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www.northhillsmonthly.com December 2011 North Hills Monthly MAGAZINE 1

DECEMBER 2011 

In this issue 

COVER STORY 

Patient Education a Priority at the 

Vein Institute of Pittsburgh..........................4 

BY VANESSA ORR 

Extreme Decorating 

Brings Extreme Joy.......................................6 

BY CARLA SIMMONS 

PERSPECTIVE 

How Can We Keep the Holidays Safe?.........8 

An interview with Gregory Quatchak, 

Fire Chief, Ingomar Fire Department 

BY JACK ETZEL 

Glade Run Brings the Spirit of 

Christmas to Children in Need..................14 

BY CLARE HEEKIN LYNCH 

Angels on Earth Help Those 

Less Fortunate............................................18 

BY HILARY DANINHIRSCH 

Through a Glass Brightly: Southerner 

Turned Pittsburgher Captures Regional 

Beauty on Camera.....................................24 

BY COURTNEY HARTZEL 

Legacy Music Series Helps 

Hospital Visitors Relax...............................28 

BY VANESSA ORR 

Embroidery: A Timeless Art 

Comes of Age............................................32 

BY CARLA SIMMONS 

4 

In Every Issue 

Larry’s Line-up.................. 

6 

14 

Home & Garden............... 

13 

16 

Dr. Knowledge.................. 20 

Real Estate Matters........... 22 

Save the Date.................... 23 

Person of Distinction........ 26 

Legal Matters.................... 34 

New & Notable................ 40 

Community Events........... 42 

Worship Directory............. 44 

First Persons 

CHOICE CHIROPRACTIC........................ 9 

CLEARSKIN SOLUTIONS........................ 10 

NEST EXPRESSIONS............................... 11 

HEALTHY PET PRODUCTS..................... 17 

NPI-CHINESE FOOT MASSAGE.............. 27 

CELTIC HEALTHCARE.............................. 29 

correction 

In November’s article, Function 

Over Fashion: Avoid Foot Injuries 

by Choosing the Proper Shoe, the 

name of Physical Rehabilitation 

Services was incorrectly identified. 

We apologize for the error. 

NORTH HILLS 

MONTHLY 

Your PREMIER Community Magazine 

PUBLISHED BY: 

Our mission . . . To provide 

informative, educational and upbeat 

information that will have a positive 

impact on our readers. Our focus is on 

community events, community 

resources, contemporary parenting, 

health and fitness, recreation, North 

Hills & southwest Butler County area 

perspectives, people profiles and 

community worship. 

NORTH HILLS MONTHLY MAGAZINE is 

published 12 times per year by Lutz and 

Associates Publishing, Inc. Post Office 

Box 386, Zelienople, PA 16063-0386. 

NORTH HILLS MONTHLY MAGAZINE is 

available free of charge to all area 

residents. Mail subscriptions may be 

purchased for $36.00 per year by 

contacting our sales office. 

Delivery Address: 

20232 Perry Highway, Second Floor, 

Cranberry Twp., PA 16066 

Mailing Address: 

Post Office Box 386 

Zelienople, PA 16063-0386 

President & Publisher: 

Carl Craig Lutz 

craigl@northhillsmonthly.com 

General Manager: 

Mary Margaret Fisher 

mmfisher@northhillsmonthly.com 

Executive Editor: 

Perspective Editor: 

Community Events: 

Art Director: 

Vanessa Orr 

Jack Etzel 

Anna Ricciardi 

Erin McGonigle Brammer 

Sales Executive: 

Janis Walsh 

janis@northhillsmonthly.com 

724-776-9800 

Fax: 724-776-9811 

Editorial: venus1@consolidated.net 

northhillsmonthly.com 

©2011 by Lutz and Associates Publishing, Inc. 

on the cover 

Terrance R. Krysinski, MD, board-certified 

phlebologist and general surgeon at 

The Vein Institute of Pittsburgh and son, Spencer, 

are welcomed to the Pittsburgh Zoo by 

Maggie the sea lion. 

COVER PHOTO PROVIDED BY KATHY WOLFE PHOTOGRAPHY

“What is unique about our practice is 

the level of involvement I have with our 

patients—they always see a doctor when 

they’re here,” explained Dr. Krysinski. 

“Most other practices have patients 

screened by a technician who 

determines the level of a patient’s 

disease—and in some practices, a 

patient never even meets the doctor until 

his or her operation.” 

Having been in practice since 2000, 

Dr. Krysinski has seen the field of 

CoverStory 

Back row (left to right) Kelly Heffner, Carla Snyder, Lori Sleva, Deanna Sirkoch 

Front row (left to right) Brittany Greil, Lori Schofield, Heidi Wild, Dena Miller, Amanda Beyer 

Patient Education a Priority at the 

Vein Institute of Pittsburgh 

By Vanessa Orr 

As medical technology has advanced, so have the ways in which 

different conditions can be treated. At The Vein Institute of 

Pittsburgh, educating patients about venous disease and its 

treatment is a priority—as is making sure that each patient’s care 

is personally overseen by Terrance R. Krysinski, MD. 

phlebology undergo many changes, 

particularly with the addition of lasers in 

treating venous disease. While vein 

stripping used to be the standard of care, 

minimally invasive services have now 

replaced that painful process. 

“Patient education is a vital part of our 

practice. We want our patients to 

understand the programs on which they 

are embarking, whether they are being 

treated for varicose veins or receiving 

cosmetic treatments,” said Dr. Krysinski. 

“As a physician, my level of involvement 

is absolutely critical to overall patient 

care. It helps patients when this 

information is provided directly from 

their doctor, even if that takes some 

extra time.” 

The Vein Institute of Pittsburgh offers 

a variety of treatments for varicose veins 

including endovenous laser ablation, 

ultrasound guided sclerotherapy and 

micro-phlebectomy. The Institute works 

in partnership with Cosmetic Laser 

4 North Hills Monthly MAGAZINE December 2011 www.northhillsmonthly.com

Centers to provide a full spectrum of 

vein care. “Over the past decade, 

noninvasive services have become very 

popular, so it was a natural extension of 

our practice to add cosmetic 

procedures,” explained Dr. Krysinski. 

Up through the 1990s, treatment for 

varicose veins almost always required 

surgery; today, minimally invasive 

procedures have made it possible for 

patients to be treated quickly and easily. 

“Lasers have revolutionized the way we 

take care of common afflictions like 

varicose veins,” said Dr. Krysinski. 

“Patients can be treated in an office 

setting instead of a hospital, and the 

treatment is painless. The patient remains 

wide awake, is ambulatory immediately 

following surgery, and can return to his or 

her normal activities right away. The vast 

majority of these procedures 

are also covered by 

insurance.” 

Dr. Krysinski, who is boardcertified 

in phlebology and 

certified in ultrasound 

technology, recommends that 

patients take a proactive role 

in whom they choose for their 

treatment. “A number of 

practices do not specialize in 

this area; they do it on the 

side,” he explained. “We’ve 

treated thousands of patients 

over the years, and in fact, 

continue to see an increase in 

the number of patients who 

are referred to us by primary 

care providers who have seen 

the work that we’ve done.” 

Since starting his practice 

more than a decade ago, Dr. 

Krysinski, his wife, and the 

staff of The Vein Institute have 

also promoted the importance 

of education in another arena 

as supporters of the 

Pittsburgh Zoo. “Everyone 

here is a big animal lover—we 

all have tons of pets,” said Dr. 

Krysinski. “Our support of the 

zoo is an extension of who we 

are as a practice; we’ve 

always liked what they do.” 

According to Connie 

George, director of marketing and public 

relations for the Pittsburgh Zoo, it is 

support from organizations like The Vein 

Institute that helps them succeed. 

“Partners like the Krysinskis and The Vein 

Institute are integral to the success of our 

education and conservation programs,” 

she said. 

A new exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo showcases two male African lion cubs. 

Dr. Terrance Krysinski with son Spencer at the PPG Aquarium 

at the Pittsburgh Zoo. 

For more than 100 years, the 

Pittsburgh Zoo has been a place where 

people could connect with animals. More 

than 900,000 people visited the zoo in 

2011, viewing thousands of animals that 

represent more than 400 species, 

including 22 that are threatened or 

endangered. “I think one thing that makes 

us unique is the diversity of animals that 

we have, even in our aquarium,” said 

George. “Many zoos are geared toward 

one geographic area or, in the case of an 

aquarium, one type of water. Here, we 

show a diversity of animals in many 

different types of habitats.” 

In the PPG Aquarium, for example, 

visitors can see aquatic species from the 

Amazon River to the Antarctic Ocean to 

freshwater Pennsylvania streams. New 

exhibits include Amur tiger cubs, an Amur 

leopard—one of the rarest felines in the 

world, African Painted Dogs, and two new 

male African lions. “They’re only cubs, 

and they’re already 400 pounds each,” 

said George. “They’re really beautiful.” 

Favorite exhibits include the polar 

bears and Kids’ Kingdom, which has been 

ranked as one of the top 10 children’s 

zoos in the nation. The zoo offers a wide 

array of classes and workshops that allow 

children and adults to identify closely with 

wildlife, plants and their habitats, and 

conservation efforts include the creation 

of the International Conservation Center 

on 724 acres in Somerset, PA, as well as 

sea turtle rescue and a partnership with 

Polar Bears International to protect the 

animals through research, stewardship 

and education. 

To learn more about the Pittsburgh Zoo 

and the programs that it offers, visit 

www.pittsburghzoo.org or call 412-665- 

3640. To learn more about The Vein 

Institute or Cosmetic Laser Centers, visit 

www.theveininstituteofpittsburgh.com or 

call 724-934-VEIN (8346). The Vein 

Institute is located at 16000 Perry 

Highway in Warrendale and also has a 

location in Robinson Township. ■ 


holiday shopper 

Extreme Decorating 

Brings Extreme Joy 

By Carla Simmons 

A dusting of snow on the ground and watching It’s a Wonderful Life 

can put most people in the holiday spirit. But, for some, Christmas 

isn’t Christmas until the trees are decorated, the wreaths are hung 

and the lights are twinkling…and the garland is draped, the 

ornaments are dangling and more and more lights are on display. 

If you’re near Zelienople anytime 

between Thanksgiving and New Years, you 

might notice a glow in the sky, hovering 

around Arthur Street. It’s not an alien 

invasion—it’s just Jim and Vicky Buzard’s 

house. The Buzards have been filling every 

inch of their yard for the past 23 years with 

an extreme Christmas scene, complete 

with 20,000 lights, animated characters 

and a craft shop. 

“My husband came home with a couple 

of animated characters and wanted to build 

houses for them. Over the years, he built 

more houses for more characters, until we 

ran out of yard!” explained Vicky Buzard. 

The houses are Plexiglas on three sides 

and display various characters and scenes 

including an ice skating pond, toy shop and 

church. “We light the trees and our house. 

There’s also a Santa scene made with 

lights on the side of the garage,” said 

Buzard. 

Over the years, an estimated 80,000 

people have come by to see the display, 

and the Buzards take donations from their 

visitors for the Butler County Food Bank. 

“People send cards or stop by personally 

thanking us for what we do for the food 

bank,” said Buzard, adding that they have 

collected over $11,000 for the organization. 

Buzard and close friend Debbie Spenzel 

run a craft shop out of the garage. “We sell 

wreaths, vases, knickknacks, etc. We have 

a blast with the shop,” said Buzard. 

“People love it—we’ve become a tradition.” 

Another holiday festivity of extreme 

proportions is the Hartwood Acres 

Celebration of Lights, sponsored by UPMC. 

Over 2 million light bulbs and countless 

displays will light up the night beginning 

November 18 and run through January 8, 

2012. According to Hartwood staff member 

Janelle Garoff, “Starting in September, 

county workers work day and night putting 

up displays and wrapping lights around 

trees. The Hartwood maintenance staff 

works constantly during the event, filling 

generators, replacing light bulbs and more. 

It takes 45 minutes just to turn everything 

on.” 

Some of the displays include a teddy 

bear village, carousel, menorah and Santa 

flying on his sled. Suggested donations of 

$12 per car help Project Bundle Up and 

other local charities. 

And what’s Christmas without the 

biggest tree? Eisler Nurseries has been 

providing 20-foot spruce trees and trees of 

various smaller sizes to the Carnegie 

Museum for the past 25 years. “We also 

provided a 55-foot tree for the movie The 

Christmas 

Tree, directed 

by Sally Field 

and filmed at 

Hartwood 

Acres,” said 

nursery 

manager 

Peter Kyne. 

Frank 

Capan 

wouldn’t call 

that extreme 

because he, 

too, really 

loves 

decorating for 

the holidays. A 

resident at 

Eisler Nurseries delivering a tree 

to the Carnegie Museum. 

One of the displays at the Buzard home in 

Zelienople. 

Ross Hill Retirement Residence, Capan 

and several holiday helpers display a large 

tree in the entrance hall with two platforms 

housing working train sets, houses and 

lights. “We put garland, lights and bows 

everywhere, including the dining room,” 

said Capan. “There’s a tree on every floor 

and wreaths hung on all 94 apartments. 

We also have a holiday sing-along with 

cookies. It’s great—the residents love it!” 

To experience this holiday spirit 

firsthand, visit the Buzards home at 201 

Arthur Street in Zelienople Sundays 

through Thursdays from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. 

and weekends from 5:30 to 11 p.m. The 

craft shop is open Friday, Saturday and 

Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. For more 

information on the Hartwood Acres 

Celebration of Lights, visit 

www.friendsofhartwood.org or call 

412-767-9200. ■ 



holiday shopper Perspective 

By Jack Etzel 

Chances are there’s a holiday 

for you in December, whether 

it’s Christmas, Chanukah, 

Kwanzaa or New Year’s Eve, 

just to name a few. The 

downside of December is that 

emergency rooms treat nearly 

13,000 people from falls, 

shocks, fires and more, plus 

hundreds of deaths occur that 

would take the joy out of any 

celebration. 

Gregory Quatchak is the chief operating 

officer of Pittsburgh-based Civil and 

Environmental Consultants, Inc., an 

engineering firm with a nationwide 

presence. But this successful CEO doesn’t 

stay in an ivory tower. He has been a 

volunteer firefighter since he was 17, and 

has served as the fire chief of the Ingomar 

Fire Department for 11 years. We asked 

him for his advice on holiday safety. 

North Hills Monthly Magazine 

(NHMM): Greg, if you could pick one 

serious cause of December disasters around 

the home, what would that be? 

GREG QUATCHAK: After 37 years as 

a firefighter, that’s easy: candles! But first 

let’s look at the bigger picture. I’m 

sometimes amazed going into a home to 

see something like four or more strings of 

lights plugged together, or the use of an 

indoor-rated extension cord being used 

outside. Too many people just go to a store 

and buy lights or cords without even 

reading the boxes, much less the 

instructions. Too often, people have the 

attitude, “I don’t have to read anything to 

put up lights or to plug in an extension 

cord.” That’s where problems begin. 

How Can 

We Keep the 

Holidays Safe? 

Having said that, most fires that I see at 

this time of year are related to heating 

systems, especially portable heaters, and 

electrical systems. Those are even higher in 

number than fires from decorating. 

