hoods better to tell their stories than - Allegheny West Magazine

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Common Sense Measures Can Aid Military Families BY STATE REP. MATTHEW SMITH Military families are often the unsung heroes behind our nation’s military personnel. They are frequently single parents while their spouse is deployed, often for long stretches of time. In addition to holding the family together and maintaining stability during deployments, they also deal with the added challenge of frequent relocations to a new state, starting over in an unfamiliar town. Spouses often have to find a new job to help support the family, but transferring or obtaining a new professional license can prove time-consuming and costly, causing delays in employment and preventing the utilization of valuable skills in the workplace. The transfer of professional licenses too often becomes cumbersome to the point where military spouses abandon their careers. Military families take on the challenges of everyday life head-on. Why? Because it is what they do. It is part of the call to serve and they wouldn’t have it any other way. But some aspects of life for military families should not be so difficult, especially when we can provide solutions. I recently introduced legislation aimed at easing the transfer of professional licenses for military spouses. My House Bill 2558, also known as the Military Spouse License Portability Act, would allow military spouses to move more rapidly and efficiently into the workforce by providing a streamlined process in obtaining the transfer of their professional licenses into Pennsylvania. My proposal is the only one of its kind currently before the Pennsylvania General Assembly. I recently sent a letter to the chair of the Professional Licensure Committee respectfully requesting immediate action on this important legislation for our military families. We owe it to these families, who already sacrifice so much, to provide an easier method for obtaining a professional license while upholding Pennsylvania’s professional standards. Accountants, nurses, social workers, and real estate agents are just a few of the professionals who would benefit from being able to more quickly transition and obtain a job in a new state. Since February of this year, a dozen states have enacted laws on this topic, bringing the total number to 23. It is important that we join the growing number of states working to reduce any barriers to employment for military spouses. I’m encouraged by the bipartisan interest and support this bill has received thus far and look forward to swift action. 36 Allegheny West Magazine September/October 2012 STATE REP. NICK KOTIK 1004 Fifth Ave. Coraopolis PA 15108 (412) 264-4260 STATE REP. DANIEL DEASY 436 South Main Street Pittsburgh, PA 15220 (412) 928-9514 www.pahouse.com/Deasy STATE REP. MARK MUSTIO 1009 Beaver Grade Road Moon Township, PA 15108 (412) 262-3780 www.repmustio.com STATE REP. MATTHEW SMITH 319 Castle Shannon Blvd. PIttsburgh PA 15234 (412) 571-2169 STATE SEN. WAYNE FONTANA 524 Pine Hollow Rd. Kennedy Twp., PA 15136 (412) 331-1208 fontana@pasenate.com www.senatorfontana.com OFFICE OF STATE SEN. JOHN PIPPY 1009 Beaver Grade Road Moon Township, PA 15108 (412) 262-2260 www.senatorpippy.com
Julia Havko Receives Girl Scout Gold Award Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania was honored to present Julia Havko with the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest recognition for achievement in Girl Scouting. The Gold Award Ceremony took place at the Cranberry Marriott in May. Julia, daughter of Jim and Christine Havko, was a 2011 graduate from Montour High School and also served in a leadership position as president for Academic Games. Julia was involved in NHS, Interact, SADD, and the Math Team. She was also a member of the bowling team. She is currently attending Saint Francis University in Loretto, majoring in chemistry and biology, with mathematics and physics minors. Her goal, after obtaining her B.S. degrees, is to further her education to become a veterinarian. As a Girl Scout member for more than 13 years, Julia was a Girl Scout Ambassador of Troop 50395 and was supported in her Gold Award by her parents; Girl Scout leader, Della Wozniak; and project advisors, Margie Freehling and Mardelle Kopnicky. Julia continues to assist with her two younger sisters’ troops, and she has enrolled to be a lifetime member of Girl Scouts. Julia’s Gold Award project began in January 2011 and was completed in August 2011. Her project was to help Harrison Hills Park educate the children of the community about local birds and their wingspans. With NEW IN TOWN DCI Career Institute this project, she hoped to give the children of Harrison Hills a quick andeasy way to learn about some of the birds they might see in their neighborhood, as well as show them the wingspans, through a concrete, hands-on display. She chose to undertake this project because no easily accessible records about the birds that live in and near Harrison Hills Park were available. She addressed the issue by researching birds of western Pennsylvania to discover the habitats where each species might be found, their diets, the number and color of the eggs, average size and weight of the birds, and the lifespan and wingspan of each species. After collecting this information, she created cards for 42 different species of birds that can be seen in western Pennsylvania. On one side is a picture of the bird. The other side contains the facts about each type of bird. Next, the cards were laminated, and grommets were added to provide durability. Julia initially presented her project to a group of incoming kindergarten students. She used everyday items, such as a calculator, cookie sheet, towel, ruler, and yardstick, to concretely show the children the wingspans of the different species. The children named some birds they knew and discussed what the birds might eat, and where they might be seen. STORY AND PHOTO SUBMITTED DCI Career Institute (“DCI”) has been providing career education training for individuals in this area for the past 27 years, since 1985. This summer, DCI expanded to two campus locations when it opened a brand new 10,000-square-foot campus in the Penn Center West office complex (Building 3, 4 th Floor) off Campbell’s Run Road in Robinson Township (halfway between the airport and downtown Pittsburgh). DCI’s existing campus is located in the Beaver Valley Mall in Monaca. It is a state licensed, nationally-accredited institution that offers programs in Medical Assisting, Massage Therapy, Business Information, and Computer Networking. Additionally, DCI offers CEH courses for Massage Therapy. Program offerings vary depending on campus location. DCI’s career programs are designed to train individuals in just nine months with day or evening sessions available. Experienced faculty and staff partner with students as they progress throughout their program and ultimately assist them in job search efforts. DCI’s track record in placing graduates has been quite successful – even in the recent challenging economy. In fact, our average job placement rate in 2011 was 78% (as reported to the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training). Please check DCI out on the web at www.dci.edu, or on Facebook. Call the Monaca location at (724) 728-0260, or the Robinson location at (412) 265-1024. September/October 2012 www.alleghenywestmagazine.com 37
Page 3 and 4: “GOOD NEWS ALWAYS, MAILED & DELIV
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Page 9 and 10: Golf Outings Fifth Annual Bradley C
Page 13 and 14: Mark Your Calendars . . . The Alleg
Page 19 and 20: Your Schools St. Malachy Cross Coun
Page 21 and 22: Introducing the School Check IN Pro
Page 23 and 24: 2003 Montour Grad 3 time high schoo
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