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WINTER 2011 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Brentwood Borough School District Strikes A New Chord Holiday Happenings in the Community

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IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Winter 2011

TRANSCRIPT

WINTER 2011 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

Brentwood BoroughSchool District

Strikes A New Chord

Holiday Happeningsin the Community

2 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

INSIDE

FEATURES

Local Holiday Program Provides Area SeniorsWith a Well-deserved Gift .................................................... | 22

The Early Learning Institute Hosts Fore Kids! Golf Benefit ....................................................... | 24

Whitehall Public Library’s First Edible Book Festival .. | 26

The Santa Watch ................................................................... | 28

51 Communities Golf Outing ........................................... | 30

Baldwin EMS Honor Guard ................................................ | 32

Baldwin Band Triumphs at TOB Chapter Championship ........................................................................ | 58

Honeymoon Romance at a Price You Can Afford ....... | 65

Nutrition is Not “One Size Fits All” ............................... | 68

ON THE COVER | Bill Finn instructing the guitar class. Students are from left to right, Arianna Ciora, Alex Dietz, Leeanna Smith and Jimi Reiland. Photos by Gary Yon

COMMUNITY INTEREST

Briefly Brentwood Borough News . | 7

UPMC Today | Health and WellnessNews You Can Use ................................... | 33

Brentwood Borough SchoolDistrict News .................................... | 42

Older Adults in BrentwoodBaldwin Whitehall ............................. | 52

Baldwin Borough News ................... | 54

Real Estate .......................................... | 61

Special Value Coupons .................... | 70

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Dr. Sean Hayes, Dr. Michael MartiniNew Techniques Help Injuries ................... | 64

BookSmarts Tax & Accounting ServicesAll Your Money Matters ............................. | 71

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

William Egan, CPA, PC .................. | 66

W I N T E R 2 0 1 1

Health and Wellness News You Can Use

© 2011 UPMC

What’s Insidepage 2 UPMC Now Offers Imaging Services

in West Mifflin

page 3 When Your Body Talks ...Be Sure to Listen

page 4 Make a Date with Your DoctorThree Cheers for Your Ears, Nose, and Throat

page 5 Technology for 21st Century Hospitals

page 6 Taking on TouretteControlling a life in motion at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC

page 7 Changes Continue to Transform UPMC Mercy Emergency Dpeartment

BundleUp,BabyRemember how Mom made you bundle up before going outdoors in the winter so you wouldn’t get sick? She was right. So be sure you dress for the weather — and that means covering your head, ears, mouth, and hands.

Turn to page 4 to learn why your ears, nose, and throat need extra care in winter.

32 5833

IN Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | WINTER 2011 |

IN Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall is a non-partisan community publicationdedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall area and its comprising municipalities by focusing on thetalents and gifts of the people who live and work here. Our goal is to providereaders with the most informative and professional regional publ ication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

46

With all of the hustle and bustle that is starting to brew, Ihope you will take a few minutes to settle in and leaf throughthese pages! My heavens - there sure is a lot happening in thisvibrant community. So many wonderful programs – so littletime! I was so impressed with the Brentwood BoroughSchool District decision to up the ante on their fine artsprogram by adding the Guitar Class to their curr iculum.

While so many schools are cutting back or eliminating programsin the fine arts department altogether, the commitment by the school district to provideyour children with such wonderful alternatives in education is commendable.

Did you attend the Brentwood Borough Light Up Night? I understand it was quitethe celebration! You will see on page 28 all of the Holiday Happenings in the community.I f you happened to take any photos, while you are out in the community, would youplease share them with us? We love being able to post your photos or ideas for otherstories in these pages. You can send along to me at the magazine- [email protected] all of us at In Community Magazines, please accept our wishes for a wonderfulseason surrounded by those who mean the most to you.

Marybeth Jeffries, Managing Editor

PUBLISHERWayne Dollard

MANAGING EDITOR

Marybeth [email protected]

REGIONAL EDITORS

Mark Berton [South and West][email protected]

Dana Black-McGrath [North][email protected]

Monica L. Haynes [East][email protected]

OFFICE MANAGER

Leo [email protected]

AD PLACEMENT COORDINATOR

Debbie [email protected]

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Cassie Brkich Jan McEvoyAnna Buzzelli Joe MilneSharon Cobb Tamara TylendaSusie Doak

WRITERS

Heather Holtschlage Pamela PalongueKelly Lotter Gina SalingerLeigh Lyons Judith SchardtJoann Naser

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brad Lauer Gary YonKathleen Rudolph

PROOFREADER

Rachel Maize

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGERS

Derek Bayer Tamara MyersTom Poljak

ADVERTISING SALES

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

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

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

CORRESPONDENCEDirect all inquiries, comments and press releases to:

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

Spring content deadline: 2/15/2012

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

4 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

Welcome to the Winter issue of Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall magazine.

I hope you and yours had a wonderful fall, that the kids transitioned back to school well, and that you had an opportunity to catch a few Steelers games along the way.

We all view winter differently – some see it as the holiday season, some see it as the gloomy period when we put away the swim trunks and patio furniture.Others s ee it as their opportunity to break out the skis and sleds and hit the slopes. Nomatter how you view it, winter is a time when we have to be the most diligent, despite ourmood about snow, or our preoccupation with playing in it, for those who need us themost – our seniors. While it’s hard enough for many of them to get around in goodweather, the winter months can be a trial of terror for the elde rly. Who’s going to shovelthe snow? How will I get groceries? Will I be home before it’s too dark for me to see theroad well enough to drive? And for those who have transitioned to assisted living facilities,the questions might be of an altogether different, but equally unsettling nature. Willanyone visit me for Christmas? Hanukah? New Year’s? These are our mothers, fathers,friends and neighbors, and they don’t like to ask anything of us. But they need us just thesame. I know the economy is bad, and I’m not saying go out and spend money you can’tafford, but going caroling with a church group, or visiting someone who has no one is freeto us all. Chances are, you’ll not only put a smile on their face, you’ll be giving themsomething money can’t buy – the feeling that someone cares.

Have a joyo us holiday and a happy New Year!

Wayne Dollard, Publisher

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 5

6 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

F r O M T H e D e S k O F M A Y O r L O C k H A r T …Where did this year go? I can remember my mother always telling me the older you get the faster the

time goes, but she forgot to tell me exactly how darn fast it goes. It’s just the same when my sons ask me togo hunting; I would always love to walk through the woods and hunt, but now my response is, “I didn’tlose anything in the woods, so why would I look for anything?” enough with the chit-chat — now let ustalk about our great Borough and the news happening within.

This year was a very tough year for a lot of us with the passing of Janice Boyko; she was a very goodfriend and a great help to me and the organizations she chaired and supported. She will be truly missed!

This year has seen some new developments going on within the Borough and surrounding areaswhich help with the new outlook for this region. My wife and I attended the ribbon cutting for erb

Physical Therapy on route 51 on October 19th. The appearance of the building and theinterior are very classy and show how our region can and will look in the future. Thankyou to the erb family for choosing to stay in Brentwood.

Take some time and look at the good things happening around you and focus onthose instead of always looking to complain. We as Borough officials do see the areasthat need to be improved, but remember this takes money and time.

Slater’s Funeral Home is in a process of big renovations; do you look at theconstruction and material around or do you see how beautiful the outcome will be? Thank you John for your visions.

These are just a few developing things happening within the Borough. I thank all newbusinesses and families for choosing Brentwood for their place of business and residence.

Once again please keep in your hearts and prayers our men and women serving inthe armed forces. If you are able, Brentwood Cares is always looking for donations tosend. These items include soap, candy, lip gloss, any type of snacks, canned goods, pens

and pencils and much more. We willbe sending them packages for Christmas inNovember which includes Christmas trees anddecorations along with related holiday items.

If anyone ever needs to contact me, pleasefeel free to call my office anytime at 412.884.1500ext. 130. If I am not in the office, please leave yourname, phone number and brief message on myvoicemail. I have noticed a lot of calls withoutmessages or no number to return the call. I willreturn your call as soon as I can.

Thanks to all and have a fabulous remaining2011. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year.

Mayor ken Lockhart

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

DATES TO REMEMBER

Nov. 24 – 25 Thanksgiving Holiday - Borough Offices Closed

Dec. 2–13 2012 Borough Budget Available for Review

Dec. 13 Council Agenda Meeting Dec. 20 Last Council Meeting of the Year Dec. 26 Christmas Holiday - Borough

Offices Closed Jan. 2, 2012 New Years Holiday -

Borough Offices Closed Jan. 3, 2012 Council Reorganization

Meeting - 7 p.m.

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 7

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. ~Author unknown, commonly misattributed to Charles Darwin

BOrOUGH MANAGer’S MeSSAGe

What kind of community do you want Brentwood to become?

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

8 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

ob Dylan sang, “The times they are a changin.” This was back inthe sixties with the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War in

the news. Dylan recalled writing the song as a deliberate attempt tocreate an anthem of change for the moment. However, the lyrics holdtrue for any time period. The world is in a constant state of motion.Constantly changing from one day to the next. The same holds tr ue forBrentwood. We must not only accept the fact that things are not likethey used to be, but we must welcome the changes. If we do not, we willbe like a ship without a rudder, at the mercy of the winds. We not onlyhave to ensure we have a rudder, but a captain to guide the ship, a map toshow us the destination and a compass to make sure we stay on course toarrive safely in that far-off port. The Borough’s Community Vision is the“compass” we must all check to ensure we are on course. The BoroughCouncil used the Community Vision Statement as a starting point whenthey prepared their strategic goals for the Borough last year.

BOrOUGH OF BreNTWOOD COMMUNITY VISION STATeMeNT

The Borough of Brentwood is a unified, family-orientedcommunity with a strong commitment to civic pride andtraditions. While preserving these standards, ideals and traditions,the community shall strive to provide a high quality of life for all, asuperior educational system and residential areas with a moresuburban character. The community shall support establishedbusinesses while encouraging future economic development andeffective local government, all within a safe and clean environment.

everything that has taken place in Brentwood over the past coupleof years will ensure that we remain in control of our future. We have torealize, however, that in order to continue to move forward we have toensure we have the resources to do so — well-trained and properlyequipped police force to provide the protection and safe streets that areso rare in other communities. The same holds true for our public worksdepartment. We need to have sound and safe roadways on which totravel and reside. We need to ensure our “buried infrastructure” (stormand sanitary sewers) are in good working condition. Our parks need tobe well maintained as does our municipal building, swimming pool,library, civic center, ballfields, and stadium. All of these items add to thequality of life we enjoy living in Brentwood. However, with suchamenities comes a price. All of these factors are expensive to maintain.We are actually at the point where we can no longer afford to simply

maintain them or “just get by with a band-aid.” This only adds to thedeterioration and future costs. Last year we had a storm sewer collapseunexpectedly ($75,000). Our pool experienced a major leak causing theamount of water used to nearly doubl e ($30,000). The price of oil keepsgoing up which increases the cost of asphalt thus increasing road pavingcosts. We are going to be celebrating Brentwood’s Centennial in nearly 3years (2015). That means that we have a lot of areas in the Borough that areat least 100 years old. We can’t continue to use the Band-Aid approach. Wehave to take a hard look at the Borough and identify those areas t hat need ourattention. We have to start the “rebuilding” process to ensure Brentwood’sfuture. The Brentwood Park Initiative project is one such area that willprovide enjoyment to future residents for many years as well as attract newfamilies to the Borough. We need to get serious about the investment weneed to make in the Borough every year. We need to ensure we haveadequate funding in place e ach year dedicated solely to road paving projects.We need to ensure we have adequate funding in place each year to replaceoutdated police and public works vehicles. We need to ensure we haveadequate funding in place each year to inspect and repair our storm watersewers. We need to establish a dedicated funding source for these items.Brentwood Council began this process three years ago by establi shing aCapital Improvement Fund. That was the easy part. We now have to ensurethis fund is funded each year in order to address each of the above areas.Putting these items off may save the expense temporarily but it only delaysthe inevitable and in the long run will cost us all more. Waiting until anotherstorm sewer collapses and brings down whatever may lay above is too late.Homeowners, how ma ny of us wait until the leaking roof collapses before wedecide to address it? We have to realize that we can no longer simplymaintain our Borough. We have to SUSTAIN our Borough. We have toinvest in Brentwood. We have to change our thinking. We have to changeour past policies. We have to change with the times. So, as Bob Dylan soadequately sung, “come gather round people wherever you roam, and admitthat the waters around you have grown, and accept it that soon you'll bedrenched to the bone, if your time to you is worth saving, then you'd betterstart swimming or you'll sink like a stone, for the times, they are a changing.”If Brentwood is to survive another 100 years, we all have to make sure thatshe is not left behind and we all must start “swimming” together.

On behalf of my wife Mi chelle and I, have a safe and blessed HolidaySeason!!

George Zboyovsky, PeBrentwood Borough Manager

B

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

Agenda and regular Council Meetings: 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers• regular Council meeting will be on Tuesday,

December 20, 2011

• Monday, December 26, 2011 Day after Christmas

With the Holiday Season approaching please note the following schedule and changes:

JULY 19, 2011

• Adopt Resolution No. 2011-29, CD Year 38Concurring Resolution Swimming Pool ADAUpgrades” A Resolution of the Borough ofBrentwood, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,Authorizing the filing of an Application for Fundswith the Allegheny County Department ofEconomic Development.”

• Adopt Resolution No. 2011-30 “CD Year 38Concurring Resolution Civic Center ADAUpgrades” A Resolution of the Borough ofBrentwood, Allegheny County Pennsylvania,Authorizing the filing of an Application for Fundswith the Allegheny County Department ofEconomic Development.

JULY 26, 2011

• Adopt Resolution No. 2011-31, “2011/2012Safety Committee Appointments, A Resolution ofthe Borough of Brentwood, County of Alleghenyand Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, appointingthe members to serve as Official Representativesof the Brentwood Borough Employee SafetyCommittee for the period of August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012.

• Approve the purchase of seven (7) AED devicesfrom Heart Smart Technologies in the amount of$7,490.00 and instruct the Borough Manager tohave the AED's installed: two (2) placed in theBorough Building, one (1) in the Civic Center, one(1) at the Brentwood Pool, one (1) at the Libraryand the remaining two (2) units to be placed in alocation determined best by the BrentwoodSafety Committee.

AUGUST 23, 2011

• Adopt Resolution No. 2011-32, “Surrender ofDeferred Annuity Contract,” A Resolution of theBorough of Brentwood, County of Allegheny,Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, authorizing thesurrender of a deferred annuity contract to theBorough of Brentwood Non-Police EmployeesPension Plan.

• Authorize to advertise Ordinance No. 2011-1198, Amending in Limited Part the Police PensionPlan to Maintain Compliance with the ApplicableProvisions of the Internal Revenue Code applyingto Government Pension Plans

• Authorize to advertise Ordinance No. 2011-1199, Amending in Limited Part the Non-UniformPension Plan to Maintain Compliance with theApplicable Provisions of the Internal RevenueCode applying to Government Pension Plans.

