IN Carlynton-Montour

SPRING 2012 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

CARNEGIE LIBRARY HUNTS FOR THOSE WHOSE

LIBRARY CARDS HAVE LONG SINCE EXPIRED

Paranormal Patrons?

P U B L I S H E R Wayne Dollard M A N A G I N G E D I T O RMarybeth [email protected] R E G I O N A L E D I T O R SMark Berton [South and West][email protected]

Monica L. Haynes [East][email protected] Pamela Palongue [North][email protected] S C H O O L & M U N I C I PA L C O N T E N T C O O R D I N AT O RMegan [email protected] O F F I C E M A N A G E RLeo [email protected] A D P L A C E M E N T C O O R D I N AT O RDebbie [email protected] G R A P H I C D E S I G NCassie Brkich Jan McEvoy Anna Buzzelli Joe Milne Sharon Cobb Tamara Tylenda Susie Doak W R I T E R SHeather Holtschlage Joann Naser Kelly Lotter Gina Salinger Leigh Lyons Judith Schardt Dana McGrath P H O T O G R A P H E R SGinni Hartle Kathleen Rudolph Brad Lauer Gary Yon A D V E R T I S I N G S A L E S M A N A G E R SDerek Bayer Tamara MyersTom Poljak A D V E R T I S I N G S A L E SBrian Daley Robert Ojeda Gina D’Alicandro Ralph Palaski Tina Dollard Annette Petrone Karen Fadzen Vincent SabatiniJulie Graf Jennifer SchaeferJason Huffman Michael Silvert Lori Jeffries Karen Turkovich Connie McDaniel RJ Vighetti Brian McKee Nikki Capezio-Watson Gabriel Negri Sophia WilliardAimee Nicolia This magazine is carrier route mailed to all district households and businesses. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Copyright 2012. C O R R E S P O N D E N C EDirect all inquiries, comments and press releases to: I N C O M M U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E SAttn: Editorial603 E. McMurray Rd. Ph: 724.942.0940 McMurray, PA 15317 Fax: 724.942.0968www. incommunitymagazines.com Summer content deadline: 5/14/12Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

S TA F F

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Welcome to the Spring issue of IN Carlynton-Montour Magazine!Hopefully, we are all enjoying the lengthening days as we forge onto summer. While

spring usually brings more rain to the region than we normally get throughout the rest of the year, I’m glad we’ve had a few days of nice weather to get outside and remember what the snow covered up.

We’ve grown once again over the winter, and have shi�ed some sta� around to accommodate that growth. I want to point this out to you because you, the readers, give us many of the great story ideas that you see featured in these pages, and I want you to have the right point of contact so that your story can be heard. �e Editor for the South West Region is Mark Berton (mark@ incommunitymagazines.com). Please forward your good news to Mark, and he’ll make sure it �nds a place in the magazine. If you’re not sure whether you have a good story, give Mark a call at 724.942.0940 and ask!

While our Editors have re-aligned into be�er-organized zones, we still want everything in those zones to be 100 percent local to you. We also appreciate your feedback (good and bad) to let us know where we missed the mark and where we hit it out of the park.

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

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

Wayne Dollard

FROM THE EDITOR

While IN Community Magazines is a non-partisan publication, we don’t live in a vacuum. �is year is a presidential election year, and striving to keep readers engaged and active in the community is part of our mission statement. We’re not here to endorse anyone, but we are here to remind you that voting is a hard-earned right that we have as Americans. However, many people pass on that right, which is a shame. If you view your vote as insigni�cant, then you are not only forfeiting your right to be counted, but also your right to be heard. Voting isn’t just about numbers, it’s about opinions as well. Your vote lends your voice to a chorus that decides who should be deciding our foreign and domestic policies, budgeting for speci�c social programs and who sends our young people into con�icts around the globe. �ese are critical issues that everyday people have to live with. If your candidate loses, you didn’t lose. �e margin of loss sends a strong message to the victor as to whether people agree with their views, or found them to be less appealing. To be part of that process is something that those before us fought for through marches, protests and even death. To sit it out casts aspersions on their e�orts and memory. We may not wake up happy on Nov. 7, but we should all be happy that we participated on Nov. 6. �e deadline for registering to vote is 30 days prior to the next primary or general election. For more information, go to www.alleghenycounty.us/elect/registration.aspx.

See you at the polls!

Mark Berton

2 724.942.0940 to advertise Carlynton-Montour

FEATURES

Kennedy Horseshoe League ....... | 28

Home ImprovementReduce Costs with Attic Insulation ........... | 34

Historical Society of Crafton .... | 38

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Julian Gray AssociatesCan I Save my Home for my Daughter .... | 21

RD CopelandHealing a Grieving Heart ........................ | 31

Robinson Chiropractic ................. | 37

Ingram Family Dental ................... | 40

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Holy Trinity ...................................... | 27

COMMUNITY INTERESTS

Carlynton School News .................................................................. | 6

Spartans Win AAA WPIAL Championship .......................... | 14

Robinson Township Reorganization ..................................... | 17

Parkway West CTC News ....................................................... | 32

Pressley Ridge School for Autism ........................................ | 12

FEATURES

The Bradley CenterProviding Hope for over a Century .............................................................. | 13

Montour Railroad Memories .................................................. | 18

Western Pennsylvania Paranormal Hunters Training Their Sites on Carnegie Library ...................................................... | 22

ON THE COVER | �e Carnegie Library invited the Western Pennsylvania Paranormal Hunters in for a consultation on mysterious happenings there. See page 22.

IN Carlynton-Montour | SPRING 2012 |

INSIDE IN Carlynton-Montour is a non-partisan community publication dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the Carlynton-Montour area and its comprising municipalities by focusing on the talents and gifts of the people who live and work here. Our goal is to provide readers with the most informative and professional regional publication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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Carlynton-Montour | Spring 2012 | incommunitymagazines.com 3

Wednesday-Thursday: 5pm-9pmFriday-Saturday: 4pm-9pmSunday-Tuesday: Closed

Sample imported wines new to PA.Order wines for home enjoyment.Enjoy “Lite Bites” while you sample.

Wine ClassesWine Club & Cellar Society

Wine Flight NightsSpecial Events & Wine Dinners



�e 2011-2012 Carlynton High School Marching Band will depart March 16 for Boston, MA. Among the many adventurous and educational activities planned for the long weekend will be a performance at Faneuil Hall, a walking tour of the Freedom Trail and the chance to see a performance of the Blue Man Group.

Many of the talented members of the band have been selected by audition to represent the district in band festivals this year:

HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BANDNorth Allegheny High School, January 11-13

Melanie Toney - Senior - Flute Jessica Grills - Senior - Bass Clarinet

WEST ALLEGHENY COUNTY AREA (WACA)Chartiers Valley High School, January 17-18

Melanie Toney - Senior - Flute Carey Ousley - Sophomore - Clarinet

Jessica Grills - Senior - Bass Clarinet Madigan Greiner - Sophomore - Trumpet Danielle Lukasewicz - Senior - Trumpet Olivia Barger - Senior - Alto Saxophone Joe Baldanzi - Freshman - Alto Saxophone Aidan Kalimon - Sophomore - French Horn Connor Brady - Senior - Percussion

JR. HIGH DISTRICT BANDPittsburgh Carrick High School, March 2-3

Dean Chubarov - 8th Grade - Bassoon Rachel Roach - 7th Grade - Clarinet

JR. HIGH DISTRICT ORCHESTRADeer Lakes High School, March 9-10

Dean Chubarov - 8th Grade - Bassoon

WEST ALLEGHENY MIDDLE SCHOOLSouth Fayette High School, February 9, 11

Alexandria Hilarzewski - 8th Grade - Flute

Megan Howells - 8th Grade - Flute Dean Chubarov - 8th Grade - Bassoon Corey Lamb - 8th Grade - Clarinet Erin Connor - 8th Grade - Clarinet Mia Notaro - 8th Grade - Alto Saxophone Colin Henke - 8th Grade - Alto Saxophone Andrew Clark - 7th Grade - Trumpet Tyler Smith - 7th Grade - Trumpet Stuart Dougherty - 7th Grade – Percussion

At the elementary level, the following students will be participating in PMEA Elementary District Band West: Carnegie Elementary student Cordelia Barton and Cra�on Elementary students Arabella Hunt, Riley Post, Katelyn Kelly and �omas McAllister. �is year’s event is May 4-5 at Shaler Area Middle School. Band students from all over Western Allegheny County will be rehearsing with a special guest conductor and performing in a grand concert on Saturday, May 5.

�e high school fall play, �e Importance of Being Earnest, was well-received by those who a�ended one of four performances in early December. Cast members, pictured le�, included Aidan Kalimon, Tyler Piper, Melanie Toney, Maggie Smith, JR Marshall, Cassandra Clark, Joseph Uzar, Lana Meyer and Aidan Meyer. Set in Victorian England, the play portrayed humorous situations as it related to the traditional value of marriage and the name of the character “Earnest.” Unique to this year’s fall play, teachers entered a contest to win a cameo role in the show. Educators winning the bit parts, one per performance, were Ma� Stagl, Michael Kozy, Tracy Post and Jacob Trombe�a.

Earnest Performances

In the Spotlight

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Eighth graders Marin Exler, Abby Greiner, Erin Sheariss and Nicole Stengel captured second place at the History Bowl held at the Heinz History Center in November. �e event challenged critical thinking and creativity skills through four 30-minute sessions that included building timelines, portraying the role of a sports reporter and completeing two distinct writing requirements. Overall, 75 teams competed in the event. �e Carlynton team fell one point short of a �rst place �nish.

A team of six Carlynton High School students were honored with the special award of “Best Use of Gravity” at the Chain Reaction Contraption Contest held at the Carnegie Science Center in December. The competition was fierce and encompassed more than 40 area high schools. The designers of the contraption were senior Benjamin Prevoznak, juniors Phillip Meighan, Peter Muszalski, Grant Schuler and Daniel Schuster, and freshman Logan Schuler. Pictured right, they explain and demonstrate to judges, in the red shirts, how the contraption works.

�e Carlynton School District Board of Education reorganized at its December meeting and welcomed several new members. �ey are charged with the responsibility to establish policies and to equip, furnish, operate and maintain the public schools of the district. Board meetings are held on the �rst and third �ursday of each month in

the library of the junior-senior high school at 7:30 pm. Meetings are open to the public. �ey are also videotaped and aired at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, �ursday and Sunday on Comcast Channel 765 and Verizon Channel 28. School directors pictured above are Joe Appel, Betsy Tassaro, Nyra Schell, Sandra Hughan, Ray Walkowiak, Interim Superintendent Joseph Dimperio, Sharon Wilson, Patricia Schirripa, James Schriver and President David Roussos.

