in-norwin

COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

SPRING 2013

Home Improvements In Norwin

INSIDE

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Welcome to the Spring issue of IN Norwin magazine! I hope that you are as anxious as I am to get the cold and snow behind us and get busy

planning projects around the house.�is issue is dedicated to home-improvement projects great and

small. Some projects will give you curb appeal, some will increase your home’s value, and others are for the sheer enjoyment or luxury of it.

Regardless of your aims with your home, whether gu�ing the walls, or just planting the perfect tree in the yard, our homes are a

source of pride for us, and not in a status sense. �ey are where we raise our families, where we feel safe, and where we invite our friends and loved ones for parties and fellowship.

Our homes are where our children play, and where o�entimes we tend to sick loved ones. �ey are where we try hardest in life, and where the challenges of life hit us the most. Our homes bear witness to our triumphs as well as our sorrows, and they are as much a part of our personalities as what we choose to wear or adorn ourselves with.

So with so much importance placed on the walls that contain us, we hope that you can �nd at least one project within these pages to be fodder for your next project around the home.

Have a wonderful spring!

Wayne Dollard Publisher


planning projects around the house.

small. Some projects will give you curb appeal, some will increase your home’s value, and others are for the sheer enjoyment or luxury of it.

Regardless of your aims with your home, whether gu�ing the walls, or just planting the perfect tree in the yard, our homes are a

source of pride for us, and not in a status sense. �ey are where we raise our families, where we feel safe, and where we invite our friends and loved ones for parties


planning projects around the house.

walls, or just planting the perfect tree in the yard, our homes are a source of pride for us, and not in a status sense. �ey are where we raise

Summer content deadline: May 13

2 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE Norwin

INSIDE

COMMUNITY INTEREST

UPMC | New Advanced Treatment for Skin Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 4

Norwin School District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 6

UPMC Today | Health and Wellness News You Can Use . . . . . . . . . . | 17

The Norwin Theatre Club Presents 42nd Street . . . . . . . . . . | 25

Home Improvements In Norwin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 30

A Glimmer of Hope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 39Irwin Borough Residents Eager to See the Lamp Theatre Shine Bright Once Again

UPMC | Tomosynthesis Offers Women Greater Detection of Breast Abnormalities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 40

ON THE COVER | �e entire cast of “42nd Street,” a song and dance production set in 1933, presented by Norwin �eatre Club. – Cover photo by Gary Yon Photography.

FEATURES

The 6th Annual Race For Grace . . | 5

North Huntingdon EMS . . . . . . . . . . . . | 14An Interesting History

“Books Come Alive” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 26Productions by Stage Right!Bring Children’s Literature to Life

Carlow University Soccer Team . . | 28Wins ChampionshipThanks to Norwin Connection

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

A Better Choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 16

Grace Wellness Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 38

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Energy Swing Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . | 375 2617

COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

SPRING 2013

Home Improvements I

n Norwin

INSIDE IN Norwin | SPRING 2013 |

IN Norwin is a community publication dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the Norwin area and its comprising municipalities by focusing on the talents and gifts of the people who live and work here. Our goal is to provide readers with the most informative and professional regional publication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

28

CORRECTIONHoliday Homes Tour Article Correction:Norwin Historical Society President Carl Huszar penned the wonderful article profiling the area’s historical homes for the annual holiday tour and took accompanying photos. The piece was not written by Hallie Chatfield as was originally credited. Our apologies to Carl and the historical society.


The 6th Annual Race For

Grace Brings Love and Hope to the Norwin Area

A�er nearly a year of discussion, deliberation and planning, Brian and Tamara Ekis formally established

the Re�ections Of Grace Foundation in December, 2008, following the death of their daughter, Grace Elizabeth from a cancerous brain tumor on Valentine’s Day 2008. Li�le Grace Elizabeth touched so many lives, despite the fact that she was just �ve years old at the time of her death.

�e Re�ections Of Grace Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness about pediatric brain tumors, providing support to families a�ected by it and joining with other organizations in aiding, educating, and funding the search for a cure. �e foundation hosts yearly fundraisers that include Golf For Grace, Breakfast With Santa, the “Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve” dress-down employee program at various companies in the area and Candy For A Cure in which Sarris candy is sold to raise money. �e foundation’s largest fundraiser is the annual Race For Grace, a highly popular 5K that is held at Norwin High School.

�e �rst Race For Grace was held at Woodland Hills High School, before the

Re�ections Of Grace Foundation was established. �e Metz family, close friends of the Ekis family, organized the event in only six weeks. �at �rst race raised $11,300 and had approximately 300 people in a�endance. Grace a�ended that �rst race and, according to Tamara, she was a bit overwhelmed until she noticed her teacher, Sarah Bouldin Costa, who was in a�endance. A�er running to her teacher and giving her a big hug Grace felt much more at ease. Tamara says that Grace wasn’t fully aware of the scope of the race and the fact that everyone in a�endance was there out of love for her. Grace simply enjoyed visiting with so many friends and relatives and had a great time. �e Race For Grace has grown phenomenally since that �rst race in 2007 and has become a highly anticipated event in the Norwin area.

�is year marks the 6th annual Race For Grace which will take place on April 6. Opening activities will begin at 7:00 a.m. Pre-race activities include entertainment from a live band, a concession stand breakfast,

a warm-up routine led by Zumba instructors, and the Opening Ceremony which

includes the traditional singing of “Amazing

Grace.” �e race will o�cially begin at 9:00 a.m. and participants will have the choice to participate

in the 5K or a 1-mile course.

�roughout the day participants can enjoy the many activities inside the high school, including bake sales, a 50/50 ra�e, Chinese and silent auctions and children’s activities. Participants will also have an opportunity to sign the “Why Do You Race For Grace?” banner.

�e Re�ections Of Grace Foundation has donated $149,000 to 104 families of children with brain cancer and $105,000 to research grants to �nd a cure and raise awareness for pediatric brain cancer.

Tamara says of her daughter, “Grace was a typical girl, who loved dancing, ponies, princesses and her family. She dealt with her illness with courage...She captivated her nurses and doctors with her smile and personality and was always concerned with the well-being of others.”

On the way home from a party with other sick children, Grace once remarked to her mother, “Mommy, I feel so sad for all of those kids today...they are so sick.” In reality, she was a child with one of the worst prognoses in the room. She never dwelt on her situation. She looked to comfort others in theirs. �at was the epitome of Grace.

“We like to think that we are exemplifying her character by helping other families as they endure a situation that no family should ever have to endure,” adds Tamara.

Anyone interested in registering for this year’s Race For Grace or would like to make a donation to the Re�ections Of Grace Foundation can visit www.re�ectionsofgrace.org for more information.

By Autumn A. Altieri

Candy For A Cure in which Sarris candy is sold to raise money. �e foundation’s largest fundraiser is the annual Race For Grace, a highly popular 5K that is held at Norwin High School.

For Grace which will take place on April 6. Opening activities will begin at 7:00 a.m. Pre-race activities include entertainment from a live band, a concession stand breakfast,





High School.�e �rst Race For Grace was held at

Woodland Hills High School, before the





F E A T U R E

Grace Elizabeth Ekis

Brian and Tamara Ekis, Grace’s parents, at the 2011 Race For Grace

Norwin | Spring 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 5

Norwin Board of EducationFRONT ROW (L-R): Becky A. Gediminskas; Thomas J. Sturm, vice president; Robert J. Perkins, president; Barbara A. ViolaBACK ROW (L-R): Darlene J. Ciocca; Dennis J. Rittenhouse; Jerry P. O’Donnell; Donald W. Rhodes, Jr.; Raymond Kocak

BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH

Norwin School District honored the members of the Norwin Board of Education in January, which is School Director Recognition Month across Pennsylvania.

Each January, the District reminds members of the community to take time in some way to thank a school director for the time and e�ort they put into helping our schools. �ese individuals see great value in standing up for public education.

�is year’s theme was “Serving Every Child Every Day.” Superintendent Dr. William Kerr acknowledged the Board of Education for its leadership and dedication toward improving the quality of education in a special presentation at the regular Board meeting on Monday, January 21, 2013.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

The Norwin School District is now registering children for the 2013-2014 kindergarten classes. Children must reside within School District

boundaries (North Huntingdon Township, Irwin Borough, or North Irwin Borough) and be �ve years of age before September 1, 2013.

Parents were requested to visit their local elementary school in February to be placed on the school’s mailing list and receive an information packet to help prepare for the formal registration in March. Anyone who has not already registered should contact the school building secretary immediately.

TEENS FOR JEANSA NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY PROJECT

Norwin Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society collected 936 pairs of gently worn blue jeans in February as part of the nationwide Teens for Jeans

program sponsored by Aeropostale.According to the Teens for Jeans Web

site, 1.7 million teens are homeless, and the No. 1 item they request from shelters is a pair of jeans.

Across the United States, the school that collects the most jeans will win the grand prize of $10,000, Aeropostale

hoodies and a party. At Norwin Middle School, the top two winning teams will get a breakfast treat during activity period, compliments of NJHS.

According to the site, 1.7 million teens

the No. 1 item they request from shelters is a pair of jeans.

States, the school that collects the most jeans will win the grand prize of $10,000,

hoodies and a party. Norwin Middle School, the top two winning teams will get a breakfast treat during activity period, compliments of NJHS.