Keeping that in mind, people should still 

be very cautious about the decorating 

they’re doing around the house. 

NHMM: Do you do your own decorating 

at home? 

QUATCHAK: I do, and I’m a fanatic 

about it. I would never exceed the number 

of strings of lights that are specified on the 

instructions. I use outdoor extension cords 

that are always heavier than I need to use, 

and I wrap electrical tape around every 

connection so that water can’t get in. 

Those steps might seem excessive, but it 

beats the alternative. 

NHMM: What about those candles you 

mentioned? 

QUATCHAK: That’s my biggest 

concern, and it’s not just limited to the 

holidays. In recent years, there has been an 

increasing use of candles. And, yes, our 

department certainly fights fires that turn 

out to be caused by candles, specifically, 

unattended candles. One fire I especially 

remember was caused by a lit candle that 

was simply knocked over by the family cat. 

Candles present a nice ambiance and look 

great around the holidays, but you have to 

use them safely. This means that someone 

should always be in the room while they’re 

lit. Many people just light them and walk 

away, or worse, leave the house or even go 

to bed with them burning. Those are 

opportunities for trouble. 

NHMM: You must have some thoughts 

about Christmas trees, that is, selecting 

them, caring for them… 

Gregory Quatchak, Fire Chief 

Ingomar Fire Department 

QUATCHAK: Artificial trees have come 

a long way in terms of what they’re made 

of—trees sold these days really are more 

fire resistant. But in all things electrical, 

you should be looking for the 

Underwriters Laboratory tag and the UL 

rating on the tree. 

Also, I want to pass along this tip: Go on 

the Internet and search for the National 

Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 

Christmas tree fires video and watch it; it’s 

a dramatic video that most people will find 

hard to believe, but it’s factual, and it can 

and does happen. You’ll see how quickly a 

live but dry Christmas tree that hasn’t been 

properly cared for in terms of watering can 

turn into an instant disaster. Look what 

happens when just a small electrical spark 

occurs on the tree. Compare that to the 

other tree that has been checked and 

watered every day. The heat from the tree 

supercharges the air in the room and, as I 

remember, in less than a minute, the entire 

room goes up in what we call a flashover. 

NHMM: Do you put up a live tree at 

home? 

QUATCHAK: I do. I’m a traditionalist, 

and we’ve gone and cut down a large tree 

for decades. That requires a large stand 

that holds a lot of water. I don’t think 

everyone realizes that any cut tree will 

drink up nearly all of that water the first 

day. It must be checked daily for water. 

NHMM: And lights, extension cords? 


Too often, people 

have the attitude, 

“I don’t have to read 

anything to put up 

lights or to plug in 

an extension cord.” 

That’s where 

problems begin. 

QUATCHAK: Don’t just pull out the old 

lights and extension cords year after year 

without checking them. Look at the 

insulation for cracks and wear. If the lights 

go on and off when you twist the cord, 

that’s not okay—that’s a significant 

problem that needs attention. In that case, 

it’s worth a few dollars to get another set of 

lights. Don’t risk it. 

Lately, the more popular bulbs are smaller, 

use less amperage and are cooler, but I’m 

going to emphasize that you still need to 

read the instructions. If it says not to stack 

more than three strings on one circuit, do 

what it says. I even plug them first into a 

surge protector. Do you do that? 

NHMM: Not until now. I guess that’s why 

you’re the fire chief. Thanks, Greg. ■ 

To watch the National Fire 

Protection Association (NFPA) 

video, visit www.nfpa.org. In the 

search box in the upper right 

corner, enter Christmas Tree 

Fire or simply do a Google 

search for National Fire 

Protection Association 

Christmas Tree Fires. 

For more information on holiday 

safety in general, enter a search 

for Underwriters Laboratories 

Holiday Decorating Safety. 

Pain serves a good purpose, though it may 

be hard to believe. Imagine if your house 

caught on fire…would you prefer to find out 

when the flames came into your bedroom or 

rather be warned by the smell of smoke? It 

would probably be even better to be warned 

by the beeping of the smoke detector long 

before the flames were anywhere near you. 

Pain is your body’s smoke detector, and it is 

the signal for you to do something NOW! 

Pain happens when the nerve cells become 

irritated. These nerve cells then send signals 

to the spinal cord and then to the brain 

where we receive the ‘pain’ message. The 

brain then tells the body to secrete chemicals 

to aid in the repair of the damaged area. 

Over time, the nerve receptors can become 

oversensitized and become reactive even 

when a small amount of damage occurs. This 

can create a situation where pain becomes 

chronic. 

In recent news, you may have heard of the 

problem that Americans are having with pain 

medicine. Here are some really scary statistics 

(excerpted from Fortune Magazine 

11/09/11): 

• In 2010, 254 million prescriptions for 

opioid pain medicines were filled. This is 

enough to medicate every American adult 

around the clock for a month. 

• Approximately 15,000 Americans died 

from opioid overdoses in 2008, more than 

heroin and cocaine combined. 

• Most of the people who become 

dependent or addicted to these drugs are 

‘naïve users’; people who are not trying to use 

the drugs to get a high and who have used 

these drugs to help with body pain. 

• Many medicines now used for pain work 

on the serotonin systems of the brain. They 

are similar to anti-depressants and can cause 

withdrawal problems. 

For a long time, pain medicines were used 

for people who were suffering from terminal 

illnesses and debilitating conditions. But the 

demand in recent years has been increasing. 

In fact, many doctors know that this is a 

problem and have been scaling back in their 

prescribing habits to decrease negative effects 

on the public. 

Medicating the pain doesn’t fix the 

problem; it just keeps you from feeling it. It’s 

like taking the batteries out of that smoke 

detector so it doesn’t beep anymore. 

Many patients have been helped with their 

acute and chronic pain by using chiropractic. 

Here are some things you should consider: 

• Numerous studies have been done on 

■ FIRST PERSON ■ 

By Dr. Shannon Thieroff 

THE PURPOSE OF PAIN 

the effectiveness of chiropractic on different 

body pain problems. The effectiveness varies 

dependent on the problem, but the majority 

of patients (approximately 90 percent) report 

being ‘very satisfied’ with their results, 

regardless of the condition. 

• Many studies have shown that when 

people are treated with adjustments, they are 

able to avoid surgery. 

• A lot of patients (21 percent) are referred 

to chiropractors by their doctors. Many of 

them are able to decrease or eliminate their 

need for pain medicine, anti-inflammatories, 

steroids and muscle relaxers under their 

doctor’s supervision. 

Why does chiropractic help? By working 

on restoring the function of the nerves, joints 

and muscles, the body is able to adapt and 

heal to a better, more balanced state. If you 

have pain and have been masking it with 

medicine or just think you have to live with 

it, I encourage you to take a look at 

chiropractic. You could be living a more 

comfortable and full life. ■ 

Brought to you as a public service by: 

CHOICE CHIROPRACTIC & 

WELLNESS CENTER, P.C. 

Dr. Shannon Thieroff and Associates 

McKnight 412-364-9699 

Moon 412-424-0019 

www.choicechiropractic.net 

The information in First Person advertisements is 

the responsibility of the advertiser. 



I have suffered with acne for most of my 

teenage and adult life. I spent many nights 

at home, missing opportunities because my 

skin was just too bad, and I was just too 

embarrassed. I tried every over-the-counter 

product available and also several 

prescriptions from a dermatologist in my 

quest for clear skin. I even considered 

taking the drug Accutane at one point. The 

prescription medications cleared my skin 

temporarily, but once I was done taking the 

pills, my acne eventually returned, even 

worse than before! Nothing worked. In 

frustration, I threw everything away and 

figured I’d grow out of it…but I never did. 

One day while reading through a 

magazine, I noticed an ad for a place called 

Clearskin Solutions Acne Clinic. Given all 

of the previous disappointments, I figured 

it probably wouldn’t work, but decided to 

at least look into it. When I called to get 

information, the first thing that struck me 

as unique was that they specialized in acne 

treatment. I was also relieved to hear that 

they didn’t use drugs as a part of their 

regimen. They offered an acne program 

which consisted of in-office visits combined 

with a monitored home-care routine. I had 

nothing to lose, so I decided to schedule a 

consultation. 

The owner, Mary, evaluated my skin and 

performed some tests to determine my 

skin’s level of sensitivity. Then we sat down 

and talked for awhile. She explained about 

my grade of acne and how the program 

would be catered to target my specific case. 

I was given a wealth of information about 

why I had acne, pore-clogging ingredients 

to watch out for, and what foods and 

products to avoid. 

My program consisted of visits every two 

weeks at a reasonable cost. During the inoffice 

visits, my acne was removed and my 

skin was treated with a variety of treatments 

which helped with exfoliating the dead skin 

cells, keeping it hydrated and decreasing the 

inflammation. Most importantly, my skin 

was continually reevaluated, and my 

program was adjusted according to my 

skin’s response. 

Between visits, I followed a treatment 

regimen at home using affordable products 

designed just for me. Throughout my 


By Tammy Smay 

An Acne Sufferer Finds 

a Solution…FINALLY! 

Mary Bickley 

Licensed Esthetician and 

Owner of Clearskin Solutions 

treatment, I wasn’t alone. Someone was 

there to answer questions and encourage 

and help me every step of the way. All in all, 

it took about four months (or eight visits), 

and I am thrilled to say that my skin is 

finally clear! 

That was two years ago. I found a 

program that not only cleared my acne, but 

has kept it clear and given me the beautiful 

skin I’ve always wished for. Thanks to Mary, 

her staff and the Clearskin program, I am 

now confident about myself on both the 

inside and the outside. ■ 

If you or someone you know is 

struggling with acne, contact 

Clearskin Solutions. 

724-453-0555 

Good for One FREE 

Consult Visit 

(Exp. December 31, 2011) 

CLEARSKIN SOLUTIONS 

8035 Rowan Road 

Cranberry Township 

724-453-0555 

Hours are by appointment. 

www.clearskinacnesolutions.com 

The information in First Person advertisements is the 

responsibility of the advertiser. 

Recycle e-waste 

Safely, Affordably 

By Hilary Daninhirsch 

Today’s article is being brought 

to you by the letter ‘e.’ 

The letter ‘e’ stands for anything 

electronic, and in today’s technological 

world, virtually everyone owns a variety of 

electronic equipment from computers to 

cell phones to televisions. But what 

happens when you update last spring’s 

outdated cell phone with this season’s hot 

new model? 

Disposing of old electronic products 

produces electronic waste, also known as 

‘e-waste.’ And the sheer volume of this ewaste 

can be harmful to the environment 

if not handled properly. That’s where 

environmental recycling comes into play. 

In January 2012, the Covered Devices 

Recycling Act will become effective. In 

short, this law restricts items that can go 

into a landfill. Pennsylvania will mandate 

that original equipment manufacturers are 

responsible for subsidizing recycling of 

certain items, including desktop and 

laptop computers and televisions. “This 

legislation came into play because of the 

negative effects of exporting toxic 

materials to foreign countries,” explained 

Penny Holden, vice-president of sales at 

eLoop. 

Area companies such as eLoop and 

JVS Environmental Services collect 

discarded electronics and recycle them 

properly so that their toxic components 

don’t escape into the environment. “Right 

now, maybe 10 to 15 percent of e-waste 

is being recycled properly,” said Vince 

Gusbar, co-owner of JVS, adding that the 

main toxic culprits are lead and mercury. 

Gusbar said that there are two 

problems with disposing of electronic 

waste in regular landfills. “First, there are 

toxins that need to be dealt with that are 

acutely hazardous, such as lead and 

mercury. Lead can damage the nervous 

system if it gets into the groundwater; 

mercury is a lot more poisonous though it 

takes less of it to be hazardous,” he 

explained. Newer monitors and 

televisions containing fluorescent bulbs 

house these substances. 

“Secondly, when you throw stuff in the 


landfill, you are throwing away valuable 

resources,” he added. “Once these toxins 

are in the landfill, they can also be difficult 

to pull out.” 

Holden agreed. Their company, upon 

collection and sorting of electronics, will 

check to see what is still working and 

what can be reused. “There is valuable 

circuitry and metals,” she said. “The best 

way to recycle is to find a new use for 

items—but it has to be a responsible use. 

“Once these substances are in the 

landfill, they become toxic waste; they 

can get into water levels and are bad for 

the environment,” she added. “On the flip 

side, a monitor can be recycled properly; 

the lead can be recycled and reused.” 

According to Holden, there are seven 

pounds of lead in an average computer 

monitor—an eye-opening figure. 

In addition to lead and mercury, there 

are other toxins generated from e-waste 

that can be released into the 

environment. Computer monitors can 

contain beryllium (a carcinogen), 

cadmium (which can cause kidney and 

bone damage) and chromium (which can 

cause kidney and liver damage). 

JVS will hold a recycling day on 

January 14 at McCandless town offices. 

The event is intentionally scheduled for 

after Christmas so that consumers can 

safely dispose of old electronics. eLoop 

maintains collection points throughout the 

city, including in the North Hills, for 

consumers to drop off their electronic 

waste. Some of these sites include 

Guardian Storage on McKnight Road and 

the Computer Café on Perry Highway in 

Wexford. This service is free to 

consumers and small businesses with 

less than 50 employees. 

Consumers may also drop off noncovered 

electronic materials such as 

toaster ovens, and eLoop and JVS 

Environmental Services will safely recycle 

them at no cost. For more information, 

visit www.eloopllc.com or 

www.jvsenvironmental.com. ■ 

As we come to the close of our 13th year, 

we gratefully pause to wish all of our 

customers and friends a warm and happy 

holiday season. We thank the hundreds of 

families that have allowed Nest Expressions 

to help them beautify their homes with new 

flooring or window treatments. We have 

made many new friends throughout the year. 

Our many satisfied customers agree, “Some 

decisions are better made at home.” 

It has been our pleasure to provide high 

quality flooring and window treatments to 

our customers with the no-pressure, friendly, 

browse-at-home convenience that Nest 

Expressions provides. We take great pride in 

assisting with color and texture choices that 

are easy to coordinate with existing 

furnishings. Nest Expressions’ professionals 

will help you express your unique decorating 

style by presenting samples in the actual 

lighting and setting where the products will 

be installed, ensuring a mistake-free choice 

and a beautifully decorated room. 

Janine and I, along with the rest of the 

Nest Expressions’ team, enjoy applying our 

50 years of combined expertise in flooring 

and decorating to assist our customers in the 

selection of their home interior products. It 

is our hope that we have made their homes a 

more beautiful and comfortable place for 

their friends and family, especially during 

this holiday season. We take great satisfaction 

in saving our customers considerable time 

and money with the shop-at-home format of 

our business. 

Nest Expressions is committed to 

providing over 5,000 choices of name brand 

carpet, ceramic tile, hardwood and the latest 

styles of laminate, cork and bamboo flooring. 

Additionally, we offer a complete selection of 

the most fashionable blinds and shades form 

Hunter Douglas and drapery from Carole 

Fabrics. As always, we are available for a free, 

no obligation, in-home presentation. 

Finally, we would like to extend our 

sincere appreciation to our excellent staff. 

