IN Woodland Hills

WINTER 2011 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

oodland Hills

safety-driven

Rankin Christian Center Continues Its MissionUnited Cerebral Palsy Opens in Swissvale

W.H. High School

Plays for Breast Cancer Awareness

safety-drivenlearn more on page 5

IN Woodland Hills | WINTER 2011 |

INSIDE

COMMUNITY INTEREST

United Cerebral Palsy Center Grand Opening ............. | 3

Woodland Hills School District News ............................. | 7

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

C.C. Mellor Library News ................................................... | 31

Heritage Community Initiatives ....................................... | 32

Rankin Christian Center ...................................................... | 35

Open Your Heart To A Senior .............................................. | 36

Woodland Hills Earned Income Tax ................................. | 38

Woodland Hills Area Community Worship ................... | 41

ON THE COVER | WH High School Field Hockey Team Plays for Breast Cancer Awareness

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Hear Well Center .............................. | 6

Allegheny Chesapeake Physical Therapy ............................... | 34

Juniper VillageGift Giving Ideas for Seniors ........................ | 40

What’s Insidepage 2 A Special Message to Our Community

page 3 When Your Body Talks ...Be Sure to Listen

page 4 Make a Date With Your DoctorThree Cheers for Your Ears, Nose, and Throat

page 5 Technology for 21st Century Hospitals

page 6 Taking on TouretteControlling a life in motion at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC

page 7 Putting Fracture Care on the Fast TrackFalls Are No Laughing Matter

W I N T E R 2 0 1 1

Health and Wellness News You Can Use

© 2011 UPMC

BundleUp,BabyRemember how Mom made you bundle up before going outdoors in the winter so you wouldn’t get sick? She was right. So be sure you dress for the weather — and that means covering your head, ears, mouth, and hands.

Turn to page 4 to learn why your ears, nose, and throat need extra care in winter.

IN Woodland Hills is a non-partisan community publication dedicated torepresenting, encouraging and promoting the Woodland Hills area by focusingon the talents and gifts of the people who live and work here. Our goal is toprovide readers with the most informative and professional regional publicationin the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

10 3217

35

Woodland Hills | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 1

I agree with Andy Williams. It is the most wonderful time of the year. Welcome to the winteredition of Woodland Hills.

This is is the season of hustle and bustle, Christmas carols, and most importantly good cheer.In this edition, you'll find out all the great things that have been going

on in the Woodland Hills School District since our last edition,among them the dedication of a new mock courtroom, which

included a visit from Allegheny County District AttorneyStephen Zappala. Also find out how WH students placed atthis year's Creative Conference, and which student wasselected to participate by the Women and Girls Foundation ofPittsburgh to participate in the 2011 Girl Gov program.

Swissvale also got a new neighbor with the opening of theUnited Cerebral Palsy/Class facility on Braddock Avenue.

UCP/Class celebrated the opening and its 60th anniversary at the sametime, and we were there for the festivities. In this edition, we also catchup with the Rankin Christian Center, which has been helping residentsin the region for quite a while, and Heritage Community Iniatives, a

Braddock non-profit, which gets some assistance from CarlowUniversity students.

Our spring edition is next and we'd love to hear fromyou regarding the people, places and events you'd like tosee us cover.

During this holiday season, we'd like to wish you peaceand goodwill. And as always we hope you enjoy this editionof Woodland Hills.

Monica L. HaynesEastern Regional Editor

Welcome to the Winter issue of Woodland Hills magazine.I hope you and yours had a wonderful fall, that the kids

transitioned back to school well, and that you had anopportunity to catch a few Steelers games along the way.

We all view winter differently – some see it as the holidayseason, some see it as the gloomy period when we put awaythe swim trunks and patio furniture. Others see it as theiropportunity to break out the skis and sleds and hit the slopes. Nomatter how you view it, winter is a time when we have to be the most diligent,despite our mood about snow, or our preoccupation with playing in it, for those whoneed us the most – our seniors. While it’s hard enough for many of them to getaround in good weather, the winter months can be a trial of terror for the elderly.Who’s going to shovel the snow? How will I get groceries? Will I be home before it’stoo dark for me to see the road well enough to drive? And for those who have transi-tioned to assisted living facilities, the questions might be of an altogether different,but equally unsettling nature. Will anyone visit me for Christmas? Hanukkah? NewYear’s? These are our mothers, fathers, friends and neighbors, and they don’t like toask anything of us. But they need us just the same. I know the economy is bad, andI’m not saying go out and spend money you can’t afford, but going caroling with achurch group, or visiting someone who has no one is free to us all. Chances are, you’llnot only put a smile on their faces, you’ll be giving them something money can’t buy– the feeling that someone cares.

Have a joyous holiday and a happy New Year!

Wayne DollardPublisher

PUBLISHERWayne Dollard

MANAGING EDITOR

Marybeth [email protected]

REGIONAL EDITORS

Mark Berton [South and West][email protected]

Dana Black McGrath [North][email protected]

Monica L. Haynes [East][email protected]

OFFICE MANAGER

Leo [email protected]

AD PLACEMENT COORDINATOR

Debbie [email protected]

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Cassie Brkich Jan McEvoyAnna Buzzelli Joe MilneSharon Cobb Tamara TylendaSusie Doak

WRITERS

Ashley Connor Pamela PalongueHeather Holtschlage Gina SalingerLeigh Lyons Judith SchardtJoann Naser

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brad Lauer Gary YonKathleen Rudolph

PROOFREADER

Kelly Lotter

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGERS

Derek Bayer Tamara MyersTom Poljak

ADVERTISING SALES

Bruce Burkley Aimee NicoliaBrian Daley Robert OjedaGina D’Alicandro Ralph PalaskiTina Dollard Annette PetroneKaren Fadzen Vincent SabatiniJulie Graff Jennifer SchaeferJason Huffman Michael SilvertLori Jeffries Karen TurkovichConnie McDaniel RJ VighettiBrian McKee Nikki Capezio-WatsonGabriel Negri Sophia Williard

This magazine is carrier route mailed to all districthouseholds and businesses.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part withoutwritten permission is prohibited. Copyright 2011.

CORRESPONDENCEDirect all inquiries, comments and press releases to:

IN Community MagazinesAttn: Editorial603 East McMurray RoadMcMurray, PA 15317Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968www.incommunitymagazines.com

Spring content deadline: March 7

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

oodland Hills

2 724.942.0940 to advertise Woodland Hills


F or six decades, United Cerebral Palsy Community Living and Support Services(UCP/Class) has been creating opportunities for people with disabilities to live,work, and play in their communities.

On September 12, the non-profit organization which servves 4,000 people a day, cele-brated its 60th anniversary with the opening of a new facility in Swissvale. The location isactually the former Center for Creative Play on Braddock Avenue, and is the organization'ssecond facility. It's first is on Centre Avenue in Oakland. Officials from Swissvale andAllegheny County, UCP administrators, staff, board members, and clients, past and present,were on hand for the opening and to tour the new location.

Among those who spoke during the program were Al Condelucci, UCP/Class CEO;Maggie Guzzo, UCP/Class board president, Deneen Swartzwelder, Mayor of Swissvale;Jack Snook, UCP/Class Director of the Centre Services; Irene Nelson, longest continuingUCP/Class board member; UCP/Class board member Gerald Farbaugh and GaryLoutsenhizer, a client of UCP/Class since 1955.

“We are excited about this new venture,” Colucci said. “It allows us to reconnect fiveof our teams that have been housed in rented satellite offices. Not only will this buildingunify our teams and enhance communications, it will ensure that consumers requestingservices and supports in the community receive them in the most effective and efficientway possible. Consumers receiving multiple services will benefit from improvements inenhanced communication among centralized staff, centralized record-keeping andadvanced supports customization as time is used more effectively.”

The organziation pur-chased the building inJune and renovated itinto 30,000-square feet ofoffice space for 110employees. The facilityincludes staff offices, akitchen, a meeting room,and storage space.

UCP Opens New Facility

4 724.942.0940 to advertise | Woodland Hills

The employees of Peoples Natural Gas – more than 650 strong – are bringing a new sense of energy to Western

Pennsylvania. With Peoples now fully Pittsburgh based and run, decisions are being made locally -- with an eye

to investing for the energy future of the region. We're making $100 million in infrastructure, service and

technology upgrades to better serve our more than 360,000 customers. Customer service is becoming fully

local, too... with a dedicated new service center staffed by experienced people who thoroughly know the region

and its people. Our vision: to help Western Pennsylvania move forward by creating new jobs and serving our

customers well. It's a commitment we're proud to make.

your energy partner peoples–gas .com

I n t h e p h o t o : D A V E B E R T O N I / F I T T E R L E A D E R

your energy partner

safety-drivenPeoples Natural Gas is embarking on an extensive program to modernize our infrastructure. More than $100 million will be investedto replace pipelines throughout our 16 county service territory.

In 2011 and 2012, this means replacing 40 miles of old cast-ironpipes wherever they exist. This year and next, Peoples Natural Gas is hiring 60 new pipeline workers. And, we’ll need to employ almost as many local contract workers. Last year, we brought back 200 jobsto the region. These are not temporary jobs, but family sustaining jobs – the type of jobs that generations build on.

Through the end of 2012, you will see Peoples Natural Gas employees hard at work on this project. They will be working in the snow and sun to improve the infrastructure for our communities. Our goal is to replace all the cast iron pipe in our entire system. This is an extensive project and we will need your patience and understanding as we work to complete it.

In 2010, Peoples Natural Gas was purchased from an out-of-state company. We are now a Western Pennsylvania managed company. All our management lives in the region. Our sole priority is serving our local communities. Our new company has refocused its total efforts right here. This pipeline replacement program is the first major construction initiative of Peoples Natural Gas and it has been made for your safety, and the need to modernize our infrastructure for the future.

Safety is the number one priority of Peoples Natural Gas. Every day,we strive to keep our customers, our employees and our communitiessafe. Here are 3 Sensible Words about Natural Gas to help keep youand your family safe.

Natural gas leaks are rare. But they can happen. Your senses willalert you if a leak occurs.

SIGHTEscaping gas affects the nutrients in soil, so discolored soil or dead vegetation near a pipeline may indicate a leak. Dirt or water blowing up from the group may indicate a natural gas leak.

SOUNDNatural gas leaks may make a hissing or a high-pitchedwhistling noise. Noises will vary based on the line pressure.

SMELLA strong odor of natural gas can indicate unburned fuel in the air. Because the gas is odorless, a sulfur based odorant is added to give it a rotten-egg smell that warns of its presence. Be alert for this odorant or any petroleum smell.

If you believe a natural gas leak is occurring, leave the area immediately and notify Peoples Natural Gas by calling1.800.400.4271.




Woodland Hills newsS C H O O L D I S T R I C T

Dear Members of the Woodland HillsSchool District,

As we approach the mid-point of our schoolyear, I have much good news to share withyou. You will read in this issue that our

Woodland Hills Academy was recognized forits excellence in a national report on extended time schools.The report, “Time Well Spent: Eight Powerful Practices ofSuccessful, Expanded-Time Schools” was compiled by theNational Center on Time & Learning (NCTL).

I am very proud of the work our students are doing thereand of the teachers and staff who are doing an exemplaryjob. I would especially like to commend Academy PrincipalReginald Hickman who represented Woodland Hills inWashington D.C. at the national news conference when theNCTL report was presented to U.S. Secretary of EducationArne Duncan. More Good NewsOur good news continues with an announcement that I amparticularly proud to make. The Heinz Endowments, a regional foundation based in Pittsburgh that directs most ofits giving to southwestern Pennsylvania, has awarded a$750,000 grant to our District to be used to reach a particularsegment of our student population. In Woodland Hills, as wellas nationally, African-American males have been under-represented in the higher level secondary classes and inpost-secondary education.

