in moon township

2013 Case AwArds

SUMMER 2013

S TA F F

From the Publisher

INPERSPECTIVE

Fall content deadline: 8/9/13

Welcome to the summer issue of Moon Township magazine.While we focus on the communities that we serve, we don’t live in a

bubble. The world throws curveballs at each of us, and each of us has to decide whether or not to swing at it. In the case of the Boston Marathon bombing, the city swung and knocked it out of the park. Residents came together to present a united front. First responders put their lives on hold and on the line until the threat was removed. Boston is not unique in that regard. Over the past decade or more that I’ve been publishing magazines, I’ve had the good fortune to come into contact with a lot of residents in the communities we serve. I’ve met dozens upon dozens of municipal officials, police and fire chiefs, EMS teams, and elected officials. I’ve seen them deal with their own issues, and I’ve seen them from time to time mourn their losses in the press.

What I’ve seen and who I’ve met along the way has convinced me that the resilience of Boston is not a regional attribute. It’s a way of life that seems to be somehow tied to our very genes. Fortunately, not every city will face a challenge of that magnitude. But we do have it in us to take the inspiration demonstrated by the people of Boston and apply it to our daily lives. We can take small steps every day to ensure that the community we live in is a little bit better by the time we lay our heads down on the pillow at night. Whether it’s raising money for a cause, or visiting someone who needs to see a smiling face, young or old we can all do something to make our surroundings a little bit better. And by making things a little bit better for each other, hopefully, we can be better prepared to help one another if things suddenly get worse.

This May, we honored volunteers and organizations in the community that help make a difference in such ways. Those people and causes were chosen by you, and we are proud to thank them for their service to their communities. We thank you for your dedication to our magazines and hope that you continue to be part of them and contribute your thoughts and ideas to our editors. There are many more stories to be told, and we always welcome your help in finding them.

Wayne Dollard, Publisher

BingleyFeAtured pet

Why is your Pet the Best Pet

All Animals Welcome!

Write and tell us why your pet is the greatest. Be sure to send us a photo of your best friend and let us know which magazine you receive at your home. Photos should be as large as

possible and may be emailed to our editor, [email protected] or mailed to IN Community Magazines, 603 East McMurray Road, McMurray, PA 15317. Be sure to

include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you would like your photo returned.

there’s nothing quite like the unconditional love of a pet, so share the love!

We Want to knoW

?in the world

IN Moon Township | SUMMER 2013 |

features

Local Students Design Their Dream Home .................................. | 46

Industry InsIghts

Choice Chiropractic ..................... | 15

The Goddard School ...................... | 16

Thomas A. Nolfi, Inc. ................... | 24

The Vein Institute of Pittsburgh | 51communIty Interests

The IN Community Magazine 2013 CASE Awards ........... | 6

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

St. Philip School ................................................................................. | 12

UPMC Eye Center’s Laser Vision Center ............................... | 18

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

Moon News and Events ................................................................. | 48

UPMC Urgent Care: Tips on Summer Sun Safety ............. | 55

features

The Township of Moon Honored as Banner Community .. | 5

Saving Students Money, By the BookRMU’s textbook reserve program is saving students hundreds of dollars ... | 17

Giving Kids a Chance to Hop Down the Bunny Trail ......... | 21

Real Estate Special Section .......................................................... | 34

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.

Event cover photos by Carl P. Stillitano, CPS Photography

46

21258

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!

on the cover | Nearly 500 people turned out for the inaugural IN Community Magazines’ Community Awards for Service Excellence (CASE) presented by Northwest Savings Bank in the West Club Lounge at Heinz Field. IN Community Magazines honored community volunteers at the celebration. See story on page 6.

2 724.942.0940 to advertise Moon Township

The Township of Moon has been named a 2013 Banner Community by the Allegheny League of Municipalities for providing effective, efficient, and accountable services to its residents and businesses. The designation also acknowledges Moon Township’s efforts to inform and engage citizens through frequent and open communication, public events, and community activities.

“The Banner Community Program recognizes municipalities that implement best practices in all aspects of their operations and that govern in an inclusive, collaborative manner,” says Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who is also chairman of the Allegheny League of Municipalities. “These are cities, boroughs and townships that understand fiscal accountability, customer service, and civic responsibility.”

To be recognized as a Banner Community, a municipality must demonstrate its commitment to the following best practices each year:

• Training and education for its elected and/or appointed officials.

• Active participation in professional organizations, such as the Allegheny League of

Municipalities, Allegheny County Boroughs Association, Allegheny County & Western Pennsylvania Association of Township Commissioners, and Allegheny County Association of Township Officials.

• Active participation in its Council of Governments, as well as intergovernmental cooperation, sharing of services, and other joint efforts with one or more municipalities.

• Sponsorship and/or promotion of community events and activities, such as a community day, parade, cleanup day, municipal open house, crime awareness effort, and benefits or fundraisers.

• Routine communication with residents through a newsletter, website, email or other method, as well as active participation with local elementary, middle and high school students, such as speaking to classes, sponsoring special events, and offering internships and/or student shadow days.

“The Township of Moon is really honored to be named a 2013 Banner Community,” says

Moon Township Manager, Jeanne Creese. “Residents and businesses rely on the various services we provide on a daily basis, and they expect and deserve us to be as efficient, effective and professional as possible. We take that responsibility very seriously. That’s why we’re always striving to improve our operations and to provide the highest quality of life for our community.”

Some of the best practices that The Township of Moon implements are: attend ALOM and professional development meetings; host several annual community events and programs; and provide outstanding

communication through newsletters and media to township residents.

“There is no limit on the number of municipalities that can be recognized as Banner Communities,” added Fitzgerald. “In fact, we encourage all municipalities in our region to be the best they can be and to work to achieve the designation.”

The Township of Moon Honored as a 2013 Banner Community

The Township of Moon is really honored to be named a 2013 Banner Community…Residents and businesses rely on the various services we provide on a daily basis, and they expect and deserve us to be as efficient, effective and professional as possible.

Moon Township | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 5

Case awardsCASE AWARDSNearly 500 people turned out for the inaugural IN Community Magazines’

Community Awards for Service Excellence (CASE) presented by Northwest Saving Bank on May 10 in the West Club Lounge at Heinz Field.

InAugurAl

Honors unsung Volunteers

The awards were created by former IN Community Magazines editor Monica Haynes to honor the work of

individual volunteers and nonprofit organizations throughout the magazines’ coverage area. A total of 111 awardees representing 33 magazines received certificates during the event, for which WTAE-TV anchor Andrew Stockey served as Master of Ceremonies. IN Community Magazines publisher Wayne Dollard welcomed attendees and spoke about the importance of community service, as did Northwest Savings Bank president Chris Martin. Providing a perfect ending to the evening was an acoustic set by The Clarks.

Below is Haynes’ first-person account of how the awards came to be.

During my tenure as an editor for In Community Magazines, one of the cover stories we did was about food pantries, those places that provide grocery basics for those who don’t have enough income to keep their kitchens stocked. This meant finding a food pantry to visit so I could conduct interviews. I found one and scheduled an interview around noon, which is the time it opened. It was a cold, blustery day as

I made my way up the hill to the church, where the food bank was located. There were some slick spots on the road and I was praying the whole way up, “God, please don’t let me slide over the hillside.”

Finally, I arrived at the church. Inside, it was buzzing like a hive with volunteers moving about among the shelves and tables to fill the grocery bags with various food items for pickup by those signed up for the pantry. Most of the volunteers were retirees and could easily be in their nice warm homes instead of braving the cold wind and snow flurries to help their fellow residents. I imagine they could ditch Pittsburgh all together during the winter months to enjoy three or four months of Florida sun. But they didn’t. Every week, they made their way to that church and filled those bags and answered the phones and signed people up, listening to the stories of how they ended up needing to utilize a food pantry. The volunteers always treat them with dignity and respect. They listen with compassion.

I was inspired by these volunteers and others I’d met and talked to. There was a couple who volunteered with a group that helped senior citizens. The husband would help the senior by

carrying out home repairs. The wife would drive him or her to doctor appointments and to shop at the supermarket. Many times they’d go above and beyond their initial volunteer duties.

People need to know about these and all the unsung volunteers and organizations that serve so unselfishly the members of their community, I thought. I wrote a proposal for an awards program that would shine just a bit of light on these volunteers. I knew they didn’t do it for recognition or any fanfare, but I was so inspired that I felt if others were able to know about what the volunteers do and how they give, they might be motivated and inspired to do the same.

When I presented the proposal to Wayne Dollard, publisher of IN Community Magazines, his immediate response was, “Let’s do it.” And so I set about developing the categories, the criteria, the nomination form, etc. We put the nomination form in all the magazines, but also sent forms to clubs, schools, libraries, senior centers, and places that utilize volunteers. I knew that I wanted young people to have a category. Over the years, I have encountered so many amazing high school and college students who have donated countless

Event photos by Carl P. Stillitano, CPS Photography


hours and their talents to help others. I wanted them to be recognized for being so outstanding when it is so easy to think only about themselves and having a good time.

Slowly but steadily, the nominations came in and it was very humbling to see what people were doing in their communities, in their schools, churches, hospitals, food pantries, athletic fields, senior centers, community centers, etc. Personally, it made me want to go out and do more. I was enlightened and moved by their giving and doing. Some had been giving of their time, efforts and resources for decades. Some youngsters not only volunteered for organizations but started their own organizations and groups to help fellow students, younger students, students with disabilities, or to help older residents. There were organizations, both large and small, quietly going about their missions of healing, helping, saving, counseling, teaching, encouraging and caring.

The year of planning, sorting, reviewing and selecting culminated in a marvelous awards dinner, which shined just a little bit of the spotlight on young and more-seasoned volunteers and small

and large nonprofit organizations. “As someone who has managed volunteers

for 10 years, it was wonderful to witness your recognition efforts of so many deserving individuals and organizations. Thank you again,” said Vickie Mottern, volunteer and outreach coordinator for Brevillier Village, where IN Harbor Creek CASE honoree Catherine Pugliese volunteers.

“I just want to take a minute to thank you for such an amazing event. We are so grateful to be recognized as Small Nonprofit of the Year for IN Norwin at the Inaugural CASE Awards,” wrote Jodi Fowler, one of the founders of Genre’s Kids with Cancer Fund. “At Genre’s Kids with Cancer Fund, we truly believe that our work is blessed by God, and our purpose is to serve oncology families in need. Never did we imagine, when Genre was diagnosed with leukemia, that we would be at this point, developing our organization and receiving this amazing award

because of our incredible volunteers – just a few years later. We honestly appreciate the opportunity this allows to share our story and mission with readers in our community.”

“My family and I had a wonderful time! It was a great event! The food was excellent; the speeches interesting, nice and short; Andrew Stockey was wonderful; and we thoroughly enjoyed The Clarks. Thank you for this honor and recognition and a fun family evening to top it off,” wrote IN Chartiers Valley Volunteer of the Year Susan Zuk.

These are just a few of the comments IN Community Magazines received about the awards dinner. We’d like to thank everyone for their participation. And we would like to congratulate all of our honorees, all of the nominees and even those who were not nominated. It is your constant devotion to helping others, which all too often goes unnoticed, that makes our communities a great place to live!

IN MOON TOWNSHIPVolunteer of the Year, Donna Belas: Donna has always tried to perform service for others during her 40-year career in education. As a result, during the first semester of the 2012-13 school year, Cornell School District students and staff donated thousands of items to various food drives, more than 150 toys for area children in need, more than $750 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and more than $600 for an elementary student who was badly burned in an accident, among other charitable efforts. Youth Volunteer of the Year, Elena Kaiser: Throughout high school, Elena has volunteered for many community based programs through Moon Parks and Recreation, Key Club, and National Honor Society. During the summer of 2012, she volunteered in different regions of the Dominican Republic through the Rustic Pathways organization, in which she aided in planting mangrove trees,

building an aqueduct system, teaching local children English and cleaning up beaches. She is thankful to have had the opportunity for all of these experiences, since it has allowed her to appreciate everything she has and to grow as a person. Large Non-Profit of the Year, Rotary Club of Moon Township: For the past two years, the Rotary Club of Moon Township has been involved with the Dictionary Project, in which the club presents third graders from Moon and Cornell schools with their very own personalized dictionary. They donate monthly and additionally at the holidays to the West Hills Food Pantry. On the global front, the club has been very instrumental in eradicating polio worldwide.

Chris Martin, President of the Southwest Region of Northwest Savings Bank (left) poses with the Moon Township Youth Volunteer of the Year Elena Kaiser.

2013 Case AwArds


MOON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Paige Landay, a junior at Moon Area High School in Mr. Chevalier’s Art 3 Class, entered a piece in the Pittsburgh Technical Institute’s Visions and Voices High School Show. On March 2, 2013, Paige was awarded Honorable Mention and a Scholarship in the Fine Art 2D category for her acrylic painting titled “Dark lips, pale face.” Congratulations Paige!

