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N A V I G A T I N G T H E R O A D TO S U C C E S S

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650 WASHINGTON ROAD / SUITE 1000 / PITTSBURGH PA 15228 / 412 343 8700 / W W W. M C M A H O N - F I N A N C I A L . C O M

2

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2008

It’s time to invest in the things that matter most.

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Homesites from the mid-$200’s.

Luxury Cottages from the $600’s.

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

3

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BROOKLYN BOY by Don Margulies . . . . . . . . . . 9/4-9/20 The fall begins with this “fresh and pleasurable� comedy.

KITCHEN WITCHES by Caroline Smith. . 9/25-10/11 Recipe for laughter: Feuding chefs co-host a TV cooking show.

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BOX OFFICE (724) 745-6300 www.littlelake.org 4

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2008

0UBLISHERS Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole Superintendent of Schools 3TEERING #OMMITTEE Mark S. MansďŹ eld Assistant Township Manager Paul K. Fox School District Representative %DITORS AND 3TAFF Linda M. Dudzinski, Editor-in-Chief Terry Kish, Associate Editor Colleen DeMarco, OfďŹ ce Manager Andrew McCreery, Finance Lynn Dempsey, Senior Advertising Associate Erin Gibson Allen, Advertising Associate Julie Sweet, Advertising Associate Thank you to our volunteer contributors this issue: Erin Gibson Allen, Lou Angelo, Amy Bahm, Raymond Berrott, Bernadette Fink, Dina Fulmer, Nancy Geronian (YWG), Wayne Herrod, Alison Hess, Kathleen Himler, Bridget Hotrum, Nancy Jakacic, Amy Kerman, Jeff Krantz, Donna Lund, Dr. Patrick O’Toole, Andrea Perry, Angela Petersen, Rachel Riley, Debra Smit, Mary Lynne Spazok, Rebecca Stern, Jessica Stombaugh, Jill Thurston, Maribeth Twerdok, and Connie Wilson.

A special thank you to 4/$!9 S 2008 summer intern Julie Balzarini, a USC resident and sophomore at Villanova University, and to Liyun Jin, a USCHS 2008 graduate who helped edit this issue.

Young Writers Guild (YWG) promotes and encourages young writers in the Upper St. Clair School District to provide articles of interest for this community magazine.

The 55th issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a joint publication of the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair. Š Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of this magazine, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the Editor is strictly prohibited.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

1820 McLaughlin Run Road Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 Phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284 Fax: 412-851-2592 Email: usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us Township: 412-831-9000 School District: 412-833-1600 Printed by Herrmann Printing & Litho, Inc. £Çä™Ê ÂœĂ•}Â?>ĂƒĂƒĂŠ Ă€ÂˆĂ›iĂŠUĂŠ*ÂˆĂŒĂŒĂƒLĂ•Ă€}Â…]ĂŠ* ĂŠÂŁxĂ“Ă“ÂŁ {£Ó‡Ó{·{£ääÊUĂŠ >Ă?\ĂŠ{ÂŁĂ“Â‡Ă‡ĂŽÂŁÂ‡Ă“Ă“Ăˆn 6

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is happy to bring to you our biennial resident’s guide. Making it possible are,

left to right, Erin Gibson Allen, Julie Sweet, Andrew McCreery, Colleen DeMarco, Mark MansďŹ eld, Terry Kish, Paul Fox, and Linda Dudzinski. Inset photo: Lynn Dempsey.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a community magazine that is dedicated to promoting the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair by recognizing the gifts and contributions of the people who live and work here.

The 55th issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY magazine is made possible through the combined resources of the staff and volunteers of the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair.

Thanks are extended to the staff and volunteers for their enthusiasm and efforts on this continuing project.

3CHOOL "OARD $IRECTORS

4OWNSHIP "OARD OF #OMMISSIONERS

Angela B. Petersen, President Amy L. Billerbeck, Vice President Barbara L. Bolas Carol B. Coliane Daniel A. Iracki Louis A. Piconi Rebecca A. Stern

Ched Mertz, President, Ward 4 Karen M. McElhinny, Vice President, At Large Preston W. Shimer, Ward 1 Kenneth L. Brown, Ward 2 Robert W. Orchowski, Ward 3 Russell R. Del Re, Ward 5 Glenn R. Dandoy, At Large

William M. Sulkowski UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a non-partisan Township, School District, and community magazine.

Political advertising and political commentary are not accepted. The publishers of this magazine reserve the right to reject advertising or articles inconsistent with the objectives, image, and aesthetic standards of the magazine.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY magazine is published and mailed quarterly to residents and businesses in Upper St. Clair. Extra copies of the magazine are available at the Township of Upper St. Clair Municipal Building and Township Library. If you did not receive a copy in the mail, please call 412-833-1600, extension 2284.

The next issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY will be the Winter 2008 issue and will be published in November 2008. Articles that were submitted but not published in this issue are on ďŹ le for consideration in upcoming issues. Articles and announcements may be sent to: Editor, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 or email UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY at usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us.

3UBSCRIPTION )NFORMATION If you know someone living outside the Township who would enjoy receiving UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, please send $12 to cover mailing and handling for the next four issues with name and address, including zip code, to our address listed to the left. Add $10 to cover international mailings.

Deadline for articles and advertising for the Winter 2008 issue is September 1, 2008. !RTICLE )NFORMATION Editor-in-Chief Linda Dudzinski–phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2681 !DVERTISING )NFORMATION OfďŹ ce Manager Colleen DeMarco–phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284 fax: 412-851-2592 7EBSITE WWW TWPUSC ORG MAGAZINE

Fall 2008

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9

! 7ORK OF !RTˆ !RT 2OONEY *R Wayne Herrod !RT 2OONEY *R is a fascinating gentleman. The son of the legendary Art Rooney Sr., “The Chief,� Art Rooney Jr. has forged his own identity with his numerous passions. Art Jr. is a family man. He and his wife of 48 years, Kay, have two sons, Mike and Art III, and two daughters, Susan and Karen, as well as six grandchildren.

Art also tells of his love for his other family—the Pittsburgh Steelers of the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. He grew up during the Steelers Empire, eventually becoming the Steelers’ director of scouting. His scouting and player knowledge were a big part of the success of the team in the 70s. The ďŹ rst four players chosen by the Steelers in the 1974 draft (Lynn Swann, Mike Webster, Jack Lambert, and John Stallworth) were later elected to the Pro Art Rooney Jr., at work on his journals Football Hall of Fame, a draft considered by many to be the best Eventually, Rooney’s main passion became his book. “I origiin NFL history. Franco Harris, Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Jack nally never wanted to put my journal stories in print, thinking Ham, Jack Lambert, and Mel Blount are just a few of the Steeler that I might offend someone. In addition, my writing style was not greats that were also drafted during his tenure. very readable.

But, after the prodding from many, I approached Art left the day-to-day Steeler operations in 1985. He remains Gene Collier from the Post Gazette to help me. He recommended vice president and one of the owners, but he has moved onto some Roy McHugh, a great sports writer who had retired from the of his other life’s passions.

