in-keystone-oaks-spring

SPRING 2012 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

Presto! But it’s not

Magic…

Lady Golden EaglesBenefit from

Veteran Player’sCoaching

IN Keystone Oaks | SPRING 2012 |

COMMUNITY INTEREST

Green Tree Council News ................................................... | 12

Green Tree Events & Library Happenings ..................... | 16

Green Tree Women’s Civic Club ....................................... | 20

Dormont Events .................................................................... | 25

Special Value Coupons ....................................................... | 32

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Laura Lorenze Judge / Sports Medicine &Joint Replacement Specialists Working Out: The Good, the Bad and the Necessary ....................... | 11

ON THE COVER | Lady Golden Eagles Coach Nikki Presto surveys the court during practice.Photos by Jessica DeLuca

FEATURES

Friends of the Hollywood TheaterReceives 501(c)(3) Status .............. | 4

New KO Coach Has Help ............... | 6

Lost Pet Project Saves Lives ........ | 8

Resident Profile: Harry Munson .. | 10

JCC South Hills to Host JewishFederation Centennial Display .... | 21

IN Keystone Oaks is a non-partisan community publication dedicated torepresenting, encouraging and promoting the Keystone Oaks area and itscomprising municipalities by focusing on the talents and gifts of the people who live and work here. Our goal is to provide readers with the most informativeand professional regional publication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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INSIDESPRING 2012 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

Presto! But it’s notMagic…Lady Golden EaglesBenefit fromVeteran Player’sCoaching

While Community Magazines is a non-partisan publication, wedon’t live in a vacuum. This year is a presidential election year, and

striving to keep readers engaged and active in the community is part ofour mission statement. We’re not here to endorse anyone, but we arehere to remind you that voting is a hard-earned right that we have as

Americans. However, many people pass on that right, which is a s hame.If you view your vote as insignificant, then you are not only forfeiting your

right to be counted, but also your right to be heard. Voting isn’t just aboutnumbers, it’s about opinions as well. Your vote lends your voice to a

chorus that decides who should be deciding our foreign anddomestic policies, budgeting for specific social programs andwho sends our young people into conflicts around the globe.These are critical issues that everyday people have to live

with. If your candidate loses, you didn’t lose. The marginof loss sends a strong message to the victor as to

whether people agree with their views, or found themto be less appealing. To be part of that process is

something that those before us fought for throughmarches, protests and even death. To sit it out casts

aspersions on their efforts and memory. We may not wake uphappy on Nov. 7, but we should all be happy that we participated onNov. 6. The deadline for registering to vote is 30 days prior to the nextprimary or general election. For more information, call theWashington County Department of Elections at: 724.228.6750.

See you at the polls!Mark Berton, Editor

Welcome to the spring issue of Keystone Oaks magazine.

Hopefully, we are all enjoying the lengthening days as weforge into summer. While spring usually brings more rain to the region than we normallyget throughout the rest of the year, I’m glad we’ve had a few days of nice weather to getoutside and remember what the snow covered up.

We’ve grown once again over the winter, and have shifted some sta ff around toaccommodate that growth. I want to point this out to you because you, the readers, giveus many of the great story ideas that you see featured in these pages, and I want you tohave the right point of contact so that your story can be heard. The editor for the Southand West Regions is Mark Berton (mark@ incommunitymagazines.com). Pleaseforward your good news to Mark, and he’ll make sure it finds a place in the magazine. Ifyou’re not sure whether you have a good story, give Mark a call at 724.942.0940 and ask!

While our editors have re-aligned into better-organized zones, we still wanteverything in those zones to be 100 percent local to you. We also appreciate yourfeedback (good and bad) to let us know where we missed the mark and where we hit itout of the park.

Lastly, it’s not too soon to start thinking about the rest of the year! I know we just gotthrough the holidays, and are thawing out, but since we’re quarterly, we’re alreadylooking ahead to fall and beyond. So if you have events planned and would like topromote them, call or email Mark. If you have an event coming up earlier, let us know sowe can send our photographers and document the occasion!

Here’s hoping that the start to your year has been a good one!

Wayne Dollard, Publisher

PUBLISHERWayne Dollard

MANAGING EDITOR

Marybeth [email protected]

REGIONAL EDITORS

Mark Berton [South and West][email protected]

Monica L. Haynes [East][email protected]

NORTH ZONE COORDINATOR

Pamela Palongue [email protected]

SCHOOL & MUNICIPAL CONTENT COORDINATOR

Megan [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

Jonathan Barnes Dana McGrathHeather Holtschlage Joann NaserKelly Lotter Gina SalingerLeigh Lyons Judith Schardt

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ginni Hartle Kathleen RudolphBrad Lauer Gary Yon

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGERS

Derek Bayer Tamara MyersTom Poljak

ADVERTISING SALES

Brian Daley Robert OjedaGina D’Alicandro Ralph PalaskiTina Dollard Annette PetroneKaren Fadzen Vincent SabatiniJulie Graf Jennifer SchaeferJason Huffman Michael SilvertLori Jeffries Karen TurkovichConnie McDaniel RJ VighettiBrian McKee Nikki Capezio-WatsonGabriel Negri Sophia WilliardAimee Nicolia

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 2012.

CORRESPONDENCEDirect all inquiries, comments and press releases to:IN Community MagazinesAttn: Editorial603 East McMurray Rd. McMurray, PA 15317Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968www. incommunitymagazines.com

Summer content deadline: 5/11/2012

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

2 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE Keystone Oaks

Keystone Oaks | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 3

The Friends of the Hollywood Theater Board ofDirectors is pleased to announce that it has beengranted 501(c)(3) charitable organization status bythe Internal Revenue Service.