NORWIN VARSITY SPRING SPORTS SCHEDULE

BaseballBOYS VARSITY3/22 Penn Hills Away 4:00PM3/25 Fox Chapel Home 4:00PM3/26 North Allegheny Away 4:00PM4/3 Hempfield Away 4:00PM4/5 Connellsville Home 4:00PM4/8 Albert Gallatin Away 4:00PM4/10 Latrobe Home 4:00PM4/11 Gateway Home 4:00PM4/12 Butler Away 7:00PM4/15 Kiski Away 4:00PM4/16 Franklin Regional Home 4:00PM4/18 Penn Trafford Home 4:00PM4/22 Hempfield Home 4:00PM4/24 Connellsville Away 4:00PM4/26 Albert Gallatin Home 4:00PM4/29 Latrobe Away 4:00PM4/30 Woodland Hills Away 4:00PM5/6 Penn Trafford Away 4:00PM5/8 Pittsburgh Central Catholic Away 4:00PM

SoftballGIRLS VARSITY3/22 Penn Hills Home 4:00PM3/25 Latrobe Away 4:00PM3/27 Kiski Home 4:00PM3/28 Bethel Park Away 3:45PM4/2 Franklin Regional Away 4:00PM4/4 Hempfield Home 4:00PM4/5 Gateway Away 4:00PM4/9 Connellsville Away 4:00PM4/11 Penn Trafford Home 4:00PM4/13 Latrobe Home 12:00PM4/15 Yough Away 4:00PM4/16 Kiski Away 4:00PM4/18 Franklin Regional Home 4:00PM4/23 Hempfield Away 4:00PM4/24 Woodland Hills Away 3:30PM4/26 Mt. Pleasant Home 4:00PM4/29 McKeesport Home 4:00PM4/30 Connellsville Home 4:00PM5/2 Penn Trafford Away 4:00PM5/7 Penn Hills Away 3:45PM

TennisBOYS VARSITY3/13 South Park Away 3:30PM3/15 Gateway Home 3:30PM3/18 Franklin Regional Home 3:30PM3/20 Penn Trafford Away 4:00PM3/22 Kiski Away 4:00PM

3/25 Greensburg Salem Home 3:30PM3/27 Hempfield Away 4:00PM4/2 Connellsville Home 3:30PM4/4 Latrobe Away 3:30PM4/5 Franklin Regional Away 3:30PM4/8 (Section Singles) Away TBA4/9 (Section Singles) Away TBA4/10 Penn Trafford Home 3:30PM4/12 Kiski Home 3:30PM4/15 (WPIAL Singles) Away TBA4/16 (WPIAL Singles) Away TBA4/17 Greensburg Salem Away 3:30PM4/19 Hempfield Home 3:30PM4/22 (Section Doubles) Away TBA4/23 (Section Doubles) Away TBA4/24 Connellsville Away 3:30PM4/26 Latrobe Home 3:30PM4/29 (WPIAL Doubles) Away TBA4/30 (WPIAL Doubles) Away TBA

LacrosseBOYS VARSITY3/22 Vincentian Away 7:30PM3/25 Shaler Home 7:15PM3/27 Baldwin Away 7:30PM3/28 North Allegheny Away 7:00PM4/3 Moon Area Home 7:15PM4/5 Fox Chapel Away 7:00PM4/8 Canon-Mcmillan Away 7:30PM4/10 Indiana Area Senior HS Away 7:30PM4/15 Seton LaSalle Home 7:15PM4/17 Allderdice High School Home 7:15PM4/19 Trinity Home 7:15PM4/22 Chartiers Valley Home 7:15PM4/25 Greensburg C. C. Home 7:15PM4/29 Quaker Valley High School Home 7:00PM5/1 Latrobe Away 7:00PM5/6 Winchester Thurston

School Away 4:00PM5/8 Gateway Home 7:15PM

VolleyballBOYS VARSITY3/22 Baldwin Home 5:00PM3/23 (Norwin Tournament) Home 8:30AM3/28 Hempfield Away 7:30PM4/2 Gateway Home 7:15PM4/4 Penn Hills Away 7:30PM4/6 (Derry Varsity Volleyball

Invitational) Away TBA4/9 Plum Home 7:15PM4/11 Latrobe Away 7:30PM

4/15 North Allegheny Away 7:30PM4/16 Penn Trafford Home 7:15PM4/20 (Hempfield Tournament) Away 9:00AM4/23 Hempfield Home 7:15PM4/25 Gateway Away 7:30PM4/27 (Plum Varsity Tournament) Away 8:30AM4/30 Penn Hills Home 7:15PM5/2 Plum Away 7:30PM5/7 Latrobe Home 7:15PM5/9 Penn Trafford Away 7:00PM

Track & FieldCOED VARSITY3/27 Penn Trafford Home 4:00PM4/3 (Indiana/Greensburg

Salem/Norwin) Away 4:00PM4/10 (Derry/Hempfield/Norwin) Home 4:00PM4/17 Latrobe Away 4:00PM4/24 (Norwin 9/10 Invitational) Home 3:30PM4/27 (WCCA Track Meet) Away 9:00AM5/1 (WPIAL Team Semi-Finals) Away TBA5/3 (Baldwin Invitational) Away 12:00PM5/7 (WPIAL Qualifier) Home 2:00PM5/9 (WPIAL Team

Championships) Away 2:00PM5/16 (WPIAL Individual

Championships) Away 1:00PM5/24 (PIAA Championships) Away TBA5/25 (PIAA Championships) Away TBA

For the most recent sports schedule visit highschoolsports.net.


PROPOSED NORWIN STEM INNOVATION CENTER

Norwin School District is proposing to help equip students for the high-tech jobs of the future through the construction of a new facility on campus called

the Norwin STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Innovation Center.

�e proposal relies heavily on business-education partnerships, and as such, it is anticipated that this building can be constructed without local taxpayer money.

Recently, Norwin Superintendent Dr. William Kerr presented a white paper titled “Norwin STEM Innovation Center for Teaching and Learning: Proposal for an Exemplary Business-Education Collaboration Model” to the Norwin Board of Education.

To read more about the proposed Norwin STEM Innovation Center, visit www.norwinsd.org/STEMwhitePaper or scan the QR code to the le� with a smartphone.

ELEMENTARY STUDENTS CHAT WITH AN ENGINEER

On a recent Monday morning in January, a classroom of third-grade students at Stewartsville Elementary School had an Internet video chat session with an engineer

from California. �ey talked about futuristic �ying cars, problem solving challenges, and the upcoming Stewartsville Talent Show, among other things.

It was all part of a new pilot program that’s designed to show elementary students that scientists are normal, approachable, interesting people who do interesting things for their job – not frizzy-haired, unkempt mad scientists. Learn more at www.norwinsd.org under “About Us” and “News.”

MIDDLE SCHOOL ROBOTICS CHALLENGE:

“FROSTY THE SNOWMAN” MAZE

Twelve students from Norwin Middle School’s Robotics Club competed

against Gateway Middle School in a robotics competition on

December 6, 2012 at Norwin Middle School.

Students were challenged to build and program their robots

to maneuver through a maze with a “Frosty the Snowman” theme. Robots

had to travel through the maze, collect a corn cob pipe, nose, eyes and top hat and take them to the snowman at the end of the maze.

NORWIN SCHOOL DISTRICT

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Eighth-grade students Jeremy Bass, Olivia Bazanos, Marina Novotnak and Zane Varner presented Norwin Middle

School’s robotics program as part of a panel discussion with students from South Faye�e High School at the �ree Rivers Educational Technology Conference in Cranberry on November 14, 2012.

Students from both schools presented their schools’ programs in STEM education, then �elded audience questions. �e students also a�ended breakout sessions about gigipan technology, career exploration, and creating video games. Olivia Bazanos won a Gigapan Epic robotic camera mount while

participating in the Gigipan session. Norwin Middle School was the �rst Westmoreland County school to be invited to present at the conference.

“It was a great experience for all of us,” said Mr. Ma� Mincucci, a technology education teacher at Norwin Middle School who oversees the robotics club. “I’m extremely proud of these kids and their hard work in preparing for the conference. I really enjoyed hearing the STEM presentations from both sets of students. I’ve already received a lot of positive feedback from people who a�ended our breakout session.”

STEM CONFERENCE WAS A SUCCESS

More than 500 educators representing 75 school districts, schools and universities experienced a major conference about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and

Mathematics) education that was co-sponsored by Norwin School District and ASSET STEM Education.

�e conference -- titled “A Vision for STEM Education: Exploring Connecting Transforming” -- was designed to support teachers’ e�orts in improving STEM education. It was held February 18, 2013 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

A�endees traveled from Kentucky, New York, Ohio, and right here in western Pennsylvania to learn from 57 presenters who shared best practices at 22 breakout sessions throughout the day. �e keynote speakers were David Burns, Director of STEM Innovation Networks at Ba�elle; and Dewayne Rideout, Vice President of Human Resources for All-Clad Metalcra�ers LLC.

�ose who a�ended are taking what they learned at the conference back to their school districts and businesses to ignite the conversation and continue their forward movement on a course to becoming model STEM schools.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PRESENT AT TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

CAMP INVENTION RETURNS JUNE 10 THROUGH 14, 2013

Camp Invention, a weeklong summer learning adventure led by quali�ed educators, returns to Norwin School District June 10 through 14, 2013 at Hillcrest Intermediate School.

Camp Invention’s new program, GEO-QUEST, features Cache Dash, where students can navigate to treasure-�lled caches containing global challenges presented by youth around the world. �ere is a $25 discount for those who register by March 28, 2013. �e director is Mrs. Larissa Sturm. Visit www.norwinsd.org/stem for a �yer and a description of the curriculum and activities.

David Burns

Dewayne Rideout


SMILES FOR GRANDMA

A fourth-grade student at Sunset Valley Elementary School launched a District-wide scarf collection drive from January 28 to February

1 to help her grandmother as she ba�les cancer.Madison Buscemi, age 9, came up with the idea for the scarf

collection program, called “Smiles for Grandma,” in December in response to the news that her grandmother, Jerilyn Johnson, had been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, an aggressive cancer. �rough numerous school and community events, Maddie’s e�orts resulted in the collection of 600 scarves, which she delivered to Hillman Cancer Center in February.

11 NORWIN BAND STUDENTS PERFORMED AT ROSE PARADE IN CALIFORNIA

Eleven Norwin High School students auditioned and succeeded in being placed into the Bands of America Honor Band in the 2013

Tournament of Roses Parade. �is Honor Band is put together only every four years for the Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena, California.

�e Honor Band performed January 1, 2013 with 300 outstanding high school student musicians and color guard performers, who were selected from band programs across the country. �e Norwin students who performed were Kyle Albright, Ma� Bertoty, Tyler Frye, Megan Grindle, Davis Herchko, Johnny Murray, Josey Murray, Ma� Seiler, Megan Seiler, Anthony Princeton, and Robert Swenson.

SCIENCE ALUMNI DAYS

Nearly three dozen college students and recent graduates in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) returned to their alma mater, Norwin, for the

Fi�h-Annual Science Alumni Days on �ursday, December 20 and Friday, December 21, 2012. �e alumni teamed up to o�er seminars on a variety of topics designed to inform and excite current students about STEM opportunities available right now in the real world.

Norwin science alumni presented workshops at Norwin Middle School on �ursday, December 20. �ey also presented workshops at both Norwin High School and Hillcrest Intermediate School on Friday, December 21.

