WINTER 2006

Winter 2006 UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY �

� UPPERST.CLAIRTODAYWinter 2006

1679 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228

Terry Abbott Barbara Baker/Bob Main

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Advanced Outpatient Care on the road to Village Square.

One of the most technologically advanced outpatient centers in the region is right around thecorner. St. Clair Hospital Outpatient Center. It’s just down the road, next to Village Square.

Daytime, evening and weekend appointments are available through convenient scheduling.You’ll find state-of-the-art medical imaging services, including X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, ultrasound, bonedensitometry and the latest in digital screening mammography.

In fact, we offer a complete range of services from lab work, EKG and occupational medicine tophysical therapy. All administered by St. Clair Hospital physicians, nurses and medical technologists,who deliver the same quality of care and expertise you've come to expect at our main campus.

So put yourself on the road to exceptional outpatient healthcare. It’s right here, next to Village Square.

2000 Oxford Drive Bethel Park, PA 15102 412-942-7100 www.stclair.org/outpatient

223-75_C01_FP4CUSCT.qxd 9/7/06 3:33 PM Page 1

� UPPERST.CLAIRTODAYWinter 2006

A proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

www.cup.edu

Today’s world demands a definition that encompasses more than academic success.It requires a “transcript” that demonstrates the ability to do the right thing as well as the smart thing.

A high grade point average alone will not guarantee a successful career or a purposefullife. This is the very reason why California University of Pennsylvania has, for morethan 150 years, dedicated itself to preparing students for both fulfilling careers andmeaningful lives. We do more than pay lip service to our core values of integrity,civility and responsibility. We integrate them into the classroom, campus activitiesand everyday student life.

These values are fostered by faculty who devote time and personal attention to helpmotivate, inspire and bring out the best in every man and woman who studies here.So our students graduate with more than academic kudos and a diploma to show fortheir efforts.They graduate with a different degree of honor. For livelihood. And for life.

That is our mission and our difference. Building Character. Building Careers.

I T ’ S T I M E W E R E D E F I N E DH O N O R S T U D E N T .


Winter�006•Volume��•Issue�

FeaturesandAroundtheTownship

Cover

�0 The library’s Summer Reading program enjoys much participation.

�8 Upper St. Clair High School’s Halls of Fame

�� This cover of UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY is a demonstration of emergency board up and water extraction services that G.S. Jones has provided to homes and businesses throughout Upper St. Clair and Western Pennsylvania over the past 21 years. G.S. Jones specializes in assisting property owners who have experienced property damage resulting from fire, water, wind, mold, and lightning. See feature story on pages 14 and 15.

SchoolDistrict

Township

Guides�0 Gift�� Pinebridge Commons7� Dining

�0 Events and activities of the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair

�6 The Circle of Life Tiger cubs are born at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

�8 Surviving the Gray Days Erin Gibson Allen is challenged by Pittsburgh’s end-of-winter doldrums.

�� Dashing Through the Snow Read about Gilfillan’s collection of vintage sleds.

68 Cultural Corner A lineup of music and art celebrations for the holiday and beyond.

70 Confronting Childhood Obesity Joseph Luxbacher suggests simple strategies to promote healthy living for our children.

�� Boyce Mayview Community Recreation Center This project, through the efforts of many, is moving ahead.

�6 We Have What You’ve Been Looking For! The Department of Recreation and Leisure Services offers many activities this winter season.

�8 What Have We Done for You Lately? The Township’s Public Works Department has had a very busy year.

�� Savvy Seniors Never a dull moment with this group—check them out.

�� Winter Storm Emergencies ’Tis the season. Be prepared!

�6 UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY Interviews Dr. William Sulkowski School District board president shares his thoughts.

�9 Our New High School Principal Dr. Mike Ghilani accepts a new position in the District.

�� Math Teacher Extraordinaire—Joanne Szymanski A wonderful tribute to a wonderful teacher and person.

�� Elementary Curriculum News for 2006-07 Learn about enhancements to the core academic subjects at the elementary level.

�8 Parenting 101 A new program is offered to parents of incoming high school freshmen.

6 UPPERST.CLAIRTODAYWinter 2006

UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY is a non-partisan Township, School District, and community magazine. Political advertising and political commentary are not accepted. The publishers of this magazine reserve the right to reject advertising or articles inconsistent with the objectives, image, and aesthetic standards of the magazine.

UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY magazine is published and mailed quarterly to residents and businesses in Upper St. Clair. Extra copies of the magazine are available at the Township of Upper St. Clair Municipal Building and Township Library. If you did not receive a copy in the mail, please call 412-833-1600, extension 2284.

The next issue of UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY will be the Spring 2007 issue and will be published in March 2007. Articles that were submitted but not published in this issue are on file for consideration in upcoming issues. Articles and announcements may be sent to:

Editor, UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241.

SubscriptionInformationIf you know someone living outside the Township who would enjoy receiving UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY, please send $12 to cover mailing and handling for the next four issues with name and address, including zip code, to our address listed to the left. Add $10 to cover international mailings.

Printed by Pentagon Printing Corporation18 West Steuben Street • Pittsburgh, PA 15205

412-922-0422 • Fax: 412-922-2922

PublishersDr. James D. LombardoSuperintendent of Schools

Douglas A. WatkinsTownship Manager

The 48th issue of UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY is a joint

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

© Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of this magazine, in whole or in part, without the express written consent

of the Editor is strictly prohibited.

UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY1820 McLaughlin Run Road

Upper St. Clair, PA 15241412-833-1600, extension 2284

Fax: 412-851-2592

School District: 412-833-1600Township: 412-831-9000

SteeringCommitteeDr. Terrence Kushner

Assistant Superintendent of Schools

Mark S. MansfieldSenior Assistant Township Manager

ArticleInformationEditor-in-Chief Linda Dudzinski–phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2681

email: [email protected]

AdvertisingInformationOffice Manager Colleen DeMarco–phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284

fax: 412-851-2592 email: [email protected]

VisitourWebsite:www.twpusc.org/magazine

EditorsandStaff

Linda M. Dudzinski, Editor-in-Chief Paul K. Fox, Managing Editor

Cindy Kane, Township Associate EditorTerry Kish, School District Associate Editor

Colleen DeMarco, Office ManagerLynn Dempsey, Senior Advertising Associate

Erin Gibson Allen, Advertising AssociateLaurie Buker, Advertising Associate

Kathy Christie, Advertising Associate

SchoolBoardDirectors

William M. Sulkowski, PresidentMark G. Trombetta, Vice President

David E. BlueyBarbara L. BolasCarol B. Coliane

Glenn G. GroningerDaniel A. IrackiJeffrey W. Joyce

Angela B. Petersen

TownshipBoardofCommissioners

Ched Mertz, President, Ward 4Bill Bates, Vice President, At Large

Preston W. Shimer, Ward 1Kenneth L. Brown, Ward 2

Robert W. Orchowski, Ward 3Frank E. Marsh, Ward 5

Karen M. McElhinny, At Large

DeadlineforarticlesandadvertisingfortheSpring�007issueisJanuary�,�007.

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

The 48th issue of UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY magazine is made possible through the combined resources of the staff and volunteers of the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair. Thanks are extended to the staff and volunteers for their enthusiasm and efforts on this continuing project.

Thank you to our volunteer contributors this issue:Erin Gibson Allen, Laura Blank (YWG),

Dr. John Bornyas, Karen Brown, Knox Brown IV, Dr. Judy Bulazo, Nancy Chase, Joe DeMar, Wayne Herrod,

Kathleen Himler, Melanie Kerber, Sigrid Kiernan, Joseph Luxbacher, Jace Palmer, John Rozzo, Avisha Shah (YWG), Maria Simon (YWG),

Mary Lynn Spazok, and Timothy Wagner.

Young Writers Guild (YWG) promotes and encourages young writers in the

Upper St. Clair School District to provide articles of interest for this community magazine.

A special thank you to Cullyn Thomson for her help with this issue and please welcome Erin Gibson Allen

to the staff of UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY.

Happy holidays from the staff of UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY!Left to right are Linda Dudzinski, Editor-in-Chief; Terry Kish, School District Associate Editor;

Cindy Kane, Township Associate Editor; Paul Fox, Managing Editor; Kathy Christie, Advertising Associate; Dr. Terrence Kushner, Steering Committee; Colleen DeMarco, Office Manager;

Erin Gibson Allen, Advertising Associate; Lynn Dempsey, Senior Advertising Associate. Missing from photo are Mark Mansfield, Steering Committee; Laurie Buker, Advertising Associate.

Winter 2006 UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY 7

■ Accountancy

■ Biology

■ Business Administation (MBA)

■ Business Administration (MBA) forHealthcare Professionals

■ Counseling Psychology*

■ Creative Writing (MFA)

■ Film and Digital Technology (MFA)

■ Interior Architecture

■ Landscape Architecture

■ Landscape Studies

■ Leadership and OrganizationalTransformation

■ Nursing (MSN)

■ Occupational Therapy

■ Physical Therapy (DPT & Transitional DPT)

■ Physician Assistant Studies

■ Teaching* (MAT)

*School Counseling Certification offered

You don’t have to leavePittsburgh to become a

World Ready Woman®.■ An undergraduate women’s college on a safe, 35-acre campus

close to Oakland and downtown.

■ SAT optional admissions policy for first-year students.

■ All students have the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s and

master’s degrees from Chatham in as few as five years.

■ Five-Year Masters Program with Carnegie Mellon University allows

Chatham juniors to apply to the H. John Heinz III School of

Public Policy.

■ Students may cross-register with Carnegie Mellon University and the

University of Pittsburgh, with free shuttle service between campuses.

■ All sophomores have the opportunity to travel abroad.

■ Every first-year student is provided with a new HP Compaq tc

4200 tablet PC for use throughout our wireless campus.

Chatham College offers coeducational graduate programs in:

Chatham Collegewww.chatham.edu800-837-1290 ■ [email protected]

Chatham College ■ Woodland Road ■ Pittsburgh, PA 15232


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

School District of Upper St. Clair412-833-1600Fax: 412-833-5535Website: www.uscsd.k12.pa.usEmail: [email protected]

Township of Upper St. Clair412-831-9000

Fax: 412-831-9882Website: www.twpusc.org

Email: [email protected]

Douglas A. Watkins

Sincerely,

Douglas A. WatkinsTownship Manager

Dr. James D. Lombardo

Sincerely,

Dr. James D. LombardoSuperintendent of Schools

Celebrating12 Years

of PubliCation

T O D A Y

Hello, and welcome to the 48th edition of UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY, our winter 2006 issue.With each changing season, a new magazine is published, and with it exciting news about our School District and our

Township. No matter the season, Upper St. Clair never slows down.As the last leaves drift down from the soon-to-be barren trees and mark the end of autumn, we don coats and boots to face

the cold winter months ahead. Temperature aside, take the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities in Upper St. Clair—walking the interior trails at Boyce Mayview Park in the freshly fallen snow, sledding on the Township’s golf course, or building your neighborhood’s tallest snowman. There’s always hot chocolate to enjoy when you’re done!

With all this activity, don’t forget to set aside time to relax and read what’s in this issue of UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY. Plans for Boyce Mayview Park are taking shape (page 25), the Township’s Recreation and Leisure Services Department is offering exciting activities for our residents (pages 26 and 32), and the Public Works Department continues to enhance our community with its many projects (page 28).

Our School District welcomed new administration and staff this past fall (pages 47 and 49), proudly held the Halls of Fame ceremony (page 48 and 49), and continues to advance its academic curriculum at all grade levels (see elementary curriculum article on page 54).

We welcome the opportunity to say hello to you with each issue of the magazine—always having lots to report. But, some-times when we say hello, we also have to say goodbye. The following are personal notes to accompany this Publishers’ Letter from Dr. Lombardo and Mr. Watkins.

We hope you find many occasions to join with family and friends this winter season, and to all of you, a Happy New Year!

It has been an honor to serve the students and families of the Upper

St. Clair community. When the District appointed me superintendent

in 2003, I knew that I’d inherited an outstanding school district with

high-performing students, award-winning schools, great teachers, and

an incredibly supportive community. I only hoped that I could work to

maintain the District’s legacy of excellence and, in some modest way, to

contribute some additional value to this wonderful place.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked in the very best

school district, a model that I will work to replicate throughout the rest of

my career.Thank you Upper St. Clair.

Jim Lombardo

My staff and I wish Dr. Lombardo well in his new endeavor. It has been a great pleasure working with someone of Dr. Lombardo’s professional caliber, both on this magazine and in benefiting the residents of the Upper St. Clair community.

Doug Watkins


Policies & Handbooks

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�0 UPPERST.CLAIRTODAYWinter 2006

The Community Foundation ofUpper St. Clair, now in its 13th year of service and dedication to Upper St. Clair residents, is thrilled with its com-munity involvement. This past June at the USCHS Theatre, the foundation hosted a Pittsburgh Symphony POPS concert with conductor Marvin Hamlisch. Prior to the concert, many USC residents attended a fundraising pre-concert dinner to benefit the Pittsburgh Symphony. With the new year just around the corner, the foundation and the Pittsburgh Symphony have announced a partnership that will bring a three-concert series program to our Township in 2007. Stay tuned for further information.

The foundation, together with the Township of Upper St. Clair, held a bocce clinic and tournament at Baker Park’s new bocce courts. Many

people came out to try their hands at this family-friendly game. The foundation is also excited to be in-volved with two very active clubs in our community—the fly fishing club and the trail bike club.

The Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair continues

“Creating a sense of community by enhancing the quality of life for all the people of Upper St. Clair.”

Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair

Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair 2006 executive board are, left to right, seated: Richard Patton, treasurer; Roy Johnson, chairperson; Linda Serene, executive director; Peggy Snavely, secretary; standing: Jim Bennett; Diane Vater; Bill Andrews; Angela Petersen; David Rice; Joanne Prorok;

George Pitcairn; Becky Stern; Sandie Thomas; Celeste Acinapura, board vice chairperson; Janet Mosesso; Deepa Godbole; Shellie Yeung; missing from photo: Dina Fulmer; Ed Kelly; Gary Kissinger

CookbooksStillAvailableAvailable for a short time, with only 200 copies left, is the

Community Foundation’s Flavours—an award-winning cook-book containing 600 recipes by residents and local restaurants and chefs. This beautifully designed book features artwork

of local artists Elizabeth Hayes and Ellen Leimkuehler.

Flavours will not be reprint-ed and is now being offered for $15 (tax included), plus $4 shipping/handling fee. Orders, with accompanying check made payable to Community Foundation of USC, should be mailed to:

to partner with many of our community’s groups. Some of the grants awarded by the foundation in 2006 include: Fort Couch Middle School Odyssey of the Mind grant; Upper St. Clair High School Odyssey of the Mind grant; USCHS visit from Town Hall South speaker, Sam Abell; USCHS robotics club grant; USCHS musical program sponsor; USCHS costume department sewing machine; goal for USCHS lacrosse team; team jerseys for USCHS hockey club; “Becoming a Competitive College Applicant” seminar; prizes for first, second, and third place float winners at Community Day; and shuttle service for the Town Hall South lecture series.

For more informa-tion on these and other Community Foundation activities and events, contact the Community Foundation office at 412-831-1107, email [email protected] or look for the Community Foundation’s newsletter, Foundation News, delivered to all USC households each fall and spring. n

To benefit the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair hosted a pre-concert

dinner event on the evening of the Pittsburgh Symphony POPS summer performance at the

USCHS Theatre. Hosts Gary and Celeste Acinapura welcomed Marvin Hamlisch into their home.

Community Foundation Contact Information

Phone: 412-831-1107Fax: 412-257-4160

Website: www.mainstreetusc.com/cfuscEmail: [email protected]

Enjoying the POPS pre-concert dinner are, left to right, Peggy Snavely, Michelle

and Andy Aloe, and Harry and Linda Serene.

Winter 2006 UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY ��

Weall know what it’s like to come home after a week’s vacation away. We anticipate a long, wild lawn, and flowers and shrubbery eaten by wildlife… but a fawn on our back patio?

Was it sick? When we got close enough to photograph and even to pet, it remained totally still except for its shallow breathing. We hid from its sight and peered at it through a window, yet it only blinked its eyes and wiggled its moist black nose.

Alarmed, we called County Animal Control. They said the doe would be back to get her young, and we should just wait. Throughout the early evening we continued to watch the little fawn do nothing but twitch its nose. Around 7:30 that evening a neighbor’s dog came over to the fawn, sniffed it and left, while the fawn remained as rigid as a concrete lawn ornament. An hour later, we looked out to see the fawn still there. We re-mained determined to see what would happen. Shortly after 9 p.m. as dusk set in, we looked out at the patio. The fawn was gone!

We learned that the doe leaves her fawn during the day, forages, then returns at night to retrieve her young. The fawn will stay curled up in the spot where its mother has nudged it to remain, no mat-ter how closely danger approaches. If the doe has twins, which is usually the case after her second pregnancy, she leaves them in separate locations.

Early the next morning, we saw the crippled doe (her right front leg bent at a 45 degree angle) that has been roam-ing through our yard for the past several years, hobble along the edge of our pine trees. Two small fawns, with white-spot-ted bodies and spindly legs, lilted along behind her. n

Deer Patrol

Nancy Chace

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�� UPPERST.CLAIRTODAYWinter 2006

Lifewassimple in Upper St. Clair 40 years ago. I moved here with my parents, a stay-at-home mom and a government en-gineer, and my three brothers: Dick, Kevin, and Lonny Niewoehner, nine months prior to the assassination of President Kennedy. Today’s adolescent has more technology in one iPod than we had in our entire home, but we knew nothing less than an idyllic childhood. Life centered on school and church. Current school board members Jeff Joyce and Angela (Bozzo) Petersen were everyone’s all American youth. When Jeff carried a touchdown across a goal line, ev-ery adolescent girl dreamed the six points were scored in her honor. Angela was (and continues to be) the epitome of perfection and grace: athletic, smart, beautiful, and good-natured. It was easy to blend in and find my niche.

Being a majorette was a driving force for me in high school. We were 13 strong, an elite force that twirled fire, light bulbs, flags, and batons in freezing and boiling temperatures while in brief costumes. Ten years ago I attended a football game at my graduate school alma mater and the majorettes wore fleece warm up suits! I am of the generation that wore sequin leotards, let our long hair fly amidst swirl-ing gasoline and heavy winds while using miniature fires on each end of our batons to warm up.

I was fortunate to have attended one of the nation’s first middle schools and to be selected for foreign language in grade six. Little did I know in 1963, as I stood and conjugated verbs, I would emerge a quarter century later as the wife of a career diplomat living in Central Africa speaking French to our dinner guests, household help, employers, and local merchants.

I ventured off to college to pursue a career as a teacher. After finishing col-lege and graduate school, I moved to the Washington area in the late 80s as the head of a therapeutic day school. The work was rewarding, the population affluent, and the hours demanding. I fell in love with a career diplomat employed by the Department of State. Each time he invited me to attend an embassy function, I summoned my social studies department chair to educate me on the location and politics of that particular area. On one memorable night, I showed up in a cheesy looking cocktail

dress, speared a grape leaf with a plastic fork, and wounded the Ambassador of Jordan. Every woman surrounding me reeked of Chanel suits, Gucci shoes, and loads of finesse. I came to be realized as “the darling of public diplomacy,” not on my style, but on my ability to relate to all minorities, realize my faux pas, and never take myself too seriously.

Every career diplomat longs for Paris; we were no different but got more than we bargained for when we fell under the Department of State “hardship clause” and were shipped six hours south to the Central African Republic. The autumn of 1991 saw me completing the ultimate tri-fecta—finishing my dissertation defense, giving birth to a ten-pound baby, and moving to Africa. My husband’s tour had already begun and he was uneasy about me living in Washington alone. I temporarily moved back to Pittsburgh where I became known as the “oldest living mother giv-ing birth naturally” at Magee Women’s Hospital.

Within the next two weeks, I defended my dissertation and moved to Africa. Not easy for me, I was fraught with fear and anxiety. So many diseases—AIDS, men-ingitis, encephalitis, malaria, amoebic dysentery, and many more. My husband was supervising a multi-million dollar foreign aid program and I was begging doctors and epidemiologists from the Center for Disease Control to come for dinner and examine our baby. They were so accustomed to seeing infants ravaged by disease and malnutrition that they were amazed to see such a thriving baby.

With no American commissary to shop in, we were one of the families who ordered a yearly consumables shipment. Ever try

to calculate how much ketchup you will consume annually?

We went on to serve three years in Jamaica. It was still a hardship post with minimal water, electricity, and infrastruc-ture, but I became active in the American Women’s group and raised millions of dollars for charity. I appeared on local radio and television, speaking on behalf of special education.

Being the wife of a career diplomat re-quires some ingenuity and creativity. One definitely has to think outside the box and be willing to accept alternate activities and opportunities. Most foreign countries have no bilateral work agreement so there is no guarantee that one can be employed. Our son, Brandon, moved from speaking infant French to attending preschool and mak-ing sand castles with Bob Marley’s many grandchildren.

Following a six-year stay in Washington where I was the head of a school for kids with learning problems, we took a final assignment in Brussels, the capital of Europe. Landing a Western European as-signment is the crown jewel of the Foreign Service and we had a great time touring. My husband, Frank, did some interesting work negotiating with member states of the European Union. Our son had fabu-lous travel opportunities with sports and activities through the International School of Brussels, including trips to China with the honor band and a week in Cairo for swimming finals.

Retirement from the Foreign Service and coming home to Upper St. Clair was a tough decision to make, but one that holds much promise. Our son will con-tinue to receive a great education and I am enjoying the challenge of running an urban high school. Frank misses the cut-ting edge excitement of diplomacy and is beginning to test the waters for employ-ment. After 26 years of meeting VIPs, briefing the foreign press, discussing policy with presidents, note taking for Cabinet members, and speaking with hundreds of senators and members of Congress, it’s a big change for him to be overseeing our move and waiting on repairmen. In each place we’ve lived, there are adjustments to be made, but Pittsburgh and Upper St. Clair continue to be very good to us. It is good to be home. n

Melanie (Niewoehner) Kerber

TravelingBacktotheFuture


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to These South Hills Residents

Disaster is No Stranger

WhoisG.S.Jones?G.S. Jones specializes in fire and water damagepropertyrestoration. Their primary goal is to restore a prop-erty from a catastrophic event such as fire, water, mold, wind, smoke, vehicle collision, tear gas, or just about any thing that can damage a home or business.

The principal owners of G.S. Jones are George Jones and his two sons, Dan and Scott. George started in the business of property restoration while employed by a remodeling company in the late 60s as a way to supplement his income when that business experi-enced its slow winter season. In October 1985, George, Scott, and Dan began G.S. Jones, providing full service fire and water damage restoration. The company has thrived over the years because of its reputation for integrity and quality craftsmanship.

George, a resident of neighboring Scott Township, attended the University of Pittsburgh after serving in the U.S. Navy and before starting his career as an apprentice carpenter. George and his wife of 57 years, Louise, have five children, 13 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

George’s son, Dan, resides in Upper St. Clair with his wife, Jan. They have two children, Erin and Beth. Erin, who recently married, is a graduate of Case Western University and received her masters degree in education from John Carroll. Beth currently attends Ohio University.

Dan, a Penn State graduate, obtained a degree in business economics and has earned many professional qualifications, including his Certified Restorers (CR) designation. This designa-tion is considered the highest designation achievable through the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (ASCR).

Brother Scott and his wife, Linda, who have three daughters, Samantha, Molly, and Allison, also live in Upper St. Clair. The girls attend schools in Upper St. Clair and are enrolled in elev-enth, ninth, and seventh grade, respectively. Scott attended the University of Pittsburgh where he earned his BS in mechanical engineering technology. He is also a certified CR and has training in hazardous waste operations and emergency response.

WhatdoesG.S.Jonesdo?The property restoration industry has changed drastically over

the last 21 years, but the basic underlying concept remains—“to restore the home or business as fast as possible with quality workmanship, and to charge a fair price to the owner and insur-ance company,” states Scott Jones, vice president of construction. “Many of our past and present clients are institutional clients such as UPMC, The University of Pittsburgh, The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, and The Carnegie Library, to name a few. However, a significant portion of our business also includes the residential and commercial marketplace.”