The Friends was formed with the mission ofoperating the Hollywood Theater in Dormont as anindependent, non-profit film theater and communitycenter to help combat community deterioration and

serve as a key contributor to the economic vitality of both theneighborhood and the region. The theater also functions as acommunity resource to educate community members in the art of film.

Now that the nonprofit status has been granted, the Friends’ nextgoal is to purchase the building to ensure the future of the theater, whichis one of the last surviving single-screen theaters in Pittsburgh. Thetheater originally opened in 1933 as an RKO Stanley theater; it closed in1998 and experienced two failed reopening attempts in the 2000s.

In May 2011, the Friends of the Hollywood Theater reopened thetheater with a screening of The New Metropolis, a PBS documentary filmand community engagement project. Since the opening, the theater hasbeen used for location filming of the upcomingmotion picture The Perks of aWallflower, has hostedpremieres ofindependent filmssuch as It CameFromYesterdayand the

documentary My Tale of Two Cities, and has brought the wildly popularmidnight movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show back to life with bi-weekly showings that feature the Junior Chamber of CommercePlayers shadow cast.

Friends of the Hollywood will be kicking off a capital campaign in2012 to raise funds to purchase the theater building. Contributions to the theater are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Donations may be sent to Friends of the Hollywood Theater, PO Box 7902,Pittsburgh, PA 15216 and may be designated for the capital campaignor general operations.

In addition, the theater offers a wide variety of volunteeropportunities for interested individuals, schools, and communitygroups such as working at the concession stand or assisting with programming, marketing, and fund raising. Interested parties may request a volunteer application by [email protected].

The Hollywood Theater is a 280-seat single screen theater withbalcony located at 1449 Potomac Avenue in Dormont. The theater islocated two blocks from the Potomac light rail transit station, withample public parking lots nearby and access to bus routes from West

Liberty Avenue. The theater operates from Wednesday throughSunday featuring repertory and independent films as well

as special events such as art shows and fundraisers.Contact the theater at 412.563.0368 or

www.thehollywooddormont.org for detailson upcoming shows or to inquire about

renting the theater for party, eventor business meeting.


hen taking on a new job, it’salways nice to have a helping

hand in getting familiar with thework. Keystone Oaks girls’basketball coach Nikki Presto, 23, is lucky to have the help ofexperienced players and the formercoach while leading the team in herfirst year.

Presto coached her alma materThomas Jefferson’s junior varsityteam last year, and is a former pointguard who played at Slippery Rockin college. So while she isknowledgeable in all aspects of thegame, capitalizing on the strengthsof her new team has been alearning experience that’s beeneased somewhat by two seniorstarters on the Golden Eagles—shooting guards Alexa Xenakis andTaylor Brownlee—and senior regularOlivia Lippert, who plays off thebench in a variety of spots.

“Olivia can play any position.She’s a real valuable asset to have,”Presto said.

A permanent substitute physicaleducation/health teacher at Baldwin,Presto is no stranger to teaching.But heading up a team that alreadyhas its own rhythm has been achallenge, albeit a gratifying one.

“I’ve told the players they need totalk the talk and walk the walk…We’ve had a tough stretch of gamesrecently,” Presto said. “I tell them ifyou’re going to say it, you have todo it.”

They face tough competition,playing against top teams Plum andSteel Valley, and AA girls’ basketballleaders Seton LaSalle, which isranked second in the state, andhigh-ranking Canevin. Section 5-AAis the best AA section in the WPIAL,Presto said.

By early January 2012 the teamwas 8-4, about on par with its recordin 2011, when the Golden Eagleswere 16-8 and went to the playoffsfor the first time in many years. Partof the team’s success is due to theleadership of the more experiencedplayers, who set the pace. Thoseplayers push the younger playersand pull the team together, theircoach said.

Presto is not so far removed fromplaying high school basketball. A

2006 graduate of Thomas Jefferson,she replaced former girls’ basketballcoach Gene Mercuri, who currentlycoaches Keystone Oaks boys’basketball team. Presto is excited tobe able to coach the team, whichwas a chance she hadn’t expectedto have.

“The opportunity kind of arose to coach. It’s way more gratifyingthan playing,” Presto said. “It’s niceto see your players play well and do well.”

Prior to the start of this year’sseason, Presto conferred withCoach Mercuri. They talked abouthow to plan practices, and aboutupcoming opponents. “He’s been avoice of reason,” she said.

The girls’ basketball team’s styleof play has changed little since theirnew coach took her post. “Geneliked to push the ball in transition.We do a lot of that. We do a lot oftrapping, too,” she said.

Presto expects her team toperform as well this year as they didin 2011, in no small part becausethere are so many experiencedplayers. Sisters Taylor Brownlee andfreshman Kayla Brownlee providecohesion to the team, as doessenior guard Mara Scanlon, whoPresto called one of the team’s bestdefenders. Sophomore post HollyKendall hasn’t been playing asmuch as expected, having issueswith a back injury.

Xenakis also is one the team’stop defenders, as well as being areturning top scorer. She also leadsthe team in steals. Last year,Xenakis averaged 17.8 points pergame and this year she is averaging15 points per game.