Tom Donohoe, former general manager/president of the Bu�alo Bills and Pi�sburgh Steelers, presented recruitment tips for college-bound student-athletes to Carlynton parents and athletes during a workshop held in November. �e seminar provided step-by-step tools for athletes to develop a game plan as early as freshman year. He closed the discussion by encouraging students to obtain a good education, despite athletic ability, and to make uno�cial visits to colleges to get a feel for the campus and its academic and athletic programs.

Tom Donohoe,

manager/president of the Bu�alo Bills

Steelers, presented recruitment tips for

student-athletes to Carlynton parents and athletes during a workshop held in November. �e seminar provided step-by-step tools for athletes to develop a game plan as early as freshman year. He closed the discussion by encouraging students to obtain a good education, despite athletic ability, and to make uno�cial visits to colleges to get a feel for the campus and its academic and athletic programs.

DEVELOPING A COLLEGE GAME PLAN

D E F Y I N G G R AV I T Y

Making History

AT THE HELM

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In January, word spread quickly through the social networks and media that Class of

2001 graduate Brian McMahon, originally of Cra�on, sold his online professional theater catalog company, Bo�oBox, to Playbill. �e merger set the groundwork for a new subscription-based service known as Playbill Professional. Bo�o box is theater slang for “a big hit.” �e company served as a web-based index for thousands of theater productions, producers, directors, casting agents and others working in the theater industry. �e sale occurred on the heels of McMahon moving from NY back to his native Pi�sburgh to begin �e American Entrepreneur, a daily business talk show designed to help entrepreneurs and business people of all types build, grow and exit their startups. �e talk show airs daily on AM NewsTalk 1360 and Sundays on WPGB-News Talk 104.7.

X Class of 2002 graduate John Mendenhall recently returned to Carlynton from his educational work in China to speak to a Creative Writing class of ninth to twel�h graders, taught by Ms. Tonilyn Longo. He spoke of his experiences as a teacher in China and a joint writing project involving his students in China and Carlynton pupils.

In November, Carlynton Creative Writers, as identi�ed by their counterparts in China some 6,250 miles away, embarked on a cross-cultural story writing project. Utilizing a Wikispace that was custom-designed by Ms. Longo for this project, character biographies created by writing partners in China’s Shandong Experimental High School were electronically transferred to students in the creative writing classes. �e Wikispace o�ered a web-based platform

called Moodle, creating an online collaborative learning center. CHS students took the biographies and created a story, using writing tools from class to work up a climax within the tale. While maintaining an open online dialogue, students uploaded their work for their Chinese peers to compose an ending. In another exchange, Carlynton Creative Writers wrote back-jacket descriptions and edited �nal stories for smoother grammar and more suitable word choices. Shandong students then illustrated covers for the stories, completing the project.

Junior Laura Toney said the project was made more interesting by using the combined views of students from China. “It was sometimes di�cult to decipher their use of words,” she said, “I hope our e�orts helped them to understand the English language a li�le more clearly.”

While visiting Carlynton, Mendenhall shared the �nished stories and a �lm created

by his students to introduce the CHS community to the Chinese school and culture. He also answered questions students had about the execution of the project from the Shandong perspective. Writers at Carlynton were most interested to learn that all Shandong students a�end school from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., yet they devoted personal time outside of class to work on the writing project because a rigorous schedule did not allow for computer time during the school day.

X Carlynton Class of 1994 grads Kelly Steiner and Adriane Longo, originally from the Carnegie area, traveled with a friend to Tanzania, Africa to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. �e trio began the trek on

�anksgiving Day, surviving pelting rain, heavy snow, freezing temperatures and the threat of altitude sickness. On the fourth day of the

excursion, a�er nine hours of trudging through cold, deep snow, the girls successfully reached the summit. “I was pre�y emotional, taking in the scenery, and I also felt incredibly blessed,” Steiner wrote in a log she shared with family. “�is was the most amazing experience of my life.” Steiner lives in Cork, Ireland, and works as a director for Global Accounting Operations for VMware, Inc, a so�ware company based in Palo Alto, CA. Longo resides in Chicago, IL, and is the key account manager of national accounts for Philips Respironics.

X Angela Baker, a 2010 graduate, was recently named to the roster of the Pi�sburgh Passion Women’s Football League. An avid athlete in high school, Baker will join the squad for the 2012 season for its opening in April. �e league hopes to be in its new riverfront, multi-sports complex next to Station Square by August 2012.

n January, word spread

directors, casting agents and others working in the theater industry. �e sale occurred on the heels of McMahon moving

, a daily

by his students to introduce the CHS community to the Chinese school and culture. He also answered questions students had about the execution of the project from the Shandong perspective. Writers at Carlynton were most interested to learn that all Shandong students a�end school from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., yet they devoted personal time outside of class to work on the writing project because a rigorous schedule did not allow for computer time during the school day.

1994 grads and originally from the Carnegie

�anksgiving Day, surviving Representing their hometown of Pittsburgh and the Steeler Nation, Carlynton graduates Adriane Longo and Kelly Steiner (in white jackets) share nothing but smiles after reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro. Friend Jennifer Jozsa, center, a graduate of Keystone Oaks, made the trek with them.

In touch with alumni In touch with alumni

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For the second year, the Carnegie-Collier rotarians have generously provided 80 picture-style resource books to third grade students. �e youngsters will be able to use the colorful reference books throughout the school year and into future years.

Members of the Carnegie-Collier Rotary

Charles Oke, Sue Kelly, Kay Phanse, Gail Neustadt and Tim Young were instrumental in the delivery and distribution of the dictionaries for the students at Carnegie Elementary. �e Cra�on-Ingram Rotarians presented dictionaries to third grade classes at Cra�on Elementary as well.

�e Carnegie-Collier Rotary has also provided several other donations to Carnegie Elementary children, including gi� cards for new sneakers, book bags with school supplies and bags �lled with goods for holiday meals. In conjunction with last year’s dictionary contribution, a fourth grade spelling bee will be planned in the spring. �e Rotarians have

promised to sponsor monetary awards for the �rst, second and third place winners.

Rotarians Donate

Dictionaries

Carnegie Elementary third graders Alyssa Duray and Madison Ciabattoni leaf through the new dictionary they received as a personal gift from the Carnegie-Collier Rotary in November.

SAVE THE

DATEFEBRUARY 29 – Tied to the Arts Night, Carlynton Jr.-Sr. High School, 6:30 pm; showcasing the arts of students in grades K-12. The evening offers a generous art exhibit, band and choral performances and a preview of the spring musical. Admission is free! MARCH 12-23 – The PSSA will be administered to students in grades three to eight and grade 11 in mathematics and reading. The Terra Nova exam will be taken by those in grades one and two during the same week. APRIL 11-12 – Kindergarten registration for the 2012-2013 school year will be held April 11 at Carnegie Elementary and April 12 at Crafton Elementary. Children must be five (5) years of age on or before September 1, 2012, to be eligible for kindergarten enrollment. In other words, the child’s date of birth must be on or before September 1, 2007. Parents and their child must come to the school in the community in which they reside on the designated day. While the parent completes paperwork, the child will meet with teachers and participate in

a series of placement assessments. When registering, parents must present the child’s birth certificate or a baptismal certificate, the child’s up-to-date immunization records, and two proofs of the parent’s residency, such as a driver’s license, utility bills or tax statements. APRIL 16-20 – The writing PSSA will be administered to pupils in grades five, eight and 11. APRIL 19-22 – This year’s spring musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, will come alive on the Carlynton High School auditorium stage Thursday, April 19 and run through Sunday, April 22. Fifty-two students are cast in the musical, and some 40 more will participate behind the scenes as stage crew, ushers and members of the orchestra. Tickets will go on sale Sunday, April 1, and can be reserved by calling the ticket hotline at 412-429-2500, extension 2745. Ticket prices are $9 for reserved seating and $8 general admission. A $1 senior citizen discount will be offered for the April 19th performance.

The show’s storyline begins when a die-hard musical theater fan plays his favorite cast album on his turntable. The musical literally bursts to life in his living room, telling the rambunctious tale of a brazen Broadway starlet trying to find, and keep, her true love. The Drowsy Chaperone plays homage to American musicals of the Jazz Age, examining the effect musicals have on the fans who adore them. The show opened on Broadway on May 1, 2006. It won the Tony Award for Best Book and Best Score. APRIL 23-26 – The Science PSSA will be administered to students in grades four, eight and 11.

SPRING MUSICAL: The Drowsy Chaperone Thurdsay – Sunday, April 19–22TICKETS GO ON SALE APRIL 1ADMISSION: $8 at the door(See details below)



Crafton Elementary sixth graders Rebecca Lamb, Autumn Shaffer and Blair Finlay worked as a team to create a poem during the school-wide Poetry Express Day. During this activity, students engaged in a variety of tasks pertaining to figurative language, literary elements and different forms of poetry. Working as individuals or in small groups, they learned and analyzed poetry components and created original poems of their own. Railroad tracks taped to the hallway floors led them to different locations throughout the school, such as the computer lab, the gym and other classrooms where teachers were instrumental in leading the youngsters through the integrated learning process.

Poetry in Motion


Carlynton School District students recognize the meaning of community service. From elementary school through grade 12, students are encouraged to partake in service activities. �roughout the school year and especially in the months preceding the winter holidays, Carlynton pupils volunteer for a wide variety of community service projects. �e spirit of giving is duly visible districtwide.

“Community service makes me feel really good to know that I am helping people who may not be able to do a lot of things for themselves,” said Cra�on Elementary sixth grader Kevin MacMurdo. Classmate Nathan Bickus said, “It makes me feel like I’m giving people another opportunity to live their lives. I’m helping to make their lives be�er – and also my life and my community.”

�e bene�ts and rewards are vast, not just to the receiver, but also to the giver. Research indicates that the giver (in this case, the student) can experience an increase in social development. Community service increases motivation and student engagement, and it can boost school a�endance. It can lead to positive lifestyle choices and behavior, and it’s been known to bolster mental health by decreasing depression and stress.

