.
3570 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, PA 15017
412.257.4581 | www.CountryMeadows.com A Continuing Care Retirement Community Independent Living | Personal Care | Assisted Living Memory Support | Restorative Care | Skilled Nursing | In-Home Services Country Meadows does not discriminate in resident admission on the basis of race, ancestry, religious creed, age, sex, handicap, disability or national origin, provided the resident, in the sole opinion of Country Meadows, can be cared for legally and responsibly.
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LIFE PLANNING Giving To Others By Using Technology
The number of ways that people can stay connected through technology is constantly increasing. Charitable organizations are actively seeking new ways to weave cutting-edge technology into mainstream activities, improving communications with donors, nonprofits, and other key constituents, as well as innovating giving options through the development of new online programs. One example of using new types of communication to help others was the third annual community-wide Day of Giving event, hosted by The Pittsburgh Foundation on October 4. Using its PittsburghGives online program, more than 600 local charities in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties with profiles on the PittsburghGives site were eligible to receive contributions from donors which received an equal pro-rated share of matching funds. Since the launch of PittsburghGives in 2009, the site’s special giving events have pumped more than $10 million into local nonprofits, many of which have struggled during the aftermath of the recession to meet increased demand with shrinking resources. “We have no doubt that our Day of Giving events have been a huge success and at a most critical time,” said Grant Oliphant, The Pittsburgh Foundation’s president and CEO. “We have accomplished what we set out to do in providing a valuable resource to help our community’s nonprofit organizations to build broader and more sustainable on-going support.” In a remarkable outpouring of public support last year, 7400 individual donations
Healthy Feedback St. Clair Hospital is reaching out to area residents for their opinions on which health care needs they deem most important for their respective communities. The hospital has launched a new initiative to encourage public input using its website, www.stclair.org. Visitors to the site will be directed to a survey of questions that will gauge an overall sense of the health issues most important to area residents. Topics cover the types of experiences encountered when trying to obtain health care, satisfaction with support 72
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LIFE PLANNING flowed in at an average of $38 per second. Local funding partners, including the Heinz Endowments and the Buhl, Benedum, and Grable foundations, matched each contribution with a pro-rated equal share from a total of $500,000. This year, the 24-hour Day of Giving events ran simultaneously for Allegheny and Westmoreland counties—midnight to midnight on October 4—but as with 2010, each had its separate match pool. The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County became part of The Pittsburgh Foundation following completion of its merger in the summer 2010. A beneficial by-product of PittsburghGives is the increased awareness among nonprofits about how technology can support their charitable efforts. The Foundation held free classes explaining the uses of various social media platforms which it hopes will provide the tools to help it to continue to grow the donor and funding bases. Technology has also provided the gateway for the Foundation’s new website, unveiled last year, which includes a video platform, Pittsburgh on Video, or POV, providing a resource for nonprofits and other community organizations to tell stories that showcase their valuable work and focus on issues that are relevant to our region’s well-being. This and PittsburghGives have become national models for similar initiatives that are being developed by other foundations across the United States. n The PittsburghGives platform serves as a vehicle for nonprofits to showcase their work in the community, detailing information about their charitable programs, missions, management, and finances. PittsburghGives can be accessed at www.pittsburghgives.org. See ad on page 72.
services in the community, barriers to local services, and identification of principal health issues facing the community. “Through this process we hope to gain a broader base of views about health care needs in the communities we serve,” said Andrea L. Kalina, vice president of Human Resources and Organizational Advancement at St. Clair Hospital. “This is just one, but an important part, of a multifaceted community needs assessment the hospital is currently conducting.” n To access the online St. Clair Hospital health needs survey, visit www.stclair.org. Winter 2011
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LIFE PLANNING Holistic Approach 4 Life Holistic Approach to Cancer
Experience relief from Pain, Fatigue, Nausea, Anxiety and Depression Offering Oncology Massage Reiki Energy Healing Reflexology Guided Imagery Holistic Lifestyle Coaching
Kelly Haywiser Certified Wellness Lifestyle Coach PA Licensed Massage Therapist, Reiki Master Teacher 850 Boyce Road, Suite 10 Bridgeville, PA 15017
412-221-0700 (Mon-Sat by appt.)