“Her game has kind of changed abit. She’s passing the ball a lot,which takes the pressure off of hersome,” Presto said of Xenakis.Starting sophomore forward

Maryssa Agurs, and freshmanforward Lexy Mercuri (daughter ofGene Mercuri), lend balance to theteam. Another key contributor isJillian Welch, who Presto called oneof the team’s only true post players.“She’s a good rebounder, and at5’11” tall, she’s our tallest player,”Presto said.

The new coach said leading the

By Jonathan BarnesPhotos by Jessica DeLuca



team is a learning experience for her, in whichshe is navigating players’ issues on and off thecourt. She’s learning how to manage players’attitudes and how to handle problems in practice,as well as gauging how the girls respond tothings she says or doesn’t say.

The Golden Eagles are a guard-oriented unitbecause, in part, of their small stature. But theyare also a team comprised of good ball handlerswho are comfortable attacking the hoop, whichmakes the style of play a natural thing. In additionto the leadership of the team’s experiencedplayers, Presto gets a lot of help from assistantcoaches Bill Isbit, Chris Walket, and Jena Rascur.The essential ingredient of the team’s success isthe motivation of the players, their coach said.

“They really are a hardworking group. Theylike to have fun and really enjoy each other. They come to practice to get better every day,”Presto said.

oo many times, animal control officerRoy Hayward kept a dog longer

than usual because his gut told him itwas someone’s pet. Rather thaneuthanizing the canine, Haywardkept the dog in South HillsCooperative Animal Control’skennel for several weeks, hopingits owner would turn up. Finally hehad to euthanize the animal, only tohave the owner inquire later and learnthe dog had been put down.

The former ga me warden and animallover realized the system had to change. “I knew I had todo something about the situation,” Hayward said.

So, four years ago he came up with a plan to see that itdidn’t happen again—the Lost Pet Project.

Green Tree Borough is the birthplace of this cutting edgeprogram to save lost pets from being euthanized and reunite them with their owners. The Lost Pet Project wasstarted throu gh cooperation between borough officials and SHCAC, and the program goes to great lengths toensure that such heartbreaking scenarios never happenagain. While state law mandates that a dog picked up asa stray can be sent to a shelter and euthanized withintwo days if an owner isn’t found, the Lost Pet Projectuses technology and networking with animaladvocacy groups to reunite pets with their owners, or find adoptive owners for them before the pets are euthanized.

Hayward is not a pet owner, but he considerseach pet his company picks up to be at leasttemporarily his pet and, like his colleagues, he walksthe dogs daily, even after his shift, rather thanleaving them constantly in a cage. He started theLost Pet Project out of a feeling of responsibility tothe pets and their owners.

“My goal was to limit the amount of euthanasia. It seemed to me we weren’t doing enough,” Hayward said.

Lost Pet ProjectSaves Lives

By Jonathan Barnes

T


Operating under the auspices of Mt. Lebanon Police Department, South Hills CooperativeAnimal Control is a 30-year-old cooperative effort of eight communities in South Hills. Green Tree,Castle Shannon, Mt. Lebanon, Dormont, Heidelberg, Scott Township and Whitehall share the$350,000 annual cost of the program, which provides four animal control officers, three vehicles, ananimal holding facility and seven day a week operations in those communities. Since its inception,the Lost Pet Project has been very successful—in 2011, about 90 percent of the 153 dogs SHCACpicked up were back with owners, and just two dogs were euthanized.

According to state law, a dog that is picked up as a stray by animal control officers becomes the property of the state after 48 hours. And while some animal control ser vices follow the letter of the law and euthanize animals that have no identification after just days, after holding a pet for 48 hours, SHCAC animal control officers take photos of the animal and send a photo along with adescription of the animal and where it was found to all of the communities in the cooperative, as wellas to the Animal Rescue League, Animal Friends and the Western Pennsylvania H umane Society.They also notify officials of other South Hills communities whose borders touch the communities in the cooperative.

“We basically want to get the animal back to the person who owns it. We are not an agency. Wehave limited resources to hold animals,” Hayward said. “The Lost Pet project is a way to let the publicknow we are in possession of a pet. Green Tree was the forerunner of the pr oject.”

Prior to the start of the project, SHCAC euthanized dozens of dogs each year because theycouldn’t find owners for them. In 2011, 12 dogs would have been euthanized by SHCAC, if notfor the Lost Pet Project. For the past four years, the group has euthanized four or fewer dogs eachyear. In a region where thousands of pets are needlessly euthanized annually, the Lost PetProject serves as the mo del for how animal control services should be done.

Sometimes SHCAC officers pick up a pet that is injured, but the group doesn’t always havethe funding to care for the animal. In such cases, Castle Shannon Animal Hospital works withthem to care for the pets. Animal lovers who want to help with the effort to care for and find theowners for the strays can make a donation to the Animal Rescue League, Animal Friends, theWestern Pennsylvania Humane Society, or the Mt. Lebanon Animal Control Injured Animal Fund.

Ensuring that your dog has a license and that it is secured to the dog’s collar is a simple andlegally required way to prove that the animal is your pet. Dogs that are licensed can be reunited withtheir owners fairly quickly. Dogs and cats also can have a microchip placed in them that will causethem no harm, but could save them from being euthanized, by having their identifying informationcontained within the chip. Animal control officers can scan the chip and quickly locate the owner.

“It’s a public safety issue. And it helps us protect dogs that aren’t being cared for properly,”Hayward said.

