IN Canon-Mac

anon Mac

FALL 2011 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

A Final RestingPlace-

Publisher’s Message | 4

COMMUNITY INTEREST | Canon Mac School District | 6In Kids | 50Houses of Worship | 55Special Value Coupons | 56

FEATURES | A Place to Rest for Our Veterans | 10The Best Seat in the House | 12The Amazing New Library | 14The Leader of the Band | 18The North Strabane Firefighter Challenge | 20Carnival Time | 22Lacrosse League is Building Character | 32Real Estate in Canon Mac |

Fall Landscaping Ideas | 37A Handyman’s Guide to Destroying Your Home | 38Costa Homebuilders | 39Making Your Home More Accessible to All Generations | 45Heartland Homes | 46

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | How to Prepare Your Home for Winter |

by Sue Clark | 35Top Nine Myths about Children’s Teeth |

by Barry Bartusiak DMD | 53Car Accident? Physical Therapy Can Help | 54

SPOTLIGHT | Dance By Cami | 52

ON THE COVER | The Hallowed Ground of the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies

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Canon Mac | FALL 2011 |

Contents

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Welcome to the Fall issue of Canon Mac Magazine. Summer is the time for home improvement projects, and this issue contains

information about house maintenance, landscaping and real estate. The Habitat for Humanity opened a ReStore Center in downtown Washington in

mid-May. It’s a store specializing in new or gently-used building materials and homeimprovement items that have been donated. The items ar e resold at greatly-reduced prices, and you can buyeverything from chandeliers to appliances to aluminum siding for your home. You might find what youneed for your summer projects around the home.

This issue also contains our annual advertising section on real estate in Washington and AlleghenyCounties, and we are reminded of the beautiful, affordable homes – both old and new – that our available i nour region. If you’re in the market to buy or sell a home, we hope you will find this issue to be helpful.

If you are planning on staying in your home but want to fix up the outside, this issue contains plenty oftips from professional landscapers and gardeners.

Finally, in what may be a sign of the times, there is a story on page five about the North Strabane’sIntermediate School’s use of electr onic books (ebooks) in the fifth and sixth grade classrooms. Unlike someof their parents, the students have adopted to the technology almost effortlessly and seem to prefer theebooks over the “old-fashioned” printed ones. If it gets kids to read, we’re all for it.

Have a great summer!

Wayne DollardPublisher

I drive by the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies most days towork. This stunning view of the rows and rows of white markers thatnote the service men and women who have dedicated their lives to ourcountry is very compelling to me. On page 10 you’ll get to read about thehistory of this hallowed ground. With Veterans Day coming up in November,

I wonder if I could make a suggestion? If, in your busy days this fall,you are lucky enough to encounter someone who has served our country, would you

thank them for their service? I know many veterans have never been thankedbefore and would be so appreciative of your kind words.

Congratulations to Canonsburg Middle School for receiving thedesignation of “Schools To Watch” on the national level. Their commitment

to academics among other things is no sur prise to us at the magazine. We werejust thrilled to see this wonderful school recognized!

Marybeth JeffriesManaging Editor

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

PUBLISHER Wayne Dollard

MANAGING EDITOR

Marybeth [email protected]

OFFICE MANAGER

Leo [email protected]

WRITERS

Pamela Palongue

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Cassie Brkich Jan McEvoyAnna Buzzelli Joe MilneSharon Cobb Tamara TylendaSusie Doak

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Garyyonphotography.comMichael Haritan

ADVERTISING SALES

Derek Bayer Tamara MyersBrian Daley Gabriel NegriGina D’Alicandro Robert OjedaTina Dollard Annette PetroneRose Estes Vincent SabatiniJason Huffman Michael SilvertLori Jeffries RJ VighettiRita Lengvarsky Nikki Capezio-Connie McDaniel WatsonBrian McKee

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

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

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

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

Winter content deadline: 10/20www.incommunitymagazines.com

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

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Canon Mac | Fall 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 5

CANON-McMILLANSCHOOL DISTRICT

At Canon-McMillan, the children truly do come first.

School Director Eric Kline“ ”

DISTRICT BUDGET

6 Canon Mac


CLASS OF 2011

CANON-McMILLANSCHOOL DISTRICT

8 Canon Mac8 Canon Mac

No parent expects to leave a child to journey through life without his or her direct guidance.“ ”


By Pamela Palongue



Photos by Gary Yon

Tours of the National Cemetery

of the Alleghenies are

available by appointment by

calling their officesat 724.746.4363.

The annual Canonsburg 4th of July parade has had a longstandingtradition of individuals showing up days before the parade to placetheir chair at the best possible vantage spot for viewing the parade.

This tradition led Our Town Cooperative, the Canonsburg MainStreet program, to hold a competition for the best chair. In addition to bragging rights, there is the additional incentive of a $100 cashprize for the most patriotic chair and the most original chair.

The most patriotic chair was one decorated with a soldier in armyfatigues as a nod to our troops serving overseas and the most originalchair was decorated with 1950’s records of Canonsburg celebritiesBobby Vinton and Perry Como.

In addition to the fierce chair competition,the holiday crowd was treated to a concert bythe Washington County Jazz Society, an artwalk and a 94.5 Sports Challenge for kids. The grand marshalls of the parade for 2011were The Four Coins, The Four Townsmenand The Donnybrooks to carry out thetheme of the festivities, “Celebrating OurMusical Heritage.”

THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE

For more information on future downtown celebrations, you may visitwww.downtowncanonsburg.org.

12 Canon Mac

By Pamela PalongueTHE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE


“The Fabulou

s 50’s”

by Jill Laurici

aMost Original

“CanonsburgSalutes Army” by Clara KrashnaDorchak

Most Patriotic

By Pamela Palongue

he Greater Canonsburg Public Library had been around for the past100 years, and unfortunately its size and design was probably bettersuited to the early 20th century than today. The library had just

barely over 3,000 square feet and staff were forced to get rid of a bookevery time a new one was purchased due to the serious lack of space.Today the new Frank Sarris Public Library has over 30,000 squa re feetof space to serve the 30,000 people who will use the facility.

The opening of the beautiful, new library was the culmination ofplanning and fundraising that began in 2005. The Frank Sarris familyof Pittsburgh candy fame purchased the naming rights to the library.Unfortunately, Mr. Sarris did not live to see the opening of hisnamesake. According to Library Director Lyn Crouse, the Sarris

fami ly adopted the library and donated even more funds to insurecompletion of the work. The library sold brooms and plaques to helpmeet their financial goals and foundation grants, private donations and a1.5 million dollar state grant rounded out the total budget. The Friendsof the Frank Sarris Public Library, a group dedicated to helping thelibrary through volunteering and fundraising, generously pro vided the

massive new circulation desk built of redoak with a granite top. The result is that the5.5 million dollar debt for constructing thebuilding is completely paid!

The building features large windowswhich let in lots of natural light and a



colorful interior to create a bright and cheery décor for all ages. It wasalso constructed with an environmentally friendly design.

Crouse states that they are currently pursuing the Silver LeedCertification from the U.S. Green Building Council. One of thehighlights of the building is a large mural created by local professionalartist Sherrie Grottenthaler, who painted an outdoor scene of thelibrar y, complete with name plaques of those who donated to theconstruction of the library depicted as building blocks. A second muralis currently being painted by internationally-known artist Jim Sulkowskiwho maintains a studio in Canonsburg. The three-panel mural will bebased on classic books and literary characters. The second floor of thelibrary incorporates the beauty of the outdoors with an atrium and anoutdoor balcony.

Library Director Crouse is perhaps happiest about the abundance ofspace. “We have room to grow in this building and we can offer so muchmore to our patrons,” Crouse said. The library has five public meetingrooms available for rent to the general public. According to Crouse theywill be available for everything from an organizational meeting to abridal shower and will have pro jection equipment for presentations.“This is an important facility for this area.” The building also has 2 conference rooms and 3 study areas. Genealogy fans will want to visitthe new Genealogy and Local History Room which will have resourcesfor tracing one’s roots.

“For the first time we have a separate young adult area for readingand we will be having Wii tournaments for the teens. Also there is astory time room for our smaller children. In the old facility people wereliterally having to step over the children as they listened to stories beingread,” Crouse said. Twenty-five computer stations will be postedaround the library for public use and laptops may be checked out for in-house use as the entire library will have wireless internet available.

