Hometown
Christmas
&
Parade
Special Section: Health & Wellness Page 13
WINTER 2013 icmags.com
School News
Page 19
FAST Action Can Save Your Brain
Every year, nearly 800,000 Americans — young and old — suffer a stroke. When a stroke occurs, fast action is critical to protect the brain.
an individualized treatment plan is developed. “The window of opportunity for the most successful stroke treatment is just three hours after onset,” says Dr. Nicholas.
“People often ignore stroke symptoms, thinking they can sleep it off,” says Bobbi-Jo Skurko, BSN, stroke coordinator at UPMC St. Margaret. “The faster you get to a hospital that offers highly specialized stroke care, the better your chances for survival and a full recovery.”
What you can do
The UPMC St. Margaret Stroke Program has an acute care stroke team available 24 hours, seven days a week. The team includes physicians, nurses, and other staff who are experienced in diagnosing and treating strokes.
Think FAST
The center has received certification from The Joint Commission for its commitment to providing the highest level of care for its stroke patients.
“The window of opportunity for the most successful stroke treatment is just three hours after onset.” James Nicholas, MD A true medical emergency “Strokes can happen to anyone, at any time,” says James Nicholas, MD, medical director, Emergency Department (ED) at UPMC St. Margaret. When a stroke does occur, it’s urgent to seek emergency care immediately because every minute after the start of a stroke means greater risk of permanent damage or death. At UPMC St. Margaret, a protocol is followed as soon as a stroke patient arrives in the ED. Following a physical exam and diagnostic tests to learn the cause and the extent of the stroke,
“It’s far better to treat a stroke immediately than to deal with the consequences,” adds Dr. Nicholas. “That’s why it is so important for everyone to be aware of stroke symptoms and know that they can get critical expert care here in their community.” Use this simple acronym to help determine whether you’re witnessing a stroke:
Face: Can the person smile, or does one side of the face droop? Arms: Can the person raise both arms, or does one drift down? Speech: Can the person speak clearly or repeat a simple phrase? Time: Call 911 immediately if someone exhibits any of these signs! Act FAST Every minute of delay in treating a stroke is said to cost a patient 1.9 million brain cells. Strokes require immediate medical attention, so knowing the warning signs is crucial. Stroke symptoms can include sudden onset of: • Paralysis or weakness in the face or limbs, especially on one side of the body • Problems with balance or walking • Vision problems • Slurred speech • Sudden onset of confusion • Problems speaking or understanding others • Severe headache To learn more about the UPMC St. Margaret Stroke Program, visit UPMCStMargaret.com/Stroke, or call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).
This advertorial has been provided by UPMC. © 2013 UPMC
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Turn Your CommuniTY inTo a Career Join in Community magazines’ Team of Professional Sales reps
something
fresh for everyone
Overbrook Point offers new con e in senior living cept
see page 14
Headline
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Headline
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Special Section: Education Page 23
Volant Mill Win ery Brings a Taste of Tuscan y to Mars Page 30
Fall 2013 icmags.com
Fall 2013 icmags.com
Special Section : Edu Top 5 Classroom cation Trends Page 17
Dynamic Duo:
Back to
parks and recreation Butch Truitt, South Fayette's new manager Ryan Eggleston director (right), with township
School!
School and Township News Page 29 Special Section: Education
Page 7
Fall 2013 icmags.com
Special Section: Education Page 6
School News
Page 16
Fall 2013 icmags.com
IN Community Magazines is seeking an energetic salesperson to sell print advertising in your area. Full-time is preferred, but part-time will be considered. Please contact our General Sales Manager, Tamara Myers, at t.myers@icmags.com for more information.
2 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Plum
CONTENTS fall
•
2 013
8
on the cover
The streets of Oakmont became A Storybook Christmas at Oakmont’s Hometown Christmas & Parade. PHOTO BY PRIMETIME SHOTS
departments 4 6 8
From the Publisher IN the Loop
19 32
School News INCognito
IN Events
features 13 Special Section: Health & Wellness How to live a healthier, happier, longer life.
28 On the Ice in Oakmont The Borough of Oakmont offers skating close to home at Riverside Park.
sponsored content
Industry Insights 17 Caring for your Vision : Associates in Opthalmology
IN Community is a publication dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the Plum 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.
Plum | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 3
FROM THE
PUBLISHER PUBLISHER Wayne Dollard EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Julie Talerico j.talerico@icmags.com REGIONAL EDITORS Mark Berton [South, West and Erie] m.berton@icmags.com
At Seven Springs with my wife Lisa and our three sons.
Top-notch health care, education, banking and technology are what make Pittsburgh known, but our communities are what make us home. Home – where you live, go to school, shop, work and play – is what IN Community Magazines is all about. Each quarter, we bring you the latest news and information about schools, businesses, nonprofits and the people who make them exceptional. We also bring you coverage of interesting events and articles about historical sites you may pass every day without even knowing. We like to surprise you with little-known facts about your community and profile intriguing people who’ve made their mark locally – and sometimes even globally. One thing that makes our communities in western Pennsylvania special is the beautiful seasons. As autumn comes to an end and the snow begins to fall, we hope you take some time to enjoy the many winter activities our area has to offer and hit the slopes, sled ride, cross-country ski or ice skate at one of our many beautiful parks. Or simply build a snowman in the backyard! The staff at IN Community Magazines wishes you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy New Year!
Wayne Dollard Publisher
Send Us Your Story Ideas!
To Advertise
We’d love to hear from you if you know someone in your community who is making a difference or has done something extraordinary. We’re also looking for interesting story ideas (little-known facts, history or other news) within your community.
As the largest magazine publisher in Western Pennsylvania, IN Community Magazines are direct mailed to more than 518,000 households, reaching 1.15 million readers. If you’d like to partner with us, please contact our general sales manager, Tamara Myers, at sales@icmags.com.
If you have suggestions, email us at editors@icmags.com.
4 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Plum
Pamela Palongue [North and East] p.palongue@icmags.com OFFICE MANAGER Leo Vighetti l.vighetti@icmags.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Debbie Mountain d.mountain@icmags.com DESIGN DIRECTOR Michael Miller m.miller@icmags.com DESIGNERS Cassie Brkich Jim Paladino Melissa St. Giles Anna Buzzelli Tamara Tylenda Sharon Cobb Jan McEvoy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jonathan Barnes Leigh Lyons Jennifer Brozak Joanne Naser Earl Bugaile Melanie Paulick Tracy Fedkoe Melissa Rayworth Brenda Haines-Cosola Marilyn Wempa Elvira Hoff Mandie Zoller Heather Holtschlag CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Ginni Klein Kathleen Rudolph Evan Sanders Jennifer Steenson Primetime Shots Gary Zak GENERAL SALES MANAGER Tamara Myers t.myers@icmags.com SALES MANAGER Brian McKee b.mckee@icmags.com ADVERTISING SALES Sophia Alfaras Connie McDaniel Matt Amoroso Gabriel Negri Pamela Arder Aimee Nicolia Jennifer Dahlem Vince Sabatini Julie Graff Mike Silvert Robin Guest RJ Vighetti ICM PRINTING SALES MANAGER Tom Poljak ©2013 by IN Community Magazines. All rights reserved. Reproduction or reuse of any part of this publication is prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. Direct all inquiries, letters to the editor and press releases to:
IN Community Magazines 603 East McMurray Road McMurray, PA 15317 724.942.0940; Fax: 724.942.0968 icmags.com Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.
SoldiERS & SAiloRS MEMoRiAl HAll & MuSEuM
Our unique museum is filled with the personal stories and artifacts donated by military service members.
Great for Any Event Cocktails, Concerts & Conferences • Ballroom • Auditorium • Meeting Rooms Available for Rent
ViSit oR CAll todAy! 4141 FiFth Ave. Pgh, PA 15213
(412) 621-4253
www.SoldiERSAndSAiloRSHAll.oRG
Plum | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 5
in the
LOOP What’s news in Plum?