The combined efforts of both our office staff 

and our installation teams work very hard to 

uphold our high standards. We certainly 

couldn’t do it without them! The result of 

our commitment to excellent workmanship 

and friendly customer service earned us an 

A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau 

and the Super Service Award with Angie’s 

List. Once again, we thank our customers 


By Nest Expressions Formerly Carpet Network 

Holiday Greetings from 

Nest Expressions 

HICPA #PA015753 

past and present for entrusting Nest 

Expressions with their decorating projects 

and look forward to serving many North 

Hills’ families during the upcoming year. 

So before you invest your valuable time 

and money shopping traditional retail stores, 

call Nest Expressions. Take advantage of 

Same as Cash Financing for 12 Months for 

qualified buyers. Nest Expressions also 

accepts MC/Visa and Discover. For more 

information or to schedule a free estimate, 

call us at 724-449-1100 or email 

info@nestexpressions.com. We invite you to 

visit www.nestexpressions.com for money 

saving coupons, to learn more about our 

products and services, to view photos of a 

few of our recent projects and to read our 

blog. New! Visit us on Facebook and like our 

page www.facebook.com/nestexpressions. 

Call Us Now…We’ll Be Right Over! ■ 

Everyone at Nest Expressions wishes 

you and your family the warmest of 

holiday seasons and a happy, healthy 

and prosperous New Year! 





What is your 

holiday wish? 

By Clare Heekin Lynch 

Nancy Pattini, 

Grandmother, Cranberry 

“I hope that this holiday 

season, families will put their 

differences aside and spend 

time together.” 

Gavin Lynch, 

Cranberry 

“I wish that every 

kid will be good and 

will get a present 

from Santa!” 

12 North Hills Monthly MAGAZINE December 2011 

Sean Cass, 

Musician, Ross Twp. 

“I wish that everyone will 

have a peaceful holiday and 

that all of our troops overseas 

will come home soon.” 

Allison Brady, 

College Student, Hampton 

“Well, I wish that I will be able to 

find a good job when I graduate next 

year!” 

Tom Mayne, 

Server, Ross Twp. 

“I wish for everyone to be happy and 

to enjoy the spirit of the season!” 

www.northhillsmonthly.com

Some Assembly 

Required 

By Larry Richert 

December is the most exciting and hectic 

month of the year. Massive preparations are in 

full swing and the shopping is frenetic. Many 

decisions are being made on what to get your 

family, friends and how much you should 

spend. With this in mind, I am begging you on 

behalf of fathers everywhere to please minimize 

your ‘assembly required’ purchases. Please! 

No matter what the action color photos 

show of what’s allegedly inside the box, if it 

says ‘some assembly required,’ drop it and run. 

Far too many toys are torturous patience 

testers for those of us who have to piece them 

together. This transforms Christmas day into a 

series of requests to “put this together, honey,” 

throwing your entire schedule out of whack! 

In my opinion, Legos makers are the 

biggest culprits! They have some amazing 

designs and unlimited variations of how to 

create spacecraft, terrestrial vehicles of every 

description and pirate ships. I am certain that 

their creative teams sit back and laugh when 

they talk about what it will take for parents to 

put together these tedious toys. Yes, they get 

the last laugh. 

I wonder if they share stories with the Ikea 

people. Ikea furniture is the adult equivalent of 

Legos. Over the years, I have spent countless 

hours putting desks, shelves and you name it 

together. I admit at times I have used a string 

of curse words while doing it and have been 

aggravated enough to yell out loud. Now that 

I’m thinking about it, these items would be 

great gifts for that brother-in-law of yours who 

is always giving you a hard time. Make sure 

that it says, ‘assembly required’ and while 

you’re at it, maybe ‘batteries not included,’ too. 

I don’t remember as a child having to deal 

with as many toys that needed this much 

maintenance. There were Lincoln logs and 

erector sets. But the difference was that they 

were for the kids to put together—and we did. 

Then there were plastic models. The degree of 

difficulty was greater, but you knew that going 

in. At least they’re upfront about that—they 

sell you on the idea that putting them together 

is the fun. But that’s another story. 

This leads me back to Legos. Very few 

young children can put these masterpieces 

together, so it falls on you to demonstrate 

enormous dexterity, skill and patience while 

the family is gathered watching. All the while 

the clock continues to turn. 

This is also laced with constant verbal lobs 

from your child. “Dad, when are you gonna 

be done?” 

“I’m almost done, my man. Daddy’s doing 

the best that he can,” I respond, through 

gritted teeth. 

“Mommy says she could do it really fast,” 

my son pleads. 

“Really? Well, why don’t you ask…” I say, 

cutting myself off so as not to start an 

emotional tumult. “Just keep working at it,” I 

say to myself. 

“Mom, Dad’s not done yet,” he shouts out 

to add insult to injury. 

“Just stay focused,” I think. And in a few 

hours I’ll be free to enjoy the Christmas 

cheer—all of the other toys that came already 

assembled! ■ 

Larry Richert is the co-host of the KDKA 

Morning News with John Shumway on 

NewsRadio 1020 KDKA. 



Glade Run Brings the Spirit of 

Christmas to Children in Need 

By Clare Heekin Lynch 

Most people would agree that Christmas is all about the kids. To see 

the joy of the season reflected in the eyes of children is what helps to 

make this a special time of year. At Glade Run Lutheran Services in 

Zelienople, a nonprofit organization offering community-based 

services to children with mental, emotional and behavioral health 

challenges, the holidays are an especially joyous time. 

On December 3, friends and families of 

Glade Run will be treated to a private 

screening of the movie Polar Express, 

where guests will bring unwrapped gifts in 

lieu of purchasing tickets. Glade Run is 

also hosting a holiday drive geared toward 

providing the children with presents. 

“There is no gift that is too big or too 

small,” said Development and 

Communications Coordinator Cheryl 

Martin, who is in charge of this year’s 

holiday drive. “We welcome donations of 

school supplies, such as journals and 

pencils, to more personal items like 

toothbrushes and make-up kits. 

“As in years past, we provide blessings 

through our Christmas Angel Program,” 

continued Martin. “Because many of the 

children don’t have families to provide 

them with a simple gift for the holiday, the 

program is set up so that donations can 

be made to specific needs; gift cards are 

also a welcome choice.” 

Donations also help provide décor for 

children’s rooms, including twin bed 

sheets and beanbag chairs, and personal 

items like CDs, toys and DVDs (rated PG- 

13 and under). “They’re kids, and they 


should be allowed to be kids,” said Martin. 

“They should be allowed to feel safe, 

secure, wanted and loved, and they 

should feel confident in knowing that they 

have a home here.” 

Glade Run was founded by the 

Reverend William Passavant in the mid- 

1800s. At any given time, the campus 

serves more than 300 children, ages 8 to 

21, through residential treatment, group 

homes and St. Stephen’s Lutheran 

Academy, the group’s licensed private 

school. Some of these children are 

victims of abuse and/or neglect and have 

no one to call family. 

In addition to their on-campus 

residential program, Glade Run also 

offers wraparound care, outpatient 

services and family-focused services to 

more than 2,500 individuals annually 

within the surrounding communities. 

“Our needs are very diverse because of 

each child’s individual situation,” shared 

Foundation Executive Director Sheila 

Talarico. “Some children have loving 

families invested in their recoveries, while 

others come to us with only the clothes 

on their backs. 

“General funding pays for education, 

food and housing, but we also want to 

provide the children with the things that 

they not only need but which they are 

entitled to, like new clothing and 

toiletries.” 

And then there are the therapeutic 

tools, which studies have shown help kids 

build social and personal skills and 

promote teamwork. “We offer many 

different programs, including art and 

music classes, horticulture and animal 

therapy, spiritual care and physical 

activities—all geared toward helping kids 

build on their interests and gain 

confidence in themselves,” shared 

Talarico. 

Unfortunately, traditional funding 

doesn’t provide for all of this. Coupled 

with a weak economy and higher gas 

prices driving up the cost of everything 

else, Glade Run has found it much harder 

to stretch their dollars. “A small difference 

can give a child hope and move him or 

her on a path to recovery,” said Martin. 

Those who would like to help with 

Glade Run’s Christmas Angel program 

can contact Martin at 724-452-4453, ext. 

1277 or email cmartin@gladerun.org to 

receive a tag with a child’s wish. Gifts 

should be returned, unwrapped, to Glade 

Run by December 16 between 9 a.m. and 

4:30 p.m. Other drop-off arrangements 

are also available. ■ 



holiday shopper Home & Garden 

Presents for the Gardener 

and the Gourmand 

By Denise Schreiber 

“I always like the gifts I get, 

but how I love the gifts I give!” –Carolyn Wells 

It’s that time of year again; you’re searching 

for the perfect Christmas gift for that special 

friend or relative. You know the one—the 

person who is up on the latest trends in 

gardening or is a chef extraordinaire. The 

angst over finding and buying the perfect gift 

is often precipitated by ads in magazines or on 

HGTV, Food Network and more. What 

makes it even worse is the thought of being 

swallowed up by crowds on Black Friday 

looking for the ultimate bargain. 

This year, relax…and choose from any of 

the gift ideas mentioned here. 

There are always new gadgets out there and 


I’m like any other gadget junkie—I want it! 

Some of the coolest items I’ve seen this year 

include the ergonomic hand tools by Corona 

Tools. Corona also makes a pair of snippers 

that are wonderful for snipping off dead 

flower heads quickly or reaching in and 

trimming a plant without worrying about 

damaging the rest of the plant. The clippers 

are lightweight with a cushioned handle that 

prevents blisters and are almost indestructible 

in the garden. They come with a lifetime 

guarantee that they really do honor, making 

them an ideal gift for a new or experienced 

gardener. 

I attended a trade show this summer and 

found what amounts to a mini reciprocating 

saw for pruning trees and shrubs. The Worx 

18 Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Handisaw looks 

like a cordless drill with a small saw attached. 

A demonstration of its cutting ability was 

enough to put it on my Christmas list this 

year. It cuts up to a 2-3/8” thick stem in no 

time at all. The blade is replaceable with any 

like blade. It is small and lightweight enough 

to allow you to prune close to the trunk 

without the awkwardness of larger saws, and it 

is easy on arms and shoulders. 

Self-watering containers are a great gift for 

the houseplant owner who sometimes forgets 

when plants were last watered. They come in 

decorator colors and different sizes. If you 

don’t grow houseplants, there is the selfwatering 

Earth Box. You can grow tomatoes, 

peppers and last year, I grew a zucchini in one. 

Reusable year after year, it comes with heavy 

duty casters for the box, fertilizer, cover and 

optional accessories such as a trellis. If you 

have trouble growing peppers in the garden, 

the Earth Box is great—I had a bumper crop 

of peppers using it. The advantage of the 

Earth Box is that the soil is a little warmer, 

making it ideal for crops like peppers. 

Many gardeners are also culinary experts 

when it comes to their gardens’ harvests. If 

someone you know is cooking up batches of 

jellies, jams and preserves, a maslin pan is the 

ideal gift. You may have to look a bit for one, 

but they are well worth it. It comes with a 

triple thick core on the base, opening up in a 

V-shape to allow steam to escape and food to 

thicken. The pan has a bucket-type handle 

that stays cool, and it holds up to six quarts. 

Food hydrators are a hot item, allowing you 

to dry fruits and vegetables to store for those 

cold winter months. They can have as little as 

three shelves or have as many as 16 shelves. At 

the minimum, it should have a fan; the highend 

ones employ a small heater to allow food 

to dry properly. 

Daniel Gasteigner’s book, Yes, You Can! 


And Freeze and Dry It, Too: The Modern Step- 

By-Step Guide to Preserving Food is filled with 

information on drying, canning, freezing and 

so much more. Filled with step-by-step color 

photos, it is an ideal gift for beginners and 

long-time food preservers. 

The Visitors Guide to American Gardens by 

Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp will let you plan your 

garden visits and vacations with details such as 

hours, accessibility, fees and what to see, 

alphabetized by state. It also contains lots of 

color photographs and maps of each state and 

the gardens within them. 

Last but not least, there’s a book by a local 

author—me—on how to grow flowers, 

specifically edible flowers, and how to cook 

with them, too. It’s called Eat Your 

Roses:…Pansies, Lavender and 49 other 

Delicious Edible Flowers. It is spiral bound with 

laminated pages, which makes it easy to use 

and clean when making any of the recipes. 

There are general tips for growing, a list of 

edible flowers and color photos of not only the 

flowers but the food as well. It’s available 

locally at garden centers and bookstores. 

Enjoy the season with friends and 

family! ■ 

Denise Schreiber is Mrs. Know it All of The 

Organic Gardeners and owner of 

Schreiber Horticultural Consulting. Contact 

her at Edibleflowers1@aol.com. 

As some of you may recall, my previous 

article was about pet adoption. In light of that 

and the fact that it is gift-giving season, I have 

given this article to the nonprofit rescue, 

Going Home Greyhounds. I hope that it will 

inspire you to adopt one of these wonderful 

dogs. 

Although current statistics are difficult to 

confirm, the Greyhound Racing Association 

of America reports that less than 30,000 

racing puppies are registered each year, and 

approximately 90 percent of those available 

(or 20,000) are either adopted out or returned 

to their racing owners for breeding. That’s a 

lot of dogs that represent only one breed to 

find homes for each year! A decade ago, more 

than 50 tracks operated in the U.S.; today, 

that number has decreased to 24 tracks. One 

of the top tracks in the country is located in 

Wheeling, WV and being so close to 

Pittsburgh, it means there will always be an 

abundance of available retired racers for which 

to find homes. 

Could a greyhound be the right breed for 

your family? The breed in general is very 

gentle, loving and easygoing. Some need 

fenced yards to run and play; some are content 

to have a short 20-minute leash walk every 

day. Some need other dogs for company and 

some don’t. Some are good with kids and 

some are not. 

The most important thing to know when 

considering this breed is that they can never be 

left off leash. If you do not have a fenced yard, 

you need to commit to keeping them on leash 

100 percent of the time. They are sight hounds 

and can see clearly for half a mile, not to 

mention that they have better peripheral vision 

than humans. They have been trained to chase 

and can reach their full speed of 45 mph 

within three strides, so they can break their 

necks when coming to the end of a rope or 

run. They also have a high pain tolerance, 

which is one reason electric fences are not 

recommended with them. They have also 

been referred to as ‘couch potatoes’ and we 

have really found that to be true. 

Going Home Greyhounds (GHG) is a local 

nonprofit, all-volunteer adoption group that 

has been in existence since 1995. It is an 

approved PA public charity with 501(c)(3) 

status. Education is a major proponent in our 

process, so adopters can confidently answer 

the questions above before bringing a dog 

home. All of our available dogs have been 

treated with the necessary veterinary care and 


By Toni Shelaske 

Give the Gift of Life 

fostered for a minimum of two to three weeks 

so that we can get to know their personalities 

and start socializing them. 

Our amazing foster families teach them 

how to walk up and down steps, begin 

housetraining them, teach them that glass 

doors and screens aren’t something to try and 

walk through, teach them to walk nicely on a 

leash, socialize them with small animals to 

learn if they can live with cats or small dogs 

and much, much more. 

