SPRING 2024 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

Spring 2024 Guides

Celebration

Home Improvement

Luxury Residential Design & Construction

twpusc.org/usctoday

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

Chris Longenecker

Marie Mageras

Kathy McCloskey

Renee Ringer

Shannon Rosenberry

Jen Schalk

Beth Thomas

Suzy Voss

Jane York

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. • Theresa Schuerle, D.O. • Bridger Clarke, M.D.

MARCH IS

COLON CANCER

AWARENESS

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MAKE YOUR

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TODAY.

No referrals necessary.

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You may be eligible for your screening colonoscopy at age 45.

Check with your insurance carrier to confirm coverage.

Our practice is committed to providing state-of-the-art care to our patients, treating

all gastrointestinal problems and screenings through a full range of diagnostic and

therapeutic options. All of our physicians are board certified in Gastroenterology.

Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer and screening for colorectal

cancer can save your life. The South Hills Endoscopy Center is a state-of-the-art

facility providing colonoscopy and upper endoscopy screenings and services.

Our medical staff and office personnel strive to work as a team to provide you with

quality medical services in a pleasant and professional atmosphere.

2589 Boyce Plaza Road

Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

412-838-0400

2589 Boyce Plaza Road


412-838-0400

100 Stoops Drive, Suite 280

Monongahela, PA 15063

412-232-8104

Spring 2024 • Volume 30 • Issue 1

twpusc.org/usctoday • usctoday@usctoday.org

16 From the Mouths of Babes

Features &

Around the

Township

13 TODAY Celebrates 30 Years

14 Medallion Ball Honorees

22 Abridged Perception

72 Hope in the South Hills

Township

48 Department of Finance 2024

Budget Highlights

51 Township Flood Services and

Protection

58 Upper St. Clair is Hiring

59 New Director of Recreation

and Leisure Services

38 Courtyard Crew Grows at Boyce

52 Things to Know About Firefighting and

the USCVFD

School District

25 School District Annual Report

34 Focusing on Financial Literacy

and Career Readiness

36 Author Visits Baker and

Streams

40 #HaveYouHeard?

Guides/Directories

10 Celebration

23 Pinebridge Commons

64 Home Improvement

Photo Ops

62 United Senior Citizens

63 2023 Veterans Day

Observance

The spring cover of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

is sponsored by McQueen Building Company.

To discover what they learned while renovating

their own home, see the article on pages eight

and nine.

74 Horses with Hope Saddles Up

for Spring

You can purchase a TODAY cover, too!

Contact usctoday@usctoday.org for

specifications and rates.

2 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY Spring 2024

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Located in the heart of the South Hills!

Specializing in customized care for

the whole family!

Call or text us today to set up your consultation!

Remember the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all

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Spring 2024 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY 3

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

Summer 2024 edition includes

Home & Garden and

Summer Activites

Deadlines:

Articles – March 7

Advertising – March 11

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 30 years

of our publication.

The 117th 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

Alex Pepke, Township Associate Editor

AnneMarie Kopach, School District

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 Alex Pepke 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 412-851-2851.

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 summer 2024 issue and will be published

in May 2024. 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: 412-286-1214

Advertising Information

Office Manager Sarah Beitler

phone: 412-286-1363

fax: 412-851-2592

Ad file submission: dclark@usctoday.org

Board of School Directors

Township Board of Commissioners

Jennifer A. Schnore, President

Daniel R. Paoly, President, At Large

Dr. Danielle Wetzel, Vice President Dante R. Plutko, Jr., Vice President, Ward 1

Barbara L. Bolas Pamela L. Enck, Ward 2

Dr. Daphna Gans Jason H. Graves, Ward 3

Kelly P. Hanna Todd D. Burlingame, Ward 4

Justin Lamber Ronald J. Pardini, Ward 5

Michael R. Mascaro

Richard I. Thomas, At Large

Angela B. Petersen

Hallie H. Snyder

Thank you to our volunteer contributors this issue:

Judge Ronald Arnoni, Cindy Brophy, Lindsay Dill,

Carolyn Jones Friedrich, Chris Gmiter, Caleb Guarino

(intern & YWG), Miriam Gutensohn (intern & YWG),

Ted Hale, Lauren Iannacchione, Dr. Mohammed Khan,

Jay Lynch, Geoff and Christine McQueen, Rep. Natalie

Mihalek, Rep. Dan Miller, Keith Morse, Jim O’Brien,

Alex Pepke, Jim Render, Adina Schiffman, Mary

Lynne Spazok, Tina Vojtko, Tom Yochum and Maggie

Zangara.

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 117th 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: 412-851-2851

Fax: 412-851-2592

Email: usctoday@usctoday.org

Township : 412-831-9000

School District: 412-833-1600

Printed by Freeport Press

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Design by DMC Design, 412-824-7844

Copyright © 1994–2024. All rights reserved.


WHERE YOU'RE

MORE THAN

A PATIENT

Bob, Scott Township

Man On A Mission

21,186 Miles and Counting

Hip Replacement Recipient

stclair.org

A Spring Note From the Publishers

Matthew R. Serakowski

Dr. John T. Rozzo

Welcome to 2024 and the spring issue of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY! The

new year marks a major milestone for TODAY as we celebrate three decades

as the official publication of the School District and Township of Upper St.

Clair. To learn more about TODAY’s history and be part of the 30-year fun,

be sure to turn to page 13.

Through the years, one of the magazine’s greatest assets has been our

volunteer writers, from the young to the young-at-heart. This issue contains a

sampling of their informative and entertaining stories, including a showcase

of Medallion Ball honorees, news about a local podcaster, confusion about

a local marketing tool and much more.

The School District section (pages 24–43) includes its eight-page annual

report, with information about the school community, statistics, budgets

and achievements. Also included in this section is an article about the CAPS

course being offered at Boyce Middle School that focuses on financial and

career readiness. While not everyone may have children in the District’s

schools, we can all appreciate how our schools benefit our community.

The Township section (pages 46–63) leads off with the Department of

Finance’s 2024 Budget Highlights, with additional information on the C&RC

fund, real estate tax notices and the sanitary sewer fund. Also included in

this section is an article about flood services and protection, which offers

advice on how to deal with a flood. Learn more about firefighting by reading

the USCVFD’s article. Make sure to check out the offerings at the library

and C&RC — your calendar will be filled in no time!

If there is something you would like to see featured in a future issue of

TODAY, let us know! For 30 years, this publication has been used to communicate

with our residents, and we hope to continue celebrating the people

who call Upper St. Clair home for many more years to come.

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Matthew R. Serakowski

Township Manager

Dr. John T. Rozzo

Superintendent of Schools

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


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Walking in

Our Clients’

Shoes

Four Big Things

We Learned from

Our Personal Home

Renovation.

Geoff and Christine McQueen

We’ve spent years helping people

achieve their dream homes, and last year

it was our turn. We had the fun — and

challenging opportunity — to renovate our

own home. You might think for a couple

who runs their own design/build firm, that

would be easy.

But a home renovation, even when you’re thrilled to be

improving your space, isn’t easy. The personal space where

you’re living your life and raising your kids is unavoidably

disrupted. Your home is opened up to craftsmen, noise, dust

and those inevitable moments where things don’t go exactly

as planned.

We’ve always had empathy for our clients and focus

on smoothly and transparently walking them through the

whole process. But after spending many months being a

client ourselves, we’re now bringing a whole new level of

understanding and customer service to our company. We’ve

established new positions so that the families who choose to

work with us have the easiest, best experience possible!

Here’s what we’ve learned from our personal deep dive into

the client experience:

1. We give clients even more time to make design

decisions. In the past, we’ve often asked clients to make all

their design decisions in just a few meetings. It’s practical,

helps the project move along faster and it could sound like

fun to plan an entire space during one or two creative sessions.


We don’t do that anymore, because no matter how many samples and photos you

look at and how much expert advice you get, it’s hard to select light fixtures that go

with the faucet and also go with the hardware and look great with the countertops

and floor stain you’ve chosen — all at once.

When a client tries to do that, their stress level rises. They’re thinking, “OK, this

is a big investment. We’re going to do this one time. We want to do it right so that we

love it for years to come.” We get that, now more than ever. So, we’ve learned to give

our clients enough time to get comfortable with all the design choices they make.

We give them the grace and space to choose carefully — and to delay some

choices or change their minds during the early part of the process.

2. We help our clients talk to us. We’ve always sought feedback throughout

each project. But, until we became the client, we didn’t realize how hard it can be

to say, “this tile doesn’t look right” or

“this isn’t coming out quite the way I

expected.” Our clients are wonderful

people. When things aren’t going

perfectly on a project, it can be

uncomfortable for them to say that.

So, we’re more proactive now. We

ask more questions, and we’ve created

two new positions: a director of

pre-construction (with a construction

and design background) and a

director of construction, whose

entire job is customer service. When

he regularly checks in with a client,

they’re comfortable speaking freely.

He’s not the project manager, so

they’re not offending the person

who comes into their house every

day when giving honest feedback.

Our renovation experience even

inspired us to make a few changes

in the subcontractors we work with,

so that we know everyone connected

with our jobs brings the same respect

for clients and the same precision

and effort that we do. We’re a growing company, so the two of us can’t be

everywhere. That means it’s imperative that we hire and work with the absolute

best in town and not settle for anything less.

In our pursuit of finishing stronger

than we started, we remain humbled

by the opportunities to learn, grow

and deliver exceptional results for

our clients in every step of their home

transformation journey. n

3. We have more empathy than ever. We’ve always told clients that

renovation projects can be stressful. But we discovered how emotional it can

truly be when we did it ourselves. Even if you’re really excited about how

beautiful your home will look in the end, there are plenty of challenging

moments along the way.

We chose to move out temporarily, just like a percentage of our clients do

during a big project. But there was still a period of time when we were back

in our home as the job was winding down. It’s tough, and living through that

process helped us add a layer of empathy to everything we do.

4. The way the job ends is what the client will remember. This may be

the biggest piece of the puzzle. We learned how important it is to manage the

clients’ expectations and communicate — even over-communicate — all the

way through to the end of a job.

Here’s why: Your job will be beautiful. Most of the project may have gone

really well. But as a project wraps up, those final moments will stay with the

homeowner.

To learn more, visit mcqueenbuildingcompany.com or

visit our social channels to view our latest projects.

Photography: Erin Kelly


CELEBRATION

Dr. Mohammed Khan

DDS, MD, USC Parent

(724) 745-3333

1200 Ashwood Dr #1204, Canonsburg, PA 15317

3riversoralsurgery.com

• Dental Implants

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• Serving Upper St. Clair &

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• Most Insurances Accepted

Complimentary

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Consultation by

Mentioning this Ad

Dental Implants Are Quick, Easy and Affordable

Dr. Mohammed Khan, DDS, MD, USC resident and parent

Get the smile of your dreams in as little as two to

four weeks! As you look forward to upcoming special celebrations,

it is natural to think about how your smile will look.

If you have missing, broken or damaged teeth, you may be

very worried about smiling and being photographed. Are you

ready to give a big smile? If not, consider dental implants.

Today’s dental implants are much different than they were

a few years ago, and thanks to modern technology, getting

implants is quicker and easier than it has ever been. They are

the best option for replacing missing or severely damaged

teeth as they are exceptionally durable and function just like

your original teeth. And with the beautiful results, you will

never be self-conscious about your smile again.

Dental implants are placed in the bone using a relatively

pain-free procedure in the oral surgeon’s office. The surgeon

will give the bones and gum a brief time to heal,

and many patients receive temporary replacement

teeth the same day that the implant is

placed. After healing, your oral surgeon attaches

an abutment to the implant; then your dentist attaches

a custom crown to replace the tooth. The

entire implant process usually takes only about

two to three appointments after any extractions.

However, after your initial consultation, the doctor will map out

a clear process and the exact timing varies based on your needs.

For patients who need to replace many teeth, have more severe

gum disease or have significant bone loss, All-On-X implants are

a great option. All-On-X implants, also known as a Full Arch

Restoration, involve the placement of multiple dental implants

on each jaw. Then a complete set of permanent looking and feeling

replacement teeth are attached

at these secure points. With these

implants, you do not need to worry

about your artificial teeth falling

out, causing gum pain, pinching

or other challenges associated with

traditional full dentures.

Marc before

Marc after


CELEBRATION

Implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth, as they are

exceptionally durable. They are worth the extra visit to get such

a beautiful result that functions just like your original teeth. Our

patients rave about how natural they look and love their results.

Some patients worry about the cost of implants. However, implants

have become more affordable due to the latest technology,

and many insurance plans offer partial coverage towards implant

treatment plans. After your initial consultation, our team can

submit claims to your insurance for pre-authorization, and then

provide you with detailed costs and coverage. Also, our practice

offers two types of financing that can provide you with affordable

payment plans. These simple

finance options can help you get

the treatment you need now, with

low monthly payments.

Today’s dental implants are

quick, easy and affordable. Let

Three Rivers Oral and Maxillofacial

Surgery in Canonsburg give you the

smile you deserve! n

To learn more about implants, see patient videos and more,

visit 3riversoralsurgery.com/dental-implants-pittsburgh/

or scan the QR code. See ad on page 10.

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CELEBRATION

Celebrating a Child’s Imagination

Lauren Iannacchione, Owner, Really Dough

Let’s take a moment to celebrate imagination. Whether your

children are young or old, we can all relate to this magical ability children

have to turn something ordinary into something extraordinary. This ability

happens during free play. In today’s busy, high-tech world, it’s easy to

replace free play with phones, tablets, televisions and computers. While

these technologies can have great benefits, they may not be providing

our children with some valuable skills.

We aspire for our children to be critical thinkers, problem solvers,

effective decision makers and show empathy towards others. These

qualities cannot be given to our children, they must be learned. Play is

the best time for our children to learn.

How can a child learn these qualities during free play? When a child

is given the independence to play how they see fit, they are provided with

a chance to learn about themselves and their environment. The more

free play a child has, the more exposure they have to new situations.

Using their previous experiences as a guide, they can overcome obstacles

that arise during new situations. These experiences can produce critical

thinking skills, problem solving abilities, effective decision making

and self-confidence. When free play occurs in groups of two or more,

children can develop social skills and learn to identify the emotions of

others. This awareness of other’s feelings can lead to empathy.

Imagination is the foundation of free play. Free play can benefit children’s

development by learning about themselves, how to interact with

others and building essential skills. Celebrating children’s imagination

by encouraging free play is a gift to us all. n

See ad on page 11.


YEARS

TODAY

Celebrates

30 Years

of Publication

TODAY staff

The year was 1994. Steven Spielberg won his first Oscar for “Schindler’s List,”

Jeff Bezos founded Amazon, the sitcom “Friends” premiered and the first issue of

UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY was published!

Visionary leaders, including former Superintendent of Schools Dr. William Pope and

former Township Manager Douglas Watkins, took the initial risk of starting the TODAY

project, sharing in partnership the resources required to produce such a meaningful

communication outlet for its residents.

Most community publications are managed by an outside for-profit organization or

the municipal authority, but TODAY was a collaborative effort between the Township and

School District to promote and recognize those who live and work here. The magazine

is mostly funded by local businesses, individual professionals and associations who

show their loyalty and offer their support for USC and its residents. TODAY encourages

you to support these businesses and organizations who care so much

about our community.

For three decades, this publication has remained steadfast to its

original mission of providing its residents with quality information,

accomplishing this with dedicated volunteers. Hundreds of volunteers

— ages five to over 80, including writers, poets, artists and photographers

— have contributed to TODAY in various ways, producing

stories and visuals that inform, entertain and often touch our hearts.

They are truly the lifeblood of this publication!

As TODAY celebrates its 30th anniversary, we’d like you, our readers,

to join in the celebration, too! Watch for information in this and

future issues about ways to join us as we commemorate this special

milestone. n

The following individuals have

served TODAY as editors-in-chief,

managing editors, associate editors,

advertising and marketing executives,

office managers, proofreaders, photographers,

graphic designers and steering

committee members. Their dedication

and countless hours of hard work show

in each and every issue of the magazine.

Erin Gibson Allen, Nancy Barnard,

Nancy Beaulieu, Sarah Beitler, Harla

Brown, Laurie Buker, Kathy Christie,

Dorothy Clark, Colleen DeMarco, Lynn

Dempsey, Susan Depe, Cherie Dixon,

Trish Donlon, Linda Dudzinski, Paul

Fox, Alison Hess, Neena Jacob-John,

Cindy Kane, Terry Kish, AnneMarie

Kopach, Mark Mansfield, Teri McMinn,

Dawn McQuillen, Tina Mongomery,

Mary Etta Nader, Alex Pepke, Cathie

Scudiero, Kathleen Slenchak, Ginny

Stempkowski, Julie Sweet, Lauren

Trocano, Kerry Turner, Suzanne Vernon,

Laura Whitcomb and Margaret Yerkes.

Are you celebrating your 30th birthday this year?

Did you get married in 1994?

Finally shoot 30 on nine-holes at the golf course?

TODAY wants to recognize your special “30” events

as we celebrate our 30th anniversary! Email a brief

description about what you are celebrating this year in

the body of the email to usctoday@usctoday.org, with

“Celebrating 30” in the subject line. Original, high-resolution

digital photos of at least 300 dpi are also welcome!


Stellar Senior Awardees

Congratulations to the

Oakland Catholic and Upper St.

Clair High School seniors who

merited the St. Joan of ARC award

at the 60th Medallion Ball, sponsored

annually by St. Lucy’s Auxiliary to the

Blind. Embracing opportunities, each

awardee realized more than 150 hours of community service.

Their stellar leadership is all about sacrifice. During their journey,

even the smallest task made an authentic difference to the lives

of people and organizations in need. You do not have to bring

about world peace to change someone’s life.

Honorees value each person as unique within their volunteer

community. The following are but a few of the organizations where

honorees volunteered this year.

The Resurrection Parish Religious Education for Youth

welcomes children and teens, including those with Autism

Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Intellectual or Developmental

Disabilities (IDD) and Down Syndrome. Faith formation includes

sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Communion

and Confirmation.

The South Hills Splash Team, Pittsburgh Elite Aquatics, welcomes

Special Olympians (age 7 and up). Its mission statement

is: “To provide year-round sports training and competition in

a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with

intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to

develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and

participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their

families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”

To volunteer is a refreshing escape from day-to-day routines. In

2024, share your most valuable skills: compassion, an open mind

and willingness to do whatever. Why not connect with an act of

kindness? An elderly or housebound neighbor certainly would

appreciate festive greeting cards. Need more exercise? Enhancing

a green space affords a variety of health benefits by promoting

physical activity, appreciating Mother Nature and the occasion

of community connection. Imagine a world where everyone

contributes to the greater good. How different our world would

be. Embrace 2024 with an open heart and fierce spirit!

TODAY applauds these 15 impressive 2023 Medallion

Honorees. Superstar service with a smile; these ladies go the

extra mile. Championing that success are loving families, friends,

educators, clerics and the inclusive community of Upper St. Clair.

Honoree escorts, in alphabetical order, included Greg

Boughner, Whitten Burns, George Carnes, Andrew Chakos, Bryan

Deep, Francis Funaro, Nathaniel Grabowski, Ian Kirk, Adam

Levin, Hunter Maher, William Manning, Luke McDonough, Evan

Morris, John Tripodes and Andrew Wallander. n

Article courtesy of Mary Lynne Spazok. Since 1997, Mary Lynne has

proudly showcased hundreds of Medallion Ball honorees throughout the

pages of UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY. We thank her for her continued

commitment to this endeavor. Photos generously provided by Maxine

McGough of Ron Richards Photography.

Isabella Allsopp Grace Atencio Julia Cedar Willow Conley Gabrielle Deep

Meghan Ghise Chloe Kerestesi Janelle Knierim Katerina Kucherawy Tomasina Manning

Giovanna Marasco Lydia Rhodes Katherine Smith Evangeline Sullivan Ella Zegarelli


USC Podcaster Recruits Local Talent

Frank and Adina Schiffman

(photo by Arindam Sen)

After a day of marketing water

treatment chemicals for a Fortune 500

company, Frank Schiffman enters his

Wellington Woods recording studio (formerly

his third-floor closet) to pursue a

passion, chronicling his most memorable

life experiences through podcasting. Seated

in front of a microphone, he transforms

ironic, humorous and relatable short

stories into a podcast series entitled “Out-

Of-Place.” Each story bursts to life as

Frank narrates, imitating character voices

and spicing scenes with vivid background

music and sound effects.

Less than three years ago, Schiffman

knew nothing about using software for

recording his stories or posting them on

platforms for listeners. Now, his stories

have been downloaded by his listeners

more than 3000 times! And he hopes to

increase that number.

“When I was a kid, I wanted to be an

entertainer, but never pursued it,” says

Schiffman. Instead, he found ways to

introduce his self-honed acting skills and

penchant for all things creative, while serving

his customers over a 45-year marketing

career. He’s written, produced and acted

in training films and one-man live training

shows, as well as being a motivational

speaker.

“Once I placed an elephant outside of

Jacob Javits Center in New York City to

promote a new PPG eyeglass lens product

as a Big Idea. I almost got arrested! I’m a

showman at heart,” he adds.

Josh McIntyre had a role in “Not by Design.”

Telling tales about his unusual life

events comes naturally to this native

Pittsburgher. “I am not one of those guys

who tells the same scenario over and over

again. At least not yet,” he laughingly

shares. “I like to push the envelope, doing

things I think are unconventional, effective

and memorable.”

After Schiffman recorded his first

several episodes as a soloist, mimicking

accents, expressions and mannerisms to

differentiate all of the stories’ characters,

he realized it was time to incorporate additional

voices. And where better to find

new talent than his own backyard of Upper

St. Clair!

John Beggy, Tom DeSantis, David Floyd,

Tom Higgins, Gary Hoyson, Pedro Maiz,

Kristen and Josh McIntyre, Dave Sirota and

Christine Waller are just the beginning of

USC Out-of-Place’s podcast participants.

For the antidotes of Schiffman’s childhood

Tom DeSantis was featured in “Don’t Judge a

Man by His Stutter” and “Go Fly a Kite.”

years, younger residents Grayson Lepley,

Emery McIntyre, Violet Regan, Cody

Schroeck, Max Vestel and the kids of USC’s

Wellington Woods neighborhood also had

their roles.

Whose voices can you expect to hear

from next? Maybe yours! Contact Out-of-

Place’s marketing manager Adina Schiffman

(adina.schiffman@out-of-place.com) if you

would like to be in

a future recording.

Until then, happy

listening! n

The Out-Of-Place series currently has 12

stories available on Apple, Spotify, Google

and Stitcher podcast platforms.

You can also check out their website at

www.outofplacepodcasts.com.


From the Mouths of Babes

Tom Yochum

Beginnings are inherently difficult. The blank canvas,

the blinking cursor — adversaries that can threaten to overwhelm

even the most seasoned artists. And yet new undertakings are

also, by nature, paradoxical, for anything is possible in what’s

unbegun. Such is the ambivalence that often surrounds New

Year’s resolutions; our renewed optimism against an attempt to

banish past defeats. This year will be different: notebooks filled,

passions explored and weight lost! Alas, the road to Weight

Watchers is paved with good intentions. Even the unassuming,

yet judgmental, dictionary directs us to regret on the path from

reflection to reinvention.

Well, I wasn’t going to succumb to old habits in 2024. There’d

be no laundry list of planned changes this year. Age (ahem, experience)

had brought wisdom, along with the desire to be in bed

by 11 p.m. on NYE. So, as I retired to my long winter’s nap that

evening, no visions of sugarplums (forbidden on keto!) danced in

my head, only a singular resolution: more time with the kids. And,

because, by law, my wife and I are largely responsible for their care

at all hours of the day, this was a resolution I’d be sure to keep.

In all sincerity, this was my true desire. Not mere time,

however; quality time! Board games, make believe, trips to the

museum. We’d go all in on creative play, a “new” concept meant

to encourage imagination and unplugged solutions to boredom.

It’s what used to be known as childhood, before the advent of

Nintendo and iPads. This year the Yochums had a new motto:

less FaceTime and more face time! We’re a few months in and I

can report some success, laced with a tinge of irony. How can I

record all my progress (or what my wife refers to as the cute things

they’re doing and saying) without constant access to my phone?

In any given week, I capture more moments of my kids than

exist of all four of my grandparents’ lives combined. And while

I share the occasional photo, I’ve never been inclined to post

those seemingly apocryphal musings that some claim their kids

have uttered. Maybe you’ve seen examples. If social media is to

be believed, inside every child is a tiny philosopher king ready to

tackle myriad social ills. Like, “My son just looked at me with tears

in his eyes and asked ‘Mommy, if something can be reused, why

do the big people call it trash?’” Really? Was this the same ecowarrior

who flushed 12 separate Legos down the toilet last week?

Or, “The news was on and my daughter literally screamed ‘why

did people vote for the mean man who does bad things!’” Literally,

that never happened. Maybe it did, who knows? I guess my

five-year-old just isn’t very civic-minded, because her thoughts

turn more toward unicorn poop than the Electoral College. Even

though my girls aren’t often opining on the Supreme Court, our

quality time together has yielded a few gems they’ve actually

said of late. If your own resolutions have stalled out, maybe their

words can offer some guidance. So here is some inspiration, from

the mouths of babes…

We’ll begin with subjects that, for them, are of endless fascination,

if not necessarily practice: health and hygiene. My

kindergartner recently told me that she had a “mold.” “A mold?”

