IN Woodland Hills

Spring 2009 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

Jack Valentine Associates, LLCENROLLED AGENTS

• Business Consulting• Bookkeeping and Accounting

• Employee Bene,ts Consultation• Payroll Processing & Compliance

412.856.8888304 JONNET BUILDING • MONROEVILLE, PA 15146

MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ENROLLED AGENTS

We believe in the value of relationships. We view every clientrelationship like a partnership, and truly believe that our

success is a result of your success.

TAX PREPA+TION AND PLANNING

Mario T. Plaza-Ponte,MD, FACS, FASCRS, APBh, RPVIVenous Circulation Specialist

412.373.9580724.542.4142

[email protected]

Mario T. Plaza-Ponte,MD, FACS, FASCRS, APBh, RPVIVenous Circulation Specialist

412.373.9580724.542.4142

[email protected]

Serving Forest Hills for over 40 years!2201 Ardmore Blvd.Forest Hills, PA 15221

412-271-2244www.myspace.com/1shearbeauty

ShearBeauty

MunicipalitiesBRADDOCK415 Sixth StreetBraddock, PA 15104412.271-1018Fax: 412.271.7414Hours: Mon – Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Council meetings are held the 2ndTuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. atthe borough building.

BRADDOCK HILLSWilkins Avenue and Brinton RoadPittsburgh, PA 15221412.241.5080Fax: 412.242.2860Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Council meets the 2nd Thursday of eachmonth at 8 p.m. at the borough building.

CHALFANT144 Lynnwood AvenueEast Pittsburgh, PA 15112412.823.6500

Council meetings are held the 2ndTuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. atthe borough building.

CHURCHILL2300 William Penn HighwayPittsburgh, PA 15235412.241.7113Hours: Mon – Fri, 8 a.m. – 4:30 [email protected]

EAST PITTSBURGHBOROUGH813 Linden AvenueEast Pittsburgh, PA 15112412.823.7124Hours: Mon – Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30p.m.

Council meetings are held the 3rdTuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at theborough building.

EDGEWOODTwo Race StreetPittsburgh, PA 15218412.242.4825Fax: 412.242-4027Hours: Mon – Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 5 [email protected]

Council meetings are held the 1st and3rd Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.at the borough building.

FOREST HILLS2071 Ardmore BoulevardPittsburgh, PA 15221412.351.7330Fax: 412.351.7337Council meetings are held the 3rdWednesday of each month at 7 p.m. atthe borough building.

NORTH BRADDOCK600 Anderson StreetNorth Braddock, PA 15104412.271.1306Fax: 412.351.2388

RANKIN320 Hawkins AvenueRankin, PA 15104412.271.1027Hours: Mon – Fri, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Council meetings are held the 2ndTuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at theborough building.

SWISSVALE BOROUGH7560 Roslyn StreetPittsburgh, PA 15218412.271.7101Hours: Mon.– Fri., 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Council meetings are held the 1st andlast Wednesday of each month at 7:30p.m. at the borough building.

TURTLE CREEK125 Monroeville AvenueTurtle Creek, PA 15145412.824.2500Hours: Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Council meetings are held the 1stMonday of each month at 7 p.m. at theborough building.

WILKINS TOWNSHIPWilkins Township110 Peffer RoadTurtle Creek, PA 15145-1192412.824.6650www.wilkinstownship.comHours: Mon – Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Township commissioners meet the 2ndand last Monday of each month at 7p.m. at the municipal building.

IN Woodland Hills | Spring 2009 | incommunitymagazines.com 1

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Grief Shared is Grief Diminished.Our Grief Support Group meets on the 1stWednesday of each month in

St. Maurice Parish Center at 7 p.m.

It is professionally facilitated by Dr. Barbara Coyneand is open and free to anyone who grieves.

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2 INWoodland Hills

ADVERTISE HEREDIRECT MAILEDto all residents in

theWoodland Hills School District

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Expires 5/31/09


Spring 2009

INWoodland Hills is a non-partisan community magazinededicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the

Woodland Hills School District and its comprisingmunicipalities by focusing on the talents and gifts of thepeople who live and work here. Our goal is to providereaders with the most informative and professional

regional publication in the Commonwealthof Pennsylvania.

PUBLISHERWayne Dollard

MANAGING EDITORMark Berton

[email protected]

WRITERSJonathan Barnes

Dr. Walter M. CalingerShawna GersonMaria McCool

Greer MulhollandPastor Rick Paladin

Caitlyn Price

GRAPHIC DESIGNSusie DoakJennifer DeihlTamara Tylenda

PHOTOGRAPHERSElaine Petrakis/Elaine Petrakis Photography

Jack RuskinCarl Stillitano/CPS Photography

WEB DEVELOPMENTDS Multimedia

ACCOUNT COORDINATORWendy Routh

[email protected]

ADVERTISING SALESEach issue of INWoodland Hills is mailed to every household intheWoodland Hills School District and reaches more than 53,000

potential customers.

[email protected]

TJ DelorieTina DollardRose EstesRich InmanBrian McKeeDavid MitchellTara Reis

Vincent SabatiniLeo Vighetti

Summer Issue Deadline: April 29, 2009

INWoodland Hills, is carrier route mailed to all districthouseholds and businesses. All rights reserved. Reproduction in

whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.Copyright 2009.

www.incommunitymagazines.com

features

THINGS TO CHECKWHENTIME OUT 4DOESN’T WORK

A GRAIN OF CAUTION 12

TOASTMASTERS TEACHES 16SPEECHES, CONFIDENCE

THEWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 17HOSPITAL -FORBES REGIONAL CAMPUSHouse Calls

community interest

Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Places of Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Woodland Hills School District . . . . . . . . . . . .25

on the coverProviding the LatestInnovative Techniquesin Joint and SpineProcedures at Forbes

Spring 2009 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

A 2007 report sponsored by the Agency for HealthcareResearch and Quality tracked a 73 percent increase in thenumber of spinal fusions performed between 1997 and2005. A report presented at the American Academy ofOrthopaedic Surgeons 73rd annual meeting predicted that, inless than 25 years, the number of first-time total kneereplacements will jump by 673 percent, and the number offirst-time total hip replacements will increase by 174 per-cent.

Such data underscores the timeliness of the recent openingof the new Joint and Spine Center at Forbes. The newCenter provides state-of-the-art orthopaedic and neurosurgi-cal care.

“The Joint and Spine Center at Forbes providesall the latest and innovative techniques in jointand spine procedures at a location that is closeto home,” said David Cohen, MD, neurosurgeonat Forbes and Allegheny General Hospital.

The Joint and Spine Center is housed in a dedi-cated in-patient unit. Rooms are equipped withflat-screen TVs and furniture selected for thecomfort and safety of patients who haveundergone joint or spine surgery. Eachroom is equipped with a freezer sopatients always have cold-therapy supplies availablefor post-surgical swellingand pain management.

The Center’s multi-disciplinary staff is comprised of physi-cians, nurses, patient care assistants, physical therapistsand occupational therapists. A therapy gym is housed on theunit so physical and occupational therapy sessions can easi-ly be coordinated with each patient’s pain managementschedule. “This helps patients get the maximum benefitfrom therapy sessions in the unit gym,” said RobertMendicino, DPM, Chairman, Department of Foot and AnkleSurgery. Center staff often will schedule gym therapy ses-

sions so patients can support and encourageeach other, Dr. Mendicino added, and some-times patients launch friendly competitionsthat help them reach recovery goals with

laughs instead of groans.

It’s all part of a treatment model that focuseson the patient, not the procedure.

“The concept supports rapidrecovery through an environment

of camaraderie and individualattention,” said Michael Levine, MD,Interim Chairman, Department of Orthopaedic

Surgery, who specializes in total jointreplacement of the hip, knee andshoulder and is certified by theAmerican Board of Orthopaedic

Surgery. “The approach focuses onpatients with similar problems; that way,nursing, physical and occupational therapyand all ancillary care staff share their

expertise to deliver concentrated

HouseCallsT H E W E S T E R N P E N N S Y L V A N I A H O S P I T A L –F O R B E S R E G I O N A L C A M P U S

SPRING 2009

Moving with the TimesNew Joint and Spine Center at Forbes is aStep Ahead of the Demand Curve for Surgical Therapies

WEST PENN ALLEGHENY HEALTH SYSTEM

One Purpose. One Mission.

4 INWoodland Hills4 INWoodland Hills

Donotwarn your childmore than once before sending him or her to time out.Warnings only teach them that they canmisbehave at least once (or more) before you willuse time out. Repeated warnings only make things worse, not better.Adults who are responsible for disciplining your child at home should be using the time

out procedure. You should agree when and for what behaviors to send your child to timeout. You will want sitters, visiting friends, and relatives to read and discuss time out guide-lines and watch you use it.Tomaximize the effectiveness of time out, youmust make the rest of the day (time in)

pleasant for your child. Let your child know when they are well-behaved rather than takinggood behavior for granted. Most children would prefer to have you put them in time outthan ignore them completely.Your child may say “Going to the chair doesn’t bother me,” or “I like time out”. Don’t

fall for this trick. Children try to convince their parents that time out is fun. The purpose ofusing time out is to reduce the frequency of occurrence of targeted behaviors such as non-compliance and aggression. It is not used to make your child unhappy.When you first begin using time out, your childmay act as if time out is a game. They

may “play” time out by putting themselves in time out or by asking to go to time out. If thishappens, ignore your child. Do not take part in any games your child plays concerning timeout. Especially do not allow your child to send you to time out for your “misbehavior”.Youmay feel the need to continue to punish your child for misbehavior that occurs

during time out. Keep in mind that a consistent response is most important in successfullymanaging such “attention getting” strategies.Minimize your child’s ability to see the TV, hear the radio, and inter-

act with others. Make sure that time out is in a relatively uninterestingplace and that everyone at home knows that your child is off limits whilein time out.Use time out for major as well as for minor behavior problems.

Making discriminations will lead to inconsistent and ineffective use ofthe procedure. Consistency is most important for time out to work forany problem.Be certain that your child is aware of the rules that, if broken, result

in time out. Frequently, parents will establish a new rule without tellingtheir child. Using time out then may result in your child becoming con-fused about when time out will be used in the future.Review the timeout guidelines tomake certain you are following all the

steps correctly. Be sure that you knowhow to respond if your child refuses togo to timeout.

When your child is in time out:• DoNot look at him or her• DoNot talk to him or her• DoNot talk about him or her• DoNot act angry• DoNot stay in the room, if possible• Remain calm• Follow written guidelines• Use a timer• Respond consistently to misbehaviorduring time out

THINGS TO CHECK WHENTIMEOUTDOESN’T WORK

By Dr. Joanne Dixon, Ph.D.Director of Clinical ServicesPace School Programs

Independent Living, Assisted Livingand Memory Impairment Care

Spacious studios, suites and one-bedroom apartments availableOn-site nursing staff and 24 hour assistance

with daily care needsStructured activities and programs seven days a week

Delicious meals and snacks dailyHousekeeping and laundry servicesConveniently located in Forest Hills

Discover The Juniper VillageDifference!

For more information or toschedule your personal tour,contact Juniper Village at(412) 244-9901 today!

Or visit us on the web atwww.junipercommunities.com

Calendar of EventsMarch� 10th:Toastmasters, CCMellorMemorial Library, 6:30 p.m.

� 11th:Venturing BSA, First PresbyterianChurch of Edgewood, 7 p.m.

� 16th:Boy Scouts, First PresbyterianChurch of Edgewood, 7:30 p.m.

Edgewood Borough Council meeting,7:30 p.m.

� 17th:Toastmasters, CCMellorMemorial Library, 6:30 p.m.

� 18th:Venturing BSA, First PresbyterianChurch of Edgewood, 7 p.m.

� 23rd:Boy Scouts, First PresbyterianChurch of Edgewood, 7:30 p.m.

� 28th:Women of NewVisionMinistry,NewVision Community Church, 3534Laketon Road, 4 p.m., 412.241.6160.

Wii Games, CCMellorMemorialLibrary, 1 p.m.

� 28th: ClimbPittsburgh IIIRace to the top of theGulf Tower indowntownPittsburgh to raise funds forlung disease.Hosted by theAmericanLungAssociation. To register visitwww.climbpittsburgh.lunginfo.org, or callRita Lengvarsky at 724.933.6180Ext.225, or E-mail [email protected]

� 30th:Boy Scouts, First PresbyterianChurch of Edgewood, 7:30 p.m.

April� 1st:Venturing BSA, First PresbyterianChurch of Edgewood, 7 p.m.

Ongoing� OrientMasonic LodgeNo. 683SecondThursday of eachmonth exceptJuly/August at the PennHillsMasonicCenter 5793 SaltsburgRoad, Verona, PA15147-3246, 7:30 p.m.www.orient683.org.

� LincolnChapterDeMolaySecond and fourthThursday, 320VeronaRoad.Email: [email protected]

� GoldenGate #33 PrinceHallThird Friday of eachmonth103W.BraddockAve., Pittsburgh, PA15204

SUBMITYOUREVENT!

Events and announcements on this pageare for non-profit organizations. Pleasesubmit your information, including a

phone number that will be published, to:[email protected] orfax your information to 724.942.0968.

Spring is just around the corner. INWoodland Hills will bemailing May 27th and we want to know what your best summervacation was. Was it a romantic getaway to some far-off beach?Was it a camping trip or tour of Europe? We want to know sothat we can share your best vacations with our readers in thehopes that they can get some ideas for great vacations of theirown! Email your best vacations to:[email protected] with the subject lineof “Vacation.” We’ll publish the best stories we receive in oursummer vacation planning issue.

Get IN-volved!


6 INWoodland Hills

By Jonathan Barnes

DownalongBraddockAvenue, thingsdon’t change too fast anymore. Like remnants ofa past civilization, empty storefronts line thetown’smainstreet, silent witnesses to theborough’s bustling past. UnlikemanyRust Belttowns, Braddock still has a thriving steel mill,U.S. Steel’s Edgar ThompsonWorks. At night,its stacks blow fire and smoke into the sky,creating a ghostly scene familiar to generations ofPittsburghers.Amidst this dichotomy ofmill town blight

and streamlined industrial strength is the formerSt.Michael’s School, a long-closed SlovakCatholic school across Braddock Avenue fromthe entrance to the steel mill. These days, the17,000 square foot school, now known asUnsmoke Systems, is the center of activity forcreative types, whowork in studios in the schooland use the first floor auditorium for events.The old school is at the center of an arts

renaissance in Braddock. Since January 2008, thefirst and second floors of the building have beenused as studio work spaces for several artists andonewriter. The place is the brainchild of JebFeldman, aNewMexico native andCarnegieMellonUniversity graduate who earned aMaster’s Degree inUrbanDesign andArtsManagement. He bought the school to serve asan arts space, and got the name for it from thesign left on the front of the building by thedisaster recovery company that had previouslyowned the building.“We try to honor the history of the place,”

Feldman said. “There’s certainly some irony tothe name.We’re across the street from theU.S.Steel mill.”

Themill is the closest bulk steel mill to thecity of Pittsburgh, which used to be knownwidely as the Steel City. The juxtaposition of thedecaying town center and the still-thrivingmill atits heart is not lost on the artists who leasestudios inUnsmoke Systems.Stephanie Armbruster, a 2006 painting

graduate of CMUwho is employed by theuniversity, creates work through painting,illustrating and printmaking. Her artworks arelarge, and she needs a roomy space for the work.What attracted her toUnsmoke Systems is theplace itself, she said.“Mywork is very inspired by the Rust Belt.