Once we feel that they are ready to be 

matched with an approved family, we will 

bring fosters to your home to visit with 

everyone and help you determine which 

particular dog is best suited for your family 

and lifestyle. Take some time to educate 

yourself about this breed before adopting; all 

of GHG approved families get a lifetime of 

support in return. Get to know greyhounds 

better by coming to visit us and some of our 

dogs at a Meet and Greet! Our schedule, list of 

available dogs and adoption information can 

be found at www.goinghomegreyhounds.org 

or call 724-935-6298. ■ 

9600 Perry Highway 

(next to Bruster’s Ice Cream) 

412-366-0700 

www.healthypetproducts.net 

M-T 10-8 • F-Sat. 10-6 • Sun. 11-4 





Angels on Earth Help 

Those Less Fortunate 

By Hilary Daninhirsch 

Angels, normally associated with celestial beings, also 

walk the earth. One may be a neighbor who shoveled 

your sidewalk; another may be a stranger who 

stopped to help you change a tire. 

Then there are the folks who devote much of their lives to 

unselfish deeds. A number of North Hills’ folks have used their 

talents to do just that. 

Nancy Lee Cochran 

has devoted both her 

personal and 

professional life to 

raising money for and 

giving voice to those 

who are poor and 

vulnerable. Cochran is 

the owner of Cochran & 

Associates, a public 

relations agency whose 

Nancy Lee Cochran and grandchildren 

clients predominantly 

include churches and 


A child helped through Surgicorps International ® . 

nonprofits. And while she may be human, she listens to a higher 

calling. 

“I’m a passionate follower of Jesus, so I strive every day to 

please God,” she said. “I believe it is very pleasing to God to help 

people in churches and nonprofits to better be able to serve 

others, particularly those who are poor or vulnerable.” A favorite 

client is East Liberty Family Health Care Center, a team of 

doctors and nurses who treat indigent patients without regard to 

ability to pay and who offer to pray with their patients. 

Cochran, who lived in Hampton for 25 years, was also the 

founder of Memorial Park Church’s Giving Tree. The Allison Park 

church has more than 80 volunteers who deliver Christmas gifts 

bought by the congregation for church families and others in 

need; there are about 800 annual recipients. 

And if that weren’t enough, Cochran is also on the board of 

directors of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony. “To help any cultural 

organization is very thrilling, but to help one that is centered 

around young people lets me know that my time is well invested 

and I am helping to connect these kids with music for a lifetime,” 

she said. 

Jean Drumheller of McCandless has used her sewing skills to 

sew everything from blankets to dresses to dolls, all of which she 

has donated to good causes. A charity near and dear to 

Drumheller’s heart is Project Linus, named after the beloved 


lanket-toting Peanuts character. Project 

Linus donates thousands of handmade 

blankets to children. The Pittsburgh 

chapter of this international organization 

is run by another North Hills’ local, Barb 

Sappie. 

“The blankets offer warmth, comfort 

and a sense of security to a child who is 

hospitalized or traumatized,” explained 

Drumheller. Many school groups, Scout 

troops, church organizations and 

individuals, especially senior citizens, also 

make blankets for Project Linus. 

In addition to sewing the blankets, 

Drumheller works closely with Sappie, 

which she truly enjoys. “Barb is such a 

kind and caring lady; she’s just wonderful 

and gracious and always available,” said 

Drumheller, who helps with sorting, 

Blankets made by the Project Linus sewing group at Northmont 

Presbyterian Church. 

labeling, packing, delivery and other 

assorted tasks. She also helps coordinate 

the Project Linus sewing group at 

Northmont Presbyterian Church. 

“I think anything that you can do to help 

someone in need is a motivating factor, 

and if everybody did a little bit, it would be 

a great help,” she added. 

In 1994, plastic surgeon Dr. Jack 

Demos founded the nonprofit Surgicorps 

International ® ; since then, he and an all- 

volunteer team have performed over 

3,500 surgeries in 16 developing 

countries, all at no cost to patients. Since 

its formation, Demos has made 50 

overseas trips to such countries as 

Guatemala, Viet Nam, the Far East and a 

number of African nations. He and a team 

correct cleft palates and other deformities 

that poverty-stricken people in developing 

nations just don’t have the means to fund. 

About three-quarters of his patients are 

children. 

Demos, who was a nominee for a 

Jefferson award (which recognizes 

community volunteers), said, “It’s my way 

of saying ‘thank you’ and giving 

something back. I feel I have something 

to offer by organizing a group that goes 

overseas. We’ve been blessed with that 

which we’ve had, so why 

not share that with those 

who have so little but 

deserve so much more? 

“We get more from 

these trips than we give,” 

he added. In fact, he has 

retired from a 26-year 

private medical practice to 

devote more time to 

Surgicorps. 

Not only has he 

changed the lives of 

thousands, but there has 

been a ‘pay it forward’ 

side effect: Of the 400 or 

so students he has taken 

with him on these 

missions over the years, 

most have adopted 

volunteerism as a way of life. 

“If we can instill in them the concept of 

giving something back, the concept of ‘we 

are the haves of the world and most of 

the rest of the world are the have-nots;’ if 

we can instill in them wanting to do 

something for the have-nots; if they can 

see now what poverty really means, 

we’ve not only been successful from a 

surgical standpoint, but successful from a 

humanitarian standpoint,” he said. ■ 

Voice 

Acting 

Piano 

Guitar 

Percussion 

Saxophone 

Clarinet 

Violin 

Viola 

Visual Art 

Recording 

Arts 

Recording 

Studio and 

Services 

Performance 

Opportunities 

Early 

Childhood 

Program 

Involved, Inspired, In Tune 

5361 Rt. 8, Gibsonia, PA 

Perrotte Plaza 

Give The Gift of 

Music or Art Lessons 

or Create a Personal 

CD for Your Family 

724-449-9595 

www.intunewiththearts.com 



What’s the story behind 

Hartwood Acres? 

Hartwood Acres, that beautiful place that is 

always so prominent at Christmastime with its 

lights and tours, was originally the home of 

Pittsburgh philanthropist Mary Flinn 

Lawrence. She created Hartwood in the 1920s 

with money she inherited from her father— 

the powerful political boss and construction 

magnate William Flinn. 

Flinn was a big force in Allegheny County 

politics in the later years of the 19th century 

and beginning of the 20th century, and he 

headed a large construction company that 

built many county roads plus the Liberty, 

Wabash and Armstrong tunnels. Flinn’s name 

lives on today on Route 8, parts of which are 

also known as the William Flinn Highway. 

Mary Flinn had asked architect Alfred 

Hopkins to design a mansion based on a 

manor house she had seen in England. The 

result is a stately 31-room stone Tudor home 

constructed around a great hall. Mary also had 

gardens, a cottage, a gate lodge, ivy-covered 

stables, horse riding trails, show rings and 

SMART Weight Loss 

Take Your Time: Losing body fat should not be your goal. 

Almost everyone has success losing weight; some people I 

know have lost 150 pounds or more. The problem is, they 

keep gaining it back! Fad diets, which seem to work in the 

short-term, usually result in more weight gain in the longterm, 

when the impossibly stringent or boring rules are 

abandoned. Starting today, find the level of exercise and 

the sensible dietary choices that will keep it off! 

Focus, Focus: To be successful, focus on your entire 

lifestyle. Regular physical activity (necessary for any longlasting 

weight loss), nutritious healthy foods, persistence and 

patience will combine to help you reach your goals. 

The 5 to 10 Rule: Most people set unrealistic weight loss 

goals, and are disappointed when their bodies resist the 

extremely low caloric intake required to lose weight fast. The 

Smart plan for healthy and long-lasting fat/weight loss is to 

lose gradually over an extended period of time. If you need 

to lose weight, set a goal of 5 to 10 percent of your body 

weight. Generally, a loss of one to two pounds per week is 

well tolerated systemically and psychologically. This slower, 

long-lasting weight loss can be accomplished if you 

increase your daily activity levels and strive to eliminate high 

sugar foods and other unnecessary extra calories from your 

diet. Try eating smaller portions. Eliminate junk foods. If you 

are a ‘sweets person,’ limit them to weekends only. Your 

body best adjusts to slow caloric intake changes. In the 


Dr. Knowledge ® Asks . . . 

steeplechase layouts 

built on her estate, and 

the mansion included 

a collection of 

expensive American 

and English antiques. 

The Hartwood 

Acres estate today 

includes walking, 

hiking, biking and cross-country skiing trails 

and a large-stage concert area for music and 

theater. It is one of the largest and most 

spectacular country estates in the region. The 

Allegheny Parks Commission bought 

Hartwood in 1969, and after Mary’s death in 

1974, the Hartwood estate was opened to the 

public. 

Today, Hartwood is a 629-acre county park, 

part of the Allegheny County park system, 

and is especially popular during the holiday 

season because of its annual Celebration of 

Lights, a large outdoor light display, and its 

Christmas tours of the mansion. 

ADVERTORIAL 

Hartwood has also 

been featured in movie 

and TV shows. A large 

segment of the 1996 

TV film, The Christmas 

Tree, directed by Sally 

Field, was filmed at 

Hartwood. Some 

scenes in the 2006 

movie 10th and Wolf were filmed in 

Hartwood Mansion’s great hall, and the pilot 

episode for the 20th Century Fox TV 

adaptation of the novel Lock and Key were 

filmed at the mansion earlier this year. 

Hartwood is located about 10 miles from 

downtown Pittsburgh on largely forested land 

in both Hampton and Indiana townships. ■ 

Dr. Knowledge is the host of “The Dr. Knowledge 

Show” on 1020 KDKA-Radio weekends at midnight, 

and is author of the “Knowledge in a Nutshell” and 

“Dr. Knowledge Presents…” book series, and the 

Dr. Knowledge Weekly Newsletter. 

meantime, your appetite and energy levels will adjust 

accordingly. 

Get Professional Help: Recent research on identical twins 

clearly showed that the twin using a personal trainer got 

stronger, leaner and missed fewer workouts than his sibling 

did without professional help. I have personally found this to 

be true. My knowledge of exercise technique and 

physiology does not, by itself, yield results. Your personal 

trainer will apply his or her knowledge, change your routine 

before it gets stale, and push you harder than you can 

possibly push yourself. The results of this powerful mixture will 

far outpace your previous best efforts! 

Try a Trainer: There are many options for semi-private 

training, small group classes, and one-on-one sessions 

(once per week can make a big difference in your results). 

Your personal trainer can teach you how to work harder and 

will motivate you to make that extra push. This can make ALL 

of your training sessions more effective. 

Good luck, train smart and have a healthy 2012! 

Yours in good health, 

Dan Griffin, American College of Sports Medicine Certified 

General Manager 

Oxford Athletic Club 

dgriffin@oxfordathleticclub.com 



Real Estate Matters 

Homes for the Holidays 

By Gary Straub 

Ready or not, here 

they come again— 

the holidays, I mean. 

Most of the people 

who are supposed to 

know will tell you 

that it’s not a good 

time to have your 


home on the market, but is that really the case? 

Unfortunately, all I can give you is a resounding, 

“It depends.” Some properties are desirable 

enough that they will sell no matter what time of 

year; others have a tough time all year long, so let’s 

just look at this from a practical vantage point. 

For a very long time, January has been a very 

good month for home sales. Once the holidays 

are over and things settle down, buyers who have 

been postponing their home buying effort spring 

into action with a vengeance—often making 

their decisions during that first month of the new 

year. Having said this, I’m sure that you can see 

that putting your home on the market now in 

order to attract the attention of this first wave of 

‘new year buyers’ is just a practical necessity. Since 

it takes several weeks for your marketing to kick 

into gear, you really have to have your home on 

the market in December for it to be acted upon 

by these January buyers. 

For some folks, it’s not a voluntary decision. 

They may be being transferred, or might have 

found their dream home so they need to get their 

current home sold in order to release the equity 

for the down payment on the next house. It’s an 

ugly thought, but perhaps they are facing 

foreclosure and selling now is their only option. 

There are many reasons people choose to sell 

now, so let’s look at this in a positive light. 

There is probably not a time during the year 

when your home looks more homey and festive 

than during the holidays. The smells, the 

warmth, the emotions that are engendered by the 

decorations and holiday environment—it all just 

gives you that warm fuzzy feeling. Think about 

it—you step in out of the cold to be warmed by 

a roaring, log-burning fire, the lights are low but 

for the glow of the Christmas lights on the tree, 

cookies are baking in the oven, a panorama of 

newly fallen snow covers the landscape lit only by 

the light of a full moon…MAN, it makes you 

want to move right in. 

Every time a client seems ready to crash 

into crisis over the idea of being on the market 

over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, 

I just remind them of the movie, Funny Farm. 

Remember, that’s the one where Chevy Chase 

pays the entire town to “Christmas it up,” 

when he was showing his home, and the 

Christmas environment worked so effectively 

that his buyer not only bought his house and 

furniture, but the old yellow dog, too. The 

holidays are a magical time, so use the magic 

as part of your marketing plan. 

Now let’s just get down to brass tacks. Interest 

rates are fabulous, to put it mildly. It is quite 

possible for you to get a 30-year fixed rate 

mortgage around 4 percent. Mortgage money is 

plentiful; it’s practically falling from the sky. And 

mortgage programs, although not as liberal as 

they once were, still offer folks with good credit 

very low down payment options. If you want new 

construction products, or first-time buyer loans, 

they’re still available. 

Given these factors, it is a great time—an 

affordable time—to be a home buyer. And given 

the uncertainty of economic elements, from the 

buyer’s perspective, ‘strike while the iron is hot’ is 

the operative instruction, even if the iron is hot 

during the holiday season. 

There are positives from the seller’s position as 

well. If everyone thinks that this is a bad time to 

sell and postpones their decision until spring, that 

certainly limits your competition if you go on the 

market now. Further, you can be comforted by 

the thought that buyers who are in the market 

now are definitely the most serious and dedicated 

that we will see all year. 

So far from this being a bad time for your 

real estate transaction, it’s a good time—at least 

it can be. So fire up that log-burning fireplace, 

turn on the Christmas tree, throw some cookies 

in the oven, cover the place in twinkle lights 

and have at it. You’ll charm those buyers right 

into a purchase. And for goodness sake, don’t be 

one of those sellers who have their home on the 

market before the holidays and takes it off the 

market until the festivities are over; you may 

just deprive yourself of the best marketing tool 

you'll have all year. 

Happy Holidays! ■ 

Gary Straub, real estate professional for 

over 40 years and member of the 

Northwood Realty management team. 


Come One, Come All 

to a Medieval 

Madrigal Feaste 


Moonlight and flurries fill the December sky. The streets are lively 

as people prepare for a grand banquet of holiday food, festivities and a 

gathering of friends and family. The boar’s head is ready for 

presentation. It’s Christmas Eve in the year 1132. 

This holiday season, Northmont United Presbyterian Church will 

be presenting Christmas in the time of the Crusades. Enter the castle 

of King William the Second, Lord of McCandless and Her Royal 

Highness Queen Caroline for a Medieval Madrigal Feaste. Experience 

a magical night of music, drama and food fit for a king. 