I asked, somewhat worried about our occasionally lax adherence

to bath night. “Yes. Our whole family has molds. Daddy has a

LOT of molds!”

Dear reader, I shower daily…and almost always dry off! After

Spending more time with the kids in 2024

some follow-up questions, I learned that what I actually have a

lot of is moles! In truth, I already knew this, but it was so sweet

to get confirmation from our budding dermatologist. So, instead

of dismaying at the roadmap that is my back, I’m passing this on

to you as a reminder to get screened. If you call now, you can

probably snag their earliest available appointment in mid-August.

Perfect timing, really. Just imagine how moldy you’ll be after

spending all summer by the pool!

While you’re at it, make sure your semi-annual dental checkup

is booked. Upon asking my daughter one evening why she was

incessantly picking at her teeth, she casually replied, “I got some

groceries stuck in there.” Synonyms are wild in her world. Food =

groceries. You’ll of course want to brush and floss in anticipation

of your visit, but most of the professionals in our area are wellequipped

to handle plaque, tartar and grocery build-up.

With your teeth scrubbed and mold scraped, it’s a good time

of year to check in on your mental well-being. Our girls were

recently staying the night at my in-laws and began fighting over

use of the same toy. It’s inevitable, really, when each of them has

only but a precious 100 toys. Ellis, who had just turned three,

began to sob. My father-in-law reprimanded her sister, and then

advised her that crying doesn’t help. She caught her breath and

insisted, “Yes it do!” Fully recovered, and the offense seemingly

forgotten, it would appear she

was right. We’re conditioned

in adulthood to bottle our

emotions, but sometimes a

good cry “do help!” This is

the year to get in touch with

your feelings: at work, family

gatherings or maybe the

Target self-checkout after a

particularly long day. Unlocking

your toddler emotional

response can help weather all

manner of daily crises, from

being a “wittle” sleepy to getting

the exact thing you just

asked for.

Maybe this is the year for

Black and gold hair!

a makeover. Freshen up the


Let your creativity shine in 2024.

Frannie isn’t happy about

being on the NOT-ty List.

wardrobe. Try out a new ’do, or just change up the color. My

wife did this recently and her newfound blonde tresses did not

go unnoticed. I was at the pediatrician’s not long after and the

nurse complimented Frances’s chestnut locks.

“It’s the same as my dad’s and sister’s,” she replied. “Oh yeah,

what color is your mom’s?” asked the nurse. “Black and gold,”

Frannie revealed. “Wow, very Pittsburgh!” said the nurse, amused.

Fran felt the need for a full disclosure: “Well, first it was black

and then she painted it yellow.” You can turn heads and support

the local sports teams. New year, new Yinz!

Some of your goals might go beyond such skin, or follicle,

deep concerns. A new hobby, perhaps? Is there a budding artist

within? Don’t rush your genius. Frannie is only five, but manages

to moonlight as a life coach. She recently spied her sister

scribbling aimlessly on a piece of paper. After modeling Monet’s

“crayon within the lines” technique, she advised, “Always take

your time with masterpieces if you want them to look beautiful!”

Ellis was unfazed and seems to gravitate more toward Pollock.

Beauty is in the eye of the creator. Whatever your approach, let

your creativity shine in 2024!

If the calendar’s turn has you looking outward, pondering life’s

biggest mysteries, we’ve got you covered. Just after the new year,

we were driving past a church when the girls spotted workers

taking down the creche, which led them into a thought-provoking

spiritual discussion. A question arose as to where baby Jesus goes

after his birthday. Frannie took the lead: “He goes up to Heaven

with his friends.” Misunderstanding, Ellis was delighted with her

own interpretation, “Yes, he go up to Kevin, from ‘Home Alone!’”

So, try to be good to one another this year and it might lead toward

an eternal reward, one that involves all of your loved ones,

including those from Disney+. I can’t speak to what happens if

you aren’t nice.

Even the pre-resolution holidays brought a parade of malapropisms

that betray wisdom. When I told Ellis she needed to

write a letter to Santa, she replied, “OK, I do C!” Quite the literalist

interpretation. I’m not sure what the big guy would have done

with so little to go on, but in a “C” of long-winded missives you’d

think he’d appreciate her concision. Possibly a coloring book, but

maybe a car! Keep it simple this year and good things will follow.

Eliminate what’s not serving you. No one will have any idea what

you’re talking about, but at least you’ll stand out.

Amidst another squabble that’s been lost to time, Ellis informed

us that “Frannie on the NOT-ty List. That because she NOT

nice!” I couldn’t believe it! This was the same Frances who we’d

schooled on the idea that sharing is caring. This quickly became

one of her favorite maxims to trot out, but only when she wanted

something she didn’t have. Filtered through Frannie’s burgeoning

Pittsburgh-ese, it became “Remember: Sharon is Karen!” Her take

sounded more like a twisted soap opera reveal, but the sentiment

remained. Sharon is Karen — words to live by this year.

Don’t fret that you’re just getting these pearls of wisdom now.

As George Eliot once opined, “It’s never too late to be who you

might have been.” She undoubtedly meant March; even three

months in isn’t too late for a change. Or, just throw the resolutions

out the window and spend some time with the ones you love.

As winter break drew to a close, I was attempting to get the

girls back into school mode by explaining the change from 2023

to 2024. Satisfied that the tutorial had sunk in, I asked, “Okay

then, what year is it?”

“Happy New Year!” they both shouted.

Happy New Year, indeed. Hope it’s your best one yet. n

Happy New Year!


Coach’s

Corner

Separating Fact from Fiction with Mike Quealy

Coach Jim Render

Have you ever had a friend or colleague — or in my case,

a former player — that you thought you knew pretty well, only

to be surprised or shocked to learn of some of his achievements?

Furthermore, he thinks what he has experienced or accomplished

is rather routine, while you think it should be written about in

a magazine like TODAY. Keeping this in mind, I would like to

once again write about one of my former players who has made

us proud. For the record, Mike Quealy, USCHS class of 1990,

continues to make us proud.

Recently when Mike and I sat down for lunch to chat about

everything from football to the bridal dance at his wedding, he

told me of a “game” he’s played at introductory ice breaking sessions

with new friends or new work associates. When it is your

turn, you are instructed to reveal two true facts about yourself,

as well as one lie. At this point, the newcomers try and decipher

facts from fiction.

Naturally, I asked Mike for his contributions to the introductory

process. So, if you would like to play along, the following are

Mike’s entries. (A) I was a golf caddy for Willie Nelson when I was

12 years old, (B) I was a substitute drummer for the Pittsburgh

Symphony Orchestra when I was a senior in high school, and (C)

I hit a baseball off the green monster at Fenway Park in Boston

when I was a freshman at Harvard. By the way, I bat left-handed

which is opposite from the green monster. If you guessed A and

C to be factual truths and B to be a lie, you are well on your way

to knowing Mike Quealy.

I’ll continue with some additional facts and truths about Mike’s

athletic career at Upper St. Clair High School, but I might try to

sneak in a lie or an embellishment about Mike, the athlete. He

was a starter on our football team for two-and-a-half years, and

a starter on both the basketball and baseball teams during his

junior and senior years.

Upper St. Clair won the WPIAL football championship in both

1988 and 1989 (his junior and senior years). We won 15 games

in 1989, which included a Pennsylvania state championship. In

1988, Mike had 11 interceptions, a school record. In 1989, he had

eight more interceptions, including three in the WPIAL championship

game at Three Rivers Stadium. He also scored twice in

that game via a run and a pass reception.

Mike was the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Athlete of the Week following

that game. He thought I should mention that teammates

Doug Whaley and Kevin Orie were also athletes of the week, and

that classmates David Klasnick for hockey and Bobby Johnson for

soccer each earned that same honor during their senior year. Additionally,

Mike was selected a first-team All-Conference defensive

back in 1988 and 1989. Although he has many memories of his

football accomplishments, Mike said he fondly remembers sitting

on the field at Three Rivers Stadium soaking up the memories of

what had just taken place.

USC baseball coach, Jerry Malarkey, added that Mike was

All-Section as well as a Post-Gazette South All Star. He hit .393


Mike is a happy guy

following a

USC-winning game.

and led the team with 28 RBI and 29 runs scored. He and Kevin

Orie each had six home runs. Coach Malarkey stated that Mike

was elected a captain his senior season and that his quiet leadership

was evident in his strong work ethic and positive attitude.

He concluded that Mike was an exceptional teammate and that

it was an honor coaching him.

In regard to truth, lies and embellishment, the previous facts

about Mike’s high school accomplishments are all true! For the

record, he was also a member of the National Honor Society.

What does an outstanding student-athlete do after graduating

from a great college preparatory high school like Upper St. Clair?

If you are Mike Quealy, you head to an Ivy League institution for

another, even greater challenge. Mike was a freshman at Harvard

in the fall of 1990. Athletics were not a high priority, but he did

make contributions to both the baseball and football teams during

part of his four-year tenure. The championships he was accustomed

to at USC were not prevalent at Harvard. He remarked that

his tight group of friends, many of whom are now very successful,

were a big highlight of his time at Harvard.

Mike graduated with honors in the spring of 1994, moved

back to Pittsburgh and entered graduate school at Duquesne

University. As part of his graduate program at Duquesne, Mike

took a one-year internship teaching history at Mt. Lebanon High

School. Upon completing that internship, he secured a long-term

substitute position at his alma mater, Upper St. Clair High School,

for one semester. Although he was passionate about teaching

and working with students, Mike decided to embark on a career

change, due in part to the lack of available teaching opportunities.

He moved to North Carolina in 1998 to work for Okuma

America, a Japanese manufacturing company, as a consultant for

process improvement.

Seeing the expansion of the internet, Mike recognized the

growth potential in the information technology industry and made

The Quealy family (l/r) - Ben,

Melissa, Mike and Harper

Melissa and Mike

A family group photo taken after the WPIAL

championship in 1989. Jimbo is on the right.

another move, this time to Washington

D.C., to capitalize on that industry’s future

growth. Working as a program manager at

Verizon, Inc., Mike coordinated communication

for the federal government after

natural disasters and other emergencies.

Not long after Sept. 11, 2001, Mike began

running the external-facing website for the

Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA). After about eight years working

with Verizon, Mike took a job as the director

of operations for BlueWater Federal

Solutions. In that capacity, he managed

operations for about $65 million in federal

contracts, which included managing over

140 geographically dispersed employees

across 10 different states.

While he enjoyed being at BlueWater,

the long days and weekend work made

work and home life hard to balance. In

2017, seeing an opportunity to move back

to the Pittsburgh area and be closer to family,

Mike took a job with PNC Bank as a

director for quality engineering, where he

streamlined existing resources and reduced

reliance on contractors, saving the company

more than $3.5

million annually.

Since 2021, he has

continued his career

at Federated

(Investors)

Hermes as the director

of cloud and

user computing.

To summarize

his work life

in simple terms,

Thirty-five years later,

Mike looks much the same

as he did in high school!

Mike knows the

basics in the tech

world, but managing

people is his strength. As an athlete,

he was the guy who wanted the ball in a

crucial situation. As a people manager, he’s

still the person who can be counted on to

solve problems. He wants his people to attack

and solve rather than slow down and

defend. My kind of guy!

Let’s play another game of truth or lies.

(A) Mike was invited to the White House

by President George W. Bush, who was promoting

a program called Citizens Corp, a

homegrown version of the Peace Corps, (B)

Mike spent two months in China working

with Duquesne University students while

he was in graduate school, and (C) He spent

9/11 at Mt. Weather, an emergency operation

center operated by FEMA. Members

of Congress and the administration were

brought there for security reasons during

the crisis. Let’s just skip the lie for this

version — all of the above are true for this

guy who thinks his life has been quiet and

routine.

Here is another attempt at truth or lies.

(A) Mike has a mom named Pinky and (B) a

sister named Frankie, (C) a dad named Jim,

and (D) a younger brother named Jimbo.

All are true except there is no sister named

Frankie. Jim and Pinky live in Upper St.

Clair and Jimbo resides in Boston.

Mike and his wife, Melissa, were married

in 2007. They met while playing softball at

the Ellipse, a park across the street from

the White House, and started talking when

one of the presidential helicopters landed

on the field during the game. (Melissa edited

this article for clarity and accuracy for

the period they worked and lived in D.C.

Thank you for your efforts!) They have a

son, Ben (12), and a daughter, Harper (11).

A large friendly dog, Otis, helps round out

a happy home.

As a founding member of the USC Halls

of Fame and the former chairman of the

athletic HOF, I feel very qualified in making

these concluding observations about Mike

Quealy. He is more than qualified to be in

the athletic Hall of Fame. Examine what

he has done, for example, on the football

field (11 interceptions in one year) and

see if that has been or will be duplicated.

His scholastic accomplishments, along

with what he has done in governmental

work as well as the private sector, make

him qualified for the academic HOF. On

the other hand, he cannot sing or act. He

was petrified to do the bridal dance at his

wedding, and 10 dance lessons were of no

help. I do not recommend him for induction

into the arts HOF.

I do recommend him for his quality of

life and accomplishments. n

Patty Meers

broker

Selling Pittsburgh

for

Over 35 Years

LET MY

EXPERIENCE

REPRESENT

YOU

• Buyer’s Agent

• Seller’s Agent

• New Construction

• Land Sales

• Residential Leasing

• Relocation

PattyMeersThomas@gmail.com

C: 412-398-5181 | O: 724-731-0100

Wellington

REAL ESTATE

www.WellingtonRealEstatePA.com


State Representative

Natalie Mihalek

40th Legislative District

1121 Boyce Road, Suite 2200A

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241

If You are What You Eat, Don’t You Want

to Be Something You Can Pronounce?

State Rep. Natalie Mihalek

724-942-2045

www.repmihalek.com

Facebook.com/RepMihalek

Settling into my mid-40s has

made me aware of the foods I put

into my body. Gone are the days

when I could have a doughnut and a large coffee before work

and feel energized for the morning.

It seems that overnight, the foods that I enjoyed in my younger

days now make me feel sluggish and tired.

Making different food choices was one thing, but I was determined

to learn more about how our foods impact us. Based on

hours of research and much to the chagrin of my three children,

I soon realized that there are chemicals in our food that really

have no business being there.

It started off as an attempt to limit carbohydrates, fats and

sugars. But soon, I discovered that I had no idea what most of

the ingredients were in the food that I was feeding my family.

My questions were numerous. If I couldn’t pronounce it,

should I be eating it? Why did the supposedly healthier options

have dozens of chemical ingredients? And what exactly were

these chemicals anyway?

I did some digging and the more I discovered, the more

concerned I became. Without a chemistry degree and very little

recollection of high school science classes, I began contacting

doctors, health experts and researchers to learn more. My concern

became anger.

Some of the more commonly used ingredients found in hundreds,

if not thousands, of products on grocery store shelves are

also some of the more dangerous. They include Red Dye No. 3, Red

Dye No. 40, Blue Dye No. 1, Yellow Dye No. 5, brominated vegetable

oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide,

butylated hydroxytoluene, sodium benzoate, azodicarbonamide

and acesulfame potassium.

I dare you to say that last one 10 times.

Picking on Red Dye No. 3, one that I can actually pronounce, it

has been found to increase hyperactivity in children, carries risks

to brain development and has been linked to cancer.

In fact, in 1990, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

concluded that Red Dye No. 3 was a carcinogen and actually

banned its use in cosmetics and skincare products.

State Representative

Dan Miller

Office of the House Democratic

Majority Whip

Harrisburg Office

121 Main Capitol, Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 783-1850

2024 Disability & Mental Health Summit

Set for April 18 and 19

Mt. Lebanon Office

650 Washington Road, Suite 102

Pittsburgh, PA 15234

(412) 343-3870

As you may know, for the

last 10 years, my office has hosted an

annual Disability & Mental Health

Summit here in the Pittsburgh region. This is our marquee event

— one which takes months of planning with community partners

and exhibitors to bring together.

I’m excited that our 11th annual summit this year will take

place over two days, April 18 and 19, allowing more individuals,

families and organizations to attend. When we’re planning the

summit, we truly try to incorporate something for everyone —

whether you’re a self-advocate, someone who works in a field

related to these topics or someone who has a family member with

a disability or mental illness.

This year, we are back with our biggest, and we hope best

summit since the pandemic. Once again returning to the Beth El

Congregation of the South Hills on Cochran Road, we will have

two resource fairs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., each featuring a range

of organizations related to disability and mental health, with over

a dozen informational sessions, each of which has a different

focus, and two bipartisan, bicameral legislative panels. On

Thursday evening, our programming will focus on the needs of

transition-age youth with disabilities, which will include a panel

discussion with self-advocates and parents and a special evening

resource fair featuring organizations that support and engage these

young people as they chart their paths after leaving high school.

You can find information and details about the 2024 Disability

& Mental Health Summit online at DisabilitySummit.com. The

event is free to attend and open to the public.

One of the things we have learned over the last decade is that

these two topics impact so many people in our communities.

Our friends, our loved ones, our coworkers — everyone knows

someone who is impacted. And while society as a whole has gotten

better about breaking down the stigma in talking about these

topics, we still have a long way to go. Over the years, the summit

has, in a way, become its own community, a place where it is safe

to talk about issues or problems without being judged, to simply

associate with other people or to find a helping hand.

The summit is designed not just to help families or individuals,


But guess what? We’re still eating it!

Thousands of products still contain this toxic

ingredient and are being sold in a store near you.

For whatever reason, the FDA has never prohibited

its use in food, despite promises to do so.

Many of the other ingredients I listed are

linked to serious health issues, including heart

and liver problems, reproductive issues, nervous

system damage, behavioral problems in adolescents

and an increased risk of cancer. Despite

the toxicity of many of these ingredients, they

remain perfectly legal in our food supply.

If our goal is a healthier diet, it’s apparent

that fats and sugars are not nearly as much of a

concern as finding foods that don’t have toxic

chemicals.

You may be wondering why on earth your

state representative is talking about a healthy

diet. Doesn’t she have bills to pass?

I sure do. And this will be one of them. I am

currently working on a piece of legislation to

eliminate several of these toxic ingredients from

our food supply.

Not only do I want to take the steps necessary

to clean up our foods, I also want to create

public awareness around this topic. I encourage

everyone to read the labels, do their homework

and make the best choices for you and your

family. n

but also professionals who work in these fields

as well. We are thrilled to offer continuing

education credits for teachers, lawyers, social

workers and certified rehabilitation counselors,

as our session presenters bring a wealth of

knowledge and expertise, as well as the latest

news and trends to their talks.

I am proud to offer this opportunity to

our community and believe that this year’s

summit will be a showcase for the exemplary

individuals and organizations that call our

region home. Visit DisabilitySummit.com for

the latest information and updates as we get

ready for the 11th annual Disability & Mental

Health Summit.

I hope you will join us! n

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

Bethel Park, PA 15102

Home Improvement Protection

Tips for Protecting You and Your Family

When It Comes to Home Improvements.

With the arrival of spring, many homeowners are contemplating improvement

projects, such as a new driveway, landscaping or a deck. However, you should

always be careful when selecting a contractor, as fraud occurs with unfortunate frequency

in the home improvement industry. Several years ago, Pennsylvania enacted

the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA) to set minimum standards

for home improvement contractors and required, in part, that they be licensed,

disclose insurance information and use contracts in conformity with the new law.

Despite enactment of the HICPA, several contractors that ignore the law continue

to operate illegally, ultimately ending up as defendants before me, with homeowner

victims who lost significant sums of money for promises to do work that was never

completed. While not an exhaustive list, here are a few basic actions you can take

to protect yourself from fraudulent contractors:

1. Ask for the contractor’s PA license number. Check them out online at the

Attorney General’s website: hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov/.

2. Ask for a certificate of insurance showing the contractor carries liability and

worker’s compensation coverage. The certificate should be addressed to you and will

confirm the coverage and policy limits the contractor carries, as well as the effective

date of the policy. I advise strongly against working with a contractor that refuses

to provide a valid certificate of insurance, and always call the insurance company

to verify coverage.

3. Ask for references and call the references. When speaking with the references,

be sure to ask what work was done for them, how long it took and if there were any

problems. Contractor supplied references can be suspect, as they may be friends or

relatives of the contractor posing as customers. Creatively ask questions to make sure

they are a legitimate reference. Pointed questions such as “What year and month did

they do the work?” and “What other contractors did you consider before choosing

this one?” will help you determine the credibility of the references.

4. Never pay by cash — check or credit card only. The hallmark of a potential

fraudster is insistence on being paid only in cash or promising a “too good to be

true” price if paid in cash up front.

5. It is always a good idea to have a written contract/agreement when dealing

with contractors. Be sure to obtain a valid address and phone number. Make sure if

there are any changes to be made to the original contract/agreement that you sign

off and approve any change orders in writing.

6. In most cases, the contractor will contact your local township or municipality

to see if any permits are needed. Being proactive to check on your own will help

avoid any code violations later down the road.

7. Documenting the progress of the job is extremely helpful. Taking photos/

videos of the before, during and after stages can assist in the event there are any

discrepancies regarding the work being done. Also, writing down any concerns or

questions after each day to discuss with the contractor can help the project progress

more smoothly.

8. Never be afraid to consult an attorney before signing any home improvement

contract. The contract should conform to the HICPA guidelines as well as

Pennsylvania consumer protection statutes. The investment of working with an attorney

is a small expense compared to having to pay an attorney to litigate against

the contractor.

Every matter is unique, and this information is provided from my general experience

as a judge. You should contact a local attorney if you have a legal issue or

question to obtain advice specific to your situation. n


Jay Lynch

For the past 30 years, TODAY has been reporting

on the diligent work and impressive results of

community volunteers. Bighearted people who “look

out for others” make our community great. However,

sometimes a well-intended quest to be a Good

Samaritan can be humorously misguided.

While driving along McLaughlin Run Road last

October, I noticed that trusses were under construction

on the bridge to Pinebridge Commons. I assumed

that the 2018 flood and subsequent high water had

weakened the bridge and that superstructure enhancements

were being added to provide additional

strength. But something looked odd.

On closer inspection, I saw that the new trusses

were being assembled out of wooden 2x4s and planks,

not iron or steel, and were being bolted to guardrail

supports, not the main span. Although I graduated from an engineering

school, Purdue University, I was an economics student

and acquired no engineering training or wisdom. But I wondered

how flimsy wooden trusses could make the bridge stronger.

Since construction was still in process, I thought I’d have sufficient

time to locate the owner of the mall and alert him to any

safety issues, but I needed confirmation of my concerns. I took

a few photos and emailed them to my engineer friends, seeking

their professional opinions. The consensus response was alarming

— the design appeared to be dangerously inadequate, but

more photos were needed.

When I returned to the bridge to take more detailed pictures,

a fellow in a fancy pick-up truck saw me closely inspecting the

construction and taking pictures. He climbed out of his truck and

politely asked, “Can I help you, sir? Is there a problem?”

I replied, “Yes, indeed. I don’t think these new wood trusses

will do anything to support the weakened bridge. I need to find

the owner and suggest metal supports.”

He said, “You need look no further. I’m the owner.”

I said, “Great. I’m glad I found you.”

Then he said, “The bridge isn’t damaged, sir. It’s plenty strong.

The trusses aren’t structural, they’re symbolic. They’re promotional,

for marketing purposes, like a physical logo.”

While I was relieved that there was no danger to cars or pedestrians,

I remained confused, and asked, “How can trusses be

promotional?”

He replied loudly and slowly, as if my graying hair made me

hard of hearing, “Sir, the trusses are made of pine. You’re standing

on the pine bridge of Pinebridge Commons.”

We both had a good laugh at my misinterpretation, although

I was laughing to hide my embarrassment.

So, the next time you drive across the bridge, you can rest assured

that it’s safe and be thankful that a nebby neighbor didn’t

succeed in transforming it into a community eyesore — an

unnecessary jumble of steel I-beams and girders designed by an

economics major! n

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


PINEBRIDGE COMMONS

FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY

Let us

make you

smile!

Timothy J. Kerr, D.M.D.

Romana Pautler Kerr, D.M.D.

K

412-257-4250

Pinebridge Commons Suite 207

K

kerrdmd.com

Chairside

Whitening

System

Pinebridge Dental • Upper St. Clair

412-221-2221

www.manalosmiles.com

“Quality Dentistry with a

Gentle Touch

& the Personalized

Service that YOU Deserve!”

General Dentist and Prosthodontic Specialist

NEWLY RENOVATED • STATE-OF-THE-ART

88 Dental • Castle Shannon

412-343-4100

manalosmiles@aol.com

PINEBRIDGE

COMMONS

AHN Pediatrics

All American Bistro

Cardinal Endocrinology

Design Image Salon

Emerick Financial Planning

Emma’s Kafe & Deli

Estetyka

Gallagher Wealth Management

Peter Gialames & Associates

Interior Designs/Furnishings

by Mary Kay Chaffee

Timothy Kerr, DMD &

Romana Pautler Kerr, DMD

Larry E. Manalo, DMD

Melissa D. Michel, LPC

Pediatric Dentistry South

Questa Petroleum Co.