Top photo: Angela Russo, a graduate student in audiology at the University of Pi�sburgh and 2008 graduate of Norwin High School.

Right photo: Teresa (Russo) Lucche�i, a 2001 Norwin graduate and graduate student in nursing at the University of Pi�sburgh, demonstrates a surgical drill to High School students. In the

background is Angela Russo. Bo�om photo: High School senior Luke Sige, Norwin alum Kevin Bartuska, and High School senior Erin Popovic observe a 25-inch “spaghe�i tower” students built in a lesson about structural engineering.

ALIFORNIAALIFORNIA

leven Norwin High School students auditioned and succeeded in being placed into the Bands of America Honor Band in the 2013



The Norwin School District received a $1,000 grant from Communities In Schools of Pennsylvania (CISPA) to help empower students to be drug and alcohol free while promoting

each individual’s interest and the need to make positive choices. �e grant is helping to promote the My Life. My Choice. Drug Free.

Campaign in the District. �e campaign, which is being coordinated by Ms. Doreen Harris, Principal of Stewartsville Elementary School, has two inter-related initiatives:

1. Reality Tour: Scholarships, for a select number, of Norwin School District students in grades 5 and 6 will be set up for them to a�end the Norwin Reality Tour, sponsored by the Norwin Lions Club. �is three-hour interactive program gives families the tools to reduce the risk of substance abuse. �is tour is conducted on the second Tuesday of every month through June. A sta� team from Hillcrest will create a process to nominate students who will receive

a scholarship. �e scholarship will include registration for the student and 3 family members plus 1 drug testing kit for them.

2. Postcard Pledge: A postcard has been created that incorporates a message promoting both the campaign My Life. My Choice. Drug Free. and the Norwin School District Character Education Initiative. Elementary and Intermediate students in grades 4 and 5 will sign their name on a postcard pledging, “A Good Knight Will Always Do What Is Good and Right.” �ese postcards will be signed by the students during a health lesson and will then be sent to local businesses reinforcing, to our community and stakeholders, our students’ pledge to stay drug free.

�e School District’s Wellness and Nutrition Commi�ee, along with the Character Education Commi�ee, have helped to make this program a reality.

HIGH SCHOOL RAISES $2,200 FOR CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FREE CARE FUND

Students raised $2,200 in �ve days for the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund in the �rst fund-raiser of its kind at Norwin High School. �e High School’s Marketing Applications Class, which is taught by

teacher Mrs. Kristen Kelly, encouraged all students and teachers to give generously to the Free Care Fund by having a weeklong fund-raiser in the school store (called “Knight’s Korner”) from December 10 through 14.In the photo above, from left to right: Ms. Amanda Olar, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation; Ms. Kristen Kelly, teacher, Marketing Applications class; and students Mary Odioso (Grade 11), Heather Marsico (Grade 12), and Caylyn Oliver (Grade 12), who led the effort. Behind them are the windows of the school store, which are decorated with personalized ornaments.

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE SELECTED TO PERFORM AT PMEA CONVENTION

The Norwin Percussion Ensemble was selected, from nearly 100 CD entries, to perform at the 2013 Pennsylvania Music Educator’s Association

Convention in Erie this spring. �is the second time the group has been selected to perform at this annual convention.

Student member Austin Schmidt said, “It is a great opportunity for us and a great group of students who have the honor to represent Norwin.” �e ensemble has 26 members who are also members of the Norwin High School Band.

Mrs. Glover is in her eighth year as the Associate Band Director/Director of Percussion Studies for the District. She credits the success of the ensemble to the High School Band program and the support of the Board of Education and community. “We feel very fortunate to be in an educationally minded community that provides opportunities for success in every facet of a child’s education,” Mrs. Glover said. �e ensemble performs on April 18 at 4:45 p.m. at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, PA. �e ensemble is under the direction of Mrs. Kimberly Glover and Mr. Ma�hew O’Neil.



KATIE KRATZENBERG TO SING IN ALL-EASTERN CONFERENCE CHOIR

Congratulations to Katie Kratzenberg, a Norwin High School junior, who has been selected to represent Norwin and the state of Pennsylvania at the National

Association for Music Education (NAfME) All-Eastern Conference. Katie was selected from among the best students in 11 Northeastern states and the District of Columbia. �e Eastern Division Conference is held every two years and will take place from April 4 through 7, 2013 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT.

She auditioned at the state conference last April. �e All-Eastern Honors Mixed Chorus will have approximately 350 members and the Treble Voice Chorus will have 120 members. �e NAfME Eastern Division Conference is a regional event that a�racts thousands of music educators from northeastern states.

Tyler Funk, a sixth-grader at Hillcrest Intermediate School, and Zach Waugh, a ��h-grader at Hillcrest

Intermediate School, led a T-shirt fund-raiser in February that sold 593 shirts to students and community members, which resulted in an impressive donation of $889.50 to the Norwin Relay for Life.

Tyler and Zach came up with the idea of selling purple shirts for National Cancer Awareness Day on February 4, 2013, to raise money for Norwin Relay for Life and to show support for those who have fought and who are still �ghting.

�ey created the design for the shirts and made announcements to the students and sta� at Hillcrest to tell them about our “Purple Fighter Day.” �ey created the �yers to be distributed about the T-shirt sale and Purple Fighter Day as well. �ey also participated in a “purple blitz” one

morning before school where they dressed in purple and passed out additional forms for the purple �ghter day t-shirts to the students as they entered the building. �ey helped to tag and organize the t-shirts once they arrived for distribution to the school. �ey were interviewed by the newspapers and TV stations to promote their fund raiser as well.

Additionally, all the homerooms at Hillcrest made Valentines to send to Hillman Cancer

Center for the patients there. �e Hillcrest Principal’s Council representatives for each homeroom even made a large card for all the homeroom students to sign and send.

Tyler and Zack traveled to Hillman Cancer Center and a few other hospice groups to pass out the valentines the students from Hillcrest and Hahntown created.

42ND STREET: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

Norwin �eatre Club will present the musical 42nd Street March 14-17, 2013 at the Norwin High School Center for the Performing Arts.

Prices for adults are $12; students, $10; and senior citizens (age 65 and over), $10.

Additional information is available at www.norwinsd.org under “headlines.” (Look for photos on page 25)

42ND STREET: H

PURPLE FIGHTER DAYHILLCREST STUDENTS TYLER FUNK AND ZACH WAUGH LEAD T-SHIRT FUND-RAISER

Hillcrest Intermediate School students Tyler Funk, left, and Zach Waugh, right, led a T-shirt fund-raiser in February that sold 593 shirts to students and community members. This resulted in an impressive donation of $889.50 to the Norwin Relay for Life.


SEARCHING THE INTERNET

In 2006, Google was o�cially added to the Oxford English Dictionary, so do you Google? Can you do something besides Google? �e Internet

changed our world from a place where it could be a challenge to �nd information to place were you have to weed out the overload of information. �e word Google has become synonymous with searching the Internet. Tips and tricks on how to use Google, along with other Internet searching tools, will be presented.

Required Skills:Basic mouse skills and general familiarity with the Windows operating system.

Date: Registration Deadline:April 18, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. April 10, 2013Norwin High SchoolCOURSE LIMITED TO 20 PARTICIPANTS

MANAGING YOUR DIGITAL PHOTOS USING PICASA

Picasa, free so�ware from Google, provides a simple way to view, edit, and organize the photos on your computer. In this session we

will upload photos into Picasa and learn to organize them into albums and by people. Time permi�ing, we will make a collage and/or a video from your photos.

Required Skills:General familiarity with the Windows operating system, mouse skills and comfort with your digital camera.

Must Bring:SD Camera Card OR Digital Camera and USB Cable

Date: Registration Deadline:April 5, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. March 27, 2013Norwin High School COURSE LIMITED TO 10 PARTICIPANTS

CREATING A FACEBOOK PAGE

Want to “like” your favorite store or TV show on Facebook? �is class will show you how to create a

Facebook page, “like” TV shows, sports teams or businesses, request friends and review some basic privacy se�ings.

Required Skills:Basic mouse skills and general familiarity with the Windows operating system. Participants will need to have an email account in order to create a Facebook page.

Date: Registration Deadline:March 26, 9:00 a.m.– 10:30 a.m. March 18, 2013Norwin High SchoolCOURSE LIMITED TO 20 PARTICIPANTS

USING THE APPLE iPAD

In this hands-on session the group will explore the Apple iPad 2. �e iPad2 is an example of a tablet computer. �is session

will provide an overview of how to navigate around the iPad, review the connection between iTunes and the iPad, introduce you to the app store and ideally make you feel a bit more aware of what an iPad is and what you can do with it.

Required Skills: Adventurous spirit and a willingness to experiment and learn.

Date: Registration Deadline:April 10, 9:00 a.m.– 10:30 a.m. April 2, 2013Norwin High SchoolCOURSE LIMITED TO 20 PARTICIPANTS

�ese classes are intended for �rst-time participants only. If you a�ended one of these classes previously, the District asks that you not repeat the course at this time so that more members of the community will have an opportunity to participate. �ey are o�ered for free to people aged 65 or older who live in North Huntingdon, Irwin or North Irwin. Norwin School District began o�ering the courses in 2011 to say “thank you” for the support that senior citizens have given to the school community over the years.

To register for a course, please contact Cheryll Plecenik at 724.861.3022.

photos on your computer. In this session we will upload photos into Picasa and learn to organize them into albums and by people. Time permi�ing, we will make a collage and/or a video from your photos.them into albums and by people. Time permi�ing, we

FREE SENIOR CITIZEN TECHNOLOGY CLASSES

SENIOR CITIZENS’ DINNER SET FOR APRIL 21

The annual Senior Citizens Dinner sponsored by the Norwin High School Student Council will be

held Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. at

Norwin High School. “We’re Not Ge�ing Older, We’re Ge�ing Be�er” is the theme for the dinner. It is for Norwin School District residents only who are aged 67 and older.

�e menu for the dinner is pasta, salad, rolls and bu�er and peach cobbler for dessert. Co�ee and bo�led water will also be served. �e Show Choir and the Jazz Band will also perform. As always, prizes will be given away.

�is year, Student Council is asking the senior citizens to kindly bring one canned good that can be donated to local food pantries. �ere is a limit of 725 tickets that will be sold. To order, mail a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Lynn Clark, Norwin HS Student Council, 251 McMahon Drive, North Huntingdon, PA 15642. Tickets cannot be mailed if an envelope is not enclosed.


