in moon township

SUMMER 2011 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

CinderellaMOON HIGH SCHOOL’S

production of

Boni Orthodontics is pleased to announce the opening of their newest location at995 Beaver Grade Road, Moon Township.

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

Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics For Children and Adults

CREATINGBEAUTIFULHEALTHY SMILES

FREE CONSULTS • NOW ACCEPTING THE CHIP PROGRAM

BONI ORTHODONTICS

www.boniorthodontics.com

BONI ORTHODONTICSis pleased to announce theopening of their newestlocation at 995 Beaver GradeRoad, Moon Township.

Dr. Boni is a caringprofessional who deliversoutstanding orthodontictreatment results. He and hisskilled staff have made it theirpromise to provide eachpatient with the highestquality orthodontic careavailable.

They offer a full range ofservices, including Invisalign,clear ceramic braces, and esthetic functionalappliances, which assist in the proper growth anddevelopment of their young patients. So whether you’re achild, teen, or adult, Dr. Boni is highly skilled in utilizing thelatest treatment techniques and technologies to ensure youreceive optimal results.They offer flexible hours for your convenience and acceptmost insurance plans.Dr. Boni and his team look forward to meeting you andseeing you smile!

2 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE Moon Township

SUMMER 2011IN Moon Township is a community publicationdedicated to representing, encouraging andpromoting the Moon Township area and itscomprising municipalities by focusing on thetalents and gifts of the people who live and workhere. Our goal is to provide readers with the mostinformative and professional regional publication inthe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

PUBLISHER

Wayne Dollard

MANAGING EDITOR

Marybeth [email protected]

REGIONAL EDITOR

Mark Berton [email protected]

OFFICE MANAGER

Leo [email protected]

WRITERS

Pamela Palongue

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Cassie Brkich Joe MilneSharon Cobb Gail MurraySusie Doak Tamara TylendaJan McEvoy

ADVERTISING SALES

Derek Bayer Brian McKeeBrian Daley Tamara Myers Gina D’Alicandro Gabriel NegriTina Dollard Robert OjedaRose Estes Annette PetroneJohn Gartley Vincent SabatiniJason Huffman Michael SilvertLori Jeffries RJ VighettiRita Lengvarsky Nikki Capezio-Connie McDaniel Watson

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brad LauerGary Yon

This magazine is carrier route mailed to all district households and businesses.

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

CORRESPONDENCEAll inquiries, comments and press releases should be directed to:

IN Community MagazinesAttn: Editorial603 East McMurray RoadMcMurray, PA 15317Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968

Fall content deadline: 8/11/11www.incommunitymagazines.com

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

Welcome to the Summer issue of Moon Township Magazine.And what a welcome to summer it is. After weeks of extreme

temperature fluctuations, rain and wind, the warm, summer suncouldn’t be any more of a sight.

Despite the cold of winter and the lackluster spring we’vehad, much has happened here with your magazine. We haverestructured to accommodate our growth and I would like tointroduce some people to you that are working behind thescenes to make sure your magazine is the best communitymagazine that we can produce.

First off, I’d like to reintroduce Mark Berton as our new West ZoneEditor. Mark is my longest-serving employee and has worked every position at

Community Magazines throughout our growth from just three magazines to 32. He hasbeen a resident of Moon Township since 2002, served on bo th the township cable TVadvisory board and planning commission, and is an active member of Coraopolis MasonicLodge 674, where he’s held officer positions. Mark also literally “wrote the book” on MoonTownship, publishing that history through Arcadia Publishing in 2007. He also published“Dixmont State Hospital” through Arcadia, chronicling the history of the 150-year-oldmental hospital in Kilbuck To wnship. Because of his longevity in the West Hills, Mark wasthe perfect choice to lead our Western magazines.

I’ve also hired Sharon Cobb to work with Mark as the dedicated graphic designer forour western magazines. Sharon comes to us from the Seattle Times, where she spent morethan a decade working with creative teams on editorial and advertising initiatives, earningher the distinctions of Adverti sing Design Person of the Year. Prior to that, she worked forNorthwest Adventure Publishing, laying out all of the magazines under their umbrella andensuring that they met deadline. Sharon’s experience, attention to detail and flair forcreative and engaging designs quickly endeared her to us, as I am sure her work will endearitself to you.

We invested in this team because we felt it would be the be st way to serve all of theresidents of the West Hills, by offering the highest-quality magazine possible. But there isan even more important part of the team that I can’t hire – you. Your contributions ofideas and time have been invaluable to us and we thank you. We urge even more of you tocontact us with your feature ideas and events. Email Mark at:[email protected] with your thoughts . We all know a neighbor whovolunteers, or a scout that is working on a project. We all have children and grandchildrenthat are doing something special either at school or for community service. We also knowseniors who deliver meals, or organize choirs. These are the people we are looking to tellyou about. Because without community, we have nothing, so promoting the best in ourcommunities we celeb rate that which is great within ourselves.

Have a great summer!

Wayne DollardPublisher


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One of the toughest decisions thatparents must make is who will

provide healthcare fortheir child. As with

any majordecision,education isimperative.Whether

seeking apediatrician for their firstnewborn or changing

pediatricians for their olderchildren, parents are exposed

to information about providers from many sources including family,friends, coworkers, advertisements, and the internet to name a few.

H owever, in addition to these resources, parents should alsoconsider scheduling a consult with the pediatrician that has beenrecommended to them. This is a valuable tool to help decide if thephysician and the practice in which they work are a fit for them and theirfamily. During the interview process many questions should beaddressed and both the pediatrician and the parents should begin toknow ea ch other. From concrete black and white questions to queriesabout philosophies of care, parents should be able to extract theinformation that they need to decide if a practitioner is a fit for them.

Some of the questions that should be addressed during this initialmeeting include the following:

� What insurances are accepted?� What other providers give care at the same site?� What are the credentials of the providers? Where did they train

and are they board certified? � With which hospitals is the practice affiliated?� What are the days and hours of operation? Are there evening or

weekend hours?� How are calls handled during the daylight as well as evening

hours?� Can my child be seen the same day, if need be, for an acute illness?� How are sick children kept separate from those visiting for a

healthy check up?� What is the schedule of visits in the first year of life and who do I

notify at the time of delivery of my pediatrician choice? Lastly, any philosophical questions such as opinions about antibi-

otic usage, daycare choices, vaccine schedules, or any personal queries

that may help to make the physician choice should be asked. As a final word, parents should remember that in choosing the

correct pediatrician a lifetime bond may be formed. Pediatricians areblessed with the privilege of caring for and nuturing your childthroughout their lives. Not only is it a pleasure to provide qualitymedical care for your young child, it is absolutely a joy to watch thesesame children mature and develop into responsible young adults whocome to develop a mutual trust and respect with us over the years.Several of us at Pediatrics South are presently providing care to thechildren of parents for whom we also cared. Forging this bond hingeson finding the right pediatrician by becoming an educated parent.

Choosing a

PEDIATRICIAN

The mission of the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is toplan, build and operate the region’s first comprehensiveoutdoor botanic garden—a public institution with vastscientific and cultural value and beauty.

Vagley, director of development, said that by the endof this year, the transformation on the 452-acre site willbe dramatic.

“We are moving forward on the 452 acres that wehave, which is in North Fayette and Collier townships,”Vagley said. “We’re doing reclamation work, getting rid ofthe coal, and minimizing the acid mine drainage, and weare just now working with the county to take over thehistoric cabin for which the adjacent park is named. Ithasn’t happened yet. It will probably happen later this

Kitty Vagley started work on January 3 and already is deep in the development of one of thelargest undertakings in western Pennsylvania—converting the brownfield just south ofSettler’s Cabin Park into a botanical garden unlike anything seen before in the region.

Pittsburgh Botanic Garden

soon to be blooming nearSettler’s Cabin



year. When it does, wecan start work on thearea around the cabin

next year.” Named for the 18th-

century log cabin, Settler’sCabin Park is owned byAllegheny County. A 99-yearlease is in place, charging thePittsburgh Botanic Garden$1/year for the property tothe south of the park. Byyear’s end, Vagley said sheanticipates that themaintenance barn, the oldfarmhouse and the cabin inthe park will be leased to theGarden.

Vagley said the barn is envisioned tobecome the welcome center, with aclassroom, and a meeting-and-event rentalspace. A wedding garden will be nearby. Thefarmhouse will be used for administrativeoffices, and the cabin will be an educationalprogram site surrounded by period gardens.

North Fayette and Collier townships havebeen helpful and quite supportive to theproject. About 90 percent of the park is inNorth Fayette, and 10 percent in Collier.

Because of coal, oil and gas mining, thepark was designated a brownfield by the state,which made the site eligible for specialfunding for remediation.

That funding is keeping the botanicalgarden project moving forward.

“We did receive some state funding,”Vagley said. “We got a PennVest grant, andMashuda is onsite now doing a stellar job.The DEP is looking to make them a model asfar as mining practices.”

Mashuda Corporation was contracted in2008 to reclaim 72 acres of abandoned mines

over a three-year period. Those minespolluted the main water source for the sitewith acid mine drainage. The remediation ofthe site will benefit Robinson Run, ChartiersCreek and the Ohio River.

“It’s just a fascinating and marvelousproject,” Vagley said. ”I’m thrilled to beinvolved. We did do some history on the site,and there was a farming family there for three

or four generations.They would drive to getclean water because thewater on the site wasundrinkable for humansand farm animals. Weare cleaning that wholearea up, which willgreatly help theChartiers CreekWatershed.”

The reclaimed areais part of Phase One ofthe project, which also

includes completion of the WoodlandGardens of the World and an ADA accessibletrail throughout that area, whichtouches on a meadow area, atree nursery, the FredRogers’ Garden of MakeBelieve and the visitorscenter. All of thatwork, slated to becomplete by 2015,has a price tag of $12million, whichincludes $5 millionalready granted by thePennsylvania’sRedevelopmentAssistance CapitalProgram and theAllegheny CountyDepartment ofEconomicDevelopment.

