September 2018 issue Northern Connection Magazine

YOUR COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2018

Passavant Hospital Foundation Celebrating a Legacy of Caring Fall Fix-Up! Gettysburg is a Great Getaway PA Universities and Colleges Trivia

Commonwealth Charter Academy

Page 28-29

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I N T H I S I SSUE

NORTHERN CONNECTION September 2018

Contents 11

40

NC Features

Kids & Education

42 Gettysburg is a Great Getaway Paula Green

28 Discover the CCA Difference

56 Premier Personal Care and Memory Care Coming Soon to McCandless

Health & Wellness 11 Cover Story: Celebrating a Legacy of Caring for Hospital Patients and Their Families 17 Fit Families: Strength Training: The Benefits As We Get Older Joella Baker 19 Pediatric Alliance 20 Health Care Comes Home to | the Community with the Construction of AHN Wexford Hospital Janice Lane Palko

Fall Fix-Up Guide 24 Business Spotlight: Penn Suburban Abstract, LLC Janice Lane Palko

4 From the Publisher: Marion Piotrowski

34 NHRCES Builds New Leadership Initiative to Unify Regional Catholic Schools

8 Mover & Shaker of the Month: Once Upon a Hero Paula Green

36 She Cannot Be What She Cannot See Mary Claire Kasunic

6 Movers & Shakers

39 Clarion University

30 Trivia Connection: Pennsylvania Universities and Colleges Trivia Paula Green

40 CCA Fosters STEM-Related Innovations

43 Where Was I?: Best Job Ever! Janice Lane Palko

38 School Movers & Shakers

41 Back to School with Essential Oils Fe Tubio

Senior Living 44 Life’s Best Chapter Awaits You at Shenango on the Green

24 Rustic Woods 26 I’ve Moved! Vince Parrucci

48 Happenings for Seniors

26 How to Pick the Right Paint Color for Your Home with Colorize of Pittsburgh

Advertorials 9

Peripheral Neuropathy Sufferers Have Hope Dr. Shawn Richey

27 Pittsburgh Closets and Doors 27 Chestnut Grove

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In Every Issue...

32 Cal U and Ohio Valley Hospital School of Nursing Partner to Educate Nurses Janice Lane Palko

46 Town Crier: September Salute Joe Bullick

27 Western PA Roofing Company

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49 Support Our Troops: Veterans Bus Trips to Washington, D.C. Paula Green 50 September 2018 Happenings

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P U B LI SH E R ’S NOT ES

Welcome to the September Issue of Northern Connection Magazine!

NORTHERN CONNECTION P.O. Box 722 Wexford, PA 15090-0722

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hope you had a nice summer and are looking forward to the fall season.

Summer may be nearly over, but the fall season is filled with lots of fun family events in and around the Pittsburgh area! Check out this month’s Happenings section for some great family fun events.

This month’s cover story is about 12 outstanding people who have contributed so much to the community. They will be honored at the Legacy of Caring Gala, Sept.

27, at the Pittsburgh Marriott North. If you would like to attend this year’s Gala, please see the details in the cover story on page 11.

It was exciting to be a part of the groundbreaking ceremony for Allegheny Health Network’s new Wexford Hospital. For more information on this addition to our community, make sure to read their feature on page 20.

I had a great opportunity this summer to visit Gettysburg with my family. The last time I was there, my children were young, and my dad was with us. This time my husband and I had the pleasure of taking our children and our children’s families for a wonderful visit. Not only is Gettysburg full of tremendous history, it has some of the most beautiful scenery surrounding the battlefields. The town is lovely and offers many restaurants, shops and historic landmarks to visit. If you are looking for a fun fall trip, make sure you visit this historic landmark. It is not far from Pittsburgh and well worth the trip. Read all about it on page 42.

It is back-to-school time for our children. Many of you have visited college campuses, and this month’s Trivia will enlighten you on some of the facts about the wonderful colleges and universities that are right here in our own state of Pennsylvania.

Enjoy reading this month’s features and regular columns. Thank you for your continued support. Together, we continue to make our community an outstanding place to live and work. 4 4 4

The Staff of Northern Connection and Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus Magazines join Passavant Hospital Foundation in extending congratulations to this year’s honorees for the “Legacy of Caring” Awards!

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Phone: 724-940-2444 Laura Arnold laura@northernconnectionmag.com

Fax: 724-940-2447 Email: ncmagazine@northernconnectionmag.com www.northernconnectionmag.com President & Publisher

Marion Swanson Piotrowski Executive Editor

Janice Lane Palko

Mary Simpson

Managing Editor/ Public Relations Coordinator

marysimpson@northernconnectionmag.com

Paula M. Green Marketing & Account Executive and Office Coordinator

Laura Lyn Arnold Marketing & Account Executive

Mary L. Simpson Design & Production

Kostilnik & Assoc., Inc.

Janice Lane Palko ncmagazine@northernconnectionmag.com

Web Master

Swanson Publishing Company Core Writers

Joella Baker Joe Bullick Paula M. Green Janice Lane Palko Marianne Reid Anderson Kelly Smith

Paula Green ncmagazine@northernconnectionmag.com

Distribution

Linda Watkins Lori Palmer

Northern Connection is published twelve times a year by Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. (P.O. Box 722, Wexford, PA 15090-0722, 724-940-2444) and is distributed free of charge to the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh. Subscription can be purchased from the publisher at $25 for one year.

The mission of the Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. is to connect the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh by publishing the area’s finest community publication, Northern Connection. The publication is dedicated to the people, communities, educational, religious, travel, and recreational needs of the area.

The contents of Northern Connection magazine may not be reproduced or copied in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Northern Connection magazine reserves the right to refuse editorial or advertisements that do not meet the standards of this publication.

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M OV E R S & SH AKER S

Movers & Shakers Most Highly Favored Daughter, a novel by Janice Lane Palko, executive editor of Northern Connection and Fifty-Five Plus magazines, was named a Finalist in the 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Inspirational Fiction. The book is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The Children’s Home announced that Dr. Amy Nevin has been appointed president of the medical staff. In this role, Dr. Nevin will provide leadership, pediatric guidance and advisement for the Pediatric Specialty Hospital, which provides sub-acute care for medically fragile infants and children.

Genesis Medical Associates, the largest independent primary care physicians group serving the Greater North Hills, is adding gynecology to its medical services with the addition of Dr. Nicole M. Waltrip to the group.

Mars Area resident Linda Schmitmeyer recently published the new book Rambler: A Family Pushes Through the Fog of Mental Illness. The book is available through Artists’ Orchard publishers.

McCandless resident, Gregory Whitestone recently published a best-selling book, Inconvenient Facts: the science that Al Gore doesn’t want you to know. For info, visit https:// www.inconvenientfacts.xyz/

Jewelry by Alicia and Scott is a husband and wife owned jewelry business. With over a combined 25 years’ experience in the industry, they specialize in fine diamonds, gemstones and custom CAD design. For 15 years Alicia worked at her family’s jewelry business on Church Road specializing in loose diamonds, exotic gemstones and custom design. Scott has an extensive 20 year career in metal fabrication from aircraft fabrication to custom designed jewelry. Looking to have a custom engagement ring designed, a heirloom piece of jewelry reimaged, or if you need jewelry serviced, stop in and visit Alicia and Scott at 306 Warrendale Rd. Wexford, or visit www.jewelrybyaliciaandscott.com or call (724) 934-6296.

The Wahlberg family celebrated the Steel City in the July 25 episode of “Wahlburgers” on A&E Network.

The hour-long show titled “Pittsburgher Meets Wahlburger” featured the VIP celebration. Wahlburgers Restaurant opened at The Block Northway on Dec. 19, 2017. Founded by Executive Chef Paul Wahlberg, as well as his celebrity brothers Mark and Donnie, Wahlburgers debuted in October 2011 in Hingham, Mass. The grand opening celebration for Walhburgers at The Block Northway was held on Friday, June 1.

Open daily for lunch and dinner, Wahlburgers offers full-service dining, counter service, take out and a full-service bar. Visit them at 6242 Northway Drive, Ross Township.

St. Barnabas Charities 27th Annual Free Care 5K Records Impressive Results

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undreds of runners and walkers took to Meridian Road on August 4, to raise money for the St. Barnabas Charities Free Care Fund. The 27th Annual St. Barnabas Free Care 5K drew registrants from across the country and saw entire families participating together. Juris Silenieks, 25, of Pittsburgh, was the Top Male Finisher with a time of 15:10. The men’s course record was set in 2013 by Josh Simpson with a time 14:36.

The Top Female Finisher, for the second year, was Laura Harnish, 31, of Pittsburgh with a time of 17:36. The female course record was set in 2015 by Aubrey Moskal with a time of 16:25. Both Silenieks and Harnish received a $250 prize courtesy of Leech Tishman Fuscaldo and Lampl.

WPXI-TV anchor Gordon Loesch and Pittsburgh Pirates in-game host Joe Klimchack served as emcees. The St. Barnabas Free Care 5K benefits the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund, which provides more than $7 million annually to patients who cannot afford their care.

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Mover & Shaker of the Month Don Spillane

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Dawn Hack

Front: Tina Pracht, Lisa Carrigan, Ginny Milne and Chuck Spagnolo; Back: Craig Pracht, Donna Spillane, Jenna Kratsas, Lynn Gallaher and Dawn Hack

n May 14, 2010, Don Spillane, 47, of Cranberry Township, went out for a bike ride on his Harley Davidson. He came to McConnell’s Mill State Park and got flagged down by a teen. Her girlfriend had fallen and was in dire need of help. Even though she was a

Once Upon a Hero

total stranger, Don ran to her aid. He was part way down the cliff and was climbing down to save her, when he lost his footing and plummeted. Don died shortly after the paramedics arrived.

It was a devastating loss for his wife, Donna,

By Paula Green his two daughters, Dawn and Dana, and his circle of friends. My husband, Paul, and I were included in that circle. Paul and Don had been friends since they were both ten years old. I can honestly say, “We lost a wonderful man on that tragic day.”

Dawn Hack is the eldest of the Spillane girls.

She decided in her grief she would find a way to honor her late father. In January 2013, she founded the nonprofit organization called Once Upon a Hero. Dawn and her dedicated group of volunteers sponsor two fundraisers every year – a golf outing and a Halloween bash. The monies raised at these events are donated to a family or an individual who has a financial need.

“Over the past five years, we have helped out seven families. I think my Dad would be really proud to know that the organization was started in his memory and that we have been able to help a lot of people,” said Dawn.

OUAH recently held their annual golf outing on August 11, at Stonecrest in Wampum. Their second fundraiser will be held next month. The Halloween Bash will be held from 6-11 p.m., Oct. 20, at Mars VFW Post 7505 on Mars Valencia Road. It will feature music from The Fabulous Gunslingers, dinner, dancing, a costume contest, 50/50 raffle and Chinese and silent auctions.

The recipient of this year’s fundraising efforts is Stephen Popson of Cranberry Township.

Nine years ago, Stephen survived a car accident but soon afterwards his health began to decline.

His heart was no longer functioning properly.

He has had numerous surgeries and is now on the heart transplant list. Stephen is no longer able to work or provide for his family.

Once Upon a Hero is working with Stephen and his family to help ease some of their financial burdens. “It feels really good to help people that need it especially being part of a team that wants to make a difference too,” Dawn added.

If you are interested in attending the Halloween Bash, visit onceuponahero.org or call (724) 452-5167. Or if you wish to volunteer and be part of the OUAH team, visit their website. 4 4 4

“We hope that Don’s valiant light will always shine bright in our charitable journey of ‘paying it forward.’ May his memory live on and inspire others in our community as well.”

— The Spillane Family 8

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Bob – Hunting again

Bonnie – No numbness

Ed – Awesome program

George – Walking better

Harold – 80% better

Jack – 90% better

Jannie – Play with grandkids

Joe – Feel the ground

Peripheral Neuropathy Sufferers Have

Lou Jr. – Less pain

HOPE Don’t GIVE UP!

Dr. Shawn Richey

Lou Sr. – Improved balance

Dr. Shawn Richey has restored the lives of thousands of peripheral neuropathy sufferers.

For a FREE Consultation, contact Dr. Shawn Richey at (724) 940-9000 and your appointment will be made at the location that is most convenient for you. To learn more, visit marydancedin.com.

Once thought to be incurable, peripheral neuropathy occurs when nerves are Tom – 80% better

damaged or destroyed and can’t send messages to the muscles, skin and other parts of the body.

Peripheral nerves go from the brain and spinal cord to the arms, hands, legs and feet. When damage to the nerves takes place, numbness and pain in these areas may occur. A specialized treatment protocol utilizing brand new technologies is available at the Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH. It includes the combination of very specific, non invasive, FDA approved and painless treatments that are designed to heal rather than just deal with the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.

Dr. Shawn’s SUPERVISED, MONITORED and IN OFFICE program has a 90 percent satisfaction rate. With the experience of seeing over 3000 patients, he is able to tailor a specific and successful treatment plan for each individual to provide maximum results.

Judy – 98% better

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Terri – Sleeping again

www.northernconnectionmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 Mary – No burning feet

MaryDancedIn.com

Mike – No burning

Orlando – Play golf again

Patricia – Pain free

Rita – Walking better

Ron – 90% better

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Sylvia – No more cane

Passavant Congrats

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HE A LTH & WELLN E S S

Fit Families

Strength Training: The Benefits As We Get Older

By Joella Baker

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just had my 48th birthday. Another year older. Although I’m not old by any means, I am noticing a lot of differences in my body and how I feel as I continue to creep up in the years. As personal trainers and coaches, we learn the importance of movement, staying fit and eating healthy. However, when it comes to fitness, what is the best medicine for our overall health as we age?