Pet owners have financial reasons to follow the law and license their pet. Every time your dog ispicked up by animal control officers, it will cost you money. For the first offense, it will cost a $100fine and $123 in court costs if you fight the charge. A second offense within six months of the firstoffense will cost a $500 fine. A third offense within six months could carry a fine of up to $1,000.

Those kindhearted types who want to save their feline and canine friends from the indignity ofan untimely death should put their money where their hearts are, and help those who help theanimals.

“Supporting the shelters is probably one of the biggest things you can do tohelp,” Hayward said. “If an animal doesn’t go to its owner or to a shelter, it goes toa needle.”


By Jonathan Barnes

Harry, Kristieand TamiMunson planttheir familytree. Theirson, Harry, is overseas,serving in theU.S. MarineCorps.

or Harry Munson, CastleShannon is the community he

and his family started out in, but foundit so comfortable they never left.Settling in the borough 27 years agowith his wife Tami, the Munsonsbought their first home as a starterhome, and they never moved.

Those deep roots werestrengthened with the birth oftheir two children, butMunson also has spread hislove for the community inways his neighbors might notrealize. The borough didn’thave a community day until afew years ago, after Munsonspearheaded an effort tocreate the Memorial Daycelebration.

“Harry worked to getadvertising, sponsors, onmaintaining the grounds, andputting together our sponsorsbooklet and signage,” saidCastle Shannon councilmanMike Warhold. “We turnedthis event into one of thelargest in South Hills.”

Munson, 57, is anInformation Technologyconsultant and consultsCastle Shannon borough and otherclients. He and his family have beeninvolved in several efforts to enhancethe borough, including creating anonline portal to borough businesses—www.cscommerce.com. He and hiswife created the site for the localbusiness community as a way to attract more patrons and visitors to the borough.

Through the site, they were able topromote the first community day,which was a success. The event hasgrown since that time, and is in itsfourth year. The May 27 event willfeature a disc jockey, four bands and

fireworks. Local merchants also will set up booths, and refreshmentswill be available.

Munson also created the soldiersBanner Project. The focus of the effortinvolves placing large vinyl bannerswith local soldiers’ names and ranks,and when they served, in public places

in the borough. People in the boroughembraced the idea, which wasapplauded by the VeteransAdministration in Washington, D.C.

“We have about 150 banners ofpeople who served in the military or are serving in the military. Theemails and responses we get frompeople are amazing,” Munson said. “It’s a big deal because it’s emotional to so many people.”

His family created and maintains acommunity garden—a project that wasled by his daughter, Kristie, in 2010.The effort was her senior project, andwas boosted by the hard work of

Keystone Oaks horticulture students.The 25 foot by 10 foot garden plot islocated at the intersection of Rt. 88 andSixth Street. It is filled with pine andcherry trees, as well as three plantingareas. Munson helped with his labor, as did his wife, and he also created thelayout for the plot.

His latest pet project is OperationTroop Appreciation, the borough’seffort to show soldiers the people athome care about them. Through that project, volunteers create carepackages and sign cards to send totroops overseas.

Operation Troop Appreciation, anational effort with a local component,has provided more than 100,000 carepackages to soldiers in war zones.People around Castle Shannon caneasily help, Munson said.

“Stop into Century III Mall, outsidethe J.C. Penny, and sign a card for thetroops,” Munson said.


h, spring! With longer days, warmer weather, budding tulips, Mother Nature becomes more active, and hopefully, so do we.

According to Dr. Gregory F. Habib, of Sports Medicine & JointReplacement Specialists on Mt. Lebanon Blvd., this lure to get outdoorsand “play,” to move our creaky joints and stretch away the chill, is a verygood thing. No matter what age or what fitness level, the ability to moveis an important contributor to overall health. From simple stretchingand bending, to walking, to running, to climbing Mt. Everest, “It’s allrelative,” he says, “just get out and do it.”

“But,” he adds, “you need to learn to listen to your body.” In essence,people need to learn to distinguish between “good pain” and “bad pain”especially when beginning a new activity.

It is well known among athle tes that some discomfort is part ofathletic activities and is necessary for the improvement of performance.For muscle strength to increase, the muscle must see some increase instress over what it is used to. This stress is usually perceived as the “burn”during a workout and is what we call “good pain.” It should be shortlived, occurring during the activity and only shortly thereafter.

“Bad pain,” on the other hand, should not be expected. As in the caseabove, a good “burn” may go too far and may result in extended painthat peaks around two days after, known as “delayed onset musclesoreness.” To minimize this, it is recommended that you start anexercise program very slowly and build gradually.

In a similar fashion, the tendons, cartilage or bone may get irritated ifthey see too much stress too rapidly. In the case of a tendon, this is calledtendonitis. For example, patellar (kneecap) tendonitis, frequently seenin athletes who do jumping or squatting activities, may result inrecurring pain when simply climbing stairs or getting out of a chair.Similarly, cartilage – the white tissue on the ends of the bones at thejoint which allows the bones to glide and move smoothly over oneanother – can be damaged by seeing stress too rapidly. The result is oftenfluid in the joint or swelling and is a sign that the joint should be rested.

Bones respond to an increased amount of stress, such as an increasein running when preparing for a marathon, by putting more bone in thearea of that stress. This response, called “remodeling,” is meant tostrengthen the bone, however too rapid of stress can cause what isknown as a “stress fracture.”