When hit with water or fire damage, homeowners will usu-ally call their insurance agent or company, where they are then directed to various restoration contractors. Dan Grealish of Henderson Brothers Insurance Agency states, “Our agency is all about personal relationships and providing premier service. I highly recommend my clients call G.S. Jones when they sustain a property catastrophe.”

The property owners should always remember that they have the final say as to whom they want to hire for disaster restora-tion. After a disaster, the most pressing need that any property owner experiences is the need to return to normalcy as quickly as possible. Whether it’s a family with school-age children who have been temporarily uprooted from their home and their school district, or a business that loses money every day that they’re down, speed to recover is the number one priority. Many Upper St. Clair residents may already be familiar with G.S. Jones, as this company has assisted more than one hundred township residents with restorative problems over the last five years.

Recently, a fire broke out at Burgunder Dodge in Bridgeville. The entire service bay was black-ened and the fire tore a hole through the roof. The fire occurred on the Friday before Memo-rial Day weekend. G.S. Jones began working on Friday morning, con-tinuing around the clock and through the entire weekend. All of the diagnostic equipment was cleaned and recalibrated, the large service garage was pressure washed, the mechanics’ personal tools were cleaned, and the damaged electrical lighting and wir-ing components were replaced. By Tuesday morning all vehicle repair stations were operable and servicing clients’ automobiles. “I couldn’t believe the amount of work G.S. Jones accomplished over the weekend. I don’t think we lost a single customer as a result of the fire, and it was even at the end of the month when inspections are due,” said Greg Burgunder, president of Burgunder Dodge.

Another challenging project was The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Regional. This past April, a lightning bolt struck the

Left to right: Scott, George, and Dan Jones

G.S. Jones restored Burgunder Dodge’s Bridgeville building from fire damage.


Cranes arrive at The Carnegie Library to remove large stones and secure the building

from further damage.

A three-ton piece of granite is hoisted out of The Carnegie Library’s mechanical room.

G.S. Jones workers position a temporary modular roof to cover over a gaping hole

in The Carnegie Library’s roof.

165-foot granite stone clock tower causing a ten-ton decorative cap to break apart and crash onto the library below causing gaping holes in the steel framed roof. A three-ton piece of granite landed in the third floor mechanical room, which knocked out the entire HVAC system and caused flood-ing to the lower floors. Another piece of granite embedded itself into the concrete flooring of a second-floor lecture room and knocked plaster out of the first-floor ceiling. G.S. Jones was contacted and asked to stabilize the structure from further dam-age, which included removal of the large granite stone within the building, flood cleanup from the ruptured water lines, and to temporarily cover the gaping holes in the roof. Two cranes arrived on site the

following day (Sunday) and work began to remove the large stones. Care was taken not to damage the stones so they could be reused on this historical landmark building (circa 1896).

A temporary roof system was designed and installed. It had to be lightweight so as not to put stress on the damaged steel roof support system, yet strong enough to withstand heavy winds in case of a storm. To meet the necessary criteria, G.S. Jones carpenters designed and fabricated geometric plywood shaped panels on the ground to correspond to the intricate hip and valley roof system. The framed shapes were covered with a self-adhering water-proof membrane that was lifted onto the roof by cranes and fit tightly together to form a temporary roofing system. All of the work was completed within hours of an impending rainstorm.

“G.S. Jones lived up to its strong reputa-tion. They worked well with our facilities team during a very difficult time. The com-pany’s fast response saved us thousands of dollars and kept our collection safe from the elements,” said Paul Svirbel, director of facilities management at The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

damaged building components such as struc-tural, mechanical, or environmental (mold).” Dan and his staff of consultants travel around the country assisting insurance companies and their insureds to recover from disasters, including Hurricane Katrina victims on the Gulf Coast.

George, Dan, and Scott all believe that the most significant and gratifying part of their business is not to only help people restore their homes or businesses after a disaster, but also to restore their livelihood. No one can really be prepared emotionally (or otherwise) when fire or water damage turns one’s life upside down. Because of their continued efforts, G. S. Jones received the American Business Ethics Award pre-sented to them by the Pittsburgh Business Times. George remarked, “Being the recipi-ent of this award is a great honor in and of itself. However, we don’t consider it a hall pass. We continue to earn that recognition and prove it every day.”

HowdoIcontactG.S.Jones?

G.S. Jones can be contacted twenty four hours a day, seven days a week at 412-766-6886 or visit their website at www.gsjonesandsons.com. n

There are two big forces at work, external and internal. We have very little control over external forces such as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, disasters, illness and pain. What really matters is the internal force. How do I respond to those disasters? Over that I have complete control.

—Leo Buscaglia, American Author

WheredoesG.S.Jonestravel?

G.S. Jones provides consulting services to insurance companies and their clients.

The consulting division provides repair estimates to insurance ad-justers, helping to settle claims. “The adjuster should provide the insured with the most reliable and accurate property settlement entitled under the policy. This can include an assessment of various building damages related to a particular peril, as well as any code upgrade required by local jurisdiction an insured might be entitled to,” states Dan Jones, vice president of G.S. Jones’ consulting services. “Many times we are also asked to provide engineering to help evaluate


Inthespring�006issueof UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY we introduced you to Kathy Suthard, lead keeper and big cat handler at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. The article titled “The Lady and the Tiger” was a heartwarming story of the relationship between Kathy and the zoo’s brother-sister tiger duo, Shepis and Shasta, whom she helped raise since their birth in August 1986. (Shepis and Shasta’s triplet sister, Sheena, was sent to the Milwaukee Zoo at age one.)

Spring ahead 20 years to August 8, 2006, as the circle of life continues. On this date, Toma (a beautiful and rare female Amur Siberian tiger) gave birth to triplets. Yorgi, the father (also a Siberian tiger), was brought to the zoo two years ago in 2004 for the specific purpose of breeding with Toma.

The three new cubs born to Toma and Yorgi are special to the zoological world. Kathy said that they are the newest and most unrepresented bloodlines of Siberian tigers in the United States. “The pairing of Toma and Yorgi made these three offspring so rare because the parents’ bloodlines have not been bred in the U.S.” No other offspring in this bloodline exist. Yorgi and Toma were matched by the Series Survival Plan (SSP). It’s sort of a com-puter dating service for zoo animals. The SSP’s goal is to ensure the survival and continu-ation of endangered species. “The match of pure bloodlines is what makes these cubs so rare and valuable,” Kathy continued.

Just because a computer matches two animals does not automatically mean they will mate. While the tigers were matched for almost two years, no results occurred. Kathy stated, “We were almost ready to call it quits and send Yorgi to another zoo and bring in a second male for Toma. But love blossomed, and the pair finally mated. Since there are no examinations or tests you can safely give to a 400-pound Siberian tiger, it became a waiting game to observe and determine pregnancy.” The gestation period for tigers is approximately 23 weeks. About halfway through, the zoo’s staff noticed a thickening in Toma’s waist-line. As weeks went by, it became obvious

that Toma was pregnant with her expected due date around the

first week in August. There was nothing to do but wait and prepare.

I asked Kathy why no other births had oc-curred since the birth of the triplets 20 years ago. She explained that

Shasta and Shepis were taken out of the breeding

cycle as their family blood-line was over-represented.

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Toma and her three three-week old cubs in the isolated denning area as viewed through the camera monitor

Wayne Herrod

TheCircleofLife

Too cute for words! Photo credit: Dr. Cindy Stadler

Proud Yorgi

Winter 2006 UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY �7

Kathy compared the two birth events separated by 20 years. “The first births were like the Stone Age, these were like the Space Age. Twenty years ago I was not the lead keeper and everything was basic and simple. There was no planning other than putting a board around the mother’s bed to keep the babies from falling out when they were born. The babies were discovered by a night worker making his rounds, and we were notified by telephone.”

The births this year were aided by modern technology, and what a difference it made! There were planning meetings and 100% observation of the mating tigers by staff, interns, and docents. A dedicated, secured, and isolated denning area (off ex-hibit) was prepared for Toma to give birth and raise her babies in the early weeks of their lives. This area was monitored 24/7 by two infrared cameras. The staff was in-structed to intervene only if there was an apparent danger or a health problem with the babies. The first two weeks of a cub’s life is critical to its survival.

“The other big difference for me is that in 1986 the births were novel. I learned what to do from the lead keeper at that time. Today the responsibility is mine,” said Kathy. She continued, “These births are so great for the zoo and the tiger popu-lation. However, we never fully focused on the value of the births until recently because we were so concerned on having a successful birthing experience.”

Head curator Amos Morris sounds like a proud father, “I am so very proud of this institution and its people. Our due dili-gence has paid off with the birth of these marvelous and extremely valuable Amur Siberian tiger cubs. After two years of dedi-cation and hard work, our efforts have paid

Hangin’ out. Photo credit: Dr. Cindy Stadler

off in a big way. This event is significant to the Siberian captive population.”

The birth event itself is worth telling. On the morning of August 8, Kathy went to feed Toma. It was getting very close to her anticipated due date and Toma would not eat. “It was unusual for Toma not to eat—a hopeful indication that something was beginning to happen,” said Kathy. “Toma went to the birthing den and I immedi-ately called Amos to tell him something was happening. We observed the camera’s monitor noticing that Toma was obviously uncomfortable. The deliveries took only 40 minutes and we were able to observe some activity on the screen. Toma suddenly got up and we were able to see a “spot “ on the floor nearest the camera. When the “spot” wiggled, we realized it was a cub. We then identified two more very tiny cubs (three to four inches long and weighing one and one half to two pounds). We watched to see Toma’s reaction to her cubs as a first-time mother. Her reaction was immediate as she cleaned her babies and took to moth-ering them. It was a great sign. We were extremely happy and relieved.”

Congratulations, Kathy! It took 20 years for you to be a “mom” again. These tigers are in good hands as we learned from your love of Shasta and Shepis. As they grow, these tigers will also be loved and cared for because you are now “The Lady and the Tigers.” n

Pregnant Toma

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On September 14, 2006, one of the three cubs died due to a heart problem. As of this writing, the other two cubs are doing fine.


Erin Gibson AllenEvery year, after the tinsel and glow of the holidays are packed away, I strug-gle to hold myself together through the back end of winter. Like a driver caught in a downpour, re-lying on hope and

instinct, I slowly move forward, antici-pating blue skies ahead. Last year, during a spell of sleet-filled, slush-soaked days, I turned to an old friend for help—the library. My quest led me to a book about winter blues that I believed just might help restore my sunny outlook.

After reading a few chapters on Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, I determined, to my relief, that I didn’t sat-isfy the criteria for this full-blown mood disorder. Despite the gray skies, I was getting my lazy self out of bed, ushering the kids onto the school bus, keeping my appointments, and otherwise function-ing normally. Celebrating these small successes, I felt better already.

But after completing a self-assessment questionnaire, I determined that I did satisfy the criteria for a lesser condition—Subsyndromal SAD. Yes, I confirmed to myself, I feel the worst during the cold and dark months. Over the winter I want more sleep, and yes, I do put on a few pounds by reaching for those energy-giving carbohy-drates and happiness-inducing chocolates. I have been frequently handing over four dollars to coffee shops for caffeine-laced lattes lately. Maybe I’m a bit more moody, too. Sure, I even feel less creative, produc-tive, and enthusiastic. Well then, I had a diagnosis. Next, I needed a cure.

The first step in my treatment was a trip to the natural food store. Apparently I required a curious-sounding herb called St. John’s Wort. I paid my $12.99 and stepped into the gray parking lot of the strip mall, clutching my bottle with the anticipation of young children after trick-or-treating. Take one capsule, three times a day. Easy enough.

Deciding to be aggressive about this new condition, I went online and with a click of my gray mouse ordered the second

thing that I had read might also help—a light box. Light boxes are different from regular lamps. First, they cost more. Second, they are indisputably ugly. I was pleased, however, to find some newer mod-els disguised as desk lamps. My light box would sit purposefully on my desk send-ing 10,000 luxes into my eyes, improving the chemistry of my brain, resulting in a cheerier disposition. What a lux was, I didn’t know. I assumed it was some sort of hybrid combining watts with luxury, meaning that my goose-necked light would emit a more luxurious wattage than I was used to. I deserved that, I reasoned. No

do, apparently one has a 17.1% chance of suffering from this gray day drag, and the affliction is more likely to strike women in their mommy years. Frankly, I suspect that the number of moms who feel tired, moody, and less creative as the winter plods along is through the roof. The hard work of tend-ing to and rallying busy kids simply makes a mom tired. I read somewhere that the Pirates have more wins than Pittsburgh has sunny days. Who can beat those odds?

Henry Miller said, “In this age, which believes that there is a shortcut to every-thing, the greatest lesson to be learned is that the most difficult way is, in the long

run, the easiest.” Exactly what that means for a mother like me as I face another winter, I’m not sure. Does the lack of light impact my circadian rhythm in some medical sense that I don’t re-ally understand? Am I a pink-wearing, feminine Hulk, who, when denied light, turns into a grumpy, tired mom? Can medical science offer me hope? Or is summer patently more enjoyable and I simply need to stop looking for short-cuts to ward off the dampening effect of

shorter days, spent mostly indoors?This coming year when spring arrives,

either I will have napped like an old cat and eaten too much Valentine’s candy or I will have dragged myself forward, tackled my clutter, and finished a long-delayed project. In my efforts to perk up this year, I’m not sure if I’ll use my herbs, luxes, tough love, or some newfound book.

Pittsburgh winters return to challenge me, and I, fresh with optimism, continue to devise strategies for victory. What mat-ters, I suppose, is that I leave behind my prior failures, no matter how complete or numerous they are. Perhaps life sends each of us our own recurring challenge. Success may elude us, but we’re better from the effort of the chase. We keep trying. One never knows. This might be the year. n

I’d like to hear your thoughts on contem-porary parenting in Upper St. Clair. Please share your ideas about my column with me in person, or email your thoughts to me at [email protected].

Let me know if, like me, you’re from here.

From HereFrom Here Surviving the Gray Day Drag

more ordinary watts for me. Thirty min-utes each morning in front of my luxury lamp. Got it. Keep up with the St. John’s Wort. Check.

After about a week on my new regimen, I was on fire. I was accomplishing 32 tasks a day, instead of my usual four. I was cheer-ful as I returned phone calls, read the 67 fliers in my sons’ backpacks, cleaned the litter box, and ran the electric bill to the mailbox before 8:30 a.m. At the end of the day, dinner was hot, tasty, and nutritious. I relayed every detail of my day to my hus-band. I discussed important moral issues with my children all while flossing their teeth and tying their shoes.

But, alas, a gray day hit in long, un-eventful March. My fit of productivity had worn me ragged. Letting the soft pressure of my favorite blanket coax me into some muscle-relaxing couch devotion, the gray day got me again. I had no interest in things beyond Wolf Blitzer and the handful of pretzels I found in the pantry.

My lapse shouldn’t have surprised me. Really, I thought a pill and a lamp would cure me of our gray days? Living where we


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ThispastSeptember, for the first time in more than ten years, Upper St. Clair published a free community telephone directory and delivered it to all USC households.

Long time USC residents Terry Abbott, agent for Prudential Preferred Realty, and David Mathews, owner of Seaton Printing Solutions, teamed up to make the new directory a reality. Abbott had been using her 1996 directory for ten years and was frustrated because many USC people she knew were not listed in her book. When she approached Mathews with the idea of updating and reprinting the directory, he immediately saw a perfect fit with his business.

Seaton Printing Solutions, in business for over 30 years, provides commercial printing, graphic design, marketing materials, and related services for corporate, financial, retail, and non-profit enterprises.

Abbott and Mathews presented their idea for the new directory to Upper St. Clair Township Manager Douglas Watkins and Senior Assistant Township Manager Mark Mansfield. Both men enthusiastically endorsed the new directory, but stipulated that it be self-supporting—that is, published without using tax dollars.

The new telephone directory was funded by ad revenue from local business. UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY (TODAY) magazine provided advertising support. Watkins, Mansfield, and Linda Dudzinski, editor of TODAY, assigned USC resident and TODAY advertising sales rep-resentative Lynn Dempsey to the task of helping sell the advertising space needed to publish the directory. Dempsey put her more than 11 years of USC advertising sales experience to work, enabling her and Mathews to garner the necessary number of ads quickly in order to make the book possible.

Going forward, USC’s new telephone direc-tory will be published bi-annually. The 2006-07 edition, printed in full color on high quality paper has many benefits.

• Large print for easy reading.• Community, city, county, state, and federal

government contacts.• USC history, library, and residential trash

and recycling information.• All published residential and business

listings within the 15241 zip code.• USC organizations, churches, synagogues,

nursery schools, and day care centers.

Verizon furnished the published resi-dential and business telephone listings under a license agree-ment with Seaton Directories, a division of Seaton Printing Solutions. These list-ings cover more than 7000 households and include more than 25 telephone prefixes, 8000 residential phone numbers, and 750 business phone numbers.

Additional support for the project came from another USC resident. Ned Garnhart, re-tired chairman of Bethel Park School District’s art department, provided the original painting of the 1830 log house and Township building that appears on the directory’s front cover. Ron Fleischer, a 26-year veteran of the Upper St. Clair Police Department, provided enhanced photographs of the log house, Township build-ing, and the Route 19 fire department. Cindy Kane, administrative assistant to Township Manager Douglas Watkins, provided invaluable proofreading assistance. And, of course, the advertisers provided the funds that made the directory possible.

Plans for updating the 2008-09 directory are already underway, with an expected autumn 2008 delivery. Anyone interested in learning more about advertising opportunities in future editions should contact Seaton Directories either by email ([email protected]) or by calling 412-833-5453. Additional copies of the USC Community Directory can be purchased for $3 by contacting the Township of Upper St. Clair at 412-831-9000, extension 210. n

ThereisaNewInformativeBookinTownHaveYouUsedtheNewCommunityTelephoneDirectory?

Celebrating the Upper St. Clair directory are, left to right: Mark Mansfield, USC Senior Assistant Township Manager;

David Mathews, owner of Seaton Printing Solutions; Terry Abbott, agent for Prudential Preferred Realty;

and Douglas Watkins, USC Township Manager.

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on USC People

Know of a resident to profile? Send information to:

Editor, UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

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06-1362PWM2_UpperStCl 8/30/06 3:15 PM Page 1

Profiles

Ar lene Bara tz , MD, a breast im-aging specialist at Allegheny General Hospital and Upper St. Clair resident, sees firsthand the devastating affect breast cancer has

on so many women. Because of this,

she’s joined forces with the Pink

Ribbon Round-Up organization, a group

dedicated to raising money for breast

cancer research in hopes that research

will ultimately lead to a cure. Dr. Baratz

serves on the organization’s board of

directors.

Dr. Baratz was an integral part of the

area’s first Pink Ribbon Round-Up Corral

for a Cure, a two-day event targeting the

local equestrian community to raise money

to benefit the Pittsburgh affiliate of the

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Dr. Baratz and other committee members

dedicated much of their time to planning

this inaugural event, which kicked off

with an October evening gala followed by

a horseback ride the next day. For more

information about the Pink Ribbon

Round-Up, call 724-799-6050 or visit the

website www.pinkribbonroundup.com.

Dr. Baratz is a 1976 graduate of Upper St.

Clair High School and has three children, all

of whom are also USCHS graduates.

Michael Seese, 2006 USCHS graduate, received a Congressional nomination from Congressman Tim Murphy to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point this fall. Michael has served Upper St. Clair well as a volunteer firefighter while he was in high school. Michael graduated from West Point’s cadet basic training this past August and is continuing his education at the academy. n

Congressman Tim Murphy and Michael Seese at Community Day 2006.


South Hills/USC Office1699 Washington Rd. • Pittsburgh, PA 15228 • 412-833-5405

Roberta Allen Hope Bassichis Michelle Bonnar Carpenter Team Linda Cobb Barbara Cusick

Janine Dillon Dal Goldstein

Helen MooreLisa MoeserDeona MillerElaine Krelis

Judy Hlister

Pat Paslowski Toni Petrucci Stacy Romanias Kathy Sekeras

Sandy Wiedt

Jane WashilJim WalshKaren Skrainy

Kathryn Gerhart

Marcie Parrish

Sharon Stanek Connie Storino

Lynn Dempsey

Sandy LearishOffice Manager

Nancy Morgan

Dan & TraceyPetricca

Tulla Rakoczy

Jane Dodson


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Bonnie Byrnes

Rt. 19 South/Galleria Office1539 Washington Rd. • Pittsburgh, PA 15228 • 412-344-0500

Heather Harrison

Nancy Beaulieu

Leigh HarkreaderSandy HansonGenie GoodingEdith Gidwani

Nancy Heffernan Sydnie Jones Sue Kelso Kathi Kernan Jane Krauth

Office ManagerVirginia MontgomeryMary Ann WellenerShirley Schultz Mary Torchia

GLOBAL CONNECTIONSLOCAL TRADITIONS

Kathy Donoghue Kathy Enick

John Geisler

Julie Leslie

Arlene Murray

Norma Bishop

Joyce Lewis

Anita Crago

�� UPPERST.CLAIRTODAYWinter 2006 �� UPPERST.CLAIRTODAYWinter 2006

KennethL.BrownWard�

Day 412-831-9000Evening 412-854-45122009*

KarenM.McElhinnyAtLarge

Day 412-831-90002009*

FrankE.MarshWard�

Day 412-831-9000Evening 724-941-62442007*

BillBatesVicePresident,AtLarge

Day 412-831-9000Evening 412-257-81152007*

RobertW.OrchowskiWard�

Day 412-831-9000Evening 412-854-18682007*

*Date indicates expiration of term.

TownshipofUpperSt.ClairChedMertzPresident,Ward�

Day 412-831-9000Evening 412-833-36312009*

PrestonW.ShimerWard�

Day 412-831-9000Evening 412-221-17362007*

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sHighlightsoftheBoardofCommissionersMeetings

All business regarding the operation of the Township is conducted at the regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners. Citizens are invited to comment on any Township matter. Complete Board minutes can be found

at the Upper St. Clair Township Library or on the website at www.twpusc.org. For more information, call 412-831-9000.

2006 Township of Upper St. Clair Meeting Dates •TheBoardofCommissionersmeetsat7:30p.m.intheMunicipalBuilding.Theregularpublicmeetingis heldthefirstMondayofthemonthintheBoardMeetingRoom.Theinformationalandgeneralaffairsmeeting isheldthelastMondayofthemonthintheBoardMeetingRoom. •ThePlanningCommissionmeetsthethirdThursdayofthemonthat7:30p.m. •TheParksandRecreationBoardmeetsthefourthTuesdayofthemonthat7:30p.m.,nomeetinginDecember. •TheZoningHearingBoardmeetsthefourthWednesdayofthemonthat8p.m. •TheCivilHearingBoardmeetsasneeded. •TheBuilding/FireCodesAppealsandAdvisoryBoardmeetsasneeded.

Visit our website - www.twpusc.org

June�,�006Approximately�6peopleattended.

Recognitions: • Commissioner Marsh presented a Proclamation to Anne R. Humphreys and Sam Bertenthal recognizing the 200th anniversary of the Philips-Seegar House. • Commissioner Orchowski presented a Certificate of Achievement to Amanda Lohman for winning the 2005-06 WPIAL diving championship. • Commissioner Orchowski presented a Certificate of Achievement to Arjun Prabhu, a member of the high school men’s tennis team in recognition of the 2005-06 WPIAL men’s tennis championship. Team members were Nicholas Darrow, Christopher Foster, Jonathan Henderson, Matthew Hough, James Jones, Jamison Lawson, Alex Lippold, Christopher Meenen, Arjun Prabhu, Evan Reese, Christopher Riley, Alexander Romanias, Alexander Su, Kevin Su, and Scott Yanak. Coaches are Ron Mercer and Terry Tressler. • Commissioner Orchowski acknowledged the achievement of Katie Orchowski for winning the 2005-06 WPIAL 800-meter dash championship and acknowledged the achievement of the girls’ 3200-meter relay team which won the 2005-06 WPIAL 3200-meter relay team championship. Team members were Melissa Fairgrieve, Alexander Findley, Katie Orchowski, and Sarah Sukenik. Coaches are Tim and Carol Olack.