• Adopt Resolution No. 2011-33, “Agreement withCargill, Inc. for Rock Salt”, A Resolution of theBorough of Brentwood, County of Allegheny andCommonwealth of Pennsylvania accepting andapproving Articles of Agreement between theBorough of Brentwood and Cargill, Inc. for thesupply and delivery of Rock Salt to the Borough ofBrentwood for the initial period from August 23,2011, through June 30, 2012 and thereafter, maybe extended annually by the Borough ofBrentwood for up to three (3) additional optionyears to until June 30, 2015; and AuthorizingExecution of said Articles of Agreement by theappropriate officers of the Borough of Brentwood.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

• Adopt Resolution No. 2011-34, Appointment toBrentwood Borough Council, and upon review ofthe Letter of Interest submitted, to appointBrentwood resident Susan Lockhart to fill thevacant seat of Janice Boyko with the term toexpire on January 2, 2012.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

• Approve Resolution No. 2011-25, “RevisedPanel of Physicians.” Appointing andestablishing Brentwood Borough’s Panel ofPhysicians.

The following are highlights of Council Actions during their monthly meetings and do not reflect all items and issues discussed. Official meeting minutes are available on the Borough website, www.brentwoodboro.com.

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 9

As we reflect on what we are thankful for this Thanksgiving season, I’m sure manyof us will find that we are even more grateful for the simple, yet most importantthings in life. We are grateful for the basics – food on our table, shelter over ourheads, clothing on our backs, and the support and love of our families and friends.

In this slow economy, many of us find we are scraping our pennies together toprovide for the necessities of life. Some of us are unemployed, underemployed, orholding multiple jobs. The holidays will be challenging as we attempt to maintainour traditions.

During the upcoming Season of Giving, let’s not forget our neighbors in need.In the articles presented in this issue, you will find many opportunities to preserveor improve the quality of life in your community. You can donate goods to theBrentwood Food Pantry or remember soldiers overseas through Brentwood Cares.Or, you can make a monetary donation to your favorite charitable organization orto one of our community churches. There are many civic groups that keep ourcommunity alive and well – such as the Brentwood Fourth of July Committee,Brentwood Firecracker 5k, Brentwood Park Initiative, and Brentwood Library, justto name a few. These groups cannot succeed without your support. Don’t forgetthe Brentwood eMS and Brentwood Volunteer Fire Department who providevaluable services to our community. And how about our school programs?Consider purchasing a magazine, hoagie or candy bar the next time a student asksyou to support a function. And don’t forget the Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts or theBrentwood Lions Club in our community.

Yes, lots of this support involves money. So, if you are one of the many who arestruggling financially, how about donating your time? Volunteers are alwaysneeded at our community and civic groups. Or, you can make a difference insomeone’s life by offering to run an errand, take out the trash or shovel the walk foran elderly or physically challenged neighbor.

This year, as you plan your Thanksgiving dinner and prepare your Christmas orHoliday list, remember your neighbors in need. You’ll be glad you did.

If you would like to find out more about how you can donate or volunteer yourtime to a charitable or volunteer organization in Brentwood, please contact yourchurch or feel free to contact the Brentwood Borough Building at 412.884.1500.

Warm Holiday Wishes to All,

Cathy TrexlerBrentwood Council President

A M e S S A G e F r O M

C O U N C I L P r e S I D e N TCathy Trexler

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

10 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

On the third Saturday of every month you can find upto 20 volunteers packing banana boxes with food todistribute to approximately 120 clients who are inneed of assistance. The Brentwood PresbyterianChurch Food Pantry is located at 3725 BrownsvilleRoad and offers food to residents of BrentwoodBorough. The food pantry is an affiliate of theGreater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and mostof the food is purchased from their warehouse inDuquesne. On the second Wednesday of the month,a group of volunteers drive a rental truck to the foodbank and load between one and two tons of food onthe truck which is then brought back to the churchfor the monthly distribution. The food pantry alsoreceives food items from the local schools, churchesand organizational food drives.

The Brentwood Foot Pantry opened 32 years agowith 40 families receiving assistance. Every year itgrows larger. At Christmas each child, whoseparents are clients, is the recipient of several (Santa Gifts) and the parents receive a Giant EagleGift Card. Gift cards are also given on Thanksgivingand Easter.

Funds come from several sources: United WayContributions, Brentwood Schools andadministrators, local churches, organizations suchas Brentwood Lions Club and the BrentwoodBusiness Owners association and the BrentwoodJuly 4th Committee.During the 4th of JulyParade volunteers andlocal Boy and Cub

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

Scouts march, collecting canned goodsand donations; this is one of the largestfund raisers. Brentwood is a very generouscommunity and we have never run out offood for the monthly distribution.

Anyone who lives in the Borough ofBrentwood and qualifies financially will be helped by the Brentwood Food Pantrythe third Saturday of the month. They need to register in advance by calling412.882.6035 and a large box of food will be waiting for them.

In summary, I want to thank all thebusinesses, organizations and residentsthat participate in donating or volunteeringtheir services in an effort to continue thisvital program in our community.

Submitted by Councilman Clyde Zimmerman

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 11

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

With this in mind, please read on.

Celebrate the holidays by supporting

your local charities!Welcometo Erb PT

During the Holiday Season, children andadults look forward to joyous and happygatherings. Please consider sharing a smallportion of your blessings by making a donationthat will be appreciated by others.

With the holidays just around the corner,please consider donating to the BrentwoodFood Bank. The Brentwood Food Bank is inneed of non-perishable items and monetarydonations especially during this time of theyear. Please contact Brentwood PresbyterianChurch at 412.881.9334 for information onmaking a donation or volunteering. Monetarydonations are also appreciated to purchasegifts for small children.

In the spirit of giving, please remember ourservice men and women overseas fighting forour freedom. Please remember they are awayfrom their families for the holidays.“Brentwood Cares” is a group of volunteerswho collect an array of items, assemble theitems and mail packages to our soldiers on amonthly basis. In an effort to make theirholidays and everyday more comfortable, thefollowing items would be appreciated: puzzle books, duct tape, soap, AA batteries,shampoo, lip balm, foot powder, sunscreen,antibacterial soap, silly string, sunglasses,

wipes, notebook paper,pens, pencils, flip flops,small tissue packets, washclothes, floss, canned

goods with flip toplids, socks,deodorant,combs,disposablecameras,peanut butter,snacks, gum,bandanas,

Frisbees and drink powder. Please drop offyour donation at the Mayor’s office or call 412.884.1500 ext. 130. Monetarydonations are also accepted to help defray the postage cost.

Enjoy Breakfast with Santa, on Saturday,December 3, 2011 at the Civic Center; Santawill arrive in time to begin the festivities with anutritious breakfast with a photo session tofollow. This annual event is sponsored by theBrentwood Girl Scout Troops. For informationcontact Mary Ann at 412.881.9044.

Santa returns to Brentwood on Saturday,December 10, 2011 at the Civic Center, Santawill be there to enjoy breakfast with thechildren, anxiously awaiting to meet and greetthe children and have photos taken. Thisannual event is sponsored by the BrentwoodLions Club. For more information contact Maryat 412.885.1867.

When it’s time to celebrate a holiday,birthday, graduation, retirement or just a goodold fashion get together, consider renting theCommunity Room or Civic Center. The rentalfee is minimal. It’s like having your party inyour own backyard! Convenient, local andaffordable! For more information visit theBorough website at www.brentwoodboro.com.

As always, the Borough of Brentwood takesthis opportunity to thank you for supportingyour local charities and organizations duringthis time of year. Brentwood is a greatcommunity because the residents welcome theopportunity to support and participate in thenumerous activities and events available tothem. Wishing you a Happy Holiday Season!

– Submitted by M.L. Garase, Administrative Assistant

Pictured: Bruce Rosborough, Mayor Ken Lockhart, Kenny Erb and Keith Erb

Welcome to erb PT. OnWednesday, October 12,2011 erb PT cut theribbon on their newhome. erb PT is proud tobe a standard bearer forthe revitalization of route 51 in our homecommunity ofBrentwood. They havecompletely renovatedwhat was formerly Napoli restaurante at3600 Saw Mill run Blvd.in Brentwood. Stop inand take a look at a goodexample of what thefuture of Brentwood and the rT 51 Corridor.

12 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 13

Robert MackewichPublic Works

Supervisor reports:

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

It’s that time of year again when residents areconcerned about snow removal.• School areas will have a priority.• Do not park in fire lanes which will impede

the trucks especially during heavy snow whenwe have to plow.

• If possible remove vehicles from the roadway so we can plow the entire width of the street. Please check after a plowing snow and you will see the difference where cars were not

removed. After our roads are done and the public walkways are cleared

we will be around to “push back”the roads. • You can be fined if you throw

snow into the street.

reCYCLING INFOrMATION:• The borough will pick up Christmas trees

this year to save space in the landfills.• Just put out your tree with the normal refuse

day and we will pick it up, or you can bring it up to the park at the posted area.

SOUTH HILLS reCYCLINGCOMPeTITION• Brentwood’s recycling has

increased 16% over last year’s tonnage as of August 2010.

• We can do better! Please do your part and make an effort to throw recyclable items (newspaper, junk mail, plastic 1-7, cans, grocery bags, cardboard in 3 foot sections, and aluminum cans) in your bins.

• The borough will have a drop off site for yard waste starting the month of May. This site will be determined in the future and will be posted on the website and also listed in the spring magazine.

STOrM WATer:• Catch basins are not trash cans, litter

thrown onto the ground ends up in the catch basins which flow to the Monongahela river where we receive our drinking water.

• Some of the items we find in the catch basin that don’t belong:Dog waste bags, bottles and cans (recyclable), umbrellas, newspapers and grocery bags which should be deposited in there proper place.

• rain barrels will save money by collecting water which can be used for your plants. It will help reduce flooding in the downstream communities.

October Update

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

Act 32 requires that employers must withhold local earned income taxes (eIT)on behalf of all their employees. They must also file returns with the Tax Officerselected by the Tax Collection District (TCD) in which the employer is located.

Jordan Tax Service, Inc. has been appointed Tax Officer for the AlleghenyCounty Central and Allegheny County Southwest Tax Collection Districts.

Note: Jordan Tax Service, Inc. will also receive and process all 2011 PittsburghCity/School eIT returns and/or payments submitted on or after January 1, 2012.

For information and to register as an employer with Jordan Tax Service, Inc.Please visit: www.iordantax.com/Act32

14 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

Act 32Notice to residents

Part 2

REGISTER NOWMANDATOrY PAYrOLL WITHHOLDING FOr

PeNNSYLVANIA LOCAL eIT COLLeCTIONBeGINNING JANUArY 1, 2012

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

Act 32 of 2008 is a Pennsylvania law thatwas passed with the intention of simplifying theway local earned income tax is paid andcollected throughout the state. The law willaffect taxpayers, employers, municipalities,school districts, and tax collectors acrossPennsylvania.

The most significant change of Act 32 is theconsolidation of local earned income taxcollectors. Ac t 32 requires all taxingjurisdictions within a specified geographicalboundary to jointly select just one tax collectorto serve the entire area. each of the areas iscalled a “Tax Collection District” (TCD).BreNTWOOD BOrOUGH has been placedin the Southwest Allegheny County TCD,which includes all Allegheny Countymunicipalities and school districts that areentirely located south and west of theMonong ahela and Ohio rivers. That meansBreNTWOOD BOrOUGH will share thesame earned income tax collector as ourneighbors in Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon,Moon, robinson, and Jefferson Hills to name a few.

Although Act 32 was passed in 2008, themajor changes will not go into effect until the2012 tax year. Therefore, all taxes attributableto 2011 earnings will still be collected underthe current system (i ncluding the 2011 finalreturns that are due April 15, 2012).

How will this impact taxpayers?First, the consolidation means that all

BreNTWOOD BOrOUGH earned incometax will continue be collected by a single taxcollector. However, please note that beginningin January, 2012, Berkheimer Tax Collectorswill no longer be collecting BreNTWOODBOrOUGH’s earned Income Tax, (current ordelinquent). Jordan Tax Service has beenappointed as the tax collector for the SouthwestAllegheny County TCD. Therefore, both themunicipal portion (0.50%) and the schooldistrict portion (0.50%) of BreNTWOODBOrOUGH’s earned income tax will becollected by Jordan Tax Service.

Another significant change is that youremployer should begin withholding the localearned income tax from your paycheck.Currently, many of you file a nd pay your localearned income tax on a quarterly basis becauseyour employer does not withhold the tax fromyour paycheck (this is common throughoutPennsylvania). But under Act 32, allPennsylvania employers will be required towithhold the tax. This will eliminate the needfor most taxpayers to manually make aquarterly earned income tax payment.Taxpayers who are self-employed or workoutside of Penns ylvania will continue makingmanual quarterly payments.

How will this impact employers?All employers will be required to withhold

local income taxes for all of their employees,regardless of where the employees live.employers will be responsible foridentifying each employee’s residencyand proper tax rate. employers willhave to provide that information tothe tax collector quarterly alongwith the tax p ayments. employersthat have at least one locationwithin the Southwest AlleghenyCounty TCD must register withJordan Tax Service.

What is the BRENTWOODBOROUGH’s PSD Code?

To prepare for this change, allemployees are required to file aresidency Certification Form with theiremployer. The 6 digit PoliticalSubdivision Code (PSD Code) that youplace on this form determines whichmunicipality and school district will receiveyour earned Income Tax payment. It istherefore essential that this code be enteredcorrectly. The 6 digit PSD Code for theBorough of Brentwood and the BrentwoodSchool District is 730301.

How can I learn more?Taxpayers and employers can learn

more about Act 32 by visiting Jordan TaxService’s special Act 32 website at:www.jordantax.com/act32 . You can also call Jordan Tax Service 412 .835.5243 or724.731.2300. More information is alsoavailable through the PA Department ofCommunity and economic Development’swebsite at www.newpa.com (search for “Act 32”).

NeW WITHHOLDING reQUIreMeNTS FOreArNeD INCOMe TAX – ACT 32 OF 2008

How it affects BreNTWOOD BOrOUGH residents and employers.

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 15

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

16 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

The Brentwood Borough Council, Administration, and the Directors ofeach Municipal Department took part in a year long Feasibility Studyfor planned facilities to support the Borough’s municipal services. Thestudy reviewed the current status and existing physical conditions fortwo buildings in the Borough: Municipal Building and Civic Center.Additionally, the Study identified the programming needs for eachMunicipal Department and evaluated the adequacy of the existingfacilities to support the Borough’s needs and the potential options forfacilities improvements that would enhance the Borough’s capabilitiesto responsibly provide its comprehensive community services.Preliminary estimates for construction costs and total project costs areprovided for the various options and illustrated on the summary tables.Comparisons for each option are also provided in the Study; thesecomparisons provide the advantages and disadvantages that arecharacteristic of the building and site design that would be developedfor each option. This Feasibility Study was developed by thearchitectural firm of Architectural Innovations, LLC; the processincluded a series of comprehensive planning meetings with theBorough’s Steering Committee and reviews with Borough Council. The Steering Committee consisted of the Borough Manager, Treasurer,Chief of Police, Director of Public Works, Building Inspector/ ZoningOfficer, President of EMS, Administration, the Borough Engineer, and a member of the Borough Council. This collaborative effort wascharacterized by a comprehensive evaluation of the various potentialoptions, a commitment to financial stewardship, and thoroughcommunications that resulted in a consensus for the preferred optionthat would successfully meet the goals of the Borough of Brentwood,the community, and its citizens.