www.holisticapproach4life.com
Mary Doohan
Certified Personal Trainer Group Exercise Instructor
412-445-6173 mdoohanm@verizon.net
• Personal Training & Assessment • Athletic Strength & Conditioning • Pilates, Yoga, Silver Sneakers USC Resident
A Holistic Approach to Cancer
Practicing Presence
The body, mind, and spiritual (holistic) approach to cancer is described as living fully in the present moment. Being in a state of optimal wellness involves harmony on all of these levels. We are so focused on the physical side of life that we forget about the mind and spirit. I personally have never had cancer; but as with most, cancer has found its way into our family’s life. In 2005 my father was diagnosed with cancer, and my world changed dramatically. The Internet became my focus as I searched cures and options. But I soon learned that your focus should be on precious moments with your loved one. I had just finished my training in massage therapy and was taught “massage was contraindicated for cancer patients.” My father wanted to receive back massages, but I was scared. So I gave him Reiki, a form of Japanese Energy Healing. This non-invasive therapy not only gave him holistic relief of pain, anxiety, and worry, it also gave me that much needed connection with my father. We found peace and joy in our visits. As my father’s health conditions worsened, I began to give him foot and hand massages. We found a bond through touch, that can only be described as pure joy and love. Since that time, I have been trained in oncology massage. I have learned that “massage is not contraindicated for someone with cancer.” It does require a more comprehensive interviewing and planning process to create a customized therapy session based on the client’s special circumstances. The types of massage strokes, pressure (light to medium), length of time, time of receiving massage, which body parts to massage, and physical environment are very important. Clients often find relief from pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and worry as well as the physical benefits of a boost to the immune system. The power of touch is amazing. It can only be described as loving and comforting to be in the present moment. Oncology massage can bring peace of mind when performed by a fully, trained therapist. The benefits See ad for Holistic Approach 4 Life on this page. are—can I say it—holistic. n
My son and his friends are in their second year of college. Some of them know, or think they know, their life’s plan. Most are often thinking about, talking about, worrying about, and trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives. I have often explained that there are many adults, his mom included, who have had these same thoughts at different times in their lives. I have suggested to my son that he might, “just try to be a college student for now and believe that it will all work out.” At times, this has been met with some resistance. I recently asked him if he really believed that his mom sat down and wrote a plan to own and manage a company, move away from her entire family and friends, and become a yoga teacher! Things will work out if you learn to quiet your mind, listen to your inner voice, and let your heart and soul lead you. Allow life’s energy to guide you on your life’s journey. Yes, there is a need to plan, think about the future, set goals, and envision where we
Kelly Haywiser, LMT, RMT, and Holistic Lifestyle Coach
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Gina Kallick
LIFE PLANNING
want to go, but staying in the future creates unrest, making us feel overwhelmed by all the tasks and responsibilities, or unhappy if our expectations aren’t met. The same is true of the past. We need to visit the past for the wonderful memories and lessons learned that can help us grow or heal old wounds, but then move on; we can’t get stuck there either! Yoga teaches us to practice presence by simply focusing on one breath, one posture. We align our physical bodies, but we also align and balance our minds—calm the chatter and lingering chaos. Like me, many of my students show up on their mats, for the physical “workout.” Most continue to return to their mat for the calm and empowerment they feel and how this practice has begun to enrich their lives on and off their mat. What we practice in yoga, we begin to practice in life. Practicing presence and believing that it will all work out allows your life’s plan to naturally and easily fall into place. Just as we allow our breath to lead and energize us in our yoga practice, we learn to ride life’s energy to guide us on our journey. It is with heartfelt gratitude that I teach yoga. I am inspired by my students and feel fortunate to share and lead this practice that brings calm, grace, balance, flexibility, strength, awareness, joy, and happiness to our bodies and our minds. Namaste! n Gina lives in USC and has two children, who both practice yoga with their mom. For more information or to contact Gina, for Yoga Innovations visit GinaKallick.com or YogaInnovations.com. See ad on page 74.
Danielle D. Thomas L.M.T., PA., WV. Massage Therapist
412-519-4566
www.ddtmassage.com
Pain Management Massage Pregnancy Swedish Open House Special 1 hr. $50.00 or ½ hr. $25.00 ~One per person~ Gift Certificates are available for all occasions
Manual Lymph Drainage Myofascial Release PNF Stretching Hot Stone Chair
850 Boyce Road, Suite 10, Bridgeville, PA 15017 M-F 9-5/Sat and Evenings available Winter 2011
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LIFE PLANNING Sipe Infusion Center
Sipe Infusion Center Generous Gift to Benefit Patients The new Carol and Denny Sipe
Infusion Center opened on the third floor of St. Clair Hospital on July 14, following an official dedication ceremony. The center is for outpatients being treated with chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and injections or infusions for various ailments such as Crohn’s Disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, and other auto-immune diagnoses. The center also performs procedures such as peripherally inserted central catheters and phlebotomy for hemochromatosis (a disease of iron metabolism). The new center was constructed in the space formerly occupied by Outpatient Physical Therapy, which moved to St. Clair Hospital Outpatient Center at Village Square in Bethel Park. With the opening of Sipe Infusion Center, the former infusion center—also on the third floor—will be renovated to expand the area used by patients who are recovering following outpatient surgery. “The Sipe Infusion Center is a larger, more modern and aesthetically pleasing space for patients,” said Rosemary Miller, manager of the Sipe Infusion Center, who noted the new center, at 4900-square feet, is almost triple the size of the former center. “It will also provide nurses with much better access to the patients.” The new center’s layout gives nurses a
The new Sipe Infusion Center
