FALL 2023 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Fall 2023 Guides

Educational Resources

Health & Wellness

twpusc.org/usctoday

Celebrating four years in Upper St. Clair

The official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair

The Howard Hanna Upper St. Clair Office is

ready to help with all of your real estate needs!

180 Fort Couch Rd, Upper St. Clair, Pa 15241 • 412-833-3600

Robbins Bobbitt

Associate Broker

Bonnie Bagay

Del Burrell

Jim Clark

Kerrie Constantini

Lauren Ganoe

Janet Hensler

Diane Horvath

Frankie Kunselman

Dana Logan

Chris Longenecker

Marie Mageras

Kathy McCloskey

Renee Ringer

Shannon Rosenberry

Jen Schalk

Beth Thomas

Wendy Vespa

Suzy Voss Jody Yurcich Izzy Zehner

David Limauro, M.D. • Mark Cedar, D.O. • Nicholas Bellicini, D.O. • Xuong Lu, M.D. • Jungmin Leo Lee, M.D. • Lisa Oliva, D.O. • Robert J. Pagano, M.D. • Theresa Schuerle, D.O. • Bridger Clarke, M.D.

SOUTH HILLS ENDOSCOPY CENTER

Located at 2589 Boyce Plaza Road in Upper St. Clair

IS A STATE-OF-THE-ART FULL CARE ENDOSCOPY FACILITY PROVIDING BOTH

COLONOSCOPY AND UPPER ENDOSCOPY SCREENINGS AND SERVICES

South Hills Endoscopy Center is an independently owned and operated endoscopy center,

which may lower your out of pocket health care costs.

“Screening for colorectal cancer can save your life.”

You are eligible for a screening colonoscopy at age 45.

Check with your insurance to confirm coverage.

• We treat acid reflux, heartburn, ulcers, diarrhea, liver & pancreas disease, fecal

incontinence, change in bowel habits and hemorrhoids

• Physicians on staff at St. Clair Hospital and UPMC Mercy Hospital

• “Compassionate, personalized Anesthesia Care”

Most insurance carriers accepted

Call today 412.232.8104

2589 Boyce Plaza Road

Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

412-838-0400

2589 Boyce Plaza Road


412-838-0400 412-232-8104

100 Stoops Drive, Suite 280

Monongahela, PA 15063

724-565-5164

Here.

For You.

Integrated Care Is Better Care

Dunlap Family Outpatient Center expands

access to more comprehensive treatments

for the St. Clair Health community.

The state-of-the-art facility is designed for

seamless collaboration across disciplines,

delivering enhanced coordination of care

for patients like you.

From a full range of advanced imaging

services to an optimal environment for the

outpatient therapy experience, and more,

St. Clair Health delivers:

Comprehensive, One-Stop Outpatient Services.

Close To Home.

Services

• Cardiac Testing Center

• Diagnostic & Imaging Services

• Endoscopy Suites

• Medical Oncology & Infusion Center

• Occupational, Physical &

Speech Therapy Services

• Operating Rooms

• Pre-Admission Testing Center

• Specialty Clinics in Cardiology,

Orthopedics, Urology & Ophthalmology

• Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy

Learn more about Dunlap Family Outpatient Center

by visiting stclair.org/dunlap

stclair.org

Expert care from people who care.

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

WHO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE!

Barbara Baker Team *

412-403-5950

Lynn Banbury

412-680-5000

Justin Christy

412-478-7474

Brian and Karen

Cummings Team **

412-720-5475

Bob Dini

412-855-2058

Liz Hoyson

412-298-8825

Kim Lanphear

412-480-5830

Elva Marotta

412-287-4542

Jennifer Orebaugh

412-370-5288

Heather Orstein

412-596-5669

Nila Porter

412-913-5138

JoAnn Robb

412-860-0336

Michelle Schocker

& Ruth Weigers ***

412-725-5663

Melissa Shipley Team ****

412-849-2413

Adam Valeriano *****

412-496-7444

Christina Watson &

Lisa Watson

412-915-7276

Let us help you find your way home!

Call one of our award-winning Mt. Lebanon Regional & Upper St. Clair sales associates.

Mt. Lebanon Regional Office

412.833.7700

1679 Washington Road

Upper St. Clair Office

412.831.0100

1797 N. Highland Road

WE’RE HIRING!

THE BEST AGENTS WORK HERE AND SO SHOULD YOU!

Call Micole Tucker or Cathy Burkett for more information.

Micole Tucker,

Manager

412-861-3095

Cathy Burkett,

Assistant Manager

412-551-9616

The Preferred Realty

*Barbara Baker Team - Terry Abbott, Barbara Baker, Kate Clemons, Daniel Colaizzi, Doug Craig, Kim Kocher, Kristen Shaw, Stephanie Stewart

**Brian and Karen Cummings Team - Thomas Purcell, licensed assistant

***Michelle Schocker/Ruth Weigers - Krista Pratley, Karen Coyle, Garrett Weigers, Ryan Campbell, Judy Ward, Kelly Rackley, Hanna Ketterman

****Melissa Shipley Team - Tawnya Baier, Jordan Gropp & Glen Mercer, licensed assistants

*****Adam Valeriano - Taylor Brooks and Lindsay Leistner, licensed assistants

©2023 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate.

Equal Housing Opportunity.

Fall 2023 • Volume 29 • Issue 3

twpusc.org/usctoday • usctoday@usctoday.org

24 USCHS Celebrates the Class of 2023

32 Students Talk With Astronaut

56 Renovation Update

Features &

Around the

Township

12 Licensed to Misbehave

20 Coach’s Corner:

To Your Good Health

71 Wingfield Pines,

Allegheny Land Trust

73 Representatives’ Report

School District

23 New School Start/Dismissal

Times

27 Wagner Named Pennsylvania

Principal of the Year

41 World Language Department

Recognized for Excellence

43 Pawprints—

Meet the Unit Presidents

Township

55 Board of Commissioners’

Highlights

57 Changes Coming for

Trash and Recycling

58 Ted Hale Named Fire Chief

62 Recreation and Leisure

Services

Guides/

Directories

18 Pinebridge Commons

46 Health & Wellness

74 Educational Resources

Photo Ops

30 Prom 2023

60 Community Day 2023

64 United Senior Citizens

87 Doors of USC

The fall cover of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is

sponsored by Restore Hyper Wellness Upper St. Clair,

now celebrating four years of providing treatments

that enhance physical and mental well-being. Read

about the services they provide in their article on

page 10.

You can purchase a TODAY cover, too! Contact

usctoday@usctoday.org for specifications and rates.

80 Horses With Hope

4 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY Fall 2023

Publishers

Matthew R. Serakowski, Township Manager

Dr. John T. Rozzo, Superintendent of Schools

The award-winning, official publication of the

School District and Township of Upper St. Clair

Winter 2023 edition includes

Holiday and

Life Planning guides.

Deadlines:

Articles–September 21

Advertising–September 25

Website: twpusc.org/usctoday

Email: usctoday@usctoday.org

@usctoday

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a not-for-profit

community magazine dedicated to promoting

the Township and School District of

Upper St. Clair by recognizing the gifts

and contributions of the people who live

and work here. This year marks 29 years

of our publication.

The 115th issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR

TODAY magazine is made possible through

the combined resources of the staff and volunteers

of the Township and School District

of Upper St. Clair. Thanks are extended to

the staff and volunteers for their enthusiasm

and efforts on this continuing project.

Steering Committee

Mark S. Mansfield, Assistant Township Manager

Paul K. Fox, School District Representative

Editors and Staff

Terry Kish, Editor-in-Chief

AnneMarie Kopach, Associate Editor

Sarah Beitler, Office Manager,

Marketing & Advertising Executive

Colleen DeMarco, Advertising Executive

Kerry Turner, Advertising Executive

Dorothy Clark, Graphic Designer

Student Interns

Caleb Guarino

Miriam Gutensohn

Mark Mansfield Paul Fox Terry Kish AnneMarie Kopach Sarah Beitler Colleen DeMarco Kerry Turner Dorothy Clark

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a non-partisan

Township, School District, and community

magazine. Political advertising and political

commentary are not accepted. The publishers

of this magazine reserve the right to reject

advertising or articles inconsistent with the

objectives, image, and aesthetic standards of

the magazine.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is published and

mailed quarterly to residents and businesses in

Upper St. Clair Township. Extra copies of the

magazine are available at the Township of

Upper St. Clair Municipal Building and

Township Library. If you did not receive a copy

in the mail, call 412-833-1600, extension 2284.

Subscription Information

If you know someone living outside the

Township who would enjoy receiving our community’s

official magazine, please send a $12

check payable to UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY,

to cover mailing and handling for the next four

issues, with their name and address, including

zip code, to UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, 1820

McLaughlin Run Road, USC, PA 15241. Add

$10 to cover international mailing.

The next issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY will

be the winter 2023 issue and will be published in

November 2023. Articles that were submitted but not

published in this issue are on file for consideration

in upcoming issues. Articles and announcements

may be sent to:

Editor

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

1820 McLaughlin Run Road


or email UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY at

usctoday@usctoday.org

Article Information

Editor-in-Chief Terry Kish

phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2681

Advertising Information

Office Manager Sarah Beitler

phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284

fax: 412-851-2592

Ad file submission: dclark@usctoday.org

Errata

On page 46 of the summer 2023 edition, Steel

City Lawyer was erroneously listed as Stephen

Biedrizycki. It should have been John Biedrzycki.

Board of School Directors

Township Board of Commissioners

Dr. Daphna Gans, President

Daniel R. Paoly, President, At Large

Jennifer A. Schnore, Vice President Dante R. Plutko, Jr., Vice President, Ward 1

Barbara L. Bolas Pamela L. Enck, Ward 2

Kelly P. Hanna Robert W. Orchowski, Ward 3

Louis P. Mafrice, Jr. Todd D. Burlingame, Ward 4

Michael R. Mascaro Ronald J. Pardini, Ward 5

Angela B. Petersen

Richard I. Thomas, At Large

Hallie H. Snyder

Dr. Danielle Z. Wetzel

Thank you to our volunteer contributors this issue:

Judge Ronald Arnoni, Cindy Brophy, Kaitlynn

Campbell, Lindsay Dill, Carolyn Jones Friedrich,

Chris Gmiter, Caleb Guarino (intern & YWG),

Miriam Gutensohn (intern & YWG), Steve Henk,

Erin Kelly, Dr. Mohammed Khan, Mary Kirk, David

Kutschbach, Jay Lynch, Geoff McQueen, Rep. Natalie

Mihalek, Rep. Dan Miller, Alex Pepke, Elizabeth Reitz,

Jim Render, Haley Roberts, Dr. Beth Troy, Tina Vojtko,

and Tom Yochum.

Young Writers Guild (YWG) promotes and encourages

young writers in the Upper St. Clair School District,

grades 8–12, to provide articles and artwork of

interest for our community magazine. Email

usctoday@usctoday.org to find out how your student

can contribute.

The 115th issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is a

joint publication of the Township and School

District of Upper St. Clair.

Reproduction of this magazine, in print or web

version, in whole or in part, without the expressed

written consent of the Editor, is strictly prohibited.

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY



Phone: 412-833-1600, extension 2284

Fax: 412-851-2592

Email: usctoday@usctoday.org

Township : 412-831-9000

School District: 412-833-1600

Printed by Freeport Press

2127 Reiser Ave. SE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663

Design by DMC Design, 412-824-7844

Copyright © 1994–2023. All rights reserved.


Fall 2023 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 7

A Fall Note From the Publishers

Matthew R. Serakowski

Dr. John T. Rozzo

Welcome to our fall issue of TODAY! While the days may tease us with

memories of summer, autumn in all its glory is right around the corner.

School bells will soon be ringing, but this year, it will be a little later in the

day than usual. Learn more about the changes to the school start and dismissal

times in the school district pages (pages 22 to 45). This section is packed with information, from

a recap of graduation and end-of-the-year activities to awards and accolades for the district’s staff

and students, and more. Don’t miss the feature stories on girls’ athletics and be sure to read about

the PTSO, PTO, and PTA unit presidents.

The township section (pages 54 to 70) is also filled with lots of news and updates. Read about

Upper St. Clair’s first full-time fire chief, Ted Hale, and get updated on the renovations to the

municipal building. Both the library and the recreation department have lots of fun activities planned

for fall, so mark your calendar for your favorite events! Be prepared for the changes coming to

Upper St. Clair’s trash and recycling program by reading the information found on page 57.

Also found in this issue are several wonderful articles by our volunteer writers. From a journey

to the Dad Zone, to a look back at some questionable adolescent decision making, to a glowing

recommendation of doctors and dentists who played football at USCHS, we’re sure you’ll find

these tales informative and entertaining! We are happy to publicize your stories about life in this

community we choose to call home. Contact us if you have an adventure or commentary you’d

like to share.

Please take advantage of all our township and the surrounding area have to offer during this

glorious time of year. Autumn in western Pennsylvania truly is something special!

Sincerely,

Sincerely,


Township Manager

Dr. John T. Rozzo

Superintendent of Schools

twpusc.org/usctoday | usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us



Restore Hyper Wellness:

Prioritize Well-Being at Restore Hyper Wellness

Restore Hyper Wellness, a locally

owned franchise located in Upper

St. Clair, has become a prominent wellness

destination over the past four years.

With a mission to make hyper wellness

accessible and affordable for everyone,

Restore Hyper Wellness offers a comprehensive

range of services designed to

enhance physical and mental well-being.

As wellness becomes more mainstream,

individuals are shifting their focus

from reactive treatment to proactive,

preventative health and wellness. Let’s

explore how Restore has emerged as a

leader in the wellness industry and has

positively impacted the community of

Upper St. Clair.

The Founders and

the Franchise Journey

The concept of Restore Hyper

Wellness was founded in Austin, Texas

in 2015. Shortly thereafter, three childhood

friends who were born and raised in the

South Hills drew inspiration from the

physical demands of college football and

military service to bring the cutting-edge

wellness concept to the Pittsburgh market.

They established Restore Upper St. Clair

in August 2019, which can be found in the

Shops at Siena, just across the street from

Whole Foods.

Services Offered by

Restore Hyper Wellness

Restore Hyper Wellness offers an extensive

range of services to support individuals

on their wellness journey. These services include

cryotherapy, red light therapy, infrared

sauna, compression therapy, IV drip therapy,

intramuscular shots, mild hyperbaric oxygen

therapy, NAD+ IV therapy, biomarker

assessments, Cryoskin, Hydrafacial , and

Circadia ® Oxygen Facial. Each service is

carefully designed to address specific wellness needs, providing

comprehensive solutions to help individuals achieve their health

goals.

The Hyper Wellness Experience

When visiting Restore Hyper Wellness, guests can expect a

clean facility with modern equipment and a friendly staff that creates

a welcoming atmosphere akin to family. Understanding that

the concept of hyper wellness may be new to many, the team at

Restore is dedicated to guiding customers through their wellness

journey, ensuring they feel comfortable and informed from start

to finish. The staff takes the time to explain the benefits of each

treatment, recommend the best-fit options, and provide insights

into what to expect, fostering a personalized and exceptional

experience for every visitor.

Client receiving IV drip therapy

Client entering the whole body

cryotherapy chamber

Standout Treatments and Therapies

Among the wide array of services

offered, several treatments have gained

popularity and became standout choices

among customers. Here are three services

that Restore customers give the spotlight:

NAD+ IV therapy, a breakthrough

therapy that jump-starts cellular repair,

rejuvenates energy levels and promotes

overall well-being. The benefits of NAD+

IV therapy include boosted focus, energy,

and cellular health, improved heart health

and endurance, and accelerated healing of

muscles and tissues.

IV drip therapy is a treatment that fuels

your life and allows you to do more of

what you love. IV drips at Restore Hyper

Wellness infuse a liter of fluids with essential

vitamins, nutrients, minerals, and

amino acids to provide benefits that go far

beyond water alone. Whether you’re looking

to reduce cellular damage with vitamin C,

support your body’s energy production with

B12, or relax while promoting muscle health

with magnesium, the extensive and customizable

menu of drip ingredients provides ample

opportunities to take your wellness further

than you thought possible. This treatment

hydrates and cleanses the body, replenishes

vital nutrients, and maximizes performance

and focus under the supervision of a medical

professional.

Cryotherapy is an ancient practice, made

for the modern age. Restore offers whole body

cryotherapy sessions that last two to three

minutes at temperatures as low as minus

220 degrees. Whole body cryotherapy may

help optimize sleep, defy signs of aging, and

boost overall energy.

With a range of standout treatments

like NAD+ IV therapy, IV drip therapy, and

cryotherapy, Restore Hyper Wellness offers

individuals a comprehensive approach to their well-being. These

treatments, along with the other services provided, contribute to

the overall wellness of individuals by addressing specific needs

and promoting optimal health. Whether it’s reducing inflammation,

optimizing sleep, boosting energy, or defying the signs of

aging, the innovative modalities offered at Restore Hyper Wellness

empower individuals to feel their best and become the best

version of themselves.

The positive impact of these standout treatments on the lives

of customers is evident as they experience the transformative

effects on their physical and mental well-being. Through the

expertise and guidance of the dedicated professionals at Restore

Hyper Wellness, individuals can trust that their journey towards

optimal health is in capable hands.


Community Engagement

and Partnerships

Restore Hyper Wellness takes pride

in actively engaging with the local

community of Upper St. Clair. The

franchise collaborates with various

corporations on health and wellness

days, offering unique ways to promote

employee well-being. Through

services like IV drips and compression

therapy, Restore Hyper Wellness keeps

health and wellness at the forefront of

people’s minds.

And as a proud supporter of the

local community, Restore offers an

exclusive discount to high school

athletes. Recognizing the importance

of athletic performance and recovery,

Restore Hyper Wellness aims to help

young athletes recover faster, perform

better, and reach their full potential.

With this goal in mind, high school

athletes can take advantage of a special

offer that grants them a 50% discount on core services, the

foundation of hyper wellness.

Core services, including whole body cryotherapy, local

cryotherapy, compression therapy, infrared sauna, and red light

therapy, are the cornerstones of enhancing recovery and overall

well-being. These are the same treatments utilized by professional

athletes to optimize their performance and accelerate their

recovery. By offering high school athletes a discount on services,

Restore empowers young athletes to access the same cutting-edge

therapies that can support their athletic journey.

In addition to the discounted core services, high school

athletes also receive member pricing on medical services. These

services include mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy, IV drips, and

intramuscular shots, which provide targeted support for injuries,

inflammation, and fatigue. Restore aims to ensure that young

athletes can receive the specialized care they need to recover

from injuries, reduce inflammation, and replenish their energy

levels. This enables them to return to the field faster and perform

at their best.

By extending exclusive discounts to high school athletes,

Restore demonstrates its commitment to supporting the local

community and nurturing the well-being of young athletes.

Through these services, athletes can experience the benefits of

hyper wellness and discover firsthand how it can enhance their

performance, recovery, and overall quality of life.

The dedicated professionals behind the Upper St. Clair franchise,

including the chief medical officer, medical directors, nurse

practitioners, registered nurses, and other employees, bring a

wealth of qualifications, expertise, and genuine interest in the

well-being of their customers.

Driving Growth and Staying at the Forefront

Restore Hyper Wellness remains at the forefront of the wellness

industry by continuously researching and testing new

modalities. The franchise actively seeks to introduce new services

and technologies that align with their mission of providing

Client receiving Normatec hip compression therapy

Client enjoying an infrared sauna session

accessible and affordable health

and wellness solutions to the community.

Restore Hyper Wellness is

poised to be a pioneer in bending the

curve of aging at scale. By embracing

growth and innovation, Restore Hyper

Wellness ensures that the community

of Upper St. Clair has access to the

latest advancements in wellness.

Positive Impact on the Community

Since its inception, Restore Hyper

Wellness has made a significantly positive

impact on the lives of its customers

in Upper St. Clair. By expanding the

available options for wellness solutions,

the franchise strives to address

the issue of healthcare inaccessibility

that plagues many individuals. Restore

Hyper Wellness recognizes that

everyone deserves access to a healthy

lifestyle, and their hyper wellness

program is designed to bridge the gap

between health and wealth.

Prioritize Well-being at Restore Hyper Wellness

As more individuals realize the importance of prioritizing their

well-being, Restore Hyper Wellness stands ready to guide them

on their hyper wellness journey. With their 4-year anniversary

approaching, Restore Hyper Wellness invites the community

to celebrate and experience the transformative power of hyper

wellness. From Thursday, Sept. 21, to Sunday, Sept. 24, the franchise

will host an open house and offer special anniversary event

discounts and offers. It’s the perfect opportunity for individuals

to explore the wide range of services and take a step toward a

healthier, more fulfilling life.

In just four years, Restore Hyper Wellness in Upper St. Clair

has become a go-to destination for those seeking transformative

wellness solutions, driven by its mission to make hyper wellness

accessible and affordable for all. Through a comprehensive range

of services and a commitment to personalized care, Restore Hyper

Wellness has positively impacted the community’s well-being.

With the dedication of its founders, passionate staff, ongoing

research and development initiatives, and active community

engagement, Restore Hyper Wellness stays at the forefront of the

wellness industry. As individuals in Upper St. Clair prioritize their

well-being, Restore Hyper Wellness encourages them to embark

on the hyper wellness journey and discover the transformative

power of these services. Join the 4-year anniversary celebration

and experience the path to optimal health and wellness at Restore

Hyper Wellness in Upper St. Clair. n

Restore Hyper Wellness—Upper St. Clair is located at 100 Sienna

Drive, Suite 185. For more information, call 412-409-2890 or visit

their website at restore.com. Find Restore on social media at

rhw_upperstclair on Instagram or at rhwuppersaintclair on Facebook.


Licensed to Misbehave

Jay Lynch

Understandably, many Upper St. Clair teens are in no hurry

to get a driver’s license, as ride sharing apps and willing parents make it

much easier to travel the community and enjoy events in the city. Back

in 1970, when I was a USCHS junior, I couldn’t wait to get my license. I

envied kids with licenses who could borrow their parent’s cars to cruise the

township with their friends. They could even drive to local hangouts like

the Hot Shoppes, where teens could inhale 15-cent cheeseburgers while

listening to the latest songs from The Doors and The Rolling Stones. Even

better, having a license would mean that I could impress a date with dinner

at the Red Bull Inn in Dormont,

followed by a blockbuster movie at

the mall cinema, like “Catch 22;” or

if she insisted, the painfully sappy

“Love Story,” which could make a

teenage boy toss his Junior Mints.

I applied for my learner’s permit the day I

was eligible, memorized the rules of the road,

passed the exams, and was issued a spiffy new

Pennsylvania driver’s license. Life was good,

as my parents let me borrow the family car as

long as I met their conditions: “Follow the law

and return it with a full tank of gas.”

My father was active in the community

baseball program and one of the founders of

today’s Founders’ Field, adjacent to the municipal

building. At that time, the USC Athletic

Association (USCAA) had a fancy name, but was made up of a few volunteer

dads who were committed to starting organized baseball in the community

as an alternative to sending players to programs in Mt. Lebanon or

Bethel Park.

All four fields at that time (Municipal, Eisenhower, Fort Couch, and

Johnston) featured infields of lumpy clay and rocks that made snagging

grounders difficult and inflicted painful “strawberries” on players brave

enough to slide. To remedy the situation, the founders passed the hat and

purchased an inexpensive WWII-era Army truck to ease the burden of

replacing the infields with the improved surface that’s in place today. They

also used chains to attach rusty sewer grates to the back of the truck so they

could “drag” the infields. Players sitting on the grates provided additional

weight to smooth the playing surface. As you might imagine, pregame

requests to act as ballast produced plenty of volunteers who gladly inhaled

a little dust for a thrilling ride as the truck circled the infield, driven by my

speed-happy father. However, player fun was confined to riding the grates,

as my father made it clear that players were not allowed to drive the truck,

even if they had a license. To us players the rule seemed like an arbitrary

buzz kill, but there was an unstated reason for the prohibition—to prevent

young drivers from arrest and hefty fines for operating an uninspected

vehicle. The USCAA budget wouldn’t support the expense of adding seat

belts or replacing the truck’s cracked windshield and rust-corroded seethrough

floor, so my father rolled the dice and drove it illegally. He also

parked it in our backyard, hidden from view.

As a 16-year-old with a freshly issued driver’s license and lazy summer

afternoons, having a truck in the backyard was a daily source of temptation

and the keys were on the workbench. I thought to myself, “What

could be the harm in taking it for a little spin around the neighborhood?

After all, the old man is at work, so he’ll never know it happened.” As a

young Catholic, I knew God would be watching even if my father wasn’t,

Baseball field maintenance vehicle in 1970...

...and today.

but my transgression could be forgiven by a trip to the

confessional. I tried to lighten the anticipated penance

by getting approval from my always-permissive mother.

However, she said, in a sing-songy way, “I-don’t-thinkit’s-a-good-i-dee-a.”

Hardly approval, but it wasn’t a

clear no. The plot thickened when I thought, “What

fun is a joy ride without friends?” So, I hit the phone

and recruited several co-conspirators who hightailed it

to our house, seeking the sweet taste of forbidden fruit.

I grabbed the keys off my father’s workbench while

my buddies climbed into the truck’s rear bed. They

stood tall and held the edge of the cabin roof as I drove

out our back alley. Our plan was to make the adventure

even more fun by adding a contest. I’d drive as wildly

as possible, with sudden turns and stop/start staccato

as they tried to hang on and remain vertical. The last

guy standing would be declared the winner. The rear

gate was partially missing, so there was the risk of falling

off the back of truck, which made the game even

more exciting. We had a wonderful time on the streets

of Washington Terrace and even took a spin around Fort

Couch field at excessive speed. Best of all, we returned

to our back yard with no injuries and without using

enough gas to significantly lower the gauge. All was

well, until we saw my father’s car coming down the alley

toward the backyard. He had come home from work

early. We panicked. My buddies tried to quickly climb

out of the truck bed and I made it half way out of the

driver’s seat. But it was too late—we were busted.

My father got out of his car and calmly walked to the

truck, where he felt the warm hood. Then, he stared at

me. His face started to turn red and his neck vein popped


out, signs of an imminent outburst of foul language and harsh words. Like

rats abandoning a sinking ship, my friends dismounted from the truck

and tried to walk away, meekly offering Eddie Haskell style pleasantries

like, “That’s quite a handsome necktie you’re wearing, Mr. Lynch. We’ll be

leaving now.” To which my father responded, “Cut the crap and stay put.

I want you to see this.” He told me to hand over my wallet, removed my

driver’s license and tore it to shreds. Then, he removed my only other official

document, a USC High School ID card, and ripped it to pieces as well. To

my surprise, my normally boisterous father didn’t say another word. He

just stormed off and went into the house, slamming the door behind him.

My friends were stunned that he had destroyed my much-coveted license

and feared a similar fate as partners-in-crime. Our parents were friends,

so news of improper behavior spread like wildfire. (Luckily, they only lost

their driving privileges for a few days.)

When I returned to the house, I faced a very upset father, but he said

he was more hurt and fearful than angry. Hurt because I violated his trust.

Fearful because I was a novice driver operating a difficult to handle truck

on public roads, endangering my friends and other drivers. He said I was

willing to put other people’s lives at risk to satisfy my personal desire for

fun, and that’s the definition of anti-social behavior. Of course, he was right.

Our “last man standing” game put them in more danger than he realized.

My punishment included implicit car-less grounding as I waited for

a replacement license, which, in those days, took several weeks. The

application included three check-the-box reasons for replacement: lost,

stolen, and other [explain]. I checked the “other” box and wrote, “Ripped

to shreds by angry father.” My punishment was also labor intensive and

financial. I had to double my grass cutting jobs to pay for seat belts, a new

windshield, and new floorboards for the truck, as well as inspection fees.

Replacing my high school ID was a little more difficult

than I had imagined. Anyone requesting a replacement

card had to face the dreaded disciplinarian, Mr. Jackson.

Having no idea how well he was tied into the grapevine,

I fibbed and told him I lost my ID. He said, “That’s not

what I heard, Mr. Lynch,” as he pressed me for details

of my bad behavior. When I apologized (for the second

time), he issued a replacement ID. My third apology

was a perfect act of contrition in the confessional after

Monsignor Rooney said, in his Boston dialect sing-song

style, “You-should-a-listened-to-ya-maaa-tha!” n

Feedback and comments are welcome at bkefather@yahoo.com.

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The Art of Reimagining: Crafting Your Dream

Kitchen Without a Home Addition

Geoff McQueen

When you think about your dream

kitchen—that beautiful room with plenty

of space to cook, sip your morning coffee,

and share great moments with family and

friends—you might assume your house

would need an addition to fit everything.

Here’s a surprising fact we love to

share with clients: additions aren’t always

necessary to create exceptional cooking

and dining spaces. By rethinking your

current floorplan and making creative

changes, you may be able to have all the

functionality and amenities you want in

the space you already own.

Dreaming and Planning

You don’t need design experience

to begin thinking creatively about your

space. The first steps are easy:

Discuss needs and wants. Do you

cook often and make elaborate meals?

How many people cook at one time?

Do you want people to hang out at your

island while you prep a meal? Is holiday

entertaining important to you? My wife,

Christine, grew up in the house that’s now

our home, so she knew exactly what she

wanted to change when we began our

own remodel. Ask yourself: what does and

doesn’t work about my current layout?

Think beyond today. You don’t want to

design a space for a family of six without

considering that three of them are leaving

for college during the next few years. We

help clients design rooms that fit how they

live today and how they expect to be living

over the coming years.

Sketch out ideas—even really unexpected

ones. Next, measure your space.

Then grab a pad and start sketching. You

don’t have to draw the room to scale or

make it perfect. Just start imagining.

You’ll save time and money if you do this

before meeting with a designer or builder,

because those folks won’t waste time

drawing up potential plans that don’t serve

your needs. During the design process,

we present opportunities to clients—

especially ideas they may not have thought

of—but our clients are the experts on

their homes. The more you know what

you want (and don’t want), the better a

builder can serve you.

Get really creative as you sketch. What

if the appliances were in totally different

places? And could you create the best

possible dining and cooking areas by making

your kitchen and dining room more

connected? Back when “open concept”

living was popular, the automatic answer

was yes; remove the walls and create one

big room.

