in moon township

SPRING 2013

• Moon Area High School Students Support Deployed Troops• Eagle Scout’s Project Brings Trail to Life • Art In The Airport

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Summer content deadline:4/14/13

S TA F F

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Welcome to the spring issue of Moon Township magazine! I hope that you are as anxious as I am to get the cold and snow behind us and get busy planning projects around the house.

�is issue is dedicated to home-improvement projects great and small. Some projects will give you curb appeal, some will increase your home’s value, and others are for the sheer enjoyment or luxury of it.

Regardless of your aims with your home, whether gu�ing the walls, or just planting the perfect tree in the yard, our homes are a source of pride for us, and not in a status sense. �ey are where we raise our families, where we feel safe, and where we invite our friends and loved ones for parties and fellowship.

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

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

Have a wonderful spring! Wayne Dollard, Publisher

INPERSPECTIVE

GardeningWE WANT TO KNOW:

Gardens are commonplace in Western Pennsylvania, but why? What’s the allure of gardening that prompted you to �rst turn the dirt?

Was it a relative who �rst helped you plant your �rst tulip bulb, or was it your spouse who �rst introduced you to succulent, vine-ripened homegrown tomatoes?

Let us know how you �rst got into gardening and send us some pictures of your garden as well!

Email your submissions to: [email protected] and please indicate which of our magazines you receive so we know where to place your story.

How did you get into ?

Leslie Burns, DC

PhysiotherapyMassage Therapy

Nutritional Counseling

Standard Process Whole Food Nutrition

Supplements

Gift Certificates Available

Robinson ChiropracticSpecializing in Gentle Low Force Care

SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS ::: MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED

3 Robinson Plaza, Suite 320, Rt. 60 & Park Manor DriveAcross from Eat’n Park near The Mall at Robinson

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412.706.7129

2 724.942.0940 to advertise Moon Township

IN Moon Township | SPRING 2013 |

FEATURES

Moon Township Garden Club ..... | 48

Moon Area High School Students Support Deployed Troops ........... | 50

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Children’s Community Pediatrics | 15

Choice Chiropractic ..................... | 17

The Goddard School ...................... | 24

Thomas A. Nolfi, Inc. ................... | 44

The Vein Institute ........................... | 47

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

The Circulatory Centers ............... | 21

JT Landscaping ............................... | 38

COMMUNITY INTERESTS

Moon Area School District ............................................................ | 8

St. Malachy School ............................................................................ | 12

New Advanced Treatment for Skin Cancer .......................... | 14

UPMC Today | Health and Wellness News ...................................... | 25

Tomosynthesis Offers Women Greater Detection of Breast Abnormalities .......................................... | 52

FEATURES

Local Girl is Impromptu Sleuth ................................................... | 5

Eagle Scout’s Project Brings Trail to Life ................................ | 18

Mooncrest Photo Contest Winners Announced .................. | 22

Art In The Airport Pittsburgh International Airport Calms And Welcomes Visitors With Art .... | 34

Home Improvement Special Section ........................................ | 36

ON THE COVER | �e Western Allegheny Honors Band wowed audiences at a concert in the Moon Area High School Auditorium. �e band is comprised of more than 130 members �om nine local West Hills schools, and several members are Moon High School Students. �e concert was held February 5.

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

Cover photo by Primetime Shots, Inc.

ON THE COVER | �e Western Allegheny Honors Band wowed audiences at a concert in the Moon Area High School

34

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WE WANT TO COVER YOU! Do you have an event coming up that you’d like to publicize? Do you have an event that you want us to cover? Let us know! • Go to www.incommunitymagazines.com/events and fill out the form. Events will be announced in the upcoming issue. If our deadlines don’t match yours, we may decide to send our photographers to cover the event for an upcoming issue. • We’re looking for fundraisers, charity drives, social functions, class reunions, church festivals, awards presentations and more! If you’re not sure you have an event worth featuring, give us a call at 724.942.0940 and we’ll help you out!

Moon Township | Spring 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 3

By Jonathan BarnesComing home with her boyfriend and mother in the middle of the

a�ernoon, Moon teen Amy Hinch knew something was amiss. A strange car was in the driveway, and the front door was ajar. �e three looked at each other in puzzlement, and then Amy had an idea. She pulled out her camera-phone and snapped a picture of the strange vehicle, license plate included.

A moment later, the burglar came running out the front door with the jewelry box in his arms, jumped into his car and sped o�. Hinch called Moon the police, explaining the situation and sending them the photo of the car.

Minutes later, the burglary suspect was arrested at a North Side home associated with the vehicle’s registration. It just so happened that a Moon Police detective was on his way back from a meeting in the South Hills, got the call about the burglary suspect, and swung over to North side to check the address for him. �e jewelry box was visible, in the car’s front seat, when the detective arrived, and the suspect was arrested on the spot. A�er being taken into custody, the suspect admi�ed to 12 more burglaries commi�ed in various North Hills communities.

“She solved her own burglary,” said Moon Police Captain Greg Seamon. “What she did right was taking that picture. It was smart, rather than

trying to write down the license plate, which people o�en don’t get exactly right.”

Recently the Board of Supervisors and Moon Township Police Chief Leo McCarthy recognized Hinch, 17, for her outstanding actions contributing to the safety of the township. Hinch's assistance to the community is an inspiration, McCarthy said, and this delightful and remarkable girl set an example for others.

Hinch’s actions truly are exemplary as well as being helpful to many people, Seamon said. “A lot of crimes are solved by

citizens who see things and report it to the police right away,” he said.

Frank Sinatra, Chief Leo McCarthy, Amy Hinch, Chairman Marvin Eicher, Vice Chairman John Hertzer, Andrew Gribben, Jim Vitale at a recent Moon Supervisor’s meeting where she was recognized for her heroics.

Local Girl is

Impromptu


Moon Township Recognized for Outstanding Citizen Communication

Moon Township has won three awards and the top honor - the 22nd Annual Outstanding Citizen Communication Award in the

Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors’ 45th Annual Citizen Communication Contest. �e annual contest recognizes Townships that have

successfully communicated programs and activities to their residents. MOON TOWNSHIP AWARDED:Outstanding Citizen Communication Award

First Place: Electronic Newsletters, the Moon Township Monthly First Place: Cable TV Programs, Soak it Up: A Stormwater Documentary Second Place: Newsletters, Class 1 Category (Population over 10,000), the Moon Township Messenger

Moon Township was the only entrant to win �rst place in more than one category. �e

association will present Moon Township with the Outstanding Citizen Communication Award in April at PSATS’ 91st Annual Educational Conference in Hershey in front of more than 3,000 Township O�cials from across Pennsylvania. �e annual Outstanding Citizen Communication Award is given to one Township for its overall achievement and commitment to citizen communication.

Covered Device Recycling Act

Moon Township has increased their number of electronics collections in response to a new Pennsylvania law - the Covered Device Recycling Act. �is law states that electronic devices and their components may not be disposed of with municipal solid waste. �ese devices and their components must be properly recycled and may not be taken to, nor accepted by, land�lls or resource recovery facilities for disposal or processing. Moon Township encourages residents to take advantage of the Township’s several Electronics Recycling Day events and their annual Recycling Day to properly dispose of these unwanted items in their households. For more information visit www.depweb.state.pa.us and check back to www.moontwp.com for information on upcoming Electronics Collections.

MOON NEWS AND EVENTS


MCA-TV presents their 15th annual Public Awareness Weekend this March. Join MCA-TV at this live television event from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 15 continuing on Saturday, March 16 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Public Awareness Weekend features interviews with representatives from a variety of nonpro�t organizations in our area. Each group will have the opportunity to speak for 30 minutes to educate others about their cause and encourage the community to take part and volunteer. Interested nonpro�t organizations should contact Alexis Sergeant at [email protected] or call MCA-TV at 412.269.1191 to

schedule your availability. Interview times will be scheduled on a �rst-come, �rst-served basis. All interviews will air live during the event and periodically following the event on MCA-TV’s cable stations Comcast channel 14 and Verizon FiOs channel 35 reaching approximately 25,000 households in Moon Township and surrounding areas.

MCA-TV Public Awareness Weekend - March 15 & 16


Allard Elementary students Katherine Gribben, Kira Ley, Julia Benson, Rhianna Firmstone, Maya Baker, and Mia Manna are members of a “Girls on the Run” (GOTR) group. Designed for girls from grades 3-8, GOTR combines training for the 5k with lessons on emotional, physical, social and intellectual development. For three months, they trained to run a 5k and on Dec. 8, they participated in the Jingle Bell Run at Pi�sburgh’s North Shore. For more information about the program, please visit www.girlsontherun.org.

MOON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Students from Allard Elementary Participate in 5k

Members of Allard’s GOTR group ran a 5k race on December 8, 2012.

Chamber Choir Carols for Good Cause

Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Girls’ Chamber Choir went caroling in Moon neighborhoods, raising $300 for the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund.

Moon Area High School Students Win Civics Fair Honors

�ree Moon Area High School (MAHS) students won honors at Civics Fair 2012, a collaboration between Greater Pi�sburgh Student Voices and the Youth Media Advocacy Project, which is supported by Carlow University and funded by �e Heinz Endowments.

MAHS Junior Ashley Hall won �rst place for her video entry “�e 18-year-old vote.” Junior Abigail Eberts won �rst place for her entry on an opinion on a constitutional amendment. Senior Allison Murphy won third place for her entry on the Electoral College. Other participating Moon Area students included Mia Casteveter and Amber Wesoloski.

Judges for the event, which was held Dec. 7 at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, included civic, education, media and business leaders such as Pi�sburgh Post-Gaze�e social media editor Mila Sanina, Pi�sburgh Public Schools Board president Sherry Hazuda, Pi� Institute of Politics founder Dr. Morton Coleman, former KQV-Radio News Director Frank Goe�lieb, and more.

Moon Area High School students Abigail Eberts, Allison Murphy, and Ashley Hall.


Zach Tomasic, a 6th grader at Moon Area Middle School, �nished in 8th place at the Duquesne University Calcu-Solve Competition Nov. 16, sponsored by the II-VI Foundation. Over 225 students in grades 5-6 from various districts in Allegheny County competed. Additionally, his team, which included fellow 6th graders Nikki Konley, Daniela Schmitz, and Leah Bookser, �nished in 5th place out of 55 teams.

�e II-VI Foundation Calcu-Solve brings students representing school districts from across Western Pennsylvania together to compete in individual and group mathematics competitions and receive recognition for outstanding achievement. �e competition is hosted by Upper St. Clair School District and Duquesne University in Pi�sburgh, PA, and Grove City College in Grove City, PA. To learn more about the II-VI Foundation, visit h�p://ii-vifoundation.com/

The Tiger Den now on Edline! �e Tiger Den School Store is now on Edline!

Vist h�p://www.edline.net/pages/Moon_HS/�e_Tiger_Den to view MASD clothing, merchandise, and school supplies. �e Tiger Den, located in the high school, is open on school days during all lunch periods (a detailed schedule is available on the page).

Special Savings Offer for MASD Residents

MASD has partnered with FirstEnergy Solutions to o�er its Friends & Family program to residents of MASD and their friends & family.

�rough this special o�er you can enroll with FirstEnergy Solutions to receive a special discounted price on your electric generation and save money on your monthly electric bills. Plus, for every person who enrolls in the program, FirstEnergy Solutions will contribute $10 to MASD! Sign

up at h�ps://www.fes.com/content/fes/home/o�ers/residential/aiu3.html

You may also call 1-888-254-6526 for more information.

McCormick Elementaryreceives Donation throughTarget’s Books for Schools™ Program

McCormick Elementary received a $500 book award through the Target Corporation’s Books for Schools™ program on Nov. 28.

Each year, every Target location has the opportunity to provide one local school with a $500 book award. �e books are provided by First Book, a non-pro�t that provides new books to children in need. �ey select a collection of books to send to the school to be placed in the school library. Target partners with First Book to make high-quality titles available to schools through the First Book Marketplace.

To learn more about books available on the First Book Marketplace, visit www.

�marketplace.org. To learn more about Target’s commitment to

literacy, visit www.Target.com/hereforgood.

A �ve-person Moon Area High School (MAHS) team advanced into the �nals at the Carnegie Science Center’s Chain Reaction Competition Dec. 7.

Mark Bartus, Hannah Bartus, Eric Burgeson, Ryan Pannebaker, and John Von Stein competed against 45 other entries from area-schools and advanced into the �nals as one of eight schools.

�e Competition, hosted by Westinghouse, asked students to build a mouse trap device that needed to follow a theme and complete a task. �is year’s task was to �ll and secure a container. �e team decided to be creative and take on the role of scientists hired by Coca-Cola to come up with a secret new formula.

For more information about the contest, please visit www.chainreactioncontest.org.

MASD Student Places in Calcu-Solve Competition

6th Grader, Zach Tomasic with his 8th place trophy.

MAHS Team Competes in Carnegie Science Center Competition

Members of the MAHS team who participated in the competition.


MOON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Quaker Valley middle and high school students may have the opportunity to compete in wrestling through a cooperative agreement with the Moon Area School

District. �e Quaker Valley School Board approved the agreement during a special legislative meeting held in conjunction with its regular work session Tuesday, Oct. 9.

�e Moon Area School Board approved the agreement in September. Final approval must be received from the WPIAL and PIAA before Quaker Valley students can participate. “We are pleased to be able to provide our students with additional co-curricular opportunities,” Mike Mastroianni, director of athletics and student activities, said. “Our partnership with Moon Area School District increases opportunities without increasing costs to either school district.”

