in murrysville

WINTER 2011 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

4th Annual ChiliOktoberfest

Historical Society Preservation Awards

FranklinRegional

safety-driven

Thank you, Pittsburgh.

At UPMC Health Plan, we don’t set out to win awards. We simply focus on doing what’sright for our members. Like providing them with access to world-renowned UPMC doctorsand hospitals as well as outstanding community hospitals and physicians. Giving them thetools and programs they need to live a healthy lifestyle. And offering them a personal HealthCare Concierge and online chat capabilities to answer all of their questions. So when J.D.Power and Associates ranked us Highest in Member Satisfaction among Commercial HealthPlans in Pennsylvania, we don’t see it as adding another award to the trophy case. We see itas doing our jobs.To learn more visit upmchealthplan.com.

UPMC Health Plan received the highest numerical score among commercial health plans in Pennsylvania in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Member Health InsurancePlan StudySM. Study based on 33,039 total member responses, measuring 11 plans in the Pennsylvania-Delaware Region (excludes Medicare and Medicaid). Proprietary study results are

based on experiences and perceptions of members surveyed December 2010-January 2011. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

“Highest Member Satisfaction Among Commercial Health Plans in Pennsylvania”

2 724.942.0940 to advertise | Murrysville

safety-drivenlearn more on page 7

IN Murrysville | WINTER 2011 |

INSIDE

COMMUNITY INTEREST

Murrysville Women’s Club Art Show .............................. | 5

A Letter from the Mayor .................................................... | 15

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

Chili Fest Winners ................................................................. | 26

Navajo Mission Trip .............................................................. | 30

Historic Preservation Award Dinner ............................... | 32

Dynamic Duo ........................................................................... | 40

ON THE COVER | Franklin Regional Middle School students honor veterans

FEATURES

Real Estate in Murrysville ............. | 34

Older Adults in Murrysville ........... | 38

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

The Advisors LLCBlahabhabahab .......................................... | 8

Zacharia and BrownLearning how to make decisions for long term care. ..................................... | 29

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Sotak InsuranceInsurance is about more than cost. It's about service. ..................................... | 14

IN Murrysville is a non-partisan community publication dedicated to representing,encouraging and promoting the Murrysville area and its comprising municipalitiesby focusing on the talents and gifts of the people who live and work here. Our goalis to provide readers with the most informative and professional regionalpublication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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Murrysville | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 3

I agree with Andy Williams. It is the most wonderful time of the year. Welcome to the winter edition of Murrysville.

This is is the season of hustle and bustle, Christmas carols, and mostimportantly good cheer.

In this edition, you'll find out that Franklin Regional High SchoolMarching Band has something to cheer about as it heads to

Pasadena in Janurary for the Tournament of Roses Parade. It is also the season of giving, and we've got a feature on a

Murrysville couple, Marcia and Don Sayres, who give of theirtime to help senior citizens. Some members of the Calvary

Lutheran Church gave when they took a mission trip to aNavajo reservation, this past summer. They also

received when they were recently visited by Albert Buck and his cousinWilliam Johnson, two Native Americans involved in ministry on thatreservation.

The Westmoreland County Historical Society held its annualawards dinner to recognize those involved in keeping history and

historical sites alive. We have that story in this edition, as well. Our spring edition is next and we'd love to hear from youregarding the people, places and events you'd like to see us cover.

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

Monica L. HaynesEastern Regional Editor


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

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

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

Have a joyous holiday and a happy New Year!

Wayne DollardPublisher

PUBLISHERWayne Dollard

MANAGING EDITOR

Marybeth [email protected]

REGIONAL EDITORS

Mark Berton [South and West][email protected]

Dana Black McGrath [North][email protected]

Monica L. Haynes [East][email protected]

OFFICE MANAGER

Leo [email protected]

AD PLACEMENT COORDINATOR

Debbie [email protected]

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Cassie Brkich Jan McEvoyAnna Buzzelli Joe MilneSharon Cobb Tamara TylendaSusie Doak

WRITERS

Ashley Connor Pamela PalongueHeather Holtschlage Gina SalingerLeigh Lyons Judith SchardtJoann Naser

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brad Lauer Gary YonKathleen Rudolph

PROOFREADER

Kelly Lotter

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGERS

Derek Bayer Tamara MyersTom Poljak

ADVERTISING SALES

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

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

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

CORRESPONDENCEDirect all inquiries, comments and press releases to:

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

Spring content deadline: Feb. 24

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.


The Murrysville Woman’s Club held its annualArt Show on October 8 and 9 at theMurrysville Municipal Building. MWC mem-

ber LaDorna Stephens, who organized and promotedthe event, reported that approximately 75 peopleattended the show over the two days. Those inattendance were treated to 126 impressive entries ofvarious types of artwork, including photographs, oilpaintings, watercolor paintings, mixed media, acrylicpaintings, pastels, colored pencil and collage.

The entries were divided into three categories:experienced, amateur, and student artists, and judgeSue Pollins chose winners in each medium and agegroup. In the oil/acrylic category Linda Agate won firstprize for her painting “Portofino, Italy.” Experienced artistBarbara Jewell took first place and the People’s Choiceaward for her watercolor entitled “Trail’sEnd.” Christopher Ruane secured afirst place prize in photography for hispiece “No Place Like Home.” In thedimensional/collage/pastel categoryBeth Larosa’s “Orchid” took first prize.Judith D. Johnson’s photo “GeyserPools” secured the People’s Choiceaward for amateur artwork.

In the student division, MichaelMatthews, age 6, took first prize in the4- to 10-year-old age group for hiswatercolor painting “Sunset on theBeach,” and Erica Silvestri, age 11, tookfirst prize in the 11- to-18-year-old age group for her photo“Drip.” Halle Jakiela, age 8, won the People’s Choiceaward in the younger age group for her oil painting“Hummingbird On Hibiscus” and Lindsay Hill, age 17, wonthe People’s Choice award in the older age group for hermixed medium piece “The Model.”