panoramic view. “The nurses are now able to sit within sight of the patients, giving them constant visualization,” Rosemary said. A privacy wall, with frosted glass, separates patients without causing a sense of confinement. In addition to a family lounge, Sipe Infusion Center has 11 treatment chairs—up from nine—and four private beds for patients. Each chair and bed is outfitted with a flat panel TV. Patients also have access to the Internet. Moreover, patients have a nurse call system at their ready. Access into the Infusion Center by ambulatory patients is much more convenient, as the center is adjacent to the visitors’ elevators and only steps away from patient registration and the lab. A nutrition station makes snacks and beverages more readily accessible. St. Clair Nutrition Services provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner to patients, many of whom spend up to eight hours at the center. The center’s 12 employees include RNs, float nurses, and a secretary. Sipe Infusion Center is named after Dennis J. “Denny” Sipe of Pittsburgh, who, along with his wife, Carol, made a generous gift to St. Clair Hospital Foundation to help fund the construction. Mr. Sipe, who was a patient at the center, passed away in January. He was co-owner of All-Pak Inc. in Bridgeville. Because of Denny and Carol’s admiration and appreciation for the compassionate care he
Available services include: • Administration of IV solutions and medications • Administration of blood/blood components (6-8 hour procedure) • Therapeutic phlebotomy • Antibiotic administration • Administration of IV Chemotherapy agents • Obtain specimens for designated lab studies: stimulation test, tolerance tests, etc. • Skin test • Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters and mid-time catheter insertions • Maintenance of IV devices • De-clotting of central IV catheters • Repair of tunneled IV device • IV Hydration • Subcutaneous and intramuscular injections • Administer first dose for home infusion services With a physician’s order, patients can schedule appointments by contacting the Sipe Infusion Center at 412-942-3550. For added convenience, patients may also pre-register through the Admissions Office when making the appointment. Lengthy treatments, such as transfusions, must be scheduled early in the day to ensure that treatment is completed within the hours of operation, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
received in the Infusion Center, they wanted the nurses, physicians, and staff of the Infusion Center to have a first-class environment in which to deliver their first-class care,” said Sheila Gorgonio, executive director of St. Clair Hospital Foundation. “St. Clair Hospital and its employees are extremely appreciative of the Sipe family’s gift and their incredible thoughtfulness to us and our patients,” she said. n See St. Clair Hospital ads on pages 3 and 67.
Addressing Pain Management with Massage Therapy
Massage therapy breaks the pain cycle by incorporating massage modalities, including neuromuscular, trigger point, myofascial release, manual lymph drainage, and Swedish, to name a few. The pain cycle begins when painful stimuli result in reflex muscle contraction and localized muscle splinting or guarding restricts movement and decreases circulation and oxygen to the tissue. The muscle continues to swell, creating more pain, which increases stress and spasms, resulting in more pain. Massage therapy interrupts the pain cycle at all levels. Effective therapy works from the external, outer mechanisms of pain to the primary, root cause. By focusing on the entire body system and its relationship to soft tissue, massage therapy addresses the root of the pain, not just the site of the pain. To be effective, the fascia (fascia—a network of woven thread that covers everything, including organs, muscles, bones, and nerves) restrictions that cause adhesions, edema, and spasms are addressed first. By unbinding the fascia, the tightness is relieved and tension relaxed. Secondly and over time, scar tissue surrounding an injured site may have formed causing the tissue 76
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to interfere with the muscles’ ability to broaden as it contracts, increasing pain and more restriction. Once scar tissue is broken up, the site is able to heal correctly, reducing pain and increasing range of motion. The third thing to address is a trigger point (a hyperirritable spot that when applied with compression elicits a painful response; sometimes referred to as pain to site of origin). When compressed, the point can be “triggered” to release the pain that it is causing. When the pain areas are addressed as a whole, a reduction in pain and increase in range of motion and flexibility can occur, getting you on course to continue with normal daily activities. Massage should be part of your monthly health care; it is not a onetime fix. But with continued care and self care at home, including stretching and exercises, your time between massage treatments can increase, while you continue to be pain free. n See ad for Danielle Thomas on page 75. Information taken from American Massage Therapy Assoc. and Susan G. Salvo Massage Therapy Principle and Practice.
Around the Township
Local Evening Rotary Club Serves Many
The Bethel-St. Clair Evening Rotary Club is 54 years young and celebrating another year of friendship and service to the area. Its rich and proud history of serving Pittsburgh’s South Hills has been honored and recognized for many achievements. The club has received the South Western Pennsylvania Most Outstanding Club of the Year Award seven times: 1981, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, and, most recently, 2010. In December 2000 during the presidency of Jack Watkins, the Rotary Club was honored as the “Most Outstanding Philanthropic Organization for 2000” by the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives, joining a list of distinguished Pittsburgh-area organizations to receive this prestigious award, including Mellon Financial Corporation, Howard Heinz Endowment, and the Alcoa, Westinghouse, and Bayer Foundations. Among its many achievements, the Rotary Club takes pride in the successes and achievements of the two other Rotary clubs that have organized in the South Hills area—the Upper St. ClairBethel Park Breakfast Club and the Rotary Club of Bethel Park, a luncheon meeting club. For over 50 years, the Rotary Club of Bethel-St. Clair has successfully conducted its annual Pancake Festival at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The festival has become legendary with the assistance from many of its outreach beneficiaries, including YMCA Camp AIM, Southwinds Inc., Family Hospice, Boy Scout Troop 366, Prime Time Adult Care, Meals on Wheels, Wesley Institute, and South Hills Interfaith Ministries. Normally, over 2500 people partake of the homemade pancakes and delicious sausage, enjoying the opportunity to go back for seconds, thirds, or more. The cumulative total from this annual event has raised over $1 million and supports local, worthy organizations.