Local Junior receives scholarship for Visions and Voices piece

Mara Willette maintains a 3.7 QPA, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Art & Literature Club, Stage Crew, and the Bowling Team. She has also participated in the Speech & Debate Club, Foods Club, English Festival, and the Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest. Outside of MAHS, Willette is a Girl Scout, and earned the Girl Scout Silver Award.

Moon Area High School senior receives full scholarship offer to Seton Hill University

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars welcomes Heather Lynn Wayne as a new member

Heather Lynn Wayne of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania has accepted membership in The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS).

“NSCS is more than just a symbol of academic achievement. Membership gives students access to a number of amazing benefits including career and networking resources, scholarships, travel, and service projects both on campus and in the community,” says Stephen E. Loflin, NSCS Founder & Chief Executive Officer.

NSCS is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is the nation’s only interdisciplinary honors organization for first-year and second-year college students. Membership is by invitation only, based on grade point average and class standing. NSCS has nearly one million lifetime members and 300 chapters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

For more information about The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, please visit the NSCS website nscs.org.

Bon Meade Ensemble Learns & Performs at Duquesne University

In its first year of existence, the Moon Mallet Madness ensemble, comprised of 29 Bon Meade Elementary 4th graders, participated in a collaborative workshop on March 1. The day began with a performance by the college students using mallets instruments and then Bon Meade students were swept into learning a six-part arrangement of a folksong using xylophones, tubanos, glockenspiels and metallophones. Duquesne students took turns teaching the elements of the song and after one hour, our students were performing this piece. Follow MASD on Facebook to view photos from the event!


MAHS Marketing Students Qualify to Compete at International Conference

Nine MAHS marketing students qualified to compete at the International DECA Conference in Anaheim, CA, April 23-28: Mia DeAngelis, Jimmy Farbo, Shannon Flannery, Stefani Montelone, Lindsay Ottaviani, Kaitlyn Renken, Zack Rich, Patty Rokicki and Amanda Shaffer. DECA prepares students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality

and management.Additionally,

DECA Advisor Betty Pander was named Pennsylvania DECA Advisor of the Year at the PA DECA State Career Development Conference February 27-March 1.

Tiger Spirit AwardeesMoon Area Middle School students Emily

Hytla and Dylan Snyder received the Moon Area School District’s Tiger Spirit Award at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, April 8.

The District created the Tiger Spirit Award in order to focus on students’ positive character traits and to recognize students for personal achievements and excellent classroom behaviors that reach beyond academics. Both students were selected due to their enthusiasm and for being positive school ambassadors.

Allard, Bon Meade, Brooks, Hyde and McCormick elementary schools and Moon Area Middle and High Schools each recognize two students one month out of the school year. Teachers submit nomination forms to building principals, who select the most deserving students.

Moon Area School District would like to thank our sponsors, Clearview Federal Credit Union and Penguin Bookshop located in Sewickley. Tiger Spirit Award winners are presented a certificate and gifts from our sponsors during the monthly Board of Education business meeting by Dr. Donna K. Milanovich, Superintendent of Schools.

Three Seniors Perform at National Music Conference

High school seniors Nate Copeland, Forrest Salamida, Hayden Keefer and their Music Director, Lori Cole attended the National Association for Music Education

(NAfME) Conference April 4-7 in Hartford, CT. Nate, Forrest and Hayden are All-Eastern Award Recipients and performed with the Honors Mixed Chorus under the direction of Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, acclaimed composer/conductor.

The Eastern Division Conference Honors Ensemble performs every two years. The Mixed Chorus included the winners from 11 states, and Europe.

Middle school student Elizabeth Sickles won first place in the Pittsburgh section of the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Celebrate Earth Day Illustrated Poem Contest in the grades 6-8 category. Her winning poem was entered into the national contest.

Eighth Grader Wins Pittsburgh American Chemical Society’s Illustrated Poem Contest


MOON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Moon Area Students Qualify for National Academic Games Tournament

Congratulations to 12 Moon Area students who qualified to participate at the 2013 Academic Games Leagues of America National Tournament in Charlotte, NC at the end of April. They are Rachel Boward, Abby Eberts, Amanda Gilmore, Ashley Hall, Nora Kupiec,

Kushi Mallikarjun, Allison Murphy, Dana Murray, Jessica Peng, Aashka Shah, Selin Sinterlikci and Pietari Sulkava!

Fedosick contest finalistJunior Rachel Fedosick was chosen as

a finalist in the 33rd Annual College and High School Photography Contest from the Photographer’s Forum magazine, sponsored by Nikon. Check out her winning photo here:

http://pfmagazine.com/wp-content/plugins/p-gallery/index.php?level=picture&id=15351

Essay contest winner!Sophomore Austin Jepsky is the winner

of the American Legion Essay Contest for Allegheny County. His essay moves on to compete in the regional competition next!

Sophomore Peng places second in SACP contest

Sophomore Jessica Peng is the second place prize winner in the Society for Analytical Chemists (SACP) High School Essay Contest.

Bowen finalist in essay contestJunior Valeriya Bowen is a finalist in

the annual Pennsylvania State University essay contest for high school writers. Three winners and 17 finalists were chosen from the submissions of over 75 excellent student writers who were nominated by their high schools.

MOON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTAchievements

Moon Area School District seeking Senior Project judges

MASD is seeking judges for MAHS senior project presentations on May 22nd and May 23rd. For more details, please visit http://mahsseniors.pbworks.com.

If interested, please fill out the sign-up form and

email to Senior Project Coordinator George

Fearns at [email protected]. He can also be contacted

at 412-264-9440 ext. 2525 with any questions.

Sophomore goes to Tournaments

Sophomore Kushi Mallikarjun qualified (as one of three in Pittsburgh) to go to the National Catholic Speech and Debate Tournament in Philadelphia in May and also qualified for the PA Speech and Debate State tournament at Susquehanna University later this month.

MAHS Team Places First at Duquesne Quiz Bowl Competition

The Moon Area High School team of Allison Murphy, Anthony Tambellini and Selin Sinterlikci (above, right) won first place at the Duquesne University Honors College’s annual academic quiz bowl out of 11 high schools on Sunday, April 14.

MAHS students Jessica Peng, Dana Murray and John Bal (left) also participated in the bowl.


uminari, a Pittsburgh-based non-profit organization, is proud to announce

its second annual Luminari Award Scholars. This prestigious award was opened to participation by all schools in the Pittsburgh region. Winning students will receive a scholarship – worth more than $1,200 – for admission to Luminari’s I Want to be an Ambassador! Camp in June.

The 2013 Luminari Award Scholars are Samantha Mackey of Chartiers Valley Middle School, Nathan Bindseil of Central Catholic High School, Shannon Kim of Fox Chapel Area High School, Abigail Eberts of Moon Area High School, Sophie Belch of Riverview

High School and Troy Miles of Propel Braddock Hills High School. Luminari Award Scholars must demonstrate motivation, openmindedness, and the willingness to learn and be inspired by “out-of-the-box” activities. Each Award Scholar must be in good standing at his or her respective school and display excellent personal and academic qualities.

The Luminari Award was developed as a merit-based scholarship. The award program encourages educators to be directly involved in introducing the competition to all students in

grades 7 through 11 during the school year, and to oversee the successful completion of at least six student applications. This process ultimately leads to the selection of the Luminari Award Scholars each school year.

“We have two goals for the Luminari Award,” said Luminari founder and President, Hilda Pang Fu. “One goal is to reward students for their noteworthy personal and academic qualities, and the second is to honor the dynamic schools and inspiring teachers who support these students.”

The I Want to be an Ambassador! Camp focuses on the art and skills of diplomacy. “The program will open the doors for students into a world of knowledge that reaches far beyond the classroom. I am excited to have Fox Chapel Area High School represented in this worthwhile endeavor,” said Jen Klein, AP Government teacher at Fox Chapel Area High School.

For more information or photographs of the Luminari Award Scholars and the I Want to be an Ambassador! Camp, please contact Jill Campbell at 412.877.1888 or at [email protected]. Visit Luminari on the web at www.Luminari.org.

L

Abigail Eberts

Second AnnuAl Luminari award SchoLarS announced


St. Philip School

Thirty-four of St Philip 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students participated in the Design Lives Here competition sponsored by WQED and the

Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania. Design is an exceptional educational opportunity that builds problem-solving skills and introduces students to the science of engineering. Mentored by John Wattick, a civil engineer from Michael Baker Engineering, the students completed 4 design tasks at school including creation of an invention which they presented at the Inventionland Final Design Challenge. Besides pitching their inventions

to a panel of real life inventors from the Inventionland staff, the children were required to make a Dixie cup zip line, marshmallow moon lander, and survival tent from trash bags and duct tape. St

Philip students were part of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winning teams as follows: 1st Place - Chuckie Rakaczky, Julian Bonds, Mike

Mikush. 2nd Place - Maddie Hoff, Briana Patterson, Corinne McDevitt, 3rd Place- Luke

Rattay, Eric Ashby, Jack Pulford. Maddie Hoff, Corinne McDevitt, and Briana Patterson had special

distinction of having their invention, The Folding Lunch Box, chosen as one of the 3 best inventions of the

competition.

Design Lives Here


The Diocese of Pittsburgh has announced that St. Philip Kindergarten teacher Sharon Shipley has been selected to receive

the prestigious Golden Apple

Award which symbolizes excellent performance in the classroom, church and community. Mrs. Shipley has been dedicated to St. Philip School for nearly 30 years and, in addition to shepherding the Kindergarten and Preschool programs, began and manages the Afterschool Program and Summer Camp. She and her husband Wayne are tireless volunteers at both St Philip School and their Parish, St. Columbkille. Mrs. Shipley is the 5th St. Philip teacher to receive this honor as well as St Philip Principal, Sr. Geri Marr, S.C.

Thirty St. Philip 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students presented their computer projects at the Carnegie Science Center at the AIU3 Computer Fair. In addition to exhibiting their displays, the students toured the Science Center and viewed the OmniMax Theater as guests of the Fair.

Special acknowledgement goes to 8th graders Maggie Leone and Ana Petrak who took First Place in the category of Web Design and will be representing AIU3 at the State Computer Fair near Harrisburg on May 22nd.

St. Philip School’s America Bowl team took 3rd place at the event sponsored by Baldwin Whitehall High School. From among over 200 participants the team of Maggie Leone, Harrison Klein, Erin Sheedy, and Ana Petrak claimed 3rd place by answering individual and group questions about U.S. and Pittsburgh Government, Geography, History, and Landmarks.

Sharon Shipley

Erin Sheedy, Maggie Leone, Ana Petrak, and Harrison Klein

Computer Fair

Kindergarten Teacher receivesGolden Apple

Award

America Bowl

Maggie Leone and Ana Petrak


GardeningHow did you

get into ?My love of gardening started with house plants at a very early age.

My mother used to say I have a very green thumb. She could not keep a house plant alive. I on the other hand, could help bring

even her most desperate plant back to life. I eventually got into outside gardening with my love of gardening books. My story today though is in memory of my father-in-law who passed away this February. He was an avid gardener and tulips were his favorite flower. I started my flower garden with my father-n-law’s compost (which could grow anything). It was so rich and felt wonderful in your hands. Every inch of my flower beds are from that compost and year after year they produce beautiful irises, hosta, crocuses, lily of the valley and so much more. Even a tomato plant pops up once in a while. So I will always see my father-in-law in my flower beds because of his great compost that he had for nearly 40 years.

Tina E. Wayne


Dr. Leah Gallucci earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Pittsburgh with a major in Neuroscience and minor in Chemistry. She attended 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.

With more people taking up running, especially in the warmer seasons, the number of injuries also increases. Many runners ask the question, “Should I see a chiropractor?” They look to other

athletes and runners for answers. “Chiropractic is essential for running. If I could put a percentage value on it,

I would say that I compete 8 – 10% better with chiropractic care.” – Dan O’Brien, Olympic Gold Medalist.

When you run properly, running puts a great deal of stress on your body. While running, the musculoskeletal system may absorb up to 250-300% of the runner’s weight on the basic heel strike, and this increases the stress on the body. Common injures of runners include shin splints, stress fractures, flat feet, Achilles tendinitis, hamstring pulls, and knee pain. It is estimated that one in five runners will sustain a stress fracture due to the constant change in surface and the stress of the person’s body weight on their knees and feet.

How can chiropractic help?First, you must know that Chiropractors are trained to examine

and treat the whole body. They understand how one part of the body

influences the next or the biomechanics behind how the body moves. Misaligned joints or bones will cause the length of the muscle attached to change, thus impacting the person’s performance.

Chiropractors align the body from the ground up. Proper alignment allows the body to work correctly, meaning all the muscles will be in the best possible position to perform. No matter how much strength training a person does, their muscles cannot fully function if they are not at the proper length.

Your body is a unit, all working towards the same goal, and if something is not in place, it will send signals known as pain. This pain can stem from many regions; for instance, if you have constant knee pain, you can restore your strength by aligning the pelvis through chiropractic adjustments. Your pelvis changes the way each leg communicates with the ground, and if one is working harder than the other, your body begins to ‘compensate.’ This can cause more pain on one side than the other.

