volume 23/no.4 may 2003 3 OUTSTANDING CITIZENS THIS TOWN WOULD BE DIFFERENT WITHOUT… 75 YEARS OF COUNCIL-MANAGER-GOVERNMENT COUNCIL-MANAGER GOVERNMENT EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES HERE’S TO MOTHERS-IN LAW PLUS... SIDETREK LAWRENCEVILLE SIDETREK TO TO LAWRENCEVILLE CELEBRATIONS GUIDE CELEBRATIONS GUIDE 2002 MUNICIPAL REPORT 2002 MUNICIPAL REPORT www.mtlebanon.org about this issue mt. lebanon 710 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228 TEL: 412.343.3407 • FAX 412.343.3753 e-mail: lebomag@mtlebanon.org MUNICIPAL COMMISSION K EITH M ULVIHILL , PRESIDENT ; D ALE C OLBY , VICE PRESIDENT ; T Y E LY , D AVID H UMPHREYS , B ARBARA L OGAN PUBLISHER S TEVE F ELLER , M UNICIPAL M ANAGER EDITOR IN CHIEF S USAN F LEMING M ORGANS MANAGING EDITOR M ERLE J ANTZ ASSOCIATE EDITOR M.A. J ACKSON STAFF WRITER A NNE C AFFEE ASSISTANT TO THE EDITORS C HRISTINA W ORSING CONTRIBUTING EDITORS J OHN C ONTI , M ONICA K AO , J ANICE S EIGLE , E LAINE W ERTHEIM CONTRIBUTORS J IM D AMP , C HRISTINE H. O‘T OOLE , V IRGINIA R. P HILLIPS , J OEL R OTEMAN , A LICE D EMETRIUS STOCK , C AROLE T AKACH , C LIFF T UTTLE , W ILLIAM W YLIE COPY DESK J OHN P ARKER , HEAD ; E LAINE C APPUCCI , H ENRY D AUBNER , C ARLIE M C G INTY , S HANNON P ROUD , D ENISE R ITTER ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER H ELEN M W ORSING PHOTOGRAPHERS M ARY J ANE BENT , R IC E VANS , B ILL E XLER , E RIN L ABELLE , C AMI M ESA , G ENE P USKAR , E D R IEKER , C HRISTOPHER R OLINSON , R OBERT P. R USCHAK , G ARY T RAMONTINA ADVERTISING DIRECTOR D IANE C YPHERS I have had four moth- ers-in-law. (No, I have not been married four times; I had a father-in-law who was married three times.) I loved two of my moth- ers-in-law, liked one and couldn’t stand the fourth, who was actually the third. Those I cared for are gone now; the one I didn’t like is still alive and kickin’ somewhere out there; we don’t keep in touch. With that history, you’d think I’d be an expert on mothers-in-law, but I’m not—and consider- ing that my daughter will soon have a mother- in-law, I wish I were. I’d love to be able to hand Libby a short list of rules to ensure that she and her mother-in-law-to-be, Kathy, will be the best of friends, because, as Rae Ann Urick’s story, p. 44, points out, that’s not often the case. Statistics show that the mother-in-law/daugh- ter-in-law relationship is typically problematic. On the other hand, as Urick also notes, there are mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships that are close and supportive. The first time I met my main mother-in- law—the one I had for 27 years—she was about the age I am now. The last time I saw her, she was close to 90, still pretty, still enjoying bridge, travel and cultural events, still teetering on those darned high-heeled shoes I feared would send her catapulting down every staircase she ascend- ed. Still avid about politics, it seemed she hadn’t changed a bit over the years. Still, she must have changed, because although I ended up missing her like crazy, I PRODUCTION ASSISTANT C AMILLE H UZZARD Susan Fleming Morgans Editor in Chief important numbers EMERGENCY ONLY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES C YNTHIA G ISSIN , J EAN P ETERSON , K RISTA T ROY F OSTER wasn’t crazy about her when I met her (and the feeling was no doubt mutual, as I suspect she had either Tricia or Julie Nixon in mind for her revered only son). A former Pitt homecoming queen turned social doyenne, Anne was a queen bee—popular, funny, fun—and intimidating, at least to 25-year-old me. So if she didn’t change, then did I? Maybe, but my guess is that neither of us changed fundamentally. Instead, I think our expectations for each other evolved, or perhaps I should say, dissolved, as we grew to know and trust one another. Over time, the casual remark that once seemed “snooty,” the offer to babysit that didn’t come or the frozen leftovers from bridge club wrapped in crumpled “tin foil,” did- n’t matter to me. I came to admire her skills as a hostess and conversationalist, her zest for adventure and the grace with which she moved through middle age to the end of life. She in turn admired my bargain-hunting skills, my cooking and my work. Somehow, we became friends—and curious- ly, our friendship had very little to do with the fact that we were related by marriage. Even after four mothers in law, I haven’t enough experience to write a “Chicken Soup for the Daughter-in-Law’s Soul” or even the Ten Commandments for being a good mother-in- law. But I will share one short piece of advice (which I will try to heed myself, as I enter the world of mother-in-lawhood): As Paul McCartney sang: “Let it be.” Happy Mother’s Day. POLICE, FIRE, MEDICAL RESCUE GENERAL OFFICES 412-343-3400 mt. lebanon magazine is published by the municipality of Mt. Lebanon, 710 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15228. Ten issues per year are delivered free of charge to the residents of Mt. Lebanon. For non-residents, subscriptions are available at $25. January/February and July/August are combined issues. The maga- zine is published as a nonprofit source of public information. ©2003Mt. Lebanon, Pa. All rights reserved. No portion of this maga- zine may be reproduced without permission of the editor. mt. lebanon magazine is edited to inform and entertain, taking a constructive approach to community and regional issues, school and municipal news, social trends, multicultural events and activities, eco- nomic development, local history, community arts and architecture, home maintenance and remodeling, leisure living and fun. Story ideas welcomed . EXTRA COPIES of the magazine are available at the Mt. Lebanon, Castle Shannon, Bethel Park, Dormont and Upper St. Clair libraries, the Munici- pal Building, the Rec Center, UPMC South Hills and Borders. If you are missed, please call 412-343-3407. 911 OVERNIGHT PARKING REQUESTS ( CALL BEFORE 11 P . M .) 412-343-4023 Fax 412-343-3753 Mt. Lebanon InfoLine 412-343-0400 Homepage: www.mtlebanon.org Administration Police/Fire Non-Emergency Public Works Inspection Economic Development Tax Office Finance Sewage Billing Magazine Public Information 412-343-3404 412-531-5300 412-343-3403 412-343-3408 412-343-3412 412-343-3405 412-343-3410 412-343-3406 412-343-3407 412-343-3407 412-343-3409 412-341-LEBO 412-561-4363 412-561-6626 412-561-9761 412-343-3411 412-531-1912 412-561-5405 412-343-0369 412-343-5111 Recreation Programs Recreation INFOLINE Ice Rink Swimming Pool Golf Course Tennis Center Library Outreach TTY (DEAF NON-EMERGENCY) Medical Rescue Team South www.mtlebanon.org 1 mt. lebanon C O N T E N T S features 30 34 40 44 30 3 OUTSTANDING CITIZENS This Town Would Be Different Without...the selfless contributions of these dedicated residents, who epitomize the slogan, “Mt. Lebanon...A Community With Character.” By M.A. Jackson and Anne Caffee DOES COUNCIL/MANAGER GOVERNMENT WORK? Way better than the next-best thing, say the men who have served as managers during Mt. Lebanon’s 75-year history with this popular form of local government. By M.A. Jackson EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES Today’s busy gardeners may choose carefree rather than high-mainte- nance varieties, but the silky petals and fragrant perfume of a rose are always in style. By Carole Takach HERE’S TO MOTHERS-IN-LAW! Happy Mother’s Day to the women who against all odds have forged strong bonds with their sons’ wives—and cheers to the daughters-in- law who love them. By Rae Ann Urick ABOUT THE COVER Clockwise from bottom: Celia West Kushner, Joe Smith and Sharon Schweninger join an illustrious list of residents who over the past 12 years have been honored in Mt. Lebanon mag- azine’s This Town Would Be Different Without… awards program. See story, p. 30. 34 44 40 Cover photo by Ric Evans mt. lebanon Vol.23/No.4 MAY 2003 departments 4 EVENTS 6 LETTERS 7 AROUND TOWN Town Topics…12 Public Safety…17 Community Updates…16 What Do They Know?…20 Ones to Watch…54 Stuff We Like…63 22 COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT T Y E LY 50 SIDETREKS Lawrenceville By Tracy Certo 69 RECREATION 74 LIBRARY 76 BACKWORDS If you are an adult who has used algebra for anything other than help- ing your child with sixth-grade math, do not call writer Anne Caffee. She won’t believe you. 50 market place market place 76 27 CELEBRATIONS GUIDE 49, 64 COUPONS 72 CLASSIFIED ADS community events community events community events community events Mt. Lebanon magazine’s Community Events page offers free announcement space to non- profit organizations. Please send event information at least six weeks before publishing date (July/August 2003 issue informa- tion is due by Tuesday, May 20). Fax: 412-343-3753; E-mail: mjackson@mtlebanon.org; Mail: 710 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228. For more information call 412-343-3790. The Mt. Lebanon Country Club at Kenmont and Bower Hill Road will be remembered at the Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon’s May 21 program “Fore!: Mt. Lebanon’s Golf Courses.” MT. LEBANON HIGH SCHOOL 1973 CLASS REUNION 7 P . M .-midnight, Saturday, May 24, West Club Lounge, Heinz Field. Register by May 14 at 1-800-650- 1850 or at aplusreunion@mail.com. COMMUNITY FITNESS CLASSIC 5K RUN/WALK 8:30 A . M ., Sunday, May 18, UPMC St. Margaret near Aspinwall. $10 adults, $8 children before May 9; $12 adults, $8 children, race day. 412-784-5169. REMEMBERING SHIRLEY DAVIDSON A memorial honoring Dr. Shirley Davidson—principal of Hoover School for 28 years—is 6:30 P . M ., Thursday, May 8, Hoover Elementary School. 412-279-4625. To contribute to the memorial, send check, payable to “Mt. Lebanon School District/Dr. Shirley Davidson Memorial Fund” to Antoinette Tuma, 1142 Driftwood Drive, Pittsburgh PA, 15243. HOLOCAUST OBSERVANCE 7:30 P . M ., Sunday, May 4, Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church, 310 Kane Blvd., Scott Township. Program title: “Saving a Defenseless Minority: The Survival of Bulgaria’s Jews,” with speakers The Most Rev. Kyrill, Archbishop of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, and Albert Farhy of Squirrel Hill, a Holocaust survivor. 412-854-9120. C.C. RIDERS CHARITY RIDE Motorcycle ride through Allegheny and Washington counties starts 9 A . M ., Sunday, May 18, Peter’s Place, Wash- ington Pike. Ride covers 60 miles, end- ing at Heinz Field. $250 (covers admis- sion for two, a shirt, breakfast and after- ride party with entertainment by No Bad JuJu). 412-471-9474 or www. ccriderspa.org. Benefits Make-A-Wish Foundation. HEALTH FAIR Saturday, May 31, Galleria. 30 to 40 exhibitors will present healthcare prod- ucts, information and hold screenings. Presented by American HealthCare Group. 412-563-8800. SHIM COMMUNITY DINNER 6 to 8 P . M ., Thursday, May 8, Christ United Methodist Church, 44 Highland Road, Bethel Park. Buffet dinner, games and the Penguin mascot hosted by South Hills Interfaith Ministries. For ticket price, call 412- 854-9120, ext. 18. COVENANT AT SOUTH HILLS GRAND OPENING 1-4 P . M ., Sunday May 4, 1300 Bower Hill Road (Below Temple Emanuel). Stop by for cake, champagne and a comprehensive tour of this new lifecare community. 412-278-1300. PHIPPS CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS Great Plant Auction—new and unusu- al plants and garden accessories, light fare and entertainment—Friday, May 2. May Market—thousands of plants, gar- dening tools and accessories and local garden clubs and Master gardeners avail- able for advice—May 16 and 17. Both events at Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park. 412-622-6914. www. Pooh, the Musical,” May 3-June 1. Both shows run 11 A . M . and 2:30 P . M . Saturday and Sundays. Tickets: $7, 412-621-4445. phipps.conservatory.org. PITTSBURGH CHILDREN’S MUSEUM “Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?” until June 1. Visit Oscar’s newsstand, curl up in Big Bird’s Same and Different Nest and watch the very first episode. Kids can put on pup- pet shows and learn to play songs on steel drums. North Side. 412-322- 5058 or www.pittsburghkids.org. THE JEWISH THEATRE OF PITTSBURGH “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” May 1-18, JCC of Pittsburgh, Squirrel Hill. Evening performances, 8 P . M .; Sunday matinee, 2 P . M . Tickets $18, adults; $15, children/seniors. 412-394-3353. PITTSBURGH IRISH & CLASSICAL THEATRE “Hamlet,” May 8-24. Storytellers series “Mountain Language & Ashes to Ashes” May 18-19. Both shows Stephen Foster Memorial, Oakland; tickets $15-$30. Call 412-394-3353 for times/tickets. www.pitcttheatre.org. OPEN GARDEN DAY TOURS Sunday, June 22. Gardens in Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh, Cheswick and Natrona Heights will be showcased. Self-guided or bus tours (buses leave Phipps Garden Center, Shady Ave, 8:30 A . M . and return at 6 P . M .). Tickets are $30. Preview Party Saturday, June 7, Fox Chapel. Tickets: $300. 412-361- 8677. Sponsored by the Horticultural Society of Western Pennsylvania. COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE 2-4 P . M ., Sunday, June 1, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 698 Country Club Drive. See the improvements and meet Pastor Jamison Hardy. Organist Chuck Bieri will play. Light refreshments. PITTSBURGH PLAYHOUSE “Hamlet,” 8 P . M ., Wednesday-Sat- urdays and 2 P . M ., Sundays, May 9- June 1. Tickets: $22 and $18. Play- house Junior presents “The Elves and the Shoemaker” and “Winnie-The- be there! T he Friends of Country Club Park will hold a neighborhood garage sale 9 . . to A M Learn about African animals at the Pittsburgh Zoo’s Choh Sahn African & Caribbean Festival May 9-11. See “be there!” for details. 4 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 2 P . M ., Saturday, May 31, Country Club Park (the 900 block of Country Club Drive). Raffle baskets and refreshments; proceeds benefit Country Club Park. If you would like to donate an item for the sale, call 412-344-7822…The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium will host the Choh Sahn African & Caribbean Festival the weekend of May 9-11. Fun family cultural events featuring local artists, musicians, dance groups and arts and craft activities. Learn about animals that live in the African savanna and the Amazon rainforest. 412-665-3640. NATIONAL AVIARY International Migratory Bird Day, 9 A . M .-5 P . M ., May 9-10. Take the whole family for a trip around the world with your favorite birds. 412-323-7235, ext. 216. www.aviary.org. PERSAD’S ART FOR AIDS/ ART FOR CHANGE Patron party 7-10 p.m., Saturday, May 3, J. Verno Studios, South Side. Auction, 6 P . M ., Monday, May 12, Carnegie Museum of Art, Oakland. 412-441-9786 for ticket information. BOWER HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH New series of alternate evening worship services, 6 P . M ., in the sanctuary, Moffett St. Services include drama, video and music for all ages. 412-561-4114. GOLF BENEFIT Family Hospice and Palliative Care hosts a golf benefit May 19, Valley Brook Country Club, McMurray. 412- 572-8812 to register. PITTSBURGH CLO STUDENT DISCOUNTS For $45 students can see all five of CLO’s summer musicals—“Miss Saigon,” “Annie,” “My Fair Lady,” “Funny Girl” and “She Loves Me.” The series runs June 6-Aug. 10, Benedum Center. 412- 281-2822 or www.pittsburghCLO .org for order form. CHILI IN JUNE Noon-3 P . M ., Sunday, June 1, Jewish Community Center, 5738 Forbes Ave. $18 in advance; $20 at door; $5 chil- dren 12 and under. Features a “soup kitchen” style meal of chili to raise awareness of hunger in the community. Sponsored by Squirrel Hill Kosher SuperPantry. 412-422-7200. LIONS CLUB TRASH BAGS Get sturdy trash bags and help chari- ties. $12 for a roll of 100 30-gallon or 33-gallon black bags. $13 for a roll of 100 18-gallon white kitchen bags. Available at Skidgy's, La Piana Chiropractic, or call Herb Grau, 412- 835-4120 for delivery. MEETINGS, CLASSES, PROGRAMS, CLUBS HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MOUNT LEBANON “Fore!: Mt. Lebanon’s Golf Courses” don’t miss… The . Mt. Lebanon Percussion Ensemble presents “An Evening of Percussion,” 7:30 P . M ., May 22-24, High School Fine Arts Theater. Tickets for the concerts, which include the chest-thumping cadences of the Blue Devil Marching Band Drum Line, are $8 for adults, $5 students at 412-343-9264. The Percussion Ensemble will kick off the Recreation Department’s summer concert series at 7 P . M ., Sunday, June 1, in Mt. Lebanon Park. This concert is free. www. mtlpercussion. com. Music in a Great Space presents “Mass in Time of War,” composed by Franz Josef Haydn and per- formed by the Shadyside Chancel Choir and Shadyside Choral Society and Orchestra, 4 P . M ., Sunday, May 18, Shadyside Presbyterian Church. Tickets are $10, adults; $5, seniors and stu- dents at 412-682-4300. www. shadysidepres.org. The Mt. Lebanon High School Fine Arts Department presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I,” 7:30 P . M ., May 7-9, at the high school auditorium. More than 250 students will be in the cast, crew and orchestra. Tickets are $5 at 412- 344-2030. “High Spirited Brass” closes out the River City Brass Band’s 2002-03 season 8 P . M ., Tuesday, May 6, Upper St. Clair High School. From Copland’s “Hoedown” to The Tijuana Brass. Tickets at 412- 322-7222 or www.rcbb.com. The South Hills Chorale presents a concert of Americana, movie themes, spirituals, pop, jazz, gospel and patriotic tunes, 7:30 P . M ., Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10, Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church, Washington Road. Tickets are $10 at the door. www.south hillschorale.org. 412- 429-9501. The Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company will per- form “Continuo,” by world-renowned choreogra- pher Anthony Tudor and set to the music of Pachelbel’s “Canon in D Major,” Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8, at the Byham Theater, Downtown. 412-835-1250 or www.pybco.com for times and tickets. The Jewish Community Center of the South Hills, 345 Kane Blvd., presents “Jazz for Juniors,” a mix of music, song and movement with Joe Negri, 6:30 to 7:30 P . M ., Thursdays, May 8 and June 12. Light refreshments. Tickets are $8, individual; $18, family. 412-278-1975, ext. 204. with speaker Paul Dudjek, 7:30 Wednesday, May 21, Mt. Lebanon Public Library. 412-278- 2272. OLD ST. LUKE’S HERITAGE LECTURES 7:30 P . M ., Wednesday, May 7, “Growing Up on Civil War Battlefields: A Personal Story” with speaker Kay O’Brien. Tickets: $8 at the door. The Pittsburgh Symphony Musicians perform Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, 7:30 P . M ., Wednesday, May 21. Tickets: $15. 412-561-4624 (evenings); 412-279-0609 (day). The Mt. Lebanon Percussion P . M ., Ensemble performs May 22-24, in the High School Fine Arts Theater and June 1, in Mt. Lebanon Park. See “don’t miss” for details. ASBURY HEIGHTS Seeks adult volunteers for activity and outing escorts, Country Store clerk and other assignments. 412-571- 5150. SENIORS www.oldstlukes.org. SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING 7 P . M ., Mondays, Southminster Presbyterian Church, Washington Road, and 7 P . M ., Saturdays, Grace Episcopal Church, Mt. Washington. 412-343-3265. WOMEN IN TRANSITION SERIES “Is There Really a Rose Garden,” 11 A . M ., May 20, Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Buffet lunch will be served. 412-469-7100 to register for this free seminar. FRICK ART & HISTORICAL CENTER “Everyday Still Life,”—for kids age 7- 12—1:30 P . M ., Saturday, May 10. Adult lecture “Lost and Found on the Lincoln Highway,” 7:15 P . M ., Tuesday, May 6. For more classes, call 412-371- 0600. www.frickart.org. MEADOWCROFT MUSEUM’S DAY CAMP Kids 8 to 13 will learn about archaeolo- gy, prehistoric pottery, candlemaking and weaving. Camps run 10 A . M . to 3 P . M ., July 21-25 or Aug. 4-8. Kids will be bused to Meadowcroft from the History Center, Strip District at 8 A . M . Weeklong camps are $145; day rate is $35 (does not include transportation). 412-454-6304. BLACK, WHITE & READ ALL OVER SERIES Tomie dePaolo, the “Pied Piper of Children’s Literature,” will discuss the more than 200 books he has written and illustrated. 10:30 A . M ., Saturday, May 3, Carnegie Library Music Hall, Oakland. Tickets: $6. 412-622-8866. HELPING HANDS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCACY PROGRAM Seeks volunteers interested in provid- ing services to victims of domestic vio- lence in the South Hills area. 412-344- 6600, ext. 2109. FAMILY HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE Offers two bereavement groups 1-2:30 P . M ., second Tuesday of the month, Southminster House, Washington Road and 7-8:30 P . M ., third Monday of each month, Unitarian Church, Washington Road. 412-572-8829. FAMILY HOUSE Provides affordable “home away from home” for patients and their families who travel to Pittsburgh for treatment. We need volunteers to welcome, sup- port and provide hospitality for our guests. 412-647-5893 for information. FREE COUNSELING FOR TEENS/FAMILIES Outreach Teen & Family Services, Washington Road, provides two free, one-hour professional counseling sessions to all Mt. Lebanon teens and their fami- lies. Teens $5 a session after first two ses- sions. Confidential. 412-561-5405. PAGE (PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED EDUCATION) For parents whose children are or may be gifted, we offer support/information. 412-343-7641 or e-mail LourdesC@ adelphia.net. www.penngifted.org. PARENT LEARNING SUPPORT NETWORK For parents whose children have special education needs (from slight to very involved). Support, information, month- ly meetings. 412-531-5869 or 412- 343-4522. HELP LINE The Institute on Aging, a University of Pittsburgh/UPMC collaboration, has a toll-free call center to assist the elderly and their families with health- care and financial issues such as clini- cal and long-term care and respite. www.aging.upmc.com or 1-866- 430-8742. ADULT INTEREST CENTER 9 A . M .-3 P . M ., Fridays, Southminster Church, Washington Road. 11 A . M . $5 hot lunch at noon. 1 P . M ., cards; 1:30 P . M ., line dancing. 412-343-8900. RETIRED BUSINESS OWNERS SCORE, a volunteer nonprofit organi- zation, could use your help to counsel small businesses and start-up compa- nies. www.scorepittsburgh.com. 412-395-6560. Community Events underwritten by www.mtlebanon.org 5 public meetings COMMISSION Monday, May 12 and Tuesday, May 27, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road, Room 200, discussion ses- sion, 6 P . M ., meeting, 8 P . M . COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD Wed- nesday, May 14, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road, Room 201, 7:30 P . M . ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Wednesday, May 14, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road, Room 201, 7:30 A . M . PARKS ADVISORY BOARD Tuesday, May 6, Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center, Room, 900 Cedar Blvd., Room B, 7:30 P . M . PLANNING BOARD Tuesday, May 27, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road, Room 200, 7:30 P . M . SCHOOL BOARD discussion session, Monday, May 12, Foster Elementary School, 700 Vermont Ave., 7:30 P . M . Meeting, Monday, May 19, Mt. Lebanon High School Little Theatre, 155 Cochran Road, 7:30 P . M . TRAFFIC BOARD Wednesday, May 7, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road, Room 200, 7:30 P . M . ZONING HEARING BOARD Thursday, May 8, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road, Room 200, 7:30 P . M . S 2003 R HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD Monday, May 19, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road, Room 201, 7 P . M . Letters to the Editor are welcome in response to magazine articles or on topics of general community interest. Letters of complaint that are not printed will be forwarded to the appropriate municipal department head. Letters may be edited for length or clarity. Please include a name and address. Mt. Lebanon Magazine, 710 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA. 15228, fax: 412-343-3753, e-mail: lebomag@mtlebanon.org. 6 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y E Diana Mathison first sold us on Mt. Lebanon before even showing us a home. She sent us a CD-ROM (“Mt. Lebanon... A Community with Character”) and other literature on the community that sold us on the lifestyle there. Her enthusiasm for the community where she lives was genuine and contagious. As you might have guessed, we are buy- ing in Mt. Lebanon. We will close in two weeks. I can’t thank you and your team enough. We have moved two previous times, and this has been by far our best experience. As for Diana, we just say “Wow.” Jim and Nora Nealon Folkstone Drive Sheep Squadron” aces. T Ed. Note: The following is an excerpt from a letter sent to Howard Hanna Relocation Director Susan Sadowski regarding how Mt. Lebanon’s new residents’ packet helped con- vince one family to move to Mt. Lebanon. The packets are free to new or prospective residents and are available at the Public Information Office in the municipal building. Mullen, standing at left, and the other “Black T wow! E “The article on Moon Mullen in Mt. Lebanon magazine (“How High the Moon?” January/February 2003) was excel- lent. I enjoyed every word and was impressed most favorably with the level of the entire magazine’s contents. Great picture of all of our aces. Don’t all of them look care- free and confident? Ah—to be young again. All of us survivors—17 of the original 51—remember Moon Mullen. He had charisma a whole handful of decades before charisma became a known term. I’m so glad that I was able to contribute even a lit- tle bit to the very touching recap of Moon’s life. That Black Sheep experience was the high point of all of our lives. Col. Bruce J. Matheson (Ret.) Kailua, Hawaii L REMEMBERING MOON M T . L E B A N O N ♦ a r o u n d t o w n EMERGENCY higher than the assessed value. MANAGEMENT PLAN Of the 214 appeals that went before the REVISED Allegheny County Property Assessment lthough Allegheny County has placed Board, 132 ended with the county raising t. Lebanon is not likely to be a point a freeze on property reassessments for the assessment to the value requested by “ for terrorist attacks,” says Mt. the next three years, Mt. Lebanon has the municipality; in 35 cases, the increase received some additional tax revenue and was less than the municipality asked for Lebanon Fire Chief Steve Darcangelo. Still, helped to improve the fairness of the assess- but still more than the existing assessment, he has been setting up a response plan for ment system. and in 25 cases, the board actually assessed emergency situations such as the federal Last year, the municipality hired The the house at a higher rate than Mt. government raising the terrorist threat level Property Company, a private appraisal firm Lebanon had requested. The remaining to a red alert or an actual terrorist incident. This plan includes locking all secondary specializing in residential property, to take a 22 cases are still unresolved. look at the tax rolls and find houses that The changes added $12.9 million to Mt. entrances to the municipal building 24/7, may have been undervalued in the most Lebanon’s total residential property value, and devising a plan for moving necessary recent round of assessments, done by Sabre bringing in an additional $51,500 a year equipment and personnel to other loca- Systems in 2001. Mt. Lebanon decided to in municipal tax revenue, and an addi- tions if the municipal building were to be appeal 214 cases, most of which were hous- tional $233,000 in revenue for Mt. threatened or rendered uninhabitable. ➤ p.9 Mt. Lebanon’s Emergency Management es that had sold for more than 15 percent Center, in the municipal building, which Numbers tell the story: Back in 1929, Mt. Lebanon logged 850 police calls and 116 fire calls for 14,000 has been activated on 9/11, during an April residents. In 2002, 33,000 residents placed 16,500 police and 1,640 fire calls, all under the same roof as 2000 shooting spree and for several severe in 1929. Something's got to give. Looking ahead to a fall opening of the $9 million, 47,000-square-foot weather events, is ready for any contingen- public safety center is Mt. Lebanon’s municipal staff. First row, from left: Kevin Sweeney, MIS manag- cy. “The Emergency Management Center provides us a framework to organize the er; Susan Morgans, public information officer; Mike Rudman, public works director; Terri Windstein, staff and our communications facilities, assistant finance director; Keith McGill, planner; Steve Feller, municipal manager, and Steve Darcangelo, phones, computers, so we can receive infor- fire chief. Second row, from left: Henry Egal, deputy police chief; Joe Berkley, chief inspector; P. J. mation about what is going on and what is Donohoe, deputy police chief; Bill Moore, recreation director; Marcia Taylor, assistant municipal man- needed, allocate resources and meet the MT. LEBANON WINS ASSESSMENT APPEALS ager, and Mike McGrady, dispatch center coordinator. M ➤ p.8 Christopher Rolinson A www.mtlebanon.org 7 A R O U N D T O W N Dave Grib ♦ Public safety readiness means planning for all possible scenarios. Though a terrorist attack is highly unlikely to happen here, residents can still breathe easier knowing that the Emergency Management Center in the municipal building is prepared for that and any other sort of emergency. Procedures to evacuate neighborhoods, provide shelter, and respond to chemical/biological agents are all in place. EMERGENCY ➤ p. 7 for biological agents such as anthrax, ricin, needs of our residents,” says Darcangelo. In an emergency, the municipal staff is botulism, nerve agents and radiation. The community warning siren will be acti- called to the center, where they might deal vated in the event of an emergency. If you with things such as alerting the public to disruptions in transportation, sending chil- hear the siren, seek shelter and turn on cable dren home from school early or locking channel 7 or KDKA radio, or log on to the them in for the duration of a crisis, evacuat- municipal Web site at www.mtlebanon.org ing a neighborhood or the whole town, or for more information. Residents who want information about providing food and temporary shelter. Staff emergency procedures members also would can pick up informa- answer questions from he community warning siren is tested tion sheets at the the media, issue news releases, handle re- at 1 P . M ., the first Saturday of each month, library, fire department, police department and quests for information public information from the public and do for 30 seconds. booth in the municipal rumor control. building. Cable channel 7 and the munic- Emergency response procedures also have been improved. In the event of a terrorist ipal Web site also have links to emergency incident, emergency response crews will be preparedness sites. sent out in small shifts to minimize the risk “We want to have some level of readiness,” of firefighters, police officers and EMTs says Darcangelo about the emergency plan being hurt in a secondary strike—a com- that has been evolving since 1980, “But the bigger issue is public concern. We have mon technique for terrorists. Several firefighters have backgrounds in realized there is a strong need within the dealing with hazardous material acci- community and among the residents for a dents—and that training would be appli- sense of reassurance that someone is plan- cable in dealing with a terrorist attack ning and considering all possible scenarios. involving chemicals. The fire department We are not sitting here idly.” also has the capability to immediately test T 8 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 A R O U N D T O W N Gene Puskar ♦ Houses that sold for more than 15 percent than their assessed values got a second look from the CALL JO ANN…for all your real estate needs County Assessment Board at the request of Mt. Lebanon. Appeals on more than 200 homes netted extra tax revenue—$51,500 to municipal coffers, and $233,000 to the school district. Under the new tax system, market value and assessed value should be identical. ASSESSMENT ➤ p. 7 Lebanon School District. Mt. Lebanon’s sold in 2002. property tax rate is 4.35 mills, compared The municipality and the school district with the school district’s 20.76. Allegheny have been teaming up to appeal assess- County property tax is 4.72 mills. A mill is ments, with Mt. Lebanon taking the lead $1 of tax money for every $1,000 of a prop- on residential properties and the school dis- erty’s assessed value. Under the old Allegheny trict appealing multi-family and commer- County property tax system, a building’s cial assessments. assessed value was supposed to represent a GOOD NEWS! Mt. Lebanon will not be quarter of its market holding a hazardous value. Now, market waste collection this value and assessed value year, but there’s still a hazardous waste collection day will are supposed to be the chance for you to get same. rid of all that brominat- be held in the Heinz Field parking lot, Mt. Lebanon paid The ed silica left over from Saturday, May 31. Property Company your brief foray into $29,875 to do the the semiconductor in- research and to repre- dustry. On Saturday, sent the municipality at the assessment May 31, from 9 A . M . to 2:30 P . M ., at the appeals. The company was recommended No. 2 Gold parking lot at Heinz Field, the by Upper St. Clair, which had previously Allegheny County Household Hazardous used its services. Waste Task Force will collect any house- “There should be no more than a 15 per- hold hazardous waste you may have lying cent leeway between assessed value and around. Things like old cans of paint, tur- sales price,” says Marcia Taylor, assistant pentine, waste oil, car batteries, pesticides municipal manager. So if a sales price falls and anything else that may cause some outside the 15 percent parameter, the trouble with the ecosystem. Cost is $20 per municipality will appeal the assessment. vehicle. For more information, call the Mt. Mt. Lebanon has prepared an additional Lebanon Fire Department, 412-531- list of about 200 appeals, from houses that 5366. A Exceptional Service Award-winning Results Experience and Professionalism Ann Rob Jo Setting the Standard b LEGEND AWARD 2002 CHAIRMAN CIRCLE 1996-2002 (412) 833-7700 Ext. 201 www.mtlebanon.org 9 Cami Mesa ◆ Complete Home Design & Renovations Additions ◆ Family Rooms ◆ Kitchens ◆ Bathrooms Serving Pittsburgh For 20 Years Pittsburgh’s Premier Designer/Builder Mt. Lebanon’s new school superintendent, Dr. Margery Sable, has had a bird’s eye view of 412-835-3543 schools throughout the country, and she’s still optimistic about the state of American educa- Www.ActionBuilders.Biz tion, especially in Mt. Lebanon. “It’s a challenge to take an excellent place and maintain it so it will always be the leader of the pack,” says Sable. SCHOOL DISTRICT WELCOMES NEW SUPERINTENDENT D CHINESE RESTAURANT HOURS Mon.-Thurs. 11 AM -10 PM Fri. & Sat. 11 AM -11 PM Sunday 12 noon-9:30 PM FREE DELIVERY (Min.$10, limited area) Gift Certificates ® Card ® DINERS CL UB INTERNATIONAL No personal checks 3233 West Liberty Avenue Dormont, PA 15216 412-571-9404 • 412-571-9405 10 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 r. Margery Sable, who just signed a con- tract as Mt. Lebanon’s next superinten- dent of schools, is standing at her soon-to- be-secretary’s desk, taking a quick phone call from someone about something. “Great,” she says with an accent that is not quite East Coast but definitely not ‘Pittsburghese.’ She nods her head in affir- mation. “You’re really on that. I’m so impressed.” I don’t know who she’s talking to, but whoever it is must feel good about the praise. “Hmmm,” I think, as I watch her, “she might be nice to work for. I wonder if that’s how she talks to kids?” Sable turns to shake hands and smiles warmly. She’s middle-aged, medium height, medium weight, professionally but unremarkably dressed and coiffed—with amazing, direct blue eyes. Immediately, I feel like this nationally known educator is someone I could chat with over the hedge about sun impatiens, debate the ending of a novel I’ve just read or invite on a trek to a flea market. (As Sable later reveals, these are the very sorts of things she likes to do, if she has spare time. But that’s a very big if for someone who will be guiding the Mt. Lebanon School District for at least the next five years.) This is the first time Sable, 58, has been a school superintendent, although she has taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels, has been a principal and was named “Principal of the Year” in Vermont in 1993-94. But she should know a good superintendent when she sees one. As the director of the kindergarten through eighth grade program at the National Center on Education and the Economy’s (NCEE) America’s Choice program in Washington, D.C., she consulted with super- intendents across the country, affording her a good overview of American education. “I’ve traveled around to see what’s working and have been hired by superintendents to do that,” she says. “I am up to date with current research and best practices.” That experience will translate into a strong push for professional development and staff development. “The role of the superinten- A R O U N D T O W N ♦ dent is to serve as the instructional leader Nicole, are expecting her first grandchild and manager,” Sable says. “You have to be in September. On the professional side, Sable relished fiscally responsible. But you have to focus the chance to head a school district with on teaching and learning.” The school district’s recent staff reorga- ample resources and a proud history of nization which, among other, things “excellence, pride, loyalty, caring and peo- requires building principals to report ple participating.” “It’s a challenge to take an excellent directly to the superintendent instead of a curriculum director, places Sable smack in place and maintain it, so it will always be the right place at the right time to further the leader of the pack,” she says, pointing the goal of “leaving no child behind,” as out, that as the recent Baldrich study sug- the law now requires, by helping every gested, “school districts need to ‘compare child reach “the highest expectations.” ourselves with like places and not get That’s not just a matter of prompting the complacent.’” So where to start, when she arrives this below-average or average student to improve, she stresses; it also means moti- month prior to assuming the post in July vating superior students to achieve a high- that for the past 13 years has been held by er degree of excellence. It means keeping retiring Superintendent Glenn Smartschan? “I want to get to everyone, including know my neigh- the seasoned profes- bors,” says Sable, sional and administra- meaning not just her tive staff, on the he Mt. Lebanon School Board selected Sable neighbors on Mark- move. ham Drive but Mt. “Nobody knows following an extensive national search. Lebanon residents in everything,” she says. general. Her job She describes her positions her as an administrative style— advocate for parents whether dealing with the school board, the staff, parents or the and students, but she sees herself also as community—as “teaming. I’m going to someone who, like the majority of Mt. ask the right questions and together, we’ll Lebanon residents, does not have children come up with the answers, do the work,” in school and wants good value for her tax she says. When it comes to the conflicts dollar. “The first thing I asked when I was that are an inevitable part of the superin- considering buying my house was, ‘How tendent’s job, she’ll try to channel them, much are the taxes?’” she admits. “I want not avoid them. “I don’t mind conflict over my house to grow in value.” She’ll be spending time in the schools ideas,” she says. “I stay away from conflict immediately and often. “I want to spend over personalities.” The Mt. Lebanon School Board selected a full day in every school when I arrive, vis- Sable following a extensive national iting every classroom and engaging in search. Sable was attracted to Mt. conversation—I have to see to know,” she Lebanon by both personal and profes- says. Those visits will help her shape an action sional concerns. Tired of living in a condo- minium and traveling, she yearned to plan for the school district, a plan that she return to “her roots”—a suburban com- hopes will include fun. “I have a sense of humor,” she tells me, munity where she could have a dog (“I’ll probably rescue one,” she says) and a yard as she scrambles out the door for the air- to relax in when her family visits. Her port. Perhaps she thinks people can’t daughter, Jennifer, is a lawyer and finan- imagine a superintendent laughing. “I know,” I say. “Your eyes twinkle.” cial adviser in Boston; her son, Douglas, who works for the electric company in his —SUSAN MORGANS hometown in Vermont, and his wife, T www.mtlebanon.org 11 A R O U N D T O W N ♦ If you are thinking about buying or selling your home, I’m not far from the phone. Cell phone 412-680-5000 Office 833-7700 x 283 Lifelong Mt. Lebanon resident and longtime Mt. lebanon real estate professional Lynn Geyer Banbury “Celebrating 20 years in real estate!” 1679 Washington Road Pittsburgh, PA 15228 TOWN TOPICS T he Abbeyville Road project—a plan to ease traffic congestion on Route 19 and create easier southbound access to businesses between Abbeyville and Connor roads—will likely go ahead this spring but without Mt. Lebanon’s partici- pation. The Mt. Lebanon Commission has tentatively decided not to contribute funds toward the $1.6 million project. “The commission is not convinced that this is something that would benefit our res- idents, since few Mt. Lebanon property owners are directly involved,” says Municipal Manager Steve Feller. Mt. Lebanon’s contribution to the project—a “jughandle” from North Highland Road, cutting between Red Lobster and Chi-Chi’s restaurants and across to Abbeyville Road—was to be about $86,000. AT THE GALLERIA The Galleria is bringing ice cream back to the upper level of the mall, near the Carmike cinemas. Ben and Jerry’s will begin serving up cones and dishes of their Vermont-born confection sometime in June. Sundae and shake selections will be very limited or unavailable due to space con- straints. The patio tables and chairs will remain, so you can enjoy your New York Super Fudge Chunk sitting down…Bravo! Cucina Italiana will open at the Galleria in the former Ruby Tuesday’s location some time early this fall. The Columbus, Ohio- based “white tablecloth” restaurant wel- comes families and large groups, and fea- tures Italian favorites served in a Roman ruins atmosphere. There are three other Bravos in Pittsburgh—at The Waterfront, on McKnight Road in the North Hills and at The Pointe in North Fayette. UPTOWN UPDATE Hate the sound of a fly buzzing in your ear, or have trouble even hearing the fly? HearBest has a large selec- tion of hearing aids and also offers hearing aid covers in the shapes of butterflies, lady- bugs, lips, sharks and other novelties and devices to aid a variety of people in a vari- ety of environments. In addition to hearing aids, HearBest, which is coming up on its 12 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 A R O U N D T O W N ♦ A Name to Remember When Results Count!” Christopher Rolinson call Carol Young Top: Starbucks, supporting the caffeine habits of thousands worldwide, will open its second Mt. Lebanon location at the Galleria on the mall’s first floor sometime in early summer. Why? Because a scone and a double espresso are what you need for a grueling afternoon of shopping. Below: Even the artistically challenged can create a beauty like this and have fun in the process. At Bisque and Brew, a new paint-your-own-pottery studio on Washington Road, owner Gina Holtkamp and her staff will help get you started with the tools, greenware and glazes to make a great gift; bring friends and make it a party. To learn more, call 412-531-4346. second anniversary in June, offers complete hearing evaluations, and customized hear- ing protection for people from all walks of life, from musicians to cops, hunters, metal- workers and anyone else who’s around real- ly loud things. They also market a silent pager-based awareness system for those who have trouble hearing sounds around the home like a telephone, doorbell or smoke alarm…There’s a new Deckmasters open on Washington Road, across from the intersection of Scott Road, in the former offices of state Rep. Tom Stevenson. Deckmasters, founded in Pittsburgh in 1978 by Pat Nicholson, is a deck franchise corporation that designs and builds decks, ➤ p.14 • A Howard Hanna “Top Producer” • Sales Transaction Every 10 days in 2002 • Ranked in Top 1% of All 1,800 Howard Hanna Agents • Ranked in Top 5% of All Real Estate Agents Nationwide (412) 561-7400 Ext 247 cyoung@howardhanna.com Real Estate Services 607 Washington Road Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228 www.mtlebanon.org 13 A R O U N D T O W N ♦ TOPICS ➤ p.13 porches and sunrooms. Franchise owner Paul Klein joins the other 11 Deckmasters owners in the tri-state area; three in Ohio, seven in Allegheny County, and one in Washington County. Mame Bradley, Vernon Drive, is Mt. Lebanon’s new program manager for commercial districts. Bradley, a municipal employee, will be working to promote and improve Mt. Lebanon’s business districts. Prior to interviewing various candidates for the new position, Municipal Manager Steve Feller talked with a number of local busi- ness people to determine what sort of per- son they felt would best suit the commer- cial districts’ needs. Bradley, who previous- ly was executive director of the World Trade Center Institute of Pittsburgh and also has worked in economic development for Allegheny County, is “the right fit,” Feller says. Bradley started work April 14. BIOBLITZ The Mt. Lebanon Nature Conservancy will sponsor a 24-hour BioBlitz in Bird Park, beginning at 3:30 P . M ., Friday, May 30. BioBlitz is a worldwide program created to increase public awareness of biodiversi- ty and how plants help us and the ecosys- tem. Cities that have held BioBlitz pro- grams, include Pittsburgh (in Frick, Schenley, Highland, and Riverview parks); Boston, Mass.; Hartford, Conn.; Norman, Okla. and Bern, Switzerland. During a BioBlitz, every plant species in a particular area (usually a park) is invento- ried by trained scientists and amateur experts. Observations and collections are made around the clock in order to count both diurnal and nocturnal species. Members of the Mt. Lebanon Nature Conservancy and scientists and experts from the University of Pittsburgh, Du- quesne University, the Western Pennsyl- vania Conservancy and Washington and Jefferson College will participate in the event. The information gathered will be compared to a survey of species conducted in 1982 to see how the park has changed in the last 20 years. It will also give conser- vancy members a baseline from which to BUSINESS DISTRICTS MANAGER take your first step to feeling good, looking great and making a memorable impression every time you smile. You owe it to yourself! Find out more about Zoom! in-office tooth whitening. Call today! Your lifetime choice for exceptional dental care VOTED ONE OF PITTSBURGH’S BEST ASIAN RESTAURANTS EIGHT YEARS IN A ROW Pittsburgh Magazine Readers’ Poll Open 7 Days a Week Sichuan House Chinese Restaurant Mon.-Thurs. 11:30-10 Fri.-Sat. 11:30-11 Sun. 3-10 PARTY ROOMS • GIFT CERTIFICATES TAKEOUT AVAILABLE • 412-563-5252 • FREE DELIVERY (Limited area) 1900 Murray Avenue • Squirrel Hill 412-422-2700 14 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 Virginia Manor Shops 1717 Cochran Road • Mt. Lebanon Dave Grib Scientists will inventory the plants in Bird Park over a 24-hour period starting May 30 as part of a BioBlitz program. Residents are encouraged to stop by to watch and participate in activities including nature walks and programs for children. monitor future changes in the park. In addition to taking the inventory, one of BioBlitz’s main goals is to create excite- ment in children about science and the environment. Families are encouraged to stop at the activity centers at the Bird Park shelter and fire circle, where there will be demonstrations, exhibits and projects to make and take home. Other conservancy-sponsored activities that day may include nature and geology walks, a raptor show, a native plant exhib- it/sale and workshops on topics such as invasive plant species, bird identification, planting native plants, watersheds and water testing. A site restoration project is in the works as well. The nature conservancy needs volunteers and sponsors to help with BioBlitz. To vol- unteer, call Mark Evans at 412-343-0570 or e-mail him at mae6@pitt.edu. GREAT GARDENS The Mt. Lebanon Public Library Garden Tour will be held noon to 5 P . M ., Sunday, June 29. At least six area gardens—including one at a local business and another at a church—will be featured. Arrangements for additional programming and a plant sale are in the works—check in the June issue of Mt. Lebanon magazine for more details on the gardens and program- ming. Tickets are $10 at the library. The event is being chaired by Mary Lu and Bob Quehl; Lynn Heintzleman is head of the garden selection committee and Lee Scott is finding tour guides. Last year’s tour drew 800 people and raised $16,224. CLASSY CARS Mt. Lebanon Classic Car Show and Street Festival is Saturday, June 28—rain or shine—on Washington Road between Shady Drive and Lebanon Avenue. The free daylong event begins at 9 A . M ., with the car registration; judging will be at noon and awards will be presented at 4 P . M . At least 200 shiny, classic cars in every color of the rainbow will be displayed— from Mustangs, Firebirds and Javelins to Corvettes, Cougars and Camaros. In addition, there will be live music, food, craft booths and sidewalk sales at many Washington Road stores. The June issue of Mt. Lebanon magazine will have more information including updates on road closures. The event, which benefits police youth programs, is sponsored by the Mt. Lebanon Police Department, the Mt. Lebanon Police Association, Pontiac- Oakland Club International of Western Pennsylvania, the Mt. Lebanon/Dormont Rotary Club and Washington Road Merchants. For more information, call 412-343-4069. ➤ p.16 Do your kids know right from wrong? Bring them to church for: Sunday school, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Children’s choir, bell choir, daycare, nursery school, sprouts, youth ministries, youth camp, Vacation Bible School and a whole lot more! Together, we’ll teach them everything they need to know to become compassionate adults. Join us this weekend and see what character building is all about. Mount Lebanon United Methodist Church 3319 West Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15216 (412) 531-7131 www.mlumc.org www.mtlebanon.org 15 A R O U N D T O W N ♦ Want to lose weight and tone up for the summer? The trainers at Jon Vecchio’s Personal Training Studio are committed to helping each client achieve their fitness goals through one-on-one personal training and nutritional guidance. TOPICS ➤ p.15 JON V EC • Certif CHIO, OWNE ied Pers R onal Tra • B.S. Health & Phys iner • PA S ical ta Physic te Associatio Education al Ed a nd Fitn n for Health, • Aero es b of Ame ics & Fitness s member rica m ember Association Offic Located in the Molyneaux Tile & Carpet Building ia Penns l trainer of M ylvania r 2001 s. 412-833-9110 1665 Washington Road • Suite 4B • Seconds from the Galleria www.jvecpersonaltraining.com The Memorial Day parade will begin at 10 A . M ., Monday, May 26, at the cannon on Brookline Boulevard. The parade will travel up the boulevard to Pioneer Avenue, then down West Liberty and along Washington Road and end at the entrance to Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. The parade usually reaches Mt. Lebanon at about 10:45. Any group interested in marching in this year’s parade, one of the biggest in the Pittsburgh area, should contact John Balkovec at 412-344-7044. MEMORABLE MONDAY Celebrating Diversity, an organization with a pretty self-explanatory name, will host a picnic at 1 P . M ., on Sunday, May 18, in Mt. Lebanon Park. The picnic is a first-time event, held in cooperation with South Hills Interfaith Ministries and the Mt. Lebanon Com- munity Relations Board. For the past two years, the group has held a springtime Walk for Diversity, a two-mile stroll that included guest speakers and refreshments. This year, the group wants to skip all the exertion and get right down to what mat- ters most. Bring enough to share. That’s what it’s all about. The Mt. Lebanon Police Associ- ation will donate a cake, and Pennsylvania American Water Company will provide bottled water. For more information, call Elizabeth Castonguay at 412-344-2469. MARVELOUS MAY St. Paul’s Episcopal Nursery School will hold its annual MayFair 11 A . M . to 3 P . M ., Saturday, May 17, at the school on Washington Road. The day features games, prizes, face painting, pony rides, food and a moon bouncer. Fun for the entire family! PICNIC FOR THE PEOPLE A VERY COMPETITIVE MORTGAGE TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS. Rely on the security of home financing with one of the nation’s leading retail mortgage lenders. Whether you’re purchasing or refinancing, you’ll benefit from: • A Wide Selection of Conventional Loan Products • FHA and VA Loans • Mortgage Rates that are the Lowest They’ve Been in Years • Flexible Term, and Adjustable Rate Mortgages Customized to Your Needs • Builder and Renovation Mortgages • Fast Loan Decisions • The Attentive Service of Knowledgeable Mortgage Professionals MARIA G. SAMPSON, Branch Manager Purchases • Refinancing • Mortgages 412-851-2965 2581 WASHINGTON ROAD • SUITE 231 • PITTSBURGH, PA 15241 ©2003 Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc. All rights reserved. We extended our hours to help you take advantage of today’s low rates: Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 6 PM 16 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 www.mtlfd.org D E Pasqua Chiropractic “Discover the Wealth of Your Health” The police department’s mobile command post—purchased thanks to a $22,000 PennDOT grant—is used at DUI checkpoints. Nicknamed “The Flagship,” it has room for a phlebotomist and will be used as a command post during emergency situations. public safety TEAM DUI As part of PennDOT’s ongoing radio advertisements promoting responsi- ble drinking, Mt. Lebanon Police Lt. Tom Gianni spoke to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade crowd in Market Square about the impor- tance of having a designated driver. “I had the dubious distinction of telling 100,000 drunks not to drink and drive,” Gianni says with a laugh. “They were pretty receptive.” The police department’s mobile command post—used during Mt. Lebanon Area DUI Task Force and Western Alliance Team DUI enforcement efforts—was part of the Downtown Pittsburgh parade. On St Patrick’s Day, a DUI checkpoint was set up on West Liberty Avenue in Dormont from 11 P . M . to 4 A . M . More than 400 cars passed through, with 10 arrests made for drunk driving and six cita- tions for motor