All in all, thePittsburgh Botanic Gardenwill have an estimated pricetag of $75 million and takeabout 30 years to reach itsfull-grown capacity. Therewards to westernPennsylvania will beimmeasurable. The nearestsimilar gardens to Pittsburgh are in Ohio to the west and Philadelphia tothe east.

“We’ll be proceeding with a woodlandgardens and tree nursery this year,” Vagleysaid. “And, when we get the buildings fromthe county, we’ll be cleaning them up andopening them up for programming.”

“We’re doingreclamation work,getting rid of thecoal, and minimizingthe acid minedrainage...”

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CHILDHOOD CANCER IS EVERY PARENT’S NIGHTMARE, BuT IF THATDIAGNOSIS COuLD GET ANY WORSE, IT WOuLD BE ONE OFCHILDHOOD BRAIN CANCER. That’s because the developing brainof a child faces serious and challenging developmental hurdleswhen introduced to traditional cancer treatments.

It’s the hurdle that Samuel Johnson and hisparents had to face when he was diagnosed withbrain cancer at 8 months old.

“It depends on age, but typically, doctorsdon’t like to do radiation on children untilthey’re three years old. A lot of the treatmentsare very aggressive in order to be effective,and they target the brain specifically. They’reradiating the children’s brains,” KellyJohnson said. “With Sam’s type of tumor, hehad to undergo some aggressive therapies,including having a chemo port put into hisskull where chemicals were injected directlyinto his brain. We’d get the MRI scan backand could see the volume of certain partsof his brain tissue was decreasing. Wepresumed it was because of the toxicsubstances to kill the cancer.”

Kelly Johnson said that, at 3 yearsold, Sam started radiation—a decisionthat was excruciating for the family tomake.

“We delayed radiation until he was3, because the doctors wereconcerned about what would happenif we did it sooner. It was the lastresort. We had to make a choice: ifwe radiate his whole brain, he couldbe more impaired; he might lose hishearing entirely. He was alreadydevelopmentally disabled and lostsome of his hearing because of the chemo,” she said. “Do I want myson to have a 50 percent shot of surviving and be severely impaired forthe rest of his life, never be able to walk or talk, or decrease his odds to20 percent and give him a higher level of functioning? It’s horrible to befaced with these kinds of choices. And it happened more than once. Idon’t know if I could make those decisions again. It shouldn’t be.Options can be limited for kids because of their age.”

Despite his incredible spirit and fight, Sam passed away shortly after6 a.m. on Nov. 5, 2003, at home with his family, a few months shy of hisfourth birthday. After fighting by his side nearly his entire life, Kellysaid that the emotional stresses of her family’s war on cancernecessitated her putting that energy into something positive tomemorialize Sam and the light he brought to everyone who knew him.

Kelly decided to start a foundation in Sam’s name to help childrenin similar situations and their families. And to date, the Samuel J.

Foundation has been a successful tribute to a child who brightened somany lives.

“Initially, you’re in this battle mode, and it’s hard to get out of it.When they’re gone, you still have that left. I needed to carry on thisfight somehow. I couldn’t let it win anymore,” she said. “Another partwas that I couldn’t bear the thought of people not remembering my sonor not knowing him. There was a little bit of self-centeredness to that,of wanting people to know what a great kid he was and how inspiringhe was. I also wanted to support people in the same situation.”

For a small, local charity, the Samuel J. Foundation has raised morethan $100,000 to date, most of which goes to supporting brain tumorresearch specifically, or to support the families who have to bring theirchildren in for treatment. Because of the nature of brain cancer, and the

Samuel J. FoundationSupports Local Children with Brain Tumors and Their Families

See Foundation page 12

President of Samuel J Foundation,Kelly Johnson and Daughter, Rachel


fact that there’s no definitive cure, most kidshave to be enrolled in clinical trials. Theresearch protocols mean lots of trips to thehospital. The Samuel J. Foundation helpsfamilies pay for transportation and expenses associated with those trips. The grouphas also facilitated in granting four wishesthrough Make-A-Wish for local children withbrain cancer.

The second biggest program the Samuel J. Foundation supports isSam’s Snack Wagon, the snack cart at the oncology department atChildren’s Hospital.

“There’s a physical cart on the inpatient oncology unit at thehospital. We also buysnacks for theoutpatient clinic tohave for children whohave been there forseveral hours. Westock it withindividual packages,

because, due to their weakened immunesystems, they can’t drink out of communalpitchers or larger soda bottles,” Kelly said. “Wefill the cart with this food and they bring it outevery day. The kids pick out a snack every day.We’ve had families tell us that it’s the thingthat the children look forward to the most.When they’re dreading the hospital, it makes iteasier when they’re reminded that the snackcart’s coming back.”

One of the big hits with the older kids atthe hospital is Gatorade, which has been supplied by the Mt. LebanonBlue Devils soccer team, which has donated five to six cases a monthfor the past four years, Kelly said. Thanks to drives and communitysupport, similar donations have been contributed to the Samuel J.Foundation so that they can further their mission and help more kids.

“We’ve had two high school seniors do their senior projects withus, and there’s an Eagle Scout who is planning a golf outing to benefitthe foundation,” Kelly said. “We welcome the support from thecommunity, and it really does make a big difference.”

For more information or to donate to the Samuel J. Foundation,go to www.samuelj.org. Donations may also be mailed directly to: The Samuel J Foundation, P.O. Box 75, Oakdale, PA 15071.

Foundation continued from page 11

If you would like information on thebenefit, volunteering or donating to

The Samuel J Foundation, pleasevisit their website atwww.samuelj.org.

“We’ve had two highschool seniors do theirsenior projects with us,and there’s an Eagle Scoutwho is planning a golfouting to benefit thefoundation,” Kelly said.

Congratulations to Moon Township Resident Mercedez Linke, winner of the Pittsburgh Technical Institute Annual Art Show

Each year, students, friends and family members, and high school art teachers attend theopening of “Visions and Voices,” Pittsburgh Technical Institute’s high school student show,to admire the individual creativity exhibited.

The 2011 opening had more than 700 pieces of work submitted by 389 studentsrepresenting 70 high schools. “We are thrilled with the growth we’ve experienced in ournine years of hosting this high school student show,” comments Susan Rosa, PTI Directorof Visual Communication. “To make this opportunity available to hundreds of studentsfrom dozens of high schools — not only throughout our region — is exciting andrewarding.

“I think it’s an awesome opportunity to share our work with everyone.” said Linke. Hersubmission, “Give Me Space” was named Best of Show. Students from Pennsylvania, Ohio,West Virginia, Maryland, New York and Virginia submitted entries.


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“I struggle with the imagery sometimes,”Elias admits. “You need to come up withimagery for your students to convey a mentalpicture of how the exercise should look or feel.You have to say something about golf with agolfer, a lot of these phrases or images arethings we pick up from our trainers. The trainerhas to relate to something the client wouldunderstand.”

Sawing off your baby toe, for the record, is ashoulder over the knee stretch where yourhand meets the outside of the opposing footlike a saw blade.

It’s an exercise that Elias particularly isproud of because, up untilshe discovered Pilates,she couldn’t evenreach her toes.

“I used to trainfor fitness showswith heavy weightsand not stretchingenough. If you’retight, yourmuscles are restricting your movement,” shesaid. “I couldn’t touch my toes before Pilates.Now I can go past my toes. Every humanshould be working towards that.”

Elias discovered Pilates when her youngersister, a dancer, got injured and started takingPilates at Point Park University. Elias didn’t

know what Pilates meant, let alonewhat the exercises were.

“She said, “You should thinkabout adding this into what youteach,’” Elias said. “So the first thing Idid was go to New York and startedwith Power Pilates. That was abouteight years ago.”

Elias eventually returnedhome and found a studio inWexford that had acertification programthrough Peak Pilates out ofColorado, which has a very stringentcertification program that took three

years for Elias to complete.Peak required logging 452 hours of

instructor observation, practice hours andindividual and group teaching hours prior tobeing fully certified. Elias’ zeal for Pilates andher desire to help other achieve their fitnessgoals got her thinking about maximizing herteaching potential.

“I thought, ‘I’m already teaching someclasses but getting a cable access showcould give me more hours.’ I

approached someone who already had a showon Moon Township’s MCA-TV and askedthem how to go about setting up a show. Forme, it was a great way to get more peopleeducated about this other avenue of fitness, aswell as something new that sounded like fun.”

The Great White SharkElias came to Moon when she enrolled at

Robert Morris College’s marketing andquantitative business analysis programs. Shefell in love with Moon Township and her

future husband, Scott, during that timeand was married in 1998.

Never short on energy, Eliasquickly became involv ed in the

community through her churchaffiliations and her children’s school

activities. She plays the organ and is the choirdirector at St. Margaret Mary Church, helpscoach her 10-year-old daughter’s cheerleadingteam and volunteers with her softball team.

Moon Resident Finds

Motivating Through


She began teaching fitness classes at the JoeWeider Fitness Center in college, but nowteaches at a variety of fitness centers and atRobin Hill.

“If I had more time, I probably would havemore hobbies and involvements,” Elias said.“My husband calls me the ‘Great White Shark’because I’m never happy sitting still. I have toalways be moving. Fitness has always been apart of my life. When I was in high school, Iplayed every sport that I could play. When Istarted teaching fitness classes, I didn’t justappreciate how it made me feel, but how itmakes other feel. It’s great when you feel good

about yourself, butwhen you can helpsomebody else feelgood, that makes you feel like a real winnerright there.”

“Slide a penny down the wall”

It’s 9 a.m. on a Wednesday, andElias, who literally is as tall as heryoga mat is long weaves in and out ofthe three-camera set up at MCA-TVstudios, straightening her bangs and makingjokes with her long-time co-hosts: DianaRepack and Carla Villa. Both are students ofElias and Villa, in particular, has commented toElias that since she began Pilates, she hasgained an inch in posture and lost an inch offeach of her hips.

Two camera operators listen through theirheadphones for a cue from the board operatorsthat the show is about to go on.