What should I expect with chiropractic care?At the initial consultation, the chiropractor does a thorough

examination of your posture, lifestyle, medical history, and takes X-rays when necessary. Once the diagnosis is made, recommendations are outlined to get you feeling better.

Chiropractors use gentle, specific manipulation and adjustment techniques to properly align your spine. In order to free those stiff joints and restore normal movement, this adjustment technique is done specifically for your diagnosis.

When your body is ready, your strength training and rehabilitation will begin. This can be done both in the office and at home to begin to rebuild your core. All of the exercises and stretching will be prepared by your chiropractor for your specific needs.

Chiropractic treatment aims to restore normal function to your joints and muscles. It is much like maintaining your car. “You are driving down the road, and suddenly your check engine light comes on. You can choose to ignore it, or go to the mechanic to get it inspected. This is similar to seeking out a doctor’s help for pain. Some will choose to cover it up with medication, and others will address the underlying problem. In order to keep your car running well, you continue maintenance care for it. Routine chiropractic visits are also important to make sure your spine is properly functioning.”

We invite you to have your spine checked this upcoming summer. The better you take care of your body…the better it treats you!

Why Runners and Chiropractic mix

Industry Insight


Saving Students Money,

Start Early The best time to begin researching child care providers for your infant is

before your child is born. It might sound a little silly to begin your search so early, but there are a few good reasons to do so. Many families reserve their children’s spots early on, creating long waiting lists at many child care providers. A mom-to-be who waits until the last trimester may encounter some restriction in going out and taking a tour, especially if she needs bed rest. The sooner you find a provider that you are comfortable with, the sooner you can relax and enjoy the time with your newborn.

lOCatION Another factor to consider is location. You may feel more comfortable having

a child care provider close to home, but you’ll need to think about whether this creates problems with picking your child up on time after work due to traffic. You could also choose a location closer to your work, but this could create problems

if you ever work from home. If you choose to breast feed, it is more practical to pick a location near your workplace, this way you may be able to go to your baby and nurse. Find out the designated area for breast feeding and if there is a quiet place where you can do this. A few other questions to ask is which parent will be primarily responsible for dropping off and picking up your child, or will you share that role? If you’re sharing the role perhaps you should find a child care provider that is centrally located.

HEaltH & SaFEty There is nothing more important than your child’s safety, and when it comes

to health and safety there is no question too big or small. Find out if proper hand washing techniques are being utilized. Go ahead and ask about diapering procedures, and whether the location is cleaned every day by a professional. Be clear about any illness policy that determines when children are too ill to attend. Take a tour and see for yourself if the environment is clean and inviting. With all of the concern over immunizations these days, it’s important to ask if the school requires a medical screen and updated immunizations in order to enroll a child, and if the teachers have to provide a medical screen as well.

DIrECtOr aND tEaCHEr QualIFICatIONS You’ll certainly want to find out if the school employs teachers with

education and experience in Early Childhood Education. Don’t assume that the school requires ongoing teacher training and development, ask about their plans for ongoing professional development. Make sure to inquire whether teachers are required to have first aid/CPR training. It’s important to know if children are supervised by sight and sound at all times and if the group sizes are small. Smaller group sizes and low teacher-to-child ratios ensure better supervision and safety. These ratios vary from state to state, so inquire about regulations.

Getting a third party opinion is not a bad idea either. You shouldn’t base your decision solely on that, but getting input from friends and family definitely helps in making a decision. To get a real sense of what the typical day is like at the child care provider, you should also make it a point to visit during hours of operation. Plan ahead by asking about other classrooms as well so that you can see the program that your child will attend as he/she grows.

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.

Child Care Prep Tips for Parents-to-Be Expectant parents have a lot on their minds from shopping for playpens, to stocking up on diapers, to baby proofing the house. They also have to make a decision about child care. If both parents are going back to work after the baby’s arrival, one thing that must be added to the checklist is finding high-quality child care.


As an actuarial science major, RMU junior Jeff Siwik loves math but is far less enamored with the thick mathematics textbooks that have forced him to shell out as much as $500 each semester.

Siwik’s experience is typical. As part of a class project in Business and Professional Communications last spring, Siwik and classmates learned that the average college student spends approximately $1,000 each year on textbooks. The class conducted a survey of Robert Morris students, and approximately 14 percent of respondents reported knowing at least one student who dropped out of school because they could not afford to pay for textbooks.

Now the university is doing something about it. In the fall, Robert Morris launched a textbook reserve program, in which RMU purchases several copies of textbooks for the most in-demand courses on campus, and places them in reserve in the University Library for students to use there for up to three hours at a time.

The university spent approximately $10,500 to purchase 170 textbooks, covering courses from RMU’s general education requirements that all students must fulfill. More than 850 students made use of the textbooks, saving each an estimated $300 for the semester. RMU has expanded the program in the spring semester, offering more than 200 textbooks in approximately 70 general education courses and several upper-level courses. It will cost RMU $6,500 for the spring.

“We got special requests from faculty who use particularly pricey textbooks,” said John Michalenko, vice president for student life at RMU.

The program grew out of the work of the RMU retention committee, which includes faculty and staff who investigate why students drop out of the university and come up with solutions to help them finish their degree. Michalenko co-chairs the committee along with Carl Ross, university professor of nursing. Among the topics on the

committee’s agenda as it met last spring was the escalating cost of textbooks, which have risen at three times the rate of inflation since 1978, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It so happened that Michalenko’s wife, Julianne, who teaches classes in RMU’s

communication skills program, was looking for a project for the sophomore students in the Honors section of her Business and Professional Communications course.

“Part of our class is to brainstorm solutions that fit the needs of a client. It’s better to have a real-world experience than just a case study,” said Julianne Michalenko.

Her students were eager to tackle a problem that had such a significant impact on their own lives. They met periodically with the retention committee members who were assigned to study textbook costs. The students presented six solutions that committee members winnowed down to three: converting university-wide to

e-books delivered on iPads; a book bartering system; and a textbook reserve program.

That third option proved the most feasible, and the students’

research found similar programs at the University of Texas at San Antonio and Patrick Henry College in Virginia.

The RMU students were heartened by the success of a textbook reserve program at two vastly different institutions, one a large public university and the other a small private college. That told them the idea was adaptable enough to work at RMU.

“It’s worked out amazingly well. You would have thought we would have done this sooner,” said Julianne Michalenko.

The simplicity of the textbook reserve program is what appeals to Siwik, a Gateway High School graduate, who notes that shopping online for the best textbook deal is one of a student’s most arduous tasks each semester. His classmate Josef Landon anticipates that long after he graduates from Robert Morris, students will still be making use of the textbook reserve program he helped to create.

“I like the feeling that we gave something back to the university,” said Landon, a graduate of Robinson Township Christian School.

$ Saving Students Money, By the Book

RMU’s textbook reserve program is saving students hundreds of dollars each semester


Imagine waking up in the morning and not having to reach for your glasses or contacts. If that sounds too good to be true, thenyou should consider laser vision correction surgery, a procedureperformed by surgeons at UPMC Eye Center’s Laser Vision Center. This procedure often allows patients to see better withoutglasses and contacts.

According to Deepinder K. Dhaliwal, MD, L.Ac., director of theCornea and Refractive Surgery Service and the Center for Integrative Eye Care at UPMC, laser vision correction has been performed at UPMC for some 20 years. UPMC was amongthe first in the region to offer laser vision surgery and was the only center in the area to participate in the initial studies of the procedure that resulted in its approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Focus on Patients “UPMC has the longest continuously running program in Pittsburgh,” says Dr. Dhaliwal. “What sets us apart is our focus on providing patients with a continuity of care that is present from their very first visit with us, through their testing and evaluations that determine their candidacy for the procedure, to the surgery itself, and finally to their post-surgery visits. We also encourage our patients to meet and talk with their surgeon well in advance of their scheduled surgery so they feel completely comfortable with everyone and everything involved in their pre- and post-operative care. All of these things will help achievegood outcomes.”

According to Dr. Dhaliwal, good candidates for laser vision correction are healthy individuals with healthy eyes. “People who have eye conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts would not be candidates for this surgery,” she says. Multiple other factors are involved in deciding if laser vision correction is right for you, and these are addressed during a complimentary evaluation with your surgeon.

The actual procedure, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes, involves the use of very sophisticated lasers that sculpt the cornea,enabling the patient to reduce or eliminate their need for glasses or contacts. “If I perform a procedure on a Thursday afternoon, I would be surprised if, at the patient’s follow-up appointment onFriday, they did not have improved vision,” says Dr. Dhaliwal.

Beyond the potential biggest benefit of the procedure, no longerneeding glasses or contacts, other typical advantages include reduced risk of infection related to contact lens wear for those who will no longer require vision correction after surgery.

“The number one risk factor for developing an infection in thecornea is sleeping in your contact lenses,” Dr. Dhaliwal says. “Andtap water is not sterile. There have been incidents of blindnesswhen people have used tap water to clean their contacts.”

In addition, people who wear contact lenses can often develop an allergy to them or can over wear them, particularly if they lead active lives that may prohibit the regular use of glasses. There are some side effects that are associated with laser vision correction, such as a glare or halo effect that seems to be more apparent at night, dry eye, and inflammation, which is mainlytreated with eye drops. “All of these things tend to get better over time,” said Dr. Dhaliwal, who trains, teaches, and educatesphysicians interested in performing laser vision correction nationally and internationally.

Although laser vision correction is not covered by insurance, there are discounts available and cost should not deter a patientfrom engaging in conversation about the benefits of this procedure.

Customized Care“We deliver a truly customized laser vision correction experience toeach patient,” Dr. Dhaliwal says. “This includes an individualizedmap of the patient’s eye, which accounts for conditions such as astigmatism and the amount of their nearsightedness. Each treatment will be tailored and delivered to the cornea so that the patient receives the best possible outcome. This is not a ‘one sizefits all’ type of procedure.”

UPMC refractive surgeons have been selected to take part in astudy that will evaluate a new imaging device used during laser vision correction surgery. The results of this study will be presented to the FDA.

Laser Vision CorrectionOften Eliminates Needfor Glasses or Contacts

Seeing Is Believing: What sets us apart is our focus

on providing patients with

a continuity of care that is

present from their very first

visit with us, through their

testing and evaluations that

determine their candidacy

for the procedure, to the

surgery itself, and finally

to their post-surgery visits.”

Deepinder Dhaliwal, MD, L.Ac.

“

For more information about laser vision correction or to make an appointment, call the UPMC Eye Center’s Laser Vision Center at 412-647-2917 or visit UPMC.com/LVC.

Project1_Layout 1 5/20/13 9:51 AM Page 1


The Cremation Garden

“Where a family’s needsand wishes come first.”

Visit our web site atsewickleycemetery.comor call us at 412.741.4409

Before deciding, drive through, see for yourself and compare.


\

By Kathy Rudolph

Activity stations, treat bags, a petting zoo, spin-art, arts and crafts, games and a photo with the Easter Bunny, were just some of the fun activities for families to

welcome spring at the Bunny Trail event at Moon Park, hosted by Moon Township Parks and Recreation.

Lance Welliver is the Interim Director of Moon Township Parks.

“It was a beautiful day and we had over 1,000 participants that attended the Bunny Trail event,” said Welliver. “The event is family-friendly and really brings the community together. Kids and their families come out and enjoy the park, the weather and have fun participating in all of the activities.”

Located at 1350 Joe DeNardo Way (Ewing Road), the 300 acre park includes the newly renovated Nelson

Pond, over three miles of walking and hiking trails, an amphitheater, soccer and baseball fields, basketball courts and picnic pavilions.

photos continued on page 22

Ragan Iacullo, Director at KinderCare Learning Center in Moon

Lisa Shaughnessy, Admin. Assistant of Moon Parks

Lance Welliver, Int. Director of Moon Parks

Giving Kids a Chance to

the Bunny Trail

HoPDoWN


There are many activities and upcoming events for

families to enjoy this summer in Moon Township including:

• Father’s Day Fun Fair at Moon Park — June 16

• Township of Moon 5K Run/Walk — June 29

• Moon Township Independence Day Celebration — July 4

• Family Fun Nights — Friday nights, June - August

• Robin Hill Lunchtime Concerts, every Third Wednesday — May – September, Noon - 1 p.m.

For more information, visit the Moon Township Parks and Recreation

website at www.moonparks.org/.

A Comprehensive Dental Solutions Location

E.J. HESTER, DMD

2725 Center StreetPittsburgh, PA 15205412.922.9292www.IngramFamilyDentistry.com

• All-On-4 Fixed Prosthesis• Cosmetic & Restorative Procedures• One Day Cerec Crowns

• Root Canals• Bone Grafting • Implants

• Dentures• In-office Whitening• Snap-In Dentures

Need a reason to smile?Let us give you a smile that will bring you happiness for years to come. E.J. Hester and his staff are a group of caring dental professionals that have your best interests at heart. Ingram Family Dentistry can assist you, comfortably, to achieve your greatest dental desires.

Now, relax and smile.

MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED AND FINANCING AVAILABLE


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

photos by Kathy Rudolph


As our lives change, so do our insurance needs. Letting us know about changes can ensure that you have adequate insurance coverage through Erie Insurance. Here are some examples of when to check your coverage:

1 You’re remodeling or building an addition to your property. When you hire the contractor, request a certificate of insurance to confirm

their liability and workers’ compensation coverages. Review the certificate and your homeowners policy with our agency. In some cases, remodeling projects can increase your home’s reconstruction cost.

2 Your teen starts driving. If a teenager in your home is learning how to drive, that means you’ll soon need to

help them purchase insurance. We can guide you through the process, find the best way to add them to your policy and provide materials about safe driving behavior.

3 You got a new job. If you have accepted a position and the work commute is shorter or longer, call us. A significant change

in annual mileage could warrant a change in your auto policy. (And that could save or cost you money.)

4 You bought a new ride. If you’ve purchased or leased a new or used vehicle, your insurance policy needs to be updated. Car dealers are

required by law to confirm insurance coverage, but only you can make the necessary changes to your policy to make sure you’re fully protected.

5 You’re saving a buck with refinancing. When you’re taking advantage of lower interest rates by refinancing your home or vehicle, your policy

should be updated to reflect any new mortgagee or lienholder.

6 Your family’s growing and changing. When you get married or welcome a new baby to the family, the new responsibilities may warrant a

change in your home, auto and life insurance coverage.

7 You’ve bought a little luxury. When you purchase valuables such as a diamond ring or a rare piece of art, you should contact your agent.

Your homeowners policy covers personal belongings and furnishings, but higher-valued items may have coverage limitations. An endorsement may be advisable for more costly or unusual items.

8 You’ve decided to work from home. If you’re starting a business out of your house, let us know. Depending on the equipment and the nature

of your work, an endorsement or separate policy may be necessary to protect your investment and liability exposures.

9 It’s time to retire. Ready to kick back and relax? We can help you maximize the benefits of your retirement plan with a life insurance

program.*No matter what you’re considering, contact our agency. We will assist you

with life, auto or home insurance policy changes and insurance needs.* *Erie Family Life insurance policies are not available in New York.

Not all companies are licensed or operate in all states. Not all products are offered 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.

Nine Reasons to

Check Your Coverage


UPMC TODAYHealth and Wellness News You Can Use | Summer 2013

© 2013 UPMC

What’s Inside2 With Heartfelt Thanks

3 Becoming a Whole New You

4 Health Care Reform: We Have the Plan

5 A Closer Look at Medical Imaging

6 Is Assisted Living the Right Choice?

7 Smart Tips for a Safer Summer

UPMC_Today_Mercy_Summer_2013_Final.indd 1 5/13/13 10:39 PM

Nine Reasons to

Check Your Coverage

David Allen, 66, was walking uphill to the CONSOL Energy Center for a Penguins hockey game when he felt short of breath. That’s the last thing he remembers until waking up in the Emergency Department at UPMC Mercy. David had survived a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

A fast-acting team of strangers — an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer and an ex-Army medic who together performed CPR, a bystander who ran for help, and a hotel bellhop who grabbed a defibrillator — saved his life. At UPMC Mercy, doctors determined he had experienced an electrical “short circuit” due to an irregular heart rhythm, or arrhythmia.

A rare second chance

“I was lucky people were around who knew CPR and were willing to get involved,” says David, a Beaver resident.

Christopher Wentz, MD, a cardiologist from the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Mercy who treated David, says SCA is a serious medical emergency. “Most people don’t get a second chance,” he says. “You can die within minutes if not treated.”

According to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, SCA is the nation’s leading cause of death, killing more than 325,000 people each year. During SCA, heart function ceases abruptly without warning. More than 90 percent of SCA victims die because the heart cannot pump blood to the rest of the body.

At UPMC Mercy, cardiac electrophysiologist Stuart Mendenhall, MD, implanted an internal defibrillator — a device that will shock David’s heart if he goes into cardiac arrest again.

Dr. Mendenhall says SCA can strike with little or no warning. While it is more common in older adults, SCA affects people of all ages, gender, and race — even those who are seemingly in good health. Knowing the risk factors and leading a heart- healthy lifestyle can help prevent some possible causes, including coronary heart disease.

Do the right things

“Awareness is key. You can significantly lower your risk by staying active, eating healthy, and not smoking,” says Dr. Mendenhall. “If you have risk factors, see a doctor for an evaluation.”

Although David’s only warning was shortness of breath, he had several risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a family history of heart disease.

David says he’s not wasting his second chance at life. The former pack-a-day smoker kicked the habit immediately and plans to start exercising. “I’m going to do a better job of taking care of myself. I owe that much to everyone,” he says.

Who’s at risk

If you experience any of these symptoms or risk factors, ask your doctor whether heart testing or evaluation by an electro-physiologist or cardiologist is necessary.

• A family history of heart disease, heart attack, or cardiac death • Unexplained fainting, near fainting, or palpitations • Chest pain, shortness of breath • Previous heart attack or SCA • Cardiac risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, or high cholesterol

To learn more about cardiac and vascular services, visit UPMCMercy.com and click on Our Services. To schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762) or visit UPMC.com/FindADoctor.

2 UPMC.com/Today

With Heartfelt ThanksA local sports fan expresses thanks to fast-acting strangers and his UPMC Mercy medical team for a second chance after surviving a near fatal cardiac arrest earlier this year.


1-800-533-UPMC 3

Larissa Myaskovsky figures she tried about a dozen diets over 20 years, losing weight only to regain lost pounds. It wasn’t until she enrolled in the UPMC BodyChangers program that she saw lasting results.

“BodyChangers was different,” says Larissa, 42, a borderline diabetic who wanted to lose weight without surgery. “It helped me realize losing weight is a permanent lifestyle change. It gave me the tools I needed to succeed.”

A healthier lifestyle

Based at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, and a joint venture of the UPMC Life After Weight Loss and bariatric surgery programs, BodyChangers provides a social support system to promote healthy lifestyles.

“We offer a comfortable environment for people who want to maintain weight loss — and become healthy and fit,” says Jeffrey Gusenoff, MD, a plastic surgeon at Magee and co-director of BodyChangers.

Designed originally for bariatric surgery patients, BodyChangers now supports anyone needing help with their weight loss journey. The program includes:

• An exercise class with a personal trainer who tailors activities for each individual • Group sessions with a behaviorist who teaches coping skills • Yoga and belly dancing classes • Cooking classes and “Destination Education” trips to community places, like grocery stores and markets • Group activities, such as biking, kayaking, and walking

“We’re showing people different ways to achieve wellness and have fun,” says Vicki March, MD, an internist at Magee and co-director of BodyChangers.

A turning point

The program appealed to Larissa, an O’Hara Township resident with two young children and a full-time job. She signed up for BodyChangers’ basic free membership, which includes a newsletter, recipes, and educational seminars. She also attended optional cooking demonstrations and met with a nutritionist.

“It was a turning point in my thinking,” says Larissa, who lost 65 pounds and at 5’1” is now a healthy 115 pounds.

BodyChangers saved my life

For Beth Walley, 49, of Carnegie, BodyChangers was a life-changing experience. Having lost and regained a great deal of weight on various fad diets, she knew she was in trouble when she couldn’t keep up with her elderly mother at the grocery store.

With her weight topping 400 pounds, she joined BodyChangers to prepare for bariatric surgery, but soon started attending other classes and events. Beth lost 50 pounds prior to her bariatric surgery in January 2012, and she is now down to 170 pounds.

“The support I received through BodyChangers was key to my success. I feel great,” says Beth. “BodyChangers saved my life. It changed my body and my mind.”

Basic membership includes free educational seminars and a newsletter. Other BodyChangers membership levels range from $25 to $50 a month.

To learn more, call 1-855-BODY-CHG (263-9244) or visit UPMC.com/BodyChangers.

Becoming a Whole New YouStruggling to lose weight or keep it off? The UPMC BodyChangers program can change your body and your life.

Interested in learning more about UPMC’s bariatric surgery programs? Free information sessions are offered several times a month at Magee, UPMC Hamot, UPMC Horizon, and UPMC St. Margaret. Visit UPMC.com/Bariatrics for more information.


1-800-533-UPMC 5

Medical imaging lets your doctor take an immediate and detailed look deep inside your body. More than 200 non-invasive tests are used to diagnose medical problems that once required exploratory surgery — or simply went undetected.

Types of medical imaging

Imaging tests that use ionizing radiation include:

• Computerized tomography (CT scan) • Mammography • Radiography (x-rays)

Others use a different form of energy:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — uses magnetic fields • Ultrasound — uses sound waves

As the use of diagnostic tests increases, there’s growing research on their long-term impact on patient health. That’s especially true for radiation-based tests and their possible link to cancer.

“Many medical professionals are concerned about some of the methods used to calculate the risk posed by such tests, and the confusion it’s creating among patients,” says Mitchell Tublin, MD, chief of radiology at UPMC Presbyterian and a leading expert on CT scans. “It’s important to talk to your doctor before deferring a test so that you clearly understand both the risks and benefits offered.”

Setting the standard nationally

UPMC has one of the largest radiology programs in the United States, and its radiologists include some of the nation’s leading authorities on medical imaging safety. “On many fronts, we are helping to define the national safety standards for both patients and health care personnel,” says Emanuel Kanal, MD, director of magnetic resonance services at UPMC Presbyterian, whose innovative work on MRIs has been adopted by both the Food and Drug Administration and the American College of Radiologists.

“As a health care system, UPMC is continually investing in research, training, and equipment to minimize patient risk, such as radiation exposure from medical imaging,” says Christopher Deible, MD, PhD, medical director of radiology informatics at UPMC Presbyterian. “We’re also working to standardize imaging services at all UPMC hospitals, following best practices, and participating in national reporting initiatives.”

For women preparing to schedule their next annual mammo-gram, Jules Sumkin, DO, chief of radiology at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, emphasizes that nothing is more regulated in medical imaging than mammography. “There are very strict guidelines, and UPMC has always operated at or below established national standards for radiation exposure, ” he says. “New technologies like digital mammograms further reduce what are already very low radiation levels.”

What can you do to be proactive?

“Ask your doctor if a nonradiation test — like an MRI or ultrasound — can be substituted. That’s not always possible, though, since tests like CT scans may provide a higher level of detail that could be essential in some conditions,” says Janet Durick, MD, vice chair of clinical operations for the Department of Radiology for UPMC. “You should also ask if a test is truly needed — and don’t be disappointed if your physician doesn’t order an imaging test for a condition that could be addressed through a medical examination.”

For more information about imaging safety for adults and children, visit Radiologyinfo.org, Imagewisely.org, or Pedrad.org.

A Closer Look at Medical ImagingMedical imaging plays an integral role in diagnosing medical conditions of all kinds — from broken bones to life-threatening tumors. UPMC radiologists are leaders in helping to ensure both quality and patient safety during testing.


Health care reform and you

Health Care Reform: We Have the PlanUPMC Health Plan has created a website to provide information to help you learn how health care reform may a�ect you and your family.

Health Car

e Ralth Car re R

orm: Wefform: We R

e th vve the Plane Ha W We Ha

e the Plan

UPMC Health Plan has crhealth car

ed a wteaUPMC Health Plan has crect yy a�orm maefe rhealth car

vide infoo pre tebsited a w.amilyour fou and yect y

ou learn hoo help ytion tormavide inf

wou learn ho

ormal name fhe fTdable Carorffand A

ch 2010Mare will be prancinsur

al imporervSeoended cExt

e, and plain-languagcared bomptpr

orm is the Pefe ror health carormal name f). Signed intACA or ACAct (PPe Adable Cares toad changA made brC, the Ach 2010

or in the Unitvided and paid foe will be pr

e been adoptvorms haeftant ral imporervoor dependents, full ce fagervo

xplanations we eagervoe ce, and plain-languagA.Cy the Aed b

ectionotratient Porm is the Pw ino la). Signed int

y healthao the wes tes.ed Stator in the Unit

e then.ed sinceentivveor pre fager

e allerxplanations w

Health caronmentviren

EmplooducrP

etplacMarkimpar

On the wsuch as:

eating patients in this nes trvideroe prHealth caronment

or their emploe fagervoor cs looking feryEmploompanies co tplans e ancinsursell who s eroduc

esponsible fe rs who aroratvige Naetplaco choose among cw te on hotial advicimpar

erwou will find the anse, yebsitOn the wsuch as:

weating patients in this ne

eesyor their emploindividualsand ompanies vidingoor presponsible f

ompeting planso choose among c

o basic questions,s ter

In 2014, morthe Health Insur

ou find health insurhelp yA:Co the At

etplacMarkober 2013Oct

Each MarketplacMark

(platinum, ge plans fromparc

o eo intA will gCts of the Ae parIn 2014, moretplace (Marketplace Markancthe Health Insurour budge that fits yancou find health insur

A:

or open enrational fes must be operetplacober 2013

o help people enrs toratvige Nave will haetplacEach Marked in only fesente plans will be pretplac

o help ce) tonz, and brerr, and brold, silv(platinum, gsvideroent prerom diffe plans fr

gnidulcni,tceffo eotdengisee) detplac

gnidrocet. Acour budg

yollment bor open enr

ollo help people enriour cated in only f

onsumero help c

Who can gWherWhat financial as

MC Health Plan’UPviding an unbiased foo prt

orm easier tefrxpectbe e

?eancet health insurWho can g What will be c?eancor insure can I shop fWher When will chang

?ailableve is asistancWhat financial as

e and supporebsits wMC Health Plan’der torum in orviding an unbiased fxplain what chango estand and to underorm easier to implement the Aontinues ted as our nation cxpect

ed?ervoWhat will be c?es happenWhen will chang

edommitte ct staff are and supporee health caro makder t

es canxplain what changA.Co implement the A

e plans fromparc

Health car

e rHealth carmost people ar

sonallythem pero the Aed telatr

MC Health Plan crUP

onsumerhe cTetplacMark

svideroent prerom diffe plans fr

ouorm and yefe rHealth car

one. Teryvect nearly eorm will affefe refe rw health care asking is homost people ar

stand changer underou betto help y. T To help ysonallyect on health insuresulting effA and the rCo the A

e wormatived an infeatMC Health Plan cr

s unbiased infere offfriendly sit-onsumeres and other elements of health caretplac

he quone. T

orm will eftand chang on health

e.ebsite w

ormation abouts unbiased infor efe res and other elements of health car

om/TcUPMC.4

e of people, including:angwide r

Individuals and f

yodaom/TToda

e of people, including:

ant ts who wamily memberIndividuals and f

o learn ant t

Project5_Layout 1 5/24/13 3:04 PM Page 10

1-800-533-UPMC 5

Medical imaging lets your doctor take an immediate and detailed look deep inside your body. More than 200 non-invasive tests are used to diagnose medical problems that once required exploratory surgery — or simply went undetected.

