IN Harborcreek

WINTER 2011 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

INSIDE!Harborcreek Township

Newsletter

Harbor Creek School DistrictNewsletter

Harbor CreekSchool District-

Always Giving Back

Welcome to the Winter issue of Harborcreek Townshipmagazine.I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday, that the

kids transitioned back to school well, and that you had anopportunity to catch a few NFL games along the way.We all view winter differently – some see it as the holiday

season, some see it as the gloomy period when we put away theswim trunks and patio furniture. Others see it as their opportunityto break out the skis and sleds and hit the slopes. No matter how you view it, winter is a time when we have to be the most diligent, despite our mood about snow, or ourpreoccupation with playing in it, for those who need us the most – our seniors. Whileit’s hard enough for many of them to get around in good weather, the winter monthscan be a trial of terror for the elderly. Who’s going to shovel the snow? How will I getgroceries? Will I be home before it’s too dark for me to see the road well enough todrive? And for those who have transitioned to assisted living facilities, the questionsmight be of an altogether different, but equally unsettling nature. Will anyone visit me this year? These are our mothers, fathers, friends and neighbors, and they don’t like to ask anything of us. But they need us just the same. I know the economy is bad,and I’m not saying go out and spend money you can’t afford but visiting someone who has no one is free to us all. Chances are, you’ll not only put a smile on their faces,you’ll be giving them something money can’t buy – the feeling that someone cares.Have a happy New Year! Wayne Dollard Publisher

Welcome to the first edition of Harborcreek!With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season behind

us, I hope you can take a little time to enjoy what we haveassembled in these pages. Our goal in offering you thismagazine is to provide a bit of insight into the community.Every quarter, you’ll find information and news fromHarborcreek Township and Harbor Creek School District. On this edition’s cover, I am sure you recognize your

superintendent Dr. Rick Lansberry. Harbor Creek School District has developed a reputation of students and faculty giving back to the community. It’s one that we think should be recognized! Congratulations!

Some of our most interesting features focus on residents and their passion in all things “community.” As you are going through your busy days, please let us knowabout any person or organization who you feel would be interesting for us to writeabout. We get some of our best story ideas from, and are so inspired by, our readers!You can email me at the magazine –[email protected] all of us at Harborcreek Magazine, please accept our best wishes for

a year filled with peace and surrounded by the love and companionship of those whomean the most to you.

Marybeth JeffriesManaging Editor

PUBLISHERWayne Dollard

MANAGING EDITOR

Marybeth [email protected]

REGIONAL EDITORS

Mark Berton [South and West][email protected]

Dana Black McGrath [North][email protected]

Monica L. Haynes [East][email protected]

OFFICE MANAGER

Leo [email protected]

AD PLACEMENT COORDINATOR

Debbie [email protected]

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Cassie Brkich Jan McEvoyAnna Buzzelli Joe MilneSharon Cobb Tamara TylendaSusie Doak

WRITERS

Heather Holtschlage Aimee NicoliaErika Howland Pamela PalongueLeigh Lyons Gina SalingerJoann Naser Judith Schardt

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brad Lauer Kathleen RudolphMark Fainstein Gary Yon

PROOFREADERS

Kelly Lotter Rachel Maize

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGERS

Derek Bayer Tamara MyersTom Poljak

ADVERTISING SALES

Brian Daley Robert OjedaGina D’Alicandro Ralph PalaskiTina Dollard Annette PetroneKaren Fadzen Vincent SabatiniJulie Graff Jennifer SchaeferJason Huffman Michael SilvertLori Jeffries Karen TurkovichConnie McDaniel RJ VighettiBrian McKee Nikki Capezio-WatsonGabriel Negri Sophia WilliardAimee Nicolia

This magazine is carrier route mailed to all districthouseholds and businesses.

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

CORRESPONDENCEDirect all inquiries, comments and press releases to:

IN Community MagazinesAttn: Editorial603 East McMurray RoadMcMurray, PA 15317Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968www.incommunitymagazines.com

Spring content deadline: 3/5

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

Every piece of the universe, eventhe tiniest little snow crystal,matters somehow. I have a placein the pattern, and so do you.– TA Baron

IN Harborcreek | WINTER 2011 |

INSIDE

COMMUNITY INTEREST

Harbor Creek School District Newsletter .................... | 4

Harborcreek Township Newsletter ................................. | 12

Grandmother Pledges to Run Half-Marathons in 50 States ............................................ | 22

Find Out What Your Local Fire Department Has Been Up To Lately ............................... | 24

Harborcreek Hosts an Old-Fashioned Christmas ....... | 26

Second Harvest Food Bank Works to Fight Hunger . | 28

Presque Isle in the WinterEmbrace the Season ..................................................................... | 40

ON THE COVER | Harbor Creek Superintendent Rick Lansberry and students Caroline Bremner,Taylor Bean, Kaylee Schwenk, Anna Flores, Hunter Kelly, Anthony Concilla,Olivia Gula, Issac Hodapp, Seth Morton and Autumn Terpolowski. Photo by Mark Fainstein.

FEATURES

Health and WellnessNutrition is Not “One Size Fits All” ............ | 30

Real Estate in HarborcreekMake Your Home Cleaner & Greener ......... | 33Outsmarting Ol’ Man Winter .................... | 35

Money Saving Alternative Energy Choices .............................. | 36

IN Kids ................................................. | 37

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Brevillier VillageOK, You Are Aging...Now What? ............... | 20

Circulatory CentersEVLA Minimally Invasive Procedure Brings Immediate Vein Relief .................. | 21

Chiropractic SolutionsThe Fresh Start to Wellness ...................... | 32

Edward Jones401(k) Review and Rollover Can Be Rewarding ................................... | 39

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Erie General Electric Federal Credit UnionLet us make a FAN out of YOU! ............... | 38

IN Harborcreek is a non-partisan community publication dedicated torepresenting, encouraging and promoting the Harborcreek area and itscomprising municipalities by focusing on the talents and gifts of the people wholive and work here. Our goal is to provide readers with the most informative andprofessional regional publication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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Harbor Creek Website www.hcsd.iu5.orgMagazine feedback http://hcmagazine.hcsd.iu5.orgDistrict Report Card http://paayp.emetric.netLike us on Facebook

4 Harborcreek

Clark celebrates 50th Anniversary:On Nov. 3, 2011, Clark celebrated our 50th anniversary with an open house. Several retired

teachers and past administrators spoke at the event sharing many wonderful memories. Parents,students and community members enjoyed the evening filled with history, fun and refreshments.

Chuck Arnold, one of the speakersat Clark’s 50th Anniversary

Clark Wins $10,000 in the Pepsi Refresh Contest!This summer, Clark Elementary took on a huge challenge. In an

effort to earn money to purchase iPads for our school, we entered the$10,000 Pepsi Refresh Contest. To kick off the competition, ourstudents participated in a video that included our entire student bodyand focused on what iPads would do for our school. The contest beganin July when our video was placed on the Pepsi Refresh website. Thiswas followed by a monthlong journey of voting (both texting andonline), collecting bonus point Pepsi lids, and spreading word toeveryone that we knew. Parents, staff, friends, relatives, and evenstrangers supported us throughout the entire month. In the end, Clarkfinished the nationwide contest in 1st place winning the $10,000. Wewere so excited!! We have since purchased 20 iPads, iPad apps, andheadphones for teacher and student use. We have found the ideas on how to incorporate these wonderful tools into our classrooms are endless and we are thrilled to have them!

Principal Donna Rose holdingan iPad purchased with thecontest money.

Third grade students are excited to receive their iPads!

Letter From the SuperintendentHappy New Year and welcome to the first edition of the Harbor Creek

School District and Harborcreek Township magazine. It is our hope thatyou find this informative and helpful in knowing all that is going on in yourcommunity and schools as well as the many resources and services availablefrom local businesses. We are planning a second issue to be sent out in thespring and it is our hope we may be able to continue this into next year.

Harbor Creek is a wonderful school community with many great peopleworking to be sure that every student is successful. All of our staff take agreat deal of pride in the work that they do with our students and what theyare able to give back to the community. There are always exciting thingsgoing on in your schools. Students are involved in many different learningactivities and projects. The following pages will give you a brief overview of the many things our students and staff are involved with.

I want to encourage our community to be involved in the schools.Student success is directly related to family and community involvement.Parent teacher organizations, participation in specific school activities, andattending board meetings are excellent places to start. Look to the schoolnewsletters or district website to learn about all the important and excitingthings going on in your schools every day.

Please extend a special thank-you to our school board members whenyou see them in the community. This is a group of people who give manyhours of their time to help ensure that our students have all that they needto be successful. Thank you for supporting Harbor Creek schools and if you have any questions or would like to contact us regarding this first issue,please contact my office through our website, www.hcsd.iu5.org, or byphone 897.2100 ext. 2102.

–Rick Lansberry

To access information about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Harbor Creek School District’s ChildFind Annual Notice please visit our website at www.hcsd.iu5.org in the Student Services section.FERPA

Rachel’s Challenge Comes to Harbor CreekRachel Scott was the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999.

Rachel’s acts of kindness and compassion coupled with the contents of her six diaries havebecome the foundation for one of the most life-changing school programs in America.Her brother, Craig, was in the library that day and lost two close friends and narrowlyescaped death himself. He was the only student at Columbine who was in the library, the worst of the killing zone, and also lost a sibling.

On November 15, 2011, Rachel’s message of kindness and compassion came toHarbor Creek. Harbor Creek students viewed powerful audio/video footage and satspellbound during the one-hour school presentation. The message hit home withstudents and motivated them to make a positive change in the way they treat others.

On the evening of November 15, the Rachel’s Challenge presenter conducted a powerful session with parents and community leaders.

November 15, the day that Rachel’s Challenge came to Harbor Creek, will be long remembered in the halls of Harbor Creek.

Harbor Creek is a “Cool School”In November, Harbor Creek High School was recognized as a “Cool School” by WICU

12 and a live broadcast showcasing our students was completed on November 18. To achievethis recognition, students from the Management and Marketing and History of TV classescollaborated to create a video that reflected their answer to the question posed by WICU,“How Cool is Your School?” Together, a theme was developed, footage was shot, and editingwas completed. Once the video was submitted, the students worked to get the word out andseek the support of their fellow students and the Harborcreek community.

The goal of the video was to reflect the tradition, excellence, pride, and sense ofcommunity associated with Harbor Creek High School. The following comments wereposted on the WICU website, and we were excited to see that our goal was accomplished:

• “I taught in HC for 22 years – there is nothing finer than the spirit there! • “My mother and uncles graduated from here. My brother, cousins,and I graduated from here. My son attended one year here. Now my GRANDchildren go here! Harbor Creek is in our blood and our blood is in HARBOR CREEK! Husky born and Husky bred!GO HARBOR CREEK!