Elias, with perfect Pilates posture, sits onher mat and waits for the red light of thecamera to come on. While she’s been teachingfor decades, she said she always tries to putsome thought into how she wants each show tounfold.

“I try not to wing it. I try to make sure everysession is a little different since we only tapeonce a month. I try to think of the things I wantpeople get the most,” she said. “Some whowatch it may not get to a gym ever, so I feel thepressure to make each show the best showever, so they get the most out of it and enjoy it.”

The women have weights and a rubber ballthat they use during the routine, but

Elias comments that theexercises can be done at homewithout them. She alsodemonstrates beginner as wellas advanced positions for eachexercise they do. It’s a lotpacked into a 30-minute show,but Elias said she wants peopleto know that Pilates can bedone by everyone.

“I’d like to have a male co-host and a kid for a couple ofshows, just to reach out topeople and let them know that

men should be doing these exercisesand any kid can be doing them aswell, especially if they’re enrolled in

some kind of sports activity, ” she said. “Itrained a man once who was 82. He couldbarely get out of his car. After Pilates, he couldget out of that car all on his own in under 10minutes. My passion is so big for this form of

exercise. People think that if you’renot dripping with sweat or gaspingfor air, you’re not getting anythingout of it. But you are, and you can

do Pilates every single day.”The women turn to their sides and

star t to do leg lifts. Elias conjures upanother one of her images that of using yourbig toe to slide a penny down a wall. Shecredits that one on a former instructor of hers.

The camera operators hold up a cardindicating that 30 seconds are left in the tapingand Elias starts to wrap up. The trio role up

Enjoyment in

Others Pilates

Continued on page 20



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their mats, and pose for some photos for theMCA-TV web designer, who happens toneed fresh photos for the website.

Elias said that every once in a while she’llbe recognized for her show in public.

“Sometimes, I’ll be out in the grocerystore and someone will say, ‘Hey, aren’t youthe person who does that Pilates show. Youwonder sometimes if they’re just watchingthe show or following along withthe exerc ises at home,” she said.“The girls who tape with me,they’ve told me that several peoplehave approached them.They’re not necessarilydoing the exercises, butat least they’re watchingit and that may get themthinking more about doingthem or signing up for a class somewhere.”

One person who doesn’t watch the showis Elias.

“I watched it once. There was one thingmy Pilates instructors always wanted you tobe c areful about and that’s not talking toomuch,” she said. “It’s an economy of words.We want our clients to feel the movementon their own, and if you talk too much, theytend to tune you out. I was always beingtold, ‘You talk too much.’ I think I’m sayingless and I watch the show and I realize I’mnot. I think it’s important to say thingswhen you need to say them, and manystudents have thanked me for e xplainingthings through the class.”

She does concede that when the showairs – 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays andFridays – she’s usually running out to teachor attending one of her children’s sportingevents.

“Our trainers recommended that werecord our practice sessions to see and hearwhat we’re teaching our clients,” she said.“Watching the show is something I certainlywill start doing more. It would help me seehow I actually cue the exercises and assistme in improving on the things I need todo.”

Elias said that one day, she’d like to openup her own studio. But for now, she’scontent doing what she’s doing. Her familyhas been extremely supportive, she said.

“I’m sure my schedule is difficult forthem at times,” she said. “But they knowthat’s my passion. That’s what I’m all about.I’m at this studio and tha t studio and theTV studio and back to the first studio. It’snever too late for people to start Pilates andto become healthier. And if I can help themdo it, then that is something that gives me alot of satisfaction.”

Continued from page 19

S U M M E R 2 0 1 1

Health and Wellness News You Can Use

© 2011 UPMC

What’s Insidepage 2 A Woman’s Heart Is Special

page 3 The Good News About Heart DiseaseSix Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure

page 4 Young Athletes and Sudden Cardiac DeathWhat Parents Need to Know

Exercise: Too Much of a Good Thing Can Be Harmful

page 5 The Downside of Falls

page 6 Choosing the Right Doctor for You

page 7 Welcoming New Physicians

2 www.UPMC.com/Today

Have you ever heard the adage,“Know your enemy?” Heart disease is pandemic in the United States — but manywomen remain unaware that it’san “equal opportunity” disease.The symptoms of heart diseasecan differ between men andwomen, but if you have a heart, you can get heart disease.

“Every woman, regardless of age,should know her risk factors andwork with her doctor to develop a plan for good heart health,” says John R. Ward, MD, a cardiologist and specialist inwomen’s heart issues at UPMCMercy, which is part of theUPMC Heart and Vascular Institute. “Taking action could save your life or the life of someone you love.”

Know your risksAn astonishing 80 percent ofwomen between the ages of 40 and 60 have one or more riskfactors for heart disease. “Having just one risk factor doubles your chance for heart disease,” adds Dr. Ward.Having multiple risk factors significantly increases your potential for heart problems.

Smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, and family history are risk factors that men and womenshare. Additional risk factors specific to women’s hearthealth include:

• Metabolic syndrome, a combination of excessive fat around the abdomen, high blood pressure, highblood sugar, and high triglycerides that increase yourrisk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

• Mental stress and depression, both of which make it difficult to follow a healthy lifestyle.

• Low levels of estrogen after menopause, which pose serious risks of heart disease developing in awoman’s smaller blood vessels.

“You can’t do anything about your genes and family history,but lifestyle changes can certainly help reduce your risk of heart disease,” says Dr. Ward.

Take action for your heart healthHeart disease is the leading cause of death among women over theage of 65. And over the last 20years, the rate of heart attacks inwomen between the ages of 35 and 54 has been on the rise. Given these statistics, everywoman should pay close attentionto her heart health.

The first step in becoming “heartsmart” is to meet with your doctoror primary care physician. Anhonest conversation with yourdoctor will help ensure that youget the best possible care. Hereare a few questions to ask:

• What are my risk factors forheart disease?

• What should I know about theeffects of menopause on myheart health?

• What is my blood pressure? Is that healthy for my age?

• What is my cholesterol andhow could it affect my health?

• Based on my history and risk factors, what can I do to lower my risk?

Take action for your family, tooThe staggering increase in obesity and diabetes in childrenin the United States puts them at significant risk of heartdisease. “We’ve learned that plaque can begin to build up in arteries in children as young as two years old,” says Dr. Ward.

“Moms are role models for their children. By makinghealthy changes for yourself, you can help improve the heart health of the entire family.”

To learn more about cardiac services at UPMC Mercy, visit www.UPMCMercy.com and click on Our Services.

To schedule an appointment with a UPMC-a+liated physician, visit www.UPMC.com/FindADoctor, or call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).

A Woman’s Heart Is SpecialIt’s important to recognize you’re not immune to the dangers of heart disease

Risk factors that can’tbe chaged• Family history of heart disease,

carotid artery disease, or peripheral artery disease

• Age (65 and older)• Gender (men have a greater risk

of heart attack)

Risk factors that canbe changed• Smoking• High blood pressure • High cholesterol levels • Obesity• Physical inactivity

Become heart smartTake time to educate yourself about heart disease and the treatments available. The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute website is a one-stop source of informationabout cardiac conditions, as well as UPMC’s full spectrum of cardiovascular services from routine screenings to advanced cardiac care.

Be sure to check it out atwww.UPMC.com/HeartandVascular.

Monitor Target Levels

Cholesterol less than 200 mg/dL

Blood Pressure below 120/80

BMI (body mass index) 18.5–24.9

Ask your doctorIf you have questions or concerns aboutyour heart health, call your physician to schedule an appointment.

1-800-533-UPMC 3

Heart disease is the nation’s leadingcause of death for both men andwomen. Every 25 seconds, someone experiences a coronary event; everyminute, heart disease claims a life.

The good news? You can take steps to reduce your risk of heart diseasethrough routine screenings and lifestylechanges — even if you’ve already had aheart attack or stroke.

“Heart disease is a disease we can do something about. In most instances, it ispreventable,” says Daniel Edmundowicz,MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, and directorof preventive cardiology at the UPMCHeart and Vascular Institute.

“Screening absolutely saves lives. We can help people change the outcome once we know the risk-factor levels,” Dr. Edmundowicz says.

Heart-Healthy Resources at UPMC MercyMichael A. Fallert, MD, chief of cardiology at UPMC Mercy, says doctorsuse tools such as EKGs, stress testing, ultrasound, and CT scans to look for signs of atherosclerosis in the heart, neck,legs, and arms — especially if you have a family history of cardiovascular disease.

If needed, you also can take advantage ofthe region’s only low radiation electronbeam CT scan at the UPMC Heart andVascular Institute. It looks specifically forcalcium in the coronary arteries as amarker of the cholesterol accumulationthat can cause sudden heart attacks.

Dr. Fallert recommends regular healthscreenings that tell you your numbers and whether you need to take action. For example, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can damage your heartand blood vessels, but you wouldn’t know you have these conditions withouttesting for them.

The more risk factors you have, the greateryour chance of developing heart disease,says Dr. Fallert. While you can’t controlgenetics, you can take steps to controlmany other risk factors by eating a healthy diet, exercising, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy body weight.Some changes — like quitting smoking —can have an immediate impact.

“The bottom line is: If you know yournumbers and know your risk, you can do something about it,” Dr. Fallert says.

The Good News About Heart DiseaseTake charge of your heart through health screenings and heart-healthy lifestyle changes

Six Ways to Lower Your Blood PressureHigh blood pressure puts you at risk for heart attack, stroke, and other serious diseases. Follow these recommendations from Dr. Fallert to take charge of this “silent killer”:• Increase physical activity. Aim for at

least 30 minutes each day (most days) of brisk walking, bike riding, or other aerobic activity.

• Monitor your sodium. Limit your sodium intake to less than two grams (2,000 mg) a day. Beware of “hidden” sodium inprocessed foods, including canned soup,lunch meats, frozen dinners, and crackers.

• Eat healthy. Follow a lower-fat diet that’s rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods.

• Control your stress. Take 15 minutes eachday to decompress and focus on yourself.Listen to music, read, pray, or meditate.