Our graduation records for the 2009-10 year show that ourgraduating class of 352 students was evenly split racially:49% white and 49% African American students. But the drop-out rate tells another story. White students were 23% of thetotal number of drop-outs in the 2009-10 school year, while76.5% of all drop-outs from the high school were AfricanAmerican. The rate of black male drop-outs was 14% higherthan black females; 31% higher than white male drop-outs;and 36% higher than white female drop-outs.

We went to the Heinz Endowments with a proposal toaddress this imbalance and they have agreed to provide thetools to help us successfully achieve our goals.

AMessage from the Superintendent Goals and StrategiesWhat are the goals and strategies for our new grant? Briefly here are the top four goals of the program:� Influence the creation of a culture of academic achievement by African American males in our schools andin our communities� Create opportunities for meaningful involvement by AfricanAmerican males in our schools and in our communities.� Create partnerships between our schools and our communities that jointly promote a scholar identity for ourAfrican American male youth.� Increase the number of African American males fromWoodland Hills who enroll in and graduate from college and,in particular, increase the number of these students whochoose education as a career.

You may wonder how we will achieve such lofty goals. Oneof our strategies is to use the Scholar Identity Framework developed by Dr. Gilman Whiting and Dr. Donna Ford of theScholar Identity Institute for Black Males at VanderbiltUniversity. These two Vanderbilt faculty members are the lead-ing experts in the country working to ameliorate the academicproblems of African American and other minority students inthe nation’s k-12 schools—the so-called “achievement gap.”

I will provide more detailed information during the comingyear about this program that we are all very excited about.We will be keeping everyone abreast of the progress we aremaking and the strategies we are utilizing to obtain the positive results we expect.

We have a determined team of educators in theWoodland Hills School District who have demonstrated theirtalent and conviction to effect real and lasting change in ourstudents’ lives. And our District has made supporting ouryoung African American men a priority as we go forward intothe 21st century. Despite what federal or state mandatesrequire, the Woodland Hills School District is committed to“leaving no child behind.”

Sincerely,

Walter M. Calinger, Ph.D.Superintendent

All material has been prepared and written by Maria McCool, Director of Communications for the WHSD.


newsS C H O O LD I S T R I C T

Woodland Hills

The Woodland Hills SchoolDistrict is earning nationalrecognition for its success in

using expanded learning time toboost student achievement. TheWoodland Hills Academy is one of30 schools from across the country

featured in a new national report that examines effectivepractices for improving teaching and learning at expand-ed-time schools. The report was released at an eventwith U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan inWashington, D.C. on September 30 and WH AcademyPrincipal Reginald Hickman represented Woodland Hillsat the event.

"To receive national recognition for innovations thatare making a difference in student achievement is amomentous occasion for our District,” noted AcademyPrincipal Reginald Hickman. “Such recognition says thatthis model can serve as a blueprint for our District andothers, for improving student performance by increasingstudent time on task. “

“This honor is a testament to the hard work and dedi-cation of the staff and student body of the WoodlandHills Academy,” Mr. Hickman added. “I am proud to saythat I am the principal of the Woodland Hills Academy."

The report, “Time Well Spent: Eight Powerful

WH Academy Featured in National Report onHigh-Performing,

Expanded-Time SchoolsReport Shows How Effective Useof Expanded Learning TimeBoosts Student Achievement

Practices of Successful, Expanded-Time Schools”, fromthe National Center on Time & Learning (NCTL), outlineshow high-performing, expanded-time schools implementone or more of eight different practices to help improvestudent achievement, including allocating time towardsfocused goals; individualizing learning time and instructionbased on student needs; and using time to assess studentdata in order to continuously strengthen instruction.

Superintendent of the Woodland Hills School District,Dr. Walter Calinger says the WH Academy model provesthat more quality time-on-task produces better output fromstudents. “It just makes sense that more quality instruc-tional time provided to students produces better measura-ble results as indicated by test scores and grades.”

“And another benefit accrued to school districts fromthe extended school day and year is its cost-effective-ness. We are getting a much greater yield from a dispro-portionately slighter increase in resources utilized,”added Dr. Calinger.

The national study, “Time Well Spent”, includes acase study on the Woodland Hills Academy. To read thefull report, including the case study, visit the link:http://www.timeandlearning.org/index.html. TheWoodland Hills Academy is a K - 8 school and integratestechnology and foreign language into the curriculum atall grade levels.

WHSDSchoolBoardMembers:

Current WHSD Board Members:

(l-r) Sitting: ColleenFiliak, Barry Driscoll (Vice-President), Marilyn Messina(President), Robert Rinsma; Standing: Fred Kuhn, RobertTomasic, Randy Lott, Robert Clanagan. (Missing from photo: Brian Estocin)

AD HOC COMMITTEE SURVEYIn order for the WHSD school board and the administration to obtain community feedback on transformational changes in the infrastructure andfacilities, curriculum, instructional practices, staff andfiscal resources, we are asking community residentsto answer a few survey questions. The survey can becompleted on-line at the District website:www.whsd.net. Hard copies of the survey will also beavailable at the Administration Building, 2430Greensburg Pike, Churchill or at any of our schools.Surveys will be available on December 12, 2011 andmust be completed and returned by January 13, 2012.

WH Academy PrincipalReginald Hickman

SCHOOL DELAYS

& CANCELLATIONS

�

�

On a snowy morning, everyone wantsto know as soon as possible if thereis going to be a school delay or closing. The most reliable way to getthat information is to call the DISTRICT NEWSLINE 412.256.3324.Information pertaining to delays, cancellations, or early dismissals ofWoodland Hills schools or activitiesdue to inclement weather or emergency situations will be on theNEWSLINE. Current updates will alsobe posted on the District website:www.whsd.net on the News Page or on the District twitter page: woodlandhillssd immediately.

Information will also be sent out viathe Alert Now Phone Call System asearly as possible. Parents can havethe message sent to their home phoneor cell phones. Please make sure yourcontact information is updated andcurrent or you will not receive thephone messages.

Information will also be sent to thefollowing radio/TV stations:� KDKA TV and Radio 1020AM�WTAE TV and Radio 1250AM�WPXI TV� KQV Radio 1410AM


�

�Woodland Hills Junior High School and Woodland Hills Academy7th and 8th grade students won first place at this year's CreativeConvention hosted by Springdale Middle School. This was anESSPA competition in which students showcased their creativeability in a variety of areas. They had a construction exercise andhad to produce and present a skit.

The first place team consisted of a blended Junior High andAcademy team composed of students: J. Pike, Seamus McGuigan,Alex Havrilla, Abby Kane, and Katie Ryan.

Woodland Hills also achieved third place with a team of Academyand Junior High students Lily Briggs, Rachel Hosack, JessicaBurch, Sophia McCullough and Riley Aul. Brendan Howell tookhome the award for best costume. The teams were coached byGifted Teacher Ms. Heather Nyapas.

Junior High & Academy Students win

Creative Convention


WHHS gets fit and active in the

Living Well Programare also part of the program to help students better managetheir day-to-day activities. Students participate in yoga aswell as Zumba to help relieve and prevent stress.WebMD.com says that during yoga there is “a decrease incatecholamine, the hormones produced by the adrenalglands in response to stress.” Yoga also lowers the levels ofneurotransmitters, which helps create that feeling of calm.Not only does yoga help relieve stress, but it is said toimprove concentration and mood, according to WebMD.com.

“It is very important for students to learn these componentsin high school. A healthy lifestyle started in the teenage yearswill continue on into adulthood with less risk for chronic dis-ease,” says Mrs. Kennedy. Healthy eating and exercise helpprevent high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, osteo-porosis, iron deficiency and help reduce the risk of developingchronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes,according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Not only does Living Well help students improve their over-all lifestyle, but it also provides a fun, educational environ-ment for students. “This program is a great way for studentsto make friends and have fun while learning about ways tolive a healthier lifestyle,” says Mrs. Kennedy.

Applications for the Living Well Spring 2012 program are available in the high school nurse’s office.

–Taylor Madigan, WHHS student

S tudents of Woodland Hills High School can participate ina new extracurricular activity that will not only look goodon a college application, but will trim down their waist

lines as well.The Living Well program, funded by The Heinz

Endowments, focuses on educating students about healthand nutrition. The team, consisting of 25 students per semes-ter, meets twice a week after school from 2:30pm to 4:00pm.Mrs. Andrea Kennedy, the high school nurse, gym teacherMrs. Deborah Fischer, and foods and nutrition teacher Mrs.Marilyn Keteles run the program along with help from otherteachers in the high school.

The program is based on four main components; healthyeating, lifelong physical activity, stress management, andpositive self-esteem. The meetings contain an exercise seg-ment, where students take part in light to moderate exercise,and a healthy cooking segment, where students learn how tomake healthier foods and incorporate them into their diet.Students also learn how to eat healthily during special occa-sions, including healthy eating during holidays and at restau-rants. Daily nutrition diaries and calorie counter books weregiven to the students to help them keep track of their dailyeating and exercise. The program supplies pedometers, por-tion plates, and other prizes for the students as well.Stress management and positive self-esteem techniques



Woodland Hills

What is MyNutriKids.com?MyNutrikids.com® is a secure, family friendly system for online schoolmeal prepayments and nutrition education.

MyNutrikids.com offers three services:� MyKids (Online Prepayments) Allows parents to deposit money on their children’s school meal accountvia credit/debit card or Paypal account.� MyTray (Interactive Menus) Parents and students are able to view school breakfast and lunch options ina fun, interactive manner while learning how food choices contribute to the nutritional quality of their diet.� MyNutrition (Nutrition Education) Provides educational opportunities for school age families and districtstaff related to health, nutrition and physical activity. Resources include articles, tips, tools, recipes, links,challenges and a section just for kids designed to appeal to your entire school community.

MyKids gives parents a fast, easy, and secure way to add money to their children's school mealaccounts (using a credit, debit card or a PayPal account), check their children's current school mealaccount balances, and monitor what items their children have been purchasing at school.

Features: � Secure online prepayments via credit / debitcard or PayPal™ account � 24/7 self service access to balances and transaction history � Low balance email notification based on yourpre-set levels � Self-directed

The Process1. The payment process begins when you deposit money into your child's account using the MyKids servicefrom MyNutrikids.com. If multiple children are on one parent account you can make multiple deposits inone transaction. The deposit amount can be placed against a credit card, debit card, PayPal account bal-ance, or your checking account linked with PayPal. There is a convenience fee when you pre-pay online of$1.75 per transaction.2. Once the transaction is finalized the payment is transferred securely to PayPal. PayPal checks yourfinancial institution to make sure the amount can be credited to your child's school meal account beforecompleting the transaction. 3.When the amount clears, the transaction is downloaded into your school district’s Point of Sale systemwhere it will update your child's account balance.

Parents can sign up for this program on the WHSD website. There is a link on the Home page forMyNutriKids.com. Also there are answers to frequently asked questions at MyNutriKids.com. For ques-tions about balances, recent payments, or menus please contact the Woodland Hills Food ServicesDepartment at 412.731.1300, ext. 0187.

Pre-payments may also be made to a child’s account by sending a check to school. Checks should bemade out to “Woodland Hills Food Service” and the student’s name and ID number must be on the check.

WHSD Cafeteria AccountsAre Now Online


Woodland Hills

comfortable in the sort of more intimidating environmentthat a courtroom can sometimes be,” explained TeamAdvisor Jamie Glasser.

Current team members include students Maggie Baker,Mary Caparosa, Alex Howell, Vincent LeDonne, KimberleeMoore, Michaela Buzzard, Mitchell Rode, Erin Schwoegl,Miranda Johnston, Myah Olson, and Mike Smith.

Senior Vince LeDonne who spoke at the dedication saidthe team is like a second family to him. “Mock Trial givesme a chance to come together with my teammates, andworking together and having fun as a team has made usfriends.” LeDonne also said that the model court roomprovides a place for the team to practice in an environ-ment similar to where they compete.