Braddock is a good example of a Rust Belt town,”said Armbruster, a Cleveland native. “I’minspired by the environment. The studio’s large,I have natural lighting, it’s all hours access… Ican actually afford event work there.”Others who use the space said the

momentumofUnsmoke Systems attractedthem.MarcNieson, a writer andChathamUniversity professor who is aNewYorkCitynative, has had a studio space outside his homefor years. He began using a separate work spaceafter he attended awriter’s retreat a decade ago.“That’s when I learnedwhat it means to have

an outside studio space. There’s a differentenergy in your home, there’s always somethingyou can do…Going and finding a space [inwhich to work] can be very useful,” he said.Nieson has a small roomwith a desk and a

large window overlooking the industriallandscape.“What’s great about Braddock is that it’s the

frontier. It’s a fresh place,” he said.Many hands are involved in the effort to

remake the struggling borough. UnsmokeSystems director JeanineHall, a graduatestudent pursuing amaster’s degree in artsmanagement at CMU, has beenworking atUnsmoke Systems sinceAugust. Originally fromsouthwesternOhio,Hall hasbeenworking under a federalinternship, doing eventplanning, grant writing,marketing and other tasks.Having grown up in

Middletown, home of anoperational AK Steelmill,Braddock’s ambience is familiarforHall.“I’ve never lived close to a

mill, but it’s not too far out ofmy element,” she said.Hall envisions the space as

not only a way to bring

outsiders to the community, but as a gatheringplace for people in Braddock.“I see it becoming a place for the community

to convene, and build, and reach out. It’s a spacewhere the public canmeet,” she said.Feldman agreed, noting that Unsmoke

Systems is a space that the community could feelconnected to.“We’re trying tomake this a venue the

community knows about, and knows it can use,”he said.Word of Unsmoke Systems is spreading—

not just throughout the arts community inPittsburgh, but in the larger, national artscommunity, Nieson said. People are catching onto the changes that are happening in Braddock,he added.“There are people down there who are

helping bring artists in from throughout thecountry. They’re helping artists buy houses,”Nieson said. “There’s a sense down there ofgrowing something new out of the ashes of aneconomy that blew out.”

Unsmoke Systems bringsarts renaissance to Braddock


By Jonathan Barnes

Manyoutsiders have called recentdevelopments in Braddock an arts renaissance,but BraddockMayor John Fetterman wouldn’tgo that far. Despite the name recognitionbrought to the borough by the UnsmokeSystems art space, where artists work anddisplay their creations and in whichmembers ofthe community meet, Fetterman said there’smore to the borough’s renaissance than art.Unsmoke Systems, housed in the old St.Michael’s School along Braddock Avenue, is apartnership of building owner Jeb Feldman andBraddock Redux, a nonprofit that Fettermanand others in the community use as a vehicle topursue redevelopment efforts. Braddock Reduxcurrently is refurbishing a century-oldVictorian—the old convent next to the school.The two buildings are just a couple of the

structures slated for rehabilitation in thecommunity. Another is the former FirstPresbyterian Church, which communitymembers hope to transform into a communitycenter. Fetterman has been working oncommunity development in the borough formore than seven years, and has been a residentfor five years. He and others, in and outside thecommunity, have been working on bringingartists to Braddock for more than three years.The arts initiative, while it is well-publicized, isjust one part of the larger effort to rebuild thecommunity, Fetterman said.“Both Unsmoke Systems and the

Presbyterian church were vacant, abandonedbuildings,” Fetterman said. “Now they supportthe community, and now bring people in fromoutside the community.”Other community-building efforts going on

in the borough involve young people who livein the borough and also those who live outsideBraddock. In 2006, the town hosted its first artshow for students—Woodland Hills SchoolDistrict’s student art show. The event washosted, and continues to be hosted, annually atthe old First Presbyterian Church, but maytake place at Unsmoke Systems this year,Fetterman said.

One example of Braddock’s “blooming” isthe town’s urban farm, called Braddock Farm. Acollaborative effort with Grow Pittsburgh, thefarm along Braddock Avenue, by Tenth Street,is helping to change people’s perceptions of thecommunity. So is the Braddock Youth Project.Through KEYS Service Corps, which is part

of the AmeriCorps national outreach program,workers and borough youths started theBraddock Youth Project. Working with youth inthe community, KSCworkers found that acommunity garden was needed in the borough.In the summer of 2006, the group converted avacant lot in the 700 block of Braddock Avenueinto an urban garden.Since its start, the urban garden has been

maintained by BYPmembers, who’ve tilled thesoil and planted vegetables and flowers in the

plots in the garden. In addition, they’ve sharedthe produce grown there with residents of thecommunity.“We also did workshops on plants,

vegetables, healthy eating and other topics,” saidHelenWachter, director of KSC. “There arepeople who have driven past the garden, andcame back to tell us seeing the gardenmade abig difference to them.”That feeling of positive change in the

community is shared by the young peoplewho’ve helped with the garden.“Our surveys show that the teens we’ve

worked with have felt they’ve contributed to andimproved their community,”Wachter said.

Greening Braddock

Forbes RoadCareer and

Technology Center607 Beatty Road

Monroeville, PA 15146412-373-8100

www.forbesroad.com

"All of Our Programs that can beTech Prep Approved

areTech Prep Approved."

The 18 programs offered at Forbes include: Automotive Technology,Building Construction Technology, Child Care Services, CollisionRepair Technology, Commercial Art/Computer Graphics, ComputerBusiness Information Technology, Computer/Network EngineeringTechnology, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Dental Careers, DieselTechnology, Electrical Technology, Emergency Response Technology,Health Science Technology, Hospitality/Tourism/Marketing Services,Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning, Multimedia and InformationDesign Technology, and Precision Machining Technology.

8 INWoodland Hills

Right off ArdmoreBoulevard is JuniperVillage at ForestHills, abeautiful, assisted living community with 72 apartments ranging fromstudios to oversized deluxe one-bedroom suites.Beautifully appointed, Juniper Village at Forest Hills provides a warm

and sophisticated environment with ample community space includinga library, ice cream parlor, spacious TV, game and craft rooms andmore.Located in Forest Hills, Juniper Village is central to the Parkway,Ardmore Boulevard and all Forest Hills has to offer.Bonnie Prisk, Director of Community Relations for Juniper Village,

said a lot of people don’t realize that Juniper Village was formerly AmberGlen. Juniper Village took over about a year and a half ago, addingmanyupgrades and improvements.“There have been improvements to the facility and the care that’s

provided to the residents,” Prisk said. “You can contact us forcomplimentary luncheon tours for you and a guest at any time.”Other amenities available include escorts to appointments,

housekeeping, medicationmanagement, occupational therapy, physicaltherapy, scheduled transportation, speech therapy, cable, restaurant-style dining, activities, lectures, planned leisure & social events andrecreational activities.Many activities are open to the community,

as well as residents of Juniper Village, such asthe AmericanHeart Association healthseminars, antique appraisals and classes.“We do a lot of educational programs and

we love when people join us,” Prisk said. “Folksof any age are invited to attend these events.”One of the specialized services offered at

Juniper Village is theirWellspringMemoryImpairment Unit. In theirWellspring Unit,they offer specialized Alzheimer andDementiaAssisted Living Care.

“In the Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease apartments, we have asmall, specializedmemory impairment unit with private and semi-private rooms,” Prisk said.Juniper Village has residents in their 60s into their 90s. Juniper

Village also offers short- and long-term stays.Formore information, or to schedule a free tour with complimentary

lunch, please contact Bonnie Prisk at 412.244.9901.

business spotlight

Juniper Village Offers Assisted Livingin Forest Hills

Juniper Village at Forest Hills107 Fall Run RoadPittsburgh, PA 15221Phone: 412.244.9901Fax: 412.244.1548

www.junipercommunities.comE-mail Bonnie Prisk at

[email protected] to arrangea free tour and complimentary lunch.

WEDDINGS. BANQUETS. SCHOOL EVENTS.

Presentation of ChristGreek Orthodox Church1575 Electric Avenue

East Pittsburgh, PA 15112

Olympia Hall...where lasting memories are made!www.olympia-hall.com412-824-5540

Call for an Appointment Theodora V. Stupakis, Banquet Manager

It was a typical day.My cell was ringing,people were waiting to seeme and I decidedto check onemore email. In themidst of thecommuniqués a friend ended his businesswith, “Remember, Life is Good bro.” Itforcedme to lean back at my desk andponder how life could possibly be “good”with somuch work that needs to be done?As I continued to sit there I began

thinking about themany blessings inmy life.I’ve heard that simple phrase many timesbefore. After all, I have three “Life is Good”T-shirts, and a bumper sticker on ourminivan. But, why couldn’t I see that today?

So, I took a fewmoments and began to look aroundmy office, noticing themany pictures that gracemywalls and sit onmy desk. They’re familypictures mostly: our recent Thanksgiving vacation at theOuter Banks,kids in football pads and gymnastics outfits, my oldest daughter’s recentgraduation portrait, along with a great shot of my wife and I. Thinking ofthem, along with all of the friends who continue to showme love andappreciation, I thought “Wow!Maybe life, really is good? It’s not that mylife is perfect, but maybe it’s good because I have people to share it with.I recalled last summer when our whole family took a trip to Chicago

to participate in community projects through a local church. Oneevening we were able to serve over 75 meals to the homeless, who what

we would consider to be in “bad situations.” I am in no way saying thatwe are above that or them, just in different circumstances. Oureconomic status didn’t change, the house we live in was still in need ofrepairs and upkeep, but something happened in all of us as we lookedout for and cared for others instead of ourselves. Watching our familyseize this opportunity and seeing the transformation it produced in all ofus, is something I’ll never forget.Yes, as I continued to count all the things right withmy life. I began to

believe that “Life is Good”, once again. It wasn’t that my circumstancechanged, my desk was still filled with work, e-mails needed attention, myfamily still needed a real dad ready to serve and sacrifice for the good ofthe family, and yes, bills still had to be paid. But something did change! Itwasmy perspective! Why is it that what needs to changemost often inmycurrent situation is, well…ME?With the proper perspective I can take onanything, life isn’t always easy or pleasant, but when I can see clearly, life isgood and I see that I am blessed far more than I deserve.With all of life’s speed bumps and yes, pot holes, it sometimes is hard to

see through the confusingmaze. Instead of seeing life’s circumstances as“a maze” (see below), climb the ladder and begin to see it as “amazing.” Idid- and I really like the view! You’ll be surprised at what can be seen froma different vantage point! What is happening inside of us is alwaysmoreimportant than what is happening to us! Now, go ahead and enjoy yourday, because after all, life is good!

Looking for a better view?Join us on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. 1200 Wolfe Avenue, North Braddock.

Ladders provided weekly

412-824-1616WORDANDWORSHIP.ORGRick Paladin, Lead Pastor

“If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves;But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.” Proverbs 29:18

How’s your perspective?

by Pastor Rick Paladin

Life is Good!


Epiphany Lutheran Church11200 Frankstown Rd.412.241.1313

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church2931 Universal Road412.793.1394

Hebron United Presbyterian Church10460 Frankstown Road412.371.2307

Laketon Heights United Methodist9601 Frankstown Road412.241.9170

Mount Hope Community Church12106 Frankstown Road412.793.0227

Mount Olive Church of God in Christ7239 Mount Carmel Road412.361.0503

NewVision Community Church10529 Lindberg Avenue412.241.6160

Parkway Jewish Center300 Princeton Drive412.823.4338

Penn Hills Baptist Church323 Hulton Road412.793.6640

Penn Hills Free Methodist Church715 Universal Road412.793.7263

Presbyterian Church of America12900 Frankstown Road412.793.7117

SriVenkateswaraTemple1230 SVTemple Drive412.373.3380

St. James Episcopal Church11524 Frankstown Road412.242.2300

TrinityTower United Methodist6729 Saltsburg Road412.793.9000

Universal United Presbyterian Church2545 Main St.412.793.1355

Word &Worship Church1200Wolfe Avenue412.824.1616

Zion Lutheran Church11609 Frankstown Road412.242.2626

CHURCHES SERVING WOODLAND HILLS

10 INWoodland Hills

If your church is missing from this list, pleaseE-mail [email protected]


f rom the vet tech

Shawna GersonLicensed Veterinary Technician

TheEaster Bunny has long been a symbol of candy and spring. But forreal bunnies, it can be a terrible time of year.Rabbits are very complicated animals to keep as pets and should never

be purchased as gifts. While they can be very rewarding pets to have if youknow how to care for them, there are several misconceptions about rabbitsthat people have, first of which is that they are good with children.Rabbits are ground-loving, and do not like to be held. They also shy

away from the high-energy of children in preference of a tranquil homeenvironment. They don’t like cuddling, restraint or vigorous petting likeyour dog would.Surprisingly, many people don’t realize that rabbits need to be spayed

and neutered just like dogs. If they’re not, they will spray in your house inattempts tomark their territory. Rabbits also are “chewers” - they like tochew through cables, wires, furniture and pretty much anything else leftlaying about haphazardly. Rabbit proofing your house can be done - justtalk to someone who has rabbit experience and or get info from yourlibrary. Also buying them lots of chew toys such as wooden blocks canhelp stimulate themmentally and physically. Rabbits need a wide varietyof veggies in their diet as well as timothy hay. Youmust be careful however– even though haymakes up amajority of their diet, some types arepoisonous, such as legume. On the upside, rabbits can be litter trained.Rabbits are social animals and do not take well to being alone. Being

pretty low on the food chain, they also are very skittish. Never bring arabbit into a home that has existing dogs or cats and never bring dogs andcats into a home that has existing rabbits.Because of these complications, many Easter rabbits end up in shelters

or released into the wild, where they will fare very poorly.If you feel that you absolutely have the time, patience and

understanding to become acquainted with these beautiful animals, Iwould suggest contacting the PittsburghHouse Rabbit Club–www.pittsburghhouserabbit.org.Members of this group canmentor youregarding your future rabbit and can direct you to a local shelter whereyou can adopt one. It’s no secret that local shelters always have rabbits upfor adoption that have been abandoned bymisinformed owners. Someshelters even spay and neuter animals before they are put up for adoption– an operation that can save you a few hundred dollars.I know this is a lot of information for the average person to digest

before they bring a rabbit into their homes, but remember, you aremakinga commitment to a pet that is a lot more fragile than youmight think. Youwouldn’t just set up a $1,000 salt water aquarium and stock it with $200fish and stingrays without learning how to keep the salinity of the tank at a

proper level or what types of fish coexist easily and which are aggressiveand violent. Rabbits need the same consideration if you are expecting along and satisfying relationship with them.So this Easter, if you’re thinking about rabbits, think chocolate instead.If you have a pet-related question you’d like to ask, E-mail

[email protected].

Easter isNo Time for

House Rabbits

“Never bring a rabbit into a

home that has existing dogs or

cats and never bring dogs and

cats into a home that has

existing rabbits.”

Imagine for amoment that you wouldnever again have pizza from your favorite pizzaplace. On top of that, you’ll never have anothersip of your favorite beer. Like cookies? Scratchthem off your list. Catholic? Forget thatEucharist no matter how good you’ve been.You can pretty much write off every fast foodrestaurant you’ve ever eaten at. And that’s justthe tip of the iceberg.For people with celiac sprue disease, they don’t

have to imagine – they live a life of constantchoices when it comes to their diet. Often, thatchoice boils down to “will what I’m about to eatmakeme sick or not?”Celiac sprue disease is the body’s inability to

process gluten.What makes life for “celiacs” sochallenging is that gluten just happens to be foundin anything with wheat, rye, oats and barley. Thesensitivity to gluten can be so severe, that manyceliacs keep separate butters, jellies and otherspreads to ensure that breadcrumbs don’tcontaminate them.While the general rule of thumb is “no breads,”

when you’re a celiac, that edict is vastlymoredifficult to follow in the real world. For example,some restaurants use flour to thicken gravies. Somerestaurants will dust baked potatoes with flour tofirm up their skins. Even soy sauce has wheatbyproducts in it that would send someonewithceliac sprue into a painful bout of gastric distress.JudyDodd, registered and licensed dietitian

and nutritionist, is the corporate nutritionist forGiant Eagle. She said that gluten-free diets arebecoming increasingly popular simply becausemore andmore people are being properlydiagnosed with celiac sprue. Also, gluten-free dietscan help people with other gastric ailments.“More registered dietitians are doing programs

for persons with a gluten sensitivity as well asseeing them in their practice,” Dodd said. “Insome cases, it is diagnosed celiac, in others, it’speople who are pre-celiac or trying to avoid gluten.This used to be a condition seldom seen in ageneral practice. Now, as a registered dietitian, Ifind that every community program I do,regardless of the demographics or the setting, hasat least one person who is either on a gluten-freediet or is trying to limit gluten.”What causes celiac sprue disease is a complex

autoimmune reaction in the small intestine. Toprocess nutrients, the small intestine is coveredwith small sacks called villi. The protein in gluten,

called gliadin, is viewed by the body as an invaderand is attacked by the body’s defenses – even afterthey are absorbed into the villi. As a result, the villibecome irritated, shrivel and disappear. Once theintestinal lining is worn smooth, it cannot absorbother nutrients, causing those with celiac sprue tobecomemalnourished.Symptoms in children include diarrhea, weight

loss and stunted growth. However, in adults, thesesymptoms aremuch less perceptible –mostcommonly abdominal pain, bloating and fatigue.A skin rash andmouth sores also are commonHowever, in severe forms, the malnutrition

caused by celiac sprue can lead to recurrentinfertility and miscarriage. It’s believed thatbecause folic acid, which is absorbed where celiacsprue does its worst damage, cannot make itsway into the body. Low folic acid has been linkedto loss of pregnancy and birth defects such asspina bifida.