• Don’t smoke! Nicotine causes your bloodvessels to constrict and your heart to beatfaster, which raises your blood pressure.

• Take your medicine. If medicine is neededto control your blood pressure, make sureyou take it as prescribed by your doctor.

Know your numbersAim for these vital numbers to keep your ticker in good working condition:


Young Athletes and Sudden Cardiac DeathWhat Parents Need to Know

Health Tips from UPMC Health Plan

Is your child among the three to five million young people in the United States who play organized sports each year? If so, you know that a pre-participation physical examination can help identify young athletes who may be at risk for an injury or illness that could require additional medical evaluation. Recently, identifying young athletes who may be at risk of sudden cardiac death has become a hot topic among sports medicine professionals, focusing the attention of parents on the need for better cardiovascular screening of young athletes.“Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes is extremely rare,” says Vivekanand Allada, MD, clinical director of pediatric cardiology at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and professor of pediatrics. “In fact, it’s a one in a million risk.”According to Dr. Allada, sudden death in young athletes is most often due to heart problems, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (an abnormal thickening of the heart). Other causes include congenitalcoronary anomalies, arrhythmia (which can be caused by a blow to thechest), and Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that canweaken the aorta and lead to a tear or rupture. “Unfortunately, there’s no perfect test to find a needle in a haystack,” says Dr. Allada. However, parents can take steps to uncover risk factors that may require more testing or a consultation with a pediatriccardiologist. The American Heart Association recommends that youngathletes undergo a screening medical history to check specifically for: • Chest pain, palpitations, or fainting during exercise (red flags

that require immediate attention) • A history of a heart murmur or hypertension• Family history of coronary disease, sudden death, or

Marfan syndrome

Children with any of these risk factors or an abnormal physical examshould see a pediatric cardiologist, who is specially trained to look for cardiac problems in children and teens, Dr. Allada says. Further testing might include an EKG, echocardiogram, and stress test.He offers these tips to parents:• Don’t let your child play through chest pain. Pain can be a

warning sign.• Teach your child to avoid energy drinks that have high levels

of caffeine. Such drinks can make the heart race and cause cardiac arrhythmias. They are particularly dangerous for athletes with undiagnosed cardiac problems.

To learn more about caring for your child’s heart, visit www.chp.edu, then click on Child Health A-Z. To schedule an appointment with a Children’s-a+liated physician, call 412-692-PEDS (7337).

Exercise:Too Much of a GoodThing Can Be HarmfulRegular exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy life. Many of us, however, still struggle to fit even a moderate amount of exercise into our schedules.

But there are plenty of peoplewho are getting too much exercise. If some exercise is good,they think more will be better.Not true. In fact, excessive exercise can lead to a host ofphysical issues, including injuries,the loss of lean muscle mass, aweakened immune system, sleep problems, irritability, anddepression. A study in the American Journal of Cardiologysuggests that too much vigorousexercise also can increase the risk of heart problems.

Are you exercising too much?Experts say that if your workoutssuddenly seem more di3cult than usual and you aren’t making progress, you may be overexercising.Other trouble signs include:• Insomnia• Aches or pain in muscles and/or joints• Fatigue• Feeling unmotivated and lacking energy• Increased susceptibility to colds, sore throats,

and other illnesses

If you’re experiencing any of these signs, see your doctor to find out if something else is causing the problem.

Just starting an exercise program?Congratulations on taking an important step to improve your health. Here are a few tips to help yourbody adjust to a new routine:• Create a reasonable exercise program based

on attainable goals.• Exercise in moderation.• Begin slowly and build up gradually to avoid injuries.• Cut back the volume and intensity of your

workouts at the first sign of injury.• Listen to your body. When it needs a rest,

give it a rest.

Sources: American College of Sports Medicine, American Heart Association

B

1-800-533-UPMC 5

Three things you can do to prevent fallsExercise! Exercises such as tai chi or other relaxationexercises that improve balance and coordination canhelp lower your chances of falling and make you feel stronger. See your doctor regularly. Annual physical and eye examinations can uncover underlying medical problemsthat can lead to falls. See your doctor if you feel unstableor dizzy, possibly due to medications. Tell your doctor ifyou fall; a medical evaluation can help.Make your home safer. Seventy-five percent of all fallsoccur at home. To help make your home fall-proof:• Improve lighting. As you get older, you need brighter

lights to see well. Use night lights in your bedroom,hall, and bathroom.

• Remove small throw rugs. Tack down all carpets andarea rugs so they are firmly fastened to the floor.

• Remove things you can trip over. Clear books,clothes, and shoes from stairs and places you walk.Keep cords and wires near walls.

• Use handrails. Install grab bars near toilets, and both inside and outside your tub and shower. Always use the handrail when using the stairs.

• Store items within easy reach. Don’t store things toohigh or too low. Avoid using stepladders or stepstools. Most of all, think before you reach.

• Wear shoes with non-skid, non-friction soles. Avoidgoing barefoot or wearing only socks or loose-fittingslippers.

Falls may be funny on comedy shows, but they can be traumatic for older adults. Simply tripping on a rug or slipping on a wet floor can change an older person’s life in an instant — posing serious threats to his or her health and independence.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three people over 65 experience at least one fall each year, and more than two-thirds of them are likely to fall again within six months.Falls also are the leading cause of accidental death in seniors. And, as many as 30 percent of those who fall end up with debilitating hip, pelvic, or spine fractures that make it harder to get around and adversely affect self-confidence. Even those who don’t suffer serious injury can become fearful.

“The most obvious concern when an older adult falls or trips is injury,” says Stephanie Studenski, MD, MPH, director of the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center at the University of Pittsburgh and associate director of research at the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh. “But the fear of falling can cause people to restrict their activity and sacrifice their independence. In some cases, it can lead to social isolation,” she says.

Everyone is at risk for falls, but that risk increases with the changes that come with aging, plus other medical conditions such as arthritis, cataracts and glaucoma, and balance problems.

“Fortunately, there’s a lot people can do to prevent most risk factors,” says Dr. Studenski. “Taking care of your overall health, staying active, socializing with friends, and taking a few common-sense precautions can help you avoid falls and broken bones.”

To learn more about the Falls Clinic, located at UPMC Senior Care-Benedum Geriatric Center in Oakland, call 412-692-4200.

UPMC Spotlight

The Downside of FallsPreventing tripping, falling can be key to maintaining independence

Leading the Work in Falls PreventionDr. Stephanie Studenski received the 2010 National Award for Falls Prevention Research and will be honored as the grand champion at the third annual Celebrating Senior Champions benefit dinner and auction Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. For more information about the event, sponsored by UPMC Senior Services, the Aging Institute, and the Division of Geriatric Medicine of the University of Pittsburgh, call Peggy VanHorn, benevolent care advocate, at 412-622-9239.


We’ve all heard about the importance of the doctor/patient relationship, oftendescribed as the cornerstone of qualitymedical care.

“In fact, the stronger that relationship, the better your chances of receiving theright care at the right time in the rightway,” says Tami Minnier, vice president of UPMC’s Donald J. Wolff, Jr. Centerfor Quality Improvement and Innovation. “At UPMC, our goal is to help you develop a long-term partnership in which your doctor is your number one health care champion.”

According to a 2010 survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, most of us are very satisfied with our physicians. It usually takes something major — like moving to a new area, changing medical insurance, or being diagnosed with a serious condition — to prompt us to look for a new doctor.

“If you’re in the process of changing doctors, there are some exciting new options to consider,” says Ms. Minnier.“For example, UPMC’s Health Plan isworking with a growing number of primary care physicians to implement patient-centered medical homes in theirpractices.” In this medical model, yourfamily doctor becomes the hub for all your care by linking you to a collaborativeteam of medical professionals — fromphysician assistants to specialists.

Medical homes are designed to ensure that you receive appropriate and comprehensive care over your entire lifetime, including preventive health care, treatment for acute or chronic illness, and assistance with end-of-life care. Studies show that medical homes are resulting in improved care, access, and communication between patients and their “medical team” — as well as improved quality, safety, and cost of care.

When searching for “Dr. Right,” here arefive helpful tips to locate the best match:

Determine what’s important to you“Finding the ‘right’ doctor often involvespersonal preferences apart from a physician’s skills or qualifications,” saysMs. Minnier. “For example, are you more comfortable with a doctor of yourgender? Is a primary care physician right for you, or do you have a medicalcondition that requires treatment by a specialist? And if easy access is a concern,do you need a doctor located close to your home or workplace?”

Get the opinion of people you trust“Begin your search by asking your circle of family, friends, and co-workers aboutthe positive experiences they’ve had,” sheadvises. “If you’re moving, or seeking aspecialist, your current doctor also can be an excellent referral source.”

Do some homework “There are a number of credible online resources, including UPMC’s Find aDoctor (www.UPMC.com/FindADoctor),with information on more than 5,000physicians, that allow you to confirm aphysician’s medical credentials, board certifications, and specialties,” says Ms. Minnier. You also can check with the state medical board at docboard.org.In general, avoid “doctor ranking” sites,which are unregulated and difficult to verify for accuracy.

At UPMC, a variety of tools are used to assess physician quality, including patient satisfaction surveys. “We literallyreview thousands of surveys monthly,which provide us with invaluable insightsand feedback,” says Ms. Minnier.

Verify your doctor’s insurance plans and hospital a2liations“Most practices accept a variety of insurance plans, but be sure yours isamong them,” advises Ms. Minnier. “And should you ever require hospitalization or special tests, it’s important that your doctor be affiliatedwith a hospital you know and trust.”

Call for an appointment“Bring a written set of questions coveringyour concerns and expectations. Whenyour visit is over, evaluate the experience,”suggests Ms. Minnier. “Was it easy to getan appointment? Were you treated withrespect by both the doctor and the staff? If your answers are positive, you’re on theright path to a doctor/patient relationshipcharacterized by quality care, compassion,and open communication.”

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with a UPMC-a+liated physician, visitwww.UPMC.com/FindADoctor, or call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).