In addition to the art show, theMWC sponsors a Career Day atFranklin Regional Middle School,awards a scholarship to a non-tradition-al student, holds a fashion show, andparticipates in various fundraisers. Theclub also donates to many local chari-ties including Meals on Wheels, firedepartments, the Blackburn Center andlocal libraries.

The Murrysville Woman’s Club Annual

Morgan Carter with her 3rdplace award winning artwork

Murrysville Woman's Club members Rose Cook,Glenna Heyl, LaDorna Stephens, Carita Anderson

Barbara Jewell with her1st place award winning

watercolor painting

Sissel Bramham next to herpainting of her grandson


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

your energy partner peoples–gas .com

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

your energy partner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


It's a fact: The average American holds nine different jobs before theage of 34.* It's also a fact that the decisions you make about how tomanage retirement assets when changing jobs can have a direct

impact on your future financial health.Case in point: "Cashing out" retirement plan assets before age 59½

(55 in some cases) can expose your savings to immediate income taxesand a 10% IRS early withdrawal penalty. On the other hand, there areseveral different strategies that could preserve the full value of yourassets while allowing you to maintain tax-deferred growth potential.

Well Informed = Well PreparedOption #1: Leave the Money Where It Is If the vested portion of theaccount balance in your former employer's plan has exceeded $5,000,you can generally leave the money in that plan. Any money thatremains in an old plan still belongs to you and still has the potential fortax-deferred growth.** However, you won't be able to make additionalcontributions to that account.Option #2: Transfer the Money to Your New Plan You may be ableto roll over assets from an old plan to a new plan without triggeringany penalty or immediate taxation. A primary benefit of this strategy isyour ability to consolidate retirement assets into one account.**Option #3: Transfer the Money to a Rollover IRA To avoid incurringany taxation or penalties, you can enact a direct rollover from yourprevious plan to an individual retirement account (IRA).** If you opt for

an indirect transfer, you will receive a distribu-tion check from your previous plan equal to

the amount of your balance minus an auto-matic 20% tax withholding. You then have60 days to deposit the entire amount ofyour previous balance into an IRA

which means you will need tomake up the 20% withholding

out of your own pocket.***Option #4: Take theCash Because of theincome tax obligationsand potential 10%penalty describedabove, thisapproach couldtake the biggestbite out of yourassets. Not onlywill the value ofyour savings dropimmediately, butalso you'll no

Make the Most of Your Retirement Account Options

Tips for Transitions:

Are You Living the Life

of Your Dreams?

Securities are offered through LPL Financial,

Member FINRA/SIPC

SM

I n d e p e n d e n c e P o w e r e d B y L P L F i n a n c i a l

The Advisors, LLC Bryan C. Davis President 3875 Franklintowne Ct #130 Murrysville , PA 15668-1265 724 733 8564 fax 724 733 7333 office [email protected] www.theadvisorsllc.com

Is your dream to travel to distant lands, send your child to college, or to simply have the financial means for a comfortable retirement?

We can help you identify your dreams, values and priorities and design a comprehensive plan that targets every aspect of your life goals.

If you are already living the life of your dreams, we can help you plan ahead so that it may continue. If you are still on your journey, we can design a step-by-step roadmap to help you get to where you want to be.

Call today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

longer have that money earmarked for retirement in a tax-advantaged account.*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. **Withdrawals will be taxed atordinary income tax rates. Early withdrawals may trigger a 10%penalty tax. ***You will receive credit for the withholding when youfile your next tax return. © 2010 Standard & Poor's FinancialCommunications. All rights reserved.

the advisors

insight


At this time each school year, we are proud to publically share the academicaccomplishments of our student scores on the Pennsylvania System of SchoolAssessment (PSSA) as compared to the State results. The results of these

assessments are outlined annually in a “District Report Card” on the District’s Website(www.franklinregional.k12.pa.us) and on the Pennsylvania Department of Education(PDE) website (www.education.state.pa.us).

The Federal No Child Left Behind Act requires States to determine annually whetherschools and districts in Pennsylvania make Adequate Yearly Progress, also known as AYP.Students are identified as performing in one of four levels: advanced, proficient, basic andbelow basic. The goal is for all students to be proficient or advanced – meaning they havemastered Pennsylvania’s assessment anchor content standards at their grade level.

Last year, the 2010-11 state targets for meeting AYP were 67% combined proficient andadvanced percentage scores in math and 72% combined proficient and advanced percentagescores in reading. The Franklin Regional School District’s overall test scores were 89.4%advanced and proficient in math, and 87.7% advanced and proficient in reading. If a schooldistrict has a sub-group of forty (40) or more students in one grade span, that sub-group mustalso meet the same State target numbers. At the Senior High School, because the sub-group ofstudents who have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) did not achieve AYP; therefore, theSenior High School is on the State’s warning list for not meeting the target.

Individual student PSSA scores have been provided to each respective school buildingand to individual families and are used to assist teachers in identifying students who maybe in need of additional educational support. District scores, building level scores andgrade level scores provide critical information that is used for curriculum and instruction-al improvements.

The information on the following page indicates the percentage of students at FranklinRegional who have scored at the combined Advanced and Proficient levels on the 2010-2011 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) in comparison toPennsylvania State (PSSA) Scores of other school districts.