THE SQUIRREL’S NEST
Located on the Oakmont Carnegie Library’s lower level, The Squirrel’s Nest is a bookstore with a little something for everyone. Fiction, non-fiction, DVDs and VHS tapes are available for purchase. It also serves coffee, tea and snacks! Your purchases help fund the library’s many programs and activities. Bookstore Hours Sunday: 1 – 4 p.m. Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. *Note – The bookstore is closed on Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. For more information, call 412.828.9532 or visit the website OakmontLibrary.org.
LOCAL MEDICAL PRACTICE PRESENTED WITH HIGHLY COVETED AWARD
All seven of Premier Medical Associates’ adult primary care practices, located in Plum, Penn Hills, Woodland Hills, Murrysville and Monroeville, have been awarded with the prestigious designation of Level Three Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. This is the highest level attainable for a medical care group. The committee was founded in 1990 in an effort to promote high standards of health care. “This certification is the result of two years of hard work, commitment and most of all dedication to our patients’ overall health,” explains Mark DeRubeis, CEO of Premier Medical Associates. “We are very 6 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Plum
proud of all of our providers and staff who made this possible.” Formed in 1993, Premier Medical Associates has a team of 100 physicians with specialties including asthma, allergy, behavioral health, cardiology, family medicine, general surgery, neurology, ophthalmology, optometry, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics and sleep medicine.
OLDER MEANS MORE FUN!
Every Friday is Fun and Games Day at the Plum Senior Community Center! The fun begins at 12:30 p.m. and includes card games, board games and Wii. You can bring your own favorite board game or play one of the senior center’s selections. Learn something new or teach someone else to play your favorite game. Kids and grandkids are welcome. Bring your neighbor, your mail carrier or your hairdresser, but be sure to bring yourself—the more the merrier! The Plum Senior Center also has a café that serves up delicious lunches, so arrive early to enjoy a great meal before the games begin. Some other fun events at the center include Low Impact Aerobics, Bingo, the Poetry Cafe (featured in a previous issue of IN Community Magazine – Plum), yoga, poker, dominoes, crafts, a book club and a live band on Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. So come on down and see what fun you’ve been missing! The center is located at 499 Center New Texas Road in Plum. For more information, visit the website at PlumSeniorCenter. org where you can also sign up for the monthly newsletter, or call 412.795.2330, x4707. The center has its own Facebook page at Facebook.com/PlumCenter. Hours Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Friday: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
PLUM COMMUNITY FESTIVAL 2014!
The date for Plum Community Festival has already been set for 2014. The event will be held Friday, June 27, 5:30 – 10 p.m. and Saturday, June 28, 4 – 10 p.m.
scheduled for other dates and times. The Kerr Museum is located at 402 Delaware Avenue. For more information on the museum and upcoming events, including the annual Antiques Show in March 2014, visit the website at KerrMuseum.com or call 412.826.9295.
RECYCLE YOUR ELECTRONICS!
The festival, which is held at Larry Mills Park, is always well-attended and a highlight of the year. Registration forms are now being accepted for crafter booths, food vendors, activity booths with games for children and non-vendor booths which include organizations offering products, services or giving demonstrations. Registration forms are available on the borough website at PlumBoro.com.
BE A FRIEND TO THE LIBRARY
With budget cuts in recent years, the Plum Borough Library Friends are an invaluable resource for helping to fund programs, purchase materials and maintain the library. If you would like to volunteer to help ensure the library remains the wonderful facility that it is, please leave your name and phone number at the library circulation desk and a Library Friends member will contact you with more information.
The Covered Device Recycling Act forbids residents from disposing of electronic waste, or eWaste, in regular curbside pick-up refuse which is then deposited in landfills. eWaste includes, but is not limited to computers, computer monitors, televisions, VCR and DVD players, microwave ovens and appliances. This is regardless of the manufacture date. Any eWaste left for curbside pick-up will not be collected. Plum Borough has an authorized recycler of eWaste called eLoop, located at 625 Plum Industrial Court, which accepts all eWaste at no cost to the consumer. (There are some exceptions for batteries, ballasts and small appliances with Freon.) So don’t trash your eWaste—recycle it! For more information, consult the eLoop website at eLoopLLC.com.
PITTSBURGH’S MANSIONS
BOOK TALK WITH MELANIE GUTOWSKI On January 25, the Oakmont Carnegie Library will have a book-signing event and discussion with author Melanie Linn Gutowski and her new book, Pittsburgh Mansions. Pittsburgh’s rise as a major manufacturing center in the 19th century bred many millionaires who were titans of the steel industry. These successful businessmen constructed extravagant homes. The imposing presence of these mansions became local landmarks and were an obvious symbol of the degree of wealth of the owners. Gutowski’s book explores these residences which sprang up between the 1830s and the 1920s. She will highlight several of the mansions in the book and answer questions. Copies of her book will be available for purchase and signing. Melanie Linn Gutowski is a writer, historian and lifelong resident of the Pittsburgh area, who has written for several national publications. For more information on the event, contact Stephanie Zimble at 412.828.9532, or email zimbles@einetwork.net.
IMAGES OF AMERICA: PLUM BOROUGH
A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS
The Kerr Museum is offering tours of the beautiful mansion, decked out in its best holiday décor. The tours will continue through Jan. 4, so there is still time to attend! The holiday decorations and artifacts reflect the Christmas traditions of the early 1900s. Saturday tours are available from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Group tours of eight or more people can be
a presentation on the hospital’s new programs and future plans.
CHAMBER LUNCHEON
The Plum Chamber of Commerce held its November luncheon at Forbes Regional Hospital. President and CEO Reese Jackson of Forbes Regional at Allegheny Health Network gave
by Frank J. Kordalski, Jr. Allegheny Foothills Historical Society Archivist and Board Member This interesting book about our area is available for purchase at the Plum Community Library and also on the Allegheny Foothills Historical Society website at PlumHistory.org. ■
Plum | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 7
INEVENTS
OAKMONT’S HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS & PARADE The streets of Oakmont became A Storybook Christmas for a few hours on Nov. 23. The rhythmic sound of horses’ hooves was heard on the boulevard, as attendees rode up and down the street in carriages. The timeless holiday fare of candy canes, cookies and hot chocolate were consumed in great quantity and live musical performances by Redeemer Lutheran School added a festive air. Marching bands, a performance of “The Nutcracker” ballet by Western Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and music by the Riverview Jazz Band ensured that the evening was filled with entertainment. Very special guest Santa Claus made an early appearance to the delight of children of all ages, who believe in the magic of Santa. | PHOTOS BY PRIMETIME SHOTS
8 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Plum
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Plum | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 9
INEVENTS
GROUNDBREAKING EVENT FOR PLUM BOROUGH! On Oct. 10, Plum Borough officials broke ground on a new facility which will house the Renton Volunteer Fire Department and Plum Emergency Medical Service on Renton Road. The new facility will give emergency services several times the amount of space that they currently occupy. In addition to the fire dept. and EMS, a salt storage building will be constructed that will protect it from the elements and give a larger storage capacity. The plans also include an access road to the new complex, which will be built between Renton and Old Leechburg roads. PHOTOS BY PRIMETIME SHOTS
10 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Plum
inPlumAd-1-6-November2013_Layout 1 10/15/13 9:39
Prudential Preferred Realty Welcomes Prudential Preferred Realty’s Fox Chapel Office is pleased to announce that Corey Laboon has joined their award-winning team. Corey is a Pittsburgh native, from Plum Borough where he has lived for 22 years. He attended Plum Senior High School and California University of Pennsylvania. Corey recently graduated in May 2013 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. He is a member of the Plum Borough Chamber of Commerce and is active in community activities. Corey can be reached at 412-782-3700 x219 or on his cell at 724-393-4719.