Cindy Brophy, State Farm Ins.

Suburban Dry Cleaners

Travel Leaders, Kiernan Ent.

Dr. Brett Crell and Dr. Beth Troy

Orthodontics

Whole Plants Health, LLC

Xcoal Energy Resources

McLaughlin Run Road

at

Lesnett Road

pinebridgecommons.com

Leasing Opportunity

Baker Young

Corporation

412.227.1400


Board of

School Directors

Jennifer A. Schnore

President

jschnore@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2025*

Barbara L. Bolas

bbolas@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2027*

Upper St. Clair School District

Dr. Danielle Z. Wetzel

Vice President

dwetzel@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2025*

Dr. Daphna Gans

dgans@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2025*

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

Kelly P. Hanna

khanna01@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2027*

Justin Lamber

jlamber@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2027*

Dr. John Rozzo


Dr. Amy Pfender

Deputy Superintendent

Michael R. Mascaro

mmascaro@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2025*

Hallie H. Snyder

hsnyder@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2027*

*Date indicates expiration of term.

Angela B. Petersen

apetersen@uscsd.k12.pa.us

2027*

The list of the Upper

St. Clair Board of School

Directors 2023-2024 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.

Scott Burchill

Director of Business and Finance

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

Ray Carson, Jr.

Senior Director of Operations

& Administrative Services

Dr. Cassandra Doggrell

Director of Special Education

Dr. Lou Angelo

Director of Operations & Facilities

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

Ray Berrott

Director of Technology

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


Upper St. Clair

School District

Annual Report: 2023

Dr. John T. Rozzo


The 2023 Annual Report for the Upper St. Clair School

District provided an opportunity to reflect on all of the amazing

accomplishments that our students, our staff and our district

achieved throughout the last 12 months. Whether big or small,

individual or team, the accomplishments in academics, the arts

and athletics are a source of pride for our entire Upper St. Clair

community.

These eight pages provide a glimpse of the great things that

are happening in our schools. To learn more, we invite you to

visit the District’s website — uscsd.k12.pa.us. Articles and

photos highlighting academic competitions, community service

projects, special events, as well as honors and awards are shared

regularly throughout the year.

While we are incredibly proud of Upper St. Clair School

District’s many achievements, we recognize that our greatest

asset is our people. We have a highly talented faculty and staff

who care deeply about our students. Collectively, our families

serve as educational partners, volunteers and advocates for

our district who enhance the welcoming culture in each of

our buildings. Most importantly, our students work hard and

leverage the many opportunities that are provided within our

school community in order to reach their fullest potential.

When I began my tenure as Upper St. Clair’s superintendent of

schools in July 2018, I remarked that “there is no greater honor

or responsibility than to be entrusted

with the education and care of

our community’s children.”

That still holds true today.

Thank you for this

incredible opportunity to

serve our community.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. John T. Rozzo

Superintendent

2023 National

Blue Ribbon

School

Boyce Middle School is among the 353 schools

in the nation that were named 2023 National

Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of

Education.

This marks the second Blue Ribbon for Boyce

Middle School and the 13th overall for the Upper

St. Clair School District.

Boyce Middle School, which serves 620

students in grades five and six, earned its first

National Blue Ribbon in 1992. The school is led

by Principal Dr. Dan O’Rourke and Assistant

Principal Dr. Christine Mussomeli, who

described the accomplishment as a monumental

achievement.

“The Blue Ribbon Award is one of the most

coveted awards in education,” Dr. O’Rourke said.

“Only 13 public schools in Pennsylvania can be

nominated, so to be one of a fraction of a percent

of schools to receive the award is an immense

accomplishment for the students, staff, district

and community.”

Our Students

National Merit Scholarship Program

2024 2024

Semifinalists

2023 2023

Commended

2022 2022

2021 2021

2020 2020

2019 2019

2018 2018

2017 2017

2016 2016

0 0 5 5 10 10 15 15 20 20 25 25 30 30 35 35 40 40

Students enter enter the the National Merit Merit Scholarship Program by by taking the the PSAT PSAT – the – the

National Merit Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test Test – – during the the fall fall of of their their junior junior year. year.

Semifinalist: scores in the in the top top 1% 1%

Commended Students: scores in the in the top top 3% 3%

AP Scholars

2023 2023

AP AP Scholar

w/Distinction

AP AP Scholar

w/Honor

AP AP Scholar 127 127

2022 2022

117 117

2021 2021

145 145

2020 2020

114 114

2019 2019

2018 2018

2017 2017

139 139

129 129

138 138

0 0 30 30 60 60 90 90 120 120 150 150

AP AP Scholar with with Distinction: average score score of of at at least least 3.5 3.5 on on all all AP AP exams taken taken

and and scores of of 3 or 3 or higher on on five five or more more exams

AP AP Scholar with with Honor: average score score of of 3.25 3.25 or or higher on on all all AP AP exams taken taken

and and scores of of 3 or 3 or higher on on four four or more more of of these these exams

AP AP Scholar: scores of of 3 or 3 or higher on on three three or more more exams

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

school district in in Pennsylvania,

according to to the the 2023 2023 School Guide

published by by the the Pittsburgh Business

Times. This This marks the the second year year in in

a row a row that that Upper St. St. Clair Clair has has reached

No. No. 1 in 1 in the the statewide rankings, which

began in in 2017.

Superintendent Dr. Dr. John John Rozzo

attributes the the District’s success to to the the

collective commitment to to quality public

education.

“Great communities make great great

schools, and and great great schools make

great great communities,” he he said. said. “We “We

are are incredibly fortunate to to have have the the

support of of parents, students, teachers,

administrators, staff, staff, a a school board

and and other other community members who who

share share our our commitment to to providing our our

students with with a a world-class educational

experience.”

For For each each of of the the last last five five years, Upper

St. St. Clair Clair has has ascended in in the the state state

rankings. Debuting at at No. No. 10 10 in in 2017,

the the district climbed to to No. No. 5 in 5 in 2018,

No. No. 3 in 3 in 2019, and and No. No. 2 in 2 in 2020,

before reaching No. No. 1 in 1 in 2022. There

were were no no rankings in 2021 2021 due due to to the the

pandemic.

For For the the fourth straight year, year, Upper St. St.

Clair Clair ranks No. No. 1 1 among the the 105 105 school

districts in in southwest Pennsylvania.

Upper St. St. Clair School District •• Annual Report: 2023

Upper St. Clair High School

Pennsylvania

National

Our Students

• All schools in the Upper St. Clair

School District have earned top

rankings in the list of 2023-24 Best

Elementary Schools, Best Middle

Schools and Best High Schools by

U.S. News & World Report.

• The USCHS World Language

Department earned a 2023 Golden

Globe Award from the Pennsylvania

State Modern Language

Association.

• Streams Elementary third grader

Lillian Pfeiffer placed first in the

Pittsburgh region in the National

Energy Technology Laboratory’s

2023 Earth Day Poster Contest.

• A team of Fort Couch Middle

School students won the 2023

Pittsburgh Regional Future City

Competition and advanced to the

international competition, where

they earned two awards – Best

City Essay and the Special Award

for Best Management of Water

Resources.

• Senior Lucia Miles and junior

Giuliana Amorosa were named

Fellows at the World Affairs Council

of Pittsburgh.

• USCHS has been named to the

2022-23 AP School Honor Roll –

recognizing Advanced Placement

programs that deliver results for

students while broadening access.

• Nate Grabowski was named

Student of the Month for the Power

Motorsports Technology program at

Parkway West Career & Technology

Center in May and October 2023.

• The USCHS Speech and Debate

team won the Pennsylvania High

School Speech League (PHSSL)

State Championship – marking the

team’s fourth state title since 2017.

• For the fourth year in a row, the

USCHS Speech & Debate team was

named one of the nation’s Top 100

schools by the National Speech &

Debate Association.

• USCHS students Isaac Bernstein

and Kriti Gupta were among

Junior Achievement of Western

Pennsylvania’s 18 Under Eighteen

honorees for 2023.

• For the eighth consecutive

year, Upper St. Clair has been

named among the nation’s Best

Communities for Music Education

by the NAMM Foundation – one of

only 15 school districts in Allegheny

County and 123 in Pennsylvania to

earn the distinction in 2023.

• Four USCHS musicians successfully

auditioned for the Pennsylvania

Music Educators Association

(PMEA) All-State Band – Isaac

Bernstein, percussion; Gabe Pacella,

trumpet; Lauren Tenney, clarinet;

and Ben Wasson, trombone.

• Three USCHS students were

selected to perform in the PMEA

All-State Chorus – Elliott Bruno,

Reese Copenhaver and Colin

Eccher.

2023 SAT averages

800

2023 ACT averages

36

700

600

500

400

300

200

608 609

Upper St. Clair High School

547

Pennsylvania

520

National

Evidence-based

Reading & Writing

531

Math

508

30

24

18

12

6

0

26.5

25.6

26.5

24.7

23.6 23.2

20.1

18.6 19.0

English Mathematics Reading

25.2

26.0

23.6 23.9

19.6 19.5

Science Composite

Unity • Success • Character

Our Students

Parkway West West

Career & Tech. & Tech. Center

2023-24 2023-24 USCHS USCHS Enrollment Enrollment 39 39

2022-23 2022-23

38 38

2021-22 2021-22

41 41

2020-21 2020-21

2019-20 2019-20

31

29

31

29

2018-19 2018-19

27 27

2017-18 2017-18

2016-17 2016-17

2015-16 2015-16

33

34

31

33

34

31

2014-15 2014-15 16 16

0 0 10 10 20 20 30 30 40 40 50 50

National Honor

Society

2023 2023 USCHS USCHS Inductees Inductees 187 187

2022 2022

199 199

2021 2021

188 188

2020 2020

172 172

2019 2019

2018 2018

154

158

154

158

2017 2017

156 156

2016 2016

139 139

0 0 50 50 100 100 150 150 200 200

• USCHS • USCHS Student Student Council Council was was • Boyce • Boyce Middle Middle School School sixth sixth grader grader

honored honored as a as 2023 a 2023 National National Gold Gold Kaaveri Kaaveri Patil Patil tied tied for winner for winner in

Council Council of of Excellence by the by the the Lower the Lower Division Division Monologues

National National Student Student Council. Council.

category category the at 29th the 29th Annual Annual

Shakespeare Monologue & Scene & Scene

• Fort • Fort Couch Couch student student Raana Raana Parchuri Parchuri Contest Contest at at Pittsburgh Public Public Theater. Theater.

was was crowned crowned champion of the of 2023 the 2023

Western Western Pennsylvania Spelling Spelling Bee Bee • Senior • Senior Isaac Isaac Bernstein Bernstein was was selected selected

– reaching – reaching the the quarterfinals the in the as one as one of 16 of 16 American students students

Scripps Scripps National National Spelling Spelling Bee. Bee. to to participate in the in 2023 the 2023 High High

School School Diplomats Japan Japan program program – –

• Fort • Fort Couch Couch Middle Middle School School students students attending attending a 10-day a 10-day cultural cultural

placed placed first first at the at regional the regional PA Media PA Media

enrichment experience in Japan. in Japan.

and and Design Design Competition. Seventh Seventh

grader grader Felix Felix Chen Chen won won the 3-D the 3-D • Senior • Senior Yog Yog Trivedi Trivedi placed placed 10th 10th in in

Design Design category category and and eighth eighth grader grader the the Advertising event event at the at 2023 the 2023

Priyaharshini Sivakumar finished finished National National Leadership Conference of of

first first in in Animation. Both Both qualified qualified to to Future Future Business Business Leaders Leaders of America. of America.

compete compete at the at state the state competition.

• Two • Two teams teams of USCHS of USCHS students students were were

• Junior • Junior Priyasha Priyasha Itani Itani and and seventh seventh top top performers at the at Future the Future

grader grader Audrey Audrey Wetterau Wetterau were were Problem Problem Solving Solving (FPS) (FPS) State State Bowl Bowl – –

honored honored as Junior as Junior Women Women of of

qualifying for the for FPS the FPS International

Achievement at the at 2023 the 2023 Women Women of of

Conference.

Achievement Awards, Awards, sponsored by by

the nonprofit the nonprofit Cribs Cribs for Kids. for Kids. • • Sophomore Braidyn Braidyn Recker Recker was was

selected selected to to participate in the in the

• Nine • Nine USCHS USCHS artists artists and and writers writers

week-long FBI FBI National National Academy Academy

earned earned recognition for 17 for entries 17 entries in in

Associates Youth Youth Leadership

the annual the annual Scholastic Art Art & Writing & Writing Program Program at the at FBI the FBI Academy Academy in in

Competition. Awards Awards included included two two Quantico, Quantico, Va. Va.

Gold Gold Keys, Keys, seven seven Silver Silver Keys Keys and and

eight eight Honorable Mentions. • Seventh • Seventh grader grader Arjun Arjun Kairi Kairi

placed placed first first in the in statewide the statewide 2023 2023

• Four • Four USCHS USCHS students students were were top top School School Bus Bus Safety Safety Poster Poster Contest, Contest,

performers at the at the Pennsylvania

sponsored by the by the Pennsylvania

Future Future Business Business Leaders Leaders of America of America

Department of of Transportation.

State State Leadership Conference – –

advancing to nationals. to nationals.

Upper St. St. Clair School District • Annual • Annual Report: 2023 2023

Our Students

2023 PSSA Scores

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment

(PSSA) is a standards-based, criterion-referenced

assessment used to measure students’ attainment

of academic standards. The standards identify

what a student should know and be able to do

at varying grade levels. Students in grades 3

through 8 are assessed in English language arts

and math. Students in grades 4 and 8 are also

assessed in science.

PSSA: Science

Grade 4

Grade 8

Upper St. Clair School District 96.6%

Pennsylvania

74.2%

89.9%

57.0%

0 20 40 60 80 100

PSSA: English Language Arts

PSSA: Math

Grade 3


Pennsylvania 54.0%

91.8%

Grade 3


Pennsylvania 51.7%

85.8%

Grade 4

51.8%

91.4%

Grade 4

46.5%

89.2%

Grade 5

53.7%

85.9%

Grade 5

42.8%

88.2%

Grade 6

Grade 7

55.6%

54.5%

76.0%

87.9%

88.7%

79.8%

Grade 6

Grade 7

36.5%

33.2%

70.8%

81.1%

76.0%

79.8%

Grade 8

52.7%

89.6%

Grade 8

26.1%

68.1%

0 20 40 60 80 100

0 20 40 60 80 100


Our Students

Varsity Athletics

WPIAL WPIAL Champions Section Section Champions

• Kaitlyn • Kaitlyn Connors, Connors,

• Girls • Basketball Girls Basketball

Girls Swimming, Girls Swimming, 100 freestyle 100 freestyle • Boys • Basketball Boys Basketball

• Dani • Dani Prunzik, Prunzik, Girls Track, Girls Track, 100 100 • Girls • Soccer Girls Soccer

• Dani • Dani Prunzik, Prunzik, Girls Track, Girls Track, 200 200 • Boys • Soccer Boys Soccer

Club Sports

• Ultimate • Ultimate Frisbee, Frisbee, Spring Spring League League Champion Champion

• Ice • Hockey, Ice Hockey, PIHL Penguins PIHL Penguins Cup Runner-Up Cup Runner-Up

WPIAL WPIAL Runner-Up

• Connor • Connor McKenzie, McKenzie, Boys Golf Boys Golf

• Girls • Basketball Girls Basketball

Our Our Staff Staff && School Board

• Dr. • Timothy Dr. Timothy

Wagner Wagner

was named was named

Pennsylvania’s

2023 2023 Principal Principal

of the of Year the by Year by

the the Pennsylvania

• Dr. • John Dr. John Seybert, Seybert, USCHS USCHS band band

director, director, was honored was honored with the with the

Citation Citation of Excellence of Excellence Award Award

from from the the

National National Band Band

Association. Association. In In

addition, addition, Dr. Dr.

Principals Principals

Seybert Seybert presented presented

Dr. Timothy Dr. Timothy Wagner Wagner

Association. Association.

a clinic a clinic at the at the

14th annual 14th annual

• School • School Board Board Member Member Barbara Barbara

Bolas Bolas was honored was honored with the with 2023 the 2023

William William Howard Howard

Day Award Day Award from from

JENerations JENerations

Jazz Festival, Jazz Festival, Dr. John Seybert

sponsored sponsored by the by the

Jazz Education Jazz Education

the the Pennsylvania Network. Network.

Public Public Education Education

Foundation. Foundation. The The • USCHS • USCHS boys’ boys’

award award recognizes recognizes soccer soccer coach coach

outstanding outstanding

contributions to to

Uwe Uwe Schneider Schneider

reached reached his 300th his 300th

Barbara Barbara Bolas Bolas

public public education. education. career career win. win.

Uwe Schneider

• Recently • Recently retired retired

USCHS USCHS choral choral

director, director, Lorraine Lorraine

Milovac, Milovac, was was

honored honored with the with the

Pennsylvania

Music Music Educators Educators

Association Association

District District 1 1

Citation Citation of Excellence. of Excellence.

Lorraine Lorraine Milovac Milovac

Dr. John Seybert

Uwe Schneider

• Two • Boyce Two Boyce

Middle Middle School School

teachers teachers were were

honored honored with with

the Promising the Promising

Practitioners Practitioners

Award Award from from the the

Pennsylvania

Association Association for for Abbey Abbey DiGregorio DiGregorio

Middle Middle Level Level

Education Education

(PAMLE). (PAMLE). Abbey Abbey

DiGregorio, DiGregorio,

a physical a physical

education education

teacher, teacher, and Ellie and Ellie

Oxenreiter, Oxenreiter, a a

learning learning support support

Ellie Oxenreiter Ellie Oxenreiter

teacher, teacher, were were

recognized recognized during during the PAMLE the PAMLE State State

Conference Conference 2023. 2023.

Upper Upper St. St. Clair Clair School District • Annual • Annual Report: Report: 2023 2023

Fiscal Responsibility

2023-2024 Budget

The 2023-24 budget totals $100,255,600, which included

a 3.75% millage increase of 1.0711 mills – resulting in a

final millage rate of 29.6339 mills.

Throughout the 2023-24 budget process, district

leaders focused on three primary objectives:

deliver extraordinary learning experiences for

students; balance the needs of the school district

while recognizing the fiduciary responsibilities

to the community; and remain cognizant of the

interdependence of all aspects that directly and

indirectly affect students’ school experience.

Several external factors impacted the budget,

including uncertainties regarding Allegheny County’s

common level ratio. The common level ratio is a

mathematical calculation that measures how the county’s

base-year assessments compare to new assessments

determined by recent sales. Intended to provide greater

fairness to property owners, the common level ratio

recently dropped from 81.1% to 63.5% for 2022 appeals

and 63.6% for 2023 appeals.

“With nearly 80% of the District’s funding coming from

local taxpayers, this change could have a significant

impact on the district’s revenues,” Scott Burchill, director

of business and finance, said. “In previous years, the

district experienced revenue growth from real estate

annually. However, there is no growth built into the

2023-24 budget to offset the uncertainty surrounding the

common level ratio.”

Misc.

Fees 6.23%

Other

Uses 6.72%

Equipment

0.12%

Expenditures: $100,255,600

Books &

Supplies

5.81%

Revenue: $100,256,762

Local

78.5%

Other

Purchased

Services 4.56%

Salaries &

Benefits 71.45%

Purchased

Services 1.77%

Contracted

Services 3.34%

Federal 0.5%

State 20.8%

Salaries and benefits account for nearly 80% of the

district’s budget. During the 2022-23 fiscal year, there

were 22 total retirements throughout the school district,

11 of which were teachers.

Five operations/administrative positions were eliminated

and/or have remained vacant for the 2023-24 school

year. All position eliminations are attritional cuts and

include a custodial position, operations coordinator and

transportation manager. The assistant superintendent and

custodial manager positions remained unfilled for the

current fiscal year. The savings from these five positions

helped to offset a 15% increase – nearly $1 million – in

medical insurance costs.

Capital Improvements

All six district schools experienced capital improvement

projects during 2023-24. Projects included:

• new roof and water heating system at Upper St.

Clair High School

• safety enhancements at all buildings

• new HVAC control systems at all three elementary

schools

• insulation and ductwork repair and replacement at

Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools

• additional plumbing repairs at the high school


Class of of 2023

Where are are they now?

Air Force Air Academy Force Academy

Gannon Gannon University University

Allegheny Allegheny College College

Georgia Georgia Institute Institute of Technology of Technology

Auburn Auburn University University

George George Mason Mason University University

Baldwin Baldwin Wallace Wallace University University

George George Washington Washington University University

Bates College Bates College

Georgetown Georgetown University University

Belmont Belmont University University

Georgia Georgia Institute Institute of Technology of Technology

Bryn Mawr Bryn College Mawr College

Grove City Grove College City College

Bucknell Bucknell University University

High Point High University Point University

Butler University Butler University

Hiram G. Hiram Andrews G. Andrews Center Center

Carlow Carlow University University

Hope College Hope College

Carnegie Carnegie Mellon Mellon University University

Indiana Indiana University, University, Bloomington Bloomington

Case Western Case Western Reserve Reserve University University

Indiana Indiana University University of Pennsylvania of Pennsylvania

Catholic Catholic University University of America of America

Ithaca College Ithaca College

Citadel Citadel Military Military College College

James James Madison Madison University University

Clarion Clarion University University

John Carroll John Carroll University University

Clemson Clemson University University

Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins University University

Coastal Coastal Carolina Carolina University University

Kansas Kansas State University State University

College College of Charleston of Charleston

Kent State Kent University State University

College College of New of Jersey New Jersey

Kenyon Kenyon College College

Commonwealth Commonwealth University University of PA of PA

LaRoche LaRoche University University

Community Community College College of Allegheny of Allegheny County County Lycoming Lycoming College College

Community Community College College of Beaver of Beaver County County

Marist College Marist College

Cornell Cornell University University

Messiah Messiah University University

Dartmouth Dartmouth College College

Miami University Miami University

Davidson Davidson College College

Michigan Michigan State University State University

Davis & Davis Elkins & College Elkins College

Middlebury Middlebury College College

Denison Denison University University

New York New University York University

Duquesne Duquesne University University

Northwestern Northwestern University University

Edinboro Edinboro University University

Nova Southeastern Nova Southeastern University University

Elon University Elon University

Ohio State Ohio University State University

Florida Florida Gulf Coast Gulf University Coast University

Ohio University Ohio University

Florida Florida State University State University

Patrick Patrick & Henry & Community Henry Community College College

Fordham Fordham University University

Penn State Penn University, State University, Behrend Behrend

Franciscan Franciscan University University of Steubenville of Steubenville

Penn State Penn University State University

2023 2023 Valedictorians: Delaney Delaney Kathryn Kathryn Andrejcik, Andrejcik, Aashna Aashna Banerjee, Banerjee, Jasmine Jasmine Francine Francine

Dietiker, Dietiker, Lily Catherine Lily Catherine Gessel, Gessel, Ansh Goyal, Ansh Goyal, Morgan Morgan Elizabeth Elizabeth Huzjak, Huzjak, Cassidy Cassidy Mae Mae

Jordan, Jordan, Julia Laura Julia Laura Kania, Kania, Ava Mercedes Ava Mercedes Keating, Keating, Raniya Raniya Kethavath, Kethavath, Rebecca Rebecca Grace Grace

Lang, Lang, Jenna Jenna Frances Frances Mantel, Mantel, Phillip Phillip Theodore Theodore Markovitz, Markovitz, Carter Carter Patrick Patrick McClintock- McClintock-

Comeaux, Comeaux, Anna Anna Jean McElligott, Jean McElligott, Quinton Quinton B. Miller, B. Miller, Mariah Mariah Marie Marie Rainier, Rainier, Maanasa Maanasa Saayi Saayi

Reddy, Reddy, Sarah Sarah Elizabeth Elizabeth Robert, Robert, Ashvita Ashvita Saxena, Saxena, Lauren Lauren Elizabeth Elizabeth Starr, Cole Starr, Alexander Cole Alexander

Super Super and Benjamin and Benjamin George George Wasson. Wasson.

