IN Woodland Hills

SUMMER 2011 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

oodland Hills

Woodland HillsAward-Winning

PLUS! Get A Taste of Swissvale

COMMUNITY-DRIVEN

Woodland Hills | Summer 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 1

Publishers Message | 2

COMMUNITY INTEREST | WHF Chocolate & Diamonds Affair | 3

| Peoples Natural Gas | Community-Driven | 4

| Library News | Explore the World of Summer Reading |6

| Woodland Hills School District News | 7

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

| Older Adults in Woodland Hills Area | 32

Good News for the Second Half of Your Life

| Taste of Swissvale House Tour | 35

| Thats What Friends Are For | 38

| Community Worship |40

FEATURES | On the Road to Recovery | 36

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | Community Hearing | 31

| Juniper Village | 34

ON THE COVER | Cast memb ers of W ood l and H il l s aw ard -w inning p rod uctionof Phantom of the Opera

15

S U M M E R 2 0 1 1

H eal th and W el l ness N ews Y ou Can U se

2 0 1 1 U P M C

W h at s I n s i depage 2 T eam U p f or a H ealthy H eart

page 3 T he G ood N ews Ab out H eart D iseaseS ix W ays to L ower Y our B lood Pressure

page 4 Y oun g Athletes an d S udden C ardiac D eathW hat P arents N eed to K now

Ex ercise: T oo Much of a G ood T hin g C an B e H armf ul

page 5 T he D own side of F alls

page 6 C hoosin g the Rig ht D octor f or Y ou

page 7 U PMC McK eesp ort C omprehensiv e C ardiac C are Is H ere for Y ou

Heart Health Is a Family Awair

E v ery member of your family could hav e some degreeof risk when it comes to dev eloping heart disease.

L ook inside for ways to get your family heart healthy.

Woodland Hills | SUMMER 2011 |

Contents

10 11 17

2 724.942.0940 to advertise Woodland Hills

Welcome to the Summer issue of Woodland Hills Magazine.Summer is so ripe with opportunities for communities tocome together. There are Community Days, Fourth of Julyfireworks, church picnics, Little League baseball games,swimming at the local pool, summer reading activities at thelocal library, Farmers Markets. The list goes on and on. Andsome of those activities are listed in this edition.

Summer s also a great time for traveling, although, with gasprices the way they are, many of us wont be going too far fromhome. Thats okay because there are some wonderful things going on right in yourown backyard. For example, we can all celebrate Woodland Hills High Schoolsaward-winning production of Phantom of the Opera. We have some of the castgracing our cover. Plus, we give you the year-end roundup of Woodland Hills events,academic honors, etc. Residents in the Swissvale area can get a Taste of Swissvale, aunique house tour of new homes in a revitalized neighborhood. We give you thedetails. We also have a heartwarming first-person account of a woman fromEdgewood helping a high school friend who now lives hundreds of miles away.

Yes, its finally summer! So lets throw some burge rs on the grill, find a shady tree, alounge chair and a cold glass of lemonade and enjoy the sunshine!

Wayne DollardP ub l ish er

Hello. Im Monica Haynes, the new Eastern Regional Editor for IN Community Magazines. Im quite at home in the easternsuburbs because, well, thats where I live, too. I also havequite a bit of experience with suburban news coverage,having done it for the P ittsb urg h P ost-G az ette. I also was amagazine writer and entertainment columnist for the PG.

Some of you Ive had the opportunity to meet out andabout as weve been working on stories for this edition of

Woodland Hills. I look forward to getting out in thecommunity even more, to meet the people, attend the events andsee the sites and sounds that help make your community what it is.

Woodland Hills is about community, YOUR community. We really cant do thiswithout your input. We want to know whats going on in your municipal governments,your schools, churches, libraries, civic organizations. We want to honor thosemembers of your community who are serving in the armed forces, those who areserving others in the community, those who have fascinating hobbies or who havedone something extraordinary. If there are things going on in your community orpeople in your community that we should know about, please email me [email protected].

As you enjoy the warmth of the summer sun, I hope you enjoy this edition of Woodland Hills Magazine!

Monica L. HaynesE astern R eg ional E d itor

SUMMER 2011IN Woodland Hills is a community publicationdedicated to representing, encouraging andpromoting the Woodland Hills area and itscomprising municipalities by focusing on thetalents and gifts of the people who live and workhere. Our goal is to provide readers with the mostinformative and professional regional publication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

PUBLISHER Wayne Dollard

MANAGING EDITOR

Marybeth [email protected]

REGIONAL EDITOR

Monica L. Haynes [email protected]

OFFICE MANAGER

Leo [email protected]

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jack [email protected]

WRITERS

Pamela Palongue

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Cassie Brkich Jan McEvoySharon Cobb Joe MilneSusie Doak Tamara Tylenda

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Garyyonphotography.com

ADVERTISING SALES

Derek Bayer David MitchellBrian Daley Tamara Myers Gina DAlicandro Gabriel NegriTina Dollard Robert OjedaRose Estes Annette PetroneJohn Gartley Vincent SabatiniJason Huffman Michael SilvertLori Jeffries RJ VighettiRita Lengvarsky Nikki Capezio-Connie McDaniel WatsonBrian McKee

This magazine is carrier route mailed to all district households and businesses.

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

CORRESPONDENCEAll inquiries, comments and press releases should be directed to:

IN Community MagazinesAttn: Editorial603 East McMurray RoadMcMurray, PA 15317Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968

Fall content deadline: August 1www.incommunitymagazines.com

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

oodland Hills

Woodland Hills Foundation congratulates the WHF Chocolate & Diamonds DiamondWinner, Anne Countouris of Churchill

Steven T. Gough, President of Woodland Hills Foundation (WHF) proudly announces the winner of the WHF Chocolate &Diamonds Affair diamond winner, Mrs. Anne Countouris. Mrs. Countouris was one of five win-a-key-to-win-a-diamondparticipants at the annual WHF Chocolate & Diamonds Affair.

The beautiful diamond necklace and a pair of wonderful diamond earrings were donated by James Douglas Jewelersand Forever Gold. The annual event was held at the Churchill Valley Country Club and began at 6 p.m. with an open bar,browsing the Silent Auction Items tables and dinner by Lemont. The Silent Auction items were generously donated byBasket of Pittsburgh, Children's Museum, Sarris Candy, Pittsburgh Pirate tickets by attorneys David & Jennifer Chontos,Hidden Valley Ski Resort, Little Dishes Gourmet, Jen Lau Photography, Spruce Creek Fly Co., Typhoon Lighting, Kenny Guy,The Wooden Touch, Judysimages, Crash & Burn Metal, Hepatica, J. Robins Distributing and Karen Stein. Lucky participants of the event also received door prizes of wonderful chocolate donated by Ashers Chocolate, Apple Cookie &Chocolate Co., Legume Bistro, Sarris Candy and Kathleen Good.

The Woodland Hills Foundation is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing opportunitiesfor all students as well as faculty and administration in the Woodland Hills School

District by encouraging communitywide participation and philanthropy. It is the Foundations hope that next years Chocolate & Diamonds

success will be even greater.Please visit its website at whsdfoundation.org and learn more

about the organizations endeavors, achievements and goals.

Woodland Hills FoundationCelebrates Its Second Annual

Chocolate Diamonds Affair


Pictured above are winner, Anne Contouris and WHF President Dr. Steven T. Gough

4 724.942.0940 to advertise | Woodland Hills

T h e e m p l o y e e s o f P e o p l e s N a t u r a l G a s m o r e t h a n 6 5 0 s t r o n g a r e b r i n g i n g a n e w s e n s e o f e n e r g y t o W e s t e r n

P e n n s y l v a n i a . W i t h P e o p l e s n o w f u l l y P i t t s b u r g h b a s e d a n d r u n , d e c i s i o n s a r e b e i n g m a d e l o c a l l y - - w i t h a n e y e

t o i n v e s t i n g f o r t h e e n e r g y f u t u r e o f t h e r e g i o n . W e ' r e m a k i n g $ 1 0 0 m i l l i o n i n i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , s e r v i c e a n d

t e c h n o l o g y u p g r a d e s t o b e t t e r s e r v e o u r m o r e t h a n 3 6 0 , 0 0 0 c u s t o m e r s . C u s t o m e r s e r v i c e i s b e c o m i n g f u l l y

l o c a l , t o o . . . w i t h a d e d i c a t e d n e w s e r v i c e c e n t e r s t a f f e d b y e x p e r i e n c e d p e o p l e w h o t h o r o u g h l y k n o w t h e r e g i o n

a n d i t s p e o p l e . O u r v i s i o n : t o h e l p W e s t e r n P e n n s y l v a n i a m o v e f o r w a r d b y c r e a t i n g n e w j o b s a n d s e r v i n g o u r

c u s t o m e r s w e l l . I t ' s a c o m m i t m e n t w e ' r e p r o u d t o m a k e .

your energy partner peop l e s ga s . c o m

I N T H E P H O T O J I M M I L L E R / C U S T O M E R S E R V I C E M A N


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Join a Reading Club at a Woodland Hills SchoolDistrict Public Library Get involved in GreatPrograms and Activities Check library websites for more program details

Braddock Carnegie Library 419 Library Street, Braddock PA 15104, 412.351.5356www.braddocklibrary.org

One World Many Stories and You Are Here Reading ClubsWhen: June 13 - August 20 Who: Children and families from birth through high school.How: Sign up at the library and pick up your reading log.What: Get rewards for reading. Read 15 minutes every day

and be part of a weekly raffle drawing, as well as other prizes.