Preferred Realty
Plum | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 11
Michael Rogal, MD Orthopaedic Surgery
Marguerite Bonaventura, MD Breast Surgery
Eric Hager, MD Vascular Surgery
Steven Gribar, MD General Surgery
David Fowler, MD Orthopaedic Surgery
The strength of advanced surgical expertise. The convenience of UPMC East. When you require specialized surgical expertise, you can count on the convenience and medical excellence of UPMC. We offer you access to one of the most comprehensive surgical programs, at two convenient locations: UPMC East and UPMC Surgery Center at Daugherty Drive. From state-of-the-art technology to our surgical experts, UPMC delivers the world-class care you deserve‌close to home. For more information or for referral to a physician, call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762) or visit UPMCEast.com.
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC is ranked among the nation’s top hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. 12 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Plum
Great Ways to Live a Healthier, Happier, Longer Life in Plum
Plum HEALTH & WELLNESS SECTION BY MICHELE THOMPSON
Though finding the fountain of youth (or miracle product) is unlikely, you can embrace the following ways to feel and look younger. Gleaned from age-defying experts this list is a must-keep for your desk or refrigerator.
So turn the page — hack into the havoc that aging can wreak on your body! ››
Plum | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 13
H E A L T H & W E L L N E S S / Plum
HEALTH & FITNESS EXERCISE TO LIVE LONGER. Plum has many walking and biking trails to help you stay fit. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), regular exercise helps control blood pressure, body weight and cholesterol levels, and reduces the risks of hardening of the arteries, heart attack and stroke. Not to mention you will look and feel better! WARM UP AND COOL DOWN. Regardless of the types of exercises you do, warming your muscles as well as cooling down with slow rhythmic stretches is key to avoiding injury, reducing soreness, and speeding up your recovery. COMMIT TO DAILY FITNESS. Getting out there and staying active translates into better health and well-being — both physically and mentally. FOCUS ON TOTAL FITNESS. ACE recommends aerobics and muscular conditioning along with exercises to stretch your body and promote good posture. YEAR-ROUND EXERCISE. Don’t ditch your fitness routine because of inclement weather. Try new activities, such as snowshoeing, swimming at an indoor pool, or fitness classes at your local fitness or senior housing facility. JOIN A HEALTH CLUB. Be social and get fit. This one’s worth its weight in sheer motivation points.
TAKE SUPPLEMENTS. Don’t mega-dose, just take a daily multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. GET AEROBIC. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends getting moderate aerobic activity 30 minutes per day, five days per week or 20 minutes of vigorous cardiovascular activity, three days per week. BREAK IT UP. Instead of 20 or 30 minutes of exercise, break up your cardio into 10-minute segments throughout the day. MAKE WORKING OUT FUN. Getting out of the house and traveling to interesting places where you can walk around is one of the best ways to get exercise without even trying, and you get to enjoy the sightseeing, too. PUT A SET OF DUMBBELLS BY YOUR TELEVISION SET — and use them!
STOP SMOKING. Nuff said.
PUMP IT UP. Margaret Richardson, author of Body Electric, says one pound of fat burns three calories a day while one pound of muscle burns 30-plus.
GO GREEN. Eat organic, use eco-friendly products and practice green living to protect your health as well as the environment.
CHALLENGE YOURSELF. To counteract age-related muscle loss, do exercises with progressively challenging resistance.
“Our goal is to be a community center that develops programs that benefit all age groups, from children to seniors.” Beth Mellor, Director of Oakmont Carnegie Library
14 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Plum
H E A L T H & W E L L N E S S / Plum
COGNITIVE BOOSTERS MUSIC THERAPY. Music can regulate mood, decrease aggression and depression, improve sleep, and, because old songs are stored in memory, even create new brain cells. BRAIN FOOD. Keep your mind sharp by eating salmon, nuts, olive oil, soy, meat, eggs, dairy, leafy greens, beans, oatmeal and dark skinned fruits.
P
TRAIN YOUR BRAIN Working a daily crossword, Sudoku puzzle or another brain teasing game can help improve your mental fitness.
ORAL HEALTH & HEARING BRUSH AND FLOSS YOUR TEETH. According to research, chronic inflammation caused by periodontal disease has been linked to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. TURN IT DOWN. According to the House Ear Institute, noiseinduced hearing loss is a leading cause of permanent hearing loss that can be prevented by turning down the volume on your TV, radio, or headsets to a level that you can comfortably hear.
P PRACTICE HEALTHY SLEEPING HABITS. Not getting enough nightly rest puts you at risk for accidents, depression and other illnesses, and it decreases your quality of life.
POSTURE AVOID SITTING CROSS-LEGGED. Pain management specialists at New York Chiropractic warn that crossing your legs puts excessive stress on your knees, hips and lower back. SIT UP STRAIGHT. When you slouch or strain to look at the screen, these patterns stick and posture learns these positions. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. See a chiropractor, physical therapist or post-rehabilitation specialist for postural exercises to reduce pain and risk of injury. STRETCH. Stretching your neck and chest can prevent short and tightened muscles that can lead to injury. A simple stretch involves bending your head to your shoulder, holding it there and slowly bringing it back to the mid line and then switch sides. BELLY BUTTON TO SPINE. Not only will this exercise help you stand taller, it will take five pounds off your waistline! HEAD UP. Instead of scrunching your head to your shoulder to hold the phone, get a headset and avoid injury to your neck and shoulders.
Plum | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 15
H E A L T H & W E L L N E S S / Plum
STRESS CONTROL SMILE. Smiling lowers blood pressure, heart rate, and the stress hormone cortisol.
AROMATHERAPY. Essential oils improve your mood, reduce stress and even improve your memory. Try lavender, lemongrass, cinnamon or cedarwood. Being outdoors with green plants, fresh air and the sounds of nature is a proven stress buster.
YOGA. The Mayo Clinic recommends practicing yoga to reduce stress and anxiety.
GET KNEADED. Research from the Touch Research Institute indicates that regular massage lowers heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety levels, depression, hostility, and the stress hormone cortisol. SEE A THERAPIST. Mental health professionals can help you deal with stress.
BEGIN WITH BREATHING. The first thing you ever did for yourself was breathe. And consciously focusing on your breath remains the epitome of self-care throughout your entire life.
P HUMOR YOUR STRESS Laughing improves circulation, lowers blood pressure, releases tension, and improves your immune system.
GET FIT IN PLUM
Here are just some of the fitness classes available: Plum Senior Community Center
Oakmont Carnegie Library
Beat the winter blues by enjoying affordable fitness classes with other seniors! Low impact aerobics, yoga stretch and tai chi are just some of the fun activities offered for $7 and under a session. Call or visit the website for how to register and more information.
Enjoy a gentle yoga class on Tuesday mornings with Dr. Cora Fetchko, from 10:15 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the Red Oak Room. No registration is required, but a yoga mat is! There is no fee for the class, but monetary donations to the library are always welcome. More information can be found on the website.
499 Center New Texas Rd., Plum; 412.795.2330 plumseniorcenter.com
Boyce Park
700 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont; 412.828.9532 oakmontlibrary.org
675 Old Frankstown Rd., Pittsburgh; 724.327.0338 alleghenycounty.us
Harmarville Blade Runners Ice Complex
Dust off your downhill skis, snowboards and snowtubes and enjoy all that the 1,096-acre park has to offer in affordable winter fitness! Call or visit the website for more information.
Get an ice skating workout at a public skating session while the kids are at school! Admission and skate rental for an adult is under $10 during the week! Check for available days and times on the website.
66 Alpha Drive West, Pittsburgh; 412.826.0800; bladerunnersice.com
Plum Community Center
Harrison Hills Park
Forget about work stress and winter weight gain and dance your way into fitness! Zumba is held on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the center’s community room and is $7 per class, or discounted by purchasing a class pass. Visit the website for more details.
A short car trip away, snowshoe or hike on trails that border the Allegheny River and offer “a magnificent overlook in which the viewer can see three other counties – Westmoreland, Butler and Armstrong.” Visit the website for more information.
499 Center New Texas Rd., Plum; 412.795.2330 plumseniorcenter.com
16 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Plum
5200 Freeport Rd., Natrona Heights; 724.295.3570 alleghenycounty.us
Reprinted with the permission from SeniorsForLife.com
LET NATURE TAKE YOUR STRESS AWAY.