Crouse continues to look ahead to the futu re and hopes that somelandscaping can be completed in the future. “There is a perfect place fora gazebo,” Crouse mused, which would make a lovely outdoor readingarea. Crouse also adds that they will continue to offer free introductorycomputer classes and with the added space will be able to offer manyother classes and feature visiting authors. She advises to watch thelibrary website for upcoming e vents at www.franksarrislibrary.org.

“The first three weeks the library was opened we issued 800 newlibrary cards!” Crouse said. “Our usual would be 1,000 in a year.” Newlibrary patrons also checked out over 5600 items in the first three weeks,Crouse said, and it has not slowed down yet. And if great books, freeinternet and interesting artwork aren’t enough to entice one to visit thelocal library, perhaps chocolate will be. Sarris Candies are always for saleat the circulation desk and according to Crouse, they sell out so fast it ishard to keep them in stock.

Photos by Gary Yon


anonsburg Middle School hasbeen selected as one of 21 schoolsto hold the designation ofPennsylvania Don EichhornSchools to Watch. And it hasbeen selected as one of 250“Schools to Watch” at thenational level. This prestigiousaward was based on academic

excellence and the school’s commitment to allstudents in helping them to reach their highestlevel of achievement. The award was also based onthe ability of the school’s teachers andadministration to work together to meet the needsof their students and the commitment tocontinuing improvement. Canonsburg MiddleSchool will be recognized with this designation forthe next three years and then must reapply to retainthat status. The application process involves theinterviewing of teachers, students, parents andadministrative officials to determine cohesivenesswithin the school system. The curriculum and workof the students are also scrutinized and evaluatedbased upon their quality.

One of the most important requirements is the school’s commitment to create a safe,comfortable learning environment for all students.That requirement is being partially met at CMS by a new program that combats bullying in theschool. The program is called Olweus and is named after Dr. Dan Olweus, a researcher atClemson University who has studied bullyingextensively and is often referred to as the pioneer of bullying research. According to Dr. Olweus,bullying is described as any negative action fromwhich a child is unable to defend himself.Remarkably, Dr. Olweus’ research states thatapproximately 17 percent of all students are bulliedon a somewhat regular basis. Almost 1 in 5, thenumbers suggest that the problem is not an isolatedoccurrence and that it exists in virtually everyschool. Bullying can take the form of derogatorycomments, exclusion from social activities, forcinga student to do homework or other favors for theaggressor, threats or even physical violence such ashitting, kicking or spitting.

Dr. Olweus’ program attacks the problem fromall levels including the individual, classroom,

By Pamela Palongue


school and community. It creates a team of students,educators and even parents to combat the behavior.Communication between the groups and strategies tostop bullying immediately and provide consequences for the behavior help students who are bullied to feelmore empowered and less isolated. This is extremelyimportant since victims of aggression may experiencedepression, low self-esteem, poor grades and eventhoughts of suicide. The aggressor may also suffer fromemotional problems including low self-esteem, anger or addictions.

According to Grace Lani, director of curriculum atCMS, the Olweus program (which has been in effect fora year) was chosen because of its extensive research andproven track record. Lani has seen the positive results ofthe program at CMS with fewer behavioral problems andless referrals of possible problem situations. “A core teamof educators, guidance counselors and the school nurseare trained to handle bullying situations quickly andeffectively. They are taught to talk with the children in acommon language. Then instructors from the programcome to the school to review the implementation of thenew rules and guidelines to ensure that it is workingproperly," Lani said. The instructors are also available for consultation as part of the ongoing process. Partlybecause of the success of the program at CMS, theschool district has been awarded a grant for extendingthe Olweus program into the North StrabaneIntermediate and Cecil Intermediate schools, withhopefully similar results. Although no program for highschool age children exists at this time, Olweus iscurrently modifying the program for use with olderstudents which will likely be implemented when itbecomes available.

A relatively new form of aggression called cyberbullying can involve threatening texts that may be sentelectronically or inflammatory material that may beposted on social websites such as Facebook. In April, anagent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation visited theschool to address the students about preventivestrategies for cyber bullying.

The commitment of CMS to making the educationalexperience a positive one for all of its students combinedwith a high degree of academic excellence and teamworkhas netted a coveted school award for the institution.Congratulations to Canonsburg Middle School formaking the grade!


e’s really the leader of the band.Joseph Helinski, that is, and the band is the Canon-McMillan High School Marching

Band otherwise known as the Big Macs. Most people would say it is Mr. Mark Falvo, who has been band director for the past 10 years—one year as an assistant to his father.

“The drum major is really the student leader. He or she is expected to get the best out of everyone,” said Mr. Falv o.

Helinski was selected as drum major in late May. The drum major is the first personto lead the band onto the field to perform for competitions and football halftime

activities. He leads them in practices, and they watch him and the two field conductorswhen they are performing. The British army for its corps of drums developed the part of drum major in 1650. Some

bands’ drum majors run ahead with a high step or strut-like motion. The Canon Mac band marchesonto the field or the performance area together.

The Big Mac Band drum major carries a mace, which was originally a weapon-like club but now isused ornamentally in ceremonies. Another important part of the drum major’s job is the salute, which

is an eight-count, mini performance. It signifies the beginning or end of a performance. It is a student’spersonal touch—Ben Lombardo, who was last year’s drum major, did a moonwalk and a robot move.

Also, they tend to dress more ornately. Helinski has a gold cape and the two field conductors have bluecapes. They had a hand in designing their uniforms.

The audition process to become a drum major is vigorous. The applicants must develop a full routinewith commands, teach a lesson, get a teacher’ s recommendation, and show three different patterns forconducting. There was a panel of five judges and the person with the highest score was awarded drum

major followed by two field conductors. This coming year they are Stephen Strosko andTyler Engel.

The young men recently participated in a national five-day conference at theUniversity of Pittsburgh-Greensburg campus entitled the Fred J. Miller Dr um MajorClinic. “There were over 30 bands represented from Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon and Philadelphia,” said Helinski. “I met band members from Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland.”The three young men won most improved overall and Helinski won best technique from

By Joann Naser

JosephHelinski


his group of 25. “I’ve developed my leadership skills from watching my dad and I see how heconducts himself,” he said. “Also, I see my mom and how she dealt with students all my life.”

Joseph is the son of Dave and Maureen Helinski. Dave is the principal at Canon-McMillanHigh School. His mother taught classes at the Montessori School in Mt. Lebanon.

For the fall football and performance season, the 210-member band votes on the theme—thisyear’s winner is time travel. “We will be performing Cee Lo Green’s ‘Forget You’ representing thisdecade and ‘I Can See for Miles’ representing the 70s,” said Helinski. “There will be a lot of othergreat music for the audience to hear.”

The Big Mac Band is one of the largest in the state. When performing, they line up from the20-yard line to the opposite 20-ya rd line. It could pose a challenge for Helinski to conduct the

group from the six-foot tall podium he will be standing on. He says he is ready for it.“I’m sure there will be an adrenaline rush,” said Helinski. “It will be awesome to

be at the Friday night football games.”He added, “I have to earn my friends’ respect.

Especially during practice sessions, there is a time forwork, discipline and a time for fun. There is no talking and

everyone needs to be on task.”Helinski would like to attend Notre Dame in the fall of

2012. “I would like to be a music educator like Mr. Falvo or Mrs.Palmer (the high school’s choir director).”

Mr. Falvo says of Helinski, “He is the total package. He has brainsand talent. He is the one of the finest young men I know.”

Helinski replaced Lombardo, who was drum major fo r his junior and senioryear as well as field conductor as a sophomore. “Ben worked very hard and leadby example,” said Mr. Falvo. “He was responsible for drills, practice sessions andthe equipment.”

Lombardo said, “It was intimidating as a junior to be drum major. I felt as if Igave respect, I would get it. You

can’t be timid. The people needa leader, but I just wanted tohelp the band and myself gro w.”