vehicle violations given. Gianni says the designated driver idea seems to be working. “I wasn’t sure how it would fly when it started ten years ago, but the concept has been fairly well received,” Gianni says. “I see a lot more women driv- ing their husbands or boyfriends…15 years ago it was a macho thing to drive even if you had been drinking.” Two DUI checkpoints are planned for May—one in Green Tree and one in Mt. Lebanon. DRUG CLASS Police Officer Tom Rutowski attended free Meth Lab Training classes at Northeast Counterdrug Training Center near Hershey, Pa. The five-day class is designed for law enforcement officers who investigate clandestine meth labs. Methamphetamine is a type of speed that can be manufactured in homes using common household chemicals such as matches, lye, camera batteries, antifreeze and over-the-counter cold and asthma medications containing ephedrine or pseu- doephedrine. The result is a highly addic- tive stimulant that can be injected, snorted or smoked. In the class, Rutowski learned about the basic physical and chemical hazards of the wastes produced during meth production and was trained in how to plan a successful lab raid and collect and preserve evidence. “They are very dangerous,” Rutowski says of meth labs. “There are deadly gases and flammability issues…the whole place could go up if a gun is fired or a light turned on. The DEA needs to be called in to dismantle a meth lab.” The Meth Lab class showed police officers how to identify hazards before entering the site and gave them basic train- ing in chemistry and toxicology. The class also helped police officers see potential links between drug manufacturing and what may appear to be petty theft. “If I arrested a guy for stealing lithium bat- teries and cold medicine, I never would have put it together that he was probably manu- facturing drugs,” says Rutowski. “Now, I’ll be able to make that connection.” Because over-the-counter drugs are used to make methamphetamines, many drug- stores now apply a “rule of six” in which no more than six boxes of such medication can be purchased by one person. “Of course the rule of six doesn’t apply when you’re stealing the items,” Rutowski says. Dr. John C. DePasqua Our gentle hands-on approach combines chiropractic care with massage therapy • Chiropractic adjustments •Physiotherapy • Rehabilitation •Myofacial release • Trigger point therapy • Soft tissue massage MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED 305 Mt. Lebanon Blvd., Suite 100 412-531-4800 • Fax 412-531-7788 R OBERT P R USCHAK P H O T O G R A P H Y 412.462.4133 www.mtlebanon.org 17 Sesame Inn FINEST CHINESE CUISINE se Chine t” “Bes s t tauran Re voted by the readers of • P ITTSBURGH magazine 2002 • Mt. Lebanon magazine 2002 • Post-Gazette • Tribune Review • Rated ✯✯✯✯ by KDKA TV Lunch • Dinner • Free Delivery Carryout • Banquet Facilities Gift Certificates Mt. Lebanon 412-341-2555 Station Square 412-281-8282 North Hills 412-366-1838 McMurray 724-942-2888 www.sesameinn.net 18 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 t. Lebanon’s Planning Board something in black and white in our ordi- reviews plans presented to the nances that says why,” says McGill. Often, municipality for construction, instead of an outright denial, the planning development and redevelop- board will grant conditional approval of a ment, and makes recommendations on project, meaning the project can move matters regarding planning and zoning. forward if a list of conditions is met. The board also reviews and recommends Conditional use incorporates protections zoning ordinance amendments, prepares for surrounding property owners, and subdivision and land development regula- anyone else affected by the development. tions, and reviews site and development For instance, if a planned housing project plans. The staff liaison is Mt. Lebanon’s will create an unbearable burden on local planner, Keith McGill. traffic, or does not include enough of a Planning board members traditionally buffer for neighbors, the planning board have a background in architecture, devel- could recommend approval pending a sat- isfactory solution to opment, or some- the problem. thing related to the he Planning Board has five members building trades. For The planning board members board recommends each serving a four-year term. who might not approval or disap- have the expertise, Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday proval of a project. or for anyone who The Mt. Lebanon of each month at 8 P . M ., in Room 200 is interested, Mt. Commission has Lebanon will pay the final say. of the municipal building. their way through If you want to just the Local run your project Government Academy’s basic course for past the planner, building inspector and planning commissioners, a three-session engineer, there is a land use group that course that presents an overview of perti- meets every Wednesday morning in the nent planning statutes and common manager’s office.The group provides assis- issues facing planning commissioners. tance on a range of projects, mainly to The Planning Board reviews plans in the developers working on major projects, but context of the community’s subdivision occasionally to homeowners. and land development ordinances, and The goal of the land use group is to help also the comprehensive plan, a study done developers negotiate the road from idea to every 10 years or so that offers a blueprint implementation, advising applicants on to help shape growth and development in what they need to do and when, what a way that’s desirable for the community. paperwork they need to complete and If a development plan seems beneficial to whom they need to contact. Developers the community but does not conform to can consult with the group very early in code, it is possible that the board may sug- the process, even before purchasing a gest that the commission pass a text property. amendment to the zoning ordinance that By the time preliminary approval is grant- would permit the project. For example, var- ed, most major details of a development ious proposals for the vacant Towne Fair project have been ironed out; final building (none of which has yet come to approval from the commission usually fol- fruition) resulted in a text amendment that lows without too much ado. Construc- now permits mixed use development, i.e. tion plans are then reviewed by the build- loft housing, in the Washington Road ing inspector to ensure compliance with a commercial district, a change that could myriad of regulations, including fire and have a positive impact on many properties. electrical codes. A building permit is “If we deny an application, there has to be issued, and construction begins. M T A R O U N D T O W N ♦ WEB WATCH We get our share of bright ideas around here, but not all of them are practical. This one—courtesy of Jackie Strasbaugh at Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department—is a keep- er. In five minutes or less, you can order any of Mt. Lebanon magazine’s award-winning books, poster, CD-ROM or videos online— and have them shipped to your door. No questions asked. Here’s how: From the Mt. Lebanon home page, www.mtlebanon.org, go to the green navigation column on the left, and click on “Departments”; then scroll down and click on “Public Information.” Look for a box to the right of the screen—”Lebo Books and Products”—and click the link to order online. Now you’re on ProActive’s page of Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department “upcom- ing activities.” Go to the bottom of the list and click on “Next” until you see the product list that starts with “Mt. Lebanon magazine Subscription.” Click on the Mt. Lebanon magazine product you’d like to purchase. A waiver box will pop up; click in the box; then click on “Continue.” It will take you to an order form that you fill out and submit. The price on all the products includes shipping and handling. There also is a $2 convenience fee for using the online option. It’s nice to fool mother nature! C O S M E T I C S U R G E R Y • Facelift Surgery • Eyelid Surgery • Nose Contouring • Breast Augmentation • Liposuction • Abdominal Tucks • Hair Restoration S K I N T R E A T M E N T S • Botox Cosmetic ® /Collagen SM • Laser Hair Removal • Laser Vein Therapy/Sclerotherapy • FotoFacial™ Skin Rejuvenation • CoolTouch ® Gentle Laser • Power Peel Rx ® /Chemical Peels • Permanent Makeup • Endermologie ® • Rejuvenating Facials • Therapeutic Massage • Lip Enhancement Pittsburgh’s most established private practice devoted exclusively to cosmetic surgery since 1981. Dominic A. Brandy, MD, Medical Director American Board of Cosmetic Surgery own a piece of mt. lebanon Order “Living With Styles,” below, “The Way We Were” and other Mt. Lebanon magazine products online at www.mtlebanon.org. SHADYSIDE MT. LEBANON WEXFORD (412) 621-5115 (412) 429-1151 (724) 933-1151 www.enhancedimagesMD.com Complimentary Consultation Offer ends May ( value) LISA TURBEVILLE, CFP • Financial Planning • 529 Education Plans • Retirement Planning • Divorce • Investment Allocation • Tax Preparation • Estate Preservation 412-531-3533 615 Washington Road, Suite 203 Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228 Securities offered through Sentra Securities Corporation, Member NASD/SIPC www.mtlebanon.org 19 Now Open! W W W W W W W J W ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Tournesol T T T H T H T H H E H E H E Y E Y E Y E Y K Y K K K N K N K N K N K O N O N O T Y K K N K O N K W O N W O N W O N W O N W O W O W O W O W W W W O O A H H A A A T A T A T T T D T D T D T D T D D O D O D O D O D O D O D O O O O H H H H H H A A A A A A T T T H H H H C E L E B R AT I N G T H E W O R L D … • FINE TABLE LINENS BY APRIL CORNELL, BEAUVILL É , BUSATTI, EKELUND, FERGUSONS IRISH LINEN, NYDEL • HANDMADE QUILTS • CERAMICS FROM ITALY, FRANCE, ENGLAND, POLAND, SOUTH AFRICA, CHINA • FRENCH FLEA MARKET FINDS AND A WIDE SELECTION OF GIFTS TO BRING THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD INTO YOUR HOME BRIDAL REGISTRY CUSTOM DESIGNS CUSTOM SIZES 20 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 632 Washington Road 412.344.4701 I n our “What Do We Know?” column, we answer questions about municipal policies, procedures and generally what- ever an inquiring mind wants to know. “What Do They Know?” a new feature, looks beyond the borders at how other communities address issues that face us. Last year, Mt. Lebanon made its ad hoc committee for historic preservation into the Historic Preservation Board. We were won- dering how some other towns looked after their past. Druid Hills, Ga., a picturesque neighbor- hood five miles east of the center of Atlanta, was designed in 1893 by Frederick Law Olmstead, designer of New York’s Central Park and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. Olmstead envisioned “a neighbor- hood well shaded by handsome, umbra- geous, thrifty trees” with a “pleasing semi- rural character,” which it enjoyed back at the turn of the century. Now, Druid Hills is all grown up with show-off architecture and gardens on display during its annual May Home and Garden Tour, drawing folks from all over Atlanta and the Southeast. In this mature part of Atlanta, there are few opportunities to build from the ground up. “People are upsizing their homes, putting on huge two-story addi- tions rather than leaving the area,” says Kathie Gannon of the Druid Hills Civic Association. One of the biggest challenges residents have to deal with is the nature of Druid Hills’ governance. The town is divided between two separate jurisdictions, with separate governments and historical preser- vation committees: the smaller portion of Druid Hills is governed by the city of Atlanta, and the larger is in the unincorpo- rated part of DeKalb County. The city part, says Gannon, established a historic preservation committee in the early ‘70s, to protect the integrity of the 1,300 acres in Olmstead’s original plan. In 1994, the DeKalb County part of Druid Hills passed “a protective ordinance law,” says Gannon, A R O U N D T O W N ♦ “that regulates and reviews size, scale and guidelines for home renovation and devel- opment within its borders.” Although Garrett Park, Md,, a commu- nity of 1,000 that lies outside Washington, D.C., has a decidedly liberal bent, declaring itself a Nuclear Free Zone, and passing a unanimous resolution against a preemptive strike on Iraq, the town is downright con- servative when it comes to preserving some of its unique housing stock. Garrett Park has about 355 houses, an eclectic mix of contemporary homes and Victorian mansions from the early 20th century. One of the town’s most notable features is the “Chevy” homes, so-called because those who bought one of the two- bedroom bungalows for about $5,000 in the 1920’s, also got a Chevrolet automo- bile, along with an RCA radio and a Murphy bed in the living room. One of those cottages was sold not long ago for $370,000. About 20 years ago, some of these houses were sold and demolished, and the lots consolidated to make way for oversize homes in this highly coveted location, so close to D.C. In order to fight this “man- sionization” trend, the town council formed a historic preservation committee during the 1980s to protect these unique homes through the enforcement of specif- ic ordinances against this practice. Garrett Park also is undergoing a $2.4 million renovation of historic Penn Place, the town hub built in 1888 that houses the town offices, post office, a cafe and beauty shop, and is next to a park. Part of the renovation will create a small public plaza at the building’s entrance for a farmer’s market. Have a question? Send it to “What Do We/They Know? Mt. Lebanon magazine, 710 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15228. Fax: 412-343- 3753. E-mail: lebomag@mtlebanon.org. THE CLASSROOM RESTAURANT American - Grill Casual Dining In a Historic One Room Schoolhouse New Spring/Summer Menu Lunch Tues-Fri, 11;30am-2:00 pm Dinner Tues-Sat, 5:00-10:00 pm Peters Township 724-942-4878 www.classroomrestaurant.com www.mtlebanon.org 21 C O M M I S S I O N E R S REPORT IMPRESSIONS… FIRST AND FOREVER I TY ELY WARD 2 COMMISSIONER • Residence: 111 Parkridge Lane • Spouse: Sue • Children: Christy (Cornell University - junior) , Laura (Virginia Tech—fresh- man) , Chelsea (MLHS—freshman), Alice (Jefferson Middle School—8th grade) • Education: Oklahoma State University—BSEE 1976 • Occupation: Partner, HEG Company • Civic Activities: Mt. Lebanon Youth Sports Alliance—Board Secretary, Mt. Lebanon Soccer Association— President 1999 & 2000 If you have any questions on this topic or any other municipal matter, please contact your ward commissioner. Letters to the editor also are welcome and may be excerpted in Mt. Lebanon magazine, 710 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228, e-mail: lebomag@mtlebanon.org, fax: 412-343-3753. 22 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 must admit it is awkward to select a mean- ingful Mt. Lebanon topic, considering the state of affairs as I write this column. Our country has just declared war on Iraq, stock market conditions are lousy and the unem- ployment rate is on the rise. Several people in Mt. Lebanon have been affected by corpo- rate downsizing and need to find meaning- ful employment. Many of us are glued to the television with hopes that the war will end soon and no more lives will be lost. Therefore, it seems somewhat trivial to write about our sewer system, potholes, cracked sidewalks, or other municipal issues. Yet, because of current world events, I am reminded of Mt. Lebanon’s most precious resource, our citizens. At the end of this arti- cle, I will let you know what prompted me to write about you, the Mt. Lebanon folks. We often instruct our children on the meaning of first impressions. We hope that they will be respectful of others, look pre- sentable at least most of the time and greet people with a smile and a positive attitude. Unfortunately, many times that first impression is a lasting one. I recall one time complaining to a close friend about my daughter’s treatment of her parents. Our daughter was around 15, and her attitude toward Mom and Dad was not always on the constructive side. My friend reminded me that it is more important how your chil- dren treat others than how they treat their parents. He noted that in his presence my daughter was always friendly, made an effort to say hello and greeted him with a smile. Fortunately, my daughter was mak- ing good first and forever impressions on most people, except her parents. When I meet a new Mt. Lebanon citizen for the first time I enjoy asking the ques- tion, “why Mt. Lebanon?” The answers may vary, but are usually focused on the same issues: excellent school system, tree- lined streets and sidewalks, proximity to downtown Pittsburgh, public safety, sense ’ The Commissioners’ Report is a series by mem- bers of the Mt. Lebanon Commission. In this installment, Commissioner Ty Ely writes about the citizens of Mt. Lebanon. of community, top-notch snow removal, recreation facilities. Funny, I cannot recall anyone saying they selected Mt. Lebanon because of low taxes. Obviously, our town is able to make a strong first impression on newcomers. On the other end of the spectrum, I fre- quently wonder why so many stay in Mt. Lebanon after their children have grown and moved away, or after they have retired and no longer need to live in the area. Again, no one has answered my question with “low taxes” or “the wonderful winter weather.” At this point in life, the respons- es are the same, but different. Yes, public safety, sense of community, sidewalks, parks, easy access to transportation, etc., are included in the answers. But now they speak more of close friends in the commu- nity or the kindness of neighbors. It is the people of Mt. Lebanon who leave an impression forever. In the beginning of this article I promised to explain the motivation behind this topic. In the last few months I attended the funer- als of two Mt. Lebanon residents who made lasting impressions on me. Dale Delestienne and Dan Howard were not my best friends, but they were individuals who I felt represented what Mt. Lebanon is all about. First impressions did not fit either Dale or Dan. Dale was well over 6 foot and built like a football player. The first time I met Dale, I just assumed that he played some type of sports in high school or maybe even college. No, Dale had very little interest in sports but enjoyed singing, reading and tin- kering with electronics. Dan was smaller in stature and gave the first impression of someone who stayed away from physical activities. Not until many years later did I find out that Dan was a star football player for Mt. Lebanon and the U. S. Naval Academy. Both men represented the “forever” impressions that I admire most in people. They always greeted you with a smile and a positive outlook. Never did either man com- plain about their challenging bout with can- cer. They always expressed a concern about you and your life’s endeavors. During my A R O U N D T O W N ♦ daily jog up Vernon Drive, I always hoped that Dale would be outside his home to exchange in friendly conversation and update me on the latest gadgets in the wire- less phone technology. On my morning commute to work, I would stop at the Coffee Tree and look for Dan to share the latest news on Mt. Lebanon High School sports. Whenever I had the chance to chat with Dan or Dale, I finished the conversa- tion feeling a little better about myself or life in general. They made a forever impression on me and on Mt. Lebanon. So to end this article, I must admit that I am one of the citizens whose children are starting to leave home and who is starting to mention retirement at the dinner table. More than 20 years ago, I was attracted to Mt. Lebanon’s first impressions, but over time I have come to understand the forev- er impression and truly admire the most precious of our resources, our citizens. COMING NEXT MONTH W E UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE B E T W E E N I N S U R I N G A H O U SE A ND A H O M E . Your home is more than a roof over your head. It’s a valuable asset that shelters you and your valued possessions. As your insurance advisor, we know you need an insurance company that understands the way you live. With more than 115 years of experience, a well-earned reputation for prompt and fair claim settlements, and special expertise in insuring fine homes and their contents, we know Chubb is as different from other insur- ance companies as a home is from a house. To see how we can create a personal insurance program from Chubb to meet your sophisticated needs, please call us. 733 Washington Road, Suite 206, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228 Phone: 412-563-7828 • Fax: 412-563-7833 www.alcornchristie.com C O V E R A G E B E YO N D YO U R E X P E C TAT I O N S Chubb refers to the insurers of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. Actual coverage is subject to the language of the policies as issued. Chubb, Box 1615, Warren, NJ 07061-1615. chuch picture GOD’S OWN MANSIONS: The next installment in John Conti’s series on church architecture. www.mtlebanon.org 23 GOOD CLEAN (MUDDY) FUN! These wild caves aren’t well-groomed like Laurel Caverns: they have no lights, no stairs and plenty of mud. But that’s what makes climbing into the abyss so much fun. From left: Lindsay Zappala, Lauren Manion, Justin Goldstein and club sponsor Carl Pierce. Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Jean Gedeon, Artistic Director Official School of the Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company Ballet • Pointe • Variations • Modern Pas de Deux • Jazz • Pilates • Summer Program July 7th - August 1st • Internationally Renowned School and Company • High School Early Dismissal Program • Professional Performing Opportunities • VISA, MC, Discover & AMEX Accepted • Positive Nurturing Environment • Fully Equipped A/C Studios • Pre-School Classes - ages 2yrs & up Call for a free brochure (412) 835-1250 • (412) 835-1335 1033 Paxton Drive, Bethel Park, PA 15102 www.pybco.com Spring Performance Something for Everyone “The Fairy Ballet” a children’s ballet George Balanchine’s “Valse Fantasie” Anthony Tudor’s“Continuo” Byham Theatre Saturday, June 7 at 7:30pm & Sunday June 8 at 2:00pm 24 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 n a typical weekend, while teenagers flock to the mall to shop, to the Denis to see the latest flick, or maybe stop for pizza at Caruso’s, Carl Pierce leads a group of Mt. Lebanon High School students into a different world—through a field and below the earth’s surface into a cave. There’s no Starbucks down there, and you can’t buy tickets to see an upcoming concert—the sights not to miss are stalac- tites and stalagmites protruding from the ceiling and the floor, or an underground stream rushing across your path. For adventurous students, the Mt. Lebanon High School Outdoors Club provides an opportunity to travel beyond the predictable attractions of Mt. Lebanon and into the wilderness beyond. “Caving is the biggest draw,” Pierce says, but trips vary from canoeing to hiking, bik- ing, and in-cave climbing and rappelling. The caves the Outdoors Club ventures into are not the typical tourist caves you might imagine. The group visits wild caves instead—muddy caves without the light- ing, walkways and stairs that commercial caves have. “It’s a completely different environment,” says Kristen Twedt, who has been active with the 15-member club since her fresh- O man year and now serves as president. “It’s a different experience from anything else you could get at the high school. We kind of have our own niche.” So are the student members always die- hard wilderness fans? Not necessarily. “When I first joined the club, I was not out- doorsy at all. I joined because a friend want- ed me to do it, but I stayed!” Twedt says. Pierce, who was a member of the club himself when he was a high school student here in the early ‘80s, is the adult sponsor. An engineer with Allegheny Power, he says the club is “laid-back—as formal as it needs to be to function.” Sign-up sheets for the trips are in a wooden box on the front porch of his Vernon Drive home. Club members, many of whom are involved in sports and other activities, don’t have to go on every outing, but they can go whenever they want. The club travels year-round. They hike at Coopers Rock, W.Va., canoe on the Clarion River north of Pittsburgh and explore caves along the Chestnut Ridge in Pennsylvania, as well as in northern and central West Virginia. The past two summers, they have visited Mammoth Caves in Kentucky and other caves in West Virginia. This summer, they plan to travel to southern West Virginia to see a larger cave and do some camping. Trip fees, usually about $5 per student, help pay for gas. The club receives no money from the school, and the only equipment it owns is helmets with lights used for caving, which Pierce surmises were probably donated by a parent at some point in time. Kids bring their own gear— food, bedding and other supplies—only when camping in the summer. Pierce is adamant about not requiring students to raise money; still they usually break even. Pierce’s blue pick-up truck can hold stu- dents plus gear safely. Parents or members of the Pittsburgh Cave Grotto, the local chapter of the National Speleological Society, also drive and help with trips. Pierce, who serves on the Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy Board, which works to preserve caves and educate people about preservation, recalls that it was canoe trips and non-commercial caving that lured him to join the club when he was a student. He became re-involved in 1996 because he rel- ished the opportunity to share his excite- ment for outdoor experiences with others. “I like to try to encourage kids to try differ- ent things,” he says. “Wilderness trips can open up a whole new world. It’s very rewarding to take stu- dents and watch them conquer obstacles,” such as in a cave or on a difficult hike.” Aside from adventure, Pierce tries to make the trips educational. Last summer, the group visited the Cass Scenic Railroad, West Virginia. Before he allows students to go caving, he has them read a booklet about it and complete a short quiz. And he emphasizes safety and responsible outdoor practices, such as the Leave No Trace principles, which set guidelines for minimum impact in the wilderness. “Ideally, nobody should be able to tell that you were there, or that we’re even there at the time,” he says. A sign of an avid caver is a bright yellow bumper sticker with a bat on it. Pierce likes seeing students’ cars with these stickers on the back. “It’s great to see the positive influence this has had [on the students],” he says. “It’s great to hear a student admit, ‘That was tough, but I did it!’” When five bucks buys a weekend in the wilderness packed with adventure and physical challenge, members like Justin Goldstein can’t help smiling. The Outdoors Club travels year-round, canoeing and caving in Northern Pennsylvania, West Virginia and at Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave. —MONICA DEADY www.mtlebanon.org 25 THIS TOWN AWARDEES 1992 Rose Dillon David Huddleston Marshall Gordon Walter Sarraf Linda Plummer 1993 Carol Vockel Grace McMillan Verna McGinley ome to Mt. Lebanon magazine’s “This Town Walter Wiest Would Be Different Without…” awards re- Nancy Gannon ception, now in its 12th year, and meet three Don and Marcia Hobaugh citizens whose hard work and dedication in three dis- 1994 tinctive areas has had a lasting impact on the quality Louise Horvath of life in Mt. Lebanon. Profiles of the three honorees, Baylee Gordon Linda Smartschan Joe Smith, Sharon Schweninger and Celia West Shirley Glassman Kushner, begin on page 30. Dale Colby This year’s awards reception will be held at 7:30 P . M . on 1995 Wednesday, May 14, in the Mt. Lebanon Tennis Tony Waterman Center’s Founders’ Room on Cedar Boulevard, and the Jacque Baquet public is invited. RSVP by Friday, May 9 to Christina Lucille Rosicky Worsing at 412-343-3788 or by e-mail at cworsing@ Nancy Junker Georgianne Williams mtlebanon.org. C 26 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 1996 Ed Ryan Pat and Ed Owen Henry Wick Mary Larsen Robert Fischer 1997 Marilyn Neuman Betsy Henderson June Delano Anna McGill Dave Berry Carolyn Byham 1998 Ibukun Adeyeye Bonnie Doran Diane Goldschmidt Jim Gregory Melissa Harris Marty Hefner Richard Minnotte Margaret Morycz John Sleigher 1999 Terry Gruneberg Debra Brindis Anne Noland Ginny Jamieson 2000 Don Moore Emmy Lou Ducray Phyllis Moore 2001 Ed Sell Sam Shannon Carol Knox 2002 Lisa Gray Willie Gray Becky Gray Heidi Gray Ed Symons Nancy Green Carol Berklich Jody Colby Christine Heisler CELE G B U R I A D T E IONS Ask about our Bridal package WASHINGTON ROAD • MT. LEBANON 412.343.4200 27 M T. L E B A N O N • A U G U S T 2000 www.mtlebanon.org 27 CELE G B U R I A D T E IONS NOW ACCEPTING MOTHER’S DAY RESERVATIONS FOR MOM: A COMPLIMENTARY GLASS OF HOUSE WINE Blooming Dahlia TERIYAKI TEMPURA 299 Beverly Road Mt. Lebanon 412-344-7874 Full Bar Happy Mother’s Day, May 11 TOFU DISHES Flowers with a Personal Touch SEASONAL SUSHI SPECIALS 5432 Walnut Street Shadyside • 412-687-8744 Full Bar Fresh Arrangements • Cut Bouquets Fruit Baskets • Special Occasion Flowers Citywide Delivery TORO/TORO ROLL SOFT SHELL CRAB SEA SCALLOPS SWEET SHRIMP FRESH ABALONE 297 Beverly Road 412-571-0752 HOURS An Extraordinary Shop for Sophisticated Taste Mon. - Thurs.,11:30 am-3 pm and 5-10 pm Friday, 11:30 am-3 pm and 5-11 pm Saturday, 11:30-11 pm Sunday, 12 noon-9 pm 2122 East Carson Street Southside • 412-431-7874 Full Bar This year buy the distinctive gift for Mom, that special bride or graduate at our unique gift and home accent gallery. FREE DELIVERY 344-3933 (Limited delivery area. 