Choosing the Right Doctor for YouTaking the time to find “Dr. Right” is one of the most important investments you can make.

1-800-533-UPMC 7

Welcoming New Physicians to UPMC MercyTo schedule an appointment, or for more information about any of our physicians, visit www.UPMC.com/FindADoctor or call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762).

Anesthesiology

Albert J. Carvelli, MD

Ste1anie J. Labate, MD

Joel M. Pomerantz, MD

David M. Ruttum, MD

Joseph F. Talarico, DO

Manisha Loomba Trivedi, MD

Cardiology

George S. Mendenhall, MD

Critical Care Medicine

Amesh A. Adalja, MD

Lakshmipathi P. Chelluri, MD

Lillian L. Emlet, MD

Kevin Ho, MD

Diagnostic Radiology

Sara A. Majewski, MD

Iclal Ocak, MD

Daria Elizabeth Setlik, MD

Emergency Medicine

Michael C. Campbell, MD

Ankur Ashok Doshi, MD

Robert J. Hyde, MD

John M. Murray, MD

Troy Christian Sims, MD

Endocrinology

Jennifer Pennock Holst, MD

Family Medicine

Brent E. Clark, MD

Gastroenterology

Shahid Masood Malik, MD

Geriatric Medicine

George H. Gleeson, MD

James Richard Sahovey, MD

Head & Neck Surgery

Grant Shale Gillman, MD

Andrea F. Lewis, MD

Andrew A. McCall, MD

Ryan Jeremy Soose, MD

Andrew Burchess Tassler, MD

Kristin Woodbury, DO

Infectious Diseases

Bernard J. C. Macatangay, MD

Kathleen Rebecca Sheridan, MD

Internal Medicine

Maliha Ahmad Kamal, MD

Oksana Karpov, DO

Abdul Q. Khan, MD

Ashish Sharma, MD

Adam Edmund Sohnen, MD

Laboratory Medicine

Thomas S. Talamo, MD

Maternal Fetal Medicine

David Collier Streitman, MD

Neonatology

Charles V. Bender, MD

Beverly S. Brozanski, MD

Barbara A. Clouser, MD

Barbara Ann Cohlan, MD

Kara L. Gardner, MD

Jennifer L. Kloesz, MD

Burhanuddin Mahmood, MD

William J. McCarran, MD

Richard Rocco Telesco, MD

Amy M. Urban, DO

Kalyani Rai Vats, MD

Jon F. Watchko, MD

Toby Debra Yanowitz, MD

Nephrology

Khaled Abdel-Kader, MD

Jose F. Bernardo, MD

Patricia Khalil, MD

Kelly V. Liang MD

Preethi V. Murty, MD

Christopher J. Passero, MD

Neuroradiology

Vera Rachel Spelling, MD

Hoang Minh Trang, DO

Neurosurgery

Robert M. Friedlander, MD

Brian T. Jankowitz, MD

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Michael F. Lupinetti, MD

Stephanie L. Nicholas, MD

Ophthalmology

Tineke L. Chan, MD

Vasiliki A. Christopoulos, MD

Paul William Conrad, MD

Kimberly V. Miller, MD

Avni Patel Vyas, MD

Orthopaedic Surgery

Lisa Blackrick, MD

Orthopaedic Surgery/Podiatry

Nicholas J. Lowery, DPM

Pain Management

Karsten Bartels, MD

Pediatrics/General

Rita Kaul, MD

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Shailen F. Greene, MD

Margaret E. Reidy, MD

Maria F. Twichell, MD

Psychiatry

Saghir Ahmad, MD

Anna M. Boettcher, MD

Kristina M. Curci, MD

Antoine B. Douaihy, MD

Julie A. Kmiec, MD

Radiation Oncology

Ryan Patrick Smith, MD

Radiology

Neal J. Klitsch, MD

Marios D. Papachristou, MD

Jamie L. Parent, MD

Amy Vogia, DO

Urology

Ronald M. Benoit, MD

Jodi K. Maranchie, MD

Vascular Surgery

Timothy Wu, MD

UPMC Mercy1400 Locust St.Pittsburgh, PA 15219

UPMC Today is published quarterly to provide you with health and wellness information and classes and events available at UPMC.

This publication is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice or replace a physician’s medical assessment. Always consult first with your physician about anything related to your personal health.

Follow UPMC on Facebook.

The name you trust in women’s health is right here at Mercy.

UPMC Mercy ob-gyn services are growing to provide comprehensive women’s services by bringing you the same experts who practice at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.In addition to community-based physicians and midwifery, these expanding services forwomen are consistent with Mercy’s rich tradition of care.

UPMC’s complete range of specialty services for women covers obstetrics and gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, midlife health, women’s cancer, and much more.From checkups and preventive care to testing, diagnosis, and advanced treatments, thesuperb doctors, nurses, and caregivers at Mercy and Magee are with you every step of the way on the path to good health. We work closely with your primary care physician toprovide seamless care. And every service is backed by UPMC’s world-class care, providingpeace of mind when you need it most.

To learn more about UPMC Mercy ob-gyn services or to schedule an appointment,call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762), or visit UPMCMercy.com.


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elicious chocolate cake, desserts,candies, snacks, a chocolatefountain, tea, coffee andchampagne were offered to the

“over 21” library patrons at the “All AboutChocolate Event” held recently at MoonTownship Public Library by members ofFriends of Moon Public Library.

Friends of the Moon Public Library served the beautiful confections and bakedgoods that were a treat for the eyes, as well asthe taste buds. Tastefully decorated with crispwhite table cloths with fresh flowers andcandles, the library resembled a restaurant orupscale bakery.

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ChocolateTreats Sweets&

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event

Supporting the Moon Township Public LibraryPhotos by Kathy Rudolph

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1. Ellen Northy, Friends of Moon Township Public Library 3. Pamela Krug and Rosemarie Thunell 4. Lucille and Sue and Daryl Reeves 7. Bill Northy and Norma Lofink 8. Sara 10. Deborah Connolly and the auctioned cake that she pur


Katie Jacob, Intern

Heather Panella, Teen Services Librarian

Elaine Sollinger, Library Board President

Megan Goode, Children’s Librarian

Maria Joseph, Library Director

Suzy Ruskin, Adult ServicesLibrarian/Assistant Director

Ellen Northy, President of Friends of MoonPublic Library, helped to organize the event.

“Friends of the Library support a wish list ofthings that the library needs. Current bestsellers, computers, Battle of the Books trophiesare some of the examples,” Mrs. Northy said.“We believe in reading and this is greatorganization of nice people that want tosupport our community library.”

undraising is crucial to thelibrary trying to reboundfrom last year’s cut in fundingby the state. The library is

also funded by the Allegheny Regional District,

and The Township of Moon, who financiallyass isted the library last year after the cuts.Most importantly are the contributions from patrons that keep the library going intough economic times. A Fall Wine and Hors d’oeuvres fundraiser and raffle are future events planned to help offset costs of the library.

According the recent Census Bureau reporton Moon Township, the township increasedfrom 24,604 to 26,825 residents from 2000 topresent. The libr ary, part of The MoonCommunity Service Center and the formerMontour Heights Country Club, has beenoccupied since 1994 and is feeling the

growing pains of the population increase.

ur goal is to find a bigger space tobetter serve the community,” saidElaine Sollinger, Moon TownshipPublic Library Board President.

“Right now we have waiting lists for Children’sprograms. We want to improve this.”

FO

The Moon Township Public Library Staff

If you would like more informationon the Moon Township PublicLibrary, or Friends of Moon PublicLibrary, please visit www.moonlibrary.org.

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President 2. Barb Karp, Phyllis Italia, Peggy West, Pamela Krug, Sue Vandertie and Mary Skinner Vandertie, President of the Moon Township Garden Club 5. Karen Henderson 6. Alacia Pollard

Kobak, Friend of the Moon Township Public Library Member 9. Sid Moore and Melissa Macri rchased, donated by Just Yum 11. Barb Karp, Walter and Jan Gorr 12. Sisters, Jane Miller and Karen Kulek



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A Restoration Church ...............................................724.941.3480Berean Fellowship Church ......................................412.220.4673Beth-El Congregation of South Hills ......................412.561.1168Bethel Presbyterian Church....................................412.835.0405Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church ...................412.561.5100Bower Hill Community Church................................412.561.4114Center Presbyterian Church....................................724.941.9050Christ the King Church .............................................412.595.7181Christ Community Church of South Hills ...............412.519.4097Grace Fellowship Church ........................................412.334.3803Christ United Methodist Church .............................412.835.6621Covenant Family Church ..........................................724.263.7147Faith Lutheran Church..............................................412.835.4590First Church of Christ, Scientist ..............................412.561.1125Good Shepherd Church............................................412.276.2446Good Shepherd Church............................................724.941.9418Holy Child Parish .......................................................412.221.5213Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church .......................412.833.3355Hope Lutheran Church .............................................724.941.9441Lebanon Presbyterian Church ................................412.466.7184Mt. Lebanon Christian Church ................................412.531.8554New Day Assembly of God......................................724.941.1661New Song Community Church................................412.341.1293

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.............................724.941.7467Peters Creek Baptist Church...................................412.833.6111Ruthfred Lutheran Church .......................................412.835.7140South Hills Assembly of God ...................................412.835.8900South Hills Bible Chapel...........................................724.941.8990South Hills Church of the Nazarene.......................412.831.6333South Hills Community Baptist Church..................412.833.1313Southminster Presbyterian Church........................412.343.8900St. David’s Anglican Church....................................724.941.4060St. David’s Anglican Church....................................724.941.4060St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church...............412.221.2277St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church.................412.835.7800St. John Capistran Roman Catholic Church .........412.221.6275St. Louise DeMarillac Roman Catholic Church....412.833.1010St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.....................................412.531.7153St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church ...........412.833.0031Temple Emanuel ........................................................412.279.7600Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills 412.561.6277Upper St. Clair Alliance Church..............................412.835.4775Westminster Presbyterian Church.........................412.835.6630

If your place of worship was not on our list, please e-mail the information to [email protected].