S u P E R I N T E N D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E

MISSION STATEMENT: We, the Franklin Regional School community, strive for

excellence, learning, achievement, and citizenship in all we do.Dr. P. Emery D’ArcangeloSuperintendent

Shelley ShaneyfeltDirector of InstructionalServices and Public Relations

Dr. Charles KorenAssistant Superintendent of Human Resources

Jon C. PerryDirector of Financial Services

Linda MillerAssistant to the Director of Financial Services

Frank J. MutoSupervisor of Technology Services

Dennis MajewskiDirector of District Services

Zachary KesslerDirector of Athletics & Student Activities

Richard E. Regelski, Jr.Director of Special Education

Allan MikachDirector of Counseling Services

Karen CadwellSchool Board Secretary/Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Ronald Suvak, PrincipalSenior High School

Chris Kelly, PrincipalMiddle School

Tina Gillen, PrincipalHeritage Elementary

Judith Morrison, Interim PrincipalNewlonsburg Elementary

Tina Burns, PrincipalSloan Elementary

FRANKLIN REGIONALS C H O O L D I S T R I C T

Continued on page 10




S u P E R I N T E N D E N T ’ S M E S S A G EContinued from page 9

F RAN KLIN RE G IO N AL D IS T RIC T P S S A S C O RE S

P E N N S Y LVAN IA S T AT E P S S A S C O RE S

We would like to “congratulate” the students and staff at Franklin Regional for achieving at ahigh level across our school district. We are extremely proud of our students and staff. Thankyou for supporting Franklin Regional!

Sincerely, Dr. P Emery D’Arcangelo Superintendent Franklin Regional School District



Spring 2012The Parent Literacy Club Initiative is designed to encourageparents and caregivers to read to their children every day.The Literacy Club will meet for six weeks at SloanElementary School Library. The training sessions will befacilitated by school district teachers and readiness partnervolunteers who are part of the School Readiness InitiativeTeam. These individuals have undergone training providedthrough the United Way. As part of the Literacy Club experi-ence, each parent or caregiver receives a free, high qualitychildren’s book at each club meeting to take home and readwith their child.

During the training, participants discuss the following:feelings, reading in the technology age, diversity, libraries,poetry and the connection between reading and writing.Throughout the training meeting sessions parents have theopportunity to share ideas and network with other parentsin the school community. Ideas to incorporate reading intohome routines with easy and fun activities are provided.Parents grow to understand that the joy found in books ismore about the time shared between an adult and child,than the act of reading alone. The shared experience nur-tures closeness, discovery, and one on one dialogue uniqueto storytelling.

One of the wonderful features of the Literacy Club is thefact that a new hardcover book, guaranteed to be qualitychildren’s literature, is provided for every participant eachweek of the training. In addition, a dry erase book andmarker are also made available to encourage responding tothe stories through writing. This reading-writing connectionfosters skills such as comprehension and grammar devel-opment. We are also happy to be able to provide free child-care for each session to make it as easy as possible for

Franklin RegionalParent Literacy Club“Encouraging Life Long Reading”Funding provided through the United Way of Westmoreland CountySchool Readiness Initiative and Franklin Regional School District

parents to participate in every Literacy Club training meet-ing. Best of all, there is no charge. The entire Literacy Clubexperience is provided free to parents living in the FranklinRegional School District.

There will be a limited number of participants in theParent Literacy Club in the spring of 2012. Parents of cur-rent Franklin Regional kindergarten students and childrenwho are enrolled in preschools and will attend FranklinRegional kindergarten in 2012 -13 are eligible to participate.Registration information will be made available afterJanuary 1st and will be distributed at KindergartenOrientation. The information will also be available on thedistrict website.What do parents who are interested in participating

need to do?� Register early� Commit to attending all sessions� Read with their child EVERY DAY!

Please contact Judy Morrison at 724.327.5456 extension 7613 or [email protected] for more information.

What parents have said aboutParent Literacy Clubs…“This made me take time each day to read to atleast one of my children. I enjoy reading to thembetter and (it’s) not just something to do to makethem sit down.”

“I am reading now, too. My younger kids see mereading and then they want to read. I even see myhusband reading to my little one.”

“You made me feel bright. I didn’t think teaching mykids every day could be so much fun.”



When FranklinRegional HighSchool’s marching

band director Kevin Pollockfound out his students were march-

ing in the 123rd Tournament of RosesParade, he knew getting his band members

to Pasadena, Calif., was only one of many chal-lenges he faced.

Insuring that the 197 band members’ equipment made the2,142 mile journey was another.

But then an international retail corporation interceded sav-ing the band up to $20,000.

Walmart will be hauling every band member's instru-ments, equipment, uniforms and luggage, as well as half-time show props, across the country for free.

“We are very lucky. It doesn’t get any better than this,”Pollock said.

The effort to bring Walmart on board was started by localWalmart employee Lorin Stewart. He heard Pollock during aradio interview where he stated the band was looking for atruck.

Stewart took his request to his supervisors at Walmart inDelmont after learning Pollock believed Walmart had previ-ously hauled band equipment to the Tournament of RosesParade.

“He took that one piece of information back and got theball rolling. He was very persistent.”

Soon, Pollock was headed to a meeting with Walmart staff.“I went expecting I would have to sell them on the idea,

but they were five steps ahead of me. They already had madeall the arrangements.”

Franklin Regional MarchingBand Heads to Pasadena

Those arrangements included a full-sized moving truck andtwo drivers, who had driven North Carolina CentralUniversity’s marching band equipment to California for a priorTournament of Roses Parade.

“They know what they are doing and where they need togo. Finding someone who was willing to do this was one thingand getting them up to speed with logistics was another. Nowwe don’t need to do that.”

The large truck, which the company previously used tomove relocating employees’ belongings in the past, also hasroom for students’ luggage and the half time show set theband needs for its field show being done in conjunction withthe parade at Pasadena City College.

And if there is any confusion about what the truck is haul-ing and where it is headed, passing drivers only need to readthe side of the vehicle.

“They are going to be wrapping the truck in our specialparade logo and also including a message congratulating uson our achievement. I couldn’t be happier,”said Pollock.

Frankin Regional will beone of only 15 bandsselected from around theglobe to participate in theTournament of Roses.The parade will bebroadcast locally onWTAE and on cablechannels HGTV and The Hallmark Channel at 11 a.m. on January 2.