His field conductors lastyear were Stephanie Scarci

and Matt Rozak.Lombardo, whoseparents are Judy andFred Lombardo ofCanonsburg, plans tostudy music educationat Slippery RockUniversity. He isalready part of theirmarching band. It isa great tribute thattwo of Mr. Falvo’sstudents want tofollow in his

footsteps.“It is really great to

see these children grow,”concluded Mr. Falvo.“The biggest reward i swhen they don’t need us

anymore. That means I havedone my job right.”

StephenStrosko

Tyler Engel

By Pamela Palongue

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hen considering the dangerous work offirefighting, the mind automatically conjuresup images of running into burning buildings, repelling down steep hillsides orcrashing through locked doors. Firefighters do all of these things in the course

of their work and they are undoubtedly dangerous. But did you know that the number 1 causeof firefighter deaths is heart attack? It’s true. The heat from the fire causes intense sweating,coupled with the fact that the firefighter is wearing heavy, protective clothing and carryinghundreds of pounds of equipment. Add to the scenario summertime heat and you have arecipe for extreme dehydration. Dehydration alone is a formidable enemy of the firefighter,but it can also lead to disturbances in the heart’s electrical system, causing sudden cardiacarres t. For this reason, firefighters must be in top condition to protect themselves in theextreme situations in which they are called to work.

The other side of the equation is saving the lives of others. If firefighters climb a few flightsof stairs and have to stop and rest, they delay the rescue of victims whose lives may depend ontheir removal from the scene within minutes or even seconds. Ther e is no time to stop andcatch a breath at a fire scene. Everyone must be constantly moving and working as a team. A weak team member will endanger the lives of his fellow firefighters.

For these reasons, North Strabane firefighters train extremely hard to keep themselves inoptimum physical fitness. This is how the idea of the Firefighter Challenge began. Accordingto Chris Chiprich, a profess ional firefighter-paramedic with North Strabane fire department,firefighters compete individually and as two-man teams against each other for the best time inan extreme obstacle course challenge. They must run up six flights of stairs with equipment,

dragging a hose. But that’s only the beginning. Next they drag a Kaisersled -- weighing approximately 160lbs -- about 6 feet. They next run

through a group of traffic cones and pull more hose 100 feet. They crashthrough some double doors, knock down an obstacle and drag a 175lb.

mannequin to safety. Amazingly, the average time for running thiscourse is 2 minutes! If they can complete the course in 1 minute

40 seconds or less, they become a member of the Lions Den,receiving a jacket and bragging rights for their

accomplishment. Medals and pl aques are also awarded forthe best times to the participating firefighters from North

Strabane, Peters Township and McKeesport. Thiscompetition helps them to stay in top form and trainsthem to be prepared when a real emergency occurs.

In addition to the rigorous competition, the six

THE

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NORTH STRABANEFIREFIGHTER CHALLENGE


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NORTH STRABANEFIREFIGHTER CHALLENGE


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professional firefighters attend daylight training every Wednesday andvolunteers train on Mondays every week. This involves fire safetyscenarios, vehicle extrication, hazardous materials training and manyother areas of expertise. They also do cross-fit training for about an hourdaily. Cross-fit training is specially tailored for the type of physicaldemands that the firefighters face on the job. Chiprich says, “It’s a high-intensity workout that doesn’t require a lot of equipment, but is speciallygeared towards the demands of the job.” The firefighters sacrifice anincredible amount of personal time each week to be their best for theircommunity. One might think that with such rigorous training, therewould be few takers when it comes to volunteering or even pursuing apr ofessional career. But Chiprich says there are approximately 15 to 20active volunteers at North Strabane, despite the department’s dwindlingvolunteer numbers.

If you are interested in becoming a member of this elite group or wouldjust like more information on their training and activities, visit theirwebsite at www.nstfd.org or call them at 724.745.1010. Firefighting is agreat way to give back to the community and help others.

To many people, summermeans sunshine, no school andrelaxing beach vacations. To thefiremen of the Cecil TownshipVolunteer Fire Company and theresidents of Cecil, summer alsomeans it’s carnival time.

August 1 through 6, the CecilTwp. VFC put on their 3rdannual fireman’s carnival. Theevent featured rides, games,refreshments and lots of greatfood. Pittsburgh radio station,Bob 96.9 broadcasted live fromthe fair on August 5. As istraditional with this fair, theevent came to a close with theFireman’s parade on August 6.The carnival raises muchneeded funds that help keepthe Cecil Twp. Volunteer FireCompany running.

Marcelo Castillo

Ed Povirk and Ed Krenn working the big six.

Cecil Twp. VFC Ladies Auxiliary serving upsome pizza (Tina Godfrey, Sharon Bioni,Gladas Kolljeski and Dolores Preaux).

Young ladies enjoyingthe slide and cars

Grace Leskogettingready forthe waterrace.

Paul Pivac,Paul Pivacand BradyPrivac(threegenerationsof volunteerfiremen).


Alex Young onthe hot seat.


Photos byDebbie Mountain

Ray Urksa onthe ferris wheel.

Joanne and BillSchmoutz working therefreshment stand.

Racing down the fun slide.JessicaWilson ofConnellsville,PA


Reachover 36,567potential customers

in CanonMac

2011 Holiday WasteCollection Schedule

Labor Day – Friday, September 9collection will be one day late

Thanksgiving – Friday, November 25 collection will be

one day late

Christmas – Normal schedule


• Cecil Township is 27 Square

Miles?• That we have 77 miles of

Township Highways maintained bya ten person road crew?

• That the average family size is 2.98?

• That females outnumber males 51.3% to 48.7% in Cecil?

• That 23.6% of our population is over age 55?

• That 20.6% of our residents live alone?

• That the median age of a Cecil resident is 39.1?

• That 87.2% of our residents over 25 have a high school diploma and that 46.7% of that group has continued with advance education?

• That over 65% of our residents are married?

• That our median household income was $50,616?

• That our per capita income was $22,340?

• That 23.1% of our population receives retirement income?

• That 67.4% of our residents have 2 or more cars?

• That 71.5% of our residents live insingle family homes and 20.4% live in duplexes?

• That the median housing price is $116,000?

Did you know that...


Harvest Car CruiseNorth Strabane Township

Concession Stand located at the BallfieldSunday, October 2, 2011

Raindate Sunday, October 9, 2011

2010 BEST OF THE SHOW& ‘11 Dash Plaque

Food! Fun! Music!Awards!

• DJ - Oldies• Dash P laques for the first

100 participants• Door Prizes

• Chinese Auction• Refreshments Available

For more information: northstrabanetwp.com, 724.745.8880 or 724.745.0913

The 10th annual Harvest Car Cruise will take placeat the North Strabane Municipal Park,(ballfield area)

Rt 519, Canonsburg PA on Sunday afternoon, October 2, 2011 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Registration (to qualify for a People’s Choice Award) begins at 10 a.m. & closes at 2 p.m.

Donation $5. Spectators are free.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDSMemorable plaques will be awarded to (Loads) of Cruisers!

10 Vehicles will be selected as “Best of Show” in your division…

OVERALL BEST-BEST of the Show will be featured asnext year’s 2012 dash plaque!

SPECIAL AWARDThe car club that has the most members present at the

cruise will be recognized with a special award!