Quaker Valley has similar cooperative agreements with Sewickley Academy and Cornell School District. Sewickley Academy students have the opportunity to compete on the Quaker Valley swim and diving teams and, beginning this year, Cornell football players and cheerleaders participate on the Quaker Valley squads.

“As public schools continue to face budgetary challenges, these partnerships will become more common,” Dr. Joseph H. Clapper, superintendent, said. “We must continue to �nd creative solutions to meet the curricular and co-curricular needs of our students.”

Students who are interested in participating in wrestling should see Mastroianni in the athletics o�ce. He can also be reached at 412-749-6007 or via email [email protected].

Quaker Valley and Moon Area School District Partner for Wrestling

Lonkert Signs Letter Of Intent

Moon Area High School Senior

Heather Lonkert signed a Le�er of Intent to continue her academic and athletic careers at Rider University and participate in the sport of Diving on scholarship during an a�ernoon ceremony Dec. 7 at the high school. Lonkert is a 5’2” member of the Moon Area High School Varsity Swimming Team.

Events that she participates in include the 1 and 3 meter. Her athletic achievements include being a MAC champion, scholar athlete, and zone quali�er from 2010-2012. Lonkert maintains a 3.6 GPA.

Rider University participates in the MAAC Conference under Head Coach Steve Fletcher.

Middle School Students Donate Toys to Good CauseMiddle School students (grades 5-8) donated toys to the Allegheny County Toys for Tots

program & other local organizations! �e Upper House Student Council did a “Stu� an O�ce” advertising campaign to motivate the students to participate. Pictured are some of the student council o�cers with the toys

Moon Area School District Hires Middle School Assistant Principal

�e Moon Area School Board voted to hire a new middle school assistant principal at its December 3rd meeting. Je�rey Jaworowski will transition into an Assistant Principal position at Moon Area Middle School.

Most recently, Jaworowski served as Moon Area Middle School Band Director and music teacher since 1993. His professional leadership experience includes 21 years in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard where he retired with nine years as Company Commander/Bandmaster, 28th Infantry Division Band and as a U.S. Army Band Sta� Bands O�cer. Prior to U.S. Army service, Jaworowski served as a high school band and choral director at Clarke County High School, Berryville, Virginia. He graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education and completed graduate work at San Francisco State University and Duquesne University. Jaworowski also completed U.S. Army Warrant O�cer Candidate School and the Warrant O�cer Advanced Leadership course.

“�e District is pleased to welcome Jaworowski to the administrative team,” said Dr. Donna K. Milanovich, Superintendent of Schools. “His impressive skillset and knowledge will contribute to the continued success of our District.”10 724.942.0940 to advertise Moon Township

Bring the whole family to enjoy this beloved Broadway classic, a satire of big business and all it holds sacred. Pierrepont Finch uses a li�le handbook called “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” to climb the corporate ladder from lowly window washer to high-powered executive, tackling such familiar but potent dangers as the aggressively compliant “company man,” the o�ce party, backstabbing co-workers, ca�eine addiction and, of course, true love. Winner of the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” melds wit, comedy, and romance together to perfection. Power, ambition, greed… it’s just another day at the o�ce!

for the Moon Area High School Drama Club’s Spring Musical!

Sold at the door at show times, and also available for presale.TICKET PRICES: $12 for adults • $10 for students/seniors

Based on the book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie GilbertMusic and lyrics by Frank LoesserBased on How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying by Shepherd MeadRated PG

Show Dates: March 7 @ 7:00 p.m.March 8 @ 7:00 p.m.March 9 @ 7:00 p.m.March 10 @ 2:00 p.m.

Ticket Presale Dates (High School Main Office Lobby)

March 1: 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.March 3: 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

March 4: 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. & 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.March 5: 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. & 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

March 6: 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.March 7: 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

M a r k Y o u r C a l e n d a r s !

How To Succeed In BusinessWithout Really Trying


St. Malachy School News by Amy Maxin

Published Authors Mrs. Corona’s fourth grade recently received their published hard back book, “SMS is a Special Place.” A�er “brainstorming” ideas on what makes St. Malachy special, each student picked a di�erent topic to include

on their page of the book. Students wrote about sports, friends, teachers,

Mass, and �eld trips. Each student then illustrated their page. All the pages were combined to create a special class keepsake.

Front row: Mariah Jones, Kathryn Warner, Gianna Bofo, Marissa Trocchio, Mario Rump, Zachary SchafferBack row: Danny Farrell, Nicole Fish, Mark Polar, Gage Keefe, Brandon Halbedl, Patrick Dhanse, Ryan Mahoney

Front row: Taylor Hogan, Mikayla Mycka, Luke Rotellini, Bobbi Crawford, Johnny Stanko, Gabriella Rump, Londyn Monk Back row: Sydney Athanas, Daniel Pryle, Madisyn Phillips, J. J. Hancock

Fourteen St. Malachy students recently competed in their 3rd Forensics Meet at St. Teresa of Avila School. Months of practice paid o� for these students. Each child received a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in both the 1st and 2nd round of this tournament. Because of their high scores, St. Malachy School received their �rst certi�cate of placement. �e school placed 5th out of 13 competing schools. �is was a great honor for the hardworking St. Malachy students. �ey are anxiously awaiting their last meet of the year at Holy Trinity School on Saturday, February 23rd.

Front Row from left to right: Miss D’Itri, TJ Harbaugh, Christina Trocchio, Emma Tomei, Abby Messner, Marissa Bordas.Back Row from left to right: Hannah Hathaway, Shelby Blair, Becca Richardson, Jennie Falgione, Alyssa Brinza, Nya Patterson, and Isabella Kessler

Trinity School on Saturday, February 23rd.

School Places Fifth in Forensics Meet

Students Go to the Science Center

�e Kindergarten, First and Second Grade students recently went on a �eldtrip to the Carnegie Science Center. �e children explored all four �oors of the hands-on exhibits. �ey had a great time at the Highmark Sports Works. Everyone stopped in to see the amazing train display and also viewed the Omnimax presentation entitled “To the Artic”. �e children packed their lunches and enjoyed sharing their adventures with each other while they ate. It was an exciting day �lled with fun and new discoveries.

Cross Country Team Volunteers at Frigid Five MilerA big thanks goes out to all of the parents and students that

came out to North Park and volunteered at the Frigid Five Miler. The St. Malachy School volunteers helped with photography, videography, water stops, pancake cooking, kitchen cleaning, finish line chip collection, and whatever other need arose during the day. The race director said it was the smoothest FFM that he has ever run and was home much earlier than ever before. And this was accomplished with a record number of racers to take care of.

Special thanks to the following students who volunteered for the

first time: Brigham Karlik (who also took a medal for second place in his age group home), Cole Karlik, Natasha Karlik, Grant Karlik, Isabella Szurlej, Hogan Shirnhofer, Kaylee Scott, Jacob Scott, and Mara Tucci. A big thanks also goes to some veteran volunteers; Vincent Frank, Marissa Trocchio, Christina Trocchio, Mark Polar, Andrew Polar, Elena Polar, Tyler Veal, Frankie Impavido, Marissa Bordas, Joseph Rees, and Matthew Rees. All of these volunteers contributed to a new record. Thirty-eight parents and students volunteered and that is a new high.


The Officer Phil Safety Programs recently visited St. Malachy School. The program teaches children about stranger danger respect for authority figures. It also encourages positive behavior like honesty, friendship, being a buddy not a bully, civic responsibility and knowing what to do in an emergency just to name

a few. During the live presentation, magic, games and ventriloquism are used to engage the children and keep their attention while they learn. To reinforce what the children learned in the live presentation each child is given a grade specific activity book and other interactive materials to take home to work on with their parents or guardians.

Science students at St. Malachy School recently did projects on inventors. �e students then became “Talking Statues” by choosing an invention and either dress up as their inventor or invention. �eir eight-minute PowerPoint presentations covered a brief history of the inventor and what e�ect their invention had on culture. �ey were also required to write a three page typed essay discussing what our lives would be like if their invention did not exist.

St. Malachy Students Participate in Talking Statues Science ProjectsKayla White representing American Martin Cooper who worked for Motorola and invented the first cell phone

Shawn Faraoni

as a copy machine. Inventor is James

Watt

Officer Phil Visits School

Owen Tomei, Marissa Trocchio, Officer Dan

�ursday, tJanuary 24th was “Dennis Bowman Day” at St. Malachy School. �e K-8 students took part in his weather education program. Mr. Bowman talked about how to deal with severe weather by dressing in layers and using a hat, gloves or mi�ens. On display was an actual weather balloon as he informed the students why meteorologists use them, what gases are necessary to �y the balloon and what to do if we have one land on the playground or backyards.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the program was the model tornado simulator A� “the mean, mean, tornado machine.” Mr. Bowman used dry ice and heat to show what weather conditions are necessary for a funnel cloud to form. �e students were amazed to see an arti�cial tornado in the middle of the gym.

�e program concluded in �ne fashion when Mrs. Escovitz presented Mr. Bowman with 120 of our very own “St. Malachy homemade doughnuts” and a $250 contribution to the KD� Turkey Fund. �en, the students were able to go home and see themselves on TV. During the show, Mr. Bowman was very complimentary of our school. He stated how nice it was to be addressed by eighth graders that

were so polite. He concluded his segment by showing the near empty box of doughnuts that were quickly eaten by the entire KD� sta�. �anks Mr. Bowman!

From left to right: Weatherman Dennis Bowman, Brody Connor, Dom Davis, Chris DeSalle, Principal Janet Escovitz, and Anar Jani

Logan Kunes, Jannah Berecky , Officer Dan

St. Malachy School Gets a Visit from a Meteorologist


Industry Insight

Patricia Sinicki found a scratch on her nose back in 2010 and didn’t think much of it. “I thought that one of my cats had scratched me,” she said.

At the time, she was undergoing total knee reconstruction followed by physical therapy, so she didn’t have time to really worry about that scratch.

As time went on, however, the scratch continued to get worse. Her primary care physician referred her to a dermatologist who biopsied the lesion and confirmed the diagnosis: basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer, according to Melissa Pugliano-Mauro, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at UPMC St. Margaret and Mohs surgeon.

“I have a strong family history of skin cancer, so my primary care physician had prepared me for this type of diagnosis,” Sinicki explained.

Fortunately for Sinicki, her dermatologist referred her to Hakeem Sam, MD, PhD, director, Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery at UPMC Presbyterian and in April 2012, she underwent Mohs surgery, a procedureperformed for skin cancer that o�ers the highest potential cure rate; 99 percent.

During the surgery, Dr. Sam removed layers of tumoruntil it was gone. Sinicki now ranks among that 99 percent, and though she continues to visit Dr. Sam regularly for follow-up, she feels very happy with theprogress she has made.

“I just look at it as one more thing in my life that I have conquered,” she said.

Physicians have been performing Mohs surgery for more than 50 years, according to Dr. Sam, with the majority of procedures done on non-melanoma cancerson the head and neck, specifically the areas of skinaround the eyes, nose, mouth, lips, and ears. There also is a type of melanoma, called melanoma insitu, on which Mohs surgery is e�ective.

Dr. Sam explained that the procedure is done in stages, or layers, of tumor removal and is performed under local anesthetic. “We remove a layer of tumor along with a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue andexamine it under a microscope.If, upon examination, which can take up to one hour, we find more cancer, we removeanother layer.

This process is repeated until allof the cancer is removed. This isthe most conservative way of removing the entire tumor while still leaving behind as much healthy tissue as possible.”

When that part of the surgery is finished, reconstruction begins, and that could be as simple as side-to-side closures or as extensiveas flaps and grafts. In cases where the tumor is more extensive, the patient also may be referred to appropriate specialists.

“Patients can go home the same day with a pressure dressing applied to the surgical area,” Dr. Sam said. “Pain is primarily managed with over-the-counter medications, though patients who experience more pain can be given a prescription.”

More than 3.5 million people in the United States are diagnosedwith skin cancer annually, Dr. Pugliano-Mauro said, and one in fivewill develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Squamous cell and basalcell carcinomas are the most common types of skin cancer, withbasal cell being the most common out of the two, and melanoma is the deadliest form.

“There are similar risk factors for both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, and those include fair skin complexion, a lot of outdoor sun exposure, or the use of indoor tanning beds, which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently determined are linked to melanoma,” Dr. Pugliano-Mauro explained. “The most e�ective way to prevent skin cancer is to limit sun exposure. We also strongly advise using sunscreen labeled‘broad spectrum and water resistant’ and with an SPF of at least 30.Sunscreen should be applied every two hours or more often afterswimming or sweating.”

To learn more about skin cancer and Mohs micrographic surgery, visit UPMC.com/skincancerprogram or call 855-SKN-SPOT (855-756-7768).

New AdvancedTreatment for Skin Cancer

UPMC Skin Cancer Page_Layout 1 2/6/13 11:12 AM Page 1


Childhood obesity is being discussed more o�en and well it should be. In the United States more than 30% of our children are overweight. �is number has been increasing yearly. It is important

every member of the family develops healthy habits for life. �e following questions make up a brief lifestyle evaluation; they may help you to identify the good choices you are already making and those that could be improved.