The Board: • Closed the public hearing regarding the adoption of the 2005 Comprehensive Plan. • Approved Resolution No. 1464 adopting the 2005 Comprehensive Plan. • Adopted Bill No. 3-06, the official map of the Township of Upper St. Clair incorporated within the 2005 Comprehensive Plan. • Adopted Bill No. 6-06 regarding PLC06-0003, Trotwood Extension Plan No. 10, preliminary and final subdivision approval. • Approved Bill No. 7-06 regarding PLC06-0004, Fox Chase PRD Phase 4, final approval. • Approved Bill No. 8-06, regarding PLC06-0006, Sainte Claire Plaza Expansion, final approval. • Approved Boyce Mayview Field Development, Phase One, additional expenditures.

Board Approval of Contract: • Ketchum, Inc.–Pittsburgh Fundraising Consulting Services ......................... $32,500

The Board: • Adopted Bill No. 10-06, granting final subdivision approval regarding PLC06-0008, Forestbrook Estates Plan Revision No. 1. • Adopted Resolution No. 1467 adopting the 2007-2011 Capital Improvement Program.

Recognitions: • Commissioner Mertz announced a Proclamation was prepared for Michael Stephan Seese recognizing his attainment of Eagle Scout rank. Stephen was unable to attend as he had already reported to West Point Academy. • Commissioner Mertz recognized former Commissioner Gloria S. Smith for her outstanding community service, her time as president of SHACOG, and dedication as an Upper St. Clair Township commissioner. Township Manager Douglas Watkins presented Mrs. Smith with a certificate from the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities for her completion of the Professional Educational Certificate Program. Commissioner Mertz presented Mrs. Smith with a gift in appreciation of her service to the Township.

The Board: • Granted preliminary subdivision approval regarding PLC06-0007, Forestbrook Estates Plan Revision No. 1. • Adopted Resolution No. 1465 granting preliminary subdivision approval to Forestbrook Estates Plan, subject to certain conditions. • Approved staff ’s recommendations regarding Boyce Mayview Park Interior Trails, with exceptions.

Board Approval of Contract: • First Out–Moon Township 2006 Fire Truck Pumper ................................. $369,626

The Board: • Approved Bill No. 9-06 regarding the refinancing of a portion of the 2003 General Bond Issue.

SpecialMeetingJune�9,�006

Approximately�peopleattended.

July�,�006Approximately��peopleattended.

August7,�006Approximately7peopleattended.

Gloria Smith is recognized by Township Manager Douglas Watkins for her service to the community.


BoyceMayviewPark, comprised of over 475 acres, is the largest municipally-owned park in the region, second only to Pittsburgh’s 600-acre Frick Park. The Boyce “section” was acquired from Allegheny County in 1984. In 1996 the Township acquired an adjoining 240-acre parcel of surplus state property for-merly part of Mayview Hospital, thus creating Boyce Mayview Park.

Township officials contemplated vari-ous uses for Boyce Mayview and ultimately authorized a master plan study to determine the most appropriate development of this incredible resource. The resulting 1999 Park Master Plan (funded in part by the Regional Asset District), which was complet-ed with the assistance of WTW Architects and considerable pub-lic input, called for a balance between passive park activities such as hiking and gardening and more active recreation programs requiring, among other things, the development of fields, pools, and a community recreation center.

Park development began first with the Regional Environmental Education Center, which is located in an area adjacent to the designated active area and a number of proposed nature trails. To date, al-most ten miles of trails and bridges have been completed, an old rundown farm outbuilding has become a beautiful pavilion, and two soccer/football fields and a baseball and soft-ball field have been developed. A significant portion of the perimeter trail (a hard surface multi-use trail) is slated for construction next year with state grants. What’s next?

CommunityRecreationCenter

Based upon preliminary investigations of recreation centers and pools in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio by various Township board members, volunteers, and staff, it be-came clear that these facilities were highly prized within their respective towns and pro-vided an invaluable community resource.

In late 2004, the Township Commissioners engaged nationally recognized Ballard*King and Associates to provide an economic and market assessment for a proposed commu-nity recreation center. A preliminary report estimated that the cost of a recreation center, complete with indoor and outdoor aquatics, could run as high as $36 million dollars.

The completion of the Ballard*King report

was put on hold until a more thorough needs analysis was conducted through a community advisory group. In June 2005, the Ad Hoc Advisory Group was created by the Board of Commissioners with representatives from over 20 different community groups, clubs, churches, and homeowners’ associations. The group began its charge of investigating rec-reation complexes with an extremely diverse perspective. The group visited a number of facilities, and researched and identified spe-cific attributes, equipment, and programming

who had served on the Ad Hoc Advisory Group, and two Township staff members, and after many hours and much compromise, WTW/Larsen was able to unveil its design to the community at the September 6, 2006, public forum which was held at the Upper St. Clair High School Theatre.

At this meeting, the history of the project was discussed in detail by Commissioners and volunteers. The interior and exterior layout of the building was presented by the architectural team and the tax implications for

the proposed $22.5 million center were reviewed.

Citizens’ comments from the 250 plus in attendance and the completed written questionnaires were overwhelmingly favorable, both toward the design of the fa-cility and for moving the process forward. Questions and sugges-tions from the meeting and survey forms were referred back to the core team for additional consideration. At a meeting held September 20, 2006, the Board of Commissioners publicly discussed the question as to the necessity of proceeding with

a referendum question with regard to issuing “electoral debt” to fund the construction of the proposed community recreation center. As it was clearly determined that this project was within the Township’s “borrowing base,” the Board of Commissioners unanimously decided it was not necessary to include a ref-erendum question on the fall 2006 ballot.

At a subsequent meeting, a fee structure task force was created to review membership rates, programming charges, and other opera-tional issues to assure that the facility (and its refined design) would be capable of recover-ing its annual operation costs. Sensitivity to issues of affordability and accessibility were key in their analysis. It is expected that at the time of this magazine’s release (early Novem-ber), the Board will be in position to authorize the design development and bid preparation and construction management contracts for the community recreation center.

The Township is extremely grateful to the commitment of our many talented and thoughtful citizens who throughout the past ten years have served in various capacities and have devoted many hours of their valuable time toward bringing this project to fruition. Through their efforts, Boyce Mayview Park is poised to truly become the jewel of Upper St. Clair and the South Hills region. n

UpperSt.ClairTownship’sCommunityRecreationCenter

that could be used by residents of all ages from pre-school through senior citizens. In the end, most, if not all of the initial doubters became convinced that Upper St. Clair could benefit greatly from the development of a community recreation center.

Shortly after the receipt of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group’s report, Ballard*King was re-engaged to complete its economic analy-sis for the proposed community recreation center. The Ballard*King report, which was completed in February 2006, helped bring focus to those amenities which would have high utilization and also be best able to help pay for themselves through various charges. The Ballard*King report indicated that annual operation expenses could be paid through memberships, daily rates, program fees, room rentals, and the like. Capital expenses, on the other hand, would have to be covered by a tax subsidy, private gifts, or some combina-tion thereof.

In spring 2006, the joint architectural team of WTW Architects, Pittsburgh; and Larsen Architects, Cleveland, Ohio; along with EPM Architects, Pittsburgh was hired to create a preschematic design of the Township’s community recreation center. Working through a core team consisting of two Commissioners, two Township residents


Scrapbooking—FridayNight“PizzaCrops”Experienced or beginner, join us for six hours of cropping fun. Pizza and

beverages will be provided. Bring all supplies. Register with a friend.

Instructor: Chérie DixonDays: FridaysDates: November 10, December 8, January 12, February 9,

March 9, April 13Time: 6 p.m.-midnightPlace: Multipurpose Room 2/Library Multipurpose RoomFee: $8 per crop session–resident, $10 per crop session–nonresident +$4 dinner fee payable to instructor at class

Threeeasywaystoregister:Some classes have limited availability.

Register early to guarantee yourself a spot!

1. Register online 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.twpusc.org/rec.2. Mail registration with appropriate fee to: USC Recreation, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241. Make check payable to USC Recreation.3. Come in to the Recreation office during regular business hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in the lower level of the Municipal building.

We Have Just the Thing

CookingforKidsParticipants (grades one through four) will try out

recipes to make a breakfast, lunch/dinner, dessert, and an appetizer. All aspects of working in the kitchen will be covered.

Dates: February 7–28Day: WednesdaysTimes: 4:30-6 p.m.Place: Recreation CenterFee: $40–resident, $53–nonresident +$8 materials fee payable to instructor at first class

The Department of Recreation and Leisure Services is pleased to be offering several programs during the winter months, including ThinkadinkTM, Restorative Yoga, Math Play-Time, Household HarmonyTM presenting MuSic TogeTHeR®,crochet, and more. contact the department at 412-831-9000, extension 256, for a full list of available classes.

ComputerClassesA variety of fun and interactive computer classes—from very basic

through the use of the Internet, email, digital cameras, eBay, Word, and Excel. Taught by Web-wise seniors, the classes have been designed for folks over 50, but are open to anyone! Classes are taught on Thursday afternoons and Monday evenings. For each two-session class, the fee is $42 for residents and $55 for nonresidents. Contact the Recreation Department for more information.

“Mommy”andMeA special time for moms, dads, or caregivers and their children (two

to three years of age) to have structured fun together. Classes include basic tumbling, props, and parachute games.

Session 2: January 24–May 2 (no class April 4)Day: WednesdaysTimes: 12:15-1 p.m.Place: Multipurpose Room 1Fee: $84–resident $112–nonresident

HolidayFunCrafts, games, snack, and a special visit from “you

know who” from the North Pole—children will have the chance to enjoy an hour of holiday fun under the guidance of Instructor Renee Baldino.

Date: Saturday, December 16Time: 11 a.m.-noon (ages 3-4) 12:30-1:30 p.m. (ages 5-6)Place: Library Multipurpose RoomFee: $17/child–resident, $20/child–nonresident

DayTrip—HolidayProgressiveDinnerMonday, December 11Fee: $65Departing at approximately 1:30 p.m., a motor coach filled with USC

and Peters Township residents will travel to downtown Pittsburgh for a view of the holiday lights at PPG Place, and then to the Grand Concourse Restaurant for the dinner’s first course of salad and rolls. From there, the group will motor up to Mt. Washington to take in the sights and dine at the Bella Vista Ristorante Italiano. Afterward, the group will re-board and travel on to see the twinkling lights of Hartwood Acres annual holiday display. The group will finish off the night with a stop for one of the famous desserts “made daily in their kitchen” at Gullifty’s Restaurant. Good food, beautiful lights, wonderful desserts, and great holiday fun with old friends and new ones—what an enjoyable evening it will be!

Scrapbooking�0�BeginnerClassScrapbooking is a fun, fulfilling hobby. Have you wanted to start,

but not sure how? Join us for Scrapbooking 101 and see how simple it really is. Bring six or more photos of the same (or any) subject, glue, and scissors. The rest of the supplies that you’ll need to get started will be provided.

Instructor: Chérie DixonDays: FridaysDates: January 26, February 23Time: 10 a.m.-noonPlace: Multipurpose Room 2

Days: TuesdaysDates: January 23 (Multipurpose Room 2) February 20 (Library Multipurpose Room)Time: 6-8 p.m.Fee: $12 per session–resident, $15 per session–nonresident +$10 materials fee payable to instructor at class

Kids’Scrapbooking—CabinFever“Crop”No school today! Get out of the house and come crop with us.

Beginner or pro, learn the basics or add some zip to your already exist-ing album pages. Register with a friend or come and make some new ones. Bring your photos, scissors, and glue; the rest of the supplies will be provided. A pizza lunch also will be provided.

Instructor: Chérie DixonSession I: January 15Session II: February 19Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.Place: Multipurpose Room 2Fee: $20 per session–resident, $25 per session–nonresident


You’ve Been Looking For!

HappyHearts(Ages�–�)Little ones can spend the morning working

on a special Valentine’s Day craft they can keep or share with their favorite valentine. Includes a special snack.

Date: Saturday, February 10Time: 11 a.m.-noonPlace: Library Multi Purpose RoomFee: $17/child–resident, $20/child–nonresident

OurTimeArtOpen to children (ages two to five) accompanied by an adult. Weekly

art projects allow you to explore creativity through the eyes of a child.

Dates: February 6–March 6Day: TuesdaysTime: 10:30-11:15 a.m.Place: Recreation CenterFee: $40–resident, $53–nonresident +$10 materials fee payable to instructor at first class

GingerbreadHouseWorkshopDecorate your own gingerbread house. We’ll provide the supplies,

you bring your imagination.

Session I: Saturday, December 2Times: 10:30 a.m.-noon (grades 5-8) 1-2:30 p.m. (grades 1-4)Place: Recreation Center

Session II: Sunday, December 10Times: 1-2:30 p.m. (grades 1-4) or 3:30-5 p.m. (grades 1-4)Place: Recreation Center

Session III: Monday, December 4*Time: 10:30 a.m.-noon (ages 3-5)Place: Recreation CenterFee: $15 per session–resident, $20 per session–nonresident +$5 materials fee payable to instructor at class

*Session III is designed for preschoolers (ages three to five) accompanied by a caregiver to decorate a house together.

We Have Just the Thing

DrawingandPaintingforChildrenCreate drawings and paintings with acrylics,

watercolors, and pastels. Learn about line drawing, color, and design by drawing from still life, the figure, and your imagination.

Dates: February 6–March 6Day: TuesdaysTimes: 4-5 p.m. (ages 6-8) 5:15-6:15 p.m. (ages 9-12)Place: Recreation CenterFee: $45/resident, $60/nonresident +$10 materials fee payable to instructor at first class

ChessAnyone?Chess classes for novices and experienced players are available to

students in first through 12th grades; adults are welcome to participate as well. Beginners can learn the fascinating strategies of chess and interme-diate players can fine-tune their game. Each session includes instruction and supervised free play provided by instructor Eric Berthoud. All equip-ment provided. Classes are ongoing.

Day: ThursdaysPlace: Multipurpose Room 2Time: 7-8:15 p.m.Fee: $3 walk-in per class

FamilySwimTake the plunge during the open

swim hours at the High School pool. Open only to Township residents. All children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Dates: February 3–May 13Days: Saturdays and SundaysTime: 2-4:30 p.m.Place: USC High School poolFee: $20/individual membership $45/family membership $5 per person walk-in/guest fee at the door

KarateDay: ThursdaysPlace: Multipurpose Room 1Fee: $75 per session (eight weeks)Instructor: Chuck Kerrigan, Traditional Karate-Do

Session II: November 30–January 25 (no class December 28) Red and gold belts–4-4:30 p.m. Returning students–4:30-5 p.m. New students–5-5:30 p.m.Session III: February 8–March 20 Red and gold belts–4-4:30 p.m. Returning students–4:30-5 p.m., 5-5:30 p.m. New students–5:30-6 p.m.

Children’sDanceClasses Tuesdays:

January 23–May 1 (no class April 3)

Ages 3-4Ballet/Acro 5:15-5:45 p.m.

Ages 3-5Ballet 9:30-10 a.m., 10:15-10:45 a.m., 1-1:30 p.m.Tumbling 10:45-11:15 a.m., 1:30-2 p.m.Tap 11:15-11:45 a.m., 2-2:30 p.m.

Ages 4-6Ballet/Acro** 5:45-6:30 p.m.

Ages 6-8Ballet/Jazz** 4-4:45 p.m.Tumbling 4:45-5:15 p.m.

Wednesdays:January 24–May 2 (no class April 4)

Ages 3-5Ballet 1-1:30 p.m. Tumbling 1:30-2 p.m.Tap 2-2:30 p.m.

Fees: $50 per class/session–resident $64 per class/session–nonresident **$70 per class/session–resident **$84 per class/session–nonresident


Public Works Department Projects for 2006

Township Building sidewalk

The Pubic Works Department has been busy this year with the following projects:

• TownshipofUpperSt.ClairMunicipalBuildingsidewalk replacement/snowmeltsysteminstallation.• TownshipofUpperSt.ClairMunicipalBuildinglandscaping phaseII.• WiltshireParkpedestrianbridgereplacement.Secondof threebridgestobeupgradedandstreambankrenovation betweenbridgereplacement1and2.• BoyceMayviewParktrailsystemdevelopmentincluding twowalkingbridges.• BoyceMayviewParkfielddevelopmentbathroom/storage facilityconstructioninconjunctionwithparkgeneral contractor.• McLaughlinRunCreekgabionprojectatMarmion baseballfield.• GreyMill/BoyceSchoolpedestrianright-of-waysidewalk replacement.Threehundredfeetofasphaltwalkway replacement.• ExtendedCircleDrivestormsewerfromtheendof CircleDrivetoDeerfieldretentionarea.• MorrowRoadbermstabilizationandgabionwallerection.• Paddlecourtskirting/replacement,upgradingofallelectrical andgaslines.• ReplacementofTrotwoodParkspraypool.• Sanitaryseweroperationandmaintenanceproject inprogress.• DyetestingbyStatePipeundertheAdministrative ConsentOrder(ACO)nearingcompletion.• Videoinspectionofsanitarysewersunderthe ACOcontinuing.• Physicalinspectionofsanitarysewermanholes undertheACOinprogress.• GPSlocationofsanitarysewermanholes undertheACOcontinuing.• McLaughlinRunstormwaterprojectfromOutlookDrive toMcLaughlinRunRoad.• Annualstreetsresurfacingprogramunderway.• McLaughlinRunstormseweroutfallproject fromCookSchoolRoadtoMcLaughlinRunRoad.• Annualcracksealingprogram.• ColorcoatingatMunicipalbasketballcourts.• Pavementmarkings:linestriping,stopbars,andarrows.• Trafficislandlandscaping.

Boyce Mayview Park field development

McLaughlin Run Creek gabion wall project

Township Building landscaping

Paddle court skirting replacement

Annual streets resurfacing program

Boyce Mayview Park bridge

Sanitary sewer project

Wiltshire Park bridge

Public Works Department Projects for 2006


Thevolunteers of the Upper St. Clair Fire Department took time to honor their deceased members when they unveiled a monument donated by Beinhauer Funeral Service during a brief ceremony on June 7. Doug Dennig, the firefighter who worked with Rick Rega of Beinhauer on the memorial, spoke about the four men who once served the Upper St. Clair community as volunteer firefighters.

Rege Tomnay, who died in July 1992, was a member of the USCVFD for 37 years, and served as treasurer and chief. A resident of Bartley Road, he worked for Duquesne Light Company. Rege and his wife, Grace, had three sons, Ray, Joe, and Richard, and a daughter, Patty. Rege’s sons, Ray and Richard, and grandsons, Mike and Rick, have all followed in Rege’s footsteps and served as firefighters.

George Haffner served as treasurer and chief during his 36 years with the fire department. The head of security for Mayview State Hospital, George and his wife, Gertrude, made their home on Johnston Road. Haffner passed away in December 1993.

J. Walter Philips, Jr. was a charter member of the fire depart-ment with 57 years of service. A government worker who worked for the U.S. Air Force, Philips died of a bee sting in August 1995. He and his wife, Maxine, lived on Ruthfred Drive. Dennig said Philips, who was never a fan of the old white stucco fire station, would have liked the new red brick station.

Barney Cassedy, Sr., the owner of West Liberty Glass, had 48 years of service with the USCVFD. He and his wife, Betty, made their home on Harrow Road, raising three sons, Barney, Jr., Herman, and Jimmy, and daughter, Irene. Cassedy died in June 2001. During his funeral the fire department was called out for a house fire in the Tall Trees community of Upper St. Clair.

The monument, honoring these deceased members of the USCVFD, is located by the flagpoles at the fire station on Route 19. n

Rick Rega, Doug Dennig, and Rick Beinhauer at the monument which honors USCVFD deceased members.

USCVFDHonorsDeceasedFirefighters

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Library

LibraryHoursMonday–Thursday 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. • Friday–Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. • Sunday 1-5 p.m.

Outside book and video return available 24 hours a day, collected daily at 9 a.m.

Thesummerisalwaysabusytime at the Upper St. Clair Township Children’s Library. This year, 440 children participated in the new Ready to Read program for babies, toddlers, preschool-ers, and kindergartners. Young children and their parents worked to complete 11 activity squares each week. The library rewarded the kids with bubbles, chalk, playdough, books, magnetic letters, tablets, and a toy fish.

The school-age Summer Reading program had 710 participants who collectively enjoyed reading over 7000 books during June and July. Participants earned a ticket for weekly prize drawings for each book they read. The library gave away 90 prizes to par-ticipants and their parents.

In observance of the winter holidays, the library will be closed: Sunday, December 24 • Monday, December 25 • Tuesday, December 26

Sunday, December 31 • Monday, January 1

“I Love to Read” program Library prize winners

AlleghenyCityParksArdolino’sPizzaApplebeesBarnes&NobleBrooksideWoman’sClubCarnegieMuseumsCarnegieScienceCenterTheChildren’sMuseumDairyQueenDon’sApplianceDonutConnection

The Ready to Read and Summer Reading programs were made possible through many generous organizations and businesses. The library’s staff would like to especially thank Friends of the Upper St. Clair Library for their continued and tireless support of the library’s many programs, including Ready to Read and Summer Reading. Many thanks to all who donated time, money, and prizes for these summer reading programs. n

Children’s Library

Eatn’ParkFriendsoftheUpperSt.ClairLibraryGatewayClipperGiantEagleHeinzHistoryCenterJoe’sCrabShackLittleLakeTheaterLoafer’sMacy’sNationalAviaryPaneraBread

Pati-PetiteCookiesPhipp’sConservatoryPittsburghPiratesPittsburghSteelersPittsburghZoo&PPGAquariumPizzazPizzaPizzaHutPortman’sFarmMarketRiceEnterprises(McDonald’s)Rita’sItalianIceStarbucks

SubwayTargetTGIFriday’sWashingtonRiverHoundsWashingtonWildThingsWelcomeWagonClubofUSCUSCRecreationDepartment

2006 Summer Reading Sponsors

Participants in a “Ready to Read” adventure


Library

Children‘s

Cindy Specht entertained children at an activity called “Afternoon of Ventriloquism.”

“I hope my reading ticket gets picked for a prize!”

Summer Reading desk

Fun and games at the library

“I Love to Read” program

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TheUSC-USTCenjoyedavisit from the Girl Scouts of Upper St. Clair who brought a touch of camp when they came to make lunch, sing songs, tap lummi sticks, and do crafts with the group. In August, an afternoon was spent listening to harpist Angela Liu play for the en-tertainment of the many seniors who attended that day’s gathering.

Upcoming fall and winter activities include the annual Thanksgiving feast and holiday luncheon. Presentations and discussions on senior health and wellness, local interests, and entertainment programs are held year-round.

Would you enjoy:• Making new friends

• Playing bridge or other card games• Bowling

• Shooting pool• Going on day trips

• Or just talking with friends, new and old?

Members of the United Senior Citizens of Upper St. Clair (USC-USTC) cordially invite you to have lunch at the Upper St. Clair Recreation Center on McLaughlin Run Road on any Wednesday that is convenient for you. The center is open 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. for the Township’s senior citizens. Not only will you be served a hot lunch, dessert, and beverage, but also you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy interesting and varied programs, presentations, and enter-tainment sponsored by the Department of Recreation and Leisure Services. All you have to do is join in!

To make a reservation, or for more in-formation, contact Amy Kerman, Older Adult Coordinator, at 412-831-9000, extension 296 or [email protected].

Are you a retired resident

of Upper St. Clair, age 55 or older?

Attention Senior Citizens, age 65 and older:

If you would like to register for the ACCESS 65 PLUS shared-ride transportation program or make application for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Senior Citizen Identification Card to be used for the Port Authority Transit system, please contact the Older Adult Coordinator, Township of Upper St. Clair, 412-831-9000, extension 296.

S a v v y S e n i o r s

Gold CardSeniorCitizensofUpperSt.Clair,applynow

foryourGoldCard.Seeandenjoydramaandmusicalperformances,excitingathleticevents,andotheractivities, courtesyof theUpperSt.ClairSchoolDistrict.

Ifyouarearesident,62yearsofageorolder,juststopbytheSchoolDistrictreceptionistdeskandaskforyourGoldCard.It’sagreatwaytoexperienceyourcommunity!

Members of USC-USTC listen to harpist Angela Liu.

Silver CardSeniorCitizensofUpperSt.Clairareentitled

toapplyforaSilverCardthatwilladmitholderstotheUpperSt.ClairMunicipalthree-holegolfcourse,outdoortennisfacilities,familyswimprogram,andtoattendotheractivitiesdesignatedandsponsoredbytheTownshipofUpperSt.Clair.

Any resident age 62 and retired or age65withnorestrictionsiseligiblefortheSilverCardprogram.ApplicationsareavailableattheRecreationDepartment.