Every year since 1994, students at Franklin Regional MiddleSchool have remembered, honored and celebrated ournation’s veterans including those from Export, Delmont and

Murrysville with a set of performances.This year, the event was held on Nov. 10.“Some of the students recite original poems that they write,

there’s some musical performances... the history of Veterans Day,some experiences veterans might have had,” says BrucePalmiscno, an arts teacher at Franklin Regional, who works withthree other teachers to put the program together. The other teachersare Denise McMullan, Camille MacRae and Brandi Crissman. “It’snot only from the vets’ perspective, but also those who were leftbehind. We do a lot of things with remembrance,” Paliscimo saidof the performances.

The veterans who attend are seated in the first few rows of themiddle school theater, and are also invited to have lunch with theseventh grade students. Student ambassadors give the veterans atour of the school. “[The veterans] come back year after year. It’s

a lot of the same veterans, and they really look forward to it,”Palmiscno said.

This year, in addition to daytime performances for the veteransand their fellow sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students, therewas also an evening performance for parents. “They wereamazed that we could put such a show together,” Palmiscno saidabout the parents. “It means a lot to our veterans and it means alot to our kids too.”

The first year of the program, the focus was on Vietnam veter-ans. The following year, it was women in World War II. “At thattime they specifically mentioned local veterans and those killedduring their service,” said Palmiscno, who’s been with the districtfor 14 years. “One year, two vets attended the program who hadnot seen each other in 40 years.”

While the program may no longer focus on specific localveterans, it always includes the “Star Spangled Banner,” thePledge of Allegiance, the Presidential Proclamation forVeterans Day, and the playing of taps.

“Although memories are powerful, as a country we have an obligation to remember the strife and toil of our veterans. Why? Because remembering honors the dead,

encourages the living, and helps us as a nation to move forward. Although memoriescan bring us pain, they are important if we are to remember our past and move

forward. Remembering honors fallen soldiers, supports the soldiers out there now, and helps us as a nation face our future.” – Excerpt from Veterans Day Program at Franklin Regional Middle School


Franklin RegionalHigh School celebrated itsHomecoming Weekend 2011 with a traditionalbonfire on Thursday,September 29. The 2011 Homecoming Courtwas honored duringFriday night's football game.

A LETTER from the MAYORM U N I C I P A L I T Y O F M U R R Y S V I L L E

Murrysville knows that landfills are expensiveand necessary and not to be overused. Thebest answer towards saving our environment

is to "Promote Recycling".It doesn't take a lot of work, but the results are really

rewarding. We, your Municipal Staff, have done our best to make iteasy for you to recycle.

Every other week our collector "Allied Waste" picks up your recy-clables at the public access to your property. You only need to sepa-rate "Trash and Garbage" into a separate bag or container fromrecyclables. All recyclables can be co-mingled in one container. Theonly exception is corrugated cardboard as noted below. Here is acomplete list of items to be recycled:

• Plastic Nos. 1 through 7 (check the number inside the triangle,located on the bottom of the plastic item)• Aluminum Cans (Please rinse out cans)• Steel and bi-metal cans (Please rinse out cans)• Glass (clear, amber, and green)• Chipboard (pasta and cereal boxes, tissue boxes, papertowel rolls, etc.)• Junk mail• Magazines/Catalogs• Paperback books• Hardcover books (hardcover must be removed)• Office Paper, Shredded Paper• Phone Books• Newspapers and Newspaper inserts• Corrugated Cardboard (Boxes must be flattened and brokendown to 3' x 3' size or smaller. If the cardboard is any larger than 3'x 3', it will not fit into the recycling truck. If possible, please bundlethe cardboard with string, twine, or tape; otherwise, stack neatlynext to the recycling bin.)• Clean pizza box tops.That's right, we recycle phone books, magazines, even shiny adpapers. But, to be even more helpful, here is a list of items thatcould be questionable. These items are not to be placed in the recy-cling containers: • Wax-coated paper products e.g. milk cartons• Aluminum pie plates and foil• Plastic toys • Dishes, pots, and pans

Murrysville Proudly Recycles


• Window or sheet glass• Wrapping paper• Styrofoam• Fluorescent Light Tubes and CFL bulbs• Scrap metal• Tires

See, reading this listing makes the "Do and Don't Lists" of recyclingmuch clearer, right? Now it is up to YOU!

Please do not place recyclables in trash cans or large plastictrash bags, as the recycling driver will assume it is trash and notcollect the recycling. The Municipality’s recycling bins should beused and are available for purchase at $12.00 per bin at theMunicipal Building, 4100 Sardis Road, Murrysville, Monday throughFriday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. New residents to the Municipality receiveone (1) free bin, if the previous owner did not leave one behind.

In the next few months, Allied Waste will begin a Pilot Programfor automated recycling, at no cost to the residents. A route of 500to 600 homes will be selected and those residences will have theirrecycling collected by a truck that has an automated “arm” that willpick-up a special recycling container with wheels. Any residenceselected to participate in the Pilot Program will receivethe specialrecycling container, along with instructions on how to recycle, deliv-ered directly to their home.

The yearly recycling schedule, as well as trash and other recy-cling information, is available on-line at www.murrysville.com or atthe Municipal Building. Of course, you can always contact theMunicipality’s Recycling Coordinator, Cherie Weber, at 724-327-2100,Ext. 130 or [email protected] with questions or concernsabout trash and recycling.

Murrysville’s businesses also recycle. They are especially greatat breaking down cardboard containers. Murrysville today is amodel for promoting the Gold Standard in recycling.

YOU can be very proud, as I am, that Murrysville leads the regionin waste-reducing collections. Congratulations! Now let's workever harder to protect our precious environment even more. GodBless you and your families.

Robert J. BrooksMayorMunicipality of Murrysville

It’s about service, according to Chris Sotak. And he should know. The Sotak Insurance Agencyhas been located at 5618 William Penn Highway in Export for nearly 22 years, offering home, auto, life andbusiness insurance through Erie Insurance. His son, Ryan, and wife, Christine, are part of the agency also.