Does your child eat breakfast every day? Everyone seems to know that “Breakfast is the most important meal

of the day.” Because children’s brains and bodies are rapidly growing and developing, they depend on ge�ing a regular supply of energy. Going for long periods without food can cause physical, developmental and behavioral problems. Skipping breakfast is also linked to the development of obesity. By eating breakfast, you are less likely to over eat later in the day and are able to increase your ability to burn calories. �e bene�t of a well- balanced breakfast is worth the time and e�ort it takes to add it to the morning routine.

Do the kids eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day?Fruits and vegetables are an important source of vitamins, minerals and

�ber that their growing bodies need. Eating fruits and vegetables decreases the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and other chronic health problems as we age. With some e�ort, creativity and practice, they can be added to meals in ways the kids will come to accept and enjoy.

Do you limit how much sweetened drinks the kids drink? Sweet drinks, including juices, sodas, and sport drinks are related to a

number of health-related issues. �ey add empty calories and large amounts of sugar to our diets increasing the risk for obesity and dental decay. O�en children “�ll up” by drinking and then reject nutritious foods because they do not feel hungry. By limiting a child’s choices to water and low-fat milk, you can o�en be more successful encouraging picky eaters to eat more and a be�er variety of foods.

Is your family physically active for at least 1 hour per day? Physical activity is important to maintain a healthy weight, preventing

chronic diseases. It also helps build healthy bones and muscles, increases self-esteem and con�dence, and boosts memory and school performance. �ere are many ways to increase a child’s activity level; any activity that gets the body moving is considered exercise. Being a good role model and creating a family �tness plan can improve success and make it more fun for everyone.

Do you limit “Screen Time” to less than 2 hours per day? Screens are everywhere making limits more di�cult and more

important to enforce. Excessive time using electronics is linked to weight gain, the development of medical problems, and behavioral, social and academic issues. Making suggestions for alternative activities, removing televisions and computers from bedrooms, and restricting their use to certain times are just

some strategies that can be used to �ght this ba�le.

Do the kids snack frequently or eat when they are bored? Do you often use food as rewards?

As much as 1/3 of a child’s calories may be eaten between meals. Snack foods are more likely to supply more empty calories and fewer nutrients than those foods eaten at meals. Like drinking too much sweet drinks, this can lead to pickier eaters and weight gain. �ink about when and what foods you o�er, eat together as a family more o�en, and suggest activities to help cope with boredom.

A discussion with your pediatrician can help you �nd resources and programs that can help in your e�orts. Just remember any positive change no ma�er how small can bene�t your family’s health.

Pamela Schoemer, MD, FAAP is a board certified pediatrician at CCP – Moon & Wexford where she is a managing physician. Dr. Schoemer graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Dr. Schoemer is currently a Clinical Instructor of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and serves as the Medical Director for Children’s Community Pediatrics Healthy Habits 4 Life program.

Teach children healthy eating habits to avert childhood obesity

Industry Insight


Industry Insight

DATE: March 10, 2013

TIME: 1 to 6 p.m.

MENU: Meat or meatless spaghe�i, salad, Mancini roll and bu�er, homemade dessert, co�ee, punch. So� drinks are available for purchase. Takeout meals are available.

COST: Adult; $8 presale ($1 additional at door) Child; $5 presale ($1 additional at door) $2 discount for college students with valid/ current college ID $2 discount for military with valid ID

PLACE: St. Margaret Mary Parish Social Hall, One Parish Place, Moon Township

ADDITIONAL: Chinese Auction, 50/50 Ra�e

Contact: Jen Zilionis, 724-457-7423

Meat or meatless spaghe�i, salad, Mancini roll

Saint Margaret Mary Boy Scout Troop 905 49th Annual

Spaghetti Dinner(a Moon Township Tradition)

CORAOPOLIS MEMORIAL LIBRARY601 School StreetCoraopolis, PA 15108412.264.3502Library Hours:Monday through Thursday10 a.m. - 8 p.m.Friday and Saturday10 a.m. - 5 p.m.MOON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY1700 Beaver Grade Road, Suite 100Moon Township, PA 15108-3109412.269.0334email: [email protected] Hours:Monday through Thursday10 a.m. - 8 p.m.Friday and Saturday10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Sunday ~ 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.July - Labor DaySaturday ~ 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.Sunday ~ Closed

L i br arie s i n o ur Ar e a

A Restoration Church .............................................. 724.941.3480 Berean Fellowship Church ..................................... 412.220.4673 Beth-El Congregation of South Hills ..................... 412.561.1168 Bethel Presbyterian Church ................................... 412.835.0405 Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church .................. 412.561.5100 Bower Hill Community Church ............................... 412.561.4114 Center Presbyterian Church................................... 724.941.9050 Christ the King Church ............................................ 412.595.7181 Christ Community Church of South Hills .............. 412.519.4097 Grace Fellowship Church ....................................... 412.334.3803 Christ United Methodist Church ............................ 412.835.6621 Covenant Family Church ......................................... 724.263.7147 Faith Lutheran Church ............................................. 412.835.4590 First Baptist Church of Coraopolis ........................ 412.264.2520First Church of Christ, Scientist ............................. 412.561.1125 Good Shepherd Church........................................... 412.276.2446 Good Shepherd Church........................................... 724.941.9418 Holy Child Parish ...................................................... 412.221.5213 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church ...................... 412.833.3355 Hope Lutheran Church ............................................ 724.941.9441 Lebanon Presbyterian Church ............................... 412.466.7184 Mt. Lebanon Christian Church ............................... 412.531.8554 New Day Assembly of God ..................................... 724.941.1661New Song Community Church ............................... 412.341.1293Our Redeemer Lutheran Church ........................... 724.941.7467

Peters Creek Baptist Church.................................. 412.833.6111 Riverdale United Presbyterian Church ................. 724.457.0207Ruthfred Lutheran Church ...................................... 412.835.7140 Sharon Community Presbyterian Church ............ 412.264.7400South Hills Assembly of God .................................. 412.835.8900 South Hills Bible Chapel.......................................... 724.941.8990 South Hills Church of the Nazarene ..................... 412.831.6333 South Hills Community Baptist Church ................ 412.833.1313Southminster Presbyterian Church ...................... 412.343.8900 St. David’s Anglican Church ................................... 724.941.4060St. David’s Anglican Church ................................... 724.941.4060 St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church ............. 412.221.2277St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church ................ 412.835.7800 St. John Capistran Roman Catholic Church ........ 412.221.6275 St. Louise DeMarillac Roman Catholic Church ... 412.833.1010 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church .................................... 412.531.7153 St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church ......... 412.833.0031 Temple Emanuel ....................................................... 412.279.7600 Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills 412.561.6277 Upper St. Clair Alliance Church ............................. 412.835.4775 Westminster Presbyterian Church ........................ 412.835.6630

If your place of worship was not on our list, please e-mail the information to [email protected]

We are interested in highlighting your church!If you are a member of the clergy from this area and would like to contribute an inspirational message that all of our readers might enjoy, please contact Megan Faloni, Editorial Coordinator at m.faloni@ incommunitymagazines.com for more information.

H o u s e s of Wor s hip


Dr. Leah Gallucci earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Pi�sburgh with a major in Neuroscience and minor in Chemistry. She a�ended Palmer Chiropractic College in Florida where she gained her extensive knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology, as well as Chiropractic adjusting techniques. Formally, she practiced at the Choice Chiropractic McKnight location, and is now accepting new patients at her recently bought Moon Township practice.

Whether you sneeze because of tree pollen or itch from blooming plants, your spring allergy symptoms can make spending time outdoors very uncomfortable. When plants

release their pollen into the air to fertilize each other and any of those pollens reach your nose, eyes or mouth, your body kicks into action. Allergy su�erers can lose out on time spent with family and friends outdoors, all because of airborne allergies. On average, a person spends 90% of their time outdoors in the spring and summertime. �at’s why more and more patients are seeking out the help of a chiropractor for allergies and nervous system relief.

A chiropractor? Really? Absolutely.

While you think you’re su�ering only because of allergies in spring and summer, you might actually be su�ering from a stressed nervous or immune system. When you have an allergic reaction, it’s your immune system that’s overreacting to the allergen – the cause of your discomfort. Instead of running to the drug store to get the latest allergy medicine, try to understand that your allergies in spring and summer months could be exacerbated by things beyond your control.

�is overreaction of the immune system to allergens can be unsafe if le� untreated. You could be le� defenseless if your immune system is compromised, which can lead to severe infections or the common cold. �e average number of Americans who su�er from allergies is around 50 million, and not all patients can �nd relief through medication, because you aren’t ge�ing to the root of the problem.

Fortunately, spring allergy symptoms are fairly easy to recognize:

So how can chiropractors help?A chiropractor is trained to ease the stress on your nervous system.

Your nervous system directly a�ects the immune system so your spring allergy symptoms can be lessened or even eliminated by �rst working to restore your nervous system to full capacity. A chiropractor will realign your vertebrae to relieve any pinched nerves you might have. Once the spine is realigned, your immune system can concentrate on the substances that cause your allergies in spring and summer months. Plus, seeing a chiropractor for allergies may have the additional bene�t of eliminating other, less acute problems with your spine, muscles or joints. �is would allow you to enjoy your time outdoors all-year-round without the su�ering.

We invite you to our o�ce as a way of being proactive with your allergies this spring season. �e be�er you take care of your body, the be�er it treats you!

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Achy JointsHivesDifficulty Breathing

Difficulty Swallowing“Stuffed” Nose or Ears

Industry Insight


By Jonathan Barnes

tearing o� the ro�ing wood of the park’s

aging amphitheater, Boy Scout Joe Willoughby, fellow Scouts and some of their parents sweated under an October sun. Installing new boards and painting the 25 foot by 20 foot structure with several gallons of fresh paint, the improvement was immediately obvious, as well as gratifying.

But it was still work. Faced with the question of what to do for his Eagle Scout Service Project, Willoughby went to Raccoon Creek State Park Ranger Patrick Adams for help. �e Ranger gave the Scout a list of potential projects, and a couple of them caught Willoughby’s eye. He decided to �x up the park’s small amphitheater for his service project, and also do other work there.

One task—cleaning up a 1,500-foot-long trail that had been closed a�er being overgrown—

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Eagle Scout’s Project Brings Trail to Life


particularly appealed to him. “I thought the idea of opening a trail would be fun,” Willoughby said.

�e educational trail had been used, and now will once again be used, by elementary school children. �e trail had been closed for six years and runs through a slice of woods in the park. It had become tangled with brush from lack of use and no maintenance.

So by chopping out the thorns and brush, pulling out the weeds and mess and carting it all away, Willoughby and his band of volunteers who'd brought their own tools to the park brought light again to the unused trail. Over two days in October, the group labored on these tasks to help the community and also help Willoughby earn his Eagle Scout rank.

Eagle Scout is the highest achievement in Scouting. Boy Scouts must earn 21 Merit badges to a�ain the distinction. Moon Board of

Supervisors recently recognized Eagle Scout Willoughby, who is a member of Boy Scout Troop 198, for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout and for his work repairing and painting Raccoon Creek State Park's campground amphitheater movie screen and enclosure.

Willoughby, 16, an eleventh grader at Moon, had his Eagle Graduation Ceremony Dec. 29 at Riverdale Presbyterian Church, where his troop meets on Tuesdays. He credits the help of his fellow Scouts, their parents and others with helping him to achieve the rank. With the assistance of his father and a Boy Scout-issued format for planning a service project, Willoughby set up the two-day project and recruited volunteers. He and the

Scouts sold popcorn to raise money to buy boards for the amphitheater part of the project.

Being in the park was familiar territory for the Scouts, who have camped out together there in the past. Camping is one of Willoughby’s favorite

Boy Scout activities, he said. “I’ve had a lot of fun in Scouting—I enjoy camping and the other activities, and making a bunch of friends,” he said.

Having Moon Supervisors acknowledge his work in Scouting is an added bonus, he said.“It’s awesome whenever people recognize

you’re an Eagle Scout. I feel like I have accomplished something,” Willoughby said, adding that he realized some other things through the project. “I learned that leadership can be fun, if you do it right. Preparation and having help are important when planning a project like this."

Willoughby strongly recommends Scouting to anyone who thinks they might like it.

“If you don’t do Scouting, you’ll regret it. You’ll be missing out on something that’s really great,” he said.

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agle Scout is the highest achievement in Scouting. Boy Scouts must

buy boards for the amphitheater part of the project.

territory for the Scouts, who have camped out together there in the past. Camping is one of Willoughby’s favorite

Boy Scout activities, he said. “I’ve had a lot of fun in Scouting—I enjoy

closed for six years and runs through a slice of woods in the park. It had become tangled with brush from lack of use and no

who'd brought their own tools to the park brought

October, the group labored on these tasks to help the community and also help Willoughby earn his

Scouts sold popcorn to raise money to Scouts sold popcorn to raise money to


your refunddollars

If you get a tax refund, what will you do with it? �is year, 50 percent of Americans receiving a tax refund say they plan to spend the extra money on bills or other household expenses, as opposed to

vacations (15 percent), leisure activities (8 percent) or gi�s (4 percent), according to a recent poll.

�e survey also noted that 78 percent of Americans receiving their refund will be “smarter” about how they spend it, with 55 percent pledging they are more likely to use refund dollars on practical “needs” instead of “wants.”