Pittsburgh Press.

Roy was able to take my words and thoughts from Eighteen years ago, Art established an office in Upper the journals and create my book, Ruanaidh (Gaelic for Rooney).

St. Clair from which he still works today. Two of his biggest projMany people told me that my journal writing was similar to James ects were completed during this time, including his many journals Joyce in his book, Ulysses.

This was not intended as attery as and book on the history of the Rooney clan. “Many people may he wrote with countless digressions. In the book, not know this, but a major portion of the book’s McHugh removes my digressions.â€? work was completed right here is Upper St. Clair,â€?

Ruanaidh is a one hundred-year history of said Rooney. the Rooney family and ďŹ lled with much of the “A number of years ago, Mort Sharnik, a writer artwork that Art Rooney Jr. has commissioned, from Sports Illustrated, told me that I should write including his private collection of colored and down the stories about friends and family so they pencil sketched postcards. He decided to publish would not be forgotten. I started writing things the book mainly as a keepsake. Extra copies were down in journals, and after 12 years I had accuprinted and placed for sale. “The purpose of this mulated 42 journals, all hand written. Originally was not to make money, believe you me,â€? said I used a fountain pen, but Kay convinced me that Rooney.

I really ďŹ gured that after I gave away I was ruining too many of my shirts, so I switched copies to family and friends that the rest of the to ball-point. The journals were ďŹ lled with recolbooks would be placed with me in my cofďŹ n. I lections and stories about my family, our friends, am amazed at the public’ s overwhelmingly posiand the Steelers.â€? tive response to the book!â€?

The book is currently While continuing to write in his journals, Color postcard of John Stallworth into its second printing.

Rooney started another interesting collection— “Chuck Noll was probably the ďŹ rst person who pencil sketched postcards of popular Steelers accused me of being a writer when he told me from the 40s through the 80s. Most of them were that my scouting reports were a great read since created by USC artist Dino Guarino. “I always they were ďŹ lled with so much ďŹ ction!â€? laughed sent out notes to everybody, and I thought these Art. “However, the book’ s stories are not ďŹ ction; Steeler postcards would be a nice way of thanking they are true stories and represent a history that people and keeping in touch.â€? is important to me.

I cannot adequately express Rooney also started a collection of colored what this book means to me.� postcards produced by West Coast artist Merv Dr. Terry Kushner, assistant superintendent Corning. Corning was one of the preeminent of the USC School District, has been a friend of football artists in the county. “While I worked Art’ s for 20 years. “Art has been a great longtime with Merv for many years, we never met. The friend.

He has a world of knowledge and great collection includes football Hall of Famer Rocky stories about the Steelers and the NFL, capturBleier. I decided to do a card of Rocky because ing these moments in his book. In essence, Art my dad always said he was a Hall of Famer in Pencil sketch drawing of Rocky Bleier has captured Pittsburgh. Most impressive about many ways.�

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2008

Terri Baldacci

Nancy Beaulieu

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Noel Bliman

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2008

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Z g Z =

b d ;g My Virtual Neighborhood

Erin Gibson Allen

,ET ME TELL you about my pixel people. A forum for virtually every interest is just a quick Google search away. If something exists in the real world—you name it: yoga, organic gardening, Indian cooking—a group of people is gathered somewhere in cyberspace

What does 2008 hold for you?

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

chatting about it.

Over a year ago, I logged onto a literature forum. I read through several of the “threads,” which essentially are conversations started when a person posts a question or idea and others respond. I eventually summoned the courage to participate.

After a few weeks of posting—under an alias, of course—I received a private message, which only I could view. Someone named “Beatrice” gave me a virtual tap on the shoulder. “Come join this other forum, over here,” she implored. She provided a link.

What? A group of people, it turns out, had left the literature forum years ago and formed their own, separate forum. They enjoyed each other’s company so much that they broke off into their own semi-private electronic club. Beatrice invited me to join their group, whose members had known each other for years, were from all over the globe, and many of whom, I later learned, had met each other in real life.

Having one interest in common—literature— seemed to be enough to ensure that the group had other common interests, if divergent opinions. An accidental convergence of interest created a forum of about 400 members, only about 75 of whom posted regularly.

Conversation topics were as diverse as global warming, how to catch a mouse, and proper highway driving techniques. “Forumites” posted recipes, articles on the presidential primaries, and links to humorous You Tube videos. Comments followed, debates ensued.

People posted vacation pictures or snapshots of newborn babies. Some sought advice on topics like making a new purchase or what to read next. Many of the posts made me laugh out loud.

Some members called each other on the phone or chatted privately via email. Private or personal information was kept off the board. New members rarely stumbled in.

But many of the posts were about the darker side of life—stories of tragedy and grief. Members posted about being diagnosed with cancer or coping with kidney dialysis or suffering the loss of a job. Others chatted about enduring the break-up of a relationship or the unexpected death of a loved one.

One day a post from Beatrice silenced us all.

“Pray for me and my family,” was all she wrote. After an hour or two, she posted links to newspaper Fall 2008

articles, describing the abduction of a woman. The woman was, she said, her daughter-in-law.

Days later the news was not good. The daughter-in-law had been abducted from her home by a stranger, and later murdered, leaving behind a grief-stricken husband and young children.

Beatrice posted regularly about her shock, sadness, and anger. She posted more newspaper articles, local television news clips, and pictures of the funeral. One forum member attended the funeral, meeting Beatrice for the first time, faceto-face.

Members of the forum came together to provide support. Conference calls were made, expertise was called upon, and within a few months, a sizable 529 college savings account for the surviving children had been created and funded by forum members. The group reached out to help the innocent children, devastated by a random, unthinkable act of criminal violence.

I remember carefree days as a kid, running around the neighborhood with my posse of friends like we owned the world. I would stay outside on warm days for hours, and my parents didn’t panic when I disappeared over a hill. When dinner was ready, my mom would yell out the front door. If I failed to respond, she would call around to friends’ houses, until I was found and sent home.

Today’s parents, myself among them, are too well informed of the dangers that lie in wait in the world to feel comfortable giving their children this same freedom. Parents feel less secure about providing their children space in which they can freely roam.

“Stay in the yard,” we tell them. “Play ‘ghost in the graveyard,’ but do it where I can see you.”

We book play dates and schedule activities and cover our kids in sunscreen and bug spray. We tell them to wear their helmets, and to stay off the Internet without adult supervision. We lecture them on looking both ways and on being wary of strangers.

These rules seem clear cut. A more complicated lesson, though, I have not been able to figure out. The callousness of evil can be devastating in equal measure as kindness can be unforeseen and overpowering. Where each hides is anyone’s guess.

I do not know where to tell my children they can find the siblings of evil and kindness, either to avoid or discover.

I expect bad people to lurk on the Internet.

I was shocked, though, when evil boldly walked through someone’s front door, and changed one family’s life forever. I was humbled that in the aftermath of this evil, kindness could be found among virtual strangers, linked by a common interest and a common sense of decency. Q I’d like to hear your thoughts on contemporary parenting in Upper St. Clair. Share your ideas about my column with me in person, or email your thoughts to me at eallen@uscsd.k12.pa.us. Let me know if, like me, you’re from here.