The Study is a compilation of comprehensive information, and it isan evaluation of appropriate criteria for decision making. The findingsand recommendations of the Study are consistent with the CommunityVision Statement of the Borough, as well as the supportive data andbuilding programming discussed throughout the series of planningmeetings with the Borough’s Steering Committee. Above all, the priorityof this Study was to ensure that the planned Municipal Building and the

related facilities would enable the Borough of Brentwood to provide itscommunity and citizens with the highest level of municipal services thatsupport a strong commitment to civic pride and traditions, public safety,and overall community welfare.

Objective of the StudyIt should be noted that all of the Borough’s facilities were taken into

consideration during the analysis. In addition to the Municipal Buildingand Civic Center, the existing physical conditions of the Library andVolunteer Fire Station were also assessed. As a part of this Study, itwas necessary to understand all of the facilities’ physical conditions,the planned utilization, and the programming needs in order to identifyand evaluate future building projects planned by the Borough. Thescope of the work for existing building improvements would includetotal renovations of the facilities, including: site improvements; generalconstruction and architectural conditions; mechanical, electrical, andplumbing systems; fire detection and protection systems; technologyand data distribution systems; and upgrades for code and accessibilitycompliance. The main focus of the Feasibility Study is to accommodatethe current and planned Borough functions and building utilization andto identify planned facilities im-provements or new construction thatcan successfully enhance municipal services. The Study examinesdifferent options, budget, cost analyses, and comparative evaluations in order to determine the best direction for the Borough to proceed forthe future.

For the Borough of Brentwood, Architectural Innovations, LLCproduced a final draft of the Comprehensive Feasibility/Facility andConceptual Design Study. It assessed the existing conditions of theBorough Building and the Civic Center, explored creative options forother site locations, and evaluated the planned solutions for thepotential improvements that will appropriately address the Borough’sneeds for all departments.

For this Study, the architects gathered the appropriate informationto accurately analyze the existing building conditions, evaluated theplanned capacity and functions, met with client representatives of the

Steering Committee to evaluate the appropriate facilitychanges, prioritized infrastructure and systemsimprovements, explored creative options that offeralternative methods to accomplish the planning goals,and developed quantitative cost estimates of thevarious options and priorities.

The process to develop this Study involved in-depth discussions with the Steering Committeeconsisting of municipal officials, administrative staff,and police personnel. These appropriately scheduledmeetings, discussions, and evaluations enabled thearchitects to develop effective building programs thatthoroughly address any of the issues that can affectroom layouts, space requirements, room adjacencies,square footages, building organization, equipment and utility needs, future expansions, phasing andoverall costs.

Design Consideration:The objective of the site analysis was to review all available site options

in order to determine which site or combination of sites provided the mostcost effective and functional opportunities to develop fully for the use andlocation of the Brentwood Borough Municipal Building and all of its identifieddepartmental needs. The evaluations included the analysis of the existingMunicipal Building, Civic Center, and Fire Station, as well as three (3)additional sites for potential development of a new Municipal Building. The analysis explored renovations and additions to existing buildings andexplored the construction of new buildings. The goal of this evaluation was todevelop a consensus with the Brent-wood Borough Steering Committee forthe selection of the preferred site and the decision to either improve anexisting building or to construct a new facility.

Initially, multiple options were presented to the Steering Committee forreview, and collectively six (6) options were selected for further evaluationand conceptual design. These options included the following:

Option No. 0 – Do Nothing Option (ignore the current issues).This “Option” was not considered a viable option. The current condition of

the existing Borough Building, both structurally and environmentally, was themain factor for not considering this option. In a manner of speaking,

something needs to be done about the building and action needsto be taken soon. The existing Borough Building houses ALL ofthe Borough’s operations and services such as Police, PublicWorks, Administration and Code Enforcement not to mentionbeing home to Brentwood EMS. The Department of Labor andIndustry has recently proven their concern with such publicbuildings so much that they condemned two municipal buildingsand gave the respective municipalities 90-days to vacate.

Option No. 1A – Renovations the Existing Municipal Building.

Option No. 1B – Renovations and Additions to the ExistingMunicipal Building

Option No. 2 – New Building on the Existing Site, adjacent to theExisting Municipal Building

Option No. 3A – New Building on the Existing Site (entire site).

Option No. 3B – New Building on the Existing Site (3/4 site).

Option No. 4 – New Building on the Existing Site and relocate Public Works to Park.

The Feasibility Plan was presented to Council and Council approved tosearch for viable financing options associated with Option No. 3. Thesefinancing options will be presented to Council prior to any final decision ismade to move forward with this option. In the mean time, the Borough Staffare exploring some other options to reduce the size of any new facilityneeded by relocating Public Works to another location in a more economicalstructure. As you can see from the summary tables, each option comes witha large price tag. Remember, this one building also houses EMS, Police, andPublic Works where in other communities each of these departments havetheir own separate building.

The Final Feasibility Study is available on the Brentwood Borough website www.brentwoodboro.com. In addition, an impressive YouTube video of afinal rendering of Option 3A is available. www.youtube.com and searchBrentwood Borough Municipal Building.

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 17

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

The $8 million Brentwood Park renovation will be fully funded for thefirst phase of the project, after the borough received a $200,000 grantthrough Allegheny County.

Brentwood Borough will receive the funding, after initially being deniedit last year. The money comes from the Community InfrastructureTourism Fund Grant administered through the redevelopment Authorityof Al legheny County.

“everyone was thrilled,” said George Zboyovsky, borough manager.“They see the value in renovating the park.”

Zboyovsky and other borough officials have worked closely with theBrentwood Park Initiative, a nonprofit organization of borough volunteerswho started raising money for the renovation in 2008. Together, the BPIraised more than $200,000, and the borough received last year a mat ching$438,000 state Department of Conservation and Natural resources grant.

The money will go toward Phase One of the park renovation, whichincludes rehabilitating two baseball/softball fields, two basketball courts,the tennis courts and the addition of a deck hockey court, as well asimproving the upper walkway for stadium access.

The borough will use the additional $200,000 CITF funding to pay thematching costs for the DCNr grant, so the $270,000 in borough fundsalready allocated to Phase One will go toward Phase Two, Zboyovsky said.

“We’re just anxious to get things started with this,” Zboyovsky said.

A burglary is committed nearlyevery 10 seconds in our country.Burglary is one of the mostcommon crimes committedagainst citizens and their personalproperty. I find it sad to say, butthe crime of burglary increasesduring the holiday season. Youas a concerned citizen mustknow how to protect yourselfagainst a burglar.

Burglary, simply defined, iswhen a criminal breaks andenters into a structure or premises (house, apartment, etc.) with theintent to commit a crime therein. Burglars, when they break into ahouse, are looking for cash and merchandise such as jewelry, videocameras, TV sets, guns, coin and stamp collections, sterling silverware,and any other valuables that they can easily transport from the houseand then sell.

Generally, burglary is not a crime of violence, as the burglar does notforcefully take the property away from his victim. If a burglar, however, is caught in the act of burglarizing he may become violent and resort to whatever means necessary to escape the scene or get the property he desires. NEVER confront a burglar if at all possible under anycircumstances. If you arrive home and discover evidence that someonehas entered your house, (broken door lock, broken window, etc.) go to a safe location immediately and call 911. The burglar may still be insideso wait for police to arrive and check your residence for safety reasons.

The best way to prevent a burglary is to make your premises anunattractive target for a potential burglar. All doors and other means of entry should have high quality locks that cannot be easily picked, cut, or attacked by burglars. Make it more difficult for the burglar to gainentry by hardening such areas of entry. Also, when leaving your homefor an extended period of time, have someone take in your mail andpaper deliveries that are a sign that you are away.

If you discover a burglary, remember the following,1. Do not touch anything with your hands. Leave everything just as it is.2. Immediately call the police – advise them that a burglary has

occurred3. Provide the police with an accurate description of all the property

that was taken.4. Fully cooperate with the police in their investigation of the burglary.5. Call your insurance company if you are covered with burglary

insurance. Report your loss and discuss any indemnification you are entitled to receive.

6. Discuss with your accountant or tax advisor any tax deduction you may be entitled to for the loss of your property.

7. Finally, carefully study and evaluate how and where the burglar gained entry into your house and take immediate security measures to see that it never happens again.

As an FYI, the Brentwood Police Department is requesting allresidents to be aware of and follow all parking regulations. With thewinter months approaching, snow removal will be an issue and vehiclesthat are parked illegally may have to be removed by police. Also,vehicles are not permitted to park on the Borough sidewalks and couldbe cited or towed by the police. Please be safe and the BrentwoodPolice Department wishes everyone a happy holiday season!

Submitted by Police Chief Robert Butelli

By Laura Van Wert South Hills record

18 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

Brentwood Park to receive an additional

$200k from county grant

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 19

Did you know that Borough Ordinance 2

10 regulates signs in

residential and commercial districts? In

fact, only in limited cases

(i.e. Political Signs, Real Estate for sale s

igns) are signs permitted

in a Residential District. Even those sma

ll signs advertising your

Yard Sale may not seem like that big of

deal, except when they

remain posted for months after the date

. The borough telephone

poles are polluted with signs, and it is a

n eyesore that takes away

from the aesthetic nature of the borough

. In addition, even in

Commercial Districts, all signs require a

permit from the Code

Enforcement Department. If you would l

ike to put up a sign,

please call the Code Enforcement Office

r at 412.884.1500

ext. 117. A copy of the Borough sign pe

rmit can be found online

under “documents -permits – sign perm

it.” The Borough will be

aggressively enforcing this Ordinance in

2012. For rules on

Temporary Signs, please see Section 21

0-40 of the Borough Code.

20 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

As fall ends and winter begins, please remember that Brentwood Borough Code, Chapter 182-32, requires all sidewalks to be shoveled within two hours in the business district and within four hours after the snowfall or daylight of the following day in residential districts. Please keep the sidewalks clear for the safety of the pedestrians.

Did you know that no more than four animals shall be keptin any residential housing? Also, any household pet thatfrequently barks, screeches, howls, or yelps is considereda nuisance. Animal owners are required to remove allfeces deposited by their pets and disposed of in a sanitarymanner per Brentwood Borough Codes Chapter 76.

Inoperative or unlicensed motor vehicles shall not beparked, kept, or stored on any premises. The vehicle mustbe inspected, have current license plate, be insured, and operate. Otherwise, the vehicle must be in a closed garage. International Property Maintenance Code Section 302.8.

Did you know that garbage is not to be put out before 5 p.m.on the night before garbage pickup? Brentwood Borough CodeChapter 174-27(G) states that “storage containers may beplaced at curbside no earlier than 5 p.m. prevailing time onthe day prior to the designated collection day and must beremoved from the curbside to the usual storage place no laterthan 6 p.m. prevailing time on the day of collection.”

Briefly BrentwoodBorough News

Toddler TalesTuesdays at 11:30 a.m. from November15th-December 13th (24-36 months)For children from 24-36 months

with a parent or caregiver. Interact withyour toddler to nurture a love of books.Be active with music and movement! Your toddler will love meeting newstorytime friends!

Book BabiesTuesdays at 10:30 a.m. from November15th-December 13th (birth-24 months)For children from birth through

24 months with a parent or caregiver.Delight and stimulate your baby’s senseswith books and music. Interact with yourbaby and build brain power!

Wee-School WednesdaysWednesdays @ 1 p.m. from November 16th–December 14th (3-6 years old)Preschoolers and children ages 3-6

are invited to join us as we go on awonderful, Wednesday journey filled withbooks, music, and laughter!

Trash To TreasureMonday, November 21st @ 3 p.m. (Teens and tweens in 5th grade and up) Join us in the Rec Room as we

turn one man’s trash into our ownpersonal treasures! Too much fun tomiss! Registration is required.

Wise Walk9:30 a.m.Are you an involved and active 50+

adult? Come join us for the Fall WiseWalk, every Thursday at 9:30 a.m.starting September 15th. All newparticipants receive a complimentarypedometer and walking guide, and t-shirt.Please stop by the circulation desk andfill out the required waiver forms! Getoutside and enjoy the late summer andearly fall weather and the company ofother walkers! This summer we walked tothe North Pole, now join us as we walk toDeath Valley, California! This popularprogram. brought to you by the AlleghenyCounty Library Association in partnershipwith AARP and the Highmark PALS(People Able to Lend Support) Program.

Wii Jeopardy! 1 p.m. Enjoy playing Wii Jeopardy and winning

lots of virtual money in the Program Room!Free snacks to keep your mind sharp as wespend our afternoon with Alex Trebek.

Card Club10 a.m. Card Club meets every Monday in theMagazine Room. Bring a group or just bringyourself and compete with otherneighborhood card players!

Movie Madness! 2 p.m.Watch a feature film recently released

to video and enjoy some popcorn, everyMonday beginning at 2 p.m. in theprogramming room!

Crafters Club6 p.m. Join fellow crafters from around the area

to work on projects, or try your hand at anew craft! The club meets every Monday.

Game Day11 a.m. Wake up with board games, word

puzzles, and plenty of coffee! Game Day isheld every other Wednesday,

Barefoot In The Stubble FieldLocal Author Presentation 1 p.m. Join us as Mary Calland talks

about her recent novel Barefoot InThe Stubble Field, the story of ayoung girl raised by both her poorparents and her wealthy aunt anduncle during the Great Depression.Please register by calling Katie at theLibrary (412.882.5694). Space is verylimited so call as soon as possible!

Submitted by Dennis Luther, Director, Brentwood Library

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 21

22 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

To most everyone who’s not ebenezer Scrooge, theholidays are more about the giving than the getting. Fromthe glimmer of the ribbon to the crunch of the tissuepaper, there’s nothing like the look on a loved one’s face

when they open that elusive “perfect gift.” The staff at Home InsteadSenior Care is honored each year with the chance to experience thisjoy through complete strangers.

For the past seven years, Home Instead Senior Care offices across thecountry have been participating in the community service initiative Be a Santa to a Senior. Through private donations, the network hasdelivered 1.5 million gifts to needy seniors throughout NorthAmerica. Locally, the Munhall franchise has collected over 200presents in the past two years alone.

By partnering with non-profit groups, care facilities and agencies inthe area, the names of deserving seniors are collected each fall.Although there are no defined criteria, the participants are typicallyelders who will not be getting a gift this holiday due to financialrestrictions or other hardships. Their individual gift requests arewritten on an ornament that patrons of community merchants areinvited to take off of a Christmas tree. The donated gifts are deliveredto the seniors just before the holiday.

Gift recipients live in the same communities as the residents HomeInstead Senior Care serves. The Munhall franchise helps people inSoutheast Allegheny County with in-home non-medical care,including companionship, light housekeeping, personal care andtransportation services. Oftentimes the submitted names include their current clients who do not have any family members around for the holidays.

Due to the volume of donations and gift requests, the office staff has toelicit the help of organizations and facilities to distribute the presents.For certain cases, however, those most involved in the program have

the chance to deliver the gifts themselves and witness therecipients’ reactions. “Seeing their appreciation is likenothing else I’ve ever experienced,” said Patti Yeager,Office Manager at the Munhall franchise. “The gifts theyget are so simple – like socks, slippers or a blanket. Butthey are incredibly grateful to receive the things most ofus consider basic necessities.”