A fun project that the Rotary Club conducts each year is the Easter egg hunt—watching some 500 kids run around to gather money placed in plastic eggs, play games, and harass the dressed up “Easter bunny.” Another significant fundraiser is the annual Gourmet Dinner Dance Auction. This gala supports local ambassadorial post graduate scholarships and humanitarian projects, including the support for Rotary International’s global goal to rid the world of polio. This South Hills social gathering, referred to as “the event you should never miss,” allows members to thank their customers, call attention to the members’ businesses for the people in attendance, and invite family, friends, and neighbors. The Rotary Club of Bethel-St. Clair has a rich, outstanding history of friendship and service. For more information about membership, call Rotary members Jim Bolas at 412-680-5708, Louis P. Piconi at 412-831-1161, or George Pitcairn at 412-352-8789. n
Many enjoy the Pancake Festival.
Meet Two Members of TING
Attorney Bill Evans and accountant Bill Reilly of Upper St. Clair recently conducted a seminar for The Independent Networking Group (TING). The “Double Bill” presentation guided TING members, many of whom are business owners themselves, about the need to ensure that policies and procedures are in place to receive prompt payment for services and how to avoid the necessity for collections. They also discussed the legal steps necessary to recover past due accounts. TING, a small business owners’ networking organization founded in the South Hills in April 2010, began with eight charter members. The group, which gathers monthly at the Galleria, has grown to 27 members from the South Hills area, with one representative per business field. Attorney Bill Evans, a USC resident since 1991, opened William S. Evans, Attorney at Law, on Potomac Avenue in Dormont in 2010. Previously, he worked as in-house counsel for two international Pittsburgh-based corporations. Attorney Evans, a Duquesne Law School alumnus, is an involved Upper St. Clair resident. Through the years, he has coached little league baseball,
softball, football, and soccer and has represented his constituents as a member of the Cable Review Board in Upper St. Clair. Bill Reilly, a 25-year USC resident, started an accounting business in 2004. Prior to startTING members, Bill Reilly and Bill Evans ing his own business, Bill worked in a Pittsburgh-based CPA firm, was a controller for 14 years for several Western Pennsylvania companies ranging in revenue from $3-$15 million, and then managed a small CPA firm. Involved in his daughters’, Amber and Rachel’s, activities, he has been involved with USC softball, basketball, and dance teams for years, helping those organizations on many Community Days. n For more information on TING, email TINGJoinUs@gmail.com. Winter 2011
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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
Gail and Betsy
Upper St. Clair residents Betsy Boughner and Gail Groninger have launched Stella & Dot (www.stelladot.com), a direct sales jewelry and accessories company from their homes. The company offers stylish and versatile accessories at affordable prices which are sold at in-home Trunk Shows. For more information, contact Gail Groninger at groningers@comcast.net or 412-708-0163 or visit www.stelladot.com/ betsyandgail.
Upper St. Clair’s Mike Lloyd completed the grueling half marathon at Pikes Peak, Colorado, this past August as his third and final event of a personal Visionquest to raise money for the South Hill YMCA Camp Aim. A YMCA volunteer, Mike’s goal was to raise $2000 for the camp, which serves children throughout Allegheny County with mental, physical, or social special Mike, at the Pike’s Peak Half Marathon needs. In addition to the Pike’s Peak race, Mike’s Visionquest included a three-day, 350-mile bike trip from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC in July, just when the heat index hit 115 degrees. The first event was completing the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge in June, a 34-miles-in-one-day hike. While Mike has completed his Visionquest for this year, you can still donate to Camp AIM. Checks can be sent to the South Hills YMCA, 51 McMurray Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241, or donate online at www.ymcaofpittsburgh.org/ support-the-y/donate/.
James Beall fired a sparkling no hit game this past July at Consol Energy Park in Washington in a West Penn Colt League contest. Beall led the Upper St. Clair Panthers to a 1-0 victory against the Washington Colt squad, in a regulation seven-inning game. He threw 72 strikes and 41 balls en route to striking out 11 batters. Beall hit one Washington batsman and walked three. After the win, his USC teammates, including Mark Allwes, Conner Ackerman, Brian Burke, Ian James, Steve Kleinhans, Matt Hesse, Owen Meiman, Keenan Murray, Alex Stevenson, and Mike Stevenson, awarded him the game ball, which they autographed. James Beall also plays legion baseball and is a senior at USCHS.
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Dr. Gary Liebel and Dr. Leigh Buzzatto each have each been named to this year’s Top Dentists list in the Pittsburgh area. Pittsburgh Magazine compiled the list based on detailed evaluations of dentists by their colleagues and peers. Both Gary and Leigh completed their undergraduate studies at Penn State University and received their doctoral degrees from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Gary and Leigh, 20year residents of Upper St. Clair, have a son, Garret, a sophomore at Upper St. Clair High School. Although Gary and Leigh spend a lot of time together as husband and wife, they work separately. Gary, a dentist since Doctors Leigh Buzzato and 1982, has a general family Gary Liebel practice at 508 Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon. Leigh, a dentist since 1981, has a general family practice together with her two brothers and sister at 510 Station Street in Bridgeville.
