in murrysville

Blessing the Bikes&Franklin Regional Middle School Students

Explore Science, Careers & Lend A Helping Hand

COMMUNITY-DRIVEN

SUMMER 2011 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

Edgewater…Oakmont’s Newest River Development

SUMMER 2011IN Murrysville is a non-partisan communitypublication dedicated to representing, encouragingand promoting the Murrysville area and itscomprising municipalities by focusing on thetalents and gifts of the people who live and workhere. Our goal is to provide readers with the mostinformative and professional regional publication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

PUBLISHER Wayne Dollard

MANAGING EDITOR

Marybeth [email protected]

REGIONAL EDITOR

Monica L. Haynes [email protected]

OFFICE MANAGER

Leo [email protected]

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jack [email protected]

WRITERS

Jonathan Barnes Pamela PalongueKelli McElhinny

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Cassie Brkich Jan McEvoySharon Cobb Joe MilneSusie Doak Tamara Tylenda

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Rebecca BaileyGaryyonphotography.comOne Way Street Productions

ADVERTISING SALES

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

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

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

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

Fall content deadline: July 18www.incommunitymagazines.com

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

2 724.942.0940 to advertise | Murrysville

Hello. I’m Monica Haynes, the new Eastern Regional Editor forIn Community Magazines. I’m quite at home in the easternsuburbs because, well, that’s where I live, too. I also havequite a bit of experience with suburban news coverage,having done some for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. I also wasa magazine writer and entertainment columnist for the PG.

Some of you I’ve had the opportunity to meet out andabout as we’ve been working on stories for this edition of

Murrysville Magazine. I look forward to getting out to thecommunity even more, to meet the people, attend the events and see the sights andsounds that help make your community what it is.

Murrysville Magazine is about community, YOUR community. We really can’tdo this without your input. We want to know what’s going on in your municipalgovernments, your schools, churches, libraries, civic organizations. We want to honorthose members of your community who are serving in the armed forces, those who areserving others in the community, those who have fascinating hobbies or who havedone something extraordinary. If there are things going on in your community orpeople in your community that we should know about, please email me [email protected].

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

Monica L. HaynesEastern Regional Editor

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

Summer’s also a great time for traveling, although, with gasprices the way they are, many of us won’t be going too far fromhome. That’s okay because there are some wonderful sites right in your own backyard.Franklin Regional Middle School students explore careers, science and lend a helpinghand to those in need. We’ve got their story. Murrysville Mayor Robert J. Brooks has atimely message in this edition about how his town is honoring our veterans.

Yes, it’s finally summer! So let’s throw some burgers on the grill, find a shady tree, alounge chair and a cold glass of lemonade and enjoy the sunshine!

Wayne DollardPublisher

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

BUDGET CHA L L ENG E S

This is the time in the year when we reflect on our financial commitment and responsibility as wedevelop a school district budget that supports the educational program. Budgetary decisions candetermine the future direction for our students and has a direct impact on their potential for

success throughout a lifetime of learning. It is important that the school district budget be comprehensive,detailed, and transparent to everyone.

One of the main goals during the budget process is to provide, in an equitable manner, the necessaryand suitable resources so that all students receive an appropriate quality education in a “safe” environ-ment while maintaining fiscal responsibility to the public. The basis for equity for the distribution of schooldistrict funds is through an “allocation system” that provides a specific dollar amount to each school build-ing based upon the number of students who are enrolled. All school district budgets impact a variety ofconstituent groups. Building principals and supervisors meet with department heads and teachersthroughout the year to solicit information that is discussed and presented to the Administrative Team mem-bers, Director of Financial Services, Superintendent, Board Finance Committee, and to the entire Board ofDirectors during public meetings over several months.

The Franklin Regional School District is one of the few school districts in our area who has experiencedan increase in student population. Since last year at this time, we have had over eighty-five (85) new stu-dents enroll in our school district. Our total current student population is 3,786. Of that total student popula-tion, 1,610 students are elementary age; Kindergarten through Grade 5 in three buildings – Heritage (655),Newlonsburg (252), and Sloan (703). There are 909 students at our Middle School (Grades 6, 7, & 8) and1,267 pupils enrolled in the Senior High School (Grades 9, 10, 11, &12).

This year has been an extremely challenging budget year due to the major loss in State Revenue inexcess of $1.2 million dollars. Given the magnitude of these cuts from the State and the normal annual inflationary costs, we have been working feverishly tofind solutions that will include a number of budgetary cuts,use of fund balance, and consideration of increased localmillage. Our goal is to find that delicate balance of maintain-ing the integrity of our educational program while maintainingfiscal prudence for our taxpayers.

At a public meeting each May, the Board of Education has theopportunity to review the previously presented budget areas andvote to adopt a preliminary budget. The preliminary budget willthen be on public display for thirty (30) days before final Boardapproval in June. The 2011-2012 Final Budget will also be postedon our website after it has been openly discussed and adoptedby the Board of Directors.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to extend ourappreciation to the taxpayers who contribute to the operation ofthe Franklin Regional School District. We pledge to continue tooffer a high quality educational program for our students and tomaintain our reputation as one the exemplary school districts inPennsylvania. Thank you and have an enjoyable and safe summer!

Dr. P. Emery D’ArcangeloSuperintendent – Franklin Regional School District

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE

MISSION STATEMENT: We, the FranklinRegional School community,

strive for excellence, learning,

achievement, and citizenship in all we do.

Dr. P. Emery D’ArcangeloSuperintendent

Shelley ShaneyfeltDirector of InstructionalServices and Public Relations

Dr. Charles KorenAssistant Superintendent of Human Resources

Jon C. PerryDirector of Financial Services

Linda MillerAssistant to the Director of Financial Services

Frank J. MutoSupervisor of Technology Services

Dennis MajewskiDirector of District Services

Zachary KesslerDirector of Athletics & Student Activities

Richard E. Regelski, Jr.Director of Special Education

Allan MikachDirector of Counseling Services

Karen CadwellSchool Board Secretary/Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Tina Burns, PrincipalHigh School

Chris Kelly, PrincipalMiddle School

Sam King, PrincipalHeritage Elementary

Tina Gillen, PrincipalNewlonsburg Elementary

Judy Morrison, PrincipalSloan Elementary




Ultimate Inquiry


It’s probably safe to say that most school students look forward tothe end of the school year. But sixth graders at Franklin RegionalMiddle School look forward to it for reasons far different than what

you might think. The last days of the school year for these students is a science-

centered exercise in cooperation, problem solving, building, testingand execution leading to “Ultimate Inquiry Experience Day,” a daylong competitive event that has students laughing and cheering each other

on as they shoot off bottle rockets,build mini roller coasters, racechariots and try to make it acrossthe school pool without sinking intheir own version of the PittsburghThree Rivers Regatta’s “AnythingThat Floats” race. The winningteams receive a plaque that features a photo of their team.

“The last week and a half of theschool year we close up all ourother teaching and we do nothingbut science for four days,” saidMargie Ritson, a sixth grade sci-ence teacher at Franklin Regional.All the sixth grade teachers andstudents are involved. Ritson cameup with the idea of a year-end sci-ence competition as a way ofinvolving all the sixth grade classesin one project. She enlisted the aid of fellow sixth

grade science teacher A.J. Danny andtogether they wrote a proposal for one of the $750 teacher project grantsthat the district offers. “We did get the grant and we were able to geteverything in motion,” Ritson said.

On June 8, Franklin Regional Middle School will hold its third UltimateInquiry Experience Day which, according to Danny, has become the “SuperBowl” event of the school year. “This is the event that the kids talk aboutfrom the first of the year on,” he said. Danny credits Ritson as the visionaryof an event that has created so much enthusiasm that some students askfor passes to come early to school or to stay late to work on their projects.“She’s the motor and I’m the wheels that kind of help her,” he said.

For Ultimate Inquiry Experience Day, students choose one of five activi-ties: Light ‘Em Up Circuitry, Rendezvous with Rockets, The Wild and FuriousCoaster Challenge, The Anything That Floats Race, and The Crazy ChariotRace. They have several days to research their topic, develop a plan, getfurther teacher/scientist assistance if necessary, and then carry it out.


The first year, one of the circuitry groups created a circuit boardquiz about Hawaii where visitors matched answers to questions aboutthe state. The correct answer resulted in a volcano lighting up.Students dressed in Hawaiian shirts and hula skirts. Each groupdressed thematically depending on their project, Ritson explained. Inthe roller coaster challenge, students created a coaster out of thetubing plumbers use to insulate pipes. The more loops and turns theircoaster had, the more points the team received. Marbles, which wereused for coaster cars, had to land in a cup at the end of the track“which meant everyone survived,” Ritson explained. In the AnythingThat Floats race, students have to build something that was neverbefore designed as a boat.

Two years ago, a group of students was so excited about their ideafor the boat competition that they asked for permission to visit aStyrofoam manufacturer. With approval from principal Chris Kelly, thestudents made the trip and got all their questions answered. “Thecompany gave them materials and they were able to assemble theboat and match the blueprint of what they drew up,” Danny explained.That group’s entry won the boat competition that year. “Our only mis-take was not entering in the Pittsburgh Regatta,” Ritson said.