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 23

The current economic statehas become a factor both in the

type and amount of gift requeststhe offices receive. “Many older

adults continue to struggle in adown economy, particularly those

who live alone with no familynearby to help provide resources,”

said David Baron, owner of theHome Instead Senior Care

franchises in Munhall andWestmoreland County. That’s exactly

where the Be a Santa to a Seniorprogram can help.

Members of the community candonate to the program by visitingany of the three locations inSoutheast Allegheny County:Century III Mall, Walgreens near

the Bill Greene Shopping Centeror Walgreens near theWaterfront. The trees went up atthe beginning of November and

will be displayed throughDecember 11. Once collected,the presents will be wrapped inbags decorated by localelementary school students.

“We hope holiday shopperswill open their hearts tothose seniors who havegiven so much to make ourcommunity a better place,”Baron said.

Written by Stephanie Desmond,

Community ServiceRepresentative at HomeInstead Senior Care

By Stephanie Desmond

challenging day of golf on a ‘Jack Nicklaus Signature Course’ coupled with anevening of delicious foods, libations, raffles and auctions at The Club At

Nevillewood was a treat for golfers and supporters that attended Fore kids! GolfBenefit. Hosted by The early Learning Institute, (TeLI), the proceeds went to “helpchildren realize their fullest potential through comprehensive, individualized earlyintervention and early childhood programs,” TeLI’s Mission Statement.

TeLI is a non-profit, licensed, contracted agency of trained therapists andprofessionals with over 58 years of experience. The organization has helped “more than1500 infants, toddlers and children across Allegheny County.” Services include TheInfant and Toddler Program, Speech and Language Programs and Preschool and DayCare Programs. Once a child is eligible to receive therapy, the services are free.

“Our early Intervention Program includes therapists that will come to the home ordaycare and offer a variety of services designed to build and enhance the natural learningthat occurs from birth to aged three,” said kara rutowski, TeLI executive Director.“Our therapists travel all over Allegheny County.”

research has shown that “children develop most rapidly during the first five years oflife and their early experiences influence the development of their brains,” according toZero to Three Policy Center, a National, Nonprofit Organization. “Children who areemotionally healthy have a significantly greater chance of achieving success in schoolcompared with those who have emotional difficulties.”

Sometimes a parent does not know if their concerns about their child’s developmentare valid.

If you have concerns about your child’s development you should ‘trust your gut’ andnot be afraid,” said Ms. rutowski. “We have a resourceguide on our website that gives parents information onwhat steps to take and we are always available to answerquestions. Once your child is evaluated and eligible forintervention services, we are here to help them reach

their fullest potential.” In order to raise the funds

needed to assist the manychildren in need inAllegheny County, TeLIhosts Fore kids! GolfBenefit in the Fall andTeLI's Gala of Possibilities

Helping Babies, Toddlers andYoung Children

In Allegheny County Achieve Their Best

24 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

By Kathy Rudolph

Barb, Matt andPaula Giglotti

in the Spring. TeLI also relies on volunteers and donations. Assisting in theclassroom, helping out at events like Fore kids!, cleaning toys and clericalduties are just some of the volunteer positions available. A ‘wish list’ of items,ways to make a monetary donation, Giant eagle “Apples For Students” arealso ways to give; with more information provided on TeLI’s website.

Sponsors included Southpointe Fieldhouse, Mitsubishi electric, JohnC.r. kelly realty and many others.

“Today’s event is such a fun way to support our kids,” said Ms. rutowski.“There is such a great sense of community and we are so grateful to oursponsors and supporters that participated; every cent benefits our programs.”

To learn more about TeLI, please visit their website atwww.earlylearninginstitute.org or call 412.922.8322.

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 25

Early Learning Institute Board of Trustees

Tom SturgesNick GarrubbaBob BrownDave DuessalAshley Nayden

Representative Dan DeasySylbia KunstWilliam PriceJewel AmorusoBill Burroughs

Kent Hora, Kara Rutowski,William Price,Matthew Giglotti

26 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

alking into the Whitehall Public Libraryto a sea of approximately 36 creative

cakes and edibles was like walking into a goodbakery and art gallery at once; a treat for all ofthe senses. The edible Book Festival washosted by Whitehall Public Library and was agreat way for adults and kids to come togetherin the library and display a fictional or non-fictional book, title or character that theycreated in edible form to be judged. Theentries could not only be in cake form, butother food items such as cereal, jello, candy,even fruits and vegetables; any food item thatwould help create your literary vision.

The edible Book Festival was the ingenious idea of Denise Ignaski,Technical Services Librarianand Festival Organizer.

“I went to a LibraryAssociation Conferenceand saw an edible BookDemonstration,” said Ms.Ignaski. “I hadn’t seen it donebefore in any library in theSouth Hills and thought it was agreat idea for our library. You don’thave to be a cake decorator to enter

and can use anything that is edible. It is also a fun, family event.”

A variety of judges from the area includingan artist, food writer, library board membersand teachers thoughtfully chose the best in thecategories featuring ‘Adult Best In Show’Award given to karina Palko’s entry for her“Stephanie Plum” Series and ‘Artisticrecognition’ and ‘People’s Choice, Child’Award given to Fiona Selden and MorganTraud for their “Harry Potter and the Gobletof Fire” entry. Ms. Palko received a gift basketand Miss Selden and Miss Traud also received

a gift basket and cake for their prizes. “This is such a creative way to

bring the communitytogether,” said SueStiffey, who works at thelibrary and creates all ofthe colorful library signs

and brochures. “It is greathow the people brought the

books to life and a gift that weappreciate.”

Other activities at the festivalincluded a cake decorating demonstration

using fondant by volunteer, Sue reis of The

House of Cakes.

kids and Adults decorated their own cupcake courtesy of thelibrary. Friends could visit and enjoy a cup of coffee, donated by Caribou Coffee on Brownsville road, or enjoy some cake andpunch, courtesy of the library. raffled cakesdonated by Bethel Bakery, Giant eagle andPastries A-La-Carte kept it fun.

“I am so impressed by the talents of thekids and adults,” said Linda Book, VicePresident at Friends of the Whitehall PublicLibrary and Whitehall BoroughCouncilwoman. “It is always nice to see theinteraction of the community at an event likethis. We hope that our patrons will come backand see the many programs that we offer forevery age group and interest.”

For more information on The WhitehallPublic Library or upcoming events, visit theirwebsite at www.whitehallpubliclibrary.org.

Food and Book Lovers Show off TheirImaginative Edible Literary Masterpieces:

By Kathy Rudolph

Moira Stuart and Mary Palkowith Their Harry Potter Entry

Cake Decoration Demonstration FromSue Reis of The House of Cakes

Sue Stiffey, Artist For All of The Library Signage

Winner of Adult Best inShow Awarded To KarinaPalko For Her StephaniePlum Series Entry

Winner of Most RealisticAwarded to Michelle Rorison'sPicnic! A Day in the Park Entry

Winner ofPeople'sChoice, Adult,Awarded toKathy Koltasfor A VeryHungryCaterpillarEntry

Bethel BakeryDonated Cake

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Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 27

The ScarletLetter entry

Arlene Burnett andJoan Kugler, Judges

Faustino Dunckhorst and Linda Book, Presidentand Vice President of The Friends of WhitehallPublic Library

Entries for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and the Twilight Series

Russ Walker and Anne Sopczynski, Judges

Sammie Rorison withher Gus Was AFriendly Ghost Entry

Paula Kelly,Library Directorand DeniseIgnasky,TechnicalServicesLibrarian

Sue Moore,LibraryAssistant

28 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 29

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Dave Wenzel,Charlie Johnson,George Znoyoskyand Gregg Jones

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Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 31

aldwin emergency MedicalServices answers the call to

care on cold, dark rainy nights tothe citizens of Baldwin, PleasantHills, West Mifflin and Whitakerboroughs for all medical andtrauma 911 calls. But now theyare offering their compassion in a different way; to honorthose individuals who have servedin the realm of public safety as apolice officer, firefighter, eMT or paramedic.

Baldwin eMS first formed an honorguard about two years ago, patterning their groupafter the City of Pittsburgh eMS Honor Guard. ThePittsburgh Honor Guard was formed in the late 1990s and is currently ledby Commander Jack J. Glass. According to Todd Plunkett, AssistantChief of Baldwin eMS, Glass has been instrumental in an advisorycapacity to the new honor guard, by providing instruction andinformation on the corre ct way to raise a flag, to lower a flag to half-mastand several other ceremonial duties of the guard.

The seven members of the Baldwin eMS Honor Guard haveperformed ceremonial duties at high school football games, funeralprocessions, 9/11 memorials and a special ceremony held at LA Fitness inBridgeville where three women perished and nine others were woundedin a shooting rampage in 2009.

The gro up often leads a processional and lays a flag over the coffin ofthe deceased. “Basically, we do whatever the family requests,” saysPlunkett, “we follow their wishes.” Decked out innavy blue pants with a black stripe,white gloves and caps, theguard lends an air ofsolemnity to theoccasion

and honors those in public service with a show of respect and dignity.

Occasionally, bagpipes are requestedat th e funeral of a loved one or other

service. The Pittsburgh Policeemerald Society Pipes and Drumsare a service band, formed in 2001,which often play at events for

fallen public safety workers andprovide the bagpipe music for the

Baldwin honor guard if requested. At the recent ten-year anniversary

of 9/11, the honor guard was called upon toparticipate in a commemorative ritual at

Pleasant Hills Middle Sc hool. The school plannedevents leading up to the anniversary date of 9/11 to help

impress school children of the significance of the event. On Sept. 11, there was a ceremony with several speakers and the Baldwin eMS Honor Guard raised the American flag and then lowered it to half-mast in memory of the fallen heroes.

In addition to Baldwin, several other eMS agencies have added avolunteer honor guar d as well in recent years, including Medical rescueTeam South Authority, (MrTSA), Tri-Community South AmbulanceService and ross West View emergency Medical Services Authority.These services sometimes combine their efforts for larger memorialsrequiring more members.

The Baldwin eMS Honor Guard is all volunteer and take a great sense of pride in this solemn show of patriotism. Their services are freefor the families of deceased police, fire and eMS. For more information

on Baldwin eMS or their honor guard, please visit their website at

www. baldwinems.com.

By Pamela

Palongue

32 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

W I N T E R 2 0 1 1

Health and Wellness News You Can Use

© 2011 UPMC

What’s Insidepage 2 UPMC Now Offers Imaging Services

in West Mifflin

page 3 When Your Body Talks ...Be Sure to Listen

page 4 Make a Date with Your DoctorThree Cheers for Your Ears, Nose, and Throat

page 5 Technology for 21st Century Hospitals

page 6 Taking on TouretteControlling a life in motion at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC

page 7 Changes Continue to Transform UPMC Mercy Emergency Dpeartment

BundleUp,BabyRemember how Mom made you bundle up before going outdoors in the winter so you wouldn’t get sick? She was right. So be sure you dress for the weather — and that means covering your head, ears, mouth, and hands.

Turn to page 4 to learn why your ears, nose, and throat need extra care in winter.

2 UPMC.com/Today

UPMC Now Offers Imaging Services in West Mifflin

For West Mifflin area residents, the new UPMC West Mifflin facility isbringing UPMC’s high quality care, including the latest in imaging technology, right to their doorstep.“We understand that not everyone can or wants to travel outside their community for treatment or a particular test,” says Stephanie Pankow,administrative director of UPMC West Mifflin.“Our communities and neighborhoods are at the heart of what makes Pittsburgh such a special place to live and work. Helping to keep them strong andhealthy is important to us,” adds Ms. Pankow.Located at 1907 Lebanon Church Road in West Mifflin (near CenturySquare), the new facility is home to the UPMC Cancer Centers, Quest Diagnostics, and UPMC Imaging Services. The new facility also featurescomfortable and attractive waiting and testing areas, as well as free parking.

The care you need — close to homeWhether your doctor suspects a broken pinky finger and wants a quick x-ray or your specialist has ordered a CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound, UPMC West Mifflin gives residents easy access to a wide range of imaging services.

“UPMC West Mifflin has the most advanced imaging technology available, including a state-of-the-art 64-slice CT scanner that is faster and offers more accurate images,” saysMelissa Kovtun, executive director of Imaging Services. Imaging servicesavailable onsite include:

• MRI• CT• General/Vascular• General Radiology (including x-rays)• Ultrasound

Onsite, subspecialty trained radiologists provide your doctor with fast, high-quality readings, important results your doctor uses in making an accurate diagnosis andcrafting a treatment plan. “Physicians in the UPMC network can choose to get their patient’s imaging resultselectronically,” says Ms. Pankow.

Moving the well-established UPMCCancer Centers to the new UPMC West Mifflin location adds to patientconvenience and comfort by makingimaging services available nearby. “Patients can be assured that all of thecenter’s advanced cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment options stillwill be offered — just in a different location,” says Ms. Pankow.

UPMC West Mi in1907 Lebanon Church RoadWest Mi%in, PA 15122

Imaging ServicesPhone: 412-653-8030Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday by appointment

UPMC Cancer CenterPhone: 412-653-8100Hours of operation: Monday through Friday7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information about UPMC West Mi%in, visit UPMC.com.

“Our communities and neighborhoods are at

the heart of what makesPittsburgh such a specialplace to live and work. Helping to keep them strong and healthy is

important to us.”

— Stephanie Pankow

1-800-533-UPMC 3

Being attuned to changes in your body can help in the early detection andtreatment of cancer and other serious medical problems

Is your body trying to tell you something important? It can bean excellent communicator — if you pay careful attention to its symptoms.

There are numerous warning symptoms for cancer, many of which also can point to other serious medical conditions.

That’s why you should call yourprimary care physician (PCP) if you have any unusual or persistent symptoms lastinglonger than two or three weeks,says Edward Chu, MD, chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at UPMC and deputy director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.

“The vast majority of patientswill get a clean bill of health from their doctor,” says Dr. Chu.“But when it comes to cancer, time is often of the essence. Early detection can help keep cancer from spreading, allow for faster treatment, and improve your chances for recovery.”

Symptoms that revealMost of us know to be on the lookout for such important cancer warning signs as a sore that does not heal; a thickening or lump in the breast, or other parts of the body; blood in the stool or urine; or changes in the size or color of a mole.

Dr. Chu says it’s also important to be aware of more generalizedbody changes (also known as constitutional symptoms) that cancompromise your physical performance and overall well-being.By getting to know what’s typical for your own body, you’ll bebetter able to recognize unfamiliar changes when they occur.They can include:• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)• Unexplained weight loss (typically 10 pounds or more)

or loss of appetite• Changes in how food tastes• Fever and chills• Night sweats• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

“These symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have cancer,” he emphasizes. “But if they linger or worsen, it’s important for your doctor to rule out — or treat — possible problems.”

If you are interested in locating a PCP or specialist in your area,visit UPMC.com/FindADoctor or call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).

WhenYour BodyTalks…BeSure toListen

Did You Know?The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute(UPCI), based at the Hillman Cancer Center in Shadyside, is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in western Pennsylvania. Learn more about UPCI and its partnership with UPMC Cancer Centers at UPCI.UPMC.edu.