T

Managed Services, Managed Better

Russ Phillips, Food Services Director Joe Wightkin, Support Services Director

General Election—Tuesday, November 4, 2008 0OLLS /PEN A M P M -ONDAY /CTOBER

IS 6OTER 2EGISTRATION $EADLINE $ATE (Date subject to change pending Pennsylvania legislative action.)

If you have questions regarding the election, registration, or absentee ballots, please call the Allegheny County Elections 'HSDUWPHQW DW RU YLVLW ZZZ WZSXVF RUJ 7KH 7RZQVKLS /LEUDU\ DQG WKH SRVW RIĂ€FH KDYH YRWHU UHJLVWUDWLRQ IRUPV

Please exercise your right to vote!

Ward District Polling Place 1

1

Township Building, Library Multi-purpose Room, Ground Floor - McLaughlin Run Road

1

2

Baker Elementary School, Gymnasium Morton Road

1

3

Fort Couch Middle School, Multi-purpose Room (Miranda Drive Entrance) - Fort Couch Road

1

4

Fort Couch Middle School, Multi-purpose Room (Miranda Drive Entrance) - Fort Couch Road

2

1

Fort Couch Middle School, Gymnasium (Miranda Drive Entrance) - Fort Couch Road

2

2

Westminster Presbyterian Church - Washington Road

2

3

Fort Couch Middle School, Multi-purpose Room (Miranda Drive Entrance) - Fort Couch Road

2

4

Fort Couch Middle School, Gymnasium (Miranda Drive Entrance) - Fort Couch Road

Ward District Polling Place 3 1 Recreation Center - McLaughlin Run Road 3

2

St. Louise de Marillac School - McMurray Road

3

3

Recreation Center - McLaughlin Run Road

4

1

Baker Elementary School, Gymnasium - Morton Road

4

2

Boyce Middle School, Gymnasium - Boyce Road

4

3

Boyce Middle School, Gymnasium - Boyce Road

4

4

Boyce Middle School, Gymnasium - Boyce Road

5

1

Wesley Spectrum Services, Gymnasium - Johnston Road

5

2

Wesley Spectrum Services, Gymnasium - Johnston Road

5

3

Boyce Middle School, Gymnasium - Boyce Road

Fall 2008

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

35

IT’S TIME WE REDEFINED H O N O R S T U D E N T. Today’s world demands a definition that encompasses more than academic success. It requires a “transcript” that demonstrates the ability to do the right thing as well as the smart thing.

A high grade point average alone will not guarantee a successful career or a purposeful life.

This is the very reason why California University of Pennsylvania has, for more than 150 years, dedicated itself to preparing students for both fulfilling careers and meaningful lives. We do more than pay lip service to our core values of integrity, civility and responsibility. We integrate them into the classroom, campus activities and everyday student life.

These values are fostered by faculty who devote time and personal attention to help motivate, inspire and bring out the best in every man and woman who studies here. So our students graduate with more than academic kudos and a diploma to show for their efforts. They graduate with a different degree of honor. For livelihood. And for life.

That is our mission and our difference. Building Character. Building Careers.

www.cup.edu A proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

36

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2008

(OMEWORK 7HO .EEDS )T Rachel Riley, USC Resident, Owner, The Tutor Team, LLC &ALLx THE TIME OF THE YEAR when our children go back to school and we, as parents, have mixed feelings of euphoria and anxiety. We are happy because we can control our own space once again. We can keep our house clean for at least eight hours a day while the children are at school. On the other hand, we dread the routine of becoming homework wardens ensuring that each school age member of our household does the required homework assignments for the day.

Due to the stress that homework generates in our “back-to-school” lives, a parent can almost wish for a “homeworkless” society where the kids just come home from school, do as they are told, help around the house, eat their vegetables, brush their teeth, then go to bed without a fight. That kind of perfect life does not exist, at least not in my circle. As for homework, how important is it anyway?

We all know that teachers do not give our kids homework as revenge for having 38

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2008

to deal with them all day. We endure the painful task of making our kids do their homework because we realize that homework is important to our children’s learning process.

But, do we know why homework is important? According to Dr. Sam Goldstein, a leading authority on child development and neuropsychology from the University of Utah, homework assignments and studying serve several educational needs that are essential to receiving a complete education.

In an article that he wrote along with his colleague, Dr. Sydney Zentall, “The Importance of Homework in Your Child’s Education,” they state: Through (1) practice and (2) in learning task, homework can improve your child’s achievement. Thus, it would be expected that if homework were completed accurately, not only would your child’s general knowledge and grades improve, but your child would also increase mastery of basic academic skills, such as reading, writing, spelling, and mathematics.

Like you, Chatham College for Women at Chatham University has its eye on the future. We see a globally motivated, environmentally sensitive culture, great challenges, and women prepared to meet them. Chatham women. Strengthened by a campus community that is empowering, confidence-building and intellectually stimulating. Stretched by interactive, intimate classes and involved professors. Enriched by study abroad, diverse learning experiences, and deep friendships. No wonder so many remarkable women find themselves here.

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Homework can provide other beneďŹ ts. Your child’s ability to bring an assignment home, gather and organize necessary materials to complete the assignment, return the assignment, and receive a grade, strengthens his or her sense of responsibility. Time management skills are learned. There is also improved (3) development of personal skills such as time management gained by completing homework.

Further, when homework proceeds smoothly it can become (4) a positive aspect of your relationship with your child.

Finally, although we often do not consider that homework serves a school administrative role, it offers schools an opportunity to let parents know what their children are learning.

Thus, homework can play a public relations role by (5) keeping parents informed about class activities and policies. Homework can also fulďŹ ll (6) an administrative role in helping schools achieve their overall mission of improving student’s achievement.

Due to research such as this, homework continues to be an important part of the

!

educational process. Companies, like The Tutor Team for example, have recognized the importance of homework in education and have developed programs especially designed to alleviate family stress during homework time, thus maximizing the beneďŹ ts that homework provides.

Through homework, students can set goals and enjoy feelings of accomplishment when the goals are met. Children learn how to become independent and responsible.

They practice taking initiative by beginning projects on their own and studying when necessary. Homework also closes the gap between school and home, allowing learning to happen both at school and at home.

Knowing the importance of homework makes all the minor stresses associated with homework seem worthwhile. After all, isn’t one of our goals as parents to give our children the tools that they need to succeed in life? Happy fall and happy homework to you all! Q

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Fall 2008

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

39

SD

4ECHNOLOGY

53#3$

Raymond Berrott, Director of Technology 4O SAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN an exciting technology time in our schools is a huge understatement! Here are some of the highlights.

Classrooms for the Future: This past school year, Upper St. Clair School District received a $470,000 state grant to implement the “Classrooms for the Future” program. This program provided USCHS with over 500 laptops, video projectors, and interactive whiteboards for every math and English classroom and provided funding for a technology coach to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom. In addition, the grant provided the District with a series of staff development courses.