Surprisingly, the art of giving can also increase academic performance. In a study conducted by the University of Michigan, students engaged in service projects showed moderate to strong gains on student achievement tests in language arts and mathematics. �e study also found that students gain a stronger sense of educational accomplishment and are

more motivated to complete homework. Likewise, leadership qualities are o�en enhanced.

�e cognitive bene�ts are great as well. Lessons learned from volunteering frequently support and enrich understanding and build tolerance within a culturally diverse climate. When students are given the opportunities of decision making through a task that is interesting or important to them, they are encouraged to problem-solve by utilizing more complex thinking skills.

On the �ip side, district children and families have also reaped the bene�ts of community service. �rough local rotaries, churches and businesses, individuals have been gi�ed with backpacks, school supplies, shoes, coats and holiday meals, just to name a few. Parents illustrate strong examples of volunteerism to their children by working with PTAs, assisting in classrooms, lending a hand in concession stands, and even serving on local boards and councils.

Community service supplies a critical link for many students by expanding opportunities to meet real human needs, build self-esteem and provide the drive to apply e�ort in other areas of life. Nathan Bickus sums it up by saying, “I think that kids are changing and helping people in the economy in some way.” When a child can recognize this, the spirit of giving then becomes a lesson well learned.

The Gift of Giving

Maddison Zirwas and Iyana Parker, fourth graders from Carnegie Elementary, joined classmates in making holiday cards for Carnegie Meals on Wheels. The children also made ornaments.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Childhood cancer research American Cancer Society Daffodil Days and Relay for Life American Red Cross Angel Tree Gifts for needy families Carnegie Meals on Wheels Holiday ornaments and cardsChildren’s Hospital of PittsburghLight of Life Homeless MissionLittle People of America Convention Day care services Marine Corps Toys for Tots CollectionsMarion Manor in Green Tree Visits and assistance

Operation: Heart Supplies for troops overseas Peer Tutoring Services Project Bundle-UpSalvation ArmyThe Dolphin Project Rescuing SeymourThe Make-a-Wish Foundation The Christmas Jar Collection For needy familiesThe Homeless Children’s FoundationThe Western Pennsylvania Conservatory Planting flowers Wrapped in Love Foundation Making blankets for cancer patients and volunteering in school and the community as assistants, greeters and ushers

STUDENT-FACILITATED SERVICE PROJECTS:


�e conclusion of a drug unit in Mr. Pete Banaszak’s junior high health class featured a visit from Carnegie DARE Sargeant Mark Lint, O�cer James Qua�ro and police dog Dax. Baggie-sized samples of crystal meth, marijuana and cocaine gave students an upclose encounter with the illegal substances, along with an admonition that drugs can destroy lives. A demonstration by drug-sni�ng dog Dax, revealed the canine’s keen sense of smell. Ofc. Qua�ro said the dog has located drugs masked by perfumes or other strong odors. Sgt. Lint shared some of the current drug

trends in the area and o�ered real-life examples to reveal that the use or selling of drugs can lead to a life of despair and incarceration.

Prior to the holidays, Sgt. Lint gave a powerful presentation

to parents and community members. �e meeting was held at Carnegie Elementary and o�ered hard facts about drug trends among today’s youth. A 16-year veteran of the Carnegie Police Force, Lint provided a PowerPoint presentation to educate parents in identifying drugs and drug paraphernalia, recognizing signs of drug use by teens, learning the slang terms for drugs and drug use, and most importantly, how to maintain an open diologue regarding drugs with a child.

Lighting the Night

Carnegie Mayor Jack Kobistek presented a mayoral proclamation to Ryan Guzzi, a third grade student at Carnegie Elementary School. Ryan received the citation for “�ipping the switch” to light the Christmas tree at the corner of Mans�eld Boulevard and Campbells Run Road, kicking o� the holiday season in the borough. �e mayor honored Ryan by visiting his classroom and thanking him for his participation in the event.

A group of sixth graders from Crafton Elementary stand before a wall of railroad tracks that represents a visual indicator of each youngster’s progress in the Accelerated Reading program. Small train engines with the student’s names rest upon the tracks and move forward as points are gained when a book is read. Acclerated Reading is a platform designed to encourage students to read novels beyond that required in the classroom. The web-based program operates through a computer software syllabus and awards points once a student correctly answers questions related to the story on a computer. Children in both Crafton and Carnegie Elementary participate in Accelerated Reader to advance reading skills.

Tracking Reading Performance

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Up Close Encounter

Carnegie Police Chief and Borough Manager Jeff Harbin visited with Carnegie Elementary students in Mr. Jim Bassano’s and Ms. Emily Tupi’s classrooms in January to speak with the children about the Carnegie flood of 2004. Chief Harbin presented a PowerPoint slideshow with many photographs of the flood and the damage it left in its wake. He discussed how the water from Chartiers Creek rose quickly, trapping him and others on the Campbells Run Road bridge. Chief Harbin also shared information about the power of the moving water and offered cautionary advice. The visit was a culminating activity to a social studies unit on land and water.

Rememberingthe Flood

Junior high students Breanna Jameson, Tyler Smith, Angela Inwood and Andrea Rivera-Andino were delighted to pet Dax, a police dog owned by Officer James Quattro of the Carnegie Police Department. Just minutes earlier, Dax demonstrated his skill of finding hidden drugs in the classroom, planted secretly by Officer Quattro.


Pressley Ridge1/2pg + Content

The Bradley Center— Providing Hope For Over A Centuryby Elissa Emmerling

For over 100 years, �e Bradley Center has given hope to families and children in need of treatment and caring services.

Chief Executive Director Lisa Fox remarked, “�e Bradley Center provides services for boys and girls ages 6 to 18 years old, with mental, emotional, and behavioral disabilities. Children and adolescents are referred to Bradley because of our reputation for working successfully with children and youth who have experienced psychological, emotional, and/or physical trauma.”

�e Bradley Center was founded in 1905, by �e United Methodist Women. Originally known as “�e Elizabeth A. Bradley Home for Children,” the center operated as an orphanage and interim home for children whose parents are separated or divorced.

Fox explained, “In 1972, it was incorporated as the Bradley Center to serve abused, neglected, and dependent children.” In 1991, �e Bradley Center was acknowledged by a new non-denominational, community-based Board of Trustees and Executive Management. “Since that time,” Fox said, “Bradley has evolved into an accredited, regional behavioral healthcare and child welfare system that provides therapeutic services fostering hope in children and youth.”

�e Bradley Center is now accredited by the Joint Commission Healthcare Organization. Bradley is dedicated to helping children restore healthy relationships among their families the community

whenever it is viable.All members within the Bradley community

develop their own Safety Plan to help them if they are feeling stressed or potentially dangerous. Sta� and residents meet twice daily to discuss their feelings and their goals for the day. Residents are given support for obtaining their goals. Fox described the core services consisting of “special education school and special education services.” She said the average length of stay at the facility is about eight to ten months, varying by the needs of the patient. During the time children and teens are at Bradley, quali�ed teams of mental health and child development professionals, including board-certi�ed psychiatrists, aid them in their recovery process.

�e Bradley Center has one location at Campbells Run Road which has 220 sta� members. Additionally, “�roughout the year, we have approximately 500 volunteers who assist us with various special events: the holiday gi� drive, appeals, and other projects that bene�t the children,” Fox said. “On average, approximately 220 children [per year] are served by Bradley Center.” Fox mentioned many ways that community members can assist with Bradley. �ey can help by volunteering for various activities and special events throughout the year or by sending monetary/gi� donations. �ey can also support the agency as Bradley strives to maintain an awareness of the special advocacy needs of children.

�e goals of Bradley are to provide therapeutic treatment for children and youth, restore productive relationships among children, youth, and their families, and whenever possible, the community. �e center serves children and families with di�cult needs and seek to help them envision a promising future. Sta� focus on the individual as a whole without regard to race, religion, gender, or national origin. Bradley seeks to honor each person’s life, contributions and character, and maintains its historical dedication to “providing safe, caring, compassionate and nurturing environments.”

�e Bradley Center is a community outreach for hurting youth and teens with special needs. �ey help heal broken lives and restore relationships by therapies and team building exercises. Recovery is possible for those who seek assistance from this local outreach dedicated to rebuilding lives.

The Elizabeth A. Bradley Children’s Home, pictured here in the 1950s, was originally located in Oakmont, PA.


By Stephen Je�ries

�e 2010 Montour Spartans lost one game. �at was the AAA WPIAL Championship game to conference rival Central Valley, 24-7. In 2011, they would need to navigate a tough Parkway conference schedule with Hopewell, West Allegheny, and Central Valley all looming as threats to be very strong. �e 2011 version was inconsistent early on, but recovered in time for a deep run through the postseason.

�e Spartans blew past Chartiers Valley, 49-14, in week one. �ey traveled to Hoepwell for the conference opener in week 2. Led by star Rushel Shell, the Vikings emerged with a 22-19 win. �ey bounced back in the home opener with a 42-0 shellacking of Ambridge. �e Spartans stepped up in class in week 4 with a trip to Canon-MacMillan. �ey le� with a 52-19 blowout win to raise their record to 3-1. Week 5 brought another road trip, this one to New Castle. �ey earned a hard-fought 35-25 victory. �en came the rematch with Central Valley. �e score was di�erent, but the result ended up the same. �e Spartans fell 27-16, and their record stood at 4-2 (2-2). �ey were in danger of missing the postseason with just three weeks le�.

A resounding 42-9 victory against Blackhawk got them back on track. �ey traveled to rival West Allegheny in week 8. �is game would go a long

way in determining the number two team from the Parkway behind Central Valley. �e Spartans emerged with a 35-17 win to solidify a spot in the postseason. A 48-6 blasting of Moon locked them into second place in the Parkway, and earned them the 5th seed in the AAA playo�s.

�ey hosted week one opponent Chartiers Valley in round one. �e result was the same. Dillon Buechel threw six touchdown passes to spark the 55-20 rout. �ey met West Mi�in in the quarter�nals at Baldwin. �e Spartans led 10-0 at the half and rolled to a 31-7 victory. Darren Massey caught two scoring passes and came up with an interception on defense.

�e semi�nals brought another matchup with the defending champs from Central Valley. Julian Durden capped a 7 play, 76 yard scoring drive with a 3 yard run to give the Spartans a 14-0 hal�ime lead. �e lead had been sliced in half, when Durden scored from 12 yards out to extend the lead back to 14. �ey seemed in control until a Durden fumble was returned 57 yards to bring the Warriors within 21-14. A last ditch e�ort was stopped at the one-yard line as time expired. Massey stripped the ball from the Warrior receiver just as he was about to cross the goal line. Montour was in the title game for the second straight year.