IndUStrY InSIGHt
Eye Care
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Caring for Your Vision
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ssociates in Ophthalmology (AIO) is a premier, multi-specialty eye care practice in the greater Pittsburgh area, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts, diseases of the cornea, retina (including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic eye care, macular degeneration, retinal detachments, flashes and floaters), glaucoma, and other vision correction treatments and surgeries. AIO’s surgeons, board-certified and fellowship-trained in their respective areas of expertise, are passionate about patient care and are dedicated to enriching each patient’s quality of life through research and innovative methods of enhancing vision. With seven locations in western Pennsylvania and Wheeling, W.Va., AIO offers patients easy access to the latest in vision care procedures and technology. Associates Surgery Center, located in AIO’s main facility in West Mifflin, is an accredited, state-of-the-art ambulatory outpatient surgery center, which allows AIO’s surgeons to provide the most comprehensive ophthalmology surgeries in a convenient, comfortable setting. There has been a rapid evolution in cataract treatment over the past few years, which translates to added patient benefits, including improved visual outcomes and faster recoveries. AIO was the first practice in
western Pennsylvania to offer the latest technological advancement available – laser-assisted cataract surgery with the Alcon LenSx® Femtosecond Laser. This image-guided laser allows the surgeon to perform cataract surgery with more accuracy, precision, and less stress to the eye than with standard surgery. Additionally, the laser allows for better management of astigmatism, increasing the likelihood of not needing glasses for distance after surgery. During cataract surgery, a new artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted to replace the cloudy lens that was removed. There is a variety of intraocular lens types available, including standard monofocal, multifocal, accommodative, and toric. Based on patients’ lifestyle needs and findings during examination, a suitable lens is recommended for each individual. “Lifestyle lenses,” including ReSTOR®, Tecnis Multifocal®, and Crystalens®, unlike a standard IOL, can treat both a person’s cataracts and presbyopia – loss of near and intermediate vision that begins as we age. These types of lenses provide the most spectacle independence following cataract surgery. AIO’s cataract surgeons were among the first to implant the newest IOL available in the United States, Trulign Toric® – an accommodating IOL which is designed to correct astigmatism and give patients a broader range of vision, reducing dependency on glasses. Surgical expertise and state-of-the-art technology are also available for patients who desire laser vision correction, such as LASIK or PRK. AIO offers all-laser LASIK using two different lasers to complete the procedure. AIO is the only practice in western Pennsylvania that offers the advanced Wavelight FS 200® Femtosecond Laser. AIO is at the forefront of innovative treatment for glaucoma. With iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent®, patients now have access to the first minimally-invasive glaucoma surgery available. One of the first iStent procedures performed in this country was by our glaucoma surgeon. iStent is designed to control eye pressure in patients with mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma, and is performed in conjunction with cataract surgery. The retina specialists at AIO are highly regarded for treating many complex retinal diseases including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. They utilize the most advanced therapies and surgical approaches, combined with unfailing attention to detail, to provide the best treatment available. AIO was the first practice in western Pennsylvania to offer the CONSTELLATION® Vision System, a state-of-the-art technology for advanced sutureless vitreoretinal surgery. The Clinical Research Department at AIO was created to explore high quality pre-clinical and clinical trials in vision research. Our clinical research department extends new technologies to patients and increases the overall standard of vision care. Studies currently underway include exciting new therapies for prevention and treatment of wet and dry agerelated macular degeneration, new intraocular lenses, glaucoma devices, and pharmaceutical therapies. AIO is the only practice in the area participating in an important trial for the experimental treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration. To obtain additional information, or to schedule an appointment with any of the eye specialists at AIO, please call 412.653.3080. Plum | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 17
HEALTH & WELLNESS
DIRECTORY
Associates in Ophthalmology www.aiovision.com Associates in Ophthalmology (AIO) is a premier, multi-specialty eye care practice in the greater Pittsburgh area, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts, diseases of the cornea, retina (including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic eye care, macular degeneration, retinal detachments, flashes and floaters), glaucoma, and other vision correction treatments and surgeries. For information about AIO, please call 412.653.3080.
Dental Arts of Pittsburgh 412.823.4948 www.dentalartsofpittsburgh.com Whatever the age and whatever the need, Dental Arts of Pittsburgh is the one-stop dentist for your family. From routine checkups to complex dental care, Dr. Paulette Paulin is a specialist extensively and expertly trained in complicated techniques and treatment of dental problems. Dr. Paulin’s attention to detail and state-of-the-art dental equipment including digital X-rays allows her to deliver quality dental care. Call today!
18 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Plum
SURGERY OF THE FUTURE IS NOW A relatively new approach to gynecological surgery is revolutionizing the standard of care, called daVinci. This technology enhances a surgeon’s capabilities while offering patients the benefits of minimally invasive surgery. Shannon McGranahan, MD, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist explains, “It can mimic the natural movements of my hand while causing less bleeding, less pain and fewer complications.” Gynecological procedures being performed with daVinci include hysterectomies, myomectomies, and removal of fibroids. The technology is also being used across many other disciplines as well, including urology, colorectal surgery and thoracic surgery. “In the past, surgery such as hysterectomy would require an extended recovery period of several weeks,” says McGranahan. “Surgery performed with daVinci usually requires only one overnight stay in the hospital, and the patient can return to work in about one to two weeks.”
PLUM BOROUGH School News
Plum Borough School District 20
A Message from Dr. Glasspool
21
Project Based Learning Preparing Students for the 21st Century
22
New Autistic Support Classroom
22
Holiday Park School Awarded the Public Education Leadership Community Grant
22
Technology Update
23
Student Incentives and Achievement
23
FUNdations at Regency
24
Student-Centered Instructional Activities
24
School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Plans
25
Two Female Student-Athletes Achieve Firsts for Their Sports at Plum
25
Sports Schedules
A Message from Dr. Glasspool
Dr. Timothy Glasspool Superintendent
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AS WE ARE WELL INTO THE SECOND NINE-WEEK GRADING term, I can attest to the successful assimilation of our new students and families and the steady learning progress in our classrooms. Our faculty and staff are deeply engaged with our curriculum and have established beneficial learning routines focused on student growth and achievement. This October, the Pennsylvania Department of Education released the Pennsylvania School Performance Profile (SPP). Each public school in the state has an academic performance score. This performance score was designed with the purpose of informing the public of school performance, to provide a building level score for educators as part of their evaluation system, to allow the public to compare schools across the state, and to give schools a methodology to analyze their strengths. During the beginning of the school year principals and teachers embarked on designing specific academic improvement plans focused on using empirical data from multiple standardized assessments to guide learning strategies to improve the growth and development of every student. After a thorough review from the Board of School Directors and Administration, we are confident each school has developed a solid plan ready for implementation. We are proud to announce that our elementary scores average 87.3%. Our final secondary scores will be available in January 2014 following the release of final Keystone Assessment calculations. The SPP is a rather complicated calculation of several variables and learning objectives; please visit the following site for more information: http://www.pbsd.k12. pa.us/spp.aspx.