We hear people talk about range of motion, flexibility, mobility and balance. As we get older, these four things are critical in helping us to stay active, keeping our weight down, reducing the risk of chronic disease and preventing injuries from falls.

I will be the first to tell you, I’d rather run, bike or swim for an hour than spend an hour in the weight room.

Unfortunately, I know as I get older, the more important those weights are. Strength exercises, resistance exercises and flexibility exercises are critical to improving the four items above, but these exercises improve even more than that.

Here are 11 reasons to start a strength training program.

1. Reduce the risk of cancer or help in recovering after cancer treatment. Strength training can help with both.

Strength training reduces fatigue and increases muscle strength and improves body composition.

2. Increasing your metabolism. Strength training is the exercises that keeps on giving. Your muscles work as you exercise, increasing metabolism and afterwards, as your muscles rebuild (up to 3 days), your metabolism continues to work. It’s a win/win!

(Continued on page 44)

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Pediatric Alliance Excerpted from “The Wheels on The Bus” dated August 22, 2016, on The PediaBlog.

Written by Dr. Ned Ketyer With the start of the new school year, the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Back to School 2018 issue of Healthy Children goes over some health and safety tips to get things started on the right foot. In addition to covering the importance of immunizations being up-to-date on day one, some ideas for healthy lunches, and the crucial role parents play in reinforcing what their children learn in school, the e-magazine provides safety pointers for children boarding the school bus for the first time: • Children should always board and exit the bus at locations that provide safe access to the bus or the school building.

• Remind your child to wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb.

• Make sure your child can see the bus driver when she walks up to the bus (which means the driver will be able to see her too).

• Remind your child to look both ways to see that no other traffic is coming before crossing the street, just in case traffic does not stop.

• Your child should not move around on the bus.

• If your child’s school bus has lap/shoulder seat belts, make sure your child uses one at all times.

• Check on the school’s policy regarding food on the bus. Eating on the bus can present a problem for students with a food allergy and can also lead to infestations of insects and vermin on the vehicles.

• If your child has a chronic condition that could result in an emergency on the bus, make sure you work with the school nurse or other school health personnel to have a bus emergency plan.

Read more back to school advice at www.thePediaBlog.com. 4 4 4

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H E A LT H & WEL L NESS

Health Care

to the Community with the Const

By Janice Lane Palko

On August 15, Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and Highmark Health broke ground on a new, full-service hospital in Pine Township. Members of the Pine Township Board of Supervisors joined officials from AHN and Highmark Health in putting shovels in the dirt in a ceremony at AHN’s Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion.

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he estimated cost to build AHN Wexford Hospital is $275 million, and it will infuse money into the local economy and continue to boost this rapidly growing region. Hospital officials expect the hospital to create approximately 500 new jobs.

Wexford Hospital is planned to debut in 2021. The 160-bed hospital, together with the connecting Health + Wellness Pavilion that opened in 2014, will create a true medical campus encompassing primary, specialty, outpatient, inpatient and emergency care. It will serve a population of more than 215,000 people, 40 percent of whom have Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage and would otherwise have to travel into Pittsburgh to receive inpatient care.

“AHN Wexford Hospital is one of the biggest and boldest examples yet of Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network’s commitment to investing in new and upgraded facilities across the western Pennsylvania region, as we continue to work to get health care right by delivering high-quality and high-value services to our patients and members,” said David Holmberg, Highmark Health

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President and CEO. Allan Klapper, M.D., an obstetrician and gynecologist who currently serves as chair of the AHN Women and Children Institute, has been appointed president of the new hospital.

“We continue to see that patients want high-quality care in their own community. The proof is how well the community has embraced the Health + Wellness Pavilion,” said Dr. Klapper. “We have an opportunity to build a hospital with a focus on the experience, making sure that patients and their families have the best experience possible, one of empathy and compassion. That exceptional experience will be felt from admission through discharge, from being warmly greeted by our concierge staff to the extraordinary amenities and comforts afforded by the latest technologies.”

Since its opening, the Health + Wellness Pavilion, which offers a range of primary, specialty and outpatient care, has been enthusiastically welcomed by the community and has exceeded expectations, with patient volumes increasing every year and services being

Comes Home ruction of AHN Wexford Hospital added. AHN views an inpatient hospital as a natural extension of the model established by the Health + Wellness Pavilion.

“Enhancing access to care is a cornerstone of our strategy for how we can best meet the needs of patients in every community that we serve,” said Cynthia Hundorfean, AHN President and CEO. “We believe that when you provide patients with the best possible health care experience, including high-quality care options that are closer to home, their outcomes are better and their overall quality of life is better. And that’s the promise we will be fulfilling in Wexford with the opening of this uniquely designed, beautiful new hospital.”

The 345,000-square-foot hospital will be built along Route 19 in front of the Health + Wellness Pavilion.

“AHN Wexford Hospital will blend with the pavilion and the surrounding landscape and connect with the pavilion on the first and second levels,” said Jeffrey Carlson, President of the Wexford Health + (Continued on page 22)

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H E A LT H & WEL L NESS

Wellness Pavilion.

“I’d characterize the new hospital as being a medium-sized, full-service community hospital.”

He also emphasized that, “During construction, the pavilion will be open and still be easily accessible with no interruption to services.”

The new hospital will have a dedicated, covered main entrance leading directly from Route 19. Traffic studies were conducted, and a third traffic light will be installed and the intersection reconfigured on Route 19 to allow direct access to the front of the hospital and the lobby.

The Emergency Department will also have its own dedicated road. That road will terminate under the pavilion in a temperaturecontrolled area for arriving EMS personnel and patients and afford direct access to the Emergency Department. The department will

“The Hospital will be a great community asset.” have 24 beds for emergency care and observation, including specialized rooms for pediatrics and behavioral health.

Services at the hospital will include state-of-the-art operating rooms, featuring minimally invasive robotic surgical capabilities; advanced neurosurgical, orthopaedic, cancer, and cardiac care, including two cardiac catheterization labs; a range of diagnostic and medical imaging; and an adult intensive care unit (ICU).

However, perhaps the most eagerly awaited department may be the hospital’s women and infants program, including advanced labor and delivery services.

“The question we were most often asked during planning meetings with the community was: Will you deliver babies there?” said Dr. Klapper. “We are pleased to announce that AHN Wexford Hospital will be offering a full range of women’s health services, from outpatient to inpatient surgery and sub-specialties, as well as labor and delivery. While nearly 50 obstetrics units have closed in Pennsylvania since 2000, AHN will be opening its second new one in the span of a few years. Jefferson Hospital’s opened in 2014, becoming the first new obstetrics program in Pennsylvania in many years. AHN Wexford Hospital’s will be the second.”

Unlike old legacy hospitals with numerous additions, circuitous entrances or skyways connecting wings, Wexford Hospital has been designed to make sense and be easy to navigate. “Limiting

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entrances is essential for security and AHN Wexford Hospital also has been designed with security in mind,” said Dr. Klapper. In addition to the new entrance from Route 19, the north and south entrances at the Health + Wellness Pavilion will remain. Even the elevators at the new hospital will help with wayfinding as people stepping off the elevators will see the glass panels facing toward Route 19, allowing guests to use the highway as a guide.

A new 480-spot, four-level parking garage will be erected on the south side of the pavilion and will offer free self-parking as well as complimentary valet parking. “Having free parking was a priority of our consumers when we were planning the hospital,” said Dr. Klapper.

The parking garage will be the first constructed in Pine Township, and much thought was given to it. “There will be louvres that will aid in ventilation and help to limit the occurrence of headlights shining into patients’ rooms,” said Mr. Carlson. “It will set the standard for parking garages in Pine Township and will be constructed with the same materials used for constructing the new hospital and will match those of the existing pavilion.”

Like the Health + Wellness Pavilion, the new hospital will feature natural lighting, wider hallways and the grouping of departments that make sense and enhance flow. “We are promoting a hotel feel and emphasizing service,” said Mr. Carlson. “We listened to the voice of the health care consumer at numerous community sessions, and I believe we will deliver what consumers want in a hospital. We even brought in a lot of EMS companies to provide input, including having them drive the road that their ambulances would take. Many EMS personnel remarked that they have never been as involved in designing an Emergency Department as early in the process as this.”

Added Dr. Klapper, “Months and months of planning and consultation have gone into the hospital. We want the experience at AHN Wexford Hospital to be seamless, easy and sensible. It’s not often that you can design and build a hospital to reflect best practices.”

Adding to that “hotel feel” will be the patient rooms, which will all be private and have their own bathrooms. The rooms will also have exterior views, providing abundant natural lighting.

Therapeutic art will enhance the décor, and patients will be able to control their own environment by setting the temperature, lighting, and entertainment to their liking and ordering from a room-service menu.

Directly opposite the patients on the wall at the foot of the bed, televisions will not only provide entertainment, but will also keep patients and families informed about care. Through AHN’s EPIC electronic health record, patients will be able to access their medical records and test results on their televisions. The screens will also keep patients and families informed about who the attending nurses and physicians are, and photos of staff will be displayed next to their names. Additionally, patients and families will be able to access schedules to see what medical procedures or tests may be slated for the day.

There will also be a separate discharge lounge, preventing patients from having to be discharged and exit through a bustling main entrance.

Special attention has been devoted to the exterior and common areas.

Taking part in the groundbreaking ceremony were (left to right) Dr. Tony Farah, David Holmberg, Cindy Kirk, Dr. Allan Klapper, Marie-Claude Graef, Cindy Hundorfean, Jim Benedict, Mike Dennehy, Dick Thompson, Dan Onorato

“We took pains to protect the therapeutic green spaces already in place by preserving the courtyard as well as the landscaping at the north end of the pavilion,” said Mr. Carlson. “The hospital will have two rooftop gardens, one dedicated for expectant mothers and new families and the other for visitors to enjoy. There will also be a staff garden. Clinical work and providing care are exhausting, and this garden will provide support for the staff.”

The café will serve healthy food and feature a coffee bar, and there will be a conference center, which the community will be invited to use. And, of course, there will be a gift shop.

Pains were also to taken to minimize noise. The new hospital will have a helipad and will be able to transport critically ill patients to Allegheny General or West Penn hospitals in the city.

No helicopters will be based at Wexford Hospital, and the ones that do fly to and from the hospital will do so primarily between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. The helicopters will observe “fly neighborly” practices and fly along Route 19 rather than over residential areas.

AHN officials expect about 150 transports per year, or only a few per week.

“But 95 percent of care that a patient would need, we will be able to deliver here. Everything you’d find in a full-service hospital, you will find at AHN Wexford Hospital,” said Dr. Klapper. “The hospital was designed to be right-sized, but also with the needs of the community and with the future in mind for expansion and the adoption of new technology.”

Culture and technology will play an important role in the overall patient experience at Wexford Hospital. From the time a patient calls to make an appointment until they are discharged from care, AHN is focused on making that experience the best possible.

The use of advanced technology at Wexford Hospital will be prevalent. “We are integrating technology that adds value, increases efficiency, aids caregivers and enhances the patient experience,” said Dr. Klapper. That new technology will include bedside registration in the Emergency Department, advanced robotics in the surgical rooms and the increased use of telemedicine, such as remote monitoring of ICU patients.

Other innovative additions to the hospital will include meditation rooms and a lactation area for the community and staff.

Circadian lighting will be introduced for staff who will provide overnight care at the hospital. Employees ranging from medical professionals and medical support staff to administration will be needed to work at the new hospital, and AHN is collaborating

with local schools, colleges and universities to train and recruit new workers.

AHN officials believe the new hospital will not only draw patients from the Wexford area and points north but also patients from eastern Ohio and even from locations south of Pittsburgh.

“Because the new hospital will be so closely situated to so many major highways, including Interstate 79, we are already hearing from patients in the South Hills who plan to come here for health care because they can easily avoid the congestion downtown by taking I-79 to receive care here,” said Mr. Carlson.

Not only are patients excited about the new hospital, but local trade unions are pleased to be able to build the new hospital.

Pine Township officials, local residents, and business are backing Wexford Hospital, too. “The community has been very supportive and an absolute pleasure to work with,” said Dr. Klapper.

Physicians are also enthusiastic about the new hospital. “The Health + Wellness Pavilion has been enormously successful, and physicians want to come practice here,” said Dr. Klapper. Wexford Hospital will welcome AHN and independent physicians.

“When people consider moving to a community, they take many factors into consideration—safety, education, recreation, employment opportunities and health care,” said Mr. Carlson. “When AHN Wexford Hospital opens, it will continue the legacy established by the Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion of providing the community with top-quality health care. This hospital will be a great community asset.” 4 4 4

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Fall Fix-Ups! Business Spotlight:

By Janice Lane Palko

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itle insurance—you’ve probably heard of it, especially if you’ve ever purchased a house, but do you know what it is, why you need it and most importantly, why you need a reputable title insurance provider like Penn Suburban Abstract?

First, title insurance protects your ownership interest in your home. Surprisingly, when property changes hands, mistakes and irregularities can happen that can leave your ownership in dispute. Even something simple, like making a mistake when recording a legal document, or an incorrect legal description, could result in the loss of your property.

With so much at stake, you need an experienced title agent.

Penn Suburban Abstract is a fully licensed insurance agency that has been in business for over 20 years. Located at 8890 Peebles Road, Allison Park, Penn Suburban is owned by Attorney Richard L. Milesky Jr., who has performed nearly every job in the real estate business and has been personally involved in more than 20,000 real estate transactions.