Penn State Penn University, State University, Greater Greater Allegheny Allegheny

Penn State Penn University, State University, Harrisburg Harrisburg

Penn West, Penn California West, California University University

Phillips Phillips Exeter Exeter Academy Academy

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Technical Technical College College

Princeton Princeton University University

Purdue Purdue University University

Rensselaer Rensselaer Polytechnic Polytechnic Institute Institute

Robert Robert Morris Morris University University

Rochester Rochester Institute Institute of Technology of Technology

Royal Conservatoire Royal Conservatoire of Scotland of Scotland

Saint Francis Saint Francis University University

Saint Vincent Saint Vincent College College

Seton Hill Seton University Hill University

Slippery Slippery Rock University Rock University

Southern Southern Methodist Methodist University University

Suffolk Suffolk University University

Syracuse Syracuse University University

Temple Temple University University

Texas Christian Texas Christian University University

Tulane Tulane University University

University University of Alabama of Alabama

University University of California, of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara

University University of Connecticut of Connecticut

University University of Dayton of Dayton

University University of Delaware of Delaware

University University of Florida of Florida

University University of Kentucky of Kentucky

University University of Maryland, of Maryland, College College Park Park

University University of Mississippi of Mississippi

University University of Mount of Mount Union Union

University University of Nevada, of Nevada, Las Vegas Las Vegas

University University of North of Carolina North Carolina

University University of North of Texas North Texas

University University of Notre of Dame Notre Dame

University University of Pittsburgh of Pittsburgh

University University of Pittsburgh, of Pittsburgh, Bradford Bradford

University University of Pittsburgh, of Pittsburgh, Greensburg Greensburg

University University of Pittsburgh, of Pittsburgh, Johnstown Johnstown

University University of Richmond of Richmond

University University of South of Carolina South Carolina

University University of Tampa of Tampa

University University of Tennessee, of Tennessee, Knoxville Knoxville

University University of Vermont of Vermont

University University of Virginia of Virginia

University University of Wisconsin of Wisconsin

UPMC UPMC Mercy School Mercy School of Nursing of Nursing

U.S. Air U.S. Force Air Academy Force Academy

U.S. Air U.S. Force Air ROTC Force ROTC

Virginia Virginia Peninsula Peninsula Community Community College College

Virginia Virginia Polytechnic Polytechnic Institute Institute

Washington Washington & Jefferson & Jefferson College College

West Chester West Chester University University

West Virginia West Virginia Potomac Potomac State College State College

West Virginia West Virginia University University

Westminster Westminster College College

Wittenberg Wittenberg University University

Worcester Worcester Polytechnic Polytechnic Institute Institute

Upper Upper St. St. Clair Clair School District • Annual • Annual Report: Report: 2023 2023

Justin Lamber

Welcomed to

School Board

This past December,

Justin Lamber began his term

as a new member of the Upper Justin Lamber

St. Clair Board of School

Directors. An eight-year resident of Upper St. Clair,

Justin serves as a local bank manager. He was

drafted to play baseball for the Kansas City Royals

and now volunteers with Casey’s Clubhouse and

the Miracle League of the South Hills. Justin and

his wife, Anna, have a middle-school-aged daughter

enrolled in the District.

Justin replaces Louis Mafrice Jr., who was appointed

in November 2021 to serve the remaining

two years of a four-year term. He did not seek reelection

in 2023. In total, Lou served on the USC

School Board for 14 years. Dr. John Rozzo and

members of the school board recognized his service

during his final meeting in November. n

Board Member Honored

Barbara Bolas, a member of the Upper St. Clair Board of School

Directors for many years, was honored with the 2023 William Howard Day

Award from the Pennsylvania Public Education Foundation (PaPEF). The

award recognizes outstanding contributions to public education and was

presented to Barbara during

the 2023 School Leadership

Conference, sponsored by the

Pennsylvania Association of

School Administrators and

Pennsylvania School Boards

Association (PSBA).

In honor of Barbara and

her contribution to public

education, the District

will receive a $5000 award

from the Pennsylvania Public

Education Foundation by

way of a directed donation to

the Community Foundation

of Upper St. Clair. n

Barbara Bolas, USC School Board Member and

Dr. Richard Frerichs, Pennsylvania Public

Education Foundation President

Leadership Academy Recognized for Excellence

This past October, the Leadership Academy

at Upper St. Clair High School was honored with the

Program of Excellence Award from the Pennsylvania

Council for the Social Studies (PCSS).

The USCHS Leadership Academy is a one-week

summer workshop offering students exposure to

leadership concepts and practices. Students identify

their leadership strengths and learn how these skills

may be used to make them successful in all stages of

life. Through experiential learning strategies, group

projects and hands-on activities, students apply and

practice their leadership skills — building confidence

in their abilities and enhancing their capacity to serve

in leadership roles. The USCHS program offers four

sequential phases that can be completed over the

course of a student’s high school experience.

“PCSS believes that students learning to be strong

leaders in their schools and communities is civic

education at its finest and we are proud to honor

the Leadership Academy with the PCSS Program of

Excellence Award,” said David Trevaskis, executive

secretary for the PCSS.

Dr. Steve Torquato, an USCHS social studies

teacher and PCSS board member, serves as an USCHS

Leadership Academy Phase One instructor. He and his

USC colleagues are currently collaborating with the

University of Pittsburgh to develop a six-week course

to expand the leadership program and enable students

to earn college credits for their work. n

Ryan LaRocco, Cullen Moriarty, Jamie Barrett, Lauren Pocrass and

Dr. Steve Torquato with the Program of Excellence Award


Focusing on

Financial Literacy

and Career Readiness

More than 150 Upper St. Clair fifth and sixth graders

got a glimpse into the future as they experienced Junior

Achievement’s BizTown, a day-long simulation of running a town.

The exercise is the culminating activity of the new CAPS course

at Boyce Middle School.

The CAPS course — short for Consuming and Producing

Successfully — is a newly developed curriculum within the expressive

arts rotation at Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools.

Students in grades five through eight receive instruction and

hands-on learning in the areas of financial literacy, community

and economy, work and career readiness, business management,

entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

“In our first lesson, students explore their passive

consumption habits, including what they spend, what

they watch and the information they absorb,” said Dr.

Kelly Pascarella, Boyce CAPS teacher. “The overarching

goal is to transform them into active producers

within our society. We encourage students to reflect

on their current roles as producers, considering what

they can create or contribute to the world as a product

or service.”

Located in Bridgeville, the BizTown simulation

experience allows students to take on roles as business

leaders, workers and consumers, participating as

active citizens to run a miniaturized town. Complete

with realistic store fronts, debit cards, checkbooks,

online payments, Wi-Fi installation, health insurance

and an elected mayor, it provides an authentic and

fully immersive learning experience.

“This hands-on approach allows students to see and experience

the concepts they learn in the classroom,” Dr. Pascarella said.

“By taking on various roles and responsibilities, students must

think critically and problem-solve when unexpected situations

and challenges arise. Their decisions impact the success of their

business and the overall community.”

Before their day-long

experience at BizTown,

students are introduced

to career readiness topics,

including creating

video resumes, filling

out job applications and

refining their interview

skills.

“These skills prepare

them for the role they

will play when they

run their own business

where they calculate operating costs and take out the loan they

will need to start up their business at BizTown,” said Dr. Pascarella.

“Their goal at BizTown is to pay off their loan and make a profit.”

Running an entire town takes many hands and lots of

oversight. To assist, the Boyce CAPS program partnered with

students enrolled in the Financial Literacy course taught by Jared

Nicholson, a math teacher at the high school. Approximately

25 high school students provided guidance and supervision

throughout the day.

The high school students were trained by BizTown staff prior

to the simulation day, and are responsible for overseeing the

functioning of the businesses, guiding the students through their

roles and ensuring the business runs smoothly.

The USCHS Financial Literacy course explores the concepts

of budgeting, saving, banking, compound interest, retirement,

credit cards, the stock market, product profitability and loans,

including financing higher education.

“BizTown is a great experience for the high school students,”

said Nicholson. “Not only are they building relationships while

volunteering with our middle school students, they are also reinforcing

valuable topics for their own learning, including loans,

interest rates, payroll, product pricing and net income.”

Much like the middle school students, the high school students

are often surprised by some of the course content.


“The most eye-opening moment of the course is the budgeting

project. They never realized all of the monthly costs associated with

being an adult,” Mr. Nicholson said. “Students are also struck by

the power of investing early.”

In addition to the Financial Literacy course, Nicholson is teaching

a College in High School accounting course in this year’s spring

semester. He believes that financial literacy is essential in order to

help ensure students make solid financial choices in the future.

“Many financial choices made early in adulthood can have large

impacts on your financial standing later in life,” he said. “Teaching

students how to properly manage their money from a young age

has lasting positive impacts.”

Dr. Pascarella believes that teaching financial literacy and career

skills in early middle school is important in the development of

responsible citizens.

The CAPS course was added to the expressive arts rotation at

Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools at the start of the 2023–24

school year. At Boyce, the expressive arts include art, CAPS, music

and STEAM design, each lasting for one nine-week marking

period. Since this is the first year of implementation for the CAPS

course at Boyce, all fifth and sixth grade students will experience

BizTown this school year. Beginning with the 2024–25 school year,

only the district’s fifth graders will participate at the end of their

CAPS rotation.

The expressive arts program at Fort Couch includes art, music,

STEAM design, CAPS and communication arts. In the seven-week

CAPS course for seventh graders and the six-week course for

eighth graders, students

become entrepreneurs

by evaluating the world

around them, identifying

a problem to solve, then

creating and building a

product-based solution.

Students then sell their

product or service, evaluating

the performance

of their business idea

and iterating to incorporate

learning. Students

leave CAPS having defined,

built and launched

a product in the market,

complete with a business

model canvas, a budget

and pricing model for

the business, a product

name and brand, a

pitch deck, communications

and marketing

materials, sales goals,

reflections and a student

portfolio. n

Howard Hanna

Upper St. Clair Office

Cell 412-327-2194

Office 412-833-3600

Email amandanasman@howardhanna.com

www.amandanasman.howardhanna.com


Author Visits Baker and Streams

This past November, Baker and

Streams elementary students experienced

a day with children’s author Josh Funk.

The day was made possible through a collaborative

effort between school districts,

schools, parent organizations and Upper

St. Clair’s technology department.

At Upper St. Clair, the author’s visit

was coordinated by Baker librarian Linda

Connor and Streams librarian Stephanie

Kellner, with support from the Baker PTA

and Streams PTO.

“Upon hearing of an opportunity to

have Josh visit, Linda worked with a fellow

librarian at Avonworth to help make this

happen,” said Stephanie.

Collaboration was key to bringing Josh

to Pittsburgh and creating this author’s day

opportunity for students in six schools,

representing four local school districts,

including Avonworth, Mt. Lebanon, South

Fayette and Upper St. Clair.

“Sharing his travel expenses made the

visit possible,” said Linda.

Josh Funk is a software engineer and

an author of books, including the “Lady

Pancake & Sir French Toast” series, “How

to Code a Sandcastle,” “Dear Unicorn,”

“Dear Dragon,” “My Pet Feet,” the “It’s Not

a Fairy Tale” series, “Lost in the Library”

and more.

“Some of our students are familiar

with his Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast

characters, as well as his books featuring

Patience and Fortitude, the New York

Public Library Lions,” said Stephanie.

Josh presented two programs — one

for younger students in kindergarten, first

and second grade and another for third and

fourth graders. Both programs complemented

Upper St. Clair School District’s

curriculum.

“In second grade, students study fairy

tales and so Josh’s K–2 presentation focused

on his ‘It’s Not’ fairy tale series. He,

along with some talented teacher-actors,

shared one of his books in this series,”

said Stephanie. “He then gave students a

behind-the-scenes look at being an

author, and what it took for him to

get his books published.”

The program for third and

fourth graders focused on the author’s

“How to Code” series.

“In the library we work with

Dash robots in third and fourth

grade, so this connection was

perfect,” Stephanie said. “He again

shared a book from this series and

then had students ‘code’ and draw

their own robots. He encouraged

students to take these robot characters and

use them to start their own stories.”

While author’s days happen annually

in the elementary schools, this marked the

first time Upper St. Clair has connected

two of its schools for virtual live programming.

The K–2 presentation at Baker in

the morning was streamed live for Streams

kindergarten students and the same presentation

in the afternoon at Streams was

broadcast live for Baker kindergarteners.

“This is the first time we have shared

a live presentation from one school to

another school,” said Linda. “We have

watched multiple authors via Zoom, but

this provided the added benefit of allowing

our kindergarteners to watch it in real

time. Our tech department put in a lot of

time making sure that they got good sound

and picture quality of Josh and his slides.”

Including the kindergarten students in

the author’s visit was a priority for both

librarians.

“Often, depending on the time of an

assembly, kindergarten students miss out

on these opportunities,” said Stephanie.

“We felt it was important to make sure they

had a chance to listen to Josh Funk, hear

from an author and connect — even if it

was virtual. We are very grateful to our tech

department for making this idea a reality!”

Not only did hundreds of students benefit

from Josh Funk’s author visit, but the

collaboration among the four school districts

provided a boost for local bookstores.

“The students here really enjoyed his

presentation, and they love his books,”

said Linda. “Another advantage is that,

according to Josh, each school district

utilized a different independent bookstore

in the area.” n

For more information about Josh Funk and

his books, visit him at joshfunkbooks.com.


Kindness was overflowing

in Upper St. Clair

as the high school celebrated

Kindness Week this

past October. In addition

to promoting kindness

among peers, a team of

“super” high school students shared their message with the district’s

youngest students.

Upper St. Clair’s Kindness Week is part of the #bethekindkid

Kindness in Action Campaign, in partnership with Remake

Learning, as well as the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for

Hate program.

The effort was led by members of USCHS Student Council

and the school’s No Place for Hate committee. Student leaders

included seniors Ava Casciato, Kate Falce, Joe Donnelly and Luke

McDonough; juniors Ryan Larocco, Ben Seewald, Carly Shontz,

Emma Toosi and Jack Yurcich; sophomores Bella Donnelly,

Gianna D’Orazio, Braidyn Recker, Lily Simons and Gigi Spina; and

freshmen Caty Howard, Coco Jones, Trevor McClintock-Comeaux

and Rachel Scharrer.

“We hope our efforts to promote kindness will actually reach

every high school student,” said Carly Shontz. “Kindness is so

important in treating others with respect and creating a good

environment for us to learn and socialize in.”

Events and themed-days were planned throughout the weeklong

event. Student leaders created several videos and celebrated

kindness on Student Council’s Instagram account. High school

students were encouraged to complete several activities on the

Kindness Checklist, including:

• Write a thank you note to a secretary, aide, custodian or

nutrition center work.

• Pick-up trash in the cafeteria or cafe321 during lunch.

• Smile at someone you don’t know.

• Compliment your Block 3 or Block 5 teacher.

• Take a Be Kind photo and direct message the Student Council

Instagram account.

• Let someone get in front of you in the lunch line.

• Say thank you to a school police officer.

• Wear a cardigan on Wednesday.

• Write a poem for the school nurse.

“Even if it is just one person, it is worth it because that one

person having a better day could lead to so many more positive

actions in the future,” said Ryan Larocco. “While not everyone will

Kindness is a Superpower in USC

be kind all the

time, hopefully

these efforts

will be the beginnings

of a

kinder Upper

St. Clair High

School.”

Dr. Dan

Beck, assistant

principal,

and Brooke

Tarcson, head of student

activities, serve as

advisers.

“It was awesome to

partner with students as

we reflected on the impact

of kindness in our

lives, and all we needed

to do was provide them with the opportunity,” said Dr. Beck.

“Students were truly empowered to discover innovative ways to

spread kindness in our community, and it was a blast to watch

how it all played out.”

The student leadership group has committed significant resources

to promoting kindness within and beyond the high school,

extending its kindness initiative to the district’s three elementary

schools. Complete with superhero masks and capes, the high

school students presented lessons on kindness to students in

grades K through 2 at Baker, Eisenhower and Streams.

The high school superheroes each shared their kindness superpower,

which included saying hello to someone new, giving a

high five, making their bed, saying please and thank you, holding

the door for others and playing with younger siblings. They read

the book, “Kindness is my Superpower,” shared a short video

about kindness and completed an activity together. Kindergarten

students colored their very own kindness superhero masks, and

first and second graders wrote thank you notes to someone special.

“Kindness is an invaluable lesson for high school students to

share. Many of the adults, including myself, had tears of joy watching

the students interact,” said Streams principal Dr. Klousnitzer.

“This exchange not only illustrated the high school students’ success

in delivering the lesson but also demonstrated how young

minds can be inspired to make a difference by spreading kindness

throughout their school

and community.” n


Courtyard Crew Grows at Boyce

Boyce Middle School’s interior courtyard is in

the midst of a transformation, thanks to the excitement of

the school’s fifth and sixth graders. More than 120 students

have signed up for the Courtyard Crew, which is revitalizing

the Boyce courtyard through gardening.

The Courtyard Crew, part of the school’s Pride Time

library programming, has become so large that the students

are divided into eight teams. Although each team meets

every other week, at least one team works in the library

and courtyard every afternoon. The program is one of the

clubs organized by Morgan Olsen, Boyce Middle School

librarian.

“We would like to create a beautiful green space within

the school that students can learn from and in,” Mrs. Olsen

said. “The Courtyard Crew finds gardening at the end of the

school day a great way to relax and have fun with friends!”

“The objective is to provide unique and engaging opportunities

for students outside of the traditional classroom setting,”

said Dr. Dan O’Rourke, Boyce principal. “Our courtyard is a

perfect space for students to collaborate, problem-solve, enjoy

nice weather and grow flowers, fruits and vegetables.” n

The Courtyard Crew is currently accepting community donations of

unwanted perennial plants to add to the courtyard. To coordinate a

donation, contact Morgan Olsen at molsen@uscsd.k12.pa.us.


Finley Garvey

The World Is Always Moving

Finley Garvey

A leaf as still as stone

Never moves an inch,

Unless the leaf is blown

To travel with the wind.

The movement of the earth, the wind, the

fire and the rain

Wouldn’t be the main four elements

If they always stayed the same.

The embers dance their orange and red

Upon the maze of wood.

Set the green ablaze as it spreads

As quickly as it could.

The ocean’s vibrant blue

Is always rolling with the sea,

And the colors wisping down the stream

Run oh so gracefully.

And while all of nature dances in sync

The leaf stays still as stone.

What doesn’t move with the rest of the

world

Is always left alone.

Poems Selected

for Publication

Fort Couch seventh graders Lindsey Fitzgerald and Finley Garvey were

selected for publication in the Creative Communication fall poetry contest.

Finley’s poem, “The World Is Always Moving,” and Lindsey’s poem, “A World Lit

Up by Flames,” will be published in a student poetry anthology. Only the top 45–55%

of entries are included in the publication.

Learn more about Creative Communications online: poeticpower.com/students. n

Lindsey Fitzgerald

A World Lit Up by Flames

Lindsey Fitzgerald

Serenity and peace are what we all desire,

But many’s eyes are blinded by the fire.

When we tried to stop their mad unhinge,

We failed and brought back scars and

singe.

We struggled to navigate their twisted

maze

As they kept fighting; a powerful blaze.

They’d found a way to be fueled by our

fearing

So they could keep their deadly heat

searing.

As we looked at the chaos we tried to

remember

Why coals led to spark and spark led to

ember.

Soon we would find that they had no sense,

Just an insane craving for scorching

violence

But one day, at last, it came to a close;

A bucket of water doused the inferno.

A truce was formed and everyone cheered,

Their worst enemy at length disappeared.

But a fire cannot truly be put out

And the flare will return without a doubt.

We must accept that peace will never stay

In this broken world lit up by flames.

Trivia

Contest Win

Helps Fund

Service Trip

The USCHS Interact Club

was crowned champion in the Trivia

Challenge, hosted by Rotary District

7305. The USCHS trivia team consisted

of juniors Jamie Barrett, Addison

Fitzgerald, Hannah Del and Anna

Engelman. As trivia champion, the club

earned a monetary award, which will

be used toward the club’s upcoming

service trip to the Give Kids the World

Village in Kissimmee, Fla., this March.

The Give Kids the World Village is

a Make-a-Wish partner organization.

While volunteering, students will help

serve meals, run amusement attractions/games

and help organize events

for the wish children and their families.

The Gold Team’s

Let

Experience

Work for You!

Each office is owned and operated independently


Fort Couch Team Earns Gold at

History Bowl

This past December, Fort Couch

eighth graders Claire Birmingham, Alexa

Galbraith and Kiran Khurana placed first

in the middle school division (6–8) of the

annual History Bowl, marking back-toback

History Bowl wins.

The event, sponsored by the Allegheny

Intermediate Unit, brings together

hundreds of local students from dozens of

school districts for a fun and experiential

competition. History Bowl requires

participants to use the John Heinz

History Center’s collection to answer

local trivia, collaborate/problem solve

and demonstrate creative writing skills.

Marching Band Earns Top Scores

at PIMBA Competition

The Upper St. Clair Marching Band earned first place, as well as Best Music

Performance and Best Effect awards, in Class AA at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic

Marching Band Association (PIMBA) competition held at Mt. Lebanon High School.

The performance featured the marching band’s Graceland to Liverpool show.

The band is under the direction of Dr. John Seybert, performing arts curriculum

leader and director of bands. The band was led on the field by USCHS senior Brian

McFerran, drum major.

#HaveYouHeard?

Heard?

Students Explore Technology-Based Career Pathways

Students at USCHS explored Full Sail University’s Mobile Experience. Housed in

an 85-foot trailer, the Mobile Experience offers hands-on exhibits in five technologyrelated

areas, including Art, Animation and Design; Game Design and Esports;

Video Production; Technology and VR; and Audio Engineering.

Full Sail University staff presented different opportunities in the music, movie

production and gaming fields, including the production and business-side of the

industry.

“Students were surprised at

the opportunities available in

the different industries that were

presented,” said Monica Erwin,

USC Esports Club sponsor.

“This gave students options for

different pathways they may not

have known even existed and/or

how to pursue that pathway or

interest.”

Located in Winter Park,

Fla., Full Sail University offers

associate, bachelor’s and master’s

degrees.

Robotics Team Advances to State

Competition

This past December, Upper St.

Clair robotics team Blue Biohazardz

placed third overall in the Western

Pennsylvania FIRST LEGO League

(FLL) Grand Championship,

advancing to the PA-West FLL

Championship. The team also placed

second in robot design and ninth in

robot performance. This marks the

first time that a USC Robotics team has

advanced in this competition.

The Blue Biohazardz team of

eighth graders includes Sadie Dilmore,

Noa Guizzi, Lily Seal, Suhavi Singh,

Mahi Thacker, Emma Wakefield and

Betsy Zheng, as well as seventh grader

Aanya Jha. Coaches include Jake Seal,

Amrit Singh and Susan Wakefield.

More than 60 teams from

throughout the region competed in

the event and were scored in four

categories: robot design, innovation,

core values and robot performance.


Eighth Grader Named Essay Contest Winner

Upper St. Clair eighth grader Suhavi Singh was

named top winner in the annual Creative Writing

and Arts Contest, part of the 2023 Mahatma

Gandhi Birthday Celebration at Carnegie Mellon

University.

This marked Suhavi’s third time earning

recognition in the contest. She was among the

top winners in 2020 and in 2022.

The theme for this year’s contest was

“Promoting Non-Violence through Spirituality:

Lessons from Gandhi and Martin Luther King

Jr.” Students in the 6–8 division were tasked with

writing an essay, poetry or musical composition

that represents Gandhi’s and MLK Jr.’s belief

that through spirituality and working together,

different religions can promote non-violence.

Suhavi Singh

Sixth Grader Earns Silver in Race

This past September, USC sixth

grader Juliette Hirzel placed second

in the 12–13 age group at the 46th

annual Richard S. Caliguiri City of

Pittsburgh Great Race.

At 12 years and 20 days old,

Juliette was among the youngest

to compete in this year’s event. She

finished the 6.2-mile course with a

time of 55:59, placing her in the top

third for all women runners.

USCHS Students Earn Top Finishes at Model UN

Upper St. Clair garnered seven top finishes at the Model UN high school

conference, sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh this past October.

First Place/Best Delegate

Representing China, Syrian Civil War: Isabel Vilensky

Second Place

Hellenic Parliament — Position Paper: Roshan Mishra

Third Place

Overall Delegation — Representing Equatorial Guinea: Max Biedrzycki,

Prachi Chetlur, Anoushka Barve, Pritika Gupta and Kaia Petrick

Economic and Financial Committee (ECOFIN) — Representing China:

Shiven Verma and Ian Putorti

Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Issues (SOCHUM) — Representing

Equatorial Guinea: Anoushka Barve and Pritika Gupta

Space Regulation — Position Paper: Rohan Mehta

U.S. National Security Council — Position Paper: Will Whitman

Senior Named 2024 Coca-Cola Scholar Finalist

Upper St. Clair High School senior Isaac

Bernstein was named a 2023–24 Coca-Cola

Scholar Regional Finalist. Isaac is one of only

three in the Pittsburgh area, 15 in Pennsylvania

and 250 in the nation to earn this honor.

“This is a huge accomplishment — these

students have progressed to the second stage of

selection after the review of 1,514 Semifinalists

who were chosen from among more than

103,800 applicants hoping to be named Coca-

Cola Scholars this year,” said Jane Hale Hopkins,

president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.

One hundred fifty Coke Scholars will be

named in March to receive a $20,000 college

scholarship and attend Coca-Cola Scholars

Weekend in Atlanta.

Isaac Bernstein

USC Teams Excel at Lit. Fest!

This past November, Upper St.

Clair students earned a first place

and two third place finishes in

the South Hills Literary Festival,

held at the Andrew Carnegie Free

Library & Music Hall in Carnegie.