20 Plum
After several years in inactivity, the Plum Borough Foundation for Educational Excellence has been revitalized. The Foundation’s purpose is to support and enhance the educational experience of Plum students through financial means. As a 501c(3) organization all contributions are tax deductible. However, we encourage all donors to check with their tax preparer. The organization is comprised of nine trustees. Tom McGough (School Board Member), John St. Ledger (School Board Member), Mary Lynn Alpino, Jodi Cook, Margie Evans, Louis Lazzaro, Dr. Lillian Naccarati, Ron Sakolsky, and Leslie Smith are working in conjunction with me to fulfill our mission. Ways to contribute, fundraisers, and events sponsored by the organization are forthcoming. Over the past four years, I have been privileged to work with dedicated School Board Members who devoted a significant amount of their personal time, gratis, in service to our community. I would like to thank Shane McMasters and Andrew Drake for their guidance and leadership. Their influence will benefit our District for years to come. It is my pleasure to welcome newly elected School Board Members Michele Gallagher and Michelle Stepnick to the Plum Borough School District Leadership Team. Finally, with the winter season upon us please take time to review our winter safety information and sign up for Plum Connect, our emergency notification system. Warmest regards, Dr. Timothy S. Glasspool Superintendent
OBLOCK JUNIOR HIGH’S POPULATION has increased by forty members in just the course of a few weeks. They are greenish blue, eat five times a day, and they all share the same name – Lepomis macrochirus. You probably know them by their common name, Bluegill. The fish live in a functional aquaponics lab that was obtained by Technology Education Teacher, Jason Steele, through a charitable donation from 4th River Aquaponics in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. Aquaponics is the marriage of aquaculture (tank based fish farming) and hydroponics (farming plants without soil). The two main components are combined in a symbiotic relationship that will reclaim and recycle byproducts produced in each part of the system as a benefit to the other. The fish will
follow their normal life cycle in the tank—swimming, eating, growing, and producing waste through respiration and digestion. The tanks in which the fish live are tapped from the bottom so their waste and any uneaten food flow into a bio-filter that uses naturally occurring bacteria to break down the waste material and begin the nitrification process. Once primed and filled, the bio-filter will provide a constant flow of nutrient rich water into the hydroponic portion of the system. The plants in the system draw the nutrients from the water and use the provided lighting kits to grow and perform photosynthesis. As the water passes through the growing area, nitrates and nitrites are removed and the water is filtered as it makes its way back to the fish tanks where the cycle begins again. The system itself is approximately eight feet wide and twenty six feet long, it is made up of eleven different sized containers and about sixty feet of PVC pipe. Currently, the students are growing a mix of wildflowers and several species of pond plants in the system. In addition to the aesthetic qualities of the garden and the interest generated from the bluegill, the process itself is a tremendous demonstration of Biotechnology with strong connections to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) initiatives. The lab has acted as a catalyst for the 8th grade science teachers–Dan Casarcia, Linda Innocenti, and Dave Mischen, math teachers–Teresa Barker, and Ryan Silvis, art
teacher Bill Depew, and technology teacher Jason Steele to develop collaborative lessons and projects that give hands-on applications of curricular content. As groups of students work in the aquaponics lab, they care for the living elements of the system. The fish are fed a specific and measured amount at regular intervals, the plants are inspected frequently for signs of stress, parasites, or disease. Students are dependent on the application of specific mathematics, science, and technology content to ensure the welfare of the system. The children measure, monitor, and record levels of pH, Nitrates, and dissolved O₂. The groups also make daily conversions from Celsius to Fahrenheit and track patterns in the temperature of the system. Students are introduced to the concepts of sustainable architecture and are given first-hand experience with systems, fluid dynamics, and cycles. Projects involving calculation of surface area, ratios, volume, and conversions have also been built into the list of activities in the lab. A select group of students from the art department is working on several mixed medium pieces for installation in the lab, each piece depicting a different aspect of the system. The aquaponics lab has been a welcome addition to Oblock Junior High and has supplied the students and teachers a wealth of project based applications to help prepare students for the 21st century.
Plum | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 21
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Preparing Students for the 21st Century
Plum Borough
Project Based Learning
New Autistic Support Classroom BEGINNING IN THE 2014-15 SCHOOL YEAR, THE PLUM Borough School District will implement an Autistic Support Classroom for elementary students in the district who have a disability on the Autism spectrum and require more specialized support. Based on the needs of the student population for the next school year, the grades for the classroom will likely be Kindergarten through 2nd Grade. The Autistic Support Classroom will be located at Center Elementary School. In addition to the classroom, a sensory room will be implemented and used to assist students who need sensory breaks throughout the school day. In addition to the special educator, the room will also
have support from a behavior specialist and instructional paraprofessional. The behavior specialist will also be a district resource who will provide support and training to staff in all of the buildings in the district. Planning for the Autistic Support Classroom began last summer and was approved by the School Board last month. Professional development for the Center staff as well as the entire district, on educating students with Autism, will be a focus throughout the remainder of this school year and continue for future years to meet the needs of this growing population of students.
Holiday Park School Awarded the
Public Education Leadership Community Grant IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE STUDENT HANDS ON
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learning with science, Holiday Park Elementary School was awarded the Public Education Leadership Community (PELC) Grant. Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, Carnegie Science Center, and PPG Industries Foundation the grant allows for inquiry based science modules to be used in the area of life and physical science. Specific to Holiday Park Elementary, the project for which the grant will support includes: • • • •
Student inquiry based science learning Pennsylvania State Science Standards Alignment Global Change Science Module Units Student exploration of how weather and erosion affect the surface of the Earth • Weather study and how it changes from day to day • Moon shape change observations from day to day
• Weather description in terms of measurable quantities such as temperature, wind direction and speed, and precipitation • Objects in the sky that have patterns of movement • Data collection, observation, conclusion process At the conclusion of the module use, student data obtained will be used to plan for more inquiry based science learning. This project will include the curricular areas of science, math, reading, and writing. We are thankful for the PELC grant as our teachers continue to create hands on learning opportunities for all students.
Technology Update SOCIAL MEDIA IS HERE TO STAY AND the Plum Borough School District recognizes that fact. Earlier this year, we launched our own district Facebook page www.facebook.com/ PlumBoroughSchoolDistrict. Since the launch we have over 700 “Likes;” please visit our page. Plum Connect is the district’s new electronic notification system for staff, parents, and the community. This system replaced the Electronic Mustang. Plum Connect provides daily attendance calls and emergency notifications for the district. Parents, students, and residents are able to receive notifications via phone, email, and text message. Signing up for Plum Connect is simple. Visit our 22 Plum
Plum Connect page at www.pbsd.k12.pa.us/PlumConnect.aspx for more information. Once you have created a Plum Connect account, you are in control of how the district contacts you. Sapphire is a name that you will hear much more of in the near future. A decision was recently made to change our student information system to a more modern and user friendly option. Sapphire, developed by a company named K12 Systems, gives the district employees easier access to student information including attendance, grades, discipline, and even important health information. Online registration for new students is another convenient addition. Plus, there is a great new Parent Portal that will roll out this summer that provides parents with more access to student information.
FUNDATIONS at Regency
Updates will be given weekly through announcements and a large Booksburgh display found inside the school’s entrance. New for this current school year we are also introducing a math incentive. Each grade level has been working on selecting math benchmarks based on essential and basic math skills that we want all Center students to master. Weekly, students will have the opportunity to attempt timed tests for the next benchmark they need to reach. Once the benchmark is mastered in the allotted time, the student will receive a tag to signify their accomplishment. There is nothing better than seeing our students excited about reading and math. With these incentive programs in place, we look forward to all of our students’ accomplishments, as well as the smiles on their faces when they are recognized for all of their hard work!
AT REGENCY PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE HAVE been implementing a new intervention called FUNdations. FUNdations is a research based intervention that thoroughly teaches the foundational skills of reading, and is aligned with the common core standards. FUNdations addresses Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, and Vocabulary throughout the entire program. At Regency, we have been implementing FUNdations with our kindergarten and first grade classrooms as a Tier I instruction. These lessons are done as morning work activities. During these lessons, students are engaged while learning essential early literacy skills to help improve reading. This program incorporates hands on activities where students learn to work with others and to become independent workers as well. Students have shown great improvement over the past couple of months because this program is fun and engaging for all. FUNdations is also being used as a Tier II intervention.