With his staff of nine real estate professionals, Penn Suburban Abstract’s goal is to provide the most seamless and transparent transaction possible. They aspire to be the “added value” in a transaction by creating a memorable, pleasant and informative experience by providing exceptional customer service. Penn Suburban Abstract focuses on being proactive in efficiency, technological innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and constantly strives to be an industry leader in “Best Practices.”

Penn Suburban Abstract is an approved closing agent for most lenders and brokers, for purchases as well as refinances.

They also handle construction loan closings, cash transactions and land installment contracts and can provide settlement services for relocation companies as well.

For more information on how Penn Suburban Abstract can help you, visit their website at: www.pennsuburbanabstract.com or call (724) 776-9750 x14 and ask for Tina Sandherr, Regional Sales Manager. 4 4 4

Rustic Woods

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ustic Woods Amish Made Furniture and Gift Shoppe offers authentic Amish made furniture. Located in the charming town of Jenners, in Somerset County, Rustic Woods furniture is crafted from Barnwood, Hardwood, or Hickory.

Each piece is one-of-a kind and is created by our elite craftsmen, who focus on detail and making quality furniture. Rustic Woods has two showroom floors filled with furniture, displaying the quality of each type of furniture. We also have catalogs from which you can choose other styles/designs. If you don’t see what you want, we can have it crafted just as you want it – with your measurements and choice of wood and stain. At Rustic Woods, we also have a great selection of home décor and gifts including rugs, table mats, throws and bedding to lamps and dinnerware. We also carry one-of-a-kind pottery pieces and artwork from local talent.

Rustic Woods offers free delivery within a 30-mile radius. For more information, visit the website at: www.rusticwoodsllc.com and like us on Facebook! We are excited to celebrate our First Year Anniversary September 29th!!! This year has been such a success thanks to our many customers and patrons. And we are looking forward to continuing to assist customers choose the perfect furniture for their homes! 4 4 4

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Fall Fix-Ups!

I’ve Moved!

By Vince Parrucci Licensed Real Estate Agent/Realtor and Professional Real Estate Consultant

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n this column we talk about the buying and selling of homes and moving, but this time we’re talking about a different type of move. I’ve moved to a new brokerage company-Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty. In mid-August, Everest Holding Company, the parent company of Northwood Realty Services, acquired Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty. This will make Berkshire Hathaway the number one residential real estate broker in the region in volume, sales, and active listings, based on West-Penn Multi-List year-to-date data for 2018. The acquisition has created a brokerage powerhouse with more than

1,800 agents and 50 offices serving 22 counties in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. In addition, Berkshire Hathaway has well over a thousand offices worldwide. I will be working out of Berkshire Hathaway’s Cranberry office.

If you’ve been reading this column, you know that I believe in using the latest technology, having the best information and having every advantage available whether you are buying or selling a home. Berkshire Hathaway is a very innovative brokerage and forwardthinking and will help me to provide you with the best services. Living in the City of Champions, you know that when you’re No. 1, that distinction

How to Pick the Right Paint Color for Your Home With Colorize of Pittsburgh

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ow in the Pittsburgh market, Benjamin Moore Colorize of Pittsburgh is here to help you decide the right color for your home. Adding to or changing the color of a room is an easy and cost-effective way to transform the space.

However, making the right selection requires a bit more than choosing a name you like. Start off by considering the mood or atmosphere you want to accomplish in the room. Quiet and cozy? Warm and fun? Bold and dramatic? Next consider the furniture, flooring and other features that are already in the space. Think about whether you want the paint to provide a backdrop for those features or a bold counterpoint. Once you have selected a few colors that might achieve the look you want, assess them in the room to see how different the hues work together. And, most importantly, always be sure to test your color choices using color samples in the actual space to ensure you are delighted with the appearance throughout the day and night. Stop by your local Colorize Store in Wexford, Cranberry or Robinson and meet with the Color Experts themselves! 4 4 4

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comes with benefits. With Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty, your listing will have the power of the company’s marketing department behind it. Your listing is also marketed in-house. With so many agents networking, you have a greater change of selling your home more quickly. So, I believe my move to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty will also help with your move.

Considering a move? Whether it is buying or selling, have an expert work for you. Contact Vince Parrucci, Licensed Real Estate Agent, Realtor and Professional Real Estate Consultant, at vinceparrucci@thepreferredrealty.com, or call (724) 612-3770.

In addition to being a Licensed Real Estate Agent/Realtor and Professional Real Estate Consultant, Vince Parrucci is the author of Smart Buy, Strong Sale: The Consumer’s Guide to Buying and Selling Your Next Home is available through Amazon.com. His extensive experience includes VP of Mellon Bank, VP of Allegheny Financial Group, Real Estate investor, mentor and coach to thousands on investment real estate and flipping of houses and property. 4 4 4

Pittsburgh Doors and Closets

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ittsburgh Doors and Closets is Western Pennsylvania’s local dealer for One Day Doors & Closets. One Day Doors and Closets is the nation’s largest home interior door installation company. With two state-of-the-art production facilities, the company has been featured on Extreme Makeover Home Edition and is rated Best Value Home Improvement by Good Housekeeping Magazine.

We replace interior doors and closets in One Day! Located in Wexford, Pittsburgh Doors and Closets updates the look of an entire home by replacing all of the interior and closet doors in a home quickly, easily and affordably. With our revolutionary measuring technology, we provide the only home improvement that updates the look of an entire home, can be completed in a few hours with no messy construction and be affordable. We can replace all of the doors in a home in less than one day because we arrive with custom-fitting and painted doors. We use 3D Digital Measuring with proprietary measurement technology that accurately measures the door jambs to within 1/1000 of an inch. These measurements are sent to a robotic door cutting machine that cuts the doors to the exact specification for each door opening measured. For more information, call Scott Satkoske (724) 647-3282 or visit Onedaypittsburgh.com/promo17.sept2018 4 4 4

Western PA Roofing Company

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omeowners ask: What are those black and green streaks and blotches all over my roof, siding and concrete? Our area has been overcome with airborne algae. These algae will quickly cover your roof, siding, walkways and walls. As the colonies expand, they quickly become visible as streaks and blotches.

They make the roof look dirty and old, covering up the beauty and damaging your roof material. They make your siding look slimy green or dark and dirty. Your concrete and stone will look dark gray, dingy and lose its natural coloration and beauty, causing your walkways to be slippery when wet. These algae also promote the growth of other more damaging organisms like lichens and mosses.

There is a solution for this condition. Western PA Roof Cleaning, LLC specializes in treating and cleaning most types of roofing material including asphalt, slate, wood and tile. Siding material can include vinyl, aluminum, brick and painted wood. All natural stones, slate, concrete and blocks can be rid of this ugly and damaging growth as well. We are fully insured. Our courteous technicians are fully trained and very thorough. We hope you will join our thousands of satisfied customers soon. For more information, contact us at: WPARC.NET or (724) 538-0163. See our ad on page 56. 4 4 4

Chestnut Grove

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hestnut Grove is an over 55 condominium community.

Our standard unit which offers 1,600 sq. ft. of living space is designed as a 2 bedroom, 2 bath with a bonus sunroom included. The optional 3 bedroom, 3 bath gives you an additional 400 sq. ft. on the second floor. All the condominiums are all brick, and all have a 2-car garage.

If you are over 55 and have not taken the time to explore condominium living, Chestnut Grove is the place you should visit. Why wait for something to happen to one of your loved ones? Enjoy this time in your life with maintenance-free living. We are nestled in Butler County with low county, township and school taxes. Chestnut Grove is 2 miles from major shopping and entertainment. Plus, we are only 5 miles from scenic Moraine State Park.

Chestnut Grove offers daily tours between 12 and 3, but private tours with detailed information can be achieved with a call for a morning tour (724) 290-9396.We can also arrange for a free market analysis on your current home. Don’t delay; call us today. You deserve this easy living at this time in your life. 4 4 4

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T R I V I A CO NNEC T ION

Pennsylvania Universities and Colleges Trivia

By Paula Green

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Waynesburg.

Since we ventured through Pennsylvania universities, we must now see if you can pass this college query. Get set to don those thinking caps because it’s time to get a little trivial...

1. At this Pennsylvania university, it is a tradition to throw toast on the field during all home football games.

2. What is the second-most photographed landmark in Pennsylvania?

3. This University of Pittsburgh building is the second tallest university building in the world.

4. Erie has two Catholic higher education intuitions – Gannon University and _______College.

5. Which Pittsburgh university has branch campus in Silicon Valley, California?

6. This university has seven campuses in Philadelphia, Ambler, Fort Washington, Harrisburg, London, Rome, Tokyo and Singapore.

7. Which region in Pennsylvania is Dickinson College located?

8. This university has a green and grey lion mascot named Rocky.

9. Some famous alumni from this university include – Dan Rooney, Art Rooney and Bobby Vinton.

10. What is La Roche College’s mascot?

11. Former President Dwight Eisenhower served on this college’s board of trustees, and he was given an office, which he used when writing his memoirs.

12. At which college do the Pittsburgh Steelers conduct their training campus every summer?

13. Chatham used to be an all-female college. What year did men start attending?

14. This college is located in Reading and its nickname is the lions.

15. Mount Mercy College was founded in 1843 in Oakland, Penna., it was renamed this _____in 1969. 4 4 4 Sources: https://www.topuniversities.com/blog/10-oldest-universities-us, https://www. freshu.io/meghan-field/11-fun-facts-about-penn-state, admissions.psu.edu/pennstate/ campuses, http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges-near/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/, https:// uncoveringpa.com/facts-about-pittsburgh, http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/pennsylvania/catholic-colleges/, https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/relocation/education/collegesuniversities/

Answers: 1. University of Pennsylvania 2. The Nittany Lion 3. The Cathedral of Learning 4.

Mercyhurst 5. Carnegie Mellon (CMU) 6. Temple University 7. Carlisle 8. Slippery Rock 9. Duquesne University 10. Red Hawk 11. Gettysburg College 12. Saint Vincent 13. 2015 14. Albright College 15. Carlow College

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n our August issue, we passed through Pennsylvania and highlighted some great vacation spots. This month, we’re going to tour our great state again, but this time our focus is on universities and colleges.

Colleges offer associates and bachelor’s degrees. Universities usually continue several colleges and offer graduate programs.

The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) has been in existence for a long time, since 1787 to be exact. It was originally named the Pittsburgh Academy and began its life in a log cabin on the American frontier. Pitt has satellite campuses in Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown and Titusville.

There are two other Pennsylvania colleges that are even older than Pitt. Moravian College is situated in Bethlehem and traces its founding to 1742. The University of Pennsylvania, located in Philadelphia, was founded in 1740 by Ben Franklin. It existed 47 years before Pennsylvania even became a state!

There are plenty of colleges and universities in the Philadelphia area.

They include – Arcadia, Bryn Mawr, Drexel, Eastern, Haverford, Holy Family, La Salle, Lehigh, Peirce, Philadelphia University, Saint Joseph, Swarthmore, Temple, Thomas Jefferson, Villanova and West Chester.

If you drive through eastern Pennsylvania, you’ll encounter these higher education schools: Bucknell, Franklin & Marshall, King’s, Lackawanna, Lafayette, Lehigh, Marywood, Messiah, Scranton, Wilkes and York.

When you think of Penn State you envision a sea of blue and white at Beaver Stadium, but did you know that their original colors were pink and black? In 1890, Penn State’s colors were changed to the good old blue and white because the colors kept fading to white and blue. The Berkey Creamery at State College is the largest campus creamery in the United States.

In addition to University Park, Penn State has 19 branch campuses throughout the state. They include: Abington, Altoona, Beaver, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine, DuBois, Fayette, Greater Allegheny, Harrisburg, Hazelton, Lehigh Valley, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Schuylkill, Scranton, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York.

Fourteen Pennsylvania Universities are part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), which means they’re state-owned schools. They include – Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester.

Other popular choices for colleges and universities in Pittsburgh and its surrounding regions include: Allegheny, Butler County Community College (BC3), Carlow, Carnegie Mellon, Chatham, Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), Duquesne, Geneva, Grove City, La Roche, Point Park, Robert Morris, Saint Vincent, Seton Hill, Washington & Jefferson and

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K I D S & E DUC AT ION

Cal U and Ohio Valley Hospital School of Nursing Partner to Educate Nurses

By Janice Lane Palko

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here has long been an emphasis within the nursing profession to support the continuing education of Registered Nurses, or RNs. According to Robin Weaver, PhD, RN, CNE, who is an Assistant Professor at California University of Pennsylvania (Cal U), “This initiative is further supported by the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) recommendation to have 80 percent of all RN’s in the United States to have a Bachelors of Science Nursing (BSN) degree prepared by 2020.”

To help attain that goal, Cal U and the Ohio Valley Hospital School of Nursing (OVHSON) have formed an alliance to provide top-quality course-

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work for nursing students in the region.

At Ohio Valley Hospital, students join the RN diploma program for a variety of reasons.

Valerie Gaydosh, the OVHSON Director says that diploma nursing programs are intended for a vast population.

“They attract students directly out of high school who do not wish to pursue the four-year college route (for whatever reason), the displaced worker, the second career and the empty nester. It is attractive to many due to the short length of the program offering and is a direct route into the workforce,” said Ms. Gaydosh.

The program length is just 20 months, and upon graduation, each stu-

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dent earns a registered nurse diploma which allows them to sit for the State Board of Nursing Licensure Exam (NCLEX). “This is the same exam a community college or four-year college degree nursing student will take. Passing the NCLEX exam awards the graduate a license as a registered nurse,” said Ms. Gaydosh.