Types of medical imaging

Imaging tests that use ionizing radiation include:

• Computerized tomography (CT scan) • Mammography • Radiography (x-rays)

Others use a different form of energy:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — uses magnetic fields • Ultrasound — uses sound waves

As the use of diagnostic tests increases, there’s growing research on their long-term impact on patient health. That’s especially true for radiation-based tests and their possible link to cancer.

“Many medical professionals are concerned about some of the methods used to calculate the risk posed by such tests, and the confusion it’s creating among patients,” says Mitchell Tublin, MD, chief of radiology at UPMC Presbyterian and a leading expert on CT scans. “It’s important to talk to your doctor before deferring a test so that you clearly understand both the risks and benefits offered.”

Setting the standard nationally

UPMC has one of the largest radiology programs in the United States, and its radiologists include some of the nation’s leading authorities on medical imaging safety. “On many fronts, we are helping to define the national safety standards for both patients and health care personnel,” says Emanuel Kanal, MD, director of magnetic resonance services at UPMC Presbyterian, whose innovative work on MRIs has been adopted by both the Food and Drug Administration and the American College of Radiologists.

“As a health care system, UPMC is continually investing in research, training, and equipment to minimize patient risk, such as radiation exposure from medical imaging,” says Christopher Deible, MD, PhD, medical director of radiology informatics at UPMC Presbyterian. “We’re also working to standardize imaging services at all UPMC hospitals, following best practices, and participating in national reporting initiatives.”

For women preparing to schedule their next annual mammo-gram, Jules Sumkin, DO, chief of radiology at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, emphasizes that nothing is more regulated in medical imaging than mammography. “There are very strict guidelines, and UPMC has always operated at or below established national standards for radiation exposure, ” he says. “New technologies like digital mammograms further reduce what are already very low radiation levels.”

What can you do to be proactive?

“Ask your doctor if a nonradiation test — like an MRI or ultrasound — can be substituted. That’s not always possible, though, since tests like CT scans may provide a higher level of detail that could be essential in some conditions,” says Janet Durick, MD, vice chair of clinical operations for the Department of Radiology for UPMC. “You should also ask if a test is truly needed — and don’t be disappointed if your physician doesn’t order an imaging test for a condition that could be addressed through a medical examination.”

For more information about imaging safety for adults and children, visit Radiologyinfo.org, Imagewisely.org, or Pedrad.org.

A Closer Look at Medical ImagingMedical imaging plays an integral role in diagnosing medical conditions of all kinds — from broken bones to life-threatening tumors. UPMC radiologists are leaders in helping to ensure both quality and patient safety during testing.


Terry Schwartz of North Huntingdon was dogged in her search for the perfect living facility for her mother, Ethel Yanowitch. “For six years, Mom lived with our family, so I wanted a place that truly felt like home — but where she could also get the increased care and supervision she needed,” says Terry.

After visiting 10 different senior care facilities, she chose UPMC Senior Communities’ Weatherwood Manor in Greensburg. Mrs. Yanowitch, 90, has been a resident there for two years and, Terry says, “It has exceeded our expectations in every way. Mom loves it there.”

For Terry and her mother, assisted living represents the “best of both worlds.” It offers an increased level of services while encouraging and supporting residents to be as independent as possible through activities and socialization.

UPMC Senior Communities offers assisted living options at:

• Cumberland Crossing Manor, McCandless • Seneca Manor, Penn Hills • Strabane Woods, Washington • Weatherwood Manor, Greensburg

“Assisted living is tailored for seniors who need help with daily living activities, such as dressing, grooming, walking, and taking medications — but who don’t require skilled nursing care,” explains Deborah Brodine, president of UPMC Senior Communities and Community Provider Services.

Each UPMC facility provides on-site nursing care and medication management. All residents have spacious apartments with private baths and kitchenettes. Three restaurant-style meals are served daily.

Before moving into a UPMC Senior Communities assisted living facility, residents are carefully assessed and individual care plans are created for them. “Because our health and lifestyle needs change as we age, residents also receive regular assessments to ensure they’re receiving the best possible care,” she adds.

To learn more about UPMC Senior Communities assisted living options — as well as the personal care facilities at Canterbury Place in Lawrenceville and Sherwood Oaks in Cranberry — visit UPMCSeniorCommunities.com.

6 UPMC.com/Today

Is Assisted Living the Right Choice?For seniors and their families, assisted living can offer the ideal solution when extra help is needed for life’s daily activities.

Understanding Assisted Living Personal care homes and assisted living facilities once meant the same thing in Pennsylvania — but that’s no longer the case.

Pennsylvania now distinguishes the types of basic services that can be provided by personal care and assisted living residences. One of the fundamental differences is that assisted living facilities must provide health care services that will enable the residents to “age in place” as their health declines and their care needs change.

Weatherwood Manor recently received licensure as an assisted living facility under new state guidelines. UPMC Senior Communities’ Cumberland Crossing Manor, Seneca Manor, and Strabane Woods also are converting from personal care to assisted living licenses.

“Assisted living community licensure is an expression of UPMC Senior Communities’ commitment to offering older adults and their families the kind of continuing care they need and depend on to safely and confidently age in place,” says Ms. Brodine.

Terry Schwartz and her mother, Ethel Yanowitch


1-800-533-UPMC 7

At the region’s only combined Level 1 Trauma and Comprehensive Burn Center, UPMC Mercy’s physicians and staff know from experience that treasured summer traditions can lead to serious, life-changing injuries.

“Accidents can happen in a split second, but with caution, many can be prevented,” says Michelle Fontana, BSN, manager of Trauma Clinical Services at UPMC Mercy. As a Level 1 Trauma Center, the hospital is focused on providing the highest quality trauma and burn care in western Pennsylvania, as well as leadership in education and community outreach.

“The UPMC Mercy Trauma and Burn Center offers injury prevention programs year-round, including a free fireworks safety clinic in July,” adds Ms. Fontana.

Here are a few ways you and your family can avoid injury while enjoying two of summer’s favorite outdoor activities:

Riding ATVs

As the popularity of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) has increased, so have the number of accidental injuries, especially to the head and spine. “ATVs are powerful and potentially dangerous vehicles that can cause serious injuries,” says Ms. Fontana. To stay safe on the trails, be sure to:

• Always wear a helmet • Only ride off-road and avoid unfamiliar terrain • Never let children drive adult ATVs

Fireworks

Each year, thousands of people are hurt by fireworks, which can cause severe burns, scarring, permanent disfigurement, blindness, and death. Even sparklers can be dangerous. “The tip of a sparkler burns at 1,200 degrees, hot enough to cause a third-degree burn,” Ms. Fontana explains. To enjoy fireworks safely:

• Don’t buy or use illegal fireworks. Only use fireworks permitted under state law • Take the family to watch a professional fireworks display in your community • Teach your children to stay away from firecrackers, sparklers, and other fireworks

For more information about fireworks safety, contact the UPMC Mercy Trauma and Burn Center at 412-232-8375.

Smart Tips for a Safer SummerDuring the summer, UPMC Mercy sees an increase in its number of emergency, burn, and trauma patients. Learn what you can do to stay healthy and safe this summer.

A Life-Saving DifferenceAccording to a study by the National Institutes of Health, severely injured adults who receive care at a Level I Trauma Center like UPMC Mercy are 25 percent more likely to survive than those treated at a nontrauma center.

That designation allows UPMC Mercy to provide the highest level of trauma care. “Our multidisciplinary team of experienced specialists is ready around the clock to care for seriously injured patients,” says Tom Gronow, the hospital’s vice president of operations.

The UPMC Mercy Trauma and Burn Center is a state-of-the-art unit dedicated exclusively to the care of trauma and burn patients.

“It requires a serious commitment of resources to provide such exceptional care,” says Mr. Gronow. “However, there is no substitute for the medical expertise of a Level 1 Trauma Center when it comes to treating serious life-threatening and disabling injuries. We see proof of that in the lives we save every year.”


UPMC Mercy1400 Locust St.Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Don’t let a nonhealing wound slow you down.A chronic wound is cause for concern – and deserves exceptional care. The kind you’ll get from UPMC Wound Healing Servicesat UPMC Mercy. For conditions ranging from diabetic foot ulcers to slow-healing surgical wounds, our team of experts will developa treatment plan that works best for you. And our wound experts are leaders in limb preservation technology and treatment.If you want to get back on your feet again, why would you choose to go anywhere else?

To learn more about UPMC Wound Healing Services and see if it’s right for you, call 412-232-5744, or visitUPMCMercy.com/WoundHealing.

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 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.


CURB APPEALCurb appeal is a well-known term that refers to the attractiveness of the interior and exterior of a home. While the term seems overused, it is a very real phenomenon. The old saying goes, “You only get one chance at a first impression.” This phrase perfectly explains the importance of curb appeal. When someone pulls up to a house for the first time, things like

paint, landscaping, carpeting and light fixtures, just to name a few, make a huge difference in the person’s opinion. It is much harder for most people to envision the potential of a home when unattractiveness abounds everywhere they look. Most people looking at a home make a snap judgment the moment they enter the property. Sure, these snap judgments can be changed with other positive attributes, but why take the chance when adding curb appeal can be so easy and cost-effective?

Curb appeal can be accomplished by any number of methods including exterior decorations, repainting, extensive attention to the landscaping, timely grass cutting, new or even recently professionally cleaned carpeting, new hardware on the kitchen cabinets, new stain on a rear deck, new exterior and interior light fixtures and de-cluttering of the interior of the home.

Always think of curb appeal when marketing your home or looking at a new home. It may not sell your home on its own, or entice you to buy a home on its own, but it does make a difference. You won’t be sorry because it is worth the time and relatively low cost.

STAGINGSelling a home requires more than a “For Sale” sign. Competition is fierce, and if you want the best offers and your home to sell quickly, home staging is essential. Staging involves cleaning, de-cluttering, and decorating a home so it appeals to buyers. Never confuse decorating for staging. Décor is an expression of a particular style, while staging is a strategy.

According to www.globalspan.net, there are five basic steps to staging your home.

#1 - Clean. Your home must sparkle! To achieve this level is often only feasible by hiring a cleaning crew. In fact, having a cleaning service return weekly while your house is for sale is probably a pretty good investment. Get your windows professionally cleaned inside and out too.

#2 - Fix. Got a dripping faucet or a cracked tile? These will send the wrong message to potential buyers. Getting them fixed before you put your

house on the market is a smart idea.

#3 - Eliminate Clutter. The “50% Rule” requires that you eliminate the clutter in your home by at least half. This may be the hardest rule of all! We love our clutter – it reflects our memories, hobbies, and values. But it doesn’t sell homes!

Real estate by the numbers IN MOON TOWNSHIPHomes for Sale: 57 Recently Sold: 27*Data provided by Realtor.com. Data presented is representative of the time of publication. For up-to-date information, go to Realtor.com.

Real estateIN mooN TowNshIp

Real estate is a big part of our lives. For the vast majority of us it is the biggest purchase we will ever make, as well as the largest investment. Not to mention the fact that our

purchase is “our home”…the place we laugh, cry, raise children, share timeless memories with friends and family and so much more. So it is very important that we understand

every aspect of the selling and purchasing of a home. This includes mortgage and finance information, curb appeal, new housing developments and new ways to look for homes.


Clutter makes homes seem smaller and disorganized. (Have you ever noticed that the really expensive stores seem to have an expansive, clutter-free layout, while “cheap” stores are often a jumble of merchandise?) Even the ancient practice of Feng Shui has as a central focus the elimination of clutter.