These days, especially after the pandemic,

true “open plan” living is less

popular. People want to entertain and sit

with their family in a space where they’re

not competing with cooking or a TV

screen. True dining rooms are making a

comeback.

At the same time, there’s a need to increase

space for cooking and entertaining

without building a costly addition. The

answer may be to take down just one wall

or part of a wall to maximize use of your

existing footprint. This way, you can invite

more people to congregate. Cooking and

entertaining are easier, and yet you’re not

creating a true open concept space.

That’s what we did. Our dining room

had four walls and a small doorway. We ate

nearly every meal in the kitchen and rarely

using the dining room. When it was time

to build our dream kitchen, we took one

wall down, giving our dining room a bit

more breathing space. It still functions as a

dedicated dining room, and now

we eat at our dining room table

as a family every night. We’ve

maximized the usability of all

of our square feet by rethinking

a room that was always empty

except during family parties.

Timing

Our clients love that we move

quickly. We manufacture our

own custom cabinets and after so many

years of refining our workflow, we’re efficient.

But like so many builders, we used

to ask people to make all their design

decisions early. Over time, we’ve learned

that making every decision on day one

isn’t always the best method.

Especially with things like light fixtures

and backsplashes, it’s hard to make

decisions in a showroom. When it came to

doing it for ourselves, we realized: whoa,

slow down!

Appliances have to be chosen early,

of course, because we design everything

around those things. Everything else can

be customized, but appliances are static.

And though the supply chain slowdown

has improved, certain industries—

especially appliance makers—are still

catching up. Our partners at Don’s

Appliances do probably the best job in the

Pittsburgh region at averting those delays

around appliances. They’re our go-to for

getting the appliances our customers want

on the schedule we need. But depending

where you buy, lead times can be long.

So, choose appliances first, then other

big items like cabinetry and countertops—

and then take a breath. Let some of the

installation begin, then choose the final

details. See how your new countertops

catch the morning light and then pick the

perfect backsplash.

There’s nothing like seeing a client

walk into their fully renovated dream

kitchen for the first time. If there’s a

kitchen remodel in your future, we hope

it’s a great experience! n


To learn more, visit mcqueenbuildingcompany.com and be sure to follow along on

social media. See their ad on page 15.

Photo credit: Erin Kelly

The Dad Zone

Tom Yochum

On Father’s Day I was dutifully manning the weedwhacker

in our front yard when an older neighbor walked along

and quipped, “They’re putting you to work today, huh?” Almost

automatically, I replied, “No, no, I love it. Just happy to have some

time out here. You know how it is.”

He gave a sage nod and said, “Yes, son, I know how it is. And,

I think you do, too.” He continued on his way and I was left a

little baffled by this cryptic exchange. As I returned to the edging,

I heard eerie music drift in: da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da. Suddenly,

a voice: You have entered another dimension. A dimension not only

of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into the suburban land of

fatherhood. Next stop, the Dad Zone!

The narrator continued, You are looking at Act One, Scene One,

of a revelation—an unmasking not restricted to the witching hours

of dark…

I looked around, somewhat panicked, but my neighbor had

vanished. What was happening? I’d been a father for a few years,

but had never heard of the Dad Zone. Fatherhood was something

I’d embraced, but this felt ominous. Do I tell Dad jokes? Of course.

Have a Dad bod? No comment. The Dad Zone, though, seemed

to imply something deeper and more entrenched.

If you don’t believe it, ask yourself, the very one who handles the

weed-whacker—in the Dad Zone!

There was a vast, untended yard before me and time for reflection,

so I set out to get some answers. I was well-aware of the signs

that I’d reached my forties. My Father’s Day gifts had included

SPF 100 sunscreen and new readers. But, you know, I still went

to concerts and late dinners with friends, provided I’d had my

afternoon nap. My wife and I laughed at all those Progressive ads

about becoming your parents. Sure, some of my priorities and

interests had changed in recent years, but that was to be expected.

As I hunted for errant dandelions, though, I started to question

my reality. How “Dad” was I?

You’re witnessing your future, if not knocking, at least scratching

plaintively on a closed door.

I looked at the yard again and began to wonder if landscaping

was now one of my major hobbies. Admittedly, lawncare constitutes

an unhealthy chunk of my identity and self-worth. I’m not

sure when I started taking such pride in perfect mow lines. But

every dad has secretly fantasized about getting a crack at cutting

the outfield at PNC Park, right? Our lawns are merely our own

little ballfields. And, sure, I love spending a nice little Saturday at

Home Depot while my wife and kids are out, but that’s normal.

Seeds and sprays and stains, oh my! My wife only occasionally

has to pull me back from the window each spring as I admire a

neighbor’s mulch. I’ve never met mulch I didn’t want to bed. OK,

maybe this wasn’t a good place to start.

You’re taking the longest walk of your life, right down to the

center of the Dad Zone!

I crept around the side of the house and spied the garage, a

refuge and place of pride for any suburban father. Somewhere

along the line it had transformed into a carbon copy of the one

from my childhood, with tools, bikes, scooters, and sports equipment

lining every wall and beyond. I’d recently purchased new

shelving units and spent days organizing my domain. It was now

like a mini-Costco: Camping section to the back, just past Lawn

& Garden and next to Miscellaneous! You can almost see the tents

and lawn chairs behind Stuff We’ll Never Use Again, But Haven’t

Thrown Out. If we wanted to, we could definitely (probably) fit

a compact car in our two-car garage. Right next to the Minnie

Mouse Power Wheels Jeep. Yeah, this was a Dad space, but it was

just stuff, it didn’t represent me.

Before heading inside, I noticed a car zoom down our street,

going way too fast. Instinctively, I barked, “Slow down!” Hmm,

when did that start? Maybe when young hooligans started drag

racing down our street at 15 mph! Obviously, unsafe driving is

a genuine concern, especially near kids and pets, but I knew my

reaction was part of this metamorphosis. I recalled a line from an

old sociology text: “General commenting on anything irksome

seems to grow more pronounced (and vocal) during the evolution


of the species Americanus Dadus.” It can spring up anywhere, but,

for me, this usually entails colorful advice for “terrible” drivers.

And I often look to my toddlers in the backseat for validation and

support. Just recently I’d asked my girls, “Can you believe that

[edited] [redacted]?!,” to which my youngest responded, “Dada,

what’s a nimrod?”

Well, I might be a middleaged

crank with deep-seeded

lawn issues (Dad joke, yikes!),

but had I truly entered the Dad

Zone? I went inside to search for

more definitive answers. Inside,

to my comfortable, climatecontrolled

house. And there was

the refutation I sought. I’m no

cliché of a dad maniacally controlling

the family thermostat. It’s

possible there is some lingering

PTSD from my father’s reaction

to seemingly imperceptible temperature

fluctuations. Back then,

we were pretty set in the 60s,

whether it be the dead of winter

or height of summer. Whenever

possible, no system was running.

That’s not me. In summer I’m

the cool dad and in winter I’m

the hot dad. (Ugh. Gotta stop

those jokes.) I mean, I’ve even

debated leaving the AC on while we’re on vacation so the kids

aren’t uncomfortable upon our return. For at least one night a

year, though, I want my kids to know the feeling of sweating

the sheets, like their forefathers (or at least father) before them.

Some people should quit when they’re ahead. Today’s tale of energy

and irony delivered from the Dad Zone.

Electrons are another matter! Well, actually, the flow of electrons,

or electricity. In this department, I’m pretty old school.

There had better be someone in each room where a light is on…

and doing something that requires illumination. “Can’t you read

by candlelight, sweetie? It’s almost as effective, and fairly safe now

that you’re five.” I once shut off a bedroom light, not realizing our

almost three-year-old daughter was playing in there, before I heard

her exclaim, “You darked

me, Dad!” Whoops.

Da-da-da-da, da-da-dada!

Respectfully submitted

from a crowded gathering

on a parking lot that is one

of the paths leading to the

Dad Zone.

That night we were set

to attend a local fair and

I already knew what lay

ahead. From concerts to

Kennywood to sporting

events, I’d discovered that

my kids and I judge our outings differently. While they are mainly

concerned with minor details, like how much fun they’re having,

I’m almost solely focused on the most important element of a successful

event: the parking situation. And I have fully embraced

the time-honored mantra of dads everywhere: leave early. It’s conceivable

that, until they are living on their own, my children will

never experience the last pitch of a baseball game or an encore at a

concert. To younger readers, if you’re not ready to beat the traffic,

you’re not ready to be a dad. The girls, so sweet and naïve, were

excited for the fair, but I knew what was coming: other people!

Even for a Super-Dad, long lines and crowds are kryptonite. We

got there early though, and snagged an excellent parking spot.

And, just my terrible luck, there was no line for the ATM when

we arrived, so I could withdrawal all kinds of money in relative

privacy. The kids knew the car was nearby and backed in for an

easy exit, so they could really let their hair down on all the rides.

And while playing all the games. And eating all the food. And

waiting in line to buy more tickets. Despite the eventual crush of

humanity, everyone had a great time. We left with plastic trinkets,

stuffed animals, and memories—all of them priceless. And, best of

all, we left before those other suckers, while the sun was still out!

As I replayed the day in my head, the evidence was clear: I was

in the Dad Zone. A world where both corny jokes—Dad-isms—

and well-meaning advice will result in exaggerated groans. One

in which you attempt to introduce your kids to all the cool things

you’re passionate about, while being simultaneously mystified by

the obsessions they land on. A dimension that can often be chaotic

and confusing, but one that you want to last forever. I’m not

sure I can ever shake my desire to beat traffic, but when it comes

to my girls, all I desire is for time to slow down and to be better

able to cherish each moment. Ultimately, that’s all the evidence I

needed to welcome my place in the Dad Zone! n

Couldn’t happen, you say? Probably not in most places, but it did happen—in the Dad Zone.

Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da.


PINEBRIDGE COMMONS

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All American Bistro

Pediatric Alliance

Cardinal Endocrinology

Cindy Brophy, State Farm Ins.

Design Image Salon

Emerick Financial Planning

Emma’s Kafe & Deli

Estetyka

Gallagher Wealth Management

Gloria Sayut, MS LPC, NCC

Interior Designs/Furnishings

by Mary Kay Chaffee

Larry E. Manalo, DMD

Pediatric Dentistry South

Peter Gialames & Associates

Questa Petroleum Co.

Refine Medical Aesthetics

Suburban Dry Cleaners

Timothy Kerr, DMD &

Romana Pautler Kerr, DMD

Travel Leaders, Kiernan Ent.

Troy Orthodontics

Beth Troy, DMD

Whole Plants Health, LLC

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412-831-2188

Troy Orthodontics provides care for

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Bethel Park, and the South Hills

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the time to place and adjust

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individualized attention in a caring

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PINEBRIDGE COMMONS

Never Too Early to Check-in

Dr. Beth Troy, Troy Orthodontics

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends

that children see an orthodontist at age seven. Children who are

still growing can have positive orthodontic results that may not

be possible once the face and jaws have completed their growth.

Because they are growing rapidly, children can benefit enormously

from an early phase of orthodontic treatment, using

appliances that direct the growth relationship of the upper and

lower jaws. A good dental foundation can be established, providing

enough room for eruption of all permanent teeth. This

early correction may prevent later removal of permanent teeth

to correct overcrowding and/or surgical procedures to align the

upper and lower jaws. Leaving such a condition untreated until

all permanent teeth erupt could result in a jaw discrepancy too

severe to achieve an ideal result with braces alone. The disadvantage

of waiting for complete eruption of permanent teeth

and having only one phase of treatment for someone with a jaw

discrepancy is facing the possibility of a compromised result that

may not be stable.

The goal of this first phase of treatment is to develop the jaw

size in order to accommodate all the permanent teeth and to relate

the upper and lower jaws to each other. Children sometimes

exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow and develop. An

upper and lower jaw that is growing too much or not enough can

be recognized at an early age. After age six, if children are found

to have this jaw discrepancy, they may be candidates for early

orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic records will be necessary

to determine the type of appliances to be used, the duration of

treatment time, and the frequency of visits.

At the end of the first phase of treatment, teeth may not be in

their final positions. This will be determined and accomplished

in the second phase of treatment. Selective removal of certain

primary (baby) teeth may be in the best interest of enhancing

eruption during this resting phase. Periodic recall appointments

for observation are necessary, usually on a six-month basis.

The goal of the second phase is to make sure each tooth has

an exact location in the mouth where it is in harmony with the

lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth. When this equilibrium is

established, the teeth will function together properly. The second

phase of orthodontics typically involves wearing a full set of

braces, usually for two years.

Since children have growth potential, we strongly recommend

they see an orthodontist by age seven. Early correction

of crossbites, underbites, and overbites can be more predictable.

Although no treatment may be necessary at that time, it is

important to develop a plan and understand your child’s future

orthodontic needs. n

Teaching Kids

How to Save for College

See ad for Troy Orthodontics on page 18.

College tuition continues to increase every year, so it’s important

to start saving for college as early as you can. Getting your

kids involved when they’re young can help them form valuable

savings habits and alleviate some of your financial burden. These

steps can help you get started.

Divvy Up Their Pennies

Decide with your child how much of every dollar they earn will

go toward spending, saving, etc. Set up separate banks for each

category and help them split their earnings. This can simultaneously

teach them to save for long-term needs and to spend only

within their means.

Reward Saving

Children might be more encouraged to save with a little incentive.

At the end of every month, match all or part of what your

children have saved, so they can watch their money grow even more.

Take a Field Trip Together to the Bank

Go old school and regularly deposit your children’s cash and

coins in person. They can experience the savings process firsthand

and they can see how their money grows. If you utilize an online

savings account, then act as the banker. Set a regular deposit date

when your kids will bring you their allotted savings, and put that

amount in their accounts.

Suggest Cash Gifts from Relatives

If eager gift givers are looking for another idea, mention contributing

to your kids’ savings accounts or giving money. If it’s the

latter, remind your kids to divide it up according to their spending

and saving categories.

Look for Non-institutional Scholarships

Yes, there are scholarships available as early as elementary

school. Essay contests, science awards, and more may come with

cash prizes. If your child receives award money right away, consider

investing it in a tax-advantaged college savings account. n

Article provided by Cindy Brophy, State Farm ® agent. See ad on this page.


Coach’s

Corner

To Your Good Health

Coach Jim Render

When I have been introduced to many sports people

and followers of high school football, the question I have been

asked the most is, “How many of your guys went on to play in

the NFL?”

My answer is short and quick. John Bruno punted for the

Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1987 National Football League

strike-shortened season. Our most famous football alum, Sean

Lee, had a great career as a captain and Pro Bowl linebacker for

the Dallas Cowboys. Upper St. Clair graduates Jack Maitland,

Craig Dunaway, Mark Bataglia, and Jeff Delaney all played in the

NFL, but they were before my tenure at USC.

I have often remarked, and written on these TODAY pages,

that my USC professionals come in the form of lawyers, architects,

financial wizards, major construction builders, front office

executives, insurance leaders, real estate developers, and U.S.

military officers. If you have not already read about this group

of pros, please believe me when I tell you they are Hall of Fame

quality individuals in their careers.

Did I forget to mention doctors in that illustrious group? How

can you forget the people who take care of you? Today, I want to

introduce five former players who serve as my medical staff. They

are all Upper St. Clair graduates who, following medical school,

have chosen to live and practice medicine in the South Hills of

Pittsburgh. Although they have different areas of expertise and

emphasis, they share some very important qualities. These guys

were not all-conference football players, but they were superior

teammates and contributors to the success of our team. They

believed in my favorite motivational phrases including “Chance

Favors the Prepared,” “Do Right,” “Focus,” and “Prepare to Win.”

I was able to get the five of them together (at Pizzaz) for a

fun night of reminiscing and friendly bantering. There were also

some serious moments. They all mentioned their teammates

and spoke highly of the team leaders. The word intensity was

used more than once. Medical school and residency are not for

the timid or weak. Maybe the toughness of football—practice

and games—helps prepare a person for the rigors of becoming a

doctor. With that, please meet the doctors who take care of me.

Dr. Dennis J. Phillips, USCHS 1984

When DJ was in eighth grade at St. Louise de Marillac, I recruited

him to play football at USC. I knew his dad, Denny, for

several years, as he was a football official in our conference when

I was the coach at Uniontown. Furthermore, Denny’s father, Dick,

was the clock operator for Mt. Lebanon’s home games.

Unfortunately, Denny died from cancer at the young age of

41, on a Friday night as we were warming up for a game. It became

my responsibility to inform DJ that his father had passed.

Denny’s wife, Patty, became a young widow with the responsibility

of raising DJ and his five siblings: brothers Patrick, Peter,

and Michael, and sisters Laura and Amy. All the boys played

football and Patty, now retired and living in Hilton Head, S.C.,

was a very supportive mom.


Chris Manning, DJ Phillips, John Haspel,

Jim Render, Jeff Manning, Joe Richetti

Following high school, DJ went to Marietta College and

then to the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr.

James McMaster, a renowned USC and Pittsburgh orthopedic

surgeon, was a great mentor and advisor who encouraged DJ to

follow in his footsteps. So, next was residency at Louisiana State

University and a fellowship in sports medicine in Richmond,

Va., followed by private practice at LSU. Seventeen years after

his high school graduation, Allegheny Health Network brought

him home to Pittsburgh in 2001. That same year, he became the

team doctor for our USC Panther football team, a position he

still maintains today. In 2002, he became one of AHN’s doctors

for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Part of spring training in Bradenton,

Fla., and some of the home games at PNC Park are included in

his busy schedule.

DJ and his wife, Susan, have raised seven kids: Samantha

(Sam), Libby, Dennis III (Trey)—who is now a Green Beret,

Cooper, Maddie, Katie, and Cam, who will be a wide receiver

this fall for the Panthers.

Unbeknownst to her, Sam gave me a great life lesson when

she was a student in my physical education class years ago. Feeling

down about myself because I was told that I was a type II

diabetic and would have to take a pill or two every day, I asked

Sam, a type I diabetic, “How is it going managing your diabetes?”

With a big smile on her face and a very positive outlook,

she said, “I just have to give myself five insulin shots a day, but

all is well.” Foolish Jim hasn’t complained, nor felt sorry for

himself since that day.

DJ, an outstanding doctor according to Pittsburgh Magazine,

has treated my muscle and joint abnormalities with cortisone

and tough love. He is always ready, willing, and very able.

Dr. Joseph Richetti, USCHS 1984

When Dr. Walter Willoughby, our team doctor and my personal

care physician, retired in 2003, I was looking for a looking

for a primary care provider (PCP). Dr. DJ Phillips told me that I

should go to his teammate

and classmate, Dr.

Joe Richetti. I thought

that was a great idea

and immediately contacted

his office. There

was no hesitation on

my part; in fact, it has

been one of my best decisions.

Regarding my

previously mentioned

Type II diabetes, Joe

routinely scolds, encourages,

and monitors

my numbers. Quite

honestly, I do not want

to go into his office

Dr. DJ Phillips and Jim

having gained weight or have my blood sugar numbers be elevated,

as I have been warned about medical consequences. Maybe

he didn’t want to disappoint me on the football field, but I sure

as heck don’t want to disappoint him as my doctor.

When Joe graduated from high school, he knew he wanted to

go to the University of Pittsburgh Medical School. He majored

in biochemistry and graduated in three years. He worked in the

research lab in 1988 while going to medical school from 1988 to

1992. Joe did his residency at UPMC from 1992 to 1995. In 1995,

he became a founder of Pittsburgh Internal Medicine, which is

now under the UPMC umbrella. In short, he always wanted to

serve people through medicine.

Joe was raised by Joseph and Rafelina, who were in the pizza

business in Bethel Park. His siblings were Fran, Sandra, and Lisa.

Joe and his wife, Cory, married in 1993, and have raised Carissa

(27), Joseph (23), Mikaela (21), and Paige (18). His close friends

are still USC football teammates and he has fond memories of

those years. They often talk of the 1982 New Castle game and

singing on the bus ride home. Dr. Joe is the way to go.

Dr. John Haspel, USCHS 1991

Dr. Haspel is my dentist. I get outstanding attention when I

am in his building. He even takes me back to his private office

for a chat about football, life, or to vent; we both get things off

our chest. John has a unique problem—he is always surrounded

by women. He was raised with two sisters, Angie and Kara. He

has been married to Karin, a 1993 USC grad, for 18 years. They

have two daughters, Ava (17) and Mia (14). When John arrives at

work, he has a staff of seven ladies. So, it is not that I am special,

it is just that I do provide a male perspective.

Make no mistake, Dr. Haspel is an outstanding dentist. I

sometimes tell him he is too meticulous. As soon as he thinks

things are okay in my mouth, he decides he wants to take a second

look or do another X-ray. His support staff of hygienists are well

prepared and very supportive of their boss.

John attended the University of Kentucky and majored in

biology. Next was dental school at West Virginia University,

graduating in 1999. This was followed by one year of residency in

Martinsburg Hospital in W. Va. He began his life’s work by joining

his father, also John, at his established practice on Fort Couch

Road. Can you have a better mentor than your own dad? They

worked together for 15 years before his father retired. Along with

his wife, Bonny, the elder Dr. Haspel resides in Florida most of the

year. Combined, the Haspels are into their 55th year of successful

dental work in the same building.

Johnny is very proud of being a contributing member of our

1988 and 1989 WPIAL championship teams, which includes the

15-0 state champs in ’89. He gives much credit to his teammates

for their composure and leadership. He keeps me smiling, literally

and figuratively, in so many ways.

Dr. Jeffery Manning, USCHS 1994

Let me begin by saying I have had a lot of experience sitting

in dental chairs. I now know Jeff Manning much more up-close

and personal than when he was a student at USCHS. He is a

periodontist—a specialist in gum disease, including extractions

and implants. Jeff is a very skilled surgeon. I became his patient

when Dr. Haspel suggested that I see Dr. Manning. My choices

were to listen or suffer the consequences. I think I have had two of

everything, from root canals to implants to gum restoration. Listen

to your periodontist when they tell you gum disease is common

among people with either diabetes or heart disease. Strokes and

high stress also may be related to gum disease.

Jeff went to Pitt as a business major, which he discovered was

not for him. He took two additional years of science and got into

Pitt’s School of Dentistry in 2000, graduating in 2004. A three-year

residency at Pitt followed. He has been with Oakland Periodontal

Associates for 16 years. They have offices in Upper St. Clair as

well. He does hands-on teaching at Pitt on Thursday afternoons.

Jeff met his wife, Amanda, in dental school. They have two

children, Will, a rising senior, and Lexi, a freshman at USCHS.

Jeff is the son of parents Elaine and Jim, who was a radiologist.

His brothers are Jim Jr., Mike, and Chris. Speaking of Chris:

Dr. Christopher Manning, USCHS 1991

Like John Haspel, Chris was a member of some very good

football teams during his high school years. He speaks glowingly

of the comeback victory over North Hills, on national television,

in 1989. After graduation from USCHS he attended Washington

and Jefferson and majored in biology. In 1995, he entered Pitt

Medical School and graduated in 1999. Next was five years of

residency at Pitt, followed by a one-year fellowship specializing in

hand and upper extremities. I have not had the need to go under

his scalpel, but I have heard many times that he is an excellent

surgeon, treating shoulders to fingertips. He has been with South

Hills Orthopedic Surgery Associates since 2005. He is also associated

with UPMC South Hills Surgery Center, as well as the staff

at the Radiance Surgery Center on Boyce Road.

Chris lives in Upper St. Clair with his wife

Maria, a USC grad, and their four children: Niko,

who attends Bucknell University, Tomasina, a rising

senior, Francesca, a freshman, and soon-to-be

Boyce student Georgia.

In conclusion, I must add that there are more

USCHS graduates, men and women, who are now

excellent doctors. The five mentioned in this article

are good people who are taking great care of me.

I also have a couple of other specialists—but they

didn’t play football!

All my doctors are just like farmers...outstanding

in their fields.

Here’s to your good health! n

Dr. Joe Richetti

Dr. Chris Manning and Dr. John Haspel


Board of

School Directors

Dr. Daphna Gans

President

dgans@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2025*

Barbara L. Bolas

bbolas@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2023*

Upper St. Clair School District

Jennifer A. Schnore

Vice President

jschnore@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2025*

Kelly P. Hanna

khanna01@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2023*

uscsd.k12.pa.us

@USCSchools

To reach personnel, call 412-833-1600, and follow the automated directions.

Administrator Secretary/Email Address Extension

Dr. John Rozzo...........................................................Sarah MacDonald.................................... 2218


smacdonald@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Dr. Amy Pfender.........................................................Mary Beth Harkleroad............................. 2214

Deputy Superintendent

mharkleroad@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Dr. Lou Angelo ..........................................................langelo@uscsd.k12.pa.us........................... 2272

Director of Operations & Facilities

Ray Berrott.................................................................rberrott@uscsd.k12.pa.us.......................... 2059

Director of Technology

Sean Bryson ...............................................................sbryson@uscsd.k12.pa.us.......................... 2560

Chief of School Police

Dr. Judy Bulazo .........................................................Mary Beth Harkleroad............................. 2214

Director of Curriculum and Professional Development mharkleroad@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Scott Burchill ............................................................Dawn Machi ............................................ 2220

Director of Business and Finance

dmachi@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Ray Carson, Jr............................................................Sarah MacDonald.................................... 2218

Senior Director of Operations & Administrative Services smacdonald@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Dr. Cassandra Doggrell ............................................Julie Karabinos......................................... 2116

Director of Special Education

jkarabinos@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Danny Holzer...............................................................Kimberly Valeriano.................................... 2260

Director of Athletics

kvaleriano@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Dr. Lauren Madia ........................................................Terri Lott .................................................. 2283

Director of Pupil Services

tlott@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Jonn Mansfield ............................................................jmansfield@uscsd.k12.pa.us ..................... 3450

Director of Transportation

Tina Vojtko ................................................................tvojtko@uscsd.k12.pa.us........................... 2215

Communications Specialist

Bradley Wilson ..........................................................bwilson@uscsd.k12.pa.us.......................... 3318

Director of Strategic Initiatives

School District Central Office Administration

Louis P. Mafrice, Jr.

lmafrice@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2023*

Michael R. Mascaro

mmascaro@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2025*

Dr. John Rozzo


Dr. Amy Pfender

Deputy Superintendent

Angela B. Petersen

apetersen@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2023*

Hallie H. Snyder

hsnyder@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2023*

Scott Burchill

Director of Business and Finance

Ray Carson, Jr.

Senior Director of Operations

& Administrative Services

Dr. Lou Angelo

Director of Operations & Facilities

Ray Berrott

Director of Technology

Dr. Danielle Z. Wetzel

dwetzel@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2025*

*Date indicates expiration of term.

The list of the Upper St. Clair

Board of School Director

2023 meeting dates is available

on the District’s website:

uscsd.k12.pa.us/schoolboard.

Meetings typically begin at

7 p.m. in the district administration

building.

Upper St. Clair School District Annual Notices

The required annual notices to parents of children who reside

in the Upper St. Clair School District are available online. Visit

the district website at uscsd.k12.pa.us. Click on Information and

then select Compliance Notifications to view required state and

federal notices and information.

Dr. Judy Bulazo

Director of Curriculum and

Professional Development

Dr. Timothy Wagner

High School Principal

Dr. Daniel Beck

High School Assistant Principal

Cara Senger

High School Assistant Principal

Dr. Cassandra Doggrell

Director of Special Education

Dr. Lauren Madia

Director of Pupil Services

School District Building Administration

Erin Peterson

Fort Couch Middle School Principal

Gordon Mathews

Fort Couch Assistant Principal

Dr. Daniel O’Rourke

Boyce Middle School Principal

Dr. Christine Mussomeli

Boyce Assistant Principal

Bradley Wilson

Director of Strategic Initiatives

Dr. Patrick McClintock-Comeaux

Baker Elementary School Principal

Mark Miller

Eisenhower Elementary

School Principal/Supervisor of

Elementary Education

Dr. Lindsay Klousnitzer

Streams Elementary School Principal


New School Start/Dismissal Times

This past May, the Upper St. Clair Board of School Directors approved a plan

to revise the school start/dismissal times beginning this fall. This change is based on

a growing body of scientific evidence that supports the importance of adequate sleep

for the overall well-being and academic success of students.

The chart below includes the approved start/dismissal times for elementary, middle,

and high school students. These times are effective with the start of the 2023-24

school year.

Drop-off Window School Start Time Dismissal

High School 7:40–7:55 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 2:45 p.m.

Elementary 8:20–8:30 a.m. 8:35 a.m. 3:05 p.m.

Middle School 8:40–8:50 a.m. 8:55 a.m. 3:40 p.m.

AM Kindergarten 8:20–8:30 a.m. 8:35 a.m. 11:15 a.m.

PM Kindergarten 12:10–12:20 p.m. 12:25 p.m. 3:05 p.m.

Research shows that later school start times can help children/adolescents get

enough sleep, in order to improve their health, academic performance, and quality

of life. Studies have made a correlation between later school start times and improved

attendance and graduation rates, as well as academic achievement.

A section of the district’s website is dedicated to the newly

approved start/dismissal times. For more information, visit:

uscsd.k12.pa.us/domain/1060. n

Looking at a Later Start

Miriam Gutensohn, TODAY Intern

An exciting change will take place for all students in

the Upper St. Clair School District for the upcoming school year.

Whether students are beginning their first day of kindergarten

or their last year of high school, the starting times for all schools

in the district will be pushed back by half an hour for the high

school and twenty minutes for the elementary and middle schools.

On May 17, the schedule change was approved by the school

board, which ensured that no valuable class time was lost due to

the new starting times. After recent improvements in bus routing,

the new schedule will also have limited impact on athletics

and after-school activities. Moreover, the decision is backed by

scientific evidence in relation to the growing concern for the importance

of ample sleep for students. While this adjustment may

not seem substantial, students will experience the impact that this

change will have on their daily routines and habits.

From a student’s perspective, a later starting time can be

viewed as a benefit or as something to negatively take advantage

of. Depending on the student, the new schedule may allow them

to get a longer night’s sleep, which scientists have found can help

with the rapid intellectual and emotional growth that occurs during

students’ educational years in school. Additional sleep also

goes a long way toward improving students’ concentration and

academic performance in their classes. Research shows that they

will feel more alert and think much more clearly.