Tuesday, Aug 23 6 p.m. @ Bethel Park (scrimmage)Tuesday, Aug 30 6 p.m. Home vs Laurel Highlands (scrimmage)Saturday, Sept. 3 TBA Home CM Tournament vs North Hills, Bentworth & McGuffey

(Home Game Sponsors: Cutting Edge Salon, Special Occasions, J Promotions & McDonald’s)

Tuesday, Sept. 6 6 p.m. Home vs Hempfield (Home Game Sponsors: Rita’s Italian Ice & McDonald’s)Thursday, Sept. 8 6 p.m. Home vs Penn Trafford

(Home Game Sponsors: Bruster’s Ice Cream & McDonald’s)Tuesday, Sept 13 6 p.m. Home vs Peters Township

(Home Game Sponsors: Vocelli’s Pizza & McDonald’s)Thursday, Sept 15 6 p.m. @ Upper St. Clair Tuesday, Sept 20 6 p.m. Home vs Moon (Home Game Sponsors: Max & Erma’s & McDonald’s)Thursday, Sept 22 6 p.m. Home vs Chartiers Valley

(Home Game Sponsors: Aflac, The Hofbrau & McDonald’s)Saturday, Sept 24 6 p.m. @ Trinity Monday, Sept 26 6 p.m. Home vs Baldwin

(Home Game Sponsors: Kings w/ an appearance from “Frownie” & McDonald’s)Thursday, Sept 29 6 p.m. @ Peters Township Tuesday, Oct 4 6 p.m. Home vs Upper St. Clair

(Home Game Sponsors: Olive Garden, Chick-Fil-A & McDonald’s)Thursday, Oct 6 6 p.m. @ MoonTuesday, Oct 11 6 p.m. @ Chartiers Valley Thursday, Oct 13 6 p.m. Home vs Trinity (Home Game Sponsors: Eat ‘N Park & McDonald’s)Saturday, Oct 15 1 p.m. @ South FayetteMonday, Oct 17 6 p.m. @ West Mifflin Wednesday, Oct 19 6 p.m. Home vs Ringgold = Senior Night

(Home Game Sponsors: Kings & McDonald’s)Friday, Oct 21 TBA @ WPIAL Playoffs

For more Game Day and Home Game Sponsor Information, visit our Facebook Page “Canon-McMillan JV & Varsity Boys Soccer.”

www.highschoolsports.net

Senior, Chris Lewis-Kwiatkowski and junior, Nick Oberhaus


Veterans Affairs Office

Barry A. GrimmDirectorCourthouse Square 100West Beau StreetSuite 703Washington, PA 15301Primary Phone:724.228.6865Fax: 724.228.6872

The Veterans Affairs office isresponsible for compiling andmaintaining records of death andburial of Washington Countywartime veterans, and alsoassists in securing rights andbenefits as established byFederal and State regulations.Funeral and burial expenses inthe amount of $75 are offered toveterans and their widowsincluding $100 for the foundationand installation of headstones.Free flag and emblem markersare provided to organizationsthat assume responsibility forplacing them on graves.

How do I obtain a copy of my Discharge(DD-214)?Upon discharge from Service you wereinstructed to record your Discharge (DD-214) atyour County's Recorder of Deeds Office (checkto see if it is recorded). If this was not completedsee our web link, Request for Military Records.The National Archives Center recommends thatrequests be completed on-line as opposed tomail or fax.

What can I do now to prepare for burial in anational cemetery?Gravesites in Department of Veterans Affairsnational cemeteries cannot be reserved inadvance. Families are encouraged to prepare inadvance by discussing cemetery options,collecting the veteran's military informationincluding discharge papers, and by contacting the cemetery or funeral director where burial orservices are desired.

How can I find out the status of a FederalHeadstone or Marker order?Please check out the web site, Checking Status of a Headstone or Marker Request, listed under our web links page.

I am a survivor of a deceased veteran, am I entitled to any benefits?Please check out the web site, SurvivorBenefits, under our web links page.

Authority (Washington Rides) ispleased to introduce a newfixed-route bus service called“The Freedom Line” inWashington County. Thisservice will operate for a threeyear demonstration periodbeginning May 16, 2011.

The Freedom Line will run fromMcDonald to Washington,Monday through Fridaybetween 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Flag stops are available alongthe route. The fare to ride thebus is $1.50. Exact change isrequired. Children 8 and underride free when accompanied byan adult. Persons age 65 andolder will ride for free with a PATransit ID Card or MedicareCard. Persons with Disabilitiesride for 1⁄2 the fare with a stateissued disability ID Card.

Call 1.800.331.5058 for moredetails.

Service will not be providedon the following holidays:New Year’s DayMemorial DayJuly 4thLabor DayThanksgiving DayChristmas Day



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When: September 21, 2011Where: Hilton Garden InnPittsburgh/Southpointe

Email:[email protected]


Lacrosse is often described as a sport that combines hockey and soccer withperhaps a dash of basketball. Players run up and down the field with sticks called'crosses,’ trying to move a small rubber ball to their opponent’s goal. First playedby the Native American Iroquois people, lacrosse was quickly adopted by theFrench and Canadians and prospered along the eastern seaboard. Since thoseearly days, the sport has steadily continued to grow. The Canonsburg area isblessed with a healthy interest in the sport and is the home of the Canon-MacYouth Lacrosse Association (CMYLA). This league which was originallyformed in 2003, is open to kids who are in kindergarten to the eighth grade.

Several things make this league rather unique. One is that there is noprize for winning the most games. The league does not focus attention somuch on becoming champions as building character. CMYLA’s goal is toteach kids to play the sport of lacrosse. They believe that teaching the ismore important than winning. The character traits and values requiredto be a good team member also help to make children good citizensand individuals. Although the sport itself is competitive, there isemphasis on participation.

Another unique feature of the all-volunteer non-profitleague is that their coaches are actual players fromRobert Morris University and Seton Hill in Greensburg.“We find that the kids are able to really relate to the

BUILDING CHARACTERLACROSSE LEAGUE IS


By Pamela Palongue

players well,” said Jan Underwood of the CMYLA. “They identify withthem.” It is also an excellent opportunity for the player-coaches from theuniversities to scout future talent for their Division 1 and 2 schools.

According to Underwood, there are about 100 children that participate intheir association and it is growing every year. They play at McDowell Field,near the North Strabane Intermediate School and their games are free andopen to the public to attend. If children are interested in playing lacrosse,attending a game is an excellent way to learn more about the sport.Registration to play in CMYLA starts in Oct. and Nov., although the seasonbegins in Feb. “The cost of playing lacrosse is a little more pricey thansome sports. Although not as expensive as hockey, it costs a bit more thanbaseball,” Underwood said. The players are furnished with a uniform, butmust purchase their own sticks (crosses), helmet and gloves. By having theregistration process early, it allows players and their families more time toacquire the necessary equipment. Also the league helps the players withfundraising to buy their equipment. The children sell apples, SarrisCandies, hoagies and Giant Eagle gift certificates to meet their financialgoals. Additionally the association holds a fundraiser at the Hofbrau inCanonsburg in the spring which benefits the association and also helps theindividual players.

If your child is interested in learning more about lacrosse or joining theCMYLA, you may visit their website at www.canonmaclax.com or you mayvisit the U.S. Lacrosse website at www.uslacrosse.org.

BUILDING CHARACTERLACROSSE LEAGUE IS


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This Industry Insight was written by Sue Clark. Clark Renovations, Inc.. isa family business, owned by Ron and Sue Clark, renovating SouthHills homes for 40 years. Visit our showroom at 3180 Industrial Blvd.Bethel Park, 412.833.7222.

Website address: www.clarkremodeling.com.

ard to believe that it istime for this

discussion, but once thevacation is over andschool has started; thenext chores on the to dolist are not far behind.The last two years cold,windy and icyconditions have causedmany problems andnumerous homeownerinsurance claims. Here isa checklist to help youprepare.

Outdoor plumbing –drain your hose

connections, pool &sprinklers. After you turn off

the water, leave the spigot inthe “on” position.

Gutters – don’t forget to cleanthem out once your trees are bare.

Clogged gutters often cause ice damson the roof, resulting in leaking to the

inside of the home.

Install heat coil along the roof line with gutters,extending it down into the downspouts as well. Plug it into a GFIoutlet (an electrician can do this) and make sure it is turned on (atimer might be a good idea).

Use crack filler for cracks in your sidewalk or driveway, especiallyaround the foundation.

Trim trees away from the house; squirrels and raccoons can dotremendous damage once they find shelter. Also be sure chimneys arefree and clear.

If you suspect your roof could be a problem, get it inspected. Manyproblems cannot be fixed in freezing weather – shingles are brittle, theroof may be covered with ice and snow, and a danger to climb.

If your home is old, add a layer of R-30 insulation to the atticceiling.

Test for drafts around your windows. On a windy day, a candle willflicker. Caulk around windows on the inside and outside. Useexpandable foam for cracks in basement walls, available in hardwarestores. Add weather stripping around drafty doors.

Routinely get your furnace tested before cold weather sets in.

Prepare a “winter” bin with flashlights, batteries, candles, lighters, aweather radio, maybe some extra blankets. If you want to go one stepfarther, add canned goods, manual can opener, crackers, nuts, cookies,paper plates. Don’t rob the “winter bin” early! Put all this in a closetequipped with a battery touch light.