�e undefeated Knoch Knights were the opponent for the AAA championship game. Buechel started the scoring with a 12-yard strike to Devin

AAA WPIAL ChampionshipAAA WPIAL ChampionshipAAA WPIAL Championship

Spartans Win


Wilson. �at capped a 71-yard drive. �e teams exchanged punts before Montour put together another drive. Durden �nished it o� with a one-yard plunge. �e defense forced another punt and the o�ense moved right down the �eld. Durden scooted 23 yards to extend the lead to 21-0 and the rout was on. His third score of the quarter put the Spartans up 28-0 at hal�ime. A�er Knoch got on the board early in the third, Durden all but sealed the deal. On the �rst play from scrimmage, he burst 73 yards for his fourth touchdown of the game. It was 35-7 at that point. �e �nal was 42-14. Durden �nished with 159 yards and four scores.

In the PIAA quarter�nals, they ba�led Grove City. �ey fell behind 21-0 midway through the second quarter. Buechel sparked the comeback with a 56-yard strike to Massey, and 5-yard pass to Aaron Reed. �ey trailed by only 21-13 at hal�ime. Buechel found Devin Wilson from seven yards out to close the gap to 21-19 a�er the two-point conversion failed. It would stay that way until late in the fourth quarter. Buechel capped a 10 play drive with a 4-yard run to give Montour a 25-21 lead with 1:58 to play. �e Spartan defense held, and they were into the PIAA semi�nals.

�ey played Bishop McDevi� at Altoona for a spot in the title game. A back-and-forth �rst half saw the Spartans leading 26-20 at the break. �e Crusaders rallied with 21 unanswered points in the third quarter. A late Montour rally wasn’t enough, and they fell, 41-32. �eir season ended at 12-3.

A�er losing the WPIAL title game in 2010, they took the next step and more, in 2011. �ey outscored their opponents 544-256 on the season. With the way this season ended, the Spartans will look to take the next step in 2012, much as they did in a very successful 2011.

AAA WPIAL Championship Take next step a�er falling short in 2010, also reach PIAA semi�nals


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Over the last several years there have been many changes to the area youth baseball

and so�ball organizations. Naturally, everyone wants their organization to rise above and be the best, but not everyone dreams of making the game their life. What about kids who play for the enjoyment of the game? Whatever happened to good old fash ioned community sports?

Obviously there is nothing wrong with wanting our programs and our children to improve. While we want to see them grow in their abilities, we have to understand that not every child is going to be capable of playing at that higher level. Sadly, a number are being le� behind and not given the opportunity to learn and to play America’s favorite pastime of baseball or so�ball. At C.I.T, we haven’t lost sight of this, we believe every child should be given the opportunity to play, regardless of skill level.

For over 60 years, C.I.T. Baseball & So�ball Association, Inc. has provided community youth baseball. Based in Cra�on, C.I.T. is funded entirely by contributions, fundraising, advertising, team sponsorships, and the support of its participating families. �e

associa tion operates through the volunteer e�orts of its Board of Directors, managers, coaches, and general membership. We o�er leagues from Tee Ball (ages 5-6) through American Legion (ages 17-18). Do you have a daughter interested in so�ball? C.I.T. o�ers leagues from 8-Under through 12-Under Slow Pitch and 12-Under Fast Pitch.

If you feel your child has been le� behind as a result of the changes to local organizations and want him or her to be given the opportunity to play the game, then consider C.I.T. For more information, please visit our website at: www.leaguelineup.com/citbaseball or just use the search engine of your choice and search “CIT baseball”.

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Robinson Township reorganization

At the January 2nd Robinson Township reorganization meeting,

Commissioners Samuel Aba�a and Earl Mapel were sworn in by the Honorable Carla Swearingen. Aba�a, beginning his second term, was voted chairman of the board and Commissioner Jesse Forquer was voted vice-chairman. �is is Mapel’s �rst term as a Robinson commissioner.

Township Commissioners are:• Samuel Aba�a, Chair• Jesse Forquer, Vice-Chair• Stephanie Triko-Selelyo, Commissioner• Ronald Shiwarski, Commissioner• Earl Mapel, CommissionerFor commission meeting agendas and minutes,

go to www.townshipofrobinson.com/agenda.html.


By Jonathan Barnes

�ose who love the gorgeous natural scenery of the Montour Trail might be surprised to know that for many years the trail was actually the Montour Railroad, a small freight line that hauled coal and was important to the World War II war e�ort and which helped build up Western Pennsylvania. �at freight line’s history is detailed in a new pictorial book, �e Montour Railroad, by Gene P. Schae�er.

When Schae�er was 8, his parents bought a home in Bethel Park and his life changed forever. With the Norfolk and Southern Railroad just yards from his backyard, he was fascinated with the locomotives chugging down the line. By the time he was 14, Schae�er was hopping the train on the nearby Montour Railroad and riding it for hours on Friday nights. He was allowed to do so by the railroad men, who looked the other way, understanding his love of the railroad.

“I used to ride it down to the coal mine in Library,” Schae�er said, adding that a friend would sometimes accompany him to hop the train in Salida, where the main track of the Montour Railroad ended and had a

connection with the Norfolk and Western Railroad. “One of our favorite trips was to West Mi�in, over by the Allegheny County Airport. It was usually a four-hour trip…You wanted to be a part of it.”

From 1978 to 1982, Schae�er worked for the Montour Railroad, �rst as a laborer and then as a yardmaster. But even as a youngster, he was snapping photos of it. “For me, part of

the �avor to it was the guys who worked on the railroad… I’d be away all night on the train, and it bothered my dad,” he said.

�ose youthful high-jinx began Schae�er’s role in what would become a uniquely Pi�sburgh story. His pictorial book, which he self-published, is his second book about the railroad and includes many photos of the railroad, especially from the 1970s and 1980s. �e �rst book detailed the railroad’s history in writing, and was published by Silver Book Junction Publishing.

�e Montour Railroad was chartered in 1877 and operated mainly freight service, hauling coal to various locales. Chartered as a subsidiary of the Imperial Coal Company, the �rst segment extended from the Pi�sburgh and Lake Erie Railroad line at Montour Junction, near Coraopolis, to the Imperial Coal Company near Imperial. In 1901 the Pi�sburgh Coal Company took control of the railroad and expanded the line until by 1917, it reached West Mi�in. In 1946 the Pi�sburgh Coal Company sold the Montour Railroad to the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Pi�sburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. At its peak tra�c in the 1930s, the railroad ran 42 mines and hauled millions of tons of coal each year.

Montour Railroad Memories Live Online and in Book

1

2


�e railroad’s engine houses and shops were located at Montour Junction, near Coraopolis. �e railroad had a brief period when it operated passenger service to 15 stations, but that service stopped in the 1920s. By the 1950s, most of the coal mines served by the railroad were played out and the railroad slowly began to decline. By the time it was closed in 1985 along with the closing of the Westland Coal Mine, the railroad operated on just 23 miles of track. In the 1990s, large sections of the railroad right of way were acquired by the Montour Trail Council, in a Rails To Trails e�ort.

Online, a group of about 280 fans of the former railroad trade stories and photos of the line and spots along it. �ey talk about the railroad’s history, and preservation e�orts focused on le�over parts of the line and the old places along it. Bob Ciminel, founder of the Montour Railroad Historical Society Yahoo group, was familiar with the railroad when he was growing up in Cra�on, but didn’t know

much about it. �e creation of the Montour Trail helped to preserve some of the memory of the railroad, as does the Peters-based Montour Railroad Historical Society, which is preserving objects from

the railroad, Ciminel said.“It hauled coal from the mines, took it to the coal

washer, and then took it down the line,” Ciminel said. “It was a small short line railroad that operated a single track

with no signals on it. It was di�erent.” Schae�er said the Yahoo group members clearly enjoy

discussing the history of the railroad, though just six of the members actually worked on the Montour Railroad. “I was proud to be an employee of the

For more information on Schaeffer’s book, email him at [email protected]. More info on the railroad

is available at the Montour Railroad Discussion Group: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/montour_rr/

Info also can be obtained through the Montour Railroad Historical Society: http://mrhs.montourrr.com/

3

5

4

1. The Montour R.R. crane X1 was one of 2 cranes on the Montour R.R. with the first being steam powered. This crane was built by the Ohio Locomotive Crane Company in 1945. It was sold to a company in Ohio where it sat for many years not being used. Today it has been donated to the Montour Railroad Historical Society and currently sits where Montour #4 mine was located, just off Route 19 (Valleybrook Road) near Hills Station. It is undergoing cosmetic restoration. There are several Montour R.R. artifacts also located here, which is also where the main track of the Montour R.R. passed through. 2. Each summer the coal miners have a 2 week vacation period. The coal mines shut down and much of the Montour RR shuts down (no coal to haul). Just out of high school and before my official employment on the Montour RR (June 25, 1976 - Dec 17, 1982) began, I rode with a Brookside crew as the train had just entered Bethel Park leaving Peters Township. A gigantic new trail bridge has recently been built here over top Clifton Road. 3. Christmas Day 1980. This was the last Chrismtas the fleet of 12 Montour R.R. General Motors “SW-9” locomotives spent together. For me, these locomotives were the Montour Railroad. Distinct in nature, for 27 years these locomotives pulled the coal trains of the Montour RR. They were built in 1952 & 1953 in Cleveland, Ohio at the GM plant there. In early 1981 they were up for sale and slowly being sold off.4. Montour 76. Taken from the Train Dispatchers Office where I worked. The Montour RR also celebrated the Bicentennial by repainting Engine 76 into red, white & blue. 5. Montour Extra 80 East shoving a tank car and Caboose 36. This is one of the last Montour R.R. train crews to Brookside Lumber in Bethel Park. The last crew to Brookside before abandoment will occur the Day after Christmas, 1980. Behind Engine 80 is a box car of lumber for Brookside. The tank car is going to Muse, Pa. for a recycling company that is also out of business.

Continued on page 20


Montour Railroad, though it was struggling at the time…In the railroad’s heyday, most of the country was powered by coal. For many years, Montour Railroad powered this country with the coal it delivered,” he said.

Ciminel writes an article on the history of the railroad for every issue of the Montour Trail’s quarterly newsle�er. “If it wasn’t for the Montour Trail, we wouldn’t have anything le� of the Montour Railroad,” he said.