Use the following tips to help stretch your tax refund dollars.• Set up an emergency fund

Pu�ing away 6 to 12 months of expenses can really help if you �nd your home equity line of credit has been reduced, or if unexpected medical fees arise. • Open a 529 college savings plan

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the cost of a college education continues to rise every year. Since 1999, prices for undergraduate tuition, room and board at public institutions rose 37 percent, and prices at private institutions rose 25 percent, a�er adjustment for in�ation. Planning early and se�ing aside money for college now is the most important thing you can do for your children’s collegiate success. • Seek out classes to boost budgeting skills

Taking a budget or �nance class at a community college or neighborhood center can help boost the �nancial planning skills that you currently have or help you learn new techniques. • Research the best deals on monthly expenses

�ere are expenses you will incur each month, such as food, transportation and cell phone costs, which are easy to re-evaluate and cut – as long as you do the right research. For example, buying in bulk, investing in a bus pass or choosing an e�cient, �exible prepaid wireless provider will help you save money each year. Always shop for the best deals.

Students Take the Lead on Road SafetyLectures and scare tactics by well-meaning

adults have not yet transformed this nation’s teen drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teenagers in America.

Thankfully, students—the people best positioned to make change—are taking note and taking a stand against this startling statistic. As one teen states: “Teenagers do not listen to safety messages from their parents as well as they do when those messages come from their friends. It is easier to relate to advice from fellow teens.”

Here’s the advice proactive students commonly share:

Plan Ahead • Designate someone to text for you, and hand over your phone. Or,

better yet, turn your phone to silent and lock it in the glove compartment until you arrive safely at your destination.

• Connect with your parents on ground rules for driving. Know what the consequences will be if the rules aren’t followed.

• Prepare a driving playlist. Don’t let your driving be distracted while trying to find the perfect song.

On the Road • Use your head. Remember that there is absolutely no text, song, call

or distraction that is more important than your life or the lives of others.• Drive defensively by keeping your full focus on the road and other

drivers so you can react to changing situations.• Be prepared with a strong, clear statement to stand up to a peer

who isn’t driving safely. Say something like, “We both want to live, so let me answer your phone or text while you focus on driving.”


Business Spotlight

Due to the success of their �rst photo contest, Moon Township’s Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) is holding a second Mooncrest photo contest looking for any and all photos of the Mooncrest area taken prior to 1968. �e photos can include people, buildings, streetscape, cars, etc. �e photos will be used in a publication featuring photos and the history of Mooncrest. �e Township will o�er $100 for the best picture, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place. Judging will be done at the HARB meeting on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Please submit all photo entries to the Moon Township Administration O�ce located at 1000

Beaver Grade Road before Tuesday, March 5, 2013 by 4 p.m. Each entry should include name, address, phone number and details of each photo. For more information contact Lora Dombrowski

at 412-262-1700. Photos will be scanned and returned promptly.

Moon Township’s Historical Architectural Review Board

announced the three winners of their Mooncrest Photo Contest.

Photos will be on display in the Township Administration Building.

1st PLACE - $100 prize, Erma Meyers; group photo from 1943.2nd PLACE - $50 prize, Vicky Ramsey; photo of three Ramsey children in front of 268 Oak Drive from 1962.3rd PLACE - $25 prize, Betty Werme; photo of the rear of the home and neighborhood from 1955.

$25 for third place. Judging will be done at the HARB meeting on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Please submit all photo entries to the Moon Township Administration O�ce located at 1000

2013 by 4 p.m. Each entry should include name, address, phone number and details of each photo. For more information contact Lora Dombrowski

at 412-262-1700. Photos will be scanned and

Photos will be on display in the Township

Erma Meyers; group photo

Betty Werme; photo of the rear

AbOut MOOncReSt

Mooncrest was the Township’s �rst

planned residential community, built in 1943

by the Federal Government under the Lanham

Act to house workers who contributed to

numerous defense industries that lined the

Ohio River, including Landing Ship Tanks

(LSTs) production at the shipyards on Neville

Island. �e LSTs were used to more e�ciently

transport troops to beachheads in the

coordinated Allied invasion of Europe. Many

of the Mooncrest residents also directly served

the American armed forces, during World

War II. �e neighborhood sits on 42 acres on

a blu� overlooking the Ohio River. It contains

392 residential units in 104 buildings. Back

in the day, the municipal building, police

station, school and market were located

there. A nomination is being made to put

Mooncrest on the National Register. �e

successful bene�ts of a nomination can

bring planning bene�ts, tax breaks and

incentives for building upgrades and e�orts

to revitalize the neighborhood. �e ultimate

goals are to expose historic preservation

to the students, give Moon residents access

to a history publication of the signi�cance

of the Mooncrest Community, and to have

Mooncrest residents gain community pride

�om the highlighting of the community’s

historic signi�cance.

Out of the Mooncrest PastHistorical Architectural Review Board Continues Mooncrest Photo Contest; Winners from First Contest Announced

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place


Current issues of this

magazine are also

available online.

www.incommunitymagazines.com


Child’s Play: It’s All in a Day’s WorkIn Choosing a Preschool, Experts Recommend Child-Centered Play

With so much information about preschools available to parents, it can be di�cult to choose the

right program. One approach to evaluating a school that can help parents choose is the level of emphasis on learning through play. For young children, play is the natural way to learn, according to the experts.

In fact, research studies con�rm that children who are allowed to play function be�er later in life, both socially and academically.

“Young children who learn through play are more ready to make their own decisions, advocate for themselves and use creativity to solve problems as they grow,” says Dr. Kyle Prue�, a Yale University child psychiatrist and consultant to the Goddard School, the fastest-growing franchise preschool program in the United States.

Dr. Prue� points out that play helps children learn to solve problems, promotes �exibility and

motivation, teaches regulation of emotions and builds resilience and con�dence. Play is also essential to the development of the child’s brain, triggering trillions of neural connections that form the basis of healthy cognitive function and mastery of the child’s physical world.

Playing alone and with others not only builds brain development, it also helps children develop social skills and a sense of ethics. �e most e�ective play is free of evaluation and correction (a�er all, throwing a ball shouldn’t be “right” or “wrong”), while promoting autonomy.

“True play is actually hard work,” says Sue Adair, Senior Manager of Quality Assurance at Goddard Systems, Inc. “�e child lost in play is exploring in�nite possibilities. Caretakers and parents can assist the child’s growth by

participating in play and creating an environment that encourages play as a means to meet new developmental challenges.”

So a�er parents have checked the basics that are required for any preschool, how can they �nd one with the right emphasis on play?

Adair suggests looking at three things:

Find a school that puts a priority on learning through play. For young children, play is unstructured and freeing. It’s not about expensive toys, in fact, the simpler the toy, the more ways it can be used by a child developing his or her imagination. Toys and equipment should be carefully chosen, �rst for safety and then for how they stimulate young imaginations and help children develop.

Look at the total environment. Environment means having clean, safe and spacious places to play, as well as the resources to provide imaginative, rewarding playtime. It also means a caring and well-trained sta�, a critical element for any preschool. “Remember, how children are treated is as critical to their development as what they are taught,” says Dr. Prue�.

Ask about enrichment programs. Only the best preschools o�er special enrichment programs at no extra cost, as part of the tuition. Enrichment programs - including yoga, manners and world cultures, for example - develop the whole child by encouraging their innate curiosity and imagination.

“At the end of the day, parents know they’ve chosen the right child care program when their children are given time for child-centered exploratory play during the day,”

Adair says. “For a child, play isn’t optional. �e educational and other bene�ts of play are so important – in terms of healthy bodies and minds – that parents should put play at the top of their list when comparing preschool programs.”

motivation, teaches regulation of motivation, teaches regulation of

trillions of neural connections that form the basis of healthy cognitive function and mastery of the child’s

Look at the total environment. Environment

This INdustry Insight was written by Dina Speranza & Carol Maier. They are the owners of The Goddard School®, located at 800 Commerce Avenue in Moon Township. Goddard offers both full- and part-time Infant/Preschool/Kindergarten programs. For more information, visit www.goddardschool.com or call 412-262-1821.


UPMC TODAYHealth and Wellness News You Can Use | Spring 2013

© 2013 UPMC

What’s Inside2 When It’s More than Just Heartburn

3 Hope and Healing

4 A Healing Touch

Food in a Glass

5 Clinical Trials Can Change Lives

6 Depression and Older Adults

7 Comprehensive Care for Today’s Urology Patients

UPMC Today_Mercy_Spring_2013_v16.indd 1 1/28/13 5:50 PM

Most of us can count on an antacid or two to tame a bad case of heartburn. But acid reflux, of which heartburn is a symptom, can lead to a far more uncomfortable and potentially dangerous condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Linette Johns of Upper Burrell first underwent surgery for GERD in 2000. But in recent years, severe heartburn and other symptoms reappeared. “I knew the success rate of a repeat surgery on the esophagus wasn’t good, so I was hesitant to have it done,” says Linette. “But my son, Jeff, who’s studying to be a doctor, told me that I could be at risk for esophageal cancer. That motivated me to take the next step.”

Tackling complicated cases

In March 2012, Omar Awais, DO, chief of thoracic surgery at UPMC Mercy, performed the repeat surgery on Linette. Under his expertise, some of the region’s most complex, minimally invasive esophageal surgeries are taking place at UPMC Mercy, including:

• Minimally invasive surgery to remove all or part of the esophagus to treat esophageal cancer • Repair of recurrent hiatal hernia • Repeat esophageal surgery

• Large hiatal hernia (also known as giant paraesophageal hernia) repair • Achalasia (a rare swallowing disorder) surgical therapy • Esophageal diverticulum repair and removal

“Patients travel hundreds of miles, and most have had prior surgeries,” notes Dr. Awais. “Before and after operating, we use a quality of life test to measure a patient’s degree of reflux. We’ve learned that our patients typically experience better outcomes, less pain, and faster recovery times through our efforts. We also work with patients on long-term lifestyle changes to maintain their health.”

Linette says her re-operation “saved my life. I feel like a new person.” She has lost weight and no longer takes medication for diabetes, cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Are you at risk?

“Certainly not everyone with GERD requires surgery. Most cases can be controlled through medical therapy, weight loss, modified diet, and medication,” says Dr. Awais. “But early detection and treatment of GERD is key because of its associated risk with esophageal cancer.” At greatest risk are men over the age of 50 who are obese and have suffered from heartburn three or more times a week for five years or longer.

To learn more about UPMC Mercy’s programs to diagnose and treat complex problems of the esophagus, call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).

2 UPMC.com/Today

When It’s More Than Just HeartburnUPMC Mercy o�ers comprehensive testing and minimally invasive surgery for complex problems of the esophagus.

Testing is keyA variety of tests are needed prior to any esophageal or gastric surgery. At UPMC Mercy, patients can get these tests done quickly and efficiently at one location, including:

Endoscopy — Allows a doctor to use a thin, narrow tube with a camera and light to view the inside of the throat and stomach

Motility testing — Identifies how well the muscles of the esophagus are functioning

Acid ph testing — Measures the amount of acid exposure into the esophagus

Impedance testing — Measures the frequency and amount of gastric fluids (both acidic and non-acidic) entering the esophagus and larynx from the stomach


1-800-533-UPMC 3

Decades after receiving a childhood blood transfusion, Chris Sosinski was shocked to learn he had the hepatitis C virus, which had led to cirrhosis and the prospect of a liver transplant.

Today, Chris remains hepatitis C negative, thanks to a new direct-acting antiviral therapy he received at the UPMC Center for Liver Diseases last year. Months after ending treatment in October, his viral load remains at zero.

“That means it’s gone,” says Chris, 49, of Jeannette. “No more medicine and — if I take care of myself — no transplant.”

Baby boomers beware

Chris is one of a growing number of baby boomers diagnosed with hepatitis C, a problem so serious that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that everyone born between 1945 and 1965 be tested for the virus. The CDC estimates that more than 75 percent of the nation’s 3 million adults currently living with hepatitis C are baby boomers — and most don’t know they’re infected.

“Hepatitis C is a silent disease; most people have no symptoms,” says Kapil Chopra, MD, director, UPMC Center for Liver Diseases. “But if diagnosed early, it can be cured or managed successfully before it can develop into cirrhosis or liver cancer.”

A new era of treatment

Thankfully for Chris and other hepatitis C patients, two drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011 ushered in a new era of treatment, delivering improved cure rates and shorter treatment time for the most prevalent — and hardest to treat — strain of the virus. Playing a critical role was the UPMC Center for Liver Diseases, where specialists have been at the forefront in the evaluation and clinical trials of promising new therapies.

Hundreds of UPMC patients took part in groundbreaking clinical trials for those new drugs. (Turn to page 5 to learn about other clinical trials and how they are affecting patients’ lives.) Today, even more are participating in clinical trials of new therapies at UPMC with the potential for even better results in fighting chronic hepatitis C infections.

“These are exciting times. Over the next few years, we expect to have several new options that will eradicate the hepatitis C virus in most patients without side effects,” says Dr. Chopra. “It’s a new era of treatment and hope for our patients.”

A leading resource for complex care

Treating and managing hepatitis C can be complex for both patients and health care providers. In the tri-state area, UPMC is the leading provider of comprehensive and advanced specialty care for patients with the virus.

“Our multidisciplinary specialists are involved in researching and evaluating new treatments. They bring a unique perspective for managing these complex therapies,” explains Dr. Chopra.