Members of USC-USTC enjoyed time with an Upper St. Clair Girl Scout troop at a Wednesday afternoon gathering. Together, they tapped lummi sticks. (Foreground, left to right: Betty Stearns and Kim Forster)

Left to right: harpist Angela Liu and her grandparents, Renxian Jiang and Youzhen Zhang


Tri-Community South EMS assisted in safety services for the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at PNC Park on July 11. Supervisor John Bower was element leader for one of the county Operations Support Team (OST) Strike Teams at PNC Park, and five other staff members (Director Nora Helfrich, Su-pervisor Marian Wawrzkowicz, Supervisor Kevin Trichtinger, EMT David Britton, and EMT Chris Geraci) were part of the secu-rity escort for U.S. Senator Rick Santorum and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Tri-Community South was the sole EMS agency represented in this detail and was selected because of the service’s level of accreditation and its involvement in regional emergency management and planning.

Tri-Community South is one of only 102 ambu-lance services in North America and the only EMS system in Allegheny County to have achieved accreditation by the Commission for the Ac-creditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). Several staff members participate in the national Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), the Western Pennsylvania Region 13 Task Force, and Al legheny County ’s Operations Support Team. Tri-Community South is committed to the homeland secu-rity mission, and participates in local and regional exercises and drills, such as the mass evacuation drill at the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station on June 28, 2006, where Tri-Community South was the lead EMS agency at the evacuation center and at the emergency response drill at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory in South Park on June 21, 2006, where Tri-Community South was the lead EMS agency for the operation.

Tri-Community South is also quite experienced in providing medical care at mass gatherings. In 2005, the system provided stand-by medical coverage for 259 events. In addition to providing ser-vices at the athletic events for the three

school districts it covers, Tri-Community South covers events including Allegheny County’s Concert in the Park series in South Park, the Town Hall South lecture series in Upper St. Clair, the National Bike League’s BMX national championship se-ries races in South Park, and many other local gatherings.

Each of Tri-Community South’s 31 full-time and part-time employees is trained in the principles of incident man-agement and incident command. At the Beaver Valley Power Station drill, field EMT David Britton was the incident com-mander at the evacuation center. Like any other Tri-Community South employee,

Left to right: U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, former NYC Mayor Rudy Guiliani, Nora Helfrich, and David Britton

Ready,Willing,andAble

David is trained in the Incident Command System (ICS), ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents, and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). He also has training in more advanced ICS and emergency management principles and practices. Every Tri-Community South employee is expected to be able to func-tion as the incident commander at any emergency. n

For more information on emergency preparedness, medical coverage for mass gatherings, or any of the services Tri-Community South EMS provides, call 412-831-3710, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or visit its website at www.tcsems.org. See EMS subscription drive information on page 36.


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WinterStormEmergencies

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Info Line 412-854-5353www.twpusc.org

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chloride. Traffic causes rock salt to act more quickly, so streets with heavier traffic will show the results of sodium chloride application sooner than less traveled roadways.

2. Air Science Consultants are available to the Public Works Department on a 24-hour contracted basis and provide periodic advance weather forecasting.

3. Peak traffic occurs between the hours of 4-8 a.m. and 2-9 p.m. Decisions to delay school must be made by school administration by 5:30 a.m. to permit contacting School District personnel.

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

5. Constant monitoring of road conditions helps the Public Works administration coordinate snow removal actions to ensure total roadway coverage. All snow removal vehicle drivers assist and back each other up to ensure effective roadway salting and plowing.

6. Walks should be clear by 8 a.m. at the Township Building and tennis bubbles. The Recreation Center schedule is checked to ensure clear walkways prior to scheduled activities.Evenings require walk clearing for the Township Building Library until 9:30 p.m. and for any scheduled meetings which normally run until 11 p.m. Tennis bubbles operate until 11 p.m. It may be necessary to call personnel for morning walkway clearing by 5:30 a.m. or 6 a.m. as dictated by the size of the back-up crew.

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

8. The Public Works supervisor coordinates with all drivers to ensure that vehicle breakdowns and problems are reported and scheduled, so that effective snow removal operations are not jeopardized.

9. On-call Public Works supervisors have access to four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Winter storm emergencies are just that—emergencies. The Township of Upper St. Clair’s administrative staff, Police Department, and Public Works Department are on call 24 hours a day to help residents and businesses by making the streets safe.

During the winter season, Township residents are asked to be patient and understanding. To help the Police and Public Works Department during storms, the Township asks the cooperation of residents in the following areas:

1. Keep calls concerning snow removal to a minimum. Public Works and Police phone lines need to be kept open for emergency calls only during storm situations. The Township is as eager as you to have the streets cleared quickly. Major roads such as Route 19, Boyce Road, McLaughlin Run Road, Lesnett Road, McMillan Road, Fort Couch Road, and Mayview Road are plowed first as a matter of public safety and for emergency vehicles.

2. Do not shovel or plow snow back into the streets. This is a violation of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code and creates additional traffic safety problems.

3. When streets are plowed, snow will be pushed in front of driveways. Unfortu- nately, there is no other place for the snow to go.

4. The Public Works Department is not permitted to assist residents by clearing driveways, sidewalks, or paths to mail- boxes. Public Works employees work as many hours as necessary to make streets, inlets, cul-de-sacs, sidewalks, and parking lots safe for all vehicles and pedestrians.

5. Under emergency situations, there may be delays or cancellations of garbage collection and recycling pickup. Please do not call the Township during a snow emergency to ask about garbage collection. Until the snow situation is under control, it is impossible to say when garbage collection will be back on schedule. Check Cable 7 or the Township’s website at www.twpusc.org for information on garbage collection.

6. The Township cannot recommend contractors or companies that provide

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

7. The Township receives numerous calls regarding sidewalks not being adequately maintained during heavy snow periods. Sidewalks with unshoveled snow may cause problems for residents, school children, mail carriers, delivery persons, etc. Chapter 109 of the Township Code states that the standard removal time of snow and ice from sidewalks is within 12 hours after the snow or ice has ceased to fall or be formed. There are several Township-owned sidewalks that are posted “No Winter Maintenance” and are not covered under this ordinance.

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

PublicWorksSnowRemoval—HowItWorks

The Public Works Department is on call 24 hours a day to help residents with snow removal emergencies and related situations. During severe snow situations where plowing is needed, the main state and Township roads have priority, which in some cases require residential roadways to be designated secondary priority.

Some considerations regarding the snow removal services that you receive as a resident of USC:

1. The Public Works Department must be alert to air temperatures and road surface temperatures. Sodium chloride (rock salt) is effective to about 23° fahrenheit. At temperatures below 23°, road surfaces will require additions of liquid calcium


DoYourPart

November 11November 18December 2

UpperSt.ClairCardboardandPaperRecyclingProgramA volunteer group of USC residents have organized a Township-wide cardboard and paper recycling program. Donations

are welcome. A donation jar will be available on site.When: Saturday, December 2, 8 a.m.-noon. Where: USC Public Works Parking Lot (corner of Truxton Road and McLaughlin Run Road).Items to be Collected: Corrugated cardboard, paper (not newsprint), magazines, catalogues, phone books, junk mail, shredded paper (sort with mixed paper), cereal boxes, tissue boxes, and household batteries (9v, AA, AAA, C, D). Please do not drop off newsprint. Continue to recycle newsprint at your curbside. Questions: Call 412-831-9000.

�006-07Trash-RecyclingHolidayCollectionWeek of Thanksgiving Day 2006 ........... Friday, November 24, 2006 (Delayed one day)Week of Christmas 2006 ........................ Friday, December 29, 2006 (Delayed one day)Week of New Year’s 2007 ....................... Friday, January 5, 2007 (Delayed one day)

YardDebrisandLeafWasteCollection—SaturdaysCollections will take place on the following Saturdays. Place your yard debris and leaf waste in compostable paper bags and place the bags at curbside by 6 a.m. the morning of pick up.

Watchyourmailforthe�007TrashandRecyclingSchedule.


Township of Upper St. Clair’sChristmas Tree Recycling Project!

You are invitedto participate in the

Township of Upper St. Clair’sChristmas Tree Recycling Project!

Bring your tree, without decorations,to the YMCA upper parking lot

between January 8–22, 2007.

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

Please remove all plastic tree bags!

For more information,call 412-831-9000, extension 271

or visit www.twpusc.org.

The�007Tri-CommunitySouthEMS annual subscription drive is underway. Sub-scription information has been mailed to every known occupied residence in the municipality. If you have not yet received this information, please contact the Tri-Community South EMS office at 412-831-3710, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Your subscription to Tri-Community South EMS means that should you need medically necessary ambulance transportation, Tri-Com-munity South EMS will accept reimbursement from your health care or other appropriate insurance carrier as payment in full for the services rendered, and you will not receive any direct bill for these services. Medicare generally pays about half of the billed costs, while other insurers may pay up to 80% of billed costs.

Your subscription helps to make sure that Tri-Community South will continue to provide quality ambulance service when you need it, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Tri-Community South EMS is owned and operated by the Municipality of Bethel Park and the Townships of South Park and Upper St. Clair. Although it is a municipal agency, Tri-Community South EMS attempts to recover operating costs by billing for services and accepting insurance reimbursements and by conducting the annual subscription drive. If operating costs cannot be recovered by these means, the system must take money from municipal tax revenues to make up the shortfall. At present, the system is com-pletely self-supporting and no municipal tax revenue is being used for EMS operation, nor does Tri-Community South receive any revenue from the so-called EMS Tax enacted in 2005 to replace the Occupational Privilege Tax.

Your subscription entitles you to medi-cally necessary emergency ambulance service as often as needed anywhere in the Munici-pality of Bethel Park, South Park Township, and Upper St. Clair Township, and also in Mt. Lebanon Township, Dormont Borough, Castle Shannon Borough, Whitehall Borough, Green Tree Borough, Baldwin Township, Baldwin Borough, Pleasant Hills Borough, Brentwood Borough, Peters Township, Jefferson Hills Borough, and Scott Town-ship. Your subscription covers all family members living at your home address and any guests or visitors at your home. Your subscription also covers pre-scheduled non-emergency ambulance service when medically necessary—when the service meets the requirements or guidelines of your health care insurance provider and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Your subscription covers medically neces-sary emergency and non-emergency ambulance service only. According to the Center for Medi-care and Medicaid Services (CMS), the criteria for medical necessity for emergency ambulance service are that the service be “reasonable and necessary.” In addition, for non-emergency ambulance service to qualify as “medically necessary,” the patient must need care or moni-toring by trained attendants, the destination must be an approved medical facility, and the patient must be unable to walk, or must be stretcher bound and unable to be safely trans-ported by other means such as wheelchair van, invalid coach, private vehicle, or commercial common carrier.

The following services are specifically designated by CMS as not being medically necessary:

• Ambulance transportation provided solely for the convenience of the patient or family, or to accommodate a specific physician.

• Ambulance transportation to obtain services which could be performed at the patient’s bedside or at the point of origin of the trip.

• Ambulance transportation to a doctor’s office.

• Ambulance transportation to a more distant facility, when a closer facility can appropriately provide the services required.

Services for these reasons, or services that are not reasonable and necessary, are not cov-ered by your subscription.

Your subscription takes effect as soonas it is received and payment is accept-ed by Tri-Community South. It remainsin effect through December 31, 2007,regardlessofthedateitisreceived.

Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutyouram-bulancesubscriptionoraboutTri-CommunitySouth EMS and the services they provide,contact them at 412-831-3710, MondaythroughFriday,8:30a.m. to4:30p.m.orvisittheirwebsiteatwww.tcsems.org.

AnnualEMSSubscriptionDrive

Subscribe Now!


Tri-Community SouthEMS has grown into one of the most active Training Centers for American Heart Association (AHA) Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC) programs in the region. Annually, more than 6500 people are trained in ECC programs that are taught or supported by Tri-Community South’s Training Center.

Paramedic Crew Chief John Brewer is the training center coordinator responsible for this growth. He is being reappointed as AHA Regional Faculty for BCLS, ACLS, and PALS emergency cardiac care pro-grams. As regional faculty he serves as an expert resource on emergency cardiac care issues to health care providers, other training centers, AHA staff, and other in-structors. Brewer’s appointment is for a two-year term.

Additionally at Tri-Community South EMS, Supervisor of Support Services Phil Vargo has been appointed by the AHA National ECC Program Adminis-tration to chair Pennsylvania’s regional ECC committee. This region includes all

of Pennsylvania except for the city of Philadelphia. As chair he is responsible for leading and implementing the ECC training programs in every community. He collaborates with AHA staff, provides leadership to the regional ECC committee and national faculty, and appoints regional faculty.

Did you know that the leading cause of death in our community remains car-diovascular disease? Every member of our community must be able to recognize heart attack and stroke symptoms and the need to provide immediate CPR. n

TheUpperSt.ClairVolunteerFire Department’s new station on Route 19 was recently awarded first place in the Fire Chief Station Style Awards 2006. Sponsored by Fire Chief magazine, USCVFD’s station won in the volunteer division.

Department president, Jerry Kopach, Jr., said the award was just icing on the cake. Design Stream Architects did a fabulous job on the building, and we’re glad their work got the recognition it deserved.

Ched Mertz, president of the USC Board of Commissioners, remarked that the award was not unexpected. “The fire station is a necessary addition to the community, and its de-sign fits in perfectly with the lifestyle and architecture in the Township,” stated Mertz.

While Mertz is pleased with the new fire station, he said, “It’s the people who occupy the building, not the building itself, that make it great.”

USC Township Manager Douglas Watkins echoed Mertz’s statements, commenting that the Township has a first class municipal fire department to protect its residents. n

FireStationWinsAward

EMSStaffMembersAppointedasAHALeaders

SavetheDate!USCVFD’sMonteCarloNight–Saturday,March�7,�007

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OPEN FOR BUSINESS 24/7 AT WWW.BILLGRAY.COM


Pet Owner’s Responsibilities

Please purchase a County license for dogs three months or older

by January 1 every year.

Applications are available at the Township reception desk.

The fines can be up to $300 a day for each unlicensed dog.

Dog Owners

Manypeople who have contact with animals would agree that pets provide a great deal of pleasure, whether they are your own or belong to a friend, relative, or neighbor. Although most pet owners are responsible, the job of owning an animal extends beyond providing food, water, and shelter. Pet own-ers must take into consideration their neighborhood and the community in general.

The most common complaints about animals involve a resident who fails to follow ordinance requirements such as permitting an animal to roam unattended, to bark excessively, or who owns more than three adult pets. A less common complaint concerns owners permitting their pets to create unsanitary conditions on streets, sidewalks, or the yards of others. Residents, who allow their animals to behave in this manner, risk citations and potential fines. These can be avoided by simply extending common courtesy to others, which promotes community re-lations and deters more stringent animal regulations.

Code requirements concerning animal control can be found on the Township website at www.twpusc.org.

SOUTH HILLS ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY ASSOCIATES, P.C.

www.southhillsortho.com

1-888-817-2019

John S. Beachler, M.D.Robert J. Donofrio, M.D. Ph.D.

Eric D. Nabors, M.D.Derrick J. Fluhme, M.D.

Christopher M. Manning, M.D.David K. Mayer, C.R.N.P.

Certified American Board of Orthopaedic SurgeryOffice Hours by Appointment • Evening Hours Available

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363 Vanadium RoadPittsburgh, PA 15243

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Summerfield Commons, Suite 11212535 Washington RoadPittsburgh, PA 15241

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3734 Poplar Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15234(Off Castle Shannon Boulevard, Near Rt.88)

412-561-5454

BowsMade to Order

Fancy Fruits

Poinsettias

Branches

Roping

ChristmasTrees

4’ to 12’

Bedner’s Farm Market

1520 Bower Hill Road • Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

(412) 221-5525Opening November 24, 2006 9 am — 9 pm

ChristmasTrees

4’ to 12’

Fancy Fruits

Poinsettias

Branches

Roping

BowsMade to Order

Bedner’s Farm Market

1520 Bower Hill Road • Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

(412) 221-5525Opening November 24, 2006 9 am — 9 pm

• Frazier Fir• Douglas Fir• Scotch Pine• White Pine

• Blue Spruce• Con Color

• Balled Trees

• Frazier Fir• Douglas Fir• Scotch Pine• White Pine

• Blue Spruce• Con Color

• Balled Trees

Live Wreaths

Handmade

All Sizes

• White Pine

• Frazier

• Scotch

Live Wreaths

Handmade

All Sizes

• White Pine

• Frazier

• Scotch

“IT’S JUSTBEAUTIFUL!”“IT’S JUSTBEAUTIFUL!”


What A Fresh Way To Say Thank You,Congratulations,

Get Well, Good Luck...

To order, please call or visit:

412-563-2425250 Mt. Lebanon Boulevard

Pittsburgh, PA 15234Over 400 nationwide locations to serve you.

www.ediblearrangements.com

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Delicious FruitDesign®

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Franchises Available. Call (203) 407-8777 COPYRIGHT ©2004 by Edible Arrangements, LLC

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Order early for

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Route 88 between Library & Finleyville 412-835-3246 www.traxfarms.com

Open Daily 9am - 8pm Sat 8am - 8pm • Sun 8am - 6pm

• Christmas Open HouseFRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY,

NOVEMBER 3, 4 & 5Holiday decorating ideas, samplings,

cookie houses, and special savings.

• Ladies Night Out "Holiday Savings Event!"

Thursday, November 9

5:00PM to 8:00PM - $5.00 admission

Special discount 3-day token, raffles,

samplings, entertainment and much more.

Browse our beautiful holiday displays and get all

of your shopping done early!

• Holiday TeaSATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH - 12:00 NOON

- Closed Thanksgiving -

• Light Up Night NOVEMBER 25 - 6:00PM TO 8:00PM

Help us kick off the Christmas season,

browse our displays and help Santa light our

special Christmas tree!

• The Live Wreath Boothwill be up and running the week of

November 20, stop by or call to order

Christmas wreaths and decorations.

Lunch with Santa NOVEMBER 26 - 1:00PM

Breakfast or Lunch with Santa DECEMBER 2,3,9,10,16&17

BREAKFAST 9:00AM or LUNCH 1:00PM

Call for reservation. Limited Seating. We reserve the right to

cancel based on low reservation number. (Arrive by 8:55am)

or (Arrive by 12:55pm) Christmas activity, breakfast or lunch,

talk with Santa, receive a goodie bag.

• Trax Farms and 3WS are partnering to bring you a

“Christmas Sing Along”STARTING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 AND RUNNING

EVERY TUESDAY THROUGH DECEMBER 19.

Area schools will be coming and singing

carols. 3WS will be here with the prize

wheel and giveaways.

• Christmas CashRedemption

DECEMBER 9 THRU 24

• Christmas TeaDECEMBER 16, 12:00 NOON

• Christmas Clearance Sale

DECEMBER 26, HOURS: 8AM - 8PM

We AcceptW.I.C. Checks


Withwintryweatherimminent, a young-ster’s fascination with fresh ashen snow, crusty ice, and daring airborne speed comes alive. The ecstasy of the first blizzard entices daredevils with mischievous smiles to zoom sleek plastic torpedo-like rocket sleds down perilously slip-pery slopes. At home, holiday decorators seek out the iconic Flexible Flyer sled to embellish with fragrant evergreens, vivid berry red adorn-ment, and sparkly ice skates. Sadly though, these treasures are relegated to storage for 11 months of the year. However, long before there were snowplows, snowboards, and snowmobiles, the 1800’s mode of winter amusement and transport was the authentic hardwood sled. Found in the sleepy rafters at Gilfillan Farm, first-rate antique examples with fanciful wrought iron adornment are what collectors dream of.

Historically speaking, the Roman’s protective battle shield became an instant getaway—the sled. Fast forward, 1830 pioneers trudged through lofty drifts of ponderous snow with provisions, kindling, and dawdling tots. By 1861 though, a more modern, leisurely lifestyle allowed for personal amusement. At South Paris, Maine, entrepreneur Henry Morton handcrafted American beauties known as “Paris Sleds.” The aesthetic of wonderfully hewn sleds allowed boisterous young boys to belly flop on “clipper” styles whose front runners often formed a V-shape. Young ladies, on the other hand, desired couture rather than rough and tumble speed. Their “cutter” front run-ners were curled in a bow fashion topped off with elegant swan shaped finials. Hand painted “soldier blue” models were adorned with fanci-ful flowers and elegant birds. A natural wood finish painted with bright accents suited the boys who preferred manlier dog and equestrian motifs. Sled decks, for a tidy sum, were per-sonalized with a name or portrait of a beloved

pet. Pleasing pastoral scenes covered 85% of the seating deck.

The year 1879 was a sad time for dis-criminating connoisseurs. Manufactured by the Garton Toy Company, mass production of the cherry red Flexible Flyer exploded. In 1889, Samuel Allen of Westfield, New Jersey, patented a Flexible Flyer model whose newly designed T-shaped runners were driven with hands or feet. Generically decked-out centerboards cut production cost, which expanded mass marketing. Displays at the 1893 Columbian Exposition, with interactive demonstration, drew throngs of spectators. Years later in 1915, the trademark logo of the eagle, shield, and rib-bon adorned thousands of sleds sold daily by Macy’s. To charm children and persuade Santas everywhere, clever entrepreneurs displayed miniature models of sleds, measuring 16 inches in length, as holiday decorum. Traveling sales-men carried nine-inch models to out-of-the-way locations. Sales soared! Sadly though, this large-scale marketing blitz caused the downfall of exclusive hand-painted sled designs.

The Victorian era embraced the genteel pastime of ice skating. Jazzy perambulators (rolling buggies) were transformed to ice sleds. Rubber wheels were replaced with readily avail-able “off the shelf” iron runners. The interior leather seat was adjustable from back to front and could be reclined for napping or cargo space. Often, a brass plate from a prestigious furniture manufacturer such as Heywood-Wakefield was attached boldly to the front for

Cutter style sled with cross bar

Dashing Through the SnowMary Lynne Spazok

all to see; this secured faux status to the car-riage. However, in terms of manufacture, there was no connection.

Today, the aesthetics of vintage sleds, espe-cially miniatures, cause collection frenzy. Secure your pocketbook. For $233,000, Christies Auction House recently sold an exceptional pristine vin-tage. Other models command upwards of $500. Held in New York City, the January American Antiques Show is a first-class resource. On the road, the infamous Route 1 in Maine along with Bucks County, Pennsylvania, are treasure troves of undiscovered finds. Closer to home, sleds with original paint and documentation, at a price of $200, were seen at the Monongalia Antique Show held each spring in Morgantown, West Virginia. In our neighborhood, Gilfillan Farm boasts fine examples of a restored cut-ter, clipper, and converted perambulator (on loan). The clipper style does not boast a cross bar between the front runners. The cutter style does have a cross bar to re-enforce, for instance, decorative swans. The Avant-garde red converted perambulator, with a coordinating wool plaid blanket (see top left photo), assures admiration and envy by all.

As fall fades into winter, a tumultuous winter wonderland is every child’s castle in the sky. Skiing, snowboarding, and modern day sledding provide endless hours of blissful exuberance. Gilfillan Farm winters rejoice in fresh ashen snow, dangling icicles, and the more sedentary art of 1800’s sledding. n

A doll nestles warmly inside a converted perambulator.

Sydney Brown displays a beautifully painted clipper style sled.

Side note: There is no formal holiday open house scheduled for 2006 for Gilfillan Farm. Plan ahead, Saturday, May 19, 2007, is Upper St. Clair Community Day. That day, you are invited to view the sleds and buggies at the Gilfillan transportation garage.


Attractingandfeedingwildbirds has become a favorite backyard activity throughout North America. In fact, backyard birdfeeding is ranked second in popularity to gardening as an outdoor hobby. Why the interest in attracting and feeding wild birds? They enrich our lives by allowing us to share in theirs. Daily, we see their vibrant colors and hear their beautiful songs. We take great pride in being able to identify different birds by size, shape, and markings. Watching bird behavior can help us learn more about and appreciate the private lives of birds while bringing us closer to the amazing wonders of nature.