Join us for these programs:For Younger Children PreSchool Storytime: Every Saturday 11a.m.-12 p.m.Baby Lapsit: Fridays 1-1:30 p.m.For School Age Children Crafty Wednesdays : Wednesdays 2:30-4:30 p.m.Read & Watch Book Club: Every 1st Thursday 4:30-6:30 p.m. Clay Class: Saturdays 2:30-4 p.m.For TeensTeen Time: Tuesdays 4-5 p.m.Novel Destinations: A Book Club for AdultsWhen: July 5- August 5 Who: AdultsWhat: Weekly Readers Raffle for fun prizes How: Register at the library during the month of June Join us for these programs:Book Club: Every fourth Wednesday of the monthFoodie Club: Every second Wednesday of the month

Carnegie Free Library of Swissvale1800 Monongahela Ave., Swissvale, 412.731.2300www.swissvalelibrary.org

One World Many Stories Reading Club for EveryoneWhen: June 13 - August 6Who: Children, teens, adults, and familiesHow: Register at the library for summer reading, and sign

up for your favorite classes and activities (games, crafts, cooking).

What: Children who read 10 books will receive 20 raffle tickets for prizes. Adults will receive one raffle ticket for each book that they read. Lucky teens are eligible to try to win both sets of prizes.

Join us for these programs:Magician Steve Haberman Saturday, June 18, 7 p.m. EVERYONE is invited.Family Activities every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. includeteam trivia, tic tac toe tournament, checkers night and travelchallenges and more.Story Hours every Monday 10 a.m. for preschoolers, noon for kinder-gartners and first graders, and 2 p.m. for 2nd and 3rd graders.Library activities every Tuesday 2 p.m. for older elementarystudents.Contests: Find the Penguin (kids win ice cream); Around theWorld in (only) 14 days (win a gift basket); Mystery Match(adults and children win a gift card). Book Picnic for kids and teens TBABook Tea for adults TBA

C. C. Mellor Memorial LibraryMain Library, 1 Pennwood Avenue, Edgewood, 412.731.0909, www.ccmellorlibrary.orgForest Hills Branch, 444 Avenue D, Forest Hills, 412.824.3567

One World Many Storiesand You Are Here Reading ClubsWhen: June 13-August 13Who: Children and families from birth through high schoolHow: Sign up at the library and pick up your reading list

or register online.What: Get rewards for reading. Weekly drawings & end of

summer prizes. Read 10 books and attend end ofsummer reading party.

Join us for these programs:For Younger ChildrenT. J. Magic Man Hill on Monday, June 13 at noon in theEdgewood Community House Ballroom. Registration required. Story HoursMondays 10:30 a.m. Forest Hills LibraryThursdays 10:30 a.m. Churchill Borough BuildingTuesdays 10:30 a.m. Edgewood LibraryFridays 10:30 a.m. Wilkins Township Recreation CenterWednesday 10:30 a.m. Edgewood Library

For School Age ChildrenWay Cool Wednesdays 1:30 p.m. Registration required.For TeensYou Are Here Club: Wednesdays 6 p.m. and Saturdays 1 p.m.Novel Destinations: A Book Club for AdultsWhen: July 1 August 1Who: AdultsWhat: Weekly raffle for prizes. Get coupons

towards C C Mellor fines.How: Register at the library for prizes.

Join us for these programs:Drop Dead Book Club: 2nd Wednesday, 7 p.m., Edgewood Library.PALS Book Club: 4th Tuesday, June and August, Forest HillsLibrary.History Book Club: 3rd Wednesday, 7 p.m., Edgewood Library.


SCHOOL D I STR ICTDear Members of the Woodland Hills School District,

This time of year, our attentionis focused on graduation andthe end of the school year. Weexpect the Class of 2011 whichnumbers around 300 students tomake its mark in the world bycontinuing the standards ofexcellence they have learnedduring their time spent at

Woodland Hills. We look forward to hearing about their exploitson college campuses, in the workplace, or in the military servingour country here and abroad.

It is also the time of year when tough decisions are made concerning the Woodland Hills School District budget and theeffect budget choices will have on our school programs and staff.

Our budget discussion was intensified this year because of thegovernors proposed cuts to education through whichWoodland Hills is expected to lose more than $4 million. Thatmeans the school board has the responsibility to make up thisdifference in state aid through cuts and/or raising taxes.Considering that Woodland Hills is one of the most highly taxedschool districts in Allegheny County, our school board is focusing on ways to save costs for the 2011-12 school budgetwithout raising taxes.

In order to balance a budget with such a large deficit, theadministration and school board reviewed every line item in ourbudget. Many ideas and plans were considered, but we havetaken the utmost effort to continue to fund and preserve outstanding programs of value to the District and our students.Such a program is the Woodland Hills Academy. The innovative Academy offers a unique opportunity to demonstratethat every student can learn at the highest level. The Academywas designed to test programs and once they were proved to be

A Message from th eSuperintendentsuccessful, to share them in a timely fashion with all our Districtschools. We are preparing our students today for professions,activities, and enterprises that may not yet exist. That is whytechnology and innovative curriculum is so necessary.

The Woodland Hills School District believes in setting the barhigh. The administrators, faculty, staff, and students are challenged to work together to ensure that the richness and relevance of students academic and social growth is enhancedthrough all our endeavors. We endorse fully the principle thateffective learning is an active rather than a passive process.Students are placed in settings in which they are challenged tothink critically and to articulate their thoughts and experiencesthrough continual interaction with their peers, teachers, andcommunities. As educators, we must continually scan the horizon of the future and adjust our programs and expectationsif we are to prepare our students for the future.

N ature d oes not cel eb rate th e nest; nature cel eb rates th e fl ig h t.

However well our fledglings do inside our carefully constructedenvironment, the true measure of our successand theirsishow well they fly after they depart.

So I say farewell to the Class of 2011. We offer them our sincere congratulations and best wishes for their future endeav-ors. I offer a warm welcome to our incoming kindergartners, theClass of 2025. Welcome to the Woodland Hills School District.

Sincerely,

Walter M. Calinger, Ph.D.Superintendent

All material has been prepared and written by Maria McCool,Director of Communications for the WHSD.

WaWaW lala ter M Calala inger PhD

school


S C H O O LD I STR ICT

NEW PLAN FOR ELECTION OF SCHOOLDIRECTORSAs of September 23, 2010, the Court of Common Pleasof Allegheny County directed that the Woodland HillsSchool District be divided into three (3) electoralregions for purposes of electing members to the Boardof School Directors. Two members of the Board will beelected from each region. Three members will be elected as at-large members.

The new procedure began with the May 17, 2011 primary elections. Voters in the Woodland Hills SchoolDistrict were given the opportunity to elect candidatesfrom both parties to run in the general election: onefrom each of three newly created regions and two at-large board candidates which are newly created positions.

The general election will be held on November 8, 2011.At that time, voters will elect candidates for four yearterms. Any questions about the election process should

be directed to the Division of Elections, 604 CountyOffice Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Suite 604,Pittsburgh, PA 15219, (412) 350 4500.

The Municipalities that are included in newly createdthree regions are as follows: Region 1 -- Churchill,Wilkins, Chalfant and Turtle Creek; Region 2 --Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale and Edgewood; andRegion 3 -- Forest Hills, Braddock Hills, NorthBraddock and East Pittsburgh.

In the November 8th election: one director from eachregion will be elected; and two at-large board memberswill be elected.

Current WHSD Board Members:(l-r) Sitting: Colleen Filiak, Barry Driscoll (Vice-President), Marilyn Messina (President) Robert Rinsma; Standing: Fred Kuhn, Robert Tomasic, Randy Lott, Robert Clanagan. (Missing from photo: Brian Estocin)

Boroughs Included in SchoolBoard RegionsRegion 1- Churchill, Wilkins, Chalfant and Turtle CreekRegion 2- Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale and EdgewoodRegion 3- Forest Hills, Braddock Hills,North Braddock and East Pittsburgh


Students at the Junior High again participatedin the Do the Write Thing NationalChallenge sponsored by Co-Chairs TheHonorable Dwayne D. Woodruff and his wife,Joy Maxberry Woodruff, while students fromthe WH Academy participated in the challengefor the first time. All students submitted writings on the topic

of youth violence, the impact it has on theirlives and the ways it can be eliminated.Eight Junior High students and four Academystudents were selected to be honored at a dinner celebra-tion at the August Wilson Center in June. The junior highstudents are Kaitlyn Berthold, Tearra Carswell, WilliamFletcher, McKenzie Garth, Seamus McGuigan,and Quincy McWhite (pictured). Missing from the pictureare Raven Russell, and Jeremy Pike. The Academy stu-dents are Damon Radwanski, Jolene Augustine, and MaxKlemmer (pictured). Missing from picture is Chyna Russell.

PreK RegistrationAre you looking for a quality PreK program for your child? Then look to the Woodland Hills School District. We offerPreK education to residents of the WHSD who have children that will be 4 years of age by September 1, 2011. You may register your child at the

Central Registration Office in theAdministration Building at 2430Greensburg Pike, Churchill, onTuesday, May 10 and Wednesday,May 18. The time is from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. For more information call

412.731.2238, ext. 2168 or emailSharon Price at [email protected].

Early Childhood Educators and WHSD residents: Mrs. Barb Lech (Forest Hills), Mrs. Marilyn Messina, (Edgewood)and Dr. Ernie DeTorre (Edgewood).

Presenters at the PreK Breakfastand supporters of Early ChildhoodEducation: Allegheny CountyDistrict Attorney StephenZappala, Bruce Clash, StateDirector of Fight Crime, and Dr. Stephen Bagnato, Professor in the School of Education,University of Pittsburgh.