Maggie Baker, also a senior, agreed with LeDonne.“We’ve been a family and now we have a house.”

For the 2011 season, the team ranked third overall inAllegheny County and was the first ranked public school inthe state. The team is coached by retired WHHS teacherMr. Rich Stanczak, Woodland Hills alumna and lawyer Ms.Jamie Glasser, and WHHS faculty member Mr. KevinMcGuire.

T hrough the generosity of the Allegheny CountyDistrict Attorney’s Office and the Greater PACouncil of Carpenters, the Mock Trial Team at

Woodland Hills High School will be able to practice in areplica of an actual courtroom. This beautiful model wasdedicated at the High School on Wednesday, September28, 2011 in Room 100. Present were Allegheny CountyDistrict Attorney Stephen Zappala and members of his staff,representatives of the Carpenters’ Union and members ofthe District’s administration.

“These kids are proud of who they are and they’ve madeit cool to be smart. They are role models in this school.Since we’ve had such good results here, we are doing thissame thing in Clairton and plan to do this in a bunch ofother schools,” Mr. Zappala said.

Woodland Hills High School was chosen for one of thefirst installations because our mock trial team has a longhistory of excellence. Woodland Hills students have repre-sented Allegheny County at the state finals four times out ofthe last seven years.

“I think we are really excited about this because it issuch an opportunity for the kids to use the space and be

Model CourtroomDedicated at WHHS


Mock Trial Team Members andCoach Kevin McGuire


Team members show trophies wonin county and state competitions

Courtroom model constructed by Greater Pgh Regional Council

of Carpenters

District Attorney Zappala (rt) and D.A. Project Manager

Art Keenan (left)

Elena Mroczkowski, a junior at Woodland Hills High School,was selected by the Women and Girls Foundation of Pittsburgh(www.wgfpa.org) to participate in the 2011 GirlGov program.The participants spent a full day shadowing a state legislator inHarrisburg, toured the capitol, attended legislative meetings, and metlegislators, lobbyists, and journalists working in Harrisburg.

On October 18, one hundred girls and fifty legislators from Allegheny,Washington, Green, and Fayette Counties, participated in this year’sevent. “This is a great way to engage more girls in civics,” said HeatherArnet, CEO of the Women and Girls Foundation, which created theGirlGov program. “Pennsylvania is ranked 42nd out of the 50 states forthe representation of women in politics, so we want to encourage morewomen to run for office.”

In the Pennsylvania General Assembly: there are currently 32 femalemembers in the House and 11 in the Senate. But, the tide is slowly turn-ing, since 2004 there has been a 300% increase in women running forstate office.

The girls attended committee meetings and legislative sessions, andhad a chance to talk with lawmakers about bills that would directlyimpact their lives such as the Gender Equity in Athletics Act and a cyber-bullying bill.

The GirlGov program is open to girls in 8th to 12th grade who live inAllegheny, Fayette, Greene, & Washington Counties. In 2011, GirlGov wassupported through the generosity of grants from The Claude WorthingtonBenedum Foundation, PNC Bank, the FISA Foundation, and the FineFoundation.

Students interested in applying for next year’s event should visit the WGFwebsite at www.wgfpa.org for an application for 2012. Transportation andmeals are included and there is no fee to participate.

Running for

State Office?

Dedication plaque in high school



Woodland Hills

Students have been finding their way to the new location of the College AccessCenter office in the SA wing of the High School. The College Access Center movedfrom a small room at a very busy intersection to a room 4 times the size in a quiet

hallway. The move has been a positive boost to the CAC awareness.Bright signs are posted throughout the hallways announcing the moveand directing students and parents to the new location.

The center is staffed by Academic Consultant Joyce Fratangelo andCampus Coordinator Jennifer Damico. The office is open to students,Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The CAC is funded by the CollegeAccess Challenge Grant.

The College Access Program has several major goals: to help our stu-dents obtain more financial aid for post-secondary education; to help

High SchoolCollege Access Center Has A New Location

them do better on the SAT and ACT college admissiontests; to raise the awareness of the variety and extentof potential careers and colleges for Woodland Hillsgraduates; and to provide academic support for target-ed students who are struggling or not testing up tocurrent grade levels.

The Center accomplishes these goals in severalways and through many types of events and activities.During senior classroom visits, students are intro-duced to the need to complete FAFSA applications forfinancial aid consideration. Announcements for currentscholarships are made whenever a new opportunityoccurs and scholarship opportunities are posted in theCollege Access Center (CAC). Students are also toldabout potential scholarships during the classroom visits.

The CAC staff facilitates student registration for theSAT and ACT exams and both Mrs. Fratangelo and Ms.Damico have been approved to host the ACT exam atWHHS in December 2011.

The CAC also offers assistance with college appli-cations and essays. Academic support is provided inthe “Homework Zone” that opened on August 29.Members of the 9th grade junior varsity football teamare regular visitors.

The Homework Zone is open Mondays through

Fridays from 2:05 p.m – 3:30 p.m. The College AccessCenter has assumed the responsibility of schedulingand hosting the admissions counselors who come toWoodland Hills to meet with students and also sched-ules college trips during the school year.

Since parent involvement in college planning andpreparation is vitally important, the CAC offers supportand guidance to parents whose child is a first genera-tion college applicant by offering a Parent University.These workshops are open to all parents of studentsparticipating in the College Access program. Parentsare advised of their role in the study skills and habits oftheir children and they are informed about the servic-es available through the CAC.

The Center also offers workshops for students suchas the “Getting Organized for Success” workshop.Students are taught effective organizational skills andtechniques that will help them succeed in school.

Because of the new location, the CAC has a muchlarger capacity for serving students. In the old location,7 students at a time could be served, the new office canaccommodate up to 30 students. Even though the CACis not in a high-traffic location as before, more studentsare finding the center. There is a steady stream of stu-dents daily using the center’s services.


The Woodland Hills Foundation held its annual Tour du DistrictBike Ride and fundraiser on October 1. Although the day wasrainy, bikers and volunteers were dressed for the occasion.Once again, the municipalities were very generous with theirsupport of the event as were the many district volunteers. Theevent raised $3,000 to support the work of the Foundation.

The Woodland Hills Foundation is an independent non-profit501(c)3 organization dedicated to enhancing opportunities for allstudents, as well as, faculty and administration in the WoodlandHills School District by encouraging community-wide participa-tion and philanthropy. The Foundation is distinct and separatefrom the school district; however, it has strong linkage to Districtleadership to ensure tight alignment and success.

Tour du District Riders Brave Weather

The district pools reopened to the public onSeptember 19 after a very busy summer.Currently the Woodland Hills Junior High pool

is open to all district residents on Monday evenings 6-8 p.m.and Saturday mornings 9:30-11:30 a.m. In addition, the Woodland HillsAcademy pool is open on Wednesday evenings 5:30-7:30 p.m. The poolsare also available for birthday and other types of parties. Staff is avail-able to work with scout troops completing water safety badges.Contact Tori Zido for additional information at [email protected].

On October 27 the Braddock Family Swim and Recreation programkicked off its fall/winter activities at the Woodland Hills Junior Highpool. This is a continuation of collaborative programming begun thispast summer between the District’s Recreation Swim program,Woodland Hills Aquatic Team and the Braddock Summer Parks Drop-InProgram. The program, limited to Braddock families, will run the firstand third Thursday of every month, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Junior High.Funding has been secured from Braddock Redux to provide busing forchildren and parents from various locations in Braddock to the JuniorHigh. Activities will include swim lessons and water safety instruction,gym games, dance and cooking classes. Other activities will be addedas arrangements are finalized. Advance reservations are required andcan be made by calling Mrs. Teri Gilmore at 412-271-3808. Donations tosupport this program can be directed to Braddock Redux, P. O. 416,Braddock, PA 15104. Please note on your check (made out toBraddock Redux) that your donation is in support of the BraddockFamily Swim and Recreation program.

Please feel free to contact the Woodland Hills Foundation ifyou are interested in learning more about the Foundation'swork, goals and objectives, or if you are interested in serving onone of the Foundation's six committees: the AllocationCommittee, the Fundraising Committee, the Finance Committee,the Public Relations Committee, the Information TechnologyCommittee, and the Governance Committee.

Woodland Hills FoundationP.O. Box 321, Turtle Creek, PA 15145Phone: 1.888.281.3241, Contact the Foundation by E-Mail at [email protected]



Woodland Hills

Community Swim News

What’s Insidepage 2 A Special Message to Our Community

page 3 When Your Body Talks ...Be Sure to Listen

page 4 Make a Date With Your DoctorThree Cheers for Your Ears, Nose, and Throat

page 5 Technology for 21st Century Hospitals

page 6 Taking on TouretteControlling a life in motion at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC

page 7 Putting Fracture Care on the Fast TrackFalls Are No Laughing Matter

W I N T E R 2 0 1 1

Health and Wellness News You Can Use

© 2011 UPMC

BundleUp,BabyRemember how Mom made you bundle up before going outdoors in the winter so you wouldn’t get sick? She was right. So be sure you dress for the weather — and that means covering your head, ears, mouth, and hands.

Turn to page 4 to learn why your ears, nose, and throat need extra care in winter.

2 UPMC.com/Today

A Special Message to Our Community

Dear Friends of UPMC McKeesport,

Over the past several months, you’ve likely heard rumors about the future of UPMC McKeesport. We’ve heard them too, and I want to take this opportunity to say that UPMC McKeesport is —and commits to continue to be — your community hospital.

For 117 years, residents of McKeesport and the surrounding historic MonongahelaValley have counted on our hospital’s physicians, nurses, technicians, and staff forquality and compassionate care.

Our merger with UPMC in 1998 onlyserved to strengthen our resources. Patients of UPMC McKeesport now benefit from the latest in state-of-the-artdiagnostic and interventional capabilities,including UPMC Cancer Centers atUPMC McKeesport. We’re also able tooffer access to expert care from UPMC’sextensive roster of medical specialists.

Our 1,000-plus employees — your friends,neighbors, and family members — areproud and dedicated professionals whotruly care about this community. They are passionate about the work they do.They are compassionate and thoughtfulcaregivers. And, they are deeply committedto the ongoing growth and vitality ofUPMC McKeesport.

Since its founding in 1894, our hospital has evolved to meet the changing needs of the residents of the Monongahela Valley, through times good and bad. Today, we recognize our presence is more vital than ever before. You have our pledge —and that of UPMC’s senior administration — that we are here to stay.

With my best regards,

Cynthia M. DorundoCEO, UPMC McKeesport

“UPMC McKeesport is — and commits to continue to be — your community hospital.”

“Since its founding in 1894, our hospital has evolved to meet the changing needs of the residents of the Monongahela Valley. Patients of UPMC McKeesport now benefit from the latest in state-of-the-art diagnostic and interventional capabilities.”

Did You Know?Here are just a few of the many examples that help to illustrate UPMC McKeesport’s long-termcommitment to the Monongahela Valley:

• New patient services, including a Comprehensive Orthopaedic Program (see story on page 7)and a Palliative and Support Institute, are expected to launch before the end of this year.

• In 2010, more than $8 million was invested in improvements to the hospital’s infrastructure.In the coming year, an additional $12 million will be invested in further enhancements.

• Emergency visits to UPMC McKeesport have increased by 17 percent in the past two years.

• Hospital admissions at UPMC McKeesport rose 23 percent in the past two years. An 18-bed unit was added to the fourth floor of the Shaw Building to serve the increased volume of patients.

1-800-533-UPMC 3

Being attuned to changes in your body can help in the early detection andtreatment of cancer and other serious medical problems

Is your body trying to tell you something important? It can bean excellent communicator — if you pay careful attention to its symptoms.