Fall begins the time of increased activity for birdfeeding. As the outside temperature gets cooler, many of the songbirds that blend their diet between insects and seed now rely for the most part on seed. Feeding birds doesn’t have to be difficult, but it can be confusing. Two of the variables that can baffle the beginner are seed and feeders. There are many types of seed you can offer wild birds. Knowing the feeding preferences of the birds in your area will help you choose the right seed for the species of birds you want to attract. Offering quality seed to the wild birds is a must! With discount seed blends, you could be filling your birdfeeder with up to 75% cereal grain fillers (milo, oats, wheat, barley, and flax) birds don’t like to eat. The birds will kick the grain fillers to the ground, creating a mess. Black oil sunflower is the birdfeeding standard. Virtually all seed-eating birds eat it. You can’t go wrong with black oil or better yet, a blend made from 100% edible seed

that is rich in oil and also contains other quality seed, such as striped sunflower, safflower, and peanuts. Nyjer is a magnet for goldfinch and

mealworms are irresistible for bluebirds. Peanuts are the birdfeeding secret. Blue jays and titmice are especially

fond of peanuts in the shell. Titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and jays love shelled

peanuts. (Squirrels love both types!)Bird feeders come in a mind boggling

number of different shapes, sizes, colors, and styles and vary in price, quality, and functionality. The beginner is wise to start

with a tube feeder. They are easy to fill, hang, and clean. This feeder will attract most of

your songbirds. A hopper-style feeder is a good second choice. This feeder has more surface area

for the birds to perch and will permit access to all birds including the cardinal and blue jay. As you expand your feeding

station, a nyjer feeder for the goldfinch and a suet feeder for the wood-peckers will add to the variety of birds that will entertain you in your yard. Are you looking for a product that is good for the environment as well as the birds? Bird feeders are now being made from recycled milk jugs. These popular feeders are extremely durable, easy to clean, and will not split, fade, or rot. Lastly, if squirrels are a problem, a baffle can be added to save money on seed and let the song birds eat peacefully.

Backyard birdfeeding is a hobby that offers the whole family an abun-dance of variety, surprises, rewards, and beauty. So, turn off the television, go buy a feeder and some quality bird seed, and enjoy nature! n

ImproveYour

Qualityof Life...

Get thePersonal

AttentionYou Deserve

412-257-8788

1341 McLaughlin Run Rd.

Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

www.stclairfitness.com

Dashing Through the Snow

Birdfeeding—aSportfortheWholeFamilyKnox Brown IV, Owner, Wild Birds Unlimited

WILD BIRDS UNLIMITEDWE BRING PEOPLE AND NATURE TOGETHER

* Quality Bird Seed

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* Unique Bird/Nature Related Gifts

* Chimes and Statuary

* WBU Advanced Pole SystemTM

* Binoculars

* Books, Tapes, C.D.’s & Cards

* Garden Accessories

Norman Centre II • 1775 N. Highland Rd.Pittsburgh, PA 15241 • 412-833-9299

Pine Lake Plaza • 10900 Perry HighwayWexford, PA 15090 • 724-935-0051

3848 Wm. Penn HighwayMonroeville, PA 15146 • 412-374-0678

�� UPPERST.CLAIRTODAYWinter 2006 �� UPPERST.CLAIRTODAYWinter 2006

for leasing information, please callPinebridge Commons Associates

(412) 220-9288

Pinebridge CommonsMcLaughlin Run Road at Lesnett Road

Come by and see what’s new• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Carlson Wagonlit Travel Pediatric Dentistry South

Cathy Davin Interior Design Piccolina’s Restaurant

Design Image Salon Primary Physicians Research

Emma’s Market & Deli, Inc. Questa Petroleum Co.

Forest Ridge Land Co. REFCO

Peter Gialames & Associates Eric J. Reitz DMD &

Henderson Investment Corp. Gary J. Yanniello, DMD

Jimcor Associates, Inc. South Hills Financial Group

Timothy Kerr, DMD & State Farm Insurance

Romana Pautler Kerr, DMD Suburban Dry Cleaners

Larry E. Manalo, DMD Weidmann Technical Services

Pediatric Alliance Pinebridge Commons Associates

PINEBRIDGE

If you are looking for a destination specialist, we have them. Our Vacation specialists include

everywhere from the Caribbean, Europe to Australia. Our European specialists

are Austria, Great Britain, Ireland, Hungary, Switzerland and the

Scandinavian countries. We also have a Master Cruise Counselor for all cruise markets

and a Group and Incentive specialist.

We also have over 125 years of experience in our office.

Vacation Packages / Business Travel Cruises / Airline Tickets

America’s

Vacation

Experts

Register On Line for Promotionswww.kiernantravel.com

1580 McLaughlin Run Road • Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

412-221-6772 800-962-9450 Fax: 412-221-7223

E-mail: [email protected]

Larry E. Manalo, D.M.D.Pinebridge Dental • Upper St. Clair • 412-221-2221

88 Dental • Castle Shannon • 412-343-4100

As seen on ABC’s TV hit “Extreme Makeover”

Winter 2006 UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY �� Winter 2006 UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY ��

COMMONS

Sigrid Kiernan $What’sonyourmindthistimeofyear? Going somewhere sunny and warm! Now is the time to plan a winter vacation. At the easternmost shores of the Dominican Republic lies Punta Cana, the heart of some of the best beaches in the world. Punta Cana offers everything you’re looking for in a beach vacation. You can escape to a tropical paradise where refreshing breezes blow, turquoise waters sparkle, and stunning sunsets soothe your soul. The weather remains tropical year round, with an average high of 87 degrees and the average low of 72.

Punta Cana, the major resort area in the Dominican Republic, offers several professional golf courses, casinos, luxurious resorts and spas, and, of course, beautiful beaches! The calm tranquil beaches are perfect for enjoying windsurfing and diving. Tourist attractions abound, includ-ing Manati Park theme park, offering horse, parrot, dolphin, and sea lion shows. It also offers an experience of a lifetime—a swim with the dolphins! Other “must see” attractions include an outback safari, a tour of Santo Domingo, and Saona Island. The natural pool waters of Saona Island are shallow and warm. You’ll have the perfect opportunity to swim and take pictures of huge starfish—many of them are around!

Punta Cana is made up mostly of large all-inclusive resorts populated by couples and families, with most resorts focusing on family entertain-ment. While the nightlife inside the resorts is quite lively, you will also find several small plazas and discotheques that allow tourists to mingle with the locals. Forming part of the Coconut Coast, many resorts feature walking paths through coconut mangroves complete with wildlife and

natural springs. Did you know that no resort in Punta Cana is higher than the highest palm tree?

Punta Cana’s newest resort, the Paradisus Palma Real (a Sol Melia luxury all-inclusive hotel), has achieved much success since open-ing last December. The hotel is an architectural masterpiece with a white sandy beach shaded by coconut palms and protected by a barrier reef. The hotel’s entrance discloses a view of large fountains, a gigantic pool, and the sea beyond. It has only one meal plan op-tion—all inclusive! All meals, tips, drinks, and taxes are included. You can taste food from all over the world at one of its seven res-taurants. Each room comes with a Jacuzzi for two, allowing you to relax in the privacy of your own space. Entertaining guests is a top priority at all Sol Melia hotels and resorts. You will find experienced entertainers to amuse you from morning ’til night!

If you’re thinking of a beach ceremonial wedding, it can be ar-ranged in Punta Cana. Several hotels offer all-inclusive weddings where you can focus on each other and make your dreams come true. Everything you are looking for in a vacation can be found in Punta Cana, a heaven to the tourist industry. n

For more information contact Joseph and Sigrid Kiernan, co-owners of Carlson Wagonlit Travel in USC’s Pinebridge Commons. Carlson Wagonlit provides quality service, expertise, and knowledge in the “specialty travel area.” Joseph or Sigrid can be reached at 412-221-6772 or at [email protected].

An Island Escape

Private Conference RoomNow holding wine dinners& specialty eveningsAl Fresco DiningExpanded Dining Room

Northern Italian Restaurant“ Come visit with the little one”

Reservations suggested Gift Certificates available

Phone (412) 257-1880 Fax (412) 257-2895

1580 McLaughlin Run Rd., Upper St. Clair, P A 15241Visit our website: www.piccolinas.com


GlennG.Groninger412-854-5345

2007*

BarbaraL.Bolas412-833-9841

2007*

MarkG.TrombettaVice President412-831-8543

2007*

DavidE.Bluey412-835-6145

2009*

AngelaB.Petersen412-831-7182

2007*

JeffreyW.Joyce412-257-1704

2007*

DanielA.Iracki412-833-6882

2009*

CarolB.Coliane412-851-0784

2009*

BoardofSchoolDirectors

*Date indicates expiration of term.


UpperSt.ClairSchoolDistrictS

ch

oo

lD

istr

ict

New

s

WilliamM.SulkowskiPresident

412-221-95162009*

Dr.WilliamM.(Bill)Sulkowski and his family have called Upper St. Clair home since 1979. A dentist with a practice in Canonsburg, Bill grew up in Canonsburg and graduated from Canon-McMillan High School. He con-tinued his education at the University of Pittsburgh, receiving his BA in pre-dental, and his DMD from the School of Dental Medicine. While in college Bill played center for Pitt’s basketball

team. Bill first served on USC’s school board from 1999-2003, was again elected to the board in 2005, and currently serves as board president.

UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY had a chance to speak with Bill, and we’re please to share our conversation with our readers.

Why did you run for school board and what are your goals in that capacity?

We started a process of being more accountable during my first term on the board, and I saw an opportunity to move the District forward in a fiscally responsible manner while still maintaining the academic excellence we’re known for. We’re well into our stated goals of a balanced budget for 2006 and 2007 with no tax increase, and have set the foundation for 2007 and 2008. We’ve been able to satisfy the needs of the District without raising taxes. We’ve had more accountability and open-ness—filming business meetings, providing a synopsis of what transpired each month, and putting more information on the District’s website. We’re looking for ways to increase revenue

BillSulkowskiPresident,UpperSt.ClairSchoolBoard

without raising taxes, and we hired a fundraising company to look for new funding sources at no cost to the District. We’re getting community members involved in advisory committees regarding the budget, mission statement, and tax structure. We’ve increased the number of AP classes and decreased class size at the elementary school level.

Who has been the biggest influence in your life?My father, an educator, and my uncle, a dentist, both Pitt grads,

were my role models. They gave me a lot of support and direction. My mother was also a great influence in my life. She provided the stability and family environment that gave me the security to succeed.

What activities and hobbies do you enjoy?I like athletics, especially swimming and walking. I like old

cars and I have an old MG and a ’53 Kaiser. I like riding my Harley-Davidson motorcycle and spend time taking bike trips to many national parks.

Anything else you’d like the residents to know?We have a great community and great community involvement.

People are paying much closer attention to government and that attention is good for the community. The viability of our community depends on a stable taxing environment—we don’t want to chase seniors and those without kids in school out of our District. I’ve heard a lot of positive comments from the community about our initiatives. We’ll continue to make the District better.

What’s your dream vacation?Any vacation with my family—my wife, Patricia, and children,

Alex and Leigh. n


FrosinaCordisco joins the District as new Director of Business and Finance, replacing Jane Sierzega. Frosina earned both her bachelor of science in econom-ics and mathematics and her MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. Her busi-ness experience is extensive and includes president of FCC Consulting, LLC, vice president of finance and CFO of VEC Technology, LLC, and vice president and treasurer of DQE and Duquesne Light

Company. Frosina is also an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh where she teaches finance and management, and serves on the board of trustees of the Pittsburgh Public Theatre.

A resident of Upper St. Clair since 1979, Frosina is looking for-ward to making a meaningful contribution to the community, and expects her experiences in the private sector and teaching at the University of Pittsburgh to serve her well in her new position.

Frosina has two children: Christopher Damish, 25, who cur-rently lives in Washington, DC, and Nicole Damish, a senior finance major at the University of Kentucky. In addition to a love of cooking, Frosina enjoys skiing, being outdoors, and traveling. n

DistrictWelcomesFrosinaCordiscoasFinanceDirector

HailFarewell

Baker: Lauren Greco (also at Eisenhower), Kristin Senay

Eisenhower: Kellie Costello, Eric Miller, Kerry Strauch

Streams: Sherri Pargament, Leslie Phillips Smirniw

Boyce: Lauren Gates, Justin Gremba, Abdelkader Khila, Jason O’Roark, Robert Sully

Fort Couch: Richard Ali, Andrew Lucas, Erin Peterson

High School: Kevin Coffman, Ben Edwards, Jean Gigliotti, Giulia Gouker, Emily Robbibaro, Katie Ryan, Dana Sussman, David Watson

Homebound Instruction: Jenna Greco

Administrative (Central Office): Scott Holtkamp, Todd West

Dr.JamesLombardo, Superintendent of Schools, will soon be leaving Upper St. Clair to take a position with the Bensalem School District. Dr. Lombardo has been with USC for just over three years, but the initiatives implemented under his direction should have a positive impact for years to come.

While Dr. Lombardo joked that the biggest challenge for a superintendent at Upper St. Clair is “not messing things up,”

he took steps to improve on what was already in place. He focused on themes—such as supervisor evaluation and assessment, health and wellness, class size, and communications—and created committees to develop goals and action plans for each. Some of the results from these committees include reduced elementary school class size, com-munity forums on drug and alcohol use, and updated technology. One initiative that Dr. Lombardo expects to continue long after he’s gone is the Asian studies program, stating that there are great people in place at the high school to provide leadership for it.

As Dr. Lombardo prepares to leave what he calls one of the “top school districts in the state” he is beginning to look at the challenges that face him at Bensalem, a district located in the suburbs north of Philadelphia. He described the district with its approximately 7000 students as very different than that of Up-per St. Clair, stating that it is more diverse both ethnically and socio-economically. He explained that the average income in the Bensalem district is $50,000 and only about 50% of that district’s students are meeting PSSA standard, so he’ll be working to sig-nificantly improve performance over the next few years.

“It’s a different kind of approach,” said Dr. Lombardo, “but it will be exciting to serve a much needier people.” n

NewJobforDr.Lombardo

Welcome our new hires to the District for the 2006-07 school year.

Thank you to the following District retirees for their years of service.Professional: Joan Descalzi, Cindy Golding, Dee Hamel, Sam Hazo, Kate Junker, Joan Kerlin, Jim Lydon,

Florine Masciantonio, Noreen Pikutis, Jodi Ramsay, Judy Reilly, Jim Smoyer, Collette Sullivan

Classified: John Harrison, Catherine Pigford, Rocco Totino

Administrative Support: Alex Dombroski, Phyllis Feller


Arts Hall of Fame

Athletic Hall of Fame

2006 Upper St. Clair High School Halls of Fame

Academic Hall of Fame

The�8newestmembersofUSC’sHallsofFames were honored on Friday, September 29 at the seventh annual Halls of Fame induction ceremony. The energized crowd, gathered for the football match up of Upper St. Clair against Baldwin, cheered for each inductee as they were individually recognized during pre-game activities. It is with great pride that we recognize the inductees of the 2006 Upper St. Clair Halls of Fame.

Academic Hall of Fame, left to right: Scott Hahn, David Lind, Paul Schlachter, Susan Hughes, Cheryl Bruno Gamber, Edward Callahan. Not pictured: Joseph Buggy, Catherine Moraytis Ulicny.

Arts Hall of Fame, left to right: Jim Bennett (Arts Hall of Fame Committee Chair), Shari Shriver Opfermann, Dwight Kennedy, David Lander,

Susan Forry Locke, Jessica Spencer. Inset photo: Karen Sommer Turnbull. Not pictured: Rick Valicenti.

Photo by Kris JenkinsPhoto by Kris Jenkins

Athletic Hall of Fame, left to right: Gary DePalma, Zach Ellis, Phil Dunn

Photo by M&M Photography


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WhenDr.MikeGhilani reportedfor work on August 22 he had a new title—principal of Upper St. Clair High School.

Dr. Ghilani started his career with the District in 2001 as USCHS assistant prin-cipal. Before working in Upper St. Clair, he spent two years at Plum High School as both school counselor and director of alternative education. He also taught AP psychology during the day and social stud-ies for the alternative education program in the evening. Dr. Ghilani laughingly com-mented that he usually didn’t leave before six or seven each night.

Dr. Ghilani received his BA from Washington and Jefferson, where he majored in psychology and minored in education and business, and was certified to teach social studies. He earned his M.Ed. in school counseling from the University of Pittsburgh, and D.Ed. in supervision from Duquesne. Dr. Ghilani received his principal’s certification and certificate in educational leadership from Carnegie Mellon University.

Keeping Upper St. Clair High School number one is Dr. Ghilani’s objective as principal. His goal is for the high school to be the first in the state to achieve 100% pro-ficiency in achievement tests. Dr. Ghilani said one thing he is looking forward to as principal is being able to carry out his initiatives, stating it’s easier to implement ideas when you’re the principal.

While Dr. Ghilani doesn’t have a lot of free time, he works out and lifts weights, and enjoys hunting and fishing. He prac-tices yoga with his wife of eight years, Dana. While he won’t be teaching this fall, Dr. Ghilani is an adjunct professor at California University of Pennsylvania, and usually teaches one class each semester in the university’s counselor education program. n

Dr. Mike Ghilani–new USCHS principal

GhilaniNamedHighSchoolPrincipal

2006 Upper St. Clair High School

Halls of Fame Celebration


HighSchoolThis school year

started off with a newness in the air, as the High School welcomed a new prin-cipal, new assistant principal, new teach-ers, and lots of new families! The PTSO worked hard all sum-mer to prepare the many volunteers for the tasks ahead. The invaluable District-wide directory was put together, there were bulk mailing parties, and planning for all the student events. First and foremost, this year’s senior class enjoyed the much anticipated Senior Cruise. As always, this event on the Gateway Clipper was a blast.

In late September, Open House dazed many parents as they listened to teachers divulge a typical day and literally ran their kids schedules in record time. No wonder our kids are so tired at the end of the day!

The PTSO, along with PTA Council, hosted new families to the District with a delicious tailgate dinner for USC’s first

football game. From the first game to Homecoming, fans have been Panther crazy! Parents of the USCHS junior class hosted the Homecoming festivities. Well-dressed couples, music, and dancing made for a fun evening.

Thanks to everyone who made so much happen in just a few months. Time flies and Kennywood Day will be here before we know it, but there’s still plenty of time to get involved at the high school. Come to the PTSO meetings, held the third Wednesday of each month (except December), to find out what you can become part of.

FortCouchDo you remember

your first day of sev-enth or eighth grade? Fort Couch Middle School students were also filled with mixed emotions as they be-gan their first day on August 30. Some were new to a four-team teacher approach; others were glad to see familiar faces of friends and staff. Principal Joe DeMar and Assistant Principal John Rozzo introduced themselves to the incoming students as they learned their room locations, locker assignments, and became acclimated to school and scheduling.

Many opportunities (such as student council, fall team sports, chorus, orchestra, band, and other clubs and activities) presented themselves the first few months of the school year for the students to get involved.

Teams were encouraged to participate in Reach Out, a fundraiser co-sponsored by Student Council. The donations go to needy families in the South Hills area, and also to various charities including the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the MS Bike-a-thon. Student Council also benefits from the profits of ink recycling and Box Top collections.

Fort Couch is not only a place for students to meet new friends; parent involvement is encouraged. Come to a PTA meeting, help out on a committee, or join in on a student field trip—just volun-teer your time and talents when you can. The PTA sponsors many student activities including Caught You Being Good, evening so-cials, receptions for team sports, chorus, band, and orchestra, and the fall open house. PTA also provides a bookstore for students to purchase school supplies during lunch hour.

BoyceThe school year enjoyed a great beginning at Boyce’s Breakfast

with the Teachers event. Students introduced their parents to their teachers for a brief chat and then joined friends for a light breakfast. The students were well on their way to becoming more

Pawprints: A USC PTA Council Highlight of Our Schools

Fort Couch students find their lockers on the first day of school.

TheUSCPTACouncil, the umbrella PTA organization in Upper St. Clair, provides leadership and coordination for all the PTAs at the individual schools (units), grades K through eight. This year, Council is focusing on improving Internet communications and expanding PTA membership through the new campaign—“Support PTA’s Race to the Future… Together we are Driving the Road to Success.” If you haven’t already joined, it’s not too late! Contact Jennifer Schuler at 412-835-5553 and join today.

USC PTA Council is responsible for the District-wide directory and Internet communications, among other things. By pooling resources, Council can provide better quality programming that addresses issues in parenting, education, and special needs through the Together in Parenting (TIP), Topics in Education (TIE), Gifted and Talented Education (GATE), and Partners in Education (PIE). Look for these programs throughout the school year. In addition, through various committees, Council keeps the local units apprised of legislative and current issues relative to the health, safety, and education of our children.

“TIP… providing support and education concerning difficult parenting issues”

Please attend the upcoming TIP presentation on Internet Safety

Thursday, November 16 at 9:30 a.m. in the Fort Couch LGI room.

Contact Stacie de la Parra at 412-833-2366 or Kim Frenette at 412-851-1709 with questions.

New family tailgate dinner at USCHS


organized after they bought their Binder Reminders (the Boyce PTA version of a day planner) from the PTA during the first week of school.

Boyce’s major annual fundraiser, the Sally Foster gift wrap sale, was a huge suc-cess thanks to the hard work of students, parents, and staff. The sale funds many of the hands-on learning experiences for the students throughout the year, including the Earthwarden Program (Deer Valley), Author’s Day, Science Extravaganza, NASA, and Civil War Days.

Principal Karen Brown led the first Open Mike of the year, a question and answer exchange allowing parents to learn more about Boyce. Parents should plan to attend the next Open Mike scheduled for Thursday, November 16.

Participation in PTA activities at Boyce is a good way for parents to continue their involvement in their child’s school life while they become increasingly more independent.

BakerIn September, Baker Elementary’s Fall

Open House offered students and parents the opportunity to visit school classrooms and meet new teachers. The sale of USC Spirit wear and the Scholastic Book Fair added to the excitement of the event. October brought the Fall Hoe Down and the chance for fourth level students to celebrate the beginning of fall and socialize with their peers outside the classroom.

Baker’s annual Bingo Night is sched-uled for November 11. Baker parents and students are looking forward to the camaraderie and prizes that come with this night. The holiday season kicks off in December with the Enchanted Shop, followed by the Seducki Puppet show and the winter choral concert. Upon returning from winter break in January, the students will have the opportunity to participate in Baker’s third annual Read-In. This year’s Read-In has a global theme that highlights different countries and cultures through-out the world. February brings the Baker Caper, the school’s biggest fundraiser, and a terrific way for everyone to escape the mid-winter blues.

EisenhowerThe PTA family at Eisenhower Elementary

started off the school year with a welcome breakfast for all kindergarten students and other new families to the school. Later in the month, the Scholastic Book Fair was

held in conjunction with Eisenhower’s Open House. Eisenhower closed out the month of September with another breakfast as students from the fourth level invited their parents to join them for breakfast and fellowship at the start of the school day.

The PTA’s largest fundraiser of the year, the Eisenhowler was held on October 6. Students and their families were treated to an evening of fun, games, food, raffles, and door prizes. Funds raised from this event support many PTA functions as well as provide for field trips, supplies, and spe-cial purchases that benefit all Eisenhower students.

This month brings the second grade social and the first grade breakfast. The Holiday Mart is scheduled for December and several exciting family events are planned for the upcoming winter months. There’s always something great happening at Eisenhower!

StreamsStreams Elementary recently celebrated its

40th anniversary. The Streams family marked the occasion with the construction of a beau-tiful butterfly garden and outdoor classroom slated to open this coming spring.

In keeping with tradition, Streams pro-duced an anniversary cookbook filled with recipes from students, parents, teachers, and administrators. To order your copy, contact Tracie Degnan at 412-854-1305. Proceeds from the sale will help fund the Streams garden and classroom projects. Many anniversary celebrations will con-tinue throughout the school year, including the opening of the Streams time capsule and the creation of a new time capsule to “send” into the future.

Along with Streams’ anniversary cel-ebrations, the PTA sponsored many events including the new family welcome tour, Open House, Streams Stravaganza (the school’s annual carnival), and harvest par-ties and parade. n

Questions about PTA or PTSO?

Call Carol Murray (PTA) 412-221-6878

orDarenda Lease (PTSO)

412-854-4481.

412-833-3600 ext. 219412-491-6984 cell

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Joanne Szymanskiwas a member of the Upper St. Clair teaching staff for 28 years. Joanne’s untimely death this past June came as a surprise to all of us on the Upper St. Clair staff. She was a trusted colleague and friend, and her positive attitude and knowledge

of the middle school will be greatly missed. She touched many of our lives, and her love of teaching will always be remembered.