An RN diploma allows you to become a nurse the day you pass the NCLEX exam. Adding on a BSN degree puts you on a path to even more job opportunities.

“Based upon recommendations from the IOM and other nursing experts, it is important to encourage continued professional development and education of nurses; thus, the need for BSN completion programs such as the one offered at Cal U,” said Dr. Weaver. “We developed the agreement with Ohio Valley Hospital School of Nursing to promote the professional development of their graduates by providing a means for which these nurses can complete their baccalaureate nursing education.”

The schools do this by working together from day one of an RN student’s scholastic career.

“Cal U was able to coordinate the flow of their courses with that being presented in the OVHSON nursing curriculum to better reinforce the flow of learning. Cal U also offers courses online, allowing each student the flexibility to coordinate their own time management,” said Ms. Gaydosh. “Online learning also permits our nursing program at Ohio Valley Hospital to have more flexibility with our class and clinical scheduling.”

Dr. Weaver added, “therefore, we believe Cal U’s RN-BSN program should be a good fit for all of OVHSON’s students.”

For more information on the program, visit: ohiovalleyhospital.org/ schools/school-of-nursing/ 4 4 4

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K I D S & E DUC AT ION

NHRCES Builds New Leadership Initiative to Unify Regional Catholic Schools Over the last decade, Catholic school enrollment in the North Hills region declined significantly, straining the budgets, leading to tuition increases and the closing of some schools. Several Pastors requested assistance from the Diocese of Pittsburgh to develop a sustainable model to preserve and strengthen Catholic education for future generations.

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orth Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools (NHRCES) has proactively responded to the regionalization plan by identifying shortand long-term goals to ease this transition and developed a practical, phased plan of action for a successful outcome.

Within the next three to six months, NHRCES plans to complete an extensive rebranding initiative to include recrafted Core Values, Vision and Mission statements; website updates; clearer guidelines and procedures; and improved signage on several school campuses.

NHRCES is the largest Catholic school entity in the northern region of Pittsburgh, offering a diverse population of over 1,500 students from 33 different parishes. The organization fosters spiritual development, service to community and a life-long love of learning in every child, while building a Christ-centered foundation for its students. NHRCES promotes smaller class sizes, faith-based education, more individualized attention per student and a competitive curriculum that includes a strong concentration in technology, science and higher-level writing skills.

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For example, technology aids our students to produce and publish writing, link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with each other. During science instruction, students raise questions, formulate hypotheses, test, control experiments, recognize variables, interpret data and produce solutions.

NHRCES will facilitate a regional annual appeal to compliment individual school’s fundraising efforts with the participation and expertise of volunteers and alumni to reach the appeal goal.

In addition, NHRCES will build a stronger database to launch a series of effective direct mail campaigns to communicate upcoming events, programs and appeal efforts. An overview brochure will also be designed as a recruitment tool to better inform the public on all of the great opportunities that are available in our schools. Several other initiatives include an e-newsletter and calendar of events geared toward parents and alumni to improve communication efforts and invite our business community leaders to generously sponsor programs so our children can excel beyond the classroom.

Our principals and teachers are the NHRCES’ most valued resource in the development of our students. Through their experience and dedication, students reach their potential academically, spiritually and personally throughout their school years. It is important that they have the tools and resources at their disposal to maintain high educational and spiritual standards for our children.

With this focus, NHRCES will create stronger, more vibrant schools and work together as a community to form a Catholic “school district” of distinction with unlimited growth potential. The rebranding, communication enhancements and school unification are just the beginning as NHRCES fosters and measures the results of these initiatives to ensure the goals are met in a continue effort to keep Catholic education first in the spirit of our region. 4 4 4

NHRCES will participate in the upcoming Pittsburgh and regional educational events such as “Give Big Day of Giving,” in November 2018 and “Pittsburgh Catholic Schools Week” in January 2019. www.northernconnectionmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018

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KIDS & EDUC ATIO N

She Cannot Be What She Cannot See How the OC Career Symposium connects young women with professional women across all industries.

By Mary Claire Kasunic, President, Oakland Catholic High School

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he Certified Financial Planner board uses the slogan “She cannot be what she cannot see” as a way of highlighting the importance of female role models in the financial world for young women who may not consider the value of a career in finances. As the only all-girls’ Catholic high school in this region, with a clearly articulated mission to educate young women to become the next generation of female leaders who are grounded in the tenets of Spirituality, Scholarship and Service, Oakland Catholic High School has always underscored the necessity of not just talking about female leadership to their 550 students, but providing visible models of female leadership in multiple ways and on a daily basis. In response to the school’s mission to develop a future generation of faith-filled, ethical and competent female global leaders, it seemed natural to President Mary Claire Kasunic to create a career fair opportunity where students would see females in a broad spectrum of jobs, and hear directly from them about the circuitous journey required of them to develop leadership skills to secure positions of leadership.

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The OC Career Symposium became this opportunity, providing Oakland Catholic students the chance to connect and engage with a variety of female leaders across industries.

Different from career fairs of the past where students circulated among tables hosted by disparate industries, the OC Career Symposium, held during Catholic Schools’ Week, presented several themed panels of four to five female professionals per panel, with each panel representing a particular industry or passion. Panel formats were comprised of an interview format, TED talk-style presentation, conversational living room set and multimedia presentations. The themes for the panels reflected the interests of the students gleaned from a survey administered by the School Counseling Office, or current career trends. This year’s OC Career Symposium panel themes included Finance Drives All, Disruptive Innovators in Technology, Women as Entrepreneurs, Advocacy & Community Development and Medicine: Doctors, Research, and So Much More. Alumnae, local community leaders and partners in the

area served as presenters, networking with each other as well as with the students throughout the day. The variety of careers at this past year’s symposium struck everyone – dark web analyst, urban planner, lawyer, director of the supercomputing center, city councilperson, obstetrician, business developer, interior designer – just to name a few! The keynote address by Demeatria Boccella, the founder of FashionAFRICANA, set a tone for the day with a talk that resonated with the students as a presentation they found both inspirational and authentic. In all, it was a wonderful convening of competence, intelligence and passion for mentoring younger women. The symposium elicited an overwhelmingly positive response from students, presenters and faculty alike. Next year’s OC Career Symposium is already in the planning stage and we look forward to introducing the Oakland Catholic students to another engaging and enthusiastic group of women who visibly demonstrate all that a young woman can be! 4 4 4 www.northernconnectionmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018

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K I D S & E DUC AT ION

School Movers & Shakers Fox Chapel Fox Chapel Area School District teacher Alison Francis has been named a grand-prize winner in The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation Teacher Innovator Awards. Francis, who is the facilitator of the district’s Creativity and Literacy Program, is one of 10 grand-prize winners from across the nation in this contest that recognizes America’s most innovative teachers.

Common Sense, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids and families thrive in a world of digital media and technology, has recognized the Fox Chapel Area School District as a Common Sense District for the 2017-2018 school year.

The 2017-2018 Dorseyville Middle School Honor Choirs, performed at a Music in the Parks Festival at King’s Island in Mason, Ohio. The Dorseyville choirs earned first place and “Excellent” ratings in the mixed choir, men’s choir, and women’s choir divisions.

Seneca Valley The Seneca Valley board members approved the appointment of Robert Ceh as principal of the Tony Robert Seneca Valley Babusci Ceh Senior High School (SVSHS) and Tony Babusci as the principal of Ryan Gloyer Middle School (RGMS).

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Mars Area

At Seneca Valley’s School Board Meeting members approved the appointment of Kevin Trost to lead the Seneca Valley Boys’ Varsity Basketball Team.

At Seneca Valley’s School Board Meeting, board members approved the appointment of Bridget Miller, teacher, to assistant principal of Evans City Middle School. Ms. Miller has been a part of the Seneca Valley School District since 1997.

Kevin Trost

Mars Area sophomore Ellie Coffield was named to the Best XI Team 16-U at the 2018 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships.

Ellie Coffield

Mars Area senior Vincenzia Vargo attended the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences.

Bridget Miller

The Seneca Valley School District received boxes from the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation with over $115,000 in products to benefit K-6 students across the district.

Saint Vincent College

Vincenzia Vargo

Dr. Jerome Foss, associate professor of political science at Saint Vincent College, recently published his first book: Constitutional Democracy and Judicial Supremacy: John Rawls Dr. Jerome and the Transformation of Foss American Politics, published by Cambria Press in Amherst, New York.

North Hills

BC3

Five North Hills School District individuals have been selected for induction in the North Hills Sports Hall of Fame. The 2018 inductees include Dan Cardone, Administrator; Josh Eddy, Class of 2005; Emily Jamison, Class of 2012; Paul Kress III, Class of 1992; and Mick Yokitis, Class of 2001. The Hall of Fame dinner will be held Sept. 20 at Rico’s restaurant.

Butler County Community College (BC3) at Cranberry recently went thru a $1.2 million makeover.

The new ultra-modern learning environment adds infrastructure to permit chemistry classes.

It also provides students with personal and group workspaces against a trendy backdrop of warm blues and cool grays with aluminum and wooden accents.

Pine-Richland Pine-Richland School District announces the following staff changes for the 20182019 school year.

Greta Paula Greta Kuzilla has Kuzilla Giran been appointed principal at Hance Elementary. Paula Giran will be the assistant principal at Eden Hall Upper Elementary.

Robert Kelly Robert Puskas Puskas Gustafson also joins PineRichland High School as an assistant principal. At Wexford Elementary, Kelly Gustafson is taking over the role as principal.

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Butler County Community College this fall will offer 46 new Lifelong Learning courses among its 122 selections in Butler County, including a “Basic Chef” series for those hungry to attempt tempting dishes, and a “Floral Academy” for budding designers seeking to blossom in the industry.

CCAC Dr. Gretchen Mullin-Sawicki, president of the Community College of Allegheny County’s North Campus and West Hills Center, and John Boehm, dean

of Administration at CCAC’s North Campus and West Hills Center, have been selected as District 1 Difference Maker Award winners by Allegheny County Council District 1 officials.

The awardees were honored along with eight other winners at the 4th Annual District 1 Town Hall meeting on July 30.

The Community College of Allegheny County served as a sponsor and judge in the Robotics category for the Covestro Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair (Covestro PRSEF) held at Heinz Field in the spring. Judging the robotics entries in the senior division were Dr. Lori Paluti, an unmanned aircraft systems instructor, and Carlos Taylor, an engineering technician, both of CCAC South Campus.

Catholic Schools of the Pittsburgh Diocese REGISTER NOW for the 2018-2019 School Year Butler Catholic School (Butler)

Ashnaa Bhide with her winning project.

Principal: Sr. John Ann Mulhem C.D.P. (724) 285-4276 www.butlercatholic.org

Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy (Aspinwall) Principal: Mr. Mark Grgurich (412) 781-7927 www.cdtca.org

Providence Heights Alpha School (Allison Park) Meghna Behari with her winning project.

Saint Joseph High School (Natrona Heights) Principal: Beverly K. Kaniecki (724) 224-5552 www.SaintJosephHS.com www.stwendelinschool.com

Vincentian Academy (North Hills, PA)

Principal: Mrs. Rita Canton (412) 364-1616 www.vincentianacademy.org

Principal: Margaret Ruefle M.ED.M.S. (412) 366-4455 www.alphaschool.org

Clarion University

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larion University’s Department of Special Education and Disability Policy Studies and The Competent Learner Model Center of Excellence proudly announce two new, all online, certificate programs in the Special Education Department. Certificates are available at the undergraduate (Assistant Applied Behavior Analyst and Competent Learner Model Certificate) and graduate (Applied Behavior Analyst and Competent Learner Model Certificate) levels.

Supporting the needs of children and families that feel the impact of autism and other behavioral challenges, the program will arm special education students with certifications along the path to completing their degree that will make them better equipped and highly effective educators. The ABA/CLM Advanced Competency Certificate Program has been approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) as a Verified Course Sequence (VCS).

Clarion University is the first in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to embed the new CLM curriculum within the established undergrad and graduate special education degree and has exclusive rights to the use of CLM for college credit in the state of Pennsylvania.

Prospective students include anyone seeking a behaviorally focused undergraduate degree or master’s degree in special education, or anyone already holding a degree in education, psychology or applied behavior analysis who wants to further their knowledge. These skills support educators, teachers and paraprofessionals, behavior specialists, therapeutic support staff and more. 4 4 4 www.northernconnectionmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018

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K I D S & E DUC AT ION

CCA Fosters STEM-Related Innovations

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t CCA students aren’t bound by walls, classrooms or strict schedules, and that flexibility helps drive an environment that fosters innovation, especially in STEM fields.

CCA is a top, accredited K-12 public cyber charter school that provides a personalized education to all Pennsylvania students.

Coursework at CCA allows our learners to work at their own pace and pursue their interests anytime from anywhere with a free laptop and internet subsidy from CCA. CCA students learn not only through virtual lessons, workbook projects and conservatory programs, but through a robust offering of programs and clubs that all touch some aspect of the STEM disciplines and foster innovation.

For instance, for eight consecutive years CCA students have won the statelevel competition in the Real World Design Challenge and competed nationally, finishing second twice. The compe-

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tition requires student teams to address real-world engineering challenges faced by the nation’s leading industries. Last year, the team had to focus on designing and implementing unmanned aerial vehicles to support precision agriculture

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in corn production to meet a projected 70 percent increase in demand by 2050.

A Drone Club debuts this school year as a direct result of intense student interest in a two-week summer course on drone flying, regulations and careers.