#4 - Go Executive Neutral. Neutral colors sell. It’s a fact. Try to convey an image of quality and neutrality. Potential buyers walking through your

home want to imagine themselves as the owners. If you use styles or colors they would never select, you’ve just turned them off. Staying high-quality, but neutral is safest.

#5 - De-personalize. Remove objects that your potential buyers won’t be able to identify with. For example, political and religious items may turn off whole groups of buyers, because they cannot “imagine” your home as their home. Buying a home is an emotional decision, and you want

Our Real Estate Partners

Laura PalmerRealtor Expectations Delivered… Results as they matter to you• New Construction• Residential Resale• Buyer Representation• Marketing and Negotiations Expertise

Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services412.264.8300 x254 • www.pittsburghmoves.com/laura.palmer

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.

Diamond Landscaping, Inc.412-366-8545 • www.diamondscapes.com

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 Landscaping724.693.2793 • www.jtlandscaping.biz

Continued on page 36

Renee Rose-Modrak is a Luxury Home Specialist with Keller Williams Real Estate Professionals. She is a multi-million dollar producer, specializing in new construction, luxury properties and residential sales. Renee

previously spent 25 years in advertising. She has decades of philanthropic successes and currently sits on the board of Team Pouncey.

Keller Williams Realty724.941.9400 x113 • www.reneerosemodrak.com


Real estate IN mooN TowNshIp

potential buyers to make an emotional connection with your home by being able to “see” themselves in it.

REVERSE MORTGAGEAccording to www.consumer.ftc.gov, if you’re 62 or older – and looking for

money to finance a home improvement, pay off your current mortgage, supplement your retirement income, or pay for health-care expenses – you may be considering a reverse mortgage. It’s a product that allows you to convert part of the equity in your home into cash without having to sell your home or pay additional monthly bills.

In a “regular” mortgage, you make monthly payments to the lender. In a “reverse” mortgage, you receive money from the lender, and generally don’t have to pay it back for as long as you live in your home. The loan is repaid when you die, sell your home, or when your home is no longer your primary residence. The proceeds of a reverse mortgage generally are tax-free, and many reverse mortgages have no income restrictions.

There are three types of reverse mortgages:

•• Single-purpose reverse mortgages, offered by some state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

•• Federally-insured reverse mortgages, known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) and backed by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

•• Proprietary reverse mortgages, private loans that are backed by the companies that develop them.

Single-purpose reverse mortgages are the least expensive option. They are not available everywhere and can be used for only one purpose, which is specified by the government or nonprofit lender. For example, the lender might say the loan may be used only to pay for home repairs, improvements, or property taxes. Most homeowners with low or moderate income can qualify for these loans.

HECMs and proprietary reverse mortgages may be more expensive than traditional home loans, and the upfront costs can be high. That’s important to consider, especially if you plan to stay in your home for just a short time or borrow a small amount. HECM loans are widely available, have no income or medical requirements, and can be used for any purpose.

Before applying for a HECM, you must meet with a counselor from an independent government-approved housing counseling agency. Some lenders offering proprietary reverse mortgages also require counseling. The counselor is required to explain the loan’s costs and financial implications, and possible alternatives to a HECM, like government and nonprofit programs or a single-purpose or proprietary reverse mortgage. The counselor also should be able to help you compare the costs of different types of reverse mortgages and tell you how different payment

Continued from page 35


options, fees, and other costs affect the total cost of the loan over time. You can visit HUD for a list of counselors or call the agency at 1.800.569.4287. Most counseling agencies charge around $125 for their services. The fee

can be paid from the loan proceeds, but you cannot be turned away if you can’t afford the fee.

How much you can borrow with a HECM or proprietary reverse mortgage depends on several factors, including your age, the type of reverse mortgage you select, the appraised value of your home, and current interest rates. In general, the older you are, the more equity you have in your

home, and the less you owe on it, the more money you can get.

The HECM lets you choose among several payment options. You can select:

•• A “term” option – fixed monthly cash advances for a specific time.

•• A “tenure” option – fixed monthly cash advances for as long as you live in your home.

•• A line of credit that lets you draw down the loan proceeds at any time in amounts you choose until you have used up the line of credit.

•• A combination of monthly payments and a line of credit.

You can change your payment option any time for about $20.

HECMs generally provide bigger loan advances at a lower total cost compared with proprietary loans. But if you own a higher-valued home, you may get a bigger loan advance from a proprietary reverse mortgage. So if your home has a higher appraised value and you have a small mortgage, you may qualify for more funds.

Reverse mortgage loan advances are not taxable, and generally don’t affect your Social Security or Medicare benefits. You retain the title to your home, and you don’t have to make monthly repayments. The loan must be repaid when the last surviving borrower dies, sells the home, or no longer lives in the home as a principal residence.

In the HECM program, a borrower can live in a nursing home or other medical facility for up to 12 consecutive months before the loan must be repaid.

If you’re considering a reverse mortgage, be aware that:

•• Lenders generally charge an origination fee, a mortgage insurance premium (for federally-insured HECMs), and other closing costs for a reverse mortgage. Lenders also may charge servicing fees during the term of the mortgage. The lender sometimes sets these fees and costs, although origination fees for HECMs currently are dictated by law. Your upfront costs can be lowered if you borrow a smaller amount through a reverse mortgage product called “HECM Saver.”

Our Real Estate PartnersBorn and raised in Western PA and currently residing in Collier Township with his wife and three daughters, Alex Deacon has been a licensed professional for nearly 18 years and has consistently been in the top 10% of real

estate agents for homes sold per year nationally for over 12 years.Alex also owns a full service property management company established in 2002.

Keller Williams Realty412.613.4435 • www.alexdeacon.com


Passion. Innovation. Respect. Honesty. At Northwood Realty Services, these aren’t just words – they are words to live by. They represent a promise we make to our clients – and ourselves – each and every day. Say hello

to the New Face of Northwood at Northwood.com today.

Northwood Realty Services412.262.4090 • Northwood.com

The Vinyl Answer is a locally owned family business that fabricates and distributes vinyl railing, fencing, decking, and garden products, as well as a premium line of aluminum railing and fencing. Our mission is to provide locally

made “earth friendly” products and exceptional service. Visit our Showroom at 535 Route 30, Imperial, or ask for The Vinyl Answer at Brookside Lumber & HP Starr Lumber.

The Vinyl Answerwww.vinyl-answer.com

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



•• The amount you owe on a reverse mortgage grows over time. Interest is charged on the outstanding balance and added to the amount you owe each month. That means your total debt increases as the loan funds are advanced to you and interest on the loan accrues.

•• Although some reverse mortgages have fixed rates, most have variable rates that are tied to a financial index; they are likely to change with market conditions.

•• Reverse mortgages can use up all or some of the equity in your home, and leave fewer assets for you and your heirs. Most reverse mortgages have a “nonrecourse” clause, which prevents you or your estate from owing more than the value of your home when the loan becomes due and the home is sold. However, if you or your heirs want to retain ownership of the home, you usually must repay the loan in full – even if the loan balance is greater than the value of the home.

•• Because you retain title to your home, you are responsible for property taxes, insurance, utilities, fuel, maintenance, and other expenses. If you don’t pay property taxes, carry homeowner’s insurance, or maintain

the condition of your home, your loan may become due and payable.

•• Interest on reverse mortgages is not deductible on income tax returns until the loan is paid off in part or whole.

FINANCING AND INTEREST RATESThere is both good news and bad news when it comes to home financing and mortgage interest rates. The great news is that interest rates are still extremely low. According to bankrate.com, the interest rates on 12/26/12 were 3.59% on a 30-year fixed rate, 2.87% on a 15-year fixed, 2.77% on a 5/1 ARM and 4.07% on a 30-year jumbo.

However, the bad news is that, due to new mortgage laws adopted after the nation’s foreclosure crisis of several years back, it is more difficult to get a mortgage than ever before. Credit scores are even more scrutinized and debt-to-income ratios are more strict.

There is an infinite number of loan types out there, and lenders are constantly coming up with creative ways to wrangle in new homeowners. The type of home loan you choose can make or break you as a borrower, so make sure you fully understand it before making any kind of commitment.

Most prospective homeowners these days seem to be interested in 100% financing, generally because they don’t have the assets necessary for a down payment. Unfortunately, the proliferation of these types of home loan programs have increased the number of high-risk borrowers in the United States at an alarming rate.

But if you take the time to educate yourself on the many home loan types out there, you’ll effectively decrease your chances of defaulting on your mortgage. That said, let’s talk about the many different loan types and programs available today.

Below is a list of the types of loans available to potential homeowners.

CONFORMING LOANS AND NON-CONFORMING LOANSOne way home loans are differentiated is by their Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) eligibility. If the loan meets requirements set forth by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, it is considered a conforming loan. If the loan does not meet all the underwriting requirements set forth by the pair of GSEs, it is considered “non-conforming.”

The main guideline that determines whether a mortgage is conforming or not is the loan amount. Generally, a mortgage with a loan amount below $417,000 is considered conforming, whereas any loan amount above $417,000 is considered a jumbo loan. However, in Alaska and Hawaii the conforming limit is $625,500. Note that the conforming limit may change annually, and has risen quite a bit in the past few years as housing prices skyrocketed.

A jumbo loan may meet all of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s loan underwriting guidelines, but if the loan amount exceeds the conforming limit, it will be considered non-conforming and



carry a higher mortgage rate as a result.

If your loan amount is on the fringe of the conforming limit, sometimes simply dropping your loan amount a few thousand dollars can lower your mortgage rate tremendously, so keep this in mind any time your loan amount is near the limit.

CONVENTIONAL LOANS AND GOVERNMENT LOANSMortgages are also classified as either “conventional loans” or “government loans.” Conventional loans can be conforming or jumbo, but are not insured or guaranteed by the government.

Then there are government loans, such as the widely popular FHA loan. This type of mortgage is backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Another common government loan is the VA loan, backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The maximum loan amount for these types of loans varies by county.

Now that you know a bit about different home loan types, we can focus on home loan programs. As mentioned earlier, there are a ton of different loan programs out there, and more seem to surface every day. Let’s start with the most basic of loan programs, the 30-year fixed-rate loan.

LOAN PROGRAMSThe 30-year fixed loan is as simple as they come. Most mortgages are based on a 30-year amortization, and the 30-year fixed is no different.

The 30-year fixed loan is just how it sounds, a loan with a 30-year term at a fixed interest rate for 30 years. What this means is that the loan will take 30 years to pay off, and the rate will stay the same during those entire 30 years. There isn’t much else to it.

Let’s say you secure a rate of 6.5% on a 30-year fixed loan with a loan amount of $500,000. You’ll have monthly mortgage payments of $3,160.34 for a total of 360 months, or 30 years. You will be required to pay the same amount each month until the loan is paid off. So the total amount you would pay on a $500,000 loan at 6.5% over 30 years would be $1,137,722.40.

LOCAL HOUSING MARKETAccording to www.buildingpittsburgh.wordpress.com, unlike the overall U.S. market, the housing market in Pittsburgh does not have to bounce back from falling prices and is showing remarkable consistency across a number of metrics.

For more than six months the prices of houses sold and the number of homes sold has remained solidly up more than 10% year-over-year. That’s an unusual level of consistent growth, especially since the sales took place in periods of both higher and lower seasonal activity.

The third quarter also showed a consistent trend in the year-over-year growth in new construction. Through nine months there were a total



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

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 Builders412.257.0160 • prime1builders.com

As a true custom building and renovation company, Bachman Builders understands that the building process is far more than concrete, wood, and drywall. Every client has a different vision, desire, and budget. Since incorporating

in 1996, Bachman Builders has completed over 150 new homes and countless light commercial and residential renovation projects - each unique and each different. We hold true to our motto; we build with integrity.

Bachman Builders412.264.4069 • www.bachmanbuilders.com

of 2,396 new dwelling units started compared to 2,155 during the same period in 2011, an increase of 11.2%. The increased activity was constant whether the construction was traditional detached single-family homes (and attached) or multi-family units, with each cohort up between 10-12%. Permits were issued for 1,393 units of detached dwellings compared to 1,264 in 2011 and for 1,003 attached units this year compared to 891 last year.

While there is growing evidence that financing conditions are normalizing so that buyers can buy, the dwindling supply of lots are keeping a broader housing recovery from spreading into 2013, although



the construction of multi-family apartments will boom for at least the next 18 months. Following is a breakdown of new housing by county.

•• Allegheny County — Single Family Detached, 609. Single-Family Attached, 392. Total, 1001.

•• Beaver County — Single-Family Detached, 108. Single-Family Attached, 25. Total, 133.

•• Butler County — Single-Family Detached, 190. Single-Family Attached, 323. Total, 513.

•• Fayette County — Single-Family Detached, 66. Single-Family Attached, 10. Total, 76.

•• Washington County — Single-Family Detached, 251. Single-Family Attached, 74. Total, 325.

•• Westmoreland County — Single-Family Detached, 169. Single-Family Attached, 179. Total, 348.