In the high school division,

the team of Josh Beitler, Sophia

Whitman and Carlee Santel

placed first in the book sculpture

challenge and third in the Battle of

the Books. The Fort Couch team

of Seth Pedretti, Will Kreizenbeck,

Owen Maher and Max Belczyk

took home third in the Battle of

the Books middle school division.


PTC

Pawprints...

Council

Pamela Scureman, President

Thirty years ago, all of the schools had school directories that

were usually created by the unit PTAs. Then, during the 1996–97

school year, the individual school directories were consolidated

into a district-wide one. To create the directory, the district/school

provided a list of information to the chair(s), which was then

hand-typed into a computer program by the chair(s), checked

for accuracy and sent off to a local printer.

The USC PTC is still creating the district-wide directory,

with the help of Tina Vojtko, district communications specialist,

Kerstin Goodworth, USC PTC directory chairperson, Dr. Lauren

Madia, NCC, Director of Pupil Services, the district tech department

and many other helpers.

Over the years, the process has continually been updated,

thankfully! There is now an online app version — Membership

Toolkit for quick access on your phone — as well as a print version.

Producing the district-wide directory remains time consuming

and is a large project to undertake. The USC PTC executive

board is thankful for all of the support from Kerstin and the

district for enabling Council to continue to provide this very

useful tool!

High School PTSO

Leria Miles, President

This past December, the High School Make-A-Wish Club

raised more than $1000 through its 11th annual Holiday Hoops

basketball tournament. The Make-A-Wish Club plans to continue

its fundraising efforts to fund a child’s complete wish.

Team Tauch — Josh Ioli, Marco Carone, Luke Ralyea, Grahm Tauch,

Marshall Howe — winners of Holiday Hoops

Fort Couch PTSO

Elizabeth Taylor, President

Over the years, Fort Couch has served many different roles,

from a middle school to a junior high to a high school and then

back to a middle school. Not many know this, but the district’s

first two graduating classes went to their high school classes at

Fort Couch! The current administrative team of Erin Peterson and

Gordon Mathews reflected on how Fort Couch has changed over

the past decades, evolving in a number of ways, while remaining

the same in some areas.

Thirty years ago, students visited the computer lab if they wanted

to type a paper; now every student has a Chromebook in our 1:1 initiative.

Thirty years ago, students walked long narrow hallways to

get to their next class; now students’ classrooms are located together

in teams. Thirty years ago, student extracurriculars were limited and

all were held after school; now students participate in clubs multiple

times a month. Thirty years ago, many of our current middle school

parents were students here!

Although we have highlighted the differences, there are areas

where Fort Couch remains unchanged. The PTSO sponsored socials

are still highlights for students (albeit the music has changed!),

the arts and athletics offerings are robust and round out the Fort

Couch opportunity, students still take a yearly field trip to the USC

Wetlands — and ping-pong is still a favorite pastime in eighth grade!

Most importantly, the critical tenets have remained the same: Fort

Couch was, and is still, a school with exceptional staff who truly

care about students.

—Erin Peterson

Boyce PTO

Ashlee Lentini, President

A lot of exciting things happen in the fifth and sixth grades,

and this winter has been no exception. With the implementation

of the new CAPS program this year at the middle school level,

the students have been spending one quarter of their expressive

arts time with Dr. Kelly Pascarella, focusing on community and

economy, financial literacy, work and career readiness and business

management. The course culminates with a field trip that

enables them to apply the knowledge and skills that they learned

in a town simulation.

The Boyce students continue to make community outreach a

priority. Our counselors and students collected a variety of items

during the December Friendship Bag project to support the Children’s

Home for the coming months. A lucky group of students

were selected to visit the Children’s Home to deliver the gift bags

from the students! They were so grateful for everything we did

to help support their programs.

Baker PTA

Kelly Meyers, President

Baker PTA has been busy for the past 30+ years! Although

many things have changed in our school over the years, one thing

has certainly remained the same — the wonderfully caring and


... a USC Parent Teacher Council Feature

PTC

involved parents and staff members of Baker. Our most-tenured

teacher, Frank McFerran, has taught second grade at Baker for

the past 35 years (he even did his student teaching here!) and

fondly remembers the many students he’s had the privilege of

teaching and nurturing over those years. He loves when he runs

into former students and seeing how they have grown.

Mr. McFerran recalls how the PTA organization of the past is

much like our current PTA of today. Baker parents have always

been involved and dedicated to ensuring the students receive

the best overall experience at Baker. Mr. McFerran’s personal

favorite PTA event is the Boo Bash (formerly Baker Caper). One

year, he remembers there was even a dunk tank! Looking ahead

to this semester, we have a number of fun events coming up.

Fan favorites, including Bingo Night, Read-A-Thon and Baker

Bedtime Stories, are on the calendar. We are delighted to bring

back in-person Baker Bedtime Stories where the students have

a fun evening experience at Baker. Students wear their jammies

and teachers read stories to them. This semester, we also introduced

a new event called the Baker Family Cultural Fair, where

families exhibit something from their family’s heritage. And, of

course, the ever-popular Baker’s Got Talent Show is sure to entertain

everyone this April! On behalf of Baker PTA, thank you

for everyone’s support!

Eisenhower PTO

Jennifer Zofchak, President

A lot can change in 30 years! The Eisenhower PTO is no exception.

Since the inception of the PTA/PTO, it has always been

a mission to enhance our students’ educational experiences by

supporting academics and providing enrichment activities, while

creating a strong bond between home and school. One way we

aim to achieve this goal is by offering our grade level socials! This

year, parents joined their students at school for a special evening

out. The kindergarten students were amazed by an incredible

magician. First grade students were enthralled by a spectacular

animal show, while second grade students got to explore “Chemmystery”

in a fun show presented by the Carnegie Science Center.

Third grade students had a rollicking time at our rodeo-themed

event. Later this year, fourth grade students will enjoy all of their

end-of-the-year activities including a fourth grade versus staff

game or sport, yearbooks, t-shirts and a farewell party.

We always look forward to providing additional opportunities

that enhance the experience of students and families of the

Eisenhower community, and we are truly grateful for the support

from students, parents, staff, volunteers and the district to make

Eisenhower a wonderful place to be!

Streams PTO

Brittany Weiler, President

Although a lot has changed within the walls of Streams over the

past 30 years, one thing that remains a constant is our PTA/PTO.

Roughly 15 years ago, we were a PTA. Membership fees went

to the PTA national organization for them to provide support to

the local PTAs, and in return they gave guidance on how to run

a meeting, form a committee, etc. But our Streams parents were

already a well-oiled machine and voted to switch to a PTO and

save the money sent to the national organization and put it towards

our school and students. After switching from a PTA to a

PTO, we were able to keep our membership fees local to provide

more activities for our students.

We also have become more “green” over the past 30 years. We

now offer more electronic ways to sign up for committees, pay

and prepay for activities, sell spirit wear and collect membership

fees. We also host our meetings virtually.

One thing that remains the same is the PTO’s dedication to

the school, students, teachers and families. We aim to strengthen

the bond between school and home with the activities that we

offer. Some of our favorite activities are our annual Stravaganza,

grade level special nights, field trips, ice-cream socials, book fair

and spirit nights. Looking ahead to the end of our school year,

we look forward to STAR night, field day, Kindergarten Olympics

and teacher appreciation week! n

Doors of Upper St. Clair

TODAY is happy to

share photos of some

door signs celebrating

USC High School’s

student-athletes! 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.


WHERE YOU'RE

MORE THAN

A PATIENT

Kelly, Mt. Lebanon

Proud Mother

Former D1 Athlete

Severe Heart Failure Survivor

stclair.org

A Heartwarming Journey to Recovery

Kelly Calvino is all heart. It’s evident

in everything she has done throughout

her lifetime.

As an athlete: From excelling in

gymnastics, volleyball, track and soccer

as a student at Whitefish Bay High

School in Milwaukee, Wis., to competing

as a diver while attending Syracuse

University, and then taking up running as

an adult. Kelly actually completed more

than 12 long distance races while pregnant,

with coaching from her mother, who ran

through all three of her pregnancies as well.

As a nurse: After being introduced to

cardiology as a kid due to her father’s career

in international cardiovascular sales — and

exploring the field further during a college

internship — Kelly ultimately pursued a

nursing career in mostly cardiovascular

and thoracic services. She enjoys both

helping patients and interpreting test

results.

As a mother: Passing on her love of

water sports to her three sons, Parker,

Emery and Finley, so they could enjoy

swimming, water skiing and more as a

family. Though they tragically lost Emery

following an incident on the water four

years ago, Kelly and her husband, Tony,

ensured his memory would live on through

organ donation and an annual nonprofit

fundraising campaign.

Because Kelly has always had so much

heart to give, she never could have imagined

that her heart function would be

severely weakened in her late 30s. But she

and her family knew something was up

when she began experiencing symptoms.

“I woke up one afternoon and saw my

ankles were extremely swollen. Following

my nursing shift, I noticed the swelling

had gone up to my knees,” explains Kelly.

“Then we had to fly from Pittsburgh to

Wisconsin to see family, and I noticed the

swelling progressed to my face when we

got to my in-laws’ house.”

Kelly visited a Wisconsin hospital

after her eldest son, Parker, noticed she

was struggling to keep up with the family

at the airport. Kelly says, “They gave me

medicine to temporarily lose water weight

so I could breathe better. And while there

was indication it was my heart based on

test results, they also said it was safe to

go home.”

When Kelly returned to Pittsburgh, it

was her physician assistant neighbor who

insisted she visit St. Clair Health for a more

thorough evaluation. And that is how Kelly

learned she has non-ischemic cardiomyopathy

with congestive heart failure.

“Most of us probably assume that’s a

condition associated with later ages, and

so Kelly was understandably taken aback,”

says Christopher Pray, MD, Director of

Cardiac Imaging and Heart Failure at St.

Clair Health. “But we do see patients with

weakened heart muscles and congestive

heart failure at any age.”

“I didn’t really think it was that serious

because I didn’t feel sick other than being

short of breath. And I didn’t really believe it

at first because we have no history of heart

disease in our family,” shares Kelly. “I’m so

thankful every day that Dr. Pray ordered a

bedside echocardiogram and admitted me

for additional testing. I really feel like he

saved my life.”

Dr. Pray & Kelly Calvino

“Our collaborative, multidisciplinary

approach allowed us to very quickly understand

why Kelly was having this problem

and set her up for the right course of treatment

with four heart failure medications,”

explains Dr. Pray. “We’ve watched Kelly’s

heart function improve from 21% all the

way back up to 45%, which is only mildly

weakened, in just a matter of months.”

Dr. Pray continues, “It will be an ongoing

process to get Kelly back to her normal

self, but it’s been very rewarding watching

her progress so far. Kelly completed cardiac

rehab, continues to tolerate her medications

and is back to work.”

“I am now running on my own again

and want to get my heart function back to

normal so I can run one more marathon in

the future. I think I’ll get there with guidance

from Dr. Pray, along with support and

love from Finley, Parker and Tony. They

have been a big source of strength through

all this,” emphasizes Kelly. n

To make an appointment with Dr. Pray or another St. Clair Medical Group Cardiology provider,

please call 412.942.7780. Learn more about the world-class cardiovascular care available to you,

close to home, at stclair.org/scmgcardiology. See ad on page 44.


Township

Commissioners

Township Administration

Daniel R. Paoly

President

At Large

Day 412-831-9000

Evening 412-862-5995

2025*

Dante R. Plutko Jr.

Vice President

Ward 1

Matthew R.

Serakowski

Township Manager

Mark S. Mansfield

Asst. Township Manager &

Director of Administration

Mark P. Romito

Director of Finance

Adam A. Benigni

Director of Planning &

Community Development

Day 412-831-9000

Evening 412-389-5187

2027*

Pamela L. Enck

Ward 2

Ed Poljak

Director of Information

Technology

George Kostelich, Jr.

Director of Public Works

Christian Gmiter

Director of Library

Jason Miller

Director of Recreation &

Leisure Services

Day 412-831-9000

2025*

Jason H. Graves

Ward 3

Public

Safety

Day 412-831-9000

2027*

Todd D. Burlingame

Ward 4

Day 412-831-9000

2025*

Ronald J. Pardini

Ward 5

Day 412-831-9000

Evening 724-941-1199

2027*

Richard I. Thomas

At Large

Day 412-831-9000

2027*

*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.

Jonathan Wharton

Chief of Police

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

Jason Miller............................................. 6560

Director of Recreation & Leisure Services

Ted Hale

Fire Chief

Keith Morse

Chief of Tri-Community South

EMS

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

Check out the Township’s website

twpusc.org

Follow the Township of

Upper St. Clair on social

media for the latest news

and announcements.

2024 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

Oct. 2, 2023

Approximately 14 people attended.

Recognitions

• Commissioner Orchowski presented a Proclamation

to the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department

designating Oct. 8–14, 2023, as Fire Prevention

Week in Upper St. Clair.

• Commissioner Orchowski recognized the following

Volunteer Fire Department members for their years

of service: Ross Taylor–5 Years, Abbey Scannell–5

Years, Alex Gillespie–5 Years, Michael Chornack–5

Years, Michael Moore–20 Years, Drew Gerlach–25

Years, Jerry Kopach–40 Years and Dan Ferguson–45

Years

The Board

• Closed Public Hearing Re. PLC23-0008 — Lifeline

Physical Therapy — Conditional Use Approval.

• Adopted Bill No. 12-23 Re. PLC23-0008 — LifeLine

Physical Therapy — Conditional Use Approval.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1753 Re. Approval for

a Grant Application through the Department of

Community and Economic Development Local

Share Account for the Morton Complex/Park

Rehabilitation and Development Project.

Nov. 6, 2023

Approximately four people attended.

The Board

• Adopted Bill No. 13-23 Re. PLC23-0011— Brendan

Brown Subdivision Plan — Preliminary/Final

Subdivision Approval.

• Approved Resolution No. 1754 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-Warehouse in the RM District Restricted Light

Industrial District on Jan. 2, 2024.

• Approved Resolution No. 1755 Re. Approval for

a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Application through the Allegheny County

Economic Development (ACED) Division for the

Demolition of 1600 Painters Run Road.

• Closed the Public Hearing Re. 2024 Proposed

Budget.

(l/r) Mike Moore, Ross Taylor, Alex Gillespie, Dan Ferguson,

Ted Hale, Jerry Kopach, Commissioner Orchowski

Dec. 4, 2023

Approximately 20 people attended.

Recognitions

• Commissioner Pardini presented a Proclamation

recognizing Hunter Fitzpatrick Maher for attaining

the rank of Eagle Scout.

(l/r) Mary Maher, Hunter Fitzpatrick Maher,

Commissioner Pardini

The Board

• Closed Public Hearing Re. PLC23-0010 — Morton

Fields Complex — Site Plan Approval.

• Adopted Bill No. 14-23 Re. PLC23-0010 —

Morton Fields Complex — Site Plan Approval.

(/r) Fire Chief Ted Hale and

Commissioner Orchowski

• Continued Public Hearing Re. PLC23-0009 —

St. Clair Country Club Golf Building — Unified

Conditional Use/Preliminary and Final

Land Development Approval to the Board of

Commissioners’ Regular Meeting on Jan. 2, 2024.

• Adopted Resolution No. 1756 Re. Application for

Transfer of Liquor License — Hidden Vine, LLC.

• Approved the 2025 — 2035 Comprehensive

Plan Consultant Selection of Herber, Rowland &

Grubic, Inc.

• Adopted Bill No. 15-23 Re. Adoption of the 2024

Proposed Budget.

• Approved the following Reappointments to various

Volunteer Boards/Commissions.

Building and Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory

Board – 3-year term

David J. McLean

Robert T. Stevens, Jr.

Civil Service Board – 3-year term

Shon Worner

Library Board – 3-year term

Barbara Zimmt

Park and Recreation Advisory Board – 3-year term

Kelly B. Bakayza

William O. Barnard

Roger Hartung, Chair

Diane Morris

Planning Commission – 4-year term

Yvonne Piecknick, Secretary

• Adopted Resolution No. 1757 Re. the

reappointment of Gregg R. Zegarelli to the Zoning

Hearing Board of the Township of Upper St. Clair.

Stay up-to-date

with all the news

and reminders

around USC!

Sign up for the

Township’s email

list by scanning

the QR code.

Approval of Contracts

• Stephenson Equipment, Inc...............$105,378.00

One (1) 10’6” Dump Body Upfit

with stainless steel spreader,

salt and liquid dispensing system

& snowplow (for 2024 International

Cab and Chassis)

• Sabre Equipment.................................$25,244.00

One (1) Reading Utility Body Upfit

with bed liner & ladder jacks (for 2024

Ford F350 Cab & Chassis)

• Kubota Tractor Corporation.................$49,998.85

One (1) 2023 Kubota Tractor


Department of Finance

Township Budget Overview

The Township’s Board of Commissioners has once again approved

a budget with no tax increase. For the 15th consecutive year, the

budget keeps tax rates level. The real estate tax millage rate, currently

3.83, has remained flat since 2010. The Township’s earned income

tax rate, currently 0.80%, has not changed since 2007.

The 2024 budget process began in May, with a focus on balancing

new economic realities with the continued commitment to delivering

high-quality services. Managing uncertainties, like when products

will be delivered, while also ensuring the continued operation of

vital services such as maintaining safe roads and clean parks, has

proved challenging. Additional burdens have been created by delays

in ongoing projects, some attributed to supply chain disruptions and

others linked to contractor issues. Despite the challenges, we remain

determined in our pursuit of the Township’s strategic goals and commitment

to fiscal responsibility. During this budget process, staff has

remained mindful of the goal to ensure long-term, sustainable service

delivery and operations. This goal also aligns with the Township’s

budget philosophy which emphasizes long-term financial planning.

The Township’s budget comprises 13 separate funds. The operations

of each fund are accounted for by providing a separate set of

self-balancing accounts, which include its assets, liabilities, fund

equity, revenues and expenditures. This compartmentalization of

resources, transactions and statements is necessary to ensure that

specific revenue sources are used to finance the specific activities for

which they are intended. The Township’s primary operating fund

is the General Fund, which is supported by taxes, fees and other

revenues. The General Fund includes all operations not required

by law, policy or external restriction to be recorded in other funds.

Full details are available in the Township’s award-winning budget

document, which can be found online at twpusc.org/budget.

Where the Money Comes From

The Township’s primary sources of operating revenue in 2024

continues to be earned income tax and real estate tax. These taxes

combine to make up roughly 78% of total General Fund revenues.

The balance of operating revenue is comprised of other taxes and

other revenue. Other taxes include real estate transfer, sales & use

2024 Budget Highlights

and local services taxes. Other revenue consists of permits, fees,

fines, service agreements, investment earnings and recreation fees.

General Fund revenues are budgeted at $26,651,395 for 2024

– an increase of 5.7% from the 2023 budget. Notable revenue

changes include continued growth in earned income tax and sales

tax, along with an increase in interest income. The General Fund

is projected to end the year with an unassigned fund balance that

achieves the Government Finance Officers Association’s recommended

fund balance level.

Where the Money Goes

General Fund operating expenditures are projected to be

$19,672,410, which is a 5.7% increase from the 2023 budget. The

accompanying chart illustrates how the expenditures are distributed

across the major program areas. The Township’s two largest

programs are Public Safety and Public Works, which combine

to represent 73% of the operating portion of the General Fund

budget. This includes Refuse Collection, a cost that increased 28%

for 2024. The remaining difference of budgeted revenues over

operating expenses of $6,978,985 will be used to fund debt service

costs of $3,039,913, and transfers to other funds of $3,939,072.

For more information, visit twpusc.org.

Capital Projects Fund

The Capital Projects Fund accounts for most of the

Township’s major equipment purchases and capital projects

and is based largely upon the five-year Capital Improvements

Program. The largest item in this fund for 2024 is

the Morton Fields Complex renovation. Funding for the

project is budgeted to come from a combination of grants

and bond proceeds. Additional items in the Capital Projects

Fund will be covered by a combination of grants, General

Fund transfers and the portion of fund balance that is specifically

assigned for Capital Reserve. Other significant items

in this fund for 2024 are $2,000,000 for the annual Street

Improvement Program and $1,750,000 for a new fire truck.



2023 and 2024 General Fund Budget

GENERAL FUND REVENUES

2023 2024 Increase Percentage

Major Revenues Budget Budget (Decrease) Change

Real Estate Tax $8,757,750 $8,688,250 $(69,500) (0.79%)

Earned Income Tax 10,987,000 11,975,000 988,000 8.99%

Local Services Tax 313,250 350,000 36,750 11.73%

Real Estate Transfer Tax 1,600,000 1,445,000 (155,000) (9.69%)

Public Utilities Tax 18,500 17,500 (1,000) (5.41%)

Local Option Sales & 637,000 748,000 111,000 17.43%

Use Tax

Licenses and Permits 142,050 153,100 11,050 7.78%

Fees and Fines 479,900 450,550 (29,350) (6.12%)

Rental Income 3,040 3,131 91 2.99%

Investment Earnings 110,000 550,000 440,000 400.00%

Service Agreements 301,019 305,169 4,150 1.38%

Other Non-Tax Revenue 1,465,945 1,439,795 (26,150) (1.78%)

Recreation Fees 405,000 525,900 120,900 29.85%

Total Revenues $25,220,454 $26,651,395 $1,430,941 5.67%

Fund Balance - - - 0.00%

Total Major

Revenues $25,220,454 $26,651,395 $1,430,941 5.67%

GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS

2023 2024 Increase Percentage

Major Program Areas Budget Budget (Decrease) Change

General Government $2,275,406 $2,342,536 $67,130 2.95%

Public Safety 6,657,581 6,960,441 302,860 4.55%

Community Development 883,060 915,085 32,025 3.63%

Public Works 5,456,148 5,408,850 (47,298) (0.87%)

Refuse Collection 1,569,500 2,010,000 440,500 28.07%

Recreation & Leisure

Services 624,450 743,920 119,470 19.13%

Library 951,089 1,045,168 94,079 9.89%

Unallocated Insurance

Costs 201,175 246,410 45,235 22.49%

Operating

Expenditures $18,618,409 $19,672,410 $1,054,001 5.66%

Operating Transfers 4,758,888 3,939,072 (819,816) (17.23%)

Debt Service Payments 1,843,157 3,039,913 1,196,756 64.93%

Non-Operating

Expenditures $6,602,045 $6,978,985 $376,940 5.71%

Total

Expenditures $25,220,454 $26,651,395 $1,430,941 5.67%

Fund Balance - - - 0.00%

Total Major Programs $25,220,454 $26,651,395 $1,430,941 5.67%

Boyce Mayview Community & Recreation Center (C&RC) Fund

Membership levels at the Community

& Recreation Center (C&RC) hit new highs

in 2023, but wages and general inflation

continue to pressure the operating budget in

several areas. Additionally, maintenance needs

are growing with the aging of the facility, which

increases the cost of operations. This is reflected

in the 2024 Budget, which has overall operating

costs increasing by 6.7% over 2023. Capital

expenses planned for 2024 include the routine

replacement of fitness, technology and aquatics

equipment, an HVAC unit replacement and

upgrades to the ductwork and lighting within

the indoor aquatics area.

Membership revenue for 2024 is budgeted at

$3,520,000, which anticipates a small increase

in membership rates. Other operating revenue

sources in the C&RC Fund include facility

rental revenue, program revenue, daily admissions and miscellaneous

revenue. These sources are budgeted to total $695,000 in 2024. The

General Fund will appropriate $1,181,856 to the C&RC Fund for

debt service costs associated with the construction of the C&RC

building and $654,461 to support the common area operations of

the C&RC. n

General Fund Operating

Appropriation, $654,461

Other

Revenue,

$295,500

Program Revenue,

$399,500

General Fund

Debt Service

Appropriation,

$1,181,856

Membership

Revenue,

$3,520,000

Commodities,

$386,950

Distributed Costs,

$313,779

Debt Service,

$1,181,856

Contractual

Services,

$1,343,650

Personal

Services,

$2,924,007

2024 Real Estate Tax

Notice and Payment

Schedule

The Township of Upper St. Clair and

the Upper St. Clair School District hereby give

public notice to all Township real estate taxpayers

of the payment schedule of each taxing body

for the year 2024.

The Township’s real estate tax millage rate

for 2024 has been set at 3.83 mills. The School

District’s schedule is dependent upon its adoption

of a real estate tax millage rate for the

2024–2025 fiscal year no later than June 2024.

2024 Township Real Estate Tax Schedule

Date

Tax Period

May 1, 2024 ........................................Billing date

May 1–Jun 30, 2024 ...........................2% discount

Jul 1–Aug 31, 2024 .............................Face amount

Sep 1–Dec 31, 2024 ............................10% penalty

Jan 1, 2025 .........................................Lien date

2024 School District Real Estate Tax Schedule

Date

Tax Period

Jul 1, 2024 ..........................................Billing date

Jul 1–Aug 31, 2024 .............................2% discount

Sep 1–Oct 31, 2024 ............................Face amount

Nov 1–Dec 31, 2024 ...........................10% penalty

Jan 1, 2025..........................................Lien date

This notice reminds all taxpayers that

they are responsible to see that their property

is properly assessed and taxed, and to

request the appropriate tax bills if they have

not received them by mail. No appeals will

be granted due to a taxpayer not receiving a

real estate tax bill.