Another new club this year is the Aquaponics Club, an outgrowth of CCA’s new 6,100-square-foot interactive, integrated agriculture lab. Called AgWorks and located at our Capital Campus and Family Service Center in Harrisburg, the lab relies on fish to fertilize and provide nutrients to plants, fruit and produce.

CCA students will operate the living lab, gaining hands-on experience in careers from agriculture and conservation to business and hospitality.

Other STEM-related clubs at CCA include groups for coding and computers, computer science, and gaming and computers.

The clubs not only build upon skills learned in our virtual classrooms but spark students’ creativity to develop

Back To School With Essential Oils products and services that fill a need. As a CCA freshman, Alisher Aminov did just that by creating a nonprofit called Yellow Brick Robotics. He uses Legos to teach creative science, physics, robotics, coding and beginning game development to elementary students.

It’s the combination of flexibility, a wide array of STEM-related, hands-on opportunities and a focus on helping students identify and pursue their passions that makes sure students are prepared for life after high school, whether that’s continued education, a job or military service.

CCA students are learning about tomorrow’s opportunities today. Wherever you live in Pennsylvania and wherever your child’s interests lie, CCA can ignite the passion for success. 4 4 4

Learn more or enroll free today by visiting ccaeducate.me or calling toll-free 844-590-2864.

F

By Fe Tubio

all is coming; cooler temperatures than summer and autumn colors are around us. What does it tell us? It’s “back to school” again!

The hustle and bustle of life resumes with so many things going on and the need to remember the long list of items for school. Wait...we need to place wellness in that list too! Here are some favorite products for our wellness that will support and put students or parents at ease during back-to-school season.

For parents and kids: Thieves vitality, Frankincense vitality, and Lavender vitality will stimulate and boost the immune system.

Diffusing Lemon, Thieves and Peppermint inside the house will prepare your house for a fresh and happy environment during this season.

For kids, the oil “GeneYus” is great. It has Lemon, Peppermint and Thieves and is great for young minds, helping them to focus. Apply at the back of the neck and wrists.

Take “Mighty Bites” chewable tablets before walking out of the door to support the immune system.

“Thieves Hand Purifier” should be used before eating snacks or lunch to ensure cleanliness.

“Lavender essential oil“ creates a peaceful environment.

“Joy” can be used to create a positive environment in your home this back to school. It will lift your spirit when inhaled or diffused into the air.

Contact Fe Tubio to learn more about how Essential Oils can naturally keep you and your family healthy and happy call. 4 4 4

Family Medical Therapy

724-601-6628 | www.oily.life/fetubio

www.northernconnectionmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018

41

K I D S & E DUC AT ION

Gettysburg is a Great

By Paula Green

W

hen folks hear the word “Gettysburg,” they usually think of the Civil War. It’s no wonder since this small Pennsylvania town was the location of the fiercest battle of the American Civil War. When you tour the town, you will visit the famous battlefields of Gettysburg National Cemetery. You also relive history when you stand on the spot where President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous address.

“Gettysburg is a destination that really engages visitors; it brings them up-close to where history happened. Tours and museums don’t just show military maneuvers – they share the stories of people, the people that changed the course of America in three days of battle and an aftermath that eventually brought President Abraham Lincoln to town. Gettysburg is a place to learn, but it’s also a place to reflect. It’s a place to really let history soak in,” said Carl Whitehill, director of 42

SEPTEMBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

communications for Destination Gettysburg.

Besides Lincoln, another former U.S. president had ties to the region. After President Dwight Eisenhower retired, he made Gettysburg his home. You can visit his house which is complete with its own putting green.

As rich as Gettysburg is with history it is equally appealing with its small town charm. The community is nestled in Adams County and sits in the heart of the Pennsylvania Fruit Belt. Gettysburg markets farm fresh produce and vegetables; they are famously known for their delicious apples. In the springtime, the landscape is covered with apple blossoms that blanket the countryside. In late summer, the orchards are brimming with ripe fruit that is picked fresh and delivered to one of the region’s 25+ farmer’s markets.

Wineries, cideries, breweries and distilleries are popular attractions. You can also discover the culinary side of Gettysburg as well. Visitors can also partake in one of the area’s entertaining cultural attractions. The town even offers Ghost Tours.

WHERE WA S I?

Best Job Ever!

By Janice Lane Palko

T

Getaway There is always something to do in Gettysburg! Mark these exciting events on your calendar – Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, Memorial Day Parade (May); PA Cider Fest (June); Reenactment: The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3); Nineteenth Century Baseball Festival (July); Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, Gettysburg Brew Fest (August); Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival, World War II Weekend (September); Apple Harvest Festival (October); Remembrance Day Parade, Dedication Day (November); and Holiday in Gettysburg (December).

“Gettysburg has such a legacy as one of America’s most iconic historic destinations. For decades, visitors from around the world want to step foot on the ground where the future of America was changed forever. Visiting Gettysburg gives people a sense of place to such an epic event and a symbol of recovery and reunification,” said Whitehill.

Don’t wait—book your Gettysburg vacation. For more information, visit destinationgettysburg.com. 4 4 4

his month we celebrate National Grandparents Day on September 9. I have been a grandmother for a little over three years now to two little girls, and I can say that next to being a mom, it is the best job ever! But it is not without responsibilities. You’ve probably seen those cutesy sayings like, “The best part of being a grandparent is spoiling your grandchildren and being able to give them back at the end of the day.”

That’s funny and true to an extent, but I think that reduces the role of grandparents too much. I think grandparents are essential, and you are blessed if you have or had one in your life. In fact, the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “Everyone needs to have access both to grandparents and grandchildren in order to be a full human being.”

I certainly do enjoy treating my granddaughters, but I want to be more than a soft touch for cookies and toys. So what kind of grandma do I want to be? What do I want to do for my grandchildren? What do I want to teach them? When I’m long gone, what do I want them to remember about me?

To answer this, I thought back to my own grandparents and what I remember about them. I was fortunate to know two great-grandparents and four grandparents. These are some of the things they gave me of which I’d like to pass on.

They gave me a sense of who I was. They told me stories of who they were, where they came from, what their grandparents, parents and my own parents were like as well as telling me what their own lives were like. Through their stories, they picked up my little life and wove into our family tapestry and made me feel I belonged to something bigger than myself.

They provided good examples and passed on their faith.

They were funny and fun. They taught me that although times change, people essentially are the same. They talked about bullies in school, boys who tried to get “fresh” with them, and mean bosses they worked for. They passed on their resilience. One of my great-grandma’s favorite things to say was, “Oh, kiddo, it’s a great life if you don’t weaken.” They also passed on their hope that there was something even better waiting in the next life.

They demonstrated love. I never, ever had to wonder if they loved me. I can still think back to times when I’d sleep over at my grandma’s. We’d lie in bed together, and she’d say let’s hold hands until we fall asleep. Or I can see my grandpap when we’d come to visit, opening his arms and saying, “Where’s pup-pup’s girl?”

So yeah, spoil the grandkids, but also give them something that’s lasts a lifetime like your faith, your hope and your love. 4 4 4 www.northernconnectionmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018

43

S E N IO R LIVING

Fit Families (Continued from page 17)

3. Prevent falling. If you increase your flexibility and balance through strength training exercises, your risk of falling goes down.

4. To increase bone mass and density and protect against osteoporosis.

5. Strength training builds muscle strength and improves your strength, flexibility, mobility and range of motion.

6. To lower body fat. The increase in metabolism will help to lower overall body fat.

7. Strength training has the ability to reduce resting blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

8. Research has shown that strength training can increase low back strength and alleviate low back pain.

9. Strength training can help to reduce the symptoms of depression, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and sleep disorders.

10. Improving your strength and your physical appearance can also build up your self-confidence and selfesteem.

11. To increase serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone that makes you happy.

The key is, you don’t have to do too much. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends two or three days a week of strength training. You only need 20 to 25 minutes each time to make a significant difference as well.

I recommend getting someone to help you when you start. Do simple exercises with low weights. Bicep curls, tricep kick-backs, shoulder press, seated row, simple bench press, squats, lunges and calf raises to get started. These simple exercises will improve your overall health and make you stronger.

As with any fitness program, be sure to talk to your doctor before getting started. 4 4 4 Sources for this article are from: Human Kinetics News and Excerpts and the Healthy Living, Silver Foxette.

44

Life’s Best Chapter Awaits You at Shenango on the Green You’re ready to continue your active, independent lifestyle, but you’d like to have fewer cares and worries about maintaining your current home. Try Shenango on the Green, where you’ll find beautiful Independent Living apartments in historic New Wilmington, PA.

A

t Shenango on the Green, you’ll spend time enjoying our engaging social programs and fine dining instead of worrying about housekeeping, maintenance and chores. It’s your time and we want to make sure that you continue a fulfilling lifestyle.

Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, Shenango on the Green is the only Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Lawrence County. You’ll enjoy independent living as well as the comfort and security of knowing that you are part of a community with accommodations that provide for higher levels of care, if and when you may need it.

A big benefit of our CCRC is the ability for you to access a continuum of care that’s available on-site. If your health condition changes and you need a little bit of help, we have a personal care neighborhood that offers assistance on an as-needed basis as well as secure memory support apartments and care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. At our skilled nursing neighborhood, we provide 24/7 nursing care as well as accommodate short-stays for physical, occupational and speech therapy in the rehabilitation center.

Shenango on the Green sits immediately across from Westminster College. Just a quick walk across the street affords our residents the opportunity to participate in continued learning, just one of the many benefits of being a part of a welcoming small town. Consider how Shenango on the Green may be the next chapter in your life’s story.

For more information about Shenango on the Green, a Presbyterian SeniorCare Network Community, visit www.ShenangoSrCare.org or call 724-946-3516. 4 4 4

SEPTEMBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

www.northernconnectionmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018

45

SE N I OR LI V ING

Town Crier

September Salute

By Joe Bullick

H

ello, September! I was thinking of how many Septembers I have had, and it comes up to 87 of them.

What was your favorite September? My best Septembers happened during my school years, especially the four years at West View High School. I graduated in 1950. What great friends I had there. If the Pirates were in town, we’d hop the No. 10 streetcar and for a buck, we could see the game and have a pop.

I also spent time at West View Danceland, which has been gone for decades. So many things are gone too like Three Rivers Stadium, the Civic Arena, G.C. Murphy, and The Syria Mosque. Let’s

not forget the old department stores like Kaufmann’s, Hornes and Gimbles. Which was your favorite store when you were growing up? How many of you ever ate at the Top of the Triangle? It boasted the best view of downtown Pittsburgh.

I played a lot of records on my old record player. I bought most of those records at National Record Mart, which opened in 1937 and closed in 2002. One place I think of often is Winky’s, which was a local hamburger chain.

September is when we transition into fall. If you were born in September, your birthstone is sapphire. This gem was believed to protect those close to you from

harm. The flower for September is the aster, and your sign is Virgo with Libra coming in at the end of the month. September is a big month for sports—the NFL and college and football are in full swing and baseball is coming down to the wire with hockey just around the corner.

There are a lot of movies that debut in the fall so pick one in September and enjoy! I leave you with this: You can’t change the past But you can ruin the present By worrying about the future.

— Unknown

P.A. ERBE & Associates Inc.

Accounting & Tax Preparation Service for Personal & Business Income Taxes

Penny Ann Erbe

Enrolled Agent Federally Authorized Tax Practitioner

412-487-1009

4767 William Flynn Highway Allison Park, PA 15101-2456

46

SEPTEMBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

CALL NOW

to reserve your advertising space for the next issue!

724-940-2444

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47

SE N I OR LIV ING

Happenings for Seniors Collections North Hills Community Outreach is collecting safety items for seniors.

For details visit nhco.org or call Cathy, at (412) 307-0069 x3313.

North Hill Community Outreach

provides Safety Checks for Seniors.

Interested seniors who reside in northern Allegheny County should email Cathy at clpschirer@nhco.org or call (412) 307-0069 x3313.

Health & Wellness

Meals on Wheels

Free Services for Seniors through

McKnight Meals on Wheels pro-

North Hills Community Outreach.

Help with rides to medical appts., grocery stores, yard work. Call Cathy at (412) 307-0069 ext. 3313 or Kerry at (412) 449-0151 to schedule an in-home registration visit.

vides home delivered meals to the elderly, homebound and disabled.

Services Ross Twp., Berkeley Hills, Swan Acres, McCandless, Shaler & Hampton Townships. Call (412) 487-4088.

Healthy Start Café, 8:45 a.m.,

North Country Meal on Wheels

every Mon & Thurs, St. John Lutheran Church of Highland, 311 Cumberland Rd. Presented

by Lutheran SeniorLife & St. John Lutheran Church of Highland. Call (412) 364-1606 or (412) 307-1797.

provides home delivered meals to the elderly, homebound & disabled.

Services Marshall, Pine, Richland, Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, parts of McCandless, West Deer, Cranberry, Adams, Seven Fields, Mars & Valencia. Call (724) 9351877.

Medical North Hills Community Outreach

offers free medication safety screenings for seniors living in northern Allegheny County, north of the city of Pittsburgh. For details contact, Cathy at (412) 307-0069, ext. 3313.

Meetings

Primetimers, noon, first Thurs of the month, Christ Church Grove Farm, Ohio Twp. Call (412) 741-4900 or visit http://www.ccgf.org.

Sealarks Women’s Group, 5 p.m.

dinner, Sept. 12, Memorial Park Church, 8800 Peebles Road. The group provides Christian fellowship & social activities for women who are alone. Cost $5 for guest, members are free. To make a reservation, call (412) 487-7194.