One high school student expressed their thoughts on the new

schedule by stating, “It is definitely a step in the right direction,

and students will surely gain something from the change.”

Research has found that one’s long-term health and well-being

can improve from this minute alteration. Most students do not

receive enough rest to accommodate the physical and mental

stress that they often experience at school. Some students may

even face more serious outcomes due to a lack of sleep, including

depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. What is more,

students with inadequate rest are more likely to become perpetrators

of bullying and to bring inadvertent physical harm to others.

Still, a few students may view the novel schedule differently.

Older high school students may be tempted to use the new starting

times to stay up even later than they previously would have, since

they will have half an hour longer until school starts. Many would

advise these students to weigh the benefits of adequate sleep over

the pleasure of staying up later into the night, especially when

high school students are currently in some of the most important

years of their education.

The big and small decisions that students make now can set

them up for success in the future. By choosing to gain sufficient

sleep, students may see greater achievements in school, which

can positively impact the course of their lives and careers after

high school. Whether this course entails college or an alternative

pathway, the benefits of proper sleep are clear, and students

will have the opportunity to take hold of these advantages in the

fall with Upper St. Clair School District’s new starting times. n


USCHS Celebrates the Class of 2023

Upper St. Clair High School awarded

diplomas to the 333 members of the school’s

Class of 2023 during commencement ceremonies

on June 8, 2023, in the high school’s stadium.

TODAY extends its best wishes to all the graduates! See pages 24–26 for

graduation speeches from the school district’s superintendent, board

president, and selected student speakers. n

Photos courtesy of Tina Vojtko,

USCSD Communications Specialist

We are here today to

express our heartfelt

gratitude for the

love that has been

extended to each

and every one of us, the graduating seniors.

Throughout our journey, we have been fortunate

to receive abundant love and support,

and we are truly thankful for the opportunities

that have enabled us to both receive and

share this love with others over the past four

years.

Maura Joyce, student council president

As this chapter closes, let us remember all of

the ways that this place has changed us and

all of the lessons we learned in the classroom

and outside of it.

Marina Gzikowski, senior class president

USCHS 2023 Commencement Speakers

From the chaotic frenzy of the first day of

freshman year, when we didn’t know where

our classes were, to the end of senior year,

where every nook and cranny of that school

building now holds a memory, we have been

on a whirlwind journey of growth and selfdiscovery.

Yet, through these highs and lows,

through the challenges and triumphs, the

true power of unity persevered, and I believe

it is essential to appreciate the lives we have

built here.

Ashvita Saxena, senior speaker

As we look back at our high school years,

we will remember everyone who held countless

doors and opportunities open for us, like

our parents, teachers, counselors, and school

administrators that gave us the support we

needed to make it here today. After we walk

out this last door together, is so important

that we continue to look for that next door

and remain brave enough to open it, even if

we don’t know exactly what lies behind it.

Jasmine Dietiker, senior speaker

So, as we all leave our den to find our place

in the world, I want all of you to know that

you are prepared to take on any challenge

the world throws at you. Thanks to dear old

Upper St. Clair, it’s truly a great day to be a

Panther.

Ansh Goyal, senior speaker n

The complete text for all the graduation

speeches can be found on the TODAY website

at: twpusc.org/community/usc_today_

magazine/index.php


Superintendent’s Speech

Dr. John Rozzo, Superintendent of Schools

Class of 2023, as we gather here to celebrate your achievements,

I want to take a moment to reflect on the path that has led us

to this point. I have had the privilege of witnessing the growth and

development of this exceptional class. From the first day of kindergarten

to this special occasion, I have seen you mature and grow, not

only academically, but also as individuals ready to take on the world.

You are an integral part of the success of our school district. There

are 500 school districts in Pennsylvania. Just last week, Upper St.

Clair was named Pennsylvania’s top school district for the second

year in a row. You are the most important element of our recipe for

success—which includes great students, talented and dedicated staff,

unmatched parent support and engagement, and a community that

has the utmost value for education.

Although it is trite to say, Class of 2023, it seems like just yesterday

that you entered the doors of Baker, Eisenhower, and Streams

elementary schools as kindergarten students. Since that time in the fall

of 2010, much has changed in our world. The seniors who graduated

when you were just starting school had a vastly different experience

than you. If the world was the same today as when you began your

school career, your lives would look and feel quite differently.

For instance:

• The first iPad was introduced the same year you began kindergarten

and Chromebooks hit the market as you entered first grade.

• The seniors at the high school when you were in kindergarten did

not have Instagram or Snapchat, as neither had yet been invented.

• TikTok did not surface until you were in middle school.

• Video conferencing capabilities flourished when Zoom entered

the market in 2011 and Google Meet launched in 2017. Both were

critical as we transitioned to remote learning and more industries

embraced the flexibility of remote work.

• Venmo was not a payment option until 2012. If you owed a

friend money or needed to pay for a ticket to a game or event,

you actually had to carry cash.

• I know that many of you like to place mobile orders for Starbucks,

Dunkin’ and Chick-fil-A. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and mobile ordering

were not available yet.

Needless to say, when you first stepped foot into kindergarten,

our society was on the cusp of transformation. The world around us

has experienced a profound technological shift and you have been

immersed within this evolution. Technology has indeed revolutionized

the way we live, learn, and connect with one another.

As we gather here to celebrate your accomplishments, we

recognize that you are our next generation of leaders. Your high

school years have been nothing short of unique. You have exhibited

Dr. John Rozzo

resilience, adaptability, and a remarkable ability to embrace change.

These qualities will serve as the foundation for your future endeavors.

Whether you enter higher education, the military, the workforce,

or pursuing your passions, remember that the world needs your

leadership now more than ever. Do not shy away from the challenges

that lie ahead; instead, see them as opportunities to grow, learn, and

shape a better future for us all.

None of us has a crystal ball and knows what the future holds.

But what I can say for certain is that much more will change in our

world over the next 13 years than during your time as students in

our schools.

I know that I can speak for all the fellow parents and family

members, and tell you that we have mixed emotions about you

graduating high school. We are incredibly proud of your individual

and collective resumes. We are eager and excited to watch what the

next chapter holds for each of you. At the same time, we are a bit

anxious. Not due to absence of confidence in you; rather, because we

love and care about you very much and only want you to be happy,

healthy, and safe. You see, to us, despite your transformation into

young, accomplished emerging adults, we still envision that image

from the fall of 2010 when our little five-year-olds walked across the

threshold into kindergarten for the first time.

To close this evening, I want to share a few final thoughts that I

hope you remember.

I am certain that you are prepared to enter the world of adulthood.

How do I know that? Because you are Upper St. Clair Panthers. Always

be proud of where you are from, for it is indeed a special place.

While this may be the last time all 333 of you are together in

person, please stay connected with your friends and classmates—for

you are our future. As I said earlier, technology has changed much

of our lives in many ways. However, the research is clear, the power

of strong and meaningful relationships with others remains the key

to success and happiness.

Congratulations, Upper St. Clair High School Class of 2023! May

you carry the lessons and experiences of your time as Upper St. Clair

students into the next segment of your lives. The world is waiting

for and needing your leadership. I have no doubt that you will rise

to the occasion and make us proud. n

USCHS Class of 2023 valedictorians (pictured above, listed alphabetically)

USCHS Class of 2023 Academic Achievers

Congratulations to the Class of 2023 valedictorians:

Delaney Andrejcik, Aashna Banerjee, Jasmine Dietiker, Lily Gessel,

Ansh Goyal, Morgan Huzjak, Cassidy Jordan, Julia Kania, Ava

Keating, Raniya Kethavath, Rebecca Lang, Jenna Mantel, Phillip

Markovitz, Carter McClintock-Comeaux, Anna McElligott,

Quinton Miller, Mariah Rainier, Maanasa Reddy, Sarah Robert,

Ashvita Saxena, Lauren Starr, Cole Super, and Benjamin Wasson;

and IB Diploma candidates: Mariam Abdel-Messih, Vanessa

Benonis, Nitin Chandran, Jasmine Dietiker, Markella Jahn, Raniya

Kethavath, Eunchae Kim, Jason Lu, Patrick Pinchinat, Srinidhi

Rajaganapathy, Tyler Riemer, Ashvita Saxena, Elisa Tucker, Yanzhe

(Andrew) Xu, and Daniel Young.


Daphna Gans

I started my work on this graduation

speech like one would any other

piece of writing. I sat at my desk, I made

sure the light was just the right level of

brightness, the thermostat was set to the

perfect temperature, put my phone on

silent to minimize distraction, opened

my MacBook, and started to do some

research. And then, I began to type…

www.chat.OpenAI.com into the search

bar, so I could ask ChatGPT to suggest

what I should include. To my surprise, it

wrote a full speech. And the speech was

surprisingly not bad. In fact, it was the

quintessential graduation speech, hitting

every note you’d expect.

Congratulations to the class of {insert

year}, celebrate your achievements, look

toward the future, face challenges with

grit and resilience… It even had a noncontroversial

quote.

While it might have sounded right,

it did not feel right. And not just for the

obvious ethical reasons.

It did not feel right because it did not

capture the intangible. It did not capture

the essence of the Upper St. Clair School

District. It did not capture the nature of

each of you, the graduates of this year,

this cohort, this group of individual

young adults, each representing an entire

world. (And, it certainly did not have “the

voice”—the elusive concept many of you

had to uncover during the writing of your

college essays).

Board Response

Dr. Daphna Gans, President, Upper St. Clair Board of School Directors

It got me thinking. Is artificial intelligence,

AI automation, really going to

change your future in radical ways we

cannot even imagine? And if the answer is

yes, have we—collectively, as your parents,

your teachers, your coaches, your educators—have

we prepared you for such a

future?

I can spend this precious time I have

with you today to tell you how this new

frontier of artificial intelligence will drastically

change your jobs, your careers, your

futures. But the truth is, every generation

in history has faced an unpredictable

future. Some of these unforeseen events

are naturally occurring, some are humanmade.

Some may be life altering and

threatening, others may be exciting and

open new opportunities. Some events affect

a local group, others are global.

But what the past few years have taught

us is that life is more complex than even

the most advanced set of algorithms. We

can develop predictive models that will address

every what-if scenario we can think

of, we can attempt to prepare as best we

can. But we will always face uncertainty.

And at the end of the day, the only way

out, is through. There are no short cuts.

There are no cheat codes to life.

And the good news is that I genuinely

believe that your time here at the Upper

St. Clair School District has equipped

you with the skills to not only face an

unpredictable unprecedented future, not

only pivot and adapt, but to thrive in it.

I would go even one step farther. The

Upper St. Clair School District modeled

to you how to be a leader, an innovator, a

problem solver in times of unprecedented

health and social circumstances. We made

decisions, we acted, and many times, we

needed to debug our program and restart.

But we kept learning and growing together.

Your high school career started with

school closures and online learning, continued

with a hybrid learning modality in

10th grade, a return to school with some

modifications for your junior year, and

finally, a typical senior year. Yet, through

hard work, collaboration with others, and

outside-the-box thinking, each of you

was able to not only fulfill your academic

potential and excel, but also pursue your

athletic, artistic, and creative life goals.

As a collective, a group, you even

started some new school traditions such

as the redesigned global education week.

You formed new clubs, such as Esports

and Spikeball. Many of you were involved

in promoting mental health awareness

and programming in our high school by

founding the Minding Mindsets club,

and along with the Wellness committee,

formed Stand Together. And beyond shaping

your own school community, many of

you volunteered to help senior citizens

in the larger community of the township

of Upper St. Clair and surrounding areas.

While you intended to provide technology

support during the pandemic, your efforts

in fact helped combat social isolation in

a frail elderly population, already compromised

during the pandemic (yes, you

deserve applause). Even as recently as last

week, some of you partnered with a senior

community for a prom fashion show…and

these are just a few of the ways your class

has already shaped the world around you,

for the better.

Today we are launching you, the 2023

version of the Upper St. Clair School

District graduates. So, go out there. Follow

what you have learned here at Upper St.

Clair. Continue to work hard responsibly

and with integrity, using the resources

available to you, yes, including AI. If they

are not enough, invent new ones. Find

your voice. Engage fully in whatever you

choose to do, collaborate with others, innovate,

take action to contribute to your

environment, take good care of yourselves

and your loved ones, and always, always,

lift others and support those who need

some help.

And, most importantly, come back to

us. Share with us what you have learned,

your life stories, your wisdom.

We cannot wait to see the 2.0 version

of the class of 2023. Congratulations! n


Wagner Named Pennsylvania Principal of the Year

Dr. Timothy Wagner, USCHS principal,

has been named Pennsylvania’s 2023

Principal of the Year by the Pennsylvania

Principals Association. As a state winner,

Dr. Wagner is now a candidate for 2023-24

National Secondary Principal of the Year,

a program of the National Association of

Secondary School Principals’ (NASSP).

“Our assessment of your performance

as a building administrator and our careful

review of the considerable contributions

you have made to our profession left

no doubt that we had made the right

choice in terms of the person who would

represent our state this year,” wrote Dr.

Maureen Letcher, Pennsylvania Principals

Association president.

“To receive this honor makes me think

about all of the amazing things that our

staff and students do every day. It is a privilege

to support the pursuits of members

of our school community,” Dr. Wagner

said. “As principal of Upper St. Clair High

School, I realize that I am part of something

much larger than myself. Since I was a

young child, Upper St. Clair has represented

so much to me—care, community,

and excellence. It is these traditions that

allow us to succeed together.”

Dr. Wagner was nominated for the

award by Dr. Dan Beck, USCHS assistant

principal, with letters of support from

students, teachers, parents, and district

administrators. According to Dr. Beck, it’s

Dr. Wagner’s humility and philosophical

beliefs around collective decision-making

that help to make the high school a special

place to teach and learn.

Yoshna Venkataraman, a senior at the

high school, believes that Dr. Wagner

demonstrates care for every student

through his consistent involvement and

encouragement. She credits him and the

culture of support he fosters with helping

students and staff navigate the difficult

times throughout the pandemic.

The influence and impact of Dr.

Wagner’s leadership extends beyond students

and teachers. Families recognize the

difference he makes academically as well

as socially and emotionally.

“Dr. Wagner has implemented several

initiatives that promote students’ emotional

well-being, such as mental health

awareness programs, which include speakers

and activities, counseling services that

are available to every student around the

clock, and stress-reducing activities such

as philanthropic sports competitions,”

said Kelly Powell, USCHS Parent Teacher

Organization president. “These initiatives

help students balance the pressures of

school and life.”

Dr. John Rozzo, superintendent of

schools, praised Dr. Wagner for his

leadership.

“Being named Pennsylvania’s

Principal of the Year is an incredible and

well-deserved honor for Dr. Wagner,” Dr.

Rozzo said. “He has taught at every level

within our school district and has a depth

of knowledge that is difficult to match. As

principal, he has demonstrated tremendous

leadership and continues to make a

positive impact within and beyond Upper

St. Clair High School.”

Dr. Wagner has spent his entire professional

career in the Upper St. Clair School

District. In 2007, he began his teaching

career at Streams Elementary. He has also

taught middle-level English and social

studies and has served as a gifted education

coordinator for students in grades

7–12. From 2013–15, Dr. Wagner served

as the middle school English language

arts curriculum leader. Dr. Wagner joined

the USCHS administration in 2015 as the

associate principal for program planning

and innovation. He was named the school’s

principal in 2019.

“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Wagner

for being named Pennsylvania Principal

of the Year,” said Dr. Amy Pfender, deputy

superintendent. “More importantly, we are

grateful for his leadership and service to

the children, families, and staff of Upper

St. Clair.”

In 2017, Dr. Wagner was honored with

the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award

from Washington & Jefferson College. He

earned similar accolades for his leadership

endeavors including the University

of Pittsburgh School of Education’s 2017

Early Career Award.

In 2014, he received the Outstanding

Young Educator Award from the PASCD.

This award recognizes educators who have

made an impact on educating the whole

child, leadership, and contributions to

the profession. Two years later, in the fall

of 2016, PASCD named him an Emerging

Leader. The PASCD Emerging Leader

Dr. Tim Wagner

program recognizes and prepares young,

promising educators to influence education

programs, policy, and practice at the

state level.

Dr. Wagner earned his undergraduate

degree from Washington & Jefferson

College. He completed his graduate degree

and doctoral studies at the University

of Pittsburgh. He is a member of the

Pennsylvania Principals Association,

NASSP, PASCD, and the Association for

Supervision and Curriculum Development.

In addition to his work in the field of education,

Dr. Wagner is actively involved in

several local community organizations including

the Historical Society of Upper St.

Clair. He previously served on the boards

of the Community Foundation of Upper

St. Clair and Beverly’s Birthdays.

Dr. Wagner was honored at the

Pennsylvania Principals Association State

Conference this August. He and other

state winners will advance in the competition

for the 2023–24 NASSP National

Principal of the Year. From these state

winners, three are named as national finalists

and, ultimately, one is selected as

the NASSP National Principal of the Year.

NASSP honors all state principals of the

year at the Principals Institute held each

year in Washington, D.C. n


USC Named

Pennsylvania’s

Top School District

Upper St. Clair School District ranks as the No. 1

school district in Pennsylvania, according to the 2023 School

Guide published by the Pittsburgh Business Times. This marks

the second year in a row that Upper St. Clair has reached No. 1

in the statewide rankings, which began in 2017.

Dr. John Rozzo, superintendent of schools, attributes the

district’s success to the collective commitment to quality public

education.

“Great communities make great schools, and great schools

make great communities,” he said. “We are incredibly fortunate

to have the support of parents, students, teachers, administrators,

staff, a school board, and other community members who

share our commitment to providing our students with world class

educational experience.”

“At Upper St. Clair, we have a culture of continuous growth

USC Named Best Community for

Music Education

For the eighth consecutive year, Upper St. Clair

School District has been named among the nation’s Best

Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation.

Upper St. Clair is one of only 15 school districts in Allegheny

County and 123 in Pennsylvania to earn the distinction in 2023.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Upper St.

Clair officials answered detailed questions about funding, graduation

requirements, music class participation, instruction time,

facilities, support for the music program, and community musicmaking

programs. Responses were verified with school officials

and reviewed by the Music Research Institute at the University

of Kansas.

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization supported

in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its

approximately 15,000 members around the world. The foundation

advances active participation in music making across the lifespan

by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and

public service programs. For more information about the NAMM

Foundation, please visit nammfoundation.org. n

that helps to ensure that our students as well as staff reach their

full potential,” said Dr. Daphna Gans, school board president.

“From our curriculum development process to our operations,

we are constantly reviewing and evolving to best meet the needs

of our students. We have a unique and incredibly student-centric

superintendent and administrative team.”

For the fourth straight year, Upper St. Clair ranks No. 1 among

the 105 school districts in the seven-county region that includes

Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and

Westmoreland counties.

The 2023 School Guide rankings look at three years of

school performance data. For this year’s calculations, PSSA and

Keystone Exam data from 2022, 2021, and 2019 were included

in the formula. Standardized testing was suspended in 2020 due

to the pandemic. n

Choral Director Honored with

PMEA Award

Lorraine Milovac, choral director at Upper St. Clair High

School, was honored with the

Pennsylvania Music Educators

Association District 1 Citation

of Excellence during the organization’s

state conference this

past April.

The Citation of Excellence

recognizes “PMEA members

who have made lasting contributions

in their area of

teaching.”

Lorraine retired at the end

of the 2022–2023 school year

and taught Theater, co-taught

AP Music Theory, and directed

the Women’s Choir,

Clarion Choir, Men’s Ensemble,

Lorraine Milovac

Pantheon Choir and the Chanteclairs at the high school. She

served as adviser for the International Thespian Society and

Tri-M Music Honors Society, and was the vocal director for the

spring musical. Prior to joining the Upper St. Clair faculty in

2005, Lorraine served as the high school choral director in the

Woodland Hills School District.

Lorraine has served as the director of the Women’s Choral

Ensemble at the University of Pittsburgh for the last 24 years

and also serves as the assistant music director at Westminster

Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair. n


Chen Places First at Competition

Upper St. Clair High School student Leona Chen was

the first-place winner of the inaugural Chamber Orchestra of

Pittsburgh Concerto Competition, hosted by the Steinway Society

of Western Pennsylvania. She will perform the first movement

of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor alongside the

orchestra as soloist on Sept. 9, 2023.

This past May, Leona won first place and the American Prize

at the 2023 Pittsburgh Piano Teachers Association Advanced

Honors Awards Competition, where she performed Liebermann’s

Gargoyles, Op. 29, No. 4, Chopin’s Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48,

No. 1, and Debussy’s L’isle joyeuse, L. 106. Leona placed third in

the Streator-Smith Memorial Competition this past April.

Leona began taking piano lessons at age five and currently

studies with Professor Luz Manriquez at the Carnegie Mellon

University School of Music. She has won various awards at

the Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition, the

Pittsburgh Concert Society, the Pittsburgh International Piano

Competition, the UIUC High School Competition and the PFMC

Piano Competition.

A Young Artist in the Steinway Society of Western Pennsylvania

since 2016, Leona has played in pre-concert recitals in the lobby

of Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall and has been invited to play at New

York City’s Carnegie Hall. She regularly plays at a local nursing

home and volunteers to teach piano lessons to children.

In addition to piano, Leona plays violin and was selected for

the 2022 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State

Orchestra. n

Leona Chen

Sweet Music

Orchestra Fest

Three Boyce Middle School

orchestra musicians were accepted

to the PMEA District 1 Elementary

Orchestra Fest. Violinists Darko

Kosovec, Sunny Liu, and Matthew

Pfeiffer performed at the event,

held this past March at North Hills

Middle School.

All-State Band

Four USC High School musicians successfully

auditioned for the Pennsylvania Music Educators

Association All-State Band. Representing Upper

St. Clair at the PMEA All-State Festival this past

April at the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos were

Isaac Bernstein, percussion; Gabe Pacella, trumpet;

Lauren Tenney, clarinet; and Ben Wasson,

trombone. n

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PMEA is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the musical development

of all Pennsylvanians. The organization promotes and supports quality music education,

learning and performance, as well as promoting and supporting music education in schools and

communities. For more information about PMEA, visit www.pmea.net.

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Prom 2023

The sun was shining as students were dressed

to impress at Upper St. Clair’s annual Red Carpet event

on the high school campus.

Upper St. Clair High School’s prom was held on June

6, 2023, at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in

Oakland. Prior to the event, families, friends, and community

members had the opportunity to see and take

photos of students in their formal wear.

Prom and the Red Carpet are organized by the high

school’s activities office, which is led by Brooke Tarcson

and Dr. Stephen Torquato. n

Photos courtesy of Tina Vojtko, USC School District communications specialist


USCHS Seniors Volunteer

at Friendship Village

Prom Fashion Show

A group of nine Upper St. Clair High School seniors

recently participated in a Prom Fashion Show for the residents

of Friendship Village of South Hills. This marked the first year

for the event collaboration between the activities offices of the

high school and the retirement community.

“There is a nostalgia around school proms that resonates

with all generations,” Brooke Tarcson, USCHS head of activities,

said. “It was heartwarming to hear the oohs and ahhs as

each girl entered the room and to see our students interacting

with the residents.”

Student volunteers included Olivia Fulton, Shivani

Kamineni, Mansi Lathia, Claire Loomis, Reagan McGregor, Jocie

Rullo, Ashvita Saxena, Lauren Starr, and Yoshna Venkataraman.

The Friendship Village staff decorated the event space with

colorful paper flowers, decorative umbrellas, and twinkle lights.

The decorations worked to enhance the experience, allowing

the residents to feel as if they were at a real fashion show.

When the show started, the girls walked down the runway

one at a time as Liz Koenig, Friendship Village activities director,

enthusiastically announced each student’s name, described

the dresses, and shared their future plans following graduation.

As the girls walked the runway, the residents of Friendship

Village were beaming with joy and excitement. They cheered

and clapped for each girl and made sure to notice each dress.

USC student Olivia Fulton noted, “It was a really awesome

experience. It was incredibly heartwarming to see how excited

all of the residents were for each and every dress.”

Following the fashion show, the girls went around and spoke

to each resident. This allowed for many of them to reminisce

over their own senior proms.

When speaking with the residents, Ashvita Saxena found

that watching them light up over the memories they cherish

from prom night encouraged her to “enjoy the moment because

a lot of them talked about their own prom and how they still

remember it.”

The students enjoyed their time with the residents of

Friendship Village.

“Our students were so thankful to have had the opportunity

to participate in this volunteer effort,” said Brooke. “They

genuinely enjoyed this intergenerational event.” n

You Made My Day

Friendship Village resident Jeri Williams was a guest

reader in Stacey Templeton’s classroom at Baker Elementary this

past March. To her surprise, she received a special packet from the

students not long afterward. She was so impressed with this act

of kindness that she wanted to share her response with the community,

and TODAY was happy to help.

Tough guy Clint Eastwood would threaten his foes with the expression,

“Make my day.” Well, my counter-take on his expression

is, “You made my day,” and here’s how you so compassionately

did just that.

I received on my birthday, March 30, a most unique packet. This

packet contained individually created, hand-painted cards with

personalized printed messages from you. Your messages reflected

on my having been invited to read to you during your March 1

sleepover event. Yes, books to read had been preselected, but I decided

to add a few feline stories and poems to my assignment. And, most

importantly, this was because I wanted to introduce you to P.C., my

robotic pretend cat, who accompanied me. We seemed to have made

a purr-fect impression, as some of you referenced in your notes.

Before I began reading, I told you a few things about myself,

including that I lived in a retirement community, Friendship

Village South Hills (FVSH), in independent living. I also shared

that my husband, John, lived on campus as well, in the memory

care facility.

I had noted printed on the blackboard the names of students

who had birthdays in March and saw that one of you is an almost

mutual birthday sharer.

I mention all of this because you listened, remembered, and

included references in your personalized messages. How perfectly

beautiful of you to have done so!

Another similar unique packet was received by my husband.

Some of your messages to him referred to our time together and

your meeting P.C.

Each packet included a ribbon-tied collection of your cards and

a special note from your teacher, the very special Mrs. Templeton.

My life has been enriched by you

P.C., my robotic cat, feels this way, too

So, we say with no further ado

Mew, Mew, Mew.

Lovingly,

Jeri Williams

Jeri Williams reading to the students at Baker


Students Talk with Astronaut

This past May, Upper St. Clair students participated in a live video call

with astronaut Woody Hoburg aboard the International Space Station. Woody

serves as the pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission, which launched on March

2, 2023. The event was spearheaded by Tracy Smith, USCHS robotics teacher,

and Russ Hoburg, Woody’s brother and USCHS chemistry teacher, with assistance

and support from the district’s

technology department and curriculum

leaders.

A group of 15 students—representing

all grade levels and all six Upper St.

Clair schools—gathered in the district’s

administration building to ask a variety

Student astronaut Leonardo Cesarm,

Streams Elementary

of questions. Junior Reese Copenhaver served as the event’s host and facilitated questions from

each of the students and from Russ Hoburg.

Reese collaborated with Russ Hoburg to develop and submit a design for the Crew-6 mission

patch. Every launch features a unique patch specific to the mission. Crew members typically

create a basic design, which is refined by a graphic artist into a usable patch. While Reese’s

design was not used for the mission patch, it is featured on the pink T-shirts worn by Woody,

Russ, and Reese during the broadcast.

Hosting a live broadcast with the International Space Station was an incredible experience

for all involved. Tracy Smith was particularly excited that the event was available district-wide

for all students, teachers, and families to enjoy.

“We were having a live conversation with someone in the International Space Station!

That in and of itself is surreal,” she said. “Our community had the opportunity to experience

it together. It is truly significant to be able to connect students throughout the district with a common thread. This was an ageless

experience. It didn’t matter if you were a kindergartener or a veteran teacher; the excitement and impact reached everyone.”

While the broadcast went smoothly and according to plan, the behind-the-scenes logistics for the technology department were

a heavy lift. In addition, curriculum leaders and teachers developed corresponding resources and learning opportunities to enrich

the experience.

“It took collaboration between so many different people on our side and

NASA’s to pull this off without a hiccup,” said Tracy. “Upper St Clair School

District is full of professionals who take pride in making this place the best it

can be for students. Because of that, we were able to work as a team to pull off

this once-in-a-lifetime event.”

Tracy hopes that students look at Woody Hoburg and realize that doing

things, like becoming an astronaut, is not out of reach for them.

“Woody is an authentic person who has

followed his passion throughout all avenues

of life—academics, sports, hobbies, etc. I

want students to realize that if they work

hard and continually engage in things that

interest them, it can lead them to adventures

Tech Staff: Erin Walker, Todd West, Michael Binkley,

Paul Jaglowski, Ray Berrott

in life that are beyond imaginable,” she said.

“I don’t expect all students to aspire to be an

astronaut. Woody’s story goes more to the

core of being true to yourself and passionately

taking action to follow your dreams. That is

really what I hope students take away from

the event.”

“To be involved in something that can have

a positive impact on so many people is very

rewarding,” Tracy said. “Sometimes it takes a

large-scale event like this to realize that your

passion and hard work can positively affect

the lives of others. It has reminded me of my

purpose and rejuvenated me to continue to

find ways to inspire and educate.” n

Astronaut Woody Hoburg


STEAM

STEAM Students Present to Eaton Execs

Four teams of STEAM students traveled to Eaton Corp

in Moon Township to present their work to a team of corporate

executives. Students were tasked with researching and developing

solutions for a variety of challenges, from environmentally

friendly packaging improvements to creating a demonstration

wall that features interactive media.

The students are enrolled in the Honors STEAM Innovation

& Consulting course taught by USCHS teacher Fred Peskorski.

Within the class, students work to solve real world problems using

Human Centered Design techniques as well as more traditional

problem-solving methods.

The final phase of this course requires students to work with

industry partners to solve real problems that need to be addressed

within those companies. Students have been working with

Eaton Corp, an international Fortune 500 Company that focuses

on reliable, efficient, safe, and sustainable power management

technologies. This marks the third year that Eaton has partnered

with USC’s STEAM course.

While all of the program’s partnering corporations provide

challenging problems for the students, Eaton Corp is unique in

several ways.

“Eaton has dedicated engineers and/or executives assigned to

each student team who’ve been proactive in guiding students as

they work through the problem-solving process,” Fred explained.

“They have always provided honest feedback with critique that is

thoughtful and meaningful to our students. And, Eaton is a global

multi-billion-dollar company that has a manufacturing process

distinctly different from our other partners.”