Provide pipe protection on extremely cold days: Open cabinetdoors for pipes on outside walls to avoid freezing, let hot and coldwater trickle from faucets, don’t ever shut off the heat if traveling – setit to 55 degrees and have someone check frequently. Know where shutoff valves are for a quick response.

Consider having a professional install a standby generator. Lastlycheck batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, check fireextinguishers. Stock up on rock salt and a snow shovel. Now that we’reprepared, let the snow fly!

With the dog days of summer are behind us,that first crisp snap of fall is in the air, and thecorn from the fields from all over WashingtonCounty has been harvested.

Energy seems to make a rebound and eventhe animals seems livelier—more alert. Duringthis time, there’s nothing more wonderful thantaking advantage of those last days of warmth toget outside and enjoy the outdoors by doing alittle yard work.

This is a great time to rake up all thoseleaves on the ground. But don’t just throw theminto a trash bag to be hauled away; leaves aregreat for composting and may have as much asthree times the amount of minerals as fertilizer.They need to be shredded to be easier to workwith, but this is easily accomplished by runninga mower back and forth a few times over a pileof leaves. Also, be sure to add a little nitrogento your compost pile with the leaves.

If your summer flowers have faded, be sureto trim back dead leaves and blooms and addsome fall flowers for some more vibrant color.Mums and sunflowers can be purchased in potsto accent any garden with a fall palette, butdon’t forget purple as a great contrasting colorto oranges, yellows and sienna. Some fallflowers with purple accents are pansies, purpleconeflowers, asters and mums. All of these willgrow well in zone 6. To find these beautifulflowers, head down to one of the many farmmarkets that inhabit the Canon Mac area.Beautiful mums can be found at McClellands orSimmons right in Canonsburg! For some greenaccent, you might try growing some arugula in apot or self-watering container. This spicy, leafyplant has long been popular in France and Italyand actually grows better in the fall than in thesummer. The leaves will add zest to your saladsand other fall dishes. Although the plantingtime for arugula is in the spring, seedlings can

be purchased and transplanted; however theyalso do well if left in containers or pots.

Even if you’re not particularly good atgrowing plants and flowers, there are manyways to accent your lawn and garden withminimal effort and maintenance. Brightlycolored pumpkins placed around pathwaysand steps give a whimsical touch to decorating.Avoid placing them in direct sunlight anddirectly on the ground, and your pumpkinmay well last for two to three months in thecool fall climate. Other low-maintenancedecorations for fall are corn stalks and balesof hay. Hay bales also provide extra seatingin outdoor areas.

Summer may be over, but your yard canstill be a bright, cheerful place full of beautiful,living things.

REAL ESTATE CANON MAC

IN Community Magazines proudly announces a comprehensive look at the Canon Mac real estate market. In this section, you’ll find interesting information

about creating beautiful spaces to live in, and other interesting facts about your community.FEATURE STORY

FALL LANDSCAPING IDEAS

– by Pamela Palongue


The To Market TuesdaysFarmers’ Market will be held,rain or shine, each Tuesdayafternoon from 3 – 6 p.m.,beginning on July 6th andcontinuing throughSeptember 28th. The Marketwill be located in theCanonsburg UnitedPresbyterian parking lot onthe 100 block of West PikeStreet next to the Post Officein the heart of downtownCanonsburg. Pike Street isstate Rt. 980 and heavilytraveled. Onsite parking willbe made available for yourcustomers to make shoppinga bit more convenient.

CANONSBURG

o you have anyone addicted to power tools living in your home? Do their eyesglaze over when they enter the local hardware store? Do they sometimes try toreplace the washers in your washerless faucets? Have they been known to use a

jack hammer to refinish your hardwood floors? If this sounds familiar, there is help. In my own case, I will never forget

the moment I realized I was married to acompulsive handyman. It was a summerday that began like any other. I had leftearly in the morning for some weeklygrocery shopping and a few errands. Ireturned just a few short hours later tofind my husband standing in the middleof the bathtub amid wall tiles and debrisup to his knees. He froze in midswing ofthe sledge hammer with drywall duststill floating silently down around us.The bathroom wall had been taken down to the bare plumbing, presumably to fix aminor leak. When he saw my look of horror, he sheepishly told me that he had to break

down the wall in order to gain access to the plumbing. When Ipointed out that we would no longer be able to take showers, hereminded me how much money we were saving by not calling alicensed plumber. This incident was not the main cause of thedivorce, as I largely blame myself for leaving him unsupervisedin the house with access to heavy equipment.

I have since learned that with a few easy, inexpensivechanges, you too can leave your home with the comfort ofknowing it will be reasonably intact upon your return.

The easiest solution is to prevent the purchase of powertools in the first place. When your handyman casually mentionsthat he has to “stop by the lumberyard and pick up a fewthings,” distract him by mentioning the playoffs, offering tocook his favorite food or showing him the latest issue of theVictoria’s Secret catalog.

Next, use the parental controls on your TV set to block out HGTV, DIY Network or any other channels that mayconvince your handyman that he can add a wing to the houseover the weekend.

Cover ALL appliances with several rolls of duct tape. (Thiswill deter him from taking them apart.) Although this is notguaranteed to prevent the dismantling of your refrigerator, itwill slow him down considerably.

Finally, if all else fails, tell him the local electronics store hasjust introduced a new line of plasma screen TVs that are 9 x 20feet, the exact dimensions of the north wall of your house. Keepin mind that he will likely be extremely disappointed uponlearning that no such TV exists outside of the StarshipEnterprise on Star Trek. He may instead buy an extremenumber of video games and cameras, but at least he cannotdestroy the house with Dungeons and Dragons.

By Pamela Palongue



Peters Township OfficeWaterdam Commons4215 Washington RoadMcMurray, PA 15317

724.941.3340

North Strabane Township302 Deerfield Drive – $254,900Jodie Gallagher – 412.370.9930

North Strabane610 Boone – $239,900

Susan Accetta – 412.953.0686

Canonsburg623 Adams Avenue – $59,900

Paulette DiNardo – 412.217.7221

East Bethlehem2609 Sandy Plains Road – $496,750

Jack Gallik – 724.344.1101

North Strabane625 Deerwatch Drive – $232,900

Denise Levi – 724.554.6025

Canonsburg427 Bluff Street – $168,900

Terri Ferragonio – 724.747.2924

osta Homebuilders is a fourth generation, family-owned construction company based in Pittsburgh, PA. At Costa Homebuilders, our

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building a custom home is more than pickingcountertops and crossing items off a punch list.

It’s as unique as the clients he builds for.

“We get to know our clients as individualsand study their lifestyles,” Costa said. “This provides unique insight into aclient’s true needs and desires.”

Costa provides small-scale drawingsand works with clients until the layoutof the home is enthusiastically agreedupon and that their budgetary plan is met.

“Every step is significant, and our clientstell us that our process is enjoyable because

of its organization,” Costa said.

For Jeff Costa, operating managerof Costa Homebuilders,

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Our mission, supported by a commitment to excellence, is tooperate a total quality building system. We are a construction team full of people who take pride in what we do and putforth our greatest effort to accomplish team goals.

Our construction team is made up of in-house departments,subcontractors, and vendors that demonstrate a high standardof quality that our customers depend on. We are determinedto provide superior service, quality workmanship, pleasing jobappearance, and a safe working environment.

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Canonsburg Real Estate Overview

Average price per square foot for CanonsburgPA was $2,165, an increase of 999.9% compared to the sameperiod last year. The median sales price for homes inCanonsburg PA for May 11 to Jul 11 was $172,750 based on 60home sales. Compared to the same period one year ago, themedian home sales price decreased 13.4%, or $26,750, and thenumber of home sales decreased 3.2%. There are currently 423resale and new homes in Canonsburg on Trulia, including 4open houses, as well as 34 homes in the pre-foreclosure, auction,or bank-owned stages of the foreclosure process. The averagelisting price for homes for sale in Canonsburg PA was $311,177for the week ending Aug 03, which represents a decrease of0.3%, or $957, compared to the prior week.