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L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 297 Beverly Road Why give her a gift certificate from S pa in the Hollow? • Outdoor Massage next to a tumbling waterfall and tranquil fish pond in a private cabana • Lunch in front of a Crackling Fire • Side by Side manicures, pedicures, facials and massages • State of the art Vichy Rain Massage • Private Customized Parties for birth- days, anniversaries, bridal parties, etc. Mom’s Sampler 1 / 2 hr manicure & 1 / 2 hr pedicure 1 / 2 hr massage & 1 / 2 hr facial Refreshments $110 Expires 6/30/03 3075 Washington Rd. (Rt. 19S) Peters township 724-969-0993 jewelry collections tiful Invitati “ B e gi n W i th rossi e rossi u Be a on .” a CELE G B U R I A D T E IONS ed n I e r vit ’ You 307 BEVERLY ROAD 412-563-5300 • CATERING FOR EVERY OCCASION • PRIVATE PARTY ROOM 699 Washington Road Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228 • FULL BUFFET MENU Tel. 412.341.4777 • ADULT PIZZA PARTIES Summer hours: M–F 10–5 Sat 10–2 • CHILDREN’S PIZZA PARTIES • BEAUTIFUL COVERED PATIO Check out our full menu on our website: www.BADOSPIZZAGRILL.com t o ter The Potte r Z est 1976 For your past, your present and your future THE THREE-STONE ANNIVERSARY RING Let us personalize your next special occasion with a gift that lasts. Order through our secure website at www.zotterthepotter.com. For phone orders or brochures, call 412.488.0121 29 M T. L E B A N O N • A U G U S T 2000 URBANOWICZ JEWELERS “Your Trusted Professional Jeweler” CASTE VILLAGE SHOPPES Baptist and Grove Rds. 412-881-5611 www.urbanjewelers.com www.mtlebanon.org 29 PHOTOS BY RIC EVANS would be different without… THREE TALENTED LEADERS WHO INSPIRE OTHERS TO EXCEL J JOE SMITH it, but how much time do you have?” oe Smith is an optimistic guy. Exactly. Smith has two teenage daughters, is senior vice president “His approach is to always look to the future with confi- of marketing at Dollar Bank and loves to golf. Where does he find dence, with commitment and with a broad smile that time for such a strong commitment to community service activities? reflects his pride in his town,” said his nominators, Smith attributes it to a supportive employer who has encouraged Marshall Gordon and Ken Kaleida. his volunteer efforts and good planning. “Everything works on a Smith explains his positive outlook philosophically: “We schedule,” he says. can always find answers to our problems.” Since moving to Although Lynn Smith is thrilled to see her husband receive the Mt. Lebanon 10 years ago, Smith has helped many organizations find “This Town…” recognition, she readily admits that his volunteer solutions. endeavors have created some conflicts with the family’s schedule. Smith has been a board member of Outreach Teen and Family “It’s been tough to plan dinners,” she says with a laugh. Services for eight years and serves as its president. He has helped guide Both Joe and Lynn grew up in Beaver County, where Smith says the agency—which provides counseling to young people with issues his parents raised him to care for his community. When Lynn and ranging from family problems to depression to drug abuse—in long- Joe moved to Mt. Lebanon, the Smiths’ daughters, Elizabeth and range planning, development of financial Carrie—now a sophomore and junior at resources, community relations and market- Mt. Lebanon High School—were in grade ing. school, and Smith wanted to support their “He helps provide the vision for this activities. He started by coaching both girls “ olunteering is a way of giving back… agency to expand its services and carry out in soccer; his work with Outreach and its mission for the young people of Mt. other youth-related organizations, he says, is our family has been very fortunate.” Lebanon and beyond,” said Gordon and a natural outgrowth of that work. Kaleida of Smith’s Outreach work. “He demonstrates that the community Smith is also a member of St. Clair Hospital’s board, where for the cares about its young people,” his nominators say. “That care may last three years he has worked in public relations and with finance be translated as guidance in personal problems, better facilities for committees. He is a four-year board member of the Mt. Lebanon sports or planning future careers, but it is always translated with a Soccer Foundation and serves on the planning committee for the blend of vision and pragmatism that makes this town not only dif- Mt. Lebanon Community Foundation, which eventually will pro- ferent, but better.” mote charitable gifts to improve the quality of community life. This “Mt. Lebanon is such a wonderful town that you want to get spring he joined the steering committee of a community coalition involved,” Smith says. “Volunteering is a way of giving back…Our working to discourage teen drug and alcohol use. family has been very fortunate.” Smith has served on the board of directors of Junior Achievement, Both Carrie and Elizabeth have followed in their father’s foot- on the United Way’s marketing committee and for six years was an steps—helping with Outreach’s annual gala and in the office during American Marketing Association of Pittsburgh board member the summer. Carrie helped set up Outreach’s Web site. (serving as president in 1998). For eight years Smith and his wife, Smith links his volunteer endeavors so strongly with his daugh- Lynn, a decorative artist, hosted for St. Bernard’s Pre-Canaan class- ters that he laments the day he and Lynn become empty-nesters. “I es, a series of classes for couples about to be married. won’t know what to do when the girls are gone,” he says. “We stopped doing that last year,” Smith says. “We really enjoyed Well, Joe, we don’t think that will be a problem. — M.A. JACKSON V ➤ 30 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 Joe Smith links his volunteer efforts to his daughters, but his impact extends far beyond the family. T SHARON SCHWENINGER he National Institute on Out-of-School Time says that there are approximately 4 million children age 5 to 12 who spend time without adult supervision on a reg- ular basis. If you live in Mt. Lebanon and work outside the home, your school- age son or daughter probably won’t be one of them, thanks to Mt. Lebanon Extended Day Program (MLEDP) and its executive director Sharon Schweninger. Keeping kids engaged in meaningful, enriching and fun activi- ties—in other words, good, old-fashioned play—is her mission. “Kids need time to play,” she says. “In play, you learn how to solve problems, learn how to relate to others, and learn how things work by taking things apart and messing around with them.” MLEDP was founded as a result of a 1986 survey done by the Mt. Lebanon Community Relations Board that revealed a growing need for the care of “latch- key” children in Mt. Lebanon.The program has grown to eight sites: all seven Mt. Lebanon elementary schools and the Ward Youth and Family Services offices on Moffett Street, across from Jefferson Elementary School. Schweninger, trained as an elementary school teacher specializing in gifted education, was hired as MLEDP’s program director in 1990, and became executive director in August 1994. Under her leadership, MLEDP expand- ed to include full-time day care during the summer, and expanded the kindergarten program to full-day, wraparound care (early morning to after school hours). In 1997, a bus was purchased for kindergarten transportation and field trips. And in 2002, the MLEDP locations at Howe and Lincoln schools became two of only six after-school programs in Pennsylvania to be accredited by the National School Age Care Alliance. A native of Geneseo, Ill., Schweninger and her husband, Elmer, a retired U.S. Army major, spent 20 years living on Army bases. While stationed near Stuttgart, Germany, Schweninger met a woman who had gone to school in Mt. Lebanon. “She told me, ‘You’ve got to go to Mt. Lebanon. Your daughter would love it there.’” When they were transferred stateside, the Schweningers took her advice, and moved to Mt. Lebanon, enrolling their young daughter, Heather, (now 27, a hydrogeologist living in Pittsburgh) at Markham School. They spent three years here, were transferred again, but returned to Mt. Lebanon so Heather could graduate from Mt. Lebanon High School. These days, Schweninger’s challenges are twofold: operating a fiscally responsible program in an uneasy economic climate, and caring for kids in uncertain, stress-filled times. Corporate downsizing and worry over job loss causes tension to spill over into the children’s lives, playing out into physi- cal aggression or tearful withdrawal. Schweninger, who pitches in many days a week at the After-Hours Club for middle schoolers, sees it happen- ing more and more. “We can’t be fixers,” she says, “but we can find ways to support. We can give a child more space, or more time in the gym to work out the tensions of the day. We can help give kids the tools they need to cope.” Her advice for parents? “Find time to enjoy your children; they need your unconditional love. And remember that they are children. They need time to play, time to relax and to recreate,” she says. Schweninger’s own recreation includes reading, enjoying football and baseball games, going out to dinner with family and friends, “and having a good giggle,” she says. “It helps sustain your energy.” Energy is one thing Sharon Schweninger seems to have in large supply. —ANNE CAFFEE “We can’t be fixers, but we can find a way to support.” 32 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 Y CELIA WEST KUSHNER ou could call Celia West Kushner the mother of field hockey in Mt. Lebanon. But that would embarrass her. She’s happier giving credit to everyone else, and there are legions of dedicated parents, who are enthusiastic about the sport and what it’s done for their daughters. Many have driven carloads of players to games in Greensburg or Fox Chapel, helped line the fields, kept time and raised money. “Without the hands-on support of dedicated parents, we would not have come this far,” says Kushner. That may be true, but someone with drive, enthusiasm and a vision had to take the lead. Kushner grew up in Dayton, Ohio, played field hockey in high school, and later, in college, with her sister, Longuevue Drive resident Cinda Isler, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She grad- uated with a degree in physical and elementary education, and later attended Parsons School of Design in New York. She works as an interior design and renovation consultant and is a frequent contractor for her father, architect James Slager. She came from Connecticut to Pittsburgh in 1995, with two daughters from a previous marriage, to be closer to family. In 1997, her daughter Alison’s teacher, Mindy Dorish, a former college field hockey player, helped arrange an intramural field hockey program. Kushner volunteered as a coach. About 70 girls showed up. A year later, interest and num- bers were still high, but because the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) did not recognize the sport, no money was coming from the school district’s athletic budget. To continue, they had to form a club, so Kushner quickly led a group of parents to create a slate of officers, while she continued to coach, scramble for play- ing fields and equipment, and put together a schedule for the team. In 1999, they were granted official club status, which entitled them to some school district support. Through it all, Kushner kept interest and enthusiasm high by encouraging players and giving out equal playing time, regardless of experience. “The thing about Celia that impresses me most is her firm resolve that each girl’s experience will be positive,” says one of her nominators, Lindendale Drive resident Susan McCarthy. That first club year, the inexperienced team went in with spirit to spare, but ended up scoreless. The second season, Kushner told her team that if they scored a goal, she’d do cartwheels across the field. When they finally did, against Ellis School, Kushner kept her promise. “Thank goodness it was one of the shorter fields we play,” she says with a laugh. In 1999, Celia West Kushner married widower Joe Kushner and joined his daughters Kelsey, 22 (now at Penn State), Annie, 18 (at Vassar) and Reva, 15, (a freshman at Mt. Lebanon High School), with her girls Alison, 22 (at John Carroll University) and Emma, 15, (a MLHS freshman) to form their own team, two parents, five girls and a dog named Murphy. Two years ago, girls’ field hockey was granted WPIAL status. This past season, the Lebo team finished a close second behind North Allegheny, and landed four players on the All-Star team. Not bad for a sport with a six-year history. Kushner’s impact has been far-reaching. “Literally hundreds of girls have benefited from Celia’s devotion to the sport,” says Barbara Szefi, Austin Avenue. “If it were not for Celia’s enduring commitment, I do not think we would have a WPIAL girls’ field hockey team in Mt. Lebanon,” says Susan McCarthy. Another nominator, JoAnne Crough, sums it up best: “I have witnessed a level of dedication and love for community in Celia that is not only remarkable, but also treasured by all who meet her.” —ANNE CAFFEE Kushner told her team if they scored she’d do cartwheels across the field. www.mtlebanon.org 33 Christopher Rolinson BY M.A. JACKSON Q Q&A THE MANAGERS MT. LEBANON CELEBRATES 75 YEARS AS A COUNCIL-MANAGER GOVERNMENT, AND, AS ITS FORMER MANAGERS SAY, IT’S STILL THE BEST WAY M t. Lebanon provides services residents 1908 in Staunton, Va., is popular—more than 4,000 municipalities often take for granted—trash collection, use it, including cities in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom leaf pickup, snow removal, building and Chile. Originally, most managers were civil engineers. Today inspection, road maintenance and managers usually have degrees in public administration, political forestry. And let’s not forget the swim- science or business. ming pool, tennis courts, July 4 fireworks Mt. Lebanon was established in 1912 with five commissioners, a in the park, Mt. Lebanon magazine, Infoline and Web site. And solicitor, a road supervisor, an engineer and a board of health. In when you need help, a firefighter, police officer or paramedic arrives within minutes. 1928, Mt. Lebanon became the first town in Pennsylvania to adopt a council-manager government. Public meeting minutes do not These things happen in large part because of the municipal man- indicate why commissioners decided to pass Ordinance 696, “cre- ager, who makes sure things run smoothly 24 hours a day, seven ating the office of township manager in and for said township.” But days a week. the vote was unanimous, and Elijha Gray, the township’s building This year, Mt. Lebanon celebrates 75 years as a council-manager inspector, was appointed manager. His salary: $3,600 a year. government—a type of governing body that operates with an The ordinance set 12 duties for the manager, including oversee- elected council or “board of commissioners,” as we call it, and an ing the sewer systems; serving as building inspector; noting which appointed manager who reports to the commission (as opposed street lights were burned out; purchasing equipment and supplies; to a mayor-council government, which is headed by an elected supervising municipal employees and “periodically examine[ing] all official). Under the council-manager form, elected officials create fire hydrants, fire-fighting machinery, trucks, apparatus and equip- policy for the town, and a manager runs it on a day-to-day basis, ment.” Today, the manager hires people to perform most of these translating the commission’s policies into action. The manager is duties. responsible for hiring and supervising employees, making sure Since 1928, Mt. Lebanon has had 13 managers. To mark Mt. services are delivered, preparing and administering the budget, Lebanon’s 75th year under the council-manager system, we asked soliciting bids from contractors and service providers, monitoring the six who are still living to discuss the system, and to share a few citizen complaints and recommending various initiatives. Mt. Lebanon memories. Jim Cain, who served from 1983 to 1990, The council-manager form of government, first implemented in declined to participate. 34 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 Opposite page: The five-member elected commission sets policy that Manager Steve Feller, second from left, implements on a day-to-day basis. The municipal staff reports to Feller. At right: Former manager David Rowlands, pictured about 1950, visited Mt. Lebanon last year and shared good memories of his years here. Both his son and grandson are city managers. THE MANAGERS Being a manager runs in the Rowlands family—Rowlands’ son, David D. Rowlands, is city manager of Chula Vista, Calif., and his grandson, David W. Rowlands, man- ages Clayton, Ohio. Rowlands, who resides in Tacoma, Wash., served as Mt. Lebanon manager from January 1949 to June 1952. He went on to serve as planning director and assistant city manag- er for Wichita, Kan., and as city manager in Eau Claire, Wis.; Tacoma, Wash. and Huntington Beach, Calif. DAVID D. ROWLANDS, 88. JOHN PAULUS, 79. Paulus, now retired and living in Aiken, S.C., started in Mt. Lebanon as an intern in January 1949. He became assistant manager in 1950 and manager in 1954. In 1960, he left to take the city manager position in Rye, N.Y., where he served 10 years. From 1970 to 1981, he was the village manager in Ridgewood, N.J. He has also been the administrator of the Rossmoor, N.J., community association. H. EDWARD WESEMANN, 57. Wesemann came to Mt. Lebanon in 1973 as assistant manager and was appointed manager when Bob Finley (now deceased) left in 1976. Wesemann, who left Mt. Lebanon in 1982, now lives in Savannah, Ga., where he is a law firm management consultant. Before coming to Mt. Lebanon, Wesemann was the assistant city manager of Janesville, Wis., and the personnel director of Oak Park, Ill. WILMER BALDWIN, 66. Baldwin was Wilkinsburg assistant manag- er from 1959-64; Wilkins Township manager from 1964-1987 and Mt. Lebanon assistant manager from 1987-1990. In 1990, he was promoted to the manager’s position, from which he retired in 2001. Feller, Mt. Lebanon’s current manager, previ- ously was an executive with the Port of Baltimore for six years and city administrator in Hagerstown, Md., for seven years. He was a graduate intern with Mt. Lebanon from 1978 to 1979 and Mt. ➤ Lebanon’s assistant manager from 1982 to 1987. STEVE FELLER, 46. Christopher Rolinson Early on, most municipal managers were engineers with expertise in bridges, roads and water systems. Today, a manager’s knowledge needs to extend beyond infrastructure. Mt. Lebanon Manager Steve Feller holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kansas. ➤ THE QUESTIONS WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE COUNCIL-MANAGER GOVERNMENT? It is the most effective, responsive form of local government, since you have a professionally trained manager appoint- ed by the city council, and the manager serves at the pleasure of the council. The city manager is comparable to the super- intendent of schools, since both are appointed by elected officials. ROWLANDS WESEMANN It is hard for me to imagine a reasonable argument in support of having an organization as complex as a large municipal- ity run by an elected official. Elected officials are important in determining the level of services offered and the cost of those services to the taxpayers. But when it comes to the technical details of pro- viding the services, it makes sense to rely on a professional. FELLER I believe the evidence is clear that this form of local gov- ernment works best—especially in small- and medium-sized com- munities. Over the years, Mt. Lebanon has been especially well- served by some outstanding and nationally recognized municipal 36 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 managers who were skilled at working with elected officials, employees and the community. Dave Rowlands, John Paulus and Bob Finley all served on the national executive board of ICMA, which is the professional association for city managers. HOW DOES MT. LEBANON COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES WHERE YOU HAVE WORKED OR LIVED? I cherish my memories of Mt. Lebanon. The com- missioners were a supportive, dedicated and intelligent group of individuals. I also have warm memories of working with a fine staff and the citizens of the community. In particular, I want to pay trib- ute to Samuel Schreiner, township solicitor during my tenure, who played a fundamental role in the establishment of Mt. Lebanon in 1912. He was most helpful to me in every respect. PAULUS All three municipalities I served were and are excellent places to work and live. Mt. Lebanon was my home community—an unusual situation for a municipal manager. I thought highly of the community when I was growing up, and that attitude has continued. WESEMANN My family and I loved Mt. Lebanon. We continued to live there for five years after I left the manager position. When I accepted a job in Cleveland, my family wanted to stay in Mt. Lebanon, and I actually commuted for nine months. ROWLANDS years in local government, 11 as Mt. Lebanon’s manager. Middle: Baldwin took exceptional pride in seeing Mt. Lebanon’s new Bill Metzger Top: Manager Wilmer Baldwin, far left, retired in 2001 after more than 40 public library from groundbreaking to ribbon-cutting. Bottom: Baldwin also helped get Mt. Lebanon’s long-awaited public safety building off the drawing board and into the construction phase. He and current manager Steve Feller, far right, who is seeing the project to conclusion, will share in the celebration when the fire and police departments move to their new, spacious quarters in early fall. I know of no other community that has a higher quality of life than Mt. Lebanon. Mt. Lebanon residents have so many talents, and they are willing to use their talents to volunteer their time to improve the community. There is a great “sense of community” in Mt. Lebanon. FELLER During the 1930s, subdivisions were created in Mt. Lebanon, and the town installed many improvements for an infra- structure of water lines, sewers, roads, curbs, etc. However, during the Depression and the war years, the owners of these properties could not pay the taxes. Thus liens were put against the properties and the properties could not be developed until these encumbrances were removed. During my tenure, Mt. Lebanon took the necessary action to free the properties of the liens, which resulted in the devel- opment and construction of new homes. This led, of course, to an increase in property tax returns and Mt. Lebanon was able to then grow and prosper with better funding resources available. ROWLANDS Eric Kluth WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST ISSUE YOU FACED? WESEMANN The first is the public works department strike in the dead of winter, when all of the administrative staff and some citizen volunteers took over ice and snow control. We enjoyed incredible support from the community, and eventually the strike was settled in a manner that preserved some very important management authority. The second is the design, bond issue and construction of the ice rink. It was the largest project the municipality had ever undertaken and was more than a little controversial. It turned out beyond my wildest expectations. The third is the widening of Cochran Road. We had state funding to widen the road from Washington to Greentree roads, and it clearly would have alleviated a lot of the community’s traffic problems. The commission was tied two to two on the issue, and Commissioner Bert Lamport spent hours talking with citizens and anguishing over the issue. He ended up voting against the widening and, although I think he was wrong, I had immense respect for the care with which he made the decision. Christopher Rolinson PAULUS A basic belief of mine is that governments should avoid debt and still accomplish projects needed and desired by the com- munity. I persisted with this, budget by budget, so that when I left, the debt was much lower than when I started, and still, needed cap- ital expenditures where made. ➤ www.mtlebanon.org 37 ➤ Constructing capital improve- ments, the library expansion, the public safety building and street reconstruc- tion...I would not change my approach. BALDWIN WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH AS MANAGER, BUT COULDN’T? ROWLANDS I was disappointed that we could not build sidewalks more extensively in the residential areas. Many of the property own- ers resisted this kind of improvement because they had extended their lawns and shrubbery onto what was actually the municipal right of way. Perhaps this situation has been corrected. I would have loved to move the community away from its dependence on property taxes and more toward the earned income tax. Mt. Lebanon is blessed by many longterm residents, but the property taxes to support the level of services (and schools) the community wants are a huge burden to older residents who benefit the least from those services. Unfortunately there was very little support for the concept. WESEMANN BALDWIN To see the public safety building completed despite delays caused by off-and-on lack of official support. WHAT DID YOU LEARN HERE THAT YOU APPLIED IN ANOTHER JOB—OR IN LIFE? ROWLANDS I learned to interact with three groups: the commis- sion, the department heads and other employees, and, of course, with the general public. These are the groups you must work close- ly with in any city, if you are to be an effective city manager. PAULUS I started in Mt. Lebanon directly from graduate school— I knew theory and facts, but had not any experience. Mt. Lebanon afforded me the opportunity to work for one of the best municipal managers—David Rowlands—where I learned to work with coun- cil persons, staff and the public. Being a municipal manager is an incredible responsibility. It is akin to being the CEO of a company with mil- lions of dollars in sales and hundreds of employees. But everything you do every day affects the lives of your shareholders. It teaches management skill like no other job. WESEMANN BALDWIN Patience…you need to listen to your staff. Ed Wesemann compares being a municipal manger to being a CEO of a major corporation and citizens to shareholders—and he should know, since he left municipal management for the business sector. One accomplishment Wesemann takes great pride in is the creation of Mt. Lebanon magazine.The first issue, right, debuted in January 1981. WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENT DO YOU TAKE THE MOST PRIDE IN? ROWLANDS Mt. Lebanon was extremely active in cooperating with the other members of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority. Through tremendous community coordination, the authority was able to begin the process of constructing sewage treatment plants to eliminate the raw sewage that until this point was going directly into the rivers. PAULUS I left Mt. Lebanon, I believe, with a good reputation, in good financial con- dition, with an able staff and ready for my successor. WESEMANN The creation of Mt. Lebanon magazine. Its predecessor, a newsletter called “The View,” was a joint publication of the municipality and the schools. In a budget-cutting action, the school district eliminated its support, so if we wanted to continue the publica- tion we would have to make it largely self supporting. Getting coverage in the Pittsburgh newspapers was diffi- cult, and we needed some means of communicating with our citizens. So (former public information officer) Virginia Phillips and I cooked up Mt. Lebanon magazine. I remem- ber Norman Green, then school superintendent, telling me that I was either nuts or looking to get fired. The first thing we did was hire Cynthia Gissin to sell advertising. At that time, the concept of a municipality selling advertising in a magazine was unheard of, and the solicitor at that time, Ed Klett, had to research if it was even legal. It’s still amazing that the commission was sufficiently far-sighted to allow us to actu- ally create the magazine. Now there are lots of municipal magazines around the country. The other accomplishment is having had the honor to bring a number of wonderful people into municipal management. Hiring (now assistant manager) Marcia Taylor as finance director and a young intern named Steve Feller are two examples. BALDWIN The construction of the new public library and getting the new public safety building approved. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW MUNICIPAL MANAGER? ROWLANDS I have three pieces of advice: First, you never receive a “complaint” from the public; it is a “service request.” Second, always tell the truth and you never have to remember what you said. Third, consider yourself an ombudsman, willing to problem-solve under any circumstance. Fourth, you have to genuinely enjoy the challenge of meeting and working with all types of people. PAULUS Work well with people, particularly commissioners, but also protect the basic principles of the council-manager plan. WESEMANN Don’t worry so much about the technical details that you lose contact with the citizens. A lot of the problems go away when you communicate face to face. BALDWIN In general—learn to be a jack of all trades; specifically— listen to all sides of an issue. FELLER I hope that there won’t be a new municipal manager for many, many years. I love my job! WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? ROWLANDS I think it is pretty memorable to have [widened one side of Washington Road by moving] an entire city block 10 to 12 feet on rollers, while the commercial establishments continued able to conduct business. PAULUS The night I was told I would be the next township manager, an event I had not anticipated. WESEMANN We had a huge ice storm that brought down power lines all over town, and just about everyone lost electricity. Many people didn’t have heat. We had an emergency plan to move house-bound senior citizens to an old civil defense facility in the high school. The police, fire and public works departments did a great job of shuttling people to the school, but when they arrived, the custodian hadn’t gotten the word from the superintendent and wouldn’t let us in. The fire department had to break in. A couple of days later, the school district sent me a bill for the damage. I think they were kidding…anyway, I never paid it. Another involved a new program that Dave Varrelman, then police chief, had created to reduce speeding on Cedar Boulevard. Since the police were prohibited by state law from using radar, the only method for speed control was to clock a car for at least a quar- ter mile by following it. Unfortunately, any half-way alert driver would see the police car behind them. So Dave cut a deal with Eddie Walker, the owner of the Pontiac dealership in town, to provide us with a rotating unmarked used car. The only person who knew about this in advance besides the police and a couple of commis- sioners was my wife. On the first day of the program, Dave bound- ed into my office to announce that our unmarked car had written the first speeding ticket in Mt. Lebanon…to my wife. BALDWIN The March 1993 blizzard and the April 2000 shooting [by Richard Baumhammers] and how well the staff acted in those very different situations. FELLER The public works strike in 1979. The experience had a big influence on my approach to management and employee relations. In a perverse way, the strike had a positive effect, in that it brought the management team together during a crisis. But the strike also resulted in severe labor issues and bad feelings that took many years to fully resolve. www.mtlebanon.org 39 STORY AND PHOTOS BY CAROLE TAKACH Looking rosy: The author, husband Jim, and pooch Heartlight in their garden. Opposite page: Takach’s roses in the snow. Everything’s Coming Up Roses WELL, NOT EVERYTHING, BUT, THERE ARE GARDENS IN LOCAL LANDSCAPES WITH THE BLOSSOMING BEAUTIES To have roses in the garden, one must have roses in the heart. — 19TH-CENTURY GARDENER f there’s one flower that’s weathered landscape changes through the ages, it’s the rose. Who remembers how it dropped from the prized spot in Grandma’s garden to become rather a wallflower during the all-green ‘50s and ‘60s? But, this eternal symbol of love and beauty never com- pletely fell from favor. Whatever the horticultural climate, there’s always been a place for the rose. Perhaps a determined nurseryman saved space for “Betty Prior” among arborvitae, or one maverick gardener tucked “Ice- berg” by the back door. In spring, the earthy resurgence comforts rosarians. There’s some- thing timeless about taking a box with scant branches, labeled “Europeana,” and planting with TLC. The following wait proves worthwhile, as pale green leaves sprout and tiny buds take shape. The blossoms, finally breaking through, beautify prom corsages and bridal bouquets. But for many, it’s enough that they nod from the breakfast table. Rosarians know few greater rewards! Chuck Beck, manager of Sestili’s Nursery, Oakland, says, “Roses I 40 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 are very good—always. People continually want the classic ‘Peace’ tea rose and the ‘New Dawn’ climber, despite trends.” THE CHANGING ROSESCAPE But there are trends. “Now, David Austin English, cottage and ground types (of roses) encourage different landscape uses. People put them in front of their homes to bloom all season and comple- ment annuals and perennials. It all ties in with making property appealing,” Beck says. Along the same line, the borders of Jim Jenkins’ Garden Center on Painters Run Road resemble a carpet of roses in summer. That’s no coincidence, since he features the low-growing, shrubby new “Flower Carpet” rose. “People love them!” he says, of the roses, which come in five vari- eties and require less attention than beautiful but high-maintenance teas. “It’s definitely a trend,” says Jenkins. “They resist black spot and other diseases and require less cutting care.” Resistance to pests is a big plus. Not only does it save time, but it reduces the need for chemicals, helping to relieve health and environ- mental concerns. Gerard Bellini, of Bellini Brothers’ Nursery, thinks the busy lifestyles of baby boomers promote roses that are more carefree than the tradi- tional tea roses. Health consciousness also plays a role: he suggests: “Boomers are into earth-safe things.” Affirming the growing popularity of shrub roses like “The Fairy,” is Frank Palombo, South Hills Nurseries, Washington Road. He agrees interest in fussier teas has decreased: “They take work and chemicals.” FLOWERY ABOUT ROSES Mt. Lebanon homes have always held special spots for flowers— many feature foundation rhodos and azaleas during the all-green period. So, it’s not surprising that local landscapes reflect updated rose uses, too. A drive around town reveals a wide variety of shrub roses covering terraces, ground types circling planters and tree roses overlooking annual beds. Residents can get “flowery” about the roses—the plea- sure of catching a glimpse of one from a window or the delight of bringing a few inside to light a room. But, before you can enjoy the roses, you have to get them bloom- ing. When it comes to this goal, aesthetics are secondary to a strong back and sturdy knees. Let’s limit the subject to container-grown floribunda, shrub or David Austin English type roses. PRESCRIPTION FOR PERFECTION Here are a few pointers for the beginning rose gardener: Choose your spot carefully, one that will provide a minimum of six hours sunlight daily, ample air circulation, good soil and good drainage. As a legendary nurseryman, Elton Hickman of Hickman’s Gardens once told an enthusiastic-but-clueless young couple, “If you start gardening with good, loose soil, your troubles are pretty much over.” Sound too simple for a specialty whose aficionados debate the degree of pruning angle? Don’t be intimidated! Mix the soil with compost. While formulas vary, peat moss/ Michigan peat, bolstered with superphosphate/bone meal, works well. Prepare the entire plot. For a single bush, dig a hole as deep as the container and nearly twice as wide. Place the bush in the ground and cover its roots with the loose soil mixture. Water it, then fill the hole with more soil. Tap down gently but solidly. Add a layer of organic mulch, and then re-water without letting it get mushy. MAINTAIN FAITHFULLY —keeping plots debris-free, watering well (morning’s best) and fertilizing with balanced rose food. REMOVE DEAD WOOD , letting fresh and new grow naturally, while trimming the rosebush within its basic shape. DO ROUTINE TRIMMING/CLEANUP as the growing season reach- es its inevitable end (and, you may be surprised by blooms until Christmas) and hibernation approaches. At that point, shrubby roses should be “blanketed” by “hilling up” fresh soil/compost around the roots. (Never take soil from plant base.) RELAX AND ENJOY the winter, perusing catalogs and making plans. THOSE PESKY PESTS TLC should produce a healthy bush, minimizing pests and the thorny subject of herbicides. If problems occur, try treating them organically. Grandma’s remedies do work: ENCOURAGE BUG-MUNCHING BIRDS with feeders, fountains and freshly watered lawns. DETER BLACKSPOT by not watering at night. Disease thrives on ➤ www.mtlebanon.org 41 ➤ wet leaves. Remove any “sick” foliage and destroy prunings. SPRAY PLANTS NATURALLY , saturating leaves with two tablespoons biodegradable liquid detergent/gallon water to thwart insects. AVOID OVERKILL with spot applications, even if you feel the need to treat roses chem- ically. Select the mildest product possible, following the package instructions. Take note of any dangers posed to children, pets or weak immune systems. Wash up and change your clothing afterwards. Bushes that demand heavy treatment may raise enough health issues to suggest hardier replacements. HOW DOES YOUR ROSE GARDEN GROW? Above: Shrub roses such as the “Fairy” are more carefree than traditional tea roses. Top right: The Glickerts had to match the right variety of rose to the shady spot chosen by a former owner. Passersby honk to scare away nibbling deer. 42 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 Like magic, if you do your homework and maintenance, say local rosarians. Take Roger and Cynthia Glickert’s Ridgeview rose garden, in a spot chosen by a long-ago owner. During 60-odd years, its place in the sun became shadowed by an expanding tree. Outweighing shade is always tough. But, Roger, a chemical engineer, dug in, replac- ing stragglers with David Austin types and adding 4-inches of mushroom manure, plus shredded hardwood bark to the spring soil. A diet of fish emulsion/granular rose food keeps nutrients coming. Even their older daughter, Caroline, 5, volunteers dur- ing her playtime to help soak the roses. With that accomplished, deer began nibbling at the progress. The Glickerts have been surprised that passing motorists are rose advocates who honk their horns to distract the snackers. Viewing abundant bloom, one could ask if the magic worked or work made magic? Perhaps, roses were just created as exceptions to rules. CAST IN IRON Iron-clad success—that’s what Clyde Tevis and his wife, Jo Ann, have with their atypi- cal rose garden. Clyde combines his former career as an iron worker with a soft spot for gardening. “Ornamental iron makes a per- fect trellis for climbers,” he says. Clyde also gave the landscape architectural support—re-facing the steps and sidewalks with stone, adding walls and a gravel path, installing a pond and birdbath. “Ground work helped use every inch of space,” he says. This seems understated to those who watch seasons unfold at the Arden-Marlin corner. Jo Ann describes her specialty as trim- ming, and Clyde’s as heavy digging. He admires her dried bouquet arrangements. Undoubtedly, their mutual hobby puts a rosy glow on life. FAMILY AFFAIR Roses add whimsy to Paul and Kathy McGrath’s stone tudor on Navahoe Drive. Simplicity and Flower Carpet roses set off the timbered entrance flanked by sculpted evergreens. It looks picture-perfect, but Kathy calls her gardens a work-in-progress: “We experiment to find the right roses. I even pick up Giant Eagle mini-varieties for indoors, and later plant them outside.” The entire McGrath family shares land- scape care, with Ryan, 13, mowing the lawn and Kaitlyn, 11, tending the annuals. Although Paul’s joking advice is, “Get a gar- dener!” he patiently nurtures sick plants. Kathy’s major tip? Pack the rose bases with straw mulch for winter. Considering the group effort, great results are hardly a surprise. SOLD—TO THE ROSARIAN The bonus was roses when Joan Romine fell in love with her Midway Drive home. After 25 years in New York City, she sought a “kinder, gentler” area. Childhood memories recalled a pleasant interlude, living in Mt. Lebanon. Her latter- day visit uncovered the house in her head, as the realtor arrived at an “English cottage.” “I loved the climbing roses and magnolia. Then I saw a crimson-carpeted wood stair- case and burst into tears,” she says. “The realtor had to convince me to see the whole house before buying it.” Passing infatuation? No way. “I’ve con- nected more with this house in a few months than my New Jersey home, after 25 years!” Fostering the bonding is the way New Dawn adorns the entry and red climber covers the sunny side. Will the landscape be maintained? In a New York minute! “I just hope I can live up to it!” comments Romine. The outlook couldn’t be rosier. MIRACLE GROWER “You can’t have too many roses” is my motto, testing my husband, Jim’s, patience. Thankfully, he lives with this excess. Our front yard features a Fairy rose bank and Flower Carpet accents. New Dawn climber enhances the back patio. But, all play backup to a bed of floribunda-David Austin types. Think I’m finished? A red-white climber is so old, its name fades from memory. Everything works for me, but I feel for the man handling the planting. Actually, Jim insists my enthusiasm pleases him, too. Roses and marriage partners tend to grow on you. Seriously, roses have been therapeu- tic for us. After a 1997 stroke, I cried because I couldn’t work in the garden. Well-intend- ed therapists suggested I’d learn to love a windowbox. If only my determination had stood up to spring pruning. But I had to take a window seat. Then, baby steps let me work from chair at garden’s edge. Now, I stretch to trim Alfred de Dumas, and bend over Fair Bianca. I’ve even wrestled with red climber, but spare medics the news. Another minor miracle: in 25 years of rose-growing, we’ve never treated chemical- ly. “They” say it can’t be done, but “they” also said I’d learn to like philodendron. Top left: The climbing roses and magnolia made former New Yorker Joan Romine feel as if she had purchased an English cottage. Above: They said it couldn’t be done, but in 25 years, the Takaches have never treated their roses chemically. The garden has been thera- peutic for Carole, who had a stroke in 1997. www.mtlebanon.org 43 BY RAE ANN URICK PHOTOS BY ERIN LABELLE HERe’s to Mothers …in-law LOVING LOCAL PAIRS BUCK THE STEREOTYPE T he world reveres mothers. Who doesn’t respect and marvel at the selfless life and work of Mother Teresa? Proudly, we refer to the colossal beauty surrounding us as “Mother Nature.” Heck, we’ve even created a holiday in Mom’s name— Mother’s Day, of course. But, does this admira- tion of mothers extend to mothers-in-law? “It’s established through all cultures that mothers-in-law are seen negatively,” admits Laurie Rozaki, author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Dealing With In-Laws.” Folklore about meddling, judg- mental mothers-in-law (MILs) has spurred jokes and launched many a comedian’s career. In reality, though, the state of this through-marriage union is no laughing matter. Findings from an Iowa State University study suggest that the quality of the relation- ship with the mother-in-law can actually affect the success or failure of a marriage. Both daughters-in-law and sons-in-law may experience feelings of comfort and/or anxiety due to their MILs’ actions. But research overwhelmingly indicates that the daughter/mother-in-law relation- ship causes the most strain. The most comprehensive study to date, Dr. E. Duval’s “In-Laws: Pro and Con,” concluded that nearly 90 percent of complaints about MILs come from daughters-in-law (DILs). What is more, a whopping 93 percent of these DILs report- ed “problems” with their husbands’ moms. OK, so they have a few problems. But, do DILs still like their dear old moms-in-law? A recent poll from a popular Internet site, “The Daughters-In-Law Help Page,” www.geocities.com/daughtersinlaw, reports that 41 percent of married women actually dislike their MILs. That there’s a help page specific to the DIL/MIL relationship says something. 44 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 So, for some DILs—many perhaps destined to be mothers-in- law someday—the mere mention of the words “mother-in-law” conjures up less than kindred spirits. As far as Mother’s Day or any other holiday is concerned, 62 percent of surveyed DILs have avoid- ed such celebrations because of their MILs. Ouch! By its precarious nature, this in-law relationship can easily spin tire on a dirt road. “Much of this friction occurs because the daughter- in-law is sometimes viewed as usurping the role of her husband’s mother,” Rozaki writes. “Some mothers-in-law resist the change in their role in stereotypical fashion, by being controlling, interfering and critical,” she continues. Daughters-in-law may shun these and any other advances, putting forth their own assortment of bad behaviors. The road can get quite muddy. Since, by law, these in-laws are limbs on the family tree, daugh- ters- and mothers-in-law would live more happily ever after by get- ting along—holiday or not. So what’s the secret to this serenity? Talk to some area in-laws who will be sipping mimosas together on Mother’s Day. They’ll tell you about the random acts of kindness and caring that cemented the foundation of their strong daugh- ter/mother-in-law relationships. These special, “where-the-rubber- meets-the-road” moments inevitably catapulted the relationships to a higher, more mutually respectful level. “Since Suzy [mother-in-law] was always so warm and caring, we got along even before marriage,” Jen Broadhurst, married with in-laws for almost eight years, speaks to this point. “But when she dropped every- thing, including an important meeting, to help me when my child had an allergic reaction, once again, I was amazed.” Jen explains: “When I called, she didn’t tell me she had a meeting. She just said she’d be there. Suzy made me feel that we [my children and I] come first—no matter how busy she is.” This Racine Avenue mother of two admits that these selfless deeds Donna Lund treasures the window decoration her daughter-in-law, Michelle, gave her— a chain of nine mittens symbolizing the nine grandchildren. Jennifer Broadhurst appreciates her mother-in- law, Suzy’s, encouragement and the fact that Suzy, who has a big job and an active social life, puts family first, no matter how busy she is. ➤ make it easy for her admiration to grow. “It’s so easy for me to get along with Suzy,” she beams. “When I’m at my worst, she’s there, and I know it.” Jen is eager to give another for-instance: “I had no idea what I was doing when I had my first child. Whenever I would be having a hard time with things, Suzy would show up at my door. She gave me good advice, encouraged me and told me that I was doing a great job— she said I was a good mom! “You have no idea how helpful it was, hear- ing my mother-in-law telling me that I was a good mom.” Jen’s mother-in-law, Suzy Broadhurst, of Squirrel Hill, shares a last name and the senti- ment: “Jen’s a great person and we [the fami- ly] got along with her immediately. I love spending time with her.” Suzy remembers a moment that she says ele- vated the relationship: “Jen asked me to help her look for her wedding dress. She cared 46 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 about what I thought—that was special to me.” No doubt, these in-laws are in-sync. Admitting that she likes to feel needed, Suzy loves when her daughter-in-law asks for help and advice. Similarly, Jen admits that she appreciates how her mother-in-law consis- tently acknowledges and understands her. Famous 20th-century psychiatrist Abraham Maslow might provide some—eh-hem—in- sight on the subject. According to Maslow’s theory of human motivation, such reciprocal deeds help to satisfy one another’s basic social need, which includes a cluster of niceties like affection, belonging, acceptance and friend- ship. It’s not rocket science, and it’s no wonder these two Broadhurst women will be spend- ing Mother’s Day together. While on the subject of niceties, Michelle Lund, of Ella Street, feels the urge to speak out. “My mother-in-law doesn’t do anything unless it’s nice,” she says and laughs. “I can’t think of a time in our [my husband and I] 14 years together that I didn’t feel included and wel- comed by my mother-in-law.” Another best case scenario, huh Maslow? “What can I say? I have the best mother-in- law,” Michelle boasts. And she’ll prove it. “Donna [mother-in-law] always made me feel included and special,” she begins. “When Erik [husband] and I first started dating, she suggested that all of the parents meet for din- ner to get to know one another. And before we were married, she would invite me over for dinner even when she knew Erik couldn’t make it.” Michelle’s on a roll. “The Thursday before our Saturday wedding, Donna threw a special luncheon for me, my mom, the grandmas, my sister, and my sisters-in-laws-to-be—it was out of the ordinary and really thoughtful.” Look out, there’s no stopping this freight train. “Donna hired a trumpeter to play music dur- ing our ceremony. I look back and realize how amazing the music was and how this made the ceremony so much more special. I think she knew me enough to realize how much I would like it.” Jealous yet? After hearing the reciprocal feel- ings mother-in-law Donna Lund, of Upper St. Clair, holds for Michelle, you just might be. “Shelley [Michelle] and I have gotten along since day one,” she says matter-of-factly. “Seeing Michelle, my son and our ninth grandchild, Ben, together, cements my strong feelings for her as a daughter-in-law; Ben is Stacey Franklin thinks her mother- in-law, Marty, knew Stacey and her husband, David, would be together from the very first date. They’re a lot alike, the women say. They enjoy shopping, golfing and just being together. part of us.” Donna adds, “because she knows how much we love the grandchildren, Michelle bought us a window decoration of nine mittens chained together. Each mitten represents one of our nine grandchildren. Michelle’s quite thoughtful.” Who says opposites attract? Not two-time mom-in-law, Marty Franklin, of Kenforest Drive. Proclaiming that she and her daughter- in-law, Stacey, of Salem Drive, get along famously, she quips, “I think that we’re a lot alike. We both like to shop—we like the same clothes—and we both like to golf. We enjoy doing these things together, just she and I.” But what really makes Marty adore her daughter-in-law is the way Stacey treats her son. “She’s maybe too good to him,” she says laughing. The conversation then turns to a more serious note: “Before they were married, a drunk driver hit my son and he was serious- ly injured. Lots of his friends came to visit to show their support—once or twice. But Stacey was amazing; she stopped to see him every single day until he recovered. This struck me because they were still just friends.” Marty tops off her story with, “that’s just the way she is—capable, kind and smart.” Likewise, Stacey, in-lawed for about 10 years, feels strongly about Marty, asserting that she’s no run-of-the-mill MIL. “We’re very close—my mother-in-law makes it easy. Since I can remember, Marty made sure that I was involved with the family and included in spe- cial events.” This gratified DIL wraps up her explana- tion using a tone that almost begs, “Can you believe it?” She says, “right after our [husband and I] first, real date, Marty asked if I would help with the planning of my future sister-in- law’s wedding. I felt honored and wanted to help. I think she knew after the first date that we were going to be together. Obviously, she was all for the relationship working.” So far, these in-laws definitely defy the “out- law” stereotypes. Those who enjoy such suc- cessful relationships confess that their beloved in-laws don’t exhibit the unwelcome behav- iors typical of the typecasts. Jennifer Wieczenski, of Jefferson Drive, claims that her mother-in-law is completely opposite from the joked-about stereotype: “My mother-in- law doesn’t interfere in our life. She’s not demanding nor overbearing.” Citing examples, Jennifer, in-lawed for about seven years, says, “She helped me plan our wedding without being intrusive. And, she never butts in and tells me how to raise our little girl.” Thrilled with her MIL’s open, trusting attitude, Jennifer contin- ues to brag about her in-line in- law. “Sue [mother-in-law] helps when we need her. She under- stands when we can’t make it [to in-laws’ house] for every holiday. She’s so considerate.” It seems that Sue’s low-main- tenance requirements are matched by high-maintenance acts of kindness. Jennifer is more than happy to elaborate about one of these thoughtful deeds: “It was the first Christmas after we were mar- ried. Everyone was opening their gifts. When I opened my gift from my mother-in-law, I was touched. I had received the same gift that Sue’s daughters got from her. I took this as her way of show- ing me that she felt that I was like one of her daughters.” Confessing to this mind-set, mother-in-law Sue Wieczenski, of Homestead, reveals that her two daughters and daughter-in-law “remind me of sisters.” Speaking with a calm- ness that shows her ease with Jennifer, Sue adds, “Jennifer’s close with my daughters. She likes being with my family. She’s a good mom and a good person—she impresses me.” Who’s your No. 1 fan, Jennifer? Jennifer and Sue understand the importance of family, whether the bond is by blood or not. They’re not alone. Jan Huzzard, Roycroft Drive resident and proud mother-in-law, advises, “Before you get into an in-law relationship, make sure that you are willing to treat this per- son like an actual family member.” And that she does, claims daughter-in-law Camille Huzzard. Married for eight years, this North Meadowcroft mom-of-one says, “The day we were married, I asked Jan what I should call her. The words weren’t out of my mouth and she answered, ‘of course—Mom.’ She didn’t bat an eye.” At that point, Camille acknowledges that her comfort level rose and ➤ www.mtlebanon.org 47 Camille Huzzard has felt like a part of her husband, Tom’s, family ever since her mother- in-law, Jan, said “Call me Mom,” without skipping a beat. A mother of two sons, Jan buys Camille cards that say “Daughter,” not “Daughter-in-law.” ➤ that, indeed, she felt like part of the family. Their relationship continued to flourish. “When we first moved to Pittsburgh after we married, we had to stay at my in-laws’ home until we found a home of our own,” Camille says. “The first thing Tom [husband] and I saw when we walked into the guestroom was an envelope on the dresser. Inside was a beautiful card; it read, ‘Welcome to our home.’ Also inside were two tickets to ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’ Jan knew that I had never seen this and wanted to—I really felt welcomed.” Because of countless nurturing, mother- like acts directed her way, Camille thinks her MIL considers her like a daughter. Offering proof, Camille reveals, “She buys me greeting cards that address ‘daughter’—not ‘daughter- in-law.’” Well, Camille’s right; Jan, mother of two sons, does think of Camille as a daughter. With obvious emotion, Jan speaks dearly of her only daughter-in-law: “She’s a wonderful mother to my granddaughter. She’s a great 48 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 wife to my son.” Jan’s voice breaks up a bit and she continues, “I always felt as though I would make a strong attempt to get along with a daughter-in-law. I trust my son’s judgment. I don’t want to be typical.” Besides, she main- tains, “if you were to make an outline describ- ing what a good daughter-in-law is, it would be Camille. She’s such a lady and very special.” Psst. Hey you. Yeah, you. Want to beat the odds and create a harmonious daughter/ mother-in-law relationship this Mother’s Day? Then heed these ladies’ bottom-line, words of advice and you’ll be toasting together, too: DILs, Whether you call you MIL “mom,” “mother,” “Mumsy,” “Bubba” (author’s note: I did not make this up), or by her first name, just call her. Show your mother-in-law that you care about what she has to say. MILs, trust your sons’ judgment. Think of it this way: Your daughter-in-law must be a special woman—your beloved boy married her for good reason. advice from the pros • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Appreciate what your in-law offers. Ask for help and advice. Forgo any preconceived notions or expectations about in-laws. Accept that she’s not going to replace or be like your own mother/daughter; don’t make direct comparisons. Feel that it’s an honor to have a MIL/DIL. Call regularly. Spend a good deal of time together. Be yourself. Accept that there will be a few tense moments. Show respect. Remember that she is your son’s wife/husband’s mother. Remember that she is a unique person, with differing opinions and thoughts. Be sure that you’re willing to accept the other as an actual family member. From the beginning of the relationship, be open and welcoming. 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Not valid with any other offer or discount. For pick-up order of $25 or over. With coupon only. One coupon per order. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Expires 5/31/03 Not valid on holidays. Mark Pi’s China Gate Galleria 1500 Washington Rd. 412-341-8890 Fax 412-341-8806 Expires 5/31/03 Not valid on holidays. FREE MA LA STRING BEAN FREE GENERAL TSO’S CHICKEN For pick-up order of $20 or over. With coupon only. One coupon per order. Not valid with any other offer or discount. For pick-up order of $30 or over. With coupon only. One coupon per order. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Expires 5/31/03 Not valid on holidays. Expires 5/31/03 Not valid on holidays. www.mtlebanon.org 49 LAWRENCEVILLE STORY AND PHOTOS BY TRACY CERTO sidetreks STEPHEN FOSTER’S OLD HAUNT BECOMES A HAVEN FOR A NEW GENERATION OF ARTISTS Below: At the intersection of Penn and Butler at Doughboy Square is the Pennsylvania Bank Building housing Desmone & Associates Architects. If you ever visit this gorgeous office, check out the historic bank vaults below. Several other architect firms are beautifully housed in renovated buildings nearby. he answer: cheap rents. Great architecture. And a community supportive of the arts. The question: Why are so many artists, architects and arti- sans setting up shop in the diverse, eclectic and transitional Lawrenceville? (And where did the Lawrence part come from, anyway?) The transformation of this post-industrial neighborhood into a happening place for creative souls has gained momentum since 2000. That’s when the 16:62 Design Zone initiative was launched. Funded in part by the Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, the aim is to promote the more than 100 design-related businesses from the Strip District (hence, 16th Street) to the 62nd Street Bridge in Lawrenceville. That includes the global and hip Hot Haute Hot in the Strip to the edgy architecture and design firms in Lawrenceville. It also includes the Gilding Atelier with its gold leaf restoration and more mainstream businesses such as Roth Carpet. Such contrast abounds in this neighbor- hood, a blend of old and new, traditional and experimental. From the handsome home of Stephen Foster on Penn Avenue, now a private residence, to the impressive renovation of the Ice House Artists Studios on 43rd Street, there’s plenty to admire. One of the highlights (I’m dead serious) is the Allegheny Cemetery. Pass through the massive sandstone gatehouse off Penn Avenue and you are ushered into a whole other world, a veritable who’s who of notable dead Pittsburghers. If the stone cemetery furniture, excessively tall monu- ments, massive crypts, decorative urns and the beautiful park setting don’t captivate you, the historical roster of names will. There’s department store founder Joseph Horne, Negro League baseball great Josh Gibson—who batted .526 one season— Gen. John Neville and Lillian Russell, to name a few. Many Pittsburgh mayors are T buried here, including the first, Ebenezer Denny. One of the oldest cemeteries in the coun- try, the 300-acre tract has 15 miles of paved roadways, making it easy to explore. Or, take a tour. More than 124,000 souls are resting in peace there with 100 acres open for “future development” as they say. Let’s not ponder that one. After that, you might as well stay in the historic mode and target the handful of antique stores that have made Lawrenceville a stop for some. Owner Laura Bachman, mother of restoration pro Joedda Sampson, is much loved at her store, Twice Loved Antiques (6328 Butler). Check out her extensive collection, including antique din- nerware, then continue to the others, includ- ing Arsenal Antiques with its architectural artifacts and Swoon (4020 Butler) with vin- tage clothing and shabby chic goods. From there, plunge into the art world. Some artists, such as muralist Ron Dono- ghue at 208 Main St. require private ap- pointments. Others open their studios on an irregular basis, say Wednesday through Friday 11-3, but most are open on Saturdays. The Gallery on 43rd St. features art and crafts from many regional artists, while Europ’ Art at 4302 Butler specializes in contemporary European art. Studio K, at 4027 Butler St., recently featured Burton Morris. At COCA AKA Butler St. Gallery (3811), you can chill in the coffee lounge while you buy art and designer furniture. For a complete rundown, check out the Web site (www.1662designzone.com) or refer to the Design Zone brochure available at most stores. The red brick Ice House Artists Studios on 43rd (toward the Allegheny River) is home to artists as well as McCormick Architects (they designed the Mt. Lebanon Library) and the Squonk Opera with their collection of wild and wacky props. If you can talk your way in, it’s worth it. Most At left: Many Pittsburgh mayors—and a lot of other notable dead Pittsburghers—are buried in Allegheny Cemetery. 50 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 Top: How can you resist a store with this window front? At Jay Design on Butler Street, they make soap on the premises. Above: Regina Margherita Pizzeria imports everything from Naples, Italy. places are by appointment only, but fine metal artist Jan Loney at Metalieron on the lower level is usually there from 9 to 5 creat- ing her beautiful jewelry and sculptures. Call ahead just to be sure, and ask about her classes. 412-621-4682. Shopping in Lawrenceville is the antithesis of mall shopping: small stores with unex- pected items, many artsy and handcrafted, and service with a personal touch. Awakening of the Senses features photo- graphs, among other things Arsenal & Old Lace at 3611 Butler is a Heritage Lace show- case store with Victorian gift items. For fab flowers, orchids, topiary and candles, there’s the hot Blossoms & Wicks. And if you’re in the market for furniture fabric or reuphol- stery, T’s Upholstery comes highly recom- mended. When you need a break, head to Emma’s Art & Coffee Emporium for specialty cof- fees and, depending on the hour, breakfast, lunch or dinner. I opted for a healthy cus- tom-made veggie wrap. Boring, right? Wrong. It was delicious, light on the fonti- na cheese, heavy on the veggies and more like a quesadilla, with telltale grill marks. Could lure me back again. Besides, Emma’s is funky and quaint with impossibly high tin ceilings, eggplant-colored walls and com- fortable antique furniture. So inspiring I was tempted to write a poem. Stacks of maga- zines line a table and art, for sale, lines the walls. Like it? The artist’s studio is probably nearby to see more. This cross-promotion is one reason why artists are flocking here. I returned to Lawrenceville that night, with a hungry spouse and bottle of red, to try the new Regina Margherita Pizzeria, at 3801 Butler. True story: Owner Roberto Capruscio met Ron Molinaro, owner of Mt. Lebanon’s Il Pizzaiolo, in Naples, Italy. Ron invited Roberto to stay and work with him to learn English. He did, for three months, and then he opened his own place in Bellevue that gained a loyal following. Only in Pittsburgh. Il Pizzaiolo is one of my favorite restau- rants and Ron and Roberto are good buds, but if you’re in Lawrenceville, check out this special place. Everything—the fresh crushed tomatoes bursting with flavor, the buffalo cheese, the flour that makes up the thin del- icate crust, even the fine wood furniture—is imported from Naples. As for the pizza? “It is very, very authentic,” says the charming Roberto. The menu is limited—nine pizzas and two desserts—so don’t pass on the appetizer of the day. We feasted on eggplant with tomatoes, goat cheese and basil. Outstanding. They don’t take reservations, so head over early or be prepared to wait. You might be wondering, as we did, who this Lawrence dude was, anyway. Turns out the town was named after Captain James Lawrence, whose dying words in the War of 1812, “Don’t give up the ship” became the stuff of legends. In 1814, William Barclay Foster, father of Stephen Foster, mapped out the town in his honor. You might also wonder, as we did, about the many references to the term arsenal—a school, park, even a bowling alley and lace shop. That’s because the area was once home to a munitions factory—as well as a military post. Quirky history. Monumental tomb- stones. Cool coffeehouses. Plenty of reasons to explore this town in transition. Could take more than one trip. www.mtlebanon.org 51 BY MARY CARNEY Folk heroes And FAmous Clowns CHILDREN’S LIBRARY MURALS ARE GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN J ohnny Appleseed, Annie Oakley, Paul Bunyan, Joe Magarac and other American folk heroes are inspira- tional fictional characters forever locked in the pages of literary works. However, for many years, they were vis- ible, exciting and inspiring characters that greeted patrons daily at the community’s library. Mt. Lebanon residents and library patrons may remember that at one time the Mt. Lebanon Public Library housed floor to ceiling murals of American folk heroes and well-known clowns. Painted by Joe Servello, a talented and well-known artist and illustrator of chil- dren’s books, these extraordinary murals were admired for more than 20 years by both adults and children who used the stairway between the adult room to the children’s room and the entrance to the meet- ing room and held a special place in library history. During the past 10 years, memories of these murals have dimmed. Were it not for a chance meeting with the artist this past summer, these photos may have been forgotten. During the 1970s, Servello, already an established illustrator, fre- quently visited family in Mt. Lebanon during the summer months and spent time at the library to observe what young people were reading and how they reacted to his illustrations. Today, this affable and expressive artist reflects on that time and recalls thinking that “space leading to the library should be an atmosphere leading into the reading of books.” He said that while walking from the adult room to the children’s room, he noticed the barren cream-colored stairwell and entrance and envisioned a mural that would be just right for the walls. With the thought still in his mind he approached Betty Anne Stroup, the library director at the time, and outlined his ideas. He returned with drawings and sketches of several fictional charac- ters and offered to donate his time to paint a group of these infamous American folk heroes on the first gallery entrance between the chil- dren’s room and the stairwell. His offer was graciously accepted. Servello thinks he completed the mural in about a week, for this was about the length of his summer visits, but according to published accounts, he finished the mural in three days as patrons watched. 52 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 The walls came alive with larger-than-life figures of Joe Magarac, Johnny Appleseed, John Henry, Mike Fink, Paul Bunyan, Annie Oakley, Evangeline, Pecos Bill and Captain Stormalong. He used medium to dark striking colors combining black, dark blue, yellow and red creating bold, impressionable characters. Servello said that he likes working with strong colors and acrylic paint and added that “the work was done in impressionionistic colors, not in realis- tic [color]. These colors have more to do with feelings, and strong colors add strength to the character.” A year later, Servello returned with paint brush in hand and enlivened the stairwell between the adult room to the children’s room with “A Picture History of Clowns.” The mural depicts jesters from ancient times along with well-known clowns Emmett Kelley, the Fratellini Brothers, the Swiss Clown Grock, as well as 15th-century clowns Pagliaccio Anatonet of France, Gros Guillaume and Tarleton. In 1977, rain had damaged the paintings under a stairwell win- dow and needed to be restored. Servello was unable to come back to do the restoration. A 16-year-old Mt. Lebanon High School student, Loran Skinkis, restored the paintings. Working from fuzzy photographs supplied by the library, the young artist redrew faces and touched up the garments of a cluster of clowns that were posi- tioned under the window. These paintings were enjoyed not only by the library, but the community as well. On Jan. 3, 1978, the Board of Commissioners honored Servello in a resolution commending “his excellent con- tribution in creating an enlivened atmosphere in the library and thanked him for his generous donation of his professional talents.” The resolution added that “his work has become an interesting and permanent part of the library’s décor.” Unfortunately, the wrecking ball played no favorites when the walls of the library were demolished in 1993. During the recon- struction of the present library, these murals were lost. Thanks to the foresight of a few members of the Friends of the Mt. Lebanon Library, plans were made to have a professional pho- tographer take pictures of the walls. As the demolition was in May Market at Mellon Park May 16 - 17 The 67th annual May Market is Pittsburgh’s premiere shopping festival for garden enthusiasts. Hanging baskets, hard-to-find annuals, garden ornaments, and antiques are offered for purchase. 412 622-6914 www.phipps.conservatory.com Painted by Joe Servello, a well-known author and illustrator of children’s books, this mural was admired for more than 20 years by adults and children who visited the old library. Thanks to the foresight of a few members of the Friends of the Mt. Lebanon Library, the murals were profession- ally photographed by Lockwood Hoehl before they fell victim to the wrecking ball. The pho- tographs may eventually be displayed in the lower gallery or meeting rooms. progress, Lockwood Hoehl (a photogra- pher with Carnegie Museum at the time), commissioned by the Friends, took pic- tures of the walls so that they could be reproduced somewhere at a later date. Library Director Cynthia K. Richey remembers that these grand murals were an important part of the library. They enlivened the entrance to the children’s room and served as a dramatic introduction to books illustrated by Servello. Although there are no definite plans at this time to use the photographs, Richey hopes to eventually display the pictures in the lower gallery or in the meeting rooms. “By doing this,” says Richey, “we hope to encourage generations of new library patrons to discover books about American folklore, and history, as well as works by illustrators such as Servello.” Today, this professional illustrator and muralist owns The Servello Gallery of Art at 1302 11th Ave. in Altoona, in a joint venture with Bill Moffitt, who directs activ- ities at the gallery. The gallery displays Servello’s work in many media, which include acrylic paintings, watercolors, wood reliefs, sculptures and drawings. Currently, the gallery is presenting the artist’s work in a series of theme presenta- tions. Displays include various aspects of the past and present life in Altoona as well as his interest in children’s art. Servello, a very energetic personality, keeps busy painting for various clients and publishers as well as working with young- sters attempting to spur their imagination through art. He participates in occasional school programs through the Arts and Education Program partially funded by the PA Council on the Arts and works for about 10 days with schoolchildren painting people of good character they learned about through reading. Many of his paintings are in public collec- tions. His murals can be seen in the Altoona Railroad Museum, the Altoona Public Library and other public places, particularly in the Altoona and Penn State area. Public murals have also been commissioned in Pittsburgh; Glen Cove, N.Y.; Philadelphia; Penn State at University Park, and Penn State, Altoona campus. His career spans close to 40 years, and he has illustrated more than 50 books. Known for illustrations of children’s books, this professional illustrator has also worked with jacket art and cover art for some well-known authors. Some being, Tom Clancy’s “Red Rabbit,” Sue Grafton’s “Q is for Quarry,” Oliver North’s “Mission Compromised” and Janet Evanovich’s “Visions of Sugar Plums.” Saturday and Evening Hours 412-531-6804 CASTLE SHANNON/MT.LEBANON www.mtlebanon.org 53 o n e s 2 w a t c h ♦ T HE T HOMAS S TUDIO OF P ERFORMING A RTS ones2watch E STABLISHED 1967 “We Grow Dancers.” Ballet • Pointe • Tap • Lyrical • Jazz • Gymnastics • Stephanie Sheppard, Award-winning Dance Company member S UMMER CLASSES AVAILABLE FOR ALL AGES AND LEVELS ! C ALL NOW TO REGISTER ! 412-257-2000 1900 P AINTERS R UN R OAD P ITTSBURGH , PA 15241 Wesley Institute’s Odyssey Volunteer Award went to Ron Hoffman second from right, a long- time Wesley volunteer who chaired both the board of directors and the capital campaign. Former Wesley Academy student Nate Washington, second from right, received the Odyssey Alumni Award. The awards honor individuals who exemplify Wesley’s mission of “working wonders with kids.” They are pictured with Wesley CEO Doug Muetzel, far left, and Wesley COO Don Findley. T Professional Dog & Cat Grooming "We groom your pet your way." introduces technology Treat your pet to the best! Your Satisfaction Guaranteed! • Weekend & Evening Appointments Available Greentree Road • Scott Towne Center Tel: 412-279-5331 Pittsburgh, PA 15220 www.petsalonusa.com 54 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 his year’s recipients of the Wesley Institute’s 2003 Odyssey Award are Wesley Academy graduate Nathaniel Washington, and former Wesley board chair Ron Hoffman, Spalding Circle. The Odyssey Award is presented annually to a student and a volunteer whose work reflects a commitment to the Wesley Institute’s mission of helping children and youth become independent, responsible and caring members of the communi- ty…Morrison Drive resident Jill Hicks is the new director of communications for The Wesley Institute, a nonprofit organization for special needs children. Prior to this posi- tion, she was an account executive at Ketchum Public Relations. J ohn Searles, Arden Lane, has been named to Wesley’s Board of Trustees. Searles, director of foreign exchange and derivatives trading for PNC Bank, will serve a three-year term…David Csont, Standish Boulevard, has been named a shareholder with Urban Design Associates. Csont, who holds an MFA from the University of Wisconsin, has served as an adjunct professor special- izing in illustration at Northern Kentucky University, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has been with UDA since 1999. D uquesne University student Justin David Bello of Vallevista Avenue has been inducted into the Golden Key National Honour Society. Membership is only offered to juniors and seniors in the top 15 percent of their fields of study. Bello also was honored with the National Dean’s List for 2001-2002, consecutive placement of the dean’s list at Duquesne University and is a percussionist in the local band Alphamale. T he Mt. Lebanon Extended Day Program honored school superinten- dent Dr. Glenn Smartschan for his contri- butions to the school district over the years. Smartschan received the 2003 Champion of Children award because of his dedica- tion to the to the children, youth and fam- ilies in the community. He was named 1999 hoffman pic (or smartschan) Smartschan is a Champion for Children. Superintendent of the Year in Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. The celebration took place at the Fellowship Hall in the Bower Hill Community Presbyterian Church. Entertain- ment was provided by Broadway Kids, Center for Theater Arts String Ensemble and Foster Elementary School Woodwind Quartet. P atricia Orangis, Craigview Drive, has been named assistant vice president for development at Duquesne University. She was formerly executive director for annual giving at the University of Pittsburgh. Orangis has a master’s degree in public policy management from the University of Pittsburgh…Maureen P. Kelly, Piper Drive, an attorney with Babst, Calland, Clements and Zomnir, has been appointed to the Lawyers Advisory Committee to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. Kelly will serve a three-year term. M ichelle Mandell, Larchmont Road, has been promoted to executive vice president of stores for Talbots Kids, a retailer of womens’ and childrens’ clothing based in Hingham, Mass. Mandell is a grad- uate of California University of Pennsylva- nia and is a visiting faculty member in retail studies at Texas A&M University. ➤ p.58 Orangis SOUTH HILLS ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY ASSOCIATES, P.C. ADULT & PEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDICS • ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY TOTAL JOINT REPLACEMENT • ADULT RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY SCOLIOSIS • KYPHOPLASTY MICRO DISC SURGERY, CERVICAL & LUMBAR SPINE SURGERY OF THE HAND, FOOT & ANKLE SPORTS MEDICINE • PAIN MANAGEMENT CONSULTATION Edward G. Kelly, M.D., F.A.C.S. John S. Beachler, M.D. Robert J. Donofrio, M.D.,Ph.D. Thomas J. Hasbach, M.D. Eric D. Nabors, M.D. Certified American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Office Hours by Appointment 412-429-0880 363 Vanadium Road • Pittsburgh, PA 15243 • www.southhillsortho.com A place to shine! Increase skill Develop talent Nurture creativity Enhance self-esteem Join our “cast” and shine! Summer at the Center June 23 rd – July 18 th o Musical Theater Program o Performance Workshop o o Jazz o Ballet o Intro Classes o (412) 563-5080 250 Mt. Lebanon Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15234 A Certified Member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts www.mtlebanon.org 55 Gene Puskar A beloved English teacher had confidence in Patrice King Brown, and that made all the difference. At the teacher’s encouragement, she entered and won the title of Miss Teenage Pittsburgh in 1971 and became a young ambassador. She’d reprise the honor by receiving the Richard S. Caliguiri Award as Best Ambassador for Pittsburgh in 1999. THE ROAD TAKEN L uck, it has been said, is the place where Preparation meets Opportunity. Tele- vision personality Patrice King Brown— named Woman of the Year in Communications by Vectors Pittsburgh and recent recipent of a outstanding achievement award from the Pittsburgh Radio and Television Club—began her career with a spur-of-the-moment deci- sion and a lucky break. But in a way, she had been laying the groundwork for a career in broadcast jour- nalism for years. In 1978, Brown was selling radio advertis- ing at the Gateway Center offices when she came upon the offices of Westinghouse 56 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 Broadcasting, the parent of KDKA-TV. She decided right then to walk in and inquire about a job in television, a career she’d always considered, even as a young girl. As it happened, KDKA was looking for a fresh face to co-host a new daytime talk show, “Pittsburgh 2Day,” with Jon Burnett. Brown landed the audition but had no videotapes to show, to the surprise of her interviewer. Her natural on-camera warmth and ease got her the job anyway. “I had been preparing for that interview all my life,” says Brown, who honed the skill of speaking with poise under pressure in front of a crowd when, at the encourage- ment of a teacher, she entered and won the Miss Teenage Pittsburgh pageant in 1971. Brown was the first young woman of color to claim the title. During her reign, she spoke to lawmakers in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., and in public places throughout the country. Those experiences proved to be a natural segue into a career in television. A resident of Connecting Road, Brown co-hosted “Pittsburgh 2Day” for 12 years, from 1978 through its cancellation in 1990. She did the 5 to 7 A . M . news shift, then became weekend anchor, covering the medical beat during the late ‘80s and the ‘90s, a time of compelling headlines: the Stormie Jones heart-liver transplant story in 1984 through Jones’ death in 1990, and Pennsylvania Gov. Bob Casey’s heart-liver transplant and battle against amyloidosis, which claimed his life in 2000. While evening news co-anchor in 1994, Brown’s coverage of the Flight 427 disaster was picked up by both CNN and CBS, win- ning her a mid-Atlantic Emmy. “What guided me that day was thinking, ‘How would I want to hear horrible news?’” she says, remembering how she’d once been on the receiving end of devastating news—her father’s sudden death in an auto accident when she was 28. Brown, 48, grew up in Sheraden, and graduated from West Virginia University with a BFA in theater. She and her two brothers were held to their parents’ high standards in speaking and reading, so it’s no surprise that all three gravitated to careers in broadcasting. David, a marketing executive with QVC, lives in Eastern Pennsylvania, and Brett works as a pro- gramming executive for Paramount Television in Los Angeles, where her moth- er, now remarried, also lives. Brown’s son Guy, a graduate of the University of Virginia, is an MTV production assistant in New York. Her daughter, Lauren, a MLHS senior is considering colleges. In her free time, Brown enjoys reading and a good walk through Mt. Lebanon’s parks. A dyed-in-the-wool Pittsburgher, she has no plans to leave, even after her daughter departs for college. “I can’t imag- ine living anywhere else,” she says. —ANNE CAFFEE CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED Experience a Cadillac…Unmistakable style, remarkable performance, innovative technologies. And the exhilaration of owning one is every bit as good the second time around. 