Some entries in the floating competition are not quite as sophisti-cated. “We have kids that literally duct tape a box and put a class-mate in it,” Ritson explained. One group made a cardboard boat withgiant water cooler jugs taped to it. Needless to say, the students gothrough an enormous amount of duct tape. “We budget $500 or $600for duct tape and we’re out of duct tape by the second day,” sheadded.

Safety is always first, Ritson said, so students participating inAnything That Floats have to be certified swimmers. For this competi-tion, the groups have to get as many people across the pool as manytimes as possible. “It’s amazing. All the kids can see all the hard workunfolding in that event.”

Luckily, for the past two years, the school has received funding forthe event from PPG, Ritson said. This year, parents, Sharon Coleson,Liz Cloherty, and Sue Scimio, helped to write letters to solicit fundinggrants from other sources. The Cloherty Family, whose daughter,Shannen Cloherty, attends the middle school, also made a monetarydonation.

Each competing group is given materials, some of which are pur-chased and some have been scrounged from dumpsters and theschool’s storage area.

And it’s not just the students who are gaining knowledge from theexperience. Ritson and Danny said each year they are finding newways to improve the event. This year, they will be erecting tents out-side for boat building, Ritson said. “We learned [that] building a boatin the library is maybe not the best place!”

Experience Day



Organizing a career day involving 900 students and 50 professionalsis no easy task, but it is well worth the effort, according to FranklinRegional Middle School counselor Brian Coiner.

For more than three decades, Franklin Regional School District hasgiven students the opportunity to find out firsthand from pilots, lawyers,doctors, landscapers, talk shows hosts, artists, chefs, dancers, FBIagents, wedding planners, engineers, photographers, athletes and manyothers what it’s like to do what they do.Career Day began in the mid-1970s when Wilma Spencer of the

Murrysville Women's Club contacted then guidance counselor Joe Biererabout wanting to do something to serve students. They came up with theidea for a career day, which at that time was held mainly in 9th grade.When the 9th grade became part of the high school, Career Day shifted tothe middle school, grades 6, 7 and 8. This year, Career Day was held on May 18. “We believe all students, even at this young age, can benefit from

hearing about different careers,” Coiner said. “The information that thesespeakers provide can really make our students excited about those fieldsand it also can spark more interest in their academic coursework.” Career Day is still a joint venture between the school and the

Murrysville Women’s Club, which has the task of finding 49 of the 50speakers for the event. The school arranges for representatives fromeach branch of the military to be on hand. “We try to have the presenters talk about their career, what made them

decide to pursue that career, the education needed, range of salary, andthe outlook for that career in the future,” Coiner said. Career Day providesa wonderful opportunity for the students as well as the community, hesaid because organizers try to enlist many Franklin Regional graduatesand local community members as presenters.“All of our students participate and are able to select three careers

they are interested in,” he said. Ambassadors from the eighth grade, andsometimes seventh grade, help schedule the students into the three sessions. “This is a difficult job because we need to make sure that webalance the numbers of students ineach session so as to not overloadone session,” Coiner said. “Our students do a nice job helping uscomplete the overwhelming task ofscheduling over 900 students.” Thestudents also help students andpresenters find where they needto go during Career Day “[Career Day] reaches all

the students at once and overthe three years, they canexpose themselves to nine dif-ferent careers,” Coiner said. “I think that's very important.”



We’ve all heard the adage “it is betterto give than to receive.” Well, FranklinRegional Middle School students

learned that lesson firsthand when they lent ahelping hand to people going through toughtimes, both here and abroad.

The middle school is divided into houses,and students from the school’s Castle Housespent two days at the Salvation Army in

Greensburg organizing the food pantry, sort-ing and organizing donated clothing and serving meals to

those who have fallen on hard times. Another group of CastleHouse students participated in a service project to raise moneyfor Japanese earthquake relief.

The idea of giving students a life lesson in how to serve otherswas the brainchild of Franklin Regional Middle School mathteacher Chris Cooley, who (along with four other teachers)instructs 100 seventh grade students of the Castle House. Twicea month, the teachers sit down with groups of 20-25 students totalk about bullying, how to avoid being a bully, how to help thosebeing bullied and “how to create a culture where bullying is notpart of the equation,” Cooley said. Schools all across the countryare discussing the topic and teaching students anti-bullyingtechniques, but he believes students often lack the empathyneeded to take that abstract information and make it concrete.However, studies show that students who get involved in serviceprojects are less likely to become bullies.

Cooley’s original plan was to have students help repair andclean up homes damaged by a recent tornado. However,because the cleanup involved the use of power tools, it wasdeemed unsafe for children to participate in that kind of effort.So the teacher came up with the idea of taking students to theGreensburg office of the Salvation Army.

Separate groups of 25 students went on two successive days,February 24 and 25. The 50 students who volunteered at thislocation created their own food and clothing drive, taking whatthey had collected to the Greensburg office. “The kids workedwith clothes they donated, but also other clothing that wasdonated,” Cooley said. Students built shelving and closet spaceso that clothing that had once been in one big pile could bearranged into categories for men, women, boys and girls.

Students also organized the pantry, a task the Salvation Armyhad been meaning to do but was never able to find the time.“They looked through labels and categorized food and put away

the donations,” Cooley said. The Salvation Army also providesdaily free lunch for the needy, and the students had the opportu-nity to help serve while they were there. “The interaction withneedy people – where they could interact and serve the food –they seemed to appreciate that the most,” Cooley said.

Meanwhile, the remaining students participated in an activityblock that had them working on a service project to help thoseaffected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The studentswatched video footage of the actual disaster and then read astory about a girl who’d suffered radiation poisoning during theatomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaski during World WarII. In the story, the girl believed the Japanese folklore that if youfolded 1,000 paper cranes you could be made well. The girl fold-ed 600 cranes but died before she could finish. Her friends fold-ed the remaining cranes and buried them with her. The middleschool students in this group found an organization in the stateof Washington that donates $2 for each origami crane it receivesto relief efforts in Japan.

The teachers taught the middle school students how to makepaper cranes and they hope to have 1,000 made by the end ofthe year so they can be sent to that organization. In addition tothe cranes, students created bookmarks in Japanese and wroteletters to youngsters in Japan using events in their own lives tomake a connection with students there and how they might befeeling.

Cooley said one of the things he tried to hammer home withstudents is another adage: “For any evil to thrive, all good peoplehave to do is nothing.”

“I was amazed when I took the kids on the bus and I askedthem how many really felt awesome about this, and they allraised their hands.”

In addition to Cooley, the other seventh grade teachers ofCastle House who assisted with the project are Jennifer See,English; Jennifer Landsberg, reading; Brandon Aganad, socialstudies; Jennifer Joyce, science; long-term substitute teacherRosemary Rosendale; and Brenda Wolper, who accompaniedMr. Cooley to the Salvation Army. The school also got a bigassist from Meyers Bus Company, which donated transportationfor both service days.

The service project is a kind of precursor to an afterschoolservice program that Cooley wants to start next year. “I think wehave to give kids the continued ability to serve to make them bet-ter leaders,” he said.

Franklin Regional +SalvationArmy =Awesome!


The Allegheny County Parks DepartmentSenior GolfPassesGolfers ages 55 and older are eligible for the special $60 senior passes. The passes maybe purchased Monday throughThursday between the hours of8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at theNorth and South park clubhouses. Locker rentals mayalso be purchased for $25 each.

For additional information, contact theNorth Park Golf Course at 412.961.0512or 724.935.1967 and the South ParkGolf Course at 412.835.3545.Information is also available online atwww.alleghenycounty.us/parks/fees/golf.aspx.

No one can question the allure of Oakmont –pedestrian-friendly streets, small town charm,and a bustling business district where shopowners routinely wave to customers as theywalk down the street and call them by name.While there has always been a smattering ofnew development in Oakmont over the years, there hasn’t been a project of the scale, quality and commitment to an overallgrand vision until now. It’s no wonder that Richard Kacin, Bruce

Corna, and Brett Malky, are building the area’s newest new community – Edgewater –

within to this quaint river town. Ie Kacin name has been synonymous with quality for decades and Malky’s Lrm has beenworking to bring the region some of the most exciting new communities

for over 15 years.“Edgewater will be one of Lnest new

neighborhoods in our region,” said Kacin. “In the truest sense, Edgewater will be the bestthat our region has to oJer. Less importantthan what’s diJerent about Edgewater is what’s the same: we’ve developed an architectural style from Oakmont itself, we’ve extended the street grid from the municipality over into Edgewater, but we’ve brought a commitment to constructionquality, performance and technology thatmakes these homes and this neighborhoodsecond to none.” For Malky, who grew up in Oakmont,

a development of this caliber is a source of personal pride.

“You have a place that really is one of theprettiest towns in the country. Iere’s so much that’s already right about Oakmont,”Malky said. “What Edgewater, in its simplestform, intends to do is be the best new neighborhood in Oakmont.”Ie center of the plan involves a historic

lynchpin of the community that was a reminder of a challenged past– the EdgewaterSteel Facility, formerly one of the area’s largest employers. “Iat place was opened, shut down and

there were three or four attempts to try to saveit,” Corna said. “Now it’s being reborn andreintegrated into the very fabric of Oakmont.We’re not forcing a new project on that site.We’re literally extending Oakmont, overlayingthe grid that already exists over that site, andwe’re adding some things that we hope willmake Oakmont better.”What the developers also are doing

that will beneLt the entire community is preserving the riverfront, rather than privatize it. “Iat should be a public property and

returned to the community as a public assetforever,” Kacin said. “Some of the most interesting responses we’ve gotten are fromneighbors, who were elated when the plantcame down. Iey said, ‘We’ve lived here for 30 years and have never seen sunlight fall on our home.’”In addition to the razing of the factory,

the entire site has been graded and roadways,street lights and street trees have been installed for Phase One. Ie developers expect people to begin moving into the 240-home development in July.