Prior to the 1940s, when Norwin-area residents required emergency ambulance service, local funeral

directors answered their call. To assist them in caring for the sick and injured, the Irwin Volunteer Fire Department established the area’s �rst o�cial ambulance service in 1941.

Technology advancements during the late 1950s caught up with ambulance services. �e use of supplemental oxygen, resuscitators and other life-saving equipment became a necessity, and soon funeral directors retreated to their primary duties.

As a result, the North Huntingdon Township Fireman’s Association formed an ambulance and rescue company in 1959 that consisted of 50 �remen. With the help of locals like American Red Cross �rst aid instructor Bob Peterson of Peterson’s Drug Store and William Snyder of William Snyder’s Funeral Home, the �remen learned �rst aid, the proper way to handle patients and how to load and unload a stretcher from an ambulance.

�e newly-formed North Huntingdon Township Volunteer Rescue Squad and Relief Association, Company No. 8 members, known locally at the time as Rescue 8, clad in their �rst gray work uniforms, took to the streets driving a 1960 Ford Station Wagon equipped with an oxygen unit donated by the police department and a �rst aid kit.

A�er their �rst emergency call in January 1960, Rescue 8 expanded to meet the growing needs of the community. �ey added a nurses unit, whose participants were later incorporated as members, and a junior corps for teenage

volunteers. In 1974 two members received specialized training and became Rescue 8’s �rst emergency management technicians.

During that same time, a television show called “Emergency!” made the word “paramedic” a household name and children everywhere began dreaming of working in the emergency rescue world when they grew up. �e show highlighted the adventures of the then-�edgling paramedic program, and its popularity coincided with the widespread improvement of emergency medical services.

“I became interested in becoming a �re�ghter and paramedic while watching the 1970s television show,” said Christopher Price, executive director for North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue (NHEMS). “When I became old enough, I joined the local volunteer �re department and had the opportunity to participate in �re, rescue and medical responses.”

Price said he especially enjoyed caring for people, so he migrated to the local ambulance service and has been involved in emergency

medical services in one aspect or another for approximately 30 years.

“NHEMS is not your typical ambulance service,” said Price, who has been with the organization for almost �ve years. “While taking care of the sick and injured is our primary focus, since our inception we have provided additional emergency services, such as vehicle extrication

and low and high-angle rescues using ropes and accessories.”NHEMS has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Sta�

and equipment were originally housed in the Maintenance building

North Huntingdon EMSAn Interesting History

F E A T U R E

�re�ghter and paramedic while watching the 1970s television show,” said Christopher Price, executive director for North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue (NHEMS). “When I became old enough, I joined the local volunteer �re department and had the opportunity to participate in �re, rescue and medical responses.”

people, so he migrated to the local ambulance service and has been involved in emergency

volunteers. In 1974 two members received specialized training and became Rescue 8’s �rst emergency management technicians.

show called “Emergency!” made the word “paramedic” a household name and children everywhere began dreaming of working in the emergency rescue world when they grew up. �e show highlighted the adventures of the then-�edgling paramedic program, and its popularity coincided with the widespread improvement of emergency medical services.

medical services in one aspect or another for approximately 30 years.

ambulance service,” said Price, who has been with the organization for almost �ve years. “While taking care of the sick and injured is our primary focus, since our inception we have provided additional emergency services, such as vehicle extrication

By Brenda Haines


on Main Street with limited space. In 1975, they moved to the existing location on Center Highway where they currently house four ambulances and a rescue truck.

What began as merely a volunteer organization grew to a career and volunteer department that is now run by a �ve-person community board of directors and two township commissioners. Although they are still known informally as Rescue 8, in 2009 the name was changed to North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue, which Price said be�er identi�es their ideals and vision for the future.

“We continue to o�er services in partnership with North Huntingdon’s volunteer �re departments,” he said. “In addition, we have partnered with Penn Township Ambulance Service to o�er technical rescue services that include con�ned space rescue and water rescue capabilities. [�is partnership] also allows us

to provide tactical EMS support to both the North Huntingdon Township Police Department and Penn Township Police Department.”

However, NHEMS does not stop there. �e organization is sta�ed 24 hours a day and provides more than just emergency medical services to North Huntingdon Township; it also gives mutual assistance to Irwin, North Irwin, Tra�ord, White Oak, North Versailles and Sewickley Township.

“We have a team of specially trained paramedics who are the medical component for high-risk law enforcement situations that may occur in our two communities,” Price says. “We also have a very active safety and injury prevention program. We o�er child car seat inspections and installations, and conduct an annual Kids Safety Fair. Our latest project is a community wide fall-prevention program in partnership with local businesses and health care providers.”

NHEMS does all of this without the help of tax dollars. All of the funding comes from third-party billing, a yearly fund drive, donations and grant money.

For more information on NHEMS, please visit the website at www.nhems-rescue.org.

active safety and injury prevention program. We o�er child car seat inspections and installations, and conduct an annual Kids Safety Fair. Our latest project is a community wide fall-prevention program in partnership with local businesses and health care providers.”

the funding comes from third-party billing, a yearly fund drive, donations and grant money.

www.nhems-rescue.org.

is now run by a �ve-person


A Be�er Choice Inc. is a family owned corporation and has been conducting business in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and West Virginia since 1996. �ey specialize in

Basement Waterproo�ng, Foundation Repair, Game Room Finishing Systems, exclusive “PG2K” custom coatings and Mold Testing.

�e crews are in-house employees and no subcontractors are utilized. �ere are currently �ve inspectors that have been trained and certi�ed to give on-site free estimates to homeowners, realtors and commercial accounts.

A Be�er Choice Inc. is insured and bondable. �ey have successfully completed projects for the Greensburg County Courthouse, Pi�sburgh Housing Authority, the Catholic Diocese, Ryan Homes, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the University of Indiana, Sunoco Corporation, Salvation Army, American Legion, the U.S. Department of Energy and over 10,000 residential properties.

Historic Preservation is a growing industry. A Be�er Choice Inc. has been a pioneer in developing state of the art systems for

foundation repair with historically approved methods. �ey completed a project for the Daughters of the Revolution (DAR), located in Mt. Pleasant, PA. �ey waterproofed the basement, and stabilized and coated the stone walls

of the 100-year old building to a pristine, dry basement.

A Be�er Choice Inc. is a proud member of the National Association of Waterproo�ng and Structural Repair Contractors (NAWSRC), and is commi�ed to conducting business according to the organization’s Business Standards and Ethics and has agreed to treat customers ethically and to use quality products.

“A Be�er Choice stands out for its adherence to a national association code of ethics, the level of employee training and

the integration of value throughout their �rm. �ey have the formal policies and procedures as well as communication practices to assure ethical decision-making and ethical behavior. �eir personnel policies (and actions), and their communication with customers exemplify the commitment needed to run an ethical business,” states Dr. Virginia Gerde, a Be�er Business Bureau Torch Award winner, and Judge and Director of the Beard Center for Leadership in Ethics. “�eir application demonstrated a willingness to make the ‘hard decisions’ where personal relationships or the quest for pro�t came into the con�ict with the �rm’s values. Not only did they show they had ethical practices, but they also had the courage to address unethical actions.”

“Equally impressive is A Be�er Choice’s commitment to helping those that are in need and giving back to the community,” states Warren King, former President of the Be�er Business Bureau. “�eir dedication to the growth and progress of the community is another core value which demonstrates their strong belief in doing what is ethical in the marketplace.”

“One Team, One Direction is our company mo�o,”states Richard Pack, president of A Be�er Choice, Inc. “We all work together to satisfy our customers’ requests, needs and many times, strong demands. We take great pride in our quality of workmanship and customer satisfaction. We are honored to be selected by the BBB for the prestigious honor of Runner Up for the Western Pennsylvania Area Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics and pledge to continue ethical behavior to our trusted customers.”

�e company is located in North Huntingdon, PA, and has o�ces in Erie and Johnstown. Senior citizens and military families are eligible for special discounts. Financing options are also available, as well as a referral rewards program. Contact the sta� for a free, no obligation inspection by calling 800.343.2357, or visit the company’s website at www.abe�erchoiceinc.com.

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On March 14 – 17, the Tony Award-winning musical “42nd Street” will come to life at the Norwin High School

Center for the Performing Arts.Set in depression-era 1933, the story follows

the exploits of director Julian Marsh in his a�empt to bring an elaborately-styled musical to the stage, despite the dire economic climate of the times and some feuding between his established star, Dorothy, and young upstart, Peggy. With wonderful dance numbers and

classic songs, including the lively “42nd Street” title song, the production will be an

entertaining evening for all ages.Performances will begin at 8 p.m. on

�ursday, Friday and Saturday with a special matinee on Sunday a�ernoon at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at the Norwin �eatre Club’s website, www.Norwin�eatreClub.com. Adults are $12, students $10 and senior

citizens (age 65 and over) $10.

E V E N T

THE NORWIN THEATRE CLUBPRESENTS

42ndSTREET!

On March 14 – 17, the Tony Award-winning musical “42nd Street” will come to life at the Norwin High School

Center for the Performing Arts.Set in depression-era 1933, the story follows

the exploits of director Julian Marsh in his a�empt to bring an elaborately-styled musical to the stage, despite the dire economic climate of the times and some feuding between his established star, Dorothy, and young upstart, Peggy. With wonderful dance numbers and

classic songs, including the lively “42nd Street” title song, the production will be an

entertaining evening for all ages.Performances will begin at 8 p.m. on

�ursday, Friday and Saturday with a special matinee on Sunday a�ernoon at special matinee on Sunday a�ernoon at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at the Norwin �eatre Club’s website,

w.Norwin�eatreClub.comare $12, students $10 and senior


special matinee on Sunday a�ernoon at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at the Norwin �eatre Club’s website, www.Norwin�eatreClub.cowww.Norwin�eatreClub.cowware $12, students $10 and senior


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Young children o�en wish that the characters from their favorite stories could come to life to talk and play. �rough the ingenuity of a program

known as “Books Come Alive” – and the talents of its local student actors – their wishes can be ful�lled.

Books Come Alive is a series of live productions presented by Greensburg’s Stage Right! School for the Performing Arts & Professional �eatre Company. �e series transforms beloved children’s stories into live performances at area libraries, including the Norwin Public Library.