• “As the mother of three Harb grads (’80, ’85, ’94) and the wife of a Harb

teacher (40 years onthe job!), I am proud of the school district… ‘cool’ is onlyone of hundreds of adjectives to describe this wonderful educational facility!”

• “GREAT job Chris!!! Excellent video, and it makes me proud to be an alum and a parent of three HC kids!!”

• “That was great [to see]. I’m a ‘90 graduate myself.”

Harbor Creek High School will present Meredith Willson’s “TheMusic Man” in the high school auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on March 29,30, and 31, 2012. Memorable numbers such as “76 Trombones,”“The Wells Fargo Wagon,” “Goodnight, My Someone,” and “TillThere Was You” are just some of the songs in this enchanting show.“The Music Man” is the story of lovable con man Harold Hill,

a traveling salesman peddling musical instruments, uniforms, andinstruction books in order to create a boys band. The story takesplace during the summer of 1912 in River City, Iowa. Harold arrives

just in time to get the city out of all the “trouble” it’s in –“the presence of a pool table in your community!”The trouble is, Harold – the Music Man – actuallyknows nothing about music!Come see several talented high school

students sing and dance their way into yourhearts as you experience “The Music Man.” You don’t want to miss this one!

Activities and Sports atthe Jr./Sr. High School

“THE MUSIC MAN” IS COMING!

Continued on page 6.

Harborcreek | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 5

SparklesThe Varsity and JV basketball cheerleaders have added a new “SPARKLE” to the cheerleading

program at Harbor Creek by starting an inclusive squad for students with disabilities. This squadwas established after learning about the nonprofit organization The Sparkle Effect. Its purpose is to encourage high school cheerleading and dance squads to include students with disabilities intotheir squads.

The Sparkles Cheerleading Squad has had a positive impact on the high school cheerleaders,student body, and community as a whole. They pep up the crowd, and they inspire everyone to embrace inclusion and friendship.

Continued from page 5

6 Harborcreek

At the end of this past season the Huskies again were undefeated in Region 6 play with a league record of 12-0.

Their regular season record of 16-2 was a result of long, hard work to become skillful, physically strong, and mentally tough.

The team played some super games this past regular season but whenthe district playoffs began, they—along with their fans—seemed tobecome larger than life. Each team member played at a level they had notexperienced before. They defeated Slippery Rock by a 4-2 score.

Then came the Villa game. The Huskies had already lost to Villa in anearlier meeting by a 2-4 score. Villa was probably confident but was stunnedby the level of play of the Huskies. Tough and skillful, they prevailed inprobably the best game ever played by a Harbor Creek Girls Soccer Team.

The 3-1 win was a beautiful thing.

They won the first game in the state playoffs but lost the second. That was sad but the Region and District 10 Championships were theirs to keep. Champions aren’t made in gyms and on practice fields. They are made from something they have deep inside them: adream, and a desire to fulfill it. Certainly it helps to be a littlefaster, to have skill, and to have end-of-the-game stamina.But in the end – stronger than the skill – is the WILL. The exhausted girls could have given up and let fatiguetake over but they willed their tired muscles to perform.The Huskies WILLED themselves to win.

Congratulations!

This year’s girls volleyball season was one of the most successful in quite some time. The Huskies overcame numerous injuries andsicknesses throughout the season to post a 15-3 overall record and a 10-2region record that was good for second place in Region 6. Both the varsityand junior varsity teams captured regular season tournament titles alongthe way. The varsity won their title at Iroquois while the junior varsitysquad won their tournament championship at Corry. The varsity

advanced to the District 10 playoffs for the fourthconsecutive year and had a very solid showing. Aftergoing 2-1 in pool play the Huskies fell in the semi-finals to General McLane in a very tough three-setmatch. This is the farthest Harbor Creek hasadvanced in the postseason in over 10 years.

Marching Huskies Invent Musical ExcitementThroughout the fall, this year’s edition of the Marching Huskies Marching

Band has presented its modern versions of Johann Sebastian Bach’s music in ashow entitled “Inventions.” The show was popular with the students and wasvery well received in competition as the band performed in a number of showsin northwestern Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh area. The band also performedduring the summer at the North East Cherry Festival Parade with its renditionof the classic hit “Hey, Baby!” The band placed well in competition but, moreimportantly, it showed constant improvement on the way to our highestchampionship score in the last three years. The band is now busy raising funds for its spring 2012 trip to Florida. If you are a fan of the band, join us on Facebook by searching “Harbor Creek Marching Huskies Band.”

Girls Soccer

Volleyball

National Honor Society sponsored Harbor Creek’s annual Food Drive inthe senior high for two weeks ending on Friday, November 11. Volunteering tohelp collect food from homerooms was Mr. Angerer’s Community Pride classand students from Mrs. Pitzer and Miss Narducci’s first period study hall. Everymorning they trekked to their assigned homeroom to collect donations. Asusual, a competition between homerooms ensued. This year’s Food Drive wassteady from day one. Normally donations are slow until Thursday or Fridayof the first week, but this year, donations came on the very first day anddidn’t stop until the last day. While this was not a record-breaking year, wedid manage to amass a whopping 3,682 points of food and personal careitems along with $502 in cash.

The homeroom competition saw several different winners throughout thetwo weeks with the final results as follows: In 4th place was Mr. Snippert’shomeroom with 416 points, in 3rd place was Mrs. Yarnell’s homeroom with 439points, coming in 2nd was Miss Hilinski’s homeroom with 792 points and in 1stplace was Mr. Pfadt’s homeroom with a staggering 1,123 points. We’re proud ofour students and faculty and the response we received. All donations stay right

here in Harborcreek at the Harborcreek Food Pantry. The HarborcreekFood Pantry will be grateful, but even more so will be the families

who will benefit from a little extra help this holiday season.Thank you Harbor Creek!


Relay for LifeThe Junior High School was a proud participant of the Relay for Life in the spring of 2011. We were personally

touched by the loss of Myra Kress, secretary at the high school, and students and teachers participated and donatedmoney in her memory. Mr. Cavalline, a junior high math teacher, built houses that store coins as a way for studentsto donate any loose money. Each house held about $120. A total of $500 was donated to the Relay for Life andpresented to the Kress family. This year the junior high will continue giving by collecting change and raising moneyby selling newspapers at the Harborcreek Walmart.

The purpose of the Harbor Creek High School Athletic Hall of Fame is to recognizethose individuals or teams who have brought distinction, honor, and excellence to HarborCreek High School in the field of athletics. Athletes, teams, coaches, managers, or otherindividuals associated with athletics may be nominated for this recognition.The committee reviewed nomination forms for individual athletes, a variety of teams,

iconic coaches, as well as special individuals representing the athletic pride of the Huskiesfrom Harbor Creek High School.The following athletes, coaches, and administrators were selected from over 60

nominations representing the TRADITION, EXCELLENCE, and SUCCESS of HarborCreek High School’s rich athletic history. They were joined by friends and family membersas they were honored at the Hall of Fame banquet on Saturday, September 17, 2011.

Richard Arpin – Class of 1968Robert Black – Athletic DirectorJeff Catrabone – Class of 1993Paul Foust – Baseball CoachKelly (Mulligan) Erwin – Class of 1993Richard Passerotti – Class of 1978Terry Roseto – Class of 1973Joe Sholtis – Softball and Basketball CoachBrian Siverling – Class of 1982Chad Vogt – Class of 1992Kathy (Mazur) Zoltowski – Class of 1982

The 2011 football season featured five lopsided wins over opponents Ft. LeBoeuf, Warren, Titusville, Seneca and Central Tech and two closevictories over Girard and Fairview. This allowed the Huskies to post a verysuccessful 7-win, 3-loss season. A furious General McLane second halfcomeback and a disappointing loss in the mud at Northwestern ended upcosting the Huskies a District 10 playoff bid as the District 10 committee

opted to take only six teams instead of the usualeight Class AA teams. The 2011 team featuredcontributions from 15 seniors as they leavebehind a challenge to the remaining 41 teammembers to exceed their successful season.Way to go Huskies!

Hall of Fame

Sr. High School

Football

Jr. High School

This picture can be purchased for $20. If interested pleasecontact the athletic department at 897.2100 x1367.Picture taken by Doug Duer – Elite Aerial Imageswww.GibbensCreative.com

The Jr. High Student Council officers (President – Zach Mattson, VicePresident – Joey Shotts, Secretary – Alex Rose, Treasurer – Kelsey Wegelin),advised by Mr. Quiggle and Mr. Ludwig, donated $250 worth of personal careitems, and junior high students and faculty donated nearly $150 and nearly300 pounds of food to the Harborcreek Food Pantry. Students and facultycompeted against one another to see which Advisory could earn the most

points, and Mr. Smock’s 8th grade Advisory won, with 76 points earned.Throughout the two-week competition, Ms. Eakin and her Advisory broughtin money and non-perishable items just about every day, but Mr. Smock rallied his troops and took the lead on Friday. Regardless of who won thecompetition, the Jr. High Student Council members, students, and facultyworked together to help the Harborcreek community.

This year, sixth graders at Klein will once again have the opportunity toparticipate in Hands Across Time, a cross-generational program at BrevillierVillage. Each week, students travel to Brevillier and interact with residentsthrough many enjoyable activities. Together, they make crafts, go bowling,play BINGO, tour the facility, and develop reciprocal relationships.We feel that this popular program, which has been in existence for many

years, provides a very valuable experience for our children and helps teachthem wonderful life lessons including compassion and caring. Students very much enjoy getting to know the residents and learning about their lifeexperiences. Many student participants have continued to volunteer, notonly as Brevillier junior volunteers, but in additional ways as well, and havemade a difference in the lives of many others.

Wii Afterschool ProgramKlein’s “WE Afterschool Program” addresses the statewide emphasis on wellness and

promoting healthy lifestyles while fostering Harbor Creek School District’s commitment toacademics and the development of lifelong learners. We are able to implement this programagain this year thanks to funding from a Highmark Healthy High 5 grant. It saddens us to reportthat the Highmark Healthy High 5 grants are presently not being offered; therefore, this couldbe the last year for this program.

This program is held for eight weeks in the fall and eight weeks in the spring. Enrollment is limited to 20 staff-recommended students. Parent requests are considered if space is available.The “WE Afterschool Program” is a three-part program designed to engage students in physical,social, and academic activities. The program is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5p.m. During this time frame students are:

• provided with academic support for homework and other assignments• provided with healthy snacks and lessons on healthy food choices• actively engaged in a wide variety of physical activities using Wii, Wii Fit, and various other gym and outdoor equipment.