USC resident Fran Joyce recently published her first book, Dancing in the Rain: Surviving Breast Cancer and Learning to Embrace Life. Dancing in the Rain is the story of five breast cancer survivors who met when asked to dance on stage with Zumba founder Beto Perez during a Susan G. Fran Joyce (left) with her Koman fundraisZumba instructor, USC er in Pittsburgh. resident Debbie Colditz Fran’s book explores how each woman dealt with cancer and the decisions they made about their treatment. The book details the myriad of tests, treatment options, and drugs available for treating breast cancer. “If you’ve gone through breast cancer you can relate to it,” said Fran. “If you’re diagnosed, you can learn from it.” Ten percent of Fran’s profits go to Susan G. Koman for the The cover art for Dancing in the Rain, created by local artist Cynthia Stanchak and her daughter, Cure in Pittsburgh. Dancing Aubrey, is a flower. Each of the five petals is a breast in the Rain is available on cancer ribbon with the figure of a dancing woman Amazon.com. inside to represent the five survivors.
USC Resident Gives Back Heather Holtschlag
Upper St. Clair resident Arlene Baratz, MD, has special reasons for wanting to become involved with the Pink Ribbon Round Up, a non-profit breast cancer organization located in Pittsburgh. “As a breast radiologist in Allegheny General Hospital’s Breast Care Center, I have been involved in breast cancer advocacy since the early 1990s,” Dr. Baratz said. “My involvement with the Pink Ribbon Round Up began in 2006 when a mutual friend and horse lover introduced me to the organization’s founder and president, and breast cancer survivor, Pat Hodder. Since then, it has been my privilege to give back to the wonderful community of women who live with breast cancer and whose courage and dedication have inspired me in both my personal life and professional life.” Dr. Baratz serves on the board of directors and is the physician liaison of the Pink Ribbon Round Up and took part in the organization’s two-day annual charity event, a western-themed gala and horseback ride. The gala took place in Wexford, with KDKA-TV’s Mary Robb Jackson serving as honorary chairperson and Stoney Richards of radio station Y-108 FM serving as master of ceremonies. Boots, jeans, and western gear were the popular and preferred attire for the evening’s festivities. The annual horseback ride took place at North Park, the day after the gala. “The Pink Ribbon Round Up has raised more than $170,000 in its first five years of existence,” Dr. Baratz noted. “The funds go directly to the Susan G. Komen Pat Hodder and Dr. Arlene Baratz for the Cure, Pittsburgh affiliate, designated for breast cancer research.” According to Dr. Baratz, the Pink Ribbon Round Up is the largest independent contributor to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Pittsburgh. “The name of the organization was the brainchild of Hodder, who is the owner of five horses,” Dr. Baratz explained. “While going through chemotherapy six years ago, she wanted to develop a fundraising event that would focus on the equestrian community in Western Pennsylvania.” The organization is in its sixth year of hosting the annual Western Gala and horseback ride fundraising events. Dr. Baratz noted that volunteers are always welcome to join the planning committee by calling Pat Hodder at 412-638-9963. Contributions are welcome, as well, and can be made by purchasing tickets to the Western Gala, riding in the trail ride, or through direct contributions, which can be made by contacting Hodder or visiting the organization’s website at www.pinkribbonroundup.org. “We are very grateful to our faithful followers who continue to support this wonderful organization and all that it provides for women with breast cancer,” Dr. Baratz said. “We have our eyes set on a new goal of reaching $200,000 by 2012.” n
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Winter 2011
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Newly Combined Office Better Serves the Community Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services has opened its new regional full service real estate sales center serving South Allegheny and Washington counties, and the surrounding area. The sales professionals of the Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services Route 19 South/Galleria office and the company’s South Hills/ USC office have moved to the new, expanded location in the retail center of The Shops on Washington at 1630 Washington Road next to where Trader Joe’s is opening its new store. The new office houses more than 150 experienced sales professionals and provides state-of-the-art computer equipment offering the sales team such services as LeadRouter, a lead generation system that turns email inquiries into cell phone messages within seconds so buyers can be helped immediately, and HomeBase, an online transaction management system for agents and their clients, among many other industry leading technological tools. “We have confidence in the viability of this area’s real estate marketplace, and the expansion into the new regional sales center was necessary to support future growth and to service these
communities,” said George Hackett, president of Coldwell Banker Real E s t a t e S e rvices. “We are ensuring that our sales professionals have the tools to provide our customers and clients with the services that are required in today’s technology-driven real estate environment.” “Employing the latest technology to benefit buyers and sellers, plus a full service approach to real estate sales, the new office is positioned to offer a comprehensive level of real estate service unsurpassed in suburban South Allegheny County,” said David Bruckner, manager of the new Coldwell Banker South Hills office. n
PRESENTS FOR PATIENTS®,
The program was created to ensure that long-term care residents are not forgotten during the holidays and to encourage community members to visit their local long-term care facilities espousing kindness and compassion. The campaign matches interested donors with a patient at a nearby nursing facility. Donors are then sent their patient’s information, including his or her three gift wishes. Each donor is asked to purchase at least one of those items for the patient. Donations in the form of volunteer hours at the headquarters are also appreciated. For more information to donate or participate, call 724-444-5521 or visit www.PRESENTSFORPATIENTS.com. n
a winter holiday program founded in 1984 has granted gifts and holiday visits for more than 431,113 patients living in nursing home facilities here in Pennsylvania and also in Ohio, New York, Tennessee, and West Virginia. In 2010, 103 businesses, 29 churches, 23 schools, 33 organizations, and 110 scout troops participated by adopting patients and visiting them over the holiday season.
For more information, visit PittsburghMoves.com or see ads beginning on page 84.