According to Barbara Flynn, children’s librarian at the Norwin Public Library, Books Come Alive productions enable families with young children to experience the thrill of live theater. For instance, in December, dozens of small tots eagerly gathered at the library for a charming live performance of the beloved children’s story “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

“�e Books Come Alive productions are not only presented by young actors and actresses, which I believe is even more fun for the younger children to see, but they are based on familiar children’s stories – a win-win! �e shows a�ord children the chance to see free, live theater productions in a familiar se�ing,” said Flynn. “What a great introduction to the art of theater.”

Tony Marino, the artistic director at Stage Right!, said that his company works with local librarians to determine which books they would like to see adapted into stage performances. All of the Books Come Alive actors are Stage Right! students.

“Some of the scripts are tightly based on the

original story, and others are loosely adapted,” Marino said. For instance, in the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” adaptation, one of Santa’s elves caused an explosion in an Xbox factory – a detail that was obviously not included in the original 1939 version of the story.

“I appreciate that Tony and Chris Orosz from Stage Right! will o�entimes ask the county’s librarians for input about

‘hot’ books or something that we think will adapt well to the stage,” said Flynn. “�ey also try to

tie in a book or two to our summer reading themes to aid us in our programming.”

Stage Right! has been producing Books Come Alive for nearly 10 years. Marino said that the series is part of Stage Right!’s outreach productions and requires a special

commitment from its young actors because of the short two- to three-day rehearsal process. �e Books Come Alive events are “a unique

performance experience,” he said. “It truly is baptism by �re in a really exciting way for these young performers. �ey get the opportunity to think on their feet, to

interact with the audience, and build their improv skills. �ey’re going for it right o� the bat.”

F E A T U R E

Barbara Flynn

director at Stage Right!, said that his company works

determine which books

original story, and others are loosely adapted,” Marino said.

o�entimes ask the county’s librarians for input about ‘hot’ books or something that we think will adapt

well to the stage,” said Flynn. “�ey also try to

Come Alive for nearly 10 years. Marino Come Alive for nearly 10 years. Marino said that the series is part of Stage Right!’s outreach productions and requires a special

commitment from its young actors because of the short two- to three-day rehearsal process. �e Books Come Alive events are “a unique

performance experience,” he said. “It truly is baptism by �re in a really exciting way for these young performers. �ey get the opportunity to think on their feet, to

interact with the audience, and build their improv skills. �ey’re going for it right o� the bat.”


Cesare Muccari, director of the Greensburg Hemp�eld Area Library, was instrumental in developing the Books Come Alive program and said that the response to the program has been “fantastic.”

“I see the faces of these children during the performances, and they’re really excited about it. �e point of the program – of any children’s library program – is to encourage kids to read. �e Books Come Alive program has been incredibly successful,” said Muccari, noting that the program has even encouraged children who were once audience members to join Stage Right! as performers.

Flynn could not agree more, and said the community’s response to the series has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Of all of the programs the children’s library o�ers, which are plentiful, the ones I get the most inquiries about are the Stage Right! performances:

‘When are they?’ ‘What stories will be featured?’” she said.�e performances are tailored to children ages 3-11.

Lasting only 30 to 40 minutes each, they are enhanced with costumes, props, singing and dancing, and are set before a large, colorful backdrop. �e main goal of the program is to foster a love of reading and literacy in young children, and, according to Flynn, it is doing just that.

“Many times, a�er a play is presented, if the children weren’t already familiar with the story, they want the book,” she said. “Or they want to read more in the series of books and get to know more about the characters. It does, in a way, make the ‘books come alive!’”

To learn more about upcoming Books Come Alive productions at the Norwin Public Library, visit www.norwinpubliclibrary.net.


Carlow University Soccer Team Wins Championship Thanks to Norwin Connection

W hen Carlow University’s soccer team achieved its goal of a �rst-ever NAIA conference

championship in November, it was due in no small part to the goals scored by

its Norwin High School connection.Carlow head coach Marcus

Pollidore’s 2012 Celtics �nished the season with a 15-3-1 record and the championship of the National Association of Intercollegiate

Athletics (NAIA) Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

(KIAC). His roster includes six players from Norwin High School including senior

Amanda Cotherman, an Irwin, resident, who scored the winning goal in overtime to give

the Celtics a 1-0 win over Point Park University on November 10 in the KIAC Championship game.

“I can’t believe four years went by so quickly and to have it end with a championship is more than any of us expected,” said Cotherman, a nursing major, shortly a�er the game, which was scoreless for 90 minutes of play and just under two minutes in overtime. “�is is unbelievable!”

�e journey actually started �ve seasons ago when Pollidore teamed with Stephanie Demalon, Carlow’s assistant director of admissions, to recruit the �rst

of several Norwin players who saw Carlow as an opportunity to continue playing a sport they loved in

F E A T U R E


college, earn an athletic scholarship and get a great education at the private, comprehensive, liberal arts institution located in Oakland.

Tara Imbarlina, a May 2012 nursing graduate and now a Celtics assistant coach, became the �rst of the recent string of Norwin players to join the Celtics, along with teammates Samantha Noll and Lauren Czapor in the fall of 2008. �at year Carlow �nished with a record of 1-15-2.

“At the beginning of my Carlow career, I was one of 10 new recruits to a team that was slowly growing,” re�ected Imbarlina, fresh o� a 12-hour shi� as a nurse. “I watched the team go from not being able to bring home a win, to bringing home a championship. I am honored to have been a part of a growing program and am thankful for all I learned from my time at Carlow. I hope to be able to continue contributing as a coach and help the program continue its growth.”

Once word spread back to Norwin about scholarship opportunities, the connection continued. �e following season Norwin’s Lindsay Bacco, Nicole Yusko, and Amanda Cotherman joined the Celtics and the team �nished 4-13.

In 2010, Marisa Czapor joined her sister, Lauren, on the team and started every game up until a knee injury sidelined her just before the playo� run this season.

In 2011, two more Norwin players joined the Celtics, Janelle McIntyre and Lauren Closser, soon to be followed by Jordan Hu�man in 2012.

All in all, the 2012 roster of 24 players consisted of six from Norwin, �ve of which started for the championship team, and the sixth, Bacco, serving as a team captain.

“�e impact of the Norwin players has been tremendous as they enable a culture of success through hard work and discipline,” said Pollidore, now in his sixth season as head coach. For his team’s e�orts, Pollidore was also named the KIAC Coach of the Year.

Several of the Norwin student-athletes earned recognition as NAIA and United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Scholar-Athletes, too. Such recognition requires a minimum 3.5 GPA upon reaching junior academic standing, and this year Bacco and Czapor were named scholar-athletes by both organizations.

Bacco, who will graduate in May 2013 with a degree in nursing, already has her name etched in stone at Carlow, as she was inducted into the university’s Walk of Fame as the 2011-12 Outstanding Student-Athlete, one of three annual awards presented by the athletic department.

�is marked back-to-back selections of Norwin students for the Outstanding Student-Athlete

Award, as the 2010-2011 award went to Lauren Czapor, who graduated last

spring with an education degree.Czapor’s and Bacco’s honors might

just be the �rst step for Norwin athletes as �rst-year player Jordan Hu�man, sophomore McIntyre, and junior Czapor – all from North Huntingdon – were named to KIAC’s First Team All-Conference.

“With all these honors, it can easily be concluded that the goals of a quality education and soccer success

are being scored by Norwin grads at Carlow University,” said George Sliman, Carlow’s director of athletics.


If you have a home, you know how challenging it is to maintain it. Roofs leak, landscapes need weeding, and kitchens and baths need facelifts. If you’re handy, you can get by with your own sweat equity. However, most people don’t have the skills, let alone the time, to tackle major household projects – many of which will require you spending more time at the office just to be able to tackle the price tags such projects

come with. Here, we try to cover it all for you – from financing your project to enjoying it when it’s complete.

Building a home addition can be a good alternative to buying a new home or building a house from scratch. Besides saving money, it can be a means of investing in your home and customizing your home to serve your family’s specific needs and desires. But additions also bring up potential problems that may not make them the best option for everyone.

An addition can drastically change the way a house looks from the road or yard. An addition that isn’t well planned can look like it doesn’t belong or doesn’t match the rest of the house in terms of style or overall shape. Planning an addition carefully with a skilled architect is the best way to ensure that the house looks as good, or even better, than it did before the addition. An architect should be able to produce sketches that give a sense of how the finished addition will look. To minimize the appearance of an addition, homeowners can usually choose to build onto the back of the existing house, thereby hiding the new construction from the road.

Depending on the size of an addition and the construction schedule, it may take weeks or months before an addition is completed. Bad weather can cause unanticipated delays, and working with an unreliable contractor can prolong the process even further. If a homeowner can’t afford to be patient

during the planning and construction process, moving into a new, larger home may be a better option.

An addition can be a good investment, helping to increase the value of a home. Using a home equity line of credit or getting a new mortgage that includes money to pay for the addition can be a wise financial decision, especially when interest rates are low. However, if the expected value of an addition – which a homeowner can estimate by studying the sale prices of nearby homes with similar characteristics – is less than its cost, it may be a poor investment.

An addition is likely to raise the value of a home. After the addition is completed, a new assessment will raise property taxes. Prior to adding on, homeowners should estimate the value of their home with the addition and compute a new annual tax liability based on current tax rates.

Building an addition is an ideal time to invest in energy-efficient fixtures and construction. Windows that prevent hot or cool air from escaping and low-energy-consuming appliances can minimize the cost of an addition by reducing energy bills and its environmental impact.

Remodeling your bathroom is another popular way to jazz up your home as well as build equity. In some cases, not only is remodeling the bathroom an aesthetic choice but a functional choice as well. Giving your bathroom

a boost doesn’t always have to require a boatload of cash or space – just a little planning and creativity before you get started. Refresh your bath’s look with a wow-worthy makeover that improves its style and function. Perhaps you have an old toilet that you want to replace with a high-efficiency model that will lower your water bill. Or perhaps the old tile is falling off your shower and you need to replace



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it. Whatever your situation is, there are many options to choose from, including do-it-yourself options.

One popular and inexpensive option is to have a theme for your bathroom. Examples could be a Disney theme for a child’s bathroom, or perhaps a beach theme. This can be accomplished by painting the walls, adding a wall border and by well-placed décor. Some larger and more costly

bathroom updates include new flooring, new sink and vanity and a new bathtub or shower. These improvements will get even costlier if you paid someone to do it for you.