STEM

The STEAM Innovation & Consulting course gives students an

opportunity to apply newly learned problem-solving methods and

their own unique strengths to solve real world challenges. These

are problems that are varied in scope and often require students

to explore new subject areas that they might not otherwise have

the opportunity to learn about.

“Generally speaking, any time that students get a sense of

the type of problems faced in companies of any size, it informs

them about potential career choices,” Fred said. “The problems

that we get from our industry partners are intentionally diverse,

where any problem—from front office through shipping a finished

product—is on the table.”

While each team focuses on its specific problem, throughout

the duration of the partnership, the class participates in status

meetings where each team shares the work that they have been

doing.

“This exposure can enlighten students about a field of interest

that they had no idea existed, or equally valuable, the exposure

could reveal that they don’t enjoy or have a proclivity for something

that they thought they would want to pursue,” said Fred.

While you cannot exactly duplicate real world experiences

in the classroom, Fred believes the experiences in the Honors

STEAM Innovation & Consulting course are about as close to

it as you can get.

“Students work in teams as consultants for our partners,” he

said. “The problems given to them are real and our partners have

expectations that these kids will develop solutions that are either

immediately implementable, or provide a framework that they

can use in house to build their own solutions.”

Prior to their work with Eaton Corp, the students worked with

EAFab, a Pittsburgh-based company that designs and fabricates

equipment and parts for steel mills throughout North America.

Following this collaboration, students will spend time working

as consultants for Tom Brown, Inc.

The STEAM Innovation & Consulting course was launched

in 2014 as a partnership between the Upper St. Clair and South

Fayette high schools, the Luma Institute, All-Clad Metalcrafters

LLC, and EAFab Corp. n

Any corporations or organizations that may be interested in partnering

with the Honors STEAM Innovation & Consulting course, should

contact Fred Peskorski at fpeskorski@uscsd.k12.pa.us.

National Chemistry Olympiad

Isabella Zhang and Mahir Parmar, USCHS students, were two of the

approximately 1000 high school students who qualified for the U.S. National

Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) that was administered this past April. The

National Chemistry Olympiad exam is a three-part exam administered on a

single day. Each of the three parts takes approximately two hours to complete.

Sponsored by the American Chemical Society, the USNCO program is a

competition designed to stimulate and promote achievement in high school

chemistry. n

Isabella Zhang

Mahir Parmar


STEAM

Cardboard Boats—That Float

This past spring, USCHS Advanced Placement Physics C

students designed, constructed, and tested their life-sized cardboard

boat designs in the high school’s swimming pool. Before a

crowd of hundreds of classmates, students climbed aboard their

vessels in a race for first place and bragging rights.

“Students create four individual boat designs each and calculate

the depth their boat will sink with their target loads, volume of

boats, area of the bottom of their boats, maximum load their boat

can hold, amount of water they’ll displace etc.,” said their teacher,

Clayton Yonker. “Their

designs are to be professional

with multiple

views and dimensions,

including an orthogonal

view.”

The annual boat

races represent the culmination

of the students’

efforts.

“The students build a

prototype of one of their

designs and test it,” said

Clayton. “After testing it,

their group finalizes a design

and they construct a

USCHS Students Teach Coding

A group of USCHS students hosted a Creative Computing

Club for nearly 50 fourth graders this past spring. The high school

students are members of the Spark Girls Into STEM (SGIS) Club.

SGIS offered the Creative Computing Club from 2:45–4:15

p.m. on three consecutive Fridays in April at both Baker and

Streams elementary schools. Students connected with high school

students through computer science and learn more about programming

through Scratch.

High school volunteers included Jasmine Dietiker, Eesha

Pande, Mariah Rainier, Lauren Starr, Amanda Aidar, Maeryn

Mannix, Nishma Ghimire, Mia Manalo, and Nikhita Thakuria.

Jasmine, SGIS president, hopes the program will inspire students

to explore computer science more on their own.

“I had the opportunity of being introduced to Scratch at an

early age, and subsequently spent years on my own teaching

myself to code,” Jasmine said. “I got involved with SGIS my freshman

year because I

knew how important

it is to give kids that

first step and introduce

them to fun

new ways to learn.”

Jasmine explained

that the

three-day program

centered around the

idea of storytelling.

STEM

full-sized boat out of cardboard, glue, tape

and plastic for waterproofing.”

In the initial round, boats raced to

complete eight laps in the pool. Although

all boats successfully completed the eight

laps without sinking, only the fastest

advanced to the finals. The winner of the

final round was the Mario Bros. boat. n

“Each day, we

focused on one

concept that the

students had to

incorporate into

their projects,” she

said. “Day one was

dialogue, and the

students learned

how to make characters

talk to each

other and code

movement. Day two involved characterization, where the students

worked on changing the characters’ appearances and using

code to ‘broadcast’ messages between characters. On the last day,

students wrapped up their projects with a lesson on interactive

storytelling, where they learned to code for user interaction.”

The elementary students responded enthusiastically to the

coding program, as well as to the high school volunteers.

“The students immediately began working on their own and

jumped right into the process of designing characters, scripts of

code, and the overall story of their project,” Jasmine said. “It was

really inspiring to see how motivated they were to ask questions

as soon as they ran into issues and work with a volunteer to debug

their code. We even had students who finished their projects

early go on to create additional interactive games or animations!”

Jasmine believes the students enjoyed having the opportunity

to create their own one-of-a-kind project while also being able to

collaborate with their peers. n


STEAM

PA Media and Design Competition

Two Fort Couch students placed first in their respective

categories in the recent regional PA Media and Design

Competition. Felix Chen won the 3-D Design category and

Priyaharshini Sivakumar finished first in Animation, qualifying

for the state competition, held this past May in Carlisle, Pa.

The students are led by Jason O’Roark, gifted and accelerated

math teacher. He explained that for the 3-D Design category, Felix

focused on using automation to improve worker safety.

“Felix researched dangerous jobs for one that he thought he

could automate and decided to save lives by no longer forcing

roofers to climb up on roofs,” Jason said. “He made a plan for

his automated roofer, worked hard to create all of the elements

of his design in CAD, printed his design on a 3-D printer, and

wrote about his plan and process.”

Using animation, Priyaharshini developed a creative story

about Pip the penguin who lives in the 1920s and wants to see

the future because they think it will be wonderful.

Junior Envirothon

Teams from Upper St. Clair’s Fort Couch and

Boyce middle schools earned several top honors at the

Junior Envirothon this past March.

Fort Couch students (l/r) Malo Dubreil, Matt Beitler, Callum Pollock,

Josh Beitler, and Anthony DiPiazza took first place at Junior Envirothon.

STEM

Jason explained,

“Priyaharshini wrote

a script, created her

illustrations, used

Scratch programming

to bring them to life,

and wrote about the

process she used to

Priyaharshini Sivakumar Felix Chen

create her project.”

The PA Media and Design Competition is an annual event that

highlights Pennsylvania students’ application skills, creativity,

and knowledge. Students unleash their creativity, learn how to

convey information more dynamically, and enhance the learning

process. Middle and high school students have the opportunity

to compete within six categories, including 3-D design, animation,

digital movie, logo and graphic design, programming, and

web page design. n

The Fort Couch team of Josh Beitler, Matt Beitler, Callum Pollock,

Anthony Dipiazza, and Malo Dubreil placed first. Second place was won

by the Fort Couch team of Trevor McClintock-Comeaux, Ryan Katukota,

Suhavi Singh, Aanya Agrawal, and Ahana Mendhi.

Josh Beitler was singled out as the top scorer in the entire competition

at the soils and land use station. The Fort Couch Middle School students

were coached by Tom Yochum, gifted coordinator.

In the elementary division, the team of Sara Alhajhusain, Kenzie

Petrick, Sarah Staub, and Rebecca Zahalsky placed second. Finishing

third was the team of Eamon Castrodale, Michael Clarke, Mateo Lin,

Brayden Wong, and Alex Zhang. The Boyce students were coached by

Sherri Garvey, gifted/enrichment resource teacher.

The Junior Envirothon is a “natural resource environmental education

program that combines classroom learning and outdoor activities.”

The program is modeled after the high school Envirothon, which is an

annual competition across the commonwealth. Students compete in

small teams across five domains, or stations: aquatic ecology, forestry,

soils and land use, wildlife, and current issues. This year’s current issues

included invasive species and the exotic pet trade. n

Pennsylvania Math League

Boyce sixth graders and Fort Couch seventh graders placed

second in Pennsylvania and first in the five-county region in the Pennsylvania

Mathematics League (PML) contest, held this past spring.

Five of the top seven students in the five-county region are Boyce students

Claire Dietiker, Bernard Huang, Will Kreizenbeck, Mateo Lin, and Brayden Wong.

Fort Couch seventh graders tied for the second highest score among 38

schools throughout Pennsylvania. Fort Couch topped the charts at the regional

level and two of the top four scores were earned by seventh graders John

Whitman and Nate Del.

Middle school students were given 30 minutes to solve 35 questions, ranging

from simple and straightforward to complex math problems. The school’s

team score—comprised of the school’s top five scores—is reported to the PML.

The PML specializes in conducting math contests designed to stimulate

student interest and confidence in mathematics. n

Science Bowl

Fort Couch students Josh Beitler, Matt

Beitler, Anthony Dipiazza, Malo Dubreil, Colt

Erdos, and Callum Pollock placed second at the

regional Science Bowl, held this past March.

The event was hosted by the Carnegie Museum

of Natural History and the Allegheny Intermediate

Unit, Students worked in teams to compete in

various hands-on challenges. n


Upper St. Clair School District

2023–2024 ATHLETIC PASSES

ADULT AND STUDENT PASSES

Ultimate Panther Pass includes general admission entry to ALL home, regular

season USCHS athletic events, including football, soccer, basketball, swimming,

wrestling, lacrosse, and volleyball.

Three season (fall, winter, spring)...................................... Quantity ___ @ $50______

Name:______________________________________ Phone:________________

Address:_____________________________________ City:__________________

State: ________Zip:__________Email:____________________________________

Number of Passes Ordered:______________________ Order Total: $___________

Mail completed order forms with payment (payable to USCHS Athletics) to:

Upper St. Clair High School

Attn: Athletics – Kim Valeriano

1825 McLaughlin Run Rd.


Orders must be received before Aug.15.

Panther Passes will be mailed.

If you have any questions, please email Kim Valeriano at

kvaleriano@uscsd.k12.pa.us

THE ACTUAL PANTHER PASS MUST BE PRESENTED AT THE GATE

NO PICTURES OF THE PASS ON YOUR PHONE WILL BE ACCEPTED

A replacement fee of $20 will be charged for lost or stolen passes.

2023 USCHS Varsity Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location

8/19 Chartiers Valley Away (Saturday at 10 a.m.)

8/25 Norwin Home (Senior Night)

9/1 North Hills Home

9/8 Baldwin Away

9/15 Fox Chapel Home (Halls of Fame)

9/22 Peters Twp Away

9/29 Mt. Lebanon Home (Homecoming)

10/6 Bethel Park Away

10/13 Canon-McMillan Away

10/20 Moon Home (Youth Night)

10/27 South Fayette Away

All games start at 7 p.m. on a Friday unless otherwise listed.

USCHS Clubs

and Activities

2023–2024

Academic Assist Club

Almighty Voices Club

American Red Cross Club

Archery Club

Art Club*

ASL Club

Athlete Outreach

Badminton Club

Beauty Club

Best Buddies*

Biology Club

Black Student Union

Boba Club

Book Club

Books Around the World

Club

BookWorm Club

Boxing Club

Boys Ultimate Frisbee

Business and Finance Club

(BLC)

C2CF

Card Club

Cereal Club

Chess Club

Chinese Club

Cinematic Arts Club

Coding for Confidence

Community Helpers

Computer Club

Crochet and Knitting Club

Environmental Club

Equestrian Club

EveryChild

FBLA*

FCCLA

Fencing Club

Financial Management

Association

French Club*

Future Teachers of

America*

Gay-Straight Alliance

German Club*

Girls Reaching Out

Worldwide (G.R.O.W.)

Girls Who Code

Health Occupation

Students of America

IB Club

In the Silence

Indoor Drumline

Innovation, Technology,

and Entrepreneurship Club

Interact Club*

Interfaith Club

Japanese Club*

Jewish Social Club

JOY

Junto Club

Kids Helping Kids

Latin Club*

Law and Politics Club

Letter Writers

Letters of Love

Local Historical Leaders

Magic: The Gathering Club

Make-a-Wish

Math Club

Melody for the Elderly

Montage*

Mountain Bike Club

Multicultural Club*

Outdoors Club

Pantherettes Club

Pep Band

Phoenix Wing Club

Photography Club

Pickleball Club

Play Like a Girl

Real Estate Club

RePLAY

Robotics Club*

RPG Club

Saving Animals

Ski Club

Spanish Club*

Spark Girls into STEM

Speech and Debate*

Spikeball Club

St. Clairion*

Stage Crew

Stand Together Club*

Students Demand Action

Table Tennis Club

Technology Student

Association (TSA)

Theatre Club

Topgolf Club

Tri-M*

Ukrainian Culture

UNICEF

USC Esports*

uscGAL*

Wallflowers Club

Winterguard

World Affairs Club*

Yearbook*

YEP Club

Yoga Club

Young Life

*Indicates school-sponsored clubs;

all other clubs are student-driven.

Visit uscsd.k12.pa.us/activities for the most

up-to-date listing of clubs and activities,

as well as contact information.


High School Student Attends FBI

Youth Leadership Program

Braidyn Recker was selected for the FBI National Academy

Associates Youth Leadership Program and participated in a week-long

training event this past June at the FBI Academy, located on the Marine

Corps base in Quantico, Va.

Braidyn is an active member of the USCHS student council. She

competes on the high school girls’ soccer team and with the Pittsburgh

Riverhounds Academy. She is also involved with the National Alliance

for Mental Illness and the Red Door Project.

The Youth Leadership Program includes extensive classroom study,

physical fitness, guest lectures, and leadership experiences. The program

focuses on issues facing today’s youth, including fundamentals of leadership,

fitness, nutrition and resiliency, time management, values and

choices, social media and internet survival, managing change, financial

literacy, and more.

Students must demonstrate high academic standards and good

citizenship to be nominated for the Youth Leadership Program. The 62

students selected for the program represent more than 40 U.S. states and

four international countries.

The Youth Leadership Program is hosted by the FBI National

Academy Associates, Inc., an international alumni organization of senior

law enforcement professionals who have graduated from the 10-week FBI

National Program. Applicants must be rising high school sophomores

or juniors between 14–16 years old. Interested students apply for the

program through their local FBI National Academy Associates Chapter

and participate in a competitive interview process at the Pittsburgh FBI

field office.

Upper St. Clair is represented by the program’s Western Pennsylvania

Chapter. For more information about the FBI National Academy

Associates Youth Leadership Program, contact John Phoennik, South

Fayette Township’s chief of police, at jphoennik@sftwp.com. n

Upper St. Clair

School District

2023–2024 Calendar

Aug 23

Aug 25

Sep 4

Oct 27

Nov 1

Nov 7

Grades 1–12 First Day of School

Kindergarten First Day of School

No School–Labor Day

No School–Teacher In-service



Nov 22–24 No School–Thanksgiving Recess

Dec 22

Half Day/Early Dismissal

Dec 25–29 No School–Winter Recess

Jan 1

Jan 15

Jan 22

Feb 19

No School–Winter Recess




Mar 25–29 No School–Spring Recess

Apr 1

Apr 23

May 27

Jun 6

Jun 6

Jun 7



No School–Memorial Day

High School Commencement

Last Day of School for Students–

Half Day/Early Dismissal

Teacher In-service

Monthly Calendar

The USC School District detailed monthly

calendar is available online, providing residents

with the most up-to-date information about events

in our township’s schools. To access the calendar,

visit the district website at uscsd.k12.pa.us

and click on the Calendar tab. In addition to

viewing events for the entire district, there is

an option to filter by specific school building.

(l/r) Castle Shannon Police Lt. Brian McKeown, South Fayette Chief of Police

John Phoennik, FBI Pittsburgh Training and Civic Liaison Specialist Kathrine

Halo, Braidyn Recker, Upper St. Clair Lt. Michael Lindenfelser, Upper St. Clair

Chief of Police Jonathan Wharton

USC eAlerts

Upper St. Clair School District regularly

sends news and information via email. Weekly

recap emails with the latest news, upcoming

events, links to news articles, and more are sent

to subscribers. Subscribe to eAlerts on the district’s

website (uscsd.k12.pa.us) under Quick

Links, shown on the left-hand side.


Showing Community

Support for our Lady

Panthers

Studies have found that female athletes

in high school are still denied the same

recognition as their male counterparts.

Three Upper St. Clair students—Reilly

Caslin, Gabbie Deep, and Mac Kenzie

Rauch—began to brainstorm ideas on how

to make a difference at the high school and

were excited to have the opportunity to

create positive change by showing support

for the USC girls’ athletic teams.

Gabbie stated, “Inequality in recognition

for women’s athletics has been a topic

of discussion throughout the United States

for many years. Our group found this issue

specifically interesting, as it concerned not

only the world around us, but connected

with our own experiences in Upper St.

Clair. We began to wonder if this disproportion

affected our own community and what

could be done to combat this imbalance of

recognition if it was present.”

The Honors American Civil Engagement

class, taken by upperclassmen at the high

school, offers a unique understanding of

how students can engage with local and

federal government systems. The class

culminates in a year-long CAPstone project,

where students select a topic that they are

passionate about as well as encouraging

thought about difference-making in the

world around them.

Reilly, Gabbie, and Mac Kenzie explored

athletic statistics at USCHS and investigated

what change could be made within

their sphere of influence for the CAPstone

project. After reviewing research that indicated

that the majority of high school

and college female athletic programs do

not receive equal recognition as their male

counterparts, they were able to develop

their research question: Is Upper St. Clair

High School’s athletic program providing

equal recognition for boys’ and girls’

athletics? They investigated whether this

discrepancy exists in the high school and

proposed a constructive solution to benefit

not only the students, but also the community

as a whole.

Reilly, a varsity tennis player, said, “Before

we began to dive into the investigation

within our own school district, we started

to gather information about the effect of

this division on other communities in the

United States, both in high schools and

at the collegiate level. While conducting

research for our project, we found many

articles and statistics regarding unequal

athletic acknowledgement through unequal

funding.” According to articles written

about three New York schools—Patriot

High School, Hudson High School, and

New York City Schools—girls’ athletics

are being provided with significantly less

funding compared to boys’ athletics. The

writer of DNA info, Katie Honan, reported

on statistics concerning the funding of

sports for schools across New York through

The Public School Athletic League. She reported,

“nearly $14.5 million was spent on

boys’ athletics, and $12 million was spent

for girls. Co-ed sports, including cricket

and golf, received less than $1 million in

funding.”

The statistics for the state of New York

indicate that there is an unequal distribution

of fund for girls’ and boys’ athletics.

Boys’ sports get more funding for their

teams, while girls get less. This seems to

be a trend among many other schools, as

shown through Hudson High School, where

it was reported that “between July 1, 2013,

and March 30, 2014, girls’ sports received

$17,933.67, whereas boys’ teams were

granted $46,815.93.” Funding is a critical

element of recognition, and the statistics

demonstrate that the funding for girls’

and boys’ sports at Hudson High School is

imbalanced.

While inconsistent funding seems to

be a contributing factor, it is not the only

factor in unequal recognition between

boys’ and girls’ sports. The team acknowledged

that the CAPstone project tasked

them with effecting change withing their

sphere of influence. Reilly, Gabbie and Mac

Kenzie realized that school district athletic

funding was not within their immediate

sphere of influence and asked themselves,

instead, what other ways they could impact

the recognition of USCHS athletics? The

group considered the questions: What is

recognition? And furthermore, how can it

be measured?

The answer, they concluded, was found

in attendance. As a whole, men’s college

basketball games are watched more than

women’s college basketball games. Statistics

reported by the NCAA demonstrate

the imbalance in attendance between male

and female sporting events, as seen through

March Madness viewership. According to

World Sports Network, “The 2019 Men’s

Division I Basketball Tournament had an

average viewership of 6.79 million. In

comparison, the 2019 Women’s Division I

Basketball Tournament Final had an average

viewership of 3.69 million across linear

and streaming platforms.” There’s a reason

that at every Steelers game the attendance

is announced during the fourth quarter. Attendance,

regardless of the event, proves to

be substantial, as showing up demonstrates

attention, support, and dedication to the

event and community.

Reilly, Gabbie, and Mac Kenzie directed

their efforts toward increasing community

and student awareness of the USCHS girls’

athletic teams through advertising aimed

at increasing attendance rates at home

sporting events. They hoped that through

making USCHS girls’ athletics a louder part

of the conversation, community awareness

would increase and attendance would go

up.

What started out as just an idea evolved

into a project, as Reilly, Gabbie, and Mac

Kenzie outlined the specific action that

could be taken within the community. The

girls met with high school athletic staff,

Greg Wagner and Kimberly Valeriano, to

gain further insight and gather attendance


statistics regarding female athletic programs offered at the high school. The

students hoped to understand the attendance contrast between girls’ and boys’

athletic teams in past seasons. The numbers demonstrated a stark divide between

the spectator turnout, favoring the high school boys’ athletic teams. A notable

example of this discrepancy can be seen through the attendance rates at the boys’

and girls’ senior recognition lacrosse games in 2022. The boys’ lacrosse team

had 216 spectators in attendance, whereas the girls’ team had 141. Mac Kenzie,

a member of the girls’ lacrosse team, proposed focusing on increasing student

attendance at a specific measurable game.

In the spring of 2022, girls’ lacrosse senior night had fewer than 150 people

in attendance. The group set a goal to demonstrate improvement in attendance

for this game in 2023. Through advertising by creating posters to put up around

the high school and collaborating with the student section leaders that encourage

student spirit, Reilly, Gabbie, and Mac Kenzie aimed to increase student

attendance at USC girls’ lacrosse senior recognition night. They also ran a 50/50

raffle during the first half of the game, with proceeds going to the lacrosse team.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature threw a curveball that no amount of advertising

or social media influence could prevent—spitting rain and 30-degree temperatures

in mid-April. Junior Evelyn Hertzog said, “I saw the Twitter post and was planning

to go to the game with some friends, but I didn’t really want to sit in the rain.”

In the end, the crowd turnout was smaller than hoped, as the numbers did

not surpass 2022. But it was not a complete loss, as the team won (20-6) and the

50/50 profits were donated directly to the USCHS girls’ lacrosse team. While the

attendance of this single event did not increase, the students’ plan to continue to

provide a voice to girls’ athletic teams in future games and even future seasons.

The group is working to publicize the game schedules for all the USC female

athletic teams. They hope this article will spark interest in the female athletic

events at the high school and that attendance will continue to increase for years

to come. From lacrosse to tennis, and everything in between, USC girls’ athletic

teams contribute to the community and culture at the high school. Attendance at

female athletic events is crucial in showing support for our female student athletes.

Reilly, Gabbie, and Mac Kenzie hope this project will motivate girls to stick

with playing sports and demonstrate both the impact and importance of equal

athletic recognition in the world around them and in Upper St. Clair. Although

every step of recognition helps, the CAPstone group realizes that imbalance in

athletic equality is present on a much larger, world-wide scale. Reilly, Gabbie,

and Mac Kenzie plan on continuing to pursue athletic recognition through the

rest of their high school careers and hope to see you at one of the girls’ home

sporting events soon! n

Interested in learning more about the upcoming girls’ seasons? Like or follow your

favorite teams to keep up to date with the latest news in USC girls’ athletics. Specific

schedules will be published on the school district athletic website uscsdathletics.com.

Varsity

Scorecard

2022–2023

Fall Team W L T Achievement

Cross-Country

(Boys)

Cross-Country

(Girls)

7 1 WPIAL Qualifier

5 3

Field Hockey 0 12

Football 10 3 WPIAL Runner

Up

Golf (Boys) 14 2 Section Champs/

WPIAL Semi-

Finals

Golf (Girls) 5 5

Soccer (Boys) 9 7 2 WPIAL Quarter

Finals

Soccer (Girls) 10 7 WPIAL Quarter

Finals

Tennis (Girls) 10 7 WPIAL Quarter

Finals

Volleyball (Girls) 8 9 WPIAL Playoffs

Winter Team

Basketball

(Boys)

Basketball

(Girls)

Wrestling 4 8

Swimming

(Boys)

Swimming

(Girls)

16 10 Section Champs/

WPIAL Semi-

Finals

State Qualifier

23 4 Section Champs/

WPIAL Runner

Up

State Quarter

Finals

7 3 5th in WPIAL

7 3 5th in WPIAL

Rifle 3 11 14th overall in PA

Ice Hockey 13 9 PIHL Runner Up

Spring Team

Baseball 10 12 WPIAL Quarter

Finals

Softball 8 9 WPIAL Playoffs

Tennis (Boys) 13 2 WPIAL Semi-

Finals

Volleyball (Boys) 14 5 WPIAL Quarter

Finals

Track (Girls) 4 1 WPIAL Playoffs

Track (Boys) 1 4

Lacrosse (Girls) 13 3 WPIAL Quarter

Finals

Lacrosse (Boys) 10 6 WPIAL Semi-

Finals


Let’s Hear It for the Girls!

Caleb Guarino, TODAY Intern

Upper St. Clair’s female student-athletes had a great

spring season!

Playoff Bound

In May 2019, the USC softball team clinched a playoff spot

for the first time in more than two decades. This year, the team,

led by pitcher Brooklyn Kemp, clinched a spot midway through

the season. In a single season, Brooklyn reached and surpassed

100 career strikeouts, with a total of 112. “I was very proud of

myself,” Brooklyn said. “My coach made me successful and helped

me get the job done by calling my pitches. I also couldn’t have

done it without my teammates.”

Since becoming head coach, Coach Bill Aguglia has led the

team to the playoffs three times in the past four years. Coach

Aguglia commented, “Making the playoffs is special to me here.

My proudest moment was making playoffs for the first time in

20 years.”

The Upper St. Clair girls’ 4 x 100-meter team competing at Penn Relays

on April 27, 2023. (l/r) Noor El Nokali, Ashley Sanderson, Sadie Tomcyzk,

Dani Prunzik

Pitcher Brooklyn Kemp celebrating her 100th career strikeout with the USC

softball team. (l/r) Elisa Tucker, Emily Teklinski, Maggie Dowds, Sydney Fisher,

Brooklyn Kemp, Grace Cassler, Marissa Noschese, Violet Swigart, Vanessa

Benonis, Ava Worner, Geneva Eisinger, Cassidy Guarino

Smashing Records

The USC girls’ track and field team had an extremely successful

season. In addition to making playoffs and having multiple

athletes qualify for the state championships, the girls’ team broke

school and meet records regularly. Perhaps the most impressive

achievement occurred on April 15, at the TSTCA Invitational

when the girls’ 4 x 100-meter team—Ashley Sanderson, Sadie

Tomczyk, Dani Prunzik, and Noor El Nokali—broke the all-time

USCHS record of 49.67 seconds with a blazing time of 48.67

seconds, just over five weeks into the season.

Captain Dani Prunzik commented, “We were slowly getting

there. I felt like it was bound to happen.”

The girls credit the amazing accomplishment to Coach Matt

Cosgrove, their sprinting coach, and to each other for their hard

work and determination. Records were broken by Dani Prunzik

in the 100- and 200-meter events, and by Sadie Tomczyk, who has

the USC high school freshman records in the 100, 200, and 400-

meter races. Dani Prunzik won both the 100-meter and 200-meter

events at WPIALs. She went on to place fifth at states in 100 and

eighth in the 200. Sadie also qualified for states, placing seventh

in both the 100 and 200 at WPIALs. The girls’ 4 x 100-meter team

earned second place at WPIALs and went on to compete at the

state competition at Shippensburg University.

Giving Back

The Upper St. Clair IB Programme requires students to give

back to the community through a final project before receiving

the IB Certificate. Emily Powell and Noor El Nokali hosted a

track and field clinic for their project. Little did they know that

they would receive over 100 participants, making this one of the

largest clinics ever hosted!

To get started, Noor and Emily received two grants for their

project, allowing them to use the high school track and gain access

to necessary equipment. Their clinic consisted of various stations,

including running form, jumping form, running workouts, and

plyometrics. They admit the clinic wouldn’t have been successful

without help from their advisor, Doug Petrick, and various

parent volunteers.

“Seeing it all come together at the end was a special moment,”

commented Noor and Emily. “I hope we have an opportunity to

do this again in the future!” n

The Upper St. Clair track camp IB Project founders and volunteers after the

successful first day of the clinic. (l/r) Coach Greg Wagner, Emily Powell,

Noor El Nokali, Coach Doug Petrick


World Language Department Recognized for Excellence

The Upper St. Clair High School World Language

Department recently earned a 2023 Golden Globe Award from

the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association (PSMLA).

“The Golden Globe sets a language program as exemplary

within the state,” said Marc-André Clermont, French teacher and

World Language Department curriculum leader. “Our teachers

have been working very hard to adapt to a constantly changing

landscape in education, and they now have the privilege of being

recognized for those efforts.”

To qualify for a Golden Globe, a school must meet or exceed

eight out of 11 program indicators that include a high percentage

of world language enrollment, a variety of languages offered in

four-year sequences, retention of students at higher levels, participation

in AP and/or IB programs, and other key instructional

practices.

Marc-André believes Upper St. Clair’s community support

works to strengthen the district’s educational programs, including

within the World Language Department.

The high school offers five levels of French, German, and

Spanish, and four levels of Latin, Chinese, and Japanese. There

are 13 faculty members within the high school’s World Language

Department. Approximately 85% of USCHS students are enrolled

in world language classes, and an increasing number of students

are taking classes in two or more languages.

Upper St. Clair’s world language program focuses on oral

proficiency, which anticipates that all students will have sufficient

oral practice in their classes to be able to communicate in

another country.

“We are proud to give students the opportunity to graduate

from our high school with a working proficiency of the language

they choose to study and have worked hard to continue to maintain

a high standard for our students,” Marc-André said. “Many

of our students are well prepared to meet the growing demand

for bilingual speakers in their chosen professions, and will find

their hard work in high school to be of benefit to them throughout

their lives.” n

USCHS Speech & Debate Crowned State Champs

The Upper St. Clair High School

Speech & Debate team has once again been

crowned Pennsylvania High School Speech

League (PHSSL) State Champions. This marks the

Panthers’ fourth state title since 2017.