At the start of the schoolyear, Ms. Evans presented thestudents of Klein ElementarySchool with a literacychallenge: to read for onemillion minutes. Since then,teachers, students, andparents have been workingtogether to reach this goal bykeeping track of the amount

of minutes students have been reading in school and at home.The goal is that by the end of the school year the students of Klein school

will have reached or surpassed the goal of reading for one million minutes.Dr. Timothy Rasinski and Nancy Padak’s research helped set the

foundation for Klein’s Million Minutes of Reading Challenge. They foundthat student achievement has a direct correlation to the number of minuteseach child reads. With that in mind, the best way to get better at reading is to practice doing it just like practicing an instrument or sport. At Klein, webelieve that practicing reading makes students better readers and increasestheir chances of becoming lifelong readers.Everyone at Klein is very excited to work together to meet this whole-

school challenge. We believe that it will result in fun, increased skill ofreading, and a tremendous sense of community and teamwork. We arelooking forward to a school year focused on reading.

Giving gifts and helping others enjoy the Christmas holiday is the spirit amongst Klein Elementary 5th and 6th graders. During theChristmas season, each student will be paired with a resident at BrevillierVillage, and they will participate in an intergenerational gift exchange. The 5th and 6th graders will receive a resident’s wish list, and they willshop for a Christmas present for their individual resident.During the visit, the fifth graders will perform their Christmas Chorus

Concert for the residents, and afterwards the 5th and 6th graders will give

a Christmas gift to a resident, and they will spend sometime getting to know each other. At the conclusion ofthe visit, the residents of Brevillier Village will host aparty full of cookies and punch with the students.Both the elementary students and the

residents of Brevillier Village look forward to thisfun-filled event. It reminds us all of what theholidays are truly about.

Hands Across Time

Gifts of Love

Million Minutes of Reading

8 Harborcreek


Project You and Hoops of HopeHoops of Hope is a basketball shoot-a-thon that will take place at Rolling Ridge Elementary on Thursday,

February 16, 2012, from 3:30 until 6:00 p.m. at Rolling Ridge.Rolling Ridge 4th-6th grades’ Project You Too will raise money by way of sponsors to help the Erie Inter

City Neighborhood Art House. The Gannon basketball team is scheduled to help us that evening along with a DJ. We are looking forward to another successful hoop-a-thon.

Rolling Ridge has beenawarded a Highmark HealthyHigh 5 School Challenge grantof $10,000 to implement theHealthy Huskies Program thatwill provide students withenhanced nutrition and fitnesseducation. Students willautomatically become a

“Healthy Husky” withopportunities that exercise themind and body. The Healthy

Husky program is designed to encourage during and afterschoolparticipation in activities that involve exercise, good sportsmanship,team commitment and positive relationships. The afterschool handbellprogram is already underway.

Since 2007, the Highmark Foundation, through the HighmarkHealthy High 5 School Challenge, has awarded more than $8 million in over 945 grants to schools in 49 counties across Pennsylvania forprograms that provide nutrition education, enhance nutrition choicesand increase opportunities for physical activity.Our goal is for students to be more successful in school by

developing a commitment to school- wide activities. Healthy activitiesand exercise are a part of this program. With this grant, Rolling Ridgehas already included indoor fitness activities including weighted hulahoops and fitness activities on a Wii system. Afterschool recreation willbegin in January. This grant has allowed our students to choose healthybehaviors that will stay with them for a lifetime.Thanks to our families and students for helping to support this

annual event.

Rolling RidgeMrs. Renne and her fifth grade students take time to tally and measure the thousands of pounds of food donated

to our district food drive. Our annual food drive runs the two weeks prior to Thanksgiving. It is a great time of theyear to help support the 106 local families, including 80 children, through the Harborcreek Food Pantry. Mrs. Pratt’sclass (5A) is recognized for having the most donations in one class! We are ALL winners, however, as we celebratethe success of donating over 3,000 pounds of food from Rolling Ridge.

Domonic Viscuso and Greg Barney Jr.begin the process of sorting.

Gannon players and RR student Sebastain Beatty.

Healthy Huskies at Rolling Ridge

What’s Rolling at the Ridge?

We are very happy to welcome two new boardmembers to the Harbor Creek team:Mrs. Christine Mitchell and Mr. Kurt Smith.

Committee meetings are held the second Thursday of each month and the regular board meetings are heldon the third Thursday of each month. Please check our website for a complete listing of meetings, specialmeetings or a change of date.

Meet Our School Board

Carol BucklinPresident

Barb GainerVice-President

Mark ConcillaTreasurer

Bryan Fife Curt SmithChristine MitchellTerri BrinkJim Dolak

Bobby Shotts, Ali Benim, Corrynne Williamson,Alexis Soles, Thomas DeVore, Lienne Su

TeachersGiving BackHarbor Creek teachers lead by example.

We believe it is important to give back to thecommunity. The “Drenching Booth” and theTeachers Golf Outing are two of the activitiesthat teachers sponsor to raise funds for ourcauses. In addition, the teachers and staff pay to participate in “Dress for a Cause” days fourtimes a year. These activities raise funds forautism, juvenile diabetes, and Relay for Life. The Juvenile Diabetes Walk at Presque Isle isanother fun event in which we participate. Thestaff visits Brevillier Village each December tosing Christmas carols, play bingo, and presenteach resident with a small gift. The HarborcreekTownship Holiday Giving Tree is another one ofour efforts. We provide Christmas gifts for over30 children. Each year, one or two high schoolseniors are each given a scholarship to help withcollege costs. We look forward to continuing to give back to the community.

ScholarshipsEach year Harbor Creek Education

Association awards two $500 scholarships tograduating seniors to use toward tuition costs.

Golfing for Juvenile Diabetes

Brevillier VillageTeachers give gifts, play bingo, and sing

Christmas carols to the residents at BrevillierVillage in December.

Autism Walk

Relay for Life

Harborcreek TownshipGiving TreeJeans Day is one way the teachers raise

money to support different causes. Last year the proceeds bought gifts for 30 children from the Harborcreek Township Giving Tree during the Christmas season.

Pictured in this photo left to right are Mrs. Jackie Baird,Olivia Frietas, Mark Pitonyak and Mrs. Kathy Nicalo.

Elaine and Natalie LaFuria

Jean Schneggenburger, Janiuks, Russells, LeAnneMorton, Sabrina Eakin, Marcie Henry, Lynda Meyer, KathyNicalo, Bob Hand, Mandy Blackhurst, Deb McLaughlin,Bonds, Jan Weber, Martha Seifert, Roses

10 Harborcreek


John Knox, Harbor Creek Robotics Club coach and technologyintegration specialist for Harbor Creek School DistrictThe atmosphere is electric with the yelling and screaming of 30 other

teams rooting on their or a neighboring school’s robot.The discussions are definitely intense as students weigh the pros and cons.

All of the robots’ computer programming is in a language by Carnegie Melloncalled “Robot C.” The code is changed,downloaded to the controller, and testedin a matter of a couple of minutes. All of this is the culmination of six weeks of very hard work and very long hours.Welcome to the world of high schoolrobotics at Harbor Creek.The idea is simple: give kids a very

difficult task (build a working robot thatcompetes in a game with specific goals),with a very limited inventory of parts(the kit), and a short time to do it (sixweeks) and see what happens. Yet, kidsrise to the occasion and produce aworking robot that competes with 30other robots built by other studentswith all of the same time and resourceconstraints.Robotics programs are seen as

a way to excite students about theSTEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, andMath). STEM fields are increasingly seen as the source for much of thegrowth in the U.S. Students at Harbor Creek are competing in the BESTcompetition in the fall and FIRST in the spring. Both competitions are six weeks long.The off season is spent fundraising and trying to spread the word about

robotics. Harbor Creek has been extremely fortunate to have a major sponsorin GE. The robotics program requires about $12,000 a year in basic funding.

Without the sponsorship of companies like GE, the robotics program wouldnot be possible. However, the support of GE only covers slightly more thanhalf of the cost. We still need to cover the cost of the trip to Pittsburgh, GroveCity, and the cost of additional parts and tools. This is where our fundraisingefforts kick in.Beyond GE, we also need the support of the entire community to ensure

a high quality program. We need people in the engineering fields to step upand provide the support for the students. Students need to work

alongside real engineers to design, create,and build the robot. The Penn StateBehrend computer science students havebeen helping our students learn toprogram. This has been a great addition.Students also need the tools needed toproduce a high quality robot. At this time,we use a local machine shop to createanything beyond simple parts. High PointTool in Wattsburg, owned by Rick Leasure,has been kind enough to donate time everyyear to the students of Harbor Creek. We would like to raise enough money topurchase a mill drill or a small millingmachine so students can produce some ofthe small parts themselves. We would alsolike to see the program expand down intothe elementary schools if possible with Lego robotics.The children of the Harborcreek

community are neither the wealthiest nor the most numerous in the area.What they lack in resources, they make up for in desire and creativity. Formany of the team, this is the first organized activity where they have not only been comfortable, but also excelled. Whether it is personal expertise or assistance, goods or services, or funds, any support we can get from thecommunity is greatly appreciated. Harbor Creek robotics can pave the way to a successful future for the students and for the community.

One of the greatest challenges the Harbor Creek School District faces incontinuing to provide a world class education to students is funding. Over50% of the district’s revenue comes from the state and federal government.Changes in this funding are outside of the district’s control but significantlyaffect our ability to educate our students. In addition we are faced withmandates that require us to pay for services that students who attend HarborCreek do not benefit from.Charter and cyber schools that you see advertised as alternatives to your

public schools are not free. The district must pay for every Harbor Creekstudent who attends an alternative school and we have no ability to hold a charter or cyber school accountable for the quality of education theseschools are providing. In addition we are required to transport students to many locations outside of our district boundaries. These two mandatesalone cost the Harborcreek tax payers over $1 million a year. Funding these

mandated programs is not our choice and results in Harbor Creek SchoolDistrict cutting programs and resources in order to pay for them.We are asking that you help us as we encourage our state legislators

to revisit mandates that take resources away from your public schools.The Harbor Creek School District continues to be one of the highest

performing districts in our county and in the state of Pennsylvania. Staterequired testing places our students in the top five percent when comparedto surrounding districts. Harbor Creek students have exceeded achievement,attendance and graduation targets for the past six years. We are extremelyproud of our students’ academic accomplishments. Our dedicated teachersand staff work on many committees and work groups to improve the qualityof education for all students. We are working to build partnerships withbusiness, universities and local industry, which increase our ability toprovide real world experiences for our students.

Teaching Science in the 21st Century…Through Robotics

My Choice… My Public School!