Mystery DiagnosisBecause of its vague symptoms, celiac sprue is

largely undiagnosed among the generalpopulation. The Celiac Sprue Association, aglobal, non-profit organization founded in 1978 inDesMoines, Iowa, estimates that there aremorethan 2million undiagnosed people in the UnitedStates alone, and that 1 in every 133 people suffersfrom this hereditary disease.Dr. Ernest Stanley, a gastroenterologist with

Three Rivers Endoscopy Center, has been therecipient of local and national scholarships for hisresearch regarding the effects of inflammation indiseases of the intestines.Stanley said symptoms of celiac sprue disease

can be so diverse in how they affect people, thatmany people confuse the disease with otherconditions such as lactose intolerance or irritablebowel syndrome.“Clearly there’s a spectrum ranging from

almost totally asymptomatic, where they just showsigns of malabsorption, to severemalabsorption,where people are losing weight,” Stanley said.“Theymay just develop what they think is lactoseintolerance. They cut back on lactose. They feelbetter because they’re eliminating some of theirritation that lactosemay be causing, but theyaren’t getting at the real problem.”Stanley said he’s seen patients who have

presented symptoms for as long as 20 years, buthave only recently been diagnosed. The only

true way to be properly diagnosed is by bloodtest or a biopsy of the small bowel, Stanley said.AmyMacklin, a registered and licensed

dietitian, is a celiac consultant with AlleghenyGeneral Hospital whose son has celiac disease.Macklin said while it may not be something thegeneral public’s aware of, many larger companiesaremaking great strides in an effort toaccommodate those on gluten-free diets.“GeneralMills Cereals just made a huge step

towards providing gluten-free products bychanging their formula for Rice Chex,”Macklinsaid. “By removing themalt (barley), the productnow is gluten-free, and they advertise ‘gluten-free’on the front of the box. I believe they are going totry changing the Corn Chex cereal formula next. Ifeel other large corporations will follow in theirfootsteps andmore ‘mainstream’ foods willbecome gluten-free.”Typical of most industries, corporations are

moving towardsmarket share while thegovernment lags behind.Macklin said the Food andDrug

Administration is working on defining gluten-free,which will increase the rapidity that gluten-freeproducts reach store shelves.“ Once a definition is established, food

manufacturers must follow strict guidelines forlabeling their product as gluten-free,” she said.“This also should increase the gluten free productselection.”Amy Soergel was diagnosed inMay of 2007 at

the age of 23.If it wasn’t for an article on the disease that she

glanced at in a supermarket check-out line, shewould probably still be undiagnosed and suffering.“I’ve had it for a long time. I hadmy gall

bladder removed in 10th grade and I thought thatmaybe that would clear it up, but it didn’t,”Soergel said. “I would always have heartburn,indigestion and stomach pains, but I neverunderstood why. It wasn’t until my senior year ofcollege in a checkout line at the grocery store thatI saw one of those women’s magazines with anarticle about celiac disease that I thought thatmight be what I had.”Soergel had an endoscopy performed and

immediately put herself on a gluten-free diet. Bychanging her diet, all of her symptoms dissipated.While those diagnosedwith celiac disease have

to constantly read labels to stay in the know,manytimes gluten still finds its way into their food.

A Grain of CautionCeliac disease affects 1 in every 133 people.How this this largely undiagnosed disorder

could be behind your blahs.

12 INWoodland Hills

ADecember investigation by theChicagoTribune revealed thatmany foods – especiallythose intended for children –were labeled as“allergen-free,” or “gluten-free,”- actually containedenough contaminants to cause harm.The investigation cited lax oversight by the

Food andDrug Administration andUnited StatesDepartment of Agriculture.In fact, the report went on to conclude, “that

nearly half of the allergy-related recalls in the last10 years were not announced to the public. Thiswas true even in dozens of cases where the FDAclassified products as likely to cause serious harmor death.”

All is not LostWhile those with celiac sprue can’t have much

of the food that the rest of us enjoy, nearlyeverything you can make in the kitchen can bemade gluten-free. Gluten-free cookbooks havebeen on the rise over the past few years.Several restaurants, such as OutbackSteakhouse, PF Chang’s and Eat ‘n Park,offer gluten-free menus or gluten-freemenu items.“Eating out is a major issue, as is

food preparation, since cross-contamination is likely even in well-meaning attempts to prepare“gluten-free” food,” Dodd said.“Locating foods also is an issue. Iadvise clients to stay basic – fruits,vegetables, proteins with no additionalingredients – and grains labeled clearlyas gluten-free. Again, cross-contamination in processing is an issuesince it takes a minute exposure to anoffending grain - on equipment or in the air - totrigger a reaction.”Bill Chirdon, Director of Food Safety for the

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture andformer Quality Assurance Manager for TheHershey Company, said that while there are nolaws in Pennsylvania specifically addressing foodallergies, state employees are highly trained whenit comes to the subject matter.The Department of Agriculture inspects more

than 30,000 restaurants in Pennsylvania andmakes plenty of recommendations to improvetheir food allergen awareness.“We just need to educate everyone we can

about food allergies and celiac disease,” Chirdonsaid. “You really have to be careful what you dowhen it comes to food allergens because you cankill people.”According to Department of Agriculture

statistics, there has not been a serious foodallergen issue in Pennsylvania in the past 18months. A serious incident is defined by anoccurrence reported to the Department ofAgriculture by hospital emergency rooms anddoctor’s offices across the state.Chirdon attributes that low rate of incidence

to increased awareness among restaurant andfood plant employees.

“When we inspect a restaurant, we give a lotof recommendations. Let’s say we walk into aPerkins, and they have a peanut pie on the topshelf, we’ll ask them to rearrange it so that it’s ona bottom shelf. So if a peanut falls off, it won’tland in another pie and contaminate it,” Chirdonsaid. “The number one complaint at Hersheycame when we took our special dark bar and puta small amount of milk in it. We got thousandsand thousands of complaints. We thought wemade it better, but not for those people who hada milk allergen. That really woke us up to the factthat people read labels a lot, and when they trusta product or establishment, they go back to ittime after time. They are trusting companies toprovide gluten free or peanut free foods.”

While some pharmacological studies arebeing done on drugs that can help alleviate thebody’s attack on the small intestine bypreventing gluten from penetrating theintestine wall, Dr. Stanley said that these tests,so far, have been statistically inconclusivebecause of the way they were conducted.What may be more promising, Stanley said,

are studies being conducted in Europe that arelooking at developing enzymes that woulddigest the gluten before it ever reaches thesmall intestine.“People are looking at using enzymes to

pre-digest gluten similar to what Lactaidtablets do for those who are lactoseintolerant,” Stanley said. “They would digestanything before it reaches the small bowel.”Despite having options and alternatives,

finding out that you have celiac sprue can be adisheartening and isolating experience.“The hardest adjustment for most of the

patients I council is finding an acceptablegluten-free bread,” Macklin said. “Anotherchallenge is mastering gluten-free label

reading. Also, many patients are reluctant toask the right questions when eating away fromhome at restaurants, business meetings,weddings, and family or friends’ homes. Theyare uncomfortable with drawing attention tothemselves, and therefore they put their healthat risk by not verifying the gluten free status ofthe food.”Dodd said she’s encountered many similar

problems with the celiacs she’s known.“[Having celiac sprue means] giving up

foods they enjoy and replacing them withfoods that are often ‘different’ or less enjoyablebecause they’re unfamiliar, or require differentcooking and serving techniques,” Dodd said.“Bread lovers have a major problem, sincemany gluten-free breads are fragile, have littleor no texture, and may taste gritty because ofthe rice flour or altogether tasteless.Celebrations, parties, family dinners, eatingout all become major challenges. It can beovercome, but requires effort that somedon’t want to face.”

With time and understanding, thosewith celiac sprue and their familiescan learn to cook and eat in a waythat eliminates the side-effects of thedisease. In fact, strict diet control isthe only way for those with thedisease to stay symptom free.Soergel said that changing her

diet over was difficult at first and thatshe still misses her favorite cereal,Fiber One. One aspect of the changewas that she felt self-conscious abouthaving celiac disease.“It’s difficult, but it’s getting easier. The

wait staffs are getting trained better. You can’tjust take a crouton off a salad, with thisdisease. You need to get a new salad,” she said.Because of the unique demands put on

those with celiac disease, it’s not uncommonfor them to feel self conscious in social settingswhen they are diagnosed.Macklin said that with proper counseling,

people with celiac disease can learn to enjoy awhole host of healthy foods.“When counseling patients, I encourage

them to stay positive and focus on the foodsthey can have. There is a whole world offlavors,” Maklin said. “I recommend they trysome of the alternative grains like quinoa,millet, and amaranth which are all whole grainsand nutrient dense. I also try to encouragethem to get back to the basics of eating wholefoods and unprocessed foods which arenaturally gluten free - fresh poultry, fish, meats,legumes, nuts and seeds, fresh fruits,vegetables, and most low-fat and fat-free dairyproducts.”For more information on celiac disease, go

to www.pittsburghceliacs.org. For otherrelated links, go towww.incommunitymagazines.com.


If you’re on a gluten-free diet, you may think that justbecause the label has “GF” on it, you’re out of the woods.Wrong.Gluten has a habit of turning up in a variety of places that can

make life very unpleasant for thosewith celiac sprue disease.According to JudyDodd, registered and licensed dietician

and nutritionist, gluten can be found in:� Spray on oil with flour added, which is used by some bakers� Gluten free items baked in pans that have seams and werepreviously used for wheat containing foods. Crumbsmayfind their way into seams and crevices. Theymay be cleanbut not gluten free!

� Soy sauce andmodified food starches of an unspecified grain� Beer� Cutting boards, knives and toasters used for a grain andwiped off without being sanitized.

� Powdered sugar – some contain gluten “filler”� Deli slicers – Some grocery stores such as Giant Eagle haveinstructed their employees in the importance of having adedicated slicer for those on gluten free diets

Gina Snyder, owner of Sunny BridgeNatural Food Store inMcMurray, said other places gluten can be found are personalcare products including toothpastes andmake up.“Products can also seem gluten-free but the bakeries or

manufacturing plants they are processed in can be glutencontaminated fromother products they bake ormake,” she said.AmyMacklin registered and licensed dietician and

nutritionist with AlleghenyGeneral Hospital saidmedicationsare also on the list.“The excipient or filler ingredients inmedicine can be a

potential source of gluten. Corn, potato, and tapioca are usuallythe starches used, but wheat starch can also be used,”Macklinsaid. “Chicken broth, soup bases, gravies, soy sauce, self-bastingpoultry, communionwafers, licorice, imitation bacon andseafood, processed luncheonmeats, herbal supplements,vitamin andmineral supplements and play dough are somefrequently overlooked foods thatmay contain gluten.”The bottom line is that the celiac must learn to ask a lot of

questions when eating out and read a lot of labels whenshopping for foods when dining in. Ultimately, they alone areresponsible for their own diet.

Brown Rice and Vegetable Pizza

3 cups cooked brown rice, cooled to roomtemperature2 egg whites, beaten1 cup shreddedmozzarella cheese (gluten freehandling)2/3 cup gluten free pasta or tomato sauce (withItalian seasonings)1 clove garlic, minced (or½ teaspoon garlic powder)½ teaspoon ground black pepper1 tablespoon grated Parmesan or RomanoCheese1 cup slicedmushrooms¼ cup chopped green and red bell peppers or ¼ cupfrozen spinach, thawed and drainedBell Pepper Rings or Sliced BlackOlives

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.Combine cooked rice with 1/3 cup of theMozzarellacheese and the egg whites.Press into a 12 inch pizza pan (lightly oiled)Bake for 5minutes.Combine sauce with pepper and garlic.Remove shell from oven and spread with sauce. Topwith remaining ingredients ending with remainingcheese. Garnish with pepper rings or olives.Return to oven and bake for an additional 10minutesor until the cheese is melted and golden brownLet sit about 5minutes before cutting.Notes: Any vegetables can be used.Gluten freemeats can be added.Drained salsa can be used in place of the sauceThe sauce can be omitted for a white pizza.Pineapple chunks and ham, green pepper ringsTurkey and dried cranberriesSliced fresh tomatoes andmozzarella drizzled withBalsamic Vinegar just before serving.

WHERE’S

THEWHEAT?

ORANGE COOKIESby Sunny Bridge Natural Foods

2/3 cup shortening3/4 cup sugar1 egg1/2 cup orange juice2 tbsp grated orange rind1 3/4 cups Sterk’s flour mix or BetteHagman’s Featherlight Rice Flour Blend1/4 cup sweet rice flour1/2 tsp soda1 tsp baking powder

Mix shortening, sugar & egg.Add orange juice and rind.Blend in dry ingredients.Drop rounded teaspoonfuls onto un greasedcookie sheet.Batter will bemoist.Bake 5-6minutes@ 400minutes.Frost with orange butter icing

ICING:1½ tbsp soft butter1-1¼ cups powdered sugar1½ tbsp orange juice2 tsp grated orange rind

Stir till smooth.Cool cookies before icing.Spoon icing onto cookie top.

14 INWoodland Hills

GLUTEN-FREE RECIPESMY STIR FRIED GENERALTSO'S CHICKENby Shopping Gluten-Free

PREPARE AHEAD:1 lb. boneless chicken breasts, cut into 11/2" x 2" strips1 orange rind, cut into 1" x 1/2" strips2 TCanola oil1 - 2 hot chilis, crushed1 T fresh ginger, minced

SEASONINGSAUCE6T sugar4 T cider vinegar5 T LaChoy soy sauce1 tsp. cornstarch

MARINADE1/4 c dry sherry2 T LaChoy soy sauce1/2 tsp. saltDash pepper

Marinate chicken.Mix seasoning sauce and set aside.Stir fry chicken in 2T oil. Set aside.Stir fry orange rind until golden.Add chilies and ginger.Add seasoning sauce and heat to boil,stirring constantly until foam subsides andturns into a glaze.Add chicken and toss to coat.Serve with steamed rice.

ADULTS


Annual Appeal: Invest in YourCommunity LibraryC.C.Mellor Library is happy to receive

donations of any size at any time of the year. Weare proud to have consistently performed amongthe top 10 libraries in Allegheny County incirculation, programming and computer use.In tough economic times, libraries are more

essential than ever. Did you know that every $1invested in a Pennsylvania public library returns$5.50 of services to Pennsylvania taxpayers? That’sa great return for yourmoney! In addition, supportfrom private citizens helps us leverage additionalfunds from the county and state.Your generosity is greatly appreciated! It lets us

provide you and your family with all the servicesthat you need in a library, along with the level offriendly service that you expect, in a warm andcomfortable atmosphere. Your partnership helpsusmaintain this level of service while increasingcollections, enhancing computer access, and addingprograms for kids and adults.If you would like to contribute, visit our web site

at www.ccmellorlibrary.org and click on AnnualAppeal 2009.