SMARTPHONE APPS FOR HOUSE HUNTINGThis is 2013 and we are an “on the go” society. So doesn’t it just make sense to use apps for house hunting before contacting a real estate agent? According to www.msn.com, today there are dozens of cheap — even free

— applications you can download that can make your home buying quest easier and savvier than ever before.

So go ahead and download ‘em, take ‘em for a test drive … then hit the open-house circuit. This time, you’re guaranteed to waste less time finding a new “home sweet home.”

Tools to help you find a home — all with GPS•• Realtor.com says its app has more listings — reportedly more than 3

million — than any other app in the country. You can highlight areas of town to search, check for homes for sale near you and search for open houses. Most homes show multiple photos as well as pricing and open-house info. (Free.)

•• Zillow not only lets you see listings and the estimated worth of any home — not just homes for sale – but also has rental-rate estimates. (Free.)

Navigating the real-estate maze•• Dictionary of Real Estate Terms. Baffled by a bilateral contract?

Confused by carrying charges? You need this dictionary. ($1.99 for iPhone and iPad. Other dictionaries available for different devices.)



•• Mortgage Calculator. A solid calculator to help steer you through the finances of a home purchase, this calculator computes monthly rate, price per square foot and your amortization schedule. (99 cents for iPad and iPhone. Other calculators available for different devices.)

•• Can you afford that home? Home Buying Power lets you input variables — desired payment or income percentage, plus down payment, loan term and interest rate — and then tells you how much house you can afford to pay for on a monthly basis. ($1.99 for iPad and iPhone.)

Choosing the right city and neighborhood•• Learn your neighborhood: With Wikihood, you can get a mini-tour of

most any neighborhood in the world — everything from the history to the culture to companies in the area. (Free for iPad and iPhone.)

•• Wonder where that smell is coming from? Worried by those airplanes flying low overhead? You need Suburb Scout. This app allows users to search for possible nuisances near a home — airports, landfills, sewage-treatment plants and more. ($1.99 for Android.)

•• Are you worried about sex offenders? Consider getting Safe Neighborhood. This app gives you access to the National Sex Offender



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

CHC has been in business since 1998. The owner of CHC has been doing concrete work for 30 + years. CHC takes pride in their work for their customers. There is no job that is too big or too small. We provide quality work at

competitive prices. We offer new concrete and decorative concrete applications for both new and existing concrete. We are fully insured and licensed. Visit us on the web.

CHC Construction412.937.9100 • celenderconst.com



Registry and can tell you locations of sex offenders in your area. It’s a little controversial — not only can you search by address, but you can pull up names and pictures of the offenders. (Free for Android.)

•• Trying to pick a new city? You might want to look at the crime statistics. The app Crime Stats lets you see statistics on several violent crimes and property crimes for cities nationwide, using FBI data. The app also lets you compare those stats to the national average and to other cities. (99 cents for iPhone and iPad.)

•• Want to know what kind of amenities your neighborhood has? Download the Walk Score app. It gives a home a score of up to 100, based on residents’ ability to walk to things such as a grocery, a pub, etc. The better the score, the more walkable the neighborhood. Somewhat related, Around Me tells you the distances to key spots such as banks, coffee shops and post offices. (Both are free for iPhone and iPad.)

•• SiteWise gives the demographics of your prospective home’s immediate area, using info up to and including the 2010 Census. The app creates a demographic report that includes population by age, education level, number of children, household income, number of renters versus owners and more. ($9.99 for Blackberry and iPhone users.)

When looking hard at a home •• Photo Measures is an app that lets you take pictures of, say, a room and

then allows you to save your measurements of the room’s dimensions on the photos. You can take photos during your walk-throughs of an appealing house, note the dimensions of walls and doors and cabinets, then plan your space and refer to the measurements later. ($4.99 for iPhone.)

•• ColorSmart. With paintmaker Behr’s ColorSmart app, you can visualize colors in your prospective home. Just take a photo, then fill in the walls with a Behr paint color to check out the new look. (Free for iPhone and iPad.)

You now have 13 new ways to find your perfect home — and no excuses.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A REAL ESTATE AGENTSometimes when the time comes to buy or sell a home the focus is so

much on the homes that the real estate agent is an afterthought. However, it is very important to pick the right one for your needs. On the site www.mytitleguy.com is a blogger who has worked in the title industry for 11 years and has met and worked with countless real estate agents. He has come up with a list of things to look for before signing a contract with an agent:

Personable: I want someone who does not make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Someone I can tolerate talking to or sitting across from on more than one occasion.

Licensed: Sounds dumb but it is not. I want my agent to be licensed and in good standing, i.e. no complaints [no legitimate complaints one way]. Google is your friend. Go to Google.com, put [potential agents’ names] in quotations and see what Google and other consumers have to say about them.

Tech Savvy: An agent who is savvy with technology is a non-negotiable for me. I want someone who has a strong website, who understands the Internet and search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. Not so much social media. Remember, 98% of consumers start their home search online — my real estate agent better know how to get my home to stand out online — where the eyeballs are.



Knowledgeable: I want an agent who knows [his/her] way around the purchase contract and how to negotiate. Just because [agents are] licensed does not mean they understand either. I also want an agent who specializes in what I am buying or selling.

“Familiar with the local market: I would want an agent who is familiar with my neighborhood, builder, and local market conditions. Local market conditions — not an area 20 miles away. [Yes, markets can vary considerably in as few as 20 miles.]

Communicates well and often: You would hope that service and communication would be the basics [for being] in the real estate industry…but sadly it is not. There are real estate agents out there who are horrible at returning calls or emails or even giving updates. Maybe that is why the #1 complaint in the real estate industry is lack of communication. In an occupation that requires communication, the #1 complaint is lack of it. I want my real estate agent to communicate with me in the method that I prefer [email, text, phone call, Facebook, Twitter, smoke signal, Morse code etc.] whatever that is. I also want a regular schedule of check-ins — even if there is nothing to report. Keep me in the loop!

Truthful: Someone who is going to tell me the truth whether I want to hear it or not. ‘Yes, Mr. Garner, that purple carpet is ugly and needs to go’ or ‘Stephen, the deer head or stuffed bear in the den is not a good idea.’

Full Time: Real estate is not a part-time job. My agent needs to be available when a potential buyer is. I don’t want to have to wait until my agent gets off his/her shift at Walgreen’s before [responding to] an offer on my home. This is where an agent with a team can be beneficial as they can cover for



each other so I can get the service I deserve.

“Integrity: Integrity is one of those [attributes] that many people say they have. In my opinion, integrity is demonstrated, not necessarily spoken. I want a real estate agent/Realtor to put my interests above [his/her] own. That offer of $400,000 on my $430,000 home may only equal a reduction of $900 for the agent’s commission but it equals a $30,000 reduction to me. If I’m buying with an agent and I’m interested in 4-bedroom, 2-bath homes, show them all to me, even the ones offering a reduced commission and the ones listed by an agent you don’t necessarily care for. Put my interests above your own. If my agent represents me, I want him/her to represent me.”

NEW HOME TRENDSThe housing industry has taken a beating these past few years, but a glimmer of hope is on the horizon. Housing starts are increasing,

according to a story by the National Association of Business Economics.

Not surprisingly, though, the Great Recession curtailed many of the extravagances that buyers desired before things went south. Homebuyers want different things from their homes today. The watchword is “flexibility” — things such as rooms that serve multiple purposes and homes that can accommodate either “boomerang” children or aging parents.

According to www.msn.com, [researchers] talked to homebuilders and industry watchers to find out what will be behind the front doors of new homes.

Easy accessAccessibility is big and likely only to get bigger, says Kermit Baker, chief economist of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). “It’s strictly an aging-related thing: Boomers are getting older, and parents of boomers are

getting older.”

Baby boomers in particular are starting to think about what their homes need to look like if they’re going to stay in them as the years advance. That means single-story homes, homes with grab bars in the bathroom, fewer stairs and perhaps even wheelchair ramps. In the AIA’s most recent survey, almost half of the architects who responded said accessibility was a growing design priority.

A bigger garage — for everything but carsNot long ago, homebuilders were adding garage space to accommodate SUVs. Now some are making more room in the garage for all the other items families put there, from tricycles to golf carts. “We know that growing families accumulate a lot of stuff,” says Scott Thomas, director of product design for Pulte Group, which includes Pulte Homes, Centex and Del Webb retirement communities. “These garages help avoid clutter. A trend for the larger garages is to use part of it as a ‘man cave’ of sorts — space where you can fit two cars, in addition to a sofa, TV, weights, etc.”

The ‘resource center’People want homes that are more flexible, more versatile. Rooms dedicated to one purpose are less popular now, according to the AIA survey. As homes shrank in the past few years, people asked,




“Where’s that space going to come from?” Baker says. Those people are realizing that in a smaller home, rooms can serve multiple functions.

David Barista, editor in chief of Professional Builder and Custom Builder magazines, calls these multipurpose areas “resource centers” — nooks that include a desk, printer, room for a laptop and even some cubbyholes for mail and bills. “You don’t need this huge den/office anymore,” he says. “Most families are working off laptops or iPads.” Also hearing that demand, Pulte Group has been adding “planning centers” to its homes

— spaces adjacent to the kitchen “that serve as the family command center of sorts,” Thomas says. “It’s a place where the kids can do their homework and be within earshot of the parents. They are great for family organization, paying bills.”

Homes within homesAlmost one-third of American adults today are or living in the same household with another adult generation, the U.S. Census Bureau says. Those adults could be “boomerang” kids who have come back home to live after college, or aging parents who moved in with adult children.

Homebuilders are starting to respond to this trend. “We’re seeing a huge growth in floor plans that include dual master suites,” Barista says.

Lennar Homes has introduced its NextGen home in several areas of the country. “It really is a home within a home,” says Alan Jones, Arizona division president for Lennar. Imagine a home that contains a separate apartment with its own sleeping area, kitchenette, bathroom and perhaps even garage. A door connects it to the rest of the house, Jones says.

Infill is inFinally, one shift doesn’t involve just what’s in homes but where homes are being built. There’s a real shift toward smaller-scale “infill” development projects within existing towns and cities — projects that emphasize affordability, access to public transportation, commercial opportunities and job centers, according to the AIA.

“During the housing boom, builders were building where they could reach sufficient scale in their operations. So they needed big land parcels to produce the volume that they wanted to produce,” Baker says.

But companies aren’t building as many homes right now and no longer need all that land, Baker says. Moreover, not everyone liked those sprawling suburbs where “you have to drive 15 minutes to get a quart of milk.” Hence, they are looking back into towns and cities, he says.

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

www.myrobinsonchiropractic.com

412.706.7129


Yufei Zheng8th Grade

Moon Area Middle School

It’s our annual real estate Issue, and whIle we hope

you enjoy all of the information we’ve assembled for

homeowners and homeowners-to-be, we thought

we’d ask local students to put theIr mInds and theIr

artistic hands to paper and show us what theIr dream homes would look lIke. we thank them for theIr

submIssIons and hope you enjoy theIr handy work!

Dream Home


Elizabeth Sickles8th Grade

Moon Area Middle School

Amanda Krithinithis

6th GradeMoon Area

Middle School


MOON NEWS AND EVENTS

WEST HILLS ART LEAgUE ART SHOW RECEPTION MAY 12, 1 - 4 P.M.This show has been a tradition at Robin Hill for many years. It will feature a professional blend of eclectic art ranging from abstract to traditional in all Media. Entries exhibited for competition and sale. This is a great opportunity to come out and support your local artists!

FATHER’S DAY FUN FAIR AT MOON PARK JUNE 16, NOON - 2:30 P.M.Come out and join Moon Parks and Recreation for a family-friendly event. Father’s Day is a perfect time to spend a day with your kids at the park! Tons of activities including Airbrush Tattoos, Bouncer Monkeys, Safari Train Maze inflatables, FREE LUNCH, prizes and more! Don’t forget to stay around for the Ventriloquist Show 2-2:30!

TOWNSHIP OF MOON 5K RUN/WALK SATURDAY JUNE 29, 9:00 A.M.MOON TOWNSHIP INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION JULY 4, 4 - 10 P.M.FAMILY FUN NIgHTS-FRIDAY NIgHTS JUNE-AUgUST 2013, CONCERTS 7:30 - MOVIES START AT DUSK.

CONCERTS: JUNE 7th – Finally Free (High Energy Classic Rock) 14th – JD Eicher and the Goodnights (Subtle Pop) 21st – Pittsburgh Philharmonic

CONCERTS: JULY 12th – TBA 19th – Swingin’ Bobcat Big Band

MOVIES: JULY 26th – Madagascar 3

MOVIES: AUgUST 2nd – Muppets 9th – Wild World of Animals (Live Entertainment Event) 16th – Adventures of TinTin 23rd – The Lorax 30th – The Odd Life of Timothy Green

ROBIN HILL LUNCHTIME CONCERTS 3RD WEDNESDAY, MAY-SEPTEMBER, NOON - 1 P.M.