We are interested inhighlighting your church!If you are a member of theclergy from this area andwould like to contribute aninspirational message that allof our readers might enjoy,please contact MarybethJeffries, Managing Editor at [email protected] more information.


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Water’s Impact on the Taste of Your FoodHoliday and year-round recipes for soups, stocks, sauces and other dishes calling for H20 as the base ingredient demand the finest culinaryfinesse – and the purest water to promote the truest taste.

Unknowingly, using untreated tap water may compromise the nuancesof your cooking and contribute to environmental waste when it comes tocleaning pots, pans and appliances used to prepare your favorite recipes.Here’s how taste can be affected:

• Unfiltered tap water – Water that comes from a municipal watersupply is safely regulated by the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA); however, nearly every water source contains some level of contaminants* that are addressed by addingcommonly used disinfectants like chlorine. Traces of chlorine can produce an unpleasant taste and odor that can taint yourwater-based recipes; steam used for cooking vegetables, rice and pasta; and even ice cubes used to chill beverages.

• Unsoftened hard water – Residents on private or community well systems are subject to hard water that may contain a numberof odor- and taste-altering impurities*. For example, sulfur foundin some hard water sources contributes to a “rotten egg” smell;iron or copper can produce a metallic aftertaste; and water thatflows over rocks, soils and vegetation sometimes contains a salty or bitter taste.

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Stir Up Solutions…If mixing your favorite beverage with stale-tasting ice cubes or dumpingchlorinated water into your grandma’s chicken noodle soup isn’t on yourrecipe card, consider making the most of your tap water. Contact yourlocal Culligan dealer to obtain a free, on-site water analysis to determinewhich in home solution is best for you. This might include…

…and Help Spare the EnvironmentOptimizing the taste of your food with quality water also has other “green” benefits that extend to the environment. For example, usingsoftened water can provide the following advantages:

• Longer equipment lifespan – Minerals such as calcium and magnesium that are dissolved in your tap water tend to settle out when hard water is heated and evaporates. Theseminerals accumulate, corrode and clog water-using appliances (i.e. dishwashers, coffee makers, steamers) and other devices,causing increased energy use, a shortened lifespan and prematureequipment disposal. Soft water can help eliminate these issues and extend the life of your appliances.

• Less detergent – Removing spots, stains and scale caused by hard water from your cookware and dishes requires scrubbing with detergents and other harsh chemicals. The more stubborn the residue, the more cleanser required – contributing tounnecessary environmental waste. Soft water helps detergents to lather better so cleansing is easier and less soap is needed.

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A bond of determination and generosity wasrecently demonstrated at the 2011 American Cancersociety relay for Life of Moon Township at robertMorris university. Volunteer relay teams and oveer400 community members donated and fundraisedbefore and during the event. Cancer survivors andtheir families, coworkers and students that have beenaffected by cancer in some way participated in theevent-filled relay. sponsored by Gold-Tec, upMCCancer Centers, Dick’s sporting Goods, DoubletreeHotel and other businesses in the community, therelay benefitted cancer research.

“At relay for Life, people come out and celebratethe progress being made in cancer research. They cancelebrate their survival,remember their lovedones that they havelost, or have a chanceto fight back againstcancer,” said NancyVerderber, of theAmerican Cancersociety and the eventorganizer. “The Moon Township relayfor Life has been going on for 18 years is one of thelargest events. it is a great way to get to know people inthe community and a neat way of giving.”

The event began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, ofTacoma, Washington, ran and walked around a trackfor 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancersociety. it has since grown into the relay that morethan 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in theunited states participate in each year. The AmericanCancer society designed the relay to be a 24 hour,overnight event because “cancer never sleeps.” Therelay teams camped out at the stadium and took turnswalking or running around the Joe Walton stadiumpath for all 24 hours.

To keep the teams motivated, Volunteer Co-chairsMelinda fulton, Director of sales at Doubletree, andNatalie Mink, Kohl’s supervisor, helped to plancountless events. performances by The rMu Choirand identity X, DJ Jen, Games2u, sunrise Yoga,courtesy of Three rivers Yoga, and a pizza party,courtesy of Genoa pizza and pasta were some of theexamples. The teams also added to the carnivalatmosphere by offering food, games and prizes to raisemore funds for their teams.

“My mother passed away from cancer last year,”said Mink, when asked why she volunteered as Co-

2011 AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

RELAY FOR LIFE OF MOON TOWNSHIP

Volunteers participating to

“I want to teach the kidsto give back,” said

Pander. “Participating inthis is a reflection of theircommitment to fighting for

a great cause.”

Dr. Mary Cothran, Pamela D. Paplham, MSN and Patti Patterson

Sparklers Team Members, Rachel,Chuck and Justin Schreiber

Sparklers Team Founders, Grace Rosus,Tracy and Casey Tokarski

Doubletree TeamMembers, Shawn, Bryceand Jillian Kautzman

“Celebrate, Remember

Fight Back”and



Chair. “i wanted to find an organization that helpspeople with all types of cancer.”

There were many poignant moments during therelay, including an opening ceremony where specialguest and American Cancer society funded scholarpamela D. paplham, MsN and robert Morrisuniversity doctorate student, was awarded for heroncology research at roswell park Cancer institute inNew York. Accompanied by her mentor, Dr. MaryCothran, Assistant professor of Nursing at robertMorris university and a cancer survivor, paplham’sresearch includes graft-versus-host disease (GVHD),and long-term complications of bone marrowtransplants.

“My vision is to teach other nurses and doctorshow to deal with caring for oncology patients in amore positive way,” said paplham. “i am involved in aprogram at roswell, starting i n 2012, where we canhelp people recovering from cancer by providing themwith re-immunization, product facts and counseling.”

one of the teams that participated was Moon AreaHigh school DeCA Team. Advisor and Moon AreaHigh school Marketing teacher Betty pander is alsocancer survivor.

“i want toteach the kidsto give back,”said pander.“participatingin this is areflection oftheircommitment to fighting for a great cause.”

other events of the relay included a survivalDinner, survival and Caregiver Ceremony, andLuminaria Ceremony; a lit candle set in sand inside aplastic container; each representing a person touchedby cancer.

“it is beautiful to see all of the luminaria in theevening honoring and remembering those who havedied from cancer,” said fulton, Volunteer Co-chair.

finally, there was a fight Back Ceremony wherepeople make a personal commitment against cancer.

“Years ago people would come to this event andnot talk about their cancer or ask if you had cancer.Now people share their stories with each other, anddon’t look at cancer as a death sentence,” saidVerderber, event organizer. “We have a long way to go in finding a cure but there is light at the end ofthe tunnel.”

If you would like to learn more about the American Cancer

Society Relay for Life of MoonTownship please visit

www.relayforlife.org/pamoon

Cancer Survivor and Local Magician, Magical Myke

RMU Zeta Tau Team Mebers, Rachel Kroczek,Elizabeth Wukitch, Lexie Intihar and Cathy Rich

Chick-Fil-A Cow andNancy Verderber,Event Organizer

Doubletree TeamMembers, Eddie Roose,Dawn Latkovic-Rooseand Karen Yovick

2011 Relay For Life OfMoon Volunteer Co-Chairs – Melinda Fultonand Natalie Mink

G-Squad TeamMembers, LyndyStout, CancerSurvivor, EddieMoldovan andEtta Moldovan

Moon Area High SchoolDeca Team

Photos by Kathy Rudolph

Moon Area High School Deca Team Chairs, LyndsayOttaviani, Moon Area High School Teacher And DecaAdvisor, Betty Pander and Kaitlyn Augustine

During my career, i have frequently encountered patients who havesuffered with conditions far longer than they needed to because theywere misinformed. in fact, the reason i started writing an article yearsago was to help people get the facts straight about spinal health andempower them with information and choices about how to take care oftheir health.

Here are some of the most common myths peopl e believe:#1 Heavy Lifting Causes Back Pain. it’s more likely that someone

will suffer a back injury from lifting improperly as opposed to just liftingsomething heavy. proper lifting uses the leg muscles and avoids loadingthe spine. it’s also important to avoid twisting while lifting because this isthe number one way to cause a lifting injury.

#2 Being Overweight Causes Back Pain. Although weight canaggravat e spinal conditions, it is rarely the cause. Most people who haveback pain and are overweight suffer from the same underlying causes ofback pain as thin people including spinal misalignment, degenerateddiscs, and poor muscle support.

#3 Back Pain is Always Caused by an Injury. 80% of Americansreport back pain but only a small percentage of sufferers can relate it backto a specific injury or incident. What is most common is that a series ofsmall insults, over a period of years, weakens the spinal column andcauses damage. This eventually, over a long time, leads to pain. These

causes can include postural problems,unhealed injuries, degenerative changes, andhow we use our body for everyday chores or ourjob (wear and tear).

Now for some facts that can help youunderstand the “real Deal” behind getting better:

#1 Muscle Relaxers and PainMedicines are Not Recommended forBack Pain. especially at the initialonset. studies have shown that thesemedicines rarely have a positive effect forthe patients taking them. Anti-inflammatory medicines have beenshown to delay the healing process.Also, the high risk of side effects andaddiction to pain medicine makes them apoor choice.

#2 MovementHelps Patients HealFas ter. it wasbelieved that bed restwas good for back pain. Then studies started to show that it actuallymade the patients have more chronic and persistent pain. The newfindings show that gentle walking, exercise, and stretching is better.

#3 Chiropractic is the MOST EFFECTIVE treatment for low backpain. studies show that when patients have chiropractic care they healfaster and get back to normal activiti es sooner. They are also less likely totake medicines or have surgery. in fact, a Consumer reports Articleshowed that chiropractors have the highest satisfaction rating (over90%).

so my question for you is…How long are you willing to live withback pain? How long are you willing to give up doing the things you loveand having a normal life? i hope the answer is that you’re not willing tolive like that any longer! i have seen too many people who have told me“i should have done something a lot sooner. i never thought i’d feel thisgood.” i want to encourage you to do something good for yourself and take better care of your spine. You just get one and it should last a lifetime.