Seminars

Social Groups

Legacy Theatre Seminars, 11

a.m., How the Great Depression Built North Park, Sept. 4; The Power of Gratitude, Sept. 18. For info, visit http://thelegacylineup.com/

Senior Facilities independent living & personal care.

For details, call 1-800-324-5523.

Senior Meetings AARP 3736 welcomes new mem-

bers, 7:30 p.m., every 2nd Thurs., of the month (except June & July) at St. Ursula Church Social Hall. Special dinner in Aug. and exciting trips.

Cranberry Township 55+ Club

meets at 1 p.m., the 2nd Tues., of the month in the Cranberry Municipal Center. The club features activities, social events and local trips. For info, call Bill at (724) 776-1933.

Friends and Fun 55+ Singles

meet at 7 p.m., every 1st Friday, at St. Ferdinand’s, Rochester Rd., Cranberry Twp., Oldenski Hall, Upper Room. Call (724) 776-9274.

Friendship Groups for Visually Impaired, Men’s Group meets

every Weds. 1-3:15 p.m., Knitting & Crocheting Circle meets every Weds., 1-3:15 p.m., Monthly Meeting 2nd Thurs. of each month 1:15-3:15 p.m., The Lunch Bunch meets 4th Thurs. of every month 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., The Talking Book Club meets 1st Mon. of each month 1-2:30 p.m. Call (724) 444-0064.

Gateway North AARP #3586 meets at 1 p.m., the 3rd Monday of the month, at West View Banquet Hall at 398 Perry Hwy. Short meeting with entertainment, and cake & coffee.

Everyone is welcome.

SEPTEMBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

meetings, noon, Aug. 8, Life Pittsburgh; 5:30 p.m., Sept. 12, Life Pittsburgh; noon, Oct. 10, Life Pittsburgh Greentree; 5:30 p.m., Nov. 14, Wexford House.

meetings: 5:30 p.m. Sept. 12, Wexford House; 12 p.m., Oct. 10, Life Pittsburgh; 5:30 p.m., Nov. 14, Wexford House. For info, visit http:// www.lifepittsburgh.org or call (412) 388-8050 ext. 6311.

National Aging in Place Monthly

UPMC Senior Communities offers

48

National Aging in Place Monthly

Amazing Singles, for singles in the Pittsburgh region, visit: www.amazingsingles.com/pittsburgh.html.

Catholic Alumni Club of Pittsburgh, has dances, retreats

and plays various sports and other great events. Visit their website http://www.cacpittsburgh.org/.

AUP Club, have fun & meet new

people with the Association of University People/AUP. We are looking for single, 4-year college graduates over 50 to join us for monthly dinners, meet at various social spots, gatherings and Scrabble. For info, call (412) 734-8445 or visit us at www.aupsinglespittsburgh.org.

Visit Pittsburgh Events & Festivals lists upcoming events for singles, kids, and married folks. It enlightens Pittsburghers on dining, shopping and recreational events.

Go to http://www.visitpittsburgh. com/events-festivals.

Support Groups Alzheimer’s Support Group, 10 a.m., 1st Monday of each month, St. Catherine of Sweden Parish, 2554 Wildwood Rd. Call Suzie, at (724) 799-7049.

Bereavement Support Group (for

Widows/Widowers over 50), 1-2:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Wed., St. Sebastian, Haber Hall. To register, call (412) 366-1300.

Home Instead Senior Care®

has a program to help families in Northwest Allegheny County manage the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Free training is available at HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com.

S UPP O RT O UR TRO O P S

Paramount Senior Living at

Cranberry Alzheimer’s Affiliated Support Group meets 2 p.m., the last Friday. Contact Pam, at (724) 779-5020.

Volunteer Opportunities: Hope Hospice is looking for volunteers to visit Hospice patients. Call (412) 367-3685.

Neighborly Gnomes assist seniors

with disabilities with yard tasks. Visit NeedsbyNeighborhood.org.

North Hills Community Outreach

needs volunteer dispatchers for their senior shuttles. For info, contact Kerry at kkmulhern@nhco.org or (412) 449-0151.

North Hills Community Outreach

urgently needs volunteers in the upper Route 28 corridor to help seniors. Visit http://nhco.org/volunteer-opportunities/volunteer-helpseniors/. For details, call Kerry, (412) 449-0151 or kkmulhern@nhco.org.

Pittsburgh OASIS Intergenerational Tutor Program

seeks volunteers (50+) to tutor in Pittsburgh & Woodland Hills School Districts in grades K-4. Trainings are held at the Duquesne Light Building downtown Pittsburgh. For info or to register, contact John at OASIS at (412) 393-7648 or jdspehar@oasisnet.org.

UPMC Passavant Auxiliary Membership Opportunities,

are you looking for an opportunity for social interaction with other dedicated people in support of UPMC Passavant McCandless and Cranberry? Then join UPMC Passavant Auxiliary’s tradition of caring. The Auxiliary meets the 2nd Monday of each month (Sept.-June) at 10 a.m. New members welcome.

For info, contact Alice at (412) 7486640 or burkea2@ph.upmc.edu.

Ursuline Services’ Checks and Balances program assists those

who have difficulty with financial affairs. Register at (412) 224-4700 x113 or ktobin@ursulinesupport.org.

Trips Perrymont N. AARP #2991, Trains

& Tunes in West Virginia, Sept.

10-12. For info and reservations, call (412) 327-4181 or (412) 389-2369.

St. Alexis Over 50 trips: Cuyahoga Excursion, Oct. 18, historical ride thru Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Call Dave (412) 366-3789.

Veterans Bus Trips to Washington, D.C.

By Paula Green

H

onor Flight Pittsburgh recognizes American War Veterans for their sacrifices and achievements by transporting them via deluxe motor coach to Washington, D.C., to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices.

“We take World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans to D.C. to see their memorials and honor them for their service. Since starting in 2005, we have taken over 200,000 on the trip from over 130 cities in the USA. From Pittsburgh we go by bus; it is a long day but an amazing day,” said Ron Schall, board member for Honor Flight Pittsburgh.

“Our next trip is September 29. We have two busses going. When we return at 10:30 p.m., the welcome home is amazing. We will have fire and police line the streets – lights flashing, sirens blasting and large flags. Patriot riders will also line the street. The busses will be greeted by 200300 people to welcome them home. The Vietnam vets appreciate this more because of the welcome they would have received in the 70s was non-existent.” For more information on this Vets trip, visit https://www.honorflightpittsburgh.org/ A second veterans group will be heading to Washington in October. This band of vets began their trips in the fall of 2006. Jim Hilts of Coraopolis, who is a Vietnam War veteran, was on a quest to take his father, a World War II veteran, to see the WWII Memorial in the nation’s capital. Unfortunately, Hilt’s father passed away before its completion. In his honor, he vowed to get as many World War II veterans to D.C. before it was “too late.”

Over the past 12 years, these veterans excursions have been biannual – every May and October.

They’re organized by volunteers who have had fathers that served in World War II. The trips are financed through donations, and there is no charge for veterans. To date, this group has taken 1,894 veterans to D.C. to see the memorials.

Ross Township resident Jackie Cain has been assisting with these tours since 2007. “We have pickup points in Beaver, Greentree-Parkway Center, Ross Park Mall and Monroeville. We also stop at turnpike entrances between Monroeville and Breezewood for Veterans. We provide them with meals; have a nurse and volunteers on each bus and wheel chairs. Each veteran is given a WWII, Korean or Vietnam hat made in America,” said Cain.

Once the veterans reach D.C., they visit the World War II Memorial, where an honor guard greets the vets and a military chaplain recites a prayer. The Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial are included. They also go through Arlington National Cemetery for the “Changing of the Guard” and the Iwo Jima Memorial.

“On one of our trips, a gentleman got on the bus in Monroeville and saw an empty seat next to a vet, and when he started to ask if he could sit there, he stopped in mid-sentence.

Then they both started to laugh. They went to high school together and enlisted together. After the war ended, they never saw each other until they came on our bus trip,” said Cain.

The next Veterans Bus Trip to Washington, D.C., will be held on Thursday, Oct. 18. To register, call Lydian Fisher at (724) 709-3614. Donations can be made to: Veterans Bus Trip at Wesbanco, 701 Corporation Street, Beaver, PA 15009. 4 4 4 www.northernconnectionmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018

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September 2018

Happenings Arts & Entertainment Legacy Theatre Movies, 2 p.m.,

Sept. 3, no movie (Labor Day); Sept.

10, All Saints; Sept. 17, Megan Leavey; Sept. 24, A Wrinkle in Time, 700 Cumberland Woods Dr., McCandless. Visit http://www.thelegacylineup.com/movies/

Legacy Theatres shows: 7:30

p.m., Sept. 15, The Return of Buddy Holly - Tribute Concert; Oct. 13, Cahal Dunne; Oct. 27, The Marcels; Nov. 10, The Vogues; Dec. 1, Johnny Angel & the Halos Christmas Show; Dec. 8, Pittsburgh Doo Wop Big Band Christmas Show, 700 Cumberland Woods Dr., McCandless. Visit http://www.thelegacylineup.com/productions.

Concerts

Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water: Songs of Hope and Joy, 2 p.m., Sept. 8, St. John

Lutheran Church of Highland, 311 Cumberland Rd., McCandless. For info, call Tom at (412) 486-2550.

Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra

mandolin music concert featuring special guest The Carlo Aonzo Trio, direct from Italy, 7 p.m., Sept. 15, at The Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center, 3579 Masonic Way, Ross Twp. Visit https://www.pittsburghmandolinorchestra.com.

Conference Passavant Hospital Foundation and the UPMC Passavant Domestic Violence Advisory Council present: Our World Today: Digital Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking, 8:30 a.m.-3

p.m., Sept. 14, Cumberland Woods Village Conference Center. Keynote Speaker: Darieth Chisolm. Visit https://upmc.asapconnected.com/ or call, (412) 748-6961.

Counseling Ask the Attorney, free counsel-

ing for qualified individuals, the 3rd Wed. of every month, 7 p.m.

Sept. 19, Millvale. Pre-register at jmboggs@nhco.org or (412) 4083830 x3217.

Courses Learn All Things Italian, Beginner’s Italian, 6:30-8:30

p.m., starts Wed., Sept. 12 runs 10 consecutive Weds; Intermediate Italian, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thurs., starts Sept. 13, runs 10 consecutive Thurs., St. Athanasius Community Center, West View. Cost for each course $75. To register, visit http:// AthanasiusWelcomesYou.org or call (412) 931-6633.

The Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program, four-day prep course,

Oct. 12 & 13, and Oct. 26 & 27, at UPMC Mercy, Sister M. Ferdinand Clark Auditorium, 1400 Locust Street, Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (Uptown). Register, at https:// www.pittsburghmercy.org/faith-communities/education/#foundationsoffaith-community-nursing-course.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers Class Leader Training, Sept. 19 &

20. Become a Certified Class Leader.

Sponsored by Hope grows. For details email info@hopegrows.net or call (412) 369-4673.

Dancing & Recreational Events Ballroom Dancing at Orchard Hill,

1st, 3rd & 5th Fri., 7-8 p.m., Beginner Dance Lesson; 8-10:30 p.m. Social Dancing; Wexford, gym. For info, visit www.orchardhillchurch.com/ or call (724) 935-5555.

Beyond the Basics Dance Lessons, 7-10 p.m., Fri, Oct. 12,

Wexford, gym. Registration preferred. Visit orchardhillchurch.com for details.

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SEPTEMBER 2018 | www.northernconnectionmag.com

Country Knight Line Dancers

host a line dance 7-10:30 p.m. every Wed., in St. Athanasius Hall, cost $5 per person. Call, Janine (412) 9316971 or janine.beley@gmail.com.

Mommy & Me Ballet, 10-11 a.m.,

Weds, Oct. 10-Nov. 14, Wexford, Kidzburgh 3-yr. old room at Orchard Hill Church. Register by Oct. 9. Visit orchardhillchurch.com for details.

Saturday Singles Dance, for ages

40+, 8 p.m. to midnight, Sept. 8, Black & Gold Steelers/Pirate Party ; Sept. 29, A Perfect Pair Mix & Match Singles Dance. Free dance lesson 7:30 p.m., West View VFW, 386 Perry Hwy. Call (724) 316-5029 or www.dancetonight.weebly.com.

Y-Knot Square & Round Dance Club of the North Hills Free Open

House, 7:30-10 p.m., Sept. 6, at North Hills Community Baptist Church, 7801 Thompson Run Rd. Classes 6:30-8:15 p.m., Thurs evenings beginning Sept. 13. To sign-up, visit whynotdance.org or call (412) 440-3090.

Environmental Western PA Mushroom Club meetings, 7 p.m., Sept. 18, Oct. 16 (photo contest results & election of officers), Nov. 20 (potluck dinner & member photos), Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, 614 Dorseyville Rd. For info, visit wpamushroomclub.org.

Fall Events Depreciation Lands Museum:

Spinning Day, Wheels Great & Small, 1-4 p.m., Sept. 9; The Hydref, a fall festival & market faire, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Oct. 6; Lantern Tours, 6-9 p.m., Oct. 20 & 27, 4743 S. Pioneer Rd. for info, visit http://www.depreciationlandsmuseum.org/ or call (412) 486-0563.

Girls on the Run Sneaker Bash,

7-10:30 p.m., Oct. 20, The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. For info, visit https://www.girlsontherun.org/.