Average Listing Price $311,177 -0.3% w-o-w

Median Sales Price $172,750 -13.4% y-o-y

Average Price/sqft $2,165 +999.9% y-o-y

Number of Sales 60 -3.2% y-o-y

www.trulia.com/real_estate/Canonsburg-Pennsylvania/


According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C.,homes where multiple generations of familyhave blended together under one roof are on the rise. With economic constraints and the high cost of child care, it is easy to see why children, parents and grandparents living together in one dwelling makes sense in many situations. It’s also easy to see why multi-generational dwellings which appeal to theneeds of all ages are quickly becoming the trend.

From this perspective a ranch-style house with one floor is a good choice. Seniors with mobility problems will not have to deal with steps, but also parents will not have the added worry of their young children falling down stairs. Another important feature of multi-generational homes is the“mother-in-law suite.”

This is generally an area of the house that is designed for an aging parent, giving them a degree of privacy and independence while

still being a part of the nuclear family household.They are sometimes located in a basement foreasier access for those with mobility issues andoften times will have a separate entrance, givingthe appearance of a mini-apartment. Theyusually always include a bedroom and privatebath, and may also have kitchenettes and smallliving areas as well.

When accessibility becomes an issue with anolder adult, there are many options for makingthe home more accessible without giving it the industrial-style, nursing home appearance. This is an important consideration when itcomes to the re-sale of the house. First of all, ifan individual is wheel-chair bound, doorwaysmust be made larger to accommodate the chair. With a modern contemporary home,

this may be accomplished by removing walls for a more open floor plan—which appeals to buyers—or widening doorways withattractive archways. This will make the changelook more intentional and less like a temporaryfix for a mobility problem.

Many times it becomes necessary to installgrab bars in baths and showers for the safety of senior family members. Although there aremany industrial style models from which tochoose, there are a few companies on the web that are sensitive to the attractiveness of the grab bars and offer styles in decorativebrass and silver. Walk-in showers and baths canbe constructed with attractive glass enclosuresthat fit everyone’s style and are still accessible for seniors.

A few changes to your home can help make it safer for seniors and children and more valuable when it comes time to re-sell.

MAKING YOUR HOME MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL GENERATIONS


- by Pamela Palongue

My motto is building clients for life. Creating a unique hands on approach allows clients to buy or sell with confidence. A mortgage background of 11 years brings consumer educationalong with value and efficiency to the buying or selling process.Exclusive Hanna programs such as the “Money Back Guarantee,”“Buy Before You Sell,” and “Sunday Showcase of Homes” offers a comprehensive marketing plan. This ensures the bestopportunity for your home to sell quickly and gives clients anexclusive edge in the marketplace.

My goal is the help you achieve your real estate goals.


As Western Pennsylvania’s premier stone

masonry contractor we are committed to serving ourresidential and commercial clients by providing highquality, reliable and consistent results at competitiverates. Our showroom is located at 3464 Babcock Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15237. For additional informationplease call (412) 596-2114 or visit us online atwww.stoneageinc.net.

Andersen windows use natural wood to create a timeless

combination of beauty and durability – plus All Andersen windows feature the Perma-Shield system,which protects the window’s exterior beautifully fordecades. Never settle on your home builder or thewindow they use!

Dow Building Solutionshas a 60+ year legacy of providing innovative insulation and air

sealing solutions such as STYROFOAM SIS™ BrandStructural Insulated Sheathing and GREAT STUFF™ Insulating Foam Sealants to home owners that help

to reduce energy costs and effectively seal a home’sbuilding envelope from wind, rain and moisture. Heartland Homes is creating homes with the wholebuilding envelope in mind that are not only well-built,but are actively saving money for the homeownersevery month

Since 1873, Kohler has been improving people’s lives with exceptional products,

including kitchen and bath fixtures, faucets and accessories, furniture, cabinetry, and tile and stone. As a global leader, Kohler offers its customers world-class products to create a complete design solution. For information, ideas or inspiration, visit www.KOHLER.com.

Precision Stone Products is engaged in the production anddistribution of premium grade architectural synthetic stoneproducts and accessories

resembling natural stone to the finest detail. Our fullproduct line is backed by a 50 year limited warranty.Call (724) 282-2022 for more information or visit usonline at www.pspstone.com.

Rex Glass & Mirror Cohas been servingGreater Pittsburgh

since 1958. As a family owned and operated business,we strive to provide customer service and qualitycraftsmanship that exceed the expectations of ourcustomers. We design, fabricate, and install high quality residential and commercial glass products.

For nearly 100 years,the Whirlpool brand has helped people allover the world find better ways to take care of household

tasks. We want our customers to live cleaner, more organized, less busy and more flavorful lives throughour appliances. So every Whirlpool® product is born of our decades of experience creating incredibly useful features.

www.LoveHeartland.com

TheConcord Green Community is the perfect placefor any home buyer to call home. From the tree linedhome sites to the spectacular views, Concord Greenwill delight your senses. Our custom built homescome in an endless array of options. We o*er firstfloor master bedrooms, traditional family homemodels, and everything in between.

Fall in love with Oakbrooke Estates in Cecil Township. This new home community is illuminatingwith cozy neighborhood charm, breathtaking viewsand intimate cul de sac streets. Don’t hesitate, youcould be one of the first to own a Heartland Home at the Oakbrooke Estates.

Weavertown Village o*ers luxury townhomes and carriage homes and has a community clubhouse and pool. Located just minutes from Route 19 and I-79, and close to Southpointe andTanger Outlet Malls. Come home to WeavertownVillage and enjoy low-maintenance living!

Want more information on Concord Green, Oakbrooke Estates and Weavertown Village or any of their other 20 communities? Call Jodie, New Home Specialist – 412-512-6671

Fall in love with these Washington County Communities!


As Western Pennsylvania’s premier stone

masonry contractor we are committed to serving ourresidential and commercial clients by providing highquality, reliable and consistent results at competitiverates. Our showroom is located at 3464 Babcock Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15237. For additional informationplease call (412) 596-2114 or visit us online atwww.stoneageinc.net.

Andersen windows use natural wood to create a timeless

combination of beauty and durability – plus All Andersen windows feature the Perma-Shield system,which protects the window’s exterior beautifully fordecades. Never settle on your home builder or thewindow they use!

Dow Building Solutionshas a 60+ year legacy of providing innovative insulation and air

sealing solutions such as STYROFOAM SIS™ BrandStructural Insulated Sheathing and GREAT STUFF™ Insulating Foam Sealants to home owners that help

to reduce energy costs and effectively seal a home’sbuilding envelope from wind, rain and moisture. Heartland Homes is creating homes with the wholebuilding envelope in mind that are not only well-built,but are actively saving money for the homeownersevery month

Since 1873, Kohler has been improving people’s lives with exceptional products,

including kitchen and bath fixtures, faucets and accessories, furniture, cabinetry, and tile and stone. As a global leader, Kohler offers its customers world-class products to create a complete design solution. For information, ideas or inspiration, visit www.KOHLER.com.

Precision Stone Products is engaged in the production anddistribution of premium grade architectural synthetic stoneproducts and accessories

resembling natural stone to the finest detail. Our fullproduct line is backed by a 50 year limited warranty.Call (724) 282-2022 for more information or visit usonline at www.pspstone.com.

Rex Glass & Mirror Cohas been servingGreater Pittsburgh

since 1958. As a family owned and operated business,we strive to provide customer service and qualitycraftsmanship that exceed the expectations of ourcustomers. We design, fabricate, and install high quality residential and commercial glass products.

For nearly 100 years,the Whirlpool brand has helped people allover the world find better ways to take care of household

tasks. We want our customers to live cleaner, more organized, less busy and more flavorful lives throughour appliances. So every Whirlpool® product is born of our decades of experience creating incredibly useful features.

www.LoveHeartland.com

TheConcord Green Community is the perfect placefor any home buyer to call home. From the tree linedhome sites to the spectacular views, Concord Greenwill delight your senses. Our custom built homescome in an endless array of options. We o*er firstfloor master bedrooms, traditional family homemodels, and everything in between.

Fall in love with Oakbrooke Estates in Cecil Township. This new home community is illuminatingwith cozy neighborhood charm, breathtaking viewsand intimate cul de sac streets. Don’t hesitate, youcould be one of the first to own a Heartland Home at the Oakbrooke Estates.