These are essential skills to help them become better readers and writers. FUNdations is helping all of our students to continually improve their early literacy skills as well as understanding the alphabetic principle. Students are engaged for a 30 to 40 minute lesson where they are recognizing, distinguishing between, and writing their letters and sounds. These are essential skills to help them become better readers and writers. Since these students are receiving this intervention early, they have been excelling in the classroom and on the assessments where they are being asked to perform these skills. This allows us to see the improvements that each student is achieving and is helping each student to grow into a lifelong learner and reader. Plum | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 23
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AT CENTER ELEMENTARY WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON improving our students’ skills by motivating them through fun and engaging incentive programs. Our philosophy is rather simple. We want our students to work hard, but believe that this work can be fun, exciting, and deserving of recognition. Last year our students enjoyed our first ever building-wide reading competition that we called Read to Center Island. As a result of this program, Center students read more than ever. By the end of the school year our students read over 12,000 books and more than 140 million words. This year we have set a lofty goal of reading 13,000 books and 150 million words. We will work toward this goal through another exciting reading competition that we are calling Booksburgh. All Center classrooms will be divided up to create three teams that will compete each nine-week grading period to read the most books. Spinning off of Pittsburgh being the City of Champions, we are calling Booksburgh the City of Reading Champions. Our teams will be the Pirates, Steelers, and Penguins. Each classroom will have a team towel to display outside their classroom door to signify their team. The classrooms that comprise the winning team each nine-weeks will also receive a trophy to proudly display in their classroom.
Plum Borough
Student Incentives and Achievement
PLUM HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT-CENTERED INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES
at Competency Levels which Teach Students to Think THE DAYS OF LECTURE, MEMORIZATION, REPETITION, AND note-taking as the basis for classroom instruction are behind us. These practices may surface within classrooms as tools for building an initial foundation for general content knowledge, but should now appear as more the exception than the norm. Good classroom instruction was formerly perceived as students quiet and obedient to the rules of the classroom, desks in straight rows, and students speaking only after raising their hands and waiting to be called upon by the teacher. We tested students’ abilities to reproduce the same general knowledge that was lectured at them. We required that students copy facts into notebooks in the classes leading up to the test. If there was noise coming from a classroom, students were out of their seats, and/or the teacher wasn’t talking, it was perceived that something was wrong. In today’s classrooms, effective instruction is not evident by the actions of the teacher, but by the involvement of the students in the instructional activity. We don’t want students to simply know certain information; we want them to demonstrate the ability to do something with it. Giving students information, readings, and access to resources is a starting point, not an endpoint. Students are often asked to figure things out, give a related example, apply a concept, give an opinion, argue an opposing perspective, or create their own product. Scholarly collaboration and critiquing of peers should be comfortable practices. Desks in groups, noise in classrooms, and students out of their seats is no longer taboo. Technology use can provide tools and resources far beyond those of traditional texts, giving students a more real-life, meaningful context for basic knowledge. Students are active in classrooms. The purpose of these student-centered instructional activities is to teach students to think at higher and deeper competency levels than previously expected. Rather than students recalling, knowing, and reproducing information (then forgetting it right after the test), teaching students to think, connect, analyze, create, critique and
apply information will help students to understand the information much more deeply and retain their learning far beyond any testing. The educators at Plum Senior High School are committed to improving instructional practices for the benefit of student learning and achievement. Through professional development, professional learning communities, walk-through observations, formal observations, and staff evaluation, discussions about best practices and areas for improvement occur regularly. We have recently experienced some improved achievement results stemming from this dedication to instructional improvements. Graduation rates have been among the highest of districts in Allegheny County. Despite the budgetary constraints, state assessment scores have never been higher than they have been in the last two years. Our staff and students have unquestionably risen to this challenge! Students are now taking more than twice the number of Advanced Placement exams than in previous years and still scoring well above state and national averages. Most recently, the newest measure of school effectiveness, the School Performance Profile, was preliminarily released. Plum Senior High scored in the “above average” performance range and improvements in various competency areas have already been accomplished in preparation for this year’s Performance Profile. Most importantly, our students are respectful, mature, receptive to our instruction, and enthusiastic when presented with new knowledge and challenges. Our staff is hard-working, receptive to improving instruction and services, and genuinely here for our students. Together, we will continue to hold ourselves to high expectations and be supportive of each other in reaching our highest academic, professional, and personal potential.
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Technology use can provide tools and resources far beyond those of traditional texts.
School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Plans POSITIVE, SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN teachers and students have a significant impact on not only how children feel about school, but how well they perform. Research suggests that when students and teachers take every opportunity to get to know each other, work hard together, set challenging goals and celebrate successes, learning is maximized. So, Plum Borough School District Elementary Schools have developed “School-wide Positive Behavior Support” Plans (SWPBS) to help build these relationships. These plans are unique to each building, yet share the premise that they are fun and engaging. SWPBS is an 24 Plum
evidence-based practice for building a positive social culture that will promote both social and academic success. The SWPBS Plans in each elementary school, while tailored to the individual building, share many similarities. Each building has a code of conduct and a set of behavior standards by which every student’s behavior is measured. These standards include: Respect Yourself, Respect Others, Respect Property; Positive Attitude, Respect and Kindness; and, Love, Laughter, & Learning. Some buildings have identified monthly themes and goals. In one school, October’s theme was “Good Manners.” Teachers
TALENTED FEMALE STUDENT-ATHLETES TAKING THEIR talents to the collegiate arena is nothing new at Plum. From swimming, track and field and soccer to tennis, basketball and softball, these individuals have distinguished themselves with Mustangs pride. Krista Pietropola and Jordan Seneca both will continue that tradition after their senior seasons conclude in June, and they both have achieved firsts among female athletes at Plum. Pietropola and Seneca are the first from girls’ basketball and softball, respectively, to play at the Division-I level. Pietropola will continue her academic and basketball pursuits at Youngstown State, while Seneca will do the same in softball at St. Francis (Pa.). After going through the recruiting process for months and making several visits to colleges, Seneca made a commitment in May 2013 to play at St. Francis. She made a visit to the school in Loretto, and after finding out more about the program and academic possibilities, she said she knew it was the place for her. Seneca said she expects to have a good shot of coming into the program and making an impact right away in the spring of 2015. “I am really excited to be a part of the (St. Francis) program and play with some of the current players who will still be there when I am a freshman,” Seneca said shortly after she made her decision. St. Francis finished its 2013 season 25-30 overall and 6-14 in the Northeast Conference. The 25 wins are the most in a season since 2002. Seneca said she wasn’t a fan of the recruiting process, but it
looked for signs of good manners and passed the information on to the principal. Students were recognized for exhibiting positive behavior and received a good phone call home from the principal, their names displayed in the display case, and awarded a certificate of recognition. In another elementary building, teachers hand out “Mustang Moments” to students who demonstrate appropriate behaviors.
By Michael Love, sports writer TribLive
was necessary to find the right fit. “I love playing softball,” Seneca said. “I have to work even harder every day to prepare to be my best when I get to college.” In three varsity seasons, Seneca is batting .544 (100 for 184) with 31 doubles, 12 triples and five home runs. She hit .564 as a junior with 24 runs batted in, 35 runs scored, 16 walks and 13 stolen bases as Plum finished 10-2 in Section 2-AAAA and 14-7 overall in the 2012-13 season. The Mustangs finished second in the section behind McKeesport (12-0).
I have to work even harder every day to prepare to be my best when I get to college. Seneca also plays basketball for Plum, and she and Pietropola are putting the finishing touches on workouts before official preseason practices begin on Nov. 18. Pietropola gave a verbal commitment in October to play at Youngstown State, and, she said, she is realizing a dream to play basketball at the Division I level. “There were other schools that I loved, but I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” Pietropola said. “Youngstown State fit everything I wanted in a school.” Pietropola also had scholarship offers from Slippery Rock, Shippensburg, and University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She had interest from Bucknell, Rider, Cornell, Robert Morris and St. Francis (Pa.). She said finding a good fit for her major of physical therapy was a top priority before continuing with her basketball career. “Coach John Barnes has great experience with Division I basketball,” Pietropola said. “They run a trap-style defense, which I think will fit me very well. I am long for a guard. I think that is why he started to recruit me, because I fit the defense so well.” Youngstown State finished 2310 last year, and it was the program’s best record since the 19992000 season. The team finished second in the Horizon League regular season, advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament and went 1-1 in the Women’s NIT. Pietropola and Seneca are two veteran members of a strong girls basketball core for Plum, which went 9-3 in Section 2-AAAA, finished 17-6 overall and qualified for the postseason. Pietropola averaged 16.8 points last season to lead the Mustangs, and the total was among the leading scorers in Quad-A.