So what’s the goal? According to Dr. Habib, it obviously isn’t toavoid exercise, but rather to avoid injury. This can be done first andforemost by taking a few precautions when beginning an exerciseprogram such as making sure to warm-up before and cool down afterexercising. Make sure you ease into a new routine and learn good formby working with a professional especially when weight training, which,according to Dr. Habib, cannot be underestimated because musclesweaken and are lost with age. The quadriceps, for example, are greatprotectors of the knees, acting as a type of “shock absorber.” Finally, it isalso a good idea to vary your routine from time to time to help prevent

over-use injuries as well as boredom, and to be sure to rehydrate yourbody after your cool down to replace the lost electrolytes.

Lastly, whether you are a seasoned tri-athlete, a weekend warrior, or afitness first-timer, don’t be afraid to seek the advice of a professional ifpain exists.

“Many people wait until their pain is unbearable, and their lifestylegreatly affected before coming in, especially when they hear the word‘surgeon,’” said Habib. “However, not only may there be many non-in vasive, conservative treatments available, but education and long termplanning can actually help prevent or delay further injury. Getting aproper diagnosis and developing a relationship early on with yourphysician is one of the best things you can do for your long term health.”

So, as Dr. Gregory Habib likes to say, “get out there and move.”Enjoy the lengthening sunshine and get to know your body as themagnificent machine that it is.

BY LAURA LORENZE JUDGE

The Good, the Bad

and the Necessary


Photos byDeborah Gawryla

Borough Council of Green Tree


New Green Tree Borough Council

Members Sworn In

Green Tree Borough welcomedRino Lindsey, and welcomed backincumbents Ron Panza and Art Tintori as council members. Theboard reorganized at a meetingheld Tues., Jan. 3., according to theborough charter. Members weregiven their oath of office by theHonorable Judge John T. McVay

GREEN TREE EVENTS GREEN TREE LIBRARY HAPPENINGS

Morning Preschool StoryTimeThursdays; March 1, 8, 15, 22, 2910:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Join us for preschool story time! We’llhear stories, dance, sing songs and evenmake a craft as we explore importantconcepts that help prepare your child forkindergarten. After story time the Green TreeBorough will open its gym so preschoolerscan run and play. Feel free to bring your owntoys, but keep in mind that wheels are notallowed in the gym. This story time isrecommended for ages 3 through 5. Noregistration necessary.

Afternoon Preschool StoryTimeThursdays; March 1, 8, 15, 22, 291:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Join us for preschool story time in theafternoon! We’ll hear stories, dance, singsongs and even make a craft as we exploreimportant concepts that help prepare yourchild for kindergarten. The afternoonprogram is a repeat performance of themorning story time. Afterwards, the GreenTree Borough will open its gym sopreschoolers can run and play. Feel free tobring your own toys, but keep in mind thatwheels are not allowed in the gym. This storytime is recommended for ages 3 through 5.No registration necessary.

Wednesday French –Beginner Lessons Wednesdays, March 21 and 28;April 4, 18 and 25 (No Class April 11);May 2, 9 and 167 p.m.

Our French-Language Course has beenso popular that we’re bringing it backfor another 8-week course! The Green TreePublic Library is excited to present an 8-week Beginner French-language course onWednesday evenings this spring. If you’reever wanted to learn a new language, planon traveling abroad, want to brush up yourFrench learned long ago, or even consideryourself a Francophile then join us onFridays this winter! Our certified instructor,Hallie Pritts, has experience teaching foreignlanguages and even lived in France for anumber of years!

This program is open to all adults ages18 and up. Registration is required andspace is limited. Registration must be donein-person at the Green Tree Public Library byWednesday, March 14. A $20 non-refundablefee is required upon registration. No lateregistrations will be accepted.

Book Donation Drop Off DaySaturday March 310 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Drop off your used book donations at thelibrary today between the hours of 10 a.m.and 2 p.m. Donated items need to be in good condition. Cookbooks, works of fiction(especially mysteries), paperbacks,children’s books, and gently used CDs andDVDs are greatly appreciated. The library will not accept sets of encyclopedias,Readers Digest condensed books,textbooks, or books that are damaged. Alldonations become the property of the GreenTree Public Library and may be disposed ofat the discretion of library staff. A receipt may be obtained upon request at the time of donation.

Body EffortGreen Tree Municipal Center GymMondays & Wednesdays6:30 - 7:30 p.m.Pilates Type ExercisesUpper Body StrengtheningLower Body ToningYoga Type StretchesTighten | Firm | Tone Abs, Hips, ThighsEnergize | Revitalize | And it’s fun!

New Student Offer: One FREE classanytimePlus if you register for a full session (2 months) you save $20

$88 Full Session | New Students Pay only $68Ongoing registration - Join anytimeBring hand held weights, bring a mat, bringa friend or come and make new ones!

Register at the classFor more information call Patti at BodyEffort - 412.341.0911

Dek Hockey TournamentMarch 3 & 4 Green Tree Dek Hockey RinkGreen Tree ParkAdults-only tournamentFree for GT residents / $10 per non-residentRegister by February 24th. Must register asa team with a maximum of 12 per team. Noindividual registrations. All team membersmust be 18 years of age or older.

Required Equipment:Gloves, Stick, Shin PadsHelmets and In-Line Skates Optional

Register by February 24th at the GreenTree Municipal Center Office. Questions?Call 412.921.1110.