Cancer Screenings: Are they right for you?Another important tool in the early detection of cancer is screenings. “When combinedwith regular checkups with your family doctor or specialist, screenings like mammograms,PAP smears, and colorectal exams have proven to be invaluable in the fight against cancer,”says Eric Safyan, MD, of UPMC Cancer Center at UPMC Mercy. “Your personal and family medical history, risk factors, age, and other considerations will help your physicianrecommend the right tests — and frequency — for you.”

To learn more about the programs and services at UPMC Cancer Center at UPMC Mercy,visit UPMCMercy.com.

4 UPMC.com/Today

Make a Date With Your DoctorYou take your car to the mechanic for an annual inspection to be sure it’s running properly. So why aren’t you giving yourbody the same kind of attention?

When you’re in good health, it’s easy to put off going to thedoctor. But regular checkups can help you stay healthy, andavoid disease and disability. That’s why scheduling a physical is the one New Year’s resolution you should keep.

“Your annual exam is the perfecttime to talk with your doctor aboutillness prevention, healthy lifestylechoices, and any recommendedscreenings,” says Timothy Campbell,MD, of Campbell/Philbin MedicalAssociates PC and UPMC Mercy.“That information helps you and

your doctor create a plan to maintain your health, or makechanges to improve your health.”

Building an ongoing relationship with a primary care physician(PCP) also means peace of mind. “There’s real value to beingseen by someone who knows you and your health history —someone you trust to guide you through an illness or emer-gency,” adds Dr. Campbell.

Your exam checklistHow can you make the most of your annual exam? Here arefour things to do before you see the doctor:

1. Make a list of all medications you are takingInclude all prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements that you currently take, how often you take them, and why.

2. Update your family historyYour family history can provide important clues about your risk for certain diseases, including diabetes, some cancers, and heart disease.

3. Ask about health screeningsScreenings can be important tools in preventing some illnesses and diseases. Get a list of recommended screenings and talk about them with your doctor.

4. Make a list of questions or health concernsAsking questions and sharing your concerns about health issues helps your doctor improve your care.

One final piece of advice: Be honest. “Never be afraid or embarrassed to tell your doctor something,” adds Dr. Campbell.“What you don’t disclose could be important for your doctor to make an accurate diagnosis or prescribe the best treatment plan.”

Winter is the season for sniffles, scratchy throats, and earaches — often all at once!And with good reason: our ears, nose, and throat all are connected and affect each other greatly. Otolaryngologists(also known as ear, nose, and throat doctors or ENTs) are physicians who specialize in caring for this complex, interrelated system. Test your ENT knowledge with this quick quiz:

Who gets earaches more often — children or adults?Nearly every child experiences at leastone ear infection between infancy and the age of five — something weary parents know firsthand. Becausechildren have shorter, straighter Eustachian tubes (which connect the nose to the ears), it’s easier for bacteria to migrate into their ears.

Why are you more likely to get a nosebleed in winter?The same heated indoor air that makesyour home cozy in winter also can dehydrate the inside of your nose. It can become crusted or cracked, or can even bleed. A dry nose makesyou more susceptible to germs, so exercise good nose care. Lightly coatthe inside with petroleum jelly. Over-the-counter saline mists and sprays (not decongestants) also are helpful.

Will antibiotics cure laryngitis? Most cases of laryngitis are caused by viral infections that make the vocal cords swell — so antibiotics are ineffective. Your best course of action? Drink plenty of fluids, rest, and cut back on talking. Straining yourvoice when you have acute laryngitiscan damage your vocal cords.

Source: American Society of Otolaryngology

Three Cheers for Your Ears, Nose, and Throat

Health Tips from UPMC Health Plan

1-800-533-UPMC 5

If you ever have to be hospitalized, you’ll certainly want to be cared for at a place that delivers quality health care using the latest technology available. That’s precisely what patients find when they are admitted to a UPMC hospital.

“UPMC’s vision of quality is for every patient to receive the right care, at the right time, in the right way — every time,” says Tami Minnier, RN, and chief quality officer forUPMC. “Technology lets us serve patients more efficiently and accurately. Most of all, we’re able to give patients greater control of their health care.”

Here are just two of the ways UPMC hospitals are delivering on that goal.

SmartRoom® technology brings it all to youLaunched three years ago by UPMC in partnership with IBM, SmartRoom is an impressive technology. First used at UPMC Shadyside and UPMC Montefiore, it is gradually being introduced in other UPMC hospitals. All patient rooms at the new UPMC East will be equipped with SmartRoom technology.

SmartRoom brings all essential data related to your care to your bedside. Its computerizedsoftware programsgive caregivers fingertip access toall the informationessential to yourcare — from yourelectronic medicalrecords to the tests you’ll need that day.

The SmartRoom concept simplifies workflow and makes documentation of your care faster and easier. Each room hastwo screens: one for your caregivers, and another for you to access email, entertainment, and a vast library of patient education videosand information.

The right medsat the right time“It is our goal to make the hospitalizationand discharge experience asstress-free as possible for ourpatients and theirfamilies,” saysJacqueline Dailey,UPMC’s vicepresident for Solutions forMedical Science, Research, and Patient Centered AccountableCare. “Not surprisingly, by the time patients leave the hospital,they’re often confused and overwhelmed by changes in theirmedications and how to take them.”

“We begin when you’re admitted with an electronic assessmentof your current medications and how they’re being taken,” explains Ms. Dailey. “As medications are adjusted or eliminatedduring your stay, this information is instantly available to allyour physicians — from your family doctor to the specialistscaring for you. That’s especially important if you transition from one level of care to another, such as intensive to acutecare.” An added layer of safety: both a pharmacist and the nurse administering the medications verify any new medicationorders from your doctors.

Throughout your stay, you’ll receive comprehensive instructions on your medications. “We know that people learn in different ways, so this information will be shared multiple times and in multiple ways,” notes Ms. Dailey. “We also urge patients to contact their doctors for help with any questions they may have on their return home.”

How technology is working to transform the quality of your care during hospitalization

Technology for 21st Century Hospitals

6 UPMC.com/Today

Seven Barnishin was just 11, playing withaction figures alone in his Pitcairn home,when the tics began — involuntary armflicks, head jerks, and sounds. “I freaked. It seemed like something else was controlling me,” he says.

Tom and Amy Barnishin first thoughttheir son’s behavior was linked to the startof the school year and peer pressure.When symptoms grew worse, and othertics emerged, their doctor sent Seven to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC where he was officially diagnosedwith Tourette syndrome (TS) in January2009. “We were blindsided,” says Amy.

Diagnosing Tourette syndromeTS is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting one in 100 people, says Keith Coffman, MD, a pediatric neurologist and co-director of the Tourette SyndromeClinic, part of the Brain Care Institute at Children’s Hospital. Most cases are diagnosed between ages 3 and 12; the majority are boys.

The main symptoms are sudden, repetitive, uncontrollable movements and sounds called tics, including throat-clearing, sniffing, blinking, gestures, and head jerking. For a true TS diagnosis, tics must start before age 18, include twoor more motor tics and at least one vocaltic, and last at least one year. Tics peak at the onset of puberty. Approximately 60 percent of children outgrow the tics, or the tics become so subtle only that person knows when they occur.

Coping with Tourette “People with TS cannot control their tics.They experience a sensation that makesthem feel like they have to move — like having to sneeze,” Dr. Coffman says.

The earlier the diagnosis, the sooner children can benefit. Movements can interfere with school work. Children with TS often are bullied, teased, or viewed as being disruptive.

That’s especially difficult for adolescentswho want to fit in. Tics, such as throatclearing, turning, or shaking, also can cause pain.

At the Tourette Syndrome Clinic, patients have access to a trio of experts:two pediatric neurologists with training in neurodevelopmental disorders, and an adult neurologist trained in movement disorders who provides transitional care for older teens.

Be in the know about TS Treatment varies.While there’s no cure,medication sometimes helps control tics.Psychologists can teach habit reversal and relaxation techniques to help patientscope with stress and reduce symptoms. But the most important treatment is education, says Dr. Coffman. “That includes educating families, educators, and the general public about TS.”

“Knowledge is power. I’d be unnerved if I didn’t know what it was,” adds Seven,now age 14. Although he cycled through almost every tic, the movements and sounds have subsided with treatment.

The Barnishins credit the team at Children’s for helping them understand TS, guiding them through treatment options, and providing support.

“Children’s gave us answers and helped us gain control over an uncontrollable situation. Instead of being spectators, wewere part of the process. That helped lower Seven’s anxiety, which helped ease the tics,” says Tom.

To learn more about the Tourette Syndrome Clinic and the Movement Disorders Clinic at Children’s Hospital, visit chp.edu, choose Neurology as theservice, then click the Clinics and Services button on the left.

Controlling a life in motion at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC

Other TS facts include:• TS patients have the same IQ range as the general population.

• People in every walk of life, includingprofessional musicians, athletes, authors, and scientists, have TS.

• Less than 15 percent of TS patientsswear or use inappropriate expressions.

Did You Know?

Taking on Tourette

An estimated 200,000 Americans haveTS, but misconceptions still surround the disorder.

For example, TS is not an emotional or behavioral condition. It is an inheritedneurodevelopmental disorder that causes abnormalities in the brain.

1-800-533-UPMC 7

Changes Continue to Transform UPMC Mercy Emergency Department Recently completed makeover cuts wait times with focus on careUPMC Mercy’s Emergency Department (ED) has put the finishing touches on a major expansion and renovation projectwith the opening of a new patient observation unit in December.Known as a Clinical Decision Unit (CDU), the 17-bed facilityprovides a special transitional area for patients — including those with chest pain, asthma, or abdominal pain — who needmore time for treatment or testing before a decision is made to discharge or admit them. Patients will stay in the CDUwhile awaiting their test results, freeing up beds for other emergency and admitted patients, says Michael Turturro, MD,chief of Emergency Services at UPMC Mercy.“All of our ED improvements focus on enhancing the patientcare experience. We’re treating patients more quickly, more efficiently, and more comfortably,” Dr. Turturro says.

Expanded capacityBefore the 18-month expansion and renovation project began, the UPMC Mercy ED treated approximately 45,000patients annually. Last year, the ED reported 70,000 patientvisits. Now averaging nearly 200 patients a day, UPMCMercy’s ED is on track to see at least 73,000 patients this year.

The new ED, with 36 beds, also has created more capacity by improving its efficiency. “But no matter how many rooms or beds we add, there are always challenges,” says Valerie Krasneski-Schreiber, RN, BSN, MS, unit director of UPMC Mercy’s ED. “Our top priority is to deliver safe patient care quickly and more efficiently.”

New Super Track: Quick assessments and streamlined care Key to achieving that goal is a redesigned reception area staffedby a clinical nurse who makes quick assessments and assigns patients to one of three levels of emergency care. Dr. Turturrosays ED patients now move from the reception area to a treatment room within an average of 10 minutes of arrival.

In addition, the Mercy ED’s innovative new Super Track concept offers speedy care for patients with minor injuries andillnesses needing less urgent care — moving them throughtreatment to discharge in under an hour. “With Super Track,our goal is to ensure that patients who come to the ED with minor injuries and illnesses quickly get back to their lives afterreceiving prompt, comprehensive care,” says Tom Gronow,MHA, vice president of operations at UPMC Mercy.

Faster lab resultsAnother important ED upgrade is the addition of a mini-lab providing critical point-of-care-testing for ED patients. That means faster urine tests, rapid strep, blood analysis, and other key tests that can speed up treatment.“Having test results in minutes absolutely makes a difference,”says Ms. Krasneski-Schreiber. “In stroke patients, for example,time is of the essence. We need vital information to make theright decisions and act quickly.”Other ED improvements include:• Thirty-six newly renovated treatment bays • Two new state-of-the-art trauma resuscitation bays for treating the most acutely injured patients

• A new 128-slice CT scanner offering the latest imaging technology with faster scanning capability

• An expanded and modernized patient and family reception area (featuring stained glass panels from the original Mercy Hospital chapel)

• Wireless Internet access and flat-screen TVs

To learn more about UPMC Mercy and its ED services, visit UPMCMercy.com.

UPMC Mercy1400 Locust St.Pittsburgh, PA 15219

UPMC Today is published quarterly to provide you with health and wellness information and classes and events available at UPMC.

This publication is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice or replace a physician’s medical assessment. Always consult first with your physician about anything related to your personal health.

Follow UPMC Mercy on Facebook.

THE WOMEN’S NETWORKING GROUPThe Women’s Networking Group of the Brentwood BaldwinWhitehall Chamber of Commercemeets the second Friday of eachmonth at 12 noon for lunch atSouth Hills Country Club. Wewelcome members and non-members. Tables are available forladies who would like to displayproducts or merchandise. Lunchfor Chamber members is $15,non-members, $18 and a displaytable is $10.

Please make reservations with Mary Dilla, Chamber secretary, at secretary.bbwchamber.com.

– Dottie Coll, Chairman

WOMEN’S NETWORKINGMEETING DATES:

(At South Hills Country Club)December 9, 2011January 13, 2012February 10, 2012

March 9, 2012

MEN’S NETWORKINGTuesday, December 13, 2011Tuesday, January 17, 2012

GENERAL MEETINGLUNCHEONSThe Brentwood Baldwin WhitehallChamber of Commerce meets thefirst Thursday of each month, noon at various area locations. Lunch for Chamber members with a reservation is $15, non-membersand members without a reservationwill be charged $18.

Please make reservations with Mary Dilla, Chamber secretary, atsecretary.bbwchamber.com.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON MEETINGS12 NoonDecember 1, 2011 ............................ The Georgetown Centre

(Food and Coat Drive for SHIM)January 5, 2012 ....................................... The Olde Place InnFebruary 2, 2012 .................................................... Calabria’sMarch 1, 2012 ...................................................... Salvatore’s

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 41

The summer is gone and fall is here. That means that winter is justaround the corner. With winter comes the one aspect of school districtoperations that precipitates numerous calls to my office. Those callsrelate to school delay and cancellation decisions that are made due toinclement weather or emergency situations. During my tenure assuperintendent, I have learned that my decisions do not pleaseeveryone. Last year in a Superintendent’s Message, I explained how thedecisions were made in order to provide parents with an understandingof the factors taken into consideration before school is either delayed orcancelled. It would be best to review that process again.

Once I become aware of impending inclement weather, weatherforecasts are continually monitored for any changes in originalpredictions. If inclement weather is predicted for the morning, my daybegins at 4:00 a.m. when I again monitor the weather forecast. I alsobegin to contact other superintendents in the county, particularly thosein walking school districts. In addition, the Director of Security andFacilities contacts Brentwood Borough Public Works and PoliceDepartments to obtain specific information on conditions within theborough. Based on this information, a decision to delay or cancel schoolis made. every attempt is made to make that decision by 6:15 a.m. Oncethe decision is made, the television and radio stations are notified andthe AlertNow notification system is activated to contact the homes ofour students. every effort is made not to change the decision once it ismade. If it is possible to make a delay or cancellation decision the nightbefore, it will be made. regardless of whatever decision is made, I havealways stressed to parents who contact me that if they believe weatherconditions do not allow for safe travel of their children to school, theycan keep their children at home until weather conditions improve.