Only payments received in the tax office

or postmarked by the tax period due date

will receive the 2% discount or avoid the

10% penalty. n

Cont. on page 50


Department of Finance Cont. from page 49

2024 Earned Income and Net

Profits Tax Rate Notice

The Township of Upper St. Clair

and the Upper St. Clair School District

hereby give public notice to all residents

of the Township that the Earned Income

and Net Profits tax rates of the Township

and the School District for 2024 are 0.80%

and 0.50%, respectively, of taxable income

as defined by Act 32 of 2008. Thus, the

Township taxpayer’s total rate for 2024

is 1.30%.

All unincorporated business owners

of Upper St. Clair Township and School

District are also taxed upon the net profits

from their business at the same 1.30%

rate, and must remit their tax liability

quarterly to Jordan Tax Service on the

following schedule for 2024:

Date Tax Period

Apr 15, 2024 ....... 1st quarter 2024 tax estimate due

Jul 15, 2024 ........ 2nd quarter 2024 tax estimate due

Oct 15, 2024 ....... 3rd quarter 2024 tax estimate due

Jan 15, 2025 ........ 4th quarter 2024 tax estimate due

Quarterly tax payments are required.

A taxpayer whose employer does not

withhold local earned income tax must

file and pay quarterly tax on the aforementioned

schedule. Final tax returns are

required for all taxpayers. Final returns

for the 2023 tax year are due April 15,

2024. n

2024 Upper St. Clair Township

Sewer User Multiplier Rate

The Township of Upper St.

Clair hereby gives public notice to all

Township sewer users that ALCOSAN

has raised sewage service charges and usage

fees by 7% for 2024. The Sewer User

Multiplier Rate that is used to calculate

the Township’s cost reimbursement has

been set at 1.68 for the year.

The Township contracts with Jordan

Tax Service to provide the billing and

collection of the monthly sewer usage

fees. n


2024 Highlights

Sanitary Sewer Fund

The Township’s Sanitary Sewer Fund (SSF) accounts

for all sewer usage fees paid by residents,

and the expenses related to sewage processing

and maintenance of the sanitary

sewer system. Sewage processing is

performed by ALCOSAN, the company

that bills the Township for

the service. ALCOSAN has once

again increased its fees by 7% for

the year, but the Township’s sewer

rate multiplier is being reduced

from 1.80 to 1.68 to fully absorb

that increase. The ALCOSAN expense

remains the largest cost in the

SSF budget (see “Sewer Processing

Fees” in the accompanying chart). The

remainder of the sewer fee revenue is used

Other

Operating

Expense,

$806,180

Sewer

Rehabilitation,

$1,725,000

Depreciation &

Debt Service,

$1,099,325

Sewer

Processing

(ALCOSAN),

$5,732,000

to rehabilitate the Township’s sanitary sewer

infrastructure, and provide other services related to satisfying all regulatory requirements

that have been and will be imposed regarding sanitary sewer improvement

and maintenance. n

For more information, visit twpusc.org.

All questions or concerns regarding sewage billing should be directed to Jordan Tax

Service at 412-835-5243, option 4, or via email to sewage@jordantax.com.

Township Welcomes Jason Graves

as New Commissioner

This January, Jason H. Graves was sworn-in as a Township commissioner,

beginning a four-year term that will end on Dec. 31, 2027. He previously

served more than four years on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. A five-year

resident of USC, Jason works as a project

manager for a manufacturing company

while his wife, Bridget, who is a lifelong

USC resident, works at St. Thomas

Moore Church. Jason and Bridget have

three children, two boys and one girl

— Bracken, Liam and Brielle. Jason is a

United States Army Veteran and graduated

from Penn State University with a

bachelor’s degree in business.

Jason replaces Robert W. Orchowski

as Ward 3’s commissioner. Orchowski did

not run for re-election after 26 years of

service on the board — making him the

longest serving commissioner in Township

history. He was honored for his years

of service in December during his final

meeting as a commissioner. n

Graves Family


Township Flood Services and Protection

Upper St. Clair participates in the National Flood Insurance

Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS is a voluntary

incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain

management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements.

As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the

reduced flood risk resulting from community actions that meet the three

goals of the CRS:

• Reduce flood damage to insurable property,

• Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and

• Encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management.

In order to protect your home or business from flood damage, it is

important to access and understand flood hazard information. A complete

Flood Protection Library, including flood maps and flood protection

references, is available at the Upper St. Clair Township Library. Localized

flooding can result from even minor storms. Runoff overloads the drainageways

and flows into the streets and low-lying areas. Sewers back up;

yards are inundated. These minor storms could potentially cause more

damage as they are most likely recurring, and small impacts accumulated

over time can become major problems. A few factors to consider:

• Even shallow flooding can pose safety hazards. It is not unusual for

children to drown after slipping in shallow water or to be swept into

a ditch or storm drain. Adults and even vehicles can be swept away

by just a few inches of moving water.

• The growth of mold and mildew in damp structures after flooding

could contribute to allergies, asthma and respiratory infections, especially

in children, the elderly and those with weakened immune

systems. In addition, gasoline, pesticides, fuel oil, chemicals and other

substances can be brought into the area and into buildings by flood

waters. They soak into the soil, building components and furniture

and can result in long-term health problems.

• Even a few inches of water in the basement or ground floor of a

building can cause expensive damage. Carpeting, wallboard, insulation,

mattresses and upholstered furniture must be thrown out and

replaced. Flooring, studs and other wooden parts of the building must

be thoroughly cleaned and dried. Business records, photographs and

other papers are often destroyed.

• Flood waters can block streets, disrupt traffic patterns and hinder

access to homes and businesses. This can affect the entire community,

not just those whose property is flooded. People have to evacuate

wet and/or damaged homes, and businesses have to close. Cleanup

and repairs take time away from normal routines, interrupting lives

and business operations.

For your safety, Upper St. Clair regulates all construction and development

in floodplains to ensure that buildings will be protected from

flood damage.

What You Can Do

The Township’s efforts depend on your cooperation and assistance.

Here is how you can help:

• Do not dump or throw anything into creeks, ditches, ravines or

streams. Dumping is a violation of Section 83 of the Township Code.

Even grass clippings and branches accumulate and plug channels,

causing danger during rains.

• If your property is next to a creek or ditch, keep the banks clear of

brush and debris.

• If you see evidence of dumping of debris in creeks or ditches, contact

the Township.

• Always check with the Community Development Department

before you build, alter, grade or fill on your property. A permit

may be needed to ensure that projects do not cause problems

on the other properties. If you are in a floodplain, special

building codes may apply. The Community Development

Department will walk you through any application and answer

your questions. If you see building or filling without a Township

permit posted, contact the Community Development Department at

412-831-9000, ext. 5010.

• Help yourself by understanding floodproofing, flood insurance and

flood safety.

Flood Insurance

If you do not have flood insurance, talk

to your insurance agent. Homeowners’

insurance policies typically do not cover

damage from floods. However, because

the Township of Upper St. Clair participates in the

National Flood Insurance Program, local residents can purchase a separate

flood insurance policy. It is backed by the federal government and is available

to all residents, even for property outside a floodplain.

Any property could be flooded. Surface water can accumulate from

heavy rain, melting snow, a broken water main or a ruptured swimming

pool. Insurance agents may require photographs of the front and back of

your house, an elevation certificate (if you are in a floodplain), a completed

and signed application, and a check for the first year’s premium.

For sample flood insurance applications, visit the Flood Protection Library

in the Township library.

Stormwater Information

The Township maintains a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination

System (NPDES) permit as mandated by the Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA). This program places requirements on stormwater discharges

associated with construction activities and discharges for municipal storm

sewers. There are projects that the Township has undertaken to protect our

streams and waterways from hazardous discharge. Check the Township’s

website on a regular basis for updates on stormwater management and

flood protection in addition to the steps the Township is taking to meet

the federal requirements to keep Upper St. Clair a safe place to reside.

Sanitary Sewer Lateral Inspection Ordinance

The Township has an ordinance that requires video inspections of

private sanitary sewer laterals prior to the sale/conveyance of property.

Sewer lateral inspections must be conducted by a National Association of

Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) certified contractor.

The adopted ordinance supports the inspection, repair and replacement

of private sanitary sewer laterals that are cracked, disjointed, damaged

or blocked in order to reduce the amount of stormwater penetrating the

sanitary sewer system. The influx of stormwater into the sanitary sewer

system increases the wastewater flow in the collection system and could

potentially lead to sanitary sewer overflows during wet weather conditions.

To order the Dye Test and Sanitary Sewer Lateral Inspection paperwork,

contact the Department of Public Works at 412-831-9000, ext. 2710.

The completed forms and video of the inspection must be remitted to the

Public Works Department at least one month prior to closing, along

with a $50 fee made payable to the Township of Upper St. Clair to cover

the cost of the dye test and sanitary sewer lateral inspection evidence of

compliance letter. A copy of the ordinance can be found on the Township

website at twpusc.org.

This information is published annually as part of the National Flood

Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System recertification

and is also available on the Township website at twpusc.org.

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 USC 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, ext. 2710.


DEPARTMENT OF FIRE PROTECTION

Things to Know About Firefighting and the Upper St. Clair

Volunteer Fire Department

Ted Hale, Fire Chief

It is safe to say that no one plans on crashing their car or

having a fire in their residence. But when one of these situations

occurs, it’s a relief to know that the members of the Upper St.

Clair Volunteer Fire Department (USCVFD) have been trained

and are here to help.

In 1736, Benjamin Franklin (Father of the Fire Service)

founded the first volunteer fire company of its kind in the United

States: the Union Fire Company in Philadelphia, Pa. The Upper

St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1939 and

continues to serve the Township’s residents today. Most people

don’t know much more about the department other than when

they call for help, the USCVFD is there. Here is a bit of insight

into firefighting and the USCVFD.

Most firefighters have other jobs.

Volunteering as a firefighter is something you’ll take pride

in for the rest of your life, but something must pay the bills. Being

a volunteer firefighter doesn’t stop you from pursuing other

careers — in fact, the two can work together. Our volunteers

are business executives, pilots, engineers, electricians, business

owners, students and the list goes on. Sometimes, volunteering

can parallel with your other lifework. For example, teachers

sign up because they can be good role models to kids and talk to

them about safety. Inspectors and engineers have a lot of career

knowledge that helps them make quick calculations. You may be

surprised at how many careers are relevant.

It’s nearly impossible to see anything inside a burning

building.

Firefighting is much different than what you see on television

or in the movies. Producers make you think that there are bright

flames flickering and the room is clearly illuminated, making it

easy to find trapped people inside. In real life, that’s not how it

looks. Sometimes smoke creates a zero-visibility situation in a

matter of minutes, and firefighters must navigate through the heat

and smoke by using the skills they have gained through rigorous

training. They also use specialized equipment, such as a thermal

imaging camera, to assist them in searches for victims or fires.

Most calls aren’t for fires.

Actual fires make up a small fraction of our call volume. As a

firefighter, you never know what services are going to be requested

of you. Some calls we respond to are automatic fire alarms, carbon

monoxide alarms, motor vehicle accidents with fluids on the

roadway or a person trapped in the vehicle, hazardous materials

incidents, assisting with the search for a missing person and more.

It’s all part of the excitement of being a firefighter.

The fire department is not all men.

The fire service has changed drastically over the years, and it

is not uncommon to find females on the fireground. The USCVFD

currently has three female firefighters. It doesn’t matter if you’re

a man or a woman, young or old, muscular or not, you would

be surprised what you can do when you enjoy doing something.

We try and create a family atmosphere and we encourage every

single person who walks through our door.

It’s a physically demanding job, but equipment is lighter than

it once was, making the job that much better for both men and

women. When you get that call for help and your adrenaline is

rushing, you don’t really feel the weight on you anyway.


Not everyone has to fight fires.

Everyone has something to offer. You

don’t have to ever step foot into a burning

building or climb a ladder to be a member

of the USCFVD. It’s a business, and we

need people to run the administrative side

of things just as much as we need people

to drag a hose line into a burning building.

Members can assist with office work, fire

prevention, public service details and more.

Firefighters become one big family.

Members put in many hours and work

together through high-pressure situations,

and it doesn’t take long for members to form

a tight bond. When you become part of the

USCVFD, you and your family become an

extension of our family. If someone is getting

married or having a child, the rest of

the station gets involved and helps where

and how they can.

Sense of Pride.

The sense of satisfaction and accomplishment

when you’re able to assist a

person in need is overwhelming. Members

train and prepare for weeks and months for

their first incident. Normally, all it takes is

one experience on an emergency scene and

you are hooked for life. Being a volunteer is

a big commitment and can be a lot of hard

work, but it’s rewarding and no matter who

you are, that feeling you get from helping

people makes that commitment and hard

work worth it.

What to do if you are interested.

If you have ever thought about becoming

a firefighter but are not sure if it’s for

you, you can be part of our Citizens Fire

Academy. The citizens fire academy is a seven-week

public education class to provide

residents and business owners with a free

opportunity to learn how the department

operates. Firefighters teach every class,

covering topics such as engine and truck

company operations, rescue techniques,

fire extinguishers, fire prevention, public

education and emergency medical services.

Participants leave the academy with a real

feel for the job, thanks to the hands-on

demonstrations and opportunities to accompany

firefighters on actual fire calls. Get

an application for the Citizens Fire Academy

or an application for membership by

visiting the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire

Station, located at 2001 Washington Rd., or

download an application on our website at

uscvfd.com. n

On the Passing of Nora Helfrich

Keith Morse, Chief of Tri-Community South EMS

This past fall, Tri-Community South EMS (TCS) and the entire EMS

community mourned the passing of a true pioneer in EMS, former TCS Director

Nora Helfrich. Nora retired from TCS in late 2021 after 42 years of service to TCS

EMS. She started as a volunteer, then became a part-time employee before moving to

a full-time role. She was later promoted to a supervisor position and was eventually

named the director of TCS EMS in 2000.

With a firm and steady hand, she guided TCS to some of its most prosperous

years. While she held her staff to a high standard, she took an interest in every one

of their lives and cherished the personal connections with her staff. Her accolades

cannot be understated.

In 2006, TCS became only the second EMS service in Pennsylvania to become

CAAS certified, a designation it still holds today. In 2007, TCS was named Ambulance

Service of the Year by the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council. TCS was

also home to one of the highest-volume American Heart Association Community

Training Center’s (CTC) in the country.

Nora used the CTC as a tool to drive her passion for educating the public. Through

partnerships with the Bethel Park, South Park and Upper St. Clair school districts,

students and educators were trained in CPR. She hosted EMS students from Australia,

South Korea, Norway, Qatar, Ireland, Germany, Canada, Nigeria, Argentina, China,

Iceland and Finland.

Throughout her career, she won numerous awards, including EMS Champion

from the Allegheny County EMS Council in 2009 and 2023, the Dr. George Moerkik

Memorial Contribution to EMS in 2020 and the Sugar and Mac Fine Memorial EMS

Leadership Award from the Pennsylvania EMS Providers Foundation in September

2023.

Her influence can still be felt at TCS, in Allegheny County and the entire state.

She will never be replaced and will be sadly missed. n

Nora Helfrich with Commissioner Ron Pardini (left) and former Commissioner Mark Christie (right)


From the Director’s Desk

Chris Gmiter, Library Director

Vanessa’s Legacy: Honoring 25 Years of Dedication at the Heart of the Library

By the time this issue of TODAY goes

to press, Vanessa Ryzner, our beloved

Circulation Coordinator, will have retired after 25 years of

dedicated service.

In many ways, Vanessa was the heart of our library. Vanessa

had an absolute mastery of the library’s automated borrowing

system that is used to circulate items,

place requests for patrons and register

and renew borrower accounts. If

you had a question, Vanessa

had the answer.

Vanessa ensured that

our collection was wellappointed,

accessible

and on display. She

personally trained

staff to her own

high standards

of courtesy and

helpfulness.

When I started

here in 2020,

she took me under

her wing. I’ll

always be grateful

for how she made

me feel welcome.

To Vanessa, the

library wasn’t just a

job, it was a calling.

In March 1998, after

a career as a stay-at-home

mom (and school volunteer) to

her two sons, Vanessa answered

an ad in The Almanac and started

working here as a library assistant at the

children’s circulation desk.

At that time, the library had 32 staff members and a dozen

volunteers. “I was looking for a part-time job,” she remembers.

“I volunteered at my sons’ elementary school library and thought

working here would be a good fit.” Thankfully for us here at

the library, it was.

Soon, Vanessa was working full-time at the desk. In 2008,

she was promoted to circulation coordinator for the entire

library. Since then, she’s been responsible for staff training,

adult scheduling, circulation problem resolution (including

overdue and lost/damaged books), supervising and training

adult volunteers, assisting Friends of the Library members and

maintaining the library’s aesthetically pleasing appearance.

While Vanessa’s duties remained constant, technology has

changed dramatically. “When I started here, people came to

the library to borrow physical books and attend programs,”


she states. “Today, they also use digital lending platforms

for e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines. They access

databases remotely. They come in to use our computers and

get help with job searches, tax and health information and

entrepreneurial support,” she adds. “Many patrons also want

help navigating and evaluating all the digital information

that’s out there.”

What hasn’t changed? “I’m happy to

report that the one constant is our

collection. It’s still timely and excellent

after all these years,”

she says.

Throughout her tenure,

Vanessa has

worked with three directors,

all of whom

(she feels) put their

own distinct and

positive stamp

on the library’s

collection and

culture.

As to how

she’ll spend

her time when

she’s not working

behind-the-scenes

at the library, she

says, “I’m looking

forward to being a fulltime

grandmother. While

I’ll miss my work friends, I

will not miss packing a lunch

every day.”

Her one wish to all our patrons

is heartfelt. “I urge everyone in the

Township to continue to support the library.

Thanks to you, it’s a welcoming space with so much to offer —

whether you’re a teenager, a parent of small children, a retiree

like me or someone in between.”

I’d like to share a recent interaction between Vanessa and

me. I was shifting books to be delivered to other libraries in a

shipping bin one morning. A coworker said, “What are you

doing?” I explained that I was arranging the materials in the

bin so that items wouldn’t move around in transit. Vanessa was

nearby and said, “I taught him well.” Yes, you did, Vanessa. You

have taught all of us well and we are better as a staff as a result.

Congratulations from all of us on this next stage of your life.

We’ll miss you immensely, but promise to continue your legacy

of care for the collection, our patrons and each other.

—Chris

Kids Library

On Your Mark, Get Set, Read!

Upper St. Clair Township Kids & Teens Library is pleased to offer its “Books Before” reading programs for all ages. From

preschoolers to high schoolers, “Books Before” programs encourage literacy and library use across all ages. And we

will reward you for your good library habits! Read more below, and visit twpusc.org/libraryreadingprograms for more

information and to sign up.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten: Babies, Toddlers &

Preschoolers

Take the next steps towards early literacy with the 1000 Books

Before Kindergarten program. Read a book, any book, to your

infant, toddler or preschooler. The goal is to read 1000 books

before your child enters kindergarten. This goal, while seemingly

impossible, is possible! If you read just one book a night,

you will have read 365 books in one year — and, if you read

one book multiple times, that counts as well! Participants will

receive a commemorative tote bag when they read 50 books,

and a pin to place upon the tote every time they read 100

books. Once completed, participants will receive a certificate

of completion. All books read in this program are tracked using

the website/app Beanstack.

500 Books Before Middle School: Kindergarteners to

4th Graders

Students in kindergarten through fourth grade can challenge

themselves by reading 500 books before middle school. All

participants will track their reading through the website/app

Beanstack. Participants will receive a commemorative tote bag

when they read 50 books, and a pin to place upon the tote every

time they read 100 books. Once completed, participants will

receive a certificate of completion and an honor book will be

added to our library’s collection in their name.

100 Books Before High School: 5th to 8th Graders

Tweens and teens in grades five through eight can participate

in the 100 Books Before High School challenge. Following the

same format as the 500 Books Before Middle School program,

participants will track their books using the website/app

Beanstack. Participants will get to choose a prize for every 50

books they read. Upon completion, participants will receive a

tote bag, certificate of completion and an honor book will be

added to our library’s collection in their name.

50 Books Before Graduation: 9th to 12th Graders

Teens in ninth through 12th grades can participate in the 50

Books Before Graduation challenge. Like our other “Books

Before…” challenges, participants will track their reading using

the website/app Beanstack. Participants will get to choose

a prize for every 10 books they read. Upon completion, participants

will receive a tote bag, certificate of completion and

an honor book will be added to the library’s collection in their

name.


Adult Programs

Wild PA Part 1

Zoom Event

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

6–7 p.m.

Join our Wild PA series, an exploration

of our region’s living things and how

they interact to create an exciting ecosystem!

Fur, feathers, scales and leaves

— we share this land with the green,

furry, scaly and flighted. In this session,

we will explore some of our most common

plant and animal neighbors in Western

Pennsylvania, plus create mini take-home

herbaria and animal track models.

Wild PA Part 2

In-Person Event

Wednesday, March 20

6:30–7:30 p.m.

Tiny organisms in a big world — trees

and bears may be easy to spot, but teeny,

tiny residents help keep the cycle of life

going. In this session, we will learn about

some of the fungi, lichen and microbes that

live and play important roles all around us

(plus set up an experiment for next time)!

This event takes place in the library multipurpose

room.

Wild PA Part 3

In-Person Event

Wednesday, March 27

6:30–7:30 p.m.

Biodiversity: Putting it All Together

— wild communities rely on the interconnections

between the living and non-living

components of our natural world. We all

need food, water, shelter and space, and

we rely on the complex web of diverse

ecosystems to keep nature’s jobs all functioning

properly. In this session, we will

explore all those interconnections and

look at the role of biodiversity in making

one wild world wonderful. This event takes

place in the library multi-purpose room.

Notorious Pittsburgh

In-Person Event

Wednesday, April 3

6:30–8 p.m.

Join local author and historian Chris

Whitlatch as he discusses his book

“Notorious Pittsburgh.” Hopes have been

crushed. Fortunes gained. Lives celebrated

while others were snuffed out too soon. In

the shadows, where corners are cut, and

ambition unchecked — that is where the

notorious stories live. Step into the dark

alleyways, back rooms and even board

rooms with the author as he recounts

Pittsburgh’s seedier past. “Notorious

Pittsburgh” features more than 20 stories,

including Pittsburgh’s first bank robbery, a

famous jailbreak, as well as several stories

from our former red-light district and the

prohibition era. This event takes place in

the library multi-purpose room.

Retrain Your Brain: How to Banish

Anxiety and Other Forms of Negative

Self Talk

In-Person Event

Thursday, April 11

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Your 60,000 daily thoughts are tremendously

powerful. They can create anxiety

or optimism… well-being or depression…

do good or do damage. In short, what you

think about, you bring about. So, if your

thoughts are habitually negative, you are

sabotaging yourself and pulling yourself

downward. The good news: it is never too

late to retrain your brain and take charge of

your brain’s power grid. When you change

your thoughts, you change your life! This

event takes place in the multi-purpose

room at the library. Eileen Colianni, MS,

is a mental health counselor who speaks

often at libraries and churches to share

what she has learned from 30 years of

counseling normal people with normal

problems. She was the founding director

of Carlow University’s Counseling Center.

Bridging the Decades: Little-used

Genealogy Clues From the Census

Zoom Event

Wednesday, April 17

6:30–8 p.m.

You found your ancestors in census

records — now what? Did you find all the

hidden pointers to other records? Explore

methods, records and techniques to further

genealogical research. In this session,

the audience will learn how to pick apart

U.S. census data for each year to glean all

the genealogical clues that lead to further

research. Using one family through all the

census years from 1950 back to 1790 will

highlight the good genealogical method

of moving one generation back into the

past from the known to the unknown.

Practical advice is given on where to find

records from the clues buried deep in the

census and how to interpret them in their

historical context. Warnings against common

mistakes that create brick walls will

also be discussed.

Mindfulness: The Art of Living in the

Present Moment

In-Person Event

Thursday, April 18

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Learn to stop living in the past or focusing

on the future. Join us as we learn to see

the extraordinary in the ordinary and realize

that now, this moment, is where actual

living occurs. This event takes place in the

library multi-purpose room.


Adult Programs

Closet Organizing with Inspired

Closets

In-Person Event

Wednesday, April 24

6:30–7:30 p.m.

Join Inspired Closets Pittsburgh for

a conversation about maximizing your

storage and calming the clutter in your

home. Award-winning closet designer

Jenna Shock and business owner Logan

McKee will be joining us for an evening

discussing closets and organization tips,

tricks and best practices to help you make

the most of the space that you have in your

home. This event takes place in the library

multi-purpose room.

trauma, asphalt burials, street pumas and

romantic trespassing…all in USC! This

event takes place in the library multipurpose

room.

Gangs and Outlaws of Western

Pennsylvania

In-Person Event

Wednesday, May 15

6:30–8 p.m.