�e �rst generation diesel electric locomotives of the Montour Railroad were very noisy. �ere was a rhythm to how they felt while

riding the rails, which was a fascinating experience for a young man, Schae�er said, noting that the Montour Railroad once employed hundreds of people. It was a 24-hour a day operation that connected with the Pi�sburgh and Lake Erie Railroad in Groveton.

“On the Montour Railroad in its heyday, something was always changing,” Schae�er said, just like America and life itself. “It’s a constant evolution of change.”

�e change continues, spurred by the recent boom in natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale in Western Pennsylvania. �e new industry’s transportation needs has brought about the reconstruction of a 5-mile section of the Montour Railroad—a development that’s surprising to Schae�er.

“Who would ever have thought that part of the trail would be coming back?” Schae�er said.

Making the Meet. A westbound coal train from Montour #4 mine waits on the main track as Caboose 34 of a Eastbound Westland Mine train crew enters the Westland Branch in Southview. This Westland Branch of the Montour R.R. is being rebuilt by MarkWest for Marcelleaus gas transportation.

Continued �om page 19

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Three years ago, Mrs. Jones’ daughter, Susan, one of her three children, gave up her job in California & moved back to Pi�sburgh to care for both of her parents. Mr. Jones died

two years ago and Mrs. Jones’ physical condition has deteriorated to the point that she cannot leave her house by herself.

Mrs. Jones’ intent is to name Susan in her will as recipient of Mrs. Jones’ house to repay Susan for the sacri�ces Susan has made in returning home to care for her parents. However, it is becoming clear that Mrs. Jones may have to go to a nursing facility because of her deteriorating physical condition. �e question Mrs. Jones wants answered is what she can do to help ensure that Susan can own and live in the family home a�er Mrs. Jones no longer resides there, either due to her admission to a nursing facility or death.

Yes, parents can leave their home to a child by naming that child as a recipient of the house in the parents’ will. However, if Mrs. Jones were to do so, and prior to her death, needed to enter

a nursing facility and have all or a portion of that nursing care paid for by Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance program, the state would make a claim (called “Estate Recovery”) against those assets in Mrs. Jones’ estate being distributed under her will (Mrs. Jones’ probate estate).

�at claim would be for those payments made by Medical Assistance on Mrs. Jones’ behalf which could total thousands of dollars each month. Depending on what remained in Mrs. Jones’ probate estate, the house might have to be sold to satisfy the Medical Assistance claim with the house not then being available to Susan as both Mr. & Mrs. Jones wanted.

Similarly, Mrs. Jones could transfer the house to Susan now. If she did transfer the house now and never entered a nursing facility, no problem. Susan gets the house as her parents wished and all live happily ever a�er. However, if Mrs. Jones has to enter a nursing facility, and apply for Medical Assistance, especially within the next �ve years, a “transfer penalty” based upon the value of the transferred house could be imposed on Mrs. Jones eligibility for Medical Assistance.

But, most importantly, in Mrs. Jones’ case, federal law recognizes the unique situation which arises because of a “caregiver child”. �e law creates an exception to the imposition of a transfer penalty on the transfer of the house known as the “caregiver child” exception.

�is exception will apply if the child has lived with the parent for at least two years immediately prior to the parent entering a nursing facility and, but for that care, the parent would have had to enter a nursing facility. �ere has to be adequate supporting evidence to justify this exception, best prepared with the assistance of an elder law a�orney, including a physician’s a�davit citing how Susan’s activities on behalf of her mother kept Mrs. Jones out of a nursing facility as long as they did.

�us, a thorough review of all the facts, the relationship between the parents and child and the potential risks of a transfer needs to be done by the parent in order for the parent to make such a decision.

Can I save my home for my daughter?

hree years ago, Mrs. Jones’ daughter, Susan, one of her three children, gave up her job in California & moved back to Pi�sburgh to care for both of her parents. Mr. Jones died

two years ago and Mrs. Jones’ physical condition has deteriorated

Mrs. Jones’ intent is to name Susan in her will as recipient of Mrs. Jones’ house to repay Susan for the sacri�ces Susan has made in returning home to care for her parents. However, it is becoming clear that Mrs. Jones may have to go to a nursing facility because of her deteriorating physical condition. �e question Mrs. Jones wants answered is what she can do to help ensure that Susan can

child as a recipient of the house in the parents’ will. However, if Mrs. Jones were to do so, and prior to her death, needed to enter

Can I save my

hree years ago, Mrs. Jones’ daughter, Susan, one of her three

Can I save my home for my

Can I save my home for my

Can I save my Can I save my This Industry Insight was written by Julian E. Gray and Frank A. Petrich, Certified Elder Law Attorneys and VA Accredited Attorneys with over 50 years combined elder law experience. Julian Gray Associates is the only law firm in Western Pennsylvania with 5 Certified Elder Law Attorneys.

INdustry Insight


Western Pennsylvania Paranormal Hunters Train Their Sights on Carnegie LibraryWestern Pennsylvania Paranormal Hunters Train Their Sights on Carnegie LibraryTrain Their Sights on Carnegie Library

The team was headed up by TJ Porfeli of Peters Township, and a team member from Bethel Park, accompanied by four

other members of paranormal groups around the Pi�sburgh area. �ey were also �lmed by Ghost Story TV, to document every aspect of the investigation. �e group set up their gear on the evening of January 7 and started hunting ghosts.

�e o�cial ghost hunt followed a guided tour by library o�cials that was open to the public, highlighting the various corners of the library that have been under scrutiny for their unusual happenings for years.

For Porfeli, it was all in a night’s work; work that the group does gratis

for their clients.“When I was 16, there was an urban

legend out by me and we went out to see if anything was true. I had a personal experience on location, and was always intrigued by it, and tried to disprove it,” Porfeli said. “Years later, I stumbled on the show Ghost Hunters. I

watched three episodes and they didn’t catch anything. It was ge�ing pre�y boring, and then, one episode, they had a full body apparition leaning over the banister at the St. Augustine Lighthouse. I thought that it would be interesting to do that kind of work myself. We formed a team and everything took o� from there.”

Despite being inspired by TV shows, Porfeli said the group approaches every hunt with skepticism. Unlike other paranormal groups that seem to �nd otherworldly pay dirt in every hunt they perform, WPPH’s website has plenty of case notes where they found nothing at all.

For more than half a century, THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY IN CARNEGIE HAS ACCUMULATED LORE OF STRANGE HAPPENINGS. APPARITIONS, SOUNDS, LIGHTS TURNING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY AND EVEN BOOKS MOVING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE LIBRARY ALL HAVE BEEN REPORTED. SO, IN AN EFFORT TO GET TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER, THE LIBRARY INVITED THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PARANORMAL HUNTERS IN FOR A CONSULTATION.


“Every bump and sound we hear, we don’t say, ‘Oh, that’s a ghost,’” he said. “As for all the TV shows, they’re out there for entertainment, so I take it with a grain of salt. For it to be real to me, I have to experience it myself. If I have to do it myself, that’s what I do.”

WPPH doesn’t charge for their investigations and any money that goes into the group is from members’ own pockets. Porfeli regards the work as a hobby that turned into a job they don’t get paid for.

Luckily, the members have their own day jobs to support them, and those jobs are as down-to-earth and even-keel as you can get. Auto technicians, retired nurses, retired school teachers, speech pathologists and so�ware engineers make up the group.

“In this �eld, there are no real experts,”

Porfeli said. “�ere are people who have been doing it longer, but no one is an expert. �e only way a group holds credibility is if they stick to their values.”

“Usually we get a mixture of everything. Sometimes you can tell it sounds like words,

but it’s too muffled to make out. Sometimes we get a really clear word or couple of words.”

Continued on page 32


Library Executive Director Diane Klinefelter said the library held the investigation for several reasons.

“�e reason we did this is that there’s a general interest in the paranormal. All you have to do is look at Gallup polls or turn on a TV, and you can �nd several shows indicating that this is something that interests a large group of people,” she said. “�e other thing is that we have an open mind here. If people are interested in something, we don’t judge. �at’s what the library is all about.”

For the Carnegie Library investigation, the group set up six stationary voice recorders, each running for six hours, three di�erent types of electromagnetic �eld (EMF)detectors, ambient thermometers, and a geophone, an instrument that picks up ground vibrations and shows how intense those vibrations are. Porfeli said that device was used on the library’s music hall stage. �ey also employed a nine-channel DVR with full night vision.

�eir results?While a formal presentation of their

�ndings has yet to be scheduled, Porfeli said that the audio tapes that he was parsing picked up �ve di�erent voices so far from the music hall.

“Usually we get a mixture of everything. Sometimes you can tell it sounds like words, but it’s too mu�ed to make out. Sometimes we get a really clear word or couple of words,” he said.

Porfeli said he and his teammate, Ken Smith, also shared an apparition sighting, that was, unfortunately out of camera shot, but corroborated by reports from the library.

“Ken was standing in front of the stage on the bo�om �oor and looked up towards the balcony where I was si�ing. To his right, my le�, he saw a black mist go by. It

took about two seconds to go about 50 feet,” Porfeli said. “I saw a bit of it, but I heard footsteps. �e DVR was set up just to the le� of that. Ken said. ‘Did you see that?’ and at the same time I was asking him, ‘Did you hear that?’ We later found out that was one of the reported claims – quick apparition, black mist on top of the balcony. I didn’t �nd that out until a�er because I didn’t get to go on the tour and hear the stories. I was se�ing up the equipment.”

Klinefelter said that in her six years at the library, the only unusual thing that she recalls is a shelf of books that was found upended on the �oor.

“My �rst reaction was, ‘Why would someone leave work with that like that,”

Library Executive Director Diane Klinefelter said the library held the investigation for several reasons.

“�e reason we did this is that there’s a general interest in the paranormal. All you have to do is look at Gallup polls or turn on a TV, and you can �nd several shows indicating that this is something that interests a large group of people,” she said. “�e other thing is that we have an open mind here. If people are interested in something, we don’t judge. �at’s what the library is all about.”

For the Carnegie Library investigation, the group set up six stationary voice recorders, each running for six hours, three di�erent types of electromagnetic �eld (EMF)detectors, ambient thermometers, and a geophone, an instrument that picks up ground vibrations and shows how intense those vibrations are. Porfeli said that device was used on the library’s music hall stage. �ey also employed a nine-channel DVR with full night vision.