Do The Write Thing

he 5th and 6th graders in the GATEprogram at Edgewood Elementaryhave been studying architecture this year.Their teacher, Mrs. Karen Schollaert,decided to provide them with some verypractical lessons which would also resultin giving something back to their schoolshome community.

Starting in the fall, the students took walks around the Edgewood neighborhood, studying the various architectural styles that they saw in thehouses. They captured the historic houses and landmark buildings in photographs with the permission of the owners.

The students researched, then wrote architectural descriptions about each building they had photographed. Local Edgewood architect Mrs.Susan Lami visited the class and consulted with the students to insure their descriptions were accurate.

The students compiled their photos and descriptions and Mrs. Schollaert found a publisher that would turn their work into a hard boundbook. They decided to donate a copy of the book to the Mayor of Edgewood for the boroughs archives. They will also donate a copy to the CCMellor Memorial Library.



Most WHSD schools host one or more Career Days throughout the school year. The purpose is to give our students achance to hear and see what different jobs and careers are like from the perspective of someone who is currently workingin that job. Parents, community and business representatives willingly donate their time to help our students prepare for

life after school. The following photos were taken during Shaffer Elementarys Career Day.

What Do You Want to BEWhen You Grow UP?

Parent and Graphic ArtistDawn Jackson

Parent and Physician'sAssistant Debbie Davis

Forest HillsPolice OfficerFred Livingston

US CongressmanMike Doyle withShaffer Principal Dr.Deborah Vereen

Julie Bologna, the chief meteorologist for Channel 11 News visitedDickson Elementary School and delighted 5th and 6th graders withher weather presentation.

Julie told the students that she has covered many differenttypes of weather. She is no stranger to snowstorms in thePittsburgh area as well as in the Northeast. She has also handledwall-to-wall coverage for flooding and tornadoes. In Pittsburgh,she has led viewers through continuous coverage for several icestorms and major snow storms.

Julie began her career in radio atWMBA-AM in Ambridge, PA as anews anchor and co-host. Sheis a native Pittsburgher, growingup in Center Twp., Beaver Countyand graduating with a degree injournalism from Penn StateUniversity, where she also

minored in theater. She earned a Certificate of BroadcastMeteorology and has been awarded the Seals of Approval from theNational Weather Association (NWA) and the AmericanMeteorological Society (AMS), including the Certified BroadcastMeteorologist (CBM) Seal of Approval.

Julie not only talked about weather, but also highlighted careeropportunities in science and communications. She brought stu-

dents up to help her with many of herdemonstrations and she kept her audi-ences attention with answers to theirmany questions and comments.

You can watch a video of Juliesvisit to Dickson on the WPXI websiteat www.wpxi.com. Watch for thegreat cake the students presented toJulie at the end of her program.Thanks Julie!

Dickson Students Welcome A Special Guest


February 2011 Woodland Hills Junior High:Tyrone Scott and Alexxis Hamiel

March 2011 Dickson Elementary: Colin Colcombe and Aaron Ridgely

April 2011 FairlessElementary: Tameya Marshall andJerome Garrett

Dickson Principal Allison Kline,WPXI meteorologist and DicksonAssistant Principal Lyndsey Love.



G raduating seniors in the Class of 2011have been awarded 69 academic meritscholarships so far. These scholar-ships have come either from the colleges anduniversities they are attending or are from local ornational organizations. By graduation night, the list ofawards will have grown.

Without counting the $ 1 Million in athletic scholar-ships awarded to our scholar-athletes, the Class of 2011has been awarded almost $ 2.6 MILLION in academicmerit scholarships.

One of the most competitive scholarships awarded toone of our students is the national ROTC Scholarship.Margaret Johnston, who will be attending John CarrollUniversity in Ohio has been awarded a four year, allexpenses paid scholarship totaling $171,050. This willcover her tuition, room & board, books, and expenses forfour years. Last year, her sister, Martina, also received anational ROTC four year all expenses paid scholarship toOhio University.

WHHS senior Asraiel Harewood is one of only 52 graduating seniors across the country to be selectedby the Coca-Cola Corporation to receive a four year -$20,000 scholarship. She was one of 252 high schoolseniors across the country who were selected asfinalists from a pool of 71,000 applicants. On April 14,Asraiel joined other finalists in Atlanta, GA to competefor the $20,000 college scholarships. She plans onattending Duke University in North Carolina.

The Gerald F. Smith Scholarship Foundation ValleyProteins, Inc was presented to Daniel Theiss and Mr.Brad Harrison representing U.S. Congressman TimMurphy awarded the Leaders of Tomorrow Awardto Alex Neal.

Twenty-two local scholarships were also awardedat the Seniors Academic Awards Banquet. You cansee the winners and presenters in the photo gallery.

Although we have selected some particular achieve-ments to celebrate, every student in the graduatingClass of 2011 is a success when he or she walks offthe stage at the commencement on June 3. They havecompleted the first and most important step towardbecoming a success -- earning a high school diploma.Their achievement entitles them to take the next step,whether its a college education, the military, or a jobin the business world.

Congratulations, Class of 2011. We wish you thebest!

Awards &

Class of


Achievements

2011

Superintendent Dr. Walter Calinger withSenior Academic Scholarship awardeesMarta Muela Pizarra, Julian Joerger, MoritzJahr, and David Niethammer.

Coca-Cola representatives Mr. RobertProudfit and Mr. Eric Storer flank scholar-ship winner Asraiel Harewood.

Mr. Bert Readyhough presented TheGerald F.Smith Scholarship Foundation fromValley Proteins, Inc. to Daniel Theiss

Mr. Brad Harrison representing US CongTim Murphy awarded Alex Neal . . . Leadersof Tomorrow Award.

Churchill/Wilkins Rotary InteractScholarship winners: Leah Rudge, MariyaMoseley, and Leon Dillard with Rotary members Dr. Charles Bostaph and Mr.Bruce Sapp with WHHS faculty memberKevin McGuire (back row)

Dr. Stanley Hermann presents the DarcyLynne Herman Scholarships to Anna Rubinand Taylor Gladys

WHHS teacher Patricia Kennedy presentsthe Patti Fedishen Zollner Scholarships toAnna Rubin and David Best

WHSD school nurses Lianne Greve andJudi Matelan present the School Nursescholarship to Jenny Lei

Corey Patterson accepts the Don WukichScholarship from WHSD Board MemberRobert Tomasic

Carol Singer presented the Jewish WarVeterans Aux 718 Health ProfessionsScholarship to Jenny Lei.


S C H O O LD I STR ICT Class of2011Awards & Ellen Bachy was the recipient of theAnthony DePaulo Memorial Scholarship

presented by Dino DePaulo

Cheslea White and Monte Chapmanreceived the Woodland Hills EducationAssociation Scholarships from WHEAPresident Lisa Harris and VP Bruce Fisher

The WH Foundation Senior Scholarshipswere presented to Emily O'Toole and IsiahThomas by Steve Gough, Jamie Glasser, andKathleen Good.

Jasmine Baldridge was awarded theWH Foundation & Class of 1990 DebbieSpahr Thames Memorial Scholarship byFoundation representatives.

Julia Anne McCool MemorialScholarship winner Sara Savage is flankedby Maria and Tom McCool and BoardPresident Steve Gough and Board SecretaryKathleen Good.

Angela and Vincent Calfo presented theRaymond Calfo Memorial Scholarship toTaylor Gladys

Taylor Gladys was also the recipient of the Woodland Hills MemorialScholarship presented by WHSD BoardMember Colleen Filiak

Ellen Bachy received the PamelaBergamasco Memorial Scholarship fromJoseph Bergamasco and Kathryn Schaal

Michael Boyd presented the ChurchillArea Environmental Council GraduationAward to Alex Neal

The Woodland Hills Junior HighScholarships were presented to EmilyBalcerek and Alex Neal by JH teachersChristyn Poloff and and Robert Ladick


AchievementsThe Braddock Senior High SchoolClass of 1958 Scholarships were present-ed to Joshua Frank, Victoria Robertsonand Tahlia Clannagan by Pauline Abdullah,Bruce Jackson and Lawrence Reaves

Dr. Joan Clark from the ChurchillGarden Club Book presented their scholarship to James McKay

Joyce Wagner and Lynn Marie presented the Jeff Wagner MemorialScholarship to Rachel Pampino

WHHS Guidance Counselor ChristineSmith presented three scholarships: theSlava Silan Memorial Scholarship toAsraiel Harewood, (left), and the JudgeWilliam G.Hawkins Scholarship to FeliciaKelly, and the Nancy Emanuel MemorialScholarship to Ali Cuccaro (right).

ROTC Scholarship winner MargaretJohnston receives her check from LTCDon Hazelwood with her parents Georgineand Dane Johnston.


S C H O O LD I STR ICTWHHS 10th grader Kennedy Garth, a student in Mrs.Silvermans Advanced English class, submitted the follow-ing poem in response to a Write Your Own Balladassignment. Kennedys very moving Ballad is printedwith permission from her mother, Heidy Garth.

There was an engaging man from Pittsburgh, PA,He wanted to become Mayor one day.He started his career in politics later in life,And got the go ahead from his wife.

He wanted to help all people in their fights,And wanted everyone to voice their rights,He wanted schools to be safe for all kids,He was on the board of executives for SIDS.

His political career soon began,He was elected a City of Pittsburgh Councilman.He did this and helped many people for years,He gained a lot of respect from his peers.

He ran for mayor once, but didnt win,He didnt let this bother him, he stuck up his chin.He tried again and lost number two,But he knew exactly what to do.

Third time was a charm and his dream came true,He would push the people of Pittsburgh through.His eyes sparkled like diamonds when he won,He could not wait to get things done.