My goal is to have school open every day that it is scheduled on theoriginal calendar in order for our students to attend. Unfortunately, I donot have control of the weather but only control over the decision todelay or cancel school. Hopefully, this winter will not be a harsh one.

ronald W. Dufalla, Ph. D.Superintendent of Schools

S u p e r i n t e n d e n t ’ s M e s s a g e

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

42 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

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

The Brentwood Borough School District iscommitted to maintaining a safeenvironment for all students, staff, andvisitors. To that end, a School emergencyGuide for Parents was created to helpparents better understand their importantrole in the district’s safe school plans. Theguide is now available on the school districtwebsite at http://brentwoodpgh.k12.pa.us.Open communication between home andschool is critical to the safety and well-beingof our students. If you have any questions orconcerns related to school policy and yourchild’s safety, please contact Joe kozarian,School resource Officer, by calling412.881.2227, extension 2405 or by e-mailat [email protected].

In this era of budget, program, and activity cuts, as well as furloughs, the FineArts Department at Brentwood High School has chosen to move forward tooffer an even greater opportunity for involvement to students with a higher levelof interest in music. For the past three years, the addition of guitars to theseventh and eighth grade General Music curriculum has successfully takenacquired knowledge from the whiteboard and staff paper, and transformed it tothe practical application of musical ideas and skills demonstrated on the guitar.But what happens to those acquired skills when the student moves on to highschool? Pursuing an interest should continue as part of one’s “life learning.”

This school year’s inception of a high school level Applied Guitar class is thelogical continuation of that interest. Offered as a one semester elective classqualifying for graduation credit, the greatest obstacle to conquer was how to fitthe class into the schedules of all students expressing an interest. “We made itwork,” said Bill Finn, music educator who has entered his 26th year with thedistrict. “If my smile is brighter than usual, it’s because of this class.” Finn was ajazz guitar major at Duquesne University and studied for four years under JoeNegri. He has also played guitar professionally for over 40 years. “This is theclass that I always wished was offered since I was in high school. Some studentshave a devout interest in music, but don’t fit into the band, orchestra or chorus

mold. I was one of them. This insures that nobody with that interest getsleft behind.” Students may use their privately owned instrument or use

the guitars offered by the school. The intent of the class is to offereach student the opportunity to advance according to their abilitylevels. When asked where this may lead, Finn offered, “I’m notpredicting that Brentwood will become the next Liverpool, but anopportunity is all the students deserve. If we give them a strongfoundation and an opportunity, it will be

interesting to see how far it goes.” The rest of us can’t wait to see.

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 43

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

Under the mandates of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) annually notifies school districts of their AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) status. In a letter received from PDE,the district was informed that all four schools in the Brentwood Borough School District again reached AYP. Inorder to achieve AYP status, each school must hit three targets. Those targets are attendance/graduation rate,participation rate on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and performance in mathematicsand reading on the PSSA. The PSSA is administered to students in grades 3 through 8 and 11.

The first target establishes an attendance threshold of 90% for elementary and middle schools and a graduationthreshold of 85% for high schools. Moore Elementary had a 95.26% attendance rate, Elroy Elementary a 95.62%rate, and Brentwood Middle School a rate of 95.32%. The graduation rate at Brentwood High School was98.25%. The second target sets participation in the PSSA at 95%. Moore Elementary attained a participationrate of 100%, Elroy Elementary 100%, Brentwood Middle School 100% and Brentwood High School 98.2%.

The performance target for PSSA requires that 67% of the student population in a school reach proficiency inmathematics and 72% reach proficiency in reading. In the event a grade level or school does not meet theperformance target for a particular year, PDE will look at two years of data before making the AYPdetermination. Students are proficient if they score in either the Proficient or Advanced categories. The chartbelow indicates the percent of students that were Proficient or Advanced in mathematics and reading on the2011 PSSA by grade level at each school:

Printed reports for each individual student’s performance on the PSSA have been mailed to parents. Questionsregarding an individual student’s performance should be addressed to the building principal.

Do you have a three or four year old child? Your child may be eligible to enroll inBrentwood High School’s Preschool Program! The program is currentlyaccepting applications for the spring. The preschool will begin in February andwill meet three times a week. For more information and to see if your child iseligible, visit Brentwood High School’s website and complete the preschoolapplication. Please send a copy of the immunization records along with theapplication to the high school. If you have any questions, please contact estherMiller at 881-4940 (ext. 2123) or e-mail at [email protected] .

School/Grade Mathematics ReadingMoore-Grade 3 94.6% 81.1%Elroy-Grade 3 89.1% 80%

Moore-Grade 4 88.5% 80.8%Elroy-Grade 4 90% 62%

Moore-Grade 5 89.8% 98%Elroy-Grade 5 69.4% 83.7%

Brentwood MS-Grade 6 84.3% 80.7%Brentwood MS-Grade 7 79% 84.1%Brentwood MS-Grade 8 70% 90.1%Brentwood HS-Grade 11 56.2% 83%

44 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

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Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 45

On Wednesday, October 5,2011 at the renaissancePittsburgh Hotel, thePittsburgh Post-Gazetterecognized “Pittsburgh’s TopWorkplaces 2011.” TheBrentwood Borough SchoolDistrict was among the groupof 85 honored that evening as one of the best places towork in Pittsburgh. A total of155 companies/organizationsparticipated in the programsponsored by the Post-Gazette.

earlier this year, the districtwas nominated by an employeefor the distinction. This led to a workplace surveyadministered by WorkplaceDynamics. Approximately 77%of the employees participatedin the survey. Based onemployee responses, the schooldistrict ranked 15th out of 25in the mid-size category (150-499 employees). Othereducational institutions in thatcategory included PittsburghTechnical Institute ranked10th and Shady Side Academyranked 25th.

As technology continues to play a more dominant role in society,Brentwood High School classrooms have embraced this movement —improving the educational experience and providing students with 21stcentury skills. Last year, the special education program introducedinteractive white boards, iPods and interactive clickers to the classroom.Teachers were excited at the resulting positive impact on studentachievement, attitude towards learning, and motivation. Educationalapplications, podcasts, interactive lessons and access to novels onlinewere just some of the tools that helped promote success. Students wereable to take tests orally, control their own pace of learning, read novels withiTunes, use interactive study guides, and play games to reinforce skills.

This year the staff is continuing to expand available resources and ispiloting the iPads with an increased population of students. The moreteachers and students learn about the devices and their endlesscapabilities, the more possibilities that are uncovered to benefit thestudents. Technology usage, which has now branched out to supportstudents in regular classes, has improved student productivity and quality of work in the inclusion setting. Through the use of an app calledPages, teachers download assignments onto the iPad where students can interactively complete, save to a personalized folder, print or emaildirectly to their teachers. Reinforcement, study skills and fluency are among other areas benefiting from the use of technology in the classrooms.Additionally, technology provides a discrete way to implement adaptationsand modifications necessary for students receiving special educationservices to reach success.

The iPads are extremely user friendly, especially for students who areadept in using these resources in part of their everyday lives. It is trulyamazing to see how quickly students have taken on the challenge and areconstantly learning new “tricks and tools.” The response from regulareducation staff and administration has also been overwhelmingly positive.Jennifer Weaver, English teacher, loves using the technology and regularlycomments on the noticeable benefits it has had for her English students.Science teachers Jacquelyn Johnson and Christopher Weaver have alsowelcomed the use of iPads in their classrooms. Moving forward through anew school year, teachers look forward to continuing to learn newtechniques and changing the way students think about education.

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

Moore Elementary School held its 19th annualPunt, Pass and Kick contest the week ofSeptember 19, 2011. This year’s winners wereRyan Rosleck and Brooke McQuillan in the 10-11 year old category, Peter Carozza and AkirDeng in the 8-9 year old category, and DaultonDaly and Regan Barkey in the 6-7 year oldcategory. As the Moore School local competitionwinners, these students qualified for thesectional competition. All six students receivedmedals for their performance at the sectionalcompetition held on October 30, 2011 at Quaker Valley High School. With their 1st placeperformance, Ryan Rosleck, Peter Carozza, andRegan Barkey will be notified if they will qualifyfor the Steelers Team Championship to be heldbefore either the Cleveland or Cincinnati gamein December. Congratulations to our MooreSchool local and sectional winners.

The Brentwood High School varsity football team finishedthe regular season 8-1 with victories over Deer Lakes,South Side Beaver, Bentworth, Avella, Fort Cherry,Chartiers Houston, Serra, and Carlynton. Several Spartansplayers are among the WPIAL statistical leaders. Theseinclude quarterback Chris Shortely, wide receiver SeanO’Brien, and running back Justin Vickless. The Spartansfinished the regular season ranked 2nd in the Class A BlackHills Conference and qualified for post-season play for thefourth consecutive year.

46 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

he first grade students from Mooreelementary School celebrated NationalLibrary Card Month by taking a trip to the

Brentwood Public Library. Students learnedlibrary etiquette, took a tour, participated instory time, engaged in a small craft, and receivedtheir very own library card!

All you have to do is Google “school-communitypartnerships” to find a wealth of information andresearch that verifies the positive impact thesecollaborations have on students and their learning.Already the participating students were able to get alibrary card, check out a book, and meet the children’slibrarian; that is just the beginning! Their love oflearning and their enthusiasm for books and readingwas encouraged and enriched by this experience.

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

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 47

Science is to be experienced!! The ASSET Science Program has been promoting this concept for manyyears. The fourth grade students at Elroy Elementary School are learning about two important resources“Land and Water.” In this unit from the ASSET Science Program, students learn erosion prevention, watercycle, and conservation awareness of our soils and fresh water systems. Students are excited about sciencewhen they learn by doing. The science module kits are packed with hands-on experiments that providestudents with a true understanding of the science concepts while connecting them to real-life applications.

T

Discovering the Wondersof the

Public Library

Some students aren’t exactly a fountain of information when it comes toinquisitions about school. When you ask them about their day they mayrespond, “Fine,” or when you ask them what they learned today they say,“Nothing.” Brentwood parents, there is a way for you to check up on yourchild’s grades, attendance, schedule and cafeteria account balances, to helpfill in the blanks between “fine” and “no thing.” Four years ago, the districtpurchased Skyward, a student management system. Here are some featuresof the Skyward Family Access component:

—View general information andemergency contact information to make sure everything is up to date in thedatabase records.

—View student’s current grades,missing assignments, and teacher comments.

—View messages from your student’s teachers with theability to reply back on a one-to-one basis.

—View absence or tardy information for yourstudent in an easy to use calendar format.

—View the student’s schedule as well as the teacherand teacher’s contact information for each class.

—View PSSA, Terra Nova, or SAT test scores.

—e-mail notifications are available for low foodservice balances, grade or attendance information.

- View balance, payment, and purchase information for eachstudent in the family. This is only available for the Primary Guardian ofeach household.

Skyward is an easy to use interface that even the basic computer user will beable to navigate. Once logged in, parents can view their s tudent’s classperiods, with the corresponding teacher. When the link for the class isselected, the student’s grades are displayed with each individualassignment, test, project, etc. and the assigned grade. The day theassignment was to be completed is displayed. If a student has missed theassigned due date, it will be displayed by a checkmark in the column with ared banner. This indicates that the assignment has not yet been completedand is past the due date. If a teacher has placed the assignment in thegradebook, but the grades have not been posted, an asterisk will be present.

Family Access is available for all students from kindergarten throughtwelfth grade. To use the service, parents and guardians will need access toa computer connected to the Internet, a valid e-mail address and login andpassword information provided by the district. The goal of the FamilyAccess program is to build a strong home and school connection byincreasing communications and amount of information available toparents. If you would like to sign-up for the free service, the form isavailable on our district website. Complete the form and return it to yourchild’s school office for processing. An e-mail will be sent to the e-mailaddress provided containing your login information.

48 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

The first project of elroy’s Community Service Program iscomplete! It took place on Sunday, August 28, 2011, the daybefore the students arrived for the start of a new school year. Agroup of eight people came together to spruce up the playground.The following tasks were completed: the mulch was raked andmade even throughout the play set area; the metal benches andgarbage cans were painted by Shawn Sauro; and, the woodenbench was repaired by Steve Mavroides. In addition, the Mcevoyfamily, Melissa Sauro, a second grade teacher, and Amy Smith, afirst grade teacher, primed and painted over the existing murals onthe wall that had been there for ten years to prepare them for abrand new mural. It took five hours to complete the beautificationby two teachers, several students, and caring community members.

The next step of the project was the painting of a new mural onpart of the playground wall. The mural is a picture of elroyelementary School. Barb Girone, the elementary art teacher,guided students through each section of the mural during theirscheduled art period. Third through fifth grade painted the moreintricate parts of the mural such as the bricks of the school, the playset slides, and ladders. The students in kindergarten throughsecond grade painted sections of the building, the grass, and thesky. every student had a hand in painting the mural especiallysince a rainbow soaring over the school was made with thehandprints of every student at elroy.

The students took great pride in participating with the

Elroy Community Service ProgramS C H O O L D I S T R I C T

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

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 49

improvement of their schoolcommunity. It gave them a sense ofownership and responsibility to makeelroy the best school in Pennsylvania.

A special thank you goes toDonnelly-Boland and Associates fortheir $500 donation, which helpedfund the project and to SpartanPharmacy for their donation ofrubber gloves that the students worewhile painting. Paints and supplieswere purchased from SternbergerPaint Company on route 51 inBrentwood.

Elroy Community Service Program

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

As part of the 9-11 NationalDay of Service andremembrance, students ingrades 3, 4, and 5 at elroy

elementary School honoredthose who lost their lives and paid

tribute to the heroes that emergedthat day. They did so by creating a giant

flag using their handprints. The teachers alsorecounted the remarkable way people throughout the UnitedStates came together under a spirit of unity, compassion, andservice in the aftermath of the attacks.

The 5th graders also wrote short essays on “What TheyLoved about America.” Fifth grader Abby Wolf wrote: “I likeliving in the United States because of the beautiful land. I alsolove that we have freedom.” She also wrote, “We have thestrongest military in the world.”

To start their day, students also stood around the flagpolefor a moment of silence and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.It was a very moving moment for everyone involved.

e have all heard the excuses from students when it comes tocompleting homework: “I don’t have homework today.” “My

teacher never looks at homework.” “I completed it in study hall.”“That assignment was optional.” The excuses are endless, oftenvery colorful and amusingly creative. Pre-teens and teens ofteninsist that they have no homework even when they do, or tellparents that they’ve completed their assignments at school evenwhen they have not. If your child’s grades are acceptable and youreceive positive reports from their teachers, congratulations—your child is doing just fine. If your child often says they have nohomework but their grades are poor, they may not be telling youaccurate information, have completely tuned out their teacher’sinstructions, or need to improve organizational skills.

One of the major reasons that homework time may be sodifficult is because it is often hard for kids to focus at home.Unlike school, where the environment is structured andorganized, home is often viewed as a place to relax, talk on thephone, eat, listen to music, watch TV and play video games. Whena child gets home, their brain is clicking into “free time” mode;they are not thinking about homework.

Some kids are self-starters and like to complete homework assoon as they get home to get it out of the way. Some prefer torelax for a little while after school or have a snack and then diveright in. Others choose to complete their homework right afterdinner, while other kids require a more specific time to get theirhomework done.