Welcome to the first-ever edition of a new partnership between IN Community Magazines,Harborcreek Township and Harbor Creek School District. IN Community Magazines hasoffered the township and school district two free issues as a trial run to gauge communityreaction to the magazine.

The township was attracted to the magazine because we continue to look for better, morecost effective ways to reach our residents. At this point, the magazine is not intended to replaceyour township newsletters, but rather enhance them. The newsletter has always been a “nutsand bolts” in-house publication that was meant to inform residents of important events, dates,etc…It has served us very well in that capacity. With IN Community, we believe we will bebetter able to develop in-depth profiles on community residents, events, and generally addressissues that space does not allow in the newsletter. Articles in this magazine will be developed,written, and presented by professional writers and editors. If you have a community story that you feel would fit nicely into this magazine, please contact us at 899.3171 or throughwww.harborcreektownship.org.

This edition will contain a feature article on the success of the former Harborcreek Mallproject, a wrap-up of several township and Harborcreek Chamber of Commerce events over the past year, a look at our three volunteer fire departments, and much more. We hope youenjoy this first edition and, again, welcome your feedback on the magazine and its articles.

As supervisors, our 2012 budget contains no real estate tax increase for the 22ndconsecutive year. We continue to do our best to deliver the services you have come to expect at the most cost effective level possible.

Sincerely,

Harborcreek Township Board of SupervisorsTim May, Joe Peck and Dean Pepicello

Harborcreek TownshipMunicipal Pages

12 Harborcreek


The true magic of Christmas comes to life when we give to others, especially those who are most needy. This past holiday season, the folks in Harborcreek have shown once again their generous spirit and how a community can come together to make a difference for those less fortunate.

This year marked the third year that the Harborcreek Township building was host to one of the Holiday Giving Trees benefiting the Ella Cochran Food Pantry. Other locations for the treesincluded Our Lady of Mercy Church and Harborcreek First Presbyterian Church, both of whichhave participated in the Giving Tree program from its start more than 25 years ago.

Every year on the weekend before Thanksgiving, the three trees are set up in their locationswith ornament tags – with each tag listing the name of a school aged child or senior citizen whois a client of the food pantry. The tags include children’s ages and special wishes for an item ortoy, as well as sizes for requests of clothing or shoes. The gifts are then gathered from eachlocation and taken to the food pantry, where volunteers sort and distribute the packages.

Dee Law, a volunteer at the Ella Cochran Food Pantry and coordinator of the GivingTree program, is overwhelmed by the generosity of the Harborcreek community. Withinone hour of the tree’s setup in the Harborcreek Township building, the tags were allgone. “We have gotten such a huge response from the township,” says Law. “It is reallywonderful to have so much support from the community.”

If there is one message that Law would want to share with the generouspeople from the township, it would be that the gifts they give really do make a world of difference.

“The true payoff of the Giving Tree program comes on the day ofthe distribution,” she says. “It is a very emotional day for all of us. I wishthat everybody who has given a gift could see how much their giftmatters to someone.”

For Law, one especially memorable occasion was when an elderlywoman came up to receive her beautifully wrapped gift. The womanhugged her with tears in her eyes and said, “This is the only gift I ever get. If it weren’t for this I wouldn’t get anything.”

It is moments like these that show how meaningful this program isand how the giving spirit of the Harborcreek community keeps the magicof Christmas alive.

By Aimee Nicolia

A ChristmasTree That Capturesthe Spirit of Giving

“I wish that everybody who has given a gift could see how much their gift matters to someone.”

–Dee Law

You’ve probably heard it said that 60 is the new 40. One of themost important reasons that older Americans today feel younger is that as a whole they are far more interested in staying healthy

and fit as compared to seniors in previous generations. If getting fit is the key, then the Harborcreek Townshipbuilding is helping folks around here do just that!

This past fall, the township offered its third in a series of “Get Fit” programs for seniors that are designed forHarborcreek residents aged 55 years or older. It involved afree six-week class that met once a week in the lower level of the township’s municipal building. “The program is an

extension of the senioractivities that areoffered through thetownship,” explainedIrene Edwards, senioradvocate forHarborcreek.

The Get Fitinstructor, TheresaLafferty, who hastaught all of thesessions, holds a “SilverSneakers” certificationand has been teachingsenior exercise classes throughout the area for more than threeyears. Lafferty was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes over 20 yearsago. She learned to manage her diabetes through exercise and ahealthy lifestyle, and she encourages her students to do the same in managing their own medical issues. In fact, many of her studentshave some degree of arthritis and are finding that the classes can be

beneficial in alleviating pain associated with the activities of daily living. Lafferty is a firm believer in practicing whatshe preaches: “If I can teach this class, they can take it!”

Students of the Get Fit classes are not required to have anyprior experience. They need only to wear a comfortable pairof shoes and appropriate clothing for working out; Laffertyprovides the rest, including the music. “I mix it up with a‘Sentimental Journey’ soundtrack, or music from the ‘50s and ‘60s, and relaxation music for the yoga classes,” she says.

The most recent six-week session included two differenttypes of classes that Lafferty alternated on a weekly basis.The first was a light cardio and strength building class.


SeniorsGET FITin HarborcreekBy Aimee Nicolia

14 Harborcreek

Lafferty provided resistance bands and Silver Sneakersballs that are used to strengthen the fingers and help withhand-eye coordination. The second type of class focusedon yoga movements specifically tailored for older adults.This class did not include any cardio and was easier on the joints. It included many of the traditional yoga posesbut with a modified version for seniors, such as the Tree,Warrior 2, and a Downward Dog pose using a chair forbalance. Throughout the six weeks, Lafferty added somemore difficult movements as the group progressed.

The fall classes had a regular group of about 18participants, both men and women. “It was a very nicegroup,” says Irene Edwards. “They seem to really enjoy it, and that’s what counts!”

Look for more Get Fit classes to be offered throughHarborcreek Township this spring. For more information,call the township municipal building at 814.899.3171.

On Wednesday, October 5, 25 members of Harbor Creek Senior High School’s Key Club, led by advisor Dale Claypoole, joinedHarborcreek Township in cleaning up the frontentrance to Shade’s Beach. After over 2½ hoursof weeding, raking, hauling, and planting, the entrance to Shade’s never looked better.

This sort of joint effort between a HarborCreek school activity and HarborcreekTownship exemplifies what the Key Club’svision is: caring and competent servant leaderstransforming communities worldwide, as well as the group’s core values – leadership, characterbuilding, caring and inclusiveness.

This impressive group of Harbor Creekstudents should be applauded for giving of theirtime especially since they are also involved innumerous other academic and athletic activities.Not only are they a great reflection of theirparents, but also of a fantastic school district and community.

Thanks again, Harbor Creek Key Club! Yourcommitment to Harborcreek is commended.

Key Club


It all started with a seed. A pumpkin seed that is, and lots of ‘em!

When Chris Hoover of the Harborcreek Chamber of Commerce first took on therole of event coordinator for the Harvest Festival, she knew she would need a wholelot of pumpkins. So she approached Tony Mandic, unit manager at HarborcreekYouth Services, and together they hatched an idea that grew into the pumpkin patchthat is today on the parcel of land just east of the township building.

Each spring for the last three years, Mandic has led groups of hard workingyoung boys from Harborcreek Youth Services every step of the way to growpumpkins for the township’s Harvest Festival. He says one of the main goals of

Harborcreek Youth Services, a residential facility for at-riskjuvenile males, is to encourage the young men to develophealthy behavior and respect for others. “So in working hand-in-hand with the township,” says Mandic, “the boys are able tocomplete community service hours they need while helpingthe township in this project.”

This past summer, Mandic, along with Mark Opalenik,child care counselor at Harborcreek Youth Services, taught the boys how to prepare the soil and plant the pumpkin seeds.They helped the boys diligently water the plants, weed, andeven fertilize using composted leaves that were collected andrecycled by the township. “It taught the kids a lot about thevalue of hard work and commitment,” explained Mandic.

By harvest time, all that hard work provided a bounty ofpumpkins – this year the crop yielded 150, and some years ithas been as many as 400, which the young men then donateto the Harborcreek Harvest Festival. But additionally, asMandic says, “it gives the boys an opportunity to experiencea positive outcome from their hard labor.”

Besides growing the pumpkins for the annual festival,the young men from youth services also help each yearwith all of the work that is required for setting up and

By Aimee Nicolia


Harborcreek Harvest A Partnership Blossoms

16 Harborcreek

cleaning up after the event. And this year they were presented with more of a challenge than ever!

The festival, which is always scheduledfor the first weekend in October, had themisfortune this year of coinciding withsome unseasonably dreadful weather. SoHoover was forced to make a last-minutedecision to postpone the festivities untilthe following weekend. And it was a good thing she did! As it turned out, in delaying a week, they were rewarded with a beautiful autumn weekend that made for a hugely successful turnout.

Throughout the weekend there was a classic car show, food vendors, a craftshow with 30 crafters, and a horse drawn hayride – which was provided for free,compliments of Walmart. For children, there was a sand art project, a face-paintingclown, and of course lots of pumpkins for kids to decorate and take home. “Theattendance was great,” said Hoover. “And the crafters all loved it and can’t wait tocome back next year.”

“A large part of the success of the festival,” says Hoover, “was due to the help of these wonderful young men from youth services who planted and nurtured the pumpkins, and helped with the setup and takedown of the booths.”

What started as a seed grew into far more than a pumpkin patch; it developedinto a partnership between the township, the Chamber of Commerce, andHarborcreek Youth Services which will blossom for years to come.

Festival


or more than a decade, visitors to Harborcreek Townshiphave been met with a less-than-stellar greeting at thenorthwestern entrance to the municipality. But this year that

is all about to change. And, it’s thanks to a widespread communityeffort that is bringing new development and new hope to the oncebustling Harborcreek Mall property. “The property has been in bad shape for many years,” explains Dean Pepicello, HarborcreekTownship supervisor. “It was important for us as a community to eliminate this eyesore and we couldn’t be more pleased with the manner in which this has been accomplished.”

In most cases where development occurs, aredevelopment authority or private developer willusually purchase blighted or vacant property and eithersell it or begin development. However in this case, it was Harborcreek Township who tapped into rainy day funds to purchase the land and make the propertysuitable for purchase by a private developer. “This is avery unique situation,” says Pepicello. “But we all agreedit needed to be done so we planned it out by rezoningthe property from commercial to lakefront zoning andtook care of any environmental issues. After that wesought out a buyer. We had a tremendous amount

of support from the community.” Now that buyer, Affordable SeniorHousing Opportunities of NY Inc., is getting its hands dirty on a 120-unit multimillion dollar senior living project.