Decks on the rear or side of homes have become extremely popular in the United States. Used for entertaining or just relaxing, decks come in all shapes, sizes, designs and material.

The most popular, and least expensive, deck material is treated wood. It is durable, however it will need to be painted or stained yearly or every other year depending on your climate. Composite decking products are building materials manufactured using a mixture of plastic and wood fiber. Composite decking materials are very popular because they require less maintenance than wood and often use recycled materials. Composite decking is easy to install and is guaranteed with a 20-year warranty against rotting, splitting, splintering or termite damage. However, composite decking can be very costly.

Vinyl decking made from Cellular PVC is a great choice for decking because it is essentially resistant to stains, mold, insects and fading. PVC material is low maintenance and is a sustainable building material. But like composite, it can get costly.

Powder coated aluminum decking can be used to create a watertight floor for your deck. This unique material will never splinter, rot or rust. LockDry Aluminum decking is cool to the touch and is available in five colors. Aluminum decking is strong and lightweight. The LockDry system can be used to create a dry space to use under your deck on rainy days.

Decks can be built right on the ground, or be elevated high in the air, depending on the design of your home. If you are building a deck yourself it is very important to check all local building codes and follow all of the guidelines very closely to ensure the safety and long-term durability of your deck.

Bringing your family together is often difficult. A family game room is a fantastic way to upgrade your home and bring the family together. Whether you have an unfinished basement, an unused attic room or an empty garage, you can transform it into a fantastic oasis where your family can spend countless enjoyable hours. There are many aspects to making your game room remodel a success. First you should talk to a Design/Build contractor about water access, waste lines and additional electricity needs. The contractor can also offer advice on any changes that might be necessary to update the space, whether it be additional insulation

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for a garage or attic room or waterproofing for a basement room.

Water access could also be an important aspect if you plan to have a bar or sink area. A Design/Build contractor can offer advice on what needs to be done to make the area completely usable. You might also want to speak with the contractor about creating an additional half bathroom for guests and family members to use when you’re entertaining.

Electricity for lighting and appliances is also incredibly important. If you are updating an unused area of your home, the current electric wiring may not be able to handle the additional demands of a game room. The Design/Build contractor can guide you through what will need to be updated and how much it will cost.

If finances are an issue there are definitely still projects you can complete yourself including painting, laying carpet, adding shelves or simply updating the décor.

Gone are the days when it was frowned upon to bring work home. Today a home is not a home unless it has a home office. Whether you are turning an extra bedroom into a workspace with store-bought furniture or constructing a full-scale two-level library and office, home offices are a regular part of what makes a house a home in 2013.

Making the space your own is essential to effective use of a home office. Create a space that makes you more productive and relaxed at the same time and that is a winning combination. A desk is an essential part of most offices. Choose one that meets your needs. If all you need is a work top to use your laptop from, consider a computer cart and save the space for a comfortable chair or small sofa. If you are in the market for a larger desk, consider office furniture resellers. They sell executive-grade used furniture for a fraction of the cost.

Bookcases or other storage can be a nice addition. Not only can they store books, but they are also great places to display awards or showcase your favorite collection of nicknacks or memorabilia. Decide whether you prefer furniture pieces or built-ins. Antique shops have great deals on beautiful bookcases, and most local cabinet shops can design and install custom built-ins. If you have a closet in your office, visit your local home center for a plethora of storage and organizing options.

A comfortable chair or two is a necessity. Choose long-lasting fabrics and sturdy frames. Go with classic styles that won’t end up as next year’s garage sale item. Test out the chair before you buy it. Desk chairs especially need to provide good support and be comfortable.

We live in a society of over-indulgence. Nothing shows this like the home theater. So many popular home magazines have a page dedicated to converting your basement into a home theater, or something similar. The HGTV website has 16 home theater features alone. But how doable is the home theater in reality? First, you need a fairly large space, either a big family room or a basement. Second, you need to budget for all the furnishings including, of course, the stars of the show: home theater equipment – a big-screen TV, DVD player and speakers – and comfy seating. Also very popular for home theaters is floor and aisle lighting similar to real movie theaters, and perhaps even an old-fashioned popcorn maker.

Frankly, home theaters are generally for those with deep pockets because there really is no way to make a home theater cheaply. Still thinking of taking the plunge? The home improvement website Home Time has a really useful feature on home theater planning. It covers everything you’ll need to consider, like the space you’ll need and even suggested room layouts, to maximize your viewing pleasure.

Kitchens are the most popular room in the house to remodel. Many people consider the kitchen to be the center of the home and its most important component. Another reason it is so popular to remodel is there are so



many things in the kitchen that can be remodeled….cabinets, cabinet hardware, countertops, floor, appliances, lighting, walls and sinks.

There is very little right or wrong when it comes to remodeling your kitchen; it comes down to personal taste. There are so many choices when it comes to style, design and type of material for every component of your kitchen. When remodeling there is

much to consider: cost, what is your goal, what is your situation (pets or small children could help decide what type of flooring to use, for example) and what is the cost vs. equity value of the remodel.

If finances are an issue and you are not the handiest individual, there are still many simple and easy things you can do to add pizzazz and value to your kitchen. For example, you can paint your cabinets and add new handles rather than buying new cabinets. Adding a stylish splashguard behind your stove and sink is easy to do and adds great appeal. Painting the walls can also make a huge difference in your kitchen, as can changing the light fixture.

If done well, landscaping can completely change the character and perception of a home. Landscaping encompasses anything on the outside of the home including grass cutting, plants, flowers, rock, mulch, borders, vegetable gardens and more.

Beyond the aesthetics, landscaping can be beneficial to a property if designed properly. Solar heat absorbed through windows and roofs can increase cooling costs, and incorporating shade from landscaping elements can help reduce this solar heat gain. Shading and evapotranspiration (the process by which a plant actively moves and releases water vapor) from trees can reduce surrounding air temperatures as much as 9° F (5°C). Because cool air settles near the ground, air temperatures directly under trees can be as much as 25°F (14°C) cooler than air temperatures above nearby blacktop.

Using shade effectively requires you to know the size, shape, and location of the moving shadow that your shading device casts. Also, homes in cool regions may never overheat and may not require shading. Therefore, you need to know what landscape shade strategies will work best in your regional climate and your microclimate.

Also, if you can determine how much water your plants actually need, then you won’t overwater them and waste water. It is important to not

only understand a plant’s particular watering requirements, but also evapotranspiration.

Evapotranspiration (Et) is the amount of water that is evaporated from the soil and transpired through the plant’s leaves. This amount of water needs to be replaced through watering. If you know your area’s Et rate, you can plan the amount of water to be replaced through irrigation. It’s best to water or irrigate your plants in the early morning when evaporation rates are low. This also provides plants with water before midday when the evaporation rate is the highest.

Lighting is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to cast an enchanting spell on any outdoor space. It is also very effective for safety and security purposes.

Examples of exterior lighting include: torches, candles, lanterns, solar ground lighting, flood lights, lamp posts, landscape lighting and general light fixtures. For setting a mood the most popular lighting is candles or small lanterns. For security and safety purposes, it is critical to have flood light or lamp posts


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or ground solar lighting or all. A burglar is much more likely to enter a home without a lot of light on the outside illuminating the property.

With countless styles and options available, there are no right or wrong choices. The outdoor lighting a homeowner will choose will come down to budget and personal preference.

Many of us take pride in our homes, investing countless hours rearranging and remodeling the interior. But it can also be refreshing to step out of the confines of the inside and spend some time outside. It’s especially enjoyable during

the spring, summer and fall months. When the weather is favorable, it’s difficult to miss out on a nice day outside.

But spending time outside doesn’t mean you have to forfeit your creature comforts. With a few small adjustments you can make your outdoor space comfortable and inviting. Turning a yard, patio, porch or other outdoor area into a functional living space can be a rewarding task, and will expand your living space to the outdoors. With the right setup, you can spend

more time in the sunshine and fresh air, and host events al fresco for friends, family and neighbors.

Options for outdoor living include outdoor kitchens, dramatic lighting, fireplaces or fire pits, a water feature (like a fountain), outdoor living rooms, gazebos and pavilions. With so many options to choose from, for most people it will come down to price, climate where they live and available space in which to be creative.

Ponds can be a wonderful addition to your property’s outdoor experience. Surprisingly, they are not as difficult to build as one might think.

Before you start, call 811 or your local one-call center to have electric and gas lines marked so you know where to dig to steer clear of them. Then, when you map out the location of your pond, put it where it will be noticed – visible from a window, off a patio, or along a walkway – but away from the play areas of small children or pets. Keep clear of major root systems or mature trees, which can block too much of the sunlight plants and fish


need. You’ll also need to be within reach of a grounded exterior outlet so you can plug in a pump, an essential tool for keeping the water aerated; most pumps come with a maximum cord length of 25 feet, and extension cords are not recommended. You may need to bury the power cord a few inches down in PVC pipe to hide it.

Space permitting, you need at least 40 cubic feet for your pond – about 7 feet by 4 feet – to keep the water clean. An initial shallow terrace just inside the perimeter of the pond holds rocks that conceal the liner edge and keep it in place. A second, deeper terrace supports plants that live in the water and help balance the pond’s ecosystem. As you dig, you must slope the sides of the pond so that if the water freezes, the ice will push up instead of against the liner. Even in warmer climates, small ponds can change temperature rapidly, so if you’re adding fish you’ll want a deeper pond that will maintain a more consistent temperature and accommodate the fish – 18 to 24 inches for goldfish and at least 3 feet for koi.

To maintain the consistent depth of the water, you need to line the pond. A thin layer of sand and old newspapers or burlap bags softens the jagged edges of rocks and roots. But over that you will need to put a waterproof skin. There are several types of flexible liners meant for small ponds – made from polypropylene and EPDM, among other materials. Look for one that’s weather-resistant, so it will stand up to UV rays and freezing

temperatures. It should also be rated “fish-safe” if you plan to stock your pond and come with a warranty of 10 to 20 years so your pond will be watertight for many years to come.