Academic achievement remains the number one focus for every child in every elementary school in Plum Borough. Building positive relationships between teachers and students helps to ensure that every child is getting every opportunity to succeed. The SWPBS plans help to promote these important positive relationships in ways that are engaging, challenging and fun.
Academic achievement remains the number one focus for every child in every elementary school in Plum Borough. Plum | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 25
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Achieve Firsts for their Sports at Plum
Plum Borough
Two Female Student-Athletes
2013-2014 SCHEDULES | WRESTLING • SWIMMING • RIFLE • BOWLING WRESTLING
12/6 12/7 12/11 12/14 12/19 12/27 12/28 1/2 1/6 1/8 1/15 1/17 1/18 2/1 2/5
Eastern Area Tournament @ Gateway Eastern Area Tournament @ Gateway Hampton HS Penn Hills Duals Fox Chapel HS West Mifflin Tournament West Mifflin Tournament Shaler Area HS Gateway Senior HS North Hills Senior HS Central Catholic Allegheny County Tournament Allegheny County Tournament Buckeye Local Tournament Valley Senior HS
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SWIMMING
12/10 Deer Lakes HS 12/12 Highlands Senior HS 12/17 Penn Trafford HS 12/19 Hempfield Area Senior HS 1/2 Central Catholic 1/9 Allderdice HS 1/16 Woodland Hills HS 1/23 McKeesport Area HS 1/30 Gateway Senior HS 2/4 Shady Side Academy 2/6 Penn Hills Senior HS 2/10 Kiski Area HS 2/13 Fox Chapel HS 2/27 WPIAL Finals @ Pitt 2/28 WPIAL Finals @ Pitt
RIFLE
12/3 12/10 12/12 12/17 1/2 1/7 1/9 1/14 1/16 1/21 1/23 1/28 1/30 2/4 2/11 2/13
Waynesburg Central HS Mount Lebanon Senior HS Butler Area HS Hempfield Area Senior HS Indiana Area Senior HS Butler Area HS Hempfield Area Senior HS Indiana Area Senior HS Butler Area HS Hempfield Area Senior HS Indiana Area Senior HS Butler Area HS Hempfield Area Senior HS Indiana Area Senior HS WPIAL Team Rifle Championships WPIAL Individual Rifle Championships
*Home games shown in bold 26 Plum
3:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. TBA 7:00 p.m. 8:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.
3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 12:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m.
12/6 12/7 12/10 12/13 12/17 12/20 12/21 12/27 12/28 1/3 1/7 1/10 1/14 1/17 1/21 1/24 1/25 1/28 1/31 2/4 2/7 2/10
GIRLS BASKETBALL
BOWLING 12/4 12/11 12/18 1/8 1/15 1/22 1/29 2/5 2/12 2/19
St. Joseph HS Penn Hills Senior HS Burrell Senior HS Valley Senior HS Woodland Hills HS St. Joseph HS Penn Hills Senior HS Burrell Senior HS Valley Senior HS Woodland Hills HS
EY ICE HOCKp Canevin HS 12/5 12/12 12/16
1/3 1/6 1/13 1/16 1/23 1/27 2/3 2/10 2/17 2/24
Plum Tip Off Tournament vs Highlands, 8:00 p.m. Plum Tip-Off Tournament 8:00 p.m. Kiski Area HS 7:30 p.m. Woodland Hills HS 7:30 p.m. McKeesport Area HS 7:45 p.m. Gateway Senior HS 7:30 p.m. Valley Senior HS 2:30 p.m. Moon Holiday Tournament vs. Perry 6:00 p.m. Moon Holiday Tournament 6:00 or 7:30 TBA Central Catholic 7:30 p.m. Penn Hills Senior HS 7:30 p.m. Fox Chapel HS 7:30 p.m. Franklin Regional HS 7:30 p.m. Woodland Hills HS 7:30 p.m. McKeesport Area HS 7:30 p.m. Gateway Senior HS 7:30 p.m. Trinity Senior HS 1:30 p.m. Central Catholic 7:30 p.m. Penn Hills Senior HS 7:30 p.m. Fox Chapel HS 7:30 p.m. Franklin Regional HS 7:30 p.m. Knoch HS 7:30 p.m.
*all games are at 3:30 p.m.
9:10 p.m. Bisho 7:45 p.m. ional HS Franklin Reg 9:00 p.m. S H n to p Ham 8:30 p.m. l Prep Erie Cathedra 9:00 p.m. HS in v e n a C p o Bish 9:00 p.m. obe HS Greater Latr 7:10 p.m. y MS/HS lle a V rs ie rt Cha 8:30 p.m. S Moon Area H 9:00 p.m. S H r u to n Mo 9:00 p.m. lley MS/HS Chartiers Va 9:00 p.m. y HS n e h g e ll A st We 9:00 p.m. enior HS North Hills S 9:15 p.m. nior HS e S s ill H h rt No
12/6 12/7 12/9 12/10 12/13 12/17 12/20 12/27 12/28 1/7 1/8 1/10 1/14 1/15 1/17 1/21 1/24 1/27 1/31 2/4 2/7 2/10
Penn Trafford HS Penn Trafford Tip-Off Torunament Norwin Senior HS, Penn Trafford Tip-Off Tournament Kiski Area HS Allderdice HS Woodland Hills HS McKeesport Area HS Gateway Senior HS Columbus Westland Holiday Tournament Columbus Westland Holiday Tournament vs Deleware Christian Penn Hills Senior HS Pine Richland MS Fox Chapel HS Franklin Regional HS Shaler Area HS Woodland Hills HS McKeesport Area HS Gateway Senior HS North Allegheny Senior HS Penn Hills Senior HS Fox Chapel HS Franklin Regional HS Hampton HS
4:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:30p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
*Home games shown in bold
Plum | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 27
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BOYS BASKETBALL
Plum Borough
2013-2014 SCHEDULES | BOYS BASKETBALL • GIRLS BASKETBALL • ICE HOCKEY
The Borough of Oakmont offers skating close to home at Riverside Park.
On the Ice in
By Pamela Palongue
Oakmont T
his February, figure skating will take center stage on a global scale as the Winter Olympic Games begin in Sochi on Feb. 6. But you needn’t be an Olympic athlete to enjoy figure skating and the fitness benefits from it. Even beginning skaters can glean health benefits from the sport and particularly figure skating. It’s a low-impact aerobic activity and is a great cardio workout for people of all ages. Figure skating alternates between the more difficult moves of jumping and spinning to easier activities such as gliding. This change-up helps increase endurance. Most think ice skating increases muscle tone and leg strength, but it’s also great for strengthening abdominal and lower back muscles. It helps
28 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Plum
improve balance and coordination and many of the moves performed in figure skating require flexibility, another important fitness marker. There are great mental benefits to skating too, as concentration shifts from stressful thoughts to maintaining balance and performing a choreographed routine. If you’re lucky enough to skate outdoors, you’ll have the added benefit of nature surrounding you during your workout. The Pittsburgh area offers at least eight ice rinks with a ninth rink under construction. The Borough of Oakmont offers skating close to home in the form of a temporary rink at Riverside Park. The surface area is actually fairly large for a temporary rink at 164ft. x 88ft., allowing skaters to separate into areas for more advanced skaters and beginners and toddlers. Despite the frequent association of youth with skating, individuals can enjoy the sport at any age. Many skaters do not begin taking lessons until their 40s, 50s or even 60s! There are also a variety of genres in which to participate. The beautiful sport of ice dancing does not require jumps or intense spinning, as skaters waltz around the ice in pairs. Synchronized skating involves a group of skaters performing a choreographed routine, similar to the programs presented at ice shows. Pairs and individual skating is more intense, but competitors are broken up into age group
categories to create a more even playing field for all skaters. If after viewing the Olympic Games you find yourself longing to learn to skate, visit a nearby rink or take a “Learn to Skate” class offered at most ice skating rinks. You’re never too old to start! For more information on figure skating, visit the Pittsburgh Figure Skating Club website at PittsburghFSC.com. For the skating schedule at Riverside Park, email the Oakmont Recreation Dept. at Oakmont Recreation@gmail.com.