“I feel the level of service that my agency provides, along with superior products at a competitive price is whatsets the Sotak Insurance Agency apart from other agencies,” Chris said.

The Sotak Insurance Agency is fully-staffed with three licensed customer service representatives who providea high level of expertise to their policyholders, as well as new applicants. Chris takes pride in the fact that if hisclients have any questions regarding their insurance needs, they know that they can contact his agency to get aprofessional and knowledgeable response. He believes the industry is trending toward policyholders wanting todevelop a relationship with an agency they feel they can trust to get excellent service and great coverage with areputable insurance company.

One of the misconceptions about the industry, Sotak said, is that cost is all that matters when it comes to pur-chasing insurance. “In my opinion,there can be a vast difference betweeninsurance companies and agencies.The quality of service provided by bothshould be a factor when policyholdersare deciding where to purchase theirinsurance. I think the personal attentionyou give to a policyholder in response totheir questions and insurance needs isjust as important as the cost of theinsurance.” Another important aspectis knowing the community and the peo-ple who are in it. Sotak, who grew up inthe Export area, said, “I have a verygood working relationship and personalrelationship with a lot of our policyhold-ers. This is a customer service busi-ness, and we take that very seriously.”

The Sotak Insurance Agency, 5618William Penn Highway, Export, is openMonday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.;Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; andevening hours by appointment. Formore information, call 724.325.4710 orvisit www.sotakinsurance.com/.

When it comes to purchasing insurance, it’s not about celebrityspokespeople or catchy phrases.



What could be better on a crispautumn day than a cold beer and hot chili? Not a thing according the Murrysville area residentswho attended the 4th Annual Chili Oktoberfest. For a mere $10 those who attended were treated tounlimited chili, beer provided by The Rivertowne Pour House, wine from a private donor, and theyenjoyed football viewing on big screen TVs thanks to the Best Buy Geek Squad.

After sampling each chili, attendeesvoted on their two favorite entries inboth the hot and mild categories. Thefirst place winners in both categorieswere awarded a $125 prize, and thesecond place winners received $75.This year the event featured a specialaward, the Mayor’s Choice Chili,which was chosen by Mayor RobertJ. Brooks. The winner of the Mayor’sChoice was Carly Greene.

ChiliCook-off

Warms Up Fall

Kimberly Donahoue, KylieSenge, Mayor Robert J. Brooks

Continued on page 28

Nick Dorsch, Rob Hunter, Tony Pauly

Neal Nichols, CaptainWayne Heckman, Acting

Chief Dave Silvis

Ben Dorsch, Will Rogers



Continued from page 26

The winners are:

1st place-HOT Brad Busse2nd place-HOT Ben Dorsch, brother of Murrysville-Export Rotary Clubmember Nick Dorsch

1st place-MILD Jenny Wigton2nd place-MILD Carly Greene

Paul & Daneen Jugovic, PJ & Pete Dawes

The Huether Family

Chili Cook-off

The Chili Oktoberfest is a joint effortbetween the Recreation Department of the Municipality of Murrysville andThe Murrysville-Export Rotary Club.This year’s Chili Oktoberfest was agreat success with nearly 300 peoplein attendance and over $3,000 raisedfor the Rotary Polio Foundation, theRotary’s Miracle Complex atMurrysville Community Park, andMurrysville Fire Departments.


Notable changes in our society have occurred within the last twentyyears that have affected our longevity: advancements in modernmedicine, healthy lifestyle changes and better exercise programs, to

name a few. However, since people are living longer, new and difficult chal-lenges are occurring. For many, their challenge is trying to find a way to payfor the cost of a long term care, skilled nursing facility. The average cost forthis type of care is around $8,000 per month. If a family has no plan in place,there may be no estate left to pass along to the family. For example, a persondiagnosed with Alzheimer’s who lives for 4 years in a long term care facilitycan go through more than $384,000 worth of their assets. What about themarried couple where both spouses are in a nursing facility? The amount isdouble and the cost is now $768,000!

The world has certainly changed, and with it, the role of Estate Planning.The changes are profound, so much so, that Estate Planning is no longer anaccurate phrase. Estate Planning grew out of the 20th century system of taxa-tion. Historically, Estate Planning attorneys worked with their clients to makecertain that the clients’ wishes and desires would be fulfilled when they passedfrom this earth. The primary tool to pass along financial, real and tangibleassets to a loved one was and still is the Last Will and Testament. In addition tokeeping death taxes at a minimum, Estate Plans would often attempt to protectfamily members from themselves or others through the use of Trust Funds. Itwas always presumed that there would be an Estate to pass along. Today, forthose who do not plan, they risk everything.

A new form of legal work has developed over the past 15 years. It is calledElder Law. Many who are familiar with this category of legal representationconsider it to be a group of attorneys who are able to help their clientelebecome eligible for Medicaid in order to pay for their long term care costs.Some Elder Law firms have developed their practices to become vastly morecare-oriented. The new care-oriented segment of client service is referred to asLife Care Planning. Rather than the development of a plan to get someone in anursing home onto Medicaid and face the risks of loss involved, a better plan isto keep people out of nursing homes altogether, when possible. In many cases,this can be accomplished simply by taking the time to do a thorough evaluation

of each individual’s situation. Life Care Planning considers health caretreatments, household or resi-

dence environment, andoptions regarding pro-grams that would pro-

vide better care andquality of life. The

HOW TO MAKE THE LONG

TERM CARE DECISIONSoptions are many and require a host of skills and resources to identify andappropriate the best options for a particular situation. For this reason, manyElder Law firms, who provide Life Care Planning, employ full-time Elder CareCoordinators, usually a registered nurse or a social worker who has extensivelong-term care and geriatrics experience.