There are numerous warning symptoms for cancer, many of which also can point to other serious medical conditions.

That’s why you should call yourprimary care physician (PCP) if you have any unusual or persistent symptoms lastinglonger than two or three weeks,says Edward Chu, MD, chief ofthe Division of Hematology/Oncology at UPMC and deputydirector of the University ofPittsburgh Cancer Institute.

“The vast majority of patientswill get a clean bill of health

from their doctor,” says Dr. Chu. “But when it comes to cancer,time is often of the essence. Early detection can help keep cancer from spreading, allow for faster treatment, and improveyour chances for recovery.”

Symptoms that revealMost of us know to be on the lookout for such important cancer warning signs as a sore that does not heal; a thickening or lump in the breast, or other parts of the body; blood in the stool or urine; or changes in the size or color of a mole.

Dr. Chu says it’s also important to be aware of more generalizedbody changes (also known as constitutional symptoms) that cancompromise your physical performance and overall well-being.By getting to know what’s typical for your own body, you’ll bebetter able to recognize unfamiliar changes when they occur.They can include:• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)• Unexplained weight loss (typically 10 pounds or more)

or loss of appetite• Changes in how food tastes• Fever and chills• Night sweats• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

“These symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have cancer,” he emphasizes. “But if they linger or worsen, it’s important for your doctor to rule out — or treat — possible problems.”

If you are interested in locating a PCP or specialist in your area,visit UPMC.com/FindADoctor or call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).

WhenYour BodyTalks…BeSure toListen

Did You Know?The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute(UPCI), based at the Hillman Cancer Center in Shadyside, is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in western Pennsylvania. Learn more about UPCI and its partnership with UPMC Cancer Centers at UPCI.UPMC.edu.

Cancer Screenings: Are they right for you?Another important tool in the early detection of cancer is screenings. “When combinedwith regular checkups with your family doctor or specialist, screenings like mammograms,PAP smears, and colorectal exams have proven to be invaluable in the fight against cancer,”says Kevin Kane, MD, of UPMC Cancer Center at UPMC McKeesport. “Your personal andfamily medical history, risk factors, age, and other considerations will help your physicianrecommend the right tests — and frequency — for you.”

To learn more about the program and services of UPMC Cancer Center at UPMC McKeesport, visit UPMCMcKeesport.com.

4 UPMC.com/Today

Make a Date With Your DoctorYou take your car to the mechanic for an annual inspection to be sure it’s running properly. So why aren’t you giving yourbody the same kind of attention?

When you’re in good health, it’s easy to put off going to thedoctor. But regular checkups can help you stay healthy, andavoid disease and disability. That’s why scheduling a physical is the one New Year’s resolution you should keep!

“Your annual exam is the perfecttime to talk with your doctor aboutillness prevention, healthy lifestylechoices, and any screenings,” says David Harinstein, MD, a physician with Health First Medicaland UPMC McKeesport. “That information helps you and your

doctor create a plan to maintain your health, or get you started on making changes to improve your health.”

Building an ongoing relationship with a primary care physician(PCP) also means peace of mind. “There’s real value to beingseen by someone who knows you and your health history —someone you trust to guide you through an illness or emergency,” adds Dr. Harinstein.

Your exam checklistHow can you make the most of your annual exam? Here arefour things to do before you see the doctor:

1. Make a list of all medications you are takingInclude all prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins,and supplements that you currently take, how often you takethem, and why.

2. Update your family historyYour family history can provide important clues about your riskfor certain diseases, including diabetes, some cancers, andheart disease.

3. Ask about health screeningsScreenings can be important tools in preventing some illnesses and diseases. Get a list of recommended screeningsand talk about them with your doctor.

4. Make a list of questions or health concernsAsking questions and sharing your concerns about health issues helps your doctor improve your care.

One final piece of advice: Be honest. “Never be afraid or embarrassed to tell your doctor something,” says Dr. Harinstein. “What you don’t disclose could be important for your doctor to make an accurate diagnosis or prescribe the best treatment plan.”

Winter is the season for sniffles, scratchy throats, and earaches — often all at once!And with good reason: our ears, nose, and throat all are connected and affect each other greatly. Otolaryngologists(also known as ear, nose, and throat doctors or ENTs) are physicians who specialize in caring for this complex, interrelated system. Test your ENT knowledge with this quick quiz:

Who gets earaches more often — children or adults?Nearly every child experiences at leastone ear infection between infancy and the age of five — something weary parents know firsthand. Becausechildren have shorter, straighter Eustachian tubes (which connect the nose to the ears), it’s easier for bacteria to migrate into their ears.

Why are you more likely to get a nosebleed in winter?The same heated indoor air that makesyour home cozy in winter also can dehydrate the inside of your nose. It can become crusted or cracked, or can even bleed. A dry nose makesyou more susceptible to germs, so exercise good nose care. Lightly coatthe inside with petroleum jelly. Over-the-counter saline mists and sprays (not decongestants) also are helpful.

Will antibiotics cure laryngitis? Most cases of laryngitis are caused by viral infections that make the vocal cords swell — so antibiotics are ineffective. Your best course of action? Drink plenty of fluids, rest, and cut back on talking. Straining your voice when you have acute laryngitis can damage your vocal cords.

Source: American Society of Otolaryngology

Three Cheers for Your Ears, Nose, and Throat

Health Tips from UPMC Health Plan

1-800-533-UPMC 5

If you ever have to be hospitalized, you’ll certainly want to be cared for at a place that delivers quality health care using the latest technology available. That’s precisely what patients find when they are admitted to a UPMC hospital.

“UPMC’s vision of quality is for every patient to receive the right care, at the right time, in the right way — every time,” says Tami Minnier, RN, and chief quality officer forUPMC. “Technology lets us serve patients more efficiently and accurately. Most of all, we’re able to give patients greater control of their health care.”

Here are just two of the ways UPMC hospitals are delivering on that goal.

SmartRoom® technology brings it all to youLaunched three years ago by UPMC in partnership with IBM, SmartRoom is an impressive technology. First used at UPMC Shadyside and UPMC Montefiore, it is gradually being introduced in other UPMC hospitals. All patient rooms at the new UPMC East will be equipped with SmartRoom technology.

SmartRoom brings all essential data related to your care to your bedside. Its computerizedsoftware programsgive caregivers fingertip access toall the informationessential to yourcare — from yourelectronic medicalrecords to the tests you’ll need that day.

The SmartRoom concept simplifies workflow and makes documentation of your care faster and easier. Each room hastwo screens: one for your caregivers, and another for you to access email, entertainment, and a vast library of patient education videosand information.

The right medsat the right time“It is our goal to make the hospitalizationand discharge experience asstress-free as possible for ourpatients and theirfamilies,” saysJacqueline Dailey,UPMC’s vicepresident for Solutions forMedical Science, Research, and Patient Centered AccountableCare. “Not surprisingly, by the time patients leave the hospital,they’re often confused and overwhelmed by changes in theirmedications and how to take them.”

“We begin when you’re admitted with an electronic assessmentof your current medications and how they’re being taken,” explains Ms. Dailey. “As medications are adjusted or eliminatedduring your stay, this information is instantly available to allyour physicians — from your family doctor to the specialistscaring for you. That’s especially important if you transition from one level of care to another, such as intensive to acutecare.” An added layer of safety: both a pharmacist and the nurse administering the medications verify any new medicationorders from your doctors.

Throughout your stay, you’ll receive comprehensive instructions on your medications. “We know that people learn in different ways, so this information will be shared multiple times and in multiple ways,” notes Ms. Dailey. “We also urge patients to contact their doctors for help with any questions they may have on their return home.”

How technology is working to transform the quality of your care during hospitalization

Technology for 21st Century Hospitals

6 UPMC.com/Today

Seven Barnishin was just 11, playing withaction figures alone in his Pitcairn home,when the tics began — involuntary armflicks, head jerks, and sounds. “I freaked. It seemed like something else was controlling me,” he says.

Tom and Amy Barnishin first thoughttheir son’s behavior was linked to the startof the school year and peer pressure.When symptoms grew worse, and othertics emerged, their doctor sent Seven to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC where he was officially diagnosedwith Tourette syndrome (TS) in January2009. “We were blindsided,” says Amy.

Diagnosing Tourette syndromeTS is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting one in 100 people, says Keith Coffman, MD, a pediatric neurologist and co-director of the Tourette SyndromeClinic, part of the Brain Care Institute at Children’s Hospital. Most cases are diagnosed between ages 3 and 12; the majority are boys.

The main symptoms are sudden, repetitive, uncontrollable movements and sounds called tics, including throat-clearing, sniffing, blinking, gestures, and head jerking. For a true TS diagnosis, tics must start before age 18, include twoor more motor tics and at least one vocaltic, and last at least one year. Tics peak at the onset of puberty. Approximately 60 percent of children outgrow the tics, or the tics become so subtle only that person knows when they occur.

Coping with Tourette “People with TS cannot control their tics.They experience a sensation that makesthem feel like they have to move — like having to sneeze,” Dr. Coffman says.

The earlier the diagnosis, the sooner children can benefit. Movements can interfere with school work. Children with TS often are bullied, teased, or viewed as being disruptive.

That’s especially difficult for adolescentswho want to fit in. Tics, such as throatclearing, turning, or shaking, also can cause pain.

At the Tourette Syndrome Clinic, patients have access to a trio of experts:two pediatric neurologists with training in neurodevelopmental disorders, and an adult neurologist trained in movement disorders who provides transitional care for older teens.

Be in the know about TS Treatment varies.While there’s no cure,medication sometimes helps control tics.Psychologists can teach habit reversal and relaxation techniques to help patientscope with stress and reduce symptoms. But the most important treatment is education, says Dr. Coffman. “That includes educating families, educators, and the general public about TS.”

“Knowledge is power. I’d be unnerved if I didn’t know what it was,” adds Seven,now age 14. Although he cycled through almost every tic, the movements and sounds have subsided with treatment.

The Barnishins credit the team at Children’s for helping them understand TS, guiding them through treatment options, and providing support.

“Children’s gave us answers and helped us gain control over an uncontrollable situation. Instead of being spectators, wewere part of the process. That helped lower Seven’s anxiety, which helped ease the tics,” says Tom.

To learn more about the Tourette Syndrome Clinic and the Movement Disorders Clinic at Children’s Hospital, visit chp.edu, choose Neurology as theservice, then click the Clinics and Services button on the left.

Controlling a life in motion at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC

Other TS facts include:• TS patients have the same IQ range

as the general population.

• People in every walk of life, includingprofessional musicians, athletes, authors, and scientists, have TS.

• Less than 15 percent of TS patientsswear or use inappropriate expressions.

Did You Know?

Taking on Tourette

An estimated 200,000 Americans haveTS, but misconceptions still surround the disorder.

For example, TS is not an emotional or behavioral condition. It is an inheritedneurodevelopmental disorder that causes abnormalities in the brain.

6 UPMC.com/Today

Seven Barnishin was just 11, playing withaction figures alone in his Pitcairn home,when the tics began — involuntary armflicks, head jerks, and sounds. “I freaked. It seemed like something else was controlling me,” he says.

Tom and Amy Barnishin first thoughttheir son’s behavior was linked to the startof the school year and peer pressure.When symptoms grew worse, and othertics emerged, their doctor sent Seven to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC where he was officially diagnosedwith Tourette syndrome (TS) in January2009. “We were blindsided,” says Amy.

Diagnosing Tourette syndromeTS is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting one in 100 people, says Keith Coffman, MD, a pediatric neurologist and co-director of the Tourette SyndromeClinic, part of the Brain Care Institute at Children’s Hospital. Most cases are diagnosed between ages 3 and 12; the majority are boys.