The District has applied for a similar grant for the 2008-09 school year for the science and social studies departments. A determination of grant approval will be known by late August. The purpose of the Classrooms for the Future program is to facilitate change in the classroom by teaching and using 21st century skills.

WAN: District-wide, USCSD began implementing a new fiber optic Wide Area Network (WAN) to improve the capabilities in each of the District’s six schools. The new WAN will increase the District’s ability to implement many new technologies across the school buildings.

RWA N : I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e u p grades to the WAN, the District joined t h e A l l e g h e n y I n t e r m e d i a t e U n i t ’s (AIU) Regional Wide Area Network (RWAN). School districts in Allegheny County realized that there was a need to start

sharing services and applications and to provide distance learning online classes in order to move education and technology beyond school walls and into the 21st century. About 40 school districts formed a consortium, led by the AIU, to develop plans to create this regional network. Through the RWAN consortium, these schools in Allegheny County will be connected through a fiber optic network. The goal of this consortium of the districts and community partners is to work collaboratively on content and applications. A large portion of the funding was from the Act 183 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Distance Learning: Throughout the District, video conferencing devices were added to meet the demands for collaboration with other schools, virtual field trips, and communication with the “outside world.”

Classes take place everyday through videoconferencing, with expansion continuing throughout the District. In addition, at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, the District is piloting online classes using “blendedschools.net,” which combines online learning with a blended environment that encompasses distance learning, virtual classrooms settings, and experiential opportunities.

Network Upgrades: At each of the District’s six schools, computers required a more robust network to take advantage of the many applications and the Internet/RWAN. Network upgrades were implemented at each of the school buildings to meet this increased demand.

USCSD Website: By the end of the summer, visitors to the USCSD website will notice a new look in the design of its pages, making them more user friendly. In addition, the District and its website users will now be able to take full advantage of new features in the web application—blogs, podcasts, surveys, forms, photo galleries, and E-Alerts.

Cable Stations: When the Township of Upper St. Clair signed a cable franchise agreement with Verizon, the District had to make major upgrades to its TV studio in order to broadcast simultaneously to both Comcast and Verizon. This upgrade will ensure that the District’s cable station is accessible throughout the Township.

Computer Upgrades: At the elementary and middle schools, key computer lab replacements were made, including updates to many of the software packages that the schools use. In addition, numerous elementary classroom computers were refurbished and upgraded.

System Upgrades: Various improvements happened “behind the scenes” to ensure the successful use of technology and the District’s information systems. For instance, upgrades were made to the District’s food service program, the student information system, the servers, and the wireless infrastructure. Q The USCSD Technology Department continues to work to improve the technology capabilities available to the District’s students and staff. For further information on technology in our schools, contact Raymond Berrott, USCSD Director of Technology, at rberrott@uscsd.k12.pa.us.

53#3$ 0ARENT !LERT #ALLING 3YSTEM 4O IMPROVE EMERGENCY plans and communications to parents, in September 2007 the Upper St. Clair School District implemented the Parent Alert Calling System.

The purpose of the automated calling system is to inform parents of different types of emergencies and to give pertinent directions and information. The system can call up to 20,000 phone numbers within a 15-minute period. In the event of a school-wide or District-wide emergency situation (evacuation, lockdown, relocation, emergency dismissal, etc.), the automated calling system will call up to five phone numbers (cell, home, work, emergency contact, etc.) per student.

The calling system will not be used for communicating a standard weather-related delay or cancellation. However, if school is cancelled or delayed at the last minute or on an occasion when students and parents 56

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

may not be anticipating an interruption to the school day, the calling system will be used. For example, on a day when weather conditions are good, but a boiler in a school breaks down thus causing an unexpected cancellation or delay, the Parent Alert Calling System will be used.

In the August school mailing, you received the Upper St. Clair School District Emergency Notification Information form.

At the bottom of the form, the section titled “Information for Use in the Parent Alert Calling System” is where you will list up to five phone numbers that you want to use. Keep the District updated with any number changes, deletions, or additions by contacting the head secretary in your school building(s).

In addition to emergencies, the building principal may use the Parent Alert Calling Fall 2008

System to communicate important announcements. In this type of situation, only your primary or home number, and not all the numbers in your emergency list, will be called. Also, parents of USCHS and Fort Couch students are notified if their child is absent or tardy by using this automated system to your primary number.

The goal of the Parent Alert Calling System is to make sure parents are informed about emergencies, important announcements, and school attendance in the timeliest manner possible. To continue expanding the District’s communications, future upgrades to Cable 19 and the District’s website (www.uscsd.k12.pa.us) are planned. Q For questions or concerns about these District communications, email Raymond Berrott, Director of Technology, at rberrott@uscsd.k12.pa.us or Terry Kushner, USC School District Assistant Superintendent, at tkushner@uscsd.k12.pa.us.

SD

7HAT ) $ID ON -Y 3UMMER 6ACATION TODAY thought it might be interesting to ask the District’s teachers what they did during the summer break. Here are some of their responses: High school science teacher Tracy Doyle Smith was in the High School Summer Internship Program in Materials Research at Carnegie Mellon University.

During this four-week summer program, Tracy developed classroom activities to introduce physics students to the ďŹ eld of materials science.

This summer Tim Wagner, second grade IB teacher at Streams Elementary, continued graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh focusing on school-based behavioral health and refugee acculturation, is teaching back-to-school reading this August, and working on projects in his new home.

Following her July wedding, Lauren Greco, a Kindergarten teacher at Streams Elementary, changed her name to Mrs. Lauren Kopicko this summer.

Another Streams’ teacher, Becky DeGregorio, was engaged in navigating

her son, Jay, through college applications and visiting campuses, taking her son, Sam, to and from tennis activities, and running daughter, Becca, to soccer, while still trying to ďŹ t a family vacation in to the Outer Banks. “Same as every other mother in the District,â€? she laughed.

On June 19, Eisenhower’s Mary Ann Kress and her husband drove to Chicago to visit their daughter, Kelly. On June 22, Mary Ann and Kelly traveled to Italy for 12 days, visiting Rome, the AmalďŹ Coast, Florence, and Venice on this great motherdaughter adventure. In mid-August, Mary Ann and her husband spent two weeks with friends at Bethany Beach. In between this, she and her husband joined friends and enjoyed summer season tickets to the CLO, where they gained a little culture and enjoyed having dinner at some wonderful downtown Pittsburgh restaurants before the shows. Mostly, she enjoyed being able to sleep in, read, and have some leisurely time before school starts again at the end of the month. Q

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.EW 3CHOOL )MMUNIZATION 2EGULATIONS "EGINNING 3CHOOL 9EAR All Grades K-12 4 doses of tetanus (1 dose after the 4th birthday); 3 doses if series started after age 7 4 doses of diphtheria (1 dose after the 4th birthday); 3 doses if series started after age 7 3 doses of polio 1 dose of rubella 2 doses of measles * 2 doses of mumps * 3 doses of hepatitis B * 2 doses of varicella or written statement from physician/designee indicating month and year of disease or serologic proof of immunity * Hepatitis B, varicella and two doses of mumps are the new requirements for all grades for 2008-09.