Questions, comments etc. are always welcome. please send me anemail by visiting my website at www.choicechiropracti c.net. We are an in-network provider with all major insurance companies.

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Deciding when to retire involves a series of decisions. estimate youranticipated expenses, sources of retirement income, and how long youneed your retirement savings to last. You need to take into account yourlife expectancy and health as well as when you want to start receivingsocial security or pension benefits in addition to tapping into retirementsavings. each of these factors may affect others as part of an overallretirement income plan.

THINKING ABOUT RETIREMENT?An early retirement means fewer earning years and less accumulated

savings. The earlier you retire, the more years you need your retirementsavings to produce income. According to a National Vital statisticsreport, people today can expect to live 30 years longer than they did acentury ago.

That means, not only do you need your retirement savings to lastlonger, but inflation will have more time to eat away at your purchasingpower. if you factor inflation into your retirement equation, you willprobably need your retirement income to increase each year just tocover the same expenses. Take this into account when considering howlong you expect or can afford to be retired.

DELAYING RETIREMENTpostponing retirement lets you continue adding to your retirement

savings. That is especially advantageous if you’re saving in a tax-deferredaccount and/or receiving employer contributions.

even if no longer adding to your retirement savings, delayingretirement postpones the date you need to start withdrawing, enhancingyour nest egg’s ability to last throughout your lifetime. You mayconsider another endeavor such as a part-time job or opening a smallbusiness as a new career. postponing full retirement also gives you moretransition time in considering these options.

PHASED RETIREMENTsome employers offer phased retirement programs, allowing you to

receive all or part of your pension benefit once reaching retirement age,while continuing work part-time for the same employer. phasedretirement programs are gaining more attention as baby boomers age.Traditional pension plans generally were not allowed to pay benefitsuntil an employee quit working completely or reached the plan’s normalretirement age.

phased retirement can benefit both employer, by retaining anexperienced worker at a part time level, and employee, allowing for amore flexible schedule and smoother transition into retirement.

CHECK YOUR ASSUMPTIONSThe sooner you begin to plan the timing of your retirement, the more

time you will have to make adjustments to make your retirement yearseverything you hoped for.

your wealth compass

Deciding When To Retire:

Timing isCritical

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Colonel Jeffrey Pennington

Colonel Jeffrey penningtonhadn’t shoveled snow since 1983,but moving to Moon Township asthe new Base Commander for the911th Airlift Wing changed all that.

As installation commander, he isthe senior officer responsible for thewing organization, which includesauthorized manning of 1,263 Airforce reserve members andapproximately 320 civilianemployees including more than184 dual-status Air reserveTec hnicians. reservists at the baserepresent the entire tri-state area,and most of them live within anhour’s drive.

it’s a responsibility that no one in his position would take lightly, andpennington said that he is committed to his mission to the utmost.

“We have many pilots here, and as the wing commander, i have a missionto organize training and equipment, taking our resources and making surewe’re r eady for war-time testing,” pennington said. “As equally important istaking care of the airmen, the people who are part of the air wing. There’s areserve triad, as it’s known, which is [composed of] family, civic relationships(which are the employers of the reservists or their commitment to theircommunities) and the reserves.”

pennington brings to the 911th a distinguished history of service. Hecom pleted undergraduate pilot training at Williams Air force Base, Ariz., in1989 and was initially assigned to the 344th Air refueling squadron atseymour-Johnson AfB, N.C., flying the KC-10’s and T-38’s. While stationedthere, he deployed supporting operations Desert shield, Desert storm, proudreturn, provide Comfort, restore Hope and Desert strike. pennington joinedthe Air force reserve in 1997 as an Air reserve Technician initially serving inthe 70th Ars, Travis AfB, Calif. in May 2001, he was selected as the directorof operations for the 70th Ars.

During his tenure, he coordinated, deployed and supported his unit’sparticipation in operation enduring freedom and operation iraqi freedom.in January 2007 Col. pennington assumed command of the 452ndoperations Group located at March ArB, Calif., remaining there untiloctober of 2010 when he assumed command of the 911th Airlift Wing.

He has been awarded the National Defense Medal with Bronze starArmed forces expeditionary Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, and theKuwait Liberation Medal to name a few. While his service has been a priority,pennington said family is his top priority.

“i am extremely committed to my family – my wife and kids,” he sai d. “iam committed to my country through my service, and have a great passion for

New Base CommanderCommitted to Country,

Community and the Air Show PLAN ON GOING:

Wings Over Pittsburgh Air ShowWHEN: September 10 and 11, 2011WHERE: 911th Airlift Wing Base, Moon Townshipwww.wingsoverpittsburgh.com



the team concept. Life’s a team sport and theteam is everybody working together for thecountry.”

Much of pennington’s duties are military innature – drills and exercises, training andpreparation – but one aspect of the triadinvolves everyone who’s willing to come to the911th for the Wings over pittsburgh Airshow.

The air show gives the community theopportunity to see what goes on at the base,the me n and women who train endlessly forthe common good of the nation, and theequipment that can be called up at a moment’snotice in defense of the nation.

“i firmly believe as an American citizen thatwe’re all on the same team. Communityrelationship-building is an important part ofour job here,” pennington said. “We wantpeople to know who we are, what we do andthe team role we play in Westernpennsylvan ia. We foster the servicecomponent of our mission, so the localcommunity can see that.”

organizing the air show is an enormousendeavor, but one that has universal appeal tothe general public.

While naysayers might criticize the airshow for too much taxpayer buck for too littlebang in today’s economy, pennington said it’s

not all about proud displays. The majority ofaircraft involved in the air show undergorigorous drills and training before, during andafter their public displays.

“We weigh out what the investments areand prioritize the expenditures. Again, it’s allabout fostering that civic relationship. Mostaircraft do training on the way here and on theway back, and budgets are carefullyconsidered. Budgets affect us all, and werespond to what our leaders give us as far asresources,” pennin gton said. “The militaryaspect of the equipment also is affected by themilitary tempo. scheduled displays may notmaterialize because they are called away forother missions. The military mission willalways outweigh the training mission andthat’s something we can’t control.”

Aside from the “wow” factor for attendees,the air show does have a return to the base byway of recruitment. pennington said themetrics for calculating recruitment aren’tprecise enough to gauge direct effects from theshow, but air show exposure is a “phenomenalrecruiting tool.”

perhaps the biggest challenge to organizerscomes from the popularity of the air showitself.

“The numbers keep growing and theinfrastructure isn’t designed to handle the

volume of people,” pennington said. “We’resensitive to that and take steps to add ress theissues to mitigate those problems.”

Lt. Col. Chuck sargent, who has helpedorganize the air show for the past several years,said there will be much for people to enjoy thisyear. “We’re going to [have] the AV-8 Harrierdemonstration back. This is a civilian-ownedharrier and it’s a fantastic demonstration,”sargent said. “The f-16 flies 200-500 mph.This goes 500 mph and goes backward 30mph. it h as a normal jet engine that goesthrough a ducting system, so the pilot canrotate it so the harrier can hover as well asprovide backward thrust.”

sargent said the Heavy Metal Jet Team alsois booked and will be performing in their first-ever season. The team flies four L-39s and oneT-33 painted in arctic camouflage.

“Dale snodgrass, who’s part of the team,has the most time in the f-14 of anyone on th eplanet,” sargent said. “He’ll retain that recordfor eternity because the f-14 has since beenretired.”

for a full listing of performers, as well asthe most current information on the air show,go to: www.wingsoverpittsburgh.com. fromthere, you can also follow the air show onfacebook. Admission and parking for theevent are free.


When you think of someone who has su,ered a stroke, commonimages arise: paralysis on one side of the body and di/culty withspeech and coordination. While stroke can occur at any age,most people associate strokes with older people.

So if you’re an athletic 24-year-old with no history of brain injury, on the beach at Ocean City, Maryland during the Fourth of July holiday with stroke-like symptoms, denial is a natural response.

And for Ashly Hunt, she denied her symptoms until the moment she was loaded into a helicopter.

“I remember thinking I wanted water. I am a huge runner. I ran before this and thought I was dehydrated,” she said. “It literally took the life-flight to believe that I wasn’t dehydrated.When it’s happening to you you’re not thinking the worst.”

Within a matter of hours, what she thought was a simpleheadache evolved and robbed her of her sight and ability tospeak. She also had trouble moving her arms and hands. Emergency responders decided to life-flight her to the nearesthospital in Baltimore, where she was diagnosed with a brainstem hemorrhage. Blood from the hemorrhage was pooling in an area that connects her brain to her spinal cord, causing her tolose movement on her right side, and creating a major dilemmafor the neurosurgeons because they believed the site was toorisky to treat with surgery.

Soon after the diagnosis, Ashly entered a rehabilitation program in her hometown of Johnstown, Pa., to help her regain movement of the extremities that were a,ected by thehemorrhage. However, after several weeks in rehabilitation andslight improvements in her vision and speech, Ashly’s overallcondition began to worsen. Ashly still maintained her hearing,but what she heard going on around her, she didn’t like. Until she met Robert Friedlander, MD, at UPMC.

UPMC neurosurgery patient making strides after su&ering a near fatal brain hemorrhage.

Robert Friedlander, MD, left, and Michael Horowitz, MD, discusstreatment options with a patient who has an unruptured aneurysm.

Ashly Hunt

On theROADTO

By Mark Berton

S


Dr. Friedlander was called after Ashly’s family doctor consultedwith a neurosurgeon at The Johns Hopkins University, who recommended that Dr. Friedlander manage this complex situation.Within four hours of the initial consultation, Ashly was in an ambulance headed for Pittsburgh where, she said, she met thedoctor who made all the di,erence.

“I couldn’t speak and had a hard time seeing, but my brain was processing everything. All of the other doctors were talkingabove me and not looking at me, not doing anything with me even though I understood them all,” she said. “Until I went to Dr. Friedlander and he worked with me through my condition togive him the answers he needed. He never came o, as pompous.He’s the most caring person I’ve dealt with to this day.”