Competing in the large school division, USC

earned 600.5 points. North Allegheny Senior

High School finished second with 519.5 points

and Pennsbury High School was third with 348

points. Upper St. Clair took top honors in Speech

Sweepstakes and second in Debate Sweepstakes.

Individually, senior Nitin Chandran finished first

in Extemporaneous.

The Upper St. Clair High School Speech &

Debate Team is coached by high school teachers

Ben Edwards and Dave Watson. Founded in 1961,

the Pennsylvania High School Speech League’s

purpose is to stimulate through educational competition

an understanding and appreciation of all

areas of speech. n

USCHS Speech & Debate team—state champions


Student Council

Named National Gold

Council of Excellence

The USC High School Student

Council was recently honored as a 2023

National Gold Council of Excellence by the

National Student Council (NatStuCo). The

NatStuCo program is supported by its parent

organization, the National Association

of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

This marks the third year that USCHS

Student Council has been named a National

Gold Council of Excellence. The

national recognition automatically qualifies

USCHS for the Pennsylvania Association for

Student Councils’ Distinguished Keystone

Council Award.

Upper St. Clair’s application process was spearheaded by Ben

Seewald, sophomore class president, and Ryan LaRocco, sophomore

class vice president, with help from other sophomore class

senators.

“National Student Council recognizes student councils that go

above and beyond to improve the quality of school and the student

experience,” Ben said. “To be recognized as a Gold Council,

the student council must meet an additional 26 criteria. A Gold

USCHS Student Council members

Council is special as only the best student councils are recognized;

only nine student councils in Pennsylvania were awarded Gold.”

NatStuCo provides and promotes professional development

and leadership training to student council advisers who, in turn,

teach leadership skills to student council members. NatStuCo is

dedicated to preparing and empowering student leaders to better

serve their schools and communities. For more information, visit

NatStuCo.org. n

Food and Clothing Drive

Algebra Part A students at Fort Couch and USCHS teamed

up to help those less fortunate by hosting a food, clothing, and

toy drive to benefit the Food Helpers of Washington County.

Non-perishable food items and new or gently used clothing and

toys were collected. Monetary donations were accepted for the

food bank, as well.

This marks the ninth year that the Algebra 1 Part A classes have

collaborated on a food drive project. Coordinating the outreach

effort are Shannon Strayer, USCHS math teacher, and Michelle

Senneway, Fort Couch math teacher.

“We link the food and clothing drive to our algebra classes

by creating an algebra equation and graph the results daily,” said

Shannon. “We value all food and clothing donations at $1.25

each and with the combination of all money and food/clothing

collected want to have a ‘total value’ of at least $5000. We discuss

how many more items and/or money need to be donated in order

to hit the goal.”

Students were assigned a variety of tasks, including advertising

the drive, collecting the food, counting, sorting items, and

calculating the total value.

In addition to their collection efforts, students spent a day

volunteering at the Food Helpers of Washington County, where

they planted gardens, packed Senior Boxes in the food bank, and

sorted clothing at the organization’s thrift store.

Last year, students collected over 7000 food and clothing

items and more than $500 in monetary donations to benefit the

Food Helpers. n


Pawprints...

PTC ... a USC Parent Teacher Council Feature

TODAY is pleased to introduce you to the presidents of the Upper St. Clair Parent Teacher Council and the PTSOs, PTOs, and

PTA at our community’s schools. These dedicated individuals do so much to enrich the lives of our students, so please respond

generously when and if they call for volunteers during the 2023–2024 school year!

Pamela Scureman

Leria Miles

Elizabeth Taylor

Ashlee Lentini

Council

Pamela Scureman, President

Spouse: Ryan Scureman

Children: Claire, Jack, Danielle,

and Keely

Occupation: Accountant at

Ohio’s Hospice

Hobbies: Supporting my

children, reading!

Favorite Restaurant: Leo

Greta—Chef Alauzen’s

homemade gnocchi and Caesar

salad

High School PTSO

Leria Miles, President

Spouse: Ron Miles

Children: Chance and Mileidi

Occupation: Project

Management

Hobbies: Volunteering

Favorite Restaurant: Anthos

Fort Couch PTSO

Elizabeth Taylor, President

Spouse: Elliott Taylor

Children: Owen and Holden

Occupation: Our family owns

Clubhouse Cards on North

Highland

Hobbies: I have two hockey

players, so it doesn’t allow much

time for myself, but when I have

time, I love going to the movies,

taking trips to the beach, and

spending time with friends and

family.

Favorite Restaurant: Girasole in

Shadyside

Boyce PTO

Ashlee Lentini, President

Spouse: Michael Lentini

Children: Harper, Dillon, and

Carmen

Occupation: Stay-at-home mom

and occasional fitness instructor,

with a little design work on the

side

Hobbies: A variety of workouts,

fashion, and style

Favorite Restaurant: Il Pizziolo

Kelly Meyers

Jennifer Zofchak

Britanny McHale

Baker PTA

Kelly Meyers, President

Spouse: Dan Meyers

Children: Reagan and Owen

Occupation: Stay-at-home mom

Hobbies: Not much other than running my

kids around to all their activities! I do love a

good puzzle and I also love all things home

design, including constantly renovating our

home.

Favorite Restaurant: Little Tokyo in Mt.

Lebanon

Eisenhower PTO

Jennifer Zofchak, President

Spouse: Greg Zofchak

Children: Brooks, Ryan, and Brandon

Occupation: Travel advisor for Litterini Travel

and substitute teacher for USCSD

Hobbies: Traveling with my family and friends,

watching my boys play all of their sports,

baking, and playing tennis

Favorite Restaurant: Arlecchinos

Streams PTO

Britanny McHale, President

Spouse: William Weller

Children: Morgan and Mason

Occupation: Stay-at-home mom—I enjoy every

second and am always planning something fun

to do with them. Being able to attend all of their

events is the best thing in the world!

Hobbies: Travel, hike, beach, swim, planting

flowers, and anything outside. I love to plan

things!

Favorite Restaurant: First Watch in Sienna—

the food is great and the servers are so nice.

The USC Parent Teacher Council provides leadership and coordination for all the PTA/

PTOs/PTSOs in the district. What does Council do for you?

• Publishes the districtwide

student directory

• Coordinates district-wide

STEAM and wellness

programs

• Coordinates a districtwide

arts program—Arts

in USC—for students in

grades K–12

• Funds and manages the

Scripps Spelling Bee in

USC

• Provides timely emails

regarding PTA/PTO/PTSO

events and happenings at

the schools

• Provides support

to families of gifted

students through Gifted

and Talented Education

(GATE)

• Provides support to

families of special

education students

through Partners in

Education (PIE)

• Hosts a semi-annual

Open Mike with Dr.

Rozzo, superintendent

of schools, and his

administrative team

• Host an annual welcome

dinner for new families

entering grades 1–12

• Maintains a Facebook

page of district and

community information

• Provides an annual

appreciation breakfast

for the central office

administrators and staff

• Provides leadership

training for PTA/PTO/

PTSO officers

• Maintains consistency

among the USC

volunteering units in

many areas


Fort Couch Student

Reaches Quarterfinals

Raana Parchuri, a student

at Fort Couch, finished as

a quarterfinalist at the 95th

Scripps National Spelling.

Raana placed 74th among the

231 participants who qualified

for nationals.

Raana Parchuri

National Academic Competitions

Three USC middle school students were among the top

competitors at the U.S. History Bee, National History Bee,

and National History Bowl, held this past June. In individual

competition, Arjun Kairi was a semifinalist in the U.S.

History Bee, and Arjun and Raana Parchuri were quarterfinalists

in the National History Bee. In the team competition, Arjun

and classmate Bernard Huang advanced to the quarterfinals

in the 2023 National History Bowl. The events are part of the

2023 Middle School and Elementary National Championships,

sponsored by the International Academic Competition.

FBLA

Four USCHS students were among

the top performers at the Pennsylvania

Future Business Leaders of America

State Leadership Conference, advancing

to the national competition, held

this past June: Ujal Gautum first place,

Impromptu Speaking; Arya Patel, second

place, Advertising; Yog Trivedi,

third place, Advertising; and Shubham

Patel, fourth place, Agribusiness.

Girls on the Run

Twenty-nine Streams students completed the Girls

on the Run Magee Spring 5K, held on May 21, 2023,

at the Waterfront in Homestead. Girls on the Run is

a national program that encourages preteen girls to

develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through

running. The 10-week program combines training for

a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing,

uplifting lessons, and workouts.

#Have e You Heard?

Outstanding Young Citizens

Seven USCHS student were recognized among the 100 Trib Total Media 2023

Outstanding Young Citizens. Jasmine Dietiker, Lily Gessel, Ansh Goyal, Markella

Jahn, Peer Khan, Jason Lu, and Phillip Markovitz were selected based on their

character and leadership, dedication to community service, and outstanding academic

achievement.

The Outstanding Young Citizens program recognizes high school juniors and

seniors from throughout western Pennsylvania. Nominations can be made by family,

friends, school officials, teachers, and members of the community.

Ultimate Frisbee Champions

The USCHS boys’ ultimate frisbee team won the city championship, held this

past May at Duquesne University. This marks the first championship for the team in

its nearly two-decade history.

The final game was a

close match against North

Allegheny, ending with a

12-11 overtime victory for

the Panthers. The team

ended the season 10-1.

Earlier this year, the

team went undefeated in

the city’s winter league,

capturing the championship

against Fox Chapel to

finish with a 20-0 record.

Isaac Bernstein

High School Diplomat

Isaac Bernstein was among 16

American and 16 Japanese students who

attended a 10-day cultural enrichment

experience in Japan this summer as

part of the 2023 High School Diplomats

(HSD) Japan program. Students visited

such places as Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nara,

Osaka, and Tokyo, enjoyed site-seeing,

and made official visits.

The HSD program brings together

high school students from the United

States and Japan each summer through

two parallel experiences. With HSD U.S.,

American students travel to the East

Coast of the United States to participate

in eight days of cultural exchange alongside

a Japanese roommate on the campus

of the University of Virginia. With HSD

Japan, American students who complete

the U.S. program travel to Japan for several

weeks the following summer.


Future Problem Solvers

Two teams of USCHS students were top performers at the

Future Problem Solving (FPS) State Bowl, qualifying for the

FPS International Conference, held in June at the University

of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Sofia Alfredson Themudo, Anoushka Barve, Sara Gillespie,

and Kaia Petrick earned first place in Global Issues Problem

Solving and first place in the Action Plan Presentation.

Jamie Barrett, Frankie Dubreil, Anna Engelman, and Sydney

Montgomery earned second place in Global Issues Problem

Solving and first place in the Action Plan Presentation.

Lillian Pfeiffer

Poster Contest Winner

Lillian Pfeiffer, a student at

Streams Elementary, placed first

among third graders in the Pittsburgh

region in the National Energy

Technology Laboratory’s (NETL)

2023 Earth Day Poster Contest and

will have her award-winning artwork

displayed in the U.S. Department of

Energy headquarters in Washington,

D.C.

PAWsitive Attitude Makes a Difference

Streams Elementary raised $2000 to benefit Canine

Partners for Life during the school’s annual Children for Children

initiative. The theme for this year’s effort, which spanned from

February through May, was A PAWsitive Attitude Can Make All

the Difference.

Canine Partners for Life is a non-profit organization dedicated

to training service dogs, home companion dogs, and residential

companion dogs to assist individuals who have a wide range of

physical and cognitive disabilities.

This year’s effort was coordinated by teachers Lauren Bogus,

Jen Graceffo, and Katie McIntyre. Lauren shared that fourth graders

had been researching organizations that work with animals

for their Inquiry Exhibition project.

“Children have such a connection to pets and animals,” Lauren

said. “We thought this would be a wonderful connection.”

As part of the Children for Children learning experience, students

participate in unique, hands-on lessons where they learn

about the organization and the importance of taking action in

the world around them.

To raise money, students conducted a raffle of student-made

items during the school’s open house. Raffle items included blankets,

hand-painted flowerpots, notecards, magnets, and books.

Students collected change during PAWsitive Change Days, and a

donation drive was held to collect items including doggie waste

bags, dog toys, dog treats, and paper towels.

Students and staff

were encouraged to

share a photo of their

pet for a special bulletin

board display, and

special-themed days included

taking a favorite

stuffed animal to school,

wearing school colors,

and promoting kindness.

With the slogan, “A

Simple Act Can Make a

Difference,” the Streams’

Children for Children

community service initiative

was first launched

River DeGiovanni and Abby Daly in the 2004–05 school

(l/r) Nikola Tannenbaum, Madeleine Swab, and

Brooks Coffman

year. The goal was simple: expose students to other children in

the world who are in need, and show them how they can make

a difference.

Each year, the school selects a different charitable organization;

the only prerequisite is that the organization must help children.

Since 2005, the Children for Children initiative has raised more

than $100,000 to benefit local, regional, national, and international

organizations. n

Colby Recker and London Gregory


HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE


Collecting Sports

Equipment for Kids in

Need

As part of the USCHS Middle Years

Program, students are required to complete

a final project aiming to better our world at

the end of the program. Peyton McGregor

chose to dedicate her project to collecting

sports equipment for underprivileged children

across the globe.

During her research, Peyton found

Uncommon Sports Group (USG). USG, and

the organization Clean Out For A Cause,

work together to collect and deliver used

sports equipment to kids who otherwise

cannot afford it.

When asked about why she chose this

topic for her project, Peyton replied, “I grew

up playing sports and sports continue to

be a big part of my life and I wanted less

fortunate kids to be able to experience this

same joy.”

By the end of the drive, Peyton had

collected everything from uniforms, socks,

shoes, sports bags and gloves, to balls,

cones, skates, golf clubs, basketballs, bats,

and lacrosse and hockey sticks.

After Peyton sorted and packaged all

of the equipment, Clean Out For A Cause

came to pick up the boxes, sending them

on their way to sports-eager children all

over the world. n


Strong Foundations

Psychological Associates:

We provide psychotherapy and evaluations using research-based

strategies to help individuals and families feel their best.

Individual Therapy

Services:

We can help children, adolescents, and

adults navigate life’s stressors. Our staff

has extensive experience teaching cognitive

behavioral strategies to manage anxiety,

depression, ADHD, Autism, trauma, grief,

and OCD. When we work with kids and

teens, we involve parents in the process so

they feel informed and empowered too.

Parent-Child

Interaction Therapy:

Parent Guidance:

This is an opportunity for parents to

consult with a child and adolescent mental

health expert to learn the best strategies

to parent their particular child. This is a

great option when parents desire more

time and structure to concentrate on how

they can best help their child, or when a

child is not motivated themselves to

participate in therapy but a parent is

concerned about their well-being.

Family and Couples’

Counseling:

For children ages 2-6 years we provide

PCIT. PCIT improves the parent-child

relationships to increase child compliance

and emotion regulation skills.

We have family specialists who work to

reduce family conflict and to increase

family closeness. We help couples learn

healthy ways to communicate and to work

together to accomplish their shared goals.

Neuropsychological and

Developmental Evaluations:

Our psychologists provide in-depth testing

to accurately diagnose children, teens, and

adults. We can help individuals understand

their relative strengths and weaknesses

better and access the support they need

to succeed in school and work. We

commonly evaluate for ADHD, Autism,

Learning Differences, and Giftedness.

We look forward to

working with you!

Please see our website

or give us a call for

additional information.

Peyton McGregor with the sports equipment that

she collected for underprivileged children.

www.sfpgh.com • 412-368-2211



Named Top Dentist consecutively for 4 years in

Pittsburgh's Top Dentist Magazine.

Dr. Manjari Kulkarni

Orthodontist

Proud member of:

Call today to schedule your complimentary consultation!

1720 Washington Road • Suite 203 • Pittsburgh, PA 15241

(412) 409-4444 | www.ksgortho.com

“Is this normal?”

How to Know if You Should Be Concerned

About Your Child’s Mood, and How to Help

Elizabeth Reitz, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist

At Strong Foundations Psychological Associates, we

often get asked whether a child’s behavior is normal and should

a parent be worried. Generally, if your child’s behavior is challenging

enough that it makes you feel you need more tools as a

parent, or causes you or them distress, then it deserves attention.

It’s especially important to seek consultation if a behavior or

mood is getting in the way of your child participating in daily

activities, if you notice a change in their level of engagement

with activities they usually enjoy, or increased irritability or

withdrawal. But even if you don’t see these red flags, parents can

learn strategies to manage emotions effectively.

Much like learning opportunities with math, music, or sports,

therapy is a place to learn about emotions and how to cope

with them. We use research-backed techniques of Cognitive-

Behavioral Therapy to teach kids about how their emotions,

behaviors, and thoughts are all related. We explain if we want

to feel differently, we can change how we act and how we think

to help ourselves. We teach kids how to calm down and how to

reframe the thoughts that drive their intense emotions. We also

teach parents how to scaffold those skills in their kids, and how

to react when kids are emotional so that kids can learn how to

manage emotions effectively.

A favorite skill to teach parents is Emotion Coaching, a

collaborative way to help kids through big emotions by

prompting children to label how they feel and engaging in

problem-solving together. It works best for parents to approach

kids about emotions when they are calm (what we like to call

the Green Zone) or when they are emotional but not yet in that

overwhelmed state (the Yellow Zone), not when they aren’t able

to really talk or come up with solutions because their brains

are flooded with too much emotion to think clearly (the Red

Zone). If your child is in the Red Zone, we suggest on focusing

on soothing and comforting them before trying to get them to

talk about how they feel.

There are three main steps to Emotion Coaching: label, empathize,

and problem-solve. There is some limit-setting in there

too, but your focus is to help your child say how they feel, help

them know you understand and see their experience, and to work

together to come up with a solution. Emotion Coaching gives

parents a way to connect with their kids in moments that previously

could have felt frustrating and unrewarding, and allows

kids and parents to feel a part of the same team in moments of

big emotions. Your mantra when using this parenting technique

is: “All emotions are OK, not all behaviors are OK. We are going

to work together to come up with a solution.” n

The staff at Strong Foundations works with parents to help them

learn the most effective ways of helping their children manage their

emotions. If you have ever wondered, “Is this normal?” or if you

would like to learn more parenting techniques that are backed by

science and that can help make your family life run more smoothly,

contact them at 412-368-2211 or visit their website at sfpgh.com.

See ad for Strong Foundations Psychological Associates on page 47.



Welcome New Provider

Donald Ravasio, DO

Dr. Donald Ravasio, an orthopedic

surgeon at Washington Health System,

sees patients at WHS Outpatient Center

– Neighbor Health in Washington and the

WHS Medical Plaza in Peters Township.

His philosophy is to treat his patients as

family. He believes that a trusting

doctor-patient relationship is

essential to providing excellent

healthcare.

To read his full bio visit

whs.org/Ravasio

Fall can be stressful. Making time to

manage stress can also be stressful. So

make time for therapy because therapy

can help with that.

Joseph Hegedus LPC

Convenient online scheduling for

in-person and virtual appointments.

josephhegeduslpc.com

2555 Washington Rd

Suite 610 B

Upper St. Clair

JOIN TODAY!

Come Join Our

Community!

JCC South Hills

345 Kane Blvd.

Fitness and aquatics center

Heated indoor 25-yard lap pool

Peloton, Precor, Nautilus, Rogue and more

DEKA training + Group Exercise classes

Expert personal training

Two full court gymnasiums

·



Rediscover yourself

in good company.

Maintenance-free living, chef-prepared dining,

and luxurious amenities are yours as a resident

of Friendship Village of South Hills. Spend your

days pursuing personal passions, or simply

enjoying time among new friends.

We invite you to come experience Friendship

Village of South Hills for yourself.

To learn more, call us at 724-8390-6330

or visit FriendshipVillagePA.com.

1290 boyce road

upper st. clair, pa 15241

independent living | assisted living | memory care | skilled nursing | rehabilitation

The Benefits of a Life Care Community

Retirement is an exceptional milestone, one where

we can finally pursue our own passions and savor the lifestyle

that we’ve worked so hard to achieve. Many older adults find

that life in a senior living community gives them a more social,

maintenance-free, and enjoyable retirement than trying to keep

up a traditional family home.

When is the right time to move to a senior living community?

This looks different for everyone; however, many seniors regret

not moving into their community sooner. While there may be

some apprehension in the face of such a big life change, moving

to a senior living community as soon as possible can be beneficial

for many reasons. With our care needs always changing, moving

to a Life Care community—which offers on-site health services

like memory care, skilled nursing, assisted living, and home

health—can give you long-term security and comfort knowing

that if your needs change, your community doesn’t have to. Plus,

doing so gives you more time to enjoy the many other benefits

of independent living!

Life Care communities offer residents access to higher levels

of care within that community as health needs change over time.

Life Care residents enjoy their own private residence, access to

a wide range of amenities, and on-site, long-term care for life.

Residents gain access to care through a contractual agreement

that requires an upfront entrance fee, as well as a predictable

fee each month. Depending on the contract type, residents need

never worry about their monthly fees changing even if their

health care needs do.

Having these options at the ready save family members from

worry. If their loved one needs therapy or suffers a health event,

they won’t have to make decisions on their loved one’s behalf.

They can be confident their loved one will be attended to quickly

by people they know. If a senior has to move from independent

living to assisted living, or requires an additional level of care,

the transfer is handled seamlessly within the community. Plus,

spouses who develop different care needs can remain on the

same campus and won’t have to separate. Being able to provide

different levels of care in one community only scratches the

surface of what Life Care has to offer the residents of a senior

retirement community.

At Friendship Village of South Hills, the spiritual, emotional,

and physical wellness of our residents is our top priority. Nestled

in a quiet, wooded area near Pittsburgh, our Life Care community

is a sanctuary for seniors looking to get the most out

of their retirement. We host lectures, performances, live music,

and other programming to ensure they have every opportunity

to be active and engaged with their neighbors. Our community

is also home to multiple dining venues and a fitness center with

a personal trainer. n

To learn more about the options at Friendship Village of South Hills,

call at 724-390-6330. See ad for Friendship Village on this page.



Dr. Mohammed Khan

DDS, MD, USC Parent

• Dental Implants

• Wisdom Teeth

• IV Office Anesthesia

• Serving Upper St. Clair &

Surrounding Communities

• Most Insurances Accepted

(724) 745-3333

1200 Ashwood Dr #1204, Canonsburg, PA 15317

3riversoralsurgery.com

Complimentary Implant Consultation by Mentioning this Ad

How Dental Implants Work to Provide Beautiful Teeth and Better Health

Dr. Mohammed Khan, DDS, MD, USC resident and parent

A full set of healthy teeth is an

important aspect of your body to maintain

your overall good health. Proper chewing

and digestion are dependent upon a strong,

healthy, full set of teeth. Unfortunately,

missing teeth can cause greater problems in

addition to damaging your smile. Missing

teeth can prematurely wear out your other

remaining teeth through improper chewing

and bite. You may also experience TMJ,

jaw pain, breathing issues, and be prone

to infection.

Dental implants give the most natural

look, prevent bone loss, maintain the

overall shape of the jaw, and restore the

patient’s ability to chew properly. Preventing

bone loss is important because it helps

to maintain both the health of the mouth

and overall appearance and beauty. The

three drawings illustrate the progression of

how a face changes shape after losing teeth,

and then after bone loss over more time.

Dental implants prevent premature aging

and bone loss caused by missing teeth.

A dental implant consists of a titanium

implant that fuses to the jawbone, just

like a hip or knee joint replacement. Oral

Normal Profile After Tooth Loss After Bone Loss

surgeons are qualified to surgically place

an implant under either local anesthesia or

IV sedation in the office. It is a surprisingly

straightforward process for the patient.

Dental implants are the best permanent

solution for one or many missing teeth,

as these dental implants are stronger than

other solutions because they permanently

integrate directly into the patient’s jawbone.

The beauty of the implants is that

they feel like your own teeth. With only

crowns showing above the gumline, they

give the appearance of a natural tooth with

beautiful natural color, which gives you a

beautiful smile.

The best time to place an implant is

right after the tooth has been removed or

lost, while the bone architecture is still

intact to house this medical grade titanium.

We place the implant into the jawbone and

let it heal. Then your general dentist places

an abutment or crown, completing the dental

implant process. Dental implant surgery

is considered a minor surgery, done mostly

with local anesthesia. Patients report that

they were pleasantly surprised by how little

pain or discomfort they experienced. Most

people need no pain medicine, or just a few

doses of over-the-counter pain medication

after the procedure. In some implants, especially

in the visible areas of the front of

the mouth, the oral surgeon may place a

temporary crown the same day, while you

heal and wait for your final crown placement

by your dentist.

Replacing missing teeth is an important

part of your dental health that contributes

to your overall health. A full set of healthy

teeth is more than just a way to chew your

food or a pretty smile but provides health,

well-being, and beauty. n

Read more about implants and see patient

stories at: 3riversoralsurgery.com/dentalimplants-pittsburgh/.

See ad for Three Rivers

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery on this page.


COMING

SOON!

Live life uplifted at

Franklin Court, the

newest neighborhood

coming soon to the

Providence Point campus.

Enjoy a refined life and

easy access to resort-style

amenities, from fine dining

venues to a fitness center

and day spa and much more

— all within an engaged and

pet-friendly setting!

Be here. Be home.

Be at Providence Point.

Call 412-489-3550 or visit www.ProvidencePoint.org

today for more information.

Rotary Night of Giving

Mary Kirk, Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park Breakfast Club Rotary Secretary

There is one night of the year that every Upper St. Clair-

Bethel Park Breakfast Club Rotarian looks forward to—the Annual

Night of Giving (NOG). During the 2023 NOG, held on April 20

at Valley Brook Country Club in McMurray, the club donated more

than $53,000 in grant money to 20 local and two international

charities. Special guest host Bonny Diver, 3WS Pittsburgh radio

personality, kicked off the night and introduced each charity.

“This night is the culmination of all the hard work done

throughout the year, starting with the Chicken BBQ fundraiser

held each fall,” said event co-chair Bill Findle. With 90 people in

attendance, including half a dozen BBQ sponsors, there was not

a dry eye in the house as each charity received their check and

thanked the Rotary for these critical donations.

“From life-saving security devises assisting victims of domestic

violence from Watchful Shepard, to solar lanterns for the homeless

from Light in my City, this night was about celebrating our

community and how together we make a difference,” said event

co-chair and BBQ sponsor Scott Churchill.

As a first-time grant recipient, Bill Henderson, a board member

from Crop & Kettle, was thrilled to share that this grant will be

used to build a community garden in Ambridge. Crop & Kettle

provides tangible life skills and culinary job training each semester

to more than a dozen students. “This grant means everything to

our students who will learn the life cycle of food management,

from crop cultivation and dinner preparation to catering.”

Henderson noted, “Upon graduation, our students have not

only gained tangible marketable job skills but have been transformed.

It’s more than learning how to cook. It’s realizing that

with hard work and dedication you can change the course of your

life and have hope for the future. We are grateful to the Rotary of

Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park, Breakfast Club, for this donation.”

David and Marci Heckler, owners of Comfort Supplies Inc.

and platinum BBQ sponsor, were impressed by the number and

variety of charities supported.

“It was a feel-good night for sure,” said Marci Heckler. “And

hearing how each charity will be using our donation was inspiring.

It’s great to be a part of something so worthwhile and with a

direct impact on our local community.” n

2023 grant recipients at the Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park

Breakfast Club Rotary’s Night of Giving.

Visit rb.gy/7fyvi for a complete list of 2023 grant recipients. Learn more

about the Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park Breakfast Club at uscbprotary.org

or contact Sally Morrison at 412-951-7543.


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Township

Commissioners

Daniel R. Paoly

President

At Large

Day 412-831-9000

Evening 412-862-5995

2025*

Dante R. Plutko, Jr.

Vice President

Ward 1


Township Manager

Township Administration

Check out the

Township’s

website

twpusc.org

Day 412-831-9000

Evening 412-389-5187

2023*

Pamela L. Enck

Ward 2

Mark S. Mansfield

Asst. Township

Manager & Director of

Administration

Jonathan Wharton

Chief of Police

Mark P. Romito

Director of Finance

Adam A. Benigni

Director of Planning

& Community

Development

Day 412-831-9000

2025*

Robert W. Orchowski

Ward 3

Day 412-831-9000

2023*

Todd D. Burlingame

Ward 4

Day 412-831-9000

2025*

Ronald J. Pardini

Ward 5

Day 412-831-9000

Evening 724-941-1199

2023*

Richard I. Thomas

At Large

Day 412-831-9000

2023*

*Date indicates expiration of term.

All business regarding the operation of the township is conducted

at the regular meetings of the Board of Commissioners.

Citizens are invited to comment on any township matter.

Complete board minutes can be found on the website at

twpusc.org. For more information, call 412-831-9000.

Ed Poljak

Director of Information

Technology

George Kostelich, Jr.

Director of Public

Works

Administrator

Extension

Matthew R. Serakowski......................... 2160

Township Manager

Mark S. Mansfield.................................. 2190

Asst. Township Manager & Director of

Administration

Jonathan Wharton.................................. 2380

Chief of Police

Mark P. Romito....................................... 2180

Director of Finance

Adam A. Benigni..................................... 5010

Director of Planning & Community Development

Ed Poljak.........................................................

Director of Information Technology

George Kostelich, Jr................................ 2710

Director of Public Works

Christian Gmiter.................................... 2470

Director of Library

Paul Besterman....................................... 6560

Director of Recreation & Leisure Services

Christian Gmiter

Director of Library

Paul Besterman

Director of Recreation

& Leisure Services

To reach Township personnel, call 412-831-9000 and follow the automated directions.

Other Services

Police

Administration...........................412-833-1113

Tri-Community South EMS

Administration...........................412-831-3710

USC Volunteer Fire Department

Administration...........................412-835-0660

Animal Control.........................412-833-7500

Community &

Recreation Center...................412-221-1099

Cable 7.......................................412-831-1030

Emergency–

Police, Fire, EMS....................412-833-7500

Follow the Township of

Upper St. Clair on social

media for the latest news

and announcements.