Kitchen Touring & Tasting, 11

a.m.-3 p.m., Sept. 29, tour interesting kitchens in Beaver/Brighton Township area. Sponsored by the Beaver Valley Branch of American Association of University Women.For info, visit www.beavervalley-pa.aauw.net.

Taste of Cranberry, 5-8 p.m., Sept.

24, DoubleTree by Hilton. Sponsored

by Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber. For info, visit http://members.pghnorthchamber.com.

Unique Boutique, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.,

Nov. 10, Edgeworth Club, 511 East Drive, Sewickley. Fifty artisan & vendors, clothing, gourmet food, home décor, jewelry and accessories. Presented by Heritage Valley Health System Foundation. For info, call (412) 749-7050. Shopping, buffet lunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Oct. 31.

Register online at www.heritagevalley.org.

Films For the Loves of Books, 10 a.m.-

2:30 p.m., Oct. 6, La Roche College.

Sponsored by the North Hills branch of AAUW. For info, visit https:// northhills-pa.aauw.net.

Fundraiser Babcock Dental Center’s Free Dental event, “Freedom Day,” 9

a.m.-2 p.m., Sept. 7, 3372 Babcock Blvd. for current or retired veterans, police officers, fireman, first responders & their immediate families. For info, call (412) 369-9010.

Gardening Greybrooke Garden Club meeting, 9:30 a.m., Sept. 12, Fellowship Hall at Parkwood United Presbyterian Church, 4289 Mt. Royal Blvd. Topic: Perennials Three Seasons of Color in the Garden. Guests are requested to come at 10:30 a.m.

Greybrooke Garden Club Garage Sale, 8 a.m.-noon, Oct. 6,

at Parkwood United Presbyterian Church, 4289 Mt. Royal Blvd. For info, call Bonnie at (412) 366-3689.

Ingomar Garden Club meets 10:30

a.m., the 1st Wed. of the month, thru Nov., at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 311 Cumberland Road, McCandless Twp. Business meeting followed by a light luncheon and speaker. All perspective members are invited.

Visit https://www.ingomar-gardenclub.com/

Health & Wellness Butler Community College Presents Bodiography, 8 p.m.,

Sept. 29, Succop Theater. For info, visit http://www.bodiographycbc. com.

Co-ed Indoor Soccer, 7:30-9 p.m.,

Thurs, Sept. 13-Dec. 13, (no class Nov. 22), Wexford, gym. For info, visit www.orchardhillchurch.com/ or call (724) 935-5555.

Co-ed Volleyball, 7:30-9 p.m., Tues, Sept. 11-Dec. 11, Wexford, gym. For info, visit www.orchardhillchurch. com/ or call (724) 935-5555.

First Place 4 Health is a Christian

Bible-based weight loss group that meets 6:15-7:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 536 Lincoln Ave., Bellevue. Call (412) 487-4819.

Living Life Post Cancer Treatment Program, 6-8:30 p.m., Sept. 19-Nov.

7, UPMC Passavant-Cranberry, 1 St. Francis Way Cranberry Twp. Register at (412) 338-1919.

Parkinson’s Exercise programs

are available at the Oxford Athletic Club in Wexford. For details, visit http://www.oxfordathleticclub.com/ knocking-out-parkinsons-with-thenewest-programs-at-oxford/ or call (724) 933-1911.

PA Polio Survivors Network

live webcast: The Best of PPS and Something Brand New with Dr. Richard Bruno, 1-3 p.m., Sept. 15, at Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital, 303 Camp Meeting Rd., Sewickley.

Followed by an informal Watson Home reunion. For registration and info, contact papoliowebcast@gmail. com or call (724) 283-5814.

Revelations Fitness® Fusion (car-

dio, strength & flexibility) classes, 9:30 a.m., Mon; 6:30 p.m., Thurs., 2 p.m., Sundays, Get Moving for those with special needs, Woodland Valley Church, Mars; 6:30 p.m., Tues., Revelations Fitness® Fusion, North Way Christian Community. Contact heather.simplynatural@gmail.com.

Tai Chi Classes, gentle martial

art that provides health benefits, 1:30 p.m., Tues., at St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church, 2365 McAleer Rd., corner of Rochester Rd., Franklin Park. Visit www.stbrendans.org or call (412) 364-5974.

Tai Chi Exercise, 11 a.m.-noon,

Sats, Sept. 8-Dec. 8, (no class Nov. 24), Wexford, gym. For info, visit www.orchardhillchurch.com/ or call (724) 935-5555.

Historical Greater Pittsburgh Civil War Round Table lecture New York Civil

War Sites, 7 p.m., Sept. 17, Hampton Township Community Center, 1301 McCully Rd. Free & open to the public.

Library Comedy Night to Benefit Shaler North Hills Library, 7 p.m., Sept.

15, Shaler Area Middle School Auditorium, 1800 Mt. Royal Blvd. in Glenshaw. For infor, contact Sharon at Shaler North Hills Library at (412) 486-0211.

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St. Barnabas Charities Ladies Day Out October 20th

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ake the day off and join St. Barnabas Charities for a Ladies Day designed especially for you. Ladies Day Out will be held Saturday, October 20, from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Tavern 86 by Hines Ward & Vines Wine Bar located at 530 Northpointe Circle, Seven Fields, PA. New this year are prize drawings every half hour. Prizes include a diamond pendant, Nemacolin Woodlands Stay & Spa package, designer purses, wine basket, Gervasi Vineyard package and Tumi luggage.

Tickets are $80, and include a chance to win prizes every half hour, fabulous food stations, shopping, wine, cocktails, music & more! Plus, basket and 50/50 raffles.

All proceeds from the Ladies Day Out event support the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund. The Fund enables patients and residents to receive more than $7 million in free care each year.

Ladies Day Out is designed to be a day to take some time for yourself, relax and spend time with friends — all for a good cause! Registration is available online at StBarnabasCharities.com or by calling 724625-3770. 4 4 4 www.northernconnectionmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018

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Northland Library, Bells Across

America, 4-5:30 p.m., Sept. 17; Launch a Rocket with the Heinz History Center, 7-8 p.m., Sept. 19; Mission, 4:30 p.m., Oct. 2. Fall Vendor & Craft Fair, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sept. 15, Ross Township Community Center, sponsored by Northland Library Foundation. For info, visit www.northlandlibrary.org or (412) 366-8100.

Shaler North Hills Library, Get In

Tune with Nature: A Partnership with the PA Master Naturalist Program: The Six Senses of Nature, 2-3:30 p.m. or 6:30-8:30 p.m., Sept. 18; Oh ‘Deer!’ Mammals in our Area, 6:308:30 p.m., Oct. 16;

Conservation: How we Interact with the Natural World, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Nov. 13. For info, visit http://www.shalerlibrary.org/.

Networking AM Spirit Business Link Cranberry Chapter, a business

networking group, meets 7:15 a.m. every Wed, at North Park Deckhouse, Rt. 19, Cranberry Twp. Contact Ralph at ralph@woodhyrst.com.

AM Spirit Business Link McCandless Chapter, a business networking group, meets at noon

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every Wed, at Billy’s Roadhouse, 10150 Old Perry Hwy. Contact Adam at adam@navageinsurance.com.

AM Spirit Business Link Pittsburgh North Chapter, a busi-

ness networking group, meets 8 a.m. every Thurs, at Sports Grille at Cranberry. Contact Dan at novakovich@zoominternet.net.

AM Spirit Business Link Wexford Chapter, a business networking

group, meets 7:15 a.m. every Mon, at Eat N’ Park, Franklin Village.

Contact Jen at jnodonnell86@yahoo. com.

Amity Lodge #45 affiliated with

Italian Sons & Daughters of America is welcoming new members.

Meetings are held the 2nd Sunday of the month with a social & refreshments. If interested, call Joanne at (724) 443-8303.

Butler County Business Matters

Friday Morning Monthly Coffee Club, 9 a.m., Sept. 28, Suncrest Golf & Grille, 137 Brownsdale Rd. For info call (724) 283-2222.

Western PA Professional Business Association Network Breakfast, 7:15 a.m., Tuesdays,

King’s Restaurant, Rt. 8, Gibsonia.

Call Mary Ann, at (724) 935-2221 or www.wpabusiness.com.

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Outreach Donate your vehicle to NHCO’s

Transportation Assistance program.

Free pickup or towing and hassle-free donation process. For details, visit nhco.org/donate/donate-car or (412) 408-3830 x3225.

Knitters needed to join the Busy Hands Group at The Olive Branch

Fair Trade Store and Missions. The group meets 9:15-11:15 a.m., 1st & 3rd Monday of the month, at 11160 Perry Highway in Wexford. Bring your needles! For info, call (724) 799-8700.

Nativity Lutheran Church, 4517

Mt. Royal Blvd. in Allison Park is a donation site for non-perishable groceries for North Hills Community Outreach for its three food pantries.

Drop-off hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit, www.nativitylutheranchurch15101.org.

North Hills Community Outreach’s Pathways program

offers goal-setting help for those who are struggling. Call Abby at North Boroughs (412) 307-0069; Nicole in Millvale (412) 408-3830 or Shela in McKees Rocks (412) 331-1685 x233.

North Hills Community Outreach’s staff or volunteer speakers will speak to your congregation, civic group or

school at no charge. For details, contact Jen at JLKissel@nhco.org or (412) 487-6316 opt. 1 x3112.

North Hills Food Bank, 10 a.m.-

1:45 p.m. every Tues & Thurs, rear parking lot of Hiland Presbyterian Church, 845 Perry Highway. Call, (412) 366-7477 or www.northhillsfoodbank.com. Donations always welcome.

UPMC Passavant Auxiliary Membership Opportunities,

are you looking for an opportunity for social interaction with other dedicated people in support of UPMC Passavant McCandless and Cranberry? Then join UPMC Passavant Auxiliary’s tradition of caring. The Auxiliary meets the 2nd Monday of each month (Sept.-June) at 10 a.m. New members welcome.

For info, contact Alice at (412) 7486640 or burkea2@ph.upmc.edu.

Party Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH) Div. #4 Purse Party, 6 p.m. (doors open 5 p.m.),

Sept. 29, Ross Township Municipal Building, 1000 Ross Municipal Dr. Designer purses, door prizes, dinner & refreshments. For info, call Diane at (412) 298-2001 or Kathy at (412) 364-5840.

Races & Walks St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church hiking group hits the trails every

three weeks. The group meets at 9 a.m., each hike is followed by lunch at a nearby restaurant. Visit www. stbrendans.org or (412) 364-5974.

St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer, Sept. 29,

Southside Works, Pittsburgh. For info, visit http://fundraising.stjude.org/.

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley, 3rd Floor Boardroom, 303 Camp Meeting Rd., Sewickley.

For info, call Michelle at (412) 7492388.

Bereavement Support Group,

Beyond Bridge to Hope, 7-8:30 p.m., 2nd Wed., of every month, Passavant Hospital Conference Center, McCandless Twp. Free of charge, no registration is necessary. Call (412) 748-6640.

Bereavement Support Group (for

Sales Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.,

Sept. 21, Abie Abraham VA Health Care Center (outside), 353 North Duffy Road, Butler. For info, visit www.butler.va.gov/services/Health_ and_Wellness.

St. Aloysius Rummage Sale, 8

a.m.-2 p.m., Sept. 8 & 9 and Oct. 6 & 7. Visit https://saintaloysiuspittsburgh.org or call (412) 821-2351.

School & Classes Fox Chapel School District Safety Plan meeting, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 25, Fox Chapel Area High School LGI (large group instruction) room, 611 Field Club Rd., O’Hara Twp.

GAB SQUAD has Fall/Winter assem-

bly programs, kick-offs and workshop event ideas for your school. For details, visit www.GabSquad.com.

widows/widowers over 50), 1-2:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Wed., St. Sebastian Parish, Haber Hall. To register, call Anchorpoint at (412) 366-1300.

Bereavement Support Group in the North Hills, 10-11:30 a.m.,

2nd & 4th Thurs. of each month, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1965 Ferguson Rd., Allison Park. To register, call (724) 334-6600.

Beyond Mourning, is a free, shortterm, weekly support group that combines grief education and peer support, Sept. 10-Oct. 29, Hiland Presbyterian church in Ross Twp. If you would like to attend, call (412) 364-9000 or email hilandchurchoffice@gmail.com.

Brain Injury & Stroke Support Group, noon-1:15 p.m., 3rd Weds.,

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, Sewickley, 3rd Floor Board Room.

For info, call Michelle at (412) 7492388.

Brain Injury Support Group, Mind

Glade Run announces that The

Glade: A Life Development Academy is now accepting applications. For info, visit gladerun.org.

Matters, 7-9 p.m., every 3rd Thurs., of the month, Butler Memorial Hospital, East Brady St. in the Dimmick Center.

Call (724) 283-6666.

North Hills School District offi-

Brain Tumor Support Group, 6:30-

cials are accepting nominations for the 2019 North Hills Distinguished Alumni Award through Nov. 15.

Recipient(s) will be announced in February and recognized during High School Awards Night that is held each spring at North Hills High School. For details, visit www.nhsd. net.

St. Stephen’s Church Classical Academy, located in Sewickley

Village is open for enrollment for grades 1-3. For details, visit https:// classicalchristian.org/measure-it.

Seminars Homeless Children’s Education Fund, 10 a.m., Sept. 11, Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church. Sponsored by the Fox Chapel Area Affiliate of the American Association of University Women. For info, email lbtotten@ comcast.net.