These specialists work together to assess patients, select appropriate antiviral therapies, educate patients, monitor for adverse effects and drug interactions, and provide support for patients and family members. “They are familiar with the latest, cutting-edge therapies and developing new ones,” adds Dr. Chopra. For those patients who don’t respond to treatment and are experiencing liver failure, the program also provides seamless transition to UPMC’s internationally renowned transplant program.

To read about the risk factors for hepatitis C and what you can do, visit UPMC.com/Today. For more information about treatments for hepatitis C, contact the UPMC Center for Liver Diseases at 1-800-447-1651.

Hope and HealingUPMC is leading the way with new treatment options for hepatitis C.


1-800-533-UPMC 5

Research opens the door for new possibilities in patient care. But long before a drug, medical device, treatment, or surgical procedure becomes widely available, it must first be proven safe and effective.

At UPMC, clinical trials are the bridge between research and the future of modern medicine. As one of the nation’s top-ranked health care systems, UPMC annually directs or participates in hundreds of groundbreaking clinical trials in virtually every medical specialty. Some are offered only at UPMC, while others are part of national and even international trials. Each is carefully monitored and measured by expert UPMC physicians who are leaders in their fields.

For a patients whose illness has no cure or no longer responds to current treatment, UPMC’s clinical trials offer potentially life-saving medical breakthroughs. Other patients enroll in clinical trials with the hope of finding a better or more cost-effective treatment.

The following three UPMC trials currently are seeking qualified patient volunteers:

Healing soldiers disfigured in battle. A flash of light, the sound of an explosion … and a soldier’s life is forever changed by a traumatic facial injury. But thanks to two government-funded clinical trials, efforts are under way at UPMC to improve the lives of wounded soldiers through facial reconstruction using the person’s own tissue. The study is enrolling military and civilian patients with visible deformities of the head or face following trauma, applying minimally invasive therapy to restore a more normal appearance.

These trials are led by J. Peter Rubin, MD, director of UPMC’s Center for Innovation in Restorative Medicine and an expert in adult stem cells derived from fat. “We’re using stem cell

therapy from a patient’s own fat tissue,” explains Dr. Rubin. “By harnessing the body’s own regenerative capabilities, we’re applying new technologies and scientific advancements to restore both form and function in patients.” For more information, visit UPMC.com/restore or call 412-864-2587.

Solutions for out-of-control blood pressure. Of the 67 million Americans with high blood pressure, more than half fail to keep it under control. Many have difficulty battling the disease despite taking three or more medications, a condition known as treatment-resistant hypertension.

As part of the body’s sympathetic nervous system, our kidneys play an important role in regulating long-term blood pressure. In most patients with hypertension, the sympathetic nervous system is overactive, thereby increasing blood pressure and causing heart, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

John Schindler, MD, an interventional cardiologist with UPMC’s Heart and Vascular Institute, is participating in an industry-funded clinical trial in which a device is placed in an artery leading to the kidney. “This therapy uses a catheter to deliver low radiofrequency energy to destroy or disable the renal nerves,” says Dr. Schindler. “If effective, this device could be a valuable alternative to medications for patients with resistant hypertension.” For more information, contact Lisa Baxendell, RN, at 412-802-8672.

Eliminating blood clots. In 2013, nearly a quarter-million adults will be diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in which blood clots form mainly in a deep vein in the leg. DVT can result in persistent leg pain and swelling; if the clot breaks loose and moves to the lungs, a potentially deadly pulmonary embolism can occur. Conventional treatment involves blood thinners and wearing compression hosiery. “We want to dissolve the clot to eliminate its consequences,” says Rabih Chaer, MD, a UPMC vascular surgeon.

Dr. Chaer is participating in a national, multidisciplinary clinical trial to determine if DVT patients would benefit from a more aggressive treatment involving the use of an image-guided catheter to dissolve the clot. “In vascular surgery, our work is technology driven; medical devices are constantly changing,” says Dr. Chaer. “By testing innovative devices, we offer our patients new opportunities to alleviate or resolve their illness.” For more information, contact Susan Tamburro at 412-623-8452.

For a complete list of clinical trials now available, please visit UPMC.com/Today. To learn more about the benefits of clinical trials in patient care, please turn to page 3 and read about UPMC’s advancements in the treatment of hepatitis C.

Clinical Trials Can Change LivesBringing patients, physicians, and researchers together to change the future of medicine.


4 UPMC.com/Today

A Healing Touch There are ways to relieve pain and nausea through alternative medicine.A growing number of patients are adding acupuncture and other alternative therapies to their medical care.

What is alternative medicine?

If you visit an acupuncturist or chiropractor, you’re seeking treatment in the field of complementary and alternative medicine — an increasingly mainstream tool for doctors.

“You don’t have to be a believer for it to work,” says Betty Liu, MD, a physician and acupuncture specialist at the UPMC Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. “I’ve seen dramatic reductions in pain and nausea — some instantaneous, some after multiple sessions.”

Who uses it?

Patients frequently turn to acupuncture and other therapies to control pain, including arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, and spasms, or to ease nausea due to pregnancy or chemotherapy.

Integrating these therapies with conventional medicine can help patients find relief more quickly, or continue making progress toward their goals.

What are some treatments?

Acupuncture, one of the most popular therapies, uses thin needles to stimulate various points around the body. “We’re not certain how it works, but we know it releases endorphins, which act like opiates to relieve pain,” Dr. Liu says.

Massage therapy uses acupressure and deep tissue massage to increase blood flow to an injured area and release endorphins.

Chiropractic medicine adjusts the spine through manipulation to put the body into better alignment.

For more information about alternative treatments, visit UPMC.com/Today.

Health Tips from UPMC Health Plan

Food in a Glass Choosing the best milk option for you.Are you lingering longer in the dairy aisle, pondering your ever-increasing options? Should you reach for your usual skim milk — or be adventurous and try rice, almond, or soy?

Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, UPMC’s director of sports nutrition, says making the right choice is this simple: “Essentially, milk is food in a glass. Choose the drink that offers the best nutrition for your needs.”

Not all milk and dairy alternatives are equal: read labels carefully, comparing the fat and carbohydrate contents. “For example, to reduce soy milk’s ‘beanie’ taste, sugar is added,” explains Ms. Bonci. “That can jump the carbohydrate count from 12 to 24 grams.”

Look beyond just calories, too: milk is rich in protein, calcium, and minerals. “An 8-ounce serving of milk has 8 grams of protein, compared to 6 grams for soy milk and just 1 gram for almond and rice milk,” she adds.

Unless a food allergy is present, the best choice for most of us is cow’s milk. “For children under two, select whole milk,” says Ms. Bonci. “Otherwise, reach for 1 percent or skim milk — both offer a lower saturated fat content and higher calcium. Enhanced or ‘super’ skim milk features a richer texture many people prefer.”

And if you’re debating about organic versus regular milk, Ms. Bonci advises that your pocket- book be your guide. “There’s no nutritional difference between the two,” she says.


1-800-533-UPMC 5

Research opens the door for new possibilities in patient care. But long before a drug, medical device, treatment, or surgical procedure becomes widely available, it must first be proven safe and effective.

At UPMC, clinical trials are the bridge between research and the future of modern medicine. As one of the nation’s top-ranked health care systems, UPMC annually directs or participates in hundreds of groundbreaking clinical trials in virtually every medical specialty. Some are offered only at UPMC, while others are part of national and even international trials. Each is carefully monitored and measured by expert UPMC physicians who are leaders in their fields.

For a patients whose illness has no cure or no longer responds to current treatment, UPMC’s clinical trials offer potentially life-saving medical breakthroughs. Other patients enroll in clinical trials with the hope of finding a better or more cost-effective treatment.

The following three UPMC trials currently are seeking qualified patient volunteers:

Healing soldiers disfigured in battle. A flash of light, the sound of an explosion … and a soldier’s life is forever changed by a traumatic facial injury. But thanks to two government-funded clinical trials, efforts are under way at UPMC to improve the lives of wounded soldiers through facial reconstruction using the person’s own tissue. The study is enrolling military and civilian patients with visible deformities of the head or face following trauma, applying minimally invasive therapy to restore a more normal appearance.

These trials are led by J. Peter Rubin, MD, director of UPMC’s Center for Innovation in Restorative Medicine and an expert in adult stem cells derived from fat. “We’re using stem cell

therapy from a patient’s own fat tissue,” explains Dr. Rubin. “By harnessing the body’s own regenerative capabilities, we’re applying new technologies and scientific advancements to restore both form and function in patients.” For more information, visit UPMC.com/restore or call 412-864-2587.

Solutions for out-of-control blood pressure. Of the 67 million Americans with high blood pressure, more than half fail to keep it under control. Many have difficulty battling the disease despite taking three or more medications, a condition known as treatment-resistant hypertension.

As part of the body’s sympathetic nervous system, our kidneys play an important role in regulating long-term blood pressure. In most patients with hypertension, the sympathetic nervous system is overactive, thereby increasing blood pressure and causing heart, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

John Schindler, MD, an interventional cardiologist with UPMC’s Heart and Vascular Institute, is participating in an industry-funded clinical trial in which a device is placed in an artery leading to the kidney. “This therapy uses a catheter to deliver low radiofrequency energy to destroy or disable the renal nerves,” says Dr. Schindler. “If effective, this device could be a valuable alternative to medications for patients with resistant hypertension.” For more information, contact Lisa Baxendell, RN, at 412-802-8672.

Eliminating blood clots. In 2013, nearly a quarter-million adults will be diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in which blood clots form mainly in a deep vein in the leg. DVT can result in persistent leg pain and swelling; if the clot breaks loose and moves to the lungs, a potentially deadly pulmonary embolism can occur. Conventional treatment involves blood thinners and wearing compression hosiery. “We want to dissolve the clot to eliminate its consequences,” says Rabih Chaer, MD, a UPMC vascular surgeon.

Dr. Chaer is participating in a national, multidisciplinary clinical trial to determine if DVT patients would benefit from a more aggressive treatment involving the use of an image-guided catheter to dissolve the clot. “In vascular surgery, our work is technology driven; medical devices are constantly changing,” says Dr. Chaer. “By testing innovative devices, we offer our patients new opportunities to alleviate or resolve their illness.” For more information, contact Susan Tamburro at 412-623-8452.

For a complete list of clinical trials now available, please visit UPMC.com/Today. To learn more about the benefits of clinical trials in patient care, please turn to page 3 and read about UPMC’s advancements in the treatment of hepatitis C.

Clinical Trials Can Change LivesBringing patients, physicians, and researchers together to change the future of medicine.


More than 6.5 million Americans over age 65 experience late-life depression that can last for months and even years. But many older adults and their caretakers don’t seek treatment because they think depression is inevitable as we age. Its symptoms — irritability, social isolation, poor sleep, loss of appetite, and memory loss — also are easily mistaken as signs of other illnesses.

“Depression erodes our quality of life, our productivity, and our ability to have fulfilling relationships,” explains Charles Reynolds III, MD, director, Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh. He also is director of the Center of Excellence in Late Life Depression Prevention and Treatment Research at the University of Pittsburgh. The center is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

“Untreated, late-life depression puts older adults at risk for significant declines in their mental and physical health. It can be so debilitating that it threatens their ability to live independently,” he notes. “But the right professional help and medications can be life changing for these individuals.”

A wide range of support

The center offers expertise in the detection, prevention, and treatment of depression, stress, complicated bereavement, or bipolar disorders in older adults. Through its research focus, all visits and medications are provided at no cost.

Its services include: • Preventive services, evaluation, and consultation • Treatment through therapy and/or medication • Participation in innovative research studies • Educational support • Referrals for assistance

One of the nation’s leading programs of its kind

The Center of Excellence in Late Life Depression Prevention and Treatment Research is located in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh at both the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC. It is one of only three centers of excellence in geriatric psychiatry funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the John A. Hartford Foundation.

To learn more about the center’s services or to participate in one of its current research programs, call 412-246-6006 or visit latelifedepression.org.

6 UPMC.com/Today

Depression and Older AdultsWhile it may be common, it’s important to know that depression is not a normal part of aging.

Research studies benefit patients today and tomorrow Among the center’s current research studies are efforts to improve sleep patterns, lower stress levels, promote brain health, and reduce pain as a way of preventing depression among adults age 60 and older. These include:

RECALL: A study about reducing stress among seniors experiencing mild memory, language, or judgment loss

RAPID: A study for adults with osteoarthritis knee pain

Addressing Pain and Depression Together (ADAPT): A study for adults living with both depression and back pain

Healing Emotions After Loss (HEAL): A study for adults ages 18 to 95 who are experiencing prolonged or acute grief lasting six months or more over the loss of a loved one


1-800-533-UPMC 7

Whether you need medical care for bladder cancer, an enlarged prostate, urinary tract infection, or sexual dysfunction, UPMC Mercy offers comprehensive care to treat the special urological health needs of both men and women.

“Our urologists are experts in caring for even the most complicated and difficult cases,” says Ronald Benoit, MD, a urologic surgeon and director of the UPMC Mercy urology center, where he leads a team of highly trained specialists in general urology, urologic oncology, reconstructive surgery, and kidney stone removal.

As a Center of Excellence in Urologic Care, UPMC Mercy features a skilled multidisciplinary team of urologists trained in treating patients who have disorders and diseases of the kidneys, bladder, or prostate.

The latest in diagnosis and treatment techniques

According to Dr. Benoit, the hospital’s urology specialists use advanced technologies, medical equipment, and treatments — including minimally invasive surgical technology and robotic surgery — aimed at reducing postoperative pain, recovery time, and side effects.