* 412.921.9292 *16 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE Keystone Oaks

Michelle and JacekShuey at the SnowflakeStory-timephoto by Jessica DeLuca

10 W. MANILLA AVENUE PITTSBURGH, PA 15220

Books and BlocksMonday March 5, 1910:30 - 11:30 a.m. (Ages 2 - 5)

What goes better with stories thanimagination! Books and Blocks story-time is aspecial story-time that will nurture both pre-literacy and fine-motor skills in young childrenages 2 to 5. Each story-time will have booksgalore focusing on a single theme... and thenwe’ll break out the blocks! After the stories,children and their caregivers will beencouraged to use their imagination, and alittle inspiration from the stories, to play andcreate with an assortment of blocks. Noregistration is required.

Toddler Story TimeTuesdays; March 6, 13, 20, 2710:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Get ready for a fun filled half-hour ofsinging, dancing, playing and listening tostories. We’ll even make a simple craft! This isa highly interactive story time that is meant forchildren between the ages of 2 years through3.5 years. So, come prepared to participateand make new friends! No registration isrequired. The Green Tree Borough will open itsgym so toddlers can run and play after storytime. Just remember to bring your own toys anddo not bring anything that would scratch thegym floor (i.e. anything with wheels). Noregistration required.Location: Sycamore Room

Mystery CraftsTuesdays; March 63:30 - 6:30 p.m. (All Ages)

Join us once a month for Mystery Crafts atthe library! Stop into the Children’s Section ofthe library between 3:30 and 6:30 on MysteryCraft days to get creative. We’ll have a mysterycraft set out in the Children’s Section for you toenjoy... you just won’t know what you’re makinguntil you get here! It’s fun for all ages! Craftswill be available on a first-come, first-servedbasis. No registration is required.

Tuesday March 13,The library will close at 7 p.m.today for a staff meeting.

First Wednesday Book ClubWednesday March 77 - 8 p.m.

Reading doesn’t have to be a solitaryactivity when you join our book club! Thisinformal group gets together at 7 p.m. on thefirst Wednesday of every month to chat aboutthe current book selection. At the conclusion ofeach book club, participants get to select thenext month’s title. Read ahead of time byordering the book through the library’s catalog;stop by the front desk if you need assistance.Or, you can always just drop in to see what theclub is all about. Everyone is welcome and thediscussion usually lasts about one hour. TheFirst Wednesday Book Club selection forMarch is The Great Gatsby by F. ScottFitzgerald.Location: Poplar Room

Woodland Creatures Story TimeMonday March 126:30 - 7:30 p.m. (PreK - Grade 2)

Owls, squirrels and raccoons, oh my! Atthis evening story time, we’ll step into anenchanted forest that’s filled with critters,mushrooms and maybe an elf or two. We’llmake crafts, sing songs and hear stories aboutour favorite woodsy animals. This program isopen to children in preschool through secondgrade. Pre-registration is required.Location: Poplar Room

Book Babies Story TimeWednesdays; March 14, 2810:30 - 11:30 a.m.

This story time is geared with babies andyoung toddlers in mind. We’ll sing songs, learnsome fun finger plays and nursery rhymes and,of course, read books! Book Babies is aspecial time set aside for babies and theircaregivers as an introduction to the library andthe wonderful world of reading. Children ages 0months to 2 years-old and their caregivers areinvited to come. No registration is required.Location: Sycamore Room

Library Board MeetingTuesday March 207 - 8:30 p.m. Location: Poplar Room

Friends of the Library MeetingWednesday March 2110:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

The Friends of the Green Tree Library is a non-profit service organization dedicatedto increasing, improving and advertising the resources and services of the library. The Friends support the library throughvolunteering, fundraising and makingdonations. Their biggest fundraiser of the yearis the Annual Friends of the Library Book Sale,which is held every September. Friendsmembership is open to anyone who has paidtheir dues - $5 for a single membership and $8 for a family membership. Stop by the frontdesk to join!Location: Poplar Room

Poppin’ Popcorn Party!Monday March 267 - 8 p.m. (Grades K - 3)

Pop on into the library for this tasty programin celebration of everyone’s favorite snack!We’ll pop up some popcorn experiments, play popcorn games, and finish it all off with a popcorn taste test. Come ready to munch the night away with fun! Registration is required. Children in Grades K - 3 are invited to attend.Location: Poplar Room

* WWW.GREENTREELIBRARY.ORG *Keystone Oaks | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 17

Hannah Zurcherat the SnowflakeStory-timephoto by Jessica DeLuca

(From Left) Hannah Tobin,Sydney Cowan, Bailey Collins,Miranda Snell

For the second consecutive year, teams from Keystone OaksHigh School swept the top two spots in the regionalcompetition of the Stock Market Game, amassing a$26,519.47 profit in digital dollars among the two respectivestudent investment teams.

(From Left) Alyssa Sabo,Jessica Long, Katie Boyle,Miranda Gales


Effective December 8, 2011, Kathy Foster willserve as the acting superintendent in addition toher assistant superintendent role. She will remain inthat capacity until a permanent replacement ishired sometime in 2012 at which time she willresume her role as assistant superintendent.

During her distinguished 36 year career, Fosterhas held a number of district posts includingdirector of pupil services at the elementary level aswell as a reading specialist and as an instructionalsupport specialist.

For the past year-and-a-half, Foster has servedas the assistant superintendent where she hasfocused on curriculum development andimplementation.

Because of her familiarity with the district and itspeople, Foster expects a relatively smoothtransition.

“I anticipate that I’ll have the full support of theboard, administrators and staff as we all do ourbest to best serve the students of the district,” saidFoster, adding that she has no intention of pursuingthe permanent position.