“In late August, we started building the set that will transform our 

hall into a castle,” said Reverend Dr. John Lolla, pastor at 

Northmont United Presbyterian Church. “Church members are 

doing all of the work. We even have members making helmets, 

shields, swords and lances.” 

Northmont’s Fellowship Hall will be filled with church members 

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The Madrigal set was painted by Jane Nicola (left) and Suzanne 

Acker, with the help of several other women. Jim Dickson (left) 

made the litter for the boar's head to be carried into the banquet. 

Dick Krotzer made the swords that are on the table. 

dressed as dukes, viscounts, barons, knights and other members of the 

royal court. They will be performing a medieval-themed musical 

drama written by Dr. Lolla. 

Dr. Lolla explained, “In the medieval era, a poor street person would 

have been given royal authority to arrange the Christmas festival. This 

person was called the Lord of Misrule. There would be 12 nights of 

various activities to celebrate Christmas. Through the years, this 

celebration turned garish and crude—like today’s Mardi Gras.” 

Dr. Lolla wrote a script that explores the concept of how we 

celebrate Christmas. Is it a carnival or a holy observance of the birth of 

Christ? The script also includes a visit from the Archbishop of 

Canterbury and the Abbot of St. Augustine’s Abbey. “They work this 

idea out throughout the night,” said Dr. Lolla. 

Renaissance and Baroque music will be performed during the 

evening by the Northmont Choir. There will be vocal performances as 

well as a children’s ‘orphan choir’ and a recorder choir. The candlelight 

feast includes roast pork loin, potatoes, green beans, dessert and 

wassail, all prepared by church members. “They are donating their 

time and gifts,” said Dr. Lolla, adding that the church hopes to make 

this a holiday tradition. 

The Medieval Madrigal Feaste will be held at Northmont United 

Presbyterian Church, 8169 Perry Highway, on December 16 and 17 at 

7 p.m., and on December 18 at 4 p.m. For tickets, call Fred or Sarah 

Jane Beorn at 724-935-8632. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for 

children, and the deadline for ordering is December 9. 

www.northmontchurch.org. ■ 

December 2011 North Hills Monthly MAGAZINE 23


THROUGH A GLASS BRIGHTLY 

Southerner turned Pittsburgher captures 

regional beauty on camera 

By Courtney Hartzel 

In 2005, Glenn Lewis purchased a Canon 20D camera because he 

wanted to take some “halfway decent” pictures at his sister’s wedding. 

Today, that same camera is capturing images sought by churches, 

businesses and organizations from Franklin Park Borough to the 

Charles Connick Foundation in Boston, MA. 

Lewis has captured panoramic 

cityscapes in Pittsburgh, intricate 

architectural close-ups in Savannah, GA, 

and his best-known subject, stained-glass 

windows of churches along the eastern 

seaboard. To see his photos, one would 

never guess he’s been at it for only six 

years. 

That isn’t entirely accurate, of course, 

because photography has been an 

interest of Lewis’s for as long as he can 

remember. In his mother’s house in South 

Carolina, the state where he grew up, 


there is a photograph of him at eight 

years old, shoulders slung with the strap 

of his father’s first camera, purchased in 

1957. 

Lewis spent his lifetime taking pictures, 

but it wasn’t until he purchased his first 

digital camera—and discovered the world 

of endless possibilities that is Adobe 

Photoshop, the software that 

accompanied his camera—that he 

launched the hobby that is earning him 

local renown. His photos of stained glass 

windows, in particular, are highly sought 

after 

because 

of his selftaught 

mastery of 

the 

computer 

program, 

which he 

uses to 

‘unskew’ 

odd 

angles, 

refine 

details 

and 

execute 

other 

digital enhancements to perfect each 

picture for print. 

The process can be pretty painstaking. 


After Lewis has photographed the 

windows from inside the building, ideally 

on an overcast day, he spends at least a 

half-hour, up to 1-1/2 hours, tweaking the 

image of just one window, depending on 

how many panels of the window are 

extremely light or dark and require 

editing. “There are so many details you 

can change,” he said. 

But his efforts are paying off. After 

photographing Heinz Memorial Chapel in 

Oakland, inside and out, Lewis offered to 

donate the photos to the Pittsburgh 

History & Landmarks Foundation for its 

2008 publication Charles J. Connick: His 

Education and His Windows In and Near 

Pittsburgh, by Albert M. Tannler. In 

addition to Heinz Chapel, Connick’s 

Gothic Revival windows grace many 

iconic buildings across the nation, as well 

as in Pittsburgh, including the Cathedral 

of Learning and First Baptist Church in 

Oakland and East Liberty Presbyterian 

Church. 

When the foundation saw the quality of 

his work, agreeing was a no-brainer, and 

they even asked for additional photos. 

Lewis’s contributions are featured 

prominently throughout Tannler’s book, as 

well as on the cover. 

Currently, Lewis is photographing his 

way through every intricate, colorful panel 

of First Presbyterian Church on Sixth 


Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh. The 

church already has a booklet featuring 

each of its windows, but the quality of 

Lewis’s photos is so exceptional that they 

want to print another one. 

He completed a similar project for First 

Baptist Church. From December 2010 

through February 2011, Lewis 

photographed every window in detail at 

the request of Reverend Gary Denning, 

who said that he first learned of Lewis 

through Tannler’s book. 

There were three photographers vying 

to take the photos of First Baptist that 

would appear in the book, according to 

Denning. “What was outstanding about 

Glenn was that he seemed very 

dedicated to what he was doing,” he 

explained. 

When Lewis asked Denning if he would 

like any photos of the windows of his 

church, the answer turned into the 

exhaustive, three-month photo shoot. The 

purpose? A pictorial record of every 

window at First Baptist, along with a 

description of their significance—the 

‘religious story’ they tell. Denning has 

completed the text and hopes to have the 

catalog printed by Jan. 1, 2012. In the 

meantime, he has also commissioned 

Lewis to create a series of Christmas 

cards featuring a collage of windows with 

a seasonal theme, which his congregants 

will have the option of purchasing. 

Lewis said that his interest in stained 

glass didn’t develop until 2007, when his 

family moved back to Pittsburgh from 

Charlotte, NC. A construction manager for 

30-plus years, Lewis has long been 

interested in photographing architecture, 

especially historical buildings. But 

contemporary panoramas aren’t excluded, 

and some of his most breathtaking vistas 

were snapped at sunrise en route to a 

construction site south of the city. 

He’s paid particular focus close to 

home—in Franklin Park, he’s 

photographed dozens of scenes and 

buildings, as well as such historic 

churches as Trinity Evangelical Lutheran 

Church, Little Hill Methodist Church, 

Blackburn United Methodist Church and 

Fairmount Presbyterian Church— 

including, of course, their stained glass 

windows. Little Hill Methodist also had 

Lewis create photographic greeting cards 

for their congregants to purchase. 

Lewis isn’t your typical professional 

photographer, however. “I don’t have a 

photography company,” he insists. He is a 

true artist who’s eager to accommodate 

anyone interested in his photos. His 

images may be viewed on the website, 

www.glennlewisimages.com. ■ 



Person of Distinction 

Cameron Honors Military 

Through Music and Verse 

By Kathleen N. Bishop 

Dr. Catherine Cameron of Hampton 

Township is a woman of many talents. A 

successful business owner, professor, veteran 

and mother, Cameron is also a published poet 

and aspiring songwriter. 

At the age of 10, Cameron was a budding 

poet, penning her thoughts and feelings as 

many young girls do. In 1968, at the age of 

13, Cameron’s parents sent one of her poems 

off to be published as a song. The Golden Cross 

was recorded and Cameron still has the 45 

record, which started her passion for writing. 

“I always wrote poems and felt that many 

would make meaningful and beautiful songs,” 

she explained. “I’ve given many poems as gifts 

to family and friends, and one made its way to 

Cathy Lemmon at the Artistic Development 

Network in Nashville. She called me on my 

birthday in September 2009 to talk about one 

of my poems, and in March 2010, I went to 

Nashville to co-write with some of the 

songwriters with whom Cathy works.” 

One of those songwriters was Sarah Majors, 

who has been in the business since 1994 and 

has worked with such artists as Trisha 

Yearwood, Trace Adkins, Vince Gill and Tracy 

Byrd. Together, Cameron and Majors wrote 

four songs: Fall, about Cameron’s husband 

who passed away in 1987 when her son, Joe, 

was 12; Just Being Me; One More Chance to 

Play; and Here from There, a song honoring 

military men and women. 

Here from There is written from the 

perspective of a soldier on his graduation day. 

Cameron said her inspiration for the song 

came from her online military students at 

Trident University (TUI). “My students are all 

over the world and when I thought of writing 

a military song, I sent my classes an email to 

collect data,” she said. 

Poetry is her other creative outlet. Two days 

after September 11, Cameron, who was 

honorably discharged from the Army Reserves 

in 1988, sat down and wrote The American 

Eagle, a poem that depicts our eagle, broken, 

shedding a tear, but vowing to come back 

stronger than before. She entered the poem in 

the Library of Congress Poetry Contest and 

won the Editor’s Choice award. The poem was 

published in the Library of Congress Book of 

Poems 2001. 

Though her songs and poems are far 

removed from her career as a professor and 

business consultant, Cameron has found her 

passion. ■ 


The Chinese have been using foot 

reflexology massage to improve their health, 

comfort and relaxation for thousands of 

years; there are 26,000 places in Beijing 

alone, as well as in Los Angeles, Orange 

County, San Diego and throughout 

California. 

What is reflexology? 

Reflexology is the practice of applying 

pressure to the feet and hands utilizing 

specific thumb, finger and hand techniques 

without the use of oils, cream or lotions. It is 

based on a system of zones and reflex areas 

that reflect an image of the body on the feet 

and hands with the premise that such work 

affects a physical change in the body. 

What are the benefits? 

• It creates relaxation. From the moment 

the reflexologist's hands start their work, the 

relaxation begins. This is shown in research 

using EEG brain activity; altogether, 24 

studies have demonstrated reflexology's 

relaxation effects. 

• It reduces pain. Pain reduction following 

reflexology work is documented in 27 studies 

including research that shows its impact on 

individuals of all ages and states of health. 

• It improves blood flow. Separate studies 

show that reflexology work increases blood 

flow to the feet, brain, kidneys and intestines. 

• It impacts physiological measures. These 

include blood pressure and cholesterol that 



What is Chinese Reflexology Massage, 

and Why Should You Try It? 

have been measured by ECGs, EEGs and 

MRIs. 

Reflexology is a complement to standard 

medical care. It should not be construed as 

medical advice and should not be a 

replacement for medical treatment. 

What else does reflexology do? 

• Makes your feet feel really great 

• Makes you feel like you had a nap 

• Makes your achy feet feel refreshed 

and happy 

• Makes other parts of your 

body feel better 

Reflexology is a fun and healthy experience 

to do with friends, coworkers and family. It is 

not only a great wedding gift, but a fun thing 

for the wedding party to do together. 

Do you have a hard time coming up with a 

gift for someone special? How about giving a 

healthful gift of pleasure and relaxation? Or get 

reflexology for yourself: Clear your head and 

step away from your stresses and problems, and 

relax and be pampered. You deserve it. 

How do I get started? 

Call for a reservation at 724-772-0905. 

Wear clothing that frees your feet and legs (up 

to your knees) for treatment. You will be seated 

in a comfortable lounge chair. After you are 

situated, your feet will be placed in a tub of 

comfortably hot water with the essences of 

Chinese herbs. After a 15-minute soak, you 

will have your feet and lower legs massaged. 

The reflexologist's application of techniques 

will suit your comfort zone, and not be too 

heavy or too light. 

How much does it cost? 

It is $34 for one hour, 

and $20 for a half-hour. 

What other treatments do you have? 

We have Tuina therapeutic massage (a 

method of ancient Chinese massage) which is 

applied to the body, and we also have 

nationally known neuro-physiological 

practitioner Oliver Price on staff. 

We are located at 20232 Route 19 in 

Cranberry Twp. ■ 

20232 Route 19, Cranberry Twp. 

724-612-1016 




Legacy Music Series Helps 

Hospital Visitors Relax 


Hospitals can be stressful places, and it’s not always easy to find a way 

to relax. Waiting to take a test or to find out a loved ones’ prognosis can 

put anyone on edge. At UPMC Passavant, however, visitors can find a 

little respite from worry through the Legacy Music Series, sponsored by 

the Passavant Hospital Foundation (PHF). 

“The mission of the foundation is to 

support UPMC Passavant by advancing 

health and wellness through education 

and outreach to visitors and staff alike. 

The Legacy Music Series is a pleasant 

diversion at a difficult time for families,” 

explained Janine Sidoruk, PHF marketing 

and communications coordinator. “Some 

people are waiting for test results or to 

hear how a loved one’s surgery went. 

They are on pins and needles, and 

listening to our performers helps to ease 

that stress.” 


Four days a week from noon to 4 p.m., 

local volunteer musicians provide 

entertainment in the hospital’s lobby area. 

The program has hosted everyone from 

pianists to guitarists to steel drummers, 

violinists and flutists. Performers have 

ranged in age from as young as 6 years 

old to 70. “We have one fellow who plays 

with the Harold Betters Trio, and two 

brothers who used to perform at West 

View Park Danceland,” said Sidoruk. 

“Most of those who perform are fairly well 

accomplished; some I would say are even 

Benjamin R. Luchansky of Shaler sings along as 

Lois Nicoletti, volunteer pianist in the Passavant 

Hospital Foundation Legacy Music Series, 

entertains McCandless hospital guests and staff. 

at the Carnegie Hall level.” 

Brothers Jim and Dick Bianchi play 

guitar every couple of weeks as part of 

the program. “We played music all 

through the 1960s, then quit and didn’t 

pick up our guitars for another 30 years,” 

explained Jim Bianchi. “One day I was at 

the flea market and saw some guitar 

strings for a quarter, so I thought maybe 


Brothers Jim and Dick Bianchi volunteer their time 

to entertain hospital visitors as part of the Legacy 

Music program. 

I’d start playing again, and my brother 

said, ‘if you’re going to play, then so am I.’ 

“We used to be in a rock band, but now 

that we’re both in our 70s, our days of rockn-roll 

are over,” he laughed. “Now we play 

easy listening, country-and-western and 

oldies, and it seems to give the folks at the 

hospital a little peace of mind. We enjoy 

playing, and they seem to enjoy it, too.” 

Lois Nicoletti plays piano every Monday 

and Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. at 

the hospital, and absolutely loves the 

experience. “I thought the program 

sounded wonderful when I first heard 

about it, but it’s turned out to be even 

better than I thought,” she said. “It’s really 

rewarding. 

“I had one man who was waiting for a 

doctor’s appointment tell me that he 

forgot to worry for a while when he was 

listening to me play, and another woman 

who is 90 comes every day that I play to 

hear the song Edelweiss.” 

To become a part of the Legacy Music 

Series, performers need to submit an 

application that includes information on 

where they’ve played before, and some 

specific pieces that they play. “We don’t 

turn anyone down,” said Sidoruk, adding 

that everyone who has applied has had 

some previous experience. “The most 

important thing is that they are willing to 

give their time and the gift of music to 

benefit others.” 