According to project managers, the new facility will offer residents“everything under one roof.” The three-story building, which will takeup only seven of the nearly 20 acres purchased by the company, willhave one- and two-bedroom units suitable for any retiree. “It’s almostlike retiring at a Holiday Inn,” says Dave Anthon, project manager andleasing agent. “We are able to offer residents everything they need. If

you go down to Florida, this is the type of seniorliving [people] are looking for today. It’s probablythe biggest stress factor for seniors. We want tokeep them living up here close to friends andfamily.” Some of the amenities, according toAnthon, will include an on-site social director,centralized mail service, 24/7 maintenance,indoor trash, laundry, a hair salon and barbershop, and a fitness center including a fitnesstrainer that will coordinate an exercise program.“It’s really like a community within a community,”says Anthon. “We want to keep today’s seniors asindependent as possible. We hope that they willcome to our community and grow 10 yearsyounger, not 10 years older. There is a great dealof socialization and really getting to know yourneighbors.”

By Erika Howland


18 Harborcreek

Realizing there might be a niche for this type of project in theircommunity, it went to bid and Senior Housing was the highest bidder.At a sale price of $550,000 it was just right for developers to expand a business that has quickly outgrown western New York and just rightfor a municipality in need of hope. “In addition to the sale, we werealso able to recycle old asphalt on the property and sell that as well,”explains Pepicello. “The township made all of it's investment back andthe dilapidated building is being replaced with a multi milllion dollartax paying development.” Now with plans for a grand opening later thisyear, developers are getting busy finding potential renters and planning

ahead for what future development may be on theproperty’s remaining acreage.

Long before any dirt was turned, project managerssay there has been a great deal of interest in the seniorliving project. With rent ranging from $810 to $920 amonth, there is already a list of nearly 20 residents whowant to call this development home. “Honestly, I don’tusually start marketing development that early,” saysAnthon. “But the community has waited so long forthis project to come to fruition that we wanted toreassure them it was really going to happen.” Until the project is complete, Anthon says he’s likely to slowdown on the promotion side of things, but admits thatif the high level of interest continues, he may not need

to do much more marketing at all. “I have been overwhelmed by the number of phone calls on this project. I really wasn’t expecting it. At this rate I fully anticipate all or nearly all 120 units being rentedout long before construction is complete.”

While these types of projects typically take a year to complete,Anthon can’t say for sure what day the doors will open. But he says no matter what, they will work through the winter to finish as soon as possible. In a township that has recently seen so much growth inresidential and commercial development, Harborcreek supervisors

say they are excited for this next chapter. “Harborcreek is poised for growth,” says Pepicello. “But it’s poised forgrowth where we have designed areas for growth. Wecertainly aren’t sacrificing our green space and farmlandfor the sake of growth but this project fits our plansperfectly.” Just what comes next, no one knows for sure.Developers say they are focusing on one project at a time,but it’s likely whatever project comes next, it willcomplement the existing facility.

“It’s really exciting to bring this senior living facility to Harborcreek,” says Anthon. “We have built this samebuilding in other communities and it’s been very wellreceived. We’re glad we can make such a positive andneeded contribution in such a great community.”


It happens. One day we wake up and we wonderwhere the years went. We raise our families, see ourgrandchildren being born, in some cases lose our

spouse. Our energy isn’t what it used to be. The house is harder to take care of. Some face health issues. Most of us would agree though that we want to remain in ourhome for as long as possible. The growing trend is toremain at home.

There are so many resources in the community now to assist older individuals to remain at home. Private home care agencies are available to provide cleaning, housekeeping, laundry, help withbathing, shopping and errands. These agencies are licensed; their staffare trained in elderly issues and in many cases are bonded. Cautionshould be used on using private individuals offering these services.They may be less expensive than an agency, but many times “you getwhat you pay for”. Usually if an individual has assets then payment

is strictly fee for service. There also may be a minimum number of shifthours required in order for the worker to come to your home.

So what if you have no assets other than your house and are on afixed income? The Area Agency on Aging may be able to help. Thereare many programs within the agency to help older people remainindependent on a low-income budget. It could be a matter of justneeding Meals on Wheels and help with cleaning to more extensiveassistance that requires a certified nurses’ aide or a registered nurse.People are encouraged to apply for services ahead of time and notwait for a crisis to occur as there can be lengthy waiting lists. TheArea Agency on Aging is administered under the Greater ErieCommunity Action Committee (GECAC) and can be reached by calling (814)-459-4581.

Sometimes when older adults are hospitalized for illnesses orsurgeries they may need some rehabilitation or skilled monitoringwhen they are discharged home. In this circumstance, skilled homehealth care may be warranted. There are numerous home health care agencies in the area. You have a choice. If you have a preferenceof an agency in the area do not be afraid to tell your physician orhospital discharge planner before you are discharged from thehospital. Skilled home care can provide skilled nursing monitoring,physical, occupational and speech therapies, and social servicesright in your home. These services are paid for by your insurance.Be sure to ask about payment and if there are any out of pocketcosts. All insurances differ.

A great resource to find a listing of all of the above services can be found in the Guide to Services-Erie County. The IndependentCouncil on Aging is responsible for publishing this guide for ErieCounty older adults and their families. It is updated annually. You can obtain your free copy from any hospital discharge planner,the Area Agency on Aging or by calling the Independent Council on Aging office at 835-7485.

Brevillier Village, Non-Profit Housing and Healthcare for theelderly provides all levels of care from independent living to skillednursing and short-term rehabilitation. We believe in maintaining andpromoting someone’s independence in the least restrictive settingpossible. For more information about our housing or healthcareoptions contact our Admissions Department at (814)-899-8600.

20 724.942.0940 to advertise | Harborcreek

OK, You Are Aging...Now What?

EVLAMinimally Invasive

Procedure

Do you suffer from tired, achy legs with bulging varicose veins., Or maybe you just have clusters of unsightly, small purple veins that bother you and you wonder what can be done about them?

Rest assured you are not alone in these concerns. Approximately 30% of American adults has signs and symptoms of varicose veins. Varicose veins are essentially superficial veins that have lost the ability to effectivelytransport blood back to the heart. Varicose veins can range from large, ugly,ropy veins to smaller clusters of superficial (close to the surface) purpleveins. Many patients will experience pain, achiness, heaviness and swelling. If left untreated these varicose veins can lead to inflammation of the vein(phlebitis), skin discoloration of the lower legs, skin breakdown and ulcerscan ultimately occur. Years ago patients ignored this problem or were toldthe condition was "cosmetic". Many times, if they did seek treatment, theresults were often disappointing, or they were left with disfiguring scars.

Over the past several years, greater understanding of varicose veins hasallowed for more effective treatments. The use of painless, noninvasiveultrasound to diagnose the problem and pinpoint the cause is the standard

of care. Treatment for even the largest and most problematic veins can nowtake less than an hour, require little or no anesthesia, and allow patients toreturn to their normal activities immediately. All this done in the safety andcomfort of an office setting. Many times patients are anxious to receivetreatment because they have previously heard an unpleasant story or knownsomeone who had been subjected to previous treatment in years past thatwas much more invasive than what is available today. The majority of peopleare familiar with stories of past varicose vein treatments. Unfortunately,many are unfamiliar with the significant advances in treatment for varicoseveins that allows for more effective and less invasive treatment.This minimally invasive, office-based care, is standard of care for the

physicians at the Circulatory Centers. All new patients are initially evaluatedat a no cost, no obligation consultation. A state of the art ultrasoundevaluation is performed in our ICAVL accredited vascular lab to diagnoseany venous problems. The Circulatory Center staff members will then meetwith the patient and offer a customized treatment plan based on eachpatient’s specific needs. At the Circulatory Centers treatment protocols ofteninvolve effective therapies such as; sclerotherapy or Endovenous LaserAblation (EVLA). The physicians at the Circulatory Centers continuallyreview the evolving literature and treatment standards so a contemporaryand effective treatment plan can be individualized for every patient. Sclerotherapy, performed in one of our local offices, by an experienced

provider, is often used to treat smaller veins. During this visit a smallamount of medication is injected into the target vein which causes it tocollapse. The body then reabsorbs this vein over the course of severalweeks. A support stocking is worn for a brief period to help compress theveins and allow for them to collapse naturally. Sclerotherapy is performedin a thirty minute office visit and involves no ‘down time.’ EVLA is also performed in the office by a physician. This procedure

is often used to treat larger veins. A flexible laser fiber is inserted into theproblem vein using ultrasound guidance. This procedure is done with localanesthesia and takes about forty minutes. The laser produces intense energywhich causes the vein to close down. Patients return to their normal dailyactivities immediately. A support stocking is worn for several days afterEVLA and patients are encouraged to walk to promote blood flow thru theremaining healthy veins. All this is done in the comfort and safety of ouroffice through a 1/8 inch incision and little or no scaring!With the generally accepted knowledge of venous insufficiency

and varicose veins, 95% of our procedures are covered by insurance. At the Circulatory Center each patient is assigned a Patient AccountRepresentative who will help them navigate the often confusing sea of insurance regulations and billing. So what do you have to lose? Only those ugly painful varicose veins.


This Industry Insight was written by Dr. Paul Shields.

Dr. Paul Shields completed his undergraduate studies at Gannon University in Erie,PA. He then went on to earn his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1999. Dr. Shields subsequentlycompleted a three year Family Medicine residency and is board certified by theAmerican Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians (AOBFP). Dr. Shields practicesmedicine full time in the Erie area as a physician with Erie Family Medical Group.

After a terrible fall down the stairs, Bev DiCarlo couldn’t move her arms andlegs, and wasn’t sure if that paralysis wouldbe permanent or not.

A year later, at age 65, she competed in her first triathlon.

DiCarlo took that fateful tumble in April,2007, and landed face-first into a planter,which broke her fall and saved her fromflying out of a second floor window. Shecouldn’t move, but she could talk.

In the hospital, doctors weren’t sure howextensive or temporary her paralysis would beuntil the swelling around her spine subsided.

At her bedside, her son—who participated in Iron Man competitions—and herdaughter, a triathlete, jokedwith her to keep her spiritsup and told her that soon she would be joining them in their competitions.

“I told them that ifeverything turned out OK I would join them, and then I had to honor that,” saysDiCarlo.

DiCarlo recovered from her injuries and,

by November of that year, was cleared by her doctor to pursue her exercise andtraining regimen. “Of course, I had made a promise and I needed to keep it.”

But, there was another obstacle toconquer before DiCarlo could compete in her first triathlon, a competition in whichcompetitors swim, run and bike – she didn’tknow how to swim. So, she signed up forswimming lessons at the YMCA.