Choir Wins National Award
The fifth annual Symphony of Food –A Chefs’ Showcase dinner
sponsored by WOMEN of Southwestern PA, Inc. will be held Friday, January 27, 2012. Held at the Bella Sera event venue, 414 Morganza Road, Canonsburg, doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 (taxdeductible, non-refundable donation). Reservations are required. For tickets, call 724-514-7176. For additional event information, visit www.womenofswpa.org. n WOMEN of Southwestern PA, Inc., a nonprofit 50l(c)(3) organization, has held philanthropic events over the past 13 years and returned nearly $200,000 to the community to help women and children in need. 80
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The Junior Mendelssohn Choir recently won the 2011 American Prize for Choral Performance, High School Division, and the timing of the prize couldn’t have been better! In addition to the award, the choir celebrated its 25th anniversary this past fall. The Junior Mendelssohn is made up of young singers from across the Pittsburgh area and includes Michael Boyas (baritone), USCHS senior. Lisa Moore (alto), a 2011 USCHS graduate, is returning as an alumna for the Junior Mendelssohn 25th anniversary concert this month. “I feel so honored to have been a part of the Junior Mendelssohn Choir for three years,” remarked Lisa. “I am thrilled that the choir received national recognition. Singing with other Members of the Junior Mendelssohn Choir music-loving students from all around Pittsburgh was an amazing experience. The shared passion for classical music is inspirational, and I will definitely continue singing in choirs throughout my college years. It’s still weird to think of myself as an alumna, but I cannot wait to return and sing along side my friends,” she said. n Winter 2011
USC Grads Film Locally
busINESSES
Seven Upper St. Clair students got a taste of Hollywood this summer when they had the chance to star in “Bad Kids,” a short film by Upper St. Clair graduates Peter Rosati and Dominic Rodriguez. Peter, a 2010 USC grad and student at Emerson College in Boston, and Dominic, a 2009 USC grad and student at Pittsburgh’s Point Park University, wrote “Bad Kids” while at school this year. Working long distance, the two used Skype and the telephone to work out the details of the script. The story is about seven kids who run away from home, in part to help one of the boys keep his mind off troubles at home. Playing the part of the seven boys are Jack de la Parra, Ethan Bowman, C.J. Hess, Anthony Rach, Maxwell Turnwald, Sheb Rosati, and Liam Carse. Ranging in age from nine to 13, the enthusiastic actors came to the set each day with a lot of energy. One of the actors’ favorite experiences on the set was the “food fight,” a scene that Dominic also enjoyed. “It was fun,” said Dominic, “and a little crazy.” Filming was done locally at a private residence in Upper St. Clair and a private residence in Cecil. Dominic, who is majoring in film with a concentration in directing, said that his directing class helped a lot when making the film, as did Peter’s patience with the young actors. In addition to Rosati and Rodriguez, also working on the film were cinematographer Corey Sweazon, cameramen Randy Smith, Brian Fuller, Zach Kaigler, and Corey Kincaid and film editor Nathan Inglesby (all Point Park College students). In a room filled to capacity, the film premiered on August 31 at the C&RC and has been submitted to the Three Rivers Film Festival. n Dominic Rodriguez and Peter Rosati at the premiere of “Bad Kids”
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Spotlight on USC’s Colin Burns
PRESCHOOL (AGES 2-6) THRU 6TH GRADE
USCad 3/10/08 AM 3-YEAR-OLDS Page 1 OPENINGS AVAILABLE10:57 FOR 2-AND AND ELEMENTARY
Since opening the doors in 1981, the Center for Theater Arts (CTA) has been
dedicated to a mission of offering high quality performing arts instruction and committed to providing all students with an opportunity to improve their self-image and self-confidence through artistic expression. The CTA has students who enter its programs with a wide range of training—those with only a mild curiosity to those with natural ability. Center for Theater Arts executive director Billy Hartung is dedicated to offering performing arts training in a dynamic classroom setting and to teaching beyond the walls of the CTA. As the Center enters its fourth decade of operation, those involved with the curriculum inspire young students to reach for the stars, in any occupation. The CTA recognizes USC’s Colin Burns. Colin’s mom reflected on the arts education that has impacted Colin’s life. “I know that Colin’s participation in performing arts was central to his experience growing up in the South Hills. In addition to providing performance opportunities, the Center encouraged Colin to develop his own strengths, confidence, and resilience. Now that Colin is in college, I am watching as he discovers how his theater skills will serve him well in a number of professional areas he might choose to pursue.” Colin responded by email. “I started taking classes at the Center while in seventh grade, performing in The Wiz, Mamma Mia, and High School Musical. My introduction to theater at the Center inspired me to get involved with the drama program at USCHS, where I performed in Singin’ In The Rain, Inherit The Wind, Brigadoon, Arsenic and Old Lace, and The Music Man. I continued at the Center throughout high school, appearing in Bye Bye Birdie, Pippin, and Once On This Island. I know that the skills I learned and the friends I made at The Center for Theater Arts will stay with me for the rest of my life!” The Center is very proud of Colin Burns and wishes him continued success in his future! n Colin Burns (right) with Tori See ad for Center for Theater Arts on page 31. Pasternak and Caroline Hartung Winter 2011
We've got you completely covered. Our 2200-space parking garage at the South Hills Village light rail station not only keeps your car out of the weather, it keeps you dry with a covered walkway from the garage to the T platform. All for just 2 dollars a day. For more information call customer service at 412.442.2000 or visit PortAuthority.org.