The main symptoms are sudden, repetitive, uncontrollable movements and sounds called tics, including throat-clearing, sniffing, blinking, gestures, and head jerking. For a true TS diagnosis, tics must start before age 18, include twoor more motor tics and at least one vocaltic, and last at least one year. Tics peak at the onset of puberty. Approximately 60 percent of children outgrow the tics, or the tics become so subtle only that person knows when they occur.

Coping with Tourette “People with TS cannot control their tics.They experience a sensation that makesthem feel like they have to move — like having to sneeze,” Dr. Coffman says.

The earlier the diagnosis, the sooner children can benefit. Movements can interfere with school work. Children with TS often are bullied, teased, or viewed as being disruptive.

That’s especially difficult for adolescentswho want to fit in. Tics, such as throatclearing, turning, or shaking, also can cause pain.

At the Tourette Syndrome Clinic, patients have access to a trio of experts:two pediatric neurologists with training in neurodevelopmental disorders, and an adult neurologist trained in movement disorders who provides transitional care for older teens.

Be in the know about TS Treatment varies.While there’s no cure,medication sometimes helps control tics.Psychologists can teach habit reversal and relaxation techniques to help patientscope with stress and reduce symptoms. But the most important treatment is education, says Dr. Coffman. “That includes educating families, educators, and the general public about TS.”

“Knowledge is power. I’d be unnerved if I didn’t know what it was,” adds Seven,now age 14. Although he cycled through almost every tic, the movements and sounds have subsided with treatment.

The Barnishins credit the team at Children’s for helping them understand TS, guiding them through treatment options, and providing support.

“Children’s gave us answers and helped us gain control over an uncontrollable situation. Instead of being spectators, wewere part of the process. That helped lower Seven’s anxiety, which helped ease the tics,” says Tom.

To learn more about the Tourette Syndrome Clinic and the Movement Disorders Clinic at Children’s Hospital, visit chp.edu, choose Neurology as theservice, then click the Clinics and Services button on the left.

Controlling a life in motion at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC

Other TS facts include:• TS patients have the same IQ range

as the general population.

• People in every walk of life, includingprofessional musicians, athletes, authors, and scientists, have TS.

• Less than 15 percent of TS patientsswear or use inappropriate expressions.

Did You Know?

Taking on Tourette

An estimated 200,000 Americans haveTS, but misconceptions still surround the disorder.

For example, TS is not an emotional or behavioral condition. It is an inheritedneurodevelopmental disorder that causes abnormalities in the brain.

1-800-533-UPMC 71-800-533-UPMC 7

Putting Fracture Care on the Fast TrackWith 206 bones in the human body, bone fractures are fairly common. They can happen to anyone regardless of age or health. Specialized care for bone fractures and joint replacement needs for patients of all ages is the focus of thenew Comprehensive OrthopaedicProgram at UPMC McKeesport.

A faster fix for hip fracturesWith any bone fracture, the doctor’s primary goal is to get the pieces back into position and keep them from moving until they are healed — and to do it as quickly as possible.

That’s especially important forolder adults whose age and complex medical problems often can complicate a fracture.Hip fractures in the elderly usually occur as the result of a fall, and canpose special challenges. (See story below for tips on preventing falls.)

“Any bone fracture in an elderly person is serious,but hip fractures are the most serious,” says Michael Tranovich,MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at UPMC McKeesport. “Faster fracture repair means a quicker return to mobility. That’s essential to reducing a patient’s risk of life-threatening complications, such as blood clots, drug-induced dementia, and pneumonia.”

Dr. Tranovich was instrumental in developing the new Comprehensive Orthopaedic Program at UPMC McKeesport.

Designed to accelerate the treatment of geriatric fracture patients, this evidence-based program is modeled after a similar one in use nationwide. “It clearly demonstrates thatgeriatric fracture patients who are fast-tracked through the

ED have a speedier recovery and fewer complications, and require less pain medication,” explains Dr. Tranovich.

Most hip fractures in elderly patients are treated surgically. If underlying health issues such as diabetes or heart failuredelay the procedure, the risk of complications increases. “Our immediate goal is to get a patient into surgery within 24 hours,” says Dr. Tranovich. “Ultimately, we’d like to get that down to 18 hours.”

Key benefits aren’t just for seniors Anyone over the age of 18 who comes to UPMC

McKeesport’s ED with a fracture to the hip, ankle, wrist, or hand will be treated quickly. The program also provides a comprehensive continuum of care before, during, and after surgery for patients in need of joint replacements. “This program, but it is definitely a win-win for the entire community,” says Dr. Tranovich.

To learn more about the Comprehensive Orthopaedic Program at UPMC McKeesport, visit UPMCMcKeesport.com.

UPMC McKeesport’s new Comprehensive Orthopaedic Program is designed to improve outcomes for older patients

“ Faster fracture repair means a quicker return to mobility.”– Michael Tranovich, MD

Three things you can do to avoid fallsFalls don’t have to be an inevitable part oflife. There are many proactive strategiesyou can take to prevent them from happening to you and others, including:

Check your surroundings: Clutter-proofyour home, especially steps. Make sure carpets and handrails are secure. Use anonskid mat in your bath. If you have small children, use safety locks on windows and be sure cribs, infant swings,and other pieces of equipment are placedsecurely. Older children and adults should always wear protective gear when biking, skiing, or skating.

Exercise: Exercises that promote strength,balance, and body coordination are especially important to prevent falls. Many doctors recommend the martial art of tai chi, especially for older adults.

See your doctor regularly: Schedule annual physical and eye examinations to uncover underlying medical problems that could lead to falls. Notify your doctor if you feel unstable or experience problems like dizziness due to medications.

Falls Are No Laughing MatterPratfalls on TV sitcoms may makeus chuckle, but in real life, they’redeadly serious. Falls are the leadinginjury-related reason people go tothe emergency department. Eachyear, more than a million Americans suffer a slip, trip, or fall injury, resulting in more than 17,000deaths.

If you’ve taken a fall and suspect aserious injury, such as a fracture,seek medical attention immediately.

UPMC McKeesport1500 Fifth Ave.McKeesport, PA 15132

UPMC Today is published quarterly to provide you with health and wellness information and classes and events available at UPMC.

This publication is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice or replace a physician’s medical assessment. Always consult first with your physician about anything related to your personal health.

Follow UPMC McKeesport on Facebook.

TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOUHolidays are for celebrating all of the things that make life special. Don’t let a major illness, injury, or even a sore throat keep you from enjoying them. UPMC McKeesport physicians’ offices are open and conveniently located near you. Our physicians are accepting new patients, and in most cases even offer same-day appointments.

Just call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762) or visit UPMC.com/PatientCare, and we’ll get you an appointment with one of our doctors. It doesn’t matter why you need us; it matters that we’re here if you do.

Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

When the mature adults at OASIS read and hearthat school children need help, they don’t justsit back and do nothing; they jump into action!

OASIS Tutors are voluntarily serving elementary schoolswithin the Woodland Hills School District. OASIS bringstogether children in grades K – 4 with adults ages 50and older to simply read. The trained volunteer tutorsgive the young children a sound reading foundation thatOASIS feels will make a huge impact on the rest of theirlives and help them to avoid the societal pitfalls thatoften times plague youth who growup in underserved communities.Statistics indicate that if a childdoes not learn to read by the thirdgrade, he/she is more prone tobecoming a drop-out and living alife of poverty, crime, and eventualincarceration.

At present, OASIS Tutors areworking with children in Dickson,Edgewood, Shaffer and WilkinsElementary Schools, in addition toWoodland Hills Academy. All theschools, with the exception ofWilkins Elementary, have requestedadditional tutors and have studentswaiting. To fill this void and accommodate theirrequests, OASIS is currently holding training sessionswithin the district. “We provide all the clearances thatvolunteers need for the schools and we will scheduleadditional training sessions as potential tutors becomeavailable,” says OASIS Manager Shirley Fisher.

Fisher remarks that “although OASIS only requires acommitment of ‘One Hour, One Day, One Time a Week,’we are requesting that tutors make a commitment towork with the same child at least twice a week. It’scalled, High Impact Tutoring and research indicates thatthis type of tutoring truly makes the biggest difference!However, we are grateful to all the tutors who bring


Woodland Hills


Make a DifferenceThat Lasts a Lifetime

their experience, energy and time to this project tomeet the community needs.”

To learn more about the OASIS tutoring program andvolunteer opportunities, please contact Shirley Fisher,OASIS Manager, at 412.232.2023, or [email protected].

OASIS is a national education organization dedicatedto enriching the lives of adults age 50 and older throughlifelong learning and service. OASIS brings peopletogether to learn, lead and contribute in their communi-ties. Pittsburgh OASIS is part of a national network thatserves a diverse audience through educational centersand community partners in 27 U.S. cities. For more infor-mation, please visit www.oasisnet.org


Woodland Hills


Spirit Awards!

I n celebration of BreastCancer Awareness Month(October), the Woodland

Hills High School Field HockeyTeam decided to hold a “Refuse toLose Game” versus section rival Mt. Lebanon.

“After realizing how many people on our teamknew somebody that had been affected by the dis-ease, we wanted to do something to honor them, toshow them that we care,” explained Molly Means,Senior Captain of the team.Three breast cancer survivors, Mrs. Jane Wolfe,

Mrs. Cathy Tougher and Ms. Leisa Mason, were hon-ored in a ceremony before the game. Each survivorwas escorted onto the field by a player that she hada special connection with. The honorees were pre-sented with pink roses and breast cancer ribbonpins. The team wore pink shirts in their honor,instead of their usual jerseys. The shirts read “Refuseto Lose” in honor of the special guests and for breastcancer survivors everywhere.

The Wolverine Field Hockey Team won the gameagainst the Blue Devils 2-1.

The game was also a fundraiser for the PattiZollner Scholarship. This scholarship is presentedannually to graduating seniors in memory of PattiZollner, a former teacher at the high school who losther battle to breast cancer in 1999. The field hockeyteam made raising money for the scholarship theirspecial project during the entire month of October.

The Woodland Hills Field Hockey Team ended theirseason on a high note this year. They achieved thefirst winning season ever in school history, won the

Wolverine Spirit Awardfor October 2011:Edgewood ElementarySchool students Benjamin Detorre (left)and Enrique Rodriguez(right).

High School

Section Championshipand remain undefeatedheading into the playoffs.This was the Wolverinesfirst time ever starting atthe number one seedposition.

Coached by 15-yearveteran Jim Haberfieldand assisted by DaveKotts, the Wolverines had

an undefeated regular season record of 13-0 overall, and 10-0 inthe conference. A key win for the team was a hard-fought victo-ry over Fox Chapel 2-1 earlier in the season.

The team was led by forwards Molly Means, Dante Costa,and Tim Bagwell. Excellent goaltending was turned in all year byJared Hanley. Adding to a solid core of players were defendersMorgan Murphy and Jordan Wadell. Autumn Porter and KelseyGeyer also added a spark to a very capable line up of seniorsand underclassmen. The team is graduating six seniors this year:Jordan Waddell, Jared Hanley, Dalal Ghanem, Tim Bagwell,Dante Costa and Molly Means.(Mr. James Sciulli also provided information for this article.)

Has Best Season EverBy Molly Means

Wolverine

Darryl Baynes, founder and dynamic president of the MAEAInteractive Science Programs, presented an interactive scienceprogram to each fourth grade classroom in allof the Woodland Hills elementary schools.The students discussed the world biomesand examined and observedplants and animals ofeach biome. The stu-dents even testedtheir taste buds toidentify if they had adominant bud as part of a les-son on cells and genes.Mr.Baynes’ visit was made possi-ble by grants from The GrableFoundation and The BenedumFoundation.


Spirit Awards!

Science Visitor

ElementaryStudents Enjoy

Wolverine SpiritAward winners forNovember 2011:Fairless ElementarySchool students Shianne Moses and Shane Williams.