�eir results?While a formal presentation of their

�ndings has yet to be scheduled, Porfeli said that the audio tapes that he was parsing picked up �ve di�erent voices so far from the music hall.

“Usually we get a mixture of everything. Sometimes you can tell it sounds like words, but it’s too mu�ed to make out. Sometimes we get a really clear word or couple of words,” he said.

Porfeli said he and his teammate, Ken Smith, also shared an apparition sighting, that was, unfortunately out of camera shot, but corroborated by reports from the library.

“Ken was standing in front of the stage on the bo�om �oor and looked up towards the balcony where I was si�ing. To his right, my le�, he saw a black mist go by. It

took about two seconds to go about 50 feet,” Porfeli said. “I saw a bit of it, but I heard footsteps. �e DVR was set up just to the le� of that. Ken said. ‘Did you see that?’ and at the same time I was asking him, ‘Did you hear that?’ We later found out that was one of the reported claims – quick apparition, black mist on top of the balcony. I didn’t �nd that out until a�er because I didn’t get to go on the tour and hear the stories. I was se�ing up the equipment.”

Klinefelter said that in her six years at the library, the only unusual thing that she recalls is a shelf of books that was found upended on the �oor.

“My �rst reaction was, ‘Why would someone leave work with that like that,”

“There are people who have been doing it longer, but no one

is an expert. The only way a group holds

credibility is if they stick to their values.”

Continued �om page 31


To find out more about the

Western Pennsylvania

Paranormal Hunters, go to:

www.huntparanormal.com.

For more information

about the Carnegie Library’s

earthly collection, go to:

www.carnegiecarnegie.org,

or call 412.276.3456.

To find out more about the

Western Pennsylvania

Paranormal Hunters, go to:

www.huntparanormal.com.

For more information

about the Carnegie Library’s

earthly collection, go to:

www.carnegiecarnegie.org,

or call 412.276.3456.

she said. “But as I started asking sta�, they all had no knowledge, and the people who closed up the night before said it wasn’t like that. And it wasn’t that the shelf had fallen. �e shelf was �ne. It was just cleared of all the books.”

Despite the occasional bump in the night, Porfeli said library patrons have nothing to fear or worry about.

“We’ve never come up against anything scary. �e most things we run into are intelligent or residual hauntings. It’s like the ghosts are a skipping record, going through everyday lives and repeating familiar behaviors,” he said. “We’ve never seen

anything showing of harm or demonic in any way.”

In fact, Porfeli said that most people who �nd out they have a ghost embrace the idea.

“Most private homes that we do, we’ll do an investigation and the homeowners say they want to get rid of the ghost. I have to stress, we cannot get rid of a ghost. We can detect it. It’s up to homeowners and their clergy if they want to clear the house,” he said. “More o�en than not, the homeowners usually say it can stay. �ey start calling it what name they think is historically appropriate, and it becomes part of the family.”


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HOLY TRINITY

CATHOLIC SCHOOL

You might think of modern facilities, science and computer labs, and even Smartboard technology, when dreaming of the ideal school for your child, but would you be surprised if that school

was also a private, Catholic school?Bucking a regional trend of declining enrollment, Holy Trinity School in

Robinson is thriving more than ever with more than 375 students in grades pre-school through 8.

According to Principal Kimberly Stevenson, most people who visit Holy Trinity end up enrolling their children there. “We have progressive academic programs, such as our Carnegie Mellon Math program, where

Holy Trinity’s fourth- and ��h-grade classes take part in a research project conducted by Carnegie Mellon University,” she said.

For the past two years, Martina Rau, a Ph.D. student at CMU in the Human Computer Interaction Institute, has worked closely with students and faculty to implement the Fraction Tutor program. �e program has helped students achieve signi�cant learning gains in their understanding of fractions. Dr. Vincent Aleven, an Associate Professor at CMU, and Dr. Nikol Rummel, the head of the Ruhr University Bochum in Germany, were advisors on the project.

Stevenson said the “Superkids Reading Program” is another program that bene�ts

students.“�e Superkids program is a reading program that

takes a systematic approach to phonics and balances all the essential elements of reading,” she said. “It is used by our kindergarten students and combines the science of reading with the art of teaching to help ensure that children become successful readers. �e program is popular with students and parents and is one of many reasons that Holy Trinity’s kindergarten classes are at or near capacity every year.”

With this dedication to innovative curriculum it is no surprise that Holy Trinity students consistently perform signi�cantly above the nationwide average in core areas of Reading, Language and Math in all grade levels.

But programming alone isn’t what makes Holy Trinity stand out. Talented faculty who love teaching and instill a genuine love for school and learning in their students are the norm at Holy Trinity. �e school’s faculty is highly quali�ed and many have Master’s Degrees and other specialty certi�cations. �e average teacher has more than 17 years experience and

has an average of 13 years with Holy Trinity.

�e school also is unique in that it created the position of “Director of Advancement,” and �lled it with Dave Haseleu, who focuses on student recruitment and retention, giving the administration greater capacity to focus on education and student issues.

“Ordinary schools tend to focus on what a student knows. At Holy Trinity, we help shape who they are,” Haseleu said. “Holy Trinity serves children and families from a broad set of backgrounds and circumstances, yet everyone at Holy Trinity has a sense of belonging to one family with no distinctions made among students and parents. �is accepting and welcoming atmosphere is one reason why student retention at Holy Trinity is so high.”

“Above all, the most important reason at the center of Holy Trinity’s continued success is its commitment to providing a quality, faith-based education to all students centered on family values and individual responsibility” said Stevenson. “�e fact that our students are expected to complete community service projects underscores this commitment”.

�is approach has led to highly visible success by alumni in the local community, creating a signi�cant number of Class Valedictorians and Salutatorians in the local area high schools. Holy Trinity alumni have also gone on to win many academic awards and distinguish themselves in extracurricular activities and competitions at the high school level and beyond.

Holy Trinity is located at the intersection of Steubenville Pike and Beaver Grade Road in Robinson Township. �ey o�er 3 and 4 year old Preschool Programs, Full and Half day Kindergarten classes, and before and a�er school care. Holy Trinity is now accepting applications for all ages Preschool-8th grade.

An open house is scheduled for Saturday March 3rd, from 12-2 p.m. Prospective students and their families are invited to stop by to meet the faculty and sta�, tour the school, ask questions and interact with current and former students. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information about Holy Trinity, call Principal Kimberly Stevenson at 412.787.2656, or visit the school web site at www.holy-trinity-school.org.


By Jonathan Barnes

On weekdays and from May through October, a corner of Fairhaven Park echoes with the clink of horseshoes and the laughter of friends. �e sounds are coming from members

of Kennedy Township Horseshoe League, a group of mostly retired men who gather there for casual games of horseshoes, as they’ve done for many years.

Most of the facilities the group has in the park are a�ributable partly to member John S. Rapp, a retired dra�sman who is president of the league and drew up the plans for the four courts at the park. He also designed the small, 8-foot by 16-foot clubhouse building where members gather for card games in winter, and the 25-foot by 14-foot pavilion where in warm weather, they eat grill and eat barbecue. During the playing season, the men might be enjoying themselves there well into the evening, since their games are illuminated by overhead lighting.

At the group’s July 4 picnic, the games and fun last all day long, Rapp said. “Some guys will pitch 24 games…Usually you get two games of Standing Doubles with each partner, six games per player,” he said.

Members of the group range in age from 55 to 92, but anyone can join, regardless of age, skill level, or where they live in the Pi�sburgh area, Rapp said. In past years, the

group competed against other leagues from Dormont and Baldwin, but not anymore. �ese days the games are just for fun, and it doesn’t ma�er if you know anything about the game—whether you know the di�erence between “�ip” horseshoes or “turn” horseshoes—Kennedy Horseshoe League would enjoy seeing you there. (Flip horseshoes are �ipped when they are tossed, and turn horseshoes turn during the toss.)

“Anybody can come up and try your hand at pitching horseshoes,” Rapp said.

�e group of men enjoys the camaraderie of playing horseshoes, but they also have become fast friends who will lend a hand to another member anytime he’s in need. If a member needs help with a work project at the club or at his home, several of the members have skills in the trades, including cement work, painting, and other skills, and they are happy to pitch in. �e conversations they have during their playful gatherings run the gamut.

“We talk about almost anything—the Steelers or the Pirates or what we’re doing at home—it’s mumbo jumbo, razzle dazzle. It’s all in fun,” Rapp said.

�e group also hosts a day-long a�air on Labor Day, which, like the July 4 celebration involves many games and good food for a $10 fee. Members of the group get keys to the facilities in the park,

and can call other members to meet and play a game or two at the park any time of year. At its peak membership during the 1990s, Kennedy Horseshoe League had 50 members. Membership has slipped some with the death of many members, and now the group has just 26 members, but they always welcome newcomers.

orseshoe League Kennedy

Gathering Point for Friends


In keeping with the fun atmosphere of the league, the rules of the game are tweaked for older members. Rather than

pitching 40 feet from the pin as the rules dictate, members who are 70 or older can pitch at 30 feet if they want. Older, longtime players are happy to coach new players on the tricks of the game. Generally speaking, pitching well is about the trajectory of the pitch.

“You’ve got to get the height of your pitch right to do it right. You need to give your shoe a chance to turn,” Rapp said. “It’s a thing that if you do everything you’re supposed to do—maintain a certain pace and height (of the pitch) and stand in the right place, the shoe turns 1 ¾ turns. It’s a challenge.”

Playing horseshoes is a good, low-impact way to get exercise, Rapp points out. You throw that shoe 40 feet and you have to walk down there and stoop to pick the shoe up, then walk back. “You’re ge�ing exercise while enjoying yourself,” he said.

Horseshoes vary in weight and are either 2.5 ounce shoes or 2.10 ounce shoes. While pitching 40 percent of the shoes as ringers is not bad, some of the members of the league throw 70 or 80 percent.

League member Mitch Pavlovich, 85, has been a part of the club for 20 years. When he joined, the group

had just two horseshoe courts. Pavlovich has been a widower for 11 years and in addition to being involved with his grandchildren, the great-grandfather says being involved with the league helps him to stay active. Even in winter, he meets up with fellow members to play cards in the small clubhouse they have at the park.

“I’m by myself, and I’d be si�ing at home doing nothing, other wise. I’m there

pitching four nights a week. Wherever the shoe lands, we’re laughing,” Pavlovich said. “Who cares if you win? It’s just fun.”