Grades 7-12 ** 1 dose of tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) ** 1 dose of meningitis vaccine (MCV4) ** Tdap and MCV4 are the new requirements for grades 7-12 for 2008-09.

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The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) wants every parent to know that new vaccination requirements for all students in grades K-12 are in effect for the 2008-09 school year. Families are encouraged to obtain the needed immunizations from their physicians. However, the ACHD does offer the required immunizations. For more information, including clinic locations and times, call the ACHD at 412-687-ACHD. Provisions for this regulation do not apply in cases where extenuating medical or religious factors are involved. If there is a medical reason why a child should not be fully immunized, parents must submit a physician’s certiďŹ cate explaining the circumstances. Parents are also required to provide written documentation if they disapprove of immunizations for religious reasons. These documents will be accepted in lieu of a certiďŹ cate of immunization. If a child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be removed from school during an outbreak.

Fall 2008

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SD

3CHOOL $ISTRICT .OTICES

The following information is designated as directory information:

!NNUAL .OTICES TO 0ARENTS OF #HILDREN 7HO 2ESIDE IN THE 5PPER 3T #LAIR 3CHOOL $ISTRICT .OTIlCATION OF 2IGHTS FOR %LEMENTARY AND 3ECONDARY 3CHOOLS The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students�) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. These rights include: 1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access.

Parents or eligible students should submit to their child’s building principal or Supervisor of Pupil Services, Ms. Eloise Stoehr, Upper St. Clair School District, at the address listed on page 66, a written request that identiďŹ es the record(s) they wish to inspect. The building principal or Supervisor of Pupil Services will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate.

Parents or eligible students may ask the school to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write their child’s building principal or the Supervisor of Pupil Services, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.

Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when the parent or eligible student is notiďŹ ed of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identiďŹ able information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school ofďŹ cials with legitimate education interests. A school ofďŹ cial is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); members of the School Board as a whole; a person or company with whom the school has contracted to perform a special task (e.g. attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an ofďŹ cial committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school ofďŹ cial in performing his/her tasks. A school ofďŹ cial has a legitimate educational interest if the school ofďŹ cial needs to review an education record in order to fulďŹ ll his/her professional responsibility. Upon request, the School discloses education records without 64

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

consent to ofďŹ cials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

4. The right to ďŹ le a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school system to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the OfďŹ ce that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance OfďŹ ce U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20202-4605

Disclosure of Personal Information FERPA requires that the Upper St. Clair School District (District), with certain exceptions, obtain written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education record.

However, the District may disclose appropriately designated “directory information� without written consent, unless you have advised the District to the contrary in accordance with District procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the District to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include the annual yearbook, honor roll or other recognition lists, graduation programs, sports activity sheets, a playbill showing your student’s role in a drama production and the like.

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent.

Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. In addition, two federal laws required local education agencies (LEA) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories (names, addresses, and telephone listings) unless parents have advised the LEA that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent.

If you do not want the District to disclose directory information without your prior written consent, you must notify the District in writing. The parent or eligible student may refuse to permit the designation of any or all of these categories, with respect to that student, by notifying the child’s building principal within 30 days of the publication of this notice.

Fall 2008

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Directory Information Categories UĂŠ -ĂŒĂ•`iÂ˜ĂŒÂ˝ĂƒĂŠÂ˜>“i]ĂŠ>``Ă€iĂƒĂƒ]ĂŠĂŒiÂ?iÂŤÂ…ÂœÂ˜iĂŠÂ˜Ă•Â“LiĂ€] date and place of birth.

UĂŠ Ăœ>Ă€`ĂƒĂŠĂœÂœÂ˜ĂŠ>˜`ĂŠÂœvwViĂƒĂŠÂ…iÂ?`° UĂŠ >Â?ÂœĂ€ĂŠ>Ă€i>ĂƒĂŠÂœvĂŠĂƒĂŒĂ•`Þ° UĂŠ *>Ă€ĂŒÂˆVÂˆÂŤ>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂŠÂˆÂ˜ĂŠÂœvwVˆ>Â?Â?ÞÊÀiVÂœ}Â˜ÂˆĂ˘i`ĂŠĂŠ activities and sports.

UĂŠ *ÂœĂƒĂŒÂ‡Â…Âˆ}Â…ĂŠĂƒV…œœÂ?ĂŠi˜`i>Ă›ÂœĂ€ĂƒÂ° UĂŠ ,iVÂœ}Â˜ÂˆĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂŠÂœvĂŠ>V…ˆiĂ›i“iÂ˜ĂŒĂƒĂŠÂˆÂ˜ĂŠ>V>`i“ˆVĂŠ and non-academic areas.

UĂŠ ,iVÂœ}Â˜ÂˆĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂŠÂœvĂŠ}Ă€>`Ă•>ĂŒÂˆÂ˜}ĂŠĂƒiÂ˜ÂˆÂœĂ€ĂƒÂ° UĂŠ 7iˆ}Â…ĂŒĂŠ>˜`ĂŠÂ…iˆ}Â…ĂŒĂŠÂœvĂŠ>ĂŒÂ…Â?iĂŒiĂƒÂ°

ConďŹ dentiality All information gathered about your child is subject to the confidentiality provisions contained in federal and state law. The District has policies and procedures in effect governing the collection, maintenance, destruction, and disclosure to third parties of this information.

For information about these policies and procedures, as well as rights of conďŹ dentiality and access to educational records, you may contact in writing your child’s building principal or the Supervisor of Pupil Services.

!NNUAL .OTICE 4O 0ARENTS 2EGARDING 3CHOOL 2ECORDS School records are an inherent part of a student’s formal education in the public school setting. They are used to collect, maintain, and disseminate pertinent information. The District has adopted a policy and administrative regulations in accordance with both the regulations of the State Board of Education on Pupil Records, adopted July 12, 1974, amended July 15, 1977, and the FERPA. Parents and eligible students (students who have reached the age of 18 or are emancipated minors) are accorded the following rights: 1. To inspect, review, and be given a copy of school records.

2. To obtain a copy of the District’s policy and regulations regarding the collection, maintenance, and dissemination of school records upon written request to: Supervisor of School Guidance Counseling or Supervisor of Pupil Services–addresses listed on page 66.

3. To ďŹ le complaints with the FERPA OfďŹ ce.

(See FERPA compliance address listed above.)

4. To be informed of the transfer of records to officials of another school or school system upon notiďŹ cation of the student’s enrollment.

5. To challenge the contents of the records.

6. To refuse individual consent where it is required for release of information from the record.

7. To be informed of the data collected and maintained by representational consent.

If you wish to examine school records, you may make arrangements to do so by contacting the principal or counselor at the school your child attends.

SD

0LANNED 0ROGRAM OF 3TANDARDIZED 4ESTING The planned program of standardized testing by the District is collected and maintained by representational consent and is shown below.

The results of these tests, as well as the results of aptitude and achievement tests taken by the individual student on a voluntary basis and required for admission into post-secondary education institutions, are maintained and made a part of the record. Should you wish to examine the record, you may arrange to do so by making an appointment with your child’s principal or counselor. For specific information regarding matters pertaining to school records, parents or eligible students may contact the principal of the school in which the student is enrolled.