2023 Township of Upper St. Clair Meeting Dates

• The Board of Commissioners meets at 7:30 p.m. The regular public meeting is held the first Monday of the month.

The informational and general affairs meeting is held the last Monday of the month.

• The Planning Commission meets the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

• The Parks and Recreation Board meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the C&RC;

no meeting in December.

• The Zoning Hearing Board meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 8 p.m.

• The Civil Service Board meets as needed.

• The Building/Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory Board meets as needed.

• The Library Board meets as needed.

Meetings are held in the Municipal Building’s board room, unless otherwise indicated. Meeting locations are subject

to change; refer to the Township website at twpusc.org for more information.


Highlights of the Board of Commissioners’ Meetings

April 3, 2023

Approximately 6 people attended.

Recognition

• Commissioner Plutko presented a Proclamation to

Christian Gmiter, Library Director, in recognition of

National Library Week, April 23 –29, 2023.

The Board

• Adopted Resolution No. 1738 for Plan Revision

for New Land Development (Planning Module) for

PLC23-0001—Southwood Hospital—Nonresidential

Planned Development—Final Approval.

Approval of Contracts

• J & J Garage Doors....................................... $78,000

Smithfield, PA

Public Works Garage Doors Replacement and

Refurbishment

May 1, 2023


Recognitions

• Commissioner Orchowski presented a Proclamation

to Tri-Community South Emergency Medical

Services recognizing May 21–27, 2023 as National

Emergency Medical Services Week in Upper St.

Clair with the theme “EMS: Where Emergency Care

Begins.”

• Commissioner Enck presented a Proclamation to the

Upper St. Clair High School Speech & Debate Team

for their win at the Pennsylvania High School Speech

League Championship.

• Commissioner Burlingame presented a Certificate

of Achievement recognizing Kaitlyn Connors of the

Upper St. Clair High School Girls’ Swim Team for

achieving first place in the 100-yard Freestyle at the

Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League

(WPIAL) Championship.

The Board

• Adopted Bill No. 4-23 Re. PLC23-0002—Boyce Road

Residences—Planned Development—Final Approval.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1739 Re. Adoption

of Resolution for Plan Revision for New Land

Development (Planning Module) for PLC23-0002—

Boyce Road Residences—Planned Development.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1740 Re. Establish Public

Hearing PLC23-1303—Zoning Text Amendment

to Chapter 130 of the Township Code Entitled

“Zoning” to Modify the Standards and Criteria for

Mini-Warehouses in the RM District Restricted Light

Industrial District.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1741 Re. Establish Public

Hearing Re. PLC23-1302—Zoning Text Amendment

to Chapter 130 of the Township Code Entitled

“Zoning” to Add Standards and Criteria for Short

Term Rentals.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1742 Re. Approval for Grant

Application Through the Commonwealth Financing

Authority for the Drake Trail Project.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1743 Re. Approval for

a Grant Application Through the Department

of Community and Economic Development for

the Morton Complex/Park Rehabilitation and

Development Project.

• Affirmed Option #3 for the Morton Fields Complex.


• East West Manufacturing............................ $150,800

Pittsburgh, PA

Community & Recreation Center Rooftop Unit #10

Replacement

• Ballard*King................................................ $ 35,845

Highlands Ranch, CO

Community & Recreation Center Post Covid-19

Feasibility Assessment

June 5, 2023


The Board

• Adopted Resolution No. 1744 Re. Approval for an

Allegheny County Blight Removal Program (ACBRP)

Grant Application through the Allegheny County

Economic Development (ACED) Division for the

demolition of 1600 Painters Run Road.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1745 Re. Identifying Vacant

and Dilapidated Structures with the Township.


• C. Crump, Inc............................................ $167,310

Hubbard, OH

2023 Ravine Park Stream Restoration

• Stephenson Equipment, Inc......................... $69,900

Lilly, PA

9-foot Aluminum Dump Body Upfit with electronic

over hydraulic salt dispensing controls, liquid

dispensing controls, stainless steel salt spreader, and

9-foot snowplow

Accessibility Coordinators

The Township of Upper St. Clair has

five accessibility coordinators to further

enhance all visitors’ access to Township

facilities, parks, trails, and programs. For

more information on accessibility, visit

twpusc.org/accessibility.

Currently, the Township of Upper St.

Clair’s accessibility coordinators are

• Jeremy Lemley, Buildings/Grounds

Administrator (for all Township

buildings): 412-831-9000, ext. 2710

• Ed Poljak, Director of Information

Technology (for Township website

and phone system): 412-831-9000

• Christian Gmiter, Director of

Library: 412-831-9000, ext. 2240

• Gary Schafer, Parks and Forestry

Administrator: 412-831-9000,

ext. 2710

• Paul Besterman, Director of

Recreation and Leisure Services

(for all recreation activities):

412-831-9000, ext. 6560

Upper St.

Clair Police

Department

2023 Citizens’

Police Academy

The Upper St. Clair Police

Academy is hosting its 2023 Citizens’

Police Academy this coming fall. The

academy is a special opportunity available

to adults 21 years of age and older

who live, work, or conduct business

in Upper St. Clair. The course schedule

and application is available to the

public, both in person at the police department

and on the township website

at twpusc.org.

Course Objectives/Overview:

• Overview of the criminal justice system,

local and global

• Active shooter and crisis management

in schools and the workplace

• Cybercrimes and identity theft issues

and prevention

• Local ordinances, crimes, and vehicle

code issues

• The United States Constitution and

citizens’ rights

• Firearm safety, use of force, and selfdefense

• Patrol procedures, traffic stops, speed

enforcement, and officer safety

• Criminal, drug, and gang investigations

• Domestic crimes, custody disputes, and

missing children

• The role of the District Attorney and the

District Court

• Local crimes, current investigations,

programs, and public issues

There is no fee to attend the academy,

but an application and supplementary

documentation are required. Stop by the

police department or visit the township

website at twpusc.org to apply. n

For more information, contact police

administration, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.,

at 412-833-1113.


Renovation Update

Alex Pepke, USC Communications Coordinator

The Township of Upper St. Clair’s NextGen Municipal

Building Renovation Project is in the home stretch.

After being approved in the summer of 2019, the project was

put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges

faced, the project is almost at the finish line—and what a

transformation it will be when the last nail is hammered and the

final coat of paint is applied. The work is expected to be fully

completed this fall, and the new space will be put to good use.

Renovated Police Department

The most recent work has been a complete makeover and

expansion of the Upper St. Clair Police Department. A new police

department entrance has been added in the main lobby visitor

hub, which now gives residents easy access to police, community

development, administration, and the tax office.

The existing space

in the police department

has been fully

renovated and expanded,

plus a new addition

to the building has

been added. The interior

renovations include

modernized offices, new paint, new carpet, and a waiting area

where members of the public will be greeted by a receptionist

during normal business hours. Most importantly, the renovation

has provided the police department with more square footage,

something that it desperately needed. The last time the police

department had a renovated space was in 1986.

The dispatch center has been given upgraded technology and

additional space that will help our dispatchers provide even better

service to our community.

On the outside of the building towards Municipal Park and

Founders Field, you will notice a new parking facility for police

vehicles that will give officers easier access to the inside of the

building and their new and modernized locker rooms. This addition

to the building will provide the police department with a

more centralized and secure area to enter and exit the building.

“Since the police department moved into the space it has

occupied for the last 36 years, our department has grown,” said

USC Chief of Police Jonathan Wharton. “Not only do we have

more police personnel, but with the ever-changing innovations in

law enforcement, the need for additional storage and equipment

has increased. The renovation will provide room for operations

of both administrative and patrol functions, as well as areas to

accommodate our increasing technology.”

This renovation will allow the USC Police Department to operate

in a more efficient and organized manner while continuing

to provide residents with the top-class service that they expect.

Keeping the community safe is always the police department’s

number one priority, and this refreshed space helps them do

that by equipping them with the resources and space necessary

to do so.

Community Development

The Department of Community Development was relocated to

the main floor of the Municipal Building last summer in the wing

formerly occupied by the USC School District. The new location

gives residents easy access

to community development

staff by entering through the

main lobby between the administrative

offices and the

police department entrances.

Whether you need to turn

in a construction permit or

have a question about zoning, the community development staff

is easy to find and willing to help.

The interior space has been renovated with new carpets and

office space, and new storage units allow the community development

staff to store all relevant documents and materials in one

secure location. Upon entering the community development

area, residents will be greeted by a receptionist in the renovated

waiting area.

Third Floor Flex Space

Located on the third floor

of the library is a newlyrenovated

flex space that

provides study rooms, a

meeting room, and more

community space. The goal

of this area is to give residents

another section of the

building to relax, study, read,

and attend programs. In addition,

this area will have

access to a new outdoor rooftop

courtyard, which will be

open to the public soon.

Outdoor Rooftop

Courtyard

Take a few steps out the door of the flex space to reach the

new outdoor rooftop courtyard. This entirely new space is a great

spot to catch some sun, get in a few minutes of reading, or simply

relax. The USC Public Works team will decorate the courtyard

with flowers, plants, and seating so residents can enjoy the outdoors

and breathe in some fresh air for one minute, or one hour.

This is another entirely new space made possible by some

of the changes in the library—and if you haven’t seen that yet,

come by to check it out, along with the rooftop courtyard, once

it is open!

New Library

The redesign and renovation of the USC Library was completed

earlier this year, and patrons can now go from the new Kids and

Teens Library to the Adult department without walking up or

down any flights of stairs, thanks to the new connector space.

Everything is on one floor. With the new connectivity of the

spaces, visitors can go from reading a book online at the computer

stations in the Adult department to playing with your child in the

play room in less than a minute.

Not only is the layout more efficient, it’s also easier on the

eyes. New carpet, new lighting, new paint, and new furniture

give visitors a beautiful refresh to one of our community’s most

valued spaces. n


Changes Coming for Trash and Recycling


All industries go through change—

and the waste collection business is no

different. Next year, there will be a few

changes for Upper St. Clair’s residential

trash and recycling program.

In June, the South Hills Area Council of

Governments (SHACOG) put out a joint

bid for solid waste collection, removal, and

disposal services. Starting Jan. 1, 2024,

Upper St. Clair, along with many other

South Hills municipalities, will begin a

refuse and recycling contract with the successful

bidder.

Currently, the township-contracted

service allows for “somewhat unlimited”

amounts of trash to put out for curbside

collection. However, starting in January

2024, there will be limitations regarding

how much can be put out within the parameters

of the township’s new solid waste

collection and removal contract.

Below are some of the key highlights

and changes that will go into effect at the

beginning of next year:

• No trash outside of either cart/container

will be accepted, except for up

to two bulk items per month. USC

will be assigned a designated week each

month for bulk item collection.

• Only one township-issued 96-gallon cart/

container for weekly garbage and one 65-

or 96-gallon cart/container for bi-weekly

recycling will be included in the regular

contracted service.

• Residents may, however, obtain an additional

container(s) for an annually

adjusted fee directly through the waste

collection company.

• The township will be ordering a number

of additional 96-gallon recycling carts/

containers to comply with the new restrictions

for those households that may

currently be using two 65-gallon carts/

containers. The old 65-gallon carts/containers

may be swapped out for the new

96-gallon cart/container.

• The township will continue to accept leaf

and yard waste at the Boyce Compost Site

on Boyce Road once per month. Except

during the periods when the curbside

yard waste pickups are scheduled per

year, any grass or yard waste that

households wish to be disposed of

must be included in your trash cart/

container.

• Glass will again be included in recycling,

but the successful drop-off program at

Village Square will remain an option.

• Additional services, such as house

cleanouts, disposal of construction materials,

etc., will still be available directly

through the waste collection company

for an additional fee.

Tips

• If you have large or bulk items around

the house that you need to get rid of, the

time to do that is now—or by the end

of the year. Currently, you can put extra

trash outside of the container and it will

be picked up. Starting next year, extra

items outside of the cart/container will

not be collected.

• If you do not already have one, it could be

a good time to consider using a mulching

lawn mower. A mulching lawn mower

redistributes fine-cut grass clippings

back into your yard, removing the need

for bagging and disposing of the clippings,

putting them into a compost pile,

or dropping them off at the yard waste

collection site at the Boyce Compost Site

on Boyce Road.

• If you do not have a trash compactor, you

may want to consider that purchase to

maximize your refuse container capacity.

• Now and in the future, the township

recommends taking advantage of the

drop-off glass recycling at Village Square

Mall, which is available seven days a

week in the blue recycling dumpster

located at 5000 Oxford Drive. You can

deposit glass bottles, jars, and jugs of all

colors (no sorting required).

We want everyone to know that the

Township of Upper St. Clair, along with

other South Hills municipalities, is doing

its best to provide the most sensible and

advantageous option available considering

the current conditions of the waste collection

industry.

Several North Hills municipalities

began new contracts earlier this year with

similar changes that have been dictated

by the industry. It was noted that approximately

six percent of households chose to

purchase an extra 96-gallon trash container

to accommodate their family’s disposal

needs.

More information will be given to

residents later this year from both the

township and the new waste collection

company. Information will also be posted

on the township’s website at twpusc.org. n

BASED LOCALLY IN

THE SOUTH HILLS


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Ted Hale

DEPARTMENT

Ted Hale Named

Fire Chief


The Township of Upper St. Clair has a new fire chief.

Ted Hale began his new duties with the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department

in June of this year. In his new role, he will lead all operations of the department.

After almost two years of cooperative study and review with the Upper St. Clair

Volunteer Fire Department, the board of commissioners approved the Organizational

Assessment and Strategy Recommendations for the fire department. Contained within

this strategic plan were 11 recommendations to strengthen and support the long-term

viability of the volunteer fire department.

Upon forming an Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee made up of township, fire

department, and elected representatives, the township initiated steps to meet objective

number one of the strategic plan, which included appointing a township fire chief.

This was a significant hire for the township, as Hale became the first full-time fire

chief employed by Upper St. Clair when he started.

“Following this extensive multi-year study of the fire department’s operations, we

are pleased to welcome Chief Ted Hale to our community and the township organization,”

said Township Manager Matthew Serakowski. “We are looking forward to

continuing to cooperatively work with the volunteer fire department as we navigate

implementation of the strategic plan recommendations. We are confident in Chief

Hale’s experience and background and believe he will provide the leadership and

expertise necessary to allow the department to continue to build on a strong foundation

of providing exemplary fire service delivery.”

“I am humbled and honored to be selected as the first ever full-time fire chief for

the Township of Upper St. Clair,” said Hale. “I would like to thank the administrative

staff and the board of commissioners for giving me this opportunity. I’m looking

forward to working with the current volunteer firefighters, who are dedicated and

committed to providing the best possible service to the residents of Upper St. Clair.

I believe my 30-plus years of service as a career and a volunteer firefighter have

given me the training, knowledge, and experience needed to lead the Upper St. Clair

Volunteer Fire Department into this new and exciting chapter.”

Hale brings experience in both volunteer, combination, and career fire service organizations.

He’s familiar with the South Hills, serving as the fire chief at the Library

Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years. In that role, he coordinated and managed all

fire department activities, including training, fire protection, and prevention. He also

implemented programs for recruitment and retention, was responsible for community

outreach programs, and established and implemented standard operating guidelines

for the department.

Beyond his work there, Hale has been with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire since

2011, working as a firefighter and an emergency medical technician (EMT). He responded

to emergencies and provided lifesaving procedures to residents, but would

also handle recruitment, training, and equipment maintenance. In addition to those

duties, he was an active member of the occupational health and safety committee.

From 1996–2011, he served in numerous roles with the Wilkinsburg Fire

Department, including fire captain. While there, he supervised tactical and task level

activities and managed community outreach programs such as the Explorer Program,

Project Stay Alarmed, Prom Promise, and more.

Adding one more line of experience onto Hale’s already impressive resume, he has

been a fire academy instructor at the Allegheny County Fire Academy since 2004.

Hale is a liaison to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, a former vicechairman

of the Allegheny County Juvenile Fire Setters Task Force, and a former

training officer for the South Hills Area Council of Governments (SHACOG) Fire

Chief’s Advisory Board. n


OF FIRE PROTECTION

Lithium-ion Battery Safety

Steve Henk, USCVFD Vice President

Lithium-ion batteries are the most popular rechargeable

battery used today. Found in cell phones, laptops, electric bikes

and scooters, cars, and other devices around the home, lithiumion

batteries are everywhere and could be a potential hazard if not

handled and used properly. Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries

have increased dramatically across the country, and incidents are

becoming more common as the number of lithium-ion powered

devices rises.

Lithium-ion batteries are considered safe to use, but with the

increase in the number of devices using them comes the potential

for additional failures. Manufacturing defects, age, and misuse are

some common reasons for a battery failure to occur. Lithium-ion

batteries, which are constructed with flammable material, can

experience thermal runaway. Thermal runaway, the primary risk

related to lithium-ion batteries, is an uncontrolled chain reaction

that can lead to a fire or battery explosion.

There are a couple of best practices to follow when using

lithium-ion batteries. It is recommended to buy UL-certified

devices when buying a device with a lithium-ion battery. Online

retailers sometimes make it difficult to know who or where you

are getting the device from. Make sure you are using a reputable

manufacturer and inspect the battery or device before use. Verify

there is no cracking, bulging, or leaking from the battery. It is best

to keep and store batteries in a cool, dry place. Always follow the

manufacturer’s charging instructions.

Never charge your battery or device under your pillow or in bed.

Prevent overcharging of the battery by not charging overnight or

leaving the battery charging unattended. Finally, keep the device

plugged into a wall outlet when charging and resist using a power

strip or overloading a plug. If the device becomes unusually hot

while charging, unplug it immediately.

If you do experience an issue with a lithium-ion battery,

evacuate, close the door, and call the fire department immediately.

Standard fire extinguishers and water may not prevent a battery

from burning or from the fire spreading. Once a fire has started,

battery cells are known to explode and spread to another battery

cell. Additionally, the lithium-ion battery can release harmful gasses

during a thermal runaway. Once the visible fire is extinguished,

the battery can still generate heat and re-ignite. The battery cell

can re-ignite hours or days after all visible fire is extinguished.

Members of the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department

have been actively seeking out and participating in new certified

training classes for lithium-ion battery safety and electric car fires.

As battery technology advances, so do the techniques deployed by

the fire department to combat the hazard. Chances are low that

you will experience an issue with a lithium-ion battery, but be

sure to follow the best practices, manufacturers guidelines, and

call the fire department if an issue does arise. n

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A little—okay, a lot—of rain couldn’t dampen

spirits at Upper St. Clair’s 2023 Community Day!

The day’s activities began with the opening ceremony

at USC Veterans Park, which included the Marine

Corps League South Hills Detachment 726, the

Chanticlairs under the direction of Lorraine Milovac,

and remarks by USCHS student council president

Maura Joyce and State Representative Natalie

Mihalek. Residents enjoyed the parade, Hottest Dog

contest, and games and other activities at the midway

area along McLaughlin Run Road, as well as activities

at the Gilfillan Farm and USCVFD’s main fire station

on Route 19. As always, festivities concluded with

people cheering for their adopted ducks during the

Community Foundation’s’ Duck Race.

Mark your 2024 calendar for May 18 (tentative

date) to get together for our community’s annual

celebration! For more information or to volunteer

for 2024, contact the high school student activities

office or the Upper St. Clair Recreation Department.

Many Thanks!

Thank you to everyone who helped make Community Day 2023 such

a success! Thank you to the many individuals from multiple departments

at the School District and Township

who planned and organized the

event, along with the volunteers,

students, community organizations,

and local businesses who worked to

make the day enjoyable for residents

of all ages.

A special thank you to Waffles

INCaffeinated for opening early for

breakfast that day, to the Community

Foundation of Upper St. Clair

and emma’s KAFE & DELI for their

sponsorship of the petting zoo, and

to Colussy Chevrolet for providing

trucks and drivers for the parade.

Photos courtesy of Theeya Chen and AnneMarie Kopach


2023 Upper St. Clair Community Day

Htest Dog Ctest

Rules

• Must be USC resident.

Hottest Dog

• Owners

Winners

must provide proof of

Details

When: May 20, 2023

Where: Main Stage

Time: 12:00-1pm

Pre-register by: May 18

up to date shot records upon entry.

$5 The registration wet fee weather didn’t deter • Pets must the be leashed. entrants to

Howard Hanna’s popular Hottest • You can Dog register Contest. at the event.

All dogs get a treat for registering!

Top

dogs were:

Best Tail Wag

3 Pippa—Owner: wa register Emma Schaefer

1) Scan Best the QR Costume

code to register online

2) Email this form to Robbinsbobbitt@howardhanna.com

Gibson—Owner: Emily Powel

3) Drop completed registration form off at either of the following:

Pet • Howard Owner Hanna Look Real Estate Alike Services | 180 Ft. Couch Road, USC 15241

Baxter—Owner: • Upper ST. Clair Library | 1820 Michele McLaughlin Fibbi Run Road, USC 15241

Cutest Puppy

Name

Signature

Address Teddy—Owner: Erma Dantonio

Phone

Email

Proceeds from Howard Hanna’s Hottest Dog Contest

benefit Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund.

Dog’s name

Dog’s Breed

Dog’s age

Benefiting Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund

Parent/Guardian

if under 18


USC Recreation and

twpusc.org

The most up to date details and registration information

for recreation programs can be found at

twpusc.org/recreationcenter

Questions? Call 412-221-1099


Leisure Services

412-221-1099

Become a member at the Community & Recreation Center!

3-Month & Annual Contracts

Senior, Adult, Youth, and Family Memberships Available

Questions? Contact the membership department at 412-221-1099 Ext. 6220


United Senior Citizens

It’s been a busy spring season for the Upper St.

Clair United Senior Citizens! Their programs included

an English lunch and trivia day, entertainer Craig

Zinger, an Easter lunch that included a lovely display of

Easter bonnets, bagpiper David Keith, the USCHS jazz

ensemble, birthday celebrations, and their bake sale

and bingo on Community Day. The return of warmer

weather brought the popular Friday Afternoons in the

Park at Boyce-Mayview.

If you’re age 55 or older and

retired, consider joining the group,

which meets most Wednesdays

at the McLaughlin Run Activity

Center (MAC), located at 1770

McLauglin Run Road. (Spouses of

eligible members may also join,

even if under age 55). Informal

activities begin at 10 a.m., with

members holding a brief business

meeting at noon, followed

by lunch. In addition, there are

various outings held throughout

the year. n

For additional information about any older adult programming,

contact the community programs department at 412-221-1099.

USC Recreation and

Leisure Services

Photo credit: Mary Oppel, Joyce and Wen Soung

Senior Spotlight: Bob and Flo Kenny

Bob and Flo Kenny met at the

Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba,

in 1955. Flo was part of the U.S. Navy

Nurse Corps and Bob was enlisted in

the U.S. Navy. They married in August

1956, and upon completion of his naval

service, they moved to Boston where

Bob completed his education at Brown

Bob and Flo Kenny University.

The Kennys have lived in USC since 1964, where they raised

five children. All the children are married and have scattered, settling

in New York, Indiana, Florida, Maine, and Texas. They have

12 grandchildren and seven (soon to be nine) great-grandchildren.

Bob worked for US Steel, Dravo, Hillman Company, and

Trinity Industries. His main job was consolidating companies in

the construction industry during a period of consolidation and

attrition of companies. Flo was a Camp Fire Girls leader and

among their projects was creating the fire circle located behind the

MAC. After raising her children in the ’60s and ’70s, Flo resumed

her nursing career at Kane Hospital. Vacations were spent at their

Rhode Island beach house—a house built for eight, but often

overflowing with 20. There they would swim, sail, eat chowder,

and enjoy beautiful sunsets.

The Kennys have traveled to every state and returned to Cuba

where they met. Their children tease: “They could never drive by

a national park or a battlefield without stopping.”

Now their pastimes include solving wooden puzzles, board

games, and breaking bread with family and friends. They are appreciative

of God and our forefathers and believe in America and

a promise of a bountiful future. n


A Pittsburgh Home Comfort

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Clog Removal

Inspection

Repair

USC Township Silver

Card

The township Silver Card is free and available

to residents ages 62 and older. To obtain

a Silver Card and receive access to a

select number of group exercise classes,

USC’s three-hole golf course, as well as a

complimentary summer tennis permit, visit

the Community and Recreation Center, 1551

Mayview Road.

Silver card applications are available 8 a.m.–8

p.m., Monday–Friday. A valid photo ID showing

USC residency is required upon application.

Residents who acquired their Silver Card prior

to 2019 are encouraged to re-apply for and

receive a new, updated card.

USCSD Gold Card

Upper St. Clair residents who are age 62

or older are eligible to receive a Gold Card,

entitling them to free admission to plays and

musicals, as well as regular season home

athletic events and activities sponsored by

the USC School District. WPIAL and PIAA

playoff games are not eligible for free or

discounted admission.

To obtain a Gold Card, visit the high school

main office at 1825 McLaughlin Run Road.

For more information, contact Nancy Dunn

at 412-833-1600, ext. 2236, or email

ndunn@uscsd.k12.pa.us.

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From the Director’s Desk

Christian Gmiter, Library Director

The People Behind Your Library

For most people, the word library conjures up images of neatly

shelved books—and rightly so. Here at the USC library, we have

thousands of books to choose from, not to mention a great number

of other circulating items, including books on CD, DVDs, music CDs, magazines,

board and card games, and more.

Our library is also part of the countywide Library Consortium which expands

our offerings even more. Due to this status, we can offer our patrons thousands of

additional materials from every library in Allegheny County via an efficient loaning

system.

Personally, when I think of the word library, I visualize my coworkers, who work

on your behalf to ensure you receive the items you want quickly—and enjoy a

public space that’s filled with a diverse selection of materials for children and adults.

During any given day, our library staff is:

• Offering suggestions for books, music, movies and more—and taking your

suggestions to heart. (We love books, too).

• Helping you find a specific book you’re looking for on topics, such as gardening,

local history, and self-help, as well as thrillers, mysteries, and the classics.

• Creating book displays designed to spotlight the latest additions to our collection—or

entice you to choose something that may be out of your comfort zone.

• Encouraging you to take one of our free donated puzzles or borrow one of our

popular board or card games.

• Scheduling and holding virtual and in-person programs and events for adults

and children, including summer reading, story time, and story strolls at the USC

rec center.

• Readying rooms for book clubs, movie showings, bingo, and other educational

and entertaining events.

• Checking materials in and out, including emptying the book drops and helping

people learn to use self-checkout.

• Processing holds, which includes materials for our patrons from other libraries

and materials from our library to other patrons in Allegheny County.

• Fulfilling library card requests and updating card information.

• Helping people make copies and use our public computers.

• Introducing patrons to our free Libby and Hoopla reading apps and the Biblio

streaming service.

• Shelf reading materials, which makes it easier for patrons to find items by

genre, author, call number, subject matter, and more.

• Helping people create/polish their resumes or hone their interviewing skills,

during our ongoing Friday Job Seekers Workshop.

• Answering a myriad of questions in-person and via phone. Recent examples

include providing directions to the T-stop at South Hills Village, helping a patron

figure out her voting ward, district, and polling place, and answering how

Johnny Depp got a scar above his eye (a childhood accident, in case you were

wondering).

• Determining which books to add to our collection and which to retire.

• Processing new books, including covering them with book jackets to extend

their shelf life and cataloging them, so they’re searchable by you and other

libraries.

• Introducing patrons to our extensive eLibrary services that can help them learn

a new language, find a new or used car, research their family history, or access

online health information.

• Helping patrons use the interlibrary loan (ILL) system for hard-to-find items.

Perhaps the most important thing we do is offer our patrons a welcoming and

friendly space; a place that feels like home and nurtures a lifelong love of reading,

learning, and exploring the world around us.

Please, come in soon—and often—and let us be of service.

Chris

Meet Your Library Staff

Melissa Waldron

Library Assistant

Q: When did you join

the USC library staff?

A: In January 2020,

shortly before COVID

closed the library. I returned

to the library in

August 2022.

Q: What made you say

“yes” to the position?

Melissa Waldron

A: I love books. My first

job when I graduated from college was in a

library. Having a chance to work again in a

library was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

Q: What does your workday typically

include?

A: Books and more books!

I work at the circulation desk in the children’s

section, so there is check in and out, answering

questions about where something might be

located, and working on any special projects.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

A: I love helping the kids who come into the

library. Seeing how excited they get when they

find a book they can’t wait to read is rewarding.

Q: What do you love most about libraries

in general?

A: I love the endless possibilities of a library. It

doesn’t matter if it’s using the library to learn

something new or getting lost in a book, the

library provides these opportunities to everyone

regardless of where a person comes from.

Q: What’s the last book you read and would

recommend?

I recently finished reading “Murder on

Millionaire’s Row” by Erin Lindsey. It is the first

book in a mystery series set in New York City

during the Gilded Age. It is a mystery with a

little bit of romance and paranormal thrown

in. I’ve also been reading “Madly, Deeply”

about Alan Rickman and am finding it very

interesting.

Q: What do you want people to know about

the USC library?

There are a lot of activities happening at the

library once again and the staff is constantly

working on new programs and ideas for our

patrons.

Q: People may be surprised to know that…?

A: I love to bake and my family is always requesting

that I make them my chocolate chip

cookies.


Adult Programs

A Night to Remember with

Edward Bonner

In-Person Event

Wednesday, Aug. 30

6:30–7:30 p.m.

Join the library for our spotlight series

on local authors as we welcome author

and historian Edward Bonner for a book

talk and signing. Learn about the B-25

Ghost Bomber that went down into the

Monongahela River on Jan. 19, 1956, the

notorious Biddle Brothers, Frank Gorshin,

the Riddler from Batman, the legend of

Green Man, and much more. This event

will be held in the library multi-purpose

room.

Making Your Own Sourdough

Starter: Part 1

Zoom Event

Wednesday, Sept. 6

6–7 p.m.

Join Chloe Newman from Crust Worthy

and learn to make delicious sourdough

bread at home! This 60-minute virtual

workshop will teach you all the basics

of creating and maintaining a sourdough

starter—no prior baking experience of

any kind is necessary. Participants can

follow along at home (with flour, water,

a small clear container, and a digital scale

or measuring spoons) to build their own

sourdough starter, taking with them plenty

of other resources as well for starting their

sourdough baking journey.