Figure skating alternates between the more difficult moves of jumping and spinning and easier activities such as gliding.
Plum | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 29
Business Directory
Premier Medical Associates Earns Prestigious NCQA Level 3 Accreditation Premier Medical Associate’s long-standing commitment to deliver the highest quality health care at the lowest possible costs for its patients earns national recognition In today’s society, it is important that patients be encouraged to take control of their healthcare. At Premier Medical Associates (PMA), patients are engaged in their own medical plan within the proactive support system of patient-centered medical homes (PCMH), implemented by Premier’s 100 primary and specialty care doctors. This type of focused and collaborative healthcare initiative earned Premier’s patient-centered medical homes the highest recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The NCQA awarded all seven of Premier’s primary care practices with a Level 3 designation. The highly coveted accreditation means the practices completed exemplary enhancements to employ evidence-based treatment guidelines to identify each patient’s specific health risks, along with sophisticated electronic medical records to prescribe medicine in the most accurate and safe manner. At Premier, the most meaningful effect of the advancements made toward achieving PCMH designation is the ability to set a precedent for patient care, to provide at the highest level and augment patient outcomes.
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The prestigious Level 3 honor was led by Premier’s Quality Assurance Coordinator, Star Rebarchak (R.N., B.S.N.), in conjunction with the physicians within each office. “I am thrilled that we [PMA] were all able to come together to make this happen for our patients,” said Ms. Rebarchak. “I feel as though we are truly making a difference in the lives of our patients and making our community a better place. We are changing the way healthcare is delivered and that is huge! I want to thank all of the staff; providers, administration, IT, and patient care coordinators for all the hard work that has been put into this. We are changing lives and, as a nurse, I couldn’t ask for more.” NCQA accreditation not only recognizes their successful implementation of the acclaimed national movement, PatientCentered Medical Home (PCMH), but it also highlights Premier’s long-standing commitment to delivering the highest quality health care at the lowest possible costs for its patients.
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Dermatology Premier will now offer our patients dermatology at our 1620 Golden Mile Highway location. We welcome Dr. Stuckert to our team of doctors committed to advancing and elevating the level of preventative, acute and chronic care in our region.
Joseph J. Stuckert II, M.D. Dermatology
“Dermatology is a high-demand specialty needed by Premier patients of all ages. Premier continues to expand access to key specialists in a collaborative setting with our primary care team.� Mark DeRubeis, CEO
A higher standard. A better patient experience. A different model of care. Member of the
PremierMedicalAssociates.com
Allegheny Health Network
Allergy & Immunology | Behavioral Health | Cardiology | Dermatology | Family Medicine | Gastroenterology | General & Breast Surgery | Hospitalist Medicine Infectious Disease | Internal Medicine | Neurology | Ophthalmology | Orthopedics | Outpatient Radiology | Pediatrics | Podiatry | Pulmonology Medicine 31 Plum || Rheumatology Winter 2013 || Sleep icmags.com
INCOGNITO
DID YOU KNOW?
That Oakmont was once the site of a Civil War training camp?
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T
he camp operated from May 1861 to January 1862 and was entry-level training for the Union Army. The camp was named after John A. Wright, a military aide to Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin. Although no visible signs of the camp remain today, the camp was commemorated in a drawing commissioned by the Oakmont Historical Society and sketched by artist Tom McCrady, based upon newspaper accounts and letters of the military installment. McCrady, a retired art teacher from the Oak Ridge Academy in Lower Burrell, drew inspiration from several sources to create the drawing, including Currier and Ives lithographs. The drawing was presented in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in July 2012. â–
Inpatient Rehabilitation: One Step at a Time After months of illness, hospitalization, and extensive chemotherapy treatments for lymphoma, Mary Reese could barely move. She relied on nurses and aides to care for her daily needs. Terrified of falling, she agreed to start an inpatient rehabilitation program at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute at UPMC St. Margaret. Her goal: to regain strength and function so she could return home to her teenage daughter. “I wanted my life back,” says Mary, 60, the mother of five. “I’ve made great progress thanks to the therapy I received at UPMC St. Margaret.”
Specialized treatment plans Leonard Cabacungan, MD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at UPMC St. Margaret, says the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute provides individualized treatment plans focused on restoring strength, function, and independence so patients can return home. The 26-bed facility at UPMC St. Margaret — one of the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute’s seven locations — features private rooms and a wide variety of specialized therapy programs. “It’s crucial to get patients up and moving as quickly as possible,” says Dr. Cabacungan. “The longer they stay in bed, the weaker they get. Once they are medically stable, we do what needs to be done so they can successfully function at home.” Our multidisciplinary team works together to develop individual treatment plans for patients recovering from a variety of conditions caused by illness and injury. They include strokes, hip fractures, joint replacements, neurological disorders, cancer, and congestive heart failure. Physical therapists focus on mobility and strength, while occupational therapists work on everyday tasks, and speech therapists work on communication and swallowing.
Hard work pays off When Mary first began therapy, she couldn’t sit up in bed or get out of a chair without help. It took two people to get her up on her feet. “After being bedridden for so long, my muscles were gone,” says the Zelienople resident. For four hours a day, seven days a week, Mary’s treatment included exercises to improve strength, restore movement, and improve her daily self-care. Within days, she was able to bathe herself and go to the bathroom with help. She soon began going up and down steps and getting in and out of a car.
Consistently recognized for providing advanced rehabilitation for conditions that include stroke, brain, and spinal cord injury, the experts at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute combine extensive clinical experience with advanced technology and research to offer patients cutting-edge treatments.
“I’m getting stronger every day. I’m able to walk and stand for long periods of time. I’m even doing laundry,” Mary says. “Most importantly, I can now dress and clean myself.” Mary says she’s been motivated by the “can do” attitude of the doctors and staff at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute at UPMC St. Margaret. She also has been inspired by the progress made by other patients. “It hasn’t been easy. They make you work hard,” she adds. “But, I’m so grateful for the therapy I received at UPMC St. Margaret. This place has done wonders for me.” For more information about the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute at UPMC St. Margaret, visit UPMC.com/RehabInstitute, or call 1-877-AT-REHAB (28-73422).
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Time for our area VolunTeers
to Shine! Seeking nominationS for 2014
Community awardS for ServiCe exCellenCe (C.a.S.e.) What makes communities great are the special people who volunteer their time, talent and effort in order to help others. At IN Community Magazines, we would like to honor these special people who have made a positive impact in their community and whose philanthropic leadership sets an inspiring example for us all.
2013 Master of Ceremony
Andrew Stockey WtAE Channel 4
IN Community Magazines' second annual C.A.S.E. Awards will recognize volunteers from each of ICM’s 35 magazines. Awardees will be selected in the following categories: Volunteer of the Year Youth Volunteer of the Year (21 years and younger) Small Nonprofit of the Year (staff of 10 people or less) Large Nonprofit of the Year (staff of 11 or more)
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Awardees will be honored at an awards dinner in Spring 2014.
PlEAsE fIll out foRM bEloW AND sEND IN youR NoMINAtIoN Name of Nominee_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone___________________________________________Email_________________________________________________________ Category (check one)
❍ Volunteer of the Year ❍ Youth Volunteer of the Year (21 years and younger ) ❍ Small Nonprofit of the Year (staff of 10 people or less) ❍ Large Nonprofit of the Year ( staff of 11 or more) Which community is this nomination for?___________________________________________________________________________ Name of person submitting nomination_____________________________________________________________________________ Phone___________________________________________Email_________________________________________________________ Why are you nominating this person or nonprofit organization? Please submit a typewritten statement of no more than 600 words. Send nomination form and statement to: Wayne Dollard, IN Community Magazines, 603 E. McMurray Road, McMurray, PA 15317. If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Mountain at 724.942.0940. Deadline for nominations is February 1, 2014.