Joanne joined the USC professional staff in 1978 with her first assignment at Boyce Middle School. Before coming to USC, she taught one year at Neil Armstrong Middle School and a year at Independence Middle School, both in the Bethel Park School District. Joanne graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in May 1975 with a bachelor of science degree and an elemen-tary education professional certificate. In 2004, when the Pennsylvania Department of Education created the middle level math-ematics professional certificate, she received certification immediately.

During her career, Joanne taught many different subjects. In 1990, Joanne moved from Boyce to Fort Couch Middle School with most of her teaching responsibilities in the area of mathematics. In 2003, she was appointed as the mathematics resource and gifted education teacher at Fort Couch.

During her many years of teaching, Joanne taught thousands of students. She showed many students how to love the content she was teaching, especially mathematics, and to love learning. Joanne epitomized the outstand-ing middle level teacher. She exhibited the professional characteristics needed to guide students through the difficult years of early adolescence. Her ability to provide middle school students with structure and nurtur-ing clearly characterized her interaction with them. This was not only true in the classroom, but also on the court or on the field. Over the years, Joanne coached middle school teams in basketball, volleyball, and track.

Joanne also tutored many students who were struggling in mathematics. Many re-turned years later to thank her and recount how she got them through those difficult math courses. The students never forgot what

she had done for them, and she will always have a special place in their hearts.

Joanne served on many District com-mittees and as middle school mathematics curriculum leader. In the mid 80s, Joanne was instrumental in the District’s middle school reorganization program, serving on committees and as the mathematics depart-ment head at Boyce. In her position as the mathematics curriculum leader, she was instrumental in helping adopt a new text-book series in the fifth through eighth levels mathematics program.

In 1993, Joanne was appointed to the Pennsylvania Assessment System Math-ematics Advisory Committee. She also was a certified teacher trainer for the International Baccalaureate Organization’s Middle Years Program. Her focus area was mathematics, and Joanne’s leadership helped many other teachers learn the skills necessary for qual-ity mathematics instruction. Joanne also was active in the Upper St. Clair Education Association and served as the middle school vice president.

Probably the most significant benefit that her students received were experiences that changed Joanne as she traveled through life as a “life-long learner.” Joanne was always traveling, living life to its fullest, and learn-ing from it. Whether it was her travels to the Middle East, Africa, Europe, areas of the United States, or places in Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh area, Joanne learned from these adventures and shared them with her students to help make learning relevant and meaningful to them.

As with many outstanding educators, Joanne was very private about her work with her students and how much she meant to so many of them. Joanne’s mother has made a special request that those students who had Joanne as a teacher share their experiences with the family. This can be done by an electronic condolence card at www.legacy.com/postgazette/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=183007. n

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To honor her memory and the professional career of Ms. Joanne Szymanski, a scholarship fund has been established in her name. Tax deductible contribu-tions to the Joanne Szymanski Scholarship Fund can be made payable to and sent to: The Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair, 2585 Washington Road, Suite 131A, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241. Please identify “the Joanne Szymanski Scholarship Fund” on the memo line.

Karen Brown, Boyce Middle School Principal

Dr. John Bornyas, Director of Programming, Operations, and Middle Level Education

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It’sadark,snowynight. You’re fin-ished with the many daily chauffeuring duties, dinner, and dishes. It’s finally time to relax, when your son or daughter comes up to you. “Umm… I have a report due.”

“When?” you ask, with a sinking feeling in your stomach. You think you already know the answer. “Tomorrow,” your child says helpfully.

The library and bookstores are closed for the night, and sifting through all the advertisements—adult and irrelevant in-formation you’d get by googling—could take hours. What do you do?

Fortunately, USC elementary parents can now turn to their family computers and access two helpful resources—World Book Online Reference Center and Access PA Power Library.

The District recently purchased a subscription to World Book Online Reference Center. This database is pro-duced by the same company that produces the well-known, authoritative World Book Encyclopedia that you may remember from your own school days. In addition to printed articles, streaming videos, photos, and 360-degree views are included with many of the entries. The content includes NASA, Behind the Headlines, Surf the Ages, Today in History, an atlas, dictionary, and magazine articles from Ebsco. Some entries include links to other websites that World Book editors have found to contain useful information on the subject.

This wonderful resource is continu-ally updated and can be accessed at any home by following the simple steps listed below: 1. Type www.worldbookonline.com in your web browser window. 2. Enter this log-in ID: uscsd 3. Enter this password: panther 4. Click on “Go” 5. Click on the yellow “Search” tab. 6. Enter your word search terms and click “Go.” You may also search using the “Search for a word or phrase,” “Browse,” or “Boolean phrase” options under this tab.

By clicking on the other tabs, you are able to access maps (atlas), look up words (dictionary), and explore a wealth of infor-mation on our home state (Pennsylvania resources).

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One very useful fact you probably won’t find on World Book is how to access the other wonderful reference source available to our students and families—Access PA Power Library.

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To log onto the Access PA Power Library, you will need a library card from the Upper St. Clair Township Library. Then to log on, follow the steps listed below: 1. Go to www.twpusc.org/library/index.html 2. Click “Online Databases” (right side of screen). 3. Click the “Access PA Power Library” link. 4. Enter the barcode from your Township library card. If you need a password, use the last four digits of your phone number.

This collection of 35 databases covers a wide range of subjects and is available to ev-ery library cardholder in the Commonwealth at no charge. Popular research databases for elementary level students include: Ebsco animals, Primary Search, Facts for Learn-ing, Kid’s Search/Searchasaurus and SIRS Discoverer. Middle and high school students can benefit from Student Research Center and LitFinder. There are also databases that appeal to adults, such as Business Source, Health Source, Consumer, Novelist, and Automotive Repair reference centers.

So next time your child has a paper due, or you need some up-to-date information, rest easy knowing that there are some quality resources you can access without leaving the house! n


Implementation of a new Kindergarten Literacy program. • Provides frequent, explicit, and systematic instruction and practice with phonological awareness skills as recom-mended by the National Reading Panel Report (2000). Attainment of phonemic awareness has been identified as the pri-mary indicator for later reading success. • Phonics development, writing op-portunities, and comprehension are also represented. • Program allows for small group in-struction to provide differentiated learning experiences. • The program aligns with the newly released Pennsylvania standards for kin-dergarten. • Parent informational sessions were held this fall.

All USC students have access to World Book Online Reference Center both at school and home. • USC School District purchased a subscription to World Book Online Refer-ence Center (a database of information produced by the well-known World Book Encyclopedia). See page 53 for article. • Includes access to printed articles, streaming videos, photos, 360-degree views of items and places, an atlas, diction-ary, and magazine articles.

modification and use in all classrooms. • Approach will enhance the already strong emphasis on the writing process and writing in the content areas. • Approach emphasizes ideas, organiza-tion, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and an optional presentation trait. • Model is based on the research of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in Portland, Oregon.

Use of Investigative Science Notebook in all kindergarten through grade four elementary science classrooms. • Effective tools in helping students to see an organized linear progression of their scientific thinking. • Provide excellent sources for tracking student growth and assessment of their learning.

Students use World Book Online reference center.

Piloted Six-Traits Writing Approach

Students work on Science Notebook.

Kindergarten Literacy

Read Naturally pilot program

ElementaryCurriculumNews—CoreAcademicSubjects

All elementary areas continue to focus on the District’s goal of refining assessment practices and data-based instructional decision making.

Pilot of Read Naturally, intervention for students in grades two through four who are experiencing difficulty with fluency—reading with expression, smoothness, and at a good rate. • Fluency is an essential link between word analysis and comprehension of text and is considered a necessary tool for learn-ing from reading. Students who have to analyze and consciously decode so many words and invest so much of their cognitive resources in word decoding do not have much left for making sense of a passage.

Pilot elements of the Six-Traits Writing Approach in identified first through fourth grade classrooms. • If the pilot is successful, a recom-mendation will be made for curriculum


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Implement Mastering Math Facts-Rocket Math program as an enhancement to our math program to strengthen automaticity and fluency of the first through fourth level student in the four basic mathematical operations. • Piloted last year with good results. • Computational fluency is emphasized in the Pennsylvania math standards as well as national math standards. • Automatic recall of facts is important to learning higher level math. • Provides the opportunity for students to work at a pace and level that is both chal-lenging and success-oriented.

Adopt Math Essentials Grade Four to enhance the fourth level geography unit. • Culmination of a planned grade one through four geography strand update com-pleted over the past five years. • Balance of skill building, problem solving, and higher-order thinking skills. • Provides students with another opportunity to interact with expository text. • Address USC and Pennsylvania academic standards for geography. n


Schoolsacrossthecountry continue to face curriculum, personnel, and instructional changes, and Fort Couch Middle School is no exception. Over the past two years, a variety of changes have taken place. Fort Couch has added 15 new faces to the administra-tive and teaching teams. These team members play an integral role in curriculum and instruction changes.

While Fort Couch continues to be highly ranked in academic achievement, the administration also realizes the need to continue to challenge students by implementing rigorous curricular and in-structional changes. Curriculum has been revised in various academic areas, specifically mathematics and language arts. Instructionally, the initiative is to provide more differentiation within the classroom. Thus, all students will have numerous opportunities to meet with success. Additionally, staff members spend a great deal of time using student data to drive instructional initiatives. This practice will allow Fort Couch to better meet the needs of the individual child.

All changes which occur at Fort Couch Middle School are made with the students’ best interest in mind. The school maintains an envi-ronment that fosters the academic, social, and emotional development

of each student. The ultimate goal is to provide multiple learning opportunities to develop a well-rounded child. Although the faces, curriculum, and instruction may change, the goal always remains the same. Fort Couch Middle School is a great place to learn! n

Can you imagine Market Square in down-town Pittsburgh becoming an international food gal-lery with an entertainment center for people of all ages? These are a few plans that my team envi-sioned for the Downtown Vibrancy Project.

During the week of July 26, 32 eighth graders, each representing one school district in Allegheny County, conceived different ideas to improve the Market Square area in downtown Pittsburgh. It was extremely excit-ing for me when I was chosen to represent Upper St. Clair.

We met at Point Park University with instructor Dr. Joan Kiel each day. We were divided into five groups and thought of group names such as the X-ing Peds and Free Parking. My group’s name was the Three Riverhounds. We attended several lectures with many city officials, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, and the late Mayor Bob O’Connor.

Globalization is taking place all around the world. Cities are moving forward in technology and appearance. Pittsburgh cannot be left behind. I believe that an important factor in bringing our city to the top is Market Square. When most people think of Market Square, they picture run-down buildings with vacant upper floors,

overflowing trash cans, littered, unleveled streets, pigeons, hard marble seating, and trees growing in stones and mulch. This picture should be the Market Square of the past, not of the future. I would like people to say, “Market Square… wow!”

Over the course of the project, we ex-plored Market Square and developed ideas to improve it, then prepared and presented a PowerPoint® presentation to the press. My group envisioned transforming Market Square into the heart of the city—lively and energetic. To me, it doesn’t matter if you live in the downtown area or not; Market Square should be a must-see place in Pittsburgh.

We wanted our changes to appeal to people of all ages, so we discussed what people like to do most—eat! Our first thought was to transform Market Square into an international food gallery, full of ethnic stalls and restaurants, each representing a different country from around the world. We would also hold a nationality fair every three months.

Then we thought, “Will people really be attracted only by restaurants?” We realized we needed to create more things to draw people in and the area needs to be pedestrian friendly and accessible to all. Once a month certain groups of people could get a discount to shops and restaurants—senior citizens’ day, or children’s day, for example.

My group also thought general appear-ance improvements are necessary—adding

benches, fountains, flowers, and lights. The marble should be cleaned, unsightly graffiti removed, old buildings refurbished, and the current, uneven cobblestone roads leveled. To give Market Square a park-like feeling, vehicles should be banned. Concerts should be held during lunch hours on weekdays and weekend evenings. A place for people to dance, caricature artists, magicians, bal-loon artists, and more should provide further entertainment.

My group’s mission to help people enjoy their experience at Market Square and to make them want to come back can be ac-complished in many ways. We could add a plasma TV message board (which would show upcoming events in the downtown area), and we could create a Pittsburgh sou-venir shop as well. Safety is important, and I think that an adequate staff of security of-ficers should patrol the area. Our group also thought about building an elegant revolving restaurant directly on top of the river.

My experience was great. I learned a lot about Pittsburgh, and had a lot of fun doing it. This program was possible because of Hilda Fu, the director of the program; Dr. Joan Kiel, our instructor; Carol Brinjak; and the Heinz Endowments, which funded the program and contributed $15,000. Hopefully our groups’ Pittsburgh develop-ment ideas will be integrated. I would love to be invited back to the program again next year! n

Left to right are Joe DeMar, principal; Lisa Cain, physical education teacher; and Matoula Rice, head secretary

TheChangingFaceofFortCouchJoe DeMar, Fort Couch Principal; John Rozzo, Fort Couch Assistant Principal

MarketSquare—WithFlairAvisha Shah, Fort Couch Eighth Grader

Avisha Shah


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AllTeachersareReadingTeachersJohn Bornyas, Ed.D., Director of Programming, Operations, and Middle Level Education

Increasingliteracyskills has always been a major focus of the District’s middle school in-terdisciplinary program. Success in this area can only be achieved when middle school teachers

employ strategies to build reading compre-hension across content areas.

During the 2005-06 school year, this area of the middle school program was a major focus. Realizing that professional retirements in the District over the past three years have

resulted in many recently hired teachers at the middle school level, an in-service program dealing with teaching reading strategies across all content areas was provided for all middle school teachers in November 2005.

The in-service program included a review of the work com-pleted by the National Reading Panel. Created by Congress in 1997, this panel was charged with the responsibility of assessing the effectiveness of different approaches used to teach reading. Although the results of the panel’s work and the final report re-leased in 2000 were somewhat controversial, the evidence seems to support the conclusion that typical American middle level and high school curricula assumes that kids can successfully under-stand new information independently from their reading.

This assumption is not necessarily completely true. Because of the increase of new technology, constant need for workers of the future to upgrade job skills, and the need to have the ability to deal with a world that generates new knowledge at a frightening pace, today’s students will need to use literacy skills more effectively than their counterparts of the past. Consequently, all teachers, not just elementary teachers, need to be reading teachers—helping the student to master vocabulary, reading for different purposes, reading different prose, and reading with multiple perspectives.

Presentations on content comprehension, vocabulary enrichment, reading interaction, and reading interest strategies were developed and delivered to the middle school staffs by Jan Atutes, Shelley Desmond, Sam Gallaher, Eileen Sakoian, Chris Caragein, and Dianne Ecker. Karen Brown, Boyce Middle School principal, was the administrator who helped the teachers organize the program.

At the end of the 2005-06 school year, staff was surveyed on their use of reading strategies. Teachers reported that their effectiveness in focusing on issues related to literacy and the reading skills of their students grew during the school year. The teachers also reported that they helped students construct meaning from context, integrated other print materials beyond the textbook into their curricula, used an assortment of texts ranging in format and difficulty level, and used graphic organizers to help their students build a frame of reference when new material was intro-duced. The teachers clearly demonstrated that they understand the importance that all teachers be reading teachers. n

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Transitions—ourlivesarefullofthem. Whether it’s moving into a new house, starting a new job, or taking that first step onto a school bus, we are constantly facing changes that influ-ence our normal routines. In the Upper St. Clair School District our students generally make five different transitions throughout their academic careers. Starting kindergarten, moving from el-ementary school to Boyce, moving from Boyce to Fort Couch, and graduating from the high school are obviously four of these important and necessary changes. Perhaps the most important transition, however, is the movement from Fort Couch to USCHS after the eighth grade year.

The reasons for this are numerous. Academ-ic pressure, peer relationships, getting involved in clubs, sports, and activities—these are issues that are not unique to high school students of Upper St. Clair. What is somewhat unique to USC high schoolers, however, is the tradition of excellence and high expectations that has been passed down from the success of generations of previous students. The culture and mindset that has been established over many years at our high school can produce conflicting emotions of confidence and doubt for an incoming fresh-man. Will I get good grades? Can I make a name for myself? How hard is it to get from class to class? Will I fit in? These are just some of the questions an eighth grade student may ask him or herself over the summer months leading up to the first day of freshman year.

Research has consistently shown that one of the best indicators for future academic and life success is the ability for a high school freshman to assimilate into the academic and social cultures of their high school in an effort to develop a sense of identity and belonging. For most adults who are able to harken back to their teenage years, this endeavor was probably easier said than done. Now picture yourself as a current teen in an era of high technology, increased academic standards, and numerous other distractions that contemporary students must contend with on a daily basis. Today’s kids certainly have challenges that most adults never had to deal with.

One way that the administration and coun-seling department at Upper St. Clair High School is attempting to further assist incoming fresh-men in successfully making the transition from middle school to ninth grade is by proactively of-fering a new evening program to their parents. In mid-September two sessions of “Parenting 101: Navigating Your Teen Through the High School Years” were offered to parents and guardians of the freshman class. Unlike traditional orientation programs that offer a necessary nuts and bolts

synopsis of procedural and policy information, Parenting 101 offers parents a hands-on, practi-cal look at the realities of raising a teenager in today’s global, high-tech society. Although some of the developmental obstacles of adolescence will never change, many first time freshman parents are anxious about the nuances and chal-lenges their child will face during his or her four years of high school.

Parenting 101 presentation

Parenting�0�:NavigatingYourTeenThroughtheHighSchoolYearsJace Palmer, M.Ed., M.P.M., Assistant High School Principal

Under the direction of Dr. William Rullo, USCHS director of counseling, and Jace Palmer, USCHS assistant principal, freshman parents were presented with a realistic view of what to expect during their child’s high school career. Numerous topics were covered during the evening presentations. Technology issues such as the dangers of using the Internet inappro-priately as well as the potential implications of having cell phones that produce pictures were discussed. The temptations teens face with regard to drugs and alcohol was a sensitive and important area of concern for everyone at the program, as parents were given a checklist of warning signs to look for in their teen child. In addition, numerous other topics were covered, including procedures specific to Upper St. Clair High School. Dress code, student driving, at-tendance, discipline, and outlining a typical day for a high school student were all key points of discussion during the program.

One thing is for sure, educators and parents will never be able to completely shield our children from the inevitable temptations and challenges they will face during their teenage years. The ability to make quality decisions will ultimately be up to our students as they progress on the road to adulthood. Having parents and educators working as a team to assist our youth in these endeavors will be one further measure we can take toward helping to ensure the greatest likelihood for our children’s success. Parenting 101 was just another way our District and our parents joined forces in helping to make such a goal a reality. n

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This issue of Meet theTeacher focuses on Matthew Alloway, a first grade teacher at Baker Elementary.

Matt grew up in Erie, but now he and his wife, Emily, a teacher at USCHS, make their home in Castle Shannon. He loves watch-ing football, and while there was a chance he might grow up to be a Browns fan, he roots for the Steelers. Matt and Emily also enjoy camping and basketball, and sometimes help coach at the basketball camp Emily’s father runs.

Keep reading to learn more about one of our District’s special teachers.

Name: Matthew Alloway.

School and subject area: Baker first grade teacher.

Education: Penn State—BS, human development and family studies; Slippery Rock—BS/teaching certificate; University of Pittsburgh—M.Ed., supervision and leadership.

Favorite subject in school: Reading. Matt said he had a first grade teacher who really made books come alive.

Least favorite subject in school: He said he didn’t dislike any subject, but thought social studies classes were kind of bland.

Why he became a teacher: Matt said he became a teacher because he had lots of great teachers that he respected and looked up to. He still keeps in touch with his first grade teacher, Mrs. Palermo.

What people might be surprised to know about Matthew: He and Emily took ballroom dancing in gym class when they were at Penn State and are still taking lessons six years later! Matt says swing is his favorite style of dance, and he and Emily performed a swing number during last year’s Baker Caper. During his student teaching days he tried to teach his students a few basic dance moves, and most recently gave swing lessons for some of his fellow teachers at Baker. n

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Did you hear thesound of tennis balls striking rackets in the distance this fall? The USC girls’ ten-nis team was primed for another exciting year of competition. In a community where excellence has become both

habi t and tradi -tion, it’s not surprising that the Lady Panthers tennis team has not only met, but also surpassed the expectations of its fans nearly every season. The ker-nel of success surely lies in the strong involvement of our community and the positive role that parents have in the lives of their children. There are other facets that are also woven together to create champions on the court each fall.

Notably, tennis for these girls is a year-round commitment; the fact that the majority of the team’s players train and condition at area tennis clubs literally 12 months a year is not an exaggeration. Long hours are spent in preparation for mid-August when the ladies come together as a team and begin intense preparation for fall competition.

Coaching is also an integral part of any team’s success and the Lady Panthers are no different. The team is headed by Coach Marcy Bruce (College of Charleston, ’93), who took the helm a decade ago following a line of

other features that create such an enthu-siastic, competitive, and successful team each season? Bruce suggests, “A key ingredient is main-taining team unity and a positive out-look.” Bruce also believes that sharing her own experiences with the girls is vital; she continues to compete today with the same passion as she had at their age.

PIAA state champion Shayna Miller (USC, ’05) plays tennis at Cornell University and contends, “The hard work and dedication required for the USC high school team were perfect preparation for competition at the col-legiate level.” The Upper St. Clair girls’ tennis team has a long history of success and whether or not former Panthers continue at the college level, each can and should be proud of the time spent playing the game. At the end of the day,

this team can glean satisfaction from both a tireless work ethic and a winning record! n

Timothy Wagner is the assistant coach of the USCHS girls’ tennis team and a senior child development and education major at Washington and Jefferson College.

Name: ________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________

Zip: __________________________________________________________

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Number of kits _______ x $8 per kit = $ _______Total enclosed

Make check payable to: USC Band Parents AssociationMail to: USC Band Parents Association

2583 Rossmoor Drive, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

Luminaria Kit Order Form

Luminaria has come to represent warmth, peace, and friendliness in Upper St. Clair and draws visitors from far and wide to enjoy our candlelit streets. Order by December 2. Delivery on December 9. Luminaria kits, including 12 candles, bags, and sand, are $8.

The luminaria sale is sponsored by the USC Band Parents Association. Proceeds benefit USCHS music department students. For more information call 412-833-2712 or visit www.uscbpa.org.

L u m i n a r i a

Girls’ Tennis—the Road to GreatnessTimothy Wagner

coaches including Renee Russell, Lisa Dollard, Joan Howard, and Kim Watt (Upper St. Clair High School mathematics teacher). Bruce, a PIAA doubles champion from Mt. Lebanon, went on to claim various titles as a Division I athlete and later as coach of the Duquesne University women’s tennis team.

Since Bruce’s arrival at the USC courts, the team has claimed seven WPIAL titles and three state team titles; in fact, Upper St. Clair won consecutive state team titles in the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons, the first two years that the

tournament took place. Upper St. Clair High School Athletic Director Ted Petersen notes that Bruce has the demeanor to be an excellent defen-sive line coach, and he often sees Bruce as the Bill Cowher of the tennis world. Her enthusiasm and energy, equaling and occasionally surpassing that of her players,

creates an atmosphere that re-quires determination and hard work on the part of the athletes, but also reinforces the love of the game and the joy found in a job done to the best of one’s ability.

Found beneath the umbrella of greatness established by Upper St. Clair’s strong sense of commu-nity, diligent training, and good coaching are certainly aspects that propel the team. Are there

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Winter 2006 UPPERST.CLAIRTODAY 6�

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

USC Drum Line Performs at Pressley RidgeMembers of the Upper St. Clair High School Drum Line took

time this summer to perform for campers at Pressley Ridge Cen-ter for Autism. Drum line captain Zach Kavo, accompanied by Colleen Cosgrove, Kristen Kish, Ian Winner, and Nick Zaitz played several numbers for the campers, and then let the kids try out the instruments before leading them in a parade.

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USC Residents Debut FilmThe Rest Falls Away, a film

written and directed by Greg Kasunich and edited by Craig Quinlan, had its first showing on August 9 at the Upper St. Clair High School LGI room. Greg said the film dealt with the importance of decisions and choices people make in their lives, and how some of the small decisions people

make may have bigger outcomes than expected.The picture was done locally with scenes shot in and around

Pittsburgh, including Mt. Lebanon, Bridgeville, Upper St. Clair (including Boyce Mayview Park), the West End, and downtown Pittsburgh. Greg and Craig plan to submit their project to film festivals in and around Pennsylvania, including the Three Rivers Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival.