With family work schedules, after school activity schedules,and just the everyday chaos of life getting in the way, it is ofteneasy for homework to get lost in the shuffle. Fortunately there aresome things that parents can do at home to improve their child’sway of thinking in regards to doing homework. Furthermore, thereare some specific things that can be incorporated at home to helpchildren get their homework completed while taking some stressoff parents.

Begin when your child is young. The earlier in a child’s lifethat parents instill in their children that schoolwork is part of theirhome life—just as chores are—the more kids will internalize thathomework is just a part of their daily routine. When children learnfrom an early age that education is valued and a priority it lays thegroundwork for future success.

Keep a watchful eye.Many children need an adult presencewhile they work. It is often effective for children to do theirhomework at the kitchen or dining room table. If a child has a lotof homework in one night, help them prioritize and allow them totake breaks between assignments. Check in on them. Let themknow that they can ask for help if they need it, but allow them todo their own work. Some children get distracted if they arepermitted to do homework in their bedrooms. Studies have shownthat children equate their bedroom with leisure, sleeping, andrelaxation. Perhaps this can only be a privilege if they aremaintaining good grades.

By Frank Krawiec, MSW, LCSW, Wesley Spectrum School Based Services Mental Health Therapist/Intervention Specialist

50 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 51

Structure each night. Set up a structured schedule for each night. Some techniques that have proven to beeffective with families include writing up a weekly (ormonthly) schedule to post in a central location within yourhome. This schedule may include time for after schoolsnack, dinner, activities, homework and free time.Completing homework the same time every night works formany kids. Having quiet time in your house duringhomework time can truly benefit everybody. This is a time toturn off the TV, radio, and cell phone. If a computer is being used forhomework, insist that your child stay off instant messaging andsocial networking sites—make sure that only homework is beingdone. The whole idea is to reduce distractions. If your child doesnot have homework, this should still be a block of time withoutFacebook, TV or electronics.

Do not fight with your child. Establishing a nightly structure andsticking with it will make it easier to avoid power struggles overhomework. Make it a rule that weekend activities don’t happen untilwork from the past week is completed. As soon as your childcompletes it, weekend fun and relaxation can begin. It is imperativethat no consequences or punishments ensue unless he or sherefuses to complete the task. Some families consider Sunday to bea school night, not Friday. If your child has homework on theweekend and has all other work from the week completed, giveFriday and Saturday off. If there is a project or something big thatneeds to be completed, he may want to put some time in onSaturday or Sunday during the day.

Know your child’s homework list. Set up a routine with yourchild. It is encouraged that students write down their homework intheir daily planner. Many primary grades utilize weekly homeworkand communication folders. This is a good way for families to stayon top of their child’s schoolwork. Many families find it helpful thatteachers at the Brentwood Borough School District post a student’shomework online through the Skyward Program. Learn your child’shomework schedule. Some teachers give homework only a coupleof times a week, while others give it every night, some even forweekends. If you know when and what type of homework yourchild will have on any given day, it can help you to plan accordingly.

Assist your child with getting started. Some kids have a difficulttime sitting down and starting assignments. Parents or familymembers can sit down with them for the first five minutes or so toget them started. This is referred to as “hurdle help”. Once you getthem over the first hurdle or two they can get going and completethe assignment on their own.

Chunking work. If your child has difficulty completinghomework in one sitting, try helping him or her break down theassignment into smaller sections. This is known as the learningtechnique called chunking. They can take a break for a little whileand return to the assignment a little more refreshed. This is ideal forbreaking down large projects or a bigger assignment over aweekend. Encourage your child to start work on a largerassignment as soon as it is assigned instead of scrambling at thelast minute to complete the project. Work completed at the lastminute often lacks quality, thoughtfulness and is usually not anexample of the student’s best work.

Establish a “token economy” in your home. If your childstruggles with bringing home or completing homework, set up away to “pay” them to comply. This does not need to cost anythingand can include things like extending curfew by a half-hour on theweekend, extra time playing video games, watching TV or using thecomputer. A child’s access to their electronics can be looked uponas a privilege—not a right—during the week. These privileges can

be used as “tokens” once they complete their homework. Parentscan withhold the tokens or give them out accordingly depending onhow your child is earning it.

Map out a list of rewards and consequences. It is often helpful to have a list of rewards and consequences mapped out for kids. This could be done as a menu for kids to pick from whenthey do well. This might include things like going to the park, themovies, or bowling; having a favorite food for dinner; or inviting a friend over. Be sure to include things that don’t cost money suchas a family game night. Have a section on the menu that includesthe video games your child likes to play and TV shows he or shelikes to watch as this is what the reward will be. Include your child in making the list of rewards as well as the consequences. Be clear with your child about the consequences for refusing tostudy. Consequences are designed to be short term and should “fit the crime”, so to speak. For example, if a child refuses to study or complete homework during the scheduled time, then theywill lose their electronics for the night. Give them a chance to earnthem back the next day. If consequences are too punitive, there will be no incentive to do better next time and may impact yourchild’s self-esteem.

After school activities vs. homework. Kids are often involved innumerous after school activities. If there is insufficient time forschool work, parents may want to reassess the activities their kidsare involved in. Some children are in activity overload and havedifficulty finding the time to complete their homework. It is essentialthat homework is recognized as a priority and comes first.

If you have a child whom you feel is really struggling andfrustrated with schoolwork, it is important to realize that it might notbe because they’re bored or don’t want to do the work. It may be asign that they may need to be assessed for a potential learningdisability. Communicate with your child’s teacher(s) about theirlevel of motivation, distractibility and work completion in theclassroom. Please see your child’s teachers as allies in fosteringlearning and cultivating your child’s potential.

While it is your job as a parent/guardian/caregiver to help guideand coach your child with their schoolwork, it is also your job toallow them to experience the “natural consequences” when theydon’t complete their work. Natural consequences might mean thatthey get a poor grade, have to stay after school or take ownershipfor their actions which is the result of not following through on theirresponsibilities. Some of the best lessons learned are ones welearn ourselves. It is an important life lesson for your child toexperience the feelings and disappointment that comes with notfollowing through on their expectations or not getting a grade theyare used to because they didn’t put forth the effort. This willmotivate them to try harder next time.

The main goal is to empower your child to be responsible andaccountable for their schoolwork while reducing conflict and thedreaded homework argument. The solution to eliminating powerstruggles over homework lies in establishing structure, givingconsequences and rewards, and getting your child to see thatschoolwork is a regular part of home life.

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

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

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

people over age 75 live in nursing homes, according to census figures, and there are more choices than ever for different lifestylesand levels of care.

There are as many as 20 different types of senior care facilities,and before looking at any new living arrangement, it’s important tohave a basic idea of what the different levels are to avoid feelingoverwhelmed with choices. The following are some of the mostpopular living arrangements for seniors of today.

One favorite for mature adults is the active adult community,sometimes referred to as a retirement community or independentliving. These dwellings are usually homes or condos with individualsliving independently and owning their own home, but in a groupingor housing plan with other seniors. Many times these communitieswill offer a clubhouse and have planned social and cultural activities

and limited transportation. They may also provide housekeeping and communal meals for a monthly fee. They are probably best suited to individuals who are active and able to assume total care for themselves, but desire social interaction with others in their own age group.

Assisted living facilities usually allow individuals to have theprivacy of their own apartment or home, while offering dailyassistance with bathing and dressing. Some communities may also help with administering medications. This is an attractive option for many seniors because residents may be able to bathe and dress themselves initially, but as health and mobility decline the help becomes readily available without having to make a change in living arrangements. Communal dining may also be anoption for an added fee. Residents rent their apartment or home and may pay one ‘all inclusive’ fee for services or may be charged ‘a la carte’ for each additional service needed. This is a good choicefor any mature adult who is currently ambulatory, but who may have concerns about future mobility problems or perhaps has thebeginning of mobility issues.

Another increasingly popular option for mature adults is home

By Pamela Palongue

O L D E R A D U LT S I N B R E N T WO O D B A L D W I N W H I T E HA L L

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

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

52 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

health care which allows individuals to remain in their homeswhile receiving professional assistance with bathing, dressing and meal preparation. The care may also extend to medical needs such as the administration of medications and the ongoingmanagement of blood pressure or diabetes. Medicare andMedicaid may provide financial assistance in some cases, but there are several eligibility requirements which must be met. This is a particularly good option for individuals who areemotionally attached to their residence and do not have a strongneed for social interaction with other seniors.

Rehabilitation facilities are primarily a temporary option for those recuperating from injury or illness. Rehab helps theindividual recover and provides adaptive techniques for preparing the patient to return to independent living. While theperson may not function at the previous level, the goal of rehab is to enhance the patient’s quality of life by improving mobility,speech and self-care.

Though people seldom look forward to going to a nursingfacility, skilled nursing homes provide 24-hour care for individualswith serious illness, injury or mental decline. The good news is that there have been several improvements in the quality of care received in nursing facilities since the Omnibus BudgetReconciliation Act of 1987. Nurse aides now have more training,and each resident must be fully evaluated upon admission so thatan individual care plan can be established. Meals are planned by a dietician to ensure proper nutrition, and many nursingfacilities now include regular exercise as a part of their managedcare for residents.

Whether you are a mature adult facing changes in your livingarrangements or the child of an aging parent, the prospect ofdiscussing this major life change can be a formidable one. Mostexperts agree that it is best to broach the subject earlier rather than later. Try to discuss the different options with aging parentsand find out which ones appeal to them. Certain conditions such as serious dementia may prevent a meaningful discussion of thesetopics later. By talking about the choices now, your loved one canweigh in on the decision and help you decide based on personalpreferences. The topic is also easier to discuss when it seems a long way off, rather than inevitable in the near future. The olderperson will also have more time to make decisions, rather thanhastily settling on a new home.

When beginning the discussion, always reassure your loved onethat you want him/her to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible. Ask questions rather than offering advice. Thiswill help your parent to feel more in control of the conversation.

Try not to force any decisions with only one discussion. Giveyour loved one a chance to digest the idea and to form somethoughts on the subject. Suggest the possibility of a visit to anindependent or assisted living community. Many parents who areinitially reluctant to even discuss moving become excited about the prospect of making a change when they are able to seefirsthand the positive social aspects and activities offered atassisted living facilities.

Finally, enlist the help of one of your parent’s friends already in independent or assisted living as an advocate. Oftentimesparents may feel that their children are “ganging up” on them ifthey are confronted by several siblings telling them what theyshould do. However, an individual in their own age group who has made the adjustment and is happy is the best advocate.

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

O L D E R A D U LT S I N B R E N T WO O D B A L D W I N W H I T E HA L L

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

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

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 53

3344 Churchview Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15227 412.882.9600 www.baldwinborough.org

54 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

3344 Churchview Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15227 412.882.9600 www.baldwinborough.org

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 55

Recycling Chart

What to Recycle Do Not IncludeANY items contaminated by food are not accepted for recycling

BaldwinGarbage &

refuseProgram

DailyCollectionSchedule

2012Week “B”recyclingCollection(un-shaded

area on calendar)

56 Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

WASTeMANAGeMeNT

1.800.866.4460

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 57

58 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

On Saturday, October 22, the Baldwin Highlander Marching Bandcompeted in the Tournament of Bands Chapter 8 Championship. The band performed its field show “September 11: We Remember.”

Baldwin was crowned the Group IV Open Class Champion in thecontest, earning awards for High Music, High Visual, High Guard,High Percussion, and High Drum Major. Overall, they finished with ascore of 90.05, the highest score in the entire competition and thefifth highest Chapter Championship score nationally.

The band has had an extremely successful year under the leadershipof Gregory Steele. They have performed at the varsity football games,participated in the Tournament of Bands Competitions, along withWhitehall Community Day and the Kennywood Fall Fantasy Parade.

Baldwin B

and Triumphs at TOB Chapter ChampionshipBaldwin B

and Triumphs at TOB Chapter Championship

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 59

Baldwin B

and Triumphs at TOB Chapter ChampionshipBaldwin B

and Triumphs at TOB Chapter Championship

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W I N T E R 2 0 1 1

Z O Y D Y U R N B U R F B W JZ Z P U W E J D D E O E C L EC S X E N V B Y H B L Z T E FM C C N T K I S C I J V U E BX P O O B I A C L M P W R I UN D R H M D D J J G Y X G G RE Z U A I E T Q R P F H K R JZ W D N N P T Q C N M N W B JT O O A D C N Z V Q P M K V KI K L K T A E E D O Q J R I VL V P E Z B N R T B K Q B X EB I H Y V O D C S S H M T E VC U P I D I T J E R L A J N GO T K E G C Y M L R W L S K FK I O O C S P N G V U B R R L

Did you doa fantasticart projectat schoolthis year?We wouldlove tosee it!

Have your Mom or Dad takea picture of you and yourproject and send to us!

We think everyone shouldsee what a great artist youare!

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Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 61

Make Your HomeCleaner&Greener

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REAL ESTATE BRENTWOOD BALDWIN WHITEHALL

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old winter weather is inevitable in Pennsylvania, butyou can make sure your home is warm and toasty bygetting your home ready now for the snowy season.

One important thing to do is to purchase somenon-perishable food items that can be eaten without heatingin case of a winter power outage. Also, make sure thoseflashlights have fresh batteries and are in a handy place.

Make sure that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide(CO) detectors have fresh batteries. CO detectors becomeespecially important in the winter months because ofincreased use of kerosene and gas space heaters, leakingchimneys and furnaces, wood stoves and gas stoves – allsources of carbon monoxide. CO detectors are inexpensiveand install easily.

Next, insulate all exposed water pipes to prevent freezingpipes in the coldest part of w inter. Be sure to leave yourheat set to at least 55 degrees if you are going to be awayfrom home for a few days. Consider adding extra insulationto the attic. The U.S. Dept. of Energy recommendsapproximately 12 inches of insulation in attics in Zone 5.One important thing to remember when adding insulation isto avoid insulation with paper backing which will act as avapor barrier and may cause moisture problems.

Seal up foundation cracks and any entry points into yourhome such as crawl spaces. This will deter mice and insectsfrom coming into your house and also help with heating bills.Use weather resistant caulking for exteriors and masonrysealer for brick areas. Weather stripping around doors andcaulking around windows will help prevent cold air frompouring into your home. Plastic may be used in basementwindows for added protection.

If your home has a fireplace, yearly cleaning by achimney sweep is essential; twice a year if the fireplace isused frequently. The buildup of wood resins forms creosote

and can create a combustible fire in the chimney that candestroy an entire home. Make sure that the chimney top hasa grate to prevent small animals such as squirrels fromentering your home through the chimney.

A furnace inspection will not only ensure safety, but helplower heating bills by more efficient use of your furnace.Cleaning the ducts and replacing filters monthly helps yourhome to have cleaner, healthier air. Dirty filters restrict airflow and can potentially cause fires.

One area of your home that may go unnoticed is thegutter spouts. These should be cleaned thoroughly andhosed down before temperatures drop. Leaving gutterspouts clogged with leaves will lead to snow and ice buildingup in the gutters with no way for melting snow to drain,causing possible water damage to your home.

A really easy tip is to reverse your ceiling fan so that theblades turn in a clockwise direction. This will help forcewarm air down into living space, rather than collecting nearthe ceiling.

Wi th a little planning, your home can be safe and warm all winter long, no matter what the temperature outside.