412-344-6000 For That Comfortable Feeling Inside You can count on ClimaTech—your indoor climate experts— to make your home feel like the great indoors all year long. Save money and energy with worry free heating and cooling systems— guaranteed to make your life more comfortable. Providing Homeowners with Quality Service and Installation for over 29 Years. 412.221.HOME www.mtlebanon.org 57 o n e s 2 w a t c h ♦ Our Smiles are recognizable Carson • Complimentary Initial exam • We offer Invisalign ™ Braces for Children and Adults 750 Washington Road 412-563-5800 www.gobbieortho.com Let us help you be at home Non-Medical Services Provided By Screened, Trained, Insured & Bonded Employees • Shopping, Errands & Transportation • Light Housework & Laundry • Assistance With Daily Routine • Medication Reminders • Meal Preparation The Key to Your Home Financing Needs Purchase • Refinance • New Construction • 412-276-2400 www.homeinstead.com LESLIE ARNOLD Mortgage Consultant 412.882.2068 300 Weyman Plaza, Suite 170 Pittsburgh, PA 15236 Licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking 58 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 ONES➤ p.55 C hristopher Carson, Sunnyhill Drive, has been named chair of Cohen & Grigsby’s Business Group. Carson special- izes in corporate and securities law, with emphasis on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. O n May 9, the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh will pre- sent the Caritas Award for Service to 42 Pittsburgh lawyers in recognition of their service and support. Mt. Lebanon lawyers receiving the award are: G. Daniel Carney, Main Entrance Drive, Thorp Reed & Armstrong; Daniel Haller, Hazel Drive, Neighborhood Legal Services Association; Thomas Hayden, Birch Avenue, Sinclair Jackson Reinhart & Hayden, LLC; David McGonigle, Woodhaven Drive, Kirk- patrick & Lockhart LLP; Thomas VanKirk, Osage Road, Buchanan Ingersoll, P.C., and Howard Voigt, Parker Drive, Elliott Turbomachinery Co. Honorees have provided exemplary volunteer work, legal counsel and financial support to Catholic Charities, an organiza- tion offering critically needed services to individuals and families since 1910. If you are interested in attending the gala, call 412-456-6965. A new Web site about Mt. Lebanon— mymountlebanon.com—is up and running. Launched independently by Coldwell Banker realtor Sandy Hanson, the site is filled with information about municipal and school meetings activities, o n e s 2 w a t c h ♦ Our Gift to You valid for new customers and non-emergency visits only • A complete FREE dental exam • (4) X-Rays (if necessary) • And Consultation • A $150 value CALL TODAY 412-561-2271 Hanson sports schedules, special events, restaurants, weekly retail promotions and other com- munity happenings. Residents are invited to submit information about garage sales, job opportunities, block parties or houses for sale or to join in the community discussion board. There is no charge. Hanson, a Mt. Lebanon resident with two grown daughters, holds an M.B.A. from the Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh. Her background allows her to offer clients “a higher level of marketing, negotiating, Internet, commu- nications and analysis expertise,” she says. mymountlebanon.com is a promotional tool for Hanson’s business (if you click on “Real Estate,” you’ll get information about her), but it also provides useful community information and links directly to Mt. Lebanon’s municipal Web site, www. mtlebanon.org. “Sponsoring this Web site seemed like a perfect way for me to give back to my com- munity,” she says, “and it will allow me to stay in touch with the needs of the families that I work for.” C arolyn Byham, Pueblo Drive, was recently named to the board of direc- tors of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Byham, a former Mt. Lebanon commission- er, is an executive vice president at Develo- pment Dimensions International (DDI), and serves on the boards of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild/ Bidwell Corp. and WQED Pittsburgh. LOCATED IN THE HEART OF MT. LEBANON AT 666 WASHINGTON ROAD STEVENSON WILLIAMS BUILDING Peter B. Bidzila, D.M.D . GENERAL AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY Quality Mt. Lebanon dentistry for 22 years! “Let This Be the year You Make Your Goals Come True” • VOTED #1 FITNESS STUDIO IN MT. LEBANON BY MT. LEBANON MAGAZINE READERS 5/02 • ONE-ON-ONE PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINING • GROUP RATES (PARTNER TRAINING RATES AVAILABLE) • CLASSES: YOGA • SPINNING • BODY SCULPTING Joanne Higgs, Certified Personal Trainer 20 Cedar Blvd., Suite 406 Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228 412.563.7510 www.mtlebanon.org 59 o n e s 2 w a t c h ♦ Worried your teen is using drugs? Million of people come to Melbourne, Australia, in the last week of January for the Australian Open. If you want to combine tennis with sightseeing—maybe The Great Barrier Reef, If you suspect that your teen is using drugs, then get help. Gateway Rehabilitation Center provides confidential drug and alcohol treatment and prevention services to busi- nesses, adults, youth and their families. Contact Gateway for more information or to schedule a free evaluation at a center near you. Call us at (412)766-8700 or 1-800-472-1177. www.gatewayrehab.org Restoring lives and communities. 60 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 Tasmania or a week-long visit to a spa in New Zealand, you can create your own tour. If you’d rather stay closer to home, mark your calendar for the West Penn Tennis Tournament, July 1-6. OVERHAND DOWN UNDER J anuary in Pittsburgh. With snow on the ground and the temperature hovering around 10 degrees, avid tennis players dress in multiple layers plus boots and slosh to the tennis bubble, where the air blows hot and cold, as if trying to simulate spring. It’s hard to get enthused about your game. I complained about the weather to a friend, who urged me to call a former South Hills friend, now a Colorado resi- dent, who was now in the travel business, specifically the tennis travel business. I called, and didn’t have much trouble say- ing “yes” to the last spot on a Grand Slam Tennis Tour to the Australian Open in Melbourne, even if it was only for the first week of play. Tennis is huge in Australia. Nearly 10 percent of the population plays—kids and adults of all ages. And if they don’t play, they’re fans. The country’s tennis history is strong, with the likes of Harry Hopman, John Newcombe, Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall. The chance to feel the atmo- sphere was, for me, worth the grueling 20- hour plane trip from Los Angeles. And what an atmosphere! To start, we had bus tour of Melbourne’s architectural and botanical sites. Then we joined adult members of the Koolong (an aborigine name) Club, an historic, 113-year-old club where Andre Agassi had won the day before, to play on grass courts. Afterwards, we sipped bitters and ate finger sandwich- es. Meanwhile, 450 professional players battled in 90-degree weather on hard courts at Melbourne Park for an Australian Open trophy while junior players prepared for the second week of the Open, when they would vie with other Asian-Pacific players for the junior title. (There will be a few Americans in that category). o n e s 2 w a t c h ♦ In Melbourne, the tennis frenzy is con- noodle and veggie dishes. More familiar tagious. From January 20-31, the city of fare included Dove bars and “lollies,” bet- more than 3 million people doubles its ter know to us as popsicles. Typical of population, as crowds gravitate there to sporting events everywhere, the drinks sit in temperate breezes watching speed- were expensive, starting at $3.50 ($5 here) ing tennis balls. Spectators walk to the for a bottle of water. The best bargain was park along the Yarra River, passing the espresso—a glassful for $4. Taking a Grand Slam Tour is a great way 1996 Olympic Stadium, where the Commonwealth Games will be held next for a tennis buff to start—or finish—the year. Nationals have a gay time rooting for year. January in Australia, Monte Carlo in their teams, with face painting a popular April, Rome in May, June at Wimbledon expression of pride—green and yellow for and New York in September. And seeing Australia, blue and yellow for Sweden, the likes of Venus and Serena Williams, red, white and blue for the Croats. Taxi Lleyton Hewitt, Roger Federer, Anna drivers knew as much about Open as spec- Kournikova and Andre Agassi is priceless. Based in Denver, Grand Slam Tours offers tators. Stepping into an elevator or a taxi wearing my tennis pass, I’d immediately vacation packages to 10 major tennis be immersed in conversation about the tournaments, such as the national opens latest match or the latest book, this year and the Davis Cup, the Pacific Life Open, the Roland Garros, the NSADAQ 100 by Aussie Pat Rafter. Tabloids carried at least five pages a day Open, the WTA Tour Championships, the US Mens Clay Court of tennis features— and the Tennis and lot of gossip. Master’s Cup. They dissected the Tours, which include players, their strate- airfare, hotel, daily gies, their physiques breakfast and court- (Capriati was called he Melbourne Grand Slam side box seats (for “chunky” ) and their is the Asian Pacific tournament four, five or eight hotels. Since my last days of tennis) are visit to a Grand of the year. available in various Slam—the U.S. Open prices ranges, with in 1995—the scoring hotel options rang- system has been ing from economy refined to provide statistics on the players’ aces or winning to luxury. If you can’t find a travel part- backhands. The tabloids are equally inter- ner, it’s no problem to go alone. There ested in the players’ personal stats—like is a welcome party and detailed orien- how many dates they’ve managed to tation. A daily newsletter of events is delivered to your door each day and an squeeze in in-between matches. Fortunately, neither of the Melbourne on-site staff is available to help with stadiums where the matches are played— questions or problems. Depending on how much tennis you Rod Laver and Vodofone—is as large as Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. The fans want to watch and whether you opt for clearly want to be seen and heard. When the early or the final rounds of play, the Magnus Larsson hit a hard and well-placed cost ranges from $3,000 to $5,500 (air trav- forehand to the Aussie favorite Leyton el is on QANTAS from Los Angeles). And if Hewitt, the Swedes cheered, “I like, it. I like you want to combine tennis with sight- it like that,” and the Australians chanted seeing—maybe The Great Barrier Reef, back with pumping fists, “Australia, aoi, Tasmania or even a week-long visit to a aoi,aoi.” The chair umpire didn’t even try to spa in New Zealand, you can create your own tour. For information, call Grand turn down the volume. The food sold at the stadium was most- Slam Tours at 800-289-3333. ly English or Asian—meat pies and two —CAROL JOHNSTON kinds of chips (thick and thin) or various P H O T O G R A P H Y 724-222-9121 www.robinphotography.com T Kasper Landscaping offers you professional design services from our LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT we now offer • COMPLETE CUSTOM LANDSCAPE DESIGN • LANDSCAPE LIGHTING • RETAINING WALLS • COMPLETE TREE CARE FULLY INSURED 412.833.4690 www.mtlebanon.org 61 MT. LEBANON ICE CENTER REGISTER NOW FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS JR. REC LEAGUE LEARN-TO-SKATE LEARN TO PLAY HOCKEY POWER SKATING ADULT LEARN-TO-PLAY HOCKEY SENIOR LEAGUE ADULT LEAGUE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE THIS SUMMER AT THE ICE RINK This year the Ice Center will remain open through the end of July with ongoing hockey and skating programs. Public Skating schedules will remain the same throughout May. The last After School Skate session will be held from 4:10-5:50 P . M ., Friday, June 6. Summer Skating Schedule will go into effect Friday, June 13 with the 7-9 p.m. evening session. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 412-561-4363. 62 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 LIBRARY NEWS PROGRAMS & SPECIAL EVENTS Robert Wolke, author of “What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained” and his wife, Marlene Parrish, food writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, will present a pro- gram on food and science, 7 P . M ., Monday, May 19. Wolke, a professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh, has been nominated for a James Beard Award and is a finalist fo the International Association of Culinary professionals Cook- book Award for his book, which explains many common food mysteries and debunks common kitchen myths—from why brown sugar hardens (and what to do about it) to whether you can safely cook in aluminum pans. Parrish will discuss recipes included in the book that demonstrate its scientific principles at work (such as how to avoid lumps in gravy and how cream of tartar works in Portuguese poached meringue).…Members of the Pittsburgh Symphony will perform at 7 P . M ., Thursday, May 8, in the library. The concert, made possible through Regional Asset District money, will include live music, information about the music and the composers and a question and answer period. PLANT SWAP Share your extra bulbs, plants and cuttings and bring home every- thing from fresh ferns to flowers…for free! The second annual Plant Exchange, hosted by the Mt. Lebanon Gardeners,will be from10 A . M . to 1 P . M ., Saturday, May 3. Bring a plant, plant cuttings, extra bulbs, ferns and flowers and swap them for something else. Master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions. The Mt. Lebanon Gardeners meet at 7:30 P . M ., the third Thursday of each month. Call 412- 279-3293. QUESTION OF THE MONTH: “I’ve just spent 45 minutes on the computer and I can’t find a listing of the top five ranked countries per capita,” an exasperated patron told a librarian. After the librarian ascertained what sort of per capita (gross domestic product), she found the informa- tion in three minutes in the 2003 World Almanac...Luxembourg, The United States, San Marino, Switzerland and Norway. See, computers don’t have all the answers. THEME OF THE MONTH “The Sounds of Music.” CDs, movie musical DVDs and videos, books about music and biographies and autobiographies on composers and musicians will be featured. JUST FOR GUYS That’s the name of the new book club at the library, 7 P . M ., the fourth Wednesday of every month, where fathers and sons will read, learn, laugh and talk about books. The books will be geared—in topic and reading level—to boys age 9 to 12. Library Director Cynthia Richey says boys traditionally score lower than girls on standardized reading and writing tests. She hopes this book club, and ones like it that are springing up across the country, will encourage boys to become lifelong readers and change those statis- tics. For more information on Just For Guys, call the library at 412-531-1912. To learn more about boys and reading—including a list of books for guys, log on to www. penguinputnam.com/static/packages/us/ yreaders/guysread. FEATURED ARTIST “Spaces In Between,” a show of handmade paper, fiber and callig- raphy by Beverly Road resident Michelle Bamburak, will be shown at the library throughout May. Bamburak, who has been exhibiting her mixed media art since the mid 1970s in places such as the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh (she teaches at the latter), is a member of the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators, the fourth-largest illustrators group in the U.S. Give a plant, get a plant at the library’s plant swap Saturday, May 3. o n e s 2 w a t c h ♦ stuff we like doodad book Before heading out on your vacation this summer, log on to www.roadsideamerica.com and check your route for fun, funky, offbeat attractions— Elvis City, a miniature Grace- land in Roanoke, Va.; the lunch box museum (more than 3,500!) in Columbus, Ga., or the arm of the unknown soldier in Sharpsburg, Md. The Web site features a special section on pet cemeteries and lists the locations of many of the world’s largest whatevers— from chairs to cows. The Carnegie Library of Pitts- burgh’s “Handy Science Answer Book” is 600-plus pages of great information guaranteed to satisfy your curiosity. It’s all here—from why the Hindenburg exploded to the weight of the average brain.You’ll learn how to be safe in a thunderstorm, and the difference between a mastodon and a mammoth. From energy to the environment, chemistry to the cli- mate, minerals to medicine...it’s all here for only $21.95. Pick up a copy at any local bookstore. product Spring is in the air…burn up the Cedar Boulevard bocce court with an old-fashioned bocce set available at Restoration Hardware in the Galleria. The $99 set comes with eight bocce balls, a pallino ball, a telescopic measuring device and a rule book. The antique- looking bocce set comes packaged in an old-fashioned wooden crate—it might even fool the die-hards who brought their sets over from the old country. Fabulous, affordable, retirement living • Independent and Assisted Living • One Affordable Monthly Fee • Spacious Apartments (studios, one and two bedroom) • Full Service Dining • Housekeeping Services • Transportation (scheduled) • Fabulous Events (daily) • 24 Hour Concierge Schedule a tour and stay for lunch 412-343-2200 The Devonshire of Mt. Lebanon 1050 McNeilly Road • Pittsburgh, PA 15226 m0015741 web site Is your dog bored? Does she have too much energy? Maybe he eats houseplants or chews on the furniture. Try a Kong toy. Made of puncture-resis- tant, super-bouncy natural rub- ber, Kongs are hollow so they can be stuffed with peanut butter, moist dog food or a plain old dog biscuit (freeze it or don’t, your choice). So stuffed, the Kong is guaran- teed to keep any dog busy for hours—and tire him out in the process. Kong satisfies a dog’s natural need to chew, cleans teeth, conditions gums and is resilient, durable, non-toxic and bouncy. Pick one up at a local pet store—they come in five sizes (small to king). “Stuffing” recipes available at www.kong company.com. www.brookdaleliving.com www.mtlebanon.org 63 $1.00 OFF Your next Ground Shipment $2.00 OFF Your next Air Shipment Expires 7-1-03. Not valid with any other offers. Expires 7-1-03. Not valid with any other offers. CHOICE • VALUE • CONVENIENCE OFFERING THE LARGEST SELECTION OF CARRIERS IN WESTERN PA.— FEDEX, UPS, AIRBORNE EXPRESS, USPS, FREIGHT SERVICES 461 Cochran Road, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228 • 412-343-8500 Family Fun Night Every Wednesday Till Midnight FREE VIDEO GAMES All non-ticketed video games Call for details. 412-221-2235 Great place. Great night for your child’s next birthday party. Call to reserve your party today. 412-221-2086 Moms we give you a whole month! HAVE YOUR KIDS TAKE YOU OUT TO EAT. IT’S YOUR TURN TO PLAY GAMES AND HAVE FUN WANNA DO SOMETHING FOR YOUR MOM? Bring your Mom in for a free meal with the purchase of a regular priced meal of equal or lesser value. Must present this coupon to your server Expires May 31, 2003 18 GREAT SOUTHERN SHOPPING CENTER • BRIDGEVILLE, PA 15017 64 M T. L E B A N O N • MAY 2003 Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon then& now Then: This house on Castle Shannon Boulevard was owned by B.K. Elliott, who ran a drafting and art supply business in Downtown Pittsburgh. This picture was probably taken in the mid- to late 1920s— MARY HARDY KETCHUM the car has been tentatively identified as a 1922 Packard, and a few windows of Washington • Multi-Million Dollar Sales Assoc. Elementary school—which opened in 1923—can be seen in the background. • National Sales Excellence Awardee Now: This picture was not taken in the exact spot of the “Then” picture— the house was located a • Residential Relocation Specialist little to the right of this picture—more in the back yard of the house that now stands on the corner of Cornell Place and Castle Shannon Boulevard. All the private residences along the north side of Castle Shannon Boulevard were razed in the mid-’60s. The area is now a parking lot used by the schools. Photos courtesy of the Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon and the Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s “Mt. 607 Washington Road Pittsburgh, PA 15228 Lebanon—Then and Now” collection. 412-561-7400 mketchum@howardhanna.com www.mtlebanon.org 65 o n e s 2 w a t c h S T . C L A I R H O S P I T A ♦ L St. Clair Hospital Medical Suites Comprehensive health care services for your family and business: Family Practice Medical Associates South (Southpointe) Fatigati-Nalin Associates (Bridgeville) LabLink Laboratory services Medical Diagnostics X-rays, EKGs, Bone Density testing, Ultrasound SHORE Physical, Occupational, Speech and Massage Therapies St. Clair OB-GYN Associates, Inc. (Southpointe) Occupational Medicine Work injury, pre-employment physicals and drug screening Travel Medicine Pre-travel medical consultation, vaccinations No appointment for general x-ray or lab services. w w w. s t c l a i r. o r g 66 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 St. Clair Hospital Medical Suites LOCAL AUTHOR PUBLISHES NOVEL An affiliate of St. Clair Hospital Three convenient locations Services vary by location St. Clair Hospital Medical Suite at Bethel Park (across from South Hills Village) 2000 Oxford Drive Bethel Park, PA 15102 (412) 344-6388 or (412) 835-7100 St. Clair Hospital Medical Suite at Bridgeville (in the Chartiers Valley Shopping Center) 1025 Washington Pike, Route 50 Bridgeville, PA 15107 (412) 344-6600, x4050 St. Clair Hospital Medical Suite at Southpointe (Route 79S, Exit 48) 501 Corporate Drive Canonsburg, PA 15317 (724) 746-3369 H er mother’s Depression-era childhood was the inspiration for “Barefoot in the Stubble Fields,” by Mary Frailey Calland, Rocklynn Place, published by Gardenia Press in March. The idea for the novel—Calland’s first— was born with a chance revelation by Calland’s mother one evening at the kitchen table. “She started to reminisce about her early years, growing up in northwest Iowa dur- ing the Depression, and how she was adopted at age 5 after her mother died, something none of us ever knew,” recalls Calland, who grew up in a family of eight children. Calland’s grandmother died in childbirth, leaving a husband and six children on a struggling Iowa farm during the Depression. Calland’s mother went to live with—and eventually was adopted by— her well-to-do aunt and uncle. Every June, she left their comfortable home and returned to the farm to spend the summer with her brothers and sisters, who had remained. “I was fascinated with her story,” says Calland. “It was an opportunity to see the Depression from two distinctly different viewpoints. I’ve always been fascinated by Calland the effect of historical events, big and small, on the lives of ordinary people.” With her mother’s permission, Calland cre- ated a novel taking the germ of the family story as a framework. Calland’s niece is pic- tured on the cover. Calland received her law degree at Notre Dame, and practiced compensation law at the U.S. Department of Labor. Shortly after the birth of her second child, she decided to put her practice aside and stay at home. Three more children followed. Her five chil- dren are Mathew, at Villanova University; “I was fascinated with her story,” says Calland. “It was an opportunity to see the Depression from two distinctly different viewpoints.” Emmie, a senior at Mt. Lebanon High School; Rosie, a high school sophomore, and two middle schoolers at Mellon, Grace and Michael. Her husband, Dean, is an attorney. So how does a lawyer-turned-stay-at- home-mom find time to research and write a book while raising five children? Very slowly, says Calland. The book took about seven years to write. “I could never get any writing in during vacations or holi- days,” she says, but now that the children are older and in school full-time, she’s able to grab snippets of time to write during the day. “But I’m not one of these disci- plined writers who have a set time to write every morning,” she confesses. Calland is working on another novel of historical fiction, set in Pittsburgh during the Civil War. To learn more about “Barefoot in the Stubble Fields,” go to the publishers’ Web site, www.gardeniapress.com. E v e r y t h i n g t o M a k e Yo u r H o u s e a H o m e TM J a r o I n t e r i o r s , I n c. 412-561-5454 3734 Poplar Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15234 (Off Castle Shannon Boulevard, Near Rt.88) —ANNE CAFFEE www.mtlebanon.org 67 Cami Mesa A Commitment to the Beauty of Your Home Ghelarducci’s Garden Center LARGE SELECTION OF ANNUALS, HANGING BASKETS, PERENNIALS, ROSES, HERBS & VEGETABLES • Trees & Shrubbery • Pottery & Bird Baths BULK PRODUCTS • Topsoil • Mushroom Manure • River Rock • 2B Gravel • Sand • Pea Gravel • Double Shredded Mulch • Chocolate Brown Mulch • Red Mulch • Black Mulch • Gold Mulch Tour the Shadyside home you’ve always wanted to see—the Gwinner-Harter mansion, below, on Delivery 7 days a week! Fifth Ave.