Mr. Rogers Sweater Quilts:A Fred Rogers CelebrationAll ages are invited to join us at themain library

to view twoMr. Rogers Sweater Quilts made by theBackroomQuilters, whomeet weekly at the library.One quilt will be on permanent display in thelibrary’s Fred Roger’s Children’s Room and theother will be raffled to benefit children’s programsat C.C.MellorMemorial Library.

The raffle will continue until March 20, whichcoincides with Fred Roger’s birthday and thelibrary’s annual book sale. Tickets can bepurchased at the library for $2 each or three for $5.

Free Income Tax HelpVolunteers will be preparing state and federal tax

returns for senior citizens and individuals with lowincome at themain library. Tax preparation beginsin February and runs to April 15; call to make anappointment. Nowalk-ins. Volunteers aresponsored by AARP.

Computer Classes for AdultsA variety of free one hour, one session computer

classes at themain library in Edgewood. Space islimited; please call 412.731.0909 to register.

Book Groups for AdultsThe library offers several book clubs for adults.

Newmembers are always welcomed, and copies ofthe books are available at themain library andForest Hills Branch.

Drop Dead Book ClubMystery lovers will enjoy the DropDead Book

Club whichmeets the secondWednesday of eachmonth at 7 p.m. at themain library.

PALS Book ClubEspecially for seniors, the PALS BookClub

meets every other month on the fourth Tuesday at1 p.m. at the Forest Hills Branch.

C.C.MellorMemorial LibraryOne Pennwood AvenueEdgewood, PA 15218

412.731.0909

Monday throughThursday10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Closed Sunday

ForestHills Branch444 Avenue D

Forest Hills, PA 15221412.824.3567

Monday, Friday and Saturday10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tuesday andWednesday4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

ClosedThursday and Sunday

Sally Bogie, Library DirectorAndrea McNeill, Children’s LibrarianBrenda Joyce-May, BranchManager

C.C. MELLOR MEMORIAL LIBRARY

CHILDREN’SC.C. Mellor Memorial LibraryWinter Children’s ProgramsBe sure to check our website at www.ccmellorlibrary.org for a

complete and up-to-date listing of activities for children at themainlibrary in Edgewood, the branch library in Forest Hills, and in otherlocations in our communities.

Edgewood Library Programs for ChildrenStoryTimes: Story times are offered weekly at the Fred Rogers

Children’s Room at themain library. Groups of 10 ormore should callfor reservations at 412.731.0909.

Toddlers meet Tuesdaymornings at 10:30 a.m.

Preschool children ages 3 to 5meetWednesday and Thursdaymornings at 10:30 a.m. andWednesday afternoons at 1:30 p.m.

WeTwoRead:This is a great opportunity to share the love ofreading with your child ages 4 to 7. Copies of the books are available toborrow at the circulation desk at the Fred Rogers Children’s Room.Please remember an adult caregiver must accompany the child.

Llama LlamaMad at YourMama by AnnaDewdney. Saturday,February 21, 2009@ 1:30 p.m. Register by Friday, February 20.

Forest Hills Library Programs for ChildrenPreschool StoryHour: Mondays@ 10:30 a.m. for children aged 3

to 5. Includes stories, group activities and a craft. No registrationrequired.

Events for School Age ChildrenSpecial activities are offeredmonthly for school age children. The

programs are theme-based and include stories, activities, a craft and atreat. The fun is free, but please register by calling the library at412.824.3567.

Churchill StoryHours: every Friday at 10 a.m. at the ChurchillBorough Building. For children ages 3 to 5.

WondrousWednesday@Wilkins. after school programs forchildren ages 3 to 10 everyWednesday at 3:30 p.m. at the Irene J. PohlMunicipal Building

16 INWoodland Hills

Toastmasters International is amore than 80-year-old organizationfounded in a YMCA inCalifornia with amission of helping peopleovercome the fear of public speaking and become better communicators.Toastmasters now has time-tested teachingmaterials and has become aworld leader in helping people becomemore competent and comfortablein front of an audience. The non-profit organization now has a quarter of amillionmembers in 11,700 clubs in 92 countries.Dr. Sallie Boggs wanted something to dowith her post-retirement

time, so she looked into Toastmasters International and her life changed.“After I retired from a scientific research career andmy house was

missing its five children, I needed a creative outlet. I always wanted to joinToastmasters, but previously thought I wouldn’t have the time withmybusy schedule,” Boggs said. “After I joined, I realized that I should havejoined when I was 19. I would have been a better parent and teacher.”The Toastmasters magic occurs in regular, funmeetings, where

members present brief speeches in a supportive environment. Themeetings have three aspects. The first part features prepared speeches thatemphasize specific speaking skills such as body language, vocal variety,persuasion, inspiration and organization. The second features impromptuspeaking skills. The third part features written and oral feedback designedto point out the strengths of each speech and suggest possibleimprovements for the next speech. There are no classes – everymemberparticipates in running themeeting. Thus, besides communication skills,Toastmasters also teaches leadership skills such as how to organize andrun an efficient meeting.“You speak about what you believe in, what moves you,” Boggs said.

“The best speeches come from the heart.”The improved confidence in communication and leadership

Toastmasters members gain often advances their careers. Alsomembers have fun at their club meetings and district conferences, makefriends, and make new contacts.Boggs started out in a club at the University of Pittsburgh, where she

held several offices, but she wanted to have a club in her neighborhood soshe started the EdgewoodClub that meets in the local library. Little didshe know that a few years later she would have developed enoughleadership skills to be elected to the top district office of Governor,presiding over 67 clubs in District 13.“Wewould like to have a club anywhere anyonewants one,” Boggs said.Many companies, including about half of the Fortune 500 companies,

sponsor in-house Toastmasters clubs because they recognize thecorporate benefits of having employees who are confident communicatorsand leaders. Having a Toastmasters club at their places of business is aremarkably inexpensive way to help their employees and improve theirability to communicate with each other and their clients.Any company with 300 ormore employees in one location can receive

free advice and support fromToastmasters.Boggs, who worked as a researcher at the University Pittsburgh and

had experience lecturing students, said Toastmasters gave her acompletely new approach to public speaking.“In the real world, you’ve got to know how tomake that contact with

your audience. It’s a skill that I didn’t necessarily have while teaching.

With teaching, I wasmostly interested in giving students information, itwas their job to get it,” she said. “With public speaking, you have tomakesure your audience gets it. Toastmasters gives you the skill and theconfidence to do that. I always tell people that our product is confidence.”Setting up a club is a fairly easy process, Boggs said. Because the

organization is non-profit – the dues are just enough to cover the costs forinstructional materials – themeeting space has to be donated or free.Groups tend to be around 20 people in size, andmembers can competeinternationally with the skills they learn.“The effect it has on a person is amazing,” Boggs said. “It takes a

little practice and you improve not only in speaking, but also inleadership skills.”Toastmasters International always welcomes newmembers. To find a

group near you, go to www.toastmasters.org.“There aren’t any qualifications other than you have to be at least 18-

years-old. The dues aremodest and they have special programs for kids,too,” Boggs said.

ToastmastersTeaches

Speeches, Confidence

This distinguished district was number one in the region,number 2 in North America, and number 10 in the whole worldlast year. District 13 represents a tri-state area that includes

Western Pennsylvania, and parts of West Virginia andMaryland.If you would like to be a member of this winning district, you canfind a group near you, by going online to www.toastmasters.org.If you don’t find a club that suits you, or you want to learn moreabout having Toastmasters come to your business or how to setup your own club, contact Sallie Boggs at [email protected]

or call 412.731.0724.

Get IN Touch

A 2007 report sponsored by the Agency for HealthcareResearch and Quality tracked a 73 percent increase in thenumber of spinal fusions performed between 1997 and2005. A report presented at the American Academy ofOrthopaedic Surgeons 73rd annual meeting predicted that, inless than 25 years, the number of first-time total kneereplacements will jump by 673 percent, and the number offirst-time total hip replacements will increase by 174 per-cent.

Such data underscores the timeliness of the recent openingof the new Joint and Spine Center at Forbes. The newCenter provides state-of-the-art orthopaedic and neurosurgi-cal care.

“The Joint and Spine Center at Forbes providesall the latest and innovative techniques in jointand spine procedures at a location that is closeto home,” said David Cohen, MD, neurosurgeonat Forbes and Allegheny General Hospital.

The Joint and Spine Center is housed in a dedi-cated in-patient unit. Rooms are equipped withflat-screen TVs and furniture selected for thecomfort and safety of patients who haveundergone joint or spine surgery. Eachroom is equipped with a freezer sopatients always have cold-therapy supplies availablefor post-surgical swellingand pain management.

The Center’s multi-disciplinary staff is comprised of physi-cians, nurses, patient care assistants, physical therapistsand occupational therapists. A therapy gym is housed on theunit so physical and occupational therapy sessions can easi-ly be coordinated with each patient’s pain managementschedule. “This helps patients get the maximum benefitfrom therapy sessions in the unit gym,” said RobertMendicino, DPM, Chairman, Department of Foot and AnkleSurgery. Center staff often will schedule gym therapy ses-

sions so patients can support and encourageeach other, Dr. Mendicino added, and some-times patients launch friendly competitionsthat help them reach recovery goals with

laughs instead of groans.

It’s all part of a treatment model that focuseson the patient, not the procedure.

“The concept supports rapidrecovery through an environment

of camaraderie and individualattention,” said Michael Levine, MD,Interim Chairman, Department of Orthopaedic

Surgery, who specializes in total jointreplacement of the hip, knee andshoulder and is certified by theAmerican Board of Orthopaedic

Surgery. “The approach focuses onpatients with similar problems; that way,nursing, physical and occupational therapyand all ancillary care staff share their

expertise to deliver concentrated

HouseCallsT H E W E S T E R N P E N N S Y L V A N I A H O S P I T A L –F O R B E S R E G I O N A L C A M P U S

SPRING 2009

Moving with the TimesNew Joint and Spine Center at Forbes is aStep Ahead of the Demand Curve for Surgical Therapies

WEST PENN ALLEGHENY HEALTH SYSTEM

One Purpose. One Mission.

care to patients with a similar condition.This team approach improves the caredelivered — and that improves eachpatient’s experience.”

“A patient’s experience begins beforeentering the hospital and continues afterdischarge,” said Kelly Buchinsky, RN,BSN, CRRN. “The healing environmentextends beyond the patient to thepatient’s family. Acase manager anda social worker areinvolved with thepatient and familythroughout theprocess; patientsare also urged toattend a specialclass before sur-gery.” (see A Stepin the RightDirection below).

The Center’spatient-visitorlounge welcomesfamily membersduring and after apatient’s surgery, and staff meet withfamily members during the patient’s hos-pital stay. “Family involvement is amust,” Ms. Buchinsky said. “It plays avital part in patient recovery; the sup-port, encouragement and assistance arecrucial.” Center staff identify a coachwho will be the patient’s primary helperafter discharge. The coach learns how to

assist the patient at home, how to pre-pare the home for the patient’s returnand how to supervise the patient’s exer-cise and recovery. Each family coach hasa center staff member as a mentor, whooffers expert advice and support whenthere are questions or concerns.

Ms. Buchinsky said the Joint and SpineCenter staff plan to add community out-

reach to its list ofactivities in the nearfuture. Programs onspine and joint pro-tection,osteoarthritis andhome safety are inthe planning stages.Center patients aretypically olderadults, she said, andas the region’s over-55 segment of thepopulation swellswith baby boomers,prevention willbecome a vital com-ponent of keepingthe community

healthy and independent.

For more information on joint andspine services at The WesternPennsylvania Hospital – ForbesRegional Campus or to make anappointment with a physician, call412-DOCTORS (362-8677), or1-877-284-2000.

“The Joint and Spine

Center at Forbes

provides all the latest

and innovative

techniques in joint

and spine procedures

at a location that is

close to home.”David Cohen, MD, neurosurgeon

at Forbes and AlleghenyGeneral Hospital

Moving with the Times continued

A Step in the Right Direction

If you’re planning hip or knee replacement surgery, this one-hour class gives you a chance to learnabout the procedure and your recovery after surgery.

Nurses with special training in orthopaedics, neurosurgery and rehabilitation, physical and occupa-tional therapists and social service representatives will explain procedures, pre- and post-operativecare and discharge planning. You’ll have a chance to ask questions, and you’ll receive an informa-tional booklet and video. This free class is held every Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Forbes RegionalCampus. Parking is free; for more information and to register, please call 1-877-284-2000.

2

JOINT AND SPINE CENTERSERVICES

The Joint and Spine Center specializes in:Hip replacementKnee replacement

Shoulder replacementAnkle replacement

Foot and ankle proceduresSpinal surgeries, including:

Microdiscectomy: a minimally invasive procedureinvolving removal of a slipped or herniated disc inorder to relieve pressure on a nerve.

Laminectomy: used to treat a slipped or herniateddisk or spinal stenosis, this surgical procedureinvolves removing the posterior arch of a vertebra torelieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.

Kyphoplasty: this minimally invasive procedure isused to treat spinal fractures; a tube is insertedthrough a tiny incision. A balloon is inserted throughthe tube, and then inflated to expand the area com-pressed because of the fracture. Bone cement isinjected, and when it hardens in a few minutes, itstabilizes the fracture.

Spinal fusion: this surgical procedure fuses two ormore vertebrae to immobilize a section of the spinein order to reduce pain and prevent more damage.

Artificial disc: an alternative to spinal fusion in whichthe diseased disc is replaced with a prosthetic disc.

HouseCalls SPRING 2009

3

The Ed Dardanell Heart and VascularCenter at Forbes recently celebrated itsfirst anniversary by marking two importantmilestones. Since opening in March 2008,the Center has performed more than 150open heart surgeries and more than 1,350cardiac catheterizations.

“The Center has progressed even fasterthan expected, with excellent outcomesfor our patients,” said Michael Culig,MD, Chief of the Division of CardiacSurgery at West Penn Hospital – ForbesRegional Campus and Medical Director ofThe Ed Dardanell Heart & Vascular Center.“Our patients tell us they are impressedwith the quality of care they receivehere.”

The Center offers state-of-the-art cardio-vascular and cardiothoracic care toresidents of eastern Allegheny andWestmoreland counties. It features oper-ating rooms for performing open heartsurgery, cardiac procedure rooms for per-forming catheterizations, coronaryinterventions and peripheral procedures, aCardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit featur-ing surgical intensive care beds as well asdesignated waiting and support areas.

“We are proud to reach these significantmilestones, due to the collaborativeefforts of the cath lab team, the Centerteam, as well as other departments withinthe hospital,” said Aashish Dua, MD,Medical Director of the CardiacCatheterization Lab.

This past fall, Forbes introduced the addi-tion of Electrophysiology (EP) Serviceswhich helps enhance the continuum ofcare provided at the Center. This expan-sion of cardiac services provides patientswith diagnosis, therapeutic treatment, andlong-term management of arrhythmic dis-

orders. These services allow patients whorequire the implantation of automaticimplantable cardiac defibrillators (AICD),bi-ventricular pacemakers, and diagnosticelectrophysiologic studies to receive carein one convenient location, close to theirhomes.

“Our patients have truly benefited fromthese life-saving services and we aregrateful to those who have been integralin the success of our cardiovascular pro-gram,” said John Power, MD, Director ofPeripheral Vascular Intervention.

With the help of a $262,500 grant fromthe Highmark Foundation, The EdDardanell Heart and Vascular Center is inthe midst of a three-year effort calledRedefining Chronic CARE. This effort ishelping to change the organizational cul-ture and enhance the quality of carepatients receive by adopting Toyota pro-duction system concepts. St. VincentCollege’s Kennametal Center forOperational Excellence is teaching, train-ing and demonstrating the concepts to theCenter’s staff.

Redefining Chronic CARE is already hav-ing an impact at Forbes Regional Campus.For two quarters in a row, theCardiovascular Intensive Care Unitreceived Forbes' Patient SatisfactionAward for scoring in the 99th percentileamong hospitals of similar size in thePress Ganey Patient Satisfaction Surveysdatabase.