Remodeling your home can generate tremendous equity for the future, as well as personal enjoyment in the present. Remodeling projects come in all shapes, sizes and costs. Projects can range from replacing flooring or a faucet, to installing new trim work or tile and replacing windows and doors. Remodeling can also take on the form of revamping or adding a bathroom, redoing a kitchen, overhauling your home’s exterior for improved curb appeal, or completing an addition to increase your home’s square footage and add valuable space. Big and small changes can both have an impact and will improve the way your home looks and functions, increasing its value and making it more enjoyable for you and your family.

The key to any remodeling job is to make sure it makes sense financially. Not all remodeling jobs are cost-effective. For example, it is possible to pay $75,000 for a new addition, but an appraiser may be of the opinion that it only raised the value of your house by $50,000. It is very important that you do as much research as possible and talk to as many experienced professionals as possible so you can make an informed decision about what is best for you.

Financing Remodeling Projects

While home sales may be sluggish, home remodels are roaring. In the second quarter of 2011, Americans were expected to spend $132.8 billion on remodeling – up 12.8% over the previous year, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

And it’s no surprise that these projects aren’t cheap. In fact, the same studies report that 57% of home-remodeling projects cost at least $20,000.

Since saving your pennies in a pickle jar is probably not enough to update your master bathroom with a slate walk-in shower or add granite countertops to your kitchen, explore these options to finance your new-and-improved home.

Purchase a Variable-Rate CD

What it’s good for: Projects that can wait until a fixed time in the future with a price tag you can pay by saving.

If you plan to pay for the kitchen of your dreams the old-fashioned way – by saving for it – consider a variable-rate certificate of deposit. This savings vehicle is similar to a traditional savings account in that you can add money to it at any time (a fixed-rate CD does not allow additional deposits during the term of the CD).

In return for an interest rate that may go up or down, the interest rate often is slightly higher than a traditional CD when you buy it. You make a low minimum deposit and lock in your money for a fixed time – usually at least six or 12 months. If you withdraw your funds before then, you pay penalties and lose the interest.

Open a Home Equity Line of Credit

What it’s good for: Long-term projects that can be paid off over five or fewer years.

The beauty of using the equity in your home is that you write yourself checks from a line



of credit and pay interest on only what you borrow. Plus, the interest is typically tax deductible.

While current low interest rates add to the allure, these credit lines can be tough to come by in this climate of lowered home values and tight credit. When interest rates rise, your home improvement project may become more expensive than you anticipated.

Refinance Your Home

What it’s good for: Larger projects for a home you plan to live in for the long term.

A “cash-out” refinance allows you to refinance your mortgage for an amount that is larger than your current mortgage. You get the difference in a check – effectively rolling the sum into a newly financed 15- or 30-year mortgage. This can be an attractive option, as mortgage rates have hovered at historic lows in recent years.

The downsides include closing fees that can be in the thousands of dollars. Plus, the threshold to qualify, including income and home-value requirements, can be high – both of which can pose a challenge in this economy.

Return on your Investment

Thinking about adding a deck or revamping the kitchen so you can up the price of your home before you sell? You might want to crunch the 2010-11 Cost vs. Value numbers, compiled by Remodeling magazine, before you do.

Projects with highest return on investment

• Replacing entry door with steel door (102%)

• Garage door replacement (84%)

• Adding a wood deck (73%)

• Minor kitchen remodel (73%)

• Vinyl siding replacement (72%)

• Wood window replacement (72%)

• Attic bedroom addition (72%)

Project with lowest rate of return on investment

• Home office remodel (46%)

• Sunroom addition (49%)

• Bathroom addition (53%)

• Garage addition (59%)

The data includes national and regional averages on over 20 common home improvement projects ranging from kitchens and baths to roofs and decks. Data for both midrange and upscale projects is provided on:

• Average cost of project.

• Added resale value.

• Percentage of investment recouped.

• Change from last year’s report.

The above numbers assume you’re hiring out the labor on the project. If it’s a do-it-yourself project, and you do a good job, the rate of return on your investment will be higher. Unless you plan on doing the work yourself, or not doing the project makes your house undesirable or unsellable, most home improvement projects will return less from your investment than you put in, so you might want to consider staying in your home a while to enjoy the results of your improved home!


Steve Rennekamp could have been content to continue working away at his job designing, testing and manufacturing windows for a major corporation until his retirement. But he

learned a long time ago from his father that things should be built correctly and made to last. He knew that he could design a much be�er window for homeowners that would be more energy-e�cient and easier to clean. So in 1999, he launched Energy Swing Windows, manufacturing the products locally in Murrysville, Pa.

“I saw a lot of de�ciencies as far as the way windows were designed,” explains Rennekamp. “I knew there was a be�er way.” So he designed a window that opens the same way as a door, which is much easier than tilt windows to clean. �e unique design also makes the windows much more energy-e�cient. Special Low-E, argon-�lled glass complements the energy e�ciency of the design.

Low-E glass re�ects heat rays away from the house in summer, and re�ects heat back into the house in winter, reducing heating costs.

Each window opening is carefully measured, and then a window is custom-built to those exact measurements, ensuring the perfect �t every time. “We do not make a window until we have an order,” says Rennekamp. “A standard size window will not �t your exact space. Because we are in charge of the entire process from the selection of the window, the manufacture and installation, we are able to custom-�t a window taking into account all of the unique characteristics of your home, rather than trying to make your home accommodate the standard size window,” adds Rennekamp.

Energy Swing Windows boasts one of the greatest customer service records of any business. Unlike almost every other window company, Energy Swing controls every phase of the business from the beginning to the end. In most cases, a homeowner unknowingly has three di�erent companies involved in their job so when the ball gets dropped, the sales company, the window manufacturer and the installer will end up blaming each other, leaving the homeowner abandoned. Energy Swing Windows eliminates all of these issues by handling all three aspects.

In customer service satisfaction surveys performed by independent auditor, Guild Quality, Energy Swing constantly ranks at the top of their nationwide list. In its own client satisfaction surveys performed over the last ten years, 71% of Energy Swing Windows customers felt that they had received greater value for the money they invested, while 29% of customers felt they had received an equal amount of value. No one has ever said they received less value. In 13 years, they have never received a single Be�er Business Bureau (BBB) complaint, which is one of the reasons they were honored for the second time by the BBB with a well-deserved Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.

Energy Swing windows come with a true lifetime product and installation guarantee, which will even cover inadvertent baseballs thrown through a window.

Rennekamp and his employees have also taken the time to give back to the community by participating in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s annual walk and by providing specially-designed oxygen masks to area �re departments for treating animals with smoke inhalation at �re scenes.

“My parents raised me right,” says Rennekamp, “I believe in doing things right the �rst time and making people my �rst priority.”

How A Home Improvement Company Literally Does Everything Right

Energy Swing President Steve Rennekamp (r) and Vice President of Sales Don Darragh (l)

service records of any business. Unlike almost every other window company, Energy Swing controls every phase of the business from the beginning

Quality, Energy Swing constantly ranks at the top of

B U S I N E S S S P O T L I G H T


If I walked around with a big open wound on my body, I would immediately be confronted by several caring people who would o�er help and healing. �ey would be shocked if I told them I

didn’t want to address the problem and instead preferred to just walk around bleeding on everything. While this might sound farfetched, our community is full of people walking around with open wounds on their hearts and in their lives. �ey are choosing not to deal with the problem.

�ese people are the “walking wounded.” �ey may have tried to get help, but people didn’t understand or rejected them. If their wound has been with them for a long time, they may have grown comfortable with the problem or may even believe it is normal.

Many of us have become accustomed to just accepting the masks people wear. It is more comfortable to accept that people are ok than to dig deeper and get to the truth. �e truth is, many in our churches and communities are the “walking wounded” who have put on a mask to convince us they are ok. Are you willing to see the truth? Are you open to what you will see? Will the love of Christ in you be enough to keep you from running? I suggest that it’s time we stop le�ing people walk around wounded and do something about it. We at Grace Wellness Center specialize in helping the walking wounded become healed and whole again. Please take a few minutes to look at the outline of our philosophy on healing wounds. If you or someone you know is part of the “walking wounded” please contact us for help. Also, consider having us come and present a seminar at your church or community organization that will encourage people to take o� the mask and deal with the problem.

THE HEALING PROCESS THROUGH BIBLICAL COUNSELING

Take off the MASK: We need to begin the healing process by being genuine and open about our pain.

Heal the WOUNDS: Just like physical wounds, emotional, spiritual and relational wounds need to be treated and healed.

Remove the TOXINS: Toxins are the false beliefs that result from unhealed wounds and a life of covering our pain with masks.

Replace with TRUTH: �e Bible tells us we are to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” We need to examine our life under the light of truth and replace the false and destructive beliefs with those that are true and healthy.

LET US HELP!Do you know people who are hurting and can’t seem to break the

destructive or avoidant pa�erns in their lives? Are there people you know who just don’t ever seem to get it and are spiritually stuck? Is there ongoing and unresolved con�ict within families you know? Maybe this even describes you?

Consider having Grace Wellness Center come along side you and walk with you as you go through the healing process.

Grace Wellness Center has many convenient locations throughout Western PA and most insurances are accepted.

Visit us at www.thegracewellnesscenter.com or call 724.863.7223

MAIN OFFICE:8320 Pennsylvania Ave., North Huntingdon, PA 15642

WALKINGWOUNDED

THE

Modern medicine can seem rather impersonal at times. A hurting, suffering person visits his/her doctor in search of help and often leaves with medications that have been prescribed based upon algorithms designed for the masses. What’s worse, these medications oftentimes only treat the symptoms without ever addressing the root cause of the dysfunction.

Dr. Will Cole, DC, and director of health & wellness at Grace Wellness Center, describes the care a patient receives as a customized treatment plan that addresses the whole person, including body, soul and spirit. The connection between our emotional state and our physical well-being cannot be overemphasized.

Dr. Cole gives patients solutions and answers to their health problems using the latest research in functional medicine. Functional medicine pairs the latest advancements in diagnostic testing to find underlying hormonal and physiological dysfunctions with the latest research in natural medicine. Instead of the “same drug for everyone” approach of the standard model of care, Dr. Cole customizes programs to the patient’s individual biochemistry and needs.

The personalized care is based upon herbal and botanical remedies that target the specific problem, customized nutrition that not only nourishes but heals the individual, and counseling for strengthening the spiritual, emotional component that is essential in the healing process.