Laughing, she tells the story of her firstday of lessons. She went to the pool only tofind a class of preschoolers. Her name wason the class register, listed as a student age 6 or 5, not 65. The lifeguard offered to workwith her the next morning and taught herhow to swim.

By Dana Black McGrath


The following April, almost exactly oneyear after her accident, DiCarlo competed in her first triathlon.

“I did three or four triathlons thatsummer,” she says, “but the part of it that I really liked was the running.” She begantraining in September of that year and ranher first half-marathon. Then, she had theidea to run a half-marathon in all 50 states.

Joined by her children, they decided tomake this proposition a family affair. And,they also decided that if they were going to do it, they wanted to do it for a cause.

DiCarlo’s oldest grandson has autismand had been involved with programsthrough the Barber National Institute.

“They have been so good in helping himthat we decided to donate the pledges fromour races to support their programs for thosewith special needs,” she explains. The familypays for their own expenses for the races and travel, so 100 percent of all pledges anddonations are given directly to the BarberNational Institute.

As of this December, DiCarlo hadfinished her 25th race and “Race WithGrammy” has raised just over $20,000.

In January, she plans to do two more racesback-to-back, one in Mississippi on aSaturday and one in Alabama on a Sunday.

Her ultimate goal is to raise $100,000 by2014. DiCarlo will turn 68 in March. She plansto have completed all 50 races by December,2014, when she will be 70 years old.

To keep up her pace, DiCarlo trains sixdays a week. Two days per week she runs for one hour, one day per week she runsanywhere from four to 15 miles, and on the other days she swims or bikes. On theseventh day, she laughs, “you need to takeone day to be lazy.”

Famed trainer Jeff Galloway helped her put together a training schedule, whichshe monitors by computer. “It’s reallyimportant,” she says of her training,“because I need to stay injury free.”

Amazingly, DiCarlo did not run orexercise before her accident and did notstart her intense athletic training until after her recovery. Now she is enjoying the rewards of her new lifestyle.

“Health wise, I have more energy. I don’ttake any medication, and I have no bonedensity problems,” she says. “Exercise helpsyour mind, helps your body and as peopleget older, they shouldn’t be afraid ofexercise. It is never too late to start.”

As she continues on her quest to conquerall 50 states, DiCarlo, a retired teacher,enlists the help of her grandchildren. Aftershe decides which race she will run, hergrandchildren research the area and come up with ideas about where to go and what to see during her travels.

“It is a great learning tool for thechildren,” she says. And, the one who does the research is the one who gets to keep the race T-shirt as a reward.

To find out where DiCarlo will be runningnext, or to make a contribution, visit herwebsite at www.racewithgrammy.com. In2012, she will be doing several back-to-backraces (one state on a Saturday and aneighboring state on a Sunday).


Dave, Aidan and Grammy. Photo by the Erie Times News.

“Exercise helps yourmind, helps your bodyand as people get older,they shouldn’t be afraidof exercise. It is never too

late to start.”–Bev DiCarlo

Fairfield Hose is equipped with an enginerescue truck for extrication, a pumper, anambulance and a tanker truck which carries2,000 gallons of water and special foam forextinguishing chemical fires. It has some of the finest equipment of any firestation in western Pennsylvania.But even the best equipment needsproperly trained individuals or itbecomes useless for fighting fires.

Fairfield Hose will answer over300 calls this year to save lives andproperty and with only 20 activevolunteers. According to JimHawryliw, chief of Fairfield Hosefor the past eight years, the firecompany had around 50 volunteers in the 1950s. The company, which was formed in1945, has experienced a slow and steady declineof members over the years, which is reflective of fire companies across the state, including thefire departments of Harborcreek and Brookside.“Families used to have only one person workingin the household. Now usually both spouseswork and may even be working two jobs,” says

Chief Hawryliw. Hawryliw is himself a singleparent who works long hours.

The fire department has partially been able to sustain its service with the help of

high school and college students who help fill the void of volunteers.The downside is that when thestudents get older, they leave forcollege in other states or get jobswhich demand all of their time. Theirnew responsibilities leave little timefor firefighting. Although Hawryliw is extremely grateful for the help fromthe young people, he would like to seemore members aged 25 and abovewho are established in the community

come forward to volunteer.

After so much documentation about thehealth dangers of firefighting and rigorousphysical activity, many would-be volunteersnever even consider the fire service. But asHawryliw points out, people of all ages areneeded. “Many people think you have to beyoung and healthy to volunteer with the fire

department, but it’s just not true. We have jobs that any

[age person can do].” For example, people areneeded to drive the trucks or pull water hosesfrom the truck. There are people needed todirect traffic around a fire scene for the safety of the crew. “Whatever someone wants to do,that’s what they do. Everyone is not required to go into burning buildings.” After each fire call, the trucks must be washed and all theequipment cleaned and packed away for the next emergency. An individual might volunteer

for cleaning responsibilities only. Help is also needed with fundraising events. At thepresent moment, one of the greatest needs is for volunteer emergency medical technicians.The paramedics (which are a higher level oftraining) are paid staff, but the emergencymedical technicians, or EMT’s are all volunteerstaff. EMT training takes approximately fourmonths to complete. The EMT assists theparamedic on calls and drives the ambulance.This essential service is eventually used byalmost all members of the community at onetime or another.

In order to become a firefighter, anindividual must complete Fire Essentials, a special four-month training program forfirefighters. Though four months may soundlike a lengthy time commitment, the classes areconveniently held at various times so that those

Find Out What Your LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT Has Been Up To LatelyBy Pamela Palongue


“I tell my firefighters, ‘I’m not asking for 100%.I’m only asking for 30%to 40%. If you can give a few hours now andthen, it helps to make it easier for everyone.’”

–Jim Hawryliw, chief of Fairfield Hose


who work and have otherobligations can attend.They are also scheduled in nearby fire stations sothat there is generally a classwithin a few minutes, drivefrom anyone’s home.Although the training isspecially designed forfirefighters, the knowledgeis extremely useful for allcitizens. Classes onhazardous materials arecovered along with traffic

safety, how to handle chemical fires, fire safetyin the home and many other useful subjects.

“We’re members of the communityhelping members of the community,” saysHawryliw. When asked how he manages todevote time to the fire company in addition to family responsibilities, Hawryliw says, “I tell my firefighters, ‘I’m not asking for 100%.I’m only asking for 30% to 40%. If you can givea few hours now and then, it helps to make it easier for everyone.’”

It may also help to make it cheaper. Thevolunteer fire companies of Harborcreekenable citizens to feel safe without having topay taxes to support the fire service. If enoughvolunteers cannot be attracted to the firecompanies to keep them operational, thenpaid services will become the norm, withresidents footing the bill.

“If we can get volunteers, then we may be able to survive,” says Hawryliw. In additionto the obvious economic advantages of avolunteer fire service is the connectedness of the community and tradition of friendshelping friends. Volunteer firefighters aremore than just fellow volunteers; they’re a family who work together to save the livesand homes of people you know.

If you would like more information on Fairfield Hose Company, you may visitwww.fairfieldfiredept.8m.com. There will be a new updated website in the coming months.If you are interested in volunteering withFairfield Hose, meetings are held eachWednesday night at 6:30 p.m. at the stationlocated at 4896 Eastlake Road, Erie, PA16511. Harborcreek and Brookside firecompanies are also in need of volunteers.Their meetings are held each Tuesday eveningor you may contact the fire departmentsdirectly at 814.897.5758 for Brookside or 814.899.8304 for Harborcreek.


I f thoughts of an old-fashioned Christmas conjure up the wholesome image of Ma in her kerchief and Pa in his cap while old St. Nick silently fills the stockings, and

sugarplums dance through the heads of sleeping children, youwouldn’t be too far off from the magic of the holiday that was broughtto Harborcreek Township this holiday season.

On Friday, December 9, Harborcreek Township hosted its secondannual “Old-Fashioned Christmas Light Up Night,” an evening thathas quickly become a favorite community-spirited event for residentsof all ages.

Picture the anticipation in the little ones’ faces as they await a visitfrom none other than Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, who come ‘roundthe township building on a trolley pulled by two draft horses while the DJ plays “Here Comes Santa Claus.” Upon their arrival at the front

of the building, Santa and Mrs. Claus greet the delightedchildren and receive a warm welcome from townshipsupervisors Tim May, Dean Pepicello, and Joe Peck.

In each of the past two years, one lucky child has been chosen by Santa to help him flip the switch andofficially turn on the township’s Christmas tree lights – a magnificent display of thousands of twinkling lights. Ten evergreen trees were brought in and decorated for the occasion along with the centerpiece tree, which is partof the township’s permanent landscaping and has beendubbed the “Blizzard Tree” for the unique way in which itis decorated for the holidays. After the official tree lighting,guests were encouraged to join Santa and Mrs. Claus on a horse drawn trolley ride or to walk along the trail for

Old-Fashioned ChristmasHarborcreek Hosts an

By Aimee Nicolia

Calista (age 5), Eliada (age 11), Xavier (age10), Connor (age 5)

Zachary (age 11), Michael (age 9), Alexandra (age 7)


a close-up view of the decorated trees. This year,children were also invited to visit Santa and Mrs. Clausin their cottage where they were treated to a candy cane and the chance to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas.

Meanwhile, the Harbor Creek Vocal Ensemble ledfolks outside in traditional Christmas carols. Whileinside the township building, the Chamber ofCommerce gave everyone a chance to warm up withsome free hot chocolate and holiday cookies. Alsoinside the building, kids could create a homemadeholiday craft or color a picture. In addition, this year the event welcomed the Harbor Creek High Schoolbasketball cheerleaders who helped to put some extracheer into the holidays!

We all know that as magical as Santa is, even he can’t make an event like this happen all on his own. That’s why the townshiphas many of “Santa’s elves” to thank for helping to make the Old-Fashioned Christmas Light Up Night a success. Special thanks goout to the Harborcreek Chamber of Commerce; the Conns ofNorth East who provided Santa’s draft horses; Waste Managementwhich provided financial support to purchase the energy efficient

LED lights; Pine Creek Structures which provided Santa’s “cottage”;Christine Thomas, director of the Harbor Creek Vocal Ensemble;DJ Josh Bennett; Mandy Blackhurst, Harbor Creek cheerleaderadvisor; and all of the township employees who pitched in with the outstanding decorations.

Miriam (age 14), Erin (age 14), Collin (age 15), Deanne(age 17)

Samantha (age 14), Dani (age 15), Emma(age 14)

Logan (age 5), Danica (age 5), Dana (age 7), Issac (age 8),Carlie (age 9)

I

n a downturned economy, it is not surprising that moreand more families are finding themselves in need and oftenstruggling to put food on the table.

At Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania,which distributes through a member agency inHarborcreek, the number of clients servedis on the rise, according to SamanthaLynch, public relations manager.

Second Harvest is the only food bank in northwesternPennsylvania, and suppliesprovisions to food pantries, soupkitchens and shelters that directlyhelp those in need. The differencebetween a food bank and a foodpantry, Lynch explains, is that a foodbank serves as a storage facility orwarehouse and ships donations to affiliatedagencies that directly serve clients.

In Harborcreek, the member agency supported by SecondHarvest is the Ella Cochran Food Pantry.

While the number of clients served by these individualfood pantries may fluctuate, Second Harvest reports that thefood bank overall served 72,600 people throughout thenorthwestern Pennsylvania region last fiscal year and provideda total of 8.3 million pounds of food.

From that total, the Ella Cochran Food Pantry received74,826 pounds of food from Second Harvest during the lastfiscal year.

“A large amount of our food really does stay in ErieCounty,” says Lynch.

While overall need may be on the rise, at this time ofyear—during the holiday season—there always seemsto be an increase in need at the area food pantries.

“This is the time of year when heating and utility costs increase,and often people must choose between paying for that versuspaying for food,” explains Lynch. Sometimes the season brings a choice between buying presents and buying food.

So, especially at this time of year, there is an increasedneed for donations, support and volunteers. If thereis more need, that requires more donations.And, when there are more donations, there is more need for volunteer help to sort,package and distribute food. “It’s a trickleeffect,” says Lynch.

Second Harvest receives donationsmainly three ways, she explains: from the community, from food manufacturersand farmers, and from grocery stores.

Often Second Harvest will receive largequantities of certain foods that then need to be broken

down into smaller amounts and repackaged – a task oftenaccomplished with the help of the organization’s volunteers.

Volunteer opportunities are available Monday through Friday,along with Wednesday evenings and Saturdays. Help is needed to sort items, repack food, drive to pick up donations, and evenprovide clerical help in the office.

All volunteer hours and helpmust be scheduled – no walk-insare accepted, says Lynch. Thosewho are interested in lending ahand may call the food bank at814.459.3663 or check the websiteat www.eriefoodbank.org to learnmore and check the calendar for volunteer opportunities.

Usually the minimum age tovolunteer at the food bank is 14

Works to Fight Hunger

By Dana Black McGrath



years old. But, Second Harvest hosts family days that allow for children as young as age 6 to come in with their families to help out.

“We provide them with child-friendly activities,” Lynch explains, such as sticking labels. Often the food bank will receive donations of jars that are missing labels, and the items must beidentified. The children especially love putting the label“stickers” on jars of peanut butter and jelly.

Frequently, food drives are organized tobenefit Second Harvest. “Our community is great when it comes to food collections,”Lynch says.

Those who are interested in conducting a food drive or fundraiser are stronglyencouraged to contact Second Harvest first.The food bank can help with planning andprovide bins for collections as well as makingarrangements for pickup.

Second Harvest also offers a “Most Needed Items” list to help guide those who wish to help.Items on the list include canned meats, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, breads, cereals, cannedsoups, and canned fruits and vegetables. Other non-food items on the list include householdcleaners, dish soap, toilet paper and diapers.

The organization keeps track of supporters and honors them during an annual ceremony, the Bread Box Awards, to recognize those who have collected food or money for the food bank.

Second Harvest itself has been recognized for its responsible fiscal management. CharityNavigator, an organization that rates charities based on their fiscal responsibility, has awardedSecond Harvest its highest ranking—four out of four stars—for the past four years.

To keep track of trends and needs in its service area, Second Harvest conducts a hunger studyevery four years. The last study was conducted in 2010. Results showed that Second Harvestserved 72,600 clients that year, a significant increase from the previous study that cited 52,000clients served.

As stated earlier, Second Harvest provided its member agencies with 8.3 million pounds of foodduring the 2010-2011 fiscal year. That was a substantial increase over the previous 2009-2010 fiscalyear when the organization provided member agencies with 7.7 million pounds of food.

Of the thousands of clients served through Second Harvest, 30 percent are children. That led to the organization establishing programs to support needy children throughout the region.

The Kids Cafe program provides nutritious meals and snacks through an afterschool programin which children also receive help with homework, education about nutrition, recreationalactivities, and a meal.

“We realized that there were children who were going home and not getting fed,”says Lynch. “This program has been a huge help.” Children are served through Second

Harvest’s member agencies.

Operation Backpack is a similar program. Needy children are given food on Friday to take home for the weekend. They receive child-

friendly foods that are ready to eat or easily prepared in a microwave.

Those who find themselves in need may contact thefood bank or visit the website to make a discreet inquiry to see which participating agency serves their area.

“This is the time of year when heating and utility costs increase, and often people must choose

between paying for that versus paying for food.”–Samantha Lynch



Starting a wellness lifestyle doesn'thave to be a major change; in fact,when choosing to make the “wellnesschange" smaller is better. Your plan is to set in motion a lifestyle change.Huge changes made overnight rarelysucceed. We often expect things tohappen in an instant and when wedon't get what we want or see theresults immediately, we becomediscouraged and quit. We set ourselvesup for failure from the beginning.

First StepsYour ultimate goal is wellness,

and it's more than just an absence of symptoms. It is a true expressionof health in every area of your life:Physical, emotional and spiritual.Considering these three categoriesof wellness, you need to make a listof the top five areas were you wantto improve.Success begins by setting small

things in motion. Set a steady paceand go the distance, like a marathonrunner. Here are examples:

Lose weightLosing weight is linked to two

important lifestyle choices: nutritionalchanges and physical activity.Start small by increasing your

low-glycemic vegetable intake, thegreener the better, avoiding high-glycemic vegetables such as corn,potatoes, carrots and peas.Start by eating one extra low-

glycemic vegetable a day; each monthadd another vegetable to your diet.Within five months you'll be feelinghealthier and losing weight.We need physical activity for a

minimum of 20 min. of continuousactivity 3 day a week. Pick two days aweek and walk out for 10 min., thenwalk home. After two weeks add aday and begin walking three times aweek. Week 6, walk out for 15 min.,then walk home. The ultimate goal is to be walking 45 min. at a time forfive days a week.

Decrease Caffeine, Sugar andOther ChemicalsBegin reducing coffee from a cup a

day for two weeks, and then another fortwo weeks until you are down to only acup a day. As for soft drinks, you shouldconsume no more than one/monthdue to chemical content.This also works with snacking,

sugar intake, chemically altered diet snacks or drinks, and highcarbohydrate/low-protein diets.Slowly decrease your intake overtime and you'll hardly notice it, but you will be making a change.

Less Over-the-Counter MedicationsAllergy medications, pain relievers,

sleep aids, antacids, cold remedies andweight-loss drugs are taken routinelyby many. "Self-medicating" can bedangerous due to drug interaction risksand side-effects of drugs. Talk to yourfamily wellness chiropractor about anyOTCs that you take and why; theremay be healthier, holistic options.

RESTEight hours of sleep is vital to

mental and emotional wellness. Notgoing to bed early enough, insomnia,or not getting restful sleep can beproblems. Determine each of theseproblems you face.

Going to bed earlier is just amatter of making the change; startgoing to bed 15 minutes earlier everyfew weeks. Insomnia can have severalcauses such as caffeine or reading tooclose to bedtime, as well as stress.Fitful sleep - consider your mattress,diet or physical activity.

Decrease Stress and Increase PeaceThe problem with busy lifestyles

is that we don't allow ourselves anytime to shut down or decompress,

and watching television or playing on the computer doesn't count.Downtime is several minutes spentletting go of the stresses of the day. Begin with 5 min. of being quiet.

If you meditate or pray then do so,but even just sitting and trying toempty your mind of recent thoughtswill help to calm you down. A quietstroll or standing in your backyardcontemplating the stars can beequally peaceful. The goal is to let go of stresses and allow your mindand body to fully rest.

Successful goals in summaryThe concept of baby steps is not

new but where we can apply it couldbe. The areas of our lives that fallunder the category of wellness arelimitless, only we know where wereally want to make a change. Make

small changes over a long periodtime and you will succeed.

Dr. Zacherl is dedicated toproviding you with the best inFamily Wellness Care. So Take aMoment Today to Discuss with YourFamily Wellness Chiropractor anyconcerns you may have regardingYour Family's Wellness Goals.

This Industry Insight was written by Dr. Troy Zacherl and Lorraine Zacherl.

Dr. Troy Zacherl has been practicing back in his hometown of Erie for over 12years, with extensive work with athletes; the baby boomer generation; pregnantwomen and children too. He is a LIFE Chiropractic graduate; holds a F.I.C.P.A. inPregnancy & Pediatrics. He supports a "wellness" philosophy and loves to spendshis free time playing sports (e.g. tennis and swimming) with his children and wife.

Lorraine Zacherl, MS; CLC has been teaching nutrition for over 15 years. She has been facilitating and advocating groups of mothers and mothers-to-be withbreastfeeding and making healthy choices as they raise their families in busytimes. Lorraine frequently gives talks on whole food nutrition and organizing manyfamily oriented activities through Chiropractic Solutions/Healthy Erie.com.

The Fresh Start toWellness


Make Your HomeCleaner&Greener

F

REAL ESTATE HARBORCREEK





Reach over 16,823 potential customers in Harborcreek



DasherDancerDonnerBlitzenCometCupidPrancerVixenRudolph

W I N T E R 2 0 1 1

Z O Y D Y U R N B U R F B W JZ Z P U W E J D D E O E C L EC S X E N V B Y H B L Z T E FM C C N T K I S C I J V U E BX P O O B I A C L M P W R I UN D R H M D D J J G Y X G G RE Z U A I E T Q R P F H K R JZ W D N N P T Q C N M N W B JT O O A D C N Z V Q P M K V KI K L K T A E E D O Q J R I VL V P E Z B N R T B K Q B X EB I H Y V O D C S S H M T E VC U P I D I T J E R L A J N GO T K E G C Y M L R W L S K FK I O O C S P N G V U B R R L

Did you doa fantasticart projectat schoolthis year?We wouldlove to seeit!

Have your mom or dad take a picture of you and yourproject and send it to us!

We think everyone should seewhat a great artist you are!

E-mail your pics to :[email protected]


“Let us make a fan out of you!” That’s both the moniker and approach of the Erie General Electric Federal Credit Union. In fact, it’s something they have been doing for over 75 years!

But don’t let their name fool you; Erie General Electric FCU is open to the entire community. “We are really proud of our GEheritage at the Credit Union,” says Trent Mason, Chief MarketingOfficer. “We also want to be clear about the fact that if you livein Erie or Crawford County, you can use our services too!” Hecontinues, “We work really hard to try and earn people’s trust and their business. Our tagline is also an invitation: we are askingfor people to give us the chance to serve them - to give us theopportunity to make them into a fan of what we are all about!”