Prices will range from the $247,000 to$600,000, and include Town Homes, Manor Flat Condominiums, CourtyardHomes, Cottage Homes, Paired CottageHomes, and Park Homes. Ie list of manufacturers contributing to the project, all known for their quality and eKciency, include: Andersen, Carrier, Hearth Technologies, James Hardie, Kohler andWhirlpool, to name a few. “Response to our new community has

been unbelievable”, said Jason Corna, head of Sales at Edgewater. “We’ve sold 25 homes in Phase One in the few weeks since the grand opening of our Information Center on the site.” What they Lnd when they take

ownership of their new homes atEdgewater will be LEED-certiLed,green design, traditional neighborhoods with architecturally and aesthetically diverse designs based on existing Oakmont homes. It will be a neighborhood where residents canstroll to the corner store for a quart of milk,walk to a nearby movie theater, or spend a lazy aMernoon at the park or the river walk.“Oakmont is a place people already love, but

new housing on such a scale hasn’t existed inOakmont for a long, long time,” Malky said.“Our approach is authentic architecture. People will say Edgewater looks like it’s beenthere forever and that’s what makes this neighborhood diJerent. It will seamlessly blend with the place that’s already there.”

��

Building the Future by Restoring a Community

Unparelleled ��at Edgewater

Every home in the United States is built to the minimum standards of a building code. That codeaddresses standards for safety, livability, and energy efficiency. The developer of Edgewater has developedits own home performance standards to ensure that every home within its communities achieves thehighest level of quality in the region, making these homes measurably better than typical code-complianthomes. Rather than default to the minimum industry standards, Edgewater is committed to offeringhomeowners the opportunity to own a high performance home, using proven technologies and best

practice construction techniques todeliver a better home. The homeperformance standards for Edgewaterwere created in partnership withIBACOS (Integrated Building and

Construction Solutions), a leading national research and development firm for the housing industry, and a strategic partner with EQA Landmark Communities for more than 13 years.

The Edgewater Home Performance Standards address the following criteria for construction quality and performance:1. Energy – Improve the energy efficiency

of the home to at least 30% better than energycode in order to reduce utility bills and ensureoptimum occupant comfort.2. Indoor Environmental Quality – Provide homeowners with better indoor air quality and

a more comfortable living environment through the use of fresh air ventilation systems, high efficiency air filtration and less toxic building materials.3. Building Durability – Build the home to last longer while minimizing the need for routine

maintenance by using best practices in home construction to control the movement of water, moisture vapor and air through the home.4. Materials & Resources – Reduce the environmental impact

of the home by using sustainable building materials and efficientconstruction techniques.

By building homes to these quality standards, Edgewater is offering homeowners the benefits of improved comfort, healthier living environments, and the peace of mind of knowing that their new home at Edgewater is the best home in the region.

In addition, every home is built to an architectural standardand guideline at Edgewater overseen by the founding architectand town architect, Brad Shapiro with Shapiro & CompanyArchitects, Inc. Brad assures that every home in Edgewaterbeautifully integrates with the surrounding homes to enhancethe unique sense of place established by Edgewater’s pedestrian-friendly master plan, community

amenities, and neighborhood streetscape with sidewalks, street trees,street lights and generous front porches.

And finally, a fundamental part of assuring the highest quality homesis partnering with industry leaders to assure that the best products are used in the construction of homes at Edgewater. Every home atEdgewater will have a high efficient, custom designed window fromAndersen Windows. All exterior cladding materials will be long-lasting,durable products such as the factory finished James Hardie fiber cementsiding with Colorplus Technology, natural stone or Cultured Stone®, orquality brick materials. And in addition to 10 foot ceiling as standard inevery home at Edgewater, all homes will benefit from two of the bestproduct manufacturers in the industry who will be providing theappliances and plumbing fixtures for every

home, namely Whirlpool Corporation and Kohler.


��Vision

Architectural Styles

PAIRED COTTAGESTOWNHOMESPARK HOMESMANOR FLATSCOURTYARD HOMESCOTTAGES


�Building the Future by Restoring a Community

Since the early 1960s, A. Richard Kacin hasbeen developing upscale residential propertiesin the Pittsburgh region. KACIN has built and is developing more than 1,500 homes andcondominium complexes in Westmoreland and Allegheny Counties, including: • Murrysville - Fair Oaks Manor, Allison Farms, Lindenwood

• Pittsburgh (Squirrel Hill) - Summerset at Frick Park

• Greensburg - South Meadow Villas • Pine Township - Pine Ridge Manor • Edgewater - Historic Oakmont

At KACIN, we’ve always been dedicated to our clients, and to maintaining the highest ethical standards in the homebuilding industry. Iis commitment to client loyalty and professional integrity is exempliLed by Richard Kacin and Bruce Corna, vice president of Kacin Companies, each served terms as president of the Builders Association of MetropolitanPittsburgh, and of the Homebuilders Association of Westmoreland County.

Richard and Bruce remain active in those organizations and serve on the boards of many community groups throughout Westmoreland County.

Edgewater OKce 412-551-0182

www.liveatedgewater.com

Find Edgewater on Facebook:

KACINC o m p a n i e s

D E V E L O P E R S / C O N S T R U C T O R S

Five Decades of ExcellenceGo Into EveryHomeWe Build

www.facebook.com/pages/Edgewater-at-Oakmont

Questions? We’re here to help. Call Jason, our Edgewater specialist at 412.877.1055


�


backsplash or change out knobs and pulls to give your placea whole new feel. When updating it helps to look beyond thekitchen and bath to the rest of the home – freshen up thebar, laundry, game room or built-ins with new hardware;change out door knobs for a whole house refresher.And what trends are these experts seeing in bathroom

design? “There's definitely a trend toward contemporary,”Denne said. “Water saving showerheads, dual flush toilets,pendant lighting and lighting with the bulb exposed in clearglass.” In Murrysville specifically, they are seeing a moreclean traditional look. “They are also interested in easy tocare for products,” Tressler said, adding that the designersat SPLASH are doing a lot of mixing of contemporary andtraditional. “A lot of people are putting their toe in the waterto test contemporary,” she said. No matter what your style, if unique is what you seek,

SPLASH in Murrysville is the place to go.SPLASH's showroom is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. While the staff can help you during thesehours, for more personal attention it is best to make an appointment.

Making a

SPLASH!

Amajor part of home ownership is being able to add touches, both bigand small, that signal it is YOUR home. Two of the places in a homewhere your personality really gets a chance to shine are the kitchenand the bathroom. And one of the most unique places to find what

you need to make that bathroom the oasis you've always dreamed of and/orthe kitchen the envy of any would be chef is SPLASH, located at 4807 WilliamPenn Highway in Murrysville.A division of Nicklas Supply, founded by Pittsburgh’s Nicklas family in 1956,

SPLASH’s Murrysville showroom has been around for six years. And overthose years, it has earned a reputation as the “go to” place for making akitchen or bathroom one of the most talked about rooms in the house.SPLASH’s experienced design staff, which includes Janice Tressler, JessicaDenne and Paulette Betts, can take you from concept to actuality. “We haveeverything from plumbing fixtures, to hardware to stone and lighting,” saidshowroom salesperson Janice Tressler. They can also put a customer intouch with construction and installation experts, if necessary.

Even if someone isn't quite sure what they want when they walk in,SPLASH's experts can assist with creating, polishing and refining a conceptuntil it gleams like a shiny new faucet. “I kind of ask them if they have anyideas of what they would like to see and also if they have a budget and I usu-ally spend some time in the showroom just trying to get a feel of what's in theroom that they like and that they dislike,” explained Jessica Denne, design-er/sales associate. Tressler say she looks for the “wow” factor. I always try to find the one

thing that catches their eye. I try to focus on the piece that they find excitingin the showroom and then we have a starting point,” she said. That excitingpiece is different for each person. It could be “to-die-for” tile for one person,breathtaking cabinetry for another, mesmerizing marble or a claw foot tub forsoaking away life's cares. One of the areas in the showroom that usuallycatches everyone's eye is the beautiful display of designer faucets, whichtakes up an entire wall. Among SPLASH's many offerings are glass vessel bowl sinks made in

nearby Jeannette and a counter top that's only made in the US and peopleseem to appreciate that, Denne said. Even if you are not fully renovating a kitchen or bath right now – SPLASH

offers lots of other ways to stylishly update your abode. You can simply add a

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IN THE PHOTO J I M M I L L E R / C U S T O M E R S E R V I C E M A N


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Now that spring is here, our kids are out to explore thewoods and fields of beautiful Western Pennsylvania.But nothing can spoil your family’s summer fun like

the rash of poison ivy.Poison ivy is a common plant found in the woods and fields

of the eastern half of the United States. Look in your library oronline for pictures of it, so you can try to avoid it. Teach yourchildren "leaves of three, leave them be". Be careful if you tryto remove it from your yard and never burn it; the smoke canmake people in the area very sick.