024, Faculty King and Queen026, Homecoming King and Queen029 Homecoming Court028 First Runner-ups027 Second Runner-ups

Homecoming 2011


Woodland Hills

T his year Homecoming activities were held on the weekend ofOctober 21-22. Students celebrated Spirit Week at the HighSchool by dressing in their favorite sports teams colors on

Monday, Twin day on Tuesday, and Mixed Up day on Wednesday. Friday,the entire school attended a pep rally in the gym. Athletes from all of thefall sports teams were recognized and the Homecoming Court was intro-duced. Seniors were elected by their peers and included: MariamAbdelwahab, Taylor Allen, Brittney Berkley, Micah Craig, Deandra Hunte,Kaitlyn Kearns, Hope McCullough, Tasia Miller, Radiyah Muhammad,Angela Ricci, Nia Scott, Erminia Spinelli, Shakim Alonzo, RichardBennaugh, Michael Caprara ,Jozef Cislo, Jaimire Dutrieuille, TaJuanDutrieuille, John Gorol, Jared Hanley, Robert Jackson, Sean Malloy,Patrick Menifee, and Jason Peterson.

The King and Queen and the two runner-ups wereannounced at the rally as were the King and Queenfaculty members, who were selected bythe students as well.

Hope McCullough was chosen asQueen and Michael Caprara as King.The 1st runner-ups for Queen andKing were Mariam Abdelwahab andJaimire Dutrieuille. The 2nd runner-ups for Queen and King were TasiaMiller and John Gorol. The facultyQueen and King were High Schoolteachers Kathryn Shook and BruceFisher.

Before the Wolverines playedPine-Richland High School for theHomecoming football game, theWHHS Marching Band and VisualImages and Homecoming floats

2011

Homecoming Court

Faculty King and Queen


carrying members of the courtparaded through Turtle Creek.Students worked on class floatsduring the week and the Senior-Junior float won the best floatprize.

The Wolverines lost 26-7 in anupset victory to Pine-Richland.Saturday, the Homecoming Dancewas held at the High School. AHomecoming bon-fire was held atthe Forest Hills Recreation Centeron Saturday which was open tothe public.

Second Runner-ups

Homecoming King and Queen

First Runner-ups

T he students in Ms. Mineo’s classroom at the High School were joinedby students from other rooms in the building and students from FairlessElementary to participate in the “Dignity and Respect

Videoconference” with Mr. Charlie Batch of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Also join-ing the students in room 129 was Woodland Hills graduate and currentPittsburgh Steeler, Mr. Ryan Mundy.After greeting Mr. Batch and Mr. Mundy with a hearty “GO STEELERS,” the

students were involved in a round robin question and answer session with Mr.Batch via videoconference. Mr. Batch answered various questions regardinghis experiences with “Dignity and Respect” during his lifetime. Of course hewas also asked about his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler as well as other foot-ball-related questions. Some of the questions asked by our students were, “Does everyone treat you

with dignity and respect?” asked by sophomore Lindsay Speelman and, “Wereyou ever picked on when you were younger?” asked bysenior Paul Weschler. Mr. Mundy wanted to play ajoke on Mr. Batch so he enlisted the help of seniorJamal Perry in asking Mr. Batch the question, “Whydo you lose to Dennis Dixon when you’re shootingpool?” to which Mr. Batch had no reply causingeveryone including Mr. Batch and Mr. Mundy to col-lapse in laughter. The students then took the“Dignity and Respect Pledge” with Mr. Batchwhich promises, “I will treat everyone withDignity and Respect.” The Videoconference was part of a collabo-

ration of 10 schools with over 2000 students inAllegheny and Beaver counties, all watchingthe live video stream together. The programis now available for viewing by the generalpublic. UPMC and The Batch Foundationalong with other partnering organiza-tions worked together with the schoolsto make this event possible. Here is thelink for viewing:http://video.magpi.net/videos/video/208/

DignityRespect


Woodland Hills School InformationWoodland Hills High SchoolGrades 9-122550 Greensburg PikePittsburgh, PA 15221-3683412.244.1100fax: 412.242.2344Daniel Stephens, Principal

Dickson ElementaryGrades K-67301 Schoyer Ave.Swissvale, PA 15218412.731.5816fax: 412.731.5818Allison Kline, Principal

Woodland Hills Junior High SchoolGrades 7-87600 Evans StreetPittsburgh, PA 15218412.351.0698fax: 412.351.4064Dawn Golden, Principal

Woodland Hills AcademyGrades K-8126 Monroeville Ave.Turtle Creek, PA 15145412.824.2450fax: 412.824.2597Reginald Hickman, Principal

Fairless ElementaryGrades K-6531 Jones Ave.North Braddock, PA 15104412.271.1317fax: 412.271.6657Jean Livingston, Principal

Wilkins ElementaryGrades K-6362 Churchill Road.Wilkins Township, PA 15235412.824.3231fax: 412.824.3244Karen Bloch, Principal

Shaffer ElementaryGrades K-637 Garden TerraceChurchill, PA 15221412.371.4535fax: 412.371.4571Dr. Deborah Vereen, Principal

Edgewood ElementaryGrades K-6241 Maple Ave.Edgewood, PA 15218412.731.2238fax: 412.731.2256Janet Wilson-Carter, Principal

*

*


Woodland Hills

Alex Laun, WHHS Class of2007, graduated 8th in his classat the Naval Academy atAnnapolis this year. WoodlandHills Social Studies teacher, CalvinLewis was Alex's special guest athis commencement ceremonies.

Alex will be continuing his studiesat the Massachusetts Institute of Technology inCambridge, Massachusetts.The District congratulatesAlex on his stellar achievements.

Please send your information about alumniachievements and reunion information [email protected] for inclusion in IN Woodland Hillsand for posting on the District website.

Don’t miss the annual production, Dancing withTeachers which will be held on

January 14, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the Woodland Hills HighSchool auditorium. This is always agreat night of entertainment and has

played to a sold out crowd the last twoyears. So it is better to buy your tick-

ets in advance. Ticket information will be posted on the

District website, www.whsd.net, andwill be advertised in the schools.

Always a

25thAnniversary Musical

Curtains, a new Broadway musical,celebrates putting on a show. Set in 1959

Boston, the plot revolves around a backstagemurder mystery during the production ofRobbin’ Hood of the Old West. A policedetective with a love for musical theater

is charged with saving the show, solving thecase, and maybe even finding love

before the curtain rises again.Performance Schedule:

April 26, 27, 28, May 3, 4, & 5 – 8 p.m.April 28 & May 5 – 1 p.m.Box Office Information:

All tickets are $10 412.244.1100 x5187Sales begin March 1

Advertising Opportunities:[email protected]

Woodland HillsHigh School’s


� Get involved in great programs and activities� Check the library website for more program details

LibraryHappenings

winter

C. C. Mellor Memorial LibraryMain Library, 1 Pennwood Avenue, Edgewood, 412.731.0909, www.ccmellorlibrary.orgForest Hills Branch, 444 Avenue D, Forest Hills, 412.824.3567

For Kids: Weekly Preschool Story Hours. No sign-up necessary.Mondays, 10:30 a.m. Forest Hills Library Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. at C.C. Mellor Memorial Library Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. at C.C. Mellor Memorial Library Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. at Churchill Borough Building, 2400 William Penn Hwy.Fridays, 10:30 a.m. at Wilkins Recreation Center, 111 Peffer Road

North Pole VisitorsHave breakfast with Mrs. Claus on Saturday, December 17, at10:30 in the Children’s Room. Join her for pancakes and stories.Registration is limited. Call the library by December 15.Santa Claus will visit story hours on Tuesday, December 20, at10:30 a.m. and Wednesday, December 21, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30p.m. No registration required. Both programs are in the FredRogers Children’s Room in Edgewood.

Help Your Child in SchoolIn this workshop parents will hear about the learning styles ofchildren. Luke Briningstoll from Sylvan Learning Center willspeak on January 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the library at Edgewood onthe different ways people learn and what it means as you workwith your child. Registration encouraged but not required.

Valentine PartyStories, treats, games and crafts will be part of a holiday party onFebruary 11 from 1-2:30 p.m. for school age children in the FredRogers Children’s Room. Call the library to register.

Annual Book SaleMark your calendars for our Annual Book Sale which kicks offon Friday, March 23, with a Preview Party from 7-9:30 p.m. (NoDealers, admission fee.) Sale times are Saturday and Sunday,March 24 & 25, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Bag Sale Monday, March 26,from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday, March 27, from 9 a.m. to noon.The sale is in the Ballroom of the Edgewood Community House, 1 Pennwood Avenue, Edgewood. The library is accepting dona-tions and volunteer help.


Provides a Solid Foundation

Heritage Community Initiatives’

Like a good coat of paint, a good education depends on beginningwith a properly primed foundation. “I was always one of thoseparents who felt no one can take care of my kids as well as I

can,” said Talise Ward, who has two children in Heritage CommunityInitiatives’ early learning center, Heritage 4 Kids. Ward has a son inHeritage’s Pre-K Counts program and a daughter in the Head Start pro-gram. “Now my son is bringing home homework, and he wants to do it.I’m amazed. I appreciate what they are doing with my kids.”

That solid foundation begins with a simple, but crucially importantphilosophy.

“I believe passionately that every child needs to learn at his or herown speed, in his or her own way, and in a nurturing environment,”said Michele R. Atkins, president and CEO of Heritage CommunityInitiatives.

That philosophy was sorely tested when Atkins first arrived at theBraddock nonprofit nearly two years ago. She walked into a centerwith walls of battleship gray andcarpeting and flooring that had-n’t been replaced in years. Theproblems were more than acoat of paint and new carpetingcould cover, however.

“Most early learning centerslose money, but when I came herewe were bleeding money,” sherecalls. “Heritage was bankrupt.We owed one vendor a milliondollars. We had nine pages ofaudit findings [from thePennsylvania Department of

Education]. Now we are out of debt and we have no audit findings.”The transformation looks as remarkable as it sounds. Step

through the front doors of the center and you will be greetedwith smiles from staff, and brightly colored walls that comple-ment the maritime theme of each classroom.

“The Hillman Foundation first gave us a grant for a planningstudy which allowed us to think thoughtfully about what to do,”Atkins said. “Room size is critically important for an early learn-ing center. The Hillman grant allowed us to reconfigure roomsfor best efficiency.”

At a recent open house for the center, Atkins credits theHeritage board and staff with doing amazing work in the past twoyears, work that was matched, at times, by outside vendors.

“To accommodate our need to keep the Center open,Massaro Corporation did the renovation on weekends andevenings, and they finished the project on time and on budget,”

she said.There has also been support

from local foundations. The GrableFoundation provided funding for aliteracy program and then a pro-gram for first steps in math andscience. The Massey CharitableTrusts provided funding for schol-arships, as did Heritage BoardChair Stanley Herman, PhD. Inaddition, board member GeorgeHandelsman, Esq., provided fund-ing to construct a comfort room,where children who are having a

4 Kids Center

Michele Atkins talking to students


Heritage Community Initiatives’

bad day or transition can receive a little one-on-one care.“PNC Foundation made a commitment to match the Grable

Foundation’s funding,” said Atkins. “And we have an anonymousindividual who provided the remainder of the funding. The totalfunding for this program is $100,000 per year for two years.”

Mary Ellen Sullivan, a vice president with PNC, presented acheck for $50,000 to Atkins at the open house.

“I just can’t say enough about the gem that is 4 Kids,” saidSullivan. “PNC is so proud to be a partner.”

Community partners have also played an important part inHeritage’s success. Carlow University sent almost 60 of its stu-dents to Heritage in September for Mercy Service Day,where the students helped with filing, general cleanup,and, yes, painting.

“I felt like we really accomplished something,” saidRachel Hill, a first-year student from Cleveland, Ohio. “I hadnever painted before, so it was something new for me.”