He never gave up what was in his heart,And gave Pittsburgh a brand new start.He wanted Pittsburghs people to have bigger and better things,But, God had bigger plans and gave him his wings.

He was a role model for our great city,He was delightful, special, and very witty.A wonderful and loving grandpa he was to meHis love for me spread across the sea.

His gray thick hair and sparkling blue eyesMayor OConnors spirit will never die.

Mayor Bob OConnor was an enthusiastic supporter of the WHSD and ourstudents. Here he is pictured with his three granddaughters, who are allstudents in our District. Kennedy, on the far right, and her sisters Delaneyand McKenzie visit the Mayor in his office.

7th grade GATE students from Shaffer,Fairless and the Academy entered com-positions in the Ligonier Valley Writers'Student Poetry Contest this year.Giovanni Cappella (grade 7- WHAcademy) won the *Walter McGoughMemorial Award*. His poem was the"Best of the Best" in his age category(grades 7-9). He received a cashaward and read his poem at an AwardsCeremony at the Greensburg Barnesand Noble store on Saturday, April 30th.

Best

A Grandfather Remembered.

S U M M E R 2 0 1 1

H eal th and W el l ness N ews Y ou Can U se

2 0 11 UP MC

Wha t s I n s i depage 2 T eam U p f or a H ealthy H eart

page 3 T he G ood N ews Ab out H eart D iseaseS ix W ays to L ower Y our B lood Pressure

page 4 Y oun g Athletes an d S udden C ardiac D eathW hat P arents N eed to K now

Ex ercise: T oo Much of a G ood T hin g C an B e H armf ul

page 5 T he D own side of F alls

page 6 C hoosin g the Rig ht D octor f or Y ou

page 7 U PMC McK eesp ort C omprehensiv e C ardiac C are Is H ere for Y ou

Heart Health Is a Family Awair

E v ery member of your family could hav e some degreeof risk when it comes to dev eloping heart disease.

L ook inside for ways to get your family heart healthy.

2 www.UP MC. com/T oday

Team U p for a Healthy HeartY our family doctor is your fi rst line of defense when it comes to caring for your heart

As youll read throughout this issue ofUPMC Today, theres a great deal youcan do to prevent heart disease. Youmight be surprised to learn, though,that a strong relationship with yourfamily doctor is one of the best steps you can take to protect yourhearts health.Primary care physicians iPCPs) focus on prevention as the key to a long and healthy life, explains Edward Goralczyk, MD, chairman, Department of Family Medicine atUPMC McKeesport, and a family practitioner with Elizabeth TownshipFamily MedicineU PMC. O ur goal is to help educate you to avoid or minimize serious health problems and that includes your heart.Heart disease can stem from a variety of factors, including age, genetics, andlifestyle. These are key elements your PCP will monitor regularly and reviewwith you, explains Dr. Goralczyk. Its very important for patients to keep their doctor involved and current intheir lives. Simply put, the better weknow you, the better the advice and care we can provide.

Here are a few steps you can take with your PCP for a healthier heart:

T ell your storyHelp your doctor understand your background by compiling andsharing a comprehensive medical history. In addition to your own medical background, find out who inyour immediate family has had heart disease or contributing factors like high blood pressure or diabetes. B e sure to let your PCP know about past illnesses, tests, and any specialists you may have seen. N ew technology, like UPMCs electronic health record system ieR ecords) , has the potential to givePCPs instant access to a patients medical history, including recent tests or medications prescribed by a specialist, notes Dr. Goralczyk.

If you dont have a family doctor, takesteps now to locate a physician withwhom you can establish a sense of trust and rapport isee Choosing the R ight Doctor for You on page ? of thispublication for help) . Dont wait for an emergency to find a PCP!

H elp your doctor see the b ig p ictureThere are many factors that createstress and disruptions in our lives.Thats why its important to keep your doctor informed about your totalhealth mental, physical, emotional,and even financial. Stresses like a j obloss, change in relationship, or financial problems can take a real toll on yourhearts health, says Dr. Goralczyk. Patients often dont realize there aremultiple factors at play in their lives.

B e can didTalk to your doctor about any troublingphysical conditions such as chest painor shortness of breath that youre experiencing. Its also important tospeak openly about lifestyle habits thatcan affect your heart, such as diet, exercise, and substance use and abuseiincluding smoking and drinking) .Were not here to j udge but to helpyou, says Dr. Goralczyk. Withholding information makes managing your heart health more difficult and can even lead to a missed diagnosis.

It s very important for patients to keep their doctor

involved and current in their lives. Si mply put, the b etter we know you, the bet ter the advice

and care we can provide. E dward Go ralcz yk, MD

T he G ood N ew s Ab out H eart D iseaseT ake charge of your heart through health screenings and heart-healthy lifestyle changes

S ix W ays to L ower Y our B lood Pressure

1-800-533-UP M C 3

H e art di s e as e i s t h e n at i on s l e adi n gcau s e of de at h f or bot h m e n an dw om e n . Every 25 seconds, someone experiences a coronary event; everyminute, heart disease claims a life.

The good news? You can take steps to reduce your risk of heart diseasethrough routine screening and lifestylechanges even if youve already had aheart attack or stroke.

Heart disease is a disease we can do something about. In most instances, it ispreventable, says Daniel Edmundowicz,MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, and director of preventive cardiology at theUPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.

Screening absolutely saves lives. We can help people change the outcomeonce we know the risk-factor levels, Dr. Edmundowicz says.

H eart- H ealthy Resources at U PMC McK eesp ortIhsan Awan, MD, cardiologist at UPMC McKeesport, says doctors usetools such as EKGs, stress testing, ultrasound, and CT scans to look for signs of atherosclerosis in the heart, neck,legs, and arms especially if you have afamily history of cardiovascular disease.

If needed, you also can take advantage ofthe regions only low radiation electronbeam CT scan at the UPMC Heart andVascular Institute. It looks specifically for calcium in the coronary arteries as amarker of the cholesterol accumulationthat can cause sudden heart attacks.

Dr. Awan recommends regular healthscreenings that will tell you your numbersand whether you need to take action. For example, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can damage your heartand blood vessels, but you wouldnt know you have these conditions withouttesting for them.

The more risk factors you have, thegreater your chance of developing heartdisease, says Dr. Awan. While you cantcontrol genetics, you can take steps to control many other risk factors by eating a healthy diet, exercising, reducing stress,not smoking, and maintaining a healthybody weight. Some changes like quitting smoking can have an immediate impact.

The bottom line is: If you know yournumbers and know your risk, you can do something about it, Dr. Awan says.

High b lood pressure puts you at risk for heartattack, stroke, and other serious diseases. Follow these recommendations from Dr. Awan to take charge of this silent killer : I n crease p hysical activity. Aim for at

least 3 0 minutes each day ( most days) of b risk walking, b ike riding, or other aerob ic activity.

Mon itor your sodium. L imit your sodium intake to less than two grams ( 2 , 0 0 0 mg) a day. B eware of hidden sodium inprocessed foods, including canned soup,lunch meats, froz en dinners, and crackers.

Eat healthy. Follow a lower-fat diet that s rich in fruits, vegetab les, and low-fat dairy foods.

C on trol your stress. Take 1 5 minutes eachday to decompress and focus on yourself.L isten to music, read, pray, or meditate.

D on t smok e! N icotine causes your b loodvessels to constrict and your heart to b eatfaster, which raises your b lood pressure.

T ak e your medicin e. If medicine is neededto control your b lood pressure, make sureyou take it as prescrib ed b y your doctor.

Risk f actors that cantb e chan g ed Family history of heart disease,

carotid artery disease, or peripheral artery disease

Age ( 6 5 and older) Gender ( men have a greater risk

of heart attack)

Risk f actors that canb e chan g ed Smoking High b lood pressure High cholesterol levels O b esity P hysical inactivity

B ecome heart smartTake time to educate yourself ab out heart disease and the treatments availab le. The U P M C Heart and V ascular Institute web site is a one-stop source of informationab out cardiac conditions, as well as U P M C s full spectrum of cardiovascular services from routine screenings to advanced cardiac care.

B e sure to check it out atwww.U PMC .com/ H eartan dV ascular.

K n ow your n umb ersAim for these vital numb ers to k eep your tick er in good w ork ing condition:

Monit or T arg et L evels

Cholesterol less than 2 00 mg/ dL

Blood P ressure b elow 1 2 0 / 8 0

BMI , b ody mass index 1 8 .5 2 4 . 9

Ask your doctorIf you have q uestions or concerns ab outyour heart health, call your physician to schedule an appointment.


Y o u n g A t hle t e s a n d Su d d e n Ca r d ia c D e a t hW hat Paren ts N eed to K n ow

Health Tips from U P M C Health P lan

Is your child among the three to five million young people in the United States who play organized sports each year? If so, you know that a pre-participation physical examination can help identify young athletes who may be at risk for an injury or illness that could req uire additional medical evaluation. R ecently, identifying young athletes who may be at risk of sudden cardiac death has become a hot topic among sports medicine professionals, focusing the attention of parents on the need for better cardiovascular screening of young athletes.Sudden cardiac death iSCDj in young athletes is extremely rare, says V ivekanand Allada, MD, clinical director of pediatric cardiology at Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and professor of pediatrics. In fact, its a one in a million risk.According to Dr. Allada, sudden death in young athletes is most often due to heart problems, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy ian abnormal thickening of the heartj. Other causes include congenitalcoronary anomalies, arrhythmia iwhich can be caused by a blow to thechestj, and Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that canweaken the aorta and lead to a tear or rupture. Unfortunately, theres no perfect test to find a needle in a haystack, says Dr. Allada. However, parents can take steps to uncover risk factors that may req uire more testing or a consultation with a pediatriccardiologist. The American Heart Association recommends that youngathletes undergo a screening medical history to check specifically for Chest pain, palpitations, or fainting during exercise ired flags that req uire immediate attentionj

A history of a heart murmur or hypertension Family history of coronary disease, sudden death, or Marfan syndrome

Children with any of these risk factors or an abnormal physical examshould see a pediatric cardiologist, who is specially trained to look for cardiac problems in children and teens, Dr. Allada says. Further testing might include an EK G, echocardiogram, and stress test.He offers these tips to parents Dont let your child play through chest pain. Pain can be a warning sign.