Poison ivy is one of many plants that produce an oily resincalled an urushiol that can cause an allergic rash. The rashusually starts one or two days after exposure, though the timebetween touching the resin and developing the rash can be upto several days. This can make it hard to be sure of when and

where your child came in contact withthe plant. The first signs of the

rash are streaks andpatches of red, itchy

bumps or blisters.The blisters arefilled with clearfluid and canbecome large.These continue toappear for many

days depending onhow much resin

touched the skin. Thismakes it seem as though the

rash is "spreading," although the fluid inthe blisters is just part of the allergic reaction and contains nochemicals or bacteria. The rash does not spread by the fluidfrom the blisters. Once a person has washed the oil completelyoff the skin, the rash is not contagious. The rash can last forup to 3 weeks, with the worst symptoms occurring at the endof the first week.

If your child develops the rash of poison ivy, makesure they have washed well with soap, and washtheir clothing and shoes. Heat and sweating canaggravate the itching, cool compresses can help.Calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream can be applied to theskin to reduce itching and blistering. If creams, lotions, or compresses do not stop the itching, oral antihistamines such asdiphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec) may be helpful.

Call your child’s doctor if itching is severe and cannot becontrolled, if the rash is on your child’s face, lips, eyes, or genitals. Signs of infection, such as pus leaking from blisters,odor, increased tenderness, or fever should be reported toyour doctor as well.

Prevention starts with learning to recognize the poison ivyplant but this can be difficult, since it is often mixed in withother plants. In situations where it’s hard to avoid poison ivy,keeping your child’s skin covered by clothing, or treating with a“blocking lotion” may be the best way to prevent the problem.Keep in mind that the plant oils may remain on clothing, pets,sports equipment, shoes, and other surfaces and cause rashesin the future if they are not properly cleaned.

Poison ivy is a common plant found in the woods and fields ofthe eastern half of the UnitedStates. Look in your library or

online for pictures of it, so you cantry to avoid it. Teach your children“leaves of three, leave them be.”Be careful if you try to remove itfrom your yard and never burn it;the smoke can make people

in the area very sick.

Poison Ivy-Help Kids Learn to Recognize It!


You can rely on the pediatricians of CCP-Murrysville to provide the highest quality pediatric and adolescent health care available and to bring that care close to home.

Harold M. Glick, MDLeroy S. Indorato, MDSheldon R. Levine, MDKeith S. Somers, MDSunita A. Chaudhari, MD

Kim A. Ogle, MDJamie McNanie, MDJames Shaver, MDLeslie Frank, MD

Every child deserves a pediatrician

MurrysvilleFerri Professional Building3907 Old William Penn HighwayMurrysville, PA 15668724.327.5210www.cc-peds.net/gil_ped

Pittsburgh -The Village of East Side 6343 Penn Ave., Suite 201Pittsburgh, PA 15206(above Trader Joe’s)412.363.2200

Affiliated with Children’s Hospital of Pittsburghof UPMC

S U M M E R 2 0 1 1

Health and Wellness News You Can Use

© 2011 UPMC

For residents of eastern communities

What’s Insidepage 2 Enhancing Your Surgical Options

in Monroeville

page 3 The Good News About Heart Disease

Six Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure

page 4 Young Athletes and Sudden Cardiac DeathWhat Parents Need to Know

Exercise: Too Much of a Good Thing Can Be Harmful

page 5 The Downside of Falls

page 6 Choosing the Right Doctor for You

page 7 Improve the Quality of Your Life

2 www.UPMC.com/Today

Watch for a new look for the surgery centerThis summer, visitors to UPMC’s surgery center in Monroeville will see the completion of some impressive newphysical changes.

“We’ve always provided our patients withtop quality care,” says Melissa L. Kovtun,executive director of Monroeville-basedservices. “Now that care will be offeredin even more comfortable and warm surroundings.” In addition to updatingthe center’s reception area, waitingrooms, and other public spaces, new pre- and post-operative facilities are being modernized.

Same-day surgery trend continues to growMany procedures that once required patients to be hospitalized can now bedone on an outpatient basis.

In fact, last year 35 million same-day surgery procedures were performed in the United States. It’s a growing trend at the surgery center. “We currently average about 700 to 750 cases permonth,” says Ms. Kovtun, “and we expect those numbers will increase in the years to come.”

The surgery center can accommodatenearly any outpatient surgical procedure in these specialty areas:

• Ear, nose, and throat• Gastroenterology

(digestive disorders)• General surgery• Gynecology• Ophthalmology• Orthopaedics• Pain management• Plastic surgery• Podiatry• Surgical oncology

(breast care specialists)• Urology

Delivering expert care — and more“Our location and amenities definitelymake the surgery center an attractive option for area residents, but it’s the quality of care that patients appreciate the most,” says Robert A. Kaufmann, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at UPMC. “We have warm and caring people whowork together as a team to provide outstanding care. Our patients have come to expect that from us.”

For Dr. Kaufmann, the surgery center has been home base since 2003.“We treat very complex problems at a world-class level in a surgery center that is convenient to those who live in the eastern suburbs and would ratheravoid traveling into Pittsburgh if possible,”says Dr. Kaufmann. “The surgery staff is well-qualified, and we benefit from an excellent anesthesia department.”

Most physicians who provide surgical care for patients at the surgery center also operate at other UPMC hospitals and facilities. The Monroeville locationrepresents a convenience for some physicians as it does for their patients.“Many of our doctors live in and aroundthe Monroeville area. They value the ability to work in their own community,and they want their patients to be able tostay close to home, too,” says Ms. Kovtun.

The surgery center will continue to servethe community after the new UPMC Easthospital opens in summer 2012. To learnmore, go to www.UPMC.com, click Hospitals and Facilities, then CommunityMedical and Surgical Facilities.

To schedule an appointment with a UPMC-affiliated physician, visitwww.UPMC.com/FindADoctor, or call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).

Changes focus on improved resources for greater access, convenience, and care

The new UPMC East, a full-service community hospitalwith 156 patient rooms, opens in summer 2012. The new hospital will be capable of handling complex medicalcases and procedures, allowingyou to be cared for in your own community.

Did You Know?

Enhancing Your Surgical Options in Monroeville

blood vessels as well as your

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The Good News About Heart DiseaseTake charge of your heart through health screenings and heart-healthy lifestyle changes

Six Ways to Lower Your Blood PressureHigh blood pressure puts you at risk for heartattack, stroke, and other serious diseases.Follow these recommendations from Dr.Allen to take charge of this “silent killer”:• Increase physical activity. Aim for at least

30 minutes each day (most days) of brisk walking, bike riding, or other aerobic activity that you enjoy.

• Monitor your sodium. Limit your sodiumintake to less than two grams (2,000 mg) a day. Beware of “hidden” sodium inprocessed foods, including canned soup,lunch meats, frozen dinners, and crackers.

• Eat healthy. Follow a lower-fat diet that’s rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods.

• Control your stress.Take 15 minutes eachday to decompress and focus on yourself.Listen to music, read, pray, or meditate.

• Don’t smoke!Nicotine has a direct effecton your blood vessels as well as yourlungs. It causes your heart to beat faster,and raises your blood pressure.

• Take your medicine. If medicine is neededto control your blood pressure, make sureyou take it as prescribed by your doctor.

Heart disease is the nation’s leadingcause of death for both men andwomen. Every 25 seconds, someone experiences a coronary event; everyminute, it claims a life.

The good news? You can take steps to reduce your risk of heart disease through routine screening and lifestylechanges — even if you’ve already had aheart attack or stroke.

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

“Screening absolutely saves lives. We can help people change the outcome once we know their risk factor levels,” Dr. Edmundowicz says.

Heart-Healthy Resources in MonroevilleChristopher C. Allen, MD, cardiologist at UPMC at Oxford Drive in Monroeville, recommends regular health screenings that tell you your numbers and whetheryou need to take action.

For example, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can damage your heartand blood vessels, but you wouldn’t know you have these conditions withouttesting for them.

UPMC cardiologists in Monroeville usetools such as EKGs, ultrasound, and CTscans to look for signs of atherosclerosis in the heart, neck, legs, and arms — especially if you have a family history ofcardiovascular disease. At UPMC’s Heartand Vascular Institute, you can take advantage of the region’s only low radiation electron beam CT scan, whichlooks specifically for calcium in the coronary arteries as a marker of the cholesterol accumulation that can causesudden heart attacks.

“The more risk factors you have, thegreater your chance of developing heartdisease,” says Dr. Allen. “While you can’tcontrol genetics, you can take steps to control many other risk factors by eating ahealthy diet, exercising, not smoking, andmaintaining a healthy body weight. Somechanges — like quitting smoking — canhave an immediate impact.”

“The bottom line: If you know your numbers and know your risk, you can do something about it,” says Dr. Allen.

Risk factors that can’tbe changed• Family history of heart disease,

carotid artery disease, or peripheral artery disease

• Age (65 and older)• Gender (men have a greater risk

of heart attack)

Risk factors that canbe changed• Smoking• High blood pressure • High cholesterol levels • Obesity• Physical inactivity

Become heart smartTake time to educate yourself about heart disease and the treatments available. The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute website is a one-stop source of informationabout cardiac conditions, as well as UPMC’s full spectrum of cardiovascular services from routine screenings to advanced cardiac care.Be sure to check it out atwww.UPMC.com/HeartandVascular.