For more information on cardiovascu-lar and cardiothoracic services atThe Western Pennsylvania Hospital –Forbes Regional Campus or to makean appointment with a physician, call412-DOCTORS (362-8677), or1-877-284-2000.

www.wpahs.org

The Beat Goes On …Forbes Heart Center Celebrates its First Anniversary

The Ed Dardanell Heart and Vascular CenterEducation Series is a monthly presentation for heartpatients and their families that featuredemonstrations and question and answer sessionsfocusing on heart and vascular health.

Dates Days TimesMarch 18 Wednesday Noon - 1 p.m.Early Heart Attack Care

April 23 Thursday Noon - 1 p.m.Stroke & The Warning Signs

Fee: Free. Space is limited so please call412-578-1451 to register or for information onupcoming topics.

The Ed Dardanell Heart andVascular Center Education Series

Don’t Tough It OutAccording to the American Heart Association,every year, approximately 1.1 million people inthe United States suffer heart attacks, andabout one third of that number die.

In television shows, most heart attacks aredramatic and unmistakable— an actor gasps,clutches at his chest and collapses in amotionless heap. Usually, heart attacksymptoms aren’t scripted quite that way andnot all patients have the classic symptoms ofcrushing chest, jaw and arm pain.

Some people think the symptoms will go away,or that it’s just indigestion or a pulled muscle.Symptoms between men and women differ -women often have symptoms that are lessobviously related to heart attacks. They mayhave neck, upper back or abdominal discomfort.They may feel chest pain that comes and goes,as well as nausea and lightheadedness.Women have also reported unusual andunexplained fatigue weeks prior to the attack.

All experts agree on one thing: if you think youmight be having a heart attack, get helpimmediately. The time that is wastedwondering ‘Is this a heart attack?’ is time thatcould be spent seeking medical attention. Mostof the damage done to the heart occurs in thefirst two hours following a heart attack, so timeis heart muscle.

The Beat Goes On …Forbes Heart Center Celebrates its First Anniversary


The year was 1979. Hospice was a wordunknown to most. People with terminal ill-nesses in western Pennsylvania were dyingin intensive care units, hospitals and nursinghomes, many without adequate pain man-agement. Families felt abandoned afterbeing told “there is nothing more we cando.”

Fast forward to 2009. The concept ofhospice is better understood.Our population is aging, andmany of us will live intoour 80s and 90s. Butnow, we have a choice inwhere we will be in thefinal months of our lives.Now, we can demandthat we receive the propercare for our comfort and are treated withdignity and respect. And now we can expectthat our loved ones will be supported asthey care for us, even after we are gone.

Forbes Hospice was there in 1979, breakingground as we advocated for patient rights,fought to improve patient care, and stood byour families, providing counseling and sup-port groups for spouses, children, parentsand loved ones.

Thirty years later, we continue our commit-ment to the community. In 2008, weprovided more than 2,000 hours of respitecare to families who needed a break fromthe intensity of caring for a loved one. Thisis a service that would not have been possi-ble were it not for our generous donors.

A part of our hospice team includes a full-time Medical Director, Dr. Randy Hebert,who not only sees patients daily in ourHospice inpatient facility, but visits patientswho are in their homes.

Because not all hospicepatients are elderly, we

established a

pediatricprogram toserve chil-dren with highlyspecialized medicalneeds. Led by pediatricpalliative care experts DanLeger, RN, and Meghan Murphy,MSW, the program provides invalu-able support to children, parents andsiblings.

Forbes Hospice is thriving as a most valu-able resource to our community. We arestrengthened in our mission to preserve dig-nity in the last stages of living and willcontinue to provide exceptional care formany years to come.

For more information on ForbesHospice, call 1-800-381-8080.

Forbes Hospice30 Years of Caring for Our Community

FORBES HOSPICE BEREAVEMENT

SUPPORT GROUPS

Support groups bring people together to sharetheir thoughts and feelings and to help themthrough difficult times. Don’t do it alone — callto find out how our experienced staff memberscan help. There is no fee to attend. To register,please call 412-325-7251. Please note that thegroup sessions listed below are held each monthon the same weekly schedule.

General Groups (all ages and types of loss):Third Thursday of each month, 7 - 9 p.m.The Western Pennsylvania Hospital – ForbesRegional Campus2570 Haymaker Rd. (Monroeville)

Young Widows and Widowers (up to age 50):Second Thursday of each month, 6 - 8 p.m.The Western Pennsylvania Hospital– ForbesRegional Campus2570 Haymaker Rd. (Monroeville)

Adult Children Who Have Lost Parents:Third Wednesday of each month, 7 - 9 p.m.Jewish Community Center5738 Forbes Ave. (Squirrel Hill)

Middle Agers (50’s and 60’s):First Wednesday of each month, 7 - 9 p.m.Sixth Presbyterian ChurchCorner of Forbes Ave. and Murray Ave.(Squirrel Hill)

Parents Who Have Lost Children(children up to 21 years old):First Tuesday of each month, 7 - 9 p.m.The Children’s Institute (chapel)Shady Ave. (Squirrel Hill)

HouseCalls is a publication of The Western PennsylvaniaHospital – Forbes Regional Campus. Articles are not intend-ed to diagnose specific medical conditions which should beaddressed by your physician. For more information, pleasecall 412-858-4538.

Dawn M. Gideon, Executive Vice President and Chief ofHospital OperationsTom Moser, Chief Operating Officer, West Penn Hospital –Forbes Regional CampusNancy Grover, Director, Communications and MarketingKara Kessler, Stephanie Waite, Maryanne Fello, AngieMullig, Contributing WritersSean Biagi, Designer

©2009 The Western Pennsylvania Hospital – Forbes Regional Campus.An equal opportunity employer. All rights reserved.

HouseCalls

4

www.wpahs.org

Early Pregnancy ClassThis class is designed for expectant women and their partnersduring the early months of pregnancy. It includes information onnutrition, fetal development, prenatal care and testing, copingwith discomforts of pregnancy, pre-term labor, prenatal fitness andrelaxation exercises. This class is suggested prior to the 20th

week of pregnancy. The rest of your childbirth education classeswill follow later in your pregnancy.

Dates Days TimesMarch 19 Thursday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

May 5 Tuesday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

July 6 Monday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

September 3 Thursday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

Fee: Free

Childbirth Education SeriesThese four classes develop knowledge of the childbirth process tohelp you achieve an optimal birth experience. Content includeshospital orientation and tour, stages of labor and the Lamazemethod of childbirth. Classes should be started between the 30th

to 33rd weeks of pregnancy.

Dates Days TimesMarch 9, 16, 23 & 30 Mondays 7 - 9:30 p.m.

April 1, 8, 15 & 22 Wednesdays 7 - 9:30 p.m.

April 20, 27, May 4 & 11 Mondays 7 - 9:30 p.m.

May 13, 20, 27 & June 3 Wednesdays 7 - 9:30 p.m.

June 1, 8, 15, & 22 Mondays 7 - 9:30 p.m.

June 24, July 1, 8, & 15 Wednesdays 7 - 9:30 p.m.

July 7, 14, 21 & 28 Tuesdays 7 - 9:30 p.m.

Fee: $85 per couple and will only include the four classes listedabove in the series.

Childbirth (Lamaze) Education RefresherThose registering for the Lamaze refresher course will attend thethird and fourth class in the Childbirth Education Series. You musthave delivered in the last five years in order to attend this course.

Fee: $50

Variations in LaborComplementing the Childbirth Education Series, class contentincludes medical interventions in labor, medications and ananesthesiologist as guest speaker.

Dates Days TimesMarch 12 Thursday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

April 16 Thursday 7 - 9:30 p.m.


June 25 Thursday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

Fee: $25 per couple.

Delivery and BeyondThis class discusses physical and emotional changes postpartum,taking care of yourself, infant care, feeding options, car seatsafety and much more.

Dates Days TimesApril 2 Thursday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

May 18 Monday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

June 29 Monday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

July 30 Thursday 7 - 9:30 p.m.


Breastfeeding ClassYou and your partner can learn about all the benefits of breast-feeding and how to get breastfeeding off to a great start. A mustclass to attend if this is your first time breastfeeding.

Dates Days TimesMarch 2 Monday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

April 7 Tuesday 7 - 9:30 p.m.


July 9 Thursday 7 - 9:30 p.m.


Programs continued on next page.

Family Health and Wellness Program CalendarSpring 2009

Call 1-877-284-2000 to register for classes, unless otherwise noted.All classes meet on the campus of The Western Pennsylvania Hospital – Forbes Regional Campus, unless otherwise noted.

Young Parent and Family Education Programs

5


6

Young Parent and Family Education Programs continued

And Baby Makes Four (Sibling Class)A class to help children ages 3-8 prepare for the birth of a newsibling.

Dates Days TimesMay 16 Saturday 10 - 11:30 a.m.

August 8 Saturday 10 - 11:30 a.m.

November 14 Saturday 10- 11:30 a.m.

Fee: $20 for first child and $10 per additional child in a family.

Girls, Parents and PubertyParents and adolescent girls (ages 9-12) learn about the emotionaland physical changes related to growing up.

Date Day TimeMay 15 Friday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

August 7 Friday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

November 13 Friday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

Fee: $25 for parent and child and $35 for two children and a parent.

Infant/Child CPR for Family and FriendsAn American Heart Association course in infant/child/adultCardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), this class is recommendedfor all and especially parents and those who care for children.Emergency care of a choking infant/child/adult, CPR techniques forinfant/child/adult and safety for infant/child are covered. CPRtechniques are demonstrated and practiced. This class is designedfor family members and friends who DO NOT need a course card.

Date Day TimeMarch 5 Thursday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

April 6 Monday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

May 14 Thursday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

June 10 Wednesday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

July 20 Monday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

August 27 Thursday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

September 23 Wednesday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

Fee: $45/couple; $30/single. Class size is limited to a total of10 people (individuals and/or couples).

Doctor Dad - NEW CLASS!In this one day workshop, Dads will learn to care for their child's health and safety needs. Topics include: Treating minor cuts andscrapes; when to call the doctor; safety-proofing your home; how to keep your child healthy and much, much more. Please note:Class size is limited to a total of 10 people.

Date Day TimeMarch 14 Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

May 16 Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

June 27 Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

August 8 Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

September 26 Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

November 7 Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

December 12 Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Fee: $40

The Ed Dardanell Heart and Vascular Center Education Series

The Ed Dardanell Heart and Vascular Center Education Series is amonthly presentation for heart patients and their families thatfeatures demonstrations and question and answer sessions focusingon heart and vascular health.

Dates Days TimesMarch 18 Wednesday Noon - 1 p.m.(Early Heart Attack Care)

April 23 Thursday Noon - 1 p.m.(Stroke & The Warning Signs)

May 20 Wednesday Noon - 1 p.m.(Topic to be determined)

June 18 Thursday Noon - 1 p.m.(Topic to be determined)

Fee: Free. Space is limited so please call 412-578-1451 to registeror for information on upcoming topics.

www.wpahs.org

7

Diabetes Self-Management Group EducationThe Diabetes Self-Management Class at the Joslin DiabetesCenter at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital – Forbes RegionalCampus is an eight-hour in-depth education program for peoplewith diabetes and one support person.

This series of two classes offers a personalized, interdisciplinaryapproach to long-term diabetes management by providing nutri-tion, exercise and diabetes education in a small classroom setting.

Classes are eight hours — four hours the first week and four hoursthe second week.

Dates Days TimesMarch 5 & 12 Thursday 1 - 5 p.m.

March 7 & 14 Saturday 8 a.m. - Noon

March 11 & 18 Wednesday 8 a.m. - Noon

March 24 & 31 Tuesday 1 - 5 p.m.

April 4 & 11 Saturday 8 a.m. - Noon

April 9 & 16 Thursday 1 - 5 p.m.

April 15 & 22 Wednesday 1 - 5 p.m.

April 21 & 28 Tuesday 8 a.m. - Noon

May 2 & 9 Saturday 8 a.m. - Noon

May 7 & 14 Thursday 8 a.m. - Noon

May 13 & 20 Wednesday 1 - 5 p.m.

May 19 & 26 Tuesday 1 - 5 p.m.

June 4 & 11 Thursday 1 - 5 p.m.

June 6 & 13 Saturday 8 a.m. - Noon

June 10 & 17 Wednesday 8 a.m. - Noon

June 16 & 23 Tuesday 1 - 5 p.m.

Fee: Patients should check with their insurance provider about feecoverage. For information and to register, please call 412-858-4474.

Individualized Diabetes Self-Management EducationIn addition to the group education classes available for diabetesself-management, The Joslin Diabetes Center at The WesternPennsylvania Hospital – Forbes Regional Campus offers individual-ized diabetes education.

This education is one-on-one with a certified diabetic educator andoffers individualized instruction on diabetes management and nutri-tion.

Fee: Patients should check with their insurance provider about feecoverage.

Call 412-858-4474 for more information. One-on-one diabetestraining is scheduled by appointment only.

Diabetes Support GroupThe purpose of the Diabetes Support Group is to assist peoplewith diabetes to lead a productive life through education, discus-sion of problems, demonstration of new equipment and products,improvement of lifestyle, sharing ideas, knowledge and recreation.

A different speaker attends each meeting and talks about someaspect of diabetes. The Diabetes Support Group is open to peoplewith diabetes and their spouses or other support persons.

Dates Days TimesMarch 16 Monday 2- 4 p.m.

April 20 Monday 2 - 4 p.m.

May 18 Monday 2 - 4 p.m.

June 15 Monday 2 - 4 p.m.

Fee: Free. For information call 412-858-4474. Registration is notrequired.

Programs continued on next page.

The Joslin Diabetes Center at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital – Forbes Regional Campus is a personalized dia-betes care center that addresses the special needs of people with diabetes. The Joslin program focuses onteaching self-management skills while meeting medical needs. An affiliate of the Joslin Diabetes Center at WestPenn Hospital and the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, the center at Forbes Regional Campus is staffed with cer-tified diabetes educators who have experience in complete diabetes management.

Each member of the Joslin team, including our physicians, nurses and dieticians are specially trained in diabetes care.To obtain more information about the Joslin Diabetes Center at Forbes Regional Campus, please call 412-858-4474.

Joslin Diabetes Center at TheWestern Pennsylvania Hospital – Forbes Regional Campus


8

American Cancer SocietyLook Good - Feel Better!This class is open to women who are anticipating or receiving can-cer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation. An experiencedcosmetologist from the American Cancer Society will help selectappropriate scarves and wigs and provide tips about makeup dur-ing treatment. A free makeup kit will be given to each participant.

Classes are held each month. For dates and times, call1-800-ACS-2345. You also may call the American Cancer Society at1-888-227-5445 for information or to register (you must pre-regis-ter for this class). Information is also available on their Web siteat www.cancer.org

Fee: Classes are free

Location: The Western Pennsylvania Hospital – Forbes RegionalCampus

A Step in the Right DirectionA one-hour educational session for people planning hip or kneereplacement.

Speakers include nurses from orthopaedics, neurosurgery andrehab, a physical and occupational therapist, and a social servicesrepresentative. Speakers will discuss pre- and post-op care anddischarge planning. All attendees will receive an informationalbook and video. Free parking is available for attendees. For moreinformation or to register, please call 1-877-284-2000.

Time: Every Wednesday, 1 - 2 p.m.

Fee: Free

Location: The Western Pennsylvania Hospital – Forbes RegionalCampus, 7S Rehab Unit (please use the Patient Entrance on thelower level of the Hospital – located near Lot D).

Seniors for Safe DrivingThe American Automobile Association offers this two-sessioncourse as a driver improvement program for mature operators 55and over. This is a driver-awareness and behavior modificationprogram. Classroom instruction only - there is NO on the road driv-ing or classroom testing. Course benefits include becoming a saferdriver and receiving a minimum five-percent discount on your autoinsurance as mandated by Pennsylvania state law.

Dates Days TimesApril 28 Tuesday 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.