Mushroom Hike

In-Person Event

Saturday, Sept. 9

11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Participate in September’s nature treasure

hunt to receive your checklist of clues

and treasures. Join Western Pennsylvania

Mushroom Club’s mushroom identifiers

Josh Doty and Jared White and explore the

trails of Boyce Mayview Park beginning at

Boyce Gardens parking lot.

Making Sourdough Bread at Home:

Part 2

In-Person Event

Wednesday, Sept. 13

6:30–8 p.m.

Once you’ve learned how to create

and maintain your starter, it’s time to start

baking! This 90-minute program with

Chloe from Crust Worthy will teach you

the basics of baking with sourdough to

make beautiful and delicious bread. We

will go over the mixing, shaping, and

baking of a naturally-leavened wheat loaf.

The workshop will include a small tasting

of the finished product, as well as the opportunity

for participants to take home a

bit of Crust Worthy sourdough starter to

bake at home. This event will be held in

the library multi-purpose room.

John Bingham’s Diplomatic Career in

Japan with Sam Kidder

In-Person Event

Wednesday, Sept. 20

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Join us for a lecture by historian and

linguist Sam Kidder, author of “Of One

Blood All Nations: John Bingham: Ohio

Congressman’s Diplomatic Career in

Meiji Japan” Best known as the father

of the crucial Reconstruction Era 14th

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,

President Grant appointed Bingham as

ambassador to Japan and he went on to

become our longest serving ambassador

there. Born in Mercer, Pa. and representing

a congressional district in eastern Ohio,

Bingham had close ties to our immediate

region. He played a key role in the Lincoln

assassination trial, the impeachment

of President Andrew Johnson, and the

support of businesses in in the South Hills.

Kidder’s book will be available for signing

and purchase. This event will be held in


Author Visit with Brian O’Hare

In-Person Event

Wednesday, Sept. 27

6:30–8 p.m.

Join our spotlight series on local authors

as we welcome Brian O’Hare. He will read

from and discuss his new book “Surrender.”

Journey into the heart of the American

hero myth—from the Friday night football

fields of Western Pennsylvania

to a battalion of Marines in combat. But

what happens when the crowds stop cheering

and the “Welcome Home Hero” parades

are over? Bear witness

as this diverse tribe of

characters struggles

to reconcile mythology

with reality—and

to find meaning in a

uniquely American

chaos. This event will

be held in the library

multi-purpose room.

Author Visit with Jennifer Sopko

In-Person Event

Wednesday, Oct. 4

6:30–8 p.m.

Join our spotlight series on local authors

as we welcome writer and historian

Jennifer Sopko for a book talk and signing.

Learn about the history, industry and

recreation of the Ligonier Valley—western

Pennsylvania’s mountain playground—

from the French and Indian War and the

Ligonier Valley Rail Road, to Idlewild

Park and the popular Fort Ligonier Days

fall festival. This event will be held in the

library multi-purpose room.

Author Visit with Dr. Alaina Roberts

In-Person Event

Wednesday, Oct. 11

6–7 p.m.

In this presentation, Dr. Alaina E.

Roberts from the University of Pittsburgh

explores the actions and rhetoric of Black

and Native people in Indian Territory

(modern-day Oklahoma) in the 19th century.

She argues that in this time and space,

these people used an exploitative process

(what she calls the settler colonial process)

to unite their nations and realize freedom

and opportunity for themselves. This

presentation will make you question the

ideas you have about victims and victimizers

and oppressed people and oppressors.

This event will be held in the library multipurpose

room.

Owl Ecology in the Winter

In-Person Event

Wednesday, Oct. 18

6:30–7:30 p.m.

Join the Audubon Society

of Western PA to learn more

about owls. Our region has

a number of interesting owl


Adult Programs

species. Did you know our local owls start

breeding in January? How do they hunt

and survive the cold, dark, winter months?

This program will look at several of our

local owl species, their ecology, along with

discussing the irruptive Snowy Owl. This

event will take place in the library multipurpose

room.

USC Home Series: Keeping Your Pets

Safe and Happy

Zoom Event

Thursday, Oct. 19

6:30–7:30 p.m.

Join Robbins Bobbitt from Howard

Hanna as we discuss keeping your pets safe

and happy. Learn more about Township

pet rules, dog houses, cat houses, chicken

coops, fences, and more from the experts.

Oakmont Paranormal Society

In-Person Event

Wednesday, Oct. 25

6–7 p.m.

Do you believe in ghosts and spirits?

Have you ever wondered what it is like to

be a paranormal investigator? Have you

ever had your own paranormal experience

that you would like answers to? If you

answered YES to any of the above, then

join us for an evening with an Upper St.

Clair paranormal investigator along with

local team members as they reveal the

secrets and deeper insight into the world

of paranormal investigations. They will be

showcasing equipment used on investigations,

evidence that they gathered from

their investigations, and answer questions

you may have. This event will take place in


Fall Foliage Hike

In-Person Event

Thursday, Oct. 26

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Join the park rangers for a hike and

experience the changing of the seasons.

Learn why trees change color, what the

different colors mean, and how other

plant species, like evergreens, prepare for

winter. Meet at South Park’s Oliver Miller

Homestead Parking Lot. Please register for

this program. Limited to 20 participants.

Author Visit with Joyce Tremel

In-Person Event

Wednesday, Nov. 1

6:30–7:30 p.m.

Join local author Joyce Tremel for an

author talk and book signing. Joyce was a

police secretary for 10 years and is the author

of the award-winning Brewing Trouble

mysteries, set in the Lawrenceville neighborhood

of Pittsburgh, and the upcoming

change to “Deadly to the Core (A Cider

House Mystery),” scheduled for release in

January 2024. This event will take place in


Mini-Pies with the Pie Place

In-Person Event

Monday, Nov. 6

6:30–8 p.m.

Join Upper St. Clair resident and Pie

Place owner Jess to learn how to make

mini-pies, just in time for Thanksgiving!

Limited to 15 participants. There is a $10

supply fee to be paid at the library before

you are considered fully registered. If you

are unable to make it, please cancel ahead

of time to allow for more participants. This

event will take place in the library multipurpose

room.

Author Visit with Robert Pagano

In-Person Event

Wednesday, Nov. 8

6:30–8 p.m.

“Irises for Alan” is a coming-of-age

story whose main character explores

some fundamental and difficult questions

that we all face while growing up. The

author will discuss the book and share his

thoughts on intentional vs. inspirational

writing. This event will take place in the

library multi-purpose room.

Senior Wellness

In-Person Event

Wednesday, Nov. 15

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Join Dr. George Fraudin and learn

about the natural way to combat the many

issues happening to our body as we age,

such as losing strength, mobility, and

balance. We will also discuss the groundbreaking

non-surgical treatment for spinal

stenosis with an 85% success rate. Come

and see how to make your golden years

truly golden. This event will take place in


Try-It Tuesday

Try-It Tuesday, with local artist Judé

Ernest, is a regular monthly USC Library

Adult in-person art program. Each Try-It program

is “Make-It and Take-It” and is specially

developed to provide an introduction and the

fundamentals for creating a variety of crafts.

All sessions are limited to 15 participants.

If you are unable to make it, please

cancel ahead of time to allow for more participants.

A $5 donation is suggested. These

events will take place in the library multipurpose

room.

Positive Negative Notan Art

In-Person Event

Tuesday, Sept. 12

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

This month we will make positive

negative Notan art. Notan art explores

the arrangement of positive and negative

cutout 2D shapes in contrasting colors. Everyone

will trace or draw shapes on colored

paper, cut paper shapes, and mount them

to a background. The Notan composition

process is rewarding and can be addictive.

Quilled Thanksgiving Card

In-Person Event

Tuesday, Oct. 10

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

This month we will make a quilled

Thanksgiving card. Try your hand at simple

paper quilling manipulation techniques

while creating a 3D Thanksgiving card to

give or display.

Tiny Pot Gnome

In-Person Event

Tuesday, Nov. 14

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

This month we will create

darling hanging gnomes from

tiny ceramic pots, yarn, and wood beads.


Kids Library

Join Our Mailing List

Sign up to receive emails from Upper St. Clair Township Library. You’ll receive

periodic emails announcing weekly story times for children, monthly activity times

for tween and teens, enrichment and “adulting” classes for learners of all ages, reading

programs, special events, and more.

Never miss out—join today!

USC Township Library Hours

Monday: 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

Tuesday: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

Thursday: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Friday: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

The library will be closed:

Monday, Sept. 4 for Labor Day

Outside book and video return available 24/7

Library hours are subject to change;

please call or visit the library’s website

for hours of operation.

412-835-5540

twpusc.org/library


Clean Streams Update

David Kutschbach, USC Superintendent of Projects

Clean water and abundant aquatic life can be compatible

with a healthy lawn—the two are not necessarily mutually

exclusive. A few common-sense applications can promote the

best of both worlds.

A healthy lawn is an important component of a suburban landscape.

Healthy lawns increase the value of a property, effectively

filter storm water run-off, and trap sediment and other pollutants

that could otherwise contaminate a stream.

We often get so used to routine activities that we rarely give

them a second thought. Lawn care—applying fertilizer, mowing,

and leaf clean-up—falls into that category. Lawn maintenance has

the potential to contribute to water pollution, and a conscious

awareness goes a long way toward protecting the environment.

Everyone likes the appearance of a well maintained and green

lawn; however, fertilizer use can negatively affect water quality.

Some simple tips to consider in fertilizer use are:

• Take a soil sample to learn the annual fertility needs of your

lawn. The local Pennsylvania State University Cooperative

Extension office can assist with a laboratory analysis of your

soil. A soil analysis report will determine any soil deficiencies

in nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.

• Select a fertilizer based on the amount of nitrogen your lawn

needs. Slow-release fertilizers are preferred.

• Fertilize only if needed and only when the grass is actively

growing. Lime will improve vegetation health and soil porosity.

Mow your lawn to two to three inches in height. Maintaining

taller grass ensures a deeper and more extensive root system.

The benefits include an increase in nutrient uptake, the ability

to absorb more moisture in a dry spell, and the suppression of

weed growth.

As beautiful as the vivid colors of autumn leaves can be, leaves

can also become a nuisance. When leaves are swept onto the street,

they will eventually land into storm sewer drains. Once in the

storm sewers, grass clippings and leaf debris carrying fertilizers

and pesticides flow into waterways. This pollution promotes the

growth of algae blooms that degrades water quality, causing harm

to water ecosystems and aquatic life.

The recommended safe and responsible method for leaf disposal

is to collect leaves for the township-scheduled curbside

leaf collection in the fall or the yard waste drop off the second

Saturday of the month, April through December. Mulching and

composting are also an option for residents.

What do the everyday activities of applying fertilizer, lawn

mowing, and leaf disposal have in common? All can lead to

impaired water quality. Nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorous,

are key ingredients in fertilizer. When it rains, lawn

fertilizer can wash into nearby storm drains and eventually to

streams. To help prevent this:

• Do not use fertilizer to de-ice sidewalks.

• Do not apply fertilizer within 10–15 feet of a stream.

• Sweep any excess or spilled fertilizer off of a sidewalk, driveway,

or street and dispose of it properly. Do not hose it away.

• Leaf litter and grass clippings are a major source of phosphorous.

Do not discard on a stream bank or in the water. Either

leave the grass clippings on the lawn and grind the leaves with

your mower, or bag and dispose of properly.

It is the responsibility and privilege of township residents

to protect our local streams and waterways. Small, thoughtful

changes to everyday activities have the potential to promote

great benefits. n

Sanitary Sewer Backups

and Your Homeowner's Coverage

The township maintains over 158 miles of underground sewer

lines. There is no way to predict when the next sanitary sewer backup

will occur. And while only a handful of our residents experience a

significant sanitary sewer backup each year, we know that when it

does occur, it is a distressing situation. It can be even more devastating

if a resident is not insured for losses—losses that can easily

run into tens of thousands of dollars.

Sewer Backup Insurance

Homeowners can alleviate possible sewer-related damage

expenses by contacting their property insurance provider to verify

that they have sewer backup coverage. Most homeowners’ insurance

policies do not automatically include coverage for these occurrences.

Given the potential for significant loss, it would be advisable for

homeowners served by a public sewer system, particularly those

with finished basements, to obtain some level of coverage.

Lastly, if you experience a floor drain backup or otherwise suspect

a sanitary sewer problem, contact the township’s Public Works

Department immediately at 412-831-9000, extension 2710.

Holiday

USC

2023 Trash and Recycling

Holiday Collection

Collection Date

Labor Day............................... Thursday, Sept. 7

and Friday, Sept. 8

Thanksgiving.......................... Wednesday, Nov. 22

and Friday, Nov. 24

2023 Fall Yard Debris/Leaf

Waste Collection—Saturdays

Place your fall yard debris and leaf waste in compostable

bags, then place the bags at curbside by 6 a.m. the morning of

pick up. Collection will take place the following six Saturdays:

Oct. 21, 28; Nov. 4, 11,18; Dec. 2.


Wingfield Pines, Allegheny Land Trust

Lindsay Dill, Senior Director of Marketing & Community Engagement, Allegheny Land Trust

For 30 years, ALT has been helping local people save local

land. While we often write about Wingfield Pines in this newsletter,

our work also reaches beyond the bounds of Upper St. Clair. As

we continued our work at Wingfield Pines this summer, we have

also been working to conserve land near you, and we have planned

for more upcoming events and projects at Wingfield and beyond.

If you explored Wingfield Pines this summer, we hope you were

able to meet our 2023 John Hamm Conservation Intern, Olivia

Fulton. Olivia worked with ALT staff, partners, and volunteers

to maintain and improve the land with critical stewardship tasks,

restore native plant and wildlife habitat with effective fieldwork,

and enhance the visitor experience through land management.

We’re grateful for Olivia’s hard work and we wish her well in what

will surely be successful future endeavors.

This year, we’ve continued our efforts in improving native

habitat at Wingfield Pines by focusing on our identification and

removal of invasive species. Thanks to our stewardship staff’s guidance,

Olivia’s internship work, and many volunteer and partner

efforts and connections, we’ve come a long way in this years-long

project. We’ll soon be announcing additional habitat and visitor

improvements at Wingfield, and we hope you’ll stay tuned by signing

up for our monthly email newsletter or by visiting our website.

ALT has also been working to save more nearby local land

that will contribute to the improved health and well-being of our

region. ALT has 221 woodland acres under contract for permanent

conservation in the rapidly developing, flood-vulnerable Robinson

Run Watershed along the scenic corridor of the popular Panhandle

Trail. Located in South Fayette and Collier, the acquisition of this

strategically located, keystone land would create an ecological,

recreational, and place-making greenway unlike any in the region

by connecting Settler’s Cabin Park, Pittsburgh Botanical Garden,

Collier Township Park, South Fayette’s Preservation Park, the

Panhandle and Montour Trails, and other public and privately

conserved lands.

ALT has these woodlands under exclusive contract to purchase

and permanently protect them, contingent upon successfully raising

the needed funds for closing by December 2023. A total of

$1,785,000 is needed to conserve the land, and ALT already has

funding applications pending with state grantors, private foundations,

and local corporations. The final crucial component is

donations from local individuals as they help close the funding

gap and serve as the local matching dollars required to unlock

state grants. We are seeking $75,000 from the community to help

save this land forever. Visit the project page below to learn more,

follow the progress, and donate. n

Hamm Intern Olivia Fulton

ALT hopes you’ll support our work at

Wingfield Pines and beyond as we continue

our work of conserving, improving,

and providing programming on lands

across the region. If you’d like to stay up

to date on current projects and upcoming

events, we hope you’ll become a member

and subscribe to our monthly email newsletter.

Thank you and happy exploring!

• Monthly projects and events email

newsletter sign-up: alleghenylandtrust.

org/news-events/

• Panhandle Greenway project page:

alleghenylandtrust.org/panhandlegreenway/

• Event calendar for details and registration:

alleghenylandtrust.org/events/

Upcoming Nearby & Online Events

Aug. 14 | 6–8 p.m.

Beginner’s Mushroom ID Hike With WPMC

@ Bethel Green Conservation Area

Aug. 16 | 5–5:45 p.m.

Webinar: Butterflies 101

@ Virtual

Sept. 13 | 5–5:45 p.m.

Webinar: all about bears

@ Virtual

Sept. 27 | 5–5:45 p.m.

Webinar: Fall & Winter Gardening For Wildlife

@ Virtual


General Election—Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023

Polls Open 7 a.m.–8 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, is Voter Registration Deadline Date.

(Date subject to change pending Pennsylvania legislative action.)

If you have questions regarding the election, registration, or absentee ballots, call the Allegheny County Elections

Department at 412-350-4500 or visit twpusc.org. The township library and the post office have voter registration forms.

Check the Township website to verify the location of the polling place closer to the General Election date.

Ward District Polling Place

1 1 USC VFD


1 2 Baker Elementary School Gymnasium - Morton Road

1 3 Fort Couch Middle School–Gymnasium

Miranda Drive entrance





2 2 Westminster Presbyterian Church–Washington Road





Ward District Polling Place

3 1 McLaughlin Run Activity Center–McLaughlin Run Road

3 2 St. Catherine Labouré business office (rear),

(formerly known as St. Louise DeMarillac)–McMurray Road

3 3 McLaughlin Run Activity Center–McLaughlin Run Road

4 1 Baker Elementary School, Gymnasium–Morton Road

4 2 Boyce Middle School, Gymnasium–Boyce Road



5 1 Wesley Spectrum Services, Gymnasium–Johnston Road

5 2 Wesley Spectrum Services, Gymnasium–Johnston Road


RONALD A. ARNONI, DISTRICT JUDGE

District Court 05-2-20

Office: 412-835-1661

Fax: 412-835-4060

Hiras Professional Building

2414 Lytle Rd #200


Youthful

Leadership in Action

The Judge Ron Arnoni Leadership-in-

Action Scholarships are designed to recognize

and reward outstanding student leaders in the region. Students

demonstrating leadership qualities in their communities and

schools were encouraged to apply for $1000 scholarships. These

awards were made possible by the Leadership-Development and

their LEAD Program’s title sponsor, Dollar Bank; major sponsor,

the Pittsburgh Penguins; and community sponsor, Carol and Dr.

Brian McDonough.

This year’s winners are:

• Lauren Vay—Elizabeth Forward

• Lauren Heh—Bethel Park

• Sydney Rozzo—Upper St. Clair

• Madison Benedict—Baldwin

By recognizing these students’ contributions, Judge Arnoni and

his business partner, Brad Killmeyer, hope these student leaders

will be inspired to continue positively impacting our communities

in the years ahead.

Below are a few of this year’s winners’ many accomplishments

and volunteer efforts that made a difference in the area:

• Members of the National Honors Society

• Captain of their sport teams

• Elected president and for executive positions for student clubs

and organizations

“Congratulations to all of this year’s

winners! We are proud of your

accomplishments and are glad to recognize

your leadership efforts. Thank you for

making our region a better place!”

– Judge Ron Arnoni and Brad Killmeyer

• Section leaders in band and drumline

• Highly involved with numerous community organizations

such as Miracle League, Best Buddies, Girl Scouts, church

groups, military appreciation programs, Students Against

Destructive Decisions, local libraries, cancer foundations,

and more.

“I experience many difficult situations in my courtroom. Seeing

how we have so many talented, passionate and caring students

in our region is promising and encouraging for our future!” said

Judge Arnoni. n

Learn more about the scholarships and numerous leadership programs

Judge Arnoni and Brad Killmeyer have for students and schools

at OurLeadFamily.com. Follow their organization Leadership

Development on Instagram for leadership lessons and future contest and

scholarships at OurLeadFamily.com.


State Representative Natalie Mihalek

40th Legislative District

1121 Boyce Road, Suite 2200A

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241

724-942-2045 www.repmihalek.com Facebook.com/RepMihalek

Understanding and Preventing Electric Shock Drowning

Any definition of the

word “accident” usually

includes words like unintended,

unexpected, and unavoidable. For Jay,

Jean, and Abrielle DeAngelo, only one word

matters: James.

On July 4, 2021, their son and brother,

James, was swimming in the Monongahela

River near an area marina. At one point, he

went under water but never resurfaced. He

was found by a friend, but was unresponsive.

James was 23 years old.

Investigators eventually determined that

James drowned after experiencing an intense

electrical shock, known as electric shock

drowning.

My family and I, like many western

Pennsylvania families, enjoy our waterways for

recreation. This includes boating, kayaking,

fishing, and swimming. But until hearing of

James DeAngelo’s untimely and horrible passing,

I never heard of electric shock drowning.

Such an accident can occur in any location

where electricity is provided near water, and

the majority of such drownings occur at public

and private marinas and docks. Usually, the

electricity originates from the wiring of the

dock or marina, or from boats that are connected

to a marina’s or dock’s power supply.

The Electric Shock Drowning Prevention

Association uses the example of stepping into

a bathtub or swimming pool with a hair dryer.

The shock causes skeletal muscular paralysis,

rendering the victim unable to help themselves

while immersed in water.

Making the situation more dangerous

is there is no visible way to determine that

water near a boat, dock, or marina is dangerous.

Victims usually do not immediately feel

electrical current when they enter the water

around a boat, marina, or dock. Often, electricity

enters the water when an electrical fault

occurs aboard a boat. For example, the fault

that places deadly current into the water may

only occur when a light switch is turned on,

or when a hot water heater, battery charger,

air conditioning unit, or other electrical device

cycles. Water can appear and feel “safe” and in

a split second become energized with deadly

electricity.

According to media reports, the friend that

found James underwater also felt a shock but

was not prevented from attempting rescue.

Electric shock drownings have claimed as

many as 80 lives in the United States. However,

they are preventable.

Swimmers are encouraged to avoid swimming

near marinas, docks, and boatyards.

Boat owners should routinely inspect their

vessels’ electrical systems to make certain they

are in good working order. The vessels should

also have isolation transformers or equipment

leakage circuit interrupter protection.

Those who own private docks or operate

marinas should be certain that ground-fault

circuit interrupters exist on all shore power

pedestals and on all marina wiring circuits.

Posting signs to warn swimmers who may

not be aware of the dangers of electric shock

drowning is also a great idea.

Determined to bring some kind of positivity

to a horrible tragedy, the DeAngelos have

created the James DeAngelo Foundation,

which raises money to bring more attention

to electric shock drowning, as well as makes

donations to local sports groups. For more information,

visit jamesdeangelo.weebly.com. n

For additional informational on the

dangers of electric shock drowning, visit

electricshockdrowning.org.

State Representative Dan Miller

Office of the House Democratic Majority Whip

Hello Upper St. Clair!

In case you might

have missed it, after the

last constitutionally mandated

redistricting, Upper St. Clair is now

represented by two state representatives. I have

the honor of representing what is essentially

the northern part of the township, while my

friend Representative Natalie Mihalek covers

basically the southern half. Regardless of these

lines, I am confident that we will work together

to represent USC to the best of our abilities.

First, I want to make sure that you know

how to reach me and my staff. Our district

office is located right across the border in Mt.

Lebanon at 650 Washington Road, Suite 102.

We can be reached by phone at 412-343-3870

or online at RepDanMiller.com and you are

welcome to contact us anytime about any

state issue.

We most commonly provide assistance to

people regarding PACE and PACENET forms,

voter registration and absentee ballot applications,

property tax/rent rebate program forms,

senior bus passes, or dealing with PennDOT

problems, and we work hard to help people

Harrisburg Office

121 Main Capitol

Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 783-1850

with any state agency or program questions.

In the state House, I currently serve as

the House Majority Whip, which provides a

greater opportunity for me to influence the legislative

agenda. Personally, the majority of my

legislative effort over the years has focused on

disability and mental health issues, which can

impact every family and all too often have been

neglected in Harrisburg. My bills on this front

are designed to decrease stigma and increase

opportunity, while making sure that promises

are kept in relation to assisting individuals and

families with such needs.

I love to host community events and discussions,

and we try to do so in every part of

the district as well as virtually. Our largest,

and in many ways my favorite event, is our

annual Disability & Mental Health Summit,

which has become the largest collection of

such resources in western Pennsylvania. We

generally offer many hours of free programming

rotating on a variety of topics, and we

have always been proud that this event is

bipartisan and bicameral.

Mt. Lebanon Office

650 Washington Road, Suite 102

Pittsburgh, PA 15234

(412) 343-3870

Other topics for our community discussions

include challenges like Alzheimer’s,

regional economic development, providing

senior resources, and most recently we have

been bringing experts together from Carnegie

Mellon and other universities to talk about

how artificial intelligence will impact our

jobs, economy, and privacy. Information

on these and future events can be found at

RepDanMiller.com.

I want to thank TODAY for the opportunity

to introduce myself to you. Serving our

shared community has been the honor of a

lifetime, and I have enjoyed doing so as a

volunteer firefighter in Mt. Lebanon, a local

commissioner, and now as state representative.

Thank you for this privilege and I hope

that you will reach out to my office any time.

Best,

Dan Miller

State Rep. Dan Miller represents the 42nd

Legislative District which includes Baldwin,

Mt. Lebanon, Castle Shannon, Dormont, and

parts of Upper St. Clair.


EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES GUIDE

The

Nutcracker

Register for the fall!

Featuring the South Hills’

largest production of

The Nutcracker!

Ballet Academy

of Pittsburgh

4100 Library Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234

412-343-9333

www.balletacademypgh.com

info@balletacademypgh.com

R E G I S T E R T O D A Y F O R Y O U R

FREE

LESSON

Piano▪Guitar▪Bass Guitar▪Ukulele

Voice▪Violin▪Viola▪Cello▪String

Bass▪Drums▪Flute▪Piccolo

Clarinet▪Saxophone▪Trombone

Trumpet▪Euphonium▪Baritone

Tuba▪French Horn▪Banjo▪Music

Technology

Lewis Music Studio is South Fayette's own

school of music! We enjoy making music

with students of all ages! Visit our website

for details about classes, lessons, summer

camps, instrument rentals, and more!

5 0 A B E L E R O A D , S U I T E 1 0 0 1 , B R I D G E V I L L E , P A 1 5 0 1 7

H T T P : / / L E W I S M U S I C S T U D I O . N E T


EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES GUIDE

Routine Reboot

Haley Roberts, Administrative Coordinator, Extended Day Services

Transitioning back into school

year routines after a long summer break

can be challenging for kids. Here are some

ideas to help reintroduce routines and

make the transition smoother:

1. Gradual schedule adjustment. Start

adjusting bedtimes and wake-up times

gradually, about a week or two before

school starts. Incrementally shift bedtime

and wake-up time closer to the

desired school schedule to help kids

readjust their sleep patterns.

2. Establish a morning routine. Create a

morning routine checklist that includes

tasks like getting dressed, brushing

teeth, having breakfast, and packing

their school bag. Post the checklist

where your kids can easily see it to encourage

independence and help them

establish a consistent routine.

3. Set up a homework station. Create a

dedicated area in your home for homework

and studying. Organize school

supplies, such as pens, pencils, notebooks,

and a quiet workspace with good

lighting. This designated space will help

your children focus on their schoolwork

and establish a homework routine.

4. Practice time management. Help your

kids develop time management skills by

using visual aids like a daily or weekly

planner. Teach them to break tasks into

smaller, manageable chunks and allocate

time for homework, chores, and

extracurricular activities. Encourage

them to check off completed tasks for

a sense of accomplishment.

5. Encourage after-school activities.

Engaging in after-school activities

helps establish a routine and provides a

healthy balance between academics and

hobbies. Discuss extracurricular options

with your children, such as sports,

music, lessons, art classes, or scouting.

Encourage them to choose activities

they enjoy and help them manage their

schedules accordingly.

6. Celebrate achievements. Recognize

and celebrate your children’s

accomplishments, both big and small.

Whether it’s completing homework

independently or achieving good

grades, acknowledge their efforts and

provide positive reinforcement. This

will motivate them to stay focused and

committed to their routines.

It takes time for kids to readjust to the

school year routines, so be patient and

supportive during this transition. With

consistency, encouragement, and a structured

environment, your child will adapt to

the new routine and thrive in the upcoming

school year! n

See ad for Extended Day Services on page 74.


James M. Bennett, a Man Who Loved His Community

and Never Missed a Beat!

This past April, the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair held a 30th

anniversary celebration at St. Clair Country Club. The evening was one of reminiscing

and reflecting on past projects and events, and honoring two community visionaries

EST. 1993

who gave freely of their time and talents to create opportunities that brought unity

to our community! After refreshments and table games, former Foundation trustee

Angela Petersen introduced a very special gentleman. She commented that since 2002

something has been missing at USC football games—seeing Jim Bennett stride down the

sidelines in his bright red blazer! Upper St. Clair’s very own real-life Music Man retired in 2003, after 33 years with the

district as high school band director. As fine and performing arts curriculum leader and arts focus chair for the Foundation, Jim found

ways to connect the school and community with arts events ranging from concerts by Marvin Hamlisch, Eddie Palmieri, Spyro Gyra,

and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, to the John Houseman Theatre Company, and Thai dancers. He was also the co-founder and

co-conductor of the Community Band South, established in 1987. Angela commented that Jim’s successes were many, but his greatest

accomplishments cannot be named or counted. “They are the multitudes of students he nurtured with his gift of music...they grew up and

their children became Jim’s students...and all of them became and remain Jim’s friends.” After his retirement, Jim continued to foster the

arts as theater manager at the high school. Angela said that Jim was unable to attend the gala as he was not feeling well...but, “everything

will be okay!” Foundation trustee Gordon Mathews then recognized Jim for his vision for the arts and his continuous efforts in community

outreach, awarding him a medal for this special honor. The day after the gala, Jim was admitted to the hospital. Paul Fox, his longtime

colleague and friend, stopped at Jim’s house to deliver the medal and a video of Angela’s speech. When his wife, Terry, took them to Jim, she

said the award made his day! He wore it proudly, making a point to show it to every nurse, aide, and doctor who entered his room.Sadly,

Jim’s health did not rebound, and he passed away on June 9, 2023. James M. Bennett, a Music Man, a community leader, a man with a

mission, was the man whose love of the arts was equally balanced with his love for his community. Jim will march on in the memory of all

who knew him, and his legacy to the community-at-large will be his unyielding efforts to nurture an artistic culture in Upper St. Clair, the

special place he called home.