Know your numbersAim for these vital numbers to keep your ticker in good working condition:

Monitor Target Levels

Cholesterol less than 200 mg/dL

Blood Pressure below 120/80

BMI (body mass index) 18.5–24.9

Ask your doctorIf you have questions or concerns aboutyour heart health, call your physician to schedule an appointment.


Young Athletes and Sudden Cardiac Death

What Parents Need to Know

Health Tips from UPMC Health Plan

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

that require immediate attention) • A history of a heart murmur or hypertension• Family history of coronary disease, sudden death, or

Marfan syndrome

Children with any of these risk factors or an abnormal physical examshould see a pediatric cardiologist, who is specially trained to look for cardiac problems in children and teens, Dr. Allada says. Further testing might include an EKG, echocardiogram, and stress test.He offers these tips to parents:• Don’t let your child play through chest pain. Pain can be a

warning sign.• Teach your child to avoid energy drinks that have high levels

of caffeine. Such drinks can make the heart race and cause cardiac arrhythmias. They are particularly dangerous for athletes with undiagnosed cardiac problems.

To learn more about caring for your child’s heart, visit www.chp.edu, then click on Child Health A-Z. To schedule an appointment with a Children’s-affiliated physician, call 412-692-PEDS (7337).

Exercise:Too Much of a GoodThing Can Be HarmfulRegular exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy life. Many of us, however, still struggle to fit even a moderate amount of exercise into our schedules.

But there are plenty of peoplewho are getting too much exercise. If some exercise is good,they think more will be better.Not true. In fact, excessive exercise can lead to a host ofphysical issues, including injuries,the loss of lean muscle mass, aweakened immune system, sleep problems, irritability, anddepression. A study in the American Journal of Cardiologysuggests that too much vigorousexercise also can increase the risk of heart problems.

Are you exercising too much?Experts say that if your workoutssuddenly seem more difficult than usual and you aren’t making progress, you may be overexercising.Other trouble signs include:• Insomnia• Aches or pain in muscles and/or joints• Fatigue• Feeling unmotivated and lacking energy• Increased susceptibility to colds, sore throats,

and other illnesses

If you’re experiencing any of these signs, see your doctor to find out if something else is causing the problem.

Just starting an exercise program?

Congratulations on taking an important step to improve your health. Here are a few tips to help yourbody adjust to a new routine:• Create a reasonable exercise program based

on attainable goals.• Exercise in moderation.• Begin slowly and build up gradually to avoid injuries.• Cut back the volume and intensity of your

workouts at the first sign of injury.• Listen to your body. When it needs a rest,

give it a rest.

Sources: American College of Sports Medicine, American Heart Association

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Three things you can do to prevent fallsExercise! Exercises such as tai chi or other relaxationexercises that improve balance and coordination canhelp lower your chances of falling and make you feel stronger.

See your doctor regularly. Annual physical and eye examinations can uncover underlying medical problemsthat can lead to falls. See your doctor if you feel unstableor dizzy, possibly due to medications. Tell your doctor ifyou fall; a medical evaluation can help.

Make your home safer. Seventy-five percent of all fallsoccur at home. To help make your home fall-proof:• Improve lighting. As you get older, you need brighter

lights to see well. Use night lights in your bedroom,hall, and bathroom.

• Remove small throw rugs. Tack down all carpets andarea rugs so they are firmly fastened to the floor.

• Remove things you can trip over. Clear books, clothes,and shoes from stairs and places you walk. Keepcords and wires near walls.

• Use handrails. Install grab bars near toilets, and both inside and outside your tub and shower. Always use the handrail when using the stairs.

• Store items within easy reach. Don’t store things toohigh or too low. Avoid using stepladders or stepstools. Most of all, think before you reach.

• Wear shoes with non-skid, non-friction soles. Avoidgoing barefoot or wearing only socks or loose-fittingslippers.

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

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three people over 65 experience at least one fall each year, and more than two-thirds of them are likely to fall again within six months.Falls also are the leading cause of accidental death in seniors. And, as many as 30 percent of those who fall end up with debilitating hip, pelvic, or spine fractures that make it harder to get around and adversely affect self-confidence. Even those who don’t suffer serious injury can become fearful.

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

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

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

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

UPMC Spotlight

The Downside of FallsPreventing tripping, falling can be key to maintaining independence

Leading the Work in Falls PreventionDr. Stephanie Studenski received the 2010 National Award for Falls Prevention Research and will be honored as the grand champion at the third annual Celebrating Senior Champions benefit dinner and auction Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. For more information about the event, sponsored by UPMC Senior Services, the Aging Institute, and the Division of Geriatric Medicine of the University of Pittsburgh, call Peggy VanHorn, benevolent care advocate, at 412-622-9239.


We’ve all heard about the importance of the doctor/patient relationship, oftendescribed as the cornerstone of qualitymedical care.

“In fact, the stronger that relationship, the better your chances of receiving theright care at the right time in the rightway,” says Tami Minnier, vice president of UPMC’s Donald J. Wolff, Jr. Center forQuality Improvement and Innovation. “At UPMC, our goal is to help you develop a long-term partnership in which your doctor is your number one health care champion.”

According to a 2010 survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, most of us are very satisfied with our physicians. It usually takes something major — like moving to a new area, changing medical insurance, or being diagnosed with a serious condition — to prompt us to look for a new doctor.

“If you’re in the process of changing doctors, there are some exciting new options to consider,” says Ms. Minnier.“For example, UPMC’s Health Plan isworking with a growing number of primary care physicians to implement patient-centered medical homes in theirpractices.” In this medical model, yourfamily doctor becomes the hub for all your care by linking you to a collaborativeteam of medical professionals — fromphysician assistants to specialists.

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

When searching for “Dr. Right,” here arefive helpful tips to locate the best match:

Determine what’s important to you“Finding the ‘right’ doctor often involvespersonal preferences apart from a physician’s skills or qualifications,” saysMs. Minnier. “For example, are you more comfortable with a doctor of yourgender? Is a primary care physician right for you, or do you have a medicalcondition that requires treatment by a specialist? And if easy access is a concern,do you need a doctor located close to your home or workplace?”

Get the opinion of people you trust“Begin your search by asking your circle of family, friends, and co-workers aboutthe positive experiences they’ve had,” sheadvises. “If you’re moving, or seeking aspecialist, your current doctor also can be an excellent referral source.”

Do some homework “There are a number of credible online resources, including UPMC’s Find aDoctor (www.UPMC.com/FindADoctor),with information on more than 5,000physicians, that allow you to confirm aphysician’s medical credentials, board certifications, and specialties,” says Ms. Minnier. You also can check with the state medical board at docboard.org.In general, avoid “doctor ranking” sites,which are unregulated and difficult to verify for accuracy.

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

Verify your doctor’s insurance plans and hospital affiliations“Most practices accept a variety of insurance plans, but be sure yours isamong them,” advises Ms. Minnier. “And should you ever require hospitalization or special tests, it’s important that your doctor be affiliatedwith a hospital you know and trust.”

Call for an appointment“Bring a written set of questions coveringyour concerns and expectations. Whenyour visit is over, evaluate the experience,”suggests Ms. Minnier. “Was it easy to getan appointment? Were you treated withrespect by both the doctor and the staff? If your answers are positive, you’re on theright path to a doctor/patient relationshipcharacterized by quality care, compassion,and open communication.”

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with a UPMC-affiliated physician, visitwww.UPMC.com/FindADoctor, or call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).

Choosing the Right Doctor for YouTaking the time to find “Dr. Right” is one of the most important investments you can make.

1-800-533-UPMC 7

Improve the Quality of Your Life Physical medicine and rehabilitation in Monroeville What does a grandmother who no longer gardens due to chronicknee pain, a mailman who has trouble walking his route due to debilitating back pain, and a high school soccer player who’s outof the game after suffering a concussion have in common?

All of them can receive physical medicine and rehabilitation(PM&R) services aimed at restoring their movement and function at our outpatient center on Oxford Drive, located next to Monroeville Mall. Also known as physiatry, PM&R is a medicalspecialty in which physicians diagnose, evaluate, and care for injuries and illnesses — primarily of the nerves, muscles, andbones. PM&R is often called the quality of life specialty because it improves quality of life by restoring the body’s function to thefullest degree possible.

”One of the things I love most about my work is the holistic approach we take to a patient’s primary medical complaint, andthen we explore how physical, social, and psychological factors affect that condition,” explains Shailen Greene Woods, MD, aphysician in physical medicine and rehabilitation. “We’re partnersin helping the body heal through neuromuscular re-education,physical and occupational therapy, and medication management.

“Our goal is to help every patient return to an active and healthy lifestyle — including resumption of work, hobbies, orsports,” says Dr. Greene Woods, who also is completing a fellowship in sports medicine and spine rehabilitation. “Ultimately, we help our patients feel their best — and that’s veryrewarding work.” To learn about UPMC’s physical medicine and rehabilitation

services in Monroeville, contact:

UPMC Centers for Rehab Services600 Oxford Drive, Suite 310Monroeville, PA 15146Phone: 412-380-0551

To schedule an appointment with a UPMC-affiliated physician, visit www.UPMC.com/FindADoctor, or call 412-533-UPMC (8762).

More about Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UPMC

Services include balance therapy, hand therapy, lymphedema management, neurorehabilitation, occupational and physical therapy, sports rehabilitationprograms, and a women’s rehabilitation program.