June 25 & 26 Thursday & Friday 5:30 - 9 p.m.

Fee: $12/two classes

Instructor: Certified AAA InstructorLocation: The Western Pennsylvania Hospital – Forbes RegionalCampus

To register, please call 1-800-559-4880.

Special Programs

Bereavement Support GroupsSupport groups bring people together to share their thoughts and feelings and to help them through difficult times. Don’t do it alone —call to find out how our experienced staff members can help. There is no fee to attend. To register, please call 412-325-7251. Pleasenote that the group sessions listed below are held each month on the same weekly schedule.

General Groups (all ages and types of loss):Third Thursday of each month, 7 - 9 p.m.The Western Pennsylvania Hospital – Forbes Regional Campus2570 Haymaker Rd. (Monroeville)

Young Widows and Widowers (up to age 50):Second Thursday of each month, 6 - 8 p.m.The Western Pennsylvania Hospital – Forbes Regional Campus2570 Haymaker Rd. (Monroeville)

Adult Children Who Have Lost Parents:Third Wednesday of each month, 7 - 9 p.m., Jewish CommunityCenter, 5738 Forbes Ave. (Squirrel Hill)

Middle Agers (50’s and 60’s):First Wednesday of each month, 7 - 9 p.m., Sixth PresbyterianChurch, corner of Forbes Ave. and Murray Ave. (Squirrel Hill)

Parents Who Have Lost Children(children up to 21 years old):First Tuesday of each month, 7 - 9 p.m., The Children’s Institute(chapel), Shady Ave. (Squirrel Hill)

Volunteers NeededVolunteering is a wonderful way for people to help others, make newfriends and explore possible health careers. Volunteers usually come oneday a week for four hours.

Generations interact and work together to accomplish amazing things at TheWestern Pennsylvania Hospital – Forbes Regional Campus including greetingvisitors at the information desk, helping Volunteer Services with their day-to-day operations and assisting Dietary and other departments with minorpatient needs.

Volunteers tell us what day and time they are available and if they want towork with patients, the public, or prefer clerical work, and we match themwith an assignment. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or knowsomeone who is, please contact Volunteer Services at 412-858-2578.

2430 Greensburg Pike Pittsburgh, Pa. 15221 412.731.1300


DearMembers and Supporters of theWoodlandHills School District:

What a difference less than a year makes!If you have followed recent news reports, you’ll know that others have noticed the difference atWoodland

Hills this year. Many of the reports focused on the obvious – our schools are safer. But a safe campus is only avery first step. A safe campus only makes it easier to focus on our main mission: educational excellence.When I arrived last July, everyone I met and spoke with talked aboutWoodlandHills’ academic reputation.

But mostly they talked about it in the past tense, as though this was something lost forever.I didn’t accept this.As I mademy administration assignments, I knew we had talented, dedicated principals and other

administrators. As I met our faculty, I knew we had the teaching talent. As I saw our students start school, Icould see we had children eager to learn. And when I met their parents and other concerned citizens, I saw anintense desire for their school district to succeed. So I knew that academic excellence was anything but a thingof the past. It was just waiting for things to calm down so it could show itself again.That’s what is happening now.When this year’s grades and state test scores are recorded, I’m confident we will see amarked

improvement from last year. I can already see it in the resurgent interest and pride both teachers and studentshave in their school district.To help our district shine even brighter, we have been asked by the School Board to explore the possibility

of creating a “WoodlandHills Academy” that will be a very special place for students to achieve at their veryhighest levels. Unlike the state’s charter schools, our Academy will be open to all students. Admission will bemade solely on the basis of a lottery. It will open its doors based on a single idea: all students, given properinstruction and support, can achieve at high levels.I will sharemore details about the Academy as wemove along. But this is something that I am very excited

about. And you should be too. Because it will show that our diversity is a strength.Much has happened in less than a year. Some will make the mistake of pointing to

me as the reason. Becoming your superintendent only allowedme to put in the placethe conditions that have let our teachers and students shine. Yes, I am proud ofWoodlandHills. And our faculty and students are the reasons I am.

Stay tuned. They have muchmore to show you.

Sincerely,

WalterM. Calinger, Ph.D.Superintendent

Walter M. Calinger, Ph.D.Woodland Hills SchoolDistrict Superintendent

Superintendent’s Message

Woodland Hills School BoardFirst Row: Dr. R. Lott, Vice-President Mr. F. Kuhn,

President Mrs. M. Messina, Mrs. C. LowerySecond Row:Mrs. C. Filiak, Mr. R. Clanagan,Mr. R. Tomasic, Mr. R. DriscollMissing from Photo: Dr. W. Driscoll

Photoby

Jack

Ruskin

WoodlandHills High School in Allegheny County easilydefeated Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, in a game of“Financial Football.”The score was 21-13, but there was no doubt who the dominant

team was.Coached by math faculty at the high school, the students never

stumbled and confidently marched down the field for threetouchdowns, even scoring the extra points with correct answers.The honorary captains of theWHHS team wereMary

Rosenkrans of the PA Department of Banking’s Office of FinancialEducation andWolverine football player, Davon Dixon.Students were linked to each other through videoconferencing.

Financial Football, available through www.banking.state.pa.us, is afree, educational computer game that promotes financial education.

The game tests the players’ personal financial literacy.Governor Edward Rendell established the Pennsylvania

Office of Financial Education in April 2004 to increase theavailability and quality of financial education in the state’sschools, communities and workplaces.The win for Woodland Hills was especially significant because

two of our alumni played on opposing teams in the Super Bowl.RyanMundy is in his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelersand Steve Breaston is in his second year as a Cardinals’ receiver.TheWHHS Financial Football teammet with the Governor

after his news conference at CCAC on February 18, 2009. Hewanted to congratulate them for their win and for representingPennsylvania so admirably. The team presented the Governorwith aWHWolverine hat and he admitted he is “a fan ofWHSD.”

PA Whips Arizona inFinancial Football Classic

26 INWoodland Hills

Q. D. A. Zappala, how would you describethe environment in the Woodland Hills SchoolDistrict this school year?Having spent a great deal of my life,

certainly through high school, growing up inthe Swissvale area, I know that there are a lotof quality and talented kids that make up thisschool district. I was impressed, but notsurprised, with the fact that the most of thestudents in the WHSD would not acceptconduct by any individual that would interferewith their right to learn and their teachers’ability to teach. I understand that the kidshave re-established the school environmentthat was important to them and I commendthem for taking the necessary steps to do so.

Q. What changes are you aware ofthat have contributed to improved safetyand security for the students and staff ofthe District?The school district and the teachers have

clearly articulated a plan that does notcondone violence on a school campus. Myoffice and the police agencies involved arepleased to have participated in thiscollaborative effort. My office’s particularinvolvement dealt with the creation of adedicated school violence judicial docket thathears these types of cases. This constitutes arather substantial change in Allegheny Countybecause it deals with school campuses as acommunity unto themselves, and looks at the

conduct of any individual as to how seriously itaffects the lives of the schools’ administrators,teachers, and other students.

Q. What role have you personally playedand what help have you offered through yourOffice’s resources for the District in their questto maintain a safe and secure environment intheir schools?I promised the school administration and

the teachers that a particular Assistant DistrictAttorney would implement the Safe SchoolsDocket; that there would be a direct line ofcommunication with my administration; thatdecisions regarding the future of studentswould only be made after consulting with thosepersons affected by the students’ conduct; thatI would make a substantial effort to identifyand arrest those persons who would createdrug or gang influences on a school campus;and, that I would be pleased to make myselfavailable in discussions regarding futureinitiatives and/or any plans which necessarilyneed to be implemented.

Q. What part do the local law enforcementagencies play in supporting the WoodlandHills School District ?Local law enforcement has tirelessly

attempted to protect the kids in this district. Infact, it was the Chiefs of Police from Churchill,Swissvale, and Turtle Creek that asked that Iget more involved with the safety issues on thecampuses. Local law enforcement has

provided a great deal of information that hasbeen utilized to better protect kids both on andoff campus. They were also partners informulating the School Safety Plan presently inplace in the district and will continue to bepartners as there are modifications made inthat plan.

Q. What do you foresee for the District inregard to upcoming plans that you are awareof or may be working on implementing withthe District?There has been substantial progress in the

implementation of a very progressive anti-bullying program; in better addressing cyberharassment situations; and, in working oncreating safer environments on buses,especially as pertains to bullying, sexualharassment and ethnic intimidations.

Q. Do you plan on continuing to have aclose working relationship with the WoodlandHills School District?It has been a pleasure, both professionally

and personally, to be able to work with theSuperintendent and his administration, withrepresentatives from the unions, and with theteachers. Aside from the several initiativesalready being addressed, I would be pleased toprovide whatever support the Superintendentand WHEA President, Michelle Sperduto,believe would be of help to the district inthe future.

DistrictAttorneyReturnsto DistrictDistrict Attorney Stephen A. Zappalareturned to theWoodland Hills School Districtto meet with District teachers and administratorson Friday, February 13, six months after hegreeted them at the start of the school year.Making good on his promise to support theDistrict and its newly hired Superintendent,Assistant Superintendent, and new schooladministrations, Zappala provided a rangeof resources.During a District in-service day for teachers

and staff, Zappala provided a personal assessmentof the progress he sees in the District and thechanges that have yielded great results. In just ashort six months, the halls and classrooms of all

the District schools are calm and orderly, newcameras and security equipment have beeninstalled in the high school and junior high, andonce disruptive students are engaged inleadership and team building programs.As students go about their studies and

activities, superintendent Dr. Walter M. Calingerand his administrative team have been devisingnew strategies and programs to help everystudent in the District learn at the highest leveland learn in a way that is best suited to theindividual child.Dr. Calinger has brought before the School

Board several new academic concepts such as a

newWoodland Hills Academy that would bestructured differently from the present Districtschools. He has presented to District parents andresidents the idea of a K – 6 public school whosestudents would wear uniforms, have a longerschool day and a longer school year, and wouldlearn a foreign language starting in kindergarten.Another plan proposed by the superintendent

would allow students at Woodland Hills HighSchool to earn college credits for free while theyare still participating in their after schoolactivities, athletics, and clubs. The District wouldpay for the tuition, transportation and books, andstudents could graduate with their high schooldiploma and an associate’s degree.These are the kinds of creative thinking and

innovative management that Zappala applauded,along with the positive cooperative relationshipsthat have been established with the local lawenforcement agencies and community leaders.In addition to financial and material support,

the District Attorney also facilitated workingrelationships between the District staff andconsultants from the Educational LeadershipInitiative of the University of Pittsburgh andprivate retired educational professionals. All ofthis help and support has changed the attitude,the environment, and the achievement feltthroughout the schools.

Q&A with D.A. Zappala


Being a recent collegegraduatemyself, I have witnessedfirsthand the stress and anxiety thatcan go along with applying forcolleges, financial aid, andscholarships. For those who do notknowme, my name is KaraConaway and I am the CampusCoordinator for the College AccessChallenge Grant andProjectGRAD. Along with the helpof an Academic Consultant, I willbe working with the students in thehigh school and junior high toprovide them with the informationand resources they need tocontinue their education after theygraduate from high school.To accomplish this goal, the

CACG staff and action teams willbe implementing new tutoringprograms, hosting parent events,planning student activities, andinitiating community rallies such astheWalk for Success that willpromote a positive outlook on thebenefits of postsecondaryeducation.If you are interested in joining one (or more) of these action teams,

please contact me at 412.482.7278 or [email protected] to find outmore information. We are looking for parents, students, and membersof the community to come together and make this program successful.

In closing, I would like to take a momentand highlight some of the upcoming eventsthat the CACGwill be hosting in thecommunity:

March 3, 2009: FAFSA workshop atthe high school

March 6, 2009: FAFSA workshopduring parent/teacher conferences

March 10: Parent Night at the RankinChristian Center

Although these events will have anemphasis on the financial aid aspect ofapplying for colleges and technical schools,we would like to encourage everyone in thecommunity to attend. Parents, feel free tobring your children and find out what thisprogram can offer you!

Finding Money for College

On far right is Kara Conaway, PROJECT GRAD CampusCoordinator for CACG meeting with Implementation Teammembers Candace Robick (left) and Karen Rubican (center).

Program to Increase Percentageof College-BoundWoodlandHills High School is one of only seven schools in the entire state chosen tobe part of a new College Access Challenge Grant Program. The Pennsylvania Department ofEducation (PDE), Project GRADUSA and the Pennsylvania Higher Education AssistanceAgency (PHEAA) have partnered under the federal formula to dramatically increase thepercentage of PA students that attend post-secondary education. This program will delivercoordinated, intensive college access services to over 16,000 students across the state. Theother schools in the program are in Chester, Lancaster and four high schools in Philadelphia.OnMarch 10, 2009, there will be a Parent Night at the Rankin Christian Center from 6-8p.m. to explain the program.GRADUSA is providing targeted, intensive intervention services to students in the junior

high and senior high that are two grade levels below in their course work. These servicesinclude academic support in literacy and mathematics and mentoring. College access serviceswill also be provided to students and their parents. Trips to college campuses will bearranged and students will receive help with their post-secondary school applications.PHEAA is providing financial aid informational workshops, training and materials for

students in the program and their families. See dates for Parent Meetings in the adjacentarticle, " FindingMoney for College." Parents are expected to be actively involved in theprocess of preparing and selecting a post-secondary course of education and a school fortheir child. The College Access Challenge Grant Program has been funded state-wide fortwo years with a $4 million budget.To find out more about this program, contact theWHSD Project Grad Campus

Coordinator, Kara Conaway at 412.482.7278 or email her at [email protected].

28 INWoodland Hills

On Saturday, February 7, 2009, sixWoodland Hills High School students traveledto Keystone Oaks High School to compete inthe Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science(PJAS) Regional Competition. Taylor Gladys,Matthew Stoffregen, and Nathan Thiem allreceived First Place honors. Matthew did so byearning a perfect score.In addition, Nathan earned a monetary

award from the American Vacuum Society.Ellen Bachy, Timothy DeVita and PeterRodrigues received Second Place honors.Congratulations to everyone for theirhard work.

WHHS ScoresThree Firstsin ScienceCompetition

ScholarshipFinalists

TheWHSDhas two brightshining stars.WHHS seniorNaytasha Fletcherhas been selected asa finalist in the 2009competition forNational

Achievement Scholarships.MatthewStoffregen, also a senior, is a finalist for the

2009 National MeritScholarships.Congratulations toboth of these finestudents. We wishthem the best ofluck.

THIS ISSteeler Country!

OnThursday, December 4, 2008, theWorld Affairs Council hosted a Special Seminarfor Students: “Spotlight on Georgia - Conflictand International Relations.” GeorgianAmbassador Sikharulidze presented a programfor students not only for the students fromWoodland Hills and other high schools thatwere present in the auditorium, but this was thefirst WAC program that was broadcast live overthe internet.Fighting between Georgia and Russia caused

widespread destruction and forced the world tofocus on long-simmering tensions between thetwo countries. When the fighting officiallyended, the strained relations remained. TheAmbassador answered questions about theeffect this strained relationship has for thecountries directly involved, for the U.S., and forthe entire international community. Headdressed all of these issues in his formalpresentation in the auditorium. Later the

Ambassador met privately with a select group ofWHHS students in a classroom to have a moredetailed examination of this delicate situation.Ambassador Sikharulidze was appointed as

Ambassador of Georgia to the United States,Canada andMexico inMarch 2006. Prior to hisassignment inWashington, he served asGeorgia’s First Deputy Minister of Defense,responsible for policy and planning,international relations and legal affairs. He alsoserved as Undersecretary of the NationalSecurity Council of Georgia and Head of theNATODivision at theMinistry of ForeignAffairs of Georgia. Ambassador Sikharulidzegraduated from Tbilisi State Medical University,and worked as a physician and psychiatrist priorto his career in public service.This program is just one of the many

educational opportunities that theWorld AffairsCouncil presents throughout the year.