Far too many people, the vast majority I would say, have made crucial longterm care decisions for themselves, or for a loved one, with little or no informa-tion. The stress level is high and the person stuck making these crucial deci-sions simply wants the pain of the stress to go away. They end up makinguninformed, usually faulty decisions. What you need is the advice, guidanceand counsel of a skilled and experienced team of professionals who know andunderstand your care issues, and the programs, benefits, and options availableto you. If you have a loved one whose condition is slowly getting worse, thereis help available. As people continue to live longer, Elder Law attorneys, whoprovide Life Care Planning, are offering a complete range of support to the eld-erly and their caregivers. From estate planning with tax minimization to carecoordination and advocacy, families are turning to these firms to help get thehighest level of care for their loved one, achieve peace of mind for themselvesand help to protect their life savings for the future.

About the Writer Carl B. Zacharia is an attorney licensed inPennsylvania and Florida. He is a partner with the elder law firm ofZacharia & Brown, PC. Zacharia & Brown is one of the oldest, mostestablished elder law firms in Western Pennsylvania. Their practiceincludes life care planning for seniors, elder law, Medicaid, public benefits eligibility, asset protection, care review and advocacy, and estate & incapacityplanning and administration. Contact information: www.PittsburghElderLaw.com,412.751.5670, 4500 Walnut Street McKeesport, PA 15132.

RIGHT


• Navajo •

F ictional stories about life on the Navajo Reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico led toa real life mission trip to the Southwest for 11 members of the Calvary LutheranChurch in Murrysville.

The trip, led by church member Jamie Theim and paid for through a $7,000 grant fromConcordia Lutheran Ministries, took place in July, and was sparked by her interest in novelswritten by author Tony Hillerman about life on the reservation. Her desire to do mission-ary work with the Navajo was further fueled by her correspondence with Pastor Kopaska,founder of Native American Ministries, who along with his wife Diane, has been minister-

ing to Native Americans for more than 20 years. Through this ministry they’ve worked withtribes including the Navajo, Chippewa, Crow, Sioux, Apaches and several others. Pastor Kopaska also visited

Calvary Lutheran two months ago to to meet the congregation and talk about his ministry. “I had a really good time,” said Theim regarding her trip to the reservation. “Despite cultural barriers everyone is the same. We have the same

wants and needs.” While at the reservation, the members of Calvary Lutheran Church and First Wash Assembly of God, a church on the reservation,joined together and held a vacation bible school. One of the church elders from Calvary Lutheran who attended the trip was Bob Kemper. He retired ayear ago, and said he wanted to do something different. “Things had to work out on the fly, God blessed us and everything went well,” he said.

Albert Buck, a visitor from a Navajoreservation in Shiprock, New

Mexico, shows members of CalvaryLutheran Church in Murrysville

how to make fry bread.

by Ashley Connor

On a Saturday morning in October, two men from the reservation, Albert Buck and his cousin,Wilbert Johnson, returned the favor by visiting Calvary Lutheran. They came to share their storywith church members, and to make fry bread, a Native American staple. The bread was to be partof a dinner planned for later that evening, following a presentation by the two visitors. Johnson said he was excited to come to Murrysville to see the people who came to visit them. “All I want is to be a blessing to my church,” said Johnson who does a lot of missionary workalongside his cousin.

Buck did all of the cooking Saturday and shared with everyone his technique for making frybread and the various ways it can be served. Thekitchen was alive with laughter, as Calvary Lutheranmembers seemed to enjoy cooking with their guests.Buck said he almost didn’t make it to Murrysvillebecause his van was stolen. “I was a little devastated,but I talked to friends and family, who said it’s nothingbut the devil’s work and God will provide,” he said.The van is used for a lot of the missionary work that hedoes on the reservation and it was a big loss for him, he said.

Theim said that she is currently working on apply-ing for another grant so Calvary Lutheran can purchasea new van so Buck and his church can continue its mis-sionary work. She also said Calvary Lutheran wants tostock the van with school supplies for the children.

Theim’s daughter, Rachel, was among the sixCalvary Lutheran youth who took the mission trip.She aspires to be a teacher, and thought that her participation would be a beneficial experience. “It wasgreat,” Rachel said. “I still talk to some of the kids fromthe reservation, and I enjoyed learning with kids in adifferent culture.”


The Westmoreland County Historical Society’s Arthur St. Clair

The Westmoreland County Historical Society’sArthur St. Clair Historic Preservation AwardDinner has grown from a small luncheon affair tothe organization’s signature event.

Now in its 12th year, the awards “came about becauseof the Westmoreland County Historical Society’s efforts tobe involved in all of the county – not just in the capital ofthe county,” said the society’s executive director LisaHays. “We wanted to reach out to the neighboring commu-nities in all areas of the county and pat them on the backfor the efforts they’re making.” The award is named forArthur St. Clair, an important figure in the founding ofWestmoreland County. It is awarded annually to individu-als, organizations, businesses or educational institutions“that have made significant contributions to the preserva-tion of our historic places, documents, records or stories,and by doing so are keeping alive Westmoreland County’srich history and heritage for future gener-ations,” according to thesociety’s website. This year, the society

is honoring: KeithPealstrom for renovatingtwo historic structures inIrwin – Covenant Hall,Irwin Center for thePerforming Arts and ThePealstrom Place, which is


the former Westmoreland City Public School built in 1914;The Export Centennial Committee, chaired by K. MelanieLitz, for celebrating Export’s coal mining history and cultur-al heritage in a well-received two-day event in August; andthe Unity Chapel Committee for preserving and maintainingthe Unity Chapel and the surrounding area. “We ask people from the community to nominate worthy

projects from their community that we don’t know about,”Hays said. Nominations are solicited through the society’swebsite, press releases and letters sent out to all the localhistorical societies. A small selection committee fromwithin the society’s board of directors wades through thenominations. “It’s gratifying to us to see the multiple worthynominations,” Hays said. “They tend to sort themselves outinto what’s really outstanding and what’s really good.” Thenumber of awards presented each year varies.