Ashly’s hemorrhage was caused by an underlying conditioncalled a cavernous malformation, which is an abnormal, berry-likepatch of blood vessels located inside her brain stem. Because thebrain stem is deeply situated within the base of the brain and controls important functions such as movement, sensation,breathing, and instructing the heart to beat, surgery to remove the malformation was extremely risky. However, if left untreated,the malformed vessels could again bleed and result in additionalcritical neurologic damage or even death.

Dr. Friedlander and the neurosurgeons at UPMC faced the challenging task of removing the malformation without causingfurther complications. Using advanced brain imaging technologyknown as High Definition Fiber Tracking, pioneered at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Friedlander was able to view the detailed wiring of Ashly’s brain fibers to determine the best way to execute the surgery with as little damage to her brain as possible. In order to obtain appropriate access to the brainstem, Dr. Friedlander turned to Dr. Barry Hirsch, a skull base ENT surgeon at UPMC. Using a special microscope and imageguidance device, Dr. Friedlander approached the brain stem andwas able to completely remove the cavernous malformation.

After surgery, Ashly’s vision and speech began to improve. She also could move her right hand, which had been paralyzed.She improved daily, making strides with her balance, speech,movements, and other functions, and credits her improvement to her strict discipline in following her doctors’ recommendationsand her physical therapy program.

“If I could say one thing to inspire anyone going through this it’s that you can’t just sit there. It becomes your job,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of people who have had strokes. You can’t just sitdown and think you’ll get better. You have to follow the therapyand give your body time.”

While she’s been living with her parents in Johnstown duringher recovery, Ashly is looking forward to getting back to her life in Baltimore.

“I’m pretty close to 100 percent now. My hand and foot are the last things I’m waiting for to come back,” she said. “I’m writing again. It’s like a 3-year-old, but I am. I’m going to be 100 percent.”

Her road to recovery has been long. Approaching the anniversary of her ordeal, she and her family are thankful to Dr. Friedlander and everyone on the UPMC sta, who helped her through this challenging time. She maintains a blog atashlystatus.com, where family and friends post updates on her condition.

“I’ll never forget, Dr. Friedlander said to me, ‘We’re a team. I’ll do my part as long as you do yours,’” she said. “That’s big in my mind. That made an impact.”

For more information, please call the UPMC Department of Neurological Surgery at 1-866-979-1336 or visit UPMC.com/nv.

This patient’s treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases.

From left to right, Brian Jankowitz, MD, Paul Gardner, MD, Daniel Wecht, MD, and L. Dade Lunsford, MD, discuss a complex neurovascular case.

“I’m pretty close to 100 percent now. My hand and foot are the last things

I’m waiting for to come back. I’m writing again. It’s like a 3-year-old, but I am.

I’m going to be 100 percent.”

Ashly Hunt

We’ve all got ‘em...those squiggly little red andpurple lines on our legs, or worse around our eyes. Orthose roapy hand veins (Am I turning into mymother?). But what are they? Better yet...How can I getrid of them?

Spider veins are small broken blood vessels, justunder the skin. Varicose veins are larger bumpy darksuperficial vessels. Because they are just under the skin,both are very safe and easy to treat by many differentways. At the Advanced Vein Center, we specialize intreatment of troublesome veins of the calves, thighs,hands, around the nose and eyes, and even pelvic veins -the ones that add to your monthly pain and discomfortand heaviness in your back, abdomen and thighs.

By a certain age, varicose veins affect up to 30% ofthe population, mostly women, because femalehormones relax the walls of the veins, but men areaffected too. Age or a job requiring a lot of sitting orstanding increases your chance of forming varicosities.

Symptoms include:• Swollen, aching legs• Restless leg syndrome• Itchiness, cramping, charlie horses• Tired heavy legs when standing• Ropey blue or purple lumps under your skin• Bleeding when you shave or bump themBlood goes to your legs through arteries, and

returns to the heart against gravity in your veins. Whenyou’re walking, the muscles in your legs help to pumpthe blood toward your heart. Valves in the veins keepthe blood from leaking back in between contractions. Ifthese valves are not working properly, they leak and

increase pressure like a backed up sink; blood then pools in the legs. The veins swell and weaken(varicose veins).

Without treatment:Varicose veins don’t get better without treatment;

they slowly get worse over time. Left untreated youmay get:

Venous Stasis Dermatitis - brown or purplediscoloration of the skin at the ankles.

Phlebitis - inflammation or blockage of your veins.Calves become painful and red.

Venous ulcers – Blood products leak out of thevaricose vein into the surrounding tissue causing thetissue to weaken over time and break open.

Bleeding - veins can bleed if you shave or bump yourleg. You should lie down and raise your leg. Applypressure to help stop the bleeding.

Varicose veins are easy to see in your leg. However,to work out the position and extent of any valve damagethat you have, we perform some tests including thefollowing:

Color duplex ultrasound scanning is used to lookfor any abnormalities in the structure of your vein, andto look at the blood flow through it.

A Doppler test is an ultrasound technique that uses

sound waves to producean image of the inside ofyour leg. This gives yourdoctor information aboutthe direction of blood flow inyour vein and whether yourvalves are working properly.

treatment ofvaricose veins

If your varicose veins don’tcause you any discomfort, youmay decide not to have anytreatment. If you do decide to havetreatment, we will explain youroptions and develop a personaltreatment plan best for you. Themost common treatment options arelisted below.compression stockings

Compression stockings mayrelieve the swelling and aching of yourlegs but they won’t prevent morevaricose veins from developing.Compression stockings can helpthe blood in your veins to flow uptowards your heart, and some people won’t need anyother treatment.sclerotherapy (Liquid or foam)

this involves injecting an agent into your smallerveins which irritates the veins, causing them to close.Liquid sclerotherapy is often used to treat smallervaricose veins. For larger veins, foam sclerotherapy issometimes used. Studies have shown that thistreatment is effective at treating varicose veins in theshort-term. However, the long-term benefits of thistreatment aren’t definitive. It is useful on the veinsaround your eyes, on the hands, thighs, and lower legs.endovenous Laser treatment or radiofrequencyablation

RF involves using a high frequency energy wave toheat the wall of your varicose vein. This causes it toclose. Laser uses a fine wire which is passed inside yourvaricose vein heating the inside of the vein. These arevery safe quick office procedures causing minimal localdiscomfort. There is no down time, and you areencouraged to walk and resume normal activityimmediately. The benefits are enormous, relievingsymptoms and swelling and decreasing furtherworsening of your legs. You have ten miles of veins inyour body. By simply rerouting the flow in a smallsection of them, your symptoms will greatly improve.This also allows nonhealing ulcers around the ankle toclose and help prevent their reoccurrence.external Laser Therapy

Removes/ cleans up small cosmetic spider veinsafter the larger problematic ones are cared for. This isused on the face, broken capillaries on the nose, thighsand lower legs!

What You can Do at home...Walk regularly and lose excess weight, elevate legs

when resting, and use compression stockings. Also, donot sit or stand for long periods of time. Don’t crossyour legs when sitting. There are NO effectivemedications or creams that prevent or help varicoseveins. Unfortunately, the leading cause of Varicosities isgenetics, so once they appear, it is best to come in andhave them evaluated by a Vascular Lab accredited bythe American College of Radiology (ACR) such as theAdvanced Vein Center, where we strive to use the latesttechnology to treat you in the most safe andcomfortable manner, by experienced Board Certifieddoctors specializing in the care of veins. For moreinformation go to www.AdVeinCenter.com or call 724-987-3220 today to look and feel your best!

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VEIN CENTER

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Varicose & Spider VeinsBy Dr. Christina Teimouri DPM



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In June of 1998 the idea for Elite Runners & Walkers was bornduring the Anchorage, Alaska Marathon. It was here, while runninga marathon with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team-in-Training group that our owner, Kevin, realized the Pittsburgh regionneeded a store dedicated to people who really cared about their feetand the sports of running and walking. So with the blessing of hiswife, in Januar y 1999 he opened our store in Chiodo’s Plaza inRobinson.

Over 12 years the run has not always been easy, but thanks to allof you, we are still here and growing fast. Celebrating 12 years ishuge for any small business and it is made even better due to the factthat you have helped make us one of the TOP 50 RUNNINGSTORES IN AMERICA for 4 of the last 5 years. Although we justmissed the Top 50 in 2010, we plan on being back up there in 2011with your help and with a stronger commitment to the communityand superior service to all who visit our shop. Since there are anestimated 1000 running specialty stores in America, this is a hugedeal.

At Elite Runners & Walkers, our professional staff can helpdetermine the best shoe for you as well as help outfit you from headto toe with the proper apparel and accessories for year-roundoutdoor or indoor running and walking. Our fit process includes: a

detailed shoe wear analysis; proper foot measurement; sockevaluation (yes they make a huge difference); running and walkingform evaluation; and finally and most importantly, we listen to yourfeedback as you wear test each pair we have selected to meet yourneeds. Together we help you make the final decision based u pon thefit, feel, and the best mechanical match for your needs.

Many aches and pains are attributed to ill-fitting shoes. Back, leg,hip, and foot pains are the main symptoms as well as blisters, brokentoenails and in extreme cases foot deformities. At Elite Runners &Walkers, we will ensure that you have the right shoes for the activityyou enjoy and make sure you do not encounter any of the aches andpa ins mentioned above.

Finally, we want you to know that our staff is always striving tolearn more about running and walking mechanics, injuryprevention, developing training programs for various race distances,and of course keeping up on the latest technologies coming fromour shoe vendors. If we can help you in any way outside the shop aswell, be it basic or advanced training programs hosted from ourshop, or a simple referral to a good specialist for an injury, we arehere to help you each and every day.

Once again, on behalf of our staff and our supportive families,THANK YOU for the last 12 years and to many more!

for 12Great Years and still going!

Elite Runners & Walkers Pittsburgh’s Running & Walking Headquarters


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