It was also a new experience for Hill to visit an area likeBraddock, where buildings with boarded up windows give testi-mony to the depressed state the town has been in for decades.

“I thought it was amazing that they are trying to revive thistown,” she said. “I was very exhausted when we were finished,but I felt good. And it made me feel really great when Miles[Loewy, the volunteer manager for Heritage] complimented us fordoing a really good job of painting. Everyone was very thankfulthat we were there.”

Atkins, a Carlow alumna herself, has appreciated the supportfrom her alma mater. Martha Ezzell, PhD, a Carlow professoremeritus, is a Heritage board member, as is Giant Eagle’s JackieDixon, who also is a trustee at Carlow. In addition, Heritage staffmembers Becky Flaherty, the director of development, RoyAguiar, the director of programs, Amanda Gee, the developmentassistant, and Deanna Dugan, the math and science coach, areall Carlow alumni.

As it seeks to transform its community, Heritage focuses onthree primary areas: transportation for people looking to get towork, job training, education and other vital services; job trainingthat prepares unemployed or under-employed people to work insustainable jobs; and education. It’s this last area where Atkinshas a special affinity.

4 Kids CenterCarlow students weeding

at the library in Braddock

Carlow student E. DiSantipainting


Do You“Leak”

Are you embarrassed to go out on the town with your friends?Do you need to run to the bathroom every twenty minutes? Doyou ‘leak’ with physical activity, coughing or sneezing? Urinary

incontinence can be embarrassing and may put a damper on yoursocial life. While many individuals and even many physicians don’tautomatically think of physical therapy for problems associated with the“pelvic floor”, there is great evidence for success for both male andfemale patients. In most cases, you can stay dry without surgery ormedication. Specialized physical therapy may be the best option tomaintain your quality of life!

Women’s Health specialists are physical therapists with trainingwhich will benefit women and men with a variety of medical conditions.These thought-to-be taboo topics are often left behind closed doors andmany individuals have lived through suffering and embarrassment fromthese issues for years. Women’s Health physical therapy entails evalu-ation and treatment of multiple conditions including pelvic floor dys-function, osteoporosis, and lymphedema associated with various can-cers. Specialists in this field are seeing great success in treating thissometimes overlooked patient population, both male and female. Weare even finding that pain in the low back, abdomen or thighs, may berelated to weakness of the pelvic floor! Don’t settle for thinking thatsome urinary leakage is normal for you because you have had prostatesurgery, have gone through childbirth or are simply “getting older”.Leakage is NEVER normal, and you don’t have to silently “live with it”.

Hopefully, if you mention urinary or fecal incontinence or pelvic painto your doctor, he or she will think FIRST to send you to a Women’sHealth physical therapist. But if they don’t, make the call yourself. Ifyou have any symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, you can choose togo directly to a physical therapy. You can prevent prolonged waitingperiods to start treatment and may also save healthcare dollars. Let anexpert in this field perform an evaluation, and take it from there. Initialevaluation and treatment may include medical history, external andinternal examination, biofeedback, and manual therapy. Many patients

can be managed via home program, and only infrequent follow up visitsmay be needed to achieve results.

Don’t let incontinence put a damper on your social life. You don’tneed to wear diapers, have surgery, or take medication to stop theleaks. Faucets may leak, people should not! You might need one of thespecialists at Allegheny Chesapeake Physical Therapy.

Allegheny Chesapeake Physical Therapy is a privately owned practice, with three Pittsburghlocations. All therapists hold doctorates of

physical therapy and practice using the latest research techniques.ACPT has experts in musculoskeletal disorders and lymphedema management. Now, they have added pelvic floor rehab to their areasof expertise! For more information visit www.AlleghenyChesapeake.comor call 1-800-NEW-SELF.

With Physical Activity,Coughing, or Sneezing?

You might need a physical therapist, if . . .� You have pelvic pain with toileting activities, sexual intercourse or specific movements.

� You experience leakage with sneezing, coughing, or physical activity.� You can’t make it to the bathroom in time.� You think some leaking is normal after childbirth or with aging.� You have undergone prostate surgery or gynecological procedure.� You have been told you have pelvic organ prolapse.

�R ev. Paul Sandusky knows what it’s like to make apositive impact on a community. As the executivedirector of the Rankin Christian Center, he, his staffand volunteers have been trying to touch lives in

order to enact change for the better.“Our goals are to positively influence the negative impact of

the borough, provide a safe haven of growth for our youth, andpromote harmony among the generations,” said Sandusky. TheRankin Christian Center is a nonprofit American Baptist organi-zation located in Mon Valley which is just east of Pittsburgh.According to Sandusky, RCC’s ministry is to make a differencein the lives of disadvantaged individuals. He said the staffreach out to all people. However, their main focus has becomeyouth and seniors. The center focuses on “touching lives” ofthose facing adversity in the Mon Valley area and meetingtheir needs through a “strength-based approach.” The Rankin Christian Center sits in the heart of one of the most“economically depressed” and needy areas in AlleghenyCounty. It responds to these needs by reaching out to disad-vantaged people of all faiths, genders, ages, and ethnicities,but has come to focus on youth and seniors. RCC is affiliatedwith the religious denomination of the American Baptists, notto be confused with the Southern Baptists. They were adoptedby the General Board of the American Baptist Churches in theU.S.A. in June 1998. The Rankin Christian Center started out in1904 as a Baptist Ministry. “It was originally designed as anoutreach to teach European immigrants who worked in thesteel mills the English language,” Sandusky said. “It wasdesigned to help them learn our language, but when the U.S.demographics changed to African American, particu-larly in the borough of Rankin, the Rankin ChristianCenter began to help disadvantaged individuals bothintellectually and economically.” In 1922, AmericanBaptist Churches constructed the current buildingand for many years, missionaries worked and livedthere. The center has always seen itself as part ofthe community and has changed to fit the needs ofthe area.

Sandusky said that the Rankin Christian Centerhas 60 full-time employees and 18 part timeemployees. He said there are six regular volun-teers and many seniors who will help out whenneeded. Sandusky is confident that the center hasplenty of workers along with volunteers to operate

For A Bright Future

the facility. He did say, however, that it needs more help withfunding their programs and there are two ways people canhelp support the center.

“People can donate through United Way Donor Choice 92or send gift cards,” he explained. “We can use gift cards fromplaces such as Walmart or Kmart to buy food to help providemeals for our disadvantaged youth and seniors.”

The Reverend reported that the Rankin Christian Centerhelps 5,800 people a year, perhaps a shocking number forthose unaware of this nonprofit.

Rankin Christian Center has various programs throughoutthe year to help the disadvantaged members of the Mon Valleycommunity, and “impact lives today for a brighter tomorrow.”According to Sandusky, the two most successful programs areMon Valley Supports Coordination which “locates, coordinatesand monitors support services for people diagnosed with intel-lectual and/or developmental disabilities. The program advo-cates for an individual's social, health, safety and emotionalneeds while assisting the individual and his or her family innavigating the social service system.” Rankin Christian’s afterschool program which helps children and youth ages 4-18 isanother successful outreach at the center.

The Rankin Christian Center has become a safe haven fordisadvantaged individuals in the Mon Valley area. It has surelybenefited many over the years, specifically youth and seniorswho are in need of a place of comfort. Since 1904, this non-profit has been a light to the community and hope for a brightfuture. For more information go to www.rankinchristiancen-ter.org, or call 412.271.8313. You can also email the center at:

[email protected].

�

�by Elissa Emmerling


Rankin Christian Center ~


When Joann Stack needs a ride to the store or elsewhere, she’s got a group ofhelping hands at her service, thanks to a new initiative geared towardkeeping seniors living in their homes as long as they are able.

Stack, 86 had a nice outing recently with Kathy, one of the Open Your Heart to aSenior volunteers. She took Stack shopping and Stack returned the favor, buying lunchfor the two of them.

“It was very enjoyable,” said Stack. “The volunteers are very lovely people, veryenjoyable.”

The Open Your Heart to A Senior program is made possible through funding from theUnited Way of Allegheny County. “ We are trying to connect seniors with their neighbors,”stated RachelSteigerwalt Coordinatorof Older Adults forFamily Services ofWestern Pennsylvania.“We like the idea ofhaving residents inevery communityhelping out those whoare the mostvulnerable and needassistance with thingslike shoveling snow,getting to the doctorsor the grocery store.”

The Open YourHeart to A Seniorinitiative is designed tohelp recruit morevolunteers,” Steigerwaltsaid. “The idea is to letthe community knowthere are seniors whoneed a ride to thegrocery store or to thedoctor’s office, or avisit or a friendly call.”

Those interested involunteering to help asenior in need are welcome to join the effort. Training is provided and even if you onlyhave an hour to give, most seniors would welcome your visit! “The nice part about thisvolunteer program is that everyone can get involved, including families with children. The sight and sounds of children brings a smile to every seniors face,” says Steigerwalt.For more information about the program, please visit their websitewww.openyourhearttoasenior.org or contact Nancy Jones at 412.307.0071 or [email protected].

Open Your Heart to a Senior Program


For as long as some Pennsylvania residents can remember they have satdown four times a year and filled out a small postcard. This small post-card asked you to list your wages, calculate approximately 1 percent of

your earnings and mail a check to your local earned income tax collector inyour community municipal building.

But in 2012, every taxpayer in Woodland Hills School District can cross onemore chore off their to-do list thanks to a new state mandate.

Beginning Jan. 1, all employers who have work sites in the commonwealthare required by Act 32 of 2008 to withhold all earned income taxes from everyemployee. And all employees have to do is make sure they have filled out a resi-dency certification form.

“The legislation affects every single municipality and school district inPennsylvania,” says Mitch Hoffman, local government policy manager at thestate Department of Community and Economic Development.“That in itself is huge. In addition, it also affects every single taxpayer and

every single business that operates in Pennsylvania.”

In the BeginningEarned income taxes have been a fixture in Pennsylvania since 1965.At the time, state lawmakers imposed the levy to allow local entities such as

school districts and municipalities to raise more funds.“It provided an avenue for local taxing bodies to impose a tax to help fund their

operating costs, and it was only imposed on people who actually had earnedincome, not those who were retired or were not working,” says Hoffman.

Earned income tax is unique to Pennsylvania. Neighboring states have a sim-ilar structures in place, but they are not identical.

In theory, the tax is simple.Anyone who works in the state pays on average a 1 percent tax four times a year.

Some townships, boroughs and school districts tax a bit higher and some a bit lower.And to pay their bill, an employer could withhold the tax from an employee’s pay

or the employees themselves could calculate their tax and send it to their localearned income tax collector.

But from the start, issues arose.Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of local municipalities in the

country, and at one point, there were up to 560 different earned income tax officesin the state, says Hoffman.

“It was very fractured and very convoluted. There was no consistency in collec-tions, no consistency in annual returns and no consistency in transfer of recordsfrom one tax collector to another.”

“Many of these companies did withhold the tax, but with so many different col-lectors it was difficult for them to comply with all the expectations,” says Hoffman.The cumbersome structure also was not attractive to new business endeavors asit created one more regulation interested companies had to comply with whenthey opened a site in Pennsylvania. Within decades, people started to question thestructure used to collect earned income tax.

A New WayBy 2002, various organizations sought change and restructuring. Their pleas

were supported by a study commissioned by the Pennsylvania Economy Leagueamong other entities.

The study found that millions of dollars across the state were not beingaccounted for correctly and millions of potential tax dollars were not being collect-ed at all. The actual amount always remained uncertain, says Hoffman.

Change was slow to come, but in 2008, state lawmakers passed Act 32 and itseffects were so far reaching it gave local municipalities and school districts threeyears to implement its regulations.

Under the new law, the burden related to the tax has shifted from employees totheir employers. Every employer in Pennsylvania is required to have each employ-ee fill out a one page local earned income tax residency certification form by year’send.