Test Grade Preschool screening Preschool Terra Nova CTBS Battery/ Otis-Lennon School Ability Grade 1 Terra Nova CTBS Battery/ Test of Cognitive Skills Grade 2 Terra Nova CTBS Battery/ Test of Cognitive Skills Grade 4 Terra Nova Multiple Assessments Test of Cognitive Skills Grade 7 Terra Nova Multiple Assessments Inventory (PLAN) Grade 10

Date of Administration Prior to Entrance April April May May November

In addition, the Pennsylvania Department of Education requires that all school districts participate in the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). Listed below is the schedule for the administration of the PSSA for the 2008-09 school year.

PSSA Area of Assessment Math, Reading, Writing Retest

Grade

Date of Administration

Grade 12

October 20-31, 2008

Writing

Grade 5, 8, 11

February 9-20, 2009

Math and Reading

Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11

March 16-27, 2009

Science

Grades 4, 8, 11

April 27-May 8, 2009

0ROGRAMS FOR %LIGIBLE OR 0ROTECTED (ANDICAPPED OR 'IFTED 3TUDENTS In compliance with the state and federal law, notice is hereby given by the District that it conducts on-going identification activities as a part of its school program for the purpose of identifying disabled students who may be in need of special education and related services (eligible students). Individualized services and programs are available for children who are determined to need specially designed instruction due to the following conditions: autism, blindness or visual impairment, deafness or hearing impairment, deafness and blindness, emotional disturbance, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairments, specific learning disability, speech and language impairment, and traumatic brain injury.

If you believe that your school-age child may be in need of special education services or related programs, or your young child (age three to school-age) may be in need of early intervention, screening, and evaluation processes designed to assess the needs of the child and his/her eligibility are available to you at no cost, upon written request. You may request screening and evaluation at any time, whether or not your child is enrolled in the District’s public school program. Requests for evaluation and screening are to be made in writing to your child’s principal or Eloise Stoehr, Supervisor of Pupil Services, at the address listed on page 64.

In compliance with state and federal law, the District will provide to each protected handicapped student without discrimination or cost to the student or family, those related aides, services, or accommodations which are needed to provide equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student’s abilities. In order to qualify

as a protected handicapped student, the child must be school age with a physical or mental disability which substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program. These services and protections for “protected handicapped students” are distinct from those applicable to all eligible students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs.

In compliance with state law, the District provides services designed to meet the unique needs of gifted students. The District identifies “gifted” students on a case-by-case basis based on state law and District procedures. Such students may possess superior IQ scores and meet multiple criteria indicating gifted ability. If your child is believed to be in need of such services, you will be notified of evaluation procedures.

If you believe your school-age child may qualify for gifted education services, you may contact in writing your child’s principal or Eloise Stoehr at any time to request determination of eligibility. Please note that entitlement to gifted services includes only those rights provided for by Pennsylvania law.

For further information on the rights of parents and children, provision of services, evaluation and screening (including purpose, time, and location), and rights to due process procedures, contact in writing your child’s principal; Eloise Stoehr, Supervisor of Pupil Services; or Dr. Sharon Suritsky, Supervisor of Special Education at the addresses listed on page 66.

#HILD )DENTIlCATION !CTIVITIES The District provides a free appropriate public education to exceptional students. To be eligible, the student must be of school age, in need of specially designed instruction and meet eligibility criteria for mentally gifted and/or one or more of the following physical or mental disabilities as defined by Pennsylvania state standards: autism, blindness or visual impairment, deafness or hearing impairment, deafness and blindness, emotional disturbance, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairments, specific learning disability, speech and language impairment, and traumatic brain injury.

The District makes use of the following procedures for locating, identifying, and evaluating needs of school-aged students requiring special programs or services.

As prescribed by Section 1402 of the School Code, the District routinely conducts screenings of a child’s hearing acuity, visual acuity, and speech and language ability. Gross motor and fine motor skills, academic skills, and social/emotional skills are assessed by classroom teachers on an on-going basis. Specified needs from all of these screening sources are noted in the student’s records. Such school records are open and available to parents. Information from the records is released to other persons or agencies only with appropriate authorization, which involves written permission by parents. Parents with concerns regarding their child may contact the school principal at any time to request screening or evaluation of their child. Communication with parents and exceptional students shall be in English or the native language of the parents.

Screening information will be used by the student support team within the student’s school to meet his/her specific needs or to document the need for further evaluation. If it is determined that a child needs additional services, the student support team will make recommendations for adjustments relative to such things as the child’s learning style, behavior, physical inabilities, and speech problems to assist the student in reaching appropriate gains based on his/her rate of learning.

Multidisciplinary evaluations of students thought to be exceptional can be initiated by parents/guardians or school personnel. Parents/guardians are part of the multidisciplinary team (MDT). Permission of the parent/ guardian is needed to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation.

#ONTINUED ON PAGE Fall 2008

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

65

ns to o i t a l u t a r g Con ur Dancers!

O

Dancing for a Difference

. .

This catch-phrase describes our twofold mission in providing top-quality dance instruction, while also allowing our staff and students to have the opportunity to use their talents in a positive way to benefit the community.

Just since 2003, we have raised nearly $43,000 for organizations such as Make A Wish, Gilda’s Club, Children's Hospital Free Care Fund, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and the Leukemia Society.

Rachel Sailor

Upper St. Clair Freshman USC Hip Hop Team Member Member of the Dance Workshop

by Shari SuperStars

Hannah Newman

7th Grade - Fort Couch Middle School Member of the Dance Workshop

by Shari SuperStars

Shari Shriver Opfermann Owner and Director, Dance Workshop by Shari Upper St. Clair High School Alumna BA in Dance from Point Park University 2006 Inductee into the Upper St. Clair Arts Hall of Fame 2007 and 2008 USC Spring Musical Choreographer, “Into the Woods� and "Singin' in the Rain"

Carson & Bridget Murphy

Member of Dance Masters of America

Carson: Upper St. Clair Junior USC Dance Team & Hip Hop Team Member Bridget: 8th Grade - Fort Couch Middle School Both: Members of Dance Workshop by Shari SuperStars

Choreographer and Director of the award-winning Dance Workshop by Shari “SuperStars�

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Fall 2008

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3 Ice Hockey Classes, Learn-to-skate programs and Speeding skating 3 Birthday Parties - Public & Private packages 3 Developmental Ice Hockey League 5—8 and 9—12 year old players 3 Adult Night Out-Saturdays 8pm 3 Play Date on ice every Thursday 9—11 am begins 9/4/08 3 Private Ice Rentals & Broomball 3 Room rentals 3 Friday Night Skates 8—11 pm, Family Skates Sunday Afternoon, Fun Friday Skate 4:40 pm—6 pm.

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

69

MEET THE DOCTORS OF UPPER ST. CLAIR Drs. Marc and Deana Micucci have the benefit of working together and also enjoy helping people of all ages, including children.