During the playing season, Pavlovich and others in the group will play from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. �e environment is easygoing, and he pitches at 36 feet, to make it a bit easier on himself.

“�ere’s no pressure. It doesn’t make a di�erence who wins. It’s only a fun thing,” Pavlovich said. “We’ll teach you how to pitch horseshoes and the next thing you know you’ll be ge�ing pre�y good.”

�e group has a permit to allow them

to drink beer while playing, providing the natural complement to barbecued foods. With a sizable pavilion and ample seating, there’s no be�er way to spend a warm day, league members say.

“If you’re young, playing horseshoes is a fun thing. If you’re an elderly person, it’s a great way to stay active and involved with other people,” Pavlovich said.

“Who cares if you win? It’s just fun.”


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Losing a loved one is a heart-wrenching experience. �e powerful, complex, and con�icting emotions that survivors struggle with o�en leave a person feeling alone and helpless. Understanding the basic

elements of grief and learning key coping skills can help individuals heal and move forward a�er their loss.

�ere is no correct way to face the loss of a loved one. However, there are some emotions that are commonly experienced while grieving. �ese feelings include disbelief, shock, numbness, denial, sadness, anxiety, guilt, depression, loneliness and frustration. It can even include anger directed at the person who died, other family members, medical sta�, or toward religious convictions.

O�en grief manifests itself in physical symptoms such as tightness in the chest or throat, chest pains, panic a�acks, dizziness or trembling, and disturbed sleep pa�erns.

During the healing process, crying is healthy because it is an emotional and physical release.

It is also perfectly normal for a person to feel like they are going “crazy.” Everyday tasks can become di�cult or demanding. Suddenly driving a car, paying bills, or shopping for groceries can feel overwhelming.

A good rule of thumb during this period is not to overexert yourself. Carry a small notebook and record things that need remembering. Alert your boss and coworkers that you may not be operating at maximum e�ciency. Ask friends and family for support. Above all else, be patient with yourself.

How long grief lasts is di�erent for everyone. However, many experts agree that the grieving process is complete when you are able to think of the deceased without pain. �is doesn’t imply that you won’t still miss that person, it only means that your sadness will be di�erent, gentler, less wrenching.

�ere are sources to help you work through your grief. Your local National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) member funeral director is an excellent resource during this painful time. Your NFDA funeral director will listen to your concerns, explain how others have approached their grief, and give you any recommendation he or she can to help you.

Here are some additional ways to cope with the pain from a loss: • Seek out supportive people • Join a support group • Take care of your health • Find outside help when necessary More information on healing a�er the loss of a loved one is available

through your local NFDA member funeral home, or by visiting NFDA’s Website at www.nfda.org.

NFDA funeral homes around the country are participating in a national consumer education campaign, For A Life Worth Celebratingsm, in an e�ort to help consumers make wise and informed decisions related to funeral service. Healing A Grieving Heart © NFDA 2006. All rights reserved.

Healing A Grieving Heart

INdustry Insight


Dave Ball of Business Technology received his acceptance le�er to Robert Morris University, where he plans to major in business management. Ball’s home district is Montour.

Jess Barton of the Health Assistant II program received her acceptance to Gannon for Pre-Med. Her home district is Carlynton.

Kassandra Kutru�s of the Health Assistant II program was accepted to Clarion University. She plans to major in Radiology. Her home district is Montour.

Steve Lengyel of Public Safety Technology. He enlisted in the Navy and will be a Corpsman due to his EMT-B certi�cation. His home district is Montour.

James Latimer of Business Technology received his acceptance le�er to Robert Morris University, where he plans to major in business. Latimer’s home district is Sto-Rox.

Kirkland Phillips of Automotive Technology II was accepted to Rosedale Technical Institute. He plans to major in Automotive Technology. His home district is Carlynton.

Kirkland PhillipsDave Ball Kassandra Kutru�sJessica Barton Steve LengyelJames Latimer

PARKWAY WEST CTC

Parkway West Career and Technology Center announce recent students receiving college acceptance

Students from Moon, Montour Win the National Association of Women in Construction competition

�e Pi�sburgh Chapter of the National Association of Construction (NAWIC) hosted its annual Block Kids Competition on Nov. 20. �e Block Kids Building Program is a national building competition to introduce elementary children to construction careers.

�irty-eight children from the Pi�sburgh area joined NAWIC members at the state-of-the-art Carpenter’s Training Center to test their design and construction skills. Each child, ranging from grades 1-6, had up to one hour to build a project related to the construction industry using micro blocks and three of the following building materials: aluminum foil, a string, a poster board and a rock. �e projects were judged by volunteers from the Greater PA Regional Council of Carpenters. Monetary prizes were awarded to the construction projects with the top three scores. �e winning projects included an underground construction site, a house and a hospital construction site.

At the conclusion of the competition, each child departed with a certi�cate of completion, as well as a goodie bag and a hard hat donated by the Master Builders’ Association. Additional Block Kids sponsors and supporters included Alpern Rosenthal,

Blumling & Gusky, LLP, the Greater PA Regional Council of Carpenters, and the Pi�sburgh Builders Exchange.

NAWIC is an international association that promotes and supports the advancement and employment of women in the construction industry. Pi�sburgh’s Chapter #161 was �rst chartered on March 29, 1969 with 33 founding members. Today, our membership has grown to include women who are actively employed in all aspects of the construction industry, such as business owners, managers, consultants, tradeswomen, operators, architects, accountants and a�orneys.

Block Kids 2011 winners, from left: Matthew Braunstein of Roosevelt Elementary – 2nd place; Nicholas Nazak of David E. Williams Elementary– 1st place; and Madeline Moore of Bon Meade Elementary – 3rd place.


Parkway West Career and Technology Center Students Complete Cosmetology Training Hours

�ese Cosmo students have completed their required hours! Soon, they will be taking their State Boards to become licensed cosmetologists. Look for these stylists at a salon near you!

Shelby Zapf, Moon Area

Karla Salnoris, Montour

Briana Lewis, Chartiers Valley

Anjelica Ayres, West Allegheny

Parkway West Career

PARKWAY WEST CTC


By Heather Holtschlag

More than half of the energy used in the average American home goes toward heating and cooling,and if your house is not properly insulated, much of that expense can go to waste. Insulation, particularly when installed in an area such as the attic, requires less work from the air conditioningand furnace systems, translating into less expense and fewer repairs.

There are a number of things to note to properly install attic insulation, the first of which is called R-value. R-value measuresthe effectiveness of types of insulation; the higher an insulation’s R-value, the more effective it is. The recommendedR-value for walls and floors in a mild climate is R-11; for ceilings and attics, it is R-19. In moderate climates, R-valuesshould be a minimum of R-19 for walls and floors and R-30 for ceilings and attics. And, in cold climates, R-valuesfor walls and floors should be R-19, and R-38 to R-49 forceilings and attics.

If you use your attic as living space, it is a good idea to install insulation in the walls and ceiling. If it is not used, you should still insulate, and the empty space will provideample room for installation. If your attic is being insulated forthe first time, it should include a vapor barrier, which is any material that does not absorb moisture and through which vapor will not pass.

After it snows, it is recommended that you check the roof to see wherethe snow has fallen. If you notice specific areas on the roof where the snow has melted, this may signal an area that needs to be insulated or where the insulation is damaged.

When installing insulation in the attic, the best method is to install it from the eaves toward thecenter of the room so as to leave more headroom when you need to cut or fit the insulation properly.

If, upon installing the insulation, you discover that you need an extra layer, you can simply layblankets on top of the insulation already there. To reduce fire hazard, cover the panels with wallboardor use fiberglass panels if you must install panels between the rafters in a ceiling that slopes. Also,if you use cellulose insulation, which is the most common type of loose-fill insulation, be sure that it has been treated with a fire retardant.

Project1_Layout 1 1/23/12 11:59 AM Page 1


By Heather Holtschlag

More than half of the energy used in the average American home goes toward heating and cooling,and if your house is not properly insulated, much of that expense can go to waste. Insulation, particularly when installed in an area such as the attic, requires less work from the air conditioningand furnace systems, translating into less expense and fewer repairs.

There are a number of things to note to properly install attic insulation, the first of which is called R-value. R-value measuresthe effectiveness of types of insulation; the higher an insulation’s R-value, the more effective it is. The recommendedR-value for walls and floors in a mild climate is R-11; for ceilings and attics, it is R-19. In moderate climates, R-valuesshould be a minimum of R-19 for walls and floors and R-30 for ceilings and attics. And, in cold climates, R-valuesfor walls and floors should be R-19, and R-38 to R-49 forceilings and attics.

If you use your attic as living space, it is a good idea to install insulation in the walls and ceiling. If it is not used, you should still insulate, and the empty space will provideample room for installation. If your attic is being insulated forthe first time, it should include a vapor barrier, which is any material that does not absorb moisture and through which vapor will not pass.

After it snows, it is recommended that you check the roof to see wherethe snow has fallen. If you notice specific areas on the roof where the snow has melted, this may signal an area that needs to be insulated or where the insulation is damaged.

When installing insulation in the attic, the best method is to install it from the eaves toward thecenter of the room so as to leave more headroom when you need to cut or fit the insulation properly.

If, upon installing the insulation, you discover that you need an extra layer, you can simply layblankets on top of the insulation already there. To reduce fire hazard, cover the panels with wallboardor use fiberglass panels if you must install panels between the rafters in a ceiling that slopes. Also,if you use cellulose insulation, which is the most common type of loose-fill insulation, be sure that it has been treated with a fire retardant.

Project1_Layout 1 1/23/12 11:59 AM Page 1

The Cremation Garden

“Where a family’s needsand wishes come first.”

Visit our web site atsewickleycemetery.comor call us at 412.741.4409

Before deciding, drive through, see for yourself and compare.


Low force chiropractic care is non-invasive, low impact approach to lowering pain levels associated with spine related pain whether it is along the neck, midback or lower back areas. We have found

that there is not a signi�cant awareness that chiropractic care is also bene�cial in joint ailments such as those associated with the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles. Many believe that chiropractic care requires a forceful impact into the joints that results in popping or cracking, but at Robinson Chiropractic this is not the case. We use an approach to adjusting that does require us to crack or pop your joints.