Join author and historian Thomas White

as he explores western Pennsylvania’s

criminal history. Hear the stories of the

Flathead Gang and the first armored car

robbery, Pittsburgh’s first bank heist and

Glenn and Irene — the area’s own Bonnie

and Clyde. Learn about the notorious

Cooley Gang who terrified Fayette County

in the 1890s, the escape of the Biddle Boys

and many other tales of the region’s dark

side. This event takes place in the library

multi-purpose room.

Try-It Tuesdays

In-Person Events

March 12 | April 9 | May 14

11:30 a.m.–1p.m.

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 registered and

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 multi-purpose

room.

Wildflower Hike with Allegheny

County Parks

In-Person Event

Friday, April 26

11:30 a.m.–1p.m.

Join the park rangers for a walk in the

woods to look for spring wildflowers.

Learn about which bloom first and which

bloom last, as well as where to find different

species. Meeting location TBD. Limited

to 20 people.

The Lighter Side of USC Humorous

Storytelling

In-Person Event

Wednesday, May 8

6:30–7:30 p.m.

Spend an evening with USC resident

Jay Lynch, the author of “The Lighter

Side of USC,” a compilation of humorous

short stories that have appeared in USC

TODAY magazine for the past 10 years.

Jay will share stories and photos from his

“Wonder Years”-style childhood in USC in

the 1960s and ’70s. Even if you didn’t grow

up in USC, you’re sure to get a giggle or

two. Join us to learn about unintentional

body surfing, musical backflips, classroom

electrocutions, backstop bravado, teacher

Monday: 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

Tuesday: 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

Thursday: 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

Friday: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

USC Township Library Hours

Everybody needs a

friend. Be ours.

Your donation and purchases at the Book Sale Corner make it possible

for the Friends to sustain the library’s improvements and programs.

There are several ways to contribute:

• Drop off this form with your cash or check at the library’s

Adult or Juvenile Circulation Desk

• Mail your check with the attached form to the library

Name:______________________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________

Phone:______________________________________________________________

EmaiI:______________________________________________________________

By providing my email address, I agree to receive occasional updates from the Upper St. Clair Library.

Donation amount: [ ] $10 [ ] $25* [ ] $50* [ ] $100* [ ] Other:______________________

Make your check payable to the Friends of the Library of USC.

Your donation is tax-deductible.

* Donate $25 or more to receive a punch card valid for five free books

from the Book Sale Corner.

Outside book and video return available 24/7

Library hours are subject to change; call or visit

the library’s website for hours of operation.

412-835-5540

twpusc.org/library


TOWNSHIP OF UPPER ST. CLAIR

WE ARE HIRING

Lifeguard

Soak up the sun

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guidelines.

Not yet certified?

Check our Lifeguard

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Schedule for classes!

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Team environment

Competitive wage

Access to C&RC

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Certification

reimbursement

Camp

Counselor

Organize, &

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Supervise & care for

campers and enjoy

having nights &

weekends off.

BENEFIT

Monday – Friday

No nights or weekends

Competitive wage

Experience

working with youth

Access to C&RC

amenities

Other Part Time

Positions

Fitness Attendant

Fitness Instructor

Tennis/Golf

Attendant

Guest Relations

Swim Instructor

Playroom

Associate

Event Attendant

Summer Laborer

Gain invaluable

experience by learning

construction,

maintenance &

general labor. Enjoy

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Competitive wage

Build your resume

Enjoy the outdoors

Join our team this summer!

APPLY TODAY

www.twpusc.org/employment

EEO


Jason Miller Named New Director of Recreation and Leisure Services

This past November, Jason Miller was named the

Township’s new director of Recreation and Leisure Services.

Former director Paul Besterman will maintain a key role in the

Recreation Department in a senior strategic advisor position.

Miller comes to Upper St. Clair from the University of

Pittsburgh, where he served for 12 years as the associate director

of wellness and recreation programs and assistant director

of facilities.

“Thank you to the Township administration, staff and community

members for welcoming me into this role,” said Miller.

“Supporting positive health, lifestyle and the well-being of others

is my passion. I’m honored and excited to serve the Upper St.

Clair community alongside an outstanding team of talented and

dedicated individuals.”

While at Pitt, Miller provided administrative and strategic

leadership for a department of 15 professional staff members and

more than 250 student employees, while serving a community

of nearly 50,000 students, faculty, staff and external partners.

Miller was heavily involved with the design, development

and construction oversight of the new Campus and Recreation

911 EMS Calls Dispatch Changes Effective January 2024

Beginning in early January,

Tri-Community South (TCS) EMS, which

handles medical emergencies and serves

Bethel Park, South Park and Upper St.

Clair, is now dispatched directly by

Allegheny County 911. Allegheny County

911 now takes all emergency calls and

directly dispatches TCS EMS. In addition,

TCS EMS operates jointly on a shared

channel with its adjoining mutual aid

services, providing enhanced engagement

with neighboring response agencies. As

in the past, the Upper St. Clair Dispatch

Center continues to operate as a ringdown

center and receives and dispatches police

and fire while maintaining the personal

point of contact at the municipal building

for its residents.

Allegheny County 911 simultaneously

transfers the call to the Upper St. Clair

Dispatch Center, which sends any necessary

support services, including police and/

or fire. This revised dispatching is expected

to be seamless and allows for improved

New Upper St. Clair Police Officer Sworn In

On Oct. 10, 2023, Daniel Patrick was sworn-in

by District Judge Ronald Arnoni as an Upper St. Clair

police officer.

Patrick graduated from Indiana University of

Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in criminology.

Prior to joining the USCPD, Patrick served as an officer

Wellness Center at Pitt, set to be completed

in 2025. In addition, Miller oversaw the

development and delivery of all wellness

and recreation related programs, including

but not limited to intramurals, club sports,

group fitness, personal training, outdoor

pursuits and special events. He jointly

oversaw the management of all facilities and

operations, comprising more than 10 buildings

and over 700,000 square feet of property.

Jason Miller

While at Pitt, he facilitated and organized on-campus events,

introduced new marketing and communications strategies to

increase community engagement and feedback, expanded core

programs and co-led the development and expansion of Thrive

@ Pitt, an initiative aimed at supporting and enhancing the wellbeing

of the university community.

Prior to joining Pitt, Miller served as the aquatics director at

Central York School District and as the assistant aquatics director

at the Harrisburg Area YMCA. n

operations. The caller for emergency services

will notice no difference in call taking

and dispatching.

For all other emergency or nonemergency

services, residents can still dial

412-833-7500, which will send you to the

Upper St. Clair Dispatch Center. Whether

you call 911 or 412-833-7500, you will

still get an emergency dispatcher rendering

services you need in a timely manner. n

Emergency: 911 or 412-833-7500 (USC Police Dispatch)

USC Police Administration (answers Mon.–Fri. between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.): 412-833-1113

in the University of Pittsburgh Police Department for

two years. Before that, he worked for Elizabeth Borough

PD and Highmark PD.

The Township of Upper St. Clair welcomes Officer

Patrick and wishes him a safe and successful career. n

(l/r) Township Manager Matthew Serakowski, Lt. Michael Ventura, Lt. Michael Lindenfelser, Officer Dan Patrick, Chief of Police Jonathan Wharton,

Judge Ronald Arnoni, Assistant Township Manager Mark Mansfield


USC Recreation and

twpusc.org

OUTDOOR TENNIS

March 18, 2024

PERMIT SALE

The most up-to-date details and registration information

for recreation programs can be found at

twpusc.org/recreationcenter.

Questions? Call 412-221-1099

THREE-HOLE GOLF COURSE

opening soon

BECOME A

LIFEGUARD

March 22-24, 2024

April 12-14, 2024

May 10-12, 2024

N

O S A E S

S

S A P

A S L E

Begins

March 18, 2024

May 31- June 2, 2024

Friday 4 PM-9 PM

Saturday 1 PM- 8 PM

Sunday 1 PM- 8 PM


Leisure Services

412-221-1099

SAVE THE DATE

MAY 18, 2024

TWPUSC.ORG/COMMUNITYDAY

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

WE’RE HIRING

SUMMER

CAMP

REGISTRATION

NOW OPEN!

TWPUSC.ORG/SUMMERCAMP

APPLY

CAMP COUNSELORS

LIFEGUARDS

TODAY

SWIM LESSON INSTRUCTORS

GUEST RELATIONS - OUTDOOR POOL

twpusc.org/employment


Upper St. Clair United Senior Citizens

The Upper St. Clair United

Senior Citizens finished strong in

2023 with a variety of fun-filled

activities, from a fall train ride and

winery visit to celebrating the holiday

season!

USC Recreation and

Leisure Services

A visit from Santa

USCHS Honors Jazz Band gave a wonderful holiday performance

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 McLaughlin

Run Rd. 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 throughout

the year. n

In October, a fall train ride and

winery visit

Friends of South Park

Buffalo Preserve gave

a presentation about

the buffalo, explaining

the members of the

buffalo family, how

they are fed and how

the herd grew in the

habitat that is located

in Allegheny County’s

South Park.

Celebrating with Halloween trivia and a special visit from WISH 99.7 FM

For additional information about any older adult programming, contact the community programs department at 412-221-1099.

Senior Spotlight: Joanne Garone-Melucci

Joanne F. Garone-Melucci — 90 years young and 45

years in heart, mind and energy! Mom of five and nonna of seven,

she has lived at the same Upper St. Clair address for 59 years.

Joanne became involved with the USC Senior Citizens

about five years ago. Being a vibrant, social person, she found

many friends and acquaintances there, and soon she was added

to the board as vice president and placed in charge of the

Community Day bake sales. At Wednesday programs, you’re sure

to find Joanne costumed for Halloween, designing centerpieces

for holiday gatherings, baking biscotti and Irish soda bread and

even offering an identity theft program from her attorney son.

She has jumped right in and fully embraced this new adventure

with all her colleagues and friends at the USC Senior Citizens!


A wonderful cook and baker,

Joanne is a talented decorator and

designer, and a funny, considerate

and clever friend. Her hobbies include

gardening in the spring and summer,

using the basil she grows to make

batches of pesto and flowers to make

gorgeous centerpieces.

But Joanne’s baking talent is what Joanne Garone-Melucci

so many people enjoy! Through the year she bakes pies, breads,

cookies, pecan rolls and especially biscotti — her specialty. Her

most popular are anise and raisin, but she has baked many flavor

combos for families, friends and neighbors. n

2023 Veterans Day Observance

Enjoying a Thanksgiving feast in November

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.

Upper St. Clair honored veterans from

all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces during their

annual Veterans Day observance on Nov. 10, 2023.

Held at the Township’s Veterans Memorial Park,

the ceremony included keynote speaker retired U.S.

Army Colonel Bernard Lindstrom and musical performances

by the Upper St. Clair High School marching

band and the Chanteclairs. n

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.

ACCESS Paratransit

and Pittsburgh

Regional Transit

Senior Citizen

Connect Card

Applications for the Pittsburgh Regional

Transit Senior Citizen Connect Card

and the ACCESS 65 Plus Coordinated,

Shared-Ride Paratransit Service are

available at the C&RC. Application must

be made in person at the C&RC during

business hours, Monday–Friday. Proof

of age (65) is required at the time of

application.


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Backyard Structures and Home Insurance

Is your shed, detached garage or swimming pool

covered under your homeowners’ insurance policy?

If you have a freestanding garage, shed, pool or other structure

on your home’s property, it may be protected under your policy. It

is also good to keep in mind that, just like for your home, there

are limitations on what kind of damages can be covered by your

policy for your outdoor structures.

Sheds and outdoor buildings

The coverage amount varies from policy to policy — check

your policy for the specific coverage related to these items.

Remember to notify your agent or carrier of the existence of

these items and keep the rebuilding cost of these structures in

mind when purchasing your policy.

Whether it’s a garden shed or a garage for your mower, your

personal property inside other structures may also be covered

by homeowners’ insurance. You might consider a Personal

Articles Policy for some types of machinery or sports equipment

(limitations apply). This type of policy protects items beyond the

limitations and deductibles of a homeowners’ insurance policy.

Swimming pools

Whether you already have a swimming pool or are thinking

about getting one, review liability coverage options with your

insurance agent or carrier. While most homeowners’ insurance

policies include some liability protection, you may want more if

you have a swimming pool. The Insurance Information Institute

recommends increasing your amount of liability protection or

purchasing an umbrella liability policy.

Remodeling

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You can also take additional safety measures to help prevent

accidents and reduce the potential liability exposure:

• Add a high fence with a self-closing, locked gate to help keep

guests from entering without your knowledge.

• Enforce safe pool rules such as no diving into shallow water

and walking (not running) around the edge of the pool.

• Provide non-slip surfaces around your pool to help prevent falls.

• Maintain adult supervision of children in the pool at all times.

• Keep necessary first aid equipment near the pool.

• Contact your local municipality to determine if your pool

and surrounding fence meets requirements for size, depth

and other safety features.

Property damage is another coverage type to have in mind

when you are thinking about pools. Consider asking your insurance

company how this coverage applies to different pool types

and in different claims scenarios. Understanding your policy

might help you be better prepared for the unexpected.

Fences

Fences are generally considered to be other structures. Depending

on the type of policy a person carries and the material

of the fence and in the case of a covered claim, it might be paid

at actual cash value (depreciated value) instead of at replacement

cost.

Review and understand your homeowner’s insurance policy

to see that you have the right amount and coverage type, should

the unforeseen happen. n

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

Meet Your USC Neighbor: Elana Ouimette

In 2016, Elana Ouimette moved

from Phoenix to Upper St. Clair with her

husband, Brendon, and their two young

children. As a mom taking a break from

the world of pharmaceutical and medical

device clinical trials, Elana spent her days

taking care of the kids and the house. Playdates,

doctor visits and story times mixed

in with the laundry, cooking and paying the

bills. During this time, she never imagined

that one day she would be known as the

Handy-Mom.

Elana’s handiness started when she began

to do small repairs around the house.

For larger jobs, she would try to hire help,

but getting someone to return her calls or

give an estimate was often such a chore

that she decided to do it herself. Whatever

the task — even installing a new toilet —

after watching a few videos, she was ready

to tackle it!

Noting how handy she was becoming

and how her sense of self-worth was climbing,

Brendon got her a hammer drill for

Christmas one year. Many Upper St. Clair

moms would have scoffed at this gift, but

Elana loved it and soon the Ouimettes had

a new railing on their front steps.

When her children were getting ready

to start school, Elana was ready to get back

into the work force, but she was disappointed

in the job offerings she found.

Even with more than a decade of experience,

the openings were not what she had

anticipated. She thought that if she had to

start at the beginning, she might as well

start something new, but she wasn’t quite

sure what.

Elana had posted her small accomplishments

around her house on social media

and she started getting inquiries from others

who wanted her help. When the pandemic

was in full swing there was a major construction

and home improvement boom,

but local homeowners were having trouble

finding someone to do smaller projects.

That’s when Handy-Mom was born. Elana

started her own business and became an

insured and registered home improvement

contractor in the state of Pennsylvania.

From hanging pictures to installing

baby gates, changing faucets to creating organized

closet spaces, and changing filters

to installing light fixtures, Elana was excited

about the service she was providing.

She quickly learned that many neighbors

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liked having

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mom working

in their homes,

especially if

they couldn’t be

there.

Elana feels

fortunate to be in her current position.

She can choose her projects, as well as her

hours. In addition, she likes to work with

neighbors to help them bring their vision

to life. She especially loves projects where

she can give a design, function or organization

perspective along with the installation.

To this day, her favorite project is her

own basement renovation and she beams

with pride when she enjoys the environment

she created. Elana is also passionate

about rescue animals, plants and Pilates

and loves exploring nature and traveling

with her family while watching her kids

grow up. She and Brendon are glad they

chose to call Upper St. Clair home. n

For more information about Elana and her services,

contact her at elana@handy-mom.com.


CFUSC Recap 2023

The Community Foundation had an amazing year in 2023. We continued

to award grants and scholarships, engaged in partnerships and

participated in community events. As always, we thank our generous

donors for helping us sustain our many activities. Grant requests are

coming in. If you are considering applying for a grant, go to cfusc.

org/grants. We also welcome community members who are interested

in becoming trustees and volunteers with the organization. Visit

cfusc.org/trustee-application to inquire.

ARTS

EST. 1993

Our Vision

Investing in residents and

their ideas to continually

strengthen our community

www.cfusc.org

Founded in 1993

HEALTH

EST. 1993

STEM

EST. 1993

Our Mission

To enrich our community

by supporting activites

and programs,

to develop partnerships,

and to award grants in

defined focus areas

Robotics Club

Grants 2023

Story Walk at C&RC

Digital Monitor

for HS Arts Lobby

Partnerships 2023

Community Day

Community Band South Partnership

We Deliver Faster Than Amazon!

Purchase your

CFUSC soft, plushy

Panther blanket at

cfusc.org/shop.

It will be delivered in

two to three days!

2024 CFUSC

Executive Committee

Justin Schmidt, President

Bruce Nelson, Vice President

Lauren Mathews, Secretary

Navin Parmar, Treasurer

The Community Foundation is a

501(c)(3) charitable organization, located at

2585 Washington Road #131

Pittsburgh, PA 15241

The ducks are already lining up for the

Great Duck Race on Community Day.

Adoptions begin March 1!

Watch cfusc.org for details.


Community Band South Celebrates Its Music Man

CFUSC has engaged in many partnerships through the years, including one with Community Band South (CBS), a community treasure

that has been bringing joy to audiences since 1987. The Band partnered with CFUSC this past fall to pay tribute to its co-founder

and co-conductor, James M. Bennett. Jim was USCHS band director for 33 years and for many years following his retirement, managed

the USC High School Theater. He helped establish the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair (CFUSC) and was the longest sitting

member of the Board, serving as the Arts Focus Chair for 25 years. He brought in music, theater, dance performances and art opportunities

to enrich life for the entire community.

As a strong advocate for arts education, Jim and his Bethel Park colleague, the

late C. Dean Streator, co-founded the CBS in 1987 to nurture the band’s mission that

“Music is for a Lifetime.” CBS is currently under the direction of Max Gonano, former

band director at California University of Pennsylvania. Max created an amazing

event to honor Jim, to share memories about his teaching and celebrate CBS. He assembled

people who were significant in Jim’s life and asked Paul Fox, Jim’s colleague

at USCHS and fellow CFUSC trustee, to serve as emcee for the concert. Paul began

by saying, “Jim touched so many lives, but today will not be a sad affair. We will reminisce,

embrace, revere, celebrate, honor and retell a few of the stories of his remarkable

musical and teaching moments, and highlight those relationships, partnerships

and some of those masterful USC traditions he can be credited for creating. Along

the way, we will play some of Jim’s favorite music and introduce major players from

his life.” Several of Jim’s former

students were guest conductors.

(l/r) Chris Bennett, Don Pickell, Sam Hazo

James Falvo

(l/r) James Bennett, Dean Streator,

Max Gonano, the CBS Band Directors

In 1999, CFUSC commissioned Samuel Hazo, one of Jim’s students who became

a music educator and is now a world-renowned composer and festival conductor, to

create a work to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated high school. He used

the musical phrases of the USCHS “Alma Mater” and wove them into his masterful

“Novo Lenio,” which won the National Band Association’s Best Compostition Award

in 2002. Donald Pickell is another of Jim’s students who became a music teacher,

walked in Jim’s footsteps as high school band director and is now laying foundations

in the Upper St. Clair instrumental music program in the elementary schools. He took

the baton to conduct the ever-loved “American Patrol.”

Jim Bennett was a second-generation graduate of West Virginia University and

was thrilled that his son, Christopher, became the third generation of Bennetts to attend

WVU. Chris became a music educator and currently teaches in Maryland. He

led CBS in “A Pittsburgh Suite” by Pierre LaPlante,

which was commissioned by the Band in 2009 as a tribute to the working

people of Western Pennsylvania. Another conductor was a very special

friend of Jim’s, his childhood buddy and fellow high school band

member, James Falvo. James also attended WVU, where the two were

roommates. When Jim was hired by Upper St. Clair, James Falvo became

band director at Canon McMillan High School. He conducted the Band

on “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” which was followed by the stunning

Carmen Dragon arrangements of “America the Beautiful.”

In addition to the musical selections, former USC deputy superintendent

Dr. Terrence Kushner paid tribute to Jim, as did former band parent

and long-time school board member Angela Petersen. Angela always

called Jim “the pied piper of Upper St. Clair” and as she shared her memories

of Jim, she said she was sure that he was now serving as the band

director in heaven.

As a fitting encore, Chris Bennett walked on stage with his trumpet

and began playing a gentle, reflective and familiar theme, leading the

Band in a rousing rendition of the West Virginia University favorite “Take

Me Home, Country Roads.”

The entire afternoon was an inspiring performance and fitting tribute

to a gentlemen who was proud of his students, loved his community and

brought musical and artistic enrichments to Upper St. Clair residents of all

ages. The Community Foundation is proud to have had this long-standing

partnership with Upper St. Clair’s Music Man, Jim Bennett.

Chris Bennett


Spectacular Sunset

Katie Lynch, wife of long-time TODAY contributor Jay Lynch,

captured this stunning sunset in La Jolla, Ca.

USC resident Curtis Turner

looks into the pothole from the

observation deck

Archbald Pothole State Park

Is anyone surprised to learn that Pennsylvania has a state

park dedicated to a pothole? Archbald Pothole State Park is a

150-acre park located about five hours from Upper St. Clair in

Lackawanna County.

The giant pothole, discovered in 1894 by miners who thought

the earth collapsed, is an elliptical shape and measures 38 feet

deep. Its largest diameter is 42 feet by 24 feet. This geological

phenomenon is called a glacial pothole and formed during the

Wisconsin Glacial Period about 15,000 years ago, as melted ice

carrying abrasive sand and stones swirled in waters here.

John Lennon Point

This past fall, TODAY made a

visit to John Lennon Point Vista, a

scenic viewpoint in Brockway, Pa.

If you visit, plan for at least a mile

hike along some game land roads,

longer when the gates are closed

during the spring and summer

months.

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.


Hanging Out in the Robery

Jim O’Brien

The words robery, leggings and switches are not often

found in the same story these days. And that’s robery, not robbery.

Some explanation may be necessary.

The robery was a long, narrow, often dark room to the right

of the doorway as you entered the classrooms at St. Stephen’s

Catholic Grade School in the Hazelwood area of Pittsburgh. Coat

hooks lined both sides of the robery.

Once upon a time there were robes hung on those hooks, later

coats. (Remember pea coats?) The word robery isn’t even found

in any modern dictionaries.

There were 24 such classrooms in the three-story yellow-brick

building, located half-way up the hill on Elizabeth Street at the

corner of Gertrude Street. Twenty-three of them were on the

first three floors and one was off by itself in the basement, just

across the hall from the huge blackened iron

furnace that filled most of the cave-like room

and heated the building.

The building was abandoned more

than 25 years ago. There is no St. Stephen’s

Catholic Grade School. The convent was

leveled later on. The priest’s house has no

priest in it. The memories remain.

It was a cold winter morning and Mike

the janitor was busy shoveling coal into the

fiery pit of the furnace. He would feed the

flames throughout the day. His red face was

covered with soot and sweat. The nuns who

taught there would point to the furnace and

give the students nightmares by telling us

that it was what hell was like. That left a vivid

impression on all of us — too hot to handle.

My mother made sure that I was dressed

warmly. I wore dark blue leggings. They were

heavy covers for your legs, from top to bottom

they had crossing straps on your torso.

Get the picture?

When I removed my coat upon entering

the classroom, several girls greeted me with

a laugh and some snickers when they saw

my blue leggings.

I responded by saying, much too loudly

I suppose, in retrospect, “My old lady made

me wear them!”

Sister Macrina, my second-grade teacher, stood in the far

corner of the classroom, next to the fish tank and the white

statue of the Blessed Mother, as far from me as possible. Somehow,

she heard what I had said. She was upon me in maybe two seconds.

Sister Macrina was the first Flying Nun I knew personally;

too personally. She seized me by the straps across my back and

yanked me into the robery. Her eyeglasses glistened from the

overhead light. Funny what you remember.

She hoisted me up and put those straps over a hook. She pulled

a switch — a long thin branch — from a basket in the corner

and took a few well-aimed swats at my backside. That’s when I

really appreciated the extra padding the leggings provided. Sister

Macrina left me dangling from that hook the rest of the morning.

I spent way too much time in the robery the rest of my grade

school days. I must have been in there — sort of a solitary confinement

— when we were taught how to tell time. I am still slow

on the draw when anyone asks me what time it is.

The nuns used to store candy bars in a cabinet in the back

of the robery. They used them as rewards for the best-behaved

students and often wondered why the supply seemed

a bit short.

My role as a grade school student seemingly was

to amuse the other students. It was not an easy task

through the frosted glass window that filled most of

the upper half of the door of the robery. But I managed.

Some of life’s lessons come harder than others. I

will say that after that morning, I never referred to

my mother as “my old lady” again. n

A version of this story was originally published in the

Waterdam Farms monthly newsletter.