Weavertown Village o*ers luxury townhomes and carriage homes and has a community clubhouse and pool. Located just minutes from Route 19 and I-79, and close to Southpointe andTanger Outlet Malls. Come home to WeavertownVillage and enjoy low-maintenance living!

Want more information on Concord Green, Oakbrooke Estates and Weavertown Village or any of their other 20 communities? Call Jodie, New Home Specialist – 412-512-6671

Fall in love with these Washington County Communities!

Can BreakfastReallyMakeorBreakaStudent’sDay?By Leigh Lyons


The question of whether breakfast really does impact a student’sschool day has been around forever. Students have been tested instudies since the early 1950s, and ever since it has been widely

accepted that students who eat breakfast perform better academically. If you look at the idea of eating breakfast before school simply, it seems

pretty obvious as to the benefits. You go to bed at night on a relativelyempty stomach. You sleep roughly eight hours without consuming anyfood and then wake up for school in the morning. If you don’t eatbreakfast, you are going into a full day without replenishing your body.Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, does it?

Terrill Bravender is a professor of pediatrics at Duke University, and hebreaks it down in simple terms: “Without glucose, our brain simplydoesn’t operate as well. People have difficulty understanding new

information, they have a problem with visual and spatial understanding,and they don’t remember things as well," he said. Glucose is the brain’sbasic fuel. You wouldn’t take your car on an eight-hour road trip withoutfilling up the gas tank first, would you?

The next step is to maximize your breakfast potential by choosingfoods that will allow you to raise your blood-sugar level but won't cause adramatic fall after a few hours. Most experts agree that any breakfast isbetter than no breakfast at all, but there are certain types of breakfast foodsthat will raise your blood sugar level slowly, and therefore will give youenough energy to last the entire morning.

Sugary cereals are usually a favorite among young children, but thesecereals will quickly raise the blood sugar level and then drop off a fewhours later, leaving children sluggish before lunch. On the other hand,oatmeal contains roughly the same amount of sugar but it also has moreprotein and fiber, and therefore has an overall lower glycemic index. Theoatmeal will raise the blood-sugar level for the student which will lastthroughout the morning.

Now, I have to admit, I was never a “morning person,” and I alwayspreferred sleeping in to having breakfast. My mom always made me eatbreakfast as a child, but when I was old enough, I chose to opt out of it. Idid well academically, went on to college, and then graduated from lawschool. I figured breakfast really wasn’t as important as everyone alwaysthought it was, and I was sure many other people agreed with me. Iconducted my own small survey of friends and acquaintances on whetherthey all ate breakfast as children every morning before school. To mysurprise, out of 20 men and women, I was one of only two people who didnot eat breakfast on a regular basis. Eighteen others responded that theyate breakfast every single day growing up, and still do to this day. These 18people are all very successful and have jobs ranging from psychologist tolawyer to fashion merchandiser.

Clearly, most people agree with the years of studies that show thatstudents do better academically when they choose to start their day withbreakfast. The next time you wake up a little late, or think that breakfast is not as important as everyone says, think again. Go ahead and grab ayogurt o your way out the door; because any breakfast is better than nobreakfast at all..

Citations: “A Better Breakfast Can Boost a Child’sBrainpower” – Allison Aubrey, August 31, 2006; npr.com

he secret art of getting intocollege, sadly, does not exist.Please don’t be mad at my

misleading title because while there is no one key element to gaining acceptance into the college of your dreams, there are provenelements to a successful candidate’s application portfolio that can be shared withprospective students.

The obvious top elements of importanceto admissions officers are still SATs and highschool GPA, but there is so much more that aschool is looking for. Below is a list of the topfive elements that admissions officers look forin a prospective student’s application(information compiled from top newsmagazines and former admissions officersfrom various schools):SATs and GPA: SATs and GPA have

always been important, and they are still themost important aspects of a student’sapplication profile.

Extracurricular Activities:Colleges don’twant a long list of random activities from astudent. They would prefer you to become a“specialist” in one area, rather than be a jack-of-all-trades. A former admissions officer ata top school said that colleges are looking tohave a well-rounded student body ofindividual specialists.

Personal Essays: Show the real you. Theydon’t want you to make up extravagantstories, and they don’t want you to talkabout taboo subjects such as naturaldisasters. Also, you do not want to becomeredundant. Explore new ways to tell moreabout yourself without being repetitive.

Start Early: Most academic advisors will tell

you to have a plan, and start early. The“Common Application” that is used bymany schools is not available until August 1,but usually there is an early version availableto get ahead.

Be Careful About Social Media: Socialmedia has become an intricate part ofeveryday life to students, but they must becareful. Admissions officers will not usuallysearch specifically for a student’s socialmedia profile/account, but oftentimes “tips” are sent to them, and they mustexplore them. Do not have anythingdiscouraging on your profile that could beused a gainst you. You may also use thisspace to show your talents; if you are aphotographer, you can have a portfolio ofpictures you have taken.

We hope that this quick list will help youin your quest to be accepted into whichevercollege you choose, but remember, therereally is no set formula in the applicationprocess. The best way to go about theapplication process is to be prepared, beorganized, and be yourself. Sometimes youcan have excellent grades, and a great scoreon the SAT, but you may be deniedadmission for reasons outside of your control.A former admissions officer said that astudent who lives on a farm in North Dakotais not judged by the same criteria as a studentliving in a Pennsylvania suburb, like Upper St.Clair. This is something you cannot control,and therefore should not worry about. Just dothe best you can with the main elements youcan control, and we wish you the best of luckin the college application process.

The

of Getting IntoBy Leigh Lyons


N R C B S S A P M O C O HS O R D A B I N D E R I BN T E O I C P U C Y G L SO A R J T E K L Q H J K DY L Q E N C R P L A O K IA U I C L F A I A O X R VR C I P F P G R B C E B IC L U A R H A E T S K P DS A C P T U T T A O E G EB C H E K O L R S N R F RE Y R R N G E E S K E P SU S S R O L O C R E T A WR E U L G S C I S S O R S

BACKPACKBINDERCALCULATORCOMPASSCRAYONSDIVIDERSERASERGLUEHIGHLIGHTERSNOTEBOOKSPAPERPENCILSPENSPROTRACTORRULERSCISSORSSTAPLERWATERCOLORS

Find and circle all of the school supplies that are hidden in the grid.The words may be hidden in any direction.



Preschool-aged children are defined bythe Pennsylvania State Board ofEducation as 2.5 to 5 years. These aresome of the most crucial learning yearsof a child’s life. In fact a child’s ability topick up languages peaks in the first

three to four years of a child’s life. Also by the age of four, achild has begun to learn the concept of sharing and beginsmore social interaction with his peers. For this reason,choosing a preschool may be as important as choosing acollege will be in later years.

According to Bob Santo, who has over 20 years ofexperience working with children and is owner of theGoddard School in Peters Township, there are several keypoints that a parent should seriously consider beforeenrolling their child in a preschool.

First of all, are the teachers certified in CPR and first aid?Although the State of Pennsylvania only requires oneindividual to be on the premises who is certified, a far moreideal situation is a school that requires all of its staff to becertified. Also, be sure to examine the educational level of thestaff. Pennsylvania preschool teachers are not required by lawto have a 4-year degree; although some schools employ onlythose with bachelor degrees.

Another important aspect of any school is the décor. Is ita bright and cheerful environment that encourages learningand play? Does it lend itself well to creativity and physicalactivities?

Santo also feels that a school that emphasizesmulticultural activities is important, because we live in a

multicultural world. At his particular school, Spanish

and sign language classes are taught as an ongoingcurriculum. Santo points out, “It was once thought thatteaching a child several languages at a young age would onlyconfuse them. But we now know that children have anamazing ability to compartmentalize languages, withoutmixing English with Spanish or [other languages.] In fact,they have the ability to learn up to four languages at this age.”

Do your homework! Make sure that your child’spreschool is accredited by a well-known and establishedaccreditation organization. Although the State ofPennsylvania audits preschools to make sure safetyrequirements are met, no particular academic standards arerequired. Santo estimates that less than 30% of preschoolsare accredited.

In the Canon Mac area there are over 12 accreditedpreschools to choose from when making a decision. Parentscan explore the best options of each to make certain theprogram fits their child rearing philosophy.