“I think everybody likes history; somepeople just don’t know it,” Hays said,adding that history is really just stories.“And those stories are told throughplaces and artifacts and it’s importantthat we preserve those things.”

HistoricPreservationAward Dinner

Finding ways to go green in the home does more than help theplanet. It helps your home’s environment, as well.

According to the u.S. Environmental Protection Agency, levels ofindoor air pollution can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels.These pollutants — as well as chemicals found in many products today— can irritate allergy and asthma sufferers.

“More people than ever are looking to make natural changes in theirhome to help improve their family’s environmental health,” said Dr.Shannon Thyne, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at uCSF andMedical Director of the Pediatric Asthma and Allergy Clinic at SanFrancisco General Hospital. “It only takes a few extra steps to make ahome healthier, cleaner and greener.”

To that end, the maker of Green Works® products, HGTV personalityand green living expert Carter Oosterhouse, and Lowe’s have teamedup to showcase ways to give your family a cleaner, greener home.

“Whether you could use help enhancing the look of your child’splayroom, or you’re looking for ways to reduce chemicals and theirfumes and residues in your kitchen, there are simple steps you can taketo make your home environ ment healthier, while still keeping it stylishand beautiful,” said Oosterhouse.

While every home is different, here are some ways to make any homenaturally beautiful and healthier.

Paint A fresh coat of paint is a great, low-cost way to bring new life to a room.But that new paint smell comes from Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs), which derive from vapors released from toxic compounds.use non-VOC paint to create an inviting, comfortable and beautifulroom. Check the back of the paint can for VOC levels — those withfewer than 150 grams per liter are often labeled “low-VOC” or “no-VOC.”� Buy only the amount of paint you’ll need for the project. If you wind

up with leftover paint, store it safely or dispose of it according to localmunicipal regulations.

� Open windows while painting and use fans to vent fumes. � When sanding or removing old paint, wear a dust mask or respirator

to prevent particle inhalation. Keep the area well ventilated.

Make Your Home

Cleaner&Greener FAmIly FeATUReS

REAL ESTATE M u R R Y S V I L L E

What does it mean to be natural?The Natural Products Association (NPA) recently developed theNatural Standard for Home Care Products, making it easier thanever to tell what makes a product natural.

Here are the NPA’s core criteria:

n Natural: Ingredients that are at least 95 percent natural(excluding water) in addition to appropriate manufacturingprocesses.

n Responsible: No animal testing during the developmentprocess.

n Safer chemistry: Avoid ingredients from the NPA’s list of prohibited ingredients.

n Sustainable: Use biodegradable ingredients withenvironmentally sustainable packaging whenever possible.

For more about which Green Works® products are NPAcertified natural products, visit www.greenworkscleaners.com.



remax

howland

full page


REAL ESTATE M u R R Y S V I L L E

Cleaning productsIt used to be that buying a natural cleaning product meantpaying more money for worse performance. No longer.Natural cleaning products can provide great performancewithout leaving behind harsh chemical fumes or residues.Plus, they are increasingly cost effective. Green Worksnaturally derived cleaners offer a variety of products for thewhole house, including naturally derived laundry detergentand bathroom cleaners that are priced very competitively.

FlooringCarpets trap dirt, dust and other allergens. If possible, removewall-to-wall carpeting and replace it with natural woodflooring, such as sustainable bamboo or cork flooring.

� Sweep and vacuum floors regularly to control dust.

� Wet mop with a microfiber mop to remove dust and dirtmore efficiently.

� Clean up spills right away.

If the carpets and rugs must stay, vacuum frequently, using avacuum cleaner with an allergen-trapping HePA filter. Changethe filter regularly to keep it working efficiently.

Furniture & Window CoveringsCurtains and upholstery can trap dust, dust mites and pollen.

� Blinds are a good, contemporary-looking alternative to drapes, butmust be dusted occasionally.

� Vacuum upholstered furniture —under the cushions, too.

AppliancesUpgrading to a more efficient washerand dryer can provide lifetime waterand energy savings.

� Run only full loads. Full loads useenergy and water more efficientlythan smaller loads. Adjust the waterlevels according to the load.

� Wash in cold water. most of theenergy used to wash clothes comesfrom heating the water. Only the moststubborn stains really need hot or warmwater.

For more tips on getting a cleaner, greener home, visitwww.greenworks.com, and watch Oosterhouse’s “Green It yourself”web series at the Green Works Facebook page,www.facebook.com/greenworks.


412.968.3206 w w w . S S A e x c e l . o r g

Explore new interests. Engage with caring educators.

Excel where futures unfold.

Winter Open HousesJunior School (PK–5) Wednesday, December 7 9:15 am Middle School (6–8) Thursday, December 1 9:00 am

Senior School (9–12) Wednesday, December 7 6:30 pm

FIDE SEMPER VINCERE

Campuses in Point Breeze and Fox Chapel

n the popular 1990s TV series “The Golden Girls,” Dorothy always had a secret weapon she used to coerce her mother into cooperating with her. Dorothy would periodically threaten her with the

ominous warning, “Shady Pines is getting your room ready as we speak…” But nowadays, only around 7% of

people over age 75 live in nursing homes, according to census figures, and there are more choices than ever for different lifestyles

and levels of care.There are as many as 20 different types of senior care facilities,

and before looking at any new living arrangement, it’s important tohave a basic idea of what the different levels are to avoid feelingoverwhelmed with choices. The following are some of the mostpopular living arrangements for seniors of today.

One favorite for mature adults is the active adult community,sometimes referred to as a retirement community or independentliving. These dwellings are usually homes or condos withindividuals living independently and owning their own home, but ina grouping or housing plan with other seniors. Many times thesecommunities will offer a clubhouse and have planned social andcultural activities and limited transportation. They may also providehousekeeping and communal meals for a monthly fee. They areprobably best suited to individuals who are active and able toassume total care for themselves, but desire social interaction withothers in their own age group.