It’s important to look at the big picture to understand what is going to take place during your lifetime. This can help you see how chiropractic can work to preserve many of your body’s functions and prevent degeneration of your spine.

D & M CHIROPRACTIC 2555 WASHINGTON RD UPPER ST. CLAIR, PA PHONE: 412-833-1101 FAX: 412-833-1075 EMAIL: DMCHIRO@VERIZON.NET

Office hours: Mon-Wed- Fri 8am-12:30pm--2:30pm-6:00pm Tue 8:00am- 10:00am Thu 3:00pm- 6:00pm

In your first two decades of life, you will experience indirect and direct stresses. Indirect stress is poor posture and direct stresses are sprains and strains from sports activities or other childhood traumas. These stresses, if left untreated, can lead to degeneration and other problems, such as arthritis.

Signs of postural deviations in children and adults are seen as a high hip (uneven hips), a high shoulder, the head being off center, head tilt, and back and leg pain. These can be caused by some of the following: NUMEROUS SPORTS RELATED ACCIDENTS CARRYING BACKPACKS IMPROPERLY POOR SITTING HABITS IN CLASS AND ON THE COMPUTER Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, joint pain of the arms or legs, headaches, and other neuromusculoskeletal complaints and has an excellent safety record.

If you are looking for a chiropractor with extensive training and experience, take a moment today to schedule an appointment for you and your child.

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

—Thomas A. Edison.

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! (EALTHY 7AY TO 2ELAX Connie Wilson, Owner, Serenity Day Spa & Salon

$10.00 off any hour massage Offer valid until 10/10/08

4HE FALL SEASON is fast approaching and the trees are beginning to shed their leaves, which means yard work and other heavy physical activity. During this busy time of year, don’t forget about getting regular massages.

Massage therapy helps to relieve back and neck pain, which can cause headaches and limit range of motion. A better range of motion could improve your golf swing, running stride, or just make lawn work a little more tolerable. Massage helps to improve circulation, delivering the much needed nutrients to your muscles. Massage is also the perfect antidote for stress, which hinders your immune system, raises blood pressure, and can even cause heart disease. Managing stress with regular massages will leave you energized, improve your outlook on life, and, in the process, boost your immune system.

Try to remember the weightless feeling you had after your last massage. Every person deserves a little indulgence. However, massage should not be thought of as a guilty pleasure, but rather as a well deserved treatment. At some point in everyone’s life we start to feel run down, overwhelmed with all that life throws at us. Massage can rejuvenate our minds, making us feel more alert and fresh. Massage causes your brain to release feel-good endorphins into your body’s system, elevating your mood and giving you a sense of well being.

Although massage should never be reserved only for special occasions, it certainly makes the perfect gift for any occasion. Relax. Renew.

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Fall 2008

3OUTHWINDS #ELEBRATES 4HIS PAST !PRIL Southwinds, Inc. celebrated its silver anniversary and honored its

founding members, individuals, staff, and companies that have supported Southwinds over the past 25 years at an evening event at the LeMont Restaurant.

Southwinds, Inc., a non-proďŹ t agency, provides residential and life skills training for intellectually and developmentally disabled adults throughout the South Hills area of Allegheny County. At the heart of Southwinds’ mission is the belief that persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve the same opportunities to lead normal lives as every other individual. Independent living, with appropriate professional support, is Southwinds’ goal.

Southwinds had its beginnings with Parent to Parent of South Hills, a group of parents of live-at-home disabled children who gathered together to support one another. Southwinds, as a formal organization, was founded 25 years ago when 15 parents of that same group formed a committee to answer questions about care for a disabled child as he reached adulthood and required out-of-home care or when his parents got too old to care for him.

In 1983, the most pressing need was to increase community residential facilities that would allow disabled children to continue to grow and learn in safe and healthy environments. Twenty-ďŹ ve years later and because of the vision, hope, and inspiration of this active group of parents, Southwinds has 52 residents living in 14 homes in communities including Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon, and South Park.

Some of the individuals at Southwinds are growing older and losing mobility. These life challenges may result in some of Southwinds’ individuals having to move from their current homes into other homes which are one level, or which have wide hallways and doors or an open oor plan to make it easier to maneuver adaptive equipment. Southwinds looked at its current inventory of homes and concluded that a few homes would not effectively help support Southwinds’ aging individuals.

Over the past two years and with the help of Residential Resources, a grant from the Federal Home Funds program and a capital campaign, two modular homes to accommodate Southwinds’ aging population are being built (one being a completely accessible C-1 home). Occupancy is anticipated this fall. Q For more information or to make a donation, contact Southwinds’ main ofďŹ ce at 724-941-7600 or visit www.southwindsinc.org.

&AMILY (OSPICE AND 0ALLIATIVE #ARE UĂŠ Family Hospice and Palliative Care seeks volunteers to work with patients and help in the ofďŹ ce and at The Center for Compassionate Care in Mt. Lebanon. Call 412-572-8806 for more information.

UĂŠ Friends of Family Hospice and Palliative Care auxiliary group will host a card party and luncheon in October. For more information or to make a reservation, call 412-572-8812. Also, see “Happenings,â€? page 80, for Toast to Life Celebration event.

UĂŠ Family Hospice and Palliative Care’s upscale resale shop, Family Heirlooms (open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.), is located on Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon. All proceeds beneďŹ t services and programs for hospice patients and their families.

UĂŠ Speakers are available for your club, neighborhood group, and church or synagogue group.

Possible topics include the philosophy of hospice care, supporting those who are grieving, and children and loss. Call 412-572-8809 to arrange for a speaker.

Upper St. Clair residents Doug and Debbie UĂŠ Services, including physical, emotional, and Miller chaired the successful 21st Family Hospice and Palliative Care golf beneďŹ t held spiritual support, are available to patients and on May 19, raising over $90,000. Enjoying their families. Call 412-572-8800. a round of golf and dinner at Valley Brook

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Country Club were 120 golfers.

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4HE 5PPER 3T #LAIR 0ANTHER 0RIDE 4HROW A Warm Memento One hundred percent pre-washed cotton, this fully-fringed 50" by 65" throw, woven in natural, black, and red, is available for only $45. Proceeds beneďŹ t the USC PTA Council Special Projects Scholarship Fund. Order yours today by completing and mailing the form along with payment to: Geralyn Austin 1504 Valley Court Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 (Questions? Call 412-833-3282.)

Quantity________ @ $45 each = Total $____________ enclosed Name: _______________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________ City: ________________________________________________ State, ZIP: ____________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________ Method of Payment:

T Cash

T Check (payable to USC PTA Council)

*UST -OVED 0ROGRAM (ELPS 7OMEN !DJUST TO 2ELOCATION !RE YOU NEW to Upper St. Clair or the Pittsburgh area? The Westminster Recreation and Outreach Center (WROC) hosts a “Moving On After Moving Inâ€? group that will meet Thursdays beginning September 11, 9:30-11 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair. The goal of the group is to welcome women new to the Pittsburgh area, help them connect with others, form new friendships, and ďŹ nd encouragement as they establish their new homes and adjust to living in a new area.

Childcare will be provided.