“Robotic urology uses endoscopic techniques, so patients have smaller incisions and a faster recovery time,” says Dr. Benoit. This technology is ideal for complex and delicate urologic surgeries, such as a prostatectomy, where doctors must operate in a tightly confined area surrounded by nerves affecting urinary control and sexual function.

Special procedures at UPMC Mercy’s urology center include:

Robotic-assisted prostatectomy — A minimally invasive, nerve-sparing procedure for prostate cancer that preserves potency and urinary control.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy — A minimally invasive procedure that allows all or part of the kidney to be removed through a keyhole procedure instead of a large open incision.

Prostate brachytherapy (seed implants) — An effective treatment for patients with prostate cancer where seed implants are used to deliver a high dose of radiation to the tumor while reducing the risk of complications to surrounding tissue. UPMC Mercy is the only Pittsburgh hospital using Cesium-131, a newer compound that does not remain in the body as long as traditional treatments, resulting in faster resolution of side effects.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy — A highly specialized, minimally invasive keyhole procedure to remove large kidney stones by using high frequency sound waves to break them down and a vacuum to quickly remove fragments.

To schedule an appointment with a urologist at UPMC Mercy, call 412-232-5850.

Comprehensive Care for Today’s Urology PatientsFrom medication to radiation to surgical robotic technology, the new UPMC Mercy urology center o�ers tailored, cutting-edge care for patients.

Leaders in urologic careAs a Center of Excellence in Urologic Care, UPMC Mercy has recently recruited several prominent experts — all of whom earned medical degrees at the University of Pittsburgh, including:

Mang Chen, MD, a reconstructive urology specialist, completed a fellowship in urologic trauma and reconstruction at the Detroit Medical Center.

Michelle Jo Semins, MD, a kidney stone specialist, completed her residency in urology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where she also underwent special training in endourology, a minimally invasive technique to treat kidney stones.

Tatum Tarin, MD, a urologic oncology specialist, completed his residency in urology at Stanford University Medical Center and a urologic oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.


UPMC Mercy1400 Locust St.Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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

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

Follow UPMC on Facebook.

Care that women can believe in as strongly as their Catholic faith.

From prenatal education, to menopause diagnosis and treatment, to complete oncological care, and much more, UPMC Mercy strives to ensure the comfort of patients in body, mind, and spirit. This holistic approach is the foundation of more than 150 years of women’s health services.

To learn more about UPMC Mercy OB/GYN services, or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762) or visit UPMC.com/Mercy.

UPMC Mercy provides a full range of women’s health services rooted in the Catholic tradition.

Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC is ranked among the nation’s top 10 hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.


UPMC Mercy1400 Locust St.Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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

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

Follow UPMC on Facebook.

Care that women can believe in as strongly as their Catholic faith.

From prenatal education, to menopause diagnosis and treatment, to complete oncological care, and much more, UPMC Mercy strives to ensure the comfort of patients in body, mind, and spirit. This holistic approach is the foundation of more than 150 years of women’s health services.

To learn more about UPMC Mercy OB/GYN services, or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762) or visit UPMC.com/Mercy.

UPMC Mercy provides a full range of women’s health services rooted in the Catholic tradition.

Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC is ranked among the nation’s top 10 hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.


Millions of people will make vows to lose weight or start a �tness plan, but many lose the motivation it takes to sustain a �t and active lifestyle within just a few weeks. With the right tools and support, though, �nding motivation to stay �t can be a snap.

Follow these simple tips to maintain motivation all year long:

START SMALL – If you haven’t been active in a long time, don’t stress your muscles by doing too much too fast. Start slowly by taking the stairs or squeezing in a 20-minute jog on your lunch break.

BUILD UP ENDU�NCE – Track your progress and continue to build upon your exercise activities – whether you’re running or jogging a route, walking a path, biking, swimming or weight training – to push yourself a li�le further each week.

G�B A PARTNER –You can improve exercise performance by having a partner who pushes you to your limits. But if you prefer to work out solo, there are new devices that track �tness stats including time, distance, heart rate and even calories burned.

MIX IT UP – It’s important to make a �tness schedule and stick to it, but that doesn’t mean doing the same routine over and over. To stay motivated, try changing your workout. From walking to running to

cycling, you can always �nd a new activity to challenge yourself.TURN UP THE VOLUME – Creating playlists of di�erent music that

keeps you motivated for di�erent types of activities can really help keep you going. Remember to refresh playlists, as you can quickly tire of the same music.

Stay Motivated All Year with These Easy Fitness Tips


By Kathy Rudolph

From the grumpiness that a �ight delay brings, to the anxiety of recovering from a connecting �ight of turbulence, or just the

boredom of waiting around for luggage, the airport experience sometimes brings out the worst in some of us.

A large cinnamon bun, libation, shoe purchase or just staring at our device of choice might help make us feel be�er while we wait. But there is also an intelligent and calming addition or alternative that might just do the trick.

A 2011 study from Semir Zeki, a Professor of Neuroesthetics at University College in London, found that “viewing a beautiful work of art creates the same chemical response as love. Both experiences trigger the feel-good chemical dopamine.” So if you’re feeling stressed, checking out the “Art in the Airport” exhibits at Pi�sburgh International Airport (PIT) is a perfect solution.

�e program’s mission statement is “to manage an art collection of style, diversity and beauty to be enjoyed by our traveling public and employees that also promotes public art and enhances the airport environment.”

JoAnn Jenny is the Communications Director of the Allegheny County Airport Authority and is also in charge of the art exhibits.

“It is a genuine customer service bene�t having

art displayed in the airport,” said Jenny. “It’s also wonderful to be able to promote the region and to boost the atmosphere in the airport. It also gives passengers something to do when they are done shopping and dining; to kill some time between their �ights. Even if you are just rushing by, you still experience the aesthetics of the exhibits. It has really proven to be bene�cial and has had a positive impact on people.”

�e idea for “Art in the Airport” has evolved over the past 20 years at PIT.

“In 1992 when the airport was built, there was art installed that was chosen by an art commi�ee, with a few pieces included from the old terminal,” said Jenny. “Later, there were suggestions that we

add some new elements to it, so we added cultural objects, such as the “Tyrannosaurs rex”, the “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” and the “Franco Harris” and “George Washington” statues. �en, when Pi�sburgh hosted the 2009 G20 Summit, we formed a new art commi�ee who were members from the art community in Pi�sburgh, because we were interested in having more art exhibitions here.

Also, the hub status changed and the functions of the facility had to change and impacted some of the permanent collection. Some of the original art was being altered or wasn’t functional anymore, so we needed to address how to proceed. �e art commi�ee helped us to solve these artistic challenges and follow the best practices, and at the same time, a�racted new, temporary exhibitions here.”

One of the temporary exhibits that changes every six months is located on the ticketing level. Another permanent exhibit

that provides visitors with an introduction to Pi�sburgh’s art scene includes the Andy Warhol exhibit. Warhol (1928 - 1987), who grew up in South Oakland in Pi�sburgh, was one of the most important artists in the pop art movement. His works are based on modern, popular culture and the mass media. �e exhibitions are located on Concourses A and D and change once a year.

Eric Shiner, is Director of �e Andy Warhol Museum in Pi�sburgh.

“�e Andy Warhol Museum is thrilled to

Pittsburgh International Airport Calms Travelers And Welcomes Visitors With

“Art In The Airport” add some new elements to it, so we added cultural add some new elements to it, so we added cultural

Andy Warhol, Cow wallpaper, on display at the airport.

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display the work of our native son Andy Warhol at Pi�sburgh International Airport,” said Shiner. “Visitors to our city can feel the Pop Art vibe as soon as they land, and we hope that they make time in their trip to stop by the museum to see our extensive collection of works by one of the greatest artists of our age.”

Another stunner is the immense, Alexander Calder metal sculpture in motion titled “Pi�sburgh”, a m obile that �oats magically in the center of the main terminal of the airport. Calder (1898 - 1976), who was born in Philadelphia, was a sculptor best known as the originator of the mobile. �e mobile was created for the 1958 Carnegie International and won the Carnegie Award for Sculpture. Later it was purchased by G. David �ompson and then donated to Allegheny County. �e piece was then moved to the Greater Pi�sburgh International Airport in 1959 and then returned to the Carnegie Museum of Art in 1979. It returned back to the Pi�sburgh International Airport in 1992.

A new addition to the collection will include “Arch”, by Glenn Kaino, a 20 �. steel and �berglass sculpture that resembles

a transformer with multiple bridges sticking out of it; reminiscent of the the bridges of Pi�sburgh. Because it was constructed to be temporary and was displayed outside, it is undergoing restoration and will be placed in an indoor space in the Pi�sburgh International Airport this spring.

Renee Piechocki is the Director of the O�ce of Pi�sburgh Public Art.

“Sculptor Glenn Kaino created “Arch” to celebrate Pi�sburgh’s 250th anniversary,” said Piechocki. ”A�er it’s three year installation Downtown, the public enthusiasm about the sculpture encouraged us to �nd a new home for the piece, and we are delighted that it will be accepted into the collection at the Pi�sburgh International Airport. It will be on display on the north side of the ticketing level for everyone to enjoy.”

Jenny also looks forward to “Arch’s” arrival. “�e “Arch” is a very unique piece and are very

excited to be able to work with Pi�sburgh Public Arts and the Heinz Endowment,” said Jenny. “ It has become a very popular piece in Pi�sburgh and they are working on the refurbishing of it. We are glad to be able to accommodate them with an indoor space for it.”

�e airport will continue its “Art in the Airport” program in the future.

“Over the course of the last several years, “Art in the Airport” has worked very hard at collaborating with the cultural organizations in the region so that we can be good stewards to both the permanent collection in the airport and a�racting and promoting future exhibits and pieces here.”

To learn more about “Art in the Airport,” visit the website at www.flypittsburgh.com/art-in-the-airport.


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Home Improvements In Moon Township

Continued on page 39


Our Home Improvement Partners

Action Builders is a Design Build company. We believe in listening to our customers and designing within a budget. We pride ourselves on professionalism, quality and total commitment to your project. We back our

projects with 30 years of experience and a five year warranty. Check out our website for more details.

AB Builderswww.pittsburghadditions.com

In 1987 Inks Installations, a home remodeling business was established by Michael T. Inks. Today, Inks Installations is ranked at the top of the businesses involved in home remodeling. Inks is family owned and operated, serving

Allegheny County and the surrounding areas, specializing in bathrooms, kitchens, additions, game rooms, roofing, siding, and other small jobs. For more information call or stop by the showroom!

Inks724.776.0805 • www.inksinstallations.com

Founded in 1911, Ohio Valley Lumber Company is a progressive building material supplier with two locations to serve our customers. The office, distribution yard and retail store are located in Ambridge, Pa. Our showroom, in Wexford, serves

our customers to make their selections in a quiet and a professional environment. We have grown into a company that sells and supports much more than just lumber.

Ohio Valley Lumber Companywww.wvlumber.com

Whether it’s building your dream home or making a livable space come alive, Prime 1 Builders, Inc. excels in single home residential projects. From sustainable and energy efficient home design to custom renovations,

we work to exceed your expectations and stay within your budget. Let Dan Meade and his team of craftsman, make your dream home become a reality. Call us today to discuss your project.

Prime 1 Builders, Inc.412.257.0161 • www.prime1builders.com


For more than 20 years, Joe Tortorea has been improving properties with quality landscaping services. From basic

lawn mowing and regular maintenance, to high level design strategies, and professional landscape installation teams; there is nothing JT Landscaping LLC cannot accomplish. With tree pruning, retaining walls, French drains, full landscape renovation, hardscaping and excavation, JT Landscaping LLC has grown into an all-inclusive landscaping enterprise.

�is year, JT Landscaping LLC will have even more to o�er its customers by way of greenhouse and nursery facilities.

“A few years back, we bought four acres of land in Oakdale and have been developing it ever since,” Tortorea said. “First we built our warehouse for our equipment and o�ces, and then we opened up our repair center to the public to service their lawn and garden equipment. Now we’ve developed a nursery with several greenhouses where you can purchase nursery goods, �owers, perennials, shrubs and ornamental trees. Customers can buy mulch, top soil, and decorative stone in bulk. We stock �rewood, boulders and more.”

If you’re overwhelmed by all of the landscape upgrades you can buy, JT Landscaping will gladly deliver and plant your new yard.

“All of our planting

material is guaranteed for 90 days,” Tortorea said. “So people know when they buy from us, they’re ge�ing superior plant stock. So o�en, I see people going to a big box store to save a buck, only to see their plants die o� in the same season. Our growers, the distributors we go through, take the extra steps to ensure you’re ge�ing a quality product that will thrive in your yard for years to come.”

If you are the type of person who wants to landscape your home, but doesn’t know where to start, JT Landscaping o�ers “DigiScaping” services just for you. �e free consultation includes coming to your home to discuss your needs, taking digital photos of your yard, and creating new landscaping using digital so�ware. Once completed, the pictures will show the homeowner what potential their property could have without ever sticking

a shovel in the ground. �e before and a�er visual representation of the property takes the guesswork out of what to plant and where. JT Landscaping will gladly recommend plantings that are ideally suited for your location and design, to give you a manageable, maintainable yard.