Support Groups Amputee Support Group, 4-5:30 p.m., 3rd Wed. of every month,

8 p.m., 3rd Thurs., AHN Health & Wellness Pavilion. Free & open to cancer patients & caregivers over 18, no students. Sponsored by the Cancer Caring Center. Register at (412) 622-1212.

Breast Cancer Support Groups,

5:30-7 p.m., 3rd Mon., AGH Hospital; 7-8:30 p.m.,1st & 3rd Weds, UPMC Passavant Cranberry; 6-7:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Wed., AHN Health & Wellness Pavilion. Free & open to cancer patients & caregivers over 18, no students. Sponsored by the Cancer Caring Center. Register at (412) 622-1212.

Bridge to Hope, 7 p.m., every Wed., of the month, Passavant Hospital Conference Center, at Cumberland Woods Village, McCandless Twp. For drug & alcohol addiction. Visit bridge2hope.org, or call (412) 7485120. bridge2hope.org.

Christian 12-Step Recovery, 7-9

p.m., Thurs thru Dec. 13 (no meeting Nov. 22), Wexford Gathering Place. Visit orchardhillchurch.com for details.

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Ohio Valley Hospital’s “A Toast to the Community” Brings Enchanted Fall Fun

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hio Valley Hospital’s 8th annual “A Toast to the Community” invites hospital supporters and community members to savor fall flavors while carrying out the phrase, “eat, drink, and be merry.” This year’s wine tasting will be held at 5:30 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 12, at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh International Airport.

A new red is the culinary completion to your go-to dish or a white that’s perfect to serve when entertaining guests.

Chairman Selection® Wines will be featured along with craft brews, paired with food stations ranging from comfort classics to delectable desserts. Local winemakers Wine of Friends will also be in attendance with a great wine blend.

There will be raffle prizes and entertainment by Teddy Pantelas Trio.

Proceeds benefit community health initiatives through the hospital’s annual Diabetes Day, 38th annual 5K, and Depression Screenings.

For further information, contact Maggie McCauley, marketing and special events coordinator, at (412) 777-6313 or email mmccauley@ohiovalleyhospital.org., or visit https:// ohiovalleyhospital.org/patients-visitors/programs-and-events/ wine-tasting/ 4 4 4 www.northernconnectionmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018

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Hiland Preschool’s Fall/Winter Children’s Clothing Consignment Sale Saturday, Sept. 22, 8:00am - 3:00pm Sunday, Sept. 23, 1:00pm - 3:00pm (Red Tag Sale 25-50% off) Gently worn clothes NB - size 12 as well as toys, books and baby equipment.

Proceeds support our non-profit preschool.

845 Perry Highway, Ross Twp. consignmentsale@hilandpreschool.com

Compulsive Eaters Anonymous, 10:30 a.m.,

Tues., Prayer Room of Memorial Park Church, 8800 Peebles Rd., McCandless. For info, call Jane at (412) 951-9517.

DivorceCare, 7-9 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 6-Dec. 6, (no

meeting Nov. 22), Wexford Student Ministry Room, Upper Level at Orchard Hill Church. Visit orchardhillchurch.com for details.

General Cancer Center Support Groups, 6:30-8

p.m., 2nd & 4th Weds, UPMC Passavant Cranberry.

Free & open to cancer patients & caregivers over 18, no students. Sponsored by the Cancer Caring Center. Register at (412) 622-1212.

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GriefShare, 7-8:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 6-Dec. 6,

Overeaters Anonymous, 7 p.m., Tues, at St.

Grief Support Group for widows and widowers

Parent-Child Alienation Support Group, 7-8:30

Lupus Foundation meetings, 7-8:30 p.m., every

Parkinson’s Support Group, 10 a.m., 1st Tues of

Metastatic Cancer Support Group, 5-6:30 p.m.,

Parkinson’s Support Group, 1-2:30 p.m., last

(no meeting Nov. 22), Wexford, Room 205, Upper Level, at Orchard Hill Church. Visit orchardhillchurch.com for details. over fifty, 2:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Wed., of the month, St. Sebastian Parish, 311 Siebert Rd. Visit http:// www.saintsebastianparish.org/ 3rd Tues, UPMC Passavant Hospital, 9100 Babcock Blvd., Donor Hall. Call (412) 261-5886 or ccallen92@aol.com.

1st Thur. of each month, UPMC Passavant HospitalMcCandless. For cancer patients and survivors with metastatic disease. Caregivers are welcomed. No cost to attend. Led by Wendy Myers, MSW, LSW. Free parking & light refreshments. Sponsored by the Cancer Caring Center. New members register at (412) 622-1212.

National Coalition Cancer Coalition (NOCC) “Teal Hearts Network” meets 6-8 p.m., the 3rd

Monday of every month at the Cancer Caring Center. This network group is for ovarian cancer survivors. For info, visit http://ovarian.org/component/events/event/483.

Our Clubhouse Cancer Support Groups, 6:30-8

p.m., 1st Tues, Breast Cancer Support and Prostate Cancer Group; 6-8 p.m., 2nd Tues, Multiple Myeloma; 6-8 p.m., 3rd Tues, Living Life with Metastatic Breast Cancer; 6:30-8 p.m., 2nd Thurs., Pancreatic Cancer Group, 2816 Smallman St., Pgh. Call (412) 338-1919 to register.

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Brendan’s Episcopal Church, 2365 McAleer Rd., corner of Rochester Rd. in Franklin Park. For info, visit www.stbrendans.org or call (412) 364-5974. p.m. Thurs., Sept. 13-Dec. 13, (no meeting Nov. 22) Wexford Room 204, Upper Level, at Orchard Hill Church. Visit orchardhillchurch.com for details. each month, Rose E. Schneider YMCA. For details, contact Dale at (724) 591-8121 or d.reckless@mrsphysicaltherapy.com.

Wed of each month, HealthSouth Harmarville, 320 Guys Run Rd. Contact Jessica, at (412) 828-1300 x7710.

Pittsburgh L.A.M.P.S. is for those grieving the

loss of a child – includes miscarriages, still birth and prematurity. Meetings held 7:30 p.m., 1st Tues of the month, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Cumberland Rd., McCandless. Contact Laurie.

Jackson@missfoundation.org.

Recovery from Codependency, 7-9 p.m. Thurs.,

Wexford, Kidzburgh 3-yr. old room at Orchard Hill Church. Visit orchardhillchurch.com for details.

S.P.I.N. For Single Moms: 6-7:30 p.m., 4th

Monday of the Month in Bellevue. For details, call (412) 366-1300.

Stroke Support Group, 1-2:30 p.m., once a month on Weds., HealthSouth Harmarville, 320 Guys Run Rd., For info, contact Valerie at (412) 826-2784 or valerie.bucek@healthsouth.com.

Little Sisters of the Poor Spaghetti Dinner The Little Sisters of the Poor Home is hosting a Spaghetti Dinner which will be held from 4-7 p.m., Sept. 15, at 1028 Benton Avenue in Brighton Heights.

Tickets will be sold at the door and take out is available. Cost is $8 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and $5 for children. Meals include salad, bread, beverage and dessert. There will also be a bake sale, gift basket auction, 50/50 and fresh produce for sale. For information call the Home, at (412) 307-1100.

Under One Roof supports people who

are housing extended family members under their roof. The group meets 6:30 p.m. every other Wed. at St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church, 2365 McAleer Rd., Franklin Park. St. For details, visit www. stbrendans.org or (412) 364-5974.

Veterans North Pittsburgh Quilts of Valor

meets 7-9 p.m., 2nd Mon., of the month, Quilt Company, Middle Rd., Allison Park. Call (412) 487-9532 or www.qovf.org.

Pennsylvania Community-Based Programs Awarded VA Grants to Support Disabled Veterans

in Adaptive Sports at Slippery Rock University. Visit www.va.gov/adaptivesports.

VA Butler Healthcare Flu Vaccination Clinics to Veterans at

the main campus, Community-Based Outpatient Clinics, and other community locations this fall. For a list of date and times, call (724) 287-4781 or 1-800-362-8262.

VA Butler Healthcare’s Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Program now offers Veterans the

opportunity to work one-on-one with a personal trainer in its Wellness Center at the Abie Abraham VA Health Care Center. For info, visit https://www. butler.va.gov/services/Health_and_ Wellness.asp or call, 878-271-6484.

Veterans Breakfast Club Meetings, held every month throughout the Pittsburgh region. For details, visit http://veteransbreakfastclub.com/.

Veterans Discover HOPE HereCareer, 3rd Wed., 6:30-8:45 p.m.,

Cranberry Twp., Municipal Building, 2525 Rochester Rd., Cranberry Twp. Free. Call (724) 779-8323, discoverhopehere@gmail.com or www.discoverhopehere.com.

Veterans Fitness Classes 5 Days

a week, 4:30-5:30 p.m., VA Butler Healthcare Auditorium (bldg. 1), 325 New Castle Rd., Butler. Visit www. prevention.va.gov/B_Physically_ Active.asp.

Veteran HOPE, support group for

women Veterans recovering from mental illness, meet 6-8 p.m., every Tues., VA Butler Healthcare, Room 217WS, Building 1. Call (724) 996—8892 or (724) 285-2756 or butlerva.gov.

Veterans’ Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Support Group, 10 a.m., Fridays, VA Butler Healthcare. Call 800-362-8262 ext. 2498.

“Veteran X” mental health & sub-

stance abuse recovery program for vets meets 6 p.m., every Mon., at VA Butler Healthcare, Room 213, East South (ES), 325 N. Castle Rd., Butler.

Visit http://www.butler.va.gov/.

Volunteer Opportunities American Cancer Society is looking

for volunteers to drive cancer patients who are undergoing treatments to & from their appts. Call (412) 919-1100 or emailsharon.stalter@cancer.org.

ESL Conversation Friends, which

teaches everyday language skills to immigrants meets at 10 a.m., Tues. & Thurs., and 7 p.m. Weds, at St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church, 2365 McAleer Rd., Franklin Park. New students & volunteer tutors are welcome. Visit stbrendans.org or (412) 364-5974.

Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council volunteer tutors needed to

work with adult literacy students on basic literacy skills, 4 hour/week commitment. Free tutor training provided.

Call (412) 393-7600 or http://www. gplc.org/become-a-volunteer.cfm.

Hope Hospice is looking for volun-

teers for their patients. Volunteers don’t necessarily have the time, just have the heart! Call (412) 367-3685.

Mission Vision needs volunteers to

help with Provide vision–Give hope.

Call (724) 553-3114 or www.missionvision.org.

Seeking hospice volunteers...if you can find the time to sit with hospice patients, we would love to have you.

Call Bethany Hospice, at (412) 9212209.

National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Pittsburgh Chapter Run/Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer

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he National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Pittsburgh Chapter 18th annual Run/Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer will be held Sunday, September 16, at North Park Swimming Pool Loop. The organization’s signature event, held in 20 locations nationally, helps to fund its programs for earlier awareness, quality of life, community outreach and research initiatives. With one in 75 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer and no early detection test for the disease, the NOCC aims to create awareness through the event by educating the general public on the early signs and symptoms.

“This year we have a new theme for our event, ‘Together in Teal,’ which captures our commitment to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. Funds raised through our signature run/ walk event directly support our local programs, research initiatives and earlier awareness outreach,” said Melissa Aucoin, director of National Events and Operations of the NOCC. The event centers on honoring ovarian cancer survivors, remembering those lost to the disease and empowering the community with knowledge. NOCC invites you to join the nearly 2,500 expected participants at the Pittsburgh event by going to runwalk.ovarian.org/pittsburgh. To learn more about ovarian cancer, visit us at ovarian.org. 4 4 4

Workshops

Tutoring volunteers needed for

Anchorpoint’s Tutoring Mentoring Program. For details, call (412) 366-1300 x123.

Volunteers needed at The Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh, 282 Sarah Street on

the Southside. Help make a difference in the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. Call (412) 3810277 or www.EmmausPgh.org.

Autism Connection Workshops,

Introduction to Autism for Parents & Caregivers of Children, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 11; Chew on This: Solution for Selective Eaters, 9:30 a.m., Sept.

15. For more info, https://autismofpa.org/.

Stephen Ministry Workshop,

9 a.m.-1 p.m., Sept. 29, St. John Neumann Church, 2230 Rochester Rd. Cost is $15 per person or $50 for a group of four or more. For details, visit www.stephenministry. org/workshop or (314) 428-2600.

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NC F E AT URE

Premier Personal Care and Memory Care Coming Soon to McCandless

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ooking for the best in Senior housing? Then look no further! Stonecrest of McCandless in now pre-leasing for March 2019 move-ins. Whether you currently need care or are living independently and want to look towards the future and have the options to age within our community, we have a place you need to consider calling home.

The care coupled with the life enrichment programming provides a premium platform for seniors to age. The Good Life at Stonecrest is a life enrichment philosophy focused on metrics of life that provide optimum experiences for seniors to remain engaged and active with their mind, body and spirit.

There will also be a secure Memory Care neighborhood for residents that need a specialized and thoughtful approach focused on those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Stonecrest’s individually tailored programs provide the stability and safety needed for the independence residents desire. “We are so excited to bring this unique living experience to such a beautiful and vibrant setting,” said Lara Anderson, Director of Marketing “We are creating a premier choice for personal and memory care in McCandless.”

The distinctive community will feature a variety of amenities, including a bistro, movie theater, fitness and wellness center, salon and spa, massage therapy, library, and amazing outdoor spaces.

Stonecrest of McCandless will be the first Stonecrest Senior Living community in the Pittsburgh area, but already operates in Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana and Michigan. Check Stonecrest of McCandless out online at StonecrestofMcCandless.com. 4 4 4

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