In addition to regular weekly 

performances, the Legacy Music Series 

also hosts Signature Legacy events. On 

Dec. 2, a Sounds of the Season concert 

will be held at the PHF Legacy Theatre at 

Cumberland Woods Village, which will 

feature the Pine Creek Band. The 

program begins at 7 p.m. and is free and 

open to the public. 

“I really enjoy playing the piano; in fact, 

I still take piano lessons, but I think the 

main reason that I like participating in the 

Legacy Music Series is that I like the idea 

that I am helping to lighten someone’s 

heart a little,” said Nicoletti. “It makes life 

worthwhile when you know that you are 

helping somebody else.” ■ 


There are many vital signs to indicate how 

your body is performing. Physicians and 

other health care professionals track blood 

pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate to 

monitor a person’s overall health. But did 

you know that your walking speed can be an 

important vital sign used to predict your 

overall health, well-being and ability to stay 

independent as you age? Walking speed or 

‘gait velocity’ is measured by timing an 

individual as he or she walks an established 

distance, usually 10 meters. 

Although walking may seem like the 

simplest of tasks, it is actually a complex 

symphony involving many of the body’s 

systems. In order to walk, our bodies must 

coordinate balance, muscle contraction and 

relaxation, as well as adjust the cardiovascular 

system. As one can imagine, a simple change 

in any of these systems could cause a change 

in someone’s ability to walk, thus reducing 

walking speed. This is the reason that 

walking speed is now considered a ‘vital sign.’ 

Research has shown that the normal 

walking speed of an older adult (over age 65) 

is 1.2 to 1.4 meters per second (1.8-2.7 

mph). There has also been significant 

research demonstrating that as walking speed 

decreases from the normal range, an 

individual becomes less likely to be able to 

stay at home safely and may be at a greater 

risk for injuries and other medical 

complications including possible increased 

risk of death. The good news: research 

indicates that improvement in walking speed 

is linked to a reduction in medical 

complications and also an improved ability 

to stay independent. 

One study in particular indicated that 

individuals who improved their walking 

speed had a 20 percent less chance of medical 

decline than those who displayed a decrease 

in their walking speed. This same study also 

showed that over an eight-year period, 

individuals with improved walking speed 

had a 10 percent less likelihood of medical 


By Dr. Tonya Miller, PT, DPT, Regional Director 

WALKING SPEED: 

A Vital Sign for Older Adults 

decline compared to those whose speed 

remained the same. So, just by improving the 

speed at which you walk, you can have a 

positive effect on your overall health. 

Older adults who have difficulty walking 

when out in the community may benefit 

from the assistance of a home health physical 

therapist. Celtic Healthcare's physical 

therapists work with older adults in their 

own homes to evaluate their walking speed 

and overall function and safety. After a 

comprehensive evaluation, our therapists 

then develop safe and effective programs to 

improve the walking speed, functional 

activities and overall health status of an 

individual. By partnering with physical 

therapists to develop medically appropriate 

programs, older adults can improve their 

walking speed—a vital component to 

healthy aging. 

For more information about home health 

physical therapy and Celtic Healthcare’s 

programs, please visit www.celtichealthcare.com 

or contact Celtic Healthcare at 800-355- 

8894. ■ 

CELTIC HEALTHCARE 

800-355-8894 

www.celtichealthcare.com 




No Regrets in 

Making Lamentar 

By Marta Sauret 

In the entertainment business, New York or Hollywood may be the ideal 

place to create a film. But just like Batman producers chose Pittsburgh, 

a group of students studying film throughout the country chose the 

North Hills to make their next work of art, a short film called Lamentar. 

Lamentar details the last encounters 

between two best friends, James and 

Sophie, before Sophie leaves for Spain 

for a job. “The conflict is a common one 

among people—the last-minute attempt to 

change the future,” explained cowriter, 

cinematographer and director Patrick 

Morgan. The film’s title means to lament 

or regret in Spanish. 

Cowriter, cinematographer and director 

Brenna Perez described the film as an 

unbiased look at an argument. “Eventually, 

as we wrote the script and figured out the 

logistics, the whole project became less 


of an exercise and more of a project that 

stemmed from passion and a story we 

wanted to tell,” she explained. 

“The two main characters are supposed 

to be best friends, and we came to realize 

that we definitely put a lot of ourselves 

and our relationship into the story,” she 

added. “At one point when we were 

writing the script, Patrick and I tried 

improvising some of the dialogue 

ourselves. We spent an evening trying to 

argue with each other, to see what we 

could come up with.” 

But why film in the North Hills? For 

starters, the majority of people working on 

the film are North Allegheny High School 

(NA) graduates and students. That, and 

the discovery of the perfect film set in 

Mars, PA—a vast, green area with a 

peaceful pond, owned by Morgan’s close 

family friend—made the North Hills the 

perfect spot for the film to find life. 

“After we fell in love with the location, 

the owner was really supportive about the 

whole situation. She didn't realize at first 

that there would be nearly two dozen 

people at her place for three days 

straight, but she was a saint about the 

whole thing,” said Morgan. 

The site itself is one of the main 

reasons that people should view the film, 

according to Trey Compton, the male 

lead. “It’s absolutely breathtaking,” he 

said. “From what I’ve seen so far, Brenna 

and Patrick did a wonderful job with the 

different shots they took of the location.” 

Compton costarred in the film as 

James with Meredith May, who played 

Sophie. “She is a great and giving 

actress, so it was easy to become 

personable with her and understand her,” 

he added. 

To fund the project, the group relied on 

donations from local North Hills’ 

businesses as well as family and friends, 

and donations are still welcome. 

“Although we have nearly completed postproduction, 

we intend on submitting the 

film to many festivals, which can be 

expensive,” said co-producer Kate 

Mahler. 

“Competitions in New York and Los 

Angeles are our main interest, as well as 

those in bigger cities,” she continued. “It's 

important to me that we submit to the 

Three Rivers Film Festival, and I know 

Brenna wants to submit to Spanish 

festivals.” 

For more information on the film, 

contact Kathryn Mahler at 

kathryncmahler@hotmail.com or visit 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/19542 

08554/lamentar?ref=users. Donors will 

get an exclusive DVD of the film, as it 

cannot be posted online before or during 

film festivals. ■ 




EMBROIDERY: 

A Timeless Art Comes of Age 


Since the time of ancient Egypt, embroidery has 

defined and embellished culture throughout the ages. 

With thousands of different stitches and designs, it has 

survived as a complex and refined art form. 

According to Gretel Gormley, a volunteer at Piecing It Together 

in Ross Township and an experienced hand embroiderer, 

“Embroidery isn’t a lost art–it’s flourishing!” Gormley is a member 

of three embroidery guilds which hold seminars and classes. 

“We’re always learning new techniques,” she said. 

Gormley has been hand embroidering since 1936, starting as a 

child with stamped embroidery on tea towels, and moving on to 

more advanced forms like Japanese embroidery, needlepoint and 

crewel embroidery. Crewelwork, associated with the Jacobean 

era, uses wool thread on heavy twill fabric. “I studied Japanese 

embroidery for six years–it’s very complicated,” said Gormley. 

“We use silk thread right out of the cocoon, dyed in glorious 

colors. It looks like satin when it’s done.” 

Today’s embroidery encompasses a wide variety of stitches 

Gretel Gormley holding a piece of her own Japanese embroidery. 

and materials, integrating traditional and contemporary design. 

“Anything goes, and all types of fabrics and materials are used 

today,” said Carol Hartman, who runs a quilting business, Liberty 

Starz Creations, out of her home in Franklin Park. “People are 

recognizing embroidery as art.” 

According to Hartman, contemporary designs are getting more 

popular. “I’ve seen people use many different things as sewing 

materials, from plastic bags to recycled t-shirts and foam,” she 

said. “They’re embroidering on clothing, purses, even 

lunchboxes.” 

Hartman has been embroidering since she was 17 years old. 

Today, she does more machine embroidery than hand 

embroidery. “You can use a regular sewing machine and guide 

the machine yourself–that’s called thread painting,” she said. “Or, 

you can buy a computerized embroidery machine. You just press 

a button and it embroiders the design for you.” Embroiderers can 

program their own designs or find designs online and download 

them into the sewing machine. 

Debbie Joslin, owner of Unique Threads Embroidery in 

Gibsonia, uses machine embroidery to create or duplicate 

designs such as company logos for clothing. Joslin began 

embroidering in 2000. “Today I embroider for several large 

companies and small businesses,” she said. “Many businesses 

like to have their employees wear the company logo while others 

like to give gifts to their clients.” 

For enthusiasts of both hand and machine embroidery, the 

Three Rivers Chapter of the Embroidery Guild of America (EGA) 

meets every month at Northland Public Library. Susan Ankeney, 

EGA’s Mideast region treasurer said, “We work on EGA projects, 

and we do community outreach. We just finished a national 

project called ‘kissing pillows’ in which we stitched hearts on 

pillows given to military members going overseas and their 

families. They can kiss the heart each night as a way to feel 

connected to their loved ones. We’re currently stitching 

bookmarks for a literacy program.” 

Ankeney has been embroidering since she was a child. “I like 

the relaxation,” she said. “I like the feeling of creating something.” 

Ankeney mostly works on canvas and linen, using silk thread. “I 

do a lot of geometric designs–mostly framed decorative pieces,” 

she said. “There are many specialty fibers and a variety of 

stitches to work with.” Ankeney acknowledges embroidery as an 

art form, but feels hand embroidery has lost some of its popularity 

because of the time involved. “People are interested but are just 

too busy to do the work,” she said. 

Gormley refers to embroiderers as ‘a sisterhood of ladies’ and 

hopes more kids will become interested in the art of embroidery. 

“I just love the look of it,” she said. ■ 


Legal Matters 

Each year around this time, I receive a 

request from magazine management to 

address charitable giving. So let’s get into 

the spirit of the season and talk about giving 

money away. 

First, you want to figure out how much 

money you want to give away. If you have a 

budget, this is the time of the year to look it over and 

make sure that you have dealt with your necessities. Then, 

you need to identify a quality charity or two, and by that I 

mean a charity that is approved by the Internal Revenue Service. 

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a great place to start your 

investigation. The BBB maintains a website at www.bbb.org/charity 

where you can find all kinds of information about charities. Each charity 

is given an opportunity to complete a detailed questionnaire, and then 

the Better Business Bureau goes through the information and verifies it. 

If the BBB gives the charity its stamp of approval, you can feel confident 

that your money is going to a legitimate cause. 

Once you determine where your money is going, you have lots of 

ways to give. Mailing the charity a check is the obvious method, and that 

is fine for the conventional gift as it provides you with a receipt. But I 

recently learned that if I want my donation to the Salvation Army to 

benefit needy people in the Mars area, for instance, I should not send my 

contribution to the national office. There are many ways that you can be 

sure your donation stays in your immediate area. 

Making a gift of tangible items, such as clothing, furniture or even an 

automobile can provide you with an income tax deduction (don’t forget 

to get a receipt), as well as free up some space in your home or garage. 

Check with the charity in advance of showing up with a vanload of stuff, 

however, because many organizations no longer accept furniture or used 

clothing. They do not have the staff to sort things or repair things, such 


It’s the Most Wonderful 

Time of the Year 

By Christopher M. Abernethy, Esquire 

as broken furniture or used computers, so make the call before you go. 

If the items you want to donate are not part of their mission, they may 

not want it, but they might have a good idea about who does. 

You can also transfer stock from a publicly traded company or mutual 

fund to a charity, and if your stock has increased in value (a rarity today), 

you avoid paying tax on the gain because you do not sell the stock. You 

donate the stock to the charity and it sells the stock, and since it is a taxexempt 

entity, the capital gains tax is avoided. 

Another way to make a contribution is to transfer money directly 

from your IRA to the charity. This allows you to avoid taking the money 

out of the IRA, paying an income tax bill, then making the gift and 

taking a deduction. This is a relatively new method of giving, and there 

are a lot of rules with which to comply, so check with your tax advisor 

or your broker for instructions. The sooner you start this process the 

better, so that you complete it well before the end of the year. Be aware, 

however, that the money is not a ‘contribution’ until it is in the 

possession of the charity. That means you need to send your money in 

by the middle of December. 

But what if you decide to make a last-minute gift? Try using your 

credit card. Most charities are set up to receive gifts by credit card (if it 

will not accept a credit card gift, you should be suspicious of the charity). 

A gift by credit card is an immediate gift, giving you two advantages: an 

immediate income tax deduction and the ability to pay your gift off over 

a period of time by spreading out your payments to the credit card 

company. 

By making a gift of $100 by credit card now, you can pay it off over 

the next few months, but beware of your interest charges. Alternatively, 

you can authorize the charity to draw out $8.33 per month from your 

credit card and thus make a gift of $100 over the next year. 

Have a nice holiday season! ■ 

Christopher M. Abernethy has been practicing law in Hampton 

Township since 1976. He focuses on elder law, which includes wills, 

trusts, powers of attorney, living wills and probate matters. He also is 

proficient in all aspects of real estate law and business law. He is a 

member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys and the 

AARP Legal Services Network. He can be reached at 412-486-6624 or 

by email at cabernethy@aaylaw.com. www.aaylaw.com 



Combination of sports and a haircut makes it good 

to be a guy at McCandless Crossing 

Sport Clips, the nation’s leading men’s and boys’ hair 

care franchise, opened its 825th store in McCandless 

Crossing on November 18. This is the newest addition to 

the franchise’s 12 Pittsburgh-area locations, each 

providing a unique environment for guys to get a haircut. 

The new Sport Clips, located in the North Hills at 9034 St. 

Simon Way, is Team Leaders (franchisees) Al and Janet 

Rodriguez’s sixth location to open in Pennsylvania. The 

Rodriguezs purchased their first store in Robinson in 2006. 

They also operate stores in Cranberry, Gibsonia, 

Monroeville and recently opened one in Monaca. 

“What’s better than getting a haircut in a relaxing, guyfriendly 

environment, with sports on TV everywhere you 

look, well-trained stylists and no need for an 

appointment?” asked Al Rodriguez. “Sport Clips has really 

caught on here in the Pittsburgh area, and having this 

additional location will make it even more convenient for 

guys in the North Hills to experience the MVP Haircut 

Treatment.” 

The new Sport Clips will offer guys: 

• The MVP Treatment – precision haircut, massaging 


ADVERTORIAL 

Sport Clips Opens at McCandless Crossing 

shampoo, hot steamed towel treatment, and neck and 

shoulder massage 

• Stylists who specialize in male hair care and stay 

up-to-date on industry trends 

• Haircut services without an appointment – walk-ins are 

welcome 

• Large, flat-screen televisions playing sports 

programming at each haircut station and in the lobby, 

along with reading materials 

• Special lighting and massaging chairs in the shampoo 

area to promote relaxation 

• Male-focused hair care and styling products 

• Sports memorabilia for purchase 

“It’s great to be a part of a successful, growing company 

like Sport Clips. And to be able to experience it all in the 

great city of Pittsburgh – it’s a win-win,” said Rodriguez. 