On the form, employees list their address, municipality and county of residence.This information matches to a municipality specific code ensuring the tax dollarsare automatically withheld and end up at the correct tax collector.

Throughout Pennsylvania, except in Allegheny County, earned income tax collector positions were eliminated or altered as taxes will go to a county level taxcollector chosen by a tax collection district made up of representatives from everymunicipality and school district in the specific county.

In Allegheny County, four collection districts were chosen to better serve thearea’s unique demographics, says Hoffman.

“The four collection districts are separated by the rivers. Allegheny County isdifferent than anywhere else in the state due to its diverse populations and numberof corporations.”

Going ForwardIn addition to the more centralized structure, the law has other oversight and

accountability features.There are explicit time frames set out for the distribution of dollars as well as

training and certification for all tax officers. There also are penalties for late pay-ments and annual auditing, says Hoffman.

“All of these are built in to guarantee the amount of monies being collected arecollected properly, remitted properly and distributed properly.”

Filing returns also will be more uniform throughout the state.“Some local returns were several pages, some half a page and some had none

at all. Now there is a standard form for all of Pennsylvania and all the tax collectorsare required to use it. We now have consistency.”

�Each community in Woodland Hills School Districthas its own, unique earned income tax code.



Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction.It would seem reasonable that withmillions of sperm and only one eggthat the majority of infertility problemswould lie with the female. Not true,according to the National Library ofMedicine which tracks nationalstatistics kept by fertility clinics.Difficulties with fertility are evenlysplit, with the source of fertilityproblems being linked to the maleone third of the time and the femalealso having difficulties one third ofthe time. The final third is a mixtureof situations where both parties haveinfertility issues and those cases where the cause is indeterminate.

The good news is that there is hopefor males who wish to start a family.Director of Male ReproductiveMedicine Surgery at UPMC, Thomas Jaffe, MD, an urologist,offers a hopeful perspective formales experiencing difficulties withreproductive issues. “Because of manytechnologies and treatments, manymen who previously had no hopeof fathering a child now have treatmentoptions that can be [effective.]”

One important advancement inreproductive research is a relativelynew diagnostic test called theDAZ test. The DAZ test detectsa genetic mutation in the Ychromosome for sperm production.

This test is ordered when spermproduction is unusually low. Anotherimportant factor in analyzing the quality of the sperm is its motility or movement. Generally, sperm with greater motility are able to more easily fertilize an egg.

One common problem among menwith fertility issues is type 1 or juvenileonset diabetes. Individuals withdiabetes may experience what’s called retrograde ejaculation. Simplyput, this is when the bladder stays open with ejaculatory fluids washingback into the bladder rather than exiting the body as with normal functioning. “This problem can betreated with Sudafed which helps the bladder to stay closed during ejaculation,” explains Dr. Jaffe.Retrograde ejaculation can also be a problem with spinal cord injuries,nerve damage or certain medicationsthat contain alpha blockers such as high blood pressure medications.

Another problem Dr. Jaffe sees amonghis patients are men who have little tono sperm production. “Even with nosperm, we have found that thesemen still produce limited numbersof sperm within the tissues of thetesticles.” This sperm can be extractedfrom the tissue and remains viableto fertilize an egg.

One of the most common problemsassociated with male infertility iswhen an enlargement of a vein in the scrotum forms. These veins are specially equipped with one-wayvalves which insure that blood flows upward. When these veins becomecompressed, they crush the gonadalvein and heat and toxins build up in the scrotum inhibiting healthy spermproduction. The vein can be surgicallyrepaired however to promote normalfunction with increased sperm production and better quality withsperm motility increased.

Finally, male cancer patients mayexperience fertility problems due tochemotherapy and radiation treatments.“Ideally ,we [harvest] sperm priorto treatment. We work with thePittsburgh Cryobank to store thesperm until needed,” explains Dr. Jaffe.

Although no treatment is an absoluteguarantee, male infertility can oftentimes be overcome with the right evaluation and treatment.

For more information about Dr. Ja�eand treatment of male infertility, call 412.692.4100.

With all of the hustle and bustle this holiday season, make time toreach out to your elderly friends, family members and neighbors.Take the time to care. You just might find that the gift you give, mayalso be one of the greatest gifts you receive. Happy Holidays!!

Looking for a way to spend quality time with your loved one this holiday season?Visit Juniper

Village at Forest Hills’ 3rd Annual Celebration of Trees HolidayDisplay! Tour over 29 different Christmas trees decorated in a vari-ety of themes by local businesses. The display is free and open tothe public from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily. Juniper Village is locatedjust off of Ardmore Boulevard at 107 Fall Run Road in Forest Hills. For more information or driving directions call 412.244.9901.


Perplexed about what to give the senior in your life this holi-day season? Keep in mind that as we age, our needschange. And a gift that might have been wonderful a few a

few years ago may no longer be appropriate today. Recent changes in the economy have resulted in many seniors

trimming their budgets and eliminating small luxury items they canlive without. Today, many seniors have to make a choice betweennecessary medications and non-essential needs. Families can helpby considering gifts that cover the cost of these everyday needs.Some of these gift giving ideas include:

Stock their pantry: Visit the local grocery store and stock theirpantry with staples such as canned goods, frozen foods and non-perishable food or toiletry items that they can enjoy during theupcoming winter months.Pre-pay their monthly bills: Consider pre-paying your lovedone’s monthly gas, electric or cable television bills. Purchase a newspaper subscription: Some of your seniorloved one's fondest memories revolve around life at the dinner tableand discussing the day's events. A subscription to a daily local newspaper can continue that tradition and help them keep in touchwith their local community.Pre-pay or purchase gift cards for small luxuryitems: Luxury items such as weekly hair appointments, dinner attheir favorite restaurant or a trip to the movies, theatre and / or concert mean a lot to loved ones no longer able to afford them. Create A Calendar:Create a calendar with activities that aregoing on in your family's life so your senior can feel a part of them.Calendars also help your loved one remember important dates thatthey sometimes forget like kid’s birthdays and graduations. Checkonline; there are many resources for personalizing calendars withfamily photos.Purchase A Supply of All Occasion Cards:As we getolder health ailments and bad weather often keep us from gettingout to the store. A box of all occasion cards and stationary allowsyour senior to keep in touch with loved ones throughout the year.Make it even easier and include a few rolls of stamps!

Many seniors, including those living at home and in long termcare communities, experience loneliness. Whether it be becauseloved ones are gone, family members live out of town, or familiesare just too busy to spend time with them. Feelings of lonelinessand isolation are one of the most difficult needs to meet.

For Seniors

Gift Giving Ideas

Holiday

All Saints AnglicanEpiscopal Church412.793.0270

Beulah PresbyterianChurch412.242.4570

Calvary United Church of Christ412.823.4347

Christ Lutheran Church and School412.271.7173

Electric Heights United Methodist Church412.824.3303

Emmanuel Lutheran Church412.824.4525

Epiphany Lutheran Church412.241.1313

Faith Bible Baptist Church412.825.7450

First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood412.241.4613

First Christian Church of Turtle Creek412.823.2582

Forest Hills Community BibleChurch412.371.1611

Forest Hills Presbyterian Church 412.241.1647

Good Shepherd Catholic Parish412.271.1515

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church412.793.1394

Hebron United Presbyterian Church412.371.2307

Hope Lutheran Church of Forest Hills412.242.4476

Immanuel EvangelicalLutheran Church412.271.1995

Laketon Heights United Methodist412.241.9170

Liberty Baptist Church412.271.3775

Living Spirit Ministry412.351.1802

Madonna del Castello Church412.271.5666

McMasters United MethodistChurch412.823.1988

Mount Hope Community Church412.793.0227

Mount Olive Baptist Church412.271.0303

Mount Olive Churchof God in Christ412.361.0503

Muhleman MemorialMethodist Church 412.823.5170

New Hope Baptist Church412.271.8998

New Vision Community Church412.241.6160

Parkway Jewish Center412.823.4338

Penn Hills Baptist Church412.793.6640

Penn Hills Free MethodistChurch412.793.7263

Pittsburgh Mennonite Church2018 S. Braddock Ave.Swissvale, Pa 15218

Presbyterian Church of America412.793.7117

Presentation of Christ Greek Orthodox Church412.824.9188

Protestant ReformedFellowship412.371.2299

Resurrection Baptist Church412.271.7355

Sri Venkateswara Temple412.373.3380

SS. Peter & Paul ByzantineChurch412.466.3578

St. Bartholomew CatholicChurch412.242.3374

St. Colman Catholic Church412.283.2564

St. James Episcopal Church412.242.2300

St. John the BaptistOrthodox Church412.824.0246

St. John Fisher412.241.4722

St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church412.824.1622

St. Maurice Roman Catholic Church412.271.0809

St. Paul's EvangelicalLutheran Church412.271.9300

Trinity Tower United Methodist412.793.9000

Universal UnitedPresbyterian Church412.793.1355

Word of God Catholic Church412.241.1372

Word & Worship Church 412.824.1616

Zion Lutheran Church412.242.2626

COMMUNITY WORSHIP

| IN BEDFORD COUNTY |

| IN BETHEL PARK |

| IN BRENTWOOD-BALDWIN- WHITEHALL |

| IN CANON-MAC |

| IN CARLYNTON-MONTOUR |

| IN CHARTIERS VALLEY |

| IN FAIRVIEW [Erie] |

| IN FOX CHAPEL |

| IN HAMPTON |

| IN HARBORCREEK [Erie] |

| IN KEYSTONE OAKS |

| INMARS AREA |

| INMcKEESPORT AREA |

| INMERCER COUNTY |

| INMILLCREEK [Erie] |

| INMONROEVILLE |

| INMOON TOWNSHIP |

| INMT. LEBANON |

| INMURRYSVILLE |

| IN NORTH ALLEGHENY |

| IN NORWIN |

| IN PENN HILLS |

| IN PETERS TOWNSHIP |

| IN PINE-RICHLAND |

| IN PLUM |

| IN ROSS TOWNSHIP |

| IN SENECA VALLEY |

| IN SEWICKLEY AREA |

| IN SHALER |

| IN SOUTH FAYETTE |

| IN UPPER ST. CLAIR |

| INWEST ALLEGHENY |

| INWEST JEFFERSON HILLS |

| INWEST MIFFLIN |

| INWOODLAND HILLS |

603 East McMurray RoadMcMurray I PA I 15317724.942.0940www.incommunitymagazines.com

PRSRT STD

US POSTAGE

PAID

PITTSBURGH, PA

PERMIT NO. 887

IN Baldwin-Whitehall

IN Bedford County

IN Bethel Park

IN Canon-Mac

IN Chartiers Valley

IN Fox Chapel

IN Hampton

IN Keystone Oaks

IN Mars Area

IN McKeesport Area

IN Mercer County

IN Monroeville

IN Mt. Lebanon

IN Murrysville

IN North Allegheny

IN Norwin

IN Penn Hills

IN Peters Township

IN Pine-Richland

IN Plum

IN Ross Township

IN Seneca Valley

IN Shaler

IN South Fayette

IN Upper St. Clair

IN West Je�erson Hills

IN West Mi�in

IN Woodland Hills

IN Baldwin-Whitehall

IN Bedford County

IN Bethel Park

IN Canon-Mac

IN Chartiers Valley

IN Fox Chapel

IN Hampton

IN Keystone Oaks

IN Mars Area

IN McKeesport Area

IN Mercer County

IN Monroeville

IN Mt. Lebanon

IN Murrysville

IN North Allegheny

IN Norwin

IN Penn Hills

IN Peters Township

IN Pine-Richland

IN Plum

IN Ross Township

IN Seneca Valley

IN Shaler

IN South Fayette

IN Upper St. Clair

IN West Je�erson Hills

IN West Mi�in

IN Woodland Hills

Documents

IN Woodland Hills