Georgian Ambassador Visits WHHS

Ambassador meeting privately withWHHS students


TheWoodlandHills School District hosted a Sports Symposiumon February 19, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Six Super Bowl Rings, TwoGoldMedals, U.S. Championships and countless national andinternational awards were present on the stage. Students and familiesfromWoodland Hills and other districts listened intently to words ofadvice and inspiration from the invited guests. The evening’s speakersshared their stories, offered personal advice, and answered questions onhow athletics can pay for college and can lead to a career in professionalor collegiate sports.The special guests included several of Woodland Hills own: 2003

Woodland Hills High School graduateRyanMundy, a member of the2009 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers; Shawntae Spencer,2000 graduate of WHHS and currently a defensive back with the SanFrancisco 49’ers; Lousaka Polite, fullback with theMiami Dolphins anda 2000 alum; FrankHuck, 1990 graduate of WHHS and a member ofthe varsity football team, now a Vice President with PNC Bank; andMikeCampolo, 1990 graduate of Woodland Hills High and currently theoffensive coordinator of Indiana University of Pennsylvania football.Other guests on the panel included: J. T. Thomas, player on the

legendary Steeler “Steel Curtain” defense and four-time Super BowlChampion;Roger Kingdom, two time OlympicGoldMedalist and five-time U.S. Champion inTrack & Field; JasonCapizzi, a Pine-Richlandalumnus who is also in his first year with thePittsburgh Steelers; andRick Bertagnolli, theHead Softball Coach at California University ofPennsylvania. Rounding out the panelparticipants were: Bob Junko, Director ofFootball Relations and Program Enhancement,University of Pittsburgh;RonBrown, SportsAdvisor for SportsWorx; and Joe Butler, MetroIndex, a Pittsburgh talent scout for over 30 years.

This rare “ask anything”panel was moderated byWTAE news anchorMikeClark. Over the years,WHHS athletes have earnedmillions of dollars inscholarships to colleges anduniversities. WHHS has hadsix alumni on NFL footballteams.

FromTop, clockwiseWTAE Anchor Mike Clark andCoach George Novak

FormerWolverine teammates:Frank Huck and Mike Campolo

Superintendent Calinger,Shawntae Spencer and J.T.Thomas

Students wait patiently for achance to question their“sports heroes”

Some of the professional andcollegiate helmets worn byWHHS alumni

Ryan Mundy, Lousaka Polite,Mrs. Theresa Edwards,Shawntae Spencer, and CoachNovak

StudentsTreated toNight of Stars

30 INWoodland Hills


Deep in the bowels of Woodland HillsHigh School is one of the District’s best-keptsecrets. Woodland Hills is one of 12 schoolsinvolved inWPIAL-sanctioned team riflecompetition and it has been one of the mostconsistently winning sports teams in theDistrict. In fact, the rifle team pre-dates thecreation of the District when it was started in1964 at the Churchill Area High School.This year’s team distinguished itself by going

undefeated for 13 straight matches and despitelosing its final match toMt. Lebanon HighSchool, advanced to the LeagueChampionships. Also, team co-captain andsenior Dan Chapman scored high enough tocompete in the P.I.A.A. state finalsNot many students, teachers or fellow

athletes have ever visited the high school riflerange. In fact, many do not even know where itis located. The range itself is not very large, butit is known around the league as being one withthe best. It boasts 6 shooting positions with 50feet of target range, 4 scopes for coaches to viewshooters, excellent lighting and sound -proofing,a good air flow system and other aspects thatare conducive to shooting.A ready room for working on homework

while awaiting the next relay, complete withcouches, tables, radio, and board games, is acomfortable amenity for the students.Target shooting is a very unique sport. It is

not overly physical in the sense that your bodyis not always actively engaged, but it does take agreat amount of discipline to lie perfectly stillfor long stretches of time. It also requirestremendous mental concentration. Perhaps thatis why so many students on the team have someof the highest QPA’s in the school.Rifle can also be a lonely sport. There are no

cheers from spectators and teammates cannotcheer or encourage each other during the

matches. Matches are held in the dark, andcomplete silence is a must. The shooter is in aprone position and cannot move. The veryslightest of movements can cost a shooter thematch. When shooting, it is just the athlete, thetarget, darkness, and complete silence except forthe sound of the shot.The reward for this isolation and

concentration, however, is the enormous feelingof pride and satisfaction that the Rifle teammembers feel from their endeavors. They alsoshare a bond and enjoy a unique camaraderie byparticipating in activities outside of school, too.WHHS Rifle CoachMatt Rodrigues enjoys

coaching this sport because he believes that theskills a shooter must develop to be successfulalso help a student to be successful in life.“What makes you successful in this sport isdetermined by your mental discipline, focus,confidence, and positive attitude. In no othersport do you have to lie so completely still for15 minutes with barely room to breathe – ittakes an incredible amount of concentration,”said Coach Rodrigues. He continued “thosemastered skills are applicable to all aspects oflife, especially academics. If you are a championin Rifle, you can be a champion at anything.”

Woodland Hills has quite a storied past,winning 7WPIAL titles: 1972, ’74, ’75, ’81, ’85,’92, and ’98; and multiple section titles sincethe team’s inception in 1964. The team’ssuccess and its origin owes a lot to prior coachesand in particular, Mr. Gary Goetz, who washonored as a member of theWPIAL CoachingHall of Fame. Mr. Rodrigues credits Mr.Goetz, who passed away in 2000, withproviding the template for the program as itexists today.One fact that Coach Rodrigues is especially

proud of is that in the 44 years that the sporthas existed in Churchill and thenWoodlandHills, safety has always been a priority andno student has ever been injured whileparticipating with the team. Also, he wouldlike students to know that Rifle scholarships areavailable for certain colleges.The coaching staff for this year’s 38 member

team is Head Coach - Mr. Matt Rodrigues,Assistant Coach - Ms. Katie Miller, volunteerAssistant Coach - Mr. Alec Hall, and volunteerAssistant Coach - Mr. Adam Petro. All arealumni of WHHS. Congratulations to the teamfor a fantastic season!

Woodland Hills’ Best Kept Secret

Team Co-captainsDan Chapman andTimTrimble

Student Has UpfrontView of HistoryThe Presidential Inauguration turned one of our students into an

instant media star. Dickson Intermediate sixth grader, Justin McCord,attended the Inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 20.Justin was attending the Junior Youth Inaugural Conference in

Washington for five days. He was able to watch the inauguration paradewhile having lunch on the National Mall. He also attended numerousconferences on election issues and the election/ inauguration process, metwith journalists and congressional staff, and attended roundtablediscussions and lectures. One guest speakerthat Justin heard was former Secretary of State, General Colin Powell.As a result of his experiences, Justin was featured in an article in the

Post-Gazette (1/15/09) along with his teacher, Ms. Deborah Taylor, whonominated him to attend the conference. Justin also appeared onWQED’sOn Q program on Thursday, February 12, on Channel 13.Justin was able to share his experiences with his class and the District is

very proud that we were represented in the Capital on such a historicoccasion.

Dr. Anthony G. Robins as the newDirector of Federal, State and FoundationPrograms for the District.Dr. Robins is working to utilize all of the

funding opportunities available at every level,in order to enhance the educational excellenceof our academic programs, facilities, andpersonnel. He will be working internally withDistrict staff and externally with communityand business leaders, foundations and grantors,as well as state and national organizations.Dr. Robins has a professional background in

grantmanagement andhas been veryinvolved inminority healthissues. Heestablished aCenter forExcellence at theUniversity ofPittsburgh toaddress andultimatelyeliminate racialand ethnic healthdisparities.

Mr. KevinMurray as the new Dean ofStudents at Woodland Hills High School.This is a new position in the District.Mr. Murray’s responsibility is to help

students resolve both academic and non-academic problems that might interfere withtheir achievement. Mr. Murray not only is agraduate of Woodland Hills, but also did hisstudent teaching at the High School. He hasalso assisted Coach Novak with the varsityfootball team since 2003.

Mr. John L. Clark, Jr. as the AssistantSupervisor of Facilities for the District.Mr. Clark comes to the District from the

Westinghouse Electric Company. As anassistant to Facilities Supervisor, John Besseck,his main responsibility will be to assist with allof the District’s buildings and groundsmanagement and planning functions.

New Faces in the WoodlandHills School District TheWoodland Hills School District welcomes:

32 INWoodland Hills

A group of students fromWoodland Hills High School attendeda news conference with Governor EdRendell at the Main Campus of CCAC.The Governor invited students andparents from the Pittsburgh area totalk about the difficulty of paying forcollege, especially at Pennsylvaniaschools. The Governor is urging thestate legislature to quickly pass hisproposal for tuition relief in time forfall enrollment.Under the Pennsylvania Tuition

Relief Act, all incoming students whoqualify and seek to attend state-ownedor community colleges will pay whatthey can afford in accordance withestablished financial aid practices. Everyfamily will pay at least $1,000 a year foreach child in college. For families withincome under $100,000, students couldobtain as much as $7,600 in relief fortuition, fees, room and board.A second special group of students

fromWoodland Hills High School alsomet with the Governor at the event. These students representedPennsylvania against an Arizona high school in a game of FinancialFootball. A few days before the Super Bowl, students were linked to eachother through videoconferencing in a competition that tested thestudents’ personal financial literacy. Financial Football, available throughwww.banking.state.pa.us, is a free, educational computer game thatpromotes financial education. Woodland Hills High School was

victorious with a score of 21-13 over their Arizona opponents.Governor Edward Rendell established the Pennsylvania Office of

Financial Education in April 2004 to increase the availability and qualityof financial education in the state’s schools, communities and workplaces.The Governor was pleased to take a photo with his team, the only highschool chosen to represent the Commonwealth, WOODLANDHILLSHIGH SCHOOL. The outcome for the internet game was the same as inthe Super Bowl, PA beat AZ.

Music Teacher Lorraine E. Balun retired fromtheWoodland Hills School District in June, after 36 years.She wanted to leave a gift for the students of WilkinsPrimary, the last school where she taught. Her idea was tocommission a painting from one of her former studentsand aWHSD graduate, Ramon Riley. The painting wascompleted in the fall of 2008 and is currently on display intheMusic Room atWilkins Primary.Balun first met the artist as a seventh grader at East

Junior High School. “I have sustained an ongoingmentorship with Ramon that has blossomed into awonderful professional and personal friendship,” saysMs. Balun. Ramon graduated from Indiana University ofPennsylvania and has taught art at Pine Richland HighSchool for ten years. He is the recipient of many awardsand honors and is a celebrated artist in his own right. He isalso an author and illustrator of children’s stories.Ramon Riley is just one of the many success stories in

theWoodland Hills School District. “I wanted to share hisstory with the readers of IN Woodland Hills, so that upand coming students who have dreams of becoming artistsand teachers will know that the education they arereceiving in the District is preparing them to achieve theirgoals and fulfill their dreams,” addedMs. Balun.

Teacher Gifts theDistrict With Art

Governor Applauds Students’ Efforts


TheWoodlandHills School DistrictFoundation is applying for the first time tothe Pennsylvania Tax Credit Program that givestax breaks to businesses that make largedonations to academic programs. TheEducational Improvement Tax Credit Program,or EITC -- is “a way that the state encouragescompanies to contribute to education,” saidWHSDF President Dr. Steven Gough.Run by the Pennsylvania Department of

Community and Economic Development, theEITC is open to any business or corporation inPennsylvania. Academic foundations statewideapply to this program by completing therequired paperwork and submitting a list ofprograms or ideas to be funded. Eachfoundation writes summaries of severalinnovative programs that would be totally newto the school districts that are applying for thefunds. The programs must be curriculum-basedand entirely different than what already exists inthe district*, Gough said.Several programs that were included* in the

application are: introducing foreign language atthe elementary level; creating SMARTclassrooms in each of the District’s buildings;developing a student-run and student-producedDistrict newspaper; and bringing an author orartist-in-residence to the District for a year.

Gough andWHSDF Secretary Victoria Zidomet with principals and faculty members fromschools in the district to gather ideas forpossible programs to be funded.Ideas from all of the public school

foundations across the state that are acceptedinto the tax credit program are compiled into alist that is distributed to the companies thathave previously participated in the EITC.Companies look for programs and ideas theywould like to support and donate to thosespecific programs. Also, the foundationsinvolved receive a list of the past-participatingcompanies. Foundations can go straight tocompanies in their area to request fundsfor projects.“Trying to solicit money from the

community on an individual basis is extremelytime consuming,” Gough said. “The EITCprogram provides access to a larger poolof funds. It is also our mission to expand thepool of companies in our region that participatein the EITC program.”

Participating in this program also providestheWHSDF with broad exposure,” Zido said,because it allows “the opportunity to tell ourstory to a larger audience.” It is possible togarner funds from companies who knownothing about the foundation or frombusinesses outside of the immediate schooldistrict area. The tax credit rewards businessesfor supporting education, so it also will “allowus to bring new and innovative programs intothe schools to enrich educational opportunitiesfor all our students,” Zido said.Applying to the EITC has been a long

process, dating back almost to the conceptionof theWHSDF in 2007. A Foundationcommittee met steadily with a group of teachersand community members since the summer toassess academic programming needs that arenot funded under the District budget. The statedeadline for public school district foundationsto have their applications accepted to the EITCprogram is April 1, 2009. Businesses andcorporations have until July 1st to decide whichprograms to fund. Gough said if one of theWHSDF’s programs do receive funding, theFoundation would receive the money for thestart of the 2009-10 school year.

Business and the State Partnering to Help Public SchoolsBy Caitlyn Price

WHAF Awards 10 Mini-Grants for 2008-2009TheWoodland Hills Academic Foundation (WHAF) has awarded 10 Mini-Grants totaling over $6,100 for the 2008-2009school year. Since 2002, WHAF has funded 88 Mini-Grants totaling $39,800.

2 0 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 F U N D E D M I N I - G R A N T S

Building ProjectTitle Teacher(s)High School Gas Laws Ms. Misty ThurberHigh School Greenhouse Restoration & Learning Center Ms. Margeaux EverhartHigh School Math Murals Mr. Christopher CherryJr. High C.A.S.H.H. Ms. Deb Kritikos and Mr. Andrew Pollick

Children Acquiring Stocks w/ Helping HandsJr. High/ SHINE The Empty Bowls Project Mr. Jaison Pascuzzi and Mr. Mike FrickoRankin/ YES Camp Guyasuta Team Building Mr. Jeffrey BrandDickson Chick Hatching Ms. Raechel PricenerEdgewood Charlene's Butterfly Garden Ms. Susan Fisher and Ms. Irene EllisEdgewood Mad Science Night Ms. Rebecca Zanic and Ms. Irene YounkinEdgewood Read All About It Ms. Claudine Bagwell and Ms. Ashley Wheeler

This year, WHAF again funded the majority of the Mini-Grant proposals submitted. The Academic Foundationcontinues to be pleased by the strong proposals fromWoodland Hills School District teachers complimenting thefoundation’s mission to promote, support, and enhance educational opportunities for all Woodland Hills students.WHAF is able to provide Mini-Grants as a result of the generous support of the community, including the Academic

Foundation’s Spring fund-raiser and Alumni Cabaret held during the spring 2008 All District Art Show.Please check the WHAF web site (www.WHAF.info) for more information on the Mini-Grant program as well as

information on Scholarships for WHSD students and the All-District Art Show.

34 INWoodland Hills

WoodlandHills High Schoolperformerswill have some four-footedactors to contend with during their springmusical, “TheWizard of Oz.” DirectorThomas Crone has secured the services ofthe “number one” Broadway Dog Trainer,Bill Berloni, to come and work with the castfor three weeks.Berloni will be bringing two of his dogs to

perform as Toto in the high schoolproduction. What distinguishes hisprofessional work is the fact that all of hisanimals are rescue animals that he trains toperform on the stage. That makes himunique in the industry.Woodland Hills High School is very

fortunate to have secured his talents and tohave his dogs work with our actors. Berloni ishighly respected and has authored severalbooks on the subject of dog training. Hisbook, "Broadway Tails," will be available forpurchase in the lobby of the high schoolduring the run of the play. Berloni will alsobe available for book signings following eachperformance. A portion of the proceedsfrom the sale of these books will be donatedto a local animal rescue organization. Plansare underway to have him present a programfor the public with the sale of tickets beingdonated to a local shelter.There is more information about

Berloni’s work with rescue animals and histraining methods at: theatricalanimals.com.He appeared on the “Today Show” onFebruary 5th, where he talked about “Straysturned into Broadway stars.”The High School will also be working

with local shelters and pet stores to helppromote his appearance.