Massage therapy is also a low force approach to helping individuals with their pain. Many people nowadays consider massage therapy to be a pampering, decadent luxury, but the truth is that when you receive a true therapeutic massage, you’re taking positive steps in be�ering your health, with some of the bene�ts being:

n Less joint painn Reduced blood pressuren Improved cardiovascular healthn Increased �exibilityn Decreased stressn Be�er sleep cycles And there are many more bene�ts! Do you have arthritis,

�bromyalgia, or chronic pain? Chiropractic care and massage therapy will improve your circulation, release endorphins, and can help eliminate the toxins that build up in the joints and muscles that cause so much pain. For those with depression or anxiety issues, massage is a way of decreasing the stress that can cause it, and the added endorphin release will keep the anxiety at bay as well. It can improve your quality of sleep, which is the time when your body heals itself, and will lead to more energy during the day.

When Chiropractic care and massage therapy are used together it yields faster, longer lasting results. It addresses the joint dysfunction and the muscle reaction in order to get you feeling be�er…faster!

Here is the great part: these services are o�en covered by your health

plan. We can help you determine your bene�t coverage. If they are not covered bene�ts we have a�ordable time of service discounts. Please contact us by phone or from our website for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Massage and Chiropractic…a winning combinationLearn how Massage can compliment your trip to a Chiropractor

Leslie Burns, DC

PhysiotherapyMassage Therapy

Nutritional Counseling

Standard Process Whole Food Nutrition

Supplements

Gift Certificates Available

Robinson ChiropracticSpecializing in Gentle Low Force Care

SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS ::: MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED

3 Robinson Plaza, Suite 320, Rt. 60 & Park Manor DriveAcross from Eat n’ Park near The Mall at Robinson

www.myrobinsonchiropractic.com

412.706.7129

INdustry Insight


by Elissa Emmerling

The song “Dream, Dream, Dream,” by the Everly Brothers

was just what Eileen Clancy, owner of the magni�cent house at No. 8 Alice Street in Cra�on did for nine long years in the 1980s, waiting and wanting to one day own the Cra�on House. She dreamt of restoring the house to its “classic structure” — the way it was built in 1903. Her life went on, though, and she ended up moving to Cleveland �ve years later.

In 2008, Clancy found out from one of her family members that her “dream” house was on the market again. �e house was the Junior League’s 1999 Designer’s Show Home. It has also been the venue for two of the Historical Society’s Christmas Galas. In 2009, Clancy purchased the house. Since then, she has restored, refurbished, and replaced areas of the house so that her visitors will feel “justi�ably satis�ed” with the results of her improvements.

�e Cra�on Historical Society was established to: collect and preserve properties that relate to the history of Cra�on, to conduct research on Cra�on’s history, to provide a location where our archives can be accessed, to generate community awareness of Cra�on’s history, and to act as a collective voice in the community on ma�ers relating to the historic integrity of Cra�on’s buildings, residences, streets and parks. �e Cra�on Historical Society prides themselves on “preservation, restoration, and recognition.” Many community programs, events, and educational opportunities are available to promote the preservation of this home and other buildings locally. One

of their most successful programs, House of the Month, was created to recognize those who diligently work to restore old homes. Homes in Cra�on that have been signi�cantly redone on the outside but have kept the original style of the home are publicized and given bronze plaques which are encouraged to be displayed on the exterior of their residences.

�e house, garden and Christmas tours are ways the society showcases community homes and churches. �ese tours have a�racted thousands of visitors from all parts of the city.

One of the biggest successes of the Cra�on House was having Creighton Avenue, also known as Banker’s Row, acknowledged as a historic street by the Pi�sburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. �is is an esteemed award as less than ten other streets in the area have been presented it. In 1993, the society presented Cra�on with a centennial gi� of four perimeter signs which read, “Welcome to Historic Cra�on.” �e signs mark the limits of the area and enhance awareness and pride about the historic district.

Special events that take place every year are designed to bring unity among community members and also to help support and fund raise for their projects. �e infamous Holiday Gala is a special

evening event in December where members of the community gather to socialize.

In conjunction with the Cra�on Public Library, the society has come up with various educational opportunities. Trolley tours, architectural tours, and self-guided tours are available for residents. “Old timers remember” brings seniors in the Cra�on

community together to reminisce about what “used to be.” Restoration workshops link

residents to experts knowledgeable on how to properly restore older homes.

There is a unique �ve-year ongoing project which is almost complete to restore all of the street signs in

by Elissa Emmerling

The song “Dream, Dream, Dream,” by the Everly Brothers

A History Buff’s Dream Come True

promote the preservation of this home Sraise for their projects. �e infamous Holiday Gala is a special raise for their projects. �e infamous Holiday Gala is a special evening event in December where members of the community gather

to socialize. In conjunction with the Cra�on Public Library,

the society has come up with various educational opportunities. Trolley tours, architectural tours, and self-guided tours are available for residents. “Old timers remember” brings seniors in the Cra�on



T

promote the preservation of this home and other buildings locally. One

Sraise for their projects. �e infamous Holiday Gala is a special evening event in December where members of the community gather

to socialize. In conjunction with the Cra�on Public Library,

the society has come up with various educational opportunities. Trolley tours, architectural tours, and self-guided tours are available for residents. “Old timers remember” brings seniors in the Cra�on



The Historical Society of Crafton:

of their most successful programs, House of the Month, was created to recognize those who diligently work to restore old homes. Homes in Cra�on that have been signi�cantly redone on the outside but have kept the original style of the home are publicized and given bronze plaques which are

ComeCome


Cra�on. One can volunteer for the project by giving of

one’s time, a�ending events, or donating a li�le extra with

one’s membership renewal. Membership at the

society is a great way to meet new people in the area and

learn about the signi�cance the history has within the community. Members will

receive advance notice of upcoming events, invitations to special activities, discounts

on tickets and a newsle�er �lled with restoration tips. If you are

interested in preserving or restoring your home, the society is a direct

link to the information you’ll need along the way. One can join by �lling out a membership application

form and mailing membership dues directly to the Cra�on Historical Society. �e di�erent levels of membership include: individual membership, family membership, contributing membership, and business donation and each level of membership dues increase respectively.

�e Cra�on Historical Society room is open by appointment only. You must call them directly. �ey need volunteers to make their facility available to the public. Sta�ed hours occur on a regular basis and at least once a week. Volunteers for the society room will be responsible for normal o�ce duties encompassing: �ling, answering the phone, taking messages, and retrieving mail.

If your are interested in volunteering, emails are welcome. Contact information is: Email: [email protected]; Phone: 412.922.6884

Cra�on. One can volunteer for the project by giving of

one’s time, a�ending events, or donating a li�le extra with

one’s membership renewal. Membership at the

society is a great way to meet new people in the area and

learn about the signi�cance the history has within the community. Members will

receive advance notice of upcoming events, invitations to special activities, discounts

on tickets and a newsle�er �lled with restoration tips. If you are

interested in preserving or restoring your home, the society is a direct

link to the information you’ll need along the way. One can join by �lling out a membership application

If your are interested in volunteering, emails are welcome. Contact information is: Email: [email protected]; Phone: 412.922.6884Email:

Boni Orthodontics is pleased to announce the opening of their newest location at

995 Beaver Grade Road, Moon Township.

DEL R. BONI, D.M.D.Specialist In Orthodontics

Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics For Children and Adults

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www.boniorthodontics.com

Participate in a cancer research study What if we could personally participate in research that might help determine factors that cause or prevent cancer?

What if our involvement, and that research, ultimately leads to the elimination of cancer as a major health problem for this and future generations?

What if we could make it so just one family never has to hear the words “you have cancer”?

Residents of the community have an unprecedented opportunity to participate in cancer research this year. Enrollment for the American Cancer Society’s third Cancer Prevention Study will be taking place at the Relay for Life of Mt. Lebanon on Saturday, June 9th, from 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Mt. Lebanon High School Stadium. �e site is one of only two in Western Pennsylvania to sign up for the study.

Individuals between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer and are willing to make a long-term commitment to the study are encouraged to sign up. �ose who choose to enroll will complete a brief initial questionnaire and provide a waist measurement and a small blood sample. Participants will periodically be sent a follow-up questionnaire for the next 20 to 30 years.

If you aren’t eligible to participate, you can still make a di�erence by telling everyone you know about Cancer Prevention Study-3. For more information, visit: www.cancer.org/cps3; email: [email protected]; or call toll-�ee: 1.888.604.5888.


E.J. HESTER, DMD

2725 Center StreetPittsburgh, PA 15205412.922.9292www.IngramSmiles.com

• All-On-4 Fixed Prosthesis• Cosmetic & Restorative Procedures• One Day Cerec Crowns

• Root Canals• Bone Grafting • Implants

• Dentures• In-office Whitening• Snap-In Dentures

Need areason to smile?Let us give you a smile thatwill bring you happiness foryears to come. E.J. Hesterand his staff are a group ofcaring dental professionalsthat have your bestinterests at heart. IngramFamily Dentistry can assistyou, comfortably, toachieve your greatestdental desires.

Now, relax and smile.

MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED

Dental implants are now affordable with

If you have been following our dental articles published with the InMontour Magazine you are probably aware of the several options available for restoring your mouth with dental implants. If you are

replacing a single tooth with an implant, converting your denture to non-removable teeth or using several dental implants to restore your whole mouth it has �nally become a�ordable.

For patients who have looked into dental implants you know that the cost can be overwhelming and sometimes prohibitive. Along with the placement of a dental implant there are o�en additional charges that can result in extensive expenses. �ese additional charges can be for bone gra�ing, the abutment (that a�aches to the implant), and the crown (the tooth that a�aches to the abutment). All of these components can result in spending a signi�cant amount of money to place and restore one dental implant.

Dental Implants have �nally been made a�ordable. By reducing the cost of placing the dental implant patients are now able to restore their mouths adequately and to the level of function that they desire. Implant placement at Ingram Family Dentistry is only $999!

Ingram Family Dentistry’s, Dr. Hester is a graduate of �e University of Pi�sburgh’s School of Dental Medicine. Following graduation, Dr. Hester went on to complete a one year residency in general dentistry at Monte�ore Hospital in Pi�sburgh. A�er completing his residency he entered the Oral Maxillofacial Surgery program where he was head resident for his �nal year. Dr. Hester practiced Oral Surgery and the placement of dental implants for over 30 years. �rough years of training and experience, Dr. Hester is able to o�er every type of restorative dental implant need that is possible today.

No ma�er what your dental implant need is make sure you don’t over pay. Visit our website for more information and to see educational videos about dental implants and other dental procedures. Call us today to schedule your dental implant consultation and to get back that smile of your youth!

with Ingram Family Dentistry!

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