Teach your child to avoid energy drinks that have high levels of caffeine. Such drinks can make the heart race and cause cardiac arrhythmias. They are particularly dangerous for athletes with undiagnosed cardiac problems.

T o learn more ab out caring for your child s heart, visit w w w .chp.edu, then click on C hild H ealth A- Z . T o schedule an appointment w ith a C hildren s- a liated physician, call 4 1 2 - 6 9 2 - P E D S ( 7 3 3 7 ) .

E x ercise:T oo M uch of a G oodT hing C an B e H armfulRegular exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy life. M any of us, however, still struggle to fi t even a moderate amount of exercise into our schedules.

B ut there are plenty of peoplewho are getting too much exercise. If some exercise is good,they think more will b e b etter.N ot true. In fact, excessive exercise can lead to a host ofphysical issues, including inj uries,the loss of lean muscle mass, aweakened immune system, sleep prob lems, irritab ility, anddepression. A study in the American J ournal of Cardiologysuggests that too much vigorousexercise also can increase the risk of heart prob lems.

Are you ex ercisin g too much?Experts say that if your workoutssuddenly seem more div cult than usual and you aren t making progress, you may b e overexercising.O ther troub le signs include: Insomnia Aches or pain in muscles and/ or j oints Fatigue Feeling unmotivated and lacking energy Increased susceptib ility to colds, sore throats,

and other illnesses

If you re experiencing any of these signs, see your doctor to fi nd out if something else is causing the prob lem.

J ust startin g an ex ercise p rog ram?Congratulations on taking an important step to improve your health. Here are a few tips to help yourb ody adj ust to a new routine: Create a reasonab le exercise program b ased

on attainab le goals. Exercise in moderation. B egin slowly and b uild up gradually to avoid inj uries. Cut b ack the volume and intensity of your

workouts at the fi rst sign of inj ury. L isten to your b ody. When it needs a rest,

give it a rest.

Sources: American College of Sports M edicine, American Heart Association

1-800-533-UP M C 5

T hree thing s you can do to p reven t f allsEx ercise! Exercises such as tai chi or other relaxationexercises that improve balanc e and coordination canhelp lower your chances of falling and make you feel stronger. S ee your doctor regula rly. Annual physical and eye examinations can uncover underlying medical prob lemsthat can lead to falls. See your doctor if you feel unstab leor diz z y, p ossibly d ue to medications. Tell your doctor ifyou fall; a medical evaluation can help.Mak e your home saf er. Seventy-fi ve percent of all fallsoccur at home. To help make your home fall-proof: I mprove lighting. As you get older, you need b righter

lights to see well. Us e night lights in your b edroom,hall, and bat hroom.

R emove small throw rugs. Tack down all carpets andarea rugs so they are fi rmly fastened to the fl oor.

R emove things you can trip over. Clear bo oks,clothes, and shoes from stairs and places you walk.K eep cords and wires near walls.

Us e handrails. Install grab bar s near toilets, and bot h inside and outside your tub and shower. Always use the handrail when using the stairs.

St ore items w ithin easy reach. Dont store things toohigh or too low. Avoid using stepladders or stepstools. Mos t of all, think b efore you reach.

W ear shoes w ith non- sk id, non- friction soles. Avoidgoing b arefoot or wearing only socks or loose-fi ttingslippers.

Falls may be funny on comedy shows, but they can be traumatic for older adults. Simply tripping on a rug or slipping on a wet floor can change an older persons life in an instant posing serious threats to his or her health and independence.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three people over 65 experience at least one fall each year, and more than two-thirds of them are likely to fall again within six months.Falls also are the leading cause of accidental death in seniors. And, as many as 30 percent of those who fall end up with debilitating hip, pelvic, or spine fractures that make it harder to get around and adversely affect self-confidence. Even those who dont suffer serious injury can become fearful.

The most obvious concern when an older adult falls or trips is injury, says Stephanie Studenski, MD, MPH, director of the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center at the University of Pittsburgh and associate director of research at the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh. But the fear of falling can cause people to restrict their activity and sacrifice their independence. In some cases, it can lead to social isolation, she says.

Everyone is at risk for falls, but that risk increases with the changes that come with aging, plus other medical conditions such as arthritis, cataracts and glaucoma, and balance problems.

Fortunately, theres a lot people can do to prevent most risk factors, says Dr. Studenski. Taking care of your overall health, staying active, socializing with friends, and taking a few common-sense precautions can help you avoid falls and broken bones.

To learn more about the Falls Clinic, located at UPMC Senior Care-Benedum Geriatric Center in Oakland, call 412-692-4200.

U P M C Spotlight

The Downside of FallsP rev enting tripping, falling can be key to maintaining independence

L eading the W ork in F alls P reventionDr. St ephanie Studenski received the 2 0 10 N ational Award for Falls P revention Research and will be honor ed as the grand champion at the third annual Celeb rating Senior Champions benefi t dinner and auction Thursday, N ov. 3, 2 0 1 1 . For more information about the event, sponsored b y U P MC Senior Services, the Aging Institute, and the Division of Geriatric Med icine of the Uni versity of P ittsb urgh, c all P eggy V anHorn, bene volent care advocate, at 4 12 -6 2 2 -9 2 3 9 .


W eve all heard about the importance of the doctoropatient relationship, oftendescribed as the cornerstone of qualitymedical care.

zn fact, the stronger that relationship, the better your chances of receiving theright care at the right time in the rightway, says Tami Minnier, vice president of UPMCs Donald J . W olff, J r. Centerfor Q uality zmprovement and znnovation. At UPMC, our goal is to help you develop a long-term partnership in which your doctor is your number one health care champion.

According to a ( 0 p0 survey by the R obert W ood J ohnson woundation, most of us are very satisfied with our physicians. zt usually takes something maj or like moving to a new area, changing medical insurance, or being diagnosed with a serious condition to prompt us to look for a new doctor.

zf youre in the process of changing doctors, there are some exciting new options to consider, says Ms. Minnier. wor example, UPMCs y ealth Plan isworking with a growing number of primary care physicians to implement patient-centered medical homes in theirpractices. zn this medical model, yourfamily doctor becomes the hub for all your care by linking you to a collaborativeteam of medical professionals fromphysician assistants to specialists.

Medical homes are designed to ensure that you receive appropriate and comprehensive care over your entire lifetime, including preventive health care, treatment for acute or chronic illness, and assistance with end-of-life care. S tudies show that medical homes are resulting in improved care, access, and communication between patients and their medical team as well as improved quality, safety, and cost of care.

W hen searching for Dr. R ight, here arefive helpful tips to locate the best match

D etermin e what s imp ortan t to you winding the right doctor often involvespersonal preferences apart from a physicians skills or qualifications, saysMs. Minnier. wor example, are you more comfortable with a doctor of yourgender? zs a primary care physician right for you, or do you have a medicalcondition that requires treatment by a specialist? And if easy access is a concern,do you need a doctor located close to your home or workplace?

G et the op in ion of p eop le you trust B egin your search by asking your circle of family, friends, and co-workers aboutthe positive experiences theyve had, sheadvises. zf youre moving, or seeking aspecialist, your current doctor also can be an excellent referral source.

D o some homework There are a number of credible online resources, including UPMCs wind aDoctor (www.UPMC.comowindADoctor),with information on more than q,0 0 0physicians, that allow you to confirm aphysicians medical credentials, board certifications, and specialties, says Ms. Minnier. Y ou also can check with the state medical board at docboard.org.zn general, avoid doctor ranking sites,which are unregulated and difficult to verify for accuracy.

At UPMC, a variety of tools are used to assess physician quality, including patient satisfaction surveys. W e literallyreview thousands of surveys monthly,which provide us with invaluable insightsand feedback, says Ms. Minnier.

V erif y your doctor s in suran ce p lan s an d hosp ital a liation s Most practices accept a variety of insurance plans, but be sure yours isamong them, advises Ms. Minnier. And should you ever require hospitalization or special tests, its important that your doctor be affiliatedwith a hospital you know and trust.

C all f or an ap p oin tmen t B ring a written set of questions coveringyour concerns and expectations. W henyour visit is over, evaluate the experience,suggests Ms. Minnier. W as it easy to getan appointment? W ere you treated withrespect by both the doctor and the staff? zf your answers are positive, youre on theright path to a doctoropatient relationshipcharacterized by quality care, compassion,and open communication.

F or more information, or to schedule an appointment w ith a U P M C - a liated physician, visitw w w .U P M C .com/ F indAD octor, or call 1 - 8 0 0 - 5 3 3 - U P M C ( 8 7 6 2 ) .

Choosing the Right Doctor for Y ouT aking the time to fin d Dr . Rig ht is one of the most important inv estments you can make.

1-800-533-UP M C 71-800-533-UP M C 7

U P M C M cK eesportComprehensive cardiac care is here for youUPMC McKeesport has a longstanding tradition of offering the community excellent cardiac care that includes services to prevent, diagnose, and treat heartand vascular disease. Our heart health care is of the highest quality and is delivered by highly skilled, specially trained, and compassionate cardiologists,radiologists, and staff.