This spring, theWoodland Hills High School Department of Performing Arts is off to stagetheWizard... “TheWizard of Oz” that is. In this charming musical based on the popular L FrankBaum stories, Dorothy and her dog Toto are caught in a tornado's path and somehow end up inthe land of Oz. There she meets some memorable friends and foes on her Journey to meet theWizard of Oz who everyone says can help her return home... and possibly grant her new friendstheir gifts of a brain, heart and courage. Our production features the classic songs “SomewhereOver the Rainbow,” “Follow The Yellow Brick Road” and “We’re Off To See TheWizard.”In addition to the traditional performances, there will be several special events occurring with

this production. First, theWHHSDepartment of Performing Arts is hosting “An Afternoon ofMusical Theater!” for the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania Council on April 25, 2009 at 1p.m. This will be the third year that WHHS provides performing arts educational opportunitiesfor community members. Participants will accomplish many of the requirements needed for theirperforming arts-related Try-Its, Badges, and Interest Projects. We will also be hosting hosting two“Munchkin Luncheons.” Attendees will eat a delicious meal, participate in themed activities, havetheir pictures taken with their favorite characters, and go to a matinee performance. The“Munchkin Luncheons” will be on April 25, 2009 andMay 2, 2009. Lastly, theWHHSDepartment of Performing Arts will be sponsoring a coloring contest. Students from eachWHSDprimary school and intermediate school can participate. Winners will receive tickets to a matineeperformance of their choice

Performances: April 24: 8 p.m.April 25: 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.April 30: 8 p.m.May: 1- 8 p.m.May 2: 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Woodland Hills High School Auditorium2550 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15221

Tickets are $10. The Box Office openedMarch 3. Hours are Tuesdays,Wednesdays, andThursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Box Office is also open for one hour before a performancebegins.For more information of any of these events, contact, Heidi G. Bartko, Executive Producer at

[email protected] or 412.731.1300 ext. 03387.For ticket information, contact Patricia Moore, Business Manager at [email protected] or

412.244.1100 Ext. 5187.

High SchoolMusical Goingto the Dogs!

We’re Off to Stage the Wizard

Musical Theater at its BestWoodlandHills High School has a richly successful musical theater history. Under thedirection of Thomas G. Crone, Woodland Hills High School has performed 21 musicals, sevenof which have been honored with the Pittsburgh CLOGene Kelly Award for Best Musical. Oftheir 130 overall nominations, WHHS has been honored with 69 Gene Kelly Awards in thefollowing categories: Best Lighting Design, Best Scenic Design, Best Crew, Best Choreography,Best Direction, Best Ensemble, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and BestSupporting Actress.In 2005, Marvin Hamlisch selected theWHHSDepartment of Performing Arts to partake in a

special session with him regarding “the art of auditioning,” and pursuing a career in performingarts. Three students went through a mock audition in front of an eager audience. Hamlischconstructively critiqued their performances, giving helpful hints and sage advice regarding theaudition process. The District was honored to receive such a visit, and all participants trulyenjoyed the experience.In 2006, the Pittsburgh CLO selected theWHHSDepartment of Performing Arts to receive

one of PatriciaWard Kelly’s exclusive visits. Each year during her stay in Pittsburgh, Kelly travels tothree high schools to connect with students and to speak about her late husband, Gene Kelly. Sheaffectionately spoke of his early experiences as a child in Pittsburgh, his performing arts influences,his education, and his career. Kelly’s honesty and encouragement provided an ethereal connectionto the late Gene Kelley, who was and remains a true inspiration to our students and staff.


36 INWoodland Hills

Repeated Motif: Alex EdwardsReprinted from the ARTicle

Portrait Mosaic:Taije Davis,Victor Simmons, Kevin Haburjak,

Tyler Kirkland, Conor Craig,Tiffany Hicks, Stephen Ero,

Arnold Roberts, Patrick CovingtonReprinted from the ARTicle

the ARTicle

Repeated Motif: Alex EdwardsReprinted from the ARTicle

Two students fromEdgewoodPrimary were theWolverine SpiritAward honorees for November 2008. At theNovember 12th School BoardMeeting, TrevorTomko and Lamonn Kierre Satchell werehonored.Students fromWoodlandHills Junior

High were theWolverine Spirit Awardhonorees for December 2008. At theDecember 3rd School BoardMeeting, studentsCaroline Rubash and La-Derionte Johnson werehonored.Students fromRankin Intermediate

were theWolverine Spirit Awardhonorees for January, 2009. At the January21st School BoardMeeting, sixth graders LilyMartin and JordanMiller were presented withtheir awards.All the students were honored in front of their

families, their schools’ principals, teachers andstaff. Superintendent Dr. Walter M. Calingerpresented framed certificates and Borders giftcards to all of theWolverine Spirit AwardWinners.

Trevor Tomko, Lamonn “Kierre” Satchell

Wolverine Spirit AwardsHonor Students

Jordan Miller and Lily Martin

Godspell, Jr. Cast and CrewWoodland Hills Junior High School, February, 2009

Caroline Rubash and La-Derionte Johnson

Woodland Hills Academic Foundation

2008 Scholarship WinnersTheWoodlandHills Academic Foundation announced the

winners for their 2008 Senior Scholarships and the Julia AnneMcCoolMemorial Scholarship for the Arts and Humanities at the Senior HonorsBanquet in April 2008. The Senior Scholarship winners were TamikaRutherford of East Pittsburgh, Lauren Demko of Turtle Creek, andJonathan Colaizzi of Turtle Creek. Each received a $750 award toward hisor her first year of tuition at a two-year school or certificate program. StateSenator andMrs. Jay Costa of Forest Hills again made a generousdonation, enabling theWHAF scholarship committee to make these

awards Tamika enrolled at CCACwhere she is pursuing a nursing degree.Lauren attends theWestern School of Business and Health and isstudying nursing. Jonathan enrolled in the Allegheny County PoliceAcademy..The winner of the first annual Julia AnneMcCool Memorial Arts and

Humanities Scholarship was also announced at the dinner. Joanna Krauseof Forest Hills received a $2,500 award toward her first year’s tuition. Sheis currently a freshman at Washington and Jefferson College majoring inArt. This award was made possible by a gift from Julia Anne’s parents,Tom andMaria McCool, to commemorate their daughter whose shortlife had a very positive effect on her family and their community of friendsand neighbors. TheMcCool’s, whose children Rachel and Tim graduatedfromWoodland Hills High School, wanted to give something back to theDistrict where their children benefited from receiving a stellar education.They also wanted to promote the study of the humanities and the liberalarts, particularly the visual and performing arts and music.In the five years that the Academic Foundation has awarded its Senior

Scholarships, a total of $8,000 has been awarded to twelve graduatingseniors. The Academic Foundation knows that not every student wants toattend a baccalaureate program, and we only award scholarships tostudents attending other than four-year programs. Past winners haveattended culinary, technical, veterinary, dental hygiene, trade, computerprogramming, nursing, and art schools. The Academic Foundation

recognizes the difficulty that today’s students face finding financialassistance while embarking on these career paths and we are proud to beable to help these deserving students.Here are a few brief updates on some of our past scholarship

awardees. Laaun Campbell-Escalante, a 2006 winner, graduated in thetop 10% of her class at the Western School of Health and Business in theDental Assistant program. She felt that Woodland Hills prepared hervery well for her studies there. She now works in a dental practice and isconsidering returning to dental school to pursue furthering her career in

Orthodontics. Jonathan Gribbin, one of our 2007winners, just graduated from the Los AngelesFilm School where he has been studying filmediting and directing, but with emphasis in othermovie disciplines. He has entered a film that hemade in this year’s Three Rivers Film Festivalentitled, Last Night the General Died. He hasrecently returned to Pittsburgh with seven otherstudents from the school to form a productioncompany and to work on three movies. He plansto travel across the United States with hisproduction company to work on various filmprojects.As part of our mission to support academic

opportunities for Woodland Hills students,WHAF believes that these Senior Scholarships arean important step in helping achieve that mission,as well as helping to promote the broader goal oflifelong learning. Tax deductible donations to theScholarship Fund can be mailed toWHAF at P.O.Box 321, Turtle Creek, PA 15145. Checks shouldbe made payable toWHAF or theWoodland HillsAcademic Foundation.

WHAF President Chris Longwill, Tamika Rutherford, Jamie Glasser, Lauren Demko, andJonathan Colaizzi

Maria McCool, Joanna Krause, and Tom McCool


W.P.I.A.L. ChampionshipsSwimmingEleven swimmers qualified for the WPIAL Championships held atthe University of Pittsburgh Trees Pool.

BOYS’Athlete EventTim Devita 100 Butterfly

100 Backstroke200 Freestyle

Andrew Finlay 100 Breaststroke200 IM200 Freestyle

Ryan Lowery 200 Freestyle RelayJames McKay 200 Freestyle RelayNick Ricci 100 Butterfly

200 Freestyle RelayEric Sciulli 200 Freestyle RelaySquad A 200 Freestyle RelayDennis Gibson Diving

GIRLS’Athlete EventGiovanna Bodner 200 Freestyle

500 Freestyle400 Freestyle Relay200 Freestyle Relay200 Medley Relay

Rebecca Gormley 400 Freestyle Relay200 Medley Relay200 Freestyle Relay

Madeline Marcelle 100 Breaststroke200 Medley Relay400 Freestyle Relay200 Freestyle Relay

Sarah Rinsma 500 Freestyle100 Butterfly200 Freestyle Relay200 Medley Relay400 Freestyle Relay

Elizabeth Rubash 50 Freestyle400 Freestyle Relay200 Freestyle Relay200 Medley Relay

Chelsea Stein 50 Freestyle100 Freestyle200 Medley Relay200 Freestyle Relay400 Freestyle RelaySquad A 200 Medley RelaySquad A 200 Freestyle RelaySquad A 400 Freestyle Relay

WrestlingWoodland Hills High School had two senior wrestlers qualify atSection Regionals for the WPIAL Championships. Willis Brooksqualified at 125 lbs and Brett Douthett qualified at 189 lbs.

38 INWoodland Hills

Thework study program at Woodland Hills HighSchool has been in effect since the conception of the District.This program allows students to earn money as well as creditsduring the school year. WHHS teacher Adel Caruso has beenthe program’s coordinator since the 2005 - 06 school year andhas found it to be a rewarding experience. “The communitylooks at our students as a positive aspect of their work force.Our employers give our work study students high marks forreliability, productivity, and efficiency on the job,” said Caruso.The employers evaluate their work study students monthly

and their input helps to determine theirgrade. “Because their boss in theworkplace is actually grading them,”Caruso added, “our students must takeownership of their actions andresponsibilities in the workplace in order tobe successful.”In the classroom, students learn how to

succeed in the work place. They explorecareers, create resumes, and learninterviewing techniques and professionaldevelopment. Even though their workstudy job is not the job they will have forthe rest of their lives, it gives them a taste ofhow their actions and conduct will affecttheir future career.“Work study employers look at

punctuality, performance, and attitude in evaluating the students,”

explained Caruso, “and these attributes will be important in theirfuture careers.The following employers currently employWHHS work study

students:Giant Eagle at Edgewood Town Centre and inMonroevilleMcDonald’s at theWaterfrontBike Tek in theMiracle Mile Shopping CenterA-Graphix in SwissvaleEdgewood Country Club in ChurchillRegency Cleaners in Regent SquareD’s Six Pac and Dogs in Regent SquareChick-fil-A inMonroeville MallPayless Shoe Store in Monroeville MallRite Aid inWilkinsK-Mart in Monroeville

2008-09 Hometown High QTeamCoach Heather Nyapas, Matthew

Stoffregen, NathanThiem, Stephen Baker, Host Ken Rice

Work Study isWorking at theHigh School


Edgewood Primary students in Ms.Claudine Bagwell’s kindergarten class weretreated to a visit by the “Queen of Hearts”on Friday, January 9, 2009. The “Queen” isa regal storyteller who visits schools as partof the “Stories Start Action” program.The District’s participation in this

program is being made possible through a$10,000 grant secured by StateRepresentative Paul Costa from thePennsylvania Dept. of Community andEconomic Development. The “Stories StartAction” program is an engaging andinteractive curriculum that encourageselementary students to read.Ms. Bagwell’s students were the first class

to enjoy a royal visit but the Queen will bevisiting with other students and elementaryschools in the District as well. Once a month,a different classroom will host their royal guest.The “Queen” shared the concept of

responsibility with the students and proceededto tell them an original story built around thattheme. The students quickly became a part ofthe story as the Queen asked for volunteersand donned them with appropriate costume

pieces to fit their part. The storiesin the “Stories Start Action” program aredesigned to motivate, challenge and inspire.From the broad smiles and enthusiasticresponses, it was apparent that the childrenand adults present both enjoyed themselvesimmensely.

WHSD StudentsBand Togetherto Save theRain Forest

Two students at Dickson IntermediateSchool conducted a "Save the Rainforest"campaign at their school. Sixth graders SamanthaEdinger and Erin Huang came up with the slogan,“Something Small Can Change It All.” Theydecided to organize a campaign to help a causethat would mean something to the students intheir school. The girls researched different non-profit groups to find an appropriate recipient anddecided on using their donations to preserve rainforest land. They visited each homeroom andafter a brief presentation, challenged the studentsto donate their extra "change" to help save the rainforest and all its inhabitants.

Samantha and Erin decorated collectioncontainers for each class, made posters to put upall around the building, wrote a letter seeking theprincipal's permission for the campaign, and madeearly morning announcements during the week ofJanuary 26th. The two girls collected donationsevery afternoon and were in charge of keepingtrack of all the donations. They were able tocollect $275, enough to preserve 3 acres of rainforest land.The money was sent to TheWorld Land

Trust, an international conservation charity thathas been able to protect over 375,00 acres of rainforest habitats. In order to promote giving by thestudents, Sam and Erin offered to provide a pizzaparty to the classroom with the highest donationtotal. Ms. Groat's 5th grade class won the prize,but the real winner was the world-wideconservation effort.

Royalty Comes to Edgewood Primary

Students from Mrs. Claudine Bagwell's class pose with their teacher, Representative Paul Costa, the"Queen,” Superintendent Dr. W. Calinger, and Principal Mrs. Jean Livingston.

Samantha Edinger and Erin Huang

40 INWoodland Hills

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The new Joint and Spine Centerat Forbes provides state-of-the-art orthopaedic andneurosurgical care in a hospitalclose to home.

The Center’s multi-disciplinarystaff includes some of theregion’s most experienced andrespected orthopaedic surgeonsand neurosurgeons, nurses,patient care assistants, physicaltherapists and occupationaltherapists.

The new dedicated in-patient unit featuresprivate and semi-private rooms, equipped withflat-screen TVs and furniture selected for thecomfort and safety of those who haveundergone joint or spine surgery.

Each room is equipped with afreezer so cold-therapy suppliesare readily availableto help minimize post-surgicalswelling and pain.

A therapy gym is also housedon the unit so physical andoccupational therapy sessionscan easily be coordinated withpain management schedules.

From pre-surgery testing andeducation to post-discharge

coaches who provide support andencouragement, the Joint and Spine Center atForbes focuses on meeting your total needs soyou can get back to your life.

For a physician referral or more informationabout our services, call 412-D-O-C-T-O-R-S(362-8677), or 1-877-284-2000.

THE NEW JOINT AND SPINECENTER AT FORBES

GET BACK TOYOUR LIFE!

www.wpahs.org

GET BACK TOYOUR LIFE!

IN Woodland Hills

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