When you enter the doors of the Credit Union’s office at 4268Buffalo Road, it is easy to see that it’s not the standard banking

business as usual with Erie General Electric FCU. The Buffalo Roadoffice was built as a full retail branch that seems to even go againsttraditional models. For example, there isn’t a teller line, but rather,teller stations where credit union members are helped after theyhave been able to relax next to a rock fireplace and watch TV.

“The Buffalo Road branch is a really nice addition to theHarborcreek community. You won’t find that stuffy attitude thathas become so commonplace in banking,” says Mason. “In fact,” he says, “we want people to remember that with us, they areempowered to own part of the Credit Union and we try and keep that first in our minds and in theirs.”

“Some people look downright surprised as we offer them a free coffee or can of pop! It’s just a little thing, but it can make a difference in someone’s day. I think people have become so used to getting mistreated by their bank or financial institution; theydon’t even know what to think when someone truly goes out of their way to make them smile!”

Erie General Electric Federal Credit Union is a non-profitfinancial institution that provides checking and savings, as well as loans and other financial services to all its members. Because it’s not-for-profit, members can benefit from higher returns on their savings, lower rates on loans, and fewer fees overall.

The Credit Union also prides themselves on community serviceand last year alone, their employees raised over $68,000 for localcharities. This has led to them being named the National CreditUnion Administration’s Community Credit Union of the Year andalso to once again being named Erie’s Choice in both the Bankingand Credit Union categories!

Complementing their Buffalo Road office, the credit unionoperates branches throughout the community in order to serveover 35,000 members. Locations include: 2154 E. Lake Road, 1623 East 38th Street, 1595 West 26th Street, and 5 Grant Street,in North East, PA.

In addition to their branches, the Credit Union offers manyconveniences, including free on-line account access, and a callcenter that is available for service inquiries and to take loanapplications 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They also offersurcharge-free ATM usage at many locations throughout the tri-state area. (Visit their website egefcu.org for more information.)

The Erie General Electric Credit Union has seen a lot of changes since its modest beginnings in 1936, but through it all, its underlying principle has and always will remain the same – if you give them the opportunity, they will make a fan out of you!

Business Spotlight



FINANCIAL FOCUS

Adam D. Nelson is a Financial Advisor with Edward JonesInvestments, where he serves the needs of individualinvestors from his Harborcreek Township office. Hegraduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and is a native of ErieCounty. For any questions or comments please feel free to contact Adam at: 4622 Buffalo Road, Erie, PA 16510,814.897.9892 or [email protected]

401(k) Review and Rollover

Your 401(k) offers tax-deductible contributions, tax-deferredgrowth of earnings potential and a variety of investmentoptions — so it’s a great tool for building retirement savings.

Yet like all tools, your 401(k) must be used properly to get the bestresults. That’s why you should review your 401(k) at least annuallyand make whatever adjustments are needed.

Depending on where you work, you may get some 401(k) reviewhelp from your plan provider. But if that assistance isn’t available, you might want to consult with a financial professional to make sureyou’re getting the maximum benefit from your plan.

As you begin to review your 401(k), your first question shouldprobably be this: “How much should I contribute?” At the very least, try to put in enough to receive your employer’s matchingcontribution, if one is offered. If you don’t earn this match, you areessentially walking away from “free money.” Beyond this, though,the amount you put into your 401(k) might depend on what otherretirement savings vehicles you have available. For instance, if you’reeligible, you may also want to contribute to a Roth IRA, whichoffers tax-free growth potential, provided you’ve had your accountfor five years and don’t start taking withdrawals until you’re 591/2.

Of course, it’s not only how much you put into your 401(k) thatdetermines its success — it’s also how you choose to allocate yourinvestment dollars. (Keep in mind that asset allocation does notguarantee a profit or protect against loss.) Your 401(k) may have a dozen or more investment choices, such as stock funds, bond funds and money market funds. To choose the right investment mix, you’ll need to consider a variety of factors, including these:

� Your age — Generally speaking, the younger you are, the moreaggressive you can afford to be with your 401(k) investments,because you’ll have decades in which to potentially overcome theinevitable down periods of the market. As you get older, you maywish to invest somewhat more conservatively, but you’ll still needsome growth potential in your 401(k) portfolio.

� Your goals — Everyone has different goals for retirement. You mightwant to retire early and travel the world, while your co-worker desiresto work as long as possible and then, upon retirement, stay close tohome and pursue hobbies. Because you each have different goals,with different income needs, you also may need to follow differentinvestment strategies within your 401(k).

� Your other retirement income sources — If you have a variety of retirement income sources — a pension from another job, an IRA, a spouse with generous retirement benefits — you may need to invest differently, perhaps less aggressively, than if you had feweroptions for retirement income.

Apart from putting away as much as you can into your 401(k) andchoosing the right investment mix, what else can you do to get the mostout of your plan? Here’s a suggestion: If you have worked at various jobsand acquired multiple 401(k)s, consider rolling them over into oneaccount. You might save money on fees and reduce paperwork, but moreimportantly, you’ll be able to concentrate your resources and pursue a unified investment approach, with your investment dollars workingtogether toward your ultimate retirement goals.

As you can see, a 401(k) review and rollover can reward you in manyways — so do whatever it takes to maximize your 401(k)’s performance.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward JonesFinancial Advisor.

Can Be Rewarding


Presque Isle in the WinterEmbrace the Season

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

If you’ve ever spent the winter months in the Erie area getting a little too comfortable in your old sweat pants and fuzzy socks andwatched a few too many reruns on television, finally coming down witha major case of cabin fever, then it’s time to make a change and embracethe season! In fact, we dare you to try to find one weekend at PresqueIsle when there isn’t something different and enjoyable to do!

For instance, if you’re a nature lover, the peninsula is a spectacularplace to explore, right here in your own backyard. What makes it such a special place to be during the winter months is its quiet beauty. As Anne Desarro, Presque Isle’s environmental education specialistsupervisor, puts it, “The landscape of the peninsula when it is frozenover and the ice dunes have formed is an otherworldly kind of

beautiful; it is amazingly peaceful.” According to Desarro, the wintermonths are a great time to experience the region’s wildlife. “You can see the animal tracks, the critters and the birds. It’s all so much easier to see when everything is snow covered and the leaves are off the trees.”

Presque Isle has always been an ideal spot for bird watching in everyseason; in fact the peninsula has been named as one of the top 10 birding

spots in the country! This time of year, you’ll see birds (such as theTundra Swan) that fly here from the north. As part of the peninsula’spublic programming, there are a number of bird watching excursionswhich are led by experts from the park who are able to show you howto spot and identify various birds in their natural habitat.

Park visitors looking for a little fresh air and exercise are encouragedto enjoy the easily accessible trails. The multipurpose trail is kept open and cleared from the park’s entrance to the ranger station so that walkers and joggers can enjoy a view of Presque Isle Bay and thecityscape, as well as the beauty of the nature surrounding them.

For the slightly more adventuresome, the wooded trails are a perfect place for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Those who have their own equipment and knowledge of the sports are free to venture around the trails on their own.

If you’re brave enough, or curious enough, to walk the wooded trails inthe dark, then the peninsula’s popular night winter hiking tour is the onefor you. These tours are offered monthly and are facilitated by the park’snaturalists, who keep things exciting by varying the locations and topicseach time. Some of the hikes take place under the light of the full moon,while other hikes are purposely scheduled for darker nights so that hikers

By Aimee Nicolia

Photos contributed courtesy of Presque Isle State Park.

must rely solely on their own night vision and other senses. According toDesarro, “It’s a really unique opportunity for folks to enjoy the peninsulaafter dark, since the park closes at sunset and you would not otherwise be able to walk on the trails at night.”

When Presque Isle Bay freezes over, it’s certainly not the end of fishingand boating season in Erie. In fact, it’s a wonderful time to see iceboatsspeed across the bay. It’s also when you’ll see dozens of ice fishermen pull their sleds out onto the ice and set up tents for a day of fishing. OnFebruary 11, 2012, the peninsula will offer a Family Ice Fishing event, in conjunction with the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie, giving adults and children a chance to learn a new skill. The event will take place at the RotaryPavilion. All necessary fishing gear will be provided and skilled volunteerswill be on hand to teach children and adults how to fish. No priorknowledge or equipment is needed and registration is not required.

On Sunday, February 19, golfers can put a spin on the phrase “havinga ball.” The second annual Joe Roots Frostbite Open Golf Tournamentwill be hosted by the Presque Isle Partnership. Pins, flags and cups will beset up on the ice to form the course, with lots of giveaways and prizes.“Last year, the tournament proved to be such a hit that not only did wehave 170 golfers, but even more signed up on a waiting list to play!” saidSteve McDermott, executive director of the Presque Isle Partnership. Fordates and registration for the Frostbite Open, visit www.discoverpi.com.

If staying inside and creating something beautiful is more your idea ofa great winter day, then the Tom Ridge Environmental Center has craftmaking classes that are sure to please. Beach glass jewelry making, whichis always a favorite, is just one of the many classes where you can learnhow to make something unique out of materials found in nature.

And speaking of crafts, on December 17, adults and kids alike can create a holiday nature craft as part of “TREC the Halls” at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. The event is a great opportunity for families to gear up for the season with a breakfast with Santa Claus,and a free holiday movie. Call the Sunset Café at 814.833.5843 forreservations for the breakfast.

Did we hear somebody mention popcorn? You can always sit back andenjoy the entertainment at TREC’s Big Green Screen Theatre with itsfour-story-high, 45-foot-wide movie screen that’ll really make you feellike you’re a part of the action. Many of the movies have an educational

and environmental theme. There are also special event seasonal featuressuch as this year’s latest Warren Miller film with extreme skiers andsnowboarders carving it up against breathtaking backdrops from around the world. For movie listings, show times and specials, visitwww.trecpi.org or call the Big Green Screen Theatre at 814.838.4123.

So there you have it. There really is something here for everyone at Presque Isle this winter. Why not start planning your next adventure on the peninsula right now!

For specific dates or more information on any of the programs or activities listed in this article, please visit www.trecpi.org or call814.833.7424.


“The landscape of the peninsula when it is frozen over and the ice dunes haveformed is an otherworldly kind ofbeautiful; it is amazingly peaceful.”–Anne Desarro, Presque Isle’s environmental

education specialist supervisor

| IN BEDFORD COUNTY |

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| INMERCER COUNTY |

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| INWEST ALLEGHENY |

| INWEST JEFFERSON HILLS |

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| INWOODLAND HILLS |

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