For the homeowner who just wants to live with a nice yard, and not worry about it, JT Landscaping can set you up with an annual

maintenance plan that can take care of mowing, fertilizing, pruning, aerating, reseeding, weeding, snow removal, salt spreading and winterization.

“We can provide as many or as few services as you need to enjoy your yard to its fullest,” Tortorea said. “Homeowners are proud when their yards look good, and we’re just as proud to make them look that way. Our sta� strives to make each of our customers’ homes look their best year round so that they can enjoy coming home to a house and yard that’s the envy of the neighborhood.”

For more information on JT Landscaping and to see a complete overview of all the services they can provide to help you keep your landscaping looking great, go to www.jtlandscaping.com. To set up a DigiScape consultation or to have any of your questions answered by their knowledgeable and courteous sta�, call 724.693.2793 today! �eir tool repair shop and nursery are open to the public daily and can be found at 7231 Noblestown Road in Oakdale.

JT Landscaping LLC Keeping Properties Looking Great for more than

or more than 20 years, Joe Tortorea

thanthan20202020Years

Business Spotlight


the old tile is falling off your shower and you need to replace it. Whatever your situation is, there are many options to choose from, including do-it-yourself options.

One popular and inexpensive option is to have a theme for your bathroom. Examples could be a Disney theme for a child’s bathroom, or perhaps a beach theme. This can be accomplished by painting the walls, adding a wall border and by well-placed décor. Some larger and more costly bathroom updates include new flooring, new sink and vanity and a new bathtub or shower. These improvements will get even costlier if you paid someone to do it for you.

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

Our Home Improvement PartnersHome Improvements

In Moon TownshipApple Lawn Service, started in 1992 in Sewickley, provides landscaping and snow removal services in the Sewickley and Moon Township areas. In 2011 we added the creation of custom made boulders to

our business profile. Utilizing proprietary cement and steel we create boulders based on the unique designs submitted by our customers. Boulders can be viewed at our store at 101 McGovern Blvd in Crescent.

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In 1991 when owner Joe Tortorea founded JT Landscaping LLC, he never thought the industry would have provided such a diverse set of opportunities for growth. Over the past 22 years, the business has grown from

a small one bay garage, to a flourishing four acre parcel that is comprised of a warehouse building, a retail nursery, and a nursery bulk supply yard.

JT Landscaping, LLC724.693.2793 • www.jtlandscaping.biz

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Got questions? Talk to our Pet Food Experts.Brands you Trust. People who know. That’s AGWAY!

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Your local South Pittsburgh Davey Office is your source for expert tree and lawn service. We offer the South Pittsburgh area comprehensive tree and lawn services for your home or business. Our expert staff includes

certified arborists that live and work in your community and care about your landscape. We look forward to serving you! Please call (724) 746-8852 for more information.

Davey724.746.8852


Continued �om page 36



The most popular, and least expensive, deck material is treated wood. It is durable, however it will need to be painted or stained yearly or every other year depending on your climate. Composite decking products are building materials manufactured using a mixture of plastic and wood fiber. Composite decking materials are very popular

because they require less maintenance than wood and often use recycled materials. Composite decking is easy to install and is guaranteed with a 20-year warranty against rotting, splitting, splintering or termite damage. However, composite decking can be very costly.

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

Powder coated aluminum decking can be used to create a watertight floor for your deck. This unique material will never splinter, rot or rust. LockDry Aluminum decking is cool to the touch and is available in five

colors. Aluminum decking is strong and lightweight. The LockDry system can be used to create a dry space to use under your deck on rainy days.

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

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



the space, whether it be additional insulation for a garage or attic room or waterproofing for a basement room.

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

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

how much it will cost.

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

Gone are the days when it was frowned upon to bring work home. Today a home is


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Diamond Landscaping, Inc. has been creating beautifully landscaped exteriors since the year 2000. From one-of-a-kind paver patios, walks, and driveways to customized retaining systems as well as lovely landscapes. You can

be sure that no detail will be overlooked while creating your unique design. Our staff of professionals bring with them the company values of quality workmanship and outstanding customer relations to every project.

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not a home unless it has a home office. Whether you are turning an extra bedroom into a workspace with store-bought furniture or constructing a full-scale two-level library and office, home offices are a regular part of what makes a house a home in 2012.

Making the space your own is essential to effective use of a home office. Create a space that makes you more productive and relaxed at the same time and that is a winning combination. A desk is an essential part of most offices. Choose one that meets your needs. If all you need is a work top to use your laptop from, consider a computer cart and save the space for

a comfortable chair or small sofa. If you are in the market for a larger desk, consider office furniture resellers. They sell executive-grade used furniture for a fraction of the cost.

Bookcases or other storage can be a nice addition. Not only can they store books, but they are also great places to display awards or showcase your favorite collection of knickknacks or memorabilia. Decide whether

you prefer furniture pieces or built-ins. Antique shops have great deals on beautiful bookcases, and most local cabinet shops can design and install custom built-ins. If you have a closet in your office, visit your local home center for a plethora of storage and organizing options.

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

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

similar to real movie theaters, and perhaps even an old-fashioned popcorn maker.

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

Kitchens are the most popular room in the house to remodel. Many people consider the kitchen to be the center of the home and its most important component. Another reason it is so popular to remodel is there are so many things in the kitchen that can be remodeled… cabinets, cabinet hardware, countertops, floor, appliances, lighting, walls and sinks.

There is very little right or wrong when it comes to remodeling your kitchen; it comes down to personal taste. There are so many choices when it comes to style, design and type of material for every component of your kitchen. When remodeling there is much to consider: cost, what is your goal, what is your situation (pets or small children could help decide what type of flooring to use, for example) and what is the cost vs. equity value of the remodel.

If finances are an issue and you are not the handiest

Home Improvements In Moon TownshipContinued �om page 41


individual, there are still many simple and easy things you can do to add pizzazz and value to your kitchen. For example, you can paint your cabinets and add new handles rather than buying new cabinets. Adding a stylish splashguard behind your stove and sink is easy to do and adds great appeal. Painting the walls can also make a huge difference in your kitchen, as can changing the light fixture.

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

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

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

Also, if you can determine how much water your plants actually need, then you won’t overwater them and waste water. It is important to not only understand a plant’s particular watering requirements, but also evapotranspiration.

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

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



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Founded 36 years ago by Don Walter and now run by the entire family, Don Walter Kitchen Distribution, Inc. has more than 15 full-time designers on staff. Our kitchens are designed using the latest computer technology, and

are available in a variety of woods, styles and finishes. We strive on designing kitchens and vanities that match your lifestyle and individual needs.

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Not all companies are licensed or operate in all states. Not all products are o�ered in all states. Go to erieinsurance.com for company licensure and territory information.

JENNIFER NOLFI-O’CONNELLThomas A. Nolfi, Inc. is a family owned and operated independent insurance agency serving the community since 1959.

Protect yourself and your property from severe weather. Review these important steps:1. Check your home insurance coverage – You should have enough to rebuild your home and replace your belongings. Review your coverage with your agent every year.2. Get flood coverage – Not covered under a standard homeowners policy, you must purchase �ood coverage well in advance of a storm because there is 30-day waiting period. 3. Beware of contractor fraud – Dishonest dri�ers o�en go door-to-door, especially a�er disasters, trying to convince you that you need a new roof. See more scams at www.insurancefraud.org4. Inspect your roof – Make sure the roof covering is well adhered and there are no missing pieces. Secure roof shingles and seal any

openings, cracks and holes. 5. Check your basement – Use water resistant paint on the interior basement walls, sump pumps and other methods that can prevent �ood damage to your home and belongings. If you have a sump pump, use a ba�ery backup system in the event that the power goes out during a storm. You may also want to consider adding sewer and drain backup coverage to your homeowners policy. It covers a loss caused by water or sewage that backs up through sewers or drains or over�ows from a sump pump.6. Prune the trees – If a tree hits a home or other insured structure such as a detached garage, most homeowner policies will provide coverage for damage to the structure and contents inside it. Some insurance policies also provide coverage for the cost of removing the tree. However, coverage is o�en limited to trees that fall because of a windstorm, hail, weight or ice, snow or sleet. It does not cover dead or diseased trees. 7. Create a home inventory – It will speed up the claims process by substantiating losses. It can also help you determine how much insurance to purchase. To make the process easier, use free web-based so�ware at www.knowyourstu�.org and Erie Insurance has a home inventory form that you can print out and �ll in. 8. Have an evacuation plan – Decide where you will go, how you will get there and have more than one option. Make a list of necessities — items like medicines, important documents, clothing and food — and have them ready to go. Practice ge�ing your things and ge�ing out in 10 minutes.

Check out more at iii.org or disastersafety.org. Our agency is here and happy to help.

Lessons from Superstorm Sandy: Steps Every

Homeowner Should Take





Current issues of this magazine are also available online.Current issues of this magazine are also available online.www.incommunitymagazines.com

Examples of exterior lighting include: torches, candles, lanterns, solar ground lighting, flood lights, lamp posts, landscape lighting and general light fixtures. For setting a mood the most popular lighting is candles or small lanterns. For security and safety purposes, it is critical to have flood light or lamp posts or ground solar lighting or all. A burglar is much more likely to enter a home without a lot of light on the outside illuminating the property.

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

Many of us take pride in our homes, investing countless hours rearranging and remodeling the interior. But it can also be refreshing to step out of the confines of the inside and spend some time outside. It’s especially enjoyable during the spring, summer and fall months. When the weather is favorable, it’s difficult to miss out on a nice day outside.

But spending time outside doesn’t mean you have to forfeit your creature comforts. With a few small adjustments you can make your outdoor space comfortable and inviting. Turning a yard, patio, porch or other outdoor area into a functional living space can be a rewarding task, and will expand your living space to the outdoors. With the right setup, you can spend more time in the sunshine and fresh air, and host events al fresco for friends, family and neighbors.

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

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

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


Industry InsightHome Improvements In Moon Township


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

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

To maintain the consistent depth of the water, you need to line the pond. A thin layer of sand and old newspapers or burlap bags softens the jagged edges of rocks and roots. But over that you will need to put a waterproof skin. There are several types of flexible liners meant for small ponds – made from polypropylene and EPDM, among other materials. Look for one that’s weather-resistant, so it will stand up to UV rays and freezing temperatures. It should also be rated “fish-safe” if you plan to stock your pond and come with a warranty of 10 to 20 years so your pond will be watertight for many years to come.


Should I Have My Veins Evaluated?Q & A WITH A VEIN SPECIALIST: While �nishing charts

at the end of my day, I took a few moments to listen to my sta� answer questions for a patient on the phone. �e questions asked were very important as were the answers that were given. Here are some examples:

What is Phlebology?Phlebology is the branch of medicine that deals with veins

and the disease of veins. Two organizations dedicated to the advancement of this �eld are �e American College of Phlebology and the American Venous Forum.Why should I see a board-certi�ed phlebologist to evaluate my varicose veins?

When it comes to any aspect of your health care, it is important to be proactive in the choice and research of who will become medically responsible for your evaluation and treatment. �ough venous disease is not always a visible ailment, it can be a serious health problem leading to more serious issues, so choosing a specialist, or board certi�ed phlebologist for your venous care is a wise decision.

Board certi�cation in phlebology identi�es a physician who has taken the extra step of becoming specialized in the treatment of venous disease. Not only is the physician o�en a member of organizations such as the American College of Phlebology (ACP) and the American Venous Forum (AVF) but they have met additional requirements set by the certifying board. A�er meeting these requirements, he or she must then pass a certifying exam allowing the physician to identify him or herself as board-certi�ed.Is membership the same as board certi�cation?

�is question is particularly important as it de�nes the specialty of a phlebologist. While a physician may be a member of many di�erent organizations, these organizations only require an interest in the �eld for joining. �us membership is unlike board certi�cation where quali�cation is determined through training and testing. Here’s how the ACP de�nes its board certi�cation: “�e establishment of a Board Certi�cation Exam brings recognition to both the �eld of phlebology and those providers in the �eld who have the knowledge, skills and experience to provide quality care to phlebology patients.”

I had a �ee screening at a health fair and was told that I don’t have venous disease, but I still have aching, pain and discoloration at the ankles. What should I do?

While free screenings can be informative, remember that this is just a brief glance into a patient’s venous system. A complete venous exam and venous mapping by a board-certi�ed phlebologist is best to determine if a patient has venous disease.

Since a proper venous ultrasound is such an integral part of this evaluation, the American College of Phlebology has set requirements for it that include the following:• A venous ultrasound should be ordered by a physician.• A lower extremity ultrasound should study the entire leg,

from ankle to groin. Failure to identify and treat all sources of re�ux may result in outright treatment failure.

• Evaluation of the venous system should be performed with the patient in the upright position. Si�ing or lying down are inappropriate for the detection of re�ux or the measurement of vein diameters.

• A venous ultrasound should be performed by a trained physician or a registered vascular ultrasound technician (RVT) and then interpreted by a physician.

If I have had an evaluation elsewhere, can I still be evaluated in your o�ce?

Of course. A free evaluation is commonly ‘free’ because patients are o�en not meeting with a physician, a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner, so this visit cannot be billed to insurance. However, most insurances allow for a second opinion. If you have any questions about the second opinion being covered, contact member services on the back of your insurance card.

This Industry Insight was written by Theresa Schneider.

Terrance R. Krysinski, MDGeneral SurgeonBoard Certified PhlebologistVein Institute of Pittsburgh724.934.VEIN (8346)

You don’t have to live with painful varicose and spider veins.