• Patients may be referred by an orthopaedic surgeon,neurologist, or family doctor for follow-up care aftersurgery, illness, or injury. They also can seek direct care.

• PM&R uses a variety of tools, from medical history and physical examination to imaging studies and electrodiagnostic techniques, to determine the source of pain, weakness, or numbness.

• Physiatrists can prescribe medications and assistive devices, and perform joint injections or interventionalspine procedures.

• PM&R patients also may receive physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy as part of their treatment.

• Promising new treatments include the use of ultrasound to both diagnose and treat certain medical conditions.

UPMC 600 Oxford DriveMonroeville, PA 15146

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.

UPMC has always been proud to be a part of Monroeville, providing residentsaccess to all of the resources of a nationally recognized academic medical center. Weoffer a breadth of services close to home, including primary care, advanced diagnosticcapabilities, specialty physician and surgical services, and cancer care. It’s our tradition,and commitment, to bring advanced and compassionate care to you where it mattersmost ... in your very own community.

For a comprehensive list of our Monroeville-based services or for directions to anyof our convenient locations, call 1-800-533-UPMC or visit www.UPMC.com/East.

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For a comprehensive list of our Monroeville-based services or for directions to any ofour convenient locations, call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762) or visit www.UPMC.com/East.

New UPMC EastOpens Summer

2012


dDining out is not just about eating food.

Dining out is about the entire experience – thedécor, the warmth of the host or hostess, thefriendliness and knowledge of your server,

the menu offerings, the ambiance, the feeling that thisis going to be a special dining adventure. And oh, yes,the quality of the food.

The Supper Club, located in the historic Train Station in Greensburg(101 Ehalt Street), has combined all the elements of dining to offerpatrons a truly enchanting epicurean experience. “We're building ouraudience every single day,” said operations manager Deb Driggers.The restaurant distinguishes itself as the “ONLY TRUE Farm to Table”dining establishment in Westmoreland County. What does that mean?It means The Supper Club believes “food that ismade fresh and grown locally just tastes better,”as stated on its menus. The restaurant utilizesabout 30 local farmers and purveyors. ExecutiveChef Greg Andrews and his culinary team makeall menu items, including breads, pastries, pizzadough, sauces, dressings, stocks, and ice creamin house. All meats and seafood are butcheredon premises.

General manager Ashlee Andrews says the“Farm to Table” concept is new to the area sothe restaurant makes a point of educating eachdiner. “We're very committed to serving the fresh-est ingredients possible,” she said.

The Farm to Table dining room menu is one ofseveral options at The Supper Club, depending ona diner's gastronomic mood. The Farm to TableDining Room, provides an intimate setting, andoffers a menu based on the season and whatfresh items are available. “It's produce-driven sowhen new things come to the market we try to bring those flavors toour guests the best way possible,” said Chef Andrews. Among theSpring/Summer 2011 Menu options are the “Well To Rare One SideCooked Organic Salmon” with Fede lemon tagliolini, caper berries,basil, roasted garlic and blood orange olive oil. The pasta comes fromFede Artisan Pasta located in neighboring North Huntingdon. Anotherfavorite from this menu is the Grilled Hanger Steak with fingerling pota-to hash, sauteed spinach, topped with a poached farm fresh egg andaccompanied by banana pepper jelly. Both dishes are wonderfullyfresh tasting and come in satisfying portions. Another crowd-pleaserfrom this menu, the “Trio of Jamison Lamb,” features grilled loin,braised shank ravioli and Marquez sausage. And of course, the lambcomes from the well-known Jamison Farm in nearby Latrobe.

Prior to our entrees, our server provided a basket of house-bakedbuttermilk honey bread in white and wholewheat accompanied bywhipped butter seasoned with sea salt, garlic and cracked pepper.

Perfectly crusty on the outside and tender on the inside, you will betempted to eat the entire basket and ask for more.

Another dining area is The Gastro Pub, an open, airy environment,where comfort food is given a modern, updated twist. For example, forthat old staple Mac and Cheese, Chef Andrews uses jumbo lump crab,Fede red pepper orecchiette “pig's ear” pasta, cheddar & Swisscheeses, and bechamel. The Supper Club's NYC Burger is popular, too.It's comprised of the chef's premium blend of ground brisket, chuckand top round. Burgers are served with lettuce, tomato, pickle, freshbaked roll, and a side of house–made Yukon Gold potato chips. Insteadof chips, however, you can get house made pommes frites, tater tots ora small green salad. For an even more special dining feat, you can sitat The Chef's Table and enjoy a nine-course tasting menu created byChef Andrews. The Chef's Table is right in the kitchen and seats eight.

Beforehand, Chef Andrews does discuss withdiners any food allergies or special dietaryneeds they may have. Yet another choice forenjoying The Supper Club experience is theWine Loft Lounge, a chic wine bar on the sec-ond floor that looks out over The Gastro Pub.It's a perfect place for a pre-dinner cocktail andappetizer or for a small meeting or private party.An added bonus to being in the Wine Loft isbeing able to watch the trains roll by.

The Supper Club also offers week day spe-cials such as Meatball & Martini Mondays fea-turing $6 martinis and 50 cent gourmet meat-balls, made of lamb, duck, turkey or sausage;Tuesdays, the special is prime rib; there's a“wine-centric” menu on Wednesdays andThursdays are for “The Happiest Hour inGreensburg” with complimentary food from 5 to 6p.m. (with the purchase of an alcoholic beverage)and live music from 5 to 7 p.m. There's also live

music on the weekends. For the summer, starting inJune, the restaurant is replacing its Sunday Supper with a Farmer'sMarket from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. People will have the opportunity to meetmany of The Supper Club's local farmers and vendors, as well as pur-chase home made baked goods and ice cream. The sidewalk cafe willbe open to enjoy burgers and other delights straight from Chef Greg'soutside grill. Boxed lunches will be available for take-out. Catering isavailable as well, with the The Supper Club providing a myriad of menuoptions from hot and cold appetizers to sit-down lunch or brunch todesserts. Its specialty cakes and cupcakes, made by their pastry chef,are becoming popular, too.

� For more information on The Supper Club at the Greensburg TrainStation, including full menus, and specials, visitwww.SupperClubGreensburg.com

H undreds of motorcyclists – some in leather riding chaps,others in jeans – made their way to Murrysville AllianceChurch recently for the 15th Annual Blessing of the

Bikes. Bikers from across the region filled the church sanctuary, thehallways, and the parking lot as Pastor Dan Lawrence, a biker andVietnam vet, preached a sermon aimed at motorcycle enthusiasts.

During the sermon, Pastor Dan – clad in jeans and a denim vestwith two shiny motorcycles on one side of the pulpit stage – talkedabout being prepared for that “last ride.” In the parking lot wasseemingly every size, shape and color of motorcycle: Harleys,racing bikes, and three-wheelers, some gleaming to perfection andothers that have seen better days.

After the sermon, Pastor Dan, Murrysville Mayor RobertBrooks, and other guests took to the platform outside the church

to ask the audience to remember the brave men and women servingin the military and to administer a blessing for safe travels for thosewho will be hitting the road via motorcycle as the weather getswarmer.

One such person is Walter Opat, a Trafford resident who’s beencoming to the Blessing of the Bikes for the past four years. “I actuallygo to this church,” he said, as he stood outside on a blustery, over-cast Palm Sunday. “If this was a sunny day therewould be between 5,000 and 10,000 people out here.”Opat lauded Pastor Dan for tending to the spiritualneeds of bikers and Vietnam veterans, like him. Hesaid the pastor travels on motorcycle to California toescort the Rolling Thunder, a Vietnam veterans bikergroup, to Washington, DC for Memorial Day services.Asked if he ever made that journey, Opat lookedaway, took a long pause and said, “It’s too tough,”his voice choking with emotion. “There [are] toomany guys on that wall.”

Cindy Lincoln of Murrysville said she and Opat’sbrother, Ed Opat, a Murrysville business owner,have been coming out for the past five years. Theyare also church members. What brings them out?“The fact that we really want to be a blessedgroup,” Lincoln said. “Our pastor likes to make adifference. He doesn’t like publicity, but he likes usto make a difference in our communities,” she added.

Vaughn Zanotto of Plum, also a church member, began coming in

BikesBlessing

of the


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2002 because he wanted to see what theevent was all about. He said he learned that“you can ride a motorcycle to church and youcan worship the Lord at the same time.”

Pam Williams and Lisa Hecker, both ofNew Kensington, and Robin Renfrew, ofValencia, are part of Women on Wheels, an international organization for female motorcyclists. “You can’t start the riding season without getting the bike blessed,” saidWilliams as they stood in the parking lot.

Inside, Duquesne resident DeborahMcLemore, who rides with her husbandEugene as members of the PittsburghHardriders II, awaited the blessing ceremony with her daughter TamaraMcLemore, granddaughter DeilonaDeVaughn, and fellow rider Vera Pollard ofPenn Hills. “The camaraderie is great, getting to see people you haven’t seensince last year,” Deborah McLemore said.

�

�

Joyous laughter, sumptuous food, and

great camaraderie are just as big a

part of The Murrysville-Export

Rotary’s Annual Lotto Night as the

gaming tables, basket auction and the

highly anticipated drawdown to the

$5,000 grand prize.