The new location will be open Monday-Friday from 

9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 

Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit 

http://haircutmenMcCandlessPA.com. 


Children’s Art Display 

Encourages Awareness of Autism 


Many families living in the North Hills have been 

touched by autism, a disorder that causes children to 

have varying levels of difficulty with social interaction, 

verbal and nonverbal communication and to engage 

in repetitive behaviors. When Nicki McGee, owner of 

Sincerely Yogurt in Wexford, realized that a number of 

these children lived in her neighborhood, she wanted 

to do something to help. 

“I believe that it's my responsibility as a member of the business 

community to give back to the community in which I work, and I 

wanted to partner with a cause I had some personal identification 

with,” she explained, “Autism is an epidemic that, unfortunately, has 

touched many of my close friends. In my neighborhood alone, there 

are four autistic children, all from families that I consider friends.” 

McGee decided to partner with The Hope Learning Center in 

Wexford, a pediatric therapy center offering evaluation and treatment 

services for children with developmental disorders and special needs, 

and its nonprofit arm, The Hope for Autism Foundation, to raise 

awareness of the disorder. “The foundation provides funding to those 

children who are unable to afford the services the learning center 

provides, so my first step in helping was to donate 100 percent of my 

opening profits to the foundation,” said McGee, adding that the 

Sincerely Yogurt Corporation encourages store owners to donate their 

first day's profits to a charity of their choice. “I was happy to do this, 

but I didn't want our contribution to stop there.” 

While finalizing the design of her store, McGee had a brainstorm. 

“I was considering wall art, and thought, ‘what better way to decorate 

than by using art created by the children at The Hope Learning 

Center to help them feel a part of the store?’ At the time, I wasn’t 

thinking of selling the art; the 

idea developed from there.” 

McGee had been introduced 

to Asha Persaud, the director of 

The Hope Learning Center, by 

her neighbor, Rose Morris. 

“When I asked Asha if she 

thought the kids could draw 

some pictures that I could hang 

in my store, she was thrilled,” 

said McGee. “Together, we 

decided to make it a contest with the children and the ‘winning’ 

drawings would be displayed in our store. As the artwork is sold, it 

gets replaced by more of their drawings.” 

“The students were so excited to have the opportunity to create 

pictures and have them displayed in the store,” said Persaud. “It’s just 

a really good match. Some of our therapists also incorporated making 

the artwork into their lessons, so the children were not just drawing 

pictures, but also using them as part of their therapy sessions.” 

The framed artwork hangs in a ‘gallery’ located in Sincerely Yogurt 

and are available for purchase for any amount that a buyer wants to 

give. All of the money raised goes directly to The Hope for Autism 

Foundation. “The kids love it—their parents bring them in and they get 

really excited to see their artwork on display; in fact, I have one older 

boy who comes in regularly just to see it,” said McGee. 

In addition to the gallery, McGee and Persaud are currently working 

on a socialization project to bring the older children into the store to 

work with the store’s employees. “We hope to find other ways to 

collaborate in the future to get these kids into the community,” said 

Persaud. 

For more information, visit www.thehopelearningcenter.com or visit 

Sincerely Yogurt in Wexford at 12061 Perry Hwy., in the Pine Tree 

Shops next to Panera Bread. ■ 




VINCENTIAN EMPLOYEES 

RECEIVE AWARD 

Raymond E. Washburn, president and CEO of the 

Vincentian Collaborative System, recently presented 

six employees with the St. Vincent and St. Louise 

Award, which recognizes a small number of employees 

who have done something truly significant that is an 

example of turning the organization’s mission into 

action. Employees honored included Judy Back, nurse 

aide, Vincentian Regency; Lyndsey Green, nurse aide, 

Vincentian Regency; Larry Hayward, maintenance 

supervisor, Vincentian Villa; Bert Palamone, LPN, 

Marian Manor; Louanne Plank, director of quality 

and risk management, Vincentian Collaborative 

System and Linda Schoyer, Vincentian de Marillac. 

WOODLANDS BUTTERFLY BALL 

A SUCCESS 

At the Woodlands Butterfly Ball, $210,000 was raised 

to benefit year-round programming for children and 

adults with disabilities and chronic illnesses. The 

Willard and Carol Tillotson Family were honored for 

their integral role in supporting charitable 

organizations; Harry Hunter was honorary chair. 

www.mywoodlands.org, 724-935-6533. 

CCAC FIREVEST GRADUATES 

HONORED 

Graduates of the Community College of Allegheny 

County’s FireVEST program have been honored by 

the Allegheny County Council for their achievements 

and service to the community. They include Joshua 

Belke, Edward Bloomer, Orlando Burge, Cierra 

Dunmire, Andrew McWhinney, Michael Missonak, 

Michael Novogradac, Matthew Pack and Richard 

Susalla. www.ccac.edu, firevest@alleghenycounty.us. 

LA ROCHE NAMES 

NEW BOT MEMBERS 

La Roche College has appointed nine new members 

to its board of trustees. They include Bradley J. Franc, 

Patrick J. DeCourcy, Angela J. Longo, Karen D. 

Watson, Evelyn D. Perrett, James F. Getz, Jr., Peter 

Gonzalez, Robert J. Howard and Lee W. Baierl. 

www.laroche.edu. 

UPMC PASSAVANT 

REOPENS CHAPEL 

On Nov. 1, the UPMC Passavant Chapel’s reopened. 

Refurbishments were made possible by donations 

New & Notable 

from the Passavant Hospital Auxiliary, UPMC 

Passavant, John Baverso, AIA, Avanti Architecture and 

the Cain Family. A dedication ceremony is scheduled 

for Dec. 2. www.PassavantHospitalFoundation.org. 

REVOLUTION PHYSICAL THERAPY 

ADDS SERVICES 

Revolution Physical Therapy, which recently 

opened in Cranberry, has added chiropractic care 

and massage therapy to their services. 

www.revolutionphysicaltherapy.com. 

SV 9TH GRADE FOOTBALL TEAM 

UNDEFEATED 

The Seneca Valley 9th grade football team concluded 

its 2011 season by becoming the first team in school 

history to have both an undefeated section record and 

undefeated season. The team ended the season with an 

8-0 record. 

MINARD AND WOLF 

WIN USAA 

EDUCATIONAL GRANTS 

Abigail Minard, an eighth grader at 

Shady Side Academy Middle School, 

and Michelle Wolf, a ninth-grader at 

Shady Side Academy Senior School, 

have been selected as United States 

Achievement Academy Scholarship 

winners for 2011. 

www.shadysideacademy.org. 

LA ROCHE COLLEGE AND 

VINCENTIAN ACADEMY PARTNER 

Vincentian Academy and La Roche College have 

signed a letter of understanding that will benefit 

students and employees of both institutions. Students 

at both schools will have access to each other’s 

facilities, and children of the school’s employees will 

now be able to enroll at a 50 percent tuition reduction 

at each other’s institutions. www.laroche.edu. 

ADAMS JOINS BUTLER MEDICAL 

ASSOCIATES 

Dr. Amanda J. Adams has joined Butler Medical 

Associates as a family practice physician at its 

Cranberry location. She formerly served as a primary 

care physician, medical director of immunizations and 

medical director of women’s health for the U.S. Air 

Force. www.butlerhealthsystem.org 

MCKINNEY COMPLETES 

COLLABORATIVE LAW 

TRAINING 

Bridgewater Wealth, Inc. founder 

Robb McKinney recently completed 

his collaborative law training through 

The Collaborative Law Association of 

Southwestern Pennsylvania (CLASP). 

McKinney pursued this training with the intention of 

expanding his skills as they relate to the power of 

neutrality, use of interest-based negotiation, life 

paradigm shifts, common collaborative challenges and 

ethical dilemmas. 

NEW EAGLE SCOUTS RECOGNIZED 

In November, the 62nd Annual Eagle Scout 

Recognition Dinner was held at Westin Convention 

Center where 356 new Eagle Scouts were recognized. 

The Scouts also named Mark H. Breedlove, president 

and CEO of Keystone Profiles, as their class honoree. 

More than 700 guests attended this event, which also 

celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Eagle Scout 

Award, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. 

CCAC HONORS EMPLOYEE ON 

HER 90TH BIRTHDAY 

The Community College of Allegheny County 

recently honored Virginia “Ginny” Fallon of Ross, who 

has served as a receptionist at the college’s Office of 

College Services since 1975. Fallon remains a full-time 

CCAC employee, daily greeting visitors to the college’s 

central administrative offices on the North Shore. 

DONATE TO MEMORY TREE 

Hope Hospice, a nonprofit hospice servicing the 

community since 1996, is displaying a Memory Tree 

at the Next-Tier Bank in Gibsonia on Rt. 8. 

Donations are welcome in memory of a loved one and 

will help patients and caregivers in the community 

during the holiday season. 412-736-0057. 

ANIMAL FRIENDS WAIVES CAT 

ADOPTION FEE 

Recent large-scale rescues have left the shelter 

desperate for kennel space, so Animal Friends is 

currently waiving adoption donations for all felines 

ages 2 and up. Animal Friends typically requests a $75 

donation for cat adoption. All cats are spayed or 

neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and medically 

and behaviorally cleared for adoption. Visit 

www.ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org or call 

412-847-7000. 

LA ROCHE INTRODUCES 

MS IN ACCOUNTING 

In January 2012, La Roche College will begin offering 

a Master of Science (MS) degree in Accounting. The 

30-credit master’s level accounting program will offer 

one of the few comprehensive, non-MBA, graduate 

accounting programs in western Pennsylvania. Upon 

completion, graduates will have received the necessary 

preparation for CPA licensure. For more information, 

call 412-536-1260 or email 

Hope.schiffgens@laroche.edu. 

SABAK WINS SPELLING BEE 

Marshall Elementary School fourth-grader 

Katherine Sabak won first place in the regional 

competition of the Macy’s 6th Annual Spelling Bee 

for 8-11-year-olds. She then competed against 29 

regional winners in New York City at the national 

Grand Finale Spelling Bee and took third place. ■ 


Bock Funeral Home, Ltd. 

Serving the community since 1868 


Gift Certificates 

Available 

Call Alice 

412-837-2568 

AlliesCleaning@yahoo.com 

Allie’s Cleaning Service 

H O U S E K E E P I N G 

• Personalized Service to Meet Your Needs & Budget 

• 90% Referral Based Business - Excellent References 

• Bonded and Insured • New Construction 

• Residential and Commercial Cleaning 

4 Bedroom, 2 1 /2 Bath Home $105 + tax 

1500 Mt. Royal Boulevard 

Glenshaw, PA 15116 

P: 412-486-8500 

F: 412-487-8385 

Lawrence H. Bock, F.D. Supervisor 

Kenneth L. Rush, F.D. 

R. Dennis Hughes, F.D. 

www.bockltd.com 


BENEFITS & FUNDRAISERS 

Equitable Gas Festival of Lights 

Fri., Dec. 2, 3-9 p.m., adjoining campuses of 

La Roche College and the Sisters of Divine 

Providence. Free. North Hills Community 

Outreach will display the car for its Too Big for the 

Stocking giveaway. www.laroche.edu/festival. 

8th Annual Reindeer Ball 

Sun., Dec. 4, 4-7 p.m., Westin Convention Center, 

Pittsburgh. Holiday children’s gala. Benefits A 

Child’s Place at Mercy. Presented by Pittsburgh 

Mercy Health System. Tickets at 

www.pmhs.org/events. 724-934-3537. 

The Andy Cooney Christmas Show 

Thurs., Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m., West View Fireman’s 

Banquet Hall. Benefits the Ladies Ancient Order of 

Hibernians Division 4. Contact Kathy C. for 

tickets, 412-364-5840. 

$10,000 Christmas Raffle 

Drawing Dec. 11. Only 500 tickets. Proceeds benefit 

Cystic Fibrous Foundation-Nick and Hayden’s 

Heroes. $50/ticket. 1st prize is $7,500. Presented by 

In Tune with the Arts Studios, Inc. 724-449-9595. 

Christy House Luncheons 

Fridays, Sept.-June, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Christy 

House on Frederick St., Sewickley. Christmas lunch 

will be on Dec. 16. Proceeds help women’s and 

children’s missions. Call 412-741-5960 for group 

reservations. 

St. Ferdinand Church 

New Year’s Eve Party 

Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m., Marriott, Rt. 228, Cranberry. 

Ages 18+. Benefits St. Ferdinand Building Fund 

Campaign. Tickets must be purchased in advance 

and are sold after Mass at St. Ferdinand Church, at 

the Education Building, or by calling Bonnie at 

724-776-9177 x 313 or Nancy at 724-779-3986. 

www.St.Ferd.org. 

Free Straw for Cold Outdoor Pets 

Pick up free bags of straw at Animal Friends, 

562 Camp Horne Rd. Straw delivery available for 

those without transportation. If you are in need of 

a doghouse, contact Animal Friends to inquire 

about availability. 412-847-7000, 

www.ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org. 

Adopt-a-Horse or Donkey 

Verland has been offering Equestrian Therapy 

Programs since 1982. Help by adopting a horse or 

donkey; even have your picture taken with your 

animal. Minimum adoption donation is $150. 

Colleen Ley, 412-741-2375 x 1256 or 

cley@verland.org or www.verland.org. 

23rd Annual Blanket Drive 

for the Homeless 

Dr. Ray Vactor of the Wexford Chiropractic Centre 

is collecting donations of new or used blankets 

(cleaned) to benefit the Homeless Ministries on the 

street. Until December 31. 130 Wexford Bayne Rd. 

(910) next to the Post Office Deli. 724-935-1610. 


Community Events 

Christmas Concert 

Sponsored by Butler Health System. Dec. 8, 7 p.m., 

Findley Auditorium, Butler Memorial Hospital. 

Butler Symphony Brass will perform. Free tickets, 

(hospital gift shop, BHS Foundation office, May’s 

Music Shoppe); limited seating. Free-will offering 

to benefit the Caring Angel Program. 

724-284-4716 or kab.bhf@butlerhealthsystem.org. 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

PCC Brilliant Brass 

Dec. 2, 8 p.m. and Dec. 4, 4 p.m., Ingomar 

United Methodist Church and Dec. 3, 8 p.m., Fox 

Chapel Presbyterian Church. Pittsburgh Concert 

Chorale. Holiday music for Chorus and Brass. 

Tickets at www.PCCSing.org or 412-635-7654. 

Saturday Singles Dance 

Ages 40+. Sat., Dec. 3, 7-8 p.m. (Free speed dating 

with prizes) and Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m. (line dance 

lesson) Holiday Party, West View VFW, 

386 Perry Hwy. Dances 8 p.m.-midnight. 

724-316-5029, www.dancetonight.weebly.com. 

Ingomar Garden Club Meeting 

Dec. 7, 10:30 a.m., Diamond Run Golf Club. 

Business meeting, luncheon and gift exchange. 

412-367-2685, 412-366-7824. 

Not Just Ballroom Dance 

Dec. 9, 7 p.m. (lessons), 8-11 p.m. (dance), 

Municipal Center, 2525 Rochester Rd., Cranberry. 