The program is based on the book After the Boxes Are Unpacked: Moving On After Moving In by Susan Miller. Miller, founder and president of Just Moved Ministries in Scottsdale, Arizona, wrote the book from ďŹ rsthand experience after being uprooted 14 times for her husband’s career. Miller ďŹ nally found herself at a breaking point when her family was transferred to Phoenix.

Having spent her life in the South, she found the move out west to be the hardest move of all. “After the transfer, I began to fall apart. I had plenty of information on the physical aspects of relocating,

but I didn’t ďŹ nd anything that addressed my emotional and spiritual needs,â€? said Miller.

Those needs led Miller to create a 13week curriculum for the Moving On After Moving In class. Based on biblical principles and personal experiences, the class takes participants through the process of letting go, starting over, and moving ahead. Participants will use Miller’s book and an accompanying workbook. Topics to be discussed include: UÊ Letting go of the past UÊ Starting over UÊ Making your house a home UÊ Growing through your move UÊ Dealing with loneliness UÊ Finding your lost identity UÊ Strengthening your marriage after a move UÊ Helping your children adjust and adapt UÊ Making new friends UÊ Finding contentment in your circumstances UÊ Moving ahead Fall 2008

More than 44 million people move every year (one in every ďŹ ve people, or 20% of the population). Moving can have a stressful to devastating effect on an individual, a family, and a career. For women especially, relocation can be traumatic.

They may often feel they have no one to turn to after a move and become angry and depressed. Moving is more than packing and unpacking boxes. It’s leaving behind the familiar and facing the unknown.

There are countless questions, and ďŹ nding answers even to simple questions can cause angst. Research has long shown that moving is one of the top ten traumas.

Women who move often go through a grieving process, as they’ve experienced a tangible loss. Women go through not only the stages of loss, but also of disbelief, grief, and anger before they recover.

This is the second year the WROC is offering this class. Q Visit www.justmoved.org for more information.

To register, contact Lisa Boyd, WROC director at 412-835-6630, extension 224 or email lboyd@westminster-church.org.

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ANDRÉS CÁRDENES FOR A 3-CONCERT SERIES OF EXTRAORDINARY M U S I C NOVEMBER 15 • 8:00PM Andrés Cárdenes, violin & conductor Pittsburgh Camerata Vivaldi: Gloria, RV 589 Vivaldi: La stravaganza

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Enjoy music of Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi! Hear one of Vivaldi’s most famous works, Gloria, featuring chorus and chamber orchestra. Then, be dazzled by Andrés Cárdenes as he simultaneously performs and conducts movements from La Stravaganza, a work comprised of 12 mini violin concerti.

MARCH 21 • 8:00PM

Andrés Cárdenes, violin & conductor James Gorton, oboe • Holly Katz, violin • Evan Premo, bass Honegger: Pastorale d’ete Premo: World Premiere Milhaud: Concertino de Printemps for Violin & Chamber Orchestra Beethoven: Oboe Concerto Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36 Enjoy French music by Honegger and Milhaud in two delightful and rarely heard works. Evan Premo presents a world premiere featuring bass and violin with chamber orchestra. Beethoven’s spirited Oboe Concerto and lively Symphony No. 2 will bring the concert to a rousing finale!

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Andrés Cárdenes, violin & conductor Jon Kimura Parker, piano•Louis Lev, violin Lorien Hart, violin • Tatjana Chamis, viola Anne Martindale Williams, cello Chausson: Concerto for Violin, Piano & String Quartet Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15 French composer Chausson’s beautiful and lyrical Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet features Andrés Cárdenes and internationally-acclaimed pianist Jon Kimura Parker. Enjoy Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1, classical in style with a dance-like rondo.

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UPPER ST. CLAIR HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE: 1825 MCLAUGHLIN ROAD, UPPER ST. CLAIR, PA 15241

SERIES SPONSOR Fall 2008

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2008

We’re going above and beyond down here.

It’s happening right now. Throughout this region and beyond, we’re unearthing the past and installing the future. Columbia Gas is replacing nearly 2,400 miles of old gas lines that have served past generations with the latest in pipeline technology.

Investing 60 million dollars a year for the next 20 years in a pipeline that will bring hundreds of new jobs and community renewal.

Ultimately, it will be a pipeline that will continue to deliver safe, reliable natural gas to towns and cities. Schools and businesses. Homes and hospitals.

For the people who live here today, and for the next 100 years, we’re digging deep to go above and beyond.

Yo u r P i p e l i n e t o t h e Fu t u re

COLDWELL BANKER Check out these fabulous Upper St. Clair area homes!

Totally renovated 3 story in DeerďŹ eld Manor on over 1/2 acre lot, 5Br, 5.5Ba, familyrm, den, gamerm, more! $679,900 Barbara Cusick 412-833-5405

Fabulous 4Br, 2.5Ba home, great addition, 28x15 great room, den, gamerm, deck, overlooking stream and gardens! $476,500 Sydnie Jones 412-344-0500

Well maintained 3 story colonial, neutral decor, 5 bedroom, 3.5 Ba, familyrm, den, gameroom, fenced in back yard! $464,900 Lynne McManus 412-831-5555

Well built updated classic colonial!

Huge kitchen, family room ďŹ replace, den, gameroom, security system! $429,900 Kathi Kernan 412-344-0500

Spacious, quality built home, 4Br, 3.5Ba, updatd kitchen w/wet bar and center island, familyrm ďŹ replace, den, gameroom! $389,900 Kathy Enick 412-344-0500

Young and elegant design, beautiful open oor plan, vaulted ceilings, many updates, 3Br, 3Ba, den, familyrm, gameroom! $349,900 Gladys Walasik 412-344-0500

Super home with lots of updates, 4Br, 2.5Ba, family room, game room, covered deck, nicely landscaped! $319,800 Nancy Beaulieu 412-344-0500

Lovely 4Br, 2.5Ba colonial, step down livingrm, newer cherry kitchen, familyrm ďŹ replace, den, gameroom! $290,000 Leigh Harkreader 412-344-0500

Meticulous updated 4Br, 2Ba colonial. Exposed hardwoods, complete bath renovation, deck, level yard & driveway! $234,900 Genie Gooding 412-344-0500

Very nice level entry brick ranch, 4 bedroom, 2.5Ba, livingrm cathedral ceiling and ďŹ replace, gameroom, porch! $243,000 Helen Moore 412-833-5405

Lovely colonial on cul de sac with lot backing to St. Clair Country Club, 4Br, 2.5Ba, 1st oor laundry, familyrm, gamerm. $209,900 Janine Dillon 412-833-5405

Great oor plan in this 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath multi-level, family room, den, oversized 2 car garage! $155,000 Deona Miller 412-833-5405

(QMR\ 0DLQWHQDQFH )UHH /LYLQJ 1HZ VI )ORRU 3ODQV )URP 2SHQ 1RRQ WR (YHU\ :HHNHQG DQG E\ DSSRLQWPHQW &DOO WKH VLWH WHDP DW _ ZZZ WKHZDVKLQJWRQSDUNFRQGRV FRP Coldwell BankerÂŽ is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned And Operated By NRT LLC.

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