Held April 8 at the Lamplighter Restaurant and Banquet Facilityin Delmont, Lotto Night is the Rotary’s biggest event of the year andraises money for the myriad of community projects the organiza-tion undertakes. Natalie Hooper, chairperson for the event andincoming Rotary president, said it takes about 10 months of planningto get it all together. While it’s the same for the most part, there wasa new addition this year. “Anyone who stayed [had a chance to win]a getaway to Nemacolin,” she explained. The winner was drawnfrom among the more than 200 tickets that were sold for the event.Hooper also pointed out the hard work of one member who hadtaken charge of the basket auction, which resulted in more than 20baskets being auctioned off this year.

The Murrysville-Export Rotary is very active in the area, saidHooper, who will take the reins July 1. Its projects, charitableparticipation and donations include: donations to Salvation Army(Rotarians also participate in holiday bell ringing); hosting ofinbound exchange students and sponsoring of outboundexchange students; scholarships to two Franklin Regional sen-iors; annual cleanup of King Nature Reserve and Olive Cemetery;donations to Meals on Wheels; and sponsorship of theMurrysville Halloween Parade, Desert Storm Memorial, and BoyScouts of America.

The list goes on and on, but one of the Rotary’s biggest undertak-ings to date is the building of Miracle Field in Murrysville Park. It isa special rubberized field made to accommodate wheelchairs and tomake it easier for persons with disabilities to play ball. “It has been

something that’s been going on for a few years and now we’restarting to see the excitement and we’re really starting to see itcome to life,” Hooper said.

Current Rotary president Nick Dorsch, a member of the MiracleField committee, said the hope is that construction on the $2 mil-lion project, which may include a walking trail and basketballcourt, can begin within a month with ball playing starting in thefall. “It kicked off as a small idea and we slowly grew it,” Dorschsaid. He explained that the Rotary is one of the few organizationsin which all of the money donated or raised goes directly to com-munity projects. That list of projects varies depending on whatideas the members develop. “We continue to grow the list of whatwe do in our community,” Dorsch said.

One of the things on that growing list is the third gradedictionary project, for which the Rotary gives every thirdgrader in the Franklin Regional School District a dictionary.The organization doesn’t just send the books to the elemen-tary school but sends representatives who do an entire pres-entation. “We go sit with them in the classroom, teach themhow to use it,” Dorsch said. “Literacy projects are a big partof what Rotary does.”


NIGHT

Murrysville-Export Rotary’s


Of course, the Murrysville-Export Rotary is part of RotaryInternational, which has ledthe charge in eradicatingpolio around the world (andthe local Rotaries have beenpart of that effort as well). For the last 15 years, theMurrysville-Export Rotary has been involved in anotherinternational effort – bio-sand filters which are installed inhouseholds in underdeveloped countries to provide cleandrinking water. “We get people to sponsor bio-sand filtersand the Rotary sends[them] wherever theneed is,” Dorsch said.His organization hasbeen sending the filters,which cost $100 each, tothe Dominican Republic.For more informationabout the Murrysville-Export Rotary, visitwww.murrysville-exportrotary.org.


Murrysville Honors Our VeteransMurrysville supports, remembers, and honors our veterans in many permanent new ways in 2011.

Have you been to Murrysville Community Park (MCP) on Wiestertown Road lately? Wededicated a new "Services Monument" (shown at right) with its three flag poles and two 5'x 10' granite sheets displaying symbols honoring the five services that protect our nation's

freedoms and the five services that protect our Murrysville citizens locally. In front of this monu-ment are plantings and "personalized pavers" in memory forever of our grandparents, parents,uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters, and friends, who served our country to guard and protectus and our democracy.

Murrysville provides a personalized paver for all residents, who lost their lives while servingtheir country. And, we offer YOU the opportunity to supply a paver for your loved ones. StaffSergeant Thor Ingraham died in the line of duty in Iraq in 2005. A picture of his paver is shownhere and has been laid in front of the MCP monument. For just $250, you can give us the name ofyour loved one to be remembered in a forever paver and we will cut and install it in front of the MCPmonument for all to see, remember, and honor. In this way, you will also help to pay for this tribute to allof our service people and honor all USA veterans. (For more information on purchasing a paver, pleasecontact the Municipality of Murrysville, 724.327.2100, Ext. 115.)

On Saturday, June 11, 2011, at 11 a.m., Murrysville veterans, along with Representative JosephMarkosek, the Municipality of Murrysville, and the Murrysville Garden Club will dedicate a new,beautifully landscaped 50’ flag pole on Route 22, which will fly a lighted 8’ x 16’ American flag.Every day as you travel past Leone’s Pet Shop or S&T Bank, you can see this constant reminderof the freedom we are so lucky to live within and remember those who worked, and thosewho still work, to protect this great democracy.

So this Memorial Day, Veterans’ Day, and 9/11 (tenth anniversary in2011), please take some time out of your busy schedule to paytribute, along with the rest of your fellow Murrysville citizens.Also, remember to say thank you to our servicemen andwomen in uniform, whenever you see them and salute the flagwith great pride. God Bless America.

Robert J. BrooksMayorMunicipality of Murrysville

A LETTER from the MAYORM U N I C I P A L I T Y O F M U R R Y S V I L L E


Dementia is defined as a significant loss of intellectual abilities suchas memory capacity, severe enough to interfere with social or occu-

pational functioning. Symptoms include the impairment of attention, orien-tation, memory, judgment, language, motor and spatial skills, and function.Dementia can be reversible when caused by drugs, alcohol, hormone orvitamin imbalances, or depression. More often than not, dementias fall intothe irreversible category.

The most common form of irreversible dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.It is a progressive, fatal brain disease that destroys brain cells, causingproblems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affectwork, lifelong hobbies or social life. Today it is the seventh leading causeof death in the United States.

Vascular dementia is widely considered the second most common typeof dementia. It develops when impaired blood flow to parts of the braindeprives cells of food and oxygen. The diagnosis is clearest when symp-toms appear soon after a major stroke or after a series of small strokes.

A rare, but recently becoming more diagnosed form of dementia isFrontotemporal Dementia or FTD. This type of dementia affects the front(frontal lobes) and the sides (temporal lobes) of the brain. FTD tends tohave a more rapid onset than most dementias and symptoms often involvechanges in personality, judgment, planning, and social functioning.

Another type of dementia being diagnosed more frequently is MildCognitive Impairment (MCI). MCI is a condition in which a person has prob-lems with memory, language, or another mental function severe enough to benoticeable to other people and to show up on tests, but not serious enough tointerfere with daily life. Caregivers beware, this diagnosis often leads toAlzheimer’s disease or another dementia listed above.

Family members and caregivers are often told their loved one has one ofthe dementias mentioned above, but with little or no information on what todo next. For these families in need of a next step or further education ondementia and care options, Arden Courts proves to be a communityresource.

Arden Courts is an personal care community specifically designed forindividuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments.Our home-like atmosphere, structured programming, and staff specificallytrained in the latest dementia caregiving techniques all work together toprovide our residents with the best quality of life.

Our community’s layout is residential by design, small in scale andorganized into four self-contained houses. A secure backyard with walkingpaths, garden areas and places to sit are a favorite of our residents whoenjoy the outdoors. There are visual cues everywhere to help our resi-dents stay oriented and as independent as possible, no matter the demen-tia diagnosis received.

Arden Courts focuses on maximizing the remaining abilities for eachresident, customizing their care as needed with tailored service plans. Ourinnovative, success-oriented activity programs give our residents a senseof purpose and fulfillment that keeps them stimulated and engaged at alllevels of their own abilities.

The Many Faces of Dementia

With over 100 types of dementia, it is easy to understandwhy caregivers can become confused when attempting todetermine which dementia they are faced with and how tocare for their loved one. Even more frustrating is the factthat individuals affected by dementia react to it differently,

so not all symptoms and characteristics are similar.

Our entire staff participates in a comprehensive training program on all typesof dementia, communication techniques and behavior management which helpsArden Courts continue its tradition of being a proven leader in dementia care.

Arden Courts provides informational materials and conducts educationalseminars for the at-home caregiver that can assist in making the journey alittle easier. To receive info about our free seminars, events, dementiaresearch updates, and caregiver tips, call Arden Courts of Monroeville.

Please contact us today to set up a consultation with a member of our staffto obtain more information on how you can better help your loved one.

Source: Alzheimier's Association www.alz.org.

For more information, contact Arden Courts – Memory Care Community of Monroeville at 412.380.1300.

Here are a few of the faces of dementia…

When you think of someone who has su,ered a stroke, commonimages arise: paralysis on one side of the body and di/culty withspeech and coordination. While stroke can occur at any age,most people associate strokes with older people.

So if you’re an athletic 24-year-old with no history of brain injury, on the beach at Ocean City, Maryland during the Fourth of July holiday with stroke-like symptoms, denial is a natural response.

And for Ashly Hunt, she denied her symptoms until the moment she was loaded into a helicopter.

“I remember thinking I wanted water. I am a huge runner. I ran before this and thought I was dehydrated,” she said. “It literally took the life-flight to believe that I wasn’t dehydrated.When it’s happening to you you’re not thinking the worst.”