March1 Aiken - Band Concert, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.7 Aiken - PFO Meeting, 7 p.m.16 Aiken - St. Baldrick's Assembly, 2 p.m.20 Aiken - Kindergarten Registration, 9 - 11 a.m. & 1 - 3 p.m.21 Aiken - Kindergarten Registration,

9 - 11 a.m., 1 - 3 p.m. & 5 - 7 p.m.7 - 9 p.m. Partners in LearningImproving Attention and Focus for Students With Attention IssuesDr. Carol Utey, Total Learning Center

29 2:30 - 3:50 p.m. Middle School - 6th Grade Social30 All-Day In-Service Day (No Classes)

April2 Aiken - 5th Grade Battle of the Books

Professional Training Day (Two Hour Delay)3 Aiken - PFO Meeting, 7 p.m.5 All-Day Spring Break6 All-Day Spring Break9 All-Day Spring Break13 7 p.m. Middle School - 7th & 8th Grade Dance26 Aiken - Spring Musical, 2 & 7 p.m.

May1 Aiken - PFO Meeting, 7 p.m.10 Aiken - Open House, 6-8 p.m.11 Aiken - JA Day16 7 - 9 p.m. Partners in Learning

Secondary Transitioning Dan Morgan18 Myrtle - 5th Grade Field Trip to Meadowcroft Village25 Aiken - Prime Time Reading28 All-Day Memorial Day (No Classes)

June1 Aiken - Fun Day4 Aiken - 5th Grade Kickball Game, 3:30 p.m.7 Aiken - 5th Grade Farewell Assembly, 9 a.m.

All-Day Final Day of Classes7:30 p.m. Class of 2012 Commencement

20 All-Day Kennywood Picnic


In this economy, every dime can make a difference,especially if you’re a hard-working student paying forcollege. So, if you are from Green Tree, the Green Tree CivicWomen’s Club has a scholarship that can help defray yourschool costs by $1,000.

Amy Cesario, scholarship committee chairwoman, saidthat the scholarship has been a tradition of the club formore than 30 years.

“To qualify, the student must have completed their firstyear of college - they can be sophomore, junior or senior,and they can apply each year through their college career,”Cesario said. “The applications are scored on a rubric.There’s a small essay, GPA component, sports and otheractivities such as work experience and volunteer and civicactivities are taken into consideration as well.”

The Green Tree Women’s Civic Club fundraises for thescholarship, as well as all of the other organizations andcharities they donate money to, through their events suchas their annual luncheon and annual fashion show, whichwill take place on April 21 of this year.

With 40 active members, the club undertakes effortssuch as Operation Shoebox, which collects donated items for soldiers overseas for care packages. They alsodonate money to veterans groups, fire departments, thelibrary, women’s shelters, food banks, PTAs and the Girland Boy scouts.

In the community, the Green Tree Women’s Civic Clubchairs events including Ladies’ Night at the Pool, SpringMagic for Green Tree children, and every February, they goto Marion Manor for an ice cream social with the residents.They also host Meet the Candidates nights for candidatesin local primary and general elections.

“The object of the club is to develop the educational,civic and social aspects of members and to advance thewelfare of the community,” Cesario said. “You have to be awoman, interested in being civic-minded to join. We meetonce a month, and there’s a great social aspect to the club.”

Membership fees are a nominal $20 for the year, shesaid, and the group meets every first Thursday at 7:30 p.m.at the Green Tree Fire Hall.

If you are interested in joining the Green Tree Women’sCivic Club, go to www.greentreeboro.com/civicclub.htmlonline for membership details, items the club collects for Operation Shoebox, as well as the scholarshipapplication itself. If you are only interested in thescholarship application, you can contact Cesario at:[email protected] or by calling 412.207.9039.You can also snail-mail the club for information at:

Green Tree Woman's Civic Clubc/o Borough of Green Tree10 West Manilla AvenuePittsburgh, PA 15220

The Green Tree CivicWomen’s Club Fashion Showwill be held at ChartiersCountry Club on April 21. It is a lunch and a fashionshow and a great way torelax for an afternoon.Tickets are $25. For tickets,contact Chairwoman Mary Beth Kenny at [email protected] doors open around 11and lunch is served at noon.Fashion show is after lunch.



A 14-panel display depicting highlights from the 100 years ofservice to the community of the Jewish Federation of GreaterPittsburgh will be exhibited at the Jewish Community Center ofGreater Pittsburgh-South Hills, 345 Kane Boulevard, Scott Township,from February 1-14, 2012.

Jeffrey H. Finkelstein, President and CEO, and Brian Schreiber,JCC President and CEO, spoke about the Federation’s impact on theSouth Hills Jewish Community at an opening reception onWednesday, February 1, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the JCC-South Hills.

The event and the exhibit are free and open to the community.The display highlights the development of the Pittsburgh Jewish

community, presenting an overview of each decade from the 1910s,when the Jewish Federation was founded as the Federation of JewishPhilanthropies, to the present day. Included are archival photos andexcerpts from historical documents. A comprehensive timelineprovides greater detail regarding specific events within each decade.

The display is part of a series of special programs and projects thatmark the Jewish Federation's Centennial Year, which began inSeptember. An upcoming Centennial Program will be the Israel andJewish Community Festival on April 26, 2012, from 4 to 8 p.m. atSchenley Plaza in Oakland.