Finally make sure that your child’s school has an opendoor policy where parents are welcomed at any time to visitthe school and to observe classes. This ensures the integrityof the school and its staff.

Dancing has been described as the most beautiful of the arts, but itcould also be described as one of the most joyful. It’s a natural humanexpression of happiness. Cami Hulin, owner of Dance by Cami locatedin McMurray, feels that dance should always be a positive experience.For this reason, she and her staff continually motivate their students bypositive reinforcement and instilling confidence in their students.“Dance helps to develop self-esteem, athleticism and poise,” says Camiwho believes in the ability of dance to transform students both in thestudio and in life.

Cami, a graduate of Dance Masters of America, Penn StateUniversity, and co-founder of Penn State’s Tap Company, embracesall forms of dance expression. Her studio offers Ballet, Pointe, Tap,Jazz, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Contemporary, Cheer Dance and even

Hip Hop. Students are able to concentrate on themost animated elements of dance in a special

‘Turns, Leaps and Jumps Class’ to perfectthese essential moves. Acrobatics

classes are also offered for thosewishing to incorporate tumbling

moves into their routines. A‘Pre-School Combo Class’

introduces the littlestdancers to a collection oftap, ballet and creativemovement .“At such ayoung age, it’s hard forchildren to know whattype of dance they areinterested in.” This classgives them a variety ofdance types to discoverwhich ones they aremore drawn to for later

class decisions.

Children can begindance lessons as young as 2

years and six months. Danceby Cami offers classes for kids

up to age 18 and a Fitness BootCamp for adults interested in

strength training. In addition toclasses at the studio, the children will get

experience with live performances. There isan annual recital at the Upper St. Clair High School

and students occasionally perform at the malls, Kennywood, andIdlewild Park. One important place that students perform is at localnursing homes during the holidays. “It’s an important way for the kids

to give back to the community,”says Cami who feels theperformances are very meaningfulfor both the dancers and theaudience.

The Showdolls are the Dance Companyat Dance by Cami for ages 7 through 18 who compete throughout theyear and are accepted by audition only. The Showdolls have collectednumerous Platinum and Overall 1st place awards at both the regionaland national level. The Baby Doll program is for younger students ages5 and 6 who wish to compete in 1 local competition and enjoyadditional performance opportunities. In addition to the variouscompetitions that Showdolls will participate in, they will also beperforming at Walt Disney World next year.

Dance by Cami was rated the Best Dance Studio in the south hillsby the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Cami, who studied under theprestigious Mary and Nick Petrov and also Mary Underwood,understands the importance of the right training to develop a youngdancer. She also tries to keep her classes as economical as possible forall children to be able to participate. Cami offers a discount formultiple siblings and also a family plan where all of the children in afamily can take an unlimited number of classes for one fee.

Dance should always be a joyful, fun experience and the staff atDance by Cami make sure that all students receive the positiveencouragement they need.

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



“Baby Teeth aren’t important. They’re just going to fall out!”Baby teeth are very important! Eventually, the tooth fairy will get all 20of your child’s baby teeth. But, they are vital for a child’s development.Baby teeth are natural space maintainers for permanent teeth. Thechild uses teeth for chewing, speech and it affects their self esteem.

“My child has cavities because he/she has ‘soft teeth’.”There is no such thing as soft teeth. In fact, enamel (the outer surface ofthe tooth) is the hardest substance in the body. Many factors influencedental decay. However, we do know 3 things are required for causingtooth decay:a. Bacteriab. A diet for the bacteria (sugar).c. The host (tooth).

“My child can brush their own teeth.”Yes. Let them try but after they are done, get the hard to reach areas. A good “rule of thumb” to follow is that most children do not developmanual dexterity for tooth brushing until they can write in cursivehandwriting.

“I don’t need to take my child to the dentist until they startschool.”Decay and crowding should be checked early and often. Around age 2& 3 is when a child can be seen by a dentist for a checkup.

“My child won’t drink plan water. Flavored water and all naturaljuices won’t cause tooth decay.”Any drink besides water is likely to contain sugar, food for the cavitycausing bacteria in the mouth. The American Academy of Pediatricsrecommends that children under the age of 6 should limit their juiceintake to 4 to 6 ounces (one cup) per day.

“It’s ok to help your child to sleep by putting them to bed with abottle of milk or juice.”Milk and juice have sugar, which can cause tooth decay. It’s why webrush our teeth before we sleep, so that bacteria can’t eat away at ourenamel for a prolonged period.

“Bottled water is just as good for your teeth as tap water.”Bottled water often lacks fluoride. Tap water has fluoride, whichis proven to strengthen the enamel of your teeth. The AmericanDental Association has endorsed fluoridation of communitywater supplies as being safe and effective for over 40 years.

“My child doesn’t need to floss until his/her permanentteeth are in.”Brushing can only effectively get the sides and the top of yourteeth, not in between. Many cavities come from in between theteeth. Flossing is a good habit to form early. As the old sayinggoes “only floss the ones you want to keep.”

“I can’t get my child to stop sucking their thumb.”This can be very trying for the parents and the child. The dentistoften has many ideas to assist. Kindergarten is when mostchildren will need to put the brakes on this behavior, as this iswhen the adult teeth will begin to erupt into position.

This Industry Insight was written by Barry Bartusiak, DMD, a dentist who has spoken nationally and internationally on practice management, implants and peridontics. Dr. Bartusiak maintains a private practice in Washington, PA at 212 Wellness Way. Contact his office at 724.225.3680 [email protected].

Top Nine Myths about Children’s Teeth

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We offer Free Consultation's on

Invisible Braces!

724-225-3680www.drbarrybartusiak.com

Barry F. Bartusiak, DMD212 Wellness Way

Washington, PA 15301



H O U S E S O F W O R S H I PAlong thePath ofYourSpirituralJourney

Along thePath ofYourSpirituralJourney

If your place of worship was not on our list, please e-mail the information to [email protected].

All Saints Greek Orthodox Church .......... 724.745.5205Bethel Bible Church.................................... 724.941.2259Center Presbyterian Church ..................... 724.941.9050 Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church .................................. 724.745.0800Cecil Alliance Church..................................412.221.4177Center Presbyterian Church ..................... 724.941.9050 Central Assembly of God........................... 724.746.4900Chartiers CreekCommunity Church ..................................... 724.942.7895 Chartiers Hill Presbyterian Church .................................. 724.746.1130Christian Bible Fellowship......................... 724.746.8522The Church of the Covenant......................724.222.0190Covenant Family Church............................ 724.263.7147 Crossroads Church of Christ..................... 724.941.4942 Peace Lutheran Church..............................724.941.9441 Faith Community Church-Lakeside.......... 724.941.9035 First Baptist Church.................................... 724.745.8740First United Methodist Church of Bridgeville...................................412.221.5577First United Methodist Church of Canonsburg................................724.745.5771First United Presbyterian Church of Houston.......................................724.746.3040Good Shepherd Church ..............................724.941.9418Houston First United Methodist Church .......................................724.745.2611 Lakeview Christian Life Church ................724.746.3200Lifepoint Baptist Church .............................724.225.4811

McDonald Presbyterian Church...............724.699.0157Mt. Olive Baptist Church ........................... 724.745.9752New Day Assembly of God....................... 724.941.1661New Life Church.........................................724.470.4NLC Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.............. 724.941.7467 Peters Creek United Presbyterian Church................................... 724.941.6210 Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish National..............................................724.745.2091St. Benedict the Abbot Catholic Church ...........................................724.941.9406 St. David’s Episcopal Church .................... 724.941.4060 St. John’s Russian Orthodox..................... 724.745.9776St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church ............................................724.745.7117St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.................... 724.745.6560St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Canonsburg .................................724.745.5962St. Thomas Episcopal Church .................. 724.745.2013South Canonsburg Church.........................724.745.7438South Hills Bible Chapel............................ 724.941.8990 Thomas Presbyterian Church................... 724.941.8910 Trinity United Methodist Church .............. 724.941.4770 Venice Presbyterian Church .....................724.745.8362Victory Church ............................................. 724.742.3281 View Crest Presbyterian Church ............. 724.941.9772The Waterdam Church .............................. 724.745.2158 Wright’s United Methodist Church........................................ 724.348.5718

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