May 15 – Ben Shannon (Rootsy Folk Rock)June 19 – Brooke Annibale (Acoustic Folk Rock)July 17 – Steven Vance & John GarrickAug. 21 – Jason Kendall (Jazz)Sept. 18 – Frank Viera (Country)

More info coming soon about all of the Moon Park’s FREE family events!

1000 Beaver Grade Rd. Moon Township, PA 15108. Moon Parks & Recreation Programs and Special Events. Find more programs and event details at www.moonparks.org. Register for any of the listed programs by calling the Moon Park office at 412-262-1703 or by e-mailing [email protected]. Online registration open for select programs, visit our website for more information.

2013 Special eventS


MTVFC Donates Fire Truck to Point Breeze VFC

The Moon Township Volunteer Fire Company drove their former Special Services Unit, Rescue 2 - 1989 Ford F8000 to the Point Breeze Volunteer Fire Company in Breezy Point, New York. The MTVFC is donating the vehicle to the Point Breeze VFC. The Point Breeze VFC and the Breezy Point community were left devastated by Hurricane Sandy in the fall of 2012. The hurricane caused a fire that destroyed a total of 111 homes in the Breezy Point community. The Point Breeze VFC suffered catastrophic losses during Hurricane Sandy losing their firehouse, trucks, equipment, and gear. “It’s brothers helping brothers and communities supporting one another in a time of devastation,”

says MTVFC Chief John Scott.The MTVFC collected

monetary donations at their Friday Fish Fries to bring with them to Breezy Point. To hear the Point Breeze VFC stories of devastation, learn more ways to help, and how to donate visit www.youtube.com and search “Point Breeze Fire Department”.

About the Moon Township Volunteer Fire Company

The Moon Township Volunteer Fire Company is made up of a volunteer Fire Chief who oversees the Volunteer Fire Department, Assistant Fire Chief, and more than 50 volunteers. Moon Township currently has four fire stations within the community – the Public Safety Building, Downes, Carnot, and Boggs Run. Volunteers

respond to hundreds of calls annually ranging from

fire emergencies to gas leaks and car accidents. Additionally, volunteers

participate in weekly training sessions to

keep apprised of new procedures and techniques for

handling emergencies. The Moon Township Volunteer Fire Company is always looking for new members to join them in serving and protecting the community. Contact [email protected] to learn more.

The Township of Moon Hosts April Electronics Collection and Prescription Drug Collection;• Annual Recycling Day and Shredding Event in June

The Township of Moon is

hosting several programs and events this spring to collect unwanted and unused items including: prescriptions, recyclables, electronics, and documents.• Recycling Day – Saturday, June 1The Township of Moon is holding their annual Recycling Day event on Saturday, June 1, 2013 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Moon Township Administration Building. This event is open to Moon Township residents and businesses only; proper ID is required. Accepted items include: reusable construction materials, household appliances, home healthcare items, electronics, and tires. A complete list of accepted



items can be found on Moon Township’s website at www.moontwp.com on the “Green Initiatives” page found under the “About Us” tab.• Shredding Event – Saturday, June 15

State Senator Matt Smith is partnering with state Representative Mark Mustio and Moon Township to offer a free shredding event for residents. The shredding event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2013 in the parking lot of the Moon Township Administration Building. Residents can bring boxes of unwanted documents that may contain personal information including Social Security, credit card or bank account numbers. Common types of unwanted items that should be shredded may include credit card statements or applications, bank statements, cancelled checks, income tax information, and insurance records. Document shredding will occur on-site with the shredded paper later to be recycled.


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

at the end of my day, I took a few moments to listen to my staff answer questions for a patient on the phone. The 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 field are The American College of Phlebology and the American Venous Forum.Why should I see a board-certified 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. Though 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 certified phlebologist for your venous care is a wise decision.

Board certification in phlebology identifies a physician who has taken the extra step of becoming specialized in the treatment of venous disease. Not only is the physician often 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. After meeting these requirements, he or she must then pass a certifying exam allowing the physician to identify him or herself as board-certified.Is membership the same as board certification?

This question is particularly important as it defines the specialty of a phlebologist. While a physician may be a member of many different organizations, these organizations only require an interest in the field for joining. Thus membership is unlike board certification where qualification is determined through training and testing. Here’s how the ACP defines its board certification: “The establishment of a Board Certification Exam brings recognition to both the field of phlebology and those providers in the field who have the knowledge, skills and experience to provide quality care to phlebology patients.”

I had a free 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-certified 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 reflux may result in outright treatment failure.

• Evaluation of the venous system should be performed with the patient in the upright position. Sitting or lying down are inappropriate for the detection of reflux 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 office?

Of course. A free evaluation is commonly ‘free’ because patients are often 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)

MOON NEWS AND EVENTS


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

at the end of my day, I took a few moments to listen to my staff answer questions for a patient on the phone. The 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 field are The American College of Phlebology and the American Venous Forum.Why should I see a board-certified 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. Though 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 certified phlebologist for your venous care is a wise decision.

Board certification in phlebology identifies a physician who has taken the extra step of becoming specialized in the treatment of venous disease. Not only is the physician often 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. After meeting these requirements, he or she must then pass a certifying exam allowing the physician to identify him or herself as board-certified.Is membership the same as board certification?

This question is particularly important as it defines the specialty of a phlebologist. While a physician may be a member of many different organizations, these organizations only require an interest in the field for joining. Thus membership is unlike board certification where qualification is determined through training and testing. Here’s how the ACP defines its board certification: “The establishment of a Board Certification Exam brings recognition to both the field of phlebology and those providers in the field who have the knowledge, skills and experience to provide quality care to phlebology patients.”

I had a free 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-certified 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 reflux may result in outright treatment failure.

• Evaluation of the venous system should be performed with the patient in the upright position. Sitting or lying down are inappropriate for the detection of reflux 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 office?

Of course. A free evaluation is commonly ‘free’ because patients are often 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)


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]

CORAOPOLIS MEMORIAL LIBRARY601 School StreetCoraopolis, PA 15108412.264.3502

Library 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]

Library 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

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

Libr a rie s in o ur A re a


Chances are you’ve been down the weight loss road before. And chances are just as good that

you’ve gained it all back. But don’t despair; there are ways to avoid the dreaded yo-yo.

What’s the biggest mistake people make when it comes to weight loss?

Too many people set unrealistic expectations from the start. For sustained weight loss, you need a diet and exercise plan that you can maintain.

How should I get started and pick the right plan?

Instead of starving yourself or risking injury by over-exercising, focus on being active throughout the day. Park your car farther away from your

destination, take the stairs, make social plans walking distance from home or work; every step adds up.

How can I eat healthy when I’m so busy I don’t have time to cook?

Planning ahead is a must if you’re going to avoid temptation. Spend some time on Sunday evening preparing simple, healthy meals for the week.

I hate to exercise, and gyms are too expensive. What can I do?

As little as five minutes a day of resistance training can help strengthen your body; or use a pedometer (a small device that counts your steps) and try to hit 10,000 steps each day. The key is consistency.

Weight Loss Tips for Real Life


summer,


The mid-March snowstorm and the lingering coldweather had many Pittsburghers running for the sun at the first sight of warmer weather. But not so fast,caution two UPMC Urgent Care physicians, who urgeawareness and protection when outdoors in the sun.

Minimize Sun Exposure “Sunburn and heat-related illnesses are the two mostcommon sun-attributed ailments we see in the UPMCUrgent Care centers during the summer months ofJune, July and August,” says Bret Rosenblum, MD,medical director of UPMC Urgent Care Wexford.“That said, we advise everyone to reduce their sunburn risk by limiting sun exposure during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., wearing protectivehats and clothing, and using a sunscreen with an SPFof at least 15, but 30 or higher for individuals with afamily history of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. Also, avoiding indoor tanning beds altogetherwill help prevent significant skin damage.”

According to Rachel Schroer, MD, medical director of the UPMC Urgent Care with Washington HealthSystem, located in McMurray, Pa., people can still getsunburn even if the sun is not shining. “The harmfulUVA and UVB rays that cause sunburn can penetratethe clouds and cause sunburns,” she explains.

Self-Help Measures For Sunburn If you take all of these precautions and you still findyourself suffering from sunburn, there are a number of ways you can care for yourself at home, Dr. Schroeradvises, including drinking plenty of nonalcoholic fluids and water, staying well-hydrated, and applying a soothing aloe vera gel.

“Severe sunburns fall into the category of first-degreeburns, which puts you at risk for excess fluid loss anddehydration,” she adds. “However, should your effortstoward sunburn prevention and sunburn care at homefail to offer relief, a medical evaluation at a UPMCUrgent Care center can assess your condition andoffer additional recommendations for aid.”

Avoid Strenuous Activities During Peak Temperatures To prevent heat-related illnesses, Dr. Rosenblum recommends limiting strenuous activity during thehottest portion of the day, drinking plenty of fluidscontaining water or electrolyte solutions before, during, and after exercise, and avoiding soda or energy drinks, which can actually cause dehydration.In addition, wearing lightweight and light-coloredclothing, and taking frequent breaks in shaded or air conditioned areas, will help cool the body.“Sports teams also should be encouraged to schedule practice sessions in the morning or evening hours during the summer,” he notes.

Seek Medical Attention If a person suffers a milder form of a heat-related illness, with symptoms such as headaches, weakness,dizziness, or an inability to continue current activity, Dr. Rosenblum suggests, seek out a cool area, preferablyone that is air conditioned, removing excess clothingand hydrating with water or electrolyte solutions, andmonitoring their condition closely. “Evaluation at aUPMC Urgent Care center could help determine if ahigher level of care is necessary, such as a referral to an emergency department,” he says. “However, if thecondition is not improving or is getting worse, and theperson begins to faint, or experiences nausea, vomiting,or confusion, immediate medical evaluation at the closest emergency department for a more serious heatstroke condition may be necessary. In these situations,cold water immersion, ice packs, and IV hydration may be needed.”

Special Care For Children And The Elderly Children and the elderly are the groups most at riskfor developing sunburn and sun exhaustion, which iscaused by spending too much time in the heat and direct sun, Dr. Schroer explains. “Great care should be taken to limit their sun and heat exposure.”

Consider Life-Saving Swimming Lessons In addition to the prevention methods previouslymentioned, Dr. Rosenblum also adds that the ability to swim can be life-saving. “All children and adultswho will be around water should have this skill whichthey can acquire through lessons at local YMCA centers and community pools,” he recommends. “Furthermore, while at the beach, heed warnings and signage regarding current conditions such as riptides and rough water.”

Medical Treatment Available Without An Appointment A person with concerns about sun-related illness, can visit a UPMC Urgent Care center for further examination any day of the week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., without an appointment. “Our providers can access a patient’s electronic health records withinthe health system. This can be critical during an evaluation with regard to past medical history, medications taken, allergies, and results from previous tests and x-rays,” Dr. Rosenblum explains.“Additionally, a treatment summary, which is an important aspect of care, will be provided to the patient’s primary care provider and attached to their electronic health record if they visit a UPMC physician.”

For more information and a complete list ofUPMC Urgent Care locations, please visitUPMC.com/UrgentCare.

Tips on Summer Sun Safety from UPMC Urgent Care

Project5_Layout 1 5/17/13 4:30 PM Page 6


Time for TapenadesThe ripe olive is one of the

most versatile foods in the pantry. While delicious on its own, olives also add flavor to a number of dishes from soups and salads to appetizers and entrees. A simple ripe olive base is all you need to create a world of flavor. One dish, that features olives predominantly and is as versatile as its main ingredient, is tapenade.

Tapenade originated in Provence, France, as a simple mixture of chopped olives, with various herbs and spices and is often used as a spread on crackers or as a condiment. There are many different recipes for tapenade, and the first step is selecting the type of olive to use. Green and black olives are perfect because of their mild taste and ability to blend well with other flavors.

Tapenades are as varied as they are delicious, with consistencies that range from a spreadable paste to a chunky, salsa-like mixture. And their flavors can span the globe, from Greek and Mexican to Asian and French.

Although delicious with crackers and a traditional cheese plate, there are a number of creative ways to enjoy tapenade, including:

n Mixing with sour cream for a zesty dip

n As a spread on sandwichesn Spooned on tacos with

lettuce, tomatoes and cheesen Stuffed into chicken breasts

for a flavorful kickn Spread on pizza dough and

topped with cheese and veggies

TAPENADE

Prep time: 10 minutes | Chill time: 1 hour

Makes 8 to 10 servings

1/2 cup chopped shallots

1/4 cup chopped smoked sun-dried tomatoes

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 six-ounce can green olives, well drained

1 six-ounce can black olives, well drained

1/4 cup lightly packed fresh basil

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Crackers or toasted baguette slices

Place shallots, sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, vinegar and garlic in a food

processor and pulse on and off until finely chopped. Add olives, basil, salt

and pepper and pulse again until chopped. Cover and chill for 1 hour. (May

be prepared 1 day ahead.)

Serve with crackers or toasted baguette slices.


Business Directory

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

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDPITTSBURGH, PAPERMIT NO. 887

in moon township

Documents

community magazines

people of boston

resilience of boston

boston marathon bombing

worldin moon township

best petall animals

dozens of municipal

case awardssummer