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY’s “Traveling with TODAY” submission requirements: Submit clear, close up, high resolution digital photo of USC resident(s) holding TODAY magazine. Email the following information to usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us: • Name(s) of resident(s) or group, and specific location of photograph • Objective of visit—leisure, volunteer, career, school, etc. • Attach digital photo (jpg format) List “TODAY” in email’s subject line
Note: Community submissions for this feature will remain on file until published. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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Advertiser Index
Winter 2011 17 Years of CommunityService
www.twpusc.org/magazine
The official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair Advertiser
Page
Action Builders . .................................................................................... 25 * Amel’s Restaurant .................................................................................. 22 Arbor Tree Specialist, Inc........................................................................ 41 BISTECCA - STEAKHOUSE - WINE BAR ............................................... 23 * Boehmer Heating & Cooling Company ................................................. 35 Brentwood Bank ...................................................................................... 7 Brookside Lumber.................................................................................. 55 C.W. Carlson Contractors, Inc. .............................................................. 37 * Café Georgio.......................................................................................... 23 * Calabro Tire & Auto Service .................................................................. 39 * Catalucci Painting & Restoration, Interior & Exterior . ........................... 81 Center for Theater Arts .......................................................................... 31 Chatham University ................................................................................. 2 Chinese Acupuncture & Herbs Center, LLC . ......................................... 39
Advertiser
Page
IAOMO Salon ........................................................................................ 31 JAB Jewelry Designs . ..................................................Front cover, 14, 15 Johnny’s Tire and Auto .......................................................................... 79 * Kerr Family and Cosmetic Dentistry ...................................................... 47 Lakeside Primary Care, a practice of The Washington Hospital.............. 75 Learning Express Toys .......................................................................... 22 Louis Anthony Jewelers ................................................Front inside cover * Manalo, Larry E., D.M.D. ...................................................................... 46 Modern Piano ....................................................................................... 22 Mt. Lebanon Montessori School and Academy ..................................... 81 Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center ............................................................. 20 Orthodontics by Dr. Reitz & Dr. Troy ...................................................... 47 Pediatric Alliance, P.C. .......................................................................... 46 Pediatric Dentistry South . ..................................................................... 47
As 20-year residents of Brookside Farms, we love to advertise in our local community’s magazine—and with great results, too!” —Jim and Lisa Reiland, owners of Amel’s Restaurant * Clark Renovations, Inc. ........................................................................... 2 * Coffey Contracting Company ................................................................ 65 * Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Inc. Corporate . ...............Back outside cover * Coldwell Banker–The South Hills Office . .................84, Back inside cover Coldwell Banker–Lynn Dempsey . ......................................................... 79 Community & Recreation Center at Boyce Mayview Park...................... .63 Country Meadows Retirement Communities .....................................…71 * Cupelli & Cupelli, Drs. .......................................................................... 45 Danielle D. Thomas, L.M.T. Massage Therapist . ................................... 75 Doohan Personal Fitness ...................................................................... 74 Edible Arrangements ............................................................................. 23 First Church of Christ, Scientist ............................................................ 65 * Friendship Village of South Hills . ........................................................... 4 Harmony Hospice . ................................................................................ 70 * Hefren-Tillotson, Inc. ............................................................................ 69 Holistic Approach 4 Life ........................................................................ 74 Howard Hanna–Maureen Cavanaugh .................................................... 35 Howard Hanna–Bob Ellison .................................................................. 37 * Howard Hanna–Susan Highley . ............................................................ 13 * Howard Hanna–Diane Horvath .............................................................. 55 Howard Hanna–Frankie J. Kunselman . ................................................. 25
* Piccolina’s Restaurant ........................................................................... 47 * Pinebridge Commons Associates . ........................................................ 46 Pittsburgh Foundation, The ................................................................... 72 Pittsburgh Shoulder to Hand Center....................................................... 13 Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company........................................................... 41 Port Authority Services . ........................................................................ 81 Premier Home Design Center ................................................................ 25 Providence Point, a Baptist Homes Society Community . ...................... 73 RADIANCE–A Private Outpatient Surgery Center, LLC .......................... 68 * Rusmur Floors ...................................................................................... 83 * St. Clair Hospital ............................................................................... 3, 67 * Scott Bros. Windows and Doors . ............................................................ 7 * Sesame Inn ........................................................................................... 23 South Hills Endoscopy Center . ............................................................... 1 South Hills OBGYN, Drs. Rankin & Warner, MC, FACOG ...................... 69 * State Farm Insurance–Cindy Brophy . ................................................... 46 StonePepper’s Grill . .............................................................................. 22 Stout Flooring ......................................................................................... 4 * The Thomas Studio of Performing Arts ................................................. 45 West Penn Allegheny Health System ....................................................... 9 Yoga Innovations, LLC .......................................................................... 74
Classifieds To place your small business or professional ad in the classified section, send 35 words or less with a check for $75, made payable to the Township of Upper St. Clair, to: UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY magazine, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 82 82
UPPER ST. UPPER ST. CLAIR CLAIR TODAY TODAY
Physics Tutor—High School and College David L. Wallach, Retired University Professor Phone: 724-941-9696
Winter 2011
*The above advertisers, who are advertising in this issue, have contributed their support for a minimum of 34 issues. Thank you. Upcoming guides for the Spring 2012 issue include Celebration, Dining, and Home Improvement. Ad space reservation deadline is January 16, 2012.