—and help the Junior League of Pittsburgh raise funds to support community endeavors Intersection Washington Pike (Rt. 50) & Greentree Rd. behind the BP — Heidelberg in the arts, education and health for women, children and the aging. On the Show House commit- 412-276-6882 tee are, from left, Ann Bondi, Beth Vucic and Kelly Morgans Schraven. IT’S JUNIOR LEAGUE SHOW HOUSE MONTH One of Pittsburgh’s best known 19th cen- tury mansions, the Gwinner-Harter man- sion at 5061 Fifth Ave. in Shadyside, will open to the public this month as the Junior League of Pittsburgh’s Designers’ Show House 2003. The circa 1871 mansion, which sits along what was once known as “Millionaire’s Row,” is of the “Second Empire” style, a popular style of the day inspired by French architecture that flourished during the reign of the Emperor Napoleon III. Well- known area designers will showcase their talents throughout the three-story man- sion, which features a scalloped mansard roof, a grand marble entrance hall with a winding staircase and bronze balustrade, 13-foot ceilings, rooms paneled in English oak and walnut, a veranda overlooking the gar- dens and much more. The Junior League of Pittsburgh is an organization committed to volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improv- 68 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2003 ing the community through effective action and leadership of trained volun- teers. A number of Mt. Lebanon members of the Junior League are working on the show house project, which will raise funds for community endeavors in the areas of aging, education, health , women, children and the arts. The show house opens with a gala preview party May 9 (Call 412-422-8580 for infor- mation) and runs May 10-25. Hours are from 11 A . M -2 P . M . and 6-9 P . M . Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; Saturday from 10 A . M . to 5 P . M . and Sunday from 1-5 P . M . Tickets are $15 in advance ( 412-422-8580) or $18 at the door. recreation REGISTRATION You can register for all Recreation Department programs in person at the Recreation Department office, second floor, Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center, Monday through Friday, 8:30 A . M .-5 P . M ., or by mail, 900 Cedar Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15228. Y o u c a n r e g i s t e r f o r m a n y p r o g r a m s a n d a c t i v i t i e s o n l i n e a t www.mtlebanon.org . The Recreation Department will make reasonable accommodations to its pro- grams and services to assure access to all persons. If you need an accommo- dation because of a disability, please call 412-343-3409, Monday through Friday, 8:30 A . M .-5 P . M . All checks should be made payable to Mt. Lebanon, PA. Sorry, we cannot accept cash. W E A C C E P T V I S A A N D M A S T E R C A R D INFORMATION For recreation information during busi- ness hours, call 412-343-3409. Week- ends and evenings, dial 412-341-LEBO for a recording of upcoming events. YOUTH CAMP WHO: Youngsters who have just completed grades 4-9. WHERE: Main Park and High School facilities. WHEN: Mon. through Fri., 9-10 A . M .; 10-11 A . M .; 11 A . M .-noon. Participants select a maximum of three one-hour activities. SESSION I: June 16 - July 3 SESSION II: July 7 - July 25 FEE: 1 hour (1 activity) - $25 3 hours (3 activities/session) - $70 DESCRIPTION: Activities include basic instruction and participation. All activities are supervised by professional and trained staff. PROGRAM INCLUDES: Aerobics Baseball Cheerleading Chess Creative Arts Dance Basketball Juggling Volleyball Soccer Kickboxing Dodgeball/Kickball Rollerblade Hockey Street Hockey Platform Tennis Table Tennis/Table Games Lacrosse (boys or girls) REGISTRATION: Pre-registra- tion will be held 7-8:30 P . M ., Wednesday, May 21, at the Rec Center. Beginning May 30 registra- tion will be accepted at the Recreation Department office. PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUND PROGRAM “CAMP CHIPPEEWEE” WHO: 3½- to 5-year-old chil- dren (must have been 3 by Jan. 1, 2003 and be potty trained). WHERE: Main Park Playground. WHEN: Mon. through Fri., 9:15-11:45 A . M . S e s s i o n I : June 16 - June 27 (2 weeks) S e s s i o n I I : June 30- July 11 (2 weeks) No program July 4! S e s s i o n I I I : July 14-July 25 (2 weeks) FEE: $65 a session per child; $180 for six weeks (fee includes all field trips, special events and activities). REGISTRATION: In person at Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center, 2nd floor. The program is limited to 140 Mt. Lebanon children per ses- sion, on a first-come basis. Birth certificates are required at registration! Non-residents may register at the Recreation Department office beginning June 2 if openings remain, Mon. through Fri., 9 A . M . to 4:30 P . M . Parent/guardian may only register children from one family. THE MT. LEBANON HIGH SCHOOL PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE Free! Performs in Main Park as part of the Summer Concert Series 7 P . M ., Sunday, June 1. SUMMER PLAYGROUND WHO: Children who have just completed kindergarten, 1st, 2nd or 3rd grades. WHERE: See “Note About Summer Programs” below. WHEN: Mon. through Fri., 9 A . M .-noon, June 16 - July 25. FEE: $30 per week; $150 for all six weeks (fee includes all field trips, special events and activities). $8 optional T-shirt. DESCRIPTION: Each play- ground is staffed by summer counselors. Activities include organized games, arts and crafts, nature, drama, music, special events and field trips. REGISTRATION: Register in person at the Recreation Department, Cedar Boulevard, or by mail to 900 Cedar Blvd., 2nd Floor, Pgh., PA 15228. RAIN POLICY: Playgrounds will operate rain or shine. A NOTE ABOUT THE SUMMER PROGRAMS D ue to extensive school renovations at Howe and Foster Elementary schools as well as asbestos abatement at Markham, Lincoln and Jefferson Elementary schools, all sites for the 2003 sum- mer playground program were not confirmed at press time. Please refer to our Web site at www.mtlebanon.org or call 412-343-3409 for camp locations. www.mtlebanon.org 69 7 T H A N N U A L S E N I O R P I C N I C 10:30 A . M .-4 P . M ., Tuesday, June 10, Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center F E A T U R I N G $3 per person (make checks payable to “Mt. Lebanon, Pa.”) • CATERED LUNCH • BINGO Participants must pre-register. • SWIMMING • ENTERTAINMENT A hot catered lunch will be provided by the Devonshire of Mt. Lebanon. Sponsored by: Health America/Advantra and The Devonshire of Mt. Lebanon. • MOVIE • WELLNESS SCREENING 2003 PLAYGROUND REGISTRATION FORM KINDERGARTEN - 3RD GRADE Family’s Last Name___________________________________________________ Child’s First Name_______________________________Grade Completed______ Child’s First Name_______________________________Grade Completed______ Address____________________________________________________________ Home Phone__________________Parent’s Business Phone_________________ Name & Phone of additional emergency contact___________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Medical condition and/or allergies______________________________________ Playground Site (go to www.mtlebanon.org or call 412-343-3409 for camp locations). ___________________________________________________________________ $8 Official Lebo T-shirt (optional) Youth Medium __________Youth Large______ Fee: $30 per week; $150 for all six weeks. N O R E F U N D S W I L L B E G I V E N CHECKS PAYABLE TO “MT. LEBANON, PA.” Mail to: Recreation Department. 900 Cedar Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15228 P L E A S E I N D I C A T E W E E K S D E S I R E D F O R E A C H C H I L D B E L O W : Child #1 Child #2 Week 1: June 16 - June 20 ________ ________ Week 2: June 23 - June 27 ________ ________ Week 3: June 30 - July 3 ________ ________ Week 4: July 7 - July 11 ________ ________ Week 5: July 14 - July 18 ________ ________ Week 6: July 21 - July 25 ________ ________ I am the parent or legal guardian of ___________________ and hereby request that he/she be permitted to engage in playground activities utilizing recreational facilities owned, operated, and/or maintained by the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. I expressly acknowledge and recognize that participation in said playground activities creates a risk of injury to person or property and hereby expressly release, remise, and forever discharge the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and its officers, agents and employees from any liability for any and all claims, suits, or causes of action arising from injuries to the person or property of ________________ as a result of his/her use of recreational facilities owned, operated and/or maintained by the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon. Permission is also granted to transport child within the Municipality for special playground events. I have read this release and intending to be legally bound have set my signature hereunder. Witness_________________________Parent/Guardian Signature_________________ Date_________________________Relationship________________________________ 70 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 S E N I O R M O V I E M A T I N E E W H E N : Tuesday, May 13. Social time begins at 11:30 A . M .; lunch at noon. W H E R E : Recreation Center. R E S E R V A T I O N S : Call 412- 343-3409 after the first of the month to make your reservation. $3 per person. Sponsored by: The Laurels of Covenant at South Hills H E R S H E Y / L A N C A S T E R T O U R & “ D A N I E L ” S A T U R D A Y & S U N D A Y , M A Y 1 7 & 1 8 W H O : Adults and their adult guests. P R I C E : $235 per person/dou- ble occupancy. I N C L U D E S : Deluxe round trip motor coach transportation, Hotel accommodations at the historic Strasburg Inn. Meals include lunch at the famous Hershey Hotel, dinner and elaborate buffet breakfast at the Strasburg Inn and lunch prior to the performance of “Daniel” at the Plain N' Fancy Restaurant. Tours feature Founders Hall, Milton Hershey School, Chocolatetown USA and Hershey Gardens, Amish Homestead and Lancaster County. Preferred seating at the performance of "Daniel” at the Millennium Theater. KINDERGARTEN MICRO SOCCER ADULT COED TENNIS LEAGUE Evaluation: 4-6 P . M ., SATURDAY, MAY 3. Rain date Sunday, May 4 Dates: May 14-July 13 Match Times: Sundays, 7-10 P . M . (1½ hours/week) Practice Times: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8-10 P . M . (1 hour/week) ADULT COED TEAM LEAGUE REGISTRATION AND TESTING AT MEADOWCROFT PARK. APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE AT THE RECREATION DEPT. OFFICE AND TENNIS CENTER. JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS “B” LEAGUE Beginner classes for boys and girls ages 8-14 will be held at the Tennis Center beginning the week of June 16 (subject to school year ending situations). Two four-week sessions will be offered. WHEN: Students will meet two hours per week (Mon. & Thurs., 12:30/1:30 P . M . or Tues. & Fri., 12:30/1:30 P . M .). FEE: $55 per session—residents; $60 per session—nonresident. Includes T-shirt, use of balls and instruction. DUE DATE: Saturday, June 7. Complete form and return with check (payable to Mt. Lebanon, Pa.) to Team Tennis, c/o Bill Nichols, 900 Cedar Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15228. NO REFUNDS AFTER THE START OF YOUR SESSION. WHO: Children completing Kindergarten in June. WHERE: Bird Park Soccer Field. WHEN: Games on Tuesday or Thursday, 6-8 P . M . (one hour) and Saturdays 9, 10, 11 A . M . or noon May 27-June 21. EARLY BIRD FEE: $25 per child. After May 14, fee is $30. DESCRIPTION: Informal small sided games coached by parents. Two sessions per week: one weekday, one Saturday morning. Registration: Beginning May 1 at the Recreation Department office, 2nd floor Rec Center or by mail to 900 Cedar Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15228. Online at www.mtlebanon.org. BOYS T-BALL/INSTRUCTIONAL BASEBALL GIRLS T-BALL/INSTRUCTIONAL SOFTBALL WHO: Children c0mpleting kindergarten—T-Ball; Completing 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades—Instructional. WHERE: Markham Field—Boys Baseball; Dixon Field, Mt. Lebanon Park—Girls Softball WHEN: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1-5 P . M . (one-hour sessions) June 16- July 25. EARLY BIRD FEE: $30 (includes team shirt). Beginning May 27, fee is $35. DESCRIPTION: Program involves game situations with emphasis on fundamentals and instruction. Individual practice time requests cannot be honored. REGISTRATION: Mt. Lebanon Rec Center, 8:30 A . M .-4:30 P . M ., Monday-Friday. Beginning May 27, a $5 late fee will be charged for registrations. Team placement cannot be guaranteed for regis- trations after May 31. Online at www.mtlebanon.org. JUNIOR (B LEAGUE) TENNIS SIGN-UP 2003 name age address zip phone SESSION: (check one or both) Dates not definite—subject to school year ending situations. June 16 - July 18_______ ($55/$60) July 21 - Aug. 15_______($55/$60) (No classes June30-July 4) SITE AND CLASS TIME: (PLEASE MARK “1ST” “2ND” AND “3RD” CHOICE.) 12:30 P . M . 1:30 P . M . Tennis Center _________ __________ _________ __________ Mon./Thurs. Tues./Fri. TENNIS PERMITS ON SALE Permits will be sold at the Tennis Center during regular operat- ing hours. Permits will not be sold at the Recreation Center. For more information call the Tennis Center, 412-343-3411 NOTE: A 2:30 P . M . class may be added if necessary www.mtlebanon.org 71 mt. lebanon MT. LEBANON AT YOUR SERVICE IS A MONTHLY FEATURE. the rate is $2.25 per word, 15-word minimum.Payment must accompany copy six weeks prior to the publishing date. Advertisers should furnish ad copy in written form, name, address, and telephone number. Mail information with payment to Mt. Lebanon Magazine, 710 Wash- ington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228 s e r v i c e d i r e c t o r y Serving Mt. Lebanon since 1947 CONCRETE • BRICK • STONE PATIOS • WALLS • SIDEWALKS Unsurpassed Quality 1264 HOPE HOLLOW ROAD, CARNEGIE 412-276-1030 • 412-561-6732 • 412-835-0112 O’DONNELL DEAN EXTERIORS ROOFING IS OUR BUSINESS REPAIRS SLATE • TILE • COPPER • GUTTER • DOWNSPOUTS SERVING MT. LEBANON AT 412-561-6117 HOWARD FRIEDMAN P L U M B I N G C O M PA N Y 412-831-5707 C ERAMIC TILE REPAIR Established 1978 for your home CERAMIC TILE INSTALLATION Floors & Walls. Quality work since 1977 TIM O’LEARY (412)731.0440. QUALITY WORKMANSHIP Kitchens • Bathrooms Family Rooms • Additions MT. LEBANON CONCRETE & STONE “The Architect’s Choice” Patios, Sidewalks & Driveways of Distinction (412)980-9111. Serving the South Hills for 20 years Fully Insured • Free Estimates BIONDO CONSTRUCTION Additions, Kitchens, Garages, Bathrooms, Basements. Fully Insured—20 years experi- ence. Call Bob (724)942-3751. 412-854-5272 landscape GEORGE GIRTY LANDSCAPE Professional design and installation. When you want more than bushes. George Girty, B.S., B.L.A., Landscape Architect. Penn State. (412)835-3245. DONNAN LANDSCAPE Landscaping, Lawn Renovations, Deck Cleaning and Sealing. Our 24th year. www.donnan.com (724)941-7530. E LECTRICIAN JAY’S HARDWOOD & CERAMIC COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL Expert Installation • Sanding Refinishing • Repairs • Fully Insured 724-948-3988 Battaglia Construction • Stone and Concrete Specialists Serving the Mt. Lebanon area for over 51 years. Third generation of specialists in exterior decorative stone and concrete work. Our company is fully insured. 412-563-3030 72 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 • PA U L B A R B I E R I LANDSCAPING & GARDENING • Landscape Design and Installation • Mulching, Fertilization, Pruning and Other Landscape Maintenance • Spring and Fall Cleanup • Water Fountains • New Lawns 412.381.7421 Persian & Oriental Rug Gallery A&S Landscaping Iraj Chiani • 412-563-1212 Your Source for Quality... Since 1916. 95 Central Square/Mt. Lebanon Customized Design & Installation Landscape Designer Decorative Rock & Boulders • Mulch Topsoil • Mushroom Manure Variety of Rocks, Stones & Gravel Free Estimates • Fully Insured Visit us at: www.aslandscaping.com 2150 Washington Road Direct Importer of New and Antique Decorative Oriental Rugs Buy, Sell, Trade Old Rugs Since 1972 Professional Cleaning, Repair and Appraisal ® 724-746-2151 Canonsburg Life, Disability, Annuities Long Term Care Insurance Fine Carpentry Custom Built-ins Residential Remodeling 412-563-2383 Paul R. Stockhausen, CLTC David t o h P J. Albrecht o g r a p h y Commercial • Advertising • Portraiture Digital and Traditional Imaging 412.784.8644 • davy237@earthlink.net Coffey Contracting Co. at your service ROOFING & CHIMNEYS Slate • Tile • Shakes Tinning • Spouting Flashing • Box Gutter Repair We can recreate workmanship and styles from any Architectural Era 712 Washington Road • Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228 412.343.9001 pets WAGS & WHISKERS OF MT. LEBANON Bonded. Insured. (412) 344-3575. Professional home visits for all of your pets. BANBURY’S PET SERVICE Working long hours? Going on vacation? We’ll give your pets personalized care in the com- fort of home. Bonded. Insured. (412)851-9782. TAILWAGGERS PET SITTING, LLC Daily Dog Walking, Pet/House Sitting “Doggie Janitor” Bonded/Insured. (412)343.3433. PAMPERED PAWS PET SITTERS Personalized in-home care for your pets. Insured. Bonded. (412)488-PAWS(7297). instruction WOVEN RUG GALLERY FREE ESTIMATES FULLY INSURED Antique & Decorative Persian & Oriental Rugs • Buy • Sale • Trade • Repair • Cleaning • Appraisal “PIANO LESSONS TO GO” Moms/Adults. Taught in your home by Piano Coach, Craig Zinger (3WS Radio). Fun approach. Beginners/Advanced. Classical/Popular. Free lesson, mention ad (412)851-5397. Visit our store and compare quality & price. 412-343-3977 1-800-442-0364 Top prices paid for your old rugs. All major credit cards accepted Pick-up and delivery available 1425 Potomac Avenue www.wovenruggallery.com parties 412.341.1127 DJ-TOM B Quality DJ service. Kids parties. Low rates (412)563-6423. A DJ that serves you. www.mtlebanon.org 73 calendar THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED SUNDAY, MAY 25 AND MONDAY MAY 26 FOR MEMORIAL DAY HOURS MONDAY - THURSDAY 9 A . M .-9 P . M . & SATURDAY 9 A . M .-5 P . M . SUNDAY 1-5 P . M . C LOSED SUNDAYS FROM MAY 25- SEPT . 1 LIBRARY 412-531-1912 CHILDREN’S LIBRARY 412-531-1913 FAX 412-531-1161 FRIDAY library STORYTIMES BEDTIME STORYTIME 7 P . M ., T HURSDAYS , M AY 1 & 15 Kids should bring a toy and wear their PJs. BOOK DISCUSSIONS ADULTS ELDERHOSTEL SALON 10 A . M ., M ONDAY , M AY 5 FLUTE CHOIR 6 P . M ., T UESDAYS IN M AY New members welcome. SHAKESPEARE READERS 10:30 A . M ., T UESDAYS , M AY 13, 20, 27 KEN MELTZER & MEMBERS OF THE PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY 7 P . M ., T HURSDAY , M AY 8 MORNING BOOK DISCUSSION 10:30 A . M ., T UESDAY , M AY 6 GENEALOGY SOCIETY 1 P . M ., M ONDAY , M AY 19 EVENING BOOK GROUP 7 P . M ., M ONDAY , M AY 19 FRIENDS ANNUAL PROGRAM 7 P . M ., M ONDAY M AY 19 Robert Wolke, author of “What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained” and Marlene Parrish, food writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB 7 P . M ., M ONDAY , M AY 5 KIDS LIT 7 P . M ., M ONDAY , M AY 12 For adults interested in children’s literature. MYSTERY READERS BOOK CLUB 7 P . M ., T UESDAY , M AY 20 PALS BOOK CLUB 1 P . M ., F RIDAY , M AY 16 Book club for seniors. FOLKSONG SHARING 6:30 P . M ., W EDNESDAY , M AY 21 Come and play and sing. HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MOUNT LEBANON 7:30 P . M ., W EDNESDAY , M AY 21 FORE!: The History of Mt. Lebanon's Golf Courses with speaker Paul Dudjek. LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES 7:30 A . M ., T HURSDAY , M AY 15 JUST FOR GUYS 7 P . M ., W EDNESDAY M AY 28 Father-son bookclub aimed at boys age 9 to 12. PLANT EXCHANGE 10 A . M . - 1 P . M . S ATURDAY , M AY 3 Share your garden surplus and bring home new varieties to enhance your landscaping. MOVIES KIDS SENIOR MOVIE DAY 2 P . M ., S UNDAY , M AY 18 “Tea with Mussolini.” CHESS CLUB 7 P . M ., M ONDAYS M AY 5 & 19 For children in grades 1 and older. 74 M T. L E B A N O N • M A Y 2 0 0 3 WEB www.einpgh.org/ein/mtleb MOM'S MORNING AT THE LIBRARY 9 A . M . S ATURDAY , M AY 10 BATTLE OF THE BOOKS SIGN UP AND ORIENTATION 7 P . M ., T HURSDAY , M AY 15 Children entering grades 4-6 team up to read books from a required list. Once done, they create questions and challenge other teams to see who best remembers the books. FUSSBUSTERS 10 A . M ., T UESDAY , M AY 6 OR 10 A . M ., W EDNESDAY , M AY 7 Smoothing the rough spots in your preschooler's day. Presented by author Carol Baicker-McKee. For parents and children ages 1-3. Please pre-register. FOREIGN LANGUAGE GROUPS SPANISH LITERATURE 10 A . M ., M ONDAYS , M AY 5, 12, 19 SPANISH CONVERSATION 7 P . M ., W EDNESDAYS , M AY 7 & 28 ITALIAN CONVERSATION 1:30 P . M ., T HURSDAYS IN M AY ITALIAN LANGUAGE LESSONS 7 P . M ., T UESDAYS IN M AY FRENCH CONVERSATION 6:45 P . M ., T HURSDAY , M AY 15 “Un Coeur en Hiver.” backwords ➤ from p.76 informed me, who would never, ever This was all very inspiring. But I had an amount to anything. That’s when I shut exam coming up, and I was now chugging down and decided I would never under- Mylanta on a regular basis, packing a bottle in stand math. I was right-brained. My SAT my briefcase. My two high school daughters verbal score was in the upper registers. My were sympathetic. When it comes to algebra, math? Let’s just say it was a phenomenal don’t try to think about it or reason with it, score…for a bowler. It’s a good thing for my they advised. Just kind of strap in and go self-esteem that I have no concept of what a along for the ride. “percentile” is. They sat patiently by my side, walking me In the weeks before through problem the semester started, I after problem. But started to become despite such generous indignant. I’m an support, algebra con- adult, and I know— tinued to bring out for a fact!—that you the ugly side of me. don’t need algebra to When our first exam balance a checkbook, was returned, some calculate a mortgage, freshmen in the front pay your taxes or row were giddy and make a car payment. elated at their near- You can be a respon- perfect scores. I, on sible adult—a tax- No moron, she passed—barely. the other hand, had payer! a homeown- been tutored four er!—without one scrap of algebra. If a train times, met with a study group, did all the is going 80 miles an hour leaving Topeka, homework, never missed a class—and got a and another train leaves Cleveland going 65 76. I wanted to shake my fist at them and miles an hour on the same track, when will sneer, “Yeah, fine. Not one of you would last they collide? Who cares! Who even rides the 10 minutes deconstructing ‘King Lear’!” damn things? My diary chronicled my descent into a In October, I took my case, Caffee v. hell of self-doubt and despair. A typical Math, before the dean of students, taking excerpt: my “I Made It To Responsible Adulthood 10/18/02: Went to review session Sunday, Without Algebra” speech with me. I had 4 hours. Went to see Phil the T.A. for an hour some reasonable alternatives in mind. Can’t & a half Friday. Studied Saturday. Studied all I please take a computer software course? afternoon on Monday. Do I have a teflon- Philosophy of mathematics? Logic? The coated brain? Why doesn’t anything stick? dean leaned back in her chair and sized me Then, one day, a ray of hope: up. She wasn’t buying it. 11/15/02: Noticed the other day while “I was a science major,” she said, “and I walking the dog: Math is all around me. always wondered, ‘Why does the university The angles of the sidewalks moving up to offer math for non-math majors and biolo- the top of the hill. Distances between trees. gy for non-science majors, but makes the Angles formed by telephone poles to the math and science majors take Shakespeare, streets. Clearly, this was a tectonic shift in my and Milton, and Keats—the same stuff you thinking. I wasn’t getting A’s, or B’s, but I English majors take? Why is there no special was giving algebra my level best and—just consideration for them?’” barely—passing. Though I often felt like a “Look,” the dean concluded, pushing away lone swordfighter surrounded by the enemy, from her desk. “I had to take two years of I kept swinging. German, and I struggled mightily through it. I had told my kids, “Do your best, and I’ll I thought that if I could survive that, I could be satisfied with whatever grade you get.” survive anything.” (Oh, come on, I thought Now, my words were coming back to haunt bitterly; How hard is that? Eighty million me. The final exam was a three-and-a-half- people speak it every day.) “And it’s the same hour debacle, which I failed. But I passed with algebra,” she continued. “If you come the course with a D. Woo hoo! As the dean across a course that challenges you to the core, had predicted, I felt as if I could do any- and you get through it, you feel as if you can thing. Anything! do anything. Anything!” Except please, Lord, not statistics. www.mtlebanon.org 75 BY ANNE CAFFEE PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER ROLINSON s d r o w k c a b backwords SISTER YVONNE EXTINGUISHED THE FLAME; NOT EVEN PITT COULD REKINDLE THE FIRE n 1995 at the age of 40, I returned to college at consumes oxygen. Shakespeare, John Edgar Wideman, the University of Pittsburgh and promptly fell in Flannery O’Connor, Tom Wolfe, come in, come in, love. With art history and American history, with your table’s waiting. Then I had to take algebra. public speaking and political science. After 20 At a routine appointment, my adviser informed me years away from a classroom, I was like a long- starved exile led to a royal banquet, greedily gob- that I needed to fulfill the quantitative reasoning bling each and every book, sucking the marrow requirement. This woman (about my age, way too cheerful) was a superachiever math out of each lecture, hanging major who had earned her degree on every word. I swallowed as a full-time student while holding Manet, Picasso and Kand- y SAT math score was down a job and raising two kids. insky whole. I marvelled at points phenomenal—for a bowler. “We’re signing you up for Math of history long forgotten, became 25, so you can get it all done with reacquainted with names like William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow. I hung in one semester,” she said brightly. “With your grade out in coffee shops writing poetry, discussing essays and point average, you can handle it.” I was flattered. I also felt like I’d swallowed a pit viper. reading amazing books not on the bestseller list. I can pinpoint the moment when math was knocked In short, I embraced learning with a passion I had never experienced way back when, when all I wanted off my radar screen. I was a high school sophomore, was to get a job and get the heck out of Dodge (or in my when Sister Yvonne, my algebra teacher, called me to case, upstate New York). Even linguistics, as hard as it the blackboard and was, didn’t strip me of my desire to consume knowledge cut me to ribbons in front of my class- like a brushfire mates. I was a com- Advice for the kids: “I know for a plete moron, she fact that no one in the adult world I M p. 75 uses algebra unless they’re build- ing a bridge or helping their sixth grader with word problems.” PRSRT. STD. US POSTAGE PAID mt. lebanon magazine 710 Washington Road Pittsburgh, PA15228 POSTAL CUSTOMER ECRWSS PITTSBURGH, PA PERMIT NO. 232