Linda Serene, CFUSC Visionary Leadership Awardee

In 1993, Linda Serene saw a need, convened a group of

caring community members, and plotted a course to create

what we now know as the Community Foundation of Upper

St. Clair. With much assistance from

Thomas Harshman, James Bennett,

John Small, and all of her “honey

and worker bees,” Linda’s team produced a momentum

that has brought enrichment to Upper St. Clair for three

decades. It has reached out to the entire community

with support for ideas that would benefit all residents

of the Township. It was a special treat to see Linda meet

friends from the inaugural board of trustees at the 30th

anniversary celebration. During the awards ceremony,

Charlotte McDaniels, secretary of the first board, shared

a tribute to Linda with a poem she created for this special

event. Linda’s insight into where things were and where

they needed to go came from her experience as a member of the Upper St. Clair

School Board. As the 1990s rolled in, she was envisioning high school renovation,

how future students could benefit from the surge of developing technologies, ongoing

health and wellness initiatives, how the arts could impact learning, and how to bring

great harmony to the community-at-large. The seeds that Linda planted resulted in

more than $1,000,000 raised for projects not necessarily covered by tax dollars during

the last 30 years. Grants awarded have touched a wide variety of people and groups,

including the school district, Casey’s Clubhouse, Veterans Park, the public library, and

through the formation of partnerships to provide goods and services for hundreds of

ideas. With focus on Arts, Health and Wellness, STEM, Entertainment and Leisure,

and Education and Lifelong Learning, the Foundation has enhanced life for residents

and promoted a greater cultural awareness throughout the community. May the seeds

of Linda’s wisdom grow for many more decades, bringing continued unity to our

community. Thank you to Linda and to all who have joined her team for 30 years.

Linda Serene:

Charlotte McDaniels Pays Tribute

to Linda Serene

We all know a native of Western Penn named Linda.

Typically, entirely too busy for any bendar.

She heard of a previous organizational try

And not being idea or community shy,

Gave it her best shot

Failure, it was not!

She put together the original Board,

It took all the time she could possibly afford.

What emerged was the Community Foundation

Hitting all the buttons for an Upper St. Clair Evolution.

She organized her various resident types of bees,

Including honey (as in money) bees,

Plus several worker and connection bees,

From numerous energetic and local hes and shes.

The testimony to her success and drive,

Is that multiple bees are continiung in their hive!

It’s been an excellent and creative ride,

Not possible without the Board Team at her side.

Scholarships, grants, donations and community support

Continue in force, or so they report.

So, let’s salute and recognize

A go-getter, a doer, a real prize

The Community Fooundation of Upper St. Clair,

Along with its foundational Foundation Chair!

For all she has accomplished, as we, tonight, have seen,

Let’s hear it for Linda Serene!

by Charlotte McDaniel, 1993 Secretary of the Foundation

Honoring Linda Serene at 30th Anniversary

on 15 April 2023


Thirtieth Anniversary Gala


Patrick T. Christy, MD

Tera S. Conway, MD

Elizabeth Pronesti, MD

Jourdan E. Schmitz, MD

Paul M. Zubritzky, MD

Trista M. McMahon, CRNP

Vanessa Sidick, CRNP

Here.

For You.

Personalized OB/GYN Care. Close To Home.

St. Clair Medical Group OB/GYN services expand access to more comprehensive treatments for the

communities we serve. Board-certified physicians and certified registered nurse practitioners partner

with you every step of the way. This is advanced OB/GYN care that meets you where you are.

St. Clair Medical Group OB/GYN

WELCOMING

NEW

PATIENTS

Mt. Lebanon

1050 Bower Hill Road

Suite 205

Mt. Lebanon, PA 15243

412.942.1066

Robinson Township

1 Robinson Plaza

Suite 410

Pittsburgh, PA 15205

412.788.1330

Bethel Park

2000 Oxford Drive

Suite 415


412.942.5380

Learn more about OB/GYN providers in the St. Clair Medical Group

network at stclair.org/SCMGOBGYN.

stclair.org

Expert care from people who care.


A Birthing Experience That Is

Welcoming & Comforting on

Every Level

Learning you’re pregnant is exciting, but it can also be

overwhelming when you begin to think about the many important

decisions you’ll need to make before baby arrives. If you’re

expecting, some of the first decisions to consider are choosing

an OB/GYN provider and deciding where you want to give birth.

Every year, more than 1500 expecting parents choose St. Clair

Health for its leading OB/GYN providers and the family-centered

environment at St. Clair Hospital’s Family Birth Center. The

dedicated team at the Family Birth Center focuses on creating a

comfortable, caring, and safe environment for all members of the

family. It’s what makes the birth experience at St. Clair Health

so unique.

“We’re able to provide a very personalized experience for

patients and their families in a more calming environment, all

while providing an exceptional level of medical care,” says Tera

S. Conway, MD, who practices with St. Clair Medical Group. The

Family Birth Center includes private labor and delivery rooms

designed to provide exceptional warmth, comfort, and safety from

labor through recovery. Some highlights include:

• A rocking chair, oversized bathrooms, and soft lighting to

make you feel like you’re at home

• State-of-the-art technology such as fetal monitoring systems

that allow staff to keep a close eye on baby and equipment

that enables mothers to walk freely during labor

• Sleeper sofa to accommodate birthing partners from labor

through recovery

• Enough space to welcome guests following delivery

Of course, mom’s primary concern is that she and her baby

will be well cared for—and St. Clair’s

commitment to delivering the very

best labor and delivery care ensures

peace of mind on that front. “Healthy

baby, healthy mom—that’s our mantra.

And we cultivate the process at

every step to ensure that every patient’s

labor and delivery progresses

safely,” explains Patrick T. Christy,

MD, who also practices with St. Clair

Medical Group.

Adds Dr. Conway, “St. Clair is really

a great place to have your baby

because our whole team is dedicated

to your delivery.” The team includes

a single labor and delivery nurse who

is assigned upon admission to ensure

they can remain intimately involved

before, during, and after delivery. A

board-certified pediatric hospitalist is

on-call 24/7 to support these nurses

who are specially trained in labor,

delivery, and postpartum care.

Dr. Patrick Christy

Dr. Tera Conway

Additionally, a certified lactation counselor from St. Clair’s onsite

Lactation Center is available to help new moms learn the ins

and outs of breastfeeding. Before delivery and after your hospital

stay, the Center remains available for consultations, complementary

bra fittings, and other breastfeeding supplies.

Even more, a perinatal social worker will visit with new moms

to make sure they are prepared for discharge and have everything

they need at home. From setting up transportation or childcare,

to ensuring any clinical consults are conducted after delivery,

patients can think of this extra set of helping hands as a liaison

who assists with the transition from St. Clair to home.

Dr. Christy emphasizes, “Each patient has their own goals and

dreams for their family—and helping them achieve that is very

rewarding for all of us.” A commitment to that level of personal

care, in a welcoming environment that provides the personal attention

and respect you deserve, is a hallmark of St. Clair—one

that is shared by everyone at the Family Birth Center. n

If you’re expecting, the Family Birth Center offers regular tours, which

include breakfast and are free of charge. To learn more or register for an

upcoming tour, visit stclair.org/womenandchildren or call 412-942-5877.


Horses with Hope at Gilfillan Farm

In addition to the volunteer program with the miniature

horses, three weeks of annual all-abilities summer camp were

enjoyed in July, therapeutic riding services will continue through

October, and a new Nights of Hope program is underway this

season. This new, ground-based, equine-assisted learning program

was designed to support youth with stress, anxiety, or depression.

Under the guidance of equine specialists, families are given the

opportunity to interact with horses, supporting mindfulness and

sensory integration, while releasing negative feelings that many

individuals hold on to.

These and future Horses with Hope programs are possible with

the support of generous grants, business sponsorships, personal

donations, and fundraising. Save the date and stay tuned for more

information on upcoming Horses with Hope fundraising events.

• Horses With Hope is having a fundraising night at PNC Park

on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 6:35 p.m. as the Pirates take on

the Nationals. Great seats for a great cause!

• On Sunday, Nov. 12, get ready for raffles, bowling, and pizza

at the annual Horses with Hope bowling fundraiser at the

Meadows Lanes.

How Do Roads Get Their Names?

At least three roads in Upper St. Clair are named for their connection to the

Fife family, a large and prominent family that has made its mark on local maps for

well over two centuries. A newspaper article describing the 1890 Fife family reunion

claimed that the descendants of the earliest Fife settlers, John Fife, Senior, and his

brother William numbered at least 1800.

Cremona Drive was named after a tract of land purchased by early Upper St.

Clair settler, John Fife, Senior. He applied for and received a land patent in 1786 and

named his new property Cremona.

A few years later in 1789, John Fife applied for a patent for an additional tract

of land he called Lambeth,

leading to the present-day

namesake, Lambeth Drive.

Fife Drive is most

closely associated with

James and Morgan Fife.

In 1870, the James and

Morgan Fife house was

constructed as a wedding

gift for the couple on what

would become Fife Drive.

• The Fourth Annual Belmont Jewel event on June 10 at St. Clair

Country Club, sponsored by Century 3 Chevrolet, Arc Human

Services, Washington Health System—Children’s Therapy

Center, Williams, Louis Anthony Jewelers, Tito’s Handmade

Vodka, and Canon Hill Veterinary Clinic, was a fun, festive

evening for all in attendance. Save the date for next year’s

Belmont Jewel on Saturday, June 8, 2024!

Connect with your community by making a difference in

the lives of others and become a Horses with Hope volunteer!

Opportunities are available in the areas of community activities,

ground maintenance, fundraising, and program session support.

Year-round fundraising opportunities are available for individuals

and schools. Students and school clubs involved in art departments

or service projects can support Horses with Hope with

fundraising efforts or create artwork for use as a raffle item at a

fundraising event. n

For more information on Horses with Hope programs, events, and

volunteer opportunities, visit horseswithhope.org.

Upper St. Clair Township from the Warrantee Atlas of

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1914 available on ULS

Digital Collections digital.library.pitt.edu/collection/

warrantee-atlas-allegheny-county-pennsylvania

Their new house was located close to relatives, as multiple houses along Old

Washington Road were Fife residences around this time.

With such a long-established lineage, the Fife family has made its mark

on Upper St. Clair maps for more than two-hundred years. n

Original 1789 patent for Lambeth from the Historical Society of

Upper St. Clair.

Article courtesy of Carolyn Jones Friedrich, historian,

Historical Society of Upper St. Clair.


It’s Never Too Late

to Start Playing an

Instrument

It’s time to dust off that old instrument

you have in your attic and warm up your

“chops”…or learn something new! Everyone knows

it, and countless research shows it: there are numerous benefits

of making music for students and adults of all ages.

“The prevailing societal wisdom seems to be that we can’t learn

to play an instrument (or speak a language or learn to paint) if

we’re beyond elementary school age. That’s simply not true; we

have the capacity to learn at any age. It might take a little longer

to acquire skill, but that’s all. It’s worth investing the time it

takes to make the music you’ve always wanted to…” says Kathy

Kucsan, Ph.D., co-founder and education director of the Center

for Musical Arts.

At Upper St. Clair High School, there are not one, but two

gold mines right in our backyard for amateur music-making.

Late great bandmasters James Bennett (Upper St. Clair) and Dean

Streator (Bethel Park) co-founded the Community Band South.

Community Band South (CBS) rehearses on Monday nights at

the high school, so adult players have easy access to an active

adults-only ensemble that regularly performs in the western

Pennsylvania area. And music-lovers of all ages are welcome to

drop-in to any Saturday morning practice of the South Hills Junior

Orchestra (SHJO), now celebrating its 41st year with players of

a wide range of achievement levels. SHJO was recently featured

at events for USC Community Day, USC United Senior Citizens,

and Friendship Village.

Both ensembles are nonprofit and non-competitive, and auditions

are not required. The welcome mat is out for you to come to

a couple rehearsals and give CBS and SHJO a try! The conductor

of Community Band South is Max Gonano, formerly the Director

of the California University of Pennsylvania marching, concert,

and jazz bands. Retired schoolteachers Donna Stark Fox (Peters

Township) and Paul Fox (Upper St. Clair) direct the SHJO which

has a 50-50 balance of school-age band/string students and posthigh

school amateur musicians, including several who, as adults,

learned a new instrument to play in the ensemble. n

For both CBS and SHJO, there are openings in all instrumental

sections. Thanks to donations, there is even the possibility to borrow a

flute or clarinet to join SHJO. The easiest way to get more information

is to go to their respective practices (both are held in the USCHS Band

Room) and websites: Community Band South (cbs.pghfree.net/)

Mondays, 7:30–9 p.m.

South Hills Junior Orchestra (shjo.org)

Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Upper St. Clair Different

Strokes Tennis League

The USC Different Strokes Tennis League is a

nonprofit resident group run by a committee of volunteers

with the assistance of the USC Recreation Department. Our

purpose is to organize sessions of tennis for Upper St. Clair

residents of all abilities to play with a variety of partners and

opponents of similar level. There are four sign-up sessions

per year for different days/times of the week for different

game levels:

• A spring outdoor session until mid-July (USC season

permit required).

• A summer outdoor session until the bubbles go up in

October (USC season permit required).

• A 14-week fall indoor session from October through mid-

January (USC court fees).

• A 14-week winter indoor session from mid-January

through mid-April (USC court fees).

All sessions include weekday mornings and evenings for

women’s doubles, as well as weekday evenings and weekend

day times for men’s doubles. Mixed doubles or men’s and

women’s singles games can also be set up if there is enough

demand.

Cost of joining our league is $10 for individuals and $16

per couple. If interested, contact Gina Braun at 412-221-5717

or Gibra5@aol.com. Join anytime! n


Profiles

of people with a USC connection

Know of a resident to profile? Send information to: Editor,

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 or

usctoday@uscsd.k12.pa.us.

This past April, Upper St. Clair resident

Rob Renzi was named to the leadership team

of HDG Architects. Rob has been with HDG

for more than 12 years and has been integral

to almost every project on which the firm has

worked.

HDG Architects, established

in 1992 as the

Hayes Design Group—

Architects, is a full-service

architectural firm offering

pre-design services

through construction administration

services for

Rob Renzi

a wide variety of project types. Headquartered

in Robinson Township, HDG focuses on developing

successful relationships with clients

who want quality architecture and exceptional

service.

For more information, visit HDGarchitects-pgh.com.

Upper St. Clair’s Frances

Joyce published her third book

this spring. “Everything in

Between” explores guilt, grief,

loss, and our ability to survive

and move forward. Francis

Cleetus (franciscleetus.com),

another Upper St. Clair resident,

designed the book jacket.

Frances Joyce Francis Cleetus

Her first book, “Dancing in the Rain: Surviving Breast Cancer and

Learning how to Embrace Life,” follows Frances

and four other women through diagnosis, treatment,

and finally, no evidence of disease. Her

second book, “His Life’s Work,” is an action-thriller

about a serial killer with Alzheimer’s disease. Her

books are available on amazon.com.

Frances also produces the monthly online

publication, This Awful Awesome Life

(thisawfulawesomelife.com).

Visit Frances Joyce’s website at francesjoyce.com.

Connections Are Key

Kaitlyn Campbell, LCSW, Clinical Director, Outreach Teen & Family Services

As the clinical director at Outreach, I am the first

point of contact when an individual reaches out for support. Since

stepping into this role, I have witnessed a significant increase in

mental health concerns for children and adolescents in our communities.

I am also learning that most families are connecting

to mental health resources for the first time. While reaching out

for help can feel intimidating, we want to decrease this fear by

educating our communities on what to expect when connecting

with mental health support.

If anyone in your family is experiencing a decline in their

mental health, Outreach can help. We offer a variety of services

for children and young adults ages 5–21, along with their parents

and families, including individual, group, family, and parenting

sessions.

Once you initiate our services, I will contact you for more

information related to current needs, past mental health treatment,

and risk factors. Please keep in mind, Outreach is a low

level of care outpatient center, which means we do not offer

crisis support. If you or your child is experiencing active suicidal

thoughts or thoughts of harm, I will connect you to appropriate

crisis services to ensure safety; otherwise, I will share information

about our current availability. And if Outreach doesn’t fit your

needs, I will provide you with other community resources that

would be a better fit.

There are a few other things I encourage you to consider before

connecting with us. First, what are the goals for your family

that you want to achieve? This will help to identify the best fit

for services during the intake process. Next, if you are planning

to use insurance, connect with them first to ensure a provider is

accepted under your plan. At Outreach, we believe in supporting

our local communities and never allow payment to be an obstacle

for care, but if insurance is important to you, it is helpful to be

proactive. Finally, if you are calling for your child, having conversations

with them beforehand can aid in identifying the current

needs from their perspective.

The most difficult part of getting help is taking that first step

to reach out. Outreach is here for all our communities and it’s

our goal to make a positive impact on the mental health of our

neighborhoods. Know you can reach out, even if you are not sure

about beginning services. We are here to help. n

To initiate service at Outreach, visit outreachteen.org and complete the

online inquiry form for individual or group services by clicking the

Contact tab or call the main office at 412-561-5405.


Boyce Girl Scouts Earn Bronze Award

Boyce Middle School Girl Scout Troop

40921 recently earned the Girl Scout Bronze

Award—the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior

can achieve.

Troop 40921 includes Sydney Hokanson,

Lydia Jack, Jessica Lesogor, Mileidi Miles,

Lillian Paske, Rowan Pollock, Brooklyn Pope,

Addie Smirniw, Avery Stupar, and Elsie Yuyi.

The troop is led by troop leaders Leslie Pope

and Leslie Smirniw.

Earning the Girl Scout Bronze Award

involves completing a Girl Scout Journey,

which includes learning more about an issue

and committing a minimum of 20 hours

working as a team to make a difference in

the community.

Troop 40921 chose to learn about Project

Linus, an organization that provides handmade

blankets to children who are seriously

ill, traumatized or otherwise in need. Volunteers—known

as blanketeers—provide new

Members of Troop 40921

handmade blankets.

Members of Troop 40921 planned activities

for the event, researched materials and items needed, and learned how to create and follow a budget for the event. The

blanket-making event was held on March 30, and in May, Troop 40921 donated 60 blankets to Project Linus. The troop also asked

participants to bring donations for local pet adoption organizations. n

Members of Troop 60187 with Dr. Vince Reyes

Cookies for

Cancer Patients

This past spring, cancer patients receiving

treatment at St. Clair Health Cancer

Center affiliated with UPMC Hillman Cancer

Center got a special treat from the Brownie

and Junior Girl Scouts of Troop 60187.

The USC students packed up nearly 150

boxes of Girl Scout cookies and delivered

them to Dr. Vince Reyes, assistant medical

director for UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

Medical Oncology Network and chief of

Hematology and Medical Oncology at St.

Clair Health.

One of three troop leaders, Jeanette

Benedetto is a patient of Dr. Reyes, and

her troop selected the Cancer Center for

their Troop Gift of Caring cookie donation.

Benedetto was diagnosed with a rare intestinal

cancer a year ago, and following surgery

and treatment, she is now cancer-free. In

her honor, the troop this year unanimously

selected the Cancer Center for their Gift of

Caring donation.

Patients were invited to take a box home

following their treatment, thanks to this

thoughtful and caring group of young girls. n


Happenings!

50th Reunion for the USC Class of 1974

There have been a myriad of

changes over the last 50 years, and

it’s time to reconnect, to reminisce,

and celebrate together! Our main

event will be at St. Clair Country

Club on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024,

from 6–11p.m.

More information will be available

in the coming months, so save the dates—Sept. 27–29,

2024.

Chicken Barbeque

Bethel Park High School

Saturday, Oct. 28

11 a.m.–7 p.m. (drive-thru only)

Each year, the USC-BP Rotary Breakfast club hosts an annual

Chicken BBQ fundraising event to help support dozens of local

charities. For $15 a dinner, enjoy a fresh grilled ½ chicken,

mouthwatering baked beans, zesty coleslaw, plus cookies for

dessert.

Advanced purchase is required by calling 412-606-0518 or

visiting rb.gy/eeknh.

Pizzazz Boutique

Shopping Benefit

The Garden Club of

Allegheny County (GCAC)

will present its 27th annual

Pizzazz boutique shopping benefit Oct. 18–20, 2023, at the

Fox Chapel Golf Club, 426 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh.

For more information and tickets, visit: gcacpgh.org/pizzazz.

Joy of Christmas Craft Show

The Laboure Ladies Guild will hold its annual “Joy of

Christmas” Craft show on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, from

9 a.m.–3:30 p.m., at St. Louise de Marillac School and LeGras

Parish Center, 320 McMurray Road, Upper St. Clair. There

will be 115 artists and craftsmen, Chinese auction, and refreshments.

The two-dollar admission includes a ticket for

the auction. Due to order of the USC fire marshal, strollers

are not permitted.

Keynotes Luncheon Fashion Show

On Saturday, Sept. 16, the annual

luncheon fashion show supporting

Keynotes of South Hills’ Music

Scholarships, will be held at South Hills

Country Club. Guests will enjoy a delicious

lunch, lovely fashions from J.Jill,

a raffle, a lottery tree, 50/50, music student performances, and

more. Luncheon tickets are $50. For more information regarding

tickets, sponsorships, advertising, or a raffle donation, contact

Lynn Hagan 412-491-7250.

Founded In 1969, Keynotes continues to fulfill its mission of

sustaining a music scholarship fund. Granting $16,000 per year,

to date Keynotes has awarded over $460,000 to music students

of exceptional talent. Keynotes’ annual luncheon is one of the

many fundraisers supporting the scholarship fund.

For more information, visit Keynotessouthhills.com or

Facebook.com/keynotesofsouthhills.

Sugarplum Artisan Marketplace 2023

Looking for a convenient way

to refresh your home furnishings or get

a jumpstart on your holiday shopping?

Shop local!

The Upper St. Clair League for the Arts

invites you to this year’s Sugarplum Artisan

Marketplace. First time shoppers to this

six-day sale will be amazed at the quantity

of unique, one-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts

and fine art. Repeat customers, who have

made this local tradition a success for

nearly 50 years, will return this year for

the wide variety of high-quality items, all

locally made.

Held in the MAC on McLaughlin Run

Road, the sale features a large gallery room

showcasing wall art, including photography,

prints, and paintings in a variety of

mediums and styles.

A second, even larger room is transformed

into an artisan boutique, filled with beautiful

examples of local craftsmanship,

including glass art, pottery, woodcraft, fiber

art, papercraft, and much more.

Customers can choose from locally

made décor for Thanksgiving and

Christmas, tree ornaments, centerpieces,

hand-beaded charcuterie sets, felted toys,

greeting cards, crocheted animals, wooden

walking sticks, as well handcrafted jewelry,

hats, scarves, purses, and other fashion

accessories.

The 2023 Sugarplum Artisan Marketplace

opens at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9 and

closes Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.

In addition to providing a showcase opportunity

for local artisans, the Upper St.

Clair League for the Arts provides college

scholarships for Upper St. Clair residents

majoring in art-related fields. n

For shop hours and other details, visit on

Facebook: Upper St. Clair League for the Arts.


Spring Break in Canada

Some head south, but USC’s Beitler,

Krugh, and Hull families decided to take a trip

to Whistler, British Columbia for their spring break.

The group enjoyed the twin mountains of Whistler and

Blackcomb and rode the Peak 2 Peak Gondola that joined the

two mountains. The families skied for five days, and all agreed

that there was so much terrain to ski that they could have skied many

more days had they stayed longer. Lots of meals were enjoyed together in

Whistler Village, along with a visit to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre to

learn about two First Nations. n

The Beitler and Krugh families pose with the

spring issue of TODAY Magazine, bringing a

little bit of USC to Canada.

(l/r) Joey Krugh, Cami Hull, Ethan Hull, Stephanie Hull, Blaise Hull, John

Krugh, Sonia Krugh, Reed Krugh, Matt Beiter, Josh Beitler, Rich Beitler, and

Sarah Beitler in beautiful Whistler, B.C.

TODAY spent time this summer on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Were you

one of the many USC residents we saw there? Wherever your travels

took you this year, we hope it was a time to relax and recharge!

A Trip to Virginia

TODAY was seen at Yorktown Battlefield, part of the Colonial

National Historic Park in Virginia. At Yorktown in the fall of

1781, General George Washington, with allied American and

French forces, besieged General Charles Lord Cornwallis’s

British army. On October 19, Cornwallis surrendered, effectively

ending the war and ensuring independence. n

Instructions for Traveling with TODAY

Read the following criteria to find out how to submit information.

• Clear, close-up digital photo of USC resident(s) holding his or her TODAY

magazine.

• Attach jpg (at least 300 dpi) and send via email, including required information

(see below) in the body of the email.

• List name(s) of resident(s), group, and specific photo location, and objective of

visit (leisure, volunteer, career, etc.) or stay-at-home project.

• Include email address or phone number should further contact be necessary.

• Email information to usctoday@usctoday.org, with “TODAY” listed in subject line.

Note: Submitted photos and information for this feature section will

remain on file for upcoming editions until published.


2023 2024 Season!

Henry Winkler

Actor, Producer, Director,

Best-Selling Author

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Series Membership

$185 General Admission

$210 Reserved Seating

Ticket Information

Lynsey Addario

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Photojournalist

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Ruth Reichl

James Beard Award-Winning Writer,

Culinary Icon

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Kobie Boykins

NASA Lead Principal Engineer

Visit our website at

www.townhallsouth.org

or email us at:

townhallsouth@gmail.com

Lectures

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Upper St. Clair

High School Theater

Post-Lecture Luncheon

at St. Clair Country Club

by reservation only

THANK YOU

to our sponsors

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Douglas Brinkley

American Historian, Best-Selling Author,

CNN Presidential Historian

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

TownHallSouth.org

Follow us on Social Media:

facebook.com/townhallsouth

instagram.com/townhallsouth


Doors of Upper St. Clair—

Lacrosse Edition

USC Boys’ Lacrosse was happy to share

photos of the door signs celebrating their team

with TODAY!

We encourage you to send a photo of your

favorite doors in Upper St. Clair—whether it’s

your student-athlete’s door sign or a neighbor’s

welcoming entry. n

To be included in TODAY’s Doors of USC feature,

email your original, high-resolution digital photo of

at least 300 dpi, along with a brief description in the

body of the email, to usctoday@usctoday.org, with

“USC Doors” in the subject line.

MT. LEBANON

RECREATION CENTER

ATTENTION UPPER ST. CLAIR RESIDENTS

Skate With Us at the

MT. LEBANON RECREATION CENTER

Open Year Round with Something for Everyone

Friday Night Teen skate

(begins Sept. 8) from 7:40 - 10pm.

Learn-to-Skate Classes/ Beginner &

Intermediate Hockey Clinics

Youth Developmental &

Adult Hockey Leagues

Public Skating

Figure Skating Sessions Daily

Adult Skating & Instructional Programs

Broomball

Birthday Party Packages

Call the Recreation Center at

412-561-4363 for times and rates

Or visit us online at www.mtlebanon.org

724-330-4772

• Complete Tree Care Services • Quality Pruning

• Tree & Shrub Fertilization • Lawn Care Services

• Insect & Disease Management

• Landscape Maintenance & Planting

• ISA Certified Arborists • Residential/Commercial

South Pittsburgh • www.davey.com


Fall 2023

Affordable Decks & Additions LLC. ............................................................. 7

Angelo Associates, Inc. ............................................................................ 59

Arbor Tree Specialists, Inc. ......................................................................... 9

Ardolino’s .................................................................................................. 9

Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh.................................................................. 74

* Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, The Preferred Realty, Rt. 19, South ..... 3

* Calabro Tire & Auto Service ..................................................................... 13

* Coldwell Banker–Lynn Dempsey ............................................................. 53

Coldwell Banker–Dora Rudick ................................................................. 26

Coldwell Banker–Jonette Shanahan ....................................................... 52

* Coldwell Banker–South Hills Office ............................. Outside Back Cover

Davey Tree and Lawn Care ...................................................................... 87

Direct Physiotherapy ............................................................................... 46

* Extended Day Services ............................................................................ 74

Friendship Village ................................................................................... 50

George Girty Landscape Design .............................................................. 53

* Howard Hanna–Diane Horvath ............................................................... 59

* Howard Hanna–USC Office ............................................ Inside Front Cover

Advertiser Index

twpusc.org/usctoday

McQueen Building Company ................................................................. 15

Mister Sewer ........................................................................................... 65

Mt. Lebanon Awning ................................................................................. 7

* Mt. Lebanon Recreation .......................................................................... 87

* Pinebridge Commons ............................................................................. 18

Pittsburgh Junk Company ...................................................................... 57

Providence Point/Baptist Homes ............................................................ 52

RE/MAX Select Realty-Amanda Walton ................................................... 23

Recon Brewing ........................................................................................ 13

Restore Hyper Wellness ............................................................ Front Cover

* Rusmur Floors ................................................................. Inside Back Cover

* Scott Bros. Windows & Doors .................................................................... 7

* Sesame Gourmet .................................................................................... 53

South Hills Endoscopy Center ....................................................................1

South Hills Junior Orchestra (SHJO) ....................................................... 81

South Regional Catholic Elementary Schools ......................................... 74

Southwest Gastroenterology Associates ................................................... 5

* St. Clair Health .................................................................................... 2, 78

We appreciate our advertisers

for their support of our community magazine!

Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh ................................... 49

Joseph Hegedus, LLC. ............................................................................. 49

Kathy’s Music LLC. ................................................................................... 75

* Keller Williams–Sandy and Marshall Goldstein ...................................... 29

* Kerr Family and Cosmetic Dentistry ........................................................ 18

KSG Orthodontics ................................................................................... 48

Lewis Music Studio ................................................................................. 74

* Manalo, Larry E., DMD ............................................................................ 18

Let

guide you in 2023 with

great ad placement.

Upcoming winter guides

include Holiday and

Life Planning

Place your ad

in our community’s go-to publication.

Contact 412-833-1600, x2284.

*The above advertisers, who are advertising in this issue,

have contributed their financial support for a

minimum of 58 issues.

* State Farm Insurance–Cindy Brophy ....................................................... 19

Strong Foundations Psychological Associates ......................................... 47

* Thomas Dance Studio ............................................................................ 75

Three Rivers Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ........................................... 51

* Troy Orthodontics .................................................................................... 18

* Washington Health System .................................................................... 49

* Wellington Real Estate ............................................................................ 58

412-833-1600 x 2284 | usctoday@usctoday.org | twpusc.org/usctoday

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY, the award-winning, official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St. Clair




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