Open to singles and couples. Monthly dances 

sponsored by Cranberry Twp. Parks & Recreation. 

724-779-4464, jztasick@cranberrydance.com or 

www.cranberrydance.com. 

Pittsburgh Philharmonic Concerts 

Fri., Dec. 9, 8 p.m., Butler County Community 

College and Sat., Dec. 10, 7 p.m., North Hills 

Junior High. Tickets at www.pghphil.org or 

412-223-7501. 

12th Annual Cookie Walk 

Sat., Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Alexander 

Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral. 412-366-0107, 

www.stalexandernevsky.org. 

Mars VFW Singles Dance 

Sat., Dec. 10 & 31, 7-8 p.m. (dance lesson), 

8 p.m.-midnight (dance), Mars VFW. Ages 40+. 

724-352-7687, 724-625-1910, or 

www.marssingles.com. 

North Hills Chorale Presents 

Bethlehem’s Star 

Sat., Dec. 10, 7 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 11, 3 p.m., 

Chapel at Kearns Spirituality Center. Bring nonperishable 

food donations for North Hills 

Community Outreach Food Pantry. 

www.nhchorale.com. 

North Hills Music Club Meeting 

Mon., Dec. 12, 10:30 a.m., Musik Innovations. 

Program features music by the Club Chorale and a 

storyteller. 412-761-8818. 

Plumberry Gifts 

Holiday Open House 

Dec. 15, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Dec. 16, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; 

Dec. 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Dec. 18, 12-4 p.m., 

Cranberry. 724-772-5200. 

Holiday Open House 

Alpaca De Moda Boutique. Dec. 2-3. 11 a.m. to 

4 p.m. Enjoy holiday refreshments and shop a 

variety of alpaca fleece items from around the 

globe. 724-586-2412. 

G.F. Handel’s Messiah Sing-Along 

Sun., Dec. 18, 2 p.m., Chapel at Kearns 

Spirituality Center. Participate in an hour of 

rehearsal, a short social, and then perform with the 

North Hills Chorale. $5 donation. Proceeds to 

benefit the Sisters of Divine Providence. 

www.nhchorale.com, 724-889-3862. 

The Platters and The Marvelettes 

Sat., Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m., Richard E. Rauh Theater 

of The Hillman Center for Performing Arts, Shady 

Side Academy Senior School campus. Tickets at 

www.thehillman.org or 412-968-3040. 

Christmas Ethnic Traditions 

Hosted by Vincentian Villa Retirement 

Community. Friday, Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. Enjoy 

displays and presentations related to German, 

Slovak and Polish traditions. Free and open to the 

public. Vincentian Villa Club House, 870 Vincent 

Way. Tours of Vincentian Villa community will 

also be available. Space is limited. Call Connie at 

412-364-6592 or cguiley@vcs.org. 

New Year’s Eve Peace Vigil 

Welcoming the Stranger: Immigration Stories, Prayer 

& Sharings. Sponsored by The Benedictine Sisters 

of Pittsburgh. Saturday, Dec. 31, 4530 Perrysville 

Avenue. Vespers, dinner, peace concert, Peace and 

Prayer Vigil. If you plan to attend vespers and 

dinner, call 412-931-2844 by Wednesday, Dec. 28 

for reservations or email srlindaosb@gmail.com. 

Madrigal Feaste 

Visit the early medieval ages at the Great Hall of 

the castle of William the Second, Lord of 

McCandless, on Christmas Eve 1132. December 

16, 17 & 18. Deadline for tickets Dec. 9. 

724-935-8632. $25/adults, $15/children. 

Northmont United Presbyterian Church, 

8169 Perry Hwy. 

Cranberry Lions Club 

Meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday, Sept.-June, 

6:30 p.m., North Park Lounge Deckhouse. Dinner 

included. Contact Clyde Cameron at 

724-776-1935. 

Men’s Wednesday Evening 

Bible Study 

Meets 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m., 

Colonial Room, First Presbyterian Church of 

Bakerstown. 724-443-1555, www.fpcb.org. 


Celebration of Life 

“Second Thursdays” 

Second Thursdays, noontime luncheons, 

Fellowship Hall, Memorial Park Church. 

L3 for Singles 

Saturdays through May 19, 2012, 7:30-9:30 p.m., 

Orchard Hill Church. Gathering of singles ages 

35+ for socializing, a Bible message and discussion. 

Contact Toni at 724-935-7604 or 

tkidd@orchardhillchurch.com. 

SENIORS 

Glenshaw AARP #3744 

Christmas Dinner Party 

Tues., Dec. 13, 5 p.m. (refreshments) and 6 p.m. 

(dinner), Elfinwild Presbyterian Church. 

Entertainer Craig Zinger to perform. 

Cranberry Senior Citizen’s Club 

Meets 2nd Tuesdays, 1 p.m., Cranberry Twp. 

Municipal Center. For Cranberry residents 

ages 55+. 724-816-4977. 

Senior Link 

Meets third Thursday of each month, 9-11 a.m., 

Orchard Hill Church. An environment of 

community and caring for adult seniors. Call Toni, 

724-935-7604. www.orchardhillchurch.com. 

SUPPORT GROUPS 

Pittsburgh Ostomy Society 

Meets every third Sunday of the month, 2-4 p.m., 

Smithfield United Church. 412-261-3937. 

North Hills Recovery International 

Practical coping techniques to help those struggling 

with emotional problems. Mondays, 7:30 p.m., 

Christ Episcopal Church. 724-625-9390. 

Alzheimer’s/Dementia 

Support Group 

Meets first Monday of the month, 6-8 p.m. and 

last Friday, 1:30 p.m., Paramount Senior Living at 

Cranberry, 500 Seven Fields Blvd., Mars. 

724-779-5020. 

New Journey Christian Cancer 

Support Group 

Meets first Monday of the month, 7-8:30 p.m., 

Stoneridge Church, 811 Dressel Rd. Free. 

412-486-7778, www.stoneridgecc.org. 

Lupus Foundation of PA 

Free support group meets the third Tuesday of each 

month, 7 p.m., UPMC Passavant. Contact Valarie 

Brown at 412-527-3335 or visit www.lupuspa.org. 

Mama’s Family 

Meets last Tuesday of each month, 9:30-11 a.m., 

New Heights Church of God. Gathering of 

mothers for mutual support. 412-741-0598, 

nheightschurch@aol.com. 

Bridge to Hope 

For those whose family members are facing 

addiction. Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Conference Room 

1, PHF Conference Center, Cumberland Woods 

Village. Call Jean Wagner, 412-367-6640. 

Grief Support Group 

Anchorpoint Counseling Ministry support group 

for widows and widowers over 50. Meets the 2nd 

and 4th Wednesday of every month, 1-2:30 p.m., 

St. Sebastian’s Parish, Seibert Rd. 412-366-1300. 

Cancer Support Group 

Free general cancer support group meets the 2nd 

and 4th Wednesdays of the month, 6:30-8 p.m., 

UPMC Passavant-Cranberry. 412-622-1212. 

General Patient Support Group 

Meets 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month, 

7-8:30 p.m., UPMC Passavant. Free. 

www.cancercaring.org. 

Breast Cancer Support Group 

Meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month, 

7-8:30 p.m., UPMC Passavant. Free. 

www.cancercaring.org. 

Friendship Club 

Meets every other Thurs., 6:30-7 p.m., South 

Butler Assembly of God Church. A social group 

for higher functioning mentally challenged adults 

ages 18+. Call Christine at 724-285-1594 or 

Nancy at 724-482-2587. 

Serenity 

For those in recovery from or affected by the pain 

of addiction. Thursdays, 7-9 p.m., Orchard Hill 

Church. Contact Toni at 724-935-7604 or visit 

www.orchardhillchurch.com. 

Overeaters Anonymous 

Thursdays, 7:15 p.m., Memorial Park Church. 

Free. 412-765-3004. 

Single and Parenting Support Group 

Meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays, 7-9 p.m., Orchard 

Hill Church, 2551 Brandt School Rd. Email 

rbohnenstengel@orchardhillchurch.com or call 

Toni Kidd at 724-935-7604. 

Compulsive Eaters Anonymous 

Fridays, 6:30 p.m., Perry Hwy. Evangelical 

Lutheran Church. Free. 412-225-1664. 

Alzheimer’s Support Group 

Meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month, 

10-11:30 a.m., Christ Church North Hills Library. 

Call Karen at 724-934-0048. 

Food Addicts in Recovery 

Anonymous 

Call Sue for meeting times and locations at 

724-625-1683. Free. www.foodaddicts.org. 

Bereavement Support Group 

Baierl Family YMCA. Meets on alternate Monday 

evenings (12/12, 12/19) from 7-9 pm. 

Nicholson Rd. in Franklin Park. RSVP to Chuck 

Weintraub at 412-913-0272. 

North Pittsburgh Mothers of 

Multiples Club 

General meetings are at 7:30 p.m. on the third 

Tuesday of every month, North Hills Community 

Baptist Church. www.NPMOMS.org. 

Boundaries, Self-Discovery, 

& Self-Care 

Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m. For adults 25- 

60. Learn to empower yourself, give yourself the 

time and care you need, and better understand 

healthy boundaries. Anchorpoint Counseling 

Ministry. 800 McKnight Park Drive, Suite 802. 

Register at (412-366-1300 ext. 19 or 35. 

$3 per session. 

BUSINESS & CAREERS 

Networking Breakfast 

Tuesdays, 7:15 a.m., King’s Restaurant, Rt. 8, 

Gibsonia. Western PA Professional Business 

Association. Call Mary Ann at 724-935-2221. 

www.wpabusiness.com. 

PRE Cranberry Chapter 

Wednesdays, 7:15-8:30 a.m., North Park Lounge 

Deck House on Rt. 19, Cranberry. Professional 

Referral Exchange breakfast and networking. 

www.prorefx.com, 724-772-5555. 

Walk in Wednesdays 

Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Lingenfelser 

Financial Services, 9123 Perry Hwy. Free financial 

consultations and second opinions. Other times 

available. Call Kevin Lingenfelser, 412-366-4900. 

Women in Business University 

Sponsored by THE CHAMBER, Inc. A year-long 

course for women business owners on topics 

essential to business success. The formal 

application process will be presented at 

THE CHAMBER’s Dec. 9 launch at La Roche 

College. Attendance is only limited to 50; call 

724-934-9700 ASAP if interested in attending. 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 

28th Season of PRESENTS FOR 

PATIENTS® 

Holiday program grants gifts and holiday visits to 

patients living in nursing home facilities in PA, 

OH, NY, TN and WV. To donate and/or 

participate, call 724-444-5521 or visit 

www.presentsforpatients.com. 

Parkwood Suburban North 

Meals on Wheels 

Provides home delivered meals to the elderly, 

homebound and disabled in Hampton Twp. and 

southern Richland Twp. Volunteers deliver the 

meals and provide personal contact for those living 

at home. 412-486-7115. ■ 


Don’t miss this opportunity to have your house of worship listed in our worship directory. 

Call now for details. 724-776-9800. 

Allison Park Assembly of God 

Hampton 412-487-7220 

Anglican Church of Our Saviour 

Shaler 412-486-5171 

Ascension Lutheran Church 

McCandless 412-364-4463 

Berkeley Hills Lutheran Church ELCA 

Ross 412-486-4010 

Bethany Lutheran Church 

Hampton 724-443-3890 

Christ Episcopal Church 

Ross 412-364-2442 

CrossWay Church of the Assemblies of God 

Valencia 724-898-4600 

Dorseyville Alliance Church 

Dorseyville 412-767-4600 

Elfinwild Presbyterian Church 

Glenshaw 412-486-5400 

Emmanuel Lutheran Church 

Etna 412-781-2764 

Epworth United Methodist Church 

Allison Park 412-486-1454 

Faith Community Christian Church 

Franklin Park 412-459-0033 

First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown 

Richland 724-443-1555 

First Congregational Church of Etna 

Etna 412-781-9427 

Fountain Park Church 

Cranberry 724-779-2003 

Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church 

Fox Chapel 412-963-8243 

Franklin Park Baptist 


Glenshaw Presbyterian Church 

Shaler 412-486-8400 

Glenshaw Valley Presbyterian Church 

Shaler 412-486-5656 

Gospel Fellowship Presbyterian Church 

Valencia 724-898-3322 

Grace Community Church 

Cranberry Twp. 724-779-7997 

Hampton Bible Chapel 

Hampton 412-517-8618 

Hampton Presbyterian Church 

Hampton 724-443-3201 

Heritage United Presbyterian Church 


NH Worship Directory 


Ingomar United Methodist 


Memorial Park Presbyterian Church 


Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church 

West View 412-931-4500 

Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church 

Marshall 724-935-3316 

Nativity Evangelical Lutheran Church 

Hampton 412-487-1071 

New Community Church 

Wexford 724-935-0909 

New Heights Church of God 


Northgate Church 

Ross 412-931-6016 

North Hills Christian Church 

Ross 412-487-4142 

North Hills Christian Missionary Alliance Church 


North Hills Community Baptist Church 

Ross 412-366-2662 

North Hills United Presbyterian Church 

West View 412-931-2788 

Northgate Church 

Ross 412-931-6016 

Northmont United Presbyterian Church 


North Way Christian Community, Inc. 

Wexford 724-935-6800 

Orchard Hill Church 


Parkwood United Presbyterian Church 

Hampton 412-486-9220 

Perry Highway Lutheran Church 

Pine-Richland 724-935-1226 

Pittsburgh Latin Mass Community 

Pittsburgh 412-766-0950 

Reformed Presbyterian Church of North Hills 

Ross 412-486-1167 

Salem United Methodist Church 

Wexford 724-935-1627 

Saint Andrew The Apostle Byzantine 

Catholic Church 

Gibsonia 724-625-1160 

Saints John and Paul Parish 

Franklin Park / Marshall 724-935-2104 

St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Church 


St. Andrew Byzantine Catholic Church 

Gibsonia 724-625-1160 

St. Athanasius Church 

West View 412-931-4624 

St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church 


St. Catherine of Sweden Church 

Hampton 412-486-6001 

St. John’s Lutheran Church of Highlands 


St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 

Ross 412-364-6626 

St. Mary of the Assumption 

Hampton 412-486-4100 

St. Peter’s Reformed Church 

Zelienople 724-452-8120 

St. Richard Church 

Gibsonia 724-444-1971 

St. Sebastian Parish and School 

Ross 412-364-8999 

St. Teresa of Avila 

Ross 412-367-9001 

St. Thomas Church-in-the-Fields 

Gibsonia 724-443-1963 

St. Ursula Church 

Hampton 412-486-6700 

Stoneridge Covenant Church 

Shaler 412-486-7778 

Temple Ohav Shalom 


Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church 


Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church 

Gibsonia 724-443-8110 

Trinity United Church of Christ 

Indiana Township 412-767-4794 

Unitarian Universalist Church 

of the North Hills 


Valencia Presbyterian Church 

Valencia 724-625-2002 

Victory Family Church 

Cranberry Twp. 724-453-6200 

Wexford Community Presbyterian Church 

Wexford 724-935-5650

FRED DIETZ FLORAL - North Hills Monthly Magazine

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