Greg and Craig are juniors at Temple University, where they both major in film making and minor in business. Greg is the son of Kathy and Norman Kasunich, and Craig is the son of Marie and Craig Quinlan. n

Letters from HomeStudents in grades kindergarten through fourth at Streams

Elementary ended the last school year by taking part in a letter writing campaign to show support for troops on active duty around the world. The students were encouraged to make cards with colorful pictures and positive messages to thank the soldiers for their service.

Left to right: Craig Quinlan and Greg Kasunich

Left to right: Nick Zaitz, Kristen Kish, Colleen Cosgrove, Ian Winner, and Zach Kavo

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Every year the Upper St. Clair Odyssey of the Mind (OM) extra-curricular program gains momentum. In addition to celebrating the advanced placement of many Upper St. Clair teams in competition last year, OM is celebrating being selected by Microsoft Corporation to help emphasize creative team based dynamics in the classroom. By integrating OM strategies into the classroom, Microsoft aims to enhance the way students approach learning.

OM has been selected by Microsoft to participate in their Partners in Learning (PiL) initiative. PiL is a long-term commitment to partner with governments, local schools, and teachers to establish a foundation for continued advances in education and learning. It employs a systemic and comprehensive approach to the challenge of empowering students and teachers.

At the heart of the initiative is the Learning Grants pro-gram which, over the next five years, provides an investment of software and more than $250 million in cash grants to deliver technology skills training to stu-dents and teachers worldwide, and to assist in information and communications technology (ICT) integration into curricula and learning.

A Microsoft grant was awarded to OM to help identify

and quantify successful OM strategies that can be used in the classroom. Microsoft found OM to be a pocket of innovation, which could be lev-eraged and scaled to K-12 public education. Over four years OM will develop materials to help teachers integrate creative problem solving techniques by improving the learning environment, implementing in-novative teaching methods, and utilizing multiple levels of technology.

To help achieve this goal, OM is seeking the input of educators who have transferred OM strategies into their classroom teaching practices. The materials developed will be shared with classroom teachers through-out the country.

This past summer 13 students and two teachers from USCHS traveled to France for Upper St. Clair’s first-ever French foreign ex-change program. Our group spent 12 days in Lyon (south-eastern France) living with

host families. As a first-time visitor to France and the youngest American student in our group, I jumped headfirst into the French cul-ture. I arrived, along with my fellow students, at the Lyon train station on a Saturday in mid-June and was immediately separated from all other Americans until Monday, three days later. That first weekend was the most challenging part of my trip. Along with getting used to my new surroundings, I also became part of a new

Kathleen Himler, USC OM program coordinator

OMSelectedbyMicrosoftforLearningInitiative

Those involved with OM realize that the experience changes the way one approaches learning. In OM one learns that the most obvious solu-tion is not necessarily the one that yields the best result. When presented with a challenge, an OM team learns the value of brainstorming, trial and error, compromise, patience, prioritization, strategy, and risk-taking. Working with time constraints, fixed budgets, and solution parameters, OM participants develop creative solutions. The most rewarding aspect of the OM approach is that the end result is a composite of the team’s skills, imagination, and personality.

In too many classrooms learning is not fun, and kids don’t have oppor-tunities to work together. Students are often discouraged from interacting with one another in order to prevent disturbances and are compelled to follow a single specific path to find a solution. OM demonstrates that many different paths can lead to a solution. It is this dynamic that will be incorporated in the PiL initiative.

Members of OM return every year because they have fun, enjoy the process, and relish in the sense of accomplishment. Maybe it’s a good thing they don’t focus on how much they are, in fact, learning! n

USCHS team that advanced to the 2006 OM Worlds competition are, left to right, front row: Noah Simmons and coach Ed Wilson; back row: Ali Klos, David

Bucholtz, Lucas Wilson, Johnny Simons, Ray Van Cleve, and Adeeb Yunus.

OM Spontaneous Skills competition participants, left to right: Michele Scherf, Sharon Gao,

and Carly Bogan

family. My French exchange pen pal Clara Combet and her family were very kind and welcoming, but fatigue and homesickness kept me quiet at first. Although I was tired and out of my element, I bonded with Clara and we were great friends by Monday.

Monday morning was the first time I saw any of the other Americans since our arrival in Lyon, and seeing familiar faces was comforting. We began each day in the computer lab at the Lycée St. Marc (the Saint Marc high school). We had the opportunity to email family and friends, check up on the latest U.S. news, and chat about any concerns we had with our host families. After our morning pick-me-ups, we began to visit historical sites and points of in-terest in Lyon. Some days only the Americans were present for these adventures, but most

AFrenchExchangeLaura Blank, USCHS junior

days our French pals accompanied us. We usually spent the days with our teachers from morning until three in the afternoon. After that time we were no longer visiting students, but typical teenagers.

The afternoons were always exciting even if I only went home to turn on the TV and watch a football match—I mean the Soccer World Cup games! Other afternoons we went shop-ping, bowling, or just hung out. I developed a close friendship with Clara and I was sad when the time came for our group to leave our host homes for a four-day excursion to Paris before returning home.

The change of scenery from Lyon to Paris was drastic. Lyon felt like a small comfortable town, even though it’s second (or sometimes third) in population in France (depending on the

In Upper St. Clair, Odyssey of the Mind is an extracurricular activity avail-able to all students, K-12. For more information, contact Kathleen Himler, USC OM program coordinator, at [email protected].


There is no denyingit—fall arrived, bringing the beginning of a new school year. For high school seniors, it also brought college ap-plications. So how do you determine to which schools to apply and how to go about

getting your application noticed? While no one knows the exact answers to these questions, you can do certain things to help you navigate the college search and application process.

Many students have no idea where they want to go to college. A good way to narrow down the seemingly infinite choices is to ask yourself a series of questions, such as whether you want to go to college in a rural area or a city, or whether you want to go to a big or small school. Once you have some idea of what type of school you are interested in, you need to learn which schools fit your criteria. A great way to figure this out is through the e-Discover program. This website asks students a series of questions about what they may be looking for in a college and then provides a list of schools that fit the criteria. This is a great program that can be very helpful in the college search process. You can access the site at http://webapps01.act.org/eDISCOVER.

The Upper St. Clair High School counseling department is a very helpful resource as well. The counselors are well-educated about many colleges and can help you in your search by recommending schools that they believe will fit your needs and personality. Even if you have some idea of what you want, it’s still a good idea to meet with a high school counselor. He can help to make sure that you’re headed in the right direction with your search. He may also recommend schools that you may not have considered or even heard of.

If you’re not quite sure what kind of school you’re interested in, you should think about visiting different types of schools. Begin by looking at some of the schools that may have been recommended by the e-Discover program or your counselor. Visiting various schools will help you get an idea of what different types of schools are like.

Once you’ve determined some schools that you might be interested in, you need to ap-ply. This stage is what many people feel is the hardest part of the college selection process. The key to handling applications effectively is getting them done in advance. This way you are not rushed and generally do your best work when completing the applications. While time consuming, the application is one of the crucial determining factors for admission to a school,

ever-fluctuating population of Marseille). Paris’ population appeared much more diverse than that of Lyon, and the number of English-speaking people rivaled that of French-speaking Parisians. Although cultural differences were an exciting part of my French exchange experience, I also enjoyed visiting such famous sights as L’Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and the Giverny Gardens (home of the revered artist Mon-et). I found the most impressive sight to be the Eiffel Tower. Even though I had seen the Eiffel Tower in movies, I was astounded by its enormity.

France was very welcoming. The food was different and rich in flavor, but by the end of the trip I was growing hungry for familiar American food and surroundings. Even though I had a rough time adjusting at the beginning of my trip, I never once wanted to give up on this exciting experience. When I arrived home to Upper St. Clair, the first thing I said was, “I want to go back to France! Can we get some Chick-fil-A?” n

so it’s very important that applications are done well. Most schools now accept the Common Application. Therefore, a college applicant only has to fill out one application and send it to all the schools that he or she is applying.

When you fill out your application, it’s im-portant to make it distinctive and memorable. Remember that your application is only one of many, so it may not get the attention that it deserves if it’s impersonal and commonplace. It’s important that your essay has an interesting beginning to grab the reader’s attention. The people who are reading applicants’ essays are

American students in front of the Eiffel Tower

Laura Blank (right) and her pen pal Clara Combet

CollegeSelectionMaria Simon, USCHS senior

more inclined to pay attention to an interesting essay than to a boring one.

While much focus is put on the application essay, the essay is not the only thing that col-leges look at. They also look at the other parts of your application, such as your transcript, resume, SAT and/or ACT scores, and letters of recommendation. Colleges like to see chal-lenging classes and improvement on a student’s transcript. Also, many schools like at least three years of a foreign language. Another thing that schools look for is consistency in activities. They like someone who is devoted to his or her activities. Often, a college would rather admit someone who has been thoroughly committed to fewer activities than someone who has been loosely involved in many things for a short pe-riod of time. It’s also a good idea to apply to at least one school that you feel you are likely to get into. This way, if all else fails, you will have a fall-back school as your safety net.

According to Gina Cassarino, admissions counselor at Allegheny College in Meadville, it’s also good to only send in the number of letters of recommendation that the school asks for. Sending in more letters than the school requested is useless. The only time that you should send in more than two is if you don’t have a close relationship with your counselor, and you wish to get a letter of recommendation from someone you know better.

Although there is no way of guaranteeing that you will get accepted to the school of your choice, you should still take advantage of these and other techniques to improve your chances for admission. Good luck! n

Laura Blank, the daughter of Anne and Tom Blank, is studying IB French 4 in preparation for future language courses.

AFrenchExchangeContinued



Parentsarerequested to register their kindergarten-aged children at the elementary school located in their attendance area. All children five years of age on or before September 1, 2007, are eligible to register.

SchoolArea DateBaker ...............................................................................................................Tuesday, March 6Eisenhower ............................................................................................... Wednesday, March 7Streams ........................................................................................................ Thursday, March 8Times for all .......................................................................................... 9-11 a.m., noon-2 p.m.

A special evening session for all elementary schools will be held on Thursday, March 15, 6:30-8 p.m. at the School District Central Office.It is not necessary that the student accompany the parent to registration.

ReadinessEvaluationSchool personnel are available to screen children whose parents wish additional help

in making a decision on entrance into kindergarten. Individual dates will be established during registration.

AdmissionPeriodsThe admission period for kindergarten is limited to the first two weeks of the school

year unless the child’s family transfers to Upper St. Clair from another school district where the child was enrolled in a kindergarten program. Questions regarding kinder-garten readiness should be directed to Eloise Stoehr, Supervisor of Pupil Services, at 412-833-1600, extension 2214.

SchoolHealthImmunizationRegulationsThe Allegheny County Health Department’s (ACHD) Board of Health has enacted the

School Health Immunization Regulations for children in Allegheny County.Since August 2002, all students entering school for the first time at kindergarten

or first grade must have the following immunizations completed prior to entering any public, private, or parochial school:

• At least four doses of diphtheria/tetanus vaccine (one dose must be on or after the fourth birthday) • Three doses of polio vaccine • Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine • Two doses of measles vaccine, preferably as MMR vaccine • One dose each of mumps and rubella vaccine, preferably as MMR vaccine • Vericella immunity, either from vaccination, history of having chicken pox, or laboratory testing

Since 1983, Allegheny County regulations have allowed provisional status only for students who transfer from another state. Students transferring from out of state may be enrolled provisionally provided there is evidence of having received at least one dose of each antigen and provided there is a plan to complete the required immunization within eight months.

Families are encouraged to obtain the needed immunizations from their physicians. However, the ACHD does offer the required vaccines free of charge. To obtain infor-mation about clinic location and times, interested persons should contact the ACHD Infectious Diseases Program at 412-578-8060.

Provisions for this regulation do not apply in cases where extenuating medical or religious factors are involved. If there is any reason why a child should not be fully im-munized, parents must submit a physician’s certificate explaining the circumstances.

Parents are also required to provide written documentation if they disapprove of immunizations for religious reasons. These documents will be accepted in lieu of a certificate of immunization.

RegistrationPacketsRegistration packets will be available at each elementary school after February 21, 2007.

Parents are encouraged to pick them up during school hours and return the completed forms at the time of registration.

KindergartenNews


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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY(TODAY): Before we get into

probing questions, could you tell us who you are

and how you came to be an author?

Arendt: My name is Carl Arendt, and I live in Upper St. Clair with my wife, Sheila, two black cats, Jordan and Smudge, and some Macintosh comput-ers in Rolling Meadows North, above Bridgeville.

When I retired from business a decade ago, I dove back into my life-long hobby of model railroading. I never before had enough time to really explore the possibilities of the hobby, and as the Internet grew I met lots of other people online who were in the same fix. So I started a website called “Micro Layouts for Model Railroads” at www.carendt.us.

The site presents ideas and reports about a neglect-ed niche in the hobby—very small model layouts that are easy and quick to build, need little space and cost peanuts to complete, yet are great fun to construct and operate. Originally, I expected to cover about 25 layouts before exhausting that subject and starting on another one.

To my astonishment, the site took off almost immediately. People all over the world began sending me ideas, comments, layout designs, photographs, and even videos of their railways! Today the site attracts a couple thousand visitors a day from some 70 countries, offers over 600 lay-out designs, and—to your point—has spawned three books about model railroading in very small spaces.

TODAY: I take it that you write these books yourself?

written and collected over the past five years or so—including reports of projects by 63 modelers in 13 countries, along with articles about my own work, new ideas, and general modeling advice.

TODAY: Do you think the title is perhaps a bit modest?

Arendt (laughing): Well, I was plan-ning to call it The Small Layout Scrapbook, but my distributors in Europe told me that having my name prominently displayed would sell more books over there. Evi-dently I have a following in England and on the continent. So I added my name in the title to help out their marketing efforts.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!As a footnote, a little over half my book

sales come from the U.K. and Europe.

TODAY: I notice in your books that you are listed as the publisher as well as the au-thor. Why is that?

Arendt: Self-publishing is a fast grow-ing trend, not only in the United States, but around the world as well. Traditional publishers are more and more dependent

on blockbuster best-sellers, and they’re much less inter-ested in publishing books intended for a limited, spe-cialty audience. So a thriving “do it yourself” publishing industry has grown to fill the gap.

In my case, not only are model railroaders a small and narrow interest group, but also people involved with small layouts are a tiny minor-ity of that already tiny group! I recently presented a workshop at a regional convention of the National Model Railroad As-sociation. The convention was well attended by a cross-sec-tion of modelers, but less than ten percent of them attended my presentation—that’s just one out of every ten attendees! The audience for my kind of subject matter is enthusiastic, but very small.

So, to break into print, I went ahead and started publishing the books myself. They’re printed in Bethel Park and sold over the Internet. You can buy a copy of my third book at my website right now, if you’re interested!

TODAY: Are you making a lot of money from your books?

Arendt: Absolutely not. Publishing the website and the books is a hobby for me, so I set book prices just high enough to break even. I want everyone interested in the subject to be able to buy them. In all, I expect to sell only a few thousand copies of each book.

Tracking Under Your Christmas Tree

Displaying one of his “micro layouts,” a complete working railroad model in less than four square feet, is USC author Carl Arendt. The layout measures

just 20"x14" and features a replica Western Pennsylvania sugar house where maple sap is boiled down to syrup. The tiny narrow gauge trains, modeled in G scale

(one half inch to the foot), haul the sap from the maple grove (hidden behind the backdrop) to the sugar house for processing. This layout has been featured in a national magazine

and will appear in Carl’s next book.

Arendt: Yes, I was a professional writer in the corporate world for over 30 years. I wrote a number of books during that time, but all of them were published under the corporation’s name or were given the by-line of a senior executive. When I retired, one of my goals was to publish a book under my own name!

I’ve just published [in June 2006] my third book, Carl Arendt’s Small Layout Scrapbook. It’s a collection of stuff I’ve

Tips for Tiny Trains

Photo by Carl Arendt


Lookingforanewladiesboutique in the South Hills? Are you looking for a high degree of individuality in your wardrobe and gift giving? Come visit Trunk Shows Boutique, which opened its doors in October. Located on 30 Donati Road (just off Fort Couch Road), it’s owned and operated by 15-year USC resident, Teres Lucot.

Teres and her staff will show you the latest in jewelry, handbags, belts, clothing, and giftware. While traveling to many trade shows, Teres finds trinkets and baubles at all price points. When in NYC (which has been her favorite “apple” for over 20 years) she brings home to Pittsburgh familiar brand items and even better, some unfamiliar ones!

Teres and her staff are eager to assist you in finding that perfect gift for your mom, daughter, sister, best friend, or just your little ol’ personal self. There are special items for those book clubbers, bunko groups, LCRs, and girls’ night out groups. Ask Teres for details if you’d like Trunk Shows Boutique to host your next girls’ night out.

Come and browse the store. There are many wonderful, new, and exciting things for the fall and holiday seasons. This one-of-a-kind boutique is one that deserves local support. Visit www.trunkshowsboutique.com for information about store hours and directions. n

I lose money in the long run, but I view it as the normal cost of engaging in a very rewarding hobby. If I were collecting modern art, for example, my hobby costs would be much higher!

TODAY: Would you recommend self- publishing to aspiring authors?

Arendt: Sometimes it’s the only way to get into print. If you’ve been collect-ing rejection letters for a year or two, you might want to consider publishing your own book. There’s a lot of help available these days, and it’s less costly than you might think.

Not everyone will want to design their own publication as well as write it, super-vise the printing, and handle the marketing in the way that I do it. There are many good, reputable companies—several right here in Western Pennsylvania—who will help you edit, design, print, and distribute your book. Many such companies will also stock your book, publicize it, and handle sales in exchange for a percentage of the proceeds. The cost, for a hardbound book with text and few illustrations, can range from a couple hundred dollars to around a thousand.

And there’s always the slim chance of catching the eye of a reviewer who can publicize your book and turn it into a very successful seller! If that happens to you, you’ll then be able to get your second book published easily based on the “name recognition” of your first.

That has happened to me. I’ve received offers from publishers—mostly in England

Locating his book on a bottom shelf in Upper St. Clair Township Library’s non-fiction area, author

Carl Arendt shows off the Dewey decimal coding, 625.19 ARE. The library collection includes two of

his books on model railroading in small spaces.

Author Carl Arendt adds some reference material to his website at www.carendt.us using Upper St. Clair

Township Library’s Wi-Fi Internet connection. The award-winning website forms the basis for much

of Carl’s book content and includes a widely read monthly e-zine, “Small Layout Scrapbook.” The library’s Wireless

Fidelity network was installed in mid-2006 utilizing a grant from the Friends of the USC Library.

A New Store in Town

where small model layouts are a way of life—to publish and market my books. In my case, I’ve always turned them down be-cause I like the creative freedom of “rolling my own” as well as the fun of meeting and conversing with my worldwide customers on the Internet.

TODAY: What would be your advice to people interested in publishing their own books?

Arendt: Try lots of publishers first. There are many specialized presses out there who might be interested in your manuscript. If you’ve exhausted all those possibilities without achieving a sale, then by all means publish the book yourself.

But don’t give up your day job. It’s hard to make a living as an author, although it’s possible. On the other hand, I think there’s an immense satisfaction in seeing your name on the title page of your book and thinking to yourself, “I did that!”

TODAY: One final question: your reviews often refer to your “good-humored and witty” prose style. Where can USC residents read a sample of your style?

Arendt: They can read my prose continually at my website, especially in my monthly e-zine called Small Layout Scrapbook (the source of much of the material in my new book). Or they can

check out my books at the Upper St. Clair Township Library. Search the catalog for “Arendt, Carl” or look on the non-fiction shelves under “625.19 ARE.” People can also buy a mail-order copy of my latest book online at www.carendt.us. Delivery should be pretty fast, right here in the Township.

And, of course, they’ve just finished reading a sample. n

Photo by Karen M. Bush

Photo by Karen M. Bush


Plan ahead for the ninth annual Art in the Round, Sponsored by WOMEN of Southwestern PA, Inc. to be held on Saturday, February 24, 2007. The Washington County Courthouse on Main Street in Washington will play host to this event where over 50 well-known, local Western Pennsylvania artists will display and sell original art and prints. Wine tasting, cheese trays, des-serts, a Chinese auction, and entertainment turn the evening into “An Affair of the Senses.”

Featured is Upper St. Clair artist Dino Guarino, an accomplished ecclesiastic and sports figure artist. Brenda Waters will be the honorary chairperson for the eighth year. Profits from Art in the Round are returned to the com-munity in the form of grants to help women and children in need.

Visit www.womenofswpa.org for details and ticket information, or call 724-969-0984. n

It’sShowTime!MusicforMt.Lebanon’s�006-07Season

Music for Mt. Lebanon, a concert series in its 61st season, includes an exciting and varied mix of musical styles with broad popular appeal. It’s one of the longest-running community entertain-ment associations in the country. A nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization serving all South Hills communities, its mission is to provide affordable, accessible, and professional entertainment programs for everyone to enjoy.

The remaining three of the five season’s concerts include:

December 2–The Celtic TenorsThis trio of young men burst on the world tour scene in the past

few years pioneering a whole new style of cool, never before seen on the classical stage. Winners of numerous performing and recording awards, The Celtic Tenors captivate and inspire all who hear them.

March 3–Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of PenzanceDirect from England, presenting Gilbert and Sullivan at its best,

the Carl Rosa Opera is a touring company of musicians, singers, and technicians. The Pirates of Penzance has rocked, jazzed, and tapped its way into becoming one of the most popular of the Savoy Operas.

PittsburghCivicOrchestra�006-07ConcertSeries

Making Music in the South Hills for 48 Years

The Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra, now in its 48th season, is under the leadership of Music Director Bruce Lauffer. The orchestra, with over 60 volunteer musicians, is dedicated to providing quality music at a reasonable cost to families of Southwest Pennsylvania. The 2006-07concert series is a wonderful family opportunity to listen to and enjoy music of our talented local performers.

December 16–Holiday Memories with Christmas and Hanukah music

January 27–Festival Winners including winners of

PCO’s Young Artist competition

March 31–Music of the British Isles

May 12–Grand Finale

Time/Location: Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. in Upper St. Clair High School Theatre.

Tickets/Prices: Tickets are $10 general admission, $7 for seniors, and children under 12 are free with paid adult. Groups of ten or more adults can obtain a group rate of $5 per person by calling 412-279-4030 before the concert. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at Johnstonbaugh’s Music Center in Bridgeville (412-221-2990).

Other: A pre-concert conversation for stu-dents takes place 15 minutes before the start of each concert. For more information, visit www.artsnet.org/pco or call 412-279-4030. n

HolidayConcertThe South Hills Chorale presents “A

Holiday Celebration” December 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church (corner of Washing-ton and Scott Roads in Mt. Lebanon). The concert will feature Philip Green’s folk-type Mass for chorus and orchestra, Saint Patrick’s Mass, and other holiday music and entertainment for your listening pleasure. Tickets are $10 and available at the door. Visit their website at southhillschorale.org for more information.

The South Hills Chorale has been en-tertaining Western Pennsylvania for over 40 years. This non-profit group, comprised of 100 members, invites you to come join them! n

Celtic Tenors

Quartetto Gelato

Featured artist Dino Guarino

C o r n e rC o r n e rArtintheRound—AnAffairoftheSenses

April 14–Quartetto GelatoClassical in intent and eclec-

tic by design, Quartetto Gelato thrills audiences with the mas-tery of eight instruments and the unexpected bonus of a brilliant operatic tenor voice. Their rep-ertoire travels imaginatively from classical masterworks, to operatic arias, to the sizzling energy of tangos, gypsy, and folk songs.

Performances are at 8 p.m. on Saturdays at Mt. Lebanon High School’s auditorium. Single performance tickets are available for $15 to $25. For ticket infor-mation, call 412-264-3354. n


Augustwasamonthtocherish for Township Manager Douglas Watkins and his family. Doug and his wife, Clare, became first-time grandparents at the beginning of August. By the end of the month and within 16 days of the birth of their first grandchild, two more of Doug and Clare’s grandchildren were born.