Joint replacement

before breakfast

and home

before dinner.

whs.org/ortho


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Hope in the South Hills

Miriam Gutensohn, TODAY Intern

Looking back on 2023,

one particular event had the musical

power to bring people from different

backgrounds, religious affiliations and

neighboring schools together in our Upper

St. Clair High School Theater. This past November, in partnership

with Violins of Hope Greater Pittsburgh and the South Hills

Interfaith Movement, Hope in the South Hills was a special evening

of remembrance, acceptance and peace, filled with readings, art

work and musical performances inspired by the lessons learned

from the Holocaust and presented by students from Bethel Park,

Baldwin, Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair high schools, as well as

the acclaimed Clarion Quartet and Ellen Chen-Livingston from the

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

This concert revolved around “surviving instruments” from

the Holocaust, featured at the Violins of Hope exhibit at Carnegie

Mellon University’s Posner Center from this past fall. Violins of

Hope is a private collection of string instruments that belonged

to and were played by Jewish musicians before and during the

Holocaust. Each instrument has its own inspiring story of resilience,

hardship and survival, and was restored by violin maker Amnon

Weinstein and his son, Avshalom, to be played in concert halls.

With its motto “Tuning Out Prejudice: Building Bridges That

Last,” Violins of Hope Greater Pittsburgh successfully presented

an impactful community project of educational and cultural programming

to learn for the future by remembering stories from the

past. Pittsburgh’s community could choose from a full calendar of

Diane Horvath, GRI, CRS

412-491-6984 or

412-833-3601 x 219

dhorvath@ howardhanna.com

events over several weeks, including ballet dance performances at

the Point Park Fall Dance Concert that told the story of the systematic

genocide of a Jewish family and those in concentration camps

in Christopher Huggins piece “The List.” A spectacular concert

with violinist Joshua Bell and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

concluded the Violins of Hope Greater Pittsburgh project, with

the world premiere of Israeli composer Boris Pigovat’s “Yizkor,”

a PSO commission in memory of the victims of the Pittsburgh

synagogue shooting.

I had the honor of playing three different violins from the Violins

of Hope collection in concert with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony

Orchestra and the Upper St. Clair High School orchestra. One of the

violins I borrowed for the Hope in the South Hills concert, named

JVH 72 Storch, Transport, was originally owned by Paul and Elsa

Katzenstein from Hamburg, Germany, and was lent to the collection

by their grandson, Daniel Storch. After Kristallnacht, the Night of

Broken Glass, the Katzenstein family had to escape the Nazi terror

and was forced to sell most of their valuables for the money needed

to immigrate to the United States. Fortunately, one violin made

the trip with them, JVH 72 Storch, Transport. While playing these

violins, I felt connected to their history and grateful to contribute

to a special moment of musical remembrance.

Hope in the South Hills was certainly a memorable event of

our community coming together as one. If you missed the Violins

of Hope exhibit in Pittsburgh and happen to be in Florida soon,

the exhibit’s next location is the Holocaust Documentation and

Education Center in Dania Beach through April 12, 2024. n


ALT’s Lands and Projects in Bloom

Lindsay Dill, Allegheny Land Trust

As spring’s first blossoms adorn

the landscape, Allegheny Land Trust (ALT)

eagerly anticipates a season of growth,

learning and community involvement.

Wingfield Pines is poised to welcome an

intern whose role will be paramount in

nurturing and enhancing this haven of biodiversity.

This season also promises a blend

of hands-on land maintenance projects, enlightening

environmental education events

and a collective effort to finish conserving

more vital, close-to-home green space.

At the core of our spring initiatives is

the engagement of a dedicated intern who

will be instrumental in the day-to-day

activities that contribute to the well-being

of Wingfield Pines. From trail maintenance

and volunteer workdays to community

engagement, the intern will play a vital

role in ensuring the continued health and

vitality of this natural sanctuary.

Wingfield Pines and other ALT lands

are not just passive recipients of care; they

are dynamic hubs for environmental education.

This season, we invite the community

to participate in volunteer and environmental

education events hosted by ALT’s

interns and staff. From guided nature walks

and bird-watching excursions to hands-on

volunteer workdays, these events aim to

foster a connection between individuals

and the natural world. By sharing knowledge

and inspiring curiosity, we hope to

empower the community to make informed

choices contributing to the well-being of

our environment.

In tandem with these endeavors,

ALT is continuing efforts to permanently

conserve the nearby 221-acre

Panhandle Greenway conservation

project. Located in the rapidly developing,

flood-vulnerable Robinson

Run Watershed, the land sits along

the scenic corridor of the popular

Panhandle Trail in South Fayette and

Collier townships. The protection of

this strategically located, “keystone”

land would create an ecological, recreational

and place-making greenway

unlike any in the region by beginning

to connect 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 the land under contract

to purchase and permanently protect

contingent upon successfully raising

the needed funds for closing. To raise

the $1,785,000 needed to conserve

the land, ALT has been enacting a

diversified plan utilizing funds from

state grants, private foundations, local

corporations and — the final crucial component

— local individual donors. ALT is

seeking a total of $75,000 from individuals

to help close the funding gap and serve

as the local matching dollars required to

unlock the state grants.

At the time this article was written,

neighbors have donated more than $35,000

Keep up to date with all the latest news

from the Allegheny Land Trust!

• Monthly Projects & Events Email Newsletter

Sign-Up: alleghenylandtrust.org/news-events/

• Panhandle Greenway Project Page:

alleghenylandtrust.org/panhandlegreenway/

• Event Calendar for Details & Registration:

alleghenylandtrust.org/events/

Upcoming Local and

Online Events:

March 11 | 4:30–5:15 p.m.

Owl Pellets

@ Bethel Park Historical Society

March 11 | 6–7 p.m.

Common Mushrooms of the Yard & Garden

@ Bethel Park Historical Society

March 13 | 5–5:45 p.m.

Spring’s Early Bloomers

@ Virtual

April 10 | 5–5:45 p.m.

City Nature Challenge

@ Virtual

April 29 | 5:30–7 p.m.

Science Stroll: Amphibians

@ Wingfield Pines

Find these events and more at:

alleghenylandtrust.org/events

toward this goal! We hope that you will add

your support to protect this close-to-home

green space benefiting residents today and

generations to come through preserved air

and water quality, unique scenic character,

biodiversity and expanded opportunities

for outdoor recreation and environmental

education.

As we usher in the season of renewal, ALT

invites you to join us in our multifaceted

efforts. Whether through volunteering, attending

events or supporting the Panhandle

Greenway conservation project, every action

makes a difference in preserving the

natural beauty that defines our community.

Together, let us celebrate spring as a season

of growth, learning and collective care for

close-to-home green space. n


Horses with Hope Saddles Up for Spring

The Horses with Hope herd is gearing up for another season of equine-assisted services

this spring, marking their third consecutive year serving the community at Gilfillan Farm.

In May, the therapeutic herd will join Titus and Zane, the charming miniature Appaloosas

residing at Gilfillan Farm year-round. Over the fall and winter months, more than 50 trained

volunteers diligently cared for these small equine members, finding joy in the exercise, education

and bonding that came with the responsibility.

As the larger horses make their return in May, Horses with Hope will offer 15 weeks of

therapeutic riding. This holistic experience caters to a diverse range of individuals, including

those with physical, cognitive or emotional challenges. Excitingly, the all-abilities summer

camp returns in July, featuring a variety of engaging activities. Participants will interact with

animals, engage in physical activities, enjoy the outdoors, build confidence and engage in

experiential learning.

Horses with Hope acknowledges and is grateful for the invaluable supporters and volunteers

who make its services possible. As the organization expands its reach in 2024 and

works to serve a growing number of individuals, this is an opportune time to sign up as a

volunteer. Your time and skills, whether assisting with lessons, summer camps, events or animal

care can make a lasting impact.

Explore volunteer opportunities at

horseswithhope.org/volunteer and

sign up to attend the annual training

day on March 23. n

Join Horses with Hope in making a difference by

being a part of upcoming events! Save the date for

The Fifth Annual Belmont Jewel on Saturday, June

8, at St. Clair Country Club — an evening filled with

cocktails, appetizers, dinner, games, raffles and

musical entertainment. Details for this and other

“fun”draising events like the Highmark Walk for a

Healthy Community and the annual Bowling Event

can be found at horseswithhope.org/events. We

hope to see you there!

For more information on Horses with Hope:

Discovery, Growth and Learning programs,

visit horseswithhope.org.


MT. LEBANON

RECREATION CENTER

SKATE at the

MT. LEBANON RECREATION CENTER

Open Year Round with Something for Everyone

Learn-to-Skate Classes

Beginner & Advanced Hockey Clinics

Hockey Leagues

Youth Developmental

Middle School

Varsity

Adult

Public Skating

Summer Development Skating School

Adult Skating & Instructional Programs

Broomball

Summer Camps

412-561-4363 mtlebanon.org

SHANNON GALLAGHER

Associate Broker

Phone: 412-741-2200

Mobile: 412-335-1712

Local. Trusted.

Experienced.

Your Home’s Perfect Match.

shannongallagher@howardhanna.com

Format Focus

Home Entertainment in 3D

Before we could watch movies in 3D, families in the 19th century used a

stereoscope for 3D viewing at home. Special photographic cards, like these pictured,

could be purchased for use in a handheld viewer called a stereoscope. These card stereographs

consisted of a pair of almost identical images that, when viewed together,

gave the illusion of a three-dimensional image. During the 20th century, a similar technology

became available

to the average consumer.

Amateur photographers

could take snapshots of

everyday objects and create

their own 3D images

of their daily lives.

The Historical

Society of Upper St. Clair

holds a small collection

of card stereographs featuring images

of sculptures, the U.S. Capitol, the Smithsonian,

the National Cemetery in Virginia and several nature scenes.

It also holds a collection of approximately 250 stereographic slides from the

Gilfillan family. Their amateur 3D photographs include scenes of their farm,

flowers, nearby farms and other local attractions, as well as vacation photos

from a family friend of Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon. n

Article courtesy of Carolyn Jones Friedrich, historian,

Historical Society of Upper St. Clair.


Fighting Hunger, Finding Smiles

Caleb Guarino, TODAY Intern

This past November, Isaac Bernstein, a senior at Upper St.

Clair High School, hosted the second annual Hockey Fights Hunger

tournament at the RMU Island Sports Center. With 30 teams and

nearly 180 players across three divisions, the event was a huge success,

raising over $12,000 — 36,000 meals — for families in need.

The tournament organized players by age with middle school, high

school and adult brackets. The middle and high school divisions

also featured a skills competition, where players could show off

their skills, make new friends and enjoy rink time with the hockey

community. The tournament was run through Plates for Pitt, Bernstein’s

independently run, non-profit organization, with immense

support from the surrounding Pittsburgh community.

Plates for Pitt raises money for the Greater Pittsburgh Area Community

Food Bank, which donates meals to food-insecure families.

To date, Berstein has donated over 186,000 meals, the equivalent

of a $42,000 donation. Bernstein started the organization in 2020,

around the time the COVID-19 virus suspended the world.

Inspired by the pandemic, Bernstein sought ways to “make a

community impact and spread smiles in the process,” while abiding

by the “non-contact services being required due to the nature

of the pandemic.”

“Initially, I thought of hiding Easter eggs in families’ yards

around the city,” said Bernstein. This creative idea allowed families

to sign up through a form, where Bernstein, as the Easter Bunny,

would hide eggs in families’ yards in the nighttime, write personalized

letters to each of the kids and visit homes during the daytime

to interact and take pictures. From hiding eggs alone, he visited

Live life uplifted at

Franklin Court,

the newest neighborhood on the

Providence Point campus.

Embrace a refined, independent lifestyle without

the stress of home ownership — and enjoy our resort

-style amenities, including fine dining, a state-of-the-art

fitness center, indoor pool, day spa, and much more.

Visit ProvidencePoint.org/Franklin-Court

or call 412-489-3550 today.

Be here. Be home.

Be at Providence Point.

The Hockey for Hunger

tournament raised more than

$12,000 to fight hunger.

approximately 15 homes and raised money for 2500 meals in his

first year. Bernstein attributes the cheer he spread while hiding eggs

to the start of Plates for Pitt.

In the following years, his

organization expanded exponentially

due to an incredible increase

in support from the community

and media. Now, Bernstein raises

money not just through hiding

eggs, but through additional

unique means of service.

“The next year, I expanded

and became the Grinch. Visiting

homes as the Grinch is similar

to visiting as the Easter Bunny,

but I can talk. This allows me to

interact and connect with the kids Isaac as the Easter bunny….

beyond just dancing and gesturing,”

Bernstein shares. “I’ve also

noticed some kids are scared of

the Grinch, so it’s always been one

of my favorite parts helping the

kids understand that the Grinch’s

heart grew three sizes and watching

their expressions change from

fear to cheer.” n

…and the Grinch!

Learn more about Isaac, his cause and the Plates for Pitt community by

visiting platesforpitt.org. A single-dollar donation provides three meals

for those in need.


Happenings!

Orchid Obsession

The Orchid Society

of Western Pennsylvania

(OSWP) 2024 show,

Orchid Obsession, is

scheduled for Saturday,

March 16, and Sunday,

March 17, at The Crowne Plaza Hotel on Fort Couch

Road. Admission is $5 and guests under 18 years old

are free.

The Show celebrates the 70th anniversary of the

Society, which was established in the South Hills in

1954. Visitors will be inspired by the beautifully-crafted

displays of blooming orchids. Expert orchid growers will

be onsite to provide information about growing orchids.

The show includes orchid vendors, free educational

seminars, silent auction and raffles and a repotting table

where attendees can bring their own orchids for some

expert repotting by OSWP members.

For more information about the Orchid Show, orchids,

and the OSWP, visit oswp.org or contact David

Motak at djm713@yahoo.com.

Free Tax Assistance by VITA

Location: The Bible Chapel, 300 Gallery Drive, McMurray,

lower level of rear building.

Directions: Five miles south of South Hills Village on

Washington Road, right at the light onto Gallery Drive,

0.4 miles to VITA site.

Dates/Times: Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–1:30 p.m.,

now through April 11. First come, first served; no

appointments.

What to bring: 2022 tax return; ID for yourself and

spouse, if applicable; Social Security number(s) and

birthdate(s) for yourself, spouse and any dependents; all

W-2 and 1099 tax documents (including Social Security

1099); 1095 health care statements; and property tax

receipts. Both spouses must sign joint returns. Must wear

a mask.

Federal, state, and local taxes and property tax/rent rebate

forms will be prepared.

Questions? Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 or search “VITA”

online at irs.gov to see if you qualify. Do not contact The

Bible Chapel.

Serving the USC community for 8 years

Keynotes Music

Scholarship

Competition 2024

Keynotes is accepting

applications for Music

Scholarship Competition

2024, which will be held May 11, at The Fine Arts

Theater of Mt. Lebanon High School. Cash awards

totaling more than $16,000 will be awarded. For an

application, call scholarship chairman Lori Walter

at 412-260-6972 or email houdini5@hotmail.com.

Deadline for application is April 30, 2024. For

additional information, visit keynotesmusicscholarship.com

or search Facebook, at Keynotes Music

Scholarship.

Everyone and Anyone

can learn to ride a bicycle safely

at a county park near you.

You can too!

Register for 2024

private and family lessons at:

Learn3Ride.com


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@usctoday.org

Claire Zalla, USCHS 2017, has been selected for the

Schwarzman Scholars graduate fellowship. She is one of

150 young leaders from 43 countries who will attend a

one-year, fully-funded master’s in global affairs program

at Tsinghua University in Beijing, and join a growing

network of future leaders.

Claire graduated from Yale College in 2021 with a B.A.

in Global Affairs. She joined CNN as the lead researcher

on Fareed Zakaria GPS and received an Emmy nomination

for her work on a special program about the fall of

Kabul. She has prior internship experience with the U.S.

Department of State, U.S. Navy and National War College.

She is passionate about conflict management and hopes

to work in negotiation, mediation and peacebuilding.

This past December, Elizabeth Meitzler, USCHS 2009,

published her second novel, “The Power Move,” a hockeythemed

romance and the first book in the Ballentine Boys

series. Her first book,

“The Twelve Swipes

of Christmas,” is a

feel-good holiday romance

with tons of

Christmas spirit. You

can find her books

online and in local

book stores.

Follow Elizabeth on social media for

updates on future projects.

USC resident Elizabeth Roseborough’s artwork was

on display at St. Clair Health from this past December

through February. Elizabeth is a local, state and national

level award-winning retired mathematics teacher turned

artist. A member of McMurray Art League, Pittsburgh

Pastel Artist League, Pittsburgh Society of Artists, Upper

St. Clair League for the Arts and Whitehall Arts, she has

exhibited in national, regional and local juried shows. Her

work is on display year-round at the Latrobe Art Center,

in Latrobe, Pa., and ARC Art Gallery in Canonsburg, Pa.

Visit Elizabeth’s website at erosieart.wixsite.com/studio.

Upper St. Clair Bethel Park

Rotary, Breakfast Club

This past December, Upper St.

Clair Bethel Park Rotary, Breakfast

Club members took ringing bells

for the Salvation Army to the next

level by donning holiday hats, “ugly”

Christmas sweaters and even singing

holiday carols and playing the kazoo

as they greeted shoppers.

Troy Orthodontics Welcomes Dr. Brett Crell

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Dr. Brett Crell attended Penn

State for his undergraduate education, earned his doctorate in

dental surgery from the University of Texas School of Dentistry

and specialized in orthodontics, earning his masters at Seton Hill

University.

Devoted to patient care, Dr. Crell balances his professional

life with a love for family, friends, food, travel and pickleball! His

wife, Patricia, is a professional violinist, and her career has been

punctuated by notable performances with the Houston Symphony,

Ballet and Opera, and at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Dr. Crell and Dr. Troy’s offices are located in Pinebridge Commons

in Upper St. Clair and in Bethel Park.

Stockings for Soldiers has quickly grown to be one of the

clubs’ favorite annual activities. Working in an organized assembly

line, Upper St. Clair Bethel Park Rotary, Breakfast Club

members worked side by side to stuff 50 stockings with items

like microwave popcorn, cereal bars, trail mix, dice, cards, gum

and much more. The club dropped off the stockings to Beinhauer

Family Funeral home in McMurray, where each year they ship

over 500 stockings overseas.


Upper St. Clair – Yesterday and TODAY

Thirty years ago, the Consol offices dominated the

scenery on Washington Road across from South Hills

Village. Now the landscape has completely changed

and residents enjoy a myriad of shops and restaurants

available at Sienna at St. Clair, as well as a Whole Foods

grocery store.

What Does Counseling Look Like?

Maggie Zangara, MS Ed, LPC

Outpatient Therapist and Program Manager, Outreach Teen & Family Services

The fresh start offered by a new year is a great time to

recommit to your goals and priorities. If one of your goals has been

to connect with a mental health counselor but you’ve been putting

it off because the process feels intimidating, we want to decrease

any negative thoughts you might have by explaining how a typical

counseling session works. This can also be useful information to

review with your child if they are beginning therapy so they can

better know what to expect.

At Outreach Teen & Family Services, we offer accessible care

and connection at our centrally located office in the South Hills of

Pittsburgh. Once you complete the online intake form, you will hear

from our clinical director to learn more about your current needs so

we can make sure Outreach is the right fit for you and then match

you with one of our counselors.

Emily* was 15 when her parents helped her complete an intake

form to consent to counseling. Upon being matched with a counselor,

she selected a day and time for in-person counseling that worked

with her schedule. At the start of her first session, she confided in

her counselor that she was nervous and didn’t know what to expect.

Together, they discussed the “normal” counseling process, client/

counselor confidentiality and the limits to that confidentiality.

Halfway through the session, Emily was surprised at how easy it

was to open up. Her counselor was warm, confident and genuinely

interested in getting to know her. Emily felt understood as she shared

about her challenging family experiences that were causing her to

feel depressed.

Emily began to look forward to her weekly counseling sessions.

At times she laughed, while other times she felt emotional, especially

when discussing the death of a loved one — a serious loss she had

never shared with anyone outside her family. Through therapy, Emily

learned that she must fully experience her emotions in order to heal.

By having a safe place to feel heard by her counselor, Emily has

learned to use her voice. She increased her self-esteem, propelling her

to go after her goals in life and restore relationships with her family

members. While it didn’t happen overnight, she feels happier and

more self-aware than she has ever felt before.

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. n

*Name has been changed to protect confidentiality.

Please note that Outreach does not offer crisis services or response and

does not have evening and weekend on-call coverage. In an emergency,

go to your local emergency room or call RESOLVE at 1-888-796-8226.


Spring 2024

Advertiser Index

twpusc.org/usctoday

Affordable Decks & Additions LLC......................................................... 64

Angelo Associates, Inc. ......................................................................... 64

Arbor Tree Specialists Inc. ..................................................................... 66

Ardolino’s ............................................................................................. 11

* Calabro Tire And Auto Service................................................................. 7

Coldwell Banker - Dora Rudick ............................................................. 15

* Coldwell Banker South Hills Office ............................ Outside back cover

Compass - Jonette Shanahan................................................................. 7

Davey Tree ............................................................................................ 67

Envisage / Presbyterian Seniorcare Network.......................................... 3

* Extended Day Services ......................................................................... 35

Friendship Village .................................................................................. 7

Guy’s Home Improvements ................................................................. 65

Howard Hanna - Amanda Nasman....................................................... 35

* Howard Hanna - Diane Horvath ........................................................... 72

* Kerr Dentistry ....................................................................................... 23

KSG Orthodontics................................................................................... 3

Learn3ride............................................................................................ 77

* Manalo DMD, Larry E. ........................................................................... 23

McQueen Building Company.......................................... Front cover, 8, 9

Mt. Lebanon Awning ............................................................................ 67

* Mt. Lebanon Recreation ....................................................................... 75

* Pinebridge Commons .......................................................................... 23

* Providence Point/Baptist Senior Family ............................................... 76

Really Dough........................................................................................ 11

Re/Max Select Realty-Amanda Walton ................................................. 12

* Rusmur Floors ............................................................... Inside back cover

* Scott Bros Windows & Doors ................................................................ 64

South Hills Endoscopy Center ................................................................ 1

* St. Clair Health ................................................................................. 5, 44

TODAY thanks our advertisers for their support of our community magazine!

Please consider using their services whenever you are able.

Howard Hanna - Shannon Gallagher ................................................... 75

* Howard Hanna - USC Office.......................................... Inside front cover

Isbir Construction & Landscaping Corp. ............................................... 66

JAB Jewerly Works ............................................................................... 12

Kathy’s Music LLC ................................................................................. 72

* Keller Williams-Sandy and Marshall Goldstein .................................... 39

* State Farm Insurance - Cindy Brophy ................................................... 23

Thomas Dance Studio........................................................................... 79

Three Rivers Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery......................................... 10

* Washington Health Systems ................................................................ 71

* Wellington Real Estate ......................................................................... 19

West Penn Landscaping ....................................................................... 65

Let

guide you in 2024 with

great ad placement.

Upcoming summer guides

include Home & Garden

and Summer Activities

Place your ad

in our community’s go-to publication.

Contact 412-851-2851.

*The above advertisers, who are advertising in this issue,

have contributed their financial support for a

minimum of 58 issues.

YEARS

412-851-2851 | 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




Presort STD

US Postage PAID

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Pittsburgh PA

WE MOVE

UPPER ST. CLAIR

Casey Caudill

Peters Township Office

Lynn Dempsey

South Hills Office

Brittany Fichter

South Hills Office

John Geisler

South Hills Office

Sheryl Kyle

South Hills Office

Bonnie Loya


Monica Mahla


SPRING

Into ACTION

Rachel Mazzie

South Hills Office

Carol McCarthy

South Hills Office

Dora Rudick

South Hills Office

Ready to sell? Coldwell

Banker Realty can help

you make the needed

improvements to prep

your home for sale with

no up-front costs using

the RealVitalize ® program.

Contact us to learn more!

South Hills 1630 Washington Road | Pittsburgh PA 15241 | 412.833.5405

ColdwellBankerHomes.com/southhills

Peters Township 3244 Washington Road | McMurray, PA 15317 | 724.942.1200

ColdwellBankerHomes.com/peterstownship

NMLS ID 1598647

Coldwell Banker and Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC share common ownership and because of this relationship the brokerage may receive a financial or other benefit. You are not required to use Guaranteed

Rate Affinity, LLC as a condition of purchase or sale of any real estate.

©2024 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker logo are service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker System is comprised of

company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles

of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. RealVitalize® and the REALVITALIZE and RV logos are registered service marks owned by Anywhere Real Estate Group LLC (“Anywhere”). The RealVitalize

program is not available in all states and available only at participating offices. Void where prohibited. Terms and conditions apply. Execution of program agreement is required. Results not guaranteed. Seller

must pay for work upon earlier of closing, listing no longer being in effect, or 12 months after completion of first job. If settlement proceeds are insufficient to cover the RealVitalize project costs, seller must

pay the balance within 15 days after closing. All property enhancement services are provided by the applicable service provider affiliated with Angi, and are not provided by Anywhere, Coldwell Banker or any

of its affiliated companies. Not intended as a solicitation if your property is already listed by another broker. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2024

Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned

offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair

Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. 24E6YK_PIT_1/24

SPRING 2024 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY

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