A glos sary of heart health resources Arterial D oppler Ultrasound T est: Evaluates arterial blood flow in the arms and legs.

Cardiac Catheteriza tion: This imaging procedure may be both diagnostic (to determine the presence and extent of restriction of blood flow in the coronary arteries and heart, and to examine the hearts valves and walls) and interventional (to perform coronary angioplasty and stenting to improve blood flow to a coronary artery that has been obstructed by a build-up of plaque).

Cardiac Rehab ilitation: Enables the heart patient to regain strength and stamina through a closely monitored and personalized regimen of exercise, lifestyle assessment, and counseling.

Carotid D oppler Ultrasound T est: Detects obstruction of blood flow in the carotid arteries of the neck and monitors proper blood flow to the brain.

Echocardiogram: Creates a moving picture of the heart and its workings. Electrocardiograph (EK G ): Monitors the hearts electrical activity to diagnose unexplained chest pain and other symptoms of heart disease.

Peripheral V ascular D isease (PV D ) studies: Evaluate blood circulation in the lower extremities for the early detection and possible prevention ofheart disease and stroke.

Pacemak er Implantation: A surgical procedure to insert a pacemaker into the chest to help stabilize and control the pace of the heart.

S tress Echo T est: Couples a treadmill test with real-time monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, and echocardiogram to visualize the hearts anatomy and monitor the hearts response to the heavier demand of physical activity.

S tress N uclear T est: A radioactive agent is introduced to the bloodstreamand monitored by a special nuclear camera to actively monitor blood flowinto and out of the heart at rest and during the stress of exercise.

T ilt T ab le S tudies: Monitors heart function, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation in varying degrees of incline to determine possible heart-related causes of dizziness and fainting.

V enous D oppler Ultrasound T est: Evaluates blood flow in leg veins to reveal possible blood clots.

U PM C M cK e e s p or t Ca r d ia c R e s ou r c e s

U PMC McK eesp ort Im ag in g S ervices15 0 0 F ifth Ave.Mc K eesport, P A 15 13 2P hone: 4 12 - 66 4 - C AR E ( 2 2 7 3 )

U PMC McK eesp ort O utp atien t C en ter 20 20 Ardmore B lvd.F orest H ills, P A 15 2 21P hone: 4 12 - 63 6 - 5 3 3 3

U PMC McK eesp ort Ca rdiop ulmon ary Rehab ilitation C en terO ak P ark Mal l20 0 1 L incoln W ayWh ite O ak , P A 15 13 1P hone: 4 12 - 66 4 - 3 0 10

U PMC McK eesp ort Ca rdiac Ca theteriz ation L ab15 0 0 F ifth Ave.Mc K eesport, P A 15 13 2P hone: 4 12 - 66 4 - 20 5 5

Coming soon new, enhanced, state-of-the-art Cath Lab.

U PMC McK eesp ort1500 F ifth Ave.Mc K eesport, P A 15 132

UPMC Today is publi shed quar terly to provide you with health and wellness information and classes and events availab le at U P M C.

This pub lication is for informational purposes only and should not b e taken as medical advice or replace a physician s medical assessment. Alw ays consult fi rst with your physician about anything related to your personal health.

Follow U P M C on Faceb ook.

Even the smallest discovery is important. Doctors rely on quality images to make accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions fortheir patients. UPMC is a leader in creating and adopting cutting-edge technologiesto enhance medical imaging and improve patient care. In fact, some of the most innovative advances in the field of radiology have happened in our hospitals. And ourstate-of-the-art computer system allows imaging scans to be quickly accessed andviewed by physicians across our network with just the click of a mouse. Our advanced technology and expert radiologists can make a real difference in your care.Whether you need an x-ray or advanced radiology testing, trust Imaging Services at UPMC McKeesport. For more information or to schedule an appointment,call 412-664-CARE (2273) or visit UPMC.com/Imaging.


The Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh awarded an elementary ScienceOlympiad grant of over $2,700 to Joseph DeGroot, a Wilkins Elementary teacher.Gifted teacher Cathie Pearson also received grants from the Spectroscopy Societyto hold Science Olympiads at Shaffer Elementary and the WH Academy this yeartoo. The grants were each $2,700. The SSP is an organization dedicated to expanding and promoting the exchange

of knowledge in the field of science and the furthering of science education in Western Pennsylvania.The grants were used to fund Elementary Science Olympiads for 4th and 5th

grade students. During these day-long programs, students are actively involved inexplaining science topics related to their schools curriculum.

One of the goals of the Spectroscopy Society is to provide learning opportunitieswhere students can see science being applied to every-day, real-world events.And if done correctly, the events should also be enjoyable. The program helps toexcite, inspire, challenge and foster the fun side of science for elementary students.

I was so happy to receive notification that the SSP agreed to fully fund ourWilkins Elementary Science Olympiad, said Mr. DeGroot. Our principal, Mrs.Karen Bloch, was instrumental in helping us to obtain the grant and we will beincluding new inquiry-based science activities, along with some of the most popular investigations from last year.The Science Olympiad took place at Wilkins on April 15. The Science Olympiads

were held at Shaffer on Wednesday, May 18 and at the Academy on Friday, May 27. The Spectroscopy Society is such a wonderfully supportive organization, and I'm

proud that they are recognizing what we doing here in Woodland Hills to make science more enjoyable for our students, and more meaningful, replied Mrs. Pearson.

The Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh funded Elementary Science Olympiads atthree elementary schools in the WHSD this year.

Numberof Buses

Time of Pick-Up Location

1 10:40 a.m. Presbyterian Church Parking Lot 10:45 a.m. Ridge Avenue and Parise Drive 10:50 a.m. Woodland Hills Administration Building 10:55 a.m. Shaffer Primary School 11:00 a.m. Plaza Shopping Center (Greensburg Pike)

1 10:45 a.m. Eastmont School Site 10:55 a.m. Wilkins Primary School 11:00 a.m. Beulah Road Shopping Center

1 10:40 a.m. Rankin Intermediate School 10:45 a.m. Hawkins Village 10:50 a.m. Fourth Street and Hawkins Avenue 11:00 a.m. Fairless Intermediate School

1 10:30 a.m. Good Shepherd Church10:35 a.m. Seventh Street and Talbot Avenue 10:40 a.m. Fifth Street and Talbot Avenue 10:58 a.m. Braddock Avenue and Fourth Street 11:00 a.m. Braddock Avenue and Second Street

1 10:45 a.m. Propel School 10:50 a.m. Woodland Hills Academy 11:00 a.m. Prospect and Penn

1 10:50 a.m. Word and Worship Church 11:00 a.m. Bessemer Avenue

1 10:45 a.m. Edgewood Elementary School 10:50 a.m. Columbia and Park Avenues 11:00 a.m. Westmoreland Avenue and Hampton

1 10:35 a.m. Wilkins Community Center (Regent Square) 10:45 a.m. Dickson Elementary School 10:50 a.m. Monongahela and Washington 11:00 a.m. South Braddock Avenue and Roslyn Street

Buses for Kennywood Park will be marked for the areas listed above. Please be at the stop nearest your home atleast five (5) minutes before the scheduled time.

RETURN SCHEDULETIME OF PICK-UP: 7 p.m. LOCATION: FREE PARKING LOT

1 Fourth Street and Braddock Avenue, Second Street and Braddock Avenue, Fifth Street and Talbot Avenue, Seventh Street and Talbot Avenue, Good Shepherd Church, Bessemer Avenue, Penn and Prospect, Woodland Hills Academy, Propel School

1 Monongahela Avenue and Church Street Dickson Elementary, School Wilkins Community Center (Regent Square), Edgewood Elementary School, Westmoreland Avenue and Hampton Street

1 Rankin Intermediate School, Hawkins Village, South Braddock Avenue and Roslyn Street, Fourth Street and Hawkins, Fairless Intermediate School Word and Worship Church

1 Presbyterian Church Parking Lot, Ridge Avenue and Parise Drive, Woodland Hills Administration Building, Shaffer Primary School, Plaza Shopping Center (Greensburg Pike), Beulah Road Shopping Center Wilkins Primary School, Eastmont School Site

Return buses will be marked for the areas listed above. Please board the bus for the area nearest to your home.Be careful when going to and from your bus stop. BUSES WILL LEAVE THE PARK PROMPTLY AT 7 p.m.


Return To:

SCHOOL PICNIC

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2011BUS SCHEDULE


Numberof Buses

The Woodland Hills School District

Picnic will be held at Kennywood Park on

Tuesday, June 28, 2011. FunDay Passes at the discount price of $22.00 will be

sold on Friday, June 24, 2011, andMonday, June 27, 2011, at the District

Administration Office ONLY, 2430 Greensburg Pike, between 9 a.m.

and 3 p.m. Only CASH AND MONEYORDERS MADE OUT TO KENNYWOOD

will be accepted - NO PERSONALCHECKS. Please remember that

Kennywood Park no longer has aGeneral Admission price.

Only FunDay Passes are available. The price for a FunDay Pass

purchased at Kennywood Park is $36.99.



Students from five WHSD schools attended this years Student AmbassadorConference at the University of Pittsburgh on May 3. The program is held annuallyfor 6th-8th grade students and it is sponsored by the World Affairs Council ofPittsburgh. Each year the conference focuses on a different area of the world. Thisyear's focus was Africa. The students attended three sessions with speakers fromdifferent African countries and toured the Nationality rooms in the Cathedral ofLearning. Students from the Academy, Shaffer, Fairless, Edgewood, and the JuniorHigh attended the conference.