... meeting your needs TODAY, Tomorrow, and into the Future
You Stand on Our Good Name Every Day. For more than 50 years, Rusmur Floors has been providing the South Hills and Pittsburgh area with the finest in residential and commercial floor coverings. Our vast inventory of carpeting, area rugs, hardwoods, laminates, vinyls and ceramics assures satisfaction with every application, style and budget.
Rusmur Floors is your one-stop, complete-service, floor covering provider featuring free in-home shopping and estimating, an in-store design staff and superior, expert installation. Plus, Rusmur refinishes hardwood floors and binds remnant carpets! Rusmur Floors, with five beautifully stocked locations, invites you to call or visit the one nearest you – or simply click on www.rusmurfloors.com today. 500 Station Street ■ Bridgeville (51 years of quality) ■ 412.221.6366 Hours: M, W, Th 9:00 am - 9:00 pm ■ T, F, Sat 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ■ Closed Sunday Live here? So do we! Moon ■ Murrysville ■ North Hills ■ Whitehall
C oldwell B anker Noel Bliman
Hope Bassichis
Nancy Beaulieu
Bonnie Byrnes
Eleanor Carpenter
Marie Carpenter
Jay Clemens
Anita Crago
Barbara Cusick
Lynn Dempsey
Janine Dillon
Kathy Enick
Bonnie Frear
John Geisler
Dal Goldstein
Genie Gooding
Leigh Harkreader
Nancy Heffernan
Jack & Joanne Benson Norma Bishop
GLOBAL CONNECTIONS The South Hills Office
1630 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241 • (412)833-5405
Real estate seRvices Judy Hlister
Sydnie Jones
Sue Kelso
Kathi Kernan
Jane Krauth
Elaine Krelis
Julie Leslie
Carol Marks
Joyce Lewis-McDonough
Arlene Murray
Toni Petrucci
Tulla Rakoczy
Kathy Sekeras
Jim Walsh
Mary Torchia
Carmela Viviano Mary Ann Wellener
David Bruckner, Manager
LOCAL TRADITIONS The South Hills Office
1630 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241 • (412)833-5405 ©2011 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. 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.
ECRWSS* CARRIER ROUTE
1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Pittsburgh PA Permit No. 206
Upper St. Clair, PA 15241
This magazine was printed on recycled paper.
COLDWELL BANKER www.Pittsburghmoves.com/southhills
REAL ESTATE SERVICES
Check out these fabulous Upper St. Clair area homes!
Lovely, updated 3BR & 2BA split entry home! New maple eat-in kitchen, stainless steel appliances, HW, windows & baths. Finished game room & freshly painted.
Lynn Dempsey 412-833-5405
Lovely English Tudor. Beautifully maintained with spacious FR, game room, large kitchen with new appliances, 4BR, 2.5BA and patio. Walk to park! Hope Bassichis 412-833-5405
Spectacular angel stone brick home in Deerfield Manor! Marble entry with double staircase, sunken LR, gourmet kitchen, 4BR, 3/3BA, covered deck and more! Ondrea Barnes 412-831-5555
Handsome and spacious brick Colonial. Features 5BR, 2.5BA, 1st floor laundry, family room with fireplace and built-ins. Updates and amazing park like yard! Jim Walsh 412-833-5405
Location, Location, Location. Very spacious ranch in Deerfield Manor. New kitchen with recessed lighting and stainless steel appliances. 4BR, 3BA, den, 2 fireplaces and screened patio room! Carmela Viviano 412-833-5405
Spacious, brick Colonial with living room fireplace, large kitchen, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, family room, den, updates and 2 car garage! Amy Thamert 412-833-5405
One level living on a beautiful lot! Ranch features equipped kitchen, 3BR, living/dining area with stone fireplace, game room, heated workshop and covered porch! Nancy Heffernan 412-833-5405
Our New One is the Best!
Elegant and spacious Townhome. Walls of windows, updates, marble entry, fireplace and built-ins. 3BR, 2.5BA, family room, den and 2 car attached garage! Noel Bliman 412-833-5405
New Office, New Location, Same Great Agents! Introducing the New Coldwell Banker South Hills! Now open at 1630 Washington Road in The Shops on Washington!
Lots of living space to entertain! Beautifully maintained split entry on a huge lot! FR addition with fireplace, 3BR, 2BA, large finished basement and patio! Denise Tacka 412-833-5405
Lovely brick multi-level on a dead end street. Spacious room sizes, gleaming hardwood floors, 3BR, 2.5BA, finished basement, 2 fireplaces and updates! Dionne Malush 412-833-5405
Level entry, updated 4BR & 2.5BA Colonial. Large kitchen, FR with fireplace, built-ins, bar and access to large deck area. Lower level den, office space and 2 car garage! Julie Leslie 412-833-5405
Darling Cape Cod; larger than it looks! Plaster walls, hardwood floors, den/5th bedroom, 2 baths, deck and large yard. Located close to everything! Paul Bergman/Michael Wheeler 412-833-5405
Š2011 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell BankerŽ is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and Operated by NRT LLC.