Assisted living facilities usually allow individuals to have theprivacy of their own apartment or home, while offering dailyassistance with bathing and dressing. Some communities may alsohelp with administering medications. This is an attractive option formany seniors because residents may be able to bathe and dress

By Pamela Palongue

O L D E R A D U L T S I N M U R R Y S V I L L E

Whether you are a mature adult facing changes in your living arrangements or the child of an aging parent, the prospect of discussing this major life change can be a formidable one.

Most experts agree that it is best to broach the subject earlier rather than later.


themselves initially, but as health and mobility decline the help becomes readily availablewithout having to make a change in living arrangements. Communal dining may also be anoption for an added fee. Residents rent their apartment or home and may pay one ‘allinclusive’ fee for services or may be charged ‘a la carte’ for each additional serviceneeded. This is a good choice for any mature adult who is currently ambulatory, but whomay have concerns about future mobility problems or perhaps has the beginning ofmobility issues.

Another increasingly popular option for mature adults is home health care whichallows individuals to remain in their homes while receiving professional assistance withbathing, dressing and meal preparation. The care may also extend to medical needssuch as the administration of medications and the ongoing management of bloodpressure or diabetes. Medicare and Medicaid may provide financial assistance in somecases, but there are several eligibility requirements which must be met. This is aparticularly good option for individuals who are emotionally attached to their residenceand do not have a strong need for social interaction with other seniors.

Rehabilitation facilities are primarily a temporary option for those recuperating frominjury or illness. Rehab helps the individual recover and provides adaptive techniques for preparing the patient to return to independent living. While the person may not functionat the previous level, the goal of rehab is to enhance the patient’s quality of life byimproving mobility, speech and self-care.

Though people seldom look forward to going to a nursing facility, skilled nursinghomes provide 24-hour care for individuals with serious illness, injury or mental decline.The good news is that there have been several improvements in the quality of carereceived in nursing facilities since the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987. Nurseaides now have more training, and each resident must be fully evaluated upon admissionso that an individual care plan can be established. Meals are planned by a dietician toensure proper nutrition, and many nursing facilities now include regular exercise as apart of their managed care for residents.

Whether you are a mature adult facing changes in your living arrangements or thechild of an aging parent, the prospect of discussing this major lifechange can be a formidable one. Most experts agree that it is bestto broach the subject earlier rather than later. Try to discuss thedifferent options with aging parents and find out which ones appealto them. Certain conditions such as serious dementia may prevent ameaningful discussion of these topics later. By talking about thechoices now, your loved one can weigh in on the decision and helpyou decide based on personal preferences. The topic is also easierto discuss when it seems a long way off, rather than inevitable in thenear future. The older person will also have more time to makedecisions, rather than hastily settling on a new home.

For more information on finding a home for your loved one, youmay want to consult www.aplaceformom.com, a free elder carereferral service. For more tips about speaking with your parents orservices available for your loved one, visit the Area Agency onAging website at www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/aaa.aspx.


T here are a number ofdynamic duos; how-ever, one would be

hard pressed to beat the vol-unteer dynamism of Don andMarcia Sayre of Murrysville.

This husband and wifeteam are volunteers withForbes Trail Faith in Action, anorganization that provides companionshipand assistance for Murrysville, Delmontand Export residents who are 60 years ofage and older. The organization offersescort and transportation service, minorrepairs and “handyman” service, yardwork, caregiver relief, companionship, andreferrals.

“They’re always there when you needthem. They’re just a phone call away,” saidPhyllis Morgan, program director of ForbesTrail Faith in Action. “The seniors love thembecause in addition to being there for them,they treat the seniors with respect.”

The Sayres learned of Forbes Trail Faithin Action through their church, First UnitedMethodist Church in Murrysville. Thechurch’s pastor and another church mem-ber were on the organization’s steeringcommittee. Marcia Sayre, in helping to plana luncheon at the church for seniors, invit-ed Morgan to speak. “We were really inter-ested in becoming involved from there on,”Marcia Sayre said. “We have such a needin that area.”

Don Sayre’s first task through the organi-zation was no small feat. He got a requestthat a woman needed a ramp built outsideher home becausethe steps hadbecome unmanage-able. It turned into abigger project thanhe could handlealone, so he pulledin a few more menfrom his church.“Including a coupleof members of thefamily that live there,it was probably a total of five people [whoworked on the ramp],” Don Sayre said. Heusually does the handiwork that may need

to be done, inaddition todriving seniorsto appoint-ments – aservice that hiswife providesalso. The cou-ple work

together handling volunteer work forForbes Trail Faith in Action, but they alsowork separately.

“I enjoy taking people to places andgetting to know where they’re from,” saidMarcia Sayre, who grew up in Export.“It’s sad because some of them don’thave any family anymore in the area ormaybe their children work and can’t takethem to doctor appointments. She recallsone woman who had to go to the doctor’soffice, but ended up being sent to thehospital. “I stayed with her until she gotup to her room because she didn’t haveanyone to stay with her.”

The Sayres, who’ve lived in a numberof places including Minnesota,Washington state and Iowa before mov-ing to this area, said they have alwaysbeen involved in charitable work includ-ing working with the Lions Club and theirchurch. They’ve also taken mission trips.Both are retirees. He worked forWestinghouse and Cutler Hammer, andshe worked for a credential verificationservice. “It makes you feel good insidethat you were able to help someoneelse,” Marcia Sayre said.

She lauded Morganand the Faith in Actionoffice staff. “Phyllis andBonnie are absolutelywonderful in the office.They’re the main con-tact for everybody andit’s just great workingwith them.”

For Morgan, thefeeling is mutual.“They’re really a dedi-

cated couple,” she said. “They’re reallydedicated to the community. Nothingseems to be too much or too little.”

The seniors lovethem because inaddition to being

there for them, theytreat the seniors with

respect


in murrysville

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