Dr. Cole explains, “I would hate for anyone to, God forbid, have a serious disease and only have conventional medicine at their disposal. With the standard of care for conventional medicine, for years the only thing that is changing is the prescription list! Someone is not sick, whether it is diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol, from a medication deficiency. Chronic and auto immune disease in the United States is growing to epidemic proportions. Diabetes, for example, has tripled in the last 10 years in this country and we are spending around 174 billion dollars on it every year. We need to do something dramatically different for this dramatically failing model of care! Diabetes is reversible, and the literature shows this. There is hope for people with diabetes, low thyroid and other chronic issues. This is why I have such a passion for this work. Our treatment is above the traditional standard of care. Patients are able to lose weight they could never lose, regain energy, and reduce and eliminate their medications with their prescribing doctors assistance — all because we are dealing with the underlying reasons why they are sick in the first place! We base our care decisions upon comprehensive lab work, but also on every part of the individual’s lifestyle and psyche.”

This alternative approach to medicine has given many people who have suffered with chronic conditions new hope. In many cases, the dysfunction has been completely reversed and eliminated.

“When we look at a dysfunction, we don’t treat the disease. We look at what is causing the problem in the first place,” explains Dr. Cole. “Whereas conventional medicine might look at one piece of the puzzle, we look beyond the label of the disease, at the complexities that determine what needs to be done to improve the physiology of the body. I have seen patients, suffering with the same ailments that took the lives of their parents, find new life and hope with the right solutions.”

using the latest research in functional medicine. Functional medicine pairs the latest advancements in diagnostic testing to find underlying hormonal and physiological dysfunctions with the latest research in natural medicine. Instead of the “same drug for everyone” approach of the standard model of care, Dr. Cole customizes programs to the patient’s individual biochemistry and needs.

The personalized care is based upon herbal and botanical remedies that target the specific problem, customized nutrition that not only nourishes but heals the individual, and counseling for strengthening the spiritual, emotional component that is essential in the healing process.

Dr. Cole explains, “I would hate for anyone to, God forbid, have a serious disease and only have conventional medicine at their disposal. With the standard of care for conventional medicine, for years the only thing that is changing is the prescription list! Someone is not sick, whether it is diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol, from a medication deficiency. Chronic and auto immune disease in the United States is growing to epidemic proportions. Diabetes, for example, has tripled in the last 10 years in this country and we are spending around 174 billion dollars on it every year. We need to do something dramatically different for this dramatically failing model of care! Diabetes is reversible, and the literature shows this. There is hope for people with diabetes, low thyroid and other chronic issues. This is why I have such a passion for this work. Our treatment is above the traditional standard of care. Patients are able to lose weight they could never lose, regain energy, and reduce and eliminate their medications with their prescribing doctors assistance — all because we are dealing with the underlying reasons why they are sick in the first place! We base our care decisions upon comprehensive lab work, but also on every part of the individual’s lifestyle and psyche.”

I N D U S T R Y I N S I G H T


In today’s era of 3-D cineplexes and high-de�nition home theaters, it’s hard to imagine that the best place to catch a �ick

in the Irwin area was once a quaint, single-screen theater that now sits idle and empty on Main Street, ripe for resurrection.

For generations, the Lamp �eatre served as the Norwin area’s premier entertainment destination. When it �rst opened its doors in March of 1937 to a showing of “Come and Get It,” matinee prices were 16 cents, evening shows cost 21 cents and tickets were sold in an enclosed booth in front of the building. In a bit of local history, resident �elma Weston Knoel won a contest to name the theater, and reportedly chose “�e Lamp” because of its proximity to the Aladdin �eater (now the Masonic Building) – she felt that Aladdin needed a lamp.

�e Aladdin �eater Company owned and operated the Lamp until the company dissolved in 1942. At that point, two of the company’s three partners took it over. �e Lamp’s ownership then changed hands several times: in 1953, it was sold to a regional bank; in 1964, Irwin newspaper publisher Abraham Beter and his partner Adelaide DelVi�o purchased it; and then, in 1976, DelVi�o sold her share of the theater to Beter and his wife.

�e Beters’ daughters, Catherine Jean Rebich and Eileen Eddy, took over the theater a�er their parents died. �en when Eddy died in 1992, Rebich owned the theater with her husband, George, until she sold it to KCS Realty Investments, her cousin’s real

estate �rm, in 2005. In 2007, ownership was transferred to the Westmoreland Cultural Trust.

Rebich said that her family decided to sell the theater because they could no longer a�ord the cost of repairs, and the theater’s dilapidated condition began to drive customers away.

“We didn’t want to sell it,” she said. “It just needed too much done to it, and we could no

longer get out of it what we were pu�ing into it.”

Along with the maintenance costs, Rebich said that, during the early 2000s, changes in the movie business made showing new movies more expensive than ever. First-run movie licenses can cost theaters tens of thousands of dollars – a fee that many independent theaters like the Lamp cannot a�ord.

According to news reports about the 2005 sale of the theater, the KCS Realty group originally planned to open the theater a�er a few months of renovations. However, since its sale, the Lamp has remained silent, a situation that frustrates Rebich, since her family maintained the theater for many generations.

�e trust began renovations to the theater in 2009, but a devastating �re at the adjacent Irwin Hotel stalled plans once again.

Since then, the trust has received bids from only two contractors to renovate the theater, and did not respond to requests for comment on the project’s status. However, according to borough manager Mary Benko, initial bids came in higher than expected, which put plans on hold inde�nitely.

Despite these setbacks, hope �amed anew in January when news surfaced that Irwin council is considering purchasing the theater to transfer ownership to Irwin Borough.

“We feel strongly that borough ownership would be a boon not only to Irwin, but also to our surrounding

communities,” said Benko. “It would provide a tremendous cultural bene�t for everyone involved, and would provide quality entertainment at an a�ordable price.”

At the time of publication, Benko indicated that the borough was in the process of securing appraisals to determine the market value of the theater, which is currently valued at $35,140 on Westmoreland County’s property assessment website.

Irwin Borough Residents Eager to See the Lamp �eatre Shine Bright Once Again

continued on page 41

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By Jennifer Brozak

A Glimmer of Hope

A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer A Glimmer of Hopeof Hopeof Hopeof Hopeof Hopeof Hopeof Hopeof Hopeof Hope



A Glimmer of Hope continued

Basket raffle

“We’d like to work with the trust toward a positive end to their ownership,” she said. “Once we have it in our hands, we’re hoping the project will snowball and people will get involved. �e theater has great potential.”

Benko pointed to the Casino �eatre in Vandergri� as a model and as “proof that

borough ownership can work.” �e historic theater was slated for demolition when a group of citizens stepped in and formed the nonpro�t corporation Casino �eatre Restoration and Management, Inc. (CTRM) to save it.

According to CTRM project manager and vice president Anthony Ferrante, the Casino’s resurrection and resulting success was – and continues to be – the result of his team of volunteers donating their time and energy to the project. When his group took it over, they knew they needed to move quickly or risk losing the public’s interest. �ey hurriedly installed inexpensive, used seating and opened the theater to a

Vaudeville act using only temporary electricity, and with no heat, no air

conditioning and no stage lights. Despite these limitations, the show

quickly sold out all 500 tickets, and from there, the project gained momentum.

Over the past decade, the CTRM group has been able to

complete numerous structural and aesthetic improvements without spending a single dime on labor. Building materials, Ferrante said, are provided through fundraising or donations.

His advice for the Lamp’s restoration? “Once a few people

can see something happening, more people will get involved. Progress a�racts more volunteers,” he said.

Kathleen Heuer, an arts advocate and founder of Irwin’s Relight the Lamp commi�ee, would like to see similar progress in Irwin.

“To me, the Lamp �eatre isn’t just a shell of a building li�ered with shards of memories from days gone by,” Heuer says. “To me, relighting the Lamp is inspirational. It speaks to the kind of community we want to live in. �is project has real potential, and though it’s been an uphill climb, I feel I have an obligation to try.”

Her group, which falls under the umbrella of the Irwin Project, meets monthly to promote project awareness and raise funds. So far, the group has raised around $70,000, and agrees that the property changing hands could be a positive move because it might remove some of the restrictions surrounding what her group is able to accomplish within the

theater’s walls.Even though Heuer isn’t originally from

the area – she moved here about 12 years ago – she understands its signi�cance to the community. “If you grew up in

this area, the Lamp

is a link to the past. It was

a place where family, friends and

community came together, where �rst kisses happened, where [people] met their future spouses,” she said. “I see it as a place where my kids can go to make their own memories, to meet their friends and enjoy our small town.”

�ese are the kinds of memories that North Huntingdon resident Jennifer Dudek, 32, recalls when she thinks about the theater. “It was certainly a dive, but that’s what made it special,” she said. “I remember walking there when I was in high school before I could drive. You could see current movies for half the price the regular cinemas charged. [It is] truly a legendary establishment for Irwin residents.”

Like Benko, Heuer said that reopening the theater could provide a boost to the local economy, and referenced studies showing that investments in the arts pay for themselves �ve times over.

“A night out at the Lamp �eatre would mean more people going out to eat nearby, shops ge�ing more foot tra�c, babysi�ers ge�ing paid, ice cream cones ge�ing bought. �at kind of chain reaction could be a huge boost to our economy. �at money is being spent now, just not here in the Norwin area. A relit Lamp would help �x that,” Heuer said.

Both Benko and Heuer said they would like to see a refurbished Lamp not only show movies, but also live performances.

“Imagine being able to catch a �ick on a Friday night, continue Art and Jazz Night all year round, or see a comedian or local variety show,” said Heuer.

Still, in terms of reopening the theater, Heuer knows that lack of money is the �rst obstacle to overcome. It will cost an estimated $650,000 to restore the theater, with the county and state each adding $250,000 to add to the borough’s $150,000 contribution.

“Beyond that,” she said, “another major hurdle is public opinion. I understand people’s frustration. �is

project has been dragging on an awfully long time, and in its current state, the building is a major eyesore. �e progress that has been made is behind the scenes, or structural, so to the observer, nothing is happening. �ere are a lot of good people working very hard to make this project happen, and we’re not giving up anytime soon.”

Relight the Lamp needs both volunteers and donations. �e group is o�ering the opportunity to sponsor a seat in the refurbished theater for $200, and welcomes additional donations of any size. For more information, to volunteer, or to donate, visit the group’s website at religh�helamp.wordpress.com or send an email to religh�[email protected].

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PAIDPITTSBURGH, PAPERMIT NO. 887

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