Tyler Michael Anibaldi was born August 8 to Doug and Clare’s daughter, Beth, and her husband, Eric. Keira Elizabeth Watkins was born August 21 to Doug and Clare’s daughter-in-law, Kristi, and their son, Douglas, Jr. And, a mere three days later, on August 24, Anthony Leonard (A.J.) Tomaino, Jr. was born to Doug and Clare’s daughter, Emily, and her husband, Anthony Tomaino. Congratulations to the six new parents and the very happy grandparents! n

David J. Stapor, M.D.Donald F. O’Malley, Jr., M.D.

Edward D. Poon, M.D.Mark L. Lesh, M.D.

Jeffrey M. Matheny, M.D.

• Sport Related Injuries• Total Joint Replacement Including Minimally Invasive Techniques• Arthroscopic Surgery• Carpal Tunnel• Rotator Cuff Repair• ACL Reconstruction• Fracture Care

Office Hours by Appointment

1000 Higbee Drive, Suite 106Bethel Park, PA 15102Phone: (412) 854-5664

1200 Brooks Lane, Suite 240Jefferson Hills, PA 15025Phone: (412) 469-1660

Certified American Board of Orthopedic Surgery

Arms Full of BlessingsCeremony Commemorates AwardOnAugust��, St. Clair Hospital hosted a celebration to commemorate receiving the Distinguished Hospital Award for Patient Safety™ for the third year in a row. Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, St. Clair Hospital President and CEO James M. Collins, St. Clair Hospital Vice President of Medical Affairs G. Alan Yeasted, M.D., and Congressman Tim Murphy participated in the festivities.

The Distinguished Hospital Award for Patient Safety™ is presented by HealthGrades, one of the nation’s leading healthcare rating companies. n

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, St. Clair Hospital President and CEO James M. Collins, St. Clair Hospital Vice President of Medical Affairs G. Alan Yeasted, M.D., and Congressman Tim Murphy

Photo by Karen Abrasheff

Douglas Watkins with grandchildren Tyler, Keira, and A.J.


Despiteasteadystreamofbest-sellingdietbooks and an abundance of low-fat and no-fat foods, the latest data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that Americans are heavier than ever before. Approximately two-thirds of adults, about 136 million peo-ple, are overweight or obese. More disturbing is the fact that children appear to be following in our footsteps. The percentage of overweight children has doubled to nearly 30% over the past 25 years, and the share of obese children has tripled to 15%. These findings have long reaching implications as studies show that children who are overweight are much more likely than are children of normal weight to become overweight or obese adults. Though many parents view “baby fat” as simply a pass-ing phase in their child’s life, for many kids it actually signals the beginning of a lifelong struggle with obesity.

Most parents are well aware of health risks associated with obesity—heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, joint problems, asthma, and cancer—and also realize that staying slim in a fat society poses a daunting challenge for children. High fat, caloric dense, sugar laden, super-sized foods and drink seem to be the norm rather than the exception. Given the choice, most would select a steady diet of pizza and des-serts, and who can blame them.

Children need support and guidance if they are to win the battle of the bulge—most can’t do it alone. Parents occupy the most influential position to play a positive role in that process. Strict dieting is definitely not the answer. Cutting back significantly on calorie intake can result in a child not get-ting essential nutrients needed for growth and optimal health. That aside, diets simply do not work for the long term. Follow up studies show that the vast majority of people who initially lose weight on a diet eventu-ally gain all of it back. In reality, the cause as well as cure for the overweight condition is grounded in the myriad eating and activ-ity behaviors that we perform day-in and day-out. Most start innocently and uninten-tionally—what and when we eat, how we prepare foods, what toppings we put on our food, if, when, and how often we exercise, how we spend our leisure time, etc. Each time we repeat a behavior we strengthen it

and eventually it becomes a habit. Over time we become slaves to our habits, for better or for worse. In short, we literally become what we repeatedly do.

Two fundamental facts work in con-cert to determine body weight and, more importantly, body composition. First and foremost, weight gain is purely a matter of energy-in versus energy-out. Take in more calories than you burn and the excess will be stored as fat. Second, consuming approxi-mately 3500 calories above and beyond energy expenditure, whether it occur over a period of days, weeks, or even months, re-sults in the deposition of one pound of body fat. The process works just as effectively in reverse, and therein lies the key to losing excess weight and keeping it off.

kids. (Keep in mind they work just as well for adults!) I make no claim that these are the only slimming strategies available. Undoubtedly there are more, but the seven mentioned here are quite encompassing and provide a solid starting point for most families. The strategies are simple and straightforward, require little discipline, and can be easily adjusted to match a child’s preferences. Once put into practice kids simply go on about their lives and begin losing weight. Best of all, when they reach the desired weight they are able to maintain that weight with little effort—their new daily habits guarantee it.

TheSevenSlimmingStrategies

1. Make “smart” food choices. The goal is to cut calories without eliminating any types of foods, or even the quantity of food eaten. You can do this by making smart food choices; in short, replace high calorie foods with lower calorie alterna-tives. For example, choose fresh versus canned fruit, unbuttered versus buttered popcorn, steamed versus fried vegetables, pretzels versus potato chips, egg whites versus egg yolks, ice milk versus ice cream, and the like. There is no need to eliminate any food or food group. A complete diet can and should encompass all types of foods, including desserts, as long as the overall food mix is balanced and healthy.

2. Limit liquid calories. Keep in mind that consuming merely 100 calories per day above and beyond energy expenditure, the average caloric content of a single eight-ounce glass of soda pop, can result in a ten pound weight gain over the course of a year. Kids can easily cut calories by making a few minor adjustments in what they drink. There are loads of sugar in fruit drinks, sodas, sport drinks, and energy drinks, and a lot of fat in whole milk and fast food shakes. Lots of sugar and lots of fat equals lots of extra calories. As a general rule choose alternatives like 1% milk, unsweetened tea, bottled and fla-vored water, and diet drinks. You can also dilute fruit juices with water to reduce the caloric count.

3. Choose condiments wisely. What we choose to put on our foods often

Confronting Childhood Obesity SimpleStrategiestoPromoteWeightLossinKidsJoseph A. Luxbacher, PhD

A couple of behavioral changes that lower energy intake by 100 calories a day (or burns 100 additional calories) will result in weight (fat) loss of about ten pounds per year! Eliminating 100 calories can be as simple as replacing a customary crème filled donut with a toasted English muffin, or replacing a large glass of whole (4%) milk with 1% milk. Likewise, walking the equivalent of one mile will burn about 100 calories. These examples illustrate how minor changes in eating and activity behaviors can result in major changes in body weight over time. The key to los-ing excess weight and keeping it off is to replace habits that work against you with habits that work for you. Attempting to eliminate behaviors entirely (no sweets, no carbs, no fat, no fun!) typically doesn’t work over the long term.

There are a number of subtle behavior changes that kids can make to reduce their calorie intake and at the same time increase the number of calories burned. I have grouped these into “Seven Slimming Strategies” that promote weight loss in



transforms them from a low calorie dish to high calorie entrée. This is one area of our diet where we can reduce calories without sacrificing amounts of food. Butter, mar-garine, gravy, mayonnaise, creamy salad dressing, sour cream, and cheese sauces all add a significant number of calories. Lo-cal alternatives include lite margarine, mustard, ketchup, vinegar and oil dressing, marinara, and fat-free mayonnaise.

4. Prepare heart-healthy food. How we prepare foods can significantly influ-ence calorie count. Baking or boiling are lower calorie alternatives to frying and are healthier for you as well. A baked or boiled potato contains approximately 150 to 200 calories. That same potato cut into strips and prepared as French fries has three times the number of calories, primarily due to the added fat from frying. Baking, broiling, steaming, and grilling are your best choices for preparing vegetables, white meat, red meat, and fish. You can also save calories by removing the skin from chicken and turkey, trimming the fat from beef and pork, choosing tuna in water (rather than oil), and by using low fat or no-fat cooking oils. Go easy on processed meats such as hot dogs and salami which are usually very high in fat content.

5. Eat five or more small meals each day. Children (and adults alike) should not skip breakfast in an attempt to cut calories. Not only does a good breakfast provide the energy required for maximum mental and physical performance during the day, studies also show that people of normal weight generally eat breakfast, while the majority of overweight people do not. Spreading calorie intake throughout the day provides a constant source of energy and ultimately results in less fat storage. Consuming frequent, but smaller, meals also tends to maintain blood sugar levels, curb appetitite, and may even increase metabolic rate to a slight extent. Consum-ing an equivalent number of calories in two or at three large meals per day generally results in a significantly greater portion of the meal stored as fat. Kids like to snack anyway, so this should be an easy sell.

6. Walk, don’t ride! The National Association for Sport and Physical Educa-tion (NASPE) recommends that children five to 12 years of age get at least 60 minutes, and preferably more, of moder-ately-intense physical activity every day of the week. In today’s highly mechanized world, that’s a tall order for any child, but if given a reasonable and safe choice it is

better for kids to walk rather than ride (unless they are riding a bike). Adding just 1000 extra steps to their daily travels, a dis-tance equivalent to one-half mile, can burn 40-50 calories and result in a five-pound weight loss over the course of a year. Walk the steps, walk the dog—just walk!

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7. Practice “functional fitness.” Performing any form of physical activity will burn calories. It doesn’t have to be “formal” exercise per se. Children can burn a significant number of calories through “functional fitness,” everyday physical ac-tivity that accomplishes an objective above and beyond simply burning calories. Per-forming any one of the following activities (i.e, household chores) will burn 70 to 100 calories, depending on body weight.

• Clean windows for 30 minutes.• Shovel snow for 20 minutes.• Rake leaves for 20 minutes.• Wash the car.• Mow the lawn (push mower) for 20 minutes.• Weed the garden for 25 minutes.• Trim the hedges for 30 minutes.

In summary, if you adopt just a few of these strategies your children can begin cutting a significant number of calories daily. Be creative. Analyze your child’s eating and activity habits and make simple adjustments that will work in his or her favor. Consider that the calorie-cutting effects of a healthy diet coupled with the calorie-burning effects of regular physical activity are cumulative. Cutting 75 calories here, burning 50 calories there, if done on a consistent basis, will gradually add up to significant weight loss. This is the safest and surest method of successfully combat-ing the epidemic of childhood obesity. n


Ona90-degreedaythispastsummer, as kids were swimming and hanging out with friends, an 18-year-old boy lugged his hockey bag into Bethel Park’s Bladerunners. Working on his hockey skills is important to Upper St. Clair High School senior Andrew Blazek as he prepares to play in the United States Hockey League for the Des Moines Buccaneers.

Andrew became interested in ice skating for fun at age three. With the “need for speed” at age five, power skating lessons com-menced with Upper St. Clair’s own Barbara Benedetti. By seven,

SoYourChildWantstoPlayHockey?the sport of hockey was in his blood. For five years he was a South Hills Panther. Then, three years of play for the Pittsburgh Amateur Pens AAA groomed him to play three years with the Pittsburgh Hornets AAA in the Midwest Elite Hockey League. Along the way, travel was inevitable. The Pee Wee World Championships took him to Quebec City, Quebec, living for two weeks with a French-speaking family, where the tournament awarded second place to his team. Meanwhile, Andrew, with the support of his family, managed a social life and schoolwork while competing in the U.S. Nationals three times. His team, the Pittsburgh Hornets Midget Majors, placed third two years in a row. For Andrew to suc-ceed at hockey, intense travel was predestined.

His parents, Dale and Debi, and sister, Lindsay, are his strong supporters. Since Andrew turned 11, all four have traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada in support of his passion. Debi expressed that it is very difficult to be seen by Division I scouts in our region. Why? Well, although organized high school hockey is well es-tablished in this area, elite player scouting takes place mainly in the northern and mid-western states. Unlike other more popular sports (football, baseball, basketball, etc.), scouts do not usually enlist top hockey players directly from high school unless one or two years on a Junior A team are showcased on their resume.

Self-sacrifice for Andrew means living away from home since August of this year with a host family in Des Moines, Iowa, play-ing hockey, and concentrating on studies. These are paramount to ensure entry into a Division I program. Talent along with the vast support of family, friends, and teammates has afforded Andrew well-deserved attention of key coaches and scouts. Coach Barb Benedetti asserts, “Andrew is dedicated to learning, determined to excel, skates with silky precision, and is an all around great kid!” Andrew attributes his skills to Barb, who continually refines his powerful skating stride and technique. It is this skill that has captured the attention of coaches and scouts as he’s moved up through the ranks.

Being raised in a hockey-loving family, Andrew came by his love of the game quite naturally, as his father, Dale, has played hockey since he was in grade school.

Andrew is embracing his new challenge and he’s living his dream. When he leaves Des Moines Valley High School behind (where he will spend the majority of his senior year) to return to Upper St. Clair this coming March, Andrew will receive his diploma with his USCHS Class of 2007. He hopes to be closer to achieving his goal of a bright future in hockey. “I’m real excited to show my coaches, teammates, and fans how I can contribute to the success of my team.” n

Dale, Debi, and Andrew Blazek with host parents, Mark and Nancy Yeager, in Des Moines, Iowa

Shown here as a Pittsburgh Hornet, Andrew competed with more than 200 players to land one of ten open positions with the Des Moines Buccaneers this season.

Then an annual subscription to UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

is just the answer!

For just $12 (add $10 for international mailing), your loved one (college student, family member, or friend who moved away) can keep tabs on USC and receive our next four issues.

Please specify the address to which you would like the subscription sent.

Send $12 check made payable to UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY to:

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY1820 McLaughlin Run RoadUpper St. Clair, PA 15241

Are you looking for a gift with local interest?


HappeningsHappenings

Children’sInternationalSummerVillagesHelp build a more peaceful world through international

friendships.Find out about the 2007 programs by

visiting www.cisvpgh.org or contacting Paula Flaherty at 412-361-2203. n

C-MITESFun Classes for Gifted Students

Carnegie Mellon University’s C-MITES offers programs and services for gifted students in kindergarten through ninth grade. Weekend workshops will be held on the Carnegie Mellon campus in November, March, and April. Students can study robotics, mathematics, science, humanities, or engineering in these hands-on workshops. Classes include Ice Cream Science, Build a Robot, Mag Lev, Kitchen Science, and Write Your Own Web Page. The cost of one half-day workshop is $54. Scholarships are available. For more information, call Ann Shoplik at 412-268-1629 or visit www.cmu.edu/cmites. n

CONTACTPittsburghVolunteersNeededCONTACT Pittsburgh, a crisis and suicide hotline, is look-

ing for nonjudgmental listeners to provide immediate emotional support to adults and teens. Volunteer crisis line specialists are needed to work at the center’s crisis hotline, which is staffed 365 days a year. Last year, trained volunteers handled more than 22,000 calls from adults and teens with problems ranging from family conflict and physical abuse to addiction and suicide. Ap-plications are being considered for the award-winning, 30-hour training course. Participation is mandatory at all training sessions. Upon completion of the training volunteers are asked to work eight to 12 service hours per month. For additional information about becoming a volunteer, contact Christy Stuber of CONTACT Pittsburgh at 412-820-0100 or [email protected]. n

MothersandMoreMothers and More, a support group for moms who

have altered their career path to care for their children at home, meets monthly at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills on Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon. Contact information membership coordinator Christie Kulbieda at [email protected], 412-774-2138, or log on to the website www.geocities.com/mothersandmore_swpgh. n

WelcometotheNeighborhood!The Newcomer’s Club of Upper St. Clair is a social organization

for women who have moved to the Township within the past two years. This winter’s highlighted event is the club’s annual vendor dinner scheduled for November 16 at 6 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Fort Couch Road.

To learn more about this active club, attend one of their monthly welcoming coffees or contact club president Felicia Musillo at 412-221-0316 or [email protected]. n

USCLionsFallLeafBagSaleWhen: Saturdays on November 11 and 18 from 9 a.m. to noon Where: USC Department of Public Works building on thecorner of McLaughlin Run Road and Truxton Drive n

May your rooms bemerry and bright

AWARD WINNING REMODELINGRESIDENTIAL DESIGN • PLANNING

PAINTING • MASONRY • CARPENTRY

A Caring Community of Faith

Westminster Presbyterian Church

Traditional Worship at 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.Contemporary Worship at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School and Adult Classes at 9:45 & 11:00 a.m.

Westminster Presbyterian Church2040 Washington Rd. Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

Call 412-835-6630 or visit www.westminster-church.org

Handel’s Messiah, Part IChristmas Concert Sunday, December 10

7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary


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• 2006 Reader’s Vote winner, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

• “Satisfyingly sinful!” Pittsburgh Post Gazette

• “Heart-healthy.”Pittsburgh Magazine

• “Best of Pittsburgh” award,Pittsburgh City Paper

• 2006 Reader’s Choice award, South Hills Record

50%any lunch or dinner with this coupon

and purchase of entree of equal or greater value.

USC Expires December 31, 2006

off

Lunch Til 5 • Dinners • Sandwiches • Late Night Menu• Party Trays • Holiday Parties • Night Owl Platters

Open 7 Days / Bar Til 2 AM

Amel’s Restaurant, McNeilly Road . . . 412-563-3466

Sesame Inn

F I N E S T C H I N E S E C U I S I N E

“Best Chinese Restaurant”

voted by the readers of• PITTSBURGH magazine

2004, 2005 and 2006• Mt. Lebanon magazine

• Post-Gazette• Tribune Review

• Rated ✯✯✯✯ by KDKA TV• Pittsburgh City Paper 2004, 2005

Lunch • DinnerFree Delivery • Carryout

Banquet Facilities • Gift Certificates

www.sesameinn.net

McMurray724-942-2888Mt. Lebanon412-341-2555Station Square412-281-8282North Hills412-366-1838

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!Make your Holiday Reservations Now!

Come Celebrate the Chinese New Year

in January 2007!

Open 7 days

Gourmet Chinese Restaurant

1082 Bower Hill Rd.(next to St. Clair Hospital)

Pittsburgh, PA 15243

Treat your family to the award winning

Best Chinese Restaurant

(412) 279-8088Reservations recommended

Happy HolidaysOpen Christmas Day11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Reservations Recommended

NORTHERN ITALIAN CUISINE

3 Private Banquet Rooms for special occasions

We sell the most veal in town, fresh cut on premises daily, fresh fish, homemade pasta, a variety of chicken dishes

& homemade desserts

Best Prices in Townall dinners include choice of soups, salad, vegetable & potato or a side of pasta

We have Early Bird Specials, Fantastic Bar Menu, and

We Also Do Catering

412-221-0350631 Painters Run RoadPittsburgh, PA 15228

3 Brothers born and raised in Italy

412-206-03331469 Bower Hill Roadwww.ourcucina.com

Eat In or Take Out • Now Delivering

With our combined restaurant experience,we have finally opened Our Cucina, serving

Italian-style free-hand cooking usingthe finest ingredients including:

Extra virgin olive oil,sea salt,fresh herbs (some grown on premises) and

homemade bread. Whether it’s pizza,sandwiches, seafood, chicken or pasta

dinners, our wholesome and savory mealswill leave you satisfied.


k

Steeler stuff

JimO’Brien never leaves home without it. His American Express card? No way! He never leaves home without his pen and notebook. And home to Jim is Upper St. Clair with Kathy, his wife of 39 years. The O’Briens have two daughters, Sarah and Rebecca. Kathy and Jim met at Pitt while both were attending graduate school. “It was preposterous that I married Jim,” said Kathy with a big smile. “He was a writer without a job. Come to think of it he still is!”

Maybe Jim doesn’t have a traditional job, but he’s definitely a writer. Jim just completed his 22nd book, Steeler Stuff, his most recent of a long line of sports books. O’Brien’s books feature stories about athletes, celebrities, and fans of today as well as those dating back to the 60s—many from the Pittsburgh area, including Art Rooney Sr. and Bob Prince.

Most people do not realize that a “Jim O’Brien book” is a total “Jim O’Brien process.” Jim writes, interviews, collects data, and takes pictures. He types, proofs, publishes, and distributes his own books. He has sold over 350,000 of his books, many of which have been sold face to face (and specially personalized) at local bookstores that welcome his book signing engagements.

“Writing a book is both nine months and a lifetime,” said Jim. “It takes nine months to put it together and consists of a lifetime of memories and stories.”

Writing has always been Jim’s dream. One of his earliest Christmas presents was a toy printing press. “I wanted to take control of my own destiny,” recalls Jim.

“And what better way to do it than to write about something you love—sports and people. When I first started out I asked Myron Cope, ‘How do I become a writer?’ He answered, ‘You just have to sit down and start writing.’ ”

Well, Jim sat right down and has not stopped writing since. His latest contri-bution for the Pittsburgh sports book enthusiasts, Steeler Stuff, concentrates on the recent Steelers history. If you enjoyed the Steelers run to a Super Bowl champion-ship, you’ll certainly appreciate this book. It’s a collection of stories about the Steelers and the many people associated with last year’s championship season.

“One of the best stories is about the tough life en-dured by Aaron Smith,” said O’Brien. “It’s fascinating to see what Smith went through and to see what a good man he is today. There are other interesting stories about Alan Faneca’s epilepsy and Kendall Simmons’ diabe-tes. This book will give you a better perspective for the magnitude of these men’s accomplishments—on and off the field.”

Jim joked that he was going to write books until he filled the entire bottom shelf of his bookcase. Well, the shelf is getting close to being full, but according to Kathy, “I would not count on Jim stopping, and don’t expect Jim to be looking for a real job in the near future.”

Jim’s recently started on book num-ber 23, and upon the completion of our interview he left the house with pen and notebook in hand. n

550 Sleepy Hollow RoadMt. Lebanon, PA 15228

412.563.2858 www.MtLebanonMontessori.org

PRESCHOOL (AGES 2-6) THRU 6TH GRADE

OPENINGS AVAILABLE FOR 2-AND 3-YEAR-OLDSAND ELEMENTARY

2006GHELARDUCCI’SGARDEN CENTER

412-276-6882

See our hand-designed silk pine wreath, table arrangements & silk decorated tree

Fresh-Cut Christmas Trees

and Wreaths 3’ to 10’

1-888-55-FERRY412-650-5579 www.ferryelectric.com

• Reliable, Experienced• Bonded & Insured• Registered

Serving Our Hometown with Integrity for Over 80 Years

busINEssEsat your service

Notebooks,Pens,&Wayne Herrod

Jim O’Brien at Heinz Field




FEAR NOTHING

E N G I N E E R I N G G R A D U ATE | A RT I S T | R I S K TA K E R

w w w . s e t o n h i l l . e d u

You have the confidence to offer new ideas. To embrace change. To create something out of nothing.

Some people call that risky. You call it rewarding.

BUT A CLOSED MIND

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Now serving Upper St. Clair &South Hills communities

www.CasePittsburgh.com412.253.0972

724.745.9888



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OFFICIAL ROLEX JEWELERROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL, DATEJUST AND PEARLMASTER ARE TRADEMARKS.

ECRWSS* CARRIER ROUTE

POSTAL CUSTOMERUpper St. Clair, PA 15241

Presorted StandardU.S. Postage

PaidPittsburgh PA

Permit No. 206

This magazine was printed on recycled paper.

1820 McLaughlin Run RoadUpper St. Clair, PA 15241

C O L D W E L L B A N K E RCheck out these fabulous Upper St. Clair area homes!

Great floor plan, lots of updates,4Br, 2+2Ba, family room andgame room fireplace, beautifulyard. $270,000Kathi Kernan 412-344-0500

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Great updates throughout, 3Br,2.5Ba brick ranch! Kit w/stainlesssteel appliances, 2 fireplaces, den,gamerm, 2 car grg. $195,000Monica Mahla 412-831-5555

Spacious updated split entry, 4Bedroom, 2.5Ba, living room andfamily room fireplace, den, nearpark! $221,900Arlene Murray 412-344-0500

Spacious, well maintained ranch,3 Bedroom, 2.5Bath, gameroom,omnistone driveway.

$189,900Nancy Beaulieu 412-344-0500

Custom built home w/outstandingfeatures! 5Br, 6.5Ba, MBRsittingrm, 1st flr pub, bkyd sportscourt, 4 car grg! $1,099,000Sydnie Jones 412-344-0500

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Move right in! Beautiful cornerlot, 4Br, 2+2Ba, family roomfireplace, game room, wet bar,deck. $299,000Kathy Enick 412-344-0500

Charming & versatile cape, cozybreakfast rm, 3Br, 3Ba, livingrmfireplace, gamerm, deck, largelevel yard. $179,900Cheryl Covi 412-833-5405

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Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell BankerReal Estate Corporation. Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Owned and Operated by NRT Incorporated.

Documents

WINTER 2006