The Federation is an important source of funding for the JCC. TheJCC-South Hills, built in 1999, houses state-of-the-art fitness andwellness facilities, 25-yard heated indoor swimming pool, double-court gymnasium, and accessible outdoor playground. Comprehensiveprogramming includes the Early Childhood Development Center,private and group swim lessons, summer camps, group exercise classes,personal training, sports and recreation programs for all ages, and oneof the largest SilverSneakers® senior fitness programs in WesternPennsylvania.

For more information, please contact Dan Garfinkel, BranchDirector, 412.278.1975, ext. 208, or email [email protected]. Forgeneral information about the JCC, please visit www.JCCPGH.org.For information about the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh,please visit www.jfedpgh.org .


Kody BenningtonCulinary Arts – AMKeystone Oaks School District

The AM student of the month for November is KodyBennington, a senior at Keystone Oaks High School and athird year Culinary Arts student. Kody was nominated byhis instructor, Mr. Timcheck, for having an excellent workethic and being a dependable group leader. Kody was amember of the Boy Scouts and Order of the Arrow up untilhe turned 18. Recently, Kody has worked at Eggs R Usand Mineo’s Pizza and continues to work in the Parkwayrestaurant for Chef Timcheck. Kody’s immediate careergoal is to attend Robert Morris University in the fall of 2012and major in Hospitality Management. Upon graduationfrom RMU he plans to work as a chef on a cruise line.


Evin Hunter competedin the Sheet Metalcompetition. Becausethere were no othercontestants from anyother regional school,he automatically goesto states. States will bein Hershey, PA, thisApril. He is preparingfor a test in which hehas to preciselymeasure a toolbox outof aluminum sheets.The material is the same as what one would see in their home if they are looking at theirductwork. He needs tosupply his own toolsincluding vice grips,pliers, tin snips, and adrywall square, but the materials would be providedto him. Evin will need to know how to use aPittsburgh brand stationary metal bender

Trevor Urban placed 1st out of a total of 8 contestantsfrom other surrounding career & technology centers in theAC Unit category. In his competition, he had to recoverrefrigerant out of his unit, change the filter drier and replace itwith a new one. He then had to conduct a pressure test usingdry nitrogen and make sure there were no leaks. Next, hevacuumed the system to remove the dry nitrogen. Afterwards,he charged the unit with new refrigerant making sure there was correct pressure with a corresponding ambienttemperature. By checking the temperature, this wouldindicate the unit is running properly. He also had to perform a solder and brazing test in which he swedged copper pipestogether and then soldered or brazed the joints together.


Senior Christina Cerezo was

judged with 6 others. In her

competition, contestants had to

first do a basic facial. That includes

cleansing, massaging, toning, and

then finally, moisturizing the skin.

Secondly, they had to do daytime

make-up. The only parameter to

follow was that the daytime make-

up had to work with the natural

skin tones of their live models.

Finally, they had to do their own

selected themed fantasy make-up.

Her theme was ‘Zombie Princess.’


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MARDI GRAS ON MAIN STREETA fundraiser for Dormont Main StreetSaturday, February 18, 20128 p.m. until midnightDormont Recreation Center1801 Dormont AvenueChinese auction; 50/50Tickets available at the Dormont Municipal Center or bycontacting Karen Coyle at 412.720.8081 [email protected] or Michelle Ross at 412.860.9035www.dormontmainstreet.org

Dormont Main Street was started in 2006 by anindependent group of volunteers seeking to revitalize theWest Liberty / Potomac business district in Dormont, PA.These volunteers included local business owners,Dormont’s Mayor, members of Dormont’s Borough Council,and interested residents. The Dormont Main StreetProgram is now organized and managed by the DormontCommunity Development Corporation, a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation which is in the process of filing for its501(c)(3) status in order to accept tax deductible donations.

DABA NIGHT AT THE RACESSaturday, February 25, 20128 p.m. until midnightDormont Recreation Center1801 Dormont AvenueFor tickets, contact Chuck Dewick at 412.874.8217www.dormontboosters.com

It’s time to think ahead to warm days and nights filled withsports and recreation! And in Pittsburgh’s South Hills, oneof the best ways to support active and healthy athletic andrecreation opportunities for children and youth, is throughthe community-based Dormont Athletic BoostersAssociation (DABA). Looking for something fun to do duringthose cold winter nights? Try DABA’s Night at the Races!Party-goers will participate in Monte Carlo-themedactivities, enjoy homemade food and drink, and learn allabout the important work that DABA does to supportathletic and recreation opportunities for the children andyouth of Dormont. Proceeds from the events will benefitDormont baseball, softball, t-ball, KOA fast pitch, football,cheerleading, and twirling corps (formerly Boosterettes).Party for a purpose; learn about how you can get involvedin DABA and help increase opportunities for athletic andrecreation for the children and youth of Dormont.

About DABADABA is a nonprofit organization that offers administrative andfinancial support to various activities for approximately 500 children,ranging in ages from 5-18, in Dormont and the Keystone Oaks Areasince 1949. DABA is committed to helping the children of theDormont, Pa. community to excel in life through the promotion ofathletic competition. DABA is responsible for organizing theBoosterettes marching unit, baseball (ages 6 to 18), girls’ softball(ages 6-18), KO Area cheerleading and football (ages 7 to 11). It isDABA’s intention to provide both financial and administrative supportto improve the safety of the games our children play, the equipmentthey use, and the fields they play on. For the latest information aboutyouth athletic opportunities and DABA sponsored community events,visit: www.dormontboosters.com/.


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