Within a matter of hours, what she thought was a simpleheadache evolved and robbed her of her sight and ability tospeak. She also had trouble moving her arms and hands. Emergency responders decided to life-flight her to the nearesthospital in Baltimore, where she was diagnosed with a brainstem hemorrhage. Blood from the hemorrhage was pooling in an area that connects her brain to her spinal cord, causing her tolose movement on her right side, and creating a major dilemmafor the neurosurgeons because they believed the site was toorisky to treat with surgery.

Soon after the diagnosis, Ashly entered a rehabilitation program in her hometown of Johnstown, Pa., to help her regain movement of the extremities that were a,ected by thehemorrhage. However, after several weeks in rehabilitation andslight improvements in her vision and speech, Ashly’s overallcondition began to worsen. Ashly still maintained her hearing,but what she heard going on around her, she didn’t like. Until she met Robert Friedlander, MD, at UPMC.

UPMC neurosurgery patient making strides after su&ering a near fatal brain hemorrhage.

Robert Friedlander, MD, left, and Michael Horowitz, MD, discusstreatment options with a patient who has an unruptured aneurysm.

Ashly Hunt

On theROADTO

By Mark Berton


When you think of someone who has su,ered a stroke, commonimages arise: paralysis on one side of the body and di/culty withspeech and coordination. While stroke can occur at any age,most people associate strokes with older people.

So if you’re an athletic 24-year-old with no history of brain injury, on the beach at Ocean City, Maryland during the Fourth of July holiday with stroke-like symptoms, denial is a natural response.

And for Ashly Hunt, she denied her symptoms until the moment she was loaded into a helicopter.

“I remember thinking I wanted water. I am a huge runner. I ran before this and thought I was dehydrated,” she said. “It literally took the life-flight to believe that I wasn’t dehydrated.When it’s happening to you you’re not thinking the worst.”

Within a matter of hours, what she thought was a simpleheadache evolved and robbed her of her sight and ability tospeak. She also had trouble moving her arms and hands. Emergency responders decided to life-flight her to the nearesthospital in Baltimore, where she was diagnosed with a brainstem hemorrhage. Blood from the hemorrhage was pooling in an area that connects her brain to her spinal cord, causing her tolose movement on her right side, and creating a major dilemmafor the neurosurgeons because they believed the site was toorisky to treat with surgery.

Soon after the diagnosis, Ashly entered a rehabilitation program in her hometown of Johnstown, Pa., to help her regain movement of the extremities that were a,ected by thehemorrhage. However, after several weeks in rehabilitation andslight improvements in her vision and speech, Ashly’s overallcondition began to worsen. Ashly still maintained her hearing,but what she heard going on around her, she didn’t like. Until she met Robert Friedlander, MD, at UPMC.

UPMC neurosurgery patient making strides after su&ering a near fatal brain hemorrhage.

Robert Friedlander, MD, left, and Michael Horowitz, MD, discusstreatment options with a patient who has an unruptured aneurysm.

Ashly Hunt

On theROADTO

By Mark Berton Dr. Friedlander was called after Ashly’s family doctor consultedwith a neurosurgeon at The Johns Hopkins University, who recommended that Dr. Friedlander manage this complex situation.Within four hours of the initial consultation, Ashly was in an ambulance headed for Pittsburgh where, she said, she met thedoctor who made all the di,erence.

“I couldn’t speak and had a hard time seeing, but my brain was processing everything. All of the other doctors were talkingabove me and not looking at me, not doing anything with me even though I understood them all,” she said. “Until I went to Dr. Friedlander and he worked with me through my condition togive him the answers he needed. He never came o, as pompous.He’s the most caring person I’ve dealt with to this day.”

Ashly’s hemorrhage was caused by an underlying conditioncalled a cavernous malformation, which is an abnormal, berry-likepatch of blood vessels located inside her brain stem. Because thebrain stem is deeply situated within the base of the brain and controls important functions such as movement, sensation,breathing, and instructing the heart to beat, surgery to remove the malformation was extremely risky. However, if left untreated,the malformed vessels could again bleed and result in additionalcritical neurologic damage or even death.

Dr. Friedlander and the neurosurgeons at UPMC faced the challenging task of removing the malformation without causingfurther complications. Using advanced brain imaging technologyknown as High Definition Fiber Tracking, pioneered at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Friedlander was able to view the detailed wiring of Ashly’s brain fibers to determine the best way to execute the surgery with as little damage to her brain as possible. In order to obtain appropriate access to the brainstem, Dr. Friedlander turned to Dr. Barry Hirsch, a skull base ENT surgeon at UPMC. Using a special microscope and imageguidance device, Dr. Friedlander approached the brain stem andwas able to completely remove the cavernous malformation.

After surgery, Ashly’s vision and speech began to improve. She also could move her right hand, which had been paralyzed.She improved daily, making strides with her balance, speech,movements, and other functions, and credits her improvement to her strict discipline in following her doctors’ recommendationsand her physical therapy program.

“If I could say one thing to inspire anyone going through this it’s that you can’t just sit there. It becomes your job,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of people who have had strokes. You can’t just sitdown and think you’ll get better. You have to follow the therapyand give your body time.”

While she’s been living with her parents in Johnstown duringher recovery, Ashly is looking forward to getting back to her life in Baltimore.

“I’m pretty close to 100 percent now. My hand and foot are the last things I’m waiting for to come back,” she said. “I’m writing again. It’s like a 3-year-old, but I am. I’m going to be 100 percent.”

Her road to recovery has been long. Approaching the anniversary of her ordeal, she and her family are thankful to Dr. Friedlander and everyone on the UPMC sta, who helped her through this challenging time. She maintains a blog atashlystatus.com, where family and friends post updates on her condition.

“I’ll never forget, Dr. Friedlander said to me, ‘We’re a team. I’ll do my part as long as you do yours,’” she said. “That’s big in my mind. That made an impact.”

For more information, please call the UPMC Department of Neurological Surgery at 1-866-979-1336 or visit UPMC.com/nv.

This patient’s treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases.

From left to right, Brian Jankowitz, MD, Paul Gardner, MD, Daniel Wecht, MD, and L. Dade Lunsford, MD, discuss a complex neurovascular case.

“I’m pretty close to 100 percent now. My hand and foot are the last things

I’m waiting for to come back. I’m writing again. It’s like a 3-year-old, but I am.

I’m going to be 100 percent.”

Ashly Hunt



It's a fact: The average American holds nine different jobs before theage of 34.* It's also a fact that the decisions you make about how tomanage retirement assets when changing jobs can have a direct

impact on your future financial health.Case in point: "Cashing out" retirement plan assets before age 59½

(55 in some cases) can expose your savings to immediate income taxesand a 10% IRS early withdrawal penalty. On the other hand, there areseveral different strategies that could preserve the full value of yourassets while allowing you to maintain tax-deferred growth potential.

Well Informed = Well PreparedOption #1: Leave the Money Where It Is If the vested portion of theaccount balance in your former employer's plan has exceeded $5,000,you can generally leave the money in that plan. Any money thatremains in an old plan still belongs to you and still has the potential fortax-deferred growth.** However, you won't be able to make additionalcontributions to that account.Option #2: Transfer the Money to Your New Plan You may be ableto roll over assets from an old plan to a new plan without triggeringany penalty or immediate taxation. A primary benefit of this strategy isyour ability to consolidate retirement assets into one account.**Option #3: Transfer the Money to a Rollover IRA To avoid incurringany taxation or penalties, you can enact a direct rollover from yourprevious plan to an individual retirement account (IRA).** If you opt for

an indirect transfer, you will receive a distribu-tion check from your previous plan equal to

the amount of your balance minus an auto-matic 20% tax withholding. You then have60 days to deposit the entire amount ofyour previous balance into an IRA

which means you will need tomake up the 20% withholding

out of your own pocket.***Option #4: Take theCash Because of theincome tax obligationsand potential 10%penalty describedabove, thisapproach couldtake the biggestbite out of yourassets. Not onlywill the value ofyour savings dropimmediately, butalso you'll no

Make the Most of Your Retirement Account Options

Tips for Transitions:

Are You Living the Life

of Your Dreams?

Securities are offered through LPL Financial,

Member FINRA/SIPC

SM

I n d e p e n d e n c e P o w e r e d B y L P L F i n a n c i a l

The Advisors, LLC Bryan C. Davis President 3875 Franklintowne Ct #130 Murrysville , PA 15668-1265 724 733 8564 fax 724 733 7333 office [email protected] www.theadvisorsllc.com

Is your dream to travel to distant lands, send your child to college, or to simply have the financial means for a comfortable retirement?

We can help you identify your dreams, values and priorities and design a comprehensive plan that targets every aspect of your life goals.

If you are already living the life of your dreams, we can help you plan ahead so that it may continue. If you are still on your journey, we can design a step-by-step roadmap to help you get to where you want to be.

Call today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

longer have that money earmarked for retirement in a tax-advantaged account.*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. **Withdrawals will be taxed atordinary income tax rates. Early withdrawals may trigger a 10%penalty tax. ***You will receive credit for the withholding when youfile your next tax return. © 2010 Standard & Poor's FinancialCommunications. All rights reserved.

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| INWEST JEFFERSON HILLS |

| INWEST MIFFLIN |

| INWOODLAND HILLS |

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Travel and Tours

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603 East McMurray Road McMurray, PA 15317 Ph: 724.260.5341 www.threeriverstravel.com

And many more.

Authorized agent for these trusted vacation specialists:

in murrysville

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