Mr. Yenner Karto, a nativeof Liberia, with some of ourstudent attendees, was a

speaker at the conference.Mr. Karto moved to the U.S.to attend graduate school.He lives in Pittsburgh andworks for First Niagara

Bank.


S C H O O LD I STR ICTtudents in grades Kindergarten through 4th grade at ShafferElementary and the Woodland Hills Academy had a delightful project to complete as they studied a unit on the decades of the1950's, the 1960's, and the 1970's. Each student appeared as a significant personality from one of the decades on The Mrs. Pearson Talk Show. The students researched information about an important person, wrote a script, designed a costume, and

were interviewed as the person on the talk show. Guests on the show included such well known figures as Dr.Seuss, Althea Gibson, John F. Kennedy, John Glenn, Gloria Steinem, Wilma Rudolph, Martin Luther King Jr.,Peggy Fleming, and Frank Lloyd Wright.See if you can recognize any of these famous people in the pictures of our students.

Two WHHS students have earned the highest rank in Scouting, the EagleAward. Vincent LeDonne and Alex Huse, from Boy Scout Troop 23 inEdgewood, obtained their Eagle Awards by earning 21 merit badges, and plan-ning and organizing a community service project.

Vincent, a junior at WHHS, is the son of Mike and Rose Ann LeDonne ofSwissvale. Vincents community service project involved exterior improvementsto the grounds of Madonna Del Castello Church. He planned and organized thework, completed with the help of fellow scouts. They removed overgrownshrubs and weeds and installed in a new aluminum fence, and planted grass. Hisefforts beautified the church property much to the delight of the parish and church neighbors.

Alex, a senior at WHHS, is the son of Charles and Tracey Huse of Forest Hills. Alexs father is theScout Master of Troop 90. Alex dedicated his community service project to helping the First PresbyterianChurch of Edgewood. Alex and troop members under his direction scraped, repaired, and painted interi-or walls and made repairs to certain interior features.

Less than 6% of all scouts nationally ever obtain the Eagle rank. We congratulate Vincent and Alex.The leadership skills and knowledge that they acquired by undergoing the Eagle Award process willserve them very well as they go forth from our high school.


The highly successful and popular OutdoorLeadership Program, started at the High Schoolunder the direction of Mr. Robert Christie, hasbeen expanded this year to include students from theJunior High and elementary schools. The elementaryprogram is being piloted at Dickson Elementary.

The purpose of this program is to promote socialteambuilding skills, model appropriate and positivebehaviors, teach cooperative behavior that ensures thesafety of others, plus demonstrate leadership and initia-tive skills.

Sixth grade students from Dickson participated onfive trips in September, October, December, Februaryand March. In addition, 5th graders are scheduled totake several trips at the end of the school year.

All of the trips are to McConnells Mill State Park(about 40 miles north of Pittsburgh). Students are trans-ported by bus to and from the outdoor site. They eatlunch at the conclusion of the session. Despite the typi-cally muddy, wet, and cool conditions, there is a longlist of students who want to participate. The trips occurregardless of weather conditions.

Students must prove they understand all of the schoolrules and behavior expectations before they can apply.

At Dickson, in addition to Mr. Christie, the OutdoorLeadership Program Coordinator for the Woodland HillsSchool District, Principal Allison Kline and BehaviorInterventionist Jami L. Heffley are involved in coordinat-ing the program.

Elementary StudentsGet Practical Lessons

in Leadership

All the Worlds A Stage. . .So wrote William Shakespeare, And all the men andwomen merely players; They have their exits and theirentrances, And one man in his time plays many parts. (AsYou Like It Act 2, Scene 7)Twelve students from the WH Academy in grades 4-7

competed in the annual Shakespeare Monologue &Scene Contest. The students rehearsed under the directionof their teachers Dolly Heineman and Kelli Moreno. They presented their monologuesand scenes on the stage at the O'Reilly Theater in downtown Pittsburgh. Over 1,000students annually participate in this competition.Despite this being the very first time that Woodland Hills participated in the compe-

tition, two of our students, William Vaughn playing Demetrius and Keaura Brooks play-ing Helena, were awarded an Honorable Mention for their performance in a scenefrom Midsummer's Nights Dream. The other student contestants and the plays from which they selected a monologue

or scene to perform were: 7th grader Stephanie Lauble - As You Like It; 6th GraderCameron May - Comedy of Errors; 6th Grader James Thomas - Hamlet; 7th GradersLily Miara and Jaymon Dunn - The Taming of the Shrew; and 6th Graders GretaBrooks and Avery Calloway - Two Gentleman From Verona.

Woodland Hills Academy teacher Kelli Moreno withstudents she directed for the annual Shakespeare

Monolog & Scene Contest held at the O'Reilly Theaterin downtown Pittsburgh.

Woodland Hills Academyteacher Dolly Heinemanwith students she directedfor the annual Shakespeare

Monologue & SceneContest held at the O'ReillyTheater in downtown

Pittsburgh..


S C H O O LD I STR ICTThe Woodland Hills Junior High Track and Field team had a verysuccessful day at the Mars Invitational in April. Almost all of ourathletes improved on their times and distance while competingagainst students from 35 different schools in WesternPennsylvania.

The boys team came home with several medals. MarcelMcCaskill took 6th place in the 110 meter high hurdles with atime of 17.5 seconds, his personal best. Heavon Price took 6th inthe triple jump. Corey Dowdy took 3rd place in the 400 meterdash with a time of 55.4 seconds, which ties the school record.

Marcel McCaskill, Jordan Lee, Mike Nash, and Corey Dowdyshaved 25 seconds off their time in the 1600 relay and ran a 4:15.

The best performance of the evening was Isaiah Brooks.Isaiah took FIRST PLACE in the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash,and anchored the 400 relay team of Miles Sanders, Corey Dowdy,and Daron Cooper to a FIRST PLACE finish. Isaiah came withinone/one hundredth of a second of beating the meet record in the200, one/tenth of a second of beating the meet record in the 100,and the 400 relay team missed the meet record by .11 seconds.Isaiah was awarded the meets Most Valuable Player.

Congratulations to all who competed. You have made theWHSD very proud.

Summer Sports Camp Returns!

The Woodland Hills Summer Sports Camp is back and better than ever.This year two sessions will be offered, June 20-24 and June 27-July 1.

Campers will receive instruction in basketball, swimming, soccer, volley-ball, wrestling, cheerleading and baseball. As planning progresses there isthe possibility that more activities will be added. The program will takeplace at the high school and will run daily from 9:45 a.m. until 2:15 p.m.

District varsity coaches and athletes will lead instruction. The cost is $25for the first child in a family and $15 for additional children from the samefamily (cash or money order only). Registration materials can be down-loaded from the district website or can be picked up in the athletic office.

Space is limited. If you have questions call Korie Morton-Rozier at 412.244.1100 X5141 or Tori Zido at 412.417.1378.

Summer Community Swim ScheduleHigh School Pool

Mondays & Wednesdays, June 13 August 105 p.m. 7 p.m.

Junior High PoolTuesdays & Thursdays, June 13 August 11

11 a.m. 3 p.m.

This issues cover is devoted to theWoodland Hills School Districtshigh school musical,musical, Phantom of the Opera,winner of six Gene Kelly Awards.Congratulations to the cast andcrew; Mr. Tom Crone and his staff;and the many parent volunteerswho made the production so successful.

Woodland Hills Phantomreceived Gene Kelly Awards forExcellence in High SchoolMusical Theater in the followingcategories:

Best Scenic Design budget IIIBest Lighting Design budget IIIBest Costume Design budget III

Best Stage CrewBest Direction

Best Musical Budget III

Pittsburgh CLOs 21th Annual Gene Kelly Awards was held onMay 28, 2011 at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts.

Preventing Swimmers EarSwimmers Ear is a term for an ear infection in the ear canal often causedby water stuck in the canal from activities like swimming. There are waysto prevent this. Wear earplugs when you go swimming. Wax plugs can bepurchased at the ear care section of the pharmacy. Look on the label tomake sure the plugs are meant for preventing water from going in your earcanal and not just for use as hearing protection. Another way to preventswimmers ear is to use a hair dryer to dry out water stuck in the ear canal.Put the dryer on the cool or warm setting and hold it several inches fromthe ear and move it back and forth across the ear. Another method is touse a mix of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar as drops. You can soak acotton ball to squeeze out drops. Tilt your head so that you can put in sev-eral drops into the affected ear. Once the drops have gone in, tilt yourhead so that the affected ear is facing the floor. Pull up and back on theear to help straighten out the ear canal.Protect Your HearingSummer can be a loud season with lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, andfireworks in full swing. Make sure to wear muffs or ear plugs. Even if thesound isnt hurting your ears it can still be loud enough to damage yourhearing. You can pick up muffs, which are nice for taking on and off dur-ing lawn work, at your local home improvement store. Ear plugs can befound for around $5 at the pharmacy section of stores. Outdoor concertsare also a summer staple. Sit as far away from the stage and speakers aspossible and wear those ear plugs.Vacation TipsAre your kids attached to MP3 players, DVD players, and other audiodevices? Protect their hearing by investing in noise limiting ear buds.These ear buds will not produce sounds past a certain volume to help pre-vent hearing loss.