By Pamela Palongue

REAL ESTATE BRENTWOOD BALDWIN WHITEHALL

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 63

By Pamela Palongue

64 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

Southwestern Pennsylvania native Matthew Houston will be joining the practice ofHayes Chiropractic in January 2012. He brings with him new cutting edgetechniques for injuries and strengthening muscles. One treatment called ActiveRelease Technique or ART, is a patented method of manipulating the soft tissues tohelp release inflammation and promote circulation and healing to soft tissueinjuries. Dr. Houston is certified in this state of the art treatment which treatsmuscle, tendon, ligament and nerve problems. Those who suffer with headaches,

back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica and other joint problems may quicklyexperience relief with this new technique.

Another new technique is called Kinesio Taping, which promotes the body’sown natural healing process for neuromuscular, neurological andother orthopedic problems. Muscles and joints are supported bytaping the area without restricting normal movement. The taperemains in place for several days. “This technique is alsovaluable in the strengthening of certain areas,” Dr. Houston adds.

Educated at St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe and the NewYork Chiropractic College, Dr. Houston is anxious to return to thesouth hills area where many of his family members reside. Hewill have a trusted advisor nearby in his uncle, Dr. FrancisCappetta who has been a dentist in the Brentwood area formany years.

Joining Hayes Chiropractic was a conscious decision on Dr.Houston’s part. “I saw the way that Dr. Hayes and Dr. Martinipracticed and the relationship that they had with their patients, and I wanted tobuild that type of practice as well. I don’t just want to practice medicine, I want

to be a part of the community,” says Dr. Houston, observing the way that Drs. Hayes and Martini really know their patientsand have genuine caring and concern for them. Theircommitment to treating patients is evident in their extended hours with appointments available six days a week and until 7 p.m. in the evening.

Additionally, patients at Hayes Chiropractic are treated to ashort massage either before or after their treatment. According toDr. Houston, this is an extra part of the treatment that is notusually included by most doctors of chiropractic, but helps torelax the patient and their sore muscles, leading to a morepositive experience overall.

In the future, Dr. Houston hopes to bring orthotics into hispractice to treat chronic musculoskeletal problems and preventinjuries. For now, he is focusing on general practice and is opento patients of all ages and backgrounds.

If you would like more information on Hayes Chiropractic, youmay visit their website at www.Hayeschiro.net. If you would likemore information on softtissue techniques,kinesio taping or wouldlike to schedule anappointment with Dr.Houston, please call theiroffices at 412.881.7060.They are convenientlylocated in Weyman Plazabehind Caste Village.

Dr. Sean Hayes &

Dr. MichaelMartini

Dr. MatthewHouston

hen it comes to making travel plans, there’s probably no tripthat will be more meaningful to you than your honeymoon.Making memories that last a lifetime at this special time in

your life shouldn’t be done on a whim. It takes forethought andplanning to make a honeymoon a romantic getaway. Anything less,could leave you high, dry, and searching for alternatives that may causeyour first bout of marita l stress.

The best way to start is by setting a budget. Once you’vedetermined how much you can afford, you will know if New Zealand,Hawaii or Florida is in your future –and all three have spectacularbeaches, resorts and amenities for you to enjoy. If you’re not a surf andsun couple, we can certainly help you find the right package for you.

If money is no object, first, we congratulate you on your good

fortune! The destinations open to you include Hawaii, the SouthPacific and the French riviera. Luxuriousresorts such as the Mauna Lani Hotel inkona, Hawaii, the Aman resort in Bali,and the Hotel Cipriani and PalazzaVendramin in Venice are commonnames known for their over-the-topservice and movie-set grandeur. Trips such asthese can easily start in the $10,000 range and escalate in pricefrom there. However, for those who can afford it, there’s no price tagto be placed on the memories you’ll bring back with you and theexperiences you have at these resorts.

While we may not all have $10,000 or more to spend on a

honeymoon, most couples will splurge on this trip more than anyother future vacation because of the gift money fromthe wedding, and the fact that it’s a once-in-a-lifetimecelebration. So if you’re in the $5,000 to $10,000range, you’re still going tofind great resorts inHawaii and the

Caribbean. The Meridian Club inTurks and Caicos, Peter Island in

the British Virgin Islands, and the Four Seasons on Nevi or SandyLane in Barbados are a few that come to mind. While not all-inclusive,you will still find great sunsets, gourmet cuisine and beachfrontproperty you won’t find anywhere else.

In the $3,000 to $5,000 range,

honeymooners can find all-inclusive, luxuryresorts in the Caribbean and Mexican rivieraMaya. Sandals has numerous resorts in the region, with privatebeaches, pristine water, and myriad activities to keep you busy whenyou’re ready to pick up your beach towel and find the nightlife.

If you’re willing to plan around sales and travel around the resorts’

off-peak seasons, you can still find your perfect honeymoon on thebeaches of Mexico while keeping some money in the bank for yourfirst mortgage. Having a travel agent can help you navigate the resortsand figure out how to save money the most. With their help, you canstill find many four- and five-star resorts at affordable rates, as well asreasonable air fare to those destinations. Your travel agent has up-to-the-minute rates and dates the world over, not just on the beachfront,so call them if you’re considering europe, mountain retreats or a tripto the Big Apple. Chances are, they’ll be worth their weight in aspirin

when it comes to theheadaches you’ll avoid,and your honeymoonwill be a trip you’llwant to take again and again.

To Book your own Custom

Honeymoon or Vacation, and

for any of your Travel Needs,

call Three Rivers Travel at

724.260.5341, or go to

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::: Three Rivers Travel 724.260.5341 ::: www.threeriverstravel.com :::

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 65

he truth is, we’re all challenged when it comes to understandingthe intricate and ever-changing world of tax laws. And when we

put our trust in the big box companies of tax preparation, we often findthat they have packed up their tent and left overnight like the circusafter April 15th. What do you do when you have an important taxquestion in August? Who will you call?

William egan, CPA, has been helping individuals and smallbusiness owners navigate the complicated waters of tax law since 1994and the best part is, he’s not going anywhere. He is available year-round for his clients. If you need help, you won’t have to research whodid your taxes last year. There is only one name you should rememberthis tax season - William egan, CPA.

Named the 2009 ‘CFO of the Year’ by the Pittsburgh BusinessTimes, egan stays current with the latest tax law changes to get theabsolute best results for his clients. In fact he publishes a quarterlynewsletter sent to all of his clients detailing important legislation andmajor changes in tax laws directly affecting individuals and smallbusinesses. His wide range of clients includes teachers,

self-employed, business owners, professionals, retirees, and everyonein-between.

A graduate of Duquesne University, with an MBA degree fromrobert Morris University, the Pittsburgh native connects with his clientson an individual level allowing him to personalize his service to meettheir specific needs. “I build relationships with results,” says egan. “I have clients who have moved out of state, but continue to have meprepare their taxes because of the relationship we have built and the trustthey have in me.” His CPA practice and recognized level of expertise hasbeen featured in the Wall Street Journal and he has been a contributingwriter to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and The Pittsburgh BusinessTimes. He also has been featured on Pittsburgh Business radio1360AM, and a featured speaker on issues of taxation and small businessfinances. Despite being an author itative source for accounting andtax services, his service remains affordable and accessible. “I’mavailable seven days a week during tax season,” says egan.

A hardworking CPA who has built his practice from scratch, heappreciates the scheduling needs of others and has often times metwith teachers in the early morning before school or seen clients as lateas 9:30pm to work around their time constraints. “I have a few elderlyclients who are unable to come into the office that I meet with at theirhomes - an old fashioned house call,” says egan.

In addition to preparing taxes, egan is also an invaluable source for tax and financial planning, and small business accounting. He isalso a certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks software. According toegan, “I will create the most effective use of QuickBooks for yourbusiness - from set-up, to training, to everyday use.”

Egan guarantees his work with 100% accuracy, and returns allclient calls within one business day. “Taxes are getting more andmore complicated each year. Having a trusted advisor on your teamcan give you peace of mind so that your taxes will be one less thing youneed to worry about”, says egan.

Top reasons for choosing William Egan, CPA this tax season:1} 100% “Peace of Mind” accuracy guarantee.2} A CPA will be part of your team – year round.3} Cash rewards for referring your friends!4} $25 OFF “In Community Discount”!

For more information on Mr. egan’s tax and accounting services,please visit his website at www.egan-cpa.com or call 412.401.7036.

66 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

b u s i n e s s s p o t l i g h t

By Pamela Palongue

William P. Egan, CPA, [email protected]

When Joann Stack needs a ride to the store or elsewhere, she’s got agroup of helping hands at her service, thanks to a new initiative gearedtoward keeping seniors living in their homes as long as they are able.

Stack, 86 had a nice outing recently with Kathy, one of the Open YourHeart to a Senior volunteers. She took Stack shopping and Stack returnedthe favor, buying lunch for the two of them.

“It was very enjoyable,” said Stack. “The volunteers are very lovelypeople, very enjoyable.”

The Open Your Heart to A Senior program is made possible throughfunding from the United Way of Allegheny County. “ We are trying to connectseniors with their neighbors,” stated Rachel Steigerwalt Coordinator of OlderAdults for Family Services of Western Pennsylvania. “We like the idea ofhaving residents in every community helping out those who are the mostvulnerable and need assistance with things like shoveling snow, getting tothe doctors or the grocery store.”

The Open Your Heart to A Senior initiative is designed to help recruitmore volunteers,” Steigerwalt said. “The idea is to let the community knowthere are seniors who need a ride to the grocery store or to the doctor’soffice, or a visit or a friendly call.”

Those interested in volunteering to help a senior in need are welcome tojoin the effort. Training is provided and even if you only have an hour to give,most seniors would welcome your visit! “The nice part about this volunteerprogram is that everyone can get involved, including families with children.The sight and sounds of children brings a smile to every seniors face,” saysSteigerwalt. For more information about the program, please visit theirwebsite www.openyourhearttoasenior.org or contact Nancy Jones at412.307.0071 or email [email protected].

to a Senior Program

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 67

Reach over 55,375 potentialcustomers in Brentwood

Baldwin-Whitehall

Information on dieting and nutrition seems to be everywhere these days,and conflicting reports on what’s good for you is a frequent occurrence.A bit of common sense applied to the situation, tempered with some

consideration for your particular lifestyle and taste preferences, is in order.Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition for UPMC and author of TheActive Calorie Diet, has some surprising answers to some frequentlyasked questions.

“Nutrition should be more inclusive, rather than exclusive,” says Bonci.“People give way too much attention on what to avoid and that becomes anegative focus.” Nutrition should be based on positive choices and pursuinggood health, rather than avoiding bad health. There is no one perfect dietfor every individual, due to age, medical conditions and different activitylevels, but there are some general guidelines that make planning a healthymeal a little easier.

“Thank goodness we got rid of the Food Pyramid. People don’t eatfrom a pyramid and it’s too abstract,” says Bonci. “The Food Plate is muchmore natural with the plate being divided into quarters made up of 50%fruits and vegetables, 25% proteins and 25%grains. The blue circle beside the platerepresents dairy products such as milk, whichsupplies D-3, a vitamin that research hasindicated prevents several serious diseases.Dairy products of course also supply calcium,an important mineral for everyone butespecially women in the prevention ofosteoporosis, a disease that the InternationalOsteoporosis Foundation estimates affects200 million women worldwide. The forkbeside the plate is a reminder that the mealshould be a sit-down affair, with time to eatand enjoy and appreciate the meal.

Noticeably absent from the Food Plate as a category is fat, but Boncisays, “The goal is not to eliminate fat entirely.” It is an important part of thediet which helps the body to use fat soluble vitamins and helps keep skinsoft and supple. Unsaturated fats can be found in foods such as salmon,trout, flaxseed oil, walnuts, almonds and olive oil. While these fats arehealthy in limited amounts, they still have a high density of calories andwill sabotage any diet if left unchecked. They should be consumed inreasonable amounts.

One recommendation that is common these days is the advice to eat sixmeals per day, consuming something every couple of hours. “People ineurope and other parts of the world don’t eat this way; this is an Americanidea. I would like to see people eat three meals per day with a floating snackin between,” suggests Bonci. Of course she points out that if you only haveone meal per day and it is late in the evening, your body will have less timeto expend the calories before bed, possibly resulting in excess weight.However, six meals a day is often not practical for those who work regularjobs in an office or other setting that prevents food while at work.

While food allergies have gotten a greatdeal of media attention lately, Bonci explainsthat actual food allergies are relatively rare.What is more common are food sensitivitiesand food intolerance, such as thoseindividuals who are lactose intolerant. Thereare alternative sources for calcium if a personis lactose intolerant, such as soy milk, almondmilk, baked beans and canned salmon. Theseare all acceptable alternatives providingimportant nutrients.

For those people wishing to drop a fewpounds, Bonci points out that it is a relativelysimple principle, “You have to create a deficit.

Nutrition is Notby Pamela Palongue

68 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 69

There has to be less calorieseaten than what is beingused.” This of course canbe done by having smallerportions while stillenjoying a variety of foodsto enable you to have abalanced diet. Onesuggestion is to use asmaller plate, making theportion size look a bit large.

Another way to create adeficit in your caloric intake is to add activity. exercise not only helpsyou to burn more calories, but the benefits are intensified in that mostpeople devoting time to exercise begin to also focus more attention ontheir nutrition and calorie intake as well. exercise changes yourmindset to a healthier routine. Bonci adds that another advantage toexercising is that “when you are exercising, you’re not eating.” Manytimes people eat from boredom, and exercise or sports fill a void in anotherwise inactive lifestyle.

Healthy nutrition is all about focusing on positive choices andrealizing that food is not just something to be gulped down in fiveminutes on the way to the soccer game. It is an important part of ourlives that deserves attention and appreciation and is instrumental inpreventing diseases and promoting optimal health for a better life.

For more information on eating a balanced diet, you may visit theUnited States Dept. of Agriculture website atwww.ChooseMyPlate.gov. For healthy suggestions on how nutritionand exercise can affect your life in a positive way, Leslie Bonci’s books,Run Your Butt Off and The Active Calorie Diet, are available onlineat the Prevention Magazine website www.Prevention.com.

by Pamela Palongue

Nutrition should be based on positive

choices and pursuinggood health, rather

than avoiding bad health.

Betty Christopher412.298.4481

Tracy Lee Janov412.759.0316

Claire Laughlin Doliner412.551.0866

Bob & Nancy Pflueger412.370.6930412.951.4196

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412.328.4426

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5187 Library RoadBethel Park, PA 15102

412.854.7200Join our real estate team at Prudential PreferredRealty. Call Micole Tucker at 412-854-7200

Community MagazinesCommunity Magazines

70 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

Please join us on March 9, 2012 for the 2nd annual Night at theRaces to support the Brentwood 4th of July Parade at the VFWHall on Route 51 in Brentwood.You can purchase a race (and name it) for $50. Just want to comeand enjoy the evening? Admission is $10 per person and includesa FREE horse in one of the evening’s 10 races, and a delicious buffet dinner. For more information, contact John Frombach at 412.882.3926 or [email protected].

Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 71

72 724.942.0940 to advertise | Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

BUSINeSS DIreCTOrY

Reach over 55,375 potential customers in Brentwood Baldwin-Whitehall

Call [email protected]

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603 East McMurray RoadMcMurray I PA I 15317724.942.0940www.incommunitymagazines.com

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