724-934-VEIN (8346)

Industry Insight


Photos by Kathy Rudolph

By Kathy RudolphA “Greens and �ings Holiday Sale” to bene�t

a scholarship fund for an eligible Moon Area High School student and other local charities was hosted by the Moon Township Garden Club at Robin Hill Park. Over 200 indoor and outdoor combinations of fresh and silk arrangements and decorations resembled professional works of art that you would see at the best �oral shop in town.

Merrianne Cacali, along with the assistance of garden club members, helped to make the event a success. A former �orist, she staged the sale and put her artistic touch on many of the arrangements and decorations. �e club only had one day to transform the carriage house at Robin Hill Park into a winter wonderland.

“�e nice thing is that most of the proceeds from the sale stay local and go towards our scholarship and other local charities,” said Cacali. “Everything you see was made

Spreading JoyMoon Township Garden Club Creates Festive, Holiday Arrangements

By Kathy RudolphA “Greens and �ings Holiday Sale” to bene�t

Spreading JoySpreading JoySpreading JoySpreading JoySpreading JoySpreading JoySpreading JoySpreading JoySpreading JoySpreading JoySpreading JoySpreading JoySpreading JoySpreading JoyMoon Township


For more pictures �om this event, go to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ICMagsWant us to cover your event? Let us know @ICMagazines

by volunteers and everything is unique. We encourage the members to use their own style and I can really see everyone’s personality come out in the arrangements. �e garden club purchases the materials, but a lot of the members donate extra supplies like containers and ribbon. I don’t know what we would do without one of our members, Ellen Northy, who cuts down branches and brings us tons of greens so we don’t have to pay for them. I don’t think we could make a pro�t if we had to pay for all of the greens and other materials.”

Cacali enjoys being a member of the garden club.

“�e people are why I am part of the garden club,” said Cacali. “I have met so many interesting people and we share the same interests. �ey are all so wonderful and giving. I don’t think you can be a gardener without being giving and everyone not only shares ideas but also a spirit. To me, that is what life is all about.”

Nancy Alstadt is the club’s president.“We really appreciate the support of the

community and the help of Lance Welliver, of Moon Parks and Recreation,” said Alstadt. “He was so accommodating and helped us with whatever we needed.”


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Moon Area High School students displayed a sophisticated and insightful understanding of

community and citizenship when they enthusiastically responded to a patriotic call, initiated by Luis Trevino, President of Military Family Network™ and coordinated by Moon Area High School Social Studies Department Chairman, Jason Ferri, to support Soldiers deployed to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Sharana for the holidays. �e students, from Moon Area High School social studies classes, rallied in the spirit of the season to write le�ers, create artful banners, decorate and adorn pillows with thoughtful expressions and collect personal comfort items for the Soldiers to boost morale during the FOB Sharana Army Education Center’s holiday party.

In November, Military Family Network™ received an email from Education Services O�cer, Mark Mazarella, that the Army Education Center on FOB Sharana would be hosting a holiday party for the Soldiers stationed there in December. �e Army Education Center provides ongoing support for Soldiers who wish

Holiday Cheer Delivered from

Students to Soldier-Students Overseas

Moon Area High School Students Support Deployed Troops with Tidings of Joy, Appreciation

Pillows, Comfort Items, Letters

FOB Sharana Army Education

Moon HS Personal Comfort Items


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to voluntarily continue their educational goals and aspirations by o�ering test preparation, college entrance exams and online college courses.

“�e soldiers here are all great young Americans and many are taking on‐line college courses while deployed. We’ve also administered several SAT tests, ACTs, CLEP/DSSTs, and GREs!” emailed Mr. Mazarella. Since FOB Sharana is in central‐eastern Afghanistan, in the Paktika Province and is about 8,000 feet in elevation, the climate, especially in winter, can present disruptions to reliable supply lines making party planning challenging.

Mr. Mazarella explains, “While the larger FOBs have some of the comforts of home like a Pizza Hut or McDonalds, we do not have any of that here at Sharana. We have a decent “mess hall,” but it gets old and is “hit and miss”…we’ve been without milk for about ten days now.”

Military Family Network immediately reached out to its friends and partners in the community, like Mr. Ferri, to engage their

support. Groups and individuals were o�ered suggestions, but each was a�orded the opportunity to express themselves as they wished.

A�er one email from Mr. Mazarella was shared with the students, its

message resonated deeply. In it, Mr. Mazarella described an instance where he was asking Soldiers who had just returned from the �eld about what types of items they needed.

His email read: “And as I thanked them and was leaving the “chow hall”, one of the Soldiers came over and said ‘All that stu� is great, Sir,‐‐and we de�nitely need it‐‐‐but the thing we love most out there is ge�ing le�ers…and we need to be able to write back.’”

A�er receiving hundreds of le�ers from the students expressing respect, care, concern, prayers, appreciation and admiration for the Soldiers, Mr. Trevino exclaimed, “�is is awesome! We are so proud of these young men

and women who took time from their busy lives to honor our nation’s warriors. �e Soldiers are going to love this!”

“It was wonderful to see our students embrace the idea of giving back to those who put their lives on the line for all of us,” said Mr. Ferri. “Our students wrote very touching sentiments expressing their appreciation for the hard work and sacri�ce of our military.”

Already the FOB Sharana Army Education Center’s Facebook page has recognized the students with “�e most unique “gi�” award...awesome!!!” for their colorful and thoughtful pillows! As the gi�s begin to arrive and it starts to look more like the festivities of

home, Mr. Mazarella writes:“You know, there’s a lot wrong with our

country right now, but one thing we can be very proud of is the enduring generosity of the American people!”

American Flag Pillows

Soldier Students, FOB Sharana

Moon HS Kids


Donna Peters, 46, was told she had breast cancer in July 2012 – a diagnosis that almost had not happened, had it not been for tomosynthesis, a revolutionary three-dimensional mammography imaging technology being used at Magee-Womens Imaging.

Peters explained that she had a standard mammogram at alocal hospital in March, only to be called to have a second one a few weeks later. “My doctors said that my breast tissuewas dense, but they were not sure if something else might be going on,” she explained.

She returned for the second mammogram, and had a sonogram immediately after, as her physicians were still

somewhat unclear of what they were seeing.

A few weeks later, she had an MRI, which concluded a possibly benign tumor, so another MRI wasperformed, but this time with aguided biopsy. The results were in and showed no cancer.

That is when Peters took matters into her own hands and sought a second opinion.

“I knew in my heart that they werewrong, so I called Dr. (Marguerite)Bonaventura’s o�ce at Magee and made an appointment for

a second opinion,” Peters said. “Thank goodness I did! She and Dr. (Denise) Chough saw something that my previous doctors had missed.”

Dr. Chough ordered tomosynthesis for Peters, who said that it did not feel any di�erent from that of a standard mammogram. The diagnosis was confirmed. Peters had infiltrated ductal carcinoma, the most common kind of breast cancer.

“Tomosynthesis provides physicians with the ability to improve upon the limitations of the standard two-dimensional mammography, which will hopefully allow us to find more cancers with fewer false-positives and limit the number of additional workups and potentially unnecessary biopsies,” said Margarita Zuley, M.D., director of breast imaging at Magee-Womens Imaging.

“And although tomosynthesis currently does not replace traditional 2-D mammography, especially in women with dense breast tissue, it does reduce the recall rate of patients by 30 to 40 percent.”

The technology uses precise 3-D digital imaging to create a complete reconstruction of the breast, which gives radiologists the ability to identify certain abnormalities which can be more di�cult to detect with traditional 2-D digital mammography screening. One of the main di�erencesbetween tomosynthesis and 2-D mammography is its abilityto capture 60 to 100 pictures through use of an advanceddigital platform, compared to two pictures produced by thestandard mammogram.

Although the test can be performed on anyone, for now, tomosynthesis is used for patients who have an inconclusivemammogram or for patients who request it, according to Dr. Zuley, who does feel that it will eventually replace the two-dimensional test. Dr. Zuley also stressed that the radiation levels in tomosynthesis are equal to that of traditional two-dimensional mammography.

Much of the research on tomosynthesis was conducted atMagee-Womens Imaging, and researchers there are the mostwidely published group in the country on the technology.

“I am so grateful for this new technology,” Peters said. “I feel itwas a big part in my diagnosis, because it gave my doctors aclearer image of what was going on inside my body. But theequipment is only as good as the doctors who know how andwhen to use it, and when Drs. Bonaventura and Chough sawsomething that they did not like, they immediately opted touse tomosynthesis to verify their suspicions. They made theprocess easy!”

“This is the biggest advance we’ve seen in breast imaging in a long time, and we are excited to provide it to our patients,” Dr. Zuley said.

Tomosynthesis is currently available at Magee-Womens Imaging locations in Oakland and Monroeville and at theMagee Breast Center at UPMC St. Margaret.

“This is the biggestadvance we’veseen in breast imaging in a longtime, and we areexcited to provide it to our patients.”

- Dr. Margarita Zuley

Tomosynthesis O�ersWomen Greater Detection of Breast Abnormalities

UPMC Skin Cancer Page_Layout 1 2/6/13 11:16 AM Page 4


Six Moon Area School District (MASD) schools received �eld trip grants for the 2012-2013 school year from Target for a total district award of $4,200. All �ve MASD elementary buildings and the middle school received $700 apiece.

Allard Elementary will use their award to take fourth grade students to the Linsly Outdoor Center, which was developed to implement environmental and outdoor skills education.

Bon Meade Elementary third graders will visit the Old Economy Village, a historic landmark where students will be able to participate in hands-on lessons about community framework of the 19th century.

Brooks’ third graders will experience a “Just Ducky Tour” in downtown Pi�sburgh to allow students to visualize how land and water locations are interrelated.

Hyde �rst graders will visit the Carnegie Science Center and explore the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math through exhibits.

McCormick fourth graders will visit Lutherlyn to participate in

the Environmental Education Program, which provides hands-on activities to be�er understand how each part of an ecosystem is connected. �e Middle School will take the seventh grade class to the Prime Stage �eater for a performance of “Walk Two Moons,” a culminating activity for students who read the corresponding novel as part of their curriculum.

“�e district is grateful to have received this funding, which will allow students to participate in valuable hands-on experiences that will help them to further understand classroom lessons,” said Donna Milanovich, MASD Superintendent of Schools.

Since 2007, Target, in partnership with Scholarship America®, has o�ered the Field Trip Grants program to help K-12 schools nationwide fund learning opportunities outside of the classroom. In 2011-2012, 5,045 schools received �eld trip grants totaling more than $3 million.

To learn more about the program, please visit h�ps://corporate.target.com/corporate-responsibility/grants/

�eld-trip-grants.

Six Moon Area Schools Receive Field Trip Grants from Target, Totaling $4,200

GRANTFIELD TRIP

FROM TARGET


Easter! A great day to start new things. Like a fresh start toward a vibrant faith, like a new look at an old Book, and like discovering meaningful friendships in an atmosphere of hope, joy and Jesus.

And a great day to start a new church designed just for those things to become a dynamic reality. Genesis Church will open on March 31st beginning at 10 a.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel on University Blvd in Moon. Singing, gladness and wonder-�lled promise will all be part of our worship every Sunday beginning this Easter as we proclaim “He has risen indeed!”

�ere will be good things going on for the children too and the babies will be handled with care by our loving, nursery sta�.

So come this Easter Sunday where all of us will be taking a new look at those things that always lead us into the brightest of futures.MEETING ADDRESS:DoubleTree by Hilton, 8402 University Blvd., Moon Township, PA 15108O�ce: (412) 264-8665

New Beginnings and Bright Futures.

@Current issues of this magazine are also available online.

@@www.incommunitymagazines.com


�e Allegheny County Health Department reported that the Super Kmart in Moon has joined the Women, Infants and Children supplemental food and nutrition program.

�e store, located at 2000 Sco� Boulevard, is the �rst Kmart in the County to accept WIC food vouchers. More than 100 grocery stores throughout the County participate in the WIC program and collectively redeemed nearly $13 million in food vouchers during the 2011-2012 federal �scal year. Locations and directions to the stores can be found on the Health Department’s web site at www.achd.net/wic.

WIC is a federally funded program for income- and medically-eligible pregnant women, postpartum mothers, breastfeeding mothers, and children under the age of �ve.

�e income limits are an annual gross income of $20,665 for a family of one; $27,991 for 2; $35,317 for 3; $42,643 for 4; $49,969 for 5; $57,295 for 6; $64,621 for 7; and $71,947 for 8. Add $7,326 for each additional member beyond 8. Unborn children are counted when the woman is pregnant.

WIC families receive nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and food vouchers redeemable at participating grocery stores for infant formula; infant cereal; milk; eggs; cheese; juice; cereal; peanut bu�er; whole grains, including bread, tortillas, oatmeal and rice; soy milk; tofu; jarred baby foods; dry or canned beans; canned tuna/sardines/pink salmon; and fresh/frozen/canned fruits and vegetables.

Additional vouchers are available during the summer to purchase fresh Pennsylvania-grown produce at participating Farmers Markets and Farm Stands.

For information about WIC and how to apply for bene�ts, please call the Allegheny County Health Department WIC Program at 412-350-5801. If this number is a toll call or you live outside Allegheny County, please call the statewide toll-free number, 1-800-WIC-WINS.

Super Kmart in Moon now Accepting WIC Food Vouchers


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