For those of you flying to your vacation spot, take some measures toavoid the ear pain and temporary hearing loss that can happen as youdescend. One product that I have used that has helped me some isEarPlanes. These have a filter to help regulate the pressure as you fly.They are found in the ear care aisle of the pharmacy. You can also use thelow tech methods of chewing gum and stretching your neck to try to popopen your Eustachian tube. One way to open the tube is by pinching yournose and swallowing at the same time. Try these methods at the begin-ning of your descent for the best results.Hearing Aid TipsSummer is the time to hit the soccer field, playground, or the woods for ahike. For active hearing aid users, secure your hearing aids with a hearingaid securing device. These often are cords that attach to the hearing aidand also to the back of your collar with an alligator clip. There are alsomodels that wrap around the whole ear to help keep the hearing aidsecurely in place. These are a simple way of protecting your investmentfrom loss.Keeping Moisture out of Hearing AidsHumidity and sweat are big problems for hearing aids. Just a little moisture


Summer Tips for

Healthy EarsDr. Debra Comte, Doctor of Audiology and Owner of Community Hearing

can affect the delicate electrical components, necessitating a repair. Seeyour audiologist about covers that can be placed on behind-the-earhearing aids to keep moisture out. Also, make sure to get a hearing aiddehumidifier box from your audiologist that uses a desiccant (like that sil-ica pouch you get in your shoe box) to draw moisture out of the hearingaid. If your hearing aid takes an unfortunate dip in the pool or the lake,wipe it with a dry cloth, quickly put it in a tightly sealed box with somerice, and get in to your audiologist so they can put it on their dryingmachine.Keep your Batteries from the HeatHearing aid batteries are best kept at room temperature. Summer is notthe best time to keep batteries stored in your car. If you want to keepsome spares in the car, keep them in their original packaging and try tofind the coolest spot.

For special summer deals on batteries and hearing aid dehumidifierboxes, visit our website at www.CommunityHearing.net and try to keep cool!

Older Adults

in WOODLAND HILLS AREA

and mature adults are no exception. According to UPMC SportsMedicines Dr. Jeanne Doperak, The ultimate goalwhether youre 3 or 104is some sort of activity.

Dr. Doperak suggests a combination of aerobic exercise (exercisewhich raises the heart rate and increases the bodys need for oxygen,)two days a week of strength training, and some sort of balance andflexibility training. Before beginning any type of aggressive workoutprogram, it is always best to consult your physician.

Many people make the assumption that running is bad after a certain age, but this actually depends upon the individuals and theirphysical condition. Dr. Doperak explains, As we age, our activitiesdont necessarily have to change but the way we train has to be adjusted. We do not recommend that anyone over the age of 30 [engage in] impact activities every day. An example of an impact activity would be jogging. It is recommended that impact activities be staggered with non-impact exercise such as yoga, tai chi or bicycling every other day. If an individual cannot tolerate impact activities due to arthritis or other problems, swimming is an excellent aerobic exercise (as is bicycling, which can be done with a recumbent stationary bike).

Yoga and tai chi rotated with impact exercise can fulfill the need for balance and flexibility training. Many churches, synagogues, libraries and other non-profit organizations offer classes for free or at reduced rates.

Also important to overall optimum physical health is strength training. Although strength training conjures up images of heavyweightlifting, Dr. Doperak suggests that this can be accomplished with weights as light as two pounds.

With active workouts, it is vitally important to replenish liquids in the body, especially in the summer months. A vigorous activity such as jogging or tennis for more than 10 to 20 minutes requires fluid replacement. Serious dehydration depletes the body of electrolyteswhich ensure that the hearts electrical system works properly. Dr. Doperak recommends water as the best replacement. Althoughthere are many drinks on the market that advertise their benefits ofelectrolyte replacement, they can also be quite high in calories. Individuals trying to reduce their weight will conversely be adding more calories to their diet.

The main thing to remember is that bodies need movement to be healthy. As Dr. Doperak says, Keep moving.

Exercise is important for every age,

Good News for the Second Half of your Life


Senior Agencies


Transportation For Older AdultsMedical AssistanceTransportation Program (MATP)1.888.547.6287Provides non-emergency medicaltransportation to residents ofAllegheny County who have a validPennsylvania Department of PublicWelfare Medical Assistance Card.

Free Bus Pass for SeniorCitizensThe Port Authority allowsAllegheny County residents, 65years of age and older, to ride freeon local public transportation(buses, trolleys and rapid-transitlines). Participants must obtainidentification cards, which areavailable free of charge, from participating transportationproviders. Call forthe location nearest to you.

ACCESS 65 Plus and ACCESSADA Program 412.562.5353 or TDD1.800.654.5984ACCESS is door-to-door, advance

reservation, shared-ridetransportation provided throughoutPort Authoritys service area. Itserves primarily senior citizens andpersons with disabilities. There areno restrictions on the purpose ornumber of trips which may betaken by riders, except that ridersare required to share their vehiclewith others traveling in the samedirection and at the same time.

Older Persons TransportationTransportation for medicalappointments, grocery shopping,senior center activities and otherneeds throughout AlleghenyCounty is available to adults 60years of age and older who live inAllegheny County. Call SeniorLine atAre you a nonprofit Senior Centerserving the needs of ourcommunitys older adults?Contact [email protected] with your centersname and phone number.

When fair weather arrives, the call of the road beckons. For seniors,travel options abound in various lengths, styles and price ranges.

If you find that you are on a limited budget, why not consider a day tripto a nearby attraction? Many churches and civic organizations offer daytrips to interesting destinations such as Gettysburg or Fallingwater and youusually do not have to be a member to attend. Transportation, admissionand one or two meals are usually included in one reasonable fee. If youcant find a group going to the destination of your choice, why not formyour own? A small group of three or four friends can carpool to save ongas and enjoy a day in the country. McConnells Mill State Park is less thanan hour away and features a covered bridge and 19th century gristmill.The hiking trails are scenic and great exercise.

A Pennsylvania winery is never more than a 45- minute drive from any-where in the state. Most offer tours and free samples and some even havea restaurant on-site. Be sure to have a designated driver! If the fact that you are single or widowed is keeping you at home, you

will be pleasantly surprised to learn that most local travel agencies offergroup tours to U.S. and European destinationsespecially for those over50at discounted prices. You may also be surprised to learn that most ofthe individuals on these tours are also traveling alone or with a friend. Afew hours into the trip, you will have new friends and feel like a part ofthe group.

Many older Americans are interested in exploring their European roots.Be sure to let your travel agent know of your interest and he can customizeyour tour with travel connections to records offices and churches.

Before departing on any kind of trip, be sure to take into considerationany mobility issues that you or your travel companions may encounter.Many travel agencies have specially designed itineraries for those withlimited mobility. Additionally, dont forget to pack all the medications youwill need for the duration of your visit since refilling them may prove diffi-cult. Be sure to keep them in their original containers.

A little planning can make your trip a success, so get out there andhave some fun! Pamela Palongue

For the past two decades Susan Frankes passion hasbeen to help people realize that others oftencomplete strangers care about them, one hug at atime. Today, Susan continues that passion with her friendsand fellow residents at Juniper Village at Forest Hills.

Susan Franke, a former Murrysville resident who moved to JuniperVillage last year, has been touching hearts through her Hug Therapyprograms since 1990. After reading Kathleen Keatings book HugTherapy, Susan, a Registered Nurse at Shadyside Hospital at the time,spearheaded the hospitals Hug Therapy program for nurses, physiciansand patients. A fan of stuffed bears, Susan took the program to a higher dimension by giving patients a stuffed bear to remind them ofthe benefits of hugging.

Research shows stimulation by touch is absolutely necessary forour physical health and well-being, states Susan. Touch can relievepain, depression, and anxiety. Hugging is a very special form of touchthat communicates at the deepest level of emotion, adding that.Children lacking a hug or good touch experience can be slower towalk, talk, and read. IQ development can also be delayed.

Throughout her career Susan made spreading the word about hug ther-apy a priority. When she headed the Southwestern PennsylvaniaDepartment of Healths Special Kids Network she inaugurated hug therapy,

as well as other educational programs, tostrengthen families and communities.

Touched by nationaltragedies like Katrina and, 9-11, Susan sent thousands of

bears to victims throughout the country. And, to ensure her Hug Therapyprograms would be ongoing, Susan along with the help of her husbandNorm, founded the nonprofit organization, the Keep In Touch Hug TherapyFoundation, to provide children in crisis with teddy bears for hugging.

Today, and after donating over 100,000 stuffed animals to cheer andcomfort people of all ages from all parts of the country, Susan is still shar-ing the benefits of a hug and a bear with her neighbors here at JuniperVillage at Forest Hills. states Bonnie Caripolti, Director of CommunityRelations for Juniper Village. Susan is just one of those special peoplewho has spent her entire life going out of her way to help others.

Susan eased into the hug program by awarding stuffed animals asprizes at Junipers bingo games. Gradually, she put together a cart over-flowing with colorful stuffed animals. Nowadays she leads the cartthrough Juniper stopping to chat with residents and offer them a hugand a stuffed bear.

At Juniper Village we believe in nurturing the spirit of life, statesBonnie, and encourage each of our residents to live their life to thefullest. Susan is a perfect example of how the things you love to do, andhave done your entire life, can still be carried out in your golden years.

For more information about Susans Hug Therapy program, her Keepin Touch Hug Therapy Foundation or Juniper Village at Forest Hills, con-tact Bonnie Caripolti at 412.244-9901.


Nurturing


taking place this year on Sunday, June 26, is no ordinary house tour. Its an opportunity to see therebirth of a neighborhood.

Taste of Swissvale

F or the past several years, the Swissvale Economic Development Corporation and the boroughhave been working with the Mon Valley Initiative to revitalize a four square block areabetween Monongahela Avenue and the Busway. Known as the Kopp Glass Gateway

Redevelopment Project, the first phase included the renovation of six homes and the new constructionof another along Palmer Street and Monongahela, Park and Duquesne avenues. The project is namedfor the Kopp Glass Factory located near the area that's under renovation. [Kopp has] been verysupportive and very generous with donations [to the Taste of Swissvale], said Leanne Aurich,commu

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